cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
5,6-dihydropyrimidine adducts in the reactions and interactions of pyrimidines with proteins.

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the approaches developed to detect Michael adducts in the interaction of pyrimidines and proteins. Various systems in which these adducts have been demonstrated or proposed are also described in the chapter, attempting to focus on the way the tools have been used. In both enzyme-catalyzed reactions and protein-nucleic acid interactions involving nucleophilic attack at the C-6 of pyrimidines, Michael adducts may be difficult to detect because they are transient and reversible. Gradually, various tools have been developed to detect transient or unstable Michael adducts of pyrimidines. The approaches used to detect Michael adducts of pyrimidines have been validated by model chemical studies and by studies with thymidylate synthase (TS), an enzyme whose mechanism is well known, and several other enzyme systems. Similarly, once a system has been shown to proceed via a Michael adduct, it serves to develop new approaches and tools. These tools have also served as important probes for other aspects of the mechanism of enzymic reactions that form Michael adducts to facilitate catalysis.
Economic benefits of reducing fire-related sediment in southwestern fire-prone ecosystems

[I] A multiple regression analysis of fire interval and resulting sediment yield (controlling for relief ratio, rainfall, etc.) indicates that reducing the fire interval from the current average 22 years to a prescribed fire interval of 5 years would reduce sediment yield by 2 million cubic meters in the 86.2 square kilometer southern California watershed adjacent to and including the Angeles National Forest. This would have direct cost savings to Los Angeles County Public Works in terms of reduced debris basin clean out of $24 million. The net present values of both 5- and IO-year prescribed fire intervals are positive. However, given other multiple use objectives of the USDA Forest Service, a IO-year prescribed fire interval may be more optimal than a 5-year fire interval. INDEX TERMS: 6304 Policy Sciences: Benefit-cost analysis; 6329 Policy Sciences: Project evduation; 18 15 Hydrology: Erosion and sedimentation; KEYWc)RDS: Ca~ifbrnia, erosion, forest fire, national forests, recreation, sediment
The Vitamin, Amino Acid and Growth Requirements of the Genus Microsporum1

The purpose of this study was to determine the vitamin, amino acid and growth requirements of the genus microsporum.
Optimal layout via Boolean satisfiability

The author transforms various NP-complete problems in layout, namely, two- and multilayer dogleg channel routing, two-way partitioning, one-dimensional and two-dimensional placement, into Boolean satisfiability problems. The transformations are efficient in that the number of inputs to the Boolean function, for which he has to find a satisfying assignment, only grows linearly or quasilinearly with the layout problem size. These transformations also produce a minimal-size Boolean function in order to speed up satisfiability check performance. >
The Safe Bet: An Exploration of Games of Chance

The purpose of this study is to explore motivations and behaviors related to games of chance. An online snowball sample of 70 gamers completed the 25-item questionnaire consisting of questions measuring intelligence, motivation, amenities, and motivation to learn games of chance. T-test results indicated that males were more motivated by complexity and house odds of games than females. A visual inspection of the crosstab scores of the knowledge test revealed that players who prefer table games scored higher on the knowledge test than players that prefer slot machines. Also, the data suggested that slot players prefer games that require little thinking. Overall, the data indicated differences in behaviors and motivations among gender as well as gaming preference among players. Keywords : Casino, Games of Chance, Table Games, Slot Machines
Abstract MP69: Relationships Between Sleep Apnea, Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors, and Aortic Pulse Wave Velocity over 9 Years: The Wisconsin Sleep Cohort

Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors associated with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) contribute to endothelial dysfunction and arterial stiffening. We hypothesized that OSA severity would predict aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV) after nearly a decade of aging in the Wisconsin Sleep Cohort (WSC). Methods: Subjects were 596 participants in the WSC that underwent overnight polysomnography between 2000 and 2008; subsequent tonometry data was acquired a mean of 8.8 (standard deviation, 2.1) years later. OSA severity was described by the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), mean and minimum nocturnal blood oxygen saturation level (SaO2, %), and time with SaO2<90%. AHI+1 was log transformed. Participants using positive airway pressure therapy (PAP) at the tonometry visit were evaluated as a distinct categorical variable. Non-invasive applanation tonometry was used to derive aortic (carotid-to-femoral) PWV. Multivariable linear and logistic regression models that included CVD risk factors, antihypertensive, and lipid medications were fit to evaluate longitudinal associations between baseline OSA markers and future PWV. Results: At baseline, the 596 participants were mean 55.9 (7.3) years old (53% male, 97.5% Caucasian). Their mean body-mass index (was 31.4 (6.9) kg/m2, 89 (14.9%) had diabetes mellitus, and 252 (42.3%) were hypertensive. Excluding the 40 CPAP users, the mean AHI was 5.8 (7.6) events/hour (range 0.0-53.6); 54 (9.1%) had AHI ≥15 events/hr. Mean SaO2was 94.7% (2.1%) and minimum SaO2 was 82.8% (9.5%). Time with SaO2<90% did not predict PWV. In models adjusted for age and sex, lower mean SaO2 (β=-0.16, SE 0.06, p=0.004), lower minimum SaO2 (β=-0.04, SE 0.01, p=0.005) and higher log10(AHI+1) (β=0.55, SE 0.20, p=0.005) predicted higher PWV a mean of approximately 9 years after OSA assessment. However, none of these associations were statistically significant after waist circumference (p≤0.005 for all 3 outcomes) and height were added to the models. For models with mean SaO2, waist circumference independently predicted PWV, but after addition of CVD risk factors, only age (β=0.14, SE 0.01, p<0.001), systolic blood pressure (β=0.02, SE 0.01, p<0.001), and diabetes status (β=0.96, SE 0.28, p=0.002) were independent predictors. Very similar results were observed for models with minimum Sa02and PWV. None of the OSA parameters interacted with age or smoking status to predict PWV. Presence of Metabolic Syndrome did not predict PWV; it did not interact with OSA parameters to predict PWV. Conclusions: The longitudinal associations between OSA and PWV are confounded by body size and influenced by diabetes mellitus and blood pressure. These results suggest that weight management and blood pressure control may help prevent arterial stiffening associated with sleep apnea.
Outsourcing Ethical Obligations: Should the Revised Common Rule Address the Responsibilities of Investigators and Sponsors?:

