cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Pattern transfer for diffractive and refractive microoptics

Pattern transfer technologies developed for very large and ultra-large scale integrated (VLSI and ULSI) circuit processing can be adapted to fabricate high fidelity microstructures for planar diffractive and refractive optical elements (DOEs and ROEs). Lithographic, dry-etching, and material deposition techniques used to pattern continuous and stepped microoptical surface relief structures in dielectric, metallic, and semiconductor materials are reviewed. Examples are given of multilevel DOEs, analog refractive lenslet arrays, and subwavelength structures.
Differential extraction of nuclear and cytoplasmic RNA from intact lymphocytes.

Abstract RNA was extracted differentially from whole lymphocytes with phenol by varying the temperature of extraction and the presence of detergent. 1. 1. Whole-cell RNA is extracted at 62° with 0.5% sodium dodecyl sulfate. 2. 2. Cytoplasmic rRNA and 4-S RNA are extracted by phenol at room temperature without sodium dodecyl sulfate. All nuclear RNA forms are excluded. 3. 3. Nuclear and cytoplasmic rRNA and its precursors are extracted by phenol at 40° with sodium dodecyl sulfate, but extraction of polydisperse RNA is reduced, providing improved detection and resolution of rRNA precursors on sucrose gradients. 4. 4. Cytoplasmic polydisperse RNA, if it exists in lymphocytes, is not extracted by cold phenol without detergents.
The lunar-solar effect on the orbital lifetimes of artificial satellites with highly eccentric orbits.

Lunar solar perturbation effect on orbital lifetimes of artificial satellites with highly eccentric orbits
Pushing the envelope in distributed ns-3 simulations: one billion nodes

In this paper, we describe the results of simulation of very large (up to 109 nodes), planetary-scale networks using ns-3 simulator. The modeled networks consist of the small-world core graph of network routers and an equal number of the leaf nodes (one leaf node per router). Each bidirectional link in the simulation carries on-off traffic. Using LLNL's high-performance computing (HPC) clusters, we conducted strong and weak scaling studies, and investigated on-node scalability for MPI nodes. The scaling relations for both runtime and memory are derived. In addition we examine the packet transmission rate in the simulation and its scalability. Performance of the default ns-3 parallel scheduler is compared to the custom-designed NULL-message scheduler.
Suicide Terrorism: Is Religion the Critical Factor?

The purpose of this article is to investigate empirically the validity of the argument that the religious nature of the terrorist groups accounts for the increase in terrorism's lethality today. In an attempt to explore the relationship between religion and terrorism's newfound lethality, the study utilizes the International Policy Institute for Counter-Terrorism's (ICT) “International Terrorism” database between 1980 and 2002. It employs Ordinary Least Squares regressions to test the hypotheses concerning the effects of religion, suicide bombing, and the intermingling of the two, on the number of terrorist-related deaths and civilian casualties. The study concludes that to understand modern terrorism's increased lethality, one needs to look further than religion as a motive and take into account modern terrorists’ willingness to use “suicide terror” as their primary modus operandi.
Kinematics of healthy and meniscal repaired knees.

Differences have been reported between in vitro and in vivo meniscal kinematics, and no clinical study to date has investigated the effect of meniscal repair on meniscal kinematics. Eleven subjects with healthy knees and eight subjects who had undergone meniscal repair for an isolated tear were scanned using magnetic resonance imaging. Sagittal plane scanning was performed at 0, 30, 60, 90, and 120 degrees of knee flexion. The mean composite lateral meniscus movements for the normal and meniscal-repaired subjects were 6.85 mm and 6.01 mm, respectively. The mean composite medial meniscus movement for the normal and meniscal repaired subjects were 8.22 mm and 5.91 mm, respectively. Anterior horn movements of the lateral and medial meniscus of normal subjects were 7.5 and 8.9 mm, respectively. The posterior horns of the lateral meniscus and medial meniscus displaced 6.2 mm and 7.6 mm, respectively. In comparing meniscal-repair subjects to the subjects with healthy knees, the lateral meniscus displaced approx...
Flavonoid-Induced Acute Nephropathy

We report two cases of acute renal failure induced by sciadopitysin, a type of flavonoid, and review related papers of flavonoid-induced acute nephropathy in the literature. A total of eight patients were studied. The purpose of this report is to alert physicians to consider this cause of acute renal failure with hemolysis, because flavonoids are widely used in the world. All patients initially presented with fever and gastrointestinal upset after the ingestion of a single large dose or long-term small doses. Symptoms that followed were cola-colored urine and jaundice. Elevation of blood nitrogen and serum creatinine lasted for 2 to 9 weeks. Hemolysis (100%), cholestatic hepatitis (50%), and disseminated intravascular coagulopathy (50%) were also noted in flavonoid-induced oliguric acute renal failure patients. All of these patients required hemodialysis and all but one who died completely recovered within 2 to 9 weeks. Renal biopsy was performed and showed acute interstitial nephritis with acute tubular necrosis. Moreover, we first demonstrated multiple polymorphorous inclusion bodies within tubular epithelial cells in electron microscopic examinations. The definite pathogenetic mechanism of flavonoid-induced acute nephropathy needs further elucidation.
Octahedral metal carbonyls—LXXIII. Displacement of aromatic solvents (solv) from (solv)Cr(CO)5 complexes generated after flash photolysis: Modes of bonding and mechanism

