cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Human Factors in Organizational Design and Management

Nowadays, with the most competitive market, companies have sought new ergonomic strategies. This study was conducted in a typical slaughterhouse from the Brazilian swine industry, in order to perform a postural ergonomics analysis, followed by proposals to minimize or eliminate identified risks. Among the various sectors of the productive processes in the slaughterhouse the one that presented greatest need was selected: the special cuts sector (sausages). It is believed that the analysis of postural assessment and recommendations presented in this paper, will allow the production process of the slaughterhouse to become more efficient and provide greater welfare to the employees.
The impact of aging on mitochondrial proton leaks in human skeletal muscle (1159.9)

Proton leaks are thought to account for 20-25% of mitochondrial oxygen consumption. It has been postulated that mitochondrial proton cycling in senescent tissue may reduce free radical production. Here, we determined mitochondrial respiratory control in skeletal muscle biopsies obtained from young and older individuals. 6 young (31±3 yrs) and 10 older (58±7 yrs) subjects participated in this study. Mitochondrial respiration was determined in permeabilized myofibers after the addition of substrates, ADP and oligomycin. Thereafter, coupling control ratios were calculated. Coupled mitochondrial respiration tended to be higher in muscle from young vs. older subjects (38.0±3.1 vs. 31.7±2.8 pmol/mg/sec, P=0.16). ADP sensitivity was similar between groups, whereas oligomycin sensitivity was significantly lower in the older vs. young group (P<0.05). Mitochondrial ADP sensitivity is preserved in skeletal muscle of older individuals. However, mitochondria of older individuals are less sensitive to the ATP synthase ...
Mesophilic Microorganisms and Endotoxin Levels on Developing Cotton Plants

Healthy cotton leaf, bract, fiber and soil were collected twice each week during the growing season. These samples were studied to determine the epiphytic total and gram-negative bacterial (GNB) populations and endotoxin levels from seedling development to harvest. Since bract is a significant trash component of raw cotton, a study of the epiphytic bract fungi was performed also. Bract and soil had the highest total bacterial count (TBC) until senescence, when the bract count increased significantly over that of the soil. Leaf TBC was usually third while fiber had the least TBC. Leaf senescence did not result in an increase in TBC as with bract. GNB counts paralleled, but were approximately 10-fold lower than that of the TBC. Enterobacter agglomerans was the most predominant bacterium on leaf and bract. Gram-positive rods were the most common bacteria on fiber with E. agglomerans second. Gram-positive rods were by far the predominant species in soil. Senescence affected the population levels of the variou...
Building Community Capacity: A Definitional Framework and Case Studies from a Comprehensive Community Initiative

The notion of community capacity building is both explicit and pervasive in the rhetoric, missions, and activities of a broad range of contemporary community development efforts. However, there is ...
Pyrrolysine Analogs for Translational Incorporation into Proteins (Eur. J. Org. Chem. 22/2010)

The cover picture shows the X-ray crystal structure of the monomethylamine methyltransferase from Methanosarcina barkeri. It was central to the discovery of pyrrolysine, the 22nd genetically encoded amino acid. The picture is also decorated with the structures of pyrrolysine and some of its analogs. They can be incorporated into proteins in response to an otherwise non-sense amber (UAG) codon upon action of pyrrolysyl-tRNAPyl synthetases from various Methanosarcinaceae working in tandem with their cognate tRNAs. Details are presented in the Microreview by M. K. Chan et al. on p. 4171 ff. The scarlet-and-gray background represents the colors of The Ohio State University.
Structure−Activity Relationship of 6-Methylidene Penems Bearing Tricyclic Heterocycles as Broad-Spectrum β-Lactamase Inhibitors: Crystallographic Structures Show Unexpected Binding of 1,4-Thiazepine Intermediates

The design and synthesis of a series of seven tricyclic 6-methylidene penems as novel class A and C serine β-lactamase inhibitors is described. These compounds proved to be very potent inhibitors of the TEM-1 and AmpC β-lactamases and less so against the class B metallo-β-lactamase CcrA. In combination with piperacillin, their in vitro activities enhanced susceptibility of all class C resistant strains from various bacteria. Crystallographic structures of a serine-bound reaction intermediate of 17 with the class A SHV-1 and class C GC1 enzymes have been established to resolutions of 2.0 and 1.4 A, respectively, and refined to R-factors equal 0.163 and 0.145. In both β-lactamases, a seven-membered 1,4-thiazepine ring has formed. The stereogenic C7 atom in the ring has the R configuration in the SHV-1 intermediate and has both R and S configurations in the GC1 intermediate. Hydrophobic stacking interactions between the tricyclic C7 substituent and a tyrosine side chain, rather than electrostatic or hydrogen...
Visual Multipoles And The Assessment Of Visual Sensitivity To Displayed Images

