cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Use of Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) and Historical Imagery for Claims of Sedimentation of Lakes and Streams

The consequences of erosion and subsequent sedimentation of lakes and streams are many and widespread. The natural process of erosion can be accelerated by land cover changes with an increase in areas of impervious surfaces. Sediment is continually being transported along all streams in nature and can come from anywhere in the watershed. Lakes slow the rate of velocity of the water and allow the entrained sediment to settle and accumulate. When sediment impacts water impoundments, legal actions may result. Even with evidence of specific sediment release, the forensic analysis may not be an open-and-shut case. The author presents a method to investigate the validity of a legal claim of a sediment-impacted lake at the outfall of a mixed rural/urban watershed. By combining land use change, soils, elevation and precipitation data, a maximum possible annual sediment loss was approximately 154 tonne per hectare (15.4 kg/m2). Lacking evidence of specific historic events of erosion and subsequent sedimentation, t...
Curcumin reduces α-synuclein induced cytotoxicity in Parkinson's disease cell model

Background Overexpression and abnormal accumulation of aggregated α-synuclein (αS) have been linked to Parkinson's disease (PD) and other synucleinopathies. αS can misfold and adopt a variety of morphologies but recent studies implicate oligomeric forms as the most cytotoxic species. Both genetic mutations and chronic exposure to neurotoxins increase αS aggregation and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), leading to mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative damage in PD cell models.
Pharmacophore modeling improves virtual screening for novel peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma ligands

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPARγ) is a nuclear hormone receptor involved in regulating various metabolic and immune processes. The PPAR family of receptors possesses a large binding cavity that imparts promiscuity of ligand binding not common to other nuclear receptors. This feature increases the challenge of using computational methods to identify PPAR ligands that will dock favorably into a structural model. Utilizing both ligand- and structure-based pharmacophore methods, we sought to improve agonist prediction by grouping ligands according to pharmacophore features, and pairing models derived from these features with receptor structures for docking. For 22 of the 33 receptor structures evaluated we observed an increase in true positive rate (TPR) when screening was restricted to compounds sharing molecular features found in rosiglitazone. A combination of structure models used for docking resulted in a higher TPR (40 %) when compared to docking with a single structure model (<20 %). Prediction was also improved when specific protein–ligand interactions between the docked ligands and structure models were given greater weight than the calculated free energy of binding. A large-scale screen of compounds using a marketed drug database verified the predictive ability of the selected structure models. This study highlights the steps necessary to improve screening for PPARγ ligands using multiple structure models, ligand-based pharmacophore data, evaluation of protein–ligand interactions, and comparison of docking datasets. The unique combination of methods presented here holds potential for more efficient screening of compounds with unknown affinity for PPARγ that could serve as candidates for therapeutic development.
Pathogenesis of glucose intolerance in uremia

The pathogenesis of glucose intolerance in uremia was examined with the glucose clamp technique. Hyperglycemic clamp ( n = 8): The plasma glucose concentration is acutely raised and maintained at 125 mg/dl above basal levels. Under these steady state conditions the glucose infusion rate, M , equals the amount of glucose metabolized: Predialysis M averaged 4.23 ± 0.36 mg/kg/min and increased to 7.71 ± 0.43 postdialysis ( p M/l ratio, a measure of tissue sensitivity to insulin, increased by 80% ± 25% ( p p n = 10): The plasma insulin concentration is acutely raised by 100 μU/ml and the plasma glucose concentration is held constant at the basal level. Predialysis both M (3.37 ± 0.36 mg/kg/min) and M/1 (3.56 ± 0.33 mg/kg/min per μU/ml X 100) were significantly less than controls ( p M and M/1 increased significantly ( p n = 6), 2.15 ± 0.09 mg/kg/min, was similar to controls and fell (87% ± 4%) normally during the insulin clamp. In five uremic subjects in whom insulin binding to monocytes was measured, there was no correlation with tissue sensitivity to insulin ( M/1 ). Significant abnormalities in both growth hormone and glucagon physiology were present in uremic individuals, but no correlation with either the presence or degree of glucose intolerance was demonstrable. In conclusion, glucose intolerance is universally present in uremic subjects and results primarily from peripheral tissue insensitivity to insulin. Insulin secretion is usually enhanced in an attempt to compensate for this insulin resistance but in occasional subjects uremia also inhibits beta cell sensitivity to glucose. Hepatic glucose production is unaffected by uremia. The lack of correlation between insulin binding and tissue sensitivity to insulin suggests that the cellular mechanism accounting for the insulin resistance is probably the result of a defect in intracellular metabolism or in the glucose transport system.
Distal external iliac lymph nodes in early cervical cancer

