cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Applying Human Systems Integration to the Rapid Acquisition Process

The rapidly changing complexity of the Global War on Terrorism has changed the approach to equipping forward-deployed military forces. Combatant Commanders conducting operations now require timely materiel solutions to enhance mission capabilities and reduce the risk for individual soldiers. To address this challenge, the US Army established the Rapid Equipping Force to assess emerging requirements, to propose solutions to those requirements, and to implement those solutions in an expedient time frame. Unfortunately, the REF lacks a consistent analytical methodology for assessing alternative materiel solutions. To address the need for a human systems integration (HSI) analysis method, the authors developed an Assessment-Based Rapid Acquisition HSI Analysis Method (ABRAHAM) capable of generating tailored surveys and evaluating these surveys for unacceptable risks to soldiers. To validate ABRAHAM's concept and content, ABRAHAM was showcased in three Department of Defense settings: the Human Factors Engineering Technical Advisory Group, the REF, and the US Marine Corps' Operational Test and Evaluation Activity. The ABRAHAM appears to fill a gap in the current library of HSI tools. Based on the feedback provided during the product showcases, there is sufficient interest and technological maturity to further develop ABRAHAM to serve both the traditional and rapid acquisition processes.
Microwave Digestion -- ICP-MS for elemental analysis in ambient airborne fine particulate matter: Rare earth elements and validation using a filter borne fine particle certified reference material

NIST standard reference material SRM 2783 was employed to validate a high temperature, high pressure, two-stage microwave assisted acid digestion procedure using HNO3, HF and H3BO3 developed for the analysis of trace elements (including rare earths) in atmospheric fine particulate matter (PM2.5) prior to inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). This method quantitatively solubilized Na, Mg, Al, K, Ti, V, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Rb, Sb, Cd, Cs, Ba, Pb, Th, U and several rare earth elements (REEs) (La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Gd, Dy, Er, Sm and Eu) from SRM 1648 and SRM 2783. A small amount of HF in the first stage was required to dissolve silicates necessitating the corresponding addition of H3BO3 in second stage to dissolve fluoride precipitates of Mg, La, Ce and Th. The optimized microwave dissolution-ICP-MS method detected Na, Mg, Al, K, Ti, V, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Rb, Sr, Cd, Mo, Sb, Cs, Ba, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Gd, Pb, Th and U at trace to ultra-trace levels in ambient airborne fine particles from three sites in North Carolina. La to light lanthanide signature ratios suggested that soil and motor vehicles are the dominant REE sources in SRM 2783 and PM2.5 samples collected during this study.
Triethylaluminum—titanium tetrachloride catalysts for preparation of crystalline polystyrene

The reaction between Et3Al and TiCl4 is discussed, with emphasis on the effect of temperature, concentration, stoichiometry, and order of component addition on the ability of products to catalyze the isotactic polymerization of styrene. A well-defined peak in relative catalyst activity becomes apparent when the interaction of these variables is followed by measuring the average oxidation state of titanium. Experimentally, the polymerization is first-order with respect to styrene and titanium, although efficiency of Ti use is small. The mode of polymerization is characterized by a lower activation energy for active site generation and a higher activation energy for termination than is typical of free-radical polymerization. A convenient procedure for laboratory preparation of isotactic polystyrene employing the Et3Al/TiCl4 catalyst is given.
A comparison of two techniques for scoring episodic coping data

Abstract This study compared two techniques for scoring situation-specific ‘episodic’ coping data. The first technique consisted of the method of raw frequency scores, while the second technique consisted of the method of percentage scores. Seventy college undergraduates described how they coped with and emotionally reacted to a real-life anger provoking situation. Five types of episodic coping strategies were examined in relation to six situational indices of negative emotional reactivity. Forty percent of the cases (12 of 30 correlations) relating coping to emotional reactivity differed by scoring procedure. This high discrepancy rate is consistent with previous research, and suggests that different scoring procedures can yield divergent patterns of findings. It was concluded that scoring-related methodological variance may lead different studies to draw conflicting conclusions about coping processes. Methodologically rigorous research is needed to better understand the conditions that produce these discrepancies, and the circumstances under which one scoring technique might be preferred over the other.
Pylorus-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy (Longmire III operation): origins, indications and outcomes

Abstract William P. Longmire Jr popularized the pylorus-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy or “Whipple” operation using a philosophy for preserving function that he had pursued in his 2 previously described operations—intrahepatic cholangiojejunostomy (Longmire I) and the jejunal interposition after total gastrectomy (Longmire II) operation. An analysis of the published evidence comparing the pylorus-preserving Whipple (PPW) with a standard Whipple operation shows no difference in mortality, operating time, estimated blood loss, delayed gastric emptying, length of stay, or long-term cancer survival. Although no differences were noted between the 2 operations within the same hospital or study group, marked differences were observed in quality indicators between centers, particularly in estimated blood loss. Quality indicators for the Whipple operation (whether or not the pylorus is preserved) include pancreatic anastomotic leak, delayed gastric emptying, and the volume of blood lost during surgery. These clinical quality indicators have been benchmarked and used for improvement. If differences were not observed in patients after the Whipple operation (pylorus-preserving vs standard), then to improve cancer survival surgeons would need to look beyond the 2 operations. These studies confirmed the opinion that surgery alone is not enough to improve cancer survival when the head of the pancreas is to be resected by pancreaticoduodenectomy. The focus on PPW over the years since its description in 1978 has unmasked the concept that improvement in survivorship depends on improving many steps in the performance of pancreaticoduodenectomy that culminate in the quality indicators outlined above. These postoperative outcomes can be improved only by measuring them at each hospital and employing leadership to implement measures for improving the quality indicator that may not be within a reasonable range of the benchmark. The study of the PPW operation has helped to focus on areas other than PPW to improve the results of pancreatic head resection for pancreatic cancer.
Comparison of methods for analysis of the transverse and vertical circulation contributions to the longitudinal advective salt flux in estuaries

