cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Continuum and micromechanics treatment of constraint in fracture

Two complementary methodologies are described to quantify the effects of crack-tip stress triaxiality (constraint) on the macroscopic measures of elastic-plastic fracture toughness J and Crack-Tip Opening Displacement (CTOD). In the continuum mechanics methodology, two parameters J and Q suffice to characterize the full range of near-tip environments at the onset of fracture. J sets the size scale of the zone of high stresses and large deformations while Q scales the near-tip stress level relative to a high triaxiality reference stress state. The material's fracture resistance is characterized by a toughness locus Jc(Q) which defines the sequence of J-Q values at fracture determined by experiment from high constraint conditions (Q∼0) to low constraint conditions (Q<0). A micromechanics methodology is described which predicts the toughness locus using crack-tip stress fields and critical J-values from a few fracture toughness tests. A robust micromechanics model for cleavage fracture has evolved from the observations of a strong, spatial self-similarity of crack-tip principal stresses under increased loading and across different fracture specimens. We explore the fundamental concepts of the J-Q description of crack-tip fields, the fracture toughness locus and micromechanics approaches to predict the variability of macroscopic fracture toughness with constraint under elastic-plastic conditions. Computational results are presented for a surface cracked plate containing a 6:1 semielliptical, a=t/4 flaw subjected to remote uniaxial and biaxial tension. Crack-tip stress fields consistent with the J-Q theory are demonstrated to exist at each location along the crack front. The micromechanics model employs the J-Q description of crack-front stresses to interpret fracture toughness values measured on laboratory specimens for fracture assessment of the surface cracked plate.
Combatants and the Combat Zone

Following the attacks of 9/11, President George W. Bush declared that the United States was in a "global war on terrorism". His administration claimed the wartime privileges to kill without warning and detain without trial anyone suspected of association with terrorist organizations anywhere in the world. These claims were made in the face of contrary international law. Under international law, a war or armed conflict is characterized by organized armed groups engaged in intense, armed hostilities. To meet these criteria, such groups are associated with territory. In addition to the concept of armed conflict, the concept of conflict zone is important. Killing combatants or detaining them without trial may be permissible when done in a zone of actual armed hostilities. Outside such a zone, however, authorities must attempt to arrest a suspect and only target to kill those who pose an immediate lethal threat and refuse to surrender.
Soil Properties in 35 y old Pine and Hardwood Plantations after Conversion from Mixed Pine-hardwood Forest

Abstract Past management practices have changed much of the native mixed pine-hardwood forests on upland alluvial terraces of the western Gulf Coastal Plain to either pine monocultures or hardwood (angiosperm) stands. Changes in dominant tree species can alter soil chemical, biological, and physical properties and processes, thereby changing soil attributes, and ultimately, soil functions. Restoring these forests may be slow or difficult if soil function is altered appreciably. We studied the soil properties and processes in pine or hardwood-dominated stands after 35 y since conversion from a mixed pine-hardwood stand. The pine forest floor biomass was about twice as great as that of the oak stands, the oak soils were 20–30% wetter than the pine soils throughout the sampling period, the oak soils released more CO2 through respiration and had higher rates of N mineralization in the summer. We observed few differences between pine and oak stands in soil chemistry or microbial biomass. Since the difference i...
A Randomized, Controlled Clinical Trial of Exercise in Patients with Spinal Muscular Atrophy: Methods and Baseline Characteristics

Background Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) is a recessively-inherited neuromuscular disease characterized by weakness and muscle atrophy. Although anecdotal benefits from exercise have been noted, and despite promising pre-clinical and pilot reports, the effect of exercise has not been addressed in a controlled trial in SMA. Objective To assess the effects of exercise on measures of function, strength, and exercise capacity in ambulatory SMA patients. Methods/design An evaluator-blinded, randomized, controlled trial of aerobic and strengthening exercise in 14 ambulatory SMA patients aged 8-50 years. Patients will be randomized to either the exercise or control arm after the 1 month lead in period. During the first 6-months, the exercise group will receive the intervention while the other group serves as a control. After those 6 months, both groups will receive the intervention. The last 6-months of the study are designed to mimic real-world conditions where all participants are encouraged to continue on their own. Participants will be monitored throughout this 19 month study and will have in-person visits every three months. The primary outcome measure is the change in the total distance walked over 6-months on the six minute walk test (6MWT). Secondary outcome measures include maximal oxygen uptake (VO2 max), functional and strength assessments, pulmonary function, fatigue, and quality of life. Discussion The result of this prospective, single blinded, randomized and controlled clinical trial of exercise on an established functional outcome measure will have impact on clinical practice by providing important guidance to clinical management of SMA patients.
The Paradox of Nursing Terminal Patients in a Belgian General Hospital

