cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
ATPase and dehydrogenase activities from house flies susceptible and resistant to organochlorine insecticides

Abstract Comparisons were made on ATPase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PDH) and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (6-P-GDH) activities in strains of the house fly, Musca domestica L., susceptible and resistant to organochlorine insecticides. Oligomycin sensitive (OS) Mg 2+ -ATPase was more sensitive to inhibition by DDT and aldrin than Na + K + -ATPase. OS-Mg 2+ -ATPase was present at similar levels in susceptible and resistant strains of house flies and was equally sensitive to inhibition by the pesticides. Levels of Na + K + -ATPase were 40% lower in the two resistant strains of house flies than in the susceptible strain. In contrast to OS-Mg 2+ -ATPase in the resistant strains, the Na + K + -ATPase was about 10 times less sensitive to inhibition by DDT and aldrin than in a susceptible strain. However, in vivo , DDT was a strong inhibitor of OS-Mg 2+ -ATPase and a very weak inhibitor of Na + K + -ATPase. Activities of G-6-PDH and 6-P-GDH were 1.2- to 4.6-fold higher in the resistant strain compared to the susceptible strains. Increased dehydrogenase activities were noted in susceptible flies after in vivo exposure to DDT (100 ppm). Variations in levels of activity and in sensitivity to inhibition of the enzymes tested indicate that toxicity and resistance to organochlorine insecticides may be related to different enzymes associated with ATP production and utilization.
Cantor sets in S3 with simply connected complements

Abstract A wild Cantor set in S3 is constructed with simply connected complement. It is proved that a Cantor set C ⊂ S3 is tame if and only if every piecewise-linear, unknotted, simple loop in S3⧹ C may be engulfed. And a Cantor set C ⊂ S3 is tame if and only if π1(S3⧹ C ⧹K) is finitely generated for all piecewise-linear, unknotted, simple loops K in S3⧹ C .
Intravenous cocaine self-administration in the C57BL/6J mouse

Abstract Freely behaving C57BL/6J mice with intrajugular catheters were trained to nose-poke for cocaine (0.75 mg/kg per 5-μ1 infusion) under a fixed-ratio-10 schedule of reinforcement. Mice were given a choice between two nose-poke holes on opposite sides of the apparatus. Nose-pokes by experimental (O) subjects (operant group) were reinforced on only one side and reinforcer delivery coincided with the onset of a 10-s time-out light stimulus. Drug delivery to control subjects (yoked group) was determined by the behavior of O mice. Nose-poke rate increased in O subjects, whereas yoked subjects did not acquire the nose-poking response. Moreover, nose-poking was selective for the cocaine-paired side in O subjects. When saline infusions were substituted for cocaine (i.e., extinction), nose-poking in O subjects decreased, whereas yoked controls were unaffected. O subjects developed a preference for the drug-associated side of the apparatus during extinction. Overall, these data offer strong evidence of cocaine-directed behavior in the C57BL/6 inbred mouse strain. More generally, these findings support the feasibility of using intravenous self-administration to assess reinforcement in genetically well-defined populations.
Catalysis in Isocyanate Reactions

Abstract Catalysis plays an important role in the reactions of isocyanates. It is of vital importance in the manufacture of urethane and urethaneurea polymers in the form of foams, elastomers, coatings, sealants, adhesives, etc. Catalysis not only affects the rates of the chemical reactions responsible for the formation of these polymers, but it also exerts a considerable influence on their ultimate properties.
AN UPDATE ON COMPUTATIONAL RESULTS FOR ELECTRONIC MODELS : THE ISSUE OF PSEUDOGAPS IN CUPRATES AND PHASE SEPARATION IN MANGANITES

Abstract A brief summary of results obtained using computational techniques in the context of electronic models is provided. It is argued that the theoretically predicted photoemission spectra is compatible with the presence of a pseudogap, as observed in the experiments. New directions of research are discussed, including the development of reduced basis set algorithms, and the inclusion of realistic Coulomb interactions in the t – J model. Results for manganite models show phase separation between hole-rich ferromagnetic and hole-poor antiferromagnetic regions. The manganite normal state may be as interesting as recently observed in the cuprates with neutron scattering techniques.
Soil Tillage in Agroecosystems.

A. EL TITI (ed.) 2003. CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL. Hardback, 367 pp. $109.95. ISBN 0-8493-1228-0. Soil Tillage in Agroecosystems addresses soil tillage for agricultural management in temperate regions. The authors argue that tillage, or the lack thereof, is central to most management systems and
A rapid and sensitive paper electrophoresis assay for the detection of microbial siderophores elicited in solid-plating culture.

