cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Solid bed compaction and frictional drag during melting in a simulated plasticating extruder

Solid bed transport has an important effect on the over all performance of a plasticating extruder. The coefficient of friction and density are the properties of the solid bed that govern its transport in the feed section of the screw. These properties have been measured, as a function of temperature and pressure, for eight common thermoplastic materials in an apparatus that simulates solid bed motion and compaction in a plasticating extruder and the results have been interpreted phenomenologically.
Role of IL-17A on resolution of pulmonary C. neoformans infection.

The current studies evaluated the role of interleukin (IL)-17A in the induction of protective immunity against pulmonary cryptococcosis in mice. Protection against pulmonary infection with C. neoformans strain H99γ was associated with increased IL-17A production. Signaling through the IFN-γ receptor (R) was required for increased IL-17A production, however, a Th17-type cytokine profile was not observed. Neutrophils were found to be the predominant leukocytic source of IL-17A, rather than T cells, suggesting that the IL-17A produced was not part of a T cell-mediated Th17-type immune response. Depletion of IL-17A in mice during pulmonary infection with C. neoformans strain H99γ resulted in an initial increase in pulmonary fungal burden, but had no effect on cryptococcal burden at later time points. Also, depletion of IL-17A did not affect the local production of other cytokines. IL-17RA−/− mice infected with C. neoformans strain H99γ survived the primary infection as well as a secondary challenge with wild-type cryptococci. However, dissemination of the wild-type strain to the brain was noted in the surviving IL-17RA−/− mice. Altogether, our results suggested that IL-17A may be important for optimal protective immune responsiveness during pulmonary C. neoformans infection, but protective Th1-type immune responses are sufficient for protection against cryptococcal infection.
Resistance of Ferritic Steels to Stress Corrosion Cracking in High Temperature Water

Austenitic stainless steels such as type 304 and 316 are susceptible to stress corrosion cracking in high temperature water environments typical of boiling water reactors (BWR) and pressurized water reactors (PWR). The accumulation over time of irradiation dose on the austenitic materials increases further their susceptibility to environmental cracking. Ferritic steels containing chromium are less susceptible to irradiation damage such as void swelling. Ferritic steels also offer desirable higher thermal conductivity and lower thermal expansion coefficient. Little is known however about the stress corrosion cracking behavior of ferritic steels in high temperature water. Crack propagation rate studies were conducted using four types of wrought and welded ferritic steels (5 to 17% Cr) in high purity water at 288°C containing dissolved oxygen or dissolved hydrogen. Results show that the ferritic steels are notably more resistant to environmental assisted cracking than the austenitic materials.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
Multi-Step Automated Deconfliction for Satellite Communications Scheduling

This paper presents a description of a method to allow software to automatically deconflict competing supports. It primarily consists of sets of business rules associated with sets of individual satellites that the rules apply to. Once defined, the business rules can be utilized in several different ways to achieve a 95% deconflicted solution as described in the results section. Planned future enhancements are also described. A 98% deconflicted schedule is expected.
The dependence of cell-free protein synthesis in E. coli upon naturally occurring or synthetic polyribonucleotides

A stable cell-free system has been obtained from E. coli which incorporates C14-valine into protein at a rapid rate. It was shown that this apparent protein synthesis was energy-dependent, was stimulated by a mixture of L-amino acids, and was markedly inhibited by RNAase, puromycin, and chloramphenicol.1 The present communication describes a novel characteristic of the system, that is, a requirement for template RNA, needed for amino acid incorporation even in the presence of soluble RNA and ribosomes. It will also be shown that the amino acid incorporation stimulated by the addition of template RNA has many properties expected of de novo protein synthesis. Naturally occurring RNA as well as a synthetic polynucleotide were active in this system. The synthetic polynucleotide appears to contain the code for the synthesis of a “protein” containing only one amino acid. Part of these data have been presented in preliminary reports.2, 3
Infrared Spectra-Structure Correlations for Monohalogenated Monocarboxylic Acids

The ir spectra of 16 monohalogenated monocarboxylic acids have been recorded over the range 4000–200 cm−1. Attempts have been made to find useful spectra structure correlations which would serve to distinguish these acids from their unsubstituted analogs. It is concluded that differentiation of halogenated acids, either from unsubstituted acids or from each other, is not possible on the basis of consistent group frequencies, which forces one to resort to reference spectra for identification of these compounds. The one exception is provided by the alpha chloro-substituted compounds, which can, tentatively, be differentiated from both unsubstituted acids and other halogen-substituted acids. In contrast to previous reports, alpha halogen-substituted acids cannot be differentiated from the others unless the halogen is chlorine.
Coarse-graining of multiprotein assemblies

