cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The party agendas in the 1992 Taiwan legislative election a content analysis of the Television Political party Advertisements (TPPA)

With a research design that combines a content analysis of the 1992 Television Political Party Advertising (TPPA) and a public opinion survey, this study not only examines the issue agendas of the two major political parties, the Kuomintang (KMT) and the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in their political ads, but also investigates the match between the public agenda and the party issue agendas in the 1992 legislative election. In addition, the types of, and appeals and semantic frames in, the political ads were analysed. Study results showed that ‘single issue theory’ was reflected in the Taiwanese television political ads. Both the KMT and the DPP put emphasis on only just a few issues rather than a plethora of issues. The KMT agenda was found to match the public agenda better than did the DPP agenda. However, the DPP performed better than the KMT in terms of the campaign strategy of their political advertising. Like most incumbents, the KMT favoured positive ads and the DPP, like most opposition part...
Developing competency-based engineering curriculum and certifications

The paper presents the framework and processes for the development of competency-based curriculum and certifications to enable members of the engineering community to demonstrate the behaviors, knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform their assignments at the highest levels of proficiency through a mix of experience, training, and education. The paper is based on the development of LOG 211, “Supportability Analysis” by the Defense Acquisition University (DAU) in meeting certification requirements for the Defense Acquisition Workforce as recommended by the Department of Defense (DOD) Reliability Improvement Working Group [1]. LOG 211 focuses on competencies and proficiencies in the areas of design interface, reliability and maintainability analysis and supportability analysis and uses gaming & simulation to enhance student learning as well as the development of a “capstone” exercise that provides the students artifacts for future reference and use.
Stock‐Specific Variation in Scale Morphology of Atlantic Striped Bass

Abstract We examined scales of wild striped bass Morone saxatilis to determine whether scale morphology differs systematically among three Atlantic coast stocks and thus could be used for stock discrimination. Morphological variables investigated included Fourier coefficients, ratio shape descriptors (circularity, rectangularity), truss networks, perimeter landmarks, width and spacing of the first 10 circuli, and angular measurements of the scale interior. A variable was considered potentially useful for stock identification if it could be corrected for size variation, did not show year-class effects, and showed significant stock-of-origin effects in a multivariate analysis of variance. Fourier shape descriptors, rectangularity, and angular measurements of the scale interior showed the greatest potential for discrimination of Atlantic striped bass stocks. In addition, circulus patterns showed some usefulness. The remainder of the morphometric variables appeared less useful either because of failure to mee...
Northern Lights Over Tocqueville

Alexis de Tocqueville has recently come under the scrutiny of two scholars who, for all their resemblances, have produced strikingly divergent accounts. Both are Scandinavian by birth, both prolific writers, and both aim to show other social scientists how they might benefit from paying closer attention to Tocqueville. Each of these books might also shine a bright light on the other, for their authors approach their self-appointed tasks with fundamentally different mindsets. Jon Elster starts from what we now know and digs into the pages of the past to find prefigurations and anticipations. His Tocqueville proves to be a shrewd practitioner of the kind of social science analysis that Elster has long been advocating. Richard Swedberg is less inclined to plumb Tocqueville's depths for laws, mechanisms, or even firm conclusions. Instead, he listens in hope of learning how Tocqueville thought about the phenomena he came to observe. His Tocqueville is a persistent searcher and self-questioner—traits Swedberg would have us admire and emulate in our own work.
Theory construction in psychology: The interpretation and integration of psychological data

IThe interpretation of data requires a model of the data gathering process. The integration of data requires a classification system that extends across different data sets. This article discusses some of the difficulties involved in the interpretation and integration of psychological data, and presents a survey of some recent developments in theory construction and evaluation from related areas of methodology of science, information processing and computer theories. The basic behavioral data of psychology consist of descriptions of when who emitted what under which conditions. There are so many whens, whos, whats, and whichs that it is impossible to store them all in all their detail (though some psychologists are trying to do just that). The lack of storage facilities forces everyone to record only those special aspects that he considers important at the moment. Different observers often use different classification categories, and the same observer often changes his system from one experiment to the next. The absence of any over-all theory or methodology serves to perpetuate and even to justify this diversity. For that matter, it is after all exactly the job of an over-all theory to reduce a bewildering variety of data to manageable proportions: to provide a 'key' or code which unlocks significant patterns of data from the noisy confusion. And especially important are those theories which integrate data across different data sets, since that results in powerful generalizations which are more independent from particular aspects of the way observations and measurements are set up. The historical situation by the mid-sixties was such that relatively little progress had been made by psychologists to resolve these problems (Murphy, 1963; Sells, 1963; Toda and Shuford, 1964). The anti-theory attitude that had prevailed in psychology (Boring, 1963; Chapanis, 1963;Marx, 1963)had
Progress in analgesia for labor: focus on neuraxial blocks

