cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Tungsten filled 3D printed field shaping devices for electron beam radiation therapy.

Purpose Electron radiotherapy is a labor-intensive treatment option that is complicated by the need for field shaping blocks. These blocks are typically made from casting Cerrobend alloys containing lead and cadmium. This is a highly toxic process with limited precision. This work aims to provide streamlined and more precise electron radiotherapy by 3D using printing techniques. Methods The 3D printed electron cutout consists of plastic shells filled with 2 mm diameter tungsten ball bearings. Five clinical Cerrobend defined field were compared to the planned fields by measuring the light field edge when mounted in the electron applicator on a linear accelerator. The dose transmitted through the 3D printed and Cerrobend cutouts was measured using an IC profiler ion chamber array with 6 MeV and 16 MeV beams. Dose profiles from the treatment planning system were also compared to the measured dose profiles. Centering and full width half maximum (FWHM) metrics were taken directly from the profiler software. Results The transmission of a 16MeV beam through a 12 mm thick layer of tungsten ball bearings agreed within 1% of a 15 mm thick Cerrobend block (measured with an ion chamber array). The radiation fields shaped by ball bearing filled 3D printed cutout were centered within 0.4 mm of the planned outline, whereas the Cerrobend cutout fields had shift errors of 1-3 mm, and shape errors of 0.5-2 mm. The average shift of Cerrobend cutouts was 2.3 mm compared to the planned fields (n = 5). Beam penumbra of the 3D printed cutouts was found to be equivalent to the 15 mm thick Cerrobend cutout. The beam profiles agreed within 1.2% across the whole 30 cm profile widths. Conclusions This study demonstrates that with a proper quality assurance procedure, 3D-printed cutouts can provide more accurate electron radiotherapy with reduced toxicity compared to traditional Cerrobend methods.
Improving Soil Health in Pacific Northwest Potato Production: a Review

Many factors are driving interest in improving soil health in potato production systems in the U.S. Pacific Northwest and beyond, including the need for enhanced sustainability and economic viability, and consumer preferences. Potato production poses a particular challenge in terms of soil health due to intensive tillage, minimal residue left on fields, short rotations, and the importance of managing soilborne pathogens. This review discusses existing soil health assessment methods and their relevance for the region and summarizes results of studies conducted in the Pacific Northwest and beyond, examining practices aimed at improving soil health and their effects on soil health, soilborne pathogens, yield and quality of potatoes, and net returns in potato production systems. These practices include reducing tillage; adjusting crop rotation length and species composition; reducing fumigation; and using cover crops, green manures, and organic amendments.
Mental Health, Social Influences, and HIV Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) Utilization Among Men and Transgender Individuals Screening for HIV Prevention Trials

The effects of mental health comorbidities and social support on the HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) care continuum are unknown. We conducted a cross-sectional study of men and transgender individuals, ≥ 18 years-old, with ≥ 2 male or transgender partners, or recent condomless anal intercourse. Surveys assessed demographics, mental health treatment, depressive symptomatology, social support, and PrEP-related social contacts. Logistic regression assessed associations between these factors and PrEP uptake and persistence. Participants (n = 247) were 89% cis-male and 46% African-American. Median age was 27 (IQR:23–33). Thirty-seven percent had ever used PrEP, of whom 18% discontinued use. High depressive symptomology was identified in 11% and 9% were receiving mental health treatment. There were no significant associations between depressive symptoms or mental health treatment on the odds of PrEP uptake or discontinuation. Each additional PrEP contact conferred a greater odds of uptake (aOR:1.24, 95% CI: 1.09–1.42). Network-level targets may produce fruitful interventions to increase PrEP uptake.
More than just lower wages: intrinsic job quality for college graduates with disabilities

Americans with a disability are substantially less likely to be employed than those without a disability. Among those with a disability who are employed, additional layers of inequality have been e...
Determination of low-level biogenic gasoline, jet fuel, and diesel in blends using the direct liquid scintillation counting method for 14C content

Abstract The direct liquid scintillation counting (LSC) method was investigated for quantitative measurement of 14C in low-level biogenic gasoline, jet fuel, and diesel range hydrocarbons in fuel blendstock to determine the biogenic content. Carbon-14 (14C) is an ideal tracer for biogenic fuel products, due to the depletion of 14C in fossil-based fuel. Biogenic gasoline, jet fuel, and diesel range hydrocarbons prepared from distillation of hydrotreated pyrolysis oils were blended with toluene at 1–10 wt%. The blends were analyzed by the direct LSC method using both Perkin-Elmer Quantulus and TriCarb instruments, using an internal 14C standard as an indication of signal quench. This study shows that it is feasible to accurately determine the biogenic fraction of blended fuels containing 1 wt% biogenic fuel using the direct LSC method, suggesting that direct LSC could be an option for quality assurance testing of biomass-derived liquids at co-processing facilities. The Quantulus and TriCarb instruments were found to be comparable for low-level detection of 14C in blended samples, suggesting that some instrument flexibility may be available to potential users. Quenching effects were considered and several methods for quench correction were compared.
Lessons Learned in Leveraging Existing Simulations for Cybersecurity Training, Evaluation, and Research

We provide lessons learned in leveraging existing simulations to conduct human-subjects cybersecurity experiments and develop training for cybersecurity professionals. First, we provide criteria fo...
Social and Behavioral Variables in the Electronic Health Record: A Path Forward to Increase Data Quality and Utility.

