cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects of the expert, devil's advocate, and dialectical inquiry methods on prediction performance

Abstract The dialectical inquiry (DI), the devil's advocate (DA), and the expert (E) approaches are three potential aids for making decisions under uncertainty. This study examined the comparative effectiveness of these aids. Furthermore, an objective, nonemotional DA (DA 1 ) was differentiated from an emotional, “carping-critic” DA (DA 2 ). Results indicate that when the state of the world conforms to the assumptions underlying a plan, the E approach was found to be superior to the DI approach. When the state of the world was opposite to the assumptions in the plan, the DA 1 and DI were superior to the E approach. When the state of the world was midway between the assumptions of the plan and counterplan, the DA 1 was superior to both the DI and the E approaches. The results provide support for the recommendation to use an objective, nonemotional DA approach in actual decision-making situations.
Does a story understander need a point of view

At the Carbonell Memorial Conference in 1974, there was a good deal of informal discussion of the use by people of analogue simulations in knowledge retrieval or question-answering. We asked each other questions like, "How many traffic lights are there along your usual route from the railroad station to your house?" Or, "Can a salt shaker be used as a stool?". The former type of question usually gives rise to introspective reports of a mental simulation of the traversal of the requested route, replete with visual imagery. The latter type of question may or may not give rise to a mental simulation. Some people report knowing propositlonally that a salt shaker cannot be used as a stool because its size is insufficient. Others report mentally playing through the motor sequence of sitting on a salt shaker, whence they rudely discover the negative answer.
Selecting the Good vs. Rejecting the Bad: Regulatory Focus Effects on Staffing Decision Making

Although staffing decisions are typically conceptualized as motivated by the desire to select the best employees, many managers and human resources practitioners may be more concerned with avoiding bad hires. Regulatory focus theory provides a rich and well-developed framework for understanding how prevention and promotion orientations shape judgments and decisions. This work is the first to examine this theory's implications for understanding staffing, and it illustrates how these fundamental underlying motivations alter the salience of costs and benefits associated with staffing practices, as well as subjective judgments about individual applicants. Regulatory focus is a function of situational factors as well as individual differences, and predominant motivational orientations also vary with business cycles. This model therefore offers broad cross-level explanatory power for understanding dynamic factors influencing staffing, as well as a novel perspective on ways to improve the quality of staffing decision making. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
SU-E-T-686: Monte Carlo Study of Material Approximation Introduced Dose Difference in Electron Conformal Therapy Planning

Purpose: When Monte Carlo(MC) is used in dose calculation with CT data, materials are often assigned based on the local Houndsfield units if the density threshold method is applied. When bolus is used to compensate for body surface irregularities and/or to modulate the therapeutic depth in bolus electron conformal therapy (bolusECT), the bolus material, which is machineable wax, is treated as soft tissue, since the density of bolus overlaps with soft tissue. This study investigates the dose errors introduced by this material misassignment.Methods: BEAMnrc was used to simulate electron beams from a Trilogy accelerator. SPRRZnrc was used to calculate stopping power ratios (SPR) of tissue to wax, SPR(tissue/wax), and tissue to water, SPR(tissue/water), for 12 and 15 MeV electron beams which are the most commonly used energies in bolusECT. DOSXYZnrc was applied in dose distribution calculation in tissue with wax slabs of various thicknesses and a wedge‐bolus on top respectively. The MC dose distributions calculated using different bolus materials were compared.Results: With the same density, the SPR(tissue/wax) for 12 and 15 MeV beams ranges from 0.934 to 0.944, while the SPR(tissue/water) values are between 0.990 and 0.991, indicating higher stopping powers of wax. The 12 MeV beam range is 6.5 cm in wax and 6.7 cm in tissue. For a 12 MeV beam, the dose in tissue immediate under the bolus is overestimated by about 2.5% of maximum dose at 3 cm bolus thickness if wax bolus is treated as tissue. For 15 MeV beams, the error is about 1.4% Conclusions: Due to stopping power differences, dose differences are observed if the bolus material is misassigned in bolusECT dose calculations. Large dose overestimations occur at thick bolus region. However, the error is mostly within clinical tolerance, especially for thin bolus regions.
Survival of microbial plant pathogens in soil

INTRODUCTION The damage done to crop plants by disease-producing organisms has resulted in a more thorough study of the parasitic activity of these organisms than of their saprophytic survival. Yet in the intervals between periods of parasitism these pathogens are most likely to be in a less favorable environment and perhaps more amenable to control. By far the most common non-host environment for these organisms is the soil, which, indeed, is the final resting place for all terrestrial
Bone Marrow: A Fountain of Vascular Youth?

