cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mechanisms underlying cytokine receptor suppression of type 1 diabetes (BA11P.127)

Type 1 or pediatric diabetes (T1D) manifests when the insulin-producing pancreatic beta-cells are destroyed as a consequence of an inflammatory process initiated by lymphocytes of the immune system. IL-4 and IL-13 cytokines which utilize a shared heteroreceptor (HR) comprising IL-4Rα and IL-13Rα1 are viewed as anti-inflammatory. The mechanism by which these cytokines drive suppression of T1D remains undefined. In this study, we used non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice, which develop the disease spontaneously to determine how the cytokines and the shared HR drive modulatory functions. The findings indicate that NOD mice in which the shared HR is made non-functional by ablation of IL-13Rα1 gene resist the disease relative to wild type mice with intact heteroreceptor. In addition, their lymphocytes could not transfer the disease into NOD.Scid mice effectively. This was due to an increase in the frequency of membrane-bound TGF-β T cells expressing intermediate levels of FoxP3 marker (mTGF β + FoxP3 int ). Also, there was relocation to the pancreas of anti-inflammatory macrophage (MΦ) expressing the mannose receptor, a marker of M2 phenotype. Thus, the HR modulates both arms of adaptive and innate immune suppressors including Tregs and MΦ. These insights on the role of HR in modulation of T1D will likely inform on the development of therapeutic approaches against the disease.
Dynamic modeling and simulation of a SAG mill for mill charge characterization

The modeling and simulation of semiautogenous (SAG) mills have been widely used in the design and optimization of mill performance in terms of its power draw, processing capacity and product size distribution. However, these models are solved under steady approximation and do not provide any information on mill charge distribution in real time. This paper attempts to characterize mill contents by solving Whiten’s first-order content-based model in the MATLAB/Simulink environment. The parameters in the model, such as breakage rate constant, discharge rate and appearance function, were estimated using process and design data collected from a gold mine operating in Alaska coupled with a nonlinear parameter estimation scheme. This model was then used to predict the dynamic responses of other key operational variables, such as mill power, bearing pressure, charge level and product size distribution. The transient response of mill behavior with respect to changes in feed size distribution, tonnage and mill feed water is also presented. This dynamic simulation approach can be used for practicing different control strategy and training purposes. The observed response of mentioned variables was validated using dynamic response data from the plant to encompass operational characteristics of SAG mill behavior.
Hybrid-hybrid matrix structural refinement of a DNA three-way junction from 3D NOESY-NOESY.

Homonuclear 3D NOESY-NOESY has shown great promise for the structural refinement of large biomolecules. A computationally efficient hybrid-hybrid relaxation matrix refinement methodology, using 3D NOESY-NOESY data, was used to refine the structure of a DNA three-way junction having two unpaired bases at the branch point of the junction. The NMR data and the relaxation matrix refinement confirm that the DNA three-way junction exists in a folded conformation with two of the helical stems stacked upon each other. The third unstacked stem extends away from the junction, forming an acute angle (∼60° ) with the stacked stems. The two unpaired bases are stacked upon each other and are exposed to the solvent. Helical parameters for the bases in all three strands show slight deviations from typical values expected for right-handed B-form DNA. Inter-nucleotide imino-imino NOEs between the bases at the branch point of the junction show that the junction region is well defined. The helical stems show mobility (± 20° ) indicating dynamic processes around the junction region. The unstacked helical stem adjacent to the unpaired bases shows greater mobility compared to the other two stems. The results from this study indicate that the 3D hybrid-hybrid matrix MORASS refinement methodology, by combining the spectral dispersion of 3D NOESY-NOESY and the computational efficiency of 2D refinement programs, provides an accurate and robust means for structure determination of large biomolecules. Our results also indicate that the 3D MORASS method gives higher quality structures compared to the 2D complete relaxation matrix refinement method.
One Soldier’s War and the New Literary War Hero

To download this paper, please click here . In the last two decades the major world military powers (the US, the UK/Commonwealth, and Russia) have all been embroiled in long-running asymmetrical conflicts against insurgent or terrorist forces that have proven to be difficult to resolve and increasingly unpopular at home. The fact that these wars are being fought largely by volunteer, contract, or mercenary soldiers has only widened the divide between the military and civilians. In response to this, the literature emerging from these recent conflicts tends to be fragmented, impressionistic, and highly emotional, as veterans try to convey their inner experiences to what they often perceive as an uncaring or hostile audience, while also exploring the experiences of the Other. This article provides a close reading of Arkady Babchenko’s One Soldier’s War , a collection of stories about his two tours of duty in Chechnya, as an early example of this new trend in war literature, and discusses its fragmented structure, its subversion of the cliches of the war genre, and its attempts to set combat veterans apart from the rest of the populace while simultaneously depicting the war and its horrors in vivid detail. We conclude with a brief discussion of the struggle to share the truth and reintegrate back into civilian society that veterans experience, and how this is manifested in literature.
Third- and fourth-generation formulas for intraocular lens power calculation before and after phakic intraocular lens insertion in high myopia.

