cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Reassembled biosynthetic pathway for large-scale carbohydrate synthesis: α-Gal epitope producing "superbug"

A metabolic pathway engineered Escherichia coli strain (superbug) containing one plasmid harboring an artificial gene cluster encoding all the five enzymes in the biosynthetic pathway of Galalpha l,3Lac through galactose metabolism has been developed. The plasmid contains a lambda promoter, a c1857 repressor gene, an ampicillin resistance gene, and a T7 terminator. Each gene was preceded by a Shine - Dalgarno sequence for ribosome binding. In a reaction catalyzed by the recombinant E. coli strain, Galalpha 1,3Lac trisaccharide accumulated at concentrations of 14.2 mM (7.2 gL(-1)) in a reaction mixture containing galactose, glucose, lactose, and a catalytic amount of uridine 5'-diphosphoglucose. This work demonstrates that large-scale synthesis of complex oligosaccharides can be achieved economically and efficiently through a single, biosynthetic pathway engineered microorganism.
Mobius syndrome: Electrophysiologic studies in seven cases

Mobius syndrome is characterized by congenital facial diplegia, frequent impairment of gaze, variable involvement of other cranial muscles, and various musculoskeletal anomalies. The site of dysfunction remains debatable. We performed detailed electrophysiologic studies in 5 children and 2 adults with Mobius syndrome to better delineate the pathophysiology of this disorder. Sensory and motor conduction studies were normal in the extremities. Facial compound muscle action potential amplitudes were reduced in all patients. The blink reflex R 1 responses were unobtainable unilaterally in 2 patients and unobtainable bilaterally in 3 patients. Otherwise, R 1 and R 2 latencies were variably prolonged. The jaw jerk and masseter silent periods, tested in 2 patients, were normal. Detailed electromyographic studies of facial muscles revealed multifocal, chronic neurogenic changes. The findings indicate a brain stem process predominantly affecting the facial nuclei and their internuclear connections rather than a supranuclear or muscular site of involvement.
Some observations on religion in Safavid Persia

(1974). Some observations on religion in Safavid Persia. Iranian Studies: Vol. 7, No. 1-2, pp. 287-293.
Inturned Localizes to the Proximal Side of Wing Cells under the Instruction of Upstream Planar Polarity Proteins

Abstract Planar polarity development in the Drosophila wing is under the control of the frizzled ( fz ) pathway [1–3]. Recent work has established that the planar polarity (PP) proteins become localized to either the distal, proximal, or both sides of wing cells [4–9]. Fz and Dsh distal accumulation is thought to locally activate the cytoskeleton to form a hair [4, 10, 11]. Planar polarity effector (PPE) genes such as inturned ( in ) are not required for the asymmetric accumulation of PP proteins, but they are required for this to influence hair polarity [1, 2, 8, 9, 12–14]. in mutations result in abnormal hair polarity and are epistatic to mutations in the PP genes [12–15]. We report that In localizes to the proximal side of wing cells in a PP-dependent and PP-instructive manner. We further show that the function of two other PPE genes ( fuzzy and fritz ) is essential for In protein localization, a finding consistent with previous genetic data that suggested these three genes function in a common process. These data indicate that accumulation of proteins at the proximal side of wing cells is a key event for the distal activation of the cytoskeleton to form a hair.
New osculating orbits for 110 comets and analysis of original orbits for 200 comets

Osculating orbits are presented for 110 nearly parabolic comets. Combining these with selected orbit determinations from other sources, a total of 200 orbits are considered where the available observations yield a result of very good (first-class) or good (second-class) quality. For each of these, the original and future orbits (referred to the barycenter of the solar system) are calculated. The Oort effect (a tendency for original reciprocal semimajor axis values to range from zero to +100 millionths per AU) is clearly seen among the first-class orbits but not among the second-class orbits. Modifications in original reciprocal semimajor axis values due to the effects of nongravitational forces are considered.
Wherever He May Go: How Wives Affect Their Husband's Career Decisions

Abstract We study the impact that a wife has on her husband's choice of career. Specifically, we investigate the decision to remain in the military and pursue the career of a military officer for those couples consisting of a civilian wife and a military husband. This decision is of special interest because the employment opportunities of wives are almost always negatively affected by a husband's military career. We find that variables measuring the financial consequences of a career change are important as are attitudinal variables. Moreover, our results show that the economic consequences of a career choice are valued differently by a husband depending on whether the consequences apply to himself or to his spouse. We find that a husband's level of satisfaction with the family's present work–life situation matters more than the wife's level of satisfaction and that a husband gives less weight to the potential earnings of his wife if the wife has a low level of attachment to the labor force. Finally, there is a significant difference among men in that a traditional husband only partially accounts for the potential economic impact on his wife of the prospective career change.
Mitigating phosphate interference in bacterial endospore detection by Tb dipicolinate photoluminescence

