cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Fatal occupational falls in the U.S. construction industry, 1980-1989.

Death certificate analyses were conducted on all fatal occupational falls occurring between 1980 and 1989 in the United States' construction industry using the National Traumatic Occupational Fatalities surveillance system at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Division of Safety Research. Fatality rates were calculated by geographic location (region and state), and year of injury. From 1980 to 1989, there were 2798 deaths due to occupational falls in construction, representing 49.6% of all fatal occupational falls across all industries. Most of these incidents occurred among young white males. By geographical location, the highest fatality rates were observed within the subregions of the Southern states in the United States. In observing the time between the date of injury and the date of death, 66% of the fall victims died on the same day as the injury, whereas 5.7% lived more than 90 days before dying. Further research needs to be targeted at what occupations are at highest risk for a fall injury, what circumstances are attributable to these falls, and prevention strategies to reduce fall injuries and fatalities. Research is also needed to explain why there are geographic differences in occupational falls in the construction industry.
Raman microprobe study of nanophase TiO2 and oxidation-induced spectral changes

A Raman microprobe study of as-compacted nanophase TiO{sub 2} was carried out to investigate the spatial inhomogeneity of its anatase and rutile phases. Also, changes in the observed Raman spectra (line shifts and broadening) were investigated as a function of annealing at temperatures up to 600 {degree}C in argon or air. Microscopic phase inhomogeneity is observed and Raman spectral changes are shown to result from inhomogeneous oxygen deficiency in the nanophase TiO{sub 2}. The line positions corresponding to the Raman active {ital E}{sub {ital g}} modes in both anatase and rutile are found to be sensitive to this oxygen deficiency and are potential quantitative indicators of such deviations from stoichiometry.
Measuring residents' perceived preparedness and skillfulness to deliver cross-cultural care.

BACKGROUND As patient populations become increasingly diverse, we need to be able to measure residents’ preparedness and skillfulness to provide cross-cultural care.
Communication-based services for persons with severe disabilities in schools: A survey of speech-language pathologists

Abstract Speech-language pathologists in school settings were surveyed with an instrument created from the National Joint Committee for the Communication Needs of Persons with Severe Disabilities’ quality indicators self-assessment tool. Participants valued practice indicators of quality communication assessment and intervention to a higher degree than their actual practice. These findings appear to suggest that SLPs may not provide best practice services to individuals with severe disabilities. Suggestions for enhancing inservice training and intervention practices of SLPs and team members who work with individuals with severe disabilities are provided. Learning outcomes: The reader will be able to; (1) understand the value of using the NJC quality indicators to guide SLP practices with individuals with severe disabilities in schools; (2) recognize that research indicates that SLPs working with individuals with severe disabilities in schools may not provide best practice services to the extent that they value these practices; (3) discuss possible strategies to increase the quality of services provided to individuals with severe disabilities in schools.
Protein Requirements of Cows Fed High Concentrate Rations

Abstract In Experiment I, 96 multiparous Holstein cows were assigned at calving to rations containing 13.2, 14.4, and 15.5% crude protein in dry matter. Daily dry matter intake per cow was 4.2 kilograms corn silage, 5.9 kilograms alfalfa hay, and 10.8 kilograms concentrates. In Experiment II, 88 cows at calving were assigned to rations with 13.9 and 15.8% crude protein in dry matter. Daily dry matter intake was 3.8 kilograms corn silage, 8.4 kilograms alfalfa hay, and 10.0 kilograms concentrates. Amount of concentrate offered was reduced to 4 kilograms per cow daily in each experiment if milk production declined to less than 18 kilograms daily or the cow gained more than 45 kilograms body weight over calving weight. In both experiments cows were offered either 115 or 170% of maintenance energy needs during the 60-day dry period resulting in 2×3 (Experiment I) and 2×2 (Experiment II) factorial arrangements of treatments. Average unadjusted 305-day yields in response to ration protein values of 13.2, 14.4, and 15.5% were 6,582, 6,941, and 7,321 kilograms milk; 211, 228, and 223 kilograms fat; 564, 595, and 632 kilograms solids-not-fat; and milk protein percentages of 3.33, 3.27, and 3.37. Comparative production results from dietary proteins of 13.9 and 15.8% in Experiment II were 6,647 and 7,256 kilograms milk, 231 and 250 kilograms fat, and 564 and 614 kilograms solids-not-fat. Prepartum energy treatments did not affect lactation.
Low frequency infrared studies of metal halide complexes of 4,4′-bipyridine

Abstract Complexes of the type M(bipy)X 2 , where M = Mn 2+ , Fe 2+ , Co 2+ , Ni 2+ , Cu 2+ , Zn 2+ , Cd 2+ , and Hg 2+ , and X = halogen were prepared and examined in the region of 650–100 cm −1 . Assignments for the metal-halogen and the metal-ligand vibrations were made. On the basis of these assignments and from the magnetic moments and visible absorption data, the stereochemistry of the compounds was inferred. For the transition metals and cadmium, the data are indicative of a polymeric six coordinate complex with both halide and 4,4′-bipyridine bridging. For zinc the data are consistent with a polymeric tetrahedral complex involving 4,4′-bipyridine bridging.
The universal connector: RF application trends over the next decade

