cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Stocking Decisions for Low-Usage Items in a Multilocation Inventory System

This research shows that organizations with a number of "sister" plants, warehouses, or other stocking points can profit from the concept of proactive use of transshipments as an element of their inventory control policy. For certain types of parts, employing transshipments can significantly reduce the total inventory needed throughout the entire collection of stocking points. The study is motivated by a real-life situation involving a large utility company having 29 power-generating plants in five Southeastern states where there are thousands of parts that are commonly used at multiple plants. At present, each plant operates independently and maintains enough stock to meet its own requirements. Transshipments take place between plants whenever there is an emergency requirement for a part, but no explicit consideration is given to this effect while deciding on stocking levels at different plants. In the case we examined, by setting stocking levels to explicitly take account of transshipments, total system cost could be reduced by about 70% over the company's decentralized policy. In general, this work considers a single-echelon, N-location, continuous-review inventory system in which complete pooling of stock is permitted among the locations. A model is developed for slow-moving, expensive, and consumable parts that are common to two or more locations. A one-for-one ordering policy and queueing theory allow development and solution of a system of equations for the probability distribution of net inventory at each location. A heuristic procedure is also developed to determine cost-effective stocking levels. Actual data from the utility company are used to demonstrate the applicability of the model. Savings achieved as a result of pooling are reported.
A review of recent developments in membrane separators for rechargeable lithium-ion batteries

In this paper, the recent developments and the characteristics of membrane separators for lithium-ion batteries are reviewed. In recent years, there have been intensive efforts to develop advanced battery separators for rechargeable lithium-ion batteries for different applications such as portable electronics, electric vehicles, and energy storage for power grids. The separator is a critical component of lithium-ion batteries since it provides a physical barrier between the positive and negative electrodes in order to prevent electrical short circuits. The separator also serves as the electrolyte reservoir for the transport of ions during the charging and discharging cycles of a battery. The performance of lithium-ion batteries is greatly affected by the materials and structure of the separators. This paper introduces the requirements of battery separators and the structure and properties of five important types of membrane separators which are microporous membranes, modified microporous membranes, non-woven mats, composite membranes and electrolyte membranes. Each separator type has inherent advantages and disadvantages which influence the performance of lithium-ion batteries. The structures, characteristics, manufacturing, modification, and performance of separators are described in this review paper. The outlook and future directions in this research field are also given.
Splitting the Difference and Moving Forward with the Research

Because they are looking at different populations, both Cohen-Kelman and Sasson-Kadushin-Saxe can be said to be correct. The AJC studies used by Sasson, Kadushin, and Saxe vastly under-represent adult Jews of mixed parentage who have low attachment to Israel. As this population grows, it will lower Israel attachment overall. Among Jews-by-religion Israel attachment is holding steady and apparently increasing with age. Both arguments would be more compelling and useful if the mechanisms underlying Israel attachment were elaborated.
Elasticity and Strength of Beta-Sheet Protein Materials: Geometric Confinement and Size Effects

Elasticity and strength of proteins influence their biological functions. Under external forces, many proteins exhibit entropic elasticity with a characteristic stiffening elastic behavior and unravel due to the rupture of interstrand H-bonds. We develop a fracture mechanics based theoretical framework that considers the free energy competition between entropic elasticity of polypeptide chains and rupture of peptide hydrogen bonds, which we use here to provide an explanation for the intrinsic strength limit of protein domains at vanishing rates [1, 2]. Our analysis predicts that individual protein domains stabilized only by hydrogen bonds cannot exhibit rupture forces larger than 100–300 pN in the asymptotic quasi-static limit. This result explains earlier experimental and computational observations that suggest such a universal, asymptotic strength limit at vanishing pulling rates. We show that the rupture strength of H-bond assemblies in beta-sheets is governed by geometric confinement effects, suggesting that clusters of at most 3–4 H-bonds break concurrently, even under uniform shear loading of a much larger number of H-bonds. These strength, elasticity and size effect predictions all agree well with recent experimental findings and proteomics data. Our model confirms that fracture mechanics concepts, previously primarily applied to macroscale fracture phenomena, can also be directly applied at nanoscale, to be used for describing failure mechanisms in protein materials. Our strength and optimal size predictions lead to a key hypothesis: confined H-bond clusters are prevalent in alpha helices, beta-sheets and beta-solenoids, perhaps as an evolutionary design principle that derives from generic mechanical properties of the fundamental building blocks of life.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
Should Clozapine Be a First-line Treatment for Schizophrenia? The Rationale for a Double-Blind Clinical Trial in First-Episode Patients

Recent studies suggest that clozapine is more effective than typical neuroleptics for patients with treatment-resistant schizophrenia. Although other investigations suggest that clozapine may also be at least as effective, and probably more so, than typical neuroleptics for individuals with acute psychosis, the toxicity of this drug has caused its use to be restricted to patients who have demonstrated resistance to previous treatment. The hypothesis behind this article, however, is that clozapine may not only be more effective than typical neuroleptics for individuals with “first-episode” schizophrenia but may also lead to a better long-term course in such patients. This hypothesis is based on the clinical literature concerning clinical and biological response to typical and atypical neuroleptic drugs, as well as on preliminary findings from studies of clinical, neuroendocrine, and biochemical effects that occur during treatment with haloperidol but not with clozapine. When examined in light of Wyatt's re...
Phenotypic and genetic variability of estimated growth curve parameters in mice

