cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Five HLA-D clusters associated with HLA-DR4.

Abstract In order to investigate the HLA-D clusters associated with DR4, 54 DR4-positive. Dw4- and Dw10-negative responders, together with selected Dw4- or Dw10-positive responders, were tested with 22 HTCs that define DR4-associated D specifities. The results are consistent with previous data defining four distinct D clusters—Dw4, Dw10, DB3, and DYT—and bare identified a new cluster provisionally termed LD40. In addition, the DB3 cluster is complex and appears to give typing response patterns overlapping those of the KT2 cluster originally defined as being associated with DR4 in Japanese populations. Of 116 DR4-positive haplotypes tested. 44% typed as Dw4, 18% were LD40, 16% were Dw10, 9% were DB3, 3% were DYT, and 10% gave no typing response to the HTCs defining any of these clusters. These studies are informative not only in defining the DR4-associated D clusters and in supporting the concept that D and DR cannot be considered identical but also in emphasizing the complexity of the D region.
Yoga for managing knee osteoarthritis in older women: a pilot randomized controlled trial

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common problem in older women that is associated with pain and disabilities. Although yoga is recommended as an exercise intervention to manage arthritis, there is limited evidence documenting its effectiveness, with little known about its long term benefits. This study’s aims were to assess the feasibility and potential efficacy of a Hatha yoga exercise program in managing OA-related symptoms in older women with knee OA. Eligible participants (N = 36; mean age 72 years) were randomly assigned to 8-week yoga program involving group and home-based sessions or wait-list control. The yoga intervention program was developed by a group of yoga experts (N = 5). The primary outcome was the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) total score that measures knee OA pain, stiffness, and function at 8 weeks. The secondary outcomes, physical function of the lower extremities, body mass index (BMI), quality of sleep (QOS), and quality of life (QOL), were measured using weight, height, the short physical performance battery (SPPB), the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), the Cantril Self-Anchoring Ladder, and the SF12v2 Health Survey. Data were collected at baseline, 4 weeks and 8 weeks, and 20 weeks. The recruitment target was met, with study retention at 95%. Based on ANCOVAs, participants in the treatment group exhibited significantly greater improvement in WOMAC pain (adjusted means [SE]) (8.3 [.67], 5.8 [.67]; p = .01), stiffness (4.7 [.28], 3.4 [.28]; p = .002) and SPPB (repeated chair stands) (2.0 [.23], 2.8 [.23]; p = .03) at 8 weeks. Significant treatment and time effects were seen in WOMAC pain (7.0 [.46], 5.4 [.54]; p = .03), function (24.5 [1.8], 19.9 [1.6]; p = .01) and total scores (35.4 [2.3], 28.6 [2.1]; p = .01) from 4 to 20 weeks. Sleep disturbance was improved but the PSQI total score declined significantly at 20 weeks. Changes in BMI and QOL were not significant. No yoga related adverse events were observed. A weekly yoga program with home practice is feasible, acceptable, and safe for older women with knee OA, and shows therapeutic benefits. ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01832155
A test for coating adhesion on flat substrates—a technical note

The standard tensile adhesion test (TAT), ASTM C633, has been modified to perform multiple tests on flat and wide substrates. The TAT geometry, which specifies a 1-in. (25.4-mm)-diameter cylindrical substrate, has been used as the pull-off bar. Two renditions of this test were implemented and the Weibull moduli and characteristic stresses for both test methods obtained. The modified TAT, termed as the single-bar (SB) method, yields a higher Weibull modulus and characteristic strength than the other method, which is termed the double-bar (DB) method. It is believed that the different test results between the two methods arise from different stress distributions near the interface of the coating and substrate.
Influence of metal ions and of salts on products from pyrolysis of wood: Applications to thermochemical processing of newsprint and biomass

Abstract Several different individual metal ions have been incorporated into cottonwood by ion exchange and the products of vacuum pyrolysis have been investigated. K, Li and Ca induced formation of high char and low tar yields, the latter being very low in levoglucosan (LG, 1). In contrast, all of the other ions investigated (especially the transition metals) gave increased yields of LG, up to 15.8% from wood exchanged with ferrous ions, corresponding to 32% conversion of cellulose to LG. When salts were sorbed into the wood (instead of ion exchanged) smaller, but still major increases in LG yield were again obtained, especially when indigenous salts in the wood were first removed by acid washing. With sorbed salts the effect of the anion was investigated. Wood sorbed with acetate salts behaved similarly to ion-exchanged wood, and chlorides (especially of Cu and Fe) were also beneficial in terms of LG yield. With low levels of sorbed FeSO 4 in wood the formation of both LG and levoglucosenone (LGO, 2) was catalyzed. Similar advantageous effects were observed with newsprint sorbed with FeSO 4 , which yielded 17.2% of LG and 3.7% of LGO as well as other significant products. The possible mechanisms of these effects are discussed. A coordinated approach to the chemical utilization of lignocellulosic biomass is foreshadowed, whereby ions such as Fe or Cu are incorporated into the biomass to catalyze pyrolytic production of LG and/or LGO, while at the same time generating an increased yield of charcoal. The latter also has the added potential benefit that it now contains an efficient gasification catalyst.
Controlling the dynamic instability of three-level atoms inside an optical ring cavity

