cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Magnetic X-ray scattering with synchrotron radiation

Abstract With the availability of high-brilliance synchrotron radiation from multiple wigglers, magnetic X-ray scattering has become a powerful new probe of magnetic structure and phase transitions. Similar to the well-established magnetic neutron scattering technique, magnetic X-ray scattering methods have many complementary advantages. A brief review is presented of the history of magnetic X-ray scattering as well as recent results obtained in studies of the rare-earth magnet holmium with emphasis on instrumentational aspects. In particular, the development of a simple polarization analyzer to distinguish charge and magnetic scattering is described.
Chemistry of Cyclopropane on Pt(111): Thermal, Electron, and Photon Activation

The thermal, electron, and photon-induced chemistry of cyclopropane, c-C3H6, adsorbed on Pt(111) at 100 K has been studied. The thermal chemistry is simple. Adsorption is saturable, no multilayer accumulates, and thermal desorption exhibits only c-C3H6 with one peak at 144 K. High-resolution electron energy loss spectra results indicate that c-C3H6 adsorbs with the plane of the ring tilted away from the surface normal. The electron-induced chemistry is more complex. Irradiation with 50 eV electrons activates dissociation of adsorbed c-C3H6 at 100 K, and there are thermally activated reactions during subsequent temperature-programmed desorption. The total cross-section for destruction of c-C3H6 is 8.2 (±0.2) × 10-17 cm2. For low electron fluences, <1016 cm-2, the chemistry involved is describable in terms of C−C bond breaking to open the ring and form metallacyclic species, some of which promptly lose H to form allylic (C3H5) moieties. In subsequent thermally activated reaction-limited processes, propylene...
Detection and Mapping of 5-Methylcytosine and 5-Hydroxymethylcytosine in Short Strands of ssDNA using Nanopore Sequencing with MspA

Epigenetic modifications of cytosines, such as 5-methylcytosine (5-mC) and 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5-hmC) in CpG sites of DNA, are both, inheritable and influenced by the environment. These nucleotide modifications have been shown to be important in gene regulation, cell programming, and carcinogenesis. It is therefore imperative that next-generation sequencing techniques are able to detect epigenetic modifications. Conventional methods for detection of 5-mCpG and 5-hmCpG, require chemical conversion of 5-mC to uracil or are limited to bulk analysis of relative ratios of C to 5-mC to 5-hmC. Here we demonstrate a technique for mapping individual 5-mCpG and 5-hmCpG sites within single molecules of ssDNA. We used nanopore sequencing whereby the phi29 DNA polymerase draws ssDNA through the porin MspA. An ion current passing through the pore directly detects and maps the location of such modifications in single molecules. We will present data on specific detection of both 5-mCpG and 5-hmCpG sites based on comparisons with unmodified sequences.
Logic verification of very large circuits using Shark

In this paper, we will present Shark, a software based logic verification technology that allows high-performance switch-level simulation of multi-million transistor circuits on general-purpose workstations. Shark achieves high-performance simulations on very large circuits through three key technologies: 1) a circuit partitioner based on latch boundary components, design hierarchy driven clustering, and latch/activity load balancing, 2) a high-performance switch-level simulator capable of simulating very large models and run word-parallel simulations, and 3) a simulation backplane that can connect any number of simulators to form a distributed/parallel simulation environment. Shark has been tested on circuits of up to 15 M transistors. On an Intel circuit with about 5 M transistors, Shark achieved a simulation throughput of 19 Hz.
A hybrid approach to the valuation of RFID/MEMS technology applied to ordnance inventory

Abstract We report on an analysis of the costs and benefits of fielding Radio Frequency Identification/MicroElectroMechanical System (RFID/MEMS) technology for the management of ordnance inventory. A factorial model of these benefits is proposed. Our valuation approach combines a multi-criteria tool for the valuation of qualitative factors with a Monte-Carlo simulation of anticipated financial factors. In a sample survey, qualitative factors are shown to account of over half of the anticipated benefits. The scale of the financial benefits, however, was sufficiently great to obviate the need for further analysis of qualitative factors.
NMR solution structure of the antitumor compound PT523 and NADPH in the ternary complex with human dihydrofolate reductase.

The antitumor compound PT523 [Nα-(4-amino-4-deoxypteroyl)-Nδ-hemiphthaloyl-l-ornithine] was found to have an inhibition constant (Ki) of 0.35 ± 0.10 pM against human dihydrofolate reductase (hDHFR)...
A Trypanosoma brucei gene family encoding protein kinases with catalytic domains structurally related to Nek1 and NIMA

Using polymerase chain reaction technology we cloned a Trypanosoma brucei gene fragment that has a deduced amino acid sequence with a high degree of homology to protein kinase catalytic domains. This clone detects two genes by genomic Southern analysis. These genes, nrkA and nrkB, share a 97% nt sequence homology over their 1.3-kb coding regions. NrkA encodes a 48-kDa protein which possess all 11 protein kinase homology regions. The 279-aa N-terminal catalytic domain has highest homology with Nek1, a bifunctional kinase, and NIMA, a protein serine/threonine kinase. Both alleles at the nrkB locus in T. brucei strain IsTAR 1 encode a truncated protein kinase catalytic domain due the presence of a premature termination codon. However, the TREU667 strain is heterozygous at the nrkB locus, encoding one truncated and one full-length molecule. NrkA and NrkB possess multiple phosphorylation site motifs. Both nrk transcripts are constitutively expressed during parasite development.
Mechanisms of injury to the central nervous system following experimental cytomegalovirus infection

