cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Suprathermal electron isotropy in high-beta solar wind and its role in heat flux dropouts

[1] Time variations in plasma beta and a parameter which measures isotropy in suprathermal electron pitch angle distributions show a remarkably close correspondence throughout the solar wind. The finding implies that high-beta plasma, with its multiple magnetic holes and sharp field and plasma gradients, is conducive to electron pitch-angle scattering, which reduces heat flux from the Sun without field-line disconnection. Thus the finding impacts our understanding of signatures we use to determine magnetic topology in the heliosphere.
Diffusion coefficients for one composition of the system water-tetrabutylammonium bromide-hydrogen bromide at 25°C

Four diffusion coefficients for one composition of the system H2O-Bu4NBr-HBr were obtained at 25°C. The value of (D12)v was negative and large as expected from the primary charge effect. However, the value of (D21)v was also negative despite the fact that the primary charge effect predicts a positive value. This was interpreted to be a consequence of a large negative value for δ ln y2/δC1 which overshadows the primary charge effect.
Archial analysis in cephalometric roentgenography for maxillomandibular deformities

Abstract Cephalometric roentgenography was used for evaluating, analyzing, and planning the surgical and prosthetic treatment of several patients with mandibular deformities. The archial analysis was most applicable for this purpose. The archial analysis made it possible to determine the proper position of the mandible, and it eliminated guesswork in constructing the splints and positioning the mandible during the operation. Cephalometric roentgenography was also used for comparison and for follow-up of the completed treatment.
Association of Electrocardiographic Abnormalities With Coronary Artery Calcium and Carotid Artery Intima–Media Thickness in Individuals Without Clinical Coronary Heart Disease (from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis [MESA])

Isolated minor nonspecific ST-segment and T-wave abnormalities (NSSTAs), minor and major electrocardiographic (ECG) abnormalities are established, independent risk markers for incident cardiovascular events. Their association with subclinical atherosclerosis has been postulated but is not clearly defined. The aim of this study was to define the association between ECG abnormalities and measurements of subclinical atherosclerosis. We studied participants from MESA, a multiethnic sample of men and women 45 to 84 years of age and free of clinical cardiovascular disease at enrollment. Baseline examination included measurement of traditional risk factors, 12-lead electrocardiograms at rest, coronary artery calcium (CAC) measurement, and common carotid intima-media thickness (CC-IMT). Electrocardiograms were coded using Novacode criteria and were defined as having minor abnormalities (e.g., minor NSSTTAs, first-degree atrioventricular block, and QRS-axis deviations) or major abnormalities (e.g., pathologic Q waves, major STTAs, significant dysrhythmias, and conduction system delays). Multivariable logistic and linear regressions were used to determine cross-sectional associations of ECG abnormalities with CAC and CC-IMT. Of 6,710 participants, 52.7% were women, with a mean age of 62 years. After multivariable adjustment, isolated minor STTAs and minor and major ECG abnormalities were not associated with presence of CAC (>0) in men (odds ratio 1.04, 95% confidence interval 0.81 to 1.33; 1.10, 0.91 to 1.32; and 1.03, 0.81 to 1.31, respectively) or women (1.01, 0.82 to 1.24; 1.04, 0.87 to 1.23; and 0.94, 0.73 to 1.22, respectively). Lack of association remained consistent when using log CAC and CC-IMT as continuous variables. In conclusion, ECG abnormalities are not associated with markers of subclinical atherosclerosis in a large multiethnic cohort.
Computational Investigation of Fibrin Mechanical and Damage Properties at the Interface Between Native Cartilage and Implant

Scaffold-based tissue-engineered constructs as well as cell-free implants offer promising solutions to focal cartilage lesions. However, adequate mechanical stability of these implants in the lesion is required for successful repair. Fibrin is the most common clinically available adhesive for cartilage implant fixation, but fixation quality using fibrin is not well understood. The objectives of this study were to investigate the conditions leading to damage in the fibrin adhesive and to determine which adhesive properties are important in preventing delamination at the interface. An idealized finite element model of the medial compartment of the knee was created, including a circular defect and an osteochondral implant. Damage and failure of fibrin at the interface was represented by a cohesive zone model with coefficients determined from an inverse finite element method and previously published experimental data. Our results demonstrated that fibrin glue alone may not be strong enough to withstand physiologic loads in vivo while fibrin glue combined with chondrocytes more effectively prevents damage at the interface. The results of this study suggest that fibrin fails mainly in shear during off-axis loading and that adhesive materials that are stronger or more compliant than fibrin may be good alternatives due to decreased failure at the interface. The present model may be used to improve design and testing protocols of bioadhesives and give insight into the failure mechanisms of cartilage implant fixation in the knee joint.
A methodology for conducting an experimental analysis of cheating behavior

