cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Assessing Belief in the 10 Commandments: The Multidimensional 10 Commandments Questionnaire

Instruments designed to assess various aspects of religion are widespread, but few have been constructed to assess specific religious values and beliefs. The purpose of the present research was to address this limitation by providing preliminary evidence for the reliability and validity of the Multidimensional 10 Commandments Questionnaire (M10CQ), a self-report instrument that measures belief in the 10 Commandments. Data from three separate samples provided evidence supporting the reliability (i.e., internal consistency) of the M10CQ subscales. Other results indicated that women endorsed many of the 10 Commandments more strongly than men, and that various Commandments predicted people's mental health (less hostility), their parenting style (more authoritarian and authoritative parenting), and their interpersonal attachments (a more trusting bond with others). The findings reported in this research help to identify the ways in which religious values and beliefs are integrated with multiple aspects of people's lives. The discussion highlights the usefulness of the Multidimensional 10 Commandments Questionnaire (M10CQ) for studying religious beliefs and values.
CIRCUIT FOR ESTIMATING THE ELECTRICAL WAVEFORM ACROSS SOMATIC MEMBRANE OF NERVE CELLS FROM EXTRACELLULAR RECORDINGS.

Abstract A simple circuit is described that converts one type of diphasic (positive-negative) voltage transient which may be recorded extracellularly into a form which approximates the action potential that is recorded with microelectrodes which have impaled the cell bodies of certain nerve cells.
Forecasting commercial paper rates

A model previously developed by Lackman (C. L. Lackman, Forecasting commercial paper rates. Journal of Business Finance and Accounting15 (1988) 499–524) for the period 1960 to 1985 is updated to include the 1990s and incorporate statistical techniques relating to tests for stationary conditions not available in 1988. As in the previous model, the demand for commercial paper by each institution (Households (HH), Life Insurance Companies (LIC), Non-Financial Corporations (CRP) and Finance Corporations (FC)) and the total demand is simulated. Simulations of the commercial paper rate are also generated—using just the demand equations (total supply exogenous) and then employing the entire model (supply endogenous) to determine the rate. Simulation periods are from 1960:2 to 2001:4 for all demand simulations. The dynamic simulation of the total demand for commercial paper performs well. The resulting root mean square error, 3.485, compares favourably with the Federal Reserve Boston–Massachusetts Institute of Technology (FRB–MIT) estimate of the commercial paper rate (deLeeuw and Granlich, 1968). Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Resonance transition 795-nm rubidium laser

Population inversion of the 2P 1/2 and 2S 1/2 levels and continuous-wave, three-level laser oscillation at 795 nm on the D1 transition of the rubidium atom has been demonstrated. Using a titanium sapphire laser as a pump source, we obtained a slope power efficiency of 54% relative to absorbed pump power, consistent with homogeneous broadening of the rubidium pump and laser transitions. The end-pumped rubidium laser performance was well described by use of literature spectroscopic and kinetic data in a model that takes into account ground-level depletion and a pump spectral bandwidth that is substantially larger than the collisionally broadened pump transition spectral width.
Closely Spaced Tandem Arrangement of AQP2, AQP5, and AQP6 Genes in a 27-Kilobase Segment at Chromosome Locus 12q13

Abstract The aquaporins (AQPs) are a family of water-transporting proteins that facilitate osmotically driven water movement across cell plasma membranes. Among the seven human aquaporins cloned to date (AQPs 0–6), genes encoding the four most closely related aquaporins (AQP0, AQP2, AQP5, and AQP6) have been mapped to chromosome band 12q13, suggesting an aquaporin family gene cluster at this locus. To construct a physical map and identify novel aquaporin gene members on this cluster, a human CEPH B yeast artificial chromosome (YAC) library was screened by PCR using primers derived from exon 4 of AQP2 and AQP0 genes. A YAC clone with 200 kb of human DNA was isolated and analyzed. Primary pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and Southern blot analysis indicated the presence of AQP2, AQP5, and AQP6 genes, but not AQP0. Restriction mapping and PCR analysis yielded a precise physical map in which the three aquaporin genes span only ∼27 kb in the order, transcriptional orientation, and spacer length 5′-AQP2–5 kb spacer–AQP5–7 kb spacer–AQP6-3′.
Effect of androgens on isoproterenol-induced increases in mouse accessory sex organ cyclic AMP in vitro.

Abstract Varying concentrations of isoproterenol caused marked increases in cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) in accessory sex organs (viz prostate and seminal vesicles) obtained from normal (i.e. non-castrate) mice. Such increases were abolished or attenuated when these accessory sex organs were obtained from castrate (7-day) mice. Some differences in isoproterenol-induced responsiveness of cAMP were noted between the prostate gland and the seminal vesicles. Injections of testosterone propionate (5 mg/kg, s.c. daily × 5) to orchidectomized mice were effective in restoring the cAMP levels in vitro to pre-castration activity. These findings indicate that normal levels of endogenous androgen are necessary for the full expression of isoproterenol-induced increases in cAMP levels in accessory sex organs.
Vibrational‐vibrational coupling in air at low humidities