Dynamic instability in the transmission field of an optical ring cavity containing three-level L-type rubidium atoms is studied in detail both experimentally and theoretically. A generalized theoretical model is developed to describe the full dynamics of such system and good agreement was obtained between the theoretical calculations and experimental observations.
Potassium and coadsorbed potassium and deuterium on Ni(100)

Abstract The interaction of potassium and the coadsorption of potassium and deuterium on Ni(100) were studied using work function change, thermal desorption, X-ray photoelectron, ultraviolet photoelectron and Auger spectroscopy. Potassium thermal desorption shows a broad structureless peak, the maximum temperature of which moves significantly lower with increasing coverage, the variations with coverage of the work function and the K(2p) binding energy are discussed in terms of charge transfer from K to Ni and extra-atomic screening. Adsorption of D 2 is inhibited, but the desorption energy of D(a) increases as the potassium coverage increases.
An empirical study of the international marketing strategies of e-commerce companies

This study surveyed a random sample of 136 e-commerce companies to provide baseline information about their marketing and international marketing strategies. The findings show that one in five companies do not market internationally and another four in ten generate 10% or less of their sales from international markets. About half of the companies reporting international sales did not adapt their strategies to the international markets. This may have contributed to the failure of many of these companies. A more savvy use of international marketing strategies by e-commerce companies could be very helpful to their future well-being. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
What we regret most... and why.

Which domains in life produce the greatest potential for regret, and what features of those life domains explain why? Using archival and laboratory evidence, the authors show that greater perceived opportunity within life domains evokes more intense regret. This pattern is consistent with previous publications demonstrating greater regret stemming from high rather than low opportunity or choice. A meta-analysis of 11 regret ranking studies revealed that the top six biggest regrets in life center on (in descending order) education, career, romance, parenting, the self, and leisure. Study Set 2 provided new laboratory evidence that directly linked the regret ranking to perceived opportunity. Study Set 3 ruled out an alternative interpretation involving framing effects. Overall, these findings show that people’s biggest regrets are a reflection of where in life they see their largest opportunities; that is, where they see tangible prospects for change, growth, and renewal.
Invasion and coexistence of two phenotypically variable species

The effect of ecological polymorphism on the coexistence of species has not previously been studied. Using a model of competitive interactions within and among species I investigate invasion of both monomorphic and polymorphic species. Three comparisons are considered which place previous work in a broader context and extend it to cover the situations characterized by polymorphism. First, I examine invasion of a monomorphic species into the range of another monomorphic species. This is done in a manner which allows for generalization to the following more complex cases. Second, I examine invasion of a monomorphic species into the range of a polymorphic species. Finally, I examine invasion and coexistence of a polymorphic species in the range of another polymorphic species. This sequence of comparisons produces some simple generalizations concerning invasion and coexistence of species in a variety of ecological situations. Furthermore, it emphasizes polymorphism as a potentially important factor in shaping ecological communities.
Reconfiguring a state machine

Reconfiguration means changing the set of processes executing a distributed system. We explain several methods for reconfiguring a system implemented using the state-machine approach, including some new ones. We discuss the relation between these methods and earlier reconfiguration algorithms--especially view changing in group communication.
KRUSKAL SPACE WITHOUT WORMHOLES

Abstract The points ( u,v, θ,ϕ) in Kruskas space, usually interpreted as different points on two sides of a wormhole, are here proposed to be two different representations of one single point event . This leads to weird predictions, verifiable experimentally if man ever meets a Schwarzschild-Kruskal singularity.
The Relationship Between State Abortion Policies and Abortion Providers

This study empirically examines whether restrictive state abortion laws have an impact on the number of abortion providers over the period 1982–2005. The empirical results find that medicaid funding restrictions, parental involvement laws and targeted regulation of abortion providers (TRAP laws) annual licensing fees significantly deter physicians or organizations from becoming or remaining abortion providers. The numerical impact of a Medicaid funding restriction, parental involvement law and a TRAP licensing fee is to reduce the number of abortion providers per 100,000 pregnancies by 12.8, 19.6 and 15.5, respectively, as compared to states without these restrictive abortion laws. The empirical results also show that parental notification laws have a significantly larger negative impact on the number of abortion providers than parental consent laws.
Analysis of the cuticular proteins of Hyalophora cecropia with polyclonal antibodies

Abstract The cuticular proteins from different anatomical regions and metamorphic stages of Hyalophora cecropia were analyzed with polyclonal antibodies raised against cuticular protein extracts from each stage. Western blots of 2D gels coupled with detection of antibody-antigen binding with avidin-biotinylated-horseradish peroxidase complexes (ABC method) proved to be extremely sensitive. Reactions of polyclonal antisera with blots of extracts of different cuticular regions revealed the following: (1) glycosylated cuticular proteins were highly antigenic; (2) there was less cross-reaction between rigid and flexible cuticles from the same metamorphic stage than among cuticles with similar mechanical properties from different stages; (3) proteins with identical molecular weights and isoelectric points were antigenically indistinguishable.
Modeling of the vertebrate visual system. I. Wiring diagram of the cone retina

