cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Fundamentals of polymer degradation

Electrical insulators primarily serve to direct current through conductors. They must not only resist electrical stress but also mechanical, chemical, and thermal stresses due to handling, installation, and use under various environmental conditions. Insulators should afford conductors mechanical support, environmental protection against extraneous matter (e.g., dirt, moisture, chemicals) and a means of heat transfer. In general, good electrical insulators are also good thermal insulators. Any degradation of an insulator will reduce its protective function. Specific properties important in electrical insulators may be found in reference 1.
The Synergistic Effects of Almond Protection Fungicides on Honey Bee (Hymenoptera: Apidae) Forager Survival

The honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) contributes ∼$17 billion annually to the United States economy, primarily by pollinating major agricultural crops including almond, which is completely dependent on honey bee pollination for nut set. Almond growers face constant challenges to crop productivity owing to pests and pathogens, which are often controlled with a multitude of agrochemicals. For example, fungicides are often applied in combination with other products to control fungal pathogens during almond bloom. However, the effects of fungicides on honey bee health have been so far understudied. To assess the effects of some of the top fungicides used during the 2012 California almond bloom on honey bee forager mortality, we collected foragers from a local apiary and exposed them to fungicides (alone and in various combinations) at the label dose, or at doses ranging from 0.25 to 2 times the label dose rate. These fungicides were Iprodione 2SE Select, Pristine, and Quadris. We utilized a wind tunnel and atomizer set up with a wind speed of 2.9 m/s to simulate field-relevant exposure of honey bees to these agrochemicals during aerial application in almond fields. Groups of 40-50 foragers exposed to either untreated controls or fungicide-laden treatments were monitored daily over a 10-d period. Our results showed a significant decrease in forager survival resulting from exposure to simulated tank mixes of Iprodione 2SE Select, as well as synergistic detrimental effects of Iprodione 2SE Select in combination with Pristine and Quadris on forager survival.
Problem-Based Learning and Civic Engagement in Undergraduate Education:

Problem-based learning and civic engagement are complementary constructivist andragogical approaches that emphasize active learning by guiding students to develop their own understanding and knowle...
Auto-triangulation and auto-trilateration: Part 2: Three-dimensional experimental verification

Abstract In the companion paper, [Prec Eng 2002, in press] we introduced an approach to extending the idea of self-calibration to triangulation and trilateration. The advantages of this approach over the conventional approach to self-calibration (that uses a calibration artifact) include the facts that it only requires a linear transducer instead of an artifact, it extends naturally to higher dimensional self-calibration problems (three-dimensional self-calibration), and it is capable of producing any calibration map instead of a predetermined discrete calibration map. In the aforementioned companion paper, our discussion concentrated on describing the underlying concepts and the process for generating a self-calibration map. It also concentrated on proving that the approach could, in the limit, calibrate any point in the feasible calibration workspace (or any length in the measuring range of the linear transducer). All this was discussed in the context of a two-dimensional calibration problem. This paper extends the mathematical formulation to three-dimensional self-calibration or auto-trilateration. First, the basic formulation to produce the auto-calibration equations for trilateration is developed. Next, a three-dimensional verification experiment is described and its results discussed. Auto-trilateration allows for cheap and efficient calibration of three-axis machining centers and can promote regular and cost-effective calibration in the NC machining industry.
Adult Life Crises: A Dialectic Interpretation of Development

Crises, conflicts, and contradictions ought to be regarded as constructive confrontations and the basis for development rather than in a negative manner and as causes for disruption. In this chapter the course of general adult development is analyzed, as well as the career development of the normal and exceptional scientist — in particular, of Jean Piaget and Wilhelm Wundt. Individuals through their constructive development create historical changes; the sociocultural conditions, in turn, will change the individual. These double interactions produce conflicts or crises between individuals, between groups, and between individuals and groups. Several cases of conflicts are described and a general model for developmental progression through crises resolution is proposed.
Comentarios de la catástrofe: Temporal de Nicanor Parra

En el presente trabajo se propone leer el poemario Temporal de Nicanor Parra (escrito en 1987 y publicado en 2014) desde la idea del ‘comentario de la catastrofe’, entendido como una posibilidad de democratizacion del discurso tomado por el regimen militar. Asimismo, se pretende reevaluar la posicion que ocupa Nicanor Parra dentro de la cultura de la resistencia a la dictadura, y definir como la publicacion de Temporal permite trazar con mayor precision las modificaciones que experimenta la antipoesia durante la dictadura. Frente al autoritarismo que define el contexto de escritura del poemario, Parra compone Temporal mediante la reutilizacion de otros discursos sociales complices del regimen. Al rearticular dichos discursos, el poemario lleva a cabo un ejercicio de disenso que busca recuperar la capacidad enunciativa y critica del lenguaje, fundamental en la redemocratizacion de la sociedad chilena.
The Utility of Simulated Clients in Macro-Practice Courses

ABSTRACTOver the past several decades, the use of simulated or standardized clients has been an important area of pedagogy for social work education in training students to work with individuals, families, and groups in practice settings, often in preparation for a practicum placement. Little in the extant literature, however, has focused on the possible utilization of this pedagogical tool in preparing students for engagement at the macro level, such as community development, organizing, policy practice, or other types of involvement with large systems. This article considers the possible strengths and benefits of simulated clients within macro-level courses—especially relative to experiential activities that don’t involve simulated clients—as well as important logistical considerations related to such use.
Oxysterol Binding Protein: Tether, Transporter… and Flux Capacitor?

