cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Molecular logic of 11-cis-retinoid biosynthesis in a cone-dominated species.

The biochemical pathway to visual chromophore biosynthesis in rod-dominated animals involves minimally a two component system in which all-trans-retinyl esters, generated by the action of lecithin retinol acyltransferase (LRAT) on vitamin A, are processed into 11-cis-retinol by isomerohydrolase. Possible differences in retinoid metabolism in cone-dominated animals have been noted in the literature, so it was of interest to explore whether these differences are tangential or fundamental. Central to this issue is whether cone-dominated animals use an isomerohydrolase (IMH)-based mechanism in the predominant pathway to 11-cis-retinoids. Here, it is shown that all-trans-retinyl esters (tREs) are the direct precursors of 11-cis-retinol formation in chicken retinyl pigment epithelium/retina preparations. This conclusion is based on at least three avenues of evidence. First, reagents that block tRE synthesis from vitamin A also block 11-cis-retinol synthesis. Second, pulse-chase experiments also establish that tREs are the precursors to 11-cis-retinol. Finally, 11 cis-retinyl-bromoacetate, a known affinity-labeling agent of isomerohydrolase, also blocks chromophore biosynthesis in the cone system.
Rheological and magnetic properties of a metal particle dispersion exposed to magnetic fields

We present a series of experiments in which a DC magnetic field is applied to a magnetic dispersion of acicular ferromagnetic iron particles. For DC fields above the lower limit of the switching field distribution, the magnetic susceptibility and the storage modulus of the sample increase linearly. We believe that this increase is caused by the break-up of doublets and other aggregates that are normally present in a magnetic dispersion. The break-up increases the number of free particles in the dispersion, which in turn increases the magnetic interactions and elasticity of the dispersion.
Sex Differences in Perceived Weight-Based Employment Discrimination When Weight Discrimination is Illegal

The reported study explores sex differences in both overt and subtle forms of perceived weight discrimination in employment using original data from a telephone survey of 1,010 randomly selected residents of Michigan, the only U.S. state with a law prohibiting weight discrimination. Sex differences in the experience of overt forms of weight discrimination (e.g., refusing to hire a person) that have been consistently found in other work and non-work settings were not found in this unique legal context. However, overweight women reported experiencing subtle forms of weight discrimination (e.g., verbal harassment, exclusion from social activities) to a significantly greater extent than men. Implications for employers’ discharge of their responsibilities and for policy makers’ consideration of greater legal protection against weight discrimination are discussed.
Light scattering studies of tetramethyl ammonium gellan.

Abstract Tetramethyl ammonium (TMA) gellan does not gel. Light scattering studies suggest that in solutions of TMA gellan, in tetramethyl ammonium chloride (TMACI), the gellan molecules assemble end to end to produce elongated fibrous structures. Such fibrils are envisaged as resulting from double-helix formation between the ends of neighbouring gellan molecules. Fibrils with molecular weights ranging from (1.06 ± 0.06) × 10 5 to (4.5 ± 0.1) × 10 6 have been observed. The molecular weights obtained depended upon the pore size of the filters used to clarify the solutions. The formation of strong gels, in the presence of gel promoting cations, is attributed to a localized ordered lateral association, or crystallization of regions of these fibrils. It is suggested that such a model for gelation may be of general applicability to a number of polysaccharide systems.
Comparison of ozone determinations by ultraviolet photometry and gas-phase titration

A comparison of ozone determinations based on ultraviolet absorption photometry and gas-phase titration (GPT) shows good agreement between the two methods. Together with other results, these findings indicate that three candidate reference methods for ozone, UV photometry, IR photometry, and GPT are in substantial agreement. However, the GPT method is not recommended for routine use by air pollution agencies for calibration of ozone monitors because of susceptibility to experimental error.
Interval Trees for Detection of Overlapping Genetic Entities

A variety of systems exist in which annotations are available at various levels of granularity to a reference coordinate system, such as roads and landmarks on a map, features within a 2-dimensional or 3-dimensional image, or genetic entities (GEs) mapped to a reference genome. As the number of annotations grows, methods to efficiently locate overlapping entities within a specific interval of interest are needed. In this paper, the efficiency of using interval trees for storing, maintaining, and querying large numbers of intervals with special attention to genetic entities is demonstrated. The results suggest a significant speed -- up when compared to relational database approaches. As such, interval trees serve as a suitable alternative for storing and searching annotations to a reference coordinate system.
Modified J nephrostomy catheter for intravesical pressure measurement in urodynamics

The influence of a transurethrally inserted 8.3-F modified J-nephrostomy catheter on urinary flow rate was investigated by both spontaneous uroflowmetry and pressure flow study in patients with almost identical bladder volumes. No statistically significant differences were found between maximum and mean flow rates obtained by spontaneous uroflowmetry and pressure flow study, respectively. Consequently, transurethral catheter placement is recommended in routine urodynamics.
HCMM detection of high soil moisture areas

