cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Race, disability and assistive devices: sociodemographics or discrimination

This research provides empirically‐based, detailed information on race as a determinant of the relationship between chronic illness/disability and assistive device use by elderly persons. The database is the 1994 wave of the National Long Term Care Survey. The important findings are: whites are more likely to use home modification devices and blacks are more likely to use portable devices; chronic conditions vary in their influence on the use of assistive devices; the joint presence of diabetes, heart conditions or hypertension with ADLs and IADLs motivates greater assistive device use; the relationships between chronic health conditions and assistive device use vary by race; for blacks, income has the largest impact on assistive device purchases; half of the racial differences in the probability of using assistive devices is explained by differences in sociodemographic characteristics and the rest is explained, in part, by discrimination.
Implementation and application of helix–helix distance and crossing angle restraint potentials

Based on the definition of helix–helix distance and crossing angle introduced by Chothia et al. (J Mol Biol 1981, 145, 215), we have developed the restraint potentials by which the distance and crossing angle of two selected helices can be maintained around target values during molecular dynamics simulations. A series of assessments show that calculated restraint forces are numerically accurate. Since the restraint forces are only exerted on atoms which define the helical principal axes, each helix can rotate along its helical axis, depending on the helix–helix intermolecular interactions. Such a restraint potential enables us to characterize the helix–helix interactions at atomic details by sampling their conformational space around specific distance and crossing angle with (restraint) force-dependent fluctuations. Its efficacy is illustrated by calculating the potential of mean force as a function of helix–helix distance between two transmembrane helical peptides in an implicit membrane model. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem 28: 669–680, 2007
Inhibition of marrow granulocytic colony formation by phytohemagglutinin.

The effect of phytohemagglutinin (PHA) on the growth and number of granulocytic colonies (GC) developing on agar from bone marrow and spleen cells of normal and erythroleukemic mice inoculated with Rauscher leukemogenic virus was studied. Equal number of marrow cells from erythroleukemic mice produced twice as many colonies as those from normal mice. The number of GC developing from either normal and leukemic spleen cells was only 20% to 25% of that arising from marrow cells. The number of cells within each colony was significantly larger in GC formed by myelogenous leukemic cells than those arising from normal cells even though they had similar morphologic features. The addition of 100 μg of PHA per 105 cells reduced the number of GC arising from normal and leukemic cells by 35% and 50%, respectively. Treatment with periodate which mainly inhibits its mitogenic activity, abolished the inhibitory effects of PHA on proliferation of granulocytic cells.
Influence of DNA sequence on the nature of mispairing during DNA synthesis.

A series of synthetic oligonucleotide primers, annealed at various positions along the lacZ-alpha region of bacteriophage M13mp9 template, were elongated by purified DNA polymerases in the presence of only 3 of the 4 deoxynucleoside triphosphates to achieve misincorporation at a total of 49 different positions along the template. The newly synthesized strands (containing misincorporated bases) were isolated and sequenced to determine the identity of misincorporated deoxynucleoside monophosphates. The results indicate that the kind of mispairing that occurs during DNA synthesis is greatly influenced by the nucleotide sequence of the template. Transition-type base substitutions predominated overall, but at many template positions, transversion-type base substitutions occurred, most commonly via A.A mispairing. The results of parallel determinations made with Escherichia coli DNA polymerase I ("large fragment" form) and DNA polymerase of Maloney murine leukemia virus indicated that, overall, the identity of polymerase had only a small effect on the kind of misincorporation that occurred at different positions along the template. However, at certain template positions, the nature of mispairing during DNA synthesis was reproducibly affected by differing polymerase active-site environment.
Rational swept surface constructions based on differential and integral sweep curve properties

Abstract A swept surface is generated from a profile curve and a sweep curve by employing the latter to define a continuous family of transformations of the former. By using polynomial or rational curves, and specifying the homogeneous coordinates of the swept surface as bilinear forms in the profile and sweep curve homogeneous coordinates, the outcome is guaranteed to be a rational surface compatible with the prevailing data types of CAD systems. However, this approach does not accommodate many geometrically intuitive sweep operations based on differential or integral properties of the sweep curve — such as the parametric speed, tangent, normal, curvature, arc length, and offset curves — since they do not ordinarily have a rational dependence on the curve parameter. The use of Pythagorean-hodograph (PH) sweep curves surmounts this limitation, and thus makes possible a much richer spectrum of rational swept surface types. A number of representative examples are used to illustrate the diversity of these novel swept surface forms — including the oriented-translation sweep, offset-translation sweep, generalized conical sweep, and oriented-involute sweep. In many cases of practical interest, these forms also have rational offset surfaces. Considerations related to the automated CNC machining of these surfaces, using only their high-level procedural definitions, are also briefly discussed.
Effects of Nanoscale Surface Texturing on Self-Healing of Boundary Lubricant Film via Lateral Flow

