cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Where are the Young Men in HIV Prevention Efforts? Comments on HIV Prevention Programs and Research from Young Men Who Sex with Men in Los Angeles County

Despite increasing rates of HIV infection among young men who have sex with men (YMSM), only a minority participate in formal HIV prevention efforts. Semi-structured mixed-methods interviews were conducted with a diverse sample of YMSM (N = 100, M age = 25.0 years) in Los Angeles, California, to identify facilitators and barriers to participation in HIV prevention programs. Summative content analyses were used to evaluate transcribed field notes from these interviews. Results showed that 28.0 % of all participants had previously attended an HIV prevention program, and that 21.3 % of those who were also asked if they had ever participated in any research pertaining to HIV prevention had done so. A significantly higher percentage of those who had participated in HIV prevention programs had been tested for HIV in the past 6 months compared to those who had not (p < .05). The most frequently mentioned barriers to participation in such a program were being too busy to attend (12.0 %), not perceiving themselves to be at risk for HIV infection (14.0 %), and believing that they already knew everything they needed to know about HIV transmission (23.0 %). YMSM suggested that future interventions should use technology (e.g., the Internet, mobile devices), engage their social networks, and highlight HIV prevention as a means for community connection. Collectively, these results provide some explanations for why YMSM account for a minority of HIV prevention program participants and offer possible directions for future HIV prevention efforts that target YMSM.
Conceptualizing continuous improvement: Implications for organizational change

This paper attempts to bridge the gap in the change conceptions of two different genres of literature. It brings together the literature on continuous improvement in the manufacturing field and the literature on organization change in the fields of strategic change and organization development. In the latter literature, studies describe both dramatic and discontinuous changes and disjointed but logical incremental changes. These changes are considered the territory of the top management. The continuous improvement concepts emphasize incremental changes that are continuous, concerted, and accumulative. In this case, workers are considered to play a key role in making changes. The two genres of literature are brought together to formulate a more comprehensive framework of organizational change, in which continuous incremental changes and dramatic and discontinuous changes can coexist and interrelate for more effective change processes in organizations. An example of the implementation of statistical process control illustrates this point.
Determination of lipophilicity and its use as a predictor of blood–brain barrier penetration of molecular imaging agents

Abstract Compound lipophilicity is a fundamental physicochemical property that plays a pivotal role in the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination (ADME) of therapeutic drugs. Lipophilicity is expressed in several different ways, including terms such as Log P, clogP, delta Log P, and Log D. Often a parabolic relationship exists between measured lipophilicity and in vivo brain penetration of drugs, where those moderate in lipophilicity often exhibit highest uptake. Reduced brain extraction of more lipophilic compounds is associated with increased non-specific binding to plasma proteins. More lipophilic compounds can also be more vulnerable to P450 metabolism, leading to faster clearance. Very polar compounds normally exhibit high water solubility, fast clearance through the kidneys, and often contain ionizable functional groups that limit blood–brain barrier (BBB) penetration. The brain penetration and specific to non-specific binding ratios exhibited in vivo by positron emission tomography (PET) and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) radiotracers involves a complex interplay between many critical factors, including lipophilicity, receptor affinity, metabolism, molecular size and shape, ionization potential, and specific binding to BBB efflux pumps or binding sites on albumin or other plasma proteins. This paper explores situations in which lipophilicity is a good predictor of BBB penetration, as well as those where this correlation is poor. The more commonly used methods for measuring lipophilicity are presented, and the various terms often found in the literature outlined. An attempt is made to describe how this information can be used in optimizing the development of PET and SPECT tracers that target the central nervous system (CNS).
Hospitals and Civil Rights, 1945-1963: The Case of Simkins v Moses H. Cone Memorial Hospital

In the 1960s, the legacy of discrimination against black persons still existed in all areas of medicine. This historical analysis investigates the strategies that were used by lawyers alongside physicians, dentists, and patients in elevating health care for black persons. Primary resources include oral histories, government documents, hospital records, archival and personal manuscripts, and professional and hospital periodicals. After World War II, leaders in the black community were determined to improve health care for black persons by ending discrimination in hospital policies and practices. Leaders of professional organizations developed a collaborative strategy that involved the court system, federal legislation, and research and education of the public and health professionals to integrate the hospital system rather than to expand the existing separate-but-equal system. Efforts culminated in the case of Simkins v Moses H. Cone Memorial Hospital; this case became the landmark decision by the U.S. Supreme Court and led to the elimination of segregated health care. Three months after the case, President Johnson ratified the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which included Title VI, thus extending the policy of equality to all federal programs. Laying a foundation for universal access to health care in the United States depended on a victory in the courts, in national health legislation, and in public opinion. All were achieved through strategic efforts to amass widespread support for the elimination of discrimination in medicine.
Global query optimization

In some recently proposed extensions to relational database systems as well as in deductive databases, a database system is presented with a collection of queries to process instead of just one. It is an interesting problem then, to come up with algorithms that process these queries together instead of one query at a time. We examine the problem of multiple (global) query optimization in this paper. A hierarchy of algorithms that can be used for global query optimization is exhibited and analyzed. These algorithms range from an arbitrary serial execution without any sharing of common results among the queries to an exhaustive search of all possible ways to process all queries.
Vegetable intake is associated with reduced breast cancer recurrence in tamoxifen users: a secondary analysis from the Women's Healthy Eating and Living Study.