RF technology has enjoyed a significant expansion in consumer electronics and everyday appliances over the past two decades. This presentation will outline key new opportunities and requirements for the RF industry to assume a much greater application reach. This talk will outline why RF growth will accelerate in non-traditional markets, and the key technical and commercial problems that must be solved to enable this. We will conclude with examples of how this growth will affect industry R&D practices, and result in a different business model for leading RF firms.
The effect of dimethylnitrosamine on host resistance and immunity

Adult female B6C3F1 mice were injected ip with 0.2 ml phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) only or PBS containing 1.5, 3, or 5 mg dimethylnitrosamine (DMN)/kg body wt daily for 14 days. On Day 16, mice were evaluated for changes in immune status as measured by the antibody response to sheep red blood cells (SRBCs), blastogenesis to T- and B-cell mitogens, natural killer (NK) cell function, delayed hypersensitivity, and alveolar macrophage (AM) bactericidal activity; and for changes in host resistance following challenge with various microorganisms or tumor cells. DMN-exposed animals exhibited reduced humoral antibody responses, T-cell mitogenesis, and AM bactericidal activity. B-cell mitogenesis, NK cell activity, and delayed hypersensitivity were increased. Resistance to challenge with Listeria monocytogenes, Trichinella spiralis, or Herpes simplex types 1 or 2 virus (HSV-1, HSV-2) was not significantly impaired, while that to Streptococcus zooepidemicus and influenza virus was significantly reduced. Resistance to B16-F10 tumor challenge was enhanced following DMN exposure. The data show that DMN treatment altered humoral immunity and antibody-mediated host defense mechanisms. Increased NK cell activity may account for the increased resistance to challenge with Herpes virus and B16-F10 tumor cells.
Turning Müller Glia into Neural Progenitors in the Retina

Stimulating neuronal regeneration is a potential strategy to treat sight-threatening diseases of the retina. In some classes of vertebrates, retinal regeneration occurs spontaneously to effectively replace neurons lost to acute damage in order to restore visual function. There are different mechanisms and cellular sources of retinal regeneration in different species, include the retinal pigmented epithelium, progenitors seeded across the retina, and the Muller glia. This review briefly summarizes the different mechanisms of retinal regeneration in frogs, fish, chicks, and rodents. The bulk of this review summarizes and discusses recent findings regarding regeneration from Muller glia-derived progenitors, with emphasis on findings in the chick retina. The Muller glia are a promising source of regeneration-supporting cells that are intrinsic to the retina and significant evidence indicated these glias can be stimulated to produce neurons in different classes of vertebrates. The key to harnessing the neurogenic potential of Muller glia is to identify the secreted factors, signaling pathways, and transcription factors that enable de-differentiation, proliferation, and neurogenesis. We review findings regarding the roles of mitogen-activated protein kinase and notch signaling in the proliferation and generation of Muller glia-derived retinal progenitors.
Random coil configurations of polypeptide copolymers

The average dimensions of unperturbed, random-coil polypeptide copolymers composed either of l -alanine (or other residues having -CH 2 R′ side chains) and glycine or of d - and l -alanine are treated theoretically, and results of numerical calculations are presented. The effect of amino acid sequence as well as over-all composition is investigated. Introduction of minor proportions of glycine residues into a stereoregular (i.e., all d or all l ) polymer having -CH 2 R′ side chains brings about a disproportionately large decrease in the average chain dimensions. The dimensions are also sensitive to the degree of regularity in the stereoconfigurations of the substituted α-carbons of successive residues. In random-sequence polypeptides, the unperturbed dimensions decrease monotonously with the degree of racemization. In a racemic dl -polypeptide the chain dimensions are predicted to be strongly dependent on the distribution of d - and l -residues. As the sequence distribution is changed to give successively pure stereopolymer, block copolymer, random copolymer, and finally alternating d - and l -copolymer, the chain dimensions are predicted to fall continuously; mean square dimensions calculated for the alternating d - l -copolymer are less than one-tenth of those for the stereoregular (e.g., all l -) polymer. Preliminary experimental results are presented for random d - l -polyglutamates and glycine-glutamic acid copolymers for comparison with the theoretical predictions. The major results of theory are substantiated.
New concepts of chemical and biological structure consequences of consistently treating weak bonds as chemical structural determinants

