cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Virgin Female California Red Scales Used to Detect Infestations

Visual inspection of citrus groves to detect infestations of the California red scale. Aonidiella auranti (Maskell), is not entirely reliable. because very light infestations may escape detection. Therefore, we made spot tests to determine the presence of male scales with a virgin-female sticky-card trap developed earlier (Rice and Moreno 1969) for field studies.
Effects of antenatal dexamethasone on rat fetal lung morphogenesis

Objective:To compare the effects of different dosage of dexamethasone(DEX) on rat fetal lung morphogenesis. Methods:Fifteen pregnant rats were divided into five groups with 3 rats in each group randomly:small dosage DEX single and multiple course groups,large dosage DEX single and multiple course groups and control group. On the 19th day of gestation,cesareans were taken out,and the histologic structures of 6 fetal rat lungs in each pregnant rat were observed with light microscope and electronic microscope. Results:Under the light microscope,fetal rat lung in the four treatment groups had fewer alveolar numbers,larger alveolar space,and thinner alveolar septum compared with control group(P 0.01). With the increased dosages and times of the DEX,the fetal rat lungs have fewer alveolar numbers,larger alveolar space,and thinner alveolar septum(P 0.01). Under the electronic microscope,lamellar body and cellular organs such as bioblast in endochylema of the four treatment groups were more obvious compared with the control group. But basal membrane of lung epithelial cells turned out to be discontinuous and different thickness.Conclusion:Using DEX antepartum could promote fetal lung morphogenesis obviously. But with the dose and course increased,the development alveoli was inhibited and the basal membrane was damaged.
Early-life single-episode sevoflurane exposure impairs social behavior and cognition later in life

Background Single-episode anesthetic exposure is the most prevalent surgery-related incidence among young children in the United States. Although numerous studies have used animals to model the effects of neonatal anesthetics on behavioral changes later on in life, our understanding of the functional consequences to the developing brain in a comprehensive and clinically relevant manner is unclear. Methods The volatile anesthetic, sevoflurane (sevo) was administered to C57BL6 postnatal day 7 (P7) mice in a 40% oxygen and 60% nitrogen gas mixture. In order to examine the effects of sevo alone on the developing brain in a clinically relevant manner, mice were exposed to an average of 2.38 ± 0.11% sevo for 2 h. No sevo (control) mice were treated in an identical manner without sevo exposure. Mice were examined for cognition and neuropsychiatric-like behavioral changes at 1–5 months of age. Results Using the active place avoidance (APA) test and the novel object recognition (NOR) test, we demonstrated that P7 sevo-treated mice showed a deficit in learning and memory both during periadolescence and adulthood. We then employed a battery of neuropsychiatric-like behavioral tests to examine social interaction, communication, and repetitive behavior. Interestingly, compared to the no-sevo–treated group, sevo-treated mice showed significant reductions in the time interacting with a novel mouse (push–crawl and following), time and interaction in a chamber with a novel mouse, and time sniffing a novel social odor. Conclusions Our study established that single-episode, 2-h sevo treatment during early life impairs cognition later on in life. With this approach, we also observed neuropsychiatric-like behavior changes such as social interaction deficits in the sevo-treated mice. This study elucidated the effects of a clinically relevant single-episode sevo application, given during the neonatal period, on neurodevelopmental behavioral changes later on in life.
Introduction of Substituents at C2

The most versatile procedures for C2 substitution are based on lithiation, which is selective for C2 because of the influence of the heteroatom. 1-Alkylindoles such as 1-methylindole are readily lithiated and undergo typical reactions with electrophiles. Lithiation at C2 can also be the starting point for 2-arylation or vinylation. The lithiated indoles can be converted to stannanes or zinc reagents, which can undergo Pd-catalyzed coupling with aryl, vinyl, benzyl and allyl halides or sulfonates. The mechanism of the coupling reaction involves formation of a disubstituted palladium intermediate by a combination of ligand exchange and oxidative addition. Phosphine catalysts and salts are often important reaction components. The simplest procedures for 2-acylation involve reaction of an N-protected 2-1ithioindole with an acyl halide, anhydride or ester. Such reactions typically give good yields of 2-acylindoles. N -Protected 2-lithioindoles can, in principle, be used to introduce a range of other functional groups at C2 by applying synthetic methods applicable to aryllithium intermediates. Among cases for which procedures have been developed are halogenation using hexachloroethane, 1,2-dibromo-1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane and 1,2-diodoethane. The N-carboxy protecting group was used.
The Pure Theory of Public Expenditure: Partial Equilibrium

Although the underlying ideas have had a long history (Musgrave and Peacock, 1958, and Musgrave, 1938) the term “the pure theory of public expenditure” came into being as the title of an article by Paul A. Samuelson (1954).1 In a subsequent treatment of the subject, Samuelson (1955) was led by comments on the earlier article to modify the title from “the pure theory” to “a theory” on the ground that “public expenditures and regulation [also] proceed from considerations other than those emphasized in my models.”
Learning through the ages: How the brain adapts to the social world across development