Abstract Vertebrate cone retinas consist of a mosaic of regularly formed unit hexagons. Center field of a bipolar cell receives direct inputs from cones of unit hexagon and antagonistic surround field receives indirect inputs from cones of six unit hexagons via horizontal cells. Tonic ganglion cells are formed by direct convergence of bipolar cells while phasic ganglion cells are formed indirectly by convergence onto amacrine cells of hyperpolarizing- and depolarizing-types of bipolar cells. The basic model produces a color-coded C-channel and a non-color-coded L-channel. The complete blueprint consists of: spatial organization of unit hexagons, weighted inputs for each cone, taking into account stray light effects and electrical coupling between cones; and polarization factors determined by assuming linearity up to bipolar cell. Negative feedback to cones via L-type horizontal cells and electrical coupling between like-horizontal cells modify polarization factors.
First Person Observations of How HUMINT (Human Source Collection) Operations are a Reflection of Culture in China and the U.S.

This article examines HUMINT (Human Source Collection) operations as a reflection of cultural practices in China and the U.S. As such it begins by describing the role of context within daily life in China and then provides theoretical explanation for this Chinese context emphasis by clarifying the U.S. as more of a low-context culture and China as being more of a high-context culture. This is then used as foundation to compare and contrast Chinese HUMINT (Human Source Collection) practices with U.S. HUMINT practices. The fundamental finding from this analysis is that Chinese HUMINT practices tend to be reflective of Chinese high-context communication norms in contrast with U.S. HUMINT practices that are more reflective of U.S. low-context communication norms. The author draws from over 35 years service in the U.S. intelligence community, as both uniformed military and civilian. He retired from the U.S. Air Force (Reserve) in 2007, at the rank of Colonel, with his final 14 years serving as an Assistant Air Force Attache at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing, China. Since that time he has continued to work, teach and do research focusing on national security and intelligence issues.
The structure of weakly compressible grid-generated turbulence

A decaying compressible nearly homogeneous and nearly isotropic grid-generated turbulent flow has been set up in a large scale shock tube research facility. Experiments have been performed using instrumentation with spatial resolution of the order of 7 to 26 Kolmogorov viscous length scales. A variety of turbulence-generating grids provided a wide range of turbulence scales with bulk flow Mach numbers ranging from 0.3 to 0.6 and turbulent Reynolds numbers up to 700. The decay of Mach number fluctuations was found to follow a power law similar to that describing the decay of incompressible isotropic turbulence. It was also found that the decay coefficient and the decay exponent decrease with increasing Mach number while the virtual origin increases with increasing Mach number. A possible mechanism responsible for these effects appears to be the inherently low growth rate of compressible shear layers emanating from the cylindrical rods of the grid. Measurements of the time-dependent, three dimensional vorticity vectors were attempted for the first time with a 12-wire miniature probe. This also allowed estimates of dilatation, compressible dissipation and dilatational stretching to be obtained. It was found that the fluctuations of these quantities increase with increasing mean Mach number of the flow. The time-dependent signals of enstrophy, vortex stretching/tilting vector and dilatational stretching vector were found to exhibit a rather strong intermittent behaviour which is characterized by high-amplitude bursts with values up to 8 times their r.m.s. within periods of less violent and longer lived events. Several of these bursts are evident in all the signals, suggesting the existence of a dynamical flow phenomenon as a common cause.
The bipolar kinesin, KLP61F, cross-links microtubules within interpolar microtubule bundles of Drosophila embryonic mitotic spindles

Previous genetic and biochemical studies have led to the hypothesis that the essential mitotic bi- polar kinesin, KLP61F, cross-links and slides microtu- bules (MTs) during spindle assembly and function. Here, we have tested this hypothesis by immunofluo- rescence and immunoelectron microscopy (immu- noEM). We show that Drosophila embryonic spindles at metaphase and anaphase contain abundant bundles of MTs running between the spindle poles. These inter- polar MT bundles are parallel near the poles and anti- parallel in the midzone. We have observed that KLP61F motors, phosphorylated at a cdk1/cyclin B consensus domain within the BimC box (BCB), localize along the length of these interpolar MT bundles, being concentrated in the midzone region. Nonphosphory- lated KLP61F motors, in contrast, are excluded from the spindle and display a cytoplasmic localization. Immunoelectron microscopy further suggested that phospho-KLP61F motors form cross-links between MTs within interpolar MT bundles. These bipolar KLP61F MT-MT cross-links should be capable of orga- nizing parallel MTs into bundles within half spindles and sliding antiparallel MTs apart in the spindle mid- zone. Thus we propose that bipolar kinesin motors and MTs interact by a "sliding filament mechanism" during the formation and function of the mitotic spindle.
Dividends as a Solution to Agency Cost and Opaqueness: Theory and Evidence

