cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Reply to Chesson et al.: Carbon stable isotopes in beef differ distinctly between corporations

In reply to the letter from Chesson et al. (1), the fact that we did not separate muscle from lipid in the meat servings that we analyzed is important (2). Here we present an improved calculation based on U.S. Department of Agriculture reports that a dehydrated beef patty from McDonald's, Wendy's, or Burger King ranges in content from 43% to 46% lipid and 54% to 57% protein (3). Using the correct values for muscle and lipid published in Bahar et al. (4), we estimated that beef with δ13C above −19.5‰ implied a “final diet of corn silage” (4). This result agrees with the claim of Chesson et al. (1): 71% of the burgers we sampled met this particular criterion. However, strong differences between the fast food chains were behind this trend (Fig. 1). More than 80% of McDonald's beef and 98% of the Wendy's beef fit this criterion. Of the beef that did not, a clear majority (74%) came from Burger King. Above the threshold that Chesson et al. (1) claim represents >85% corn, 80% of these beef patties came from Wendy's restaurants. This information appeared in table 2 in ref. 2, but we reiterate that Wendy's food items (including fries) reflect conspicuously high corn contribution, even when compared with other fast food restaurants. Our results revealed the previously scientifically undocumented importance of corn in fast food production (including beef, chicken, and fries) on a national level.
Health effects of light and intermittent smoking: a review.

Current public health guidelines on the identification and treatment of smokers and the information on the health risks associated with tobacco are based on studies that focus on adult daily cigarette users.1 Daily smoking, however, is declining, and light and intermittent smoking are increasing.2,3 Light and intermittent smoking are frequently found among young people, educated people, women,4,5 and minority populations (Hispanics/Latinos, blacks, American Indians, Alaska Natives, Asian Americans, and Pacific Islanders6–9). Light and intermittent smokers pose a serious challenge to healthcare professionals because they tend not to consider themselves “smokers” and, consequently, are underidentified.10–13 This propensity not to label oneself as a smoker reinforces the belief that light and intermittent smoking do not carry significant health risks. There is no consensus on how to best define “light smoking.”7,12,14 Light smokers have been classified as smoking <1 pack per day, <15 cigarettes per day, <10 cigarettes per day, and 1 to 39 cigarettes per week.9,14 There are various subgroups of light smokers: low-rate daily smoking (<5 cigarettes per day),15 very light smoking (<6 cigarettes per day),14,16 and “chippers” who consistently smoke ≤5 cigarettes per day on the days when they do smoke.17 In the past, light smoking has been viewed as a transient practice among former heavier smokers or among tobacco users who are trying to quit.4,5,18 New research, however, shows that some light smokers maintain this consumption pattern indefinitely.11,12,19 Like light smoking, intermittent smoking is a broad term that consists of a variety of patterns of tobacco use but is generally defined as smoking on a nondaily basis.4–6,8,12,14,20–22 Social smoking is another example of intermittent smoking, which is characterized by limiting smoking to social contexts, such as parties, bars, or nightclubs.11,12 (Social smokers, unlike other types …
Inpatient observation for elective decannulation of pediatric patients with tracheostomy.

Importance The incidence and timing patterns of decannulation failure in children are unknown. There is substantial variability in the duration of inpatient hospitalization for patients undergoing decannulation, which represents an opportunity for improved resource use. Objective To determine the incidence and timing patterns of elective decannulation failure in the pediatric population and to determine an appropriate interval of inpatient observation following decannulation that optimizes both patient safety and resource use. Design, Setting, and Participants Retrospective review of medical records of consecutive patients 18 years or younger hospitalized for elective, inpatient decannulation between January 1, 2012, and October 31, 2013, at a quaternary care pediatric hospital. Main Outcomes and Measures Duration of decannulation hospitalization, failure of elective decannulation (decision not to decannulate or reinsertion of tracheostomy tube after decannulation), time interval from decannulation to failure. Results Forty-six patients completed 50 elective decannulation hospitalizations during the study period. The median duration of hospitalization for decannulation was 3.0 days. The hospitalization-specific failure rate was 16% (8 of 50), and the overall failure rate was 9% (4 of 46). Four patients were not able to tolerate capping of the tracheostomy tube and were discharged with their original tracheostomy tubes in place. Three of these patients were decannulated at a later hospitalization. In 4 patients, decannulation failed and they had to have their tracheostomy tubes replaced prior to discharge. Patients who did not tolerate decannulation were younger (mean [SD] age, 45.7 [17.0] months) than patients whose decannulation was successful (68.2 [48.0] months). All patients with unsuccessful decannulation attempts were symptomatic during capping. The longest interval from decannulation to tracheostomy reinsertion was 11 hours. Conclusions and Relevance Elective decannulation failure occurred in 9% of this population and may be more common in younger patients and those with a diagnosis of vocal fold paralysis. Patients who are symptomatic during predecannulation capping are at high risk for decannulation failure. Inpatient observation for a 24-hour asymptomatic interval after decannulation may be sufficient because late failures were not observed in this sample.
Computation of Three-Dimensional Potential Flow Using Surface Vorticity Distribution