The contrast sensitivity function (CSF) is widely used to specify the sensitivity of the visual system. Each point of the CSF specifies the amount of contrast needed to detect a sinusoidal grating of a given spatial frequency. This paper describes a set of five mathematically related visual patterns, called "multipoles," that should replace the CSF for measuring visual performance. The five patterns (ramp, edge, line, dipole and quadrupole) are localized in space rather than being spread out as sinusoidal gratings. The multipole sensitivity of the visual system provides an alternative characterization that complements the CSF in addition to offering several advantages. This paper provides an overview of the properties and uses of the multipole stimuli. This paper is largely a summary of several unpublished manuscripts with excerpts from them. Derivations and full references are omitted here. Please write me if you would like the full manuscripts.
Heritabilities of Teat Traits and their Relationships with Milk Yield, Somatic Cell Count, and Percent Two-Minute Milk

Two teats on one side of the udder of 898 Holstein cows were scored on a continuous scale for shape, orientation, and pigmentation. Corresponding teat ends were scored for shape, lesions, pigmentation, and orifice location. Teat lengths and diameters, udder height, and distances between teats were measured on the same day. Cows were from six herds owned by the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and two North Carolina State University research herds. Repeatabilities from 98 cows rescored 6 mo after initial scoring were: . 54, teat shape; .76, teat-end shape; .98, teat pigmentation; .98, orifice pigmentation, and .32, lesion score. Heritabilities based on 72 paternal half-sister groups were: .38, teat shape; .55, teat-end shape ;. 55, teat pigmentation;
Survey of Fault-Tolerance Techniques for Three-Phase Voltage Source Inverters

Inverters play key roles in motor drives, flexible power transmissions, and recently grid-tied renewable energy generation units. Therefore, availability and reliability of inverters have become increasingly important. Following early stage fault detections in inverters, remedial actions can extend normal operation of inverters and, in some cases, derate the system to prevent unexpected shutdowns. A remedial action typically contains a combination of hardware and software reconfigurations. The main purpose of this paper is to provide an instructive survey of existing fault-tolerance (remedial) techniques for three-phase, two-level, and multilevel inverters.
Imaging of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease

Atherosclerosis is characterized by thickening of the walls of the arteries, a process that occurs slowly and 'silently' over decades. This prolonged course of disease provides a window of opportunity for diagnosis before symptoms occur. But, until recently, only advanced atherosclerotic disease could be observed. Now, developments in imaging technology offer many enticing prospects, including detecting atherosclerosis early, grouping individuals by the probability that they will develop symptoms of atherosclerosis, assessing the results of treatment and improving the current understanding of the biology of atherosclerosis.
Calibration and image enhancement algorithm of portable structured light 3D gauge system for improving accuracy

Structured light based 3D measurement is a typical optic method used to detect surface profile. The primary system projects a structured pattern onto the measured surface. Through the phase shifting analysis, the depth profile is extracted with a high resolution. In this paper a portable device bases on structured light method is introduced. The tool is used to inspect edge breaks and corrosion depth on the turbine system parts. In order to maintain the inspection accuracy under the portable operation, a simple but reliable calibration process and enhancement algorithms are needed to mitigate the variations of user operations and system noise. In this paper, an effective calibration method with simple process is introduced to calculate the system parameters and minimize the measurement errors. A set of image enhancement algorithm designed specially for the structured patterns are introduced that is able to mitigate the noise clearly but won't decrease the measurement resolution. The results are demonstrated through the calibration of a prototype system. Measurement results are presented for sample surface using the filtering. The results show that the calibration process and image enhancement works effectively to maintain a good accuracy and data quality.
Contribution of DNA unwrapping from histone octamers to the repair of oxidatively damaged DNA in nucleosomes.

Abstract Reactive oxygen species generate ∼20,000 oxidative lesions in the DNA of every cell, every day. Most of these lesions are located within nucleosomes, which package DNA in chromatin and impede base excision repair (BER). We demonstrated previously that periodic, spontaneous partial unwrapping of DNA from the underlying histone octamer enables BER enzymes to bind to oxidative lesions that would otherwise be sterically inaccessible. In the present study, we asked if these periodic DNA unwrapping events are frequent enough to account for the estimated rates of BER in vivo . We measured rates of excision of oxidative lesions from sites in nucleosomes that are accessible only during unwrapping episodes. Using reaction conditions appropriate for presteady-state kinetic analyses, we derived lesion exposure rates for both 601 and 5S rDNA-based nucleosomes. Although DNA unwrapping-mediated exposure of a lesion ∼16 NT from the nucleosome edge occurred ∼7–8 times per minute, exposure rates fell dramatically for lesions located 10 or more NT further in from the nucleosome edge. The rates likely are too low to account for observed rates of BER in cells. Thus, chromatin remodeling, either BER-specific or that associated with transcription, replication, or other DNA repair processes, probably contributes to efficient BER in vivo .
Alpha-adrenergic receptor subtypes: quantitative assessment by ligand binding.

