cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Why should we constrain stress and limitation? Why conceptual terms deserve broad definitions

In his recent essay, Ch. Korner (2003) suggested that we need to clarify and narrow the meaning of limitation and stress. Current definitions and usage of these terms are not in any great need of revision. Limiting the use of ‘stress’ to only extreme situations is inappropriate because sometimes stress is indeed weak. What is needed is to use the terms within a comparative framework, a framework based on comparisons along gradients and among taxa. Recent studies on the factors controlling diversity have used such a comparative framework, and have increased our understanding of the relative roles of various types of stress. Redefining and narrowing general terms that relate to common processes would limit our ability to make comparisons and generalizations, and this should be avoided.
Drotrecogin alfa (activated) in severe sepsis

PROWESS was a multicentre, double-blind, randomised placebocontrolled study that enrolled 1658 patients with severe sepsis and septic shock and showed a 6% absolute reduction in 28 day mortality with drotrecogin alfa (activated) treatment. However, two additional randomised controlled trials, ADDRESS and PROWESSSHOCK, failed to show a benefi t of the drug in all patients and in the subgroup with an APACHE II score of more than 25. A meta-analysis of the three randomised controlled trials shows no overall benefi t (fi gure). In this context, the meta-analysis by Kalil and LaRosa and the accompanying Comment by Vincent are disconcerting. A meta-analysis is considered the highest level of evidence when done to exacting standards. Kalil and LaRosa included retrospective cohort studies and studies with no control groups, and used complicated propensity matching, which added further ambiguity to their analysis. The Metaanalysis of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (MOOSE) group and a review on systematic reviews emphasise that the “meta-analysis of observational data may produce spurious results due to bias and confounding...and that the statistical combination of data should not be a prominent component of systematic reviews of observational data”. PROWESS, ADDRESS, and PROWESS-SHOCK should stand alone, and the uncontrolled and retrospective studies should be excluded from analysis. Limiting the analysis to these three trials does not get rid of statistical heterogeneity (I2 =72%, p=0·03, with PROWESS as a statistical outlier). The removal of PROWESS eliminates this heterogeneity (I2=0) and shifts the treatment eff ect towards harm (odds ratio 1·12, 95% CI 0·96–1·29), which suggests that drotrecogin alfa (activated) does not improve the outcome of patients with sepsis and septic shock. Therefore, I believe that the results of the analysis by Kalil and LaRosa are spurious.
When Two Worlds Collide: Ownership of Genetic Resources unde rthe Convention on Biological Diversity and the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights

The rapid growth of the biotechnology industry over the past two decades led many countries to recognize the vast economic potential of their genetic resources and indigenous knowledge. 1 Pharmaceutical companies and plant breeders increasingly rely upon these resources to engineer plantderived drugs, disease-resistant crops, and biotechnical production processes. 2 With increasing demand for new biotechnological products, the global community is struggling to strike a balance between the interests of host countries, who seek remuneration for supplying genetic resources and traditional knowledge, and biotechnological inventors, who are pressing for free access, open markets, and stronger intellectual property rights protection.
Exploratory analysis of free shipping policies of online retailers

Abstract Online retailers (or Internet divisions of brick and mortar retailers) often offer shipping discounts (for example “free shipping on orders above $150”) to entice customers. The premise is that the retailer will attract more customers and these customers will likely buy more per order to avail the shipping discount, increasing total revenues and profits. In parallel, the retailer must also plan the replenishment of items sold during the free shipping promotion. This paper provides an exploratory model that analyzes (a) what form a retailer should use the free shipping promotion, and in parallel, (b) how the retailer should plan for replenishment from their suppliers.
HOUSING AS A MEANS OF SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC RECOVERY IN SOUTHEAST ASIA

This paper addresses the economic crisis in Southeast Asia as it affects the housing sector there. Our basic argument is that the lower end of the formal housing market sector (worker housing) provides the best opportunity to restore productive employment activity while addressing basic housing needs. We call for a range of policy measures to support this outcome, based in part on the recent experience in Japan with declining real estate markets. The policies include limited subsidies, guarantees and insurance for housing loans, along with a downward indexing of housing loans, strategic infrastructure investment and promotion of local building materials. These measures are necessary under the current circumstances of deficient aggregate demand. The key is to target demand increments where they are most likely to meet the basic need for shelter while generating productive market-based activity.
Performance of CO preferential oxidation reactor with noble-metal catalyst coated on ceramic monolith for on-board fuel processing applications