This article presents an empirical analysis of how nurses deal with terminal and dying patients in two inpatient wards in a Belgian general hospital. The starting point for the analysis is the observation that nurses often feel dissatisfied with their terminal caregiving. These feelings are traced back to KUbler-Ross' psychodynamic conception of terminal care. Based on the everyday practice of nurses interacting with terminal patients, a broader definition of terminal care is suggested: Terminal care or care of dying patients includes specific physical, social, religious and psychological services, given to a terminal patient and the family or significant others, to obtain as high a level of comfort as possible. The implications of this definition are further examined for the problem of burnout and stress.
PROTEOLYTIC DIGESTION OF BOVINE BRAIN WHITE MATTER PROTEOLIPID

—Proteolipids were previously considered to be resistant to proteolytic digestion. In the present study, crude bovine white matter proteolipid, proteolipid apoprotein, and chemically modified proteolipids were subjected to the action of the following proteolytic enzymes in the absence and presence of detergents: trypsin, α-chymotrypsin, elastase, thermolysin and collagenase. The course of digestion was followed by the release of Fluorescamine-reactive groups. Tryptic digestion of the crude proteolipid and the apoprotein in the absence of detergent amounted to 10 and 40% respectively of the digestion in the presence of detergent. Peptide mapping and protein analyses of both the soluble digests and the insoluble residues confirmed digestion. In the presence of either sodium deoxycholate or Triton X-100, essentially all of the crude proteolipid and 60% of the proteolipid apoprotein were solubilized by trypsin. Digestion of the apoprotein was observed only in preparations which had not been dried. In the absence of detergent, (1) the oxidized crude proteolipid was more susceptible to tryptic digestion than were either the unoxidized or carboxymethylated preparations, (2) both the apoprotein and the oxidized proteolipid were digested by thermolysin or α-chymotrypsin, and (3) all preparations were attacked by elastase.
Gambling: An old school new wave challenge for higher education in the twenty-first century

Gambling is a part of human history, and it is currently enjoying unparalleled popularity around the world. This chapter gives a brief definition and history of gambling, information about the rate of participation by college students, and suggestions for practice and future research.
Z-disc Transcriptional Coupling, Sarcomeroptosis and Mechanopoptosis

Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Heart failure, which contributes significantly to the incidence and prevalence of cardiovascular-related diseases, can be the result of a myriad of diverse aetiologies including viral infections, coronary heart disease and genetic abnormalities—just to name a few. Interestingly, almost every type of heart failure is characterized by the loss of cardiac myocytes, either via necrosis, apoptosis or autophagy. While the former for a long time mainly has been characterized by passive loss of cells and only the latter two have been regarded as active processes, a new view is now emerging, whereby all three forms of cell death are regarded as different types of programmed cell death which can be induced via different stimuli and pathways, most of which are probably not well understood (Kung et al., Circulation Research 108(8):1017–1036, 2011). Here, we focus on the sarcomeric Z-disc, Z-disc transcriptional coupling and its role in pro-survival pathways as well as in striated muscle specific forms of cell death (sarcomeroptosis) and mechanically induced apoptosis or mechanoptosis.
Surface-enhanced Raman detection of nicotinamide in vitamin tablets

Abstract Nicotinamide is analyzed quantitatively in vitamin tablets using surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) on a silver-coated alumina substrate. Calibration curve of SERS signal intensity versus concentration of nicotinamide was established for quantitative analysis of this compound for detection at parts per million (ppm) level. SERS spectra of related compounds, nicotine, nicotinic acid, isonicotinic acid, and isonicotinamide were also recorded. Salient features of their spectra are compared and discussed.
Stability and aromaticity of the cyclopenta-fused pyrene congeners.

The aromaticity of all possible cyclopenta-fused pyrene congeners has been investigated at various levels of theory. On the basis of the calculated resonance energies and magnetic properties (delta(1)H data, magnetic susceptibility anisotropies, and NICS values), the overall aromaticity of these compounds is found to decrease gradually with increasing number of externally fused five-membered rings. The relatively small differences ( dicyclopenta[cd,jk]- > dicyclopenta[cd,mn]pyrene), which differs from the aromaticity order based on the magnetic criteria (dicyclopenta[cd,mn]- > dicyclopenta[cd,fg]- > dicyclopenta[cd,jk]pyrene), is shown by model calculations to be dominated by sigma-strain imposed on the pyrene skeleton by sequential cyclopenta-fusion. This is supported by the computed homodesmotic reaction energies and aromatic stabilization energy (ASE(isom)) from isodesmic aromatic-nonaromatic isomerization, and by the model calculations on "distorted" cyclopenta[cd]pyrenes. The elusive tetracyclopenta[cd,fg,jk,mn]pyrene is computed to be bowl-shaped; its corresponding planar geometry is the transition state for bowl-bowl interconversion.
Electroosmotic Flows in Microchannels with Finite Inertial and Pressure Forces