Abstract A methodology is described for conducting an experimental analysis of cheating behavior. Data from two mildly retarded, adolescent boys are presented to demonstrate how such variables as surveillance, task difficulty and punishment influence the frequency of their cheating behavior. After a brief presentation of the merits of this method, implications for further research are discussed. While there are aspects of cheating behavior which may not lend themselves to an experimental analysis, the technique is apt to yield very precise functional relationships between behavioral and environmental variables when it can be applied.
Operational Behavior of Line-Commutated Photovoltaic Systems on a Distribution Feeder

A study of the operational behavior of line-commutated inverter photovoltaic systems on a distribution feeder has been conducted using a detailed three-phase representation. This paper summarizes and discusses the results obtained on the dynamic response of the photovoltaic systems to operating point changes, to load and line switchings, and to faults on the ac system. The paper also characterizes the harmonics generated by such systems operating under unbalanced voltage and network impedance conditions, and examines the interaction between the inverter and the torsional modes of oscillations of nearby synchronous motor loads.
Energy-GDP relationship and capital intensity in LDCs

Abstract This study provides an updated estimate of the GDP elasticity of energy consumption for LDCs. It uses a production function approach in determining this elasticity. Energy consumption is explained in terms of economic activity, capital intensity and structure of economy. The elasticity is found to be less than unitary. This suggests that the earlier estimates for LDCs were biased.
Characterizing Roles for the Glutathione Reductase, Thioredoxin Reductase and Thioredoxin Peroxidase-Encoding Genes of Magnaporthe oryzae during Rice Blast Disease

Understanding how pathogenic fungi adapt to host plant cells is of major concern to securing global food production. The hemibiotrophic rice blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae, cause of the most serious disease of cultivated rice, colonizes leaf cells asymptomatically as a biotroph for 4–5 days in susceptible rice cultivars before entering its destructive necrotrophic phase. During the biotrophic growth stage, M. oryzae remains undetected in the plant while acquiring nutrients and growing cell-to-cell. Which fungal processes facilitate in planta growth and development are still being elucidated. Here, we used gene functional analysis to show how components of the NADPH-requiring glutathione and thioredoxin antioxidation systems of M. oryzae contribute to disease. Loss of glutathione reductase, thioredoxin reductase and thioredoxin peroxidase-encoding genes resulted in strains severely attenuated in their ability to grow in rice cells and that failed to produce spreading necrotic lesions on the leaf surface. Glutathione reductase, but not thioredoxin reductase or thioredoxin peroxidase, was shown to be required for neutralizing plant generated reactive oxygen species (ROS). The thioredoxin proteins, but not glutathione reductase, were shown to contribute to cell-wall integrity. Furthermore, glutathione and thioredoxin gene expression, under axenic growth conditions, was dependent on both the presence of glucose and the M. oryzae sugar/ NADPH sensor Tps1, thereby suggesting how glucose availability, NADPH production and antioxidation might be connected. Taken together, this work identifies components of the fungal glutathione and thioredoxin antioxidation systems as determinants of rice blast disease that act to facilitate biotrophic colonization of host cells by M. oryzae.
Comparative growing space efficiency of four tree species in mixed conifer–hardwood forests

The influence of shade tolerance, canopy position, and tree size on growing space efficiency (GSE) in mixed stands of co-occurring conifer and hardwood species was investigated in hemlock–northern hardwood forests. Three alternative measures of two-dimensional growing space—total crown area (TCA), exposed crown area (ECA), and a projection of the total available growing space (AGS)—were investigated to clarify the comparative importance of shaded and illuminated crown regions and unoccupied space in the forest canopy. GSE was expressed as ratios of stem volume increment and biomass increment per unit of growing space. Late-successional, shade-tolerant species have often been portrayed as slow growing, inefficient users of their growing space; however, hemlock (Tsuga canadensis), which is one of the most shade-tolerant conifers in North America, was the most efficient canopy tree in our sample across all measures of GSE. Likewise, the mid-tolerant yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis) tended to be less efficient than the more shade-tolerant maples (Acer rubrum and Acer saccharum). For all species, volume increment per unit of growing space increased with increasing tree height and canopy position, but within a given stratum decreased with increasing crown size. The relative efficiency of each species did not appear to be influenced by the measure of growing space employed. In most cases, volume and biomass increments per unit of ECA and AGS were significantly greater (p<0.05) for intermediate than dominant crown class trees. However, for a given level of ECA or AGS, efficiency did increase with increasing relative height, which suggests that efficiency is influenced by the relative vertical position of growing space in the forest canopy. In general, the shaded area of a crown (i.e., TCA−ECA) was not a significant predictor of volume increment once height and ECA were known, suggesting that once 100% canopy closure is reached, packing trees more tightly may not increase stand-level production. However, mean volume increment per unit of TCA scaled more accurately to the stand-level than mean volume increment per unit of ECA. Potential scaling problems associated with mixed-species stands are discussed.
Management of residual non-retroperitoneal disease following chemotherapy for germ cell tumor

