cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
GENDER AND MARITAL DIFFERENCES FOR RISK TAKING AMONG UNDERGRADUATES

The authors report the frequency of behaviors which relate to intentional and unintentional injuries in the undergraduate population in Florida (N = 1150). Comparisons of risk behavior are made for men versus women and married versus unmarried students. The findings suggest that college students frequently participate in behaviors which can lead to injury.
Fluid biomembranes supported on nanoporous aerogel/xerogel substrates.

Planar supported lipid bilayers have attracted immense interest for their properties as model cell membranes and for potential applications in biosensors and lab-on-a-chip devices. We report the formation of fluid planar biomembranes on hydrophilic silica aerogels and xerogels. Scanning electron microscopy results showed the presence of interconnected silica beads of approximately 10−25 nm in diameter and nanoscale open pores of comparable size for the aerogel and grain size of ∼36−104 nm with ∼9−24 nm diameter pores for the xerogel. When the aerogel/xerogel was prehydrated and then allowed to incubate in l-α-phosphatidylcholine (egg yolk PC) unilamellar vesicle (∼30 nm diameter) solution, lipid bilayers were formed due to the favorable interaction of vesicles with the hydroxyl-abundant silica surface. Lateral mobility of labeled lipid N-(7-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazol-4-yl)-1,2-dihexadecanoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine was retained in the membranes. A diffusion coefficient of 0.61 ± 0.22 μm2/s was de...
Values or Views of Government? Analyzing the Ideological Sources of Public Policy Preferences☆☆☆★

Abstract Since the Great Society programs of the 1960s, several researchers have reported that while Americans tend to resist an activist conception of the federal government, they nevertheless give high levels of support to some social programs. In the research literature, the subsequent distinction between policy-specific values and general views of government raises an important but as yet unanswered question: Which of these two factors has a greater impact on support for governmental action within specific policy domains? Answering this question is necessary to advancing social–scientific knowledge about the causal mechanisms shaping public policy preferences, and the current study develops a systematic analysis using data from two national surveys and from a new state-level survey. Results from analyses using ordered logit models show that while general views of government affect people's willingness to endorse governmental action, the extent to which they value the specific goals of governmental action has a much greater impact within specific policy domains, and this appears to be a stable feature of United States public opinion since the 1970s. Additional analyses reveal that while general views of government shape preferences for spending on health, social security, and other types of social welfare, they are only minimally related to spending preferences in policy domains that do not relate to the welfare state. The relevance of these findings for understanding the nature of policy preferences and some of the sources of public support for attempts to reduce the size and responsibilities of the federal government are discussed.
Virus Tolerance, Plant Performance of Transgenic Tomato Plants Expressing Coat Protein from Tobacco Mosaic Virus

Two transgenic tomato plants that express the coat protein (CP) of the common (U1) strain of tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) were produced from cultivar VF36 using gene transfer techniques. CP–expressing plants were partially resistant to infection and symptom development caused by TMV and tomato mosaic virus (ToMV) strains L, 2, or 22. Strains 2 and 22 normally overcome the natural resistance genes present in many commercial tomato cultivars. In the field, no more than 5% of the CP–expressing plants inoculated with TMV exhibited visual systemic disease symptoms by fruit harvest compared with 99% of the VF36 plants. Lack of visual symptoms was associated with lack of virus accumulation in the CP–expressing plants. In terms of agronomic traits, leaf and stem dry weight accumulation in greenhouse–grown uninoculated CP–expressing (line 306) and nonexpressing plants were essentially equal. In field analyses, tomato fruit yields of the VF36 plants decreased 26–35% due to virus infection, whereas yields of the CP–expressing plants were unaffected. Yields from one CP–expressing line were equal to that of the uninoculated VF36 plants suggesting that expression of the CP gene does not intrinsically cause yield depression. The results from these growth chamber, greenhouse and field experiments indicate the potential for use of genetically engineered protection in agriculture.
Voluntary collectivization: A model of producers' institutional choice

Abstract The concept of democratic transition to rural collective socialism is analyzed by modeling a village with both a collective farm and individual household plots. Labor is freely allocated by each household, and both the division of land between sectors and the system of distributing the net collective product are determined by majority vote, each household being equally represented. The effects of varying parameters of productivity, rent, and aggregate responsiveness to individual labor allocations are examined. A discussion of the model's relevance to Tanzania, China, and to the concept of voluntary rural collectivization concludes the paper.
The professional workstation as enabler: conference recommendations

Abstract This paper reports on the Working Conference on Healthcare Professional Workstation sponsored by the International Medical Informatics Association (IMIA) and held in Washington DC, 14–16 June 1993. It sets forth the vision of a health care infostructure in which the workstation acts as enabler, giving professionals access to information when, where, and how it is needed. The paper explains upon the conference methodology and provides the conference cochairs' summary recommendations, both short- and long-term. These recommendations are based upon the work of five breakout groups, which addressed Functional Requirements, User Interfaces, Data and Knowledge Management, Processing, and Sharing and Communications. Presented in detailed and display formats, these summary recommendations address issues in the areas of architecture, linkages, evaluation, security, standards, education, and training. The paper also sets forth immediate next steps for the workstation initiative, including the formation of a formal IMIA Working Group on Workstations.
Influence oF Pseudomonas putida on nodulation of Phaseolus vulgaris