Neuraxial analgesia is widely accepted as the most effective and the least depressant method of providing pain relief in labor. Over the last several decades neuraxial labor analgesia techniques and medications have progressed to the point now where they provide high quality pain relief with minimal side effects to both the mother and the fetus while maximizing the maternal autonomy possible for the parturient receiving neuraxial analgesia. The introduction of the combined spinal epidural technique for labor has allowed for the rapid onset of analgesia with minimal motor blockade, therefore allowing the comfortable parturient to ambulate. Patient-controlled epidural analgesia techniques have evolved to allow for more flexible analgesia that is tailored to the individual needs of the parturient and effective throughout the different phases of labor. Computer integrated systems have been studied to provide seamless analgesia from induction of neuraxial block to delivery. New adjuvant drugs that improve the effectiveness of neuraxial labor analgesia while decreasing the side effects that may occur due to high dose of a single drug are likely to be added to future labor analgesia practice. Bupivacaine still remains a popular choice of local anesthetic for labor analgesia. New local anesthetics with less cardiotoxicity have been introduced, but their cost effectiveness in the current labor analgesia practice has been questioned.
Parental Behavior of Adult Male Japanese Monkeys

Adult male parental behavior, very similar to that originally described by ITANI was observed in a troop of Japanese monkeys living in a large outdoor compound in Oregon. In the Oregon troop: i. Males' social interactions with the young go through two overlapping phases, one before and one after the birth of the year's new babies. Only the dominant males participate in the second phase which involves proximity with mothers and neonates. 2. Adult male Japanese macaque social behavior is strongly seasonal, and variations in male parental behavior are partly a ramification of a more general change in behavior. The view that the males' behavior is a response to distress produced in the young when the mother abandons them upon the birth of a newborn is not upheld by the Oregon data. 3. Male-young affiliative and play interactions are not likely to be an important contribution to the socialization of the young, since at all seasons the overwhelming majority of a young monkey's play and affiliative interactions are with his mother, siblings, and agemates. On the other hand, adult dominant males are responsible for virtually all of the attacks on a neonate under the age of 3 months. This may have an important effect on the social development of the young monkey.
Pulse propagation in bounded helical coil assemblies

Abstract The problem of an extensional stress pulse applied to a bounded helical coil assembly is formulated and solved. The assembly is composed of one turn of a small pitched coil attached tangentially to two straight segments. One end of the assembly is always fixed while the other is free when not subjected to the action of the pulse. It is found that to prevent significant portions of the shock from reaching the fixed end, the pulse length should be longer than the circumference of the coil but shorter than twice the length of the initial straight segment. Flexural energy continuously leaks into the coil from the straight segment. Experiments were performed which verify the analytical solution.
3D locator sets of opaque objects for phase retrieval

Generating a 3D image can be accomplished by gathering 3D far-field heterodyne array data with multiple laser wavelengths and performing a 3D Fourier transform. However, since heterodyne detection is difficult at optical frequencies, the collection system can be greatly simplified if direct detection is performed instead. Then to reconstruct an image one would need a phase-retrieval algorithm. To assist the reconstruction algorithm, we place bounds on the support of the illuminated object, derived from the support of the autocorrelation function, which can be computed from the Fourier intensity data. We have developed 3D locator sets for getting tight bounds on the object support. These new locator sets are more powerful than those for 2D imaging, and some of them make explicit use of the fact that the illuminated opaque object is effectively a 2D surface embedded in 3D space. For those cases in which it is tight enough, the locator set itself may be all that we need to give an accurate height profile of the object.
Reciprocal strains in the normal and ischemic myocardium and their relation to the size of the ischemic region.

Abstract Previous studies have reported “bulging” of the ischemic zone and reciprocal shortening of the normal zone during the isovolumetric contraction period. This study examines the interaction and relation of these reciprocal strains during the isovolumetric contraction period. Normal zone and ischemic zone segment length data were acquired at 1 ms intervals during acute ischemia in 10 open chest dogs. The relation of ischemic zone and normal zone segment length was inversely linear in the isovolumetric contraction period during steady state ischemia and during preload reduction (mean correlation coefficient 0.92). The slope derived from the regression analysis was the same as that determined from the first and last data points of the isovolumetric contraction period (correlation coefficient between the regression versus two-point slope 0.96). This slope was used to calculate the size of the ischemic area based on the hypothesis that the isovolumetric normal zone shortening quantitatively accounted for the ischemic zone bulging during the isovolumetric contraction period, with the percent risk region serving as a weighing factor. The calculated risk region correlated with the anatomic risk region (r = 0.83, p It is concluded that during ischemia 1) shortening of the normal myocardium is related quantitatively to ischemic myocardial lengthening (bulging) during the isovolumetric contraction period; 2) the reciprocal strain relation yields information on the size of the ischemic region; and 3) the short-axis left ventricular diameter does not increase as a consequence of ischemic zone lengthening, so that bulging as such does not appear to occur.
Mechanics of rupture of cerebral saccular aneurysms.

