cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Identifying crash involvement among older drivers: agreement between self-report and state records

Older drivers have a high crash rate per vehicle mile of travel. Coupled with the growth of the number of older drivers on the road, this has generated interest in the identification of factors which place older drivers at increased risk. However, much of the existing research on medical and functional risk factors for crash involvement has generally been inconsistent. Methodological differences between studies have been hypothesized as being partly responsible for such inconsistencies. The source of information used to identify crash-involved drivers has been identified as one such difference. This paper reports on the agreement between self-report and state record for identifying crash involved-older drivers. We also sought to determine whether the prevalence of visual and cognitive impairment differs across crash-involved drivers identified by either or both sources. Finally, we assessed whether risk factors for crash involvement differed when crash-involved drivers were identified by either self-report or state records. Results indicated that there was a moderate level of agreement between self-reported and state-recorded crash involvement (kappa = 0.45). However, we did find significant differences between crash-involved drivers identified via state records and/or self-report with respect to demographic (age, race), driving (annual mileage, days per week driven), and vision impairment (acuity, contrast sensitivity, peripheral visual field sensitivity, useful field of view). We also found that the possibility for biased measures of association is real. Useful field of view impairment was associated with both self-reported and state-recorded crash involvement; however, the magnitude of the associations was disparate. Moreover, glaucoma was identified as a significant risk factor when considering state-recorded crashes but not self-reported crashes. While validation of these findings is required, research designed to identify risk factors for crash involvement among older drivers should carefully consider the issue of case definition, particularly if self-report is used to identify crash-involved older drivers.
Analytical criterion for porous solids containing cylindrical voids in an incompressible matrix exhibiting tension–compression asymmetry

A new analytic plastic potential is developed using a rigorous limit analysis approach. Conditions of homogeneous boundary strain rate are imposed on every cylinder concentric with the cavity. It is shown that, due to the tension–compression asymmetry of the incompressible matrix, the third invariant of the stress deviator has a strong influence on the yielding of the porous solid. New and intriguing results are obtained; namely, for axisymmetric loadings and plane strain conditions, the stress state at yielding is not hydrostatic. In the case when the matrix has the same yield in tension as in compression, the new criterion reduces to Gurson’s criterion for cylindrical voids.
Behçet's disease and complex aphthosis.

Behcet's disease is a complex multisystem disease diagnosed by means of clinical criteria. Clinical features include oral and genital aphthae, pustular vasculitic cutaneous lesions, and ocular, gastrointestinal, and vascular manifestations. We believe that complex aphthosis, characterized by oral or oral and genital ulcers, may be a forme fruste of Behcet's disease. Although the pathogenesis of both Behcet's disease and complex aphthosis remain unknown, immune factors, infectious agents, and effector mechanisms are implicated. Treatment is based on the severity of systemic involvement and includes topical therapies as well as colchicine, dapsone, thalidomide, and immunosuppressive agents.
Automated support for service-based software development and integration

Abstract A service-based development paradigm is one in which components are viewed as services. In this model, services interact and can be providers or consumers of data and behavior. Applications in this paradigm dynamically integrate services at runtime-based on available resources. This paper describes an architecture-based approach for the creation of services and their subsequent integration with service-requesting client applications.
Myosin turnover in cultured muscle fibers relaxed by tetrodotoxin.

Abstract It is possible to maintain chick embryo muscle fibers in culture for several weeks. During this time the fibers mature and undergo spontaneous contractions. Contractions may be abolished by tetrodotoxin. When normal and tetrodotoxin (TTX) cultures are compared for myosin accumulation it is found that the relaxed or tetrodotoxin-treated cultures fail to accumulate myosin after about 4 days. Rates of myosin synthesis in normal and relaxed cultures are, however, identical. Failure to accumulate myosin in relaxed cultures is associated with a 30–40% increase in the rate of turnover of myosin heavy chains compared with normal, contracting cultures. It is suggested that one basis for hypotrophy is to be found in a post-translational mechanism for regulating myosin heavy chain (MHC) turnover.
Technical note—Web service credentials

Web service technology promises advances in the dynamic integration of on-line services. Mechanisms are needed to assist in verifying the quality of these services. The end user of a Web service will quickly detect if the content is handled correctly and if the business process rules are adhered to, but often, many unwarranted assumptions are made concerning the quality of a service. Is the provider of the service reliable? If not, the consequences will primarily impact the user, who will blame the provider for delivering bad services. This paper explains the need for Web service credentials to address this issue and explores several aspects of an approach that facilitates a trustworthy dynamic integration of services.
Determination of β-glucosidase aggregating factor (BGAF) binding and polymerization regions on the maize β-glucosidase isozyme Glu1

