cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Is cannabis use associated with prescription psychotropic and pain reliever medication and other substance use among individuals aged 50+ with mental illness?

Abstract Background Despite increasing rates of nonmedical and/or medical cannabis use in the 50+ age group, scant research exists on the associations between cannabis use and prescription medication use. In this study, we examined associations of use of prescription tranquilizers, sedatives, stimulants, and pain relievers, tobacco products, any/binge/heavy alcohol, and illicit drugs with cannabis use and use characteristics among U.S. adults aged 50+ years with past-year mental illness (n = 6454). Methods Data are from the 2015–2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH). We used logistic regression models to examine associations of past-month use of each substance with (1) cannabis use among all those with past-year mental illness, and (2) cannabis use characteristics among cannabis users, controlling for severity of mental illness and sociodemographic and health characteristics. Results Of individuals aged 50+, 14.1 % had any past-year mental illness, and 9.7 % of those with mental illness, compared to 4.0 % of those without, reported past-month cannabis use. Compared to nonusers, cannabis users had higher odds of using each substance except antidepressants, with adjusted odds ratios ranging from 1.3 (sedatives) to 3.6 (illicit drugs). Compared to nonmedical cannabis users, medical users had 2–2.5 times higher likelihood of co-use of tranquilizers, sedatives, and prescription pain relievers but lower odds of binge and heavy alcohol use. Conclusions Cannabis users, especially medical cannabis users, are significantly more likely to use prescription psychotropic or pain medications. Healthcare professionals should assess for poly-substance use and potential adverse effects among older adults with mental illness.
A Provider Perspective of Psychosocial Predictors of Upper-Extremity Vascularized Composite Allotransplantation Success.

Purpose We performed a qualitative study to understand the psychosocial factors associated with success in upper-extremity vascularized composite allotransplantation from the perspective of transplant providers. Methods We recruited 13 providers actively involved in upper-extremity vascularized composite allotransplantation. Participants included physicians, nurses, social workers, occupational therapists, and research administrators. We conducted semistructured face-to-face focus group interviews using a guide that explored providers’ perceptions of qualities contributing to transplant outcome. Topics included social support networks and their influence on recovery, barriers to treatment compliance and successful posttransplant rehabilitation, and the process of setting patients’ expectations. We performed a thematic analysis that produced a list of themes, subthemes, and proposed hypotheses explaining how the themes related to the study’s guiding questions. Results The analysis identified numerous factors that contribute to transplant success: (1) recipients’ prior experiences modify their ability to cope and adapt after transplantation, (2) behaviors and characteristics such as positivity influence candidacy and may be predictive of successful outcomes, and (3) social support is essential for improved function and compliance. The provider care team cited difficulty in predicting recipient compliance and in setting realistic expectations. Conclusions Motivated recipients with developed coping and resiliency, a positive attitude, and stable, physically-able caregivers are perceived by providers to have greater success after transplantation. Clinical Relevance Findings from this work may help providers determine optimal candidates for upper-extremity vascularized composite allotransplantation.
The Structural Evolution and Densification Mechanisms of Nanophase Separation Sintering

Nanophase separation sintering (NPSS) facilitates low temperature, pressureless sintering through the formation of solid phase necks driven by phase separation. Systems that have been shown to exhibit this phenomenon are W–Cr, Cr–Ni and to a lesser degree Ti–Mg. Initial information on the average rate-limiting sintering kinetics in these systems was obtained using traditional master sintering curve analysis, but it is very clear that multiple processes occur during NPSS, and these should each have their own characteristic kinetics. Here we analyze these three systems in greater kinetic detail using densification rates in a Kissinger-style analysis derived explicitly for densification data. For the W–Cr and Cr–Ni systems two critical temperatures were identified: one at low temperatures for the formation of the secondary phase necks, and a second one at high temperatures corresponding to the onset of rapid densification. The activation energies of these processes are different, and reflective of bulk solute diffusion and interdiffusion, respectively. Combined with microstructural observations, these data show that the onset of rapid densification at high temperatures is facilitated by the presence of the second-phase necks, and occurs at the point where the system can fully interdiffuse, rehomogenizing those necks. These observations help explain why the Ti–Mg system does not densify well, because it does not exhibit redissolution at high temperatures. These results help clarify the conditions needed to achieve NPSS and may support design of new alloys for NPSS behavior.
Neutron encoded derivatization of endothelial cell lysates for quantitation of aldehyde metabolites using nESI-LC-HRMS.

