cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Market for Force: The Consequences of Privatizing Security

The legitimate use of force is generally presumed to be the realm of the state. However, the flourishing role of the private sector in security over the last twenty years has brought this into question. In this book Deborah Avant examines the privatization of security and its impact on the control of force. She describes the growth of private security companies, explains how the industry works, and describes its range of customers – including states, non-government organisations and commercial transnational corporations. She charts the inevitable trade-offs that the market for force imposes on the states, firms and people wishing to control it, suggests a new way to think about the control of force, and offers a model of institutional analysis that draws on both economic and sociological reasoning. The book contains case studies drawn from the US and Europe as well as Africa and the Middle East.
Crosslinking of nucleic acids and proteins by bisulfite.

Sodium bisulfite is a food and beverage additive. It is also a salt of the urban air pollutant, sulfur dioxide. Bisulfite catalyzes, at neutral pH and physiological temperatures, the transamination reactions of cytosine.derivatives with amines. The products of the reactions are N4-substituted cytosines. Both the α-and e-amino groups of L-lysine react with cytosine, and its nucleosides, in the presence of bisulfite. Bisulfite catalyzes the binding of cytosine to polylysine, lysine to polycytidylic acid, and polylysine to polycytidylic acid. Polylysine crosslinks with heat-denatured, but not native, calf thymus DNA, in the presence of bisulfite. Other workers have demonstrated cross-linking of viral RNA with maturation and coat protein, after treatment of bacteriophage MS2 with bisulfite. Nucleic acid-protein crosslinking reactions may contribute to the adverse effects of sulfur dioxide and bisulfite upon health.
Shape from shading for surfaces with texture and specularity

The primary focus of this work is to experimentally explore a method for determining three dimensional surface shape from intensity information. A method is developed. using existent theory, for determining the shape of visually textured surfaces exhibiting varying degrees of specularity. The photometric stereo is extended to four source photometry as the basis for this work. The reflectance map approach for determining surface normals is shown to be of little value in this context and a more direct method of computing these normals is used.
Effects of tobacco glycoprotein (TGP) on the immune system. III. The effect of aging on the mitogenic response of human peripheral blood lymphocytes to TGP.

Abstract We have shown that the mitogenic response of human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) to tobacco glycoprotein (TGP), a glycoprotein rich in rutin or rutinlike polyphenol moieties, which is isolated from cured tobacco leaves, does not decrease with age. In contrast, the proliferative response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) tends to decline with age, and a significant decrease is observed in the mitogenic response to rutin-bovine serum albumin (R-BSA). LPS and RBSA are similar in some aspects to TGP, the former in that TGP and LPS are both T-independent B-cell mitogens for mice and are both highly negatively charged, and the latter in that covalently bound polyphenol groups are present on both R-BSA and TGP. Although the kinetics of the mitogenic responses to these three mitogens are similar (T. Francus, R. F. Klein, L. Staiano-Coico, G. W. Siskind, and C. G. Becker, Effects of tobacco glycoprotein (TGP) on the immune system. II. TGP is a mitogen for human peripheral blood lymphocytes. Submitted for publication.), multiple regression analyses show no correlation in the mitogenic responses of PBL from young donors to TGP and LPS, to TGP and R-BSA, or to LPS and R-BSA. In contrast, there are significant correlations between the proliferative responses to these mitogens by PBL from old donors. The results suggest that only a small subpopulation of the cells which are stimulated by R-BSA and LPS are not altered with age, and these are most likely the cells that are stimulated by the three mitogens studied.
Evidence that the time of entry into S is determined by events occurring in early G1.

The length of the prereplicative period after stimulation of quiescent WI-38 cells is prolonged in proportion to the length of time the cells are incubated prior to serum addition. Previous results from this laboratory have shown that this prolongation does not result from a delay in the induction of events which occur during the G0/G1 transition (i.e. c-fos or c-myc expression) (Owen, T., Cosenza, S., Soprano, D. R., and Soprano, K. J. (1987) J. Biol. Chem. 262 15111-15117). It was the goal of the present studies to examine the expression of other growth-associated genes known to be induced and maximally accumulate later in G1 to identify genes whose expression is coupled to entry into S rather than mitogenic stimulation. In order to do this, the temporal pattern of expression of a variety of growth-associated genes (thymidine kinase, p53, 2A9/calcyclin, ornithine decarboxylase, 4F1/vimentin, and c-Ha-ras) was studied in WI-38 cells stimulated either 12 days or 26 days after plating. We report that the time of induction and maximum accumulation of each of these transcripts, with the exception of c-Ha-ras, was delayed in the 26-day cell group for 10 h, a period of time approximately equal to the length of delay in entry of these cells into S. Thus the expression of these particular genes would appear to be closely coupled in time and sequence to the entry of cells into S. These results suggest that the prolongation of the prereplicative period in WI-38 cells is located in early G1, following the events leading to c-fos and c-myc induction but prior to the induction and maximum accumulation later in G1 of other growth-associated genes such as ornithine decarboxylase and 4F1/vimentin. In addition, these results provide molecular evidence for a definitive programmed order of gene expression during the progression of cells out of G0 through G1 to S.
The impact of AIDS on the health care system

