cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Exploring the impact of team rapport and empowerment on information processing and project performance in outsourced system development

Offshoring of information systems development (ISD) projects has become increasingly popular among companies seeking reduced project costs, increased productivity, and improved quality and schedule performance. However, offshore ISD project teams face tremendous challenges, including unclear responsibilities, lack of trust and information sharing and difficulty in creating collaborative solutions. Extant studies in the management of offshore project teams have failed to address empowerment and rapport as sources of project success. To fill this gap, this study uses a social capital perspective to develop a research model and estimates a path analytic model using data from surveys of 194 participants in offshore ISD project teams. We find that team building, rapport among team members and empowerment of team members all contribute to improved information processing, which in turn leads to improved project team performance.
On the Complexity of a Simple Suboptimal Design for Bayesian Distributed Detection Systems

We analyze and compare two multi-sensor multi-observation detection schemes, and discuss their hardware complexity (-number of sensors). The studied schemes are: a Bayesian optimal parallel-sensor centralized architecture and a suboptimal binary distributed-detection system. We demonstrate the tradeoff between performance and hardware complexity, and calculate the cost (in terms of hardware units) of the design simplicity which characterizes the suboptimal system. Results are useful for comparing different distributed-sensor detection schemes. It is shown that in the Gaussian case, a high signal-to-noise ratio decentralized system with 2N sensorldetectors performs at least as well as the centralized system with N sensors and a single detector.
Finite array trunication effects on polarization

An important system design specification for electronically scanned arrays (ESAs) is the polarization purity for certain scan volume. Methods for determining the polarization levels of an array will be discussed and used to quantify finite array truncation effects on polarization purity of ultra-wideband (UWB) arrays. Simulated finite array results are used to examine the polarization properties of a Vivaldi array and a Planar Ultra-wideband Modular Antenna (PUMA) array, and are compared with their respective infinite array results.
Hanbury-Brown-Twiss interferometry relative to the triangular flow plane in heavy-ion collisions

The PHENIX Collaboration has reported third-order harmonic oscillations of the source radius parameters when measuring the Hanbury-Brown--Twiss (HBT) correlation function for charged hadrons relative to the triangular flow angle. We explore possible origins of such third-order oscillations with a simple Gaussian emission function featuring both a triangular geometric deformation and triangular flow. Third-order oscillations of the HBT radii can arise from a purely geometric triangular deformation superimposed on an azimuthally symmetric radial flow, or from a radially symmetry spatial distribution which expands anisotropically with a triangular component in the flow velocity profile. In both cases the final particle momentum distribution features triangular flow. We show that the two alternatives can be distinguished experimentally through the phase of the azimuthal oscillations of the HBT radii relative to the triangular flow plane.
Virtual reality: Immersive hepatic surgery educational environment

Abstract Background. Understanding the spatial relationships among the liver segments, and intrahepatic portal and hepatic veins is essential for surgical treatment of liver diseases. Teleimmersive virtual reality enables improved visualization over conventional media because it supports stereo vision, viewer-centered perspective, large angles of view, and interactivity with remote locations. We report a successful pilot study teaching hepatic surgical principles using teleimmersion. Methods. We developed a teleimmersive environment for teaching with biomedical models including virtual models of the liver segments and portal and hepatic veins. Using the environment, 1 instructor gave a workshop to 6 senior general surgery residents at 2 physical locations. A 24-question (36-point) examination was administered before and after the workshop. Results. The workshop produced significant improvements in the mean test scores between the pretests and posttests (17.67 to 23.67, P
Deformation conditions, kinematics, and displacement history of shallow crustal ductile shearing in the Norumbega fault system in the Northern Appalachians, eastern Maine

Abstract The Norumbega fault system in the Northern Appalachians in eastern Maine experienced complex post-Acadian ductile and brittle deformation from middle through late Paleozoic times. Well-preserved epizonal ductile shear zones in Fredericton belt metasedimentary rocks and granitic batholiths that intrude them provide valuable information on the nature, geometry, and evolution of orogen-parallel strike-slip Norumbega faulting. Metasedimentary rocks were ductilely sheared into phyllonite schistose mylonite, whereas granite into mylonite within the ductile shear zones. Ductile shearing took place at conditions of the lower greenschist facies with peak temperatures on the order of 300–350° based on comparison of plastic quartz and brittle feldspar microstructures, confirming a shallow crustal environment during faulting. Ductile shear strain was partitioned into two major shear zones in easternmost Maine—the Waite and Kellyland zones—but these zones converge toward the southwest. Megascopic, mesoscopic, and microscopic kinematic indicators confirm that fault motion in both zones was dominantly dextral strike-slip. Detailed mapping, especially in the plutonic rocks, reveals a complex ductile deformation history in the area where the Waite and Kellyland zones converge. Shear strain is broadly distributed in the rocks between Kellyland and Waite zones, and increases toward their junction. Multiple dextral high-strain zones oblique to both zones resemble megascopic synthetic c′ shear bands. Together with the Kellyland and Waite master shear zones, these define a megascopic S–C′ structure system produced in a regional-scale dextral strike-slip shear duplex that developed in the transition zone between the deeper (south-central Maine) and shallower (eastern Maine) segments of the Norumbega fault system. Granite plutons caught within the strike-slip shear duplex were intensely sheared and progressively smeared into long and narrow slivers identified by this study. The western lobe of the Deblois pluton and the Lucerne pluton have been recognized as the sources, respectively of the Third Lake Ridge and Morrison Ridge granite slivers. Restoration of both granite slivers to their presumed original positions yields approximately 25 km of dextral strike-slip displacement along only the Kellyland and synthetic ductile shear zones.
Vibratory Motion of a Body on an Orthotropic Half Plane