Calculations of sound absorption in air are traditionally based on the assumption that molecular relaxations in nitrogen and oxygen are independent. In binary mixtures of these two gases, however, they are not independent; rather, molecular relaxation is known to be controlled by a very strong vibrational–vibrational (V–V) coupling, which influences both the relaxation frequencies and the relaxation strengths. This article shows that small concentrations of the air constituents carbon dioxide and water vapor, which themselves possess a strong V–V coupling to N2 and O2, serve to decouple the N2 and O2 relaxations. To characterize the N2–O2 coupling a ‘‘coupling strength’’ is derived, which depends upon the constituent concentrations and the related reaction rate constants. It is found that the molecular relaxations associated with N2 and O2 in air experience a gradual transition from strong to weak coupling as the humidity increases beyond approximately 0.001 mole %.
In Situ Electropolymerization of DNA-Templated Aniline Assemblies on a Gold Surface

Self-assembled DNA was used as a template for the formation of conjoined polyaniline-DNA oligomers by in situ electropolymerization under mild conditions on a gold surface. The oligoanilines that result have redox properties characteristic of conducting polymers. This in situ electropolymerization may find application in the development of nanometer-scale electrical connections and highly sensitive biosensors.
In vivo integrated photoacoustic and confocal microscopy of hemoglobin oxygen saturation and oxygen partial pressure

We developed dual-modality microscope integrating photoacoustic microscopy (PAM) and fluorescence confocal microscopy (FCM) to noninvasively image hemoglobin oxygen saturation (sO2) and oxygen partial pressure (pO2) in vivo in single blood vessels with high spatial resolution. While PAM measures sO2 by imaging hemoglobin optical absorption at two wavelengths, FCM quantifies pO2 using phosphorescence quenching. The variations of sO2 and pO2 values in multiple orders of vessel branches under hyperoxic (100% oxygen) and normoxic (21% oxygen) conditions correlate well with the oxygen–hemoglobin dissociation curve. In addition, the total concentration of hemoglobin is imaged by PAM at an isosbestic wavelength.
Mutated in colorectal cancer, a putative tumor suppressor for serrated colorectal cancer, selectively represses β-catenin-dependent transcription

Mutated in colorectal cancer (MCC) was originally identified as a candidate gene for familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) but further study identified adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) as responsible for FAP and the physiologic/pathologic roles of MCC remained poorly understood. Recently, MCC promoter methylation was discovered as a frequent early event in a distinct subset of precursor lesions and colorectal cancer (CRC) associated with the serrated CRC pathway. Here we provide the first evidence of the biological significance of MCC loss in CRC and the molecular pathways involved. We show MCC expression is dramatically decreased in many CRC cell lines and the distinct subset of sporadic CRC characterized by the CpG island methylator phenotype and BRAFV600E mutation due to promoter methylation as reported previously. Importantly, we find MCC interacts with β-catenin and that reexpression of MCC in CRC cells specifically inhibits Wnt signaling, β-catenin/T-cell factor/lymphoid-enhancer factor-dependent transcription and cellular proliferation even in the presence of oncogenic mutant APC. We also show that MCC is localized in the nucleus and identify two functional nuclear localization signals. Taken together, MCC is a nuclear, β-catenin-interacting protein that can act as a potential tumor suppressor in the serrated CRC pathway by inhibiting Wnt/β-catenin signal transduction.
Exchange of Cost Information in Oligopoly

When do oligopolists gain by sharing their private information about their costs with one another? What are the social welfare effects of such information exchange? I study these questions by comparing the oligopolists' expected profits under a cost sharing agreement with their expected profits in the Bayesian equilibrium that would arise without cost sharing. I also analyse the firms' decisions to form a trade association to share their cost data. Under conditions of linear demand and Cournot behaviour, industrywide information exchange is the unique point in the core of the trade association membership game. The exchange of cost data increases expected profits and welfare, but reduces expected consumer surplus. Cost sharing increases efficiency by raising the market shares of lower cost firms and reducing the variability of aggregate output. Consumer surplus is diminished, however, because the variance of output is reduced, and consumer surplus is a convex function of output.
An Infectious Murine Model for Studying the Systemic Effects of Opioids on Early HIV Pathogenesis in the Gut

Opioids are known to exacerbate HIV pathogenesis, however current studies have been limited by models of HIV infection. Given that HIV causes many systemic effects via direct infection of host cells as well as indirect bystander effects, it is important to establish a systemic infection model in a small animal so that genetic tools can be utilized to elucidate the mechanisms of action. In this study, the systemic effects of EcoHIV infection, a modified HIV which can infect mouse cells, are examined in conjunction with morphine. EcoHIV infection with opioid treatment induced bacterial translocation from the lumen of the gut into systemic compartments such as liver, which is similar to observations in human patients with LPS. Bacterial translocation corresponds with alterations in gut morphology, disorganization of the tight junction protein occludin, and a concurrent increase in systemic inflammation in both IL-6 and TNFα. Long term infection also had increased expression of inflammatory cytokines in the CNS when co-treated with morphine. Overall, this study shows that EcoHIV is an appropriate model to study the effects of opioids on HIV pathogenesis, including the HIV-induced pathology at early stages of pathogenesis in the gut.
Growth and characterization of Ba(Cd1/3Ta2/3)O3 thin films