Three different sampling designs, based upon the manner in which the total cross-sectional area is decomposed into sub-areas, are explored for their applicability to assessing the transverse and vertical variations of properties in an estuary cross-section. Three hypotheses on the nature of the distribution are used to test the designs. The procedures are applied to Southampton Water where it is found that although both the salinity and velocity have important transverse and vertical variations, the longitudinal advective salt flux is almost totally due to their vertical deviations. This results, which contrasts with previous analyses, follows from the effect of gravity in vertically stratifying both the salinity and velocity distributions.
PUBLIC OPINION REACTION TO REPEATED EVENTS: Citizen Response to Multiple Supreme Court Abortion Decisions

While numerous works explores how single events or political actions affect public opinion, almost no research explores how this effect evolves with repeated actions. The Conditional Response Model holds that while elite actors can influence and polarize the public when they first act on an issue, subsequent action will not have this same effect. We challenge this model based on its depiction of psychological models of attitude formation and change. Instead of focusing on the number of times an actor has addressed an issue, we argue that the state of public opinion is the key to determining how the public will react to multiple elite actions over a long timeframe. We examine how the public reacted to multiple Supreme Court decisions on abortion. Our results suggest that the Conditional Response Model does a poor job of depicting public opinion and that actors are not limited in their influence by the number of previous actions on an issue.
Evolution of structure and properties in fiber formation from a thermoplastic polyester-polyether segmented copolymer

Process-structure-property relationships in the formation of an elastic fiber from a melt of segmented polyester-polyether copolymers are described. The “soft” segment, polyethylene oxide, is modified to prevent its crystallization at use temperatures. Features of the polymer related to phase separation of the soft segments and the crystallizable “hard” segments are discussed. An “ideal” morphology of such a thermoplastic elastomeric fiber that would maximize its recoverable extension is defined, and a path toward its realization in a melt spinning process is described.
TNC takeovers in Brazil: The uneven distribution of benefits in the market for firms

Abstract Control of the future stream of earnings is perhaps the most valuable component of returns to a transnational investment. As with other components, controlis subject to bargaining between TNCs and host governments. This paper argues that by leaving acquisitions (that is, the ‘market for firms’) unregulated, Brazil has inadvertantly surrendered some of its bargaining power to TNCs. The paper's first section uses cases to show how the market for firms in the electrical industry favours TNCs, particularly because of their market power in technology and finance markets. A second section analyses the overall effects of TNCs' acquisitions on market structure and ownership changes, and finds that takeovers by TNCs raise both the level of industrial concentration and denotionalization. Foreign control of the electrical industry rose from 66% in 1960 to 77% in 1974, almost all attribute to TNCs' acquisition policies. It is argued that Brazil could substantially raise its gains from TNC investments by instituting a merger review and prohibiting non-socially beneficial takeovers.
Phase transitions enable computational universality in neuristor-based cellular automata

We recently demonstrated that Mott memristors, two-terminal devices that exhibit threshold switching via an insulator to conductor phase transition, can serve as the active components necessary to build a neuristor, a biomimetic threshold spiking device. Here we extend those results to demonstrate, in simulation, neuristor-based circuits capable of performing general Boolean logic operations. We additionally show that these components can be used to construct a one-dimensional cellular automaton, rule 137, previously proven to be universal. This proof-of-principle shows that localized phase transitions can perform spiking computation, which is of particular interest for neuromorphic hardware.
NEMS: All you need is feedback.

In the past, nanoelectromechanical resonators have been passive devices that required external oscillators to keep them working, so the development of a self-sustaining resonator powered only by a d.c. voltage is a major advance.
Biological activity of platelet activating factor-amidophosphonate (PAF-AP), a novel phosphonolipid selective inhibitor of platelet activating factor (PAF).

