cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Broad Transcription Factor Links Hormonal Signaling, Gene Expression, and Cellular Morphogenesis Events During Drosophila Imaginal Disc Development

Imaginal disc morphogenesis during metamorphosis in Drosophila melanogaster provides an excellent model to uncover molecular mechanisms by which hormonal signals effect physical changes during development. The broad (br) Z2 isoform encodes a transcription factor required for disc morphogenesis in response to 20-hydroxyecdysone, yet how it accomplishes this remains largely unknown. Here, we use functional studies of amorphic br5 mutants and a transcriptional target approach to identify processes driven by br and its regulatory targets in leg imaginal discs. br5 mutants fail to properly remodel their basal extracellular matrix (ECM) between 4 and 7 hr after puparium formation. Additionally, br5 mutant discs do not undergo the cell shape changes necessary for leg elongation and fail to elongate normally when exposed to the protease trypsin. RNA-sequencing of wild-type and br5 mutant leg discs identified 717 genes differentially regulated by br, including a large number of genes involved in glycolysis, and genes that encode proteins that interact with the ECM. RNA interference-based functional studies reveal that several of these genes are required for adult leg formation, particularly those involved in remodeling the ECM. Additionally, br Z2 expression is abruptly shut down at the onset of metamorphosis, and expressing it beyond this time results in failure of leg development during the late prepupal and pupal stages. Taken together, our results suggest that br Z2 is required to drive ECM remodeling, change cell shape, and maintain metabolic activity through the midprepupal stage, but must be switched off to allow expression of pupation genes.
On Local Computation for Network-Structured Convex Optimization in Multiagent Systems

A number of prototypical optimization problems in multiagent systems (e.g., task allocation and network load-sharing) exhibit a highly local structure, that is, each agent's decision variables are only directly coupled to few other agent's variables through the objective function or the constraints. In this article, we develop a rigorous notion of “locality” that quantifies the degree to which agents can compute their portion of the global solution of such a distributed optimization problem based solely on information in their local neighborhood. We build upon the results of Rebeschini and Tatikonda to develop a more general theory of locality that fully captures the importance of problem data to individual solution components, as opposed to a theory that only captures response to perturbations. This analysis provides a theoretical basis for a rather simple algorithm in which agents individually solve a truncated subproblem of the global problem, where the size of the subproblem used depends on the locality of the problem, and the desired accuracy. Numerical results show that the proposed theoretical bounds are remarkably tight for well-conditioned problems.
Synthetic MRI-aided multi-organ segmentation in head-and-neck cone beam CT

Adaptive radiotherapy has been proposed to handle with the inter- and intra-fractional uncertainties of patient motion and anatomical changes, in which, treatment re-planning is in general a necessary procedure. Accelerated re-planning will improve the efficiency of adaptive radiotherapy, especially for those on-line adaptation. Cone beam CT (CBCT) is a widely used in-room imaging for patient positioning for modern radiotherapy. CBCT-based adaptive radiotherapy is an emerging technique for either offline or online plan adaptations. Accurately delineating tumor targets and organs-at-risk (OARs) is an important step in adaptive re-planning process, however, manual delineation can be labor-intensive and time-consuming, especially, for head and neck (HN) cancer cases, it could highly prolong the entire adaptational procedure due to the multiple OARs have to be contoured. In this study, we present a fully automated delineation method with a high quality of performance to expedite the contouring process of adaptive radiotherapy re-planning and dose-volume based plan evaluation and monitoring. In particular, a mask scoring regional neural network has been developed to extract the complementary features from CBCT and synthetic MRI for obtaining final segmentation. The synthetic MRI is generated by using a pre-trained cycle-consistent adversarial network given CBCT. Quantitative metrics including Dice similarity coefficient (DSC), Hausdorff distance 95% (HD95), mean surface distance (MSD), and residual mean square distance (RMS) were used to evaluate our proposed method. Overall, DSC values of 0.67±0.18, 0.62±0.19, 0.86±0.08, 0.87±0.13, 0.58±0.25, 0.64±0.17, 0.66±0.17, 0.93±0.05, 0.85±0.09, 0.86±0.10, 0.72±0.21, and 0.83±0.07 were achieved for brain stem, esophagus, larynx, mandible, optic chiasm, left optic nerve, right optic nerve, oral cavity, left parotid, right parotid, pharynx, and spinal cord, respectively.
Demystifying the Stern layer at a metal-electrolyte interface: Local dielectric constant, specific ion adsorption, and partial charge transfer.