Abstract Biological aldehydes are difficult to analyze by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry due to their poor proton affinity and low biological concentrations. Chemical derivatization with stable isotope tags is used here for sample multiplexing, increased throughput, improved signal intensity, and quantitation. Nine quaternary amine tags with mass differences as low as 0.0058 Da had no observable chromatographic shifts, small amounts of ion suppression, and minimal matrix effects. Low concentration perfluoropentanoic acid was used as an ion pairing reagent to improve the retention of derivatized aldehydes. Perfluoropentanoic acid addition showed an average of three-fold improvement in limits of detection, 50% reduction in peak width, and 2.5 fold increase in analyte retention. Analysis of fifteen tagged aldehydes yielded an average of 13 nM limit of detection, 9 %RSD, R2 of 0.995, and linear dynamic range of 40–1000 nM. In a single 20 minute separation, absolute quantitative data was obtained for 11 reactive aldehydes across 8 aortic endothelial cell samples. High glucose treatment produced significant changes to malondialdehyde, decanal, and (2E)-hexadecenal. These changes are consistent with glucose-induced oxidative stress. This method demonstrates that neutron encoded tagging of aldehydes is suitable for the analysis of complex samples.
High temperature material properties of calcium aluminate cement concrete

Abstract In this study, material properties of calcium aluminate cement concrete (CACC) were investigated at various temperatures of 23, 200, 400, 600 and 800 °C. Material properties namely compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, elastic modulus, stress–strain response, mass loss and compressive toughness were measured using unstressed and residual test methods. High temperature performance of CACC was compared with conventional normal strength concrete (NSC). Data from high temperature tests of CACC revealed that the presence of alumina as a binding agent showed considerable enhancement in the mechanical performance compared to NSC. At elevated temperatures, reduction in the stress–strain response was observed in both CACC and NSC; however, increase in axial strain was more in case of CACC. Compressive toughness was higher in case of CACC as compared to NSC which increases up to 200 °C, but decreases beyond this temperature. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) was used to differentiate the microstructural changes in both types of concrete at temperatures up to 600 °C. Visual investigations after high temperature exposure revealed that CACC exhibits low cracking with less color changes as compared to NSC. Data generated from material property tests was utilized to develop simplified relations for expressing material properties of CACC as a function of temperature.
Cohort Amplification: An Associative Classification Framework for Identification of Disease Cohorts in the Electronic Health Record

With the growing national dissemination of the electronic health record (EHR), there are expectations that algorithms to identify disease-based cohorts for health services research will be deployable across health care organizations. Toward that goal, a novel associative classification framework was designed to generate prediction rules to identify cases similar to the exemplar cases on which it was trained. It processes exemplars for any medical condition without modification. The framework is distinguished by core candidate data attributes based on common EHR observation categories, application of associative classification methods to cull disease-specific attributes and predictive rules from the core attributes, and support for attribute concept hierarchies to manage the various layers of granularity in native EHR data. The framework processes and an evaluation of prediction rules generated to identify diabetes mellitus are presented.
Whiteness: An Introduction

Steve Garner, Whiteness: An Introduction Oxford: Taylor and Francis, 2007, 216 pp., £21.99/$38.00 pb. (ISBN 9780415403641) Steve Garner's Whiteness: An Introduction offers a helpful synthesis of ke...
Oxidation of lysozyme by iodine: Isolation of an inactive product and its conversion to an oxindolealanine-lysozyme

Abstract Reaction of lysozyme with a half-molar amount of iodine at pH 5.5 gives, in 50% yield (based on iodine), an enzymatically-inactive singly-oxidized derivative. This intermediate can be converted to an oxindole-lysozyme. Analysis showed no modification other than two-electron oxidation of one tryptophan. Substrate analogs prevent the oxidative inactivation. Reaction of crystalline lysozyme with iodine gives the same inactive product found in solution.
Positive and negative outcome expectations of smoking: implications for prevention.

Abstract Background. To inform the development of messages for tobacco prevention programs, we examined seven positive and five negative outcome expectations of smoking as risk factors for smoking uptake. Methods. A cross-sectional, self-administered survey of 471 students in grades 6–12 who were never or experimental smokers was performed. Logistic regression was used to examine the relationship between outcome expectations and susceptibility to becoming a smoker in the future, a measure of intent and resistance to peer smoking. Results. A total of 36.1% of the sample was susceptible to smoking. All positive outcome expectations showed a strong and significant association with susceptibility. Students were most likely to be susceptible if they believed they would enjoy smoking (OR = 29.4). Three of the five negative outcome expectations were significantly associated with susceptibility, but the strength of these associations was much lower than that observed for the positive expectations (OR = 0.5 to 0.6). A strong belief in the negative outcomes of smoking did not alter the association between susceptibility and positive outcome expectations. Conclusions. These findings suggest that teaching adolescents and teens about the negative consequences of smoking is unlikely to change their intent to smoke. Preventive efforts should identify ways to address the positive expectations adolescents have about smoking, possibly by offering alternative means for achieving these outcomes.
Skeletally Mature Patients with Bilateral Distal Radius Fractures Have More Associated Injuries