It is noted that one objective of NASA's Heat Capacity Mapping Mission (HCMM) is to evaluate the feasibility of using HCMM data to assess soil moisture effects by observing temperatures near the maximum and minimum of the diurnal temperature cycle. The satellite, which carries a two-channel radiometer (0.5-1.1 and 10.5-12.5 microns) gathers data at 1:30 P.M. and 2:30 A.M. local time at midlatitudes, with a repeat cycle of 5 or 16 days depending on latitude. The spatial resolutions are 0.5 x 0.5 km at nadir for the visible channel and 0.6 x 0.6 km at nadir for the thermal infrared channel. An example is presented here of HCMM detection of a region of high soil moisture.
Mergers and Exclusionary Practices in Health Care Markets

We evaluate the relationship between insurers (payers) and providers of health care (hospitals) when they each have a nonnegligible share of the market. We focus in particular on their incentives to merge and the existence of equilibria where payers offer preferential treatment to a subset of hospitals. We demonstrate that hospitals are more likely to merge without consolidating their capacities the less competitive they are vis-a-vis the payer's market. Payers are more likely to merge without consolidating their capacities the less competitive either the hospitals' or the payers' market is. A given payer follows an exclusionary strategy when its starting bargaining position vis-a-vis hospitals is weak. At such exclusionary equilibria, payers tend to distinguish themselves from neighboring payers by contracting with a different subset of hospitals.
Assessment of acutely unsuccessful attempts at detachable coiling in intracranial aneurysms.

OBJECTIVE: Guglielmi detachable coiling (GDC) has quickly become the most common endovascular method for the treatment of intracranial aneurysms. Although several published case series describe various authors' successful experiences or complications, few have elaborated on failed attempts. We examined our experience with GDC, and we analyzed all failed attempts at coiling. METHODS: Patients who underwent endovascular procedures from September 1995 through July 1999 were identified using endovascular case logs and billing records. Patient charts were then reviewed retrospectively for failed attempts at GDC. A treatment failure was defined as an inability to place coils into an aneurysm, a GDC procedure-related complication resulting in death, or an acute rehemorrhage from a coiled aneurysm that indicated a failure of coils to prevent rerupture. Thromboembolic events and other nonfatal sources of morbidity that did not preclude coiling of the aneurysm were analyzed only to the extent that they prevented successful coiling of the aneurysm. RESULTS: From September 1995 to June 1999, 241 patients underwent GDC embolizations or attempts. In these patients, 35 procedures were unsuccessful, including 7 deaths from intraoperative or postoperative aneurysmal rerupture. Sixteen aneurysms could not be microcatheterized, nine of which were anterior communicating artery aneurysms. Coils from 13 wide-necked aneurysms (average fundus-to-neck ratio, <2) prolapsed into the parent vessel. Three procedures were abandoned when the aneurysms were found to have normal branches filling from the dome, and three additional procedures were abandoned for technical reasons. Five deaths resulted from intraoperative aneurysm rupture, and two patients died postoperatively from rerupture. CONCLUSION: The number of successful coiling procedures has increased with experience and improved technology. The procedure still involves risks, however, primarily for patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage.
An Ab initio study of substituent effects on 12-shifts in radicals

Abstract Ab initio calculations are presented which show that an electron withdrawing group (protonated formyl) facilitates 1,2-hydrogen shifts to a radical site while an ethynyl substituent promotes dissociation rather than rearrangement. The protonated formyl substituent causes this by rendering the HOMO of the transition state (TS) to be more diffuse and hence less antibonding. The sum of the Mulliken charges on the atoms in the 3- membered ring in the C 3 H 6 O + . TS is shown to be intermediate between that sum for the TS for a 1,2-hydrogen-shift in the ethyl radical and that for the stable hydrogen-bridged ethyl cation, suggesting that electron withdrawal does facilitate 1,2-H-shifts at radical centers.
Overcoming inhibitors in a hemicellulosic hydrolysate: improving fermentability by feedstock detoxification and adaptation of Pichia stipitis

In order to improve the fermentative efficiency of sugar maple hemicellulosic hydrolysates for fuel ethanol production, various methods to mitigate the effects of inhibitory compounds were employed. These methods included detoxification treatments utilizing activated charcoal, anion exchange resin, overliming, and ethyl acetate extraction. Results demonstrated the greatest fermentative improvement of 50% wood hydrolysate (v/v) by Pichia stipitis with activated charcoal treatment. Another method employed to reduce inhibition was an adaptation procedure to produce P. stipitis stains more tolerant of inhibitory compounds. This adaptation resulted in yeast variants capable of improved fermentation of 75% untreated wood hydrolysate (v/v), one of which produced 9.8 g/l ± 0.6 ethanol, whereas the parent strain produced 0.0 g/l ± 0.0 within the first 24 h. Adapted strains RS01, RS02, and RS03 were analyzed for glucose and xylose utilization and results demonstrated increased glucose and decreased xylose utilization rates in comparison to the wild type. These changes in carbohydrate utilization may be indicative of detoxification or tolerance activities related to proteins involved in glucose and xylose metabolism.
Role of interleukin-6 in regulating synthesis of C-reactive protein and serum amyloid A in human hepatoma cell lines.