Purpose To determine the effect of Visian Implantable Collamer Lens phakic intraocular lens (pIOL) insertion on biometric parameters and IOL power calculation. Setting Beirut Eye and ENT Specialist Hospital, Beirut, Lebanon. Design Prospective case series. Methods The IOLMaster 500 biometer was used to measure axial length (AL), keratometry (K), and anterior chamber depth (ACD) values before and 2 months after pIOL implantation. The IOL power was calculated using third-generation formulas (SRK/T, Holladay 1, Hoffer Q) and fourth-generation formulas (Haigis, Barrett Universal II). Results The study comprised 24 eyes (12 patients). The preoperative and postoperative AL were comparable (27.35 mm ± 1.51 [SD] versus 27.36 ± 1.6 mm; P = .91), as were the K values. There was a significant difference between the preoperative and postoperative ACD (3.67 ± 0.46 mm versus 3.4 ± 0.56 mm; P = .008). The mean IOL power calculation did not change significantly using the Haigis (10.04 ± 3.42 diopters [D] versus 10.1 ± 3.59 D; P = .69), SRK/T (9.85 ± 3.41 D versus 9.94 ± 3.58 D; P = .44), Holladay 1 (9.70 ± 3.47 D versus 9.80 ± 3.64 D; P = .45), Hoffer Q (9.70 ± 3.40 D versus 9.85 ± 3.59 D; P = .37), or Barrett Universal II (9.29 ± 3.52 D versus 9.35 ± 3.71 D; P = .63) formula. Conclusions Phakic IOL insertion did not affect IOL power calculation. If preoperative data are not available, postoperative values can be used in IOL calculation formulas.
The role of local businesses in addressing multidimensional needs of homeless populations

ABSTRACTContrary to the perception that the business community can be hostile and exclusive toward individuals experiencing homelessness, local businesses can and do serve homeless populations at m...
Trauma Symptom Inventory

The Trauma Symptom Inventory (TSI; Briere, 1995) is the most commonly used self-report measure of posttraumatic symptomatology in adults, as rated by professionals specializing in the study and treatment of trauma-related impacts (Elhai, Gray, Kashdan, & Franklin, 2005). This normed and standardized test is commonly used to assess a range of trauma-related symptoms, including those arising from sexual and physical assault, spousal abuse, combat, war exposure, major accidents, natural disasters, and a history of childhood abuse. Individuals with histories of especially severe, chronic, or multiple traumatic exposures and/or early trauma, particularly those of an interpersonal nature, often report relatively intense symptomatology that may or may not include symptom clusters described by a diagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), that is, flashbacks, numbing, avoidance behaviors, and autonomic hyperarousal. These more complex presentations are associated with a variety of symptoms and behaviors, including dissociation, identity disturbance, self-injury, interpersonal problems, aggression, and sexually dysfunctional behaviors (Briere & Spinazzola, 2005). The TSI was developed to address this wide range of trauma-related impacts. Keywords: trauma symptom inventory; trauma; assessment
Has Decreasing Innovation Hurt the Stock Price of Information Security Firms? A Time Series Analysis

Prior research has shown that information security breaches are beneficial to the stock price of information security firms, around the time that these security breaches are announced. We, however, show that the overall trend in the market value of information security firms has actually been stagnating, despite an increasing number of security threats that exploit vulnerabilities in information systems. We attribute this decrease in the stock price of information security firms, after controlling for overall market conditions, to insufficient innovation on the part of information security firms. We apply time series regression methods to analyze the relationship between R&D intensity and the stock price of information security firms. This empirical work provides a plausible explanation for the decrease in the stock price of information security firms, despite high demand for their products and services.
Oxi 4503 potentiates the antitumor activity of carboplatin and paclitaxel.

2012 Physiological differences between tumor and normal vasculature provide a target for drug discovery. In particular, the immature nature of tumor vasculature may render it intrinsically sensitive to disruption by agents affecting the endothelial cell cytoskeleton, including tubulin-binding agents. The tubulin depolymerizing drug Oxi 4503, has been recently shown to have a better efficacy in experimental models than the clinically active, close structural analogue, Combretastatin A-4 phosphate (CA4P). Previous studies with CA4P with standard anti-cancer agents have demonstrated improved efficacy relative to the standard agents. In this study the synergistic effects of administering Oxi 4503 in combination with Carboplatin and Paclitaxel in the MDA-MB-231 human breast adenocarcinoma and the ES-2 ovarian carcinoma models growing in SCID-mice were evaluated. Oxi 4503 at doses ranging from 10-50 mg/kg significantly potentiated the anti-tumor effects of Carboplatin and Paclitaxel. Tumor growth was completely repressed at doses above 10 mg/kg of Oxi 4503, while doses above 25 mg/kg showed tumor regression. These results demonstrate that the combination of Oxi 4503 and carboplatin and paclitaxel has significant antitumor activity that is related to the antivascular effects of Oxi 4503.
Complementary Modeling of Gravel Road Traffic-Generated Dust Levels Using Bayesian Regularization Feedforward Neural Networks and Binary Probit Regression

