cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Problems and Approaches in Noncatalytic Biochemistry

Most of the story of biochemistry in the last half-century is the story of enzymes. The demonstration by Sumner in 1926 that enzymes are proteins, coupled with the vigorous explorations of metabolic pathways that grew out of the nutritional beginnings of biochemistry, led to the extraordinary depth of knowledge that we have now, both of the routes of metabolism and the enzymes which catalyze the individual steps in these routes, constituting a network of systems of fearful complexity. One of the great advantages for those who study enzymes is the availability of a catalytic step to monitor. The result is that every molecule of enzyme present in a tissue or in a purified preparation can be made to yield thousands or millions of molecules of reaction product in moderate times, and this enormous amplification factor made it possible by relatively crude techniques to demonstrate the presence of low concentrations of enzyme and to achieve purifications when relatively arbitrary fractionations were pursued, coupled with assays of enzymatic activity in the relatively dilute fractions derived therefrom. It is not difficult to make even dilute enzyme preparations yield product in the millimolar to micromolar range, which is comfortably within the competence of colorimetric and other spectrophotometric techniques to detect.
Sintomatologia da stress e sindrome generale d’adattamento

Stress e qualsiasi stimolo, stato interno, situazione o evento con una reazione individuale osservabile, solitamente nella forma di adattamento — positivo o negativo — ad una situazione nuova o diversa nel proprio ambiente. Il concetto si riferisce, generalmente, alla natura di un’esperienza, risultante dall’interazione della persona con il contesto di appartenenza, nella forma di una sovreccitazione o una sottoeccitazione fisiologica, con effetti negativi di stress psicologico o fisiologico (“stress cattivo”) o positivi (“stress buono”). I fattori stressanti spaziano da minori a maggiori e possono qualificarsi come eventi positivi o negativi; in genere, sono comunque eventi di vita, come seccature quotidiane, pressioni a casa o sul posto di lavoro, discordie coniugali e conflitti, emergenze, incidenti su veicoli a motore, malattia e infortunio. Tra gli eventi di vita stressanti e transitori “in modo positivo”, possiamo trovare la nascita di un neonato, una cerimonia di laurea, una vacanza in famiglia o una promozione sul lavoro (Kaplan e Sadock, 1998). Mason (1975) sviluppo una delle definizioni operative piu inclusive riguardo a stress, fattori ed esperienze stressanti, applicata a una determinata cornice concettuale. Lo stress (o la tensione) puo essere inteso come: 1. uno stato interno dell’organismo basato su reazioni sia fisiologiche sia psicologiche; 2. un evento o fattore stressante esterno, tra cui un trauma da combattimento, disastri naturali, eventi significativi della vita (matrimonio, divorzio, licenziamento), fattori stressanti ambientali di tipo nocivo (inquinamento dell’aria, sovraffollamento) o tensioni da ruolo (un matrimonio fallimentare); 3. un’esperienza che nasce da una transazione tra la persona e il suo ambiente, in particolar modo ove ci sia una discrepanza o un calcolo sbagliato tra risorse individuali e una sfida, una minaccia o un bisogno percepito.
Chlortetracycline Enhances Tonsil Colonization and Fecal Shedding of Multidrug-Resistant Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium DT104 without Major Alterations to the Porcine Tonsillar and Intestinal Microbiota.

Salmonella spp. are estimated to cause 1.2 million cases of human foodborne illness each year in the United States, and pigs can often be asymptomatically colonized with Salmonella spp. (>50% of farms). Recent reports state that 18.3% of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium isolates are resistant to ≥3 antimicrobial classes, and multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains are associated with an increased hospitalization rate and other complications. Chlortetracycline is commonly used in swine production to prevent/treat various diseases; therefore, chlortetracycline treatment of pigs unknowingly colonized with MDR Salmonella may have collateral effects on Salmonella spp. (and other gut bacteria). In this study, we determined the effect of in-feed chlortetracycline (400 g/ton) on shedding and colonization of pigs challenged with the MDR S. Typhimurium strain DT104 (n = 11/group). We also assessed the impact on the fecal microbiota over the 12-day experimental period and on the ileum, cecum, and tonsil microbiota at 7 days postinoculation (dpi). In MDR S. Typhimurium-inoculated pigs, chlortetracycline administration significantly increased fecal shedding at 2 dpi (+1.4 log10 CFU/g; P < 0.001) and enhanced tonsil colonization (+3.1 log10 CFU/g; P < 0.001). There were few major alterations detected in the gut or tonsillar microbiota of pigs treated with MDR S. Typhimurium and/or chlortetracycline. The tonsillar transcriptome was largely unaffected despite increased colonization by MDR S. Typhimurium following inoculation of the chlortetracycline-treated pigs. These results highlight the idea that chlortetracycline administration can enhance shedding and colonization of MDR S. Typhimurium in pigs, which could increase the risk of environmental dissemination of MDR Salmonella strains. IMPORTANCE Salmonella spp. are an important cause of foodborne illness in North America, and pork products are associated with sporadic cases and outbreaks of human salmonellosis. Isolates of Salmonella may be resistant to multiple antibiotics, and infections with multidrug-resistant (MDR) Salmonella spp. are more difficult to treat, leading to increased hospitalization rates. Swine operations commonly use antimicrobials, such as chlortetracycline, to prevent/treat infections, which may have collateral effects on pig microbial populations. Recently, we demonstrated that chlortetracycline induces the expression of genes associated with pathogenesis and invasion in MDR Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium in vitro. In our current study, we show increased tonsillar colonization and fecal shedding of the MDR S. Typhimurium strain DT104 from pigs administered chlortetracycline. Therefore, pigs unknowingly colonized with multidrug-resistant Salmonella spp. and receiving chlortetracycline for an unrelated infection may be at a greater risk for disseminating MDR Salmonella spp. to other pigs and to humans through environmental or pork product contamination.
Autologous Stem Cell Transplant for IgM Related AL Amyloidosis