Bilateral distal radius fractures are rare injuries and only a handful of case reports exist. Understanding the demographic variables and associated injuries in patients with these fractures may improve awareness and treatment of concomitant injuries. We determined the differences in mode of trauma and associated injuries between skeletally mature and skeletally immature patients with bilateral distal radius fractures. We retrospectively reviewed the records of 93 patients with bilateral distal radius fractures. We compared demographic data, fracture patterns, mode of injury, treatment modality, and associated injuries for skeletally mature and immature patients. The mean age of all patients sustaining a bilateral injury was 22.5 years and 61 (71%) were male. Of the 51 (55%) skeletally immature patients, 37 (73%) were male, and 44 (86%) sustained a low-energy mechanism of injury. Of the 42 (45%) skeletally mature patients, 29 (69%) were male, and 37 (88%) sustained a high-energy mechanism of injury. Skeletally mature patients had a 38% rate of associated injuries versus 4% found in skeletally immature patients. Skeletally mature patients sustained bilateral distal radius fractures through higher-energy mechanisms and presented with more frequent associated injuries compared with the skeletally immature patients.
Gestational trophoblastic diseases: 1. Pathophysiology of hyperglycosylated hCG.

Abstract Objective. Hyperglycosylated hCG (hCG-H) is a glycosylation variant of hCG produced by cytotrophoblast cells at implantation of pregnancy and in choriocarcinoma. We investigated the biological function of hCG-H in invasion in vitro and in vivo and the use of hCG-H antibodies in blocking tumorigenesis and cancer growth in vivo. Methods and results. hCG-H accounts for 43% to 100% of total hCG immunoreactivity in the culture fluid of choriocarcinoma cell lines and 100% in primary cultures of pregnancy cytotrophoblast cells. We investigated the action of hCG and hCG-H on isolated cytotrophoblast cell primary cultures and on 3 different lines of choriocarcinoma cells cultured on Matrigel basement membrane inserts (culture models for assessing tumor invasion). The addition of hCG-H to medium significantly promoted invasion of membranes with both pregnancy and cancer cell line sources, while regular hCG had no significant effect. JEG-3 human choriocarcinoma cells were transplanted subcutaneously into athymic nude mice. Tumors rapidly formed. B152, mouse monoclonal antibody against hCG-H, and non-specific mouse IgG (control) were administered twice weekly once tumors were clearly visible. While a correlation between time and growth was observed with the control group ( r 2 =0.97), no correlation was observed with the B152-treated mice ( r 2 =0.15). B152 blocked tumor growth ( t test, IgG vs. B152, P =0.003). In a second experiment, antibody B152 or IgG was administered to mice at the time of choriocarcinoma transplantation. B152 significantly inhibited tumorigenesis ( t test P =0.0071). Conclusions. hCG-H is a critical promoter in human cytotrophoblast and human choriocarcinoma cell invasion in vivo and in vitro, promoting tumor growth and invasion through an autocrine mechanism. hCG-H is a signal for choriocarcinoma cell invasion, making it a biological tumor marker. Antibodies against hCG-H block tumor formation and growth. Human or humanized antibodies against hCG-H may be useful in treating and managing choriocarcinoma and other gestational trophoblastic malignancies.
Incomplete hypercubes: algorithms and embeddings

The hypercube, though a popular and versatile architecture, has a major drawback in that its size must be a power of two. In order to alleviate this drawback, Katseff [1988] defined theincomplete hypercube, which allows a hypercube-like architecture to be defined for any number of nodes. In this paper we generalize this definition and introduce the namecomposite hypercube. The main result of our work shows that these incomplete architectures can be used effectively and without the size penalty. In particular, we show how to efficiently implement Fully Normal Algorithms on composite hypercubes. Development of these types of algorithms on composite hypercubes allows us to efficiently execute several algorithms concurrently on a complete hypercube. We also show that many host architectures, such as binary trees, arrays and butterflies, can be optimally embedded into composite hypercubes. These results imply that algorithms originally designed for any such host can be optimally mapped to composite hypercubes. Finally, we show that composite hypercubes exhibit many graph theoretic properties that are common with complete hypercubes. We also present results on efficient representations of composite hypercubes within a complete hypercube. These results are crucial in task allocation and job scheduling problems.
Worst-case performance of rendezvous networks in the presence of adversarial nodes

In this paper, we consider the performance of distributed control algorithms for networked robotic systems when one or more robots fail to execute the optimal policy. In particular, we investigate the performance of the circumcenter algorithm with connectivity maintenance [1]-[3] when one or more adversarial agents act maliciously to maximally disrupt convergence of the remaining, cooperative agents. To this end, we formulate a performance objective for each adversary node in terms of the circumradii of its cooperative neighbors in a communication graph which does not require omniscience of adversaries as is often assumed in the literature (e.g., [4], [5]). We provide an optimization algorithm based on finite-horizon dynamic programming, and obtain solutions through numerical simulation. Our results show that in general adversarial nodes are able not only to impede convergence toward consensus, but can also affect global changes in the topology of the communication graph for the cooperative agents.
Stimulation of de Novo Pyrimidine Synthesis by Growth Signaling Through mTOR and S6K1

