cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Progress Towards a Fiber-Based Laser-Ultrasonics System for Rapid NDE of Large-Area Composites

State-of-the-art integrally stiffened composite materials, manufactured for use in the next generation of commercial and military aircraft, are being increasingly used for structural components such as wings and fuselages. However, due to the complexity of the manufacturing process, small variations in the shape of integrally stiffened composite structures often occur. Thus, a prioriknowledge of the part shape often does not provide sufficient tolerance to allow an automated conventional ultrasonic inspection. Many of the advantages of laser-based ultrasonics, including its noncontacting nature and applicability to rapid scanning of contoured and integrally stiffened structures, have been described previously [1–5]. To further extend the utility of laser-based ultrasonics, enable limited access inspections and also provide an upgrade/retrofit path for existing ultrasonic scanning systems, it is desirable to reduce the size of current laser-based ultrasound (LBU) system scan heads and provide both generation and detection laser beam delivery via optical fibers. A promising approach is the use of a scanning head based on a Cassegrain optical collection system. This approach minimizes the load carrying requirements of the scanning assembly and is also well-suited for integration with fiber optics to allow the delivery and reception of the ultrasonic generation and detection laser beams via long lengths of optical fiber. This provides increased mobility of the LBU scan head and allows the ultrasonic generation and detection lasers and other sensitive equipment to be housed in a clean environment which potentially can be located hundreds of meters from the inspection area. The use of a pulsed CO2 laser has been reported previously for generation of ultrasonic waves in composite materials [4]. However, the CO2 laser wavelength (λ = 10.6 μm) and the high peak power laser pulses precludes the use of fiber-optic beam delivery over all but very short lengths (< 1.5 m) of specialized optical fiber. Consequently an alternative generating laser has been sought that can be transmitted efficiently over standard quartz optical fiber. An alexandrite laser, which is tunable over the 720–800 nm wavelength range, is being investigated for this application. Progress towards the implementation of a fiber-based LBU system for rapid NDE of large-area composites, and the use of an alexandrite laser for ultrasonic generation in composite materials are described below.
Gradient Descent for Sparse Rank-One Matrix Completion for Crowd-Sourced Aggregation of Sparsely Interacting Workers

We consider worker skill estimation for the single-coin Dawid-Skene crowdsourcing model. In practice, skill-estimation is challenging because worker assignments are sparse and irregular due to the arbitrary and uncontrolled availability of workers. We formulate skill estimation as a rank-one correlation-matrix completion problem, where the observed components correspond to observed label correlations between workers. We show that the correlation matrix can be successfully recovered and skills are identifiable if and only if the sampling matrix (observed components) does not have a bipartite connected component. We then propose a projected gradient descent scheme and show that skill estimates converge to the desired global optima for such sampling matrices. Our proof is original and the results are surprising in light of the fact that even the weighted rank-one matrix factorization problem is NP-hard in general. Next, we derive sample complexity bounds in terms of spectral properties of the signless Laplacian of the sampling matrix. Our proposed scheme achieves state-of-art performance on a number of real-world datasets.
Radiographic and Serologic Predictors of Pathologic Major Response to Preoperative Therapy for Pancreatic Cancer

OBJECTIVE We sought to identify potential radiologic and serologic markers of pancreatic tumor response to therapy, using pathologic major response (pMR) as the objective endpoint. BACKGROUND We previously demonstrated that a pMR to preoperative therapy, defined as detection of <5% viable cancer cells in the surgical specimen on histopathological analysis, is an important prognostic factor for patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). METHODS Pretreatment and posttreatment computed tomography scans of consecutive patients who received preoperative chemotherapy and/or (chemo)radiation before pancreatectomy for PDAC between January 2010 and December 2018 were rereviewed. Response per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) 1.1, other radiographic changes in tumor size and anatomic extent, and posttreatment CA 19-9 levels were compared between patients who did and did not have a pMR on final histopathologic analysis of their surgical specimens. RESULTS A total of 290 patients with localized PDAC underwent pancreatectomy between 2010 and 2018 after receiving preoperative chemotherapy (n = 36; 12%), (chemo)radiation (n = 87; 30%), or both (n = 167; 58%). Among them, 28 (10%) experienced pMR, including 9 (3.1%) who experienced pathologic complete response. On multivariable logistic regression, low posttreatment CA 19-9 level, RECIST partial response, and reduction in tumor volume were confirmed to be independently associated with pMR (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS We identified serologic and radiographic indicators of pMR that could help inform the delivery of preoperative therapy to patients with PDAC.
Commitment to Rebellion: Evidence from Syria:

What sustains commitment to rebel fighting during civil war? Using original survey data from the ongoing conflict in Syria, we examine whether self-ascribed rebel fighters, former fighters, civilia...
Pica in Pediatric Sickle Cell Disease