Abstract In a number of ways development can be understood as a specialized form of learning. As new neuronal circuits are maturing they are molded by environmental experiences much in the way that experience molds synaptic strength in traditional learning models. Furthermore, many of the same mechanisms that underlie synaptic changes in learning also mediate changes that occur across development. This is true at both the molecular level in remodeling of dendritic spines and at the systems level via emotional amplification of associations. A key difference between the two however is that while learning can occur within virtually any circuit at any time, developmental plasticity is much more restrictive in both domain and time window. In this manuscript I review some of the mechanisms associated with developmental neuroplasticity and then provide specific examples from the development of social cognition.
Towards bio-inspired structural design of a 3D printable, ballistically deployable, multi-rotor UAV

This paper explores bio-inspired design strategies to guide the structural design of a 3D printable, foldable and ballistically deployable, multi-rotor unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) platform. While folded during transport and launch, the UAV can change its shape in mid-air from a streamlined projectile into a multi-rotor airframe, enabling rapid payload deployment and maneuverability. The UAV design and all-in-one airframe fabrication techniques are described in the context of 3D printing, accommodating multiple moving parts on a platform, which must remain light, streamlined and versatile, fit into a six-inch diameter launch barrel, while capable of withstanding launch accelerations of up to 50g. In order to assess feasibility, analyses were conducted including FEA stress simulations, aerodynamic tests and mechanical prototypes. The latest working model embraces 3D printing, to create a compact, robust and self-contained platform, capitalizing on the ability to design, tune and manufacture complex geometries and fully assembled systems on a small time and cost budget. The UAV's design facilitates deployment under challenging conditions, allowing it to be projectile-launched from the ground or dropped from another aircraft before unfolding at a preset altitude, clear of ground or other obstructions. This capability is particularly useful for applications such as remote exploration and post-disaster relief, where reduced accessibility and the presence of obstructions often complicate swift status assessment.
Demographics as predictors of suicidal thoughts and behaviors: A meta-analysis.

Background Certain demographic factors have long been cited to confer risk or protection for suicidal thoughts and behaviors. However, many studies have found weak or non-significant effects. Determining the effect strength and clinical utility of demographics as predictors is crucial for suicide risk assessment and theory development. As such, we conducted a meta-analysis to determine the effect strength and clinical utility of demographics as predictors. Methods We searched PsycInfo, PubMed, and GoogleScholar for studies published before January 1st, 2015. Inclusion criteria required that studies use at least one demographic factor to longitudinally predict suicide ideation, attempt, or death. The initial search yielded 2,541 studies, 159 of which were eligible. A total of 752 unique statistical tests were included in analysis. Results Suicide death was the most commonly studied outcome, followed by attempt and ideation. The average follow-up length was 9.4 years. The overall effects of demographic factors studied in the field as risk factors were significant but weak, and that of demographic factors studied as protective factors were non-significant. Adjusting for publication bias further reduced effect estimates. No specific demographic factors appeared to be strong predictors. The effects were consistent across multiple moderators. Conclusions At least within the narrow methodological constraints of the existing literature, demographic factors were statistically significant risk factors, but not protective factors. Even as risk factors, demographics offer very little improvement in predictive accuracy. Future studies that go beyond the limitations of the existing literature are needed to further understand the effects of demographics.
Towards adaptive and proactive security assessment for energy delivery systems

Recently, energy delivery systems (EDS) have undergone an intensive modernization process that includes the introduction of dedicated cyber-infrastructures for the purposes of monitoring, control, and optimization of resources. While extremely convenient, the introduction of software-based control over computer networks has also opened the door for the exploitation of non-trivial security vulnerabilities by malicious third-parties. As demonstrated by recent incidents, EDS systems worldwide are vulnerable to sophisticated attacks that include a well-thought out combination of strategies at various levels of abstraction. In such a context, a comprehensive solution supporting automated monitoring and assessment, that can assist security officials in effectively preventing and mitigating such attacks, is highly desired. With this in mind, this paper presents an ongoing effort that takes security requirements obtained from existing documents on guidelines and best practices on EDS, and implements a proof-of-concept framework based on adaptive and customizable software modules that collect and process security-relevant data for assuring the security of EDS.
Evaluation of Virtual Operating Systems and Switches Under Ring, Star and Tree Topologies for Streaming Large Data Sets

This paper discusses architectural performance of virtual operating switches, and systems under various topological structures to handle packet deliveries of large streaming and dynamic data sets. The topology structures studied include: tree, fully connected mesh, and star. A virtual network framework is developed that can generate any number of nodes with reconfigurable parameters. An evaluation on memory requirements, disk-space, and CPU usage on three different virtual network switches (openvSwitch, openSwitch, openWRT) were also investigated. Two specific protocols–Routing Information Protocol (RIP) and Open Shortest Path First (OSPF) are tested against bandwidth requirements.
Prevalence and Scope of Point-of-Care Ultrasound Education in Internal Medicine, Pediatric, and Medicine-Pediatric Residency Programs in the United States.

