cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Antibody response to group B streptococcus type III and AB blood group antigens induced by pneumococcal vaccine

The effect of pneumococcal vaccination on antibodies to Streptococcus pneumoniae type 14, group B streptococcus type III, and AB blood group antigens was studied in 40 vaccinated adults. Fourfold or greater increases in type-specific IgG antibody to Pn-14 were found in 26 of 40 vaccinees (mean increase 6.4-fold) and against GBS-III in 16 of the 40 (mean increase 2.9-fold) by an indirect immunofluorescence assay. However, only six of the 26 vaccinees with low levels (titers ≤20) of GBS-III antibody in prevaccination sera developed titers >20 after vaccination. Thus, vaccination with polyvalent pneumococcal vaccine does not reliably induce high levels of IF antibody to GBS-III. Fourfold or greater increases in IgG isohemagglutinins against blood group A cells were also found in 22 of 27 vaccinees (mean increase 4.5-fold) and against blood group B cells in nine of 34 (mean increase 1.7-fold) using the indirect anti-human globulin test. Chromatographic fractionation of selected sera confirmed that the anti-A isohemagglutinins stimulated in group O subjects were of the IgG class. Thus, pneumococcal vaccination during incompatible pregnancy could potentiate AO hemolytic disease of the newborn infant.
Three-dimensional structure of the lamina cribrosa of the living eye

ABSTRACT Visualization of the complex structure composed of oriented axons leaving the retina in a loose connective tissue matrixhas been carried out in living tissue using white light confocal microscopy. Optical sections were acquired at normal andelevated intraocular pressures. A 3D model of the lamina was produced and techniques were developed to study theeffects of intraocular pressure on the structural integrity of the lamina cribrosa.Keywords: Real-time confocal microscopy, 3-D imaging, eye, lamina cribrosa, matrix, glaucoma, retina 1. INTRODUCTION Glaucoma, the leading cause of blindness in the United States and Europe, has generally been considered to be caused byan imbalance in the production and outflow of aqueous humor leading to high intraocular pressure. Blindness fromglaucoma is now known to be associated with structural changes in the region of the optic nerve head. Recent studieshave found that the mechanical effects of high intraocular pressure on the connective tissue matrix are transmitted to theoptic nerve axons, which pass through this region in their course to higher visual centers. It is theorized that thisdeformation has biochemical consequences, stimulating a series of events that lead to the death of retinal ganglioncells.
USDA research into organic farming

America's appetite for all-natural, organic food has grown at the remarkable rate of over 20% annually for the past 10 years. This makes organic agriculture—farming and processing food without the use of synthetic chemicals, such as synthetic pesticides and many inorganic fertilizers—the fastest growing sector of America's agricultural economy. Contrast that to the scarcity of organic items to be found 20 years ago … and those only in specialty shops. Today, organic selections are as easy to find in conventional supermarkets and mainstream stores as in natural food stores.
Role of stomatal oscillations on transpiration, assimilation and water-use efficiency of plants

Abstract The objective of this study was to evaluate the average transpiration rate and CO2 assimilation rate and water-use efficiency during steady-state limit cycle oscillations (time varying cyclic changes) in stomatal pore width both for a hydropassive feedback loop model and for a comprehensive model with both hydropassive and CO2 feedback effects. The results were compared with the corresponding values for the non-time varying pore width (pore width corresponding to a theoretically predicted unstable focus). The hydropassive model predicts that the oscillations of stomata under dry ambient conditions conserve moisture. The comprehensive model which incorporates CO2 feedback loop suggests that such oscillations not only reduce transpiration rate, but also improve water-use efficiency.
The multisubunit acetyl-CoA carboxylase is strongly associated with the chloroplast envelope through non-ionic interactions to the carboxyltransferase subunits.

The committed step for de novo fatty acid biosynthesis is the carboxylation of acetyl-CoA catalyzed by acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACCase). Plastidial ACCase from most plants is a multisubunit complex composed of multiple copies of four different polypeptides, biotin carboxyl carrier protein (BCCP), biotin carboxylase (BC), and carboxyltransferase (α-CT and β-CT). Immunoblot analyses revealed these four proteins were mostly (69% of total) associated with a 17,000 g insoluble fraction from lysed pea chloroplasts. Under the same conditions only 8% of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase was associated with this insoluble fraction. BCCP and biotin carboxylase BC subunits freely dissociated from 17 kg insoluble fractions under high ionic strength conditions, whereas α-CT and β-CT subunits remained tightly associated. Both CT subunits were highly enriched in envelope versus stroma and thylakoid preparations whereas BC and BCCP subunits were predominantly stromal-localized due to partial dissociation. Rapid solubilization of intact chloroplasts with Triton X-100 followed by centrifugation at 30 kg resulted in a pellet that was up to 8-fold enriched in ACCase activity and 21-fold enriched in BC activity. Triton-insoluble 30 kg pellets were reduced in lipid and chlorophyll content but enriched in chloroplast DNA due to the isolation of nucleoid particles. However, ACCase was not directly associated with nucleoids since enzymatic digestion of DNA or RNA had no effect on the association with Triton-insoluble matter. The amount of Triton-insoluble ACCase was similar in chloroplasts isolated from dark- or light-adaptated leaves suggesting transitory starch granules were also not involved in this association. It is proposed that ACCase is associated with envelope membranes through interactions with an unidentified integral membrane protein.
Controlled silica deposition on soft-lithography fabricated poly-L-lysine templates

