cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Microgravity Fluids and Combustion Research at NASA Glenn Research Center

AbstractAt the dawn of the Space Age, the design of early rocket and spacecraft systems presented significant challenges because of the low-gravity environment of space. Motivated by these challenges, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Glenn Research Center (GRC) pioneered the development of low-gravity facilities—including drop towers, sounding rockets, zero-gravity (zero-g) aircraft, and most importantly, space-based facilities—to advance microgravity research to further the nation’s space exploration efforts. These efforts resulted in improved spacecraft system designs and practices in areas as diverse as fluid handling and spacecraft fire safety. At the same time, researchers realized that the microgravity environment allows the study of fundamental combustion and fluid physics problems, without the complication of buoyancy-induced convection. Microgravity testing enabled advancements in areas of technological and ecological importance in terrestrial applications such as global a...
Factor interactions and aquatic toxicity testing

Abstract Hypothesizing that experimental variables constituting an exposure situation act independently when in combination, we have reviewed two published data sets dealing with effects of metal mixtures on aquatic animals in order to assess the potential practical significance of factor interactions and their implication to the design of aquatic toxicity tests. Both data sets were re-analyzed using each of the following predictive models: (1) simple-additive, y = a x + b y , where y is an estimated response, a x is the observed response to a concentration of toxicant x when y = 0, and b y is the observed response to a level of toxicant y when x = 0; (2) linear-additive, y = a + b 1 x 1 + b 2 x 2 , in which y is a predicted value, a and b are pooled estimates involving all treatments in the exposure assay; (3) quadratic response, y = a + b 1 x 1 + b 2 x 2 + b 12 x 1 x 2 + b 11 x 1 2 + b 22 x 2 2 , which provides for estimates of interactions and non-linear effects. The relative effectiveness of each model in predicting joint effects of independent test variables was evaluated in terms of calculated mean-square error and goodness-of-fit ( R 2 ) values, as well as by how well predicted treatment effects compared with responses observed by original investigators. Our analyses show that in one case all three models provided similar estimates that closely approximated observed responses, despite the presence of a statistically significant two-factor metal interaction. In comparison, in the second instance, the quadratic response model was the most effective predictor and was appreciably better than the linear-additive model in terms of the calculated parameters. The simple-additive model on the other hand, tended to over-estimate treatment effects, by as much as 80% in some instances, and was least effective of the three models examined. Our re-analyses show that the working hypothesis is rejected, i.e. an assumption of factor independence is not to be accepted a priori . A sequential testing protocol is presented which would permit an evaluation of the existence of factor interactions.
Identification of developmental competence-related genes in mature porcine oocytes.

Oocyte competence is a key factor limiting female fertility, yet the underlying molecular mechanisms that contribute to oocyte competence remain unclear. The objective of this study was to elucidate specific genes whose function contributes to oocyte competence. We observed that 6 of 20 target genes examined were differentially expressed between adult (more competent) and prepubertal (less competent) porcine in vitro matured (IVM) oocytes. These genes were the cholesterol synthesis related gene HMG-CoA reductase (HMGCR), fatty acid oxidation genes acyl-CoA synthetase long-chain family member 3 (ACSL3) and long-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (ACADL), glycolytic genes fructose 1,6 bisphosphate aldolase (ALDOA) and lactate dehydrogenase C (LDHC), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF). These 6 genes, as well as 3 other genes (porcine endogenous retrovirus (PERV), transcribed loci 10 (TL10), serine/arginine-rich splicing factor 1 (SRSF1)), were further analyzed by comparing transcript abundance in IVM and in vivo matured (VVM) prepubertal and adult porcine oocytes. Among these 9 target genes, five were differentially expressed between IVM and VVM prepubertal oocytes, while eight genes were differentially expressed between IVM and VVM adult oocytes. None was differentially expressed between VVM prepubertal and adult oocytes. A functional study of TNF demonstrated that depletion of endogenous TNF decreased oocyte competence and TNFAIP6 expression in cumulus cells, while TNF in IVM medium regulated TNFAIP6 expression in cumulus cells. Differential expression of the genes identified in this study suggests that these genes may be functionally relevant to oocyte competence.
DO WORKFORCE AND ORGANIZATIONAL PRACTICES EXPLAIN THE MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY IMPLEMENTATION ADVANTAGE OF SMALL DEFENSE CONTRACTORS OVER NON‐DEFENSE ESTABLISHMENTS?

