cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Confocal Raman Microscopy for Investigating Synthesis and Characterization of Individual Optically Trapped Vinyl-Polymerized Surfactant Particles:

Small polymeric particles are increasingly employed as adsorbent materials, as molecular carriers, as delivery vehicles, and in preconcentration applications. The rational development of these materials requires in situ methods of analysis to characterize their synthesis, structure, and applications. Optical-trapping confocal Raman microscopy is a spectroscopic method capable of acquiring information at several stages of the development of such dispersed particulate materials. In the present study, an example material is developed and tested using confocal Raman microscopy for characterization at each stage of the process. Specifically, the method is used to investigate the synthesis, structure, and applications of individual polymeric surfactant particles produced by the vinyl polymerization of sodium 11-acrylamidoundecanoate (SAAU). The kinetics of polymerization can be monitored over time by measuring the loss of the acrylamide C=C functional groups using confocal Raman microscopy of particles optically trapped by the excitation laser, where, within the limits of detecting the vinyl functional group, the complete polymerization of the SAAU monomer was achieved. The polymerized SAAU particles are spherical, and they exhibit uniform access to water throughout their structure, as tested by the penetration of heavy water (D2O) and collection of spatially resolved Raman spectra from the interior of the particle. These porous particles contain hydrophobic domains that can be used to accumulate molecules for adsorption or carrier applications. This property was tested by using confocal Raman microscopy to measure the accumulation equilibria and kinetics of a model compound, dioxybenzone. The partitioning of this compound into the polymer surfactant could be determined on a quantitative basis using relative scattering cross sections of the SAAU monomer and the adsorbate. The study points out the utility of optical-trapping confocal Raman microscopy for investigating the synthesis, structure, and potential carrier applications of polymeric particle materials.
Transfer functions for piezoelectric control of a flexible beam

Designers of lightweight flexible space structures are faced with the significant challenge of achieving position and shape control while avoiding structural vibration. A potentially attractive approach to the vibration and shape control problems lies in the use of piezoelectric films as actuators and sensors. Piezoelectric materials deform when exposed to an electric field, or conversely, when deformed they produce an electric field. This, property considered along with the fact that they are lightweight, inexpensive and exhibit a very wide dynamic response bandwidth, make piezoelectric films attractive as actuators and sensors for certain applications. In this paper, some fundamental relationships for beams incorporating piezoelectric film actuators and sensors are examined. The differential equation of motion for a beam with piezoelectric film bonded to both sides is used to develop Laplace domain transfer function models of the system. These transfer functions are exact Laplace domain representations of the system equations of motion. The transfer functions are cast into a closed rational form using Maclaunn series expansions representing a specific number of modes. In this form, the transfer functions lend themselves to classical control analysis. It is shown that the transfer function relating a voltage applied to a full coverage actuating layer, to the voltage induced in a full coverage sensing layer on the opposite beam face, behaves like a classic colocated system with alternating poles and zeros and accordingly the system is easy to stabilize with low order compensation. In contrast to this result, it is shown that in spite of the effective colocation of actuator and sensor in the case of the transfer function from actuating voltage to tip position, the desirable alternating pole/zero pattern is not exhibited due to incompatibility of actuating and sensing signals. This result is verified experimentally.
A combinatorial thin film sputtering approach for synthesizing and characterizing ternary ZrCuAl metallic glasses

Abstract We report a combinatorial sputtering approach for synthesizing ternary metallic glass alloys on both silicon and sapphire substrates. ZrCuAl metallic-glass thin films were co-deposited using a multi-source radio-frequency magnetron-sputtering process. The combinatorial synthesis process yields a wide range of compositions via a single co-sputter deposition process. The compositions of the films were characterized by the energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and the structure of the ZrCuAl alloy thin films was investigated by the X-ray diffraction (XRD). Thorough phase analyses indicated the phases present in the films at different compositions were in good agreement with the binary Zr–Cu phase diagram. Nanoindentation results showed that mechanical properties of the bulk-metallic glasses (BMGs) thin film, such as elastic modulus and hardness, are functions of the Zr (or Cu) concentration. The composition with a moderate Zr content (45 atomic percent (at.%)) resulted in a high film modulus and hardness. The post anneal treatment increased the film elastic modulus and hardness. Small additions of aluminum slightly enhanced the film mechanical properties. Using this combinatorial technique could facilitate the development of the new multi-element metallic-glass alloy, particularly for systems with many elements. The first attempt of casting the optimum resultant ternary BMGs rod was successful.
Design and Regioselective Synthesis of (2-Bromo-2-alkoxycarbonyl)ethyl Acrylates as Inimers for Hyperbranched (Co)Polyacrylates

A route based on deaminohalogenation of serine is established to synthesize bromoinimers that can be homopolymerized to produce hyperbranched polyacrylates that are true architectural analogues of linear polyacrylates; that is, an ester group is attached to every other carbon along the polymer backbone, and each repeat unit contains a free ester side chain.
Coupled Inductor and Integrated Magnetics Techniques in Power Electronics