Previous studies have demonstrated that synthesis of the two major human acute phase proteins, C-reactive protein (CRP) and serum amyloid A (SAA), by human hepatoma cell lines was not affected by preparations of interleukin-1 (IL-1) or tumor necrosis factor α but was increased after exposure to conditioned medium from lipopolysaccharide-activated monocytes. We report that neutralizing antibodies raised against E. coli-derived recombinant human interleukin-6 (IL-6) were capable of inhibiting induction of CRP and SAA by monocyte conditioned medium in both NPLC/PRF/5 and Hep 3B cell lines. Partially purified IL-6 from lipopolysaccharide-stimulated human fibroblasts and recombinant derived IL-6 induced both CRP and SAA synthesis in a concentration dependent manner in the NPLC/PRF/5 cell line. In contrast, in Hep 3B cells, IL-6 alone had no discernable effect on the induction of either CRP or SAA, but was capable of causing increased synthesis of α 1 -protease inhibitor and fibrinogen and reduced synthesis of albumin. The addition of IL-1 to IL-6 led to induction of both CRP and SAA in Hep 3B cells, but did not augment the response of either CRP or SAA in NPLC/PRF/5 cells. These studies indicate that IL-6 plays a central role in induction of both CRP and SAA synthesis in the two human hepatoma cell lines. The different observations in the two hepatoma lines we studied likely reflect differences between these transformed cell lines in genetic regulatory mechanisms or other intracellular mechanisms by which extracellular signals affect expression of the CRP and SAA genes. Furthermore, our findings suggest that the mechanisms by which IL-6 regulates synthesis of CRP and SAA in Hep 3B cells differ from those involved in induction of α 1 -protease inhibitor and fibrinogen and in inhibition of albumin synthesis.
Understanding Reduced-Fat Milk Consumption among Male Adolescents Using the Theory of Planned Behavior.

Abstract This study identifies factors that influences reduced-fat milk consumption among 560 male students, ages 13-18 years, attending North Los Angeles County public high schools. Participants completed a group-administered Theory of Planned Behavior-based questionnaire. The majority of the participants, 94.8%, reported that they currently drank some kind of milk. Of those who reported that they drank milk, 68.2% reported that they currently drank reduced-fat milk or skim milk. Attitude, subjective norm and perceived behavioral control were each significant predictors of intention to drink reduced-fat milk and together explained 62% of its variance. The strongest predictor was attitude, followed by perceived behavioral control and subjective norm. Taste and possible health benefits were the primary predictors of attitude; parents, siblings and doctors' opinions predicted subjective norm; and availability of reduced-fat milk at home and school predicted perceived control. These findings may guide health...
Effects of stormwater infiltration on quality of groundwater beneath retention and detention basins

Infiltration of storm water through detention and retention basins may increase the risk of groundwater contamination, especially in areas where the soil is sandy and the water table shallow, and contaminants may not have a chance to degrade or sorb onto soil particles before reaching the saturated zone. Groundwater from 16 monitoring wells installed in basins in southern New Jersey was compared to the quality of shallow groundwater from 30 wells in areas of new-urban land use. Basin groundwater contained much lower levels of dissolved oxygen, which affected concentrations of major ions. Patterns of volatile organic compound and pesticide occurrence in basin groundwater reflected the land use in the drainage areas served by the basins, and differed from patterns in background samples, exhibiting a greater occurrence of petroleum hydrocarbons and certain pesticides. Dilution effects and volatilization likely decrease the concentration and detection frequency of certain compounds commonly found in background groundwater. High recharge rates in storm water basins may cause loading factors to be substantial even when constituent concentrations in infiltrating storm water are relatively low.
The mechanism of electromigration failure of narrow Al‐2Cu‐1Si thin‐film interconnects

This work is principally concerned with the microstructure of electromigration failure in narrow Al‐2Cu‐1Si conducting lines on Si. Samples were patterned from 0.5‐μm‐thick vapor‐deposited films with mean grain size of 2.4 μm, and had linewidths of 1.3 μm (W/G≊0.5), 2 μm (W/G≊0.8), and 6 μm (W/G≊2.5). The lines were tested to failure at T=226 °C and j=2.5×106 A/cm2. Other samples were tested over a range of substrate temperatures and current densities to test the effect of these variables, and 1.3 μm lines were tested after preaging at 226 °C for various times to change the Cu‐precipitate distribution prior to testing. Three failure modes were observed: The 6 μm specimens failed by separation along grain boundaries with an apparent activation energy of 0.65 eV; the 1.3 μm specimens that were preaged for 24 h failed after very long times by gradual thinning to rupture; all other narrow lines failed by the transgranular‐slit mechanism with an activation energy near 0.93 eV. Microstructural studies suggest that the transgranular‐slit failure mechanism is due to the accumulation of a supersaturation of vacancies in the bamboo grains that terminate polygranular segments in the line. Failure occurs after Cu has been swept from the grain that fails. Failure happens first at the end of the longest polygranular segment of the line, at a time that decreases exponentially with the polygranular segment length. Preaging the line to create a more stable distribution of Cu lengthens the time required to sweep Cu from the longest polygranular segment, and significantly increases the time to failure. In the optimal case the transgranular‐slit failure mechanism is suppressed, and the bamboo grain fails by diffuse thinning to rupture. Preaging is particularly effective in increasing the lifetimes of lines that contain very long polygranular segments, and has the consequence that the time to first failure in an array of lines is much longer than predicted by a log‐normal fit to the distribution of failure times.
Two very different components of messenger RNA in an insect cell line

