cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Conditions for Copackaging Rous Sarcoma Virus and Murine Leukemia Virus Gag Proteins during Retroviral Budding

Rous sarcoma virus (RSV) and murine leukemia virus (MLV) are examples of distantly related retroviruses that normally do not encounter one another in nature. Their Gag proteins direct particle assembly at the plasma membrane but possess very little sequence similarity. As expected, coexpression of these two Gag proteins did not result in particles that contain both. However, when the N-terminal membrane-binding domain of each molecule was replaced with that of the Src oncoprotein, which is also targeted to the cytoplasmic face of the plasma membrane, efficient copackaging was observed in genetic complementation and coimmunoprecipitation assays. We hypothesize that the RSV and MLV Gag proteins normally use distinct locations on the plasma membrane for particle assembly but otherwise have assembly domains that are sufficiently similar in function (but not sequence) to allow heterologous interactions when these proteins are redirected to a common membrane location.
Impact Response and Biomechanical Analysis of the Knee-Thigh-Hip Complex in Frontal Impacts with a Full Human Body Finite Element Model

Changes in vehicle safety design technology and the increasing use of seat-belts and airbag restraint systems have gradually changed the relative proportion of lower extremity injuries. These changes in real world injuries have renewed interest and the need of further investigation into occupant injury mechanisms and biomechanical impact responses of the knee-thigh-hip complex during frontal impacts. This study uses a detailed finite element model of the human body to simulate occupant knee impacts experienced in frontal crashes. The human body model includes detailed anatomical features of the head, neck, shoulder, chest, thoracic and lumbar spine, abdomen, pelvis, and lower and upper extremities. The material properties used in the model for each anatomic part of the human body were obtained from test data reported in the literature. The human body model used in the current study has been previously validated in frontal and side impacts. It was further validated with cadaver knee-thigh-hip impact tests in the current study. The effects of impactor configuration and flexion angle of the knee on biomechanical impact responses of the knee-thigh-hip complex were studied using the validated human body finite element model. This study showed that the knee flexion angle and the impact direction and shape of the impactors affected the injury outcomes of the knee-thigh-hip complex significantly. The 60 degrees flexed knee impact showed the least impact force, knee pressure, femoral von Mises stress, and pelvic von Mises stress but largest relative displacements of the Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL) and Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL). The 90 degrees flexed knee impact resulted in a higher impact force, knee pressure, femoral von Mises stress, and pelvic von Mises stress; but smaller PCL and ACL displacements. Stress distributions of the patella, femur, and pelvis were also given for all the simulated conditions.
Apotheosis of the Hungry God: Nihilism and the Contours of Scholarship

The modern university is a demoralizing institution, largely devoted to the propagation of nihilism and liberation of desire. The apotheosis of this hungry god of the untrammeled will has taken mor...
Applications of total artificial heart for studies of circulatory physiology; measurement of resistance to venous return in postoperative awake calves. Preliminary report.

The objectives of total artificial heart (TAH) research are twofold: (1) clinical use for total replacement of an irreversibly diseased heart; and (2) experimental use for studies in basic medical science, especially in the field of circulatory physiology. This paper is related to the second objective and one of the preliminary reports on experiments along this line. The results demonstrate the possibility of determining the venous return curve (VRC) and the resistance to venous return (RVR) in completely awake calves with an orthotopically implanted TAH. Our air-driven TAH was made of silicone rubber. Calves used weighed from 80 to 90 kg. Studies were performed following their recovery from the implantation surgery. The process of RVR determination was as follows: (1) The original equilibrium point (A) of the cardiac output (CO) and VR was determined, (2) the second equilibrium point (B) with a reduced CO was determined, (3) the VRC was constructed from points A and B which should be on the same VRC, (4) the momentary mean systemic pressure (MSP) was obtained at the point of interception of the VRC and abscissa (right atrial pressure (RAP)), and (5) thus, RVR was calculated from the equation (MSP—RAP)/CO. Calculated RVR ranged from 0.09 to 0.28 mm Hg/ml/sec under the conditions of these experiments.
The 4-D microgravity method for waterflood surveillance: A model study for the Prudhoe Bay reservoir, Alaska

Forward and inverse gravity modeling is carried out on a suite of reservoir simulations of a proposed water injection in the Prudhoe Bay reservoir, Alaska. A novel surveillance technique is developed in which surface gravity observations are used to monitor the progress of a gas cap waterflood in the reservoir at 8200-ft (2500-m) depth. This cost‐effective method requires that high‐precision gravity surveys be repeated over periods of years. Differences in the gravity field with time reflect changes in the reservoir fluid densities. Preliminary field tests at Prudhoe Bay indicates survey accuracy of 5–10 μGal can be achieved for gravity data using a modified Lacoste & Romberg “G” type meter or Scintrex CG-3M combined with the NAVSTAR Global Positioning System (GPS). Forward gravity modeling predicts variations in surface measurements of 100 μGal after 5 years of water injection, and 180–250 μGal after 15 years. We use a constrained least‐squares method to invert synthetic gravity data for subsurface densi...
Unexplained fever after aortic valve replacement with cryopreserved allografts