An iterative method is developed using incompressible potential flow theory to compute three-dimensional velocity and pressure distributions on the surface of thick wings. The mathematical formulation is illustrated for a semi-infinite circular cylinder having a hemispherical tip. The procedure starts from a specified twodimensional vorticity distribution on the entire body and converges in three iterations to the three-dimensional distribution on the tip which merges smoothly with the two-dimensional one further inboard. The finite-element approach used here gives a continuous distribution of vorticity which is directly equivalent to the surface velocity distribution. The present method involves repeated use of the Biot-Savart law to relax the surface vorticity strength in successive iterations; whereas the more commonly used integral equation formulation requires solving a large matrix which is usually not well behaved for the surface vorticity model. A modification of the method is applied to compute the nonlifting flow on a semi-infinite NACA 0012 wing with a halt-bod}-ofrevolution tip and a NACA 0012 wing with an aspect ratio of three. The chordwise pressure coefficient distributions are presented for representative spanwise locations for all of the cases.
Modeling ECM fiber formation: structure information extracted by analysis of 2D and 3D image sets

Recent evidence supports the notion that biological functions of extracellular matrix (ECM) are highly correlated to its structure. Understanding this fibrous structure is very crucial in tissue engineering to develop the next generation of biomaterials for restoration of tissues and organs. In this paper, we integrate confocal microscopy imaging and image-processing techniques to analyze the structural properties of ECM. We describe a 2D fiber middle-line tracing algorithm and apply it via Euclidean distance maps (EDM) to extract accurate fibrous structure information, such as fiber diameter, length, orientation, and density, from single slices. Based on a 2D tracing algorithm, we extend our analysis to 3D tracing via Euclidean distance maps to extract 3D fibrous structure information. We use computer simulation to construct the 3D fibrous structure which is subsequently used to test our tracing algorithms. After further image processing, these models are then applied to a variety of ECM constructions from which results of 2D and 3D traces are statistically analyzed.
Transient behavior of deep-bed filtration of brownian particles

Abstract A new model is proposed for deep-bed filtration of Brownian particles. The model incorporates the unit-collector concept for estimating particle deposition rates and the application of the effective medium approximation (EMT) theory for predicting the instantaneous pressure drop across the filter bed. Case studies are used to show the effects of various variables on filter performance.
Current and Future Needs in Electric Drive Vehicle Batteries

Batteries are considered to be a critical component for making future transportation more energy-efficient and less dependent on petroleum through hybrid, plug-in hybrid, electric, and fuel cell vehicles. In this paper, the current status of batteries for electric drive vehicle applications will be discussed. Special attention will be given to the thermal issues associated with batteries in vehicle environment. We will also discuss future needs of batteries for further development.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
Nutritional effect of five species of marine algae on the growth, development, and survival of the brine shrimp Artemia salina

Five species of unicellular algae of the same age, cultured bacteria-free under standard growth conditions, were analyzed for chemical composition and fed to different size classes of Artemia salina. The green algae Chlamydomonas sphagnicolo, Dunaliella viridis, Platymonas elliptica and Chlorella conductrix had significantly higher percentages of protein and lipid than did the diatom Nitzschia closterium. Total ash value was highest in populations of N. closterium. Shrimp fed Chlamydomonas sphagnicolo cells assimilated highest percentages of organic matter, while those fed Chlorella conductrix had lowest assimilation rate. Respiration rates were inversely proportional to animal size (weight) and algal cell volume. Growth, survival, rate of sexual maturtion, and sex ratio were dependent on the growth and assimilation efficiencies obtained from each respective algal food. Shrimp fed Chlamydomonas sphagnicolo, D. viridis, or P. elliptica cells displayed highest growth and assimilation efficiencies.
Analysis And Design Of An Exoatmospheric LWIR Optical System

Analysis techniques and trade-offs leading to the design of an LWIR exoatmospheric optical system are outlined. The use of the ACCOS V and Polypagos Optical & Analysis programs and the APART Baffle Design program are discussed. Studies are outlined which include lens design, material reflectivity, baffle scattering, baffle diffraction, thermal warm up and low temperature distortion.© (1978) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Ridge regression iterative estimation of the biasing parameter

An iterative method is given for selecting the biasing parameter, k, in RIDGE regression. The method produces a distribution of squared errors for the regression coefficients that has a smaller mean and a smaller variance than least squares or the single iteration estimate .
An rf sustained argon and copper plasma for ionized physical vapor deposition of copper

Langmuir probe, optical emission spectroscopy, and biased quartz crystal microbalance measurements were used to investigate an argon and copper plasma used for ionized physical vapor deposition of copper. Copper vapor generated by a magnetron sputter discharge is ionized upon passing through an argon discharge excited by an internal rf induction antenna. Argon plasma characteristics such as electron temperatures Te, plasma densities ne, and plasma and floating potentials Vp and Vf, were studied as a function of argon pressure and rf power. An increase of plasma density versus rf discharge power and argon pressure was observed. The radial profile of plasma density measured by a Langmuir probe reveals a peak ion density at the center of the rf antenna and an increase in the radial ion concentration gradient with argon pressure. The ratios of optical emission intensities from Cu+ ion and Cu neutral lines increase with rf discharge power and argon pressure. The biased quartz crystal microbalance measurements ...
Candidate-gene association studies with pedigree data: controlling for environmental covariates.