We develop a model that explains the use of dividends in continuous time as a means of reducing agency cost. Ideally firms are transparent and shareholders can costlessly monitor managers. However perfect transparency is not always possible. Managers of opaque firms are harder to monitor and are subject to greater agency costs than managers of firms that are transparent. Similar to previous models, dividends are a means of reducing agency cost by removing excess cash available to managers. Since shareholders can monitor firms that are transparent, dividends are only required for opaque firms. Dividend policy is reevaluated whenever shifts in opaqueness occur. This reevaluation provides a multiperiod explanation to dividends that is absent in prior literature. Our theory generates predictions that are tested and supported.
Identifying the role of phonology in sentence-level reading

Phonological properties of the words in a sentence have been shown to affect processing fluency and comprehension. However, the exact role of phonology in sentence comprehension remains unclear. If constituents are stored in working memory during routine processing and accessed through their phonological code, phonological information may exert a pervasive influence on post-lexical comprehension processes such as retrieval for thematic integration. On the other hand, if access to constituents in memory during parsing is guided primarily by syntactic and semantic information, the parser should be isolated from phonologically based effects. In two self-paced reading experiments, we tested whether phonological overlap between distractors and a retrieval target caused retrieval interference during thematic integration. We found that phonological overlap creates difficulty during the initial encoding of the filler, but there was no evidence that phonological overlap caused later interference when the filler was retrieved for thematic integration. Despite effects at encoding, phonological interference did not have a detrimental effect on comprehension. These results suggest that phonological information is not used as a retrieval cue during routine dependency construction in incremental sentence processing. We conclude by considering the potential importance of phonology in parsing under conditions of extraordinary syntactic and/or semantic interference.
Effects of EGF and IGF-1 on proliferation of cultured human proximal tubule cells after oxidant stress.

Background. Both insulin‐like growth factor‐1 (IGF‐1) and epidermal growth factor (EGF) stimulate proliferation of various renal tubule epithelial cells in culture including proximal tubule cells. In some epithelial cells, the effects of EGF and IGF‐1 are additive or synergistic. The effects of EGF and IGF‐1 in cultured tubule epithelial cells following injury are limited. Methods. Immortalized human proximal tubules cultured in serum‐free defined medium were exposed to 0.3–1.5 mM peroxide for 1 h then washed and growth factors were added. ATP was measured by chemiluminescence, proliferation by [3H]thymidine uptake, and receptor expression by flow cytometry. Results. Immediately after 1.5 mM peroxide exposure, ATP levels were depressed to as low as ∼ 15% of normal but had recovered to near normal levels by 4 h. Proliferation was depressed in a dose‐dependent manner by peroxide. At the lowest doses of peroxide both EGF (20 ng/mL) and IGF‐1 (390 ng/mL) stimulated proliferation. As the concentration of perox...
Shunting neural network photodetector arrays in analog CMOS

This paper describes a custom analog CMOS photodetector array IC that exploits nonlinear lateral inhibition to achieve dynamic range compression, edge enhancement, and adaptation to mean input intensity. The neural net array architecture, characterized by nearest-neighbor connections and multiplicative cell interaction, is modeled after biological vision systems. The fabricated IC successfully implements a portion of the compact and powerful nonlinear signal processing performed in the outer layers of the vertebrate retina. Measured results are presented for an optical input intensity range of nearly six decades. A scanning architecture that allows for preferential directional sensitivity is also demonstrated. Measured data agree well with models created using a spreadsheet program. >
Treating Sleep Terrors in Children with Autism

Sleep terrors manifest themselves as a sudden arousal from slow wave sleep accompanied by screaming, crying, and other signs of intense fear. Children with autism spectrum disorders may be more lik...
The Stable, Inactive but Reactivatable, Unfolding Intermediate of Rat Muscle Sarcoplasmic Reticulum Ca2+-ATPase Differs From the Age-Modified Form of This Protein

Ca(2+)-ATPase from rat skeletal-muscle sarcoplasmic-reticulum has been reported to be less stable in old animals. These changes were suggested to be due to age-related modifications in the membrane. In the present study, the guanidinium-chloride (GuHCl)-induced inactivation, and reactivation by dilution of the denaturant, of this enzyme have been investigated. The cooperativity of the inactivation-transition was found to increase when the membrane was dissolved in the non-ionic detergent polyoxyethylene 10 laurylether. There is an inactive unfolding intermediate in equilibrium with the native state at low concentrations of GuHCl. This intermediate can be reactivated, even after as long a time as 19 h. The stability of this intermediate is only slightly affected by detergent solubilization of the enzyme. Hence, the membrane probably only plays a minor role in stabilizing the intermediate.
A lateral metal&#8212;insulator&#8212;p-Si tunnel transistor

