cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
EFFECT OF RESIDUE MANAGEMENT METHODS ON NO-TILL DRILL PERFORMANCE

Excessive crop residue on the soil surface impedes drill performance and subsequent crop production in conservation tillage systems. To address this issue, 10 different residue management strategies were evaluated to determine their effect on no-till drill performance in terms of seedling establishment, early plant vigor, and crop yield. Field conditions were characterized by size, concentration, and distribution of residue. Residue management strategies included leaving tall standing stubble, using various chopping and spreading devices, and removing the residue by baling. Experiments were conducted in northeastern Oregon fields that had been previously seeded to winter wheat and produced 9.8 and 10.5 t/ha of residue in 2000 and 2001, respectively. Winter and spring wheat plots were seeded with a hoe-type no-till drill. For the residue management methods used in this study, stand establishment and seedling dry weight were reduced by 20% to 58% and 22% to 46%, respectively, when the full quantity of residue was left on the soil surface as compared to those where the residue concentration was reduced by baling. Seeding into high concentrations of residue left by non-uniform residue distribution systems also caused reductions in stand establishment and early plant growth. Long standing stubble and high concentrations of loose straw greater than 18 cm in length caused unacceptable drill plugging. Successful drill operation was achieved in crop residues exceeding 9.8 t/ha when stubble height was less than or equal to row spacing and the majority of cut straw was cut into pieces less than 18 cm long. Although consistent yield differences were not found, the results of this study showed that residue concentration and size have an important influence on no-till crop yield potential and drill operation.
Label-free biomarker detection from whole blood

Label-free nanosensors can detect disease markers to provide point-of-care diagnosis that is low-cost, rapid, specific and sensitive. However, detecting these biomarkers in physiological fluid samples is difficult because of ionic screening. Here, we overcome this limitation by using distinct components within the sensor to perform purification and detection.1 A microfluidic purification chip captures multiple biomarkers simultaneously from blood samples and releases them, after washing, into purified buffer for sensing by a silicon nanoribbon detector. This two-stage approach isolates the detector from the complex environment of whole blood, and reduces its minimum required sensitivity by effectively pre-concentrating the biomarkers. We show specific and quantitative detection of two model cancer antigens from a 10 uL sample of whole blood in less than 20 minutes.
Steric molecular theory for multiple smectic-A phases.

Molecular-lattice-theory results reveal that the steric (hard-repulsive) packing of rigid cores and partially flexible tails can explain the relative stabilities of the smectic-A/sub 1/, smectic-A/sub d/, and higher-temperature and lower-temperature nematic (including reentrant-nematic) liquid-crystalline phases, and the isotropic liquid phase. These phases and transitions between them are presented as a function of temperature, pressure, tail-chain length and flexibility, and orientational and positional order of the molecules for different systems. Critical exponents calculated at the smectic-A/sub d/ to nematic transitions are consistent with an identification of the fraction of one-dimensional positional alignment (i.e., the fraction of segregated packing of cores with cores and thus of tails with tails) of the molecules in the smectic-A/sub d/ phase as an order parameter.
Isocitrate lyase from parasitic and free-living nematodes☆

Abstract Isocitrate lyase and malate synthase were demonstrated in the soil nematode Caenorhabditis elegans and the isocitrate lyase partially characterized and compared with that from embryos of the hog roundworm Ascaris lumbricoides . Both enzymes have similar pH optima, molecular weights and K m s for isocitrate. Isocitrate lyase from A. lumbricoides consists of a single species of pI 6.6; the lyase from C. elegans consists of a major fraction of pI 5.1 and two lesser species of pI 4.4 and 4.1, suggestive of multiple enzymes. Oxalate, a reversible inhibitor, protects isocitrate lyase from both sources against thermal inactivation; protection is better in the case of the Ascaris enzyme. Antibodies to highly purified C. elegans isocitrate lyase inhibit catalysis by the enzyme from either nematode and form precipitin bands in gels with lyase-containing extracts from both organisms, implying common evolutionary ancestry. Isocitrate lyase from C. elegans , unlike that from A. lumbricoides , can be detected in adult forms of the nematode.
Test charge near an extreme charged black hole

The physical significance of the solution of Maxwell's equations for a point charge at rest near an extreme Reissner-Nordstr\"om black hole is discussed. Then the discrepancy between the analysis of this problem by Adler and Das and the more general result of Leaute and Linet is resolved.
Scintigraphy-ventilation/perfusion scanning and imaging of the embolus

Purpose: This is a review of data on ventilation/perfusion (V/Q) imaging obtained in the collaborative study, Prospective Investigation of Pulmonary Embolism Diagnosis (PIOPED). Special emphasis is given to data obtained subsequent to the main PIOPED publication. New criteria for the interpretation of V/Q scans are based on data obtained by retrospective evaluation of the data from PIOPED.
Quantification of Viable Plesiomonas shigelloides in a Mixture of Viable and Dead Cells Using Ethidium Bromide Monoazide and Conventional PCR

