cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A kinetic study of electron heating and plasma dynamics in microwave microplasmas

Microwave microplasmas ignited in argon are studied using a one-dimensional particle-in-cell with Monte Carlo collision (PIC-MCC) approach. One-dimensional PIC-MCC simulations are performed at specified input power densities to determine the influence of the applied frequency (ranging from 1 to 320 GHz), pressure, and total deposited power on the plasma dynamics. The frequency response study performed at a fixed input power density shows the presence of off-axis peaks in the electron number density profile at intermediate frequencies. These peaks are attributed to the interplay between the production of hot electrons by the oscillating sheath and their inability to diffuse sufficiently at higher operating pressures, thereby resulting in enhanced ionization at off-axis locations. This is confirmed by the pressure dependence study which shows that the electron number density peaks at the mid-point when the microplasma is ignited at lower pressures. As the excitation frequency is increased further, the sheath oscillation heating decreases and eventually vanishes, thereby requiring the bulk plasma to couple power to the electrons which in turn leads to an increase in electron temperature in the plasma bulk and the electron number density peak appearing at the mid-point. When the power coupled to the microplasma is decreased, the sheath oscillation at a given frequency decreases, thereby leading to higher contribution from heating in the bulk plasma which leads to the disappearance of off-axis peaks even at intermediate frequencies. The microplasma dynamics at all conditions considered in this work demonstrate the interplay between the electron momentum transfer collision frequency, the angular excitation frequency, and the plasma frequency.
Rare Spontaneous Attenuation of Childhood Inflammatory Cerebral Adrenoleukodystrophy

X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD) is a neurodegenerative peroxisomal disorder with variable clinical phenotypes. Childhood cerebral ALD (CCALD) is at the most severe end of the disease spectrum. In CCALD, the clinical manifestations include increasing deficits in behavior, vision, hearing, coordination, and motor function, as well as seizures. Without treatment, CCALD often results in apparent vegetative state within 1 to 2 years of appearance of initial signs and symptoms. We present the case of a boy with classic inflammatory CCALD who exhibited spontaneous attenuation in disease progression. While extremely rare, spontaneous arrest of disease progression may occur in boys with inflammatory CCALD.
Supreme Court Review: Analysis: Civil Rules Revisions a Mixed Bag

Commentary and analysis of the Supreme Court’s approval of revisions to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure during the 1992-93 Term. After four years of contentious debate, the Court approved revisions to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 11 as well as to the discovery rules. The amendment to Rule 11 approved a more forgiving version of the rule, providing a “safe harbor” for attorneys concerning the truthfulness of their pleadings. The Advisory Committee on Civil Rules not only eliminated mandatory sanctions for litigious misconduct, but gave lawyers a safe harbor to fix their mistakes within 21 days of receiving notice from opposing counsel of a potential Rule 11 violation. The article discusses the prior Rule 11, which was amended in 1983 to put “teeth” into the existing rule, and the ten-year period of excessive sanction motions and penalties under that version of the rule. Also included is a discussion of various punitive Supreme Court decisions construing Rule 11 during this period. The Court also approved a wholesale revision to the federal discovery rules that may radically change, but not eliminate gamesmanship during the discovery process. The keystone to this set of revisions is a mandatory yet informal discovery process that requires attorneys on both sides of the docket to divulge certain materials without waiting for a formal discovery request. The Advisory Committee also amended rules relating to depositions and interrogatories. In the Court’s order approving the rule package, Justice Scalia articulated several major objections to the amended rules, which are reviewed in this article.
Combined forced and free convection in an axisymmetric stagnation flow on a vertical non-isothermal cylinder

Boundary layer solutions are presented to study the effects of buoyancy on forced convection in an axisymmetric stagnation flow over a vertical cylinder with arbitrary surface heat flux variations. Numerical solutions are given for the governing momentum and energy equations. Two flow regions, namely, the buoyancy-assisted and buoyancy-opposed cases are analyzed. It is observed that the wall shear stress and surface heat transfer rate increase or decrease with the buoyancy force parameter depending upon the flow regime being buoyancy-assisted or buoyancy-opposed.
DEVELOPMENT OF A SAFE CONTAINER FOR OVERSEAS SHIPMENT OF WATER-DISPERSIBLE POWDER FORMULATIONS