Abstract A rapid and sensitive assay for the detection of microbial siderophores (iron-binding compounds) is described. Nine representative fungal and bacterial cultures including Ustilago sphaerogena, Penicillium sp., Fusarium roseum, Rhodotorula pilimanae, Bacillus subtilis W 23, Bacillus subtilis W 168, Bacillus megaterium, Azotobacter vinelandii OP, and Escherichia coli B, were nutritionally stressed for iron by sequential transfers on iron-deficient solid-plating media. In response to Fe-stress conditions, the microorganisms excreted siderophore compounds into the extracellular solid culture medium. The solid agar matrix effectively concentrated and restricted the migration of the siderophore compounds to the region immediately adjacent to colonial growth. Agar-block samples from this region were removed and placed at the origin of an electrophoresis paper strip. The resultant absorbed material from the agar-block sample was subjected to high-voltage paper electrophoresis which separated the siderophore compounds by size and molecular net charge. Phenolic acid (“catechol”)-type siderophores were detected by fluorescence under uv light. Hydroxamic acid-type siderophores were visualized by spraying the electrophoretogram with ferric iron solution.
A continental crustal model and its geothermal implications

Abstract The following crustal model based on realistic estimates of metamorphic rock volumes and H 2 O content is proposed as a basis for geothermal calculations: (1) a surface zone of intermediate metamorphic rocks containing granitic intrusions and grading downward into (2) a more felsic migmatite zone, (3) a lower crustal zone of approximately andesitic composition crystallized in granulite or possibly amphibolite facies. Heat production values and thickness for the three zones are 3 HGU, 5 HGU, 0.5–1.5 HGU and 8, 8, and 18 km respectively. If the surface heat flow is 1.2 HFU, the model predicts a temperature of only 407°C at the Moho and an upper mantle heat flow of 0.3–0.5 HFU. The low temperatures resulting from this model rule out a seismic low-velocity zone in the crust produced by thermal effects.
Immunotoxins: A new approach to cancer therapy

Conjugates of tumor-reactive antibody and toxins (immunotoxins) have been used to eradicate tumor cells in vitro and in vivo. Such immunotoxins are highly effective in killing murine leukemic cells...
Apical Surface Expression of Aspartic Protease Plasmepsin 4, a Potential Transmission-blocking Target of the Plasmodium Ookinete

To invade its definitive host, the mosquito, the malaria parasite must cross the midgut peritrophic matrix that is composed of chitin cross-linked by chitin-binding proteins and then develop into an oocyst on the midgut basal lamina. Previous evidence indicates that Plasmodium ookinete-secreted chitinase is important in midgut invasion. The mechanistic role of other ookinete-secreted enzymes in midgut invasion has not been previously examined. De novo mass spectrometry sequencing of a protein obtained by benzamidine affinity column of Plasmodium gallinaceum ookinete axenic culture supernatant demonstrated the presence of an ookinete-secreted plasmepsin, an aspartic protease previously only known to be present in the digestive vacuole of asexual stage malaria parasites. This plasmepsin, the ortholog of Plasmodium falciparum plasmepsin 4, was designated PgPM4. PgPM4 and PgCHT2 (the P. gallinaceum ortholog of P. falciparum chitinase PfCHT1) are both localized on the ookinete apical surface, and both are present in micronemes. Aspartic protease inhibitors (peptidomimetic and natural product), calpain inhibitors, and anti-PgPM4 monoclonal antibodies significantly reduced parasite infectivity for mosquitoes. These results suggest that plasmepsin 4, previously known only to function in the digestive vacuole of asexual blood stage Plasmodium, plays a role in how the ookinete interacts with the mosquito midgut interactions as it becomes an oocyst. These data are the first to delineate a role for an aspartic protease in mediating Plasmodium invasion of the mosquito and demonstrate the potential for plasmepsin 4 as a malaria transmission-blocking vaccine target.
Manufacturing System Design Considering Generational Product Evolution and Task Recurrence

The classical studies on manufacturing system design and line balancing have often focused on a single generation of products, thus leading to new design or re-balancing when a new generation of products is introduced. As the life-cycles of product models become shorter and shorter, this ‘new products then new system-design’ approach is becoming increasingly ineffective due to too frequent production interruption. Therefore, effective solutions to system-design problems should consider products of multiple generations. This paper presents new methods to design manufacturing systems for products evolving over several generations. Mixed integer programming models are developed for (1) designing system configurations that are cost-effective for uncertain product evolution, and (2) maximizing the recurrences of a task on the same machine throughout product generations. A decomposition-based solution procedure is also proposed to reduce computational complexity. These new methods can provide a system design solution enabling quick product launches with less line change-over for new products.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
Selective elevation of c-myc transcript levels in the liver of the aging Fischer-344 rat.

Summary The expression of several proto-oncogenes involved in normal cell growth was examined as a function of age in male Fischer-344 rats aged 3, 6–9, 12 and 21–23 months. Northern blot analysis using RNA isolated from pooled livers or brains showed that the transcript levels of c- myc , but not c- sis or c- src -related genes, were markedly elevated in the liver with age. In contrast, there was no substantial change in transcript levels of any of these genes in aging brain. When c- myc expression was analyzed in livers from individual rats ranging in age from 4 to 22 months, a significant (p myc transcript levels in relation to age was detected. The results indicate that expression of c- myc in rat liver is modulated during aging and more generally, that aging in rats is associated with organ-specific changes in the transcript levels of particular genes.
Nitrate toxicity in dairy heifers. 3. Endocrine responses to nitrate ingestion during pregnancy.

