cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Sialome—Far More Than the Sum of Its Parts

The glycome is defined as the glycan repertoire of cells, tissues, and organisms, as found under specified conditions. The vastly diverse glycome is generated by a nontemplate driven biosynthesis, which is indirectly encoded in the genome, and very dynamic. Due to this overwhelming diversity, glycomic analysis must be approached at different hierarchical levels of complexity. In this review five such levels of complexity and the experimental approaches used for analysis at each level are discussed for a subclass of the glycome: the sialome. The sialome, in analogy to the canopy of a forest, covers the cell membrane with diverse array of complex sialylated structures. Sialome complexity includes modification of sialic acid core structure (the leaves and flowers), the linkage to the underlying sugar (the stems), the identity, and arrangement of the underlying glycans (the branches), the structural attributes of the underlying glycans (the trees), and finally, the spatial organization of the sialoglycans in relation to components of the intact cell surface (the forest). Understanding the full complexity of the sialome thus requires combined analyses at multiple levels, that is, the sialome is far more than the sum of its parts.
Radiation protection dosimetry—from amateur to professional

Radiation Protection Dosimetry was founded in 1981 and there has been a close link between the journal and the solid state dosimetry series of conferences from 1983 to the present day. The background to and the creation and development of the journal is described, having started as one volume of four issues per year in 1981 rising to six volumes in 1994. During the period of development there have been considerable advances in all forms of technology, requiring continued attention to the introduction of this new technology. Some of the changes in the world of publishing over the past 25 y are quite dramatic. Whilst simplistic approaches have been adequate within a small publishing house for a considerable time, further progressive technology changes that are required in the future mean that the necessary resources are only realistically available to large publishers. The journal thus moved to Oxford University Press at the beginning of 2004. It will celebrate its 25th year in 2005.
Use of inertance in orifice pulse tube refrigerators

Abstract In efficient Stirling-cycle cryocoolers, the oscillating velocity leads the oscillating pressure at the hot end of the regenerator, and lags behind it at the cold end. In single-orifice pulse tube refrigerators, the velocity leads pressure at both ends, resulting in lower efficiency. The phase shift between oscillating pressure and oscillating velocity at the cold end is determined in part by the purely resistive nature of the “orifice” of the orifice pulse tube refrigerator, so that the pressure difference across the orifice is in phase with the velocity through it. We show that the phase shift between velocity and pressure can be shifted to the more efficient Stirling values by adding an “inertance” in series with the orifice. The word “inertance” is an acoustics term connoting both inertia and inductance, because it is due to inertial effects of moving gas and is the acoustic analog of electrical inductance. Use of an inertance is significantly beneficial only when the gross cooling power is sufficiently large. © 1997 Elsevier Science Limited
Topographic dynamics in the resting brain.

In this issue of Neuron, Wang et al. (2013) demonstrate that spontaneous neural activity measured using functional neuroimaging is strongly related to millisecond-scale neuronal interactions and topographically precise anatomical connections in the primate somatosensory cortex.
Two-photon nano-PEBBLE sensors: subcellular pH measurements

Intracellular pH mapping is of great importance as it plays a critical role in many cellular events. Also, in tissue, pH mapping can be an indicator for the onset of cancer. Here we describe a biocompatible, targeted, ratiometric, fluorescent, pH sensing nano-PEBBLE (Photonic Explorer for Biomedical use with Biologically Localized Embedding) that is based on two-photon excitation. Two-photon excitation minimizes the photobleaching and cell autofluorescence drastically, leading to an increase in the signal-to-noise ratio. PEBBLE nanosensors provide a novel approach for introducing membrane impermeant dyes, like HPTS, into cells. We use both non-targeted and F3 peptide targeted PEBBLE nanosensors for intracellular pH measurement of 9L cells. The intracellular measurements suggest that the non-targeted nanosensors are mostly trapped in endosomes, whereas the F3 peptide targeting enables them to escape/avoid these acidic compartments. Combining the advantages of pH sensitive PEBBLE nanoparticles, including their specific targeting, with the advantages of two-photon microscopy provides an attractive and promising prospect for non-invasive real-time monitoring of pH inside cancer cells and tissues.
Local Friction and Heat Transfer Behavior of Water in a Turbulent Pipe Flow With a Large Heat Flux at the Wall

We investigate the behavior of friction and heat transfer coefficients of water flowing turbulently in a relatively long (i.e., 950 diameter long) circular pipe. When a large heat flux was applied at the wall, the viscosity of water significantly decreased along the axial direction due to the increasing temperature of water. A concept of a redeveloping region was introduced, where the local heat transfer coefficient increased while the local friction coefficient decreased due to the above-mentioned viscosity change. We propose the use of local bulk-mean temperature to determine local Nusselt numbers by using local Reynolds (Re LB ) and Prandtl numbers (PT LB ), a method that automatically took into account the effect of axial viscosity change on the evaluation of local heat transfer coefficients. A new turbulent heat transfer correlation for the prediction of the local Nusselt number is given as Nu x = 0.00425 Re LB 0.079 Pr LB O.4 (μ w /μ h ) -0.11 .
Sequential learning of multi-state autoregressive time series