Abstract Rates of solvent displacement by 1-hexane (hex) from 17 (solv)Cr(CO) 5 transients generated after pulsed laser flash photolysis (solv = aromatic solvent, C 6 H 6− n X n ; X = alkyl, perfluoroalkyl (R, R f ); F, Cl, Br; n = 0–4), (solv)Cr(CO) 5 + hex → (η 2 -hex)Cr(CO) 5 + solv, have been determined. Analyses of the rate constants in terms of the steric and electronic properties of solv indicate that the rections take place via initial slow fission of a solvCr bond. The data also indicate that for R, R f and F substituents, solv is coordinated to Cr “edge on” via an isolated CC bond, while for solv which contain Cl and Br substituents, coordination to Cr takes place through halogenic lone pairs. Aside from influences of the mode of coordination of solv to Cr, rates increase with increasing electron-withdrawing properties and increasing steric bulk of the substituents.
Against structural constraints in subject-verb agreement production.

Syntactic structure has been considered an integral component of agreement computation in language production. In agreement error studies, clause-boundedness (Bock & Cutting, 1992) and hierarchical feature-passing (Franck et al., 2002) predict that local nouns within clausal modifiers should produce fewer errors than those within phrasal modifiers due to structural differences; however, Gillespie and Pearlmutter (2011b) suggest structure may play a more limited role. Two studies examined whether the clause-boundedness effect would occur when prepositional phrase modifiers and relative clause modifiers were matched in properties likely to influence timing of planning (Gillespie & Pearlmutter; Solomon & Pearlmutter, 2004). In both studies, more errors occurred for plural local nouns, but the clause-boundedness effect was not observed. These findings suggest that agreement computation during production does not involve a hierarchical component.
Heavy metal stabilization in municipal solid waste combustion dry scrubber residue using soluble phosphate

The mechanisms of heavy metal stabilization of calcium-based dry scrubber residue using soluble PO43- were investigated. This stabilization technology is presently used in the U.S. and Japan to reduce metals leaching from municipal solid waste combustion residues. At an experimental dose of 1.2 mol of H3PO4/kg of residue and using a relatively dry mixing system, the reduction in the operationally defined fraction available for leaching (using the Dutch Total Availability Test) is 38% for Cd, 58% for Cu, 99% for Pb, and 28% for Zn. pH-dependent leaching (pH 4, 6, 8) showed that the treatment was able to reduce equilibrium concentrations by 0.5−2 log units for many of these metals, particularly Pb and Zn. Depth profiling of particles using secondary ion mass spectroscopy suggests that stabilization is by precipitation of metal phosphate reaction products rather than by adsorption of metals to phosphate particle surfaces. Bulk and surface spectroscopies show that the insoluble reaction products are nanometer...
Angiogenesis and the formation of lymphaticlike channels in cultures of thoracic duct.

Segments of rat thoracic duct cultured in plasma clot or in collagen gel produced microvascular and fibroblastic outgrowths. Lymphaticlike channels (LLC) with a highly attenuated endothelium, which was barely visible by light microscopy, were found in 8 out of 25 cultures (32%). Serial histologic sections revealed that the endothelium of the LLC was continuous with the intimal endothelium of the throacic duct and was therefore of lymphatic origin. In addition to the LLC, vascular channels lined by a thick endothelium with hump-shaped, cross-sectional profiles were found in 10 cultures (40%). These channels were indistinguishable from the microvessels of blood vascular origin that formed in parallel cultures of rat aorta or periductal adipose tissue and were termed hematiclike channels (HLC). Contrary to the LLC, the HLC did not originate from the lymphatic endothelium of the thoracic duct. The frequent association of the HLC with the adventitia of the thoracic duct and with the surrounding adipose tissue suggested that they probably developed from the hematic microvessels of the periductal soft tissues.
Some health dimensions of self-efficacy: Analysis of theoretical specificity

Based on data drawn from a random-digit-dial probability sample of adults in a major American metropolitan area, this study supports the perspective that self-efficacy is domain specific and that outcome efficacy is distinct from self-efficacy. Data were collected by telephone interviewers which were administered by telephone interviews to 525 respondents with a 64.1% completion rate. Sample demographic summary statistics closely approximated population parameters. Five orthogonal factors emerged from analysis of self-efficacy and outcome efficacy items. The five factors represented self-efficacy with regard to nutrition, medical care, exercise, and with a set of neutral control items relating to political behavior, and with the outcome efficacy items for each behavioral domain. Hypotheses relating scores for each factor with a number of behavioral indicators were tested. Only four of 125 correlations failed to support hypothesized relationships, lending evidence for the discriminant validity of the self-efficacy dimensions.
Transitional patterns of self-administration following substitution of methadone or l-alpha-acetylmethadol (LAAM) for morphine in dependent rats

