cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Stress–corrosion cracking of indium tin oxide coated polyethylene terephthalate for flexible optoelectronic devices

Abstract Stress corrosion cracking of transparent conductive layers of indium tin oxide (ITO), sputtered on polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrates, is an issue of paramount importance in flexible optoelectronic devices. These components, when used in flexible device stacks, can be in contact with acid containing pressure-sensitive adhesives or with conductive polymers doped in acids. Acids can corrode the brittle ITO layer, stress can cause cracking and delamination, and stress–corrosion cracking can cause more rapid failure than corrosion alone. The combined effect of an externally-applied mechanical stress to bend the device and the corrosive environment provided by the acid is investigated in this work. We show that acrylic acid which is contained in many pressure-sensitive adhesives can cause corrosion of ITO coatings on PET. We also investigate and report on the combined effect of external mechanical stress and corrosion on ITO-coated PET composite films. Also, it is shown that the combination of stress and corrosion by acrylic acid can cause ITO cracking to occur at stresses less than a quarter of those needed for failure with no corrosion. In addition, the time to failure, under ~ 1% tensile strain can reduce the total time to failure by as much as a third.
Developing independent play in three severely retarded women.

The present study was designed to develop increased leisure time activity in three institutionalized severely retarded women participating in a sheltered workshop. Initially, the women were withdrawn or engaged in inappropriate social behavior during break time or noon meals. Training methods included manual guidance, modeling, and verbal prompting of clients; social reinforcement was given for appropriate play. The program was evaluated in a multiple baseline across individuals design. Functional effects of the behavior-shaping techniques appeared as action on objects increased substantially over baseline levels in each client. There were slight increases in social interaction of each client and a decrease in stereotypic rocking behavior in one client.
Spin-polarization instability in a tilted magnetic field of a two-dimensional electron gas with filled Landau levels.

We have investigated the stability of a two-dimensional electron gas with two filled Landau levels (of opposite spin) in the high-field limit. The Zeeman energy can be increased by adding a component of the magnetic field parallel to the surface. The lowest-lying excitations can be described in terms of singlet and triplet excitons. Taking interaction effects into account, we have found that at a critical Zeeman energy (smaller than the cyclotron energy), there is a first-order transition to a fully spin-polarized state in which two Landau levels of equal spin are filled. Exotic intermediate states of the spin-density-wave type have been found not to occur in the simple case of nondegenerate bands.
α-Synuclein Protects Against Manganese Neurotoxic Insult During the Early Stages of Exposure in a Dopaminergic Cell Model of Parkinson’s Disease

The pathological role of α-synuclein (α-Syn) aggregation in neurodegeneration is well recognized, but the physiological function of normal α-Syn remains unknown. As α-Syn protein contains multiple divalent metal binding sites, herein we conducted a comprehensive characterization of the role of α-Syn in manganese-induced dopaminergic neurotoxicity. We established transgenic N27 dopaminergic neuronal cells by stably expressing human wild-type α-Syn at normal physiological levels. α-Syn-expressing dopaminergic cells significantly attenuated Mn-induced neurotoxicity for 24-h exposures relative to vector control cells. To further explore cellular mechanisms, we studied the mitochondria-dependent apoptotic pathway. Analysis of a key mitochondrial apoptotic initiator, cytochrome c, revealed that α-Syn significantly reduces the Mn-induced cytochrome c release into cytosol. The downstream caspase cascade, involving caspase-9 and caspase-3 activation, during Mn exposure was also largely attenuated in Mn-treated α-Syn cells in a time-dependent manner. α-Syn cells also showed a dramatic reduction in the Mn-induced proteolytic activation of the pro-apoptotic kinase PKCδ. The generation of Mn-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) did not differ between α-Syn and vector control cells, indicating that α-Syn exerts its protective effect independent of altering ROS generation. Inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) revealed no significant differences in intracellular Mn levels between treated vector and α-Syn cells. Notably, the expression of wild-type α-Syn in primary mesencephalic cells also rescued cells from Mn-induced neurotoxicity. However, prolonged exposure to Mn promoted protein aggregation in α-Syn-expressing cells. Collectively, these results demonstrate that wild-type α-Syn exhibits neuroprotective effects against Mn-induced neurotoxicity during the early stages of exposure in a dopaminergic neuronal model of PD.
Non-Single Viewpoint Catadioptric Cameras: Geometry and Analysis

Conventional vision systems and algorithms assume the imaging system to have a single viewpoint. However, these imaging systems need not always maintain a single viewpoint. For instance, an incorrectly aligned catadioptric system could cause non-single viewpoints. Moreover, a lot of flexibility in imaging system design can be achieved by relaxing the need for imaging systems to have a single viewpoint. Thus, imaging systems with non-single viewpoints can be designed for specific imaging tasks, or image characteristics such as field of view and resolution. The viewpoint locus of such imaging systems is called a caustic. In this paper, we present an in-depth analysis of caustics of catadioptric cameras with conic reflectors. We use a simple parametric model for both, the reflector and the imaging system, to derive an analytic solution for the caustic surface. This model completely describes the imaging system and provides a map from pixels in the image to their corresponding viewpoints and viewing direction. We use the model to analyze the imaging system's properties such as field of view, resolution and other geometric properties of the caustic itself. In addition, we present a simple technique to calibrate the class of conic catadioptric cameras and estimate their caustics from known camera motion. The analysis and results we present in this paper are general and can be applied to any catadioptric imaging system whose reflector has a parametric form.
Christology crossing boundaries: The threat of imaging christ as other than a white male

