cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
New microfabrication technique for electroactive ceramic and electrode materials

Several mechanical designs capable of amplifying the performance of electroactive ceramic actuators and sensors have been presented in the smart materials and structures literature. The realization of these designs on the microscale requires a fabrication technique capable of producing intricate ceramic and electrode structures. Microfabrication by coextrusion (MFCX) provides a simple and inexpensive method to produce axially symmetric structures. It allows concurrent shaping of both the electroactive ceramic and electrode materials, thereby removing the necessity of performing complex electroding procedures after sintering the ceramic. Typically these post firing procedures are difficult, if not impossible, with microdevices. The MFCX technique is a two step process. The first is the use of coextrusion to shape powder-filled thermoplastic compounds into green microsized parts. The second is a co-firing step to achieve binder burnout and densification of both the ceramic and electrode materials. Electroactive ceramic and silver palladium parts with 5 micron feature sizes have been fabricated using this method. This article includes a description of this new microfabrication technique and results of efforts to fabricate microsized ceramic objects including a fenestrated electrostrictive ceramic-silver palladium electrode structure and a piezoelectric hydrophone.
Differential response of vascular smooth muscle cells to oxidized LDL in mouse strains with different atherosclerosis susceptibility

Oxidized low-density lipoprotein (LDL) has numerous atherogenic properties, including induction of inflammatory genes, and vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) are involved in the development of atherosclerosis. In this study, we examined whether variations of VSMC in the capacity to oxidize LDL or in response to minimally modified LDL (MM-LDL) constitute a genetic component in atherosclerosis. VSMC were isolated from the aorta of two inbred mouse strains C57BL/6J (B6) and C3H, which differ markedly in susceptibility to atherosclerosis. LDL oxidation was assessed by measuring thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance (TBARS) production. Responses to MM-LDL were evaluated by examining the expression of inflammatory genes involved atherosclerosis, including monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), and an oxidant stress gene, heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1). VSMC from the two strains exhibited a comparable ability to transform native LDL to oxidized LDL, whereas their response to MM-LDL differed markedly. MM-LDL resulted in dramatic induction of MCP-1, VCAM-1, and HO-1 mRNAs in the cells from B6 mice but exerted little effect in cells from C3H mice. MCP-1 and soluble VCAM-1 protein levels in conditioned media were measured by ELISA. B6 cells produced significantly more MCP-1 and VCAM-1 proteins in response to MM-LDL than C3H cells. These data suggest that variation in the response of VSMC to oxidized LDL may contribute to the difference between B6 and C3H mice in atherosclerosis susceptibility.
Biosynthesis of polyunsaturated fatty acids in the developing brain: I. Metabolic transformations of intracranially administered 1-14C linolenic acid.

Thirteen-day old rats were given intracranial injections of 1-14C linolenic acid (allcis 9,12,15 octa decatrienoic acid) and were sacrificed after 8 hr. Analysis of brain fatty acids showed that 16∶0, 18∶0, 18∶1, 18∶3, 20∶3, 20∶4, 20∶5, 22∶5, and 22∶6 were labeled. The total fatty acid methyl esters were separated into classes according to degree of unsaturation on a AgNO3∶SiO2 impregnated plate. The bands were scraped off and the eluted fatty acids were first analyzed by radiogas liquid chromatography and then subjected to reductive ozonolysis to determine double bond position. The saturated acids, 16∶0, and 18∶0, as well as the mono-unsaturated 18∶1, must have been formed from radioactive acetate produced by β oxidation of the injected linolenate. Among the polyunsaturated fatty acids, the triene fraction was characterized and identified as 18∶3 e3 (Δ9,12,15), the starting material, and 20∶3 ω3 (Δ11,14,17); the tetraene fraction was identified as 20∶4 ω3 (Δ8,11,14,17); the pentaene fraction was identified as 20∶5 ω3 (Δ5,8,11,14,17) and 22∶5 ω3 (Δ7,10,13,16,19); and, finally, the hexaene fraction was shown to be 22∶6 ω3 (Δ4,7,10,13,16,19). The biosynthesis of these ω3 family fatty acids in the brain in situ is discussed.
Calculation of the anion and neutral thermochemistry of c-C5F6Cl2 and c-C6F8Cl2

Abstract Density functional calculations have been carried out to determine the energetics related to nondissociative and dissociative electron attachment to c-C5F6Cl2 (1,2-dichlorohexafluorocyclopentene) and c-C6F8Cl2 (1,2-dichlorooctafluorocyclohexene). Becke’s three-parameter functional B3PW91 was used with the 6-311+G(3df) basis set to determine total energies of the parent neutrals and anions, and of dissociation fragments, at 0 and 298 K. From these total energies, electron affinities, bond enthalpies, and electron attachment reaction enthalpies were determined. The electron affinities of c-C5F6Cl2 and c-C6F8Cl2 were found to be 1.17 and 1.46 eV, respectively. Implications for the experimental results are discussed, notably that dissociative electron attachment to c-C5F6Cl2 (and probably to c-C6F8Cl2 as well) is endothermic.
Molecular Chaperone Hsp70/Hsp90 Prepares the Mitochondrial Outer Membrane Translocon Receptor Tom71 for Preprotein Loading

