cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abutment pressure distribution pattern and size optimization of coal pillar under repeated mining: a case study

Abutment pressure distribution is the decisive factor affecting the stability of coal pillars, which has an important significance in realizing safe and efficient mining. In recent years, many working faces adopting double-roadway arrangement have appeared in the western mining areas in China, which makes coal pillar abutment pressure complex under repeated mining. In order to reveal the distribution pattern of coal pillar abutment pressure under repeated mining, the evolution of a stress field of surrounding rock was analyzed by a numerical method based on the actual situation of a double-roadway arranged mining roadway in Longde Coal Mine, and the distribution characteristics of coal pillar abutment pressure were revealed. The reasonable width of the section coal pillar was given further. The research results showed that (1) the surrounding rock stress is transferred to the working face coal body and section coal pillar between roadways under the influence of mining advance the working face, while the stress is transferred to the section coal pillar between roadways under the mining influence behind the working face. The presence of goaf in the upper segment makes the stress distribution of surrounding rock more complicated. (2) The distribution of coal pillar abutment pressure shows a staged change. The influence of mining advance the working face on the peak abutment pressure is notable, which highlights the significance of temporary reinforcement support in the advanced section of the working face. (3) After the mining of the upper working face is finished, the yield damage width of the coal pillar on the side of the goaf was about 4.0 m. During the second mining period, the yield damage width of the coal pillar was totally about 7.0 m. (4) Taking into account factors such as safe production and economic rationality, it was finally determined that the reasonable section coal pillar width is 12.5 m for this mine.
Effect of Alkaloids Produced by Acremonium coenophialum in Fescue on Vascular Function in Cattle

The purpose of our studies have been to evaulate the venoconstrictive potential in cattle of alkaloids found in toxic fescue, using an isolated vessel model (lateral saphenous vein and dorsal metatarsal artery). The method used in our studies previously has been described (Solomons, Oliver, and Linnabary, Am. J. Vet. Res., 50:235-238, 1989).
Personality profile of risk-takers: An examination of the Big Five facets.

Abstract. Risk-taking is a long-standing area of inquiry among psychologists and economists. In this paper, we examine the personality profile of risk-takers in two independent samples. Specificall...
A reply to: ‘Impact of biologic therapies on risk of major adverse cardiovascular events in patients with psoriasis: systematic review and meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials'

We read with interest the recent article by Rungapiromnan et al. that utilized a meta-analysis to compile data from 38 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to determine if there is an association between biologic therapies and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) in patients with plaque psoriasis. In the current study, only 10 MACEs were reported over nine of the RCTs examined. The reported absolute values of the Peto odds ratios are worthy of attention. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Dendritic cell PIK3C3/VPS34 controls the pathogenicity of CNS autoimmunity independently of LC3-associated phagocytosis.

PIK3C3/VPS34 is a key player in macroautophagy/autophagy and MAP1LC3/LC3-associated phagocytosis (LAP), which play critical roles in dendritic cell (DC) function. In this study, we assessed the contribution of PIK3C3 to DC function during experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), an animal model of multiple sclerosis (MS). We found that Pik3c3-deficient DCs exhibit attenuated capacity to reactivate encephalitogenic T cells in the central nervous system, leading to reduced incidence and severity of EAE in DC-specific Pik3c3-deficient mice. Additionally, animals with a DC-specific deficiency in Rb1cc1/Fip200 but not Rubcn were protected against EAE, suggesting that the EAE phenotype of DC-specific Pik3c3-deficient mice is due to defective canonical autophagy rather than LAP. Collectively, our studies have revealed a critical role of PIK3C3 in DC function and the pathogenicity of these cells during EAE, with important implications for the development of immunotherapies for autoimmune diseases such as MS.
Quantum PUF for Security and Trust in Quantum Computing

