cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Sociotechnical Boundaries of Hardware and Software: A Humpty Dumpty History.

This article traces the historical development of the boundaries around computer software and hardware. On one hand, the author documents ongoing discussions about the technical equivalence of hardware and software. On the other hand, he accounts for the stubborn persistence of these terms as markers for two distinct spheres of technology, knowledge, and practice. By using theoretical concepts such as “boundary work” and “coproduction,” the author argues that ongoing efforts to negotiate the boundaries between hardware and software are significantly “sociotechnical” in that they involve both social and technical considerations. The analysis culminates with a discussion of the more recent rise of the “hardware/software codesign” movement. Particular emphasis is placed on the conditions that led to the emergence of codesign and the ongoing challenges faced by its proponents. The article concludes by describing how codesign points toward a more reflexive and socially responsible culture of computer design an...
Bacterial infections in adult HIV-infected patients.

AbstractPurpose: The purpose of this article is to critically review articles published from the pre-HAART era to the present on bacterial infections in adult HIV-infected patients. Method: Literature search on bacterial infections in HIV-infected patients yields predominantly small case series from single centers, many of which are retrospectively collected. Results: Variations in case selection limit the utility of these articles for assessing the epidemiology and clinical features of a particular infection. Nonetheless, numerous articles indicate that certain bacterial infections occur most often when CD4 cell counts are < 200/mm3. In the pre-HAART era, others suggest that PcP prophylaxis with TMP/SMX and MAC prophylaxis with macrolides reduced rates of several bacterial infections. Since the advent of HAART, however, some articles suggest that the incidence of various infections has declined and that withdrawal of OI prophylaxis in patients who have had HAART restoration of CD4 cell counts has not led...
Effect of Trisodium Phosphate or Water Dip on the Survival of Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes Inoculated Catfish Before and After Freezing

Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes (LM) are occasional contaminants on raw fish. Catfish fillets were artificially contaminated with LM and Salmonella, dipped in a 1.5 % (30 min) trisodium phosphate solution (TSP), and cryogenically frozen. After 3 months frozen storage, Salmonella (2 log), but not LM, was inactivated on the fillets treated with the dip. This indicates that TSP dip followed by cryogenic freezing can be used to control Salmonella, but not LM, on catfish fillets.
Weak-scatterer generalization of the K-density function. II. Probability density of total phase

The probability-density function of the total phase of the random sinusoid model that describes the scattered radiation at a point is studied in the weak-scatterer case in which the nonuniform phases of the individual sinusoids are taken to be a von Mises probability-density function. The number of multipaths (or correlation areas) is taken to be governed by the negative binomial distribution with parameter α. In the limiting case in which the average number of multipaths tends to infinity, it was shown in the first paper in this series [ J. Opt. Soc. Am. A3, 401 ( 1986)] that the probability-density function of the intensity was a generalization of the K-density function. The probability-density function of the total phase is expressed as a Fourier series in the fundamental interval (–π, π). The special case in which the number of multipaths is governed by a Poisson distribution (i.e., α → ∞) is also evaluated. Numerical results are shown for some typical parameter situations. Finally, the conditional probability-density function of the total phase, given the intensity, is shown to be a von Mises probability-density function that is independent of α. The physical reasoning behind the use of the von Mises density function is discussed in an appendix.
An assessment of the inter-rater reliability of the ASA physical status score in the orthopaedic trauma population

Abstract Objectives Although recent literature has demonstrated the utility of the ASA score in predicting postoperative length of stay, complication risk and potential utilization of other hospital resources, the ASA score has been inconsistently assigned by anaesthesia providers. This study tested the reliability of assignment of the ASA score classification by both attending anaesthesiologists and anaesthesia residents specifically among the orthopaedic trauma patient population. Methods Nine case-based scenarios were created involving preoperative patients with isolated operative orthopaedic trauma injuries. The cases were created and assigned a reference score by both an attending anaesthesiologist and orthopaedic trauma surgeon. Attending and resident anaesthesiologists were asked to assign an ASA score for each case. Rater versus reference and inter-rater agreement amongst respondents was then analyzed utilizing Fleiss's Kappa and weighted and unweighted Cohen's Kappa. Results Thirty three individuals provided ASA scores for each of the scenarios. The average rater versus reference reliability was substantial ( K w = 0.78, SD = 0.131, 95% CI = 0.73–0.83). The average rater versus reference K uw was also substantial ( K uw = 0.64, SD = 0.21, 95% CI = 0.56–0.71). The inter-rater reliability as evaluated by Fleiss's Kappa was moderate ( K = 0.51, p K = 0.50, p K = 0.55, p K = 0.43, comfortable K = 0.59, p Conclusions This study shows substantial agreement strength for reliability of the ASA score among anaesthesiologists when evaluating orthopaedic trauma patients. The significant increase in inter-rater reliability based on anaesthesiologists’ comfort with the ASA scoring method implies a need for further evaluation of ASA assessment training and routine use on the ground. These findings support the use of the ASA score as a statistically reliable tool in orthopaedic trauma.
Prevention and Management of Cardiovascular Events during Travel