It is currently held that biological systems are structural hierarchies composed of increasingly smaller units at each more precise level of resolution. Within this hierarchy, the molecule is the unit of chemical structure. Extensive observation shows that weak chemical bonds like hydrogen bonds, van der Waals forces and weak electrostatic forces are widespread and significant determinants of the properties of biological systems. At present, these weak bonds are inconsistently taken into account in describing the chemical structure of biological systems. I propose that weak chemical bonds be systematically treated as chemical structural determinants. Two important consequences follow. First, the molecule is no longer the unit of chemical structure in biological systems; in its place we obtain a large complex unit whose boundaries at any given instant encompass all the atoms we customarily think of as those of an organism. Second, as a result of the size of this unit and the disposition of its boundaries, an organism can no longer be held to consist of a hierarchy of structural units each with its own boundaries which exist independent of our method of observing them. In this new view, the impression that there are discrete boundaries to each of the several units of the hierarchy such as molecules and cells, is seen to result from the measurement error inherent in the level of resolution at which the boundaries of each of these units is observed.
Construction of a shallow underground low-background detector for a CTBT radionuclide laboratory

The International Monitoring System is a verification component of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, and in addition to a series of radionuclide monitoring stations, contains 16 radionuclide laboratories capable of verification of radionuclide station measurements. This paper presents an overview of a new commercially obtained low-background detector system for radionuclide aerosol measurements recently installed in a shallow (>30 meters water equivalent) underground clean-room facility at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Specifics such as low-background shielding materials and active shielding methods will be covered.
How the law affects the dentist

Summary Dentists should obtain from their local governmental dental licensing board a copy of the regulations that control their professional lives. These regulations should not be taken lightly because failure to follow them has cost practitioners their licenses and their livelihoods. Taking an active role in dental-related litigation is totally under the prosthodontist's control. His expertise is in extreme demand by insurance companies, our court system, and fellow professionals. Prosthodontists have the right to be selective in which matters they become involved but they should always be prepared, be thorough, and be objective.
Networking on the network

Several million people employ electronic mail for some significant portion of their professional communications. Yet in my experience few people have figured out how to use the net productively. A great deal of effort is going into technical means for finding information on the net, but hardly anybody has been helping newcomers figure out where the net fits in the larger picture of their own careers. These notes are a first attempt to fill that gap, building on the most successful practices I've observed in my twenty years on the net. I will focus on the use of electronic communication in research communities, but the underlying principles will be applicable to many other communities as well.
A comparison of soil carbon pools and profiles in wetlands in Costa Rica and Ohio

Abstract Wetlands are large carbon pools and play important roles in global carbon cycles as natural carbon sinks. This study analyzes the variation of total soil carbon with depth in two temperate (Ohio) and three tropical (humid and dry) wetlands in Costa Rica and compares their total soil C pool to determine C accumulation in wetland soils. The temperate wetlands had significantly greater (P
Evolutionary pressures on planktonic production of atmospheric sulphur

Dimethylsulphide (DMS), produced by marine phytoplankton1–5, has been proposed as the major source of cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) in the remote marine atmosphere, and as an important factor in global climate1. Charlson et al.1 suggested that climate modulation and altruism may have been significant factors in the evolution of DMS production by marine phytoplankton. These proposals have led to a re-examination of the relationship between the Earth's biota and climate6–11. Calculations of relative evolutionary pressure in models of individual selection12 and group selection13–17 suggest that neither climate modulation nor altruism could have been the primary factors in the evolution of mid-ocean DMS production. Although a DMS/climate feedback loop may have a role in modulating fluctuations in the Earth's climate1,11, the explanation for mid-ocean DMS production can be found primarily in selection based on local interactions, for example, osmoregulation2,5, and not in evolutionary feedbacks from proposed climate modulation.
A simplified hypoplasia index.

A simplified hypoplasia index for deciduous teeth has been developed. The index utilizes a two-digit system to signify the type and severity of the hypoplastic lesion. The types of lesions recorded are primary canine hypoplasia (PCH) and linear enamel hypoplasia (LEH). The severity ranges from minimal to severe and accounts for the presence of dental caries, dental restorations, and recurrent caries. To determine the reliability of the index, two tests were conducted. The first measure was a repeat reliability coefficient (test-retest) to calculate the stability of the instrument. This measure was calculated for two populations by two examiners under the same examination conditions and exams were conducted seven weeks apart. The second measure calculated the interrater reliability (standardization). Test results were analyzed by employing the Pearson product moment correlation. The repeat reliability coefficients were .75 (P less than or equal to .0001) and .74 (P less than or equal to .0001). The interrater reliability coefficient was .87 (P less than or equal to .0001). These data seem to indicate that the index is reliable over time and between examiners.
Advances in Epilepsy in 2013 for the Neurohospitalist

After consulting on patients with cerebrovascular disease, addressing the problem of seizures and status epilepticus is one of the most important roles of the neurohospitalist.1,2 Status epilepticus refractory to benzodiazepines and second-line drugs such as levetiracetam, phenytoin, and valproate is usually treated with intravenous (IV) anesthetic drugs such as midazolam, pentobarbital, and propofol. Despite such treatment, refractory status epilepticus often results in high mortality. A recent retrospective observational cohort study of 111 patients with refractory status epilepticus revealed a mortality of 38%.3 Important articles published in 2013 suggest that ketamine and immunotherapy may improve outcomes in selected patients with status epilepticus. Ketamine Ketamine, an N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) antagonist, has been proposed as an alternative therapeutic agent for the treatment of refractory status epilepticus. A multicenter retrospective review suggested that ketamine offered “possible” or “likely” responses in 32% of episodes.4 The mortality rate was lower when status epilepticus resolved within 24 hours of ketamine administration. In a prior pilot study, IV ketamine was associated with resolution of refractory status epilepticus in 6 (67%) of 9 children who had failed at least 1 conventional anesthetic such as midazolam, propofol, or thiopental.5 There were no significant adverse reactions. As an NMDA antagonist, ketamine may have the additional benefit of protecting against glutamate-induced neurotoxicity.
Neurodiagnostic Techniques in Neonatal Critical Care

