cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
DNA sequence of the gene encoding the E alpha Ia polypeptide of the BALB/c mouse

A 3.4-kilobase DNA fragment containing the gene coding for the E alpha chain of an Ia (I region-associated) antigen from the BALB/c mouse has been sequenced. It contains at least three exons, which correlate with the major structural domains of the E alpha chain-the two external domains alpha 1 and alpha 2, and the transmembrane-cytoplasmic domain. The coding sequence of the mouse E alpha gene shows striking homology to its counterpart at the DNA and protein levels. The translated alpha 2 exon demonstrates significant similarity to beta 2-microglobulin, to immunoglobulin constant region domains, and to certain domains of transplantation antigens. These observations and those of others suggest that the Ia antigen, transplantation antigen, and immunoglobulin gene families share a common ancestor.
Physical and Chemical Processes to Enhance Oil Recovery from Condensed Corn Distillers Solubles

Oil recovery from corn fermentation co-products can provide feedstock for biodiesel production. The effects of physical and chemical processes on oil recovery from condensed corn distillers solubles (CCDS) were investigated. Heating disrupted physical interactions in the CCDS and increased oil recovery by 2.5-fold when temperature was increased from 25 to 59 °C. Oil recovery at acidic pH conditions was significantly greater than at alkaline pH. Oil recovery at alkaline pH was increased by heating and addition of the reducing agent, sodium metabisulfite. Oil extraction using polar solvents isopropanol and butanol achieved greater than 80% oil recovery. When oil was co-extracted with zein using hexane and ethanol as co-solvents, the greatest total oil recovery was achieved, 89%. Churning CCDS at pH 3.5, 50 °C for 3 h achieved up to 80% oil recovery. This study provides data for designing further effective methods for oil separation from corn ethanol co-products.
Study of the thermistor bridge for the measurement of colligative properties.

Further refinement of the apparatus described by Goyan and Reck has been studied, using thermistors. One variation described involves the use of intermittent power with simultaneous recording. Another variation treats the problem of using relatively high battery voltages in order to increase the sensitivity of the bridge without the use of amplifiers. The paper discusses the determination of molecular weights, as well as osmometry and isotonicity measurements. Results indicate that significant measurements can be made without minimizing the heating produced by the bridge current.
Vehicular Overloads: Load Model, Bridge Safety, and Permit Checking

All states in the United States issue special permits for nondivisible and/or divisible truck overloads exceeding the weight limit of the highway jurisdiction. This causes stress levels higher than those induced by normal truck traffic. The rationality of such overstress levels has not been documented. This paper addresses several aspects of this issue. It presents (1) a method to develop live load models including overload trucks; (2) associated reliability models for assessing structural safety of highway bridges; and (3) proposed permit-load factors for overload checking in the load and resistance factor format. It shows that the proposed overload checking procedure leads to relatively uniform reliability of bridge structures. A sensitivity analysis is also presented here to assure that possible variations of the input data used to prescribe the proposed load factors will not adversely affect bridge safety. The proposed procedure is intended to be used by engineers responsible for checking overload permits. It may be included in evaluation specifications for highway bridges.
TROPHIC GENERALISTS VS. TROPHIC SPECIALISTS: IMPLICATIONS FOR FOOD WEB DYNAMICS IN POST-FIRE STREAMS'

The trophic ecology of 11 benthic macroinvertebrate taxa found in Cache Creek, Yellowstone National Park (YNP) was studied to determine if burned organic matter is an important resource and how resource utilization patterns may be altered in post-fire streams. Laboratory food quality experiments were conducted to determine the growth response of each species when grown on several resource types: burned organic matter, periphyton, unburned coarse particulate material (CPM), and unburned fine particulate material (FPM). The central hypothesis of this research was that benthic macroinvertebrates cannot use burned organic matter as a resource. A secondary hypothesis was that some benthic macroinvertebrates are facultative in trophic function, with the ability to use both allochthonous and autochthonous resources for growth. Of the 11 taxa studied, only one (Paraleptophlebia heteronea) could grow on burned organic matter as a resource, indicating that post-fire food webs probably do not exhibit major shifts in resourcp utilization to burned material. Two species were generalist detri- tivores (P. heteronea, Ameletus cooki) able to use both natural FPM and CPM resources. Two species were specialist detritivores (Oligophlebodes sigma, Ephemerella infrequens) growing only on unburned CPM resources, and two (Cinygmula mimus, Epeorus albertae) were specialist herbivores utilizing only periphyton. Five species were generalist herbivore- detritivores (Baetis bicaudatus, Drunella doddsi, D. coloradensis, D. spinifera, Zapada columbiana), exhibiting growth on both detritus and periphyton resources. Based on the experimental results, trophic generalists are common food web components in Yellowstone streams. Two of the most abundant benthic macroinvertebrates during post- fire recovery, B. bicaudatus and Z. columbiana, were trophic generalists, indicating that some generalists may be disturbance adapted. In this study, published functional feeding group classification did not indicate obligate resource utilization (growth on only one resource type) for most taxa studied. Comparison of a food web for Cache Creek based on functional feeding group classification and one based on the results of this study indicates that the inclusion of generalists in the web results in a more realistic approximation of food web relationships such as the link-species scaling law. Our results suggest that future research should include spatial and temporal aspects of resource switching and generalist resource utilization by individual lotic primary consumers.
THE REPRESSIVE CONTEXT OF ART WORK