We describe the combination of soft-lithographic patterning and biomolecule-induced deposition to create microscale patterns of silica on a diverse array of substrates. A soft lithographic technique was used to create a sacrificial layer of the polymer poly(n-propyl methacrylate) (PPMA) on the desired substrate. Subsequently, poly-L-lysine was deposited on the substrate, after which removal of the PPMA yielded a pattern of PLL on the substrate. Exposure of the PLL template to a silicic acid solution resulted in silica deposition in the pattern spatially and geometrically controlled by the PLL. With this procedure, we have created both continuous and discontinuous silica patterns on metallic, ceramic, and polymer substrates. While morphology of the deposited silica varied between substrates, the ability to pattern silica through this templated growth was demonstrated on all investigated substrates. EDS, optical micrography, and SEM analysis verified the controlled deposition of silica on the PLL template patterns. This PLL template-mediated induction of silica formation may facilitate the incorporation of silica in new microdevices and serve as a prototype process for controlled deposition with other biomolecule-material systems.
Ethnic comparability of the MMPI in pain patients

The MMPI basic validity and clinical scales' patterns of 295 White-, African- and Latino-American pain patients were compared. Mean group differences across ethnic groups on scales L, F, K, Mf, and Si were revealed in multivariate analysis of covariance for females, while differences across ethnic groups on scales F, K, Mf, Sc, Ma, and Si were revealed for males. In the univariate follow-up analyses of covariance, significant main effects were obtained for ethnicity along with education and (occasionally for males) duration of pain. Various high-point, two-point, and other profile patterns were examined and notable gender/ethnic group differences were found. The pattern of intercorrelations of the MMPI scales mean T scores with various demographic and clinical characteristics suggested some notable divergence across subgroups on certain correlates of the pain experience.
Effects of memantine alone and with acute `binge' cocaine on hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal activity in the rat

The effects of memantine, a non-competitive NMDA-receptor antagonist used in the management of dementia, and its coadministration with acute 'binge' pattern cocaine on hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activity were investigated in the rat. Measurements 3 h after injections showed that memantine alone at 20 mg kg(-1) (i.p.), but not 10 mg kg(-1), increased corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) mRNA levels in the hypothalamus and both adrenocorticotropic hormone and corticosterone levels in the blood, and decreased type I CRF receptor mRNA in the anterior pituitary. Our previous studies have shown that acute 'binge' cocaine increases CRF mRNA levels in the hypothalamus. In this study, pretreatment with memantine (10 and 20 mg kg(-1), i.p.) did not alter the up-regulation of hypothalamic CRF mRNA induced by acute 'binge' cocaine (3 x 15 mg kg(-1), i.p.). Of interest, pretreatment with memantine at 10 mg kg(-1), which alone had no effect on corticosterone levels, caused a greater elevation of corticosterone levels in combination with 'binge' cocaine than acute 'binge' cocaine alone, indicating that memantine does not attenuate 'binge' cocaine-stimulated hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal activity. These results indicate that both memantine and acute 'binge' cocaine stimulate hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal activity by activating CRF neurons in the hypothalamus.
Wimpy and undeserving of respect: Penalties for men's gender-inconsistent success

Results of an experimental study varying the sex of the employee and the gender-type of the job demonstrated that men, as well as women, are penalized when they are successful in areas that imply that they have violated gender norms. But the nature of these penalties differed. When depicted as being successful at a female gender-typed job, men were characterized as more ineffectual and afforded less respect than women successful at the same job or than men successful in a gender-consistent position. Women, in contrast, were more interpersonally derogated and disliked when said to be successful at a male gender-typed job. Regardless of these differing characterizations, both men and women successful in gender-inconsistent jobs were reported to be less preferable as bosses than their more normatively consistent counterparts. These results suggest that success, when it violates gender norms, can be disadvantageous for both men and women, but in different ways.
Science, engineering, and technology in the policy process for mitigating natural-societal risk

