cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Viruses as Groundwater Tracers: Using Ecohydrology to Characterize Short Travel Times in Aquifers

Viruses are attractive tracers of short (<3 year) travel times in aquifers because they have unique genetic signatures, are detectable in trace quantities, and are mobile in groundwater. Virus "snaphots" result from infection and disappearance in a population over time; therefore, the virus snapshot shed in the fecal wastes of an infected population at a specific point in time can serve as a marker for tracking virus and groundwater movement. The virus tracing approach and an example application are described to illustrate their ability to characterize travel times in high-groundwater velocity settings, and provide insight unavailable from standard hydrogeologic approaches. Although characterization of preferential flowpaths does not usually characterize the majority of other travel times occurring in the groundwater system (e.g., center of plume mass; tail of the breakthrough curve), virus approaches can trace very short times of transport, and thus can fill an important gap in our current hydrogeology toolbox.
Control of distributed discrete-time systems on graphs

This paper considers linear time-invariant dynamic systems with an interconnection structure specified by a directed graph. We formulate a semidefinite program for system analysis and controller synthesis. The structure of the resulting matrix inequalities is related to recent approaches for distributed control, and the results of this paper reduce to recent results in the case where the underlying graph structure is a rectangular array.
A computational model of upper airway collapsibility

A computational model is being developed to investigate pharyngeal collapsibility, pertinent to obstructive sleep apnea. The geometrical structure of the pharyngeal airway is constructed from mid-sagittal plane MR images from normal subjects. The genioglossal muscle activation is simulated by a pressure and state dependent contraction module. This model establishes a direct connection between the contractile forces and the measured electromyogram signals at various upper airway conditions and effectively avoids the difficulty in determining the muscle shortening velocity at complex pharyngeal conditions when modeling muscle contractions. Using the finite element method, we simulate the genioglossal muscle activation behaviors and mimic air flow, tissue deformation and collapse under negative pharyngeal pressures. Using our model, we simulate mandibular advancement and show it to change the collapsibility markedly. A 1-cm advancement decreases pharyngeal closing pressure from -13 to about -20 cmH/sub 2/O. The present study shows that a realistic computational model can simulate pharyngeal collapsibility and potentially improve the treatment of sleep apnea.
Differences in two Pseudomonas aeruginosa cbb3 cytochrome oxidases

Summary Bacterial cytochrome cbb 3 oxidases are members of the haeme-copper oxidase superfamily that are important for energy conservation by a variety of pro- teobacteria under oxygen-limiting conditions. The opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa is unusual in possessing two operons that each poten- tially encode a cbb 3 oxidase ( cbb 3 - 1 or cbb 3 - 2). Our results demonstrate that, unlike typical enzymes of this class, the cbb 3 -1 oxidase has an important meta- bolic function at high oxygen tensions. In highly aer- ated cultures, cbb 3 - 1 abundance and expression were greater than that of cbb 3 -2, and only loss of cbb 3 -1 influenced growth. Also, the activity of cbb 3 -1, not cbb 3 -2, inhibited expression of the alternative oxidase CioAB and thus influenced a signal transduction pathway much like that found in the a -proteobacte- rium Rhodobacter sphaeroides . Cbb 3 -2 appeared to play a more significant role under oxygen limitation by nature of its increased abundance and expression compared to highly aerated cultures, and the regula- tion of the cbb 3 -2 operon by the putative iron-sulphur protein Anr. These results indicate that each of the two P. aeruginosa cbb 3 isoforms have assumed spe- cialized energetic and regulatory roles.
Immunodomination in the Evolution of Dominant Epitope-Specific CD8+ T Lymphocyte Responses in Simian Immunodeficiency Virus-Infected Rhesus Monkeys

Because the control of HIV-1 replication is largely dependent on CD8+ T lymphocyte responses specific for immunodominant viral epitopes, vaccine strategies that increase the breadth of dominant epitope-specific responses should contribute to containing HIV-1 spread. Developing strategies to elicit such broad immune responses will require an understanding of the mechanisms responsible for focusing CD8+ T lymphocyte recognition on a limited number of epitopes. To explore this biology, we identified cohorts of rhesus monkeys that expressed the MHC class I molecules Mamu-A*01, Mamu-A*02, or both, and assessed the evolution of their dominant epitope-specific CD8+ T lymphocyte responses (Gag p11C- and Tat TL8-specific in the Mamu-A*01+ and Nef p199RY-specific in the Mamu-A*02+ monkeys) following acute SIV infection. The Mamu-A*02+ monkeys that also expressed Mamu-A*01 exhibited a significant delay in the evolution of the CD8+ T lymphocyte responses specific for the dominant Mamu-A*02-restricted SIV epitope, Nef p199RY. This delay in kinetics was not due to differences in viral load kinetics or magnitude or in viral escape mutations, but was associated with the evolution of the Mamu-A*01-restricted CD8+ T lymphocyte responses to the highly dominant SIV epitopes Gag p11C and Tat TL8. Thus, the evolution of dominant epitope-specific CD8+ T lymphocyte responses can be suppressed by other dominant epitope-specific responses, and this immunodomination is important in determining the kinetics of dominant epitope-specific responses.
Neonatal brachial plexus palsy - historical perspective.

