cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Metabolism of major cell components during slime mold morphogenesis.

Abstract Morphogenetically synchronized Dictyostelium discoideum amoeba were sampled at intervals during development to determine the fates of major cell constituents. Dry weight, total protein and fractions thereof, RNA, free and bound hexoses were followed. None of these except the last appeared to reflect the specific morphogenetic events. Two polysaccharide fractions were encountered which did reflect these events and their syntheses were repressed or disturbed in morphogenetically deficient mutants.
Comments and Replies Academic Conversations

Analysis of the “comments and replies” sections of social science journals can assist understanding of the nature of epistemological and community-related debates and field development at the edge of knowledge contexts. Comments on articles and replies by authors occur at the margin, after articles have been deemed good enough to publish, and this focus of argumentation provides valuable insight to the process of field development.
Shallow water seagrass observed by high resolution full waveform bathymetric LiDAR

Full waveform bathymetric LiDAR allows a detailed examination of laser backscatter from the water surface, water column and benthic layer. The presence of seagrass on the ben-thic layer would also be expected to influence the backscat-tered radiation encapsulated in the full waveform observations. The combination of conventional geometric features, radiometric features and derived geometric features from the waveform analysis may make it possible to identify the presence of seagrass or even classify the different types of sea-grass. An analysis of the correlation of seagrass location with different full waveform LiDAR parameters is presented. Overall, it is found that a high degree of correlation exists between the presence of seagrass and LiDAR intensity, benthic elevation and benthic return pulse width. Surface roughness, curvature and vertical uncertainty are found to have weak correlation with the presence of seagrass.
Increase in Total Plasma Homocysteine Concentration After Cardiac Transplantation

Objective To determine whether plasma homocysteine concentrations are increased in patients after cardiac transplantation. Design Total plasma homocysteine concentration was measured in 44 consecutive patients before and at 3, 6, and 12 months after orthotopic heart transplantation between June 1, 1988, and Oct. 15, 1992, and the data were analyzed statistically. Results Mean homocysteine concentrations (normal range, 4 to 17 μmol/L) increased 70% from 12.5 μmol/L before cardiac transplantation to 21.2 μmol/L ( P l2 , cofactors in homocysteine metabolism, decreased 20% and 49%, respectively, within 3 months after transplantation (11.6 to 9.3 μg/L [ P = 0.04] and 584 to 295 ng/L [ P =0.01]). The mean glomerular filtration rate decreased 25% during this same interval (81 to 61 mL/min; P = 0.0001). Linear regression analysis revealed an association between the increase in homocysteine concentration and the folic acid concentration that approached statistical significance ( P = 0.07); we found no statistically significant correlates of the increase in homocysteine concentration. Conclusion The homocysteine concentration increases in most patients within 3 months after cardiac transplantation to levels previously associated with premature atherosclerotic coronary artery disease, and it remains increased for at least 1 year. Further investigation into the mechanism for the increase in homocysteine concentration and the relationship between homocysteine and coronary artery disease after transplantation is warranted.
Investigation of the mechanisms of the extensive excretion of cimetidine into rat milk

This study was done to investigate the role of protein binding active transport by the mammary gland and pharmacological effects of cimetidine in producing the high milk/plasma ratio for cimetidine in rats
Planarization film by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition and low-temperature oxide as conformal insulator

Amorphous carbon films have been deposited by plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition which provide a high degree of planarization over large distances. These films can be deposited at room temperature with low ion bombardment energy (10 V) and high deposition rate (300 nm/min). The planar films have low viscosity and molecular weight, and their molecular structure is similar to that of the source gases. A post-deposition hardening step was utilized to improve the compatibility of the films with subsequent processing steps by heating the samples and/or exposing them to a low power plasma. Submicrometer patterns have been defined using excimer laser projection lithography in bilayer resist. In addition, a multipolar electron cyclotron resonance source was used to generate an oxygen plasma for Si oxidation. Oxidation rate was found to increase with microwave power but decrease with source distance and rf power. Maximum oxidation rate was found at 0.25 mTorr. This low pressure is desirable for forming conformal insulator. The oxide films were found to have O to Si ratio of 2 and refractive index of 1.47. Breakdown field was >12 MV/cm and fixed charge density was 3 X 1010 cm-2.© (1993) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Identification of a Protein with Homology to hsp90 That Binds the Type 1 Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor

The yeast-based two hybrid has been used to identify a novel protein that binds to the intracellular domain of the type 1 receptor for tumor necrosis factor (TNFR-1IC). The TNF receptor-associated protein, TRAP-1, shows strong homology to members of the 90-kDa family of heat shock proteins. After in vitro transcription/translation and 35S labeling, TRAP-1 was precipitated using a fusion protein consisting of glutathione S-transferase and TNFR-1IC, showing that the two proteins directly interact. The ability of deletion mutants of TNFR-1 to interact with TRAP-1 was tested using the two hybrid system. This showed that the amino acid sequences that mediate binding are diffusely distributed outside of the domain in the C terminus of TNFR-1IC that signals cytotoxicity. The 2.4-kilobase TRAP-1 mRNA was variably expressed in skeletal muscle, liver, heart, brain, kidney, pancreas, lung, and placenta. TRAP-1 mRNA was also detected in each of eight different transformed cell lines. Identification of TRAP-1 may be an important step toward defining how TNFR-1, which does not contain protein tyrosine kinase activity, transmits its message to signal transduction pathways.
Quantum Crystal Effects in Solid Hydrogen at Zero Temperature

Using our theory of correlation effects in quantum crystals, which was originally developed to calculate the properties of solid helium, we obtain the ground-state energy and pressure of solid hydrogen for molar volumes in the range 24-10 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{3}$. The results are applied to a determination of the effect of zero-point motion on the intermolecular interaction and on the $\ensuremath{\lambda}$-transition temperature. The crystal field is also discussed.
Diversification of infrastructure projects for emergent and unknown non‐systematic risks

Allocating resources to competing large‐scale infrastructure projects involves multiple objectives. Traditional decision‐aiding methodologies focus on the trade‐offs among performance and resource objectives. Existing methodologies may fail to account for unknown and emergent risks that are typical of large‐scale infrastructure investment allocation problems. In modern portfolio theory, it is well known that a diversified portfolio can be very effective to reduce non‐systematic risks. The approach of diversification is equally important in choosing robust portfolios of infrastructure projects that may be subject to emergent and unknown risks. In this paper, we demonstrate a methodology to analyze and compare the diversification of portfolios of large‐scale infrastructure projects. We classify and explore several metrics of diversification and integrate them with risk and other performance objectives in a multiobjective approach. We test the new metrics and the methodology in a case study of hundreds of mi...
Cytochrome P-450 deficiency and resistance to t-butyl hydroperoxide of hepatoma microsomal lipid peroxidation

Abstract Lipid peroxidation of microsomes from rat liver and Morris hepatoma 9618A was induced by means of tert-butyl hydroperoxide ( t -BuOOH). In rat liver microsomes t -BuOOH stimulated an early formation of lipid hydroperoxides (LOOH) and an increasing accumulation of malondialdehyde; t -BuOOH was completely consumed and Cytochrome P -450 was rapidly destroyed. In hepatoma microsomes (60% deficiency of cytochrome P -450) a remarkable inhibition of both malondialdehyde and LOOH was observed; t -BuOOH was consumed only partially and cytochrome P -450 was destroyed slowly. In the presence of aminopyrine, malondialdehyde production was inhibited to the same extent (about 70%) in normal and tumour microsomes. The concentration of t -BuOOH required to achieve half-maximal velocity of malondialdehyde accumulation was comparable in the two microsome types. It is proposed that the deficiency of cytochrome P -450 limits the activation of t -BuOOH to the free radical species which initiate lipid peroxidation. Low cytochrome P -450 content would also affect the LOOH-dependent propagation of lipid peroxidation.
Provitamin A activity of specialty fruit marketed in the United States

Abstract The provitamin A content (α-carotene, β-carotene and β-cryptoxanthin) was determined in 33 different specialty fruits that are primarily of tropical origin and common to the U.S. market. After saponification, carotenoids were extracted with hexane and quantitated by reverse-phase HPLC using a Zorbax ODS column and an isocratic solvent system of acetonitrile, methylene chloride + 0.001% triethylamine, and methanol (350:150:1). Recoveries, determined by standard addition before saponification, were in the range of 70–100% for the three carotenoids. Proximate analysis was also conducted. Variation in carotenoid content was noted at different sampling times and for different cultivars of some of the specialty fruit. Provitamin A activity reported as retinol equivalents varied from nondetectable levels in fruit such as atemoya to relatively high levels in tamarillo (208 ± 63 RE/ 100 g) and purple passion fruit (196 ± 13 RE/ 100 g). Since the fruits included in the study represent an expanding market, they could provide significant levels of vitamin A activity to U.S. consumers. This study provides information necessary to judge their contribution of vitamin A activity to the U.S. diet.
Using external aggregate ratings for improving individual recommendations

This article describes an approach for incorporating externally specified aggregate ratings information into certain types of recommender systems, including two types of collaborating filtering and a hierarchical linear regression model. First, we present a framework for incorporating aggregate rating information and apply this framework to the aforementioned individual rating models. Then we formally show that this additional aggregate rating information provides more accurate recommendations of individual items to individual users. Further, we experimentally confirm this theoretical finding by demonstrating on several datasets that the aggregate rating information indeed leads to better predictions of unknown ratings. We also propose scalable methods for incorporating this aggregate information and test our approaches on large datasets. Finally, we demonstrate that the aggregate rating information can also be used as a solution to the cold start problem of recommender systems.
Chimeric alpha 2-,beta 2-adrenergic receptors: delineation of domains involved in effector coupling and ligand binding specificity