Cultural freedom in the arts is not simply a formalized battle between institutionalized constraints and supports. The content of the battle is art; consequently the struggle is meaningful. Constraint, be it of the marketplace, the state, or the superego, is a stimulus for symbolic liberation and this is meaningfully embodied in superior art.' Thus the system of repression channels symbolic liberation and therefore, when an old repressive system is transformed, an art product can lose its meaning or have its meanings transformed. The movement of a cultural product from one system of repression to another graphically demonstrates this. An important contemporary case in point is the movement of artists from the political east to the political west.
Wheat Flour Exposed to Ethanol Yields Dough with Unexpected Properties

ABSTRACT Exposure of wheat flour to ethanol solutions followed by slow drying of the ethanol in situ alters the subsequent transformation of the flour into dough. Several types of wheat flour were exposed to small amounts of ethanol solutions so as to be “wetted” but without the appearance of a separate liquid phase. The wet sample was then dried in air. Dough was formed from the treated flour, and its rheological parameters were assessed, including time to peak strength (mixograph and farinograph) and gluten index (glutomatic). Untreated and treated flour and the dough prepared therefrom were assayed using 1D SDS-PAGE (reducing and unreducing conditions), capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) applied to 70% leachates with and without sonication, and differential scanning calorimetry. Both gluten index and time to peak increased as a result of the treatment, and the increase was greater for flour or enriched vital gluten with an initially low gluten index than for flour with a relatively high initial index...
Recombinant arginine deiminase as a potential anti-angiogenic agent

Arginine deiminase (ADI), isolated from Mycoplasma cell extracts, has been suggested to inhibit endothelial cell growth in vitro. However, anti-angiogenic activity by ADI has not yet been demonstrated. In this study, we investigated the in vitro effect of recombinant ADI (rADI) on the growth, migration, and tube formation of human umbilical vein endothelial (HUVE) cells. Mycoplasma arginine deiminase was cloned by PCR and the rADI was expressed in Escherichia coli. and purified to near homogeneity. The purified recombinant protein was found to have characteristics similar to those of the native enzyme: molecular weight (48 kDa) and specific enzymatic activity of converting L-arginine into citrulline (32.7 U/mg). This recombinant enzyme also exhibited an inhibitory effect on the growth of HUVE cells. The anti-angiogenic activity was demonstrated by in vitro inhibition of migration into the scratch wounded area in HUVE cell monolayers and the inhibition of microvessel tube-like formation of HUVE cells on Matrigel-coated surfaces. These results suggest that arginine deiminase is a potential inhibitor for angiogenesis, and that arginine concentrations may play an important role in regulating neovascularization.
Enhanced detection of flavonoids by metal complexation and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry.

Metal complexation with the use of an auxiliary ligand is explored as an alternative to conventional protonation or deprotonation for analysis of a series of flavonoids by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. Use of a neutral auxiliary ligand, 2,2‘-bipyridine, results in formation of [MII(flavonoid − H)bpy]+, ternary complexes with intensities that are 2 orders of magnitude greater than the corresponding protonated flavonoids and up to 1.5 orders of magnitude greater than the deprotonated flavonoids, based on confirmation by collisionally activated dissociation patterns. The formation of ternary complexes with six divalent transition metals, Co2+, Ni2+, Cu2+, Zn2+, Mn2+, and Fe2+ were compared. Cu2+ resulted in the most intense complexes and simplest mass spectra, while Co2+ gave the second most intense spectra and also produced two key products that could be useful for a selected ion monitoring strategy. Complexation with iron(III) bromide is also investigated to explore the feasibility of using tr...
Failure to Preserve β-Cell Function With Mycophenolate Mofetil and Daclizumab Combined Therapy in Patients With New-Onset Type 1 Diabetes

Abstract Objective: This trial was to test whether mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) alone or with daclizumab (DZB) could arrest the loss of insulin-producing beta cells in subjects with new onset type 1 diabetes (T1D). Research Design and Methods: A multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-masked trial was initiated by Type 1 Diabetes TrialNet at 13 sites in North America and Europe. Subjects diagnosed with type 1 diabetes and with sufficient C-peptide within 3 months of diagnosis were randomized to either: MMF-alone, MMF and DZB, or placebo, and then followed for 2 years. The primary outcome was the geometric mean area under the curve (AUC) C-peptide from the 2 hour mixed meal tolerance test. Results: One hundred and twenty-six subjects were randomized and treated during the trial. The geometric mean C-peptide AUC at 2 years was unaffected by MMF-alone, or MMF and DZB, versus placebo. Adverse events were more frequent in the active therapy groups relative to the control group, but not significantly. Conclusions: Neither MMF-alone nor MMF in combination with DZB had an effect on the loss of C-peptide in subjects with new onset T1D. Higher doses or more targeted immunotherapies may be needed to affect the autoimmune process.
The Relation Between Practice Effects, Test-Taker Characteristics and Degree of g-Saturation

