cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Response of Palmer Amaranth and Sweetpotato to Flumioxazin/Pyroxasulfone

Studies were conducted to determine the tolerance of sweetpotato and Palmer amaranth control to a premix of flumioxazin and pyroxasulfone pretransplant (PREtr) followed by (fb) irrigation. Greenhouse studies were conducted in a factorial arrangement of four herbicide rates (flumioxazin/pyroxasulfone PREtr at 105/133 and 57/72 g ai ha–1, S-metolachlor PREtr 803 g ai ha–1, nontreated) by three irrigation timings [2, 5, and 14 d after transplanting (DAP)]. Field studies were conducted in a factorial arrangement of seven herbicide treatments (flumioxazin/pyroxasulfone PREtr at 40/51, 57/72, 63/80, and 105/133 g ha–1, 107 g ha–1 flumioxazin PREtr fb 803 g ha–1S-metolachlor 7 to 10 DAP, and season-long weedy and weed-free checks) by three 1.9-cm irrigation timings (0 to 2, 3 to 5, or 14 DAP). In greenhouse studies, flumioxazin/pyroxasulfone reduced sweetpotato vine length and shoot and storage root fresh biomass compared to the nontreated check and S-metolachlor. Irrigation timing had no influence on vine length and root fresh biomass. In field studies, Palmer amaranth control was≥91% season-long regardless of flumioxazin/pyroxasulfone rate or irrigation timing. At 38 DAP, sweetpotato injury was≤37 and≤9% at locations 1 and 2, respectively. Visual estimates of sweetpotato injury from flumioxazin/pyroxasulfone were greater when irrigation timing was delayed 3 to 5 or 14 DAP (22 and 20%, respectively) compared to 0 to 2 DAP (7%) at location 1 but similar at location 2. Irrigation timing did not influence no.1, jumbo, or marketable yields or root length-to-width ratio. With the exception of 105/133 g ha–1, all rates of flumioxazin/pyroxasulfone resulted in marketable sweetpotato yield and root length-to-width ratio similar to flumioxazin fb S-metolachlor or the weed-free checks. In conclusion, flumioxazin/pyroxasulfone PREtr at 40/51, 57/72, and 63/80 g ha–1 has potential for use in sweetpotato for Palmer amaranth control without causing significant crop injury and yield reduction.
Smart Phones to Satellites to Sensors: Future Tools and Directions for External Exposure Assessment

Introduction: In thinking forward to what external (non-biomarker) exposure assessment might look like in thirty years, it is worth looking back at what we could have predicted thirty years ago. Th...
Distributed Ramp Model

This chapter introduces the conservation-based Partial Differential Equation (PDE) model for the highway ramp system. Various static and dynamic equations are used to describe the relationship between traffic velocity and traffic density. A numerical model for simulation is presented for the PDE and some basic simulation results are shown.
Ghost interference with an optical parametric amplifier

The ``ghost'' interference experiment is analyzed when the source of entangled photons is a multimode optical parametric amplifier (OPA) whose weak limit is the two-photon spontaneous parametric down-conversion beam. The visibility of the double-slit pattern is calculated, taking the finite coincidence time window of the photon counting detectors into account. It is found that the coincidence window and the bandwidth of light reaching the detectors play a crucial role in the loss of visibility on coincidence detection, not only in the ghost interference experiment but in all experiments involving coincidence detection. The differences between the loss of visibility with two-mode and multimode OPA sources are also discussed.
Stochastic Models for Revealing the Dynamics of the Growth of Small Tumor Populations

Abstract The widely accepted model of tumor growth assumes tumors grow exponentially at a constant rate during early tumorigenesis when populations are small. The possibility that tumors might exhibit altered slower growth dynamics or even net cell death below a critical tumor size has yet to be fully explored. Deterministic growth models are capable of describing larger populations because population variation becomes small compared with the average, but when the population being modeled is small, the inherent stochasticity of the birth and death process produces significant variation. Recent advances in high throughput data collection allow for precise and sufficiently large data sets needed to capture this variation. Therefore, we present a stochastic modeling framework to describe and test the potential for altered growth dynamics at small tumor populations.
History and Myth: Politics and Autobiography in the Construction of Lope's El sol parado

ABSTRACTThis article offers a political and autobiographical interpretation of Lope de Vega's El sol parado, a historical drama first published in 1621 that features Pelayo Perez Correa, a thirteen...
In Vitro Reactive-Accelerated-Aging Assessment of Anisotropic Conductive Adhesive and Back-End Packaging for Electronic Neural Interfaces

Bioelectronic neural interfaces can fail in vivo due to water penetration and corrosion of the packaging technology used to protect sensitive portions of the device. Although anisotropic conductive adhesive (ACA) is gaining popularity in the neural interface community to connect fabricated electrode arrays with back-end packages, the durability of ACA in chronic implants is largely unknown. We have designed a platform that uses an aggressive reactive-accelerated aging (RAA) environment to rapidly assess the ability of ACA and silicone-rubber encapsulation to maintain electrical integrity in vitro. All RAA experiments were performed at 77°C, for 24 days, and with 10 to 20 mM H 2 O 2 , which approximates a 1 year implantation. Results from these experiments showed that ACA rapidly fails (i.e., 2 to 4 days RAA) due to water absorption through the silicone encapsulant. Electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) confirmed water penetration through the package and the resulting corrosion of the sensitive metallic components.
Considering the reality of hegemonic tendencies: English and linguistic diversity