Increased societal risks due to the anthropogenic degradation of natural systems often require public policy action to mitigate. For example, increased skin cancer risks associated with anthropogenic stratospheric ozone depletion led to public policies limiting the emission of many ozone-depleting substances. Natural– societal system interaction is complex and often requires expert knowledge and technology to develop effective and sustainable societal risk mitigation policies. However, available knowledge and technology are not always successful in increasing policy makers’ attention to or understanding of these risks. The current work uses a system dynamics model of a feedback system that describes the stratospheric ozone depletion case to identify high leverage points for domain experts to infl uence policy makers in addressing risks posed by changes in a natural system. Model analysis suggests that the rate at which policy makers’ attention to natural system risk is increased has a signifi cant infl uence on the development of knowledge and technology and the ability of policy makers to mitigate societal risks. Copyright © 2011 System Dynamics Society. Sys. Dyn. Rev. 27, 173–194 (2011) Supporting information may be found in the online version of this article.
Esterification of Two Sterically Hindered Acids Using Ultrasound Waves

The possibility of using ultrasound wayes to effect the direct esterification of sterically hindered acids was explored. The methyl, ethyl, n -propyl, and n -butyl esters of o -thymotic and ursolic acids were prepared by the application of low frequency ultrasound wayes, the rates of esterification were determined, and the mechanism of the reaction was studied, using methyl mercaptan in place of an alcohol. Branched chain esters of the acids could not be prepared even when exposure conditions were broadly varied.
Adaptive collaborative estimation of multi-agent mobile robotic systems

Collaborative multi-robot systems are used in a vast array of fields for their innate ability to parallelize domain problems for faster execution. These systems are generally comprised of multiple identical robotic systems in order to simplify manufacturability and programmability, reduce cost, and provide fault tolerance. This work takes advantage of the homogeneity and multiplicity of multi-robot systems to enhance the convergence rate of adaptive dynamic parameter estimation through collaboration. The collaborative adaptive dynamic parameter estimation of multi-robot systems is accomplished by penalizing the pair-wise disagreement of both state and parameter estimates. Consensus and convergence is based on Lyapunov stability arguments. Simulation studies with multiple Pioneer 3-DX systems provides verification of the proposed theoretic collaborative adaptive parameter estimation predictions.
An RTLS-based approach to cyber-physical systems integration in design and construction

There have been several approaches to integrating physical construction components and their virtual models using RFID tags. These enable the movement of components to be tracked on the construction site. However, there is inadequate support for bidirectional coordination between these components and their virtual representations. Also, these approaches often involve manual input of status information into the tags and do not support tracking the permanent installed position of tagged components for consistency maintenance between the as-built and the as-planned models. As such, there are difficulties with ensuring accurate and timely updating of building information models and tag information during the construction process. A major bottleneck in achieving this integration is the choice of appropriate mechanisms for binding physical components with their virtual representations. This paper presents an approach to facilitating bidirectional coordination between physical construction components and their virtual models. Specialized real-time location sensing (RTLS) tags were used for tracking the position and status of physical construction components. This approach showed significant opportunities for enhancing real-time construction consistency checking, which will aid proactive decision making and control. The paper also discusses experiments undertaken to demonstrate the proposed RTLS-based system and highlights the merits and demerits of adopting the proposed approach on a full-scale project.
English L1 and L2 Speakers' Knowledge of Lexical Bundles.

The purpose of the present study is to contribute to the ongoing debate about the use of lexical bundles by first (L1 ) and second language (L2) speakers of English. The study consists of two experiments that examined whether L1 and L2 English speakers displayed any knowledge of lexical bundles as holistic units and whether their knowledge was affected by the discourse function of the lexical bundles (discourse-organizing or referential). The participants in Experiment 1 (N = 61) completed a gap-filling activity, whereas the participants in Experiment 2 (N = 61) carried out a dictation task. Results showed that the participants' knowledge differed for specific lexical bundles and that, overall, they knew more discourse-organizing bundles than referential bundles. The implications of the study are discussed in terms of current research about the role of frequency-based language chunks in L1 and L2 speech processing in English.
Comparison of solutions to the thirteen-moment and standard transport equations for low speed thermal proton flows

Abstract We have compared solutions obtained from the general 13-moment system of transport equations with those obtained from the standard collision-dominated transport equations for conditions corresponding to low speed thermal proton flow in the topside ionosphere in the vicinity of the plasmapause. In general, the solutions obtained from the 13-moment system of equations, which allows for different species temperatures parallel and perpendicular to the geomagnetic field and non-classical heat flows, are different from those obtained from the standard transport equations, which account for isotropic temperatures and classical collision-dominated heat flows. Within the plasmasphere, where the electron density is high, the differences between the 13-moment and standard solutions are typically small. However, outside the plasmasphere where the electron density is lower and in the ionosphere above SAR-arcs, where substantial electron and proton heat flows occur, there can be significant differences between the 13-moment and standard solutions. Generally, the differences are much larger for the protons than for the electrons. Our 13-moment solutions indicate that the proton and electron distributions are anisotropic with the difference between parallel and perpendicular temperatures approaching 4000 K for the protons and 2500 K for the electrons in the ionosphere above SAR-arcs. Also, above SAR-arcs the 13-moment heat flow equations yield proton heat flows as much as a factor of 10 lower and electron heat flows as much as a factor of 2 lower than those predicted by the classical collision-dominated heat flow expressions for the same boundary conditions.
On the Schwarzian coefficients of univalent functions