The incidence of fever of unknown origin was studied in 3 groups of patients undergoing aortic valve replacement. Fever of unknown origin was defined as a fever greater than 38.3 degrees C detected after the third postoperative day and which initiated a negative "fever work-up." Fifty patients underwent aortic valve replacement using cyropreserved allografts. Of the 49 patients who survived the operation, 13 (26%) developed fever of unknown origin. Only 1 (2%) of 51 patients, and 4 (8%) patients undergoing aortic valve replacement with a mechanical prosthesis and porcine xenograft, respectively, developed fever of unknown origin (p = 0.0034). Fever of unknown origin after allograft aortic valve replacement developed between the fourth and sixth postoperative days, with no other associated symptoms or signs. It lasted for 24 to 48 hours, and resolved without treatment. Univariate analysis revealed that fever of unknown origin occurred in younger patients (39.9 +/- 9.4 versus 50.8 +/- 11.8 years of age). The mean white blood cell count in fever of unknown origin and afebrile patients were similar (10.4 +/- 3.2 and 8.9 +/- 2.3, p = NS), both of which were significantly lower than the white blood cell count in patients with documented infection (15.0 +/- 5.2, p = 0.02; p < 0.001). No association could be demonstrated between the fever of unknown origin and gender, previous endocarditis, operative technique, cardiopulmonary bypass or cross-clamp times, ABO match, or perioperative blood transfusions. We conclude that a significant number of patients undergoing allograft aortic valve replacement develop noninfectious postoperative fever. The etiology remains unknown, but low-grade rejection cannot be excluded.
Transient heating vs cooling of interfacial cracks in ceramic-to-metal bonds

Abstract The effects of transient heating and cooling on a ceramic-to-metal bond made of zirconia and cast iron that contains a center crack or an edge are compared by calculating the transient strain energy release rates via the finite element method. It is shown that for a center crack, the transient maximum G during cooling is larger than during heating. For an edge crack, the largest G occurs at steady-state and at the end of heating. These effects are related to the global deformations of the ceramic-to-metal structure resulting from the transient temperature distribution and the deformation process of the crack. Also, the effect of a transient cooling that follows initial heating and transient heating that follows initial cooling is considered for a thin ceramic layer. In this case, even for the edge crack, the largest G occurs during the transient heat transfer process.
The Two-Component Regulatory System senX3-regX3 Regulates Phosphate-Dependent Gene Expression in Mycobacterium smegmatis

Phosphate import is required for the growth of mycobacteria and is regulated by environmental inorganic phosphate (Pi) concentrations, although the mechanism of this regulation has not been characterized. The expression of genes involved in Pi acquisition is frequently regulated by two-component regulatory systems (2CRs) consisting of a sensor histidine kinase and a DNA-binding response regulator. In this work, we have identified the senX3-regX3 2CR as a Pi-dependent regulator of genes involved in phosphate acquisition in Mycobacterium smegmatis. Characterization of senX3 mutants with different PhoA phenotypes suggests a dual role for SenX3 as a phosphatase or a phosphodonor for the response regulator RegX3, depending upon Pi availability. Expression of PhoA activity required phosphorylation of RegX3, consistent with a role for phosphorylated RegX3 (RegX3∼P) as a transcriptional activator of phoA. Furthermore, purified RegX3∼P bound to promoter sequences from phoA, senX3, and the high-affinity phosphate transporter component pstS, demonstrating direct transcriptional control of all three genes. DNase I footprinting and primer extension analyses have further defined the DNA-binding region and transcriptional start site within the phoA promoter. A DNA motif consisting of an inverted repeat was identified in each of the promoters bound by RegX3∼P. Based upon our findings, we propose a model for Pi-regulated gene expression mediated by SenX3-RegX3 in mycobacteria.
PREFERENTIAL EFFECTIVENESS OF CYCLOSPORIN IN PATIENTS RECEIVING KIDNEY TRANSPLANTS AFTER GLOMERULONEPHRITIS

Abstract Glomerulonephritis patients transplanted with cadaver kidneys had a significantly higher one-year graft survival when immunosuppressed with cyclosporin rather than standard therapy (80% versus 59%, p -5 ). For nephrosclerosis patients the corresponding rates were 70% and 59% (p>0·05); and in those with antecedent diabetes mellitus, polycystic kidney, and pyelonephritis the differences were negligible. In glomerulonephritis patients, but not in the other groups, cyclosporin was additive to the effect of transfusions and of HLA-A, B and HLA-Dr matching.
Modification of the tremorigenic activity of physostigmine.