Abstract Most saccular aneurysms initiate in human intracranial arteries in and about the circle of Willis. Rupture of an aneurysm causes subarachnoid hemorrhage which seriously endangers the patient's life. To study the possible cause of rupture, a dynamic analysis is performed. A thin-shell theory is applied to a spherical model subjected to time-dependent internal pressure and boundary conditions. The fundamental differential equations are found by combining the equations of motion, strain-displacement relations, and stress-strain relations. The solution involves Legendre functions of the first kind. Natural frequencies of aneurysms of different sizes and closing angles are determined as functions of the elastic properties. These properties are investigated by using data from the literature. It is found that the natural frequencies of certain types of aneurysms fall within the range of bruit frequencies that commonly accompany aneurysms. Resonance and consequently rupture is then expected when the bruit frequency is the same as the natural frequency of the aneurysm. Critical aneurysm sizes, for various closing angles, are predicted.
Infrared optical constants of aqueous sulfate-nitrate-ammonium multi-component tropospheric aerosols from attenuated total reflectance measurements—Part I: Results and analysis of spectral absorbing features

Abstract In this paper, the first part of two, we present new high-spectral-resolution infrared (IR) optical constants for multi-component aqueous solutions composed of ammonium sulfate, ammonium nitrate, sulfuric acid and nitric acid over a range of compositions and temperatures representative of tropospheric conditions and atmospheric aerosols. The optical constants were determined from ATR measurements via a Kramers–Kronig transformation. To accomplish this, we adapted an existing technique for estimating the real index of refraction of aqueous sulfate and nitrate solutions at multiple visible frequencies as a function of concentration and temperature. An approximation of the low-frequency behavior of the ATR spectrum was also used to reduce the error associated with using ATR data of finite frequency range. This paper also provides a brief examination of absorption spectra for analyzed mixtures in relation to their composition and temperature and discusses possible implications. The new optical constants will be of great utility to high-spectral-resolution IR remote sensing as well as radiative balance analysis in climate studies because they will enable researchers for the first time to model the impacts of tropospheric aqueous sulfate–nitrate–ammonium multi-component aerosols, including their mixtures with other important species such as dust or soot.
The definition and assessment of visual and auditory perception

Abstract Perceptual tests are among the most frequently administered clinical instruments. They offer several different explanations for various perceptual regularities and irregularities, depending upon the orientation of the user. The very frequently administered Bender Visual Motor Gestalt Test (BVMGT) (Bender, 1938) is an example of an assumed measure of visual perceptual discrimination, when in fact the manual motor response being ascertained may lead to several diagnoses. The BVMGT, and many of the other perceptual tests are often administered in order to determine: (1) childhood psychosis, (2) cerebral pathologies, (3) learning disabilities, (4) developmental lag, (5) intelligence, and even (6) personality development. The question of course is, what price is paid for the adaptable usage of perceptual tests? Is it possible that a usage which fits all or any theory of human pathology or developmental discrepancy, can impede the development of perceptual theories, which in turn may prohibit new test ...
Variation in iridoid glycosides in a population of Plantago patagonica Jacq. (Plantaginaceae) in Colorado

Abstract Plantago patagonica from plants grown in a greenhouse and from a field population in Boulder, Colorado, were sampled for iridoid glycosides. Both aucubin and catalpol were found in P. patagonica , however, not all individual plants contained detectable amounts of both these compounds. Plants grown in the greenhouse ( n =8) contained means of 0.26% (±0.04 S.E.) aucubin and 0.23% (±0.05 S.E.) catalpol, whereas field-collected plants ( n =61) contained means of 0.02% (±0.006 S.E.) aucubin and 0.36% (±0.02 S.E.) catalpol.
Electromagnetic Simulations of the ZR Gas Switch

Summary form only given. Electromagnetic simulations of the gas switch proposed for the new ZR accelerator have been revisited. The switch is designed for operation at 6 MV. The original simulations incorporated a model for cascade-gap arc formation that allowed the full cascade to make the transition from insulator to electrical conductor (cascade "run time") in about 9 ns from the time of the trigger-gap breakdown. Recent streak camera data from the cascade section of the ZR gas switch as well as careful analysis of laser-trigger-gap timing and downstream electrical measurements from recent gas switch test shots have indicated a much longer cascade run time of about 35 nanoseconds. This difference was expected to impact the electric field strength that develops on the gas-housing surface at switch closing, affecting switch reliability and lifetime. Two components of the individual gap breakdown time (and therefore of full cascade run time) are incorporated into the prescription for cascade-gap conductance evolution to enable the study of the effect of each: aft, streamer production time, or arc formation time, and cgt, conductivity growth time. Different combinations of aft and cgt that produce cascade run times (14-37 ns) covering the range seen experimentally were investigated. We find that for a given run time, longer cgt lessens the electric field on the inside of the gas housing after switch closing.
The influence of heterogeneous expectations on security prices