Cellular growth signals stimulate anabolic processes. The mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) is a protein kinase that senses growth signals to regulate anabolic growth and proliferation. Activation of mTORC1 led to the acute stimulation of metabolic flux through the de novo pyrimidine synthesis pathway. mTORC1 signaling posttranslationally regulated this metabolic pathway via its downstream target ribosomal protein S6 kinase 1 (S6K1), which directly phosphorylates S1859 on CAD (carbamoyl-phosphate synthetase 2, aspartate transcarbamoylase, dihydroorotase), the enzyme that catalyzes the first three steps of de novo pyrimidine synthesis. Growth signaling through mTORC1 thus stimulates the production of new nucleotides to accommodate an increase in RNA and DNA synthesis needed for ribosome biogenesis and anabolic growth.
The heptanucleotide motif GAGACGC is a key component of a cis-acting promoter element that is critical for SnSAG1 expression in Sarcocystis neurona.

Abstract The apicomplexan parasite Sarcocystis neurona undergoes a complex process of intracellular development, during which many genes are temporally regulated. The described study was undertaken to begin identifying the basic promoter elements that control gene expression in S. neurona. Sequence analysis of the 5′-flanking region of five S. neurona genes revealed a conserved heptanucleotide motif GAGACGC that is similar to the WGAGACG motif described upstream of multiple genes in Toxoplasma gondii. The promoter region for the major surface antigen gene SnSAG1, which contains three heptanucleotide motifs within 135 bases of the transcription start site, was dissected by functional analysis using a dual luciferase reporter assay. These analyses revealed that a minimal promoter fragment containing all three motifs was sufficient to drive reporter molecule expression, with the presence and orientation of the 5′-most heptanucleotide motif being absolutely critical for promoter function. Further studies should help to identify additional sequence elements important for promoter function and for controlling gene expression during intracellular development by this apicomplexan pathogen.
An Introduction to Geophysical Exploration: Third Edition

Finding a modern textbook that covers all aspects of exploration geophysics is difficult, but An Introduction to Geophysical Exploration certainly fills the bill. Appropriate for an introductory course addressing a range of techniques the book's breadth is demonstrated by comprehensive inclusion of non-seismic exploration methods. In fact, half of the book is devoted to non-seismic methods, providing students with a permanent reference to these infrequently applied exploration methods. This book came to my attention while I was ordering textbooks for a course in exploration geophysics only to find that the text of my choice was out of print. I quickly substituted An Introduction to Geophysical Exploration, and it has served the class well, including senior-level undergraduates and first-year graduate students in both soft-rock geology and geophysics. The material is comprehensive and well organized. The non-seismic topics include not only chapters on potential fields— one each on gravity and magnetic methods— but also chapters on electrical and electromagnetic methods, including ground-penetrating radar (GPR). Short chapters on radiometric surveying and borehole logging are also provided.
Monkeypox virus: histologic, immunohistochemical and electron-microscopic findings.

Background: Human monkeypox, an emerging viral zoonosis first recognized in Africa, has recently emerged in the mid-western US. Initially, it presents with skin eruptions and fevers with diaphoresis and rigors. Clinically, the skin lesions progress from papules to vesiculopustules to resolving eschars. Methods: Three cutaneous biopsy specimens from two patients with polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-proven monkeypox were available for review. The histologic, immunohistochemical and electron-microscopic features were identified. Results: The clinical progression of lesions is mirrored histologically with ballooning degeneration of basal keratinocytes and spongiosis of a mildly acanthotic epidermis progressing to full thickness necrosis of a markedly acanthotic epidermis containing few viable keratinocytes. A lichenoid-mixed inflammatory cell infiltrate is present, which exhibits progressive exocytosis with the keratinocyte necrosis. Inflammation of the superficial and deep vascular plexes, eccrine units and follicles is also present. Viral cytopathic effect is manifest by multinucleated syncytial keratinocytes. Immunohistochemically, viral antigen is detected within keratinocytes of the lesional epidermis, follicular and eccrine epithelium and few dermal mononuclear cells. Electron microscopy reveals virions at various stages of assembly within the keratinocyte cytoplasm. Conclusions: The histologic differential diagnosis includes herpes simplex virus, varicella and other pox viruses, such as smallpox. The first one may be differentiated histologically, immunohistochemically and electron microscopically. The last two may be differentiated using PCR assay for the monkeypox extracellular-envelope virus protein gene.
ComprehendingCornus: Puzzles and progress in the systematics of the dogwoods