Neonatal brachial plexus palsy (NBPP), frequently but not always associated with difficulty in the newborn’s passage down the birth canal, has likely been occurring for many centuries. The first recorded case of NBPP in the medical literature was reported in 1768 by William Smellie [1], a prominent British obstetrician. In the latter half of the 19th century, Duchene [2] and Erb [3] described and localized the lesions causing the proximal upper extremity weakness in the deltoid and biceps to the 5th and 6th cervical nerve roots. In 1885, Klumpke described a lower brachial plexus palsy with profound hand weakness and preservation of proximal strength and associated ipsilateral Horner’s syndrome, which she localized to the 8th cervical and 1st thoracic nerve roots [4]. Although the anatomy and probable etiology were thus established, treatment was largely expectant, supported by bracing and physical therapy. Kaiser Wilhelm of Germany, born during this time period (1895) with left NBPP, was treated only with extensive, even, stressful, and painful therapy to improve his function [5]. These modalities failed, leaving him with an embarrassingly shortened, weak, and withered forearm and hand. Wilhelm blamed the English doctor who attended his birth (his mother was a daughter of Queen Victoria) and consequently developed a hostility to the English, which may have played a role in the decisions leading up to World War I. The tragic consequences of this condition for this involved individual may thus be seen to have far reaching consequences. Surgical intervention was initially described by Kennedy [6] and Taylor [7] in the United States in the first decade of the 20th century. Direct suture repair was performed in these cases and in patients in several other reports. Results were initially described as favorable, but morbidity was high. In 1925, Sever reported on 1100 cases and determined that good outcomeswere not common and that a number of cases were worsened by surgery [8,9]. As a consequence, the conservative attitude regarding NBPP treatment predominated for the next several decades, awaiting and expecting some degree of recovery. In those children who did not recover well, secondary musculoskeletal procedures were occasionally used in an attempt to improve function. Brachial plexus exploration and repair were very rarely performed. Therewas, and still is, considerable controversy over the percentage of neonatal brachial plexus palsy patients who go on to a functionally acceptable spontaneous recovery. Clearly, infants with an upper plexus (Erb’s palsy) acquired perinatally who develop antigravity biceps or deltoid function by 3–4 months seem to progress to an excellent recovery. Those infants who do not meet these criteria are presumed to have a more widespread involvement of the brachial plexus and a more serious degree of injury. Their spontaneous outcome is significantly less functional. The standard regimen of physical therapy, bracing, subsequent bone
Using Commercial CASE Environments to Teach Software Design

This paper describes a course developed to teach software design with a focus on the use of computer-aided software engineering (CASE) environments. Commercial CASE tools were acquired and used in a classroom environment in response to the needs expressed by local industry. The paper assesses the benefits and problems associated with placing emphasis on CASE tools in a software engineering course. Using mature CASE environments brings one kind of realism to the students' project experience, but the complexity of learning a design methodology and complex tools places limits on the scope of design projects that can be assigned. Design recovery tools show promise for helping students learn design principles. In addition, assignments in which students carried out independent assessments of various CASE tools were found to be very valuable opportunities for students to practice written and oral expression, in addition to broadening their knowledge of CASE.
Altered mouse mammary tumor virus transcript synthesis in T-cell lymphoma cells

Abstract Proviral copies of mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) are known to be amplified in certain T-cell lymphomas. Transcription of the amplified MMTV proviruses was studied in detail in two T-cell lymphoma lines and showed the production of deletions and premature termination of env mRNAs and the premature termination of gag transcripts. EL-4 cells produce three env mRNAs, and sequence analysis of cDNAs of the two smaller transcripts revealed large deletions encompassing the 3' half of the env gene. The deletion in at least one of the altered transcripts appeared to be produced by a splicing mechanism. T-cell lymphoma line ML of DBA/2 mice also synthesizes two smaller env transcripts, both of which result from premature termination of transcription. Both lines transcribe high levels of gag mRNAs of about 0.8 kilobases in length, terminating at the end of the region encoding MMTV phosphoprotein pp21. Restriction enzyme BamHI analysis of the amplified proviruses of EL-4 and ML cells as well as of additional non-mammary tumor cell types containing amplified MMTV proviruses suggested that the amplified proviruses were derived from exogenous viruses, or activated endogenous provirus MTV-1 in the case of DBA/2 strain tumor cells.
Compact polyelectrolyte complexes: "saloplastic" candidates for biomaterials.

