cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Diurnal Regulation of Microsomal Triglyceride Transfer Protein and Plasma Lipid Levels

Plasma lipids are maintained within a narrow physiologic range and exhibit circadian rhythmicity. Plasma triglyceride and cholesterol levels were high in the night due to changes in apolipoprotein B-lipoproteins in ad libitum fed rats and mice maintained in a 12-h photoperiod. Absorption of [3H]triolein or [3H]cholesterol was higher at 2400 h than at 1200 h, indicating that intestinal lipoprotein production shows diurnal variation. Moreover, intestinal microsomal triglyceride transfer protein (MTP) activity, protein, mRNA, and gene transcription showed diurnal variations and were high at 2400 h. Similar to the small intestine, hepatic MTP activity, protein, and mRNA levels also changed significantly within a day. MTP was induced in fasted animals soon after refeeding. When mice were subjected to restricted feeding, MTP expression was high at the expected time of food availability. In contrast, extended exposures to light and dark completely abolished rhythmicity in MTP expression and plasma lipid levels. These studies show that MTP expression and plasma lipid undergo diurnal regulation and exhibit peaks and nadirs at similar times and suggest that diurnal modulation of MTP is a major determinant of daily changes in plasma lipids. Furthermore, environmental factors, such as food and light, play an important role in MTP regulation.
News-driven international business cycles

This paper examines the international transmission effects of news about the total factor productivity (TFP) in the US on the Canadian and Japanese economies. I develop and estimate a two-country real business cycle model to generate booms in Canadian and Japanese variables in response to news about future US TFP. I find that international macroeconomic comovements can be generated by news about the future TFP in the US. Unlike previous studies, I show that the response of the Canadian or Japanese TFP to a US news shock is important for generating the boom observed in the empirical analysis. The estimated preference parameters indicate that eliminating the wealth effect on hours worked is important. I also show that a low elasticity of substitution between domestically and foreign-produced intermediate goods can also help explain the domestic boom created by a news shock.
Fat removal with hydrolyzed corn starch for real-time qPCR detection of Salmonella enterica in ground beef in 4.5 hours without enrichment

The rapid detection of low number of Salmonella in ground beef ideally requires an effective and economic molecular assay. The molecular analysis for the detection of Salmonella in ground beef by the polymerase chain reaction requires efficient methodology for extraction of targeted cells and effective removal of PCR inhibitors from the sample. The efficacy of hydrolyzed corn starch for the removal of fat along with the use of activated charcoal coated with milk proteins to remove PCR inhibitors were assessed. Salmonella enterica ser. Enteritidis was detected by real-time quantitative PCR at a level of 1 CFU/g of ground beef in 25 g samples containing 7%, 15% or 27% fat without enrichment. This study documents that partially hydrolyzed corn starch functions as effectively as beta-cyclodextrin for selective removal of fat.
Fractional independent yields of 141La and 142La from thermal-neutron-induced fission of 233U

Abstract The fractional independent yields of 141 La and 142 La from thermal-neutron-induced fission of 233 U were found to be 0.026±0.006 and 0.068±0.010, respectively. These yields are consistent with charge distributions for which σ = 0.56±0.02 and 0.52±0.02, respectively. These results are in good agreement with similar yields measured for fission of 235 U, but not with those from fission of 249 Cf.
A graph conceptual model for developing Human Genome Center databases

We have developed a representation of genome data which has proven itself useful for describing data at a Human Genome Center. Genomic data have a graph-like structure and representing the concepts and relationships of genetics as a graph simplifies the development of databases for genome laboratories. Graphs are a comfortable communication medium for biologists and computer scientists and graph diagrams assist in the development of databases by facilitating the exchange of expertise. We have tailored a graph language for modeling genomic data and describe our process of using graphs to develop genome databases.
ULF magnetic fluctuations in the plasma sheet as recorded by the Explorer 34 satellite

The Explorer 34 satellite was used as a platform for studying ultralow- frequency (ULF) magnetic waves from 0.01 to 0.2 Hz in the plasma sheet. The power spectral density was found to be proportional to the inverse square of the frequency in the plasma sheet and exhibited few, if any, significant spectral peaks. Further, the plasma sheet was characterized by power spectral density values that were higher than those of the high-latitude tail. The X/sub sm/, component where the subscript sm indicates solar magnetospheric coordinates, exhibited greater power spectral density values than the other two components. The most significant result, however, was that the power spectral density calculated for the frequency range 0.012-O.1 Hz in the plasma sheet increased from minimal values during quiet times to maximum levels during thc later stages of a substorin. It is shown that this result, in the frequency range studied, is probably inconsistent with the expectations of the substorm model of Hill and Dessler (1971), in which the plasma sheet was contained, during quiet times, by magnetic fluctuations.
Electrical Characterization of Aged Waspaloy Microstructures