Abstract Objective: To evaluate the utility of the deep circumflex iliac vein as a landmark for the caudal limit of external iliac lymphadenectomy for early cervical cancer. Methods: During dissection of the distal (caudal), anterior (ventral) aspect of the external iliac vessels in conjunction with radical hysterectomy for carcinoma of the cervix, a careful search was made for the deep circumflex iliac vein. Lymph nodes immediately above this vein were sent as adjacent and lymph nodes caudal to the vein were sent as distal. The distance from the vein to the femoral canal was measured. Results: Seventy-one women were studied over 40 months. Fifty-five had squamous cell carcinoma, 15 had adenocarcinoma, and one had adenosquamous carcinoma. The mean distance from the deep circumflex iliac vein to the femoral canal was 16 mm. Sixty-three patients had dissections distal to identified deep circumflex iliac veins and 49 (77%) of these had distal lymph nodes removed. The median number of pelvic lymph nodes removed was 24 (range nine to 68), and the median number of distal lymph nodes removed was 1.0 from each side. Lymph node metastases were found in 13 women (18%). One subject with multiple macroscopically positive nodes had a single positive distal lymph node. Thus, a small number of distal lymph nodes were found in most women with early invasive cervical cancer, and 8% of those with positive nodes had involvement of this nodal group. Conclusion: The deep circumflex iliac vein was an appropriate landmark for the caudal limit of external iliac lymphadenectomy.
Optimization of Chlorine Disinfection Efficiency

In order to show that savings in chlorine can be achieved by improved process design, parallel chlorination studies were conducted in an optimized chlorination pilot plant and each full-scale system at six different sewage treatment plants. Concurrent flow-through fish bioassays were also conducted at each location. At all test sites the optimized pilot plant used significantly lower chlorine dosages and residuals to achieve the same degree of disinfection, and its effluent was markedly less toxic than the full-scale effluents. The reasons for the good pilot plant results were variously good initial mixing, better chlorine control, plug flow contact, and better operation. Nitrified effluents required relatively high chlorine dosages for adequate disinfection. In most cases the disinfection efficiency could be expressed by the product of chlorine residual and contact time. The degree of bacterial kill obtained during initial mixing was a function of chlorine residual. Sulfur dioxide removed all chlorine-induced toxicity from the effluents.
MgO-embedded fibre-based substrate as an effective sorbent for toxic organophosphates

Magnesium oxide nanoparticles (MgO) were embedded in a cellulose acetate fibrous framework to provide self-decontaminating properties against toxic organophosphates. The concept of a co-continuous polymer blend structure coupled with selective polymer dissolution was used to develop electrospun fibres with novel morphology for application in chemical protective materials. An electrospinning solution built from 60 : 40 acetonitrile–acetone and 15 wt% of 60 : 40 cellulose acetate–PEO distinct fractions produced fibres that had a degree of continuity of about 0.77 relative to the PEO phase in the cellulose acetate matrix that led to intra-fibre pores with an average diameter of 89 nm, and a surface area of 21.8 m2 g−1. MgO was incorporated into the spinning solution for development of a fibre framework with self-decontamination properties for toxic organophosphates. In 100 min, the MgO-embedded fibres removed 33% of methyl parathion from a hexane solution while fibres with similar morphology and no MgO removed 14%.
p-Median and p-dispersion problems

Given a collection of n locations and a symmetric measure of distance (difference) between each pair of locations, we seek to identify (select) a subset of p locations so as to achieve two distinct objectives. The first objective is to use the selected locations as centers (medians) of p groups that would partition the entire collection and minimize the total distance between the locations and their respective group medians. The second objective is to maximize the minimum distance (diversity) among the selected locations themselves. We study this problem as a multi-objective optimization problem and propose an iterative algorithm to obtain its non-dominated frontier. At each iteration we construct and solve a 0-1 integer programming problem. Through a computational experiment we show that this algorithm is computationally effective for small to medium size instances of the problem. We also propose a Lagrangian heuristic algorithm for solving larger instances of this problem.
Efficacy of certain disinfectants against infectious pancreatic necrosis virus

The virucidal properties of iodophor, chlorine (sodium hypochlorite), formalin, thimerosal (organic mercurial compound), malachite green, and acriflavine were tested on infectious pancreatic necrosis virus (IPNV). Iodine and chlorine showed good activity, but efficacy depended on the concentration of virus, the presence of organic matter (calf serum), and water pH. Water hardness (0-300 mg I-' as CaCOJ did not affect virucidal activity. In a 5 rnin exposure, 4 mg I-' available iodine inactivated 103'0 TCID6, ml-' IPNV but 16 mg 1-l iodine were needed for inactivation of 108'3 TCID,, ml-l. The addition of 0.5 % calf serum significantly reduced the iodine concentration and the virucidal activity. In comparison, 4 mg I-' chlorine were needed to inactivate TCID,, ml-' IPNV in 5 min. However, the addition of 0.07 % serum greatly reduced the chlorine concentration and extended the virucidal contact time to 30 rnin or more. IPNV at 108'3 TCID,, ml-' was not inactivated by exposures for 60 rnin to 0.2% formalin, 10 rnin to 0.2% thimerosal, 60 rnin to 5 mg 1-' malachite green, or 20 rnin to 500 mg 1-l acriflavine. However, acriflavine at 0.5 mg I-' in cell culture media prevented the development of cytopathology caused by IPNV and may be useful in the treatment of the disease.
The Signal Corps Astro-Observation Center, Fort Monmouth, N. J

