cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects of geologic reservoir uncertainty on CO2 transport and storage infrastructure

CO2 capture and storage (CCS) is a climate-change mitigation technology that can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the near future. To have a meaningful impact, CCS infrastructure will have to be deployed on a massive scale; in the U.S. this will require capturing CO2 from hundreds of fossil fuel power plants and building a dedicated pipeline network to transport a volume of CO2 greater than domestic oil consumption. In this paper, we analyze the effect of geologic reservoir uncertainty on constructing CCS infrastructure—geologic uncertainty can impact reservoir cost and capacity estimates by as much as an order of magnitude. This uncertainty propagates through the capture–transport–storage system, influencing decisions including where and how much CO2 should be captured. We demonstrate the effect of geologic uncertainty using a proposed oil shale industry that could generate tens of millions of tonnes of CO2 each year. We show that uncertainty can make transport and storage costs deviate by over 100% and that CCS infrastructure, particularly the optimal pipeline network, can considerably diverge spatially. Finally, we draw conclusions on how geologic uncertainty may end up being a driving factor on how major industries decide to manage produced CO2.
Gauge origin of M parity and the μ term in supersymmetry

In this article, we present a simple theoretical framework where the origin of the $\ensuremath{\mu}$ term and the matter-parity--violating interactions of the minimal supersymmetric standard model can be understood from the spontaneous breaking of new Abelian gauge symmetries. In this context, the masses of the ${Z}^{\ensuremath{'}}$ gauge bosons, the $M$-parity--violating scale and the $\ensuremath{\mu}$ term are determined by the supersymmetry breaking scale. The full spectrum of the theory is discussed in detail. We investigate the predictions for the Higgs masses in detail showing that it is possible to satisfy the LEP2 bounds even with sub-TeV squark masses. The model predicts the existence of light colored fields, lepton- and baryon-number violation, and new neutral gauge bosons at the Large Hadron Collider.
Enzymes from bovine and turkey kidneys which cleave S-(1,2-dichlorovinyl)-l-cysteine

Abstract 1. 1. Bovine and turkey kidneys were used to prepare concentrates of a lyase which can cleave S-(1,2-dichlorovinyl)- l -cysteine. 2. 2. Both enzymes had similar properties, producing pyruvate, ammonia, chloride ions and a very reactive fragment which contains the sulfur and vinyl carbon atoms of DCVC†. Like an alkylating agent this fragment reacts with some sulfhydryl compounds, some proteins, including the DCVC-lyases, and with 4-(p-nitrobenzyl)pyridine. 3. 3. The great difference in susceptibilities of the hematopoietic systems and the kidneys of different species to toxic effects of DCVC cannot be accounted for by activities of the DCVC-lyases.
Congenital cervical teratomas

Congenital cervical teratomas are rare, representing 3% of teratomas in childhood. Although mostly benign, they are associated with a high mortality rate due to respiratory distress and require immediate surgical excision. The diagnosis is usually suggested on the physical examination. The imaging investigation is essential for the proper diagnosis and preoperative planning. We present the imaging characteristics of cervical teratomas identified in five neonates over a 10-year-period. The masses were surgically resected. Histopathology revealed the presence of congenital teratomas (three immature, two mature). Two neonates died soon after surgery, while the remaining were discharged from the hospital without symptoms.
Temporal induction of immunoregulatory processes coincides with age-dependent resistance to viral-induced type 1 diabetes

The dilute plasma cytokine milieu associated with type 1 diabetes (T1D), while difficult to measure directly, is sufficient to drive transcription in a bioassay that uses healthy leukocytes as reporters. Previously, we reported disease-associated, partially IL-1 dependent, transcriptional signatures in both T1D patients and the BioBreeding (BB) rat model. Here, we examine temporal signatures in congenic BBDR.lyp/lyp rats that develop spontaneous T1D, and BBDR rats where T1D progresses only after immunological perturbation in young animals. After weaning, the BBDR temporal signature showed early coincident induction of transcription related to innate inflammation as well as IL-10- and TGF-β-mediated regulation. BBDR plasma cytokine levels mirrored the signatures showing early inflammation, followed by induction of a regulated state that correlated with failure of virus to induce T1D in older rats. In contrast, the BBDR.lyp/lyp temporal signature exhibited asynchronous dynamics, with delayed induction of inflammatory transcription and later, weaker induction of regulatory transcription, consistent with their deficiency in regulatory T cells. Through longitudinal analyses of plasma-induced signatures in BB rats and a human T1D progressor, we have identified changes in immunoregulatory processes that attenuate a preexisting innate inflammatory state in BBDR rats, suggesting a mechanism underlying the decline in T1D susceptibility with age.
A study of collaborative learning style and team learning performance