Surface texturing of silicon substrates with nanowells can change the lubricious performance of cationic polymer lubricant (CPL), a bound-and-mobile lubricant consisting of a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) backbone with covalently bonded quaternary ammonium iodide cations. The filled nanowell reservoirs enhance self-healing within the contact track since they can readily provide CPL to near-by regions. However, once this initial reservoir is completely consumed and depleted, the empty nanowells interfere with long-distance lateral flow process since they act as a reservoir that needs to be filled during the flow.
When discourse trumps policy: Transitional justice in unified Germany

Attempts at realising transitional justice can be divided broadly into legal-administrative and truth-telling measures. Whereas criminal trials, vetting, and restitution procedures target specific groups and tend to be short-lived, history lessons try to shape historical and political identities, with long-term implications. Most literature on transitional justice tends to focus on either one or the other, but, using the example of the former East Germany, I call attention to their interaction, which is crucial for understanding the dynamics of dealing with the communist past. In the early 1990s, reckoning with the past turned into a major preoccupation, but, soon, demands for transitional justice were overwhelmed by demands for economic and social justice and matters of identity. The legal outcome was more moderate than could have been anticipated at the beginning of the process and was ultimately defied by an equally important and comprehensive political discourse; with time, history lessons claimed cen...
Refugees and Indifference: The Effects of Shortages on Attitudes towards Jews in France's Limousin Region During World War II

Contrary to some scholars' assertions, material shortages in wartime France did not lead ordinary citizens to become indifferent to the Jews' plight. Rather, the author maintains, the material situation influenced local application of the Vichy regime's antisemitic laws and shaped relationships between natives and Jewish refugees. Officials in the Limousin region used the urban housing crisis touched off by the influx of refugees to justify evictions of foreign Jews and their expulsion to rural areas. Authorities in the small towns and villages, for their part, accused these Jews of driving the black market. However, ordinary citizens usually proved more pragmatic than ideological in their interactions with Jews.
Spitzer and other planetary systems

I will describe advances made with the Spitzer Telescope in two general classes of observation of other planetary systems: study of transits of giant planets and of debris disks maintained by collisions of smaller bodies.
β-glucan enrichment of barley fractions by air classification and sieving

Barley (Steptoe, Crystal and/or Waxbar) was dry milled and fractionated by small scale air classifiers and batch or continuous feed sifters to produce β-glucan-rich fractions. Sieving of barley (all cultivars) yielded fines fractions containing 88-90% starch and a final coarse enriched fraction containing 40-45% total dietary fiber including 16-19% β-glucans and up to 82 μg/g total tocols. The enriched fraction was 20-25% (by wt) of the dehulled barley. The highest β-glucan content by air classification was 9% due to ineffective separation of fines (particles <45 μm). Dry fractionation of barley produced a value added enriched product enhanced in factors (ie. tocols, dietary fiber, β-glucans) which slow oxidation, lower cholesterol, moderate glycemic response and which provide unique functional properties in food systems.
Are calcium intakes and physical activity patterns during adolescence related to radial bone mass of white college-age females?

The determinants of bone mass, i.e., size and density, in young adult women after cessation of growth in length of the bones are not well understood. Usual dietary calcium (Ca) intakes and physical activity (PA) patterns during the post-pubertal half-decade have been considered as two important factors contributing to bone mass. In the present hypothesis-generating cross-sectional study, radial bone mineral content and density were measured by single-photon absorptiometry at two sites containing different proportions of trabecular and cortical bone tissue in 705 healthy, Caucasian college women (18–22 years). Ca intake during high school and college, as estimated by milk and cheese intake only, was categorized into low, moderate and high groups; and physical activity, estimated during the same time frame, was also categorized into low, moderate and high groups. Bone measurements were related to both long-term dietary Ca intake from milk and cheese and long-term PA in sports, dance or other exercises, as assessed by recall. By univariate analyses, both distal and mid-radial bone mineral content (BMC) and areal bone mineral density (BMD) were found to be positively related to gynecological age (GA) (p<0.01). Also, independent effects of long-term Ca intake (p<0.05) on distal BMC and BMD, and of long-term PA (p<0.05) on distal and mid-BMC and BMD were observed. When adjusted for GA, body mass index (BMI) and PA, the relationship between long-term Ca no longer remained significant; but when we adjusted for GA, BMI and long-term Ca, the significance of PA on radial bone remained essentially unchanged. The combined effects of both long-term moderate Ca and long-term moderate PA versus long-term low Ca and long-term low PA in college-age women showed that distal radial bone parameters were significantly greater in the moderate/moderate individuals when compared with subjects with low levels of both variables. The high/high combination also significantly improved distal bone variables, but in general not much more so than the moderate/moderate pair. Mid-radial bone values showed only statistical trends, when analyzing high/high versus low/low comparisons. We conclude that adequate levels (moderate or high of either) of both Ca and PA during adolescence and early adulthood are positive and independent determinants of both radial BMC and BMD, including much trabecular bone tissue, but that long-term exercise exerts a greater overall beneficial effect on distal radial bone measurements than does long-term Ca consumption.
Dendritic cells and immunotherapy for cancer.