Prior research regarding practice effects on ability tests has focused primarily on the differences in average score gains across different types of preparation (e.g., test retaking vs. focused item practice vs. coaching). In contrast, there has been little concerted effort towards understanding the significant variance in score gains across people and tests, within the same preparation condition. In response to calls for such research, this study examines the efficacy of the degree of a test's g-saturation and test-taker characteristics for explaining variance in score gains within a single preparation condition (i.e., retesting). Our results show that the sizes of the score gain due to practice is negatively associated with the degree of g-saturation of the ability scales. Results also show that score gains are generally positively associated with test-taker beliefs about tests and motivation; however, these associations were specific to certain scales. Prior research regarding practice effects on abili...
Laser Raman study of benzene adsorption on alkali metal X and Y zeolites

Abstract Shifts in the laser Raman spectrum of the ring breathing mode of adsorbed benzene are used to probe the electrostatic fields within the supercage of alkali metal-exchanged X and Y zeolites. It is concluded that the excess cations in X versus Y zeolites result in higher fields at the aromatic nucleus of initially adsorbed benzene. Further increases in field are caused by crowding in the supercage as the size of the cation increases. Increased benzene loading causes the frequency of the Raman band to approach that of the liquid state. These trends are related to selectivity sequences observed when these materials are used as catalysts for the alkylation of toluene with methanol to give styrene and ethylbenzene.
Allergic alveolitis: new insights into old mysteries

Allergic alveolitis, or hypersensitivity pneumonitis (AA/HP), encompasses an ever-expanding group of alveolar filling and interstitial pulmonary diseases which develop as the result of repeated, intense exposure to certain organic dusts of appropriate particle size. Clinically, two forms of the disease occur. The acute form presents 4-10 h following exposure to large amounts of offending antigen and is characterized by acute onset of dyspnea, cough, fever, and myalgias. Physical examination may document fever, tachycardia, tachypnea, cyanosis, and rales. Diffuse, soft, finely granular or micronodular opacities are often seen radiographically. Pulmonary function testing usually shows a restrictive defect with a decrease in diffusion capacity. The symptoms usually resolve in 1218 h following cessation of exposure with the chest infiltrates clearing after several days. The diagnosis is made on clinical grounds, since the temporal relationship of symptoms to exposure is usually obvious. A chronic form of AA/HP may develop after multiple acute episodes or insidiously after prolonged exposure to small amounts of antigen during which time the patient may be asymptomatic. Chest radiographs usually confirm the presence of interstitial infiltrates and fibrosis. Pulmonary function tests show a predominantly restrictive ventilatory defect with low diffusion capacity. Histologically, AA/HP is characterized by a patchy granulomatouspneumonitiscomposedpredominantly of lymphocytes, plasma cells, and macrophages that expand the alveolar septa. Multinucleated giant cells may be present in chronic stages, neutrophils may be seen in very early stages, and bronchiolitis obliterans frequently accompanies the interstitial changes. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) samples from exposed patients with AA/HP often contain large amounts of mast cells in addition to lymphocytes and macrophages and in the very early stages may demonstrate neutrophils (1). Eosinophils are generally an infrequent finding, and vasculitis is not present. In the acute form of the disease, the infiltrates usually resolve when the offending antigen is removed; however, long-term exposure may lead to chronic interstitial fibrosis and irreversible lung damage.
Property Taxes, Mobility, and Home Ownership

Abstract In contrast with the conventional property tax, which is based on current market value, the acquisition-value property tax is based on the market value of the property at the time it was purchased. A switch to an acquisition-value tax (i) decreases household mobility, (ii) increases the likelihood of home ownership among infrequent movers at the expense of frequent movers, and (iii) attracts infrequent movers and repels frequent movers. We use a simple simulation model to compute the excess burden of the acquisition-value tax. With a tax rate of 3%, the excess burden is about 4.5% of tax revenue. The transfer tax has much larger distortionary effects.
An approximate analytic model of many-to-many demand responsive transportation systems

Abstract This paper presents an analytic model to predict average waiting and ridingtimes in urban transportation systems (such as dial-a-bus and taxicabs), which provide non-transfer door-to-door transportation with a dynamically dispatched fleet of vehicles. Three different dispatching algorithms are analyzed with a simple deterministic model, which is then generalized to capture the most relevant stochastic phenomena. The formulae obtained have been successfully compared with simulated data and are simple enough for hand calculation. They are, thus, tools which enable analysts to avoid cumbersome simulation models when contemplating implementing or modifying many-to-many demand responsive transportation systems.
Eliminating the "expensive" adjective for clinical trials.