It has been said that one is as old as one’s arteries. In view of the supreme importance of endothelium in arterial function, I should like to modify … this statement by saying that one is as old as one’s endothelium.1 — R. Altschul, 1954 Just a few years ago, the rules of blood vessel formation seemed simple. Endothelial cells emerged from the blood islands of the embryo to form primitive tubes, the precursors of the vasculature. Smooth muscle cells, recruited locally from various germ layers, invested the endothelial tubes, forming the sandwich structure of mature arteries and veins. Mechanical or metabolic injury supposedly stimulated smooth muscle cells, normally resident in the arterial tunica media, to migrate into the intima, proliferate, and form the lesions of the hyperplastic arterial diseases such as atherosclerosis, restenosis, in-stent stenosis, and transplantation arteriopathy. See p 457 However, facts often fail to fit theory neatly, and emerging data paint a more complex picture of the formation, growth, and maintenance of blood vessels and the arterial response to injury. Considerable evidence suggests that vascular endothelial cells can not only arise postnatally from primitive precursors, but can originate also from the adult bone marrow or peripheral blood and take up residence on mature blood vessels.2–4 Such endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) bear characteristic markers such as CD133, CD34, and vascular endothelial growth factor …
On Belay: Peer‐Mentoring and Adventure Education for Women Faculty in Engineering

This paper reports on an intervention program designed to cultivate effective peer mentoring among a small group of women engineering faculty members from different academic institutions. Adventure education, comprised of linked intellectual and physical challenges in an outdoor setting, was chosen as the vehicle to transform the group into a highly functioning team. Based on a qualitative analysis of post-workshop essays, the intervention resulted in informational, psychosocial, and instrumental mentoring benefits that could serve to support and enhance the participants' academic careers. This paper provides a blueprint for the design of similar workshops for groups that could benefit from additional peer-mentoring and networking opportunities in the engineering academy.
Interaction of amines and some nickel (II)-Schiff base compounds—II adduct formation☆☆☆

Abstract The interaction of amines with carbonyl compounds of nickel (II) is discussed, and the isolation of several new compounds is reported. The ability of some nickel (II) salicylaldimes and β-ketoimines in solution to expand from planar to octahedral coordination with addition of bases such as pyridine is examined spectrophotometrically. The isolation of several pyridine adducts is reported.
Synthesis of a high-yield activated carbon by air gasification of macadamia nut shell charcoal

Macadamia nut shell charcoal was heated in an inert environment to temperatures above 1000 K (“carbonized”), reacted with oxygen (PO2 = 2.68−11.3 kPa) at temperatures between 525 and 586 K (“oxygenated”), and heated again in an inert environment to temperatures above 1000 K (“activated”) to produce an activated carbon. Carbons produced by this process possess surface areas and iodine numbers in the range of 400−550. Overall yields of these carbons (based on the dry, raw macadamia nut shell feed) ranged from 24 to 30 wt %. Under the conditions employed in this work, the rates of chemisorption and gasification were not mass transfer limited. Initially, the gasification reaction was first-order with respect to oxygen concentration but became independent of oxygen concentration as the surface sites of the carbon became saturated with oxygen.
Evaluation of Fluid Bolus Administration Rates Using Ruggedized Field Intravenous Systems

Objective The purpose of this study was to evaluate 2 ruggedized field intravenous (IV) systems currently in use by US military medics and to determine their effect on fluid bolus administration rates. Methods A series of 500 mL fluid boluses consisting of either Lactated Ringer's solution or Hextend were delivered to 2 artificial intravenous training arms using a standard 18G catheter (control) and 2 separate ruggedized field IV systems. Fluid boluses were delivered under both gravity force and pressure infusion (constant 300 mm Hg), and total bolus times were recorded. Results Using Lactated Ringer's solution, the standard IV system took a mean time of 9:33 minutes (95% CI: 9:13–9:54) to deliver a 500 mL fluid bolus whereas the 2 ruggedized field systems took mean times of 14:50 minutes (95% CI: 14:00–15:40) and 12:20 minutes (95% CI: 11:54–12:45). Using Hextend, the mean bolus time for the control system was 24:39 minutes (95% CI: 22:47–26:32). The 2 ruggedized field systems required an average of 49:32 minutes (95% CI: 48:07–50:58) and 39:46 minutes (95% CI: 37:30–42:01) to deliver an equivalent bolus. Pressure infusion significantly increased flow rate in all systems. Conclusions Ruggedized field IV systems can significantly delay fluid bolus rates. In instances where ruggedized field systems are deemed necessary, pressure infusion devices should be considered to overcome the constrictive effects of the ruggedized system.
Extraterrestrial solar radiation on inclined surfaces

Abstract A set of equations and a FORTRAN program have been developed to calculate extraterrestrial solar radiation on a plane surface of arbitrary inclination and azimuth at any point on the Earth. The model inputs are the day of year, local standard time, longitude, latitude, and azimuth and inclination angles of the inclined plane. The outputs are instantaneous solar flux, and solar zenith and azimuth angles. Daily integrated solar flux on the plane surface can also be calculated, as well as the local standard time of sunrise and sunset. Examples are shown to illustrate the use of the program.
Nitrous Oxide Produced by the Catalytic Oxidation of Organic Nitrogen Compounds.

