cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A prospective study of motor recovery following multiple subpial transections

A prospective study of motor recovery was undertaken in a patient scheduled to undergo multiple subpial transections (MST) of right sensorimotor cortex. Pre-transection, functional MRI (fMRI) and cortical stimulation mapping confirmed left hand motor control within right primary motor cortex. Immediately post-transection, behavioral testing demonstrated preserved strength bilaterally but decreased dexterity in the left hand. Seven weeks post-transection, dexterity returned to normal and left hand finger tapping corresponded with multiple bilateral foci of fMRI activation. At 16 weeks, fMRI activation returned to pre-transection levels. These data indicate that cortical injury due to MST resulted in the temporary recruitment of distant cortical sites which presumably subserved normal motor function during recovery.
Modeling advances for measuring spheroidal geometries using angle-resolved low coherence interferometry

The relative efficacy of a modified Mie theory model and a T-matrix method model in determining the geometry of spheroidal scatterers is determined through comparison of scattering distributions of optical phantoms to these two models.
Cost-effectiveness of air bags in motor vehicles.

We used industry-based cost estimates4 that were lower for seat belts and higher for installed air bags than those used in the study by Graham et al. Air bag component and installation costs vary, but are generally higher than the $278 estimate used by Graham et al (who did not include installation). It also was unclear why the cost of all seat belts in the vehicle ($57) was included together instead of using the cost of each belt in the individual front seats ($30). We feel the latter may be more appropriate, because the analysis is highly sensitive to costs of equipment.
On the risk-aversion comparability of state-dependent utility functions

Etude du probleme consistant a mesurer l'aversion pour le risque dans le cas d'une utilite dependant de l'etat
CW tunable ytterbium YAG laser pumped by titanium sapphire

Room-temperature CW laser operation from Yb/sup 3+/ in YAG is reported. The pump source is a 1 W titanium-sapphire laser tuned to 940 nm. The ytterbium laser was tuned continuously from 1.016 to 1.095 mu m. Output power up to 400 mW was measured with 1 W of pump power incident on the laser crystal.
Staying on Track in School: Religious Influences in High- and Low-Risk Settings

Religious communities are known to instill standards of achievement in their young people, but this observation may not apply as well to disadvantaged youth and their culture. In this study, we explore whether religious involvement enables youth in low-income neighborhoods to stay on track in school, rather than falling behind. Using data from two waves of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, we find that adolescents in low-income neighborhoods do not differ in their church attendance patterns from their peers in higher-income areas. However, their religious involvement is more likely to contribute to their academic progress than it is among youth in higher-income neighborhoods, even with adjustments for key risk and protective factors. This cross-level interaction involving youth church attendance shows a consistent relationship with several other measures of neighborhood disadvantage. We explore explanations for church attendance's uniquely positive effect in impoverished neighborhoods and its broader implications.
Relationship between ground state and double analog cross sections in pion double charge exchange.

At a pion kinetic energy of 292 MeV, comparison of averages of ground-state (g.s.) and double analog (DIAS) cross sections on isotopes of Ni and Se suggests that the g.s. cross section is comparable to that per nucleon pair for the DIAS. \textcopyright{} 1996 The American Physical Society.
Evaluation of DLC coatings for spark-ignited, direct-injected fuel systems

The suitability of diamond-like carbon (DLC) coatings for reduction of friction and wear in spark-ignited, direct-injected fuel systems has been investigated. Three commercially available DLC coatings have been compared to near-frictionless carbon (NFC) coatings and to uncoated metal in standardized lubricity tests and custom wear tests intended to simulate the fuel system environment. The coatings were applied to both laboratory balls and flats and to production fuel injector tips. These coatings provided improvements in friction and wear over uncoated surfaces, with the greatest improvements found in parts coated with NFC.
Application Of Continuous Liquid Phase Fluorescence Analysis For The Selective Determination Of Gases

A porous membrane "Diffusion Scrubber" represents an ideal interface between trace atmospheric gases of interest and sensitive fluorescence-based continuous liquid phase analysis methods for the corresponding analytes. Analytical methods capable of determining low to sub-parts-per-billion levels of hydrogen peroxide, sulfur dioxide, ammonia and formaldehyde on a continuous basis are described.
Characterization and expression of secA in Mycobacterium avium

Mycobacterium avium is both a pathogen that infects several hosts such as humans, pigs, and birds, as well as a microorganism that is encountered in environmental sources (soil and water). Protein secretion by the bacterium is likely to influence its ability to overcome adverse and competitive conditions both within or outside the host. Using a combination of cloning and information available in the databank, we characterized the secA gene from M. avium, encoding for a major preprotein translocase subunit associated with the secretion system of prokaryotics. In addition, we cloned the secA promoter sequence in a reporter construct upstream of a promoterless gfp. It was determined that the secA of M. avium shares large homology with the secA of Mycobacterium tuberculosis but not with secA of Mycobacterium leprae. secA expression was determined to be greater at logarithmic growth phase although it was also expressed at low levels during the stationary phase. secA expression was also observed when the bacteria were incubated in water as well as within human monocyte-derived macrophages and in conditions that are associated with biofilm formation. Future evaluation of the sec pathway in M. avium might provide important information about secreted proteins that are required for survival in different environments.
Flight qualification of mortar-actuated parachute deployment systems