Emerging microfluidic systems have spurred an interest in the study of electrokinetic flow phenomena in complex geometries and a variety of flow conditions. This paper presents an analysis of the effects of fluid inertia and pressure on the velocity and vorticity field of electroosmotic flows. In typical on-chip electrokinetics applications, the flow field can be separated into an inner flow region dominated by viscous and electrostatic forces and an outer flow region dominated by inertial and pressure forces. These two regions are separated by a slip velocity condition determined by the Helmholtz-Smoulochowski equation. The validity of this assumption is investigated by analyzing the velocity field in a pressure-driven, two-dimensional flow channel with an impulsively started electric field. The regime for which the inner/outer flow model is valid is described in terms of nondimensional parameters derived from this example problem. Next, the inertial forces, surface conditions, and pressure-gradient conditions for a full-field similarity between the electric and velocity fields in electroosmotic flows are discussed. A sufficient set of conditions for this similarity to hold in arbitrarily shaped, insulating wall microchannels is the following: uniform surface charge, low Reynolds number, low Reynolds and Strouhal number product, uniform fluid properties, and zero pressure differences between inlets and outlets. Last, simple relations describing the generation of vorticity in electroosmotic flow are derived using a wall-local, streamline coordinate system.
Chamorro evidence for compositional asymmetry

In earlier work, we developed an composition in which predicates can be composed with arguments by operations other than Function Application, and it makes a difference which composition operation is employed. Here we take our approach further by examining two nonsaturating operations that combine property contents: Restrict, which composes a predicate with the property content of an indefinite; and Modify, which is involved in predicate modification. Nonsaturating operations that combine property contents are often formalized in terms of predicate intersection, which is commutative. Using Austronesian language Chamorro, we argue that Restrict and Modify are not ‘commutative’, but instead incorporate an asymmetry: they take one content to supply a domain that is narrowed further by combination with the other content. Syntactically, it is transparent which category’s content supplies the domain. But semantically, this information can be recovered only from the way in which the composition operation affects the contents that it composes, since—as we show—the same contents can be composed with distinct results.
Erratum to: An integrated disposable device for DNA extraction and helicase dependent amplification.

In the original manuscript, we reported the demonstration of an integrated microfluidic chip that performed helicase dependent amplification (HDA) on samples containing live bacteria. Bacterial lysis, nucleic acid extraction, and DNA amplification with a fluorescent reporter were incorporated into a disposable polymer cartridge format. We reported that the device was able to detect as few as 10 colony-forming units (CFU) of E. coli in growth medium. While the main conclusions of the original paper remain sound, the data presented in support of those conclusions contained errors that we detail, discuss and correct here. In short, we misidentified a non-specific product as a specific product of our HDA reaction. We incorrectly called reactions containing the non-specific product (length 70 bp) positive. Further investigation demonstrated that our primer set was faulty and not capable of amplifying the specific product. Here we redesigned primers, sequenced all of the products and reran all of the experiments reported previously to generate a new, verified dataset.
Lipids of the Rauscher mouse leukemia virus.

Abstract Lipids were analyzed from the Rauscher mouse leukemia virus, obtained either from plasma of viremic mice or from virus-infected cells in tissue culture. In both viruses the lipids consisted of 75–80% phospholipids, and the distributions of the various phospholipids were similar. Phosphatidyl choline (lecithin) was in both viruses the main component (68% and 64%) of the phospholipids. The fatty acid compositions of the lipid extracts, however, were different: the virus from plasma contained more polyunsaturated fatty acids, and the virus from tissue culture more shorter chain saturated fatty acids. The lipid from the Moloney mouse leukemia virus obtained from plasma, was similar but not identical in fatty acid composition to the Rauscher plasma virus. Also were compared the fatty acid compositions of phospholipid extracts from two types of tissue-cultured mouse cells: one uninfected with the Rauscher virus, the second similar but infected and producing the tissue culture virus. The fatty acid spectra were alike. Linolenic acid (C 18 , 3 double bonds) was present in considerable amount (about 11%) only in the purified Rauscher tissue culture virus, but not in the Rauscher or Moloney plasma virus or in the uninfected or infected cells. Generally, both the Rauscher and the Moloney plasma viruses contain relatively more fatty acids of shorter chain length, while the tissue culture virus of Rauscher and the cells used to produce this virus contain more polyunsaturated fatty acids.
A note on random fields forming conditional bases

We study properties of random fields that form conditional bases and their applications in spatial statistics.
A fast ergodic algorithm for generating ensembles of equilateral random polygons

Knotted structures are commonly found in circular DNA and along the backbone of certain proteins. In order to properly estimate properties of these three-dimensional structures it is often necessary to generate large ensembles of simulated closed chains (i.e. polygons) of equal edge lengths (such polygons are called equilateral random polygons). However finding efficient algorithms that properly sample the space of equilateral random polygons is a difficult problem. Currently there are no proven algorithms that generate equilateral random polygons with its theoretical distribution. In this paper we propose a method that generates equilateral random polygons in a 'step-wise uniform' way. We prove that this method is ergodic in the sense that any given equilateral random polygon can be generated by this method and we show that the time needed to generate an equilateral random polygon of length n is linear in terms of n. These two properties make this algorithm a big improvement over the existing generating methods. Detailed numerical comparisons of our algorithm with other widely used algorithms are provided.
Gas phase analysis of TiCl4 plasma processes by molecular beam mass spectrometry