Over the past 20 years, it is estimated that approximately 195,969 patients were diagnosed with testicular cancer in the United States and that 22,144 of those patients had non-retroperitoneal (non-RP) metastases at the time of diagnosis. Although most patients with testicular cancer can be cured with platinum-based systemic chemotherapy, 35% of patients with Stage III/IV disease will have residual non-RP masses after treatment. The management paradigms for residual, non-RP disease following chemotherapy for nonseminomatous germ cell tumor are influenced by the site of metastases as well as whether there is concordant histology between the testicle and the metastatic site. Although retroperitoneal lymph node dissection findings such as the presence of fibrosis only are helpful indicators of concordant histology, no set of criteria provides a perfect prediction such that the risk of residual teratoma or viable GCT outside the retroperitoneum is eliminated. This acknowledgement, in conjunction with the long-term survival data favoring resection, establishes that surgical resection remains an important part of the management of patients with non-RP residual masses.
Intrinsic Regulation of CGRP Release by Dental Pulp Sympathetic Fibers

Neurotransmission from sympathetic and peptidergic afferent fibers participates in the regulation of pulpal blood flow (PBF) via opposing effects. In this study, we directly tested the hypothesis that activation of pulpal sympathetic terminals inhibits exocytosis of immunoreactive calcitonin gene-related peptide (iCGRP) from peptidergic afferents innervating bovine dental pulp. The results demonstrate that norepinephrine inhibits capsaicin-evoked iCGRP release. The application of α-adrenergic antagonists (phentolamine or phenoxybenzamine) increased spontaneous release of iCGRP. Moreover, administration of agents that evoke the release of sympathetic neurotransmitters (guanethidine or reserpine) inhibited capsaicin-evoked iCGRP release. Collectively, these results indicate that sympathetic neurotransmission inhibits exocytosis from pulpal peptidergic afferent fibers. Analysis of these data supports the hypothesis that peripheral sympathetic vasomotor control may operate by a direct mechanism (vasoconstrict...
Characterization of electroslag remelted and ladle refined, electric furnace melted 4340 steel armor

The U.S. Army Materials Technology Laboratory (MTL) selected electroslag remelted (ESR) 4340 steel as a candidate steel armor on the Mobile Protected Gun System (MPGS). This investigation characterizes the material in terms of mechanical properties and microstructure. Also, a ladle refined, electric furnace (EF) 4340 steel was brought into this characterization for evaluation as a less costly alternative with respect to processing costs to ESR 4340 steel in terms of mechanical properties.
Sexual orientation and outcomes in college

Abstract It has been well documented that sexual minority individuals are significantly more likely to be college educated than heterosexual individuals [Black, D., Gates, G., Sanders, S., & Taylor, L. (2000). Demographics of the gay and lesbian population in the United States: Evidence from available systematic data sources. Demography, 37(2), 139–154; and others]. Yet there is very little scholarship on the experiences of sexual minorities in college. We discuss several ways that sexual orientation could matter for college outcomes, and we provide the first empirical evidence on this question by using confidential data on over 40,000 students from the 1997, 1999, and 2001 waves of the Harvard College Alcohol Study. We identify sexual minorities by using responses to questions about the sex of the respondent's lifetime sex partners. After conditioning on observable demographic characteristics and institution fixed effects, we find that (compared to their heterosexual peers): (1) gay males have higher college grade point averages and perceive their academic work as more important; (2) gay and bisexual males are more likely to report the presence of a faculty member or administrator with whom they could discuss a problem; and (3) gay and bisexual males place more importance on participating in student organizations, volunteer activities, the arts, and politics. Among females, we find that: (1) bisexual females are less satisfied with the education they are receiving, spend less time studying, and perceive their academic work as less important; and (2) lesbian and bisexual females place more importance on participation in the arts and politics. These patterns suggest important and complex relationships between sexual orientation and college outcomes.
Composition changes in an ash-flow cooling unit during K metasomatism, west-central Arizona

A variably altered rhyolitic ash-flow cooling unit in west-central Arizona was sampled and analyzed to gain a better understanding of compositional changes that took place during Tertiary K metasomatism. Mn, Cu, Zn, and other metals of economic importance were removed from the K-metasomatized rocks during alteration, making them a likely source for these metals in vein and stratiform Mn deposits and base metal ores related to detachment faults in western Arizona. Using a single cooling unit to understand the compositional changes during K metasomatism reduces the primary chemical variability inherent in the sampling of multiple units, a problem with most previous studies. The least altered samples (group 1) experienced a moderate degree of K metasomatism, having K 2 O/Na 2 O ratios of 3.1 to 5.5, compared to likely igneous values of <2. The most altered samples (group 2) were severely K metasomatized with K 2 O/Na 2 O ratios of 17.9 to 29.5. K 2 O, P 2 O 5 , and Ba increased in concentration substantially during K metasomatism, and MnO, Na 2 O, Cu, Zn, Sr, Mo, and Cs decreased. All immobile elements decreased in concentration by approximately 9 percent, which is attributed to a dilution effect caused by net mass gain in the group 2 rocks, principally as K 2 O and SiO 2 . Mineralogical zoning in small late veins seen in thin section is quartz + or - K feldspar + or - calcite from vein wall to center. The strong covariance in CaO and loss on ignition (L.O.I.) with observed calcite in thin section and the lack of correlation of CaO and L.O.I. with other components indicates that their variability is unrelated to K metasomatism. Calculations indicate that the loss of Mn, Cu, Zn, and other metals from K-metasomatized volcanics is easily large enough to account for middle Tertiary Mn and detachment-related Cu and Zn ore deposits in west-central Arizona.
Is pyruvate carboxylase involved in the renal tubular reabsorption of bicarbonate