Shortly after World War II many tropical countries initiated programs to eradicate malaria by spraying houses with DDT to control the anopheline vectors of malaria parasites. When formulated into water-dispersible powders, DDT proved to be highly effective against the mosquito vectors. Most of the DDT powders used in malaria programs were manufactured in Europe or the USA. These powders had to be shipped over long distances by sea and then transported overland by truck or rail and stored in the field prior to use. Many programs encountered difficulties with these products due to breakage or spillage as well as changes in the physical properties of the powders after long periods of storage in the tropics. A variety of containers were tested for use in shipment of the powders ranging from strong paper bags to fiber drums and fiberboard boxes. Research on the effect of pressure on the suspensibility of DDT powders showed that the suspensibility is inversely proportional to the log of the pressure to which the powder is subjected. This finding ruled out any further shipment in bags, the stacking of which seriously affected the performance of the powders. Attention was turned to cylindrical fiber drums sealed with metal chimes. Over a period of about 15 years, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Agency for International Development (AID) used this type of drum for shipment of DDT and Dieldrin powders. Disadvantages of the drums included 1) high cost, 2) difficulty in handling (the WHO drum held 200 lbs and the AID drum 100 lbs), and 3) excessive shipping costs due to the geometry of the drums. Because of the bulky nature of the powders, the cost of shipment was determined by volume rather than weight. These considerations led to the development of a rectangular box which would 1) be strong enough to stack at least 8 boxes high, 2) fit together with no dead space between boxes, and 3) withstand storage in humid climates without disintegration. The resulting box, equipped with a special liner, is described in detail. This box is presently recommended by WHO and AID for shipment of all water-dispersible powders including malathion and DDT.
Long-term follow-up of lower dose dasatinib (50 mg daily) as frontline therapy in newly diagnosed chronic-phase chronic myeloid leukemia

Background Dasatinib, a potent Bcr-Abl tyrosine kinase inhibitor, is approved for the treatment of chronic-phase chronic myeloid leukemia (CML-CP) in the frontline and salvage settings. Notable side effects include pleural effusions and myelosuppression. Dasatinib at 50 mg daily has previously been reported to be active and better tolerated than the approved 100-mg daily dose. The aim of this study was to update the long-term follow-up results of dasatinib at 50 mg daily as frontline therapy for CML-CP. Methods Eighty-three patients with newly diagnosed CML-CP received dasatinib at 50 mg daily. Eligibility and response criteria were standards used in previous protocols. Results After a minimum follow-up of 12 months, 81 patients were evaluable. Two patients came off the study in less than 3 months. The rates of BCR-ABL1 transcript levels (International Standard) at ≤10% and ≤1% at 3 months were 96% and 77%, respectively. The cumulative rates for a complete cytogenetic response by 6 and 12 months were 77% and 95%, respectively. The cumulative rates for a major molecular response, a molecular response with a 4.0-log reduction, and a molecular response with a 4.5-log reduction by 12 months were 81%, 55%, and 49%, respectively. Twenty-one patients (25%) had treatment interruptions for a median of 13 days (range, 4-64 days). Five patients (6%) developed pleural effusions; 4 of these patients (80%) required a dose reduction. Two patients (2%) failed to achieve any cytogenetic or molecular response and were taken off the study. At a median follow-up of 24 months, none of the patients had disease transformation to an accelerated or blastic phase. The 2-year event-free and overall survival rates were 100%. Conclusions These updated results continue to support 50 mg of dasatinib daily as an effective and safe dose for early CML-CP.
Changes in Noninsurance and Care Unaffordability Among Cancer Survivors Following the Affordable Care Act.

Background Little is known about changes in socioeconomic disparities in noninsurance and care unaffordability among nonelderly cancer survivors following the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Methods Cancer survivors aged 18-64 years nationwide were identified from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. Trend and difference-in-differences analyses were conducted to examine changes in percent uninsured and percent reporting care unaffordability pre-(2011 to 2013) and post-(2014 to 2017) ACA Medicaid expansion, by sociodemographic factors. Results A total of 118 631 cancer survivors were identified from Medicaid expansion (n = 72 124) and nonexpansion (n = 46 507) states. Following the ACA, percent uninsured and percent reporting care unaffordability decreased nationwide. Medicaid expansion was associated with a 1.8 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.1 to 3.5) percentage points (ppt) net decrease in noninsurance and a 2.9 (95% CI = 0.7 to 5.1) ppt net decrease in care unaffordability. In stratified analyses by sociodemographic factors, substantial decreases were observed in female survivors, those with low or medium household incomes, the unemployed, and survivors with multiple comorbidities. However, we observed slightly increased percentages in reporting noninsurance (ppt = 1.7; 95% CI = -1.2 to 4.5) and care unaffordability (ppt = 3.1, 95% CI = -0.4 to 6.5) in nonexpansion states between 2016 and 2017, translating to 67 163 and 124 160 survivors, respectively. Conclusion We observed reductions in disparities by sociodemographic factors in noninsurance and care unaffordability among nonelderly cancer survivors following the ACA, with largest decreases in women, those with low or medium income, multiple comorbid conditions, the unemployed, and those residing in Medicaid expansion states. However, the uptick of 82 750 uninsured survivors in 2017, mainly from nonexpansion states, is concerning. Ongoing monitoring of the effects of the ACA is warranted, especially in evaluating health outcomes.
Homozygous variants in AMPD2 and COL11A1 lead to a complex phenotype of pontocerebellar hypoplasia type 9 and Stickler syndrome type 2