Abstract Molecular beam mass spectrometry (MBMS) has been used to analyze the gas phase of Ar, Ar+TiCl 4 and Ar+TiCl 4 +NH 3 and CH 4 plasmas. The gas phase composition was analyzed as a function of pressure and plasma power. The results show that an increase in plasma power increases the concentration of dissociated and ionized species in the plasma phase. Higher plasma power increased the intensity of ions from TiCl 4 and Ar up until 100 W and then ion intensity starts to level off with increasing r.f. power. The Ar ion intensity increases with total reactor pressure up to 66.6 Pa and then ion intensity was found to decrease with pressure. In the case of the reaction of TiCl 4 and NH 3 , a single peak in the mass spectrum at m / e =80 is observed, possibly corresponding to Ti(NH 2 ) 2 + .
American Rings and English Mules: The Role of Economic Rationality

Introduction, 25. — Observed investment behavior, 27. — The relative advantages of rings or mules in the United States and Great Britain, 29. — The role of cotton prices, 34. — Relative factor costs as a function of counts spun, 39. — Costs and benefits, 42.
Modulation transfer function of infrared focal plane arrays

The modulation transfer function (MTF) of an imaging system quantifies the ability of the system to resolve or transfer spatial frequencies.It is important to remember that the MTF of a system is a property of the entire system, therefore, all of the system components such as the FPA, lens assembly, cabling, frame-grabber, cooler, A/D converter, etc. contribute to the final MTF performance of the system. A megapixel mid-wave and long-wave IR quantum well infrared photodetector (QWIP) focal plane arrays (FPAs) and a 320x256 pixel antimonides superlattice based Complementary Barrier IR Detector (CBIRD) FPA were fabricated. The MTF of the respective devices were measured and reported.
Microbiome analysis of a microalgal mass culture growing in municipal wastewater in a prototype OMEGA photobioreactor.

Large-scale cultivation of microalgae for biofuels may avoid competing for agriculture, water, and fertilizer by using wastewater and avoid competing for land by using the Offshore Membrane Enclosures for Growing Algae (OMEGA) system. Some microalgae thrive in wastewater; however, wastewater also contains a complex mixture of organisms. An algae culture in wastewater from a San Francisco Treatment Facility in a 1600-L OMEGA culture system was monitored by standard methods. Prima facie evidence of a chytrid infection prompted a detailed investigation of the microbiome over a 13-day period using second generation sequencing of hypervariable regions of the small subunit rRNA genes. The observed bacteria, initially dominated by γ-proteobacteria, shifted to Cytophagia, Flavobacteriia, and Sphingobacteriia after addition of exogenous nutrients. The dominant algae genera introduced with the inoculum, Desmodesmus and Scenedesmus, remained over 70% of the sequence reads on day 13, although the optical density and fluorescence of the culture declined. Nonalgal eukarya, initially dominated by unclassified alveolates, chrysophytes, and heliozoan grazers, shifted to chytrid fungi on day 5 and continued to day 13. The results of this microbiome analysis can facilitate the development of probe or primer based surveillance systems for routine monitoring of large-scale microalgae cultures.
Simultaneous triggered VLF emissions and energetic electron distributions observed on POLAR with PWI and HYDRA

We report simultaneous observations of energetic 1-20 keV electrons and VLF emissions triggered within the plasmasphere by pulses from ground based VLF transmitters, using the PWI and HYDRA instruments on the POLAR spacecraft. The 1-20 keV electrons have the correct energy to interact with the input pulses through gyoresonance. Emissions are generated by the pulses only when the particle flux is enhanced well above background and the particle pitch angle distribution is very highly anisotropic, with the average equatorial pitch angle exceeding ∼ 75°. Because of these high pitch angles, the particles are trapped typically within 7° of the magnetic equator. Only pulses which propagate within whistler mode ducts are observed to trigger emissions. The observed pitch angle anisoptropies are much larger than those assumed in present models of the VLF emission triggering phenomenon, and thus our observations provide a new starting point for understanding the emission process.
Novel motifs for magnetic exchange interactions as exemplified in one dimensional magnets based on the FeCl3-α-di-imine system: Nuclear gamma resonance evidence of slow paramagnetic relaxation and 3D-ordering

The extremes of single ion slow paramagnetic relaxation and cooperative 3D-antiferromagnetic order are exemplified in a series of structurally characterized complexes based on the anhydrous FeCl3-α-di-imine system. “Soft” Cl−Cl contacts, C−C (π-π) and hydrogen bonding interactions are found to lead to surprisingly strong magnetic exchange among five and six coordinate high-spin iron III monomers. The latter form the building blocks of novel “double chain” polymer magnets held together via the preceding “weak” interactions.
Simultaneous bilateral quadriceps tendon rupture in renal patients.