Case-control studies provide an important epidemiological tool to evaluate candidate genes. There are many different study designs available. We focus on a more recently proposed design, which we call a multiplex case-control (MCC) design. This design compares allele frequencies between related cases, each of whom are sampled from multiplex families, and unrelated controls. Since within-family genotype correlations will exist, statistical methods will need to take this into account. Moreover, there is a need to develop methods to simultaneously control for potential confounders in the analysis. Generalized estimating equations (GEE) are one approach to analyze this type of data; however, this approach can have singularity problems when estimating the correlation matrix. To allow for modeling of other covariates, we extend our previously developed method to a more general model-based approach. Our proposed methods use the score statistic, derived from a composite likelihood. We propose three different approaches to estimate the variance of this statistic. Under random ascertainment of pedigrees, score tests have correct type I error rates; however, pedigrees are not randomly ascertained. Thus, through simulations, we test the validity and power of the score tests under different ascertainment schemes, and an illustration of our methods, applied to data from a prostate cancer study, is presented. We find that our robust score statistic has estimated type I error rates within the expected range for all situations we considered whereas the other two statistics have inflated type I error rates under nonrandom ascertainment schemes. We also find GEE to fail at least 5% of the time for each simulation configuration; at times, the failure rate reaches above 80%. In summary, our robust method may be the only current regression analysis method available for MCC data. Genet Epidemiol 24:273–283, 2003. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
A Market to Implement the Core

Abstract I present a mechanism whose subgame perfect equilibrium outcomes coincide with the core of an underlying convex TU game. The mechanism resembles an asset market, in which one of the players is randomly selected as a broker who centralizes trade. In addition, the rules of the mechanism are independent of the coalitional function. Therefore, the mechanism is useful for an incompletely informed designer who wishes to implement the core of these games. The mechanism is inspired by the reduced games relevant for the consistency of the core. Journal of Economic Literature Classification Numbers: C71 and C72.
A Neural Network for Modeling Multicategorical Parcel Use Change

This paper presents an artificial neural network ANN for modeling multicategorical land use changes. Compared to conventional statistical models and cellular automata models, ANNs have both the architecture appropriate for addressing complex problems and the power for spatio-temporal prediction. The model consists of two layers with multiple input and output units. Bayesian regularization was used for network training in order to select an optimal model that avoids over-fitting problem. When trained and applied to predict changes in parcel use in a coastal county from 1990 to 2008, the ANN model performed well as measured by high prediction accuracy 82.0-98.5% and high Kappa coefficient 81.4-97.5% with only slight variation across five different land use categories. ANN also outperformed the benchmark multinomial logistic regression by average 17.5 percentage points in categorical accuracy and by 9.2 percentage points in overall accuracy. The authors used the ANN model to predict future parcel use change from 2007 to 2030.
Compatibility of top antireflective coatings and photoresists

To improve lithographic process throughput, it has become a general trend to link coater, stepper, and developer to an integrated PHOTO cell. In fine photolithography, TARC (top anti-reflective coating) is utilized intensively to obtain better CD (critical dimension) control. However, the coating of photoresist and TARC is not performed successively. A baking step about 90 seconds is employed in between these two coating steps. Throughput is thus affected and coating step becomes the bottleneck of whole lithography process. A series of experiments were investigated to coat TARC right after photoresist coatings. Results show that throughput was greatly improved. But for certain TARC and photoresist pairs, resist scumming due to inter-mixing of these two chemicals was found after exposure and developing. In some cases, the coater drain piping was stuck by the occurrence of precipitation resulted from the interaction between TARC and photoresist. To prevent this event from happening, precipitation tests of TARC and photoresist are investigated. Experiment was performed by adding TARC to photo resist with/without dilution by thinner. The occurrence of precipitation was observed. Seven kinds of photo resist and three kinds of TARC, provided by different vendors, are studied at different volume ratios on these tests. Results show that the lower photoresist to TARC ratio is, the more precipitation formed. Adding thinner, affecting the precipitation in different ways, induces more precipitation in most cases and cause the precipitation to disappear in some systems. One TARC is found to be inert to most photo resists. Photo resists with higher viscosity turn to gel when interacting with TARC.
Effects of particle interactions on the determination of size distributions by sedimentation