Abstract The messenger RNA lifetimes have been measured in a cell line derived from an invertebrate source, the mosquito Aedes albopictus. The experiments were made possible by a new technique for obtaining undegraded cytoplasmic RNA from cells with high endogenous nuclease levels. There are two components to the decay kinetics of Aedes mRNA. The major fraction of the steady state message population has a half-life of 20 hr which is, as in mammalian cells, comparable to the cell generation time. The short-lived component turns over very rapidly with a half-life estimated to be about 1.2 hr. The difference in lifetime between the short and long-lived components is about 15 fold in these cells, compared to 3–4 fold in mammalian cells. This may reflect the need for a more responsive mRNA regulating system in poikilothermic organisms. The great disparity between the principle messenger lifetimes permits a more definite assignment of a two component behavior to message decay. The data in the case of mammalian cells could not rule out a family of intermediate lifetimes. The long-lived mRNA has a much smaller average sedimentation value than the short-lived material. The effect is similar to, but much larger than, that seen in mammalian cells. Although the lifetime difference is much greater in the insect cells than in human (HeLa) cells, the fast and slow components comprise about the same proportion of the steady state mRNA population: 30% and 70%, respectively.
Safe handling of nanotechnology

The pursuit of responsible nanotechnologies can be tackled through a series of grand challenges, argue Andrew D. Maynard and his co-authors. The spectre of possible harm — real or imagined — is threatening to slow the development of nanotechnology. In a Commentary this week a group of nanotechnologists outlines a series of five “grand challenges”. If they and their colleagues can rise to these challenges — which include development of new ways of measuring exposure to nanomaterials and assessing the health and environmental impact of that exposure — the true extent of any risks involved should become clear.
Chemically assisted crack nucleation in zircaloy

Abstract Stress corrosion cracking models (proposed to explain fuel rod failures) generally address crack propagation and cladding rupture, but frequently neglect the necessary nucleation stage for microcracks small enough to violate fracture mechanics continuum requirements. Intergranular microcrack nucleation was modeled with diffusion-controlled grain-boundary cavitation concepts, including the effects of metal embrittlement by iodine species. Computed microcrack nucleation times and strains agree with experimental observation, but the predicted grain-boundary cavities are so small that detection may be difficult. Without a protective oxide film, intergranular microcracks can nucleate within 30 s at even low stresses when the embrittler concentration exceeds a threshold value. Indications were found that intergranular microcrack nucleation may be caused by combined corrosive and embrittlement phenomena.
Radiation tolerance in a nanostructure: Is smaller better?

Abstract While previous experimental studies suggest that the presence of nanostructure is detrimental to the phase-transition resistance under an irradiation environment, we have recently found an opposite effect – nanostructure enhances phase-transition resistance. Here we analyze the change in free energy of an irradiated single-phase nanocrystalline material and explain the radiation tolerance (characterized by the resistance to phase-transition) in terms of two competing effects: (i) a smaller grain size tends to lower the free energy because the accumulation of point defects (mainly vacancies) in the grain interior is suppressed and (ii) a smaller grain size tends to increase the free energy because the area fraction of grain boundary is larger. For a two-phase nanocrystalline material, the heat of mixing between the two-phases often needs to be sufficiently positive so that the ion-beam mixing is avoided. Our analysis explains all previous experimental results where a nanostructure is found to either enhance or lower the phase-transition resistance.
Rapid, High Efficience Purification of Myofilament Proteins using Tobacco Etch Virus Protease

As more and more cardiomyopathy causing mutations are identified, functional studies investigating contractility and myofilament mechanics with mutated proteins become more crucial. Several methods are available, but most rely on exchanging recombinant protein into permeabilized heart cells or myofilament preparation. However, success requires large amounts of highly purified myofilament proteins, a process which is usually different for each individual protein. Here, we describe one single method that can be used for purifying myofilament protein, including troponin T, I and C, as well as myosin light chain 2, which has also been adapted to other recombinant proteins. We fuse a HIS-tag and a modified tobacco etch virus (TEV) protease cleavage site, ENLYFQ/M, to the N- terminal of our protein construct. The flexibility of P1’ residue of the TEV protease cleavage site allows substitution of the native glycine to a methionine, enabling production of unmodified forms of protein after purification. We then express recombinant protein constructs in BL21 (DE3) E.coli competent cells which are lysed in buffer containing 6 M Urea. Clarified lysate is then applied to a HisTrap nickel affinity column. Following a low concentration of imidazole wash, the protein is then eluted with high imidazole, and the elution buffer is replaced by a high salt protease digestion buffer using a desalting column. Protease digestion is performed at 4°C overnight, and any undigested protein and the protease itself are removed by a second run on a HisTrap, allowing the purified recombinant protein to be collected. A final desalting step allows us to store the protein in a variety of solutions according to experimental needs. Overall, this method significantly increases yield and accelerates purification process from almost a week to only two days.
Moderate deviations for Hawkes processes