Precipitates of polyelectrolyte complexes were transformed into rugged shapes suitable for bioimplants by ultracentrifugation in the presence of high salt concentration. Salt ions dope the complex, creating a softer material with viscous fluid-like properties. Complexes that were compacted under the centrifugal field (CoPECs) were made from poly(diallyldimethyl ammonium), PDADMA, as polycation, and poly(styrene sulfonate), PSS, or poly(methacrylic acid), PMAA, as polyanion. Dynamic mechanical testing revealed a rubbery plateau at lower frequencies for PSS/PDADMA with moduli that decreased with increasing salt concentration, as internal ion pair cross-links were broken. CoPECs had significantly lower modulii compared to similar polyelectrolyte complexes prepared by the “multilayering” method. The difference in mechanical properties was ascribed to higher water content (located in micropores) for the former and, more importantly, to their nonstoichiometric polymer composition. The modulus of PMAA/PDADMA CoP...
Soil disturbance and elemental dynamics in a Northern Hardwood forest soil, USA

Loss of soil nutrients due to disturbance may serve as an index of the homeostasis of biogeochemical cycling and ecosystem stability. Soil and the surrounding root system were disturbed during the installation of Soil Containment Systems (SCSs) in the hill slope at the Bear Brook Watershed in Maine (BBWM). The SCSs were constructed from high density PVC pipe (24 cm i.d. and 30 cm height) implanted at field. Leachate cations and anions, soil organic matter and exchangeable cations were analyzed. Leachate NO3− was higher by an order of magnitude compared to undisturbed soils from the same research site and other hardwood forest soils in the northeast U.S. The concentrations of cations in the leachate from SCSs were also higher and loss of NO3− was positively correlated with the loss of most cations. Calcium was the dominant cation representing 55% of the base cation composition of soil leachate. Monthly losses of Ca2+, Mg2+ and K+ were 1.8, 1.6 and 1.2% of total exchangeable pools, respectively. Disturbance of the BBWM soil ecosystem caused high rates of NO3− leaching which markedly changed the soil biogeochemistry. These results and other supporting data from watershed mass balances and experimental chemical additions suggest that BBWM may be N saturated.
Integrated study of topographical functional maps based on an auditory comprehension paradigm using an eigensystem study and spectrum analysis

This study integrates a spectral analysis of key frequency bands (Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Theta) with an eigensystem-based study in order to validate brain functional mappings associated with the characterization effects of an Auditory/Comprehension paradigm. This numerical characterization supported by topographic functional maps brings added insight in the involvement of the Wernicke and Broca’s brain areas to language comprehension. A thorough examination of EEG recordings through the eigensystem reveals that eigenvectors associated with the largest eigenvalues produce an interesting activity pattern located in the frontal area of the brain directly attributable to those characteristic behaviors found in the Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Theta frequency bands. An evaluation of spectral arrays is performed using topographic maps of the induced brain activities during both listening and answering phases. This evaluation is then augmented with quantifying measures using the eigensystem study while results are validated through integration of EEG activity and eigensystem modalities. Such a representation can provide insightful information on how different patients react during an auditory and response phases, and in the ability to detect the presence of potential neurological disorders by assessing similar/dissimilar behaviors with respects to all former patients already included in the database. The algorithm as developed in this study could be extended in its application to other brain functional mapping tasks given its simple but effective practical mathematical foundation.
An analysis of coated particles fuel compact-general purpose heat source (CPFC-GPHS)

Abstract The C oated P articles F uel C ompact (CPFC) offers performance advantages for use in the Radioisotope Heater Unit (RHU) and General Purpose Heat Source (GPHS) for Advanced Radioisotope Power Systems (ARPSs), generating a few milliwatts or a few hundred watts of electrical power, respectively, for future planetary exploration. It comprises 238PuO2 fuel kernels with 5-μm thick PyC inner coating and a strong ZrC outer coating, dispersed in a graphite matrix. The fuel kernels in the compact could be either of a single size (≤ 1200 μm) or binary sizes (300 and 1200 μm) for particles' volume compaction of 62.5% and 72%, respectively. The ZrC coating serves as a pressure vessel for containing the fuel kernels and the helium gas generated by the radioactive decay of 238Pu during storage time before launch and the mission lifetime (15–25 years). The thickness of the ZrC coating and hence, the specific thermal power of the CPFC depend on the estimated maximum fuel temperature during reentry following a launch accident, the storage time before launch and mission duration, and the helium release fraction from the fuel kernels. This paper investigates, the advantage of replacing the four iridium-clad 238PuO2 fuel pellets, the two floating graphite membranes, and the two graphite impact shells in current State-Of-the-Art (SOA) GPHS with CPFC. The mass, thermal power, and specific thermal power of the CPFC-GPHS are calculated as functions of the helium release fraction from the fuel kernels, up to a full release, and the maximum compact temperature during reentry, from 1500 K to 2400 K. For the same mass and volume, the single-size particles CPFC-GPHS could generate 260 W at Beginning-Of-Mission (BOM), following 10 years of storage, versus 231 W for SOA GPHS. For an additional 10% higher mass, the CPFC-GPHS could generate 340 W at BOM at a specific thermal power of 214 W/kg, which are 47% and 34% higher than those of SOA GPHS, respectively.
Detonation structures generated by multiple shocks on ram-accelerator projectiles