The preproteins targeted to the mitochondria are transported through the translocase of the outer membrane complex. Tom70/Tom71 is a major surface receptor of the translocase of the outer membrane complex for mitochondrial preproteins. The preproteins are escorted to Tom70/Tom71 by molecular chaperones Hsp70 and Hsp90. Here we present the high resolution crystal structures of Tom71 and the protein complexes between Tom71 and the Hsp70/Hsp90 C terminus. The crystal structures indicate that Tom70/Tom71 may exhibit two distinct states. In the closed state, the N-terminal domain of Tom70/Tom71 partially blocks the preprotein-binding pocket. In the open state, the N-terminal domain moves away, and the preprotein-binding pocket is fully exposed. The complex formation between the C-terminal EEVD motif of Hsp70/Hsp90 and Tom71 could lock Tom71 in the open state where the preprotein-binding pocket of Tom71 is ready to receive preproteins. The interactions between Hsp70/Hsp90 and Tom71 N-terminal domain generate conformational changes that may increase the volume of the preprotein-binding pocket. The complex formation of Hsp70/Hsp90 and Tom71 also generates significant domain rearrangement within Tom71, which may position the preprotein-binding pocket closer to Hsp70/Hsp90 to facilitate the preprotein transfer from the molecular chaperone to Tom71. Therefore, molecular chaperone Hsp70/Hsp90 may function to prepare the mitochondrial outer membrane receptor Tom71 for preprotein loading.
Energy dissipation in sloshing waves in a rolling rectangular tank — III. Results and applications

Abstract The numerical results of the theoretical developments introduced in the first two companion papers are presented here. Since the primary focus of the work is on the dissipated energy, an extensive parametric study of the dissipation is carried out. The versatility of the analytical and computational method is demonstrated by investigating the effects of three important parameters of sloshing in a rectangular tank. These are the Reynolds number, the Froude number and the aspect ratio. For the range of parameters studied, the results exhibit an increase in the value of the dissipated energy for the case of shallow liquid depth. This is in conformity with the laboratory experiments showing the formation of a hydraulic jump which could easily turn into a solitary wave with a change in the frequency. The viscous effects play a major role in forming these jumps, and thus, an increase in viscous dissipation must be associated with such cases. However, for moderate and deep fill depths, the present results show that the dissipated viscous energy is less compared to the shallow fill depth case. This decrease is due to the fact that the fluid near the bottom of the tank is essentially motionless for large depths.
Identification of a Novel Pathway of Transforming Growth Factor-β1 Regulation by Extracellular NAD+ in Mouse Macrophages IN VITRO AND IN SILICO STUDIES

Extracellular β-nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) is anti-inflammatory. We hypothesized that NAD+ would modulate the anti-inflammatory cytokine Transforming Growth Factor (TGF)-β1. Indeed, NAD+ led to increases in both active and latent cell-associated TGF-β1 in RAW 264.7 mouse macrophages as well as in primary peritoneal macrophages isolated from both C3H/HeJ (TLR4-mutant) and C3H/HeOuJ (wild-type controls for C3H/HeJ) mice. NAD+ acts partially via cyclic ADP-ribose (cADPR) and subsequent release of Ca2+. Treatment of macrophages with the cADPR analog 3-deaza-cADPR or Ca2+ ionophores recapitulated the effects of NAD+ on TGF-β1, whereas the cADPR antagonist 8-Br-cADPR, Ca2+ chelation, and antagonism of L-type Ca2+ channels suppressed these effects. The time and dose effects of NAD+ on TGF-β1 were complex and could be modeled both statistically and mathematically. Model-predicted levels of TGF-β1 protein and mRNA were largely confirmed experimentally but also suggested the presence of other mechanisms of regulation of TGF-β1 by NAD+. Thus, in vitro and in silico evidence points to NAD+ as a novel modulator of TGF-β1.
The Nature and Role of Salesperson Perceptions: The Interactive Effects of Salesperson/Customer Personalities

Selling is a social situation in which two people come together for a specific purpose and, in doing so, influence each other. Although customers' perceptions and outcomes have often been explored in the context of personal selling, salespersons' perceptions and outcomes have received far less attention. Each customer brings to the interaction a unique combination of personal characteristics and needs, and the influence of the customer's characteristics on the salesperson should be examined. We report on a laboratory experiment designed to assess the impact of the interactive effect of the salesperson's and the customer's level of self-monitoring on salespersons' perceptions. Results show that there is an interactive effect of the salesperson's personality and the customer's personality on the salesperson's perceptions. More positive outcomes were evident when the self-monitoring levels of the dyad partners were different. A high self-monitoring salesperson experiences greater benefits and judges the interaction more positively when the customer is a low self-monitor. Low self-monitoring salespeople judge the interaction more positively when the customer is a high self-monitor. We conclude that the attitude and behavior consistency of a low self-monitor provides clear direction to the high self-monitoring partner, who seeks cues from the partner to guide behavior.
Benign neonatal sleep myoclonus: Clinical features and video-polygraphic recordings