Objectives The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence and scope of point-of-care ultrasound (US) education in internal medicine, pediatric, and medicine-pediatric residency programs nationwide. Methods Program directors were surveyed between January and June 2016 with a 15-item online questionnaire to assess the state of point-of-care US training in their programs. The survey aimed to identify whether programs had an established point-of-care US curriculum and, if not, what reasons may have existed for a lack of point-of-care US training in their programs. Results The survey was distributed to 685 program directors, and the response rate was 19.2%. Only 31.5% of respondents reported having a formal point-of-care US curriculum in their program, and in 12.4% of programs, there was no US training at all. The presence of point-of-care US training as reported by internal medicine (n = 64) and medicine-pediatric (n = 24) respondents showed formal point-of-care US curriculum rates of 37.5% and 43.5%, respectively. Pediatric programs (n = 24) reported limited point-of-care US training, with formal curriculum in only 12.4% of programs and 27.3% having no point-of-care US training at all. The most common reasons for lack of a point-of-care US curriculum among program directors were lack of trained faculty/instructors (70.4%), lack of guidelines/standards by governing societies (44.4%), and lack of the necessary technology (33.3%). Conclusions Less than half of residents with internal medicine training will have trained at a program with a point-of-care US curriculum, and point-of-care US training in pediatrics is even more limited. The major reason for the lack of point-of-care US education is a lack of trained faculty or instructors.
Signal-to-Noise Ratio, Dynamic Range, and Power Dissipation: Paying Attention to Their Interrelation Can Greatly Benefit Analog Circuit Design

Low power dissipation is paramount in an increasing number of applications. These notably include the Internet of Things and wireless sensor networks, in which a battery must last a very long time (even ten years in some cases) or in which energy harvesting is used. Battery life is also a key consideration in more traditional applications such as hearing aids and communication devices. All of these applications involve analog signals and require careful micropower circuit design. Such design can be more efficient if guided by an understanding of the fundamental limits [1]-[4], beyond which nature does not allow us to go. In this article, we review the relation between power dissipation and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) for analog circuits. We make a crucial distinction between SNR and usable dynamic range (UDR) and review ways to allow the SNR to vary as needed, thus extending the UDR and resulting in adaptive power dissipation.
Adaptive anonymization of data using b-edge cover

We explore the problem of sharing data that pertains to individuals with anonymity guarantees, where each user requires a desired level of privacy. We propose the first shared- memory as well as distributed memory parallel algorithms for the adaptive anonymity problem that achieves this goal, and produces high quality anonymized datasets. The new algorithm is based on an optimization procedure that iteratively computes weights on the edges of a dissimilarity matrix, and at each iteration computes a minimum weighted b-Edge Cover in the graph. We describe how a 2-approximation algorithm for computing the b-Edge Cover can be used to solve the adaptive anonymity problem in parallel. We are able to solve adaptive anonymity problems with hundreds of thousands of instances and hundreds of features on a supercomputer in under five minutes. Our algorithm scales up to 8K cores on a distributed memory supercomputer, while also providing good speedups on shared memory multiprocessors. On smaller problems where an a Belief Propagation algorithm is feasible, our algorithm is two orders of magnitude faster.
On the unglobality of contexts: Cambridge methods and the history of political thought

This essay takes shape as a review of a review: Rosario Lopez’s admirable ‘The Quest for the Global: Remapping Intellectual History’, itself a review of Samuel Moyn and Andrew Sartori, Global Intel...
Return to Dance and Predictors of Outcome After Hip Arthroscopy for Femoroacetabular Impingement Syndrome