Purpose – Self‐directed work teams are seen as an important mechanism for dealing with today's complex and rapidly changing business environment. Team learning is an attempt to prepare students to real‐world experiences. But, not all teamwork is effective. This paper aims to examine the influence of learning style preferences on team learning performance.Design/methodology/approach – The Grasha‐Riechmann Student Learning Style Scales (GRSLSS) is used to assess the learning style preferences of business students enrolled in an operations management class.Findings – Students were found to be collaborative learners. Students' collaborative orientation complements participation and helps students to compete, which in turn increases team performance. In addition, influence of learning style varies with educational experience, gender and major. Graduate students showed to be collaborative and independent learners. As such, while personal model and formal authority teaching styles fit best undergraduates' learni...
The Role of Money in the Excitement of Gambling

Many gamblers claim that gambling is intrinsically exciting, with money playing only a secondary role. To examine the effects of the expectancy of winning money, the authors randomly assigned 243 male college student gamblers to 1 of 6 experimental or 1 of 3 control conditions. Control participants either simply watched a videotaped horse race or they picked a horse, but without wagering; that horse later turned out to be either the winner of the race or the runner-up. Experimental participants wagered $1 on a horse for a chance of winning either USD 2, USD 7, or USD 15, with half winning and half losing their wagers. Wagering led to increased heart rates and subjective excitement as a function of the expected payoff and of winning as opposed to losing the wager. The study was replicated with 200 female college student gamblers with similar results. These findings support the notion that the excitement of gambling is tied to the expectancy of winning money.
Effects of wheat germ agglutinin and concanavalin A on parameters of highly purified sodium-potassium adenosine triphosphatases from Squalus acanthias and Electrophorus electricus.

Abstract The effects of two lectins, wheat germ agglutinin and concanavalin A, were studied on a variety of parameters of two highly purified (Na+ + K+)-ATPases (ATP phosphohydrolase, EC 3.6.1.3), from the rectal salt gland of Squalus acanthias and from the electroplax of Electrophorus electricus. Both lectins agglutinated the rectal gland enzyme equally, but wheat germ agglutunin inhibited (Na+ + K+)-ATPase activity much more. The electroplax enzyme was only marginally agglutinated and inhibited by the lectins. Neuraminidase treatment of the rectal gland (Na+ + K+)-ATPase had no effect on wheat germ agglutinin inhibition. The inhibition of the rectal gland (Na+ + K+)-ATPase by wheat germ agglutinin could be reversed by N,N′-diacetylchitobiose, which has a high affinity for wheat germ agglutinin. Neither ouabain inhibition nor ouabain binding to the rectal gland enzyme was affected by wheat germ agglutinin. The p-nitrophenylphosphatase activity of the rectal gland enzyme was not inhibited by wheat germ agglutinin. Na+-ATPase activity, which reflects ATP binding and phosphorylation at the substrate site was inhibited by wheat germ agglutinin and this inhibition was reversed by potassium. Evidence is cited (Pennington, J. and Hokin, L.E., in preparation) that the inhibition of the (Na+ + K+)-ATPase by wheat germ agglutinin is due to binding to the glycoprotein subunit.
Modeling diffusion of electrical appliances in the residential sector

This paper presents a methodology for modeling residential appliance uptake as a function of root macroeconomic drivers. The analysis concentrates on four major energy end uses in the residential sector: refrigerators, washing machines, televisions and air conditioners. The model employs linear regression analysis to parameterize appliance ownership in terms of household income, urbanization and electrification rates according to a standard binary choice (logistic) function. The underlying household appliance ownership data are gathered from a variety of sources including energy consumption and more general standard of living surveys. These data span a wide range of countries, including many developing countries for which appliance ownership is currently low, but likely to grow significantly over the next decades as a result of economic development. The result is a 'global' parameterization of appliance ownership rates as a function of widely available macroeconomic variables for the four appliances studied, which provides a reliable basis for interpolation where data are not available, and forecasting of ownership rates on a global scale. The main value of this method is to form the foundation of bottom-up energy demand forecasts, project energy-related greenhouse gas emissions, and allow for the construction of detailed emissions mitigation scenarios.
Rapid Diagnosis of Herpes Simplex Virus Infections with Fluorescent Antibody

A fluorescent microscopy technique is described which may prove useful in differentiating clinically similar lesions into lesions of herpes simplex virus etiology and nonherpetic lesions. Herpes simplex virus was isolated from the specimens which yielded positive fluorescence, and no virus was isolated from the specimens which yielded no fluorescence.
Discussion on “Change-Points: From Sequential Detection to Biology and Back” by David Siegmund

Abstract Change-point detection is an important subarea of statistics that spans various branches of science and engineering. Professor David Siegmund is an internationally recognized expert and an eminent researcher in statistics in general and sequential analysis in particular, and his article is an important contribution to change-point methods and their scientific and historic overview. This discussion expands on some of the methods and recent results, mostly sequential.
Toxicity of mild prenatal carbon monoxide exposure