For f ∈ S, we study the Schwarzian coefficients sn defined by {f, z} = Σ snzn. Sharp bounds on s0, s1 and s2 are given, together with an order of growth estimate as n → ∞. We use the Grunsky Inequalities to estimate combinations of coefficients.
Cuba’s Wild East: A Literary Geography of Oriente. Peter Hulme. Liverpool, U.K.: Liverpool University Press, 2011. xii + 455 pp. (Cloth £70.00)

Book Reviews Cuba’s Wild East: A Literary Geography of Oriente. Peter Hulme. Liverpool, U.K.: Liverpool University Press, 2011. xii + 455 pp. (Cloth £70.00) In Cuba’s Wild East, Peter Hulme persuasively demonstrates that a substan- tial portion of the English-language fiction and non-fiction written about Cuba has focused on the old Cuban province of Oriente. Given the prolif- eration of Havana-centered writing during the last two decades, this idea seems counter-intuitive; however, Hulme leaves no doubt that the images of Cuba sustained by English readers have been shaped in many ways by travelers, visitors, and writers for whom Oriente province became repre- sentative of the whole of the island. In Cuba it is well known that wars and revolutions always begin at the eastern end of the island, in Oriente. The first major uprising against Spain, the Ten Year War (1868-78), began in Oriente; so did the 1895 Cuban War of Independence, though it was soon truncated by U.S. intervention. The “splendid little war” of 1898, famously involving Theodore Roosevelt among others, took place also in Oriente, primarily around the port cities of San- tiago and Guantanamo. More recently, the guerrilla war led by Fidel Castro against the dictator Fulgencio Batista also developed in the Sierra Maestra and nearby mountains of Oriente. Oriente province’s ruggedness, isolation, and socio-historical differences from Havana and other economic and political centers in Cuba’s west, made the area well-fitted for the foment of revolution, thus converting it into an exciting destination for writers from other parts of the island. Cuban poet and patriot Jose Marti detailed the few weeks he spent in Oriente in a touching campaign diary that doubles as a fascinating prose poem. Writer and activist Pablo de la Torriente Brau also reported in epic tones on Cuban peasant uprisings in Oriente in the 1930s. Hulme details how prominent U.S. correspondents and writers flocked to Oriente to cover the insurgencies and/or to meet with Cuban military lead- ers during the Ten Year War, the Cuban War of Independence, the Spanish- American intervention of 1898, and the 1950s Sierra Maestra guerrilla war led by Fidel Castro. Correspondents and writers like James J. O’Kelly, Rich- ard Harding Davis, Stephen Crane, and Herbert Matthews each traveled to this remote corner of the world in order to report on wars, military leaders, and other significant local individuals. Others like Josephine Herbst and © 2013 Raul Fernandez DOI: 10.1163/22134360-12340039 This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported (CC BY-NC 3.0) License, http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/
HDTV research in Japan

Research in the area of HDTV undertaken by the Japanese broadcast corporation NHK is reviewed. This includes research to develop high-quality systems for broadcast, transmission, and reception; 3-D technology; HARP technology; camera technology; image composition and picture quality packages; voice recognition systems; recording and tape technology; and displays. >
Positive contrast MRI of prostate brachytherapy seeds based on resonant frequency offset mapping

MRI provides a safe, high-resolution imaging modality that can be used to assist physicians during intra-operative and post-operative phases of prostate brachytherapy. The metallic outer structure of brachytherapy seeds, however, naturally produces dark features in MR imagery, which can be confused with other image voids. This work explores the application of resonant frequency offset maps to predict the shift in resonant frequency that occurs in the vicinity of a metallic cylindrical seed-like object. An off-resonance imaging approach is then proposed to generate positive contrast markers that may aid in automatic unambiguous detection and localization of brachytherapy seeds in MR imagery.
Decay of the light antimony isotopes 110, 111, 112, 114sb following the 112, 114Sn (p, xn) reactions

Abstract The decay of the two new isotopes 110 Sb (T 1 2 = 23.0 sec ) and 111 Sb (T 1 2 = 74.1 sec ) is investigated following the 112 Sn (p, x n) reactions, together with the decay of 112 Sb ( T 1 2 = 53.5 sec), 113 Sb (T 1 2 = 6.74 min ) and 114 Sb (T 1 2 = 3.52 min ) . The Q EC values of 112 Sb, 111 Sb, and 110 Sb are measured to be 7.03±0.05, 4.47±0.05, and 9.08±0.10 MeV, respectively. The spin and parity of the even isotopes 110,112,114 Sb are deduced to be 3 + while the spin and parity of 111,113 Sb are shown to be 5 2 + . Decay schemes are proposed and discussed. An isomeric state (8 − ) in 114 Sb, with a half-life of 8 ±2 min, is suggested from the data.
Eddy-Current Losses in Induction Motor End-Turn Clamping Rings [includes discussion]