IgM related AL amyloidosis is a rare disease with patients presenting with more renal and neurological involvement and less cardiac involvement compared to those with non-IgM related disease. We retrospectively reviewed 38 patients receiving autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) for IgM related AL amyloidosis at the Mayo Clinic between May 1999 and June 2018. Median age was 61 years and 71% were male. The most common organs involved were renal (63%), neurological (32%) and cardiac (26%). The median difference between involved and uninvolved free light chains (dFLC) was 6.2 mg/dL and most patients had early mayo stage (87% Mayo Stage I 2004 and 74% Mayo Stage I 2012). The overall response rate (ORR) was 92% with 76% of patients achieving at least a very good partial response (VGPR). Renal response was seen in 65% (15/23) of patients (median time 18 months post ASCT, range 3-52 months) and cardiac response was seen in 60% (6/10) of patients (median time 12 months post ASCT, range 10-35 months). Median progression free and overall survival was 48 and 106 months respectively, Figure 1. Organ response predicted better PFS and OS (median PFS 93 months for organ response vs 16 months for no organ response, p=0.0006 and median OS 123 months for organ response vs 41 months for no organ response, p=0.02), Figure 2. Two patients died within 100 days of transplant representing a 5% 100 day mortality. ASCT is an effective therapy that can be safely delivered to carefully selected patients with IgM related AL amyloidosis.
Quantitative Detection of Complex Mixtures using a Single Chemical Sensor: Analysis of Response Transients using Multi-Stage Estimation

Most chemical sensors are only partially selective to any specific target analyte(s), making identification and quantification of analyte mixtures challenging, a problem often addressed using arrays of partially selective sensors. This work presents and experimentally verifies a signal-processing technique based on estimation theory for online identification and quantification of multiple analytes using only the response data collected from a single polymer-coated sensor device. The demonstrated technique, based on multiple stages of exponentially weighted recursive least-squares estimation (EW-RLSE), first determines which of the analytes included in the sensor response model are absent from the mixture being analyzed; these are then eliminated from the model prior to executing the final stage of EW-RLSE, in which the sample's constituent analytes are more accurately quantified. The overall method is based on a sensor response model with specific parameters describing each coating-analyte pair and requires no initial assumptions regarding the concentrations of the analytes in a given sample. The technique was tested using the measured responses of polymer-coated shear-horizontal surface acoustic wave devices to multi-analyte mixtures of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylenes, and 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene in water. The results demonstrate how this method accurately identifies and quantifies the analytes present in a sample using the measured response of just a single sensor device. This effective, simple, lower-cost alternative to sensor arrays needs no arduous training protocol, just measurement of the response characteristics of each individual target analyte and the likely interferents and/or classes thereof.
Anomalous Quantum Hall Effect of Light in Bloch-Wave Modulated Photonic Crystals

Effective magnetic fields have enabled unprecedented manipulation of neutral particles including photons. In most studied cases, the effective gauge fields are defined through the phase of mode coupling between spatially discrete elements, such as optical resonators and waveguides in the case for photons. Here, in the paradigm of Bloch-wave modulated photonic crystals, we show the creation of effective magnetic fields for photons in conventional dielectric continua for the first time, via Floquet band engineering. By controlling the phase and wave vector of Bloch waves, we demonstrated the anomalous quantum Hall effect for light with distinct topological band features due to delocalized wave interference. Based on a cavity-free architecture, in which Bloch-wave modulations can be enhanced using guided resonances in photonic crystals, the study here opens the door to the realization of effective magnetic fields at large scales for optical beam steering and topological light-matter phases with broken time-reversal symmetry.
Anatomy of Blockchain Revolution. From Digital Gold to Digital Treasures Through the Digital Crash