Data from 1,919 outbred ICR mice were used to examine the potential usefulness of growth curve parameters as selection criteria for altering the relationship between body weight and age. A logistic growth function was used to model growth through 12 weeks of age. Estimates of asymptotic weight (A), maximum growth rate (r) and age at point of inflection (t*) were obtained by nonlinear least-squares. A log transformation was also used to stabilize residual variance. Phenotypic and genetic parameters were estimated for the estimated growth curve parameters and for body weights at 2, 3, 4.5, 6, 8 and 12 weeks of age. Heritabilities of estimated growth curve parameters (obtained with and without a log transformation, respectively) were: A (0.28±0.07, 0.28±0.07), r (0.35±0.07, 0.53±0.09) and t* (0.41±0.08, 0.44±0.08). Estimated genetic correlations suggest that t* may be useful in selecting for rapid early growth without increasing mature weight.
Transferring Technology to China

The Chinese government has placed great emphasis on acquisition of foreign technology which would enhance the capabilities of existing enterprises. Yet China lacks many of the conditions which would make such transfers effective. The mere acquisition of technology does not assure the contributions sought. There must be a system for receiving the technology and utilizing it effectively, as well as a process of careful selection, so that it is not wasted through inefficiency or non-use. Transnational corporations (TNCs) themselves are not always aware of what is necessary for recipients to utilize the technology effectively. Some have simply transferred technology embodied in equipment or in written or oral communication, leaving the recipients to use it in the best way they see fit. In many cases there is insufficient ability in China to receive and utilize current technology. Effective technology transfers have four pre-requisites: the ability and willingness of the owner of the technology to transfer it,...
Caldesmon is necessary for maintaining the actin and intermediate filaments in cultured bladder smooth muscle cells.

Caldesmon (CaD), a component of microfilaments in all cells and thin filaments in smooth muscle cells, is known to bind to actin, tropomyosin, calmodulin, and myosin and to inhibit actin-activated ATP hydrolysis by smooth muscle myosin. Thus, it is believed to regulate smooth muscle contraction, cell motility and the cytoskeletal structure. Using bladder smooth muscle cell cultures and RNA interference (RNAi) technique, we show that the organization of actin into microfilaments in the cytoskeleton is diminished by siRNA-mediated CaD silencing. CaD silencing significantly decreased the amount of polymerized actin (F-actin), but the expression of actin was not altered. Additionally, we find that CaD is associated with 10 nm intermediate-sized filaments (IF) and in vitro binding assay reveals that it binds to vimentin and desmin proteins. Assembly of vimentin and desmin into IF is also affected by CaD silencing, although their expression is not significantly altered when CaD is silenced. Electronmicroscopic analyses of the siRNA-treated cells showed the presence of myosin filaments and a few surrounding actin filaments, but the distribution of microfilament bundles was sparse. Interestingly, the decrease in CaD expression had no effect on tubulin expression and distribution of microtubules in these cells. These results demonstrate that CaD is necessary for the maintenance of actin microfilaments and intermediate-sized filaments in the cytoskeletal structure. This finding raises the possibility that the cytoskeletal structure in smooth muscle is affected when CaD expression is altered, as in smooth muscle de-differentiation and hypertrophy seen in certain pathological conditions. Cell Motil. Cytoskeleton 2007. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Human Blood Monocytes: Stimulators of Granulocyte and Mononuclear Colony Formation in vitro

Human blood monocytes in a feeder layer or by use for conditioning medium produced a colony-stimulating factor capable of stimulating the in vitro growth of colonies of granulocytes and mononuclear cells from human and murine marrow. Lymphocytes and neutrophils did not stimulate colony formation, and medium conditioned by neutrophils was inhibitory. This suggests that the monocyte may control granulocyte proliferation and maturation.
Measurement of the centrality dependence of charged particle pseudorapidity distribution in proton–lead collisions at sNN=5.02TeV with the ATLAS detector

Abstract Multiplicity distributions of charged particles as a function of pseudorapidity d N ch / d η have been measured by the ATLAS Collaboration in p + Pb collisions at s NN = 5.02 TeV at the LHC. The multiplicity of charged particles was measured in | η | 2.7 using combinations of correlated space points into tracklets in the Pixel detector. These measurements are presented as a function of the centrality of the collision defined by forward energy deposited in 3.1 η 4.9 and three Glauber type Monte-Carlo simulations of the collisions. The measured multiplicity distributions have similar shapes as the ones measured at RHIC in d + Au collisions.
Coherent Inelastic Neutron Scattering in N H 4 Cl

Some normal modes of vibration have been measured in undeuterated ammonium chloride by coherent inelastic neutron scattering utilizing a triple-axis neutron spectrometer. The behavior of the low-energy modes near the $\ensuremath{\lambda}$-type order-disorder phase transition at 242\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K is correlated with the anomalous behavior of the elastic constants in this region. A splitting of the torsional mode has also been observed above the phase transition.
Vector-meson dominance, one-loop-order quark graphs, and the chiral limit.