Benign neonatal sleep myoclonus is a syndrome characterized by the occurrence of repetitive myoclonic jerks of the extremities exclusively during non-rapid eye movement sleep in the early life of healthy newborns. No etiological factors are present. The onset is within the first 15 days of life with spontaneous disappearance within 3-4 months. These myoclonic events are commonly diagnosed as epileptic seizures. We observed 12 newborns with this clinical pattern; the follow-up ranges from 12 to 60 months. Long-term videopolygraphic electroencephalographic (EEG) monitoring demonstrated normal EEG activity, thus confirming that these unusual events were nonepileptic.
The role of live diatoms in bioassessment: a large-scale study of Western US streams

Diatom-based stream bioassessment is constantly being improved to meet the increasing demands of water quality management. This study examined whether percentage of live diatoms (PLD) in periphyton communities can be used as a metric of human disturbance in streams and rivers. The analyzed dataset (587 sites) was collected over the course of 3 years (2000–2002) from 12 Western US states (US EPA’s Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program). The mean PLD in Western streams and rivers was low (34.50%) and highly variable (range 2.08–97.02%). It did not differ significantly between the Mountains (MT, 36.38%) and the Xeric (XE, 35.49%) ecoregions, but it was significantly (P < 0.05) greater than that in the Plains ecoregion (PL, 28.27%). PLD distinguished reference from impacted sites in the MT (P < 0.05) and somewhat in the PL (P = 0.05). However, PLD exhibited opposite patterns in the two ecoregions. It increased with human disturbance in the MT and decreased in the PL due to a potential subsidy-stress gradient of available resources. The different pattern may be largely interpreted by the quality of the reference conditions in each ecoregion. In the MT ecoregion, the selected reference sites may resemble very closely the natural state in this ecoregion. In contrast, human disturbance is much more pervasive in the low-land PL ecoregion and the “reference sites” may reflect the best attainable conditions in this ecoregion. PLD as a metric has potential for monitoring human disturbance of streams, if reference sites represent natural conditions and differing responses among regions are included in expected effects.
The so-called “Baccy-juice” in the Waters of the Thames Oyster-beds

DURING May or June the waters over the oyster-beds at various places in the Thames estuary become periodically brown-coloured. This brown coloration is called “baccy-juice” by the local fishermen, who have connected with it such important observations on fisheries that its nature is worth recording. By the courtesy of Major A. Gardner and Mr. Louis French, I obtained on May 24 and May 28 tow-nettings and living samples of the “baccy-juice” from off Whitstable and off West Mersea, and find, as surmised, that the brown coloration is due almost entirely to the presence of great numbers of the spherical colonies of the brown flagellate Phaeocystis. It is well known that Phaeocystis occurs periodically in the English Channel and in the North Sea, and it is not surprising that it should occur in a similar way in the Thames estuary. The occurrence of “baccy-juice” in the Thames estuary is not welcomed by the fishermen (excluding oyster fishermen), who say that it is useless trawling for fish in the locality of this material, and also state that a cold spell of a few days is sufficient to cause it to disappear; these apparently good practical observations are well worth recording.
Characterization of Sic Fibers by Soft X-Ray Photoelectron and Photoabsorption Spectroscopies and Scanning Auger Microscopy

Synchrotron radiation soft x-ray photoelectron and photoabsorption spectroscopy was used to characterize commercially obtained SiC fibers produced by CVD on a W core and followed by a C passivating layer. Depth profiling of the fiber through the C/SiC interface was done by making Si 2p and C 1s core level PES and PAS, as well as scanning Auger microscopy, measurements following Ar{sup +} sputtering. No significant changes in either photoemission or absorption or Auger line shapes were observed versus depth, indicating no significant interfacial reaction. The line shapes of the carbonaceous coatings are predominantely graphite-like and those of the CVD SiC coatings are microcrystalline, with disorder present to some extent in both cases.
Development and Application of a Regional-Scale Pesticide Transport and Groundwater Vulnerability Model

Pesticides have been detected at concentrations exceeding regulatory levels in groundwater samples from many parts of the world. In efforts to minimize the impact that pesticides have on groundwater resources in the United States, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) proposed that every state develop a pesticide management plan. Development of an effective plan requires that planners identify areas that are most vulnerable to pesticide contamination. The purposes of this article are to present a vulnerability modeling methodology for identifying areas that are vulnerable to pesticide contamination and to evaluate the reliability of the modeling methodology using historic groundwater samples. An objective vulnerability index model was developed from the one-dimensional, advective transport equation to assess groundwater contamination potential based on spatially variable environmental and chemical properties that influence the pesticide leaching potential from the ground surface to the water table. The model was implemented and modified in a geographic information system (GIS) using spatially variable data to produce five vulnerability ratings ranging from very low to very high. Groundwater samples from areas of very high, high, moderate, low, and very low vulnerability had pesticide detection frequencies of 59, 29, 23, 12, and 3 percent, respectively, which indicate that the model is reliable. This model can be used to assess the potential impact of various organic chemicals, application rates, and intensities of irrigation, making it valuable for developing an effective pesticide management plan. This methodology can be applied to nearly any region in the conterminous United States because the required data are generally available in digital format.
A Simple Method for Paraffin and Plastic Embedding of Protozoa