The Common Rule creates a division of moral labor in research. It implies that investigators and sponsors can outsource their ethical obligations to IRBs and participants, thereby fostering a culture of compliance, rather than one of responsibility. The proposed revisions to the Common Rule are likely to exacerbate this problem. To harness the expressive power of the law, I propose the Common Rule be revised to include the ethical responsibilities of investigators and sponsors.
Reconfiguration of power networks based on graph-theoretic algorithms

The intentional area partitioning and automated distribution system restoration are two important “Smart Grid” technologies to enhance the robustness of a power network and improve the system reliability. In this dissertation, the research work is focused on deriving and implementing efficient graph-theoretic algorithms to analyze and solve such two realworld problems in power systems as follows. In response to disturbances, a self-healing system reconfiguration that splits a power network into self-sufficient islands can stop the propagation of disturbances and avoid cascading events. An area partitioning algorithm that minimizes both real and reactive power imbalance between generation and load within islands is proposed. The proposed algorithm is a smart grid technology that applies a highly efficient multilevel multi-objective graph partitioning technique. The simulation results obtained on a 200and a 22,000bus test systems indicate that the proposed algorithm improves the voltage profile of an island after the system reconfiguration compared with the algorithm that only considers real power balance. In doing so, the algorithm maintains the computational efficiency. The distribution system restoration is aimed at restoring loads after a fault by altering the topological structure of the distribution network by changing open/closed states of some tie switches and sectionalizing switches in the distribution system. A graph-theoretic distribution system restoration strategy that maximizes the amount of load to be restored and minimizes the number of switching operations is developed. Spanning tree based algorithms are applied to find the candidate restoration strategies. Unbalanced three-phase power flow calculation is performed to guarantee that the proposed system topology meets all electrical
Relative Bioavailability of Zinc from Selected Cereals and Legumes using Rat Growth

The relative bioavailability of zinc (RBAZ) in corn, rice, wheat and legumes was determined by the ratio of net weight gains a 6 ppm of added zinc, a measure derived from sigmoidal curves for weight gain estimated by a non-linear, least-squares curve fitting computer program. Each food was prepared as for human consumption, incorporated into a semi-purified diet to provide varying levels of zinc and fed to weanling rats. Among cereals, whole corn and brown rice had low RBAZ (0.58 or less), while whole wheat flour and unleavened whole wheat bread had medium values (0.63-0.74). Refined cereal grains, such as white flour, leavened and unleavened white bread and white rice, had high RBAZ (0.89-1.08) as did leavened whole wheat bread (1.04). Of the legumes, lima beans had a high RBAZ (0.84) while white beans had a medium value (0.74). Phytic acid content of the foods, but not neutral-detergent fiber content, appeared to be inversely related to RBAZ, more so among the cereals than with the legumes.
Interorganizational System Characteristics and Supply Chain Integration: An Empirical Assessment

Some firms have gained significant benefits by effectively deploying interorganizational systems (IOS) to tightly couple operations with their supply chain partners. In contrast, other firms with IOS deployments have struggled to achieve this level of success. So it is not clear how such systems can be configured to promote idiosyncratic interorganizational processes that integrate the supply chains and facilitate successful outcomes. To shed further light on this issue, we draw from multiple theoretical perspectives to develop a comprehensive and unique conceptualization of IOS characteristics that goes beyond the limited treatment it has received in extant literature. Furthermore, we empirically examine the IOS configuration choices made by firms with different supply chain integration (SCI) profiles. Our results support the notion that successful firms sequence the configuration of IOS characteristics toward effectively developing and supporting their supply chain process capabilities. In particular, we found that firms at the lower end of SCI configure IOS features to support supplier evaluation and automatic alerts. As organizations move to the upper end of the SCI spectrum, greater attention is paid to features associated with systems integration, planning, and forecasting. Recommendations to managers and academics stemming from our study are provided, along with avenues for future research.
Foreign Relations as a Matter of Interpretation: The Use and Abuse of Charming Betsy