The protective effect of vegetables on the risk of breast cancer recurrence is uncertain. We sought to evaluate the association between breast cancer recurrence and vegetable intake including analyses stratified on tamoxifen use. Experimental evidence of anti-carcinogenic activity of phytochemicals in cruciferous vegetables in combination with tamoxifen led to specific evaluation of this class of vegetables as well. To assess the association between vegetable intake and breast cancer recurrence, vegetable intake from repeat 24-h dietary recalls were examined as a secondary analysis of 3,080 breast cancer survivors enrolled in the Women’s Healthy Eating and Living (WHEL) Study. At the time of enrollment women were, on average, 23.5 months post-diagnosis. The hazard of recurrence, controlling for relevant and significant clinical and demographic variables, with vegetable intake was assessed overall and separately for women taking tamoxifen. WHEL participants reported mean baseline intakes ( $${\bar{\text {x}}}$$ , SE) of 3.1 ± 0.05 and 0.5 ± 0.02 servings/day of total and cruciferous vegetables, respectively. Baseline vegetable intake in the highest as compared to lowest tertiles was associated with an overall lower adjusted hazard ratios (HR) for recurrence of 0.69, 95% CI 0.55–0.87. Among women taking tamoxifen, the HRs were 0.56, 95% CI 0.41–0.77 for total vegetables and 0.65, 95% CI 0.47–0.89 for cruciferous vegetable intake. The hazard in women using tamoxifen who reported cruciferous vegetable intake above the median and who were within the highest tertile of total vegetable intake was HR 0.48; 95% CI 0.32–0.70. This secondary analysis in over 3,000 breast cancer survivors suggests that baseline vegetable intake may be associated with a reduction in the risk of breast cancer recurrent or new events particularly for those using tamoxifen. Such associations should be explored further as the possibility that vegetable intake is simply a surrogate for other health-promoting behaviors cannot be ruled out.
B-lymphocyte and plasma cell clonal expansion in monosymptomatic optic neuritis cerebrospinal fluid

The CD19+ B-lymphocyte and CD138+ plasma cell repertoires in cerebrospinal fluid from four patients with monosymptomatic optic neuritis (ON) were analyzed by single-cell reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. Amplified heavy (H)- and light (L)-chain antibody segments were sequenced and used to identify the rearranged germline and J segment of closest homology. Both the B-cell and plasma cell repertoires from ON cerebrospinal fluid demonstrated significant clonal expansion. Up to 75% of the amplified H- and L-chain sequences were contained in overrepresented populations and were somatically mutated, consistent with an antigen-targeted response. The relationship between clonal populations within the CD19+ B lymphocyte and CD138+ plasma cell populations suggests ongoing mutational pressure to refine antigen binding. Our observations demonstrate that an antigen-driven clonal B-lymphocyte and plasma cell response is prominent in the initial stages of central nervous system demyelination and suggest that detection of the disease-relevant antigens in ON may bear on the inciting antigens in chronic inflammatory disorders such as multiple sclerosis.
A study of the kinetics of aconitase inhibition and activation.

Abstract 1. 1. The inhibition of aconitase activity by chelating agents has been studied over a wide range of substrate concentrations. The chelating agents, o-phenanthroline, pyrophosphate, 8-hydroxyquinoline, and α,α′-dipyridyl inhibit aconitase activity, whereas EDTA has a slight activating effect. Excess substrate will not reverse the inhibition. 2. 2. Activation experiments indicate that ferrous ions and substrate may combine independently with the enzyme. 3. 3. Aconitase can utilize a ferrous-aconitate chelate as substrate and shows greater activity in the presence of this chelate than in the presence of substrate alone. A ferrous-isocitrate chelate can also be utilized but the enzyme has an equal or higher affinity for free isocitrate than the isocitrate-iron chelate.
5-(3-pyridyl)tetrazole, a potent and long-acting lipolysis inhibitor.