Many months of active participation in the satellite and missile observation program have resulted in a number of new and improved concepts which have been put to practical use in the establishment of the U.S. Army Signal Research and Development Laboratory's Astro-Observation Center, Fort Monmounth, N. J. This paper will describe the capabilities of the Research and Development station and several of the instrumentation techniques in use, including the use of phase-locked audio-frequency tracking filters, and high-speed digital readout equipment for precision Doppler measurements. The extreme flexibility of frequency coverage of the station has been of exceptional value in the rapid acquisition of signals transmitted from foreign satellites and space probes.
Solvability of linear local and nonlocal Robin problems over C(Ω

Abstract Let Ω ⊆ R N be a bounded Lipschitz domain. We first consider an elliptic boundary value problem with general Robin boundary conditions. The boundary conditions can be either local or nonlocal, depending on the conditions imposed on the elliptic operator. We prove that this boundary value problem is uniquely solvable, and moreover we show that such weak solution is Holder continuous on Ω ¯ . We also prove that a realization of the associated differential operator with generalized local or nonlocal Robin boundary conditions generates an analytic C 0 -semigroup of angle π / 2 over C ( Ω ¯ ) . We conclude by applying the elliptic regularity theory to solve the corresponding Cauchy problem over C ( Ω ¯ ) .
Moderate alcohol consumption is associated with better endothelial function: a cross sectional study

Moderate alcohol consumption is protective against coronary artery disease. Endothelial dysfunction contributes to atherosclerosis and the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease. The effects of alcohol consumption on endothelial function may be relevant to these cardiovascular outcomes, but very few studies have examined the effect of alcohol consumption on endothelial function assessed by flow-mediated dilation (FMD) of the brachial artery in humans. In the population-based Northern Manhattan Study (NOMAS), we performed a cross-sectional analysis of lifetime alcohol intake and brachial artery FMD during reactive hyperemia using high-resolution B-mode ultrasound images among 884 stroke-free participants (mean age 66.8 years, women 56.6%, Hispanic 67.4%, black 17.4%, and white 15.2%). The mean brachial FMD was 5.7% and the median was 5.5%. Compared to non-drinkers, those who drank >1 drink/month to 2 drinks/day were more likely to have FMD above the median FMD (5.5%) (unadjusted OR 1.7, 95% CI 1.2–2.4, p = 0.005). In multivariate analysis, the relationship between moderate alcohol consumption and FMD remained significant after adjusting for multiple traditional cardiovascular risk factors, including sex, race-ethnicity, body mass index, diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, Framingham risk score, medication use (adjusted OR 1.8, 95%CI 1.1–3.0, p = 0.03). No beneficial effect on FMD was seen for those who drank more than 2 drinks/day. In conclusion, consumption of up to 2 alcoholic beverages per day was independently associated with better FMD compared to no alcohol consumption in this multiethnic population. This effect on FMD may represent an important mechanism in explaining the protective effect of alcohol intake on cardiovascular disease.
GRAFTED POLYNOMIALS AS APPROXIMATING FUNCTIONS

The use of segments of polynomials to approximate production surfaces and time-series trends is described and illustrated. These segmented curves are restricted to be continuous and have a continuous derivative(s) at the join points.
Outpatient treatment of febrile episodes in low-risk neutropenic patients with cancer

Background. Hospitalization and intravenous (IV) broad-spectrum antibiotics are the standard of care for all febrile neutropenic patients with cancer. Recent work suggests that a low-risk population exists who might benefit from an alternate approach. Methods. A prospective randomized clinical trial was performed comparing oral ciprofloxacin 750 mg plus clindamycin 600 mg every 8 hours with IV aztreonam 2 g plus clindamycin 600 mg every 8 hours for the empiric outpatient treatment of febrile episodes in low-risk neutropenic patients with cancer. Results. The oral regimen cured 35 of 40 episodes (88% response rate), whereas the IV regimen cured 41 of 43 episodes (95% response rate, P = 0.19). Although the cost of the oral regimen was significantly less than that of the IV regimen (P < 0.0001), it was associated with significant renal toxicity (P < 0.05), which led to early termination of the study. Overall, combining its safety and efficacy, the IV regimen was superior (P = 0.03). Conclusions. This prospective study suggested that outpatient antibiotic therapy for febrile episodes in low-risk neutropenic patients with cancer is safe and effective. Better oral regimens are needed.
Inverse optimal adaptive control for non-linear uncertain systems with exogenous disturbances