Abstract We describe a method for quantitatively determining the alpha- adrenergic receptor subtypes in membrane fractions by studying the displacement of [ 3 H] dihydroergocryptine by selective alpha antagonists and analyzing this data by a computer modeling technique. Alpha 1 receptors are those with a higher affinity for prazosin than for yohimbine; alpha 2 receptors have a higher affinity for yohimbine than for prazosin. Phentolamine does not discriminate between the two receptor subtypes present in rabbit uterus. The alpha receptor population of rabbit uterus was found to be 37% alpha 1 receptors and 63% alpha 2 receptors. The human platelet and rat liver alpha receptors were determined to be exclusively alpha 2 and alpha 1 , respectively. In the uterus, prazosin had a 8800 fold greater affinity for alpha 1 than alpha 2 receptors while yohimbine had a 510 fold greater affinity for alpha 2 than alpha 1 receptors. The use of [ 3 H] dihydroergocryptine displacement curves generated with selective alpha receptor antagonists coupled with subsequent computer modeling provides a precise and powerful method for quantifying the alpha receptor population of a tissue; this technique should be of value in studying the detailed regulation of alpha receptors in tissues which have both alpha 1 and alpha 2 receptors.
Ethnic/racial differences in weight-related concerns and behaviors among adolescent girls and boys: Findings from Project EAT

Abstract Objective: To compare weight-related concerns and behaviors across ethnicity/race among a population-based sample of adolescent boys and girls. Methods: The study population included 4746 adolescents from urban public schools in the state of Minnesota who completed surveys and anthropometric measurements as part of Project EAT (Eating Among Teens), a population-based study focusing on eating patterns and weight concerns among teenagers. Main outcome measures included measured body mass index (BMI), weight-related concerns (perceived weight status, weight disparity, body satisfaction and attitudes about weight control) and weight-related behaviors (general/specific weight control behaviors and binge eating). Results: In comparison to White girls, African American girls tended to report fewer weight-related concerns/behaviors, while Hispanic, Asian American and Native American girls tended to report similar or more concerns/behaviors. Among boys, weight-related concerns/behaviors were equally or more prevalent among all non-Whites than among Whites. In particular, African American and Asian American boys were at greater risk for potentially harmful weight-related concerns/behaviors than White boys. Conclusions: Weight-related concerns and behaviors are prevalent among adolescents, regardless of their ethnic/racial background, indicating a need for prevention and treatment efforts that reach adolescents of different ethnic backgrounds. However, ethnic differences demonstrate a need for ensuring that the specific needs of different groups are addressed in the development of such interventions.
Influence of Temperature and Relative Humidity on Sporulation of Cercospora zeae-maydis and Expansion of Gray Leaf Spot Lesions on Maize Leaves

ABSTRACT Controlled environment studies were conducted to determine the effects of temperature on the expansion of lesions of gray leaf spot, and the effects of temperature and relative humidity on...
Empirical bayes estimates using the nonparametric maximum likelihood estimate for the priort

This paper presents a smooth empirical Bayes estimation technique based on nonparametric maximum likelihood estimation of the prior distribution Posterior means based on this estimate of the prior are shown to be easily calculated for a variety of sampling situations Examples involving normal and binomial sampling are given.
Uptake of labeled 14C bicarbonate by some monocot and dicot plants from nutrient solution

Abstract Uptake of H14CO3‐ was measured for 48‐hour exposure of some monocot (Oryza sativa, Triticale heraploid, Triticum aestivum, and Zea mays) and dicot (Glycine max and Lycopersicon esculentum) seedlings in nutrient solution, each with all NH4 + vs. all NO3 ‐ solutions. On the dry‐weight basis, monocots had more 14C in shoots than did dicots. Shoot‐root ratios of 14C were higher for monocots than dicots. NH4 +‐N grown plants had more 14C than NO3 ‐‐N grown plants as expected, with wider shoot‐root ratios for dicots than monocots.
Attraction increases and decreases as a function of emotion-attribution and appropriate social cues

To study the impact of startle-induced arousal on attraction, blindfolded subjects in a “vestibular function” study were startled by a loud noise accompanying the sudden backward tilt of the dental chair in which they were seated. In Study I, startled male subjects indicated (on a “postexperimental” questionnaire) greater attraction toward a pretty female experimenter than did control subjects. Study II demonstrated the reverse, with startled male subjects disliking a male experimenter more than controls. In Study III, female subjects startled by a male experimenter indicated greater attraction than controls, although the pattern of their responses differed from males. While an attempt to induce misattribution of arousal to a (placebo) pill (Study IV) or to a noise (Study V) with “arousal” side effects resulted in negligible attenuation effects on the startle—attraction relationship, in Study VI the imposition of a delay period between startle and experimenter ratings resulted in reduced ratings of attraction. The role of arousal in romantic attraction is briefly discussed, and the relevance of these data to theories of emotion is considered.
Clinical outcome and follow-up of the first reported case of Russell-Silver syndrome with the unique combination of maternal uniparental heterodisomy 7 and mosaic trisomy 7.