A brief discussion outlines background of mortar use in parachute deployment systems. A description of the system operation is presented. Effects of the environment on performance are discussed as well as the instrumentation needed to assess this performance. Power unit qualification and lot qualification for shear pins and cartridges is delineated. Functional mortar system tests are described. Finally, bridle deployment and parachute deployment are discussed.
The relationship between companion animals and loneliness among rural adolescents

The relationship between loneliness and companion animal bonding was explored among 293 rural adolescents. Participants from two ethnically diverse southwestern high schools completed self-report measures of loneliness, pet ownership, companion animal attachment, and social support. Pet owners reported significantly lower loneliness scores than non-pet owners. Furthermore, companion animal bonding scores were inversely related to loneliness scores. Companion animal attachment was positively related to the number of humans in the social support network. The results of this study indicate that interventions promoting a pet relationship may be valuable in reducing loneliness among adolescents.
Improved size and effort estimation models for software maintenance

this paper provides a brief description of our study proposing improvements to the COCOMO models for estimating maintenance size and effort. The proposed size and effort models take into account characteristics of software maintenance that have not been addressed in the current COCOMO models. We found that the proposed models potentially improve the estimation accuracies of software maintenance projects.
Students with Learning Disabilities in College The Need for a Programmatic Approach to Critical Transitions

The successful inclusion of students with learning disabilities in postsecondary educational institutions is far from assured today. This has been largely because the service delivery systems in many colleges have not worked well enough to attract and keep students with learning disabilities and then send them into the workplace with jobs commensurate with their abilities. If this system is to improve, colleges need to expand their responsibility toward students with learning disabilities as they enter and exit college, as well as while they are in college. This paper describes the Three-Stage Transition Model (TSTM) of service delivery. The three transitions described in this model that constitute a student's postsecondary career are as follows: (a) entering college; (b) managing the academic and social changes during college; and (c) exiting college to enter employment. These transitions are discussed in terms of the specific activities that colleges could implement if students with learning disabilitie...
Raising the level for

We prove a simple level-raising result for regular algebraic, conjugate self-dual automorphic forms on . This gives a systematic way to construct irreducible Galois representations whose residual representation is reducible.
"Layoffs, Affective Human Capital, and Firm Performance"

The frequency and magnitude of employee downsizing has outpaced scholarly research on this important management phenomenon. Extant research has examined the effects of downsizing from either an ind...
Columnar growth and kinetic roughening in electrochemical deposition.

We performed electrochemical deposition of copper at very slow rates so that local growth effects such as surface relaxation and stochastic noise can compete with the nonlocal Laplacian effects. We observed that the initial growth pattern is consistent with the conventional Mullins-Sekerka instability. This is followed by coarsening and roughening of the surface that leads to a columnar structure with deep crevices. The surface roughness for length scales below the typical column width shows a power-law behavior with an exponent \ensuremath{\alpha}=0.55\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.06, consistent with the prediction of Kardar, Parisi, and Zhang (KPZ). However, the time dependence of the total interface width is not the ${\mathit{t}}^{1/3}$ power law predicted by KPZ.
Benzo[a]pyrene induces intercellular adhesion molecule-1 through a caveolae and aryl hydrocarbon receptor mediated pathway

Toxicologic and epidemiologic studies have linked benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) exposure with cardiovascular diseases such as atherosclerosis. The mechanisms of action leading to these diseases have not been fully understood. One key step in the development of atherosclerosis is vascular endothelial dysfunction, which is characterized by increased adhesiveness. To determine if B[a]P could lead to increased endothelial adhesiveness, the effects of B[a]P on human endothelial cell intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) expression was investigated. B[a]P was able to increase ICAM-1 protein only after pretreatment with the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) agonist beta-naphthoflavone (beta-NF). Knockdown of AhR by siRNA or treatment with AhR antagonist alpha-naphthoflavone (alpha-NF) eliminated the induction of ICAM-1 from B[a]P, confirming the necessity of AhR in this process. Likewise, B[a]P only increased monocyte adhesion to the vascular endothelium when cells were pretreated with beta-NF. Experiments were done to define a signaling mechanism. B[a]P increased phosphorylation of MEK and p38-MAPK, and inhibitors to these proteins blunted the ICAM-1 induction. B[a]P was also able to increase AP-1 DNA binding and phosphorylation of cJun. Phosphorylation of cJun was disrupted by MEK and p38-MAPK inhibitors linking the signaling cascade. Finally, the importance of membrane microdomains, caveolae, was demonstrated by knockdown of the structural protein caveolin-1. Disruption of caveolae eliminated the B[a]P-induced ICAM-1 expression. These data suggest a possible pro-inflammatory mechanism of action of B[a]P involving caveolae, leading to increased vascular endothelial adhesiveness, and this inflammation may be a critical step in the development of B[a]P-induced atherosclerosis.
Orientational epitaxy and lateral structure of the hexagonally reconstructed Pt(001) and Au(001) surfaces