Abstract The effect of Pseudomonas putida (isolate M17) on Rhizobium phaseoli nodulation of the common bean, Phaseolus vulgaris , was investigated under field and greenhouse conditions. The results indicated that P. putida markedly increased nodulation compared to R. phaseoli controls. Furthermore, 2-ketogluconic acid, a phosphate-solubiliring compound, was detected in P. putida M17. This could imply an increased P supply to roots of P. vutgaris , which may function to increase nodules. Bean yields and shoot fresh weight were not significantly altered by the addition of P. putida M17.
Comparison of HYDRUS-2D simulations of drip irrigation with experimental observations

Realizing the full potential of drip irrigation technology requires optimizing the operational parameters that are available to irrigators, such as the frequency, rate, and duration of water application and the placement of drip tubing. Numerical simulation is a fast and inexpensive approach to studying optimal management practices. Unfortunately, little work has been done to investigate the accuracy of numerical simulations, leading some to question the usefulness of simulation as a research and design tool. In this study, we compare HYDRUS-2D simulations of drip irrigation with experimental data. A Hanford sandy loam soil was irrigated using thin-walled drip tubing installed at a depth of 6 cm. Three trials ~20, 40, and 60 Lim 21 applied water! were carried out. At the end of each irrigation and approximately 24 h later, the water content distribution in the soil was determined by gravimetric sampling. The HYDRUS-2D predictions of the water content distribution are found to be in very good agreement with the data. The results support the use of HYDRUS-2D as a tool for investigating and designing drip irrigation management practices.
Combining Mo–Cu/HZSM-5 with a two-stage catalytic pyrolysis system for pine sawdust thermal conversion

Abstract Mo–Cu/HZSM-5 catalysts for pine sawdust thermal conversion were prepared using an impregnation method. The Mo–Cu/HZSM-5 catalysts and HZSM-5 were characterized by Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). All characterization results indicated that the introduction of CuO is beneficial to the dispersion of MoO3 in the HZSM-5. Combined with the two-stage catalytic pyrolysis system, the Mo–Cu/HZSM-5 catalysts were used for pine sawdust thermal conversion. The products included gas, bio-oil and bio-char. The gas was analyzed by Gas chromatography (GC). Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) was used to identify the compounds in bio-oils. The water content, higher heating value (HHV) and viscosity of bio-oils were measured. The HHV and elements of bio-char were determined. The results indicated that Mo(3%)–Cu(3%)/HZSM-5 treatment yielded the highest amount of C6–C12 hydrocarbons, showed a robust ability to convert methane in the gas to bio-oil, and displayed no significant difference in the properties of bio-char when compared to different treatments in the same pyrolysis conditions.
A highly sensitive and dynamic immunofluorescent cytometric bead assay for the detection of HIV-1 p24.

Abstract Nucleic acid measurements are used to follow HIV-1 viral load in clinical applications while p24 ELISA is commonly used to monitor HIV-1 replication in research settings. Current ELISA assays are expensive and offer a narrow dynamic measurement range. This report describes a simple, sensitive and inexpensive bead-based assay offering a wide dynamic measurement range. This cytometric bead assay allows the detection of p24 concentrations over 4 orders of magnitude from less than 0.4 pg to up to 20,000 pg ml −1 in a volume of 50 μl and can be combined with other measurements.
Vps27 recruits ESCRT machinery to endosomes during MVB sorting

Down-regulation (degradation) of cell surface proteins within the lysosomal lumen depends on the function of the multivesicular body (MVB) sorting pathway. The function of this pathway requires the class E vacuolar protein sorting (Vps) proteins. Of the class E Vps proteins, both the ESCRT-I complex (composed of the class E proteins Vps23, 28, and 37) and Vps27 (mammalian hepatocyte receptor tyrosine kinase substrate, Hrs) have been shown to interact with ubiquitin, a signal for entry into the MVB pathway. We demonstrate that activation of the MVB sorting reaction is dictated largely through interactions between Vps27 and the endosomally enriched lipid species phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate via the FYVE domain (Fab1, YGL023, Vps27, and EEA1) of Vps27. ESCRT-I then physically binds to Vps27 on endosomal membranes via a domain within the COOH terminus of Vps27. A peptide sequence in this domain, PTVP, is involved in the function of Vps27 in the MVB pathway, the efficient endosomal recruitment of ESCRT-I, and is related to a motif in HIV-1 Gag protein that is capable of interacting with Tsg101, the mammalian homologue of Vps23. We propose that compartmental specificity for the MVB sorting reaction is the result of interactions of Vps27 with phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate and ubiquitin. Vps27 subsequently recruits/activates ESCRT-I on endosomes, thereby facilitating sorting of ubiquitinated MVB cargoes.
On the capacity of interference channels with partial codebook knowledge