BACKGROUND Russell-Silver syndrome (RSS) has been associated with maternal uniparental disomy (UPD) for chromosome 7 although the etiology of the syndrome is still unknown. Cases of RSS associated with maternal UPD7 have involved isodisomies, heterodisomies, and mixed isodisomy with heterodisomy simultaneously. This publication is a follow-up report of the postnatal clinical outcome of the first prenatally suspected case of combined mosaic trisomy 7 with maternal uniparental disomy of chromosome 7 (UPD7). CASE The diagnosis of RSS in the proband was suspected prenatally because trisomy 7 mosaicism (47,XX,+7[13]/46,XX[19]) and maternal uniparental heterodisomy 7 were both found in amniotic fluid cells. Cord blood karyotype analysis showed only disomic cells (46,XX[50]), whereas postpartum chorionic villus analysis was completely trisomic for chromosome 7 (47,XX,+7[19]). Postnatally, the diagnosis of RSS was confirmed by physical findings, her trisomy 7 mosaicism was confirmed by cytogenetic analysis of her skin biopsy (47,XX,+7[9]/46,XX[20]) and her UPD7 was confirmed on both peripheral blood and skin biopsy using microsatellite markers. During infancy, the proband experienced growth deficiency, persistent hypoglycemia, and psychomotor developmental delay. CONCLUSIONS Trisomic rescue as a life-saving mechanism, with subsequent chromosomal mosaicism in combination with UPD may occur more frequently in RSS than has been reported. Systematic testing of cases suspected prenatally or postnatally would be informative regarding the individual contribution of each factor. Imprinting, loss of heterozygosity for recessive genes, and mosaicism may explain the short stature, asymmetry, and the variable expression of the phenotype. The contribution of these mechanisms to the syndrome should be evaluated in these cases. Birth Defects Research (Part A), 2005. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Phase-field modeling of martensitic microstructure in NiTi shape memory alloys

Abstract A phase-field model is developed to study the cubic to monoclinic martensitic phase transformation in nickel–titanium (NiTi) shape memory alloys. Three-dimensional phase-field simulations show the nucleation and growth of monoclinic B19′ multivariants that form a polytwinned martensitic microstructure. Parametric studies demonstrate that mechanical constraints and crystallographic orientation govern the patterning of martensitic twin variants in the formation of strain-accommodating microstructures. Pairing of twin variants is studied by comparing the phase-field simulation results with the crystallographic solutions of compatible twins. The phase-field method developed in this work is generally applicable to simulate the dynamic microstructure evolution of metals and alloys that produce low-symmetry phases through martensitic transformation.
Anticancer agents: Unleash the forces within.

Liposomes are a leading drug-delivery platform in cancer chemotherapy. Now they can be used to destroy cancer cells through a method that converts chemical energy to mechanical force. These localized disruptions can cause cell death while minimizing the collateral damage to neighbouring cells.
The Astronomical Almanac's algorithm for approximate solar position (1950 - 2050).

Abstract This article implements an algorithm for the calculation of solar position that has a stated. and partially demonstrated, accuracy of 0.01 deg until the year 2050. The algorithm is taken from The Astronomical Almanac, which has published it as an addendum to their very accurate tabulations since 1984. It uses the same approach as an earlier paper by Walraven, but has a more simplified form. This subject of the calculation of the solar position is revisited because of the somewhat confusing sequence of notes and letters that followed Walraven's publication in this journal and because of a report challenging the accuracy claimed by him. The Almanac approximation is compared to exact values and to some commonly used approximations. An appendix contains an annotated subroutine in FORTRAN, which should be easily converted to other programming languages.
CROSSRACIAL DIFFERENCES IN THE RACIAL PREFERENCES OF POTENTIAL DATING PARTNERS: A Test of the Alienation of African Americans and Social Dominance Orientation

Studying interracial romance has been useful for understanding general race relations. Theories of African American alienation and social dominance orientation help explain why previous research has found African Americans to be the least desired racial dating partners. Alienation predicts that African Americans are less willing to interracially date than other racial groups since they are not allowed to participate in the majority culture. Social dominance orientation predicts that African Americans are more willing to interracially date than other racial groups because they occupy the lowest position in our racial hierarchy. This study utilizes an Internet dating website to explore the racial dating preferences of European Americans, African Americans, Hispanic Americans, and Asian Americans. The theory of African American alienation is upheld, as African Americans are generally less willing to interracially date than other races and are especially less willing to date European Americans.
Changes in cell wall pectins accompanying tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) paste manufacture.

The texture of processed tomato products is influenced by the size and solubility characteristics of soluble and particle-bound cell wall polysaccharides they contain. The acidic (pectin) polysaccharides are important contributors to texture because of their gel-forming capability and the fact that they can form aggregates. The present work describes the pectins in ripe tomato fruits and then follows changes in several classes of pectins as the fruits are subjected to hot break and the juice is subsequently concentrated to a 30 degrees Brix paste. Continued processing leads to progressive solubilization and depolymerization of polysaccharides so that the ionically and covalently bound materials that are the major pectin classes of ripe fruit are substantially reduced in amount with the concomitant increase in the more soluble water-soluble pectins of the paste product. Juice content of soluble solids ( degrees Brix) rose steadily as water content was reduced during processing. Juice content of polymeric uronic acids (i.e., pectin) also rose with concentration, but to a lesser degree than the increase in soluble solids. This indicates that processing leads to almost complete pectin depolymerization and/or the alteration of uronic acid structures so that this assay could no longer detect them. It was concluded that reductions in heat input during processing would lead to pastes with greater pectin integrity and enhanced textural characteristics.
Filling Rates of the Uterovaginal Sperm Storage Glands in the Turkey