Pica is the developmentally inappropriate consumption of non-nutritive items for at least one month. Pica can lead to many adverse outcomes, but the exact pathophysiology of pica is unknown or variable across populations. Several studies have evidenced that there is a high prevalence of pica among youth with sickle cell disease (SCD). However, the lack of knowledge regarding the correlates of pica contributes to overlooking the condition, inaccurate diagnoses, and a lack of evidence-based treatments once pica is identified. This review examines the literature to develop a biopsychosocial model of pica in SCD. Elucidating the potential relationships among the proposed biological, psychological, and social factors, and pica will inform our understanding of this phenomenon in pediatric SCD and may guide future research and clinical recommendations.
Shadowboxing: An Essay on Power

Can law-talk lull and gull us, tricking us into thinking that categories like objective (the reasonably prudent man) and subjective, and the stylized debates that swirl about them, really count when in fact they either collapse or appear trivial when viewed from the perspective of cultural power? Using cigarette warnings and consent-to-sex rules as examples, this article posits that if we allow ourselves to believe that categories such as these (subjective and objective) are all-important, we can easily expend a great deal of energy replicating predictable, scripted arguments. In this way, the law turns once progressive people into harmless technocrats.
Exploiting Singular Configurations for Controllable, Low-Power Friction Enhancement on Unmanned Ground Vehicles

This letter describes the design, validation, and performance of a new type of adaptive wheel morphology for unmanned ground vehicles. Our adaptive wheel morphology uses a spiral cam to create a system that enables controllable deployment of high friction surfaces. The overall design is modular, battery powered, and can be mounted directly to the wheels of a vehicle without additional wiring. The use of a tailored cam profile exploits a singular configuration to minimize power consumption when deployed and protects the actuator from external forces. Component-level experiments demonstrate that friction on ice and grass can be increased by up to 170%. Two prototypes were installed on a 1:5 scale, radio-controlled rally car and tested. The devices were able to controllably deploy, increase friction, and greatly improve acceleration capacity on a slippery, synthetic ice surface.
Gratitude at Work: Prospective Cohort Study of a Web-Based, Single-Exposure Well-Being Intervention for Health Care Workers.

Background: Emotional exhaustion (EE) in health care workers is common and consequentially linked to lower quality of care. Effective interventions to address EE are urgently needed. Objective: This randomized single-exposure trial examined the efficacy of a gratitude letter–writing intervention for improving health care workers’ well-being. Methods: A total of 1575 health care workers were randomly assigned to one of two gratitude letter–writing prompts (self- vs other focused) to assess differential efficacy. Assessments of EE, subjective happiness, work-life balance, and tool engagement were collected at baseline and 1-week post intervention. Participants received their EE score at baseline and quartile benchmarking scores. Paired-samples t tests, independent t tests, and correlations explored the efficacy of the intervention. Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count software assessed the linguistic content of the gratitude letters and associations with well-being. Results: Participants in both conditions showed significant improvements in EE, happiness, and work-life balance between the intervention and 1-week follow-up (P .05). Conclusions: This single-exposure gratitude letter–writing intervention appears to be a promising low-cost, brief, and meaningful tool to improve the well-being of health care workers.
Arm abduction angle at ball release influences shoulder forces and torques during the windmill softball pitch

Objectives:Shoulder pain and ligamentous injury is a common complaint among fast pitch softball pitchers. In addition to extreme shoulder joint motion during pitch delivery, sudden deceleration imm...
PhenoImage: an open-source GUI for plant image analysis

Abstract High-throughput genotyping coupled with molecular breeding approaches has dramatically accelerated crop improvement programs. More recently, improved plant phenotyping methods have led to a shift from manual measurements to automated platforms with increased scalability and resolution. Considerable effort has also gone into the development of large-scale downstream processing of the imaging datasets derived from high-throughput phenotyping (HTP) platforms. However, most available tools require some programing skills. We developed PhenoImage – an open-source GUI based cross-platform solution for HTP image processing with the aim to make image analysis accessible to users with either little or no programming skills. The open-source nature provides the possibility to extend its usability to meet user-specific requirements. The availability of multiple functions and filtering parameters provides flexibility to analyze images from a wide variety of plant species and platforms. PhenoImage can be run on a personal computer as well as on high-performance computing clusters. To test the efficacy of the application, we analyzed the LemnaTec Imaging system derived RGB and fluorescence shoot images from two plant species: sorghum and wheat differing in their physical attributes. In the study, we discuss the development, implementation, and working of the PhenoImage. Highlight PhenoImage is an open-source application designed for analyzing images derived from high-throughput phenotyping.
Exploring Caregivers’ Clothing Choices for Individuals with Severe Alzheimer’s Disease: An Application of the Theories of Self-Complexity and Choosing for Others