Gravel roads require extensive maintenance and rehabilitation. That is because of the dynamic behavior of gravel road conditions. This study is aimed at investigating road condition factors affecting the traffic-generated dust on gravel roads. The study concerns Laramie County, Wyoming. The parametric binary probit regression structure and the non-parametric Bayesian regularization artificial neural network (BRANN) methods were implemented to model traffic-generated dust levels as a function of the factors that contribute to dust generation. The BRANNs method simplifies the model building process by precluding irrelevant and redundant weights of artificial neural networks (ANNs). In this study, the BRANN method is utilized with one single hidden layer using the MATLAB® function for neural networks. In the hidden layer, multiple neuron counts ranging from three to thirty were attempted. The parametric and non-parametric techniques mentioned were adopted to provide comprehensive insights into important factors that contribute to dust generation. Therefore, both techniques complement each other. A total of 206 gravel road segments were used for model building for both analyses. As per the results of the BRANN model, it was found that twenty neurons produced the most accurate results. Furthermore, it was found that the BRANN model had more variables than the binary probit regression model, whereas the probit model provided general insights into the factors affecting the dust on gravel roads such as average travel speed and soil type. Also, it would be an easy-to-use method to assist local agencies and DOT practitioners in addressing the dust problems on gravel roads.
Integration of the Back-end of the Nuclear Fuel Cycle: An Overview

Recent efforts have been made toward the integration of the back-end of the nuclear fuel cycle in the United States. The back-end integration seeks to address several management challenges: 1) current storage practices are not optimized for transport and disposal; 2) the impact of interim storage on the disposal strategy needs to be evaluated; and 3) the back-end is affected by—and affects—nuclear fuel cycle and energy policy choices. The back-end integration accounts for the various processes of nuclear waste management—onsite storage, consolidated storage, transport and geological disposal. Ideally, these processes should be fully coupled so that benefits and impacts can be assessed at the level of the full fuel cycle. The paper summarizes the causes and consequences of the absence of integration at the backend of the nuclear fuel cycle in the U.S., critically reviews ongoing integration efforts, and suggests a framework that would support the back-end integration.
Paroxysmal Complete Heart Block In A Child With A Structurally Normal Heart

Introduction A previously healthy 11 year-old African-American male presents with headache, nausea, and concern for seizure and syncope. Several electrocardiograms demonstrate paroxysmal atrioventricular (AV) block, requiring placement of a dual chamber pacemaker. He is found to have normal cardiac anatomy, no signs of infection, or electrolyte abnormalities. Case Presentation A previously healthy 11-year-old male presents to the resuscitation bay with two days of headache, nausea, and recent onset of chest pain and concern for seizures. The day of presentation he has an episode of syncope …
The Role of Mind–Body Approaches in Promoting Healthcare Engagement and Positive Behavior Change

Mind–body interventions (MBIs) include a wide range of behavioral therapies, such as meditation, Tai Chi, yoga, and relaxation techniques. Though heterogeneous, most MBIs are multimodal and include therapeutic components, such as mindfulness, breath awareness, and physical movement. These interventions modulate key neurocognitive, psycho-emotional, and biophysical processes that may be involved in promotion of positive health behaviors and healthcare engagement. This chapter focuses on three particularly salient self-care behaviors for pulmonary patients: medication adherence, smoking cessation, and physical activity. For example, MBIs improve processes such as attention, memory, and planning behavior, as well as increase mindfulness and disease awareness, which may support medication adherence. Similarly, for smoking cessation, MBIs cultivate awareness and engage cognitive and emotional processes such as cognitive decentering and emotion regulation that may help patients notice triggers and resist cravings. Changes in mood, self-efficacy, motivation, physical function, and cardiorespiratory fitness with various MBIs may facilitate engagement in physical activity. Healthcare professionals can successfully guide patients by actively inquiring about MBI use and preferences, and by making appropriate recommendations or referrals based on patient needs, functional status, and available community resources.
Outcomes of Infectious Endophthalmitis in Patients with Systemic Antibiotic Allergies to Penicillins, Cephalosporins, or Vancomycin.