This paper aims to analyze the commodification aspect of dominant languages, in particular, English, while looking into linguistic diversity as a commodity in its own right. In order to illustrate multilingualism as a valuable commodity in itself, we mention Immersion Programs in the US and the increasing recognition of the importance of being proficient in languages other than English, for educational, personal, economic and national security reasons. This research also aims to look into some aspects of the delicate issue of English being strengthened over the weakening of thousands of local languages and cultures. Some arguments are provided in order to illustrate the fact that ‘global English’ represents special politico-economic interests that cannot meet the needs of the people whose languages and cultures are being subjugated by the imperialistic and capitalist ideologies of the spread of English. Unless local language policies are elevated on political agendas, globalization language policies will remain insensitive to the irreplaceable value of linguistic diversity, along with the real needs of citizens from all over the world.
Embodied transcendence: Spiritual constructs in Bharata Natyam integrated into dance/movement therapy

This article aims to examine dance and spirituality within the context of dance/movement therapy (DMT). The author bridges the theoretical basis of Bharata Natyam, a form of ancient south Indian cl...
Retrievals of Aerosol Optical Depth and Spectral Absorption From DSCOVR EPIC

A new algorithm is described for joint retrievals of the aerosol optical depth and spectral absorption from EPIC observations in the UV – Vis spectral range. The retrievals are illustrated on examples of the wildfire smoke events over North America, and dust storms over greater Sahara region in 2018. An initial evaluation of single scattering albedo (SSA) at 443 nm over these regions shows a good agreement with AERONET data, generally within the uncertainty of AERONET SSA of ±0.03. A particularly good agreement is achieved for dust with R~0.62, rmse~0.02, negligible bias, and 85% points within the expected error. This new capability is part of version 2 MAIAC EPIC algorithm. The v2 algorithm has recently completed reprocessing of the EPIC record covering the period of 2015-2020.
New Evolutionary Finance: Social Transmission Bias and Cultural Evolution in Financial Markets

The thoughts and behaviors of financial market participants depend upon adopted cultural traits, including information signals, beliefs, strategies, and folk economic models. Financial traits compete to survive in the human population, and are modified in the process of being transmitted from one agent to another. These cultural evolutionary processes shape market outcomes, which in turn feed back into the success of competing traits. This evolutionary system is studied in an emerging paradigm, new evolutionary finance. In this paradigm, social transmission biases determine the evolution of financial traits in the investor population. It considers an enriched set of cultural traits, both selection on traits and mutation pressure, and market equilibrium at different frequencies. Other key ingredients of the paradigm include psychological bias, social network structure, information asymmetries, and institutional environment. Institutional subscribers to the NBER working paper series, and residents of developing countries may download this paper without additional charge at www.nber.org.
A Systematic Interrogation of MHC Class I Antigen Presentation Identifies Constitutive and Compensatory Protein Degradation Pathways

Protein degradation products are constitutively presented as peptide antigens by MHC Class I. While hypervariability of Class I genes is known to tremendously impact antigen presentation, whether differential function of protein degradation pathways (comprising >1000 genes) could alter antigen generation remains poorly understood apart from a few model substrates. In this study, we introduce normalization methods for quantitative antigen mass spectrometry and confirm that most Class I antigens are dependent on ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation. Remarkably, many antigens derived from mitochondrial inner membrane proteins are not. Additionally, we find that atypical antigens can arise from compensatory protein degradation pathways, such as an increase in mitochondrial and membrane protein antigen presentation upon proteasome inhibition. Notably, incomplete inhibition of protein degradation pathways may have clinical utility in cancer immunotherapy, as evidenced by appearance of novel antigens upon partial proteasome inhibition.
Mutations that alter the charge of type I regulatory subunit and modify activation properties of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase from S49 mouse lymphoma cells

Mutations in regulatory (R) subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase were analyzed from cAMP-resistant mutants of S49 mouse lymphoma cells by direct sequencing of amplified regions of mutant R subunit cDNAs. Eight distinct single base-change lesions were identified in 24 independent mutants that were hemizygous for expression of mutant R subunits with altered protein charge. CG----TA transitions predominated, but AT----GC transitions and GC----TA transversions were also observed. Four of five spontaneous mutants had identical C----T transitions at CG causing substitution of Trp for Arg-334. Sites mutated in isolates obtained after mutagenesis with ethyl methanesulfonate or N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine were more varied. Six of the lesions (two in binding site A and four in site B) were at amino acid residues that are highly conserved among cAMP-binding sites of R subunits and the Escherichia coli catabolite activator protein. These mutations all either prevented or strongly hindered binding of cyclic nucleotides to the mutated site. One of the remaining lesions (at Arg-242) also prevented cyclic nucleotide binding to the mutated binding site; the other (at Gly-170) had only minimal effects on binding of cyclic nucleotides but, nevertheless, increased the apparent constant for cAMP-dependent kinase activation. These results are discussed with reference to a model for the cAMP-binding sites of R subunit based on the crystal structure of the E. coli catabolite activator protein.
Directors and Officers Liability Insurance