Purpose Social and behavioral determinants of health (SBDH) are important factors that affect the health of individuals but are not routinely captured in a structured and systematic manner in electronic health records (EHRs). The purpose of this study is to generate recommendations for systematic implementation of SBDH data collection in EHRs through (1) reviewing SBDH conceptual and theoretical frameworks and (2) eliciting stakeholder perspectives on barriers to and facilitators of using SBDH information in the EHR and priorities for data collection. Method The authors reviewed SBDH frameworks to identify key social and behavioral variables and conducted focus groups and interviews with 17 clinicians and researchers at Johns Hopkins Health System between March and May 2018. Transcripts were coded and common themes were extracted to understand the barriers to and facilitators of accessing SBDH information. Results The authors found that although the frameworks agreed that SBDH affect health outcomes, the lack of model consensus complicates the development of specific recommendations for the prioritization of SBDH data collection. Study participants recognized the importance of SBDH information and individual health and agreed that patient-reported information should be captured, but clinicians and researchers cited different priorities for which variables are most important. For the few SBDH variables that are captured, participants reported that data were often incomplete, unclear, or inconsistent, affecting both researcher and clinician responses to SBDH barriers to health. Conclusions Health systems need to identify and prioritize the systematic implementation of collection of a high-impact but limited list of SBDH variables in the EHR. These variables should affect care and be amenable to change and collection should be integrated into clinical workflows. Improved data collection of SBDH variables can lead to a better understanding of how SBDH affect health outcomes and ways to better address underlying health disparities that need urgent action.
Localized Conformal Prediction: A Generalized Inference Framework for Conformal Prediction

We propose a new inference framework called localized conformal prediction. It generalizes the framework of conformal prediction and offers a single-test-sample adaptive construction by emphasizing a local region around it. Although there have been methods constructing heterogeneous prediction intervals for $Y$ by designing better conformal score functions, to our knowledge, this is the first work that introduces an adaptive nature to the inference framework itself. We prove that our proposal leads to an assumption-free and finite sample marginal coverage guarantee, as well as an approximate conditional coverage guarantee. Our proposal achieves asymptotic conditional coverage under suitable assumptions. The localized conformal prediction can be combined with many existing works in conformal prediction, including different types of conformal score constructions. We will demonstrate how to change from conformal prediction to localized conformal prediction in these related works and a potential gain via numerical examples.
Cellular mechanisms of temperature sensitivity in hypothalamic neurons.

Publisher Summary This chapter summarizes the recent electrophysiological studies in rat hypothalamic slices, addressing the cellular mechanisms that determine the differences between warm sensitive and temperature insensitive neurons. Cellular mechanisms of neuronal thermosensitivity are best studied in vitro. Whole-cell recordings in hypothalamic tissue slices permit the intracellular activity of neurons to be examined free from anesthesia and without afferent input. The chapter illustrates that temperature insensitive neurons show little or no change in their firing rates when hypothalamic temperature is changed. When neuronal firing rate is plotted as a function of temperature, the thermal coefficient or slope is the criterion for thermosensitivity. Temperature insensitive neurons can be divided into two subcategories. Lowslope temperature insensitive neurons show almost no change in their firing rate, even when temperature is changed several degrees. Other neurons are classified as moderate slope temperature insensitive and show only slight increases in their firing rates during warming. These neurons may not be intrinsically thermosensitive, but rather, they appear to be synaptically inhibited by nearby warm sensitive neurons.
The influence of oxidation on the structure and strength of graphite—II: Materials of different impurity content

Abstract Six polycrystalline graphites were manufactured to contain specific impurities, iron, vanadium and calcium, with two different concentrations. They were then oxidized in either dry air, CO2 or H2O so as to produce a uniform gasification profile within the samples and were tested for loss of compressive strength and Young's modulus. Mercury porosimeter measurements and scanning electron microscope observations were also made. Materials containing calcium suffered the greatest loss of mechanical properties for a given weight loss, with calcium producing the greatest catalytic effect for the graphite—H2O reaction. For the materials doped with Ca and Fe there appeared to be little or no effect of impurity concentration on strength loss as a function of burn-off. Microscopic observations showed that the degradation of mechanical properties was due to gross gasification of the binder together with some weakening of filler particles.
Adults' Sexual Orientation and State Determinations Regarding Placement of Children