Abstract A novel amidophosphonate analog of Platelet Activating Factor (PAF), trimethyl (3-phosphonopropyl)ammonium hydroxide (R)-mono[2-acetamido-3-(hexadecyloxy)propyl] ester (PAF-AP), was synthesized. A potent inhibitor of aggregation induced by Platelet Activating Factor, arachidonic acid, Ca2+-ionophore, ADP, and thrombin, PAF-AP had no or very little effect on aggregation induced by epinephrine and collagen. Inhibition of phospholipase A2 and C2 activity was suggested from suppression of release of [14C]-arachidonic acid from pre-labeled platelet glycerophospholipids.
Image hashing via hough transform

Given an image as an input, an image hash function should produce a short bit string such that the hash values are similar (if not the same) for “perceptually similar” content and significantly different for “perceptually different” content. Image hash functions find extensive applications in content authentication, database search, and watermarking. There are a lot of approaches reported for image hashing, but many of them do not perform well when the input image undergoes severe linear transformations (for example, big angle rotations or scaling with a very big or very small scaling factor). In this paper we propose a new algorithm for generating image hash values based on Hough transform. Our new approach can do well even for images with big changes. Furthermore, for anti-piracy purposes, a secret key can be added to the hash value calculation process such that the hash function has favorable security properties. Some test results obtained using this method are included and they demonstrate that the new algorithm can achieve desirable results for identifying image content.
Vibrational rate enhancement in the X(=Cl, Br) + H2 HX + H reactions

Abstract The effect of a microwave discharge on the rae of production of HBr in the H2/Br2 system was found to be similar to that observed for the H2/Cl2 system. The interpretation of a large vibrational enhancement on the X(=Cl, Br) + H2 reactions is in agreement with trajectory calculations for these reactions. The criteria of endothermicity and of activation energy as a measure of the role of internal excitation are examined and shown to be useful under different reaction conditions.
The thermal stability of the fibrous copper-chromium eutectic

The elevated temperature stability of the fibrous copper-chromium eutectic was studied and found to depend strongly upon the extent of structural defects in the as-grown eutectic. Both highly branched and nearly “ideal,” or regular, fibrous structures were obtained by controlling the crystal growing conditions. The branched structure coarsens at a much faster rate than the regular structure. In the regular structure, the initial stage of coarsening is described by a simple two-dimensional Ostwald ripening mechanism modified to take into account the effects of fiber geometry and volume fraction. The coarsening rate is limited by volume diffusion of the chromium solute in the copper matrix. The activation energy for coarsening is approximately 298 kJ/mol. After long time annealing, the chromium-rich fibers begin to pinch off and three dimensional coarsening is initiated which leads to a rapid increase in the coarsening rate. Application of theoretical analyses to the observed coarsening rate yields the productDΣ as 1.3 × 10−13 J/s at 1000°C, whereD is the diffusivity of Cr in solid Cu and Σ the Cu-Cr interfacial energy. Using reported values ofD, Σ is bracketed between 0.27 and 2.5 J/m2. The latter is quite high for a solid-solid interfacial energy, but is consistent with the rapid coarsening observed in this system.
Chronic Ethanol Exposure Potentiates Lipopolysaccharide Liver Injury Despite Inhibiting Jun N-terminal Kinase and Caspase 3 Activation

Although ethanol is known to sensitize hepatocytes to tumor necrosis factor (TNF) lethality, the mechanisms involved remain controversial. Recently, others have shown that adding TNFα to cultures of ethanol-pretreated hepatocytes provokes the mitochondrial permeability transition, cytochrome crelease, procaspase 3 activation, and apoptosis. Although this demonstrates that ethanol can sensitize hepatocytes to TNF-mediated apoptosis, the hepatic inflammation and ballooning hepatocyte degeneration that typify alcohol-induced liver injury suggest that other mechanisms might predominate in vivo. To evaluate this possibility, acute responses to lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a potent inducer of TNFα, were compared in mice that had been fed either an ethanol-containing or control diet for 5 weeks. Despite enhanced induction of cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-10, IL-15, and IL-6 that protect hepatocytes from apoptosis, ethanol-fed mice exhibited a 4–5-fold increase in serum alanine aminotransferase after LPS, confirming increased liver injury. Six h post-LPS histology also differed notably in the two groups, with control livers demonstrating only scattered apoptotic hepatocytes, whereas ethanol-exposed livers had large foci of ballooned hepatocytes, inflammation, and scattered hemorrhage. No caspase 3 activity was noted during the initial 6 h after LPS in ethanol-fed mice, but this tripled by 1.5 h after LPS in controls. Procaspase 8 cleavage and activity of the apoptosis-associated kinase, Jun N-terminal kinase, were also greater in controls. In contrast, ethanol exposure did not inhibit activation of cytoprotective mitogen-activated protein kinases and AKT or attenuate induction of the anti-apoptotic factors NF-κB and inducible nitric oxide synthase. Consistent with these responses, neither cytochrome c release, an early apoptotic response, nor hepatic oligonucleosomal DNA fragmentation, the ultimate consequence of apoptosis, was increased by ethanol. Thus, ethanol exacerbates TNF-related hepatotoxicity in vivo without enhancing caspase 3-dependent apoptosis.
Phytotoxicity of chlorinated benzenes to Typha angustifolia and Phragmites communis.