Multiscale models are important tools to elucidate how small changes in local subunit conformations may propagate to affect the properties of macromolecular complexes. We review recent advances in coarse-graining methods for poly-protein assemblies, systems that are composed of many copies of relatively few components, with a particular focus on viral capsids and cytoskeletal filaments. These methods are grouped into two broad categories-mapping methods, which use information from one scale of representation to parameterize a lower resolution model, and bridging methods, which repeatedly connect different scales during simulation-and we provide examples of both classes at different levels of complexity. Collectively, these models illustrate the numerous approaches to information transfer between scales and demonstrate that the complexity required of the model depends in general on the nature of the information sought.
INITIAL EXPERIENCE WITH STAGED BUCCAL GRAFT (BRACKA) HYPOSPADIAS REOPERATIONS

ABSTRACTPurpose: We report outcomes from staged buccal graft urethroplasty after failed hypospadias surgery.Materials and Methods: When the urethral plate had been excised or was visibly scarred af...
Complementary therapies for reducing the risk of osteoporosis in patients receiving luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone treatment/orchiectomy for prostate cancer: A review and assessment of the need for more research

Osteoporosis in women has received a substantial amount of attention, but its impact in men is also significant and noteworthy. Those men who benefit from treatment for prostate cancer with androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) may also be at a higher risk for osteoporosis. Pharmacologic approaches to reduce this risk have received some attention. For example, agents such as bisphosphonates, estrogen receptor-binding drugs (diethylstilbestrol, tamoxifen, and raloxifene), calcitonin, and fluoride are some of the more promising interventions that have been previously outlined. In addition, statin drugs, or hepatic 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors, have recently been hypothesized to lower osteoporosis risk. However, complementary therapies, which may also have an impact on reducing osteoporosis risk, have not received attention. Dietary and supplemental calcium and vitamin D have been shown, in some preliminary investigations, to maintain bone density in women and men. Numerous healthy and affordable dietary sources of this mineral and vitamin exist, and large intakes can be realistically achieved through proper education. Similarly, the supplemental dosages required to impact risk have been moderate, appear to be safe, are of low cost, and thus may provide an additional route for reducing risk, especially if these interventions are initiated at the start of medical treatment. More studies in men receiving ADT are needed because the existing work has mostly focused on men without castrate levels of male hormone. Additionally, many studies with conventional and nonconventional agents have only focused on individuals with baseline osteoporosis, rather than normal bone mineral densities or osteopenia. Other promising complementary therapies, such as weight-bearing exercise and abstaining from smoking, may also be of benefit. Newer estrogenic-type supplements (eg, ipriflavone) appear interesting and have some preliminary data, but more research is desperately required to determine their actual impact and potential for adverse effects (such as lymphocytopenia from a recent trial). Simple, inexpensive, and potentially effective dietary and supplemental approaches to reduce the risk of osteoporosis in men exist, and they should be discussed with patients. Whether these approaches effectively reduce the risk of osteoporosis in men receiving androgen ablation remains to be determined. The possibility is intriguing, and future research is needed. In the meantime, it is important to keep in mind that these complementary approaches are, at the very least, an integral part of the conventional options used today to the reduce the risk of osteoporosis in men and women.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy for adolescent depression: a meta-analytic investigation of changes in effect-size estimates.

Objective To explicate differences between early and recent meta-analytic estimates of the effects of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for adolescent depression.
Exploiting correlations among competing models with application to large vocabulary speech recognition

In a typical speech recognition system, computing the match between an incoming acoustic string and many competing models is computationally expensive. Once the highest ranking models are identified, all other match scores are discarded. The authors propose to make use of all computed scores by means of statistical inference. They view the match between an incoming acoustic string s and a model M/sub i/ as a random variable Y/sub i/. The class-conditioning distributions of (Y/sub 1/,. . .Y/sub N/) can be studied offline by sampling, and then used in a variety of ways. For example, the means of these distributions give rise to a natural measure of distance between models. One of the most useful applications of these distributions is as a basis for a new Bayesian classifier. The latter can be used to significantly reduce search effort in large vocabularies, and to quickly obtain a short list of candidate words. An example hidden Markov model (HMM)-based system shows promising results. >
Serum insulin-like growth factor binding proteins (IGFBPs) as markers for anabolic/catabolic condition in fishes

Abstract In fishes as well as in all vertebrates in which it has been assessed, physiological shifts toward catabolism (e.g. such as during food deprivation) are consistently associated with elevations in the serum levels of at least one (often two in fishes) IGFBP in the ≤31-kDa size range. In mammals, 30-kDa IGFBP-1 is strongly up-regulated under catabolic circumstances, and it plays an important physiological role by sequestering IGF peptides to inhibit energy-expensive growth until conditions are more favorable (e.g. with resumed feeding). Similarly in fishes, it has been found that when the ≤31-kDa IGFBPs are elevated in serum, somatic growth is inhibited, suggesting a similar growth-inhibitory role of these proteins to that of mammalian IGFBP-1. Three different experimentally-induced catabolic states in fishes are compared in this paper: fasting; insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM); and stress. A strong relationship between elevated serum cortisol concentrations and the presence of IGFBPs in each case is noted, and the utility of serum IGFBP measurement to serve as an effective indicator (marker) of catabolic condition in fishes is discussed.
Accurate body force integration in boundary methods applied to plane elasticity