Abstract β-Glucosidases (Glu1 and Glu2) in maize specifically interact with a lectin called β-glucosidase aggregating factor (BGAF). We have shown that the N-terminal (Glu 50 –Val 145 ) and the C-terminal (Phe 466 –Ala 512 ) regions of maize Glu1 are involved in binding to BGAF. Sequence comparison between sorghum β-glucosidases (dhurrinases, which do not bind to BGAF) and maize β-glucosidases, and the 3D-structure of Glu1 suggested that the BGAF-binding site on Glu1 is much smaller than predicted previously. To define more precisely the BGAF-binding site, we constructed additional chimeric β-glucosidases. The results showed that a region spanning 11 amino acids (Ile 72 –Thr 82 ) on Glu1 is essential and sufficient for BGAF binding, whereas the extreme N-terminal region Ser 1 –Thr 29 , together with C-terminal region Phe 466 –Ala 512 , affects the size of Glu1–BGAF complexes. The dissociation constants ( K d ) of chimeric β-glucosidase–BGAF interactions also demonstrated that the extreme N-terminal and C-terminal regions are important but not essential for binding. To confirm the importance of Ile 72 –Thr 82 on Glu1 for BGAF binding, we constructed a chimeric sorghum β-glucosidase, Dhr2 (C-11, Dhr2 whose Val 72 –Glu 82 region was replaced with the Ile 72 –Thr 82 region of Glu1). C-11 binds to BGAF, indicating that the Ile 72 –Thr 82 region is indeed a major interaction site on Glu1 involved in BGAF binding.
Probing hydrogen interactions with amorphous metals using first-principles calculations.

Amorphous metals are interesting candidates for use as H2 purification membranes and occur in some applications of H2 storage. We introduce a general strategy combining density functional theory and statistical mechanics for quantitatively predicting the properties of interstitial H in amorphous metals. We systematically investigate H solubility in amorphous Fe3B, comparing our results with ones for a crystalline material with the same composition. H–H interactions in the amorphous material play a crucial role in determining the net solubility. H solubility in the amorphous and crystalline materials differs by orders of magnitude under conditions relevant for practical H2 purification membranes. Our results give atomic-level insight into the properties of H in amorphous metals that has not been previously available.
Potentiation of somatotrophic and diabetogenic effects of growth hormone by human placental lactogen (HPL).

Previous work in this laboratory suggested that the somatotrophic activity attributed to human pregnancy sera and placental extracts by others might result from the potentiation of human pituitary growth hormone (HGH) by a circulating hormone produced by the fetal trophoblast, human placental lactogen (HPL). It had been shown that, although HPL is chemically similar to HGH, it possesses little or no direct growth hormone-like activity itself. The present study shows that 4 preparations of HPL, prepared by 3 different workers employing distinct methods, can potentiate HGH-induced growth of the tibial epiphysial cartilage of hypophysectomized rats over a 4-day period, at doses of HPL 1/50 to 1/500 of those which other workers claim will produce a direct somatotrophic effect. This potentiation is not seen when bovine growth hormone is substituted for HGH, nor when ovine pituitary prolactin is given instead of HPL. An experiment is also described which excludes the possibility that our particular purification...
Risk and Predictors of Malignancy in Women with Endometrial Polyps

Endometrial polyps commonly affect premenopausal and postmenopausal women and carry a small risk of cancer. Consensus guidelines to direct the management of women with endometrial polyps are lacking. We examined the risk of malignancy in symptomatic and asymptomatic women with endometrial polyps. Institutional databases were analyzed to identify women with pathologically confirmed endometrial polyps diagnosed from 2002 to 2007. Demographic, clinical, and pathologic outcomes were reviewed. The most significant pathologic diagnosis was recorded for each subject. Endometrial hyperplasia and cancer were characterized as arising in the polyp or the adjacent endometrium. Factors associated with atypical hyperplasia and cancer were analyzed. A total of 1011 women with endometrial polyps were identified. On pathology review, 964 (95.4%) polyps were reported as benign, 13 (1.3%) as hyperplasia without atypia, 5 (0.5%) as hyperplasia with atypia, and 13 (1.3%) as endometrial cancer. The only clinical or demographic factor associated with atypical hyperplasia and cancer was menopausal status (P = .02). Among premenopausal women the risk of cancer or atypical hyperplasia was 0.9% in patients without bleeding and 1.0% in women with bleeding. In postmenopausal women cancer or atypical hyperplasia was found in 1.9% of patients without bleeding and in 3.8% of women with bleeding. The risk of endometrial cancer in women with endometrial polyps is 1.3%, while cancers confined to a polyp were found in only 0.3%. The risk is greatest in postmenopausal women with vaginal bleeding.
Weekly staff scheduling with workstation group restrictions

This paper addresses the weekly adjustment problem for staff scheduling when movement restrictions exist between workstation groups (WSGs). In practice, it is common for employees to be organized into physical or logical groups to match the layout of a facility or to facilitate managerial oversight. A complication in the problem arises when each employee is required to spend more time at his or her assigned home base during the week than at any other WSG. This conflicts with a common strategy of reassigning employees to different WSGs when idle time exists in their schedules. Ordinarily, the full problem is tackled with a two-phase approach, where optimal shifts and overtime allocations are first derived and then tasks are assigned. When movement restrictions exist in a facility, this approach is no longer practical or even possible for all but the smallest instances. Alternatively, a new model is proposed that integrates WSG restrictions with the shift scheduling and task assignment constraints. The model takes the form of a large-scale integer program and is solved with one of two decomposition heuristics. The first splits the movement restrictions network into manageable pieces; the second uses column generation to identify good individual schedules that are used to construct a set-covering-type master problem. A solution to the master problem provides a feasible solution to the original integer program. Extensive testing was done with data obtained from the U.S. Postal Service mail processing and distribution center in Dallas. The results show that good feasible solutions can be obtained in less than an hour.
Interactions between mouse IgG2 antibodies are common and mediated by plasma C1q.