Since the AIDS epidemic was first detected, it has had a profound influence on the organization of health services in the United States. In this essay, some of the more relevant aspects of this process are analyzed, and the main problems that need to be confronted in order to fight successfully against this serious disease are briefly stated.
Education and the challenge of mass culture

FOR ABOUT the last 10 years, the study of mass communications and popular culture has come to be regarded increasingly as an educational responsibility. Attempts to meet this responsibility resulted in some useful publications. However, they made few inroads into the curriculum, and have scarcely been reflected in the preparation of teachers. Perhaps the time is ripe to ask in what ways the educational response to the challenge of mass culture might bear fruit in the classroom. Our purpose is to pose this question by sketching the background of educational and scholarly attention, and by describing the assumptions, aims, and ideas guiding one approach to the study of the social aspects of mass communications.
Springer Jr, Charles S.: The NMR Shutter Speed

This article traces the almost 50-year development of the generalization of the NMR timescale reciprocal called the NMR “shutter speed.” This concept facilitates the measurement of rate constants of dynamic processes in equilibrium, without changing the sample temperature. It is particularly useful for intercompartmental water interchanges in living biological tissue. Spin-offs from this long quest have included shift reagents for tissue 23Na MR signals in vivo, systematization of bulk magnetic susceptibility effects in NMR, and relaxographic imaging. Keywords: DNMR; timescale; shift reagent; 23Na MR; bulk magnetic susceptibility; Lorentz cavity; relaxographic imaging; shutter speed; DCE-MRI
Complete suppression of IgE-mediated anaphylaxis by antihistamine plus tyrosine kinase antagonists. (HYP3P.400)

IgE/FcϵRI-mediated mast cell and basophil activation has a central role in food allergy and drug allergy. Although desensitization therapy can suppress these disorders, it can be complicated by anaphylaxis. Pre-treatment with antihistamines and other mediator antagonists can increase the safety of desensitization, but is not completely effective. Because the tyrosine kinase Syk has an important role in FcϵRI-dependent mast cell activation and the tyrosine kinase Kit is critical for mast cell survival, we evaluated whether treating mice systemically with a combination of an antihistamine (triprolidine, 200 µg), the Syk inhibitor fostamatinib (80 mg/kg), and the c-Abl/c-Kit inhibitor, imatinib mesylate (1.25 mg), 30 min prior to challenging them intravenously with an anti-IgE mAb, would prevent development of anaphylaxis (measured by hypothermia); mast cell degranulation (measured by increases in serum MMCP1); and/or basophil activation (measured by increases in IL-4 secretion). Pretreatment with this 3-agent cocktail completely suppressed hypothermia and decreased MMCP1 by >80%, but had little effect on IL-4 secretion. Triprolidine and fostamatinib independently partially suppressed hypothermia and fostamatinib, by itself, suppressed MMCP1 by 50-60%. No obvious drug toxicity was noted. These results suggest the possibility of using a combination of mediator and tyrosine kinase antagonists to increase the safety of rapid and conventional desensitization therapy.
Analysis of Subframe Generation for Superimposed Images

Displays and projectors can increase their addressable resolution without changing the expensive spatial light modulators by using a technique called "wobulation," which consists of using mechanical actuators for rapidly shifting projected images (subframes) by fractions of pixel lengths. In this work we provide an analysis of the properties of the resulting super-imposed images, and discuss theoretical issues related to the stability of subframe generation and existence of solutions.
Biomechanical monitoring of cutaneous sulfur mustard-induced lesions in the weanling pig model for depth of injury.

Background/purpose: A sulfur mustard (SM)-induced cutaneous injury model was developed in weanling swine to evaluate the efficacy of candidate treatment regimens. Lesions were assessed clinically and histopathologically. Histopathologic evaluation of lesions was a subjective and invasive assessment. Biomechanical engineering methods offer an objective and less invasive method to evaluate lesions. The purpose of this study was to use biomechanical engineering instruments to assess SM-induced lesions for depth of injury and to correlate those assessments with histopathology. Methods: Two groups of six animals each were exposed to 400 μL undiluted SM applied at each of six abdominal sites for either 2 or 30 min. An additional seven animals received a sham treatment (control; 400 μL deionized water applied to each of six sites for 30 min). Each site was evaluated before exposure and 2 days after exposure. Biomechanical engineering techniques used to assess each lesion were reflectance colorimetry, evaporimetry [transepidermal water loss (TEWL)], laser Doppler perfusion imaging, and high-frequency (20 MHz) two-dimensional ultrasound. Injury depth and lesion severity were assessed and correlated to biomechanical methods using special histopathologic staining techniques. Results: Two- and 30-min cutaneous lesions were significantly different from controls at the 0.05 probability level for redness (chroma meter) and TEWL (evaporimeter), but were not significantly different from each other. The 2-min lesions had a significant increase (2.11 AU, SE=0.06) and the 30-min lesions had a decrease (0.96 AU, SE=0.04) from controls (1.31 AU, SE=0.03) in microcirculatory blood flux (laser Doppler). The 2-min lesions and controls were significantly different at the 0.05 level from 30-min lesions in skin thickness (ultrasound). The 2- and 30-min groups were significantly different from controls and from each other at the 0.05 level in histopathologic assessment of injury depth, basal cell necrosis, depth of necrosis, and vascular necrosis, with the 30-min injuries being most severe. Conclusion: There was mixed evidence that the bioengineering techniques tested could differentiate between controls, 2-min (partial-thickness) cutaneous injuries and 30-min (full-thickness) cutaneous injuries at day 2. Both biomechanical and histopathologic assessments are useful methods of characterizing SM lesions in the weanling pig model. Biomechanical methods are non-invasive and quantitative, and multiple readings over shorter and longer periods of time may improve differentiation in depth of injury. Histopathologic assessments are important for confirmation of lesion depth and severity, and for assisting interpretation when a single assessment using bioengineering methods is used.
Effects of exercise on iron metabolism in rats