This paper explores whether defense contractors' manufacturing technology advantages over purely commercial firms might be associated with differences in their workforce and organizational practices. It uses unique original data collected specifically to test workforce and organizational complementarities in implementation of advanced manufacturing technology in small manufacturers. Findings are that defense contractors: (1) have higher and deeper rates of advanced manufacturing technology use; (2) have greater perceived success in achieving manufacturing goals; (3) are more likely practitioners across a diverse spectrum of advanced workforce and organizational practices. Then, (4) econometrically, the defense contractors' higher reported levels of achievement in implementing advanced manufacturing technologies are positively associated with those organizational and workforce practice differences.
Understanding Scarring: Scarless Fetal Wound Healing as a Model

Scarring is a frequent unwanted consequence of full-thickness wound healing because such wounds heal via repair mechanisms as opposed to regenerative mechanisms. In certain situations, however, full-thickness wounds heal without scarring. Understanding the circumstance of scarless healing may lead to facilitation of the process. For example, in utero, early in fetal life, wounds heal by regeneration instead of repair (Larson et al., 2010). This scarless fetal wound healing occurs across species, but it is age dependent—that is, at a certain time point in embryonic development, a switch is flipped that triggers scarring. In humans, this transition occurs in the last trimester of pregnancy (Wilgus, 2007). Attempts have been made to understand the factors that early in utero allow for scarless healing. One important observation is that fetal wound healing occurs with minimal inflammation (Krummel et al., 1987). By contrast, wound healing in late pregnancy and in adults is characterized by a robust inflammatory response and scar formation. Using a well-characterized embryonic murine model in which scarless healing occurs at or before embryonic day 15 (E15) and scarring occurs at or after E18, Wulff et al. (2012, this issue) examined the potential role of mast cells in scar formation during fetal wound healing, based on evidence that mast cells are involved in fibrosis in conditions such as keloids and scleroderma. In evaluating cultured mast cells, normal skin, and wounded skin from E15 and E18 mice, the investigators found that mast cells displayed decreased numbers, maturity, and function (degranulation) in E15 skin, suggesting a role for mast cells in the promotion of scarring in E18 mice. Additional experiments investigated the results of injection of mast cell lysates from E15 and E18 mice and of mast cell–deficient mice. The resulting data further supported a role for mast cells in fibrosis in this model. The possible role of mast cells in the transition from scarless to fibrotic healing suggests a potential target in therapeutics. Through the following questions, we examine this paper in greater detail. For brief answers, please refer to the supplementary information online .
The Role of Serum High Density Lipoproteins in Adrenal Steroidogenesis

The rat adrenal cortex possesses at least two mechanisms for uptake of extracellular lipoprotein cholesterol; one is receptor mediated endocytosis and the second is a non-endocytotic pathway. The latter was revealed by the ability of lipoproteins such as HDL which do not possess apo B or apo E to enhance steroid hormone output. Rat adrenocortical cell uptake of HDL cholesterol is saturable and differs for unesterified cholesterol and cholesterol esters. In addition rat adrenocortical cells possess ACTH regulated HDL binding sites although the relationship of HDL receptor activity to cholesterol uptake remains uncertain. Further elucidation of the “HDL pathway” in the rat adrenal cortex may have biologic significance beyond understanding adrenal function since many non-steroidogenic tissues also possess HDL receptors and in man circulating levels of HDL-cholesterol are a strong inverse risk factor for accelerated atherosclerosis.
Analysis of K- and L-shell spectra from indirectly driven implosions

Abstract We report on the analysis of K- and L-shell spectra obtained from Ar and Xe dopants seeded into the fuel region of plastic capsules indirectly imploded using the Nova laser. Stark broadening of the Ar Ly-β and He-β lines is used to infer fuel electron density, while spatially averaged fuel electron temperature is deduced from the ratio of Ar Ly-β to He-β. A postprocessing code has been developed to simulate experimental spectra by taking into account spatial gradients and line transfer effects. It is shown that correct modeling of the x-ray emission requires a proper treatment of the coupled radiative transfer and kinetics problem. A recently developed diagnostic based on the lineshape of Ar He-β and its associated dielectronic satellites is shown to provide a simultaneous measure of electron temperature and electron density. Comparisons of TOTAL and MERL line broadening calculations for this case are shown. L-shell Xe spectroscopy is under continuing development as an electron temperature and electron density diagnostic. Density and temperature sensitive ratios of spectral features each consisting of many lines have been identified. Observed Xe spectra from imploded cores show the same qualitative behavior with temperature as predicted by model calculations of Xe emission spectra.
Tourette syndrome and autistic disorder: a significant relationship

The histories of 10 children with autistic disorder or pervasive developmental disorder (PDD) cooccurring with familial Tourette syndrome (TS) are presented. Evidence from the histories of the patients and their relatives combined with other reports of cases of cooccurrence of TS and autism provides support for the hypothesis that TS may be responsible for cases of coocurrence of the disorders, contributes significantly to the etiological heterogeneity of autistic disorder and that a portion of cases of autism may actually be a result of homozygosity for the TS gene. In addition, the presence of affective disorders and autistic-like syndromes or mild disturbances of social relatedness in some of the pedigrees suggests the hypothesis that TS may be responsible for a subgroup of families with cooccurring affective and autistic disorders and for some cases of familial aggregation of autism-PDD.
FTDP-17 mutations compromise the ability of tau to regulate microtubule dynamics in cells.