A guinea pig model was used to determine the mechanisms of injury to the central nervous system by cytomegalovirus. Focal, well-contained, histopathologic responses included the microglial nodule without residua, and the ependymitis with focal residual glial scarring. Higher virus dose infection in the brain resulted in inflammatory necrosis with an astrocytic response to injury. However, monocytes and microglia were the predominant responding cells of host defense. A vasogenic pathogenesis was suggested by the involvement of the vascular endothelium, and separately by central nervous system vasculitis, demonstrated here for the first time in this model. Hence, our studies suggest four potential mechanisms of injury to the central nervous system by cytomegalovirus: viral cytopathology, inflammatory mediators from cells of the monocyte series, two separate types of vascular impairment, and astroglial scarring.
What Causes Variation in States' Accountability Policies?

This article examines the educational conditions and resources, institutional characteristics, and political factors that contribute to shaping states' educational accountability policies. The policies addressed are identification of underperforming schools, state takeover or reconstitution of failing schools, and state power to replace principals and teachers in underperforming schools. The article addresses accountability for schools and educators, rather than high-stakes tests for students, because of the emphases of the federal No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB). Based on correlations and cross-sectional, logistic regression, the most important predictors of states' accountability policies appear to be National Assessment of Educational Progress NAEP performance, state education agency staff resources, and Democratic party identification. However, the impact of Democratic party identification is reduced when the southern states are excluded. The article concludes with a discussion of directions for furth...
Effect of the neurosurgeon's surgical experience on outcomes from intraoperative aneurysmal rupture.

OBJECTIVE: The neurosurgeon's surgical experience is one of the most important and least studied factors affecting a patient's outcome after an intraoperative rupture of an aneurysm. Therefore, this analysis was undertaken to evaluate the effect of the neurosurgeon's experience on the management of this catastrophe in a consecutive series of patients treated microsurgically. METHODS: The neurosurgeon's surgical experience was analyzed in terms of annual aneurysm case volume and duration. Management of intraoperative aneurysmal rupture was analyzed in terms of timing of rupture, duration of temporary clipping, and neurological outcomes using the Glasgow Outcome Scale. During a 7-year period in which 1038 aneurysms were treated microsurgically in 838 patients, 68 (6.6%) ruptured intraoperatively. RESULTS: The neurosurgeon's annual aneurysm case volume increased by 35% over this period, and mean case duration decreased by 31%. The annual frequency of intraoperative ruptures fluctuated, with most (88%) occurring with previously ruptured aneurysms in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage. With increasing surgical experience, the number of ruptures during predissection and clip application, the mean duration of temporary clipping, and the surgical mortality rate all declined, whereas the number of patients experiencing a good outcome (Glasgow Outcome Scale score of 5 or 4) increased. CONCLUSION: Intraoperative rupture is an unavoidable danger in aneurysm surgery that does not diminish with increasing surgical experience of the neurosurgeon performing the operation. However, experience did improve the neurosurgeon's response to aneurysm rupture and the patients' outcomes. Mental anticipation and technical repetition over time transform into efficiency, confidence, and insight in the management of this distressing intraoperative event.
Two-Dimensional Crack Inclusion Interaction Effects: Analysis and Experiments

The plane interaction between a crack and a rigid elliptical inclusion is investigated. In particular, the effects of the orientation and aspect ratio of the inclusion are considered. Analytically, the solution for the interaction of a dislocation with an inclusion is used as Green’s function for the problem. The crack problem is then cast in the form of a set of integral equations with Cauchy singularities. These are solved numerically by the use of piecewise quadratic polynomials to approximate the unknown dislocation density along the crack. From this density the stress intensity at the crack tip can be determined. To model the situation experimentally photoelastic specimens with various elliptical inclusions are tested in uniaxial tension. The stress intensity factors are evaluated from the isochromatic fringe patterns and compared to those predicted numerically.
Extracting the performance predictors of Enhanced Porosity Concretes from electrical conductivity spectra

This paper discusses the application of an analytical model of the dielectric spectrum of Enhanced Porosity Concretes (EPC, or pervious concretes) to predict its porosity and effective conductivity. While porosity is the dominant material parameter that dictates the performance characteristics (acoustic absorption and hydraulic conductivity) of EPC, effective conductivity has been shown to be an important parameter in the non-destructive estimation of performance. The porosities of the EPC specimens were measured using a volumetric method and an image analysis method. The effective conductivities were calculated from the bulk resistances of the samples obtained from Nyquist plots. The fits of the model to the conductivity spectra were used to extract the values of porosity and effective conductivity. The measured and predicted values of porosities and effective conductivities show good correlation. The frequency dependence of the dielectric spectra as well as the advantages of using a conductivity spectrum as opposed to a dielectric constant spectrum is outlined. The need to use effective conductivity rather than conductivity at any frequency is also brought out. It is shown that a single electrical conductivity spectrum could be used to predict the parameters that best describe the performance characteristics of EPC.
An investigation on the conduction and convection heat transfer from advanced heat sinks