Purpose The mainstay empiric treatments of bacterial endophthalmitis are intravitreal vancomycin and ceftazidime. In the United States, up to 10% of the general population has a reported penicillin (PCN) allergy. Despite low cross-reactivity between PCN and later-generation cephalosporins, some providers alter the intravitreal antibiotic choice for endophthalmitis because of concern for allergic reactions. We evaluated the management strategies of infectious endophthalmitis in the setting of self-reported systemic antibiotic allergies and the association with adverse reactions after standard intravitreal antibiotic administration. Design Single-center, retrospective cohort study. Participants All patients with endophthalmitis between 2005 and 2019 and documented PCN, PCN-analog, cephalosporin, or vancomycin allergy who received intravitreal antibiotics on the basis of International Classification of Diseases 9th and 10th Revisions, and Current Procedural Terminology codes. Methods Retrospective chart review. Main Outcome Measures Any allergic reaction after intravitreal injection, additional surgical interventions required for treatment, and visual function at last recorded visit. Results Of the 65 patients included in this cohort, the most common causes of endophthalmitis were postcataract extraction surgery (n = 23, 35.4%) and postintravitreal injection (n = 11, 16.9%). All patients (65/65) received intravitreal vancomycin, and 81.5% (53/65) received intravitreal ceftazidime. Of the 53 patients who received intravitreal ceftazidime, 46 (86.8%) had allergies to PCNs alone, 5 (9.4%) had a cephalosporin allergy alone, and 2 (3.8%) had reported allergies to both PCN and cephalosporin antibiotics. Two patients (3.1%) with a documented vancomycin allergy received intravitreal vancomycin without complication. No patients exhibited any systemic or local allergic reactions or complications after intravitreal injection. Conclusions There were no documented allergic reactions in this cohort of patients with systemic antibiotic allergies who were treated for infectious endophthalmitis. Our findings are consistent with previous reports of a low allergic cross-reactivity between PCN and later-generation cephalosporins. Ophthalmologists should use evidence-based practices and a careful informed consent process when choosing intravitreal antibiotics for patients with specific antibiotic allergies. In the routine patient with suspected bacterial endophthalmitis, PCN allergy may not be an absolute contraindication to intravitreal cephalosporin use.
Audiobooks as a Window to the World

Library, literacy, and children’s literature professionals promote the benefits of transacting with audiobooks, and awards are bestowed upon audiobooks worldwide. Research spanning decades and conducted worldwide has explored the use of audiobooks for promoting literacy skill development. These studies have explored various uses of audiobooks and report mixed results for different types of readers and for readers of varying levels of proficiency. Yet, huge gaps exist in the research with many aspects of audiobook use still uninvestigated. This paper reports the disconnect between professionals’ claims regarding the benefits of audiobooks for children and those verified by empirical studies. It identifies the gaps in the scholarship surrounding audiobooks and calls attention to those areas in which audiobooks have potential to support children’s interests and needs.
Considering attitudinal uncertainty in the climate change skepticism continuum

Abstract In this paper we present an empirically driven language to discuss climate change skepticism. We conceptualize skeptic/skepticism as an umbrella term that includes those who actively reject climate science and those who are uncertain about climate change. We propose four categories for better empirical analysis of climate skepticism: epistemic deniers, epistemic doubters (borrowing from Capstick and Pidgeon 2014), attribution deniers, and attribution doubters (borrowing from Rahmstorf 2004). Using a unique dataset of surveys (n = 1000) and interviews (n = 33) with residents of the U.S. Pacific Northwest who are skeptical about climate change, we compare those four groups across several predictors and demographic variables (age, race, gender, political ideology, religiosity, income, education, and level of trust in science) and outcome variables (environmental concern, policy support, and conspiracy ideation (adherence to the belief that climate change is a “hoax”). We demonstrate the importance of considering attitudinal uncertainty in the analysis of climate skepticism by providing evidence for the presence of a continuum of thought wherein epistemic deniers and attribution doubters make up the two ends of a continuum with more complicated distinctions between epistemic doubters and attribution deniers.
RIO: ROB-Centric In-Order Modeling of Out-of-Order Processors

Architectural studies of the cache and memory hierarchy need a fast simulation model for the processor core that accurately conveys the impact of memory subsystem changes on application performance. We propose the RIO model (ROB-centric In-order model for Out-of-order cores), a single-pass core performance model based on finding the earliest possible future issue time for out-of-order execution. RIO can natively model second-order effects of overlapping and interacting miss events, significantly improving accuracy over interval simulation. Yet it is no more complex to implement and run, providing a compelling speedup over more detailed models. We implement RIO in Sniper and evaluate it on 2000+ application traces, and find it has an average absolute prediction error of 10.3 percent over Sniper's most detailed model, while simulating 2.8× faster on average (up to 5× on memory-bound workloads).
Generating a Future Vision of Patient Safety: A Pilot Program to Test the Integration of Certified Professional in Patient Safety™ Curriculum into Undergraduate Medical Education.