The neural microtubule-associated protein Tau binds directly to microtubules and regulates their dynamic behavior. In addition to being required for normal development, maintenance, and function of the nervous system, Tau is associated with several neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer disease. One group of neurodegenerative dementias known as FTDP-17 (fronto-temporal dementia with Parkinsonism linked to chromosome 17) is directly linked genetically to mutations in the tau gene, demonstrating that Tau misfunction can cause neuronal cell death and dementia. These mutations result either in amino acid substitutions in Tau or in altered Tau mRNA splicing that skews the expression ratio of wild-type 3-repeat and 4-repeat Tau isoforms. Because wild-type Tau regulates microtubule dynamics, one possible mechanism underlying Tau-mediated neurodegeneration is aberrant regulation of microtubule behavior. In this study, we microinjected normal and mutated Tau protein into cultured cells expressing fluorescent tubulin and measured the effects on the dynamic instability of individual microtubules. We found that the FTDP-17 amino acid substitutions G272V (in both 3-repeat and 4-repeat Tau contexts), ΔK280, and P301L all exhibited markedly reduced abilities to regulate dynamic instability relative to wild-type Tau. In contrast, the FTDP-17 R406W mutation (which maps in a regulatory region outside the microtubule binding domain of Tau) did not significantly alter the ability of 3-repeat or 4-repeat Tau to regulate microtubule dynamics. Overall, these data are consistent with a loss-of-function model in which both amino acid substitutions and altered mRNA splicing in Tau lead to neurodegeneration by diminishing the ability of Tau to properly regulate microtubule dynamics.
Calculation of Forward and Backward Arterial Waves by Analysis of Two Pressure Waveforms

We developed a technique to calculate forward and backward arterial waves from proximal and distal pressure waveforms. First, the relationship between the waveforms is represented with an arterial tube model. Then, the model parameters are estimated via least-squares fitting. Finally, the forward and backward waves are calculated using the parameter estimates. Thus, unlike most techniques, the arterial waves are determined without a more difficult flow measurement or an experimental perturbation. We applied the technique to central aortic and femoral artery pressure waveforms from anesthetized dogs during drug infusions, volume changes, and cardiac pacing. The calculated waves predicted an abdominal aortic pressure waveform measurement more accurately (2.4 mmHg error) than the analyzed waveforms (5.3 mmHg average error); reliably predicted relative changes in a femoral artery flow measurement (14.7% error); and changed as expected with selective vasoactive drugs. The ratio of the backward- to forward-wave magnitudes was 0.37 ± 0.05 during baseline. This index increased by ~50% with phenylephrine and norepinephrine, decreased by ~60% with dobutamine and nitroglycerin, and changed little otherwise. The time delay between the waves in the central aorta was 175 ± 14 ms during baseline. This delay varied by ±~25% and was inversely related to mean pressure.
Transceiver design and performance evaluation of MIMO systems with forward link channel knowledge

We study multiple input multiple output (MIMO) antenna systems in a frequency selective channel with complete forward link channel knowledge based on a discrete frequency domain model. An optimal transmit and receive architecture in terms of maximizing the MIMO channel capacity is first described, followed by the practical considerations of linear pre-filter, encoder, modulation and receiver designs. Simulations focused on cases with more transmit than receive antennas demonstrate the great potential ability of such systems to exploit both the coherent array gain and the spatial multiplexing gain using a fairly simple receiver.
Racial/ethnic differences in combat- and non-combat-associated traumatic brain injury severity in the Veterans Health Administration: 2004-2010

Objectives. We examined the association between traumatic brain injury (TBI) severity and combat exposure by race/ethnicity.Methods. We estimated logit models of the fully adjusted association of combat exposure with TBI severity in separate race/ethnicity models for a national cohort of 132 995 veterans with TBI between 2004 and 2010.Results. Of veterans with TBI, 25.8% had served in a combat zone. Mild TBI increased from 11.5% to 40.3%, whereas moderate or severe TBI decreased from 88.5% to 59.7%. Moderate or severe TBI was higher in non-Hispanic Blacks (80.0%) and Hispanics (89.4%) than in non-Hispanic Whites (71.9%). In the fully adjusted all-race/ethnicity model, non-Hispanic Blacks (1.44; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.37, 1.52) and Hispanics (1.47; 95% CI = 1.26, 1.72) had higher odds of moderate or severe TBI than did non-Hispanic Whites. However, combat exposure was associated with higher odds of mild TBI in non-Hispanic Blacks (2.48; 95% CI = 2.22, 2.76) and Hispanics (3.42; 95% CI = 1.84, 6.3...
Methyl Methanesulfonate Mutagenesis in Bacteriophage T4