A new technique for the detection of bacterial endospores using terbium dipicolinate photoluminescence has been previously reported in the literature. The performance of this technique is adversely affected by the presence of substances that contain phosphate ions. This deficiency must be overcome before this method can be used as a viable means of detecting bacterial endospores. We have experimentally investigated methods for mitigating the phosphate problem and demonstrate that the addition of AlCl3 is a solution to the problem. Proper experimental procedures for this method are also presented.
Abstract A69: Pilot study of the effects of indole-3-carbinol on deuterated phenanthrene metabolism in smokers

Background/Purpose: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), widely considered as critical causative agents of tobacco-related lung cancer, are found in high levels in tobacco smoke and require metabolic activation to exert their carcinogenic effects. The development of urinary biomarkers of PAH metabolism using the more abundant and generally non-carcinogenic phenanthrene (Phe) as a surrogate of the prototypic carcinogenic PAH benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) has provided a reliable tool to characterize the uptake and metabolism of BaP in smokers. There is wide inter-individual variation in PheT metabolism. Furthermore, smokers who are more efficient metabolic activators of Phe appear to have a higher risk of developing lung cancer in prospective case-control studies. We examined the effects of indole-3-carbinol (I3C), a compound arising from cruciferous vegetables shown to possess anti-cancer activity, in modifying Phe metabolism. We hypothesized that I3C might have a chemopreventive effect in cigarette smokers by abrogating the metabolic activation and/or detoxification of [D10]Phe. Procedures: Ten micrograms of [D10]Phe was administered via inhalation of a smoked cigarette prior to and after 7 days if I3C 400 mg po BID. Plasma and urine samples were collected at baseline and for 48 hours following [D10]Phe administration. Deuterated phenanthrene tetraol ([D10]PheT, a reflection of uptake and metabolic activation via the diol epoxide pathway), and deuterated phenanthrol ([D10]HOPhe, a reflection of detoxification and elimination) were quantified in urine and plasma before and after I3C and compared. Results: A total of 8 subjects completed the study procedures, 6 females and 2 males. Subject 8 was clearly an outlier and was excluded from analysis. One-sample t-test was used to compare the mean difference in [D10]PheT and the mean difference in [D10]HOPhe among the group before and after I3C. The reduction in [D10]PheT in urine was significant (one-sample t-test, p=.023), although only marginally so in plasma (=.083). [D10]PheT AUC was not reduced (p=.23). [D10]HOPhe was generally reduced but not significantly (p=.15). Correlation between 6-hour and 48-hour [D10]PheT and [D10]HOPhe was very strong (r=.873; p=.010 and r=.968;p Conclusion: I3C may be an effective chemopreventive agent in tobacco-related lung cancer by reducing the metabolic activation of carcinogenic PAH. A larger, definitive study is needed to confirm these results. Citation Format: Naomi Fujioka, Yan Zhong, J. Bradley Holchalter, Diane Rauch, Joni J. Jensen, Chap T. Le, Dorothy K. Hatsukami, Stephen S. Hecht. Pilot study of the effects of indole-3-carbinol on deuterated phenanthrene metabolism in smokers. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Eleventh Annual AACR International Conference on Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research; 2012 Oct 16-19; Anaheim, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Prev Res 2012;5(11 Suppl):Abstract nr A69.
Dipolar ion of phenylalanine: conformational analysis and electronic structure.

Abstract The conformational energies and electronic structure of the dipolar ion of phenylalanine were calculated by the CNDO/2 and extended Huckel molecular orbital methods. In extended Huckel calculation, Cusachs and Mulliken-Wolfsberg-Helmholtz (MWH) methods were used to evaluate the off diagonal Hamiltonian matrix elements. According to the CNDO/2 method, two stable rotational isomers exist: rotamer B (where the phenyl group is between the hydrogen atom and carboxylate group) and rotamer C (where the phenyl group is between the ammonium ion and the carboxylate group). Rotamer C is 1·6 kcal/mol more stable than rotamer B. The extended Huckel methods gave three stable rotamers. According to Cusachs' method the stability decreases in the order: rotamer A (where the phenyl and carboxylate groups are in anti configuration), rotamer B, and rotamer C; the MWH method gives the order as B > A > C. Results of nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy studies agree with the conformers suggested by the CNDO/2 method. The results also suggest that the stabilization of rotational isomers of the dipolar ion of phenylalanine is primarily due to electronic effects.
Sperm Chromatin: Fertile Grounds for Proteomic Discovery of Clinical Tools

Sperm are remarkably complex cells with a singularly important mission: to deliver paternal DNA and its associated factors to the oocyte to start a new life. The integrity of sperm DNA is a keystone of reproductive success, which includes fertilization and embryonic development. In addition, the significance in these processes of proteins that associate with sperm DNA is increasingly being appreciated. In this review, we highlight proteomic studies that have identified sperm chromatin proteins with fertility roles that have been validated by molecular studies in model organisms or correlations in the clinic. Up to 50% of male-factor infertility cases in the clinic have no known cause and therefore no direct treatment. In-depth study of the molecular basis of infertility has great potential to inform the development of sensitive diagnostic tools and effective therapies that will address this incongruity. Because sperm rely on testis-specific protein isoforms and post-translational modifications for their development and function, sperm-specific processes are ideal for proteomic explorations that can bridge the research lab and fertility clinic.
Evaluation of the platelet function analyzer (PFA-100) vs. the thromboelastogram (TEG) in the parturient.