Abstract We have synthesized stoichiometric Ba(Cd 1/3 Ta 2/3 )O 3 [BCT] (100) dielectric thin films on MgO (100) substrates using Pulsed Laser Deposition. Over 99% of the BCT film was found to be epitaxial [BCT (100) || MgO (100) and BCT (010) || MgO (010)] when grown with an elevated substrate temperature of 635 °C, an enhanced oxygen pressure of 53 Pa and a Cd-enriched BCT target with a 1 mol BCT: 1.5 mol CdO composition. A dielectric constant of 32 was inferred from low-frequency capacitance measurements of a planar interdigital metal pattern. Analysis of ultra violet optical absorption results indicates that BCT has a bandgap of 4.9 eV; while the interference pattern in the visible range is consistent with a refractive index of 2.1. Temperature-dependent electrical measurements indicate that the BCT films have a room temperature conductivity of 3 × 10 − 12 Ω − 1 cm − 1 with a thermal activation energy of 0.7 eV. A mean particle size of ~ 100 nm and a root mean square surface roughness of 5 to 6 nm were measured using Atomic Force Microscopy.
The Rise of Adolescence: Change and Life Stage Dilemmas in the Central Canadian Arctic

Acculturative changes that have occurred throughout the North American Arctic in recent decades have had a profound effect upon Inuit teenagers and young adults. While social change has resulted in significant and obvious modifications in the economic, political, and material infrastructure of Inuit society, it has also led to more subtle changes in socialization practices and in the patterning and sequencing of traditional Inuit life stages. Research in a small and isolated Canadian Inuit community demonstrates that population concentration, population growth, increased economic security, and increased exposure to southern value systems have resulted in the creation of a prolonged adolescent life stage which was non-existent in the precontact period. In addition, young Inuit now experience an unprecedented degree of freedom and autonomy within the context of a greatly expanded peer group. As young people struggle to acquire the behaviors and values expected of adult members of Inuit society, they are als...
The NADPH oxidases NOX4 and DUOX2 regulate cell cycle entry via a p53-dependent pathway

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are produced in growth factor-signaling pathways leading to cell proliferation, but the mechanisms leading to ROS generation and the targets of ROS signals are not well understood. Using a focused siRNA screen to identify redox-related proteins required for growth factor-induced cell cycle entry, we show that two ROS-generating proteins, the NADPH oxidases NOX4 and DUOX2, are required for platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) induced retinoblastoma protein (Rb) phosphorylation in normal human fibroblasts. Unexpectedly, NOX4 and DUOX2 knockdown did not inhibit the early signaling pathways leading to cyclin D1 upregulation. However, hours after growth factor stimulation, NOX4 and DUOX2 knockdown reduced ERK1 phosphorylation and increased levels of the tumor suppressor protein p53 and a cell cycle inhibitor protein p21 (Waf1/Cip1) that is transcriptionally regulated by p53. Co-knockdown of NOX4 or DUOX2 with either p53 or with p21 overcame the inhibition of Rb phosphorylation that occurred with NOX4 or DUOX2 knockdown alone. Our results argue that rather than primarily affecting growth factor receptor signaling, NOX4 and DUOX2 regulate cell cycle entry as part of a p53-dependent checkpoint for proliferation.
A functional characterization of certain mixed volumes

A function over the convex coneK{inn}, of convex bodiesK in Euclideann-space (where addition is vector addition, positive scalar multiplication is dilatation), which is linear overK{inn}, increasing with respect to set inclusion, and zero at point bodies must be a mixed volumeV(K; đ, p−1;σ 1, …,σ n−p). Heređ, takenp−1 times, is inK{inn} andσ 1, …,σ n−pare pairwise orthogonal unit segments spanning the orthogonal complement of the affine hull ofđ.
BEAMOS: a new electronic digital memory

BEAMOS, for Beam Addressed Metal Oxide Semiconductor, is a new technology for auxiliary memories based on an electron beam which reads and writes data on a simple unstructured MOS chip. It can store data for months with or without power.
Move over ANOVA: progress in analyzing repeated-measures data and its reflection in papers published in the Archives of General Psychiatry.

Background The analysis of repeated-measures data presents challenges to investigators and is a topic for ongoing discussion in the Archives of General Psychiatry. Traditional methods of statistical analysis (end-point analysis and univariate and multivariate repeated-measures analysis of variance [rANOVA and rMANOVA, respectively]) have known disadvantages. More sophisticated mixed-effects models provide flexibility, and recently developed software makes them available to researchers. Objectives To review methods for repeated-measures analysis and discuss advantages and potential misuses of mixed-effects models. Also, to assess the extent of the shift from traditional to mixed-effects approaches in published reports in the Archives of General Psychiatry . Data Sources The Archives of General Psychiatry from 1989 through 2001, and the Department of Veterans Affairs Cooperative Study 425. Study Selection Studies with a repeated-measures design, at least 2 groups, and a continuous response variable. Data Extraction The first author ranked the studies according to the most advanced statistical method used in the following order: mixed-effects model, rMANOVA, rANOVA, and end-point analysis. Data Synthesis The use of mixed-effects models has substantially increased during the last 10 years. In 2001, 30% of clinical trials reported in the Archives of General Psychiatry used mixed-effects analysis. Conclusions Repeated-measures ANOVAs continue to be used widely for the analysis of repeated-measures data, despite risks to interpretation. Mixed-effects models use all available data, can properly account for correlation between repeated measurements on the same subject, have greater flexibility to model time effects, and can handle missing data more appropriately. Their flexibility makes them the preferred choice for the analysis of repeated-measures data.
Effects of Protamine Sulfate on Dengue Type 1 Viral Activities