ABSTRACT MMS induces diverse rII mutations from a wild-type background in bacteriophage T4. About 56% are base pair substitutions, about 30% are frameshift mutations, and the remainder is a miscellaneous set of rapidly reverting or leaky mutants of unknown composition; but deletions were not detected. MMS-induced forward mutation is sharply reduced by the mutations px and y, which also reduce ultraviolet, photodynamic and γ-ray mutagenesis and increase killing by all of these agents. Thus, many of the mutations arise via the T4 WXY system. The induction of G:C → A:T transitions was detected even in a px or y background using sensitive reversion tests, and the few forward rII mutations that were induced from this background also behaved like transition mutations. Thus, some MMS-induced mutations arise independently of the WXY system, perhaps as a result of the (rather weak) ability of MMS to alkylate the O6 position of guanine.
MiTAP, text and audio processing for bio-security: a case study

MiTAP (MITRE Text and Audio Processing) is a prototype system available for monitoring infectious disease outbreaks and other global events. MiTAP focuses on providing timely, multi-lingual, global information access to medical experts and individuals involved in humanitarian assistance and relief work. Multiple information sources in multiple languages are automatically captured, filtered, translated, summarized, and categorized by disease, region, information source, person, and organization. Critical information is automatically extracted and tagged to facilitate browsing, searching, and sorting. The system supports shared situational awareness through collaboration, allowing users to submit other articles for processing, annotate existing documents, post directly to the system, and flag messages for others to see. MiTAP currently stores eight hundred thousand articles and processes an additional 2000 to 10,000 daily, delivering up-to-date information to dozens of regular users.
On counting and generating curves over small finite fields

We consider curves defined over small finite fields with points of large prime order over an extension field. Such curves are often referred to as Koblitz curves and are of considerable cryptographic interest. An interesting question is whether such curves are easy to construct as the target point order grows asymptotically. We show that under certain number theoretic conjecture, if q is a prime power, r is a prime and √q>(r log q)2+e, then there are at least Ω(q/r1+e log2 q) non-isomorphic elliptic curves E/Fq, such that the quotient group E(Fqr)/E(Fq) has prime order. We also show that under the same conjecture, if q is a prime power and r is a prime satisfying q > (r log q)2+e and √q = o(q/r1+e log q) then there are at least Ω(q/r1+e log q) curves H/Fq of genus 2, such that the order of the quotient group Jac(H)(Fqr)/Jac(H)(Fq) is a prime. Based on these results we present simple and efficient algorithms for generating Ω(log3 n) non-isomorphic elliptic curves in Ω(log n) isogenous classes, each with a point of prime order Θ(n). The average time to generate one curve is O(log2 n). We also present an algorithm which generates Ω(log3 n) curves of genus two with Jacobians whose orders have a prime factor of order Θ(n), in heuristic expected time O(log4 n) per curve.
Essential function of TORC2 in PKC and Akt turn motif phosphorylation, maturation and signalling

Protein kinase C (PKC) is involved in a wide array of cellular processes such as cell proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis. Phosphorylation of both turn motif (TM) and hydrophobic motif (HM) are important for PKC function. Here, we show that the mammalian target of rapamycin complex 2 (mTORC2) has an important function in phosphorylation of both TM and HM in all conventional PKCs, novel PKCe as well as Akt. Ablation of mTORC2 components (Rictor, Sin1 or mTOR) abolished phosphorylation on the TM of both PKCα and Akt and HM of Akt and decreased HM phosphorylation of PKCα. Interestingly, the mTORC2‐dependent TM phosphorylation is essential for PKCα maturation, stability and signalling. Our study demonstrates that mTORC2 is involved in post‐translational processing of PKC by facilitating TM and HM phosphorylation and reveals a novel function of mTORC2 in cellular regulation.
Random key predistribution schemes for sensor networks

Key establishment in sensor networks is a challenging problem because asymmetric key cryptosystems are unsuitable for use in resource constrained sensor nodes, and also because the nodes could be physically compromised by an adversary. We present three new mechanisms for key establishment using the framework of pre-distributing a random set of keys to each node. First, in the q-composite keys scheme, we trade off the unlikeliness of a large-scale network attack in order to significantly strengthen random key predistribution's strength against smaller-scale attacks. Second, in the multipath-reinforcement scheme, we show how to strengthen the security between any two nodes by leveraging the security of other links. Finally, we present the random-pairwise keys scheme, which perfectly preserves the secrecy of the rest of the network when any node is captured, and also enables node-to-node authentication and quorum-based revocation.
Analysis of STAP algorithms for cases with mismatched steering and clutter statistics

In the majority of adaptive radar detection algorithms, the covariance matrix for the clutter-plus-noise is estimated using samples taken from range cells surrounding the test cell. In a nonhomogeneous environment, this can lead to a mismatch between the mean of the estimated covariance matrix and the true covariance matrix for the test cell. Further, an inaccurate target steering vector may also be employed. Closed-form expressions are provided, which give the performance for such cases when any of a set of popular space-time adaptive processing (STAP) algorithms are used. The expressions are exact for some interesting cases. For some other cases, it is demonstrated that the expressions provide good approximations to the exact performance. To simplify the analysis, the samples from the surrounding range cells are assumed to be independent and identically distributed, and these samples are assumed to be independent from the sample taken from the test cell. A small number of important parameters describe which types of mismatches are important and which are not. Monte Carlo simulations, which closely match the predictions of our equations, are included.
Mutual Gains and Distributive Ideologies in South Africa: Theorizing Negotiations between Communities and Protected Areas