We present results of synchrotron-x-ray-scattering studies of the orientational epitaxy exhibited by clean, hexagonally reconstructed Pt(001) and Au(001) surfaces. For the Pt(001) surface, a high-symmetry direction of the hexagonal overlayer is aligned with a high-symmetry direction of the bulk between 1820 and 1685 K. Between 1685 and \ensuremath{\sim}1580 K, the relative rotation angle varies continuously from 0\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} to 0.75\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} with a one-half-power-law dependence on the reduced temperature. At \ensuremath{\sim}1580 K, domains with a rotation angle of 0.8\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} appear discontinuously, in coexistence with those with a rotation angle of 0.75\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}. The two rotation angles reach \ensuremath{\sim}0.9\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} and \ensuremath{\sim}0.75\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} for the continuously and discontinuously rotated components, respectively, at 300 K. At all temperatures, the overlayer is incommensurate along both directions of the surface, with weakly temperature-dependent incommensurabilities. The areal density of the Pt(001) overlayer is compressed by \ensuremath{\sim}8% with respect to the hexagonal (111) planes in the bulk. In addition, the extent of translational order within the surface layer decreases with decreasing temperature. The Au(001) surface exhibits a strongly discontinuous rotational transformation at \ensuremath{\sim}980 K and there is coexistence between rotated and unrotated domains, in agreement with previous measurements. Rotated domains appear at a rotation angle of \ensuremath{\sim}0.8\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} and their number grows with decreasing temperature at the expense of unrotated domains. Our measurements reveal the existence of additional favored rotation angles: one of 0.9\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} and one that varies smoothly from 0\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} to 0.5\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}. The relative domain populations depend on temperature. A mean-field theory of rotational transformations, which accounts for the continuous rotational behavior of the Pt(001) surface, is presented, and it is shown that there are no corrections to mean-field behavior from fluctuations for a rotational transformation.
Cognitive Dimensions of Way-Finding: The Implications of Habitus, Safety, and Gender Dissonance among Gay and Lesbian Populations

This paper critiques the proposition that way-finding strategies can be differentiated by sex. We argue that way-finding is better understood as a function of gender differences where gender is und...
Experiences of patients identifying with chronic Lyme disease in the healthcare system: a qualitative study

Chronic Lyme disease is a term that describes a constellation of persistent symptoms in patients with or without evidence of previous Borrelia burgdorferi infection. Patients labeled as having chronic Lyme disease have a substantial clinical burden. Little is known about chronic Lyme disease patient experiences in the healthcare system and their relationships with healthcare providers. The purpose of this study was to gather insights about the experiences of patients who carry a diagnosis of chronic Lyme disease in the United States healthcare system. Qualitative, phenomenological study in 12 adult participants who identified themselves as having chronic Lyme disease. Semi-structured face-to-face in-depth interviews were conducted, 60–90 minutes in length, focusing on perceptions of disease burden and of their healthcare providers, using the dimensions of the Health Belief Model. Transcribed interviews were analyzed for emergent topics and themes in the categories of beliefs/understanding, personal history/narrative, consequences/limitations, management, and influences on care. Enrollment continued until theoretical saturation was obtained. Four major themes emerged from participants’ descriptions of their experiences and perceptions: 1) changes in health status and the social impact of chronic Lyme disease, 2) doubts about recovery and the future, 3) contrasting doctor-patient relationships, 4) and the use of unconventional therapies to treat chronic Lyme disease. Participants reported a significant decline in health status associated with chronic Lyme disease and were often unsatisfied with care in conventional settings. Negative experiences were associated with reports of dismissive, patronizing, and condescending attitudes. Positive experiences were associated with providers who were reported to be attentive, optimistic, and supportive. Consultations with CAM practitioners and use of CAM therapies were common. Actively engaged and sympathetic clinical encounters may foster greater satisfaction in healthcare settings.
Short hydrogen bonds in photoactive yellow protein

Eight high-resolution crystal structures of the ground state of photoactive yellow protein (PYP) solved under a variety of conditions reveal that its chromophore is stabilized by two unusually short hydrogen bonds. Both Tyr42 Oη and Glu46 O∊ are separated from the chromophore phenolate oxygen by less than the sum of their atomic van der Waals radii, 2.6 A. This is characteristic of strong hydrogen bonding, in which hydrogen bonds acquire significant covalent character. The hydrogen bond from the protonated Glu46 to the negatively charged phenolate oxygen is 2.58 ± 0.01 A in length, while that from Tyr42 is considerably shorter, 2.49 ± 0.01 A. The E46Q mutant was solved to 0.95 A resolution; the isosteric mutation increased the length of the hydrogen bond from Glx46 to the chromophore by 0.29 ± 0.01 A to that of an average hydrogen bond, 2.88 ± 0.01 A. The very short hydrogen bond from Tyr42 explains why mutating this residue has such a severe effect on the ground-state structure and PYP photocycle. The effect of isosteric mutations on the photocycle can be largely explained by the alterations to the length and strength of these hydrogen bonds.
Altered insulin and glucagon secretion in treated genetic hyperlipemia: A mechanism of therapy?