The co-existence of a hereditary defect of pyruvate carboxylase activity along with proximal renal tubular acidosis in several patients prompted the following theories: (1) Some of the bicarbonate which is normally reabsorbed from the glomerular filtrate is trapped in the mitochondria by pyruvate carboxylase in the conversion of pyruvate to oxaloacetate. The subsequent conversion of oxaloacetate to phosphoenol pyruvate releases CO2 in the cytosol. (2) The trapping of HCO-3 by pyruvate (or other carboxylases) provides an important route for the recovery of filtered HCO-3. (3) The process of trapping HCO-3 from the glomerular filtrate followed by release of CO2 in the cytosol contributes to the apparently high RQ of kidney, since the CO2 does not originate from a metabolic fuel. (4) Lactate and possibly other fuels are actively taken up by the kidney and are used as energy sources. Diversion of lactate for gluconeogenesis may contribute to the "excess substrate uptake" phenomenon. (5) It is possible that some of the glucose which is synthesized in the cortex is used for glycolysis in the medulla. Conversely, lactate produced in the medulla may be available to the cortex for bicarbonate trapping and thus for gluconeogenesis.
Radon-222 as a tracer for mixing in the water column and benthic exchange in the southern California borderland

The concentrations of222Rn and226Ra in the water column and in the sediments of Santa Barbara and San Nicolas Basins have been measured semi-annually over the last four years. Approximately one-third of excess radon profiles obtained in the water column in these basins can be adequately fit with a one-dimensional eddy diffusion-decay model. Exponential profiles in the center of San Nicolas Basin yield a vertical eddy diffusivity of 26±16 cm2/s and 3.4±1.0 cm2/s for Santa Barbara Basin. The application of a two-dimensional eddy diffusion-decay model to profiles obtained in the center and on the margins of San Nicolas Basin produces a better fit than is found using a one-dimensional vertical eddy diffusivity. The two-dimensional model for San Nicolas Basin predicts a vertical eddy diffusivity of 17 cm2/s and a horizontal eddy diffusivity of 105 cm2/s. These values are in reasonable agreement with those predicted from the vertical buoyancy gradient and the horizontal length scale. The vertically integrated radon excess (standing crop) in the water column of Santa Barbara Basin averages 53±23 atoms/m2 s. This is in good agreement with the flux across the sediment-water interface of 60±15 atoms/m2 s, calculated by measuring radon emanation in the sediments as a function of depth and applying a molecular diffusion-reaction model. Hence, one-dimensional molecular diffusion accurately predicts the flux of radon from the laminated Santa Barbara Basin sediments. In San Nicolas Basin the integrated radon excess in the water column is 376±143 atoms/m2 s, but the diffusive randon flux from San Nicolas Basin sediments averages only 190±53 atoms/m2 s. This descrepancy indicates that a non-diffusive process, probably macrofaunal irrigation, supplies much of the flux of radon from San Nicolas Basin sediments.
On Inconstant Poisson's Ratios in Non-Homogeneous Elastic Media

For non-homogeneous linear elastic materials, it is demonstrated that even for the simplest loading case, i.e. quasi-static uniaxial, the Poisson's ratio (PR) is space dependent and not a constant. Furthermore, the assumption of constant PR values or of separable temporal and spatial PR functions leads to ill-posed overdetermined problems. Additionally, elastic PRs become space and time dependent under time dependent stresses in non-homogeneous elastic media. Under these and more general circumstances, PRs cannot be considered material property descriptors since they now become functions of the spatially changing moduli and stresses, and vary accordingly. The same conclusions are also drawn for nonlinear elastic media with small or large deformations.
Improved Diazotization‐coupling Technique for Analysis of Methyl Anthranilate in Grape Products

Methyl anthranilate was determined in grape products by diazotizing with 1M HC1 and 1% sodium nitrite and coupling the diazonium salt with N-1-naphthylethylenediamine dihydrochloride in situ. The chromophore which formed had an extinction coefficient of 42,000 mole−1L cm−1 and color formation correlated with concentration in accordance with Beer's Law up to about 100 μg methyl anthranilate. Grape essence samples with 3 to 124 μg mL−1 methyl anthranilate were used to evaluate the method against a gas chromatographic technique. The correlation coefficient was >0.99 between the two methods. Compared with existing methods, this new method has the advantage of not requiring stringent reaction times or conditions.
AN INVESTIGATION OF THE COGNITIVE CORRELATES OF TEST‐WISENESS 1,2