Rats prenatally exposed to a low concentration of carbon monoxide which results in carboxyhemoglobin levels equivalent to those maintained by human cigarette smokers, show reduced birth weight and decreased weight gain. Neuro-behavioral and biochemical testing of the offspring reveals lower behavioral activity levels through the preweaning period, altered central catecholamine activity, and reduction in total brain protein at birth.
A rapid qualitative molecular method for the identification of Colletotrichum acutatum and C. gloeosporioides

Identification of the causal agent for anthracnose caused by C. acutatum and C. gloeosporioides based on morphological and cultural criteria is problematic as both are morphologically and genetically diverse. To evaluate a qualitative molecular method to readily distinguish between these two species, Restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLP) of a 1-kb intron of the glutamine synthetase (GS) gene was evaluated utilizing representative isolates from a world-wide collection. Unique band patterns of the 1-kb GS intron were obtained for C. acutatum (two fragments with 600 and 350 bp) and C. gloeosporioides (four fragments with 238–340, 252–254, 204, and 108–116 bp) based on PstI enzyme digestion of the amplified PCR product. These data were also confirmed by PstI digestion of the intron DNA sequences using BioEdit software. The identification based on RFLPs of the 1-kb GS intron was consistent with the identification based on previously evaluated species-specific primers (CaInt2 and CgInt). In addition, both species can be differentiated by multiplex PCR. CaInt2, CgInt and ITS4 in one PCR will distinguish between C. acutatum and C. gloeosporioides by differences in PCR product fragment size: 490 bp and 470 bp, respectively. Also, a rapid DNA extraction method was developed, which reduced the time for DNA extraction from two hours to five minutes. In summary, RFLP of the 1-kb GS intron is a reliable technique for identification and differentiation between both species, does not require a sequencing step, and may be useful to diagnostic clinics in helping to make disease management recommendations.
High school students’ implicit theories of what facilitates science learning

Background: Research has primarily concentrated on adults’ implicit theories about high quality science education for all students. Little work has considered the students’ perspective. This study investigated high school students’ implicit theories about what helped them learn science. Purpose: This study addressed (1) What characterizes high school students’ implicit theories of what facilitates their learning of science?; (2) With respect to students’ self-classifications as African American or European American and female or male, do differences exist in the students’ implicit theories? Sample, design and methods: Students in an urban high school located in south-eastern United States were surveyed in 2006 about their thoughts on what helps them learn science. To confirm or disconfirm any differences, data from two different samples were analyzed. Responses of 112 African American and 118 European American students and responses from 297 European American students comprised the data for sample one and...
Prominent R wave in lead V1: Electrocardiographic differential diagnosis

Tall lead V1 (tall RV1), defined as an R/S ratio equal to or greater than 1, is not an infrequent occurrence in emergency department patients. This electrocardiographic finding exists as a normal variant in only 1% of patients. Physicians should therefore be familiar with the differential diagnosis for this important QRS configuration. The electrocardiographic entities which can present with this finding include right bundle branch block, left ventricular ectopy, right ventricular hypertrophy, acute right ventricular dilation (acute right heart strain), type a Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, posterior myocardial infarction, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, progressive muscular dystrophy, dextrocardia, misplaced precordial leads, and normal variant. Various cases are presented to highlight the different causes of the tall RV1.
Substrate Stiffness and Cell Area Predict Cellular Traction Stresses in Single Cells and Cells in Contact

Cells generate traction stresses against their substrate during adhesion and migration, and traction stresses are used in part by the cell to sense the substrate. While it is clear that traction stresses, substrate stiffness, and cell area are related, it is unclear whether or how area and substrate stiffness affect force generation in cells. Moreover, multiple studies have investigated traction stresses of single cells, but few have focused on forces exerted by cells in contact, which more closely mimics the in vivo environment. Here, cellular traction forces were measured where cell area was modulated by ligand density or substrate stiffness. We coupled these measurements with a multilinear regression model to show that both projected cell area and underlying substrate stiffness are significant predictors of traction forces in endothelial cells, and interestingly, substrate ligand density is not. We further explored the effect of cell–cell contact on the interplay between cell area, substrate stiffness, and force generation and found that again both area and stiffness play a significant role in cell force generation. These data indicate that cellular traction force cannot be determined by cell area alone and that underlying substrate stiffness is a significant contributor to traction force generation.
Effects of polychlorinated biphenyls and nutritional restriction on barbituate-induced sleeping times and selected blood characteristics in raccoons (Procyon lotor)

Hepatic microsomal enzyme activity was induced in wild-trapped raccoons (Procyon lotor) and selected blood characteristics were measured in an effort to detect responses due to PCB ingestion, nutritional restriction, and their interactions. Barbiturate-induced sleeping times were used as an index of hepatic microsomal activity because they have been used reliably by other workers. Blood characteristics examined in the study were nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA), cholesterol, and three ketone bodies (D-(-)-3-hydroxybutyrate, acetoacetate, and acetone). Results show a reduction in sleeping times, elevated NEFA and D-(-)-3-hydroxybutyrate concentrations, and lower cholesterol concentrations in PCB-treated groups. A highly significant interaction between PCB treatment and nutritional restriction was observed in acetoacetate concentrations. (JMT)
SU-D-WAB-01: Functional Imaging Based Radiotherapy for Locally Advanced Lung Cancer with Motion Management