A method of calculation of the eddy-current loss in solid copper induction motor end-turn clamping rings is presented. Theoretical calculations and test results are given for a 2-pole 60-cycle motor, and are shown to be in close agreement.
Initial power adjustment and link adaptation from direct-sequence spread-spectrum demodulator statistics

Statistics obtained during demodulation are used in a direct-sequence spread-spectrum packet radio network to govern the adjustment of transmitter power within the first few packets of a session. The statistics are also employed by an adaptive transmission protocol to select the modulation parameters and the rate of the error-control code for each packet. The power-adjustment protocol uses the statistics to ensure that the transmitter power level is high enough to satisfy the signal strength requirements at the receiver and low enough to prevent unnecessary interference to nearby radios. We describe a protocol for which modulation and coding parameters are adapted to achieve the most efficient combination for the given channel conditions. We evaluate the performance of each protocol for several channels. The protocols are not given any information about the type of channel or the channel parameters, yet they are able to use the demodulator statistics to efficiently set the initial power level and adapt transmissions throughout the session.
A curariform binding site mediates mechanical stimulus transduction in Stentor coeruleus

Abstract 1. Six of the 38 drugs tested markedly altered the probability of eliciting a contraction from the protozoan, Stentor coeruleus, in response to mechanical stimulation. These 6 drugs were all nicotinic cholinergic agents. 2. These 6 drugs did not alter stentor's sensitivity to photic or electrical stimuli. 3. One of the drugs, d-tubocurarine, was shown to depress receptor potentials elicited by mechanical stimulation while not consistently affecting other electrophysiological parameters. 4. Since acetylcholine, carbachol and α-snake toxins did not affect stentor it was concluded that stentor does not contain a cholinergic receptor but that it does contain a curariform binding site.
Verdi's First "Willow Song": New Sketches and Drafts for Otello

The genesis of Verdi's Otello is a familiar episode in the history of Italian opera. The semiretired composer's reluctance to reenter the operatic fray, his gradual interest in Arrigo Boito's draft libretto, and the astonishing speed with which he composed the music have been the subject of both musicological and biographical study.1 Letters between librettist and composer detail the textual modifications that Boito made
Porosity control in zig-zag vapor-deposited films

Abstract Many of the physical, chemical and mechanical properties of vapor-deposited films are strong functions of the volume fraction and morphology of pores that are entrained during film growth. It has recently been shown that by growing films under low surface mobility conditions (at homologous growth temperatures [T/Tm] of 0.5 or less) and alternating the inclination of a substrate to the vapor plume, it is possible to grow columnar zig-zag structures. Films with such a microstructure are of significant interest for thermal protection applications because they reduce the through-thickness thermal conductivity and the in-plane elastic modulus. They therefore provide a means for increasing the coating's thermal resistance while retaining its ability to accommodate thermal expansion mismatch with the underlying substrate during thermal cycling. A kinetic Monte Carlo (KMC) method has been utilized to simulate void evolution during physical vapor deposition of zig-zag microstructures and is used to explore methods for controlling pore morphology. The pore morphology of zig-zag coatings is found to depend strongly on the angular distribution of the incident flux. As the flux incidence angle changes from highly collimated to a cosine distribution, the coating changes from a uniform columnar to a hierarchical structure incorporating many length scales of porosity. The hierarchical nature of this structure is accentuated by increasing the substrate oscillation angle. A more narrowly distributed flux is found to result in denser films. Simulations have also revealed that the widely observed competitive growth phenomenon responsible for intercolumn porosity depends strongly on the incident flux distribution and is amplified by oblique deposition.
Optical Coherence Tomography and Lung Cancer: Increasing the Diagnostic Yield of Bronchial Biopsy

Low-risk bronchoscopy techniques for retrieving biopsy samples for the diagnosis of lung cancer are hampered by low diagnostic yields, and trans-thoracic and surgical approaches carry higher intrinsic risk of complications. We are investigating the use of optical coherence tomography to increase the diagnostic yield of bronchial biopsy.
The Korteweg—de Vries Equation and Beyond

We review a new method for linearizing the initial-boundary value problem of the KdV on the semi-infinite line for decaying initial and boundary data. We also present a novel class of physically important integrable equations. These equations, which include generalizations of the KdV, of the modified KdV, of the nonlinear Schrodinger and of theN-wave interactions, are as generic as their celebrated counterparts and, furthermore it appears that they describe certain physical situations more accurately.
Mutation-based software testing using program schemata