The crypto-economy is booming and its combined market cap already exceeds $300B. However, many experts silently admit that most of this growth is fueled mainly by speculation and fraud, which implies that crypto-investors and their money will not be together for long.In this paper, we try to analyze why this could be the case, and what to expect after the crash.
ZnO nanobridge devices fabricated on carbonized photoresist

Devices based on nanowires [1, 2] and nanobridges [3, 4] offer great promise for photonic and sensing applications [5]. However, the development of scalable processes for connecting nanowires (NWs) to metallic electrodes remains a challenge. Recently, the use of carbonized photoresist (C-PR) was reported as a novel nucleation layer for producing selective growth of ZnO nanowires from evaporated ZnO powder [6,7]. It has been reported that the resistivity of C-PR films is comparable to ITO [6], a frequently used wide band gap conductor, suggesting that C-PR could serve as a built-in electrode for contact to NW devices. In this work, we demonstrate 1) that the C-PR method can be used to form ZnO nanobridge structures, 2) that C-PR can provide electrical contact to these nanobridge devices, and 3) operation of these nanobridges as bottom gate transistors and UV sensors. These results show that the C-PR method holds great promise due to the ease of synthesis and patterning of the C-PR layer and the potential for direct electrical integration of NWs into Si based CMOS processes.
Research as Starshine: Making Up Methodology in the The Making of Indigeneity

This is multivocal response essay responds to Licho Lopez’s The Making of Indigeneity, Curriculum History, and the Limits of Diversity, which has been adapted from a Provoking Dialogues panel presentation at the 2018 Bergamo conference.
Suppression of Subsynchronous Vibration in the SSME HPFTP

Space Shuttle Main Engine (SSME) High Pressure Fuel Turbopump (HPFTP) hot-fire dynamic data evaluation and rotordynamic analysis both confirm that two of the most significant turbopump attributes in determining susceptibility to subsynchronous vibration are impeller interstage seal configuration and rotor sideload resulting from turbine turnaround duct configuration and hot gas manifold. Recent hot-fire testing has provided promising indications that the incorporation of roughened damping seals at the impeller interstages may further increase the stability margin of this machine. A summary of the analysis which led to the conclusion that roughened seals would enhance the stability margin is presented along with a correlation of the analysis with recent test data.
Getting to first base: Running is faster than sliding in collegiate baseball and softball players:

Previous research has shown no significant differences in time required to reach a base when sliding head-first or feet-first, but few studies have compared running through and sliding into first b...
Public Shaming and Attacks on Social Media: The Case of White Evangelical Christians

In this article, we compare public shaming with attacks on social media by looking at how these tactics have been used regarding White Evangelical Christians in the United States within the current political climate. We first examine public shaming historically and then in its current form on social media. Then, we differentiate shaming from attacks and argue that this distinction is vital for understanding the goals and motives of online use of these tactics. By making this comparison, we can identify the motives and goals of using these types of posts. We conclude with considerations and recommendations about conflict on social media.
Gender difference of hip-ankle compensations following a novel trip perturbation in young adults.

Abstract Background Women have an increased likelihood of sustaining a fall-related injury compared to men; however, little is known about fall prevention strategies between genders. The purpose of this study was to compare the gender differences in lower limb reactions and three-dimensional recovery patterns following a treadmill-induced trip perturbation. Methods Seventy-six participants who are right limb dominant enrolled in the study, which included 41 females (26.15 [9.92] years old) and 35 males (27.11 [9.15] years old). The outcome measures included a three-dimensional (3D) range of motion (ROM) analysis on the bilateral hip, knee, and ankle joints following the trip perturbation at a 0.89 m/s velocity for 0.12 m. This induced trip caused subjects to walk forward for a 0.26 s duration. Findings The female group demonstrated significantly increased frontal plane ROM in the right hip (t = 2.71, p = 0.01) and left ankle (t = 2.16, p = 0.03) as well as increased sagittal plane ROM in the right (t = 2.07, p = 0.04) and left (t = 2.36, p = 0.02) ankles. There was a significant gender interaction on 3D body region (F = 6.84, p = 0.01) following the perturbation. Interpretation There was a 3D gender difference on the lower limbs for balance control. The female group demonstrated increased sagittal motion in both ankles following a trip perturbation. In addition, their ROM increased on the dominant hip and non-dominant ankle in the frontal plane, which was compensated by step width for standing stability. Clinicians might want to consider the implications of gender differences on lower limb reaction patterns to help patients avoid potential injuries/falls.
The Naturalization of Religion