We study six quark loop graphs involving the {rho} meson coupling to quarks. In the chiral limit these graphs justify most aspects of the vector-dominance model.
EGFR Mutation and Resistance of Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer to Gefitinib

Mutations of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene have been identified in specimens from patients with non-small-cell lung cancer who have a response to anilinoquinazoline EGFR inhibitors. Despite the dramatic responses to such inhibitors, most patients ultimately have a relapse. The mechanism of the drug resistance is unknown. Here we report the case of a patient with EGFR-mutant, gefitinib-responsive, advanced non-small-cell lung cancer who had a relapse after two years of complete remission during treatment with gefitinib. The DNA sequence of the EGFR gene in his tumor biopsy specimen at relapse revealed the presence of a second point mutation, resulting in threonine-to-methionine amino acid change at position 790 of EGFR. Structural modeling and biochemical studies showed that this second mutation led to gefitinib resistance.
Attentional enhancement in matching-to-sample: Facilitation in matching acquisition by sample-discrimination training

In three experiments, we examined how matching-to-sample by pigeons is affected by discrimination versus nondifferential training between the matching stimuli. In Experiment 1A, pigeons responding differentially to the sample stimuli off-baseline acquired accurate matching performances more rapidly than did pigeons responding nondifferentially to those same stimuli. In Experiment 1B, tests involving reversal of the off-baseline requirements demonstrated that the birds were primarily controlled in their matching choices by the sample stimuli. The results of Experiment 2 showed that off-baseline nondifferential training did not retard acquisition relative to comparable training between stimuli unrelated to the matching task. Together, these results suggest that discrimination training can facilitate matching acquisition by enhancing attention to the sample stimuli.
Thumb duplication, 66 years' experience--a review of surgical complications.

Abstract Fifty-four supernumerary thumbs excisions were followed for an average of 9 years for results of their surgical management, which consisted of simple excision (16 patients), reconstructive procedures (33 patients), or central wedge resections (5 patients). Half of all simple excisions and reconstructive procedures gave unacceptable results, most were salvaged. These were primarily joint deviations, joint instabilities, and bony prominences. All of our central wedge resections gave unacceptable results that were not salvageable—short, stiff, fat thumbs with nail deformities. We feel this procedure should probably be reserved for cases where both digits of the supernumerary thumbs are severely hypoplastic.
Corrections-Based Drug Treatment Programs and Crime Prevention: An International Approach

The incarceration binge between 1980 and 2000 resulted in a rate of incarceration of 100 to over 500 people per 100,000 (Irwin, 2005). Specifically, from 1980 to 1997, the number of drug offenders increased 1,040% (Petersilia, 2003). Not only is the number of drug offending inmates an issue, so is the cost of drug addiction, prompting a need for an evidence-based evaluation of several international corrections-based substance treatment programs. According to Pollock (2004), drug addiction costs the states' governments approximately $81 billion a year; however, only $3.4 billion is spent on its prevention or treatment—but do these programs work?
Comparative carbon-specific ingestion rates of phytoplankton by Acartia tonsa, Centropages velificatus and Eucalanus pileatus grazing on natural phytoplankton assemblages in the plume of the Mississippi River (northern Gulf of Mexico continental shelf)

During four cruises in continental shelf waters of the northern Gulf of Mexico in the winters of 1981–83, we performed quantitative studies on the grazing of the copepods Acartia tonsa, Centropages velificatus, and Eucalanus pileatus, on phytoplankton using natural particulate assemblages as food. Stations were in, or adjacent to the plume of the Mississippi River, thereby providing wide spectra of phytoplankton and suspended riverine particulate concentrations. Phytoplankton cell volume was converted to carbon, and this, coupled with carbon content measurements of these three copepod species, allowed comparisons of daily ingestion effort even though the copepods were of different sizes. Data were expressed in the same units (% of copepod body carbon ingested copepod −1 d−1) for each species. Over similar ranges of phytoplankton carbon concentrations (0.21–92.06 μgCl−1), Acartia tonsa had higher carbon-specific ingestion rates (x = 22.31%, range = 0.08–152.37%) than C. velificatus (x = 2.8%, range = 0.00–31.09 %) or E. pileatus (x = 1.27%, range = 0.10–2.80%). Carbon-specific ingestion rates increased with increasing phytoplankton carbon concentration for A. tonsa (R2 = 0.81) and there was no evidence of saturated feeding on the carbon concentrations offered. A similar, but weaker trend was evident for E. pileatus (R2 = 0.71), but not C. velificatus (R2 = 0.49). Over a wide range of suspended particulate concentrations (10.6–95.2 mg l−1), there was no systematic effect of particulates on carbon-specific ingestion rate for any of the three copepod species. However, A. tonsa appeared more adept at grazing in highly turbid water than C. velificatus or E. pileatus.
Language learning through computer adventure games