Abstract On-board fuel processors are being developed to provide hydrogen-rich gas to the polymer electrolyte fuel cell automotive propulsion systems. Whereas the anode catalyst in the fuel cell has low tolerance for carbon monoxide, 10–100 ppm, reforming of gasoline and other hydrocarbon fuels generally produces 1–2% of CO. Of the many methods of removing CO from the reformer gas, preferential oxidation (PrOx) of CO over noble-metal catalysts is practiced most frequently. In this paper, we present experimental data for CO conversion on a Pt-based catalyst that is active at room temperature and was coated on a ceramic monolith. The data is used to develop an empirical correlation for selectivity for CO oxidation as a function of CO concentration and oxygen stoichiometry at 30,000–80,000/h space velocity. The selectivity correlation is used in a model to analyze the performance of multi-stage, adiabatic PrOx reactors with heat exchange between the stages to cool the reformate to 100 °C. An optimization algorithm is used to determine the operating conditions that can reduce CO concentration to 10 ppm while minimizing parasitic loss of H2 in the reformate stream. It is found that the 10 ppm constraint limits the maximum inlet CO concentration to 1.05% in a single-stage reactor and to 3.1% in a two-stage reactor. The results clearly show the incremental reduction in parasitic H2 loss by addition of second and third stages.
Response of multiple seeded cocklebur and other cocklebur types to herbicide treatment.

Multiple seeded cocklebur has been found in the last decade in Texas, and described as a biotype of Xanthium strumarium L with up to 25 seeds per bur instead of the usual two. The multiple seeded bur typically produces up to nine seedlings, causing concern that it may be harder to control than normal seeded common cocklebur. The efficacies of a series of fungal and conventional commercial herbicides have been compared in the greenhouse on seedlings of multiple seeded cocklebur from Texas (MSC-TX) and normal common cockleburs from Texas (NCC-TX), Arkansas (NCC-AR), Illinois (NCC-ILL) and two from Mississippi (NCC-MS#1, NCC-MS#2). Three measures of herbicidal activity (reductions in plant height and dry weight, and mortality) were used. The fungal herbicide Alternaria helianthi (Hansf) Tubaki & Nishihara at 1 × 105 conidia ml−1 + 2 g liter−1 Silwet L-77 with an 8-h dew period was an effective herbicide with all biotypes, as were the commercial chemical herbicides chlorimuron (14.8 g ha−1), imazaquin (29.6 g ha−1), sodium hydrogen methylarsonate (MSMA; 279.1 g ha−1) and imazethapyr (39.5 g ha−1). The membrane-disrupting organic arsenical MSMA was effective with all biotypes, whereas commercial chemical herbicides which act by inhibiting branched-chain amino acid synthesis (chlorimuron, imazaquin and imazethapyr) were less effective against normal seeded common cocklebur biotypes with short stature. These studies showed that multiple seeded cocklebur was at least as susceptible to the biological agent A helianthi and to the conventional commercial herbicides studied as were normal seeded cockleburs, suggesting that existing methods should be adequate to control this novel biotype. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry
Quantum Field Theory

It is usually contended that the quantum theory of fields is intrinsically divergent. The present paper attempts to show that this divergence is due to the perturbation theory generally employed and not to the field theory itself. By means of a minor modification in the perturbation calculations, the divergent integrals may be given appropriate finite values. Although there are many apparent ambiguities in field theory, these are ambiguities of representation, and not ambiguities in physical content. The self-energy and stress of particles are zero. The expectation value of the energy momentum tensor for the true vacuum state is zero. From this point of view the polarization of the vacuum and charge renormalization seem to be factitious.
A population-based study of congenital diaphragmatic hernia: impact of associated anomalies and preoperative blood gases on survival.

Abstract Background/Purpose: Although neonatal care has improved over the past 20 years, mortality rate with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) remains 50% to 60%, possibly reflecting defferences in management or selection biases. The authors determined the incidence, outcome, effect of coexisting anomalies, and prognostic indicators for neonates with CDH in a single inborn population older than 13 years. Methods: Forty-three neonates with CDH, those symptomatic within the first 6 hours of life, were identified using a validated neonatal database and diagnosis coding data from medical records among 180,643 live inborn neonates delivered at Parkland Memorial Hospital between 1983 and 1995. Charts were reviewed for prenatal history, demographic variables, presence of coexisting malformations, preoperative arterial blood gases, surgical findings, and outcome. Survival to hospital discharge was the primary outcome variable. Results: The incidence of CDH was 1 in 4,200 live births; overall survival rate was 51%. Thirty-two (74%) neonates underwent surgical repair, often at less than 8 hours of life; postoperative mortality rate was 31%. Eighteen (42%) had coexisting major anomalies or chromosomal abnormalities. Eighty percent of neonates with isolated CDH survived, whereas 89% with CDH and associated defects died. Nonsurvivors had lower birth weights and Apgar scores, were more acidotic, and had more severe respiratory compromise. When best preoperative pH was ≥7.25 or Paco 2 ≤ 50 mm Hg, 80% of neonates survived. Conclusion: In this inborn population-based review of neonatal CDH between 1983 and 1995, the best predictors of survival were the presence or absence of other anomalies and the best preoperative Paco 2 and pH.
Effect of Calocoris norvegicus (Hemiptera: Miridae) on Pistachio Yields