Abstract Size analysis of nonBrownian particles by homogeneous gravity sedimentation with incremental monitoring by light extinction is investigated to determine the influence of particle interactions. Several different settling depths and particle concentrations were studied experimentally. The most striking result is that the apparent width of the size distribution, as measured by the standard or quartile deviation, was found to be significantly inflated, especially for small settling depths, even for dilute suspensions. This is attributed to a phenomenon termed “self-induced hydrodynamic diffusion” which arises from the fluctuations in particle settling velocities that occur due to their interactions with neighboring particles. A parameter, defined as the ratio of the spreading of the nonhomogeneous region near the top of the suspension due to hydrodynamic diffusion to that due to polydispersity in particle sizes, is given that may be used to guide the choice of the settling depth so that the effects of hydrodynamic diffusion are minimized.
Sellers' problems in human computation markets

"Tools for human computers" is an underexplored design space in human computation research, which has focused on techniques for buyers of human computation rather than sellers. We characterize the sellers in one human computation market, Mechanical Turk, and describe some of the challenges they face. We list several projects developed to approach these problems, and conclude with a list of open questions relevant to sellers, buyers, and researchers.
The differentiation of malignant lymphoma from anaplastic seminoma in a patient presenting with testicular and jaw swelling

The histologic differentiation of anaplastic seminoma from lymphoma is often difficult. In the case presented, a malignant lymphoma showing prominent testicular and jaw involvement was initially interpreted as seminoma. The histologic and ultrastructural criteria for differentiation, as well as a comparison of the clinical and epidemiologic characteristics of these tumors, are discussed. A reassessment of previously reported cases of seminoma metastatic to the jaws/antrum, made relative to these data, suggests that in most cases the tumors may actually be lymphomas.
Cost realism in defense contracting

In this article we report and evaluate a technique developed by the U.S. Navy for the purpose of choosing winners of Research and Development (R&D) contracts from among several competing contractors. The technique is intended to discourage “buy-in” bidding (i.e., submitting unrealistically low bids for the purpose of winning the bidding competition). We conclude that, within our decision scenario, the technique tends to induce bids that are close to the contractor's expectation of the government cost estimate. The article is descriptive (we discuss the scenario and an existing approach), prescriptive (we offer cost realism scoring rule admissibility requirements), and projective (we explore how admissible realism scoring rules should affect contractor behavior).
Interpretation of the 6818.9-Å methane line in terms of inhomogeneous scattering models for Uranus and Neptune

Abstract We have obtained high-resolution spectra of Uranus and Neptune in the methane transition near 6800 A, and in particular, the 6818.9A feature. Calculated equivalent widths for this line using recently proposed models of the atmospheres of these two planets indicate that the C/H ratio is greater than or equal to 5 × 10 −3 below the CH 4 saturation level. This value is 12 times the solar mixing ratio. The half-widths of the computed line profiles are in agreement with the observed half-widths. Therefore, it is unnecessary to introduce an unidentified constituent with an abundance comparable to H 2 , postulated recently by Belton and Hayes, and by Bergstrahl, to account for the observed line broadening.
A new method of processing cultured cells for transmission electron microscopy: The floating sheet

In this improved method of embedding tissue culture specimens,n-butylglycidyl ether is added to fixed, dehydrated cells within the plastic culture flasks. Then-butylglycidyl ether dissolves the flask, allowing a sheet of cells and a microscopic remnant of the plastic culture flask to separate from the culture dish and float freely on the surface of the ether. The layer of cells can then be folded or centrifuged; and upon examination the flask remnant can be located microscopically to determine orientation. This new method provides excellent morphology, greatly increased sample size, and marked reduction in processing time.
Combustion Structures in Lifted Ethanol Spray Flames

The development of a double flame structure in lifted ethanol spray flames is visualized using OH planar laser-induced fluorescence (PLIF). While the OH images indicate a single reaction zone exists without co-flow, the addition of low-speed co-flow facilitates the formation of a double flame structure that consists of two diverging flame fronts originating at the leading edge of the reaction zone. The outer reaction zone burns steadily in a diffusion mode, and the strained inner flame structure is characterized by both diffusion and partially premixed combustion exhibiting local extinction and reignition events.
Ultralocal limit of the gravitational field coupled to a scalar field

The ultralocal limit of the gravitational field and the gravitational field The ultralocal limit of the gravitational field and the gravitational field coupled to a scalar field are studied from both the classical and quantum standpoints. For the classical cases, use will be made of the minisuperspace formalism. In the quantum case, techniques for quantizing ultralocal self-interacting scalar fields are extended to deal with the gravitational field. It will be shown that although the singularity behavior of the gravitational field by itself is characterized by Kasner solutions at each spatial point classically, the quantum case requires the addition of a repulsive scattering potential in order to have well-defined self-adjoint field operators. For the gravitational field coupled to a massive scalar field, both the singularity behavior and when the mass terms become important in the ultralocal limit are studied classically and from the quantum standpoint. Classically, the singularity behavior of the gravitational field is modified by the scalar field so that the solutions are Kasner-like in a four-dimensional hyperspace minisuperspace which allows for expansions in all three axes in space-time. The quantum case for the singularity behavior has solutions which are confined by repulsive potential barriers to regions where only the states with the lowest ``angular momentum'' can evolve out of. Adding matter terms introduces solutions that show the periodic motion of a harmonic oscillator. For the quantum case, a discrete eigenvalue spectrum occurs for the scalar degree of freedom. It is therefore seen that in the ultralocal limit, the quantum and classical cases are significantly different.
Selective Deposition of Ohmic Contacts to p-InGaAs by Electroless Plating