This article examines whether the fact that a parent or prospective parent is gay should be considered when the state places children in adoptive and foster care homes, resolves child custody disputes, and establishes policy with respect to access to assisted reproductive technologies (ART). I focus on whether consideration of adults' sexual orientation is likely to promote the positive development and well-being of children. I examine the value issues, with special focus on the claim that children should be placed only in "optimal" families, the relevant social science research, and a range of policy options. I conclude that it is almost always detrimental to children if decision-makers consider an adult's sexual orientation when making placement decisions.
Commercial insurers and all-payer regulation: Evidence on hospitals' responses to financial need

This study explores commercial insurers' claims about cost-shifting in the broader context of hospitals' responses to revenue needs. It relies on hospital survey data from 1980 and 1982, a period that pre-dates Medicare's Prospective Payment System (PPS) for hospitals. While we find that limited amounts of cost-shifting occur, evidence does not support the notion that it is a perfect safety valve to control financial status. In addition, all-payer rate-setting does not appear to be related to hospitals' ability to shift costs. Instead, inpatient rate controls cause hospitals to contain costs, seek greater outpatient revenues and accept lower margins. Are the financial 'stresses' associated with PPS sufficient enough to kick off renewed concerns about cost-shifting? Some aggregate data from the PPS-era indicates that lower growth in Medicare payments has not resulted in cost-shifting on a widespread basis.
Hierarchical optical ring interconnection (HORN): a scalable interconnection-network for multiprocessors and massively parallel systems

A new interconnection network for massively parallel computing is introduced. This network is called a hierarchal optical ring interconnection (HORN). HORN consists of a single-hop, scalable, constant degree, strictly non-blocking, fault-tolerant interconnection topology that utilizes wavelength division multiple access (WDMA) to provide better utilization of the terahertz (THz) bandwidth offered by optics. The proposed optical network: integrates attractive features of hierarchical ring interconnections, e.g., simple node interface, constant node degree, better support for locality of reference, fault-tolerance, with the advantages of optics. This paper presents the HORN topology, analyzes its architectural properties and presents an optical design methodology for it. Furthermore, a brief feasibility study of HORN is conducted. The study shows that the topology is highly amenable to optical implementation using commercially available optical elements.
Language comprehension in a problem solver

This paper describes BRUIN, a unified A system that can perform both problem-solving and language comprehension tasks. Included in the system is a frame-based knowledge-representation language called FRAIL, a problem solving component called NASL (which is based on McDermott's problem-solving language of the same name), and a context-recognition component currently known as PRAGMATICS. The intent of this paper is to give a flavor of how the context recognizer PRAGMATICS works and what it can do. Examples are drawn from the inventory-control, restaurant and blocks-world domains.
Input impedance calculation to the dielectric loaded cavity with probe feeding

In order to predict and optimize parameters in microwave heating systems, electromagnetic simulation is convenient and necessary. For such applications, wire antennas in the presence of metallic and dielectric bodies with arbitrary shapes have been researched. A hybrid integral approach treating thin wire and thick wire antennas together with metallic and inhomogeneous dielectric bodies is applied to compute the input impedance of a dielectric loaded cavity with coaxial probe-feeding. Two models for the wire antenna treatment are compared and validated with dipoles and probe-fed monopoles. The thin wire model is valid only when the wire radius is electrically small. When the radius is larger than about 0.005/spl lambda/, the surface model can be applied. The formulation can be used to analyze thin and thick wire antennas in the presence of conducting surfaces and dielectric volumes with arbitrary shapes for the probe-feeding.
Interleukin 10 Protects the Brain Microcirculation From Spirochetal Injury

Spirochetal infections are an important cause of neurological disease. In previous studies of the pathogenesis of spirochetal brain infection, mice inoculated with Borrelia turicatae, an agent of tick-borne relapsing fever in North America, developed mild meningitis and parenchymal activation/infiltration by interleukin 10 (IL-10)-producing microglia/macrophages. Here, we investigated the neuro-protective effects of IL-10 during spirochetal infection by comparing the outcomes of B. turicatae infection in wild-type and IL-10-deficient RAG2-deficient mice. Mice were infected with either serotype 1 (Bt1), which causes more brain infection but lower bacteremia, or Bt2, which causes less brain infection but higher bacteremia. Interleukin 10 deficiency resulted in early death from subarachnoid/intraparenchymal brain hemorrhage in Bt2-infected mice. These mice had marked apoptosis of brain microvascular endothelial cells as assessed by terminal transferase-mediated DNA nick end-labeling staining. In contrast, Bt1 infection caused milder subarachnoid hemorrhage. Neuronal apoptosis was observed in mice infected with both serotypes and was prominent in the cerebellum. Neutralization of tumor necrosis factor prevented death and reduced morbidity and brain injury in mice infected by both serotypes. We conclude that IL-10 plays a critical role protecting the cerebral microcirculation from spirochetal injury possibly by inhibition effects of tumor necrosis factor.
The Boston Renaissance: Race, Space, and Economic Change in an American Metropolis . By Barry Bluestone and Mary Huff Stevenson, with contributions from Michael Massagli, Philip Moss, and Chris Tilly. New York: Russell Sage Foundation, 2000. Pp. xiii, 461. $45.00.