Abstract The effect of exercise on the uptake, redistribution, and excretion of iron was studied in normal iron-sufficient rats. Rats were run to exhaustion in a “sprint” protocol seven times over a twentyone day period. Exercised rats did not differ significantly from sedentary rats in hemoglobin concentrations or in body or organ weights. Exercised rats absorbed more iron than sedentary rats in radioiron tracer studies. Radioiron accumulated mainly in heart, liver, and spleen. Strikingly, tracer iron accumulated significantly in hearts of exercised rats. Exercised rats had less total iron in liver and spleen than sedentary rats. Myoglobin concentrations in heart and soleus muscles were significantly higher in rats after the exercise regimen and decreased following fourteen days of rest. Brief, strenuous exercise appears to signal increased absorption of iron and to stimulate the redistribution of storage iron. This mobilization of iron during exercise may be directed towards the enhancement of oxygen-accepting ability in muscles at work.
Atmospheric NO2: In Situ Laser-Induced Fluorescence Detection at Parts per Trillion Mixing Ratios

We describe a time-gated laser-induced fluorescence instrument designed for accurate (±5%, 1σ), continuous, autonomous, in situ observations of NO2 with the sensitivity (15 ppt/10 s at S/N = 2) and portability necessary to study NO2 anywhere in the troposphere. The technique is advantageous because it is spectroscopically specific and direct in that it does not require conversion of NO2 into another species (e.g., NO) prior to detection, eliminating a class of potential interferences. Performance of the instrument is illustrated with 15 weeks (July−Oct 1998) of observations at the University of California, Blodgett Forest field station located in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada and 4 weeks (June 15 − July 15, 1999) in Nashville, TN during the Southern Oxidants Study. Ambient concentrations of NO2 at Blodgett Forest varied from below 50 ppt to 4000 ppt and NO2 ranged from 5 to 50% of the total reactive nitrogen; while in Nashville, TN, concentrations ranged from 1 to 75 ppb.
Reducibility of the Families of 0-Dimensional Schemes on a Variety.

IfA is a regular local ring of dimensionr>2, over an algebraically closed fieldk, we show that the Hilbert scheme Hilb n A parametrizing ideals of colengthn inA(dim k A/I=n) has dimension>cn 2−2/r and is reducible, for alln>c′, wherec andc′ depend only onr. We conclude that ifV is a nonsingular projective variety of dimensionr>2, the Hilbert scheme Hilb n V parametrizing the 0-dimensional subschemes ofV having lengthn, is reducible for alln>c″(r). We may takec″(r) to be (1) $$102 ifr = 3,25 ifr = 4,35 ifr = 5,and\left( {1 + r} \right)\left( {{{1 + r} \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {{1 + r} 4}} \right. \kern-\nulldelimiterspace} 4}} \right)ifr > 5.$$ The result answers in the negative a conjecture of Fogarty [1] but leaves open the question of the conjectured irreducibility of Hilb n A, whereA has dimension 2. Hilb n V is known to be irreducible ifV is a nonsingular surface (Hartshorne forP 2, and Fogarty [1]). In all cases Hilb n V and Hilb n A are known to be connected (Hartshorne forP r, and Fogarty [1]). The author is indebted to Hartshorne for suggesting that Hilb n A might be reducible ifr>2. The proof has 3 steps. We first show that ifV is a variety of dimensionr, then Hilb n V is irreducible only if it has dimensionr n. We then show that ifA is a regular local ring of dimensionr, Hilb n A can be irreducible only if it has dimension (r−1)(n−1). Finally in § 3 we construct a family of graded ideals of colengthn in the local ringA, and having dimensionc′ n2−2/r. Since for largen this dimension is greater thanr n, and since Hilb n A↪Hilb n V whenA is the local ring of a closed point onV, the proof is complete, except for (1), which follows from § 3, and the monotonicity of (dim Hilb n V−r n) (see (2)). In § 4, we comment on some related questions.
An unusual eyelid swelling.