Three boundary-value problems for an orthotropic half plane are solved. They correspond to the cases studied in a previous investigation by Karasudhi, Keer, and Lee [9] for a body undergoing independent vertical, horizontal, and rocking motion. Dynamic stiffnesses are computed for three typical orthotropic materials: beryllium, ice, and a steel-mylar composite.
A review of 50 children with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.

Fifty children and adolescents with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome and related breathing disorders during sleep are reviewed. Subjects were subdivided according to whether their breathing irregularity was secondary to a medical problem (group I) or was the primary complaint (group II). The most common presenting complaint was excessive daytime somnolence; hyperactivity and antisocial behavior also were cited frequently. In 20% of cases, substantial personality changes were reported. Clinical symptoms included failure to thrive, abnormal weight for age, acute cardiac or cardiorespiratory failure, hypertension, and frequent upper airway infections. Continuous, heavy snoring was reported in all cases; disrupted nocturnal sleep, sleep walking, nightmares, and enuresis were common. All subjects, and 22 control patients, were monitored polygraphically during sleep for at least one night. Nocturnal sleep in the reported population was severely disrupted. A complete disappearance of stage 3 NREM sleep was noted in 86% of cases; REM sleep was decreased less. The management of these cases is reviewed. Eight patients received permanent tracheostomies. Thirty children had tonsillectomy and/or adenoidectomy (three later required tracheostomy). Non-surgical approaches also were used, particularly in group 1. Follow-up on these cases to date is presented.
Minding the Cs and Gs.

e t n a m f r t t Successful gene therapy requires the introduction of foreign DNA into host cells. Until recently, most investigators working in this field did not realize that the DNA sequences themselves contained immune stimulatory sequences, called CpG motifs, that activate immune responses as an unintended consequence of gene delivery. DNA containing CpG motifs activates both the innate and the acquired arms of immune responses (Fig. 1). CpGinduced innate immunity is exemplified by the rapid activation of NK cells, macrophages, and dendritic cells, with the concomitant production of proinflammatory cytokines. This response is a cause of the acute toxicity that has been observed in some gene therapy protocols (1). Further, this activation of dendritic cells, as well as direct effects of CpG DNA on B cells (2), initiates acquired immune responses, including the generation of antibody and cytotoxic T cell responses against delivered antigens (Fig. 1). Although bacterial DNA has been known to have immune stimulatory effects for many years (3), it has only been a few years since the discovery that these immune stimulatory effects depend on the presence in bacterial DNA of unmethylated CpG dinucleotides in particular base contexts and that these effects can be reproduced by synthetic oligonucleotides containing these “CpG motifs” (2). It is now generally accepted that immune activation by CpG motifs evolved as an immune defense against infection. CpG motifs are relatively rare and are heavily methylated in our own DNA. Thus, our DNA has a subtly different molecular pattern from prokaryotic DNAs, and because it lacks these unmethylated CpG “danger signals,” it does not activate this defense. Because gene therapy vectors are unmethylated, they would normally “look” like pathogen DNA to this primitive innate immune defense and will, therefore, trigger it. Although the molecular mechanism of CpG-induced immune activation is still incompletely understood, it appears that the DNA must enter host cells and bind to an intracellular CpG pattern recognition receptor, which then leads to the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases, NFkB, and other cell-signaling pathways (4). The immune effects of CpG dinucleotides depend critically on the flanking bases (Table 1). If the CG is preceded by a C and followed by a G, immune stimulation is almost abolished, and the activity of nearby stimulatory CpG motifs can be diminished (5). Because viral or nonviral gene therapy vectors contain hundreds of CpG motifs, which are responsible for at least some of the observed immunotoxicity, counter measures are urgently needed if the clinical development of gene therapy is to realize its full promise. Unfortunately, so
Optical transforms of epidermal Langerhans' cell granules.