Modeling and forecasting streaming data has fundamental importance in many real world applications. In this paper, we present an online model selection technique that can be used to model non-stationary time series in a sequential manner. Multi-state autoregressive (AR) model is used to describe non-stationary time series, and a dynamic algorithm is applied to learn the states at each time step. The proposed technique estimates a candidate AR filter from the most recent data points at every time step, and checks whether starting a new state significantly decreases prediction error or not. To that end, a time-varying threshold is compared with the reduction in the prediction error caused by postulating a new AR filter. The threshold is calculated by sampling and clustering uniformly distributed stable AR filters. Numerical simulations show that the proposed algorithm accurately estimates the state transitions with a small delay.
Photoionization Cross Sections of the Outer s-Subshell Electrons in the Rare Gases

The absolute photoionization cross sections for the outer $\mathrm{ns}$ subshells of argon, krypton, and xenon have been measured from their respective ionization thresholds to 41 eV as well as at one point near the ionization threshold of neon. The technique of photoelectron spectroscopy was used to determine the ratio of the $s$ to $p$ photoelectrons. Measurements of the total cross sections and of the magnitudes of multiple-ionization processes allowed an accurate determination of the subshell cross sections to be made.
Control of a hysteretic actuator using inverse hysteresis compensation

The accurate control of a system that exhibits hysteresis requires a control strategy that incorporates some form of compensation for the hysteresis. One approach is to develop an accurate model P of the hysteresis and then use the inverse P-1 as a compensator (inverse compensation). This paper focuses on the problem of determining P and P-1 for a piezoelectric stack actuator. The KP operator is used to formulate the hysteresis operator P and from this an approximation Pm is derived. Compensation is then defined in terms of the inverse of the approximation, Pm-1. Experimental data collected on an unloaded piezoelectric stack actuator is used to demonstrate the concept of inverse compensation. The parameters of Pm are identified using only major hysteresis loop data and results are given that show Pm provides an accurate model for both major and minor hysteresis loops. Results are then presented that demonstrate the capability of the inverse Pm-1 to compensate for the actuator hysteresis.© (1998) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Observability Conditions For Angles-only Tracking*

This paper addresses the state-observability issue for the problem of three-dimensional angles-only tracking of a moving, possibly accelerating target by a moving observer. Necessary and sufficient conditions for observability are rigorously established. It is also shown that other existing observability criteria are special cases of these conditions.
Internalization signals in synaptotagmin VII utilizing two independent pathways are masked by intramolecular inhibitions

The synaptotagmin family of membrane proteins has been implicated in both exocytosis and endocytosis. Synaptotagmin I, a protein containing two tandem C2 domains (the C2A and the C2B) in its cytoplasmic tail, is involved in regulated exocytosis of synaptic vesicles as well as compensatory endocytosis. A related family member, synaptotagmin VII, is involved in multiple forms of regulated exocytosis of lysosomes and secretory granules. In this study we show that the cytoplasmic C2 domains in synaptotagmin VII contain unique internalization signals and regulators of these signals. The C-terminal portion of the C2B is internalized in much the same way as the corresponding region of synaptotagmin I. This signal is tryptophan-based and dynamin and eps15 dependent. In contrast, the C2A contains an unusual internalization signal that is not seen in the C2A of synaptotagmin I. This signal is not based on the homologous tryptophan in its C-terminus. Moreover, internalization of the C2A domain is both dynamin and eps15 independent. Finally, the C2B domain of synaptotagmin VII contains an inhibitory motif that prevents internalization. Endocytic trafficking of synaptotagmin VII is thus governed by these two latent internalization signals, which are concealed by intramolecular inhibition. We propose that endocytosis of synaptotagmin VII is regulated in this way to allow it to couple the processes of regulated exocytosis and compensatory endocytosis.
X-RAY CRYSTALLOGRAPHIC STUDIES OF SEROTONIN N-ACETYLTRANSFERASE CATALYSIS AND INHIBITION