Charming Betsy is a canon of construction that construes legislative enactments consistent with the law of nations. This canon promotes the passive virtue of avoiding constitutional problems by eschewing potential international law violations through statutory interpretation, thereby enhancing the United States' performance in foreign affairs. As a rule of separation of powers, Charming Betsy helps explain how foreign relations concerns clarify the scope of legislative, executive, and judicial authority. But when advocates contend that the Constitution likewise should be read through the lens of Charming Betsy, they abuse the doctrine by ignoring its purpose. While structural guarantees that relate to foreign affairs are animated by a concern for compliance with international law, there is little support for a position that takes foreign relations into account in interpreting the content of individual liberties so as to harmonize those liberties with international norms. The proper function of foreign relations in construing individual liberties is its traditional one, to justify government authority to curtail constitutional guarantees.
Health promotion among minority aged: Challenges for the health professions

Health professionals have few educational opportunities that focus on older racial and ethnic minorities, especially with regard to disease prevention and health promotion. This paper describes some of the existing barriers to the provision of health promotion services to minority aged. It offers a plan for the education of medical professionals who seek to address the issues involved. The paper also details reasons for offering and targeting health promotion activities to special populations. It presents specific strategies to accomplish these goals for health professionals dealing with heart disease and/or diabetes. In addition, the paper describes a new model of health promotion that emphasizes the role of communication strategies. Finally, it presents the rationale and objectives for a specific continuing education program.
Ion-binding studies of ribonucleic acid and Escherichia coli ribosomes.

Abstract The binding of calcium and magnesium ions to RNA from various sources has been studied by equilibrium dialysis. At concentrations of free ion which produce maximum binding (greater than 5 m m ), the binding is the same for both ions ( Mg 2+ P = 0.50 ± 0.04 at pH 6.0 ). This value remains constant at 0.50 over the pH range 6.0 to 9.6. Below pH 6.0, the maximum binding decreases, and above pH 9.5 it increases, which is consistent with what would be expected from the acid-base titration studies of others. Ion-binding studies with Escherichia coli ribosomes show that there is no difference between the 30 s and 50 s ribosomes in binding of magnesium ions. For both types of ribosomes the ratio, Mg P , reaches a maximum value of 0.50 at 10 m m free Mg2+. This behavior is almost identical with that observed for RNA alone, which indicates that magnesium ion-binding occurs only at phosphate groups and that all these groups are available as binding sites for small cations. Apparently these ribosomes are organized in such a way that the phosphate groups are not directly involved in the formation of the RNA-protein complex, and all of these groups are available for Mg2+ binding at the level of free Mg2+ concentration at which in vitro protein biosynthesis takes place at its maximum rate. Competitive binding studies show that Mg2+ can be displaced by other cations such as Na+, Ca2+, spermidine3+ spermine4+, and protaminen+. It is suggested that such competitive binding may be involved in the cellular control mechanism of protein biosynthesis.
Risk-Based Model for Pricing Highway Infrastructure Warranties

Warranties have been used by many highway agencies in response to increased demand for including quality concepts in all phases of the highway life cycle and to guard against premature infrastructure failures. Currently, warranty bid prices are often estimated subjectively due to the lack of a systematic methodology for quantifying warranty servicing costs for highway infrastructures. A risk-based model is presented here to fill this gap. The model is founded on Kaplan and Garrick's theory of quantitative risk assessment and considers the warranted item's probability of failure (as defined in the warranty clause) and the projected cost of repairing the failure. Probability of failure is determined using survival analysis of actual historical performance data. The model was demonstrated and tested using two hypothetical pavement construction projects in northern Illinois. The computed warranty cost is within the range of actual warranty bid prices for comparable projects, indicating the applicability of the proposed approach. Contractors and surety companies can use this model to make better informed decisions regarding the bidding and pricing of highway construction warranties.
Comparison of secondary neutron dose in proton therapy resulting from the use of a tungsten alloy MLC or a brass collimator system