Abstract In this paper, we obtain a moderate deviation principle for a class of point processes, i.e. linear Hawkes processes.
Triggering and inhibition of great Japanese earthquakes: the effect of Nobi 1891 on Tonankai 1944, Nankaido 1946 and Tokai

Abstract There are two unusual features of the most recent great earthquakes off southwest Honshu. The Tonankai and Nankaido earthquakes were relatively early compared to the historical record of past occurrence, and the Tokai section of the Tonankai fault did not fail in 1944 whereas it probably had for the previous ∼1000 years. We show that both phenomena can be explained by postseismic strain diffusion from the great Nobi, Japan, earthquake (M 8.0) in 1891. It is believed to have produced stress changes that influenced the time of occurrence of the great Tonankai (M 7.9) and Nankaido (M 8.0) earthquakes in the mid-1940’s. The pattern of long-term viscoelastic deformation following the Nobi earthquake suggests that the failure threshold was reduced in the southwest section of the Nankai Trough, which may have acted to trigger the Tonankai and Nankaido events. In contrast, the threshold was increased in the eastern Tokai section of the thrust zone and therefore failure of this section may have been inhibited. We model fault failure and show that the stress levels from Nobi are adequate to account for the advance of Tonankai and the inhibition of Tokai.
Direct and β-delayed particle decays near closed shells

Abstract We have been involved in the investigation of nuclear structure properties of nuclei close to the proton drip line. In these studies we have used on-line isotope separators at Oak Ridge (UNISOR) and Berkeley (OASIS), the ORNL velocity filter, and a fast helium-gas-jet transport system at the LBL 88-in. cyclotron. We describe briefly three areas of our research that have dealt with particle decays: (1) α-decay in medium-weight nuclei, (2) α-decay rates for even-even isotopes, and (3) s-delayed-proton decay of N = 81 precursors.
Data Encrypting in a Binary Image Base on Modified Data Hiding Method

The proposed encryption method manipulates sub-divided blocks using modified bit position to replace a secret bit. The sub-divided block contains three or more pixels of the host binary image. For every block decides to hide a secret bit. By finding the pixel position to insert a secret bit for each block, the image quality of the overt binary image can be improved. The method is fast calculation, simple, increase the storage capacity. The simulation shows that the proposed method can improve with respect to a previous work.
CARBON AND NITROGEN BALANCE OF CHLORELLA DURING GROWTH.

In studies on the algae remarkably little attention has been paid to those details of metabolism which have proved essential in understanding the physiology of other microbial forms. On the carbon and nitrogen balance, for instance, there is little available information. Krogh, Lange, and Smith (3) obtained a carbon balance on a culture of Scenedesmus which showed that 95% of the carbon was retained by the cells under the usual conditions of algal culture. Barker (1) made tests for but failed to find soluble photosynthate which might be excreted by diatoms. One report of excreted photosynthate is that of Uhvtts (11) who found that very small amounts of acetaldehyde of the order of 10e to IO5 moles could be obtained from 200 to 700 ml. of algal suspension (C. pyrenoidosa) when bisulfite had been added to the medium. It is also common observation that algal cultures develop small amounts of bacterial growth even in completely inorganic media. More complete information on the carbon and nitrogen balance is needed.
Analysis and experiment on colliding pulse mode locked laser

The operation of a semiconductor colliding pulse mode locked (CPM) laser has been analyzed using the time domain approach. In this approach the re-circulating transmission of a pulse through the various elements of the optical cavity such as the gain medium, the waveguide, and, the saturable absorber is carried out with the condition that the pulse must remain unchanged after one round trip. The pulse width of a CPM laser as a function of gain section current, saturable absorber current, and, modulation frequency has been measured. The laser is ∼ 8.5 mm long and operates at a pulse repetition rate of ∼ 10 GHz. The measurements and modeling results agree well. Both measured and calculated minimum pulse width is ∼ 1 ps.
Unsteady three-dimensional natural convection in a fluid-saturated porous medium

Natural convection in a cube of fluid-saturated porous medium having a constant temperature top and bottom is studied numerically. In the first of two special cases considered, the vertical sides are insulated. In this case, the numerical simulations indicate permanently unsteady regularly and irregularly fluctuating convective states at Rayleigh numbers (R*) above 550. The regularly fluctuating convective state defined by simply periodic oscillations in the Nusselt number begins at R* between 550 and 560. The frequency of the oscillations appears to depend on R* approximately as f∝ (R*)3.6. The irregularly fluctuating convective state defined by random variations in the Nusselt number begins at R* between 625 and 640. In the second case, heat is transferred through the vertical sides of the cube. Three distinct flow patterns are identified depending on the rate of heat transfer and the Rayleigh number. For all runs in the range of Rayleigh numbers studied, the transition from the first to the second flow pattern occurs abruptly.
The Relationship Between Diabetes and Infectious Hospitalizations in Renal Transplant Recipients