Background: The simultaneous use of multiple antibodies for multicolor flow cytometry is increasingly common and presents the opportunity for antibody interactions. Methods: Antibodies of differing isotypes were evaluated in pair-wise combinations for the presence of antibody interactions, using a standard whole blood lysing method or variations thereof. Results: Artifactual interactions were identified and preferentially involved IgG2a (58%) or IgG2b (33%) antibodies and a single IgG1 antibody (3%). The interactions were present in all 10 random peripheral blood samples evaluated and required only whole blood and the two antibodies. Plasma removal prior to antibody incubation eliminated the interaction, as did switching any single IgG2 antibody to an IgG1 clone. Heat-inactivated plasma eliminated the interactions, and the addition of purified C1q to washed cells was capable of recreating the interaction in its entirety, confirming the mediation by complement C1q. Conclusions: Complement C1q mediates significant interactions between mouse IgG2 class antibodies; these interactions are very common and may be prevented by either complete serum removal or use of alternate IgG1 clones. Such interactions represent a significant potential source of artifact in the use of whole blood lysis methods for specimen preparation for multicolor flow cytometry. © 2006 International Society for Analytical Cytology
"Understanding and Treating Sex Addiction: A comprehensive guide for people who struggle with sex addiction and those who want to help them"

In the midst of a vigorous controversy as to whether sexual addiction truly exists, this timely sex-positive book provides a comprehensive and thorough perspective, bringing the sex addiction model...
Spit-acular entry: Borrelia gets help from a tick salivary protein to move from the mammalian host to the arthropod vector.

Summary In vector-host-pathogen interactions, vector saliva plays a key role in the successful acquisition of blood and in facilitating the establishment of pathogens in mammalian hosts. In this issue of Cell Host & Microbe , Narasimhan et al. describe how a tick salivary antioxidant neutralizes reactive oxygen species at the tick-host interface and facilitates the tick vector's acquisition of Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria from an infected mammalian host.
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TUMOR VOLUME AND THE NUMBER OF POSITIVE CORES IN MEN UNDERGOING MULTISITE EXTENDED BIOPSY: IMPLICATION FOR EXPECTANT MANAGEMENT

ABSTRACTPurpose: We assessed the relationship between the number of positive cores obtained at extended biopsy and tumor volume in radical prostatectomy specimens as a tool for predicting the biological significance of prostate cancer from biopsy data.Materials and Methods: The study group included 207 men who were treated with radical prostatectomy without neoadjuvant therapy at our cancer center. All patients were diagnosed by systematic extended biopsy (10 or 11 cores) performed between 1997 and 2003. The variables analyzed were patient age, prostate specific antigen, clinical stage, biopsy Gleason score, maximum tumor length in a core, greatest percent of tumor in a core, total tumor length, total percent of tumor in all cores, positive core location, initial or repeat biopsy and prostate volume in subgroups based on the number of positive cores, that is group 1—1, group 2—2 and group 3—3 or more cores. Bivariate correlation analysis and multiple logistic regression analysis were used to determine the...
A novel bolometer for infrared and millimeter-wave astrophysics

We are developing a novel bolometer which uses a fine mesh to absorb radiation. The filling factor of the mesh is small, providing a small heat capacity and a low geometric cross-section to cosmic rays. The mesh is patterned from a free-standing silicon nitride membrane and is thermally isolated by long radial legs of silicon nitride. A thin metallic film evaporated on the mesh absorbs radiation by matching the surface impedance to that of free space. A neutron transmutation doped germanium thermistor attached to the center of the mesh detects the temperature increase from absorbed radiation. The low thermal conductivity and heat capacity of silicon nitride provide improved performance in low background applications. We discuss the theoretical limits of the performance of these devices. We have tested a device at 300 mK with an electrical NEP = 4 × 10-17 W Hz-1/2 and a time constant r = 40 ms.
Comprehensiveness of Strategic Planning: The Importance of Heterogeneity of a Top Team:

Summary.-A conceptual model linking the demographic heterogeneity of the top management team to comprehensiveness of strategic planning is developed. PIanning comprehensiveness is one of the key dimensions underlying the dominant models of formulation of strategy, consistent with the tradition of "synoptic" strategic planning. Drawing on group process theory, heterogeneity among team members in outlooks and perspectives, represented by their demographic backgrounds, is expected ro stimulate an open, broad, and challenge-oriented approach to the process of strategic planning, consistent with comprehensiveness. Heterogeneiry on five characteristics-age, organizational tenure, team tenure, functional background, and educational curriculum-was included. Also discussed are the complexities of managing the group process of a heterogeneous ream and additional influences, external to the team, on the comprehensiveness of strategic planning.
A review of the powers of bail bond agents and bounty hunters: Exploring legalities and illegalities of quasi-criminal justice officials ☆