The oxysterol binding protein (OSBP) is a storied protein in organelle biology. Its early roles include acting as a membrane contact site (MCS) tether as well as a lipid antiporter. A surprising new function for OSBP in MCS dynamics has now been uncovered in a recent study by Jamecna et al. (Dev. Cell 2019;49:220–234).
Public health and health professional education at a tribal college: a collaborative immersion program in rural North Dakota.

Introduction Native Americans have some of the worst health outcomes of any minority group in the USA, and are severely under-represented in the health professional workforce. From 2009 to 2015, partners from a tribal college in rural North Dakota and academic institutions in New York collaborated to create a program wherein non-Native health professionals traveled to the reservation to teach a summer course to Native students. This study assessed the impact of the program on both the Native students who took the course and the non-Native health professionals who taught the course. Methods Focus groups composed of former students in the program were held in Spirit Lake, North Dakota. Non-Native student teachers were surveyed using an online survey tool. Focus group data were analyzed using grounded theory methodology. Survey data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results Fifteen former students participated in the focus groups. Participants stated that their experiences in the course increased interest in health professions and knowledge of public health issues. Participants also described barriers to entering health professionals for Native students and the benefits of close interaction with non-Native individuals. Eighty-six percent (24/28) of former course teachers responded to the survey. Survey respondents stated their experiences in North Dakota increased their understanding of underserved populations and their interest in working in rural areas. Conclusion This study assessed the successes and limitations of a collaborative, interprofessional immersion program in rural North Dakota. Similar programs may increase the number of Native Americans in health professions and increase non-Native health professional interest in and engagement with rural communities.
Using Dialkylimidazolium Ionic Liquids To Break the Methanol + Methyl Acetate Azeotrope

Separating mixtures that form azeotropes or have relative volatilities close to 1.0 has always been a challenging problem. Conventional distillation cannot yield high purity products for these syst...
The spatial structure of feedforward information in mouse primary visual cortex

Location-sensitive and motion-sensitive units are the two major functional types of feedforward projections from lateral genicular nucleus (LGN) to primary visual cortex (V1) in mouse. The distribution of these inputs in cortical depth remains under debate. By measuring the calcium activities of LGN axons in V1 of awake mice, we systematically mapped their functional and structural properties. Although both types distributed evenly across cortical depth, we found that they differ significantly across multiple modalities. Compared to the location-sensitive axons, which possessed confined spatial receptive fields, the motion-sensitive axons lacked spatial receptive fields, preferred lower temporal, higher spatial frequencies and had wider horizontal bouton spread. Furthermore, the motion-sensitive axons showed a strong depth-dependent motion direction bias while the location-sensitive axons showed a depth-independent OFF dominance. Overall, our results suggest a new model of receptive biases and laminar structure of thalamic inputs to V1.
Polarization-Diversity Microring-Based Optical Switch Fabric in a Switch-and-Select Architecture

We propose a polarization-diversity microring-based optical switch fabric in a switch-and-select architecture with polarization splitter-rotators. The first primitive 2×2 silicon device is demonstrated with polarization-dependent loss of <1.6 dB and inter-channel crosstalk of <-45 dB.
Effect of age and secondary task engagement on motor vehicle crashes in a naturalistic setting.

Abstract Problem Automobile crashes are one of the leading causes of death in the United States, especially for younger and older drivers. Additionally, distracted driving is another leading factor in the likelihood of crashes. However, there is little understanding about the interaction between age and secondary task engagement and how that impacts crash likelihood and maneuver safety. Method Data from the Naturalistic Driving Study (NDS), which was part of the Second Strategic Highway Research Program (SHRP2), were used to investigate this issue. Results It was found that the distribution of crashes per one million km driven during the NDS was similar to previous research, but with fewer crashes from older drivers. Additionally, it was found that older and middle-aged drivers engaged in distracted driving more frequently than was expected, and that crashes were significantly more likely if drivers of those age groups were engaged in secondary tasks. However, secondary task engagement did not predict judgment of safe/unsafe vehicle maneuvers. Practical Applications More research is needed to better understand the interaction of age and distraction on crash likelihood. However, this research could aid future researchers in understanding the likelihood of future use of new in-vehicle technologies for different age groups, as well as provide insight to the engagement patterns of distraction for different age groups.
You Can Cross the Massacre on Foot: by Freddy Prestol Castillo, translated by Margaret Randall, Durham, NC, Duke University Press, 2019, 176 pp., $23.95 (paperback), ISBN: 978-14-7800-383-0