Electric double layer (EDL) represents one of the most basic concepts in electrochemistry and is pertinent to diverse engineering applications ranging from electrocatalysis to energy storage. Whereas phenomenological and coarse-grained models have been long established to describe ionic distributions in the diffuse layer, a faithful prediction of the physicochemical properties of the electrode–electrolyte interface from a molecular perspective remains a daunting challenge. In this work, we investigate the charging behavior of an Ag (111) electrode in NaF aqueous solutions leveraging experimental results and theoretical calculations based on the classical density functional theory for ion distributions in the diffuse layer and on the joint density functional theory (JDFT) for the electronic structure. When the Ag electrode is applied with a negative voltage, the surface charge density can be reasonably described by assuming a neutral Stern layer with the dielectric constant dependent on the local electric field as predicted by the Kirkwood equation. However, the specific adsorption of F− ions must be considered when the electrode is positively charged and the fluoride adsorption can be attributed to both physical and chemical interactions. Qualitatively, F− binding and partial charge transfer are supported by JDFT calculations, which predict an increased binding energy as the voltage increases. Our findings shed insight on the molecular characteristics of the Stern layer and the charge behavior of adsorbed species not specified by conventional EDL models.
Risks and Liabilities in Sharing Economy Interactions: Does Data Help or Harm?

Sharing economy platforms utilize technology to facilitate transactions between consumers and providers. They attempt to limit the risk inherent to commercial transactions between unknown peers by harnessing the data collected on each party. However, the novelty of the sharing economy may introduce risks and liability uncertainties to participants. Our research contributes to this nascent literature in two ways. First, we developed a framework to categorize and differentiate sharing economy transactions. Second, we performed expert interviews with stakeholders representing platforms, law, liability, and policy in order to examine the opportunities and pitfalls of data used to allocate risk and liability in this market. We find that while there is potential to use platform data to reduce risk, it may also create concerns about privacy and undesirable discrimination. Finally, we identified the needs for future research to improve our understand regarding the potential for platform data to improve risks and liability decisions-making in the sharing economy.
Sermon of the Fallen

a screen of light sliced across the walnut box. I sat and watched the grain rise dark, and listened to him tell how muscles wither under the skin and the skin dries and flakes away from the bone like gray bark flaking from the trunk of a fallen pine, how the forest trembles only once as the tree falls and somewhere a bird whimpers from a ridge, then nothing, and what needles are left yellow-green and clinging to limbs shimmer only a few more times in the rain, then lose all color and drop away, and the gray pine shines through the bark like bone, cracks and sours, softens with larva, collapses in forest shadow, belches gas from its grainy soup, dries in sun to a black forest dust, then seeps with one last rain through the pine-needle floor and becomes earth. So, he said, you had come to fall. Even as a boy, I could feel the trembling in us all.
Plan, Commit, Execute Protocol in Multi-agent Systems

In this paper we introduce changes made in Plan/Commit/Execute negotiation protocol originally developed for Agent Cooperation System and practically used in Chilled Water System application. This protocol is suitable for systems where the commitment of resources and execution of a plan require separated communication phases. The extension of the protocol with Reject Proposal message that is used for canceling unsatisfactory proposals is the most significant change. We also describe the deployment of the protocol in new version of Multi-agent System for Manufacturing.
Engaging consumers in esthetic offerings: conceptualizing and developing a measure for arts engagement

As the arts face a number of challenges, including changing audience tastes and inconsistent ticket purchasing behavior, there have been calls for innovative approaches to marketing. Experts in the field have suggested that “engaging experiences” in the arts be cultivated to aid in audience development efforts. However, in the literature, little attention has been devoted to defining what encompasses an “engaging experience” in the arts. This research addresses this gap by exploring the concept of “engagement in the arts” and developing a measurement tool, which accesses overall “arts engagement.” It applies emerging theories from the customer engagement and brand experience literatures to conceptualize “arts engagement.” In four studies, an arts engagement scale is tested for its validity, reliability, and its relationship with important outcomes in the consumption experience. Implications are discussed for marketing the arts as well as other consumption contexts that incorporate performance and artistic-based elements, including service delivery and experiential marketing. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Further studies of the interaction of cyclic adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate with endometrial protein kinase.

Abstract Purification of the adenosine cyclic 3':5'-monophosphate (cAMP)-dependent protein kinase of bovine endometrium and its binding and catalytic subunits has permitted study of their kinetic and equilibrium interaction with cAMP. Data obtained at physiological pH were compared with those previously noted at pH 5.0 where the cAMP-protein kinase interaction is optimal. Reactions utilizing the binding subunit exhibited second order association kinetics and temperature dependence. The second order rate constant was dependent on [cAMP]0, an anomaly previously noted at pH 5.0. Reactions using the cAMP-dependent protein kinase exhibited nonlinear second order plots with little temperature dependence. The dissociation process was substantially faster at pH 7.4 and appeared to be biphasic. Thus, the reaction between cAMP and its receptor in the presence or absence of the catalytic subunit exhibited qualitatively similar behavior at pH values of 5.0 and 7.4.
Discovery of Vitamin A

An account of the ideas and the experiments that led to the discovery of vitamin A. Keywords: vitamin A; carotene; diet; cod liver oil
Diaphragm Action and Design