The detailed detonation structure generated by multiple shocks on ram-accelerator projectiles is studied using highly resolved numerical stimulations. The simulations show that the detonation structure on the projectile consists of the following basic elements: nonreactive shocks, induction regions, deflagration waves, and detonation waves. The shape and location of these basic elements strongly depends on the projectile Mach number. In some cases, the induction region and the related detonation wave are primarily associated with one single shock. In other cases, the induction region extends across several shocks and the detonation structure is much more complex. These simulations also confirm that the detonations on the projectile are stable in a wide range of flow conditions and, therefore, can be used to generate the high pressure needed for projectile propulsion.
Dilepton signals in the inert doublet model

The inert doublet model is one of the simplest and most versatile scenarios for physics beyond the standard model. In this work, we examine the prospects for detecting the additional fields of this model at the LHC in the dilepton channel. We investigate a wide variety of theoretically and phenomenologically motivated benchmark scenarios, and show that within regions of model parameter space in which the dark-matter candidate is relatively light (between 40 and 80 GeV) and the mass splitting between the neutral scalars is also roughly 40--80 GeV, a signal at the $3\ensuremath{\sigma}$ to $12\ensuremath{\sigma}$ significance level can be observed with $100\text{ }\text{ }{\mathrm{fb}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ of integrated luminosity. In addition, even if the mass splitting between the neutral scalars is larger than ${M}_{Z}$, a signal of more than $3\ensuremath{\sigma}$ can be observed as long as the mass of the dark-matter candidate is around 40 GeV.
Modeling human location data with mixtures of kernel densities

Location-based data is increasingly prevalent with the rapid increase and adoption of mobile devices. In this paper we address the problem of learning spatial density models, focusing specifically on individual-level data. Modeling and predicting a spatial distribution for an individual is a challenging problem given both (a) the typical sparsity of data at the individual level and (b) the heterogeneity of spatial mobility patterns across individuals. We investigate the application of kernel density estimation (KDE) to this problem using a mixture model approach that can interpolate between an individual's data and broader patterns in the population as a whole. The mixture-KDE approach is evaluated on two large geolocation/check-in data sets, from Twitter and Gowalla, with comparisons to non-KDE baselines, using both log-likelihood and detection of simulated identity theft as evaluation metrics. Our experimental results indicate that the mixture-KDE method provides a useful and accurate methodology for capturing and predicting individual-level spatial patterns in the presence of noisy and sparse data.
A Flower-Pot Emergence Trap for Leptoconops kerteszi

The biting gnat Leptoconops kerteszi Kieffe), attacks man, livestock and pets in certain southern California areas. Breeding grounds occur in the Santa Ana River valley, in damp sand near desert springs, and in the wet, highly alkaline wasteland along the north shore of the Salton Sea. Here, a spring emergence of adult gnats coincides with the period of greatest usc of the Salton Sea Recreation Area. Visitors and tourists at this State park are subject to attack by the gnats during the day. Bites at the hairline, and on the scalp, neck, and face produce severe itching and welts which may persist for a week or more.
Application of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Water Budget Manual to Finderne Farms Wetland Mitigation and Assessment of Project Performance

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, NY District’s wetland mitigation proposal for Finderne Farms in Bridgewater, NJ, was approved in August 2005 by the state regulatory agency. The design goal was to provide mitigation for wetlands impacted by the Green Brook Flood Control project at a ratio of 2 : 1. As part of the design process in 2001, the available historical hydrologic data was evaluated. At that time, the NJ Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) Water Budget Manual was not available as a tool for accessing an acceptable design hydroperiod. Construction of the Finderne mitigation site was completed in July 2006. A six-year postconstruction monitoring program has determined that certain areas at the site have not achieved the established wetland success criteria. In 2012, there was a 28% survival of planted woody vegetation and a 74% cover of invasive species within Creation Area 1, a palustrine forested wetland. With the advent of the Water Budget Manual, a reevaluation of the historical hydrologic data was performed. Based on this analysis, the hydroperiod and soil moisture conditions are not representative of sustainable wetlands. Adaptive management measures are currently being developed and evaluated to improve the hydrology, hydric soil conditions, and survival of target vegetation at the Finderne site.
Heavy-Traffic Limits for Loss Proportions in Single-Server Queues

We establish heavy-traffic stochastic-process limits for the queue-length and overflow stochastic processes in the standard single-server queue with finite waiting room (G/G/1/K). We show that, under regularity conditions, the content and overflow processes in related single-server models with finite waiting room, such as the finite dam, satisfy the same heavy-traffic stochastic-process limits. As a consequence, we obtain heavy-traffic limits for the proportion of customers or input lost over an initial interval. Except for an interchange of the order of two limits, we thus obtain heavy-traffic limits for the steady-state loss proportions. We justify the interchange of limits in M/GI/1/K and GI/M/1/K special cases of the standard GI/GI/1/K model by directly establishing local heavy-traffic limits for the steady-state blocking probabilities.
Incidence and Risk Factors for Steatosis Progression in Adults Coinfected With HIV and Hepatitis C Virus