Purpose: To apply the dual ionization chamber method for mixed radiation fields to an accurate comparison of the secondary neutron dose arising from the use of a tungsten alloy multileaf collimator (MLC) as opposed to a brass collimator system for defining the shape of a therapeutic proton field. Methods: Hydrogenous and nonhydrogenous ionization chambers were constructed with large volumes to enable measurements of absorbed doses below 10{sup -4} Gy in mixed radiation fields using the dual ionization chamber method for mixed-field dosimetry. Neutron dose measurements were made with a nominal 230 MeV proton beam incident on a closed tungsten alloy MLC and a solid brass block. The chambers were cross-calibrated against a {sup 60}Co-calibrated Farmer chamber in water using a 6 MV x-ray beam and Monte Carlo simulations were performed to account for variations in ionization chamber response due to differences in secondary neutron energy spectra. Results: The neutron and combined proton plus {gamma}-ray absorbed doses are shown to be nearly equivalent downstream from either a closed tungsten alloy MLC or a solid brass block. At 10 cm downstream from the distal edge of the collimating material the neutron dose from the closed MLC was (5.3 {+-} 0.4) x 10{supmore » -5} Gy/Gy. The neutron dose with brass was (6.4 {+-} 0.7) x 10{sup -5} Gy/Gy. Further from the secondary neutron source, at 50 cm, the neutron doses remain close for both the MLC and brass block at (6.9 {+-} 0.6) x 10{sup -6} Gy/Gy and (6.3 {+-} 0.7) x 10{sup -6} Gy/Gy, respectively. Conclusions: The dual ionization chamber method is suitable for measuring secondary neutron doses resulting from proton irradiation. The results of measurements downstream from a closed tungsten alloy MLC and a brass block indicate that, even in an overly pessimistic worst-case scenario, secondary neutron production in a tungsten alloy MLC leads to absorbed doses that are nearly equivalent to those seen from brass collimators. Therefore, the choice of tungsten alloy in constructing the leaves of a proton MLC is appropriate, and does not lead to a substantial increase in the secondary neutron dose to the patient compared to that generated in a brass collimator.« less
Ecology of indigenous soil rhizobia: selective response of Bradyrhizobium japonicum to a soybean meal

Abstract The population dynamics of indigenous Bradyrhizobium japonicum were studied following the addition of a ground soybean plant material, designated soybean meal (SBM), to their soil habitat. Three serologically identifiable groups, serocluster 123, serogroup 110, and serogroup 138 were enumerated by immunofluorescent (FA) assay. The total B. japonicum population was estimated by Most Probable Number (MPN) plant assay. Initial populations were nearly identical at about 9 × 103 cells g−1 soil, and remained virtually unchanged in the untreated soil. In the soil amended at the 1.0% rate the three serogroups responded quickly with 50- to 100-fold increases in populations in the first 12 days. FA counts remained high for 5–6 weeks before declining slowly. Similar but less pronounced effects were observed at lower rates of amendment. Serocluster 123 and serogroup 138 responded similarly throughout with peak populations at about 101.7 above controls from day 12 through day 36. Serogroup 110, however, was selectively enhanced by the soybean meal reaching a peak population 1000-fold above controls at day 36 with the 1.0% amendment. Elevated levels of serogroup 110 persisted at more than two logs above controls after 10 weeks. Further experiments were designed to determine if the amendment-induced numerical superiority of serogroup 110 could be exploited to enhance nodule occupancy of serogroup 110 at the expense of the usual dominant nodule occupant, serocluster 123. One approach was to select SBM treated soil with peak populations of indigenous serogroup 110 and use that soil as an inoculant for soybean plants. Whether applied in growth pouches, in soil pots, or in field soil rows the inoculant resulted in only slight and inconsistent increases in nodule occupancy by serogroup 110 strains. Similar failures to alter nodule occupancy in favor of serogroup 110 occurred with the second approach in which soil in greenhouse pots and in field plots was treated with SBM and then planted to soybeans when 110 populations peaked.
Molecular Basis for the Recognition and Cleavages of IGF-II, TGF-alpha, and Amylin by Human Insulin-Degrading Enzyme.

Insulin-degrading enzyme (IDE) is involved in the clearance of many bioactive peptide substrates, including insulin and amyloid-beta, peptides vital to the development of diabetes and Alzheimer's disease, respectively. IDE can also rapidly degrade hormones that are held together by intramolecular disulfide bond(s) without their reduction. Furthermore, IDE exhibits a remarkable ability to preferentially degrade structurally similar peptides such as the selective degradation of insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-II and transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha) over IGF-I and epidermal growth factor, respectively. Here, we used high-accuracy mass spectrometry to identify the cleavage sites of human IGF-II, TGF-alpha, amylin, reduced amylin, and amyloid-beta by human IDE. We also determined the structures of human IDE-IGF-II and IDE-TGF-alpha at 2.3 A and IDE-amylin at 2.9 A. We found that IDE cleaves its substrates at multiple sites in a biased stochastic manner. Furthermore, the presence of a disulfide bond in amylin allows IDE to cut at an additional site in the middle of the peptide (amino acids 18-19). Our amylin-bound IDE structure offers insight into how the structural constraint from a disulfide bond in amylin can alter IDE cleavage sites. Together with NMR structures of amylin and the IGF and epidermal growth factor families, our work also reveals the structural basis of how the high dipole moment of substrates complements the charge distribution of the IDE catalytic chamber for the substrate selectivity. In addition, we show how the ability of substrates to properly anchor their N-terminus to the exosite of IDE and undergo a conformational switch upon binding to the catalytic chamber of IDE can also contribute to the selective degradation of structurally related growth factors.
Ctenocheloides attenboroughi n. gen., n. sp. (Crustacea: Decapoda: Axiidea: Ctenochelidae), a new ghost shrimp with pectinate claw fingers from Madagascar