Abstract Large White turkey hens were assigned to two groups of 30 birds each and photo-stimulated at 32 weeks of age. Group 1 hens (nonlaying) were artificially inseminated (AI) three times prior to the onset of lay on Days 14, 15, and 16 postlighting. Group 2 hens (laying) were also inseminated three times as in Group 1, but the inseminations followed the onset of egg production on Days 23, 24, and 25 postlighting. Six hens from each group were sacrificed following the initial insemination at intervals of 1, 2, 3, 5, and 7 days. Histological sections of the uterovaginal (UV) junction from each hen were made to determine filling rates of the sperm storage glands. Sperm concentrations in the UV glands of the nonlaying hens did not increase significantly beyond 24 hr post-AI. There was a significant (P
An analysis of persistence in analyst’s relative forecast accuracy

We examine the persistence in analysts’ relative earnings forecast accuracy. When analysts are ranked into forecast accuracy quintiles, calculated over all the firms they cover in each year, we find that 52% (45%) of superior (inferior) analysts, i.e. analysts in the lowest (highest) quintile, remain in this quintile in the subsequent period. We show that a variable we develop and denote as forecasting complexity, i.e. the extent to which analysts’ earnings forecasts vary when predicting a firm’s earnings, is important in explaining variation in the persistence of the relative forecast accuracy of analysts. When we control for forecasting complexity, the probability of analyst relative forecast accuracy to persist is reduced by about half. This reduced persistence, however, measures true forecasting ability. When we form portfolios using recommendations of analysts identified as superior in two consecutive periods, controlling for forecasting complexity, we find significant abnormal returns after adjustin...
Treated and untreated remission from problem drinking in late life: Post-remission functioning and health-related quality of life

Objective To evaluate the post-remission status of older remitted problem drinkers who achieved stable remission without treatment.
A theoretical model for the effects of reduced hemoglobin-oxygen affinity on tumor oxygenation ☆

Abstract Purpose: To develop a theoretical model for oxygen delivery to tumors, and to use the model to simulate the effects of changing the affinity of hemoglobin for oxygen on tumor oxygenation. Methods and Materials: Hemoglobin affinity is expressed in terms of P 50 , the partial pressure of oxygen (Po 2 ) at half saturation. Effects of changing P 50 on arterial Po 2 are predicted using an effective vessel approach to describe diffusive oxygen transport in the lungs, assuming fixed systemic oxygen demand and fixed blood flow rate. The decline in oxygen content of blood as it flows through normal tissue before entering the tumor region is assumed fixed. The hypoxic fraction of the tumor region is predicted using a three-dimensional simulation of diffusion from a network of vessels whose geometry is derived from observations of tumor microvasculature in the rat. Results: In air-breathing rats, predicted hypoxic fraction decreases with moderate increases in P 50 , but increases with further increases of P 50 , in agreement with previous experimental results. In rats breathing hyperoxic gases, and in humans breathing either normoxic or hyperoxic gases, increased P 50 is predicted to improve tumor oxygenation. Conclusions: The results support the administration of synthetic agents to increase P 50 during radiation treatment of tumors.
Statistical physics of linear and nonlinear, scalar vector transport processes in disordered media

Abstract Recent developments in modelling transport processes in disordered media are reviewed. These include conductivity, diffusivity and elasticity of disordered solids, and failure and yield mechanics of such systems. We focus our attention on transport processes in discrete and continuous percolation systems, and discuss the behavior of transport and mechanical properties of these close to, and away from the percolation threshold.
Geometric-Optical Illusions: An Update on the Output of Publications

The count of publications on geometric-optical illusions and the bibliography of extant books on the topic are brought up to date. The number of publications now exceeds 1100 and the number of books is 35.
Reinforcing properties of caffeine: Studies in humans and laboratory animals

Three types of experimental studies are reviewed: (1) intravenous and oral caffeine self-administration by laboratory animals, (2) oral caffeine self-administration by humans, and (3) human subjective effects of caffeine relevant to reinforcing effects. These studies show that, under appropriate conditions, caffeine can serve as a reinforcer and can produce elevations in subjective drug liking and/or euphoria. In this regard, caffeine can be distinguished from a wide range of behaviorally active compounds, such as the amphetamine analog fenfluramine and the major tranquilizer chlorpromazine, which do not produce such effects. Caffeine can also be distinguished from classic drugs of abuse such as cocaine, d-amphetamine or pentobarbital which generally maintain high levels of self-administration (or liking) in contrast to caffeine which tends to maintain lower levels of self-administration (or liking) or maintain self-administration under a more narrow range of parametric conditions. Several human studies and one animal experiment suggest that physical dependence substantially potentiates the reinforcing effects of caffeine. Other human and animal studies indicate that there may be substantial differences between individual subjects in the reinforcing effects of caffeine. An important challenge for future human and animal drug self-administration research will be to delineate more precisely the conditions under which caffeine does and does not serve reliably as a reinforcer.
Measuring Highway Bypass Impacts on Small Town Business Districts