In natural convection applications, the components used for cooling may represent a significant portion of the overall weight of the system. Consequently, advanced materials are of interest in such applications, as they may substantially reduce the total size and the weight of the system. Many of these advanced materials have anisotropic thermo physical properties, hence the control of thermal conductivity is crucial. This work is motivated to address the lack of understanding of the use of anisotropic advanced materials in natural convection environments. Numerical simulations are carried out to test the performance of heat sinks made of such materials and comparisons are made with the heat sinks of traditional engineering materials under the same conditions. The results demonstrate that the total weight of the system may be reduced drastically with the use of advanced materials relative to the most commonly used heat sink materials at the same thermal performance. Total resistance, conduction and convection resistances, and a performance related FOM values for each heat sink are presented. It is shown that pyrolytic graphite based heat sinks show the best thermal performance, while Carbon- foam heat sinks offer tremendous performance due to the material's low density.
Vector-mediated chromosomal integration of the glutamate decarboxylase gene in Streptococcus thermophilus

The integrative vector, pINTRS, was used to transfer glutamate decarboxylase (GAD) activity to Streptococcus thermophilus ST128 thereby allowing for the production of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA). In pINTRS, the gene encoding glutamate decarboxylase, gadB, was flanked by DNA fragments homologous to a S. thermophilus pseudogene to allow for integration at a non-essential locus on the chromosome. Screening techniques confirmed the insertion of gadB with either its endogenous promoter or the S. thermophilus P2201 promoter, resulting in the generation of recombinant strains, ST128/gadB or ST128/P2201-gadB. Following the integration event unwanted plasmid DNA, specifically the erythromycin resistance gene, was eliminated from the recombinant strains. Based on the production of GABA, activities of GAD for ST128/gadB and ST128/P2201-gadB were 30.6 ± 6 and 27.9 ± 7.2 μM/mg dry cell wt, respectively.
A Digital Computer Timing Unit

In some modem high-speed electronic computers the reference is time. This paper is concerned with the time-reference equipment designed for the EDVAC. The application of electronic matrices to time-pulse production is discussed.
Pigments of Elsinoe Species, VII. Revised Structure of a Synthetic Intermediate; Formation of a Dinaphtho[2,1‐b:1′,2′‐d]furance‐5,9‐dione

The products of the polyphosphoric acid cyclization of the 2-(o-iodophenylacetyl)malonate 3 have been reinvestigated and their structures revised. The reaction proceeds with loss of iodine, presumably forming 7, which is oxidized to 8 (instead of 5) followed by dehydration to 11 (instead of 2) and equilibration to hydroquinone 10 (instead of 6). Farbstoffe aus Elsinoe, VII1). - Korrektur der Struktur eines Zwischenprodukts; Darstellung eines Dinaphtho[2,1-b:1′,2′-d]furan-5,9-dions1 Die durch Polyphosphorsaure-Cyclisierung des 2-(o-Iodphenylacetyl)malonsaureesters 3 erhaltenen Produkte wurden erneut untersucht und ihre Strukturen korrigiert. Vermutlich ergibt Iodabspaltung zunachst 7, und nachfolgende Oxidation 8 (statt 5). Verbindung 8 wird zu 11 (statt 2) dehydratisiert. 11 steht mit 10 (statt 6) im Gleichgewicht.
The preparation and development of cellular membrane affinity chromatography columns

Cellular membrane affinity chromatography is a technique that is based on the immobilization of a target trans-membrane protein onto a stationary phase. The target protein is isolated by homogenization and solubilization of a source (e.g., cell line) followed by immobilization on either the immobilized artificial membrane-phosphatidyl choline (IAM-PC) stationary phase or the surface of an open tubular capillary during a dialysis step. The procedure typically takes 3–4 d for the IAM-PC stationary phase, whereas the open-tubular method takes an extra week for the preparation of the capillary. The resulting columns can then be used to characterize binding sites on the target protein through frontal chromatographic and/or nonlinear chromatographic studies using a wide variety of ligands including small molecules and polypeptides. The columns have been used in drug discovery as well as in the screening of tobacco smoke condensates.
Toward single pilot operations: developing a ground station

This document describes the second human-in-the-loop study in a series that examines the role of a ground operator in enabling single pilot operations (SPO). The focus of this study was decision-making and communication between a distributed crew (airborne pilot and ground operator). A prototype ground station and tools designed to enhance collaboration were also assessed for further development. Eighteen crews flew challenging, off-nominal scenarios in three configurations: Baseline (current two-pilot operations) and SPO with and without Collaboration Tools. Subjective ratings were largely favorable to SPO; however, there was preference for the Baseline configuration. Crew comments suggest improvements to increase the usability of the collaboration tools.
Visualization of Unsteady Separated Flow About a Pitching Delta Wing

Abstract : Unsteady separated flows produced by three different delta wings driven with constant pitch rates were investigated using high speed flow visualization. The large scale vortices produced were initially similar to those produced above delta wings driven sinusoidally. Subsequently, the vortices either convected away from the wing or were broken up by the complex three- dimensional flow field. Both initiation and development of the leading edge vortices were dependent upon planform geometry and nondimensional pitch rate. Variations in vortex characteristics and duration with spanwise position were also noted. Smoke wire visualization proved a valuable tool in assessing three- dimensional characteristics of the unsteady flow field. (edc)
Temperature and prolactin as control factors in newt forelimb regeneration.