A Lyapunov-based inverse optimal adaptive control-system design problem for non-linear uncertain systems with exogenous ℒ2 disturbances is considered. Specifically, an inverse optimal adaptive non-linear control framework is developed to explicitly characterize globally stabilizing disturbance rejection adaptive controllers that minimize a nonlinear-nonquadratic performance functional for non-linear cascade and block cascade systems with parametric uncertainty. It is shown that the adaptive Lyapunov function guaranteeing closed-loop stability is a solution to the Hamilton–Jacobi–Isaacs equation for the controlled system and thus guarantees both optimality and robust stability. Additionally, the adaptive Lyapunov function is dissipative with respect to a weighted input–output energy supply rate guaranteeing closed-loop disturbance rejection. For special integrand structures of the performance functionals considered, the proposed adaptive controllers additionally guarantee robustness to multiplicative input uncertainty. In the case of linear-quadratic control it is shown that the operations of parameter estimation and controller design are coupled illustrating the breakdown of the certainty equivalence principle for the optimal adaptive control problem. Finally, the proposed framework is used to design adaptive controllers for jet engine compression systems with uncertain system dynamics. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Rapid microwave-assisted CNBr cleavage of bead-bound peptides.

Large libraries of peptides, cyclic peptides, and other molecules are standard tools for the discovery of drugs, molecular probes, and affinity reagents. In particular, one-bead-one-compound (OBOC) libraries,(1) prepared by the split-and-mix method,(2) provide access to a broad chemical space with a minimum of reagents. Once such a library has been screened against the target of interest, the chemical identity of the library elements on the hit beads is identified. For peptide libraries and their variants, mass spectrometry (MS) based peptide sequencing provides the most rapid method for such analysis. OBOC libraries are constructed in a number of ways to facilitate MS analysis,(3-5) but one common feature is that the peptide must be cleaved from the bead prior to being introduced into the mass spectrometer. While a number of chemical(6) and photochemical(7) cleavage strategies have been developed, the most common strategy is to incorporate a CNBr-cleavable methionine-linker group at the C-terminus of the peptide.(8) CNBr cleavage has also been widely used in proteomics to cleave proteins.(9) With such chemistry, up to 100 beads from an OBOC peptide library can be sequenced in a 24 h period.(10) A large fraction of that time, however, is devoted to the CNBr cleavage step. Standard literature protocols describe CNBr cleavage as requiring between 12 and 24 h, using 20−30 μL of 0.25 M CNBr in 70% aqueous formic acid at room temperature.(11) Although the CNBr cleavage time may be reduced to 2−4 h at elevated temperatures (47 °C), significant side-products may be generated.(12) All reports that we have found that describe CNBr cleavage chemistry from single beads have used the same conditions as for proteomics, although the two chemical processes are not necessarily equivalent.
DYNAMIC AND ROTATIONAL ANALYSIS OF CRYPTOPHANE HOST-GUEST SYSTEMS : CHALLENGES OF DESCRIBING MOLECULAR RECOGNITION

Cryptophanes are aromatic hosts which bind a variety of guests. Here, we describe three 25 ns molecular dynamics simulations of a particular cryptophane in water. Simulations have been conducted on the uncomplexed cryptophane, the cryptophane−tetramethylammonium ion (TMA+) complex, and the cryptophane−neopentane (NEO) complex. TMA+ and NEO are both tetrahedral species and are nearly isomorphic. In the current study, we examine how the presence of these guests influences motions of the host. Also examined are the preferred orientations and the motions of the guests relative to the cryptophane. This study demonstrates some of the many challenges of describing molecular recognition.
Mechanisms of autonomic nervous system dysfunction in uremia

Mechanisms of autonomic nervous system dysfunction in uremia. Autonomic nervous system (ANS) function was evaluated in 60 normal subjects, 21 predialysis patients, 16 dialysis patients, and 15 patients with chronic illnesses and normal renal function by Valsalva ratio, hand-grip exercise, and response to orthostasis. Blood levels of norepinephrine (NE) and the response to NE infusion were also evaluated. Valsalva ratio was normal in patients with chronic illness and significantly reduced (P Mecanismes du dysfonctionnement du systeme nerveux autonome au cours de l'uremie. Le fonctionnement du systeme nerveux autonome (ANS) a ete evalue chez 60 sujets normaux, 21 malades avant l'institution de la dialyse, 16 malades en dialyse et 15 malades atteints d'affections chroniques mais avec une fonction renale normale, par le rapport de Valsalva, l'epreuve du serrement de main et la reponse a l'orthostatisme. Les concentrations plasmatiques de norepinephrine (NE) et la reponse a la perfusion de NE ont aussi ete evaluees. Le rapport de Valsalva etait normal chez les malades atteints d'affections chroniques et significativement reduit (P
Influenza virus (A/HK/156/97) hemagglutinin expressed by an alphavirus replicon system protects chickens against lethal infection with Hong Kong-origin H5N1 viruses.

Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus replicon particles (VRP) containing the gene expressing hemagglutinin (HA) from the human Hong Kong Influenza A isolate (A/HK/156/97) were evaluated as vaccines in chicken embryos and young chicks. Expressed HA was readily detected in bird-tissue staining with anti-H5 HA antibody and in chicken cells infected with the replicon preparations following immunoprecipitation with monoclonal antibody. Birds challenged with a dose of the lethal parent virus were protected to different extents depending on the age of the bird. In ovo and 1-day-old inoculated animals that received no boost with the VRP were partially protected; birds 2 weeks of age were completely protected with a single dose of VRP.
Regulation of human natural killer cell migration and proliferation by the exodus subfamily of CC chemokines.