Abstract Drugs which reduce central catecholamine activity increased the tremorigenic action physostigmine (0·25 mg/kg) in the rat. The potentiation of physostigmine tremor induced by these neuroleptic drugs was quantitated measuring the ratio of post- to prephysostigmine motor activity; this ratio may be useful index of catecholamine/cholinergic balance. Of the compounds tested, chlorpromazine HC1 (15 mg/kg) and reserpine (10 mg/kg) had the greatest potentiating effect on the tremor-producing action of physostigmine. LDOPA (500 mg/kg) reduced the tremor induced by physostigmine in rats pre-treated with reserpine, but not in rats pre-treated with chlorpromazine.
Continuous optimization problems and a polynomial hierarchy of real functions

Abstract The close connection between the maximization operation and nondeterministic computation has been observed in many different forms. We examine this relationship on real functions and give a characterization of NP-time computable real functions by the maximization operation. A natural extension of NP-time computable real functions to a polynomial hierarchy of real functions has a characterization by alternating operations of maximization and minimization. Although syntactically this hierarchy of real functions can be treated as a polynomial hierarchy of operators, the well-known Baker-Gill-Solovay separation result does not apply to this hierarchy. This phenomenon is explained by the inherent structural properties of real functions, and is compared with recent studies on positive relativization.
Frequency-importance and transfer functions for the Auditec of St. Louis recordings of the NU-6 word test.

Frequency-importance and transfer functions for the Auditec of St. Louis recordings of the NU-6 word test are reported. The functions were derived from the word recognition scores of 24 subjects wi...
Normalization of process safety lagging metrics

This article explores new process safety metrics for measuring process safety performance in the chemical processing industry. While Process Safety Management enables an operation to optimize their process safety programs and organizational risks, there is an emerging need to evaluate process safety implementation across an organization through measurement of key indicators. Lagging metrics utilize process safety incidents as the numerator and divide it by an appropriate process-related denominator or “normalization factor.” Currently, work hours is used extensively as a normalization factor to evaluate safety performance in the process industries. However, this lagging metric does not directly reflect process safety information and may not accurately reflect the safety performance of the process. Modified denominators are explored in this study and compared with the existing time-based denominator to validate the effectiveness and applicability of the new metrics. Each proposed normalization factor was validated using available industry data. A statistical unitization method has been used to convert incident rates of different ranges for the convenience of comparison. Results show that some proposed process-related metrics have potential as alternatives, used along with the time-based metric, to evaluate process safety performance within organizations. © 2013 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Process Saf Prog 32: 337–345, 2013
The Kennesaw Database Courseware (KDC) with an evaluation component

The Kennesaw Database Courseware (http://cofffee.kennesaw.edu) consists of animations, examples, and sample tests to support database curricula. This paper will 1) inform the recent animations/examples that have been developed, 2) discuss evaluations methods used, and 3) describe the new evaluation component that is being incorporated in the software. The work is the result of an NSF funded project (#0089412).
Effects of ACTH and an Inhibitor of 30-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase on the Synthesis of Adrenocortical Mitochondrial Proteins

In experiments reported recently (J Clin Endocr 29: 539, 1969) there were changes in the synthesis of guinea pig adrenal micro-somal proteins after in vivo exposure to an inhibitor of 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, 2α-cyano-4,4,17α-trimethylandrost-5-en-17β-ol-3-one (cyano-ketone), for 4 days. It was evident that ACTH, although it also stimulated the synthesis of microsomal protein, could not fully explain the effects of cyano-ketone. This report presents data on proteins of mitochondrial fractions obtained in the same experiments. The protein content of the mitochondrial fraction and protein radioactivity after 4 hr exposure to l-leucine-(3H) was increased after cyano-ketone as it had been in the microsomal fraction. Exogenous ACTH again could not explain the effect of the inhibitor on the synthesis of total mitochondrial proteins or protein fractions separated by acrylamide gel electrophoresis. Exposure to a high level of ACTH for 4 hr or 4 days seemed to exert less net effect on mitochondrial protein...
Behavior therapy observed: The diary of a client

Unbeknown to the two behavior therapists, a mildly depressed female client began to keep a diary of her experiences, both following therapy sessions and during the ensuing weeks, which she presented to the therapists at the termination of treatment; in this paper the diary is presented verbatim, interspersed with the notes and observations of the therapists at the time. The client was a 27-year-old unmarried woman, working as the resident manager of an apartment building. Her initial complaints were of loneliness, diffuse anxiety, and concern over the satisfactory performance of her job. The treatment notes reveal the early attempts by the therapists to delineate these problems more precisely and to set up behavioral goals; in the process, focus shifted to guilt feelings towards her mother and sexual problems. The client's response to these efforts, her own reactions to the therapists, and various changes in self-perception are all documented in the diary entries. The entries, in contrast with the chronology of the case notes, reveal some of the intricacies of applied behavior therapy that are usually glossed over in the research-oriented behavior therapy literature, and thus the paper illustrates the strategy of behavior therapy rather than the application of formal techniques. The limited techniques used were training in self-modification skills, and, to a lesser extent, alteration of masturbatory fantasies; an attempt to introduce systematic desensitization was unsuccessful. The final, satisfactory outcome of the treatment is described, and an attempt made to isolate the turning points, as reported in the diary, where significant progress seemed to have been made.
Elastic-scattering spectroscopy for cancer detection: What have we learned from preliminary clinical studies?