Bail bond agents and bounty hunters are integral figures within the United States criminal justice system. Their job is to ensure that an individual who has been released from jail on bail returns to court for his or her scheduled court appearance. This article addresses the legal environment surrounding bail bond agents and their subcontracted bounty hunters, as well as the extra-legal violence and constitutional rights violations committed by them. This legal analysis is developed by examining state court decisions dating back to the nineteenth century. Historical and contemporary trends in the law are illustrated throughout the article with respect to bail bond agents and bounty hunters. Using inductive legal research methodology, the cases are divided into two constitutional areas, outlining the types of issues state courts litigate: the legitimacy/legality of arrests and bail bond agents entering third-party residences. The article concludes that although bail agents and bounty hunters have been criticized in the past for exercising their extra-legal authority, state statutes and state court cases have modified the bail bond system, rendering it more amenable to the rule of law.
Characteristics of a Solar Pond Brine Reconcentration System

An active brine reconcentration system has been incorporated into the design of the University of Illinois half-acre salt gradient solar pond facility. An important feature of the system is its ability to keep precipitation from diluting the brine. Experimental data presented are in good agreement with a numerical simulation model of the evaporation process. The film''-type evaporation process used in the system efficiently collects solar energy for evaporating water from brine. Parasitic electrical energy requirements for the evaporation system are 1.2 watts per square meter of evaporation surface area.
A New Approach to Timing: The Fast-Fast System

A dual channel constant fraction timing discriminator incorporating multiple energy windows and coincidence logic has been developed. Incorporation of energy discrimination and fast coincidence logic into the timing channel has distinct advantages in terms of system simplicity, stability and data rates. A prototype applying the F2 approach has been constructed and tested. The system gives a Co60 FWHM of ~ 210 psec at a singles rate of > 7.5 × 105 sec-1 (~ 1200 coincidences/sec).
Gentamicin levels in the human biliary tract.

bladder bile, despite the presence of gentamicin in common-duct bile in three of these patients. Minimal abnormalities were present in tests of liver function in 14 of the 16 patients studied but did not correlate with the levels of gentamicin achieved in the bile. Bacteria have been cultured from bile in a majority of patients with acute cholecystitis or partial obstruction of the common duct and in one-third of patients with chronic cholecystitis [1]. The bacteria most commonly associated with disease of the biliary tract reflect the anaerobic and aerobic intestinal flora. Gentamicin is highly effective in vitro and in vivo against many of the gramnegative organisms isolated [2-5]. The present study was undertaken to determine the concentration of gentamicin achieved in bile in the gallbladder and common duct of patients with biliary-tract disease.
Postmortem cardiac troponin-I levels predict intramyocardial damage at autopsy

Serum cardiac troponin levels are now widely used in the diagnosis of myocardial infarct (MI) and injury in living patients, but their utility in postmortem diagnosis has not been established. We evaluated postmortem cardiac troponin-I (cTnI) levels in serum from 53 hospital patients undergoing autopsy and correlated the levels with anatomic findings at postmortem examination. Among patients with nonischemic cardiac disease, those with intramyocardial disease (e.g., cardiac transplant rejection, intramyocardial tumor) had significantly higher cTnI levels than those with disease confined to the pericardium (e.g., epicardial tumor implants, pericarditis) (p = 0.004). No correlation was found between recent MI and cTnI level. There was also no correlation between cTnI level and the presence of chronic ischemic features, a history of cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or postmortem interval. We conclude that cTnI is detectable in postmortem serum samples and, although its levels did not correlate specifically with ischemia or infarction in our series, its levels appear to correlate significantly with intramyocardial injury. Use of cardiac troponin in the postmortem diagnosis of cardiac disease may be warranted.
Lunar rock 12013 - O, Si, Al and Fe abundances

Abstract The abundances of O, Si, Al, and Fe have been determined by 14 MeV neutron activation analysis in 5 chips and 3 powders derived from Apollo 12 lunar rock 12013. These four elements constitute approximately 90% of the mass of this rock. Mass weighted mean abundances in weight per cent for the five chips where contamination problems are expected to be minimal are: O : 45.2%, Si : 28.4%, Al : 6.5%, and Fe : 10% . A significant positive correlation was observed for Si and O abundances in the chips and a linear regression line drawn through these data passes close to the mean for the Apollo 11 breccias. A significant negative correlation was observed for Al with Si in the chips.
Factors associated with wound complications in women with obstetric anal sphincter injuries (OASIS).

