cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Optimum nuclear pin bundle for prototypic thermal-hydraulic environment in large-scale testing☆

Abstract The optimum number of fuel pins in a test vehicle to achieve prototypic thermal-hydraulic conditions at the onset of pin failure has been determined. The power history considered was a prompt burst superposed on a low steady state power level. Slower transients without pre-clad-failure boiling did not change the conclusions presented in this paper. The analysis used the computer program COBRA-IV-I, with a unique capability of large wire-wrapped asymmetric rod bundles up to 217 pins. The results indicate that a 61-pin test scale is dersirable to achieve thermal-hydraulic conditions for prototypic testing, with 37 pins probably an acceptable minimum.
The NH2-terminal propeptides of fibrillar collagens: highly conserved domains with poorly understood functions

The impetus for this review comes from the recent finding that the absence of the majority of the non-triple-helical sequence in the NH(2)-terminal propeptide (N-propeptide) of the pro alpha 1(I) collagen chain fails to generate a significant phenotype in the mouse (Bornstein et al., J. Biol. Chem., 277:2605-2613, 2002). This result is in apparent conflict with those of numerous studies in vitro that have implicated the N-propeptide in a number of processes that are involved in the biogenesis, maturation and function of type 1 collagen. To seek an explanation for this discrepancy, the sequences of the highly conserved, 55-57-amino acid, cysteine-rich repeats (CRR), which constitute the majority of the globular domains in the N-propeptides, were compared among 13 vertebrate species. Surprisingly, the CRR in mice and rats differs substantially from those in other mammalian species. Indeed, the CRR in birds, fish and amphibia are more similar to those of other mammals than are the CRR in rodents. This finding raises the possibility that the mutant mouse, which lacks exon 2 that encodes the CRR in the N-propeptide, might not be an appropriate model in which to study the function of the N-propeptide in other mammals. Alternatively, compensation, possibly by procollagens II or III, could account for the mild phenotype of the exon 2-deleted mouse. Yet another possibility is that the CRR plays a developmental role in the mouse, akin to that recently proposed for the N-propeptide in type IIA procollagen, rather than a function in collagen biogenesis. Some support for the latter possibility is provided by the observation that, on one background, the breeding of heterozygous exon 2-deleted mice generated homozygous mutants at less than the expected frequency. Experiments to examine these possibilities are proposed.
How the Choice of Measures of Effectiveness Constrains Operational Analysis

The heart of this paper is some examples of how an inept choice of a measure of effectiveness has led an analyst usually me into error. Its tone is less solemn than that of most published papers, chiefly because it is about mistakes, and the only way that I know of to live with my own mistakes is to laugh at them. The morals to be drawn from these experiences are first, I, and many others, have erred more often by devoting too little effort into selecting measures of effectiveness than by devoting too much; and second a corollary, in assigning resources and making schedules for an operational analysis, it is usually worth allocating more effort to finding measures of effectiveness even if you have to take it away from the other parts of the analysis.
An exceptional hydroboration of substituted fluoroolefins providing tertiary alcohols.

A rare hydroboration−oxidation providing 3°-alcohols has been achieved in the case of 1,1,2-perfluoroalkyl(aryl)ethylenes. The hydroboration of substituted perfluoroalkyl(aryl)ethylenes with dichloroborane reveals that the regioselectivity does not entirely depend on the electronics of the fluoroolefins.
Viewer beware: Reception of East German theatre

In order to understand the often conflicting critical evaluations of any specific theater production in the post‐Wall theater of the former German Democratic Republic, one must realize that the knowledge, political and cultural background and/or bias of the individual audience member viewing the production will greatly affect that audience member's recognition of signification as well as his or her critical assessment of the GDR theater experience. As long as the societies of the East and West of Germany remain distinct, their theaters will keep a distinct identity. It follows that reception of received meaning will continue to be distinct as well. Six theater productions in the 1991–92 seasons of two important theaters in East Berlin were examined: for the Deutsches Theater ‐ Karate‐Billi Returns by Pohl and Hamlet/Maschine by Shakespeare/Muller; for the Maxim‐Gorki‐Theater ‐ Mein Kampf by Tabori, Death of a Salesman, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolft and Twelfth Night.
Cavities and Channels in Electrides

The three-dimensional geometries of cavities and channels in four electrides are determined in detail with the aid of computer graphics methods. Previous theoretical and experimental studies suppor...
Bayesian locally optimal design of knockout tournaments

The elimination or knockout format is one of the most common designs for pairing competitors in tournaments and leagues. In each round of a knockout tournament, the losers are eliminated while the winners advance to the next round. Typically, the goal of such a design is to identify the overall best player. Using a common probability model for expressing relative player strengths, we develop an adaptive approach to pairing players each round in which the probability that the best player advances to the next round is maximized. We evaluate our method using simulated game outcomes under several data-generating mechanisms, and compare it to random pairings, to the standard knockout format, and to two variants of the standard format.
Protein kinase A interactions with prostaglandin biosynthesis at the chorio-decidual interface.