Abstract A simple and accurate method for evaluating the domain integrals associated with body force effects in plane elasticity problems solved by boundary oriented methods is proposed and evaluated. The method is based on subdividing the elastic region embedded in the infinite plane into triangular sectors formed by the boundary points and a field point at which the effect is desired. A local polar coordinate system erected at the field point removes the singular nature of the integrand involved, which then allows a Gauss type quadrature to substantially improve integration accuracy. The sector method is applied to example problems involving polygonal regions having smooth, singular, and discontinuous body forces; and compared to the traditional “cell method” in which the region is divided into small cells with body forces acting as point loads at their centers. The results show that about 10 times as many sampling points are required by the “cell” method for comparable accuracy.
Charismatic leadership and political process in Afghanistan

(1986). Charismatic leadership and political process in Afghanistan. Central Asian Survey: Vol. 5, Native elites and the distribution of power, authority and income, pp. 273-299.
The Stress of Adversity, Samadhiand Spiritual Development: science and the psychodynamics of non‐specific experience

Abstract While it has been widely observed that the stress of adversity may prompt spiritual/moral growth, for a number of reasons there is little research or theory that explains the basis on which such experience would lead to the emotional maturity and moral sensitivity that characterizes spiritual development. Inquiries are complicated by the fact that the stress of adversity can just as well lead to emotional disintegration. This article advances a model which seeks to clarify the role that adversity plays in promoting spiritual development. Drawing from psychoanalytic theory, neuroscience and yoga psychology, a model is presented which may not only plausibly explain the phenomenon under consideration, but in addition, the role of meditation practice in advancing spiritual/moral growth. Such a practice may be more humane, more reliable and more educationally applicable than any other social or educational policy which would seek to exploit the principles for development elucidated in this model.
Ab initio thermochemistry of the hydrogenation of hydrocarbon radicals using silicon-, germanium-, tin-, and lead-substituted methane and isobutane.

A series of reactions of the type Y· + XH4 → YH + ·XH3 and Y‘· + HX(CH3)3 → Y‘H + ·X(CH3)3, where Y = H, CH3; Y‘ = CH3, C(CH3)3; and X = Si, Ge, Sn, Pb are studied using state-of-the-art ab initio electronic structure methods. Second-order Moller−Plesset perturbation theory; the coupled-cluster singles, doubles, and perturbative triples method; and density functional theory are used with correlation-consistent basis sets (cc-pVNZ, where N = D, T, Q) and their pseudopotential analogs (cc-pVNZ-PP) to determine the transition-state geometries, activation barriers, and thermodynamic properties of these reactions. Trends in the barrier heights as a function of the group IVA atom (Si, Ge, Sn, and Pb) are examined. With respect to kinetics and thermodynamics, the use of a hydrogen attached to a group IVA element as a possible hydrogen donation tool in the mechanosynthesis of diamondoids appears feasible.
Effect of baffle size, perforation, and orientation on internal heat transfer enhancement

Abstract An experimental investigation of frictional loss and heat transfer behavior of turbulent flow in a rectangular channel with isoflux heating from the upper surface is presented for different sizes, positions, and orientations of inclined baffles attached to the heated surface. Both solid and perforated baffles are used. Inclined perforated baffle combines three major heat transfer techniques, e.g. boundary layer separation, internal flow swirls, and jet impingement. Results indicate that there exists an optimum perforation density to maximize heat transfer coefficients and this optimum perforation exhibits a strong jet impingement technique from the lower confined channel along with other enhancement techniques of heat transfer.
Vibrational deactivation of singlet methylene

Abstract CF 4 and C 8 F 18 collisionally remove excess energy, presumably vibrational, from CH 2 ( 1 A 1 ). Results from increasing proportions of C 8 F 18 with CH 2 N 2 and CH 2 CO precursors indicated that Δ H fo 0 [ 1 CH 2 ( 1 A 1 )] ≈ 101 kcal/mole. A simplified model indicates that 80–800 CF 4 and 10–100 C 8 F 18 collisions remove one bending vibrational quantum from CH 2 ( 1 A 1 ).
Traumatic Ventricular Septal Defect Following Closed-Chest Massage: A New Approach to Closure

A 59-year-old man underwent a quadruple coronary bypass. Nine hours postoperatively, cardiac arrest developed; it was preceded by bradycardia resistant to pacing. Closed-chest massage resulted in a rapid recovery of stable cardiac function followed by the development of cardiogenic shock. A new systolic murmur was appreciated 36 hours following arrest. It was diagnosed at catheterization as a ventricular septal defect that was subsequently found to lie in the posterior ventricular septum, and two operations were necessary to effect closure. The final operation was performed with exposure of the septal defect through the right atrium. Sixteen months after operation, the patient remained well. To our knowledge, this is the first reported instance of a ventricular septal defect occurring secondary to closed-chest massage and also of the closure of a traumatic defect using a right atrial approach.
Lithium norcaranylidenoids. Alkylation and epimerization