With the rise of joint management of protected areas, community representatives are increasingly involved in formal negotiations with state officials, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and other actors. Policy recommendations have commonly idealized “win-win” scenarios. Theoretical work on negotiation from psychology and management studies, however, points to identifiable circumstances under which the goal of a mutually beneficial “win-win” situation may limit the strategies, and ultimately the benefits, available to communities. Instead, an antagonistic, “distributive” approach to negotiations may be more compatible with the pressures on and strategies available to community representatives. The tensions between a “mutual gains” and “distributive” approach to negotiations are evident in two land claims on protected areas in South Africa: the Dwesa-Cwebe Nature Reserves, and the Pafuri Triangle, a portion of Kruger National Park. In each, NGOs that operated with a “mutual gains” strategy, espousing a “win-win” scenario, came to be perceived as collaborating with conservation agencies. Meanwhile, as negotiation theory would suggest, community representatives inclined towards a “distributive” strategy and allied with a second set of explicitly advocatory NGOs. Expecting that communities should embrace a “win-win” scenario from the outset is unrealistic and likely to reduce communities’ power in negotiations.
Pharmacists attitudes toward using the internet to satisfy their continuing education needs: An exploratory study

Abstract Objective To explore the perceptions among pharmacists regarding continuing education (CE) using the Internet. Methods A random survey of pharmacists who practice in Puerto Rico. Results Use of Internet-based CE was 50.7%, (n = 67) and mostly by pharmacists 51 years of age or younger. This result is different from what have been found. In general, the participating pharmacists had a positive attitude toward online continuing education. Significant differences existed among the participants who pursued Internet-based CE with regard to the perception of web-based CE compared to those who did not. Responding pharmacists who had experienced Internet-based CE perceived greater advantages, such as its being available anywhere and anytime as well as its being flexible. Those who had taken continuing education courses on the Internet expressed their belief that online CE has a positive impact on the profession, while also perceiving it to be less complex than did those who had not taken any web-based courses. Conclusions Although a majority of pharmacists have participated in CE using the Internet and hold a positive opinion of the attributes of Internet-based CE its adoption as a valid alternative to live CE is incomplete. Lack of technological/Internet skills, a preference for live CE, and lack of time are possible barriers to the adoption of Internet-based CE. Designers of CE courses may benefit from the opinions generated by this study and consider quality improvements to bolster the current and repeated pursuit of Internet-based CE.
Four-Corner Model for Curricular Development in Athletic Training Education

Objective: To present a model for an educational continuum that identifies entry-level to advance practice competencies and content for athletic training education. Background: Specific degree-level purposes within the context of higher education, in conjunction with professional needs should be addressed in athletic training education. Post-certification (graduate) programs in athletic training should offer increased depth of knowledge and prepare students as clinical experts, scholars, and leaders. To this end, curricular content, based on the athletic training job analysis (i.e., Role Delineation Study), institutional missions, and degree-level specific purposes need to be considered. Description: Graduate athletic training education programs are primarily left to the purview of individual institutions. Using existing curricular development models (i.e., DACUM model and participatory approach) and predictive methods (i.e., Delphi Technique) within the context of higher education, athletic training educ...
Semigroup Structure of Singleton Dempster–Shafer Evidence Accumulation

Dempster-Shafer theory is one of the main tools for reasoning about data obtained from multiple sources, subject to uncertain information. In this work abstract algebraic properties of the Dempster-Shafer set of mass assignments are investigated and compared with the properties of the Bayes set of probabilities. The Bayes set is a special case of the Dempster-Shafer set, where all non-singleton masses are fixed at zero. The language of semigroups is used, as appropriate subsets of the Dempster-Shafer set, including the Bayes set and the singleton Dempster-Shafer set, under either a mild restriction or a slight extension, are semigroups with respect to the Dempster-Shafer evidence combination operation. These two semigroups are shown to be related by a semigroup homomorphism, with elements of the Bayes set acting as images of disjoint subsets of the Dempster-Shafer set. Subsequently, an inverse mapping from the Bayes set onto the set of these subsets is identified and a procedure for computing certain elements of these subsets, acting as subset generators, is obtained. The algebraic relationship between the Dempster-Shafer and Bayes evidence accumulation schemes revealed in the investigation elucidates the role of uncertainty in the Dempster-Shafer theory and enables direct comparison of results of the two analyses.
"A War That Had Come Right to Them": Group Work with Traumatized Adolescents Following September 11