Quantum computing is a promising paradigm to solve computationally intractable problems. Various companies such as, IBM, Rigetti and D-Wave offer quantum computers using a cloud-based platform that possess several interesting features namely, (i) quantum hardware with various number of qubits and coupling maps exist at the cloud end that offer different computing capabilities; (ii) multiple hardware with identical coupling maps exist in the suite; (iii) coupling map of larger hardware with more number of qubits can fit the coupling map of many smaller hardware; (iv) the quality of each of the hardware is distinct; (v) user cannot validate the origination of the result obtained from a quantum hardware. In other words, the user relies on the scheduler of the cloud provider to allocate the requested hardware; (vi) the queue of quantum programs at the cloud end is typically long and maximizing the throughput, which is the key to reducing costs and helping the scientific community in their explorations. The above factors motivate a new threat model with following possibilities: (a) in future, less-trustworthy quantum computers from 3rd parties can allocate poor quality hardware to save on cost or towards satisfying their falsely-advertised qubit or quantum hardware specifications; (b) the workload scheduling algorithm could have a bug or malicious code segment which will try to maximize throughput at the cost of allocation to poor fidelity hardware. Such bugs are possible for trustworthy providers; (c) a rogue employee in trusted cloud vendor could try to sabotage the vendor’s reputation by degrading the user compute fidelity just by tampering with the scheduling algorithm or rerouting the program; (d) a rogue employee can steal information by redirecting the programs to a 3rd party quantum hardware where they have full control. If the allocated hardware is inferior in quality, the user will suffer from poor quality result or longer convergence time. We propose two flavors of a Quantum Physically Unclonable Function (QuPUF) to address this issue- one based on superposition and another based on decoherence. Our experiments on real quantum hardware reveal that temporal variations in qubit quality can degrade the quality of the proposed QuPUF. We add a parametric rotation to the QuPUF for stability. Experiments on real IBM quantum hardware show that the proposed QuPUF can achieve inter-die Hamming Distance (HD) of 55% and intra-HD as low as 4%, as compared to ideal cases of 50% and 0% respectively. The proposed QuPUFs can also be used as a standalone solution for any other application.
Economic Inequality, the Digital Divide, and Remote Learning During COVID-19

Wealth and education establish a cycle of intergenerational inequality. Wealthier households can provide more educational opportunities for their children, who then will have more chances to build ...
Incorporating shear stress ratio and load cycle number in a simple permanent deformation model for unbound material

Abstract A power model (e = A. NB) to estimate permanent strain (e) from single-stage repeated load triaxial (RLT) tests can simulate both shakedown and incremental collapse. When the exponent B 1, the same plot concaves upwards, mimicking that of a material that incrementally collapses. A power model that relates A and B to the shear stress ratio (SR = 1/factor of safety), a measure of how far the RLT specimen is away from static failure, is proposed. Use of SR as an independent variable in a PD model is advantageous because it embodies the geomaterial’s gradation, physical state, suction, stress level, shear strength and margin of safety against static failure. No other parameters bar N and SR are needed, enabling the number of independent variables and hence model complexity to be kept low. This model was applied to a virgin and a recycled concrete aggregate utilizing 2 independent variables (N and SR) with A and B both functions of SR. A rational procedure to estimate the mobilized shear stress is presented and a methodology to quantify SR that considers non-linearity of the Mohr-Coulomb failure envelope and cohesion due to suction in the unsaturated RLT specimens is proposed; such considerations have been absent in previous models. For the materials tested, A was found to decrease non-linearly with increasing SR while the relationship between B and SR is quite linear. The resulting model was able to simulate the RLT test data quite well with four fitting parameters. The fitting parameters can be easily derived using linear regression on a spreadsheet and were all statistically significant with a confidence level exceeding 95%. Once B is known, the shakedown limit can be estimated by setting B
EntQA: Entity Linking as Question Answering

A conventional approach to entity linking is to first find mentions in a given document and then infer their underlying entities in the knowledge base. A well-known limitation of this approach is that it requires finding mentions without knowing their entities, which is unnatural and difficult. We present a new model that does not suffer from this limitation called EntQA, which stands for Entity linking as Question Answering. EntQA first proposes candidate entities with a fast retrieval module, and then scrutinizes the document to find mentions of each candidate with a powerful reader module. Our approach combines progress in entity linking with that in open-domain question answering and capitalizes on pretrained models for dense entity retrieval and reading comprehension. Unlike in previous works, we do not rely on a mention-candidates dictionary or large-scale weak supervision. EntQA achieves strong results on the GERBIL benchmarking platform.
Optimization of the magnetic horn for the nuSTORM non-conventional neutrino beam using the genetic algorithm

Abstract This paper describes the strategy for optimizing the magnetic horn for the neutrinos from STORed Muons (nuSTORM) facility. The nuSTORM magnetic horn is the primary collection device for the secondary particles generated by bombarding a solid target with 120 GeV protons. As a consequence of the non-conventional beamline designed for nuSTORM, the requirements on the horn are different from those for a conventional neutrino beamline. At nuSTORM, muons decay while circulating in the storage ring, and the detectors are placed downstream of the production straight so as to be exposed to the neutrinos from muon decay. nuSTORM aims at precisely measuring the neutrino cross sections, and providing a definitive statement about the existence of sterile neutrinos. The nuSTORM horn aims at focusing the pions into a certain phase space so that more muons from pion decay can be accepted by the decay ring. The paper demonstrates a numerical method that was developed to optimize the horn design to gain higher neutrino flux from the circulating muons. A Genetic Algorithm (GA) was applied to the simultaneous optimization of the two objectives in this study. The application of the technique discussed in this paper is not limited to either the nuSTORM facility or muon based facilities, but can be used for other neutrino facilities that use magnetic horns as collection devices.
Chapter VI The Application of Fluorescent Antibody Techniques to the Identification of Actinomyces and Arachnia