Es wird gezeigt, dass 5-(3-Pyridyl)-Tetrazol und Nikotinsaure die Menge der unveresterten Fettsauren (UFS) bei fastenden Hunden erniedrigen. Die Tetrazolanalogverbindung der Nikotinsaure hat eine langere Wirkungsdauer als Nikotinsaure, obwohl ihre antilipolytische Wirksamkeit in vitro viel geringer als die der Nikotinsaure ist. Die verlangerte Wirkung von 5-(3-Pyridyl)-Tetrazol wird als Folge seiner Stoffwechselbestandigkeit aufgefasst.
GALACTIC GLOBULAR CLUSTERS WITH LUMINOUS X-RAY BINARIES

Luminous X-ray binaries (LMXBs; >1034 ergs s-1) have a neutron star or black hole primary, and in globular clusters, most of these close binaries are expected to have evolved from wider binaries through dynamical interactions with other stars. We attempt to find a predictor of this formation rate that is representative of the initial properties of globular clusters rather than of the highly evolved core quantities. Models indicate the half-light quantities best reflect the initial conditions, so we examine whether the associated dynamical interaction rate, proportional to L1.5/r, is useful for understanding the presence of luminous LMXBs in the Galactic globular cluster system. We find that while LMXB clusters with large values of L1.5/r preferentially host LMXBs, the systems must also have half-mass relaxation times below th,relax ~ 109 yr. This relaxation time effect probably occurs because several relaxation times are required to modify binary separations, a timescale that must be shorter than cluster ages. The likelihood of finding an LMXB cluster is enhanced if the cluster is metal-rich and if it is close to the bulge region. The dependence on metallicity is most likely either due to differing initial mass functions at the high-mass end or because bulge systems evolve more rapidly from tidal interactions with the bulge. This approach can be used to investigate globular cluster systems in external galaxies, where core properties are unresolved.
Failure initiation in unnotched specimens subjected to monotonic and cyclic loading

Abstract Failure initiation in unnotched cylindrical bar specimens is predicted by application of the strain energy density theory. Maximum value of the local minimum strain energy density function is calculated, the critical value of which is assumed to coincide with failure by monotonic as well as cyclic uniaxial loading. Damage is accumulated in the specimen for each increment of monotonically rising load and each cycle of repeatedly applied load. Use is made of the incremental theory of plasticity to account for permanent deformation that is nonuniformly distributed throughout the cylindrical bar. Failure initiation site is found to occur at the center of the bar for monotonic loading where dilatation is dominant and near the specimen surface for fatigue loading where distortion is more significant. The results are consistent with the experimental observations without including microstructural effects. Nonhomogeneity caused by macro-dilatation and macro-distortion is also shown to play an important role in failure initation.
Gastro-right ventricular fistula: a deadly complication of a gastric pull-through.

A 70-year-old patient presented with melena, dyspnea, and generalized weakness. An endoscopy revealed a deep ulcer with a pulsatile clot in the intrathoracic gastric tube that had been previously constructed for esophageal replacement. Shortly thereafter, the patient died of exsanguination secondary to a fistula between the stomach and the right ventricle. This complication presents a unique but deadly cause of gastrointestinal bleeding that mandates swift diagnosis and immediate surgical correction
A maximum entropy method of determining the partial distribution functions of multicomponent amorphous materials

Abstract The maximum entropy principle from information theory was used to determine the six partial distribution functions of a glass in the AgGeSe system from anomalous X-ray scattering data. The distribution functions had the maximum possible entropy consistent with fitting the scattering data to within experimental precision. The maximum entropy formulation permitted controlling the degree to which experimental error influenced the results. Partial distribution functions that satisfied the data exactly were extremely sensitive to error. The scattering data consisted of scans at two energies near the K absorption edge of each glass component, for a total of six independent patterns. As a preliminary test of the method, the Ge, Se, and Ag difference distribution functions were obtained from pairs of patterns at the respective absorption edges. When highly precise data were available, the maximum entropy results closely matched those from the so-called difference approach. The maximum entropy partial distribution functions, although somewhat distorted by systematic error, provided direct evidence for structural correlations that had been surmised previously from the difference approach functions. The exact solution for the partial distribution functions, on the other hand, was completely dominated by the effects of random error.
Pulsed photoelectric field emission from needle cathodes

Abstract Experiments have been carried out to measure the current emitted by tungsten needles with 1-μm tip radius operated up to 50 kV. This corresponds to electric fields in the order of 109 to 1010 V/m. The needles were illuminated with 10-ns laser pulses at 532, 355 and 266 nm. The laser intensity was varied from 1010 to 1012 W/m2, limited by damage to the needle tip. The observed quantum efficiency depends on the wavelength and the electric field, approaching unity at the highest electric fields when illuminated at 266 nm. Peak currents up to 100 mA were observed in nanosecond pulses, corresponding to an estimated brightness of 1016 A/m2 sr. Since the current is controlled by the laser intensity, with only a weak voltage dependence, these cathodes can be used for infrared and ultraviolet tabletop free-electron lasers and other applications that demand short electron-beam pulses with high brightness.
Enzymatic and chemoenzymatic approaches to synthesis of sugar-based polymer and hydrogels

We have prepared a variety of sugar-based polymers using enzymatic and chemoenzymatic synthetic methods. In enzymatic synthesis, the regioselectivity of enzymes was used to copolymerize a sugar and a diester to make poly(sucrose adipate). Sugars including sucrose and glucose derivatives such as α-methyl glucoside have been used. In chemoenzymatic synthesis, the regioselectivity of enzymes was used to make the sugar-based monomers, while standard free radical or condensation methods were used for polymerization. The sugars could be in the backbone (poly(sucrose adipamide)) or as a pendant group (poly(sugar acetylene)s, poly(sugar acrylate)s, and poly(sugar methacrylate)s). We also prepared poly(sugar acrylate) and poly(sugar methacrylate) hydrogels and their copolymers with acrylic acid. The degree of swelling of these gels was studied as a function of pH and ionic strength. Potential applications of these materials include water absorbents, food additives and drug delivery systems.
Reciprocal regulation of beta-adrenergic receptor mRNA stability by mitogen activated protein kinase activation and inhibition.