Purpose: To develop a new treatment planning framework incorporating lung functional information in addition to anatomy information. Methods: Ten patients were retrospectively evaluated. Fractional regional ventilation maps, obtained by performing subtraction of spatially matched and corrected 4DCT images, were selected for this study. Instead of utilizing the function information in the same manner across patients, tailor‐made utility functions based on each patient's pulmonary function distribution (developed from the histogram of the fraction ventilation values) were used. Patients' breathing traces extracted from the Varian RPM system were used to obtain probability mass functions (PMFs) of tumor locations. Our method incorporated PMFs to account for motion uncertainty while utilizing the personalized utility function in the optimization objective during planning (referred as FPMF plan). Results: Conventional ITV‐based plans and FPMF‐based plans were both classified as satisfactory plans by the physician. However, the latter delivered 22% less dose to normal tissue. Quantitative results were collected based on conventional dose/dose‐volume metrics and function dose/dose‐volume metrics. Although the plans were comparable with conventional dose/dose‐volume metrics, reductions of 35% and 48% in fV20 and fV30, respectively, were achieved by FPMF‐based plan (p‐value < 0.01). Compared with clinical plans (generated without functional information), FPMF plans successfully spared the high ventilation volume based on each patient's unique condition. The effect of applying personalized utility function was observed across patients. Conclusion: Organ‐function‐based radiotherapy has been presented to incorporate patient's pulmonary function in hopes of reducing the risk of complications. Respiratory motion management is incorporated with robust optimization method. This research is supported by Varian Medical Systems
Rapid release of liposomal contents upon photoinitiated destabilization with UV exposure

Abstract The use of liposomes for the delivery of therapeutic agents to tumor sites took a major step forward with the introduction of sterically stabilized liposomes (polyethylene glycol [PEG]-liposomes). Several research groups reported the increased localization of PEG-liposomes at tumor sites. Once PEG-liposomes reach these sites, it can be desirable to increase the rate of release of encapsulated compound(s). The use of radiation for this purpose is attractive, because it can be delivered in a spatially and temporally selective manner. An effective strategy for the photoperturbation of PEG-liposomes relies on the photoinitiated polymerization of reactive lipids in the liposomal bilayer. Previous studies indicated that the inclusion of the photoreactive 1,2-bis[10-(2′,4′-hexadienoyloxy)decanonyl]-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (bis-SorbPC17,17) among the lipids of PEG-liposomes had little effect on their permeability until the PEG-liposomes were exposed to UV light. Photoexposure increased the permeability of the PEG-liposomes 200-fold [Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1511 (2001) 113]. Further study of this phenomena has now revealed that PEG-liposomes can be designed that have extremely low permeabilities to water-soluble fluorescent probes at 37 °C in the dark, yet the permeability can be increased 28,000-fold upon UV irradiation. The large increase in the rate of photoinitiated release of the encapsulated contents may be a consequence of increased phase separation between photoreactive and saturated phospholipids used in the PEG-liposomes.
Role of prostaglandin E2 and prostacyclin in nonshivering thermogenesis during simulated birth in utero

Abstract Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) inhibits and prostacyclin (PGI2), stimulates lipolysis in vitro. Their role in initiating nonshivering thermogenesis at birth was investigated in 16 fetal sheep at 129–143 days gestation. In 10 fetuses indomethacin, a prostaglandin synthesis inhibitor, was infused; in 6 fetuses saline was administered as a control. 16 h later birth was simulated in utero. The plasma levels of PGE2 and PGI2 were unaffected by cooling. In the control fetuses, ventilation with oxygen caused PGE2 to fall, PGI2 to rise, and initiated moderate thermogenesis, signaled by a twofold increase in plasma free fatty acids (FFA). After umbilical cord occlusion, PGE2 decreased further (PGI2 was unchanged) and thermogenesis accelerated. In indomethacin-treated fetuses, in which the prostanoids had decreased and remained at ∼20% normal, cooling initiated moderate nonshivering thermogenesis, and ventilation and cord occlusion caused no further changes. Changes in plasma adenosine were similar in control and indomethacin-treated groups. We conclude that declining PGE2 and rising PGI2 contribute to the initiation of thermogenesis at birth, but that other agents possible of placental origin may play a contributory role.
Tandem Transformations Involving Allylic Silanes. 2. Highly Diastereoselective Substitutions Involving [(Trialkylsilyl)methyl]cyclohexene Derivatives with Aldehydes. Synthetic Studies on the Problem of Lewis Acid-Promoted Protodesilylation and Enolization