In this paper I explore the psychological origins of resistance to multiple representations of Christ, particularly those which cross gender and racial boundaries. I suggest that the image of a white-male Christ, often internalized at a young age, becomes part of psychic structure. Imaging Christ as other than a white male forces crossing of racial and gender boundaries which serve to maintain self-concept as either identified with or different from the internalized Christ.
Illuminating circuitry relevant to psychiatric disorders with optogenetics

The brain's remarkable capacity to generate cognition and behavior is mediated by an extraordinarily complex set of neural interactions that remain largely mysterious. This complexity poses a significant challenge in developing therapeutic interventions to ameliorate psychiatric disease. Accordingly, few new classes of drugs have been made available for patients with mental illness since the 1950s. Optogenetics offers the ability to selectively manipulate individual neural circuit elements that underlie disease-relevant behaviors and is currently accelerating the pace of preclinical research into neurobiological mechanisms of disease. In this review, we highlight recent findings from studies that employ optogenetic approaches to gain insight into normal and aberrant brain function relevant to mental illness. Emerging data from these efforts offers an exquisitely detailed picture of disease-relevant neural circuits in action, and hints at the potential of optogenetics to open up entirely new avenues in the treatment of psychiatric disorders.
Technology Strategy and Industrial Relations: Case Studies of Japanese Multinationals in the United States

Eight case studies of U.S. manufacturing subsidiaries of Japanese multinationals are analyzed in terms of variations in competitive strategies and industrial relations practices. Based on data collected in 1980 during on-site visits, each firm is reviewed in light of the technology contributions coming from the Japanese parent and is categorized as having product-, process-, and/or management-centered technology strategies. The industrial relations practices are also grouped according to similarities observed. These groupings are then compared and contrasted. The findings are consistent with hypotheses that firms with management-centered strategies are more likely not to be unionized and to oppose unionization, to prefer a less stratified work force in terms of number of job classifications and specifically identified job assignments, to maintain flexibility in work-force management, to conduct considerable cross-training and to strive to avoid layoffs of production personnel. Conversely, the groupings indicated little relationship, if any, between technology strategy and compensation levels. The findings are interpreted in light of product-life-cycle and risk-aversion models of firm behavior. The question of whether technology strategy is a reasonably good predictor of industrial relations practices is also addressed.
Epstein–Barr virus plays no role in the tumorigenesis of small-cell carcinoma of the lung

Epstein-Barr virus infection has been associated with lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma of the lung in Asian patients. Recently, Epstein-Barr virus proteins or genomic DNAs were detected in pulmonary squamous-cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, and undifferentiated small-cell carcinoma in American patients. We studied 23 cases of small-cell carcinoma of the lung for evidence of Epstein-Barr virus infection by in situ hybridization, immunohistochemistry, and polymerase chain reaction methods. Of the 23 cases, 13 cases were primary small-cell carcinoma of the lung and 10 cases were metastatic small-cell carcinoma of the lung to the brain (one case), liver (two cases), and lymph nodes (seven cases). None of the 23 cases was positive for Epstein-Barr virus-encoded small nonpolyadenylated RNA (EBER)-1 by in situ hybridization. By immunohistochemistry, eight cases showed focal positivity for Epstein-Barr virus nuclear antigen-1. The positive immunostaining was focal and was observed in tumor cells, vascular endothelial cells, and lymphocytes, suggesting nonspecific staining. None of the 23 cases was positive for the transactivating immediate-early BZLF1 (ZEBRA) and latent membrane protein (LMP-1). Only one case was positive for the BamHI W region and LMP-1 gene by polymerase chain reaction assay. Some tumor cells in the BamHI W region positive case were also positive for Epstein-Barr virus nuclear antigen-1. Our study indicates that rare cases of American small-cell carcinoma of the lung may contain Epstein-Barr virus-infected cells, but it is unlikely that Epstein-Barr virus plays a role in the tumorigenesis of small-cell carcinoma of the lung.
Age, period, and cohort effects in heavy episodic drinking in the US from 1985 to 2009