Ctenocheloides, n. gen., is established for a remarkable new species of ctenochelid ghost shrimp, Ctenocheloides attenboroughi, n. gen., n. sp., named after the British naturalist and presenter of numerous BBC nature documentaries, Sir David Attenborough. The holotype, a complete adult female, is presently the only specimen known. It was extracted from a large, mud-cemented piece of rubble collected at a depth of 1.5 m in a mangrove-fringed bay east of Helville, Nosy-Be, in northwestern Madagascar. Ctenocheloides, n. gen. differs from Ctenocheles, the presumably closest relative and the only other axiidean genus with pectinate cheliped fingers, by the absence of a projecting rostrum, the well-developed corneas, and the shorter and less robust fingers of the major cheliped.
Reaction mechanisms and thermochemistry of vanadium ions with ethane, ethene and ethyne

On etudie les reactions des ions vanadium a l'etat fondamental avec l'ethane, l'ethylene et l'acetylene en utilisant la technique du faisceau ionique guide
Spontaneously broken SU(3) symmetry in a laser

Constants defining a quantum state can serve as macroscopic parameters specifying the spontaneous breaking of a symmetry. An example is given in which a laser possesses a SU(3) symmetry which is spontaneously broken above threshold. The parameters can be readily observed experimentally.
Nanoparticulate and Interfacial Mechanics in Confined Geometries Typical of Chemical-Mechanical Planarization

Chemical-mechanical planarization (CMP), a surface preparation process used widely in integrated circuits manufacture, is currently the leading nanoscale manufacturing process worldwide, with an annual economic impact well in excess of $1 billion. Originally developed for glass polishing, CMP is used by the microelectronics industry to create silicon, silicon oxide, tungsten and copper surfaces with average roughnesses of O(10 mm). The process typically involves shearing a dilute abrasive silica or ceria nanoparticle-laden “slurry” between a compliant rough surface (the “pad”) and the surface to be polished (the “wafer”). The composition of the slurry can greatly affect material removal rates. Despite its importance, however, a lot still remains to be discovered about the fundamental mechanisms involved in this process. A multidisciplinary effort at Georgia Tech has focused upon the interfacial mechanics of this process and how nanoparticles chemomechanically wear SiO2 , Si and Cu surfaces. It has been found, for example, that the wear rate of dielectric varies approximately as the particle diameter. The entrapment of particles at the asperity/dielectric interface is thought to produce the polishing, but the exact nature of this interaction is still unknown. An evanescent-wave visualization technique has therefore been developed to visualize the dynamics of fluorescent 300–500 nm diameter colloidal silica and polystyrene particles within a particle diameter of the “wafer” surface in a simplified model pad-wafer geometry. The technique has been used for the first time to the authors’ knowledge to directly measure the velocity and concentration of the interfacial particles—which presumably interact with and wear the wafer. Although the pad speeds in these studies are much lower than those encountered in the actual CMP process, the initial results suggest that there is negligible “slip” between the particle and fluid phase velocities at the wafer surface. The number of particles at the wafer surface appears, however, to be strongly affected by particle properties, including particle density and size.Copyright © 2003 by ASME
National Medical Spending Attributable To Overweight And Obesity: How Much, And Who's Paying?

We use a regression framework and nationally representative data to compute aggregate overweight- and obesity-attributable medical spending for the United States and for select payers. Combined, such expenditures accounted for 9.1 percent of total annual U.S. medical expenditures in 1998 and may have been as high as dollar 78.5 billion (dollar 92.6 billion in 2002 dollars). Medicare and Medicaid finance approximately half of these costs.
The Influence of Social Supports on Employment for Hispanic, Black, and White Unmarried Mothers

This study considers the relationship between social supports and employment and how this relationship may differ for Hispanic, non-Hispanic Black, and non-Hispanic White unmarried mothers with young children. Using data from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study, this article examines how various perceived and received social supports influence later employment outcomes. Multinomial regression analyses indicate that family, individual, and family background supports promoted employment while community supports were associated with lower employment levels. Race-specific analyses indicate that supports were related to employment to a much greater extent for Hispanics and non-Hispanic Blacks than for non-Hispanic Whites. Results suggest that unmarried mothers’ unique needs and supports must be taken into account to accommodate employment.
The Effects of Job Attributes, Institutional Mission Emphasis, and Institution Type on Perceptions of the Provost Position.

Randomly selected deans (N = 456) employed at public institutions rated one of four provost position announcements varied by two variables: job attributes and institutional mission. Independent var...
Developmental milestones in toddlers with atypical development

The attainment of developmental milestones was examined and compared in 162 infants and toddlers with developmental disabilities, including Down Syndrome (n = 26), Cerebral Palsy (n = 19), Global Developmental Delay (n = 22), Premature birth (n = 66), and Seizure Disorder (n = 29). Toddlers in the Seizures Disorder group began crawling at a significantly younger age than toddlers in the Down Syndrome and Cerebral Palsy groups. Additionally, toddlers in the Seizure Disorder group began walking at a younger age than children in the Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, and Global Developmental Delay groups, while toddlers in the Prematurity group began walking at a younger age than children in the Down Syndrome group. No between group differences were found with respect to age at which first words were spoken. Results and their implications are discussed.
An in vitro analysis of wrist motion: the effect of limited intercarpal arthrodesis and the contributions of the radiocarpal and midcarpal joints.