The structure of serotonin N-acetyltransferase (also known as arylalkylamine N-acetyltransferase; AANAT) bound to a potent bisubstrate analog inhibitor has been determined at 2.0 A resolution using a two-edge (Se, Br) multiwavelength anomalous diffraction (MAD) experiment. This acetyl-CoA dependent enzyme is a member of the GCN5-related family of N-acetyltransferases (GNATs), which share four conserved sequence motifs (A-D). In serotonin N-acetyltransferase, motif A adopts an alpha/beta conformation characteristic of the phylogenetically invariant cofactor binding site seen in all previously characterized GNATs. Motif B displays a significantly lower level of conservation among family members, giving rise to a novel alpha/beta structure for the serotonin binding slot. Utilization of a brominated CoA-S-acetyl-tryptamine-bisubstrate analog inhibitor and the MAD method permitted conclusive identification of two radically different conformations for the tryptamine moiety in the catalytic site (cis and trans). A second high-resolution X-ray structure of the enzyme bound to a bisubstrate analog inhibitor, with a longer tether between the acetyl-CoA and tryptamine moieties, demonstrates only the trans conformation. Given a previous proposal that AANAT can catalyze an alkyltransferase reaction in a conformationally altered active site relative to its acetyltransferase activity, it is possible that the two conformations of the bisubstrate analog observed crystallographically correspond to these alternative reaction pathways. Our findings may ultimately lead to the design of analogs with improved AANAT inhibitory properties for in vivo applications.
Examining Self-Perceived First-aid Abilities After the Northridge Earthquake

INTRODUCTION This study examines those factors predictive of self-perceived first-aid abilities among a community-based sample after the 1994 Northridge earthquake. METHODS A probabilities-proportionate-to-size (pps) sample of residents of Los Angeles Country and 11 pre-selected zip codes from southeastern Ventura County was selected using computer-generated random digit-dialing (rdd) procedures 7-11 months after the earthquake. Data were collected from 506 individuals in 45 minute interviews. A unidimensional scale of self-perceived first-aid ability was created and represents the dependent variable in a causal path model. RESULTS In a causal path model, standardized path coefficients suggested that while reports of taking first-aid courses were the most influential factors in predicting higher self-perceived first-aid abilities, other factors including being white, younger, speaking English in the home, and lower income also predicted higher self-perceived first-aid abilities that were independent from taking formal first-aid courses. CONCLUSIONS First-aid training should be directed towards target segments of the population that are not likely to have had instruction in these basic skills. Those individuals who self-report high first-aid proficiency, independent of formal first-aid training, should be evaluated to assess their abilities to perform these skills.
A Validity Study of Functionally-Based Behavioral Consultation with Students with Emotional/Behavioral Disabilities.

Eighteen students (K–11th grade) with emotional/behavioral disorders who were at-risk for change of placement to more restrictive settings participated. Construct validity of functional behavioral assessment (FBA) was assessed with a multifunction-multimethod matrix that showed excellent convergent and divergent agreement with combined FBA methods and functional analysis results. Treatment validity was assessed with random assignment to either a FBA with consultation condition (FBC) or to a behavioral consultation without FBA condition (BC). Growth curve analysis showed a significant decrease in inappropriate behavior from baseline to treatment for both treatment groups compared to a control group. The efficiency of teachers’ implementation effected treatment validity. Effect sizes showed that regardless of treatment condition that interventions with good fidelity realized the largest effect (d 1.14). Social and habilitative validity was assessed with telephone interviews conducted a year after treatment. Sixty-five percent attributed the students’ problem behaviors to their thoughts or feelings, whereas only 25% attributed it to classroom variables. Many (57%) indicated the most helpful intervention would be individual counseling, whereas only 14% indicated a more involved classroom management plan would be useful.
The Goldschmidt Hypothesis in Chile1

The claim that large farms with hired labor undermine community institutions and reduce average welfare while family farms enhance these dimensions is tested in the context of Chile's expanding large-scale export agriculture. The expected negative effect of scale shows up statistically but then disappears when an appropriate regional control is introduced. However, further analysis reveals a negative rural production effect that withstands this control and sets the stage for a competitive test. The counter hypothesis explored rejects production organization of any size as causal, proposing instead that two dimensions of provincial structure-urban differentiation and pluralism-interact with efficient production organization, seen as an ad hoc factor, to determine welfare levels. A partial test of this structural mediation model explains much of the variance of infant mortality (the criterion of welfare). Scale has no effect.
Biventricular myocardial strains via nonrigid registration of AnFigatomical NURBS models

We present research in which both left and right ventricular deformation is estimated from tagged cardiac magnetic resonance imaging using volumetric deformable models constructed from nonuniform rational B-splines (NURBS). The four model types considered and compared for the left ventricle include two Cartesian NURBS models-one with a cylindrical parameter assignment and one with a prolate spheroidal parameter assignment. The remaining two are non-Cartesian, i.e., prolate spheroidal and cylindrical each with their respective prolate spheroidal and cylindrical parameter assignment regimes. These choices were made based on the typical shape of the left ventricle. For each frame starting with end-diastole, a NURBS model is constructed by fitting two surfaces with the same parameterization to the corresponding set of epicardial and endocardial contours from which a volumetric model is created. Using normal displacements of the three sets of orthogonal tag planes as well as displacements of contour/tag line intersection points and tag plane intersection points, one can solve for the optimal homogeneous coordinates, in a weighted least squares sense, of the control points of the deformed NURBS model at end-diastole using quadratic programming. This allows for subsequent nonrigid registration of the biventricular model at end-diastole to all later time frames. After registration of the model to all later time points, the registered NURBS models are temporally lofted in order to create a comprehensive four-dimensional NURBS model. From the lofted model, we can extract three-dimensional myocardial deformation fields and corresponding Lagrangian and Eulerian strain maps which are local measures of nonrigid deformation. The results show that, in the case of simulated data, the quadratic Cartesian NURBS models with the cylindrical and prolate spheroidal parameter assignments outperform their counterparts in predicting normal strain. The decreased complexity associated with the Cartesian model with the cylindrical parameter assignment prompted its use for subsequent calculations. Lagrangian strains in three canine data, a normal human, and a patient with history of myocardial infarction are presented. Eulerian strains for the normal human data are also included.
A new statistics-based online baseline restorer (SOBLR) for a high count-rate fully digital system