This breathless and tortured novel offers a unique perspective on the massacre of ethnic Haitians in the Dominican borderlands in 1937 by dictator Rafael Trujillo since it was penned by one of the ...
Using GRASP approach and path relinking to minimise total number of tardy jobs on a single batch processing machine

This paper considers scheduling a single batch processing machine such that the total number of tardy jobs is minimised. The machine can simultaneously process several jobs as a batch as long as the machine capacity is not violated. The batch processing time is equal to the largest processing time among those jobs in the batch. As the problem under study is NP-hard solving a mathematical formulation optimality is computationally intensive. A greedy randomised adaptive search procedure (GRASP) is proposed with the assumption of arbitrary job sizes, arbitrary processing times and arbitrary due dates. A novel construction phase for the GRASP approach is proposed to improve the solution quality. In addition, a path relinking procedure is proposed for solving large-sized problems effectively. The performance of the proposed GRASP approach is evaluated by comparing its results to a commercial solver and a construction heuristic. Experimental studies suggest that GRASP is superior compared to the commercial solver and the construction heuristic.
Fiber-optic silicon Fabry-Perot interferometric bolometer with improved detection limit for magnetic confinement fusion.

Fiber-optic bolometers (FOBs) intended for plasma radiation measurement in magnetically confined fusion have been previously developed using a silicon pillar that functions as both a Fabry–Perot interferometer (FPI) for temperature measurement and an absorber for the radiation. We report an FOB design that can significantly improve the detection sensitivity over earlier designs by engineering the absorber of the FOB. Our design uses the fact that, compared with a silicon pillar, a gold film with the same x-ray absorption thickness will show a much higher temperature rise from a given power density of the radiation. Therefore, the responsivity of an FOB can be improved by attaching a large gold disk to the silicon FPI as the absorber. We have developed a fabrication method for FOBs of such design and obtained an FOB with a 4-µm-thick, 0.6-mm-diameter gold disk attached to a 200-µm-diameter, 100-µm-thick silicon FPI. We have characterized the noise, responsivity, response time, and noise-equivalent power density (NEPD) and compared these with the earlier design where the absorber is mainly the silicon FPI itself. The experimental result suggests that the FOB with the gold disk achieves a responsivity of ∼2.8 mK/(W/m2) and a noise-equivalent-power-density of 0.13 W/m2, which are, respectively, more than nine times larger and six times smaller compared to the FOB using a previous design. Improved NEPD and good absorption over a broad frequency range will make the FOB more attractive for applications in magnetic-confinement fusion devices.
Automating Procedurally Fair Feature Selection in Machine Learning

In recent years, machine learning has become more common in everyday applications. Consequently, numerous studies have explored issues of unfairness against specific groups or individuals in the context of these applications. Much of the previous work on unfairness in machine learning has focused on the fairness of outcomes rather than process. We propose a feature selection method inspired by fair process (procedural fairness) in addition to fair outcome. Specifically, we introduce the notion of unfairness weight, which indicates how heavily to weight unfairness versus accuracy when measuring the marginal benefit of adding a new feature to a model. Our goal is to maintain accuracy while reducing unfairness, as defined by six common statistical definitions. We show that this approach demonstrably decreases unfairness as the unfairness weight is increased, for most combinations of metrics and classifiers used. A small subset of all the combinations of datasets (4), unfairness metrics (6), and classifiers (3), however, demonstrated relatively low unfairness initially. For these specific combinations, neither unfairness nor accuracy were affected as unfairness weight changed, demonstrating that this method does not reduce accuracy unless there is also an equivalent decrease in unfairness. We also show that this approach selects unfair features and sensitive features for the model less frequently as the unfairness weight increases. As such, this procedure is an effective approach to constructing classifiers that both reduce unfairness and are less likely to include unfair features in the modeling process.
Caffeine and Theobromine.