The alpha 2 and beta 2 adrenergic receptors, both of which are activated by epinephrine, but which can be differentiated by selective drugs, have opposite effects (inhibitory and stimulatory) on the adenylyl cyclase system. The two receptors are homologous with each other, rhodopsin, and other receptors coupled to guanine nucleotide regulatory proteins and they contain seven hydrophobic domains, which may represent transmembrane spanning segments. The function of specific structural domains of these receptors was determined after construction and expression of a series of chimeric alpha 2-,beta 2-adrenergic receptor genes. The specificity for coupling to the stimulatory guanine nucleotide regulatory protein lies within a region extending from the amino terminus of the fifth hydrophobic domain to the carboxyl terminus of the sixth. Major determinants of alpha 2- and beta 2-adrenergic receptor agonist and antagonist ligand binding specificity are contained within the seventh membrane spanning domain. Chimeric receptors should prove useful for elucidating the structural basis of receptor function.
Mechanism for the formation of high cycle fatigue cracks at fee annealing twin boundaries

When a stress axis is normal to an fcc annealing twin boundary the stress axis is the same in both components of the twin. However, when the stress axis is inclined to the twin boundary the stress axis is different, crystallographically, in each component. Since the stress axes are not symmetry axes, elastic shears take place normal to the stress axis in each component of the twin. These elastic shears are different in each component and their interaction leads to stress enhancement on slip planes parallel to the twin boundary. It is proposed that this stress augmentation produces slip adjacent to the twin boundary that leads to high cycle fatigue cracking. Finite element calculations have been carried out for three pairs of orientations. These calculations confirm the enhancement of stress on slip systems parallel to the twinning plane.
A comparative analysis of five methods of determining corneal refractive power in eyes that have undergone myopic laser in situ keratomileusis.

Abstract Objective To evaluate the accuracy of computerized videokeratography, keratometry, and the Gaussian optics formula for measuring corneal refractive power in patients after myopic laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK). Design Noncomparative case series. Participants One hundred eyes of 63 patients (mean age, 45.0 ± 10.9 [standard deviation] years) who underwent LASIK were included in the study. Methods Using the clinical history method as the standard, we evaluated the accuracy of values of corneal refractive power derived from computerized videokeratography (the EffRP value of the EyeSys Corneal Analysis System, which averages corneal refractive power over the central 3 mm), keratometry (K), the Gaussian optics formula (GauRP), and values of EffRP and keratometry as modified according to the amount of LASIK-induced refractive change. Main outcome measures Correlation of measured corneal power values to those obtained using clinical history method (HisRP). Results Although the values for HisRP were significantly correlated with postoperative EffRP and K values and with GauRP, postoperative EffRP and K values were higher than HisRP (0.87 ± 0.68 diopters [D] and 1.16 ± 1.10 D, respectively), and GauRP were lower than HisRP (0.44 ± 0.66 D) ( P Conclusions Using the clinical history method as the standard, we found that the most accurate method for determining corneal refractive power in post-LASIK eyes was to adjust the postoperative corneal measurement according to the amount of LASIK-induced refractive change.
Determining Compatibility of Battery Storage Systems With Hybrid PV-Wind-Diesel Energy Systems

Renewable energy is the only known source that can suffice the global demand in a sustainable way while preserving human and environmental health. Fossil fuels offer an unparalleled ability to robustly transform simple ideas into lucrative businesses and operations despite its inherent devastation imposed to the ecosystem and energy security. Together, fossil fuels, renewable energy and battery storage technology, offer great promise for an improved quality of life inclusive of global access to environmentally pristine, uninterrupted energy. Hybrid systems can be designed to deliver clean, portable energy cost-effectively, efficiently and reliably while minimizing present-day economic and environmental impact. An improvement in battery storage technology is of paramount importance to design an optimal hybrid system necessary to meet peak demands and compensate for intermittency within renewable energy resources. Various battery types have been developed as the technology of choice for renewable energy applications but compatibility issues of different battery systems to renewable energy sources remain. This study provides a comparative analysis of battery storage systems and introduces a mathematical model for a photovoltaic-wind-diesel hybrid system integrating optimization and performance techniques along with an economic analysis that will be used for further study and future simulation.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
Academic interdisciplinary research: problems and practice1

Evaluation of the research management literature identified key issues relevant for managing academic interdisciplinary research projects. Based on these issues, a nationwide survey of American academic interdisciplinary research projects was made to determine the extent and form of these literature issues in practice. Similarities and differences between literature claims and research findings are presented, together with comparisons between academic interdisciplinary research and other forms of group research.
A rare clinical presentation of blastomycosis