In the TV game show Family Feud contestants are asked to fill in the blank for sentences or phrases, with the “right answers” coming from previously completed surveys. Some entries are easy, like “Don’t judge a book by its ____.” Others are less so, like “Prime ____.” If there were a medical version of Family Feud, an easy question, at least in contemporary times, would likely be “Expensive Clinical _____.” A more difficult, if not impossible, one would be “R____ R____ Trial.”What two juxtaposed “R words” would make sense? Many have predicted the demise of the clinical trial. “Too expensive! Too limited in population, outcomes and intervention! Results are not generalizable to my patients.” However, even the naysayers agree that clinical trials yield the highest quality medical evidence. Practice guidelines cite results of large-scale clinical trials and well-conducted clinical trials can diametrically change medical practice. Arguably, it would be better to change the way we conduct clinical trials than to discard the methodology. If we can make clinical trials cheaper, quicker, and relevant to more patients, they will continue to provide high quality evidence. To get there, we will need to do research on the way we do research. In the spirit of doing research on research, NHLBI officials recently took a hard look at the Institute’s clinical trial portfolio. Among 244 trials funded over a decade, less than 20% focused on clinical events. Yet those handful of trials accounted for over 80% of the citations and were published many times faster; indeed many of the small-sized surrogate endpoint trials were never published or only after a long delay. Commentators argued that these findings should offer impetus to funders to change their priorities, shifting focus towards large simple trials that focus on clinical endpoints. Meanwhile, some clinical investigators have begun to experiment with radically new methods with some success, as at least 3 recent high profile trials have utilized increasingly novel approaches of leveraging existing digital platforms to conduct high-impact, low-
Dual picosecond dye lasers pumped by synchronized mode-locked and Q-switched Cw Nd:YAG lasers

Abstract We have constructed a picosecond laser system with two Q-switched, mode-locked Nd:YAG lasers synchronously pumping two dye lasers. The Nd:YAG lasers are driven from the same rf source, and therefore produce synchronized pulse trains. Cross-correlation measurements of the two Nd:YAG lasers and of the two dye lasers are described, and the mode-locked pulses are found to be correlated to a high degree. Timing jitter between dye-laser pulses was determined to be ca. 50 ps. The phase relationship between the Nd:YAG lasers is found to be sensitive to cavity length detuning. The phase varies linearly with cavity length in a region ±0.02 mm about the optimum length. The laser system generates time-delays between pump and probe dye-laser pulses of up to milliseconds with picosecond resolution.
Topography of the shield volcano, Olympus Mons on Mars

Olympus Mons, one of the largest known shield volcanoes in the solar system, covers an area of more than 3.2 x 10 to the 5th sq km and has a diameter of more than 600 km, excluding its vast aureole deposits. The structure is five times larger than the largest shield volcano on the earth. It is situated on the north-west flank of the Tharsis volcanic region, a broad topographic rise on the Martian surface. The volcano has three physical subdivisions: the summit caldera, the terraced upper flanks, and the lower flanks, which terminate in a scarp 2-10 km high that nearly surrounds the structure. A large block of images of the Tharsis region, including Olympus Mons, was obtained by the Viking mission. A topographic map of Olympus Mons is presented here, which has been compiled using various combinations of stereo pairs of these images, together with stereoscopic perspective views generated by image processing techniques.
Effect of Elliptical Burner Geometry on Stability and Global Emission Characteristics of Pre-Mixed Flames

An important topic in combustion research today is pollutant emission reduction. With the current demand for large amounts of economical, clean power, there is a need for research in both the increase of combustion performance and the reduction of emissions. Two methods of the so-called ‘passive’ flame controls are the use of premixing the air and fuel and the variation of the geometry of the flame. Both mechanisms offer the promise of increasing efficiency as well as reducing harmful emissions. However, the effect of these controls on the stability of the flame has not been fully studied. This paper will attempt to fill in some of this gap and will study the effects of elliptical burner geometry on premixed flames. The study will present stability results for circular and 4:1 aspect ratio elliptical burner geometry for a range of fuel mixtures of propane and hydrogen. The paper will also report the emission indices of CO and NO of the 40% by mass hydrogen in propane mixture. It was found that the 4:1 aspect ratio burner had reduced blow-out stability, produced a much shorter flame, and, in general, produced more carbon monoxide and less nitric oxide than a circular burner.Copyright © 2002 by ASME
Current Trends in Dextranomer Hyaluronic Acid Copolymer (Deflux) Injection Technique for Endoscopic Treatment of Vesicoureteral Reflux