The internal structure of the epidermal Langerhans' cell granule (LCG) was studied with optical transforms of electron micrographs representing 3 planes of sectioning. Its "limiting membrane" exhibited linear discontinuity with a periodicity of about 11nm similar to the structural repeats of the core (10.8 nm) in both the "outer" and the "internal leaflets." The average thickness of the nonvesicular part of the LCG was 55.7nm. Disarray present in the optical diffractograms was incompatible with crystallinic or paracrystallinic orderliness of the periodic structure in the LCG. The structure appeared as an assembly of 4 sheets of roughly hexagonally packed particles: The stacked particles of 2 sheets in orthogonal contact forming the core (13.2nm) were separated by an intermediate space (2.7nm) from the single sheet of the outer layer and staggered by one-half the particle diameter on cross-sections. The validity of this model was inferred from the similarity of optical transforms of model structures.
The crystal and molecular structure of (η5-cyclopentadienyl)(η4-2, 4-dimesityl-3, 5-diphenylcyclopentadienone)cobalt

Abstract The crystal structure of (η 5 -cyclopentadienyl)(η 4 -2, 4-dimesityl-3, 5-diphenylcyclopentadienone)cobalt, CoC 40 H 37 O, was determined from 3385 unique reflections obtained with a computer automated diffractometer. The unit cell is triclinic with a = 8.401(3), b = 9.339(1), c = 20.343(3) A ; α =95.39(1), β = 92.26(1), γ = 104.93(2)°; ϱ = 1.154 g cm −3 , space group (assumed) P 1 and Z = 2. Refinement of the data by the full matrix least squares procedure with anisotropic temperature factors for all non-hydrogen atoms and calculated positional and thermal parameters for hydrogen atoms resulted in a final R value of 0.044 (R W = 0.0550. The structure consists of two five membered rings π-bonded to cobalt. The cyclopentadienyl ring is planar with all five carbon atoms equidistant from the metal. However, the cyclopentadienone ring is decidedly nonplanar with the C 1 , C 2 , C 3 C 4 fragment making a dihedral angle of 10.9° with the mean plane formed by C 1 , C 5 , O, C 4 . Torsional angles show that the substituent rings are twisted about the cyclopentadienone ring so as to minimize steric interactions. However, the short hydrogen-hydrogen interactions are sufficient to create a sizeable barrier to rotation about the mesityl-cyclopentadienone bonds.
Vector spherical quasi-Gaussian vortex beams.

Model equations for describing and efficiently computing the radiation profiles of tightly spherically focused higher-order electromagnetic beams of vortex nature are derived stemming from a vectorial analysis with the complex-source-point method. This solution, termed as a high-order quasi-Gaussian (qG) vortex beam, exactly satisfies the vector Helmholtz and Maxwell's equations. It is characterized by a nonzero integer degree and order ($n$,$m$), respectively, an arbitrary waist ${w}_{0}$, a diffraction convergence length known as the Rayleigh range ${z}_{R}$, and an azimuthal phase dependency in the form of a complex exponential corresponding to a vortex beam. An attractive feature of the high-order solution is the rigorous description of strongly focused (or strongly divergent) vortex wave fields without the need of either the higher-order corrections or the numerically intensive methods. Closed-form expressions and computational results illustrate the analysis and some properties of the high-order qG vortex beams based on the axial and transverse polarization schemes of the vector potentials with emphasis on the beam waist.
Surviving the loss of federal dollars and mandate: The case of state planning agencies

Abstract This article uses recently collected data to describe the current status of criminal justice state planning agencies. It was found that many SPAs have survived the loss of federal funds and have undergone several changes while doing so. The data point to several factors potentially associated with survival. Among them are the SPA's ability to redirect efforts from federal to state priorities and to establish exchange and power-dependence interorganizational linkages. Linkage formation seems affected by the quality of SPA leadership and its access to the governor, by SPA placement in the state bureaucracy, and by the number and nature of SPA task responsibilities—policy-influencing tasks being more critical to survival than ministerial or clerical tasks. The findings have implications for future federal efforts to institute change-oriented agencies in state criminal justice systems and, potentially, implications more generally for agencies threatened with the loss of substantial federal dollars.
Multishot diffusion-weighted SPLICE PROPELLER MRI of the abdomen

Multishot FSE (fast spin echo)-based diffusion-weighted (DW)-PROPELLER (periodically rotated overlapping parallel lines with enhanced reconstruction) MRI offers the potential to reduce susceptibility artifacts associated with single-shot DW-EPI (echo-planar imaging) approaches. However, DW-PROPELLER in the abdomen is challenging due to the large field-of-view and respiratory motion during DW preparation. Incoherent signal phase due to motion will violate the Carr-Purcell-Meiboom-Gill (CPMG) conditions, leading to destructive interference between spin echo and stimulated echo signals and consequent signal cancellation. The SPLICE (split-echo acquisition of FSE signals) technique can mitigate non-CPMG artifacts in FSE-based sequences. For SPLICE, spin echo and stimulated echo are separated by using imbalanced readout gradients and extended acquisition window. Two signal families each with coherent phase properties are acquired at different intervals within the readout window. Separate reconstruction of these two signal families can avoid destructive phase interference. Phantom studies were performed to validate signal phase properties with different initial magnetization phases. This study evaluated the feasibility of combining SPLICE and PROPELLER for DW imaging of the abdomen. It is demonstrated that DW-SPLICE-PROPELLER can effectively mitigate non-CPMG artifacts and improve DW image quality and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) map homogeneity.
A communicative interaction analysis system for language-disordered children.