Shannon theoretic multi-user capacity problems are traditionally formulated under the assumption that all decoding nodes possess all codebooks. However, for certain networks such as cognitive ones, this may be an unrealistic assumption. We work towards understanding the impact of lack of codebook knowledge at some decoding nodes in the network. We do so by considering a two-user interference channel in which one of the receivers has no information about the codebook of the interfering transmitter, while the other receiver has both codebooks. We derive a novel outer bound for the special class of injective semi-deterministic interference channels which incorporates this codebook knowledge explicitly. For the linear deterministic channel, which models the Gaussian channel at high SNR, we demonstrate the surprising fact that non i.i.d. Bernoulli(1/2) points achieve points on the outer bound not achievable by Bernoulli(1/2) inputs. We then show that this is achievable to within a constant gap by a modified Han-Kobayashi scheme. We characterize the capacity region of the Gaussian noise channel to within 1/2 bit, even though we could not determine the set of optimal input distributions. Numerical evaluations suggest that if the non-oblivious transmitter uses a discrete input a larger sum-rate is achievable compared to the case where both users employ Gaussian codebooks or use time division in strong interference regime at high SNR.
Two Concepts of Sovereignty: From Westphalia to the Law of Peoples?

The idea of Westphalian sovereignty has been waning in the face of renewed support for individual human rights. One of the more audacious proposals for a new international order is offered by John Rawls, who calls for a Society of Peoples governed by public reason. I explore this new foundation for international relations by considering how much respect we owe to other peoples who, while hierarchical and illiberal, are not criminally responsible for the violation of fundamental human rights. The respect for intolerance and hierarchy demanded of liberal peoples exposes a flaw of Rawls' new world order. The remedy, I suggest, requires us to abandon the search for some overlapping political consensus of all the world's comprehensive doctrines. Liberals must defend basic rights to freedom and equality not because they are reasonable, which some peoples will never accept, but because they enhance human well being and are, therefore, just.
Direct Measurement of Exposures to the Upper Extremity during Automobile Manufacturing

This paper explores the measurement of wrist posture and motion on workers in two jobs at a plant that stamps sheet metal parts to be used in automobile assembly. It was hypothesized that the weldi...
Structural studies of the RNA component of the poliovirus replication complex. II. Characterization by electron microscopy and autoradiography.

Abstract The endogenous RNA component of the purified poliovirus replication complex was characterized in the electron microscope after cytochrome spreading. This RNA species has a double-stranded RNA core equal in length to poliovirus replicative form RNA, with 0 to 6 single-stranded tails per molecule. DNase I, RNase, and base treatment confirmed the double-stranded RNA nature of these molecules, which are not observed in extracts from uninfected or infected, guanidine-inhibited cells. Electron microscope autoradiography verified that these double-stranded RNA structures are the site of in vitro and in vivo viral RNA synthesis. After RNA synthesis in vitro , the double-stranded core is unchanged, but the number of tails decreases and the branch points are localized towards the ends of molecules. These results demonstrate that the RNA component of the active purified replication complex is analogous to replicative intermediate RNA and favor the double-stranded model for the in vivo poliovirus replication complex.
A characterization of multivalued dependencies equivalent to a join dependency

Il a ete montre qu'une dependance de jointure (jd) est equivalente a un ensemble de dependances multivaluees (mvds) si et seulement si le schema de base de donnee pour la jd est acyclique. On donne une caracterisation alternative de telles mvds; cette caracterisation est basee sur la propriete de sous-ensemble qui provient de l'acyclicite du schema de base de donnees
Degradation of cholesterol crystals in macrophages: the role of phospholipids

Previous studies from this laboratory demonstrated degradation of cholesterol crystals ingested by macrophages in a cell culture system. Those studies also indicated that intracellular phospholipids could play an important role in mobilization of crystalline cholesterol. The purpose of this study was to further explore the role of each of the three major intracellular phospholipid species in degradation of crystals. Fluorescently labeled cholesterol crystals were incubated with phospholipids over a period of 5 days. Morphological changes in crystals were monitored by the use of digital imaging fluorescence microscopy, fluorescence redistribution after photobleaching, confocal microscopy, as well as epifluorescent and phase contrast microscopy. Results clearly demonstrated that all three phospholipids were able to mobilize crystalline cholesterol; however, mechanisms by which they exerted mobilization were different. Sphingomyelin and phosphatidylcholine were found to cause gradual and uniform dissolution of crystals, more or less preserving their original shape. Phosphatidylethanolamine appeared to penetrate into the crystal, causing its fragmentation and solubilization. In the mixture of all three phospholipids representing the composition found in macrophages, both of the described mechanisms were working simultaneously.
Stable linkage disequilibrium without epistasis in subdivided populations