We report the fabrication of a lateral MIS tunnel transistor whose emitter and collector are Al/SiO 2 /p-Si tunnel junctions. All processing is carried out at room temperature except for the growth of the passivating field oxide. The small signal common emitter current gain is 20. Two coupled gain mechanisms exist for such a lateral MIS tunnel transistor. The first mechanism relies on a high minority-carrier injection ratio of the emitter junction. Second, the minority carriers injected into the reverse-biased collector junction may produce additional gain through multiplication of majority-carrier current. Lateral MIS tunnel transistors on n-Si make use of the second mechanism. Our device takes advantage of the high minority-carrier injection ratio achievable with Al/SiO 2 /p-Si tunnel junctions.
Detection of Ricin Contamination in Liquid Egg by Electrochemiluminescence Immunosorbent Assay

Ricin is a highly toxic protein present in the seeds of Ricinus communis (castor), grown principally as a source of high quality industrial lubricant and as an ornamental. Because ricin has been used for intentional poisoning in the past and could be used to contaminate food, there is a need for analytical methodology to detect ricin in food matrices. A monoclonal antibody-based method was developed for detecting and quantifying ricin in ground beef, a complex, fatty matrix. The limit of detection was 0.5 ng/g for the electrochemiluminescence (ECL) method and 1.5 ng/g for enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The detection of nanogram per gram quantities of ricin spiked into retail samples of ground beef provides approximately 10,000-fold greater sensitivity than required to detect a toxic dose of ricin (>1 mg) in a 100 g sample.
Who talks with whom? The role of repeated interactions in decentralized forest governance

Summary. — This article suggests that efforts to study decentralization outcomes would benefit from widening the unit of analysis from the local government administration to the local governance system. Many individual local governments, especially in developing countries, lack the human and physical resources to be effective governors by themselves. It is, thus, useful to recognize the linkages between different governance actors. The empirical analysis, based on observations in Bolivia’s forestry sector, finds that the degree of connectivity between the actors in a municipal governance system helps explain why some systems are more effective than others. 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
On the Elementary Proof of the Prime Number Theorem

Perhaps the simplest elementary proof of the prime number theorem, see Erdos (2) and Selberg (5), is Wright's modification (8), (3, p. 362) of Selberg's original proof (5). Another variant is due to V. Nevanlinna (4). Wright's proof uses Selberg's idea of smoothing the weighting process which occurs in the Selberg inequality, (1.2) below, by iterating this inequality. Here it will be shown that the proof requires less ingenuity if use is made of a further smoothing operation, namely first integrating the Selberg inequality itself. Integration has been used on a related inequality by Breusch (1 to obtain a remainder term. This method also makes proof by contradiction unnecessary.
Phase Studies in the Pseudobinary System UN—UP

Samples were prepared at different compositions in the pseudobinary system UN-UP and were melted under atmospheres of helium, pressurized nitrogen, and helium-nitrogen mixtures. The tentative phase diagram presented shows no intermediate compound formation and only about 1% solubility of UN in the UP lattice. A eutectic occurred at about 2300° C and 40 wt% UP.
Application of homogenization theory to the study of trabecular bone mechanics

Aha& strain. At this time, however, there is no generally accepted (or easily accomplished) technique for predicting the effect of microstructure on trabecular bone apparent stiffness and strength or estimating tissue level stress or strain. In this paper, a recently developed mechanics theory specifically designed to analyze microstructured materials, called the homogenization theory, is presented and applied to analyze trabecular bone mechanics. Using the homogenization theory it is possible to perform microstructural and continuum analyses separately and then combine them in a systematic manner. Stiffness predictions from two different microstructural models of trabecular bone show reasonable agreement with experimental results, depending on metaphyseal region, (R”>0.5 for proximai humerus specimens, R* ~0.5 for distal femur and proximal tibia specimens). Estimates of both microstructural strain energy density (SED) and apparent SED show that there are large differences (up to 30 times) between apparent SED (as calculated by standard continuum finite element analyses) and the maximum microstructural or tissue SED. Furthermore, a strut and spherical void microstructure gave very different estimates of maximum tissue SED for the same bone volume fraction (BV/TV). The estimates from the spherical void microstructure are between 2 and 20 times greater than the strut microstructure at lo-20% W/TV
Computational discovery of soybean promoter cis‐regulatory elements for the construction of soybean cyst nematode‐inducible synthetic promoters

Computational methods offer great hope but limited accuracy in the prediction of functional cis-regulatory elements; improvements are needed to enable synthetic promoter design. We applied an ensemble strategy for de novo soybean cyst nematode (SCN)-inducible motif discovery among promoters of 18 co-expressed soybean genes that were selected from six reported microarray studies involving a compatible soybean-SCN interaction. A total of 116 overlapping motif regions (OMRs) were discovered bioinformatically that were identified by at least four out of seven bioinformatic tools. Using synthetic promoters, the inducibility of each OMR or motif itself was evaluated by co-localization of gain of function of an orange fluorescent protein reporter and the presence of SCN in transgenic soybean hairy roots. Among 16 OMRs detected from two experimentally confirmed SCN-inducible promoters, 11 OMRs (i.e. 68.75%) were experimentally confirmed to be SCN-inducible, leading to the discovery of 23 core motifs of 5- to 7-bp length, of which 14 are novel in plants. We found that a combination of the three best tools (i.e. SCOPE, W-AlignACE and Weeder) could detect all 23 core motifs. Thus, this strategy is a high-throughput approach for de novo motif discovery in soybean and offers great potential for novel motif discovery and synthetic promoter engineering for any plant and trait in crop biotechnology.
Workplace Violence and Safety Issues in Long-Term Medical Care Facilities: Nurses' Perspectives.