Abstract Nine language-disordered children were videotaped in counterbalanced dyads (pairs) during a directed play session. A communicative analysis system was used in which communicative interactions were scored for each dyad, then classified as either successful or unsuccessful. Subject dyads varied considerably in both interaction measures. More importantly, some subjects appeared to facilitate communicative interactions while others seemed to impede interactions. The percent of successful interactions correlated with three of four receptive and expressive language measures obtained, whereas number of interactions did not correlate significantly with any of these measures. The results suggest that communicative interaction analysis is a reliable and potentially useful procedure to aid in understanding language-disordered children.
Singular f-rings which are α-G.C.D. rings

Abstract This article introduces α-G.C.D. rings. Let α be a cardinal. A, a commutative ring with identity, is an α-G.C.D. ring if for each S ⊆ A of cardinality less than α there exists a g.c.d. for S, i.e., an element a ∈ A such that (s) ⩽ (a) for all s ∈ S and if b ∈ A also satisfies (s) ⩽ (b) for all s ∈ S then (a) ⩽ (b). In Section 2, it is shown that for a zero-dimensional space X, C(X, Z ) is an ω+-G.C.D. ring if and only if X is a P-space. In Section 3, it is shown that the validity of the statement: for every zero-dimensional space X, C(X, Z ) is an α-G.C.D. ring if and only if X is a Pα-space, is equivalent to the nonexistence of a measurable cardinal. An example is given of a zero-dimensional space X, and a cardinal α, for which C(X, Z ) is an α-G.C.D. ring yet X is not a Pα-space.
Effects of Estrogen and Progestogen Treatment on the Response of the Aorta of Male Rats to Hypertension: MORPHOLOGICAL AND CHEMICAL STUDIES

The effects of estrogen and progestogen treatment on the response of the thoracic aortic wall of male rats to hypertension were studied. Hypertension levels induced by clipping the renal artery were similar in untreated (H), estrogen-treated (E), and progestogen-treated (P) hypertensive groups. Hypertension of 8 weeks' duration caused increased wall thickness, increased calculated tangential tension, and increased medial area in groups H and P compared to normotensive controls (C), but wall thickness and medial area in groups E and C were similar despite the striking elevation in calculated tension and wall stress in group E. Chemical studies also showed that the absolute amounts of aortic collagen and elastin in groups H and P were similarly increased over group C values, but absolute amounts of both these fibrous proteins in vessels from group E were no different from those of group C. Noncollagenous alkali-soluble proteins in these vessels were present in absolute and relative amounts corresponding to the following rank: P > H > E > C. Thus, it appears that estrogen-treatment has a distinctly inhibitory effect and progestogen-treatment a slightly stimulatory effect on the aortic wall response to hypertension. Since hypertension-induced morphological and chemical changes have many similarities to features of arteriosclerotic plaque growth, recognition of these differences in hormonal effects on the response of the vessel wall to hypertension may have implications beyond their physiological role as sex hormones.
Did Ralph Nader Spoil Al Gore's Presidential Bid? A Ballot-Level Study of Green and Reform Party Voters in the 2000 Presidential Election

Did Ralph Nader Spoil Al Gore's Presidential Bid? A Ballot-Level Study of Green and Reform Party Voters in the 2000 Presidential Election
Confirmation by total synthesis of the revised structure of sporol : an application of cyclic thionocarbonate-initiated radical cyclization

The revised structure of sporol is confirmed by the synthesis of the racemate. Tri-n-butylstannyl radical induced fragmentation of a thionocarbonate and subsequent cyclization is employed to prepare a key component in the synthesis.
Effectiveness of dichlorvos vapor against Xenopsylla cheopis in containerized cargo.

Nenopsylla cheopis (Rothschild) is a potential source of Plague if present in containerized cargo being returned to the United States from plangue-endemic areas. As a control Measure against these fleas, dichlorvos-impregnated resin strips containing 18.6% toxicant were effective in simulated field tests conducted at Savannah, Georgia, in Conexes (steel containers of 295 feet3 capacity). Fleas placed on white rats were exposed to dichlorvos vapor for 3, 6, 24, or 48 hours in Conexes with and without simulated cargo. A 24-hour exposure to a 5- or 10 × 2.5 × 0.25-inch strip killed all the fleas when the temperature averaged75°F or above. With a 48-hour exposure the treatment was effective even at 60°F. At 48 hours dichlorvos concentrations of 0.02-0.08 µg/liter produced 90 to 100% kills. Shorter exposure periods required higher concentrations to give the same level of effectiveness. Addition of simulated cargo, which decreased the volume of air in the Conexes, did not result in higher mortalities. Greater mortality resulted when fleas were exposed on rats than when exposed in open vials.
Evaluation of chemical and photochemical oxidation processes for degradation of phosmet on lowbush blueberries (Vaccinium angustifolium).