The implications of diabetes developing after kidney transplantation (PostTDM group) need further study. Worse graft survival is seen in PostTDM compared with nondiabetic (NonDM group) patients (1,2). Yet, there is paucity of data on the risk of infection, an issue that becomes even more important since posttransplant patients are already immunocompromised. Thus, we aim to compare the risk of infection in the posttransplant period in PostTDM patients and in patients who were diagnosed with diabetes before transplant (PreTDM group) with those without diabetes. Data were obtained from the U.S. Renal Data System (3). The study population was limited to adult renal transplant patients whose primary payer was Medicare to enable analysis of hospital outcomes. Primary (i.e., first time) kidney transplant recipients from the years 1995 to 2000 were included. Pancreas recipients were excluded. The diagnosis of diabetes was obtained from Medicare claims using a previously validated method and from U.S. Renal Data System transplant files (2,4). Patients were classified as PreTDM if diabetes was detected before, or at the time of, hospitalization for transplantation. The remaining diabetic patients were classified as PostTDM. The outcome of interest was infection requiring hospitalization (HI) and occurring in the posttransplant period. The survival time until development of HI was analyzed using Cox multivariate proportional hazard …
Laboratory Performance Comparison of Promising Asphalt Surface Mixes

This paper presents part of a research effort to develop alternative asphalt surface mixes that are quiet and durable without much sacrifice of safety. The objective of the study is to compare the laboratory noise and durability performance of some asphalt surface mixes that have shown good surface performance used around the world and a small aggregate size mix developed in this study. Seven mixes were evaluated, including two small aggregate size stone mastic asphalt mixes recently developed in Europe, one Arizona rubberized open-graded mix with highbinder content, one double-layer porous asphalt mix, one Georgia 12.5-mm opengraded mix, a small aggregate size mix developed in this research, and a control mix. Results showed that various mixes have different performance advantages and disadvantages. The small aggregate size mix developed in this research can significantly reduce raveling potential, and therefore reduce tire vibration related tire/pavement noise.
Sea-dragon: An amphibious robot for operation in the littorals

This paper focuses on the design of an amphibious robot for operations support in the littoral zone (close to shore). The mission of the robot is to escort assaulting marines to and from the beachhead. This robot will also offer reconnaissance and escort alongside convoys. The robot will possess positive buoyancy and demonstrate dual locomotion for both land and sea, modeled after the Marines' AAV. It will carry a teleoperated weapon and will be controlled by the remote operator using standard R/C gear and camera feedback.
Spectroscopy of Metastable Species in a Free-Jet Expansion: The D′ ← A′ Transition of IBr

TheA1u(3Π) state of Br2is observed in free-jet expansions of UV-photolyzed BBr3/Ar mixtures and electrically discharged Br2/Ar mixtures. Laser excitation spectra are recorded for the β 1g(3P2) ←Atransition, providing the first high-resolution data forv= 0 in theAstate. Thirteenv′–0″ bands spanningv′ = 23–33 are rotationally analyzed, yielding a total of 475 assignments. The new results are combined with existing spectroscopic data forv′ = 0–10 to yield an improved description of the β state and the following constants (cm−1) forv= 0 of theAstate:T″0(79Br2) = 13 984.22(5),T″0(79Br81Br) = 13 983.80(5),T″0(81Br2) = 13 983.32(5),B″0(79Br2) = 0.05815(2). The new information for theAstate is analyzed together with existing data for levelsv= 7–24 and 30–34 to achieve compact expressions for the vibronic energy and rotational constant in terms of the standard polynomials in (v+ 12) at lowv, merging smoothly into near-dissociation expansions (NDEs) at highv. The resulting “mixed representations” have the usual properties of the polynomials at lowvand yield the estimates (cm−1, for79Br2):Te= 13 910,De= 2147, ωe= 150,Be= 0.05844, andRe= 2.704 A. The NDEs have superior extrapolating ability above the highest observed level to dissociation, which occurs atvD= 41.7. Spectroscopic constants and RKR potentials are tabulated for the first ∼40vlevels of both states, and Franck–Condon factors are given for transitions from the lowv″ levels.
Hip and knee flexion of lead and trail limbs during ascent of a step of different heights by normal adults.

Abstract Objective To describe and compare hip and knee flexion of the lead and trail limbs during step ascent. Design Descriptive observational study. Setting University research laboratory. Participants Fourteen healthy subjects. Main outcome measures A seven-camera tracking system captured the kinematics of the lead and trail limbs as subjects ascended 20.3-cm and 40.6-cm steps, leading with each lower limb. Maximum hip and knee flexion were recorded bilaterally. Results During ascent of the 20.3-cm step, mean flexion was 66.3° for the lead hips and 20.6° for the trail hips [mean difference 45.7°, 95% confidence interval (CI) 43.5° to 48.0°]. During ascent of the 40.6-cm step, mean flexion was 92.5° for the lead hips and 26.8° for the trail hips (mean difference 65.6°, 95% CI 62.1° to 69.1°). During ascent of the 20.3-cm step, mean flexion was 90.5° for the lead knees and 57.6° for the trail knees (mean difference 32.9°, 95% CI 29.3° to 36.5°). During ascent of the 40.6-cm step, mean flexion was 119.9° for the lead knees and 73.2° for the trail knees (mean difference 46.7°, 95% CI 41.9° to 51.5°). A general linear model revealed that for both the hip and the knee, flexion was significantly greater in the lead limb than in the trail limb, and during ascent of the 40.6-cm step compared with the 20.3-cm step. Conclusions The hip and knee flexion used to ascend a step depends on whether a limb is leading or trailing, and on step height. For individuals with limited flexion in a limb, range demands will be reduced if the restricted limb trails during a step-to-step pattern.
Decomposition Methods for Cross-Layer Optimization in Wireless Networks