Temperature and prolactin were studied as control factors in the process of newt forelimb regeneration. Temperature was varied in five steps from 10° to 30°C under otherwise constant environmental conditions. Longitudinal new growth and limb differentiation were observed. Temperature was found to have a profound effect upon both developmental processes. Maximal longitudinal new growth resulting from changes in temperature alone occurred at 25°C with maximal limb differentiation at 30°C. At each temperature studied, prolactin enhanced both new growth and limb differentiation. With prolactin, maximum new growth also occurred at 25°C, but maximum limb differentiation occurred at 20°C. For our purposes optimum limb development was defined as the greatest new growth commensurate with full normal development. This optimum was reached by prolactin treated animals at 20°C when the regenerating limbs studied achieved 100% maximum normal differentiation and 87% maximum new growth. It was possible by employing a combination of temperature changes and hormone administration to control newt forelimb regeneration and produce a whole spectrum of limb development.
Discerning the Bright Futures of Electronic Health Records

The recent release of the Bright Futures Guidelines, third edition, brings new opportunity and new power to our work with children and their families. Pediatricians, with their colleague nurse practitioners and family physicians, now address "new morbidities" of behavioral and psychosocial problems, developmental disabilities, and environmental stressors, in addition to the traditional morbidities of infection or malnutrition. Properly designed EHRs can add efficiency to this important work. Schor has discussed the changing nature of the health supervision encounter. If these well child visits are to remain relevant and vibrant, if clinicians are to effectively address the physical, emotional, and social health needs of our children and adolescents, new models of data management are essential. This is the challenge in the development of electronic health records for the primary care of children and youth.
Functional results after revascularization of the profunda femoris artery.

Abstract The functional results after revascularization of the profunda femoris artery in the presence of occlusions in the superficial femoral artery are presented. In those patients with ischemic rest pain or ulceration, the revascularization of the profunda femoris artery will increase the resting ankle blood pressure and flow, resulting in the prompt relief of symptoms. With intermittent claudication, the results are variable, depending upon the collateral capability of the profunda femoris system. The most accurate and objective method of evaluating the extent of the improvement is to measure the ankle blood pressure response to exercise. Improvement is characterized by an increase in the walking time, a lesser fall in the postexercise ankle pressure, and a more rapid return to pre-exercise levels.
Vortex-Antivortex Pair Dissociation in Two-Dimensional Superconductors

The nonlinear $I\ensuremath{-}V$ characteristics below the superconducting transition of high-sheet-resistance Hg-Xe films have been analyzed with use of a model in which the nonlinearity is a consequence of current-induced vortex-antivortex unbinding. The characteristics can be fitted by $V\ensuremath{\sim}{I}^{a(T)}$, where $a(T)$ is a measure of the a real superelectron density ${n}_{s}(T)$. The universal relations predicted for the Kosterlitz-Thouless-Berezinskii transition in two dimensional superconducting films are obeyed.
Native tellurium dioxide layer on cadmium telluride: A high‐resolution electron microscopy study

An epitaxial tellurium dioxide layer has been observed on an oxidized {110} surface of a cadmium telluride single crystal. The structure of the oxide layer has been determined using high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and identified as that of the mineral tellurite (TeO2). The interface is abrupt and coherent throughout the observed region. Crystallographic relationships at the interface suggest a model for oxidation.
An extension of Tsao and Curnutte's line broadening calculations

Abstract Tsao and Curnutte's calculations for line broadening have been extended to include Raman scattering and quadrupole absorption.
Growth of Pseudomonas fluorescens on a polyester–polyurethane and the purification and characterization of a polyurethanase–protease enzyme

Abstract A Pseudomonas fluorescens was found to degrade and utilize a polyester polyurethane as a sole carbon and energy source. Polyurethane utilization by P. fluorescens. followed simple Michaelis–Menten kinetics. The Ks and μmax values were 0.9 mg ml−1 and 1.61 doublings · h−1, respectively. The enzymes from P. fluorescens responsible for polyurethane degradation were found to be extracellular. Analysis of the polyurethane degrading proteins using non-denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed one active protein band with an Rf value of 0.083. A polyurethane degrading enzyme was purified and displayed protease activity. This enzyme was inhibited by phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride and had a molecular weight of 29,000 daltons.
A canine model to assess the biochemical stress response to laparoscopic and open surgery.

Purpose: To develop an animal model to assess the stress response to open and laparoscopic surgery. Such a model would allow objective physiologic assessment of the putative benefits of laparoscopy...
Purification and characterization of phosphofructokinase of Bacillus licheniformis.