Objective To determine the current preferred injection technique(s) for endoscopic management of pediatric vesicoureteral reflux (VUR). Since the approval of dextranomer hyaluronic acid copolymer (Dx/HA) in 2001, injection methods have evolved and now include the hydrodistention implantation technique (HIT) and double HIT as well as subureteral transurethral injection (STING) method. Methods In July 2012, 278 pediatric urologists in the United States were contacted to complete a 15-question survey regarding Dx/HA injection technique(s) currently used in their practice. Results Fifty board-certified pediatric urologists completed the survey for a response rate of 18%. Most respondents (60%) were in a single-specialty group practice, and 12% were affiliated with an academic- or university-based practice. Respondents reported seeing a mean of 159 pediatric patients (range, 40-400 patients) with VUR annually, and 94% used Dx/HA ≥4 times in the past year. Forty-seven respondents (94%) reported using double HIT over the course of their career compared with 36 (72%) for STING and 30 (60%) for HIT ( P P P Conclusion The double HIT method is currently the most commonly performed technique for endoscopic correction of VUR by pediatric urologists in the United States.
Preparation, properties, and some recent studies of the actinide metals

Abstract The actinide elements form a univue series of metals that have properties ranging from those characteristic of the d-electron transition metals to those of the 5f electron lanthanide metals. This wide range of physical properties together with the varying degree of availability of the different actinide elements offers a challenge for the preparative scientist. This article provides a brief review of some methods used for preparing the actinide metals, discusses some of their important properties, and summarives the status of these properties. Recent studies on some of the heavier actinide metals are also discussed.
Study of Bound-State Solutions to the Pion-Nucleon Bethe-Salpeter Equation

The Bethe-Salpeter equation describing the interaction of pseudoscalar mesons and nucleons via pseudoscalar coupling is solved numerically for energies below the elastic threshold by use of variational techniques. We consider only the "ladder" approximation with a local potential corresponding to the exchange of an elementary nucleon. Simple generalizations of this form of the interaction are considered as well. In the absence of a cutoff, this leads to a marginally singular integral equation. We examine in detail the boundary conditions to be imposed on the solutions in order to lead to a discrete eigenvalue spectrum. The study of this problem is considerably simplified at zero total c.m. energy, where the (Wick-rotated) equation is invariant under four-dimensional rotations. In order to take full advantage of this symmetry, we construct a new set of spinor spherical harmonics belonging to the representations ($\frac{1}{2}(n\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}1)$, $\frac{1}{2}n$) and ($\frac{1}{2}n,\frac{1}{2}(n\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}1)$) of the four-dimensional rotation group. The discussion is then extended to the general case, in which we examine briefly the formal structure of the $E\ensuremath{\ne}0$ solutions.
VERIFICATION AND INTERPRETATION OF THE I-XE CHRONOMETER

Abstract Comparisons of I-Xe and Pb-Pb relative ages are made for phosphate and feldspar separates from 12 different meteorites. In all cases where I-Xe ages can be measured in phosphate, I-Xe and Pb-Pb chronometers agree within experimental uncertainty. No discordant phosphate samples are observed. With the exception of Allegan, I-Xe ages for feldspar separates generally agree with Pb-Pb ages for the corresponding phosphate. The general concordancy observed between I-Xe and Pb-Pb chronometers suggests that the I-Xe system is a reliable and interpretable chronometer when applied to single minerals systems. Allegan feldspar differs from the other feldspar separates, predating its phosphate by ∼17 Ma, with an I-Xe age indistinguishable from those of Orgueil and Murchison magnetites, among the oldest observed.
Thermally induced convection in narrow channels II. Experimental results for refrigerant 113

Abstract Sudden heating of a fluid in a tube or narrow channel induces localized pressure gradients and transient flow which can significantly affect the heat transfer rate. Experiments with a long, pulse-heated tube containing refrigerant 113 produced induced flow as well as pressure oscillations. This paper presents experimental results, and analyses of the system.
Characteristics and outcomes of drug-exposed and non drug-exposed children in kinship and non-relative foster care☆

Abstract This study describes the characteristics and outcomes of drug-exposed and non drug-exposed children in kinship and non-relative foster care. Outcomes included educational performance, emotional development, and problem behavior. Children were an average of 7.9 years old at the time of the study and were either 1. (a) non drug-exposed children placed with kin (n = 139), 2. (b) drugexposed children placed with kin (n = 103), 3. (c) non drug-exposed children placed with non-relatives (n = 184), 4. (d) drug-exposed children placed with non-relatives (n = 155). Data were collected with a mailed questionnaire completed by subjects' foster caregivers. The findings showed both similarities and differences among groups in foster family and child characteristics. The findings also showed that educational performance was similar among groups, while emotional and behavioral development differed significantly. Multivariate analysis revealed that non drug-exposed children placed with kin were less likely than other children to exhibit problem behavior. This study confirms that drug-exposed foster children can and do achieve positive educational, emotional, and behavioral outcomes similar to their non drug-exposed counterparts. It also suggests that placement in kinship care may have different implications for drug-exposed and non drug-exposed children.
Phenomenological Theory of Transport Processes in Fluids

In this article a general theory of transport processes in fluids, developed from equations of hydrodynamics and thermodynamics which have been generalized for application to multicomponent systems, is presented. The equations for the flow of entropy and masses of components of the fluid, obtained from the local entropy dissipation, are used to treat the processes of viscosity, mobility, diffusion, electrical and thermal conductance, thermal transpiration, thermal diffusion, and the homogeneous thermoelectric effect. Reciprocal relations and other properties of the coefficients associated with each process are obtained and also inter-relationships between the coefficients of the various processes. The special conditions for the steady state, the state of pure thermal conduction, and the state of equilibrium are considered. Investigation of the steady state in thermal diffusion indicates that mass flow may persist, contrary to the usual assumption in treatment of experimental data.
Evaluation of community health screening participants' knowledge of cardiovascular risk factors.