Abstract The influence of Halofenate therapy on insulin and glucagon secretion was examined in the Zucker rat with genetic endogenous hyperlipemia. Coincident with the lipid lowering effects of Halofenate, the net change in the basal bihormonal axis favored glucagon, with the I G molar ratio (Insulin/Glucagon) decreasing from 2.72 ± 0.53 to 0.96 ± 0.20 during treatment with this drug. Following arginine stimulation the I G ratio remained reduced at 0.87 ± 0.13 in Halofenate treated animals, contrasting with the statistically greater ratio of 2.5 ± 0.55 in control animals. The Halofenate induced state of reduced insulin:glucagon was associated with hypolipemia, postarginine hyperglycemia, and hyperketonemia,—three metabolic parameters characteristic of glucagon excess relative to insulin. It is suggested that the lipid-lowering action of Halofenate in genetic hyperlipemia may reflect the altered bihormonal axis induced by the drug.
INNOVATIVE APPROACHES FOR FOSTERING CONSERVATION MARINE FISHERIES

Many modern fisheries management systems create incentives to overfish, leading to negative economic and environmental consequences for human welfare and marine ecosystem health. In this paper, we review problems faced by many fisheries managers, including overcapitalization, by-catch of nontarget species, and alteration of marine food webs. We recommend the formulation of alternative fisheries management goals based on risk-averse, multispecies management. We discuss alternative fisheries management systems, including transferable fishing privileges, community development quotas, and individual transferable quotas (ITQs). We argue that fostering fisheries conservation will require combining stringent performance criteria with alternative fisheries management designed to create incentives for sustainability.
Rare earth element, 87 Sr/ 86 Sr, and 143 Nd/ 144 Nd compositions of Cenozoic orogenic dacites from Baja California, northwestern Mexico, and adjacent west Texas: evidence for the predominance of a subcrustal component

Dacitic lavas and ignimbrites were examined from seven localities that span the entire 700 km width of the mid- to late Cenozoic magmatic arc of northwestern Mexico and adjacent west Texas. These rocks have remarkably similar REE patterns that are parallel in the heavy REE and have modest negative Eu anomalies. Samples from three localities including Baja California, the Sierra Madre Occidental, and the Chihuahuan Basin and Range have initial 87Sr/86Sr between 0.7044 and 0.7050 and ɛ Nd near 0.0±1.0. These dacites are isotopically similar to associated basalts, and they show no systematic isotopic variation that is correlated with age or composition of the basement. There is no evidence that magmas parental to these dacites interacted significantly with continental crust. Samples form three other localites in the Basin and Range vary in initial 87Sr/86Sr from 0.7051 to 0.7070 and ɛ Nd from about -1 to −2. The composition of these rocks reflects contamination of the parental magmas by relatively small amounts of Precambrian crust. Collectively, the dacites of this study show much less isotopic variation than do Mesozoic granitoids (Farmer and DePaolo 1983) and late Cenozoic olivine tholeiites (Hart 1985) from similar transects of the western United States. The distinctive source region for the magmas parental to the Mexican dacites was relatively uniform isotopically, but it was enriched in LIL and HFS elements beneath the eastern Basin and Range.
Structure of tRNA Dimethylallyltransferase: RNA Modification through a Channel

Dimethylallyltransferase (DMATase) transfers a five-carbon isoprenoid moiety from dimethylallyl pyrophosphate (DMAPP) to the amino group of adenosine at position 37 of certain tRNAs. Reported here are the crystal structures of Pseudomonas aeruginosa DMATase alone and in complex with pyrophosphate at 1.9 A resolution. Surprisingly, the enzyme possesses a central channel spanning the entire width of the enzyme. Both the accepting substrate tRNA and the donating substrate DMAPP appear to enter the channel from opposite sides in an ordered sequence, with tRNA first and DMAPP second, and the RNA modification reaction occurs in the middle of the channel once the two substrates have met. The structure of DMATase is homologous to a class of small soluble kinases involved in biosynthesis of nucleotide precursors for nucleic acids, indicating its possibly evolutionary origin. Furthermore, specific recognition of the pyrophosphate by a conserved loop in DMATase, similar to the P-loop commonly seen in diverse nucleotide-binding proteins, demonstrates that DMATase is structurally and mechanistically distinct from farnesyltransferase, another family of prenyltransferases involved in protein modification.
Tumor necrosis factor expression is ameliorated after exposure to an acidic environment.