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the application of fluorescent antibody techniques to the identification of Actinomyces and Arachnia . The identification of Actinomyces and Arachnia isolates is often difficult because of problems in obtaining and maintaining pure cultures, a requirement for special media and procedures, such as end-product analysis, and the need for an extensive set of biochemical tests. Identification is further complicated by the wide range of strain variation within each species. Numerous reports since 1960 indicate that the fluorescent antibody (FA) technique is a convenient tool for species identification of Actinomyces . A variety of media has been used for growing Actinomyces to be used as immunizing antigens. The regular use of available FA techniques in the diagnosis of actinomycosis can provide a more accurate diagnosis for the individual patient and epidemiological data, which is now lacking. With the increasing interest in oral microbiology, caries, and periodontal disease, it should be pointed out that FA is a valuable tool for studying oral ecology.
Efficient processing of XML twig pattern: a novel one-phase holistic solution

Modern twig query evaluation algorithms usually first generate individual path matches and then stitch them together (through a "merge" operation) to form twig matches. In this paper, we propose a one-phase holistic twig evaluation algorithm based on the TwigStack algorithm. The proposed method applies a novel stack structure to preserve the holisticity of the twig matches. Without generating intermediate path matches, our method avoids the storage of individual path matches and the path merge process. Experimental results confirm the advantages of our approach.
To have and have not: Household determinants of food insecurity by age in a sample of Iowa food pantry recipients

As the United States population ages and their healthcare needs grow it is necessary to examine health-related issues experienced by this population. Food insecurity is one such issue impacting not only older adults but the general population as well. Working to better understand determinants of food insecurity and what factors may protect against it may help in the fight against it. Cross-sectional data from a survey studying food pantry clients living in four Iowa counties were used to (1) explore what household characteristics may increase the likelihood of experiencing food insecurity and (2) identify what resources may protect against it. The sample was divided into two age groups, those younger than age sixty and those age sixty and older, allowing for a deeper understanding of how food security may differ between age groups. Binary logistic regression was performed to assess the relationship between the dependent variable, household food security status, and multiple independent variables including health status, income, home ownership, employment, employment of household members, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participation, housing assistance participation, and food pantry clients. Control variables included in the regression analysis were total number of household members, and the age, gender, and education of the respondent. Hypotheses were partially confirmed. Independent variables significantly related to the household‘s food security status included the health status of the respondent, household income, SNAP participation, food pantry participation, receiving housing assistance, and the gender and age of the respondent. Respondent health status was the only independent variable significant for both age groups potentially indicating the costs of meeting one‘s health care needs may impact
True Grit: Trait-level Perseverance and Passion for Long-term Goals Predicts Effectiveness and Retention among Novice Teachers.

Background/ContextSurprisingly little progress has been made in linking teacher effectiveness and retention to factors observable at the time of hire. The rigors of teaching, particularly in low-in...
DNAPL remediation with in situ chemical oxidation using potassium permanganate. Part I. Mineralogy of Mn oxide and its dissolution in organic acids.

Abstract Previous studies on in situ chemical oxidation of trichloroethylene (TCE) with potassium permanganate indicated that the solid reaction product, Mn oxide, could reduce the permeability of the porous medium and impact the success of dense non-aqueous phase liquid (DNAPL) removal. In order to address the issue of permeability reduction caused by precipitation, this study investigated the mineralogy of Mn oxides and the possibilities of removing the solid precipitates by dissolution. The solid reaction product from the oxidation of TCE by permanganate is semi-amorphous potassium-rich birnessite, which has a layered mineral structure with an interlayer spacing of 7.3 A. The chemical formula is K 0.854 Mn 1.786 O 4 ·1.55H 2 O. It has a relatively small specific surface area at 23.6±0.82 m 2 /g. Its point of zero charge (pzc) was measured as 3.7±0.4. This birnessite is a relatively active species and could participate in various reactions with existing organic and inorganic matter. The dissolution kinetics of Mn oxide was evaluated in batch experiments using solutions of citric acid, oxalic acid, and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA). Initial dissolution rates were determined to be 0.126 mM/m 2 /h for citric acid, 1.35 mM/m 2 /h for oxalic acid, and 5.176 mM/m 2 /h for EDTA. These rates compare with 0.0025 mM/m 2 /h for nitric acid at pH=2. Organic acids dissolve Mn oxide quickly. Reaction rates increase with acid concentration, as tested with citric acid. The dissolution mechanism likely involves proton and ligand-promoted dissolution and reductive dissolution. Citric and oxalic acid can induce ligand-promoted dissolution, while EDTA can induce ligand-promoted and reductive dissolutions. At low pH, proton-promoted dissolution seems to occur with all the acids tested, but this process is not dominant. Reductive dissolution appears to be the most effective process in dissolving the solid, followed by ligand-promoted dissolution. These experiments indicate the significant potential in using these organic acids to remove precipitates formed during the oxidation reaction.
Conjugate Gradient and Quasi-Newton