This article is concerned with the use of computer adventure games for the development of communicative fluency in language learners. The author concentrates on student-centered activities focused on the cooperative learning approach, where the teacher is seen more as a facilitator than as an instructor. The major issue addressed is how an investigation of what makes computer games fun can offer an interesting new light on what will motivate a student to learn.
The Rise and Fall of the Dominant Paradigm

“Self development implies a different role for communication than the usual top-down development approach of the past.”
Articulation of Goals and Means in Sociology Courses: What We Can Learn from Syllabi

This paper examines the articulation of goals and means of sociological instruction in course syllabi. Three questions guide this inquiry. First, do sociology instructors articulate common learning goals? Second, what pedagogical means do instructors commonly employ to meet these goals? Third, to what extent have sociology instructors incorporated the recommendations presented in Liberal Learning and the Sociology Major (Eberts et al. 1990) and in its updated version (McKinney et al. 2004)? To answer these questions, we analyzed syllabi from 418 courses published by the American Sociological Association's Teaching Resource Center. We found that aside from coursespecific goals, most syllabi shared only a few general, abstract goals in common. The pedagogical methods or requirements of students tended to be fairly traditional (readings, writing, and exams). Requirements that required more active types of learning were less common. While these goals and means do seem to reflect what sociologists consider to ...
Singers and Stereotypes: The Image of Female Recording Artists*

This study investigates the image of popular female singers in different musical styles as conveyed through their album cover photographs. Slides were made of ninety-one albums recorded by women between 1973 and 1981. They were shown in subgroups to panels of judges who rated them on thirty-one traits. These traits represent either (a) aspects of the “traditional” feminine stereotype, (b) qualities of sexual attractiveness, or (c) positive, but not specifically feminine, traits. The results indicate that female singers were rated positively, regardless of musical style. Country singers were rated relatively high on the traditional traits, while rhythm and blues artists were high on sex appeal and positive traits. Rock singers were rated as aloof and high on positive traits but low on traditionalism and sex appeal. Pop singers were not rated high or low on any dimension. Some differences in male and female raters’evaluations were found. It was concluded that female recording artists generally are not presented in the same stereotyped manner as women are usually portrayed in other forms of media advertising.
Studies toward the total synthesis of ristocetin A aglycone using arene-ruthenium complexes as SNAr substrates: Construction of an advanced tricyclic intermediate

Ruthenium-mediated SNAr reactions are used to construct the diaryl ether linkages in two key intermediates for a projected total synthesis of the aglycone of ristocetin A.
Improving staff member satisfaction and productivity through technology.

ABSTRACT • IN 2000, the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, installed a patient flow management system. • STAFF MEMBERS embraced the technology, finding that it improved communication and quality of patient care, and hospital administrators noticed increased productivity and revenue after implementing the system. • THIS ARTICLE offers an overview of the system's benefits as well as recommendations for successful technology implementation. AORNJ 80 (September 2004) 523–526.
Hydrogen and carbon abundances and isotopic ratios in apatite from alkaline intrusive complexes, with a focus on carbonatites

We report H and C contents and δD and δ^(13)C values of apatites from 15 alkaline intrusive complexes ranging in age from 110 Ma to 2.6 Ga. Sampling focused on carbonatites, but included silicate rocks as well. Heating at temperatures up to 1500°C is needed to extract fully H_2O and CO_2 from these apatites. Apatites from carbonatite-rich intrusive complexes contain 0.2–1.1 wt% H_2O and 0.05–0.70 wt% CO_2; apatites from two silicate-rich alkaline complexes with little or no carbonatite are generally poorer in both volatile components (0.1–0.2% H_2O and 0.01–0.11% CO_2). D/H ratios in apatites from these rocks are bimodally distributed: group I (δD = −51 to −74‰) and group II (δD = −88 to −104‰). We suggest that the δD values of group I apatites represent primitive, mantle-derived values and that the group II apatites crystallized from degassed magmas, resulting in lower H_2O contents and δD values. Although many factors influence the extent of degassing, the depth of emplacement could represent a major control. In contrast to H_2O contents and δD values, CO_2 contents and δ^(13)C values of gas released at high temperatures from multiple aliquots of these apatite samples are variable. This suggests the presence of more than one C-bearing component in these apatites, one of which is proposed to be dissolved carbonate; the other, with δ^(13)C ∼<−25‰, could be associated with hydrocarbons. Group I apatites have δD values similar to those of primitive, mantle-derived basaltic magmas and overlap with (but cover a narrower range than) mantle-derived mica, amphibole, and whole rocks. δ^(13)C values also overlap typical upper mantle. These results suggest that igneous apatites can retain their primary δD and δ^(13)C values.
Correcting Measurement Nonlinearity in Dynamic Nanoindentation