Gibb (1964) defined test-wiseness (TW) as the ability to respond advantageously to multiple-choice items containing extraneous clues and therefore to obtain credit without knowledge of the subject matter being tested. This study investigated TW in a sample of 6th grade pupils. A test instrument was developed utilizing fictitious material similar to the strategy employed by Slakter, Koehler & Hampton (1970). The study examines the cognitive correlates of TW through the interpretation of correlational matrices. The results lend support to the notion that TW is not a general trait, but rather is clue-specific.
The radio election of 1924

Only 40 years have passed since broadcasting first entered political campaigns as proxy for the Americans unable to be present in person. Although the Journal has published earlier articles with a similar theme (see Index starting on p. 287) there is continual interest in this earliest example of public affairs broadcasting.
Explaining the abnormally high flow activation energy of thermoplastic polyurethanes

The rheological properties of a thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) were studied at small and large deformation via three different types of rheometry: dynamic shear, capillary, and torque (an instrumented batch mixer). The effect of degradation during TPU processing on the melt viscosity was investigated and several factors, such as temperature, time, shear stress, and flow type that may affect the degradation were studied. Apparent activation energy of flow ðEaÞ was determined to be 328 kJ/mol, much larger than expected. A simple model was derived to describe the relationship of molecular weight and thermal dissociation of urethane linkages. Contributions of flow and the degradation reaction of TPU to overall activation energy were found to be additive: Ea ¼ Eh þ 1:7DHdeg: True activation energy of flow ðEhÞ was estimated to be 144 kJ/mol. While the high apparent flow activation energies in dynamic shear and capillary rheometry can be explained by simple thermal degradation, melt viscosities interpreted from the instrumented batch mixer showed a much lower apparent activation energy (186 kJ/mol). This low value may be due to a combination of effects: errors in the relation between viscosity and mixer torque for TPU, side reactions resulting from air exposure, high stress level during the melting, and extensional stresses. q 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Image reconstruction from longitudinally and transversely truncated data along an arc-line trajectory

We have developed and applied the backprojection-filtration (BPF) algorithm for exact image reconstruction within regions of interest (ROIs) from data containing both longitudinal and transverse truncations. An arc-line scanning trajectory is assumed for the data acquisition. Through the numerical simulation studies, we have shown that with a proper positioning of the patient, even if the patient sizes are larger than the FOV of the scanner, 3D images within the regions of the lung or the heart can be reconstructed exactly from data containing longitudinal and transverse truncations
Optimized inversion recovery sequences for quantitative T1 and magnetization transfer imaging.

Inversion recovery sequences that vary the inversion time (ti) have been employed to determine T1 and, more recently, quantitative magnetization transfer parameters. Specifically, in previous work, the inversion recovery pulse sequences varied ti only while maintaining a constant delay (td) between repetitions. T1 values were determined by fitting to a single exponential function, and quantitative magnetization transfer parameters were then determined by fitting to a biexponential function with an approximate solution. In the current study, new protocols are employed, which vary both ti and td and fit the data with minimal approximations. Cramer-Rao lower bounds are calculated to search for acquisition schemes that will maximize the precision efficiencies of T1 and quantitative magnetization transfer parameters. This approach is supported by Monte Carlo simulations. The optimal T1 schemes are verified by measurements on MnCl2 samples. The optimal quantitative magnetization transfer schemes are confirmed by measurements on a series of cross-linked bovine serum albumin phantoms of varying concentrations. The effects of varying the number of sampling data points are also explored, and a rapid acquisition scheme is demonstrated in vivo. These new optimized quantitative imaging methods provide an improved means for determining T1 and magnetization transfer parameter values compared to previous inversion recovery based methods. Magn Reson Med, 2010. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Incisal bite force direction in humans and the functional significance of mammalian mandibular translation

Incisal bite force direction was recorded and analyzed in ten human subjects using a specially designed force transducer. In all ten subjects the maxillary incisal bite force was vertically and anteriorly directed both during static biting and during biting associated with simultaneous mandibular translation and rotation. Since the resultant muscle force could not have been equal and opposite to the mandibular bite force, the mandibular condyles must have been loaded. These data demonstrate that the mandible acts as a lever during incisal biting and that there is no consistent relationship between incisal bite force direction and object size. In some individuals the bite force direction was more vertical during biting on a large transducer (30 mm high), while in other subjects it was more vertical during biting on a small transducer (10 mm high).
Subject-own-control design in evaluating clinical antidepressant effects.