Energy storage and power processing with magnetic devices is more efficient if the separate inductors and transformers are integrated into a single magnetic structure. The origins and main results of the coupled-inductor and integrated magnetics concepts are reviewed.
Fluctuations in viral load (HCV RNA) are relatively insignificant in untreated patients with chronic HCV infection

A recently available assay to quantify serum viral load in hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has been used to evaluate the effects of anti-viral therapies. However, variability in HCV RNA levels in untreated patients with HCV infection has not yet been established. We therefore prospectively measured the biological fluctuations of HCV RNA in sera from untreated patients with chronic HCV infection. Sera were collected from seven patients at 8 am and 4 pm on the same day to assess the effect of diurnal variation, daily for 5 days in a further 10 patients, biweekly for 6 weeks in nine patients and monthly for 3 months in 11 patients. All patients had biopsy-proven chronic liver disease with elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT) values and had not received anti-viral treatment. HCV RNA was measured blinded, in duplicate, using the quantitative branched (bDNA) amplification assay (Quantiplex HCV RNA, Chiron Co. Emeryville, CA) 36 of the 37 patients studied had measurable HCV RNA throughout the study. There was no significant correlation between HCV RNA levels and ALT values or histological activity. HCV RNA levels did not appear to vary significantly within any of the groups studied and there did not appear to be a change associated with diurnal variation. All individual patients demonstrated less than a threefold fluctuation in HCV RNA throughout the study period. Hence HCV RNA levels remain relatively stable in untreated individuals with chronic HCV infection. Changes of a magnitude of threefold (0.5 log) or greater in HCV RNA levels were not observed in untreated patients.
Perceptual consequences of peripheral hearing loss : do edge effects exist for abrupt cochlear lesions?

There is a growing body of research that shows evidence of central neural reorganization in response to lesions in the auditory periphery, even if the lesions occur in maturity. This reorganization consists of an increased neural representation of frequencies corresponding to the edge frequency of the lesion. Data were collected to determine whether this over-representation might have consequences for human perception. The hypothesis was that increased central representation might increase acuity on some psychophysical tasks performed at the edge frequency. Tasks included frequency sweep detection (for tones), intensity discrimination (for 100-Hz-wide bands of noise and tones), gap detection and gap discrimination (both for 100-Hz-wide bands of noise). Results from observers with steeply sloping hearing losses were compared with results from normal-hearing observers performing these tasks with masking noise generated to simulate steeply sloping hearing loss. None of these data provide compelling evidence for the hypothesized edge effect. A 40-Hz following response to tone bursts was collected from a subset of the hearing-impaired observers in an attempt to confirm the animal physiology findings of neural over-representation of the edge frequency. No edge-frequency effect was noted in the results, though there was a non-significant tendency for one of the hearing-impaired observers to show shorter latency of response.
A Numerical Investigation of the Effects of Dry Air Aloft on Deep Convection

Abstract A three-dimensional cloud model was used to investigate the sensitivity of deep convective storms to dry air above the cloud base. In simulations of both quasi-linear convective systems and supercells, dry air aloft was found to reduce the intensity of the convection, as measured by updraft mass flux and total condensation and rainfall. In high-CAPE line-type simulations, the downdraft mass flux and cold pool strength were enhanced at the rear of the trailing stratiform region in a drier environment. However, the downdraft and cold pool strengths were unchanged in the convective region, and were also unchanged or reduced in simulations of supercells and of line-type systems at lower CAPE. This result contrasts with previous interpretations of the role of dry air aloft in the development of severe low-level outflow winds. The buoyancy-sorting framework is used to interpret the influence of environmental humidity on the updraft entrainment process and the observed strong dependence on the environme...
Technology adoption by small businesses: An exploratory study of the interrelationships of owner and environmental factors

An integrative small business adoption of a technology model, which incorporates consumer and organizational behavior theories, is developed and tested to explore the direct and indirect impacts of owner and environmental factors on information technology adoption. Through structural equations modeling we present and test a conceptual framework that examines the interrelationships between owner-related characteristics and perceptions, and environmental-related constructs to predict the adoption of information technology by small retailers. The results indicate that all the tested variables affect the adoption of technology by small businesses directly and/or indirectly through mediating variables. The study advances the literature by creating a small business technology adoption model (SBTAM) that highlights the importance of examining interrelationships between the independent variables. The results have significant implications pertaining to organizations interested in marketing technological innovation...
Theoretical Lifetimes, X-Ray Transition Energies and Fluorescence Yields for Double K Vacancy Configurations of Multiply-Ionized Fluorine

Theoretical x-ray transition energies, lifetimes, partial multiplet fluorescence yields and average fluorescence yields have been calculated for various fluorine ions with a double K-shell vacancy.
Psychotherapeutic Treatment of Idiopathic Cardiomyopathy: A Case Study