SUMMARY. To avoid multiple centrifugation and considerable losses of material in preparing protozoa for paraffin and plastic embedding a simple method has been worked out, requiring only two centrifugations, one before and one after fixation. During the second centrifugation, which is done at 700 g for 10 minutes, the organisms form a cohesive pellet which may be removed from the centrifuge tube by means of a fine spatula and handled as a piece of tissue through the whole process of dehydration and embedding.
Managing on today's technical fast track☆

Abstract After a most productive two decades in the 1950's and 1960's, the 1970's were something of a dark age for technology in the United States. However, the 1980's show signs of a renaissance, and the following are cited as encouraging signs: investment is on the rise, Washington is adopting a new set of values, there is increasing evidence of a marketing orientation by engineers, the NIH (not invented here) syndrome is on the decline, and there is an expanding pool of engineers. The associated opportunities place additional responsibilities on engineering managers. Doing the job yourself is one thing; persuading others to do it is another. This calls for real leadership in the management of our resources — time, money and people. This is the challenge ahead for engineering managers.
New Oral Anticoagulants for Atrial Fibrillation

Case 1A : A 68-year-old man with a past medical history of atrial fibrillation (AF), hypertension, and type 2 diabetes mellitus has been on anticoagulation therapy with warfarin for 6 years. The patient's target international normalized ratio (INR) is 2.0 to 3.0. The patient has been managed by a pharmacist-run anticoagulation clinic, and his recent warfarin doses and INR values are shown inTable 1. He has had no bleeding or thrombotic complications. His current medications include warfarin, metformin, lisinopril, and atorvastatin. The patient has recently read about the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approvals of dabigatran etexilate and rivaroxaban and would like to know if he should be switched from warfarin to dabigatran. View this table: Table 1. INR Values for Patient in Case 1a Case 1B: After discussion with the cardiologist and pharmacist, the patient in Case 1A decided that he would like to switch to dabigatran etexilate. He and his referring cardiologist would like to know how to switch a patient from warfarin to dabigatran. Pertinent labs include a serum creatinine of 0.7 mg/dL (creatinine clearance 80 mL/min) and liver function tests within normal limits. His medications remain unchanged. Case 2: A 70-year-old, 70-kg woman with a past medical history of hypertension presented to the emergency department with signs and symptoms of acute heart failure. She was diagnosed with new-onset AF and rapid ventricular response. After successful rate control with a β-blocker and anticoagulation with heparin, she underwent successful cardioversion after a transesophageal echocardiogram demonstrating no thrombi or valvular heart disease with an ejection fraction of 70%. Her other medications include ramipril and hydrochlorothiazide. Based on her CHADS2 score of 2 (hypertension and heart failure) and CHA2DS2-VASC score of 3 (hypertension, age 65–75 years, and female sex) a decision is made to anticoagulate the …
Light quarks and instantons

Abstract Instantons and anti-instantons can profoundly influence the structure of a non-Abelian gauge theory involving N flavors of massless quarks. Interactions of the quarks with these pseudoparticles can spontaneously generate a quark mass, break the theory's SU(N) × SU(N) chiral symmetry and bind quark-antiquark pairs to form N2 − 1 Goldstone bosons. If the spontaneously generated quark mass is small, multipseudoparticle configurations can be treated in a dilute gas approximation.
Effects of Teaching Early Interventionists to Use Discrete Trials During Ongoing Classroom Activities

This study evaluated the effects of a teacher-training package that included sequential components (activity-based intervention [ABI] and ABI with discrete trials) on the rate of instructional opportunities presented to young children with disabilities. Three teachers and three children participated. A multiple-probe design was used with four conditions: classroom baseline, ABI, ABI with discrete trials, and generalization. Although the rate of instruction increased during the ABI condition, substantial increases were not seen until teachers received instruction on how to organize and conduct instructional trials using a discrete trials format. Concurrent observations revealed that the percentage of intervals in which teachers engaged in obligatory interactions (those that required a response) and nonobligatory interactions (those that did not require a response) increased as the rate of instruction increased and that the amount of time teachers engaged children in interactions that were nondirective rema...
Separation of xylene isomer vapors with oriented MFI membranes made by seeded growth