A three-layer Pd/Ru/Au electrolessly deposited ohmic contact to p-InGaAs, suitable for use in a self-aligned process, is presented. Cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy shows that the electrolessly plated metal layers are dense with a thin uniform reaction between the Pd and InGaAs. This contact metallization remains shallow and electrically stable even after aging for 4 h at 250°C. An average specific contact resistance of (1.6 ± 0.6) × 10 -6 Ω cm 2 was obtained for as-deposited contacts with an HCl surface treatment. When a UV ozone and NH 4 OH surface treatment was used, specific contact resistances as low as (2.1 ± 0.9) X 10 -7 Ω cm 2 were obtained.
Attenuation of acute inflammatory response by atorvastatin after spinal cord injury in rats

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a devastating and complex clinical condition involving proinflammatory cytokines and nitric oxide toxicity that produces a predictable pattern of progressive injury entailing neuronal loss, axonal destruction, and demyelination at the site of impact. The involvement of proinflammatory cytokines and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in exacerbation of SCI pathology is well documented. We have reported previously the antiinflammatory properties and immunomodulatory activities of statins (3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl [HMG]CoA reductase inhibitors) in the animal model of multiple sclerosis, experimental allergic encephalitis (EAE). The present study was undertaken to investigate the efficacy of atorvastatin (Lipitor; LP) treatment in attenuating SCIinduced pathology. Immunohistochemical detection and real-time PCR analysis showed increased expression of iNOS, tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and interleukin 1 (IL-1) after SCI. In addition, neuronal apoptosis was detected 24 hr after injury followed by a profound increase in ED1-positive inflammatory infiltrates, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)-positive reactive astrocytes, and oligodendrocyte apoptosis by 1 week after SCI relative to control. LP treatment attenuated the SCIinduced iNOS, TNF, and IL-1 expression. LP also provided protection against SCI-induced tissue necrosis, neuronal and oligodendrocyte apoptosis, demyelination, and reactive gliosis. Furthermore, rats treated with LP scored much higher on the locomotor rating scale after SCI (19.13 0.53) than did untreated rats (9.04 1.22). This study therefore reports the beneficial effect of atorvastatin for the treatment of SCI-related pathology and disability. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Splitting a trap containing a Bose-Einstein condensate: Atom number fluctuations

We theoretically study atom number fluctuations between the halves of a double-well trap containing a Bose-Einstein condensate. The basic tool is the two-mode approximation, which assumes that only two one-particle states are involved. An analytical harmonic-oscillator-like model is developed and verified numerically for both stationary fluctuations in the ground state of the system, and for the fluctuations resulting from splitting of a single trap by dynamically erecting a barrier in the middle. With increasing strength of the atom-atom interactions and/or increasing height of the potential barrier, the fluctuations tend to evolve from Poissonian to sub-Poissonian. Limits of validity of the two-mode model and its relations to the phase-atom-number approach of Leggett and Sols [A. J. Leggett and F. Sols, Found. Phys. 21, 353 (1991)] are discussed in detail.
Alcohol and Risky Sex in Athletes and Nonathletes: What Roles Do Sex Motives Play?

Objective: Studies indicate greater sexual risk-taking behaviors and alcohol use in student-athletes compared with nonathletes, particularly in college samples. Although research has documented an association between drinking and risky sex, studies have not examined the role of sex motives in predicting risky sex in athletes. The purpose of the current study was to extend previous research on athletes' risk-taking behaviors by examining incoming college student-athletes and nonathletes' alcohol consumption, risky sexual behavior, and sex motives. Method: Participants included 2,123 (58.9% female) incoming college students attending a northwest university, 221 of whom reported intercollegiate athletic participation during their upcoming year. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses were conducted to examine associations between sex motives and risky sexual behaviors using a cross-sectional design. Results: Results indicated greater weekly alcohol consumption, frequency of drinking before or during sex, a...
Effects of wood flour and chitosan on mechanical, chemical, and thermal properties of polylactide