Individuals with Alzheimer’s disease may not be able to dress themselves due to memory limitations. Thus, the role of caregivers is important, as they are the individuals who assist those with Alzheimer’s in completing not just medical tasks, but fundamental activities of daily living, such as selecting garments to wear and getting dressed. The purpose of this study was to understand how caregivers make such choices. This study employed qualitative interviews with twelve caregivers. Four themes emerged to structure the interpretation, The Role of Proxy, Routine Selections, Gift-Giving for Loved Ones, and Triangular Relationships. In general, the higher self-complexity of individuals with Alzheimer’s stems from the confusion and frustration. Based on the framework of choosing-for-others, the clothing choices of individuals with Alzheimer’s by family member caregivers illustrate options based on the relationship and highlight the recipient’s preferences.
Management of Adult Patients with Immune Thrombocytopenia (ITP): A Review on Current Guidance and Experience from Clinical Practice

Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is an autoimmune process resulting in increased destruction and inadequate production of platelets that can result in bleeding, fatigue, and reduced health-related quality of life. While treatment is not required for many patients with ITP, the occurrence of bleeding manifestations, severe thrombocytopenia, and requirement for invasive procedures are among the reasons necessitating initiation of therapy. Corticosteroids, intravenous immunoglobulin, and anti-RhD immune globulin are typical first-line and rescue treatments, but these agents typically do not result in a durable remission in adult patients. Most patients requiring treatment therefore require subsequent line therapies, such as thrombopoietin receptor agonists (TPO-RAs), rituximab, fostamatinib, splenectomy, or a number of other immunosuppressive agents. In this focused review, we discuss management of adult ITP in the acute and chronic settings.
Water systems in California: Ownership, geography, and affordability

Abstract This study asks whether different types of water systems serve different types of communities and differ with respect to affordability. Using 2017 data for California we match service area boundaries with census income data and rate structures to compare the geography, income distribution and affordability of water rates within communities served by systems of different ownership types. We find that for-profit and publicly owned systems serve communities of similar income distributions, while not-for-profit mutual water companies serve higher-income communities. Regulated privately-owned systems charge more for water while providing more low-income assistance and shutting off fewer households than publicly owned systems.
Pulmonary Embolism and Sigmoid Sinus Thrombosis After Translabyrinthine Vestibular Schwannoma Resection: A Retrospective Case Series.

Objective:To describe the presentation and treatment of patients developing pulmonary embolism following translabyrinthine approach for vestibular schwannoma resection.Methods:This was a retrospect...
How defects depend on geometry and scanning strategy in additively manufactured AlSi10Mg

Abstract Porosity is an inherent feature of additively manufactured components that impairs the mechanical properties. Since porosity depends not only on the process parameters but also on the component geometry, it is necessary to investigate this dependency. This study reveals relationships between porosity, process parameters and component geometry in AlSi10Mg specimens. Micro-computed tomography images of different geometries built with varying parameters were analysed for pore concentrations. The quantity and distribution of pores at overhangs depends on the laser scan speed and the width of the overhang. Similarly, the scan speed influences the effective bead width and thus the pore formation at thin structures. This relationship is revealed by an in-depth analysis of the laser path together with the μCT images. The investigations show that the process parameters can only be optimal for a specific geometry. The presented interdependencies can be used to derive locally adjusted scanning strategies and machine parameters.
Flexible Renal Nephroscopy: Overcoming the Difficulties

In 1941, following an open surgery for nephrolithiasis, Rupel and Brown advanced a rigid cystoscope into the kidney through an established drainage tract to remove several obstructing calculi, effectively becoming the first to perform percutaneous nephroscopy. In 1955, the field was further advanced when Goodwin and colleagues reported successful, purposeful percutaneous access into a hydronephrotic kidney. However, it was not until 30 years later that percutaneous nephrostolithotomy (PCNL) would be popularized. Due to its minimally invasive nature, low morbidity, and great efficacy, PCNL has evolved into the gold standard for the treatment of large renal and proximal stones, including staghorn calculi.
Disability and the Social Politics of “Natural” Disaster: Toward a Jewish Feminist Ethics of Disaster Tales

The stories we tell about crisis and catastrophe often intensify structural violence, augmenting existing dynamics of racism, sexism, classism, and ableism. Disaster stories often reinforce cultural narratives of suffering womanhood and tragic stories of disability to portray people with disabilities—especially women—as “natural” and “inevitable” victims of a harsh new world. Examining both contemporary rhetoric in the wake of Hurricane Katrina and classical rabbinic Jewish narrative, I argue that tales of communities in crisis commonly depoliticize disaster. By inscribing the disabled body with a narrative of “natural” vulnerabilities and inevitable suffering, conventional disaster discourse obscures the political significance of structural inequalities that render people with disabilities more at risk in disaster. Bringing together disability studies scholarship and Jewish feminist ethics, I challenge the discursive tendency to portray disabled individuals as symbols of suffering—and to focus on the pathos of an individual in distress instead of critiquing social inequality. I advocate a constructive, redemptive storytelling that illuminates and critiques social and political exclusion, that underscores the agency and dignity of people in crisis, that valorizes the disability justice movement’s call for interdependence in community, and that captures the artistry and resiliency of disabled lives.
A grid based subtree-subcube assignment strategy for solving PDEs on hypercubes