In addition to designing for gravity loads, the designer must proportion a structure to resist lateral loads caused by wind or earthquake. After every major earthquake, such as the Mexico City one in September 1985, there is renewed interest in improving wind and seismic provisions of building codes and in understanding better the effect of dynamic loads on structures. Designing for lateral loads is an important consideration in most structures. For residential wood structures, however, lateral-load resistance is assured by conformance to code rules for structural details.
Effects of diet forage-to-concentrate ratio and intake on energy metabolism in growing beef heifers : whole body energy and nitrogen balance and visceral heat production

Effects of diet forage-to-concentrate ratio and intake on balances of energy and nitrogen and portal-drained viscera (PDV), liver and kidney blood flow and O2 consumption were measured in seven growing beef heifers. Isonitrogenous pelleted diets containing approximately 75% alfalfa or 75% concentrate were fed daily as 12 equal meals every 2 h at two isoenergetic metabolizable energy intakes. A split-plot design was used, with 4 wk for adaptation to diet followed by 3-wk intake periods within 6-wk diet periods. Heifers consumed and digested less dry matter, energy and nitrogen when fed the 75% concentrate vs. 75% alfalfa diet at equal metabolizable energy. Heifers fed the 75% concentrate diet produced less heat energy and retained more tissue energy than when fed the 75% alfalfa diet. Blood flow for PDV, liver and kidneys increased with intake and was greater when heifers were fed the 75% alfalfa vs. 75% concentrate diet. Increased PDV and liver O2 uptake accounted for 44 and 72% of heat increment for the 75% concentrate and 75% alfalfa diets, respectively. Greater PDV uptake of O2 accounted for 72% of the decrease in tissue energy of heifers fed the 75% alfalfa vs. 75% concentrate diet at equal metabolizable energy.
Extensible and Precise Modeling for Wireless Sensor Networks

Developing applications for wireless sensor networks (WSN) is a complicated process because of the wide variety of WSN applications and low-level implementation details. Model-Driven Engineering offers an effective solution to WSN application developers by hiding the details of lower layers and raising the level of abstraction. However, balancing between abstraction level and unambiguity is challenging issue. This paper presents Baobab, a metamodeling framework for designing WSN applications and generating the corresponding code, to overcome the conflict between abstraction and reusability versus unambiguity. Baobab allows users to define functional and non-functional aspects of a system separately as software models, validate them and generate code automatically.
Tutorial: How to Value Software in a Business, and Where Might the Value Go?

This tutorial consists of two parts. In the first part we motivate why businesses should determine the value of the Intellectual Property (IP) inherent in software and present a method to determine that value in a simple business model: Enterprise software for sale. In the second part we consider the same software as marketed in a service model. A service model imposes a maintenance obligation. Maintenance is often outsourced so we also consider the risk to IP, especially when work is performed offshore. Finally we present the consequences to the original creators when IP is segregated into a tax haven.
GM1 ganglioside improves dopaminergic markers of rat mesencephalic cultures treated with MPP

Rat embryonic mesencephalic cultures were employed to evaluate the consequences of adding GM1 ganglioside to cultures lesioned with the selective neurotoxin 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+). MPP+ reduced dopamine and DOPAC content, dopamine uptake, aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase activity, and the number of tyrosine hydroxylase- immunopositive neurons. The immunopositive neurons that remained were aberrant. All of these parameters were partially restored by adding GM1 ganglioside to the cultures. The response to GM1 was not altered by prior treatment of the cultures with cytosine beta-D-arabinofuranoside to reduce the number of glial cells. Dopamine uptake activity restored by GM1 was lost if GM1 was removed from the culture.
Effect of seat inclination on seated pressures of individuals with spinal cord injury.

Background and Purpose. Manual wheelchair configurations commonly include “squeezing” the wheelchair frame to improve balance for users with spinal cord injuries. This squeezing is achieved by lowering the rear portion of the seat relative to the front of the seat while maintaining the same back angle. The study's purpose was to examine the effect of increasing posterior seat inclination on buttock interface pressures. Subjects. Nine male and 5 female subjects (mean age=37 years, SD=11.2, range=19–55) with complete thoracic or lumbar spinal cord injury were tested. Methods. Subjects sat on a pressure mat placed over a foam cushion. Pressure readings were taken at seat angles reflecting seat height decreases of 0, 5.1, 7.6, and 10.2 cm (0, 2, 3, and 4 in) of the rear of the seat relative to the front of the seat. An analysis of variance and a Duncan multiple range test were used for data analysis. Results. No meaningful differences were found in measurements of interface pressure (dispersion index, contact area, and seat pressure index), total force on seat, or peak pressure index with posterior seat inclination. Discussion and Conclusion. The data indicate no meaningful evidence that squeezing a wheelchair frame increases seat interface pressures.
SERUM INORGANIC PHOSPHORUS LEVELS IN MALES AND FEMALES AT PROGRESSIVE AGES, WITH CONCOMITANT MEASUREMENTS OF URINARY KETOSTEROIDS AND ANDROGENS IN MEN