Composites of polylactide (PLA, 100–60 wt%) and wood flour (0–40 wt%) were prepared to assess the effects of wood filler content on the mechanical, chemical, thermal, and morphological properties of the composites. The polysaccharide chitosan (0–10 wt%) was added as a potential coupling agent for the PLA-wood flour composites. Addition of wood flour significantly increased the flexural modulus and the storage modulus of PLA-wood flour composite, but neither the wood flour nor chitosan had an effect on the glass transition temperature (Tg). Fourier transform infrared spectra did not show any evidence of covalent bonding, but chitosan at the interface between wood and PLA is thought to have formed hydrogen bonds to PLA-carbonyl groups. SEM images of fracture surfaces showed that fiber breakage was far more common than fiber pullout in the composites. No evidence of discrete chitosan domains was seen in SEM micrographs. When added at up to 10 wt% (based on wood flour mass), chitosan showed no significant effect on the mechanical, chemical, or thermal properties of the composites, with property changes depending on wood flour content only. POLYM. COMPOS., 2008. © 2008 Society of Plastics Engineers.
Bernoulli production lines with quality-quantity coupling machines: monotonicity properties and bottlenecks

Serial production lines with machines having their quality parameters monotonically decreasing as a function of their efficiencies are analyzed. The Bernoulli reliability and quality models are assumed. It is shown that in such systems the production rate of good parts is a non-monotonic function with respect to machine efficiencies. Thus, bottlenecks may be eliminated by either increasing or decreasing machine efficiency, depending on the operating point.
Comparative effects of cetaben (PHB) and dichlormethylene diphosphonate (Cl2MDP) on the development of atherosclerosis in the cynomolgus monkey

Abstract The comparative effects of cetaben [sodium p-hexadecylaminobenzoate, (PHB)] and dichloromethylene diphosphate (Cl 2 MDP) on the development of atherosclerosis was investigated in the cynomolgus monkey. The atherosclerosis was induced by feeding a 2.5% cholesterol and 10% butter diet for 6 months and was assessed by morphological and biochemical examination of the arteries at necropsy. The experimental disease was also evaluated clinically by the electrocardiographic responses to isoproterenol and by measurements of regional myocardial blood flow using microspheres. Both the clinical and necropsy findings indicated that PHB was an effective antiatherosclerotic agent which reduced the extent and severity of the disease and protected against obstructive atherosclerotic disease of the coronary and peripheral arteries. On the other hand, (CL 2 MDP) was found to have no antiatherosclerotic effect except for preventing calcium deposition in the induced lesions. The atherosclerotic narrowing of the major coronary arteries in the PHB-treated group averaged about 27% as compared to 55% in the untreated animals. PHB also reduced the luminal narrowing of the carotid, subclavian, iliac and tibial arteries by 50% or more. The drug had actions on both the circulating blood and arteries that could account for its antiatherosclerotic effects. These actions included a lowering of plasma cholesterol and an effect on the plasma lipoproteins resulting in a decrease in LDL and an increase in HDL. Other important actions of PHB included the inhibition of calcium, cholesterol and cholesteryl ester deposition in the induced lesions as well as reduction in the fibrous protein content of the lesions.
Retrovirus-induced disease in poultry

Three species of avian retrovirus cause disease in poultry: the avian leukosis/sarcoma virus (ALSV), reticuloendotheliosis virus (REV), and lymphoproliferative disease virus (LPDV) of turkeys. The ALSV can be classified as slowly transforming viruses, which lack a viral oncogene, and acutely transforming viruses, which possess a viral oncogene. Slowly transforming viruses induce late onset leukoses of the B cell lymphoid, erythroid, and myeloid cell lineages, and other tumors, by viral promoter insertion into the genome of a host cell and activation of a cellular protooncogene. The various acutely transforming leukemia and sarcoma viruses induce leukotic or other tumors rapidly and carry one or anther (sometimes two) viral oncogenes, of which some 15 have been identified. The ALSV fall into six envelope subgroups, A through E, and the recently recognized J subgroup, which induces myeloid leukosis. With the exception of Subgroup E viruses, these viruses spread vertically and horizontally as infectious virions, and are termed exogenous viruses. Subgroup E viruses are usually spread genetically as DNA proviruses (often defective) in host germ cell genome, and are termed endogenous viruses. Several other families of endogenous viruses also exist, one of which, endogenous avian retrovirus (EAV), is related to Subgroup J ALV. Exogenous viruses, and sometimes endogenous viruses, can have detrimental effects on commercially important production traits. Exogenous viruses are currently controlled by virus eradication schemes. Reticuloendotheliosis virus, which lacks a viral oncogene, causes chronic B cell and T-cell lymphomas in chickens, and also chronic lymphomas in turkeys and other species of birds. An acutely transforming variant of REV, Strain T, carries a viral oncogene, and induces reticuloendotheliosis within a few days. In chickens and turkeys, REV spreads vertically and horizontally. No commercial control schemes are operated. In turkeys, LPDV infection has occurred in several countries, where it caused a lymphoproliferative disease of uncertain nature.
Functional Outcomes of Excessive Daytime Sleepiness in Older Adults