Abstract Background Evaluating population-level patterns of heavy episodic drinking by age, period, and cohort is critical to understanding population-level influences on rates over time and to forecasting future trends for public health planning efforts. The present study examined trends in heavy episodic drinking in the US from 1985 through 2009 in a nationally representative sample that included adolescents and adults. Methods Data are drawn from repeated cross-sectional surveys of US households as part of the National Household Survey on Drug Use and Health conducted in 1985, 1988, and annually from 1990 though 2009, inclusive (N = 809,281). Heavy episodic drinking was defined as any instance of consuming five or more drinks in one sitting in the past month. Age–period–cohort models were identified using the Intrinsic Estimator algorithm. Results Heavy episodic drinking is decreasing in the US among adolescents and young adults, with the most recently born cohorts (born in the 1990s) at lower odds of heavy episodic drinking compared with cohorts born in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. Results were consistent across sex and race/ethnicity, with the exception that the decrease is not apparent among Hispanics. Conclusions These data are promising in that young cohorts appear to be reducing heavy episodic drinking, however the lack of decrease among Hispanics suggests targeted intervention and prevention as well as increased surveillance are necessary.
Some remarks on force-free coils

Abstract The possibility of establishing force-free current distributions in infinite cylindrical volumes is examined. It is argued that circular boundaries and fields with circular symmetry yield the only solution to the problem.
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) Coronavirus-Induced Lung Epithelial Cytokines Exacerbate SARS Pathogenesis by Modulating Intrinsic Functions of Monocyte-Derived Macrophages and Dendritic Cells

Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), which is caused by a novel coronavirus (CoV), is a highly communicable disease with the lungs as the major pathological target. Although SARS likely stems from overexuberant host inflammatory responses, the exact mechanism leading to the detrimental outcome in patients remains unknown. Pulmonary macrophages (Mphi), airway epithelium, and dendritic cells (DC) are key cellular elements of the host innate defenses against respiratory infections. While pulmonary Mphi are situated at the luminal epithelial surface, DC reside abundantly underneath the epithelium. Such strategic locations of these cells within the airways make it relevant to investigate their likely impact on SARS pathogenesis subsequent to their interaction with infected lung epithelial cells. To study this, we established highly polarized human lung epithelial Calu-3 cells by using the Transwell culture system. Here we report that supernatants harvested from the apical and basolateral domains of infected Calu-3 cells are potent in modulating the intrinsic functions of Mphi and DC, respectively. They prompted the production of cytokines by both Mphi and DC and selectively induced CD40 and CD86 expression only on DC. However, they compromised the abilities of the DC and Mphi in priming naive T cells and phagocytosis, respectively. We also identified interleukin-6 (IL-6) and IL-8 as key SARS-CoV-induced epithelial cytokines capable of inhibiting the T-cell-priming ability of DC. Taken together, our results provide insights into the molecular and cellular bases of the host antiviral innate immunity within the lungs that eventually lead to an exacerbated inflammatory cascades and severe tissue damage in SARS patients.
Coexistent pathology in chronic epilepsy patients with neoplasms

Neoplasms are a well-established cause of medically intractable or chronic epilepsy. Certain tumors, including gangliogliomas and dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumors, are well known to be associated with cortical dysplasia. This study retrospectively examines the incidence of coexistent pathology in patients with tumors and chronic epilepsy. This study is a retrospective review of 270 tumors arising in patients with medically intractable epilepsy encountered during a 20-year period (1989-2009). Coexistent pathology was noted in 50 of 270 (17.8%) patients, including 27 males (54%) with a mean age at surgery of 18 years (range 1-52 years). The vast majority of lesions (n=40) (80%) were located in the temporal lobe and less commonly in the parietal lobe (n=4) and the occipital lobe (n=3). Tumor diagnoses included ganglioglioma (n=29), dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumor (n=10), low-grade glial/glioneuronal neoplasm (n=5), low-grade astrocytoma (n=2), angiocentric glioma (n=1), low-grade mixed glioma (n=1), dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumor/ganglioglioma mixed tumor (n=1), and meningioangiomatosis (n=1). Forty-one (82%) tumors represented WHO grade-I neoplasms. Concomitant pathology included malformation of cortical development (cortical dysplasia) in 40 patients (80%) (Palmini et al type-I: n=37; Palmini et al type-II: n=3). Hamartias were identified in 10 patients (20%), hippocampal sclerosis in four patients (8%), and nodular heterotopia in one patient (2%). The true incidence of coexistent pathology (17.8% in this study) was likely underrepresented, given the limited extent of adjacent non-tumoral tissue sampling in cases of resected tumor. Coexistent pathology may account for the incidence of recurrent or residual epilepsy in patients who undergo tumor resection.
Isopentenyl-diphosphate isomerase is essential for viability of Caenorhabditis elegans

Homozygosity for a mutation in the idi-1 gene of Caenorhabditis elegans results in paralysis during the first larval stage, followed by an arrest of growth and development late in the first larval stage. Apoptotic corpses, which are apparently the result of normal programmed cell death, persist in the arrested larvae. In genetic mosaics, an additional defect becomes evident upon examination with Nomarski optics: cells that are genotypically mutant enlarge, and their cytoplasm becomes dimpled. Electron microscopy indicates that the dimpling reflects an accumulation of many enlarged lysosomes and autophagosomes. The mosaics demonstrate that the lethal mutation acts cell autonomously with respect to this vesicular abnormality and that there is a maternal effect with respect to the time of developmental arrest of mutant progeny. Cloning of the gene reveals that it is the only gene in C. elegans for isopentenyl-diphosphate isomerase, an enzyme that is important for the synthesis of lipophilic molecules, including farnesyl and geranyl diphosphates.
Volcanism on Io: Estimation of eruption parameters from Galileo NIMS data