The referral of an extremely anxious young. Black mother suffering from idiopathic cardiomyopathy to a local psychotherapy clinic by her internist for evaluation and treatment caused consternation among the professional staff (psychologists and psychiatric social workers). Although all felt competent to assess and manage the patient's anxiety, none felt comfortable with the serious physical manifestations of the cardiopathy. When a nursing faculty member who was supervising graduate nursing students in the agency volunteered to take the case, the assignment was readily made. This paper is a description of the course of treatment of that client. Following a brief review of the literature on psychosomatic illness and idiopathic cardiomyopathy, the client is described and the course of treatment detailed. Then the theories that served as the basis for the clinical interventions are identified, and the shift from the psychodynamic to the Bowen Family Systems approach is discussed.
Coelomocyte cytoskeletons: Interaction with cytochalasin B

Abstract Cytochalasin B (CB) quickly distorts the gross morphology of sea urchin petaloid coelomocytes at low (0.1 μg/ml) concentrations and inhibits the cell's ability to morphologically transform to the filopodial form. Neither the ultrastructure nor the biochemical components of these cells are altered during these initial effects. At 10 μg/ml of CB, however, there is evidence of microfilament aggregation into foci after prolonged (30 min) exposure to CB but this is not correlated with a change in cytoskeletal composition or cell morphology.
The Effect of Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation Therapy on Pain and Function

[Purpose] The present study examined the effects of treatment using PNF extension techniques on the pain, pressure pain, and neck and shoulder functions of the upper trapezius muscles of myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) patients. [Subjects] Thirty-two patients with MPS in the upper trapezius muscle were divided into two groups: a PNF group (n=16), and a control group (n=16) [Methods] The PNF group received upper trapezius muscle relaxation therapy and shoulder joint stabilizing exercises. Subjects in the control group received only the general physical therapies for the upper trapezius muscles. Subjects were measured for pain on a visual analog scale (VAS), pressure pain threshold (PPT), the neck disability index (NDI), and the Constant-Murley scale (CMS). [Results] None of the VAS, PPT, and NDI results showed significant differences between the groups, while performing postures, internal rotation, and external rotation among the CMS items showed significant differences between the groups. [Conclusion] Exercise programs that apply PNF techniques can be said to be effective at improving the function of MPS patients.
Investigating the Unique Properties of Cuphea-Derived Biodiesel Fuel with the Advanced Distillation Curve Method

Currently, there is a desire to extend or enhance petroleum-derived diesel fuel with biodiesel fuel. Biodiesel fuel is a renewable, biomass-derived fluid that is biodegradable and nontoxic and can impart increased lubricity to petroleum-derived diesel fuels. In this paper, we analyze the properties of two biodiesel fuels produced from different feedstocks by use of the advanced distillation curve (ADC) method. The biodiesel fuels include a soybean-derived biodiesel fuel, SME, and a cuphea-derived biodiesel fuel, CME. Specifically, we present the thermodynamically consistent distillation curves and use the composition channel to characterize the curves in terms of composition and available energy content. This work provides a basis of comparison among these fuels in terms of the fundamental thermophysical properties. This comparison will be critical in determining the applicability and suitability of feedstocks designed for the production and manufacturing of biodiesel fuel to enhance or extend current pet...
Mapping of 55 new rat microsatellite markers from chromosome-specific libraries

Fifty-five novel rat microsatellite markers were isolated from libraries specific for rat chromosomes (Chrs) 1, 2, and 7. The markers were mapped in three backcross rat populations. Thirty of these markers mapped to Chrs 1, 2, or 7, while the other 25 mapped to other chromosomes. New markers for two genes, liver-specific transporter gene (Livtr) and insulin-responsive glucose transporter (Glut4), were also mapped to rat Chrs 9 and 10, respectively. Three provisionally assigned markers from previous studies were also confirmed. Detailed methodologies for the generation and enrichment of clones containing repeat sequences and for the isolation of chromosome-specific markers are presented, since they represent unique combinations and modifications of previous protocols. Such methods and the newly presented markers should be useful for both specific and general mapping studies in the rat.
Analysis of cellular and functional manufacturing systems in the presence of machine breakdown

Abstract The paper reports a comprehensive study performed to compare the performance of cellular and functional layouts by extending the previous research to cumulatively include two significant environmental factors: machine breakdown and batch size. The factors included in the study are demand, run time, type of material handler, batch size and repair policy. Two different repair policies are considered in the study. The first policy (RP1) assumes that machines will be repaired as and when they breakdown. The second policy (RP2) is based on a new rule proposed in the study for performing preventive maintenance, which combines the ideas of both condition-based maintenance and opportunistic maintenance. Two performance measures, namely the mean work-in-process inventory and mean throughput time are used in the comparison. A simulation model has been developed and implemented to compare 32 different shop configurations each, with functional and cellular layouts. The processing sequence for parts assumed in this study depicts a pure flow line without any backtracking of parts and no intercellular part transfers which can be regarded as a conducive arrangement for cellular layouts. Although none of the previous research cumulatively included repair policy and batch size as environmental factors, the findings from this research reconciled with those previously reported with respect to specific environmental factors. Several managerial implications that emerge from this study are presented when mean work-in-process inventory and mean throughput time are used as performance measures.
A Study of Preliminary Curves For SA-I Emulsions