Purpose To investigate the rate of return to dance and factors influencing this primary outcome after hip arthroscopy for the treatment of femoroacetabular impingement syndrome. Methods A consecutive series of self-identified dancers with femoroacetabular impingement syndrome was included. To assess for the impact of hypermobility on outcomes, patients were classified as having either generalized joint laxity (GJL) or no GJL based on the Beighton-Horan Joint Mobility Index. A return-to-dance survey, the modified Harris Hip Score, and the Hip Outcome Score (HOS)–Activities of Daily Living and HOS–Sports-Specific subscales were collected preoperatively and postoperatively at 6, 12, 24, and 36 months. The preoperative-to-postoperative outcome score change was compared using the minimal clinically important difference and patient acceptable symptomatic state. Return to dance was evaluated regarding (1) return to any dance activity, (2) return to prior level of dance, and (3) number of hours of dance participation after surgery. Clinical and demographic predictors and return to dance were analyzed using univariate or bivariate analysis where appropriate. Results The study included 64 consecutive dancers (62 female and 2 male patients) (mean age, 22.3 ± 9.4 years; body mass index, 22.8 ± 4.1) with a mean follow-up period of 23.0 months. Postoperatively, 62 patients (97%) returned to dance at an average of 6.9 ± 2.9 months; 40 patients (62.5%) reported that they returned to a better level of participation, whereas 20 dancers (31%) returned to the same level of participation. Statistically significant increases were observed for the HOS–Activities of Daily Living subscale (60.5 ± 19.5 vs 92.4 ± 11.8, P Conclusions After hip arthroscopy, 97% of dancers returned to dance at an average of 6.9 months, with most dancers dancing at a level higher than their preoperative status. Dance experience level was the only significant factor influencing return-to-dance outcomes, with competitive dancers showing a faster return to dancing.conclusion Level of Evidence Level IV, therapeutic case series.
Assessment of Adaptation Policy Options

Nations participating in the Country Studies Program need to assess options for adapting to climate change because it is unlikely that climate change can be completely averted. Although measures are being taken to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, which will probably reduce the rate and magnitude of climate change, it is unlikely that greenhouse gas emissions can be reduced enough to stabilize climate. Therefore, adaptation will be necessary (IPCC 1990).
Mindfulness, Education, and Exercise for age-related cognitive decline: Study protocol, pilot study results, and description of the baseline sample:

Background/AimsAge-related cognitive decline is a pervasive problem in our aging population. To date, no pharmacological treatments to halt or reverse cognitive decline are available. Behavioral in...
Family Caregiving for Those With and Without Dementia in the Last 10 Years of Life.

This cohort study compares family caregiver hours provided to those with vs without dementia during the last 10 years of life.
The Failure of Home Rule Reform in Virginia: Race, Localism, and the Constitution of 1971

Virginia remains one of a minority of states that does not constitutionally enshrine some form of home rule for its cities or other local governments. This Essay, written for a volume commemorating the fiftieth anniversary of the adoption of Virginia’s 1971 constitution, considers why. The committee charged with drafting that new constitution recommended a home rule provision, but it was quickly and quietly rejected by the General Assembly even as most of the committee’s other recommendations were adopted and later approved by the voters. The failure of home rule reflected a historical pattern. Starting with Jefferson’s unsuccessful advocacy of a ward system during the constitutional revision of 1829-1830, constitutional reformers in Virginia have consistently faced resistance to empowering local governments. Virginia still adheres to a strict form of Dillon’s Rule, a rule of construction that limits local governments to the powers explicitly granted to them by the legislature. Despite repeated efforts to repeal that rule, it remains a barrier to local initiative. This Essay places the 1971 failure to adopt home rule in the context of this longer history. Antebellum Virginia was characterized by “plantation localism,” a system meant to ensure elite control over local government through the county court system. In the twentieth century, “Jim Crow localism” continued the same pattern. The Byrd Organization exercised power from the center by controlling county-level constitutional officers. Legislative supremacy was enforced by courts applying Dillon’s Rule. Even as the state’s demographics changed, the suspicion of local power remained, in part because of fears that local control might mean granting power to cities with significant African-American populations. That there has never been a large, dominant city in Virginia also limited the pressure to devolve power. The lack of home rule continues to be acutely felt, however, especially in those parts of the state that are rapidly urbanizing. City-state conflicts over a range of issues have led many to call again for home rule. As Virginia’s political geography continues to change, we may see yet another push for constitutional reform. Whether such an effort can overcome the deep bias against local power in the Commonwealth remains to be seen.
Introverted and Closed-Minded: The Psychological Roots of Support for Autocracy in Latin America:

What activates individuals’ support for autocratic governments? Some suggest that the answer is perceptions of increased corruption and/or poor economic performance. We do not dispute this explanat...
How to take representative samples to quantify microplastic particles in soil

The amount of plastic particles in terrestrial ecosystems is not well known, not only because it is difficult to extract and identify plastic particles from terrestrial samples, but also because it is challenging to take representative samples from soils or sediments. Here, we numerically simulated how to take representative terrestrial samples to quantify plastic particles, and we evaluated the accuracy (error) of reported plastic concentrations in the literature. Fields with randomly distributed plastic particles (uniform and clustered) were numerically generated and sampled to determine the representative elementary volume (REV) and the required number of samples to quantify plastic concentrations (10 to 106 particles/m2) with different relative errors (5%, 10%, 15%). The REV and the required number of samples decrease hyperbolically as the plastic concentration increases, indicating a strong non-linear relation. For instance, hundreds to thousands of soil cores (8-cm diameter) would be required to quantify plastics at low concentrations (102 particles/m2), while a few cores are sufficient at high plastic concentrations (105 particles/m2). For an accurate measurement of plastic concentrations, the total surface area of samples taken should approach or exceed the REV. We recommend to take replicated samples with each sample as large as possible (e.g., 1 m × 1 m) rather than multiple small cores, and then reduce the soil volume by the quartering method.
Transboundary Water Sharing: Risk Perceptions Held by Texas Border Decision Makers