Mutation analysis is a powerful technique for assessing the quality of test data used in unit testing software. Unfortunately, current automated mutation analysis systems suffer from severe performance problems. In this paper the principles of mutation analysis are reviewed, current automation approaches are described, and a new method of performing mutation analysis is outlined. Performance improvements of over 300% are reported and other advantages of this new method are highlighted.
Effect of Reinforcement Type on the Design Reinforcement Length of Mechanically Stabilized Earth Walls

Abstract This paper presents the results of a parametric study conducted to investigate the effect of different reinforcement types on required minimum reinforcement length and governing design criteria of mechanically stabilized earth walls. There are several reinforcement types with varying properties used in these walls. The reinforcement should be long enough to satisfy both external and internal stability criteria. The minimum reinforcement length criteria vary throughout the world; however most specifications and guidelines require that minimum length should be equal to 70% of wall height. A natural rock formation behind the wall or manmade shoring system may cause limitations on the reinforcement length. The focus of this paper is to investigate the required minimum reinforcement length and the criteria governing the design length for four different reinforcement types; geogrids, geotextiles, metal strips, and metal bar mats. Effect of different parameters on the required minimum reinforcement length and the governing design criteria were investigated for these four reinforcement types. The parameters considered included wall height, surcharge, reinforcement vertical spacing, reinforced soil properties, backfill/retained soil properties, and foundation soil properties. The results indicate that, depending on the parameters involved, the reinforcement type can affect both the required reinforcement length and the governing design criteria. The study also shows that reinforcement lengths shorter than 70% of wall height, as low as 50%, are possible in some cases. Among the four reinforcement types considered, the metal strips usually require the longest lengths; however, it is possible to reduce the required minimum reinforcement lengths of the metal strips by increasing the coverage ratio.
Administration of colony stimulating factor-1 to toothless osteopetrotic rats normalizes osteoblast, but not osteoclast, gene expression

The toothless (tl) osteopetrotic mutation in the rat is characterized by generalized skeletal sclerosis, a severe reduction in the numbers of osteoclasts, monocytes, and macrophages, and absence of tooth eruption. Studies examining gene expression in bone-derived cells of tl rats and their normal littermates have shown that genes related to osteoblast function are aberrantly expressed in tl rats compared to normal littemates. We have previously shown that exogenous administration of colony stimulating factor-1 (CSF-1) to tl rats results in a dramatic reduction of the skeletal sclerosis and significant increases in the number of osteoclasts. Thus, we examined the effects of CSF-1 on osteoblast and osteoclast gene expression in tl rats as demonstrated by Northern blot analysis. While osteoblast-related gene expression as reflected by mRNA levels of alkaline phosphatase, osteocalcin, osteopontin, and type I collagen was normalized, osteoclast-related gene expression, as reflected by mRNA levels of carbonic anhydrase II and tartrate-resistant adenosine triphosphatase, remained significantly lower in CSF-1-treated tl rats compared to untreated normal littermates. Since previous studies have not demonstrated the CSF-1 receptor on osteoblasts, these results suggest that osteoblast abnormalities in tl rats are an effect of the osteopetrotic condition rather than the cause of the disease.
The Enron effect in the electric services and natural gas industry on accounting choices

Abstract The political cost explanation of positive accounting theory suggests that the accounting choices and reactions of managers to a perceived crisis are impacted by expected responses of regulators and politicians. During the early months of 2001, the Enron failure and the rolling blackouts that affected many communities in California had captured the attention of the California Governor, the media, and the regulators. In this study, I examine whether the intense level of scrutiny caused by Enron, operating in the western region, had a spillover effect on accounting choices of firms within and beyond its region in the electric services and natural gas industry that is consistent with the political cost explanation [Watts, R., & Zimmerman, J. (1986). Positive accounting theory. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall]. The regulators, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), were concerned about the depth of Enron’s trading schemes, financial reporting credibility, as well as the involvement of other firms. I find evidence consistent with the political cost explanation and that accounting choices vary systematically within and beyond the western region.
Lower crustal crystallization and melt evolution at mid-ocean ridges

Oceanic crust is formed at mid-ocean ridges, but there is little consensus on where crystallization of melt actually occurs within the crust or mantle. Geochemical analyses of melt inclusions from two Pacific Ocean mid-ocean ridges indicate that 25% of the melt crystallizes below the melt lens to form the lower oceanic crust.
Can Robotic Interaction Improve Joint Attention Skills

Although it has often been argued that clinical applications of advanced technology may hold promise for addressing impairments associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), relatively few investigations have indexed the impact of intervention and feedback approaches. This pilot study investigated the application of a novel robotic interaction system capable of administering and adjusting joint attention prompts to a small group (n = 6) of children with ASD. Across a series of four sessions, children improved in their ability to orient to prompts administered by the robotic system and continued to display strong attention toward the humanoid robot over time. The results highlight both potential benefits of robotic systems for directed intervention approaches as well as potent limitations of existing humanoid robotic platforms.
Paleomagnetism of some Precambrian basaltic flows and red beds, Eastern Grand Canyon, Arizona