Dendritic cells, nature’s adjuvant, are antigen-presenting cells specialized to initiate and regulate immunity. Their potent antigen-presenting function has encouraged targeting of dendritic cells (DCs) for harnessing the immune system against cancer. DCs are efficient at activating not only CD4+ helper T-cells and CD8+ killer T-cells but also B-cells and innate effectors such as natural killer and natural killer T-cells. Early studies of adoptive transfer of tumor antigen-loaded DCs have shown promise. However, DC vaccination is at an early stage, and several parameters still need to be established. The complexity of the DC system brings about the necessity for its rational manipulation for achieving protective and therapeutic immunity in patients.
Object-oriented visual inspection tool for ultrafine-pitch SMD components

Surface mount devices (SMDs), a dominant component type on printed circuit boards these days, are becoming smaller and growing more leads. This is in response to the shrinking of electronic components that is necessary for smaller electronic tools. The trend toward ever smaller components makes component leads more fragile and makes packages harder to handle. As a result, lead inspection has become more crucial than ever before. This paper includes a description of the object-oriented visual inspection tool (OOVIT) development for fine-pitch SMD components and its final structure.© (1996) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Quantum size effect and the two types of interference between bulk and boundary scattering in ultrathin films

We analyze interference between bulk and boundary scattering channels in ultrathin metal films with rough surfaces in quantum-size-effect conditions. We identify two different sources of such interference. The first, which we call the mixing interference, is associated with inversion of collision operator with surface and bulk scattering terms. This inversion always leads to mixing of bulk and surface terms, even if the scattering channels are formally independent, as long as the collision operator does not have a $\ensuremath{\delta}$-type structure (the relaxation time approximation). The second source of interference, or what we called the intrinsic interference, is associated with the physical entanglement of the scattering processes and the fact that these processes are never really independent unless both are described by the Born approximation. The intrinsic interference dominates in low-temperature clean films or when the correlation radius of surface roughness is large. The mixing interference dominates in films with robust impurity and surface scattering.
Early transvaginal ultrasonography versus early cerclage in women with an unclear history of incompetent cervix.

Abstract Objective: Our aim was to compare outcomes in women with a questionable history of incompetent cervix, followed up with early transvaginal ultrasonography, with outcomes in women who had early cerclage. Study Design: Charts were reviewed and patients identified for incompetent cervix from our obstetric database from 1995 through 1997. We included women who had an unclear history of incompetent cervix as follows: second-trimester loss or termination, ≥3 first-trimester terminations, cone biopsy or loop electrosurgical excision, or exposure to diethylstilbestrol. The primary outcome variable was gestational age at delivery. Results: A total of 106 women were included, 45 in the early cerclage group and 61 in the early transvaginal ultrasonography group. The mean gestational age at delivery was 35.1 weeks for the early cerclage group versus 36.1 weeks for the early transvaginal ultrasonography group. Conclusion: In women with an unclear history of incompetent cervix, early cerclage does not appear to offer significant benefit over early transvaginal ultrasonography. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 2001;184:1097-9.)
Patterns of Trauma among the Neandertals

Abstract A high frequency of traumatic lesions and post-traumatic degenerative changes have been noted in Neandertal skeletons. To asses the implications of the anatomical distribution of these lesions, we have assigned them to one of seven regions: head/neck, trunk, shoulder/arm, hand, pelvis, leg and foot. The resultant distributions, both including and deleting injuries indicated only by post-traumatic degenerations and from Shanidar 1, were compared to anatomical lesion distributions for three Recent human archaeological samples (Bt-5, Libben and a pooled Nubian one), three modern clinical samples (late 20th century Albuquerque, early 20th century London and late 19th century New York City), and a specialized athletic sample (North American Rodeo performers). The majority of the Neandertal samples (as adjusted) are highly significantly different from the six normal Recent human samples, with only the most trimmed Neandertal sample being non-significantly different from the New York sample. However, all of the Neandertal distributions provide a close match to the Rodeo traumatic lesion pattern, primarily as a result of a high incidence of head & neck trauma. Although small sample size, preservation and a dearth of older individuals with inhibited mobility may contribute to the Neandertal lesion distribution, the similarity to the Rodeo lesion distribution suggests frequent close encounters with large ungulates unkindly disposed to the humans involved.
Interlaboratory comparison of amino acid enantiomeric ratios in fossil Pleistocene mollusks