North American blastomycosis is a multisystem disease, primarily affecting the lungs and skin. The skeleton is affected in approximately 50% of cases. Bone symptoms as the primary clinical complaint are exceedingly rare. Two such cases are presented together with a brief discussion of this rare disease.
Oxygen activity dependent dissolution of nickel from nickel oxide into platinum

Abstract The oxygen activity dependent dissolution of the metallic component of a metal oxide into platinum was experimentally studied in the model system PtNiO. Thermogravimetric measurements were performed on PtNi 1 − Δ O composite and on Ni 1 − Δ O samples to determine mass changes as a function of oxygen activity at 1200, 1300 and 1400 °C. (For the sake of simplicity, Ni 1 − Δ O is in this article often denoted as NiO, except in cases where Δ is important.) The mass changes of the PtNiO composite samples were found to be almost entirely due to the dissolution of Ni from NiO into Pt rather than due to changes in the deviation from stoichiometry in Ni 1 − Δ O, especially at low oxygen activities. The experimental results suggest that the mole fraction of Ni in PtNi increases with decreasing oxygen activity. From the experimental data, the activity of Ni in PtNi alloys and the corresponding activity coefficients were determined as a function of composition and compared with data from the literature. By switching oxygen activities between two values it was observed that the equilibration of PtNiO composites occurs much slower in the reducing direction than in the oxidizing direction. At low oxygen activities the kinetics of the reduction of PtNiO composite samples were found to be extremely slow. These slow kinetics are likely due to a very slow incorporation of Ni from NiO into PtNi alloys.
Issues in Cost Effectiveness in Health Care

Cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA) is becoming increasingly popular as society moves toward rationalizing health costs. This review describes the applications and limitations of the technique. Conceptually simple though frequently complicated in application, CEA compares the cost of a procedure with its effectiveness, thus helping an administrator to judge whether the procedure is worth its cost. CEA also permits comparison of various interventions that result in a similar health outcome. A major benefit of CEA is that it forces decision makers to confront the tradeoffs implicit in all decisions regarding alternative approaches. Limitations of the CEA philosophy and technique also have to be understood if it is to be employed effectively; it is not an assessment of cost savings, nor is it a decision-making technique because it does not incorporate value judgments. A number of potential applications to dentistry are described.
Representations of 9-11 in Editorial Cartoons

Throughout American history editorial cartoons have exposed corruption, offered criticism of people in power, questioned and supported policies, and in general given the public another format assisting in the understanding of current events. The freedom to caricature politicians and visually comment on social and political issues has been a hallmark of the editorial cartoonist's profession. In the aftermath of the worldwide furor over Danish cartoonists' use of the Prophet Muhammad's image in early 2006, it is useful to ask whether certain images from the War on Terror have become taboo as a subject for American editorial cartoonists.
Using borehole geophysics and cross-borehole flow testing to define hydraulic connections between fracture zones in bedrock aquifers

Abstract Nearly a decade of intensive geophysical logging at fractured rock hydrology research sites indicates that geophysical logs can be used to identify and characterize fractures intersecting boreholes. However, borehole-to-borehole flow tests indicate that only a few of the apparently open fractures found to intersect boreholes conduct flow under test conditions. This paper presents a systematic approach to fracture characterization designed to define the distribution of fractures along boreholes, relate the measured fracture distribution to structure and lithology of the rock mass, and define the nature of fracture flow paths across borehole arrays. Conventional electrical resistivity, gamma, and caliper logs are used to define lithology and large-scale structure. Borehole wall image logs obtained with the borehole televiewer are used to give the depth, orientation, and relative size of fractures in situ. High-resolution flowmeter measurements are used to identify fractures conducting flow in the rock mass adjacent to the boreholes. Changes in the flow field over time are used to characterize the hydraulic properties of fracture intersections between boreholes. Application of this approach to an array of 13 boreholes at the Mirror Lake, New Hamsphire site demonstrates that the transient flow analysis can be used to distinguish between fractures communicating with each other between observation boreholes, and those that are hydraulically isolated from each other in the surrounding rock mass. The Mirror Lake results also demonstrate that the method is sensitive to the effects of boreholes on the hydraulic properties of the fractured-rock aquifer. Experiments conducted before and after the drilling of additional boreholes in the array and before and after installation of packers in existing boreholes demonstrate that the presence of new boreholes or the inflation of packers in existing boreholes has a large effect on the measured hydraulic properties of the rock mass surrounding the borehole array.
Organic regulation across the Atlantic: emergence, divergence, convergence