This article reviews recent advances in the neurodiagnostic tools available to clinicians practicing in neonatal critical care. The advent of induced mild hypothermia for acute neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy in 2005 has been responsible for renewed urgency in the development of precise and reliable neonatal neurodiagnostic techniques. Traditional evaluations of bedside head ultrasounds, head computed tomography scans, and routine electroencephalograms (EEGs) have been upgraded in most tertiary pediatric centers to incorporate protocols for MRI, continuous EEG monitoring with remote bedside access, amplitude-integrated EEG, and near-infrared spectroscopy. Meanwhile, recent studies supporting the association between placental pathology and neonatal brain injury highlight the need for closer examination of the placenta in the neurodiagnostic evaluation of the acutely ill newborn. As the pursuit of more effective neuroprotection moves into the “hypothermia plus” era, the identification, evaluation, and treatment of the neurologically affected newborn in the neonatal intensive care unit has increasing significance.
Anomalous ductility in thermoset/thermoplastic polymer alloys: An explanation based on overlap concentration and cavity growth

Using large-scale molecular-dynamics simulations, we investigate the mechanical behavior of thermoset/thermoplastic polymer alloys. We focus here on the effect of linear-chain mass fraction Γl, for different chain lengths Nl, and strain rates . Our results show that tensile strain (i.e., strain to break) decreases with increasing Γl up to a threshold value Γ*l, beyond which it increases with Γl. This non-monotonic behavior, which we call "anomalous ductility", is qualitatively independent of and Nl, so long as fracture occurs in bulk. However, for larger strain rates (i.e., ) adhesive fracture occurs and no anomalous ductility is observed. Γ*l decreases with increasing Nl and we observe microscopic evidence that Γ*l signifies the onset of interchain interactions. A simple scaling argument suggests that Γ*l is related to the overlap concentration c* of the thermoplastic homopolymer in the cured thermoset matrix.
Electrochemical studies of iodine in an aluminium chloride-butylpyridinium chloride ionic liquid part II. Neutral and basic solvent composition

Abstract The electrochemical behavior of iodine in an ambient temperature molten salt system, aluminum chloride-N-(1-butyl)pyridinium chloride (BuPyCl), have been studied in basic (excess BuPyCl) and neutral (1.0:1.0 AlCl 3 : BuPyCI mole ratio) melt compositions. Acid-base interactions of iodine in different oxidation states with the ionic solvent are observed. High stability of triiodide ion in neutral butylpyridinium tetrachloroaluminate indicates relatively weak intermolecular interactions in this solvent. In basic solutions polyhalogen equilibria involving iodine in different oxidation states and chloride ions are established. In iodine and tetraethylammonium triiodide solutions a mixture of ICI 2 − , I 2 Cl − , I 3 − and I − ions forms. The formation constants of I 2 Cl − and I 3 − and the equilibrium constant for I 2 Cl − disproportionation are estimated.
Characterization of the yeast HSP60 gene coding for a mitochondrial assembly factor

The hsp60 protein isolated from the protozoan Tetrahymena thermophila is induced in response to heat stress and is a member of an immunologically conserved family represented in Escherichia coli and in mitochondria of plants and animals1,2. We report here the cloning and characterization of a nuclear gene, HSP60, which codes for the hsp60 homologue from the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Nucleotide sequence analysis revealed that yeast hsp60 is related to the groEL protein of E. coli3-6 and the RUBISCO-binding protein (RBP) of chloroplasts7. HSP60 was found to be the genetic locus of the conditional-lethal mutation described by Cheng et al.8, which at non-permissive temperature is defective in the assembly of several different multisubunit complexes in mitochondria. These data are consistent with the hypothesis that the groEL-related proteins serve an evolutionarily conserved function as accessory factors facilitating the folding and/or association of individual subunits of multimeric protein complexes7,9-14.
The Hydrophilic‐Coated Inflatable Penile Prosthesis: 1‐Year Experience