Genes encoding numerous proto-oncogenes and cytokines, as well as a number of G-protein coupled receptors, are regulated post-transcriptionally at the level of mRNA stability. A common feature of all of these genes is the presence of A + U-rich elements (AREs) within their 3′ untranslated regions. We, and others, have demonstrated previously that mRNAs encoding beta-adrenergic receptors (β-ARs) are destabilized by agonist stimulation of the β-AR/Gαs/adenylylcyclase pathway. However, in addition to PK-A, β-ARs can also activate or inhibit mitogen activated kinase (MAPK) cascades, in a cell-type dependent basis.
The comparative effect of individually-constructed vs. collaboratively-constructed computer-based concept maps

The researchers investigated the comparative effects of individually-constructed and collaboratively-constructed computer-based concept mapping on middle school science concept learning. One hundred and sixty one students completed the entire study. Using prior science performance scores to assure equivalence of student achievement across groups, students were assigned to three groups: a self-selected study strategy group, an individual-concept mapping group, and a collaborative pairs - concept mapping group. Collaboratively and individually-constructing computer-based concept maps had equally positive effects on seventh grade middle school science concept learning as measured on a comprehension test. However, the students who collaboratively constructed concept maps created significantly higher quality concept maps than those who individually constructed concept maps indicating deeper conceptual understanding.
RISK TYPES AND INTER‐FIRM ALLIANCE STRUCTURES*

This paper examines the choice between equity and non-equity forms of inter-firm alliances from an ‘integrated risk’ perspective, which combines relational risk and performance risk in inter-firm alliances. Relational risk relates to co-operation among alliance partners, while performance risk has to do with the hazards of not achieving the performance objectives of an alliance, given co-operation. We suggest that equity alliance is adopted to control relational risk, while non-equity alliance is aimed at minimizing performance risk. Existing studies on the choice of alliance configurations are examined from the proposed risk perspective, and a number of key propositions are advanced for empirical testing and further development of the perspective.
Pilot Study to Enhance Start-up of a Multicenter Nutrition Intervention Trial

Abstract Multicenter trials are important for answering questions that require large numbers of subjects. Such trials require standardized implementation of behavioral change programs across diverse populations, regions, and staff. Researchers involved with the Trial of Nonpharmacologic Interventions in the Elderly conducted a 17-week pilot study of their most complex intervention (combined weight and sodium reduction) before actual start-up of the main study. This allowed staff to rehearse implementing the program and to identify and address intervention and standardization issues. Registered dietitians in 4 US communities recruited 28 participants for the pilot study, using eligibility criteria similar to those for the main trial. Participant evaluations reflected high satisfaction with the program materials and overall approach. Minor protocol changes suggested by results of the pilot study were made easily in time for start-up of the main study. Reductions in weight and sodium intake were less than targeted but were sufficient to suggest that the intervention would be effective under optimal conditions. This partial achievement of goals in the pilot study underscored the need to allow for a learning curve, for without it standardization and outcomes of the main study would be compromised. J Am Diet Assoc. 1998;98:322–325.
Production of SiC−Si3N4 composites by a one-step d.c. plasma process

Preparation en une seule etape d'une poudre ceramique composite SiC - Si 3 N 4 par reaction en phase gazeuse dans un reacteur a plasma.
Grouping Patterns and Competition Among Female Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii at Ngogo, Kibale National Park, Uganda

In mammals, access to mates is probably the most important influence on male reproductive success, whereas foraging efficiency is probably the most important influence on female reproductive success Emlen and Oring (Science 197:215–223, 1977). Male chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) are highly gregarious and form cooperative relationships with other males. In contrast, female social relationships vary within and between populations. Females in most East African populations, e.g., Gombe, Mahale, Kibale-Kanyawara, are less gregarious than males and spend most of their time alone or with only their dependent offspring. Researchers have attributed low female gregariousness to the high potential for feeding competition. I provide the first data on association patterns and agonistic interactions of female chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii) from the unusually large Ngogo community, Kibale National Park, Uganda. Ngogo females were less gregarious than males, but spent a mean of 64% of their time in association with ≥1 other females and as much time in all-female parties as they did alone. Further, female dyads associated nonrandomly and they formed associative cliques. Association levels within cliques were similar to those among the relatively gregarious West African chimpanzee females at Tai (Pan troglodytes verus) and among bonobo (P. paniscus) females. Agonistic interfemale interactions were extremely rare, and monthly mean party size and the numbers of anestrous females per party do not correlate significantly with fruit availability. Thus, Ngogo females maintained relatively high levels of gregariousness, but avoided detrimental feeding competition by preferentially associating with a small subset of other community females.
s-extensions of special-valued lattice-ordered groups