A 47-year-old man presented with a 1-year history of left lower eyelid erythematous scaly plaque-like lesion with madarosis (Figure 1) accompanied by pain and redness. Conservative treatment (topical antibiotics and anti-allergy medications) had failed. He had no systemic symptoms except for fatigue. Subsequently, a left eyelid biopsy was performed and was consistent with …
Comparison of transcription of the Haemophilus influenzae iron/heme modulon genes in vitro and in vivo in the chinchilla middle ear

Background Haemophilus influenzae is a significant cause of childhood otitis media, and also has an absolute growth requirement for heme. Recent microarray studies using three H. influenzae isolates were used to propose a putative core of genes responsive to iron and heme levels. Included in the core modulon were thirty seven genes that are preferentially expressed under iron/heme limitation, most of which are directly involved with iron and or heme acquisition. In this report, the core iron/heme modulon was further refined following microarray analysis of two additional nontypeable H. influenzae isolates from patients with otitis media. The transcriptional status of the genes comprising the refined iron/heme core modulon was then assessed in vivo, in a chinchilla model of otitis media. These in vivo experiments were performed to address the hypothesis that iron and heme regulated genes are both highly expressed in vivo and important, during clinical infection.
The potential role for urocanic acid and sunlight in the immune suppression associated with protein malnutrition

Irradiation of skin by sunlight or ultraviolet B (UVB, 290-320 nm) brings about a downregulation of cell-mediated immunity. An action spectrum for photoimmune suppression in mice indicates that trans-urocanic acid absorbs UV photons and is isomerized to the cis-isomer in the stratum corneum. Cis-urocanic acid is subsequently shown to suppress cellular immunity in mice. When histidine is elevated in a mouse diet, a higher level of urocanic acid is detected in mouse skin. These mice are more susceptible to photoimmune suppression. There is evidence that humans and animals experiencing protein malnutrition have very high levels of urocanic acid and/or histidine. Urocanic acid is formed by deamination of histidine in one enzymatic step. We discuss the protein malnutrition of kwashiorkor patients. They experience suppressed immunity and disturbed histidine metabolism. Here, we present a testable hypothesis: one cause of the immune deficiency observed in humans with protein malnutrition is the photoconversion by UVB of increased levels of trans-urocanic acid in skin to cis-urocanic acid, which suppresses the cellular immune system.
Inherited metabolic renal disorders in children

Inherited metabolic conditions of the kidney are uncommon but require consideration as diagnostic clarity informs specific treatment which improves outcomes considerably and allows children with life limiting disorders to experience greater longevity. This article focuses on four conditions, cystinosis, methylmalonic aciduria (MMA), primary hyperoxaluria and Fabry's disease. These conditions often present with renal impairment, predominantly in childhood, but with appropriate treatments survival well into adult life is becoming more common. Recognition of the genetic mutations, phenotypic variability and specific treatment options can improve long term prognosis.
Clomipramine use in obsessive–compulsive disorder

The serotonin reuptake inhibitor, clomipramine and newer selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors have become recognized as the most effective monotherapy for obsessive-compulsive disorder. Meta-analyses have suggested that clomipramine may be superior to other selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors in treating obsessive-compulsive disorder. Double-blind, direct comparisons of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and clomipramine, have demonstrated equal efficacy, fewer side effects and lower medication discontinuation rates in selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor patients. However, clomipramine continues to play a vital role in the pharmacotherapy of obsessive-compulsive disorder, being used when two or more selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor trials have not been sufficiently effective, which can occur in up to a third of patients. Recent investigation suggests potential roles for intravenous clomipramine and the combination of oral clomipramine with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and other medications in treatment-refractory obsessive-compulsive disorder patients.
The application of module in Logistics Management Information System (LSMIS)

With the limit of compiling environment, the beans technique before couldn't meet the requirement of improving reusing, maintenance and multi-platform used of software. This paper introduces the design of the function level in system structure based on the Web and the application in Logistics Management System. The level consists of some JavaBeans that can be transplanted, reused, replaced and complete the system functions through calling each other.
Anomalous x-ray transmission in dislocation-free silicon after electron irradiation

Changes in the anomalous x-ray transmission intensity upon electron irradiation of dislocation-free silicon crystals have been measured. The irradiation at 20 K produced large changes in the transmission of the (220) reflection (i.e., 5%). Some annealing experiments were done. Attempts to understand the large changes suggest that some of the point defects agglomerate forming dislocation loops during irradiation.
Erectile Dysfunction in Opioid Users: Lack of Association with Serum Testosterone

ABSTRACT This study describes the prevalence of erectile dysfunction (ED) among 57 men using illicit opioids who presented to a primary care program for buprenorphine therapy. Participants’ mean age was 40 years and 34% reported ED. Low total testosterone was detected in 17% of those reporting ED, but total testosterone was not significantly associated with ED. Examining multiple comorbidities and laboratory parameters, only older age was significantly associated with ED (r = .27, P< .05). ED is highly prevalent among men abusing opioids, but low total testosterone is rarely the cause.
Cerebellar transcriptional alterations with Purkinje cell dysfunction and loss in mice lacking PGC-1α.