Preventable healthcare-associated harm results in significant morbidity and mortality in the United States, costing nearly 400 000 patient lives annually. The Institute for Healthcare Improvement provides high-quality educational resources tailored for working healthcare professionals. One such resource is the Certified Professional in Patient Safety (CPPS™) review course, which equips professionals with advanced proficiency in 5 core patient safety domains. The CPPS™ certification is the only interprofessional, patient safety science credential recognized worldwide. In 2010, the Lucian Leape Institute at the National Patient Safety Foundation described the critical need for medical students to participate in patient safety solutions as well. However, equivalent patient safety credentialing remains challenging for students in the preclinical and clinical stages of training to obtain. To address this growing dilemma, the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine (TCOM) piloted the first-of-its-kind CPPS™ course with 10 medical students to test a novel, academic-level approach to patient safety curriculum. Medical students showed large gains in performance on the post-test (83.18% ± 26.12%) compared to the pre-test (46.46% ± 27.18%) (P < .001, η2 p = .368), representing increased knowledge across all learning domains. On the national certification examination, students had a 90% first-time pass rate, exceeding the current national average of 70% for first-time examinees. In satisfaction surveys, students expressed the value of pilot curriculum for their medical training, the importance of similar Patient Safety Education and CPPS certification for all medical students, their confidence as future healthcare change agents. Content analysis of open response questions revealed 3 key areas of strength and opportunity for guiding future iterations of the course. This pilot generates a future vision of patient safety, equipping students with critical knowledge to systematically improve healthcare quality.
Romanticism and the Rise of the Mass Public: Public opinion from Burke to Byron

The full title of Edmund Burke's Reflections on the Revolution in France may be unfamiliar even to those who are most familiar with the text to which it is attached. The title page of the 1790 edition reads: Reflections on the Revolution in France, and on the Proceedings in Certain Societies in London Relative to that Event. In a Letter Intended to Have Been Sent to a Gentleman in Paris . It is the second clause of Burke's title that concerns me here. For if the bulk of this bulky text is devoted to the author's reflections on “the important transactions” taking place on the continent, Burke begins the Reflections by contemplating matters that lie closer to home, namely, the activities of a number of London societies, in particular the Society for Constitutional Information and the Revolution Society, whose public support of the revolution in France Burke sees as a threat to his own good name. More importantly, however, the activities of these London corresponding societies come to exemplify for Burke the threatening possibility that at the end of the eighteenth century England was fast becoming a society ruled by publicity. Nearly thirty years later, in the course of a critique of what he calls “the triumphs of the new Schools,” Byron offers an assessment of the new conditions of literary publicity that bears a striking resemblance to Burke's critique of the corresponding societies.
Detection of topological matter with quantum gases

Creating and measuring topological matter – with non-local order deeply embedded in the global structure of its quantum mechanical eigenstates – presents unique experimental challenges. Since this order has no signature in local correlation functions, it might seem experimentally inaccessible in any macroscopic system; however, as the precisely quantized Hall plateaux in integer and fractional quantum Hall systems show, topology can have macroscopic signatures at the system's edges. Ultracold atoms provide new experimental platforms where both the intrinsic topology and the edge behavior can be directly measured. This article reviews, using specific examples, how non-interacting topological matter may be created and measured in quantum gases.
Analysis of fully developed opposing mixed convection between inclined parallel plates

An exact solution is presented of fully developed, laminar flow between inclined parallel plates with a uniform wall heat flux boundary condition. The flow is downward and the heat flux is into the channel, so that natural convection opposes the forced flow. The solution depends on the two parametersP1=Gr sinθ/Re andP2=Gr cosθ/Re2Pr. Four different flow reversal regimes are observed: 1) no reversal, 2) top reversal, 3) bottom reversal, and 4) top and bottom reversal. Velocity profiles, temperature profiles, wall friction, and Nusselt numbers are presented. Despite the simplicity of the problem which has been analyzed, it does display some features which have been observed in real mixed convection flows, such as flow reversal and nonmonotonic dependence on tilt angle.
Pinworm eradication in community residential settings for people with developmental disabilities

Pinworm, a common parasitic infestation, can be a chronic nuisance in community and institutional residences for people with developmental disabilities. Asymptomatic human carriage of the parasite and its eggs often prevents eradication from a communal residential setting. The elimination of pinworm from a system of community residential settings through a public health approach was described.
Immunochemical analysis of lipopolysaccharides from free-living and endosymbiotic forms of Rhizobium leguminosarum.