Non-destructive evaluation (NDE) techniques offer the potential advantage of achieving fast throughput microstructural characterization as well as monitoring that could be extremely valuable in assessing the mechanical integrity of turbine engine components. It is well known that the γ′ precipitate size and distribution can often determine the mechanical strength of nickel base alloys. In this investigation, Waspaloy, an age-hardening superalloy, was chosen as the candidate to produce varied microstructures, which were subsequently characterized via the DC four-probe resistivity method. Specimens with average grain sizes of 13, 52 and 89 μm were obtained upon solutionizing at 1045°C, 1090°C and 1145°C respectively. The specimens were annealed at 1045°C to stabilize the vacancy concentration prior to aging at 800°C for times ranging from 0.1 to 100 hours. Sub-grain microstructures examined in the SEM showed progressive growth of γ′ precipitates with increased aging duration in all cases. The measurements of DC four-probe resistivity showed a consistent drop in the resistivity with increased aging time, which was concurrent with the growth of the precipitates.
Bone mineral density in children with sickle cell anemia.

Purpose We evaluated bone mineral density (BMD) and risk factors for poor bone mineralization in children with sickle cell anemia (SCA). Patients and Methods Twenty-five children with severe manifestations of SCA (frequent hospitalizations, growth delay, or need for chronic red cell transfusions) were enrolled. Bone density was assessed at lumbar spine and proximal femur with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), and Z-scores were calculated by comparison with age, sex, and ethnicity-specific reference data. Results The median age of the study population was 12.8 years (10.2–19.8 years). Calcium intake was inadequate in 60%, and serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25-OHD) level <50 nM in 74% of patients. Median Z-scores for lumbar spine (−2.3) and proximal femur (−1.7) were markedly reduced, and 64% (95% confidence interval, 43%–82%) of patients had low bone density. Z-scores were not related to age, growth delay, chronic transfusions, or ferritin level. Conclusion Our results suggest that children with severe manifestations of SCA have low BMD, and possess significant deficits in dietary calcium and circulating vitamin D. Pediatr Blood Cancer © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
TAKING CARE OF SELF: HEALTH CARE DECISION MAKING OF AMERICAN INDIAN WOMEN

In this article, I report a component of a qualitative grounded theory study on health care decision making of American Indian women (AIW) residing in the Northeastern United States. Analysis was based upon data collected from 20 women who self-identified as American Indian. Taking care of self was a primary factor influencing health care decisions among this sample of AIW. As women moved between their Native, traditional health practices and conventional Western health practices, efforts toward taking care of self were especially salient. The properties of taking care of self include knowing family history; balancing mind, body, and spirit; understanding the body; and integrating natural practices. I also address some implications of the study findings for practitioners working with Native women.
What does determine the profit rate? The neoclassical theories presented in introductory textbooks

The theory of the profit rate varies across introductory texts. Economic profits are caused by entrepreneurship or not. Entrepreneurship is a kind of human capital or not. Normal profits are determined in the money market, the market for loanable funds, or a hybrid market involving demand or supply of physical capital. The downward-sloping demand for capital reflects diminishing marginal productivity (the Cambridge controversy is forgotten) or rank-ordered investment projects. The supply is a physical capital stock, accumulated or current saving(s) (or wealth), or desired accumulation. The authors conclude that the inconsistencies and confusions in the textbooks reflect the state of high theory. (c) 1996 Academic Press Limited Copyright 1996 by Oxford University Press.
Sodium and potassium coprecipitation in aragonite

The coprecipitation of Na and K was experimentally investigated in aragonite. The distribution functions were determined at pH 6.8 and 8.8 over aqueous Na and K concentrations of between 5 × 10−4 and 2.0 M and temperatures of between 25 and 75°C. The mole fractions of Na and K in aragonite are related to the aqueous ratios of Na and Ca by a function of the form log XNa2CO3,K2CO3 = C0 + C1 log a2Na − ,K−aCa2+ where C0 and C1 are constants at a given temperature. This equation was derived by a statistical model assuming a heterogeneous energy distribution for the sites of incorporation. The independence of the coprecipitation process from aqueous anion activities suggests that carbonate is the only anionic species in the solid solution.
c-FLIPS reduces activation of caspase and NF-κB pathways and decreases T cell survival

Effective stimulation of NF-kappaB in T cells following TCR ligation requires the activity of caspase-8. The active caspase-8 complex includes the paracaspase, MALT1, and Bcl-10, which connect to the NF-kappaB pathway. It has been less clear what regulates the level of caspase-8 activity during T cell activation. A likely candidate is cellular FLIP (c-FLIP), an enzymatically inert caspase-8 homologue. Two alternatively spliced forms of c-FLIP exist, a long form (c-FLIP(L)) and a short-form (c-FLIP(S)). The latter lacks the C-terminal caspase-like domain. c-FLIP(L) can heterodimerize with and activate caspase-8 through an activation loop in the C terminus of c-FLIP(L). Here we show that, in contrast to c-FLIP(L), c-FLIP(S) inhibits activation of caspase-8 in T cells, and consequently reduces recruitment of MALT1 and Bcl-10 to the active caspase complex. This results in reduced activity of NF-kappaB. Consequently, T cells from c-FLIP(S)-transgenic mice undergo more rapid cell death both spontaneously and after activation. The findings suggest that c-FLIP(S) functions to reduce the expansion of T cells during an immune response.
Lsd1 Restricts the Number of Germline Stem Cells by Regulating Multiple Targets in Escort Cells