Background & Aims Hepatic steatosis is a common histologic finding in patients coinfected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV), although little is known about its natural history. We prospectively examined the natural history of steatosis in patients coinfected with HIV and HCV who attended an urban HIV clinic. Methods The study cohort consisted of 222 coinfected patients (87% black, 94% with HCV genotype 1 infection) who had at least 2 liver biopsies performed between 1993 and 2008. Biopsy specimens were scored by a single pathologist; samples were classified as having trivial ( 5%) levels of fat (steatosis). We characterized progression to significant levels of fat among patients whose first biopsy samples had no or trivial levels of fat, and regression among those with significant fat, using logistic regression. Results Initial biopsy specimens from most patients (88%) had no or trivial amounts of fat. Among second biopsy samples, 74% had no or trivial fat and 13% had significant amounts of fat. The strongest risk factors for progression of steatosis were alcohol abuse and overweight/obesity; cumulative exposure to antiretroviral therapy between biopsies and high counts of CD4 + T cells were associated with reduced progression of steatosis. Among the 28 patients whose initial biopsy specimen had significant fat levels, most (75%) regressed. Conclusions Antiretroviral therapy and high counts of CD4 + T cells are associated with reduced progression of steatosis in patients coinfected with HIV and HCV. Efforts to diagnose and prevent steatosis should focus on persons with a high body mass index and excessive alcohol intake.
Trends in utilization and outcomes of laparoscopic versus open appendectomy.

Abstract Background Although a number of trials have analyzed the outcomes of laparoscopic versus open appendectomy, the clinical advantages, and cost-effectiveness of laparoscopic appendectomy in the management of acute and perforated appendicitis are still not clearly defined. The aim of this study was to examine utilization and outcomes of laparoscopic versus open appendectomy using a national administrative database of academic medical centers and teaching hospitals. Methods Using ICD-9 diagnosis and procedure codes, we obtained data from the University HealthSystem Consortium Clinical Data Base for all patients who underwent appendectomy for acute and perforated appendicitis between 1999 and 2003 (n = 60,236). Trends in utilization of laparoscopic appendectomy were examined over the 5-year period. The outcomes of laparoscopic and open appendectomy were compared including length of hospital stay, 30-day readmission, complications, observed and expected (risk-adjusted) in-hospital mortality, and costs. Results Overall, 41,085 patients underwent open appendectomy and 19,151 patients underwent laparoscopic appendectomy. The percentage of appendectomy performed by laparoscopy increased from 20% in 1999 to 43% in 2003 ( P Conclusions Utilization of laparoscopic appendectomy at academic centers has increased more than two-fold between 1999 and 2003. Patients selected for laparoscopic appendectomy have less advanced appendicitis and have a shorter length of stay and fewer complications without increasing the inpatient care cost.
Flash crowd mitigation via adaptive admission control based on application-level observations

We design an adaptive admission control mechanism, network early warning system (NEWS), to protect servers and networks from flash crowds and maintain high performance for end-users. NEWS detects flash crowds from performance degradation in responses and mitigates flash crowds by admitting incoming requests adaptively. We evaluate NEWS performance with both simulations and testbed experiments. We first investigate a network-limited scenarion in simulations. We find that NEWS detects flash crowds within 20 seconds. By discarding 32% of incoming requests, NEWS protects the target server and networks from overloading, reducing the response packet drop rate from 25% to 2%. For admitted requests, NEWS increases their response rate by two times. This performance is similar to the best static rate limiter deployed in the same scenario. We also investigate the impact of detection intervals on NEWS performance, showing it affects both detection delay and false alarm rate. We further consider a server memory-limited scenario in testbed experiments, confirming that NEWS is also effective in this case. We also examine the runtime cost of NEWS traffic monitoring in practice and find that it consumes little CPU time and relatively small memory. Finally, we show NEWS effectively protects bystander traffic from flash crowds.
In Situ, Nonlinear Optical Probe of Surfactant Adsorption on the Surface of Microparticles in Colloids

The demonstration of a nonlinear optical technique for directly monitoring adsorption of surfactants on the surface of microparticles in colloids is reported. In this approach, dye molecules with strong hyperpolarizability are first adsorbed on the particle surface to give detectable second-harmonic generation. The surfactant is then added to the colloidal solution in competition with dye for adsorption on the surface. The displacement of the dye molecules on the surface results in a decrease of the second-harmonic signal, indicating the adsorption of the surfactant molecules. A continuous flow/titration system in combination with a high-repetition-rate femtosecond laser allows the adsorption to be monitored in real time. This approach was first demonstrated on a methacrylate polymeric surfactant on latex and talc particles in an aqueous solution. The adsorption free energy and surface density of this surfactant on these particles have been determined.
Mortality salience and symbols of cultural worldview affect the desirability of a stressful job: the ironic consequences of terror management.