This paper investigates methods of improving measurement interpretations in dynamic nanoindentation. In particular, a shift in the system's primary resonance is observed experimentally and investigated through modeling and numerical studies. The result of these investigations is that different sources of nonlinearity, namely, nonlinearities from the tip-sample contact force and the indenter's capacitive transducer, compete to alter the system's primary and secondary resonances. Furthermore, this study implies that the accurate characterization of a material surface requires the implementation of higher fidelity models that include nonlinear expressions, as opposed to linearized versions, for the tip-sample contact force and transducer electrostatic force.Copyright © 2006 by ASME
Pediatric Alveolar Cleft Management: One Institution's Experience

Background & Purpose: Timing of alveolar bone grafting has traditionally been divided into primary and secondary stages with primary grafting performed after lip repair, but prior to repair of the palate. Secondary grafting has been defined as early secondary at 2-5 years of age, early mixed dentition at 6-8 years, late mixed dentition at 9-12 years, and late secondary grafting if done after the age of 12. In the United States, most authors recommend alveolar grafting around the 9-11 age range or before eruption of the permanent canines. Earlier grafting has been advocated when the central or lateral incisor is developing in such a way that its course of eruption would be into the residual cleft jeopardizing the health of the tooth. The purpose of this review is to evaluate the protocol and technique used in a large population of patients with cleft lip and palate when secondary grafting is performed prior to central and lateral incisor eruption. Methods: Following IRB approval, a retrospective chart review containing approximately 100 cases of alveolar cleft bone grafting over a five year period at a single institution was performed. This review evaluates the success and complication rate of the protocol utilized at this institution. Results: Patients with clefts grafted in the early mixed dentition stage have comparable or better results than those grafted later. Hospital course seems easier with decreased length of stay. Since orthodontics is not done before bone grafting, the burden of treatment (time in orthodontia) is less. The alveolar cleft is not expanded before bone grafting which requires less donor bone and better adaptation to the defect/adjacent teeth. This provides improved bone support for the incisors. Conclusions: Grafting prior to eruption of the permanent canines has been recommended for optimal outcomes, but there are occasions when it is preferable to graft prior to eruption of the central or lateral incisors to improve the long term viability of these teeth.
ALTERED SMOOTH MUSCLE DEVELOPMENT AND INNERVATION IN THE LOWER GENITOURINARY AND GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT OF THE MALE HUMAN FETUS WITH MYELOMENINGOCELE

AbstractPurpose: We determine whether smooth and skeletal muscle or nerve density is altered in the lower genitourinary or gastrointestinal tract of male human fetuses with myelomeningocele at 20 weeks of gestation.Materials and Methods: We serially cross sectioned the lower genitourinary and gastrointestinal tracts in 7 male fetuses (mean age 20 weeks of gestation) with myelomeningocele and 4 age matched controls. Immunohistochemical staining was performed using Masson's trichrome stain and antibodies to smooth and skeletal muscle actin. S-100 protein staining for Schwann cell localization and neurofilament protein was also done. Fluorescein and rhodamine double immunolabeling was used to demonstrate the co-expression of smooth and skeletal muscle.Results: Peripheral neural innervation of the bladder, prostate and rectum was markedly decreased in myelomeningocele. Masson's trichrome and smooth muscle actin staining also demonstrated that smooth muscle was less well differentiated in myelomeningocele spec...
Competitor Analysis and Foothold Moves

A foothold is a small position that a firm intentionally establishes within a market in which it does not yet compete. We extend theory on competitive dynamics to examine relationships between comp...
An aqueous sol–gel route to prepare organic–inorganic hybrid materials

A new aqueous sol–gel process has been developed that makes it possible to produce a transparent organic–inorganic hybrid material with desirable mechanical properties for several applications. During the process an aqueous precursor is prepared by adding water into a mixture of an epoxy organofunctional silane with an aluminium alkoxide. The alkoxide is then hydrolyzed and the resultant hydrate is peptized to a clear transparent solution. This process is different from the previously reported Yoldas process (B. E. Yoldas, Am. Ceram. Soc. Bull., 1975, 54, 286; 289; J. Mater. Sci., 1975, 10, 1856), which involves the addition of acid to peptize the aluminium hydrate to boehmite nanoparticles. TEM studies have shown that a molecular precursor is formed. Another interesting feature of this process is that a large amount of water is used as the solvent. This is opposite to the conventional wisdom that the water should be strictly controlled in systems similar to those reported here. Monolith and coating hybrid materials can be easily made from the synthesized precursor solutions. They showed good mechanical properties when cured at temperatures as low as 80 °C.
Review: prompt endoscopy is not a cost-effective strategy for initial management of dyspepsia.