Specialized microenvironments called niches regulate tissue homeostasis by controlling the balance between stem cell self-renewal and the differentiation of stem cell daughters. However the mechanisms that govern the formation, size and signaling of in vivo niches remain poorly understood. Loss of the highly conserved histone demethylase Lsd1 in Drosophila escort cells results in increased BMP signaling outside the cap cell niche and an expanded germline stem cell (GSC) phenotype. Here we present evidence that loss of Lsd1 also results in gradual changes in escort cell morphology and their eventual death. To better characterize the function of Lsd1 in different cell populations within the ovary, we performed Chromatin immunoprecipitation coupled with massive parallel sequencing (ChIP-seq). This analysis shows that Lsd1 associates with a surprisingly limited number of sites in escort cells and fewer, and often, different sites in cap cells. These findings indicate that Lsd1 exhibits highly selective binding that depends greatly on specific cellular contexts. Lsd1 does not directly target the dpp locus in escort cells. Instead, Lsd1 regulates engrailed expression and disruption of engrailed and its putative downstream target hedgehog suppress the Lsd1 mutant phenotype. Interestingly, over-expression of engrailed, but not hedgehog, results in an expansion of GSC cells, marked by the expansion of BMP signaling. Knockdown of other potential direct Lsd1 target genes, not obviously linked to BMP signaling, also partially suppresses the Lsd1 mutant phenotype. These results suggest that Lsd1 restricts the number of GSC-like cells by regulating a diverse group of genes and provide further evidence that escort cell function must be carefully controlled during development and adulthood to ensure proper germline differentiation.
Associations between fracture incidence and use of depot medroxyprogesterone acetate and anti-epileptic drugs in women with developmental disabilities.

Purpose We sought to evaluate any association between incidence of osteoporotic fractures and use of depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) and/or anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs) among women and girls with developmental disabilities. Methods Cross-sectional population-based observational study of all noninstitutionalized females with developmental disabilities age ≥13 who received fee-for-service Medicaid in Washington State during 2002 ( n = 6,773), using administrative data. Main Findings In a sample of 6,773 females, 140 women (2%) had an osteoporotic fracture during 2002. Among 340 users of DMPA, 13 (3.8%) had an osteoporotic fracture with an odds ratio of 2.4 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.3–4.4) for fracture compared to nonusers. Among 1,909 users of AEDs, 60 (3.1%) had an osteoporotic fracture with an odds ratio of 1.9 (95% CI, 1.3–2.6) for fracture compared to nonusers. We controlled for use of drugs (DMPA or AEDs), age and race (as white or other racial and ethnic groups). Conclusions Use of either AEDs or DMPA by women with developmental disabilities is associated with significantly increased incidence of fracture. Women and girls who have developmental disabilities may be poor candidates for DMPA use owing to increased risk of fractures. Further research is indicated to 1) determine the specific risks profile of DMPA for this population, 2) explore alternative means of managing significant menstrual problems and contraceptive needs in this population, and 3) screen current and previous users of DMPA and chronic users of AEDs for osteoporosis risk, regardless of age.
Cellular vs process layouts: an analytic investigation of the impact of learning on shop performance

Evidence from the literature on cellular manufacturing suggests that shops configured as manufacturing cells perform poorly compared to job shops. However, cellular shops, being conducive to the use of teams in the assignment of production activities, have the potential to yield higher productivity than a job shop. Productivity differentials, and in particular, differences in the rates at which processing times can be reduced, have been largely overlooked in prior comparisons of cellular and job shops. This paper uses queuing theory to illustrate the relationship between processing time learning rates and flow time performance in cellular and job shops. Models are developed that make it possible to estimate the learning rate required in a cellular shop in order for it to yield performance comparable to that of a job shop. Simulation is used to validate the models under dynamic conditions as opposed to the steady state conditions assumed by queuing theory. Results indicate that a cellular shop need only achieve a marginally higher learning rate than a job shop in order to perform at a comparable level.
Extrasystoles and parasystole

Abstract Ventricular ectopic tachycardias were created by the focal injection of 0.05 c.c. of a 30 per cent solution of sodium chloride, or a 3.8 per cent solution of sodium citrate or oxalate into the subepicardial layers of the ventricular myocardium. These tachycardias were often followed by a parasystolic rhythm. The experiments show that a rapidly firing center is protected from the normal impulses which spread over the heart, and, thus, the hypothesis of entrance (protection) block is not necessary. These parasystoles provide an opportunity for study of the distance between ectopic beats and preceding normal beats (coupling). It was found that this distance varies little if normal and ectopic rhythms are rapid and have an almost equal rate. Marked variations in the coupling occur if the rates differ. Little variation in the coupling may occur if the impulses of a rapid parasystolic center become effective only shortly after a conducted beat.
PHENOTYPIC DIFFERENCES BETWEEN MICE DEFICIENT IN XIAP AND SAP, TWO FACTORS TARGETED IN X-LINKED LYMPHOPROLIFERATIVE SYNDROME (XLP)