Pontocerebellar hypoplasia type 9 (PCH9) is an autosomal recessive neurodevelopmental disorder caused by pathogenic variants in the AMPD2 gene. We evaluated the son of a consanguineous couple who presented with profound hypotonia and global developmental delay. Other features included sensorineural hearing loss, asymmetric astigmatism, and high myopia. Clinical whole-exome sequence analysis identified a homozygous missense variant in AMPD2 (NM_001257360.1:c.2201C > T, p.[Pro734Leu]) that has not been previously reported. Given the strong phenotypic overlap with PCH9, including the identification of the typical "Figure 8" appearance of the brainstem on neuroimaging, we suspect this variant was causative of the neurodevelopmental disability in this individual. An additional homozygous nonsense variant in COL11A1 (NM_001854.4:c.1168G > T, p.[Glu390Ter]) was identified. Variants in this alternatively spliced region of COL11A1 have been identified to cause an autosomal recessive form of Stickler syndrome type 2 characterized by sensorineural hearing loss and eye abnormalities, but without musculoskeletal abnormalities. The COL11A1 variant likely also contributed to the individual's phenotype, suggesting two potentially relevant genetic findings. This challenging case highlights the importance of detailed phenotypic characterization when interpreting whole exome data.
The Human Accelerated Region HACNS1 modifies developmental gene expression in humanized mice

Abstract Morphological innovations that arose during human evolution are ultimately encoded in genetic changes that altered development. Human Accelerated Regions (HARs), which include developmental enhancers that harbor a significant excess of human-specific sequence changes, are leading candidates for driving novel physical modifications in humans. Here we examine the role of the HAR HACNS1 (also known as HAR2) in human limb evolution by directly interrogating its cellular and developmental functions in a humanized mouse model. HACNS1 encodes an enhancer with human-specific activity in the developing limb in transgenic mouse reporter assays, and exhibits increased epigenetic signatures of enhancer activity in the human embryonic limb compared to its orthologs in rhesus macaque and mouse. Here we find that HACNS1 maintains its human-specific enhancer activity compared to its chimpanzee ortholog in the mouse embryonic limb, and that it alters expression of the transcription factor gene Gbx2 during limb development. Using single-cell RNA-sequencing, we demonstrate that Gbx2 is upregulated in humanized limb bud chondrogenic mesenchyme, implicating HACNS1-mediated Gbx2 expression in early skeletal patterning. Our findings establish that HARs direct changes in the level and distribution of gene expression during development, and illustrate how humanized mouse models provide insight into regulatory pathways modified in human evolution.
Associations between omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids, hyperinsulinemia and incident diabetes by race/ethnicity: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis

Summary Background & aims Omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) have been shown to relate to insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes (T2D), but influence of race/ethnicity has not been investigated. The aim of this study was to determine whether omega-6 PUFAs, and estimated desaturase enzyme activity, are associated with fasting glucose, insulin, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and incident T2D, and whether associations differ by race/ethnicity. Methods This study was conducted in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) (N = 6282). Associations between baseline plasma phospholipid fatty acids (LA, Linoleic Acid; GLA, γ-linoleic acid; DGLA, Dihomo-γ-linolenic acid; AA, arachidonic acid; D5D, delta-5 desaturase; D6D, delta-6 desaturase), fasting glucose, insulin, and HOMA-IR [(fasting insulin – fasting glucose)/22.5] were evaluated using linear regression. Associations between omega-6 PUFAs (N = 5508 after excluding diabetics at baseline) and T2D incidence were assessed using Cox proportional hazards regression. Analyses were replicated/stratified by race/ethnicity (White, Black, Chinese, Hispanic) and tests for interaction were assessed by inclusion of a cross-product term in models. Results In fully adjusted models, insulin and HOMA-IR were positively associated with LA (insulin: 0.213 per SD, p = 0.01; HOMA-IR: 0.252 per SD, p 0.05). Conclusions Results confirm previous reports that omega-6 PUFAs are associated with hyperinsulinemia. Findings suggest omega-6 PUFAs are more likely markers of hyperinsulinemia rather than a protective/risk factor for T2D and indicate racial/ethnic differences in associations, but further research is needed to confirm findings.
Identification of Priority Skill Areas for Volunteer Professional Development

Youth development programs often rely on volunteers to deliver programming to young people. Our study explored the skills and competencies volunteers self-identified as important for their roles. We analyzed qualitative responses to 2 open-ended questions asking University of California 4-H volunteers to identify priority skills to aid in their volunteer development. Using inductive thematic analysis, we developed a coding scheme to analyze 1,144 responses. Participants reported the need for professional development in content-specific areas, program management basics, and child development. Volunteers also reported desiring training in educational practices, organizational skills, specific volunteer roles, and communication skills. The modalities through which volunteers were willing to develop these skills were peer-to-peer learning; online, in-person, classes and conferences; and continuous education. Given the importance of adult volunteers to youth development programs, it is essential that volunteers’ professional and skill development be supported by both effective and preferred approaches.
International Sequencing with Historical Examples