Protamine treatment of type 1 dengue-infected mouse brain suspension resulted in precipitation of several viral specific activities. Complement-fixation activity was almost completely precipitated by protamine. The complement-fixation components recovered in the precipitate were comparable to a non-precipitated reference dengue 1 antigen in their homologous and heterologous reactions. Dengue hemagglutinin was also precipitated by the same treatment. The precipitated hemagglutinin was resolved into three components by buoyant density centrifugation, whose densities were 1.236, 1.215, and 1.178 g/ml, respectively. Three similar HA components were detected in non-protamine treated virus preparations. In both instances the highest-titered HA fraction possessed a buoyant density of 1.21--1.22 g/ml. These HA components were tested in the hemagglutination-inhibition reaction and were proved to be virus-specific. Cesium chloride density gradient centrifugation was shown to be useful for removing possible inhibitor(s) of viral specific hemagglutinin.
Cancer screening practices of adult survivors of retinoblastoma at risk of second cancers.

Retinoblastoma (Rb), a rare childhood cancer of the eye, occurs in a hereditary form related to germline mutations in the RB1 tumor suppressor gene, and a nonhereditary form related to somatic mutations or inactivation in the same gene. Because of a reported survival rate of 97% at 5 years,1 the population of long-term Rb survivors is growing, and many individuals are now adults. Survivors of hereditary Rb have a significantly elevated risk of developing second cancers, whereas survivors with the nonhereditary form are not prone to developing a secondary cancer.2–5 The most common second cancers in hereditary patients are soft-tissue sarcomas, osteosarcomas, nasal cavity cancers, and cutaneous melanoma.2, 4, 5 Radiologic imaging such as computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans are sensitive tools for detecting sarcomas. In addition to these more frequent second cancers in hereditary patients, we noted a statistically significant increase in the risk of breast cancer in hereditary (observed, 10 cases; standardized incidence ratio [SIR] of 3.96 [95% confidence interval (95% CI), 1.9–7.3]) and nonhereditary Rb (observed, 7 cases; SIR of 2.8 [95% CI, 1.1–5.9]) survivors.4 This increased risk for breast cancer was noted in patients treated with radiotherapy for Rb, and could be related to the small scatter radiation dose (0.40 Gray [Gy]) to the breasts, which has been associated with an increased breast cancer risk in studies of infants who underwent radiotherapy for enlarged thymus glands and hemangiomas.6, 7 In addition, somatic mutations in the RB1 gene have been detected in breast cancers in non-Rb patients.8–10 Alternatively, the increased risk for breast cancer after Rb could partially be because of more intense breast cancer screening of these patients, because hereditary Rb patients who received radiotherapy are known to be at an increased risk of developing a second cancer. To our knowledge to date, few studies have been published that describe the cancer screening practices of survivors of various childhood and adolescent cancers11–13 and, to our knowledge, none have been published on survivors of retinoblastoma. With the number of childhood cancer survivors increasing and the recognition of treatment related to second cancers gaining more prominence, researchers have identified the need to develop and implement evidence-based recommendations for clinical follow-up, including cancer screening, based on clinical and epidemiologic studies.14, 15 In addition, it is important for all patients to receive adequate screening for cancers that are prevalent in the general population, while focusing on those cancers for which retinoblastoma survivors are at increased risk.
Cachectin/tumor necrosis factor and other cytokines in infectious disease.

Abstract The studies reviewed here represent but a fraction of those published in the field last year, but they serve to illustrate two important points: (1) the cytokine network possesses enormous diversity of biological function, and (2) it is redundant, such that overlapping and synergistic effects are observed between many different cytokines. The impact of this system on the host is pervasive and readily amplifiable, and integrates the diverse responses to infectious disease which may be either beneficial, protecting against infection, or deleterious, causing tissue injury and death. The example of cachectin/TNF illustrates this type of scenario: during local infection or inflammation, low levels of cachetin/TNF act to enhance immune responsiveness, stimulate blood-vessel growth, increase energy mobilization, induce the release of other cytokines, and promote wound-healing; when overwhelming infection occurs, as in septicemia, large quantities of cachectin/TNF reach the circulation and cause shock, MSOF, and death; if a persisting infection develops and cachectin/TNF is chronically secreted, it mediates a state of cachexia which may be fatal. Future studies will undoubtedly advance our understanding of these effects, and that of the other cytokines. The development of novel therapies for inflammation, septic shock, and cachexia may be based on such advances.
Occurrence of Dactylaria higginsii on Purple Nutsedge in Florida.