Despite transboundary water resource management issues being a source of tension between neighboring states, little research has addressed what causes cooperation or conflict between differing governments along borders. For the most part, natural hydrological boundaries do not fall easily within political boundary delineations, so governance structures and management approaches are often very different once political jurisdictions are crossed, underscoring the importance of proper management of transboundary water resources. In order to better understand what drives cooperative or conflictual behavior among transboundary stakeholders, a cross-sectional study was conducted along the Texas-Mexico border. Questionnaires were collected (N=168) from Texas water managers along the southern border on issues related to their Mexican counterparts. The results revealed that a lack of trust for binational counterparts is correlated (p<0.001) with a decrease in willingness to cooperate; likewise, as trust decreased, perceptions of risk increased. This approach can help identify a plausible intervention strategy that could target activities that build trust between individuals on both sides of the border to mitigate individuals’ perceptions of risk. Citation: Sansom L. 2019. Transboundary water sharing: risk perceptions held by Texas border decision makers. Texas Water Journal. 10(1):101-111. Available from: https://doi.org/10.21423/twj.v10i1.7095.
Tailoring Data Source Distributions for Fairness-aware Data Integration

Data scientists often develop data sets for analysis by drawing upon sources of data available to them. A major challenge is to ensure that the data set used for analysis has an appropriate representation of relevant (demographic) groups: it meets desired distribution requirements. Whether data is collected through some experiment or obtained from some data provider, the data from any single source may not meet the desired distribution requirements. Therefore, a union of data from multiple sources is often required. In this paper, we study how to acquire such data in the most cost effective manner, for typical cost functions observed in practice. We present an optimal solution for binary groups when the underlying distributions of data sources are known and all data sources have equal costs. For the generic case with unequal costs, we design an approximation algorithm that performs well in practice. When the underlying distributions are unknown, we develop an exploration-exploitation based strategy with a reward function that captures the cost and approximations of group distributions in each data source. Besides theoretical analysis, we conduct comprehensive experiments that confirm the effectiveness of our algorithms.
Failure modes and bonding strength of ultrasonically-soldered glass joints

Abstract While useful for optics and solar energy applications, solder-glass joints are difficult to fabricate due to poor wettability and adhesion, but reliable joints can be achieved with the use of ultrasonic-assisted soldering (UAS). In this study, an automated UAS system was used to investigate the effects of processing parameters on the solder joint quality so that the technology can be more suitably scaled for future widespread use in industry. Through mechanical shear strength testing of soldered joints and microstructure failure surface analysis with XRD, a more comprehensive understanding of the relationships between processing parameters and joint quality was developed. Two novel failure surface types with distinct failure behavior were observed which could be predicted based on soldering tip speeds. The differences between the two failure surfaces appear to be due to the growth of a thin surface oxide layer on the solder lines from prolonged sonication, as determined from EDS and XRD microstructure analysis. These observations and analysis highlight a complex relationship that determines the quality of the solder-glass joint and suggest further research is necessary to refine the UAS process specifically for glass substrates and their varied applications in industry to prevent premature failure.
Presidentialism, parliamentarism, and democracy

1. Introduction 2. Presidential, parliamentary, and mixed democracies 3. Are the incentives for coalition formation different in parliamentary and presidential democracies? 4. Are coalitions rare in presidential democracies? 5. Party discipline and form of government 6. What makes presidential democracies fragile? 7. Conclusion.
JOHN B. WATSON’S 1913 “BEHAVIORIST MANIFESTO”:SETTING THE STAGE FOR BEHAVIORISM’S SOCIAL ACTION LEGACY

John B. Watson’s 1913 article “Psychology as the Behaviorist Views It” is widely known as the “behaviorist manifesto” that initiated behaviorism as a discipline and academic field of study. While the intent of the paper was to present behaviorism as psychology’s path to becoming a natural science, Watson also insisted that empirical data and principles generated by such a natural science must be applied to solving human and social problems if the science was to have substantial meaning and validity. He suggested several areas of social interest (education, medicine, law, business) that were ripe for an application of behavioral principles. In subsequent writings over the next decade, Watson expanded his focus on social problems and their behavioral remedies, culminating in his 1924 book Behaviorism , which aggressively confronted the eugenic fervor sweeping the United States during the first quarter of the century by espousing an extreme and at times polemical environmentalism. Watson’s environmentalism and advocacy of social interventions reflected his comfort with the Progressive ideology of the time — a heritage that embodied Skinner’s work and the rise of operant interventions in the 1960s
Example inversion for a new generalized local helioseismology pipeline