Several preliminary clinical studies have been carried out over the past several years to test proof-of-concept of fiber-mediated elastic-scattering spectroscopy for real-time, minimally-invasive diagnosis of cancer. This promising technique is now entering the translational research stage, with statistically larger clinical studies, to determine the efficacy of prospective diagnosis.
Size heterogeneity of T2 messenger RNA.

The size distribution of 14 C-labeled T2 mRNA molecules carefully isolated to avoid enzymic degradation was studied using sucrose density-gradient centrifugation. A heterogeneous distribution of sedimentation coefficients ranging from 10 s to 30 s was observed. The most common component sedimented about 14 s to 16 s, and approximately half the molecules sedimented faster than 16 s. No major sedimentation difference was found between T2 mRNA molecules synthesized at various intervals throughout the viral growth cycle. In the presence of high concentrations (> 0·5 M ) of monovalent salts, mRNA molecules reversibly combine with ribosomal RNA chains to form rapidly sedimenting aggregates. The aggregation induced by high salt concentration also occurs during elution of labeled mRNA from methylated serum albumin columns. The high (> 0·5 M ) NaCl concentrations needed for elution can cause the mRNA molecules to complex reversibly with the rRNA molecules. As a result, the mRNA molecules come off the columns later than they would in the absence of ribosomal RNA.
Wage and rent capitalization in the commercial real estate market

Abstract In this paper we develop three simplified models of the commercial land market within a two-center metropolis. In each model we focus on how exogenous differences in production costs between centers are capitalized into differences in commercial space rents and wages. We show that in a competitive land market, wages must account for most of the capitalization. As zoning or density regulations limit commercial development at the most advantageous center, space rent differences begin capturing more (and wage differences less) locational value. We conclude that the simple application of Hedonic theory to the commercial real estate market may be quite misleading.
Polymerization-induced changes in the fluorescence of actin labeled with iodoacetamidotetramethylrhodamine☆

Abstract Rabbit skeletal muscle actin has been labeled with the fluorescent sulfhydryl reagent iodoacetamidotetramethylrhodamine (rhodamine). The label is probably located on Cys-373 because prior treatment of the actin with N -ethylmaleimide prevents incorporation of rhodamine. When the rhodamine-actin is polymerized with MgSO 4 or KCl, there is approximately a 1.5-fold increase in fluorescence. The change in fluorescence is correlated with incorporation of monomeric globular actin into polymer and can therefore be used as a quantitative measure of polymerization. Trace quantities of rhodamine-actin can be used to follow the kinetics of polymerization of unlabeled actin without disturbing the sample, and it is shown that the use of a capillary viscometer accelerates the rate of polymerization. Fluorescence photobleaching recovery experiments, which measure the diffusion of rhodamine-labeled actin, show that nondiffusible (apparent diffusion coefficient −10 cm 2 /s) filaments appear during the polymerization process but that immediately after shearing these filaments are readily diffusible. These results demonstrate the destructive nature of hydrodynamic shear stress on polymerized actin.
TU-C-330D-03: Computed Tomography of the Breast: Design, Fabrication, Characterization, and Initial Clinical Testing

Purpose: Although there is overwhelming evidence that mammographic screening has led to a reduction in breast cancer mortality, most breast imaging experts agree that screening technology could be improved. We have developed a dedicated breast CTscanner which may be appropriate for breast cancer screening in some groups of women. Methods and Materials: A breast CTscanner was designed and fabricated in our laboratory using off‐the‐shelf components (an x‐ray system, flat panel detector, and motor) and custom‐manufactured parts. Image quality was assessed subjectively in terms of artifacts, and by conventional metrics (MTF for spatial resolution, RMS noise, etc.). Radiation dose levels were adjusted to be comparable to two‐view mammography, using a series of physical measurements and Monte Carlo computations. Evaluation in patients has begun with both Phase I and Phase II clinical trials. Results: The spatial resolution of the bCT system exceeds that of commercial scanners, with a 10 percent MTF corresponding to XX inverse mm (center of field, 80 kVp, 500 views). Noise metrics demonstrates that the scanner performs in a quantum limited manner. Ten healthy volunteers have been scanned, and as of this writing 35 women with BIRADS 4 or 5 diagnoses have been scanned. Subjective evaluation of image quality clearly indicates detail not seen mammographically. The volume dataset (300 512 × 512 pixel images) can be displayed in coronal, axial, saggital or any arbitrary view angle. Conclusions: The clinical evaluation of the bCT system is underway, and early subjective results have generated interesting images with excellent anatomical depiction. The use of contrast agents has added a functional component to breast CTimaging. Further patient accrual with subsequent quantitative (ROC) analysis is needed. Learning Objectives: 1. Status of breast CT implementation at UC Davis.
Strong-coupled electron—acoustic-phonon system in one dimension

A systematic strong-coupling perturbation theory is applied to the one-dimensional model of an electron interacting with acoustic phonons through the deformation potential. The Hamiltonian is diagonalized to the next order in the inverse coupling constant beyond the strong-coupling limit. The energy to this order involves a shift in the density of phonon modes due to the electron-phonon interaction. This shift is analyzed in terms of a phonon Green's function and is found to contain a resonance at phonon frequencies $\ensuremath{\sim}\frac{s}{R}$ where $s$ is the speed of sound and $R$ is the size of the polaron. There is also a depletion in the density of phonon modes due to the polaron, which iteself appears as a translational mode in the theory. This depletion is related to a form of Levinson's theorem.
Influences of wood preservation, lumber size, and weather on field leaching of red pine lumber.