In September 1994, a population of severely diseased purple nutsedge (Cyperus rotundus L.) was found in Gainesville, FL. The symptoms were characterized by necrotic leaf spots, blotches, and foliar blighting. A fungal isolate was consistently recovered from symptomatic leaves and grown in pure culture. Based on the characteristics of conidia (28.6 × 6.6 μm) and conidiophores (45.2 × 7.0 μm at the broadest base), the fungus was identified as Dactylaria higginsii (Luttrell) M.B. Ellis. This fungus was first described as Piricularia [sic] higginsii from Georgia (4) and later redescribed as D. higginsii (2). A Pyricularia sp. and P. grisea (Cooke) Sacc. have been recorded on C. alternifolius L., C. papyrus L., and other Cyperus spp. from Florida, but species of Pyricularia or Dactylaria have not been reported from this state on purple nutsedge (1). Proof of pathogenicity (Koch's postulates) was established in repeated trials in a greenhouse; the disease symptoms were reproduced, and the fungus was reisolated from inoculated plants and confirmed to be the same organism used for inoculations. Four- to six-leaf-stage purple nutsedge and yellow nutsedge (C. esculentus L.) plants were sprayed with a suspension of 1 × 106 conidia per ml amended with 0.02% Silwet L-77 (vol/vol). Control plants were sprayed with 0.02% Silwet L-77 only. Small, water-soaked lesions developed 4 days after inoculation. The lesions coalesced into larger necrotic blotches with grayish centers 8 days after inoculation. Most of the inoculated foliage was blighted within 15 days after inoculation. The disease did not kill nutsedge bulbs or tubers, but reduced shoot and tuber yields. None of the control plants developed any symptoms. The ability of D. higginsii to cause severe disease and reduce the yields of vegetative organs indicates that it has potential as a biological control agent for purple nutsedge and yellow nutsedge, two of the world's worst weeds. This is the first record of occurrence of D. higginsii outside of its original distribution in Georgia (3). References: (1) S. A. Alfieri, Jr., et al. 1994. Diseases and Disorders of Plants in Florida. Bull. No. 14. Division of Plant Industry, Gainesville, FL. (2) M. B. Ellis. 1976. More Dematiaceous Hyphomycetes. Commonwealth Mycological Institute, Kew, Surrey, England. (3) D. F. Farr et al. 1989. Fungi on Plants and Plant Products in the United States. American Phytopathological Society, St. Paul, MN. (4) E. S. Luttrell. Mycologia 46:810, 1954.
“Thermal scissor” stabilizing pin removal tool for knee revision surgery: For use in Stryker Triathlon total stabilizing system revisions

During a typical Stryker Triathlon TS knee revision procedure, surgeons can devote a large amount of time to the removal of a stabilizing pin from the original implant. The current practice requires the use of a variety of tools that have the potential to cause a large amount of debris in the surrounding areas. The Kneet Removal team's design will facilitate the removal of the pin with a singular thermal scissor device in a time efficient manner, while minimizing polyethylene debris and trauma to the patient.
Twice-weighted multiple interval estimation of a marginal structural model to analyze cost-effectiveness.

Cost-effectiveness analysis is an important tool that can be applied to the evaluation of a health treatment or policy. When the observed costs and outcomes result from a nonrandomized treatment, making causal inference about the effects of the treatment requires special care. The challenges are compounded when the observation period is truncated for some of the study subjects. This paper presents a method of unbiased estimation of cost-effectiveness using observational study data that is not fully observed. The method—twice-weighted multiple interval estimation of a marginal structural model—was developed in order to analyze the cost-effectiveness of treatment protocols for advanced dementia residents living nursing homes when they become acutely ill. A key feature of this estimation approach is that it facilitates a sensitivity analysis that identifies the potential effects of unmeasured confounding on the conclusions concerning cost-effectiveness. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The Effect of Covariance Structure on Variance Estimation in Balanced Growth-Curve Models with Random Parameters

Abstract Intuition suggests that altering the covariance structure of a parametric model for repeated-measures data alters the variances of the model's estimated mean parameters. The purpose of this article is to sharpen such intuition for a family of growth-curve models with differing numbers of random effects for the individual sampling units and with a fixed structure on the mean. For every member of this family, the maximum likelihood (ML) estimator of the fixed effects is identical to the ordinary least squares (OLS) estimator. In addition, simple closed-form ML and restricted maximum likelihood estimators for the variance and covariance parameters exist for every member. As a consequence, closed-form expressions for the estimated variance-covariance matrix of the OLS estimator of the fixed effects also exist for the entire family. We derive explicit relationships between the variance and covariance parameter estimators from different members of the family and thereby extend some familiar results. Fo...
Historical Perspectives on Global Ecology

A historical perspective can shed light on the dilemmas and dimensions of current ecological predicaments. Consideration of long-term trends in economic, demographic, and energy history show just how peculiar, disruptive, liberating, and unsustainable modern times have been. The current era of ecological tumult derives its impetus from many sources, not least the near-stasis in ideas and politics. It is the big ideas, like nationalism, communism, or the premium placed on economic growth, rather than explicitly environmental ideas, that most affected environmental policy and outcomes in the 20th century, and will likely continue to do so in the 21st.
Scale Effects on Contact Deformation of Elastic-Plastic Solids