The basic economic model developed in Chapters 2 and 3 is now applied to interstate sequencing. The benefit-cost analysis again shows that there are two stable equilibria and two transitional dis-equilibria. Three interstate historical sequences are identified and examples of each are discussed.
Politics, Petitions, and Violence in Shelley’s Posthumous Fragments of Margaret Nicholson

This essay examines Percy Bysshe Shelley’s 1810 work Posthumous Fragments of Margaret Nicholson. By returning to the political moment of the work’s composition and publication, I establish a new an...
Targeting loss of heterozygosity for cancer-specific immunotherapy

Developing therapeutic agents with potent antitumor activity that spare normal tissues remains a significant challenge. Clonal loss of heterozygosity (LOH) is a widespread and irreversible genetic alteration that is exquisitely specific to cancer cells. We hypothesized that LOH events can be therapeutically targeted by "inverting" the loss of an allele in cancer cells into an activating signal. Here we describe a proof-of-concept approach utilizing engineered T cells approximating NOT-gate Boolean logic to target counterexpressed antigens resulting from LOH events in cancer. The NOT gate comprises a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) targeting the allele of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) that is retained in the cancer cells and an inhibitory CAR (iCAR) targeting the HLA allele that is lost in the cancer cells. We demonstrate that engineered T cells incorporating such NOT-gate logic can be activated in a genetically predictable manner in vitro and in mice to kill relevant cancer cells. This therapeutic approach, termed NASCAR (Neoplasm-targeting Allele-Sensing CAR), could, in theory, be extended to LOH of other polymorphic genes that result in altered cell surface antigens in cancers.
The effect of early exposure to violence on acceptance of violence and dating violence perpetration in university students: the moderating role of pro-violence messages

Dating violence is a prevalent problem among college-aged couples. Empirical studies based on social learning theory have found a strong relationship between early exposure to violence and violent ...
Aggregation pheromones inDrosophila borealis andDrosophila littoralis.

Mature males ofDrosophila borealis andD. littoralis (Diptera: Drosophilidae) produce pheromones that attract both males and females in a wind-tunnel bioassay. Ethyl tiglate is a major pheromone component in both species. Isopropyl tiglate is a minor component, as active as ethyl tiglate on an equal-weight basis, but less abundant in the flies. Both species respond to (Z)-9-heneicosene, a compound they do not possess, but which is a pheromone component in closely related species.D. borealis andD. littoralis are also able to discriminate among various heneicosene isomers. These responses to hydrocarbons may represent artifacts of evolution in this group. For both species, the pheromone was strongly synergized by an extract of fermenting aspen bark, a “host” material ofD. borealis. Benzyl alcohol was identified as one active component, although it did not account for all the activity of the extract. In nature, the flies probably respond to mixtures of fly-derived and host-derived volatiles.
Productivity Measurement from a Reference Technology: A Distance Function Approach

An approach to productivity measurement based on distance function measurement is developed in this paper. A series of reference technologies are constructed by augmenting observed inputs and outputs such that the resulting effective netputs are consistent with the weak axiom of profit maximization. Geometric means of year-ahead and year-back distance function values serve as measures of multifactor productivity changes. Both primal measures from the inner bound and dual measures from the outer bound of the reference technologies are calculated. Resulting productivity measures are similar to those derived using index number approaches, but potentially provide greater information regarding the reference technologies.
Electron Microscopy of Protocollagen Proline Hydroxylase from Chick Embryos

Abstract Protocollagen proline hydroxylase was purified from chick embryos, and it was examined by electron microscopy with negative staining techniques. Enzyme prepared in Helsinki consisted almost entirely of single ring structures. Enzyme prepared in Philadelphia under essentially the same conditions consisted almost entirely of tubular forms in which four rings were stacked together. Repeated freezing and thawing of the Helsinki preparation markedly increased the number of four-ring structures, but it was not possible to establish reproducible conditions for the interconversion of these two major forms of the enzyme. Each ring in the four-ring structure had a diameter of 100 A, a height of 30 to 35 A, and a central hole of about 20 A. The single ring structure was slightly more distended. The molecular weight of each ring was about 200,000, and therefore the molecular weight of the four-ring structure was about 800,000. The inner two rings of the four-ring structure were closer together than the outer two rings. Since the four rings appeared to be identical, the observations suggested that the rings were held together by a combination of heterologous and isologous bonds. No regular structures with more than four rings were seen, and the simplest bonding sequence consistent with these observations was (AB)—(AB)— (BA)—(BA) in which larger structures were not favored, because the formation of the inner B—B bond altered the A surfaces on the inner rings so that they were not equivalent to the A surfaces on the outer rings.
Reliability test plans for one-shot devices based on repeated samples

A "one-shot" device has the property that a successful test results in its destruction. An obvious example is the testing of an explosive device selected from a stockpile of military weapons. The type of data obtained differs from that of the ..
Yield Coefficients of Thiobacillus neapolitanus in Continuous Culture