Aims Simultaneous bilateral quadriceps tendon rupture occurs in patients with renal disease. It has been hypothesized that the length of renal disease and the length of dialysis may correlate with the development of tendon ruptures. This study aims to characterize the factors involved in patients with renal disease and simultaneous bilateral quadriceps tendon rupture. Methods All reported cases of simultaneous bilateral quadriceps tendon rupture were identified using MEDLINE. Each case was reviewed for information regarding this injury. Results Of the 65 cases reviewed, 24 cases involved patients with renal disease. Males were more often affected than females, almost a 2 : 1 ratio. The mean age of injury was 36 years. Most patients (63%) had signs of secondary hyperparathyroidism. The average length of renal disease was 13 years while the average length on dialysis was 6.5 years. Age, gender, mechanism of injury, time before diagnosis, location of rupture, method of repair, presence of hyperparathyroidism, length of renal disease or length on dialysis were not related to functional outcome. However, length on dialysis was related to mechanism of injury. Conclusions Most patients with renal disease and simultaneous bilateral quadriceps tendon rupture have good functional recovery. Duration of dialysis is related to spontaneous tendon rupture and should be considered a complication of chronic renal failure.
Daily l-Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol and pressing for hypothalamic stimulation

Rats were fixed with chronically indwelling bipolar electrodes. After recovery from surgery they were trained to leverpress for intracranial stimulation (ICS). They pressed twice a day for three intensities of ICS for 5 min at each intensity. On each day for 10 days prior to tests with ICS, one group of rats was given THC (10 mg/kg, orally) and the other a placebo. The THC led to reduced pressing with initial doses but not with the later doses. Rats with electrode tips in the lateral hypothalamus near the entopeduncular nucleus of the internal capsule showed accelerated pressing toward the end of the 10 days of testing under THC.
On the global distribution, seasonality, and budget of atmospheric carbonyl sulfide (COS) and some similarities to CO2

[1] Measurements of carbonyl sulfide (COS) from a global air-monitoring network over multiple years suggest that atmospheric mixing ratios of COS are strongly influenced by terrestrial vegetation in the Northern Hemisphere (NH) and by the oceans in the Southern Hemisphere (SH). The annual mean NH mixing ratio estimated from results at seven surface sites during 2000.2–2005.2 was 476 ± 4 ppt, or slightly less than the mean of 491 ± 2 ppt derived from results at three surface sites in the SH. The lowest annual mean mixing ratios were measured at low-altitude continental sites in the midlatitude and high-latitude NH. Mixing ratios undergo substantial seasonal variations at nearly all sites across the globe; the largest seasonal variations are observed at the NH sites having the lowest annual means. There is little coherence in the seasonality in the NH and SH, suggesting that the COS seasonality is driven by different processes in each hemisphere. These seasonal changes cause the NH/SH ratio, as estimated from the available surface data, to vary regularly from 0.91 ± 0.01 to 1.04 ± 0.02 across a year; the annual mean NH/SH ratio was 0.97 ± 0.01. Results from over 160 aircraft profiles regularly collected at eight sites over the continental United States throughout an entire year reveal substantial vertical gradients for COS mixing ratios that vary with season. While similar mixing ratios are observed throughout the NH troposphere during January–April (up to 8 km above sea level (asl)), during the growing season substantially reduced mixing ratios are observed in the boundary layer above the continental United States (defined here as <2 km asl). The surface and aircraft results for COS show strong similarities to atmospheric CO2, though both the amplitude of seasonal variations measured at Earth's surface and the observed vertical gradients during the growing season are 5–6 times larger for COS than for CO2 on a relative basis. A qualitative analysis of the results in light of known sources and sinks suggests (1) that terrestrial uptake, most likely due to photosynthetically active vegetation, dominates the seasonality observed throughout the Northern Hemisphere at a rate that is about 5 times greater than estimates based upon scaling net primary production by mean, ambient air mixing ratios of COS to CO2, (2) the oceans dominate the seasonality observed in the Southern Hemisphere, and (3) biomass burning has a small influence on the seasonality observed for COS in the extratropics of both hemispheres.
Energetic electron components at geosynchronous orbit

Energy distribution functions have been derived from energetic (30-2000 keV) electron fluxes observed simultaneously by three geosynchronous orbit satellites throughout the year 1986. These distributions, as well as others derived from empirical models of outer magnetospheric electron fluxes, can be resolved into two distinct relativistic Maxwellian components which are each fully parameterized by a density and a temperature. A four-parameter characterization is presented which provides a new, simplified procedure for the interpretation of energetic electron data in the outer magnetosphere.
Changing Rural Development Data Needs