Abstract An investigation was conducted to gain information concerning the effects of nitrate on anterior pituitary and thyroid function in dairy heifers fed 0, 440, and 660 mg nitrate ion/kg body weight under conditions of management and feeding practices recommended for dairy cattle. Pituitaries from nitrate-fed heifers were heavier and contained a slightly higher concentration of growth hormone than those from control heifers. Nitrate did not adversely affect the thyrotropic, adrenocorticotropic, or gonadotropic activity of the pituitary glands. Barely sublethal levels of nitrate did not increase thyroid gland weights or acinar cell heights. Continuous feeding of sublethal levels of nitrate to dairy heifers, under the conditions of this study, did not produce a syndrome of chronic nitrate toxicosis characterized by thyroid dysfunction.
Four-dimensional black holes in string theory.

Exact solutions of heterotic string theory corresponding to four-dimensional charge [ital Q] magnetic black holes are constructed as tensor products of an SU(2)/[ital Z](2[ital Q]+2) WZW orbifold with a (0,1) supersymmetric SU(1,1)/U(1) WZW coset model. The spectrum is analyzed in some detail. Bad'' marginal operators are found which are argued to deform these theories to asymptotically flat black holes. Surprising behavior is found for small values of [ital Q], where low-energy field theory is inapplicable. At the minimal value [ital Q]=1, the theory degenerates. Renormalization-group arguments are given that suggest the potential gravitational singularity of the low-energy field theory is resolved by a massive two-dimensional field theory. At [ital Q]=0, a stable, neutral remnant,'' of potential relevance to the black hole information paradox, is found.
The Lyrics of Hurting and Healing: Finding Words That are Revealing

ABSTRACT Musical lyrics play a significant role in many people's lives, including those of clients. This article describes ways lyrics can be used to help clients convey feelings of hurting and healing. Examples of lyrics that deal with pain (hurt and grief) and restoration (recovery and healing) are shared. The article then outlines six specific ways lyrics can be used therapeutically in working with clinical populations.
When death is the outcome of informed refusal: dilemma of rejecting ventricular assist device therapy.

Abstract Refusal of treatment can have fatal consequences for heart failure patients who could otherwise benefit from ventricular assist device therapy. Ethical dilemmas arise when treatment refusals seem based on unsound reasoning by patients. Using a clinical case from our medical center, we explored the complex ethical issues associated with patient refusal of ventricular assist device therapy due to the patient’s perception of large device size as compared to other mechanical heart technologies. Early on, the medical team must assess a patient’s refusal of therapy by reflecting on the decisionmaking capacity of the patient to determine whether such refusal is truly “informed,” and all incidents of informed refusal should be clearly documented in the patient’s chart.
Probing the structural features of volatile anesthetic binding sites with synthetic peptides

The structural features of volatile anesthetic binding sites on proteins were explored using a model system consisting of a four-alpha-helix bundle scaffold with a hydrophobic core. This system serves as a model for the lipid-spanning portions of several membrane proteins. Two hydrophobic core designs were compared: H10A24 consisting mainly of leucine residues, and (Aalpha2)2 which has four leucine and two histidine residues replaced by smaller alanines with the intent of forming a cavity. Halothane binds to (Aalpha2)2 with a Kd of 0.71 +/- 0.04 mM as monitored by the quenching of tryptophan fluorescence. This is a 3.2-fold higher affinity compared with binding to H10A24 (Kd = 2.3 +/- 0.4 mM). The presence of a preexisting protein hydrophobic cavity may favor volatile anesthetic binding. Guanidinium chloride denaturation studies reveal that bound anesthetic favors the native folded form of (Aalpha2)2 by 1.8 kcal/mol. The use of synthetic peptides should allow predictions to be made concerning the structural composition of in vivo anesthetic binding sites and may provide clues to how anesthetics alter protein function.
A comparison of two surface sample collection devices for use in polymerase chain reaction based detection of Pneumocystis carinii in house dust.

A polymerase chain reaction assay was optimized to detect P. carinii cysts in composite dust samples. The optimal assay was capable of detecting as few as 10 3 P. carinii cysts in 50 mg of dust. Two dust collection devices were evaluated for efficiency and precision of collection of bulk dust and compatibility with the optimized PCR protocol for P.carinii DNA detection. A handheld vacuum cleaner equipped with a high-retention bag was found to be superior to a 37-mm filter cassette attached to an electrically powered vacuum pump in terms of dust collection efficiency (87% [n = 37] versus 81%[n = 35]), although the precision of the two devices as assessed by the standard deviation was similar (6.2% versus 6.3%). However, the vacuum cleaner method was not as compatible with the PCR-based detection assay as the filter cassette method. The filter cassette appears to be a better device for use in conjunction with PCR-based detection of P. carinii DNA in bulk dust samples from both smooth and carpeted surfaces.
Bone Morphogenetic Protein-1 (BMP-1) Cleaves Human Proapolipoprotein A1 and Regulates Its Activation for Lipid Binding†