Recovering information about solar sub-surface perturbations with helioseismology requires many time-consuming steps. A small number of pipelines have already been established to speed the processing of data, though these only focus on data obtained from a single source (i.e. GONG, HMI) and are not necessarily modifiable by external users. To take advantage of the full range of solar data available today and to facilitate the necessary testing of helioseismic methods, a time-distance helioseismology pipeline is being constructed at New Mexico State University. This will aid in the processing of data from multiple sources including GONG, MDI, HMI, and numerical simulations, and will serve to speed data analysis to produce science products. Using this pipeline, two example inversions are performed on an eight hour time-series from GONG as a proof of concept, and the preliminary results are described herein (© 2012 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
The Carlyle Group: The Acquisition of Schlosser Forge Company

This case describes the process of value creation in private equity. Carlyle, a leading private equity firm, had acquired two of the four largest forged rings manufacturers, FMI and Firth Rixson. Following the acquisitions, Armand Lauzon, the new CEO, and David Mortimer, the COO, had worked tirelessly to improve operational performance and to realize the synergies across the two companies. By the summer of 2004, significant improvements had been achieved in profitability, customer satisfaction, productivity and working capital. At this point, Lauzon had set his sights on Schlosser Forge. The large forging capabilities at Schlosser would provide new aerospace and commercial opportunities by opening up the top-end of the ring size range. In addition, annual cost synergies of $5 million were foreseen. Carlyle had approached Schlosser three times since 1998, however the discussions had been terminated due to disagreements on valuation. In May 2004, discussions redeveloped because Phil Schlosser demonstrated renewed interest in selling his company. The CEO of Schlosser, Jerry Katz, believed that an agreement could be reached at $55 million. Some in Carlyle were concerned about the potential Schlosser acquisition. At 11.3 times pre-Synergy EBITDA, the enterprise value was double the multiples paid for FMI and Firth Rixson. Furthermore, the Firth Rixson deal was on track to deliver 5 times the money invested, a good return by any standard. These gains would be placed at risk since the successful realization of the synergies identified was not certain, despite the proven management team. Finally, the acquisition would extend the holding period. Three and a half years after the FMI acquisition, it was getting late in the game. With these considerations in mind, Bud Watts and Cam Dyer in the Carlyle deal team had their last meeting with the Firth Rixson leadership team, Armand Lauzon and David Mortimer, before they made their final recommendation to the Carlyle Investment Committee. Should Carlyle acquire Schlosser Forge? Or should they start preparing Firth Rixson for an exit?
Binding of Streptococcal Lipoteichoic Acid to Fatty Acid-Binding Sites on Human Plasma Fibronectin

The ability of Streptococcus pyogenes lipoteichoic acid and palmitic acid to bind to purified human plasma fibronectin was investigated. Initial studies indicated that intact fibronectin formed soluble complexes with lipoteichoic acid, resulting in a change in the mobility of fibronectin in an electrical field. Fibronectin covalently linked to agarose beads bound radiolabeled lipoteichoic acid in the acylated form but not in the deacylated form. An 18-M excess of fibronectin inhibited binding of lipoteichoic acid to the immobilized protein by 92%. Fibronectin-bound [(3)H]lipoteichoic acid could be specifically eluted with unlabeled lipoteichoic acid, as well as by fatty acid-free serum albumin. Serum albumin, which is known to contain fatty acid-binding sites capable of binding to the lipid moieties of lipoteichoic acid, inhibited the binding of lipoteichoic acid to fibronectin in a competitive fashion. The fibronectin-bound lipoteichoic acid could be eluted by 50% ethanol and various detergents but not by 1.0 M NaCl, various amino acids, or sugars. Similarly, radiolabeled palmitic acid adsorbed to fibronectin could be eluted with 50% ethanol but not with 1.0 M NaCl. Fibronectin adsorbed to a column of palmityl-Sepharose was eluted with 50% ethanol in 0.5% sodium dodecyl sulfate but not with 1.0 M NaCl or 1% sodium dodecyl sulfate alone. The binding of lipoteichoic acid to fibronectin followed first-order kinetics and was saturable. A Scatchard plot analysis of the binding data indicated a heterogeneity of lipoteichoic acid-binding sites similar to that previously found for serum albumin. Nevertheless, fibronectin contains at least one population of high-affinity binding sites for lipoteichoic acid. The binding affinity (nKa approximately 250 muM(-1)) is 2 orders of magnitude greater than the binding affinity of serum albumin. These data suggest that human plasma fibronectin contains specific binding sites for fatty acids and that lipoteichoic acid binds to these sites by way of its glycolipid moiety.
Dietary assessment using a picture-sort approach