We have long paid too little attention to the nonagricultural dimensions of rural society, allocating few research resources and paying inadequate mind to the policy needs of rural society. Farmers and their families now constitute only 13% of the rural population (U.S. Dep. of Commerce). The migration of millions from farming has come to an end, leaving a very different rural society behind--one in which farmers are a minority, and agriculture provides employment for only 10% of the rural work force (Deavers and Brown). Rural America is now in a rapid transition toward a new and very different society. The tide of migration has turned back toward rural areas, where population is now growing more rapidly than in the cities (Beale, Beale and Fuguitt, Morrison and Wheeler). Rural communities have become so heterogenous in social and economic character that, not only can most no longer be described as just farming communities, but it is often difficult to describe them accurately at all from the current data base. Of the approximately 39,000 local units of government in the United States today, more than half have populations of 1,000 or less, 70% have less than 2,500 (U.S. Dep. of Commerce). These communities have limited capacity to develop their own data bases. Census of population and housing data on the social and economic conditions of rural people and their communities, while generally the best we have, are available only once every decade and for these smaller communities are neither very comprehensive nor reliable. Because the nature of rural society is changing rapidly and the rural population now appears to be the fastest growing sector of the U.S. population, the lack of ability to undertand that change and to provide coherent policy direction can have costly consequences. Rural America is not just a residual left behind by the urbanization and industrialization of the United States. It is more than a fourth of all Americans, and it is a diverse and growing sector of the economy whose problems are an important part of the decentralization of national economic activity and population now taking place. Effective public and private policy requires an appropriate rural data base. But there is no consensus on what constitutes such a data base.
Integration of workers' compensation and health insurance prescription drug programs: How does it work and do employees use it?

Background In 1998, New York State designed and developed an integrated workers' compensation (WC)/health plan prescription drug program, ONECARD Rx, in response to cost inefficiencies within the then current system and in an attempt to improve the quality of care provided to WC claimants. This paper describes the benefit's design and development process and factors related to its use. Methods Users and non-users of the program were surveyed through a mailed questionnaire with appropriate telephone follow-up. Results Eight steps were followed in the development of the benefit. Results obtained from the assessment of ONECARD Rx suggest that factors affecting use mainly relate to the knowledge of both, employees and pharmacists, of the program. The two main differences detected between users and non-users included the state agency the employee works for and the site of residence. Conclusions Innovative strategies that couple private and public agencies should aim at reducing the costs and eliminating inefficiencies while improving the quality of care, of which satisfaction is an important component. Am. J. Ind. Med. 45:103–112, 2004. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Promoting Healthy Lifestyles: Prescriptions for Physical Educators

Abstract Attitude influences behavior, and few people are better situated than physical educators to encourage positive attitudes toward lifelong wellness.
Nonbiological Removal of cis-Dichloroethylene and 1,1-Dichloroethylene in Aquifer Sediment Containing Magnetite

The U.S. EPA Technical Protocol for Evaluating Natural Attenuation of Chlorinated Solvents in Groundwater emphasizes biological reductive dechlorination as the primary mechanism for destruction of ...
Promotion versus suppression of rat colon carcinogenesis by chlorophyllin and chlorophyll: Modulation of apoptosis, cell proliferation, and β-catenin/Tcf signaling

The carcinogens 2-amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline (IQ) and 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH) induce colon tumors in the rat that contain mutations in beta-catenin, but the mutation pattern can be influenced by exposure to dietary phytochemicals, such as the water-soluble derivative of chlorophyll called chlorophyllin. Whereas chlorophyllin is an effective blocking agent during the initiation phase, post-initiation responses depend upon the exposure protocol, and can be influenced by the initiating agent and the concentration of chlorophyllin. Post-initiation treatment with 0.001% chlorophyllin (w/v) in the drinking water promoted colon carcinogenesis in the rat, but much higher concentrations (1.0% chlorophyllin) led to suppression. Bromodeoxyuridine and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated nick end labeling (TUNEL) indices revealed that the promotional concentration of 0.001% chlorophyllin increased the ratio of cell proliferation to apoptosis in the colonic crypts, whereas concentrations in the range 0.0l-1.0% chlorophyllin modestly reduced this ratio. Molecular studies showed that the spectrum of beta-catenin mutations was markedly different in chlorophyllin-promoted colon tumors--many of the mutations led to direct substitutions of critical Ser/Thr residues within the glycogen synthase kinase-3beta (GSK-3beta) region, whereas in all other groups, including DMH and IQ controls, the mutations typically affected amino acids adjacent to Ser(33). Substitution of critical Ser/Thr residues caused beta-catenin and c-Jun proteins to be markedly over-expressed compared with tumors in which the mutations substituted amino acid residues flanking these critical Ser/Thr sites. In a separate study, rats were exposed to IQ or azoxymethane (AOM), a metabolite of DMH, and they were treated post-initiation with chlorophyllin, chlorophyll, copper, or phytol in the diet. Natural chlorophyll (0.08%) suppressed AOM- and IQ-induced aberrant crypt foci (ACF), whereas chlorophyllin had no effect and copper promoted the number of small ACF induced by IQ. The results suggest that further investigation of the dose-response for suppression versus promotion by chlorophyll and chlorophyllin is warranted, including studies of the beta-catenin/Tcf signaling pathway and its influence on cell proliferation and apoptosis in the colonic crypt.
Precision muon lifetime and capture experiments at PSI