The level of serum inorganic phosphorus (SIP) has been observed to increase after castration of young adult males (1). As tested in 9 subjects, the mean change reached statistically significant levels within fifteen days following orchiectomy and persisted for four years, at which time the study was discontinued. Six of the 9 subjects exhibited marked increases in SIP; the remaining 3 along with 3 males in another series, had high values prior to castration, and removal of their testes resulted either in only slight elevation of the SIP level or a decrease after three or four years.
The Nature of Adsorbed CO2 and Amine Sites on the Immobilized Amine Sorbents Regenerated by Industrial Boiler Steam

The nature of adsorbed CO2 on immobilized amine sorbents regenerated with utility boiler steam was studied by in-situ infrared spectroscopy. The use of industrial boiler steam is the key factor lowering the overall operating cost of the immobilized amine CO2 capture process for megawatt-scale coal-fired power plants. The industrial steam is known to contain trace amounts of Cu, Fe, and Zn species. The present study was undertaken to understand the chemistry occurring between the Cu contaminants in the steam and the amine sites on the sorbent. Cu-containing steam from the utility boilers resulted in a 91% loss of CO2 capture capacity over 30 continuous CO2 capture and regeneration cycles. UV–vis and in-situ IR studies suggest that the degraded sorbent contained CuII ions coordinated with nitrogen atoms of an imine species. These imine species are incapable of adsorbing CO2. The remaining amine species could bind weakly with CO2, mainly in the form of carbamic acid. The formation of ammonium ion species was...
Beyond the universalized home: identity intersectionalities in western Kenyan students' production of place

Globally, while defined roles within the home based on gender and age are widely acknowledged, knowledge of the ways in which these roles take shape is largely unknown, particularly outside of Western structures. Using Kenya as a site of analysis, and student responses to images of various types of houses found in their textbook, this research will demonstrate that students' conceptualizations of home reveal extensive dissonance with the metanarrative of the gendered home. In doing so, this study attempts to address both the dearth of research exploring the production of home in non-Western environments and the potential continuum of meaning that may exist between people and home by analyzing the ways in which primary students in western Kenya produce and negotiate images of home with their lived realities. Ultimately, the goal of this analysis is to reveal the delicate negotiation students participate in when producing personal ideas of home as well as their perceptions of home for other people in their ...
Distributive Politics and Conditional Cash Transfers: The Case of Brazil’s Bolsa Família

Summary Brazilian politicians have long relied on pork and clientelism to win political support, and recent literature suggests that little has changed. However, researchers have yet to systematically investigate whether political criteria influence the distribution of funds through Bolsa Familia . This is especially surprising given the program’s prominence in the international community. In this paper, I examine whether political criteria explain the federal government’s distribution of Bolsa Familia . I find little evidence that political criteria explain the difference between the number of poor families that live in a municipality and the number of families that receive support. I conclude by discussing the broader significance of this large, programmatic policy to Brazil’s political development.
Prompting Healthy Behavior via Text Messaging in Adolescents and Young Adults

Unhealthy and risky behaviors among adolescents and young adults, such as poor nutrition, lack of physical activity, smoking, and sexual practices, can lead to long-term negative health outcomes. I...
Activation and Relaxation Kinetics in Isolated Guinea-Pig Myofibrils: Impact of Sarcomere Length

Myofilament length dependent activation is a universal property of striated muscle that is most pronounced in myocardium. The mechanisms that underlie length dependency are incompletely understood. Accordingly, here we tested the hypothesis that sarcomere length (SL) affects the rate of force activation and/or force relaxation in response to a saturating pulse of Ca2+. Isolated skinned guinea-pig myofibrils were attached to glass micro-tools positioned on the stage of an inverted microscope (15 C); one probe functioned as a force probe cantilever, while the other probe was attached to a rapid displacement generator; the Ca2+ pulse was applied by rapid translation of a double-barreled perfusion pipette (de Tombe, AJP, 2007). Activations were performed at long (SL=2.06 ± 0.03 μm) and short (SL=1.85 ± 0.01; n=5) length. As expected, SL modulated maximum Ca2+ saturated force ∼20%. Both the rate of force redevelopment following a rapid release-restretch maneuver (kTr; ∼26%) and Ca2+ activated force development (kCa;∼14%) were faster at the long SL. In contrast, SL did not modulate any parameters of force relaxation following rapid removal of activator Ca2+. Our data suggest that length dependent myofilament activation in the heart may be the result of differential modulation of activation dynamics in response to changes in sarcomere length.
Growth parameter and yield component response of field corn to simulated acid rain