Apolipoprotein A1 (apo A1), the major protein of high-density lipoprotein, is secreted as a proprotein and then cleaved by an uncharacterized metalloproteinase. Here this enzyme is identified as C-terminal procollagen endoproteinase/bone morphogenetic protein-1 (BMP-1). Studies with recombinant BMP-1, BMP-1 antibody, and BMP-1 siRNA establish this proteinase as the major or only apo A1-converting activity secreted by human liver-derived (HepG2) cells and CHO cells stably expressing human apo A1. BMP-1 stimulates the conversion of newly secreted proapo A1 to its phospholipid- (PL-) binding form. In this way it promotes formation of functional HDL and reverse cholesterol transport, while inhibiting filtration and clearance of uncleaved proprotein. Alpha2-macroglobulin, a protease inhibitor secreted as part of the innate immune response, inhibits BMP-1 activity and blocks the maturation of proapo A1. The decrease in circulating apo A1 levels that is characteristic of the response to inflammation and infection may be mediated, at least in part, via BMP-1 by this novel mechanism.
Einige Neuentwicklungen auf dem Gebiet der Speicherröhren

Die allgemeinen Funktionen der Speicherrohren werden beschrieben und aus den Erscheinungen der Sekundaremission hergeleitet. Die besondere Form der “Sieb-Speicherrohre” wird gezeigt und auf einige Einzelheiten hingewiesen.
Comparison of patient specific dose metrics between chest radiography, tomosynthesis, and CT for adult patients of wide ranging body habitus.

Purpose: Given the radiation concerns inherent to the x-ray modalities, accurately estimating the radiation doses that patients receive during different imaging modalities is crucial. This study estimated organ doses, effective doses, and risk indices for the three clinical chest x-ray imaging techniques (chest radiography, tomosynthesis, and CT) using 59 anatomically variable voxelized phantoms and Monte Carlo simulation methods. Methods: A total of 59 computational anthropomorphic male and female extended cardiac-torso (XCAT) adult phantoms were used in this study. Organ doses and effective doses were estimated for a clinical radiography system with the capability of conducting chest radiography and tomosynthesis (Definium 8000, VolumeRAD, GE Healthcare) and a clinical CT system (LightSpeed VCT, GE Healthcare). A Monte Carlo dose simulation program (PENELOPE, version 2006, Universitat de Barcelona, Spain) was used to mimic these two clinical systems. The Duke University (Durham, NC) technique charts were used to determine the clinical techniques for the radiographic modalities. An exponential relationship between CTDIvol and patient diameter was used to determine the absolute dose values for CT. The simulations of the two clinical systems compute organ and tissue doses, which were then used to calculate effective dose and risk index. The calculation of the two dose metrics used the tissue weighting factors from ICRP Publication 103 and BEIR VII report. Results: The average effective dose of the chest posteroanterior examination was found to be 0.04 mSv, which was 1.3% that of the chest CT examination. The average effective dose of the chest tomosynthesis examination was found to be about ten times that of the chest posteroanterior examination and about 12% that of the chest CT examination. With increasing patient average chest diameter, both the effective dose and risk index for CT increased considerably in an exponential fashion, while these two dose metrics only increased slightly for radiographic modalities and for chest tomosynthesis. Effective and organ doses normalized to mAs all illustrated an exponential decrease with increasing patient size. As a surface organ, breast doses had less correlation with body size than that of lungs or liver. Conclusions: Patient body size has a much greater impact on radiation dose of chest CT examinations than chest radiography and tomosynthesis. The size of a patient should be considered when choosing the best thoracic imaging modality.
Photographic Study of Lightning

A simple method of analyzing lightning photographs taken with moving film cameras is described. The results of analysis of two air discharges with some interesting features and one very unusual type of discharge are presented. Certain discharges at the close of storms and the correlation of electrical and photographic measurements are discussed.
Further refinement and validation of a turbulent flame propagation model for spark-ignition engines

A turbulent flame propagation model that is dependent on the structure of the turbulent flow field is formulated and applied to combustion in a spark-ignition engine. The turbulence structure is modeled after the work of Tennekes and assumes that the flow is composed of vortex tubes the diameter of the Kolmogorov scale and the spacing of the Taylor mircoscale. Combustion is assumed instantaneous over the Kolmogorov scale and the burned gases in the vortex tubes are assumed to propagate at a rate equal to U′ + SL. Combustion is assumed to proceed in a laminar fashion across the microscale. In applying the model to a spark-ignition engine, we conserve the turbulent kinetic energy and angular momemtum in the unburned gases. Validation of the model is presented in the form of mass fraction burned versus crank angle curves. Comparisons of predicted versus experimental data show good agreement for variations in equivalence ratio, dilution, speed, load, and spark advance.
Peptides from the N-terminus of the atrial natriuretic factor prohormone enhance guanylate cyclase activity and increase cyclic GMP levels in a wide variety of tissues.