Dogwoods evolved in two main lineages, a red-fruited line in which the inflorescences have basal bracts, and a blue-(or white-)fruited line in which the bracts are rudimentary or lacking. The 15 “red-line” species are mostly well marked, whereas “blue-line” species—numbering roughly 50 if some newer treatments be accepted—are mostly hard to tell apart. Red-line ovules are tenuinucellate, blue-line ovules crassinucellate. Dividing the red line separates cornelian cherries from the showy-bracted species; dividing the latter separates dwarf cornels from big-bracted dogwoods. Adding in the blue line there are thus four subgroups, which differ with regard to inflorescences— and with regard to iridoid glucosides, among other things. I downplay further subdivision (into opposite- and alternateleaved blue-line groups, for instance) and focus on few traits because I aim to trace the subgroups backward in the fossil record, to decide the direction of evolutionary changes, and to infer the causes for divergence.
The novel Light Amplifier concept

Photon detectors are indispensable in many areas of fundamental physics research, particularly in the emerging field of particle astrophysics, as well as in medical imaging and nuclear nonproliferation. For a significant progress in all these areas a new, inexpensive industrial mass-production photosensor technology is needed, in many cases with a very large active area. In order to reach that goal we have introduced several innovations. This paper focuses on one of them, the hemispherical Light Amplifier. We report on the proof of principle tests of the prototype derived from an existing QUASAR phototube and a new Geiger-mode avalanche photodiode. Our experiments prove that Light Amplifier concept presents a promising solution for a next-generation low-cost photon detector offering superior performance.
Age-related changes in female femoral neck geometry: implications for bone strength.

Bone strength is a function of both bone mass and its geometric distribution, a factor that is obscured in the conventional bone mineral analysis. Structural geometry is particularly important in areas such as the femoral neck that are exposed to bending loadsin vivo. Here we present results of a study examining age changes in the structural geometry of the female femoral neck derived from dual photon absorptiometry (DPA) data. In a previous study, differences in the aging patterns of males and females over the entire adult age range were demonstrated. In that study, only males showed “compensatory” geometric restructuring of the femoral neck which tended to offset loss of bone mineral with age. In the present study, femoral neck structural properties from 1044 women were examined for aging trends before and after the approximate age of menopause (50 years). Women in the premenopausal age range showed a 4% decline per decade in femoral neck BMD, but no change in the femoral neck cross-sectional moment of inertia (CSMI). This aging pattern is similar to that of males in our earlier study, and in both cases resulted in little or no increase in femoral neck bending stresses. After age 50, however, women show a more rapid decline in femoral neck BMD (7% per decade) accompanied by a decline in CSMI of 5% per decade. These changes result in increases in femoral neck stresses of 4–12% per decade due to the apparent lack of compensatory restructuring to offset the loss of bone mineral. These results shed further light on the age-related mechanisms underlying sex differences in fracture incidence among the elderly. They also argue for the routine use of such structural analyses in any study of age-related osteopenia or the effects of therapeutic intervention on this condition.
Microarrays: handling the deluge of data and extracting reliable information

Application of powerful, high-throughput genomics technologies is becoming more common and these technologies are evolving at a rapid pace. Genomics facilities are being established in major research institutions to produce inexpensive, customized cDNA microarrays that are accessible to researchers in a broad range of fields. These high-throughput platforms have generated a massive onslaught of data, which threatens to overwhelm researchers. Although microarrays show great promise, the technology has not matured to the point of consistently generating robust and reliable data when used in the average laboratory. This article addresses several aspects related to the handling of the deluge of microarray data and extracting reliable information from these data. We review the essential elements of data acquisition, data processing and data analysis, and briefly discuss issues related to the quality, validation and storage of data. Our goal is to point out some of the problems that must be overcome before this promising technology can achieve its full potential.
Occlusion Coherence: Localizing Occluded Faces with a Hierarchical Deformable Part Model

The presence of occluders significantly impacts performance of systems for object recognition. However, occlusion is typically treated as an unstructured source of noise and explicit models for occluders have lagged behind those for object appearance and shape. In this paper we describe a hierarchical deformable part model for face detection and keypoint localization that explicitly models occlusions of parts. The proposed model structure makes it possible to augment positive training data with large numbers of synthetically occluded instances. This allows us to easily incorporate the statistics of occlusion patterns in a discriminatively trained model. We test the model on several benchmarks for keypoint localization including challenging sets featuring significant occlusion. We find that the addition of an explicit model of occlusion yields a system that outperforms existing approaches in keypoint localization accuracy.
Stress-Rupture Behavior of Alloys 230 and 617 for High Temperature Applications