Abstract In a large random mating population stable linkage disequilibrium occurs only when there is epistasis. However if a population is divided into a number of subpopulations among which migration occurs, stable linkage disequilibrium in each subpopulation may be produced without epistasis. In the case of two subpopulations a necessary condition for linkage equilibrium in the absence of epistasis is that at least at one of the two loci under consideration the gene frequency must be the same for the two populations. This condition is rather severe and any violation of this will lead to stable linkage disequilibrium. A similar conclusion can be made with more than two populations. In general the presence of linkage disequilibrium does not necessarily imply the existence of epistasis even in equilibrium populations.
Bringing France and Germany to American Schools

Author's Summary— To stimulate and enhance modern foreign language courses in high school and college, the author advocates the use of realia. In the past this method was hampered by difficulties in obtaining such materials from abroad. The author has established a service for providing teachers of French and German with realia, and in this article explains the objects available and gives suggestions for their use.
Hospital volume can serve as a surrogate for surgeon volume for achieving excellent outcomes in colorectal resection.

Objective To examine the association of surgeon and hospital case volumes with the short-term outcomes of in-hospital death, total hospital charges, and length of stay for resection of colorectal carcinoma. Methods The study design was a cross-sectional analysis of all adult patients who underwent resection for colorectal cancer using Maryland state discharge data from 1992 to 1996. Cases were divided into three groups based on annual surgeon case volume-low (≤5), medium (5 to 10), and high (>10)-and hospital volume-low ( 10 cases per year. Medium-volume surgeons achieved excellent outcomes similar to high-volume surgeons when operating in medium-volume or high-volume hospitals, but not in low-volume hospitals. The results of low-volume surgeons improved with increasing hospital volume but never equaled those of the high-volume surgeons.
Novel power control scheme for multimedia CDMA transmission

A new power control scheme for downlink CDMA transmission by using an outage probability criterion is proposed in this research. We first analyze the outage probability when data are transmitted over shadowing and Rayleigh fading channels. Then, the power is assigned to each link of the system so that the overall outage probability is minimized subject to three constraints. They are the total transmission power at the base station, the maximum transmission power for each user, and the maximum tolerable outage probability for each user. The Newton-Raphson algorithm is modified to solve the minimization problem under these constraints. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm is capable of differentiating QoS requirements for each link in addition to improving the throughput of the system.
Stable and metastable states of the Si-5 anion : theoretical study

Abstract The Si5 cluster forms a bitrigonal pyramid. This structure can form some stable and metastable (autodetaching) states with an additional electron, which attaches to the cluster surface. Energies of some of those states are determined based on ab initio calculations with the use of the coupled-cluster method combined with the first-order correlation orbital method. It is found that at least four states, i.e. X2A″2, 2E′, 2E″ and (2)2E′, lie below the electron ejection threshold.
Negative regulation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activity by macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) family members in non-small cell lung carcinomas.

AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a nutrient- and metabolic stress-sensing enzyme activated by the tumor suppressor kinase, LKB1. Because macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) and its functional homolog, d-dopachrome tautomerase (d-DT), have protumorigenic functions in non-small cell lung carcinomas (NSCLCs) but have AMPK-activating properties in nonmalignant cell types, we set out to investigate this apparent paradox. Our data now suggest that, in contrast to MIF and d-DTs AMPK-activating properties in nontransformed cells, MIF and d-DT act cooperatively to inhibit steady-state phosphorylation and activation of AMPK in LKB1 wild type and LKB1 mutant human NSCLC cell lines. Our data further indicate that MIF and d-DT, acting through their shared cell surface receptor, CD74, antagonize NSCLC AMPK activation by maintaining glucose uptake, ATP production, and redox balance, resulting in reduced Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent kinase kinase β-dependent AMPK activation. Combined, these studies indicate that MIF and d-DT cooperate to inhibit AMPK activation in an LKB1-independent manner.
Facilitation and interference of seedling establishment by a native legume before and after wildfire

In semi-arid ecosystems, heterogeneous resources can lead to variable seedling recruitment. Existing vegetation can influence seedling establishment by modifying the resource and physical environment. We asked how a native legume, Lupinus argenteus, modifies microenvironments in unburned and burned sagebrush steppe, and if L. argenteus presence facilitates seedling establishment of native species and the non-native annual grass, Bromus tectorum. Field treatments examined mechanisms by which L. argenteus likely influences establishment: (1) live L. argenteus; (2) dead L. argenteus; (3) no L. argenteus; (4) no L. argenteus with L. argenteus litter; (5) no L. argenteus with inert litter; and (6) mock L. argenteus. Response variables included soil nitrogen, moisture, temperature, solar radiation, and seedling establishment of the natives Elymus multisetus and Eriogonum umbellatum, and non-native B. tectorum. In both unburned and burned communities, there was higher spring soil moisture, increased shade and reduced maximum temperatures under L. argenteus canopies. Adult L. argenteus resulted in greater amounts of soil nitrogen (N) only in burned sagebrush steppe, but L. argenteus litter increased soil N under both unburned and burned conditions. Although L. argenteus negatively affected emergence and survival of B. tectorum overall, its presence increased B. tectorum biomass and reproduction in unburned plots. However, L. argenteus had positive facilitative effects on size and survival of E. multisetus in both unburned and burned plots. Our study indicates that L. argenteus can facilitate seedling establishment in semi-arid systems, but net effects depend on the species examined, traits measured, and level of abiotic stress.
BRAINSTEM AUDITORY EVOKED RESPONSES|[lpar]|BAER|[rpar]|IN PREMATURE INFANTS WITH SEVERE INTRAVENTRICULAR HEMORRHAGE |[lpar]|IVH|[rpar]|