Background The platelet function analyzer (PFA-100®) is a bedside test of coagulation designed to evaluate platelet function. It measures the time required for whole blood to occlude a membrane impregnated with either epinephrine (EPI) or adenosine 5′diphosphate (ADP). The results are reported as closure time (CT-EPI or CT-ADP) in seconds. The thromboelastogram (TEG) measures whole blood clotting and the maximum amplitude (MA) correlates with platelet count and function. We wished to establish whether there is a correlation between the CT and platelet count, between the CT and MA, and between the MA and platelet count. Methods Platelet count, CT, and MA were measured in blood drawn from 172 healthy term parturients using the PFA-100®. Results We were unable to detect a significant correlation between the CT-EPI and platelet count (r=−0.1, P =0.21), or the CT-ADP and platelet count (r=−0.02, P =0.83). We also did not find a correlation between the CT-EPI and MA (r=−0.13, P =0.12) or between the CT-ADP and MA (r=−0.11, P =0.19). However, we found a significant correlation between platelet count and MA (r=0.33, P Conclusions We conclude that the CT does not correlate with the platelet count or MA in the parturient, but the TEG does. Therefore the TEG may be a better tool to evaluate coagulation in the parturient with thrombocytopenia.
Ultrahigh Energy Cosmic Rays and Neutrinos

We discuss the relation between the highest energy cosmic rays (UHECR) and UHE neutrinos. The neutrinos produced in the sources of optically thin astrophysical sources have been linked to the UHECR emissivity of the Universe. The fluxes of cosmogenic neutrinos, generated in propagation by UHECR, also reflect the acceleration of these particles, the maximum acceleration energy, and the cosmological evolution of their sources.
Improving multimodel weather forecast of monsoon rain over China using FSU superensemble.

In this paper we present the current capabilities for numerical weather prediction of precipitation over China using a suite of ten multimodels and our superensemble based forecasts. Our suite of models includes the operational suite selected by NCARs TIGGE archives for the THORPEX Program. These are: ECMWF, UKMO, JMA, NCEP, CMA, CMC, BOM, MF, KMA and the CPTEC models. The superensemble strategy includes a training and a forecasts phase, for these the periods chosen for this study include the months February through September for the years 2007 and 2008. This paper addresses precipitation forecasts for the medium range i.e. Days 1 to 3 and extending out to Day 10 of forecasts using this suite of global models. For training and forecasts validations we have made use of an advanced TRMM satellite based rainfall product. We make use of standard metrics for forecast validations that include the RMS errors, spatial correlations and the equitable threat scores. The results of skill forecasts of precipitation clearly demonstrate that it is possible to obtain higher skills for precipitation forecasts for Days 1 through 3 of forecasts from the use of the multimodel superensemble as compared to the best model of this suite. Between Days 4 to 10 it is possible to have very high skills from the multimodel superensemble for the RMS error of precipitation. Those skills are shown for a global belt and especially over China. Phenomenologically this product was also found very useful for precipitation forecasts for the Onset of the South China Sea monsoon, the life cycle of the mei-yu rains and post typhoon landfall heavy rains and flood events. The higher skills of the multimodel superensemble make it a very useful product for such real time events.
Calculations of Activation Entropies of Chemical Reactions in Solution

j¢Gj. The solvent contributions to the activation entropy are evaluated using a newly developed version of the Langevin dipole model. The potential surfaces used in the present work are obtained by the empirical valence bond (EVB) method. This method provides analytical yet reliable potential surfaces that reflect properly the motions of the reacting fragments and the coupling between these motions and the solvent polarization. The analytical representation of the EVB surfaces allows us to perform the extensive sampling necessary in order to obtain converging results. Our method is examined by evaluating the activation entropy for the hydrolysis of formamide in water. It is found that the calculated activation entropies reach convergence in a reasonable computer time and that the agreement between the calculated and observed results is reasonable. This method can be easily implemented in studies of enzymatic reactions and helps in assessing the importance of entropic effects in enzyme catalysis.
Educating the next generation of SETI scientists: Voyages through time