As both federal and some state regulators continue to close failed banks and thrifts, litigation against directors and officers (hereafter "D&O") of those failed institutions has become a new legal specialty. While failed bank and thrift litigation was relatively rare as recently as five years ago, actions against directors and officers of failed institutions are now routinely reported in both the public press and legal periodicals. Because governmental litigation against such individuals has become so commonplace and because insurance proceeds generally provide the best source of monetary recovery, an understanding of the issues and recent developments in D&O liability insurance cases is essential for inside and outside bank counsel, lawyers representing regulatory authorities, lawyers representing insurance companies, and lawyers representing individual directors and officers.
Quantitation of 25-hydroxyvitamin D and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D by Radioimmunoassay Using Radioiodinated Tracers

Publisher Summary Several methods have been developed that allow accurate measurement of circulating levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OH-D) and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D [1,25-(OH) 2 D]. These assays are based on procedures involving high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), competitive protein-binding assay (CPBA), radioreceptor assay (RRA), and radioimmunoassay (RIA). The assay of 25-OH-D is useful in detecting states of vitamin D deficiency and excess. The assay of 1,25-(OH) 2 D is useful in diagnosing states of inadequate (such as pseudohypoparathyroidism and hypoparathyroidism) or excessive activation (sarcoidosis, tuberculosis, and Hodgkin's disease). This chapter describes a synopsis of procedures that incorporates the use of radioiodine into RIAs for both 25-OH-D and 1,25-(OH) 2 D. Several vitamin D metabolites could equally displace 125 I-labeled 25-OH-D derivative from the antibody. The detection limit of this RIA, defined as 3 standard deviations from the mean for data on the zero sample, was 2 ng/ml 25-(OH)D3. Bound tracer is displaced 50% by 25-OH-D3 at approximately 40 ng/ml.
Polarities and ring size distributions of polycyclic aromatic compound emissions during secondary pyrolysis with various coals

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses a series of experiments that monitor the major polarity classes and ring number distributions of coal tars collected during a stage of simulated pulverized-coal combustion conditions. Tar characteristics are reported for regulated secondary volatiles pyrolysis with a sub-bituminous and an hvA bituminous coal on 100 ms time scales at typical combustion temperatures. This system entrains coal particles through a radiant furnace that consists of a quartz tube surrounded by an inductively heated graphite cylinder. Heat fluxes into the suspension are comparable to estimates for pulverized coal burners, and nominal particle heating rates can exceed 104 K/s. Gas yields are routinely monitored with the furnace. Pure tar samples for subsequent chemical analyses are prepared by extracting the glass filters with tetrahydrofuran (THF) in an ultrasonic bath, followed by filtration through a 0.2 pm Teflon membrane.
Complex cardiac defects after ethanol exposure during discrete cardiogenic events in zebrafish: Prevention with folic acid

Background: Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) describes a range of birth defects including various congenital heart defects (CHDs). Mechanisms of FASD-associated CHDs are not understood. Whether alcohol interferes with a single critical event or with multiple events in heart formation is not known. Results: Our zebrafish embryo experiments showed that ethanol interrupts different cardiac regulatory networks and perturbs multiple steps of cardiogenesis (specification, myocardial migration, looping, chamber morphogenesis, and endocardial cushion formation). Ethanol exposure during gastrulation until cardiac specification or during myocardial midline migration did not produce severe or persistent heart development defects. However, exposure comprising gastrulation until myocardial precursor midline fusion or during heart patterning stages produced aberrant heart looping and defective endocardial cushions. Continuous exposure during entire cardiogenesis produced complex cardiac defects leading to severely defective myocardium, endocardium, and endocardial cushions. Supplementation of retinoic acid with ethanol partially rescued early heart developmental defects, but the endocardial cushions did not form correctly. In contrast, supplementation of folic acid rescued normal heart development, including the endocardial cushions. Conclusions: Our results indicate that ethanol exposure interrupted divergent cardiac morphogenetic events causing heart defects. Folic acid supplementation was effective in preventing a wide spectrum of ethanol-induced heart developmental defects. Developmental Dynamics 242:1184–1201, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Low prevalence of HBV DNA in the liver allograft from anti-HBc-positive donors: a single-center experience