Abstract Activation of the enzyme adenylate cyclase or treatment with dibutyryl cyclic AMP (dbcAMP) stimulates prostaglandin biosynthesis in vitro and in vivo . Prior activation of adenylate cyclase has been shown to inhibit the stimulation of amnion cell prostaglandin E 2 (PGE 2 ) biosynthesis by substances such as epidermal growth factor (EGF) and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA). Little is known, however, concerning the effects of activation of the adenylate cyclase system on basal and stimulated prostaglandin biosynthesis in human chorion and decidual cells. Interleukin-1β (IL-1β), EGF, ionomycin (iono), and PMA are known to stimulate prostaglandin E 2 production in human chorion and decidual cells. Hence, we have evaluated the effects of co-treatment of chorion and decidual cells with dbcAMP in the presence and absence of EGF, PMA, IL-1β, and iono on prostaglandin production. dbcAMP alone stimulated chorion and decidual PGE 2 production. Coincubation of dbcAMP with all four test stimulants resulted in a further enhancement of decidual PGE 2 production that was often more than additive. Thus activation of adenylate cyclase can have effects on prostaglandin production that have specificity with respect to tissue source, presence of other stimulants and relative time of exposure of the tissues to each of the substances involved.
Sinus slowing and pacemaker shift caused by adenosine in rabbit SA node

Adenosine has a negative chronotropic effect in a number of species. The studies reported here were undertaken to characterize further the effects of adenosine using isolated perfused rabbit hearts and isolated SA node tissue. In the isolated perfused hearts (n=9) the threshold doses for slowing by adenosine and 2-chloroadenosine, an adenosine analog, were 1×10−5 M and 1×10−7 M, respectively. In the isolated hearts adenosine, in addition to slowing sinus rate, also caused a change in the activation pattern of the right atrium. During adenosine infusion the earliest site of activation shifted from the SA node region to the right atria near the crista terminalis. The pacemaker shift was reversible upon washout of adenosine. The adenosine-induced shift in pacemaker could also be demonstrated using microelectrode recordings in the isolated SA node preparation that included the crista terminalis and some of the surrounding tissue. During control the activation of SA node preceded that of the crista terminalis (CT) by 44±4.1 ms (n=11). Adenosine infusion caused an increase in cycle length and, in addition shifted the earliest site of activation from the SA node region to CT, i.e., in the presence of adenosine CT preceded SA node activation by 26.68±3.2 ms. All the effects were reversible after washout of adenosine. Adenosine also caused conduction block within the sinus node. No effect on the action potentials or on conduction in the CT was observed. In small preparations (250×250 μm) which precludes pacemaker shift (n=18), adenosine and 2-chloroadenosine slowed the rate and caused a decrease in rate of phase four depolarization. The threshold for adenosine and 2-chloro-adenosine was 1×10−5 M and 3×10−7, respectively. Associated with pacemaker slowing was an increase in the maximum diastolic potential with a concomitant increase in the maximum rate of rise of the action potential. Adenosine had no effect on the SA node action potential duration or amplitude. The results were similar to those observed for acetylcholine, however, the adenosine effects were blocked by aminophylline but not by atropine. Adenosine-induced sinus slowing and pacemaker shift may be of importance during periods of metabolically compromised myocardium such as hypoxia and ischemia where there is increased production of adenosine.
RENAL BIOPSY AND ITS CLINICAL CORRELATION IN TOXEMIA OF PREGNANCY.

Through the combination of a renal biopsy technique modified for pregnant women, electron microscopy, and knowledge of fine (ultramicroscopic) glomerular anatomy, the pathology of the renal glomerular lesion of toxemia of pregnancy (preeclampsia-eclampsia) has been defined. The lesion is pathognomonic and consists of swelling of the cytoplasm of the endothelial cell, deposits underneath the basement membrane and within the swollen endothelial cytoplasm, and an increase of intercapillary cells. The lesion reduces the glomerular capillary lumen. It is the most sensitive pathological lesion of toxemia in the body, and is present in all cases of toxemia. Once formed, the lesion persists until evacuation of the uterus, in spite of apparent clinical improvement with therapy. The lesion accounts for the characteristically decreased glomerular filtration rate in toxemia, and this may be a factor in the formation of edema. Demonstration of the lesion is the only laboratory method that can reliably differentiate to...
Five year results of linac radiosurgery for arteriovenous malformations: outcome for large AVMS

Purpose: For radiosurgery of large arteriovenous malformations (AVMs), the optimal relationship of dose and volume to obliteration, complications, and hemorrhage is not well defined. Multivariate analysis was performed to assess the relationship of multiple AVM and treatment factors to the outcome of AVMs significantly larger than previously reported in the literature. Methods and Materials: 73 patients with intracranial AVMs underwent LINAC radiosurgery. Over 50% of the AVMs were larger than 3 cm in diameter and the median and mean treatment volumes were 8.4 cc and 15.3 cc, respectively (range 0.4–143.4 cc). Minimum AVM treatment doses varied between 1000–2200 cGy (median: 1600 cGy). Results: The obliteration rates for treatment volumes 14 cc receiving ≥ 1600 cGy, the incidence of post-radiosurgical MRI T2 abnormalities was 72% and the incidence of radiation necrosis requiring resection was 22%. The rate of post-radiosurgical hemorrhage was 2.7% per person-year for AVMs with treatment volumes < 14 cc and 7.5% per person-year for AVMs ≥ 14 cc. Conclusion: As AVM size increases, the dose-volume range for the optimal balance between successful obliteration and the risk of complications and post-radiosurgical hemorrhage narrows.
Plasma species mix diagnostic using ion–ion hybrid layer reflectometry