Higher incidence of BAER abnormalities were found in a group of very low birthweight infants with severe IVH compared to a heavier group without IVH. Nineteen infants (BW:1.2±0.3kg,GA:28±1 wk) with IVH and 42 (BW:2.3±1.2kg,GA:36±4wks) control infants were examined at post-conceptual age ranging from 33 to 52 weeks. Monaural stimulation at 16 clicks per second and 70 decibel intensity was used and the presence, stability, and appearance of Waves I, III, and V were evaluated. Six of 19 IVH (32%) and 1 of 42 control (2%) infants manifest BAER abnormalities. This difference was significant at the p<0.02 level. In the IVH group, 3 of 8 infants with ventricular dilatation (Grade 3) and 3 of 11 infants with intracerebral hemorrhage (Grade 4) had abnormal responses. Seizures, asphyxia, and male sex significantly correlated with the presence of abnormal wave forms. However, these factors lost their significance when the analysis of variance was corrected for the presence of IVH. In this group of infants, severe intraventricular hemorrhage is the most important etiology for the existence of brainstem dysfunction as measured by BAER.
Controls on Carbonate Mineral Accumulation in Bahamian Basins and Adjacent Atlantic Ocean Sediments

ABSTRACT Carbonate mineralogical studies of surface Bahamian periplatform ooze, containing pelagic calcite as well as bank-derived aragonite and magnesian calcite, were coupled with studies of the carbonate chemistry of the waters overlying these sediments. The presence of metastable aragonite and magnesian calcite in the periplatform ooze presents a unique opportunity to assess the relation between the extent of carbonate saturation in the water column and the disappearance of metastable carbonate minerals in an area of the North Atlantic Ocean where intermediate and deep waters are saturated with respect to calcite. Aragonite is present in the fine fraction of the surface sediment to a water depth of 4,800 m, but decreases sharply below 4,000 m. This is also the depth limit of the occurrence of pteropod tests and fragments in the coarse fraction of the sediment. The aragonite compensation depth should be (by extrapolation) between 5,000 and 5,200 m. The saturation depth with respect to aragonite was estimated to be located between 3,800 and 4,500 m. This corresponds fairly well with the depth of a sharp decrease of the fine aragonite as well as the depth of pteropod disappearance. Magnesian calcite in the fine fraction of the sediment decreases irregularly with depth and disappears between 3,700 and 4,000 m. The calculated saturation depth with respect to magnesian calcite (13 mole % MgCO3) is between 900 and 1,500 m. At this depth a significant drop in the concentration of magnesian calcite occurs. This decrease of magnesian calcite from 25 to 15 percent could be caused by both dissolution and the increasing distance of deeper waters from the banks. However, the higher values of specific alkalinity of the waters ranging between 750 and 2,000 m, when compared with the alkalinity values of the Sargasso Sea at the same latitude, are interpreted to be indicative that some dissolution of magnesian calcite occurs in the Bahamian basins at these water dept s. Our results show depressed levels, by 500 m or more, of the aragonite saturation depth in the water column as well as of the depth of aragonite disappearance in the surface sediment, when compared with open ocean studies in the Northwest Atlantic. In addition, our results indicate that fine magnesian calcite (12 to 13 mole % MgCO3) disappears 1,200 to 1,500 m above the extrapolated disappearance depth of aragonite. This observation is consistent with results for experimental studies, showing that aragonite is more stable in seawater than a magnesian calcite of 12 to 13 mole % MgCO3.
Reduced-order models of linearized channel flow using balanced truncation

Fluid systems often exhibit inherently low dimensional behavior, even though the governing equations are complex and high-dimensional. At this time, full 3D discretiza tions of the Navier-Stokes equations are too computationally intensive to be used for control synthesis, so low-order models of the flow physics are desirable. This paper compares two different model-reduction procedures for the linearized flow in a plane channel: the method of Proper Orthogonal Decomposition and Galerkin projection, popular in the fluid mechanics community; and balanced truncation, a common method for model reduction of linear systems. Standard methods of computing balancing transformations are computationally intractable for systems of this size, so we use a numerical approximation of balanced truncation using empirical Gramians computed from simulations of the linearized and adjoint systems. For the channel flow considered here, the subspaces spanned by POD modes and balancing modes are very close, but reduced-order models from approximate balanced truncation perform much better than the standard POD models, for the same order of truncation.
Role of spike-frequency adaptation in shaping neuronal response to dynamic stimuli