Exposure of pistachio ( Pistacia vera L.) nut clusters to adult Calocoris norvegicus (Gmelin) during different periods of pistachio nut development showed that the period of susceptibility occurred between nut set and shell hardening, or between early April and early June. Correlation of pistachio nut development with degree-days accumulated after 75% bloom in 1987 predicted shell hardening to occur within 2 d of observed shell hardening in 1988. Abortion rates of pistachio nuts exposed to C. norvegicus for 1 wk were not significantly higher than unexposed nut clusters. However, rates of epicarp lesion in the exposed clusters were significantly higher, which would lead to nut abortion and potential yield looses within a few weeks after exposure to C. norvegicus . The effect of C. norvegicus on yields of pistachios in the Sacramento valley was determined by creating four levels of epicarp lesion damage. Among the different levels of damage, epicarp lesion ranged from 4 to 48%. The number of nuts remaining on the clusters was significantly reduced in the highest damage level. Regression of percentage epicarp lesion with pistachio yields at harvest indicated that 31% of the variation in yield was explained by epicarp lesion due to C. norvegicus . The timing of insecticide treatments before the adult phase of C. norvegicus was shown to be an important means of protecting pistachios from extensive early season damage.
Differences between Smoking and Nonsmoking College Students in Their Attitudes on Tobacco Smoking

The purpose of this investigation was to study whether smokers and nonsmokers hold systematically different attitudes on tobacco smoking. Twenty-seven smoking-related Likert type attitude items were selected for analysis from a longer questionnaire that had been administered to sixty-one smoking and 246 nonsmoking college students at the University of New Hampshire. Both smokers and nonsmokers expressed highly similar unfavorable attitudes toward smoking but nonsmokers expressed those attitudes more strongly. With few exceptions the findings were found to hold over a considerable heterogeneity of item content. The hypothesis was generated that if investigators seek to find differences between smokers' and nonsmokers' attitudes that diverge from neutrality or uncertainty in different directions, they will for the most part fail. However, if they seek to find differences in the strength of such attitudes that are in the same direction of divergence, they will for the most part succeed.
Quark matter in compact stars

Abstract This paper discusses possible astrophysical signals by means of which quark matter may register itself in isolated millisecond pulsars and neutron stars in low-mass x-ray binaries. Implications of absolutely stable strange quark matter fow white dwarfs are pointed out in the last section.
Giant tunneling electroresistance effect driven by an electrically controlled spin valve at a complex oxide interface.

A giant tunneling electroresistance effect may be achieved in a ferroelectric tunnel junction by exploiting the magnetoelectric effect at the interface between the ferroelectric barrier and a magnetic ${\mathrm{La}}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}{\mathrm{Sr}}_{x}{\mathrm{MnO}}_{3}$ electrode. Using first-principles density-functional theory we demonstrate that a few magnetic monolayers of ${\mathrm{La}}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}{\mathrm{Sr}}_{x}{\mathrm{MnO}}_{3}$ near the interface act, in response to ferroelectric polarization reversal, as an atomic-scale spin valve by filtering spin-dependent current. This produces more than an order of magnitude change in conductance, and thus constitutes a giant resistive switching effect.
Earthquake-Resistant Bridge Design

The design of earthquake-resistant bridges in the United States took a dramatic turn in February 1971. The heavy damage observed as a result of the 1971 San Fernando earthquake was unprecedented in the history of bridge design. This paper reviews the development of earthquake-resistant bridge, design criteria in California and assesses significant criteria, analysis, construction, and retrofit procedures
Analysis of measurement errors for a superconducting phase qubit

We analyze several mechanisms leading to errors in a course of measurement of a superconducting fluxbiased phase qubit. Insufficiently long measurement pulse may lead to nonadiabatic transitions between qubit states 1 and 0, before tunneling through a reduced barrier is supposed to distinguish the qubit states. Finite though large ratio of tunneling rates for these states leads to incomplete discrimination between 1 and 0. Insufficiently fast energy relaxation after the tunneling of state 1 may cause the repopulation of the quantum well in which only the state 0 is supposed to remain. We analyze these types of measurement errors using analytical approaches as well as a numerical solution of the time-dependent Schrodinger equation.
Mass-change sensitivity of high-order mode of piezoelectric-excited millimeter-sized cantilever (PEMC) sensors: Theory and experiments

We show that mass-change sensitivity predicted from first principles model of piezoelectric-excited millimeter-sized cantilever (PEMC) sensors is in reasonable agreement with previously reported experimental values. We introduce a new attogram-level mass addition calibration method using 11-mercaptoundeconoic acid that enables easy measurement of mass-change sensitivity of PEMC sensors. The finite element model of PEMC sensors predicts resonant frequency values that agree within 2% of experimental values. However, the model gives mass-change sensitivities that are within one order of magnitude of experimentally measured values. Simulations show two interesting properties of PEMC sensors that are observed experimentally. First, the sensor response is log-linear and thus it is most sensitive at low attached mass or low analyte concentration. Second, the sensor becomes less sensitive with increased attached mass or at high analyte concentration which gives the sensor the highly desirable property of wide dynamic range of 6-logs.
p38α MAP Kinase Mediates Hypoxia-Induced Motor Neuron Cell Death: A Potential Target of Minocycline’s Neuroprotective Action