Abstract The search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI) could succeed tomorrow, or not for many generations, or never. SETI scientists are very cognizant of the need to train the next generation of researchers who can carry on this vast scientific exploration. Previously, the SETI Institute has met this challenge by developing supplementary teacher's guides for elementary and middle schools called “Life In the Universe” and published by Teacher Ideas Press. Currently, we are engaged in a far more challenging project that is funded primarily by the National Science Foundation (NSF). The SETI Institute is creating a year long, interdisciplinary, high school science curriculum called “Voyages Through Time: Everything Evolves”. We are using the theme of evolution to weave a panoramic vista for students that begins with the origin of the universe, encompasses our own origin and evolution, and looks at the evolution of technology and our possible future. By integrating different scientific and technical disciplines to explore how we answer fundamentally important questions, we hope to excite and motivate high school students with the opportunities offered by the way science is practiced today. We invite them to plan a future in which they help to enrich the answers to the big questions: Where did I come from? Where am I going? is anybody else out there? Voyages Through Time consists of six modules on CD-ROMs for teachers and students that have been extensively tested both regionally and nationally. Publication is expected in 2003. The partners in the development of this curriculum are the SETI Institute, NASA Ames Research Center, California Academy of Sciences, and San Francisco State University. Voyages Through Time is funded by the NSF (IMD # 9730693) with additional support from NASA, Hewlett Packard Company, The Foundation for Microbiology, and the Federated Charitable Campaign. For further information, visit: http://www.seti.org/education/Welcome.html.
The Collected Papers of Paul Ehrlich: Why Was Volume 4 Never Published?

In the 1950s, Sir Henry Hallett Dale undertook to compile and publish all the scientific papers of Nobel laureate Paul Ehrlich. He was assisted in this venture by Dr. Fred Himmelweit and by Ehrlich's former secretary, Martha Marquardt. A four-volume series was announced, but only three volumes saw the light of day, between 1957 and 1960. This report presents the result of a five-year effort to determine the reason for the failure to complete the undertaking, in which all potential sources were pursued and queried. In the end, the mystery remains unsolved.
Sequence analysis of cytochrome bd oxidase suggests a revised topology for subunit I

Numerous sequences of the cytochrome bd quinol oxidase (cytochrome bd) have recently become available for analysis. The analysis has revealed a small number of conserved residues, a new topology for subunit I and a phylogenetic tree involving extensive horizontal gene transfer. There are 20 conserved residues in subunit I and two in subunit II. Algorithms utilizing multiple sequence alignments predicted a revised topology for cytochrome bd, adding two transmembrane helices to subunit I to the seven that were previously indicated by the analysis of the sequence of the oxidase from E. coli. This revised topology has the effect of relocating the N-terminus and C-terminus to the periplasmic and cytoplasmic sides of the membrane, respectively. The new topology repositions I-H19, the putative ligand for heme b595, close to the periplasmic edge of the membrane, which suggests that the heme b595/heme d active site of the oxidase is located near the outer (periplasmic) surface of the membrane. The most highly conserved region of the sequence of subunit I contains the sequence GRQPW and is located in a predicted periplasmic loop connecting the eighth and ninth transmembrane helices. The potential importance of this region of the protein was previously unsuspected, and it may participate in the binding of either quinol or heme d. There are two very highly conserved glutamates in subunit I, E99 and E107, within the third transmembrane helix (E. coli cytochrome bd-I numbering). It is speculated that these glutamates may be part of a proton channel leading from the cytoplasmic side of the membrane to the heme d oxygen-reactive site, now placed near the periplasmic surface. The revised topology and newly revealed conserved residues provide a clear basis for further experimental tests of these hypotheses. Phylogenetic analysis of the new sequences of cytochrome bd reveals considerable deviation from the 16sRNA tree, suggesting that a large amount of horizontal gene transfer has occurred in the evolution of cytochrome bd.
The relationship between dietary energy density and energy intake

Much of the research in ingestive behavior has focused on the macronutrient composition of foods; however, these studies are incomplete, or could be misleading, if they do not consider the energy density (ED) of the diet under investigation. Lowering the ED (kcal/g) by increasing the volume of preloads without changing macronutrient content can enhance satiety and reduce subsequent energy intake at a meal. Ad libitum intake or satiation has also been shown to be influenced by ED when the proportions of macronutrients are constant. Since people tend to eat a consistent weight of food, when the ED of the available foods is reduced, energy intake is reduced. The effects of ED have been seen in adults of different weight status, sex, and behavioral characteristics, as well as in 3- to 5-year-old children. The mechanisms underlying the response to variations in ED are not yet well understood and data from controlled studies lasting more than several days are limited. However, both population-based studies and long-term clinical trials indicate that the effects of dietary ED can be persistent. Several clinical trials have shown that reducing the ED of the diet by the addition of water-rich foods such as fruits and vegetables was associated with substantial weight loss even when patients were not told to restrict calories. Since lowering dietary energy density could provide effective strategies for the prevention and treatment of obesity, there is a need for more studies of mechanisms underlying the effect and ways to apply these findings.
An experimental study of hybrid switched system approaches to visual servoing