Austenitic Alloys 230 and 617 have been identified to be the two most suitable structural materials for heat exchanger application within the purview of the next generation nuclear plant (NGNP) program. The NGNP program is aimed at developing electricity and hydrogen using heat from very-high-temperature-reactor (VHTR). A maximum operating temperature of 950 °C has been recommended to achieve the highest possible efficiency in both electricity and hydrogen generation. The identification of Alloys 617 and 230 as heat exchanger materials was based on their excellent resistance to high-temperature degradations including creep, stress-rupture, fatigue and tensile deformation. Extensive efforts have been made to evaluate the creep and stress-rupture behavior of both alloys at temperatures relevant to the NGNP application. This paper presents the results of stress-rupture testing involving these alloys as functions of applied stress and temperature. The time to rupture was gradually reduced with simultaneous increase in stress and temperature, leading to a gradual reduction in the Larson-Miller-Parameter (LMP) indicating enhanced rupture tendency.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
Beryllium Adsorption at Transition Aluminas: Implications for Environmental Science and Oxidation of Aluminum Alloys

It is demonstrated that?gamma- and?eta- aluminas (transition Al2O3 polytypes with defect spinel structure) can effectively capture beryllium atoms. Although the bulk crystal structures of these two oxides are characterized only by slight differences in cation vacancy distributions, the interaction of Be with the two polytypes are different. For gamma- Al2O3, the Be adsorption energy is high (~ 5 eV per atom), and all Be atoms are captured and trapped at the surface - all attempts to move Be in the subsurface region result in its expulsion back to the surface. On the other hand, for ?eta- alumina Be atoms can be captured both at the surface and in octahedrally-coordinated subsurface cation vacancies. This result implies that both alumina oxides could be successfully used for Be capture out of wastewater streams related to industrial processes of aluminum and alumina production. Also, the surface adsorption mechanism of Be at?gamma- Al2O3 explains why very small additions of Be (of the order of several ppm) to Al-Mg and Al-Mg-Si casting and wrought alloys prevent run-away oxidation of these materials in molten state, as well as ingot cracking. We also discuss possibilities to use other additives (e.g., Ca and Sr) yielding the same protective effectmore » for aluminum alloys but which are less toxic than beryllium.« less
The Gene 59 Protein of Bacteriophage T4 CHARACTERIZATION OF PROTEIN-PROTEIN INTERACTIONS WITH GENE 32 PROTEIN, THE T4 SINGLE-STRANDED DNA BINDING PROTEIN

The gene 59 protein (gp59) of bacteriophage T4 stimulates the activities of gene 41 protein (gp41), the T4 replicative DNA helicase, by promoting the assembly of gp41 onto single-stranded (ss)-DNA molecules that are covered with cooperatively bound gene 32 protein (gp32). This helicase-ssDNA assembly process, which is important for the reconstitution of the primosome component of the T4 DNA replication fork, appears to require both gp59-gp41 and gp59-gp32 protein-protein interactions. In this study we characterize the physical and functional interactions of gp59 with gp32, the T4 ssDNA-binding protein. Experimental results presented herein indicate: 1) that gp59 binds specifically to both free and ssDNA-bound gp32 molecules; and 2) that in both cases binding involves contacts between gp59 and the acidic C-terminal domain of gp32 (the so-called "A-domain"). We further show that single-stranded DNA molecules coated with (gp32-A), a truncated form of gp32 lacking the A-domain, are refractory to gp59-dependent helicase assembly. The data indicate that specific contacts between gp59 molecules and the A-domains of gp32 molecules are essential for gp59-dependent assembly of gp41 onto gp32-ssDNA complexes. Our results are consistent with a model in which gp59 binds to gp32 molecules within the gp32-ssDNA complex and therein forms a target site for helicase-ssDNA assembly.
Broadband Optical Mammography: Chromophore Concentration and Hemoglobin Saturation Contrast in Breast Cancer

This study reports the optical characterization and quantitative oximetry of human breast cancer using spectrally-resolved images collected with a broadband, continuous-wave optical mammography instrument. On twenty-six cancer patients, we collected two-dimensional optical mammograms and created maps of the concentrations of hemoglobin, water, and lipids, as well as the oxygen saturation of hemoglobin. For each cancerous breast, we analyzed the difference between the tumor region (as identified by x-ray and optical mammography) and the remainder of breast tissue. With respect to the surrounding tissue, we found that cancer regions have significantly higher concentrations of total hemoglobin (+2.4±0.4 μM) and water (+7±1% v/v), and significantly lower lipid concentration (8±2% v/v) and oxygen saturation of hemoglobin (5±1%). We also found a significant correlation between the tumor optical contrast and the grade of breast cancer as quantified by the Nottingham histologic score; this demonstrates how optical signatures may be representative of metabolic and morphological features, as well as the aggressive potential of the tumor.
The deconditioning of nausea and of crying by emotive imagery: A report of two cases

Abstract Two cases are presented in which variants of emotive imagery were used to eliminate two different problems—inappropriate nausea and inappropriate crying. Previous uses of emotive imagery have involved presenting hierarchical feared stimuli while the patient focuses on emotive imagery capable of inhibiting conditioned anxiety. In our two cases we utilized the effects of pleasant imagery and the arousal of anger respectively to compete with nausea and crying. The identification of the emotive imagery capable of inhibiting these problem behaviors and the manner in which this emotive imagery was evoked were the key factors in these two cases.
Evidence for metastable superconducting surface sheaths below the bulk critical field