The goal of this work is to develop a novel, accurate, real-time digital baseline restorer using online statistical processing for a high count-rate digital system such as positron emission tomography (PET). In high count-rate nuclear instrumentation applications, analog signals are DC-coupled for better performance. However, the detectors, pre-amplifiers and other front-end electronics would cause a signal baseline drift in a DC-coupling system, which will degrade the performance of energy resolution and positioning accuracy. Event pileups normally exist in a high-count rate system and the baseline drift will create errors in the event pileup-correction. Hence, a baseline restorer (BLR) is required in a high count-rate system to remove the DC drift ahead of the pileup correction. Many methods have been reported for BLR from classic analog methods to digital filter solutions. However a single channel BLR with analog method can only work under 500 kcps count-rate, and normally an analog front-end application-specific integrated circuits (ASIC) is required for the application involved hundreds BLR such as a PET camera. We have developed a simple statistics-based online baseline restorer (SOBLR) for a high count-rate fully digital system. In this method, we acquire additional samples, excluding the real gamma pulses, from the existing free-running ADC in the digital system, and perform online statistical processing to generate a baseline value. This baseline value will be subtracted from the digitized waveform to retrieve its original pulse with zero-baseline drift. This method can self-track the baseline without a micro-controller involved. The circuit consists of two digital counter/timers, one comparator, one register and one subtraction unit. Simulation shows a single channel works at 30 Mcps count-rate with pileup condition. 336 baseline restorer circuits have been implemented into 12 field-programmable-gate-arrays (FPGA) for our new fully digital PET system.
The secondary sex ratio in the United States 1969–71: Association with race, parental ages, birth order, paternal education and legitimacy

The simultaneous effects of several variables on the secondary sex ratio have been examined using data from over 5,000,000 births which occurred in the United States during 1969-71. The previously described negative association of birth order and sex ratio has been confirmed. For legitimate and illegitimate births combined, maternal age and paternal age are unimportant factors once account is made of birth order. This pattern obtains for both blacks and whites. The sex ratio for legitimate and illegitimate births is equivalent but the fact of legitimacy or illegitimacy may affect the association of the ratio with birth order and the parental ages. Paternal education is not significantly related to the ratio, but the highest probability of a male birth is found among fathers with intermediate levels of attainment. Even though the association between sex ratio and order of birth is highly significant in the statistical sense, the proportion of male births changes less than 2% over the extreme values of birth order. Furthermore, it is emphasized that the association accounts for only a very minor (less than 10%) proportion of the total variation in the ratio.
Vision tuned to species bioluminescence emission in firefly Photinus pyralis

The ERG spectral sensitivity of the dorsal sector of the compound eye in firefly Photinus pyralis possesses two maxima, one in the violet and the second in the yellow region of the spectrum, with a marked attenuation of sensitivity in the green resulting in a narrow yellow sensitivity identical in shape to the species bioluminescence emission spectrum. Since the spectral sensitivity curves of the lamina response obtained from eyes devoid of cornea and distal screening sleeve were similar to the ERG spectral sensitivity curves obtained form intact eyes, the distal screening pigment and the cornea cannot be implicated in causing the attenuation of sensitivity in the green.
Science and Values Influencing Predator Control for Alaska Moose Management