In the recent past, many researchers have developed control algorithms for visual servo applications. In this paper, we introduce a new hybrid switched system approach, in which a high-level decision maker selects between two visual servo controllers. We have evaluated our approach with simulations and experiments using three individual visual servo systems and three candidate switching rules. The proposed method is very promising for visual servo tasks in which there is a significant distance between the initial and goal configuration, or the task is one that can cause an individual visual servo system to fail.
Effect of Calorie Restriction with or without Exercise on Body Composition and Fat Distribution

Context: There is debate over the independent and combined effects of dieting and increased physical activity on improving metabolic risk factors (body composition and fat distribution). Objective: The objective of the study was to conduct a randomized, controlled trial (CALERIE) to test the effect of a 25% energy deficit by diet alone or diet plus exercise for 6 months on body composition and fat distribution. Design: This was a randomized, controlled trial. Setting: The study was conducted at an institutional research center. Participants: Thirty-five of 36 overweight but otherwise healthy participants (16 males, 19 females) completed the study. Intervention: Participants were randomized to either control (healthy weight maintenance diet, n = 11), caloric restriction (CR; 25% reduction in energy intake, n = 12), or caloric restriction plus exercise (CR+EX; 12.5% reduction in energy intake + 12.5% increase in exercise energy expenditure, n = 12) for 6 months. Main Outcome Measures: Changes in body compos...
Some focusing properties of chirped gratings at microwave frequencies

This article presents a theoretical and experimental analysis of the focusing properties of metallic chirped gratings. These aperiodic gratings are designed to focus energy at a desired position by varying the strip width and strip spacing. The location of the individual strips, their width variation, distance of separation, and angle of incidence determine the focal point of the chirped grating. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Social Support in the Context of Caregiving: Husbands' Provision of Support to Wives Involved in Parent Care

The purpose of this study was to identify ways in which social support is related to the caregiving stress and well-being experienced by adult daughter caregivers. The study focused on a specific source of support, caregivers' husbands, and included reports from 126 caregivers and their husbands. Main and buffering effects of four types of support (emotional and instrumental support provided to the caregiver and to her parent) were tested, and caregiver's level of optimism was controlled. Results were similar for caregivers' and husbands' accounts of support. Buffering effects were found only for physical health, whereas effects opposite those predicted by the buffering hypothesis were detected for positive affect. A main effect was found in nearly all analyses of marital satisfaction. No main or buffering effects of support were detected for depression. Findings highlight the complexity of supportive exchanges by illustrating the simultaneous operation of different types of support and their distinctive impact on the caregiving stress and wellbeing relationship.
The ability of single-chain surfactants to emulsify an aqueous-based liquid crystal oscillates with odd-even parity of alkyl-chain length.

Abstract The physical properties of many organic molecules often oscillate when the number of carbons in their aliphatic chains changes from odd to even. This odd–even effect for single-chain surfactants in solution is rarely observed. Here, we report the ability of single-chain surfactants to emulsify a class of non-amphiphilic organic salts, disodium cromoglycate (5′DSCG) oscillates as a function of the odd or even number of the aliphatic carbons. This system provides a water-in-oil-in-water emulsion, in which aqueous droplets of 5′DSCG in liquid crystal phases are coated with single-chain surfactants in a bulk carrying aqueous solution. For both surfactants of CH 3 ( CH 2 ) n OSO 3 - Na + and CH 3 (CH 2 ) n COO − Na + , the ability to emulsify 5′DSCG molecules in water is stronger for surfactants with an odd number of sp 3 -hybridized carbon atoms in the aliphatic chains than those with an even number. This observed odd–even effect is consistent with the notion that conventional micelles possess a core of randomly arranged surfactant hydrocarbon tails. However, this water-in-oil-in-water resembles a vesicle system in which the surfactants assemble in a highly ordered structure that separates two aqueous systems. These new self-assembled phases have potential application in the formulation and design of new organic soft materials.
Anesthetic management of a patient with relapsing polychondritis.

R ELAPSING POLYCHONDRITIS is a rare disorder of u n k n o w n cause. Patients m a y require anes thes ia for t racheostomy, nasal reconstruct ion, va lvular surgery and, more recently, t racheobronchia l s tenting. The synd rome has ser ious impl ica t ions for the anesthesiologis t . The authors present a recent case and d iscuss the anesthet ic m a n a g e m e n t o f the patient with re laps ing polychondr i t i s .
Chronic cutaneous lupus erythematosus mimicking mycosis fungoides

Mycosis fungoides, which is characterized by a malignant infiltrate of T lymphocytes involving the epidermis, can be confused with other inflammatory skin diseases. We report the case of a patient with skin lesions containing an infiltrate of atypical lymphocytes with epidermotropism. This patient's condition was initially diagnosed as mycosis fungoides. Repeated biopsy samples had the histologic features of chronic cutaneous lupus erythematosus. The patient had a strongly positive antinuclear antibody response and the clinical lesions responded to hydroxychloroquine, however, and these findings led to an altered diagnosis. Other disorders that either clinically or histologically mimic mycosis fungoides are reviewed, and the diagnostic evaluation of patients in whom mycosis fungoides is suspected is summarized. Chronic cutaneous lupus erythematosus should be added to the list of diseases that can mimic mycosis fungoides.
Definitions of Health Among Healthcare Providers