“The Naturalization of Religion” This chapter fills an important gap in the atheist naturalist account. If there are no supernatural entities, then the prevalence of belief must be explained. Lorkowski first discusses the scope of the problem, showing that the popularity of belief does not constitute an argument against atheist naturalism. The author then goes on to discuss important natural explanations for religious phenomena, distinguishing the cause for original belief as a spandrel of our agent-detecting abilities from the transmission of such beliefs. Lorkowski accounts for the latter through the mechanisms of social Darwinism, memetics, and the structures of cognitive science. Lastly, the author points out these natural explanations support atheist naturalism over its competitors, since the patterns are what is expected given natural but surprising given supernatural origins.
Machine Improvisation in Music: Information-Theoretical Approach

This chapter introduces the methods and techniques of machine improvisation based on information-theoretical modeling of music, starting from the first 1998 universal classification modeling of music as an information source, style mixing using joint information source, variable-length motif dictionary improvisation based on universal prediction, and use of information dynamics for symbolic approximation in the factor oracle machine improvisation algorithm. Later developments include query-guided machine improvisation, free-energy modeling of music cognition, and reformulating of variational generative neural music models in terms of rate-distortion theory. This information-theoretical framework offers a novel view of man–machine creative music interaction as a communication problem between an artificial agent and a musician, seeking optimal trade-off between novelty and stylistic imitation under scarcity constraints.
A Causal Feeling: How Kinesthetic Haptics Affects Causal Perception

While haptic feedback is vital to how we gather information in the world, most research on causal perception has focused on visual information. To assess how haptics affects people’s perception of causal events, we ran a psychophysical study modeled after Michotte’s launching paradigm. Participants watched trains move on the screen and judged whether one train caused the other to move, with half the trials providing 1-DoF kinesthetic haptic feedback synchronized to the motion of the second train. We manipulated the temporal offsets between when the first train stopped and the second train started. The results show that adding haptic feedback increases causal perception for events with positive offsets.
Magnetic DNA random access memory with nanopore readouts and exponentially-scaled combinatorial addressing

ABSTRACT The storage of data in DNA typically involves encoding and synthesizing data into short oligonucleotides, followed by reading with a sequencing instrument. Major challenges include the molecular consumption of synthesized DNA, issues with basecalling errors, and limitations with scaling up read access operations for individual data elements. Addressing these challenges, we describe a DNA storage system called MDRAM (Magnetic DNA-based Random Access Memory) that enables repetitive and efficient readouts of targeted files with nanopore-based sequencing. Through conjugation of synthesized DNA to magnetic beads, we enabled repeated readouts of data while preserving the original DNA analyte and maintaining data readout quality. MDRAM also utilizes an efficient convolutional coding scheme that leverages soft information in raw nanopore sequencing signals to achieve information reading costs comparable to Illumina sequencing despite substantially higher error rates. Finally, we demonstrate a proof-of-concept DNA-based proto-filesystem that enables an exponentially-scalable data address space using only small numbers of targeting primers for assembly and readout. ONE-SENTENCE SUMMARY We demonstrate a novel DNA data storage system that leverages conjugation of DNA onto magnetic beads, new computational advances in data encoding, and exponentially scalable access of individual data elements.
Reproductive endocrinologists' knowledge and attitudes in the identification of intimate partner violence.

Objective To assess reproductive endocrinologists’ attitudes, beliefs, knowledge, and experiences with intimate partner violence (IPV). Design Cross-sectional survey of US reproductive endocrinologists. Setting The survey was disseminated via both direct mail and e-mail to a voluntary, semirandomized US national sample of reproductive endocrinologists. We randomly selected a maximum of six clinics per state using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Fertility Clinic Success Rates Report. Patient(s) None. Intervention(s) None. Main Outcome Measures Clinician perceptions and knowledge regarding IPV and its relevance to the infertility setting. Results A total of 95 reproductive endocrinology and infertility physicians practicing in either academic or private clinics in the United States completed the survey with an overall response rate of 46% (95/200). General knowledge of IPV was good among respondents. Intimate partner violence assessment was very relevant among 39% (37/95) of respondents and possibly relevant among 56% (53/95) of respondents. A history of IPV awareness training was associated with a decreased frequency of reported barriers, including fewer perceived time constraints, decreased knowledge regarding IPV community resources, and less discomfort asking about IPV. Most respondents estimated the prevalence of IPV in their practice to be rare (≤1%). However, 33% (31/95) reported identifying between one and five active victims of IPV over the prior year, and 63% (60/95) reported identifying a victim of IPV throughout their careers. Only 17% (16/95) of respondents were certain that their clinic had guidelines for detection or management of IPV. Conclusion Reproductive endocrinology and infertility physicians would benefit from education and training in IPV to enable them to better identify and assist patients who are victims of IPV.
Plasma-mediated alterations of erythrocyte deformability by perfluorochemical blood substitutes