Nitrous oxide is produced by the catalytic oxidation of organic nitrogen compounds of several distinct structural types with Hopcalite catalyst at a space velocity of 21,000 hours -1 and at temperatures near 300°C.
Single dose dexamethasone in treatment of congenital adrenocortical hyperplasia

Abstract The observation that dexamethasone given normal individuals as a single dose at midnight results in low levels of plasma cortisol at 8:00 a.m., presumably by inhibiting the early-morning pituitary discharge of ACTH, stimulated investigation of the therapeutic value of dexamethasone so administered to patients with congenital adrenocortical hyperplasia. Detailed studies on four patients are presented. Results of short-and long-term treatment suggest that single, appropriately timed doses of 0.25 to 0.75 mg daily cause normalization of urinary 17-ketosteroid and pregnanetriol output, provide sufficient daily glucocorticoid for bodily needs, and simplify therapy for this disorder in adults and adolescents who have reached their mature height.
Bottlenose dolphins understand relationships between concepts

We dispute Penn et al.'s claim of the sharp functional discontinuity between humans and nonhumans with evidence in bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) of higher-order generalizations: spontaneous integration of previously learned rules and concepts in response to novel stimuli. We propose that species-general explanations that are “bottom-up” in approach are more plausible than Penn et al.'s innatist approach of a genetically prespecified supermodule.
A Survey of Protein Structures from Archaeal Viruses

Viruses that infect the third domain of life, Archaea, are a newly emerging field of interest. To date, all characterized archaeal viruses infect archaea that thrive in extreme conditions, such as halophilic, hyperthermophilic, and methanogenic environments. Viruses in general, especially those replicating in extreme environments, contain highly mosaic genomes with open reading frames (ORFs) whose sequences are often dissimilar to all other known ORFs. It has been estimated that approximately 85% of virally encoded ORFs do not match known sequences in the nucleic acid databases, and this percentage is even higher for archaeal viruses (typically 90%–100%). This statistic suggests that either virus genomes represent a larger segment of sequence space and/or that viruses encode genes of novel fold and/or function. Because the overall three-dimensional fold of a protein evolves more slowly than its sequence, efforts have been geared toward structural characterization of proteins encoded by archaeal viruses in order to gain insight into their potential functions. In this short review, we provide multiple examples where structural characterization of archaeal viral proteins has indeed provided significant functional and evolutionary insight.
Castelalin, a quassinoid from Castela tortuosa

Abstract A new quassinoid, castelalin, was isolated together with the known quassinoid, glaucarubolone, two flavanoids and methyl gallate from ‘chaparro amargo’, the bark of Castela tortuosa . Their structures were deduced by extensive use of NMR spectroscopy.
Ischemic preconditioning is not mediated by free radicals in the isolated rabbit heart.

Abstract Preconditioning has been implicated to involved a free radical mechanism in the in vivo infarct size model. We have demonstrated preconditioning in the isolated rabbit heart and studied the effect of Mn-superoxide dismutase (SOD0 on preconditioning. Buffer perfused control hearts (C) were subjected to 1-h global ischemia followed by 1-h reperfusion, and the percent recovery of developed tension (%DT; relative to preischemic) was measured via a left ventricular ballon connected to a polygraph recorder. The coronary effluent was assayed for lactate dehydrogenase release (LDH; IU/kg BW). Preconditioned hearts (P) received a single episode of 5-min ischemia and 5-min reperfusion before 1 h of ischemia and reperfusion. SOD treated hearts received SOD at 5 mg/ml in the buffers at all times. The results show that while SOD attenuated enzyme release and functional loss in control hearts, it had no effect on preconditioned hearts. Therefore, preconditioning is unlikely to be mediated by superoxide anion in the isolated rabbit heart.
Do Tax and Expenditure Limitations Affect Local Government Budgets? Evidence From Panel Data:

During the 1970s and 1980s, state governments imposed many new more restrictive tax and expenditure limitations (TELs) on local governments. Many theories have been advanced to explain the new wave...
Review of Sub-Nanosecond Time-Interval Measurements

A review of time-interval measurements in the sub-nanosecond regime is presented and the various methods are compared as to their precision, stability, resolution, and other essential parameters. Calibration methods, stabilization, and correction for time walk are also discussed.
Effects of experience and available cues on estrous versus diestrous preferences in male prairie voles, Microtus ochrogaster.

Abstract Male prairie vole preferences for estrous versus diestrous females and associated stimuli were investigated. The role of sexual experience in engendering preferences proved more complex than reported for other species. Naive males did not display preferences. Neither males receiving sexual experience through monogamous cohabitation, nor males housed with two females displayed preferences. Males exposed to both estrous and diestrous females, and males housed with other males and females in a semi-naturalistic setting, displayed preferences. Thus, preferences seem to be “tuned” by experiential manipulations. Cues available for discrimination also influenced the display of preferences, as different results were obtained using apparatus that differed in cue availability. The observed pattern of responsiveness to sex odors may be related to the social organization and mating system of the prairie vole, a mammal that is believed to be monogamous.
Kinetics of antibiotics in relation to effective and convenient outpatient parenteral therapy.