Abstract Adult female Sprague-Dawley rats were prepared with chronic intravenous cannulae and cortical and muscle electrodes for recording electro-encephalograms (EEG) and electromyograms (EMG), respectively. They were made physically dependent on morphine by automatic intravenous injections and then trained to lever press in order to self-administer morphine on a FR-20 schedule of reinforcement. Upon stabilization of morphine self-administration, methadone, l-alpha-acetylmethadol (LAAM), or nor-LAAM (NLAAM) was substituted for morphine. After a week in those rats self-administering methadone, LAAM or NLAAM was substituted for methadone. Continuous EEG and EMG recordings were collected. It was found that self-maintained dependence on morphine or methadone was characterized by regularly spaced single or double injections. Each morphine or methadone self-injection suppressed occurrences of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep for 30 min or more. The substitution of methadone for morphine resulted in the gradual establishment of shorter interinjection intervals within 12 h. The substitution of LAAM for morphine or methadone disrupted self-injection patterns for a day or more, and suppressed occurrences of REM sleep for several hours. LAAM self-injection patterns eventually stabilized within two to three days, and the diurnal variation in occurrences of REM sleep became relatively normal. Upon substitution of NLAAM for morphine or methadone, regularly spaced interinjection intervals were established immediately. Each NLAAM self-injection suppressed occurrences of REM sleep for about 1 h. The findings suggest that stabilization of LAAM self-administration may require accumulation of LAAM metabolites.
Regional Climate Model Projections and Uncertainties of U.S. Summer Heat Waves

Abstract Regional climate model (RCM) simulations, driven by low and high climate-sensitivity coupled general circulation models (CGCMs) under various future emissions scenarios, were compared to projected changes in heat wave characteristics. The RCM downscaling reduces the CGCM biases in heat wave threshold temperature by a factor of 2, suggesting a higher credibility in the future projections. All of the RCM simulations suggest that there is a high probability of heat waves of unprecedented severity by the end of the twenty-first century if a high emissions path is followed. In particular, the annual 3-day heat wave temperature increases generally by 3°–8°C; the number of heat wave days increases by 30–60 day yr−1 over much of the western and southern United States with slightly smaller increases elsewhere; the variance spectra for intermediate, 3–7 days (prolonged, 7–14 days), temperature extremes increase (decrease) in the central (western) United States. If a lower emissions path is followed, then t...
Effects of Targeted Minimum Quantity Fluid (MQF) Application on Surface Integrity

Abstract A superior quality of subsurface is essential for the component's (machined) performance as well as its sustainability. One of the main reasons for a poor subsurface generated in machining is attributed to high machining temperatures. This study is focused on managing heat energy effectively to improve subsurface integrity. This paper's focus is to understand the effect of simulating a flood coolant by targeting Minimum Quantity Fluid (MQF) on rake and flank faces of the cutting tool in a partitioned manner. Additionally, the effect of fluid application parameters such as fluid composition, and amount of fluid are analyzed. Facing experiments are carried on annealed AISI 1045 steel with a coated carbide tool. An Infrared Radiation camera is used to generate the temperature maps, thus identifying the location for the fluid application. Residual stresses are measured using hole drilling method. Results show the use of MQF on the rake and flank faces tends to improve the subsurface integrity.The cooling effect of a fluid jet on the flank face is modeled to highlight thermo-physical properties essential in selecting an appropriate cutting fluid as a quenchant. .The primary idea of effectively controlling temperatures in machining to improve subsurface integrity with different quenching media shows good correlation with the results obtained in this paper.
On the Be and Ae Stars in NGC 6611

The young cluster NGC 6611 is of interest because it has been believed to contain an unusually large number of Be and Ae stars. The cluster is embedded in a very bright H ii region, so that proper subtraction of that background on slit or multiobject fiber‐fed spectra is important. If stellar line emission is present in blue‐violet Balmer lines, it should be more prominent at Hα. We have examined some 40 of these cluster stars on Hα slitless spectrograms, which are not subject to such contamination, and were able to confirm the presence of Hα emission above the continuum level in only four. About 25 much fainter Hα emitters were found in the cluster; these are probably the brightest members of a low‐mass T Tauri population. None are convincingly associated with the famous elephant‐trunk structures seen in projection against the H ii region.
Levels of amino acids and proteins in Pacinian corpuscles of the cat.

— Paper chromatography of extracts from mesenteric Pacinian corpuscles of the cat revealed the presence of glutamic acid, glutamine, aspartic acid and alanine as major amino acids, and glycine, serine and threonine in traces; GABA was not detected. Levels of glutamic acid (0·75 μmol/g ′ 0·37, s.d.), glutamine (1·34 ± 0·55), and aspartic acid (0·32 ± 0·22) of mesenteric and pancreatic samples of Pacinian corpuscles were determined by separation on chromatographic columns. The protein values averaged 5·2 ± 0·66 per cant of the wet weight. Treatment of the cats with reserpine or pargyline or deafferentation of the Pacinian corpuscles did not significantly alter these values.
The Curtiss-Wright Corporation and Cold War–Era Defense Procurement: A Challenge to Military-Industrial Complex Theory