Radiocarpal and intercarpal arthrodeses were simulated in 12 fresh cadaver wrists by means of external fixation. Range-of-motion measurements were made before and after simulated arthrodesis and used to calculate the contribution of the midcarpal and radiocarpal joints to wrist motion, as well as the residual wrist motion after limited intercarpal arthrodeses. Relative contributions to wrist motion were as follows: wrist flexion: radiocarpal (RC) joint 63%, midcarpal (MC) joint 36%; wrist extension: RC joint 53%, MC joint 46%. The wrist motion remaining after simulated arthrodeses was as follows: capitate-hamate: flexion (Fix) 98%, extension (Ext) 92%, ulnar deviation (UD) 96%, radial deviation (RD) 90%; scaphoid-lunate: Fix 97%, Ext 91%, UD 90%, RD 91%; scaphoid-trapezium-trapezoid: Fix 86%, Ext 88%, UD 67%, RD 69%; scaphoid-lunate-triquetrum: Fix 91%, Ext 82%, UD 86%, RD 70%; capitate-lunate: Fix 70%, Ext 59%, UD 89%, RD 79%; capitate-hamate-triquetrum: Fix 88%, Ext 79%, UD 88%, RD 81%; hamate-triquetrum: Fix 90%, Ext 85%, UD 89%, RD 94%; scaphoid-trapeziumtrapezoid-capitate: Fix 85%, Ext 77%, UD 64%, RD 57%.
Separating the effects of climate and vegetation on evapotranspiration along a successional chronosequence in the southeastern US

We combined Eddy-covariance measurements with a linear perturbation analysis to isolate the relative contribution of physical and biological drivers on evapotranspiration (ET) in three ecosystems representing two end-members and an intermediate stage of a successional gradient in the southeastern US (SE). The study ecosystems, an abandoned agricultural field [old field (OF)], an early successional planted pine forest (PP), and a late-successional hardwood forest (HW), exhibited differential sensitivity to the wide range of climatic and hydrologic conditions encountered over the 4-year measurement period, which included mild and severe droughts and an ice storm. ET and modeled transpiration differed by as much as 190 and 270 mm yr⁻¹, respectively, between years for a given ecosystem. Soil water supply, rather than atmospheric demand, was the principal external driver of interannual ET differences. ET at OF was sensitive to climatic variability, and results showed that decreased leaf area index (L) under mild and severe drought conditions reduced growing season (GS) ET (ETGS) by ca. 80 mm compared with a year with normal precipitation. Under wet conditions, higher intrinsic stomatal conductance (gs) increased ETGS by 50 mm. ET at PP was generally larger than the other ecosystems and was highly sensitive to climate; a 50 mm decrease in ETGS due to the loss of L from an ice storm equaled the increase in ET from high precipitation during a wet year. In contrast, ET at HW was relatively insensitive to climatic variability. Results suggest that recent management trends toward increasing the land-cover area of PP-type ecosystems in the SE may increase the sensitivity of ET to climatic variability.
The Anemic and Thrombocytopenic Febrile Neonate

Abstract Background Babesiosis is a tick-borne, protozoal disease seen primarily in the northeastern and northern Midwest portions of the United States. It is primarily transmitted through the bite of the Ixodes scapularis tick and may cause hemolysis. Case Report In the following case report, we present a 4-week-old male neonate with a temperature of 38.8°C (102.0°F) who presented to our pediatric emergency department with anemia, thrombocytopenia, and splenomegaly. Blood smear analysis demonstrated U-shaped parasitic rings within red blood cells consistent with babesiosis, confirmed by a positive Babesia microti antibody screen. Because the patient was never exposed to a vector for babesiosis, and never lived in an endemic area, the most likely exposure was in-utero transmission of the disease through transplacental migration of the parasite prior to birth. The patient was treated with atovaquone and azithromycin and discharged from the hospital after 6 days. The patient's mother also tested positive and was treated with the same medications. The evaluation of a febrile neonate includes a broad differential diagnosis. Although babesiosis is still uncommon in many areas of the United States, a specific constellation of laboratory findings and symptoms should prompt its consideration, even in patients who have not been exposed to an endemic area or a typical vector. Vertical transmission of babesiosis has been previously reported, but the occurrence is quite rare. Why Should an Emergency Physician Be Aware of This? Practitioners should include babesiosis in their differential diagnosis where appropriate and be aware that it can be transmitted not only via tick bite, but also from mother to neonate during pregnancy.
Flotation versus dry sieving archaeobotanical remains: A case history from the Middle Horizon southern coast of Peru