Oriented MFI membranes made by secondary growth on the surface of α-Al2O3 support disks have been evaluated for the separation of xylene isomers vapors in the temperature range 22−275 °C and feed partial pressures up to ∼0.7−0.9 kPa. It is found that the separation performance of these membranes is directly related to the synthesis conditions and the resulting membrane microstructure. Thick (12−18 μm) and c-oriented membranes (type A membranes) made by 24-h growth at 175 °C exhibit single-component p-xylene/o-xylene permselectivity as high as 150 at 100 °C but very modest separation factors (usually <5) are obtained with binary feed mixtures, a result of a drastic increase in the flux of o-xylene in the presence of p-xylene. Thin (2−3 μm) and (h0h)-oriented membranes (type B membranes) made by 120-h growth at 90 °C exhibit comparable single-component and binary permeation behavior but suffer from lower selectivities/separation factors (up to 12) as a result of cracks formed after calcination for template ...
Platinum-group element geochemistry of Cu-Ni mineralization in the basal zone of the Babbitt Deposit, Duluth Complex, Minnesota

The Babbitt Cu-Ni sulfide deposit, located in the Duluth Complex of Minnesota, contains associated low-grade platinum-group element (PGE) mineralization. Interelement correlations show that for both massive and disseminated ore zones, Rh, Ru, Os, Re, and Ir are positively correlated to S abundance and suggest that they have behaved as immobile elements. However, Pt, Pd, and Au are strongly decoupled from the Rh-Ru-Os-Re-Ir group and show no significant correlation with S, Cu, or Ni. A PGE-enriched zone (up to 3,000 ppb Pt and 1,100 ppb Pd) is located laterally adjacent to the highest grade Cu-Ni ore. The PGE-enriched zone is characterized by abundant bornite, lower sulfide delta 34 S values (-1.4 to +8.9ppm) than those from other sulfide-bearing zones at Babbitt, and oxide assemblages that include Cr-bearing hercynite-and magnetite-rich spinels, as well as ilmenite. Sperrylite (PtAs 2 ) is the only discrete PGE mineral identified in the Babbitt deposit. Synchrotron X-ray fluorescence microprobe analyses indicate that some rocks with a high-bulk PGE content are characterized by ppm quantities (16-132) of Pd in cubanite, chalcopyrite, maucherite, and mackinawire. Although Cl contents of biotite and apatite from mineralized units range from 0.10 to 0.71 and 0.87 to 1.43 wt percent, respectively, no direct relationship between PGE enrichment and Cl content of volatile-rich phases has been observed. Geochemical data suggest that both magmatic and hydrothermal processes have been important in the localization of PGE at the Babbitt deposit. The distribution of Rh, Ru, Os, Re, and Ir reflects magmatic concentration processes, whereas Pt, Pd, and Au have been locally mobilized and redistributed during hydrothermal alteration.
A hybrid digital signal processing-neural network CDMA multiuser detection scheme

We present a new hybrid digital signal processing-neural network two-step multiuser detection scheme whose small computational complexity makes it attractive for real-time CDMA multiuser detection. An investigation on the nature of the local minima of the Optimal Multiuser Detector's (OMD) objective function leads to the development of an efficient algorithmic stage that can reduce significantly the size of the OMD optimization problem. This stage may then be followed by a Hopfield neural network employed to solve a smaller size residual problem of the same form. The performance of the hybrid detector is evaluated via simulations and it is shown to exceed that of other suboptimal receivers at a much lower computational cost in both synchronous and asynchronous CDMA transmission cases.
A high resolution global reanalysis highlighting the winter monsoon. Part I, reanalysis fields

This study entails a reanalysis of the TOGA-COARE, CEPEX period covering the months December 1992 through March 1993. Four times daily data sets were reanalyzed for the period. The unique aspect of this reanalysis is that (i) it incorporates physical initialization i.e. assimilation of rainfall from raingauge and satellite (OLR and microwave radiometric data), (ii) this reanalysis is carried out at a very high resolution, T170, global spectral model (space resolution of roughly 70 km at equator) and (iii) ECMWF reanalysis is used as a first guess field for this study. This analysis is global and is carried out at 15 vertical levels using the FSU global spectral model. In this study we have analyzed a large number of meterological variables such as wind, temperature, humidity, surface pressure, vertical velocity, cloud, rainfall, surface fluxes and diabatic heating. In this part of the paper we present the monthly mean and samples of daily fields of the reanalysis. Some of the major results of the reanalysis include the relationships among the flow fields and the ITCZ convection; the shallow northeast monsoon current and its rapid turning towards westerlies with height; an overabundance of middle clouds over the region of the ITCZ; and the distribution of heat sources and sinks. A motivation for this reanalysis is the forthcoming Indian Ocean Experiment (INDOEX), which is an international field experiment to be conducted during the winter monsoon time frame in 1999.
Measuring the benefits of ERP on supply management maturity model: a “big data” method