OBJECTIVES: To describe the effect of self-reported excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) on functional outcomes. DESIGN: Case-control study designed to examine differences in functional status between cases (with daytime sleepiness) and controls (no daytime sleepiness) with regard to demographic factors, general health, sleep history, and medications. SETTING: Retirement communities in southeastern Pennsylvania, Delaware, and New Jersey. PARTICIPANTS: Seventy-six nondepressed, nondemented adults, aged 65 and older, were cases (had daytime sleepiness) and 38 were controls (had no daytime sleepiness). MEASUREMENTS: Standardized questionnaires to assess disease-specific functional status (Functional Outcomes of Sleepiness Questionnaire (FOSQ) and Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS)), depression (Geriatric Depression Scale-Short Form and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale), dementia (Short Blessed Test), demographic factors, current medical history, and sleep complaints. RESULTS: There was a significant difference in functional status between sleepy cases and nonsleepy controls. Sleepiness had a moderate to large negative effect (effect size range from 0.59 to 0.83, P < .005) on the following functional domains of the FOSQ: social outcome, general productivity, vigilance, activity level, and global assessment of functional status. Correlation between ESS and FOSQ subscales were −0.31 to −0.67, P < .05. Examination of cases with daytime sleepiness revealed increased functional impairment in individuals with more than three medical conditions or those taking more than four medications (P < .001 and P = .03, respectively). CONCLUSION: Daytime sleepiness is associated with functional impairments in a broad range of activities. The decrease in daily functioning noted in the sleepy subjects has implications for deconditioning and related comorbidity. These findings suggest that exploration of daytime sleepiness should be part of the ongoing assessment of the elderly, particularly those with multiple medical conditions.
Chlordiazepoxide selectively augments GABA action in spinal cord cell cultures

THE clinical actions of benzodiazepines—relief of anxiety, suppression of convulsions, and relaxation of skeletal muscle—suggest that they enhance inhibition in the central nervous system (CNS) but their mechanism of action is unknown. Indirect evidence1,2 indicates that benzodiazepines augment the action of γ aminobutyric acid (GABA), a putative inhibitory transmitter. For example, diazepam increases presynaptic inhibition in the spinal cord3,4, a type of inhibition that may reflect GABA action on primary afferent terminals5.
RETAIL BANKRUPTCY PREDICTION

This study reintroduces the famous discriminant functions from Edward Altman and Begley, Ming and Watts (BMW) that were used to predict bankrupts. We will formulate three new discriminant functions which differ from Altman’s and BMW’s re-estimated Altman model. Altman’s models as well as Begley, Ming and Watts’s re-estimated Altman model apply to publicly traded industries, whereas the new models formulated in this study are based on retail companies. The three new functions will provide better predictions on retail bankruptcy and they will minimize the chance of misclassifications.
Anthropology and Human Rights in Latin America

Human rights issues in Latin America have been actively pursed in anthropology during the past seven years. A summary of recent changes in anthropology and human rights precedes a discussion structured by categories used by human rights scholars and advocates: civil-political; ecoromic-soclal-cultural; development; and Indigenous rights. Interpretatlons suggest that anthropologists have been very active In documenting human rights abuses, but less Involved In building cross-cultural understandings of rights, Due in part, to the continuing challenges of cultural relativism, the author raises Important questions about the expanding anthropological discourse on human rights
Identification of Glycerol-3-phosphate Acyltransferase as an Adipocyte Determination and Differentiation Factor 1- and Sterol Regulatory Element-binding Protein-responsive Gene

We demonstrate that the mRNA levels of glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase (GPAT), a mitochondrial enzyme catalyzing the initial step in glycerolipid synthesis, are induced during the differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes to adipocytes and following ectopic expression of rat adipocyte determination and differentiation factor 1 (ADD1), a protein with high homology to the human sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1 (SREBP-1). The increase in GPAT mRNA levels that occurs during differentiation is partially prevented by ectopic expression of a dominant negative form of ADD1. Nucleotide sequences corresponding to the proximal promoter of the murine mitochondrial GPAT gene (Jerkins, A. A., Liu, W. R., Lee, S., and Sul, H. S. (1995) J. Biol. Chem. 270, 1416-1421) bound SREBP-1a and NF-Y in electromobility shift assays. In addition, GPAT promoter-luciferase reporter genes were stimulated by co-expression of SREBP-1a. This increase was attenuated when either a dominant negative form of NF-Y was co-transfected into the cells or when the GPAT promoter contained mutations in the putative binding sites for SREBP-1a or NF-Y. These studies demonstrate that the regulated expression of the mitochondrial GPAT gene requires both NF-Y and ADD1/SREBPs. Thus, SREBPs/ADD1 regulate not only genes involved in cholesterol homeostasis and fatty acid synthesis but also a key enzyme in glycerolipid synthesis.
National bureau of standards time and frequency services

Frequency and time signals from the National Bureau of Standards are widely used to calibrate electronic devices, perform navigation experiments such as vehicle location and for setting of digital clocks. This talk will review the presently available NBS services. The present status of WWV and WWVB will be discussed and new NBS services using television signals and a 468 MHz satellite will be described. Telephone accessible services for voice and computer time setting will also be included. A recently published NBS Technical note entitled "Time and Frequency User's Manual" will be made available free to conference attendees.
Interrelation of the avian immune and neuroendocrine systems