An important goal of outpatient parenteral antibiotic therapy (OPAT) is to provide a drug and dosing regimen that allows for convenient administration of the antibiotic in the outpatient setting. While once-daily administration or handling of the drug would be ideal, dosing frequencies up to three times a day for intravenous administration and twice daily for intramuscular injection can be tolerated by most patients. The frequency and method of antimicrobial administration is dependent not only on the kinetics of drug concentrations in serum and tissues (i.e pharmacokinetics), but also on the kinetics or time course of the drug's antimicrobial activity (i.e. pharmacodynamics). This short review will focus on the interaction between pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics for the major classes of antibacterial agents used for outpatient parenteral therapy.
A study of short and intermediate range order in zinc phosphate glasses

The short- and intermediate-range order of the polyphosphate glass network of the composition xZnO+(1−x)P2O5 is investigated, with 0.35⩽x⩽0.80. The short-range order is probed using 31P solid-state magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (MAS NMR), liquid-state NMR and Raman spectroscopy. The results show an initial decrease in the amount of Q3 sites, with an increasing number of Q2 sites. The Q2 sites reach a maximum concentration at the metaphosphate composition and then decrease as Q1 and Q0 sites become prevalent at the higher modifier contents. The intermediate-range structure of xZnO+(1−x)P2O5 glasses is studied using double quantum MAS NMR as well as high performance liquid chromatography measurements. These measurements show that the structure changes from cross-linked rings below the metaphosphate composition to chains at and near the metaphosphate composition, and finally to dimers and isolated units at higher concentrations of the modifier. The dynamics of the intermediate-range structures are used to explain the effect of the composition on the Tg of the glass system.
The incest taboo and family structure

The evolutionary advantage of outbreeding has influenced the family structure and the mating, attachment, and dominance behaviors of all animals. Nature has selected for those species that have evolved family structures with detachment and dominance patterns that create a relatively intact incest barrier. Man inherits from his animal forebears the biological imperative of an incest barrier but brings to it his special complexity of psychology and symbolization--incest barrier becomes incest taboo. We present a discussion of human patterns of speparation-individuation and Oedipal conflict and relate this to the detachment and dominance behaviors of animals. This is an interface between psychoanalysis, family theory, and ethology. In addition, we pursue in detail the asymmetrical operation of the incest taboo within the family: that it is stronger for mother-son than for father-daughter than for brother-sister.
Casing Detector and Self-Potential Loggera

A simple and rapid method of determining casing length and permeable zones in wells tapping bedrock can be useful to well drillers and hydrologists. A device consisting of a galvanometer, a reel of insulated wire, and a copper electrode locates the casing depth, changes of lithology, and permeable zones. The small-diameter electrode permits measurement through well-seal access ports avoiding the expensive and time-consuming procedure of removing the seal and drop pipes to measure casing depth with a magnet. The measured electromotive force changes rapidly when the electrode passes the end of casing. Thus, the depth of casing is easily determined from the length of wire payed out. Changes in electromotive force measured within the uncased part of a well frequently indicate permeable zones, thereby aiding in choice of the most efficient drop-pipe length, and also yielding useful information for hydrogeologic studies.
The sterile insect technique and the Mediterranean fruit fly: assessing the utility of aromatherapy in large field enclosures

The sterile insect technique (SIT) is widely used in integrated programs against tephritid fruit flies, particularly the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata Wiedemann (Diptera: Tephritidae). Unfortunately, the mass-rearing procedures inherent to the SIT often lead to a reduction in the male mating competitiveness. One potential solution involves the prerelease exposure of males to particular attractants. In particular, male exposure to ginger root oil [Zingiber officinale Roscoe (Zingiberaceae); hereafter GRO], has been shown to increase mating success dramatically in field cage trials. To evaluate more rigorously the effectiveness of GRO exposure, we here describe two projects that compared levels of egg sterility or pupal yield, respectively, following the release of wild flies and either GRO-exposed (treated) sterile males or GRO-deprived (control) sterile males in large field enclosures. In both projects, sterile males from a genetic sexing strain were exposed as adults to GRO for 24 h while held in large storage boxes. In Hawaii, we dissected eggs from fruits to determine the percentage of egg hatch at four overflooding ratios, ranging from 5 : 1 to 60 : 1 (sterile : wild males), and found that, at all four ratios, the proportion of unhatched (sterile) eggs was significantly greater in enclosures containing GRO-exposed males than control males. In Guatemala, we allowed larvae to develop in fruits and counted the number of pupae produced. At the only overflooding ratio tested (25 : 1), pupal yield was approximately 25% lower for enclosures containing GRO-exposed males than control males, although this difference was not statistically significant. An explanation for the differing outcomes is proposed, and the implications of these findings for the SIT are discussed.
TERT promotes epithelial proliferation through transcriptional control of a Myc- and Wnt-related developmental program.