Abstract Acid rain occurs in the midwest including major portions of the Corn Belt. Studies to date have suggested minimal yield response of field corn (Zea mays L.) to acid rain. However, small but significant reductions in yield have been shown for some cultivars under extreme conditions. To define further these yield changes this study examined the effect of simulated acid rain on parameters associated with corn yield. Cultivars ‘B73 × Mol7’ and ‘Pioneer 3377’ were shielded from ambient rain by two movable rain exclusion shelters. Six simulated rain treatments (pH 5.6, 4.6, 4.2, 3.8, 3.4, 3.0) were applied biweekly within these shelters through the use of a nozzle distribution system. For the most part growth and yield parameters were unaffected by simulated rain treatment. Analysis of 2 years of data for 100-seed dry weight, dry matter production, cob weight, barren plants and seed protein content indicated no significant trends (α⩽0.05) with treatment pH for either cultivar. However, when contrasted with all other treatments, a small yield reduction (α⩽0.05) observed at pH 3.0 for B73 × Mo17 (6%) was associated with a similar reduction in ears (5%), cob dry weight (5%), kernels per ear (3%) and slightly increased (3%) seed protein. Thus, while the only significant yield reduction was a contrast of pH 3.0 and the average of all other treatments for B73 × Mo17, this reduction appears to be the result both of slightly fewer ears and slightly less successful ear fill.
Bridging the Discontinuity in Adolescent Literacy? Mixed Evidence from a Middle Grades Intervention

AbstractStrong literacy skills are crucial to ensuring an individual's future educational and economic success. Existing evidence suggests the transition from elementary to middle school is a decisive period for literacy development. In this paper I investigate the impact of extended learning time in literacy instruction on subsequent cognitive outcomes. I capitalize on the existence of a natural experiment born out of a district's use of an exogenously- determined cutoff in Iowa Test scores in fifth grade to assign students to an additional literacy course in middle school. My findings suggest that exposure to this intervention generates strong negative impacts for black students, and noisy positive impacts for white, Latino, and Asian students. My findings suggest that additional literacy instruction in middle school can have markedly different effects on students, and program differentiation or augmentation may be necessary to prevent harm for students of average literacy ability in fifth grade.
No Particular Place to Go: An Empirical Analysis of Travel for the Sake of Travel

Many people find some intrinsic value in travel itself. This leads to excess travel, which can have important (mode-specific) secondary effects. Society would benefit if individuals satisfied more of their desire for travel by choosing to walk or bike rather than drive. However, our understanding of the determinants of travel for its own sake and the role of the residential environment in shaping it is limited. Using data collected from 1,682 respondents in Northern California, this study explores environmental correlates of traveling out of the house with no particular destination in mind, controlling for attitudinal and sociodemographic factors. We found that the generation of such “undirected travel” is influenced by attitudes but residential environment characteristics also matter. Specifically, proximity to business, not living on a cul-de-sac, and aesthetic qualities encourage undirected walking/biking. We speculate that providing neighborhood-based physical activity options may lead to the substitu...
Planting seeds for the future

In 1974 Champion International Corporation could be described as a company in search of an image. In spite of being the nation's fourth‐largest forest products company at the time, with net income just under $100 million, Champion was a relative stranger on Wall Street — the result of what the company concedes was a lack of corporate direction, coupled with a poorly managed publicity campaign accompanying Champion's switch from the U.S. Plywood‐Champion Paper title in 1972. As Champion spokesperson Sallie Vandervort explains, “A company that has no image has a negative image.” Owing in part to this perception and in part to the company's desire to project itself as a positive, forward‐looking company, Champion mounted a $6.8 million advertising program, beginning in 1979, that stressed the importance of the future. Says Ms. Vandervort, “Champion's goal was double‐edged. We wanted to conduct a viable and legitimate corporate campaign to improve our recognition in the business community. And, at the same time, we wanted to give the public a little food for thought.” Ms. Vandervort noted that, since Champion's resources take anywhere from 25 to 60 years to develop, the company wanted to demonstrate its concern for the future, while stimulating public thinking about some of the issues and trends that will command society's attention over the next 20 years. The following article is condensed from a booklet of the same title that is distributed nationwide as part of Champion's advertising program.
Helpful hints to enhance reliability of DC-DC converters in hybrid electric vehicle applications

This paper presents a new method for reliability assessment of bi-directional dc-dc converters which are used in electric and hybrid electric vehicles (EV/HEV). The proposed technique takes into account random modes of operation dictated by the driving scenarios. In order to consider the stochastic nature of the driving, Federal Test Procedure (FTP-75) driving cycle is selected as the reference. A bench mark bi-directional dc-dc converter circuit along with a Hybrid Energy Storage System (HESS) is selected as the typical HEV DC-DC converter. The new method for reliability assessment of HEV DC-DC converters under random behavior of driver is presented using Monte Carlo simulation and part stress method.
An Experimental Approach to the Determination of Gaseous Transport Properties at Very High Temperatures