A rapid and efficient method for quantitative detection of viable Plesiomonas shigelloides in pure culture containing a mixture of viable and heat-killed cells was developed using ethidium bromide monoazide (EMA) in combination with the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The addition of EMA (1 μg/ml) to mixtures of viable and heat-killed cells of P. shigelloides inhibited the PCR amplification of DNA derived from the dead cells, but did not inhibit the PCR amplification of DNA derived from the viable cells. EMA at 5 μg/ml or less had little or no inhibition on the PCR amplification of DNA derived from viable cells of P. shigelloides. After EMA treatment, the DNA from viable P. shigelloides cells in varying ratios of viable to dead cells could be selectively quantified by PCR. The minimum level of detection was DNA from 24 genomic targets per PCR reaction. A linear relationship was found between the relative fluorescent intensity of the DNA bands and the log of genomic targets derived from the viable cells i...
Recognition and quality assessment of data charts in mixed-mode documents

Data charts can be used to effectively compress large amounts of complex information and can convey information in an efficient and succinct manner. It is now easier to create data charts by using a variety of automated software systems. These data charts are routinely inserted in text documents and are widely disseminated over many different media. This study addresses the problem of finding goodness of data charts in mixed-mode documents. The quality of the graphics can be used to assist the document development process as well as to serve as an additional criterion for search engines like Google and Yahoo. The quality measures are motivated by principles of visual learning and are based on research in educational psychology and cognitive theories and use attributes of both the graphic and its textual context. We have implemented the approach and evaluated its effectiveness using a set of documents compiled from the Web. Results of a human study shows that the proposed quality measures have a high correlation with the quality ratings of the users for each of the five classes of data charts studied in this research.
A software change impact analysis taxonomy

Source code changes can have ripple-effects that result in unchanged source code elements producing different results than they would have produced before the changes. This paper proposes a taxonomy of the types of impacts that can result from source code changes in both procedural and object-oriented code. The taxonomy is extensible by creating additional sub-types of the types proposed. The proposed taxonomy is based on an analysis of existing change impact analysis algorithms and provides a basis for classifying change impact analysis algorithms by the types of impacts they identify.
Isoperoxidases as markers of the wound-induced differentiation pattern in potato tuber☆

Abstract Isoperoxidases induced by wounding in potato tuber tissue were separated by starch gel electrophoresis and found to be distributed in a highly specific spatial pattern. This pattern of molecular differentiation correlates well with the pattern of cell differentiation associated with wound healing. Although wound induced isoperoxidases were found to vary between three varieties of potato, they were distributed in the same spatial pattern. The combination of isozymes extracted from various parts of a potato plant was specific for each of nine organs and tissues, and all combinations were different from the isozymes from wounded tuber tissue. Isoperoxidases can thus be considered as highly specific molecular markers of cell differentiation.
Photoelectron spectroscopy of PbS

The photoelectron spectrumof the gas phase diatom ic anion, PbShas been recorded with 2.540 eV photons. Transitions fromthe X 2 P PbSanion ground state to the X 1 R neutral PbS ground state are observed and as- signed. The adiabatic electron affinity of PbS was determined to be 8461 cm � 1 (1.049 eV). Fromthis value and an energetic cycle, the dissociation energy of PbSdissociating into the ground states of Pb and Swas found to be 55.4 kcal/mole (2.40 eV). From a Franck-Condon analysis of the spectrum, the anions bond length, vibrational frequency, and anharmonicity constant were determined to be re ¼ 2:390 A xe ¼ 367 cm � 1 , xeve ¼ 2: 2c m � 1 , re- spectively.
Pulmonary Resection for Lung Cancer in Octogenarians

Abstract Background . Octogenarians often present with potentially resectable bronchogenic carcinoma. Older reports noting prohibitive mortality and recent surveys documenting continued substantial risk raise concerns about the applicability of operation in this age group. Methods . We reviewed the short-term and long-term results of pulmonary resection for intended cure of lung cancer in patients 80 years and older operated on from 1980 through 1995. Our surgical philosophy favored lobectomy over lesser resection and generally avoided pneumonectomy in the elderly. Results . Fifty-four octogenarians underwent resection: 43 lobectomies, 2 extended lobectomies, 2 bilobectomies, 3 segmentectomies, 3 wedge excisions, and 1 pneumonectomy. There were two perioperative deaths (3.7%). The overall nonfatal complication rate was 42%, with a major complication rate of 11%. Postoperative stay decreased from 8.1 days overall to 6.3 days in the last 3 years. Only 3 patients required temporary convalescent care after discharge. Actuarial survival at 1, 3, and 5 years was 86%, 62%, and 43%, respectively, for all discharged patients (n = 52) and 97%, 78%, and 57% for stage I cases (n = 39). Patients with tumors beyond stage I fared poorly. Conclusions . Advanced age per se is neither a contraindication to curative resection nor a routine indication for nonanatomic operations in healthy octogenarians with stage I lung cancer. With proper selection, acute risk should be low. Pneumonectomy, extended resection, and operation for stage II or III disease should be considered only in exceptional cases.
From colonial liberation to Cold War liberalism: Walter White, the NAACP, and Foreign Affairs, 1941–1955