Abstract The phosphofructokinase (PFK) of Bacillus licheniformis was purified about 50–65-fold and examined for a number of enzymatic and physical characteristics. The enzyme is quite unstable under normal assay conditions, but Mg 2+ , K + , adenosine-5′-diphosphate, phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP), and fructose-6-phosphate (fru-6-P) are fairly effective stabilizing agents. Saturation functions for ATP and fru-6-P were hyperbolic. Several attempts to induce positive cooperative binding of fru-6-P were unsuccessful. However, “sigmoidal” saturation kinetics for fru-6-P could be observed under assay conditions that permitted an irreversible inactivation of the PFK during assay. Several divalent cations could support the catalysis of B. licheniformis PFK and the enzyme was activated by both NH 4 + and K + ions. B. licheniformis PFK is inhibited by citrate, ATP, PEP, Ca 2+ , and several other metabolic intermediates, but the inhibition caused by citrate and ATP at high fru-6-P concentration and by calcium can be relieved by Mg 2+ addition while PEP inhibition is specifically relieved by fru-6-P. There are at least three binding sites for PEP on the PFK molecule. The active form of this PFK has a molecular weight of about 134,000 daltons. In the presence of Mg 2+ , adenosine-5′-triphosphate (ATP), and PEP, at 0 °C, the PFK molecule is rapidly dissociated to an inactive form with a molecular weight of about 68,000 daltons. Association of these subunits to yield the active form of PFK occurs spontaneously, and rapidly, when the temperature is raised to 30 °C. Ninety percent of the original activity is recovered after activation. Growth of B. licheniformis on several different substrates resulted in minor variations of PFK activity. In a parallel fashion, sporulation involved no irreversible inactivation of PFK and the level of the activity was about the same throughout the life cycle. Control of this enzyme during sporulation could be affected by any or all of the cell constituents found to regulate PFK activity in vitro , but it is considered likely that the most significant in vivo negative effector is PEP, with this inhibition being reversed by fru-6-P.
Spinal cord pathology in pediatric acquired immunodeficiency syndrome

We examined the spinal cords from 15 consecutive autopsies of infants and children with AIDS using a battery of histochemical and immunocytochemical stains, and in four cases, electron microscopy. Corticospinal tract (CST) signs were a notable clinical finding in 14; however, the age of onset, rate of progression, severity of dysfunction, and duration varied among patients. Ten cases had pathologic changes in the CST. In four of the ten cases, the changes were consistent with an “axonopathy” since axons and myelin were both diminished in the CST. These cases may represent CST wallerian degeneration, since they had marked injury to cerebral white matter in the form of chronic inflammation with multinucleated cells, gliosis, and myelin pallor. In five cases, with an average age at death of 31 months, the CST showed poor myelination with relative preservation of axons. These cases may represent delayed myelination or possibly cytokine-mediated injury to newly formed myelin since the CST is one of the last tracts to myelinate in the spinal cord. One child with primary CNS lymphoma had a complicated pattern of spinal injury due to unilateral CST wallerian degeneration possibly superimposed upon delayed myelination, in addition to patchy areas of demyelination associated with perivascular lymphomatous infiltrates. Four children with mild CST signs, ranging in age from 5 to 6 months, had CST myelin pallor that was consistent with the degree of myelination expected for age. We did not find vacuolar myelopathy similar to that seen in adult AIDS, but did note focal vacuolar changes in the thoracic posterior columns in the oldest child.
l-phenylalanine inhibition of rat intestinal alkaline phosphatase: A homosteric phenomenon

Abstract Evidence was sought to characterize further the nature of the uncompetitive stereospecific inhibition of rat intestinal alkaline phosphatase by l -phenylalanine. That it is nonallosteric is clear from (1) the hyperbolic curves relating inhibition as a function of inhibitor or substrate concentration; (2) the persistence of inhibition after the tertiary structure of the enzyme protein molecule had been altered by heat denaturation, papain digestion and treatment with urea or stilbestrol; (3) the relatively low entropy change of −6.7 entropy units per mole; (4) the figure of unity for n , the number of l -phenylalanine molecules which combine with one molecule of enzyme. However, this inhibition may represent an example of McElroy's homosteric transition since the extent of l -phenylalanine inhibition decreases with an increase in temperature and the optimal temperature for maximal velocity is raised in digests containing l -phenylalanine.
Sociobiology's Successes

In a highlighted text box (Random Samples, 19 July, p. 315), the headline “‘Sociobiology’ to history's dustbin?” is placed over a photograph of E. O. Wilson. The “news” is thin: a specialist journal has changed its name. Sociobiology was originally envisioned as the comparative,
A Case Study of Design Process and Development of a Design Enabling Tool for Wright Metal Products

This case study investigates the design process followed by a small to medium scale enterprise (SME) that primarily depends on special expertise in the form of a few key individuals, who design products mainly based on past experience, augmented by trial and error. This is an inefficient, time consuming, and expensive way of designing products and evaluating their performance. This led to development of a specialized and affordable design enabler that facilitates engineering analysis, noticeably absent in SME’s current design process. Further, the design enabler forms the foundation for extending the scope to include rule-based systems, optimization and case based reasoning that would assist designers in efficient product development.© 2007 ASME
Evaluating methods for estimating process and observation error variances in statistical catch-at-age analysis