Abstract The epimeric 7-bromo-7-lithionorcaranes have been stereospecifically generated; the exo -bromo isomer is stable at −78°C, while the endo - bromo isomer is reactive. The stereochemistry of its reaction with nBuLi involves inversion.
Chemical ionization and electron impact mass spectra of S-1-chloroalkyl alkanesulfonothioates (thiosulfonates)

The chemical ionization (CI) and electron impact (EI) mass spectra of six S-1-chloroalkyl alkanesulfonothioates (t-hiosulfonates) are reported
Western Spruce Budworm Outbreaks Did Not Increase Fire Risk over the Last Three Centuries: A Dendrochronological Analysis of Inter-Disturbance Synergism

Insect outbreaks are often assumed to increase the severity or probability of fire occurrence through increased fuel availability, while fires may in turn alter susceptibility of forests to subsequent insect outbreaks through changes in the spatial distribution of suitable host trees. However, little is actually known about the potential synergisms between these natural disturbances. Assessing inter-disturbance synergism is challenging due to the short length of historical records and the confounding influences of land use and climate changes on natural disturbance dynamics. We used dendrochronological methods to reconstruct defoliator outbreaks and fire occurrence at ten sites along a longitudinal transect running from central Oregon to western Montana. We assessed synergism between disturbance types, analyzed long-term changes in disturbance dynamics, and compared these disturbance histories with dendroclimatological moisture availability records to quantify the influence of moisture availability on disturbances. After approximately 1890, fires were largely absent and defoliator outbreaks became longer-lasting, more frequent, and more synchronous at our sites. Fires were more likely to occur during warm-dry years, while outbreaks were most likely to begin near the end of warm-dry periods. Our results show no discernible impact of defoliation events on subsequent fire risk. Any effect from the addition of fuels during defoliation events appears to be too small to detect given the overriding influence of climatic variability. We therefore propose that if there is any relationship between the two disturbances, it is a subtle synergistic relationship wherein climate determines the probability of occurrence of each disturbance type, and each disturbance type damps the severity, but does not alter the probability of occurrence, of the other disturbance type over long time scales. Although both disturbance types may increase in frequency or extent in response to future warming, our records show no precedent that western spruce budworm outbreaks will increase future fire risk.
Opposite-Sex Ideal in the U.S.A. and Mexico as Perceived by Young Adolescents

In this cross-cultural study, 188 9th-grade girls and boys from the U.S.A. and Mexico ranked 10 characteristics of the opposite sex ideal person, and drew pictures of the ideal person engaged in an activity. These young adolescents showed significant agreement about the characteristics of the ideal man and woman; however, there were important gender and cross-cultural differences. Boys emphasized physical characteristics more so than girls. As compared to U.S.A. adolescents, Mexican adolescents more highly valued liking children, helping others, high intelligence, and inner qualities such as goodness and honesty in the opposite sex ideal. U.S.A. adolescents gave higher rankings to having a lot of money and being fun, popular, good looking, and sexy; they drew the ideal person as more physically mature, and involved in a less sex-stereotyped activity than did Mexicans.
The RAS and YAP1 dance, who is leading?

The Hippo-signaling effector YAP1 was recently found to compensate for oncogenic RAS in certain neoplasms, suggesting so far unanticipated molecular interplays between these major signaling routes. A new study in this issue of The EMBO Journal details KRAS-dependent control of YAP1 stability as well as positive feedback regulation via the RAS/YAP1/EGFR-ligand axis as novel molecular mechanisms that could become exploitable for therapeutic strategies.
Stimulation of non-oxidative glucose utilization by L-carnitine in isolated myocytes

The effects of L-carnitine on 14CO2 release from [1-14C]pyruvate oxidation (an index of pyruvate dehydrogenase activity, PDH), [2-14C]pyruvate, and [6-14C]glucose oxidation (indices of the acetyl-CoA flux through citric acid cycle), and [U-14C]glucose (an index of both PDH activity and the flux of acetyl-CoA through the citric acid cycle), were studied using isolated rat cardiac myocytes. L-carnitine increased the release of 14CO2 from [1-14C]pyruvate, and decreased that of [2-14C]pyruvate in a time and concentration-dependent manner. At a concentration of 2.5 mM, L-carnitine produced a 50% increase of CO2 release from [1-14C]pyruvate and a 50% decrease from [2-14C]pyruvate oxidation. L-carnitine also increased CO2 release from [1-14C]pyruvate oxidation by 35%, and decreased that of [2-14C]pyruvate oxidation 30%, in isolated rat heart mitochondria. The fatty acid oxidation inhibitor, etomoxir, stimulated the release of CO2 from both [1-14]pyruvate and [2-14C]pyruvate. These results were supported by the effects of L-carnitine on the CO2 release from [6-14C]- and [U-14C]glucose oxidation. L-carnitine (5 mM) decreased the CO2 release from [6-14C]glucose by 37%, while etomoxir (50 microM) increased its release by 24%. L-carnitine had no effect on the oxidation of [U-14C]glucose. L-carnitine increased palmitate oxidation in a time- and concentration-dependent manner in myocytes. Also, it increased the rate of efflux of acetylcarnitine generated from pyruvate in myocytes. These results suggest that L-carnitine stimulates pyruvate dehydrogenase complex activity and enhances non-oxidative glucose metabolism by increasing the mitochondrial acetylcarnitine efflux in the absence of exogenous fatty acids.
Selective CH functionalization of methane, ethane, and propane by a perfluoroarene iodine(III) complex.