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effects of implementing enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems and the selection of ERP vendors on supply management performance for Fortune 500. Design/methodology/approach – The paper adopts the supply chain maturity model adopted by Gupta and Handfield (2011) and used publicly available information such as articles, research report, newspapers to develop objective maturity ratings for four key indicators – strategic sourcing, category management, and supplier relationship management. Findings – The analysis results suggest ERP users are more mature than non-ERP users in three key indicators: strategic sourcing, category management, and supplier relationship management. Moreover, SAP ERP users are more mature than non-ERP users in strategic sourcing, category management, and supplier relationship management. Research limitations/implications – This study does not account for the longitudinal performance of ERP systems, nor does it account for differences between organizational scope of ERP deployment, global reach, or implementation duration. The authors also did not include other measures of supply chain performance outside of the procurement area. These factors could provide further insights to supply chain performance, and will be an interesting topic for future research. Practical implications – This study provides an extensive analysis of how the deployment of ERP systems and the selection of ERP vendors can benefit a company’s supply chain performance. This information is valuable for companies that are considering adapting an ERP system. Originality/value – This paper uses innovative an maturity assessment rating approach with publicly available resources to measure supply management performance across different companies. This method is novel and provides valuable insights to how ERP systems and their vendors’ impact supply chain management performance.
Transmitter release is evoked with low probability predominately by calcium flux through single channel openings at the frog neuromuscular junction

The quantitative relationship between presynaptic calcium influx and transmitter release critically depends on the spatial coupling of presynaptic calcium channels to synaptic vesicles. When there ...
DEA1, a circadian- and cold-regulated tomato gene, protects yeast cells from freezing death

Cold and freezing damage to plants can be mitigated by inducible factors during an acclimation period. DEA1 is a circadian-regulated tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) gene with sequence similarity to EARLI1, an Arabidopsis thaliana gene that confers cold protection. To investigate whether DEA1 was responsive to environmental variables such as cold, cold-treated tomatoes were analyzed for DEA1 expression. DEA1 transcript accumulated in response to cold, and the rapidity of the cold-induced transcript accumulation was regulated by the circadian rhythm. To test whether DEA1 could protect cells from freezing damage, we transformed the yeast, Pichia pastoris, with an inducible DEA1 construct. Yeast cells transformed with the gene survived freezing at a significantly higher rate than control strains and a strain expressing the LacZ gene. Transgenic tomato plants over-expressing or knocking down DEA1 transcript levels did not have an altered phenotype with respect to cold- or pathogen-susceptibility relative to control plants.
Effect of interlayer spacing on intercalation of CdS in clays

The effect of laponite clay interlayer space on intercalation of CdS has been investigated. Results indicate that the degree of “openness” of the interlayer space of the laponite film determines whether the intercalation of CdS in laponite film can occur. In these systems, solvents play the dominant role in opening the interlayer space. As methanol molecules cannot open the interlayer space sufficiently to allow S2− anions to penetrate into the clay, CdS is formed only on the external surface of the laponite-methanol systems. However, ethanol and n-propanol molecules expand the layers sufficiently for CdS to form inside the interlayers. The minimum basal d-spacing of an intercalated clay can be estimated from summation of the thickness of the tetrahedra-octahedra-tetrahedra sheet of clays and the diameters of guest molecules, if a monolayer of guest molecules is intercalated into the clay.
Regulation of Jealousy Protest in the Context of Reunion Following Differential Treatment

Emotion regulation strategies and variation in their presentation were explored toward understanding infants' responses during reunion with mother (Re) following baseline mother–infant interaction (Bl) and differential treatment (DT) episodes. Correlation analyses revealed cohesion among distress and mother-directed touch and proximity-seeking during DT and Re, mother-directed gaze during DT, and resistance during Re. The association between mother-directed gaze during DT and distress during Re suggests that visual inattention during DT serves as a regulatory strategy. Overall, these linkages yield expanded understanding of jealousy protest as a constellation of responses that endures beyond the eliciting condition and includes regulatory behaviors. Cross-context comparisons revealed that distress was lower during Re than during DT, but not as low as Bl, suggesting that DT poses challenge to interactive repair. Inquiry into individual variation revealed that distress during Re was augmented in laterborn males and with risk influences of dysregulated fear, and maternal insensitivity and hostility. Conversely, maternal depression was associated with less distress; later judgment as insecure, especially insecure-avoidance, was associated with less mother-directed behaviors. These findings suggest that dysregulation following DT is indicated by both resistance and passivity. In sum, the results highlight emotion regulation as a powerful framework for addressing recovery following DT.
Native Americans and Alcohol: Past, Present, and Future

Native Americans have higher rates of alcohol use, frequency of use, and increased rates of fetal alcohol syndrome, compared with other ethnic groups (J. Hisnanick, 1992; P. A. May, 1996; J. M. Wallace et al., 2003). High prevalence rates of alcohol misuse among Native Americans must be understood in light of their unique history, which has resulted in trauma and exposure to many risk factors for problem alcohol use. Many risk factors have been identified in the general population; however, only some of these risk factors have been examined among Native American populations. The unique history and world view of Native Americans mean that, often, risk factors operate differently from the way they do in other populations. The authors discuss interventions and promising treatments.
Vibrations of a pair of elastically supported tall building models in a uniform stream

Abstract Experimental investigations were carried out to examine the flow features around a pair of elastically supported square cylinders and the associated flow-excited vibrations. Square cylinders of finite height were placed side by side in parallel to model adjacent tall buildings. The undisturbed uniform cross stream is along the side of the buildings. The experiment was carried vit in a recirculating water channel. The flow field was visualized using hydrogen bubble technique. Time sequential photography was used to quantify the development of the vortex pattern and the vibrational characteristics of the building models.
A sex difference in radioactivity of Artemia cultured in sea water containing phosphorus-32.