Background Workplace violence (WPV) is becoming an issue that needs immediate attention in the United States, especially during this period as more states are adopting the “stand your ground laws to promote worker protection.” This study was conducted to investigate how WPV has contributed to an unsafe environment for nurses and nursing assistants who work in long-term medical care facilities.
A Qualitative Examination of Situational Risk Recognition Among Female Victims of Physical Intimate Partner Violence

Little is known about intimate partner violence (IPV) victims' situational risk recognition, defined as the ability to identify situational factors that signal imminent risk of victimization. Using semi-structured interviews, qualitative data were collected from a community sample of 31 female victims of IPV episodes involving substance use. Thirteen themes were identified, the most prevalent being related to the partner's verbal behavior, tone of voice, motor behavior, alcohol or drug use, and facial expression. Participants reporting at least some anticipation of physical aggression (61.3% of the sample) tended to identify multiple factors (M = 3.47), suggesting numerous situational features often contribute to situational risk recognition.
Core temperature monitoring of firefighters during hazardous materials training sessions.

OBJECTIVE: To determine core temperature (Tc) elevations in hazardous materials (HazMat) technicians wearing level-A fully encapsulated, chemically resistive suits (FECRSs) during training scenarios. DESIGN: Cross-sectional, observational feasibility study with Institutional Review Board approval. SETTING: HazMat training scenarios held during the summer of 1994. Weather conditions included both rainy and sunny days, with a mean ambient temperature of 75.8 degrees F (24.3 degrees C) (range 69-83 degrees F [20.6-28.3 degrees C). PARTICIPANTS: Nine male firefighters participating in training scenarios in the Midwestern United States. INTERVENTIONS: Each volunteer swallowed a capsule containing a Tc sensor developed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. The capsule continuously monitored Tc and stored data in an ambulatory recorder worn under the level-A FECRS during training. RESULTS: Mean age of the volunteers was 34 years, mean weight was 92.6 kg, and average baseline Tc was 36.7 degrees C (97.1 degrees F) (range 35.3-38.2 degrees C [95.5-100 degrees F]). Time in the FECRS averaged 25.4 minutes (range 14-35 minutes). All subjects demonstrated increased Tc while in the suit; the mean Tc increase was 0.8 degree C (1.4 degrees F) (range 0.2-1.3 degrees C [0.4-2.3 degrees F]). The Tc continued to increase during wet decontamination procedures and after suit removal. Mean heat storage values (delta Tcx LBMx 3.47 kJ) were calculated, and found to be moderately elevated to 3.6 kJ/kg (range 2.1-4.6 kJ/kg). CONCLUSION: These observations support the validity and significance of implementing prophylactic measures for firefighters using protective clothing. Simple protective measures include enforced time limitations, hydration, and efforts to minimize heat buildup by avoiding both direct sunlight and unnecessary time encapsulated in the suit. Language: en
Implications of Decreased Nitrite Concentrations on Clostridium perfringens Outgrowth during Cooling of Ready-to-Eat Meats

Increased popularity of natural and organic processed meats can be attributed to the growing consumer demand for preservative-free foods, including processed meats. To meet this consumer demand, meat processors have begun using celery juice concentrate in place of sodium nitrite to create products labeled as no-nitrate or no-nitrite-added meat products while maintaining the characteristics unique to conventionally cured processed meats. Because of flavor limitations, natural cures with celery concentrate typically provide lower ingoing nitrite concentrations for ready-to-eat processed meats than do conventional cures, which could allow for increased growth of pathogens, such as Clostridium perfringens, during cooked product cooling such as that required by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The objective of this study was to investigate the implications associated with reduced nitrite concentrations for preventing C. perfringens outgrowth during a typical cooling cycle used for cooked products. Nitrite treatments of 0, 50, and 100 ppm were tested in a broth system inoculated with a three-strain C. perfringens cocktail and heated with a simulated product thermal process followed by a typical cooling-stabilization process. The nitrite concentration of 50 ppm was more effective for preventing C. perfringens outgrowth than was 0 ppm but was not as effective as 100 ppm. The interaction between nitrite and temperature significantly affected (P 0.05) on spore outgrowth. Results indicate that decreased nitrite concentrations (50 ppm) have increased potential for total C. perfringens population outgrowth during cooling and may require additional protective measures, such as faster chilling rates.
A primary care approach to Sjögren's syndrome. Helping patients cope with sicca symptoms, extraglandular manifestations.