A superheterodyne reflectometer could provide a direct and inexpensive measurement of ion species mixes with different charge-to-mass ratios. Using the cold plasma dispersion relation, the ion–ion hybrid cutoff frequency is uniquely determined by the density ratio and cyclotron frequencies of the two different species. The phase of a 20 MHz wave that travels from the launching point to the cutoff layer to the receiving antenna provides a direct measure of the )
Construction of Malvar Wavelets on Hexagons

Abstract In this paper, we construct two-dimensional continuous (smooth) Malvar wavelets defined on a hexagonA, which constitute an orthonormal basis ofL2(A). The method can be generalized to many hexagons.
Lipid and C-reactive Protein Levels as Risk Factors for Hearing Loss in Older Adults:

ObjectiveTo determine the role of cardiovascular disease (CVD) markers, lipids and C-reactive protein, in age-related hearing loss over time.Study DesignProspective cohort study.SettingResearch laboratories at an academic medical center.Subjects and MethodsIn total, 837 older adults (mean age 67.5 years) were included. Primary dependent variables were pure-tone thresholds (pure-tone average [PTA]), including “narrow” PTA (0.5, 1, 2, 4 kHz), “broad” PTA (0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8 kHz), low-frequency PTA (0.25, 0.5, 1 kHz), and high-frequency PTA (2, 3, 4, 6, 8 kHz). Repeated-measures mixed regression modeling was used to assess the relationship between C-reactive protein (CRP) and lipid levels with PTAs over time.ResultsIn a cross-sectional sample of 837 subjects, modest associations were found between triglycerides and all PTAs. Weak associations were observed between the ratio of total cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein and narrow PTA, broad PTA, and high-frequency PTA. However, when assessing changes ...
Optical and infrared studies of Ti, Au, O ion implanted fused silica

Abstract We report the infrared, linear and nonlinear optical response of a series of samples formed by the sequential implantation of Ti, Au and O in high purity fused silica. Two samples were implanted with Ti at a nominal dose of 1.2 × 10 17 ions/cm 2 , one of which was then sequentially implanted with oxygen at the same nominal dose as the Ti, and finally, both samples were sequentially implanted with Au at a nominal dose of 6.0 × 10 16 ions/cm 2 . The optical absorption spectra show a peak of the surface plasmon resonance of Au metal particles and a long tail. Strong third-order nonlinear response and two photon stepwise absorption were observed at the wavelength of 775 nm. The optical properties of the samples have changed upon annealing in oxygen at 900°C for two hours. Our results indicate that (1) the annealing results in the recovery of lattice damage and the growth of Au particles; (2) the presence of excess oxygen ions in the glass favors the growth of Au particles; (3) the annealing effects on titanium silicide nanoclusters are different between samples with and without sequentially implanted oxygen. The titanium silicide nanoclusters have dissolved into the silica network and form a TiOSi phase during annealing in the sample with sequentially implanted oxygen.
SEXUAL ECOLOGY OF THE SPINNER DOLPHIN, STENELLA LONGIROSTRIS: GEOGRAPHIC VARIATION IN MATING SYSTEM

We offer the first report for a cetacean of geographical variation in mating system based in morphology. Analysis of samples from 1,678 male spinner dolphins from the eastern Pacific revealed that testis + epididymis weight was greater (to 1,354 g) in the whitebelly form of the species than in the eastern form (to 843 g). Sexual dimorphism in dorsal-fin shape is greater in the eastern form. The difference in testis size was strongly linked with shape of the dorsal fin on an individual basis. Only a few eastern males (0.6%) reached testis + epididymis weight at which all epididymides contain sperm, while a much larger proportion of whitebelly spinners (15.2%) reached this level, suggesting that a smaller proportion of eastern spinner males may participate in reproductive activity. This, and the fact that increased dimorphism and decreased testis size are indicative of increased polygyny in a wide variety of other mammal species, leads to the conclusion that the mating system varies geographically in the species, with a gradient from a more polygynous mating system in the eastern form to a more open or polygynandrous mating system in the whitebelly form. Differences in ovulation rate in the two forms are consistent with this conclusion.
Destruction of Estrogens Using Fe-TAML/Peroxide Catalysis

Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) impair living organisms by interfering with hormonal processes controlling cellular development Reduction of EDCs in water by an environmentally benign method is an important green chemistry goal. One EDC, 17alpha-ethinylestradiol (EE2), the active ingredient in the birth control pill, is excreted by humans to produce a major source of artificial environmental estrogenicity, which is incompletely removed by currenttechnologies used by municipal wastewater treatment plants (MWTPs). Natural estrogens found in animal waste from concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) can also increase estrogenic activity of surface waters. An iron-tetraamidomacrocyclic ligand (Fe-TAML) activator in trace concentrations activates hydrogen peroxide and was shown to rapidly degrade these natural and synthetic reproductive hormones found in agricultural and municipal effluent streams. On the basis of liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry, apparent half-lives for 17 alpha- and 17 beta-estradiol, estriol, estrone, and EE2 in the presence of Fe-TAML and hydrogen peroxide were approximately 5 min and included a concomitant loss of estrogenic activity as established by E-Screen assay.
DIZZY: STOCHASTIC SIMULATION OF LARGE-SCALE GENETIC REGULATORY NETWORKS

We describe Dizzy, a software tool for stochastically and deterministically modeling the spatially homogeneous kinetics of integrated large-scale genetic, metabolic, and signaling networks. Notable features include a modular simulation framework, reusable modeling elements, complex kinetic rate laws, multi-step reaction processes, steady-state noise estimation, and spatial compartmentalization.
Self-linearization in analog parametric sampling gate using higher-order parametric mixing

We demonstrate a new linearization approach for analog parametric sampling gates. The method utilizes a higher-order parametric mixing product to suppress the quadratic distortion present in the output of a high-power-efficiency parametric mixer.
SDN-controlled routing of elephants and mice over a hybrid optical/electrical DCN testbed

We propose an SDN-controlled hybrid optical/electrical intra-DCN framework allowing differentiated routing of diverse flow types. Experimental results demonstrate flow completion time reduction of up to 60% and 40% for elephants and mice respectively.
Local non- similarity thermal boundary- layer solutions

A solution method is described and applied for treating non-similar thermal boundary layers. The solutions are locally autonomous (that is, independent of information from other streamwise locations) and are found by solving quasi-ordinary differential equations of the similarity type. All non-similar terms appearing in the conservation equations are retained without approximation, and only in derived subsidiary equations are terms selectively neglected. The accuracy of the results can be appraised from comparisons internal to the method itself. Thermal boundary-layer non-similarity arising both from velocity-field, non-similarity and from streamwise variations of surface temperature are analyzed. Numerical results for the surface heat transfer and for the boundary-layer temperature distribution are presented for various physical situations.
Creating barriers for foreign competitors: a study of the impact of anti-dumping actions on the performance of U.S. firms

This study investigates whether anti-dumping statutes are effective at improving the performance of U.S. firms. As international trade grows and competitors increasingly cross national borders to enter new markets, U.S. trade law becomes a potentially important tool for managers as they consider how to create barriers for foreign competitors. The results of this study suggest that the anti-dumping laws significantly increase returns of U.S. firms that pursue anti-dumping protection. The average petitioner between 1980 and 1992 received a $46 million increase in market value as a result of filing an anti-dumping petition. However, no significant change in market value was associated with preliminary or final determinations of the International Trade Commission, except when petitions received a negative determination at the final stage of the process. A negative determination at the final stage of the process resulted in a loss of market value. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Measurement of uni-axial fiber angle in non-woven fibrous media

Abstract Fiber packing structure is known to affect properties of non-woven fibrous media such as paper and filter media. For a thin medium, such as paper, the fibers lay predominantly in a two-dimensional plane and angles are easily measured visually when viewed perpendicular to this plane. This two-dimensional plane is referred here as the X – Y plane. In thicker media, the fibers can have a three-dimensional orientation with a characteristic uni-axial angle measured relative to the Z -axis, where the Z -axis is perpendicular to the X – Y plane. A number of methods exist for measuring the three-dimensional structure of fibers in a non-woven medium. Many of the methods require expensive equipment. In this paper, a simple, relatively inexpensive visual method requiring moderate effort is presented that provides information on the distribution of fiber angles and the average fiber angle relative to the Z -axis. In the filtration industry extensive testing is done to characterize filter media and filter cakes. However, very few data are reported on the effect of fiber angle on filtration properties such as particle capture efficiency and permeability of filter media and filter cakes. In this work a method is developed to extend two-dimensional orientation data to obtain the three-dimensional fiber orientations. The method is used to characterize the average fiber angles of two filters formed of glass fibers with the only difference between the filters being the fiber structure. Filtration tests show significant differences in permeability and particle capture efficiency between the media of an average angle of 48° compared to the media of an average angle of 68°.
The effect of ageing on in vitro fidelity of translation in mouse liver

Abstract In a polyuridylic acid (poly(U)) stimulated in vitro assay, there is an age-related reduction in polyphenylalanine synthesis with mouse liver microsomes. As measured by the incorporation of leucine under the same conditions, old microsomes make fewer errors in translation than do young ones. Old microsomes have a higher requirement for Mg2+ than young for the optimal synthesis or both amino acids, suggesting an age-related deterioration in poly(U) complexing ability.
Mucocutaneous Manifestations of Fungal Infections in Human Immunodeficiency Virus Disease