This paper describes therapeutic foci for group intervention with traumatized adolescents. These include targeting the symptoms of trauma, helping members to weave a coherent, temporally ordered narrative of the event, providing psycho-education, and addressing bereavement issues and secondary adversities, all ultimately aimed at helping the adolescents proceed with development. The particular benefits of group are highlighted and clinical vignettes, drawn from the aftermath of September 11, are presented to illustrate these concepts.
The US smallpox vaccination plan.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recently published a policy statement on the use of the smallpox vaccine in children.1 This commentary expands on issues raised by Congress2 regarding the implementation of a smallpox vaccination program in children. AAP policy states that children should not be offered the smallpox vaccine at this time. This recommendation is based on weighing the fact that infants and children are particularly vulnerable to serious complications caused by the smallpox vaccine, including death, versus the government’s own assessment that the current risk of a smallpox attack is low.3 When the risk of a smallpox attack is low, a ring-vaccination policy that includes a plan for rapid distribution … Address correspondence to Jon S. Abramson, MD, Department of Pediatrics, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston Salem, NC 27157-0001. E-mail: jabrams{at}wfubmc.edu
Multiple Pure Tone Noise Prediction for Acoustically Treated Aircraft Engines

A multiple pure tone noise prediction approach for acoustically treated aero-engine inlets is described. It consists of three steps that account for noise source generation, nonlinear acoustic propagation with lined walls inside the nacelle, and linear acoustic propagation outside the engine. The predictions are compared with static test measurements for a typical high bypass ratio engine at inlet nacelle unsteady pressure transducer, near-field microphone array, and far-field microphone array locations.
Competition for Economic Development among Southeastern Cities

Economic development, in its most general sense, is a process through which a community's material and social well-being is increased. For American cities, the interaction of federalism and capitalism makes the pursuit of economic development a competitive process. This study assesses the nature and extent of interjurisdictional competition for economic development by surveying 84 public- and private-sector actors in 31 Southeastern cities. The findings indicate that the competition ethos is pervasive, with cities establishing aggressive economic development programs to compete with larger, economically diverse jurisdictions.
Applications of two-dimensional infrared spectroscopy

Two-dimensional infrared (2D IR) spectroscopy has recently emerged as a powerful tool with applications in many areas of scientific research. The inherent high time resolution coupled with bond-specific spatial resolution of IR spectroscopy enable direct characterization of rapidly interconverting species and fast processes, even in complex systems found in chemistry and biology. In this minireview, we briefly outline the fundamental principles and experimental procedures of 2D IR spectroscopy. Using illustrative example studies, we explain the important features of 2D IR spectra and their capability to elucidate molecular structure and dynamics. Primarily, this minireview aims to convey the scope and potential of 2D IR spectroscopy by highlighting select examples of recent applications including the use of innate or introduced vibrational probes for the study of nucleic acids, peptides/proteins, and materials.
Papilloma and carcinoma production in DMBA‐initiated, onion oil‐promoted mouse skin

Groups of 20 females Ha/ICR mice were initiated with 25 micrograms 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) and promoted one week later with topical treatments three times per week of 5 micrograms phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) and/or onion oil or garlic oil. Promotion was continued for 49 weeks in most experiments. Promotion was continued for 60 weeks in the experiment that evaluated the effect of time intervals between PMA and garlic oil. All experiments were conducted with 0.2 ml acetone solutions of agents. Onion oil, but not garlic oil, was a weak promoter in mouse skin. A 1-mg dose produced five papillomas in three mice and one carcinoma in 330 days (18 survivors). The 10-mg dose was more effective; it produced cumulative yields of 56 papillomas in 14 mice and 7 carcinomas in 4 mice in 345 days (14 survivors). Onion oil is neither an initiator nor a whole carcinogen. The effects of intervals between PMA and a 1-mg dose of onion or garlic oil were determined. These intervals were -2 hrs, -1 hr, -0.5 hr, +0.5 hr, +1 hr, and +2 hrs with respect to time of PMA application. Maximal inhibition of papillomas by onion oil was observed at the +0.5-hr interval and was similar to that previously reported. Garlic oil is not a promoter. It inhibited papillomas at the +0.5-hr, +1.0-hr, and +2.0-hr intervals but did not appear to affect carcinoma production.
Experimental infection of California birds with western equine encephalomyelitis and St. Louis encephalitis viruses.

A total of 27 bird species from the San Joaquin and Coachella valleys of California were inoculated subcutaneously with sympatric strains of western equine encephalomyelitis (WEE) and St. Louis encephalitis (SLE) viruses. Overall, 133 of 164 birds inoculated with WEE virus developed a viremia detected by plaque assay; significantly greater than 72 of 163 birds inoculated with SLE virus. Host competence was calculated as the average number of days that each avian species had a viremia ≥2 log10 plaque-forming units per 0.1 ml, the threshold for infecting susceptible Culex tarsalis Coquillett, the primary vector of these viruses in California. Eleven of 20 species inoculated with WEE virus had a value ≥1 and were considered to be competent hosts, whereas only six of 22 species inoculated with SLE virus had a value ≥1. Overall, 133 of 164 birds inoculated with WEE virus and 105 of 163 inoculated with SLE virus produced antibody detectable by enzyme immunoassay and/or plaque reduction neutralization test. Six birds infected with WEE virus (one house finch, three mourning doves, one Brewer’s sparrow, and one white-crowned sparrow) and nine birds infected with SLE virus (two house finches, three white-crowned sparrows, one song sparrow, two Western scrub-jays, and one orange crowned warbler) contained viral RNA detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction at necropsy >6 wk postinoculation; infectious WEE and SLE viruses were only recovered from three mourning doves and an orange-crowned warbler, respectively, after blind passage in mosquito cells. Our study indicated that birds with elevated field antibody prevalence rates may not be the most competent hosts for encephalitis viruses and that relatively few birds developed chronic infections that could be important in virus persistence and dispersal.
Predjudices About Bias (Report No. 85-3)