Spike-frequency adaptation is the reduction of a neuron’s firing rate to a stimulus of constant intensity. In the locust, the Lobula Giant Movement Detector (LGMD) is a visual interneuron that exhibits rapid adaptation to both current injection and visual stimuli. Here, a reduced compartmental model of the LGMD is employed to explore adaptation’s role in selectivity for stimuli whose intensity changes with time. We show that supralinearly increasing current injection stimuli are best at driving a high spike count in the response, while linearly increasing current injection stimuli (i.e., ramps) are best at attaining large firing rate changes in an adapting neuron. This result is extended with in vivo experiments showing that the LGMD’s response to translating stimuli having a supralinear velocity profile is larger than the response to constant or linearly increasing velocity translation. Furthermore, we show that the LGMD’s preference for approaching versus receding stimuli can partly be accounted for by adaptation. Finally, we show that the LGMD’s adaptation mechanism appears well tuned to minimize sensitivity for the level of basal input.
Interface Design for Oxidation‐Resistant Ceramic Composites

Fiber-reinforced ceramic composites achieve high toughness through distributed damage mechanisms. These mechanisms are dependent on matrix cracks deflecting into fiber/matrix interfacial debonding cracks. Oxidation resistance of the fiber coatings often used to enable crack deflection is an important limitation for long-term use in many applications. Research on alternative, mostly oxide, coatings for oxide and non-oxide composites is reviewed. Processing issues, such as fiber coatings and fiber strength degradation, are discussed. Mechanics work related to design of crack deflecting coatings is also reviewed, and implications on the design of coatings and of composite systems using alternative coatings are discussed. Potential topics for further research are identified.
Feasibility of MR-temperature mapping of ultrasonic heating from a CMUT

In the last decade, high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) has gained popularity as a minimally invasive and noninvasive therapeutic tool for treatment of cancers, arrhythmias, and other medical conditions. HIFU therapy is often guided by magnetic resonance imaging (MM), which provides anatomical images for therapeutic device placement, temperature maps for treatment guidance, and postoperative evaluation of the region of interest. While piezoelectric transducers are dominantly used for MR-guided HIFU, capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducers (CMUTs) show competitive advantages, such as ease of fabrication, integration with electronics, improved efficiency, and reduction of self-heating. In this paper, we will show our first results of an unfocused CMUT transducer monitored by MR-temperature maps. This 2.51 mm by 2.32 mm, unfocused CMUT heated a HIFU phantom by 14degC in 2.5 min. This temperature rise was successfully monitored by MR thermometry in a 3.0 T General Electric scanner.
Fine‐needle aspiration cytology of adenoid (Acantholytic) squamous‐cell carcinoma

Adenoid squamous-cell carcinoma (ASCCa) is an uncommon cancer which occurs most frequently in the skin of the head and neck region of elderly, sun-exposed individuals. Histologically, ASCCa is characterized by gland-like, "adenoid" cell groups with a central, detached acantholytic cellular component and an intact peripheral rim of cells. The cytological features of five fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) samples from four patients with primary or metastatic ASCCa are presented. These were assessed for features which would allow distinction of this variant from conventional squamous carcinoma. The adenoid component was represented in FNAC by intact, sometimes three-dimensional cell groups simulating glandular structures. Also present were cells in short chains of two or three in single cell files and scattered, individual dyskeratotic cells. Individual cells had rounded, accentuated borders, cytoplasmic keratinization, and often pyknotic nuclei, representing acantholytic cells from the adenoid "lumens." Features of malignancy, including cellular atypia and increased mitotic rate, were present allowing for distinction between ASCCa and benign acantholytic processes such as pemphigus.
Pharmacologic management of spasticity following stroke.

Spasticity is a pervasive and debilitating condition that frequently occurs following upper motor neuron (UMN) lesions. Although the exact incidence of spasticity is unknown, it is likely that it affects more than half a million people in the United States alone, and more than 12 million people worldwide.1 Following stroke, approximately 65% of individuals develop spasticity.2 The definition of spasticity is variable among health care professionals. To some, spasticity simply refers to a velocity-dependent resistance to movement. For others, spasticity is part of a central motor neuron syndrome that includes hyperactive deep tendon reflexes, increased resistance to passive movement, flexed posturing of the upper extremity and extension of the lower extremity, excessive contraction of antagonist muscles, and synergistic movement patterns.3 In 1980, Lance published this frequently cited definition: “Spasticity is a motor disorder characterized by a velocity-dependent increase in tonic stretch reflexes (muscle tone) with exaggerated tendon jerks, resulting from hyper-excitability of the stretch reflex, as one component of the upper motoneuron syndrome.”4(p485) This definition emphasizes the fact that spasticity is just one component of a UMN syndrome. Although the strongest association may be made between spasticity and the hyperactive stretch reflex arc, clinicians are acutely aware of abnormal reflexive movements observed in patients with a UMN lesion that are not in response to stretch. The neurophysiologic mechanisms underlying spasticity are complex, but the phenomenon occurs when supraspinal inhibition is lost because of a lesion in the brain or spinal cord,5,6 resulting in a stretch reflex that comes on sooner and stronger than it should.7 Spasticity alone does not cause disability, but it is one component that contributes to functional impairments in people following a brain or spinal cord injury. For the purposes of this review, the term “spasticity” is used as …
Multi-Flexible-Body Dynamic Analysis of Horizontal-Axis Wind Turbines