Objective We sought to determine factors associated with perineal wound complications in women with obstetric anal sphincter injuries (OASIS). Study Design A retrospective chart review of women who sustained an OASIS from Nov. 2, 2005, through March 1, 2010, was performed. Results In all, 1629 women sustained an OASIS; 909 had follow-up data. Wound complications (infection, breakdown, packing, operative intervention, secondary repair) occurred in 7.3% (n = 66) of patients. Smoking (odds ratio [OR], 4.04; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.4–12.2; P = .01), increasing body mass index (OR, 1.06; 95% CI, 1.01–1.12; P = .04), fourth-degree laceration (OR, 1.89; 95% CI, 0.99–3.61; P = .05), operative vaginal delivery (OR, 1.76; 95% CI, 1.15–2.68; P = .009), and use of postpartum antibiotics (OR, 2.46; 95% CI, 1.11–5.63; P = .03) were associated with complications; intrapartum antibiotics were protective (OR, 0.29; 95% CI, 0.14–0.59; P = .001). In all, 44% of patients with a complication (n = 29) required hospital readmission; most (72%) were in the first 2 postpartum weeks. Conclusion Wound complications after OASIS are associated with modifiable factors and often require hospital readmission.
Creating a virtual classroom for interactive education on the Web

Abstract The World-Wide Web provides new opportunities for distance education over the Internet. The Web, when combined with other network tools, can be used to create a virtual classroom to bring together a community of learners for interactive education. The Cornell Theory Center, a national center for high performance computing, is investigating the use of emerging network technologies for training computational scientists and researchers in the concepts of parallel processing. This effort is being built on electronic educational materials already on the Web and will evaluate the effectiveness of various collaborative tools.
A Framework for Predicting Adherence in Remote Health Monitoring Systems

Remote health monitoring (RHM) systems have shown potential effectiveness in disease management and prevention. In several studies RHM systems have been shown to reduce risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) for a subset of the study participants. However, many RHM study participants fail to adhere to the prescribed study protocol or end up dropping from the study prior to its completion. In a recent Women's Heart Health study of 90 individuals in the community, we developed Wanda-CVD, an enhancement to our previous RHM system. Wanda-CVD is a smartphone-based RHM system designed to assist participants to reduce identified CVD risk factors by motivating participants through wireless coaching using feedback and prompts as social support. Many participants adhered to the study protocol, however, many did not completely adhere, and some even dropped prior to study completion. In this paper, we present a framework for analyzing baseline features to predict adherence to prescribed medical protocols that can be applied to other RHM systems. Such a prediction tool can aid study coordinators and clinicians in identifying participants who will need further study support, leading potentially to participants deriving maximal benefit from the RHM system, potentially saving healthcare costs, clinician and participant time and resources. We analyze key contextual features that predict with an accuracy of 85.2% which participants are more likely to adhere to the study protocol. Results from the Women's Heart Health study demonstrate that factors such as perceived health threat of heart disease, and perceived social support are among the factors that aid in predicting patient RHM protocol adherence in a group of African American women ages 25-45.
Identification of palindromic sequences recognized by restriction endonucleases, as based on the tabularized sequencing data for seven viral and plasmid DNAs

Computer search of DNA sequences for phages phi X174, G4, M13 and fd, plasmids pBR322 and pAO3, and virus SV40, was employed to prepare tables specifying the size classes and frequencies of DNA segments located between all possible tetra-, penta- and hexanucleotide palindromes. As described earlier (Fuchs et al., 1978), these tables permit identifying sequences recognized by most of the restriction endonucleases. The effect of sequencing errors on the accuracy of the present identification method is evaluated. Only four of the 224 listed sequences do not appear in any of the seven DNAs, leading to discussion (see Appendix) on the natural sequence distribution.
A Cell System for Phenotypic Screening of Modifiers of SMN2 Gene Expression and Function

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is an inherited neurodegenerative disease caused by homozygous inactivation of the SMN1 gene and reduced levels of the survival motor neuron (SMN) protein. Since higher copy numbers of the nearly identical SMN2 gene reduce disease severity, to date most efforts to develop a therapy for SMA have focused on enhancing SMN expression. Identification of alternative therapeutic approaches has partly been hindered by limited knowledge of potential targets and the lack of cell-based screening assays that serve as readouts of SMN function. Here, we established a cell system in which proliferation of cultured mouse fibroblasts is dependent on functional SMN produced from the SMN2 gene. To do so, we introduced the entire human SMN2 gene into NIH3T3 cell lines in which regulated knockdown of endogenous mouse Smn severely decreases cell proliferation. We found that low SMN2 copy number has modest effects on the cell proliferation phenotype induced by Smn depletion, while high SMN2 copy number is strongly protective. Additionally, cell proliferation correlates with the level of SMN activity in small nuclear ribonucleoprotein assembly. Following miniaturization into a high-throughput format, our cell-based phenotypic assay accurately measures the beneficial effects of both pharmacological and genetic treatments leading to SMN upregulation. This cell model provides a novel platform for phenotypic screening of modifiers of SMN2 gene expression and function that act through multiple mechanisms, and a powerful new tool for studies of SMN biology and SMA therapeutic development.
Elgonica-dimers A and B, two potent alcohol metabolism inhibitory constituents of Aloe arborescens