Mutations in the X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis (XIAP) have recently been identified in patients with the rare genetic disease, X-linked lymphoproliferative syndrome (XLP), which was previously thought to be solely attributable to mutations in a distinct gene, SAP. To further understand the roles of these two factors in the pathogenesis of XLP, we have compared mice deficient in Xiap with known phenotypes of Sap-null mice. We show here that in contrast to Sap-deficient mice, animals lacking Xiap have apparently normal NKT cell development and no apparent defect in humoral responses to T cell-dependent antigens. However, Xiap-deficient cells were more susceptible to death upon infection with the murine herpesvirus MHV-68 and gave rise to more infectious virus. These differences could be rescued by restoration of XIAP. These data provide insight into the differing roles of XIAP and SAP in the pathogenesis of XLP.
Chondrosarcoma. II. Chondrosarcoma of the jaws: analysis of 37 cases

Analysis was made of 37 cases of Chondrosarcoma of the maxilla or the mandible. The most common complaint at initial presentation was the presence of a mass. Pain was a presenting symptom in less than half of the patients. The usual roentgenographic appearance was an ill-defined radiolucency with mottled areas of calcification. When teeth were involved, some cases showed a widened periodontal membrane space on periapical dental radiographs. Histologically, the tumors usually showed recognizable cartilage and a lobular growth pattern, but cellular evidence of malignancy was often subtle. Radical surgery was the treatment of choice. Prognosis appears best when such surgery is performed soon after the onset of symptoms. Also, patients presenting with mandibular tumors and with tumors of the better differentiated histologic grades enjoy a better survival time. Neck dissection is probably not warranted for Chondrosarcoma of the jaws. Contrary to the relationship between these two tumors in other skeletal sites, the overall prognosis for Chondrosarcoma of the jaws does not appear to be as good as that for osteosarcoma of the jaws.
ON THE EQUIVALENCE OF NET PRESENT VALUE AND MARKET VALUE ADDED AS MEASURES OF A PROJECT'S ECONOMIC WORTH

ABSTRACT The metric Economic Value Added, or EVA, has recently become quite popular for analyzing company balance sheets, determining executive compensation packages and even project selection. The analysis entails comparing net after-tax operating profit against the allocated cost of capital for a given period. This paper shows, in general, that Market Value Added (MVA), which is the present value of a series of EVA values, is economically equivalent to the traditional NPV measure of worth for evaluating an after-tax cash flow profile of a project if the cost of capital is used for discounting. Additionally, insight is provided into the rationale behind EVA analysis through an interpretation of its capital and income allocation procedure for investment projects.
Microbial community analysis of perchlorate-reducing cultures growing on zero-valent iron.

Abstract Anaerobic microbial mixed cultures demonstrated its ability to completely remove perchlorate in the presence of zero-valent iron. In order to understand the major microbial reaction in the iron-supported culture, community analysis comprising of microbial fatty acids and polymerase chain reaction–denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR–DGGE) techniques was performed for perchlorate reducing cultures. Analysis of fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) and subsequent principal component analysis (PCA) showed clear distinctions not only between iron-supported perchlorate reducing culture and seed bacteria, but also among perchlorate-reducing cultures receiving different electron donors. The DGGE pattern targeting the chlorite dismutase (cld) gene showed that iron-supported perchlorate reducing culture is similar to hydrogen-fed cultures as compared to acetate-fed culture. The phylogenetic tree suggested that the dominant microbial reaction may be a combination of the autotrophic and heterotrophic reduction of perchlorate. Both molecular and chemotaxonomic experimental results support further understanding in the function of zero-valent iron as an adequate electron source for enhancing the microbial perchlorate reduction in natural and engineered systems.
Spectral characterization of water stress impact on some agricultural crops: III. Studies on Sudan grass and other different crops using handheld radiometer