Source Citation Ford AC, Qume M, Moayyedi P, et al. Helicobacter pylori ”test and treat” or endoscopy for managing dyspepsia: an individual patient data meta-analysis. Gastroenterology. 2005;128:18...
Preparation and characterization of dendrimer monolayers and dendrimer - Alkanethiol mixed monolayers adsorbed to gold

Single-component monolayers of dendrimers and two-component monolayers consisting of dendrimers and n-alkanethiols immobilized on Au substrates are described. Single-component monolayers are prepared by exposing an Au substrate to ethanolic solutions of amine- or hydroxy-terminated polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers. The resulting monolayers are highly stable and nearly close-packed for dendrimer generations ranging from 4 to 8 (G4−G8). Electrochemical ac-impedance measurements indicate that the dendrimer surface is very porous toward the electroactive redox couple Fe(CN)63-/4-. Ferrocene-terminated dendrimer monolayers have also been investigated. Exposure of higher-generation dendrimer monolayers to ethanolic solutions of hexadecanethiol (C16SH) results in a dramatic compression of the dendrimers, and causes them to reorient on the surface from an oblate to prolate configuration. The dendrimers originally present on the surface do not desorb as a consequence of this configurational change. Comparison of ...
A new approach to overcoming a yearling Holstein bull's complete lack of motivation to mounting

Abstract A young Holstein bull, selected for sampling in artificial breeding, was presented with a variety of sexual stimuli which have been used successfully over several years, to induce hundreds of yearling Holstein bulls at Eastern A.I. Coop. to mount ‘teaser’ animals and serve the artificial vagina. This bull was extensively tested with a variety of mounts and other potential stimuli on 25 occasions and was scheduled for slaughter at 17 months of age because of a total failure to mount. At this time putative pheromones were applied to several teasers, but they did not stimulate mounting. However, the bull was observed to lick the flanks of teasers. Ordinary cane molasses was painted on the mount animal. The bull licked the molasses aggressively. The molasses was placed successively higher until it was on top of the mount near the tail head. In this position the bull was licking with his chin resting on the teaser and then the bull mounted. Thereafter he mounted rapidly and repeatedly without further exposure to the molasses. Excellent semen was obtained. The sperm were frozen and the bull soon produced enough sperm for progeny testing. The novel approach used here was successful in enabling this bull to be entered quickly into the test program, whereas all earlier approaches to stimulate mounting were completely unsuccessful.
Muscle hexose monophosphate shunt activity following exercise.

1 day following prolonged treadmill walking untrained rats showed significant elevations in hexose monophosphate shunt reducing capacity in plantaris muscle. The increases were associated with accumulations of nuclei in the muscle interstitium, suggesting damage to the connective tissue element of the muscle.
Effect of a Guarantee Time on Sample Size Determination for Testing the Ratio of Means from Two Lifetime Distributions

This paper studies the problem of sample size determination for testing the ratio of means from two lifetime distributions when thresholds, or guarantee times, are present in the survival distributions. We consider several different approaches of sample size determination based on different distributional assumptions and discuss the role that guarantee times play in these sample size computations. We show that the guarantee times, if they exist, can significantly affect the sample size computations. The Aging Intervention Testing Program from the National Institute on Aging is used to demonstrate our results.
Critical incidents in student teaching

(1979). Critical incidents in student teaching. The Teacher Educator: Vol. 15, No. 2, pp. 34-36.
Possible role of climate in the collapse of Classic Maya civilization

THE Maya civilization developed around 3,000 years ago in Mesoamerica, and after flourishing during the so-called Classic period, it collapsed around 750–900 AD1. It has been specula ted2–6 that climate change may have played a part in this collapse. But efforts to reconstruct the last three millennia of Mesoamerican climate using palynological methods have met with equivocal success, because human-mediated deforestation has altered regional vegetation in ways that mimic climate shifts, making it difficult to discriminate between natural and anthropogenic changes7–15. Here we use temporal variations in oxygen isotope and sediment composition in a 4.9-m sediment core from Lake Chichancanab, Mexico, to reconstruct a continuous record of Holocene climate change for the central Yucatan peninsula. The interval between 1,300 and 1,100 yr BP (AD 800–1,000) was the driest of the middle to late Holocene epoch, and coincided with the collapse of Classic Maya civilization. This continuous climate proxy record thus provides evidence of climate deterioration in the Maya region during the terminal Classic period.
Distinct temporal and anatomical distributions of amyloid-β and tau abnormalities following controlled cortical impact in transgenic mice.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major environmental risk factor for Alzheimer's disease. Intracellular accumulations of amyloid-β and tau proteins have been observed within hours following severe TBI in humans. Similar abnormalities have been recapitulated in young 3xTg-AD mice subjected to the controlled cortical impact model (CCI) of TBI and sacrificed at 24 h and 7 days post injury. This study investigated the temporal and anatomical distributions of amyloid-β and tau abnormalities from 1 h to 24 h post injury in the same model. Intra-axonal amyloid-β accumulation in the fimbria was detected as early as 1 hour and increased monotonically over 24 hours following injury. Tau immunoreactivity in the fimbria and amygdala had a biphasic time course with peaks at 1 hour and 24 hours, while tau immunoreactivity in the contralateral CA1 rose in a delayed fashion starting at 12 hours after injury. Furthermore, rapid intra-axonal amyloid-β accumulation was similarly observed post controlled cortical injury in APP/PS1 mice, another transgenic Alzheimer's disease mouse model. Acute increases in total and phospho-tau immunoreactivity were also evident in single transgenic TauP301L mice subjected to controlled cortical injury. These data provide further evidence for the causal effects of moderately severe contusional TBI on acceleration of acute Alzheimer-related abnormalities and the independent relationship between amyloid-β and tau in this setting.
Elution order inversions observed on using different carrier gas velocities in temperature programmed gas chromatography