[1] Galileo Near Infrared Mapping Spectrometer (NIMS) data of volcanic thermal emission are analyzed to determine the power output of a number of Ionian volcanoes, from which are calculated volumetric eruption rates. A two-temperature model is used to determine surface temperatures and power output. Portions of Prometheus and six other volcanoes are found to be in excess of 1100 K: areas of Prometheus are at temperatures close to 1500 K. These are minimum eruption temperatures and are consistent with basaltic silicate volcanism. For the 14 volcanoes in G1INNSPEC01, volumetric eruption rates (E) are constrained between 3 and 300 m3/s for basaltic and ultramafic compositions. Actual E values lie between these limits. The small crack fractions (hot area to warm area ratio) implied from these fits are indicative of a relatively quiescent eruption style, such as the emplacement of a pahoehoe or a-a flow field. The volumetric eruption rates derived from the NIMS data are greater than those observed in similar styles of volcanism on Earth. It is apparent that for similar eruption styles, the areal extent of activity is greater on Io than on Earth. Derived flow thicknesses range from 0.1 to 13 m.
Systematic Tele-operation with Augmented Reality Path Planned Navigation Cues in Cluttered Environments

A novel method of providing human operators with Augmented Reality (AR) cues for collision-free navigation of robot arms in cluttered environments is described. The cues are graphic objects that aid the operator to rotate and translate the end-effector of the robot along AR collision-free paths pre-computed by a probabilistic path planner. Manual control of robot arms is a common mode of tele-manipulation on the International Space Station (ISS). Limited depth perception of the remote robot's 3D worksite can result in collisions with severe consequences. This paper combines the qualities of a planning algorithm to search for ideal paths, and the benefits of augmented reality for enhanced visualization. Presenting spatial path information to the user in an intuitive manner results in collision-free robot navigation along with performance repeatability. We present findings from the implementation of such a system with human operators and show that the system is beneficial.
A scheme for incorporating DC magnetic fields into epidemiological studies of EMF exposure.

Experimental data on calcium-ion release in chicken brain tissue suggest that biological effects of electric and magnetic fields (EMFs) are concentrated near certain “active combinations” of DC magnetic field strength and “effective” AC magnetic field frequencies. We hypothesize that active AC/DC combinations may exist and suggest that epidemiologic data, coupled with DC magnetic field measurements, may be used to identify critical exposure conditions. An empirical model is used to calculate these multiple active combinations at any given DC magnetic field strength and to define a rating system that incorporates the proximity of AC magnetic field frequencies generated by electric power lines to the new, computed effective frequencies. Such an exposure score may be useful in investigating correlations of EMF exposure with disease incidence. For 60 Hz and 50 Hz, the highest EMF exposure scores occurred at DC field strengths of 506 mG and 422 mG, respectively. The exposure score contains a factor which may be adjusted to reflect the importance of harmonics of the AC magnetic field as well as of the fundamental frequency. Using this factor, we consider two important special cases consistent with chick brain data: 1) we consider active pairs associated with all detectable harmonics (up to 660 Hz) without regard to relative intensity of the harmonics, and 2) we use the relative intensities of the AC field frequencies to adjust their contribution to the exposure score. © 1993 Wiley-Liss. Inc.
Exploration of relative chemoselectivity in the hydrodechlorination of 2-chloropyridines

Abstract The chemoselectivity of hydrodechlorination in 2-chloropyridine derivatives possessing reduction-sensitive functionalities is examined. The reaction conditions employed tolerate a variety of functionalities illustrating highly chemoselective hydrodechlorination in the presence of nitrile, allyl, terminal olefin, and nitroamine functionalities in excellent yield. Chemoselective deprotection of carboxybenzyl ethers is illustrated in moderate yield.
Interviews and inventories for the measurement of personality disorders

Abstract The clinical diagnosis of personality disorders has not demonstrated the level of interrater reliability obtained by the Axis I conditions, due in part to the absence of adequate self-report inventories and semistructured interviews. This paper reviews nine semistructured interviews and eight self-report inventories that improve the assessment of personality disorders. Choices for inclusion in this review were based on current clinical interest, empirical support, and the illustration of methodological issues. The reviews of the interviews are followed by a discussion of issues particularly relevant to this method of measurement, including the reliance on patients versus clinicians for the attribution of personality traits and the use of supplementary, non-interview data. The reviews of the self-report inventories are followed by a discussion of bandwidth versus fidelity, item content, and item number. The paper concludes with a discussion of issues shared by both methods (e.g., structure versus clinical judgment) and a review of the relative advantages and disadvantages of the various methods of measurement
Bcl-2 Prevents Killing of Neuronal Cells by Glutamate but Not by Amyloid β Protein