Cross-layer optimization (physical, data link and network layers) in wireless networks has been limited by its combinatorial complexity (Toumpis and Goldsmith, 2003). Existing literature has traditionally been able to provide numerical analysis only for networks with less than 8 nodes (Madan et al., 2005), limiting our ability to understand the benefits of cross-layer optimization for more realistic-sized networks. In Barreto (2004) and Johansson and Xiao (2006) the authors showed that column generation could be used to reduce the complexity of the problem, with Johansson and Xiao (2006) providing in-depth analysis for 10-node networks and limited results for 20-node networks - all with minimum SNR and transmission rate restrictions. In this paper we show how decomposition methods can be used for the joint optimization of the physical (rate and power control), data link (MAC/scheduling), and networking (routing) layers, increasing the size of networks that can be analyzed. We present exact numerical solutions for ad-hoc networks with up to 30 nodes and mesh networks with up to 40 nodes, a significant scalability improvement. We continue by showing how bounded solutions for larger networks can be obtained with decreased computational complexity and present to heuristic implementations that increase the analysis to arbitrary-sized networks (Barreto and Chiu, 2006). We show how decomposition methods effectively decouple routing from the MAC/physical layers and allow us to solve the problems independently while reaching a global optimal solution.
Form over function

In this issue of the Journal of Biological Rhythms, Zhou et al. (2002) present data from several experiments aimed at identifying effects of photoperiod on the immune systems of two well-established photoperiodic model species: Siberian hamsters (Phodopus sungorus) and Syrian hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus). Their observations are unambiguous: after adaptation to short days, Syrian hamsters exhibited higher numbers of resident auricular lymphocytes, lower rates of spontaneous lymphocyte proliferation, and less interleukin-6 (IL-6) production. Short days had no apparent effect on a contact hypersensitivity (CH) response, on IgM or IgG primary antibody production, or on secondary proliferative responses to an antigen/irritant (dinitrofluorobenzene) in this species. Gonadectomy did not substantially alter the effect of short days on lymphocyte proliferation or on cytokine production. Siberian hamsters likewise exhibited relatively low basal rates of lymphocyte proliferation and IL-6 production in short days. Photoperiod also modified the response to a polyclonal T-cell mitogen in both sensitized and naive individuals, but had no effect on natural killer (NK) cell activity. The data clearly indicate that the immune systems of both Syrian and Siberian hamsters respond to photoperiod. However, based on these observations, the authors conclude that the expression of the immune response is not directly modified or compromised by photoperiod in either of these species. Instead, the authors contend that “photoperiod has no direct effect on immune responses per se in seasonal mammals” (p. 404). The report also reaches a wholly separate conclusion with regard to the role of the hormone leptin in mediating photoperiodic changes in immunity. Our analysis of the data discussed by Zhou et al. and recent work from our laboratory lead us to disagree with these conclusions. Implicit in the authors’ discussion of the data, and
The Litigious Abyss between Academic Freedom and Freedom of Speech Response to John Durham Peters' Courting the Abyss

(2009). The Litigious Abyss between Academic Freedom and Freedom of Speech Response to John Durham Peters' Courting the Abyss. Free Speech Yearbook: Vol. 44, No. 1, pp. 157-163.
Women's satisfaction with delivery care in Nairobi's informal settlements.

Objective To quantify women's satisfaction with delivery care in informal settlements of Nairobi, Kenya, and to determine characteristics of women and delivery care associated with satisfaction. Design Household survey data analysis of 1266 women who delivered in health facilities in 2004 or 2005. Setting Two densely populated informal settlements 7 and 12 km from Nairobi's center, where residents work primarily in the nearby industrial area or in the informal sector. Outcome Satisfaction was assessed by whether women would recommend the delivery care facility and deliver there again. Results Over half (56%) of women would both recommend and deliver again in the same facility. In multivariate analysis, women's satisfaction with delivery care was associated with greater provider empathy (OR = 3.68, 95% CI 2.27, 5.97). Women's satisfaction with delivery care was also associated with the pregnancy having been wanted (OR = 2.75, 95% CI 1.82, 4.14) or mistimed vs. unwanted. Women delivering at private facilities in the settlement near the industrial area were more satisfied than women delivering at private facilities in the more distant and marginalized settlement (OR = 2.12, 95% CI 1.45, 3.09). The association of women's satisfaction and provider empathy was stronger among women who experienced complications compared to those who did not. Conclusion Health providers should be sensitized to the finding that unintended pregnancy is associated with lower satisfaction with delivery care. Maternal health programmes should focus on increasing provider empathy, especially for women who experience complications, in both private and government health facilities.
Extended Fatigue Life by Shot Peening Process via Shakedown Analysis