Summary In a study of terror management theory, participants first responded to prompts asking them to imagine their own death or dental pain and later rated the desirability of a generic job described explicitly as extremely stressful. The job description included either an American or foreign company logo. As predicted by terror management theory, the participants shown an American logo ironically desired the stressful job more having been prompted with reminders of death than with reminders of dental pain. The study is the first to examine terror management theory's prediction of the influence of symbols of cultural worldview on health-related decisions. The authors discuss possible implications of the findings for making unintentionally stress-inducing decisions and for public health campaigns.
UCR morphology and shock intensity

Nine shock levels of from 0.2 to 3.0 ma were presented to five groups of albino rats. Group I received 5 levels of shock ranging from 0.2–1.0 ma. Group II received 9 levels of shock ranging from 0.2–3.0 ma. Shock intensities of 0.6 ma, 1.6 ma or 2.5 ma were given to groups III, IV, and V respectively. Each group received either 99 or 100 shock trials, each of 1 sec. duration. The response category curves (flinch, jump, prance, run, vocalization, and no response), relating shock intensity to proportion of total possible responses were in general agreement with previous research despite numerous procedural differences among the studies. The present study extended UCR morphology data considerably beyond previously used intensity levels.
Effects of vacancy concentration on the magnetic and transport properties of (La1−xPbx)1−y□yMnO3

Abstract (La1−xPbx)1−y□yMnO3 with x=0.05–0.5 and y=0, 0.05, 0.1 (where □ is a vacancy) was studied to evaluate the effects of A-site vacancies on the physical properties. In this system manganese perovskites form with tolerance factors close to 1 and low A-site cation size mismatch due to similarities in the effective ionic radii of La3+ and Pb2+. Increasing vacancy concentration indicates no significant effect on the lattice parameters or volume. However, the vacancies introduce a greater A-site cation size mismatch, which leads to a lowering of the ferromagnetic and metal–insulator transition temperatures, although the transitions are not broadened with increasing vacancy content. Due to the vacancies a distribution of Mn–O–Mn angles and Mn–O distances are created, and long range order in (La1−xPbx)1−y□yMnO3 appears to be determined by Mn–O–Mn angles and Mn–O distances which most distort from 180° and are the longest, respectively, in the structure.
Cell Phone Resting Locations: Use of the 100-Car Naturalistic Driving Study to Determine the Most Frequent In-Vehicle Cell Phone Placement and Containers

The use of cellular phones while driving has been a growing topic of concern in the field of transportation safety research. Traditionally, a vehicle may have been equipped with multiple fixed displays that provided the driver various information, such as vehicle-related information and entertainment options (for example, AM-FM radio). The introduction of a mobile display has brought dramatic changes to the driving environment and has created a need for researchers to understand the full impact these devices have on the driving task. Many studies have been conducted to quantify the impact cell phones have on drivers' crash risks. However, little or no research has been performed that examines the physical placement of the cell phone while the driver is engaged in the primary task of operating the vehicle. For determination of the most frequent cell phone resting locations and containers, a visual evaluation was performed during this study of the video collected during the 100-Car Naturalistic Driving Stud...
Cost-Effectiveness Analysis for State and Local Decision Making: An Application to Half-Day and Full-Day Preschool Special Education Programs:

The following article presents the results of a cost-effectiveness analysis in which half-day and full-day intervention programs for handicapped preschoolers were compared. The research sample consisted of 39 matched pairs of handicapped 4-year-olds in nine half- and nine full-day classrooms. Program effectiveness was evaluated using cognitive and expressive language scores from a developmental inventory. Cost data were collected on personnel, facilities, equipment, transportation, and donations. The results indicated no differences in the educational outcomes associated with length of day and showed that half-day programs could serve 60% more children than full-day programs with the same budget. Of the two models examined, the half-day program appears to be the more efficient. Implications of findings for further research are considered.
Robust Fault Location Using Least-Absolute-Value Estimator

This paper presents a robust alternative to the previously developed method to reliably locate power-system faults using simultaneously recorded data from multiple locations. Automatic removal of corrupted measurements resulting from various factors (e.g., sensor breakdowns and cyberattacks) will be accomplished via the use of a least-absolute-value (LAV) estimator for fault location. Furthermore, inherent limitations of the approach imposed by sensor configurations as well as the effect of quantization errors incurred by low-precision sensors on the accuracy of estimated fault locations will be described. The performance of the overall algorithm will be tested and verified by fault scenarios on the IEEE 118-bus transmission grid.
Factors related to periodontal regeneration

The purpose of this chapter is to set the stage for the more detailed information to follow in the succeeding sections of this work. The reader will be familiarized with the terms and definitions commonly used in periodontal wound healing and the methods used to evaluate the results of periodontal therapy. A discussion of the effects of conventional periodontal therapy will then be followed by a review of biological factors that must be considered if periodontal therapy is to result in regeneration.
CAENORHABDITIS GLOBIN GENES : RAPID INTRONIC DIVERGENCE CONTRASTS WITH CONSERVATION OF SILENT EXONIC SITES