Healthy growth of plants is a prerequisite for successful application of phytoremediation technologies. Typha angustifolia and Phragmites communis are common wetland plants and have shown potential for phytoremediation of hexachlorobenzene (HCB). However, the lack of phytotoxicity data impedes their application in field sites. This study investigated the phytotoxicity of HCB, and its two metabolites: 1,3,5-trichlorobenzene (1,3,5-TCB) and 1,4-dichlorobenzene (1,4-DCB) to Typha and the phytotoxicity of 1,3,5-TCB to Phragmites. The phytotoxicity of 1,3,5-TCB is species-dependent, with Typha demonstrating significantly higher tolerance than Phragmites. The concentration of 1,3,5-TCB causing zero growth of Phragmites was determined to be 1575 mg TCB/kg dry sediment. The concentration has to be doubled to completely inhibit the growth of Typha. Adverse effects of chlorinated benzenes in sediments on Typha increased with decreasing chlorine atoms. The concentrations causing zero growth of Typha are 5765 mg HCB/kg dry soil, 3157 mg 1,3,5-TCB/kg dry soil, and 1325 mg 1,4-DCB/kg dry soil. The higher toxicity of 1,4-DCB than 1,3,5-TCB and HCB in sediment was ascribed to its higher availability and easiness to be taken up by plants. The conclusion was supported by both growth rate calculations and plant height measurements. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol, 2009.
The development of ordinal numerical knowledge in infancy

A critical question in cognitive science concerns how numerical knowledge develops. One essential component of an adult concept of number is ordinality: the greater than and less than relationships between numbers. Here it is shown in two experiments that 11-month-old infants successfully discriminated, whereas 9-month-old infants failed to discriminate, sequences of numerosities that descended in numerical value from sequences that increased in numerical value. These results suggest that by 11 months of age infants possess the ability to appreciate the greater than and less than relations between numerical values but that this ability develops between 9 and 11 months of age. In an additional experiment 9-month-old infants succeeded at discriminating the ordinal direction of sequences that varied in the size of a single square rather than in number, suggesting that a capacity for non-numerical ordinal judgments may develop before a capacity for ordinal numerical judgments. These data raise many questions about how infants represent number and what happens between 9 and 11 months to support ordinal numerical judgments.
Loss of neurofibromatosis 1 (NF1) gene expression in NF1‐associated pilocytic astrocytomas

The critical role of the neurofibromatosis 1 (NF1) gene as a tumour suppressor has been clearly demonstrated for malignancies arising in NF1 patients. However, little is known about the more common benign tumours, such as the pilocytic astrocytoma. Most NF1-associated astrocytomas are benign and clinically non-progressive, though aggressive tumours are occasionally encountered. In this study, eight pilocytic astrocytomas from six individuals affected with NF1 were analysed for NF1 expression. All eight tumours demonstrated loss of neurofibromin expression by immunohistochemistry, which was confirmed in one case using Western blot analysis. Microsatellite analysis showed loss of a single NF1 allele (LOH) in two of four NF1-associated tumours. These results demonstrate that, in contrast to sporadic astrocytomas, loss of NF1 expression is an important primary genetic event in the pathogenesis of NF1-associated pilocytic astrocytomas.
Structure of the Ochratoxin A Binding Site within Human Serum Albumin

The binding site of ochratoxin A (OTA) within domain 2A of human serum albumin (HSA) is examined by theoretical simulations and site-directed mutagenesis experiments. The calculated binding constant, based on docking experiments and theoretical affinity constants derived from the empirical free energy of binding as implemented in AutoDock 3.0, for the OTA dianion (3.7 × 106 M-1) is in good agreement with experimental value of 5.2 × 106 M-1. The carboxy terminus of OTA associates with R218 and R222 of the protein. Binding is reduced by over an order of magnitude for the mutant R218A in both experiments and theoretical simulations. The carbonyl of the lactone and the phenolic group of OTA are in close proximity to R257. The experimental binding constant of OTA to the R257A mutant is 1.6 × 105 M-1, over an order of magnitude smaller than for the wild-type protein. The predicted binding constant based on a comparison of the lowest-energy conformer from docking studies performed in AutoDock 3.0 of OTA to the R...
Decision monotonicity in incremental design: A case study of design for manufacture

Design has often been described as searching the space of solutions to a given problem for either a feasible or optimal solution. Usually, this search is conducted in an incremental, iterative manner. Unfortunately, there is a tendency for the feasible space in some domains to exhibit such poor structure that the incremental design process becomes both difficult and time consuming. This is especially true in the domain of design-for-manufacture by machining. In this paper we present the view that in such cases the sources of ill-structure must be aggressively eliminated by making strategic improvements and modifications to the target technology. To illustrate this point, we show that the domain of design-for-manufacture is ill-structured due to a class of interactions known as global interactions. We then show how global interactions can be virtually eliminated by a combination of a new workholding technology and a new interfacing technique. In the absence of global interactions, we show how the design structure exhibits a property of monotonicity. We describe the ramifications of this monotonicity on the design process, and show how design can then be considered to be deterministic. As a backdrop, we draw examples from other fields where similar strategies have resulted in greater ‘designability’.
Collisional Dephasing and the Reduction of Laser Phase-Noise to Amplitude-Noise Conversion in a Resonant Atomic Vapor