The greater Boston area has experienced a remarkable economic resurgence in the last two decades. Beginning in the late nineteenth century the declining fortunes of its leading manufacturing industries—textiles and boots and shoes—contributed to a sustained economic slide that was not reversed until the early 1980s. By 1982 a Brookings Institution study citing high and rising unemployment, rising crime rates, poor housing, municipal debt burden and tax disparity ranked the Boston SMSA near the bottom of urban America, below cities such as Detroit, Gary, Newark, and Oakland. These trends were sharply reversed in the 1980s and early 1990s, however. Propelled by the rise of high-technology industries, the growing importance of medical care in the economy, and the contributions of its concentration of colleges and universities, Boston ranked first among urban areas in growth of median family incomes during the 1980s, while its surrounding suburbs ranked second among suburban areas.
Thyristor Semiconductor Components Today

Recent progress in semiconductor controlled rectifier components (the major type of thyristor) will be reviewed. As a result of advances in dynamic characteristics, SCRs are now applicable to equipments operating under severe transient conditions and at frequencies ranging into the ultrasonic spectrum. A number of other types of thyristors have been developed for special control and static power conversion applications. Among the devices described are the 4-layer diode, the light-activated SCR, the gate turn-off switch, the silicon controlled switch, and both the diode and the triode bidirectional thyristors. While lagging behind the SCR in acceptance, these newer types of thyristors can be expected to have an equally profound impact on the power conversion and control fields.
Paraorygmatobothrium barberi n. g., n. sp. (Cestoda: Tetraphyllidea), with amended descriptions of two species transferred to the genus

Paraorygmatobothrium n.g. (Cestoda: Tetraphyllidea) differs from all other phyllobothriid genera in having serrated microtriches on the proximal bothridial surfaces, two dorsal and two ventral scutes on the neck, and the presence of very small (<500 nm) triangular structures on the surface of the neck. No single light microscopical feature is sufficient to distinguish the new genus from other phyllobothriid genera. Phyllobothrium prionacis from Prionace glauca and Anthobothrium exiguum from Alopias vulpinus are transferred to the new genus and their descriptions are amended. Paraorygmatobothrium barberi n. sp. from Triakis semifasciata is also described, and can be distinguished from the other two species in being longer, having a greater number of segments, longer and wider mature segments, a greater number of testes, a longer cirrus-sac, a longer and wider ovary, a wider ovicapt, and a greater number of rows of dorsal and ventral vitelline follicles than the other two species. It also differs in the shape of the egg-shell and in the possession of a circular band of sub-tegumentary muscles in the middle third of each bothridium. Two of the species placed in the new genus have microtriches resembling an “ear of corn” on the distal bothridial surface. These microtriches are similar to structures reported for Phyllobothrium squali from the Squalus acanthias and Orygmatobothrium musteli from Mustelus henlei; this similarity in microtriche structure potentially indicates a systematic relationship between members of Paraorygmatobothrium and these two species.
Rates of amino acid evolution in the 26- and 28-kDa glutathione S-transferases of Schistosoma

Abstract Statistical analysis of glutathione S -transferase (GST) sequences of Schistosoma mansoni, Schistosoma japonicum , and other animals revealed that, in comparison both to the related mammalian α GSTs and to Schistosoma 26-kDa GSTs, the 28-kDa GSTs of Schistosoma have evolved unusually rapidly at the amino acid level in the ordinarily conserved N-terminal portion of the molecule. Because this rapid rate of evolution is reflected at the amino acid level and at nonsynonymous nucleotide sites but not at synonymous nucleotide sites, it must be due to a relaxation of functional constraint on the N-terminal region of the Schistosoma 28-kDa GSTs rather than to a high mutation rate. By contrast, the 26-kDa GSTs of Schistosoma not only show a slower rate of amino acid evolution in the N-terminal portion than the 28-kDa GSTs but also have evolved more slowly in the C-terminal portion than have the related mammalian μ GSTs. The two 26-kDa GSTs of S. mansoni show particularly strong amino acid conservation between one another in the N-terminal region and a predominance of conservative amino acid replacements.
AFFECTIVE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE ADULT LEARNER: A STUDY OF MASTERY BASED INSTRUCTION

This study addresses the utility of a mastery learning strategy for the returning adult student in basic mathematics. More specifically, it analyzes which students seem to profit most from this str...
Molecular analysis of cytoplasmic microtubules in situ: Identification of both widespread and specific proteins

We have analyzed the molecular components of cytoplasmic microtubules in situ in several types of cultured cells. Our approach makes use of preparations of detergent-extracted cytoskeletons that contain the original cellular microtubules. Identification of microtubule components is based on two criteria: their presence in the cytoskeleton preparations is dependent upon the presence of intact microtubules, and they are released from such preparations by buffers that depolymerize microtubules. Proteins that meet these criteria are described. Some of them are restricted to cells of certain species or tissues of origin. Others appear to be of widespread distribution. Among the latter is a protein homologous to one of the tau polypeptides in brain microtubule protein.
Extending a multiethnic food composition table to include standardized food group servings