During excavations at the site of Casa Vieja located in the Peruvian coastal desert, archaeological plant remains were systematically collected to assess whether it is more productive and informative to sieve sandy sediments in dry environments or to process such samples by water flotation, a persistent methodological concern. At Casa Vieja, dual subsamples were collected and analyzed using both of these procedures. For dry, sandy sediment conditions, each processing strategy was found to yield a different view of the botanical remains. Dry sieving recovers more of the larger plant specimens whereas water flotation yields more of the smaller-sized material. These results should be incorporated into archaeological research designs in the future, especially for desert environments.
On the Abramovskii, Kancheli, Gribov Reggeon cutting rules

We present a simple derivation of the Reggeon cutting rules of Abramovskii, Kancheli, and Gribov. The argument is based on multiple scattering off spatially-separated hadrons in softened field theory, and some remarks on the generality of the rules are included.
Effects of ethanol on fight- or swim-stressed mice in Porsolt's swim test

The effects of ethanol in Porsolt's swim test on mice preexposed to fight- or swim-stressors were investigated. The control mice did not change their behavior in the swim test after an acute injection of 0.4 or 0.8 g/kg ethanol; 1.2 g/kg ethanol increased their immobility in one but not in another experiment. The mice exposed to continuous fight-attacks in their home cage by one dominant mouse shortened immobility after 0.8 g/kg ethanol as well as tended to shorten it after 0.4 g/kg ethanol. The mice that were forced to swim in the water twice before the actual swim test responded to 0.4 g/kg ethanol by shortening immobility; 0.8 g/kg tended to have the same effect; 1.2 g/kg ethanol just failed to lengthen immobility of the fight-stressed mice and had no effect on the swim-stressed mice. Because antidepressant drugs decrease and stressors increase immobility in the swim test, the test may serve as a putative animal model of depression. The present findings showed that low doses of ethanol reverse lengthened immobility of mice preexposed to a stressor. This suggests that ethanol either has antidepressant-like properties, or it improves animal's ability to cope with a stressful situation, or both.
Business meets supercomputing: keynote talk

Organizations of all size, whether in business or government are recognizing the strategic role of data and the huge challenge they have to derive value from it. Consumer businesses want to better understand and engage with their customers. Logistics companies want to better optimize their operations. Governments want to find ways to deliver services more effectively and to reduce costs. We see the same patterns repeat across multiple industries. Conventional data management and data mining techniques are breaking down because of the huge volumes of data that need to be processed, because of the variety of ways that data is collected and stored and because of the need to make decisions quickly and on the most current information. The convergence of these trends is creating new opportunities for innovation in algorithms, programming models and computer architecture. In this talk, I will offer a perspective on the emerging field of business analytics on big data and explore connections with the world of high performance computing.
Range based object tracking and segmentation

We present an approach for tracking a moving object based on range information in stereoscopic temporal imagery. Range information is filtered by the proposed dynamic scheme to improve the quality of active contour segmentation, and to better estimate the global motion of the object. Region-based active contours using Bhattacharyya gradient flow is exploited due to its robustness to noise of a cluttered depth map. Such a sensor-fusion approach of an active contour segmentation of the image data with the statistics of a depth map provides a state estimate that is more accurate than what would be possible with either of the two alone. Experimental results demonstrate the applicability of the proposed method on several stereoscopic sequences.
Linear spinodal decomposition in a regular ternary alloy

Abstract The solution for the three linearly independent partial structure functions in a ternary alloy are presented for the Cahn-Hilliard linear theory as well as the Cook approximation. The partial structure functions are computed for a ternary regular solution employing a variety of choices for the gradient energy coefficients, atomic mobilities and average composition.
Effective charge parameters for 7Li, 11B, 12C, 14N, and 16O projectiles traversing nickel and Havar targets

Abstract Recent measurements of the stopping powers of nickel and Havar foils for 0.2–2.1 MeV/u 7 Li, 11 B, 12 C, 14 N, and 16 O projectiles have been analyzed in terms of modified Bethe-Bloch theory in order to extract values of projectile effective charge parameters. A single-parameter form of effective charge proved generally adequate, although a slightly improved fit was attained with a two-parameter form.
Infected Cell Protein 22 of Herpes Simplex Virus 1 Regulates the Expression of Virion Host Shutoff Gene UL41

The U(L)41 protein of herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) is packaged into virions, and in newly infected cells the protein mediates indiscriminate degradation of mRNA, which causes a shutoff of protein synthesis. We report that in cells infected with mutant virus in which either alpha22/U(S)1.5 or U(L)13 had been deleted: (i) the shutoff of protein synthesis and the degradation of mRNA did not take place or were greatly reduced, and consistent with these observations (ii) cells infected with mutant viruses accumulated less U(L)41 mRNA and protein than cells infected with the parent virus; and (iii) purified virions from cells infected with deltaU(L)13 or delta alpha22/deltaU(S)1.5 viruses contained less U(L)41 protein than virions produced by the wild-type parent virus. We conclude that the failure of the U(L)13- mutant virus to shut off protein synthesis immediately after infection is due to the failure of posttranslational modification of infected cell protein 22 and/or the related U(S)1.5 protein by the U(L)13 protein kinase. The regulatory effect of U(L)13 on U(L)41 is indirect and not contingent on direct interaction of this protein with the U(L)41 protein.
Split brains: no headache for the soul theorist