Chemical and photochemical oxidation processes were evaluated for their ability to degrade residual phosmet on lowbush blueberries and for their role in the conversion of phosmet to phosmet oxona t...
Weighting, Partitioning, and Combining Characters in Phylogenetic Analysis

The number and diversity of characters available for phylogenetic analysis are in? creasing at a remarkable rate. Two general approaches have been advocated for inte? gration of data from different sources (e.g., morphology and molecules, different genes or regions of a given gene, etc.). One of these approaches is taxonomic congruence (Mickevich, 1978), which involves three steps (Jones et al., 1993): (1) partitioning of the data into different "types," (2) separate phylogenetic analyses of the data in each of the partitions, and (3) construction of a consensus tree that summarizes the topo? logical features shared among the trees that result from the separate analyses. The oth? er approach is that of character congruence (Kluge, 1989; also known as the combined or total evidence approach), which consists of simultaneous analysis of all the avail? able character data (Miyamoto, 1985; Kluge, 1989). Bull et al. (1993; hereafter referred to as Bull et al.) and de Queiroz (1993; hereafter referred to as de Queiroz) recently advo? cated a third approach, which incorporates features of both taxonomic and character
Put prevention into practice: Evaluation of program initiation in nine Texas clinical sites

Abstract Introduction: Put Prevention Into Practice (PPIP) is a program designed to improve the delivery of clinical preventive services by primary care providers, through the use of specific office materials for providers and clinic staff, as well as an educational booklet for patients. The purpose of this study was to identify potential predictors of successful initiation of PPIP among 9 Texas public health clinics participating in a demonstration project funded by the Texas Department of Health (TDH). Methods: The PRECEDE model was utilized as a theoretical framework for the study. A qualitative, case study methodology was employed, with structured interviews and open-ended questions asked of each site’s PPIP personnel. Information from the sites’ report to the TDH on the number of charts containing PPIP forms was also used for purposes of data triangulation. Results: Sites that initiated PPIP successfully were characterized by a medium patient load, the ability to serve low-resource populations, prior attempts to implement categorical programs, existence of a philosophy of prevention, and pre-implementation planning. Barriers to successful initiation were identified as systems-related, patient-related, and staff-related. Conclusions: We identified factors that might predict the successful initiation of PPIP in public health primary care settings. Implications of present findings for implementation of similar health promotion programs in clinical settings are discussed.
Dihydropyridines and verapamil inhibit voltage-dependent K+ current in isolated outer hair cells of the guinea pig

Abstract Dihydropyridines and verapamil are widely used as blockers of voltage-dependent Ca++ channels. In this work we show that these compounds can have a direct blocking action on a class of voltage-activated potassium channels. Voltage-dependent whole-cell currents were recorded from isolated guinea-pig outer hair cells (OHCs) under conditions such that the free Ca++ concentration in both the internal and external solutions was minimized. A substantial Ca++-independent K+ current was revealed by this procedure. Both conventional K+ and Ca++ channel ligands inhibited this current. The order of potency (in terms of the half inhibitory concentrations (IC50) of channel inhibitors) was: nimodipine (6 μM) > Bay K 8644 (8 μM) > verapamil (11 μM) >4-aminopyridine (22 μM) > nifedipine (32 μM) > quinine (49 μM) > TEA (10236 μM). Except for verapamil, these channel ligands reduced the size of the K+ currents without much alteration of the time course of the currents. In contrast, verapamil caused a more than 10-fold increase in the apparent inactivation rate of the K+ currents without significantly altering the activation of the currents. The observation that relatively low concentrations of calcium channel ligands can directly inhibit potassium currents in isolated OHCs indicates that caution should be taken when these pharmacological agents are used as tools for studying cochlear hair cell physiology.
Electrophoretic variation in the red swamp (Procambarus clarkii) and white river crayfish (P. acutus) (Decapoda: Cambaridae)☆

Abstract Nine populations of P. clarkii and five populations of P. acutus from the southern U.S. were sampled electrophoretically for genetic variation at 21 loci (20 in P. acutus ). Thirteen loci were polymorphic in at least one of the samples. Three loci (IDH-1, MDH-1 and 6PG) were diagnostic for species identification. P. clarkii exhibited very little intra- or interpopulation variability. The percentage of polymorphic loci (0.95 level) averaged only 1% in this species; heterozygosity averaged 0.009, ranging from 0.000 to 0.035. The mean Nei's genetic distance between population pairs was 0.001. P. acutus exhibited considerably more variability than P. clarkii . In P. acutus the percentage of polymorphic loci averaged 12% and heterozygosity averaged 0.039, ranging from 0.017 to 0.093. The mean genetic distance between population pairs was 0.026. P. acutus populations formed three geographical groups, whereas no grouping was apparent in P. clarkii . The contrast in heterozygosity and differentiation between the two species is hypothesized to be the result of the relatively recent radiation of P. clarkii westward across the Gulf Coastal Plain.
AN EFFECT OF ETHYLENE ON SWELLING OF ISOLATED MITOCHONDRIA

Mitochondria from rat livers and cauliflower buds were used as model systems to determine if ehtylene treatments applied in vitro could induce changes in properties of lipoprotein membranes leading to increased permeability. The rate of mitochondrial swelling under different treatments was followed by spectrophotometric measurements of changes in the scattering of light by mitochondrial suspensions. Ethylene treatments applied in buffered test solutions of KCl increased the rate of swelling; no increase was observed in sucrose solutions. Calcium ions and carbon tetrachloride caused more rapid swelling than did ethylene. Apparently, ethylene can induce a limited change in membrane permeability. If the mitochondrial membrane is a factor in the regulation of respiration in plant cells, the respiratory response induced in plants by ethylene may be the result of increased membrane permeability.
Time scale for the onset of Fickian diffusion in supercooled liquids.