Our discussion of Newton’s method has highlighted both its strengths and its weaknesses. Related algorithms such as scoring and Gauss-Newton exploit special features of the objective function \(f(\boldsymbol{x})\) in overcoming the defects of Newton’s method. We now consider algorithms that apply to generic functions \(f(\boldsymbol{x})\). These algorithms also operate by locally approximating \(f(\boldsymbol{x})\) by a strictly convex quadratic function. Indeed, the guiding philosophy behind many modern optimization algorithms is to see what techniques work well with quadratic functions and then to modify the best techniques to accommodate generic functions.
Are the Foreign Born a Source of Strength for U.S. Science

We investigated whether foreign-born and foreign-educated scientists and engineers are disproportionately represented among individuals making exceptional contributions to science and engineering in the United States. Using six criteria, including election to the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering, we found that, in almost all instances, contributors are disproportionately foreign born and foreign educated.
Neurobiological consequences of traumatic brain injury

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a worldwide public health problem typically caused by contact and inertial forces acting on the brain. Recent attention has also focused on the mechanisms of injury associated with exposure to blast events or explosions. Advances in the understanding of the neuropathophysiology of TBI suggest that these forces initiate an elaborate and complex array of cellular and subcellular events related to alterations in Ca++ homeostasis and signaling. Furthermore, there is a fairly predictable profile of brain regions that are impacted by neurotrauma and the related events. This profile of brain damage accurately predicts the acute and chronic sequelae that TBI survivors suffer from, although there is enough variation to suggest that individual differences such as genetic polymorphisms and factors governing resiliency play a role in modulating outcome. This paper reviews our current understanding of the neuropathophysiology of TBI and how this relates to the common clinical presentation of neurobehavioral difficulties seen after an injury.
Cellular immunity to heterologous erythrocytes in vitro: I. The role of surface-adherent cells and specific mediators in an effector mechanism

Abstract An in vitro assay measuring spleen cell-mediated destruction of heterologous erythrocytes has been developed. The assay is immunospecific, complement independent, and requires both antibody-releasing and surface-adherent cells. An immunoglobulin-like mediator is released as a part of the reaction. This mediator is apparently produced (or released) by nonadherent cells and interacts with surface-adherent cells to accomplish specific target cell lysis.
Metal‐to‐Metal and Metal‐to‐Composite Bonded and Bolted Structural Joints

To provide basic understanding of joints in aerospace composite structures, engineering approaches in designing composite bonded and mechanically fastened joints are described in this chapter. For each joint configurations, design and application aspect in aerospace structures were explained. Fundamental methods behind theoretical derivation of each joint configuration are explained. As an example for a real-life design implementation of hybrid joints, integrated analysis approach using finite element analysis is presented at the end of chapter. Keywords: composite bonded; bolted joints; A4EI; shear stress distribution; bearing; bypass load approach; composite failure; finite element analysis; joint analysis
Genotypic variation in foundation species generates network structure that may drive community dynamics and evolution

Although genetics in a single species is known to impact whole communities, little is known about how genetic variation influences species interaction networks in complex ecosystems. Here, we examine the interactions in a community of arthropod species on replicated genotypes (clones) of a foundation tree species, Populus angustifolia James (narrowleaf cottonwood), in a long-term, common garden experiment using a bipartite "genotype-species" network perspective. We combine this empirical work with a simulation experiment designed to further investigate how variation among individual tree genotypes can impact network structure. Three findings emerged: (1) the empirical "genotype-species network" exhibited significant network structure with modularity being greater than the highly conservative null model; (2) as would be expected given a modular network structure, the empirical network displayed significant positive arthropod co-occurrence patterns; and (3) furthermore, the simulations of "genotype-species" networks displayed variation in network structure, with modularity in particular clearly increasing, as genotypic variation increased. These results support the conclusion that genetic variation in a single species contributes to the structure of ecological interaction networks, which could influence eco-ogical dynamics (e.g., assembly and stability) and evolution in a community context.
Efficacy combined with specified ingredients: a new direction for empirically supported addiction treatment.