Abstract This study tested the use of a subject-own-control, multiple crossover design for evaluating the clinical effects of an established tricyclic antidepressant drug, imipramine. Although significant physiological and cognitive performance effects were demonstrated, only one clinical measure, target symptom change rated by the patients, showed a statistically significant drug-placebo difference. This result is in considerable contrast to the sensitivity of similar designs in detecting the clinical effects of antianxiety drugs in studies employing less than 20 patients. Crossover designs appear to be most successful when the treated condition is continuos, rather than episodic, and the treatment effects have a rapid onset and offset.
Eastern European immigrants in the United States: A socio-demographic profile

Immigration to the United States has experienced a phenomenal increase in the last decades. Following the dissolution of the “Iron Curtain” in the late 1980s and early 1990s, Eastern Europeans have been free to emigrate. Since then, there has been an increase in their numbers in the U.S. This study is an analysis of the socio-demographic profile characterizing the immigration from Eastern Europe. It examines income levels and the poverty status for Eastern European immigrants (at the individual and family levels). The study also examines educational attainment and language proficiency. The findings show that, generally, the educational attainment of people coming form Eastern European (e.g., Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia) countries is high compared to those coming from other region (e.g., Mexico). The results also indicate that while some immigrants from Eastern Europe have relative low levels of poverty (e.g., Slovenia), the majority of them are confronted with high levels of economic strain.
Maintaining the Transcription Factor SpoIIID Level Late during Sporulation Causes Spore Defects in Bacillus subtilis

During sporulation of Bacillus subtilis, four regulatory proteins act in the order sigma(E), SpoIIID, sigma(K), and GerE to temporally control gene expression in the mother cell. sigma(E) and sigma(K) work sequentially with core RNA polymerase to transcribe different sets of genes. SpoIIID and GerE are small, sequence-specific DNA-binding proteins that activate or repress transcription of many genes. Previous studies showed that transcriptionally active sigma(K) RNA polymerase inhibits early mother cell gene expression, reducing accumulation of SpoIIID late in sporulation. Here, the effects of perturbing the mother cell gene regulatory network by maintaining the SpoIIID level late during sporulation are reported. Persistent expression was obtained by fusing spoIIID to the sigma(K)-controlled gerE promoter on a multicopy plasmid. Fewer heat- and lysozyme-resistant spores were produced by the strain with persistent spoIIID expression, but the number of spores resistant to organic solvents was unchanged, as was their germination ability. Transmission electron microscopy showed structural defects in the spore coat. Reporter fusions to sigma(K)-dependent promoters showed lower expression of gerE and cotC and higher expression of cotD. Altered expression of cot genes, which encode spore coat proteins, may account for the spore structural defects. These results suggest that one role of negative feedback by sigma(K) RNA polymerase on early mother cell gene expression is to lower the level of SpoIIID late during sporulation in order to allow normal expression of genes in the sigma(K) regulon.
Wehi 164 subclone 13 assay for TNF : sensitivity, specificity, and reliability

Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF) is a peptide monokine involved in a number of immune reactions. To further understand the role of TNF in disease states it is critical to have an inexpensive, yet sensitive and specific assay. Additionally, the effects of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), dexamethasone (dex), and cyclosporine A (CsA) on TNF gene expression have been studied, although little is known of the effects these compounds have on TNF containing samples. The aim of this study is to determine the sensitivity and specificity of a highly sensitive cell line to the actions of TNF, and to elucidate parameters which affect the stability of TNF in biological fluids. Dex and PGE2 at concentrations of 10(-5), 10(-7), and 10(-9) M, were shown not to effect the WEHI assay, and neither did CsA (10 ng/ml-1 ug/ml). The cells were not lysed by recombinant murine IL-1 alpha or beta, human recombinant IL-1 alpha or beta, human recombinant IL-2 or human recombinant IL-6 at concentrations ranging from 0.02 pg/ml to 1.0 ug/ml, or murine gamma-IFN from 100 pg/ml to 10 ng/ml. TNF containing samples with 1%-10% fetal calf serum maintained their cytolytic activity even after three freeze-thaw cycles. Serum samples did not lose any cytolytic activity with up to 11 cycles of freezing and thawing whereas, tissue culture media, containing TNF, lost significant activity with freeze-thawing. The WEHI assay has successfully detected cytolytic activity from lipopolysaccharide stimulated specimens from a number of different species. These data show the utility of this highly sensitive and specific assay. Furthermore, the WEHI assay showed a high degree of reproducibility in repeated assays.
Assessing ecosystem restoration alternatives in eastern deciduous forests: the view from belowground

Both structural and functional approaches to restoration of eastern deciduous forests are becoming more common as recognition of the altered state of these ecosystems grows. In our study, structural restoration involves mechanically modifying the woody plant assemblage to a species composition, density, and community structure specified by the restoration goals. Functional restoration involves reintroducing dormant-season, low-severity fire at intervals consistent with the historical condition. Our approach was to quantify the effects of such restoration treatments on soil organic carbon and soil microbial activity, as these are both conservative ecosystem attributes and not ones explicitly targeted by the restoration treatments, themselves. Fire, mechanical thinning, and their combination all initially resulted in reduced soil organic C content, C:N ratio, and overall microbial activity (measured as acid phosphatase activity) in a study site in the southern Appalachian Mountains of North Carolina, but only the effect on microbial activity persisted into the fourth post-treatment growing season. In contrast, in a similar forest in the central Appalachian Plateau of Ohio, mechanical thinning resulted in increased soil organic C, decreased C:N ratio, and decreased microbial activity, whereas fire and the combination of fire and thinning did not have such effects. In addition, the effects in Ohio had dissipated prior to the fourth post-treatment growing season. Mechanical treatments are attractive in that they require only single entries; however, we see no indication that mechanical-structural restoration actually produced desired belowground changes. A single fire-based/functional treatment also offered little restoration progress, but comparisons with long-term experimental fire studies suggest that repeated entries with prescribed fire at intervals of 3-8 years offer potential for sustainable restoration.
Haptic System to Simulate Minimally Invasive Surgery