Enantiomeric (d/l) ratios of eight amino acids in three homogeneous powdered fossil Pleistocene mollusk samples have been compared. Eleven laboratories have contributed results to this effort. Three gas chromatographic methods and one ion-exchange chromatographic method were used. In general, the coefficients of variation (c.v.) are best for alanine, glutamic acid, and aspartic acid (3–8%). For leucine and phenylalanine, the c.v.'s are between 5 and 10%. For isoleucine, proline, and valine the c.v.'s range from 10 to 18%. Individual laboratories usually report analytical precision of between 2 and 5%, but it is clear that significant differences between laboratories' results are often encountered, and that these analytical differences could, in some cases, lead to very significant differences (25% or more) in age estimates based upon enantiomeric ratios. Multiple analyses of desalted hydrolyzates of these powder samples suggest that interlaboratory differences are often caused by instrumental and/or derivatization procedures rather than the wet-chemical sample preparative steps. It is proposed that the powder samples described here be used in all future publications of fossil amino acid enantiomeric ratio data.
Tetraspanin Proteins Regulate Membrane Type-1 Matrix Metalloproteinase-dependent Pericellular Proteolysis

Membrane type-1 matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP) supports tumor cell invasion through extracellular matrix barriers containing fibrin, collagen, fibronectin, and other proteins. Here, we show that simultaneous knockdown of two or three members of the tetraspanin family (CD9, CD81, and TSPAN12) markedly decreases MT1-MMP proteolytic functions in cancer cells. Affected functions include fibronectin proteolysis, invasion and growth in three-dimensional fibrin and collagen gels, and MMP-2 activation. Tetraspanin proteins (CD9, CD81, and TSPAN2) selectively coimmunoprecipitate and colocalize with MT1-MMP. Although tetraspanins do not affect the initial biosynthesis of MT1-MMP, they do protect the newly synthesized protein from lysosomal degradation and support its delivery to the cell surface. Interfering with MT1-MMP-tetraspanin collaboration may be a useful therapeutic approach to limit cancer cell invasion and metastasis.
Determinants of child immunization in Nepal: The role of women’s empowerment:

Background:Approximately 1.4 million or 13% of all children who die each year could be prevented with widely-available vaccines.Objective:We examined if women’s empowerment improved child immunizat...
Asymptotic results for decentralized detection in power constrained wireless sensor networks

In this paper, we study a binary decentralized detection problem in which a set of sensor nodes provides partial information about the state of nature to a fusion center. Sensor nodes have access to conditionally independent and identically distributed observations, given the state of nature, and transmit their data over a wireless channel. Upon reception of the information, the fusion center attempts to accurately reconstruct the state of nature. Specifically, we extend existing asymptotic results about large sensor networks to the case where the network is subject to a joint power constraint, and where the communication channel from each sensor node to the fusion center is corrupted by additive noise. Large deviation theory is used to show that having identical sensor nodes, i.e., each node using the same transmission scheme, is asymptotically optimal. Furthermore, a performance metric by which sensor node candidates can be compared is established. We supplement the theory with examples to illustrate how the results derived in this paper apply to the design of practical sensing systems.
Effect of Non-Hydrostatic Stress on Kinetics and Interfacial Roughness During Solid Phase Epitaxial Growth in Si

We report preliminary in-situ time-resolved measurements of the effect of uniaxial stress on solid phase epitaxial growth in pure Si (001) for the case of stress applied parallel to the amorphous-crystal interface. The growth rate is reduced by the application of uniaxial compression, in agreement with previous results. Additionally, the velocity continues to decrease with time. This is consistent with interfacial roughening during growth under stress, and is supported by both reflectivity measurements and cross-sectional TEM observations. We present a new kinetically-driven interfacial roughening mechanism which is consistent with our observations.
Noniterative implicit method for tracking particles in mixed Lagrangian-Eulerian formulations

The existing implicit methods for the current initial value problems (IVPs) concerning particle-laden flows are complicated and iterative in nature. This paper presents a noniterative implicit method which can be used with pressure-based as well as with density-based algorithms. The method is illustrated by analyzing a dilute dispersion of noninteracting solid particles in an isothermal flow in a passage bounded by one straight wall and one wavy wall, in which all particles are spherical and have a finite velociy relative to the continuum phase at the inflow boundary.
Issue Conflict and Consensus among Party Leaders and Followers

American political parties are often regarded as “brokerage” organizations, weak in principle, devoid of ideology, and inclined to differ chiefly over unimportant questions. In contrast to the “ideological” parties of Europe—which supposedly appeal to their followers through sharply defined, coherent, and logically related doctrines—the American parties are thought to fit their convictions to the changing demands of the political contest. According to this view, each set of American party leaders is satisfied to play Tweedledee to the other's Tweedledum.
Application of the principle of energy conservation to modeling the PWM converters