An s-extension of a special-valued l-group is defined and an explicit description is given of the s-closure of a special-valued l-group. These results are then applied to the quasitorsion class of almost finite-valued lattice-ordered groups.
Online solid phase extraction liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (SPE-LC-MS/MS) method for the determination of sucralose in reclaimed and drinking waters and its photo degradation in natural waters from South Florida

Sucralose has gained popularity as a low calorie artificial sweetener worldwide. Due to its high stability and persistence, sucralose has shown widespread occurrence in environmental waters, at concentrations that could reach up to several μg/L. Previous studies have used time consuming sample preparation methods (offline solid phase extraction/derivatization) or methods with rather high detection limits (direct injection) for sucralose analysis. This study described a faster and sensitive analytical method for the determination of sucralose in environmental samples. An online SPE-LC–MS/MS method was developed, being capable to quantify sucralose in 12 minutes using only 10 mL of sample, with method detection limits (MDLs) of 4.5 ng/L, 8.5 ng/L and 45 ng/L for deionized water, drinking and reclaimed waters (1:10 diluted with deionized water), respectively. Sucralose was detected in 82% of the reclaimed water samples at concentrations reaching up to 18 μg/L. The monthly average for a period of one year was 9.1 ± 2.9 μg/L. The calculated mass loads per capita of sucralose discharged through WWTP effluents based on the concentrations detected in wastewaters in the U. S. is 5.0 mg/day/person. As expected, the concentrations observed in drinking water were much lower but still relevant reaching as high as 465 ng/L. In order to evaluate the stability of sucralose, photodegradation experiments were performed in natural waters. Significant photodegradation of sucralose was observed only in freshwater at 254 nm. Minimal degradation ( 80%) indicating that the conventional treatment process employed in the sewage treatment plants is not efficient for its removal. Detection of sucralose in drinking waters suggests potential contamination of surface and ground waters sources with anthropogenic wastewater streams. Its high resistance to photodegradation, minimal sorption and high solubility indicate that sucralose could be a good tracer of anthropogenic wastewater intrusion into the environment.
Metamorphism of Cosmic Dust: Diagnostic Infrared Signatures

Nucleation is a non-equilibrium process: the products of this process are seldom the most thermodynamically stable condensates but are instead those which form fastest. It should not be surprising that grains formed in a circumstellar outflow will undergo some degree of metamorphism if they are annealed or exposed to a chemically active reagent. As a consequence of this processing in the laboratory one observes a continuous increase in the strength of the silicate absorption band at 20 microns relative to the 10 micron feature. In Section 1 we show that this ratio can be used as an indicator of the relative age of silicate condensates. Metamorphism of refractory particles continues in the interstellar medium (ISM) where the driving forces are sputtering by cosmic ray particles, annealing by high energy photons and grain destruction in supernova generated shocks. Studies of the depletion of the elements from the gas phase of the ISM tell us that if grain destruction occurs with high efficiency, then there must be some mechanism by which grains can be formed in the ISM. Laboratory studies of such a process (Moore, Tanabe, and Nuth, Ap. J, (Lett) 373. L31-L34, 1990) have shown that the frequency of the -SiH stretch can be used as an indicator of the oxidation state of the silicon in such grains. Highly reduced grains exhibit an SiH absorption near 2100 cm-1 whereas highly oxidized silicates absorb near 2300 cm-1: this point is discussed in Section 2.
Compactons and solitary patterns structures for variants of the KdV and the KP equations

In this paper we discuss mathematical variants in higher dimensions of the KdV and the KP equations. It is shown that the focusing branches of these variants exhibit compactons: solitons with finite wavelength, whereas the defocusing branches support solitary patterns solutions with infinite slopes or cusps. The study presents a fairly complete understanding of the compact and noncompact dispersive structures.
All-American Girl: The Ideal of Real Womanhood in Mid-Nineteenth-Century America

Our image of nineteenth-century American women is generally divided into two broad classifications: victims and revolutionaries. This divide has served the purposes of modern feminists well, allowing them to claim feminism as the only viable role model for women of the nineteenth century.In "All-American Girl," however, Frances B. Cogan identifies amid these extremes a third ideal of femininity: the "Real Woman." Cogan's Real Woman exists in advice books and manuals, as well as in magazine short stories whose characters did not dedicate their lives to passivity or demand the vote. Appearing in the popular reading of middle-class America from 1842 to 1880, these women embodied qualities that neither the "True Women"--conventional ladies of leisure--nor the early feminists fully advocated, such as intelligence, physical fitness, self sufficiency, economic self-reliance, judicious marriage, and a balance between self and family. Cogan's "All-American Girl" reveals a system of feminine values that demanded women be neither idle nor militant.
Lumped interconnect models via Gaussian quadrature