Traveling has been associated with an increased incidence of cardiovascular events among adult travelers who have existing cardiopulmonary diseases.1-6 Assessment of the patient's cardiovascular status and risk prior to travel represents the first step in the evaluation process and was discussed thoroughly in a paper by the same authors published in the previous issue of Journal of Travel Medicine. Therefore, prevention and management of cardiovascular events during travel are very important for the physicians who are involved in treating patients with heart disease who intend to travel. The current data regarding this crucial issue are limited. After careful assessment, the physician specializing in travel medicine needs to provide patients with existing cardiopulmonary disease with specific instructions to prevent adverse cardiovascular events during travel, as well as measures that they should undertake if such an event occurs.
Search for Lifshitz points in rare-earth alloys

Six rare-earth binary-alloy systems have been investigated in a search for Lifshitz points. No such points were found. All systems showed a highest ordering temperature jump when the sample composition went from values favoring helical ordering to values favoring ferromagnetic ordering. It is believed that ferromagnetic nearest-neighbor interactions and antiferromagnetic next-nearest-neighbor interactions are responsible for the observed behavior and that a finiteturn angle jump at the critical concentration will always occur for such systems.
Effects of pricing policy on seasonal storage of wheat in Pakistan

Most studies of stockholding in less developed countries have concentrated on public, interannual stocks. A recent change in Pakistan government policy for the pricing of wheat highlights the need to examine seasonal storage issues, considering explicitly the effects of policy on the behavior of private agents who hold seasonal stocks of grain. Using H. Working's supply of storage theory and a simple monthly model, implications of the policy change for fiscal cost, private storage, and government procurement are explored. Costs of the policy could be reduced dramatically by increasing marginally the gap between the procurement and release price. Expected cost to the consumer of a wider gap would be no larger than under the previous policy.
Cell surface interactions with concanavalin A: determination by microhemadsorption.

SummaryA microhemadsorption method is described for measuring the interaction between concanavalin A and single transformed or untransformed cells without removing them from the substrate. When indicator red blood cells were coated with Con A, their adherence to SV3T3 cells was only 2-4-fold greater than to 3T3 cells. On the other hand, when the two cell lines were coated with Con A, there was a very marked difference in the ability of the lectin on each to adsorb uncoated red cells.
Pressure-induced resonance broadening of exciton line shapes in semiconductors: Direct determination of intervalley scattering rates in GaAs

We show that the exciton photoluminescence line shape in the GaAs/${\mathrm{Al}}_{\mathit{x}}$${\mathrm{Ga}}_{1\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}\mathit{x}}$As quantum wells under pressure is broadened by hybridization of the \ensuremath{\Gamma} exciton with the X and the L continua via electron-phonon coupling. Furthermore, we demonstrate the pressure tuning of the resonance-broadening effect which can be used to extract the electron-phonon coupling parameters directly. For GaAs we estimate the intervalley electron-phonon deformation potential ${\mathit{D}}_{\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Gamma}}\mathit{X}}$ to be 10.7\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.7 eV/\AA{}. The resonance effect should be observable in other semiconductors as well.
Blocking of the response-reinforcer association: Additional evidence☆

Abstract Response rates maintained by free-operant schedules are sometimes reduced when a brief signal is interposed between the response and reinforcer. Early interpretations of this rate reduction were in terms of associative competition between the response and signal, analogous to blocking and overshadowing effects obtained in Pavlovian conditioning. But subsequent evidence has disputed this interpretation by showing that the signal enhances response rate in several circumstances. The present study attempted to define the conditions determining the different effects by investigating the role of signal location in the delay-of-reinforcement interval. When it occurred immediately after a response, response rate was enhanced. When it occurred at the end of the delay interval, immediately preceding the reinforcer, the signal decreased response rate. A similar decremental effect occurred when the signal occurred in the middle of the delay interval, contiguous with neither the response nor the reinforcer. Similar blocking effects occurred with a response acquisition procedure. The results demonstrate that blocking effects do indeed occur in instrumental conditioning but that the usual procedure of using signals immediately contingent on responding confounds such blocking effects with the competing effects of conditioned reinforcement/marking.
Mycotoxins in cereal grain. Part 5. Changes of cereal grain biological value after ammoniation and mycotoxins (ochratoxins) inactivation

Ammoniation was proved to be a suitable detoxification procedure to remove toxicity of Aspergillus ochraceus mycotoxins (mainly ochratoxin A) from contaminated cereal grain (corn, wheat and barley). It was found that ammoniation should be performed to achieve decomposition of ochratoxin A to nondetectable level. Ammoniated grain can be used as feedstuff component without essential change of nutritive value during ammoniation.
Pesticide safety training among farmworker adolescents from Starr County, Texas