Abstract With the USA's entry into World War II, international politics again commanded significant attention from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People [NAACP]. Walter White, the NAACP's secretary, actively promoted an international solidarity movement to pressure the USA and European powers to commit to a world without colonies. The NAACP's participation in this movement lasted through to 1948. By 1951 White and his association had abandoned that solidarity, cut its ties with the African-American left, and embraced liberal anti-Communism. In exchange for this support, the NAACP received an unkept promise of influence in the formulation of domestic race relations policy. This article examines the foreign policy choices that the NAACP made between 1941 and 1955; the leadership styles that facilitated these choices; and the Cold War pressures on black America that helped push White and the NAACP into the liberal anti-communists’ camp.
Spontaneous Low Pressure, Low CSF Volume Headaches: Spontaneous CSF Leaks

Spontaneous intracranial hypotension typically results from spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak, often at spine level and only rarely from skull base. Once considered rare, it is now diagnosed far more commonly than before and is recognized as an important cause of headaches. CSF leak leads to loss of CSF volume. Considering that the skull is a rigid noncollapsible container, loss of CSF volume is typically compensated by subdural fluid collections and by increase in intracranial venous blood which, in turn, causes pachymeningeal thickening, enlarged pituitary, and engorgement of cerebral venous sinuses on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Another consequence of CSF hypovolemia is sinking of the brain, with descent of the cerebellar tonsils and brainstem as well as crowding of the posterior fossa noted on head MRI. The clinical consequences of these changes include headaches that are often but not always orthostatic, nausea, occasional emesis, neck and interscapular pain, cochleovestibular manifestations, cranial nerve palsies, and several other manifestations attributed to pressure upon or stretching of the cranial nerves or brain or brainstem structures. CSF lymphocytic pleocytosis or increase in CSF protein concentration is not uncommon. CSF opening pressure is often low but can be within normal limits. Stigmata of disorders of connective tissue matrix are seen in some of the patients. An epidural blood patch, once or more, targeted or distant, at one site or bilevel, has emerged as the treatment of choice for those who have failed the conservative measures. Epidural injection of fibrin glue of both blood and fibrin glue can be considered in selected cases. Surgery to stop the leak is considered when the exact site of the leak has been determined by neurodiagnostic studies and when less invasive measures have failed. Subdural hematomas sometimes complicate the CSF leaks; a rebound intracranial hypertension after successful treatment of a leak is not rare. Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis as a complication is fortunately less common, and superficial siderosis and bibrachial amyotrophy are rare. Short-term recurrences are not uncommon, and long-term recurrences are not rare.
Optimal folding of cold formed steel cross sections under compression

Abstract This paper aims at finding the optimal folding of open cold formed steel cross sections under compression. Starting with a fixed coil width, a design point in the design space is defined by a vector of turn angles at a set of points along the coil width. Generalized Finite Strip Method (FSM) and Direct Strength Method (DSM) are combined to calculate the nominal compressive strength for a given cross section (a given design with a given set of turn angles). The design space is searched primarily via a stochastic search algorithm, Genetic Algorithm (GA). The near-optimal folding of the cross section is then fine-tuned through a few steps of the gradient descent optimization. To arrive at practical designs the optimization problem is augmented with constraints on the geometrical properties of the cross section. The optimal cross sections are found to have compressive capacities that are higher than the original designs by a factor of more than three in many cases. The shape of the optimal folding is shown to be greatly influenced by the choice of boundary condition. Strategies for identification of instability modes, a necessary first step to using DSM, are also discussed in detail.
Excited States of gold(i) compounds, luminescence and gold-gold bonding.

It has long been established by Khan that the superoxide anion, O2-, generates singlet oxygen, O21Δg, during dismutation. Auranofin, gold-phosphine thiols, β-Carotene, and metal-sulfur compounds can rapidly quench singlet O2. The quenching of the O21Δg, which exists at 7752 cm-1 above the ground state triplet, may be due to the direct interaction of the singlet O2 with gold(I) or may require special ligands such as those containing sulfur coordinated to the metal. Thus we have been examining the excited state behavior of gold(I) species and the mechanisms for luminescence. Luminescence is observed under various conditions, with visible emission ranging from blue to red depending on the ligands coordinated to gold(I). Triplet state emission can be found from mononuclear three coordinate Au(I) species, including species which display this behavior in aqueous solution. A description is given of the luminescent three coordinate TPA (triazaphosphaadamantane) and TPPTS (triphenylphosphine-trisulfonate) complexes, the first examples of water soluble luminescent species of gold(I).
Effect of eicosatetraenyl (3-aminopropyl) phosphonate (URI-73A) on platelet aggregation and arachidonic acid metabolism