Alterations in the expression and activity of the transcriptional coactivator peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator-1α (ppargc1a or PGC-1α) have been reported in multiple movement disorders, yet it is unclear how a lack of PGC-1α impacts transcription and function of the cerebellum, a region with high PGC-1α expression. We show here that mice lacking PGC-1α exhibit ataxia in addition to the previously described deficits in motor coordination. Using q-RT-PCR in cerebellar homogenates from PGC-1α -/- mice, we measured expression of 37 microarray-identified transcripts upregulated by PGC-1α in SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells with neuroanatomical overlap with PGC-1α or parvalbumin (PV), a calcium buffer highly expressed by Purkinje cells. We found significant reductions in transcripts with synaptic (complexin1, Cplx1; Pacsin2), structural (neurofilament heavy chain, Nefh), and metabolic (isocitrate dehydrogenase 3a, Idh3a; neutral cholesterol ester hydrolase 1, Nceh1; pyruvate dehydrogenase alpha 1, Pdha1; phytanoyl-CoA hydroxylase, Phyh; ubiquinol-cytochrome c reductase, Rieske iron-sulfur polypeptide 1, Uqcrfs1) functions. Using conditional deletion of PGC-1α in PV-positive neurons, we determined that 50% of PGC-1α expression and a reduction in a subset of these transcripts could be explained by its concentration in PV-positive neuronal populations in the cerbellum. To determine whether there were functional consequences associated with these changes, we conducted stereological counts and spike rate analysis in Purkinje cells, a cell type rich in PV, from PGC-1α -/- mice. We observed a significant loss of Purkinje cells by six weeks of age, and the remaining Purkinje cells exhibited a 50% reduction in spike rate. Together, these data highlight the complexity of PGC-1α’s actions in the central nervous system and suggest that dysfunction in multiple cell types contribute to motor deficits in the context of PGC-1α deficiency.
Double infection of tobacco protoplasts with brome mosaic virus and cowpea chlorotic mottle virus.

Abstract Mixed infections of tobacco protoplasts with Cowpea chlorotic mottle virus (CCMV) and brome mosaic virus (BMV) have been studied. Fluorescent antibody staining showed that capsids of both viruses were made in doubly infected protoplasts but only infectious BMV could be recovered, i.e., BMV dominated in mixed infections and prevented synthesis of infectious CCMV. Healthy protoplasts could be infected after several hours in culture but the susceptibility to infection decreased with time in culture; the decrease was much faster with BMV than with CCMV, probably because the difference in electrical charge of the two viruses affects the method of entry into the protoplasts. If inoculation with the second virus was delayed there was an increasing resistance to superinfection (interference or cross-protection) so that when the delay between inoculations was more than 8 hr BMV was no longer able to infect protoplasts previously infected with CCMV and vice versa. No recombinants between BMV and CCMV were observed. Attempts to rescue a temperature-sensitive strain of CCMV with BMV under restrictive conditions (35°) were unsuccessful; dominance by BMV prevented synthesis of infectious CCMV RNA.
4 Using hierarchial linear modeling to examine geographic variation in hepatocellular carcinoma

Abstract PURPOSE: Geographic variation in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has not been previously studied in the US. The purpose of this study was to determine whether geographic variation exists in the incidence of HCC and to assess the effects of individual and population-level risk factors. METHODS: Using NCI SEER program data, we identified cases of HCC from 5 states and 4 metropolitan areas. The 1990 BRFSS survey provided regional prevalence data for several HCC risk factors. Age-adjusted incidence rates were calculated for each geographic region. Hierarchical linear modeling was used to assess the association between HCC incidence and geographic region, adjusting for age, gender, race, year of diagnosis, and the population prevalence of current smoking (smoke everyday/some days and ≥100 cigarettes in lifetime), chronic alcohol use (⩾2 drinks/day or ⩾60 drinks/month), heavier body weight (BMI:25.0–29.9), and diabetes. RESULTS: Between 1975–98, 11,547 cases were identified. Hawaii had the highest age-adjusted incidence rate (4.6), followed by San Francisco-Oakland (3.2), New Mexico (2.0), Detroit (1.9), Seattle-Puget Sound (1.8), Atlanta-Metropolitan (1.7), Connecticut (1.6), Iowa (1.1), and Utah (1.0); all rates per 100,000. Overall, men had a 2–3 times higher age-adjusted incidence rate than women. Whites had an age-adjusted incidence rate of 1.5, blacks 3.2, and other races 7.0. However, variation in HCC incidence rates persisted among geographic areas irrespective of age, gender, or race. These geographic differences were confirmed by hierarchical linear modeling, adjusting for demographic factors; these analyses also showed that the risk of HCC was greater in regions with a higher proportion of alcohol users (p = 0.02) and heavier body weights (p = 0.06). CONCLUSION: Significant geographic variation in HCC incidence exists in the US. These variations are only partly explained by differences in age, gender, race, year of diagnosis, and prevalence of chronic alcohol use and heavier body weight in the underlying population.
Tolerance of Rats Toward Amphetamine and Methamphetamin

It has been shown that the body temperature-increasing effect of d-amphetamine as well as d-desoxyephedrine (methamphetamine) is less after repeated daily injections. No significant difference was noted between the reactions toward these two drugs.
Measuring Racial Climate in Schools of Social Work: Instrument Development and Validation

Objective: This article reports the initial validation of an instrument designed to measure racial climate in programs and schools of social work. Method: An unduplicated sample of students from one school of social work (N = 182) responded to a survey of racial climate. Psychometric analyses were computed to determine the reliability and validity of the instrument’s scales. Results: The scales attained high levels of internal consistency reliability, had a stable factor structure for the items as they were hypothesized, and performed well in preliminary analyses of convergent construct and known-groups validity. Conclusions: The results provided initial evidence of internal consistency reliability and content, construct, factorial, and known-groups validity.
Trace elements, organochlorines, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, dioxins, and furans in lesser scaup wintering on the Indiana Harbor Canal.