This study of adolescent farmworkers describes employer compliance with pesticide safety training, a requirement of the EPA-mandated Worker Protection Standard (WPS), and identifies variables associated with having received training within the prior five years. Data are from "A Study of Work Injuries in Farmworker Children, " a three-year cohort study of high school students living along the Texas-Mexico border in Starr County. Data were collected using a web-based, self-administered, confidential survey. Of 324 students who participated in field work between January 1 and September 30, 2003, 68 (21.0%) reported ever receiving pesticide safety training. Overall, the 61 (18.8%) students who reported training within the prior five years also reported that their most recent instruction covered at least three key WPS areas (i.e., entry into a recently treated field, pesticide-related injuries/illnesses, and emergency care for pesticide exposure). Based on a multiple logistic regression, students who were male (OR = 1.97), worked only outside of Texas (OR = 2.73), worked only for commercial growers/owners (OR = 4.35), worked only for contractors (OR = 3.18), worked corn crops (OR = 2.93), and worked potato crops (OR = 3.11) were more likely to report receipt of training within the prior five years. Results suggest that increased enforcement may be needed, especially in Texas, and special educational efforts may be needed to reach female farmworker youth. Language: en
Photolysis of dodecamethylcyclohexasilane; formation of both methylsilene and dimethylsilylene

Abstract Experimental and spectroscopic investigations of the products of dodecamethylhexasilane photolysis on reaction with labeled organic reagents throw new light on the formation of methylsilene and dimethylsilylene and their interconversion reactions.
Maternal phenylketonuria and phenylalanine restricted diet. Studies of 7 pregnancies and of offsprings produced.

THE results of 7 pregnancies in 5 women suffering from phenylketonuria are reported. In 2 cases, low phenylalanine diet was introduced before conception and adhered to until after delivery. Both infants appeared to be normal at birth and have continued to develop satisfactorily, one now into the 3rd year of life and the other, now into the 4th year of life. Of the infants whose mothers started diet between 6 and 26 weeks gestation, all were microcephalic at birth, and of those old enough to have psychological assessments, none are in the normal range of intelligence. The mother of the 7th infant, in whom dietetic control was attempted after marriage, was completely unco-operative and defaulted. At 34-35 weeks gestation, she was admitted to the Maternity Hospital where she was restarted on low phenylalanine diet, and excellent control was achieved for the remaining weeks of pregnancy. She was delivered of a stillborn female infant with microcephaly, intrauterine malnutrition, but without cardiac abnormality.
Vapor-phase lubrication in combined rolling and sliding contacts: Modeling and experimentation

The in situ vapor-phase lubrication of M50 steel, in combined rolling and sliding contacts at 540°C using nitrogen atmospheres containing acetylene, is achieved. Acetylene partial pressures of 0.05 atmospheres are capable of providing continuous lubrication to combined rolling and sliding contacts through pyrolytic carbon deposition. In these tests, friction coefficients as low as μ = 0.01 are found for contacts at 2.0 m/s rolling speed, 10 cm/s sliding speed, 100 N load (1.3 GPa Hertzian contact pressure), and ambient temperature of 540°C, with even lower values observed at more modest sliding speeds. One example of a model for vapor phase lubrication of combined rolling and sliding contacts is developed which predicts the lubricant steady-state fractional coverage of the contact surfaces, and from this makes friction coefficient predictions using a linear rule-of-mixture. Friction coefficient responses to step changes in acetylene partial pressure, sliding speed, and disk wear-track diameter are measured. Increased partial pressure of acetylene and increased area available for deposition are observed to be beneficial, while increased sliding speed is detrimental to lubrication performance. Shapes and trends of steady-state friction coefficient versus acetylene partial pressure, sliding speed, and disk wear-track diameter are described and curve-fit by the model. In combined rolling and sliding this example model predicts large regions of operating conditions over which friction coefficient is independent of rolling speed, as well as regions of independence of vapor partial pressure. In the special case of pure sliding, a region of friction coefficient independence of a ratio of partial pressure to sliding speed and another region of independence of a ratio of partial pressure to the product of sliding speed and normal load are predicted.
Ecology: Soil mediation in grasslands

The physical composition of the soil can determine grassland plant responses to rising atmospheric carbon dioxide.
Three-Dimensional Structure of Tropical Cells in the Central Equatorial Pacific Ocean*

Abstract The shallow tropical cells (TCs) in the central equatorial Pacific Ocean are characterized by strong equatorial upwelling, near-surface wind-driven poleward flow, downwelling near the cold tongue boundaries, and equatorward flow below the surface mixed layer. Meridional and vertical velocity fluctuations associated with tropical instability waves (TIWs) in the central equatorial Pacific are much larger than those associated with the TCs and can modify the background circulation. OGCM experiments are used to simulate the spinup of the cells along 140°W in response to perturbed trade winds during various phases of the annual cycle. Equatorially modified versions of geostrophy and Ekman theory, and zonal filtering, are used to isolate the large-zonal-scale wind-driven response. Weakening of the trade winds in any season rapidly weakens the TCs, decreases the zonal current shear, and reduces the amplitude and propagation speed of the TIWs. In boreal fall and winter, when the background TCs and TIWs a...
Experience with the recovery filter as a retrievable inferior vena cava filter.