Statistical catch-at-age analysis (SCAA) allows analysts to explicitly account for process and observation errors in their stock assessment models. The variances associated with these errors are important because they weight the different data and error sources during the model fitting process. Misspecification of the error variances can lead to biased estimates of key management quantities. Values for the error variances commonly are obtained separately from SCAA and treated as known in the subsequent analysis. The advantages of estimating the error variances within SCAA include that all of the data available to the analysis can be synthesized to obtain the variance estimates and, with some methods, uncertainty surrounding the variance estimates can be quantified. We evaluated alternative approaches for estimating log catchability (process error) and log total catch (observation error) standard deviations within SCAA using Monte Carlo simulations: an ad hoc approach that tunes the model predicted log total catch standard deviation to match a prior value, and a Bayesian approach using either strongly or weakly informative priors for log catchability standard deviation. The Bayesian approach using strongly informative priors outperformed the other approaches in estimating the log total catch and log catchability standard deviations, as well as estimating biomass in the last year of analysis. The ad hoc approach produced misleading results which could indicate that total variance (i.e., process error variance plus observation error variance) was well estimated when, in fact, total variance was underestimated.
Changes in the Human Skin Microbiome Over One Year’s Time

Human skin comprises a large number of distinguishable ec ological niches. To describe fully the human skin microbiome, it will be necessary to identify t he bacteria in each niche and to distinguish the co mmensal bacteria from the temporary residents. To contribut e to the description of the human skin microbiome a nd employing a gene-based technology, we have identified the bacteria in two niches: the front and back o f the base of the neck and over the course of one year. T here were 50 volunteers and a total of 232 neck ski n swabs. Roche 454 Tag pyrosequencing was employed to sequence a short hypervariable sequence region (V6) of the 16S ribosomal RNA gene. To identify the bacteria corresponding to the front and back of th e neck for each volunteer, the “Classifier” software in the “Pyrosequencing” section of the Ribosomal Database Project was employed. The bacteria on virtually all 232 neck skin swabs were classified into bacterial Class. The skin microbiome of these two niches was composed principally of a mixture of five Classes of bacte ria: Actinobacteria , Alphaproteobacteria , Bacilli , Betaproteobacteria and Gammaproteobacteria . The fraction of each Class could change over time. We could not dis tinguish the skin microbiome from the front of the base of the neck from the back of the base of the neck. At these two positions, we could not distinguish the m ale from the female skin microbiome. The principal variable was the time point. We concluded that the skin microbiome at the front and back of the base of the neck was composed principally of a mixture of five Classes of bacteria. The proportion of each Class c ould change over time.
Depression following smoking cessation in women

The recurrence of depression following smoking cessation has been documented among smokers with a history of depression. This report examines the development of major depression following smoking cessation among three women without notable histories of depression. Shortly after smoking cessation, these women developed significant depressive symptoms requiring psychiatric intervention. These cases seem to support the hypothesis that some smokers may serf-treat negative affect with nicotine and underscore the importance of monitoring depressive symptoms in patients undergoing smoking-cessation treatment.
Is smaller better? Comparison of 3-mm and 5-mm leaf size for stereotactic radiosurgery: A dosimetric study

Purpose: To perform a dosimetric comparison of a minimal 3-mm leaf width multileaf collimator (MLC) and a minimal 5-mm MLC in dynamic conformal arc stereotactic radiosurgery for treatment of intracranial lesions. Methods and Materials: The treatment plans of 23 patients previously treated for intracranial lesions in our institution were redone using the BrainSCAN, version 5.3, stereotactic radiosurgery treatment planning system (BrainLAB). For each case, two dynamic conformal arc plans were generated: one using a minimal 3-mm micro-MLC (BrainLAB, Novalis) and one using a minimal 5-mm MLC (Varian Millennium). All arc parameters were the same in each of the two plans, except for the collimator angle settings. The collimator angle settings were optimized for each arc in each plan. A peritumoral rind structure (1 cm) was created to evaluate normal tissue sparing immediately adjacent to the target volume. Conformity indexes (CIs) were calculated for each plan. The dependence of normal tissue sparing and target conformity on target volume (TV) was determined. Results: The TV was 0.14–36.32 cm 3 (median, 5.90). The CI was 1.22–2.60 (median, 1.51) for the 3-mm micro-MLC and 1.23–2.69 (median, 1.60) for the 5-mm MLC. Despite this small difference, it was a statistically significant increase ( p 50 ), 80% (PRV 80 ), and 90% (PRV 90 ) of the prescription dose. The reduction in the PRV 50 , PRV 80 , and PRV 90 for the 3-mm micro-MLC compared with the 5-mm MLC was 13.5%, 12.9%, and 11.5%, respectively. The CI decreased with a larger TV, as did the difference in the CIs between the 3-mm micro-MLC and 5-mm MLC. A reduction in the PRV increased with larger TVs. Conclusion: The 3-mm micro-MLC provided better target conformity and greater normal tissue sparing than the 5-mm MLC in stereotactic radiosurgery using dynamic conformal arcs. These differences were small but consistent in the patients examined. Future research is needed to determine whether this small improvement can yield a clinical impact on patient care.
Intrauterine infection and the risk of cerebral palsy in very low‐birthweight infants