Two components of cocoa powder, caffeine (1,3,7-trimethylxanthine) and theobromine (3,7-dimethylxanthine), were evaluated for their effect on growth of L. monocytogenes strain V7. Caffeine (0.5%) and theobromine (2.5%) were added singly or in combination to skim milk or a modified tryptose phosphate broth (MTPB), which were sterilized, inoculated to contain ca. 1 × 103 CFU L. monocytogenes /ml, and incubated at 30°C. Both compounds allowed some growth of the pathogen; however, longer lag phases occurred in samples with (6 to 9 h) rather than without (<3 h) caffeine. Generation times at 30°C ranged from 1.10 h (2.5% theobromine in broth) to 2.28 h (2.5% theobromine plus 0.5% caffeine in milk). Generation times were significantly (p<0.05) lengthened in the presence (2.17 h) rather than in the absence (1.2 h) of caffeine. Populations in samples without caffeine were more than ten times greater (8.57 log10 CFU/ml) than in samples with caffeine (7.21 log10 CFU/ml). Theobromine concentration (0 or 2.5%) and substrate (MTPB or skim milk) had only limited effects on growth of the pathogen. The change in pH of the medium was a function of the extent of growth of L. monocytogenes and the buffering capacity of the substrate. A smaller pH change (0.09 unit) occurred in the milk medium than in broth (0.48 unit) because of the minimal buffering capacity of the 0.2% tryptose solution. Samples with caffeine had a small decrease in pH (0.07 unit) because growth of L. monocytogenes was inhibited and thus acid production was minimal.
Methods of Studying Biofilms

This chapter reviews many commonly used organisms, experimental approaches, and techniques used for the growth and study of biofilms. Here, the authors focus on commonly used approaches with a greater emphasis on currently used techniques. They have summarized several diverse techniques for growing and evaluating biofilms below. These include examples of biofilm techniques for exploring naturally occurring biofilms, medically important biofilms, industrial applications, laboratory biofilm techniques, imaging and spectroscopy techniques, and broad-based genetic techniques. Overall, the authors concentrate on several techniques that are presently used in current biofilm research. Included in this discussion are biofilm growth strategies, a brief mention of genetic strategies, imaging techniques, and data analysis. The authors hope that this discussion will serve as an informative reference for the biofilm research community. In the field of dental microbiology, the constant depth fermenter is a device in which oral microorganisms are cultured on hydroxyapatite disks that are coated with saliva. Such standardized methods will permit a meaningful and rational comparison of data among individual laboratories. Finally, microbiologists now realize the many diverse environments and situations in which biofilms occur. As a result, there will be a continuing need for innovation in the experimental designs used to study biofilms.
Late postacute neurologic rehabilitation: neuroscience, engineering, and clinical programs

Abstract Bach-y-Rita P. Late postacute neurologic rehabilitation: neuroscience, engineering, and clinical programs. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2003;84:1100–8. This lecture highlights my career in rehabilitation research. My principal efforts in rehabilitation have been to study (1) mechanisms of brain plasticity related to reorganization of the brain and recovery of function; (2) late postacute rehabilitation; (3) sensory substitution; and (4) rehabilitation engineering. A principal goal has been to aid in the development of a strong scientific base in rehabilitation.
The crystal structure of 5α,9α-peroxyergosta-7,22-dien-6-one-3β-ol acetate

Ergosterol acetate, in pyridine, reacts with hydrogen peroxide and catalytic amounts of FeCl3 to afford the unusual product 5α,9α-peroxyergosta-7,22-dien-6-one-3β-ol acetate. The peroxide, in the title structure, is seen to bridge the C5 and C9 positions of the sterol backbone. Crystal data: C30H44O5, orthorhombic, P212121, a = 6.552(2), b = 11.048(8), c = 37.60(2), V = 2772(3)A3, Z = 4.
Sequential decoding on the intersymbol interference channels under the Pe-criterion

The Pe-criterion is a recent analysis of sequential decoding of tree codes based on the design condition that the decoder must achieve a set error probability Pe. This work extends the criterion to channels with intersymbol interference (ISI), assuming binary random coding, and both hard and soft decision decoding. The result is a definite boundary for the tree search region and a well defined estimate of path numbers searched. Comparisons among the channels show the influence of ISI in the decoding process. We show how ISI increases the search region and number of paths searched as compared to memoryless channels. Furthermore, we show that the use of soft decisions may not only result in large savings as compared to hard decisions, but indeed be the key to assure feasibility of the limited search decoder.
Birthweight of Children With Phenylketonuria

The assumption that children with phenylketonuria (PKU) develop normally until birth was brought into question by the recent report that PKU children weigh several hundred grams less at birth than their unaffected siblings. We have examined intrafamily differences in birthweight in 40 sibships with at least one affected and one unaffected child. The difference in mean birthweights computed by taking a weighted average of the intrafamily differences was –69 gm, and the adjusted estimate of the birthweight difference between children with PKU and their siblings obtained from a fitted multiple regression function, is –51 gm. The findings are not consistent with the large difference in birthweight reported previously and are compatible with the assumption that the intrauterine physical growth of children with classical PKU is not adversely affected.
Measuring the activity of cytolytic lymphocytes.