The literature is inconclusive about the economic impact of a highway bypasses on small town business districts. Locally imposed sales tax data can be used to construct cross-sectional, times series data for towns too small to be analyzed using U.S. Census data. With this data we examine bypass impacts using standard difference-in-difference methods and supplement the analysis with quasi-experimental analysis. The case study investigates the 1993 bypass of Stonewall, Oklahoma, a town of approximately 530 people. The analysis indicates the bypass highway had no significant effect on the already declining small town business district. The approach demonstrated in this paper can be used to assess the impacts of a wide range of policy treatments at the sub-county level.
Direct visualization of the myosin crossbridge helices on relaxed rabbit psoas thick filaments

Thick filaments in relaxed, quick-frozen and freeze-etched psoas myofibrils display a prominent helical pattern of projections repeating at 43±1 nm. These helices are right-handed, and measurement of the pitch angle indicates that the thick filaments are three-stranled. Each half-turn of a helix is composed of three to five projections, 11 to 12 nm in diameter. These projections probably represent individual myosin crossbridges. This is the first direct visualization of the crossbridge helices in vertebrate striated muscle filaments whose three-dimensional structure is preserved without chemical fixation.
Trace element evidence for hydrous metasomatism at the base of the North American lithosphere and possible association with laramide low-angle subduction

Abstract Trace element signatures of mantle xenoliths along an east‐west transect extending from the Sierra Nevada to the Colorado Plateau were investigated in this study. Those beneath the Sierra Nevada are highly enriched in fluid‐mobile elements (Cs, Pb, U, and Sr) and, in particular, are characterized by low U/Pb and high Sr/Nd. These signatures imply that aqueous fluids derived by dehydration of seawater‐altered lithologies have been introduced into the Sierran xenoliths. Peridotite xenoliths from beneath the Colorado Plateau, lying ∼1000 km inboard, are also enriched in fluid‐mobile elements, but the extent is lower, the U/Pb ratios are high, the Sr/Nd ratios are low, and there is a strong enrichment in the light rare earth elements but negligible enrichment in the heavy rare earths. These features require the introduction of an aqueous component and a silicate melt component into the plateau xenoliths, with the latter, in particular, derived from a garnet‐rich source such as an eclogite that has al...
Control of the blue-green sharpshooter and effects on the spread of Pierce's disease of grapevines.

Dilute sprays of dimethoate applied at 1.8 to 2.5 kg AI/ha to peripheral strips of natural vegetation and to adjacent grapevines on the margins of vineyards in Napa Valley, CA, in early spring in 1974–76 greatly reduced the numbers of the Pierce’s disease (PD) vectors, Graphocephala atropunctata (Signoret), entering vineyards for 2 mo. Applications were timed to follow a sharp increase in G. atropunctata flight activity as estimated by yellow sticky trap catches. Reductions in the rate of spread of PD were generally apparent one year after spraying in moderately susceptible grape varieties. No decrease in the spread of PD was evident in the very susceptible varieties ‘Pinot Noir’ and ‘Pinot Chardonnay.’
The sociology of neoclassical exploitation

Abstract The sociological basis of labor terms in Cobb-Douglas production functions is developed by means of a general labor output function which adds moral inducements to the conventional variables—wages and force. Discussion of the relationships implied by the general equation highlights the need for plainly stated assumptions regarding the declining marginal utility of factors and the possibilities for minimizing the use of force in employment. It is shown that a functional labor term cannot be fully explained by wages even if labor is paid its marginal product. Portions of the labor term must be accounted for by moral inducements which accrue to employers primarily in the form of socially and culturally generated free goods . Discussion of ideological implications of permanent nonzero coercion theoretical terms.
Real Time and Quasi-3D Imaging of Gas-Liquid Flow Using Electrical Capacitance Tomography

In this study, an electrical capacitance tomography (ECT) adopted with neural-network based multi-criterion optimization image reconstruction technique (NN-MOIRT) for real time and quasi-3D imaging of gas-liquid flow system is developed. The technique reconstruct the permittivity distribution (tomography image) from capacitance data obtained using 12-electrode twin-plane capacitance sensor. A combined series and parallel capacitance model is used convert the permittivity distribution into gas holdup distribution. Comparison of the overall gas holdups obtained by the ECT with those obtained from the pressure measurements shows a good agreement, validating the model proposed. The ECT is applied to study the hydrodynamic characteristics of the gas-liquid flow system including the bubbly flow structures, gas holdup profiles, and gas holdup variations along with the effect of the gas velocity.© 2003 ASME
Numerical modeling of hyperpycnal plume

Abstract When the density of sediment laden river water exceeds that of the ambient ocean water, the river plunges to the ocean floor and generates a hyperpycnal plume. Hyperpycnal plumes can travel significant distances beyond the continental shelf and may be sustained for hours to weeks. There are several Apennine Rivers in Italy that are likely to develop hyperpycnal discharges on the Western Adriatic shelf. Among them, River Tronto is a moderately ‘dirty’ river capable of producing 64 hyperpycnal flow events (lasting ⩾ 6 h) during a 100 year period. Numerical simulations of hyperpycnal events have been conducted for the Adriatic shelf near the mouth of River Tronto using a two-dimensional depth-integrated finite volume model to study the spreading of the plume and its interaction with the alongshore current. Simulation results indicate that the alongshore current has great impact on the spreading and deposition pattern of the hyperpycnal flow. Sedimentary deposits generated from a series of simulated hyperpycnal flow events have developed undulating bed forms.
Two-Body Motion in the Post-Newtonian Approximation