In some previous work we have found that for SA-II and 103F emulsions on film the logarithm of the density (log D) preliminary curves are essentially straight lines. This experimental result leads to a rather simple and convenient expression for the equation of the characteristic curve. For SA-I emulsion on film, we found that the linearty of the log D preliminary curve depends considerable on the wave length region for which the measurements were made and the magnitude of the calibration intensity ratio employed, e.g. the step filter ratio. A more careful analysis of preliminary curves of SA-I emulsions shows the reasons for such a behavior. Actually, the log D preliminary curves are always curved and the degree of curvature varies roughly in proportion to the product of the step ratio of the filter and the gamma at the wavelength at which the measurements are made Probably this same condition exists for SA-II and 103F emulsions, but because their gammas are low, the curvature is not readily observable with a step-filter of moderate ratio. In spite of the curvature of the logD preliminary curve of SA-I emulsions, a straight line fits the data well for the useful range of density measurements for spectrochemical purposes, that is, for a range of densities corresponding to a range of transmittance values between 75% and 1%, the fit is nearly perfect. In attempting to fit various analytical functions, theoretically derived by other investigators, to the experimental data for SA-I emulsion for the wavelength range 4000A–4200A, it was found that the error function gives the best fit.
Optimal Ground‐Water Remediation Methods Applied to a Superfund Site: From Formulation to Implementation

1. Abstract A hydraulic control optimization model is applied to the conceptual and implementation analysis of a ground-water remediation system in coastal New Jersey. The site is modeled using a distributed parameter finite-difference model containing 36,000 nodes within five layers. The conceptual problem is to determine the feasibility of producing a capture zone which encompasses the entire existing plume while recharging all extracted water within property boundaries in such a way that the recharged water satisfies criteria on its fate. The conceptual analysis problem is formulated as a linear program in which the total extraction pumping is minimized, and requirements are placed on hydraulic heads and gradients in both horizontal and vertical directions. A requirement is also made that all extracted water be recharged to the subsurface. The model is used for determination of the feasibility of the remediation concept. Details of constructing constraints for a large-scale formulation are presented. The concept of constraint calibration, using particle tracking to insure that constraints are producing desired results, is introduced and demonstrated. The optimization formulation is used for detailed implementation analysis of the remediation system. A number of techniques for modifying elements of the conceptual model results, such as unrealistically small pump rates, are described. The optimization approach is found to be useful for determining the feasibility of the remedial strategy at this site and for producing results which can be used as a starting point for detailed analysis of the remediation strategy.
Cocaine-induced changes in extracellular dopamine determined by microdialysis in awake squirrel monkeys.

Rationale: The behavioral effects of cocaine have been linked to brain dopamine systems. Extending the findings to neurochemical studies in the squirrel monkey would enhance our understanding of the behavioral pharmacology of cocaine in nonhuman primates. Objectives: The present studies characterized the effects of cocaine and the selective dopamine uptake inhibitor GBR 12909 on extracellular dopamine in the caudate nucleus of awake squirrel monkeys through microdialysis experiments. Methods: Guide cannulae were implanted in the caudate nucleus of four monkeys using a stereotaxic apparatus and coordinates obtained from a standard squirrel monkey brain atlas. Accurate probe placement was confirmed in all subjects with magnetic resonance imaging. Results: Collectively, the results support the feasibility of a repeated-measures design. Stability of tissue integrity after repeated probe insertion was supported by measurement of consistent basal levels of dopamine and its metabolites across several experiments, observation of potassium-induced dopamine release and absence of significant glial proliferation as assessed by GFAP (glial fibrillary acidic protein) immunochemistry. Moreover, peak drug effects and time-course of action were similar when multiple probes were positioned in the same anatomical site over several experiments. Cocaine (1.0 mg/kg i.m.) and GBR 12909 (3.0 mg/kg i.m.) elevated extracellular dopamine to approximately 300% of basal levels, but GBR 12909 produced a slower, more sustained elevation than cocaine. Conclusions: The results validate the use of microdialysis in awake primates using repeated sampling of the same anatomical site and demonstrate orderly changes in extracellular dopamine following administration of dopamine uptake inhibitors.
Assessing plant response to ambient ozone: growth of young apple trees in open-top chambers and corresponding ambient air plots

Open-top chambers (OTCs) and corresponding ambient air plots (AA) were used to assess the impact of ambient ozone on growth of newly planted apple trees at the Montague Field research center in Amherst, MA. Two-year-old apple trees (Malus domestica Borkh 'Rogers Red McIntosh') were planted in the ground in circular plots. Four of the plots were enclosed with OTCs where incoming air was charcoal-filtered (CF); four were enclosed with OTCs where incoming air was not charcoal-filtered (NF) and four were not enclosed, allowing access to ambient air conditions (AA). Conditions in both CF and NF OTCs resulted in increased tree growth and changed incidence of disease and arthropod pests, compared to trees in AA. As a result, we were not able to use the OTC method to assess the impact of ambient ozone on growth of young apple trees in Amherst, MA.
The social response to genetic conditions : Beware of the antidiscrimination law