Aims With the increased need for sanctioning behavioral addiction treatments to guide key stakeholders, focus has shifted to developing and applying criteria for establishing empirically supported treatments (EST). Among the many criteria offered, demonstration of incremental efficacy over a placebo or comparison in at least two independent randomized clinical trials (RCTs) has been the gold standard. While necessary, the present EST criteria are not sufficient. The present work: (i) argues for empirically supported specificity in behavioral addiction treatment, (ii) explores the limitations of empirical support for EST efficacy without evidence of specificity and (iii) discusses implications and recommendations for ultimately raising the bar for status as an EST. Methods The authors review relevant literature on ESTs, evidence-based practice and clinical trial design in the addictions and related disciplines. Results We clarify that the additional bar of specificity does not denote uniqueness in causal processes and we argue that specificity should not be inferred only via the nature of the experimental contrast. Rather, a treatment has specificity if its active ingredients are identified and validated empirically as predictors of subsequent treatment-related outcomes. Within this new definition, there are implications for clinical research and other key stakeholders. Conclusions A heightened centrality of empirically supported addiction treatment ingredients moving forward will advance clinical knowledge and evaluation methodology at a far greater pace.
School-based interventions for childhood and adolescent obesity

The purpose of this article was to review population-based interventions for preventing childhood obesity carried out in school settings published between 1999 and 2004. A total of 11 such interventions were found from USA and UK. The grade of the interventions was from kindergarten, primary grades, middle school to high school. Most of these interventions targeted both physical activity and nutrition behaviours although there were some interventions that focused on only one dimension such as TV watching or restricting drinking of carbonated drinks or increasing physical education time in the school. Most of the interventions were based on some behavioural theory and the most popular theory was social cognitive theory. Most of the interventions focused on individual level behaviour change approaches. Most of the interventions focused on short-term changes right after the intervention. On the whole, interventions resulted in modest changes in behaviours and mixed results with indicators of obesity. TV watching seems to be most modifiable behaviour, followed by physical activity and nutrition behaviours. The outcome measures such as lowered BMI (body mass index), triceps skin-fold thickness and waist circumference have not been measured by all studies. Recommendations for enhancing the effectiveness of school-based childhood obesity interventions are presented.
Radiation and transposon-induced genetic damage in Drosophila melanogaster: X-ray dose-response and synergism with DNA-repair deficiency.

Abstract The interaction of X-ray-induced and transposon-induced damage was investigated in P-M hybrid dysgenesis in Drosophila melanogaster. The X-ray dose-response of 330–1320 rad was monitored for sterility, fecundity and partial X/Y chromosome loss among F2 progeny derived from the dysgenic cross of M strain females ×P strain males (cross A) and its reciprocal (cross B), using a weaker and the standard Harwich P strain subline. The synergistic effect of P element activity and X-rays on sterility was observed only in cross A hybrids and the dose-response was nonlinear in hybrids derived from the strong standard reference Harwich subline, Hw. This finding suggests that the lesions induced by both mutator systems which produce the synergistic effect are two-break events. The effect of increasing dose on the decline of fecundity was synergistic, but linear, in hybrids of either subline. There was no interaction evident and thus no synergism in X/Y nondisjunction and in partial Y chromosome loss measured by the loss of the Bs marker alone or together with the y+ marker. Interaction was detected in the loss of the y+ marker alone from the X and Y chromosomes. The possible three-way interaction of X-rays (660 rad), post-replication repair deficiency and P element mobility was assessed by measuring transmission distortion in dysgenic males derived from the Π2 P strain. X-Irradiation of spermatids significantly increased the preferential elimination of the P-element-bearing second chromosome in mei-41, DNA-repair-deficient dysgenic males, but had no effect in their DNA-repair-proficient brothers. These findings indicate that the post-replication repair pathway is required for processing lesions induced by the combined effect of P element mobility and X-rays, and that the unrepaired lesions ultimately lead to chromosome loss.
Renal segmental microvascular responses to ANG II in AT1A receptor null mice

The relative contributions of AT1A and AT1B receptors to afferent arteriolar autoregulatory capability and afferent and efferent arteriolar responses to ANG II are not known. Experiments were condu...
Tectonic interpretation of the westernmost part of the Ouachita-Marathon (Hercynian) orogenic belt, west Texas–Mexico

The disposition of the Ouachita-Marathon orogenic belt as it extends through west Texas into Mexico has been the subject of diverse interpretations. However, an explanation developed earlier for the general shape of the Ouachita-Marathon orogenic belt in the southern United States, which was based on the relation of craton margin to direction of Paleozoic plate motion, is adequate to account for the belt9s puzzling disposition upon entering Mexico. It is suggested that crustal thickness, gravity, and geologic data indicate that the orogen follows the shape of the craton margin, which swings around a reentrant south of the Marathon region and extends southward into Mexico. In Mexico the orogen apparently ends in association with the westernmost of the Ouachita-Marathon zones of transform offset.
Investigating suspected scaphoid fracture

The choice of imaging modality for suspected scaphoid fracture depends on factors such as age, patient activity, cost, and availability of services
The application of expert systems to the management of technology