The goal of this project is to integrate a haptic device with 3-D models generated from radiological data to provide a simulation tool for arthroscopic surgery. A haptic tool having six-degrees of freedom is combined with a three dimensional model generated from MRI data to simulate the arthroscopic procedure used to treat patients with lesions in the articular cartilage. The force feedback capability of the haptic device is modified to simulate the feel that a surgeon experiences while performing an arthroscopic procedure.
Nearshore hydrodynamics as loading and forcing factors for Escherichia coli contamination at an embayed beach

Numerical simulations of the transport and fate of Escherichia coli were conducted at Chicago’s 63rd Street Beach, an embayed beach that had the highest mean E. coli concentration among 23 similar Lake Michigan beaches during summer months of 2000–2005, in order to find the cause for the high bacterial contamination. The numerical model was based on the transport of E. coli by current circulation patterns in the embayment driven by longshore main currents and the loss of E. coli in the water column, taking settling as well as bacterial dark- and solar-related decay into account. Two E. coli loading scenarios were considered: one from the open boundary north of the embayment and the other from the shallow water near the beachfront. Simulations showed that the embayed beach behaves as a sink for E. coli in that it generally receives E. coli more efficiently than it releases them. This is a result of the significantly different hydrodynamic forcing factors between the inside of the embayment and the main coastal flow outside. The settled E. coli inside the embayment can be a potential source of contamination during subsequent sediment resuspension events, suggesting that deposition–resuspension cycles of E. coli have resulted in excessive bacterial contamination of beach water. A further hypothetical case with a breakwater shortened to half its original length, which was anticipated to enhance the current circulation in the embayment, showed a reduction in E. coli concentrations of nearly 20%.
Comparative Genetic Mapping Points to Different Sex Chromosomes in Sibling Species of Wild Strawberry (Fragaria)

Separate sexes have evolved repeatedly from hermaphroditic ancestors in flowering plants, and thus select taxa can provide unparalleled insight into the evolutionary dynamics of sex chromosomes that are thought to be shared by plants and animals alike. Here we ask whether two octoploid sibling species of wild strawberry—one almost exclusively dioecious (males and females), Fragaria chiloensis, and one subdioecious (males, females, and hermaphrodites), F. virginiana—share the same sex-determining chromosome. We created a genetic map of the sex chromosome and its homeologs in F. chiloensis and assessed macrosynteny between it and published maps of the proto-sex chromosome of F. virginiana and the homeologous autosome of hermaphroditic diploid species. Segregation of male and female function in our F. chiloensis mapping population confirmed that linkage and dominance relations are similar to those in F. virginiana. However, identification of the molecular markers most tightly linked to the sex-determining locus in the two octoploid species shows that, in both, this region maps to homeologues of chromosome 6 in diploid congeners, but is located at opposite ends of their respective chromosomes.
Visual‐verbal redundancy effects on television news learning

Learning from news stories was greater when visuals and script were redundant than when they were not redundant. Adding continuous redundant captions, however, appeared to impede learning.
The k-L turbulence model for describing buoyancy-driven fluid instabilities

The k-L turbulence model, where k is the turbulent kinetic energy and L represents the turbulent eddy scale length, is a two-equation turbulence model that has been proposed to simulate turbulence induced by Rayleigh-Taylor (RT) and Richtmyer Meshkov (RM) instabilities, which play an important role in the implosions of inertial confinement fusion (ICF) capsule targets. There are three free parameters in the k-L model, and in this paper, I calibrate them independently by comparing with RT and RM data from the linear electric motor (LEM) experiments together with classical Kelvin-Helmoholtz (KH) data. To perform this calibration, I numerically solved the equations of one-dimensional (1D) Lagrangian hydrodynamics, in a manner similar to that of contemporary ICF codes, together with the k-L turbulence model. With the three free parameters determined, I show that the k-L model is successful in describing both shear-driven and buoyancy-driven instabilities, capturing the experimentally observed separation between bubbles and spikes at high Atwood number for the RT case, as well as the temporal mix width recorded in RM shock tube experiments.
Cell-type Phylogenetics and the Origin of Endometrial Stromal Cells