Natural killer (NK) cells play an important role in innate and adaptive immune responses to obligate intracellular pathogens. Nevertheless, the regulation of NK cell trafficking and migration to inflammatory sites is poorly understood. Exodus-1/MIP-3alpha/LARC, Exodus-2/6Ckine/SLC, and Exodus-3/MIP-3beta/ELC/CKbeta-11 are CC chemokines that share a unique aspartate-cysteine-cysteine-leucine motif near their amino terminus and preferentially stimulate the migration of T lymphocytes. The effects of Exodus chemokines on human NK cells were examined. Exodus-1, -2, and -3 did not induce detectable chemotaxis of resting peripheral blood NK cells. In contrast, Exodus-2 and -3 stimulated migration of polyclonal activated peripheral blood NK cells in a dose-dependent fashion. Exodus-2 and -3 also induced dose-dependent chemotaxis of NKL, an IL-2-dependent human NK cell line. Results of modified checkerboard assays indicate that migration of NKL cells in response to Exodus-2 and -3 represents true chemotaxis and not simply chemokinesis. Exodus-1, -2, and -3 did not induce NK cell proliferation in the absence of other stimuli. Nevertheless, Exodus-2 and -3 significantly augmented IL-2-induced proliferation of normal human CD56(dim) NK cells. In contrast, Exodus-1, -2, and -3 did not affect the cytolytic activity of resting or activated peripheral blood NK cells. Expression of message for CCR7, a shared receptor for Exodus-2 and -3, was detected in activated polyclonal NK cells and NKL cells but not resting NK cells. Taken together, these results indicate that Exodus-2 and -3 can participate in the recruitment and proliferation of activated NK cells. Exodus-2 and -3 may regulate interactions between T cells and NK cells that are crucial for the generation of optimal immune responses.
Suckling Behavior of the Collared Peccary (Tayassu tajacu)

Based on Trivers' (1974) theory of parent/offspring conflict, we predicted that weaning would be accelerated under poor dietary conditions in an aseasonally breeding, monomorphic ungulate, the collared peccary (Tayassu tajacu). Suckling behavior was observed in 18 captive litters under a dietary treatment of high or low protein formulated to mimic forage under ecological conditions of normal rainfall vs. drought. Litters on the low protein diet weaned later (mean of 27 weeks) than litters on the high protein diet (mean of 21 weeks). Other indices of cumulative suckling effort (weaning weight, cumulative minutes suckling, cumulative bouts) did not differ between dietary treatments. No differences in suckling effort were found relative to offspring sex or litter size. Milk did not completely compensate for the low protein diet affecting growth of young in the second and third phases of lactation. Some nursers did not conserve bodily resources as would be expected if the benefits of short interbirth intervals outweighed the costs of lactation during unpredictable drought conditions.
Lithographic Fabrication of Model Systems in Heterogeneous Catalysis and Surface Science Studies

Lithographic technologies are applied to fabricate model systems for surface science and heterogeneous catalysis studies. An ordered metal nanocluster array fabricated on oxide substrates is also an ideal model system of supported industrial catalysts. Taking advantage of an ordered nanocluster array fabricated by electron beam lithography, the thermal and chemical stability of supported silver catalysts are examined in both oxidizing and reducing conditions. In reducing conditions, the supported silver nanoparticles are stable up to {approx}700 C. In oxidizing conditions, however, the silver nanoparticles are oxidized below 200 C, and conglomerate to micrometer-size amorphous clusters {approx}400 C. The supported nanocluster sample can also be adapted to study reactivity of supported metal catalysts, as confirmed by measurement of ethylene hydrogenation turnover rates on platinum nanoparticle samples. Lithographic technologies can also fabricate model systems for other surface science research. A nanometer scale pattern is created on a poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) surface by electron beam lithography. The sample is adapted to test a recent development in nanotribology, in which surface elastic modulus (hardness) is determined by a modified atomic force microscope. In addition, lithographically fabricated supported nanostructures are used to image the AFM tip (thereby determining the radius of curvature of the tip), whichmore » is a critical parameter for the quantification of surface mechanical properties such as elastic modulus. Finally, taking advantage of the uniform height profile of lithographically fabricated nanostructures, ion sputtering yield can be determined by the reduction of nanostructure height as a function of ion exposure.« less
Studies Show People Still Willing to Help a Stranger, but Especially a Woman

Five field studies indicate that most people will help anyone, even a stranger, who requests their help. But also, people are more willing to help women than men and, under most circumstances, people who are well dressed rather than poorly dressed.
Experimental and numerical simulations of jointed rock block strength under uniaxial loading