Eicosatetraenyl (3-aminopropyl) phosphonate (URI-73A), an experimental anti-hypertensive drug, when tested in vitro, inhibits platelet aggregation especially that induced by arachidonic acid (AA) and to a lesser degree by epinephrine. Preincubation of human platelets with this compound in the majority of individuals resulted in a dose-dependent inhibition of the platelet response to AA, mostly in the form of a delay and a reduction of maximal aggregation. Platelets from two smaller groups of donors either exhibited full aggregation or no aggregation. Both the prelabel and pulse label techniques used to study arachidonic acid metabolism yielded complementary results. Production of thromboxane and hydroxy fatty acids was reduced in thrombin-aggregated washed platelets preincubated with URI-73A. In addition, the release of AA from phospholipids was inhibited. Its complex effects on human platelets suggest that URI-73A may, as an AA analog, depress cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase, and as a phospholipid analog inhibit phospholipase activity.
Salt and the scholar

The Hunger for Salt: An Anthropological, Physiological and Medical Analysis. By Derek Denton. Springer-Verlag: 1982. Pp.650. DM360, £85.
Attitudes of Southern Women: Selected Group Comparisons

Questionnaire data from 100 white women in a Southern city were examined to learn whether women belonging to groups that focus on social change or business and professional concerns were less traditional in their attitudes and behavior patterns than women who affiliate with groups that share common religious beliefs or similar socioeconomic status and whose stated purpose has a social orientation. Women belonging to the first category of groups were more likely than the other women to combine employment with marriage and children, to have help from husbands with household duties, and to support the Equal Rights Amendment.
Information Fusion by Set Operation Information Fusion by Fuzzy Set Operation and Genetic Algorithms

This paper describes novel multisensor information fusion methods based on fuzzy logic and genetic algorithms. Unlike most fuzzy logic-based systems that perform reasoning by fuzzy IF-THEN rules, the reasoning in this work takes place by means of fuzzy aggregation connectives. These connectives are capable of combining information not only by union and intersection used in traditional set theories but also by compensatory connectives that better mimic the human reasoning process. The particular connective used in this work for the purpose of data fusion is the generalized mean aggregation connective. The distinctive feature of this information fusion method is that the optimal parameters of the aggregation connective are automatically found by a genetic algorithm. Both elitist and nonelitist strategies for genetic algorithms are investigated. Two different methods are developed. The first technique performs aggregation of evidence from two sensors in one step; if there are more sensors, information from t...
Structure-Functional Prediction and Analysis of Cancer Mutation Effects in Protein Kinases

A central goal of cancer research is to discover and characterize the functional effects of mutated genes that contribute to tumorigenesis. In this study, we provide a detailed structural classification and analysis of functional dynamics for members of protein kinase families that are known to harbor cancer mutations. We also present a systematic computational analysis that combines sequence and structure-based prediction models to characterize the effect of cancer mutations in protein kinases. We focus on the differential effects of activating point mutations that increase protein kinase activity and kinase-inactivating mutations that decrease activity. Mapping of cancer mutations onto the conformational mobility profiles of known crystal structures demonstrated that activating mutations could reduce a steric barrier for the movement from the basal “low” activity state to the “active” state. According to our analysis, the mechanism of activating mutations reflects a combined effect of partial destabilization of the kinase in its inactive state and a concomitant stabilization of its active-like form, which is likely to drive tumorigenesis at some level. Ultimately, the analysis of the evolutionary and structural features of the major cancer-causing mutational hotspot in kinases can also aid in the correlation of kinase mutation effects with clinical outcomes.
The calculation of sums of squares for interactions in the analysis of variance

A method is described for the calculation of the sum of squares for a second-order interaction. It is then shown that the method is general and can be used for the calculation of the sum of squares for any higher-order interaction.
Predictors of exposure to traumatic events and posttraumatic stress sequelae

The relationship of traumatic events to posttraumatic symptomatology was examined in a randomized community survey (N = 2,364) of Los Angeles residents. Exposure to traumatic events was associated with younger age, less education, recent life events, and a history of psychiatric disorder. Risk of increased posttraumatic stress symptoms following traumatic event exposure was associated with older age, recent life events, sexual assault, and household strain. Level of posttraumatic stress symptoms varied according to the type of traumatic event reported after adjusting for demographic factors.
Observer steady-state errors induced by errors in realization

An expression is derived for the steady-state error induced in an observer by errors in realization. A numerical example is presented which illustrates the resulting expression and which shows that relatively small errors in realization may cause a disproportionately large steady-state error.
Limit Theorems for Sums of Partial Quotients of Continued Fractions.

We prove that the partial quotientsa j of the regular continued fraction expansion cannot satisfy a strong law of large numbers for any reasonably growing norming sequence, and that thea j belong to the domain of normal attraction to a stable law with characteristic exponent 1. We also show that thea j satisfy a central limit theorem if a few of the largest ones are trimmed.
Protein microarrays: a new tool for the study of autoantibodies in immunodeficiency.