Hypoxia-ischemia (HI) may play a significant role in motor neuron death associated with the pathology of spinal cord injury and, perhaps, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The present study employs an in vitro model of HI to investigate the role of a stress kinase pathway, i.e., p38 MAP kinase, in cell death signaling in a motor neuron cell line, i.e., NSC34, subjected to oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD). Although the neurons were essentially tolerant to either hypoxia (0.2% O2) or low glucose (1 mM) alone, more than 60% of them died in response to combined low oxygen and low-glucose exposure. Minocycline, a semi-synthetic tetracycline known for its neuroprotective effects in models of neurodegeneration, afforded substantial (∼50%) protection against hypoxic cell death, assessed by lactate dehydrogenase release and flow cytometry, while suppressing OGD-induced p38 MAP kinase activation. An inhibitor of p38 kinase, SB203580, as well as siRNA-mediated down-regulation of p38 kinase elicited an almost complete blockade of OGD-induced cell death. The use of p38 isoform-specific siRNAs further revealed preferential involvement of the α over the β isoform of p38 MAP kinase in hypoxic neuronal cell death in our model.
Nuclear Accumulation of NFAT4 Opposed by the JNK Signal Transduction Pathway

The nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) group of transcription factors is retained in the cytoplasm of quiescent cells. NFAT activation is mediated in part by induced nuclear import. This process requires calcium-dependent dephosphorylation of NFAT caused by the phosphatase calcineurin. The c-Jun amino-terminal kinase (JNK) phosphorylates NFAT4 on two sites. Mutational removal of the JNK phosphorylation sites caused constitutive nuclear localization of NFAT4. In contrast, JNK activation in calcineurin-stimulated cells caused nuclear exclusion of NFAT4. These findings show that the nuclear accumulation of NFAT4 promoted by calcineurin is opposed by the JNK signal transduction pathway.
Present status of detonations in two-phase systems

Abstract A review of two-phase detonations is presented. Similarities and differences with homogeneous detonations are outlined and advances in their understanding are indicated. Because of recent and present interest, particular attention is devoted to spray detonations. However, the survey does include film and solid-gas detonations as well as detonations in monopropellant sprays. Areas in need of further research are outlined.
Mass communication media, reading comprehension, and intelligence

This study investigated the relaaudio-visual communications, Califortionships between the reading comprenia State Polytechnic College, Kellogghension and intelligence of junior high Voorhis Campus, Pomona, California. school students and their use of the This paper is based upon his doctoral mass communication media. Robert M. dissertation completed at the UniverSekerak is head of the department of sity of Southern California.
Flavor of fresh-cut Gala apples in barrier film packaging as affected by storage time.

Our objective was to determine flavor quality changes, and measure changes in key volatile compounds, sugars and acidity, in fresh-cut Gala apples packaged in film to control the atmosphere during distribution. Gala apples were washed, cored, sliced, dipped in a browning inhibitor and packaged in a barrier film. After 0, 5, 9, 12 and 14 days at 1C, the apple slices were evaluated for descriptive flavor attributes, gas chromatographic volatiles, sugars, pH and titratable acidity. Flavor attributes, sweet aromatic flavor and sweet taste had a maximum intensity between 5 and 9 days. Sugars remained constant. Results suggest that perceived flavor intensity increased the first few days after preparation and packaging, then dissipated. Compounds that decreased during storage were farnescene, hexyl hexanoate, 2-methyl-butyl hexanoate; hexyl 2-methyl butanoate and hexyl butanoate decreased until 10 days, then started to increase. Hexyl acetate and hexane increased during storage.
Helix-coil transition theory including long-range electrostatic interactions: application to globular proteins.

An extension of the Zimm–Bragg two-state theory for the helix–coil transition in polypeptides, which takes into account the effect of peptide charge–dipole interactions on helix stability, is presented. This new theory incorporates these interactions in an expression that is parameterized on recently obtained experimental data on polypeptides for which electrostatic effects are known to influence helix content. Unlike previous two-state or multistate models, which are parameterized on protein x-ray data, the present theoretical treatment in independent of such protein data. The theoretical model is applied to a series of peptides derived from the C-peptide of ribonuclease A, which have been the object of recent spectroscopic studies. The new theoretical approach can account for most of the structural information derived from studies of these C-peptides, and for overall average helix probabilities that are close in magnitude to those observed for these polypeptides in solution. An application of this new formulation for the prediction of the locations of α-helices in globular proteins from their amino acid sequence is also presented.
A PROPOSED PHYLOGENY OF THE ONAGRACEAE BASED PRIMARILY ON NUMBER OF CHROMOSOMES.