Abstract Values of gaseous transport properties at elevated temperatures may be calculated from appropriate kinetic theory relations (or from statistical mechanics if equilibrium properties are of interest) provided that the correct intermolecular potential functions are known. It is pointed out that the potentials for this purpose may not be extrapolations of functions which are valid only for relatively large distances of separation, and therefore suitable only for calculation of low temperature properties, but must be ones which are valid at the smaller distances of separation of importance at elevated temperatures. The experimental procedure is described for determining such potentials from elastic scattering of neutral beam particles having kinetic energies of the order of 1000 eV. It is shown that meaningful potential energy information cannot be deduced from such experiments unless the shape and intensity distribution of the beam, as well as the geometry of the beam-detector system are taken into account. Results are tabulated for the potentials of a number of atom-atom and atom-molecule systems and a procedure for obtaining molecule-molecule interactions from such results is indicated. The procedure is outlined for using appropriate interaction potentials for calculating transport properties over a wide range of temperature and the results are illustrated in terms of the viscosity of xenon between 1000° and 10,000°K. It is shown that the method may be applied to the calculation of properties of mixtures which require potentials between unlike particles. The criterion is given for determining the range of temperature over which all such calculations are valid, namely, that it is the magnitude of the fraction of the kinetic energy of the beam particles which is converted into potential energy at the distance of closest approach during a collision and not the kinetic energy itself, which determines the region of validity. Possible experimental procedures are suggested which might be used to obtain intermolecular potentials for binary systems containing ions, dissociative atomic species, metastable and excited species.
Thermal modeling of plasma spray deposition of nanostructured ceramics

A thermal model for plasma spray deposition of ceramic materials onto metallic substrates has been developed. The enthalpy-based control volume formulation of the heat transfer processes has been used to study the temperature evolution in a two-dimensional substrate and in the coating as it is grown. In this paper, additional melting of ceramic splats after deposition is examined, with a view to predicting the retention of nanostructures in a spray consisting of agglomerated, nanometer-sized particles. Initial results for thin coatings indicate that when the mean temperature of the incoming particles is close to the fusion point of the ceramic material, the nanostructure distribution in the coating is largely determined by the composition of the spray. However, with thicker coatings, additional melting due to prolonged plasma gas heating combined with increased thermal resistance in the underlying coating leads to a loss of nanostructure.
Minimum-complexity free-space optical nonblocking networks for multicast interconnect applications.

It was believed that, for strictly nonblocking multicast and broadcast interconnect operations to be achieved, a switching network had to have a minimum of N2 switching states, i.e., a crossbar-type switch. A novel system concept that reduces the switching complexity while maintaining nonblocking multicast networking is proposed and experimentally demonstrated.
Correlations for wall and particle shape effects on fixed bed bulk voidage

Correlations have been derived, by both geometrical arguments and empirical treatment of data, for the bulk void fraction in a fixed bed. The void fraction has been correlated as a function of particle-to-tube diameter ratio for packings of spheres and equilateral solid cylinders. Prediction of void fraction for equilateral hollow cylinders can be made from the solid cylinder correlation, provided a correction factor is included that allows for internal voidage and interpenetration of packings.
CD-monitored redox titration of the Rieske Fe-S protein of Rhodobacter sphaeroides: pH dependence of the midpoint potential in isolated bc1 complex and in membranes

The redox potential of the Rieske Fe-S protein has been investigated using circular dichroism (CD)-spectroscopy. The CD features characteristic of the purified bc1 complex and membranes of Rhodobacter sphaeroides were found in the region between 450 and 550 nm. The difference between reduced and oxidized CD-spectra shows a negative band at about 500 nm with a half of width 30 nm that corresponds to the specific dichroic absorption of the reduced Rieske protein (Fee, J.A. et al. (1984) J. Biol. Chem. 259, 124-133; Degli Esposti, M. et al. (1987) Biochem. J. 241, 285-290; Rich, P.R. and Wiggins, T.E. (1992) Biochem. Soc. Trans. 20, 241S). It was found that the redox potential at pH 7.0 for the Rieske center in the isolated bc1 complex and in chromatophore membranes from the R-26 strain of Rh. sphaeroides is 300 +/- 5 mV. In chromatophores from the BC17C strain of Rh. sphaeroides, the Em value measured for the Rieske iron-sulfur protein (ISP) was higher (315 +/- 5 mV), but the presence of carotenoids made measurement less accurate. The Em varied with pH in the range above pH 7, and the pH dependence was well fit either by one pK at approximately 7.5 in the range of titration, or by two pK values, pK1 = 7.6 and pK2 = 9.8. Similar titrations and pK values were found for the Rieske Fe-S protein in the isolated bc1 complex and membranes from the R-26 strain of Rb. sphaeroides. The results are discussed in the context of the mechanism of quinol oxidation by the bc1 complex, and the role of the iron sulfur protein in formation of a reaction complex at the Qo-site.
Living on the Outside: African American Women Before, During, and After Imprisonment

This article examines the multiple issues that contribute to the incarceration of African American women and threaten to render these women recidivists. These issues include but are not limited to substance abuse, sexual abuse, fractured familial relations, and abusive intimate relationships. In an attempt to examine these issues, the article explores how, prior to their imprisonment, social factors contravene African American women's attempts at enforcing their traditional roles as “women.” The article attempts to show that the increased incarceration of African American women is part of a cultural phenomenon that reflects their social exclusion in U.S. society.
A SAS macro for stepwise correlated binary regression

Abstract Several regression methods have been proposed for the analysis of correlated binary data, but none deals with the selection of covariates when there exist a large number of potentially relevant covariates. We present a SAS macro based on a stepwise selection procedure for the analysis of correlated binary data. Using regression methods based on generalized estimating equations originally proposed by Liang and Zeger [1] and extended by Prentice [2], we describe a score test for forward selection, a Wald's test for backward elimination, and a test for model adequacy based on generalized scores. The methodology and the accompanying computer macro program written in SAS IML are illustrated with data from a prospective study of functional decline in the activities of daily living in a group of elderly patients.
Central nervous system leukemia and solid tumors of childhood. Treatment with 1,3-bis (2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea (BCNU).