Battles over the labelling of genetically modified organisms, the use of hormones in livestock production, and geographic indicators reveal persistent differences between the EU and US within the regulatory domains of environment, agriculture and food safety. Comparative studies have shown that culturally specific accountings of risk have fuelled different approaches to regulatory problems across the two jurisdictions. An analysis of organic regulation suggests that these characterisations remain useful, but should not be oversold. Differences in regulatory culture, as well as differences in explicit goals and mechanisms, set organic food regulation on different paths in the EU and US. However, whereas such differences have led to polarisation in other domains of food regulation, there has been relative convergence with respect to organic standards. Drawing on theories of regulatory convergence, this paper argues that polarisation was averted due to the ability, ultimately, of social movements working wit...
Combined Hot-Spot Stress Procedures for Tubular Joints

An alternative procedure for predicting the combined hot-spot stress (CHSS) at tubular K and Y joints under combined branch loading is presented. The procedure makes use of influence factor (IF) equations developed, as a function of the joint geometry and branch loading, for various potential hot-spot locations on the branch and chord sides of the weld. The CHSS is obtained by lineraly superimposing, at a point, the effects of the axial force and bending moments acting on each branch. The resulting CHSS, therefore, reflects location, orientation and sign of each branch load contribution. Comparisons of predicted CHSS obtained via the new and other procedures to stresses from finite element analyses were made on a large sample of joints. Result show that (1) the new procedure is substantially more reliable than the other procedures studied, (2) none of the procedures consistently predicts conservative CHSS values, and (3) the overriding factor influencing the accuracy of the CHSS calculations appears to be the accuracy of the parametric equations. Although a better stress predictor can be expected to yield more reliable fatigue damage estimates, damage calculations will exhibit broad scatter due to the power function relating damage to stress. Unfortunately, further improvements in themore » accuracy of CHSS based on parametric equations are not likely to be easily achieved, given the large number of variables and locations that need to be considered.« less
Large neurons in the substantia gelatinosa of Rolando

On a trouve chez le poulet, dans la substance gelatineuse de la moElle epiniere en voie de maturation ou adulte, de gros neurones multipolaires d'un diametre moyen de 35–45Μ. Ces neurones ont des noyaux spheriques contenant un ou deux nucleoles fortement contrastes. Dans leur cytoplasme se trouvent des granules de Nissl, gros et a contour floconneux.
Polarized infrared reflection spectroscopy of single crystal lithia-silicates and quartz

The structures of single crystal lithia-silicate and quartz are characterized by polarized infrared reflection spectroscopy (PIRRS). The experimental apparatus and technique for PIRRS, along with electron channelling of lithia-disilicate, are discussed. Vibrational assignments are made for infrared reflection peaks of lithiadisilicate crystals and lithia-metasilicate crystals.
Applying Statistical Mechanics to pixel detectors

Pixel detectors, being made of a large number of active cells of the same kind, can be considered as significant sets to which Statistical Mechanics variables and methods can be applied. By properly redefining well known statistical parameters in order to let them match the ones that actually characterize pixel detectors, an analysis of the way they work can be performed in a totally new perspective. A deeper understanding of pixel detectors is attained, helping in the evaluation and comparison of their intrinsic characteristics and performance.
Should We Consider Testing for Skill in Surgery

Every patient wants to know whether his surgeon is skilled, not to mention a ‘‘good surgeon’’. In this issue of the journal, the article by R. Katz et al. aims at providing a construct validity to the ability of a pelvic trainer to discern the differences in skill level of urologists in laparoscopic surgery based on their reported experience in this field.’’ Interestingly, the tests are not as sensitive as suggested and the authors are unable to differentiate someone without any experience from someone with minimal experience, a distinction at which tests should be particularly sensitive. And are occasional cholecystectomy or appendectomy really minimal experiences? The tests are not even sensitive enough to differentiate between ‘‘beginners’’ and basic surgeons for ligation passage and the 5-suture test, nor to differentiate between basic and advanced surgeons in the 5-suture test and the cutting circle test. What does this mean? It means that these tests merely measure the ability to take tests, with the same questionable reliability as IQ tests (which do not evaluate intelligence) or driving tests (which do not prevent people from having car accidents). The only conclusion that can be drawn from this study is that, assuming the students are honest, it shows what types of surgical experience students have had and what their experience consisted of. But beyond these tests, which are basically an entertaining quiz for fellows, we, the urologic community, should be aware of the dangers of such hidden normalization. This idea that everybody with a given score is similar and interchangeable—not because the tests are dangerous by themselves (IQ tests are useless as a measure of intelligence, everybody admits that) and therefore these kinds of surgical skill tests are
Privacy Management in the Military Family during Deployment: Adolescents’ Perspectives

This study examines military adolescents’ experiences of managing private information within their families during a parental deployment. Thirty-eight adolescents were interviewed about how they and their families managed private information across the deployment cycle. Our interviewees suggested that when a deployment occurs: (a) family members should limit the information that they share with the deployed parent about events at home, (b) children should be cautious when talking to the at-home parent about the deployment situation, and (c) parents should filter some deployment-related information from their children. We explore concrete ways these rules are enacted as well as factors (e.g., dialectical tensions, motivations, salient emotions, and rule acquisition) that can shape how these rules are applied. Our analyses also illuminate how boundary turbulence can influence how youth make decisions about sharing private information. Future research should continue to explore deployment with specific atten...
Relationships of chloroform fumigation-incubation to soil organic matter pools