Surface roughness effects result in asperity contacts spanning a wide range of length scales. In view of the multi-scale roughness of real surfaces, contact deformation of solid bodies exhibits strong scale dependence. Therefore, it is essential that contact mechanics analyses account for the evolution of deformation over a range of length scales, similar to that of the wavelengths comprising the topographies of the interacting surfaces. Results from finite element method (FEM) and molecular dynamics (MD) analyses based on continuum and discrete models of the interacting solids, respectively, reveal important effects of topography, length parameters (e.g., indenter tip radius, coating thickness, and penetration depth), surface traction, and elastic-plastic material properties on the deformation behavior at different length scales.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
The effects of low dose parathyroid hormone on lumbar vertebrae in a rat model for chronic alcohol abuse

This study evaluated the hypothesis that increased bone marrow adipogenesis is coupled to decreased bone formation in rats consuming alcohol. Parathyroid hormone (PTH) increased bone formation but had no effect on marrow adiposity. We conclude that increased adiposity does not prevent the bone anabolic response to PTH. Alcoholism results in decreased bone formation and increased bone marrow adiposity. The present study tested the hypothesis that these reciprocal changes are coupled by evaluating the effect of intermittent PTH on bone formation and bone marrow adiposity in a rat model for chronic alcohol abuse. Three-month-old male Sprague Dawley rats (n = 10–11/group) were fed the Lieber-DeCarli liquid diet with 35% of the calories derived from ethanol. Control rats were pair-fed an isocaloric alcohol-free diet. The rats were administered low dose PTH (1 µg/kg/day sc, 5 d/week) or vehicle for 6 weeks. Cancellous bone architecture in lumbar vertebrae was evaluated by micro-computed tomography followed by histomorphometric assessment of bone formation and marrow adiposity. Alcohol increased bone marrow adiposity but reduced bone formation. The latter was due to decreases in mineralizing perimeter/bone perimeter, a surrogate measure of osteoblast number, and mineral apposition rate, a measure of osteoblast activity. PTH increased bone formation by increasing mineralizing perimeter/bone perimeter. In contrast, PTH had no effect on mineral apposition rate or bone marrow adiposity. Interactions between alcohol consumption and PTH treatment were not detected for any endpoints evaluated. PTH treatment blunted the decrease in mineralizing perimeter/bone perimeter in alcohol-fed rats but was ineffective in preventing the increase in bone marrow adiposity. These findings suggest that the alcohol-induced increase in adipocytes is not directly responsible for the accompanying reduction in bone formation.
Vortex-induced radiation transported by a contour

Abstract The interaction between an isolated patch of vorticity and a distant interface (or contour) separating two regions of uniform vorticity is investigated. In previous models, a point vortex has been used to force the interface; here that model is refined to include forcing by a vortex patch. Fluctuations in the far field velocity induced by the patch excite waves in the interface. These waves are swept away from the patch, transporting with them momentum and energy. A general theory is given for such an interaction under the asymptotic assumption that the interface deformation is small. An energy balance calculation indicates that the net result of such an interaction is a radiative transfer of energy from the vortex patch to the interface. Two examples demonstrate that radiative interactions destabilize periodic or perturbed steady solutions, and in general result in more elongated patches.
Electromagnetic Radiation from Anisotropic Turbulent Plasma

The radiation spectrum from an anisotropic turbulent plasma is found to have a definite relationship to the turbulence spectrum. The intensity of such a radiation is estimated to be significantly greater than that expected from a scattering experiment.
Parallel stimulation in adipocytes of the plasma membrane Ca2+-transport/(Ca2+ + MG2+)-ATPase system and mitochondrial pyruvate dehydrogenase by a supernatant factor derived from isolated plasma membranesi

Summary A factor derived from the supernatant of adipocyte plasma membranes which mimics the effects of insulin on mitochondrial pyruvate dehydrogenase (Kiechle, F.L., Jarett, L., Kotagal, N., and Popp, D.A. (1981) J. Biol. Chem. 256, 2945–2951) was shown to activate a high affinity (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase and ATP-dependent Ca2+ transport of adipocyte plasma membranes. Fractionation of the supernatant by G25 Sephadex chromatography separated the material into four inactive and one active fraction. All of the fractions behaved identically in terms of activation of pyruvate dehydrogenase, (Ca2+ + Mg2+)- ATPase, and Ca2+ transport, suggesting that the active fraction responsible for stimulating mitochondrial pyruvate dehydrogenase was also responsible for stimulating the plasma membrane Ca2+-dependent processes.
On the effective coefficient of thermal expansion in thermal bending of composites undergoing linear heat flow