Vegetation monitoring has been one of the major targets of remote sensing studies. Remotely sensed reflectance concerning the impact of environmental factors upon crop vegetative cover can be predicted from two combinations of spectral bands as a ratio or as normalized vegetation indices. The most common spectral bands used lie in the red and infrared region (350 - 800 nm) and are dominated by the absorption of chlorophyll and other accessory pigments. In addition, reflectance in the middle infrared is dominated by absorption from liquid water contained in plant's tissues. The objectives of the present work are: (1) to evaluate the reflectance data from frequently irrigated and water stressed Sudan grass and other crops using a handheld radiometer and assess the spectral correlation with the ground-truth; (2) to evaluate the applications of a Hyperspectral Structure Component Index (HSCI) developed by Shakir and Girmay-Gwahid in 1998; and (3) to evaluate the application of Index of Relative Stress (IRS) proposed by Shakir and Girmay-Gwahid in 1998. The experiment was designed to collect reflectance data from Sudan grass and other crops planted at the Blythe Research Station, California in rows. The size of the plots for Sudan grass was in rows, the unstressed mature stands were 9 feet tall, and the stressed mature stands were 5 feet tall. The other fields are in nearby and planted with cotton crops in different stages of maturity. With a field spectrometer, the scan over each treatment was made at 1-hr intervals between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. Pacific DayTime (PDT). Vegetative samples were taken from the two treatments during the initial sampling for purposes of conducting chemical analysis. Soil samples were collected to determine the amount of available soil moisture differences in the two treatments. The results of this experiment showed that in the 850 - 1150 nm wavelength ranges, the stressed Sudan grass stands showed lower reflectance than unstressed stands. However, the reflectance of stressed Sudan grass stands was higher than the unstressed stands above the 1150 nm. This is probably due to the absorption from liquid water contained in the unstressed plant tissues. The same pattern was found in the cotton crop. The analysis of data using the (HSCI) model showed that the stressed Sudan grass stands have values less than 1 and under unstressed Sudan grass stands have the value greater than 1. This means that the model is differentiating between the stressed and unstressed vegetation. Additional work will evaluate the reflectance peaks and their relationship to other parameters that were collected and are relevant to the applications of the model. Furthermore; the Index of Relative Stress (IRS) showed that the unstressed vegetation stands is higher in values than in the stressed.
CALPHAD XXXII 2003 conference proceedings

Abstract The thirty-second annual CALPHAD meeting was held at La Malbaie, Quebec, Canada, on May 25–30, 2003. The local organizing committee consisted of Prof. Arthur Pelton, Prof. Christopher Bale, Dr. Patrice Chartrand, Dr. Sergei Degterov, Dr. Jacques Melancon, Eve Belisle, Marie-Pierre Paquin, and Marie Piche. There were 145 delegates and 18 accompanying guests attending the CALPHAD XXXII meeting, who presented 106 oral lectures and 46 posters. The conference opened with a welcome by Arthur Pelton and Christopher Bale. The scientific topics were presented in the following schemes: First Principles calculations, Alloy Systems—Experiments and Computation, Aqueous Systems, Non-Metallic Systems, Diffusional Kinetics, Solders, Semiconductor Systems, Software Developments, Industrial Applications and Geological Systems.
Neonatology & Laboratory Medicine. Anne Green, Imogen Morgan, and Jim Gray. London, UK: ACB Venture Publications, 2003, 328 pp., £24. ISBN 0-902429-41-8.

This monograph is the second edition of a classic in the neonatology field. Compared with its predecessor, which considered only clinical biochemistry, this version is larger with an increased number of chapters, including new chapters on the hematologic disorders and neonatal infections. There are also additions to specific protocols, which will make this monograph a welcome addition on the laboratory bench. Still, this is a basic handbook for not only laboratory scientists, but also residents, junior attendings, and neonatal nurses. The addition of a series of clinical situations covering the fetal and neonatal period makes it excellent for laboratorians who require …
The chemotherapy agent, thioTEPA, yields long-term impairment of hippocampal cell proliferation and memory deficits but not depression-related behaviors in mice.

Abstract ThioTEPA is a chemotherapeutic agent used in the treatment of cancers, and more recently has been proposed as a component of high-dose therapy for young patients with recurrent malignant brain tumors. We previously demonstrated a significant dose-dependent reduction of cell proliferation in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus in mice immediately following a 3-day regiment of thioTEPA. The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term effects of thioTEPA treatment on hippocampal cell proliferation and potential effects on memory deficit or depression-related behavior in C57BL/6J mice. A 3-day regimen of thioTEPA (10 mg/kg/d, i.p.) yielded a significant reduction in cell proliferation immediately after treatment as assessed by BrdU incorporation, and none of the labeled progeny that initially survived the treatment were detectable one week later. Following a 3-week rebound in proliferation following treatment, a significant deficit in proliferation reappeared and persisted for at least 21 weeks following treatment. ThioTEPA-treated mice subjected to an object recognition test 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 12, 20 or 30 weeks following treatment demonstrated significant memory deficits at 12 and 20 weeks. Mice demonstrated a similar deficit in an object placement test when tested 20 weeks following thioTEPA treatment. However, no observable effects on performance in the Porsolt forced swim test or the tail suspension test were observed in thioTEPA-treated mice. Together, these studies suggest that cumulative long-term negative effects of thioTEPA treatment on proliferation of new cells in the dentate gyrus may contribute to cognitive impairments associated with its use in the treatment of cancer.
The use of labeling to communicate detailed graphics in a non-visual environment

The inherently visual nature of Graphical User Interfaces often makes it difficult for visually impaired computer users to access graphical information. We introduce a labeling method that can be used to communicate graphical information between blind and sighted people. Our early pilot study showed that our labeling method enabled visually impaired participants to comprehend meaningful drawings. This labeling method is an extension of the Integrated Communication 2 Draw (IC2D), a drawing program for the visually impaired that uses keyboard and audio feedback.
Predicting the performance of internet-like networks using scaled-down replicas