We encourage informed and transparent decision-making processes concerning the recently expanded programs in Alaska, USA, to reduce predation on moose (Alces alces). The decision whether to implement predator control ultimately concerns what society should value; therefore, policymakers, not objective biologists, play a leadership role. From a management and scientific standpoint, biological support for these predator-control programs requires convincing evidence that 1) predators kill substantial numbers of moose that would otherwise mostly live and be available for harvest, 2) low predation can facilitate reliably higher harvests of moose, 3) given less predation, habitats can sustain more moose and be protected from too many moose, and 4) sustainable populations of Alaska's brown bears (Ursus arctos), black bears (Ursus americanus), and wolves (Canis lupus) will exist in and out of control areas. We reviewed 10 moose mortality studies, 36 case histories, 10 manipulative studies, 15 moose nutrition studies, and 3 recent successful uses of nutrition-based management to harvest excess female moose. Results of these studies support application of long-term, substantial predator control for increasing yield of moose in these simple systems where moose are a primary prey of 3 effective predators. We found no substantive, contradictory results in these systems. However, to identify and administer feasible moose population objectives, recently established moose nutritional indices must be monitored, and regulatory bodies must accept nutrition-based management. In addition, the efficacy of techniques to reduce bear predation requires further study. Predicting precise results of predator control on subsequent harvest of moose will continue to be problematic because of a diversity of changing interactions among biological, environmental, and practical factors. In Alaska, the governor has the prerogative to influence regulations on predator control by appointing members to the Board of Game. At least annually, the Board of Game hears a wide spectrum of public opinions opposing and favoring predator control. We summarized these opinions as well as the societal and cultural values and expectations that are often the primary basis for debates. Advocates on both sides of the debate suggest they hold the higher conservation ethic, and both sides provide biased science. We recommend a more constructive and credible dialogue that focuses openly on values rather than on biased science and fabricated conspiracies. To be credible and to add substance in this divisive political arena, biologists must be well informed and provide complete information in an unbiased and respectful manner without exaggeration.
Actively selecting annotations among objects and attributes

We present an active learning approach to choose image annotation requests among both object category labels and the objects' attribute labels. The goal is to solicit those labels that will best use human effort when training a multi-class object recognition model. In contrast to previous work in active visual category learning, our approach directly exploits the dependencies between human-nameable visual attributes and the objects they describe, shifting its requests in either label space accordingly. We adopt a discriminative latent model that captures object-attribute and attribute-attribute relationships, and then define a suitable entropy reduction selection criterion to predict the influence a new label might have throughout those connections. On three challenging datasets, we demonstrate that the method can more successfully accelerate object learning relative to both passive learning and traditional active learning approaches.
Dual GPCR and GAG mimicry by the M3 chemokine decoy receptor

Viruses have evolved a myriad of evasion strategies focused on undermining chemokine-mediated immune surveillance, exemplified by the mouse γ-herpesvirus 68 M3 decoy receptor. Crystal structures of M3 in complex with C chemokine ligand 1/lymphotactin and CC chemokine ligand 2/monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 reveal that invariant chemokine features associated with G protein–coupled receptor binding are primarily recognized by the decoy C-terminal domain, whereas the N-terminal domain (NTD) reconfigures to engage divergent basic residue clusters on the surface of chemokines. Favorable electrostatic forces dramatically enhance the association kinetics of chemokine binding by M3, with a primary role ascribed to acidic NTD regions that effectively mimic glycosaminoglycan interactions. Thus, M3 employs two distinct mechanisms of chemical imitation to potently sequester chemokines, thereby inhibiting chemokine receptor binding events as well as the formation of chemotactic gradients necessary for directed leukocyte trafficking.
Continuation Options and Returns-Earnings Convexity

We hypothesize and provide evidence that convexity in the returns-earnings relation results in significant part from firms' real continuation options, i.e., their discretionary ability to continue operations, to make new investments, and to raise capital when financing deficits arise. We estimate convexity using spline regressions for sequential partitions of the sample based on proxies for general optionality, liquidation likelihood, and continuation optionality. We develop four measures of convexity that capture the positive implications of earnings uncertainty from the perspective of equityholders. We predict and find that all four measures are significantly positively (negatively) associated with firms' future equity (debt) financings. These results suggest that our convexity measures have general usefulness for research in accounting and finance, which typically focuses on the negative implications of earnings uncertainty.
Reactive oxygen species are downstream mediators of p53-dependent apoptosis

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been implicated as potential modulators of apoptosis. Conversely, experiments under hypoxic conditions have suggested that apoptosis could occur in the absence of ROS. We sought to determine whether a central modulator of apoptosis, p53, regulates the levels of intracellular ROS and whether a rise in ROS levels is required for the induction of p53-dependent apoptosis. We transiently overexpressed wild-type p53, using adenoviral gene transfer, and identified cell types that were sensitive or resistant to p53-mediated apoptosis. Cells sensitive to p53-mediated apoptosis produced ROS concomitantly with p53 overexpression, whereas cells resistant to p53 failed to produce ROS. In sensitive cells, both ROS production and apoptosis were inhibited by antioxidant treatment. These results suggest that p53 acts to regulate the intracellular redox state and induces apoptosis by a pathway that is dependent on ROS production.
An overview of instrumentation for measuring environmental radon and radon progeny