Mucocutaneous manifestations of fungal disease are quite common in immunocompromised patients. The most frequent fungal infections include dermatophytoses of the skin and nails, candida and seborrheic dermatitis. Cryptococcosis, histoplasmosis and coccidioidomycosis are seen less commonly and when mucocutaneous surfaces are involved, it is in the setting of disseminated fungal disease. These infections may vary greatly in their clinical presentation and the appearance is often atypical. Thus it is essential to biopsy and culture the skin lesions of these patients whenever the diagnosis is uncertain. The high recurrence rate of fungal infections in human immunodeficiency virus-positive patients requires the use of long-term suppressive maintenance therapy. The emergence of newer antifungal agents has provided additional treatment alternatives.
Comorbidity among Older American Indians: The Native Elder Care Study

Comorbidity is a growing challenge and the older adult population is most at risk of developing comorbid conditions. Comorbidity is associated with increased risk of mortality, increased hospitalizations, increased doctor visits, increased prescription medications, nursing home placement, poorer mental health, and physical disability. American Indians experience some of the highest rates of chronic conditions, but to date there have been only two published studies on the subject of comorbidity in this population. With a community-based sample of 505 American Indians aged 55 years or older, this study identified the most prevalent chronic conditions, described comorbidity, and identified socio-demographic, functional limitations, and psychosocial correlates of comorbidity. Results indicated that older American Indians experience higher rates of hypertension, diabetes, back pain, and vision loss compared to national statistics of older adults. Two-thirds of the sample experienced some degree of comorbidity according to the scale used. Older age, poorer physical functioning, more depressive symptomatology, and lower personal mastery were all correlates of higher comorbidity scores. Despite medical advances increasing life expectancy, morbidity and mortality statistics suggest that the health of older American Indians lags behind the majority population. These findings highlight the importance of supporting chronic care and management services for the older American Indian population.
Cholinesterase and carboxylesterase inhibition by dichlorvos and interactions with malathion and triorthotolyl phosphate

Potentiation of toxicity after exposure to combinations of organophosphates may result from inhibition by one organophosphate of carboxylesterases which either bind or hydrolyze a second organophosphate. To determine the potential of dichlorvos (DDVP) for organophosphate interactions, dose- and time-related inhibition of cholinesterase and carboxylesterase activities were studied in male mice. Brain cholinesterase activities were 37, 36, 40, 69, and 92% of control at 0.25, 0.5, 2, 5, and 18 hr after ip injection of 30 mg/kg of DDVP, respectively. DDVP, 35 mg/kg, killed mice in less than 0.5 hr. Eighteen hours after 30 mg/kg, the hydrolysis by liver of triacetin, diethylsuccinate, and procaine was 82, 52, and 84% of control, respectively. The anticholinesterase action of 800 mg/kg of malathion was not potentiated by pretreatment, 18 hr prior, with 30 mg/kg of DDVP, nor did malathion pretreatment potentiate the anticholinesterase action of DDVP. Pretreatment with triorthotolyl phosphate (TOTP), a potent inhibitor of carboxylesterase hydrolysis and organophosphate binding, did not potentiate the anticholinesterase action of DDVP. These results suggest that DDVP neither potentiates nor is potentiated by other organophosphates and that binding is unlikely to be an important detoxification mechanism for DDVP in mice.
Photothermally induced Bergman cyclization of metalloenediynes via near-infrared ligand-to-metal charge-transfer excitation.

Reaction of 1,2-bis(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)-4,5-diiodobenzene with 2 equiv of phenylacetylene followed by deprotection with KF/HBr yields the catechol-enediyne ligand 4,5-bis(phenylethynyl)benzene-1,2-diol (CatED, 1). Metathesis of VO(SALIMH)ACAC·CH3OH (2) with 1 and subsequent air oxidation yields (4,5-bis(phenylethynyl)-1,2-dihydroxyphenyl)[4-(2-(salicylideneamino)ethyl)imidazolyl]oxovanadium(V)·CH3OH [VO(SALIMH)CatED], (3), in 85%. The thermal Bergman cyclization temperature for 3 is very high (246 °C), which is expected for a rigid, benzannulated enediyne motif. The electronic spectrum of 3 exhibits two strong ligand-to-metal charge transfer (LMCT) transitions centered at 584 nm (e = 6063 M-1 cm-1) and 1028 nm (e = 8098 M-1 cm-1). These transitions derive from CatED-to-V(V) ligand-to-metal charge transfer, the assignment of which is verified by resonance enhancement of several CatED vibrational modes in the Raman spectra obtained with λ = 785 vs λ = 457.9 nm under low power and/or temperature cond...
Rayleigh hysteresis--A new look at an old law

Experimental evidence is cited that, for very small hysteresis loops, the remanent magnetic flux density B r is not proportional to the square of the amplitude of the magnetic field excursion H 1 (as given by the Rayleigh relation), but rather to the first power. It is shown that (subject to one very general assumption), were this dependence exact, it would lead to negative hysteresis loss. It is also shown that (subject to the same assumption) any power-series dependence of B on H will always give B_{r} \propto H\min{1}\max{2} . An approximate first-power dependence is found to follow naturally from the spring model. A new Rayleigh relation is proposed which contains a logarithmic term which may not be expanded in a power series about zero argument.
Scalable learning of collective behavior based on sparse social dimensions