Parasitic resistances and offset voltage sources of power switches are included in the averaged-circuit models of an actual switching part of PWM transformerless converters which operate in a continuous conduction mode. The actual switching part is divided into the ideal switching part and its parasitics. It is shown that the ideal switching part can be modeled by one of 24 equivalent averaged circuits, each consisting of a dependent current source and a dependent voltage source. The parasitics are averaged using the principle of energy conservation. The obtained nonlinear large-signal model of the actual switching part can be placed into the buck, boost, and buck-boost topologies leading to averaged-circuit models of power stages. Linearization of the model around a DC operating point results in DC and small-signal models of the converters. Reflection rules are established which can be used to simplify the circuit models. The proposed method is illustrated by modeling the PWM boost converter. >
Cell-surface co-receptors: emerging roles in signaling and human disease

Extracellular signals are transmitted to cells through two classes of cell-surface receptors: signaling receptors that directly transduce signals and signaling co-receptors that bind ligand but that, traditionally, have not been thought to signal directly. Signaling co-receptors modulate the ligand binding and signaling of their respective signaling receptors. In recent years, roles for co-receptors have expanded to include essential functions in morphogen gradient formation, localizing signaling, signaling independently, regulating cell adhesion and orchestrating the signaling of several pathways. The importance of signaling co-receptors is demonstrated by their ubiquitous expression, their conservation during evolution, their prominent role in signaling cascades, their indispensable role during development and their frequent mutation or altered expression in human disease.
What can we learn from pilot studies

TOPIC. This paper discusses some of the potential lessons to be learned from pilot studies, using a recently completed pilot study of exercise in outpatients with schizophrenia as a case example. CONCLUSIONS. Pilot studies are a source of important research and clinical information in the areas of recruitment barriers, attendance at study intervention sessions, monitoring procedures, physical sensations from study interventions, and additional outcomes. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS. The author challenges psychiatric nurse clinicians to conduct and report the findings of pilot studies to enhance our knowledge and advance nursing science.
On-chip bus structure for custom core logic designs

The open standard PLB, OPB and DCR buses provide the primary means of communication between macros in an IBM custom core logic design. Designers realize several advantages in creating and using compliant macros. First, IBM is continually expanding its extensive library of Blue Logic off-the-shelf core macros. These logic blocks are easily integrated into a customer's SOC solution. Additionally, customers benefit by being able to reuse their own macros in multiple products. Finally, these common interfaces allow for easy integration, providing valuable time savings when implementing complex designs.
A model for the excitation of osteocytes by mechanical loading-induced bone fluid shear stresses

A new experimentally testable hypothesis is advanced for the mechanosensory transduction mechanism by which communicating osteocytes sense the very small in vivo strains in the calcified matrix components of bone. We propose that the osteocytes, although not responsive to substantial fluid pressures, can be stimulated by relatively small fluid shear stresses acting on the membranes of their osteocytic processes. Biot's porous media theory is used to relate the combined axial and bending loads applied to a whole bone to the flow past the osteocytic processes in their canaliculi. In this theory, the bone pores of interest are the proteoglycan filled fluid annuli that surround the osteocytic processes in the canaliculi. We show that previously predicted fluid pore pressure relaxation times were a hundred-fold too short for the lacunar-canalicular porosity because they neglected the fluid drag associated with proteoglycan matrix on the surface membrane of the osteocyte and its cell processes. The recent theory developed in Tsay and Weinbaum [J. Fluid Mech. 226, 125-148 (1991)] for flow through cross-linked fiber filled channels is used to model the flow through this proteoglycan matrix. The predicted pore relaxation time, 1-2 s, closely corresponds to the times measured by Salzstein and Pollack [J. Biomechanics 20, 271-280 (1987)]. Furthermore, using this model, the magnitude of the predicted fluid induced shear stresses, 8-30 dyn cm-2, is shown to be similar to the fluid shear stresses measured in osteoblasts and other cells in which an intracellular Ca2+ shear stress response had been observed. This model is also used, in conjunction with anatomical data and the pore fluid pressure relaxation time data, to show that the spacing between the fibers is approximately 7 nm. The result is consistent with the notion that the canalicular pore space is filled with glycosaminoglycans that are ordered by albumin according to the model of Michel [J. Physiol. 404, 1-29 (1988)]. The new hypothesis is also shown to be consistent with the experiments of McLeod et al. [J. Biomechanics (submitted)] which suggest that high-frequency low-amplitude postural strains can maintain and even increase bone mass.
Volume-Pressure Curves of the Human Arm

After interruption of the circulation, pressure changes in the brachial artery and a forearm vein were recorded and plotted against volume of blood injected intra-arterially expressed in ml./100 cc. of arm tissue. The resulting volume-pressure curves showed a steep rise with the first injection, a linear rise in the center section and a rapid increase during the last injection. These curves were not influenced by either sex, age or moderate systemic hypertension.
Sudden infant death syndrome, maternal smoking during pregnancy, and the cost-effectiveness of smoking cessation intervention.