There is a growing awareness that foods may have health benefits that go beyond their nutrient components. Therefore, nutrient database developers are being asked to provide databases that allow estimates of food group intakes as well as nutrient intake. Methodology for a standardized food-grouping system was recently developed by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The Pyramid Servings Database (PSD) disaggregates most foods into their ingredients and then allocates each of these ingredients to one of 30 food groups. The Cancer Research Center of Hawaii has a food composition database with many unique foods because of our multi-ethnic population. We recently completed a project to add Pyramid Servings to each of the 1286 ingredients on our food composition database. The methodology we describe here may be useful to other researchers who want to calculate food group intake in a standard manner using the PSD but who must first link their database to the one from USDA. We highlight several foods on our database that were not present in the PSD or that did not match well to foods on the PSD. With a careful examination of energy and fat composition data, and the use of an energy adjustment factor, we were able to assign the appropriate number of Pyramid Servings to all foods.
Correlation of chitosan's rheological properties and its ability to electrospin.

Chitosan-based, defect-free nanofibers with average diameters ranging from 62 ± 9 nm to 129 ± 16 nm were fabricated via electrospinning blended solutions of chitosan and polyethylene oxide (PEO). Several solution parameters such as acetic acid concentration, polymer concentration, and polymer molecular weight were investigated to optimize fiber consistency and diameter. These parameters were evaluated using the rheological properties of the solutions as well as images produced by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of the electrospun nanofibers. Generally, SEM imaging demonstrated that as total polymer concentration (chitosan + PEO) increased, the number of beads decreased, and as chitosan concentration increased, fiber diameter decreased. Chitosan-PEO solutions phase separate over time; as a result, blended solutions were able to be electrospun with the weakest electric field and the least amount of complications when solutions were electrospun within 24 h of initially being blended. The addition of NaCl ...
What explains differences between dementia patients' and their caregivers' ratings of patients' quality of life?

Objective The authors assessed the magnitude of discrepancy between patients' and caregivers' ratings of the patients' quality of life and sought to determine whether the discrepancies are associated with patient characteristics, caregiver characteristics, or the type of relationship between the patient and caregiver. Methods A sample of 91 patients with mild-to-moderately severe dementia and their primary family caregiver rated five domains of the patients' subjective quality of life. Results Agreement between patients and caregivers was low. Caregivers rated patients' quality of life lower than patients rated their own in all five domains. Discrepancies between patients' and caregivers' ratings were not associated with the patients' cognitive performance, level of functioning, nor caregivers' reports of aggressive, attention-seeking, or sexually inappropriate behaviors, nor whether the caregiver lived with or was married to the patient. However, discrepancies were associated with level of caregiver burden and the patients' report of depressive symptoms. Patients with depression reported low quality of life, which matched caregivers' low rating of patients' quality of life. Caregivers who reported higher levels of burden rated patients' quality of life lower than did patients in all five domains of quality of life. Conclusions Discrepancies between dementia patients' and their caregivers' ratings of the patients' quality of life are associated with increased levels of caregiver burden, rather than lower levels of patients' functioning. The results of this study support the direct assessment of mild-to-moderate dementia patients about their subjective quality of life.
Quipazine has a biphasic effect on slow wave sleep and reduces REM sleep rebound in REM sleep deprived rats

Rats implanted with electrodes for polygraphic recording were deprived of REM sleep for 24 hr. Following REM sleep deprivation animals were injected with quipazine maleate (7.5 mg/kg IP) and were polygraphically recorded for 48 hr. The results show that quipazine reduces REM sleep rebound and that it has a biphasic effect on slow-wave sleep: initial 6 hr suppression is followed by a delayed increase in the second 24 hr recording period. The initial suppression of slow-wave sleep we attribute to the stimulation of central serotonergic receptors while the effect on REM sleep rebound may result from quipazine's action on central catecholamines.
Characterization and Inhibition of a Class II Diterpene Cyclase from Mycobacterium tuberculosis IMPLICATIONS FOR TUBERCULOSIS

Mycobacterium tuberculosis remains a widespread and devastating human pathogen, whose ability to infiltrate macrophage host cells from the human immune system is an active area of investigation. We have recently reported the discovery of a novel diterpene from M. tuberculosis, edaxadiene, whose ability to arrest phagosomal maturation in isolation presumably contributes to this critical process in M. tuberculosis infections. (Mann, F. M., Xu, M., Chen, X., Fulton, D. B., Russell, D. G., and Peters, R. J. (2009) J. Am. Chem. Soc., in press). Here, we present characterization of the class II diterpene cyclase that catalyzes the committed step in edaxadiene biosynthesis, i.e. the previously identified halimadienyl-diphosphate synthase (HPS; EC 5.5.1.16). Intriguingly, our kinetic analysis suggests a potential biochemical regulatory mechanism that triggers edaxadiene production upon phagosomal engulfment. Furthermore, we report characterization of potential HPS inhibitors: specifically, two related transition state analogs (15-aza-14,15-dihydrogeranylgeranyl diphosphate (7a) and 15-aza-14,15-dihydrogeranylgeranyl thiolodiphosphate (7b)) that exhibit very tight binding. Although arguably not suitable for clinical use, these nevertheless provide a basis for pharmaceutical design against this intriguing biosynthetic pathway. Finally, we provide evidence indicating that this pathway exists only in M. tuberculosis and is not functional in the closely related Mycobacterium bovis because of an inactivating frameshift in the HPS-encoding gene. Thus, we hypothesize that the inability to produce edaxadiene may be a contributing factor in the decreased infectivity and/or virulence of M. bovis relative to M. tuberculosis in humans.
Personality characteristics among cardiothoracic transplant recipients