The metastable existence of the superconducting surface sheath below Hc in decreasing fields has been observed in type I superconductors with 0.39 ≤ K < 0.6. This is evidence that the bulk material can supercool to a field HS < Hc3.
Matrix Infrared Spectra and DFT Calculations of the Reactive MHx (x = 1, 2, and 3), (H2)MH2, MH2+, and MH4- (M = Sc, Y, and La) Species

Laser-ablated Sc, Y, and La react with molecular hydrogen to give MH, MH2+, MH2, MH3, and MH4- (M = Sc, Y, and La) during condensation in excess argon for characterization by matrix infrared spectroscopy. Annealing forms the dihydrogen complex (H2)MH2, which can be reduced to MH4- by electron capture. The (HD)MHD complex exchanges hydrogen positions on broadband photolysis to form primarily the (D2)MH2 complex. Doping the samples with CCl4 to capture ablated electrons markedly increases the MH2+ infrared band intensities and decreases the MH4- absorptions. Further annealing produces higher (H2)2MH2 complexes, which also exchange hydrogen positions. The reaction products are identified by deuterium and deuterium hydride isotopic substitution. DFT and MP2 theoretical calculations are employed to predict geometries and vibrational frequencies of these novel molecules, complexes, anions, and cations. Charged species from laser-ablation contribute more to the spectra of group 3 reaction products than for any o...
Computational Analysis of Responses of Micro Electro-Thermal Actuators

The electrical, thermal, and mechanical responses of surface micromachined (SMM) 2-beam actuators have been simulated using the Calagio code, a coupled physics analysis tool. The present analysis, unlike previous analyses, includes the surrounding air in the computational domain so that heat losses from the beams onto the silicon substrate will be accurately modeled. This setup is essential because the existing ‘shape factor’ correlations have difficulty capturing the three-dimensional geometric effect of the heat loss in the shuttle at the center that connects the bent beams. In addition, results from the present analysis reveal that because the local heat flux can be extremely high, a significant temperature jump can occur across the air-structure interfaces.
Statistics of Knots, Geometry of Conformations, and Evolution of Proteins

Like shoelaces, the backbones of proteins may get entangled and form knots. However, only a few knots in native proteins have been identified so far. To more quantitatively assess the rarity of knots in proteins, we make an explicit comparison between the knotting probabilities in native proteins and in random compact loops. We identify knots in proteins statistically, applying the mathematics of knot invariants to the loops obtained by complementing the protein backbone with an ensemble of random closures, and assigning a certain knot type to a given protein if and only if this knot dominates the closure statistics (which tells us that the knot is determined by the protein and not by a particular method of closure). We also examine the local fractal or geometrical properties of proteins via computational measurements of the end-to-end distance and the degree of interpenetration of its subchains. Although we did identify some rather complex knots, we show that native conformations of proteins have statistically fewer knots than random compact loops, and that the local geometrical properties, such as the crumpled character of the conformations at a certain range of scales, are consistent with the rarity of knots. From these, we may conclude that the known “protein universe” (set of native conformations) avoids knots. However, the precise reason for this is unknown—for instance, if knots were removed by evolution due to their unfavorable effect on protein folding or function or due to some other unidentified property of protein evolution.
Topologically disordered networks of rigid polytopes

Abstract A condition is derived for the existence of infinitely large d-dimensional topologically disordered networks composed of δ-dimensional rigid vertex-sharing polytopes which is consistent with Zachariasen's first two rules. It generalizes these rules to polytopes, network dimensions, polytope dimensions, and vertex coordinations not considered previously.
Active Stiffener Concept for Shape Control of Two Dimensional Structures

A substantial amount of research exists concerning shape and vibration control of structures with attached piezoelectric ceramic sheet actuators. Researchers have investigated the optimal placement, size, and electrode pattern of these piezoceramic actuators to maximize the performance of the system. In many situations, the performance could be further improved with tailoring of the electromechanical properties of the actuator. For example, it was found that to avoid exciting higher order modes, the ideal actuator would be one that only actuates in one direction when controlling certain modes in a two-dimensional plate structure [1]. As known, the 31 and 32 electromechanical coupling values of a piezoelectric ceramic patch poled in the 3 direction is equal. Therefore to achieve decoupling of the actuator action in the 31 and 32 directions, a mechanism is required. In this paper, an active stiffener concept is proposed to realize such an effect where a stiffener is inserted between a host structure and the piezoelectric ceramic actuator patch. Using a solid finite element model, an analysis of a single active stiffener attached to a rigid and a flexible host structure is presented. In the analysis, the effects of various material and system parameters on the transmitted force to the structure are presented. It is seen that the active stiffener can significantly reduce the transmitted force in the selected direction. The performance of the active stiffener concept with multiple actuators is presented for controlling the shape of a large flexible circular plate structure.Copyright © 2002 by ASME
Token-based dynamic trust establishment for web services