Telomerase serves a critical role in stem cell function and tissue homeostasis. This role depends on its ability to synthesize telomere repeats in a manner dependent on the reverse transcriptase (RT) function of its protein component telomerase RT (TERT), as well as on a novel pathway whose mechanism is poorly understood. Here, we use a TERT mutant lacking RT function (TERTci) to study the mechanism of TERT action in mammalian skin, an ideal tissue for studying progenitor cell biology. We show that TERTci retains the full activities of wild-type TERT in enhancing keratinocyte proliferation in skin and in activating resting hair follicle stem cells, which triggers initiation of a new hair follicle growth phase and promotes hair synthesis. To understand the nature of this RT-independent function for TERT, we studied the genome-wide transcriptional response to acute changes in TERT levels in mouse skin. We find that TERT facilitates activation of progenitor cells in the skin and hair follicle by triggering a rapid change in gene expression that significantly overlaps the program controlling natural hair follicle cycling in wild-type mice. Statistical comparisons to other microarray gene sets using pattern-matching algorithms revealed that the TERT transcriptional response strongly resembles those mediated by Myc and Wnt, two proteins intimately associated with stem cell function and cancer. These data show that TERT controls tissue progenitor cells via transcriptional regulation of a developmental program converging on the Myc and Wnt pathways.
Endogenous opioids and the growth regulation of a neural tumor.

Endogenous opioid systems (endogenous opioids and their receptors) are known to participate in the regulation of tumor growth. The present study was conducted to examine whether [Met5]-enkephalin influences the growth of transplanted neuroblastoma, and to explore the role of other opioid peptides in carcinogenesis. A/Jax mice were inoculated with 10(6) S20Y cells and received daily injections of [Met5]-enkephalin. Dosages of 0.5 to 30 mg/kg delayed tumor appearance and prolonged survival of these mice; antitumor effects were blocked by concomitant injections of naloxone. Daily administration (10 mg/kg) of [Leu5]-enkephalin had no effect on neurotumor growth. [D-Ala2, D-Leu5]-enkephalin and ethylketocyclazocine, ligands selective for delta and kappa receptors, respectively, also did not influence neuro-oncogenesis. These results demonstrated the potent growth inhibiting effects of the naturally occurring opioid pentapeptide, [Met5]-enkephalin, and substantiate reports identifying and characterizing an opioid receptor (i.e., zeta) for which [Met5]-enkephalin is the most potent ligand.
Survival of Septoria nodorum in wheat seed

Septoria nodorum , detected in wheat seed by isolating on ox gall agar, increased 1–25% during storage up to 24 months after harvest. S. nodorum detection increased more rapidly in seed lots stored at 25 °C than at 5°. This increase was generally related to a decrease in other seed fungi, especially Alternaria and Epicoccum . These fungi were competitive with but not antagonistic to S. nodorum on ox gall agar. The ox gall agar assay was preferred because of its accuracy and savings of time and labour. The differences of these results from those of some other workers were not related to assay procedures or the initial percentage colonization of the seeds by S. nodorum .
Automated, retargetable back-annotation for host compiled performance and power modeling

With traditional cycle-accurate or instruction-set simulations of processors often being too slow, host-compiled or source-level software execution approaches have recently become popular. Such high-level simulations can achieve order of magnitude speedups, but approaches that can achieve highly accurate characterization of both power and performance metrics are lacking. In this paper, we propose a novel host-compiled simulation approach that provides close to cycle-accurate estimation of energy and timing metrics in a retargetable manner, using flexible, architecture description language (ADL) based reference models. Our automated flow considers typical front- and back-end optimizations by working at the compiler-generated intermediate representation (IR). Path-dependent execution effects are accurately captured through pairwise characterization and back-annotation of basic code blocks with all possible predecessors. Results from applying our approach to PowerPC targets running various benchmark suites show that close to native average speeds of 2000 MIPS at more than 98% timing and energy accuracy can be achieved.
A progressive damage model for failure by shear faulting in polycrystalline ice under biaxial compression

Abstract A model for the compressive failure of polycrystalline ice via the process of shear faulting is presented. The model addresses the progressive growth of damage that leads to the formation of a critical fault nucleus, which grows unstably in its own plane by fracturing the grain boundaries in an increasingly rapid succession. Because the intrinsic grain boundary strength in ice polycrystals is fairly uniform, the variation in the boundary strength was simply due to their random orientation with respect to the loading axes. The latter was captured via an equivalent two parameter Weibull-type shear strength distribution for defining the nucleation of initial damage, followed by the use of stress enhancement factors for addressing the increased probability of failure in the vicinity of already cracked grain boundaries. These factors essentially involve surface averaging of enhanced stresses in the neighboring grains with the appropriate strength distribution as the weighting function. As the stress is further increased, similar correlated fracturing events gets preferentially aligned to the crack cluster, resulting in en echelon of cracks. This crack cluster is modeled as an elliptical inhomogeneity within which the cracks interact and lead to material pulverization, the effect of which, mechanistically, is to lower the shear modulus compared with the uncracked material on the outside. The shear stress concentration resulting from this moduli mismatch is calculated and used to compute the stress enhancement factors for defining the nucleation of additional cracking events near the crack cluster. Eventually, the size of the crack cluster becomes sufficiently large such that it carries a stress concentration high enough to fracture all grain boundary elements in front of it in an increasingly rapid succession. The stress associated with this event is taken as the failure stress. Since the model allows other cracking events to occur within the material volume in accordance with the assumed strength distribution function, formation of other competing but subcritical shear faults naturally occurs. Besides the faulting stress for a prescribed confinement, the model is able to predict the angle of the shear fault fairly well. The model is used to predict failure stress and understand observations of fault development in laboratory-grown freshwater columnar ice loaded under across-column biaxial compression.
Analysis of the single-fiber fragmentation test