Personality characteristics are clinically believed to predict posttransplant adherence and outcome; however, data, as to the prevalence and type of personality disorders (PDs) and distribution of personality traits among transplant (txp) populations, are sparse and inconclusive. This paper reports on the prevalence and type of PD and range of personality traits, according to the Five-Factor model, among 73 adult cardiothoracic txp recipients. It represents the first systematic assessment of PDs and traits in a sample of txp recipients. Personality disorders were assessed with a semistructured diagnostic interview; personality traits were assessed with a self-report instrument. Thirty-three percent of the sample met diagnostic criteria for a PD, approximately three times higher than prevalence of PD previously reported among nonpsychiatric populations. Mean values of personality traits for the sample were in the normative range but with wide variability; extreme values on four of the five traits were scored by subjects with a PD. This unexpectedly high prevalence of PD and the wide variability in traits among heart and lung recipients alert clinicians to consider personality characteristics when planning interventions to increase compliance and maximize quality of life after cardiothoracic transplantation.
Observations on particulate and dissolved organic matter in coral reef areas

Data are presented on the particulate and dissolved organic carbon at Eniwetok Atoll in the Pacific and of particulate organic carbon at South Caicos in the Caribbean. Some data from other locales are included for comparison. Proportionate increases are greater for the particulate matter released from off reefs than for the dissolved; in fact, the net flux of dissolved matter is sometimes negative. Particulate matter, in this case of the size and kinds retained on micro-filters, is dominated by fragments and amorphous material of mixed origins. Phytoplankton is sparse in such environments.
Quantitative study of contamination effects in AMS 14C sample processing

Abstract When using AMS for radiocarbon work, it is important to characterize the contaminating carbon which is added to the sample during its preparation for the AMS measurement. This allows the effects of the contamination to be correctly subtracted out, and also helps to guide efforts to reduce the contamination. We performed a series of measurements on blanks and standards of varying sizes to quantify the contamination arising in the PRIME Lab’s radiocarbon sample processing laboratory. We present our results, along with a discussion of the analysis used to extract properties of the contaminants from the data. Our analysis allows for contamination added at two different stages in the sample preparation, and does not assume that the contaminants are modern.
An evaluation of the wilt-causing bacterium Ralstonia solanacearum as a potential biological control agent for the alien kahili ginger (Hedychium gardnerianum) in Hawaiian forests.

Abstract Kahili ginger ( Hedychium gardnerianum ) is an invasive weed in tropical forests in Hawaii and elsewhere. Bacterial wilt caused by the ginger strain of Ralstonia (= Pseudomonas ) solanacearum systemically infects edible ginger ( Zingiber officinale ) and ornamental gingers ( Hedychium spp.), causing wilt in infected plants. The suitability of R. solanacearum as a biological control agent for kahili ginger was investigated by inoculating seedlings and rooted cuttings of native forest plants, ornamental ginger, and solanaceous species to confirm host specificity. Inoculation via stem injection or root wounding with a bacterial–water suspension was followed by observation for 8 weeks. Inoculations on H. gardnerianum were then carried out in ohia-lehua ( Metrosideros polymorpha ) wet forests of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park to determine the bacterium's efficacy in the field. No native forest or solanaceous species developed wilt or other symptoms during the study. The bacterium caused limited infection near the inoculation site on H. coronarium, Z. zerumbet, Heliconia latispatha, and Musa sapientum. However, infection did not become systemic in any of these species, and normal growth resumed following appearance of initial symptoms. All inoculated H. gardnerianum plants developed irreversible chlorosis and severe wilting 3–4 weeks following inoculation. Systemic infection also caused death and decay of rhizomes. Most plants were completely dead 16–20 weeks following inoculation. The destructiveness of the ginger strain of R. solanacearum to edible ginger has raised questions regarding its use for biological control. However, because locations of kahili ginger infestations are often remote, the risk of contaminating edible ginger plantings is unlikely. The ability of this bacterium to cause severe disease in H. gardnerianum in the field, together with its lack of virulence in other ginger species, contributes to its potential as a biological control agent.
An Improved and Scalable Process for the Synthesis of Ezetimibe: An Antihypercholesterolemia Drug