Our understanding of immunology and endocrinology has been enriched by studies with different avian species. Numerous experiments have identified the role of the avian thymus and bursa of Fabricius in the immune response and the interrelation of these glands and their cellular products with the neural endocrine system. The growth pattern of the thymus and bursa are influenced by steroids. Increases in thymi growth appear to be controlled, in part, by fluctuations in thyroid activity. Sex-linked dwarf (SLD) chicks have lower T3 levels than normal chicks, but normal levels of growth hormone. The poor agglutinin response of SLD chickens to low concentrations of sheep red blood cells (0.1-1.0%) may be overcome by increasing the percentage of sheep erythrocytes to 5 or injecting growth hormone, which may enhance the conversion of T4 to T3. Castration impaired cell-mediated immunity but surgical removal of the thyroid did not significantly influence the humoral response to sheep erythrocytes or Brucella. Embryonic hypophysectomy reduced the number of B cells in the late embryo. Lesioning the anterior pituitary in 9-day-old chicks markedly reduced several parameters of cell-mediated immunity. In ovo bursectomy at 68 hr markedly increased the size of the adrenals and testes, numbers of Leydig cells, and levels of circulating testosterone but not corticosterone. On the basis of identification of lymphokines or cytoplasmic granules, lymphocytes and other cells of the lymphomyeloid complex are candidates for an endocrine role. A circuitry between the lymphocyte and neuroendocrine system has been identified in mammals and should be extended to Aves.
Lineshape analysis of coherent multidimensional optical spectroscopy using incoherent light.

Coherent two-dimensional electronic spectroscopy using incoherent (noisy) light, I(4) 2D ES, holds intriguing challenges and opportunities. One challenge is to determine how I(4) 2D ES compares to femtosecond 2D ES. Here, we merge the sophisticated energy-gap Hamiltonian formalism that is often used to model femtosecond 2D ES with the factorized time-correlation formalism that is needed to describe I(4) 2D ES. The analysis reveals that in certain cases the energy-gap Hamiltonian is insufficient to model the spectroscopic technique correctly. The results using a modified energy-gap Hamiltonian show that I(4) 2D ES can reveal detailed lineshape information, but, contrary to prior reports, does not reveal dynamics during the waiting time.
Heterogeneous Population of Mitochondria in Higher Plant Cells

IT is generally accepted that aspartate is synthesized from oxaloacetate which is generated in the tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA cycle) operating in the mitochondria. Work with plant tissue culture cells1, however, showed that, although 14C-labelled metabolites were oxidized in the TCA cycle, the 14C-oxaloacetate generated was not available for the synthesis of 14C-aspartate. This was attributed to the possible presence of more than one type of mitochondria. The concept of a heterogeneous population of mitochondria in plant cells was proposed in 1960 by Avers and King, who used histochemical techniques to study the mitochondria in the root tips of four species of grass2. Wilson and Bonner3 identified two enzymatically different populations of mitochondria isolated from peanuts collected at different stages of germination. Similar ideas have been advanced regarding the mitochondria in animal cells4. In the work reported here, double labelling techniques were used to elucidate further the presence and possible role of a heterogeneous population of mitochondria in plant cells.
The myth of independence for older Americans living alone in the Bay Area of San Francisco: a critical reflection

Remaining at home in older age is generally considered a sign of independence and therefore an important achievement. More than five million Americans aged over 75 years live alone, a number that is destined to increase thanks to advances in longevity. Living alone can allow the expression of one's preferences, but it can also bring out hardships hardly visible to outsiders, especially in an individualistic society such as the United States of America that rewards self-sufficiency. According to the sociologist Rose, in neo-liberal societies citizens have a duty to be free, self-reliant and independent. In this paper, Rose's theory and the political economy perspective serve as frameworks by which to examine how discourses around independence are translated in the experiences of 22 older adults aged over 75 living at home alone in the Bay Area of San Francisco. Participant observation and 41 in-depth interviews from 2006 to 2010 illustrate how being independent can be an essential component of individual identities. The informants' narratives shed light on the impact of policies that facilitate or regulate the moral imperative of independence. The findings underline the need to assess how discourses around independence are translated in minority populations, to promote studies and initiatives on interdependence, and to encourage international comparisons on living alone in older age.
Effect of Hydrogen Acceptors on pKa of Phenolic Resins: Link to Dissolution Inhibition

Dissolution inhibition in positive resists is brought about by an inductive polarization effect of strong hydrogen acceptors, which creates hydrogen-bonded strings of OH groups. The acidity of the OH groups bound in the strings is considerably lower than that of phenols in the bulk of the system. It is the reduction in the concentration of protons in equilibrium with the various parts of the resin that lowers the rate of phenol deprotonation and with it the rate of resin dissolution. Here we describe changes in the pKa of the resin in the presence of hydrogen acceptors (dissolution inhibitiors) and we demonstrate the existence of a quantitative link between acidity changes and inhibition factors.