The effect of perfluorochemical blood substitutes (eg, Oxypherol or Fluosol-DA) on red cell deformability was investigated because these emulsions are in direct contact with red cells when they are used as temporary circulatory aids. Erythrocyte deformability was assessed by a constant volumetric flow rate filtration method. The results of in vitro incubation experiments indicate that perfluorotributylamine causes the deformability of human red cells to decrease significantly in the presence of plasma. However, there is no obvious loss in the deformability when washed cells are used. Neither mean cell volume nor white cells appear to be responsible for the observed effects of perfluorotributylamine. Perfluorodecalin and perfluorotripropylamine, two perfluorochemical compounds that are widely applied clinically, do not induce significant changes in red cell deformability with or without plasma. These results indicate the need for in vitro testing in the development of perfluorochemicals as blood substitutes.
Keck HIRES Spectroscopy: Low-Redshift Mg II and Lyman α Systems

Motivated by the proposed connection between galaxies and the Ly α forest at low redshifts, we report on a sensitive search for Mg II absorption corresponding to Ly α lines detected by the HST Key Project at z ≤ 1.3. Spectra of the bright QSO, PG 1634+706 were obtained using the High Resolution Echelle Spectrometer on the Keck Telescope. We do not detect Mg II absorption corresponding to the majority of Ly α lines although many have similar strength to those which do have associated Mg II lines. The non-detections provide useful limits on the metal abundance in both individual lines and averaged over all Ly α redshifts. We detect an excess of weak Mg II systems which also show corresponding C IV and Lyman-limit absorption when such data are available In several cases, the extremely narrow line widths are consistent with thermal broadening at temperatures characteristic of Ly α forest lines. From the observed number density, we discuss implications for the size and luminosity of weak-line absorbers.
Change Point Methods in Genetics

In this review article, recent applications of change point methods in genetics will be discussed. The latest advances in bio-technology have provided new tools for scientists to carry out health and life science research. The array, or microarray, technology has made it possible to simultaneously quantify expression patterns of thousands or hundreds of thousands of genes in various cell lines, tissues, and conditions. The resulting datasets from various experiments using microarray technology are of high-throughput and cast challenges to data analysts. Specifically, to study the genetic reasons of tumor growth, cancer formation, and genetic diseases, geneticists can now use microarray technology to conduct DNA copy number experiments to obtain gene positions, log base 2 ratio intensities, and DNA copy numbers along the genome. It turns out that identifying loci of DNA copy number variations along the chromosome or genome can be viewed as a change point problem of detecting the changes presented in the sequence of log ratio intensities. The author will discuss the background of DNA copy number experiments, especially the experiments using the array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) technique, the resulting aCGH data, and the appropriate change point methods that can be used to analyze the aCGH data. Several applications of the change point methods to the analysis of fibroblast cell line data, the breast tumor data, and the breast cancer data will be given. Keywords: Change point methods; gene expression; ACGH data; DNA ; DNA copy number; copy number variations (CNVs)
Quantum Mechanics: An Introduction for Device Physicists and Electrical Engineers,

Waves and particles. The Schrodinger equation. Tunnelling. The harmonic oscillator. Basis functions, operators, and quantum dynamics. Stationary perturbation theory. Time-dependent perturbation theory. Motion in centrally symmetric potentials. Electrons and anti-symmetry. Solutions to selected problems Index.
The policy science of democracy: The issues of methodology and citizen participation

There are continuing debates on methodological issues of policy science. On the one hand, the unprecedented advancement in research methods and technology has made it possible to formulate more precise, empirically driven models of scientific inquiries and thus has added credibility on positivist approach of policy science. On the other hand, social systems and subjective values have increasingly been emphasized in policy analyses and have served as impetus to postpositivist approach of policy science. In this essay, I discuss the role of democratization and citizen participation in policy science. While citizen participation is important to ensure democratization of the process of policymaking and to improve the quality of information provided to make appropriate policy decisions, how such citizen participation can be acquired has become another pressing issue. I explore community participation in light of assessing its effectiveness in policymaking and its coherence with the role of policy experts.
Hard horn feeds for the excitation of quasi-optical amplifier

Measurement and simulation of hard horn feeds for the excitation of quasi-optical amplifiers has been performed. A computer program based on the mode matching technique has been developed in order to determine the aperture field distribution for pyramidal hard horns. This program can be used to optimize hard horn field distribution and bandwidth. Simulation and measurement results of a 31 GHz hard horn feed are presented.
Occurrence of pancreatic, biliary tract, and gallbladder cancers in Alaska Native people, 1973-2007.