This paper presents a new Gaussian quadrature methodfor interconnect modeling which applies to one-dimensionaldistributions of circuit element values, thel ine structuresoften used to model interconnect wires.The method takesa line circuit, which may be an arbitrary combination oflumped and distributed elements, and produces a smalllumped model whose transfer and input characteristic approximatelymay be used to generate lumped models for distributedelements, or to reduce long chains of lumped elements.The method also applies to one-dimensional distributionsof coupling circuit elements, and, in general, toany one-dimensional distribution of circuit element quantities.Several examples demonstrate that the quadrature-basedmethod is capable of automatically generating compactRC, LC and RLC line models with arbitrary accuracy.
Online detection of fatigue failure via symbolic time series analysis

This paper examines the efficacy of symbolic-time series analysis for online detection of fatigue failure in mechanical structures. The detection algorithm is formulated on the principles of symbolic dynamics and automata theory. The performance of this method is evaluated based on the information extracted from available sensor data for early detection of small anomalies in the observed data sequence. This concept is experimentally validated on a fatigue damage test apparatus. The time series data, generated from ultrasonic sensor and optical microscope, have been used for detection of small fatigue crack growth in ductile alloy 7075-T6 aluminium specimens.
Oncogenic Adenomatous polyposis coli mutants impair the mitotic checkpoint through direct interaction with Mad2.

The majority of colorectal tumors are aneuploid because of the underlying chromosome instability (CIN) phenotype, in which a defective mitotic checkpoint is implicated. Adenomatous polyposis coli (APC), a tumor suppressor gene that is commonly mutated in colon cancers, has been suggested in causing CIN; however, the molecular mechanism remains unresolved. In this study, we report an interaction of tumor-associated N-terminal APC fragments (N-APC) with Mad2, an essential mitotic checkpoint protein, providing a direct molecular support for linking APC mutations to the generation of CIN. N-APC interacts with Mad2 in Xenopus egg extracts, colon cancer cells, and in vitro with purified components. The interaction between N-APC and Mad2 decreases the soluble pool of Mad2, which is essential for Mad2 cycling and releasing from unattached kinetochores to produce a diffusible |P`wait anaphase|P' signal. Addition of such an N-APC mutant of egg extracts inactivates the mitotic checkpoint. Expressing a tumor-associated N-APC mutant in mammalian cells with an intact mitotic checkpoint produces premature anaphase onset with missegregated chromosomes.
Ultrafast interferometric measurements of plasmonic transport in photonic crystals

We present a novel time-domain experimental approach to the study of the dynamics of surface electromagnetic wave propagation in a two-dimensional photonic crystal. A surface plasmon polariton is launched by ultrafast laser pulses and propagates into a photonic crystal, the dynamics of which are measured by an interferometric cross-correlation method. Plasmon photonic stopgaps are characterized by a single measurement. The dispersion around the stopgaps is determined with a series of angle-resolved measurements.
Optimal Maintenance Strategies for Wind Turbine Systems Under Stochastic Weather Conditions

We examine optimal repair strategies for wind turbines operated under stochastic weather conditions. In-situ sensors installed at wind turbines produce useful information about the physical conditions of the system, allowing wind farm operators to make informed decisions. Based on the information from sensors, our research objective is to derive an optimal preventive maintenance policy that minimizes the expected average cost over an infinite horizon. Specifically, we formulate the problem as a partially observed Markov decision process. Several critical factors, such as weather conditions, lengthy lead times, and production losses, which are unique to wind farm operations, are considered. We derive a set of closed-form expressions for the optimal policy, and show that it belongs to the class of monotonic four-region policies. Under special conditions, the optimal policy also belongs to the class of monotonic three-region policies. The structural results of the optimal policy reflect the practical implications of the turbine deterioration process.
The workplace learning cycle: A problem‐based curriculum model for the preparation of workplace learning professionals

Building on the conceptual foundations suggested in the previous two papers in this issue, this article describes the application of a workplace learning cycle theory to the construction of a curriculum for a graduate‐level course of study in workplace education. As a way to prepare chief learning officers and heads of corporate universities, the piece argues, one can engage students in the process of analyzing the learning and knowledge‐use in a work environment through the lenses of the pedagogical and curricular concepts in these and other writings. Moving beyond the traditional concept of “training” for specified competencies, the graduate program aims to enable students to understand and use the more generative concepts of workplace knowledge‐use, and to promote learning as an essential feature of organizational life.
Craniux: a LabVIEW-based modular software framework for brain-machine interface research