When resonant laser light passes through a vapor, the laser's intrinsic phase fluctuations induce random variations in the atomic coherence, which in turn give rise to fluctuations in the medium's absorption cross section. Hence, laser phase modulation noise (PM) is converted to transmitted laser intensity (i.e., amplitude) modulation noise (AM). Here, we consider the influence of collisional dephasing on the PM-to-AM conversion process. Specifically, we measure the relative intensity noise of a diode laser beam, resonant with the Rb ${D}_{1}$ transition at 794.7 nm, after it has passed through a ${\mathrm{Rb}}^{87}/{\mathrm{N}}_{2}$ vapor as a function of nitrogen number density. Our results demonstrate that when collisional dephasing is very rapid, the spectral density of cross-section fluctuations is reduced, so that there is a significant decrease in the efficiency of PM-to-AM conversion at low Fourier frequencies. These results imply that, in general, when laser PM-to-AM conversion is the dominant noise process, pressure broadening can actually increase spectroscopic sensitivity.
Neutron scattering studies of pretransitional phenomena in structural phase transformations

Materials exhibiting structural phase transformations are well known to possess pretransitional phenomena. Below the transition temperature, Tc, an order parameter appears and the pretransitional effects are associated with the fluctuations of the order parameter. Neutron scattering techniques have proved invaluable in studying the temporal and spatial dependence of these fluctuations. SrTiO3 is the prototypical example of a structural phase transformation exhibiting features observable in other transformations such as martensitic and order-disorder. The experimental evolution of the understanding of the phase transformation in SrTiO3 will be reviewed and the features observed will be shown to typify other systems.
Phylogenetic Analysis of the Alfalfa Weevil Complex (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in North America

The Eastern, Western, and Egyptian strains of alfalfa weevil are pests introduced to North America on three separate occasions, now they share partially overlapping geographic ranges, covering most of the continental United States. Behavior, susceptibility to parasites, and subtle morphological differences separate the strains. The difficulty in differentiating among these strains morphologically has led to the application of molecular phylogeny approaches including restriction fragment-length polymorphism characterization and sequencing of mitochondrial genes. While valuable for strain identification, this approach cannot identify interstrain hybrids because mitochondrial markers are maternally inherited. The work reported here extends previous findings by comparing over 7 Kb of sequence from two mitochondrial and four nuclear loci to increase the resolution of molecular phylogeny for these weevils. The related clover leaf weevil, also an occasional pest of alfalfa, was included in the analysis because the molecular phylogeny of this weevil has not been examined to date. Analysis of nuclear loci indicate that the clover weevil is a distinct species. Furthermore, while the three alfalfa weevil strains are separable based on mitochondrial sequence data they cannot be separated using nuclear loci suggesting that they are all recently diverged members of the same species. These data refine the relationships among these strains and may find application in design of better control strategies.
Increasing the accuracy of the Golding plastic bead test for determining solids-not-fat in normal milk.

Abstract Substituting the Golding plastic bead density of skimmilk for that of whole milk reduced the error of estimation from regression (SD) for the solids-not-fat in milk. However, the greatest reduction was when per cent protein in skimmilk, beads sinking in skimmilk, and per cent fat in the whole milk were used in the regression equation. Protein in skimmilk in the regression equation did not reduce the standard deviation as much in comparison with per cent protein in whole milk as comparing equations with beads sinking in skimmilk with beads sinking in whole milk. The standard deviation of all equations ranged from 0.096 to 0.139. For speed and accuracy the best method for large numbers of analyses should be based on regression coefficients for per cent fat and protein in whole milk. The choice of the regression equation, among those tested, would depend upon the laboratory and its sophistication.
Virtual reality exposure in the treatment of social anxiety

Virtual reality as a medium for exposure therapy in the treatment of social anxiety was utilized in a private-practice setting for two different courses of individual treatment: weekly psychotherapy and a 3-day intensive course of therapy. Participants met diagnostic criteria for social phobia with prominent public speaking fears, and completed self-report questionnaires at pretreatment and posttreatment. During exposure therapy, participants were presented with a virtual audience, consisting of video of actual people embedded within a virtual classroom environment. Results indicated that treatment was successful as measured by completion of a behavioral avoidance test at the end of treatment, decreases in self-reported measures of public speaking anxiety comparable to controlled clinical outcome trials for social phobia, and qualitative feedback. Follow-up data, obtained from 1 participant, showed continued improvement after therapy was completed. These preliminary findings suggest that virtual reality may be a useful tool for exposure therapy within a comprehensive treatment of social anxiety.
Formation of Complex Extrachromosomal T-DNA Structures in Agrobacterium tumefaciens-Infected Plants