Lava flows and red sandstone beds near the middle of the Upper Precambrian Grand Canyon Series exhibit stable remanent magnetization. The beds are about 1000 m stratigraphically above rocks of the Grand Canyon Series for which paleomagnetic poles have been reported. All specimens were subjected to stepwise thermal (200°–700°C) or alternating field (25–5000 Oe) demagnetization for the determination of characteristic magnetization. The pole for two flows and an intercalated sandstone bed of the Cardenas Lavas of Ford, Breed and Mitchell (upper Unkar Group), is at 174.6W, 0.4N ( N = 10, K = 50, α 95 = 6.9°). The pole for a weathered zone developed across the Cardenas Lavas is at 167.8W, 49.4N ( N = 5, K = 79, α 95 = 8.6°). The pole for directly overlying sandstone of the Nankoweap Formation of Maxson is at 174.4E, 12.5N ( N = 6, K = 105, α 95 = 6.6°). These poles lie on or near, and appear to follow, part of an apparent polar wandering path recently proposed for the Precambrian of North America by Spall. If the fit is not accidental, little or no rotation has occurred between north-central Arizona and parts of the North American continent used to define the proposed path.
A membrane-associated cysteine protease inhibitor from murine hepatoma.

A cysteine protease inhibitor was purified from total membrane fractions of an invasive murine hepatoma, Hepa cl 9. On gel filtration under non-reducing conditions the purified inhibitor was eluted in a single peak of M1 10–15 kDa, but resolved as two bands at 14 and 70 kDa on SDS-PAGE under reducing conditions. By isoelectric focusing, the inhibitor ran at an isoelectric point of 4.75. Immunoblotting studies using the enhanced chemiluminescence technique indicated no crossreactivity with monoclonal antibodies to stefin B and cystatin C or with a polyclonal antibody to low M??? kininogen. In contrast, the 14 kDa and 70 kDa bands both crossreacted with a polyclonal antibody to stefin A, suggesting that the cysteine protease inhibitor associated with Hepa cl 9 membranes may be a modified form of stefin A.
Analysis of polarization-coupled infinite impulse response optical filters

An analysis revealing a simple closed form solution for the poles of a polarization-coupled ring resonator is presented for the first time. The resonant frequencies are easily calculated as well as the pole magnitudes based on the relative phase and polarization-dependent ring coupling. Applications include wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) filters with new pole magnitude tuning capability and analysis of polarization dependence in birefringent fiber-based and integrated-optic resonator-enhanced filters.
The odd-ending price justification effect: the influence of price-endings on hedonic and utilitarian consumption

This paper examines how odd-ending pricing influences consumption of hedonic and utilitarian products. Four studies test the hypothesis that the discount image associated with odd-ending prices reduces anticipated guilt and provides justification for hedonic consumption – an effect the authors label the odd-ending price justification effect (OPJE). Study 1 reveals people are more likely to choose hedonic over utilitarian products when they have odd-ending prices. Study 2 finds that the effect of odd-ending prices on hedonic consumption is mediated by guilt reduction. Study 3 reveals a boundary condition for the OPJE – purchase likelihood of hedonic products increases only when monetary, not nonmonetary, guilt is reduced. Study 4 suggests the OPJE operates at an unconscious level, as consumers who are made aware of the trivial difference between odd- and round-ending prices are no longer influenced by odd-ending prices. The theoretical, practical, and research implications of these findings are discussed.
Update from the weather normalization task force

Line reliability is highly influenced by weather, especially from thunderstorms. This presentation will provide an update on activities of the IEEE task force on weather normalization of reliability indices. Topics include sources of lightning and other weather data, most appropriate geographic and time scales, most influential weather parameters, ways to correlate with weather data, and how to normalize. The panel will also be updated on the task force paper that discusses these topics in detail.
Tackling the characterization of canine chromosomal breakpoints with an integrated in-situ/in-silico approach: the canine PAR and PAB.

The domestic dog continues to represent an influential model organism for comparative biomedical research owing to the numerous genetic and pathophysiological similarities shared between human and dog diseases. The combined availability of a high-quality genome assembly and a 1 Mb-resolution genome-assembly integrated bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) panel now provides the essential resources to combine cytogenetic and computational analyses to determine the precise locations of chromosome breakpoint regions within aberrant karyotypes. In this study we demonstrate the synergy of using a such a combined in-situ/in-silico approach to define chromosome breakpoints using the naturally occurring breakpoint present on all canine X chromosomes—the pseudoautosomal breakpoint (PAB). In so doing we have further characterized the canine pseudoautosomal region (PAR) to extend approximately 6.6 Mb from the telomeric end of CFA Xp and established that the canine PAB is contained within a 2 kb region. Our characterization of the canine PAR allowed for the comparative study of gene content across previously defined mammalian PARs and indicates that the canine PAB is contained with the gene Shroom2. The future application of the approach demonstrated in this study will prove useful when seeking to identify the genomic sequences surrounding recurrent chromosome breakpoints present in canine cancers.
Natural convection from a plane, vertical surface in non-isothermal surroundings