Purpose – The purpose of the study was to provide empirical support for the Miller model. The paper proposes the use of the ratio of individual to institutional holdings as a proxy for heterogeneous expectations of security returns.Design/methodology/approach – Both bivariate t‐tests and regression analysis were used to test whether optimistic valuations existed for stocks with high levels of institutional ownership. Data on open short positions were collected and hypothesized to decrease with the level of institutional holdings. High ratio stocks were compared to glamor stocks and low ratio stocks to value stocks.Findings – For stocks with higher institutional ownership, optimistic valuations dominated resulting in significantly lower future security returns than for stocks with higher individual ownership thereby supporting the Miller model. The results were not sensitive to variations in size, momentum, and book‐to‐market ratios. Further support for the Miller model was provided by the finding that ope...
IMMATURE STAGES AND BIOLOGY OF PODISUS PLACIDUS AND STIRETRUS FIMBRIATUS (HEMIPTERA: PENTATOMIDAE)

The egg and five nymphal instars of Podisus placidus Uhler and Stiretrus fimbriatus (Say) are described and illustrated. The nymphal instars can be separated on the basis of head width or pronotal width. No overlap was encountered in the nymphal instars studied.P. placidus overwinters as an adult. Egg development in the laboratory took approximately 6.0 days. The average time spent in each of the five nymphal stages was 5.4, 4.6, 4.9, 4.7, and 7.6 days, respectively. Development of S. fimbriatus eggs took approximately 9.5 days. The average time spent in each of the five nymphal instars was 5.1, 4.3, 4.1, 4.3, and 8.2 days, respectively. Adults of S. fimbriatus were parasitized by Cylindromyia fumipennis (Bigot) (Tachinidae).
An improved synthesis algorithm for multiplexor-based PGA's

The authors address the problem of synthesis for a popular class of programmable gate array architectures, the multiplexer-based architectures. They present improved techniques for minimizing the number of basic blocks used to implement a combinational circuit. One source of improvement is the use of if-then-else DAGs (directed acyclic graphs) as subject graphs along with BDDs (binary decision diagrams). An important contribution is a very fast algorithm which always gives a match for a function onto the basic block of the architecture, when one exists. Results obtained on a number of benchmark examples are given. >
Autoclave curing of thermosetting composites: process modeling for the cure assembly

Abstract The heat transfer process involved in the autoclave curing of fiber-reinforced thermosetting composites is investigated numerically. In the analysis, the cure assembly is assumed to consist of a tool plate, composite laminate, and bleeder/vacuum bag. Thus, the heat transfer between the composite and the autoclave environment takes place through materials of different thermal properties. The temperature distribution thus obtained is utilized in conjunction with the models formulated by Loos and Springer [2] to calculate the cure parameters such as degree of cure, resin viscosity, and ply compaction. Four important issues arise from the process control and optimization (i.e., the effects of heating rate, laminate thickness, bleeder material, and convective heating) are addressed in this study. Based on the results obtained, recommendations for possible process improvement are made.
Extracting contact misalignment from 4- and 6-terminal contact resistors

A heuristic model is derived from simulations describing quantitatively the effect of contact misalignment on four- and six-terminal contact resistance measurements with L-type test structures. The four-terminal resistor pair allows only the extraction of the sum of the misalignment components and the extraction of the average interfacial resistance of the two contacts while a quantitative evaluation is restricted to such small misalignments that the second-order effect can be neglected. The six-terminal contact resistor allows the separation of the misalignment components and the determination of a single interfacial resistance while the magnitude of the misalignment can extend into the validity range of the second-order model. >
Test Analysis for Equivalent Circuit Parameters of Precision Induction Motors

The equivalent circuit of the induction motor has been modified by placing the iron loss resistance branch between r1 and x1 instead of in parallel with xM. By use of this circuit, the open circuit and stalled rotor tests are analyzed for the circuit parameters. The method given shows an improvement in obtaining X independently of r2 and in obtaining r2 itself. These improvements allow successful analyses at higher values of (r2/s)/X02 than previously. An improved method is shown for cases when x1 ? x2. It is shown that the relationship (X01 - Q) - P is significant in determining whether (r2/s)/X02 is above or below 1.00. A useful validity check on the test results is given. An alternate approximate method is given for cases of high values of (r2/s)/X02. A calculation sheet or test analysis format is given.
On the Equivalence of Forward and Reverse Query Caching in Peer-to-Peer Overlay Networks

Peer-to-peer systems such as Gnutella and Kazaa are used by millions of people for sharing music and many other files over the Internet, and they account for a significant portion of the Internet traffic. The traffic in a peer-to-peer overlay network is different from that in WWW in that each peer is both a client and a server. This suggests that one can deploy a forward cache at the Internet gateway of a network to reduce the amount of queries going outside, or a revere cache at the gateway to reduce the amount of queries going inside, which in turn reduces the queries that are forwarded outside. In this paper, we study the effectiveness of forward and reverse caching at the gateway via analysis and experimental measurement. Our study shows that forward caching and reverse caching at the gateway are equally effective at reducing query and query reply traffic across the gateway.
Technical Report: The Fastest Relativistic Jets from Quasars and Active Galactic Nuclei