Despite recent advances in trust relationship control mechanisms, issues remain that impede the development of effective trust models. One of these is the lack of dynamic mechanisms that can simultaneously achieve both privacy and efficiency when establishing a new trust relationship. Current techniques encourage the client to reveal more attributes than may be required by the web service (resulting in a lack of privacy) or else engage in negotiation with the web service to discover and then serially provide the claims required (resulting in a lack of efficiency). We propose a method whereby the client discovers the web service's requirements from the service's policy document, then formulates a single trust primitive by associating a set of client attributes with an identifier, all signed with the token holder's digital signature. This technique allows the client to form trust relationships dynamically and efficiently. Client privacy is preserved because only those attributes required to access the web service are revealed.
Synthesis of mitochondrial DNA in spermatocytes of Rhynchosciara hollaenderi.

Abstract During the mid to late 4th instar period of larval development, the mitochondria of Rhynchosciara spermatocytes undergo highly characteristic morphological changes. In late meiosis the enlarged mitochondria fuse to form a single mitochondrial element which will ultimately extend the length of the spermatid tail. Our studies have shown that synthesis of a circular DNA occurs during this period of mitochondrial “differentiation.” This DNA has a density of 1.681 g/cm 3 ; and its synthesis cannot be detected in somatic tissues such as salivary gland, fat body, or gastric cecum. From analysis of DNA extracted from mitochondrial pellets, we have shown that the circular DNA is associated with the mitochondria. The contour length of the mitochondrial DNA is 9 μm, equivalent to a molecular weight of 18 × 10 6 . Although most metazoan mitochondrial DNAs exhibit contour lengths of approximately 5 μm (10 × 10 5 daltons), there is no extractable 5 μm circular DNA in these spermatocytes. Therefore, we conclude that either Rhynchosciara spermatocytes possess a distinct 9 μm mitochondrial DNA or that the spermatocyte mitochondrial DNA represents dimers of 5 μm monomers.
Probabilistic Graphical Modeling of Use Stage Energy Consumption: A Lightweight Vehicle Example

Although energy consumption during product use can lead to significant environmental impacts, the relationship between a product's usage context and its environmental performance is rarely considered in design evaluations. Traditional analyses rely on broad, average usage conditions and do not differentiate between contexts for which design decisions are highly beneficial and contexts for which the same decision may offer limited benefits or even penalties in terms of environmental performance. In contrast, probabilistic graphical models (PGMs) provide the capability of modeling usage contexts as variable factors. This research demonstrates a method for representing the usage context as a PGM and illustrates it with a lightweight vehicle design example. Factors such as driver behavior, alternative driving schedules, and residential density are connected by conditional probability distributions derived from publicly available data sources. Unique scenarios are then defined as sets of conditions on these factors to provide insight into sources of variability in lifetime energy use. The vehicle example demonstrates that implementation of realistic usage scenarios via a PGM can provide a much higher fidelity investigation of use stage energy savings than commonly found in the literature and that, even in the case of a universally beneficial design decisions, distinct scenarios can have significantly different implications for the effectiveness of lightweight vehicle designs.
National Preferences and International Institutions: Evidence from European Monetary Integration

How do states reach agreement on creating or changing international institutions? The dominant theory of international cooperation—institutional theory—specifies how states with shared interests use institutions to realize joint gains and to minimize the possibility of defection. But institutional theory has little to say about when states will hold the shared interests that lead them to create international institutions in the first place. I evaluate two general explanations of national preferences regarding international institutions against the record of attempts to institutionalize monetary cooperation in the European Union since the 1970s. Drawing on central insights of the constructivist tradition, idea diffusion theory holds that national preferences converged on those of German decision-makers by the late 1980s and that European governments willingly accepted German terms for monetary union. Recognition that German institutions and policies produced superior economic outcomes drove this change in preferences. A domestic-politics explanation holds that preferences varied because of differences in the structure of the domestic political economy and the political costs of achieving price stability, which was one of Germany's conditions for monetary integration. Lower inflation in the late 1980s reduced these costs enough for French and Italian governments to pursue a monetary union that included Germany. The evidence indicates that idea diffusion had little influence on the development of European monetary institutions. Governments held and advocated distinctly different preferences regarding such institutions from the late 1970s through the mid-1990s. The finding that domestic politics rather than idea diffusion drives national preferences challenges some of the claims of recent constructivist literature in international politics about the importance of communication and ideas in promoting cooperation. In the conclusion I discuss how the findings of this article might be squared with constructivism by paying more attention to domestic politics.