Observations of chromatographic elution order inversions are reported which have occurred as a result of using different initial carrier gas velocities with oven temperature programming in GC and GC/MS systems.
Geographical Diversions: Tibetan Trade, Global Transactions. By Tina Harris

GEOGRAPHICAL DIVERSIONS: Tibetan Trade, Global Transactions. By TINA HARRIS, xv and 189 pp.: maps, index. Athens, Ga. and London, U.K.: The University of Georgia Press, 2013. $24. 95 (paper) ISBN 9780820345123; $24.95 (ebook) ISBN 9780820345734; $69.95 (cloth) ISBN 9780820338668. Geographical Diversions is one in a series of publications by the University of Georgia Press. It is described as, "A new conception of the relationship between neoliberal globalization, state power, and mobility." And, while Tibet's trade is fascinating in many ways, the title is misleading. There is no significant discussion of the geography of trade or how the Tibetan experience fits into a general (global) topic of the geography of trade, save at the idiosyncratic level, and even then examples are focused primarily on southern Tibet and Lhasa. There only are passing references to "global trade." But, in all fairness, the author is not, and does not claim to be, a geographer. In fact, the only "geography" are place names and references to how the market areas of some Tibetan and Nepalese traders and their merchandise have adapted and changed, primarily since Tibet's inclusion into the People's Republic of China. I would have preferred the title "Transitions" or "Tidbits of Tibetan Trade since the PRC," as those really are the focus: transitions in products, manufacturing, markets, international relations (primarily with India and Nepal); tidbits of interviews with small individual traders, interviews with longtime family traders, and special items of past and present trade. There is the pro forma academic jargon seemingly required in articles and theses, but inappropriate and off-putting for a general book. Fortunately, these largely are asides and do not dominate. And, when the author is telling her "stories," there is a lilt and joy for both her and the reader. There is a sense of discovery, even joie de vivre. This study is more like the tessera of a mosaic, something that might be used to create a general picture (of both Tibetan and global trade), but not in itself a picture. Rather it is a series of snapshots or a diary of personal discoveries about trade and traders in the Tibetan core area's present, with commentary and reflections on how things used to be, primarily in the capital of Lhasa and the historic southern trade routes to Nepal, Sikkim, and India (with some references to Sichuan). There is no reference to or discussion of historic trade with Mongolia, China, or trade centers such as Labuleng Si (Xiahe) in the northeast. A parallel might be discussing U. …
Sensitivity analysis and stochastic simulations of non‐equilibrium plasma flow

We study the parametric uncertainties involved in plasma flows and apply stochastic sensitivity analysis to rank the importance of all inputs to guide large-scale stochastic simulations. Specifically, we employ different gradient-based sensitivity methods, namely Morris, multi-element probabilistic collocation method on sparse grids, Quasi-Monte Carlo and Monte Carlo methods. These approaches go beyond the standard ‘One-At-a-Time’ sensitivity analysis and provide a measure of the non-linear interaction effects for the uncertain inputs. The objective is to perform systematic stochastic simulations of plasma flows treating only as stochastic processes the inputs with the highest sensitivity index, hence reducing substantially the computational cost. Two plasma flow examples are presented to demonstrate the capability and efficiency of the stochastic sensitivity analysis. The first one is a two-fluid model in a shock tube whereas the second one is a one-fluid/two-temperature model in flow past a cylinder. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Ras Diffusion Is Sensitive to Plasma Membrane Viscosity

The cell surface contains a variety of barriers and obstacles that slow the lateral diffusion of glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored and transmembrane proteins below the theoretical limit imposed by membrane viscosity. How the diffusion of proteins residing exclusively on the inner leaflet of the plasma membrane is regulated has been largely unexplored. We show here that the diffusion of the small GTPase Ras is sensitive to the viscosity of the plasma membrane. Using confocal fluorescence recovery after photobleaching, we examined the diffusion of green fluorescent protein (GFP)-tagged HRas, NRas, and KRas in COS-7 cells loaded with or depleted of cholesterol, a well-known modulator of membrane bilayer viscosity. In cells loaded with excess cholesterol, the diffusional mobilities of GFP-HRas, GFP-NRas, and GFP-KRas were significantly reduced, paralleling the behavior of the viscosity-sensitive lipid probes DiIC16 and DiIC18. However, the effects of cholesterol depletion on protein and lipid diffusion in cell membranes were highly dependent on the depletion method used. Cholesterol depletion with methyl-β-cyclodextrin slowed Ras diffusion by a viscosity-independent mechanism, whereas overnight cholesterol depletion slightly increased both protein and lipid diffusion. The ability of Ras to sense membrane viscosity may represent a general feature of proteins residing on the cytoplasmic face of the plasma membrane.
The cellular mechanism of the formation of a regeneration blastema of fresh‐water planaria, Dugesia dorotocephala. I. The behavior of cells in a tiny body fragment isolated in vitro