The 26-kDa protein encoded by the bcl-2 gene is a regulator of cell survival and blocks cell death induced by numerous stimuli. Amyloid beta protein (ABP) and glutamate are believed to play important roles in the neuronal cell death that occurs in Alzheimer′s disease and stroke, respectively. Glutamate induces apoptosis in some neuronal cell systems, but it remains controversial whether ABP-mediated cell death occurs through apoptosis or necrosis. To further explore the pathways for cell death that are activated by these neurotoxins, we examined the effects of elevated levels of the p26-Bcl-2 protein on the susceptibility of neuronal cell lines to killing by glutamate and ABP. Gene transfer methods were used to elevate p26-Bcl-2 protein levels in the rat nerve lines PC-12 and B50 and the human neuroblastoma IMR-5. Bcl-2 protected all 3 cell lines from glutamate induced cell death but had no effect on killing mediated by ABP.
Determination of low concentrations of PEO by viscosity method

Abstract Several methods for analyzing polyethylene oxide (PEO), a partially hydrophobic polymer, in aqueous solutions have been proposed in the past. These are based on either determining the amount of polymer precipitating out with a given reagent or measuring a physical property such as viscosity of the polymer solution. In studies involving adsorption of PEO on apatite, a salt-type mineral, it was determined that accuracy of PEO analytical techniques utilizing polymer precipitation is severely limited because of interference by dissolved ions. Therefore, PEO analysis was conducted by viscosity measurements which revealed that this technique has higher tolerance for dissolved ions than the turbidity method. Changes in molecular-weight distribution of the polymer, however, are known to influence the viscosity of a polymer solution. The effect of dissolved ions on accuracy of PEO analysis by viscosity and precipitation techniques is discussed.
CT pulmonary angiography after total joint arthroplasty: overdiagnosis and iatrogenic harm?

Background CT pulmonary angiography (CTPA) has become widely adopted to detect pulmonary embolism (PE) after total joint arthroplasty (TJA). CTPA is a sensitive tool, which has the ability to detect emboli that may be clinically insignificant. This may lead to iatrogenic harm from overtreatment.
Evidence of differing market responses to beating analysts’ targets through tax expense decreases

Returns are positive when firms meet or beat analysts’ consensus forecasts, but negative when firms miss. Prior research finds little substantial discount for managing earnings to beat the forecasts via accruals generally. We consider whether the market reward for beating the forecast is smaller when firms use tax expense decreases, which are visible and transparent at the earnings announcement date, unlike accruals. When firms beat analysts’ forecasts by decreasing their tax expense relative to the third-quarter rate, the market discounts the reward by an economically significant amount: approximately 86%. We document lower persistence of current-year tax changes for those firms that decrease tax expense to beat the target. The observed discount for beating the forecast only because of a third to fourth quarter tax decrease may reflect market perceptions of the lack of persistence of the decrease.
Fibrates and high-dose statins to prevent coronary heart disease events

Atherosclerosis is a complex disease process with many factors influencing vascular biology. Lipoproteins are one of these factors that influences the growth and instability of arterial plaques. Clinical trials have established benefit from medical treatment directed at one lipoprotein fraction (LDL). Further basic research and clinical trials are needed to fully delineate the metabolic regulation and impact of other lipoproteins on atherogenesis.
Effects of vitamin B12 in multiple sclerosis.

SummaryFive patients with multiple sclerosis and one patient with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis failed to respond to massive daily intramuscular injections of crystalline vit. B12.
A spinach enzyme functioning to reverse the inhibition of cyclic electron flow by p-chlorophenyl-1,1-dimethylurea at high concentrations☆☆☆

Abstract Cyclic electron flow in photosynthetic phosphorylation was found to be inhibitable by concentrations of CMU higher than those needed to inhibit oxygen evolution. The inhibition studied here usually occurred only when using low concentrations of broken, aged chloroplasts and could be reversed by adding back fairly large amounts of the supernatant solution after breaking the chloroplasts. The factor responsible for reversing this inhibition was purified considerably and seemed to be associated with a diaphorase activity capable of oxidizing both TPNH and DPNH. The results were integrated in a speculative scheme in which ( a ) the higher concentration of CMU inhibited at a new site, on the reducing side of pyocyanine; and ( b ) the enzyme which can be depleted and added back functions as a CMU-resistant alternative pathway for electron flow. Relationship of this enzyme to previous ones with similar activities found in chloroplasts is discussed.
Structure and function of anthropogenically altered microbial communities in coastal waters

Abstract Human-based (anthropogenic) nutrient and other pollutant enrichment of the world's coastal waters is causing unprecedented changes in microbial community structure and function. Symptoms of these changes include accelerating eutrophication, the proliferation of harmful microalgal blooms, excessive oxygen consumption (hypoxia, anoxia) increasing toxicity, altered routes and fluxes of organic and inorganic matter cycling, and disruption of food webs. Biogeochemical and trophic consequences are expanding on local, regional and global scales.
Alcohol, the elderly, and motor vehicle crashes