A dynamic stability analysis is presented for a horizontal-axis wind turbine modeled as a multi-body system with both rigid- and flexible-body subsystems. The rigid-body subsystems are modeled as an interconnected set of rigid bodies using Kane’s method, which can lead to equations of motion that are more compact than they would be using other methods. The flexible-body subsystems are modeled using nonlinear beam finite elements, derived from a mixed variational formulation for the dynamics of moving beams. The equations for the rigid and flexible subsystems are coupled to obtain a unified framework that models the dynamic behavior of the complete system. Linearization of the dynamic equations about the steady-state solution yields system equations with periodic coefficients that must be solved by Floquet theory to extract the dynamic characteristics. Numerical studies are presented to investigate the natural frequencies and mode shapes for a wind turbine with flexible blades. The presented results demonstrate the performance of the present methodology to aid in understanding of the dynamic characteristics of the wind turbine.
Secure software upload in an intelligent vehicle via wireless communication links

The demand for drive-by-wire, telematics, entertainment, multimedia, pre-crash warning, highway guidance, remote diagnostic, etc. will significantly increase the complexity of a vehicle's software modules. From time to time, the vehicle's software may need to be updated due to many reasons such as the introduction of new features in vehicles, changing the navigation map, fixing software bugs, etc. Software updates must be done in secure modes to avoid any future disasters due to malfunctions of the vehicle. In this paper, we propose an architecture for secure software uploads in vehicles. We provide a detailed description of the secure software upload process.
A computational tool for identifying minimotifs in protein–protein interactions and improving the accuracy of minimotif predictions

Protein-protein interactions are important to understanding cell functions; however our theoretical understanding is limited. There is a general discontinuity between the well-accepted physical and chemical forces that drive protein-protein interactions and the large collections of identified protein-protein interactions in various databases. Minimotifs are short functional peptide sequences that provide a basis to bridge this gap in knowledge. However, there is no systematic way to study minimotifs in the context of protein-protein interactions or vice versa. Here we have engineered a set of algorithms that can be used to identify minimotifs in known protein-protein interactions and implemented this for use by scientists in Minimotif Miner. By globally testing these algorithms on verified data and on 100 individual proteins as test cases, we demonstrate the utility of these new computation tools. This tool also can be used to reduce false positive predictions in the discovery of novel minimotifs. The statistical significance of these algorithms is demonstrated by an ROC analysis (p = 0.001).
A continuous fluorescence assay for the determination of calcium-dependent secretory phospholipase A2 activity in serum.

Abstract Background Calcium-dependent secretory phospholipase A2-IIA (sPLA2-IIA) in the circulation is a marker of inflammation, associated with acute and chronic disease processes. We describe a quick, sensitive and reliable microplate continuous fluorescence assay for determining sPLA2 activity in serum. Methods Liposomes composed of a fluorescent probe and varying amounts of l -α-phosphatidylglycerol (PG) and 1,2-dioleoyl- l -α-phosphatidylcholine (DOPC) were used as substrates to determine the optimal protocol for sPLA2 activity determination without interference from serum albumin and lipoproteins. Results Hydrolysis of the labeled substrate by sPLA2-IIA, characterized by increase in fluorescence intensity (FI) and confirmed by end-product analysis, occurred in a time-, calcium-, and protein-dependent manner. Liposomes containing 100% PG were most suitable for measurement of sPLA2 activity without interference from serum components; LDL produced a Ca2+-independent increase in FI when liposomes containing DOPC were used. The assay determined that sPLA2 activity in serum spiked with sPLA2-IIA and illustrated that endogenous sPLA2 activity was markedly higher in sera from patients with sepsis than in healthy subjects. Intra-assay and inter-assay CVs were in the ranges of 1.6–8.8% and 3.0–11.5%, respectively. Conclusions The described method has potential for rapid and sensitive screening of sPLA2 activity in both clinical and research settings.
Bleeding severity as an important outcome in childhood immune thrombocytopenia