Background It has been well established that laparoscopic surgery presents several clinical benefits, including reduced pain and a shorter hospital stay. These effects have been associated with a decrease in the inflammatory response. Previous studies have demonstrated that reduced inflammation after laparoscopic surgery is the product of carbon dioxide insufflation, which decreases peritoneal pH. The objective of this study was to investigate the cellular and molecular mechanisms responsible for the reduced response after exposure to acidic environments. Materials and Methods A murine macrophage line (J744) was incubated in culture medium at pH 6.0 or pH 7.4 for 3 h at 37°C. Then, cells were stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) at pH 7.4, the expression of TNF-α (qRT-PCR or enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and intracellular pH were measured. In addition, CD14 and Toll-like receptor 4 expression and NF-κB nuclear translocation were analyzed. Results A significant decrease in LPS-induced TNF-α expression levels was observed in cells pre-incubated at pH 6.0 in comparison with cells at neutral pH conditions. This decrease in TNF-α levels was not associated with a reduction in cell surface expression of CD14 and Toll-like receptor 4. Exposure to an extracellular acidic environment resulted in a reduction of IκB phosphorylation and NF-κB nuclear translocation, secondary to a significant drop in cytosolic pH. Conclusions These observations provide a potential mechanism for the reduced expression of TNF-α after exposure to low extracellular pH, which may be related to acidification after CO 2 insufflation during laparoscopic surgery. In addition, extracellular acidic pH environments could emerge as an important regulator of macrophage function.
Desmethyldiazepam kinetics in the elderly after oral prazepam

Our subjects were 15 young (aged 22 to 42 yr) and 14 elderly (aged 62 to 85 yr) people who took single oral doses of 20 mg prazepam. Plasma desmethyldiazepam (DMDZ) concentrations were determined in venous blood samples drawn up to 9 days after the dose. Appearance in blood of DMDZ was slow, with peak plasma levels reached in an average of 10 to 20 hr. First-order DMDZ appearance was observed in only 17 subjects. Volume of distribution of total DMDZ (range, 1.33 to 6.30 l/kg) and of unbound DMDZ after correction for protein binding (range, 43 to 243 l/kg) was larger in women than in men of all ages, and in the elderly as opposed to the young. Elimination half-life (range, 29 to 224 hr) rose with age in men (r = 0.66, p < 0.01) but not in women (r = −0.02). Clearance of unbound DMDZ (range, 2.9 to 31.2 ml/min/kg) was greater in women than in men of all ages, and declined with age in men (r = −0.40) but not in women (r = −0.06). As in the case of diazepam, age can influence DMDZ kinetics, but changes in drug disposition with age may differ between sexes. Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics (1980) 28, 196–202; doi:10.1038/clpt.1980.150
Formal solutions for a class of stochastic pursuit-evasion games

A class of differential pursuit-evasion games is examined in which the dynamics are linear and perturbed by additive white Gaussian noise, the performance index is quadratic, and both players receive measurements perturbed independently by additive white Gaussian noise. Linear minimax solutions are characterized in terms of a set of implicit integro-differential equations. A game of this type also possesses a "certainty-coincidence" property, meaning that its minimax behavior coincides with that of the corresponding deterministic game in the event that all noise values are zero. This property is used to decompose the minimax strategies into sums of a certainty-equivalent term and error terms.
Identification of Monomeric and Polymeric 5,7,3′,4′-tetrahydroxyflavan-3,4-diol from Tannin Extract of Wild Cherry Bark USP, Prunus serotina Erhart, Family Rosaceae

A phytochemical investigation of the tannin content of wild cherry bark USP showed the presence of nonhydrolyzable flavanoidal-type tannins, consisting of monomeric and polymeric leucocyanidin units. Identification was accomplished by paper chromatography, visible and IR spectrophotometry, with commercial samples, and fragmentation by potassium fusion.
Why do managers voluntarily release earnings forecasts

Abstract Managers often release earnings forecasts in advance of actual earnings announcements. It would appear that managers should at best be indifferent to such release given that the actual earnings will be disclosed at a future date. However, if the manager's objective is to maximize his firm's market value and he has control of production decisions, he may be motivated to release an earnings forecast. The reason is that the forecast release gives investors a more favorable assessment of the manager's ability to anticipate economic environment changes and to adjust production plans accordingly. Forecast release can thereby translate into a higher firm market value.
A Super-Sensitive External Reflection Unit For FTIR Spectroscopy

A new multiple external reflection unit for IR surface studies is described. The unit allows 14 or more reflections at near-grazing incidence, increasing the sensitivity over transmission by 78 and by 111 over a single reflection at 45°. Spectra of sub-monolayers on gold demonstrate the increased sensitivity.
Temperature Dependence of Resin Flow in a Resin Film Infusion (RFI) Process by Ultrasound Imaging

Ultrasonic imaging in the C-scan mode was used in conjunction with the amplitude of the reflected signal to measure the temperature dependence of resin flow rate in single layers of woven carbon fabric. The RFI samples were vacuum-bagged and scanned in a water tank at 50°C, 60°C, 70°C, and 80°C. The measured flow rates were plotted versus inverse viscosity to determine the permeability in the thin film, non-saturated system. The permeability values determined in this work were consistent with permeability values reported in the literature. Capillary flow was not observed at the temperatures and times required for pressurized flow to occur. The flow rate at 65°C was predicted from the measured flow rates, and then measured in a 10-layer laminate. The investigation demonstrates that ultrasonic imaging in the C-scan mode in conjunction with the amplitude of the reflected signal is an effective method for measuring resin flow through fabric.
A hydrophobic quencher of protein fluorescence: 2,2,2-trichloroethanol.