The motion of two massive particles is considered within the framework of the first post-Newtonian approximation. The system Hamiltonian is constructed and normalized through first order using a canonical transformation method of implicit variables. Closed-form solutions for the Delaunay elements in the phase space are obtained. The bridge between the phase space and the state space of the Lagrangian of the motion is provided by a velocity-dependent Legendre transformation. By explicit inversion of this transformation, expressions for the Keplerian elements in the state space are obtained from the Delaunay element solutions.
The effects of aging on the magnitude of the acoustic reflex.

Aural acoustic-immittance (admittance and impedance) measurements during the quiescent and reflexive states were made using a computer sampling technique on 18 subjects with normal hearing in each ...
Sodium intake modulates renal vascular reactivity to endothelin-1 in Dahl rats.

SUMMARY 1. The systemic and renal haemodynamic responses to endothelin-1 (ET1) were evaluated and compared to Angiotensin II (AII) in anaesthetized Dahl salt-sensitive (DS) and salt-resistant (DR) rats on either low (0.1% NaCl in diet) or high (8% NaCl in diet) salt intake. 2. Baseline mean arterial pressure on low salt diet was similar in both strains, while on high salt diet it was 73 ± 4 mmHg in DR rats and 119 ± 8 mmHg in DS rats (P<0.05). Baseline renal blood flow (RBF) and renal vascular resistance (RVR) were similar in all groups. 3. AII in bolus injection induced a short, dose-dependent increase in blood pressure and renal vascular resistance and a fall in renal blood flow. The maximal pressure increase was significantly greater in DS rats on high salt diet than that in each of the other groups (P<0.05). The fall in renal blood flow and the increase in renal vascular resistance were attenuated in both strains on low salt diet. 4. ET1 induced an initial decrease followed by a prolonged increase in blood pressure; both phases were similar in all groups. However, renal vascular reactivity to ET1 was markedly modulated by salt intake. On low salt diet, following a bolus injection of ET1 (1 nmol/kg), RBF decreased by 34% in DR and by 20% in DS rats, while on high salt diet RBF decreased by 34% in DR and by 80% in DS rats (P<0.05 high vs low salt). RVR increased only by 98% and 72% on low salt diet in DR and DS rats, respectively (P<0.05 vs baseline), whereas on high salt diet RVR increased by 584% and 554% in DR and DS rats respectively (P<0.05 high vs low salt). 5. It is concluded that DS rats are not hypersensitive to ET1 as they are to other pressor agents, and that salt intake, rather than blood pressure, modulates substantially the renal vascular reactivity to ET1.
Roughness optimization for biomimetic superhydrophobic surfaces

For non-wetting liquids the contact angle with a rough surface is greater than with a flat surface and may approach 180°, as reported for leaves of water-repellent plants, such as lotus. Roughness affects the contact angle due to the increased area of solid–liquid interface and due to the effect of sharp edges of rough surfaces. High roughness may lead to composite solid–liquid–air interface, which may be either stable or unstable. A comprehensive analytical model is proposed to provide a relationship between local roughness and contact angle, which is used to develop roughness distribution and to create biomimetic superhydrophobic surfaces. Various roughness distributions are considered, including periodic and surfaces with rectangular, hemispherically topped cylindrical, conical and pyramidal asperities and the random Gaussian height distribution. Verification of the model is conducted using experimental data for the contact angle of water droplet on a lotus leaf surface. For two solid bodies in contact, for wetting liquids, wetting leads to the meniscus force, which affects friction. Dependence of the meniscus force on roughness, previously ignored, is considered in the paper and it is found that with increasing roughness meniscus force can grow due to scale effect.
Efficient volume computation for three-dimensional hexahedral cells

Abstract Currently, algorithms for computing the volume of hexahedral cells with “ruled” surfaces require a minimum of 122 FLOPS (floating point operations) per cell. A new algorithm is described which reduces the operation count to 57 FLOPS per cell.
Differential helix stabilities and sites pre-organized for tertiary interactions revealed by monitoring local nucleotide flexibility in the bI5 group I intron RNA.