Abstract Objectives To assess knowledge of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors among a group of health screening participants and to compare knowledge between participants with high and low CVD risk. Design Cross-sectional pilot study. Setting Jonesboro, AR, during June 2007. Patients 121 adult volunteers participating in a community health screening. Intervention 34-item self-administered written questionnaire. Main outcome measures Ability to identify CVD risk factors and healthy values for CVD risk factors and the differences in these abilities between participants with high and low CVD risk. Results Participants demonstrated good knowledge of traditional CVD risk factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, lack of exercise, and overweight or obese status. Knowledge of other CVD risk factors and healthy values for major CVD risk factors was limited. Participants with high CVD risk were significantly more likely to correctly identify high triglycerides as a CVD risk factor and to identify healthy values for fasting blood glucose and total cholesterol compared with participants with low CVD risk. Conclusion Overall, participants lacked knowledge of the risk factor status and healthy values for many CVD risk factors. Participants with high CVD risk may have better knowledge of some CVD risk factors than participants with low CVD risk. These findings highlight the need for more education to improve knowledge in both risk groups.
Pairwise post deployment key management scheme for heterogeneous sensor networks

This paper presents an identity based pairwise post deployment key establishment scheme for heterogeneous sensor networks. The sensor network has two different types of nodes: the high end nodes and the low end nodes. A unique tree addressing scheme is used where the sensor nodes are allotted a unique ID and the nodes fill their neighbor table. They share the secret key with their neighbors for secure data transmission. The performance evaluation is done by comparing the given scheme with some existing schemes.
Availability of tanning beds on US college campuses.

Importance Indoor tanning is widespread among young adults in the United States despite evidence establishing it as a risk factor for skin cancer. The availability of tanning salons on or near college campuses has not been formally evaluated. Objective To evaluate the availability of indoor tanning facilities on US college and university campuses (colleges) and in off-campus housing surrounding but not owned by the college. Design, Setting, and Participants This observational study sampled the top 125 US colleges and universities listed in US News and World Report. Investigators searched websites of the colleges and nearby housing and contacted them by telephone inquiring about tanning services. Main Outcomes and Measures Frequency of indoor tanning facilities on college campus and in off-campus housing facilities, as well as payment options for tanning. Results Of the 125 colleges, 48.0% had indoor tanning facilities either on campus or in off-campus housing, and 14.4% of colleges allow campus cash cards to be used to pay for tanning. Indoor tanning was available on campus in 12.0% of colleges and in off-campus housing in 42.4% of colleges. Most off-campus housing facilities with indoor tanning (96%) provide it free to tenants. Midwestern colleges had the highest prevalence of indoor tanning on campus (26.9%), whereas Southern colleges had the highest prevalence of indoor tanning in off-campus housing facilities (67.7%). Presence of on-campus tanning facilities was significantly associated with enrollment (P = .01), region (P = .02), and presence of a school of public health (P = .01) but not private vs public status (P = .18) or presence of a tobacco policy (P = .16). Presence of tanning facilities in off-campus housing was significantly associated with region (P = .002) and private vs public status (P = .01) but not enrollment (P = .38), tobacco policy (P = .80), or presence of a school of public health (P = .69). Conclusions and Relevance Reducing the availability of indoor tanning on and around college campuses is an important public health target.
Cost-Estimating Model for Rubberized Asphalt Pavement Rehabilitation Projects

AbstractThere are nearly 4,800,000 km (3,000,000 miles) of paved roads and 80,000 km (50,000 miles) of paved highways in the United States, many of which are in poor condition and approaching the end of their design life. To upgrade this valuable infrastructure, state and federal governments have advocated for rubberized asphalt concrete (RAC) technology, which would meet the current needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own demands. This paper presents a cost-estimating system for rubberized asphalt road rehabilitation projects. The proposed system utilizes information collected from 44 projects and applies neural networks to perform its task. This tool is believed to be helpful in many road pavement applications, such as preparing accurate budget estimates and life-cost analyses, as well as managing financial resources in limited budget environments.
Structural Transformations in self-assembled Semiconductor Quantum Dots as inferred by Transmission Electron Microscopy