Direct partial oxidation of methane, ethane, and propane to their respective trifluoroacetate esters is achieved by a homogeneous hypervalent iodine(III) complex in non-superacidic (trifluoroacetic acid) solvent. The reaction is highly selective for ester formation (>99%). In the case of ethane, greater than 0.5 M EtTFA can be achieved. Preliminary kinetic analysis and density functional calculations support a nonradical electrophilic CH activation and iodine alkyl functionalization mechanism.
The BGP monitoring and alarming system to detect and prevent anomaly IP prefix advertisement

The Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) is the routing protocol that enables large IP networks to form a single Internet. The main objective of BGP is to exchange Network Layer Reachability Information (NLRI) between Autonomous Systems (ASes) so that a BGP speaker can announce their IP prefix and find a path to the destination of packets. However, a BGP hijacker can pretend to be any third BGP speaker because BGP itself doesn't have the functionality of validating BGP messages. In order to solve this problem, BGP speaker needs to validate messages coming from other BGP speakers. In this paper, we propose the BGP Monitoring and Alarm System (BGPMAS) which monitors incoming announcements and starts to make sounds of the alarm if the BGPMAS detects an invalid announcement. In addition, the BGPMAS provides AS administrators with web service to show where the invalid message is coming from so that the administrators can rapidly deal with the IP prefix hijacking by ignoring the malicious BGP router's prefix. In order to set this environment, the BGPMAS needs to be connected to the BGP router and the AS administrator needs the Alarm Application (AA) which will make sounds of the alarm and the AA receives a signal from the BGPMAS when the BGPMAS detect an invalid announcement. As a result, the BGP routers can easily have the RPKI-based origin validation function with the BGPMAS.
Synthesis and Properties of High-Manganese Iron-Based Bulk Amorphous Metals as Non-Ferromagnetic Amorphous Steel Alloys

High-manganese ferrous-based alloys containing 10–20 at. % Mn have been investigated as prospective iron-based structural amorphous metals with magnetic transition temperatures far below the ambient temperature. Many of these alloys are found to have a high reduced glass transition temperature of 0.6–0.63 and large supercooled liquid region of 40–90 °C. Rod-shaped amorphous samples with diameters reaching 4 mm are obtained by employing simple injection casting. The search for good glass-forming alloys has been guided by an atomistic approach coupled with the realization of low-lying liquidus temperatures via proper alloying. The tensile yield strengths and Vickers hardness of the new amorphous metals far exceed those known in high-strength steel alloys, and the elastic moduli are comparable to those reported for super-austenitic steels. The present high-manganese amorphous Fe-alloys also show promise as very good corrosion-resistant materials.
Thimerosal in the detection of clinically relevant allergic contact reactions

Abstract Thimerosal, a mercuric derivative of thiosalicylic acid, is a preservative used in several types of consumer products, including cosmetics, ophthalmic and otolaryngologic medications, and vaccines. As a result of allergic reactions and environmental concerns, its use has declined significantly during the past 2 decades. During a 5-year study at the University of Kansas Medical Center, 574 patients were patch tested to the North American Contact Dermatitis Group's standard allergen tray, which included thimerosal. The demographic data from thimerosal-allergic and nonallergic persons were compared. Statistically significant increases in thimerosal allergy were found among women, health care workers, secretaries, and cooks. Thimerosal-allergic persons were more likely to be allergic to neomycin, bacitracin, and tixocortol pivalate. Despite a high percentage of thimerosal-allergic patients in our test population, very few of these allergic reactions were found to be clinically relevant to the patient's current dermatologic condition. Using the Significance-Prevalence Index Number for thimerosal and contrasting this number with the Significance-Prevalence Index Number for other allergens on the North American Contact Dermatitis Group's standard tray, we propose that either ethyleneurea/melamine formaldehyde or bacitracin would be more useful than thimerosal as a commercially available screening allergen. (J Am Acad Dermatol 2001;45:23-7.)
Effect of diurnal rhythm of body temperature on muscular work