Objectives This study analyzed the relationship between prenatal maternal smoking and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and examined the cost-effectiveness of smoking cessation interventions. Methods All recorded US singleton SIDS deaths from the 1995 birth cohort with birthweight exceeding 500 g were investigated. Infants with available maternal smoking data were matched with controls who survived to 1 year. Conditional logistic regression was used to estimate SIDS risks and accompanying cost-effectiveness. Results A total of 23.6% of singleton SIDS deaths appear to be attributable to prenatal maternal smoking. Typical cessation services available to all pregnant smokers could avert 108 SIDS deaths annually, at an estimated cost of $210,500 per life saved. Conclusions Typical prenatal smoking cessation programs are highly cost-effective but have limited impact on the population incidence of SIDS.
Synthesis and characterization of high molecular weight carboxylated polybutadiene

High molecular weight carboxylated polybutadienes (cPBDs) with number-average molecular weight (Mn) from 98,000 to 200,000 and carboxylic acid (COOH) contents of 0.5–10 mol % were successfully synthesized through hydrocarboxylation of polybutadienes (PBDs) at temperatures of 140–150°C using PdCl2(PPh3)2 and SnCl2 · 2H2O catalysts. At low extents of hydrocarboxylation (COOH < 6 mol %), glass transition temperatures (Tg's) of the resulting cPBDs did not change considerably (<10°C). Significant chain scission and crosslinking was not detected during the chemical modification process. Characterization of the microstructures of cPBDs by FTIR, 13C-NMR, and Raman spectroscopy showed that the carboxylic groups were incorporated on the pendant (1,2) PBD double bonds as well as the backbone (1,4) double bonds, indicating the hydrocarboxylation reaction did not solely occur at the terminal carbons of the pendant double bonds. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 3129–3138, 1999
A Novel and Rapid Validated Stability-Indicating UPLC Method of Related Substances for Dorzolamide Hydrochloride and Timolol Maleate in Ophthalmic Dosage Form

A novel stability-indicating gradient reversed-phase ultra-performance liquid chromatographic (RP-UPLC) method was developed for the determination of purity of dorzolamide hydrochloride and timalol maleate in presence of their impurities, and forced degradation products and placebo. The method was developed using a Waters UPLC BEH C18, 100 × 2.1mm, 1.7 µm column with mobile phase containing a gradient mixture of solvents A and B. Phosphate buffer (0.04M), pH 2.6 was used as buffer. Buffer pH 2.6 was used as solvent A and Milli-Q water, methanol and acetonitrile in 200:300:600, v/v/v ratios were used as solvent B. The gradient program was set as 0/5, 8/8, 10/15, 16/45, 20/55, 24/80, 25/5 and 30/5. The eluted compound dorzolamide hydrochloride and its impurities were monitored at 254 nm, and timalol maleate and its impurities were monitored at 295 nm. The run time was 30 min, within which dorzolamide hydrochloride and its five impurities as well as timalol maleate and its three impurities were well separated, with resolution more than 2.0. Dorzolamide hydrochloride and timalol maleate were subjected to the stress conditions of oxidative, acid, base, photolytic and thermal degradation. The peak purity of dorzolamide hydrochloride, timalol maleate and their related compounds did not show any flag, thus proved the stability-indicating power of the method. The developed method was validated as per International Conference of Harmonization guidelines with respect to specificity, linearity, limit of detection, limit of quantification, accuracy, precision and robustness.
Democracy, Autocracy, and Expropriation of Foreign Direct Investment

Stylized evidence indicates that democracies and autocracies both expropriate foreign direct investment but that democracies do so less frequently. What explains the similarities and differences in expropriation between regime types? An analysis of actual expropriation acts in 63 developing countries from 1960 to 1990 shows that democracies are most likely to expropriate foreign investment when leaders face little political constraint and when they reside in countries with frequent leadership turnover. Autocrats are least likely to expropriate foreign assets when they face high political constraints and have stayed in power for a long time. In essence, the chief executive's political incentive and policy-making capacity determine the host government's expropriation decisions. The findings have important implications for the rule of law, property rights protection, investment behaviors, and the prospect of privatization reforms.
Economic impact of data integrity attacks on distributed DC optimal power flow algorithm