Technology management must be improved if the US is to cope in an aggressively competitive international marketplace. It is becoming increasingly clear that investing in technologically advanced plant and equipment alone is not enough to compete successfully. To raise levels of efficiency and effectiveness in technology management, firms must develop a multi-dimensional approach to solving problems associated with manufacturing process. A way to capture scenarios for decision-making is through expert systems—programs that have wide bases of knowledge in restricted domains and utilize complex inferential reasoning to perform tasks that human beings could accomplish, but less efficiently. These systems contain a great deal of knowledge about a specific problem areas and disciplines. They also allow expertise to be distributed throughout the firms, raising competence levels and the productivity of non-experts.
Portals for Undergraduate Research in Geology Curricula

Research at the undergraduate level should be encouraged—engagement of undergraduates in research early in their academic careers builds an environment of investigation in the department that attracts majors and promotes peer mentoring of research practices [see Judge et al., 2012].
Mortality rate versus age

A theory of the variation of mortality rate with age is presented. It leads to the logistic law, which levels off at old ages.
Neuroendocrine aspects of the response to stress

Disruptions in homeostasis (ie, stress) place demands on the body that are met by the activation of 2 systems, the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and the sympathetic nervous system (SNS). Stressor-induced activation of the HPA axis and the SNS results in a series of neural and endocrine adaptations known as the "stress response" or "stress cascade." The stress cascade is responsible for allowing the body to make the necessary physiological and metabolic changes required to cope with the demands of a homeostatic challenge. Here we discuss the key elements of the HPA axis and the neuroendocrine response to stress. A challenge to homeostasis (a stressor) initiates the release of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) from the hypothalamus, which in turn results in release of adrenocortiotropin hormone (ACTH) into general circulation. ACTH then acts on the adrenal cortex resulting in release of a species-specific glucocorticoid into blood. Glucocorticoids act in a negative feedback fashion to terminate the release of CRH. The body strives to maintain glucocorticoid levels within certain boundaries and interference at any level of the axis will influence the other components via feedback loops. Over- or underproduction of cortisol can result in the devastating diseases of Cushing's and Addison's, respectively, but less severe dysregulation of the HPA axis can still have adverse health consequences. These include the deposition of visceral fat as well as cardiovascular disease (eg, atherosclerosis). Thus, chronic stress with its physical and psychological ramifications remains a persistent clinical problem for which new pharmacological treatment strategies are aggressively sought. To date, treatments have been based on the existing knowledge concerning the brain areas and neurobiological substrates that subserve the stress response. Thus, the CRH blocker, antalarmin, is being investigated as a treatment for chronic stress because it prevents CRH from having its ultimate effect-a protracted release of glucocorticoids. New therapeutic strategies will depend on the discovery of novel therapeutic targets at the cellular and intracellular level. Advances in molecular biology provide the tools and new opportunities for identifying these therapeutic targets.
Cell Therapy for Left Ventricular Dysfunction: An Overview for Cardiac Clinicians

Cell therapies specifically targeting heart failure could greatly decrease morbidity and burgeoning health care costs worldwide. Due to the great number of cell types being investigated, navigating the cardiovascular regeneration field can be difficult. This brief review gives an overview of the main cell types being explored for cardiac cell therapy. These include populations from extra-cardiac sources (skeletal myoblasts, bone marrow derived mononuclear cells, endothelial progenitor cells, bone marrow or adipose derived mesenchymal stem cells and embryonic or induced pluripotent stem cells as well as newly discovered cardiac stem cell populations (isl1(+), c-kit(+), sca1(+), sca1(+)/pdgfrα(+), cardiosphere derived, cardiac side-population and epicardium derived cells). Although clinical trials using both groups of cell sources have been performed, the vast majority of studies have used bone marrow mononuclear cells. The current wave of clinical trials includes large studies refining specifics of bone marrow mononuclear cell therapy and early phase trials of mesenchymal stem cell and cardiac stem cell populations. Embryonic stem cell derived therapies are being studied in large animal models with the aim of swift progression to clinical trials. Lessons learnt from the intense investigation in this infant field have resulted in rapid translational progress and it is likely that several clinical products/protocols for cardiac repair will be available in the not too distant future.
Negative life experiences and the development of cluster C personality disorders: a cognitive perspective

Early negative experiences have long been thought to play an important role in the development of personality disorders. Most of the literature regarding these early life experiences has focused on borderline personality disorder, with only occasional focus on other personality disorders. Utilizing cognitive theory of personality disorders (Beck et al., 2004), the authors conceptualize cluster C personality disorders (avoidant, dependent, and obsessive-compulsive). They then critically review the relevant literature on early negative life experiences and later development of these disorders to determine whether the theory is supported by the empirical data. The theory regarding avoidant and dependent personality disorders has limited support, whereas data relating to obsessive-compulsive personality disorder are much weaker. Implications and future research suggestions are discussed.
Psychosocial Adaptation to Chronic Illness and Disability: A Preliminary Study of its Factorial Structure