The study of collective behavior is to understand how individuals behave in a social network environment. Oceans of data generated by social media like Facebook, Twitter, Flickr and YouTube present opportunities and challenges to studying collective behavior in a large scale. In this work, we aim to learn to predict collective behavior in social media. In particular, given information about some individuals, how can we infer the behavior of unobserved individuals in the same network? A social-dimension based approach is adopted to address the heterogeneity of connections presented in social media. However, the networks in social media are normally of colossal size, involving hundreds of thousands or even millions of actors. The scale of networks entails scalable learning of models for collective behavior prediction. To address the scalability issue, we propose an edge-centric clustering scheme to extract sparse social dimensions. With sparse social dimensions, the social-dimension based approach can efficiently handle networks of millions of actors while demonstrating comparable prediction performance as other non-scalable methods.
Energy and interfactor substitution in Turkey

Not only access to the factors of production – capital, labourand energy – but also substitutability among these factors has a strong influence on how economies change and evolve. When factors are easily substituted for one another, shortages and disruptions are less detrimental to the growth process. Numerous studies have considered interfactor substitution for industrial countries. But, since only a few have been done for developingcountries, we summarize such work for these countries, apply the ever-popular translog model to Turkish aggregate industrial, manufacturing and mining data and compare our work with similar studies on both developing and industrial countries. We find own-input demand elasticities to be negative and inelastic for all factors and all sectors and all own-price elasticities are less than 0.6 in absolute value. Cross elasticities are all in the inelastic range and suggest that capital and labour, as well as capital and energy, are substitutes, whereas energy and labour are complements.
Mycotoxin occurrence and Aspergillus flavus soil propagules in a corn and cotton glyphosate-resistant cropping systems

The effects of cotton–corn rotation and glyphosate use on levels of soil-borne Aspergillus flavus, aflatoxin and fumonisin contamination in corn and cotton seed were determined during 2002–2005 in Stoneville, Mississippi (USA). There were four rotation systems (continuous cotton, continuous corn, cotton–corn and corn–cotton) for both glyphosate-resistant (GR) and non-GR cultivars–herbicide system arranged in a randomized complete block design with four replications. Aspergillus flavus populations in surface (5-cm depth) soil, sampled before planting (March/April), mid-season (June) and after harvest (September), ranged from 1.47 to 2.99 log (10) cfu g � 1 soil in the four rotation systems. Propagules of A. flavus were higher in the continuous corn system compared to the continuous cotton system on three sample dates, and cotton rotated with corn decreased A. flavus propagules in three of nine sample dates. Propagules of A. flavus were significantly greater in plots with GR cultivars compared to non-GR cultivars in three samples. In cotton seed, aflatoxin and fumonisin levels were similar (� 4m gk g � 1 and non-detectable, respectively) regardless of rotation and glyphosate. In corn grain, aflatoxin was above the regulatory level (� 20m gk g � 1 ) only in GR cultivar in 2004 and 2005. Fumonisin was higher in nonGR cultivar (4 mg kg � 1 ) regardless of rotation in 2004; however, in 2002, 2003 and 2005, aflatoxin and fumonisin levels were similar regardless of rotation and glyphosate. These results indicate the potential for increased aflatoxin and fumonisin levels (1 of 4 years) in corn; however, climatic conditions encountered during this study did not allow for mycotoxin production. In laboratory incubation studies, fairly high concentrations of glyphosate were required to inhibit A. flavus growth; however no short-term effect of soil treatment with glyphosate on A. flavus populations were observed. These data suggest that altered populations of A. flavus or higher aflatoxin concentrations in corn grain were due to indirect effects of the GR cropping system.
Integrating groupware and CASE capabilities for improving stakeholder involvement in requirements engineering

A methodology for collaborative requirements engineering has to provide intuitive and straightforward means for involving success-critical stakeholders like customers, users, and developers. A promising approach is to provide a set of views presenting comprehensible portions of the evolving requirements model to the stakeholders. We have developed such views for requirements negotiation in the course of the EasyWinWin project. Tools supporting these views need to provide support for stakeholder collaboration as well as modeling and analysis. We have therefore integrated two COTS products: a collaboration platform and a CASE environment.
Fatal infective endocarditis in a young adult with persistent truncus arteriosus and a bicuspid truncal valve

Abstract Persistent truncus arteriosus (TA) is usually fatal in infancy or early childhood. Almost all survivors beyond early childhood have severe elevation in pulmonary vascular resistance or have undergone a corrective surgical procedure.1 Although infective endocarditis is associated with a variety of congenital cardiac abnormalities, it has rarely been reported with TA and has not been reported as a cause of death in any such patient.2 Herein, we report a patient with TA who survived to age 19 years and died from infective endocarditis on a bicuspid truncal valve.
Distinct Pseudomonas type-III effectors use a cleavable transit peptide to target chloroplasts