Among the major advances in astronomy over the past several decades has been the realization that supermassive black holes (up to of order 109 solar masses) are a ubiquitous feature at the centers of bright galaxies [1], including the center of our own Milky Way. Material from the host galaxy that is drawn close to the central supermassive black hole can form a rotating accretion disk around the central object. This infalling matter can liberate large amounts of gravitational binding energy as radiation, causing the hot accretion disk and surrounding gas to far outshine the host galaxy, and forming an object known as a quasar, or, at lower luminosity, an active galactic nucleus (AGN). Quasars are predominantly seen at large cosmological distances, and therefore at remote times in the past, presumably before they have exhausted the reserves of fuel surrounding the central black hole and become quiescent. Since quasars were first detected in 1963 [2], they have fascinated astronomers with their enormous ene...
Contributions of body mass index and exercise habits on inflammatory markers: a cohort study of middle-aged adults living in the USA

Objectives Determine whether body mass index (BMI) and physical activity (PA) above, at or below MET minute per week (MMW) levels recommended in the 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines interact or have additive effects on interleukin (IL)-6, C reactive protein (CRP), fibrinogen, interleukin6 (IL-6) soluble receptor (IL-6sr), soluble E-selectin and soluble intracellular adhesion molecule (sICAM)-1. Design Archived cohort data (n=1254, age 54.5±11.7 year, BMI 29.8±6.6 kg/m2) from the National Survey of Midlife Development in the USA (MIDUS) Biomarkers Study were analysed for concentrations of inflammatory markers using general linear models. MMW was defined as no regular exercise, 1000 MMW and BMI was defined as Setting Respondents reported to three centres to complete questionnaires and provide blood samples. Participants Participants were men and women currently enroled in the MIDUS Biomarker Project (n=1254, 93% non-Hispanic white, average age 54.5 years). Primary outcome measures Concentration of serum IL-6, CRP, fibrinogen, IL-6sr, sE-selectin and sICAM. Results Significant interactions were found between BMI and MMW for CRP and sICAM-1 (p 1000 MMW compared to obese individuals reporting less exercise. Conclusions The association of exercise with CRP and sICAM-1 differed by BMI, suggesting that regular exercise may buffer weight-associated elevations in CRP in overweight individuals while higher levels of exercise may be necessary to reduce sICAM-1 or CRP in obese individuals.
A High-Resolution Hybrid Digital Wattmeter for Measurements at High Voltage

A development of a high-voltage high-resolution digital sampling wattmeter system for on-site/in-situ calibrations of metering systems for high-voltage power/energy measurements is described in the paper. The current input uses an optically isolated hybrid two-stage current transformer with electronic circuitry that performs A/D conversion. Data is transmitted to a ground station through a fiber optic link. Another laser-driven fiber optic link transmits power to the electronic circuitry of the remote module at high voltage. The voltage input uses a current- comparator-based high voltage divider to provide low voltage replica that is converted into a digital form by A/D conversion. The uncertainty of the power measurement (2sigma) is estimated to be less than 200 muW/VA.
Drug resistance associated membrane proteins

Study of drug resistance began in the late 1940's, and recognition that altered membrane transport of drug was often related to cellular drug resistance followed approximately 20 years later. Identification and isolation of specific membrane proteins that influence this altered drug transport began in the 1970's and is a major ongoing endeavor to this day. In this article, we refer to such proteins as “drug resistance associated membrane proteins,” or “DRAMPs.” In over 40 years, dozens of books and tens of thousands of research articles have asked how drug resistance is mediated by various DRAMPs. By comparison, relatively few studies have probed the normal physiological function of these proteins. In many cases, deletion of the gene encoding a DRAMP is not lethal, showing that the function of the protein is non-essential, but in some cases (e.g., PfCRT protein involved in antimalarial drug resistance) deletion is not possible, suggesting an essential function. For some DRAMPs a clear role in specific cell biological processes has been established (e.g., Ishikawa et al., 1997; Jin et al., 2002; Baugh et al., 2012; Quazi and Molday, 2013), but in most cases we are no closer to a detailed molecular definition of the physiologic function of DRAMPs than we were when these proteins were first discovered. When they are involved in drug resistance, DRAMPs are often either mutated or overexpressed, and in some cases both. Quantitative comparison between wild type and mutant isoforms of DRAMPs, or between normal and higher levels, is often quite difficult for a variety of technical reasons, and this has probably slowed elucidation of their physiologic function.
Two coding strategies for bidirectional associative memory

Enhancements of the encoding strategy of a discrete bidirectional associative memory (BAM) reported by B. Kosko (1987) are presented. There are two major concepts in this work: multiple training, which can be guaranteed to achieve recall of a single trained pair under suitable initial conditions of data, and dummy augmentation, which can be guaranteed to achieve recall of all trained pairs if attaching dummy data to the training pairs is allowable. In representative computer simulations, multiple training has been shown to lead to an improvement over the original Kosko strategy for recall of multiple pairs as well. A sufficient condition for a correlation matrix to make the energies of the training pairs be local minima is discussed. The use of multiple training and dummy augmentation concepts are illustrated, and theorems underlying the results are presented. >
"Aggressive" Nontreatment of Lateral Meniscal Tears Seen During Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