The family Onagraceae is such a homogenous one that the interrelationships of the constituent genera should not be difficult to determine. Moreover, as is well known, changes in number of chromosomes play an unusually conspicuous r61le in experimental phylogenetic studies in this family. There is no basic number of chromosomes common to all genera in the family, which indicates that the family probably originated from parents of dissimilar chromosomal constitution.' Postulating a "hybrid" ancestry renders it possible to consider at least five distinct sets of haploid chromosome numbers upon which to base a phylogenetic scheme. If the structure were based upon a single ancestor whose parents each had essentially the identical chromosomal complements, only one haploid set is available; in other words, the possible mechanical combinations are strictly limited and hardly any flexibility is possible unless polyploidy of some form intervenes, or it is assumed that the ancestor showed marked variations in the number of chromosomes.2 If we visualize one parent as an aquatic form possessing four haploid chromosomes, and the other as a probably terrestrial form with seven haploid elements, the cross between the two would therefore possess eleven haploid chromosomes. We may call the first parent A, the second B, and the hybrid C. We may assume that A and B are self-fertile and that C is capable of being back-crossed to either parent. Therefore, A + C = 15, and B + C = 18n chromosomes. All numbers so far found for any onagrad, with a few improbable exceptions,3 can be fitted nicely into this scheme. Before proceeding further, it will be necessary to mention that the chromosomal complement of any species in the following genera has not yet been ascertained: Hauya, Gayophytum, Meriolix, Diplandra, Riesenbachia, Semeiandra, Ludwigia, Heterogaura, Gongylocarpus, Burragea. Some of these have been fitted into the scheme on the basis of vegetative and morphological resemblances. Jussieua (Jussiaea), with 8n chromosomes, may be assumed to have arisen directly from A as a tetraploid genus. Parent A probably had many of the characters of Ludwigia, and there is a strong likelihood that Jussieua may have been derived from this genus. The back-cross of A with C would account for the parentage of Zauschneria. On the basis of its
Subcellular localization of β1,4-galactosyltransferase on bull sperm and its function during sperm–egg interactions

The process of sperm–oocyte recognition is a complex interaction between the plasma membrane of sperm and the extracellular matrix of the oocyte. The best studied mammalian system is the mouse, in which sperm plasma membrane receptors recognize specific oligosaccharides on the egg coat glycoprotein ZP3. A well-defined ZP3 receptor on mouse sperm is β1,4-galactosyltransferase (GalT). In this study, we investigated the possibility that GalT is present on bull sperm, and that it may participate during bovine sperm–oocyte binding. Using Western immunoblotting, bull sperm were found to have a protein of molecular weight similar to mouse GalT at ∼60 kDa. Immunogold low voltage scanning electron microscopy reveals that GalT epitopes are confined to the anterior cap of fresh or capacitated bull sperm. To investigate the function of bovine sperm GalT, fresh bull sperm were pretreated with either preimmune or anti-GalT antibody and added to in vitro-matured bovine oocytes. Sperm exposed to preimmune serum fertilized 82.7% (153 of 185) of the oocytes, whereas sperm exposed to anti-GalT antiserum fertilized only 42.3% (202 of 478) of the oocytes. We determined whether the inhibition of fertilization resulted from a direct inhibition of sperm–oocyte binding. The number of sperm bound to eggs was determined by low voltage scanning electron microscopy following pretreatment with preimmune or anti-GalT antibody. An average of 25.3 ± 2.2 (mean ± SEM) sperm bound per half-oocyte when treated with preimmune serum. In contrast, exposure of sperm to anti-GalT antiserum significantly lowered (P < 0.001) the frequency of sperm binding to 9.9 ± 0.8 bound per half-oocyte. These results show that GalT is present on the anterior cap of the bovine sperm head, where it participates in fertilization by facilitating sperm–oocyte binding. The function of GalT in both the murine and bovine systems suggests that it may serve as a generalized gamete receptor in mammals. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 58:236–244, 2001. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Functional broadside tests for embedded logic blocks

When a logic block is embedded in a larger design, the input sequences applicable to it may be constrained by other logic blocks in the design. This has an impact on what would constitute overtesting of the logic block by scan-based tests. This study defines functional broadside tests that avoid overtesting for an embedded block based on functional broadside tests for the larger design. The definition is constructive and results in a procedure for generating the tests. This study compares these tests with ones generated for the logic block as a stand-alone circuit. The results demonstrate that it is important to consider in the discussion of overtesting the extent to which the functionality of an embedded logic block is utilised as a part of the design. Under certain conditions it is possible to apply to the logic block functional broadside tests that were generated for it as a stand-alone circuit in order to maximise the fault coverage without overtesting, and reduce the computational complexity of test generation.
Mutations selected in rotavirus enterotoxin NSP4 depend on the context of its expression.