Abstract Previously the neutral fluorescence quenching probe, acrylamide, was employed to determine the degree of exposure of tryptophan residues in proteins. A less polar neutral quencher 2,2,2-trichloroethanol (trichloroethanol) was used in the present work to investigate whether it would preferentially interact with apolar regions of proteins. For most proteins studied, the degree of quenching by trichloroethanol is found to be about the same as with acrylamide. However, for human and bovine serum albumin hydrophobic interactions between trichloroethanol and these proteins occur, leading to an exalted quenching. The fluorescence quencher thus senses the presence of a hydrophobic domain in the vicinity of the tryptophan residues in these proteins. Trichloroethanol is shown to induce conformational changes in certain proteins and to be a potentially useful quencher for proteins having predominantly tyrosine emission.
Comparison of two direct-detection Doppler lidar techniques

Two types of direct-detection Doppler lidars are described: the multichannel spectral resolving approach and the edge technique approach. The two methods are compared in terms of fundamental sys- tem characteristics. The equations necessary to model the instruments and predict noise-limited performance are developed in forms that en- able an easy comparison of the methods. Using those equations, simu- lation results are presented to compare the performance of the receiver systems. Results are shown for both aerosol Doppler and molecular Doppler systems. Instrument design considerations are discussed to clarify the choice of realistic values for the model parameters. © 1998 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers. (S0091-3286(98)01310-5)
A fault-tolerant software strategy for digital systems

Techniques developed for producing fault-tolerant software are described. Tolerance is required because of the impossibility of defining fault-free software. Faults are caused by humans and can appear anywhere in the software life cycle. Tolerance is effected through error detection, damage assessment, recovery, and fault treatment, followed by return of the system to service. Multiversion software comprises two or more versions of the software yielding solutions which are examined by a decision algorithm. Errors can also be detected by extrapolation from previous results or by the acceptability of results. Violations of timing specifications can reveal errors, or the system can roll back to an error-free state when a defect is detected. The software, when used in flight control systems, must not impinge on time-critical responses. Efforts are still needed to reduce the costs of developing the fault-tolerant systems.
Development and expression of sensitization to cocaine's reinforcing properties: role of NMDA receptors

Acquisition of cocaine self-administration (0.125, 0.25 or 0.5 mg/kg/infusion) was assessed in rats that had received prior exposure to either saline or amphetamine (2.0 mg/kg). Acquisition of self-administration was dose-dependent, with the highest dose leading to the shortest latency to reliably discriminate between depression of a lever that resulted in drug delivery and an inactive lever. Latency to acquisition of the lever discrimination for rats that had received prior exposure to amphetamine was shorter than for the saline-pretreated counterparts in each cocaine dosage group. This suggests that repeated exposure to this drug prior to self-administration testing sensitized the rats to the reinforcing effects of cocaine. Co-administration of MK-801 (0.25 mg/kg, IP), a non-competitive NMDA antagonist, blocked the ability of chronic exposure to amphetamine to sensitize rats to cocaine. In experienced self-administering rats, acute pretreatment with MK-801 resulted in a loss of discriminative responding. The number of inactive lever responses was consistently higher than the number of active lever responses across all cocaine dosage groups. These data suggest that the NMDA receptor, possibly through interactions with dopamine systems, is critical for both the development and expression of sensitization to cocaine's reinforcing effects produced by intermittent preexposures to amphetamine.
Nucleotide sequence of a major class-III phage-T3 RNA-polymerase promoter located at 98.0% of phage-T3 genetic map

The entire nucleotide sequence of a 409-bp HincII fragment, located within the MboI-E fragment on bacteriophage T3 DNA and containing a major class-III T3 RNA polymerase promoter positioned at 98% on the standard T3 genetic map, has been determined. Alignment of this class-III promoter with previously determined T3 RNA polymerase promoters, with start points of transcription (+1) in register, indicates high degree of sequence conservation between position -16 to +6 among all T3 RNA polymerase promoters. The conserved portion of the (-) strand sequence is 5'-A-TA-T-AT-A-C-C-C-T-C-A-C-T-A-A-A-G-G-G-A---3'. This fragment also contains an open reading frame (ORF) with a translational start codon located at position +146 which is preceded by a potential ribosome binding site (RBS). There is more than 70% amino acid-sequence homology between the deduced sequences of the -NH2 terminal region of this putative T3 phage protein and the corresponding protein coded by bacteriophage T7 (protein of T7 gene 19.5).
Solvent‐Dependent Enantiodivergence in the Chlorocyclization of Unsaturated Carbamates