We propose a quantitative measure of a time scale on which Fickian diffusion sets in for supercooled liquids, and we use Brownian dynamics computer simulations to determine the temperature dependence of this onset time in a Lennard-Jones binary mixture. The time for the onset of Fickian diffusion ranges between 6.5 and 31 times the $\ensuremath{\alpha}$ relaxation time (the $\ensuremath{\alpha}$ relaxation time is the characteristic relaxation time of the incoherent intermediate scattering function). The onset time increases faster with decreasing temperature than the $\ensuremath{\alpha}$ relaxation time. Mean-squared displacement at the onset time increases with decreasing temperature.
Snowmobile Injuries and Deaths in Children: A Review of National Injury Data and State Legislation

Background. Snowmobiling is a popular family sport, with annual expenditures over $9 billion. The size and speed of snowmobiles make them potentially dangerous to children. Pediatric snowmobile-related trauma has not been studied in the United States. Methods. We analyzed 291 pediatric snowmobile- related injuries and 75 deaths reported to the Consumer Product Safety Commission from 1990 to 1998. We reviewed snowmobile legislation in the states that reported at least 1 death to the Consumer Product Safety Commission during this time period. Results. The most common sites of injury were the extremities (48.8%) and the head, neck, and face (28.2%). Head and neck injuries were the predominant cause of death (66.7%). The most common diagnosis was contusion/abrasion (30.9%), followed by laceration (22%), fracture (20.3%), and strain/sprain (14.4%). Nonfatal injuries most often involved ejection from the snowmobile (26.1%), but striking a stationary object was the most common mechanism in fatal crashes. The review of state legislation revealed that few age restrictions or helmet laws exist. Children as young as 8 years old may legally operate a snowmobile in some states. Often, restrictions do not apply to snowmobile use on private property, where 43% of pediatric snowmobile-related injuries occurred. Conclusions. Head, neck, and face injuries are common nonfatal injuries and are the most common cause of death. State legislation often lacks age restrictions on private property, and laws requiring helmet use are rare. Legislators have not addressed the dangers of pediatric snowmobile-related injuries. Helmet laws and age restrictions similar to those enacted for motorcycle riders are necessary and appropriate.
Polarization dependence of RCS--A geometrical interpretation

The variation of back-scattered radar cross section (RCS) with common transmit-receive polarization P is given by a simple geometrical construction on the Poincare sphere.
Orientation tests for the detection of anions

Abstract An attempt has been made to find suitable microtechniques for the sensitive performance of orientation tests concerning the presence of anions.
Wide area assessment - Development and case study

Through government collaboration with industry, a robust and reliable WAA process has been developed, thoroughly tested and transitioned into wide use to support the assessment of DOD military facilities affected by military munitions. The WAA process provides defensible fence-to-fence characterization across many geographic site conditions utilizing an integrated suite of remote sensing tools. The WAA process is cost effective and supports several subsequent steps in the MEC clean-up process to optimize the use of geophysical techniques deployed via helicopter or ground based UXO detection systems. Based on the success at FLBGR and through the extensive subsequent refinement by USACE, Omaha District, WAA is now a robust, flexible and reliable model for assessment of large military munitions response sites.
Mitochondrial Fusion Protects against Neurodegeneration in the Cerebellum

Mutations in the mitochondrial fusion gene Mfn2 cause the human neurodegenerative disease Charcot-Marie-Tooth type 2A. However, the cellular basis underlying this relationship is poorly understood. By removing Mfn2 from the cerebellum, we established a model for neurodegeneration caused by loss of mitochondrial fusion. During development and after maturity, Purkinje cells require Mfn2 but not Mfn1 for dendritic outgrowth, spine formation, and cell survival. In vivo, cell culture, and electron microscopy studies indicate that mutant Purkinje cells have aberrant mitochondrial distribution, ultrastructure, and electron transport chain activity. In fibroblasts lacking mitochondrial fusion, the majority of mitochondria lack mitochondrial DNA nucleoids. This deficiency provides a molecular mechanism for the dependence of respiratory activity on mitochondrial fusion. Our results show that exchange of mitochondrial contents is important for mitochondrial function as well as organelle distribution in neurons and have important implications for understanding the mechanisms of neurodegeneration due to perturbations in mitochondrial fusion.
Gene regulatory factors in pancreatic development

The intensity of research on pancreatic development has increased markedly in the past 5 years, primarily for two reasons: we now know that the insulin-producing β-cells normally arise from an endodermally derived, pancreas-specified precursor cell, and successful transplants of islet cells have been performed, relieving patients with type I diabetes of symptoms for extended periods after transplantation. Combining in vitro β-cell formation from a pancreatic biopsy of a diabetic patient or from other stem-cell sources followed by endocrine cell transplantation may be the most beneficial route for a future diabetes therapy. However, to achieve this, a thorough understanding of the genetic components regulating the development of β-cells is required. The following review discusses our current understanding of the transcription factor networks necessary for pancreatic development and how several genetic interactions coming into play at the earliest stages of endodermal development gradually help to build the pancreatic organ. Developmental Dynamics 229:176–200, 2004. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Reversed dynamic slings: results of use in the treatment of post-traumatic flexion contractures of the elbow