A variety of distributed energy management algorithms are being developed for DC optimal power flow (DCOPF) application owing to their flexibility and scalability in the presence of high distributed Energy Resources (DERs) penetration. However, these algorithms are vulnerable to malicious cyber attacks due to the absence of control centers. In this paper, we study and analyze the economic impact of the data integrity attack to distributed DC-OPF algorithms. In particular, we demonstrate how a malicious generator could gain more economic profit by compromising the distributed controller of its bus, modifying the information sent to neighboring buses and manipulating the power dispatch commands. To our best knowledge, this is the first paper to show the economic impact of malicious attacks in distributed DC-OPF. By revealing such potential financial risks, this paper conveys the message that besides the efforts of designing novel distributed energy management algorithms to address the DERs integration challenges, it is equally important to protect the distributed energy management algorithms from possible malicious attacks to avoid potential economic loss. The economic impact of the data integrity attack is illustrated in the Future Renewable Electric Energy Delivery and Management (FREEDM) system.
Interpreting federal policy at the local level: the wildland- urban interface concept in wildfire protection planning in the eastern United States

In 2003, the Healthy Forests Restoration Act (HFRA) called for USA communities at risk of wildfire to develop Community Wildfire Protection Plans (CWPPs) requiring local, state and federal actors to work together to address hazardous fuels reduction and mitigation efforts. CWPPs can provide the opportunity for local government to influence actions on adjacent public land, by establishing local boundaries of the wildland–urban interface (WUI), the area where urban lands meet or intermix with wildlands. The present paper explores local response to the HFRA and CWPPs in the eastern USA, specifically if and how communities are using the policy incentive to identify the WUI. We conducted document reviews of eastern CWPPs, as well as qualitative analysis of in-depth interviews with participants in four case studies. We found tremendous variation in local response to HFRA, with plans completed at multiple scales and using different planning templates. The WUI policy incentive was not used in all CWPPs, suggesting that the incentive is not as useful in the eastern USA, where public land is less dominant and the perceived fire risk is lower than in the West. Even so, many communities in the East completed CWPPs to improve their wildfire preparedness.
Herding and Homicide across Nations

This article examined the extent that Nisbett and Cohen's herding hypothesis can account for cross-national variation in homicide. Three research questions were addressed. First, to what extent does herding influence homicide cross-nationally? Second, do different types of herding influence homicide differently? Third, are the effects of herding on homicide more pronounced in weak nation states? Little support was found for the proposition that herding influences homicide. Additionally, no consistent support was provided for the notion that the effects of herding on homicide are more pronounced in weak states. These results lend no support to Nisbett and Cohen's proposition that there is a worldwide link between herding and violence. Language: en
Probability of introduction of exotic strains of bluetongue virus into the US and into California through importation of infected cattle

Abstract Strategies designed to minimize the probability of bluetongue virus (BTV) introduction to new areas should be based on a quantitative assessment of the probability of actually establishing the virus once it is introduced. The risk of introducing a new strain of bluetongue virus into a region depends on the number of viremic animals that enter and the competency of local vectors to transmit the virus. We used Monte Carlo simulation to model the probability of introducing BTV into California, USA, and the US through importation of cattle. Records of cattle and calf imports into California and the US were obtained, as was seroprevalence information from the exporting countries. A simulation model was constructed to evaluate the probability of importing either a viremic PCR-negative animal after 14-day quarantine, a c-ELISA BTV-antibody-negative animal after 28-day quarantine, or an untested viremic animal after 100-day quarantine into California and into the US. We found that for animals imported to the US, the simulated (best to worst scenarios) median percentage that tested positive for BTV-antibody ranged from 5.4 to 7.2%, while for the subset imported to California, the simulated median percentage that tested positive for BTV-antibody ranged from 20.9 to 78.9%. Using PCR, for animals imported to the US these values were 71.8–85.3%, and for those imported to California, the simulated median that test positive ranged from 74.3 to 92.4%. The probability that an imported animal was BTV-viremic is very low regardless of the scenario selected (median probability = 0.0%). The probability of introducing an exotic strain of BTV into California or the US by importing infected cattle was remote, and the current Office International des Epizooties (OIE) recommendation of either a final PCR test performed 14 days after entry into quarantine, a c-ELISA performed 28 days after entry into quarantine or a 100-day quarantine with no testing requirement was adequate to protect cattle in the US and California from an exotic strain of BTV.
Design of general kinematotropic mechanisms