This study examined the factorial structure of psychosocial adaptation to chronic illness and disability in a sample of 313 individuals who sustained spinal cord injury (SCI). Three models were examined. The first model tested the hypothesis that psychosocial adaptation is composed of a single, global factor, in which positive (adaptive) and negative (nonadaptive) reactions define two opposing poles of the same dimension. The second model tested the validity of two distinguishable factors, representing adaptive and nonadaptive dimensions. The third model examined the relationship between the 2-factor model and a third dimension, that of denial. The data from the instruments measuring psychosocial adaptation to trauma and disability (the Reactions to Impairment and Disability Inventory and the Purdue Posttraumatic Stress Disorder-Revised) were submitted to a series of confirmatory factor analyses, and the results from the goodness of fit tests and fit indices provided strong support to the validity of the latter two models. The findings indicated that the structure of adaptation to SCI can be best conceptualized as representing two, moderately linked but clearly distinguishable, factors and that the construct of denial of disability further elucidates our understanding of the structure of adaptation to loss of body integrity.
Immunoglobulin allotypes in peoples from five villages in Nepal

Serum samples from people living in three villages (Simikot, Thymkyn and Yakba) in the Karnali River basin in extreme northwest Nepal and from people living in two villages (Dangrizong and Phalag) in the upper Kali Gandaki River basin in central Nepal were tested for the immunoglobulin allotypes Gm (1,2,3,5,6,10,11,13,14,17,21,24,26) and Inv(Km)(1). The people from one of the villages (Simikot) are Caucasoid in appearance and have cultural, linguistic and religious ties to southern Nepal and India. Those from the four other villages are Mongoloid in appearance and have cultural, linguistic and religious ties to Tibet. The Gm phenotype and haplotype arrays and Inv1 frequency for the samples from Simikot were, as expected, typically Caucasoid. The samples from Thymkyn and Yakba, on the other hand showed no evidence of being from Mongoloid and not Caucasoid individuals, except for the absence of Gm(3,5,10,11,13,14,26) samples. Their phenotypes could be explained by postulating either the Gm3,5,10,11,13,14,26 haplotype found among Caucasoids or the Gm1,3,5,10,11,13,14,26 haplotype found among Mongoloids. The latter is assumed to be present, because of the Mongoloid appearance of the donors of the samples. Larger numbers of samples, preferably from families, are needed to decide which of these alternatives is correct. The Gm haplotype and Inv1 frequencies of the samples from people in Dangrizong and Phalag villages are typically Mongoloid and significantly different from those for the samples from people in Thymkyn and Yakba. The frequencies for samples within the pairs of villages were the same. Whether these data indicate a cline or genetic drift can be determined on the basis of the comparison of data for samples from populations residing between the locations from which the samples were drawn for this study with samples from the two regions already studied. Larger numbers of samples from the two regions already studied are desirable and all samples should be analysed for additional polymorphisms.
Selected Properties of Extruded Potato and Chicken Meat

Chicken thigh meat (CTM), (0–40%) was mixed with instant mashed potato and twin-screw extruded. Feed moisture content (FMC), (15 or 20%) and screw speed (SS) (250 or 300 rpm) were varied. CTM affected expansion, bulk density, mean cell size, plateau stress, fracturability and solubility. Protein, fat, free fatty acid and ash increased and carbohydrate decreased as CTM increased. Extrudates produced at low feed moisture (15%) had higher compressive resistance, fracturability and solubility. Extrudates produced at high feed moisture (20%) had higher bulk density and mean cell size. Screw speed had no influence except on expansion degree (p≥0.05). Increased CTM changed microstructure from rough, thread-like sheets to a flat, agglomerated carbohydrate-protein laminar phase. Panelists reported no differences in overall acceptability among 0% CTM extruded at 20% FMC, 20% CTM extruded at 15% FMC and 20% CTM extruded at 20% FMC.
ACID-CATALYZED AMINE-BORANE REDUCTION OF NITRITE

The rate of reduction of nitrite by trimethylamine−borane was followed by observing the decrease in nitrite absorbance under pseudo-first-order conditions. The reaction is acid-catalyzed and exhibits a first-order dependence on both amine−borane and total nitrite concentration. The molar equivalence of NaNO2 to (CH3)3NBH3 = 2:1. Equimolar amounts of hydrogen and nitrous oxide are formed, and the molar ratio of nitrite reacted to N2O produced is 2:1. In concentrated HCl or H2SO4, a correlation of rate with the Hammett acidity function, ho, is observed. The reaction is subject to a pronounced inverse solvent isotope effect (kD2O/kH2O ≃ 2.7) and a modest normal substrate effect (k(CH3)3N·BH3/k(CH3)3N·BD3 ≃ 1.4). The reaction is first-order in H3O+ in the region pH 0.7−2.7, but a second-order dependence is observed above pH 4 with the transition occurring at pH ≃ pKa for HNO2. Results are consistent with a mechanistic model involving preequilibration protonation of molecular nitrous acid followed by rate-limi...
15q11.2-13 Duplication, Mitochondrial Dysfunction, and Developmental Disorders