We propose a grid based subtree-subcube assignment strategy for using nested dissection in solving PDE problems on hypercubes. A complexity analysis is given for both our approach and the standard subtree-subcube assignment. The new assignment reduces communication cost by a factor of 0 (logp) in start ups and a factor of about two in traffic volume. This grid based assignment strategy achieves the optimal order in both traffic volume and start ups, it provides load balancing and as much parallelism as is inherent in the algorithm formulation. • Work supported in part by National Science Foundation grant CCR·8619817. ... Work supported in part by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research grant, 88·0243 and lhe Strategic Defense lniLiative Office contract DAAL03-86·K·OI06.
Association of lean body mass with cardiometabolic risk factors in healthy postmenopausal women.

Objective: Aim of this study was to investigate the association of total and regional lean body mass (LBM) with cardiometabolic risk factors in healthy obese and nonobese postmenopausal women. Methods: A total of 150 postmenopausal women (age 54 ± 7 years, BMI 29.6 ± 5.8 kg/m2) underwent a comprehensive assessment of cardiometabolic risk, including metabolic syndrome (MS). Body composition analysis was performed with Dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry, and multiple height-adjusted indices of total and regional LBM were evaluated. Results: After controlling for age, diet, physical activity, and total fat mass, most indices of total, central, and peripheral LBM displayed significant positive correlations with cardiometabolic risk factors. Most associations were no longer significant after controlling for waist circumference, with the only exception of lean mass in the arms, which remained significantly associated with the presence and severity of MS (number of MS abnormalities), independently of central adiposity. A significant additive interaction was found between lean mass in the arms and waist circumference in increasing the prevalence of MS. Conclusions: LBM is unfavorably associated with cardiometabolic risk factors in healthy postmenopausal women. Whether LBM, especially in arms, is associated with cardiometabolic health independently of central fat distribution in postmenopausal women, merits further investigation.
Computer simulation of real-time control systems

An overview of the graphical simulation language SIMULINK is presented. Its application to simulate a computer controlled PWM powered DC motor drive system is described and illustrated. Computer simulation results are compared with laboratory findings. The interface devices-analog-to-digital converter, digital-to-analog converter, incremental encoders-are discussed.
Peptide Antibodies: New Tools for Cell Biology

The process of preparing antibodies against small peptide subsets of larger proteins is now a very routine and effective tool for cell biological investigations. Now that the identification of genes is commonplace, it is imperative to be able to identify, purify, and characterize the products of these genes. Antibodies against synthetic peptides will aid in discovering the elusive functions of these proteins. Over the past 5 years, peptide antibodies have contributed, and they will doubtless continue to contribute, to the identification of functional domains of proteins. Peptide antibodies provide a means for identifying functional domains conserved during the evolution of families of proteins, and for inhibiting specific functions of multifunctional proteins. Domain-specific antibodies have already increased the molecular resolution with which cell biologists can immunologically examine the function of cellular proteins. Finally, many proteins are now known to exist in subtly different forms, either as the products of separate genes or as the result of posttranslational modifications. Peptide antibodies allow molecular cell biologists, for the first time, to design antibodies for the specific assay of altered forms of a protein. Because they are amenable to specific immunolocalization of highly similar species, peptide antibodies can be considered to be subcellular probes of gene expression and posttranslational modification.
Robust and Universal Covariance Estimation from Quadratic Measurements via Convex Programming

This paper considers the problem of recovering the covariance matrix of a stream of high-dimensional data instances from a minimal number of stored measurements. We develop a quadratic random sampling method based on rankone measurements of the covariance matrix, which serves as an efficient covariance sketching scheme for processing data streams. This also allows modeling of phaseless measurements that arise in high-frequency wireless communication and signal processing applications. We propose to recover the covariance matrix from the above quadratic measurements via convex relaxation with respect to the presumed parsimonious covariance structure. We show that in the absence of noise, exact and universal recovery of low-rank or Toeplitz low-rank covariance matrices can be achieved as soon as the number of stored measurements exceeds the fundamental sampling limit. The convex programs are also robust to noise and imperfect structural assumptions. Our analysis is established upon a novel notion called the mixed-norm restricted isometry property (RIP-`2/`1), as well as the conventional RIP-`2/`2 for near-isotropic and bounded measurements. Our results improve upon best-known phase retrieval performance guarantees with a significantly simpler approach. Numerical results are provided to demonstrate the practical applicability of our technique.
Hyporheic exchange and fulvic acid redox reactions in an Alpine stream/wetland ecosystem, Colorado Front Range.