It is suggested that the localized stresses and associated displacements resulting from the thermal conductivity mismatch of second-phase inclusions in dispersed phase-continuous matrix composites subjected to linear heat flow can contribute to the thermal bending (i.e., the curvature) of the composite at the continuum level. The original solutions of Tauchert for a single inclusion were used to derive an expression for the curvature and associated effective coefficient of thermal expansion of a matrix with spherical inclusions undergoing linear heat flow. The results are expressed in terms of the isothermal coefficient of thermal expansion, Young's modulus and thermal conductivity of the composite, which, in turn, depend on the relevant properties and volume fractions of the matrix and dispersed phase. Numerical examples are presented which indicate a significant effect. Thermal expansion mismatches between the matrix and dispersed phase are shown to play a particularly large role in either increasing or...
Research on the Flexible Simulation Model Framework Based on Components

—According to the foreign and domestic experiences about the design work and the practical application effects of the simulation model components’ framework, it’s obviously concluded that this design pattern of the components framework has broad development prospects in the future. The components are some independent software units with specified functions. This paper presents some useful analysis and research work on the design of the simulation model framework based on component technology.
Physical Activity Assessment: Validation of a Clinical Assessment Tool

Background Physicians report that they fail to counsel patients about physical activity due to a lack of practical tools, time, reimbursement, knowledge, and confidence. This paper reports concurrent and criterion validation of the Physical Activity Assessment Tool (PAAT), designed to rapidly assess patient physical activity in clinical settings and reduce time for assessment, and thus to facilitate counseling. Methods Adult volunteers ( n =68) completed the PAAT and International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Long Form (IPAQ-Long) twice and wore a Manufacturing Technology, Inc. (MTI) accelerometer for 14 days in 2003. Continuous and categorical measures of physical activity by PAAT were compared to MTI accelerometer and IPAQ-Long in analyses conducted in 2003 to 2006. Consistent with national recommendations, participants were classified as active if they accumulated more than 150 minutes per week of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) or more than 60 minutes per week of vigorous physical activity. Results The PAAT was significantly correlated with the IPAQ ( r =0.562, p r =0.392, p =0.015) for MVPA. Seven-day test–retest reliability was comparable for PAAT ( r =0.618, p r =0.527, p p =0.169) or IPAQ ( p Conclusions The concurrent and criterion validity of the PAAT are comparable to self-report instruments used in epidemiologic research.
Joint Relaying and Network Coding in Wireless Networks

Relaying is a fundamental building block of wireless networks. Sophisticated relaying strategies at the physical layer have been developed for a single flow, but multiple flows are typically handled by time sharing the channel between the flows at the network level. In this paper, time-sharing when forwarding two data streams at the relay is compared to joint relaying and network coding that allows the relay to combine data streams. Two commonly occurring blocks in wireless networks with both unicast and multicast traffic are considered. It is shown that joint relaying and network coding can achieve gains and even double the throughput for certain channel conditions.
Cloud Platform Datastore Support

There are many datastore systems to choose from that differ in many ways including public versus private cloud support, data management interfaces, programming languages, supported feature sets, fault tolerance, consistency guarantees, configuration, and their deployment processes. In this paper, we focus on technologies for structured data access (database/datastore systems) in cloud systems. Our goal is to simplify the use of datastore systems through automation and to facilitate their empirical evaluation using real world applications. To enable this, we provide a cloud platform abstraction layer that decouples a data access API from its implementation. Applications that use this API can use any datastore that "plugs into" our abstraction layer, thus enabling application portability. We use this layer to extend the functionality of multiple datastores without modifying the datastores directly. Specifically, we provide support for ACID transaction semantics for popular key-value stores (none of which provide this feature). We integrate this layer into the AppScale cloud platform--an open-source cloud platform that executes cloud applications written in Python, Java, and Go, over virtualized cluster resources and infrastructures-as-a-service (Eucalyptus, OpenStack, and Amazon EC2). We use this system to investigate the impact of extending disparate datastores via the application portability layer with distributed transaction support.
Visualization of the left atrial appendage from the coronary sinus by intracardiac echocardiography.

1547-5271/$-see front matter B 2014 Heart Rhythm Society. All rights reserved. PLSVC to the right superior pulmonary vein. She underwent electrophysiology study and ablation of an atypical right atrial flutter. The pre-procedure cardiac magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated shunt from the PLSVC into the right superior pulmonary vein with a Qp/Qs ratio of 1.5:1 (Figure 1A, white arrow). Electroanatomic mapping confirmed the presence of a PLSVC (Figure 1B). In order to exclude left atrial appendage (LAA) thrombus and to examine the presence of a right to left shunt, we took advantage of the coronary sinus system with its anatomical proximity to the LAA (Figures 1C and 1D). The intracardiac ultrasound catheter was advanced via the coronary sinus into the great cardiac vein (Figures 1C and 1D, yellow star). This
The effects of second phase additions (SiC, BaZrO3, BaSnO3) on the microstructure and superconducting properties of zone melt textured pBa2Cu3O7-x

Abstract The effects of second phase additions of SiC, BaSnO3, and BaZrO3 to pBa2Cu3O7-x (123) in the molar ratio of 5:1 (123: second phase) were studied on wire samples prepared by zone melt processing. The microstructures of these samples showed large differences depending upon the type of addition, with finer 123 platelets and 211 particles in BaSnO, doped samples as compared samples prepared with the other additions. Also substantial chemical reactions pere observed in SiC and BaSnO3 doped samples, while the BaZrO, was found to be relatively stable. The magnetic Jc, determined at H = 1T, for comparably doped pires was greatest for samples containing BaSnO3 (2.2 × 104 A/cm2), with SiC (9.8 × 103 A/cm2) and BaZrO3 (4.8 × 103 A/cm3) shoping significantly poorer properties.
Acoustical birefringence and the use of ultrasonic waves for experimental stress analysis