Much recent research in the area of judgment and decision making has been dominated by documentation of ways in which people's intuitive thought processes can lead them astray. Like other psychological results that have cast doubt on people's abilities, these accounts have generated considerable controversy. From the set of criticisms that have been raised, a set of generic criticisms that could be raised is developed here. These include aspersions of methodological malpractice, advancement of alternative standards of optimality, and development of error theories showing the insensitivity of events to these kinds of problems. Considering these criticisms in general form offers some perspectives on the continuing debate, some guidance on how to improve its productivity, and some hypotheses for analyzing analogous controversies elsewhere in psychology
Death following puncture of the aorta during laparoscopic sterilization.

The overall risk associated with laparoscopic sterilization is small; however life-threatening major vessel lacerations have been associated with use of Veress needle for establishing pneumoperitoneum and of sharp trocar for entry into the abdominal cavity. This paper presents a case report on a death following major vessel laceration during laparoscopic sterilization. The patient was a 38-year old gravida 5 para 4 abortus 1 patient admitted to the hospital for laparoscopic tubal electrocoagulation. Preoperative physical findings and laboratory data were unremarkable. During the surgery a small subumbilical incision was made through which the Veress needle was inserted. The pressure gauge reading on the insufflator immediately registered more than 20 mm Hg. The needle was manipulated until the pressure reading was in the normal range. The Veress needle was removed and trocar inserted; the trocar was later removed and the laparoscope inserted. When vital signs were checked the systolic blood pressure could not be detected. Resuscitation measures were initiated and vigorously continued but the patient died 2 hours after the cardiovascular collapse. Postmortem examination revealed a peritoneal cavity completely filled with blood and an extensive hemorrhage in the retroperitoneum. Cause of death was determined to be exsanguination following perforation of the aorta with Veress needle. Both the surgeon and pathologist concluded that hemorrhage was not viewed through the laparoscope because it was retroperitoneal at the time of attempted visualization and that the spinal needle inserted into the abdomen did not penetrate the retroperitoneal space. This case shows that inability to identify the aortic injury contributed to the patients death; the patients life could have been saved had laparotomy and aortic repair been done. There have been other cases of major vessel injuries occurring during laparoscopy. Major vessel injuries could be prevented by safer use of needle and trocar as well as use of other techniques which do not utilize the needle and trocar. If major vessel injuries do occur prompt recognition and treatment are essential in preventing death.
Repopulation of nitrogen excited triplet state following laser-induced filamentation.

Laser-induced filamentation was used to study the dynamics of excited molecular nitrogen decay processes. It is well-known that upper excited nitrogen triplet states can be repopulated at time delays far longer than their fluorescence lifetimes. Examination of the time-resolved emission from several different species indicates that there are two major mechanisms acting to repopulate the N2(C3Πu) excited state. The results implicate dissociative electron recombination with the nitrogen cation dimer, N4+, and energy pooling between two N2(A3Σu+) triplet states as the main pathways to repopulate the emissive upper triplet state. The densities of N2(A3Σu+) and free electrons produced during filamentation were measured under atmospheric pressures in nitrogen and estimated to be [N2(A3Σu+)]0 = 3 × 1015 cm–3 and [e–]0 = 3 × 1013 cm–3. The methods outlined in this report could find significant utility in measuring the concentration profiles of these important reactive intermediates within laser-induced filaments ...
Culture and Truth: Nietzsche and Classical Philology

AbstractSeveral recent studies have returned to the famous controversy over the reception of Nietzsche’s Birth of Tragedy from the Spirit of Music (1872). By reinterpreting it within the immediate context of Germany in the early 1870s, James Whitman understands this controversy as a Methodenstreit within Classical Philology and James I. Porter claims that, through this controversy, Nietzsche developed an extensive critique of modern culture. I contend that Nietzsche’s reaction to the scholarly rejection of his first publication resulted in no immediate response on his behalf; rather, it led to three years of intense rethinking and strengthening of the position he took in The Birth of Tragedy. This is evidenced in his early published essays and notebooks of 1872–1875. From the first readers of these early notebooks, Karl Schlechta and Anni Anders, to its most recent interpreters, Richard T. Grey and Alexander Nehamas, these scholars are unanimous in understanding them as Nietzsche’s attempt to work through...
Feminist Politics in the 1920s: The National Woman's Party