Split brains that result in two simultaneous streams of consciousness cut off from each other are wrongly held to be grounds for doubting the existence of the divinely created soul. The mistake is based on two related errors: first, a failure to appreciate the soul’s dependence upon neurological functioning. Secondly, a fallacious belief that if the soul is simple, i.e., without parts, then there must be a unity to its thought, all of its thoughts potentially accessible to reflection or even unreflective causal interactions. But a soul theorist can allow neurological events to keep some conscious thoughts unavailable to others. Introduction It is commonly thought that the phenomenon of the split brain delivers a decisive knockout blow to soul theories. The phenomenon is well known to neuroscientists as well as philosophers of mind. Brain splitting involves a surgical procedure known as commissurotomy, which severs the neural fibers of the corpus callosum, resulting in either a partial or complete interruption of interhemispheric communication. As a consequence of the procedure, which was first developed as a means to treat epileptic seizures, the patients experience a bifurcation of consciousness into two apparent “streams-of-thought.” Materialist philosophers of mind have widely contended that these results contradict the supposed unity and simplicity of the soul. This will be unwelcome news to the many theists who believe their religious beliefs require they be immaterial or have an immaterial component. But to continue with the boxing metaphor that began this paper, we don’t think split brains even help the materialist contenders win their bouts with dualists on points. The fact that the splitting of the brain results in two contemporaneous spheres of consciousness that are in some
Mutagenesis and micronutrients relationship

Several micronutrients have been reported to be mutagenic or co-mutagenic in certain in vitro testing systems. However, micronutrients have not been shown to be mutagenic or co-mutagenic in vivo, or at physiological concentrations in vitro. Most of the mutagenic or co-mutagenic effects of micronutrients observed in vitro can be attributed to their involvement in the generation of oxygen radicals. Many micronutrients have been shown to possess anti-mutagenic or co-antimutagenic activity in vitro and in vivo. This property of micronutrients appears to be linked to their specific and interrelated biochemical functions.
Gender diversity in leadership succession: Preparing for the future

The development of gender diversity in leadership positions is a critical need for many companies as they develop strategies for how they will compete in the future. In this article, we test hypotheses about diverse leadership succession, using survey and archival data. Survey data were collected from executives and managers who responded to questions about their succession planning, successors, and the context of diversity in their work environments. Results indicate that the nomination of women as successors was positively associated with more favorable diversity climates for women. Furthermore, we found that the nomination of female successors was positively associated with the performance of incumbent managers who nominated them as their successors. We also found that the performance of incumbent managers moderated the relationship between diversity climate and the nomination of female successors. Lower-performing incumbents were less likely than higher-performing incumbents to nominate women as successors when the diversity climate was unfavorable. When the diversity climate was favorable, lower performers were more likely and higher performers were equally likely to nominate women as successors. We found no differences in the degree of objectivity in incumbents' descriptions of the strengths of female successors versus their male counterparts or in the degree of subjectivity in their developmental needs. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Power, individuation, and the cross-race recognition deficit

Abstract The well-known cross-race effect (CRE) in facial recognition is observed as better recognition for faces of one’s own race than faces of another race. Across two experiments, this very robust phenomenon was attenuated via an increase in cross-race (CR) recognition when CR targets were perceived as wielding power either because of their occupational roles (Experiment 1) or the behaviors in which they engaged (Experiment 2). Furthermore, evidence in Experiment 2 indicates that neither target stereotypicality nor target valence can easily explain the observed increase in CR recognition. These results conform closely to predictions derived from a social-cognitive model of the cross-race effect.
The Cervicothoracic Junction

The cervicothoracic junction (CTJ) represents a unique region in the spine because of its biomechanical properties. It is predisposed to various traumatic injuries, tumor, and iatrogenic instability. It is also a difficult region to access anteriorly because of the vital structures ventral to the CTJ. The development of new surgical techniques and new instrumentation has allowed better access and fixation to the CTJ.
Meta-analysis and Epidemiologic Studies in Drug Development and Postmarketing Surveillance

THE UNMATCHED ABILITY OF PROSPECTIVELY DESIGNED randomized trials to provide unbiased, definitive evidence about the benefits and risks of treatments in the population studied is not in doubt, certain critical aspects of drug therapy, however, cannot be addressed by this method or addressed as rapidly as physicians, patients, and the public would like. In this issue of THE JOURNAL, 2 related articles consider the potential value of other methods of discovery of adverse consequences of drug use as well as the beneficial effects of drugs, specifically through epidemiologic methods and meta-analyses (systematic overviews) of data. These methods unquestionably have a place in the assessment of drug treatments but, as has been often pointed out, they must be used with care and recognition of their limitations.