Summary. Very low-birthweight infants constitute more than one-quarter of all new cases of cerebral palsy. We performed a case–control study of associations between antenatal maternal infection and cerebral palsy in very low-birthweight infants. Cases and controls were selected from a cohort of 1238 consecutive infants who: (1) had birthweights between 500 and 1500 g and no major congenital anomaly; (2) were born 1 January 1986 to 31 December 1993 to a mother residing in 1 of 17 counties in north-west North Carolina; and (3) were delivered at the only tertiary obstetric referral centre in those same 17 counties. A total of 984 of these infants (79%) survived to 1 year of age (adjusted for degree of prematurity) and were scheduled for a multidisciplinary examination; 815 (83%) came as scheduled. Excluding two cases attributable to post-neonatal events, 62 cases of cerebral palsy were identified. Controls were the two infants, without cerebral palsy, born closest in time to each case. Medical records were reviewed by a nurse who was not aware of which subjects were cases. Among possible markers of intra-amniotic infection, those associated most strongly with cerebral palsy were chorioamnionitis diagnosed by an obstetrician (odds ratio [OR] adjusted for gestational age [95% confidence limits] = 2.6 [1.0, 6.5]), antepartum maternal temperature > 37.8°C (OR = 2.6 [1.1, 6.0]), uterine tenderness (OR = 2.6 [0.8, 9.3]), maternal receipt of antibiotics (OR = 2.2 [1.0, 4.7]) and neonatal sepsis in the first week of life (OR = 2.9 [0.9, 8.9]). All of these associations were stronger for diplegia than the other clinical subtypes of cerebral palsy. The association with chorioamnionitis and spastic diplegia persisted when adjusted for maternal magnesium sulphate receipt, maternal betamethasone receipt, method of delivery (vaginal vs. abdominal), acidosis on the neonate‘s initial arterial blood gas, systolic blood pressure < 30 mmHg and the diagnosis of major neonatal neurosonographic abnormality.
A Modified Approach to Initialize an Idealized Extratropical Cyclone within a Mesoscale Model

Abstract A technique for initializing realistic idealized extratropical cyclones for short-term (0–72 h) numerical simulations is described. The approach modifies select methods from two previous studies to provide more control over the initial cyclone structure. Additional features added to the technique include 1) deformation functions to initialize more realistic low-level fronts, tropopause structure, and enhanced jet maximum at upper levels; 2) a barotropic shear function to help develop different cyclone and frontal geometries; and 3) damping functions to create an isolated baroclinic wave in the horizontal; therefore, the initialized cyclone is not influenced by the domain boundaries for relatively short simulations. Since this procedure allows for control of the initialized cyclone structures, it may be useful for studies of frontal and cyclone interaction with topography and mesoscale predictability. The initialization system produces a variety of basic states and synoptic disturbances, ranging f...
Minimum noise pulse slimmer

This paper presents a method of designing linear pulse slimming equalizers that permits tradeoffs between the amount of slimming and the enhancement of the background noise. A time window is selected according to the desired recording density. Let us say that the output pulse should have at least 99% of its energy concentrated inside of the selected time window. The equalizer is then designed to meet that specification with the minimum deterioration of a certain signal-to-noise measure.
Application of HSPF to the Distributed Model Intercomparison Project: Case Study

The Hydrologic Simulation Program–Fortran (HSPF) model was used to simulate streamflow for the Distributed Model Intercomparison Project (DMIP). This research describes how to integrate a next generation radar, NEXRAD data set into HSPF model and how to generate hydrologic runoff associated with the inputs of the spatial rainfalls, and discusses the challenges of HSPF during automatic calibration processes. The model performance of simulated streamflows with calibration and without calibration was also evaluated to assess the sensitivity of final estimated parameters through calibration procedures to initial parameters derived from physical watershed configuration. An automatic calibration scheme was adopted to optimize objectives that the writer specified in terms of statistical measures. Parameter estimation, a model-independent parameter estimator, was used as an automatic calibration tool in the hydrologic calibration of HSPF. Overall, the calibrated simulations outperformed the uncalibrated simulatio...
Radioiodinated 1 -(diethylaminopropyl)-4-phenylpiperazine: A potential brain imaging agent

The preparation of radioiodinated l-(diethylaminopropyl)-4-phenylpiperazine, an analog of HIPDM, and its tissue distribution in rats are described. The precursor undergoes facile electrophilic radioiodination with radionuclides of iodine at the no-carrier-added level to give isolated yields in the 69–85% range. Biodistribution studies indicate that the radiochemical is well extracted by the brain (1.68–1.79% ID) and activity is substantially retained for 4 h (>67%). Brain-to-blood ratios during the 0.25–4.0 h period were 15–23:1. The brain uptake and retention as well as the high brain-to-blood ratios suggest the potential use of this agent for regional cerebral blood flow imaging.
Hydrogen peroxide induces the dissociation of GroEL into monomers that can facilitate the reactivation of oxidatively inactivated rhodanese.