Stress-induced optical birefringence in transparent materials has long been a common technique of stress analysis. Although stress-induced acoustic birefringence was discovered more than 20 years ago, its development and actual applications are still limited. This paper will look at the similarities and differences between the propagation of light waves in photoelastic materials and the propagation of ultrasonic waves in deformed solids. Critical comparisons of the experimental methods employed in photoelasticity with those available in modern ultrasonic measuring technique show why previous studies on ultrasonic measurement of stresses were not very successful. A new experimental technique is devised for using ultrasonic waves for stress analysis. The technique employs a single rotatable 10-MHz shear transducer as the transmitter and receiver of ultrasonic pulses. The enlarged display of the 10-MHz modulated-pulse pattern of reflected echoes provides a convenient way to determine the directions of principal axis of the stress within ±3 deg. The pulse-echo-overlap method is used to measure the absolute velocities of the two principal shear waves. The difference in principal stresses is then calculated from the velocity measurements. Test results of common structural-aluminum and steel specimens under uniaxial compression show a linear relation between the velocity changes and the applied stress. Ultrasonic measurements of stress distribution in a 6.35-cm diameter, 1.9-cm-thick aluminum disk under diametric compression are also reported.
Can Creativity Be Predicted

Prediction of creativity has been singularly unsuccessful despite a wide variety of approaches. One of the reasons for this lack of success is that vested interests in education and psychology appear to prefer to focus on the narrow range of achievement behavior which has been erroneously labelled intelligence. This mislabelling has precluded exploration into the remaining spectrum of intellectual process, i.e., intelligent and creative behavior.
Lysosomal Neuraminidase CATALYTIC ACTIVATION IN INSECT CELLS IS CONTROLLED BY THE PROTECTIVE PROTEIN/CATHEPSIN A

Lysosomal N-Acetyl-alpha-neuraminidase is active in complex with the protective protein/cathepsin A (PPCA) and beta-galactosidase. The interaction with PPCA is essential for the correct intracellular routing and lysosomal localization of neuraminidase, but the mechanism of its catalytic activation is unclear. To investigate this process, we have used the baculovirus expression system to co-express neuraminidase and PPCA precursors in insect cells, which resulted in high enzymatic activity of neuraminidase. Both the 34- and 20-kDa PPCA subunits were required for the activation. We further demonstrated that when expressed alone, the neuraminidase precursor remained dimeric (114 kDa) and had low enzymatic activity, but when co-expressed with PPCA and beta-galactosidase, it multimerized in a complex of approximately 1350 kDa, together with the other two proteins. The fully active neuraminidase co-precipitated with full-length PPCA and beta-galactosidase precursors. However, when co-expressed with the individual PPCA subunits, neuraminidase co-precipitated only with the small 20-kDa polypeptide, which therefore must contain a neuraminidase-binding site. Our finding suggests a model of activation of neuraminidase dependent on its oligomerization at acidic pH that is mediated by interaction with PPCA.
Atmospheric entry heating: A criterion to distinguish between asteroidal and cometary sources of interplanetary dust

Interplanetary dust samples obtained in the earth stratosphere by NASA sampling aircraft have been analyzed to ascertain the duration of their exposure as small particles in space, and the peak temperature they attained during atmospheric entry and deceleration. A three-dimensional orbital evolution model is then developed from these data which involves asteroidal and cometary sources for the dust as well as the influence of Poynting-Robertson drag. Particles from comets with perihelia greater than 1.2 AU typically undergo 600-800 C heating, while those from comets with smaller perihelia are heated to temperatures in excess of 800 C. Atmospheric-entry velocities inferred are consistent with the major fraction of stratospheric cosmic dust being derived from parent bodies in the main asteroid belt.
An Analytic Function of Lunar Surface Temperature for Exospheric Modeling

We present an analytic expression to represent the lunar surface temperature as a function of Sun-state latitude and local time. The approximation represents neither topographical features nor compositional effects and therefore does not change as a function of selenographic latitude and longitude. The function reproduces the surface temperature measured by Diviner to within +/-10 K at 72% of grid points for dayside solar zenith angles of less than 80, and at 98% of grid points for nightside solar zenith angles greater than 100. The analytic function is least accurate at the terminator, where there is a strong gradient in the temperature, and the polar regions. Topographic features have a larger effect on the actual temperature near the terminator than at other solar zenith angles. For exospheric modeling the effects of topography on the thermal model can be approximated by using an effective longitude for determining the temperature. This effective longitude is randomly redistributed with 1 sigma of 4.5deg. The resulting ''roughened'' analytical model well represents the statistical dispersion in the Diviner data and is expected to be generally useful for future models of lunar surface temperature, especially those implemented within exospheric simulations that address questions of volatile transport.