During the winter of 1993–94, male lesser scaup (Aythya affinis) were collected on the heavily polluted Indiana Harbor Canal (IHC), East Chicago, IN, USA, and examined for tissue contaminant levels. Lesser scaup collected on the IHC had higher concentrations of cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), selenium (Se), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), selected organchlorine pesticides, polychlorinated dibenzodioxins, polychlorinated dibenzofurans, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and aliphatic hydrocarbons than reference birds. Of the scaup collected on the IHC, 44% had Cd concentrations in the liver considered above background for freshwater waterfowl (>3 μg/g dry wt.), 50% had Se concentrations in the liver above a level possibly harmful to the health of young and adult birds (>33 μg/g dry wt.), and 88% of the scaup carcasses exceeded the PCB human consumption guidelines for edible poultry in the USA (>3.0 μg/g lipid wt.). The ratio of pristane:n-heptadecane concentrations in 47% of lesser scaup collected on IHC was elevated above 1.0, which is indicative of chronic exposure to petroleum hydrocarbons.
Relative size of ionic aggregates determined by X-ray absorption spectroscopy

Abstract Extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectra differed slightly with neutralization level in nominally dry ethylene–methacrylic acid copolymer ionomers neutralized with zinc. These small changes in EXAFS spectra were used to infer that decreases in average aggregate size occur with the decreasing neutralization level and that all zinc ions are in aggregates. However, at sufficiently low neutralization levels, EXAFS results indicate some isolated zinc ions were also present. If no water is present, aggregates almost certainly terminate in zinc cations coordinated to two oxygen atoms from bidentate non-chelating carboxylate anions and two oxygen atoms from bidentate chelating carboxylate anions.
Stories from Laser Camp: outreach activities for kids

ABSTRACT Often in the ever-expanding community of Optics and Photonics, what we do remains a mystery to the outside world. The technology created by our community permeates the lives of every citizen yet is taken for granted due to unfamiliarity. At Three Rivers Community College (TRCC), we have taken steps to rectify that situation. The colleges Laser and Fiber Optic Technol ogy program (LFOT) and the TRCC student chap ter of SPIE run many outreach activities, the most successful of which is Laser Camp. This paper will present a comprehensive overview of Laser Camp from the students aspect with testimonials, discussion of the optics themed activities and provide a view of the SPIE members journey. Keywords: Laser Camp, Outreach, TRCC, K12 1. INTRODUCTION Laser Camp runs for three days, the first at TRCC, followed by one at a local laser industry (TRUMPF, Inc. for the past few years), then again at TRCC. At Laser Camp, local high schools are invited for a day of fun with optic-themed activities. The students learn basic physic properties of light and optics through challenges run by SPIE chapter members. By having SPIE members volunteer for Laser Camp and other activities such as Optics Day, Astronomy Day, and Junior Laser Camp, they develop teaching tools to bett er develop optic-themed activitie s. With minimal guidance, our SPIE chapter members take the social and technical sk ills learned in the classroom and develop the curriculum for teaching the workshops. At the end, the visiting students evaluate the workshops. This feedback is used to improve the workshops from year to year. Laser Camp is supported by a number of organizations. EASTCONN, one of Connecticut's six educational service centers, provides the transportation from the high schools to Three Rivers and purchases many of the supplies. Funding through The CT College of Technology Regional Center for Next Generation Manufacturing (NSF/DUE ATE # 0903209) grant and the Center for Research on Interface Structures and Phenomena (NSF/MRSEC DMR05-20495) grant make many of these activities possible. Other fundin g for supplies and food comes from an outreach grant from SPIE.
Effect of dietary carbohydrate on fatty acids in the R3230AC mammary adenocarcinoma.

SummaryThe R3230AC mammary carcinoma demonstrated an increase in free fatty acids and triglyceride levels in animals consuming a diet high in carbohydrate content. Examination of the fatty acid composition of the lipid fractions in the tumor revealed that the dietary response was due primarily to an increase in the levels of the shorter chain fatty acids, C10 and C12, fatty acids that are characteristic of mammary tissue.
CIRCULATION AND DYNAMICS IN THE JOVIAN MAGNETOSPHERE