SUMMARY The pathogen Pseudomonas syringae requires a type-III protein secretion system and the effector proteins it injects into plant cells for pathogenesis. The primary role for P. syringae type-III effectors is the suppression of plant immunity. The P. syringae pv. tomato DC3000 HopK1 type-III effector was known to suppress the hypersensitive response (HR), a programmed cell death response associated with effector-triggered immunity. Here we show that DC3000 hopK1 mutants are reduced in their ability to grow in Arabidopsis, and produce reduced disease symptoms. Arabidopsis transgenically expressing HopK1 are reduced in PAMP-triggered immune responses compared with wild-type plants. An N-terminal region of HopK1 shares similarity with the corresponding region in the well-studied type-III effector AvrRps4; however, their Cterminal regions are dissimilar, indicating that they have different effector activities. HopK1 is processed in planta at the same processing site found in AvrRps4. The processed forms of HopK1 and AvrRps4 are chloroplast localized, indicating that the shared N-terminal regions of these type-III effectors represent a chloroplast transit peptide. The HopK1 contribution to virulence and the ability of HopK1 and AvrRps4 to suppress immunity required their respective transit peptides, but the AvrRps4-induced HR did not. Our results suggest that a primary virulence target of these type-III effectors resides in chloroplasts, and that the recognition of AvrRps4 by the plant immune system occurs elsewhere. Moreover, our results reveal that distinct type-III effectors use a cleavable transit peptide to localize to chloroplasts, and that targets within this organelle are important for immunity.
Electronic states of Zn2. Ab initio calculations of a prototype for Hg2

The electronic states of Zn2 are investigated by ab initio polarization configuration-interaction calculations. Molecular states dissociating to Zn(1S) + Zn(1S, 3P, 1P) and Zn(3P) + Zn(3P) are treated. Important effects from states arising from Zn(+)(25) + Zn(-)(2P) are found in the potential-energy curves and electronic-transition moments. A model calculation for Hg2 based on the Zn2 curves and including spin-orbit coupling leads to a new interpretation of the emission bands in Hg vapor.
Crystal structures of protein phosphatase-1 bound to nodularin-R and tautomycin: a novel scaffold for structure-based drug design of serine/threonine phosphatase inhibitors.

Abstract Protein phosphatase 1 occurs in all tissues and regulates many pathways, ranging from cell-cycle progression to carbohydrate metabolism. Many naturally occurring, molecular toxins modulate PP1 activity, though the exact mechanism of this differential regulation is not understood. A detailed elucidation of these interactions is crucial for understanding the cellular basis of phosphatase function and signaling pathways but, more importantly, they can serve as the basis for highly specific therapeutics, e.g. against cancer. We report the crystal structures of PP1 in complex with nodularin-R at 1.63 A and tautomycin at 1.70 A resolution. The PP1:nodularin-R complex was used to demonstrate the utility of our improved PP1 production technique, which produces highly active, soluble PP1. Tautomycin is one of the few toxins that reportedly preferentially binds PP1> PP2A. Therefore, the PP1:tautomycin structure is the first complex structure with a toxin with preferred PP1 specificity. Furthermore, since tautomycin is a linear non-peptide-based toxin, our reported structure will aid the design of lead compounds for novel PP1-specific pharmaceuticals.
Properties of cell wall-associated DD-carboxypeptidase of Enterococcus hirae (Streptococcus faecium) ATCC 9790 extracted with alkali.

DD-Carboxypeptidase (DD-CPase) activity of Enterococcus hirae (Streptococcus faecium) ATCC 9790 was extracted from intact bacteria and from the insoluble residue (crude cell wall fraction) of mechanically disrupted bacteria by a brief treatment at pH 10.0 (10 mM glycine-NaOH) at 0 degrees C or by extraction with any of several detergents. Extractions with high salt concentrations failed to remove DD-CPase activity from the crude wall fraction. In contrast to N-acetylmuramoylhydrolase (both muramidase 2 and muramidase 1) activities, DD-CPase activity failed to bind to insoluble cell walls or peptidoglycan matrices. Thus, whereas muramidase 1 and muramidase 2 activities can be considered to be cell wall proteins, the bulk of the data are consistent with the interpretation that the DD-CPase of this species is a membrane protein that is sometimes found in the cell wall fraction, presumably because of hydrophobic interactions with other proteins and cell wall polymers. The binding of [14C]penicillin to penicillin-binding protein 6 (43 kilodaltons) was proportional to DD-CPase activity. Kinetic parameters were also consistent with the presence of only one DD-CPase (penicillin-binding protein 6) in E. hirae. Images
Consumers’ Choice of Dentists: How and Why People Choose Dental School Faculty Members as Their Oral Health Care Providers

This study aimed to better understand how and why people choose dental school faculty members as their oral health care providers. Increasing financial constraints in U.S. dental schools have led their administrators to seek alternative funding sources, one of which can be revenues from dental school faculty practice. To effectively promote faculty practice, it is necessary to understand how and why one chooses a dental school faculty member as his or her oral health care provider. A survey of 1,150 dental school faculty practice patients who recently chose their dentist was conducted, and 221 responded. The information sources these respondents said they used and rated highly were other dentists, friends, family members, clinic website, the Internet, and the insurance directory. Dentist-related attributes that were perceived to be important were quality of care, professional competence of dentist, and explanation of treatment/patient participation in the treatment decision. Dental practice-related attributes perceived to be important were the ability to get appointments at convenient times, reasonable waiting time to get appointments, and attitude/helpfulness of staff. This study found that traditionally popular (family, friends) and newly emerging information sources (the Internet, clinic website, and insurance directory) were both used and perceived to be important by patients of the dental school faculty practice. Dental schools and dentists can use this study’s findings to select appropriate communication channels to promote their practices and to focus on attributes that dental consumers value the most.
Fault-Tolerant k-Fold Pivot Routing in Wireless Sensor Networks