Diels−Alder cycloaddition of 2-[(trialkylsilyl)methyl]-1,3-butadienes with a variety of dienophiles and substitution reactions between these allylsilane-containing adducts and aldehyde or acid chloride electrophiles have been combined into “tandem sequential reactions.” These tandem sequences proceed with equal or greater yield (50−80%) than the reactions performed separately with no decrease in regio- or stereoselectivity. The sequence produces cyclic compounds with three or four stereogenic centers with good to excellent diastereoselectivity from three simple, noncyclic, and achiral reaction partners. Unprecedented levels of diastereoselectivity (de >93%) have been achieved in allylic substitution reactions involving substituted [(trialkylsilyl)methyl]cyclohexene derivatives with aldehyde electrophiles. During the course of these studies, protodesilylation of allylsilanes has been investigated in detail, and a cocatalyst system of TiCl4 and Me2AlCl has been developed that has eliminated silicon loss in ...
Ischemic preconditioning reduces infarct volume after subdural hematoma in the rat.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of ischemic preconditioning on infarct volume in a rat model of subdural hematoma (SDH). Ischemic preconditioning was induced by 15 min transient middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion followed 3 days later by the injection of 300 μl of autologous venous blood into the subdural space. Preconditioning significantly reduced the volume of cortical infarction (by 26%, P 0.05) relative to sham-operated non-preconditioned animals. These data support the view that ischemic preconditioning reduces ischemic brain damage in this rat model of SDH.
The Relationships Among Spatiotemporal Gene Expression, Histology, and Biomechanics Following Full-Length Injury in the Murine Patellar Tendon

Tendon and ligament injuries present a considerable socioeconomic impact as close to 50% of the 32 million musculoskeletal injuries in the US per year include these structures [1]. The inadequate healing in these tissues requires novel treatment modalities. Improving tendon tissue engineering dictates that we better understand the process of natural adult tendon healing. Type-I (Col1) and Type-II (Col2) collagens are important structural proteins in tendon as Col1 is the main collagen type found in the tendon midsubstance while Col2 is expressed at the insertion into bone during development, growth, and healing [2–3]. Expression of Col1 and Col2 has typically been analyzed via qPCR, western blotting, and immunohistochemistry (IHC) during healing. However, the temporal expression of these genes is still poorly understood on a cell-by-cell basis. Our lab has previously studied patellar tendon (PT) healing in NZW rabbits [4]. While the NZW rabbit allows for controlled injuries and accurate biomechanical assessment of healing, it lacks the genetic power that is offered in the mouse. Therefore, pOBCo13.6GFPtpz (Col1) and pCol2ECFP (Col2) double transgenic (DT) reporter mice were created to track spatiotemporal gene expression. Thus, the objectives of this study were to monitor changes in: 1) spatiotemporal Col1 and Col2 gene expression patterns, 2) tissue morphology, and 3) healing biomechanics following a full-length, central PT injury in Col1/Col2 DT mice and to compare these natural healing results to contralateral surgical shams and normal PT in age-matched controls.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
STUDIES IN RODENT POLIOMYELITIS : V. INTERFERENCE BETWEEN MURINE AND MONKEY POLIOMYELITIS VIRUS.

1. The murine strain of SK poliomyelitis virus interferes with the propagation in rhesus monkeys of SK, Aycock, and RMV poliomyelitis monkey virus. 2. This interference is demonstrable by intracerebral injection of mixtures of murine and monkey virus prepared in vitro as well as by separate injection of the two viruses by diverse routes. 3. Mixture tests carried out with graded doses of murine and monkey virus show that 0.5 cc. of a 10 per cent suspension prepared from the brains of paralyzed mice is capable of counteracting at least 100 minimal paralyzing doses of two strains of monkey virus. 4. No interference was demonstrable with suspensions of brains infected with murine virus which had been inactivated by heating for ½ hour at 75°C., or with suspensions prepared from normal mice, or with brain suspensions prepared from mice infected with herpes virus. 5. When murine virus is introduced into monkeys by the intravenous route, before or after intracerebral infection with monkey virus, distinct prophylactic or therapeutic results may be obtained. 6. Analysis of the figures shows that the success of interference depends upon (a) the size of the infecting dose of monkey virus, (b) the amount of murine virus injected, and (c) the choice of proper intervals between the injection of monkey and murine virus. 7. The mechanism of the interference phenomenon here described is discussed in the light of the available data.
Night shifts and breast cancer risk: Policy implications***