Abstract Alkaline copper quaternary (ACQ) is a widely used wood preservative. This study evaluated leachate volume generation and contaminant leaching from ACQ-treated lumber during rainfall events in comparison to untreated lumber. The influences of wood preservation with ACQ, lumber size, and weather on leachate generation ratio and contaminant concentrations in wood leachate were investigated with four red pine lumber piles exposed to natural weather conditions. The average volumetric ratio of leachate to rainfall was significantly higher for the large-lumber piles (0.62) compared with the small-lumber piles (0.35). Less leachate was generated in the ACQ-treated lumber piles (0.42) than the untreated lumber piles (0.55). Leachate volume could be predicted with rainfall depth, air temperature, and wetted lumber surface area. Lumber size did not make a statistically significant difference in leachate quality except for zinc concentration. The average copper concentrations were 4034 μg/L in the leachate from the ACQ-treated lumber piles and 87 μg/L in the leachate from the untreated lumber piles. Moreover, ACQ treatment significantly increased leaching of arsenic and total dissolved solids. Copper concentration in leachate from ACQ-treated lumber can be predicted with rainfall intensity, the time interval between two consecutive leachate-generating events, rain copper concentration, and rain pH
Evaluation of post-plan dosimetry using TRUS and CT after transperineal prostate seed implant

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the variability in dosimetry due to the change in prostate volume for permanent transperineal brachytherapy seed implant. This research is the beginning of an in-house quality assessment program. Nineteen cases were retrospectively evaluated. A single physician defined prostate volumes in all cases. Group A consisted of 3 cases that were treated with external-beam radiation therapy (EBRT) to 4500 cGy, followed by a brachytherapy implant boost of 10,800 cGy. Group B included 16 cases that were implant only, prescribed to 14,400 cGy. Prostate images were acquired before seed implant using transrectal ultrasound (TRUS), immediately following seed implant using TRUS, and by computed tomography (CT) acquired several weeks postimplant. The prostate images were digitized into a commercial treatment planning system for planning purposes and dosimetric evaluation for the 3 procedures. Prostate volumes were calculated by the treatment planning system. Additional data collected included the percentage of prostate receiving the prescribed dose and dose to 90% and 80% of the prostate. The dose delivered to V150 was also recorded. Overall, the postimplant ultrasound plan showed similar coverage to the ultrasound preplan, while the CT postplan revealed less than expected dosimetric coverage. The postplan CT results prompted us to evaluate our scheduling process, as well as prostate definition using TRUS and CT.
Morphology and kinetics of cellular dissolution of the Pb−Sn alloy

Dissolution of lamellar precipitates by cell boundary migration in a Pb-5.5 at. pct Sn alloy has been studied in the temperature range between 44° and 83°C by optical microscopy. Morphological observation shows that it is a cellular mode of transformation. The cell boundary, acting as a short circuit path of diffusion, recedes, thereby dissolving the precipitates. The orientation of the transformed matrix is found to follow the same relationship as that in cellular precipitation. Measurements of the rate of dissolution are in agreement with a kinetic analysis that assumes a boundary diffusion limited process. A critical temperature, defined as the temperature at which the receding boundary ceased moving, was found to exist slightly below the solvus temperature of the alloy. By balancing driving forces at both sides of the cell boundary at the critical temperature, we evaluated the upper limit of the interlamellar surface tension of Pb−Sn alloy as 232 erg per sq cm. This value is six to ten times smaller and is believed to be more realistic than those values calculated from the precipitation kinetics.
Consciousness and the thalamocortical loop

Abstract Attempting to understand how the brain might be organized seems, for the first time, to be a serious topic of inquiry. One aspect of its neuronal organization that seems particularly central to global function is the rich thalamocortical interconnectivity and most particularly the reciprocal nature of the thalamocortical neuronal loop function. Moreover, the interaction between the specific and nonspecific thalamic loops suggests that rather than a gate into the brain, the thalamus represents a hub from which any site in the cortex can communicate with any other such site or sites. The goal of this paper is to explore the basic assumption that large-scale, temporal coincidence of specific and nonspecific thalamic activity generates the functional states that characterize human cognition.
Chronic Disease Self-Management Program for Low Back Pain in the Elderly