Objectives: To describe the occurrence of pancreatic, biliary tract, and gallbladder cancers within the Alaska Native (AN) population. Study design: Population-based analysis utilizing a tumor registry and comparative population data. Methods: Pancreaticobiliary cancers rates for AN people during 1973-2007 were determined from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) AN Tumor Registry. Cancer incidence rates were age-adjusted to the World Standard Million and compared over 2 time periods with US white and black rates. Results: During 1973-2007, 213 AN people developed pancreatic cancer, 73 gallbladder cancer and 61 biliary tract cancer. Pancreatic cancer occurs at similar rates in AN men and women, but data for 1993-2007 indicate that the rates among AN men may be increasing. The incidence rate in AN women (9.5/100,000) was statistically higher than in US white women (5.8/100,000). The incidence for biliary tract cancer in AN men and gallbladder cancer in AN men and women is statistically higher than that for US whites and blacks. Conclusions: Pancreaticobiliary cancers, particularly biliary tract and gallbladder cancers, in both AN men and women and pancreatic cancer in women occur at an increased rate in AN people. Risk factors relating to the elevated rate are discussed. Certain factors are potentially modifiable, such as the use of tobacco and obesity. Keywords: Alaska Native; American Indian; pancreatic cancer; biliary tract cancer; gallbladder cancer; epidemiology (Published: 20 March 2012) Citation: Int J Circumpolar Health 2012, 71 : 17521 - DOI: 10.3402/IJCH.v71i0.17521
A direct injection gas‐liquid chromatographic method to monitor polymer melt devolatilization: Methyl methacrylate in poly(methyl methacrylate)

A new capillary gas chromatography method to monitor a residual monomer in a polymer is described. A short (5 m) crosslinked methyl silicone fused silica capillary column with flame ionization detection gave good separation efficiency and parts-per-million detection limits. Capillary gas-liquid chromatography was superior to packed column analysis (SP 1000) in terms of both analytical utility and ease of use. This technique may prove useful for monitoring other monomer/polymer systems.
Microwave Readout of Ferrite Memory Storage

Logic circuits composed of NOR or NAND elements are now being used extensively in digital systems, mainly because of their economy; one type of element may be used throughout an entire circuit. Assuming that the basic decision to use such "universal" elements has been made, the main design objective will usually be to produce either the fastest or the most economical circuit possible. The fastest NAND circuits, i.e., ones having a minimum number of levels of logic, are obtained by rewriting the minimum-OR polynomial (as obtained by the Quine-McCluskey method) in terms of the NAND connective, yielding a three-level logic (two-level if complemented inputs are available) e.g., where * represents the NAND connective. Similarly the minimum-AND polynomial may be written in terms of the NOR connective. Circuits obtained in this way are often also minimal with respect to the number of logic elements required.
Analytic solution of the gravity anomaly of irregular 2D masses with density contrast varying as a 2D polynomial function

The analytic solution of the gravity anomaly caused by a 2D irregular mass body with the density contrast varying as a polynomial function in the horizontal and vertical directions is extrapolated from a historical version in which the analytic solution for the gravity anomaly was given only at the origin of the coordinate system to any point for the density function in terms of variables relative to that origin. To calculate the gravity anomaly at stations that are not at origins, a coordinate transformation is performed, in which case the polynomial density contrast function must also be expressed in the transformed coordinates, or a transformed solution must be obtained. These analytic solutions can be obtained at any station using (1) a solution transformation method, in which the density function and boundary of a mass body are kept intact, or (2) a coordinate transformation method, in which polynomial coefficient and boundary of a mass body are transformed accordingly. The issue of singularity and instability of the analytic methods has been related to case studies. Caution should be exercised in modeling or interpreting the gravity survey data using the analytic methods for large target-distance-to-target-size ratios outside the range of numerical stability. Compared with other published methods, the analytic solution results agree very well with other numerical or seminumerical methods, indicating the solution is correct and can be applied for any gravity anomaly calculation caused by an irregular 2D mass body with the density-contrast approximated as a polynomial function of horizontal position and/or vertical position when the observation is within the range of numerical stability.
Waldhausen's theory of k-fold end structures: a survey

Abstract Let R + be the space of nonnegative real numbers. F. Waldhausen defines a k -fold end structure on a space X as an ordered k -tuple of continuous maps x f : X → R + , 1 ⩽ j ⩽ k , yielding a proper map x : X → ( R + ) k . The pairs ( X , x ) are made into the category E k of spaces with k -fold end structure. Attachments and expansions in E k are defined by induction on k , where elementary attachments and expansions in E 0 have their usual meaning. The category E k / Z consists of objects ( X , i ) where i : Z → X is an inclusion in E k with an attachment of i ( Z ) to X , and the category E k ‖ Z consists of pairs ( X , i ) of E k / Z that admit retractions X → Z . An infinite complex over Z is a sequence X = { X 1 ⊂ X 2 ⊂ … ⊂ X n …} of inclusions in E k ‖ Z . The abelian grou p S 0 ( Z ) is then defined as the set of equivalence classes of infinite complexes dominated by finite ones, where the equivalence relation is generated by homotopy equivalence and finite attachment; and the abelian group S 1 ( Z ) is defined as the set of equivalence classes of X 1 , where X ∈ E k / Z deformation retracts to Z . The group operations are gluing over Z . This paper presents the Waldhausen theory with some additions and in particular the proof of Waldhausen's proposition that there exists a natural exact sequence 0 → S 1 ( Z × R )→ π S 0 ( Z ) by utilizing methods of L.C. Siebenmann. Waldhausen developed this theory while seeking to prove the topological invariance of Whitehead torsion; however, the end structures also have application in studying the splitting of a noncompact manifold as a product with R [1].
Maitake mushroom extract in myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS): a phase II study