Agrobacterium tumefaciens is a unique plant pathogenic bacterium renowned for its ability to transform plants. The integration of transferred DNA (T-DNA) and the formation of complex insertions in the genome of transgenic plants during A. tumefaciens-mediated transformation are still poorly understood. Here, we show that complex extrachromosomal T-DNA structures form in A. tumefaciens-infected plants immediately after infection. Furthermore, these extrachromosomal complex DNA molecules can circularize in planta. We recovered circular T-DNA molecules (T-circles) using a novel plasmid-rescue method. Sequencing analysis of the T-circles revealed patterns similar to the insertion patterns commonly found in transgenic plants. The patterns include illegitimate DNA end joining, T-DNA truncations, T-DNA repeats, binary vector sequences, and other unknown “filler” sequences. Our data suggest that prior to T-DNA integration, a transferred single-stranded T-DNA is converted into a double-stranded form. We propose that termini of linear double-stranded T-DNAs are recognized and repaired by the plant’s DNA double-strand break-repair machinery. This can lead to circularization, integration, or the formation of extrachromosomal complex T-DNA structures that subsequently may integrate.
Cross‐Linkers for Improved High Temperature Performance of ROMP Adhesives

Ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) has been shown to be an effective methodology to make adhesive bonds between various substrates. Excellent adhesion has been demonstrated on a variety of substrates including post-vulcanized elastomers, polyolefins, and metals. Strong adhesion results when one substrate surface is coated with the metathesis catalyst and the other substrate surface is coated with a ROMPable monomer. Concerns over using ROMP-based adhesion in dynamic applications where the bond-line could experience higher-than-ambient temperatures prompted this investigation. In this report, a variety of bis-norbornadiene cross-linkers were used to bond tire carcass, tire tread, post-vulcanized EPDM, and grit-blasted steel in a variety of self- and cross-bonded configurations. The resulting bonded assemblies were then evaluated using a 180° peel test in a temperature range from −40 °C to 66 °C at various cross-linker concentrations. Significant improvements in bond strength were observed at elevated temperature with little detrimental affect on low temperature strengths even at high cross-linker concentration. Self-bonding of polyolefins assemblies was also investigated. Addition of a peroxide radical initiator to the initial ROMP formulation and cross-linking the bonded assembly in a post-cure reaction was also found to lead to improved high temperature bond strength. Synthetic details for the preparation of several cross-linkers are reported.
Fracture of the neck of the femur in childhood.

Summary Fractures of the femoral neck in children are rare. They are commonly associated with severe complications, especially avascular necrosis of the femoral head, non-union, coxa vara and premature closure of the upper femoral epiphysis. A review of current literature and a detailed analysis of cases seen in this hospital are given. Our experience indicates that early operation using internal fixation offers the best results.
Can risk factor screening predict hepatitis C antibody reactivity

The object of this study was to investigate the prevalence of Hepatitis C virus (HCV) by second-generation testing and to determine the effectiveness of risk factor-guided screening. We performed a prospective study of HCV exposure determined by second-generation enzyme-linked immunoadsorbent assay (ELISA) and confirmed by radioimmunoblot assay (RIBA). Risk factors (RF) were interpreted by univariate and multivariate analyses. Eight hundred eighty-six consecutive patients were tested for HCV over a 1-year period; 34 women tested positive for HCV and 32 were confirmed by RIBA (prevalence 3.6%). Forty-nine percent of women had at least one RF. Age, intravenous drug use, history of hepatitis strongly correlated with HCV (p <0.001). RF screening had a sensitivity of 81%. Twenty-one percent of women with HCV had no RF. The absence of any RF had a negative predictive value of 98.7%. RF screening is effective in identifying patients at low risk for HCV.
The small GTPase Rheb is required for spermatogenesis but not oogenesis

The process of germ cell development is under the tight control of various signaling pathways, among which the PI3K-Akt-mTOR pathway is of critical importance. Previous studies have demonstrated sex-specific roles for several components of this pathway. In the current study, we aimed to evaluate the role of Rheb, a member of the small GTPase superfamily and a critical component for mTORC1 activation, in male and female gametogenesis. The function of Rheb in development and the nervous system has been extensively studied, but little is known about its role in the germ line. We have exploited genetic approaches in the mouse to study the role of Rheb in the germ line and have identified an essential role in spermatogenesis. Conditional knockout (cKO) of Rheb in the male germ line resulted in severe oligoasthenoteratozoospermia and male sterility. More detailed phenotypic analyses uncovered an age-dependent meiotic progression defect combined with subsequent abnormalities in spermiogenesis as evidenced by abnormal sperm morphology. In the female, however, germ-cell specific inactivation of Rheb was not associated with any discernible abnormality; these cKO mice were fertile with morphologically unremarkable ovaries, normal primordial follicle formation, and subsequent follicle maturation. The absence of an abnormal ovarian phenotype is striking given previous studies demonstrating a critical role for the mTORC1 pathway in the maintenance of primordial follicle pool. In conclusion, our findings demonstrate an essential role of Rheb in diverse aspects of spermatogenesis but suggest the existence of functionally redundant factors that can compensate for Rheb deficiency within oocytes.
Assessing cross-national business relationships: How Mexican distributors rate U.S. manufacturers

Abstract This article presents a method for manufacturers to assess how their support efforts are received by distributors. The process is illustrated with the results of a survey of Mexican distributors who assessed their relationships with U.S. manufacturers. Using distributor importance ratings of manufacturer support and ratings of manufacturer performance on these elements, a performance “gap” measure is created. The usefulness of the performance gap in developing manufacturer support programs is evaluated by examining the gap's relationship to open communication, conflict, and distributor commitment. Because a performance gap increases conflict and decreases open communication within the relationship, the process should benefit manufacturers by helping them identify specific support activities that are important to distributors and need improvement.
Genetics: Susceptibility loci in a molecular subtype of prostate cancer