ABSTRACT Introduction Penile prosthesis infections are a devastating complication for both patient and surgeon. Efforts to reduce the risk of infection from these elective procedures are a major focus of research and development by the major prosthesis companies. The Titan inflatable penile prosthesis (Mentor Corporation, Santa Barbara, CA) is coated with polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), a hydrophilic substance that reduces bacterial adherence and absorbs and elutes the antibiotics the device is immersed in intraoperatively. The Titan device was introduced to the American market in September 2002. This study reports the 1‐year experience in the U.S. with the Titan and compares infection rates with the noncoated Alpha‐1 IPP made by Mentor. Materials and Methods Two thousand three hundred and fifty‐seven Titan prostheses were implanted in the U.S. from September 2002 to August 2003, compared with the 482 noncoated Alpha‐1 IPPs implanted over the same time period. Infection rates were compared, along with bacterial culture data. All data were collected from Mentor's internal database, as generated from the FDA's mandatory reporting of explanted medical devices, and available on the internet. Results The infection rate for the coated Titan IPP was 1.06% (25/2357). During the same time period, the infection rate for the Alpha‐1 noncoated prosthesis was 2.07% (10/482). Staphylococcus species predominated in both groups (9/25 Titan, 6/10 Alpha‐1). Conclusions At 1 year of follow‐up, the data demonstrate that the hydrophilic coating on the Titan IPP confers a significant advantage in reducing the rate of infection over the noncoated device. Long‐term follow‐up on this first year database is needed before this innovation is accepted as the standard of care for prosthetic surgery. Nevertheless, the theoretical reduction in bacterial adhesion conferred by the hydrophilic PVP surface and the ability to choose which antibiotic the device is immersed in intraoperatively gives the implanting surgeon distinct advantages with this new product.
Ran-Binding Protein 3 Phosphorylation Links the Ras and PI3-Kinase Pathways to Nucleocytoplasmic Transport

The major participants of the Ras/ERK and PI3-kinase (PI3K) pathways are well characterized. The cellular response to activation of these pathways, however, can vary dramatically. How differences in signal strength, timing, spatial location, and cellular context promote specific cell-fate decisions remains unclear. Nuclear transport processes can have a major impact on the determination of cell fate; however, little is known regarding how nuclear transport is regulated by or regulates these pathways. Here we show that RSK and Akt, which are activated downstream of Ras/ERK and PI3K, respectively, modulate the Ran gradient and nuclear transport by interacting with, phosphorylating, and regulating Ran-binding protein 3 (RanBP3) function. Our findings highlight an important link between two major cell-fate determinants: nuclear transport and the Ras/ERK/RSK and PI3K/Akt signaling pathways.
Unsuspected articulation side-strut extension during stenting in a tortuous right coronary artery

This case report demonstrates the effect of articulation stent-strut extension during attempts to deploy a stent in a tortuous, calcified right coronary artery. The manipulation of the stent-sheath relationship and the effect of a tortuous, calcified artery produced serial dissections resulting in the implantation of three stents to seal the dissection. Caution should be used when employing rigid sheathed stent systems through tortuous vessels. Cathet. Cardiovasc. Diagn. 42:417–419, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Latent learning and the partial reinforcement effect

Satiated Ss were exposed to a distinctive food in a runway goal box on a consistent or intermittent basis. Half of the Ss in each group had prior experience with the food and the other half were naive. Tested under deprivation, a partial reinforcement effect was obtained, the effect being stronger for the Ss which were experienced with the food.
SCALE INVARIANCE VS CONFORMAL INVARIANCE FROM HOLOGRAPHY

The relation between scale invariance and conformal invariance is a subtle but important unsolved problem in the quantum field theory. We study a holographic approach to this problem and show that the null energy condition in the bulk effective gravitational theories guarantees the equivalence between the scale invariance and conformal invariance of the boundary theories. We also investigate the higher-dimensional compactification, where the warping can generate additional possible violation of the conformal invariance. Our discussion is applicable in any dimension, and suggests a generalization of Zamolodchikov Polchinski theorem that states the equivalence in (1+1) dimension from the purely field theory viewpoint.
A product theorem in free groups

If A is a nite subset of a free group with at least two noncommuting elements, thenjA A Aj jAj 2 (logjAj)O(1) . More generally, the same conclusion holds in an arbitrary virtually free group, unless A generates a virtually cyclic subgroup. The central part of the proof of this result is carried on by estimating the number of collisions in multiple products A1 ::: Ak. We include a few simple observations showing that in this \statistical" context
Development of outstanding leadership: A life narrative approach

Abstract Developmental events of a sample of outstanding leaders experienced in early life were examined. Relevant sections of 120 biographies of outstanding leaders in the 20th Century were content coded using a life narrative framework. The results indicated that individuals evidencing a particular leadership type (charismatic, ideological, or pragmatic) and orientation (socialized or personalized) were linked to certain types of developmental events. Similarly, event content was found to vary between the leader styles. Specific kinds of experiences were also related to various indices of leader performance. Practical and theoretical implications of these findings are discussed.
Module Prototype for Online Failure Prediction for the IBM Blue Gene/L

The growing complexity of scientific applications has led to the design and deployment of large-scale parallel systems. The IBM Blue Gene/L can hold in excess of 200 K processors and it has been designed for high performance and reliability. However, failures in this large-scale parallel system are a major concern, since it has been demonstrated that a failure will significantly reduce the performance of the system.
An Autonomous Self-Mooring Vehicle for Littoral & Coastal Observations