The influence of hyporheic zone interactions on the redox state of fulvic acids and other redox active species was investigated in an alpine stream and adjacent wetland, which is a more reducing environment. A tracer injection experiment using bromide (Br-) was conducted in the stream system. Simulations with a transport model showed that rates of exchange between the stream and hyporheic zone were rapid (α ≈ 10-3 s-1). Parallel factor analysis of fluorescence spectra was used to quantify the redox state of dissolved fulvic acids. The rate coefficient for oxidation of reduced fulvic acids (λ = 6.5 × 10-3 s-1) in the stream indicates that electron-transfer reactions occur over short time scales. The rate coefficients for decay of ammonium (λ = 1.2 × 10-3 s-1) and production of nitrate (λ = −1.0 × 10-3 s-1) were opposite in sign but almost equal in magnitude. Our results suggest that fulvic acids are involved in rapid electron-transfer processes in and near the stream channel and may be important in determi...
How Violence Is Justified: Sinn Fein's An Phoblacht

Political justification for IRA activity accounts for one-third of the content of ibis republican paper, with reports of provocations by security forces and others providing 25 percent and IRA-initiated violence less than 5 percent of the total
Neutral Beams for Fusion Research: Development and Application

Ion beam technology has advanced immensely during the past 15 years in connection with the application of neutral beam injection heating for fusion research. Ion sources have been scaled up along with necessary modifications, yielding currently a few megawatts of extraction power (e. g., 40 keV-60 A, 0.3-sec pulse). The entire neutral beam injection system has become a multidisciplinary technology including plasma physics, accelerator and beam physics, pumping technology, heat transfer, electrical engineering, and so on. Since the neutral beam injection heating of fusion plasmas has been proved the most viable means of increasing the plasma temperature to ignition, the future demand and requirements are rising with the size of fusion plasma devices. A brief review of the state of the art of neutral beam technology is presented and the direction of the future neutral beam field is discussed.
Combination of bupropion, paroxetine and quetiapine as adjuvant treatment for multiple myeloma

Multiple myeloma is a severe plasma dyschrasia with no known treatment or cure, even bone marrow transplantation. Cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF) and interleukin-6 (Il-6) are thought to be important trophic factors for the malignant plasma cells. In turn, histamine and nitric oxide are positive regulatory factors for Il-6. Here we note that the safe, approved and commonly used psychiatric medicines bupropion (Wellbutrin), paroxetine (Paxil) and quetiapine (Seroquel) are respectively potent TNF, nitric oxide and histamine antagonists and thus might find some use in treatment of multiple myeloma.
Beyond Anomalies: Rethinking the Conflict Perspective on Race and Criminal Punishment

Research on race and punishment for crime has produced inconsistent findings. Most previous reviews of the literature have been focused primarily on the numerous methodological flaws that may give rise to such inconsistencies. In this paper I suggest that inconsistent or anomalous findings in this area of research may also result from problems of conceptualization and theory. More specifically, it is argued that the conflict perspective must be substantially revised to begin to account for various anomalies observed by empirical researchers. Such a need for revision is the consequence of both problems in the original formulation of the perspective and its oversimplification within the empirical literature. One of the most widely debated issues in the criminological literature is whether there is racial bias in the administration of justice. In addition to numerous empirical investigations, there have been efforts in recent years to review previous studies and to determine where the weight of the evidence lies (Green 1971; Hagan 1974; Hagan and Bumiller 1983; Hardy 1983; Kleck 1981; Spohn et al. 1981-82). As in other areas of social research, most studies of racial bias in the administration of justice involve black-white comparisons. Reviews of empirical investigations have shown a large number of these studies to report significantly greater rates and levels of punishment for blacks than for whites.1 Others report no significant differences between the races. Still others find that in certain instances, whites receive significantly more punishment for crime than do blacks (e.g., Bernstein et al. 1977; Bullock 1961; Gibson 1978; Levin 1972). This latter finding is often described as an anomaly or inconsistency given the theoretical model that has guided research on this topic. Released time to prepare this paper was provided by the R. J. Reynolds Foundation and by the National Science Foundation, Grant No. RII-8421196. I thank John Hagan, Michael Radelet, and anonymous referees for their helpful comments on earlier drafts. Address correspondence to the author, Black Studies Program and Department of Sociology, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL 60680. ? 1987 The University of North Carolina Press
Quantum number and energy scaling for nonreactive collisions

Two new theoretical developments are presented in this article. First an energy corrected sudden (ECS) approximation is derived by explicitly incorporating both the internal energy level spacing and the finite collision duration into the sudden S‐matrix. An application of this ECS approximation to the calculation of rotationally inelastic cross sections is shown to yield accurate results for the H+–CN system. Second, a quantum number and energy scaling relationship for nonreactive S‐matrix elements is derived based on the ECS method. A few detailed illustrations are presented and scaling predictions are compared to exact results for R–T, V–T, and V–R, T processes in various atom–molecule systems. The agreement is uniformly very good — even when the sudden approximation is inaccurate. An important result occurs in the analysis of V–T processes: the effects of anharmonic wave functions (coupling) and decreasing vibrational energy gaps (energetics) are separated. Each factor makes significant contributions to the deviation of the anharmonic from the harmonic scaling relationship.
LEAKAGE OF LATEX AND VINYL EXAM GLOVES IN HIGH AND LOW RISK CLINICAL SETTINGS