ly and legalistically; her interest in international organization was spurred by Belmont's grandiose visions of an "International Parliament of Women." Belmont lived in France from 1920 until her death in 1933, and Paul constantly curried her favor to keep financial support flowing. Although the extent of Belmont's power over NWP decisions is not clear-some members regarded her as an old crank-she held the office of president for years and unquestionably had her greatest influence in fostering the party's international efforts. Here she not only goaded Paul but also kept Doris Stevens, a shrewd and effective activist, at her beck and call. At the Sixth Pan American Conference in Havana, Cuba, in January 1928, Stevens injected the NWP point of view into the discussions of the Inter-American Commission on Women and continued to serve vociferously on the commission for more than ten years.42 -Hooker's dispute with Jane Norman Smith in 1933-1934 and an intraparty schism that shortly resulted manifested a crisis that had been building since 1928 because of such factors as action at the top, disregard for inviting or involving membership participation, and more distant and more legalistic application of the concept of equal rights. Those practices dimmed the beacon of the NWP's feminist ideas, beset anyway by the depression economy. Hooker noted early in 1934 that the treasury for the previous year showed five or six hundred paid members. But Hooker's attempts at that point to build up the state organizations and to collaborate with other women's groups on aims they shared were flattened by "the most spectacular exhibition of autocracy, " Hooker herself said. "The steam roller plied back and forth. " Another member who saw galvanizing more women as a priority also had "practically no hope that it will be given any serious thought by any considerable group of the leaders; for these leaders are too largely made up of pioneers who are gripped by conservatism. They will not face facts.... One's having been 'jailed for the CAUSE' seems to make one an oracle. " In forming a vanguard party, Paul seems 42 For the NWP's international work, see Becker, Origins of the Equal Rights Amendment, 161-86. For the NWP's difficulties under Franklin D. Roosevelt's administrations, see Jane Norman Smith to Paul, Feb. 26, 1933, folder 115, Jane Norman Smith Collection. For the National Council's positive and ingratiating response to Alva Belmont's query whether she was the head of international as well as domestic work of the NWP, see National Council, National Woman's Party, minutes, Oct. 9, 1928, Jan. 15, 1929, reel 114, part C, series 2, "National Woman's Party
Will the Mathematics Teaching Methods Used in Eastern Countries Benefit Western Learners

This study explores the effectiveness of rote memorization on the development of prealgebra concepts. In Eastern culture, India in particular, rote memorization is used in math instruction to teach multiplication and other pre-Algebra concepts. This research agenda involved mass recitation of multiplication tables for about 10 minutes in 5 grade math classes, every school day, for a period of one month in three American elementary schools. The rationale behind the research study is based on Chinese and Indian educators’ beliefs that concept formation at the initial stage is helped by rote learning. The main objective of the study was to determine if Western learners would benefit from an Eastern method of instruction in math classes based on rote memorization. Students were divided into experimental and control groups. Before administering the treatment, a pre-test was given to all the students; a post-test was given after the completion of the program. The Gain scores from the two tests were compared between the control and the experimental groups. This teaching method, which is broadly practiced at elementary levels in India, was expected to enhance math proficiency of elementary school children in the United States, yet results did not support this hypothesis. Some suggestions for these results are presented in this paper.
The blood in “shock,”

It has been stated that in conditions of “shock” concentration of the morphological elements of the blood may take place through outward passage of liquid from the blood vessels.1This point was investigated in a rather comprehensive experimental study of “shock” in etherized dogs. This condition was induced by rhythmical Faradic stimulation of the brachial plexuses and moderate hemorrhage. In general, death occurred within one or two hours. Small samples of the blood were withdrawn at regular intervals and defibrinated. The specific gravities and freezing points of the blood specimens were measured in eight experiments. The results are practically the same in all cases, and show that under the conditions of the experiments, physical alterations in the blood are not greater than may be accounted for by the loss of blood and certainly are not such as could affect the circulation sufficiently to account for the phenomena observed.Relative to the total mass of blood, the amount withdrawn was, in round numbers...
Porosity Variation in Elastic Deformation of Rock

The variation of porosity in elastic deformation of rock is studied in two aspects.Firsly,based on the four compressibility factors in rock and their relations among them,it is proved theoretically that the porosity variation is related closely with the net confining pressure,showing that if the net confining pressure is invariable,so is the porosity;otherwise,the porosity is variable.Secondly,the experimental data are used to testify that the porosity is variable in elastic deformation.Such a disproof method means that the formula for rock matrix compressibility factor at constant porosity is deduced followed by substituting the experimental data into the formula,comparing calculated value with measured value of the compressibility factors.If the difference of both values is extremely large,the former hypothesis is not valid,namely the porosity is variable.The results from the theoretical and experimental analyses indicate that the porosity is normally variable during elastic deformation of rock,hence porosity correction has the basis,whereas the principle of porosity invariability is not valid.