Pan J-J, Oh S-H, Soldevila-Pico C, Nelson DR, Liu C. Low prevalence of HBV DNA in the liver allograft from anti-HBc-positive donors: a single-center experience. Clin Transplant 2011: 25: 164–170. © 2010 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Abstract: Allografts from donors positive for antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc+) can transmit hepatitis B virus (HBV) to the recipients. We aimed to study the prevalence of HBV DNA in liver allografts from anti-HBc+ donors. Between January 2003 and December 2008, this retrospective study identified 18 patients who received a liver from an anti-HBc+ donor. Pre- and post-transplantation HBV serology and serum HBV DNA level of the study subjects were reviewed. DNA extracted from liver biopsy tissue was used for PCR assay. Immunohistochemistry was also performed to determine viral protein expression. We observed a low prevalence of HBV DNA in allografts from anti-HBc+ donors even among patients who did not receive prophylaxis. Only one of 18 patients had detectable HBV DNA in the liver allograft. This recipient was seronegative for HBV before transplantation and did not receive prophylaxis after transplantation, and developed de novo hepatitis B. Of the five patients who were positive for both antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen and anti-HBc before transplantation and did not receive prophylaxis after transplantation, none developed HBV infection. Prophylaxis for HBV is important for seronegative recipients receiving a liver from an anti-HBc+ donor. Such prophylaxis may not be necessary for recipients who do not have detectable HBV DNA in the liver allograft.
Carbon acceptors and carbon-hydrogen complexes in AlSb

Aluminum antimonide (AlSb) has potential applications as a radiation detector and as a material in high-mobility heterostructures. As-grown AlSb exhibits p-type conductivity. Using infrared absorption spectroscopy, we have observed local vibrational modes (LVM's) arising from carbon impurities in n- and p-type AlSb. The first and second harmonics of the ${}^{12}\mathrm{C}$ mode have frequencies of 591.6 and 1179.2 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}1}$, respectively, at liquid-helium temperatures. A peak at 572.9 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}1}$ is tentatively identified as the ${}^{13}\mathrm{C}$ LVM. Carbon-hydrogen complexes were formed by annealing p-type AlSb in hydrogen gas, yielding a C-H stretch mode at 2566.6 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}1}$. Our results indicate that during the growth of bulk AlSb, carbon contamination may be an important source of unintentional p-type doping.
How many of the offspring born to teenage fathers are produced by repeat serious delinquents

Introduction Recent studies have found an association between teenage fatherhood and delinquency. Yet, it is not clear whether there is a dose–response relationship between the severity of delinquency and teenage fatherhood. This paper quantifies the public health impact of serious delinquency on the risk of impregnation and teenage fatherhood among urban, adolescent males. Methods Using data up to age 19, rates of sexual activity, impregnation and father-hood are compared among three groups: minor/non-delinquents, moderate delinquents and repeat serious delinquents. Results The results demonstrate a dose–response relationship between delinquency and age of onset of sexual activity, whereby more serious delinquents began having sex at younger ages. By age 19, almost half of repeat serious delinquents (46.7%) had caused a pregnancy, and nearly a third (31.4%) had fathered children. Rates of impregnation and fatherhood were twice as high among repeat serious delinquents compared with moderate and minor/non-delinquents. Repeat serious delinquents were also more likely than others to father multiple children; of the children produced by teenage fathers in this study, almost two-thirds (65%) were fathered by repeat serious delinquents. During late adolescence, repeat serious delinquents continued to be at greater risk for fathering children, as they were continuing to have unsafe sex more frequently and with more partners. Conclusions Repeat serious delinquents comprise a crucial but hard-to-reach population for family planning services and parenthood education. Programmes and services for teenage pregnancy prevention need extra funding and efforts to address this population, in terms of both the primary prevention of pregnancy and the prevention of repeat pregnancies. Copyright © 2002 Whurr Publishers Ltd.
Managerial Expectations of Synergy and the Performance of Acquiring Firms: The Contribution of Soft Data

This study examines whether the “soft” information present in merger and acquisition (M&A) announcement press releases contains incrementally valuable news relative to traditional “hard” data. Using the methodology of Loughran and McDonald [2011], we construct measures of synergy expectations and managerial optimism for more than 1,200 M&A announcements over the period 1995–2007. We find that synergy expectations are positively related to announcement period returns, longer-run performance, and the market's reaction to quarterly earnings announcements. Managerial optimism is insignificant for explaining a merger's subsequent performance. We conclude that the soft information contained in M&A announcements concerning synergy expectations can provide useful information to investors.
5-Fluorouracil as an enhancer of aminolevulinate-based photodynamic therapy for skin cancer: New use for a venerable agent?