The extraordinary year-to-year continuity in the list of top Cold War aerospace suppliers has led many analysts to adopt theories of a military-industrial complex (MIC). The collapse of the Curtiss-Wright Corporation, once the second-largest manufacturer in the United States and a leading defense contractor, belies their approach. This article recounts the histories of Curtiss-Wright's three independent divisions and uses these to test the MIC theory against three other explanations of the pattern of Cold War defense procurement: the technological imperative, the bureaucratic-strategic perspective, and free-market competition. The bureaucratic-strategic theory is most consistent with the case-study evidence.
Modelling reflections via multiperspective imaging

We present a novel method for analyzing reflections on arbitrary surfaces. We model reflections using a broader than usual class of imaging models, which include both perspective and multiperspective camera types. We provide an analytical framework to locally model reflections as specific multiperspective cameras around every ray based on a new theory of general linear cameras. Our framework better characterizes the complicated image distortions seen on irregular mirror surfaces as well as the conventional catadioptric mirrors. We show the connection between multiperspective camera models and caustic surfaces of reflections and demonstrate how they reveal important surface rulings of the caustics. Finally, we show how to use our analysis to assist mirror design and characterize distortions seen in catadioptric imaging systems.
Optimizing Ipsec for Energy-Efficient Secure Wireless Sessions

Deployment of security protocols in battery-powered mobile devices has elevated energy consumption to an important design metric of network design. In this chapter we identified the various sources of energy consumption during the setup, operation and tear down of a secure wireless session. We used Internet Security Protocol (IPSec) for our analysis and developed techniques based on information compression, session negotiation protocol optimization and choice of cryptographic primitives to reduce the energy consumed by a secure wireless session. A mobile test bed was developed to validate our energy management schemes which showed that the proposed schemes were able to reduce the session establishment energy by more than 6.5× and the secure data communication energy by more than 25× during data transmission and by more than 3.8× during data reception.
Image quality and readability

Determining the readability of documents is an important task. Human readability pertains to the scenario when a document image is ultimately presented to a human to read. Machine readability pertains to the scenario when the document is subjected to an OCR process. In either case, poor image quality might render a document unreadable. A document image which is human readable is often not machine readable. It is often advisable to filter out documents of poor image quality before sending them to either machine or human for reading. This paper is about the design of such a filter. We describe various factors which affect document image quality and the accuracy of predicting the extent of human and machine readability possible using metrics based on document image quality.
Progress toward the Syntheses of (+)-GB 13, (+)-Himgaline, and Himandridine. New Insights into Intramolecular Imine/Enamine Aldol Cyclizations

A full account of our total synthesis of the galbulimima alkaloids GB 13 and himgaline is provided. Using a strategy adapted from the proposed biosynthesis of the GB alkaloid family, a linear precursor underwent successive intramolecular Diels–Alder, Michael, and imine aldol cyclizations to form the polycyclic alkaloid core. We now show that modification of this strategy can also deliver an advanced intermediate en route to the related alkaloid himandridine. The success of the key imine aldol cyclization is acutely sensitive to substrate structure and solvent, including a case in which cyclization was spontaneous in protic solvents. A detailed computational investigation of the course of the reaction closely correlates with, and suggests a rationale for, the observed patterns of imine aldol reactivity.
Stability and convergence analysis of multi-agent consensus with information reuse

In this article, we study multi-agent consensus algorithms with information reuse by intentionally introducing the outdated state information into the traditional consensus algorithms. In the continuous-time case, we first show that the outdated state information combined with the current state information does not necessarily jeopardise the stability of a single system, but may improve the convergence speed without increasing the maximal control effort. Then this idea is extended from the single-agent case to the multi-agent case. When the directed communication graph is fixed, the corresponding Laplacian matrix and the outdated state information satisfy certain conditions, we show that the consensus algorithm with both the current and outdated states can achieve a faster convergence speed than the standard one. We also consider the case of a switching directed communication graph and derive corresponding conditions. In the discrete-time case, we propose a discrete-time consensus algorithm with both the ...
Alternative methods for production and staining of Phanerochaete chrysosporium basidiospores

Abstract Homokaryotic isolates of Phanerochaete chrysosporium are generally obtained by stimulating the production of basidiospores. The most commonly used method requires a special incubator that is maintained at 28 degrees C with continuous illumination. Here we report an alternate method which permits the production of basidiopores with common laboratory incubators and requires no special illumination conditions. This alternate method gives reproducible results and yields basidiospores that are not contaminated with conidia. We also report a detailed optimized method for staining basidiospores for visualizing nuclei.
High Content Niobium in Rutile Titania as Catalyst Support to Promote Methanol Electro-Oxidation

A conductive, Nb doped TiO2 (NTO), nanocoating on carbon nanotubes (CNTs) is reported as an electrocatalyst support. Pt on this support shows an extraordinary electrocatalytic activity for methanol oxidation. The nanoscale morphology of the oxides was achieved by making it on CNTs. Nano rutile phase of NTO was successfully obtained without generating insulator phase of TiNb2O7 even at 20% doping level. Furthermore, better dispersion and smaller Pt particles were obtained on the NTO/CNTs support. Electrochemical studies showed that the Pt catalysts on the oxide support displayed much higher methanol oxidation activity and CO tolerance than those supported on bare CNTs.
Surgical management of adult spondylolysis and spondylolisthesis