The purpose of this study was to compare leakage rates of used latex and vinyl examination gloves from high and low risk clinical units. A total of 4838 latex and 1008 vinyl examination gloves were collected and tested by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) watertight leak test: three brands of latex [Brand A: n=2920; Brand B: n=284; Brand C: n=1634; and one brand of vinyl gloves (Brand D: n=1008]. Seventy percent of latex gloves and 46.7% of vinyl gloves were collected from the high risk units. In general, there were no significant differences in leakage rates for vinyl gloves between high and low risk units. However, latex gloves leaked significantly more often at stress levels 2 and 3 from the high risk units as compared to the low risk units (X2=24.6, p <.0001). Regardless of level of stress and duration worn, 85.3% (860/1008) of used vinyl gloves and 18.4% (891/4838) of used latex gloves leaked, p <.001). There were significant differences in leakage rates between the three brands of latex gloves ...
Virulence mechanisms for fungi, Part II.

Strategies to Identify Virulence Genes There are two basic pathways for the identification of fungal virulence genes. First, there is the direct study of genes controlling known virulence phenotypes and the pathways that control them. This type of strategy is generally associated with a known phenotype, such as adherence, capsule production, melanin synthesis, hyphal formation, or a known biochemical pathway. Previous studies help to direct this work, and there is usually a model in other organisms to follow. This strategy has been used very effectively to identify certain signal transduction pathways that control virulence genes. Model organisms have helped to establish a “road map” to follow. For instance, Saccharomyces cerevisiae can be used to identify phenotypes and genotypes for virulence studies (46), but the more virulent pathogens appear to use the genetic network differently. These are the variations that we need to discover and follow. For example, the use of CNAI (calcineurin) for high temperature growth of C. neoformans could not have been predicted by work with S. cerevisiae (35). The knowledge that GPAI, which encodes for an alpha subunit of a G-protein, is associated with the virulence of C. neoformans could not have been deduced without directly studying the pathogen (47). In fact, this signal protein and its pathway actually influence the virulence composite through its control of several virulence phenotypes (capsule, melanin, and mating). It is clear that further work on signaling pathways will be very enlightening as we attempt to dissect and understand the network of virulence genes. It is clear, also, that with a single gene disruption, these signaling genes can produce profound effects on the ability of the null mutant to produce disease. Much more work on the “signal” genes remains in order to identify (i) receptors (upstream); (ii) effecters (downstream); and (iii) the various connections (networking) to other pathways. By understanding these circuits and their regulation, it is reasonable to predict that controls on the virulence phenotype can be designed.
Bidirectional chromosome replication: some topological considerations.

For chromosomes which show bidirectional replication it is proposed that both replicating forks (which are proceeding genetically in opposite directions) remain bound together in a single complex. The interesting topological results of this proposition with respect to the ease with which multiple initiations on the same replicon and segregation of daughter chromosomes can occur are illustrated.
Ksplice: automatic rebootless kernel updates

Ksplice allows system administrators to apply patches to their operating system kernels without rebooting. Unlike previous hot update systems, Ksplice operates at the object code layer, which allows Ksplice to transform many traditional source code patches into hot updates with little or no programmer involvement. In the common case that a patch does not change the semantics of persistent data structures, Ksplice can create a hot update without a programmer writing any new code.Security patches are one compelling application of hot updates. An evaluation involving all significant x86-32 Linux security patches from May 2005 to May 2008 finds that most security patches-56 of 64-require no new code to be performed as a Ksplice update. In other words, Ksplice can correct 88% of the Linux kernel vulnerabilities from this interval without the need for rebooting and without writing any new code.If a programmer writes a small amount of new code to assist with the remaining patches (about 17 lines per patch, on average), then Ksplice can apply all 64 of the security patches from this interval without rebooting.
The new approach to wilderness preservation through benefit-cost analysis

Over the last 15 years, economists of Resources for the Future led by John Krutilla have been developing a new approach to wilderness preservation. This paper offers a concise exposition of their approach and adds a few new steps. The basic ingredient of the new approach is a perception of declining net benefits of wilderness development and rising net benefits of wilderness preservation over time. These alter the entire shape of the benefit-cost analysis of potential development. The new steps involve reversibility, postponability, and recognition of multiple interest rates.
Effect of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass on satiety and food likes: the role of genetics