An analysis of the single-fiber fragmentation test was investigated.An approximate solution for the stress fields of a fiber embedded in a polymer matrix of different elastic moduli was obtained by the Eshelby method. The fiber was modeled as a prolate spheroid. The axial stress of the fiber increases with increasing aspect ratio and fiber-matrix shear modulus ratio and decreases with increasing matrix and fiber Poisson's ratios. Using this analysis, the fracture stress of a single-fiber fragmentation specimen was derived. The applied stress at fiber fracture decreases monotonically with increasing aspect ratio of the fragmented fiber and increases with increasing fiber and matrix Poisson's ratios. This model is in qualitative agreement with published experimental data.
Intertemporal and intergenerational pareto efficiency: A comment

Abstract In a recent issue of this Journal , Sandler and Smith developed an analysis from which they concluded that discounting is Pareto inefficient in an intertemporal context. This comment questions the validity of that conclusion and demonstrates the essential role played by the discount rate in achieving intertemporal Pareto efficiency within a market economy.
Transport simulation and image reconstruction for fast-neutron detection of explosives and narcotics

Fast-neutron inspection techniques show considerable promise for explosive and narcotics detection. A key advantage of using fast neutron is their sensitivity to low-Z elements (carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen), which are the primary constituents of these materials. We are currently investigating two interrogation methods in detail: fast-neutron transmission spectroscopy (FNTS) and pulsed fast-neutron analysis (PFNA). FNTS is being studied for explosives and narcotics detection in luggage and small containers for which the transmission ration is greater than about 0.01. The Monte Carlo radiation transport code MCNP is being used to simulate neutron transmission through a series of phantoms for a few (3-5) projections angles and modest (2 cm) reolution. Areal densities along projection rays are unfolded from the transmission data. Elemental abundances are obtained for individual voxels by tomographic reconstruction, and the reconstructed elemental images are combined to provide indications of the presence or absence of explosives or narcotics. PFNA techniques are being investigated for detection of narcotics in cargo containers because of the good penetration of the fast neutrons and the low attenuation of the resulting high-energy gamma-ray signatures. Analytic models and Monte Carlo simulations are being used to explore the range of capabilities of PFNA techniques and to provide insight into systems engineering issues. Results of studies from both FNTS and PFNA technqiues are presented.
The Blockade of Preadipocyte Differentiation by Protein-tyrosine Phosphatase HA2 Is Reversed by Vanadate

A tyrosine phosphatase, i.e. PTPase HA2, was previously isolated from 3T3-L1 cells and characterized using O-phospho Tyrosine19-422/aP2 protein (a target of the insulin receptor tyrosine kinase) as substrate. The nucleotide sequence of a PTPase HA2 cDNA showed it to be a homologue of PTPase 1B. When induced to differentiate into adipocytes, confluent 3T3-L1 preadipocytes undergo mitotic clonal expansion followed by growth arrest and then coordinate expression of adipocyte genes. During clonal expansion, expression of PTPase HA2 increases abruptly and then decreases concomitant with the transcriptional activation of adipocyte genes. Constitutive expression of the PTPase by 3T3-L1 preadipocytes using a PTPase HA2 expression vector prevents adipocyte gene expression and differentiation into adipocytes. Appropriately timed exposure of transfected preadipocytes to vanadate (a PTPase inhibitor), just as clonal expansion ceases restores their capacity to differentiate. Treatment of transfected preadipocytes with vanadate prior to or during clonal expansion fails to reverse PTPase HA2-blocked differentiation, whereas treatment of untransfected preadipocytes during mitotic clonal expansion blocks differentiation. Vanadate added following clonal expansion has no effect on differentiation. Thus, a critical tyrosine phosphorylation event(s) occurs between termination of clonal expansion and initiation of adipocyte gene expression while a critical tyrosine dephosphorylation event(s) occurs during clonal expansion.
Hydrolysis of mono- and diepoxyoctadecanoates by alumina

In this study it is shown that the epoxide derivative of oleic acid, methyl 9,10-epoxyoctadecanoate, is readily hydrolyzed to a diol when exposed to a commercial preparation of neutral alumina. Comparison of 1H and 13C NMR spectra of the diol with those of standards showed that the product was the threo isomer. When methyl 9, 10–12,13-diepoxyocta-decanoate was treated with alumina, a mixture of dihydroxy-tetrahydrofuran regioisomers, methyl 9,12-epoxy-10,13-dihydroxystearate and methyl 10,13-epoxy-9,12-dihydroxystearate, was obtained. These results show that alumina is an unsuitable support for epoxidation catalysts. However, alumina-catalyzed hydrolysis of fatty epoxides is an efficient way to synthesize polyhydroxy materials, and these materials are suitable for several industrial applications.
Introduction to diffusion tensor imaging mathematics: Part I. Tensors, rotations, and eigenvectors