Autoimmunity is highly coincident with immunodeficiency. In a small but growing number of primary immunodeficiencies, autoantibodies are diagnostic of a given disease and implicated in disease pathogenesis. In order to best gain an understanding of the role of autoantibodies in immunodeficiencies and to discover novel autoantibodies, new proteomic tools are needed. Protein microarrays have the ability to screen for reactivity to hundreds to many thousands of unique autoantigens simultaneously on a single chip using minimal serum input. Here, we review the different types of protein microarrays and how they can be useful in framing the study of primary and secondary immunodeficiencies.
Evaluation of multivariate normal integrals for general systems by sequential compounding

Abstract System reliability analysis often requires efficient and accurate evaluation of a multivariate normal integral. Despite recent advances in system reliability analysis methods, it is still a challenging task especially when the definition of the system event is complex; the system has a large number of components; and/or the component events have significant statistical dependence. This paper presents a new method developed for evaluating multivariate normal integrals defined for general system events including series, parallel, cut-set and link-set systems. The method compounds two components coupled by union or intersection sequentially until the system becomes a single compound event. Efficient numerical procedures are developed for obtaining the reliability index of the new compound event, and the correlation coefficients between the compound event and the remaining component events, at each step of the sequential compounding. The accuracy and efficiency of the proposed method, and its applicability to various types and sizes of multivariate normal integrals are demonstrated by numerical examples.
Patient-reported outcomes after electron radiation treatment for early-stage palmar and plantar fibromatosis

Abstract Purpose Palmar and plantar fibromatosis (PPF) is a progressive connective tissue disorder of the hand/foot that often leads to debilitating functional impairment. In Europe, orthovoltage radiation therapy (RT) has been demonstrated to prevent local disease progression for up to 80% of patients with early-stage PPF. There are limited data reporting outcomes for populations outside of Europe or using electron RT. Methods and materials Between 2008 and 2013, 44 early-stage PPF cases received RT. RT fields involved clinically defined targets encompassing involved areas (skin changes, cords, nodules) with at least 1.5-cm margins. En face electrons (6–12 MeV) and bolus (0.5-1 cm) were selected individually. Outcomes are reported for patients who participated in an institutional review board–approved standardized questionnaire and chart review. Results Thirty-three patients received 66 treatments (45 hands/15 feet and 6 reirradiations). Most frequent dose schemes were 21 Gy (3 Gy in 7 fractions) and 30 Gy (3 Gy in 10 fractions with 6- to 8-week breaks after 15 Gy). Median time to follow-up survey was 31 months. Disease progression at any location within or outside the RT treatment field occurred in 20 of 33 patients (61%). Fourteen of 60 sites (23%) developed in-field progression, but 4 sites were successfully reirradiated with final local control in 50 of 60 sites (83%). RT improved pretreatment symptoms of pain with strain at 30 of 37 sites (81%) and itch/burn sensations at 17 of 21 sites (81%). There were no reported grade ≥2 late toxicities even with reirradiation. Patient reported overall success with treatment was 31 of 33 patients (94%). Conclusion PPF is a progressive disease. En face electron RT is an effective therapy that stabilizes or improves symptoms in the majority of patients. Reirradiation can be considered as a treatment option for in-field progression. Patients report minimal toxicity and a high rate of satisfaction with treatment.
Longitudinal Effects of Coping on Outcome in a Randomized Controlled Trial of a Group Intervention for HIV-Positive Adults with AIDS-Related Bereavement

This study examined the longitudinal effects of coping on outcome one year following completion of a randomized, controlled trial of a group coping intervention for AIDS-related bereavement. Bereaved HIV-positive participants (N = 267) were administered measures of grief, psychiatric distress, quality of life, and coping at baseline, post-intervention, and at 4-, 8-, and 12-month follow-ups. Coping strategies directly impacted all outcome variables for both study conditions. Additionally, the coping intervention moderated the relationship between avoidant coping and the longitudinal course of grief and psychiatric distress, resulting in greater reductions in grief and distress for intervention participants after accounting for avoidant coping strategies.
An investigation of asymmetric flow features in a scaled-up driven model of the human vocal folds

Flow through a driven, 7.5 times life-size vocal fold model was investigated at corresponding life-size flow rates of Q mean = 89.1 ml/s, 159.4 ml/s, and 253.0 ml/s. The flow was scaled to match physiological values for Reynolds, Strouhal, and Euler numbers. The models were driven at a life-size frequency of 94 Hz. Particle image velocimetry (PIV) data were acquired in the anterior–posterior midplane of the glottis, and the unsteady transglottal pressure drop across the vocal folds was simultaneously measured. Flow and pressure data were obtained at four discrete instances during the closing phases of the phonatory cycle for which t/T open = 0.60, 0.70, 0.80, and 0.90. The glottal jet trajectory exhibited a bimodal distribution of flow attachment between the two medial surfaces of the glottis. Vortex shedding at the trailing edge separation point generated instabilities in the shear layer, which caused large oscillations in the glottal jet orientation downstream of the glottal exit. The development of the Coanda effect during the glottal cycle was found to have minimal impact on the transglottal pressure drop, suggesting that flow orientation does not directly influence the dipole sound source. The change in transglottal pressure drop as a result of jet trajectory was less than 2% for all three investigated flow rates.
Some compelling intuitions about group consensus decisions, theoretical and empirical research, and interpersonal aggregation phenomena: Selected examples 1950–1990☆