A new type of surface vehicle/buoy is needed for marine biological studies, physical oceanography, environmental impact assessment and integrated marine environment management. It is proposed within this document to present the development of an autonomous self-mooring vehicle (ASMV) that collects meteorological, acoustic, and physical data, while simultaneously obtaining water samples for chemical analysis through mass-spectrum analysis from littoral and estuary waters. The ASMV is programmed to use and analyze the oceanographic and meteorological data in its guidance system to track and analyze a specific phenomenon. During the project several scientific surveys will be performed to test the abilities of the vehicle. For example, the assessment of the biodiversity of organisms (e.g., phytoplankton) that live at a specific region will be conducted. All operations will be completely autonomous with the exception of the high level communication between the vehicle and the operations center. The vehicle houses commercial and student designed measurement units containing instruments such as multi-chemistry analyzer, conductivity, temperature, depth gages, and a fluorimeter that detects various chemicals such as chlorophyll, rhodamine, and fluorescein.
Antihypertensive drug therapy: current status.

At present, there are few patients whose blood pressure cannot be reduced to normotensive levels with the available hypotensive agents. Often a double or triple-drug regimen is required. The ultimate goal of the therapist will be accomplished, however, only when the underlying etiology of essential hypertension is discovered.
Meta-Analysis of the Efficacy of Nicotine Replacement Therapy for Smoking Cessation: Differences between Men and Women.

Gender differences in the efficacy of nicotine replacement therapies (NRTs) were examined in a meta-analytical review of 90 effect sizes obtained from a sample of 21 double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized studies. Although NRT was more effective for men than placebo at 3-month, 6-month, and 12-month follow-ups, the benefits of NRT for women were clearly evident only at the 3- and 6-month follow-ups. Giving NRT in conjunction with high-intensity nonpharmacological support was more important for women than men. That is, NRT and low support were efficacious for women at only short-term follow-up, and men benefited from NRT at all the follow-ups regardless of the intensity of the adjunct support. The results suggest that long-term maintenance of NRT treatment gains decrease more rapidly for women than men.
Applications of Interval Computations: An Introduction

The main goal of this introduction is to make the book more accessible to readers who are not familiar with interval computations: to beginning graduate students, to researchers from related fields, etc. With this goal in mind, this introduction describes the basic ideas behind interval computations and behind the applications of interval computations that are surveyed in the book.
Deriving Analytical Input&#8211;Output Relationship for Fuzzy Controllers Using Arbitrary Input Fuzzy Sets and Zadeh Fuzzy AND Operator

A fuzzy controller uses either Zadeh or product fuzzy AND operator, with the former being more frequently used than the latter. We have recently published a novel technique for deriving analytical input-output relation for the fuzzy controllers that use Zadeh AND operator and arbitrary trapezoidal input fuzzy sets, including triangular ones as special cases. In this paper, we have developed a general technique based on that technique to cover arbitrary types of input fuzzy sets. Moreover, we have established some necessary and sufficient conditions to characterize general relationship between shape of input fuzzy sets and shape of input space divisions, an important and integral issue because analytical relationship differs in different regions of input space. The new technique and the shape relations are applicable to any type of fuzzy controllers (e.g., Mamdani type or Takagi-Sugeno type). The analytical structures that we have derived provide an unprecedented opportunity to insightfully and rigorously examine the advantages and shortcomings of different design choices available for various components of the fuzzy controllers. We have focused on type selection for input fuzzy sets of Mamdani fuzzy controllers. Our preliminary analysis indicates that the fuzzy controllers using trapezoidal fuzzy sets may be understood (and possibly analyzed and designed) more sensibly and easily in the context of conventional control theory than the fuzzy controllers using any other types of fuzzy sets. Our proposition is that trapezoidal fuzzy sets should be the first choice and used most of time. Possible implication for automatic learning of input fuzzy sets via neural networks or genetic algorithms is briefly discussed
The cytoplasmic domain of the gamete membrane fusion protein HAP2 targets the protein to the fusion site in Chlamydomonas and regulates the fusion reaction

Cell-cell fusion between gametes is a defining step during development of eukaryotes, yet we know little about the cellular and molecular mechanisms of the gamete membrane fusion reaction. HAP2 is the sole gamete-specific protein in any system that is broadly conserved and shown by gene disruption to be essential for gamete fusion. The wide evolutionary distribution of HAP2 (also known as GCS1) indicates it was present in the last eukaryotic common ancestor and, therefore, dissecting its molecular properties should provide new insights into fundamental features of fertilization. HAP2 acts at a step after membrane adhesion, presumably directly in the merger of the lipid bilayers. Here, we use the unicellular alga Chlamydomonas to characterize contributions of key regions of HAP2 to protein location and function. We report that mutation of three strongly conserved residues in the ectodomain has no effect on targeting or fusion, although short deletions that include those residues block surface expression and fusion. Furthermore, HAP2 lacking a 237-residue segment of the cytoplasmic region is expressed at the cell surface, but fails to localize at the apical membrane patch specialized for fusion and fails to rescue fusion. Finally, we provide evidence that the ancient HAP2 contained a juxta-membrane, multi-cysteine motif in its cytoplasmic region, and that mutation of a cysteine dyad in this motif preserves protein localization, but substantially impairs HAP2 fusion activity. Thus, the ectodomain of HAP2 is essential for its surface expression, and the cytoplasmic region targets HAP2 to the site of fusion and regulates the fusion reaction.
Cigarette company trade secrets are not secret: an analysis of reverse engineering reports in internal tobacco industry documents released as a result of litigation