The 98 amino acid (a.a.) N-terminus of the 126 a.a. atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) prohormone contains three peptides consisting of a.a. 1-30 (proANF 1-30), a.a. 31-67 (proANF 31-67) and a.a. 79-98 (proANF 79-98) with blood pressure lowering, sodium and/or potassium excreting properties similar to atrial natriuretic factor (a.a. 99-126, C-terminus of prohormone). ProANF 1-30 and proANF 31-67 have separate and distinct receptors from ANF in both vasculature and in the kidney to help mediate the above effects. At the cellular level proANFs 1-30, 31-67, and 79-98 as well as ANF's effects are mediated by enhancement of the guanylate cyclase (EC 4.6.1.2)-cyclic GMP system in vasculature and in the kidney. These peptides from the N-terminus of the ANF prohormone circulate normally in man and in all animal species tested. The object of the present investigation was to determine if these peptides have the ability to enhance either guanylate cyclase and/or adenylate cyclase in a variety of other tissues in addition to kidney and vasculature. ProANF 1-30, proANF 31-67, proANF 79-98, and ANF all increased rat lung, liver, heart and testes, but not spleen, particulate guanylate cyclase 2- to 3-fold at their 100 nM concentrations. Dose response curves revealed that maximal stimulation of particulate guanylate cyclase activity by these newly discovered peptides was at their 1 microM concentrations, with no further increase in activity above their 1 microM concentrations.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Social-emotional development of students with learning disabilities.

This article presents a model of development for children and youth with disabilities. The model incorporates 14 variables in three domains that have not been fully delineated by the field, includi...
Researching feminist security studies

In the three decades since the emergence of feminist scholarship in International Relations (IR), feminist research has significantly advanced and challenged the discipline. Feminist scholars, deve...
Epithelial ovarian tumors in children: a retrospective analysis.

Abstract Background/Purpose: Epithelial tumors of the ovary account for about 15% of pediatric ovarian masses. The authors reviewed a 14-year experience with ovarian masses to understand the spectrum of pathology, presentation, and outcome of children with epithelial lesions. Methods: All ovarian masses resected or biopsied at the authors' institution from 1988 to the present were reviewed retrospectively. Patient age, presenting symptoms, operative procedures, postoperative treatment, and outcome were obtained from the medical record. Results: A total of 240 cases were identified. A total of 123 (51.2%) were nonneoplastic in nature. Of the 117 neoplastic masses, 79 (67.5%) were germ cell tumors and nineteen (16.2%) were epithelial-derived tumors. Patients with epithelial tumors had a mean age of 13.9 ± 4 years. Ten patients (52.6%) presented with abdominal pain, and 9 (47.4%) presented with an asymptomatic mass. Eleven underwent oophorectomy, 6 underwent cystectomy, and 2 had biopsy alone. Four patients (21%) had ascites, and 1 (5.3%) had a pleural effusion. The histopathologic diagnoses for the epithelial tumors included 9 serous cystadenomas (47%) and 3 mucinous cystadenomas (16%), 3 mucinous cystadenocarcinomas (16%), and 4 serous tumors of borderline malignancy (21%). Two patients (11%) had bilateral disease. Four patients (21%) underwent a subsequent laparotomy for either staging or recurrence, and 2 patients (11%) required chemotherapy. One patient (5.3%) died of ovarian adenocarcinoma. Conclusions: Epithelial tumors comprise a small but significant proportion of pediatric ovarian masses. The pediatric surgeon must understand the biologic characteristics, operative management, and follow-up treatment of these tumors, and how these differ from germ cell lesions. J Pediatr Surg 38:331-335. Copyright 2003, Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved.
Effects of nightside O+ outflow on magnetospheric dynamics: Results of multifluid MHD modeling

[1] Through spacecraft observations and numerical modeling, it is becoming increasingly well established that ionospheric oxygen is present in the magnetosphere in amounts that can have an effect on magnetospheric dynamics, affecting pressure balance, currents, convection flows, and cross polar cap potential (CPCP). However, an understanding of the various processes through which oxygen may bring about changes in magnetospheric structure and dynamics is still lacking. In this paper, we focus on the role that ionospheric oxygen outflow from the nightside auroral zone plays in determining plasma sheet density, size, and pressure and relate the changes in plasma sheet parameters to changes in CPCP, tail geometry, and magnetospheric convection. We use the Multifluid Lyon-Fedder-Mobarry model as a virtual laboratory to analyze the effects of ionospheric oxygen on magnetospheric parameters. Our simulations use idealized solar wind conditions, constant and uniform ionospheric conductance, and constant nightside oxygen outflow in order to isolate the effects of a change in outflow flux. We concentrate the ionospheric outflow in the nightside auroral region, so as to avoid the possibility of directly loading the distant tail X line with oxygen and hence to avoid a direct modification of the reconnection rate in order to focus on effects within the magnetosphere. We show that the presence of O + outflowing from an isolated patch in the nightside auroral zone increases plasma sheet density and thermal pressure, slows convection, decreases the polar cap potential, and increases the length and width of the nightside magnetosphere. We determine that ionospheric O + mass loading can play a significant role but that strong effects on magnetospheric dynamics require a nightside flux that significantly exceeds statistical observed levels. A more realistic outflow would include both dayside and nightside sources whose total combined flux would be similar to the total fluxes used here.
Core Binding Energy Difference between Bridging and Nonbridging Oxygen Atoms in a Silicate Chain

The x-ray photoelectron spectra of the oxygen 1s level of olivines contain a single component whereas those of pyroxenes contain two components with an intensity ratio of 2:1 and an energy separation of about 1 electron volt. We interpret these two components to be the result of the binding energy differences between nonbridging and bridging oxygen atoms within a silicate chain in the pyroxene structure.
Social-P2P: Social network-based P2P file sharing system

A peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing system provides a platform that enables users to share their files. Retrieving files efficiently and trustworthily in such a large and jumbled system is critically important. However, the issues of efficient searching and trustworthy searching have only been studied separately. Simply combining two separate strategies dealing with each issue doubles system overhead. In this paper, we first study trace data from Facebook and BitTorrent. Guided by the study observations, we propose a P2P system based on social networks for simultaneous efficient and trustworthy file sharing, namely Social-P2P. Social-P2P groups common-multi-interest nodes into a cluster and further connects socially close nodes within a cluster. The comparably stable nodes in each cluster form a DHT for inter-cluster file searching. A file query is forwarded to the cluster of the file by the DHT routing and then is forwarded along constructed connections within a cluster, which achieves high hit rate and reliable routing. Sharing files among socially close friends discourages nodes from providing faulty files since people are unlikely to risk their reputation in the real world. Experimental results show that by leveraging a social network, Social-P2P achieves highly efficient and trustworthy file sharing.
Systematic analysis of framing bias in missile defense: Implications toward visualization design

Abstract This paper examines the effects of framing on decision making in a homeland missile defense context across three tasks of varying complexity. Mathematically, each task was modeled as abstractions from a common resource allocation task. Logically, therefore, the effects of framing on human subjects should have been consistent across all the tasks. In the first experiment, a simple lottery was used to determine risk postures in a single-attribute case of missile defense. Results showed that, consistent with Prospect Theory, positive framing promotes risk-averse behavior whereas negative framing promotes risk-seeking behavior. In the second experiment, we used the Analytic Hierarchy Process to determine subject rankings in a multi-attribute case of missile defense. Results suggest that subjects’ performances under positive framing were significantly better than performances under negative framing. In the third experiment, we used a human-in-the-loop simulation to elicit human decisions in a missile defense resource allocation task. In comparison to the other experiments, the framing effect in the third experiment was diminished. We submit that decision biases detected in a simple choice task cannot be assumed to carry over to tasks of greater complexity even if the underlying mathematical formulation for all the tasks is the same. Moreover, we submit that the design of the graphical interface has a greater influence on human judgment bias than framing in tasks of higher complexity.
Time-domain processing in arbitrarily inhomogeneous media

Constructing the seismic image in vertical time, as opposed to depth, eliminates the inherent ambiguity of resolving the vertical P -wave velocity from surface seismic data, in transversely isotropic media with a vertical axis of symmetry (VTI media). We show that, in the (x)domain, the raytracing and eikonal equations are completely independent of the vertical P -wave velocity, on the condition that the ratio of the vertical to normal-moveout (NMO) P -wave velocity ( ) is laterally invariant. Practical size departures of from lateral homogeneity affect traveltimes only slightly. As a result, for all practical purposes, the VTI equations in the (x)-domain are dependent on only two parameters in laterally inhomogeneous media: the NMO velocity for a horizontal reflector, and an anisotropy parameter, . In summary, we have established the basis for a full inhomogeneous time-processing scheme for VTI media that is independent of the vertical P -wave velocity.
Vagal control of diaphragm timing in cat while breathing at elevated lung volumes.

This paper proposes and tests an hypothesis to account for the roles of the volume and rate components of vagal feedback in determining the steady-state pattern of breathing during continuous positive pressure breathing (PPB) and expiratory threshold loading (ETL) in Dial anesthetized cats. During PPB the duration of diaphragm activity (Tdi) is shortened; the duration of its expiratory pause (Tep) is lengthened with little or no change in cycle duration (Tt); with onset of inspiration, flow (dV/dt) is increased; as inspiration proceeds, flow decelerates (d2/dt2). During ETL Tdi, Tep and Tt are all prolonged; dV/dt is decreased at onset of inspiration, with either no change or an acceleration in flow as inspiration proceeds. PPB and ETL cause similar increases in resting lung volume and Tep, and high negative correlations between Tdi and flow. These relationships suggest that the ‘volume component’ of vagal feedback is one important factor controlling Tep whereas the ‘rate component’ contributes to the restraint of Tdi.
Dickens and Maslow The Case History of Oliver Twist

Most great writers are concerned with social relationships and principles of human behavior, and Dickens was no exception. But while Dickens's literary predecessors such as Homer and Shakespeare po...
A chemical engineering laboratory over distributed control and measurement systems

Remote control of lab apparatus via the Internet allows flexible scheduling of experiments and exercises. This paper presents a novel application of computers and Internet technology in chemical engineering education that highlights interactive learning for an undergraduate course in online measurement and control. The proposed client–server architecture can be adapted to drive different kinds of devices and can be easily expanded. The developed online laboratory has been tested by many students using different connections and operating conditions. This Internet-based solution can improve undergraduate engineering education in a conventional unit operation laboratory. As an example, the application of remote experiments to characterize a plug flow reactor is described. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Comput Appl Eng Educ. 15: 174–184, 2007; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com); DOI 10.1002/cae.20108
Relative influences of the river channel, floodplain surface, and alluvial aquifer on simulated hydrologic residence time in a montane river floodplain