The general mobility of a linkage mechanism is determined during its continuous motions, but there is a class of mechanisms with kinematotropic properties whose mobility can be changed at singularities of their pose, while their kinematic structure remains unchanged in the different motion modes. This paper presents a systematic design method for general kinematotropic mechanisms. Firstly, the basic kinematic structures of spatial motions in serial and parallel forms are introduced. Secondly, the basic properties and design rules of kinematotropic mechanisms are defined, and the basic serial kinematic chains with variable constraint relations are presented. Thirdly, a systematic method for kinematic structural synthesis of general kinematotropic mechanisms is proposed. Finally, two types of motion transformations with four kinematotropic mechanisms are synthesized and analyzed as illustrative examples of the method. A systematic design method of general kinematotropic mechanisms is presented.Basic structures of spatial motions in serial and parallel forms are synthesized.Basic kinematotropic design principles and rules are presented.Four kinematotropic mechanisms are synthesized and analyzed as examples.
Diseases of the Respiratory Tract in Alcoholics

“The following diseases are the usual consequences of the habitual use of ardent spirits—Hoarseness and a husky cough, which often terminates in consumption, and sometimes in an acute and fatal disease of the lungs” (Rush, 1943–1944).
Testing Cross-Platform Mobile App Development Frameworks (T)

Mobile app developers often wish to make their apps available on a wide variety of platforms, e.g., Android, iOS, and Windows devices. Each of these platforms uses a different programming environment, each with its own language and APIs for app development. Small app development teams lack the resources and the expertise to build and maintain separate code bases of the app customized for each platform. As a result, we are beginning to see a number of cross-platform mobile app development frameworks. These frameworks allow the app developers to specify the business logic of the app once, using the language and APIs of a home platform (e.g., Windows Phone), and automatically produce versions of the app for multiple target platforms (e.g., iOS and Android). In this paper, we focus on the problem of testing cross-platform app development frameworks. Such frameworks are challenging to develop because they must correctly translate the home platform API to the (possibly disparate) target platform API while providing the same behavior. We develop a differential testing methodology to identify inconsistencies in the way that these frameworks handle the APIs of the home and target platforms. We have built a prototype testing tool, called X-Checker, and have applied it to test Xamarin, a popular framework that allows Windows Phone apps to be cross-compiled into native Android (and iOS) apps. To date, X-Checker has found 47 bugs in Xamarin, corresponding to inconsistencies in the way that Xamarin translates between the semantics of the Windows Phone and the Android APIs. We have reported these bugs to the Xamarin developers, who have already committed patches for twelve of them.
Exploring the Extremes of Heat Conduction in Anisotropic Materials

Anisotropic solids possess thermal conductivities ranging from among the highest found in nature, as in the in-plane thermal conductivity of graphite, to the lowest, as in the cross-plane thermal conductivity of disordered layered crystals. Though these extremes of thermal conductivity make anisotropic materials attractive for diverse applications such as thermal management and thermal insulation, the microscopic physics of heat conduction in these materials remain poorly understood. In this review article, we discuss the recent advances in our understanding of thermal phonon transport in anisotropic solids obtained using new theoretical, computational, and experimental tools.
Physical Fighting Among Male and Female Adolescents of Military Families: Results From a Representative Sample of High School Students

The impact of family military involvement on adolescent mental health and substance abuse is well established, but little is known about other behavioral health outcomes such as physical fighting. We assessed the relationship between family military involvement and physical fighting in a representative sample of 3,928 high school students. Weighted logistic regression was used to determine whether adolescents from military families had higher odds of fighting and fighting on school property compared with adolescents of non-military families after controlling for demographics, substance use, depressive symptoms, and bullying victimization. We also assessed the cumulative impact of multiple risk factors on fighting outcomes. Overall, 23.5% of high school students reported physical fighting and 7.0% reported physical fighting at school. Youth from military families had higher odds of physical fighting (adjusted odds ratios [AOR] = 1.69; 95% confidence interval [CI] = [1.27, 2.25]) and physical fighting on school property (AOR = 1.98; 95% CI = [1.16, 3.39]). In models stratified by gender, family military involvement remained independently associated with physical fighting and physical fighting at school for males (AOR = 1.74; 95% CI = [1.15, 2.65] and AOR = 2.21; 95% CI = [1.03, 4.74]) and females (AOR = 1.65; 95% CI = [1.11, 2.45] and AOR = 1.88; 95% CI = [1.01, 3.50]). The odds of engaging in each physical fighting outcome increased as the cumulative number of risk factors increased. School-based interventions aimed at addressing fighting should be tailored to fit the unique needs of adolescents in military families, particularly those with additional risk factors.
Rapid demonstration of Legionella pneumophila in unembedded tissue. An adaptation of the Giménez stain.

The Gimenez stain, originally developed for demonstrating rickettsiae, readily stained the Legionnaires' disease bacterium (Legionella pneumophila) in frozen tissue sections and smears of fresh or formalin-fixed lung tissue from patients who had confirmed Legionnaires' disease. With the Gimenez procedure, the bacterium stained bright red against a blue-green background. The tissue Gram procedures also stained L. pneumophila in frozen sections and smears, but the staining reaction was weak, and these stains were neither as sensitive nor a consistent as the Gimenez procedure.