Abstract Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of Stanford's Chronic Disease Self-Management Program (CDSMP) for chronic low back pain (LBP) in older Americans. Design Randomized controlled trial. Setting Community-based program offered at 12 locations. Subjects Community-dwelling seniors (n = 109) aged 60 and older with chronic LBP of mechanical origin. Methods Patients were randomly allocated to the CDSMP or to a 6-month, wait-list control group. The program included one 2.5-hour session per week for 6 weeks. Outcomes evaluated at 6 months included 100-point modified Von Korff pain and disability scales; days with pain and disability; SF-36 general health, energy-fatigue, and emotional well-being scales; 2 scales from the Arthritis Self-Efficacy Scale, self-care attitudes/behaviors, and health services utilization. Results For pain at 6 months, the primary outcome, the adjusted mean difference between the program and control, was −1.0 ( P = .835). There was a sizable advantage for the program in disability averaged over the course of the entire 6-month study (−9.2, P = .027), but not at the 6-month follow-up (−5.8, P = .278). There was an interaction between intervention and baseline disability days favoring the program for higher baseline values ( P = .007). The CDSMP affected emotional well-being (7.6, P = .037) and energy-fatigue (5.1, P = .274). There were no differences for self-efficacy, pain days, and general health. Conclusion There was no advantage for the CDSMP over a wait-list control for improving pain, general health, self-efficacy, and self-care attitudes in older Americans with chronic LBP. A benefit was suggested for emotional well-being, fatigue, functional disability, and days with disability.
Catalytic and Thermal Cracking of Coal-Derived Liquid in a Fixed-Bed Reactor

A coal-derived liquid, obtained from the Coal Technology Corp.`s mild gasification process, was cracked over char produced from Pittsburgh No. 8 coal mixed with Plum Run dolomite in the Foster Wheeler carbonizer. For the purpose of comparison, calcined Plum Run dolomite (PRD), char produced from Pittsburgh No. 8 coal, and silicon carbide (an inert material) were also studied. Coal liquid feed was analyzed by sulfur-selective gas chromatography (GC), liquid chromatography (LC), and proton nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and for elemental composition. The gaseous products of cracking were analyzed for hydrocarbons using GC. Most sulfur in the feed was present in molecules heavier than dibenzothiophene and was distributed in a variety of structures. The surviving coal liquid was analyzed by LC. The results indicated that deoxygenation of phenols, dealkylation of aromatic compounds (AR), and condensation of aromatic structures are some of the reactions occurring on the surface of bed materials. Energies of activation for homogeneous and for heterogeneous pyrolysis of the coal liquid were calculated after separating the rate of thermal cracking from the sum of rates of thermal and catalytic cracking.
Team Racial Composition, Member Attitudes, and Performance: A Field Study

Attitudinal, performance, and demographic data from 1200 workers on self-directed teams are examined to determine if racial composition affects team performance, if African-Americans and whites have different attitudes toward their teams and team performance, and whether any differences explain performance differences associated with different racial composition. Results indicate that racial composition affects team performance and racial differences in team and performance-related attitudes. Differences in attitudes reduce, but do not eliminate, racial composition effects on team performance.
An O(K·n4) algorithm for finding the k best cuts in a network

An algorithm for finding the K best cuts in a network is presented. Using a branch technique introduced by Lawler [4] we reduce the problem to K computations of 2nd best cuts. The latter problem can be solved by an O(n^4) algorithm yielding an overall complexity of O(K.n^4) for the presented algorithm.
Recursive Calibration of Industrial Manipulators by Adaptive Filtering

The calibration scheme of robot forward kinematics presented in this paper has a number of features. Firstly, robot kinematic errors are modeled in a recursive format and as such, the number of measurements that need to be taken for calibration can be determined by studying the rate of convergence of estimation error covariance. Secondly, a simplified adaptive filtering algorithm is used to deal with unknown measurement noise statistics and unknown robot motion repeatability characteristics in estimating the kinematic errors. Thirdly, a laser interferometry system is used to measure positions of a robot end-effector in world coordinates. The measurement system was implemented in experiments involving a three degree-of-freedom gantry robot. The adaptive filtering of the experimental data identified 0.5 to 1.5 percent errors in representative kinematic parameters of the given robot by taking into account measurement noise and robot repeatability.
Decision-Making Approach for Catastrophic Scenario Selection in Disaster Recovery Planning:

Generally, throughout history, societies have failed to prepare beforehand for potential man made and natural catastrophic events. However, as societies evolve, their view on what can and should be done when affected by these types of events has shifted from a passive acknowledgement that catastrophes will happen, into a proactive stance on planning and organizing resources to mitigate their effects. This paper presents a decision-making based approach for catastrophic scenario selection to guide the process of disaster recovery planning development. The approach proposed can be used to identify the most damaging scenarios in terms of probability of outcome occurrence. Once these scenarios have been identified, the proposed approach produces a set of indices that allow for the computation of similarity, dissimilarity, coverage and exposure for a potential scenario with respect to all possible scenarios. Finally, based on these indices, scenarios are ranked and then selected for disaster recovery plan development.
Electron microscope studies of Saintpaulia ionantha Wendl. pollen walls.