Multiple developmental phenotypes have been associated with duplication in the 15q11-13 region. Recently, the 15q11-13 duplication has been associated with a distinct pattern of mitochondrial abnormalities that includes a deficiency in complex III. This report describes the third case with this duplication and a similar pattern of mitochondrial dysfunction. Genetic studies performed on this case rule out the previously suggested role of the UBE3A gene. It is proposed that interactions of the duplicated SNRPN gene with nuclear respiratory factor 1 could result in destabilization of mitochondrial complex formation and activation of apoptosis under metabolic stress, resulting in the pattern of abnormalities found in the current and previously reported cases. In light of the frequency of this duplication in children with developmental dishabilles, the wider implication of the association between this duplication and mitochondrial dysfunction needs to be considered.
Evaluating organizational strategy using accounting data: A template for a fine‐grained analysis

A company's operating income can be considered to have three components—growth, price recovery, and productivity. These components can be used to evaluate the success of a company's cost-leadership or product-differentiation strategies. The growth component can be further analyzed to incorporate a long-term view and focus on capacity-underutilization components so as to capture changes in a company's capacity costs, available capacities, and used capacities. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Soybean Development in the Midsouthern USA Related to Date of Planting and Maturity Classification

Soybean (Glycine max) is planted from late March through June in the midsouthern USA. Different developmental patterns that result from this range in planting dates will affect management decisions. Irrigated field studies were conducted at Stoneville, MS (33°26'N) from 1979 through 2003 to determine effect of late March through June planting dates on developmental patterns of maturity group (MG) IV through MG VI soybean. In all plantings, time from planting to beginning bloom (R1) increased as MG increased from IV to VI. Time from R1 to full seed (R6; pod cavity filled) was sometimes but not always different among the MGs, and differences were always ≤ 7 days. The major difference in the length of growing season among cultivars of different MGs occured before reproductive development began regardless of planting date. Thus, performance of soybean cultivars of disparate MGs should not be affected by differences in time between stages of reproductive development, but rather by when the stages occur.
On a proposed floating-point standard

A standard for binary floating-point arithmetic is being proposed and there is a very real possibility that it will be adopted by many manufacturers and implemented on a wide range of computers. This development matters to all of us concerned with numerical software. One of the principal motivations for the standard is to distribute more evenly the burden of portability between hardware and software. At present, any program intended to be portable must be designed for a mythical computer that enjoys no capability not supported by every computer on which the program will be run. That mythical computer is so much grubbier than almost any real computer that a portable program will frequently be denigrated as "suboptimal" and then supplanted by another program supposedly "optimal" for the real computer in question but often inferior in critical respects like reliability. A standard --- almost any reasonable standard --- will surely improve the situation. A standard environment for numerical programs will promote fair comparisons and sharing of numerical codes, thereby lowering costs and prices. Furthermore, we have chosen repeatedly to enrich that environment in order that applications programs be simpler and more reliable. Thus will the onus of portability be shared among hardware manufacturers and software producers.
Medical therapy to reduce postoperative Crohn’s disease recurrence

Clinical recurrence of Crohn's disease after surgical resection is a significant problem, with reported rates as high as 55% at 5 yr and 76% at 15 yr. Specific factors that predispose to postoperative recurrence of Crohn's disease have not been well defined. In addition, the underlying pathophysiology of recurrent disease and the reason for its localization to the neoterminal ileum are not well understood. Various operative techniques have been evaluated but none, aside from formation of an ostomy, has been shown to reduce the risk of recurrence. In contrast, there is increasing evidence that postoperative medical therapy has the potential to decrease the risk of postoperative recurrence. Historically, sulfasalazine may have a modest effect on reducing postoperative recurrence of ileal or ileocolonic disease. However, 5-ASA preparations that can selectively deliver mesalamine to the small bowel or anastomotic margin should be more effective. Indeed, in several studies and as confirmed by a meta-analysis, mesalamine has been demonstrated to reduce significantly postoperative recurrence of Crohn's disease. Metronidazole and 6-mercaptopurine or azathioprine also seem to be of benefit in postoperative prophylaxis of disease recurrence, but additional controlled studies are required to define better the efficacy and dose-response of these agents. Corticosteroids are ineffective at reducing postoperative recurrence.