Thiobacillus neapolitanus, when grown in continuous culture with thiosulfate limiting growth, possessed an apparent maximal molar growth yield of 8.0 g (dry weight) per mole of thiosulfate. The substrate requirement for energy of maintenance was the highest yet reported, amounting to 21.8 mmoles of thiosulfate per g per hr. The molar growth yield, corrected for this maintenance energy requirement, was 13.9 g (dry weight) per mole of thiosulfate. It was concluded that substrate-level phosphorylation during sulfite oxidation accounted for about 45% of the adenosine triphosphate (ATP) requirement for CO2 assimilation and maintenance during growth on limiting thiosulfate, that three sites of energy conservation exist in the electron-transport chain terminating in oxygen, and that 7.8 moles of ATP are required to fix and assimilate 1 mole of CO2 into cell material.
Cohomology of Feynman graphs and perturbative quantum field theory

An analog of Kreimer's coproduct from renormalization of Feynman integrals in quantum field theory, endows an analog of Kontsevich's graph complex with a dg-coalgebra structure. The graph complex is generated by orientation classes of labeled directed graphs. A graded commutative product is also defined, compatible with the coproduct. Moreover, a dg-Hopf algebra is identified. Graph cohomology is defined applying the cobar construction to the dg-coalgebra structure. As an application, L-infinity morphisms represented as series over Feynman graphs correspond to graph cocycles. Notably the total differential of the cobar construction corresponds to the L-infinity morphism condition. The main example considered is Kontsevich's formality morphism. The relation with perturbative quantum field theory is considered by interpreting L-infinity morphisms as partition functions, and the coefficients of the graph expansions as Feynman integrals.
High-pressure neutron diffraction studies at LANSCE

The development of neutron diffraction under extreme pressure (P) and temperature (T) conditions is highly valuable to condensed matter physics, crystal chemistry, materials science, and earth and planetary sciences. We have incorporated a 500-ton press TAP-98 into the HiPPO diffractometer at the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center (LANSCE) to conduct in situ high-P–T neutron diffraction experiments. We have developed a large gem-crystal anvil cell, ZAP, to conduct neutron diffraction experiments at high P. The ZAP cell can be used to integrate multiple experimental techniques such as neutron diffraction, laser spectroscopy, and ultrasonic interferometery. More recently, we have developed high-P low-T gas/liquid cells in conjunction with neutron diffraction. These techniques enable in situ and real-time examination of gas uptake/release processes and allow accurate, time-dependent determination of changes in crystal structure and related reaction kinetics. We have successfully used these techniques to study the equations of state, structural phase transitions, and thermo-mechanical properties of metals, ceramics, and minerals. We have conducted researches on the formation/decomposition kinetics of methane, CO2 and hydrogen hydrate clathrates, and hydrogen/CO2 adsorption of inclusion compounds such as metal–organic frameworks (MOFs). The aim of our research is to accurately map out phase relations and determine structural parameters (lattice constants, atomic positions, atomic thermal parameters, bond lengths, bond angles, etc.) in the P–T–X space. We are developing further high-P–T technology with a new 2000-ton press, TAPLUS-2000, and a ZIA (Deformation-DIA type) cubic anvil package to routinely achieve pressures up to 20 GPa and temperatures up to 2000 K. The design of a dedicated high-P neutron beamline, LAPTRON, is also underway for simultaneous high-P–T neutron diffraction, ultrasonic, calorimetry, radiography, and tomography studies. Studies based on high-pressure neutron diffraction are important for multidisciplinary sciences, particularly for theoretical/computational modeling/simulations.
Cladonia petrophila, a new species from eastern North America

Cladonia petrophila, an overlooked, usually sterile species, morphologically similar toC. apodocarpa andC. caespiticia, is described as new on the basis of its distinctive chemistry, perlatolic and fumarprotocetraric acids, and habitat preference for moist non-calcareous rock.
Comparisons of associate, diploma and baccalaureate degree nurses' state board, quality of patient care, competency rating, supervisor rating, subordinates' satisfaction with supervision and self-report job satisfaction scores

Since the position paper on nursing education by the American Nurses Association (1965) accepting the idea of having two categories of registered nurses, technical and professional, there has been a running controversy concerning the issue of differences in roles and competency. The battle continues to rage in nursing education (Fagin, McClure and Schlotfeldt, 1976) and in the area of licensure (Registered Nurse, 1976; American Journal of Nursing, 1973; National League for Nursing, 1976). The technical nurse is a product of either a 2-yr hospital based nursing program (diploma nurse) or a 3-yr community college based program (associate degree) while the professional nurse is the product of a 4-yr college or university program leading to a baccalaureate degree. Despite the differences in their educational preparations all must pass the same state board examination to be licensed to practice nursing as a registered nurse.
The use of information technology in the provision of HR compensation services and its effect on outsourcing and centralization

Abstract Conventional wisdom suggests information technology (IT) can reduce inter-firm costs, leading to increased outsourcing. However, IT can reduce costs both within and between organizations, making the net influence of IT on outsourcing, and within firm configuration, unclear. Using transaction- and agency-cost approaches, this paper considers the influence of IT on both outsourcing and the within firm choice of decentralization or centralization of HR services. The interdependence of centralization decisions with outsourcing decisions is a novel theoretical and empirical contribution of the paper. Results from a survey of 243 firms indicate that IT facilitates outsourcing. Centralization of service decision making is positively related to outsourcing of the service which suggests that centralization may be a precursor stage or a facilitator of outsourcing. Empirical results also indicate that decision making on a service tends to be more centralized as the service is more standardized and has a higher level of scope economies.
Assessment of patient-independent intrinsic error for a noninvasive frame for fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy.