A remarkable solvent-controlled enantiodivergence is seen in the hydroquinidine 1,4-phthalazinediyl diether ((DHQD)2PHAL)-catalyzed chlorocyclization of unsaturated carbamates. Eyring plot analyses of this previously unreported reaction are used to probe and compare the R- and S-selective pathways. In the CHCl3/hexanes solvent system, the pro-R process shows a surprising increase in selectivity with increasing temperature. These studies point to a strongly solvent-dependent entropy-enthalpy balance between the pro-R and pro-S pathways.
Auditing Access to Specialty Care for Children with Public Insurance

Background Health care reform has expanded eligibility to public insurance without fully addressing concerns about access. We measured children’s access to outpatient specialty care to identify disparities in providers’ acceptance of Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) versus private insurance. Methods Between January and May 2010, research assistants called a stratified, random sample of clinics representing eight specialties in Cook County, Illinois, which has a high proportion of specialists. Callers posed as mothers of pediatric patients with common health conditions requiring outpatient specialty care. Two calls, separated by 1 month, were placed to each clinic by the same person with the use of a standardized clinical script that differed by insurance status. Results We completed 546 paired calls to 273 specialty clinics and found significant disparities in provider acceptance of Medicaid–CHIP versus private insurance across all tested specialties. Overall, 66% of Medicaid–CHIP callers (179 of 273) were denied an appointment as compared with 11% of privately insured callers (29 of 273) (relative risk, 6.2; 95% confidence interval [CI], 4.3 to 8.8; P<0.001). Among 89 clinics that accepted both insurance types, the average wait time for Medicaid–CHIP enrollees was 22 days longer than that for privately insured children (95% CI, 6.8 to 37.5; P = 0.005). Conclusions We found a disparity in access to outpatient specialty care between children with public insurance and those with private insurance. Policy interventions that encourage providers to accept patients with public insurance are needed to improve access to care.
Visualizing the Cosmos: Terrence Malick's Tree of Life and Other Visions of Life in the Universe

As buds give rise by growth to fresh buds, and these, if vigorous, branch out and overtop on all sides many a feebler branch, so by generation I believe it has been with the great Tree of Life, which fills with its dead and broken branches the crust of the earth, and covers the surface with its ever-branching and beautiful ramifications.
Theory and tradespace analysis of a reflective axial adaptive optical zoom system

Optical zoom enables wide and narrow fields-of-view within a single optical system. Traditional zoom designs translate elements along the optical axis, a technique that is generally prohibitive for large diameter optics. Adaptive optical zoom (AOZ) alters system magnification via variable focal length elements, a technique that has the potential to facilitate zoom in large diameter systems. This paper details a novel optical theory developed to design AOZ systems. The developed theory modifies existing techniques for telescope objective design and third-order aberration determination to accommodate the additional degrees of freedom found with AOZ. The derived theory also enables a large-scale tradespace analysis, allowing optical design to begin from a broad perspective and optimize a particular design. Using the tradespace analysis, a Cassegrain AOZ objective with a 3.3Xzoom ratio is designed, demonstrating the capability and validity of the theory.
Predicting use of habitat patches by spawning horseshoe crabs (Limulus polyphemus) along a complex coastline with field surveys and geospatial analyses

This research described coastal habitat characteristics at a landscape scale and followed a geospatial modelling approach to predict the probability of habitat use by the population of Atlantic horseshoe crabs (Limulus polyphemus) in Long Island Sound (LIS, USA). This approach was developed to aid in decision-making regarding management of horseshoe crab spawning locations. Geospatial data layers were created within which beach slope, wave exposure, surface substrate type, and distance from offshore aggregations of crabs (i.e. hotspots) were summarized for beaches in the western, central, and eastern regions of the Connecticut coast of LIS. Spawning abundances derived from field surveys conducted in May and June of 2009 and 2010 were used with remotely-sensed habitat characteristics to develop a resource selection function from a candidate model set based on polytomous logistic regression. A single best model (Akaike weight = 0.97) for predicting the probability of habitat use by spawning horseshoe crabs was selected using an information-theoretic approach. The parameter estimates predicted a greater probability of habitat use with increasing slope, decreasing wave exposure, and decreasing distance from offshore hotspots. Small ‘pocket’ beaches surrounded by rocky headlands, marshes, and developed areas are the typical habitat available to support horseshoe crab spawning in LIS. As spawning densities in LIS are relatively small and suitable spawning habitat is fragmented, geospatial methods are especially useful for identifying high-use sites and maximizing the conservation value of management actions. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A Promoter Region Mutation Affecting Replication of the Tetrahymena Ribosomal DNA Minichromosome