Microbial biomass is part of the active pool of soil organic matter that plays focal roles in decomposition of organic materials, nutrient cycling and biophysical manipulation of soil structure. We compared two commonly used variants of the chloroform fumigation‐incubation method in their relationships with other active, passive and total soil C and N pools in soils from Texas, Georgia, Alberta and British Columbia. The relationship of potential C mineralization with chloroform fumigation‐incubation without subtraction of a control was much stronger (r 2 =0.8120.10 among five data sets with a total of 844 observations) than with subtraction of a control (r 2 =0.3020.22). Similarly, the relationship of soil organic C with chloroform fumigation‐incubation without subtraction of a control was better (r 2 =0.8020.13) than with subtraction of a control (r 2 =0.3820.32). Relationships of net N mineralization, flush of N following fumigation‐incubation, flush of CO2-C during the first day following rewetting of dried soil, particulate organic C and N, mean weight diameter of water-stable aggregation and total porosity with chloroform fumigation‐incubation were also better without subtraction of a control than with subtraction of a control. In analyses of data taken from published reports, chloroform fumigation‐incubation without subtraction of a control was better related with active soil C pools than with subtraction of a control. Chloroform fumigation‐ incubation without subtraction of a control, unlike that with subtraction of a control, should be considered a more robust method to determine microbial biomass under a wide range of environmental conditions. # 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Planning of straight line manipulator trajectory in Cartesian space with torque constraints

Most of the existing off-line trajectory planning schemes focus on the requirements that the trajectory must be smooth and continuous. This paper, based on discrete time trajectory analysis, extends these concepts and includes the manipulator dynamics in the planning of straight line trajectory in the Cartesian space. The planning of straight line trajectory is performed in the Cartesian space and requires optimization in the jointvariable space. An iterative forward and backward search algorithm coupled with a modified forward search algorithm are developed to determine the joint values at each control set point on the given straight line within the bounds imposed by the smoothness and torque constraints. These sets of joint position, velocity and acceleration will be used as referenced inputs to the manipulator controller for the joint-variable space control [1] or can be used to determine the corresponding Cartesian position, velocity, and acceleration on the straight line for the Cartesian space control. The proposed straight line trajectory planning will be useful for obstacle avoidance and the resolved motion adaptive control [2].
Impact of contacting study authors to obtain additional data for systematic reviews: diagnostic accuracy studies for hepatic fibrosis

Seventeen of 172 included studies in a recent systematic review of blood tests for hepatic fibrosis or cirrhosis reported diagnostic accuracy results discordant from 2 × 2 tables, and 60 studies reported inadequate data to construct 2 × 2 tables. This study explores the yield of contacting authors of diagnostic accuracy studies and impact on the systematic review findings. Sixty-six corresponding authors were sent letters requesting additional information or clarification of data from 77 studies. Data received from the authors were synthesized with data included in the previous review, and diagnostic accuracy sensitivities, specificities, and positive and likelihood ratios were recalculated. Of the 66 authors, 68% were successfully contacted and 42% provided additional data for 29 out of 77 studies (38%). All authors who provided data at all did so by the third emailed request (ten authors provided data after one request). Authors of more recent studies were more likely to be located and provide data compared to authors of older studies. The effects of requests for additional data on the conclusions regarding the utility of blood tests to identify patients with clinically significant fibrosis or cirrhosis were generally small for ten out of 12 tests. Additional data resulted in reclassification (using median likelihood ratio estimates) from less useful to moderately useful or vice versa for the remaining two blood tests and enabled the calculation of an estimate for a third blood test for which previously the data had been insufficient to do so. We did not identify a clear pattern for the directional impact of additional data on estimates of diagnostic accuracy. We successfully contacted and received results from 42% of authors who provided data for 38% of included studies. Contacting authors of studies evaluating the diagnostic accuracy of serum biomarkers for hepatic fibrosis and cirrhosis in hepatitis C patients impacted conclusions regarding diagnostic utility for two blood tests and enabled the calculation of an estimate for a third blood test. Despite relatively extensive efforts, we were unable to obtain data to resolve discrepancies or complete 2 × 2 tables for 62% of studies.
Quantum formalism via signal analysis

The general properties of signals permit a nonaxiomatic reconstruction of the quantum “probability” formalism independent of the standard Copenhagen interpretation of quantum mechanics. Performance standards are specified for candidate clock, signaller, and reflector devices, and it is shown that the resulting formalism forces identification of a “probability”- or “intensity”-like structure as the absolute square of an amplitude, the relative phases of amplitudes appearing explicitly in the “probability” composition law. Inequalities are produced which on one interpretation reduce to the Heisenberg relations, but it is pointed out that this reconstruction disqualifies position as an observable property of a signal.
Design of structured eIRA codes with applications to wireless channels