The local environment at adenosine residues in the bI5 group I intron RNA was monitored as a function of Mg2+ using both the traditional method of dimethyl sulfate (DMS) N1 methylation and a new approach, selective acylation of 2‘-amine substituted nucleotides. These probes yield complementary structural information because N1 methylation reports accessibility at the base pairing face, whereas 2‘-amine acylation scores overall residue flexibility. 2‘-Amine acylation robustly detects RNA secondary structure and is sensitive to higher order interactions not monitored by DMS. Disruption of RNA structure due to the 2‘-amine substitution is rare and can be compensated by stabilizing folding conditions. Peripheral helices that do not interact with other parts of the RNA are more stable than both base paired helices and tertiary interactions in the conserved catalytic core. The equilibrium state of the bI5 intron RNA, prior to assembly with its protein cofactor, thus features a relatively loosely packed core anc...
Über den Aufbau der Wandungen vonCladophora glomerata im Lichte der verfeinerten Methoden der Lichtmikroskopie

Mit verfeinerten Methoden last die Lichtmikroskopie beiCladophora glomerata einen eufiliaten Aufbau der Membran nach Art der Fasern der hoheren Pflanzen erkennen, wie er auch mit dem Elektronenmikroskop und Metallbeschattung abbildbar ist. Der IEP liegt im Bereiche desjenigen der Membran der Pilze, nicht desjenigen der Zellwand der hoheren Pflanzen.
Analysis of Load-Impedance Modulation

A new type of modulation for television transmitters which was proposed recently is investigated. The relations referring to the operation of the network, of the modulator, and of the radio-frequency amplifier tubes are derived as well as the expressions for the sideband attenuation characteristic. It is concluded from the results that the claims made for the new modulation system are exaggerated. The modlator tubes are required to have a very high emission. This fact will limit the application of the new type of modulation to modulator tubes having thoriated-tungsten filaments and consequently to relatively small power, since at present tubes of this type are built for low or medium output power only. The efficiency of the new modulation system is essentially the same as that of grid-bias modulation. Contrary to expectations, the band width is not materially greater than that which is attainable with grid-bias modulation. This is due to the sideband clipping taking place in the quarter-wave line connecting the modulator tubes with the remainder of the network. The modulation characteristic is straighter than is customarily obtainable with grid-bias modulation; this is achieved by working the modulator grids in the positive region only, a mode of operation which requires high driving power and modulator grids capable of dissipating that power. The output capacitance of the modulator tubes is substantially smaller than the output capacitance of a grid-bias-modulated amplifier, but so is also the damping effect contributed by the internal resistance of the modulator.
Inertial properties in robotic manipulation: an object-level framework

Consideration of dynamics is critical in the analysis, design, and control of robot systems. This article presents an extensive study of the dynamic properties of several important classes of robot...
An approximate solution to the graetz problem with axial conduction and prescribed wall heat flux

Abstract A finite integral transform technique is used to obtain an approximate solution to the Graetz problem with axial conduction and prescribed wall heat flux for an arbitrary velocity profile. Unlike the exact results of earlier works, this method requires minimal computational time yet compares excellently with the exact solutions for laminar flow of a Newtonian fluid for the entire range of Peclet numbers.
How the brain recovers following damage.

Individuals with neglect fail to process stimuli on the left. A new paper uses functional imaging to show that a restricted lesion, usually caused by a stroke, may influence the network of areas associated with attention shifts.
Impact of corn stover composition on hemicellulose conversion during dilute acid pretreatment and enzymatic cellulose digestibility of the pretreated solids

This study assessed the impact of corn stover compositional variability on xylose conversion yields during dilute acid pretreatment and on enzymatic cellulose digestibility of the resulting pretreated solids. Seven compositionally-different stovers obtained from various locations throughout the United States were pretreated at three different conditions in triplicate in a pilot-scale continuous reactor. At the same pretreatment severity, a 2-fold increase in monomeric xylose yield and a 1.5-fold increase in enzymatic cellulose digestibility from their lowest values were found. Similar results were observed at the other pretreatment conditions. It was found that xylose conversion yields decreased with increasing acid neutralization capacity or soil content of the corn stover. Xylose yields also increased with increasing xylan content. No other significant correlations between corn stover's component concentrations and conversion yields were found.
Biomechanical and Histologic Properties of the Canine Patellar Tendon After Removal of its Medial Third

Three groups of dogs were used for this study. All dogs had the medial third of the patellar tendon removed from one knee, while the contralateral knee was used as a control. The time zero group was immediately sacri ficed ; the other two groups were sacrificed at 3 and 6 months. Once the tissues were harvested, the patellar tendon was isolated and biomechanical and histologic analyses were conducted. Three and 6 months after surgery, there was a large amount of visible scar tissue in the tendon. The cross-sectional area of the tendons was 275% and 288% of controls at 3 and 6 months, respectively. The tensile modulus of the tendon was statistically less than controls at both 3 and 6 months. The energy to failure and stiffness of the operated ten dons were not statistically different than controls at 3 or 6 months after surgery. The results of this study directly contrast with those of an earlier study on the removal of the central third of the patellar tendon. While a number of factors could explain diffe...
Willow flycatcher (Empidonax traillii) surveys in the Colorado River delta: implications for management

Abstract A subspecies of willow flycatcher, the south-western willow flycatcher, has become endangered in the U.S. The objective of this study was to determine the presence/absence of this subspecies in the Colorado River delta. Surveys were conducted in June–July 1999 and in May–June 2000. We detected a total of 50 birds, most likely south-western willow flycatchers, from May to June and none in July. It appears that the birds found in the delta were migrants. It is important to restore the intensively used stopover sites for the recovery of the subspecies. Additionally, we postulate a migratory route throughout the estuaries of Sonora.