Over the years pediatric hematologists have continued to debate whether pharmacotherapy or clinical observation should be employed as initial management in childhood immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). Delineating the fundamental elements of heterogeneity in bleeding manifestations in childhood ITP has proven to be a complicated task. Efforts to classify the impact of hemorrhage in ITP based on platelet count have been problematic. Factors beyond relying on a laboratory measurement as a surrogate marker of disease severity need to be considered. What is needed to better guide therapeutic decision-making is a clinically relevant and evidence-based measure of bleeding severity. In this special supplement, the history of therapeutic management in ITP and prior attempts to grade or quantify hemorrhage will be reviewed.
Simulating and Characterizing Agricultural Ground Applications for Soil VOC Deposition Studies

Reactive volatile organic compounds VOCs play a major role in the formation of photo- chemical oxidants in the atmosphere by reacting with oxides of nitrogen and solar ultraviolet energy pro- ducing ozone, which is a criteria pollutant regulated under the National Ambient Air Quality Standards. The United States is one of the most agriculturally productive countries in the world due in part to the use of chemical pesticides that consist of active ingredients that are typically non-volatile or semi-VOCs and inert ingredients such as solvents, emulsifiers, and diluents that may also be volatile. Presently, the VOC deter- mination of emission factors from agricultural pesticide applications assumes that all of the inert VOC ingredients volatilize. This research focuses on the development of a laboratory methodology for applying agricultural spray formulations in accurate and measurable levels to support VOC deposition onto and loss from soil surfaces. Adapting a laboratory spray table system with a modified spray and deposition sampling scheme resulted in repeatable spray applications, with the deposition pattern being mapped across the treatment area. These mapped deposition values allow for measurements from soil samples to be corre- lated with actual spray deposition. This methodology provides for a rapid and repeatable means for sur- veying VOC deposition and losses from a variety of spray formulations under varying spray rates and spray droplet sizes.
The Right to Silence Protects Mental Control

The Fifth Amendment protects criminal suspects from being forced to provide "testimonial" declarations like verbal or behavioral responses. But that privilege against self-incrimination allows police to take and use "physical" evidence, however, like emails, photographs, or medical records. This distinction between testimonial and physical evidence has been defended on the ground that it helps to preserve the integrity of statements by innocent suspects, or that it excuses an impossible choice among indictment, contempt, and perjury.But these dominant rationales fail to explain a common intuition that police may not extract incriminating thoughts from a suspect’s head against his will. Brain imaging, by packaging testimonial memories in the physical form of brain waves or blood flows exposes the false dichotomy that this distinction presumes between the mental phenomena of the mind and the brain chemistry of the body. I reconceive the right to silence as protecting person’s control over his mental life and use a range of hard cases to defend the explanatory and normative force of this account.
Mechanical Design for Accommodating Thermal Expansion Mismatch in Multilayer Coatings for Environmental Protection at Ultrahigh Temperatures

The design of coatings is like designing a system. Every coating has one or more specific functions that determine the choice of materials, and its architecture. In the case of environmental barrier coatings the topcoat must be chemically inert to the atmosphere. In high-temperature applications the stresses arising from thermal expansion mismatch between the topcoat and the substrate must be ameliorated. In this article we consider the design of an intermediate layer of a multilayer coating system with the explicit objective of managing thermal expansion difference between the topcoat and the substrate. The design is based upon a columnar architecture where the columns serve as flexible beams to accommodate relative displacement without fracture. The value of the maximum stresses in the beam and in the topcoat are calculated and used to develop a map with fail and safe regimes. The safe region is defined by the prevention of fracture in the beams, since their fracture would precipitate delamination of the topcoat. As a rule of thumb the topcoat thickness should be less than the width of the columns for safe operation (this condition changes somewhat with the aspect ratio of the columns). A larger aspect ratio of the columns also promotes safe design. We further consider how the tractions induced by the thermal stresses on the surface of the substrate may influence the intrinsic fracture strength of the substrate. The stresses in the coating are predicted to have an insignificant effect on the intrinsic fracture strength of the substrate.
A comparison of adaptive virtual constraint identification strategies for recurrent dynamic constraint satisfaction

In this paper, we compare four strategies designed to improve the search efficiency for solving recurrent dynamic constraint satisfaction problems. These strategies work by identifying and maintaining a set of virtual constraints based on their overall satisfiability. Of the four strategies, the co-adaptive method is superior.
Minority and Nonminority MBA Progress in Business

The minority MBA may be thought of as a relative “newcomer” on the corporate business scene. In fact, until recently, minority representation was so sparse in the managerial ranks of corporate business that it would almost be termed “nonexistent” without greatly exaggerating the situation. However, the civil rights activities of the 1960s along with the affirmative action decisions of the 1970s have helped overcome the previously “lilly-white” management structures of many organizations that now include black and other minority members. In limited numbers and often in special roles, blacks have entered the management ranks of predominately white organizations. Furthermore, Alderfer, Tucker, Morgan, and Drasgow (1983) have observed that such changes in the composition of the managerial work force have brought the tensions associated with contemporary race relations to an arena that previously had been without racial problems largely because it had been without racial differences.