The protocols in this unit describe how to measure the activity of the two most common types of lymphocytes that have cytolytic activity: cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) and natural killer (NK) cells. Measurement of CTL activity requires priming of cells, which can be performed either in vivo or in vitro. Priming leads to a population of differentiated, antigen-specific CTL. Protocols in which CTL are primed in vivo and in vitro are included in this unit. In contrast to CTL, the cytolytic activity of NK cells can be measured in the absence of antigen priming. In all of these protocols, single-cell suspensions of effector and target cells are prepared separately. The target cells are labeled with 51Cr, and then the effector and target cells are co-cultured for several hours. The amount of target cell lysis is determined by measuring the amount of 51Cr released into the culture medium. For all of the protocols, the effector cells are derived from mouse spleen. The target cells are either spleen cells from mice of a different MHC haplotype, virus-infected cells, tumor cells, or cultured cell lines. These protocols provide a methodological framework that can be adapted for measuring the activity of cytolytic lymphocytes in a variety of experimental paradigms. Keywords: cytolytic activity; CTL; NK cells; chromium release assay
Harmonization of software engineering and system engineering standards

Software is increasingly performing vital functions in systems such as consumer products, military, telecommunication, medical, and banking. However, software engineering and conventional engineering have not been integrated into a cohesive and concurrent system engineering. Consequently, software engineering is essentially developing on its own and does not fully participate in hardware/software tradeoff analyses and does not fully contribute to the system at its full potential. The article presents such system software relationship issues and presents some initial solutions that might be implemented to improve the situation.
An inquiry-based biochemistry laboratory structure emphasizing competency in the scientific process: a guided approach with an electronic notebook format.

The laboratory setting is an exciting and gratifying place to teach because you can actively engage the students in the learning process through hands-on activities; it is a dynamic environment amenable to collaborative work, critical thinking, problem-solving and discovery. The guided inquiry-based approach described here guides the students through their laboratory work at a steady pace that encourages them to focus on quality observations, careful data collection and thought processes surrounding the chemistry involved. It motivates students to work in a collaborative manner with frequent opportunities for feedback, reflection, and modification of their ideas. Each laboratory activity has four stages to keep the students' efforts on track: pre-lab work, an in-lab discussion, in-lab work, and a post-lab assignment. Students are guided at each stage by an instructor created template that directs their learning while giving them the opportunity and flexibility to explore new information, ideas, and questions. These templates are easily transferred into an electronic journal (termed the E-notebook) and form the basic structural framework of the final lab reports the students submit electronically, via a learning management system. The guided-inquiry based approach presented here uses a single laboratory activity for undergraduate Introductory Biochemistry as an example. After implementation of this guided learning approach student surveys reported a higher level of course satisfaction and there was a statistically significant improvement in the quality of the student work. Therefore we firmly believe the described format to be highly effective in promoting student learning and engagement. © 2013 by The International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 42(1):58–67, 2014.
Order-recursive Gaussian elimination

Gaussian elimination with partial pivoting is the most favored technique for solution of a system of linear algebraic equations. However, in the existing form the algorithm requires the entire data before it can be implemented. In some applications, the data matrix is recursively augmented with new row and column vectors. Recomputing the entire solution from a scratch becomes expensive /spl Oscr/(n/sup 4/). We propose an order-recursive version of Gaussian elimination with complexity /spl Oscr/(n/sup 3/) to solve the recursively augmented system of equation.
Professional Development Schools: What? So What? Now What?.

Over a decade into the rhetoric surrounding, and the work within, PDSs, the field has reached an unusual consensus as well as an unusual discord on what a PDS is. The consensus is at a definitional level: A PDS is a specific form of a district-school(s)-university partnership wherein the participants share a commitment (and a responsibility) to improve the education of students in the public schools by simultaneously renewing the lifelong education of teachers and the institutions responsible for that education. (See Teitel, this issue, for an analysis of the influences and antecedents of this consensus.) There is even agreement on the four focal areas required of such simultaneous renewal: the education of children, the professional prepara
Investigation of novel solder patterns for power delivery and heat removal support

An innovative approach for electrical chip to substrate and chip to chip interconnects is proposed. The coexistence of solder balls and rails on a chip is discussed, supporting power delivery and heat removal for high-performance flip-chip-onboard and 3D stack applications. The concept enables further bandwidth and current density scaling at a high count of interconnects for signaling, but also at a high solder area fill factor for power delivery and heat removal. The rail-shaped solder joints are also compatible with the current floorplans of microprocessors with voltages arranged in lines. After reflow, solder rails compared to balls can result in a much larger maximal solder width relative to their pads. Therefore, a staggered array arrangement was proposed to minimize shorting risk. In addition, a solder height engineering strategy utilizing modulated pad shapes is discussed to yield equal solder heights for balls and rails present on the same device. However, improper rail design was found to lead to two instability types: 1) Balling and 2) Asymmetric Solder Accumulation. The first is the result of a solder height to width ratio of larger than approximately 0.6 considering long rail lines. The second occurs due to fabrication imperfections. The initial non-symmetric pad/solder shape can cause the accumulation of solder at one rail end (typically the end with the larger area) after reflow. The stability of Bow Tie Rails against Asymmetric Solder Accumulation was investigated to provide design rules for a robust rail design. Accordingly, a solder shape phase diagram indicating the parameters of the three identified phases is compiled. Experimental investigations of reflown solder shapes were complemented with numerical results using a surface energy minimization tool called Surface Evolver. A prediction quality of better than 9% was identified indicating the applicability of the tool to perform solder shape designs. The solver was also capable to predict the mentioned instabilities, rendering the tool even more valuable. Finally, a thermal interface resistance benchmark of ball and rail-like interconnects is performed in a bulk thermal tester. The rail interface with a solder fill factor of 57% yielded a 7 times reduced interface resistance.
Longitudinal associations between depression and substance dependence from adolescence through early adulthood.