The major methods and techniques for measuring radon and radon progeny in indoor environments are reviewed with regard to the measurement principle, field applicability, degree of convenience, cost effectiveness, sensitivity and accuracy. It is pointed out that instruments for the measurement of radon and its progeny are based mostly on the detection of alpha particles and to some extent on the detection of beta and gamma emissions. The instruments and methods used depend on whether the technique measures radon or radon progeny, the type of radiation being detected, and the duration of the measurement, of which there are three types: grab or instantaneous, integrating, and continuous. With the recent increased demand for indoor radon and radon progeny measurements, instrument development has focused on the design of inexpensive mailable devices for short-term exposures used in screening studies, as well as on complex and sophisticated instruments for both short-term and long-term measurements used in research programs. >
An assessment of a parallel, finite element method for three‐dimensional, moving‐boundary flows driven by capillarity for simulation of viscous sintering

A parallel, finite element method is presented for the computation of three-dimensional, free-surface flows where surface tension effects are significant. The method employs an unstructured tetrahedral mesh, a front-tracking arbitrary Lagrangian–Eulerian formulation, and fully implicit time integration. Interior mesh motion is accomplished via pseudo-solid mesh deformation. Surface tension effects are incorporated directly into the momentum equation boundary conditions using surface identities that circumvent the need to compute second derivatives of the surface shape, resulting in a robust representation of capillary phenomena. Sample results are shown for the viscous sintering of glassy ceramic particles. The most serious performance issue is error arising from mesh distortion when boundary motion is significant. This effect can be severe enough to stop the calculations; some simple strategies for improving performance are tested. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The democratic struggle for power: the 2008 Presidential campaign in the USA

This essay makes both empirical and theoretical claims. Empirically, it develops one of the first sociological approaches to the recently completed 2008 Presidential campaign in the USA. Theoretically, it offers a cultural‐sociological challenge to the kinds of instrumentalist, materialist, and institutionalist approaches that have been central to power studies. In democratic societies, the struggle for ultimate power is a symbolic conflict. The goal is to become a certain kind of collective representation, one that embodies the ideals of the civil sphere. The struggle to represent the civil sphere is performative, of sculpting an image and projecting it to fragmented audiences. Such efforts to fuse actor and audience are mediated by relatively independent interpretive processes, launched not only by political and social antagonists but by the very mass media upon which the successful projection of messages depend. For this reason, successful struggles for civil power are highly contingent. One must not o...
The Twin-Boundary Structure in YBa2Cu3O7-δ Superconductors

Since the discovery of high-Tc superconductivity in YBa2Cu3O7-δ the relationship between the twin boundaries and the oxide’s superconducting properties, such as critical temperature T c , and the critical current density J c has been explored extensively. For example, Fang et al. [1] discussed the possibility that the boundary region is an area of higher T c than the matrix. However, Deutscher and Muller [2] proposed that the boundary layer is weakly superconducting, and that the magnetic flux lines flow freely along the boundary. On the other hand, Chaudhari [3] and Kes [4] argued that the twin boundaries act as strong pinning sites for the flux lines. Evidence for preferential pinning of the vortex lattice along the twin boundaries was observed in experiments on flux lattice decoration in YBa2Cu3O7-δ crystals [5, 6], More recently, magnetic and transport measurements have shown that the twin boundaries can pin flux lines if the magnetic field is applied accurately parallel to the boundary planes [7–9]. Otherwise, the boundaries do not act as effective pinning centers. Furthermore, the effectiveness of boundary pinning is observable only in cases where no other strong pinning centers are present. If other strong pinning centers coexist with the boundaries, as in thin films, the boundaries will add very little to the pinning strength of that material [10]. Thus, now it is believed that the twin boundaries do not play a primary role in determining the critical current densities in YBa2Cu3O7.
Analysis of benign prostatic hyperplasia patients' perspective through a third party-administered survey

Objective To assess patient-reported functional and quality-of-life (QoL) outcomes associated with various surgical treatments for benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH). Materials and Methods An independent third-party survey was sent to all patients who underwent any surgical treatment for BPH at our institution from January 2007 through January 2013. Overall satisfaction and urinary and sexual outcomes were evaluated using Sexual Health Inventory for Men (SHIM), International Prostate Symptoms Score (IPSS) for urinary function, and International Continence Society-Short Form (ICSmaleSF) questionnaires. Results Four hundred and seventy-nine respondents (response rate, 55.6%) had undergone holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP; n = 214), transurethral resection of the prostate (n = 210), holmium laser ablation of the prostate (n = 21), photoselective vaporization (n = 18), transurethral incision of the prostate (n = 9), and open simple prostatectomy (n = 7). Postoperatively, Sexual Health Inventory for Men scores were not different. However, total IPSS varied significantly among surgical techniques ( P P P = .003), straining ( P P = .001). In all these domains, HoLEP had the lowest scores. Regarding International Continence Society-Short Form, we observed a significant difference favoring transurethral resection of the prostate in incontinence ( P P = .02) and QoL domains ( P = .03). Most patients were satisfied with their surgical intervention, independent of the procedure type. Regret was least in patients who underwent HoLEP ( P = .02). Conclusion Patients generally expressed satisfaction with various interventions for BPH. However, those who underwent HoLEP had the best outcomes.
Advances in thermometry