Food-frequency questionnaires are usually administered as a list of foods to be checked off by the respondent or interviewer. Techniques in which participants sort into categories cards on which names or pictures of foods are printed can also be used to assess food intake. Food-frequency scores were obtained from a five-category picture sort administered to 4643 men and women aged > or = 65 y in the Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS). This one-step (qualitative) assessment yielded significant associations in expected directions between frequency scores and sex, age, race or ethnicity, body mass index, and use of a special diet. In the two-step (semiquantitative) version of this instrument, an interviewer documented specific frequencies and portion-size information for the foods in each sorting category. A substudy of the two-step version with 96 CHS participants indicated relative validity similar to that of conventionally administered food-frequency questionnaires. The one-step version may be broadly applicable to situations in which general food-pattern data can be informative and cost and time limitations are great. When it is feasible, the two-step picture sort may offer certain methodologic advantages because respondents have a chance to change their responses and the format may simplify the cognitive-response task. Sorting or picture-sort procedures deserve systematic attention in research on dietary assessment methods.
Controlling the volumetric parameters of nitrogen-doped carbon nanotube cups

Analogous to multiwalled carbon nanotubes, nitrogen-doped carbon nanotube cups (NCNCs) have been synthesized with defined volumetric parameters (diameter and segment lengths) by controlling the catalyst particle size and the concentration of nitrogen precursor utilized in the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) reaction, allowing for tailored interior cavity space of cross-linked NCNCs, i.e. nanocapsules.
Relationship management strategies for daughters in conflicted relationships with their ageing mothers.

Aims To study relationship management strategies of daughters in conflicted relationships with their mothers and how they promoted or prevented elder abuse. Background Daughters have enduring, unique relationships with their mothers that often carry over into caregiving. Pre-caregiving relationship quality is related to many caregiving outcomes, although it is unclear how. Design Qualitative study. Methods Grounded theory design, informed by feminism, with telephone interviews conducted between January 2013–July 2013. The sample (N = 13) was recruited through an online recruitment strategy, with advertisements posted on relevant websites asking ‘Are you in an abusive relationship with your ageing mother?’ Results/findings Daughters used coping strategies and self-protective strategies aimed at decreasing their exposure to aggression and emotional distress when interacting with their ageing mothers. Daughters also used spiteful aggression out of the desire for revenge. Conclusion Although the daughters' strategies served their personal needs, they jeopardized the mothers' needs by creating an environment where neglect could occur. Daughters also readily and intentionally used aggression against their mothers. These were strategies daughters have found useful. These strategies may be potential areas for designing interventions to promote healthy family relationships and decrease the occurrence of elder abuse and neglect.
Measurement of the degree of mixing of fluids

Abstract A function of concentration is proposed as a measure of the progress of mixing in fluid systems. The function is evaluated by detecting the absorption of light by a tracer solute which characteristically deviates from Beer's law. It was found that for aqueous systems, cupric chloride would be a suitable solute.
Multi-HMM classification for hand gesture recognition using two differing modality sensors

This paper presents a multi-Hidden Markov Model (HMM) classification approach for hand gesture recognition by utilizing two differing modality and low-cost sensors. The sensors consist of a Kinect depth camera and a wearable inertial sensor. It is shown that the multi-HMM classification based on nine signals that are simultaneously captured by these two sensors leads to a more robust recognition compared to the situation when only a single HMM classification is used to generate the likelihood probabilities of hand gestures. This approach is applied to the hand gestures of the $1Unistroke Recognizer application and the results obtained indicate a 7% improvement in the overall classification rate over a single HMM classification under realistic conditions.
Methodology for Motor Learning: A Paradigm for Kinematic Feedback

Knowledge of results (KR)-information feed- back about goal achievement-has been one of the most exten- sively examined variables in motor learning. In most natural movement learning situations, however, instructors more com- monly provide augmented information regarding various kine- matic or kinetic aspects of the movement pattern itself (sometimes termed knowledge of performance, KP). But despite the inherent interest in kinematic feedback, several factors reviewed here have operated to inhibit its study, the most important of which has been the lack of a suitable laboratory task and paradigm. The limita- tions of earlier paradigms have concerned (a) the use of overly simple motor behaviors, probably to minimize the problems in kinematic measurement, (b) the tendency for the environmental goal of the task to be isomorphic with the kinematic pattern, and (c) the failure to use transfer or retention tests as measures of learning effects of the feedback manipulations. In this article, we describe our efforts to create a new paradigm for kinematic feed- back, the rationale for its development, and the details of its op- eration. Finally, we provide evidence that the task and paradigm are sensitive to manipulations of kinematic feedback, providing some assurance that the paradigm can potentially answer future research questions about the role of kinematic feedback for learning. n this article, we present a new research task and para- I digm-developed over the past several years at our labo- ratory at UCLA-that seems suitable for the laboratory study of feedback of the type usually provided by instruc- tors, coaches, therapists, and teachers in real-world move- ment learning settings. Despite a strong, decades-long in- terest in such issues for both practical and theoretical reasons, we argue that the understanding of such feedback processes for learning is underdeveloped, at least in part because a suitable paradigm for its study has not been avail- able. In the sections that follow, we describe several factors that have inhibited the development of such a paradigm in the past, we discuss the important requirements that led to our new pmdigm, and we describe effectiveness of the par- adigm for feedback research.
Composite predictions of secondary structures of lac repressor.