This paper presents "Craniux," an open-access, open-source software framework for brain-machine interface (BMI) research. Developed in LabVIEW, a high-level graphical programming environment, Craniux offers both out-of-the-box functionality and amodular BMI software framework that is easily extendable. Specifically, it allows researchers to take advantage of multiple features inherent to the Lab VIEW environment for on-the-fly data visualization, parallel processing, multithreading, and data saving. This paper introduces the basic features and system architecture of Craniux and describes the validation of the system under realtime BMI operation using simulated and real electrocorticographic (ECoG) signals. Our results indicate that Craniux is able to operate consistently in real time, enabling a seamless work flow to achieve brain control of cursor movement. The Craniux software framework is made available to the scientific research community to provide a LabVIEW-based BMI software platform for future BMI research and development.
Smart design of lithium-rich layered oxide cathode compositions with suppressed voltage decay

The lithium-rich layered oxide cathodes offer a high capacity of ∼250 mA h g−1, but their commercialization is prevented by the problem of voltage decay during cycling, originating from a phase transformation to a 3 V spinel-like phase. With an aim of understanding the factors that govern the voltage decay, the effect of the length of the plateau region during first charge and the octahedral-site stabilization energy of the transition metal (TM) ions has been investigated by designing various compositions of lithium-rich layered oxides. Charge–discharge profile and dQ/dV plot variations during cycling confirm that the length of the plateau region during first charge is the primary governing factor in the voltage decay process. The voltage decay is enhanced by a lengthened plateau region that increases the kinetics of the phase transformation to the spinel-like phase due to the (i) formation of Litet–V(TM)Li–Litet dumbbells (Litet refers to the lithium ion in a tetrahedral site and V(TM)Li refers to the lithium-ion vacancy in the TM layer) because of the increased lithium-ion extraction from the TM layer and (ii) TM migration to the lithium layer assisted by a higher oxygen vacancy concentration. Based on this understanding, a new series of compositions Li1.2−xMn0.54Ni0.13+2xCo0.13−xO2 have been designed to minimize the plateau region during first charge without sacrificing the energy density. The optimized composition Li1.15Mn0.54Ni0.23Co0.08O2 exhibits superior electrochemical performance with a marked decrease in voltage decay during cycling compared to the well-known composition Li1.2Mn0.54Ni0.13Co0.13O2.
Sexuality and Garden Ritual in the Trobriands and Tikopia: Tudava meets the Atua I Kafika

There are remarkable parallels between the rituals performed over the yam gardens by the Trobriand Islanders and those performed by the Tikopia. The strikingly similar garden rituals appear to be dramatizations, not simply of the mythic origin and structure of the gardens, but of the mythic origin and structure of society itself. The metaphor used in both cases is that of human reproduction. Many of the differences between the two ritual systems appear to relate, in the first place, to differing theories of human reproduction and, behind them, to differing rules of descent.
Understanding the Unilateralist Turn in U.S. Foreign Policy

How should we explain the recent unilateralist turn in U.S. foreign policy? Some accounts treat growing American unilateralism as a passing aberration attributable to the neoconservative ideology of the Bush administration. This paper, by contrast, traces U.S. unilateralism to the structural effects, at home and abroad, of the end of the Cold War. Internationally, the removal of the Soviet threat has undermined the “institutional bargain” that once guided relations between the U.S. and its major allies. Absent Cold War imperatives, the U.S. is less willing to provide collective goods through strong international institutions and other states are less likely to defer to U.S. demands for special privileges that exempt the U.S. from normal multilateral constraints. Domestically, the end of the Cold War has weakened the ability of presidents to resist the appeals of powerful veto players whose interests are threatened by multilateral commitments. These factors suggest that American unilateralism may have deeper roots and more staying power than many expect.
Isolated Neonatal Seizures: When to Suspect Inborn Errors of Metabolism

Neonatal seizures are common, and often comprise the first clinical indicator of central nervous system dysfunction. Although most neonatal seizures are secondary to processes such as hypoxic-ischemic injury, infection, or cortical malformations (which are readily identifiable through routine testing and imaging), seizures secondary to inborn errors of metabolism can be much more difficult to diagnose, and thus a high index of suspicion is required. The early diagnosis of inborn errors of metabolism is crucial, considering that many can receive effective treatment (e.g., dietary supplementation or restriction) with favorable long-term outcomes. This review emphasizes the importance of considering inborn errors of metabolism in the differential diagnosis of neonatal seizures, discusses red flags for inborn errors of metabolism as a cause of neonatal seizures, and provides an overview of diagnoses and treatments of inborn errors of metabolism most commonly associated with neonatal seizures.
Examining Perceptions of Challenge and Choice in Classrooms: The Relationship Between Teachers and Their Students and Comparisons Between Gifted Students and Other Students:

In this study we investigated the relationship between what teachers report they do in their classrooms and their students' perceptions of classroom activities with respect to the dimensions of cha...
YAP1 Increases Organ Size and Expands Undifferentiated Progenitor Cells