continually adds mass to the 10 torus and this density builds up until centrifugal force is sufficient to overcome the line tying of the jovian ionosphere. The magnetic flux is carried outward with this slow radial convection. Under the assumption that 1 ton per second is added to the torus at 10 and that the Voyager observed densities and average ion mass are pertinent for the Pioneer and Galileo epochs, a consistent flow pattern arises. The outward flow near 10 is a few meters per second. Near Europa the velocity, based on the observations of a Europa plume, rises to about 400 m/s. Beyond 24 RJ in the magnetodisk it is possible to again estimate the velocity. It is about 20 km/s at 25 RJ and about 50 krn/sec at 40 RJ consistent with the Voyager LECP measurements. This outflow of magnetic flux is replenished by reconnection of magnetic flux in the near tail and the subsequent inward convection of empty flux tubes into the inner magnetosphere. These flux tubes are seen in the middle magnetosphere and the 10 torus. Their scarcity as judged by the fact that they constitute only about 0.4% of the observing time indicates that they are moving inward at a much higher rate than the mass-loaded magnetospheric plasma moves outward. In the neighborhood of the magnetodisk the outflow appears not to be steady as the magnetic flux crossing the current sheet varies greatly from orbit to orbit. This unsteadiness may lead the occasional aurora1 storms seen in the ionosphere at the feet of these field lines. 0 2000 COSPAR. Published by
Near Edge X-ray Absorption Fine Structure Spectroscopy of Bacterial Hydroxamate Siderophores in Aqueous Solutions

X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) is widely used to explore the coordination environments and structures of metal complexes in aqueous solutions and disordered phases. Although soft-XAS studies on gaseous phases, solid phases and their interfaces have shown that XAS is a versatile tool in studying the functional group composition of organic molecules, the application of XAS to studying aqueous solutions is seriously limited because of experimental difficulties. In this report, using a modified synchrotron endstation geometry, we show how soft-XAS was used to study the changes in electronic states of reactive functional groups in a bacterial macromolecule, desferrioxamine B (desB, a hydroxamate siderophore) and its structural analogue (acetohydroxamic acid (aHa)). We collected C, N, and O near edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) spectra of these molecules in aqueous solutions and complemented their spectral interpretation with calculated X-ray spectra of "hydrated" aHa. The experimental spectra of desB are similar to those for aHa at the C, N, and O K-edges. In addition, the electronic transitions of amide and hydroxamate functional groups in the macromolecule can be distinguished from the N spectra. Small energy differences in the pi*(C=O)NO and the transitions at the C- and N-edges of aHa and desB indicate that the substituent attached to N in desB ((CH2)n) determines the electron density in the (C=O)NO core. As the solution pH increased, the pi*(C=O)NO transition of the hydroxamate group of these two molecules exhibit energy shifts at the C-, N-, and O-edges, which are consistent with increased electron delocalization in the (C=O)NO core of aHa (and desB), predicted from the calculations. The spectra of the aHa(H2O)3- anion also provide evidence for partial N-deprotonation at pH values usually attributed to an O-acid. These results indicate that soft-XAS is well suited for studying the electronic states of different functional groups in aqueous organic macromolecules.
Constrain static target kinetic iterative image reconstruction for 4D cardiac CT imaging

Iterative image reconstruction offers improved signal to noise properties for CT imaging. A primary challenge with iterative methods is the substantial computation time. This computation time is even more prohibitive in 4D imaging applications, such as cardiac gated or dynamic acquisition sequences. In this work, we propose only updating the time-varying elements of a 4D image sequence while constraining the static elements to be fixed or slowly varying in time. We test the method with simulations of 4D acquisitions based on measured cardiac patient data from a) a retrospective cardiac-gated CT acquisition and b) a dynamic perfusion CT acquisition. We target the kinetic elements with one of two methods: 1) position a circular ROI on the heart, assuming area outside ROI is essentially static throughout imaging time; and 2) select varying elements from the coefficient of variation image formed from fast analytic reconstruction of all time frames. Targeted kinetic elements are updated with each iteration, while static elements remain fixed at initial image values formed from the reconstruction of data from all time frames. Results confirm that the computation time is proportional to the number of targeted elements; our simulations suggest that 3 times reductions in reconstruction time. The images reconstructed with the proposed method have matched mean square error with full 4D reconstruction. The proposed method is amenable to most optimization algorithms and offers the potential for significant computation improvements, which could be traded off for more sophisticated system models or penalty terms.
Towards design and comparison of World Wide Web-accessible myocardial two-dimensional gel electrophoresis protein databases.

In addition to the recently published HEART-2DPAGE – a myocardial World Wide Web-accessible 2-DE gel protein database – the usage and installation of software tools are described with regard to the hard- and software environments. Further, access to the HEART-2DPAGE from other two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) databases using name or accession code of a protein is now available. Moreover, database images, published in the myocardial HSC-2DPAGE and HEART-2DPAGE databases are compared. Using the warping tool of the common image processing system Khoros the database images are matched and added in order to visualize the effects of warping. The application of such image processing tools is aimed at improving the comparability of protein spot patterns of different gel images available through the net.
An unconditionally stable parallel transient algorithm with multi-step independent subdomain computation