Abstract Current methods for characterizing the influence of geomorphic structure on river processes are not well suited for study of large rivers with extensive hydrologic exchanges between the channel, floodplain surface, and alluvial aquifer. Here we applied a spatially explicit, three-dimensional hydrologic model to simulate surface and subsurface flow within the 16-km 2 Nyack Floodplain on the Middle Fork Flathead River in northwest Montana, USA. We ran the model for four years and simulated nine conservative particle releases across a range of river discharges. Our objective was to evaluate the interactions of hydrologic dynamics and floodplain structure in determining the residence time of water in the system. Particle tracking simulations revealed when river discharge was below bankfull, mean residence time of surface water decreased with river discharge. During overbank flows, however, mean residence time increased with discharge because of surface water storage on the floodplain. When surface and subsurface water were considered, mean hydrologic residence time was more than an order of magnitude greater than the residence time of surface water alone because of storage in the alluvial aquifer. Residence time also decreased exponentially with river discharge, because a smaller percentage of surface water entered the subsurface at high discharges. Our analyses illustrate the importance of considering in-channel flow, floodwater storage, and surface-subsurface exchange in determining the overall residence time of water within a river segment, especially in floodplain environments.
A three-state model of telomere control over human proliferative boundaries

Intrinsic limits on cellular proliferation in human somatic tissue serves as a tumor suppressor mechanism by restricting cell growth in aged cells with accrued pre-cancerous mutations. This is accompanied by the potential cost of restricting regenerative capacity and contributing to cellular and organismal aging. Emerging data support a model where telomere erosion controls proliferative boundaries through the progressive change of telomere structure from a protected state, through two distinct states of telomere deprotection. In this model telomeres facilitate a controlled permanent cell cycle arrest with a stable diploid genome during differentiation and may serve as an epigenetic sensor of general stress in DNA metabolism processes.
OBSERVATIONAL STUDIES AS HUMAN EXPERIMENTATION: THE URANIUM MINING EXPERIENCE IN THE NAVAJO NATION (1947-66)

This article evaluates how an observational epidemiologic study of federal agencies in uranium miners became an experiment of opportunity for radiation effects. Navajo miners and communities suffered environmental exposures caused by the practices of uranium mining and milling in the Navajo reservation during the 1947 to 1966 period. A historical review of the state-of-the-art knowledge of the health effects of uranium mining and milling during the years prior to 1947 was conducted. Contemporary prevention and remediation practices also were assessed. An appraisal of the summary of findings of a comprehensive evaluation of radiation human experimentation conducted by the U.S. federal government in 1995-96 (ACHRE) demonstrates that uranium miners, including Navajo miners, were the single group that was put more seriously at risk of harm from radiation exposures, with inadequate disclosure and often with fatal consequences. Uranium miners were unwilling and unaware victims of human experimentation to evaluate the health effects of radiation. The failure of the State and U.S. Governments to issue regulations or demand installation of known mine-dust exposure control measures caused widespread environmental damage in the Navajo Nation.
Pressure-Induced Valence Tautomerism in Cobalt o-Quinone Complexes: An X-ray Absorption Study of the Low-Spin [CoIII(3,5-DTBSQ)(3,5-DTBCat)(phen)] to High-Spin [CoII(3,5-DTBSQ)2(phen)] Interconversion

The temperature- and pressure-driven solid state valence tautomeric transformations of [CoII(3,5DTBSQ)2(phen)]·C6H5CH) and nonsolvated [CoII(3,5DTBSQ)2(phen)] have been studied by EXAFS and XANES. When the toluene solvate sample is cooled it converts in the 270−215 K region (Tc = 240 K) from a high-spin CoII complex at higher-temperatues to a low-spin CoIII complex at temperatures below ∼215 K. EXAFS data indicate that the HS-CoII tautomer has bond lengths of Co−O = 2.08 ± 0.02 A and Co−N = 2.13 ± 0.02 A, whereas the LS-CoIII tautomeric complex is smaller with Co−O = 1.91 ± 0.02 A and Co−N = 1.93 ± 0.02 A. The XANES spectra obtained in the 270−215 K interconversion region were simulated to obtain a plot of the fraction of HS-CoII complexes, n(HS-CoII), vs temperature. This plot of n vs T agrees with that obtained from magnetic susceptibility data for the toluene solvate. In the XANES spectral region transitions characteristic of either a HS-CoII or a LS-CoIII complex could also be used to monitor the vale...
International spillovers of labour market policies

This paper uses a dynamic open-economy model to analyse the domestic and international spillover effects of policies aiming at reducing domestic labour costs, e.g., through cuts in labour taxes and unemployment benefits, when labour markets are unionized. Domestically, unionization dampens the downward wage adjustment due to unions' strategic rent-seeking and leads to a more muted expansion relative to a frictionless setting. Externally, the rent-sharing mechanism ensures that the terms of trade improvement benefits both firms and workers, and thus increases hiring. This is in contrast to the spillover effect in a frictionless setting, where the terms-of-trade induced wealth effect reduces individual labour supply, increases wages, and reduces hiring. When the model is enriched with sticky prices and a common monetary policy across countries, I find that the domestic dampening and positive spillover effects are further reinforced in the short run. Copyright 2013 Oxford University Press 2012 All rights reserved, Oxford University Press.
Visualizing the effect of dynamin inhibition on annular gap vesicle formation and fission.