In this paper, we present design techniques for structured extended irregular repeat-accumulate (SeIRA) codes with low error-rate floors. These SeIRA codes permit flexibility in code dimension, length, and rate, while facilitating encoder/decoder implementation due to their structure. We present a design algorithm for SeIRA codes and software-based performance results which demonstrate their low floors. Then we present two design algorithms for multi-rate SeIRA code families implementable by a single encoder/decoder. Lastly, we present the performances of SeIRA codes on the single-carrier independent Rayleigh fading channel and SeIRA-coded OFDM over a frequency-selective correlated fading channel
Radiation from collapsing vacuum bubbles

A method for quantizing scalar theories with unstable ground states is presented. The collapse of the ground-state vacuum bubble is modeled in an $S$-matrix formulation by using different coherent states for the incoming and outgoing ground states. Time-dependent coherent-state functions corresponding to a single vacuum bubble in both one and three spatial dimensions are found and seen to disperse. The amplitude for producing an arbitrary number of particles through collapse is reduced and given a perturbative representation. The $\ensuremath{\lambda}{\ensuremath{\psi}}^{4}$ model is analyzed in three dimensions and the average number of particles produced is calculated to lowest order. This is related to vacuum bubbles in the early Universe and subsequent particle production through the standard model.
Calpain cleaves RhoA generating a dominant-negative form that inhibits integrin-induced actin filament assembly and cell spreading

Integrin-induced cell adhesion results in transmission of signals that induce cytoskeletal reorganizations and resulting changes in cell behavior. The cytoskeletal reorganizations are regulated by transient activation and inactivation of Rho GTPases. Previously, we identified mu-calpain as an enzyme that is activated by signaling across beta1 and beta3 integrins. We showed that it mediates cytoskeletal reorganizations in bovine aortic endothelial (BAE) and Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells and does so by acting upstream of Rac1 activation. Here we show that mu-calpain is also involved in inactivating RhoA during integrin-induced signaling. Cleavage of RhoA was detectable in BAE cells plated on an integrin substrate; it did not occur in cells plated on poly-l-lysine. Cleavage was inhibited by calpain inhibitors. In vitro, mu-calpain cleaved RhoA generating a fragment of the same size as in intact cells. The cleavage site was identified, an HA-tagged construct expressing calpain-cleaved RhoA generated, and the construct expressed in BAE and CHO cells. Calpain-cleaved RhoA inhibited integrin-induced stress fiber assembly and decreased cell spreading. Together, our data show that calpain cleaves RhoA and generates a form that inhibits integrin-induced stress fiber assembly and cell spreading.
Telomere end processing: unexpected complexity at the end game

Most human cells lack telomerase, the enzyme that elongates telomeres. The resulting telomere erosion eventually limits cell proliferation and tissue renewal, thereby impacting age-dependent pathologies. In this issue of Genes & Development, a technical tour-de-force by Chow and colleagues (pp. 1167–1178) reveals a highly choreographed sequence of events that processes newly replicated chromosome ends into mature telomeres. This sheds new light on an underappreciated contribution to telomere dynamics that may be as important as telomerase in dictating the correlation between life span and telomere length.
Veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder are at increased risk of developing dementiaCommentary

### Question Is post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) associated with the risk of developing dementia among older US veterans? ### Population 181 093 veterans who were 55 years or older (average age 68.8 years; 96.5% male) treated at a Veterans Affairs (VA) healthcare facility during the baseline period (1997–2000) who did not have dementia. Participants were identified using the VA National Patient Care Database. Participants had to have at least one visit in the follow-up period (2000–2007) to be eligible to participate. The study included all 53 155 veterans who had PTSD, did not die in the baseline period and met inclusion criteria, and 127 938 randomly selected veterans who did not have PTSD and met inclusion criteria. ### Setting VA healthcare system, USA; 1997–2007. ### Prognostic factors PTSD (International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) diagnosis code 309.81 recorded on at least two visits in the baseline period). Analyses used age as the timescale and adjusted for age, race, gender, education and income in their zip code area of residence, medical and neuropsychiatric comorbidity at baseline, and number of visits to a VA …
Expanding the Scope of Environmental Risk Assessment to Better Include Differential Vulnerability and Susceptibility

The central paradigm of the Environmental Protection Agency is risk assessment. We examined how differential responses across population groups could be better integrated into the environmental risk assessment process, providing tools to achieve greater equity in health status in addition to risk reduction.Such integration was difficult with paradigms like reference dose and was easier with consideration of dose–response curves, which incorporated nontrivial effects observed at low doses for common exposures.We identified 6 assumptions implicit in standard chemical risk assessments that should changed: (1) risk independence, (2) risk averaging, (3) risk nontransferability, (4) risk synchrony, (5) risk accumulation and chaining, and (6) quantification of numbers of persons above certain thresholds or limit values sufficient to characterize risk.
Combined Functional and Immunochemical Analysis of Normal and Abnormal Human Factor X