Abstract The rotavirus NSP4 protein is cytotoxic when transiently expressed in cells and is capable of inducing secretory diarrhea in neonatal mice. NSP4 consists of 175 amino acids, and sequences important for its toxic effects have been mapped to the carboxy-terminal half of the protein. In this report, we compared NSP4-encoding nucleotide sequences recovered from cell lines engineered to express NSP4 from human rotavirus strain Wa with NSP4 sequences recovered from cells persistently infected with either Wa or simian rotavirus strain SA11. In cells stably transfected with Wa NSP4, we found that proline 138 was changed to either serine or threonine. However, in cells persistently infected with SA11, we found that phenylalanine 33 was changed to leucine, and in cells persistently infected with Wa, no changes were observed in NSP4. Expression of Wa NSP4 in Caco-2 cells resulted in increased cell-doubling times and decreased cell viability in comparison to cells expressing NSP4–serine 138 or NSP4–threonine 138 . This result suggests that sequence polymorphism at residue 138 in Wa NSP4 influences the cytotoxicity of the protein. Therefore, mutations in the carboxy-terminal half of NSP4 are selected when NSP4 is expressed in cells in the absence of other viral proteins, but not in the context of viral replication. These findings suggest that cytotoxic functions of NSP4 are not operant during natural rotavirus infection.
Thermal degradation of cellulose in air and nitrogen at low temperatures

Thermal analysis and kinetic studies have shown that oxidative reactions are responsible for acceleration in the rates of weight loss and depolymerization of cellulose on pyrolysis in air at temperatures below 300°C. The oxidative reactions include production of hydroperoxide, carbonyl, and carboxyl groups, which have been investigated at lower temperatures along with the rates of depolymerization and production of carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide. The experimental results are consistent with an autoxidation mechanism involving initiation, propagation, and decomposition reactions. At temperatures above 300°, the rate of pyrolysis is essentially the same in both air and nitrogen, indicating that thermal degradation is independent of the oxidative reactions.
On the L2 convergence of collocation for the generalized airfoil equation

Abstract In this paper we establish the L2 convergence of a polynomial collocation method for the solution of a class of Cauchy singular linear integral equations, which we term the generalized airfoil equation. Previous numerical results have shown that if the right hand side is smooth then convergence is rapid, with 6 decimal accuracy achievable using 8–10 basis elements. Practical problems in aerodynamics dictate that this equation be solved for discontinuous data. The convergence rate is numerically demonstrated to be O( 1 N ) , where N is the number of basis elements used. Simple extrapolation is shown to be effective in accelerating the convergence, 4–5 decimal accuracy being achieved using 16 basis elements.
Skin Findings in Williams Syndrome

Previous examination in a small number of individuals with Williams syndrome (also referred to as Williams-Beuren syndrome) has shown subtly softer skin and reduced deposition of elastin, an elastic matrix protein important in tissue recoil. No quantitative information about skin elasticity in individuals with Williams syndrome is available; nor has there been a complete report of dermatologic findings in this population. To fill this knowledge gap, 94 patients with Williams syndrome aged 7-50 years were recruited as part of the Skin and Vascular Elasticity (WS-SAVE) study. They underwent either a clinical dermatologic assessment by trained dermatologists (2010 WSA family meeting) or measurement of biomechanical properties of the skin with the DermaLab™ suction cup (2012 WSA family meeting). Clinical assessment confirmed that soft skin is common in this population (83%), as is premature graying of the hair (80% of those 20 years or older), while wrinkles (92%) and abnormal scarring (33%) were detected in larger than expected proportions. Biomechanical studies detected statistically significant differences in dP (the pressure required to lift the skin), dT (the time required to raise the skin through a prescribed gradient), VE (viscoelasticity) and E (Young’s modulus) relative to matched controls. The RT (retraction time) also trended longer but was not significant. The biomechanical differences noted in these patients did not correlate with the presence of vascular defects also attributable to elastin insufficiency (vascular stiffness, hypertension, and arterial stenosis) suggesting the presence of tissue specific modifiers that modulate the impact of elastin insufficiency in each tissue.
Surface Modification of Cyclic Olefinic Copolymers for Bio-Mems Microfluidic Devices

Cyclic Olefin copolymers (COC) are a new class of polymers that may prove to be extremely useful in injection molding of micron scale fluidic devices. In microfluidic devices it is desirable to have a hydrophilic surface such as in flow driven by capillary action. However, such hydrophilic surfaces tend to display protein deposition when contacted with blood unlike hydrophobic surfaces. Alternatives to capillary action are then needed to control fluid flow for hydrophobic surfaces. Our goal in this research is to tune the slightly hydrophobic COC surfaces through simple surface modifications that are amenable to injection molding and other processing methods. In this study, the surface of an injection molded microfluidic component made from COC was modified in order to change the surface properties important to bio-fluidic devices. Some of the techniques used in this study were plasma treatments and ASG (aerosol gel) coating. Plasma treatments were conducted by using O2, CF4 and their combination gas. O2 treated surfaces became hydrophilic with increasing time of treatment. Combining O2 and CF4 made the surfaces more hydrophobic compared to CF4 only. The structural changes after the plasma treatments were examined by ATR (Attenuated Total Reflectance) spectroscopy. Titania and silica particles from the ASG process were synthesized from titanium iso-propoxide and tetraethoxysilane, respectively. Titania coated surfaces became more hydrophilic and the silica coated surfaces did not have much change in their surface characteristics. The hydrophobicity of the plastic surfaces was measured by their contact angle with water. The implication of these treatments on bio-fluidic devices and their adaptation to the injection molding process will also be discussed.
Cardiopulmonary bypass in the pediatric population

Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) facilitates the repair of cardiac lesions in adults and children. Surgical mortality has decreased with improvements in technique allowing for the successful repair of complex heart defects in neonates of increasingly low body weight and gestational age. The physiological effects of CPB are more significant in children. The presence of intracardiac shunts and other anatomic variants further complicates CPB in patients with congenital heart disease. Special techniques and monitors are often necessary. Protocols are often established within individual institutions to standardize the approach to CPB. The anesthesiologist caring for the patient must understand the physiology of CPB to facilitate the initiation and separation from bypass, and to be able to treat complications. Evidence supporting a particular technique of CPB in pediatric population is still largely from uncontrolled or nonrandomized trials, observational studies, extrapolation from adult studies, and expert opinion. The heterogeneity of congenital heart disease makes randomized controlled trials or meta-analyses challenging, and thus they are limited in the literature.
Stability conditions for multidimensional queueing systems with computer applications

A fundamental question arising in the analysis of queueing systems is whether a system is stable or unstable. For systems modeled by infinite Markov chains, we may study the ergodicity and nonergodicity of the chains. Foster showed that sufficient conditions for ergodicity are linked with the average drift. However, complications arise when multidimensional Markov chains are analyzed. We present three methods that provide sufficient conditions for ergodicity and nonergodicity of a multidimensional Markov chain. These methods are next applied to two multidimensional queueing systems: buffered contention packet broadcast systems and coupled processor systems.
A multiprocessing system for the direct execution of LISP

Current implementations were found to be impractical for airborne use due to LISP's incompatability with conventional computer architectures. Direct execution of LISP with tasks distributed between three processors, seemed to be a workable solution. The language was analyzed, and a special token was devised, using a descriptor with a single pointer. Through careful distribution of responsibilities, control and data flow between the processors was minimized. Significant memory savings resulted from ASCII storage and real time garbage collection. A simulation was used to help estimate execution times and showed a factor of 50 to 100 increase in speed. Thus, through the direct execution of LISP by a multiprocessing system, Computer-Aided Decision-Making could be implimented to enhance the safety of flight operations.
Glucocorticoids inhibit the attachment of osteoblasts to bone extracellular matrix proteins and decrease beta 1-integrin levels

Prolonged glucocorticoid treatment causes osteoporosis in vivo and inhibits bone formation in vitro. We have previously shown that glucocorticoids inhibit calcification and alter osteoblast organization in a mineralizing bone organ culture system. In this study, the effect of glucocorticoids on osteoblast adhesion to bone matrix proteins and integrin expression was examined in primary rat osteoblasts and a transformed rat osteosarcoma-derived cell line ROS 17/2.8. After 24 h of treatment with corticosterone, these cells displayed a concentration-dependent decrease in adhesion to type I collagen and fibronectin. Adhesion was significantly decreased as early as 4 h after glucocorticoid administration. With 100 nM corticosterone treatment for 24 h, inhibition of the adhesion of ROS 17/2.8 cells and primary osteoblasts to fibronectin was 75 +/- 10% and 50 +/- 8%, and inhibition of adhesion to collagen was 31 +/- 10% and 65 +/- 5%, respectively. This effect was specific for osteoblasts, because glucocorticoids...
Effect of Silicon Inclusions on the Reliability of Sputtered Aluminum-Silicon Metallization

A higher than average failure rate-was recorded during high-temperature life testing of a vendor 16K SRAM. Failure analysis of the fallout determined the predominant failure mode to be open metal bit-lines at a topography step in the array. A unique method of unlayering-was used which left all metal-line constituents intact. Rather than finding physical voids in the lines, silicon nodules were found. The formation and possible subsequent growth of nodules is related to wafer-process parameters and life stress, eventually leading to an electromigration-type failure. Special test sites were used to substantiate failure modes and mechanisms found on functional product.
Covalent binding and interstrand cross-linking of duplex DNA by dirhodium(II,II) carboxylate compounds.

The study of the interactions of double-stranded (ds) DNA with the dirhodium carboxylate compounds Rh2(O2CCH3)4(H2O)2 (Rh1), (Rh2(O2CCH3)2(CH3CN)6)(BF4)2 (Rh2), and Rh2(O2CCF3)4 (Rh3) supports the presence of covalently linked DNA adducts, including stable DNA interstrand cross-links. The present biochemical study refutes earlier claims that no reaction between dirhodium compounds and dsDNA occurs. The reversal behavior of these interstrand cross-links in 5 M urea at 95 °C (for different heating times) implies the presence of various coordination modes involving ax/ax, ax/eq, and eq/eq DNA interactions with the dirhodium core. The reaction rates of the dirhodium compounds with dsDNA were determined spectroscopically and are in the order Rh1 , Rh2 < Rh3. This difference in behavior of the three dirhodium compounds correlates with the lability of the leaving groups and corresponds to the extent of interstrand cross-link formation by these compounds on a 123 bp DNA fragment, as observed by denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (dPAGE). Since all three dirhodium compounds form covalent Rh-DNA adducts, including interstrand cross-links, it is important that DNA be considered a potential target for biological activity of these dirhodium carboxylate compounds.
Automatic Instruction-Level Software-Only Recovery