Small fragments of 0.1 mm3 to 0.03 mm3, too small to regenerate the whole organism and yet containing a variety of tissues were taken from the prepharyngeal portion of a fresh-water planaria, Dugesia dorotocephala. They were cultured in saline solution and histologically examined at intervals. Morphological rearrangement of tissues was completed in two days, coinciding with the time reported as necessary for the formation of an ordinary regeneration blastema. This was the result of the interactions of isotypically aggregating epidermis, gastrodermis and inner composite-tissue, and involved neither dedifferentiation nor differentiation. The parenchyma accounted for most of the motility of the inner composite-tissue layer. Furthermore, fixed parenchyma cells and neoblasts segregated in the portion of the parenchymal aggregate which was exposed to the saline solution, resulting in the aggregation of neoblasts in the periphery. This parenchymal segregation is considered due to differences in susceptibility to environmental conditions of these two parenchymal cells in addition to differences in motility and adhesiveness. The population of neoblasts thus aggregated was observed to increase by mitosis. A regeneration blastema appears to from by the local cellular segregation triggered by an injury under hypotonic conditions and not by the extensive migration of any particular cell type to the site of the wound. Less motile tissues, such as muscles and nerves, may account for the regional characteristics of the regeneration field. A possibility of involvement of the old tissues in the growth of a blastema and in its histogenesis is discussed.
Imaging the evolution of nanoscale photocurrent collection and transport networks during annealing of polythiophene/fullerene solar cells.

We use photoconductive atomic force microscopy to image nanoscale spatial variations in photocurrent across the surfaces of photovoltaic cells made from blends of the conjugated polymer regioregular poly(3-hexylthiopene) (P3HT) with phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM). We study how the spatial variations in photocurrent evolve with thermal annealing, and we correlate these changes with the evolution of macroscopic film and device properties such as external quantum efficiency and carrier mobility. We use conductive atomic force microscopy to examine the development of injection and transport networks for both electrons and holes as a function of annealing. We find that the hole transport, electron transport, and photocurrent collection networks become increasingly heterogeneous with thermal annealing and remain heterogeneous on the 10−100 nm length scale even in the most efficient P3HT/PCBM devices. After annealing, the regions of the greatest dark hole currents, greatest dark electron currents, a...
A microassay for Gaucher's disease

Abstract We report a new assay for the detection of individuals heterozygous and homozygous for Gaucher's disease which requires relatively small samples of whole blood (0.3 ml), and which determines 4-methylumbelliferyl-β-D-glucopyranoside: β-glucosidase activity under conditions optimal for the determination of leukocyte glucocerebroside:β-glucocerebrosidase activity. The procedure involves the preparation of a leukocyte pellet from 50 μl of whole blood by hypotonic lysis of erythrocytes, followed by assay of β-glucosidase activity at pH 5.5 in the presence of sodium taurocholate (0.6 g/100 ml). The methods described may also prove to be useful for the diagnosis of other diseases of enzyme deficiency which use fluorogenic substrates and leukocytes as a source of enzyme, such as Fabry's disease, Tay-Sachs disease, and generalized gangliosidosis.
On singh's conjecture on rate of convergence of empirical bayes tests

This paper deals with an empirical Bayes test δ∗ n for testing H 0 : θ ≤ θ0 against H 1 : θ > θ0 in the positive exponential family f(x\ θ) = c( θ) u(x) exp(−x/θ), x > 0, 0 < θ ≤ M < ∞, using a weighted quadratic error loss. We investigate the asymptotic optimality of the empirical Bayes test δ∗ n . It is shown that the regret Bayes risk of δ∗ n converges to zero at a rate of order O(n −1). This convergence rate provides a solution to the question, raised by Singh (1979) and Singh and Wei (1992), regarding the achievement of the best possible rate in empirical Bayes problems.
Deactivation mechanistic studies of copper chromite catalyst for selective hydrogenation of 2-furfuraldehyde

Abstract Deactivation mechanisms of copper chromite (CuCr 2 O 4 ⋅CuO) catalyst for vapor-phase selective hydrogenation for furfuryl alcohol have been investigated using ex situ and in situ X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS), X-ray photon spectroscopy (XPS), and Auger Electron Spectroscopy (AES). At 200 °C, the catalyst steadily deactivated. One of the dominant origins of catalyst deactivation is poisoning due to strong adsorption of polymeric species formed from the reactant and/or products. Metallic Cu is identified as the active site, while loss of active Cu(I) sites due to hydrogenation is not a deactivation cause, as opposed to previous literature reported. The copper chromite catalyst showed low activity at 300 °C process temperature. Under this condition, the Cu particle size does not change, but Cr/Cu ratio increases by 50%, suggesting that Cr coverage of Cu sites becomes an additional cause of catalyst deactivation at this temperature, along with the poisoning deactivation mechanism at 200 °C.