Activity-guided fractionation of the leaves of Aloe arborescens resulted in the isolation and characterization of the known compounds elgonica-dimers A (1) and B (2) as potent inhibitors of cytosolic alcohol dehydrogenase and aldehyde dehydrogenase activities in vitro.
Pulmonary Architecture in the Conducting Regions of Six Rats

Rats are widely used for studies of pulmonary toxicology and lung disease. Several studies suggest nominal geometric parameters describing the architecture of the rat airway. However, intersubject variance has never been reported due to the huge effort and time to take these manual measurements. In this study, we present statistics of the branching pattern of six healthy male Sprague Dawley rats by automatically analyzing computed tomography images of silicon casts of their airways. Details of branching characteristics and also intersubject variance are presented. In addition, this study shows that mean and standard deviation of many geometric parameters insufficiently represent pulmonary architecture because some, such as diameter-asymmetry, are not normally distributed. Detailed statistics including inter- and intrasubject variance and distribution of the geometric parameters will aid in constructing more realistic airway models for particle transport and studies of normal and abnormal respiratory physiology.
Absence of visually influenced cells in auditory cortex of normal and congenitally deaf cats.

Abstract Single cells recorded from primary auditory cortex (AI and AII) of unanesthetized paralyzed cats were tested for responses to visual stimulation. Fortysix cells recorded from normal animals responded to acoustic stimuli but showed no discrete response to light flashes or small spots and bars. Twenty-two cells recorded from a congenitally deaf cat were spontaneously active but showed no discrete response to either auditory or visual stimulation.
Automatic fault injection for driver robustness testing

Robustness testing is a crucial stage in the device driver development cycle. To accelerate driver robustness testing, effective fault scenarios need to be generated and injected without requiring much time and human effort. In this paper, we present a practical approach to automatic runtime generation and injection of fault scenarios for driver robustness testing. We identify target functions that can fail from runtime execution traces, generate effective fault scenarios on these target functions using a bounded trace-based iterative strategy, and inject the generated fault scenarios at runtime to test driver robustness using a permutation-based injection mechanism. We have evaluated our approach on 12 Linux device drivers and found 28 severe bugs. All these bugs have been further validated via manual fault injection. The results demonstrate that our approach is useful and efficient in generating fault scenarios for driver robustness testing with little manual effort.
5.2: High Performance Electrophoretic Displays

Electrophoretic (EP) displays have been proposed as a route to “paper-like” displays. A high performance EP display designed by IBM will be described along with aspects of electrode design, display characteristics, particle selection, and particle stabilization.
THIDIAZURON PROMOTES IN VITRO REGENERATION OF WHEAT AND BARLEY

Summary Thidiazuron (TDZ) is a substituted phenylurea which has been shown to be an efficacious regulator of in vitro morphogenesis of many dicot plant species. However, information regarding the effect of TDZ on in vitro regeneration of monocot species is limited. We investigated the effects of TDZ on in vitro regeneration of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and found that it promoted shoot regeneration from callus in these two important cereal species. Plant regeneration from calluses derived from immature embryo culture of barley and wheat was observed in regeneration media with a wide range of TDZ concentrations (0.045‐45 mM). Shoot regeneration from barley calluses was the highest (38.3% for cv. Golden Promise) at 4.5 mM (1 mg l 21 ) TDZ, while the optimal TDZ level for wheat regeneration seemed to be 0.9 mM (0.2 mg l 21 ) (87% for cv. Bob White and 49.4% for cv. Hi-Line). Roots developed normally when the regenerated wheat and barley shoots from TDZ-containing media were transferred to the rooting medium. Comparison with other plant growth regulators commonly used in wheat and barley regeneration media suggested that TDZ was among the best for in vitro regeneration of wheat and barley.
Two-gluon exchange model predictions for double Pomeron jet production.

I extend the two-gluon exchange picture of elastic scattering, known as the {ital Low{minus}Nussinov} or {ital subtractive} {ital quark} model, to predict cross sections for double Pomeron exchange processes. In particular, I calculate {ital p{bar p}}{r_arrow}{ital p{bar p}q{bar q}} where the {ital q{bar q}} partons will appear as jets separated from the final {ital p} and {ital {bar p}} by large gaps in rapidity. The predicted cross section is large enough that this process should be observable at the Fermilab Tevatron and at the CERN Large Hadron Collider. It can be distinguished from the background of ordinary jet production by an absence of particles produced in the gap regions.
Investigation of serial reaction kinetics and changes of group compositions of vacuum residues in continuous oxidization