Abstract Intuitions about aggregate behavior can be very compelling, and sometimes even persist in the face of contrary evidence. An example of apparent intuition-based assumptions about group decision-making behavior from each of the past four decades is discussed in detail: (a) Group superiority relative to individual performance—the fifties; (b) exaggerated group risk-taking relative to individuals—the sixties; (c) group size and performance level—the seventies; and (d) decision-making performance of free discussion groups and (implicit) procedural constraints—the eighties.
Cu2+-Adsorption Characteristics of Aluminum Hydroxide and Oxyhydroxides1

The nature of Cu 2+ adsorption by boehmite, gibbsite, and noncrystalline alumina was studied over a range of equilibrium pH (4.5-7.5) and Cu 2§ concentration (10 a-10 -8 M) by electron spin resonance (ESR). Available chemisorption sites at pH 4.5 were the most numerous for noncrystalline alumina (-1 mmole/100 g), less for boehmite, and least for gibbsite as indicated by the relative strength of the rigid-limit ESR signal attributed to Cu z+ adsorbed at discrete sites. The chemisorption process involved immobili- zation of Cu 2+ by displacement of one or more H20 ligands by hydroxyl or surface oxygen ions, with the formation of at least one Cu-O-AI bond. As the pH was raised from 4.5 to 6.0, essentially all of the solution Cu 2+ appeared to be adsorbed by the solids. However, the noncrystalline alumina and boehmite chemi- sorbed much of the total adsorbed Cu 2+ (10 mmole/100 g), whereas precipitation or nucleation of Cu(OH)~ in the gibbsite system was indicated. Precipitated Cu z+ was more readily redissolved by exposure to NH3 vapor than chemisorbed Cu 2+.
Intravesical Chondroitin Sulfate Inhibits Recruitment of Inflammatory Cells in an Acute Acid Damage “Leaky Bladder” Model of Cystitis

Objective To investigate whether a physiologic effect of "glycosaminoglycan (GAG) replenishment therapy" altered recruitment of inflammatory cells in an acute bladder damage model. Replacement of the GAG layer with intravesically administered GAGs is an effective therapy for interstitial cystitis in at least some patients. Intravesically administered chondroitin sulfate was previously shown to bind to and restore the impermeability of surface-damaged ("leaky") urothelium to small ions. Methods Rat bladders were damaged with 10 mM HCl. Negative control bladders were treated with phosphate-buffered saline. On the following day, the animal bladders were treated with 20 mg/mL chondroitin sulfate in phosphate-buffered saline, and the negative and positive controls were treated with phosphate-buffered saline alone. At 2 and 4 days after treatment with chondroitin sulfate, the rats were killed, and sections of their bladders were analyzed using toluidine blue staining for mast cell immunohistochemical labeling using antibodies against CD45 for lymphocytes and myeloperoxidase for neutrophils. Results Chondroitin sulfate treatment reduced the recruitment, in a statistically significant manner, of inflammatory cells, including neutrophils and mast cells to the suburothelial space but did not alter recruitment of CD45-positive lymphocytes. Conclusion For the first time, we have demonstrated that intravesical GAG replenishment therapy also produces a physiologic effect of decreasing recruitment of inflammatory cells in an acute model of the damaged bladder. These findings support the use of intravesically administered GAG for bladder disorders that result from a loss of impermeability, including interstitial, radiation, and chemical cystitis, and possibly others as well.
Critical region of the finite temperature chiral transition

We study a Yukawa theory with spontaneous chiral symmetry breaking and with a large number $N$ of fermions near the finite temperature phase transition. Critical properties in such a system can be described by the mean field theory very close to the transition point. We show that the width of the region where non-trivial critical behavior sets in is suppressed by a certain power of $1/N.$ Our Monte Carlo simulations confirm these analytical results. We discuss implications for the chiral phase transition in QCD.
Natural resource degradation effects of poverty and population growth are largely policy-induced: the case of Colombia

The sustainability of natural resource use is influenced by population pressure, but this exercises a much less critical impact than the overall policy framework. In Colombia, various agricultural and other policies whose effect is to constrain the poor's access to land encourage environmental degradation. A case is made in favour of the new land reform process that Colombia is launching.
Phasing tiny crystals

For tiny crystals, their diffraction intensities at and between the Bragg peaks become measurable due to the limited number of the unit cells, which can in principle be used to directly phase the crystal structures.
Modulation of the biological activities of meningococcal endotoxins by association with outer membrane proteins is not inevitably linked to toxicity.