The Internet is a large, heterogeneous system operating at very high speeds and consisting of a large number of users. Researchers use a suite of tools and techniques in order to understand the performance of complex networks like the Internet: measurements, simulations, and deployments on small to medium-scale testbeds. This work considers a novel addition to this suite: a class of methods to scale down the topology of the Internet that enables researchers to create and observe a smaller replica, and extrapolate its performance to the expected performance of the larger Internet.The key insight that we leverage is that only the congested links along the path of each flow introduce sizable queueing delays and dependencies among flows. Hence, one might hope that the network properties can be captured by a topology that consists of the congested links only. We have verified this in [11, 12] using extensive simulations with TCP traffic and theoretical analysis. Further, we have also shown that simulating a scaled topology can be up to two orders of magnitude faster than simulating the original topology. However, a main assumption of our approach was that un-congested links are known in advance.We are currently working on establishing rules that can be used to efficiently identify uncongested links in large and complex networks like the Internet, when these are not known, and which can be ignored when building scaled-down network replicas.
The Perspective of Islamic Fundamentalists and the Limits of Rational Choice Theory

How can we best understand Islamic fundamentalism? As fundamentalism has become an increasingly significant political force, many different interpretations have been offered, with fundamentalism explained as both a rational reaction against modernity and as a pathological retreat from reality. We argue here that part of the scholarly failure to understand and deal with the growth of religious fundamentalism results from a failure to recognize the importance of cognitive differences in worldviews held by fundamentalists. By providing an empirical analysis of how fundamentalists see the world--what we identify as afundamentalistperspective-we hope to supply an important missing piece in the literature on fundamentalism. To do so, we utilized a narrative and survey interview technique to contrast the worldviews offundamentalists with those of comparable Muslims who are not fundamentalists. Our analysis suggests Islamic fundamentalism attracts because it provides a basic identity, an identity which in turn provides the foundation for daily living. The fundamentalist perspective itself is best understood through reference to a worldview which makes no distinction between public and private, in which truth is revealed by revelation, and reason is subservient to religious doctrine. Religious dictates dominate on all basic issues, and only within the confines of the fundamentalist identity are choices decided by a cost/benefit calculus.
Effect of domestic effluents on groundwater quality: A case study

Abstract In order to evaluate the effects of seeping septic effluents on the quality of groundwater in a watershed, a number of contaminants such as nitrate, phosphorus, chloride, lead, copper, iron, and manganese, were studied. To determine the extent of contamination, a network of observation wells was established in the drainage area of the septic systems. Groundwater samples from the observation wells were collected in the spring, summer and fall of 1981, 1982 and 1983. The samples were extracted for the determination of various contaminants by standard methods. The results indicated that nitrate, phosphorus, and chloride were coming from septic systems and were moving into groundwater. Nitrate and chloride levels were less than the maximum allowable limits in drinking water, whereas phosphorus was above the limits in 41% of the wells. According to the data obtained, the concentrations of iron and manganese were above the recommended levels in 27 and 50% of the wells, respectively. The concentrations of lead and copper were below the allowable maximum levels in drinking water. The results indicate contamination of groundwater in the study area with phosphorus, which could be attributed to domestic use of detergents, and iron and manganese, which could be attributed to corrosion of household pipes.
Propellant-driven metered-dose inhalers for pulmonary drug delivery

The current market for pulmonary drug delivery is at a bottleneck. The therapeutic advantages of inhalation aerosols, and the potential for the lungs as a route for systemically acting drugs, vaccines and gene therapeutic agents, have resulted in a rapid growth of the industry. Alongside this, the environment of inhaler design and formulation has changed markedly in recent years. Environmental concerns over propellants, the commercial success of dry powder inhalers, and the apparent lack of advancement of propellant-driven metered-dose inhalers (pMDIs) has led to a less clear future for these devices. This review critically assesses these pressures and also potential opportunities for the pMDI. It is proposed that the future role of pMDIs will be determined by several important forces that can be classified under ‘technology development’ or ‘market climate’ categories. Technology development forces will be strengthened by the ability of the industry to have a systematic understanding of mechanisms of spra...
Evidence of maternal effects on temperature preference in side-blotched lizards: implications for evolutionary response to climate change

Natural populations respond to selection pressures like increasing local temperatures in many ways, including plasticity and adaptation. To predict the response of ectotherms like lizards to local temperature increase, it is essential to estimate phenotypic variation in and determine the heritability of temperature-related traits like average field body temperature (Tb) and preferred temperature (Tp). We measured Tp of Uta stansburiana in a laboratory thermal gradient and assessed the contribution of sex, reproductive status and throat color genotype to phenotypic variation in Tb of adult lizards. Females had higher Tp than males. However, they temporarily preferred lower temperature when gravid than when nongravid. Using a nested half-sib design for genetic crosses in the laboratory, we estimated relative contributions of additive genetic variation and maternal effects to Tp of hatchlings. Our results show that maternal effects, but not additive genetic variation, influence Tp of hatchlings in U. stansburiana. Maternal Tp and the presence or absence of blue throat color alleles significantly influenced Tp of hatchlings. We discuss ecological and evolutionary consequences of these maternal effects in the context of rapid climate change and natural selection that we measure on progeny survival to maturity as a function of maternal Tp.
Complex Propagation Constants for Nonuniform Optical Waveguides: Calculations

A method of calculating the complex propagation constant of a planar optical waveguide under very general but weakly guiding conditions is derived. The method, based on Galerkin 's formalism using Hermite-Gaussian basis functions, allows a nonuniform and complex refractive index profile. The real and imaginary parts of the index are allowed to vary independently and arbitrarily as a function of position. The planar waveguide is used so the results can be compared with exact solutions. The method is more general than this, however, and can be used with any geometry. The results are inherently stationary. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
A novel leupeptin-sensitive serine endopeptidase present in normal and malignant rat mammary tissues.