Phosphorus-32 was added in known concentration to sea water containing adult brine shrimp, Artemia salina. Geiger-Mueller counts were made of individual adults and or samples of the sea water over a significant period of time. Females were found to be more radioactive than males. The possible importance of sex in radioecological studies is discussed. (C.H.)
Liquid crystalline epoxy thermosets based on dihydroxymethylstilbene: Synthesis and characterization

This article describes the synthesis and characterization of a new series of liquid crystalline thermosets. Nematic epoxy-terminated oligoethers based on dihydroxy-α-methylstilbene were synthesized for this study. These prepolymers were crosslinked within the nematic mesophase using methylenedianiline. Depending upon the molecular weight and polydispersity of the oligoether, the crosslinking reaction resulted in networks with either a smectic or nematic molecular organization in contrast to the simple nematic phase of the oligoether. The formation of a smectic-like structure on curing was found to be related to the breadth of the prepolymer molecular weight. In those networks with a low crosslink density a clearing transition could be observed, whereas in the more highly crosslinked networks the molecular organization was frozen in until decomposition. The glass transition temperature of these LC networks rose as the crosslink density was increased, ranging from 35 to 152°C. In agreement with theory, the clearing transition of the networks was found to be dependent on the phase state during curing © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Reusing urban wastewater ― an alternative and a reliable water resource

ABSTRACT Fundamental concepts of reusing urban wastewater as an alternative and a reliable source of water supply are discussed, along with the categories for water reuse, planning methodologies, wastewater reclamation technologies, and economics. The rational basis for integration of urban reclaimed water into water resources planning is proposed and the safe use of reclaimed water is evaluated. Special attention is paid to tertiary or advanced wastewater treatment systems that are capable of producing essentially pathogen-free effluent for a variety of uses such as irrigation of urban landscape, flushing of toilets served by dual plumbing systems in large commercial buildings, and groundwater recharge for eventual potable reuse. The motivating factors for wastewater reclamation and reuse are summarized and the costs of water reclamation projects are discussed with several examples. The integration of this alternative water supply into water resources planning is proposed and the safe use of reclaimed wa...
Optical Considerations for an Acoustooptic Deflector

An optical analysis is presented for the performance of an acoustooptic deflector illuminated by a slit-truncated Gaussian beam and operating in the linear FM mode. Effects of relatively small scan–time/access–time ratios and nonlinearity of the FM are considered.
The effect of spatial and temporal laser beam characteristics on two-photon absorption

Abstract We present calculations which indicate possible sources of error in the determination of two-photon absorptivity introduced by the choice of experimental conditions. Both the direct absorption experiment and the two-photon excitation experiment are considered. We include the effects of beam alignment, diffraction-limited focusing, and pulse width variation on the observed two-photon absorptivity.
Determination of the inner planet frame tie using VLBI data

The problem of connecting the independent reference frames formed by the planetary ephemeris and the radio source catalog is one of growing importance to spacecraft navigation. Using quasar-relative VLBI delay data collected by the Deep Space Network, and Soviet coherent data from the Venus flyby of the Soviet Vega 1 and 2 spacecraft, a self-consistent estimate of the frame tie offset has been found, along with its uncertainty.
The influence of excisional or incisional biopsy of metastatic neck nodes on the management of head and neck cancer

Between November 1964 and December 1981, 80 patients who had undergone an open biopsy of a cervical lymph node containing squamous cell carcinoma were treated with curative intent in the University of Florida Division of Radiation Therapy. Irradiation was the initial step in the definitive treatment of all patients, followed by neck dissection and/or primary resection, as indicated. The patients were divided into two groups. (a) NX (no gross residual neck disease) (25 patients): According to the referring surgeons' and pathologists' reports, a single, clinically positive lymph node was totally excised in 25 patients. No other clinically positive lymph nodes were appreciated upon referral. No neck dissections were added following irradiation in this group of patients. The absolute 5 year disease-free survival in the NX group was 79%, and the rate of neck disease control was 96%. (b) Gross residual neck disease (55 patients): Gross residual disease remained in the neck in 55 patients following biopsy. In some patients, only an incisional biopsy of a large mass had been performed; in others, only one of several involved nodes was removed. The absolute 5 year disease-free survival in this group of patients was 31%, and the rate of neck disease control was 64%. The more consistent addition of a neck dissection in recent years has resulted in improved neck control rates in this group: 13/20 (65%) for N1-N2 disease and 2/7 (29%) for N3A disease following irradiation alone versus 6/7 (86%) for N2 disease and 5/8 (63%) for N3A disease when a neck dissection was added following irradiation. There are some differences in the rates of neck control, control above the clavicles, survival, distant metastasis, and complications between this series and other reported series in which open neck-node biopsy preceded definitive treatment. Possible reasons for these differences are discussed.
Synthesis of Functionalized Targeted Polyamides