Among factors influencing the outcome of bariatric surgery may be genetics and familial risk. The purpose of this study was to assess the etiology of obesity and its impact on hunger, satiety, and food likes in obese patients undergoing Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB). This study was based on 76 patients undergoing RYGB procedures performed by a single surgeon. A previously described 100-point obesity risk index (ORI) was used to assess familial obesity risk. Hunger and satiety were assessed using a standardized Visual Analog Scale "Snickers" test, and food preferences for regular vs. low-fat potato chips were measured preoperatively and postoperatively. Patients were stratified preoperatively into high ORI (n = 34) and low ORI (n = 42) groups. Before operation, high-ORI patients preferred high-fat (regular) potato chips to low-fat (baked) potato chips, whereas the low-ORI patients liked both food types equivalently (P < 0.05). After operation (n = 43), both groups showed lower preferences for high-fat potato chips (P < 0.05 for high-ORI group). As anticipated, hunger was dramatically suppressed after RYGB. However, there was more satiety in the high-ORI group (P < 0.05, ANOVA). Most patients undergoing bariatric surgery had a strong familial or genetic component to their disease. RYGB in high-ORI patients was associated with a significant decline in preference of fatty food and a significantly prolonged drop in hunger ratings after a fast and after a standard 282 kcal meal. The success of bariatric surgery may be influenced by the etiology of obesity.
The structure and correlates of perfectionism in African American children.

This study examined the structure and symptom correlates of perfectionism in a sample of 6th-grade, urban, African American children using the Child and Adolescent Perfectionism Scale (CAPS; Flett, Hewitt, Boucher, Davidson, & Munro, 2000). Confirmatory factor analysis showed inadequate fit of the original subscales. Exploratory factor analysis suggested 3 dimensions of perfectionism: A Socially Prescribed and a Self-Oriented–Critical factor were described as maladaptive, whereas a Self-Oriented–Striving factor was proposed as adaptive. Cross-sectional correlations among the perfectionism dimensions and symptoms of psychopathology fit well with the adaptive versus maladaptive model. In addition, Socially Prescribed Perfectionism showed a robust predictive relation to 7th-grade internalizing symptoms, especially depression, in boys. Results are discussed in the context of the cultural and socioeconomic characteristics of this African American sample and suggestions for future research are provided.
Quantitative trait loci that modulate femoral mechanical properties in a genetically heterogeneous mouse population.

The goal of this study was to investigate genetic effects on mechanical properties of the mouse femur. We found evidence for QTL on eight chromosomes that affect mechanical traits. Some of these QTL may have primary effects on body weight or femoral geometry, and others seem to affect bone quality directly. Introduction: Previous studies have shown a dependence of fragility-related fracture risk on genetic background. Although many of these studies investigated the effect of genetics on BMD, basic measures of bone geometry and mechanical integrity may provide a more comprehensive characterization of the genetic effects on bone fragility. The purpose of this study was to identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) that affect mechanical and material properties of cortical bone in a genetically heterogeneous mouse population. Materials and Methods: A total of 486 female UM-HET3 mice was used for this study. UM-HET3 mice are produced as the offspring of (BALB/cJ × C57BL/6J) F1 females and (C3H/HeJ × DBA/2J) F1 males. Femurs from 18-month-old mice were tested to failure in four-point bending to assess mechanical properties of cortical bone; these properties were compared with genotype data from 185 biallelic loci. A permutation-based test was used to detect significant associations between genetic markers and mechanical traits. This test generates p values that account for the effect of testing multiple hypotheses. Throughout the experiment, p ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Analysis of covariance was used to examine possible effects of body weight and femoral geometry. Results: We found evidence for genes on maternal chromosomes 11 and 13 and paternal chromosomes 2, 4, 7, 10, 11, and 17 that affect mechanical and material properties of femoral bone. The total variance explained by genetic effects on each mechanical trait ranges from 2.9% to 15.4%. Most of the identified polymorphisms influence mechanical traits even after adjustment for body weight. Adjustment for femoral geometry reduces the effects of some of the QTL, but those on chromosomes 2 and 10 do not seem to be influenced by femoral geometry. Conclusions:Many genes and chromosomes are involved in the genetic control over mechanical integrity of cortical bone. QTL on paternal chromosomes 4 and 11 may mediate mechanical properties, at least in part, by modulation of femoral geometry. Other QTL identified here may directly affect bone tissue quality.
Cooperation of RAD51 and RAD54 in regression of a model replication fork.

DNA lesions cause stalling of DNA replication forks, which can be lethal for the cell. Homologous recombination (HR) plays an important role in DNA lesion bypass. It is thought that Rad51, a key protein of HR, contributes to the DNA lesion bypass through its DNA strand invasion activity. Here, using model stalled replication forks we found that RAD51 and RAD54 by acting together can promote DNA lesion bypass in vitro through the ‘template-strand switch’ mechanism. This mechanism involves replication fork regression into a Holliday junction (‘chicken foot structure’), DNA synthesis using the nascent lagging DNA strand as a template and fork restoration. Our results demonstrate that RAD54 can catalyze both regression and restoration of model replication forks through its branch migration activity, but shows strong bias toward fork restoration. We find that RAD51 modulates this reaction; by inhibiting fork restoration and stimulating fork regression it promotes accumulation of the chicken foot structure, which we show is essential for DNA lesion bypass by DNA polymerase in vitro. These results indicate that RAD51 in cooperation with RAD54 may have a new role in DNA lesion bypass that is distinct from DNA strand invasion.
Does mechanistic thinking improve student success in organic chemistry