PURPOSE This study evaluates clinical experience with the Recovery filter as a retrievable inferior vena cava (IVC) filter. MATERIALS AND METHODS One hundred seven Recovery filters were placed in 106 patients with an initial clinical indication for temporary caval filtration. Patients were followed up to assess filter efficacy, complications, eventual need for filter removal, time to retrieval, and ability to remove the filter. RESULTS The patient cohort consisted of 62 men and 44 women with a mean age of 48 years (range, 18–90 y). Mean implantation time was 165 days. Indications for filter placement in patients with deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and/or pulmonary embolism (PE) included contraindication to anticoagulation ( n = 33), complications of anticoagulation ( n = 8), poor cardiopulmonary reserve ( n = 6), large clot burden ( n = 3), and PE while receiving anticoagulation ( n = 1). Indications for filter placement in patients without proven PE or DVT included immobility after trauma ( n = 35); recent intracranial hemorrhage, neurosurgery, or brain tumor ( n = 18); and other surgical or invasive procedure ( n = 3). Three patients (2.8%) had symptomatic PE after placement of the Recovery filter. No caval thromboses were detected. No symptomatic filter migrations occurred. Recovery filter removal was attempted in 15 of 106 patients (14%) at a mean of 150 days after placement. The Recovery filter was successfully retrieved in 14 of 15 patients (93%); one removal was unsuccessful at 210 days after placement. Ninety-two filters (87%) currently remain in place. CONCLUSIONS Although all the filters were placed with the intention of being removed, a large percentage of filters were not retrieved. The Recovery filter was safe and effective in preventing PE when used as a retrievable IVC filter.
POLICY ARENA: USING GRASSROOTS EXPERIENCE TO INFORM MACRO LEVEL POLICY: AN NGO PERSPECTIVE

NGDOs and other development agencies advocate micro experience to inform macro policy in order to address negative impacts which can erode sustainable development efforts. However, channels to enable use of grassroots information, a commonly understood language, and the conviction from key players that grassroots information is actually necessary for macro policy design are all, as yet, undeveloped. Extrapolating from the micro to the macro raises issues of access, rigour and relevance, some aspects of which have begun to be addressed through RRA and PRA methodologies. An avenue requiring further development is the use of PRA as a tool of empowerment in policy design rather than simply a means of information extraction. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Modulation of reflexive orienting to gaze direction by facial expressions

Facial expression and gaze perception are thought to share brain mechanisms but behavioural interactions, especially from gaze-cueing paradigms, are inconsistent. We conducted a series of gaze-cueing studies using dynamic facial cues to examine orienting across different emotional expression and task conditions, including face inversion. Across experiments, at a short stimulus–onset asynchrony (SOA) we observed both an expression effect (i.e., faster responses when the face was emotional versus neutral) and a cue validity effect (i.e., faster responses when the target was gazed-at), but no interaction between validity and emotion. Results from face inversion suggest that the emotion effect may have been due to both facial expression and stimulus motion. At longer SOAs, validity and emotion interacted such that cueing by emotional faces, fearful faces in particular, was enhanced relative to neutral faces. These results converge with a growing body of evidence that suggests that gaze and expression are init...
Theory of the two peak photoemission spectra in cerium compounds

Considerable controversy has centered on the origin of the observed two peak structure in photoemission from Ce compounds. We report results of theoretical studies of the Ce pnictides using a model based on competing screening mechanisms. It is assumed that the peak near EF arises from complete screening of the 4f hole via repopulation of the f orbital on the hole site so its contribution to the spectrum follows the ground state density of states. The second peak 2–3 eV lower in energy is viewed as being due to a poorly screened f-hole. This screening process is studied by means of self-consistent LAPW supercell calculations. In CeSb we find a peak separation of 2.71 eV compared to an experimental value of 2.5 eV, whereas in CeP we find a separation of 2.47 eV compared to 2.4 eV experiment. The poorly screened peak results primarily from d-orbital screening of the hole.
Review: Environmental chemistry: An overview

Environmental Chemistry describes the world around us — a dynamic world of chemicals which become distributed between earth, water, atmosphere, and biota and transformed by natural reagents. The subject is far from new; until the age of synthetics, chemistry itself was based predominantly on the natural environment. Its present renaissance has been stimulated largely by the promise of assessment and control of toxic hazards and pollution, but the predictability, novel chemistry, and wide applications already apparent may prove at least as important. Just as synthetic chemistry revolutionized the lives of recent generations, environmental chemistry can provide a better future for all Earth's inhabitants.
Thickening of young Pacific lithosphere from high-resolution Rayleigh wave tomography: A test of the conductive cooling model