Abstract A parallel algorithm for computing the transient response of linear structures is presented. In this algorithm, the transient response of subdomains can be integrated independently for multiple time steps at a time. The subdomain transient solutions that are obtained through independent computation are then corrected to obtain the solution of the global problem within each subdomain, using interface portions of independent subdomain solutions from every time step. The algorithm implements the Newmark average acceleration method, so it is unconditionally stable. Operation counts show that this algorithm requires significantly fewer operations per time step than the Newmark algorithm requires when applied to the global problem as a whole. A numerical example is presented.
Notes on the Biology of Ips pini in Central Wisconsin Jack Pine Forests

The biology of the pine engraver, Ips pini (Say) (Coleoptera: Scolytidae), was investigated employing caged and exposed jack pine logs in central Wisconsin in 1957-59. The beetle overwintered only as mature adults in soil and litter. Spring flight normally occurred following a period of about 1 week, during which ambient temperatures averaged 16.7°C, with little or no rainfall. A single male was able to mate 1-6 females, and each female laid 4-5 eggs per day, or 146 eggs during its lifetime. Head capsule measurements revealed 3 larval instars. The complete cycle, including mating and oviposition, required 33-35 days. Mature adults may delay emergence an additional 6-11 days. Inter- and intra-specific competition for food and space was severe. Thanasimus dubius (F.) was the most abundant and efficient predator. No parasites were noted. The top surface of logs in light to moderate shade was most heavily infested. The seasonal history of the pine engraver closely approximated Canadian and other northern United States data.
A scalable approach for performing proximal search for verbose patent search queries

Even though queries received by traditional information retrieval systems are quite short, there are many application scenarios where long natural language queries are more effective. Further, incorporating term position information can help improve results of long queries. However, the techniques for incorporating term position information have been developed for terse queries and hence, can not be directly applied to long queries. Though there exist some methods for performing proximal search for long queries, they are not scalable due to long query response times. We describe an intuitive and simple, yet effective technique that implicitly incorporates term position information for long queries in a scalable manner. Our proposed approach achieves more than 700% faster query response times while maintaining the quality of retrieved results when compared with a state-of-the-art method for performing proximal search for very long queries.
Radar cross section statistics of ground vehicles at Ku-band

Knowing the statistical characteristics of a target's radar cross-section (RCS) is crucial to the success of radar target detection algorithms. Open literature studies regarding the statistical nature of the RCS of ground vehicles focus primarily on simulations, scale model chamber measurements, or limited experimental data analysis of specific vehicles at certain frequencies. This paper seeks to expand the existing body of work on ground vehicle RCS statistics at Ku-band for ground moving target indication (GMTI) applications. We examine the RCS probability distributions of civilian and military vehicles, across aspect and elevation angle, for HH and VV polarizations, and at diverse resolutions, using experimental data collected at Ku-band. We further fit Swerling target models to the distributions and suggest appropriate detection thresholds for ground vehicles in this band.
Bax Deletion Further Orders the Cell Death Pathway in Cerebellar Granule Cells and Suggests a Caspase-independent Pathway to Cell Death

Dissociated cerebellar granule cells maintained in medium containing 25 mM potassium undergo an apoptotic death when switched to medium with 5 mM potassium. Granule cells from mice in which Bax , a proapoptotic Bcl-2 family member, had been deleted, did not undergo apoptosis in 5 mM potassium, yet did undergo an excitotoxic cell death in response to stimulation with 30 or 100 μM NMDA. Within 2 h after switching to 5 mM K + , both wild-type and Bax -deficient granule cells decreased glucose uptake to Bax -deficient granule cells to 50% of control within 12 h after switching to 5 mM potassium. Both wild-type and Bax −/− neurons increased mRNA levels of c-jun , and caspase 3 (CPP32) and increased phosphorylation of the transactivation domain of c-Jun after K + deprivation. Wild-type granule cells in 5 mM K + increased cleavage of DEVD–aminomethylcoumarin (DEVD-AMC), a fluorogenic substrate for caspases 2, 3, and 7; in contrast, Bax -deficient granule cells did not cleave DEVD-AMC. These results place BAX downstream of metabolic changes, changes in mRNA levels, and increased phosphorylation of c-Jun, yet upstream of the activation of caspases and indicate that BAX is required for apoptotic, but not excitotoxic, cell death. In wild-type cells, Boc-Asp-FMK and ZVAD-FMK, general inhibitors of caspases, blocked cleavage of DEVD-AMC and blocked the increase in TdT-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) positivity. However, these inhibitors had only a marginal effect on preventing cell death, suggesting a caspase-independent death pathway downstream of BAX in cerebellar granule cells.
Nanobarcoding: a novel method of single nanoparticle detection in cells and tissues for nanomedical biodistribution studies

Determination of whether nanoparticles accumulate in target or non-target tissues is critical in assessing a nanoparticle formulation for nanomedical purposes. There is an overwhelming need for a sensitive and efficient imaging-based method that can (1) detect small numbers of (even single) nanoparticles, (2) associate nanoparticle uptake with cell type, and (3) allow for rapid detection in large tissue samples. We propose a novel method for nanoparticle detection that utilizes an oligonucleotide "nanobarcode" conjugated to the nanoparticle surface, which amplifies the optical signal from a single nanoparticle via in situ PCR. Herein, we describe the design process of the nanobarcoding method.