Based on our experience, we hypothesized that certain lateral meniscal tears identified at the time of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction can be left without re moval or repair and that they will remain asymptomatic. We looked at 189 lateral meniscal tears that were left in situ at the time of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruc tion. At an average clinical followup of 2.6 years (range, 1 to 9 years) we found that 1) posterior horn avulsion tears, if left alone, do not cause clinical symptoms after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction; 2) vertical tears totally posterior to the popliteus tendon are asymptomatic before and after reconstruction; and 3) other complete and incomplete lateral meniscal tears (vertical longitudinal, radial, or anterior vertical), if stable at the time of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction, can be left in situ without becoming clinically symptom atic. All patients in the study population returned to their desired level of sporting activities by the time of fo...
Replication of Enterococcus faecalis Pheromone-Responding Plasmid pAD1: Location of the Minimal Replicon and oriV Site and RepA Involvement in Initiation of Replication

The hemolysin-determining plasmid pAD1 is a member of a widely disseminated family of highly conjugative elements commonly present in clinical isolates of Enterococcus faecalis. The determinants repA, repB, and repC, as well as adjacent iteron sequences, are believed to play important roles in pAD1 replication and maintenance. The repA gene encodes an initiator protein, whereas repB and repC encode proteins related to stability and copy number. The present study focuses specifically on repA and identifies a replication origin (oriV) within a central region of the repA determinant. A small segment of repA carrying oriV was able to support replication in cis of a plasmid vector otherwise unable to replicate, if an intact RepA was supplied in trans. We demonstrate that under conditions in which RepA is expressed from an artificial promoter, a segment of DNA carrying only repA is sufficient for stable replication in E. faecalis. We also show that RepA binds specifically to oriV DNA at several sites containing inverted repeat sequences (i.e., IR-1) and nonspecifically to single-stranded DNA, and related genetic analyses confirm that these sequences play an important role in replication. Finally, we reveal a relationship between the internal structure of RepA and its ability to recognize oriV. An in-frame deletion within repA resulting in loss of 105 nucleotides, including at least part of oriV, did not eliminate the ability of the altered RepA protein to initiate replication using an intact origin provided in trans. The relationship of RepA to other known initiator proteins is also discussed.
An Analysis of Augustine's Argument in Confessions That Evil Does Not Exist

For Augustine, following Genesis, it is a bedrock belief that creation is good. Perhaps this is the Augustinian belief. But it immediately gives rise to what is perhaps the Augustinian problem, namely, the problem of evil. For “[w]here then does evil come from, seeing that God is good and made all things good?” (Augustine 1992, 76; 1963, 130). In book 7 of the Confessions, Augustine famously denies that evil exists. His argument (book 7, chapter 12) takes the form of a reductio ad absurdum. On examination, however, Augustine's argument does not prove to be logically compelling.
Radiative Corrections as the Origin of Spontaneous Symmetry Breaking

We investigate the possibility that radiative corrections may produce spontaneous symmetry breakdown in theories for which the semiclassical (tree) approximation does not indicate such breakdown. The simplest model in which this phenomenon occurs is the electrodynamics of massless scalar mesons. We find (for small coupling constants) that this theory more closely resembles the theory with an imaginary mass (the Abelian Higgs model) than one with a positive mass; spontaneous symmetry breaking occurs, and the theory becomes a theory of a massive vector meson and a massive scalar meson. The scalar-to-vector mass ratio is computable as a power series in $e$, the electromagnetic coupling constant. We find, to lowest order, $\frac{{m}^{2}(S)}{{m}^{2}(V)}=(\frac{3}{2\ensuremath{\pi}})(\frac{{e}^{2}}{4\ensuremath{\pi}})$. We extend our analysis to non-Abelian gauge theories, and find qualitatively similar results. Our methods are also applicable to theories in which the tree approximation indicates the occurrence of spontaneous symmetry breakdown, but does not give complete information about its character. (This typically occurs when the scalar-meson part of the Lagrangian admits a greater symmetry group than the total Lagrangian.) We indicate how to use our methods in these cases.
Ovulatory Function in Epilepsy