Abstract Double fixation followed by standard electron microscopical techniques yielded good results in the preparation of S. ionantha meiocytes, microspores and pollen grains for the present investigation. Delimitation of microspores occurs by cleavage furrowing which apparently involves the enlargement of vacuoles between the developing microspores. Columellae are the first exine structures formed in the mesocolpium regions of the microspores, and mesine is found about the same time. The tectum and endexine are formed next but the germinal furrows remain without wall elaboration until later. These stages occur within the PMC wall. Thus, the basic architecture of the S. ionantha pollen grain wall is established early in microspore development. The intine is formed later. The structure and development of the germinal furrow differs somewhat from that of the mesocolpium. At maturity, the furrow consists of a thick, laminated mesine which is flecked with exine and underlain by a thick intine. This structure is modified in the germ pore area. The intine first appears in the germinal furrow regions, becomes thickest there, and is the last wall layer to be completed. Appearance of the perine coincides with the final stages of wall development. The wall structure of aborted pollen is similar to that of other pollen except that no intine is found. Duplication of genes by polyploidy does not alter the development and structure of S. ionantha pollen grain walls. Variation in the number of germinal furrows and increased wall thickness were the only observed effects of polyploidy.
Periodic limit of inverse scattering

I t is well known that a p-periodic potential Q(x) can be reconstructed from spectral data of the corresponding Hill operator −(d2/dx2) + Q(x) in terms of a Riemann θ-function. We regard the periodic potential Q(x) as the pointwise limit of a scattering potential QN,c(x) (defined to equal Q(x) when −Np ≦ x ≦ Np, to equal zero when x (Np) as N ∞ and c2 ∞. The scattering potential QN,c(x) can be recovered from the scattering data of the corresponding Schrodinger operator in terms of a Dyson determinant according to a well known-theory. We derive the Riemann θ-function corresponding to the periodic potential Q(x) by taking the above limit of the Dyson determinant for the scattering potential. We first calculate the scattering data of the potential QN,c(x) through recursive formulas in terms of the left transmission and reflection coefficients T and R of the potential which is equal to Q(x) when 0 ≦ x ≦ p and equal to zero otherwise. We use these data to express the Dyson determinant of QN,c(x). We then expand the Dyson determinant into a Fredholm series and compute the main contributions to the expansion in the asymptotic limit N ∞ and c2 ∞ using a method developed by Lax, Levermore, and Venakides in their study of the small dispersion limit of the initial value problem of Korteweg-de Vries equation. The computation of the leading order contributions reduces to a quadratic functional maximization problem constrained by a positivity condition and by a mass quantization condition. The solutions to this maximization problem constitute the differentials on a Riemann surface, the main ingredients for the Riemann θ-function corresponding to the periodic potential. The limit of the Dyson determinant for QN,c(x) as N ∞ and c2 ∞ is shown to equal the exact Riemann θ-function corresponding to the periodic potential Q(x) times an exponential function with exponent being a quadratic polynomial in x. Our calculation includes the correct phase shifts of the θ-function. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Blockade of tubal patency following transcervical administration of polidocanol foam: initial studies in rhesus macaques

Objective To demonstrate the feasibility of polidocanol foam (PF) as a nonsurgical method of female permanent contraception using a nonhuman primate model.
Towards Discovering and Understanding Unexpected Hazards in Tailoring Antivirus Software for Android

In its latest comparison of Android Virus Detectors (AVDs), the independent lab AV-TEST reports that they have around 95% malware detection rate. This only indicates that current AVDs on Android have good malware signature databases. When the AVDs are deployed on the fast-evolving mobile system, their effectiveness should also be measured on their runtime behavior. Therefore, we perform a comprehensive analysis on the design of top 30 AVDs tailored for Android. Our new understanding of the AVDs' design leads us to discover the hazards in adopting AVD solutions for Android, including hazards in malware scan (malScan) mechanisms and the engine update (engineUpdate). First, the malScan mechanisms of all the analyzed AVDs lack comprehensive and continuous scan coverage. To measure the seriousness of the identified hazards, we implement targeted evasions at certain time (e.g., end of the scan) and locations (certain folders) and find that the evasions can work even under the assumption that the AVDs are equipped with "complete" virus definition files. Second, we discover that, during the engineUpdate, the Android system surprisingly nullifies all types of protections of the AVDs and renders the system for a period of high risk. We confirmed the presence of this vulnerable program logic in all versions of Google Android source code and other vendor customized system images.Since AVDs have about 650-1070 million downloads on the Google store, we immediately reported these hazards to AVD vendors across 16 countries. Google also confirmed our discovered hazard in the engineUpdate procedure, so feature enhancements might be included in later versions. Our research sheds the light on the importance of taking the secure and preventive design strategies for AVD or other mission critical apps for fast-evolving mobile-systems.
Optimal control of mobile monitoring agents in immune-inspired wireless monitoring networks