Aims The association between depression and substance dependence is poorly understood; examinations of these two disorders over time during key developmental periods can provide insight into how these problems relate to each other. The goal of the present study was to examine longitudinal associations between depression and substance (alcohol and illicit drug) dependence during the period from adolescence through early adulthood.
Paternal risk factors for isolated membranous ventricular septal defects

A case-control study using data from the Baltimore-Washington Infant Study (BWIS) examined possible paternal risk factors in the etiology of isolated membranous ventricular septal defects (VSD). There were 641 total VSD case infants and 3,549 randomly selected control infants ascertained between 1981 and 1989. Isolated membranous VSDs were identified in 499 cases. Socio-demographic factors (such as parental age and race), social habits, and medical conditions were analyzed by multiple logistic regression in order to estimate adjusted odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Paternal age was not found to be a risk factor per se, but small positive associations were found for some social habits and maternal factors. Significant associations were found for paternal marijuana use (OR 1.36, 95% CI 1.05-1.76), African-American race of the infant (OR 1.34, 95% CI 1.09-1.65), and for cocaine use among older fathers (OR 3.92, 95% CI 1.30-11.86). These associations support a multifactorial etiologic hypothesis for isolated membranous VSDs and point to some interesting parental behavioral and medical considerations which may contribute to risk for this common birth defect.
Diffusion and reaction in ideal multicomponent systems: II. Behavior away from equilibrium

An analysis is made of diffusion and chemical reaction in an isothermal multicomponent fluid. Transient gas-phase reaction in a one-dimensional nonflow system and steady state gas-phase or surface reaction in a tubular reactor are considered. The equations are linearized around some state away from equilibrium. Multicomponent and binary diffusivity expressions are used and a series of reactions of varying complexity is considered. The possibility of oscillations increases as the complexity of the reactions is increased. These oscillations occur with time in the nonflow system and with space-time in the tubular reactor, and it appears that any reacting mixture which oscillates in one of these two systems will also oscillate in the other.
Role of Cortactin Homolog HS1 in Transendothelial Migration of Natural Killer Cells

Natural Killer (NK) cells perform many functions that depend on actin assembly, including adhesion, chemotaxis, lytic synapse assembly and cytolysis. HS1, the hematopoietic homolog of cortactin, binds to Arp2/3 complex and promotes actin assembly by helping to form and stabilize actin filament branches. We investigated the role of HS1 in transendothelial migration (TEM) by NK cells. Depletion of HS1 led to a decrease in the efficiency of TEM by NK cells, as measured by transwell assays with endothelial cell monolayers on porous filters. Transwell assays involve chemotaxis of NK cells across the filter, so to examine TEM more specifically, we imaged live-cell preparations and antibody-stained fixed preparations, with and without the chemoattractant SDF-1α. We found small to moderate effects of HS1 depletion on TEM, including whether the NK cells migrated via the transcellular or paracellular route. Expression of HS1 mutants indicated that phosphorylation of HS1 tyrosines at positions 222, 378 and 397 was required for rescue in the transwell assay, but HS1 mutations affecting interaction with Arp2/3 complex or SH3-domain ligands had no effect. The GEF Vav1, a ligand of HS1 phosphotyrosine, influenced NK cell transendothelial migration. HS1 and Vav1 also affected the speed of NK cells migrating across the surface of the endothelium. We conclude that HS1 has a role in transendothelial migration of NK cells and that HS1 tyrosine phosphorylation may signal through Vav1.
Armed collaboration in Greece, 1941–1944

In this paper a particular strand of collaboration in occupied Greece is explored: military or armed collaboration. The available evidence is reviewed and several puzzles raised by armed collaboration in Greece are discussed: its geographical distribution, size, timing, relation to prewar politics and cleavages, and the motivations of officers and rank-and-file who served in collaborationist militias. A statistical analysis is then presented using data from a regional study conducted in Greece by the author. The article concludes with some general points about the theoretical framework that best helps the analysis of the phenomenon and three key theoretical concepts are underlined: indirect rule, civil war, and endogenous dynamics.
Quantum statistical mechanics of an array of resistively shunted Josephson junctions.