Objectives Use previously secret tobacco industry documents to assess tobacco companies’ routine claims of trade secret protection for information on cigarette ingredients, additives and construction made to regulatory agencies, as well as the companies’ refusal to publicly disclose this information. Methods We analysed previously secret tobacco industry documents available at (http://legacy.library.ucsf.edu) to identify 100 examples of seven major tobacco companies’ reverse engineering of their competitors’ brands between 1937 and 2001. Results These reverse engineering reports contain detailed data for 142 different measurements for at least two companies, including physical parameters of the cigarettes, tobacco types, humectants, additives, flavourings, and smoke constituents of competitors’ cigarettes. These 100 documents were distributed to 564 employees, including top managers in domestic and foreign offices across multiple departments, including executive leadership, research and design, product development, marketing and legal. These documents reported new competitors’ products, measured ingredient changes over time, and informed companies’ decisions regarding ingredients in their own products. Conclusions Because cigarette companies routinely analyse their competitors’ cigarettes in great detail, this information is neither secret nor commercially valuable and, thus, does not meet the legal definition of a ‘trade secret.’ This information is only being kept ‘secret’ from the people consuming cigarettes and the scientific community. Public agencies should release this detailed information because it would provide valuable information about how ingredients affect addictiveness and toxicity, and would help the public health community and consumers better understand the impact of cigarette design on human health.
A hybrid experimental/numerical approach to characterize interfacial adhesion in multilayer low-κ thin film specimens

Abstract The strength of multilayer low dielectric (low-κ) constant organo–silicate glass (OSG) and silicon–carbon–nitride (SiCN) thin film interfaces is characterized by a laser spallation technique. Two specimen sets with different OSG/SiCN stacking sequences are evaluated. The effect of helium (He) pretreatment is also investigated. The stress at the low-κ interface is enhanced through the use of a fused silica backing layer to shape the incident pulse and the addition of a thin gold (Au) top layer to increase inertial force during the dynamic failure event. The weakest interface in the multilayer stack (first to fail) is identified through optical images, profilometry and scanning electron microscope images of the spallation zone. The strength of the failed interface is inferred from the incident stress history in combination with a one dimensional dynamic wave propagation analysis. The adhesion strength of the OSG/SiCN interface (372 MPa) is 32% larger than that of Si/OSG (282 MPa) for specimens with no He pretreatement. The interfacial strength of both interfaces is significantly increased by a He pretreatment, making failure by spallation difficult.
Comparing Sexual and Ethnic Minority Perspectives on Same-Sex Marriage

We examined views on same-sex marriage in the context of California's Proposition 8 among a community sample of non-Black gay men, lesbians, and bisexual men and women (GLBs) as well as Black heterosexuals. Additionally, we investigated whether GLBs’ perception of Blacks’ views on same-sex marriage influenced the extent to which they blamed Blacks for the passage of Proposition 8. As expected, GLBs viewed same-sex marriage as a civil rights issue significantly more than a moral issue and as analogous to the 1960s Civil Rights Campaign. The views of Black heterosexuals, however, varied greatly by their vote on Proposition 8. Furthermore, the more GLBs perceived Blacks to view same-sex marriage as a civil rights issue, the less they blamed Blacks for the passage of Proposition 8. These findings suggest that GLBs and Blacks frame the issue of same-sex marriage differently and point to important intergroup consequences of perceived views of others.
Hunger for Voice: Transformative Argumentation in the 2005 Guantánamo Bay Hunger Strike

This article develops a theory of politically transformative argumentation with the 2005 Guantanamo Bay Detention Center hunger strike as its exemplary case. Drawing on Rancīere's theory of politic...
The zebrafish pinball wizard gene encodes WRB, a tail-anchored-protein receptor essential for inner-ear hair cells and retinal photoreceptors.