Women with epilepsy have lower fertility rates than women without epilepsy. We hypothesized that limbic dysfunction in temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) alters the release of hypothalamic trophic hormones that secondarily affect release of the pituitary gonadotropins, causing ovulatory failure. We assessed ovulatory function over three consecutive menstrual cycles in 17 women with partial seizures arising from the temporal lobe (TLE), 7 women with primary generalized epilepsy (PGE), and 12 controls. We devised scores to reflect ovulatory function that were based on daily basal body temperature and monthly serum progesterone levels. Seizure frequency, antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), and depressive symptomatology were also evaluated. Anovulation was more frequent in subjects with TLE (35.3%) than in subjects with PGE (0%) or in controls (8.3%). Anovulatory cycles tended to occur more frequently in subjects with TLE who were treated with polytherapy than in those receiving monotherapy, but this result was not statistically significant. Seizure frequency and symptoms of depression did not affect ovulatory function. Although AED polytherapy may increase the likelihood of anovulation, our results suggest a mechanism of infertility related to temporal lobe dysfunction.
Defining Features of Advance Directives in Law and Clinical Practice

In the > 30 years since the New Jersey Supreme Court's seminal opinion in the case of Karen Ann Quinlan, all 50 states and the District of Columbia have enacted legislation to recognize the legal right of competent adults to write advance directives. The purpose of advance directives is to provide direction for health-care decisions near the end of life, when the ravages of illness, disease, or injury have taken the ability to decide for one's self. This article reviews the defining features of advance directives and the governing law, discusses some common practical concerns regarding the use and effectiveness of advance directives, and identifies several significant ethical-legal challenges for honoring advance directives at the bedside. With a primary focus on the health-care proxy, the anatomy of advance directives is analyzed under four general rubrics: formal requirements, decisional capacity and when the directive takes effect, rights and responsibilities of proxies and health-care providers, and the scope and limitations of decisions to forego life-sustaining treatment. There is much common ground among state laws, but particular legal provisions may vary from state to state. Physicians, nurses, social workers, and other health-care professionals should be familiar with the law of their home state.
Bactobolin Resistance Is Conferred by Mutations in the L2 Ribosomal Protein

ABSTRACT Burkholderia thailandensis produces a family of polyketide-peptide molecules called bactobolins, some of which are potent antibiotics. We found that growth of B. thailandensis at 30°C versus that at 37°C resulted in increased production of bactobolins. We purified the three most abundant bactobolins and determined their activities against a battery of bacteria and mouse fibroblasts. Two of the three compounds showed strong activities against both bacteria and fibroblasts. The third analog was much less potent in both assays. These results suggested that the target of bactobolins might be conserved across bacteria and mammalian cells. To learn about the mechanism of bactobolin activity, we isolated four spontaneous bactobolin-resistant Bacillus subtilis mutants. We used genomic sequencing technology to show that each of the four resistant variants had mutations in rplB , which codes for the 50S ribosome-associated L2 protein. Ectopic expression of a mutant rplB gene in wild-type B. subtilis conferred bactobolin resistance. Finally, the L2 mutations did not confer resistance to other antibiotics known to interfere with ribosome function. Our data indicate that bactobolins target the L2 protein or a nearby site and that this is not the target of other antibiotics. We presume that the mammalian target of bactobolins involves the eukaryotic homolog of L2 (L8e). IMPORTANCE Currently available antibiotics target surprisingly few cellular functions, and there is a need to identify novel antibiotic targets. We have been interested in the Burkholderia thailandensis bactobolins, and we sought to learn about the target of bactobolin activity by mapping spontaneous resistance mutations in the bactobolin-sensitive Bacillus subtilis. Our results indicate that the bactobolin target is the 50S ribosome-associated L2 protein or a region of the ribosome affected by L2. Bactobolin-resistant mutants are not resistant to other known ribosome inhibitors. Our evidence indicates that bactobolins interact with a novel antibiotic target.
Analysis of oxidizer salt mixtures by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry.

Binary aqueous mixtures of NaNO 3 , KNO 3 and NaClO 4 oxidizers were analyzed using electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. Sodium nitrate solutions were observed to form doubly charged clusters of the type [(NaNO 3 ) n 2Na] 2 + and [(NaNO 3 ) n 2NO 3 ] 2 - , where n = 11, 13, 15, etc., in addition to singly charged cluster ions that have been reported previously. The identity of the doubly charged clusters was determined by tandem mass spectrometry. Two-component NaNO 3 -KNO 3 salt solutions were observed to form cluster ions of the type [(NaN03);(KN03) j NO 3 ] - in the negative ion mode and [(NaNO 3 ) i (KNO 3 ) j Na] + and [(NaNO 3 ) i (KNO 3 ) j K] + in the positive ion mode, where i + j = 1, 2, 3...10. Two-component solutions of KNO 3 -NaClO 4 formed ions of the type [(KNO 3 ) i (NaClO 4 ) j (KClO 4 ) k (NaNO 3 ) t K] + and [(KNO 3 ) i (NaClO 4 ) j (KClO 4 ) k (NaNO 3 ) l Na] + in the positive ion mode, where i + j + k + l = 1, 2, 3...10. Similar clusters containing excess nitrate and perchlorate to provide the charge are formed in the negative ion mode. In each case, the maximum number of spectral lines for a cluster of size n can be calculated as the number of combinations of n t h order (where n = i + j) of N different cation-anion pairs taken with replication and without regard for the ordering of the N cation-anion pairs. The actual number of lines observed may be reduced due to degeneracy of nominal m/z values for some ions.
Visual monitoring of airport ground operations