Abstract The effect of the diurnal rhythm of body temperature on the metabolic and thermoregulatory response to moderate work was studied in eight healthy, adult males. Work bouts were conducted at the occurrence of each subject's morning minimum (approx 0700 h) and afternoon maximum (approx. 4600 h) diurnal rhythm of body temperature. No significant differences were found between these time periods for resting and exercise oxygen uptakes, respiratory minute volume, metabolic heat production, or heart rates. However, resting and exercise rectal, mean skin, and mean body temperatures, and evaporative heat loss were significantly higher in the afternoon. The importance of the diurnal temperature rhythm on modifying the response of body temperature to exercise is discussed.
Morphological representation of discrete and binary images

A general theory for the morphological representation of discrete and binary images is presented. The basis of this theory relies on the generation of a set of nonoverlapping segments of an image via repeated erosions and set transformations, which in turn produces a decomposition that guarantees exact reconstruction. The relationship between the proposed representation and some existing shape analysis tools (e.g., discrete size transform, pattern spectrum, skeletons) is investigated, thus introducing the representation as the basis of a unified theory for geometrical image analysis. Particular cases of the general representation scheme are shown to yield a number of useful image decompositions which are directly related to various forms of morphological skeletons. The relationship between the representation and the various forms of morphological skeletons is studied. As a result of this study, a unified theory is developed for the mathematical description of the morphological skeleton decomposition of discrete and binary images. >
Effect of Flock Age and Postemergent Holding in the Hatcher on Broiler Live Performance and Further-Processing Yield

Abstract Chicks held in an incubator or hatcher for an extended period of time prior to removal will reduce body weight, yolk sac reserves, and immune function while increasing the risk of dehydration and death. This experiment was conducted to compare the quality and subsequent performance of early-emerging chicks that were held in the hatcher vs. those that emerged just prior to removal. Eggs were obtained from young (32 wk) and prime age (41 wk) Ross × Ross 308 breeder flocks. The mean incubation length of early-hatched chicks was 497 h compared with 509 h for late-hatched chicks, resulting in an average postemergent duration of 15 h vs. 3 h in the hatcher, respectively. Total chick yield was similar between young and prime flocks (82 and 83% of eggs set, respectively), but proportionately, the prime flock produced more early-hatch chicks than the young flock. Higher whole body weight and yolk sac weight at hatch were associated with late emergence. Chick body weights after access to feed and water for 1 wk continued to be at a disadvantage for birds from young hens, whereas early-hatched chicks were similar to late-hatched chicks. Males and females responded similarly to flock age and hatch treatments. By 6 wk of age, higher total feed conversion and carcass abdominal fat existed with broilers from prime compared with those from young breeders, whereas yields of skinless boneless breast meat were similar. Prolonged holding in the hatcher had no major effects on final live performance, carcass quality, or breast meat yield.
Cochlear mechanisms of frequency and intensity coding. II. Dynamic range and the code for loudness

Our preceding paper described SPL-dependent changes in the shape of transfer functions recorded from inner and outer hair cells as well as supporting cells, in the 500-2500 Hz regions of the Mongolian gerbil cochlea. As SPL was increased, large shifts were observed in the peak of the transfer function. A strongly compressive nonlinearity was also observed at CF. This paper examines the data from the perspective of intensity coding in the auditory periphery. Based on the data, we offer a new explanation for the mechanisms underlying the different dynamic ranges of low and high threshold auditory neurons. We also find that, for pure tone stimuli, the growth of excitation at the characteristic place saturates rapidly, and cannot encode the wide dynamic range of loudness. The data are analyzed to explore other excitation pattern candidates for loudness coding. The growth of the peak of the IHC transfer function, as well as the growth of the response area, have been found to be linearly related to loudness growth over most of its dynamic range. Implications of the data for auditory intensity coding are discussed.
A Comprehensive Program of Psychosocial Care for Mastectomy Patients

The traumatic experience of the discovery of a lump in the breast, the diagnosis of cancer and eventual mastectomy have focused medical attention on the importance of providing adequate psychosocia...
On the intraurban ecology of primary care physicians.

Abstract Most studies of physician distribution do not distinguish types of physicians and, therefore, ignore the availability of primary physicians. Furthermore, correlations at any one point in time may lead to false inferences regarding the influence of such factors as socioeconomic status on physician distribution. This study uses a mathematical model to study change in distribution of types of physicians over time relative to other types of physicians and the social and economic characteristics of the population in a city. A process whereby primary physicians are declining and remaining clustered in small areas is revealed.
Digital spaces, material traces: How matter comes to matter in online performances of gender, sexuality and embodiment

This article argues that in order to cultivate a more thorough understanding of how gender, sexuality and embodiment come to ‘matter’ in digital environments, it is necessary to reconsider the noti...
Robot kinematics and coordinate transformations

This paper introduces a class of linearizing coordinate transformations for mechanical systems whose moment of inertia matrLx has a square root which is a jacobian. The transformations, when they exist, define a local isometry from joint space to euclidean space, hence, may afford further insight into the transient behavior of robot motion. It remains to be seen whether any appreciably large class of robots admit such linearizing isometries.
Intracellular Induction of Listeria monocytogenes actA Expression