To simulate brittle rocks, a mixture of sand, plaster of paris, and water was used as a model material. Thin galvanized sheets were used to create joints in blocks made out of the model material. To investigate the failure modes and strength, 30 × 12.5 × 8.6 cm jointed model material blocks having different joint geometry configurations were subjected to uniaxial compressive loading. Results indicated three failure modes: (1) tensile failure through intact material; (2) combined shear and tensile failure or only shear failure on joints; and (3) mixed failure of the above two modes depending on the joint geometry. The fracture tensor component in a certain direction quantifies the directional effect of the joint geometry, including number of fracture sets, fracture density, and probability distributions for size and orientation of these fracture sets. Results obtained from the experiments were used to develop a strongly nonlinear relation between the fracture tensor component and the jointed block strength...
Generalized bridge network performance analysis with correlation and time-variant reliability

Abstract A novel approach and framework for the analysis of bridge networks is presented. The goal of the analysis is to assess the life-cycle performance of the network and its time-variant reliability. The proposed approach combines three important features that determine its ability to estimate with accuracy and robustness the reliability of a network along its life-cycle. The first one is that the reliability of the individual bridges is modeled as time-variant, due to the deterioration of their structural components. The network performance analysis is repeated for several time instants, with the relative reliability of the bridges. Therefore, the network performance indicators are also time-variant. In this way, the proposed procedure can be used as a basic tool for maintenance planning at the network level. The second asset is that the proposed framework takes into account complex (i.e. “generalized”) network layouts, not necessarily describable using series, parallel or series-parallel models. In fact, when all the possible traffic flows in a network and all the possible trip origins and destinations are considered, it is not feasible, in general, to model the network with a simple scheme. In the present paper, techniques derived from transportation engineering for the traffic flow distribution and assignment are used. The third feature is that the proposed approach considers a correlation structure among the states (in/out of service) of the various bridges of the network. In fact, bridges associated with the same network are likely to share similar characteristics and external loads. Therefore, a correlation structure for the service state of individual bridges is estimated and implemented in the analysis. A case study involving a transportation network with fourteen bridges is presented as a numerical application.
Land‐use legacies and present fire regimes interact to mediate herbivory by altering the neighboring plant community

Past and present human activities, such as historic agriculture and fire suppression, are widespread and can create depauperate plant communities. Although many studies show that herbivory on focal plants depends on the density of herbivores or the composition of the surrounding plant community, it is unclear whether anthropogenic changes to plant communities alter herbivory. We tested the hypothesis that human activities that alter the plant community lead to subsequent changes in herbivory. At 20 sites distributed across 80 300 hectares, we conducted a field experiment that manipulated insect herbivore access (full exclosures and pseudo-exclosures) to four focal plant species in longleaf pine woodlands with different land-use histories (post-agricultural sites or non-agricultural sites) and degrees of fire frequency (frequent and infrequent). Plant cover, particularly herbaceous cover, was lower in post-agricultural and fire suppressed woodlands. Density of the dominant insect herbivore at our site (grasshoppers) was positively related to plant cover. Herbivore access reduced biomass of the palatable forb Solidago odora in frequently burned post-agricultural sites and in infrequently burned non-agricultural woodlands and increased mortality of another forb (Pityopsis graminifolia), but did not affect two other less palatable species (Schizachyrium scoparium and Tephrosia virginiana). Herbivory on S. odora exhibited a hump-shaped response to plant cover, with low herbivory at low and high levels of plant cover. Herbivore density had a weak negative effect on herbivory. These findings suggest that changes in plant cover related to past and present human activities can modify damage rates on focal S. odora plants by altering grasshopper foraging behavior rather than by altering local grasshopper density. The resulting changes in herbivory may have the potential to limit natural recovery or restoration efforts by reducing the establishment or performance of palatable plant species.
Geometrical representation of two methods of linear least squares multiple correlation

Geometrical properties and relationships of the Doolittle and square root methods of multiple correlation, as represented in the variable subspace of an orthogonal person space, are shown. The method of representation is also useful for depicting zero-order and partial correlations, as well as for the more general problem of the combination of variables.
Stimulus Prototypicality and General Leadership Impressions: Their Role in Leadership and Behavioral Ratings

Abstract In this study, we assessed the relationships of stimulus prototypicality and general leadership impressions to leadership ratings and behavioral ratings. Three groups of 25 subjects each rated one of three stimulus descriptions of a target person that were identical except for four target statements, which were varied to produce high, moderate, and low prototypicality descriptions. The manipulation had significant effects on ratings of various leader behaviors and traits. General leadership impressions were also strongly affected by the manipulation. Partialling the general leadership impression from other ratings reduced the variance explained by stimulus prototypicality. Additional analyses suggested that the results of the manipulation were not attributable to effects on such a general evaluative dimension as social desirability. The results supported the hypothesis that leadership perceptions are directly influenced by stimulus prototypicality, which may operate through impact on a general im...
Physiological demands of competitive basketball.