Selecting a small set of nodes called pivots, from all the nodes in a network and maintaining the routing infrastructure to and among each other can reduce routing overhead and excessive broadcast redundancy. In this paper a new problem, called "k-fold cover t- set" (for short, k-fold cover), is proposed: we select a smaller set of nodes than the k-fold dominating set, to act as alternative routers for messages in the network. An advantage of the k-fold cover is that it can be defined for graphs where the k-fold dominating set cannot be defined. Computing the minimum size k-fold cover for any k ges 1 is NP-complete. Two approximation algorithms for the k-fold cover problem are proposed: one uses a greedy approach to compute the cover and the other uses randomization.
Bacteremia due to Rochalimaea henselae in a child: practical identification of isolates in the clinical laboratory.

Abstract Two closely related species of Rochalimaea, Rochalimaea quintana and Rochalimaea henselae, are nutritionally fastidious but can be cultivated on bacteriologic media from the blood of patients with diverse clinical presentations. We report a case of culture-proven R. henselae bacteremia in a child with persistent fever. Serologic evidence of infection by R. henselae was ascertained by testing sera at two intervals for immunoglobulin G or immunoglobulin M antibodies by enzyme immunoassay and immunoblot. The case isolate and a collection of other strains (R. henselae, R. quintana, and related organisms) were used to test commercial identification systems for their comparative utility in the identification of Rochalimaea spp. on a practical basis. Of six systems designed for testing of either fastidious or anaerobic isolates of bacteria, the MicroScan Rapid Anaerobe Panel was the only system that distinguished R. henselae from R. quintana. Four of five others gave reactions that were unique within their data bases but did not distinguish Rochalimaea isolates at the species level.
Unicast vs. multicast over wireless: a cross-disciplinary mindshare for educational application researchers

As the state of learning technology advances, there is a pressing need to understand how we can best utilize and compensate for the bandwidth available to us over wireless networks. TCP traffic is ill-designed for an environment that subjects it to random packet loss, and because of which, it is plagued by congestion issues, unfairness, and insufficient bandwidth. While IP multicast traffic is not without its own burdens, such as lower overall throughput and "bursty" packet loss, we have found that it is often an appropriate and underutilized medium for data distribution in classroom-centric applications. We present the pros and cons of both unicast and multicast transmissions over wireless, follow with anecdotal evidence on what has worked in the past, and conclude with a discussion of the strategy we have taken and our future directions. This paper is intended to function as a means for distilling many years of work in understanding the properties of 802.11 wireless networks in the communications field, and transferring that knowledge to the field of computational technology for advancing CS education.
Situational predictors of violent intentions: Results from a factorial survey

Abstract Though many sociological and criminological theories of violence provide a role for both situational and individual-level factors, research largely focuses on individual-level characteristics. The current research, drawing on the psychological and sociological aggression literatures, utilizes a factorial survey approach to identify important situational risk factors. Multi-level regression results indicate that provocation, aggressive cues, and the presence of an audience are all statistically significant risk factors. Moreover, these factors maintain their importance even after statistically controlling for well-known individual-level characteristics. These results highlight the importance of situational factors and serve as a call for more situationally oriented research and theory on violence.
Falling over the edge

Claims that an intelligent designer is needed to explain evolution of complex systems are deeply flawed.
Takotsubo cardiomyopathy: a clinical review.

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy is a reversible cardiomyopathy which has increasingly been recognized in the differential diagnosis of patients presenting with acute coronary syndrome. It is characterized by transient systolic ventricular dysfunction with regional wall motion abnormalities beyond a single vascular territory and in the absence of significant epicardial coronary artery ob struction. Often, there is an acute emotional or physical stressor immediately preceding the presentation. Classical apical ballooning is seen on ventriculography or echocardiography but variants with isolated basal or mid wall akinesis have been described. Catecholamine excess and cardiotoxicity is the most compelling putative mechanism. The long-term prognosis is excellent but serious complications including cardiogenic shock and arrhythmias may occur acutely. Supportive treatment is the mainstay of therapy.
Traumatic dislocation of the long-finger extensor tendon. A clinical, anatomical, and biomechanical study.

Five cases of traumatic dislocation of the extensor tendon of the long finger are presented. The anatomical defect consists of loss of continuity between the radial intrinsic muscles and the extensor tendon. The extensor tendon of the long finger sits on top of the proximal portion of the transverse fibers where it is maintained by a relatively poor fibrous attachment. The force tending to displace the normally situated extensor ulnarward is greatest in full extension, decreases during the first 60 degrees of flexion, and subsequently increases as flexion increases from 60 to 90 degrees. The force required to prevent further ulnar dislocation is large once the tendon is displaced. Simple primary repair is usually satisfactory for traumatic dislocation of the extensor tendon.