The μLan experiment at the Paul Scherrer Institute will measure the lifetime of the positive muon with a precision of 1 ppm, giving a value for the Fermi coupling constant GF at the level of 0.5 ppm. Meanwhile, by measuring the observed lifetime of the negative muon in pure hydrogen, the μCap experiment will determine the rate of muon capture, giving the proton's pseudoscalar coupling gp to 7%. This coupling can be calculated precisely from heavy baryon chiral perturbation theory and therefore permits a test of QCD's chiral symmetry.
Comprehensive Detection of Disorders of Purine and Pyrimidine Metabolism by HPLC with Electrospray Ionization Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Background: Clinical presentation and disease severity in disorders of purine and pyrimidine metabolism vary considerably. We present a method that allows comprehensive, sensitive, and specific diagnosis of the entire spectrum of abnormalities in purine and pyrimidine metabolism in 1 analytical run. Methods: We used reversed-phase HPLC electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry to investigate 24 metabolites of purine and pyrimidine metabolism in urine samples from healthy persons and from patients with confirmed diagnoses of inherited metabolic disorders. Urine samples were filtered and diluted to a creatinine concentration of 0.5 mmol/L. Stable-isotope–labeled internal standards were used for quantification. The metabolites were analyzed by multiple-reaction monitoring in positive and negative ionization modes. Results: Total time of analysis was 20 min. Recovery (n = 8) of a compound after addition of a known concentration was 85%–133%. The mean intraday variation (n = 10) was 12%. The interday variation (n = 7) was ≤17%. Age-related reference intervals were established for each compound. Analysis of patient urine samples revealed major differences in tandem mass spectrometry profiles compared with those of control samples. Twelve deficiencies were reliably detected: hypoxanthine guanine phosphoribosyl transferase, xanthine dehydrogenase, purine nucleoside phosphorylase, adenylosuccinate lyase, uridine monophosphate synthase, adenosine deaminase, adenine phosphoribosyl transferase, molybdenum cofactor, thymidine phosphorylase, dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase, dihydropyrimidinase, and β-ureidopropionase. Conclusion: This method enables reliable detection of 13 defects in purine and pyrimidine metabolism in a single analytical run.
Computational Modeling of Glycolipid-Glycoprotein Complexes: Methods and Applications

The human innate immune response to a Gram-negative bacterial infection involves detection of lipopolysaccharides (LPS), also known as endotoxins, which comprise the bacterial outer cell wall. Distinct from mammalian glycolipid structures, LPS have a conserved chemical pattern that is recognized by the pattern recognition receptor complex formed by myeloid differentiation protein 2 (MD-2) and toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4). While there is a clear correlation between endotoxin acylation and elicited agonist or antagonist responses, the 3D structural basis of this relationship remains unclear and difficult to characterize experimentally. In order to explore, at atomic-resolution, the effects of a range of chemically distinct endotoxins on the structure and dynamics of their MD-2·endotoxin complexes, a series of variably acylated lipid A molecules from E. coli and N. meningitidis in complex with human MD-2 were examined. This included the development and validation of appropriate molecular dynamics force fields to study complex (lipid, carbohydrate and protein) systems. Through these computational developments, in concert with experimental data, specific structural and dynamic features that control dimerization of TLR4 molecules were identified. As dimerization is central to the release of downstream chemical mediators, the results provide a structural foundation for the ability of endotoxins to act as either agonists or antagonists of the TLR4 pathway. Additionally, methods for biologically-relevant characterization of dynamic glycolipid-glycoprotein systems will be discussed.
Damage inspection and vulnerability analysis of existing buildings with steel moment-resisting frames

The Northridge earthquake caused a number of steel moment-resisting frame (SMRF) buildings to suffer brittle fractures in their beam-to-column welded connections, which raised the concern that similar (undetected) damage may have occurred in other SMRF buildings during past earthquakes in the region. Several issues may arise in decisions to rehabilitate or upgrade older buildings. One is the extent of building to inspect for possible weld fractures. A second is whether fractured connections identified in inspection should be repaired before permitting long-term occupancy. A third is the connection repair cost. This paper proposes an efficient method for selecting connections to be inspected in an existing SMRF for purposes of condition and seismic fragility assessment. The efficiency of this selection method is illustrated by modeling the partial inspection process of two steel frame buildings. Finally, a vulnerability analysis of these buildings is performed as a basis for evaluating repair costs.
Mitochondrial DNA variation in human populations and implications for detection of mitochondrial DNA mutations of pathological significance