Meningococcal sepsis results partly from overproduction of host cytokines after macrophages interact with endotoxin. To obtain less toxic and highly immunomodulatory meningococcal endotoxins for prophylactic purposes, we investigated the relationship between endotoxicity and immunomodulatory activity of several endotoxin preparations from Neisseria meningitidis group B. Using the D-galactosamine-sensitized mouse model to determine endotoxin lethality, we found that the toxicity of purified lipooligosaccharide (LOS) from M986, a group B disease strain, was three to four times higher than those of purified LOSs from the noncapsulated strains M986-NCV-1 and OP-, the truncated-LOS mutant. The LOSs of outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) and detergent-treated OMVs (D-OMVs) from the three strains were 2 to 3 and over 300 times less toxic than the purified LOSs, respectively. Intraperitoneal administration of these preparations induced production of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) in serum 2 h after injections. However, repeated doses of low- and high-toxicity preparations induced lower amounts of TNF-alpha and IL-6, i.e., LOS tolerance. Injection of mice with low doses of LOS was as effective as injection with high doses in inducing tolerance. Peritoneal macrophages from tolerant mice pretreated with either high- or low-toxicity LOS preparations produced only a fraction of the amounts of TNF-alpha and IL-6 produced by control groups in response to LOS ex vivo. Despite tolerance to LOS induced by pretreatment with reduced-toxicity preparations, killing of N. meningitidis M986 by macrophages from these animals was enhanced. Protection was achieved when mice treated with LOS, and especially that of D-OMVs, were challenged with live N. meningitidis. The least toxic LOS, that in D-OMVs, was most effective in inducing hyporesponsiveness to endotoxin in mice but protected them against challenge with N. meningitidis. No inevitable link between toxicity and host immune modulation and responses was shown. Our results show that LOS is responsible for both toxicity and immunomodulation. When LOS is tightly associated with outer membrane proteins in D-OMV, it reduces toxicity but enhances beneficial effects compared to results with its purified form. Thus, systematic and critical evaluation of D-OMVs as adjuvants or as portions of group B meningococcal vaccines may help improve survival and outcome in meningococcal sepsis.
An eclectic approach to complexity from a human-centered perspective

The seductive idea of finding commonality in a variety of systems, situations, and organisms with regard to a generic concept of complexity has drawn significant attention from outstanding researchers of diverse backgrounds. In spite of years of research with many papers written there is yet to appear a convergence toward a unified methodology in the multidisciplinary approaches. In particular we consider how the synthesis of complex systems, as is practised in the software engineering of large systems, sheds light on the analysis of complexity. It is suggested that a human-centered approach that factors complexity modulo a context, also known in the past in artificial intelligence as a perspective, may provide a platform for distinguishing which elements are part of the complex object being considered and which are germane to the motivation of the student of that object. The thesis presented is that the object must not be considered independently from its user and its context, and that in the duality of the consideration one may learn more about both the general characteristics of complexity and of the reasons for our interest in it. The proposal is to consider simultaneously user, interaction, and the related interfaces when studying the complexity of a system. This approach is more integrative and less reductionist than studying any of the aspects individually and brings forth the difficulties of a large range of diverse settings. An overview of the field is briefly presented in light of the proposed approach.
Is there a benefit to sentinel lymph node biopsy in patients with T4 melanoma

BACKGROUND: Controversy exists as to whether patients with thick (Breslow depth >4 mm), clinically lymph node-negative melanoma require sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy. The authors examined the impact of SLN biopsy on prognosis and outcome in this patient population. METHODS: A review of the authors’ institutional review board-approved melanoma database identified 293 patients with T4 melanoma who underwent surgical excision between 1998 and 2007. Patient demographics, histologic features, and outcome were recorded and analyzed. RESULTS: Of 227 T4 patients who had an SLN biopsy, 107 (47%) were positive. The strongest predictors of a positive SLN included angiolymphatic invasion, satellitosis, or ulceration of the primary tumor. Patients with a T4 melanoma and a negative SLN had a significantly better 5-year distant disease-free survival (DDFS) (85.3% vs 47.8%; P 90% and a 5-year DDFS of 95%. CONCLUSIONS: Clinically lymph node-negative T4 melanoma cases should be strongly considered for SLN biopsy, regardless of Breslow depth. SLN lymph node status is the most significant prognostic sign among these patients. T4 patients with a negative SLN have an excellent prognosis in the absence of ulceration and should not be considered candidates for adjuvant high-dose interferon. Cancer 2009;115:5752–60. V C 2009 American Cancer Society.
Experimental studies on the performance of novel layered materials under highly dynamic loads