The last 25 years have seen tremendous progress in thermometry in the moderate temperature range (1 K to 1235 K). Various primary thermometers - based on different physics -have uncovered errors in the International Temperature Scale of 1990 and set the stage for the planned redefinition of the kelvin.
Genomics and Toxic Substances: Part II - Toxicogenetics

The sequencing of the human genome revealed that the variation in the genetic material between any two individuals averages approximately one variation for every 1000 base pairs of DNA. Genetic differences in susceptibility provide an important part of the answer of why do some people get sick from certain exposures while others do not. This article examines the implications of recent findings of relatively common genetic variants, known as “polymorphisms,” within the population affecting susceptibility to environmental exposures. In particular, the Article examines the potential applications of such information in toxic tort litigation and environmental regulation. The study of differences in genetic susceptibility to environmental toxicants is sometimes referred to as “toxicogenetics.”
Picturing Evolution through Geologic Time

The purpose of this activity is to provide precollege biology students a visual representation of evolution. Unfortunately, many resources begin with the start of life, which ignores the fact that the Earth is 4.6 billion years old. This model uses adding-machine tape to sequence events. Representation of major evolutionary and geologic events helps students visualize macroevolution.
What primary care physicians should know about the toxicity of cancer chemotherapy.

Although symptomatic side effects of chemotherapy reduce a patient’s quality of life, organ-system effects are potentially more serious.
Effects of Plasmon-Exciton Coupling on the Optical Properties of CdSe/Zns Quantum Dots Coupled to Gold Nanoparticles

By using a multi-color, multi-modal imaging platform, we look into the effects of exciton-plasmon coupling on optical properties of a semiconductor quantum dot (QD) that is coupled to a nearby gold NPs (AuNPs). By exciting this coupled material with laser excitation energies that are either strongly or weakly resonating with the plasmon resonance of the AuNP, the effects of plasmon-exciton coupling was studied in detail by analyzing the changes in the photoluminescence signal, the photoluminescence lifetime, and the blinking pattern of the QD.
American Catholic Political Theology

During the last twenty-five years, a Catholic political theology has emerged in the United States, one designed to reorient the relationship between church and state in America. Indeed, the Bishops' pastoral on nuclear arms and their more recent letter on the economy attest to this fact. The new Catholic political theology reflects a shift from the traditional, apologetic teachings of the past, which merely defended the narrow dogmatic interests of the Catholic Church, to an assertive theology that now justifies political activism on behalf of "social justice" issues. Such a major shift within Catholic church-state teachings during the last quarter century requires identification and analysis of the stages in the development of a Catholic political theology. These periods can be defined and described as: the reactionary papal stance of the nineteenth century, the American conservative posture of the 1920s, the era of progressive reevaluation of the 1950s, the reforms of Vatican II during the 1960s, and the current liberal, activist nature of American political theology.
Output factor comparison of Monte Carlo and measurement for Varian TrueBeam 6 MV and 10 MV flattening filter-free stereotactic radiosurgery system

The dose measurements of the small field sizes, such as conical collimators used in stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), are a significant challenge due to many factors including source occlusion, detector size limitation, and lack of lateral electronic equilibrium. One useful tool in dealing with the small field effect is Monte Carlo (MC) simulation. In this study, we report a comparison of Monte Carlo simulations and measurements of output factors for the Varian SRS system with conical collimators for energies of 6 MV flattening filter-free (6 MV) and 10 MV flattening filter-free (10 MV) on the TrueBeam accelerator. Monte Carlo simulations of Varian's SRS system for 6 MV and 10 MV photon energies with cones sizes of 17.5 mm, 15.0 mm, 12.5 mm, 10.0 mm, 7.5 mm, 5.0 mm, and 4.0 mm were performed using EGSnrc (release V4 2.4.0) codes. Varian's version-2 phase-space files for 6 MV and 10 MV of TrueBeam accelerator were utilized in the Monte Carlo simulations. Two small diode detectors Edge (Sun Nuclear) and Small Field Detector (SFD) (IBA Dosimetry) were applied to measure the output factors. Significant errors may result if detector correction factors are not applied to small field dosimetric measurements. Although it lacked the machine-specific kfclin,fmsrQclin,Qmsr correction factors for diode detectors in this study, correction factors were applied utilizing published studies conducted under similar conditions. For cone diameters greater than or equal to 12.5 mm, the differences between output factors for the Edge detector, SFD detector, and MC simulations are within 3.0% for both energies. For cone diameters below 12.5 mm, output factors differences exhibit greater variations.
An axisymmetric model for draft tube flow at partial load