The mathematical aspects of diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging (DTMRI, or DTI), the measurement of the diffusion tensor by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), are discussed in this three-part series. In part I, some general features of diffusion imaging are presented briefly, including the relationship between the diffusion ellipsoid and the diffusion tensor. Rotations of vectors and tensors are explained for both two and three dimensions. Rotationally invariant properties of the diffusion tensor are discussed. Calculation of the eigenvectors and eigenvalues of the diffusion tensor, which correspond to the directions of the diffusion ellipsoid axes and the squares of the hemiaxis lengths, is explained. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Concepts Magn Reson Part A 28A: 101-122, 2006
Synthesis, properties and solid state structure of 5‐diphenylphosphino‐2‐hydroxy‐1,3‐xylyl‐18‐crown‐5

5-Diphenylphosphino-2-hydroxy-1,3-xylyl-18-crown-5 has been synthesized from 5-bromo-2-hydroxy-18-crown-5 by reacting it in sequence at low temperature with n-butyl lithium and methyl diphenylphosphonite. The phosphorous donor properties of this phenol phosphine (OH derivative) and the corresponding phenoxide (O− derivative) have been studied in the presence and absence of alkali metal ions by determining the frequencies of the A1 ν(CO) bands of Ni(CO)3L complexes. For the OH and O− derivatives, the latter generated by addition of CsOH to the former, the ν(CO) bands are observed at 2067.6 and 2063.4 cm−1, respectively, providing the trend predicted by Hammett parameters for OH and O− substituents. Addition of Na+ or K+ to the OH derivative has little effect on this stretching frequency, but the former ion shifts the O− derivative band to 2067.7 cm−1 A solid state structure has been obtained of the OH derivative, and two independent molecules were found in the unit cell. Both have a single water molecule hydrogen bonded to two across-ring oxygen atoms and the phenol hydrogen. The crown ether ring has the usual gauche and anti arrangements for the C-C and CO bonds.
Ab initio calculation of the core-hole effect in the electron energy-loss near-edge structure

A computational scheme to fully account for the core-hole relaxation effect in electron energy-loss near-edge structure has been successfully implemented. Results on $\ensuremath{\alpha}\ensuremath{-}{\mathrm{Al}}_{2}{\mathrm{O}}_{3},$ MgO, and ${\mathrm{MgAl}}_{2}{\mathrm{O}}_{4}$ crystals have reproduced all experimental details in all 11 edges. This is achieved by including three essential elements in the calculation: (1) A correct description of the presence of the hole in the core state of the excited atom. (2) The interaction between the excited electron in the conduction band and the hole left behind. (3) Use of large supercell for the final-state calculation. To a lesser extent, the inclusion of dipole matrix elements between the initial ground state and the final core-hole state is also important for the relative intensity of the structures. It is shown that the wave function of the excited electron in the conduction band in the presence of the core-hole state is localized to within the second-nearest-neighbor atoms, and is significantly different from the conduction-band wave function obtained from the ground-state calculation.
EVACUATION CRITERIA AFTER A NUCLEAR ACCIDENT: A PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE

In any decision involving radiation a risk-risk or risk-benefit comparison should be done. This can be either explicit or implicit. When the adverse effect of an alternate action is less than the planned action, such as medical use of X rays or nuclear power in ordinary operation, the comparison is simple. But in this paper I argue that with the situation faced by the Japanese in Fukushima, the assumption that the risk of an alternate action is small is false. The risks of unnecessary evacuation exceeded the risk of radiation cancers hypothetically produced by staying in place. This was not realized by those that had to make a decision within hours. This realization suggests important changes, worldwide, in the guidelines for radiation protection in accident situations.
The Relationship Between Forgiveness and Borderline Personality Symptomatology

The relationship between forgiveness and borderline personality symptomatology has been rarely studied. Using a consecutive cross-sectional sample of 307 internal medicine outpatients and a survey methodology, we examined correlations between the Forgiveness Scale and borderline personality symptomatology as measured by the borderline personality disorder scale of the Personality Diagnostic Questionnaire-4 and the Self-Harm Inventory. Numerous forgiveness subscales as well as the composite Forgiveness Scale score demonstrated statistically significant relationships with both measures for borderline personality symptomatology, such that individuals with this personality pathology demonstrated lower scores on these forgiveness subscales. Findings indicate that among individuals with borderline personality symptomatology, there are numerous aspects of forgiveness that are significantly lower than in individuals without this symptomatology.
Brain mechanisms of conditioned taste aversion learning: A review of the literature

Animals appear to be innately predisposed to associate such food-related stimuli as taste with internal consequences, such as illness. The neural mechanisms of this taste aversion learning are poorly understood, but have recently been the object of increased experimental scrutiny. This article reviews several dozen published reports concerning the effects of central nervous system manipulations on acquisition and retention of taste aversions. Overall, the evidence indicates that taste aversion learning, as contrasted with traditional passive avoidance, is unusually resistant to disruption. The lateral and ventromedial hypothalamus and the amygdala are consistently implicated as participants in taste aversion learning, although their precise role is unclear. Results of studies dealing with other structures are contradictory and inconclusive. Methodological problems contributing to this confusion are discussed, and potentially profitable directions for further research are indicated.
In vivo selection of basic region-leucine zipper proteins with altered DNA-binding specificities.