Ithought of my funny, friendly colleague Nancy Dillard, RN, when I read the news recently. Nancy, a longtime night shift ED nurse who made many long nights more bearable with her wry wit, unflappable demeanor, and passionate dedication to providing excellent care, died of breast cancer almost 20 years ago, less than 2 years after a lump showed up on her mammogram. She left behind a grieving husband and toddler. Now I wonder (and, wherever they are now, I know her husband and daughter may wonder, too) whether her night shifts may have led to her premature death. Two recent studies published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute suggest that working at night or otherwise being exposed to light at night may increase the relative risk of developing breast cancer by as much as 60%. The night shift factor appears to increase risk by roughly the same amount as other known risk factors, including delayed childbirth, alcohol use, and use of high-dose birth control pills. One of the studies, part of the national, longitudinal Nurses’ Health Study in which many of our colleagues are participating, used female registered nurses as subjects. Both studies used large sample sizes and highly rigorous methods, and both arrived at conclusions consistent with the notion that night work may be associated with increased breast cancer risk and that the longer one works night shifts, the greater the risk. This hypothesis is also supported by earlier work that showed increased breast cancer risks among flight attendants and radio and telegraph operators who work at night. These studies have potentially explosive implications for the nursing profession and major policy implications for the nursing workforce, the vast majority of which Night Shifts and Breast Cancer Risk: Policy Implications
The Osmoprotective Properties of Urine for Bacteria: The Protective Effect of Betaine and Human Urine Against Low pH and High Concentrations of Electrolytes, Sugars, and Urea

Growth of Escherichia coli was inhibited in a defined minimal medium by high concentrations of electrolytes and sugars in direct relation to their osmotic strength. Choline, betaine, proline, and human urine increased resistance to these substances. In contrast, the toxic effect of urea was not altered directly by betaine or urine, but was reduced in the presence of other osmolytes. The osmolyte protective effect was augmented by betaine. The osmoprotective effect of betaine and urine was confirmed with 40 strains of enteric bacteria. Urine from 19 healthy subjects contained osmoprotective activity greater than that observed with betaine. A methanol extract of urine was found to be highly protective. Although betaine was present in the extract, it could not account for all the protective activity. Urine contains additional low-molecular-weight osmoprotective agents.
Research Note---Using Basket Composition Data for Intelligent Supermarket Pricing

How can supermarkets use the vast data they have to design strategies to compete for large-basket shoppers, potentially their most profitable customers? We say, analyze the data to glean basket composition of heterogeneous consumers. Of theoretical and practical interest is the question, will our suggestion improve supermarket profits, and if so, by what pricing strategies? By answering this we can also answer the question, do results of extant research on single-product marketing that using such information intensifies competition and lowers profits, generalize to multiproduct marketing by supermarkets that carry several products, and whose patrons purchase multiple items? We derive equilibrium data-based intelligent pricing strategies that also produce increased supermarket profits. What is more interesting is our result that data analysis is profitable whether or not a competitor undertakes data analysis. If not too costly, implementing data analysis is a dominant strategy. Moreover, with comprehensive data analysis connecting basket information and household data, stores can increase profits further by targeting rewards at individual households, thereby segmenting the market more completely. In contrast to past research findings, we show that for supermarkets, even under competition, use of information on past purchases enables intelligent pricing, better segmentation, and higher profits.
A unified electrothermal hot-carrier transport model for silicon bipolar transistor simulations

Abstract A transport model which consistently takes into account carrier and lattice heating is proposed for silicon bipolar transistor simulations. Unlike earlier nonisothermal and hot-carrier transport formulations, neither the carrier temperatures nor the device (lattice) temperature is required to be uniform. Their spatial dependence is determined from the corresponding energy balance equations. The two previous transport approaches are coupled by a new lattice heat generation model which accounts for mutual energy transfers among the carriers and the lattice through their temperature differences. By applying this model to the heat flow equation, hot-carrier induced lattice heating for a submicron npn structure is simulated. The effect of lattice heating on electron temperature distributions is discussed. Our simulation is also able to predict velocity overshoot and the Kirk effect. To study the problem of device heating, the effects on the lattice temperature due to thermal boundary characteristics and the proximity of heat sinks to the base-collector junction are investigated numerically. Device characteristics are also compared with those obtained from SEDAN.
On the Design of a Thermal Display for Upper Extremity Prosthetics

We are developing a multi-function haptic device that displays pressure, vibration, shear force, and temperature to the skin of upper extremity amputees, especially those who have undergone targeted nerve reinnervation (TRI) surgery. This paper presents the design of the thermal display portion of this device. Through psychophysical temperature discrimination tests, the unique thermal response characteristics of intact hands and TRI-chests are explored.
Polyunsaturated fatty acids of photoreceptor membranes

Abstract Photoreceptor membrane phospholipids contain large quantities of ω3 and ω6 polyunsaturated fatty acids. Attempts to deplete these fatty acids from rod outer segments of rats by feeding a fat-free diet for 10–12 weeks were unsuccessful. Subsequent experiments showed that photoreceptor disc renewal is altered in the absence of dietary ω3 and/or ω6 fatty acids. We conclude that photoreceptor membrane renewal depends upon the availability of polyunsaturated fatty acids. Docosahexaenoic acid in photoreceptor membranes was significantly lowered by raising several generations of animals on modified fat-free diets. Electroretinographic experiments on these animals showed a decreased amplitude of the a-wave, suggesting that normal visual function is dependent upon dietary polyunsaturates.
Secondary electrons in aurora