Providers' definitions of health may affect the kind of care they provide. This study examined healthcare practitioners' definitions of health across practitioner types. Interviews with 73 healthcare practitioners were analyzed for themes. Most practitioners identified health as the interrelatedness of several factors. Physical, mental, and spiritual factors all played important roles. Mainstream and integrative practitioners emphasized health as good functioning, absence of disease, and chronic disease under control. Integrative and alternative practitioners emphasized health as balance and as the free flow of elements such as motion and energy. All types of practitioners freely combined elements from models of health described as separate in the literature. Understanding providers' definitions of health could enhance communication among them.
Reliability Estimation for Large-Area Solder Joints Using Explicit Modeling of Damage

The issues of available cyclic fatigue models in life prediction of large-area solder joints using finite-element analysis (FEA) are discussed. In this paper, a new FEA approach called successive initiation (SI) is modified and introduced in conjunction with energy partitioning (E-P) damage model to resolve some of the issues with available damage models such as geometry and scale dependency and provide a solution to large-area solder joints. This new technique models damage explicitly, meaning that it separates initiation from propagation by monitoring the plastic and creep damage at the tip of the crack successively. The SI technique could be easily used with continuous loadings of different types and frequencies. The modeling approach is then implemented on a power device with large-area solder. Sensitivity study is conducted with the help of the experiment to determine the right initiation threshold for smooth crack initiation and propagation. The results of modeling are then compared with available experimental data for the same power device. The comparison shows that using the damage model constants generated for small solder joints such as ball-grid array or chip-scale package could significantly overpredict the life of larger area solders. New E-P damage model constants for large-area solder joints are obtained and presented by calibrating the modeling to the experiment.
Greater Maternal Insensitivity in Childhood Predicts Greater Electrodermal Reactivity During Conflict Discussions With Romantic Partners in Adulthood

In this study, we drew on prospective, longitudinal data to investigate the long-term predictive significance of the quality of early parent-child relationship experiences for adults’ sympathetic nervous system (SNS) activity during conflict discussions with their romantic partners. Maternal sensitivity was repeatedly assessed across childhood via direct observations of mother-child interactions. When the children in the study became adults (34–37 years old), electrodermal activity—an index of SNS arousal and a psychophysiological marker of behavioral inhibition—was recorded for 37 participants while at rest and while they attempted to resolve conflicts in their romantic relationships. Individuals who had experienced less sensitive maternal caregiving during childhood had greater increases in electrodermal activity during conflict discussions with their adult partners, relative to resting conditions. This longitudinal association was not accounted for by observed or self-reported romantic-relationship quality, gender, ethnicity, or early socioeconomic factors.
IGF-1 Receptor Insufficiency Leads to Age-Dependent Attenuation of Osteoblast Differentiation

In the current study, we determined the effects of IGF-1 receptor haploinsufficiency on osteoblast differentiation and bone formation throughout the lifespan. Bone mineral density was significantly decreased in femurs of male and female Igf1r(+/-) mice compared with wild-type mice. mRNA expression of osteoblast differentiation markers was significantly decreased in femurs and calvariae from Igf1r(+/-) mice compared with cells from wild-type mice. Bone morphogenetic protein-7-induced ectopic bone in Igf1r(+/-) mice was significantly smaller with fewer osteoblasts but more lipid droplets and had reduced expression of osteoblast differentiation markers compared with wild-type mice. In bone marrow cells from middle-aged and old wild-type and Igf1r(+/-) male mice, palmitate inhibited osteoblast markers expression. In cells from young wild-type male mice, palmitate did not inhibit marker expression, but in cells from young male Igf1r(+/-) mice, palmitate inhibited bone sialoprotein and osterix but not osteocalcin or type I collagen (TIC). In female wild-type mice, palmitate inhibited osteoblast markers expression in cells from young, middle-aged, and old mice except TIC in cells from middle-aged mice. Palmitate inhibited bone sialoprotein expression in cells from middle-aged and old female Igf1r(+/-) mice and osteocalcin, osterix, and TIC expression in young and middle-aged female Igf1r(+/-) mice but stimulated expression in cells from old female Igf1r(+/-) mice. We conclude that IGF-1 receptor haploinsufficiency results in a prolipid accrual phenotype in bone in association with inhibition of growth factor-induced osteoblast differentiation, a situation which may phenocopy age-related decreases in bone formation.
Biaxial Test Method for Characterization of Fabric-Film Laminates Used in Scientific Balloons