Haplotype and phylogenetic analyses of “normal” mitochondrial DNAs (mtDNAs) have allowed a clarification of several controversial issues concerning the origin of humans, the time and colonization pattern of the various regions of the world, and the genetic relationships of modern human populations. More recently, the same type of analyses has also been applied to mtDNA disease studies. A review of these studies indicates that exhaustive screenings of “normal” mtDNA variation in all human populations associated with haplotype and phylogenetic analyses are essential if we are to understand the etiology of mitochondrial pathologies.
Do psychosocial factors define symptom severity and patient status in irritable bowel syndrome

Abstract Psychological difficulties in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are strongly related to symptom severity and patient status. This has important implications for clinical practice, and the design and conduct of clinical trials. Psychosocial factors (personality, psychiatric diagnosis illness behavior, life stress, psychological distress) distinguish patients with IBS from patients with no IBS. Psychosocial difficulties (e.g., history of physical or sexual abuse, maladaptive coping, or "catastrophizing") predict poorer health outcome (greater pain scores, psychologic distress and poorer daily function, more days spent in bed, and more frequent physician visits and surgeries). When using the standardized Functional Bowel Disorder Severity Index, patients classified as severe are distinguished from moderates by several psychosocial difficulties and health-care use variables. In addition, whereas patients with severe illness report more pain, there is no difference from patients with moderate illness in terms of visceral sensation threshold. Given these data, it is important to consider psychosocial factors as predictive of symptom severity and clinical outcome, and this should be considered in clinical care and the design of clinical trials.
Global and specific attitudes toward the police: Disentangling the relationship

Since the 1960s, a substantial body of research has focused on citizens' attitudes toward the police. These studies tap a rather wide variety of outlooks: some ask about specific assessments of the police (e.g., satisfaction with the police in particular incidents), while others ask about more global assessments (e.g., satisfaction with the police in general, police in the community, or police in the neighborhood). Using data obtained through a panel survey of 398 residents of a large midwestern city, we compare specific assessments of police performance with more global attitudes toward the police. We also examine the effects of global and specific attitudes on one another. The results show that the two measures produce similar levels of support for the police. The results reveal further that global attitudes have substantial effects on specific assessments of police performance, and that the effects of specific assessments of police performance on global attitudes are modest by comparison.
Age-related differences in the chronic and acute response to cocaine in the rat.

Behavioral sensitization is known to occur in adult animals after the chronic intermittent administration of cocaine. Dopaminergic pathways in the brain, such as the nigrostriatal and mesoaccumbens projections play a vital role in this phenomenon. These pathways are rudimentary in the 1st week of life, indicating that the developing animal may be unable to respond to cocaine in the same manner as an adult. In the present study, we report that the acute response to cocaine is remarkably similar between week-old and adult rats. Pups do not, however, show locomotor sensitization to acute cocaine after chronic cocaine administration as adults. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
A manual soil coring system for soil‐root studies

Abstract Factors such as small plot size, restricted access, and remote sites can often limit adequate sampling of belowground components in field research. Thus, the objective of this study was to design and construct a simple, inexpensive, portable soil coring system for rapid deployment under field conditions which eliminated some or all of the above mentioned limitations. Components of the system included a manual driver of adjustable weight, a manual core extractor, and steel core tubes with clear plastic (butyrate) liners which encase the soil core for retrieval and transport. This system proved to be reliable and efficient in repeated field trials, causing minimal plot disturbance. The use of Styrofoam plugs to separate multiple core samples within the plastic liner drastically reduced the time spent on handling individual samples. Continuous soil cores measuring up to 1 m long can also be collected with this system. The use of plastic liners also greatly facilitated the transport and storage of sa...
Graft-versus-host disease prevention by methotrexate combined with cyclosporin compared to methotrexate alone in patients given marrow grafts for severe aplastic anaemia: long-term follow-up of a controlled trial.

Summary Forty-six patients with aplastic anaemia (median age 23 years) were given cyclophosphamide followed by infusion of marrow from an HLA-identical family member. To evaluate postgrafting prophylaxis for graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), the patients were entered into a randomized prospective trial comparing a combination of methotrexate and cyclosporin (n= 22) to methotrexate alone (n= 24). Methotrexate/cyclosporin significantly reduced the incidence and severity of acute GVHD and improved early survival. This report updates the results of the randomized trial with follow-up ranging from 3 to more than 6 years. The methotrexate/cyclosporin regimen did not interfere with sustained engraftment, and there were no significant differences in the incidence of early or late graft rejection among the two treatment groups (10%v 4%). The incidence of chronic GVHD was higher among methotrexate/cyclosporin-treated patients (58%v 36%; P=0·18). Two patients in each treatment group still require treatment for chronic GVHD, while treatment is no longer needed in the other patients. Projected 4-year survival is 73% in patients given methotrexate/cyclosporin compared to 58% in patients given methotrexate alone (P=0·16). Having achieved a reduction in the incidence of acute GVHD and associated early mortality without impairing engraftment, it is clear that future progress in marrow grafting for aplastic anaemia must come in the area of chronic GVHD.