SUMMARY The purpose of our study was to examine the extent of patient-independent intrinsic error associated with multiple, repeat remounting of the Laitinen Stereoadapter. The Laitinen frame was repeatedly mounted on a solid water phantom and imaged using computed tomography (CT). The phantom contained five targets located in the center, anterior, right, left, and posterior orientations. The images were processed, fused, and analyzed on the Pinnacle™ 3-D treatment planning system. The coordinate values (in the x, y, and z directions) for each target were determined for each mounting, and an absolute mean deviation was calculated for 11 repetitions. The mean deviation in the x, y, and z direction for the central and right target, and in the ◊ and y direction for the posterior and anterior target was less than 2.0 mm. However, the mean error in the z direction of the anterior and posterior targets was 1.79 ± 1.02 mm and 2.20 ± 1.32 mm, respectively. Rotational misalignment during repeat frame fixation contributed to the observed deviations and in particular affected the antero-posterior plane. With the exception of two occasions where an obvious mounting error occurred, a significant portion of error from remounting the Laitinen Stereoadapter is associated with the operator and the imaging process. The observation of an angular displacement around the axis through the earplugs suggests that a certain degree of rotational misalignment in daily remounting is possible. Targets in the antero-posterior plane are most susceptible to localization error as a consequence of rotational misalignment. In summary, the overall error is within the limits of current imaging technology but not within submillimeter accuracy. Clinical application should take these errors into consideration when designing field margins. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Characterization of the T Lymphocyte Subsets and Lymphoid Populations Involved in the Induction of Low-Dose Oral Tolerance to Human Thyroglobulin

Abstract Using mice deficient in CD8α, TCRδ, CD4, or CD120a, as well as adoptive transfer experiments in wild-type and RAG-1-deficient mice, we characterized the T lymphocyte subsets and lymphoid populations involved in the induction of low-dose oral tolerance to human thyroglobulin (hTg). The oral administration of hTg, but not the intraperitoneal (ip) administration of hTg, generates lymphocytes that can transfer tolerance. Purified CD8α + lymphocytes successfully transfer tolerance, while the depletion of CD8α or TCRδ lymphocytes prevents the transfer of tolerance. Oral tolerance can be induced in CD4-deficient mice and RAG-1-deficient mice reconstituted with cells from CD120a-deficient mice, but not in CD8α-, TCRδ, or CD120a-deficient mice. These findings indicate that CD8α and TCRδ T lymphocytes are necessary for the oral induction and transfer of tolerance to hTg. Additionally, functional Peyer's patches are necessary for the induction of low-dose oral tolerance to hTg.
Solar Proton Fluences for 1977-1983 Space Missions

The probability with which any given solar proton fluence level will be exceeded during a space mission is computed for mission to be flown during the active phase of the next solar cycle (1977-1983). This probability is a function of fluence level, proton energy threshold, and mission duration. Calculations are based on 1966-1972 data only. In estimating mission fluences, a distinction is made between ordinary and anomalously large events. Probable numbers of each type of event are estimated from Burrell's extension of Poisson statistics. Fluences of all anomalously large events are assumed to have a spectrum given by the August 1972 event, while fluences of the ordinary events are assumed to obey a log normal distribution.
Robust surface registration using salient anatomical features for image-guided liver surgery: Algorithm and validation

A successful surface-based image-to-physical space registration in image-guided liver surgery (IGLS) is critical to provide reliable guidance information to surgeons and pertinent surface displacement data for use in deformation correction algorithms. The current protocol used to perform the image-to-physical space registration involves an initial pose estimation provided by a point based registration of anatomical landmarks identifiable in both the preoperative tomograms and the intraoperative presentation. The surface based registration is then performed via a traditional iterative closest point (ICP) algorithm between the preoperative liver surface, segmented from the tomographic image set, and an intraoperatively acquired point cloud of the liver surface provided by a laser range scanner. Using this more conventional method, the registration accuracy can be compromised by poor initial pose estimation as well as tissue deformation due to the laparotomy and liver mobilization performed prior to tumor resection. In order to increase the robustness of the current surface-based registration method used in IGLS, we propose the incorporation of salient anatomical features, identifiable in both the preoperative image sets and intraoperative liver surface data, to aid in the initial pose estimation and play a more significant role in the surface-based registration via a novel weighting scheme. Examples of such salient anatomical features are the falciform groove region as well as the inferior ridge of the liver surface. In order to validate the proposed weighted patch registration method, the alignment results provided by the proposed algorithm using both single and multiple patch regions were compared with the traditional ICP method using six clinical datasets. Robustness studies were also performed using both phantom and clinical data to compare the resulting registrations provided by the proposed algorithm and the traditional method under conditions of varying initial pose. The results provided by the robustness trials and clinical registration comparisons suggest that the proposed weighted patch registration algorithm provides a more robust method with which to perform the image-to-physical space registration in IGLS. Furthermore, the implementation of the proposed algorithm during surgical procedures does not impose significant increases in computation or data acquisition times.
The relationship between blood leptin level and bone density is specific to ethnicity and menopausal status