Abstract Human Factor X was isolated from Cohn fraction III and characterized by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, amino acid composition, and isoelectric focusing. Two molecular forms with biological activity were observed at isoelectric points of 4.8 and 5.0. Antisera generated to Factor X was monospecific and used to establish an equilibrium competitive inhibition radioimmunoassay. This assay was specific for human Factor X and did not cross-react with human prothrombin or bovine Factor X within the sensitivity range of 6-300 ng Factor X antigen/ml. The mean concentration of Factor X based on the antigen was 11.9 μg/ml, whereas concentration values based on coagulant activity was 7.8 μg/ml. This 30% difference in measurement appears to result from the presence of a subpopulation of Factor X molecules devoid of coagulant activity. The radioimmunoassay was used to qualitatively and quantitatively compare purified Factor X to plasmic Factor X obtained from normal, warfarintreated, acquired Factor X-deficient, and congenitaldeficient patients. In all but one case, the Factor X present in these plasmas was immunochemically identical to the purified Factor X and permitted precise quantitation of these abnormal Factor X molecules. Factor X procoagulant activity was analyzed relative to Factor X antigen and the specific activities were used to characterize normal and abnormal Factor X molecules. Reduced Factor X activity in plasmas from warfarin-treated and acquired Factor X-deficient patients was attributed to both decreases in Factor X antigen and decreased function of the Factor X molecules. Congenitally deficient patients, in general, showed a reduction in Factor X antigen in parallel with Factor X procoagulant activities resulting from comparable decreases in specific biological activity of the molecules.
Evolutionary profiles from the QR factorization of multiple sequence alignments

We present an algorithm to generate complete evolutionary profiles that represent the topology of the molecular phylogenetic tree of the homologous group. The method, based on the multidimensional QR factorization of numerically encoded multiple sequence alignments, removes redundancy from the alignments and orders the protein sequences by increasing linear dependence, resulting in the identification of a minimal basis set of sequences that spans the evolutionary space of the homologous group of proteins. We observe a general trend that these smaller, more evolutionarily balanced profiles have comparable and, in many cases, better performance in database searches than conventional profiles containing hundreds of sequences, constructed in an iterative and computationally intensive procedure. For more diverse families or superfamilies, with sequence identity <30%, structural alignments, based purely on the geometry of the protein structures, provide better alignments than pure sequence-based methods. Merging the structure and sequence information allows the construction of accurate profiles for distantly related groups. These structure-based profiles outperformed other sequence-based methods for finding distant homologs and were used to identify a putative class II cysteinyl-tRNA synthetase (CysRS) in several archaea that eluded previous annotation studies. Phylogenetic analysis showed the putative class II CysRSs to be a monophyletic group and homology modeling revealed a constellation of active site residues similar to that in the known class I CysRS.
Biaryl guanidine inhibitors of in vitro HCV-IRES activity

Abstract A structure–activity relationship analysis was carried out on a high-throughput small molecule screening lead for HCV-IRES translation inhibition. The study led to the identification of a guanidine-based structure with low μM inhibitory activity.
Southern Politics Revisited

1 HE FINDINGS of two recent studies of the political South, Southern Politics in State and Nation by V. 0. Key, Jr. and A Two-Party South? by Alexander Heard,1 prompted the investigation which this paper reports. Both studies, in broad lines, submit the following propositions (using Key's words): that (1) "the politics of the South revolves around the position of the Negro;" (2) "the hard core of the political South-and the backbone of southern political unity-is made up of those counties and sections of the southern states in which Negroes constitute a substantial proportion of the population;" and (3) "it is the whites of the black-belts who have the deepest and most immediate concern about the maintenance of white supremacy."2 These understandings form the backdrop for this inquiry into the voting behavior in 1948 and 1952 of four southern states, the Dixiecratic states. These states-Mississippi, South Carolina, Louisiana, and Alabama-besides being the only states to cast electoral votes for Thurmond and Wright in 1948,3 also lead all others in the proportion of total population which is Negro.4 Both the Key and Heard studies are concerned with the hypothesis: the intensity of southern feeling on the position of the Negro varies proportionately with the concentration of Negroes-in areas of high concentration concern over Negro-white relations is greatest, in areas of low concentration concern is least; and, in areas with large colored populations this leads to a subordination of all other issues to the race issue. This paper reports correlations, relating to the above hypothesis and arrived at through simple statistical methods, between voting behavior in the Dixiecratic states in 1948 and 1952 and the Negro-white ratio of the election units. It also seeks to assess the prospects for development of two-party politics in these states.