The surgical management of spondylolisthesis depends on the type of spondylolisthesis, the grade of slip, and the clinical setting. The surgical approaches may broadly be divided into decompression alone, fusion alone, and a combination of decompression and fusion. Fusion options can be further subdivided into non-instrumented vs. instrumented, anterior vs. posterior, with or without interbody support, and/or combined approaches, often referred to as circumferential fusions. The indication for surgical treatment of spondylolysis is persistent, disabling back pain refractory to conservative management. In conclusion, an evidence-based approach combined with shared decision making with informed patients will lead to successful outcomes.
Purification and crystallization of Pseudomonas aeruginosa chloramphenicol acetyltransferase

A chloramphenicol acetyltransferase from Pseudomonas aeruginosa genomic DNA has been overexpressed, refolded, purified, and crystallized. Crystals suitable for a three-dimensional x-ray structure determination were obtained from solutions of polyethyleneglycol methyl ether 2000 containing NiCl2 at pH 8.5. These crystals belong to the cubic space group P4(1/3)32 (a = 154.8 A) and diffract x-rays to approximately 3.2 A resolution.
Predictors of Parenting Behavior Trajectories Among Families of Young Adolescents with and without Spina Bifida

Objective To evaluate the utility of familial and parental variables in predicting trajectories of parenting behaviors among families of young adolescents with and without spina bifida (SB). Method Sixty-eight families with a child with SB and a demographically matched comparison group (CG) of 68 families of an able-bodied child participated. Observational and questionnaire assessments of parenting behavior were collected via home visits at three time points, as were reports of parent and family functioning. Results Family conflict was negatively associated with adaptive parenting behavior at Time 1 (T1), but positively associated with adaptive parenting change. Although the direction of this effect was the same across both groups, findings were more robust for the SB sample. Among fathers of children with SB, parenting stress was positively associated with adaptive parenting at T1 but negatively associated with adaptive parenting change. In contrast, within the CG, paternal parenting stress was negatively associated with adaptive parenting at T1 but showed no enduring negative effects in longitudinal analyses. Conclusions Family conflict and parenting stress were significant predictors of parenting behaviors and longitudinal parenting change. Findings are interpreted within a developmental context such that variables associated with maladaptive (or adaptive) parenting in the short run, may facilitate adaptive (or maladaptive) parenting over time based on young adolescents' changing developmental needs.
Melt‐spun hollow fibers: Modeling and experiments

Polypropylene hollow fibers were prepared via melt spinning at speeds of 1000-2500 m/min. The outside diameters of the fibers were measured on-line with high-speed photography. The fiber formation process was modeled with momentum, energy, and two continuity equations (one for the polymer, and one for the lumen fluid). The equations were solved numerically, and the results were compared to the on-line diameter data. Both Newtonian and viscoelastic constitutive equations were considered.
Vectorizable multigrid algorithms for transonic-flow calculations

The analysis and the incorporation into a multigrid scheme of several vectorizable algorithms are discussed. von Neumann analyses of vertical-line, horizontal-line, and alternating-direction ZEBRA algorithms were performed; and the results were used to predict their multigrid damping rates. The algorithms were then successfully implemented in a transonic conservative full-potential computer program. The convergence acceleration effect of multiple grids is shown, and the convergence rates of the vectorizable algorithms are compared with those of standard successive-line overrelaxation (SLOR) algorithms.
Age-dependent properties and quasi-static strain in the rat sagittal suture

Abstract We measured the morphology of and performed tensile tests on sagittal sutures from rats of postnatal age 2 to 60 days. Using the properties measured ex vivo and a pressure vessel-based analysis, we estimated the quasi-static strain that had existed in the suture in vivo from 2 to 60 days. Sutural thickness, width, and stiffness per length were notable properties found to be age dependent. Sutural thickness increased 4.5-fold (0.11–0.50 mm) between 2 and 60 days. Sutural width increased transiently between 2 and 20 days, peaking around 8 days; at 8 days, mean sutural width was 75% larger than mean sutural width at two days (0.35±0.07 (SD) vs. 0.20±0.06 mm). Sutural stiffness per length increased 4.4-fold (8.77–38.3 N/mm/mm) between 2 and 60 days. The quasi-static sutural strain estimated to exist in vivo averaged 270±190 μe between 2 and 60 days and was not age dependent. These findings provide data on the age-dependent sutural properties of infant to mature rats and provide the first estimate of quasi-static sutural strain in vivo in the rat. The findings show that during development the rat sagittal suture, as a structure, changes significantly and is exposed to quasi-static tensile strain in vivo due to intracranial pressure.
A Geometric Theory of Symmetric Registration

This paper shows that asymmetry (inverse inconsistency) in L2 and information theoretic (IT) registration objective functions is the result of using standard volume differential forms. A new space with non-standard volume differential forms is identified, and a unique symmetrizing volume differential form is found in it. This form simultaneously symmetrizes the L2 and the IT registration functions. Experimental results supporting the mathematical theory are provided.
Anatomical Origin of Forefoot Varus Malalignment