Leptin, the obesity hormone, has been linked to bone mineralization and tumorigenesis. In addition, both bone mineral density (BMD) and postmenopausal breast cancer are associated with obesity, but the interrelationships between obesity, leptin, BMD, and breast cancer are not yet clear. In particular, there is little published research comparing white and black women in terms of these variables. We obtained blood specimens for leptin analysis from a group of 320 breast cancer patients and controls with an ethnic composition of 49% white women and 51% black women. Distal and proximal radial BMD (DBMD and PBMD) were measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, and age- and ethnicity-specific standardized scores (Z-scores) were calculated for bone density. Blood leptin levels were determined by radioimmunoassay. Blood leptin level was not linked to breast cancer risk. Leptin levels were significantly higher in black women than in white women and were also significantly higher in obese and overweight women than in normal-weight women. Black women weighed more and had a higher body mass index (BMI) than white women. After controlling for BMI, leptin was correlated with DBMD ( r = .17; P r = .21; P r = .14 and .13; P
A review of tropospheric scatter propagation theory and its application to experiment

A comprehensive review is made of published work on the theory of beyond-horizon propagation of radio waves by means of oblique scattering from randomly-distributed irregularities of refractive index in the troposphere. A scattering theory is formulated which attempts to take as accurate account as possible of all effects likely to be important in practice, consisting of some new results combined with the best features of existing theories. Application of this theory to a Variety of experimental results yields generally good agreement. Possible causes of some discrepancies, and the likely relative importance of scattering and certain other long-distance propagation mechanisms, are discussed.
CLOSTRIDIAL MYONECROSIS IN A BLACK BEAR ASSOCIATED WITH DRUG ADMINISTRATION

Clostridial myonecrosis is described for the first time in a black bear (Ursus americanus). This fatal condition appeared within three days following immobilization with parenterally administered promazine hydrochloride and phencyclidine hydrochloride. Clostridial myonecrosis may be responsible for other unexplained deaths of animals following recovery from immobilizing drugs. Administration of prophylactic antibiotics to immobilized animals might be considered.
Preliminary studies in the electrodeposition of PbSe/PbTe superlattice thin films via electrochemical atomic layer deposition (ALD)

This paper concerns the electrochemical growth of compound semiconductor thin film superlattice structures using electrochemical atomic layer deposition (ALD). Electrochemical ALD is the electrochemical analogue of atomic layer epitaxy (ALE) and ALD, methods based on nanofilm formation an atomic layer at a time, using surface-limited reactions. Underpotential deposition (UPD) is a type of electrochemical surfaced-limited reaction used in the present studies for the formation of PbSe/PbTe superlattices via electrochemical ALD. PbSe/PbTe thin-film superlattices with modulation wavelengths (periods) of 4.2 and 7.0 nm are reported here. These films were characterized using electron probe microanalysis, X- ray diffraction, atomic force microscopy (AFM), and infrared reflection absorption measurements. The 4.2 nm period superlattice was grown after deposition of 10 PbSe cycles, as a prelayer, resulting in an overall composition of PbSe0.52Te0.48. The 7.0 nm period superlattice was grown after deposition of 100 ...
Automated management and service provisioning model for distributed devices

This paper provides an automated system management and service provisioning approach for distributed devices. We consider a functional process model of the necessary phases for runtime management (MAPE-K proposal from the Autonomic Computing Initiative). This approach defines discrete steps within runtime system management which provide a simplified view of the system for service provisioning. Two issues emerge: communication from managed entities (or monitoring) may need special consideration; and this leads on to modeling communication between the system management phases proposed by MAPE-K.
Metaphor comprehension as attributive categorization.