N-Methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU)-induced rat mammary adenocarcinomas contain high levels of a novel leupeptin-sensitive serine endopeptidase. Its properties apparently differ from those of other similar endopeptidases reported to be present in various normal and malignant mammalian tissues. The same leupeptinsensitive serine endopeptidase was also detected in normal rat mammary tissues, but at levels approximately 20 times lower than those in MNU-induced mammary tumors.
Years to employment after spinal cord injury.

Abstract Krause JS. Years to employment after spinal cord injury. 2003;84:1282–9. Objective: To identify factors related to the length of time between spinal cord injury (SCI) onset and return to work among 259 participants with SCI, all of whom have worked at some point since SCI onset. Design: All data were cross-sectional and collected by survey methodology. Setting: A midwestern university hospital and private hospital in the same metropolitan area. Participants: Participants were identified from outpatient records of 2 participating hospitals. They met 4 exclusion and inclusion criteria: (1) traumatic SCI; (2) 18 years of age or older; (3) a minimum of 2 years postinjury; and (4) had been employed at some time since SCI. The 259 participants' average age was 46.4 years at the time of the study, with an average of 23.5 years having passed since SCI onset. Interventions: Not applicable. Main Outcome Measures: Years from injury onset to beginning first postinjury job, years to the first full-time postinjury job, and the Life Situation Questionnaire. Results: Participants averaged 4.8 years from the time of SCI onset to their first postinjury job and 6.3 years until their first full-time postinjury job. However, these figures varied greatly depending on whether the individual returned to the preinjury job, was working as a professional at the time of injury, had a noncervical injury, and the amount of education by the time of injury. Conclusion: There are 2 general tracks to employment after SCI—a fast track where people return to their preinjury job or preinjury profession and a slower track that is generally associated with needs for further reeducation and training. Working to return the individual to the preinjury job or to a position related to their preinjury occupation may substantially shorten the interval to return to work. In cases where this is not possible, counselors must work with individuals to understand the timeline of return to work and identify realistic educational goals that fit both the individual's interest pattern and postinjury abilities.
Analysis of the requirement for a pUB110 mob region during Tn916-dependent mobilization.

Abstract Tn916-dependent mobilization of nonconjugative plasmids pUB110 and its derivative pUB110Δm was compared. Deleting a 787-bp fragment from the pUB110 mob region created plasmid pUB110Δm. Deletion of the mob region of pUB110 rendered the plasmid nontransferable by the conjugative plasmids of Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis. During matings between Bacillus subtilis (Tn916) and B. thuringiensis subsp. israelensis, however, Tn916-dependent mobilization of plasmids pUB110 and pUB110Δm was observed at a frequency of approximately 2 × 10−6 transconjugants per donor. The results show that Tn916-mediated conjugal transfer of plasmids is a mob-independent event. Jaworski and Clewell (J. Bacteriol 177; 6644–6651) recently demonstrated the presence of an IncP-like nicking site in the oriT of Tn916. These data suggest that a IncP-like nickling site is essential for Tn916-mediated plasmid transfer.
Regulation of [3H]forskolm binding to human platelet membranes by GppNHp, NaF, and prostaglandin E1

Displaceable binding of [3H]forskolin to human platelet membranes can be detected in the presence of magnesium. There is an increase in the number of [3H]forskolin binding sites when membranes are incubated with GppNHp or NaF in the presence of magnesium. Prostaglandin E1, which stimulates human platelet adenylate cyclase, does not affect the binding of [3H]forskolin in the absence of GppNHp. However, the dose-response curve for the GppNHp-dependent increase in [3H]forskolin binding sites is shifted to lower concentrations in the presence of prostaglandin E1. Prostaglandin E1 potentiates the effect of GppNHp on [3H]forskolin binding most likely by facilitating the binding of the guanine nucleotide at the stimulatory quanine nucleotide regulatory protein of adenylate cyclase.
Automatic algorithm for correcting motion artifacts in time‐resolved two‐dimensional magnetic resoance angiography using convex projections