Following entry into the host cytosol, the bacterial pathogen Listeria monocytogenes dramatically increases the expression of several key virulence factors. The expression of actA, whose protein product is required for L. monocytogenes actin-based intracellular motility, is increased by more than 200-fold in cytosolic bacteria in comparison to broth-grown cultures. Two distinct promoter elements have been reported to regulate actA expression. One promoter is located immediately upstream of actA coding sequences, while the second promoter is contributed by the upstream mpl gene via the generation of an mpl-actA-plcB transcript. A series of L. monocytogenes mutants were constructed to define the contributions of individual promoter elements to actA expression. The intracellular induction of actA expression was found to be dependent upon the actA proximal promoter; the mpl promoter appeared to contribute to the extracellular induction of actA but did not affect intracellular levels of expression. The actA promoter is dependent upon a regulatory factor known as PrfA for transcriptional activation; however, no increase in actA expression was detected following the introduction of a high-affinity PrfA binding site within the actA promoter. The presence of a mutationally activated form of PrfA, known as PrfA*, increased overall actA expression in broth-grown cultures of both wild-type and actA promoter mutant strains, but the levels of induction observed were still approximately 50-fold lower than those observed for intracellularly grown L. monocytogenes. Collectively, these results indicate that the dramatic induction of actA expression that occurs in the host cell cytosol is mediated through a single promoter element. Furthermore, intracellular induction of actA appears to require additional steps or factors beyond those necessary for the activation and binding of PrfA to the actA promoter.
Chapter 14. Biosynthesis of Antibiotics

Publisher Summary The powerful methods for the determination of a new structure of biosynthesis of natural products, including antibiotics, are discussed in this chapter. The hydroxymethyl branch group of the dihydrostreptose moiety is oxidized either before or after the addition of the glucosamine fragment when streptomycin phosphate is the product. The biogenesis of the polyene macrolide candicidin is from acetate and propionate with the additional presence in the structure of aminoacetophenone and mycosamine; biosynthesis of the candidin and candihexin complex via sugar-free aglycones within the producing mycelium. Glycosylation takes place during the secretion of the final products. Glycosylation occurs during the biosynthesis of tetracyclines and related antibiotics. The glutarimide antibiotic streptimidone is formed from seven malonate units and is in itself unusual by having the polyketide synthesis initiates by a malonate unit that is retained intact in the final structure. Coupling of the isoprenoid and polyketide pathways occurs in the biogenesis of siccanin 48 from trans-y-monocyclofarnesol and orsellinic acid. The biosynthesis of chloizaiwhenicol has led to the conclusion that it is formed via the shikimic acid pathway specifically from chorismic acid. The novel new antibiotic nybomycin possesses both fused pyridoquinolone and angularly fused oxazoline ring systems are formed from both the acetate and shikimate plus a methyl group from methionine. A step in the biosynthesis of patulin is clarified by finding that the meta hydroxy benzyl alcohol is hydroxylated to yield gentisyl alcohol that in turn is converted to patulin via the aldehyde.
Order Differences between Coexisting Liquid Phases Driven by Lipid Unsaturation Determine Phase Separation in Biomimetic Membranes

Biological membranes contain a broad variety of lipid species whose individual physicochemical properties and collective interactions ultimately determine membrane organization. A key aspect of the organization of cellular membranes is their lateral subdivision into domains of distinct structure and composition. The most widely studied membrane domains are lipid rafts, which are the biological manifestation of the capacity of sterol-containing membranes to form liquid-ordered phases. Detailed studies of biomimetic membrane mixtures have yielded wide-ranging insights into the physical principles behind lipid rafts; however, these simplified models do not fully capture the diversity and complexity of the mammalian lipidome, most notably in their exclusion of polyunsaturated lipids. Here, we assess the role of lipid tail unsaturation as a driving force for phase separation using coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations validated by model membrane experiments. The clear trends in our observations and good qualitative agreements between simulations and experiments support the conclusions that highly unsaturated lipids promote liquid-liquid phase separation by enhancing the differences in lipid chain order, domain thickness, cholesterol preference, and diffusivity between the coexisting domains. To determine which of these parameters is the key driver of phase separation, we tuned lipid compositions to independently vary membrane order and thickness. We find that interdomain order differences driven by acyl chain unsaturation are the key determinants of domain formation in model membranes. These observations begin to define the important role of non-canonical biological lipids on the physical properties of membranes, showing that lipid polyunsaturation is a driving force for liquid-liquid phase separation.
Accelerated 2D-IR Using Compressed Sensing