Abstract The serial reaction kinetics and the changes of the constituents of Daqing vacuum residue (DVR) and Huansanlian vacuum residue (HVR) have been studied during continuous oxidization at 210–310°C. The experimental results show that at constant temperature the contents of saturate constituents and aromatic constituents of the residues decrease clearly, asphaltenes and toluene insolubles increase obviously and resins increase at first and then decrease gradually during continuous oxidization. The higher the oxidizing temperature, the more remarkable the change of constituent contents. The results of kinetic study demonstrate that the apparent rate constants and the activation energies of various constituents of DVR are 0.01157–2.225 h −1 and 19.91–79.32 kJ/mol, respectively, and those of HVR are 0.003089–0.09928 h −1 and 14.81–55.01 kJ/mol, respectively. The change of vacuum residual group composition during continuous oxidization could be well explained by the kinetic model of the serial reaction presented in this paper and the constituent contents predicted by the model conforming reasonably well with the experimental ones.
On the contributions of David Cleaveland White, MD, PhD to microbial ecology: celebrating the life of a pioneer

On the contributions of David Cleaveland White, MD, PhD to microbial ecology: celebrating the life of a pioneer
DNA methylation of the LIN28 pseudogene family

DNA methylation directs the epigenetic silencing of selected regions of DNA, including the regulation of pseudogenes, and is widespread throughout the genome. Pseudogenes are decayed copies of duplicated genes that have spread throughout the genome by transposition. Pseudogenes are transcriptionally silenced by DNA methylation, but little is known about how pseudogenes are targeted for methylation or how methylation levels are maintained in different tissues. We employed bisulfite next generation sequencing to examine the methylation status of the LIN28 gene and four processed pseudogenes derived from LIN28. The objective was to determine whether LIN28 pseudogenes maintain the same pattern of methylation as the parental gene or acquire a methylation pattern independent of the gene of origin. In this study, we determined that the methylation status of LIN28 pseudogenes does not resemble the pattern evident for the LIN28 gene, but rather these pseudogenes appear to acquire methylation patterns independent of the parental gene. Furthermore, we observed that methylation levels of the examined pseudogenes correlate to the location of insertion within the genome. LIN28 pseudogenes inserted into gene bodies were highly methylated in all tissues examined. In contrast, pseudogenes inserted into genomic regions that are not proximal to genes were differentially methylated in various tissue types. Our analysis suggests that Lin28 pseudogenes do not aquire patterns of tissue-specific methylation as for the parental gene, but rather are methylated in patterns specific to the local genomic environment into which they were inserted.
On the Most Likely Voronoi Diagramand Nearest Neighbor Searching

We consider the problem of nearest-neighbor searching among a set of stochastic sites, where a stochastic site is a tuple \((s_i, \pi _i)\) consisting of a point \(s_i\) in a \(d\)-dimensional space and a probability \(\pi _i\) determining its existence. The problem is interesting and non-trivial even in \(1\)-dimension, where the Most Likely Voronoi Diagram (LVD) is shown to have worst-case complexity \(\Omega (n^2)\). We then show that under more natural and less adversarial conditions, the size of the \(1\)-dimensional LVD is significantly smaller: (1) \(\Theta (k n)\) if the input has only \(k\) distinct probability values, (2) \(O(n \log n)\) on average, and (3) \(O(n \sqrt{n})\) under smoothed analysis. We also present an alternative approach to the most likely nearest neighbor (LNN) search using Pareto sets, which gives a linear-space data structure and sub-linear query time in 1D for average and smoothed analysis models, as well as worst-case with a bounded number of distinct probabilities. Using the Pareto-set approach, we can also reduce the multi-dimensional LNN search to a sequence of nearest neighbor and spherical range queries.
Personalized Medicine? An Update on Warfarin (Coumadin) Labeling

specifically CYP2C9*2 and CYP2C9*3, have demonstrated a need for a reduced dose of warfarin. 5 Patients with polymorphisms of the VKORC1 gene have demonstrated a spectrum of responses to warfarin, ranging from resistance to reduced dosage need. 2,5 Warfarin is a specific inhibitor of the vitamin K epoxide reductase (VKOR), which is encoded by VKORC1 gene. 5 Some patients may possess both poly morphisms, leading to severe over anticoagulation if not treated properly. The approved new labeling marks the start of a new era of pharmacy, pharmacogenomics or personalized medicine. The FDA started a new program 3 years ago called Critical Path Initiative that “is [the] FDA’s effort to stimulate and facilitate a national effort to modernize the sciences through which FDA-regulated products are developed, evaluated, and manufactured.” 6
Comparison between predicted strain values using elastic theory and experimental strain values for SiGeC alloy films grown on Si(001)

Abstract The strain in epitaxial SiGeC alloy films grown on Si (001) substrates by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) is quantified. Film composition was determined by Rutherford backscattering spectrometry (RBS) and nuclear resonance analysis. The amount of substitutional C was determined by He ion channeling near a C-resonance energy. Ion channeling angular scans and X-ray diffraction space, maps were used to determine the strain in the alloys. Good agreement was found between the measured values of strain and predictions based on a simple elastic theory and Vegard's law.
Use of spectral vegetation indices to infer leaf area, evapotranspiration and yield. I. Rationale.