Background: Forefoot varus malalignment is clinically defined as a nonweightbearing inversion of the metatarsal heads relative to a vertical bisection of the calcaneus in subtalar joint neutral. Although often targeted for treatment with foot orthoses, the etiology of forefoot varus malalignment has been debated and may involve an unalterable bony torsion of the talus. Methods: Forty-nine feet from 25 cadavers underwent bilateral measurement of forefoot alignment using adapted clinical methods, followed by dissection and measurement of bony talar torsion. The relationship between forefoot alignment and talar torsion was determined using the Pearson correlation coefficient. Results: Mean ± SD forefoot alignment was −0.9° ± 9.8° (valgus) and bony talar torsion was 32.8° ± 5.3° valgus. There was no association between forefoot alignment and talar torsion (r = 0.18; 95% confidence interval, −0.11 to 0.44; P = .22). Conclusions: These findings may have implications for the treatment of forefoot varus since the...
Golgi-associated RhoBTB3 targets Cyclin E for ubiquitylation and promotes cell cycle progression

Cyclin E regulates the cell cycle transition from G1 to S phase and is degraded before entry into G2 phase. Here we show that RhoBTB3, a Golgi-associated, Rho-related ATPase, regulates the S/G2 transition of the cell cycle by targeting Cyclin E for ubiquitylation. Depletion of RhoBTB3 arrested cells in S phase, triggered Golgi fragmentation, and elevated Cyclin E levels. On the Golgi, RhoBTB3 bound Cyclin E as part of a Cullin3 (CUL3)-dependent RING–E3 ubiquitin ligase complex comprised of RhoBTB3, CUL3, and RBX1. Golgi association of this complex was required for its ability to catalyze Cyclin E ubiquitylation and allow normal cell cycle progression. These experiments reveal a novel role for a Ras superfamily member in catalyzing Cyclin E turnover during S phase, as well as an unexpected, essential role for the Golgi as a ubiquitylation platform for cell cycle control.
Impairment of the transient pupillary light reflex in Rpe65-/- mice and humans with leber congenital amaurosis

PURPOSE. To determine the impairment of the transient pupillary light reflex (TPLR) due to severe retinal dysfunction and degeneration in a murine model of Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA) and in patients with the disease. METHODS. Direct TPLR was elicited in anesthetized, dark-adapted Rpe65 -/- and control mice with full-field light stimuli (0.1 second duration) of increasing intensities (-6.6 to +2.3 log scot-cd m -2 ). 9-cis-Retinal was administered orally to a subset of Rpe65 -/- mice, and TPLR was recorded 48 hours after the treatment. TPLR was also measured in a group of patients with LCA. RESULTS. Baseline pupillary diameters in Rpe65 -/- and control mice were similar. TPLR thresholds of Rpe65 -/- mice were elevated by 5 log units compared with those of control animals. The waveform of the TPLR in Rpe65 -/- mice was similar to that evoked by 4.8-log-unit dimmer stimuli in control mice. Treatment of Rpe65 -/- mice with 9-cis-retinal lowered the TPLR threshold by 2.1 log units. Patients with LCA had baseline pupillary diameters similar to normal, but the TPLR was abnormal, with thresholds elevated by 3 to more than 6 log units. When adjusted to the elevation of TPLR threshold, pupillary constriction kinetics in most patients were similar to those in normal subjects. CONCLUSIONS. Pupillometry was used to quantify visual impairment and to probe transmission of retinal signals to higher nervous centers in a murine model of LCA and in patients with LCA. Mouse results were consistent with a dominant role of image-forming photoreceptors driving the early phase of the TPLR when elicited by short-duration stimuli. The objective and noninvasive nature of the TPLR measurement, and the observed post-treatment change toward normal in the animal model supports the notion that this may be a useful outcome measure in future therapeutic trials of LCA.
Enzyme immunoassay for total immunoglobulin E in dried blood spots.

Elevated circulating levels of total immunoglobulin E (IgE) are associated with both allergic disease and repeated macro-parasitic infections. Population-based research on IgE has been limited by the logistical constraints associated with obtaining and processing venipuncture blood samples. In this short report, we present an enzyme immunoassay protocol for quantifying circulating total IgE levels in capillary whole blood, collected from a finger prick and dried on filter paper. The assay demonstrated acceptable levels of accuracy, precision, and reliability. IgE remained stable at room temperature for only 2–4 days and degraded rapidly at higher temperatures suggesting that samples should be refrigerated or frozen within 1–2 days of collection. It is hoped that the relative ease of blood spot collection will expand opportunities for population-based research on IgE.Am. J. Hum. Biol. 19:440–442, 2007. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Nonpropagating string excitations – finite length and damped strings

Abstract The existence of localized nonpropagating displacements of an infinite undamped string generated by a monochromatic driving force was recently demonstrated theoretically. In this paper, the theory of these nonpropagating excitations is generalized to the cases of (1) strings of finite length, (2) damped strings of infinite length, and (3) strings of infinite length driven by a force whose oscillations have a finite bandwidth.
Ouabain reduces net acid secretion and increases pHi by inhibiting NH4+ uptake on rat tIMCD Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase.