The aim of this study was to assess physiological demands of competitive basketball by measuring oxygen consumption (VO2) and other variables during practice games. Each of 12 players (20.4 � 1.1 years) was monitored in a 20-min practice game, which was conducted in the same way as actual games with the presence of referees and coaches. VO2 was measured by a portable system during the game and blood lactate concentration (LA) was measured in brief breaks. Subjects were also videotaped for time-motion analysis. Female and male players demonstrated respective VO2 of 33.4 � 4.0 and 36.9 � 2.6 mL/kg/min and LA of 3.2 � 0.9 and 4.2 � 1.3 mmol/L in the practice games (P40.05). They spent 34.1% of play time running and jumping, 56.8% walking, and 9.0% standing. Pre-obtained VO2max was correlated to VO2 during play (r 5 0.673) and to percent of duration for running and jumping (r 5 0.935 and 0.962 for females and males, respectively). This study demonstrated a greater oxygen uptake for competitive basketball than that estimated based on a previous compendium. The correlation between aerobic capacity and activity level suggests the potential benefit of aerobic conditioning in basketball.
Planning in Construction: Longitudinal Study of Pre-Contract Planning Model Demonstrates Reduction in Project Cost and Schedule Growth

Planning is known to enhance construction project performance in terms of cost, schedule, and quality. Yet, project teams oftentimes do not incorporate effective planning methodologies, typically citing a lack of time or capability to conduct detailed planning. This article proposes a brief yet rigorous project planning method, known as the pre-contract planning model, which is uniquely implemented between the owner and selected contractor project teams prior to contract award with the intent of increasing project team alignment and facilitating greater risk transfer from owner to contractor. Results from a multi-case longitudinal study documented the impact of the pre-contract planning model in terms of three success criteria: cost growth, schedule growth, and owner satisfaction, where cost and schedule growth were measured as percent increase of initial contract values. Projects that implemented the pre-contract planning model were compared with a control group that operated via a traditional project de...
Effects of prolonged worm storage on the viability of Echinostoma caproni eggs

This study examined the effects of long-term worm storage on the viability of Echinostoma caproni eggs. Gravid adults (referred to as worm carcasses or WCs) were maintained in Locke’s 1:1 at 4°C for 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 months prior to use. When used, about 100 eggs at each time interval were tested for viability by embryonating them at either 22 ± 1°C for 14 days or 28°C for 10 days in artificial spring water. Viability was determined by detecting fully developed miracidia in the eggs or miracidia in the cultures at the above-mentioned time periods. There was a high percentage of fully developed eggs from WCs stored in Locke’s 1:1 at 4°C for 2 and 4 months, 92% and 71%, respectively. Beyond these times, there was a marked decline in egg viability. We suggest that WCs should not be stored for longer than 4 months in Locke’s 1:1 at 4°C to obtain optimal embryonation and hatching of E. caproni.
Intrinsic versus Community-Based Justice Models: When Does Group Membership Matter?.

This paper examines the effects of group membership on group members' concerns about justice. Two types of effects are hypothesized to exist: inclusionary and exclusionary. Inclusionary effects involve the relationship between groups and their members. Exclusionary effects involve the relationship of groups to nonmembers. Data from a recent study of citizen reactions to encounters with legal authority suggest that inclusionary effects do occur—for example, people of differing centrality to the group differ in their justice concerns. This finding supports both social exchange and group-value models of justice, both of which suggest that justice concerns are linked to group membership. The form of the inclusionary effects—which show that members of intermediate status care most about justice—supports the predictions of group-value theory. A theoretical analysis of exclusionary effects suggests that such effects may be complex, being influenced by factors such as the structure and values of the group in question.
The Role of the Emergency Department in the Patient with Acute Heart Failure

The diagnosis and management of the patient with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) presents a unique challenge to the emergency medicine (EM) physician. ADHF is one of the most common cardiac emergencies managed in the emergency department (ED). ED presentations for ADHF will grow as survival rates after myocardial infarction continue to increase and thus, the incidence and prevalence of heart failure (HF) increases. There are very little data to aid EM physicians when trying to identify low-risk patients who are safe for ED discharge and observation units are not yet universally utilized. This results in 80 % of patients with ADHF getting admitted to the hospital. The aim of this review is to evaluate current strategies for diagnosis, treatment, and disposition of the ADHF patient in the ED while highlighting new approaches for treatment and disposition, and areas in need of additional research.
Extrinsic dissociation of a dislocation in GaAs in the presence of point defects

The dissociation of a screw dislocation segment into three partial dislocations in GaAs is reported. The observation is explained by the formation and dissociation of a vacancy or an interstitial 60° diple at the core of one of the 30° partial dislocations of the dissociated screw dislocation. This leads then to the extrinsic dissociation of the extended dislocation. An alternative explanation that involves a Frank dislocation dipole rather than the 60° dipole is also examined. Die Dissoziation eines Segments einer Schraubenversetzung in drei Teilversetzungen in GaAs wird beobachtet und mit der Bildung und Dissoziation von 60°-Leerstellen oder 60°-Zwischengitterteilchen-Dipolen am Kern der 30° Teilversetzungen der dissoziierten Schraubenversetzung, was zur extrinsischen Dissoziation der aufgeweitcten Versetzung fuhrt, erklart. Eine alternative Erklarung, die einen Frank-Versetzungsdipol anstelle eines 60° -Dipols heranzieht, wird gleichfalls untersucht.
Using office referral records in school violence research: possibilities and limitations