Observations of plant canopies in visible and near-infrared wavelengths and the calculation of spectral vegetation indices from them are now routine, but a unified rationale for interpreting the measurements has been lacking. Herein we present a rationale that links spectral observations to plant processes and express the relationships in equation form. Specifically, the equations relate vegetation indices or cumulative daily vegetation indices to leaf area index, fraction of photosynthetically active radiation that is absorbed, economic yield, leaf mass, aboveground dry phytomass, and evapotranspiration. Data from the literature demonstrate the relationships. The approach, termed spectral components analysis, assumes that crop canopies display the net assimilate achieved in response to growing conditions experienced and that vegetation indices are a measure of the amount of photosynthetically active and transpiring tissue present. It is expected to hold as long as the size of the canopies achieved by the time reproduction begins and the duration/persistence of the canopies limit economic yield, the situation typical of commercial agriculture. The approach provides a basis for using spectral observations to estimate large area yields and to model effects of multiple stresses on crops and forages.
Form factor relations for heavy-to-heavy and heavy-to-light meson transitions.

Relations between the form factors that parametrize the hadronic matrix elements, in spectator decays of heavy mesons, have been derived by Stech within the constituent quark model. In this paper, we examine these relations using a slightly modified description of the meson states. We find new and very general relations for some of the form factors. For the other form factors, we obtain small modifications to the relations previously derived by Stech, in the case of heavy-to-light transitions. {copyright} {ital 1996 The American Physical Society.}
EFFECT OF FORESTED WETLANDS ON NITRATE CONCENTRATIONS IN GROUND WATER AND SURFACE WATER ON THE DELMARVA PENINSULA

The Delmarva Peninsula is an extensively farmed region in which nitrate from commercial fertilizers and poultry has entered the ground water and streams. The peninsula contains forested wetlands in a variety of settings, and their size and location are a result of the surrounding hydrologic and soil conditions. Three regions, here referred to as hydrogeomorphic regions, were selected for study. Each region has characteristic geologic and geomorphic features, soils, drainage patterns, and distribution of farmland, forests, and forested wetlands. In all three regions, forested wetlands generally occupy poorly drained areas whereas farmlands generally occupy well-drained areas. The three hydrogeomorphic regions studied are the well-drained uplands, the poorly drained uplands, and the surficial-confined region. The well-drained uplands have the largest amount of farmland and the smallest amount of forested wetlands of the three regions; here the forested wetlands are generally restricted to narrow riparian zones. The poorly drained uplands contain forested wetlands in headwater depressions and riparian zones that are interspersed among well-drained farmlands. The surficial-confined region has the smallest amount of farmland and largest amount of forested wetlands of the three regions studied. Wetlands in this region occupy the same topographic settings as in the poorly drained uplands. Much of the farmland in the surficial-confined region was previously wetland. Nitrate concentrations in ground water and surface water on the peninsula range widely, and their distribution reflects (1) the interspersion of forests among farmland, (2) hydrogeologic conditions, (3) types of soils, and (4) the ground-water hydrology of forested wetlands. The well-drained uplands had higher median nitrate concentrations in ground water than the poorly drained uplands or the surficial-confined region. The highest nitrate concentrations were in oxic parts of the aquifer, which are beneath well-drained soils that are farmed, and the lowest were in anoxic parts of the aquifer, which are beneath poorly drained soils overlain by forested wetlands. The effect of forested wetlands on water quality depends on the hydrogeologic conditions, extent of farming, and type of soils. The three regions contain differing combinations of these factors and thus are useful for isolating the effects of forested wetlands on water quality.
How information technology affects wages: Evidence using internet usage as a proxy for IT skills

Many research studies have found a positive link between information technology (IT) in the work place and wages. Using data from the December, 1998 Current Population Survey, we examine the impact of IT, as proxied by on-the-job Internet usage, on wages. After controlling for selectivity bias, we estimate an average wage gain of 13.5 percent for on-the- job Internet usage. This wage advantage is consistent with estimates from studies based on data collected earlier in the 1990s examining the impact of computers in the workplace. We also tested for differences across industries in the manufacturing sector. We conclude that industries marked by less intensive use of technology offered significantly higher wage premiums than industries characterized by more intensive use of technology. This finding undermines the argument that higher wages go to those working in high-tech firms, not to those with high IT skills. We also find evidence that high-tech firms sort workers by skill level, which is also consistent with earlier studies.
The post‐conservative orphan: why the USA needs an effective government economic policy

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to address the root causes of rising imbalances in the US economy. There is the view that the dominance of the liberal economic philosophy among the American decision makers and business elite resulted in marginalization of the role of the economic government. As a result, the US economy is facing problems in many sectors and might be poorly prepared to face the challenge of globalization in the knowledge‐based industries.Design/methodology/approach – The paper provides review and critique of the contemporary literature of “declininists” proclaiming the end of the American Empire.Findings – In order to restore the strength of the US economy and utilize its potential, Americans must consider a new generation of politicians and legislators capable of reforming the tax system, stepping up the supervision of the financial sector, eliminating inequality in education and reforming the electoral system.Research limitations/implications – America is at a turning point. The p...