Sjogren's syndrome is a chronic, systemic, autoimmune inflammatory disorder characterized by lymphocytic infiltration of exocrine glands, most notably the salivary and lacrimal glands. It results in loss of functional epithelium, diminished exocrine function, and gradual onset of dryness of the eyes, mouth, and other body parts (sicca syndrome). Because most patients with Sjogren's syndrome are female, this syndrome also represents a major women's health problem that is often misdiagnosed and undertreated. In this article, Drs Derk and Vivino review the criteria for diagnosis, common signs and symptoms, and strategies for increasing patient comfort.
2.6 A 190.5GHz mode-switching VCO with 20.7% continuous tuning range and maximum power of −2.1dBm in 0.13µm BiCMOS

Wideband mm-Wave and terahertz (THz) applications, including high data-rate communications, high-resolution radar and spectroscopy, require wideband signal sources. Nevertheless, low quality factor of varactors and lossy switches in addition to relatively large parasitic capacitors of transistors have been limiting the tuning range of voltage controlled oscillators (VCO) at these frequencies. To overcome these challenges, harmonic VCOs using high harmonic numbers and switched-capacitor banks at much lower fundamental frequencies were reported [1]. The drawback to this approach is the limited output power since the extracted harmonic number is typically high. Other tuning techniques such as phase/delay control between coupled oscillators and tuning boosting using transformer-based resonators were also reported [2–4]. However, the highest reported tuning range for VCOs above 150GHz is not more than 12.5%, which covers a small portion of the bandwidth available at high mm-Wave and THz frequencies.
Investigation of transient human thermoregulatory responses to different environmental conditions

Several models have been developed and used to simulate human thermal responses to various environmental conditions for different activity levels. However, most of the human thermal models developed so far are only for a nude person. In this study, a transient three-dimensional mathematical thermal model for the clothed human was used to investigate human thermoregulation. This model includes the effect of clothing in addition to tissue conduction, convection by blood flow, vascular heat exchange, tissue metabolism, and heat transfer due to respiration. The governing equations are developed for the entire human thermal system and are solved using finite element techniques. Extensive parametric studies are conducted to investigate the effects of varying environmental conditions and clothing on thermal responses such as core and skin temperatures, skin heat loss, sweating rate, and evaporation rate. (Author)
Potential of asymmetrical Si/Ge and Ge/Si based hetero-junction transit time devices over homo-junction counterparts for generation of high power

Static and dynamic properties of both complementary n-Ge/p-Si and p-Ge/n-Si hetero-junction Double-Drift IMPATT diodes have been investigated by an advanced and realistic computer simulation technique,developed by the authors,for operation in the Ka-,V- and W-band frequencies.The results are further compared with corresponding Si and Ge homo-junction devices.The study shows high values of device efficiency,such as 23%, 22%and 21.5%,for n-Ge/p-Si IMPATTs at the Ka,V and W bands,respectively.The peak device negative conductances for n-Si/p-Ge and n-Ge/p-Si hetero-junction devices found to be 50.7×10~6 S/m~2 and 71.3×10~6 S/m~2, which are～3-4 times better than their Si and Ge counterparts at the V-band.The computed values of RF power-density for n-Ge/p-Si hetero-junction IMPATTs are 1.0×10~9,1.1×10~9 and 1.4×10~9 W/m~2,respectively,for Ka-,V- and W-band operation,which can be observed to be the highest when compared with Si,Ge and n-Si/p-Ge devices.Both of the hetero-junctions,especially the n-Ge/p-Si hetero-junction diode,can thus become a superior RF-power generator over a wide range of frequencies.The present study will help the device engineers to choose a suitable material pair for the development of high-power MM-wave IMPATT for applications in the civil and defense-related arena.
A Review of the Role of Genetic Testing in Pain Medicine

Background Pain clinicians have always been challenged by the variability of response to pain treatment. Differences in the degree of pain stimulation and pain sensitivity, weight and age differences, prior opioid use and tolerance, as well as the differences in bioavailability of various opioid formulations have been cited as causes for the wide variability in analgesia seen with opioids. Genetics may explain the variability of responses and help to predict more effective (or less dangerous) medication choices and doses. Genetics may also help to predict the response to specific opioids and antidepressants. Objectives In this review article, we discuss the genetic influence of nociception, analgesia, and hyoanalgesia. The CYP450 enzymes involved in the metabolism and activity of opioids and adjuvant analgesics are genetically controlled, as are the opioid receptors and a variety of brain chemistries. Methods This article discusses the specific pain implications of genetic variations in CYP1A2, CYP2C8, CYP2C9, CYP2C19, CYP2D6, CYP2E1, CYP3A4, CYP3A7, OPRM1, OPRK1, OPRD1, COMT, GABA, UGT, MC1R, GCH1, ABCB1, P-glycoprotein, 5HTR1A, 5HTR2A, MTHFR, CACNA2D2, and 5-HTTLPR. Results Recent research findings suggest the relationship between genetic predisposition and clinical behavior, including the risk of opioid misuse and addiction. While urine drug testing may hint at genetic issues regarding opioid metabolism, cheek swab DNA testing has become economically viable, and we review the current and future genetic pain issues that may influence the decisions that pain clinicians make every day. Conclusion Genetic testing may explain and predict many of the clinical responses seen with opioids and adjuvant medications, and may help the clinician identify those patients at genetic risk of opioid misuse and addiction.
Salvage Excavations in a Buried Hohokam Site Near Tucson, Arizona