Space Structures that require lightweight materials with sufficiently high strength and environmental endurance have been in increasing demand since the early 1980’s. However, the biaxial behavior of these structural materials under pressurized loading is rarely found in the literature. An experimental investigation was conducted to develop a test method and hardware to characterize the biaxial behavior of a fabric-film laminate intended for use as a structural envelope for large balloons. The material tested is a composite laminate of three layers. The three layers are: polyester-based woven fabric, 6 microns film of polyester (Mylar type A) and 6 microns film of linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE). The laminate structure provides high strength to weight ratio. In this study, a test technique has been developed to measure the biaxial response of the material to known stress ratios. The information gained from the test can be manipulated to estimate Poisson’s ratio and the development of a material st...
Effects of Immunosuppressive Therapy on Viral Markers in Chronic Active Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B virus associated DNA polymerase activi­ ty, hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), and serum aspartate aminotransferase were followed in 21 pa­ tients with chronic active hepatitis while immuno­ suppressive therapy (prednisone ± azathioprine) was being withdrawn. In every case, DNA polymer­ ase activity fell within 6-10 wk of decreasing treat­ ment and became undetectable in 8 patients. This was usually accompanied by a fall in HBsAg titer and a transient rise in serum aspartate aminotrans­ ferase activity. Four additional patients with previ­ ously untreated HBsAg positive chronic active hepa­ titis were placed on prednisone for 12 wk. There was a rise in DNA polymerase activity and HBsAg titer with a fall in serum aspartate aminotransferase values during treatment. Upon discontinuing thera­ py, DNA polymerase activity fell dramatically in all 3 patients who completed their course of prednisone and became undetectable in 1. These findings sug­ gest that immunosuppressive therapy has a potenti­ ating effect on hepatitis B viral replication in pa­ tients with chronic active hepatitis. Patients with severe chronic active hepatitis associ­ ated with persistent hepatitis B virus (HBV) infec­ tion respond less well to steroid therapy than similar patients without such markers of viral infection (1). In a recent clinical trial, involving 51 patients with
Partitioning strategies for modular neural networks

We observe the effects of a variety of splitting strategies for partitioning the input domain in a self-splitting modular neural network applied to the two-spiral classification problem, and assisted by a special-purpose visualization tool. The observations motivate the development of an improved strategy, consisting of a series of binary splits along the boundaries of trained areas, and a particular weight initialization strategy. The work is leading to fewer networks and better generalization for this application, when backpropagation is used.
On the Performance of Window-Based Contention Managers for Transactional Memory

This paper considers a family of greedy contention managers for transactional memory for executing {em windows of transactions}, which aim to provide both good theoretical and practical performance guarantees at the same time. The main approach behind window-based contention managers is to use random delays at the beginning of the window, which have the property that the conflicting transactions are shifted inside the window and their execution times may not coincide. Thus, conflicting transactions can execute at different time slots and potentially many conflicts are avoided. In this paper, window-based contention managers are considered for eager conflict management software transactional memory systems and evaluated using sorted link list, red-black tree, skip list, and vacation benchmarks. The performance of window-based contention managers is compared through experiments with {sf Polka}, the published best contention manager, {sf Greedy}, the first contention manager with provable theoretical and practical performance properties, and {sf Priority}, a simple priority based contention manager. The results show that window-based contention managers have comparable performance with {sf Polka}, and outperform {sf Greedy} and {sf Priority}, sometimes by significant margins. The evaluation results confirm their benefits in practical performance throughput and other transactional metrics such as aborts per commit, execution time overhead, etc., along with their non-trivial provable properties. This is a significant step toward the design of scalable transactional memory schedulers.
Connecting Artistically-Inclined K-12 Students to Physics and Math Through Image Processing Examples

Our goal is to use the context of image processing to stimulate interest and, ultimately, develop students' understandings of the math and science concepts in the K-12 classroom. The paper will present ideas to the signal processing community on how image processing can connect directly to standard curricular concepts. Since many teachers are confined to set-curricula, this can limit the scope of illustrating more advanced DSP concepts in the high school classroom. Ultimately, the goal is for students to conduct their own inquiry and to understand the principles behind artistic tools while learning math and science. This paper presents the development of image processing tools that will be tested throughout the 2008-2009 school year.
Microfracture for osteochondral lesions of the talus: a systematic review of reporting of outcome data.