A challenge of genome annotation is the identification of genes performing specific biological functions. Here, we propose a phylogenetic approach that utilizes RNA-seq data to infer the historical relationships among cell types and to trace the pattern of gene-expression changes on the tree. The hypothesis is that gene-expression changes coincidental with the origin of a cell type will be important for the function of the derived cell type. We apply this approach to the endometrial stromal cells (ESCs), which are critical for the initiation and maintenance of pregnancy. Our approach identified well-known regulators of ESCs, PGR and FOXO1, as well as genes not yet implicated in female fertility, including GATA2 and TFAP2C. Knockdown analysis confirmed that they are essential for ESC differentiation. We conclude that phylogenetic analysis of cell transcriptomes is a powerful tool for discovery of genes performing cell-type-specific functions.
Outcomes with R-CEOP for R-CHOP-ineligible patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma are highly dependent on cell of origin

Immunohistochemical examination revealed DNA HHV-8 lymph nodes tissue in patients with plasma cell and mix cell morphology. Results: In 45 patients were diagnosed plasma cell or mix cell variant CD: in 21, 8% local, in 29, 9% MCD. Immunohistochemistry with LANA HHV-8 antigen performed in 13 case local and in 21 generalized lesions. HHV8 identified only in six (28.6 %) cases MCD: five male and one female with median age 48, 2 years (range 36-77). The median follow-up was 39.2 months (3.3 years). In four cases were diagnosed mixed cell variant CD and in two cases plasma cell variant CD. In all cases detected constitutional symptoms, generalized lymphadenopathy, hepatosplenomegaly. There were various laboratory changes but the most significant were anemia, leukocytosis, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, hypergammaglobulinemia, M-component, increased ESR and circulating immune complexes. In two cases of HHV-8-positive MCD was combined with autoimmune hemolytic anemia and in two cases with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Two patients are alive after CHOP and R-CHOP therapy with rituximab maintenance. Two patients died of uncontrolled autoimmune hemolysis against the backdrop of long-term use of prednisone. Another patient died in the fourth year of the disease, after numerous cycles of chemotherapy by transformation into plasmablastic lymphoma. Moreover, 78 y.o. female died of kidney failure after one cycle CHOP chemotherapy. Conclusions: HHV-8-positive MCD proceeds with aggressive multiorgan lesions, pronounced changes in laboratory tests and characterized by unfavorable prognosis with a high risk of transformation in plasmablastic lymphoma and lethal outcome. Timely chemotherapy in patients with HHV-8-positive MCD can achieve remission and prolong life.
Unemployment insurance and optimal taxation in a search model of the labor market

Abstract In many search models of the labor market, unemployment insurance (UI) is conveniently interpreted as the value of leisure or home production and is, therefore, treated as a parameter. However, in reality, UI has to be funded through taxation that might be distortionary. In this paper, I analyze the welfare implications of raising funds towards UI benefits through different taxation systems within a directed search model. Since firms “direct” workers to apply to them by posting wages, raising UI funds in a lump-sum manner always distorts the efficient allocation, as it gives firms an incentive to be excessively aggressive in their attempt to maximize the probability of filing up their vacancies. I discuss two ways through which this externality can be internalized and efficiency can be restored.
Expressiveness of answer set languages

Answer set programming (ASP) is a form of declarative programming oriented towards difficult combinatorial search problems. It has been applied, for instance, to plan generation and product configuration problems in artificial intelligence and to graph-theoretic problems arising in VLSI design and in historical linguistics. Syntactically, ASP programs look like Prolog programs, but the computational mechanisms used in ASP are different: they are based on the ideas that have led to the development of fast satisfiability solvers for propositional logic. ASP is based on the answer set/stable model semantics for logic programs, originally intended as a specification for query answering in Prolog. From the original definition of 1988, the semantics was independently extended by different research groups to more expressive kinds of programs, with syntax and semantics that are incompatible with each other. In this thesis we study how the various extensions are related to each other. In order to do that, we propose another definition of an answer set. This definition has three main characteristics: (i) it is very simple, (ii) its syntax is more general than the usual concept of a logic program, and (iii) strong theoretical tools can be used to reason on it. About (ii), we show that our syntax allows constructs defined in many other extensions of the answer sets semantics. This fact, together with (iii), allows us to study the expressiveness of those constructs. We also compare the answer set semantics with another important formalism developed by Norm McCain and Hudson Turner, called causal logic.
Development of Lignocellulosic Biorefinery Technologies: Recent Advances and Current Challenges

Recent developments of the biorefinery concept are described within this review, which focuses on the efforts required to make the lignocellulosic biorefinery a sustainable and economically viable reality. Despite the major research and development endeavours directed towards this goal over the past several decades, the integrated production of biofuel and other bio-based products still needs to be optimized from both technical and economical perspectives. This review will highlight recent progress towards the optimization of the major biorefinery processes, including biomass pretreatment and fractionation, saccharification of sugars, and conversion of sugars and lignin into fuels and chemical precursors. In addition, advances in genetic modification of biomass structure and composition for the purpose of enhancing the efficacy of conversion processes, which is emerging as a powerful tool for tailoring biomass fated for the biorefinery, will be overviewed. The continual improvement of these processes and their integration in the format of a modern biorefinery is paving the way for a sustainable bio-economy which will displace large portions of petroleum-derived fuels and chemicals with renewable substitutes.