Abstract Rhizobium leguminosarum B556 and 8002 differ only with respect to carrying symbiotic plasmids with specificity for Pisum or Phaseolus hosts, respectively. Protease-treated samples derived from free-living cultures of both strains revealed a ladder of lipopolysaccharide (LPS-1) bands after periodate-silver staining of sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels. These bands were arranged as doublets. After Western (immuno-) blotting, all LPS-1 bands reacted with monoclonal antibody JIM 21, whereas monoclonal antibody MAC 57 reacted only with the upper (slower-migrating) band and monoclonal antibody MAC 114 reacted only with the lower band of each doublet pair. Preparations obtained from bacteroids of Pisum or Phaseolus nodules showed significant differences in the size distribution and antigenicity of LPS. In bacteroids from Phaseolus sp., JIM 21 and MAC 57 each stained a ladder of LPS-1 bands on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels which corresponded in mobility to the upper band of each doublet pair seen in free-living cultures. MAC 114 did not react with the LPS from Phaseolus sp.-derived bacteroids. In bacteroids from Pisum sp., only fast-migrating (lower-molecular-weight) forms of LPS-1 could be visualized on gels, but both upper and lower bands of each doublet were still present and could be stained by the appropriate monoclonal antibody, MAC 57 or MAC 114, respectively. Similarly, bacteroids from R. leguminosarum 3841, which nodulates Pisum species, differed with respect to the structure and antigenicity of their LPS-1 from bacteroids of a related strain, B625, which nodulates Phaseolus species. Physiological factors were investigated that could account for these differences between the structures of LPS-1 from free-living cultures of B556 and 8002 and that from bacteroids. The following modifications in growth conditions each tended to reduce the expression of MAC 114 antigen and enhance the expression of MAC 57 antigen: succinate rather than glucose as the carbon source; microaerobic (2.5%, vol/vol) oxygen concentrations; and acidic (pH 5 to 6) culture medium. When all three of these conditions were combined, the LPS-1 that resulted was very similar to that in bacteroids from Pisum nodules. However, it was not possible to reproduce the LPS-1 pattern observed for bacteroids from Phaseolus nodules, which maintained a ladder of LPS bands reacting with MAC 57 antibody.
Decision trees and MPI collective algorithm selection problem

Selecting the close-to-optimal collective algorithm based on the parameters of the collective call at run time is an important step for achieving good performance of MPI applications. In this paper, we explore the applicability of C4.5 decision trees to the MPI collective algorithm selection problem. We construct C4.5 decision trees from the measured algorithm performance data and analyze both the decision tree properties and the expected run time performance penalty. In cases we considered, results show that the C4.5 decision trees can be used to generate a reasonably small and very accurate decision function. For example, the broadcast decision tree with only 21 leaves was able to achieve a mean performance penalty of 2.08%. Similarly, combining experimental data for reduce and broadcast and generating a decision function from the combined decision trees resulted in less than 2.5% relative performance penalty. The results indicate that C4.5 decision trees are applicable to this problem and should be more widely used in this domain.
Educational project: development of a seminar course on RF MEMS and RF microsystems

Major educational barriers exist in providing both quality and quantity of RF and electronic packaging engineers to meet industry needs. Although the National Science Foundation Microsystems Packaging Research Center has done excellent work in revolutionizing its education program with an outreach component, nation-wide students still have limited exposure to the field. For example, students at a nearby engineering institution, Clemson University (1.5-hour drive to Georgia Tech) do not have any courses in electronics packaging. This has been due to the lack of experts in the rapid growth of electronic technology. This is true in the RF electronics and MEMS that represent emerging technologies for developing the next-generation microsystems. Other barriers include the lack of departmental support for offering courses in electronics packaging, where the needs are to fulfil the core and traditional courses.
Composite control of direct-drive manipulators under motion constraints

Develops a singularly perturbed model of a direct-drive manipulator operating under motion constraints. The electrical subsystem is feedback linearized and made a fast subsystem via high gain current feedback. A slow control is then developed for the manipulator's mechanical subsystem which consists of a corrective control to compensate for the fast motor dynamics and a computed torque control developed for a single n-joint nonredundant manipulator constrained by a rigid environment. Using models of the robot dynamics and environmental constraints, reduced order dynamic equations are obtained for the mechanical subsystem with respect to a user defined set of constraint variables. A feedback linearising control which yields simultaneous position and force tracking is then formulated for the reduced order manipulator dynamics. This control assumes exact model knowledge and requires measurement of the robot joint positions, joint velocities, end-effector contact forces, and motor currents. Simulation results show that compensating for the electrical motor dynamics provides a dramatic increase in force tracking performance. >
Effects of low-frequency electrical stimulation on beef tenderness.

The application of 2 Hz, 500 V electrical stimulation to early post-mortem beef sides causes rapid muscle glycolysis, yet produces no trace of the extensive tissue rupture effected by 60 Hz current. By means of this low frequency technique, coupled with a mild or delayed-chill routine, we have examined the supposed tenderizing effect of rapid pH decline alone, without concurrent fiber fracture or cold-shortening intervention. Loin steaks from sides receiving this treatment were significantly tougher than those from paired control sides, an observation strongly suggesting that tenderization is hindered by rapid glycolysis. In other experiments, 60 Hz 500-V current was found to produce very extensive fracturing with breaks appearing (on average) every 6 mm of fiber length; this treatment resulted in a very significant tenderizing relative to that observed in the unstimulated control sides. It is concluded that, apart from its ability to prevent cold-shortening, normal-frequency high-voltage stimulation exerts its beneficial tenderizing action by fracturing the fibres; the accompanying acceleration of glycolysis actually causes a small, but definite, negative effect on eating quality.
Elastic response of U-Nb (6%) alloy

Previous work done to measure spall response of U-Nb(6%) alloy showed a somewhat surprising result. In all experiments done previously no evidence for an elastic wave was observed; that is, no two wave structure was detected. In this paper we report on the results of new experiments done to look at the effect in more detail. Dedicated experiments were done to look for evidence of elastic wave under compression, and preliminary results are reported.
Dynamic light scattering studies of ionic and nonionic polymer gels with continuous and discontinuous volume transitions