Today’s widespread political support for the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2007 rests on the assumption that serious inequities can be eliminated if employers are forbidden from using people’s genetic information when making employment decisions. However, this laudable objective runs into serious weaknesses in implementation. Forcing employers to bear the cost of achieving parity between genetically high-risk and low-risk workers will create labor-market distortions that will inevitably shrink insurance coverage for vulnerable populations with genetic abnormalities along with everyone else. A better approach would be to create a politically transparent system of government-provided subsidies.
Book Review: Nine Lives: In Search of the Sacred in Modern India:

William Dalrymple. Nine Lives: In Search of the Sacred in Modern India, 2010, Cambridge: First Vintage Departures Edition, Vintage Books. ISBN: 978-0-307-47446-9 (pbk)
Effect of Porcine Circovirus Type 2 (PCV2) Vaccination of the Dam on PCV2 Replication In Utero

The aims of this study were to determine if porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) vaccination of the dam is effective in preventing fetal PCV2 infection and reproductive failure. Twelve pregnant, PCV2-naive sows were randomly divided into four groups, with three sows in each group. Group 1 sows served as noninoculated, nonvaccinated negative controls, group 2 sows were vaccinated with a commercially available PCV2 vaccine at 28 days of gestation and were not inoculated, group 3 sows were vaccinated at 28 days of gestation and inoculated with PCV2b at 56 days of gestation, and group 4 sows were inoculated with PCV2b but were not vaccinated. Serum samples from all sows were collected weekly throughout the gestation period, and sows were allowed to farrow naturally. At parturition, sow colostrum samples, presuckle serum samples, and tissues from the piglets were collected. Reproductive failure was not observed under the study conditions. PCV2 vaccination induced PCV2-specific immunoglobulin G and serum neutralizing antibodies in sows from groups 2 and 3 and prevented detectable PCV2 viremia in the dams after challenge. In group 3, PCV2 DNA was detected in colostrum samples, fetuses, and live-born pigs; however, microscopic lesions and PCV2-specific antigen were not present in any of the fetuses in this group. The results from this study indicate that vertical transmission of PCV2 can occur in PCV2-vaccinated dams.
Breeding Cottons with Higher Yarn Tenacity

Stronger cotton yams are needed by the textile industry as knit and woven fabric manufacturing speeds increase, thus placing greater strain on cotton yarns. We compare fiber properties as selection...
Differential sensitivity of one-cell and two-cell rabbit embryos to sodium chloride and total osmolarity during culture into blastocysts

One-cell or two-cell rabbit embryos were cultured in protein-free media with various NaCl concentrations and osmolarity to determine relative sensitivity of embryos to changes in media composition. Embryos from replicates of donor rabbits were distributed randomly across treatments and cultured at 39°C. Zygotes were cultured in Expts 1, 2A and B, and 3, and two-cell embryos were cultured in Expts 4A and 4B. In Expt 1, blastocyst formation and number of cells were highest (P < 0.05) in the control medium with 93 mmol NaCl l -1 (270 mosmols) compared with media containing 63 and 116 mmol NaCl l -1 (220 and 316 mosmols). In Expt 2, embryos were cultured in media with 70 or 93 mmol NaCl l -1 , varying in osmolarity from 250 to 320 mosmols by adding sorbitol. In media with 70 mmol NaCl l -1 and osmolarities of 250, 280 and 300 mosmols, there were 41, 56 and 50% expanded blastocysts, respectively (P < 0.05). With 93 mmol NaCl l -1 and osmolarities of 270, 293 and 320 mosmols, embryos developed into 37, 53 and 27% expanded blastocysts, respectively, (P < 0.05). In Expts 3A and 3B and 4A and 4B, the osmolarity of the medium was maintained at 270 mosmols by adding sorbitol to media containing 40 or 60 mmol NaCl l -1 , and other components were reduced in media containing 100 and 116 mmol NaCl l -1 to compensate for the higher NaCl. Zygote development into blastocysts was greatly suppressed (P < 0.05) in media with 40, 60, 100 and 116 mm NaCl l -1 , compared with the control (93 mmol NaCl l -1 ), whereas development of two-cell embryos into blastocysts was much less affected. These results appear to reflect a direct sodium chloride as well as osmolarity effect on embryo development ; and zygotes are much more sensitive to these effects than are two-cell embryos.
On generalized blocks for alternating groups

Abstract In a recent paper Kulshammer, Olsson, Robinson gave a d-analogue for the Nakayama conjecture for symmetric groups where d ⩾ 2 is an arbitrary integer. We prove that there is a natural d-analogue of the Nakayama conjecture for alternating groups whenever d is 2 or an arbitrary odd integer greater than 1. This generalizes an old result of Kerber.
From consumer response to active consumer: Measuring the effectiveness of interactive media