5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) was developed in the 1950s as an anticancer drug and is now widely used to treat many cancers, including colon and breast carcinoma. 5-FU causes fluoronucleotide misincorporation into RNA and DNA, inhibits thymidylate synthase, and leads to growth arrest and apoptosis. For skin precancers (actinic keratoses; AK), 5-FU is prescribed as a topical agent and was essentially the only option for treating widespread AK of the skin prior to FDA approval of photodynamic therapy (PDT) in 1999. PDT is now gradually replacing 5-FU as a preferred treatment for AK, but neither PDT nor 5-FU are effective for true skin cancers (basal or squamous cell), particularly for tumors >1 mm in depth. In our ongoing work to improve the efficacy of PDT for skin cancer, we previously showed that PDT efficacy can be significantly enhanced by preconditioning tumors with methotrexate (MTX), which leads to increased production of protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) in target cells. However, because MTX must be given orally or intravenously, it is considered unacceptable for widespread human use due to potential toxicity. MTX and 5-FU exert similar effects on the thymidylate synthesis pathway, so we reasoned that topical 5-FU could be a potential alternative to MTX. In this paper, exploratory studies that test 5-FU as a preconditioning agent for PDT are presented. In a cutaneous model of squamous cell carcinoma (chemically-induced papillomatous tumors in mice), 5-FU significantly enhances PpIX accumulation and therefore emerges as a new candidate agent for combination therapy with PDT.
JRCR - updated author guidelines

This article describes updates on author guidelines for manuscripts submitted after February 1st 2010 to the interactive Journal of Radiology Case Reports.
Enhancing data center sustainability through energy-adaptive computing

The sustainability concerns of Information Technology (IT) go well beyond energy-efficient computing and require techniques for minimizing environmental impact of IT infrastructure over its entire life-cycle. Traditionally, IT infrastructure is overdesigned at all levels from chips to entire data centers and ecosystem; the paradigm explored in this article is to replace overdesign with rightsizing coupled with smarter control, henceforth referred to as Energy-Adaptive Computing or EAC. The article lays out the challenges of EAC in various environments in terms of the adaptation of the workload and the infrastructure to cope with energy and cooling deficiencies. The article then focuses on implementing EAC in a data center environment, and addresses the problem of simultaneous energy demand and energy supply regulation at multiple levels, work, from servers to the entire data center. The proposed control scheme adapts the assignments of tasks to servers in a way that can cope with the varying energy limitations. The article also presents some experimental results to show how the scheme can continue to meet Quality of Service (QoS) requirements of tasks under energy limitations.
Rationale and Design of the Henry Ford ExercIse Testing Project (The FIT Project)

Although physical fitness is a powerful prognostic marker in clinical medicine, most cardiovascular population-based studies do not have a direct measurement of cardiorespiratory fitness. In line with the call from the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute for innovative, low-cost, epidemiologic studies leveraging electronic medical record (EMR) data, we describe the rationale and design of the Henry Ford ExercIse Testing Project (The FIT Project). The FIT Project is unique in its combined use of directly measured clinical exercise data retrospective collection of medical history and medication treatment data at the time of the stress test, retrospective supplementation of supporting clinical data using the EMR and administrative databases and epidemiologic follow-up for cardiovascular events and total mortality via linkage with claims files and the death registry. The FIT Project population consists of 69 885 consecutive physician-referred patients (mean age, 54 ± 10 years; 54% males) who underwent Bruce protocol treadmill stress testing at Henry Ford Affiliated Hospitals between 1991 and 2009. Patients were followed for the primary outcomes of death, myocardial infarction, and need for coronary revascularization. The median estimated peak metabolic equivalent (MET) level was 10, with 17% of the patients having a severely reduced fitness level (METs < 6). At the end of the follow-up duration, 15.9%, 5.6%, and 6.7% of the patients suffered all-cause mortality, myocardial infarction, or revascularization procedures, respectively. The FIT Project is the largest study of physical fitness to date. With its use of modern electronic clinical epidemiologic techniques, it is poised to answer many clinically relevant questions related to exercise capacity and prognosis.
Immunological response to stress in agoraphobia and panic attacks

The authors studied in vitro immune function as measured by lymphocytic proliferative response to mitogen stimulation in 36 patients with agoraphobia and panic attacks who were participating in a double-blind placebo-controlled psychopharmacological study of anxiety disorder. No significant difference in immune status was observed between panic patients and healthy controls.
A General Consistency Check Procedure for Machine-Readable Data

Several levels of data "cleaning" and editing are discussed, and a standard terminology for data-consistency checking and editing is developed. Consistency checking can occur at the level of data structure, syntax, or semantics. A consistency check either may be unconditional, depending only on the value of a single variable; or it may depend on the joint values of the members of a set of variables. The result of a consistency check may be expressed as the value of a vector whose elements indicate the consistency status of each variable in the set. The vector of return codes from a check can be managed and displayed by adding them to the set of variables, and by using them as input to a report generator or to an editing procedure.
Generation of microwave frequency phonons in KC1:Li

Phonons have been generated by resonant excitation of the tunneling states of ${\mathrm{Li}}^{+}$ in KC1 with 24-GHz microwaves. Directional phonon signals of ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}3}$ W have been detected.
Tolerance for the unstable and defensive role adjustment in response to sudden physical disability.