The secondary structure of the lac repressor protein proposed by Chou et al. has been modified to include the recent revisions in sequence. In addition to the Chou and Fasman method, five other methods were used; they include those of (1) Lim, (2) Ptitsyn and Finkelstein, (3) Burgess et al., (4) Bunting et al., and (5) Wu and Kabat. Any two individual methods gave results differing sharply from one another. Three or more methods were in agreement for 91, 39, and 126 residues in helix, in β, and in combined coil plus turn conformations, respectively; there were such agreements for a total of 256 of the 360 residues. Agreements in the amino-terminal third of the molecule were found for 68% of the residues, whereas in the remainder of the molecule only 53% of the residues showed such agreements. Only two helix-breaking and two β-breaking tripeptides were inconsistent with the composite predictions by three or more methods. The large number of disagreements among the results for different methods indicates that only very limited information is provided by each method and that the basis on which they operate is not clear. There is no a priori reason for a composite prediction to be more reliable than any individual prediction, and such a procedure does not permit the determination of an unambiguous secondary structure. Since these methods were applied to lac repressor before any three-dimensional crystallographic structure was known, the methods may ultimately be evaluated should such a structure become available.
Histochemical observations on human dentin exposed by attrition.

– Demineralized sections of human anterior teeth with dentin exposed by attrition were studied after staining with PAS, alcian blue at pH 2.2, and the combined alcian blue-PAS method. The intertubular matrix of the primary dentin was evenly and lightly stained with PAS, with exception of the most pulpal zone which showed an intense PAS-positive reaction. No changes seemed to have occurred in the intertubular matrix of the exposed dentin. The exposed dentin, however, showed a stronger alcian blue-positive reaction than the intact dentin because of a more intense staining of the peripheries and the content of the tubules. In the innermost part of the primary dentin a zonated pattern similar to that of intact teeth was observed. In the irritation dentin the intertubular matrix as well as the periphery of many tubules reacted strongly with PAS. With alcian blue the peripheries of the tubules were either unstained or showed varying degrees of positive reaction. In some tubules this reaction was comparable with that of the primary dentin. Variation in the state of aggregation of the ground substance was considered the main reason for the differences in PAS reaction of the primary dentin and the irritation dentin.
Protein tyrosine phosphatase domains from the protochordate Styela plicata.

Protein tyrosine phosphorylation is an important regulatory mechanisms in cell physiology. While the protein tyrosine kinase (PTKase) family has been extensively studied, only six protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPases) have been described. By Southern blot analysis, genomic DNA from several different phyla were found to cross-hybridize with a cDNA probe encoding the human leukocyte-common antigen (LCA; CD45) PTPase domains. To pursue this observation further, total mRNA from the protochordate Styela plicata was used as a tempalte to copy and amplify, using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technology, PTPase domains. Twenty-seven distinct sequences were identified that contain hallmark residues of PTPases; two of these are similar to described mammalian PTPases. Southern blot analysis indicates that at least one other Styela sequence is highly conserved in a variety of phyla. Seven of the Styela domains have significant similarity to each other, indicating a subfamily of PTPases. However, most of the sequences are disparate. A comparison of the 27 Styela sequences with the ten known PTPase domain sequences reveals that only three residues are absolutely conserved and identifies regions that are highly divergent. The data indicate that the PTPase family will be equally as large and diverse as the PTKases. The extent and diversity of the PTPase family suggests that these enzymes are, in their own right, important regulators of cell behavior.
RNA inhibition of BMP-4 gene expression in postimplantation mouse embryos.

Short, hairpin RNA (shRNA) directed against bone morphogenetic protein 4 (Bmp-4) was delivered to early postimplantation staged mouse embryos via tail vein injection of pregnant dams. As early as 24 h postinjection, embryos expressed a DsRed marker and later exhibited defects of neural fold elevation and closure and of cardiac morphogenesis. Immunohistochemical analysis of sectioned embryos indicated that Bmp-4 protein was depleted and gene expression analysis indicated there was a reduction in Bmp-4 mRNA and an upregulation of the Bmp-4 antagonists, noggin and chordin, in embryos exposed to the shRNA, but not in control embryos. There was no change in the expression of Gata4, brachyury, or claudin6 in RNAi exposed embryos, indicating that RNA silencing was specific to Bmp-4 rather than producing widespread gene inhibition. Delivery of shRNA to embryos has the potential to specifically knockdown the expression of developmentally essential genes and to rescue gene mutations, significantly decreasing the time required to analyze the function(s) of individual genes in development.