Summary The mechanisms that regulate mammalian organ size are poorly understood. It is unclear whether the pathways that control organ size also impinge on stem/progenitor cells. A highly expressed gene in stem cells is YAP1 [1], the ortholog of Drosophila Yorkie , a downstream component of the Hippo pathway [2]. Mutations in components of this pathway produce tissue overgrowth phenotypes in the fly whereas mammalian orthologs, like salvador [3], merlin [4], LATS [5], and YAP1 [6, 7], have been implicated in tumorigenesis. We report here that YAP1 increases organ size and causes aberrant tissue expansion in mice. YAP1 activation reversibly increases liver size more than 4-fold. In the intestine, expression of endogenous YAP1 is restricted to the progenitor/stem cell compartment, and activation of YAP1 expands multipotent undifferentiated progenitor cells, which differentiate upon cessation of YAP1 expression. YAP1 stimulates Notch signaling, and administration of γ-secretase inhibitors suppressed the intestinal dysplasia caused by YAP1. Human colorectal cancers expressing higher levels of YAP1 share molecular aspects with YAP1-induced dysplastic growth in the mouse. Our data show that the Hippo signaling pathway regulates organ size in mammals and can act on stem cell compartments, indicating a potential link between stem/progenitor cells, organ size, and cancer.
Leukocyte rolling velocities and migration are optimized by cooperative L-selectin and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 functions.

Selectin family members largely mediate initial tethering and rolling of leukocytes on vascular endothelium, whereas integrin and Ig family members are essential for leukocyte firm adhesion. To quantify functional synergy between L-selectin and Ig family members during leukocyte rolling, the EA.hy926 human vascular endothelial line was transfected with either fucosyltransferase VII (926-FtVII) cDNA to generate L-selectin ligands alone or together with ICAM-1 cDNA (926-FtVII/ICAM-1). The ability of transfected 926 cells to support human leukocyte interactions was assessed in vitro using parallel plate flow chamber assays. Lymphocyte rolling on 926-FtVII cells was increased by ∼70% when ICAM-1 was expressed at physiological levels. Although initial tether formation was similar for both cell types, lymphocyte rolling was 26% slower on 926-FtVII/ICAM-1 cells. Pretreatment of lymphocytes with an anti-CD18 mAb eliminated the increase in rolling, and all rolling was blocked by anti-L-selectin mAb. In addition, rolling velocities of lymphocytes from CD18-hypomorphic mice were 48% faster on 926-FtVII/ICAM-1 cells, with a similar reduction in rolling frequency relative to wild-type lymphocytes. CD18-hypomorphic lymphocytes also showed an ∼40% decrease in migration to peripheral and mesenteric lymph nodes during in vivo migration assays compared with wild-type lymphocytes. Likewise, wild-type lymphocyte migration to peripheral lymph nodes was reduced by ∼50% in ICAM-1 −/− recipient mice. Similar to human lymphocytes, human neutrophils showed enhanced rolling interactions on 926-FtVII/ICAM-1 cells, but also firmly adhered. Thus, in addition to mediating leukocyte firm adhesion, CD18 integrin/ICAM-1 interactions regulate leukocyte rolling velocities and thereby optimize L-selectin-mediated leukocyte rolling.
Abiotrophia defectiva causing infectious crystalline keratopathy and corneal ulcer after penetrating keratoplasty: a case report

Infectious crystalline keratopathy is commonly caused by Streptococcus viridans and other gram positive organisms. We present the first case of infectious crystalline keratopathy that developed into a corneal ulcer and grew Abiotrophia defectiva which responded well to topical and systemic antimicrobial therapy and did not require re-grafting. A 78-year-old man underwent penetrating keratoplasty for pseudophakic bullous keratopathy. He presented 1.5 years later with infectious crystalline keratopathy which progressed to a corneal ulcer. The patient received topical fortified vancomycin and moxifloxacin, as well as oral moxifloxacin. The corneal ulcer base was cultured and grew A. defectiva, or nutritionally deficient streptococcus. Complete resolution of the corneal infiltrates was obtained within three months. Nutritionally deficient streptococcus has been implicated in numerous human diseases, including endocarditis, and is increasingly being recognized as an important pathogen. This represents the second reported case of A. defectiva causing infectious crystalline keratopathy in humans and the first case of A. defectiva successfully treated with antibiotics. This case shows that aggressive antibiotic therapy can be effective in A. defectiva-associated infectious crystalline keratopathy.
IP multicasting for point-to-point local distribution

While support for IP multicasting continues to spread enabling new applications, an increasing number of hosts connects to the worldwide Internet via low bandwidth point-to-point links, such as wireline or wireless telephone lines. We discuss existing proposals for local and wide area IP multicasting and their implications for point-to-point links, identify problems with their integration in this environment, and propose alternative special purpose mechanisms to solve these problems. The main problems are overhead due to IGMP leave latency and unnecessary continuous probing of potentially power constrained hosts. Our solution is an alternative to IGMP mechanisms based on join/leave messages for tracking group membership over PtP networks. After presenting the implementation requirements of the proposed and existing mechanisms, we compare them with respect to the performance, interoperability, robustness and implementation complexity, demonstrating that our join/leave protocol is uniformly superior.