Abstract We report our experience with reversed dynamic slings used in the treatment of post-traumatic flexion contractures of the elbow. There were 21 patients treated for deformities ranging from 35 ° to 70 ° (average 55 °). The flexion deformity after treatment varied from 25 ° to 45 ° (average 34.8 °), giving an average increase in range of movement of 39.1 per cent.
Graphene excitable laser for photonic spike processing

We demonstrate for the first time an excitable laser using graphene. This technology is a potential candidate for applications in novel all-optical devices for information processing and computing.
Electrophoretic patterns of pea and Fusarium solani proteins synthesized in vitro or in vivo which characterize the compatible and incompatible interactions

Abstract Protein synthesis in infected host pea endocarp tissue and in Fusarium solani formae speciales was examined 24–96 h after inoculation. This stage of the host-parasite interaction cytologically distinguishes compatible and incompatible reactions. The response of pea tissue 24–96 h after challenge with either F. solani f. sp. phaseoli (non-pathogenic on peas) or chitosan was associated with the in vivo synthesis of proteins designated as “resistance proteins”. Resistance proteins were also synthesized in vitro from messenger RNA isolated from resistant pea tissue. In contrast the syntheses of some of the resistance proteins, which are also selectively labelled in pea tissue within 4–8 h after inoculation with F. solani f. sp. pisi (a pea-pathogen), were progressively diminished 24–96 h after inoculation, a period of intensive pathogen growth. Furthermore, there were additional polypeptides synthesized both in vitro and in vivo which appeared to be produced during this stage of the incompatible reaction. In vitro protein synthesis, coded by mRNA extracted from the two forms of F. solani, was observed to differ qualitatively. When F. solani f. sp. phaseoli was germinated in contact with pea tissue, there were both quantitative decreases and increases in the in vitro synthesis of several fungal proteins, compared with germination and growth in a defined medium. It appears that specific, translatable mRNAs accumulate both in association with resistance and susceptibility in the host and in association with germination and infection by the pathogen.
In vitro cultivation of the mouse mammary tumor virus: Correlation of infectivity and morphology with radioisotope studies

Organ and cell cultures of BALB/cfC3H mammary tumor tissue release infectious MTV into the medium. Not only were bioassays of culture fluid for MTV positive, but also radioisotope-labelled MTV-RNA and MTV B-particle antigenicity could be detected in the culture fluid. In addition, type B virus particles were found budding from the cell membranes. Bioassays of control MTV-free BALB/c tumor cultures were negative, as were radio-chemical, immunological and morphological studies. Thus, infectivity could be correlated to the presence of labelled B particles in the cultures.
The synaptic vesicle cycle: a single vesicle budding step involving clathrin and dynamin.

Strong evidence implicates clathrin-coated vesicles and endosome-like vacuoles in the reformation of synaptic vesicles after exocytosis, and it is generally assumed that these vacuoles represent a traffic station downstream from clathrin-coated vesicles. To gain insight into the mechanisms of synaptic vesicle budding from endosome-like intermediates, lysed nerve terminals and nerve terminal membrane subfractions were examined by EM after incubations with GTP gamma S. Numerous clathrin-coated budding intermediates that were positive for AP2 and AP180 immunoreactivity and often collared by a dynamin ring were seen. These were present not only on the plasma membrane (Takei, K., P.S. McPherson, S.L.Schmid, and P. De Camilli. 1995. Nature (Lond.). 374:186-190), but also on internal vacuoles. The lumen of these vacuoles retained extracellular tracers and was therefore functionally segregated from the extracellular medium, although narrow connections between their membranes and the plasmalemma were sometimes visible by serial sectioning. Similar observations were made in intact cultured hippocampal neurons exposed to high K+ stimulation. Coated vesicle buds were generally in the same size range of synaptic vesicles and positive for the synaptic vesicle protein synaptotagmin. Based on these results, we suggest that endosome-like intermediates of nerve terminals originate by bulk uptake of the plasma membrane and that clathrin- and dynamin-mediated budding takes place in parallel from the plasmalemma and from these internal membranes. We propose a synaptic vesicle recycling model that involves a single vesicle budding step mediated by clathrin and dynamin.
Conducting Focus Groups in Developing Countries: Skill Training for Local Bilingual Facilitators

Many countries of the world are characterized by the use of two or more languages, and qualitative research is usually conducted in indigenous languages; however, bilingual facilitators often do not have any experience in research studies or in conducting focus group discussions. This article presents a 4-day skill-training workshop for local facilitators in which they learn the role of moderator, recorder, and observer and acquire research skills during role playing and during a pretest of the study population. Developed over several years of field experience, this technique has proven successful in collecting reliable data in situations when time is limited, when participants speak indigenous languages, and when bilingual facilitators have no background in research and lack focus group skills. The advantages of this training are that it is low cost and fast and permits a careful translation of the data. Moreover, because facilitators are involved in the collecting and analyzing of the data, their input ...
Preparation of Nanocrystalline Bismuth-Containing Powders through Solution-Phase Reductions