Traditional measures of the effectiveness of marketing communications suggest a specific process by which marketing actions influence consumers. This article offers a broader philosophical perspective on measuring the effectiveness of marketing communications that focuses on interaction as the unit of analysis, rather than the behavior of either the marketer or the consumer. Structuration theory is discussed and offered as a viable foundation for the identification, selection, and evaluation of new measures of effectiveness in an interactive context among active, goal-driven consumers and marketers. Structuration theory focuses on the emergency and evolution of the structure of interaction, which is posited as a critical factor in devising, selecting, and evaluating new measures of the effectiveness of marketing communications. This view broadens the potential set of measures of effectiveness of interactive marketing communications, implying alternative meanings for measures under different interaction structures and combinations of goal states.
PREVALENCE AND CORRELATES OF SUICIDAL BEHAVIOR AMONG NEW SOLDIERS IN THE U.S. ARMY: RESULTS FROM THE ARMY STUDY TO ASSESS RISK AND RESILIENCE IN SERVICEMEMBERS (ARMY STARRS)

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of suicide among U.S. Army soldiers has risen dramatically in recent years. Prior studies suggest that most soldiers with suicidal behaviors (i.e., ideation, plans, and attempts) had first onsets prior to enlistment. However, those data are based on retrospective self-reports of soldiers later in their Army careers. Unbiased examination of this issue requires investigation of suicidality among new soldiers. METHOD: The New Soldier Study (NSS) of the Army Study to Assess Risk and Resilience in Servicemembers (Army STARRS) used fully structured self-administered measures to estimate preenlistment histories of suicide ideation, plans, and attempts among new soldiers reporting for Basic Combat Training in 2011-2012. Survival models examined sociodemographic correlates of each suicidal outcome. RESULTS: Lifetime prevalence estimates of preenlistment suicide ideation, plans, and attempts were 14.1, 2.3, and 1.9%, respectively. Most reported onsets of suicide plans and attempts (73.3-81.5%) occurred within the first year after onset of ideation. Odds of these lifetime suicidal behaviors among new soldiers were positively, but weakly associated with being female, unmarried, religion other than Protestant or Catholic, and a race/ethnicity other than non-Hispanic White, non-Hispanic Black, or Hispanic. CONCLUSIONS: Lifetime prevalence estimates of suicidal behaviors among new soldiers are consistent with retrospective reports of preenlistment prevalence obtained from soldiers later in their Army careers. Given that prior suicidal behaviors are among the strongest predictors of later suicides, consideration should be given to developing methods of obtaining valid reports of preenlistment suicidality from new soldiers to facilitate targeting of preventive interventions. Language: en
Minimising the effect of WiFi interference in 802.15.4 wireless sensor networks

Interference from colocated networks operating over the same frequency range, becomes an increasingly severe problem as the number of networks overlapping geographically increases. Our experiments show that such interference is indeed a major problem, causing up to 58% packet loss to a multihop 802.15.4 sensor network competing for radio spectrum with a WiFi network. We present interference estimators that can be efficiently implemented on resource constrained motes using off-the-shelf radios and outline distributed algorithms that use these estimators to dynamically switch frequencies as interference is detected. Lastly, we evaluate the proposed algorithms in the context of a real-life application that downloads large amounts of data over multihop network paths. Our results show that the proposed approach successfully detects interference from competing WiFi channels and selects non-overlapping 802.15.4 channels. As a result, the proposed solution reduces end-to-end loss rate from 22% 58% to < 1%.
The character of long-term eruptions: Inferences from episodes 50-53 of the Pu'u 'Ō'ō-Kūpaianaha eruption of Kīlauea volcano

The Pu'u 'Ō'ō-Kūpaianaha eruption on the east rift zone of Kīlauea began in January 1983. The first 9 years of the eruption were divided between the Pu'u 'Ō'ō (1983–1986) and Kūpaianaha (1986–1992) vents, each characterized by regular, predictable patterns of activity that endured for years. In 1990 a series of pauses in the activity disturbed the equilibrium of the eruption, and in 1991, the output from Kūpaianaha steadily declined and a short-lived fissure eruption broke out between Kūpaianaha and Pu'u 'Ō'ō. In February 1992 the Kūpaianaha vent died, and, 10 days later, eruptive episode 50 began as a fissure opened on the uprift flank of the Pu'u 'Ō'ō cone. For the next year, the eruption was marked by instability as more vents opened on the flank of the cone and the activity was repeatedly interrupted by brief pauses in magma supply to the vents. Episodes 50–53 constructed a lava shield 60 m high and 1.3 km in diameter against the steep slope of the Pu'u 'Ō'ō cone. By 1993 the shield was pockmarked by collapse pits as vents and lava tubes downcut as much as 29 m through the thick deposit of scoria and spatter that veneered the cone. As the vents progressively lowered, the level of the Pu'u 'Ō'ō pond also dropped, demonstrating the hydraulic connection between the two. The downcutting helped to undermine the prominent Pu'u 'Ō'ō cone, which has diminished in size both by collapse, as a large pit crater formed over the conduit, and by burial of its flanks. Intervals of eruptive instability, such as that of 1991–1993, accelerate lateral expansion of the subaerial flow field both by producing widely spaced vents and by promoting surface flow activity as lava tubes collapse and become blocked during pauses.
Causality Enforcement in Transient Co-Simulation of Signal and Power Delivery Networks