Globin genes from theCaenorhabditis speciesbriggsae andremanei were identified and compared with a previously describedC. elegans globin gene. The encoded globins share between 86% and 93% amino acid identity, with most of the changes in or just before the putative B helix.C. remanei was found to have two globin alleles,Crg1-1 andCrgl-2. The coding sequence for each is interrupted by a single intron in the same position. The exons of the two genes are only 1 % divergent at the nucleotide level and encode identical polypeptides. In contrast, intron sequence divergence is 16% and numerous insertions and deletions have significantly altered the size and content of both introns. Genetic crosses show thatCrg1-1 andCrgl-2 segregate as alleles. Homozygous lines for each allele were constructed and northern analysis confirmed the expression of both alleles. These data reveal an unusual situation wherein two alleles encoding identical proteins have diverged much more rapidly in their introns than the silent sites of their coding sequences, suggesting multiple gene conversion events.
Characterization and modeling of compliant active materials

Abstract Active materials respond mechanically to changes in environmental conditions. One example of a compliant active material is a polymer gel. Active polymer gels expand and contract in response to certain environmental stimuli, such as the application of an electric field or a change in the pH level of the surroundings. This ability to achieve large, reversible deformations with no external mechanical loading has generated much interest in the use of these gels as actuators and “artificial muscles”. While much work has been done to study the behavior and properties of these gels, little information is available regarding the full constitutive description of the mechanical and actuation properties. This work focuses on developing a means of characterizing the mechanical properties of compliant active materials. A thermodynamically consistent finite-elastic constitutive model was developed to describe the mechanical and actuation behaviors of these kinds of materials. The mechanical properties of compliant active materials are characterized by a free-energy function, and the model utilizes an evolving internal variable to describe the actuation state. A biaxial testing system has been developed which can measure stresses and deformations of polymer gel films in a variety of liquid environments. This testing system is used to determine the form and parameters of the free-energy function for a specific active polymer gel, poly(vinyl alcohol)–poly(acrylic acid) gel.
Line imaging ladar using a laser-diode transmitter and FM/cw radar principles for submunition applications

We describe the technical approach, component development, and test results of a line imager laser radar (ladar) being developed at the Army Research Laboratory (ARL) for smart munition applications. We obtain range information using a frequency modulation/continuous wave (FM/cw) technique implemented by directly amplitude modulating a near-IR diode laser transmitter with a radio frequency (rf) subcarrier that is linearly frequency modulated. The diode's output is collimated and projected to form a line illumination in the downrange image area. The returned signal is focused onto a line array of metal-semiconductor-metal (MSM) detectors where it is detected and mixed with a delayed replica of the laser modulation signal that modulates the responsivity of each detector. The output of each detector is an intermediate frequency (IF) signal (a product of the mixing process) whose frequency is proportional to the target range. This IF signal is continuously sampled over each period of the rf modulation. Following this, a N-channel signal processor based on field- programmable gate arrays (FPGA) calculates the discrete Fourier transform over the IF waveform in each pixel to establish the ranges to all the scatterers and their respective amplitudes. Over the past year, we constructed the fundamental building blocks of this ladar, which include a 3.5-W line illuminator, a wideband linear FM chirp modulator, a N-pixel MSM detector line array, and a N-channel FPGA signal processor. In this paper we report on the development and performance of each building block and the results of system tests conducted in the laboratory.
Intercultural communication competence: Theory, measurement, and application

Abstract This brief article focuses on issues or concerns about the current state of intercultural communication competence (ICC) research. Theoretical issues include problems with ICC terminology and with conceptualizations of ICC. Measurement issues include problems with the use of self-reports to assess the “appropriateness” dimension of ICC and with the domain of skills and traits that make one more likely to be perceived as competent. Application issues center on the desirability for increased attention to practical uses of researched-based theory. We suggest that accounts of positive exemplars – those who are widely perceived to be competent in specific intercultural encounters and relationships – would be a welcome and useful addition to the ICC literature.
Collaborative Ecological Community Interventions for People with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

SUMMARY A key value of community psychology research is the collaborative relationship between researchers and the actual groups under study. This article provides an example of a long term, multidimensional, collaborative, and ecologically-oriented research and action approach. This collaboration involved researchers and students at an urban university and a self-help organization of patients diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome. Epidemiological research and needs assessments laid the foundation for advocacy and program development efforts. These efforts in turn gave rise to further, more focused research and evaluation. The social construction of knowledge and the initiation of social change from an ecological perspective best involves interdisciplinary and community collaboration.
Simultaneous detection of a wide variety of commonly abused drugs in a urine screening program using thin-layer identification techniques.