To document the prevalence of alcohol or drug use among elderly drivers admitted to a Level 1 trauma center after motor vehicle crashes, charts from 180 drivers age 60 years or older who were admitted to an urban Level 1 trauma center after motor vehicle crashes were retrospectively reviewed. Overall, 14% of the patients had a positive blood alcohol screen; among men, 21% had a positive screen. Only 55% of the patients were discharged to home. Only one patient ( Language: en
Assessing Uncertainty in Support-Adjusted Spatial Misalignment Problems

Existing data from multiple sources (e.g., surveillance systems, health registries, governmental agencies) are the foundation for analysis and inference in many studies and programs. More often than not, these data have been collected on different geographical or spatial units, and each of these may be different from the ones of interest. Numerous statistical issues are associated with combining such disparate data. Florida's efforts to move toward implementation of The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC's) Environmental Public Health Tracking (EPHT) Program aptly illustrate these issues, which are typical of almost any study designed to measure the association between environmental hazards and health outcomes. In this article, we consider the inferential issues that arise when a potential explanatory variable is measured on one set of spatial units, but then must be predicted on a different set of spatial units. We compare the results from two different approaches to linking health and env...
A plate tectonics model involving non-laminar asthenospheric flow to account for irregular patterns of magmatism in the southwestern United States

Abstract In this paper we introduce an extension of plate tectonics theory to account for the irregular patterns of magmatism in the southwestern United States which are otherwise inconsistent with reconstructed Cenozoic events at the Pacific margin. Many authors have pointed out the difficulties in explaining the structural and magmatic histories of the southwestern United States by a conventional plate tectonics model. In a viscous material for which the Reynolds number is very small, the flow streamlines should conform faithfully to lithospheric boundaries. It is therefore difficult to account for the flow of the mantle “first in one direction, and then in another…” which Gilluly (1973) postulated in explaining the regional geology. We propose that large irregularities in flow, resembling eddies, existed in the asthenosphere under what is now the southwestern United States in the Cenozoic. The rising material between adjacent eddies, called surges, concentrated volatiles as the source material for kimberlite magmatism in the southwestern United States. We suggest that surges resulted from non-linearity between viscosity and temperature. Our model is based upon the fluid dynamic theory of Gruntfest (1963).
Relation of embryonic and fetal x-irradiation to life time average weights and tumor incidence in mice.

Summary and Conclusions1. Control or normal male CF1 mice show lifetime average weights in excess, of comparable CF1 females. 2. Exposure of the CF1 mouse embryo or fetus at various stages to 100 r X-rays reduces its lifetime average weight significantly below the parallel controls, particularly for the males. 3. The month at which the peak weight was reached varied for the sexes, being 12 to 15 for the males and 13 to 30 for the females, suggesting greater variations in response of the females to growth inhibition by X-irradiation of the embryonic stages. 4. Exposure to 100 r on gestation days 11, 12, and 13 had the greatest effect on reducing the average weight of both males and females. This is the period of greatest skeletal growth activity. 5. Tumor incidence was higher among the females than among the males (4 to 1 ratio) among those X-irradiated in utero. Tumor incidence among the controls was low, but even there the incidence was higher among the females. The evidence for any increment in tumorige...
Classification by ensembles from random partitions of high-dimensional data

A robust classification procedure is developed based on ensembles of classifiers, with each classifier constructed from a different set of predictors determined by a random partition of the entire set of predictors. The proposed methods combine the results of multiple classifiers to achieve a substantially improved prediction compared to the optimal single classifier. This approach is designed specifically for high-dimensional data sets for which a classifier is sought. By combining classifiers built from each subspace of the predictors, the proposed methods achieve a computational advantage in tackling the growing problem of dimensionality. For each subspace of the predictors, we build a classification tree or logistic regression tree. Our study shows, using four real data sets from different areas, that our methods perform consistently well compared to widely used classification methods. For unbalanced data, our approach maintains the balance between sensitivity and specificity more adequately than many other classification methods considered in this study.
Hierarchical grid location management for large wireless Ad hoc networks

Recently, a new family of protocols has been introduced for large scale ad hoc networks that make use of the approximate location of nodes in the network for geographic routing. Location management plays an important role in such protocols, and in this paper, we propose a deterministic hierachical scheme for managing the location information of nodes, and analyze the cost of such a scheme via probabilistic means and simulations. We find that the cost of hierarchical location management has an asymptotic overhead cost of O(ν N log 2N) for location registration, which is asymptotically lower than the location management overhead in protocols described in literature, and thus scales well with the increase in the number of nodes in the network.
Robotics and Intelligent Systems in Support of Society