Background:Microfracture is recognized as a primary treatment strategy for osteochondral lesions of the talus up to 15 mm in size. The ability of fibrocartilage to withstand the mechanical loading of the joint over time is unknown.Purpose:The purpose of this study was to systematically review studies of microfracture for OLT and descriptively analyze the outcome data reported to determine whether it is consistent from one study to another and able to be pooled for systematic review.Methods:A systematic electronic search was performed using the MEDLINE and EMBASE databases. Studies that were published between January 1966 and June 2011 were included in the review. Only studies that reported data specifically on microfracture for treatment of osteochondral lesions of the talus and written in English were included in this review.Results:Twenty-four studies were included in this systematic review. The categories of general demographics and study design were generally well reported (each over 80% of studies). ...
Nonlinear Partial Differential Equations and the Decomposition Method

We have seen that solution of partial differential equations with multidimensional Green’s functions is relatively involved. Even ordinary differential equations can have quite complicated Green’s functions.
More on brute facts

(1998). More on brute facts. Australasian Journal of Philosophy: Vol. 76, No. 4, pp. 625-630.
Inventory Reduction and Productivity Growth: A Study of Japanese Automobile Producers

This paper assesses trends in WIP inventory levels and labor productivity for a sample of eight Japanese motor vehicle manufacturers. Inventory buffers held between component suppliers and final assembly firms are also evaluated. In addition, a methodology is proposed for measuring materials throughput time on a consistent basis.
Early concerns of parents of children with autistic and nonautistic disorders

The purpose of this study was to extend previous research on the early concerns of parents of children with autism by (a) obtaining information from parents of very young children who have not yet received a diagnosis; (b) including a developmentally matched comparison sample; and (c) querying about first concerns as well as current concerns and behaviors. During their child's initial diagnostic evaluation, parents of 44 two-year-old children (22 with autism, 22 with developmental delay) responded to open-ended questions regarding their early concerns about their child's development as well as specific questions about social-communicative behaviors. The age of children when parents first became concerned and the specific nature of first concerns were similar for both groups, with the most frequent concerns related to children's language development. When asked specific questions about current social and communicative behaviors, parents of children with autism reported more deficits in both areas than did parents in the comparison group. These results suggest that specific questions about children's social-communicative behaviors may have more utility than open-ended questions in identifying young children who are at risk for an autism diagnosis.
Multi-Hazard Consideration of Seismic and Aging Threats to Bridges

Structural deficiencies due to aging is a direct indication of the increase in susceptibility of the nations bridges to seismic damage and is a matter of prime concern today. Corrosion attacks on reinforcing steel is a major reasons behind the degradation mechanism that renders the bridge to be structurally deficient. The current study focuses on the development of corrosion models to evaluate the area loss of steel reinforcement over time in reinforced concrete columns. To represent the increase in the probability of damage of the components and the bridge system to seismic events, fragility curves are developed at various periods along the service life of the bridge. INTRODUCTION The economy and the quality of life across the U.S. are heavily dependent on proper functioning of the transportation infrastructure system, yet more than 25 percent of U.S. bridges are currently structurally deficient and functionally obsolete. ASCE estimates that it will cost around $9.4 billion a year for 20 years to eliminate all of the nation’s bridge deficiencies and promote proper functioning under normal and extreme conditions [ASCE News, 2007]. It is evident that aging bridges may be more susceptible to damage during extreme events, such as earthquakes, and that there is a need to investigate the performance of bridges under this combined hazard state at different ages. This paper highlights the probabilistic performance assessment of aging bridges under seismic loading and predicts the performance by comparing the bridge fragility. Resulting fragility curves are statements of the probability of bridge damage, conditioned upon the hazard intensity for different damage states. Bridge vulnerability under both seismic and aging threats is presented for an example bridge. In general, inertial loading from seismic motion results in potential bridge damage due to column yielding, bearing deformation, and/or span unseating among other failure modes. The chances of failure are considerably magnified as the bridge becomes structurally deficient along the predicted service life of the bridge. Deteriorated seismic performance due to aging of the bridge may be attributed to the corrosion of steel reinforcement along with concrete cover loss, changing in the friction of bearings, etc. In the present study, corrosion models are developed for typical highway bridges based on available literature, in order to project the deteriorated state of the bridge as a function of time and exposure condition. This is followed with development of fragility curves for bridge damage probability under multi-hazard consideration using analytical methods. Seismic fragility curves are generated for different deteriorated conditions and exposure periods along the service life of the bridge. The results of this work provide insight on the coupled effect of aging and seismic hazards and indicate that neglecting the deteriorated state 547 Structures 2009: Don't Mess with Structural Engineers © 2009 ASCE
Attitudes of Teachers of Marketing toward Consumer Grade Labeling

NEARLY fifteen years ago Stuart Chase and Frederick J. Schlink in their book Your Money's Worth called attention to the lack of standards for consumers' goods. Since then proposals for consumer goods standards have been securing increasing attention from governmental officials, teachers, business men, and organized consumer groups. The pressure became so strong that the Temporary National Economic Committee held hearings on the problem1 and, through the Committee a monograph was published.2 Finally the Committee received the recommendation of Donald E. Montgomery3 that the Committee recommend to the Congress a law to set up a Consumer Agency in the government authorized to develop official quality standards for consumers' goods. Examination of both the hearings and monograph reveal that teachers of marketing were, apparently, not called on to give their opinions along with those of consumers, teachers of home economics, and governmental officials, despite the fact that any changes in methods of buying and selling goods are necessarily of importance to those who study market distribution as a science.