We have constructed a fully quantum-mechanical model of an ordered array of resistively shunted Josephson junctions, and have determined the nature of the phase diagram as a function of the Josephson coupling, V, the capacitance, C (or, equivalently, the charging energy ${E}_{0}$=4${e}^{2}$/C), the shunt resistance, R, and the temperature, T. In order to treat the dissipative element (R) in a quantum system, we have modeled it by a heat bath with spectral weight chosen to reproduce Ohmic resistance in the classical limit. Among other results, we find that in the extreme quantum limit, ${E}_{0}$\ensuremath{\gg}V\ensuremath{\gg}${k}_{B}$T, the onset of global phase coherence (superconductivity) in the array occurs only if R is less than a critical value ${R}_{c}$=Ah/${e}^{2}$, where A is a number of order 1 which depends on the dimension and the lattice structure. The fact that the dissipation enters the thermodynamics at all is a consequence of the quantum nature of the transition. This transition is reminiscent of the results of recent experiments on thin films of granular superconductors.
Hamate-pisiform coalition: Morphology, clinical significance, and a simplified classification scheme for carpal coalition

Hamate-pisiform coalition is characterized by the abnormal union of the pisiform bone and hamulus of the hamate. Because most reported cases are isolated, and literature on the subject is sparse, relatively little is known about this condition and its clinical significance. The purpose of this report is to discuss the occurrence, morphology, and frequency of hamate-pisiform coalition identified in a skeletal sample of native South Africans, and to conduct a metaanalysis of all known cases in order to clarify the sex distribution, laterality, form, and clinical significance of this condition. Five new cases (three male, two female) of hamate-pisiform coalition were identified in 527 native South Africans. Results indicate that hamate-pisiform coalition is infrequent (0.76%) but may be more likely encountered in individuals of African ancestry. Morphologically, non-osseous examples ranged in appearance from minor expressions involving pitting of an expanded hamulus base, to a variably pitted articulation between an elongated pisiform and hamulus. Osseous union between the two bones tends to extend beyond the hamulus base to adjacent areas of the hamate. Cases involving osseous union appear predisposed to fracture while ulnar neuropathy is significantly more frequent in individuals exhibiting non-osseous coalition. As both non-osseous and osseous cases can have clinical significance, awareness of the variable manifestations of this condition is necessary for hand specialists. A simplified classification system is suggested to more consistently characterize carpal coalitions.
Numerical evaluation of the moving-front transition boiling model by global spline collocation

Abstract The mathematical model for the wall temperature oscillations observed during transition boiling heat transfer tests could not be readily evaluated via standard finite difference techniques. A numerical solution was obtained by applying the global spline collocation method to the dynamic energy-balance equations with a Neumann type boundary condition. The partial-differential equations are reduced to a system of ordinary-difrerential equations which can be efficiently integrated. A flexible problem formulation is used to allow ready identification of the parameters of the physical model. The approach taken is believed to have general application to moving front problems.
Strength Evaluation of LNG Containment System Considering Fluid-Structure Interaction Under Sloshing Impact Pressure

As LNG carriers become larger and new operating conditions are being designed, it is essential to develop a new procedure for the strength evaluation of a membrane-type LNG containment system under sloshing loads. The conventional comparative method based on existing service experiences and previous damage cases is currently used in most cases, but this method is only valid for designing new LNG carriers with similar size and type of existing ones. In this study, an analytical solution of acoustic-solid interaction has been derived and a simple 2D coupled acoustic-solid model has been simulated to investigate hydro-elastic effects for the verification purpose. After validation of FE modeling, a coupled model considering the fluid-structure interaction between LNG and containment system has been developed for structural analysis of LNG Mark III containment system. For LNG Mark III containment system, nonlinear dynamic FE analysis under sloshing impact pressure has been conducted using the fluid-structure coupling model. In FE simulations, the hydro-elastic effect in structural response has been studied through considering LNG as an acoustic medium, foam as a visco-elastic material, plywood as an orthotropic material, and mastic as an isotropic material. Parametric study has also been done to investigate the effects of material properties and loading patterns on hydro-elastic response in the coupled fluid-structure model. Based on FE results and experimental data, the strength of LNG Mark III containment system has been evaluated in terms of acceptance criteria. Finally, the new procedure has been developed for the strength evaluation of membrane-type LNG containment systems.© 2007 ASME
Optimal Operating Policy for Energy Storage

This paper deals with a procedure of solution to the optimal economical operation of an integrated power system containing the energy storage units with system transmission losses included. Dynamic programing concept is used for solving this problem defined as a multistage decision process with complex restrictions. An iterative method of solution based on the application of the relaxation method is developed to generate the optimal solution'to the system operations. Two examples illustrate the method. An electrical generating system of one storage unit and one supplementary thermal plant and an electrical generating system with two energy storage units and one supplementary thermal plant.
The dimpling phenomenon: articular cartilage injury overlying an occult osteochondral lesion at the time of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