A fundamental aspect of Fourier transform (FT) spectroscopy is the inverse relationship between frequency resolution and the maximum scanned time delay. In situations where essential chemical information is contained in spectral peak amplitudes rather than in their detailed shapes, it is possible to dramatically reduce the experimental acquisition time of time domain methods such as two-dimensional infrared (2D-IR) spectroscopy. By introducing compressed sensing to the analysis and experimental design of 2D-IR spectroscopy, we show that waiting-time-dependent 2D peak amplitudes reproduce conventional FT acquisition and analysis but can be recorded in a fraction of the time. Peak amplitude data are often sufficient for measuring intramolecular vibrational redistribution, vibrational coherence, chemical exchange, population, and orientational relaxation, as well as spectral diffusion.
Spin Relaxation Spectroscopy of the D-Center in Hydrogenated Amorphous Silicon

Measurements of the dependence of the D-center electron paramagnetic resonance absorption signal upon the incident microwave power are reported in undoped hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) for specimens prepared at differing deposition temperatures and also as the state of a given specimen was varied by illumination and subsequent annealing. These measurements are sensitive to electron spin relaxation processes of the D-center. Substantial variation in spin-relaxation behavior was found, corresponding to approximately one order of magnitude in the spin relaxation rate; no significant variations in absorption lineshape were observed. A model for these spin relaxation observations invoking two differing local microstructures near the D-center is proposed. The model indicates that illumination increases the density of defects in one microstructure but can irreversibly diminish the density in a second.
An Investigation of Human Decision-Making in a Human—Robot Team Task

This paper presents initial insights from an exploratory analysis of human decision making in a human—robot teaming scenario. A cognitive model in the form of a decision tree was developed using local and national police foot pursuit protocols. Participants were asked to read through a series of hypothetical scenarios involving a Soldier and a robot engaging in a foot pursuit of a person of interest. Participants made decisions at each node of the decision tree and then a tactical decision concerning which member of the team should engage in the pursuit. Initial results revealed that individual decision nodes were not associated with participants’ choice in who should engage in the pursuit. Trust in robots, however, was significantly associated with the participants’ choices.
Simulation of Stochastically Estimating J2 and J3 Variations Using Lageos SLR Data

Continual improvement in the satellite laser ranging (SLR) space geodetic technique has led to the capability for estimating subtle temporal variations in a number of geodynamic parameters. The approach generally taken is to estimate such geodynamic parameter variations as piecewise constants (over some interval of time). Unfortunately, this strategy naturally introduces an inherent limitation in the ability to accurately resolve such variations.
The 'Cost of Crime' and Benefit-Cost Analysis of Criminal Justice Policy: Understanding and Improving Upon the State-of-The-Art

The use of benefit-cost analyses by criminal justice researchers has slowly been increasing over the past 30 years. While still in its infancy, benefit-cost analyses of criminal justice policies have recently moved from the academic arena to actual use by policy makers. The growing use of benefit-cost analysis in crime policy tends to be lauded by economists; however, criminologists and legal scholars are less than unanimous in their views. A recent issue of Criminology and Public Policy on the “Role of the Cost-of-Crime Literature,” highlights this controversy. Two main themes can be distilled from critiques of the literature: first, the considerable uncertainty that exists in cost and benefit estimates; and second, the fact that important social costs are not being taken into account in current models. A related critique is that current methodologies to estimate the cost of crime are affected by income; bringing with it a concern that criminal justice policies based on a benefit-cost analysis will favor the rich. This research note addresses these broad questions about the role of benefit-cost analysis in the criminal justice policy arena and attempts to clear up some misunderstandings on the methodologies used to estimate the cost of crime. I also highlight some of the most important gaps in the literature for those interested in helping to improve the state-of-the-art in estimating the “cost of crime.” Perhaps equally important, I hope to demystify benefit-cost analysis and unmask it for what it really is – an important tool that can help policy makers systematically and transparently assess and compare options with the goal of making better policy decisions.
Sugar-based poly (anhydride-ester) containing natural antioxidants and antimicrobials: Synthesis and formulation into polymer blends:

Thymol, a naturally occurring antioxidant and antimicrobial, is commonly researched for active packaging applications to deter food spoilage and bacterial growth. However, the high temperature necessary for processing often volatilizes the thymol, reducing its utility. To overcome this processing limitation, sugar-based poly(anhydride-esters) comprising thymol and compounds generally regarded as safe (succinic and tartaric acid) were successful prepared via mild solution polymerization methods. In vitro release studies demonstrated a sustained thymol release over 3 weeks at therapeutically relevant concentrations. Furthermore, the released thymol displayed antioxidant and antimicrobial activities as indicated by a 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging and Kirby–Bauer disk diffusion assays, respectively. High-temperature melt blending with low-density polyethylene revealed that the chemical incorporation of thymol into a polymer backbone overcame volatility issues and maintained relevant bioacti...
Accelerometric activity identification for remote assessment of quality of movement

This study examines acclerometric data collected during straight walking and stair climbing to assess a subject's mobility and activity level. Small, wearable accelerometers allow these motion analysis techniques to be used in a remote monitoring or telemedicine program.