ABSTRACTThe Arizona State Museum has periodically undertaken salvage excavations at Arizona BB: 13:14 near Tucson, Arizona, a Hohokam site largely destroyed by erosion and road construction. A number of burials and cremations dating between A.D. 900 and 1300 have been recovered from the site, including a male human burial with an interesting lithic tool kit and other grave goods, and the burial of a small dog with a painted bowl.
Preparing to Apply and Choosing a Specialty

This chapter will provide key information on the match process and outline basic information on surgical specialties. The following sections include tips for the successful assessment of one’s competitiveness as a surgical residency candidate, and offer a guide to a successful surgical residency match for applicants early in their medical career.
An 8b 1.39GS/S 0.85V two-step ADC with background comparator offset calibration

An 8b, 1.3/1.39GS/s, 7/8.1mW two-step ADC is presented that introduces a single reference comparator based background comparator offset calibration technique. This work employs a dual-residue based inter-stage redundancy scheme to relax residue amplifier specifications (and enable high-speed operation at 0.85V supply) in a two-step ADC. Comparator offset calibration is implemented through body biasing with an area-efficient 8b offset calibration DAC. A prototype in 28nm CMOS achieves 6.8 ENOB and 50fJ/c-s at DC and 6.3 ENOB and 68fJ/c-s at Nyquist, at a sample rate of 1.3GS/s. The measured SNDR/SFDR improve from 29.2/40.7dB to 42.6/57.7dB after calibration. The active area is 0.05mm2.
Pedagogies of Naming, Questioning, and Demystification: A Study of Two Critical U.S. History Classrooms

While the conceptual work on critical pedagogy is undeniably rich, few empirical studies have examined its applications in K–12 classroom settings and impacts on students. Based on ethnographic res...
Effect of polarity on the machining characteristics and surface generation in EDM

Abstract The EDM process is highly complex with numerous factors affecting the erosion and resultant surface generation. Important among them and investigated here are pulse voltage, peak current and pulse on time and polarity. The last one is an important parameter but seldom-varied in experiments. Accordingly this study involves the polarity effect, but also includes the simultaneous effect of other listed pulse parameters. As in any metal removal process here also the roughness of EDM surface is related to metal erosion rate. However one exception occurs in EDM where by higher erosion rate with higher pulse on time is associated with lower roughness. This has been attributed to expanding plasma channel of the spark. The effect of various input parameters on responses like surface finish and material removal rate are discussed.
Influence of high stress triaxiality on mechanical strength of ASTM A36, ASTM A572 and ASTM A992 steels

Abstract This study aims at investigating the influence of high stress triaxiality on the yield strength and ultimate tensile strength of commonly used structural steels (ASTM A36 , ASTM A572 and ASTM A992 ). To this end, axisymmetrically notched steel specimens are designed to generate a range of stress triaxialities. Yield strength and ultimate tensile strength of notched steel specimens are then determined using engineering stress-strain curves obtained from uniaxial tensile testing of notched specimens. Yield strength and ultimate tensile strength of all three types of structural steels are found to increase linearly with increase in stress triaxiality of test specimens. Based on experimental and complimentary finite element results, predictive equations are proposed to estimate increased yield strength and ultimate tensile strength as a function of stress triaxiality in structural steels.
John Harry Goldthorpe: Weighing the Biological Ballast Informing Class Structure and Class Mobility

Distilled to its utmost, John Goldthorpe’s research depicts class as a coherent bundle of variables whose dynamic stability is only modestly responsive to social policy and temporarily disrupted by societal transitions. For all his descriptive prowess, Goldthorpe less successfully explains the origin and perpetuation of social stratification, and concomitantly, intractable limitations on social mobility. Especially as expansively described by Goldthorpe, class is a multifactorial construct partially tracking within-population life history speed variation. With that insight gained, the biological ballast of class stratification and stability can be understood as deriving from life history speed, which has genetic contributions that vary within populations. Thus, there is a biological ballast to social class, maintaining stratification even in the face of progressive social policies.
Multivariate Time Series, Linear Systems and Kalman Filtering

This chapter is devoted to the analysis of the time evolution of random vectors. The first section presents the generalization to the multivariate case of the univariate time series models studied in the previous chapter. Modern accounts of time series analysis increasingly rely on the formalism and the techniques developed for the analysis of general stochastic systems. Even though financial applications have remained mostly immune to this evolution, because of its increased popularity and its tremendous potential, we decided to include this alternative approach in this chapter. The tone of the chapter will have to change slightly as we discuss concepts and theories which were introduced and developed in engineering fields far remote from financial applications.