Genetic linkage has recently been reported between several genomic loci and a subtype of prostate cancer that contains a fusion between the genes TMPRSS2 and ERG. These data suggest an analytical approach that might improve future studies of the genetic cause of prostate and other cancers.
Critical Behavior in the Electroweak Phase Transition

We examine the behavior of the standard-model electroweak phase transition in the early Universe. We argue that close to the critical temperature it is possible to estimate the effective infrared corrections to the one-loop potential using well-known \ensuremath{\varepsilon}-expansion results from the theory of critical phenomena in three spatial dimensions. The theory with the \ensuremath{\varepsilon}-corrected potential exhibits much larger fluctuations in the spatial correlations of the order parameter, considerably weakening the strength of the transition.
Relationship of skeletal age to limb composition during pubescence.

The relationships between skeletal age (SA) and limb composition (arms, legs, and all four limbs) in terms of fat mass (FM), fat-free mass (FFM), muscle mass (MM) and bone mineral content (BMC) were investigated in 55 males and 53 females aged 9-15 years. The Fels method was used to assess hand-wrist SAs which were expressed as SA/chronological age (SA/CA). The limb composition data were obtained from a Lunar dual-energy x-ray absorptiometer using 3.6z software. The means for the limb composition variables increased gradually with age except in males for whom FM decreased from 12 to 13 years, and FFM and MM increased markedly from 13 to 14 years. There were similar findings when the limb composition data were expressed as percentages of body weight. All of the regressions of SA/CA on limb composition variables had positive slopes. Each of the slopes was significant for males, but nonsignificant for females. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
The Dynamics of State Fiscal Behavior Over the Business Cycle: Are State Fiscal Policies Procyclical?

The purpose of this study is to examine how cyclical fluctuations in tax revenue affect state fiscal policies, using a state panel data set. In particular, the study develops a measure of revenue g...
Design and implementation of the highly-reliable, low-cost housekeeping system in the ZDPS-1A pico-satellite

The ZDPS-1A pico-satellite designed in Zhejiang University with a mass of 3.5 kg and a power consumption of less than 3.5 W is the smallest satellite in China up to now. The housekeeping system (HKS) is the core part of ZDPS-1A. The reliability of HKS has an important influence on the safety of the satellite. Traditional fault-tolerant methods do not apply to ZDPS-1A due to such pico-satellite characteristics as light weight, compactness in size, energy saving, and high integration. This paper deals with a highly-reliable, low-cost design for HKS using industrial devices. The reliable strategies of HKS include a dual modular redundancy scheme, CPU warm backup, a static triple modular redundancy scheme, and two-level watchdogs. Recursive experiments, special tests, and environmental tests show that this system meets the design target. This design has already been applied to ZDPS-1A, which was launched to execute in-orbit tasks on Sept. 22, 2010. To date, the satellite has been in a proper state for more than 15 months.
Tools for assessing the frail elderly. Geriatric evaluation focuses on improving quality of life.

PREVIEWPrimary care physicians are seeing more frail elderly patients, who often have complicated health problems. The authors offer their approach to practical assessment of patient function and independence that can enhance medical management and improve quality of life for the elderly.
Physical stabilization of the 4-node shell element with one point quadrature

Abstract A new four-node shell element for nonlinear analysis which is useful for explicit time integration with single point quadrature is presented. An assumed strain method is used to stabilize the zero-energy modes of the element. The stabilization procedure is based on the Hu-Washizu variational principle and does not require the input of any stabilization parameters. Example problems show good accuracy and rate of convergence compared with fully integrated 4-node elements, however the physically stabilized element is substantially faster than the fully integrated element.
Magnetic anisotropy due to spin-orbit and dipole-dipole interactions in spin-density-wave antiferromagnets

The first effort to construct a theory of uniaxial magnetic anisotropy for an incommensurate spin-density-wave antiferromagnet like chromium is presented. The theory incorporates the spin-orbit and magnetic dipole-dipole interactions into a model for the magnetic ground state, using an idealized model band structure. The magnitude of the result is easily large enough to account for the uniaxial anisotropy of chromium. However, the temperature dependence of the anisotropy from both mechanisms is that of the antiferromagnetic gap squared. Therefore, a zero crossing of the anisotropy, as required to explain the spin-flip transition in chromium, does not occur. This indicates that for chromium the detailed band structure must be taken into account, or an additional mechanism is operative.
Binding Free Energy and Extraction Selectivity Calculations of Anisole and Phenanthroline Spherands