This paper discusses a transient simulation method that co-simulates the signal and power delivery networks in a packaged system. The method includes a novel delay extraction technique that enables the enforcement of causality conditions on the resulting transient waveforms. This paper describes the application of the method on a number of test cases to account for electromagnetic parasitics and cross-talk, and shows the scalability of the method for performing large sized transient simulations
Port Wound Tumors

Port site tumor recurrences were the single most controversial issue regarding minimally invasive methods in the 1990’s. Reports of these wound tumors, predominantly in patients with colorectal cancer, significantly slowed adoption rates of laparoscopic methods in the cancer setting. The reluctance of the vast majority of surgeons worldwide to adopt laparoscopic methods combined with the tenacity and determination of the proponents to carry out the randomized cancer studies led to a wholly unique situation in the general surgery world: a new surgical method was actually properly vetted prior to widespread acceptance and implementation. While the world waited for the intermediate term human cancer results a number of surgical groups designed and performed basic science studies that sought to explain and understand the phenomenon of port wound tumors. Finding an appropriate and realistic model proved difficult. Tumor cell suspension models were utilized, often with very large tumor cell inoculums; most of these studies suggested that CO2 pneumoperitoneum increased the size and number of intraabdominal recurrences and wound tumors. Other investigators utilized solid tumor models which sometimes assessed pneumoperitoneum conditions not comparable to the human situation; the great majority of these studies also suggested that the CO2 pnemoperitoneum was a large risk factor. However, there were some animal studies carried out which used models that were more comparable to the human situation. The results of these studies supported the concept that surgical traumatization of the tumor during surgery was the most likely cause of port wound tumors and that the CO2 pneumoperitoneum itself did not appear to increase the incidence. Publication of the multi-center study results during the last 2-3 years has largely put an end to the discussion regarding wound tumors. These studies suggest that the incidence of wound tumors and the long term cancer outcomes are no different for open and closed methods. Since these reports, the adoption rates of minimally invasive methods have greatly increased and will continue to do so. The general consensus, in 2007, is that poor technique, traumatization of the tumor, and primary tumors that spontaneously shed viable tumor cells are the most likely cause of these distressing problem. Regardless, the great majority of surgeons utilize methods to decrease the chances of port tumors: anchoring of ports, frequent and thorough irrigation (+/− tumoricidal agents), avoidance of tumor handling (no touch methods), use of wound protector or bag, etc, etc.
Neutral Lipids Traced Through the Beverage Alcohol Production Process

Changes in lipids were traced from the malt through the beverage alcohol (bourbon) production process to the dried distiller's grain with solubles (DDGS). Changes in lipid composition previously observed during the fuel alcohol production process also occurred during beverage alcohol production but to a lesser extent. The levels of triacyl-glycerols fell while free fatty acid levels rose chiefly at the stage of mashing and distillation. Little or no free fatty acid degradation occurred during drying. Minor quantities of fatty acid ethyl esters (4–5%) were formed during fermentation.
Regulation of delayed prostaglandin production in activated P388D1 macrophages by group IV cytosolic and group V secretory phospholipase A2s

Group V secretory phospholipase A2 (sPLA2) rather than Group IIA sPLA2 is involved in short term, immediate arachidonic acid mobilization and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production in the macrophage-like cell line P388D1. When a new clone of these cells, P388D1/MAB, selected on the basis of high responsivity to lipopolysaccharide plus platelet-activating factor, was studied, delayed PGE2 production (6-24 h) in response to lipopolysaccharide alone occurred in parallel with the induction of Group V sPLA2 and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). No changes in the level of cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) or COX-1 were observed, and Group IIA sPLA2 was not detectable. Use of a potent and selective sPLA2 inhibitor, 3-(3-acetamide 1-benzyl-2-ethylindolyl-5-oxy)propanesulfonic acid (LY311727), and an antisense oligonucleotide specific for Group V sPLA2 revealed that delayed PGE2 was largely dependent on the induction of Group V sPLA2. Also, COX-2, not COX-1, was found to mediate delayed PGE2 production because the response was completely blocked by the specific COX-2 inhibitor NS-398. Delayed PGE2 production and Group V sPLA2 expression were also found to be blunted by the inhibitor methylarachidonyl fluorophosphonate. Because inhibition of Ca2+-independent PLA2 by an antisense technique did not have any effect on the arachidonic acid release, the data using methylarachidonyl fluorophosphonate suggest a key role for the cPLA2 in the response as well. Collectively, the results suggest a model whereby cPLA2 activation regulates Group V sPLA2 expression, which in turn is responsible for delayed PGE2 production via COX-2.
Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 hnRNP A/B-dependent exonic splicing silencer ESSV antagonizes binding of U2AF65 to viral polypyrimidine tracts