Direct seismic measurements of the thickening of oceanic lithosphere away from the spreading axis are rare due to the remoteness of mid ocean ridges. On the East Pacific Rise, at 17°S, there were two long-term broadband ocean bottom seismometer deployments, the MELT and GLIMPSE experiments. These arrays spanned young Pacific plate seafloor ranging in age from 0 to 8 Ma. Combining these two data sets, we describe the increase in Rayleigh wave phase velocities for 16–100 s period as function of distance from the ridge with two parameterizations: an arbitrary function of seafloor age and a simple polynomial function of age on the Pacific and Nazca plates. Although resolution analysis shows that 10 to 15 independent pieces of information about the age variation of phase velocity on the Pacific plate can be resolved at periods of ≤50 s, the three parameter polynomial model fits the data almost as well, indicating a simple pattern of the evolution of structure with age. To compare our observations to the predictions for the conductive cooling of the lithosphere, we convert a thermal half-space cooling model to shear velocity using anharmonic and anelastic contributions. The patterns in the velocities are not consistent with simple conductive cooling. The conductive cooling model under predicts the changes in phase velocity with age observed in the 20 to 78 s period range. We observe significant changes in shear velocity in the asthenosphere at depths greater than conductive cooling should extend. The asthenospheric low velocity zone is asymmetric, dipping to the west with the lowest velocities beneath the Pacific plate west of the spreading center. The conductive cooling model also over predicts the shear velocities in the lithosphere by ~0.2 km/s. These anomalies indicate that more complicated mantle flow and significant mantle heterogeneities such as melt are required.
The Effect of Small, Aspherical Perturbations on Travel Times and a Re-examination of the Corrections for Ellipticity

Summary We use the stationarity of the Fermat ray path to develop theoretical expressions that relate small, aspherical perturbations in velocity to small perturbations in travel times. For the Earth's ellipticity of figure we derive a compact expression for the perturbation in travel time. If the ellipticity is hydrostatic and is the dominant perturbation, then anomalies in travel times are linear constraints on the radial gradient of velocity. Otherwise, the anomalies are constraints on the (unknown) aspherical perturbations. We are led to an inverse problem in either case. Using recently derived models of the Earth we present calculations of the effect of ellipticity. If the effect of focal depth is neglected in the calculations, then mislocations in both epicentre and origin time can result. Differences between our calculations and those predicted by the approximate formula 6t = (h+H)f(A) are as large as 0-25 s for P at 90". Nowadays, seismologists are prone to attach significance to anomalies as small as 0.10 s. Consequently, we advocate that the effect of focal depth be considered and that traditional approximations be replaced by the more accurate calculations tabulated in this report. Theoretical development The effect of the Earth's ellipticity of figure on travel times was first studied more than 40 years ago by Comrie and by Gutenberg and Richter. Bullen (1965, p. 173176) has presented a concise theoretical derivation of the effect. Recent improvements in our knowledge of the mechanical structure of the Earth make it desirable not only to re-examine the effect of ellipticity, but also to consider other small, aspherical perturbations as well. We follow the derivation of Bullen A source is located a (r,,, ,!lo, &) in spherical polar co-ordinates, and a receiver at
Neural network classification of subsurface targets

A classification technique for classifying subsurface targets based on the measured electric fields was developed in this paper. It was observed that subsurface targets can successfully be classified by using the magnitude of the scattered fields with the offset-VSP setup. The performance of the classification scheme was investigated with three different classification algorithms. It was observed that a neural network used with a distance criterion provided the best performance for this application. Use of the classical Bayesian classifier results in more misclassification than the neural network algorithms. The performance of both neural network algorithms exceeded the performance of the classical Bayesian classifier. The effect of the type of training data on the performance of the classifier was also studied in this paper. Training with a broad range of SNRs results in better classification rates as expected. But classifiers trained at 10 dB SNR also result in comparable performance. This unusual behavior shown by the network in this investigation is valid only for this specific application, and is probably due to the type of data used for classification. >
Presentation and Binding Affinity of Equine Infectious Anemia Virus CTL Envelope and Matrix Protein Epitopes by an Expressed Equine Classical MHC Class I Molecule

Control of a naturally occurring lentivirus, equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV), occurs in most infected horses and involves MHC class I-restricted, virus-specific CTL. Two minimal 12-aa epitopes, Env-RW12 and Gag-GW12, were evaluated for presentation by target cells from horses with an equine lymphocyte Ag-A1 (ELA-A1) haplotype. Fifteen of 15 presented Env-RW12 to CTL, whereas 11 of 15 presented Gag-GW12. To determine whether these epitopes were presented by different molecules, MHC class I genes were identified in cDNA clones from Arabian horse A2152, which presented both epitopes. This horse was selected because it is heterozygous for the SCID trait and is used to breed heterozygous females. Offspring with SCID are used as recipients for CTL adoptive transfer, and normal offspring are used for CTL induction. Four classical and three putative nonclassical full-length MHC class I genes were found. Human 721.221 cells transduced with retroviral vectors expressing each gene had equine MHC class I on their surface. Following peptide pulsing, only cells expressing classical MHC class I molecule 7-6 presented Env-RW12 and Gag-GW12 to CTL. Unlabeled peptide inhibition of (125)I-labeled Env-RW12 binding to 7-6-transduced cells demonstrated that Env-RW12 affinity was 15-fold higher than Gag-GW12 affinity. Inhibition with truncated Env-RW12 demonstrated that amino acid positions 1 and 12 were necessary for binding, and single substitutions identified positions 2 and 3 as possible primary anchor residues. Since MHC class I 7-6 presented both epitopes, outbred horses with this allele can be immunized with these epitopes to optimize CTL responses and evaluate their effectiveness against lentiviral challenge.
Cost Inefficiency and the Holding of Non‐traditional Assets by Solvent Stock Thrifts