Background Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are characterized by ineffective erythropoiesis with dysplastic bone marrow leading to peripheral cytopenia, risk of infection, and progression to acute myelogenous leukemia. Maitake mushroom beta-glucan, a dietary supplement, stimulates hematopoietic progenitor cell differentiation, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor production, and recovery of peripheral blood leukocytes after bone marrow injury. This phase II trial examined the effects of Maitake on innate immune function in MDS.
Measurement of Pneumococcal Polysaccharide Antibodies

Janssen et al in this journal published their paper “Measurement of pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine responses for immunodeficiency diagnostics: combined IgG responses compared to serotype specific IgG responses”. It is important to note that the message of this study is the observation that measuring antibodies against a mixture of all 23 pneumococcal serotype polysaccharides by ELISA does not reliably identify patients with a deficient response to pneumococcal polysaccharides. This holds true for patients with CVID, Specific Antibody Deficiency (SAD) or any other immunodeficiency affecting antibody production. Therefore, this study confirms a finding that is well established and beyond question; the only way to properly assess the ability of producing IgG anti-pneumococcal antibodies is to measure antibodies to each serotype individually. This is particularly important in the diagnosis of SAD since this deficiency is defined as an abnormal response to pure pneumococcal polysacchrides, as in the 23-valent poneumococcal vaccine [1]. Now that most young patients are already vaccinated with a pneumococcal conjugate vaccine and may have developed antibodies to serotypes present in these vaccines, the global ELISA test would not be able to identify the lack of response to serotypes that are only in the 23-valent polysaccharide and not in the conjugate vaccines. The study by Janssen et al does lend further clarification about the value of the Luminex method for the diagnosis of SAD. The Luminex method is now used by most commercial laboratories in the USA because it offers significant logistic advantages over the well-standardized but more cumbersome WHO ELISA method. Luminex allows the simultaneous quantitation of multiple serotype-specific antibodies. Both the third generation WHO ELISA and Luminex based tests offered in the USA incorporate double absorption of samples with cell wall polysaccharide (CPS) and serotype 22F. The WHO ELISA test results have been shown to correlate closely with opsonophagocytosis (OPA) measurements [2, 3]. Although the Luminex method has been approved for the measurement of specific anti-pneumococcal serotype IgG antibodies, the correlation of this test with the standard ELISA test is poor and its use as s a diagnostic tool for SAD still needs further study. Recent studies designed to validate the Luminex assay for anti-pneumococcal IgG antibodies have shown different degrees of variability when compared to the ELISA method [4]. Results obtained in a recent comprehensive com-
Effect of polyene macrolide antibiotics on invertebrate tissue culture cells.

The effect of amphotericin B (AB) and amphotericin B methyl ester (AME) on viability and DNA synthesis in three insect cell lines, Trichoplusia ni (Tn), Carpocapsa pomonella 169 (Cp) and Aedes aegypti (Aa), has been evaluated. In all cases AME was less toxic than AB and inhibited DNA synthesis to a lesser degree than AB. However, the three cell lines differed in their response to the two polyene macrolide antibiotic preparations. Tn and Aa cell responded in a similar manner when exposed to either AME or AB, whereas Cp cells were more sensitive to both antibiotics than Tn or Aa cells.
Solid state displacement reaction synthesis of interpenetrating-phase composites

Interpenetrating-phase composites have certain advantages compared to discontinuous-phase composites. Among these are stability against microstructural coarsening and enhanced fracture resistance. However, it is difficult to fabricate IPCs in a controllable manner. Infiltration of porous performs, chemical vapor infiltration, directed metal oxidation, colloidal methods, and analogs to spinodal decomposition are all methods that have been used. Of particular interest are methods, such as the one presented here, that produce IPCs in situ without expensive lay-up processing. For the work presented here, synthesis of two composites, NiAl/Al[sub 2]O[sub 3] and NiAl+Ni[sub 3]Al+[gamma]-Ni/Al[sub 2]O[sub 3], exhibiting an interconnected cellular-phase structure by means of displacement reactions in situ is demonstrated.
Two leguminous tree species differ in growth and ion uptake in Hoagland solution: Phosphorus toxicity in Amur Maackia 1