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) exonic splicing silencers (ESSs) inhibit production of certain spliced viral RNAs by repressing alternative splicing of the viral precursor RNA. Several HIV-1 ESSs interfere with spliceosome assembly by binding cellular hnRNP A/B proteins. Here, we have further characterized the mechanism of splicing repression using a representative HIV-1 hnRNP A/B-dependent ESS, ESSV, which regulates splicing at the vpr 3' splice site. We show that hnRNP A/B proteins bound to ESSV are necessary to inhibit E complex assembly by competing with the binding of U2AF65 to the polypyrimidine tracts of repressed 3' splice sites. We further show evidence suggesting that U1 snRNP binds the 5' splice site despite an almost complete block of splicing by ESSV. Possible splicing-independent functions of U1 snRNP-5' splice site interactions during virus replication are discussed.
Scoring system for monitoring oral lichenoid lesions: a preliminary study.

Background Currently, there is no universal system for scoring the severity of lichenoid lesions of the oral cavity that is easy to use, reproducible and that is representative of the different clinical forms of the disease. Objectives In this study, a scoring system was developed to monitor the severity of oral lichen planus (OLP) and chronic oral graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD). Methods Six patients with OLP and three with cGVHD were studied. This scoring system was utilized to compare the severity of disease within and between patients. Three investigators independently reviewed photographs taken from each patient and scored the severity of disease. Inter and intra-observer consistency was evaluated using the Spearman rank correlation analyses. Results Intra-observer reliability was 0.98 (Spearman correlation coefficient) and inter-observer reliability was 1.00. Conclusion This scoring system is easy-to-use, reproducible, representative of the severity of the disease and useful for monitoring OLP and cGVHD.
The Treatment of Smith's Invisible Hand.

Adam Smith used the metaphor of an invisible hand to represent the instincts of human nature that direct behavior. Moderated by self-control and guided by proper institutional incentives, actions grounded in instincts can be shown to generate a beneficial social order even if not intended. Smith's concept, however, has been diluted and distorted over time through extension and misuse. Common misperceptions are that Smith unconditionally endorsed laissez-faire markets, selfish individualism, and Pareto efficiency. The author draws upon recent literature to clarify Smith's meaning and to discuss ways of improving its classroom presentation. The author argues that the invisible hand operates within a variety of institutional settings and that a number of arrangements are compatible with economic progress.
High-resolution identity by descent mapping uncovers the genetic basis for blood pressure differences between spontaneously hypertensive rat lines.

Background—The recent development of a large panel of genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) provides the opportunity to examine genetic relationships between distinct SHR lines that sh...
The effect of an anterior biteplate on dental and skeletal Class II correction using headgears: a cephalometric study.

To cite this article: Thurman MM, King GJ, Ramsay DS, Wheeler TT, Phillips C: The effect of an anterior biteplate on dental and skeletal Class II correction using headgears: a cephalometric study Orthod Craniofac Res 2011;14:213–221 Structured Abstract Authors – Thurman MM, King GJ, Ramsay DS, Wheeler TT, Phillips, C Objective – To test the hypothesis that there are significant differences in skeletal and/or dental changes between Class II subjects treated with headgear (HG) compared with those treated with HG plus maxillary acrylic biteplate (BP) discluding teeth. Setting and Sample Population – Secondary analysis performed in Department of Orthodontics at the University of Washington. Fifty pre-adolescent Class II subjects were treated with HG as part of a randomized clinical trial (RCT) at the University of North Carolina/Chapel Hill, and 81 similar subjects were treated with HG plus a flatplane maxillary anterior BP for occlusal separation and anterior labial bow at the University of Florida as part of a separate RCT. Material and Methods – This retrospective cohort study examined anteroposterior (AP) and vertical cephalometric changes in two cohorts of Class II subjects. Pre- and post-treatment cephalometric radiographs for each group were obtained from the two centers and measured for dental and skeletal changes. These data were adjusted for differences in magnification and compared using ancova, controlling for important cohort and protocol differences between the two centers. Results – Overbite and maxillary incisor inclinations were reduced significantly more in the HG/BP group. All other vertical and AP changes were not statistically significantly different between the groups. Conclusion – The maxillary anterior BP with labial bow is an effective appliance for reducing overbite and retracting incisors but provides no additional AP dental or skeletal benefit over HG treatment.
Artificial neural networks for distributed adaptive routing on dynamic topology networks

In considering distributed adaptive routing schemes for large networks with dynamic topology, the need for an unconventional shortest path algorithm arises from the excessive computation overhead associated with repeated path/distance calculations. The authors provide the design specifics of such an algorithm, and establish its performance characteristics through rigorous analysis and simulation. The new algorithm exploits the intrinsic parallelism of neural network architectures and solves the single-pair shortest path problem in such a way that: (i) the computation time is independent of the number of network nodes; and (ii) the frequent shortest distance/path re-calculations inherently associated with topology changes are performed much faster than conventional algorithms. Simple exploitation of the inherent parallelism allows extension of the algorithm to solving single-source and all-pair shortest path problems without compromising the trait of constant convergent complexity. >