Summary This study investigated the following hypothesis: Subjects tolerant of the unstable would attribute greater similarity in meaning to paired concepts referring to disabled and nondisabled roles than subjects found to be intolerant of the unstable. Thirty-eight males who had suddenly become physically disabled by traumatic injury served as subjects. The cognitive style of tolerance and intolerance of the unstable was determined by the subjects' responses to the phi phenomena. Similarity of role identification was measured by four sets of paired concepts (e.g., Me-Disabled Me) using a semantic differential format. Results of the study supported the hypothesis that subjects tolerant of the unstable are better able to integrate notions of disabled and nondisabled than intolerant subjects.
Fundamental experimental studies in tribology : the transition from interfacial friction of undamaged molecularly smooth surfaces to normal friction with wear

Abstract A new experimental technique is described for simultaneous measurements of both the normal load and the transverse (frictional) forces between two molecularly smooth surfaces, their exact molecular contact area, their surface profile during sliding, and the distance between the two surfaces (to ±1 A ). Both mica and surfactant-coated surfaces have been used, and experiments were carried out in either controlled vapor atmospheres or with the surfaces immersed in various bulk liquids. We refer to the sliding of undamaged surfaces past each other at or very close to true molecular contact as “interfacial” sliding. At low loads the frictional force is described by the equation originally proposed by Bowden and Tabor: F = ScA, where A is the molecular contact area and Sc is the critical shear stress. The dependence of A on the load, L, is well described by the Johnston-Kendall-Roberts theory (for adhesive contacts) and the Hertz theory (for non-adhesive contacts) even during sliding. At higher loads there is an additional contribution to Sc such that the frictional force is now proportional to L. This contribution is analogous to Amontons' law, F = μL, but μ has a different origin and exists even in the absence of any interfacial adhesion. When damage occurs, Amontons' law is now applicable and μ is the normal coefficient of friction. The factors that determine the magnitudes of Sc and μ are different. These will be described, as will the two modes of sliding and the transition between them.
Equivalence of a bridged link calculus and Kirby's calculus of links on nonsimply connected 3-manifolds

Abstract We recall an extension of Kirby's calculus on nonsimply connected 3-manifolds given by Fenn and Rourke (1979), and the surgery calculus of bridged links from Kerler (1994), which involves only local moves. We give a short combinatorial proof that the two calculi are equivalent, and thus describe the same classes of 3-manifolds. This makes the proofs for the validity of surgery calculi of Fenn and Rourke and Kerler interchangeable.
REGULATION AND ROLE OF INTERLEUKIN 6 IN WOUNDED HUMAN EPITHELIAL KERATINOCYTES

Dermal wounding is accompanied by inflammation and the resulting proinflammatory cytokines, including interleukin (IL)-6, are thought to play an important role in the repair process. IL-6 is produced by normal human keratinocytes to various dermatological diseases and we have recently shown it is also required for normal wound repair. However, neither the events responsible for its induction nor its role in repair have been clearly identified. Using a recently developed in vitro wounding model, we demonstrate that IL-6 mRNA is expressed and immunoreactive IL-6 is released from cultures of human epidermal keratinocytes (NHEKs) following wounding. The transcription factors, NF kappa B and NF-IL-6 (C/EBP beta), which coordinately help regulate IL-6 expression, were activated following wounding and preceded the appearance of IL-6. Addition of IL-1 alpha to NHEK cultures increased IL-6 production and activated NF kappa B and C/EBP beta. Addition of the IL-1 alpha receptor antagonist inhibited both IL-6 mRNA expression and the transcription factors following wounding. Immunoreactive IL-1 alpha was detected in the medium following wounding in the absence of new message. Furthermore, addition of IL-6 to NHEK cultures decreased the expression of keratins 1 and 10, differentiation markers of keratinocytes, while proliferation was not affected. Taken together, these data indicate that constitutive keratinocyte-derived IL-1 alpha is a stimulus for IL-6 production in wounded epidermis, the response involves NF kappa B and C/EBP beta transcription factors, and IL-6 may be associated with modulation of keratinocyte differentiation rather than proliferation.
Prospective, randomised trial of sleep deprived versus rested surgeons

1studied the proficiency and speed of surgeons using a virtual reality laparoscopic surgery system. They found that surgeons who had been deprived of sleep made about 20% more errors and took about 14% longer, than when rested. Unfortunately, these findings and those of other research 2 of negative effects of sleep deprivation have failed to curtail this common, and correctable, current medical practice. The work of Taffinder and colleagues can be considered as invitro evidence that a current medical practice—using surgeons who have not had much sleep—may be potentially hazardous. Furthermore, they provide a potential method to improve care, namely letting surgeons rest. However, the question remains of whether sleep deprivation causes worse clinical outcomes. Thus, following standard practice in other areas of medical research, a proper prospective trial should be done to study the question. Consider the following trial: “A
Diffusion in two-dimensional colloid-DNA systems

Abstract Diffusion in quasi-two-dimensional colloid-DNA systems are studied by enhanced video microscopy and image analysis. The colloidal particles are polystyrene spheres and DNA is linear or circular bacteriophage λ -DNA. Dyed linear DNA molecules in pure linear DNA solutions are tracked by fluorescence microscopy. The diffusivities of the colloidal particles and of the DNA molecules are found to decrease sharply at low DNA concentration; the diffusivities of the colloidal particles in both linear and circular DNA exhibit a change in slope as the DNA concentration increases.
Photonic Crystals: A view of the future