This paper focuses on the experimental observations of the performance of different layered composite material systems subjected to blast loadings. These material systems include layered composites and sandwich composite materials. A controlled blast loading of pre-defined pressure magnitude and rise time were obtained using a shock tube apparatus. Rectangular plate elements of the desired material system were subjected to such a controlled blast loading and the effects of the blast loading on these elements were studied using optical and residual strength measurements. A high speed imaging technique was utilized to study the damage modes and mechanisms in real time. It was observed that layering of a conventional composite material with a soft visco-elastic polymer provided better blast resistance and sandwiching the polymer greatly enhanced its survivability under extreme air blast conditions. Aside from layering the conventional composite material with a soft visco-elastic polymer, it was observed that layering or grading the core can successfully mitigate the impact damage and thus improve the overall blast resistance as well. In addition to these, three dimensional (3D) woven skin and core reinforcements were introduced in the conventional sandwich composites and their effects on the blast resistance were studied experimentally. It was observed that these reinforcements also enhance the blast resistance of conventional sandwich composites by changing the mechanism of failure initiation and propagation in these sandwich structures.
Consumers' perceptions regarding tradeoffs between food and fuel expenditures: A case study of U.S. and Belgian fuel users

Biofuels have been suggested as a sustainable alternative to fossil-based fuels, but when produced with inputs traditionally used as food and feed grain, the production of biofuels has contributed to price increases in the food sector. In the fall of 2006, a survey was administered to compare consumer perceptions regarding the tradeoff between renewable fuels and food in the United States (U.S.) (n = 242) and Belgium (n = 363). Results show that respondents in both countries prefer lower food prices to lower fuel prices (67.6% in the U.S. and 78.9% in Belgium). A logit model was estimated to determine which variables impacted whether a consumer favored policies that lower fuel prices at the cost of higher food prices. While the sample of Belgian respondents appeared to realize that lower fuel prices eventually had to come at the cost of higher food prices, the sample of U.S. respondents felt domestic agriculture could provide some low-cost, environmentally friendly alternatives with little impact on food prices. Accessible public transportation in Belgium acted as an important fuel saving strategy in that country and led respondents to emphasize food price decreases over fuel price decreases. Also, respondents with heightened awareness towards the environment recognized that the expansion of renewable fuels may need to come at the cost of higher food prices. These attitudes were similar in both countries. Finally, in both countries older respondents placed more importance on lower food prices than lower fuel prices.
Minority Group Interests and Political Representation: Gay Elected Officials in the Policy Process

Of key importance to groups in a democracy is the political representation of their interests in the policy process. The most obvious strategy of groups to achieve representation is to elect officials that identify with group interests. Our research examines the political representation of lesbian and gay interests, exploring the influence of openly gay elected officials on domestic partner policies. Based on the literature, we select and operationalize variables that may influence policy adoption. Analysis on a dataset of 270 localities suggests that elected gay officials are an important determinant for achieving substantive political representation. Our findings also suggest that supportive non-gay elected officials can effectively represent gays in the policy process.
Ribavirin-associated hemoglobinuria with treatment of hepatitis C virus infection.

SIR-I am writing in response to the article by Dietrich and Spivak [1] entitled "Hematologic Disorders Associated with Hepatitis C Virus Infection and Their Management." Recently, I treated a patient with a hematologic adverse event-hemoglobinuria-that was caused by ribavirin therapy administered for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Because Dietrich and Spivak [1] did not mention this adverse effect in their review article, I wish to describe such a case.
Sp(4, R) symmetry in light nuclei

A classification of nuclear states according to the non-compact Lie algebra Sp(4, R) is in- vestigated. This model strikes a compromise between the Sp(6, R) and Sp(2, R) models and furnishes a practical, yet algebraically simple means for selecting those shell-model core excitations which are needed for the development of quadrupole collectivity in rotational bands of deformed nuclei. Applications to rotational bands in 24Mg and 160 including shell-model excitations with , excitation energies up to IOho, show that the core excitations needed to fit observed E2 rates in these nuclei are too large to be treated by perturbation theory. Despite this, a definite symplectic band structure emerges. The nature of the core excitations is very simple, so that it may be feasible to incorporate such symplectic excitation structures into more detailed shell-model calculations.
Two-PLL forward Diophantine Frequency Synthesizer

Diophantine frequency synthesis (DFS) is a new approach to high-resolution, fast-hopping, low-spurs frequency synthesis. DFS is based on mathematical properties of integer numbers and employs two or more Phase-Locked Loops (PLL)s to achieve frequency resolution arbitrary smaller than the phase-comparator frequencies of the constituent PLLs. A two-PLL DFS synthesizer is presented that achieves frequency resolution about 100 times finer than that of the two constituent PLLs. It has output frequency range 195-205 MHz and frequency step 542 Hz. Measurements demonstrate the resolution of the architecture and the spectral purity of the output signal.
Fashion and freedom in the French Revolution

On 8 Brumaire, year II (29 October 1793), the Convention decreed that freedom of dress was a basic human right: ‘Everyone is free to wear whatever clothing and accessories of his sex that he finds pleasing.’ This was an odd decree in many ways. It decreed as a right something we take for granted, the freedom to wear what we choose, and it was passed during the Terror, when individual rights were routinely curtailed. It also contradicted itself, for if its first article guaranteed freedom of dress, its second stated that all previous laws on dress remained in force, and these included one which impinged on individual freedom: the requirement that all French citizens wear a red, white and blue cockade in public.