In the rat terminal inner medullary collecting duct (tIMCD), Na+ pump inhibition reduces transepithelial net acid secretion (J tAMM) [J H = total CO2 absorption (J tCO2) + total ammonia secretion] ...
Microstructures in Rapidly Solidified Gamma Titanium-Aluminum Alloys with Erbium Additions

Erbium additions of 0.25, 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 atomic percent were incorporated into base alloys of 40 at.% titanium-60 at.% aluminum by arc melting. Samples of 0.30g were electromagnetically levitated and melted and then rapidly solidified by double anvil splat quenching with liquid temperatures ranging from the liquidus temperature to near the maximum undercooling temperature for each alloy. Microstructures of TiAl with 0.25 and 0.5 at.% Er showed the presence of small erbium rich particles within {gamma} grains as well as antiphase domain boundaries, while TiAl with 1.0 and 2.0 at.% Er showed no evidence of these features. These observations were correlated with solidification velocity measurements on levitated samples. Evidence for disordered primary solidification and a solid state disorder/order reaction is presented.
Benign familial neonatal epilepsy with mutations in two potassium channel genes.

The significant progress made over the past year in understanding the basis for a form of neonatal seizures can be attributed to the successful positional cloning of two new voltage-gated potassium channel genes. Expression studies have increased our understanding of the biology of these channels and their role in epilepsy. Curr Opin Neurol 12:143-147.
The WTO principles and the strategy of China′s taxation adjustment

The present paper,expounding the WTO principles,puts forword the concrete measures relating to reforming taxation system,perfecting taxation legislation,strengthening tax collection and management.
Human lymphotropic retroviruses associated with mycosis fungoides: evidence that human T-cell lymphotropic virus type II (HTLV-II) as well as HTLV-I may play a role in the disease.

The human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) is causally associated with adult T-cell leukemia, but its role in mycosis fungoides (MF) has remained enigmatic. The virus is suspect because a small percentage of patients with MF have antibodies to it, the cells of others harbor deleted HTLV-I proviral sequences, and particles resembling HTLV-I emerge in cultured blood lymphocytes obtained from most patients. An alternative possibility is that disparate lymphotropic retroviruses may infect or affect a population of epidermotropic lymphocytes, leading to the same outcome, ie, MF. In studies designed to identify the particles detected in lymphocyte cultures of nine patients with a diagnosis of skin involvement characteristic of MF, this concept has gained support. While the cells of four patients provided evidence of HTLV-I infection, molecular hybridization with HTLV-II-specific pol probes showed HTLV-II in the cells of another patient. The 103-bp fragment amplified by the HTLV-II- specific probe was sequenced and proved to have greater than 90% homology with the same fragment amplified from cells known to be infected with HTLV-II. A role for HTLV-II in MF has not been suggested heretofore. Therefore, HTLV-I, HTLV-II, and their incomplete forms may be found in cells of MF patients, suggesting new theories regarding the pathogenesis of this disease.
Epidermal growth factor enhances intestinal mitotic activity and DNA content after acute abdominal radiation.

BACKGROUND: Mediators of radiation-induced enteritis and colitis remain undefined. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) is an endogenous peptide that is trophic to the gastrointestinal tract. We tested the hypothesis that EGF enhances DNA synthesis and mitotic activity and prevents acute radiation enteritis after total abdominal radiation. METHODS: Four equal groups (n = 6) of Sprague-Dawley rats were studied: I (control), II (radiation), III (EGF), and IV (radiation + EGF). Animals in groups III and IV received EGF (10 micrograms/kg) every 8 hours for 48 hours before radiation exposure and for 72 hours after radiation, and the remaining animals were given an equal volume of vehicle. Animals in groups II and IV were administered a single dose of abdominal radiation (1000 cGy) 48 hours after the start of either vehicle or EGF. Distal ileum and colon were harvested 72 hours after radiation, examined histologically, and assayed for total DNA content. RESULTS: Group II or radiated animals had diarrhea, significant weight loss (p < 0.05), and decreased food consumption consistent with acute clinical radiation enteritis. Mitotic activity and total DNA content were significantly reduced (p < 0.05) when compared with group I (nonradiated controls). Group IV animals treated with EGF and exposed to radiation did not suffer the acute clinical manifestations of radiation enteritis. In addition, total DNA content and mitotic activity of the terminal ileum increased significantly (p < 0.05), and a significant increase in mitotic activity occurred in the distal colon when compared with radiated controls. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that (1) a decrease in mitotic activity and total DNA content occurs early and persists for at least 72 hours after acute radiation, (2) EGF treatment significantly increases small and large bowel mitogenicity in acutely radiated animals, and (3) EGF significantly decrease the acute clinical manifestations of radiation enteritis.
Applying geospatial tools to assess the agricultural value of Lower Illinois River floodplain levee districts