The goal of this work was to quantify the improvement in the fatigue limit of solid structures which have undergone shot peening (SP) by small rigid particles. The work was based on Melan's shakedown theorem for estimating the allowable safe stress amplitude (in a lower bound sense) of structures that otherwise might fail during fatigue loading by plastic strain accumulation (ratcheting). Aided by geometrical simplification (mainly by assuming that the residual craters of the peened surfaces are shallow and flat), the benefit of SP to increase fatigue limits of structures subjected to fluctuating loads was quantified and compared to experiments. As a by-product, the long-time accepted empirical formulas for decreasing fatigue limits due to an increase of the loading mean tensile stress (Gerber, 1874, Z Bayer Arch Ingenieur-Vereins, 6, pp. 101-110; Goodman, 1899, Mechanics Applied to Engineering, Longmans, Green, London) have received a theoretical justification from shakedown analysis. The suggested empiricism-free solution traces well Gerber and Goodman's empirical formulas in the positive mean stress regime of the applied load. It has a notable advantage that it also smoothly extends to the negative mean-stress regime (akin to the superimposed residual compressive stresses in a thin layer generated by the SP process) not covered hitherto by formulas. This shakedown analysis manifests the merit of shot peening processes by showing specifically the existence of larger range of fatigue-safe stress amplitudes (or equivalently, exhibiting a prolonged fatigue life) before disruption by ratcheting. Various fatigue experiments which were found in the open literature, are in a satisfactory agreement with the theoretical were found analysis.
Helping families cope with the chronically ill child at home

There are an increasing number of chronically ill children being cared for in the home setting. The entire family of the ill child faces mental and physical stress. This article deals with the grie...
Three Dimentional Finite Element Modeling of Microstructural Development of Nacre in Seashells and Implication on Mineralization of CaCO3

Three dimensional finite element models of nacre were constructed based on reported microstructural studies on the ‘brick and mortar’ micro-architecture of nacre. 3D eight noded isoparametric brick elements were used to design the microarchitecture of nacre. Tensile tests were simulated using this model at stresses of 2 MPa which occur well within the elastic regime of nacre and thus effects related to locus and extent of damage were ignored. The reported values of elastic moduli of organic (0.005 GPa) and aragonitic platelets (205 GPa) were used in our simulations and the resulting displacements were found to be extremely large and corresponding to a very low modulus of 0.011 GPa. The reported elastic modulus of nacre is of the order of 50 GPa. The large displacements can possibly result from two possibilities. Firstly. the organic layer due to its multilayered structure is possibly composed of distinct layers of different elastic moduli. A significantly higher modulus of the organic phase may be possible near the organic-inorganic interface. Simulations using variable elastic moduli for the organic phase suggest that an elastic modulus of 15 GPa is consistent with the observed elastic behavior of nacre. A second possibility for the observed higher elastic modulus may arise from localized platelet-platelet contact. Since the observed modulus of nacre lies within the above two extremes (i.e. 15 GPa and 205 GPa) it is suggested that a combination of the two, i.e. a higher modulus of the organic phase near the organic-inorganic interface and localized platelet-platelet contact can result in the observed elastic properties of nacre.
An experimental evaluation of GDSS effects on group performance during stakeholder analysis

The authors report the results of an experimental study that compared the effects of two alternatives GDSS (group decision support systems) designs on the performance and attitudes of groups working on stakeholder analysis. A theoretical model was advanced to argue that effective GDSS designs must provide support for both the communication and consensus activities of groups. The two designs were varied in terms of the extent to which they provided support for communication and for consensus activities. The results of the study provided support for the prediction generated from the model. The findings extend the current knowledge of the utility of GDSS for supporting group work, and suggest that superior performance may result when groups are provided with sophisticated GDSS designs. >
Analysis of air traffic control communications performances via computer simulation experiments

Abstract Air Traffic Control (ATC) for civil aviation in the U.S. is currently performed based upon voice communications between controllers and aircraft pilots through radio channels. The essentially manual operations of the ATC and its communications, due to their limited efficiency and reliability, may become a potential bottleneck to the developments of the continuously growing air transportation systems. In order to assist government efforts in pursuing alternatives for future improvements in ATC communications performance, a computer simulation model was constructed and validated in a previously reported research effort. This model was then used to perform experiments to investigate various events of practical concern. In this paper we report three such applications, namely (i) to estimate communications capacities of control sectors of various functions in the New York area; (ii) to investigate the effects, especially extra communication delays, incurred by a tone-burst scheme for aircraft identification proposed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC); and (iii) to evaluate improvements in communications capacity and queuing due to a reduction in average number of transmissions per communication transaction. Emphasis is placed upon the stochastic-dynamic aspects of computer- generated responses. Several newly developed statistical methods are used to analyze simulation outputs. This study, the author believes, represents a first serious attempt in the literature of transportation science, to conduct a complete, large-scale simulation investigation of the behavior of ATC communications.