Time-resolved contrast enhanced magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) may suffer from involuntary patient motion. It is noted that while MR signal change associated with motion is large in magnitude and has smooth phase variation in k-phase, signal change associated with vascular enhancement is small in magnitude and has rapid phase variation in k-space. Based upon this observation, a novel projection onto convex sets (POCS) algorithm is developed as an automatic iterative method to remove motion artifacts. The presented POCS algorithm consists of high-pass phase filtering and convex projections in both k-space and image space. Without input of detailed motion knowledge, motion effects are filtered out, while vasculature information is preserved. The proposed method can be effective for a large class of nonrigid motions, including through-plane motion. The algorithm is stable and converges quickly, usually within five iterations. A double-blind evaluation on a set of clinical MRA cases shows that a completely unsupervised version of the algorithm produces significantly better rank scores (P = 0.038) when compared to angiograms produced manually by an experienced radiologist. Magn Reson Med, 2006. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Effect of high-pressure hydrogen on crack growth in carbon steel

The effect of high-pressure hydrogen and temperature on crack growth was studied in wedge-opening-load (WOL) samples of a low-carbon steel. At temperatures above 280 ‡C, a hydrogen pressure of 3 ksi gave an increasing amount of acceleration in crack growth. These conditions approached but were below that needed to give hydrogen attack (HA) in the surrounding matrix. The value ofda/dt increases exponentially with temperature, andQ is roughly equal to that for grain boundary diffusion. The growth is absent atK1 = 0 but varies little withK1 above 15 MPa√m. The value ofda/dt increases steadily with hydrogen pressure in the range of 3 to 21 MPa.
Immunotoxicity of a reconstituted polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbon mixture in B6C3F1 mice.

Abstract Previous studies on the immunotoxicity of a complex mixture of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) by-products from a manufactured gas plant indicated possible synergistic interactions which were investigated by determining the immunosuppressive effects of a reconstituted PAH mixture in female B6C3F1 mice challenged with TNP-haptenated sheep red blood cells (SRBCs) (T-cell-dependent) or trinitrophenyl-lipopolysaccharide (TNP-LPS) (T-cell-independent) antigens. The reconstituted PAH mixture contained the following 17 congeners: 2-rings (indan, naphthalene, 1- and 2-methylnaphthalene), 3-rings (acenaphthylene, acenaphthene, dibenzofuran, fluorene, phenanthrene and anthracene), and ≥ 4-rings (pyrene, fluoranthene, benz[ a ]anthracene, chrysene, benzo[ b ]fluoranthene, benzo[ k ]fluoranthene and benzo[ a ]pyrene), and resembled mixtures identified as by-products from manufactured gas plants. The reconstituted mixture and the 2-, 3- and ≥ 4-ring PAH fractions all caused a dose-dependent decrease in the splenic plaque-forming cell (PFC) response to SRBCs or TNP-LPS, and their ED 50 values for the four treatment groups were 86, 354, 145, and 23 or 163, 439, 637 and 31 mg/kg, respectively. The corresponding ED 50 values for decreased serum anti-TNP IgM levels for these same mixtures were (TNP-haptenated SRBCs, T-cell-dependent) 144, 231, 42 and 27 units, respectively, and (TNP-LPS, T-cell-independent) 161, 406, 312 and 69 units, respectively. The suppression of anti-TNP IgM titers was similar to the suppression of the PFC response and shows that antigen-specific immunoglubulin titer can be used as a biomarker of PAH exposure. A direct comparison of the immunotoxic responses of the reconstituted PAH mixture and the corresponding dose of the ≥ 4-ring PAHs indicated that the latter fraction was primarily responsible for the activity of the reconstituted mixture.
The plasma membrane Ca2+-ATPase mRNA isoform PMCA 4 is expressed at high levels in neurons of rat piriform cortex and neocortex

Ca2+ transport mediated by the plasma membrane Ca(2+)-ATPase (PMCA) serves an important role in regulation of cytosolic-free Ca2+ in a variety of cells. Isoform PMCA4 mRNA distribution in rat brain was studied by in situ hybridization using 33P-labeled antisense oligodeoxynucleotide probes. Very high levels of hybridization were found in piriform cortex with high levels in amygdaloid nucleus and laminae 2 and 6 of cerebral cortex. Significantly lower levels were found in hypothalamic nuclei and very low or undetectable levels were found in cerebellum, habenula, olfactory bulb, thalamus, choroid plexus of the third and fourth ventricles and in CA1 and CA3 cells of the hippocampus. These results suggest that PMCA4 is not a housekeeping form of the Ca(2+)-ATPase.
Developing embedded multi-threaded applications with CATAPULTS, a domain-specific language for generating thread schedulers

This paper describes CATAPULTS, a domain-specific language for creating and testing application-specific user level thread schedulers. Using a domain-specific language to write thread schedulers provides three advantages. First, it modularizes the thread scheduler, making it easy to plug in and experiment with different schedulers. Second, using a domain-specific language for scheduling code helps prevent several of the common programming mistakes that are easy to make when programming in low-level C or assembly. Finally, the CATAPULTS translator has multiple backends that generate code for different languages and libraries. This makes it easy to prototype an embedded application on a regular PC, and then develop the final version on the embedded hardware; the CATAPULTS translator will take care of generating the appropriate code for both the PC prototype and the final embedded version of the program. Using our implementation of CATAPULTS for Z-World's embedded Rabbit processors, we obtained a performance gain of about 12.6% at the expense of about 12.7% increase in code size for a fairly typical embedded application.