During the 1920’s, Illinois River levees became increasingly difficult for private landowners and the state to maintain as commodity prices fell and flood levels increased. However, the 1928 U.S. Flood Control act shifted a substantial portion of the burden of flood mitigation from local landowners to the federal government, preventing the dissolution of levee districts. While these levee systems have facilitated floodplain agricultural production and development for the last century, disconnecting the river from its floodplain has led to concerns about the negative impacts of levees on the physical and biological systems of the Illinois River Valley. Recent studies have emphasized approaches that would result in setting back or removing levees in order to naturalize portions of large river-floodplain systems, including the Illinois. The costs and benefits of such projects along the Illinois have shown potential restoration benefits may outweigh potential costs, but these studies have not demonstrated the specific levee districts which have the highest reconnection potential from an economic standpoint. This study uses geospatial methods to fill this gap by assessing the National Commodity Crops Productivity Index (NCCPI) soil values and agricultural production and profit values for corn and soybeans in 32 individual levee districts along a 235-km segment of the Lower Illinois River. In general, soil productivity index values were lower for Illinois River levee districts compared to the county averages in which the districts are located. Over the five-year study period from 2010 to 2014, the total agricultural profits in the levee districts ranged from $18–61 million. Several levee districts have relatively low per hectare agricultural values when compared to the value of wetland benefits, indicating these protected floodplain areas may be more suitable for reconnection.
Energy Sprawl Is the Largest Driver of Land Use Change in United States.

Energy production in the United States for domestic use and export is predicted to rise 27% by 2040. We quantify projected energy sprawl (new land required for energy production) in the United States through 2040. Over 200,000 km2 of additional land area will be directly impacted by energy development. When spacing requirements are included, over 800,000 km2 of additional land area will be affected by energy development, an area greater than the size of Texas. This pace of development in the United States is more than double the historic rate of urban and residential development, which has been the greatest driver of conversion in the United States since 1970, and is higher than projections for future land use change from residential development or agriculture. New technology now places 1.3 million km2 that had not previously experienced oil and gas development at risk of development for unconventional oil and gas. Renewable energy production can be sustained indefinitely on the same land base, while extractive energy must continually drill and mine new areas to sustain production. We calculated the number of years required for fossil energy production to expand to cover the same area as renewables, if both were to produce the same amount of energy each year. The land required for coal production would grow to equal or exceed that of wind, solar and geothermal energy within 2–31 years. In contrast, it would take hundreds of years for oil production to have the same energy sprawl as biofuels. Meeting energy demands while conserving nature will require increased energy conservation, in addition to distributed renewable energy and appropriate siting and mitigation.
Structural (In)visibility: Possible Effects of Constructing a Controlled Vocabulary in a Niche Domain

The paper explores the challenges and implications that arose during the construction of a controlled vocabulary in an emerging, non-structured domain. It discusses the difficulty of defining a domain with evolving and intersectional boundaries, and how Wittgenstein’s philosophy of language may aid designers in properly representing a domain’s hierarchy when multiple language games are present. It also discusses adaptation of standard construction procedures to maintain domain representation. The analysis focuses on the potential effects that constructing such a controlled vocabulary could cause in the future evolution of that domain.
The Rate of Complications after Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt Surgery

Background Although ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS) surgery is the most frequent surgical treatment for patients with hydrocephalus, modern rates of complications in adults are uncertain. Methods We performed a retrospective cohort study of adult patients hospitalized at the time of their first recorded procedure code for VPS surgery between 2005 and 2012 at nonfederal acute care hospitals in California, Florida, and New York. We excluded patients who during the index hospitalization for VPS surgery had concomitant codes for VPS revision, central nervous system (CNS) infection, or died during the index hospitalization. Patients were followed for the primary outcome of a VPS complication, defined as the composite of CNS infection or VPS revision. Survival statistics were used to calculate the cumulative rate and incidence rate of VPS complications. Results A total of 17,035 patients underwent VPS surgery. During a mean follow-up of 3.9 (± 1.8) years, at least 1 VPS complication occurred in 23.8% (95% confidence interval [CI], 22.9%–24.7%) of patients. The cumulative rate of CNS infection was 6.1% (95% CI, 5.7%–6.5%) and of VPS revision 22.0% (95% CI, 21.1%–22.9%). Most complications occurred within the first year of hospitalization for VPS surgery. Complication rates were 21.3 (95% CI, 20.6–22.1) complications per 100 patients per year in the first year after VPS surgery, 5.7 (95% CI, 5.3–6.1) in the second year after VPS surgery, and 2.5 (95% CI, 2.1–3.0) in the fifth year after VPS surgery. Conclusions Complications are not infrequent after VPS surgery; however, most complications appear to be clustered in the first year after VPS insertion.
Statewide implementation of Safety Analyst: The Florida experience

ABSTRACTSafety Analyst (SA) is a state-of-the-art software system designed to perform all the steps in the roadway safety management process. To implement the system, agencies must first prepare all the required input data and convert them into a standard format required by the system. However, this data preparation effort is extensive and has become a major obstacle to agency adoption of the system. This article describes Florida's efforts in preparing the input data needed to implement SA. It describes the SA data requirements and discusses several data preparation issues that agencies planning to implement SA are likely to encounter. Specifically, the article describes the methods employed to map Florida's variable codes and site subtypes to the required SA counterparts. The article also describes the approaches taken to collect missing data and to manipulate network data including network segmentation to achieve better results and inclusion of segment direction and geographic coordinates to enable dat...