Abstract A single-step extraction method and thin-layer identification techniques capable of testing a wide variety of drugs of abuse are presented. These techniques are well suited for large and/or small drug programs involved in urine testing because they provide substantial economic benefits and improve clinical functioning. The drugs are absorbed on a 6 × 6 cm piece of paper loaded with cation-exchange resin and then eluted from the paper at pH 10.1 using ammonium chloride—ammonia buffer. The simultaneous thin-layer detection of sedatives, hypnotics, narcotic analgesics, central nervous system stimulants and miscellaneous drugs is accomplished by spotting the solution of extracted residue on a 20 × 20 cm Gelman pre-coated silica gel glass microfiber sheet (ITLC Type SA). A two-stage solvent system is used in order to obtain a chromatogram with optimum separation of a wide range of drugs. This system can separate methadone and/or cocaine from propoxyphene, methaqualone, methylphenidate, pentazocine, pipradrol, Doxepin, chlorpromazine, phenazocine, naloxone, naltrexone, imipramine and trimeprazine; amphetamine from phenylpropanolamine and dimethyltryptamine; codeine from dextromethorphan; methamphetamine from dimethyltryptamine, etc. Different detection reagents are then applied in succession to different marked areas of the developed chromatogram. This elegant method of extraction and spraying has enabled us to detect morphine base at a sensitivity level of O.15 μg/ml, amphetamine sulfate at 1.0 μg/ml, methamphetamine hydrochloride at 0.5 μg/ml, phenmetrazine hydrochloride at 0.5 μg/ml, codeine phosphate at 0.5 μg/ml, methadone hydrochloride at 1.0 μg/ml, secobarbital at 0.36 μg/ml and phenobarbital at 0.5 μg/ml in urine. The minimum volume of urine needed to achieve these sensitivities is 20 ml. The cost of analysis per urine specimen using these techniques for concomitant screening of these drugs is less than US$ 1.
Effect of heat and detergent on glucose-6-phosphatase activity in microsomes isolated from rats of different ages

Hepatic microsomal glucose-6-phosphatase activity in male Fischer rats declines with age. It is unknown whether the phospholipid composition of the microsomal membrane contributes to this age-related decline in enzyme activity. This report compares the effect of two lipid modifiers, heat and detergent, on the activity of glucose-6-phosphatase in microsomes isolated from male Fischer 344 rats of different ages. The heat lability of this enzyme in intact and detergent-disrupted microsomes was not age dependent. These results suggest that the decline in glucose-6-phosphatase activity during liver senescence is not due to lipid changes in the microenvironment of this enzyme that are detectable by thermolability and detergent sensitivity.
Comparison of hydraulic fracture models for highly elongated fractures of variable height

There is a pressing need to compare and evaluate hydraulic fracture models which are now being used by industry to predict variable fracture height. The fractures of concern here are vertical fractures which have a pronounced elongation in the direction of the payzone i.e., there is a dominant one-dimensional fluid flow along the payzone direction. A summary is given of the modeling entailed in the basic ORU fracture model, which calculates fracture height as a function of distance from the wellbore in the case of a continuous sand bounded by zones of higher (but equal) minimum in-situ stress. The elastic parameters are assumed the same in each layer, and injected flow rates and fluid parameters are taken to be constant. Leak-off is included with spurt loss, as well as non-Newtonian flow.
Characterization of pH-induced changes in the morphology of polyelectrolyte multilayers assembled from poly(allylamine) and low molecular weight poly(acrylic acid).

Abstract We report characterization of pH-dependent behavior in polyelectrolyte multilayers (PEMs) fabricated from poly(allylamine) (PAH) and low molecular weight poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) synthesized by living/controlled polymerization. Exposure of these films to solutions of low pH (e.g. pH 2.0–3.2) resulted in transformations from films that were smooth and uniform to films with porous morphologies, as characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). We observed large differences in both the extent of this transformation and the sizes of the pores that resulted compared to films fabricated using higher molecular weight PAA used in past studies. Whereas transformations reported in past studies generally lead to pores with sizes in the range of 0.3–2 μm, we observed larger-scale transformations and films with cell-like internal structures comprised of networks of closed pores, interconnected pores, and through-pores with sizes as large as 10–15 μm depending on pH and the manner in which the films were incubated. Films fabricated using fluorescently end-labeled samples of PAA permitted real-time imaging of changes in internal structure using confocal microscopy (LSCM). The results of these studies also revealed large differences in the nature of these transformations when films were placed in contact with surfaces as opposed to when dipped into aqueous solutions. Our results reveal approaches that can be used to fabricate films with large pores (e.g., pores with sizes on the order of 10–15 μm) and suggest methods that could potentially be used to generate PEMs having controlled gradients in pore size.
Multiple prime covers of the riemann sphere

A compact Riemann surface X of genus g≥2 which admits a cyclic group of automorphisms C q of prime order q such that X/C q has genus 0 is called a cyclic q-gonal surface. If a q-gonal surface X is also p-gonal for some prime p≠q, then X is called a multiple prime surface. In this paper, we classify all multiple prime surfaces. A consequence of this classification is a proof of the fact that a cyclic q-gonal surface can be cyclic p-gonal for at most one other prime p.
Braking Bad: Blockade of Inhibitory Pathways Improves Interleukin-15 Therapy

Blockade of the CTLA-4 and PD-1 inhibitory pathways in T cells via the administration of neutralizing antibodies at the time of interleukin (IL)-15 therapy markedly enhanced the survival of tumor-bearing mice as compared with those receiving IL-15 alone or IL-15 in combination with just one of the antibodies.