Over the last 50 years, there has been extensive research into robotics and intelligent systems. Although much of the research has targeted specific technical problems, advances in these areas have led to systems and solutions that will profoundly impact society. Underlying most of the advances is the unprecedented exponential improvement of information technology. Several applications of robotics and intelligent systems could profoundly impact the well being of our society, transforming how we live, learn, and work
Deconstructing datacenter packet transport

We present, pFabric, a minimalistic datacenter fabric design that provides near-optimal performance in terms of completion time for high-priority flows and overall network utilization. pFabric's design eliminates nearly all buffering on switches (switches have only ~20KB of buffering per port), requires almost no congestion control and uses only simple mechanisms at each switch. Specifically, switches are only required to locally and greedily decide what packets to schedule and drop according to priorities in the packet header and do not maintain any flow state or rate estimates. Rate-control is almost unnecessary, all flows start at line-rate and only slow down in the extreme case of congestion collapse. We show via simulations using realistic workloads and topologies that this simple design achieves near optimal flow completion times and network utilization.
Inseparability of X-Heterochromatic Functions Responsible for X:Y Pairing, Meiotic Drive, and Male Fertility in Drosophila melanogaster

Deficiencies encompassing part or all of the X heterochromatin of Drosophila melanogaster have been linked to three abnormalities in male meiosis and spermatogenesis: X-Y nondisjunction, skewed sperm recovery ratios favoring sperm with reduced chromatin content, and sterility in males carrying either a Y-autosome translocation or mal +Y. In this study, 18 X heterochromatic deficiencies of varying sizes were tested in XY males for their spermatogenic phenotypes. All 18 proved to be either mutant for all three phenotypes or wild type for all three. Although variable among mutant deficiencies, expression levels of all three phenotypes were strongly correlated. Deficiencies that cause high levels of nondisjunction also cause severe recovery ratio distortion and are completely sterile in conjunction with mal+ Y. Low nondisjunction deficiencies cause comparable mild effects for the other phenotypes. The same deficiencies were also tested in males carrying a large heterochromatic free X duplication Dp(1; f)3. For all deficiencies which induce nondisjunction in XY males, the Y and free duplication pair regularly and the X fails to pair in XYDp males. Drive levels are constant across deficiencies in these males. Thus elimination of variability in the pairing phenotype also eliminates variability in sperm recovery ratios.
Combining the Development of Practice and the Practice of Development in Teacher Education.

Abstract This article describes and analyzes a program of work in elementary mathematics teacher education at the University of Michigan that has, for a decade, been a site for the development of approaches to preparing beginning K–8 mathematics teachers that are both aimed at practice and centered in content. Among the products of this work are video records, instructional tasks, and assessments, as well as structures for collective work on our courses. These materials and ways of working comprise a collection of resources for both the systematic improvement of the knowledge base for teacher education and the professional development of teacher educators. This practice‐based approach to the development of both our courses and their instructors has enabled us to improve professional instruction and to build knowledge that is useful beyond a particular course or the individuals who work in it. We begin by discussing 2 central problems of teacher education that our group has tried to address and then descri...
Ecological correlates of secondary sexual dimorphism in Salix glauca (Salicaceae)

The ecological causation hypothesis for secondary sexual dimorphism was tested in Salix glauca, a dioecious willow shrub. Plants growing in a Colorado Rocky Mountain (USA) krummholz mosaic of mesic and xeric patches were monitored for four consecutive years. Ecological causation is predicated on unique resource demands associated with sexual function. In S. glauca, seeds have twofold higher N and P concentrations compared to pollen. P, but not N, allocation costs differed between sexes at plant and flower scales. Ecological causation also predicts spatial segregation of sexes along underlying habitat gradients. In five populations of S. glauca, sexes displayed significant spatial segregation. The theory also predicts that sexes differ in performance across gradients of environmental stress or resource availability. Consistent with this hypothesis, females had lower drought tolerance than males under years of extreme aridity. Furthermore, over 10 years, annual shoot growth for females was greatest in mesic habitat patches, while males grew at a consistent rate regardless of habitat aridity. Because current shoot growth is correlated with future catkin production, habitat specialization likely provides a fitness payoff in females. Overall, this long-term study provides some of the strongest evidence to date for ecological causation of secondary sexual dimorphism in plants.
Green Fluorescent Protein Functions as a Reporter for Protein Localization in Escherichia coli