Transmission electron microscopy studies in both the scanning and parallel illumination mode on samples of two generic types of self-assembled semiconductor quantum dots are reported. III-V and II-VI quantum dots as grown in the Stranski-Krastanow mode are typically alloyed and compressively strained to a few %, possess a more or less random distribution of the cations and/or anions over their respective sublattices, and have a spatially non-uniform chemical composition distribution. Sn quantum dots in Si as grown by temperature and growth rate modulated molecular beam epitaxy by means of two mechanisms possess the diamond structure and are compressively strained to the order of magnitude 10 %. These lattice mismatch strains are believed to trigger atomic rearrangements inside quantum dots of both generic types when they are stored at room temperature over time periods of a few years. The atomic rearrangements seem to result in long-range atomic order, phase separation, or phase transformations. While the results suggest that some semiconductor quantum dots may be structurally unstable and that devices based on them may fail over time, triggering and controlling structural transformations in self-assembled semiconductor quantum dots may also offer an opportunity of creating atomic arrangements that nature does not otherwise provide.
Does This Child Have Appendicitis

ContextEvaluation of abdominal pain in children can be difficult. Rapid, accurate diagnosis of appendicitis in children reduces the morbidity of this common cause of pediatric abdominal pain. Clinical evaluation may help identify (1) which children with abdominal pain and a likely diagnosis of appendicitis should undergo immediate surgical consultation for potential appendectomy and (2) which children with equivocal presentations of appendicitis should undergo further diagnostic evaluation.ObjectiveTo systematically assess the precision and accuracy of symptoms, signs, and basic laboratory test results for evaluating children with possible appendicitis.Data SourcesWe searched English-language articles in MEDLINE (January 1966–March 2007) and the Cochrane Database, as well as physical examination textbooks and bibliographies of retrieved articles, yielding 2521 potentially relevant articles.Study SelectionStudies were included if they (1) provided primary data on children aged 18 years or younger in whom the diagnosis of appendicitis was considered; (2) presented medical history data, physical examination findings, or basic laboratory data; and (3) confirmed or excluded appendicitis by surgical pathologic findings, clinical observation, or follow-up. Of 256 full-text articles examined, 42 met inclusion criteria.Data ExtractionTwenty-five of 42 studies were assigned a quality level of 3 or better. Data from these studies were independently extracted by 2 reviewers.ResultsIn children with abdominal pain, fever was the single most useful sign associated with appendicitis; a fever increases the likelihood of appendicitis (likelihood ratio [LR], 3.4; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.4-4.8) and conversely, its absence decreases the chance of appendicitis (LR, 0.32; 95% CI, 0.16-0.64). In select groups of children, in whom the diagnosis of appendicitis is suspected and evaluation undertaken, rebound tenderness triples the odds of appendicitis (summary LR, 3.0; 95% CI, 2.3-3.9), while its absence reduces the likelihood (summary LR, 0.28; 95% CI, 0.14-0.55). Midabdominal pain migrating to the right lower quadrant (LR range, 1.9-3.1) increases the risk of appendicitis more than right lower quadrant pain itself (summary LR, 1.2; 95% CI, 1.0-1.5). A white blood cell count of less than 10 000/μL decreases the likelihood of appendicitis (summary LR, 0.22; 95% CI, 0.17-0.30), as does an absolute neutrophil count of 6750/μL or lower (LR, 0.06; 95% CI, 0.03-0.16). Symptoms and signs are most useful in combination, particularly for identifying children who do not require further evaluation or intervention.ConclusionsAlthough the clinical examination does not establish a diagnosis of appendicitis with certainty, it is useful in determining which children with abdominal pain warrant immediate surgical evaluation for consideration of appendectomy and which children may warrant further diagnostic evaluation. More child-specific, age-stratified data are needed to improve the utility of the clinical examination for diagnosing appendicitis in children.
ON THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN TORNADOES AND 500-MB. INDICATORS OF JET STREAMS

Abstract Many studies of tornado–severe local storms outbreaks have called attention to the role of the jet stream. In fact, the jet has become an accepted part of a climatological model for tornado occurrences in the central and southern Plains. This study undertakes to verify this acceptance by statistically testing the association between 500-mb. indications of the midlatitude and subtropical jet streams and tornado days in Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. The results presented here indicate that indeed the two jet streams are associated with tornadoes. Further, the results are interpreted to show important spatial variations in the relative influence of the two jet streams.
Crystallization And Preliminary X-Ray Diffraction Study Of Riboflavin Synthase

Escherichia coli riboflavin synthase crystallizes at 22 C in the presence of 7-10percent by volume diglyme, 20-50 mM MgCl2 and pH 7.0. In this medium diffraction quality crystals are routinely obtained within 5 h and they are stable for 10 weeks. The crystals are orthogonal in space group P212121 with unit cell dimensions of a=52.4 A , b = 62.1 A, c = 218.8 A. A 97percent complete data set was collected at 2.1 A resolution.
A Refined Gross-Prasad Conjecture for Unitary Groups