Abstract Hydroponic culture of tree seedlings is used commonly to study root biology; however, we have found that two species of woody legumes differ in their responses to this practice. Seedlings of Amur maackia (Maackia amurensis Rupr. & Maxim.) and black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.) were cultured in 1, 5, 10, 25, 50, and 100% Hoagland solution #1 for 5 weeks. Total dry mass of black locust increased with increasing solution concentration up to 50%. Amur maackia dry mass was greatest in 5% solution. Bronzing, chlorosis, and necrosis occurred on leaves of Amur maackia in solutions 10%, and symptom severity increased with solution strength. Leaf phosphorus (P) content of Amur maackia increased from 0.40 to 1.95% of dry mass as solution strength increased from 5 to 50%. Amur maackia grown in a soil‐based medium and irrigated with 50% solution showed no foliar toxicity symptoms, and P content of the leaves of these plants was 0.279%. Laminae of Amur maackia had higher manganese (Mn) content than laminae...
Teaching a cross-disciplinary environmental science, policy, and culture course on Costa Rica’s ecotourism to business students

Within the business world, there is growing evidence and increasing acceptance that sustainability and environmental practices are the main drivers for current innovation and success. We developed an interdisciplinary, offshore course where undergraduate business students could truly investigate and experience the benefits of environmentally and socially responsible business through the lens of the ecotourism industry. Many in the environmental movement, as well as those who teach about it, see business and environmental issues as being in opposition to each other. We found that this is definitely not the case. By exploring the important ways in which ecology, law, policy, ethics, and culture need to inform business decisions, students were able to apply what they learned in the course to capstone projects in which they created business plans that took into account the ecology of the land, the laws they must adhere to, the culture of the Costa Rican people, and the financial opportunities for socially and environmentally responsible entrepreneurs.
The impact of energy shortages on the timeliness of agricultural operations

Abstract This report provides a review of energy requirements for various agricultural operations. As most agricultural operations are time dependent, the timeliness of energy supplies is the second most important concern, after availability. Failure to supply adequate fuel at the right time can delay planting and harvesting, thereby reducing quality and quantity of the yield. The effect of energy shortages on agriculture could be minimized by implementation of the following practices: (1) developing alternative energy sources such as solar energy; (2) using energy management practices and energy efficient equipment; (3) using energy conservation practices.
Nitrogen and Oxygen Donors in Nonlinear Optical Materials: Effects of Alkyl vs Phenyl Substitution on the Molecular Hyperpolarizability

The second-order nonlinear optical response of amine and phenol/ether derivatives (1−8) has been evaluated using experimental and theoretical techniques. Electric-field-induced second-harmonic generation (EFISH) measurements establish that N-phenyl substitution of 4-nitroaniline (1) produces a greater increase in molecular hyperpolarizability than N-methyl substitution. In contrast, O-phenyl substitution of 4-nitrophenol (6) produces a smaller increase in hyperpolarizability than O-methyl substitution. Neither the enhancement of hyperpolarizability upon N-phenyl substitution nor the differential substituent effect is anticipated on the basis of qualitative arguments. Careful theoretical analysis using semiempirical sum-over-states and finite field calculations provide explanations for both observed effects.
A framework for Broker placement in vehicular ad hoc Networks

Vehicular networks are a classic example of mobile, peer-to-peer networks. The domain of intelligent transportation engineering (ITS) envisions a wide range of services over these vehicular networks. Supporting the different quality of service properties of these services requires effective dynamic resource management solutions in vehicular networks, which cannot be realized using vehicles alone due to factors such as varying vehicular mobility patterns, varying vehicular traffic density, and obstacles. Road side units (RSUs), which serve as event and data brokers among the moving vehicles, can alleviate this problem. To maximize the value proposition offered by RSUs requires their effective placement that holistically accounts for physical factors, such as traffic patterns and mobility, with cyber factors, such as communication protocols and messaging. To address these requirements, this paper presents a design methodology based on the principles of surrogate modeling wherein small-scale, micro-simulations of the ITS cyber-physical system are used to develop training points, which in turn are used to train a surrogate model. The surrogate model is subsequently used to make planning decisions for ITS.
Effects of clothing values on perceived clothing deprivation among adolescents.

Summary.-The present purpose was to invest~gate the relationship between clothing values and perceived clothing deprivation among adolescents. From prwious studies a questionnaire was developed to measure perceived clothing deprivation (the dependent variable) and dothing values (the independent variable). Items were measured on a 5-point Likert scale. The sample was comprised of 338 high school students enrolled in Grades 9 to 12 home economics courses at six high schools. The effects of values (aesthetic, economic, exploratory, political, religious, sensory, social, and theoretical) on perceived clothing deprivation were tested. Pearson correlations and multiple regression indicated positive relationships between perceived clothing deprivation and the economic and social clothing values. Also, these values accounted for significant proportions of the variance of perceived clothing deprivation. Negative relationships between aesthetic and political clothing values and perceived clothing deprivation were noted; howwer, they did not contribute significantly to the variance of perceived clothing deprivation. No relationships were found between the remaining clothing values and perceived dothing deprivation.