Abstract A new Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) turbulence model is developed in order to correctly predict the mean flow field in a draft tube operating under partial load using 2-D axisymmetric simulations. It is shown that although 2-D axisymme- tric simulations cannot model the 3-D unsteady features of the vortex rope, they can give the average location of the vortex rope in the draft tube. Nevertheless, RANS simulations underpredict the turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) production and diffusion near the center of the draft tube where the vortex rope forms, resulting in incorrect calculation of TKE profiles and, hence, poor prediction of the axial velocity. Based on this observation, a new k-ɛ turbulence RANS model taking into account the extra production and diffusion of TKE due to coherent structures associated with the vortex rope formation is developed. The new model can successfully predict the mean flow velocity with significant improvements in comparison with the realizable k-ɛ model. This is attributed to better prediction of TKE production and diffusion by the new model in the draft tube under partial load. Specifically, the new model calculates 31% more production and 46% more diffusion right at the shear layer when compared to the k-ɛ model.
Value of anterior mediastinotomy in bronchogenic carcinoma of the left upper lobe

Neoplasms of the left upper lobe may spread directly to the anterior mediastinal group of nodes without involving the inferior tracheobronchial, superior tracheobronchial, or paratracheal nodal chain. Routine cervical mediastinoscopy does not sample the anterior mediastinal node group. Parasternal anterior mediastinotomy was performed in 28 patients with left upper lobe carcinoma and normal findings from cervical mediastinoscopy. Despite the normal findings at cervical mediastinoscopy, 10 of the 28 patients were deemed to have inoperable disease because of spread of the neoplasm to the anterior nodal group or because of direct neoplastic involvement of the aorta or main pulmonary artery. All patients in whom results of anterior mediastinotomy were normal had resectable lesions at thoracotomy. Fourteen of the 16 patients who came to thoracotomy had normal hilar nodes. Parasternal anterior mediastinotomy, introduced by Chamberlain, should be performed in addition to standard cervical mediastinoscopy if the nodal drainage of left upper lobe neoplasms is to be more completely evaluated. Combining these two procedures samples all major drainage pathways except the posterior mediastinal nodal chain.
Relative Growth Rates in Three Species of Desmognathus (Amphibia: Plethodontidae)

Abstract: Observed life histories of animals reflect trade-offs among growth, reproduction, and survival that serve to maximize fitness under particular environmental regimes. Body size and age at first reproduction, as expressions of growth and developmental rates, are key trade-off elements. I estimated relative growth rates in three species of desmognathine salamanders that vary markedly in body size and habitat associations. Sampling was conducted in two assemblages of the species in the southern Blue Ridge of North Carolina. The species, ranked from larger to smaller, were Desmognathus quadramaculatus, D. monticola, and D. ocoee. An existing skeletochronological database served as a source of age estimates in salamanders for which standard lengths had been recorded. Body masses were estimated for these individuals from regressions of mass on standard length. Relative growth rates were estimated by the Gompertz model for growth in standard length and body mass, and by the von Bertalanffy model for gr...
The Complexities of Schooling

An ecological approach to understanding schools is introduced, along with discussion of some of the reasons that the systems involved in schooling are complex. These include diversity and the complexities of humans, of learning, and of contexts. Approaches to leading and managing complex schools are explored, including barriers to change and an effective change process.
Recombinant Sickle Hemoglobin Containing a Lysine Substitution at Asp-85(α): Expression in Yeast, Functional Properties, and Participation in Gel Formation

Clinical modalities based on inhibition of gelation of HbS are hindered by the lack of quantitative information on the extent of participation of different amino acid residues in the aggregation process. One such site is Asp-85(alpha), which is involved in a parallel interdouble strand ionic interaction with Lys-144(beta) according to the crystal structure of HbS, but electron microscopy does not specifically show Asp-85(alpha) as a contact site for fiber formation. Using a yeast recombinant system, we have substituted this site by Lys to abolish ion pairing and to make a quantitative determination of its participation in aggregation. The purified double mutant was shown to have the expected pI, the calculated molecular weight, correct amino acid composition, and peptide map. The recombinant double mutant has an oxygen affinity of 10 mm Hg, which is identical to that for HbA and HbS under the same conditions; it also has high cooperativity with an average n value of 2.7. The change in P50 in response to chloride ions was about 25% less than that for HbA or HbS and is ascribed to the introduction of a new positive charge near one of the major oxygen-linked chloride binding sites of hemoglobin. The gelation concentration of the double mutant was measured by a new procedure (Bookchin et al, 1994); the maximal amount of soluble hemoglobin (Csat) in the presence of dextran indicated a decreased tendency for gelation with a Csat of 53 mg/mL compared with 34 mg/mL for HbS. This inhibitory effect is smaller than that of the E6V(beta)/L88A(beta) (Csat, 67 mg/mL) and the E6V(beta)/K95I(beta) (Csat, 90 mg/mL) recombinant hemoglobins. Thus, we would classify Asp-85(alpha) as a moderate contributor to the strength of the HbS aggregate. This wide range of gelation values demonstrates that some sites are more important than others in promoting HbS aggregation.