SUMMARY Perhaps the most “naturally occurring” data on school misbehavior and aggression are school discipline data, including office referrals, suspensions, and expulsion data. These data constitute the most common markers of school discipline status available on school campuses. There is, however, very little information available in professional or research literature about the reliability and validity of office referrals. This article examines the sources of error that enter into the collection and use of office referrals. Despite these sources of errors, this article documents the importance of considering how office referral data provide information about how discipline systems are functioning on a school campus. Guidelines are provided for utilizing disciplinary data for school safety and school policy planning.
Synthesis of non-racemic 5,5-disubstituted 2-cyclopentenones

Abstract Chiral, non-racemic, bicyclic lactam 1 (X=Y=H) bearing an angular hydrogen at C-7a ( 1 , R=H), underwent efficient diastereoselective dialkylation producing the quaternary substituted lactams 1 (X=Y=alkyl). The latter were transformed into carbinol amines 5 and then hydrolyzed to the appropriate 1,4-dicarbonyl compound which was cyclized to the title compounds.
Firmness and Accommodation: Impression Management in Institutional Roman Catholicism

This article examines institutional Roman Catholicism, particularly in the United States, as a complex organization seeking to maintain survival and relevance among constituents while preserving hierarchical power and traditional teachings. The limited change and accommodation to the modern world initiated at Vatican II, yet curtailed in recent years, serves to inoculate the organization from further and more drastic changes in Church structure ard teaching. The Church's response to issues of sexual morality on the official and local pastoral levels provides an example in which the organization attempts to manage impressions among the faithful and to forestall further institutional accmmodations to internal and external social forces. Through official pronouncements from Rome and bishops' conferences, as well as pastoral ministry on the local level, the institutional Church seeks to maintain organizational stability. First, Church leaders maintain a firm hold on organizational power and the production of Church teaching, particularly in the area of moral theology, while allowing controlled and limited participation in decision making by lower level clergy and laity on the local level. Second, while moral pronouncements are legitimated with values mandated by the Church's "charter," that is, its official values and goals (Dingwall and Strong, 1985),1 they also are framed in language that suggests that the Church is open to the modern world and to the perspectives advanced by the natural and social sciences. The Roman Catholic Church, like other institutional religious organizations, may be described as an "open system" (Benson and Dorsett, 1971; Scherer, 1980), in that it is an organization constantly responding to changes within its host environment. Yet, as Seidler (1986) maintains, organizational change within the Church occurs as "contested accommodation." He states that the Church has attempted rapprochement with the wider culture, but also seeks to maintain social distance. While social forces pressure the Church to change, other forces within the Church resist accommodating to the host environment (see also Harris, 1969). It is conflict, Seidler argues, that initiates reform and
A Project-Centered Freshman Engineering Graphics and Design Course

Our group is developing a new project-centered “Freshman Engineering Graphics and Design” course. The project-centered approach emphasizes a desire for individual learning, teamwork, and communication abilities using modern computer graphics tools. The modular graphics and design curriculum emphasizes the development of a 3-D geometric computer model and application of this digital database to design analysis, simulation, prototyping, and documentation. The students work as a team to dissect a common mechanical assembly. They measure the parts, make hand sketches, build computer models, perform various analyses, and make rapid prototypes of their assembly. At the conclusion of this integrated graphics and design project, the team assembles a final report. This paper presents some preliminary results in implementing these new course objectives in the Spring 2002 semester.Copyright © 2002 by ASME
Fabrication by Inclined-Substrate Deposition of Biaxially Textured Buffer Layer for Coated Conductors*

Inclined substrate deposition (ISD) offers the potential for rapid production of high-quality biaxially textured buffer layers suitable for YBCO-coated conductors. We have grown biaxially textured MgO films by ISD at deposition rates of 20-100 A/sec. Columnar grain structures with a roof-tile-shaped surface were observed in the ISD-MgO films. X-ray pole figure analysis revealed that the (002) planes of the ISD-MgO films are titled at an angle from the substrate normal. A small phi-scan full-width at half maximum (FWHM) of ≈9° was observed on MgO films deposited at an inclination angle of 55°. YBCO films were also grown on ISD-MgO-buffered Hastelloy C276 substrates by pulsed laser deposition. We obtained a critical current density of ≈2 × 105 A/cm2 at 77 K in self-field on 0.5-μm-thick, 0.5-cm-wide, 1-cm-long samples. This work has demonstrated that biaxially textured ISD MgO buffer layers deposited on metal substrates are promising candidates for fabrication of high-quality YBCO-coated conductors.