Key points The zebrafish pinball wizard (pwi) mutant is deaf and blind. The pwi phenotype includes a reduced auditory startle response and reduced visual evoked potentials, suggesting fatigue of synaptic release at ribbon synapses in hair cells and photoreceptors. The gene defective in the pwi mutant is WRB, a protein homologous to the yeast protein Get1, which is involved in the insertion of ‘tail-anchored’ membrane proteins. Many tail-anchored proteins are associated with synaptic vesicles, and both vesicles and synaptic ribbons are reduced in synaptic regions of hair cells in pwi. Abnormal processing of synaptic vesicle proteins important for ribbon synapses can explain the pwi phenotype. Abstract In a large-scale zebrafish insertional mutagenesis screen, we identified the pinball wizard (pwi) line, which displays a deafness and blindness phenotype. Although the gross morphology and structure of the pwi larval inner ear was near normal, acoustic startle stimuli evoked smaller postsynaptic responses in afferent neurons, which rapidly fatigued. In the retina, similarly, an abnormal electroretinogram suggested reduced transmission at the photoreceptor ribbon synapse. A functional deficit in these specialized synapses was further supported by a reduction of synaptic marker proteins Rab3 and cysteine-string protein (CSP/Dnajc5) in hair cells and photoreceptors, as well as by a reduction of the number of both ribbons and vesicles surrounding the ribbons in hair cells. The pwi gene encodes a homologue of the yeast Get1 and human tryptophan-rich basic (WRB) proteins, which are receptors for membrane insertion of tail-anchored (TA) proteins. We identified more than 100 TA proteins expressed in hair cells, including many synaptic proteins. The expression of synaptobrevin and syntaxin 3, TA proteins essential for vesicle fusion, was reduced in the synaptic layers of mutant retina, consistent with a role for the pwi/WRB protein in TA-protein processing. The WRB protein was located near the apical domain and the ribbons in hair cells, and in the inner segment and the axon of the photoreceptor, consistent with a role in vesicle biogenesis or trafficking. Taken together, our results suggest that WRB plays a critical role in synaptic functions in these two sensory cells, and that disrupted processing of synaptic vesicle TA proteins explains much of the mutant phenotype.
Variation Among Genotypes and Source Habitats in Growth and Fecundity of the Wetland Invasive Plant Phalaris arundinacea L

The spread of invasive wetland plants has resulted in a number of negative impacts to wetland habitats including reductions in biodiversity, displacement of native plants, and altered water flow. Phalaris arundinacea L. (Reed canarygrass) is a highly competitive invasive plant in North American wetlands. While research has focused on growth characteristics and competitive ability of P. arundinacea in wetland habitats, little is known about how its growth in upland conditions differs from that in wetlands. To characterize differences in growth between upland and wetland habitats, we conducted a 13-month field experiment of unconstrained growth of P. arundinacea in upland and wetland conditions. A suite of traits was measured in genotypes collected from upland and wetland habitats. Although P. arundinacea most often occurs in wetlands, there was significantly higher growth and fecundity in the dry soil treatment. All of the growth traits measured varied among genotypes, a few varied between the habitats of origin, and significant interactions were found between habitat of origin and soil moisture treatment for several traits. The significant genetic variation observed suggests that there is potential for local adaptation to upland habitats. The higher growth and fecundity in upland conditions highlights the need for additional research to investigate P. arundinacea establishment capacity and competitiveness in upland habitats.
Brain metabolism in encephalopathy caused by hyperammonemia.

Liver failure, one of the primary causes of death around the world, may occur within days as a result of acute hepatic failure or over many years in chronic conditions such as alcoholic fatty liver or cirrhosis. When the liver fails, or when blood is shunted past the liver, hyperammonemia results and brain function deteriorates: a disorder known as hepatic encephalopathy [1–5]. This syndrome is manifest by signs that range from a rapidly developing sequence of delirium, convulsions and coma in acute hepatic necrosis to a more gradually developing intellectual impairment that may lead to stupor and coma in patients with chronic liver disease. The latter form is more prevalent and may affect millions of people to some degree [6, 7].
Fatalism and Causal Determinism: An Aristotelian Essay

The problem of free will (or causal determinism) is often distinguished from the problem of fatalism. The former has been characterised as the "problem of trying to reconcile the generally accepted belief that all events are causally determined with the equally accepted view that people sometimes act freely, in the sense that they could have avoided doing what they actually did". The latter problem, that of "trying to reconcile the generally accepted belief that all statements are either true or false with the view that in the sense just described, people sometimes act freely", has, it is claimed, "nothing to do with cause and effect; it has to do instead with true and false".l
Influence of Illumination and Surface Structure on Space Use by Prairie Deer Mice (Peromyscus maniculatus bairdii)

Effects of illumination and habitat structure on activity of prairie deer mice ( Peromyscus maniculatus bairdii ) were assessed by use of sand tracking in experimental arenas. Activity was significantly lower on bright (median = 1,036 footprints in sand transects) than dark nights (2,608 footprints). Use of space along arena walls (16.7% of arena area) was significantly greater than that in an equal area in the middle of the arena on both bright (walls, 37.3% of footprints; middle, 7.9%) and dark nights (23.2%; 14.0%). Use of the side of the arena with simulated habitat structure that cast shadows (33.3% of arena area) was significantly greater than that in an equal area on the side without added structure on bright (structure, 50.0% of footprints; no added structure, 33.9%), but not dark nights (38.3%; 34.9%). Seed use on bright and dark nights did not reflect patterns of activity demonstrated by footprints.