BCNU (1,3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea) was administered to 6 children with central nervous system leukemia and 8 children with solid tumors. Being lipid soluble, BCNU has the capacity to cross the “blood-brain barrier,” making it a potentially effective agent for the parenteral treatment of CNS leukemia. Remission of CNS manifestations occurred in 3 of 6 children with CNS leukemia. Temporary regression of tumor was noted in 2 patients with Ewing's sarcoma and in one with neuroblastoma. Thrombocytopenia was a constant feature in all patients. Two died from hemorrhage associated with thrombocytopenia.
The effects of different splinting times on replantation of teeth in monkeys

The purpose of the study was to examine histologically the tissue changes affecting the teeth and surrounding structures after using both 7- and 30-day fixation periods on replanted teeth in monkeys. Eight adult male rhesus monkeys were used. The maxillary central and lateral incisors were extracted, treated endodontically, reimplanted, and temporarily immobilized with an interproximal acid-etch splint. The splints were removed at 1 week in half of the teeth and at 30 days in the other half. The monkeys were killed at 7 and 14 days, and at 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 months postoperatively. The results showed that replanted teeth that were splinted for 7 days recovered uneventfully, whereas the teeth that were splinted for 30 days demonstrated increased areas of root resorption and ankylosis. Thus, it is suggested that after tooth replantation the periodontium will repair rapidly with a shorter time of splinting (7 days). Extended splinting periods (30 days) seem to induce further root resorption and dentoalveolar ankylosis.
Stability of catalase and its potential role in lipid oxidation in meat.

Abstract The activity of catalase in microbial growth-controlled and uncontrolled ground beef muscle (semimembranosus, SM) did not change (P>0.05) during 6-day storage at 4°C. Likewise, catalase activity in ground, beef SM and longissimus dorsi (LD), pork LD, and chicken breast (B) and thigh (T) muscles was not affected (P>0.05) by 2-month storage at −20°C, with or without mid-month thawing/refreezing. When sodium azide (a catalase inhibitor) was added to ground beef SM, lipid oxidation (as measured by peroxide values) during 4-day refrigeration was higher (P
Rapid Computer Generation Of Three-Dimensional Phantoms And Their Cone-Beam X-Ray Projections

We describe a program that allows a user to generate 3-D phantoms and the corresponding radiographic data that might be expected for an arrangement of cone-beam x-ray sources and 2-D detector arrays. The software described is the firgt part of a project (GOLEM) to include in a single framework: the generation of 3-D phantoms and test data, fully 3-D reconstruction algorithms for cone-beam x-ray sources, and (fully-3D) algorithm evaluation.
CMICE: A near-surface current meter intercomparison experiment

Abstract A moored Current Meter Intercomparison Experiment called CMICE was conducted 6 km off the southern coast of Long Island, New York near 40°47′N, 72°30′W during February and March 1976. A total of 20 current meters were deployed on six moorings set in a linear array parallel to the local coastline and topography. The seven instrument types used were the Aanderaa RCM-4, the AMF VACM, the Brookhaven National Laboratory spar buoy system with cylindrical and spherical Marsh-McBirney electromagnetic sensors, the EG&G 850 and CT-3, and the Chesapeake Bay Institute modified ENDECO 105. Current meters were grouped at four depth levels (3.5, 7.4, 15.7, and 25.0 m). Water depth was 27.8 m. Wave data were obtained at the site and 10-m wind data were recorded at the coast 7 km north. Intercomparison of 1 h vector-averaged velocities from instruments of the same type at the same level in the array indicated sufficient horizontal flow homogeneity to allow evaluation of instrument-mooring differences. For properly operating meters the general agreement was typically within ±5 cm s −1 in speed and ±5° in direction for wave heights from 0 to 3.5 m and wave periods from 5 to 9 s. Analysis of instrument and mooring performances shows significant differences in response to surface wave and mooring motion.
Computing the creativeness of amusing advertisements: A Bayesian model of Burma-Shave's muse

How do humans judge the creativeness of an artwork or other artifact? This article suggests that such judgments are based on the pleasures of an aesthetic experience, which can be modeled as a mathematical product of psychological arousal and appraisal. The arousal stems from surprise, and is computed as a marginal entropy using information theory. The appraisal assigns meaning, by which the surprise is resolved, and is computed as a posterior probability using Bayesian theory. This model is tested by obtaining human ratings of surprise, meaning, and creativeness for artifacts in a domain of advertising design. The empirical results show that humans do judge creativeness as a product of surprise and meaning, consistent with the computational model of arousal and appraisal. Implications of the model are discussed with respect to advancing artificial intelligence in the arts as well as improving the computational evaluation of creativity in engineering and design.
Detection of Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Chlamydia trachomatis colonization of the gravid cervix.