An efficient, cost-effective and large-scale synthesis of ezetimibe 1, an antihypercholesterolemia drug, is described. Chiral oxazolidinone chemistry was used to fix the required stereochemistry of the β-lactam ring, and the chiral oxazaborolidine chemistry was used to fix the hydroxyl group stereochemistry. The synthesis significantly lowers the cost and provides easy access to ezetimibe on large scale.
Rat activity as a function of water deprivation and age

Four rats were water deprived for 24, 48, 72, 96, and 120 h, beginning at ages 37, 59, and 81 days. Naive (37 days) Ss increased activity over baseline after 24 h; deprivation-experienced Ss showed activity decrements after 24 h. All Ss sharply decreased activity at 120 h at each age interval.
A Pilot Study of Moderate-Intensity Aerobic Exercise for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

This preliminary study examined the impact of aerobic exercise as an adjunctive intervention to regular care in reducing obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) symptoms in a clinical sample. Fifteen patients (53% male; mean age = 44.4 years) receiving behavioral therapy and/or pharmacotherapy for OCD and who still demonstrated clinically significant OCD symptoms (i.e., Yale-Brown obsessive compulsive scale, Y-BOCS scores above 16) were enrolled in a 12-week moderate-intensity exercise intervention. Measures of OCD symptom severity were obtained at baseline, end of treatment, and at 3- and 6-week, and 6-month follow-up. Study findings at the end of this 12-week aerobic exercise intervention point to a beneficial effect (Cohen's d = 1.69) on reduction in OCD symptom severity. Further, reductions in OCD symptom severity appear to persist 6 months later. Lastly, improvement in overall sense of well-being was observed after the 12-week intervention. Results of this study suggest that a randomized clinical trial evaluating the efficacy of this 12-week aerobic exercise intervention is warranted.
"Fusion - The Key To Tactical Mission Success"

Next generation tactical missions cannot rely on threat information or countermeasure actions which depend solely on one sector of the electromagnetic spectrum. Rather, they must rely on an integrated, multi-sensor approach for "engagement information" extraction. Current programs such as Pave Pillar identify fusion as the key to the required positive and unambiguous situation and target assessment. A look at the fusion problem is presented which includes a conceptual description & functional flow.
A new approach to evaluating carcinogenic risk.

Carcinogenic risk assessments are based on extrapolating from high-dose chronic rodent-feeding studies to human-exposure levels. A serious problem is that about half of all substances tested at their respective maximum tolerated dose (MTD) are found to induce cancer. The MTD as currently defined has been criticized because it may stimulate cell proliferation in susceptible tissues. Such chemically induced mitogenesis is postulated to increase the probability that neoplasia will develop at the affected site. It is proposed that, in the development of an MTD for a given substance, chemically induced mitogenesis be considered an undesirable toxic manifestation. Hence, mitogenesis should not be induced by a substance fed at its true MTD. Since MTDs determined in this fashion are likely to be lower than those developed using current criteria, an added level of protection is introduced by employing a safety factor similar to that used now in determining acceptable daily intakes for noncarcinogenic food additives. In calculating acceptable daily intakes, the usual safety factor is 100; i.e., the acceptable daily intake is set at 1% of the no-observed-effect level. Hence it is proposed that the acceptable daily level of exposure to a substance that does not induce cancer at its MTD as defined herein be set at 1% of that MTD. On the other hand, a chemical that induces cancer at its MTD as defined herein would continue to be regulated as is customary now.
Composite gel electrolyte for rechargeable lithium batteries

Abstract Composite polymer electrolyte films consisting of zeolite powders dispersed in poly(acrylonitrile) (PAN)-based gels with LiAsF6 have been prepared and their electrochemical properties studied. Gel electrolytes prepared by adding LiAsF6 in propylene carbonate (PC) and ethylene carbonate (EC) mixtures with PAN have demonstrated ionic conductivities greater than 10−3 S/cm at room temperature and above. The addition of zeolite powders increased ionic conductivity at low temperatures due to the highly amorphous nature of the composite film. Impedance spectroscopy was performed to study the Li electrode/electrolyte interface and a reduction of the passivation kinetics was observed. Cyclic voltammetry showed that addition of PAN and zeolite powder to LiAsF6, PC and EC mixtures did not change the stable electrochemical potential window. In Li LiCoO 2 cells, at 25 °C, these composite electrolytes demonstrated current densities as high as 0.5 mA/cm2, with little voltage or capacity loss compared with cells with liquid electrolytes.
Spatial Analysis and Regional Inequality: Some Suggestions for Development Planning

Social scientists and development planners have recognized the descriptive and analytical utility of spatial analysis for a number of years. However, when applied to the actual planning and implementation of development projects, results have been disappointing. This paper suggests that successful application of spatial analysis as a planning tool has been hindered by a tendency to divorce spatial organization from underlying social relations. When this occurs, particular forms of spatial organization are often treated as a cause of underdevelopment rather than as an outcome. As a result, modifications in spatial organization may promote economic growth. However, they are unlikely to broaden participation in the processes of social and economic change that accompany growth. Furthermore, such modifications have on occasion exacerbated inequities in resource distribution. When the direction of causality is reversed so that spatial organization is treated as a dependent variable, a number of issues arise tha...
Selection for Type and Production and Influence on Herd Life of Holstein Cows