A synthetic approach to polyamides containing the tyrosine-leucine linkage is presented. The diphenyl phosphoryl azide, (DPPA ), coupling technique was utilized to synthesize the monomers. Solution polymerization of monomer I, tyrosylleucyliminohexamethyleneiminoleucyltyrosine, with adipoyl and sebacoyl chlorides gave polymers with intrinsic viscosities of 0.18 dL/g and 0.13 dL/g respectively in 90% formic acid. Interfacial polymerization of the monomer yielded a fibrous crosslinked material which was found to be a poly(amide-ester) by IR spectroscopic analysis.
1‐13C glucose magnetic resonance spectroscopy of pediatric and adult brain disorders

With protocols designed for use in a clinical environment we investigated the feasibility and diagnostic potential of (13)C MRS after 1-(13)C labeled glucose infusion. (13)C MRS brain examinations were performed in 27 subjects (17 children and pediatric patients, six adult patients, and four adult controls), using a standard 1.5 T clinical MR scanner. 1-(13)C glucose, 99% enriched (20% w/v) was administered intravenously (690 or 210 mg/kg body weight) or orally (730 mg/kg). Cerebral (13)C-enrichment patterns and time courses were compared. 1-(13)C glucose appeared in brain spectra within 2.5-15 min, with ensuing enrichment of its metabolites. No complications were encountered. When data obtained in patients were compared with controls, striking abnormalities in hepatic encephalopathy and in premature brain were observed, consistent with reduced cerebral glucose metabolism. Abnormalities in the (13)C enrichment pattern were also observed in pediatric patients with leukodystrophies and mitochondrial disorders. In this preliminary survey, we conclude that (13)C MRS in combination with glucose infusion is safe and efficient and provides new insights into the pathophysiology of brain disorders.
Some Characteristics of a Lipase Preparation from the Uredospores of Puccinia graminis tritici

The characteristics of a lipase preparation from the uredospores of Puccinia graminis (pers.) f. sp. tritici (Eriks. and Henn.) have been investigated. The majority of the lipolytic activity in disrupted uredospores was found to be associated with a lipid-containing, particulate fraction which sedimented at 5000g. With triolein as a substrate, both 1,3- and 1,2-diglycerides were formed. Ethylenediaminetetraacetate, p-chloromercuribenzoic acid, and Hg(2+) strongly inhibited the activity. A pH optimum of 6.7 was observed. The sensitivity of the preparation to higher temperatures was indicated by a complete loss of activity when the preparation was preincubated at 25 C or above for 30 minutes. A temperature optimum of 15 C for the enzyme is strikingly similar to the temperature optimum for germination of the uredospores. The possible relationship between the sensitivity of the enzyme and the germination process is discussed.
US Supreme Court Agenda Setting and the Role of Litigant Status

Whether the "haves" come out ahead of the "have nots" in the judicial process is a topic of great interest for scholars of the judiciary. Although studies of lower courts have found that litigant status generally matters, research at the US Supreme Court is not of one voice, with conflicting results across several studies. Bringing a novel perspective to this debate, we analyze litigant status at the Supreme Court's agenda-setting stage. Using archival data from the articles of Justice Blackmun, we find that litigant status influences the Court's decision making but that the nature of the effect can be mitigated by the interplay between a justice's ideology and the presence of interest group support. (OT1phvlslJEL C00, K00, K40) The Author 2010. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Yale University. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org, Oxford University Press.
The multi-product competitive price-setting newsvendor problem

We consider the problem where a number of firms simultaneously compete in price and inventory level decisions. Each firm offers a line of several products, both complementary products and substitutes, the product line demand is also sensitive to prices of outside competitors' products. We also consider the case of excess demand, where the firm faces part of the demand its competitors could not satisfy because of stock-out, and an application of the proposed approach to the serial inventory problem. Although in most practical settings, multi-product dynamic pricing problems are approximately solved by decoupling across products and solving a large number of single-product problems. In this paper, we propose an iterative relaxation algorithm that solves the multi-product problem, and we prove sufficient conditions for convergence of the algorithm. Finally, we present extensive computational examples and a real-world case study derived from the successful testing and implementation of our models and algorithms in several industries.
Measuring foam model shapes with a contact digitizer

Background and Aim: It is difficult to measure foam model shapes using contact digitizers because the stylus contact tends to get stuck in the soft foam. The aim of this paper is to describe a technique to overcome this challenge and to assess its effect on digitizer error.Technique: A controlled laboratory study was conducted. Thirty trans-tibial socket models were measured using a custom mechanical digitizer. Models were coated with a thin layer of resin, and then the resin thickness measured and subtracted from the digitizer data. Error introduced to the measurement from presence of the resin was determined.Results and Discussion: The technique did not introduce meaningful error to the digitizer data beyond that already present from other sources in the instrument. The total instrument error for the contact digitizer used was 0.1% for model volume and 0.05 mm for mean radii. The root-mean-square error for individual measurement points was 0.08 mm. While resin coating introduced error to the digitizer m...