The use of green fluorescent protein (GFP) as a reporter for protein localization in Escherichia coli was explored by creating gene fusions between malE (encoding maltose-binding protein [MBP]) and a variant of gfp optimized for fluorescence in bacteria (GFPuv). These constructs encode hybrid proteins composed of GFP fused to the carboxy-terminal end of MBP. Fluorescence was not detected when the hybrid protein was synthesized with the MBP signal sequence. In contrast, when the MBP signal sequence was deleted, fluorescence was observed. Cell fractionation studies showed that the fluorescent MBP-GFP hybrid protein was localized in the cytoplasm, whereas the nonfluorescent version was localized to the periplasmic space. Smaller MBP-GFP hybrid proteins, however, exhibited abnormal fractionation. Expression of the gene fusions in different sec mutants, as well as signal sequence processing assays, confirmed that the periplasmically localized hybrid proteins were exported by the sec-dependent pathway. The distinction between fluorescent and nonfluorescent colonies was exploited as a scorable phenotype to isolate malE signal sequence mutations. While expression of hybrid proteins comprised of full-length MBP did not result in overproduction lethality characteristic of some exported beta-galactosidase hybrid proteins, synthesis of shorter, exported hybrid proteins was toxic to the cells. Purification of MBP-GFP hybrid protein from the different cellular compartments indicated that GFP is improperly folded when localized outside of the cytoplasm. These results suggest that GFP could serve as a useful reporter for genetic analysis of bacterial protein export and of protein folding.
Three-color single molecule imaging shows WASP detachment from Arp2/3 complex triggers actin filament branch formation

During cell locomotion and endocytosis, membrane-tethered WASP proteins stimulate actin filament nucleation by the Arp2/3 complex. This process generates highly branched arrays of filaments that grow toward the membrane to which they are tethered, a conflict that seemingly would restrict filament growth. Using three-color single-molecule imaging in vitro we revealed how the dynamic associations of Arp2/3 complex with mother filament and WASP are temporally coordinated with initiation of daughter filament growth. We found that WASP proteins dissociated from filament-bound Arp2/3 complex prior to new filament growth. Further, mutations that accelerated release of WASP from filament-bound Arp2/3 complex proportionally accelerated branch formation. These data suggest that while WASP promotes formation of pre-nucleation complexes, filament growth cannot occur until it is triggered by WASP release. This provides a mechanism by which membrane-bound WASP proteins can stimulate network growth without restraining it. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.01008.001
Case for Enhanced In-Home Protection from Severe Winds

This paper presents the results of a study to investigate methods for providing low-cost protection from hazards associated with tornado strikes or other severe wind events. Included are discussions of physical wind damage, the tornado hazard in the United States, and the relative performance of various physical mitigation measures for existing houses (retrofit options). The results can, however, be extended to new construction, where the incremental costs are expected to be far lower than those associated with modifying existing structures. Three primary tornado hazards are discussed: wind pressures, windborne debris, and falling objects. One of the primary objectives of this study was to develop data on impact resistance of typical construction materials. Impact resistance was defined in terms of both first damage and through-penetration. The results suggest that the impact resistance of walls composed of layers of materials can be estimated by summing the impact resistance of the individual layers. The study also considered, on a limited basis, the threat of falling objects such as trees or large branches. Results suggest that a wall designed to resist debris impact will also exhibit satisfactory performance against tree-fall. This paper provides information that may be useful for people making decisions about whether (and how) to modify their homes to provide an increased level of protection from severe windstorms, but not necessarily at the level specified in the FEMA National Performance Criteria for Tornado Shelters and provided by the FEMA 320 designs.
Do Residential Water Demand Side Management Policies Measure Up? An Analysis of Eight California Water Agencies

Abstract To assess the potential of price and alternative demand side management (DSM) policies as an urban water resource management tool, an econometric model of residential demand is formulated and estimated. This econometric model incorporates alternative DSM policy instruments (such as water allocations, use restrictions, public education) and increasing block pricing schedules. The analysis relies on cross-sectional monthly time-series data for eight water agencies in California representing 24% of the state's population (7.1 million people). Results suggest that both price and alternative DSM policies were effective in reducing demand. However, the magnitude of the reduction in demand varied among policy instruments.
High-efficiency Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of Norway spruce (Picea abies) and loblolly pine (Pinus taeda)

Agrobacterium-mediated gene transfer is the method of choice for many plant biotechnology laboratories; however, large-scale use of this organism in conifer transformation has been limited by difficult propagation of explant material, selection efficiencies and low transformation frequency. We have analyzed co-cultivation conditions and different disarmed strains of Agrobacterium to improve transformation. Additional copies of virulence genes were added to three common disarmed strains. These extra virulence genes included either a constitutively active virG or extra copies of virG and virB, both from pTiBo542. In experiments with Norway spruce, we increased transformation efficiencies 1000-fold from initial experiments where little or no transient expression was detected. Over 100 transformed lines expressing the marker gene beta-glucuronidase (GUS) were generated from rapidly dividing embryogenic suspension-cultured cells co-cultivated with Agrobacterium. GUS activity was used to monitor transient expression and to further test lines selected on kanamycin-containing medium. In loblolly pine, transient expression increased 10-fold utilizing modified Agrobacterium strains. Agrobacterium-mediated gene transfer is a useful technique for large-scale generation of transgenic Norway spruce and may prove useful for other conifer species.
Higher protein intake preserves lean mass and satiety with weight loss in pre-obese and obese women

LEIDY, HEATHER J., NADINE S. CARNELL, RICHARD D. MATTES, AND WAYNE W. CAMPBELL. Higher protein intake preserves lean mass and satiety with weight loss in pre-obese and obese women. Obesity. 2007; 15:421–429.