Let F be a number field, AF its ring of adeles, and let [pi]n and [pi]n+1 be irreducible, cuspidal, automorphic representations of SOn(AF) and SOn+1AF), respectively. In 1991, Benedict Gross and Dipendra Prasad conjectured the non-vanishing of a certain period integral attached to [pi]n and [pi]n+1 is equivalent to the non-vanishing of L(1/2, [pi]n [X] [pi]n+1). More recently, Atsushi Ichino and Tamotsu Ikeda gave a refinement of this conjecture, as well as a proof of the first few cases (n = 2,3). Their conjecture gives an explicit relationship between the aforementioned L-value and period integral. We make a similar conjecture for unitary groups, and prove the first few cases. The first case of the conjecture will be proved using a theorem of Waldspurger, while the second case will use the machinery of the [theta] correspondence
Gamma Interferon Is Not Required for Arthritis Resistance in the Murine Lyme Disease Model

Lyme arthritis is the most common complication following infection of human individuals with Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto. In mice, B. burgdorferi infection leads to arthritis of the tibiotarsal joints. Arthritis severity in mice is under host genetic control, as BALB/c mice developed mild arthritis but C3H/He mice developed severe disease following B. burgdorferi infection. To study the role of gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) in arthritogenesis, targeted mutant mice lacking the IFN-gamma receptor (IFN-gammaR) were infected by inoculation with B. burgdorferi. IFN-gammaR(-/-) and parental 129/SvEv mice developed mild arthritis of similar severity, as determined both by weekly tibiotarsal joint measurements and histopathology at 2 and 5 weeks postinfection. Both strains of mice had the same spirochetal burden in the joints, suggesting that the IFN-gammaR(-/-) mice were not impaired in controlling spirochetal expansion in vivo. The wild-type mice mounted a Th1 response, with a predominance of CD4(+) IFN-gamma(+) T cells observed by flow cytometry. In contrast, the IFN-gammaR(-/-) mice mounted a Th2 response, with a predominance of CD4(+) IL-4(+) T cells. As expected given their cytokine profile, the IFN-gammaR(-/-) mice produced fewer CD8(+) IFN-gamma(+) and MAC-1(+) IL-12(+) cells and less immunoglobulin G2a (IgG2a) than their wild-type counterparts. These results strongly suggest that IFN-gamma is not required for arthritis resistance or as part of an effective immune response against B. burgdorferi.
Diode-pumped self-frequency-doubled neodymium yttrium aluminum borate (NYAB) laser

Over 50 mW of the fundamental-mode 531-nm laser output was obtained with approximately 4% optical-to-optical conversion efficiency from a self-frequency-doubling NYAB crystal when pumped with two 1-W diode lasers. The prospect of higher conversion efficiency is discussed. >
Fabrication of bio-based epoxy–clay nanocomposites

Epoxy–clay nanocomposites derived from renewable soybean oils and organo modified montmorillonite clay were prepared. Improved efficiency and performance were achieved through application of new, low viscosity, glycidyl esters of epoxidized fatty acids (EGS) as the epoxy monomer and 4-methyl-1,2-cyclohexanedicarboxylic anhydride as the comonomer. Tensile testing showed that 1 wt% of clay improved nanocomposite strength and modulus by 22% and 13%, respectively, compared to neat polymer. Tensile modulus could be increased up to 34% by nanocomposite clay without any sacrifice of strength. Three types of dispersion techniques, mechanical stirring, high speed shearing, and ultrasonication, were carried out to disperse the clay directly into the epoxy or anhydride portion of the thermoset system without the need of additional solvent. Dispersion of the clay particles into monomer was assessed by means of solubility parameters and optical and scanning electron microscopies, and quality of dispersion further confirmed by small angle X-ray scattering and transmission electron microscopy. Sonication dispersion of clay into the epoxy portion was needed to optimize the dispersion and exfoliation of clay and the higher mechanical and thermal strength of the nanocomposites. The nanocomposites’ morphologies were a mix of intercalated and exfoliated structures, dependent on the dispersion technique. The optimum tensile strength and glass transition temperatures of the nanocomposites were a function of clay concentration and dispersion morphology.
Differences in Ethical Perceptions Between Male and Female Managers" Myth or Reality?

This study sought to identify whether or not differences exist between the ethical decisions of male and female managers; and, if they do exist, to identify the areas in which differences occurred. An additional evaluation was conducted to determine how each perceived their counterpart would respond to the same ethical decision making situations.
Local flux mimetic finite difference methods

We develop a local flux mimetic finite difference method for second order elliptic equations with full tensor coefficients on polyhedral meshes. To approximate the velocity (vector variable), the method uses two degrees of freedom per element edge in two dimensions and n degrees of freedom per n-gonal mesh face in three dimensions. To approximate the pressure (scalar variable), the method uses one degree of freedom per element. A specially chosen quadrature rule for the L 2-product of vector-functions allows for a local flux elimination and reduction of the method to a cell-centered finite difference scheme for the pressure unknowns. Under certain assumptions, first-order convergence is proved for both variables and second-order convergence is proved for the pressure. The assumptions are verified on simplicial meshes for a particular quadrature rule that leads to a symmetric method. For general polyhedral meshes, non-symmetric methods are constructed based on quadrature rules that are shown to satisfy some of the assumptions. Numerical results confirm the theory.