We have performed dynamic light scattering experiments on poly(acrylamide)-poly(acrylic acid) copolymer gels with controlled crosslink density and copolymer composition, by varying the temperature, amount and valency of added salt, pH, and solvent quality. Our systematic study provides several insights. The correlation length for the monomer density fluctuations, as inferred from the measured diffusion coefficient, is too small to be identified as the mesh size of the gel. The correlation length in an ionic gel, which is found to be smaller than that for an equivalent gel without ionization. Comparison of swelling ratio with the diffusion coefficient shows that these quantities are not simply geometrically related to each other. When a discontinuous volume phase transition is induced by gradually varying the solvent quality, the diffusion coefficient exhibits a pretransitional reduction by two orders of magnitude even before the gel collapse. These findings provoke a need for new theoretical approaches for describing the elastic modes of polyelectrolyte gels.
Characteristics of discussions on cardiopulmonary resuscitation between physicians and surrogates of critically ill patients.

Abstract Purpose In the intensive care unit (ICU), critically ill patients are often unable to participate in discussions about cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and decisions on CPR are often made by surrogate decision makers. The objective of this study is to determine the prevalence, content, and perceptions of CPR discussions between critically ill patients' surrogates and ICU physicians and their effect on resuscitation decisions. Materials and Methods Eligible patients' surrogates were interviewed using a structured questionnaire more than 24 hours after admission to the medical ICUs at 2 university-affiliated medical centers. Data from surrogates who did and did not participate in a CPR discussion were compared and correlated with patient characteristics and outcomes. Results Of 84 surrogates interviewed, 54% participated in more than 1 CPR discussion. Although most (73%) recalled discussing endotracheal intubation, 49% and 44% recalled discussing chest compressions or electrical cardioversion, respectively, and 68% to 84% stated they understood these components. Mortality was higher in the discussion group compared to the no-discussion group (37% vs. 8%; P P = .5). Conclusions Only half of critically ill patients' surrogates participated in CPR discussions. For those who did participate, most reported good understanding of resuscitation techniques, but less than half recalled the core components of CPR.
Vibrational spectra, assignments and normal coordinate analysis for difluorophosphine

Abstract Infrared spectra of the gas and Raman spectra of the liquid and solid forms of PF 2 H and PF 2 D are reported. A normal coordinate analysis based on compliance constants has been carried out on the assigned fundamentals and also on harmonic frequencies estimated by Dennison's method.
Kinetic Cooperativity of Human Liver Alcohol Dehydrogenase γ2

Previous studies showed that natural human liver alcohol dehydrogenase γ exhibits negative cooperativity (substrate activation) with ethanol. Studies with the recombinant γ2 isoenzyme now confirm that observation and show that the saturation kinetics with other alcohols are also nonhyperbolic, whereas the kinetics for reactions with NAD+, NADH, and acetaldehyde are hyperbolic. The substrate activation with ethanol and 1-butanol are explained by an ordered mechanism with an abortive enzyme-NADH-alcohol complex that releases NADH more rapidly than does the enzyme-NADH complex. In contrast, high concentrations of cyclohexanol produce noncompetitive substrate inhibition against varied concentrations of NAD+ and decrease the maximum velocity to 25% of the value that is observed at optimal concentrations of cyclohexanol. Transient kinetics experiments show that cyclohexanol inhibition is due to a slower rate of dissociation of NADH from the abortive enzyme-NADH-cyclohexanol complex than from the enzyme-NADH complex. Fluorescence quenching experiments confirm that the alcohols bind to the enzyme-NADH complex. The nonhyperbolic saturation kinetics for oxidation of ethanol, cyclohexanol, and 1-butanol are quantitatively explained with the abortive complex mechanism. Physiologically relevant concentrations of ethanol would be oxidized predominantly by the abortive complex pathway.
Occupant Protection and Standup Forklift (Lift Truck) Dynamics

This paper investigates dynamic standing postural stability during standup forklift operation through a series of live subject tests to determine the sensitivity to loss of stability and falling. Through a set of controlled tests, the tolerance to accelerations in the lateral, oblique, and longitudinal orientations is determined. The levels of acceleration causing loss of balance are in close agreement with earlier studies and support the use of a door in the case of a standup forklift and the use of a control corridor in the case of a pallet jack (walkie-rider) during routine operation.Copyright © 2003 by ASME
Myopia and Social Security Financing

This article compares the welfare effects offinancing Social Security with consump- Abstract tion and payroll taxes in an economy in which a segment of the population is myopic. The article shows t...
Cyanylated Cysteine: A Covalently Attached Vibrational Probe of Protein−Lipid Contacts