This paper studies optimal control of mobile monitoring agents in artificial-immune-system-based (AIS-based) monitoring networks. In AIS-based structural health monitoring (SHM) networks, the active structural health monitoring is performed by a group of mobile monitoring agents equipped with damage pattern recognition algorithms. The mobile monitoring agents mimic immune cells in the natural immune system and patrol a structure to detect damage patterns using their receptors (feature vectors), damage pattern recognition algorithms, and the dynamic response data of the structure. The optimal control of mobile monitoring agents includes agent generation and distribution. The generation of mobile monitoring agents is optimized to minimize the response time for the mobile monitoring agents to diagnose structural damage in a sub-network and maximize the average affinity of monitoring agents' receptors to the damaged sensor data feature vector. The objective functions for distributing mobile monitoring agents are to increase the detection probability and extend network life by balancing energy consumption of sensor nodes in the network. The presented optimization algorithms are developed using multi-objective genetic algorithms. The impact of the algorithm parameters on the performance of the algorithm is also investigated.
Measuring the Quality of End-of-Life Care

Abstract Context Although there is a documented need to improve end-of-life care, there are few validated and brief questionnaires that are available as outcome measures for use in improving that care. Objectives To examine the measurement characteristics of the Quality of End-of-Life Care (QEOLC) questionnaire. Methods In a multisite, cross-sectional study of a mailed questionnaire, patients with life-limiting illnesses, their families, and nurses completed the QEOLC questionnaire. Patients and nurses were identified by physicians, and families were identified by participating patients. Physicians included general internists, oncologists, cardiologists, and pulmonologists from the Southeast and Pacific Northwest of the United States. Results Eight hundred one patients, 310 of their families, and 885 nurses were identified by 85 physicians. Using structural equation modeling techniques corrected for clustering under physicians, we identified a patient-specific factor based on 11 items, a family-specific factor based on 22 items, a nurse-specific factor based on 11 items, and a common single-factor solution based on 10 items. Construct validity was supported by significant associations in the hypothesized direction between the identified QEOLC factors and each of the following: physician palliative care knowledge, patients' and families' ratings of overall quality of care, and patients' levels of symptom distress. Conclusion Although continued testing in heterogeneous samples is necessary, the current study supported the construct validity of the QEOLC questionnaire to assess physician skill at end-of-life care, thereby providing valid measures of quality end-of-life care. Furthermore, this approach is a model for development and validation of patient- and family-centered assessments of quality of care.
Structured Markov Chain Monte Carlo

Abstract This article introduces a general method for Bayesian computing in richly parameterized models, structured Markov chain Monte Carlo (SMCMC), that is based on a blocked hybrid of the Gibbs sampling and Metropolis—Hastings algorithms. SMCMC speeds algorithm convergence by using the structure that is present in the problem to suggest an appropriate Metropolis—Hastings candidate distribution. Although the approach is easiest to describe for hierarchical normal linear models, we show that its extension to both nonnormal and nonlinear cases is straightforward. After describing the method in detail we compare its performance (in terms of run time and autocorrelation in the samples) to other existing methods, including the single-site updating Gibbs sampler available in the popular BUGS software package. Our results suggest significant improvements in convergence for many problems using SMCMC, as well as broad applicability of the method, including previously intractable hierarchical nonlinear model sett...
A library of novel allosteric inhibitors against fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase.

The identification of a proper lead compound for fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase (FBPase) is a critical step in the process of developing novel therapeutics against type-2 diabetes. Herein, we have successfully generated a library of allosteric inhibitors against FBPase as potential anti-diabetic drugs, of which, the lead compound 1b was identified through utilizing a virtual high-throughput screening (vHTS) system, which we have developed. The thiazole-based core structure was synthesized via the condensation of α-bromo-ketones with thioureas and substituents on the two aryl rings were varied. 4c was found to inhibit pig kidney FBPase approximately fivefold better than 1b. In addition, we have also identified 10b, a tight binding fragment, which can be use for fragment-based drug design purposes.
Allergy and the contemporary rhinologist

Recently, an expanded view of inflammatory disease of the nose and paranasal sinuses, an improved understanding of the functional anatomy of this region, and the development of more sophisticated methods for examining inflammation have led to subtle changes in the field of rhinology. Careful review of the literature suggests that a number of disparate disease processes may serve as cofactors leading to the ultimate development of inflammatory nasal/paranasal sinus disease. Evaluation of cellular infiltrates and inflammatory mediators associated with various forms of rhinologic disease reveals significant overlap among many diseases that were previously thought to be separate disease processes. Further, epidemiologic studies suggest that diseases such as allergic rhinitis may be associated with the development of various forms of rhinosinusitis, and its treatment may impact the ultimate treatment for these diseases. It is becoming increasingly apparent that the contemporary rhinologist can no longer rely simply on either technical surgical skills or cognitive nonsurgical skills alone to treat these patients. Instead, to be most effective, rhinologists must synthesize diagnostic and treatment plans, using all aspects of this field of medicine.