Despite intense research efforts, no three-dimensional materials with a photonic bandgap for visible wavelengths have yet been fabricated. A new self-assembly strategy lays out the route towards the realization of this dream.
Activation of p-38α MAPK contributes to neuronal hyperexcitability in caudal regions remote from spinal cord injury

Abstract In the present study, we examined whether activation of p-38α MAPK modulates mechanical allodynia and neuronal hyperexcitability, and if propentofylline (PPF, a glial modulator) modulates specifically localized activated p-38α MAPK expression in caudal regions remote from a low thoracic hemisection injury in rats. T13 spinal hemisection produces bilateral mechanical allodynia in hindpaws with evoked (in response to mechanical stimuli) neuronal hyperexcitability in lumbar spinal wide dynamic range (WDR) neurons compared to sham controls. The mechanical allodynia and the evoked activity of WDR neurons is attenuated by intrathecal and topical administration of SB203580, an inhibitor of p-38 MAPK activation, dose dependently (⁎p
Laboratory safety course in the chemistry curriculum

Abstract Although laboratory safety is considered an important component of undergraduate training, less than 5% of U.S. colleges and universities offer a required course for chemistry majors. A successful one-credit Laboratory Safety Course has been instituted with the objective to develop skills and attitudes for working with chemicals in a safe and responsible way. The general design of the course including topical information, demonstrations, student projects, and other unique course requirements will be discussed. Outcomes of the course include positive student evaluations, and an increased student awareness for applying safety practices in the laboratory.
March Madness, Quantile Regression Bracketology, and the Hayek Hypothesis

A quantile regression variant of the classical paired comparison model of mean ratings is proposed. The model is estimated using data for the regular 2004–2005 U.S. college basketball season, and evaluated based on predictive performance for the 2005 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) basketball tournament. Rather than basing predictions entirely on conditional mean estimates produced by classical least-squares paired comparison methods, the proposed methods produce predictive densities that can be used to evaluate point spread and over/under gambling opportunities. Mildly favorable betting opportunities are revealed. More generally, the proposed methods offer a flexible approach to conditional density forecasting for a broad class of applications. An electronic supplement containing predictive densities for point totals and team offensive and defensive ratings is available from the JBES website.
Specimen preparation of free-standing, thick-metal, multilayered films in cross section

A new preparation method permits the production of large-area, electron-transparent, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) specimens in cross section of free-standing, thick, multilayered structures. Such production often has been difficult in the past because of large chemical differences between the component layers in the multilayer. This difference usually results in a large difference in thinning rates between the layers. A unique combination of electroplating, lapping, dimpling, and low-angle ion milling is a successful and reproducible technique for producing high-quality TEM specimens of these complex materials. Procedures and results presented here are for a 304 stainless-steel/copper multilayer having a repeat period of 20 nm and a total thickness of 20 microns.
Using gabapentin to treat failed back surgery syndrome caused by epidural fibrosis: A report of 2 cases.

Abstract Braverman DL, Slipman CW, Lenrow DA. Using gabapentin to treat failed back surgery syndrome caused by epidural fibrosis: a report of 2 cases. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2001;82:691-3 Failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS) is a long-lasting, often disabling, and relatively frequent (5%-10%) complication of lumbosacral spine surgery. Epidural fibrosis is among the most common causes of FBSS, and it is often recalcitrant to treatment. Repeated surgery for fibrosis has only a 30% to 35% success rate, whereas 15% to 20% of patients report worsening of their symptoms. Long-term outcome studies focusing on pharmacologic management of chronic back pain secondary to epidural fibrosis are lacking in the literature. This report presents 2 cases of severe epidural fibrosis managed successfully with gabapentin monotherapy. In both cases, functional status improved markedly and pain was significantly diminished. Gabapentin has an established, favorable safety profile and has been shown to be effective in various animal models and human studies of chronic neuropathic pain. Clinicians should consider gabapentin as a pharmacologic treatment alternative in the management of FBSS caused by epidural fibrosis. © 2001 by the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine and the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Segmentation of juxtapleural pulmonary nodules using a robust surface estimate

An algorithm was developed to segment solid pulmonary nodules attached to the chest wall in computed tomography scans. The pleural surface was estimated and used to segment the nodule from the chest wall. To estimate the surface, a robust approach was used to identify points that lie on the pleural surface but not on the nodule. A 3D surface was estimated from the identified surface points. The segmentation performance of the algorithm was evaluated on a database of 150 solid juxtapleural pulmonary nodules. Segmented images were rated on a scale of 1 to 4 based on visual inspection, with 3 and 4 considered acceptable. This algorithm offers a large improvement in the success rate of juxtapleural nodule segmentation, successfully segmenting 98.0% of nodules compared to 81.3% for a previously published plane-fitting algorithm, which will provide for the development of more robust automated nodule measurement methods.
Display system design considerations