We report free energy perturbation (FEP) molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of the relative binding free energies of three spherands and alkali metal ions (Li+, Na+, K+). The calculated free energies all favor Na+ binding and are in reasonable agreement with experiment for two of the hosts but not the third. The third host, a mixed anisole−phenanthroline−spherand, was calculated to be significantly selective for binding Na+ over K+ and Li+, whereas experiments suggest little or no selectivity between K+, Na+, and Li+. Our attempts to improve the calculations by using different charge fitting schemes and by simulating the experimental conditions (addition of picrate- anion, simulations in chloroform) did not resolve the discrepancy. The fact that our simulations work in two cases but not the third (the third spherand contains subunits present in the two other spherands) suggests that there may be significant differences in the nature of the host−guest complexes in the third case.
Further comments on "Application of 0-1 integer programming to multitarget tracking problems"

The 0-1 integer programming formulation of the multitarget tracking problem reported in [1] is claimed in [2] to be inappropriate without additional assumptions. This disparity is resolved, showing that the formulation in [1] is correct as it stands.
The Contribution of Amino Acid Region Asp695-Tyr698 of Factor V to Procofactor Activation and Factor Va Function

There is strong evidence that a functionally important cluster of amino acids is located on the COOH-terminal portion of the heavy chain of factor Va, between amino acid residues 680 and 709. To ascertain the importance of this region for cofactor activity, we have synthesized five overlapping peptides representing this amino acid stretch (10 amino acids each, HC1-HC5) and tested them for inhibition of prothrombinase assembly and function. Two peptides, HC3 (spanning amino acid region 690-699) and HC4 (containing amino acid residues 695-704), were found to be potent inhibitors of prothrombinase activity with IC(50) values of approximately 12 and approximately 10 microm, respectively. The two peptides were unable to interfere with the binding of factor Va to active site fluorescently labeled Glu-Gly-Arg human factor Xa, and kinetic analyses showed that HC3 and HC4 are competitive inhibitors of prothrombinase with respect to prothrombin with K(i) values of approximately 6.3 and approximately 5.3 microm, respectively. These data suggest that the peptides inhibit prothrombinase because they interfere with the incorporation of prothrombin into prothrombinase. The shared amino acid motif between HC3 and HC4 is composed of Asp(695)-Tyr-Asp-Tyr-Gln(699) (DYDYQ). A pentapeptide with this sequence inhibited both prothrombinase function with an IC(50) of 1.6 microm (with a K(D) for prothrombin of 850 nm), and activation of factor V by thrombin. Peptides HC3, HC4, and DYDYQ were also found to interact with immobilized thrombin. A recombinant factor V molecule with the mutations Asp(695) --> Lys, Tyr(696) --> Phe, Asp(697) --> Lys, and Tyr(698) --> Phe (factor V(2K2F)) was partially resistant to activation by thrombin but could be readily activated by RVV-V activator (factor Va(RVV)(2K2F)) and factor Xa (factor Va(Xa)(2K2F)). Factor Va(RVV)(2K2F) and factor Va(Xa)(2K2F) had impaired cofactor activity within prothrombinase in a system using purified reagents. Our data demonstrate for the first time that amino acid sequence 695-698 of factor Va heavy chain is important for procofactor activation and is required for optimum prothrombinase function. These data provide functional evidence for an essential and productive contribution of factor Va to the activity of prothrombinase.
Arthroscopic management of traumatic peripheral triangular fibrocartilage complex tears

A T p t l w b HE PATIENT 34-year-old, right-handed man sustained a twisting njury to his right wrist at work while using a power rill. He had immediate, sharp, ulnar-sided wrist pain nd was evaluated in the emergency department. Raiographs were normal, and he was diagnosed with a rist sprain. He was treated with full-time splinting and ral nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication for 3 eeks. He presents to the hand surgeon with continued lnar-sided discomfort. He denies mechanical sympoms such as popping or catching and has no sensation f instability. He is tender to palpation at the fovea and djacent to the extensor carpi ulnaris (ECU) tendon, but CU provocative signs cause no increase in pain and no adiation of symptoms. Ulnar deviation in extension is ncomfortable. There is no laxity with shuck testing of he distal radioulnar joint (DRUJ) when compared to he uninjured side. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) emonstrates a signal abnormality, consistent with a iscontinuity of the triangular fibrocartilage complex TFCC), adjacent to the ECU subsheath. The patient nd surgeon elect surgical treatment to repair the TFCC.
New sensitive approaches to radioisotope dating

Abstract In order to increase the sensitivity of radioisotope dating, cyclotrons and Van de Graaf accelerators have been employed recently. In this paper we propose new methods of dating based on laser techniques. Retaining the sensitivity of accelerator dating these methods can eliminate the use of accelerators, thus cutting the price of a dating set-up at least a factor of ten. Applications are pointed out.
The Gene for the Retinal Pigment Epithelium-Specific Protein RPE65 Is Localized to Human 1p31 and Mouse 3

The human and murine chromosomal localization for the gene for the retinal pigment epithelium-specific protein RPE65 was determined. Using interspecific backcross analysis, we mapped Rpe65 to the distal end of mouse chromosome 3. In the human, using a human-hamster hybrid panel, RPE65 was mapped to chromosome 1. By the use of fluorescence in situ hybridization, this localization was refined to 1p31. The mouse and human loci for this potential candidate gene for hereditary retinal disease do not match those of any known disease in mouse or man.