Abstract The authors report the arthroscopic finding of articular cartilage "dimpling" when a probe is placed onto the discrete chondral area involved over the geographic bone bruise incurred during traumatic anterior cruciate ligament disruption. As we develop an understanding of the pathology and sequelae of this osteochondral injury, this finding may be useful to document injury extent and possibly guide treatment including weight-bearing status and rehabilitation.
Analysis of the Roles of “Serious Games” in Helping Teach Health-Related Knowledge and Skills and in Changing Behavior:

Researchers are developing sophisticated games specifically targeted to teach health-related knowledge and skills and to change health-related behaviors. Although these interventions, generally called “serious games,” show promise, there has been limited evaluation of their effectiveness. This article offers a broad “consumer guide” for evaluating such health education interventions. Improving the development and evaluation of healthrelated serious games and educating potential purchasers of such products to be knowledgeable, demanding consumers will help move the field of serious games from “looks promising” to determining where such interventions will be effective and where they will not.
The Regenerative Medicine Laboratory: Facilitating Stem Cell Therapy for Equine Disease

This article focuses on the emerging field of equine regenerative medicine with an emphasis on the use of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) for orthopedic diseases. We detail laboratory procedures and protocols for tissue handling and MSC isolation, characterization, expansion, and cryopreservation from bone marrow, fat, and placental tissues. We provide an overview of current clinical uses for equine MSCs and how MSCs function to heal tissues. Current laboratory practices in equine regenerative medicine mirror those in the human field. However, the translational use of autologous and allogeneic MSCs for patient therapy far exceeds what is currently permitted in human medicine.
A role for sphingosine kinase 1 in dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis

The bioactive lipid sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) is emerging as an important mediator of immune and inflammatory responses. S1P formation is catalyzed by sphingosine kinase (SK), of which the SK1 isoenzyme is activated by tumor necrosis alpha (TNF-α). SK1 has been shown to be required for mediating TNF-α inflammatory responses in cells, including induction of cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2). Because TNF-α and COX-2 are increased in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), we investigated the role of SK1 in a murine model of colitis. SK1−/− mice treated with dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) had significantly less blood loss, weight loss, colon shortening, colon histological damage, and splenomegaly than did wild-type (WT) mice. In addition, SK1−/− mice had no systemic inflammatory response. Moreover, WT but not SK1−/− mice treated with dextran sulfate sodium had significant increases in blood S1P levels, colon SK1 message and activity, and colon neutrophilic infiltrate. Unlike WT mice, SK1−/− mice failed to show colonic COX-2 induction despite an exaggerated TNF-α response; thus implicating for the first time SK1 in TNF-α-mediated COX-2 induction in vivo. Inhibition of SK1 may prove to be a valuable therapeutic target by inhibiting systemic and local inflammation in IBD.—Snider, A. J., Kawamori, T., Bradshaw, S. G., Orr, K. A., Gilkeson, G. S., Hannun, Y. A., Obeid, L. M. A role for sphingosine kinase 1 in dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis.
STRUCTURAL STUDIES OF THE IONIZING RADIATION ADDUCT 7,8-DIHYDRO-8-OXOADENINE (AOXO) POSITIONED OPPOSITE THYMINE IN A DNA DUPLEX

The oxidative DNA damage adduct 8-oxo-7H-adenine (Aoxo) has been shown to incorporate T and G in primer extension reactions catalyzed by a range of polymerases. This paper reports on efforts to characterize the Aoxo · T pairing alignment and the structure at and adjacent to the damage site at the DNA duplex level. The solution structure of an d(G1–C2–A3–T4–G5–T6–G7–T8–A9–C10–G11) · d(C12–G13–T14–A15–C16–Aoxo17–C18–A19–T20–G21–C22) undecanucleotide duplex (designated Aoxo · T 11-mer) was determined by a combination of NMR and molecular dynamics calculations including NOE intensity-based refinements. This sequence forms a right-handed duplex in which all residues are in the anti conformation and all base pairs adopt Watson–Crick pairing alignments. The Aoxo17 residue adopts the 6-amino-8-keto tautomeric arrangement and forms a T6(anti) · Aoxo17(anti) Watson–Crick base pair with the opposing T6 residue on the partner strand. The central d(G5–T6–G7) · d(C16–Aoxo17–C18) three base pair segment of the Aoxo · T 11-mer duplex is very well defined in the relaxation matrix refined structures and its conformation establishes that incorporation of the Aoxo lesion into a DNA duplex has little effect on the DNA structure when paired opposite a thymine residue. These results imply that the recognition of Aoxo · T by the repair machinery is likely to originate in the unusual donor–donor–acceptor hydrogen bonding functionalities at the (NH2-6)–NH7–O8 positions along the major groove edge of the Aoxo lesion.