In the ciliated protozoan Tetrahymena thermophila the ribosomal DNA (rDNA) minichromosome replicates partially under cell cycle control and is also subject to a copy number control mechanism. The relationship between rDNA replication and rRNA gene transcription was investigated by the analysis of replication, transcription, and DNA-protein interactions in a mutant rDNA, the rmm3 rDNA. The rmm3 (for rDNA maturation or maintenance mutant 3) rDNA contains a single-base deletion in the rRNA promoter region, in a phylogenetically conserved sequence element that is repeated in the replication origin region of the rDNA minichromosome. The multicopy rmm3 rDNA minichromosome has a maintenance defect in the presence of a competing rDNA allele in heterozygous cells. No difference in the level of rRNA transcription was found between wild-type and rmm3 strains. However, rmm3 rDNA replicating intermediates exhibited an enhanced pause in the region of the replication origin, roughly 750 bp upstream from the rmm3 mutation. In footprinting of isolated nuclei, the rmm3 rDNA lacked the wild-type dimethyl sulfate (DMS) footprint in the promoter region adjacent to the base change. In addition, a DMS footprint in the origin region was lost in the rmm3 rDNA minichromosome. This is the first reported correlation in this system between an rDNA minichromosome maintenance defect and an altered footprint in the origin region. Our results suggest that a promoter region mutation can affect replication without detectably affecting transcription. We propose a model in which interactions between promoter and origin region complexes facilitate replication and maintenance of the Tetrahymena rDNA minichromosome.
Dicaf: a distributed architecture for intelligent transportation

The solution to increasing traffic congestion is not to simply build new roads. Instead, researchers hope to use technology to make more efficient use of the highway network that already exists. Key efforts to date have fallen into two categories. One set of studies has looked at the use of a centralized traffic management center that collects traffic congestion information at a single point and relays it to on-board computers in vehicles or directly to the drivers. Another set of studies has looked at systems that would prescribe the routes for vehicles. The authors describe their Dicaf (distributed scalable architecture for IVHS using a continuous-function congestion measure) system, which envisions a network of distributed, independent traffic management centers that provide congestion and other information to on-board navigation systems in the automobiles themselves. The navigation system uses that information to help drivers avoid slower traffic and thus find the fastest route home or anywhere.
Hip internal rotation is correlated to radiographic findings of cam femoroacetabular impingement in collegiate football players.

Purpose The objective of this study was to determine whether physical examinations (flexion–abduction–external rotation [FABER], impingement, range-of-motion profiles) could be used to detect the bony abnormalities of femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) in an athletic population. Methods We performed a prospective study of 65 male collegiate football players. Both hips were evaluated by 2 orthopaedic surgeons for radiographic signs of FAI. The alpha angle and head-neck offset were measured on frog-leg lateral films. The center-edge angle, acetabular index, crossover sign, and alpha angle were measured on anteroposterior films. Measurements were averaged for both observers. Maximum hip range of motion in flexion (supine) and internal/external rotation (supine, sitting, and prone) was measured with a goniometer. Pain provoked by the impingement and FABER tests was also recorded. Examinations were completed at 2 of 4 stations (2 duplicates), each staffed by 2 clinicians (1 examined and 1 measured). The relation between each range-of-motion and radiographic measure was determined. Data from each station were assessed separately. Only those regressions significant ( P Results The alpha angle and head-neck offset measured on the frog-leg lateral films were significantly correlated (all P Conclusions Internal rotation correlates to radiographic measures of cam FAI in this cohort of collegiate football players. Football players with diminished internal rotation in whom hip pain develops should be evaluated for underlying cam FAI abnormalities. Level of Evidence Level IV, therapeutic case series.
Phosphorylation-dependent immunoreactivity of neurofilaments and the rate of slow axonal transport in the central and peripheral axons of the rat dorsal root ganglion

The rate of axonal transport of tubulin, actin, and the neurofilament proteins was measured in the peripheral and central projections of the rat L5 dorsal root ganglion (DRG). [35S]Methionine was injected into the DRG, and the "front" of the radiolabeled protein was located 7, 14, and 20 days postinjection. Transport rates calculated for the neurofilament triplet proteins, tubulin, and actin in the peripheral nerve were approximately 1.5-fold faster than those in the dorsal root. A progressive decrease in the rate of transport was observed from 7 to 20 days after radiolabeling in both the central and peripheral directions (neurofilaments, approximately 1.7-fold; tubulin/actin, 2.1-fold). A surgical preparation, leaving the peripheral sciatic nerve with predominantly sensory fibers, was the basis for ELISAs for phosphorylation-dependent immunoreactivity of the high-molecular-weight neurofilament protein. In both dorsal roots and peripheral sensory axons the degree of phosphorylation was greater in nerve segments further away from the cell bodies. The degree of phosphorylation-related immunoreactivity correlates with the slowing of transport of radiolabeled cytoskeletal protein.
Organization and cell differentiation in lateral roots of Arabidopsis thaliana

Lateral root formation in plants involves the stimulation of mature pericycle cells to proliferate and redifferentiate to create a new organ. The simple organization of the root of Arabidopsis thaliana allows the development of lateral root primordia to be characterized histologically. We have divided the process of lateral root development into 8 stages defined by specific anatomical characteristics and cell divisions. To identify the cell types in the developing primordium we have generated a collection of marker lines that express beta-glucuronidase in a tissue- or cell type-specific manner in the root. Using these tools we have constructed a model describing the lineage of each cell type in the lateral root. These studies show that organization and cell differentiation in the lateral root primordia precede the appearance of a lateral root meristem, with differential gene expression apparent after the first set of divisions of the pericycle.