Abstract A transcription interference assay was used to generate mutant basic region-leucine zipper proteins with altered DNA-binding specificities. A library of mutants of a CCAAT/enhancer binding protein was constructed by randomizing five DNA-contacting amino acids in the basic region Asn-18, Ala-15, Val-14, Ser-11, and Arg-10. These mutants were then selected for their ability to bind mutant recognition sequences containing substitutions at the 2 and 3 positions of the wild-type sequence 5'-A5T4T3G2C1G1'C2'A3A4'T5'-3'. Mutants containing the sequence Leu-18Tyr-15Xaa-14Tyr-11Arg-10, in which four of the five contact residues are altered, were identified that recognize the palindromic sequence 5'-ATCYCGY'GAT-3' (Xaa = asparagine when Y = G; Xaa = methionine when Y = A). Moreover, in a selection against the sequence 5'-ATTACGTAAT-3', mutants were obtained containing substitutions not only in the basic region but also in the hinge region between the basic and leucine zipper regions. The mutant proteins showed high specificity in a functional transcription interference assay. A model for the interaction of these mutants with the target DNA sequences is discussed.
Helicase SUV3, polynucleotide phosphorylase, and mitochondrial polyadenylation polymerase form a transient complex to modulate mitochondrial mRNA polyadenylated tail lengths in response to energetic changes.

Mammalian mitochondrial mRNA (mt-mRNA) transcripts are polyadenylated at the 3′ end with different lengths. The SUV3·PNPase complex and mtPAP have been shown to degrade and polyadenylate mt mRNA, respectively. How these two opposite actions are coordinated to modulate mt-mRNA poly(A) lengths is of interest to pursue. Here, we demonstrated that a fraction of the SUV3·PNPase complex interacts with mitochondrial polyadenylation polymerase (mtPAP) under low mitochondrial matrix inorganic phosphate (Pi) conditions. In vitro binding experiments using purified proteins suggested that SUV3 binds to mtPAP through the N-terminal region around amino acids 100–104, distinctive from the C-terminal region around amino acids 510–514 of SUV3 for PNPase binding. mtPAP does not interact with PNPase directly, and SUV3 served as a bridge capable of simultaneously binding with mtPAP and PNPase. The complex consists of a SUV3 dimer, a mtPAP dimer, and a PNPase trimer, based on the molecular sizing experiments. Mechanistically, SUV3 provides a robust single strand RNA binding domain to enhance the polyadenylation activity of mtPAP. Furthermore, purified SUV3·PNPase·mtPAP complex is capable of lengthening or shortening the RNA poly(A) tail lengths in low or high Pi/ATP ratios, respectively. Consistently, the poly(A) tail lengths of mt-mRNA transcripts can be lengthened or shortened by altering the mitochondrial matrix Pi levels via selective inhibition of the electron transport chain or ATP synthase, respectively. Taken together, these results suggested that SUV3·PNPase·mtPAP form a transient complex to modulate mt-mRNA poly(A) tail lengths in response to cellular energy changes.
Decadal variations of rainwater formic and acetic acid concentrations in Wilmington, NC, USA

Abstract Concentrations of formic and acetic acid from January 2008 through March 2009 were compared to two previous studies at this location (conducted in 1987–1990 and 1996–1998) in order to quantify the extent to which temporal changes in DOC and pH can be explained by changes in these organic acids. The volume weighted 2008 formic and acetic acid concentrations (5.6 and 2.6 μM respectively) have decreased dramatically compared with those observed during the 1996–1998 study (9.9 and 7.3 μM) and are also lower than concentrations observed in the 1987–1990 study (7.4 and 3.6 μM). Changes in formic and acetic acids between 1996–97 and 2008 can account for approximately 50% of the DOC change and 40% of the H+ change in rainwater over this same time period. These changes are most pronounced during the growing season, which is also the tourist and high traffic season at this location. Determining causation of these changes is difficult due to multiple biogenic and anthropogenic sources. However, the ratio of formic to acetic acid has also reverted back to a value consistent with reduced vehicular emissions, possibly related to the introduction of improved emission control technology including the use of reformulated gasoline in the late 1990’s. Long term monitoring of seasonal, annual, and decadal trends will be of critical importance for evaluating the effects of future changes to atmospheric inputs such as the increased use of ethanol and other alternative fuels.
A mechanism for detecting gray hole attacks on synchrophasor data

The use of synchrophasor data for observation and control is expected to enhance the operation and efficiency of the next generation of power transmission systems. The synchrophasor measurement data is usually transferred over public domain networks such as the Internet, thereby making it susceptible to a number of attacks. This paper focuses on packet dropping or gray hole attacks on networks carrying synchrophasor data and develops a mechanism to detect such attacks. Our solutions is based on exploiting the patterns and correlation between packet delays and packet losses due to congestion in order to differentiate naturally occurring packet drops in the Internet from packet drops by gray hole attacks. The effectiveness of the proposed mechanism has been verified using simulations.