Abstract The class-inclusion model claims that metaphors (e.g., That exam is a filter) are comprehended by inclusion of the topic (or subject) as a member of an attributive category named after and exemplified by the vehicle (or predicate). In three experiments, participants rated the extent to which a topic concept (e.g., exam ) was a member of a vehicle category (e.g., filters ). To test the scope of the class-inclusion model, both conventional and novel metaphors were included in Experiments 1 and 2, and both high and low apt metaphors were included in Experiment 3. Class inclusion was higher following metaphorical primes than following either literal primes (Experiment 1) or no primes (Experiments 2 and 3). Moreover, this metaphor-induced categorization occurred equally for conventional and novel metaphors, but occurred to a greater extent for the high apt than for the low apt metaphors. Thus, aptness rather than conventionality mediated categorization in metaphor comprehension.
Brief dynamic group therapy: A psychoeducational model for enhancing caregiver-infant development

A group model for providing short-term caregiver-infant psychoeducation is presented. The goal of this model is to modify over a brief and circumscribed period of time the perceptions and expectations of caregivers so that their interpersonal behaviors with their infants sustain and enhance adaptive interactive sequences. This model of intervention is derived from the intuitive behavior patterns of adaptive caregivers concerning the infant's emerging representational abilities. Specific vignettes exemplifying the stages of group development that occur with this model of intervention are discussed.
STIR-ing the wireless medium with self-tuned, inference-based, real-time jamming

Jamming broadcasting to intentionally interfere with wireless reception, has long been a problem for wireless systems. Recent research demonstrates numerous advances in jamming techniques that increase attack efficiency or reduce the probability an attack will be detected by choosing attack parameters based on a system's configuration. In this work, we extend the attacker's capabilities by modifying the attack parameters in response to the observed performance of the target system, effectively creating a feedback loop in our attack model. This framework allows for more intricate attack models that are tuned online allowing for closer to optimal attacks against legitimate systems. To show the feasibility of the listening and attacking framework we introduce an attack called Self-Tuned, Inference-based, Real-time jamming or STIR-jamming. This attack listens to legitimate communication traffic, infers the systems performance, and optimizes jamming parameters. We propose the two types of STIR-jamming, mSTIR-jamming and tSTIR-jamming, and implement these attacks against an IEEE 802.15.4 link as a case study. With the empirical results, we demonstrate the attack system adapting to various scenarios and finding stable solutions.
Fish Diseases and Nutrition

Abstract Malnutrition in fish population, although recognized by the earliest workers in fish culture, has only recenty received intensive study commensurate with that in other fields of animal nutrition. Recent experimental test diets have produced specific deficiency syndromes for most of the vitamins and have indicated the possibility of developing specific deficiencies for amino acids, fatty acids, and other basic nutrients. During the past 3 years the first evidence of susceptibility to bacterial disease in lots of fish with sub-clinical manifestations of vitamin deficiencies has opened an entire new field in fish-disease study. In this review (a portion of a symposium on fish diseases) the nutrition of salmonids is emphasized. Advancements within the last 10 years in the fields of avitaminosis, hypervitaminosis, susceptibility to disease and general malnutrition are mentioned and a table is included which compares the specific avitaminosis syndromes observed in fish with those observed in other expe...
Verification of automatic network analysers

This chapter discusses different types of verification which may be applied to network analyser measurements to enable the user to assess or confirm the most appropriate choice of settings on the network analyser for their particular measurement scenario.
Patterns of Early Adult Status Attainment and Attitudes in the Nonmetropolitan South

Utilizing data from a study of Southern, nonmetropolitan youth, this paper reports the patterns of congruency and deflection in occupational and educational attitudes and attainment. Descriptive comparisons of status aspiration, expectations and attainment were made for 427 white and 268 black males from six Deep South states. Aspirations and expectation levels for future occupational and educational attainment were apparently "unrealistic" in terms of available opportunities and also appeared to be marginal related to present attainment. Although white levels of these variables somewhat exceeded comparable levels for blacks, both groups generally were found to have such unrealistic and optimistic attitudes. A hypothesis was offered where unrealistic future orientations are seen as having positive consequences in a success-oriented society for those who are not succeeding by allowing them to not admit failure by projecting future achievements.
HMDs as enablers of situation awareness: the OODA loop and sense-making

Helmet-Mounted Displays have been shown to be powerful tools that can unlock the pilot from the interior of the cockpit or the forward line of sight of the Head-Up Display. Imagery that is presented in one of three reference frames can enable the pilots to do their job more effectively while simultaneously decreasing workload. This paper will review key attributes of Situation Awareness, the Observe/Orient/Decide/Act (OODA) Loop and Sensemaking and how HMDs can aid the pilot in achieving these ideal cognitive states.
A 32-Bit Computer for Large Memory Applications on the FASTBUS

A FASTBUS based 32-bit computer is being built at Los Alamos National Laboratory for use in systems requiring large fast memory in the FASTBUS environment. A separate local execution bus allows data reduction to proceed concurrently with other FASTBUS operations. The computer, which can operate in either master or slave mode, includes the National Semiconductor NS32032 chip set with demand paged memory management, floating point slave processor, interrupt control unit, timers, and time-of-day clock. The 16.0 megabytes of random access memory are interleaved to allow windowed direct memory access on and off the FASTBUS at 80 megabytes per second.
THE JOHNSON SYSTEM: SELECTION AND PARAMETER ESTIMATION

This paper presents simple criteria which can be used to select which of the three members of the Johnson System of distributions should be used for fitting a set of data. The paper also presents elementary formulas for estimating the parameters for each of the members of the family. Thus, many obstacles to the use of the Johnson System are resolved.