In an attempt to both prepare nanocrystalline bismuth and understand the fundamental chemistry behind the formation of this potentially interesting material, we have examined the reduction of BiCl3 in the presence of strongly coordinating solvents and ligands. These studies have resulted in the formation of bismuth powders with approximate average particle sizes of between 20 and 40 nm which exhibit large size distributions. The simultaneous reduction of both gold and bismuth precursors, done in an attempt to better control the final particle size, instead produces Au2Bi of comparable dimensions. There is no evidence that the ligands utilized in either of these systems remain bound to the final product. These nanocrystalline powders have been characterized through XRD and TEM, and full details of the synthesis are presented.
Trajectories of posttraumatic stress symptomatology in older persons affected by a large-magnitude disaster.

This study examined the nature and determinants of longitudinal trajectories of disaster-related posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in older persons affected by a large-magnitude disaster. Two hundred six adults age 60 or older (mean = 69, range = 60-92) who resided in the Galveston Bay area when Hurricane Ike struck in September 2008 completed telephone interviews an average of 3-, 6-, and 15-months after this disaster. Latent growth mixture modeling was employed to identify predominant trajectories of disaster-related PTSD symptoms over time; and pre-, peri-, and post-disaster determinants of these trajectories were then examined. A 3-class solution optimally characterized PTSD symptom trajectories, with the majority (78.7%) of the sample having low/no PTSD symptoms over all assessments (i.e., resistant); 16.0% having chronically elevated symptoms (i.e., chronic); and 5.3% having a delayed onset course of symptoms (i.e., delayed-onset). Lower education, greater severity of Hurricane Ike exposure (i.e., Ike-related physical illness or injury and high level of community destruction), and greater number of traumatic and stressful life events after Hurricane Ike, particularly financial problems, were associated with a chronic PTSD trajectory. Greater number of traumatic and stressful life events, particularly financial problems after Hurricane Ike, was also associated with a delayed-onset trajectory. These findings suggest that there are heterogeneous trajectories of disaster-related PTSD symptoms in older adults and that these trajectories have common and unique determinants. They also underscore the importance of prevention efforts designed to mitigate the deleterious effects of post-disaster stressors, most notably financial distress, in older persons affected by disasters. Language: en
Profiling Schistosoma mansoni development using Serial Analysis of Gene Expression (SAGE)

Despite the widespread use of chemotherapy and other control strategies over the past 50 years, transmission rates for schistosomiasis have changed little. Regardless of the approach used, future control efforts will require a more complete understanding of fundamental parasite biology. Schistosomes undergo complex development involving an alteration of parasite generations within a mammalian and freshwater molluscan host in the completion of its lifecycle. Little is known about factors controlling schistosome development, but understanding these processes may facilitate the discovery of new control methods. Therefore, our goal in this study is to determine global developmentally regulated and stage-specific gene expression in Schistosoma mansoni using serial analysis of gene expression (SAGE). We present a preliminary analysis of genes expressed during development and sexual differentiation in the mammalian host and during early larval development in the snail host. A number of novel, differentially expressed genes have been identified, both within and between the different developmental stages found in the mammalian and snail hosts.
Actin dependent CD95 internalization is specific for Type I cells

CD95 Type I and Type II cells differ in the requirement for mitochondrial contribution to the execution of apoptosis. Mitochondria are required to amplify the apoptosis signal only in Type II cells. Here we show that CD95 internalizes in an actin dependent manner only in Type I cells and that the two CD95 apoptosis cell types differ in their threshold of active caspase-8 required to execute apoptosis. The data suggest that CD95 is linked to the cytoskeleton in different ways in the two cell types and that they have adapted to different levels of active caspase-8 generated at the activated receptor.
Why is There Still Racism if There is No Such Thing as "Race"?

This presidential address is keyed to the exhibition “All of Us Are Related, Each of Us Is Unique.” It reveals that there are no biological barriers between the 5.7 billion human beings that today inhabit the earth We all have the same ancestors and the genetic diversity of contemporary human populations reflects the paths followed by our ancestors in the course of human migrations over the past 100,000 years. I assert that there is simply no such thing as “white people”, “black people”, “yellow people”, or the like, except as social constructs. In a world in which intergroup hostility has long been based on erroneous beliefs in biologically determined characteristics of so-called “races”, our habitual way of thinking about how we relate to each other needs seriously to be re-examined.
Crisis-to-crisis: It's all negotiations

This case was developed for use in a course on the superintendency. It aims to help students recognize that there is more to dealing with a crisis than the immediate situation. A series of crises are presented wherein the actions taken in a situation are likely to affect one's effectiveness in other situations. The situations center on contract enforcement, payroll mistakes, environmental disaster, and contract negotiations during a district's financial crisis. Students must consider the impact of previous suggested actions on dealing with each new crisis.