Accidents during ground operations at airports result in substantial losses to the air transportation industry. Automated monitoring of airport ground operations can lead to cost effective strategies to reduce such accidents, either through pro-active warning systems or through feedback for improved training. This paper reviews ongoing work by the authors on automated surveillance in heavily mechanized industries with a focus on the application of the algorithms to airport monitoring. In particular, the focus is automated surveillance of airport ground operations in non-movement areas.
Agroecosystem management for rare species of Paysonia (Brassicaceae): integrating their seed ecology and life cycle with cropping regimens in a changing climate

Dormancy break and germination of seeds are governed by climatic cues, and predicted changes in climate may impact the ecology and conservation of species. Paysonia perforata and P. stonensis are rare brassicaceous winter annuals occurring primarily in fields on floodplains, where corn or soybeans are recommended for habitat maintenance. We tested the effects of precipitation, based on two predictions of changes in climate, on seed germination in these two species and placed the results into a management framework. Seeds of both species, collected during peak dispersal in late April/early May, were given various periods of light (or darkness) followed by darkness (or light) at summer temperatures before placement in darkness during late summer/early autumn in both laboratory and field. The light requirement was met earliest at 10 wk (mid-July) on alternating wet/dry substrate (simulating current climatic conditions). However, seeds of P. perforata and P. stonensis were photostimulated earliest at 2 wk (mid-May) and 6 wk (mid-June), respectively, on a continuously moist substrate (simulating predicted future conditions). The soil seed bank could be depleted if plowing coincides with photostimulation of seeds. Fields should be prepared after dispersal but before seeds are photostimulated and harvesting completed before seed germination in early September. Because seeds are highly photostimulated in late summer, disturbance from harvesting must be low to prevent burial. Cultivation of soybean, particularly for forage, is better matched to the seed biology and life cycle of Paysonia than that of corn under current and predicted climates.
Inefficient assembly and intracellular accumulation of antibodies with mutations in V(H) CDR2.

We previously described secretion defects in four mutants of the murine anti-phosphocholine Ab, T15. The mutant heavy (H) chains had amino acid replacements in the VH complementarity-determining region 2 (HCDR2) and were expressed at normal intracellular levels. Here, the intracellular fate of the secretion-defective mutant heavy chains was investigated. Metabolic labeling demonstrated that the T15 wild-type Ab was secreted within a 4-h chase. In contrast, the mutant H chains accumulated with intracellular t1/2 values ranging from 10 to 24 h. The mutant H chains were associated with increased levels of the molecular chaperones BiP and GRP94, and remained endoglycosidase H sensitive, suggesting retention in the endoplasmic reticulum. Assembly of the mutant H chains with T15 light (L) chain was arrested at the H2 and H2L intermediate stages of the T15 wild-type pathway (H2 → H2L → H2L2). Even though some assembly with L chain occurred, it was not as a secretion-competent H2L2 Ig moiety. The T15 L chains coexpressed with mutant H chains were degraded efficiently except for a minor L chain population with a long t1/2 that was apparently protected at the H2L stage. To our knowledge, this is the first study demonstrating that intracellular half-lives of Ig H and L chains can be influenced by somatic mutations in HCDR2.
Synthesis of Ultrathin Zeolite Y Membranes and their Application for Separation of Carbon Dioxide and Nitrogen Gases

Synthesis of zeolite Y membranes from submicrometer (>100 nm) and nano seed ( 500). The thicker membrane had lower permeance. By investigating both single gas and mixed gas permeances, strong evidence for a percolative type separation process is obtained.
DNA Damage and Lamins

The spatial and temporal organization of the genome has emerged as an additional level of regulation of nuclear functions. Structural proteins associated with the nuclear envelope play important roles in the organization of the genome. The nuclear lamina, a polymeric meshwork formed by lamins (A- and B-type) and lamin-associated proteins, is viewed as a scaffold for tethering chromatin and protein complexes regulating a variety of nuclear functions. Alterations in lamins function impact DNA transactions such as transcription, replication, and repair, as well as epigenetic modifications that change chromatin structure. These data, and the association of defective lamins with a whole variety of degenerative disorders, premature aging syndromes, and cancer, provide evidence for these proteins operating as caretakers of the genome. In this chapter, we summarize current knowledge about the function of lamins in the maintenance of genome integrity, with special emphasis on the role of A-type lamins in the maintenance of telomere homeostasis and mechanisms of DNA damage repair. These findings have begun to shed some light onto molecular mechanisms by which alterations in A-type lamins induce genomic instability and contribute to the pathophysiology of aging and aging-related diseases, especially cancer.
Inhibition of nitric oxide synthesis attenuates thermally induced asthma.

To determine whether the inhibition of nitric oxide (NO) synthesis attenuates thermally induced obstruction, we had 10 asthmatic volunteers perform isocapnic hyperventilation with frigid air after ...