Abstract The Bethe approximation is used with measured and theoretical values of ionization cross sections and measured values of differential oscillator strengths to derive the initial energy spectrum of auroral secondary electrons. The differential flux of the auroral secondaries is then calculated, using the approximation of continuous energy loss. The calculations are applied to a particular aurora for which rocket data have been published. There is substantial disagreement between theoretical and measured electron spectra. The theoretical spectra show structure at energies less than 20 eV, associated primarily with vibrational and electronic excitation of molecular nitrogen. This structure is largely absent in the measured spectrum. Substantially more high energy electrons were measured than theory predicts. In addition, there are disagreements in the altitude profiles of the total number of non-thermal secondary electrons. Calculated values of OI green line photon emission rates which result from excitation by secondary electrons and dissociative recombination of O 2 + fall short of the measured values. The effect on the excitation rate of varying several parameters is investigated, and it is found that the results are particularly sensitive to competing inelastic processes in N 2 .
Facilitating children's ability to distinguish symbols for emotions: the effects of background color cues and spatial arrangement of symbols on accuracy and speed of search

Purpose Communication about feelings is a core element of human interaction. Aided augmentative and alternative communication systems must therefore include symbols representing these concepts. The...
Economic performance and U.S. Senate elections: A comment

This paper investigates the issue of economic performance and U.S. Senate elections analyzed by Bennett and Wiseman (1991) in a work published in this journal. Our study analyzes the electoral margins and election outcomes of U.S. Senate elections using state-level data involving only incumbents up for reelection in the 1976–1990 period (212 elections). The ordinary least squares and logit estimation results suggest that the effects of economic performance variables on incumbent senatorial elections are in general overshadowed by other factors known to be important in determining electoral margins and outcomes. In addition, the empirical results of the entire model are in general consistent with prior findings noted in the public choice and political science literature concerning the analysis of U.S. Senate elections. Therefore, we suggest that the findings raised in our study provide enough theoretical and empirical evidence to raise sufficient doubt regarding the robustness of the results suggested by Bennett and Wiseman (1991), and thus call upon other researchers to study further the relationship between economic performance and voting behavior in U.S. Senate elections.
Evolution at a multiallelic locus under migration and uniform selection

The semilinear parabolic system that describes the evolution of the gene frequencies in the diffusion approximation for migration and selection at a multiallelic locus is investigated. The population occupies a finite habitat of arbitrary dimensionality and shape. The drift and diffusion coefficients may depend on position, but the selection coefficients do not. It is established that if \({\hat{p}}\) is a uniform equilibrium point under pure selection, then \({\hat{p}}\) is a migration-selection equilibrium, and that generically the introduction of migration does not change the stability of \({\hat{p}}\) . It is also proved that if \({\hat{p}}\) is a uniform, globally asymptotically stable, internal equilibrium point under pure selection, then the gene frequencies converge to \({\hat{p}}\) when both migration and selection are present. Thus, in this case, after a sufficiently long time, there is no genetic indication of the spatial distribution of the population.
Thermophysical evaluation of a novel aluminum alloy with application to an integrated launch package

The thermophysical properties of a novel aluminum alloy are investigated. This alloy, GIGAS 30, is appealing for its increased mechanical properties compared to aluminum alloys commonly used for armatures (e.g., Al 6061, 7075). A pulsed current is used to generate the source of thermal loading. A thermocouple is used to measure the temperature rise of the material. The structure to contain the material during the discharge is configured so that very little force loading is generated during the discharge. Hence, the material failure can be essentially characterized from thermal loads alone. Finally, the thermophysical properties measured are used to assess the relative and absolute benefits and burdens when the material is selected for use in designing an integrated launch package for a railgun application. It is found that the marginal increase in breech energy and parasitic mass from the increased resistivity and density is compensated by the increased structural benefits, resulting in slightly increased system efficiency. Moreover, significant insight into material selection can be gained by using the integrated design methodology rather than selection based on one particular material property.
Optimal Flexibility Configurations in Newsvendor Networks: Going Beyond Chaining and Pairing

We study the classical problem of capacity and flexible technology selection with a newsvendor network model of resource portfolio investment. The resources differ by their level of flexibility, where “level-k flexibility” refers to the ability to process k different product types. We present an exact set-theoretic methodology to analyze newsvendor networks with multiple products and parallel resources. This simple approach is sufficiently powerful to prove that (i) flexibility exhibits decreasing returns and (ii) the optimal portfolio will invest in at most two, adjacent levels of flexibility in symmetric systems, and to characterize (iii) the optimal flexibility configuration for asymmetric systems as well. The optimal flexibility configuration can serve as a theoretical performance benchmark for other configurations suggested in the literature. For example, although chaining is not optimal in our setting, the gap is small and the inclusion of scale economies quickly favors chaining over pairing. We also demonstrate how this methodology can be applied to other settings such as product substitution and queuing systems with parameter uncertainty.
The VDAC2-BAK Rheostat Controls Thymocyte Survival