This paper presents several significant design considerations (non-equipment) for computer oriented display systems. It begins with a discussion of display objectives and criteria. Then coding, formats, display request and control, and amounts of information displayed are discussed. Factors related to retinal resolution, display size and detail, group and individual displays and viewing environment are presented. After these miscellaneous considerations, a checklist of primary display characteristics is presented.
Electro-excitation of giant resonance levels in Si28

Abstract Form factors have been calculated for the electro-excitation of E1, T =1, levels in Si 28 using wave functions derived from the particle-hole model. The transverse electric form factors of the various levels show distinctively different behaviour as functions of momentum transfer. The results are compared with the available experimental data.
Floral structure of Lesquerella fendleri

Abstract The fine structures of the floral nectaries and stomata of Lesquerella fendleri (Brassicaceae), an emerging new oilseed crop, were determined using scanning electron microscopy. The external morphology of nectaries and their location relative to other floral structures are described. Most noteworthy is the discovery of stomata that are identical in appearance to those of the nectaries and uniformly dispersed along the entire style except immediately below the stigma where they occur in greater density. The distribution of these putative secretory structures suggests that they are involved in the pollination biology of the species. Somewhat dissimilar stomata, whose function is also unknown, were found on the ovary wall along the pericardial septum.
Plant Breeding with Genomic Selection: Gain per Unit Time and Cost

ABSTRACTAdvancements in Lorenz, USDA-ARS, R.W. Holley Center for Agriculture and Health, genotyping are rapidly decreasing Cornell Univ., Ithaca, NY 14853. Received 9 Nov. 2009. *Corremarker costs and increasing genome coverage. This is facilitating the use of marker-assisted selection (MAS) in plant breeding. Commonly employed MAS strategies, however, are not well suited for agronomically important complex traits, requiring extra time for !eld-based phenotyping to identify agro-nomically superior lines. Genomic selection (GS) is an emerging alternative to MAS that uses all marker information to calculate genomic esti-mated breeding values (GEBVs) for complex traits. Selections are made directly on GEBV without further phenotyping. We developed an analytical framework to (i) compare gains from MAS and GS for complex traits and (ii) provide a plant breeding context for interpreting results from studies on GEBV accuracy. We designed MAS and GS breeding strategies with equal budgets for a high-investment maize (Zea mays L.) program and a low-investment winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) program. Results indicate that GS can outperform MAS on a per-year basis even at low GEBV accuracies. Using a previ-ously reported GEBV accuracy of 0.53 for net merit in dairy cattle, expected annual gain from GS exceeded that of MAS by about threefold for maize and twofold for winter wheat. We con-clude that if moderate selection accuracies can be achieved, GS could dramatically accelerate genetic gain through its shorter breeding"cycle.E.L. He-ner and M.E. Sorrells, Cornell Univ., Dep. of Plant Breeding and Genetics, Emerson Hall, Ithaca, NY 14853; J.-L. Jannink and A.J. -sponding author (mes12@cornell.edu).
SINGULAR LOGARITHMIC POTENTIALS AND PERATIZATION

Abstract : Logarithmic singular potentials are considered to test the applicability of the peratization technique. It is shown that if one sums up the leading singular terms in each order of the perturbation series no finite results can be obtained. (Author)
A note on a first application of clustering procedures to fleet material condition measurements

The objective of this paper is to provide an independent evaluation of the nature and interpretation of ships' physical condition data generated by the USN Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV). The substantive context is the classification of ships in terms of material condition and/or readiness based on scores pertaining to individual line elements within each ship. In order to account for multi-dimensional measures of each ship, clustering procedures are employed to evaluate existing ship classification systems and to indicate other possibilities.
RNAi-Dependent and -Independent RNA Turnover Mechanisms Contribute to Heterochromatic Gene Silencing

SUMMARY In fission yeast, the RNAi pathway is required for heterochromatin-dependent silencing of transgene insertions at centromeric repeats and acts together with other pathways to silence transgenes at the silent mating-type locus. Here, we show that transgene transcripts at centromeric repeats are processed into siRNAs and are therefore direct targets of RNAi. Furthermore, we show that Cid14, a member of the Trf4/5 family of poly(A) polymerases, has poly(A) polymerase activity that is required for heterochromatic gene silencing. Surprisingly, while siRNA levels in cid14D cells are dramatically reduced, the structural integrity of heterochromatin appears to be preserved. Cid14 resides in a complex similar to the TRAMP complex found in budding yeast, which is part of a nuclear surveillance mechanism that degrades aberrant transcripts. Our findings indicate that polyadenylation by a TRAMP-like complex contributes to robust silencing of heterochromatic genes in fission yeast via the recruitment of the exosome and/or the RNAi machinery.
Stability and fragmentation of complex structures in ferrofluids.

We use quaternion molecular dynamics to determine the equilibrium structure, the stability, and the dynamics of fragmentation of magnetic particle aggregates as a function of applied magnetic field and temperature. In a colloidal suspension the particles form complex one-dimensional structures. At low fields and beyond a critical size, rings are more stable than chains. Rings orient perpendicularly to an applied field and can be activated to fragment into chains. This activation barrier vanishes and rings fragment spontaneously at a higher critical field.