Abstract Objectives: The aims of the study were to determine whether a Gram stain of cervical mucus can accurately rule out infection with Neisseria gonorrhoeae or Chlamydia trachomatis and to compare a diagnostic test that is based on the polymerase chain reaction with a deoxyribonucleic acid probe in the detection of these organisms. Study Design: Gravid patients were screened for N gonorrhoeae and C trachomatis with a deoxyribonucleic acid probe, Gram stain, and analysis with the polymerase chain reaction. A normal, noninfected sample was defined by P value of Results: Patient enrollment totaled 519. The prevalence of infection as determined by deoxyribonucleic acid probe hybridization was 1.4% for N gonorrhoeae (7/518) and 6.8% for C trachomatis (35/518). The cervical Gram stain predicted the absence of infection in 17% (90/518) of patients, with a negative predictive value of 99% for N gonorrhoeae and 97% for C trachomatis . African American race, age C trachomatis or N gonorrhoeae cervicitis. For the patients who lacked these risk factors (n = 74), the Gram stain had 100% negative predictive value. Analysis with the polymerase chain reaction detected 8 additional patients with C trachomatis and 105 additional patients with N gonorrhoeae, in comparison with deoxyribonucleic acid probe hybridization. Conclusion: The cervical Gram stain can accurately predict the absence of N gonorrhoeae and C trachomatis in gravid women. Analysis with the polymerase chain reaction indicates that N gonorrhoeae and C trachomatis are significantly more prevalent in this population than previously reported. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 2000;183:340-6.)
Global ethics and the Alien Tort Claims Act: a summary of three cases within the oil and gas industry

Three recent cases within the oil and gas industry point to the trend to prosecute companies in the USA for alleged human rights and environmental degradation abroad. The Alien Tort Claims Act has been used with varying degrees of success to bring claims against multinational companies. The examples of Texaco in Ecuador, Chevron in Nigeria, and Unocal in Burma are presented as case studies of the use of the Alien Tort Claims Act. Implications for global ethics are discussed and recommendations for managerial actions to lessen the potential harm brought about by legal charges under the Act are proposed.
Maxillary Growth in Patients with Clefts Following Secondary Alveolar Bone Grafting

Abstract Objective: This investigation evaluated the effects of secondary alveolar bone grafting on subsequent maxillary growth in cleft patients. Design: This was a retrospective longitudinal cephalometric study. Nineteen patients who had received secondary alveolar bone grafts were matched to a control sample by sex, cleft, availability of longitudinal records, and presurgical cranial base dimensions and growth direction. All patients had at least two lateral cephalometric radiographs before surgery and two radiographs after surgery. Setting: The records were obtained from the Longitudinal Growth Study of the Lancaster (Pennsylvania) Cleft Palate Clinic. Interventions: All patients had received similar primary surgical procedures by the same surgeon, no orthopedics, and similar mixed-dentition orthodontics. Secondary alveolar bone grafting was the only surgical intervention different between the two groups. Main outcome measures: Six measures of maxillary sagittal and vertical growth were taken from 235...
Experimental and model comparisons of low- and medium-pressure Hg lamps for the direct and H2O2 assisted UV photodegradation of N-nitrosodimethylamine in simulated drinking water.

Both low- and medium-pressure Hg lamps (LP and MP, respectively) were used as ultraviolet light (UV) sources to destroy N-nitrosodimethylamine in a synthetic “natural” water. The lamp performances were directly compared via the UV fluence-based rate constants, which demonstrates that LP and MP have virtually identical photonic efficiencies (fluence-based rate constants of 2.29E-3 and 2.35E-3 cm2/mJ, respectively). This indicates that the quantum yield for NDMA photolysis is independent of wavelength in the UVC region: a value of 0.30 mol/einstein is found at pH 8.1. Addition of 100 mg/L of H2O2 leads to a 30% increase in the LP fluence-based rate constant but does not alter the MP rate constant, likely due to the tradeoff between light screening by H2O2 and additional radical based degradation. However, in terms of the time-based rate constant, this level of H2O2 slightly enhances the LP performance but hinders the MP performance, suggesting that H2O2 is of little or no economic benefit for NDMA removal ...
A 1H and 13C NMR study of some bis(disulfurdinitride)Ni(II) complexes with organobridging ligands

The reaction of bis(disulfurdinitride)nickel(II), Ni(S2N2H)2, with various aldeleydes and amines yields a condensation product in which the protons of the two planar ring S2N2 ligands have been replaced by an organobridging ligand. Some of these complexes contain two chiral carbon atoms and the separation of the diasteroisomers of one complex is described. 13C NMR spectra are reported for these complexes and the assignments are in agreement with proton NMR data. The IR and electronic spectra of the complexes are also reported.