In contrast to greater restrictions on thrifts' non-traditional assets under FIRREA, Congress is considering new legislation forcing thrifts to convert to banks. Hence, the efficiency implications of product diversification for thrifts is an important issue. We examine the relation between thrifts' movement into non-traditional assets and the operating inefficiency of adequately capitalized stock thrifts in 1988 and 1994. We estimate inefficiency scores for individual thrifts for each year using a stochastic cost-frontier methodology. In a second step, we regress these scores against measures for movement into non-traditional assets. We find a significant fall in inefficiency with a rise in holdings of both traditional and non-traditional assets. Our results suggest that greater diversification privileges for thrifts should be beneficial to the health of the industry.
Integrating Inertial Sensors With Global Positioning System (GPS) for Vehicle Dynamics Control

This paper demonstrates a method of estimating several key vehicle states-sideslip angle, longitudinal velocity, roll and grade-by combining automotive grade inertial sensors with a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver. Kinematic Kalman filters that are independent of uncertain vehicle parameters integrate the inertial sensors with GPS to provide high update estimates of the vehicle states and the sensor biases. Using a two-antenna GPS system, the effects of pitch and roll on the measurements can be quantified and are demonstrated to be quite significant in sideslip angle estimation. Employing the same GPS system as an input to the estimator, this paper develops a method that compensates for roll and pitch effects to improve the accuracy of the vehicle state and sensor bias estimates. In addition, calibration procedures for the sensitivity and cross-coupling of inertial sensors are provided to further reduce measurement error The resulting state estimates compare well to the results from calibrated models and Kalman filter predictions and are clean enough to use in vehicle dynamics control systems without additional filtering.
Molecular factors affecting solubility in rigid-rod polyamides

The solubility of a series of para-linked, substituted phenyl, biphenyl, terphenyl, and quaterphenyl polyamides is reported. Most of these polymers are soluble in amide solvents without lithium chloride, and several are soluble in ethers and/or ketones. The results indicate that solubility in this class of polymers is affected by the position, polarizability and size of the substituents, enantiomeric purity, and the number of non-coplanar biphenyl rings per repeat unit.
The variational formulation of brittle fracture: numerical implementation and extensions

This paper presents the implementation of a variational formulation of brittle fracture mechanics proposed by G.A. Francfort and J.-J. Marigo in 1998. The essence of the model relies on successive global minimizations of an energy with respect to any crack set and any kinematically admissible displacement field. We briefly present the model itself, and its variational approximation in the sense of Gamma—convergence. We propose a globally convergent and monotonically decreasing numerical algorithm. We introduce a backtracking algorithm whose solution satisfy a global optimality criterion with respect to the time evolution. We illustrate this algorithm with three dimensional numerical experiments. Then we present an extension of the model to crack propagation under thermal load and its numerical application to the quenching of glass.
Narrowing carpal arch width to increase cross-sectional area of carpal tunnel--a cadaveric study.

Abstract Background Carpal tunnel morphology plays an essential role in the etiology and treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome. The purpose of this study was to observe the morphological changes of the carpal tunnel as a result of carpal arch width narrowing. It was hypothesized that carpal arch width narrowing would result in increased height and area of the carpal arch. Methods The carpal arch width of eight cadaveric hands was narrowed by a custom apparatus and cross-sectional ultrasound images were acquired. The carpal arch height and area were quantified as the carpal arch width was narrowed. Correlation and regression analyses were performed for the carpal arch height and area with respect to the carpal arch width. Findings The carpal tunnel became more convex as the carpal arch width was narrowed. The initial carpal arch width, height, and area were 25.7 (SD 1.9) mm, 4.1 (SD 0.6) mm, and 68.5 (SD 14.0) mm 2 , respectively. The carpal arch height and area negatively correlated with the carpal arch width, with correlation coefficients of − 0.974 (SD 0.018) and − 0.925 (SD 0.034), respectively. Linear regression analyses showed a 1 mm narrowing of the carpal arch width resulted in proportional increases of 0.40 (SD 0.14) mm in the carpal arch height and 4.0 (SD 2.2) mm 2 in the carpal arch area. Interpretation This study demonstrates that carpal arch width narrowing leads to increased carpal arch height and area, a potential mechanism to reduce the mechanical insult to the median nerve and relieve symptoms associated with carpal tunnel syndrome.
Imaging in laryngeal cancer: computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, positron emission tomography