Abstract Average indexes describing selection for productive merit were estimated from 7,079 records in six herds cooperating with The Ohio North Central-2 project. The average indexes included various combinations of yield information and first lactation type score. In most cases the terminal lactation of a sequence received more attention than earlier lactations. Attention to type score relative to milk yield was greater in four of the six herds. Efficiency of each index to describe selection for productive merit was evaluated. In all herds the average index was more efficient in describing selection than single lactation traits. Efficiencies of average indexes describing selection for second lactations were .31, .43, .52, .43, .36, and .48 in the herds. Two measures of herd life were used to partition the direct effects of first lactation yields and type score. Yield and type score accounted for 6 to 21% of the variability in herd life. Type score was .81, 1.86, .38, .47, .85, and 1.65 as important as milk yield in determining the months of productive life in the six herds.
Conduction mechanism in plasma-polymerized tetramethylsilane films

Abstract The d.c. conductivity in plasma-polymerized tetramethylsilane films was investigated using asymmetric metal/polymer/Si structures. Poole-Frenkel centers with a trap depth of 1.0 eV appear to be responsible for the observed conductivity. Comparison of these data with IR Fourier transform spectra suggests that the trapping centers may be related to Si—O and CO dipoles in the structure. The conductivity and the charge level in the films are dependent on the exposure of the films to oxygen and moisture. After moisture incorporation the films display a stronger dependence on Schottky emission than on Poole-Frenkel emission. These results are interpreted in terms of the formation of trapping centers at the Si- polymer interface.
An Elliptic Superpotential for Softly Broken Script N = 4 Supersymmetric Yang-Mills Theory

An exact superpotential is derived for the = 1 theories which arise as massive deformations of = 4 supersymmetric Yang-Mills (SYM) theory. The superpotential of the SU(N) theory formulated on 3 × S1 is shown to coincide with the complexified potential of the N-body elliptic Calogero-Moser hamiltonian. This superpotential reproduces the vacuum structure predicted by Donagi and Witten for the corresponding four-dimensional theory and also transforms covariantly under the S-duality group of = 4 SYM. The analysis yields exact formulae with interesting modular properties for the condensates of gauge-invariant chiral operators in the four-dimensional theory.
P-3 ultrawideband SAR: system applications to foliage penetration

The P-3 ultra-wide band (UWB) UHF SAR system penetrates foliage and has interesting applications including detecting foliage-obscured man-made objects and providing information about the terrain underlying the foliage. The UWB SAR system has collected a variety of forest data and some foliage penetration examples will be presented. An interesting application of the sensor is two-pass interferometry where the underlying terrain topology is mapped. This is in contrast to higher frequency interferometric SAR (IFSAR) which maps the tops of the tree canopy. A comparison of UHF and X-band IFSAR imagery will be presented.© (1996) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Cutaneous microbiome studies in the times of affordable sequencing

Abstract Background Skin is our first line of defense against pathogenic microorganisms and the intimate contact between the epidermis and microbes has been well known. Purposes Microbes that cause infection are associated with inflammatory dermatoses and exacerbate wound healing. It is therefore of vital importance to understand the intricacies of skin-microbiota interactions. However, until recently our knowledge and understanding was limited by being unable to deal with uncultivatable microorganisms, which constitute a large majority. Basic procedures Recent advances in DNA sequencing methodologies, analysis tools and affordability led to major breakthroughs in defining the cutaneous microbiome. Main findings We now know that four phyla, Actinobacteria, Firmicytes, Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes, constitute preponderance of skin bacteria, while Malassezia dominates the fungal microbiome. We know that there are some 300 different bacteria inhabiting our skin. We also know that there is remarkable interpersonal variation, that the microbiota change over time, that different body sites harbor specific microbial arrays and that microbiota characteristically change in skin diseases. Principal conclusions The recent advances led to appreciation that microbes are, for the most part, our allies, useful and protective, and that with increased understanding we will be able to harness our cutaneous friends to maintain and promote our health.
Accelerated Thermal Cycling and Failure Mechanisms for BGA and CSP Assemblies

This paper reviews the accelerated thermal cycling test methods that are currently used by industry to characterize the interconnect reliability of commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) ball grid array (BGA) and chip scale package (CSP) assemblies. Acceleration induced failure mechanisms varied from conventional surface mount (SM) failures for CSPs. Examples of unrealistic life projections for other CSPs are also presented. The cumulative cycles to failure for ceramic BGA assemblies performed under different conditions, including plots of their two Weibull parameters, are presented. The results are for cycles in the range of -30 C to 100 C, -55 C to 100 C, and -55 C to 125 C. Failure mechanisms as well as cycles to failure for thermal shock and thermal cycling conditions in the range of -55 C to 125 C were compared. Projection to other temperature cycling ranges using a modified Coffin-Manson relationship is also presented.