The proapoptotic proteins BAX and BAK constitute the mitochondrial apoptotic gateway that executes cellular demise after integrating death signals. The lethal BAK is kept in check by voltage-dependent anion channel 2 (VDAC2), a mammalian-restricted VDAC isoform. Here, we provide evidence showing a critical role for the VADC2-BAK complex in determining thymocyte survival in vivo. Genetic depletion of Vdac2 in the thymus resulted in excessive cell death and hypersensitivity to diverse death stimuli including engagement of the T cell receptor. These phenotypes were completely rescued by the concurrent deletion of Bak but not that of Bax. Thus, the VDAC2-BAK axis provides a mechanism that governs the homeostasis of thymocytes. Our study reveals a sophisticated built-in rheostat that likely fine-tunes immune competence to balance autoimmunity and immunodeficiency.
Psychiatric collaborations in the Hispanic world

c a l t t P l u A a i p A number of factors facilitate academic collaborations across the globe including geographical proximity, language, historical links, and cultural similarities. Examples include the British Commonwealth, the European Union, US-Canada, the Francophone world, or Spanish-speaking countries. Similarities in systems of care, homogeneity of populations, ease of administering rating instruments in the same language, or simply friendship make these collaborations attractive to investigators. The Spanish-speaking world spans continents. Spanish is spoken by more than 400 million people and is the second most spoken primary language after Chinese. Mexico has the largest number of Spanish speakers (n = 112 million) followed by the US (n = 50 million) and Spain (n = 46 million). Yes, there are more Spanish speakers in the US than in Spain or in any South American country. Of note, Spanish is the only language other than English to be declared official in any state of the United States. New Mexico is the only legally bilingual state in the US. We should not forget that the first Europeans to colonize the US were Spaniards -Florida and New Mexico in the mid-1500s. So considering some regions of the United States as part of the Spanish-speaking world is reasonable. Compared to other medical conditions, psychiatric disorders are perhaps more likely affected by socio-economic determinants such as culture, poverty, social isolation or migration. It stands to reason that by comparing these factors, we can have a better understanding of what moderates and modulates the course of psychiatric conditions. Psychiatry is perhaps where a proficient knowledge of the language most matters, because it is still primarily through speech
Metrics to improve the US Army software development process

The Software TE (2) a standard set of 12 software metrics which are mandatory for all Army software development efforts; and (3) improved software T&E procedures. The Army metrics effort is supported by development of a central database for Army-wide metrics data collection. The database will serve as the repository of lessons learned from the use of metrics, including cost data to support cost-benefit analyses. STEP has also conducted a survey of existing commercial and government off-the-shelf tools to support the metrics data collection effort. >
Gender Gap or Gender Gaps? New Perspectives on Support for Government Action and Policies

This paper clarifies the theoretical bases for expecting women to be more supportive of government programs than are men. We identify several factors not developed in past literature: (1) differences in emotional responses to social problems, (2) gendered differences in the awareness of those problems among one's own kin, (3) differences in the perceived fairness of existing social institutions, (4) differences in the perceived efficacy of government programs, and (5) variations in the preferred form that those programs should take. Testing hypotheses using data from a 1995 survey of public opinion covering five policy domains, we find that the gender gap in these domains is substantial, comparable to that associated with race and partisanship. These differences are attributable in part to factors identified previously in the literature-such as gendered differences in perceived opportunity-but are also affected by differences between men and women in the perceived efficacy of government programs (e.g., th...
A hybrid number system and its application in FPGA-DSP technology

New advancement in FPGA-DSP technology demands a new number system as well as a new data treatment that best utilizes the strengths and avoid the shortcomings of the new technology. To achieve this goal, here we introduce a customized floating-point number system that it can be reformatted as a fixed-point number when needed. In addition, a scheme is proposed for the use of both formats in DSP applications, such as in digital filter design.
Vaporization and thermodynamic properties of samarium dicarbide and sub-stoichiometric disamarium tricarbide

As noted in our recent report on the phase equilibria in the samarium + oxygen + carbon system (1), an interest in the physicochemical properties of the lanthanide carbides at high temperature is promoted by their importance in nuclear reactor technology. Initial workers reported the existence of three carbide phases (LnC2, Ln2C3, Ln3C) for several lanthanides (2), and the objective of this study was the determination of thermodynamic values for the samarium carbides from equilibrium vapor pressure data for the SmC2+C, Sm2C3 + SmC2 and Sm3C + Sm2C3 two-phase regions. Our reinvestigation of the Sm + 0 + C system (1) yielded two major findings: (a) The existence of the cubic Sm3C phase could not be confirmed; however, an aniondeficient fcc phase with identical lattice parameters was found at the SmO0.5C0.4 composition. (b) The cubic Pu2C3-type phase, designated as SmCy in this report, was found to be substoichiometric, to exist over the range 1.36<y<1.45 and to have a carbon-rich phase boundary which decreased in carbon content with increasing temperature. Consequently, this study has been limited to the SmC2+C and SmCy + SmC2 regions.