Imaging modalities have become increasingly significant in the treatment of laryngeal cancer. The ability of CT and MR imaging to reveal pathologic conditions that are undetectable by palpation or endoscopy has led to the development of several imaging-based systems of anatomic classification and tumor staging. This article provides an up-to-date review of the radiographic evaluation of the normal neck and information for both the radiologist and clinician treating the patient with laryngeal cancer. Technical considerations, imaging-based staging systems, and the radiographic characteristics of laryngeal cancer in various regions of the neck are discussed.
Design and Realization of Network Teaching Platform Based on E-learning

E-learning is an innovative education concept that has developed with the rapid growth of network technology. It integrates modern information technology with the existing curriculum to improve the traditional teaching and learning structure and system. It breaks the limitations inherent in the traditional education concept and teaching methods. E-learning can also effectively utilize the rich resources on campus via the campus network. This paper presents the hydraulic engineering courses network teaching platform under E-learning environment. In this environment, teachers and students will interact with each other to improve the teaching and learning qualities.
Secondhand tobacco smoke exposure is associated with increased risk of failed implantation and reduced IVF success

BACKGROUND Infertility and early pregnancy loss are prevalent as is exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke (STS). Previous research has suggested a relationship between STS exposure and early pregnancy loss, but studies have been limited by small study sizes and/or imprecise methods for exposure estimation. IVF allows for the collection of follicular fluid (FF), the fluid surrounding the pre-ovulatory oocyte, which may be a more biologically relevant sample media than urine or serum in studies of early reproduction.
Electrostatic analysis of the hepatitis C virus NS3 helicase reveals both active and allosteric site locations

Multi-conformation continuum electrostatics (MCCE) was used to analyze various structures of the NS3 RNA helicase from the hepatitis C virus in order to determine the ionization state of amino acid side chains and their pKas. In MCCE analyses of HCV helicase structures that lacked ligands, several active site residues were identified to have perturbed pKa si n both the nucleic acid binding site and in the distant ATP-binding site, which regulates helicase movement. In all HCV helicase structures, Glu493 was unusually basic and His369 was abnormally acidic. Both these residues are part of the HCV helicase nucleic acid binding site, and their roles were analyzed by examining the pH profiles of site-directed mutants. Data support the accuracy of MCCE predicted pKa values, and reveal that Glu493 is critical for low pH enzyme activation. Several key residues, which were previously shown to be involved in helicase-catalyzed ATP hydrolysis, were also identified to have perturbed pKas including Lys210 in the Walker-A motif and the DExD/H-box motif residues Asp290 and His293. When DNA was present in the structure, the calculated pKas shifted for both Lys210 and Asp290, demonstrating how DNA binding might lead to electrostatic changes that stimulate ATP hydrolysis.
Clinical Experience with Cryosurgery for Advanced Hepatobiliary Tumors

Introduction.There have been reports that suggest cryosurgical techniques may be a useful adjunct to surgical resection or even a viable alternative treatment for hepatobiliary malignancies. Our objective was to evaluate the clinical results following cryoablation in conjunction with surgical resection for advanced hepatic tumors. Materials and methods.Thirty-two consecutive procedures in 31 patients with advanced liver tumors treated with cryosurgical ablation were evaluated. Cryosurgery was applied: (1) to achieve a >1-cm tumor-free margin when standard surgical margins were close (2) with or without standard surgical resection to manage multiple tumors (3) with hepatic arterial portocath placement to increase tumor response. Cryoablation was applied to 47 of 105 lesions—independently in 4 patients and in combination with hepatic resection in 28 procedures. Results.Cryoablation was used in 11 procedures because of close surgical margins. In 21 operations cryosurgery was used for primary ablation. In 17 of these 21 patients both cryosurgery and resection were used for different lesions; in 4 cryosurgery alone was used. Transient changes in hepatic enzymes, PT, PTT, and platelets were at maximum on Postoperative Days 1–3. Surgical mortality and morbidity rates were 6 and 60%, respectively. Coagulation abnormalities were common: at least 30% reduction in platelets occurred in all patients and greater than a 50% reduction occurred in 19 of 32 (59%). Twenty patients had a PT >15 s and 6 of these 20 also had a platelet count <50,000. Associated complications included one wound hematoma, two GI hemorrhages, one intracranial hemorrhage, and one hepatic hemorrhage from the cryosurgical site. The actuarial patient survivals were 90, 59, 33, and 22% at 6, 12, 24, and 36 months, respectively. Conclusions.This report helps define the risks and results of cryosurgical ablation as a complement to surgical resection for advanced hepatobiliary tumors. Management of lesions contiguous to major blood vessels may include either the Pringle maneuver or total vascular isolation. Since these procedures can have significant morbidity, we urge cautious application of cryosurgery for advanced hepatobiliary tumors in selected otherwise unresectable patients.
Impact of Leukoaraiosis Burden on Hemispheric Lateralization of the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale Deficit in Acute Ischemic Stroke