Cyanylated cysteine, or β-thiocyanatoalanine, is an artificial amino acid that can be introduced into peptides and proteins by post-translational chemical modification of solvent-exposed cysteine side chains, and thus it can be used in any protein with a suitable expression and mutagenesis system. In this study, cyanylated cysteine is introduced at selected sites in two model peptides that have been shown to bind to membrane interfaces: a membrane-binding sequence of the human myelin basic protein and the antimicrobial peptide CM15. Far-UV circular dichroism indicates that the secondary structures of the bound peptides are not influenced by introduction of the artificial side chain. Infrared spectra of both systems in buffer and exposed to dodecylphosphocholine micelles indicate that the CN stretching absorption band of cyanylated cysteine can clearly distinguish between membrane burial and solvent exposure of the artificial side chain. Since infrared spectroscopy can be applied in a wide variety of lipid...
Do countercyclical-weekend effects persist in online retail markets?

Contrary to classical economic price theory, Warner and Barsky [Warner, Elizabeth J., and Barsky, Robert B. The timing and magnitude of retail store markdowns: Evidence from weekends and holidays. Quarterly Journal of Economics, 110, 2, 1995, 321-352.] show that in traditional off-line markets, prices on average tend to be lower on weekends despite higher aggregate demand. Their explanation for this effect is rooted in the existence of consumers' search and transportation costs. We argue that since these costs are significantly reduced in many online retail market environments, this ''weekend effect'' should be weakened substantially. Our empirical evidence suggests that in fact, there are few statistically significant day-of-the-week price differences in the online markets we study, and the estimated magnitude of these differences is quite small.
A decomposition of multi-dimensional point-sets with applications to k-nearest-neighbors and n-body potential fields (preliminary version)

We define the notion of a well-separated pair decomposition of points in d-dimensional space. We develop efficient sequential and parallel algorithms for computing such a decomposition. We apply the resulting decomposition to the efficient computation of k-nearest neighbors and n-body potential fields.
PRODUCTION CROSS SECTION AND FREQUENCY OF NEUTRAL MESONS IN COSMIC RAYS

Nuclear interactions have been observed in a large cloud chamber operated at Echo Lake, Colorado, altitude 10,500 ft. The events were produced by ionizing particles (protons) in NaI crystals inside the cloud chamber, and were detected by photomultipliers.In this paper the electromagnetic component associated with the nuclear events is studied as evidence for the properties of the neutral meson whose decay is assumed to be the source of this component. The results are consistent with the assumption that the ${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{0}$ mesons are the main source of the photons associated with the nuclear events. The probability of production of ${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{0}$ mesons is in agreement with the theoretical results of Fermi, within the limits of the large experimental errors. The ratio of the number of neutral ${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{0}$ mesons to the number of the charged ${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}}$ mesons is estimated in events of different multiplicities of shower particles and it is found to be close to 0.5 for events with multiplicity varying from 1 to 5 or more (corresponding to energies of from 1 to about 20 Bev for the producing protons).These results agree with the results of other experimenters, if all the possible systematic errors are taken into account. The estimated energy distribution of the ${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{0}$ mesons emitted is given.
BISMAC control using SMA resistance feedback

Recently, bio-inspired shape memory alloy composite (BISMAC) actuators have been shown to be promising for the design of medusae rowing propulsion. BISMAC actuators were able to recreate bell deformation of Aurelia aurita by controlling shape memory alloy (SMA) deformation that allowed matching the contraction-relaxation deformation profile. In this study, we improve upon the control system and demonstrate feedback control using SMA wire resistance to decrease contraction time and power consumption. The controller requires the knowledge of threshold resistance and safe current inputs which were determined experimentally. The overheating effect of SMA wires was analyzed for BioMetal Fiber (BMF) and Flexinol 100 μm diameter wires revealing an increase in resistance as the wires overheated. The controller was first characterized on a SMA wire with bias spring system for a BMF 100 using Ihi = 0.5 A and Ilow = 0.2 A, where hi corresponds to peak current for fast actuation and low corresponds to the safe current which prevents overheating and maintains desired deformation. A contraction of 4.59% was achieved in 0.06 s using the controller and the deformation was maintained for 2 s at low current. The BISMAC actuator was operated using the controller with Ihi = 1.1 A and Ilow = 0.65 A achieving a 67% decrease in contraction time compared to using a constant driving current of Ilow = 0.2 A and a 60% decrease in energy consumption compared to using constant Ihi = 0.5 A while still exceeding the contraction requirements of the Aurelia aurita.
Optic atrophy, hearing loss, and peripheral neuropathy

Here we report on two families with a previously apparently undescribed, autosomal dominant disorder resulting in optic atrophy and subsequent development of hearing loss and peripheral neuropathy. This disorder differs from previous syndromes resulting in this triad of effects both in the severity and early onset of the optic atrophy and in its mode of transmission. Review of published cases of optic atrophy + hearing loss + peripheral neuropathy suggests that there are at least three such specific disorders; classification of these published cases by first-appearing symptom also results in a clean division by most-likely inheritance.