The use of the curved-arrow notation to depict electron flow during mechanistic processes is one of the most important representational conventions in the organic chemistry curriculum. Our previous research documented a disturbing trend: when asked to predict the products of a series of reactions, many students do not spontaneously engage in mechanism use even when explicitly prompted to do so. Building upon those results, this study revealed that students who engaged in mechanism use were better equipped to solve organic chemistry problems but only those that involve transfer of knowledge.
Structural Development of Salt Anticlines of Eastern Utah and Western Colorado: ABSTRACT

The salt anticlines of eastern Utah and western Colorado formed in the deepest part of Paradox basin, a basin developed during Pennsylvanian time and filled by great thicknesses of upper Paleozoic sediments, including a thick sequence of evaporites belonging to the Paradox member of the Hermosa formation. The salt anticlines originated either as tectonic folds or as folds over basement faults soon after the evaporites were deposited, probably in Middle Pennsylvanian time. These structures were parallel to and probably formed concomitantly with the rise of the ancestral Uncompahgre highland, the front of which paralleled rather closely that of the southwest front of the present-day Uncompahgre Plateau. Rapidly accumulating arkosic sediments of the Permian Cutler formation, derived from this highland, probably buried parts of the salt anticlines; elsewhere along the anticlines the salt rose isostatically as rapidly as the sediments were deposited. In places the Cutler was later intruded by the cores of the buried salt anticlines. Parts of the cores were exposed at the surface at least until the Morrison formation was deposited in Late Jurassic, so that the formations pinch out along the flanks of the salt cores. Variations in thicknesses--chiefly thinning--of the Morrison and later Mesozoic formations over the crests of the salt cores indicate that salt flowage was still active after the salt cores were buried. The salt anticlines attained their present form--except for modifications imposed by later collapse of the crestal parts of the anticlines--during the early Tertiary when the rocks of the region were folded, and the salt anticlines were accentuated. End_of_Article - Last_Page 413------------
Frequency-Domain Bridging Multiscale Method for Wave Propagation Simulations in Damaged Structures

Efficient numerical models are essential for the simulation of the interaction of propagating waves with localized defects. Classical finite elements may be computationally time consuming, especially when detailed discretizations are needed around damage regions. A multi-scale approach is here propose to bridge a fine-scale mesh defined on a limited region around the defect and a coarse-scale discretization of the entire domain. This "bridging" method is formulated in the frequency domain in order to further reduce the computational cost and provide a general framework valid for different types of structures. Numerical results presented for propagating elastic waves in 1D and 2D damaged waveguides illustrate the proposed technique and its advantages.
Low frequency vibrations of elastic bars

Abstract The method of expansion of three-dimensional displacements in a double power series of the transverse coordinates is employed to find one-dimensional equations applicable to low frequency vibrations of uniform, elastic, isotropic and anisotropic bars. The axial displacements accompanying torsion are chosen specially for each cross-sectional shape of bar—resulting in the correct, or nearly correct, torsional rigidity. Applications are to bars of elliptic, triangular and rectangular sections, illustrating various independent and coupled extensional, flexural and torsional modes of motion.
Moisture Hysteresis is Due to Amorphous Sugar

Hysteresis, the moisture discrepancy between absorption and desorption, of sucrose-waxy maize starch mixture was studied. Starch was raw, partially and completely gelatinized. Hysteresis of raw starch was insignificant. Gelatinized starch showed slight hysteresis, 0.02g w/g starch, in the range 0.57 to 0.84 aw. Sucrose showed no hysteresis. However, sucrose-starch mixtures showed a large hysteresis, e.g., 0.15g w/g mix, which occurred only at aw below 0.86, the saturation aw for sucrose. Hysteresis showed a close linear correlation with the amount of amorphous sucrose (X-ray diffraction) present. The amount of water sorbed by amorphous sucrose as calculated from the experimental data was in a good agreement with literature data.
Effects of Erythrol Tetranitrate and Amotriphene on Exercise Tolerance Tests in Angina Pectoris

Sublingual erythrol tetranitrate is a potent drug in counteracting coronary insufficiency, as evidenced by reversal of positive electrocardiographic exercise tolerance tests in 72 per cent of 36 cases and reduction of anginal attacks in them by more than 50 per cent. Comparative studies with amotriphene indicate some subjective alleviation of angina, but objective reversals of the electrocardiographic effects of exercise in only 16 per cent of the cases. Side effects of erythrol tetranitrate, particularly headache, are seen in a minority of cases and are often circumvented by starting with a small dose and gradually increasing it as necessary. Alleviation of ectopic beats on exercise occurred equally in a minority of cases on the two drugs.