Software-only reliability techniques protect against transient faults without the overhead of hardware techniques. Although existing low-level software-only fault-tolerance techniques detect faults, they offer no recovery assistance. This article describes three automatic, instruction-level, software-only recovery techniques representing different trade-offs between reliability and performance
Black and White and Color: Cardenismo and the Search for a Campesino Ideology

It is well known that upon emerging victorious from the Mexican Revolution in 1920, the Constitutionalists confronted a dilemma. Having defeated the popular armies of Emiliano Zapata and Pancho Villa, they believed that they had won the right to construct a postrevolutionary state reflecting their interests. Yet the spectors of the popular armies were to haunt them. The new revolutionary elites were forced to determine how to create a state in their own Constitutionalist image and simultaneously how to avoid provoking further popular insurrection.
Characteristics of non‐respondents in a US national longitudinal survey on drinking and intimate partner violence

Aims To identify non-respondents’ characteristics in a longitudinal household survey of intimate partner violence and drinking among United States couples. Design Multistage probability sampling procedure with over-samples from black and Hispanic populations. A total of 1635 couples 18 years of age or older were interviewed at baseline (1995) for a response rate of 85%. Five years later, 1392 respondents were re-interviewed, with a response rate of 72%. Measurements Sociodemographic variables, drinking volume and pattern, drug use, intimate partner violence, exposure to parental violence and childhood physical abuse. Findings Among men, those who are younger, those who did not graduate from high school, those who are unemployed and those who are drinkers are more likely to be among the non-respondents. Among women, those who are 40–49 years of age are two times more likely than those aged 50 years or older to be among non-respondents. Also, women who reported experiencing abuse during their childhood are less likely to be among non-respondents compared with those who were not victimized. Gender-specific regression models accounted for only 5% of the variance in the response status variable, even after the inclusion of a comprehensive range of predictors in the model. Conclusions A low proportion of the variance in survey participation was explained by the variables included in the analysis, suggesting that sociodemographic, drinking-related and violence-related variables might not be the main factors determining participation in the survey.
COMPARISON OF CHLORINE WITH AN IODINE‐BASED COMPOUND ON EGGSHELL SURFACE MICROBIAL POPULATIONS IN A COMMERCIAL EGG WASHER

Microbial contamination of egg shells is of great importance in the commercial production of table eggs. The objective of this project was to determine the effectiveness of an iodine-based disinfectant (IBD) on the microbial population of eggshell surfaces under simulated industry egg processing conditions with a commercial egg washer used as the delivery system for sanitizers. Recirculated egg washer water containing 3.69–5.81 log colony-forming units (CFU)/mL aerobic organisms and 2.02–2.47 g/L total dissolved solids (TDS) was obtained from a commercial egg processing facility and used to simulate conditions found in the commercial egg industry. Sanitizing treatments consisted of distilled deionized water (DDW), IBD, and chlorine (CL; 200 ppm). Enumeration of aerobic plate populations indicated that IBD and CL treatment significantly (p < 0.05) decreased microbial populations on the shell compared to DDW treatment when egg wash water TDS were lower (2.02 – 2.03 g/L) and wash water aerobic plate counts (APC) were higher (5.05 – 5.85 log CFU/mL). When egg wash water TDS was higher (2.47 g/L) and wash water APC were lower (3.69 log CFU/mL) sanitizers were not effective in reducing egg shell microbial populations. No difference in egg shell APC counts was detected between the IBD and CL. In a second trial, cycloheximide or tetracycline amendments were added to media to test the effectiveness of the treatments on either mold and fungi or bacteria alone. When wash water TDS were higher (2.44–2.46 g/L) the sanitizers were again less effective against bacteria compared to samples from lower TDS while fungal populations did not show any significant differences among the treatments. It was concluded from this study that the IBD is an effective sanitizer when used in conjunction with a commercial egg washer but potential efficacy is dependent on the level of TDS in the egg wash water.
The necessity of technical excellence and safety in EC-IC bypass surgery.

edical research is a difficult business in which the ferreting out of the truth can be tricky. Results are often M controversial and imperfectly derived, yet can have a major impact on our practice in patient care and on outcomes. Some trials are better than others. Whether a trial is accepted or not often has to do with whether the result pleases the major stakeholders or not. Surgical trials are often designed not to determinewhether a procedure is effective but ratherwhether it is not effective. Fewareas in neurosurgery havebeenas impactedby the results of clinical trials as the superficial temporal artery-tomiddle cerebral artery bypass (STA-to-MCA). The two main trials have not been kind to bypass surgery or bypass surgeons.