Although gap junction plaque assembly has been extensively studied, mechanisms involved in plaque disassembly are not well understood. Disassembly involves an internalization process in which annular gap junction vesicles are formed. These vesicles undergo fission, but the molecular machinery needed for these fissions has not been described. The mechanoenzyme dynamin has been previously demonstrated to play a role in gap junction plaque internalization. To investigate the role of dynamin in annular gap junction vesicle fission, immunocytochemical, time-lapse and transmission electron microscopy were used to analyze SW-13 adrenocortical cells in culture. Dynamin was demonstrated to colocalize with gap junction plaques and vesicles. Dynamin inhibition, by siRNA knockdown or treatment with the dynamin GTPase inhibitor dynasore, increased the number and size of gap junction ‘buds’ suspended from the gap junction plaques. Buds, in control populations, were frequently released to form annular gap junction vesicles. In dynamin-inhibited populations, the buds were larger and infrequently released and thus fewer annular gap junction vesicles were formed. In addition, the number of annular gap junction vesicle fissions per hour was reduced in the dynamin-inhibited populations. We believe this to be the first report addressing the details of annular gap junction vesicle fissions and demonstrating a role of dynamin in this process. This information is crucial for elucidating the relationship between gap junctions, membrane regulation and cell behavior.
Field evaluation of a continuous passive lumbar motion system among operators of earthmoving equipment

Abstract Operating heavy mobile construction equipment is often associated with elevated rates of low back discomfort. However, few formal studies have evaluated interventions that may reduce low back discomfort among these workers. The objective of this study was to determine the effectiveness of a continuous passive lumbar motion system (CPLMS), which is an additional lumbar seat support that can cyclically inflate and deflate, in reducing low back discomfort among operators of heavy earth-moving equipment. This was a quasi-experimental intervention study with multiple observations in which body part discomfort surveys were collected from an intervention and a control group during normal working days. The intervention group also completed a CPLMS preference survey after completing use of the CPLMS for 646 h. Results from the body part discomfort survey showed no significant difference in low back discomfort between mornings and evenings for the first seven days, but a significant difference on the eighth and final day for the intervention group. In the control group, there was a significant difference between mornings and evenings on three out of five days for the low back discomfort score, where, the evening score was always higher than the morning score for all days. In addition, comparisons between the control and intervention groups indicated that the difference between morning and evening low back discomfort rating approached significance ( p = 0.06 ) . The CPLMS preference survey showed that 54% of the operators felt very comfortable using the CPLMS, 36% wanted one for their equipment, and 54% showed interest in experimenting with the CPLMS for a longer time period. Results from this study suggest that the use of this intervention may effectively reduce the development rate of low back discomfort experienced by operators of heavy earth-moving equipment throughout the work day. Relevance to industry This study indicates that providing an intervention that promotes dynamic changes and improving lumbar curvature during prolonged static sitting in a whole body vibration environment may have a positive effect by reducing the development rate of low back discomfort.
Morphological instability in epitaxially strained dislocation-free solid films.

We perform the first analysis of the morphological instability of a growing epitaxially strained dislocation-free olid film. We derive an evolution equation for the film surface based on surface diffusion driven by a stress-dependent chemical potential. From the time-dependent linear stability problem we determine the conditions for which a growing film is unstable. Our results reveal that the critical film thickness for instability depends on the growth rate of the film itself, and that the instability we describe exhibits many of the observed features of the onset of the ``island instability.''
Sunlight ultraviolet protection of the Heliothis nuclear polyhedrosis virus through starch-encapsulation technology.

In laboratory experiments, starch-encapsulated formulations of Heliothis nuclear polyhedrosis virus (HzSNPV) with and without an ultraviolet radiation protectant, were exposed on glass coverslips to simulated sunlight ultraviolet (SUV). All SUV-exposed, starch-encapsulated formulations of HzSNPV containing a protectant were significantly more active against larvae of the noctuid Heliothis virescens than controls without the protectant.
Recess integration of platelet laser diodes with waveguides on silicon

We report the first demonstration of in-plane InGaAs/InP laser diodes integrated with SiON waveguides on silicon substrates using a modular recess-integration technique. This technique allows for pre-testing and selection of devices before integration, is compatible with integration on full CMOS wafers after conventional back-end processing is completed, and can be used to integrate multiple types of devices on a single wafer [1]. We feel it is superior to other optoelectronic integration techniques; more broadly, it is ideally suited to realizing robust, planar, monolithically integrated micro-systems incorporating a variety of materials and devices.
Financial Innovation and Arbitrage Pricing in Frictional Economies

Abstract Frictional economies are fundamentally different from their frictionless counterparts. For example, in frictional economies, the price function is sublinear and thus there will be incentives to innovate. When decomposing existing securities and opening new markets, innovators serve important economic functions, such as allowing investors to obtain consumption at lower costs, enabling investors to achieve better risk sharing, and making the fundamental value of more payoffs observable. In particular, innovators serve these functions even when they introduce redundant securities that are not yet issued. Furthermore, in frictional economies, the replication-based arbitrage valuation approach tends to overprice certain securities while underpricing others. Journal of Economic Literature Classification Numbers: C61, G10, G12, G20.