Abstract Although, several studies have been reported on the effects of oxidants on the structure and function of other molecular chaperones, no reports have been made so far for the chaperonin GroEL. The ability of GroEL to function under oxidative stress was investigated in this report by monitoring the effects of hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) on the structure and refolding activity of this protein. Using fluorescence spectroscopy and light scattering, we observed that GroEL showed increases in exposed hydrophobic sites and changes in tertiary and quaternary structure. Differential sedimentation, gel electrophoresis, and circular dichroism showed that H 2 O 2 treated GroEL underwent irreversible dissociation into monomers with partial loss of secondary structure. Relative to other proteins, GroEL was found to be highly resistant to oxidative damage. Interestingly, GroEL monomers produced under these conditions can facilitate the reactivation of H 2 O 2 -inactivated rhodanese but not urea-denatured rhodanese. Recovery of ∼84% active rhodanese was obtained with either native or oxidized GroEL in the absence of GroES or ATP. In comparison, urea-denatured GroEL, BSA and the refolding mixture in the absence of proteins resulted in the recovery of 72, 50, and 49% rhodanese activity, respectively. Previous studies have shown that GroEL monomers can reactivate rhodanese. Here, we show that oxidized monomeric GroEL can reactivate oxidized rhodanese suggesting that GroEL retains the ability to protect proteins during oxidative stress.
"Effects of Dyadic Co-founder Heterogeneity, Trust and Learning Interactions on ACAP and Performance"

This study explores the impact of trait heterogeneity, trust and learning interactions of new venture co-founder/partner dyads (“Trusted Partners”) upon firm level absorptive capacity (exploitative...
Erythrocyte Acid Phosphomonoesterase and Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase Deficiency in Caucasians

Caucasian patients with erythrocyte glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency also have a deficiency in erythrocyte acid phosphomonoesterase. This acid phosphomonoesterase deficiency is not present in Negroes with the glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency.
Insights on the trafficking and retro-translocation of glycosphingolipid-binding bacterial toxins

Some bacterial toxins and viruses have evolved the capacity to bind mammalian glycosphingolipids to gain access to the cell interior, where they can co-opt the endogenous mechanisms of cellular trafficking and protein translocation machinery to cause toxicity. Cholera toxin (CT) is one of the best-studied examples, and is the virulence factor responsible for massive secretory diarrhea seen in cholera. CT enters host cells by binding to monosialotetrahexosylganglioside (GM1 gangliosides) at the plasma membrane where it is transported retrograde through the trans-Golgi network (TGN) into the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). In the ER, a portion of CT, the CT-A1 polypeptide, is unfolded and then “retro-translocated” to the cytosol by hijacking components of the ER associated degradation pathway (ERAD) for misfolded proteins. CT-A1 rapidly refolds in the cytosol, thus avoiding degradation by the proteasome and inducing toxicity. Here, we highlight recent advances in our understanding of how the bacterial AB5 toxins induce disease. We highlight the molecular mechanisms by which these toxins use glycosphingolipid to traffic within cells, with special attention to how the cell senses and sorts the lipid receptors. We also discuss several new studies that address the mechanisms of toxin unfolding in the ER and the mechanisms of CT A1-chain retro-translocation to the cytosol.
Adapting to Diabetes Mellitus: A Theory Synthesis:

One priority in nursing research is the development of middle-range theories that are applicable to nursing practice. The purpose of this article is to describe the development of a middle-range theory, adapting to diabetes mellitus, through theory and concept synthesis. The adaptation to chronic illness model explicates the conceptual relationships of the Roy adaptation model in a theory specific to chronic illness. Several concepts in the diabetes literature, self-management, integration, and health-within-illness were synthesized with the theory through examination of empirical evidence. This method of theory development increases the specificity of the existing theory and informs the application to nursing practice.
Relationships among geographic dispersion, team processes, and effectiveness in software development work teams

Abstract This study examines the relationships among geographic dispersion, team processes, and effectiveness in teams carrying out software development work. Geographically dispersed teams have become prevalent in many knowledge- and service-based organizations. However, researchers have not established the nature of the associations among geographic dispersion, team processes and team effectiveness for real teams operating in organizations to carry out particular tasks. This paper uses the sociotechnical systems perspective to orient the exploration of this question. A study of 218 members of 39 software development work teams was conducted. Results show that geographic dispersion significantly and negatively relates to work processes and team effectiveness.
Sex Trafficking in Nepal: A Review of Intervention and Prevention Programs

Trafficking of girls and women for the purpose of sexual exploitation is a problem worldwide, particularly in South Asia. This review focuses on Nepal-to-India sex trafficking with an examination of current anti-trafficking intervention and prevention programs. The activities of both governmental agencies and nongovernment organizations are described and critically analyzed. Suggestions for evaluating and improving interventions, and thereby reducing the trafficking of girls and women, are discussed.