Abstract This paper presents a theoretical investigation of laminar natural convection from a plane, vertical surface in non-isothermal surroundings. Conditions are derived for the existence of similarity solutions. A method is proposed for generalizing the conditions pertaining to existing similarity solutions so as to include the effect of non-isothermal surroundings. Numerical solutions of the ordinary differential equations resulting from the similarity transformation are reported for the special case of an isothermal surface. These results suggest that some variations of surrounding temperature may lead to flow reversal in the boundary layer. Experimental evidence suggests that this may be an unstable condition.
Delusion content across the 20th century in an American psychiatric hospital

Background: Differences in delusion content have been studied across time periods and in various international samples, with variations reflecting sociocultural influences. A similar analysis of delusion content in an American sample has yet to be reported.Aims: The current study seeks to contribute to this growing database by reporting delusion content from a sample in the US across a 100-year period.Methods: Archival medical records of 102 patients hospitalized for psychosis across the 20th century were examined for types of delusion content. Random samples were selected from each decade. All patients were hospitalized at the same state psychiatric facility in the US.Results: Persecutory was the most common delusion category, followed by religious, somatic and grandiose. Greater frequency of persecutory delusions occurred after 1950. Delusion content also reflected sociocultural factors during the associated time period.Conclusions: As in most samples internationally, persecutory was the most common del...
National Animosity and Cross-Border Alliances

We extend the cross-border strategic alliance knowledge base by introducing dyad-specific antagonism (animosity between nation pairs) and hold that the formation and the type of firm-level cross-border alliances are nontrivially impacted by conflicting relations and animosity between their home nations. We examine the formation of alliances between firms among nation-dyads with and without a history of conflicts. The frequency and magnitude of conflicts increase the perception of likelihood of opportunism, and dyad-specific risks materially affect the context in which firms make alliance decisions. As animosity between two nations increases, the number and the probability of forming alliances within the dyad the nations form decreases. Conditional on the expected number of alliances, increased antagonistic actions of nations outside the dyad and dissimilarity in the historical conflicts that each nation has engaged in outside the dyad (i) increase the number of equity alliances and (ii) decrease the number of nonequity alliances as a proportion of total alliances. We find positive main effects of learning to contract through prior experience only for equity (vs. nonequity) alliances. The reputation effects of antagonism based on relationships with nations outside of the dyad negatively moderate the positive learning effects of prior equity alliance experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Zebrafish mitotic kinesin-like protein 1 (Mklp1) functions in embryonic cytokinesis.

To understand the functions of microtubule motors in vertebrate development, we are investigating the kinesin-like proteins (KLPs) of the zebrafish, Danio rerio. Here we describe the structure, int...
Structural Instability, Multiple Stable States, and Hysteresis in Periphyton Driven by Phosphorus Enrichment in the Everglades

Periphyton is a key component of the Everglades ecosystems. It is a major primary producer, providing food and habitat for a variety of organisms, contributing material to the surface soil, and regulating water chemistry. Periphyton is sensitive to the phosphorus (P) supply and P enrichment has caused dramatic changes in the native Everglades periphyton assemblages. Periphyton also affects P availability by removing P from the water column and depositing a refractory portion into sediment. A quantitative understanding of the response of periphyton assemblages to P supply and its effects on P cycling could provide critical supports to decision making in the conservation and restoration of the Everglades. We constructed a model to examine the interaction between periphyton and P dynamics. The model contains two differential equations: P uptake and periphyton growth are assumed to follow the Monod equation and are limited by a modified logistic equation. Equilibrium and stability analyses suggest that P loading is the driving force and determines the system behavior. The position and number of steady states and the stability also depend upon the rate of sloughing, through which periphyton deposits refractory P into sediment. Multiple equilibria may exist, with two stable equilibria separated by an unstable equilibrium. Due to nonlinear interplay of periphyton and P in this model, catastrophe and hysteresis are likely to occur.
Estimation of sequential circuit activity considering spatial and temporal correlations

We present an exact and an approximate method for estimating signal activity at the internal nodes of sequential logic circuits. The methodology takes spatial and temporal correlations of logic signals into consideration. Given the state transition graph (STG) of a finite state machine (FSM), we create an extended state transition graph (ESTG), where the temporal correlations of the input signals are explicitly represented. From the graph we derive the equations to calculate exact signal probabilities and activities. For large circuits an approximate method for calculating the activities by unrolling the next state logic is proposed. Experimental results show that if temporal and spatial correlations are not considered, the switching activities of the internal nodes can be off by more than 40% compared to simulation based techniques. However, the results of the approximate method proposed in the paper is within 5% of logic simulation results.