Background and Purpose— The National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) awards higher deficit scores for infarcts in the dominant hemisphere when compared with otherwise similar infarcts in the nondominant hemisphere. This has been shown to adversely affect stroke recognition, therapeutic decisions, and outcome. However, factors modifying the association between infarct side and deficit severity are incompletely understood. Thus, we sought to determine whether age and age-related leukoaraiosis alter the relation between NIHSS deficit score and the side and volume of infarction. Methods— We studied 238 patients with supratentorial, nonlacunar ischemic infarcts prospectively included in our stroke registry between January 2013 and January 2014. NIHSS deficit severity was assessed at the time of presentation. Infarct volumes were assessed by manual planimetry on diffusion-weighted imaging. Leukoaraiosis burden was graded on fluid-attenuated inversion recovery images according to the Fazekas scale and dichotomized to none-to-mild (0–2) versus severe (3–6). Multivariable linear regression with backward elimination was used to identify independent predictors of the admission NIHSS. Results— Left-hemispheric infarction ( P P =0.001), their interaction term ( P =0.005), infarct volume ( P P =0.013) were independently associated with the NIHSS deficit. Analysis of the individual NIHSS components showed that severe leukoaraiosis was associated with an increase of the lateralizing components of the NIHSS in patients with right-hemispheric infarction ( P Conclusions— Severe leukoaraiosis substantially attenuates the classic hemispheric lateralization of the NIHSS deficit by relating to greater NIHSS scores of components that are typically assigned to left hemisphere function.
Photo-response of integrated photonic crystal-photodiode micro-electro-optic filters

A novel micro-electro-optic filter formed by integrating photonic crystals with photodiodes on a silicon substrate is demonstrated in this paper. P-n diodes were fabricated on a Silicon wafer using standard processes. Reactive ion etching (RIE) was used to form trenches into the diodes to contain and position photonic crystals. The wafer was then immersed vertically into a slowly evaporating colloidal suspension of silica mircrospheres to assemble the photonic crystal over the photodiodes. Spectral measurements using a grating monochrometer confirmed that a dip exists in the photocurrent response of the photonic crystal filter-photodetectors at the predicted wavelength of 600 nm. We performed a series of measurements using several different sphere sizes and light incidence angles to further characterize the filters, and evaluated the use of device as a wavelength selective detector. Since silica has a low coefficient of thermal expansion, the wavelength selective characteristics of the device are expected to be insensitive to ambient temperatures.
Spatio-temporal association of GLRaV-3-infected grapevines, and effect of insecticidal treatments on mealybug populations in Virginia vineyards

Grapevine leafroll disease (GLD) is caused by a number of viruses in the grapevine leafroll-associated virus complex (GLRaVs). GLRaV-3 is the most commonly found GLRaV and is transmitted by mealybugs (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) and soft scale insects (Hemiptera: Coccidae). A series of investigations were conducted to understand spatio-temporal patterns of GLRaV-3 and mealybugs, and to examine management strategies of mealybugs under the environmental conditions of Virginia, USA. During the study, a rapid increase (185 % per year) of GLRaV-3 positive vines was observed at an experimental vineyard. Spatial Analysis by Distance IndicEs (SADIE) indicated a mix of aggregated, random, and uniform distributions of GLRaV-3 within six surveyed vineyards, and a temporal association of GLRaV-3-positive vines over three years at the experimental vineyard. Results from a field experiment in 2009–2011 showed the effect of a delayed dormant application of acetamiprid (Assail, 0.182 L/ha) to be not significantly differing in mealybug abundance from the unsprayed check in 2010 and 2011. Moreover, an application of the contact insecticide beta-cyfluthrin (Baythroid XL, 0.219 L/ha) resulted in significantly higher numbers of mealybugs counted in 2011. This study also demonstrated that GLRaV-3 was spread from mature vines to newly planted sentinel vines during the first growing season, with no apparent effect of prevailing wind direction. Results from another insecticide trial conducted in 2010–2011 demonstrated that both dinotefuran (Scorpion, 0.292 L/ha) and spirotetramat (Movento, 0.439 L/ha) treatments significantly reduced mealybug counts when mealybug populations were high, but only spirotetramat significantly reduced mealybug counts when mealybug populations were low.
FREQUENCY-DEPENDENT VARIATION FOR OUTCROSSING RATE AMONG FLOWER-COLOR MORPHS OF IPOMOEA PURPUREA.

In a series of previous studies, it has been shown that populations of the common morning glory Ipomoea purpurea are typically polymorphic for flower-color genes that bias pollinator service and, hence, the rate of outcrossing. In this study, we show that the rate of outcrossing for the white flower-color morph depends on its frequency in experimental populations of the morning glory. White flowers are visited less often by the primary pollinator, bumblebees, and have lower outcrossing rates than colored flowers when they are in the minority. In contrast, blue or pink flower morphs are not undervisited and do not have lowered outcrossing rates when they are rare. In plant populations where genes that increase selling are selectively favored due to their transmission bias, undervisitation of rare morphs may act to stabilize genetic variation for outcrossing rates.