cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Association between familial autoimmune diseases and recurrent spontaneous abortions.

PROBLEM: To examine the aggregation of autoimmune diseases in the families of women experiencing recurrent spontaneous abortions. METHOD: The 95 participants in this case-control study were recruited from Magee Womens Hospital, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania from June 1988 to May 1991. The women having recurrent spontaneous abortions (N = 45) reported at least three early fetal losses, and the controls (N = 50) reported a minimum of three pregnancies with at least two live births and no more than one induced or involuntary pregnancy loss. Data from the participants and from their first-degree and second-degree relatives were obtained by questionnaire and verified by a repeated interview, if necessary. RESULTS: The prevalence of arthritis, thyroid disease, and diabetes mellitus was increased among the relatives of women having recurrent spontaneous abortions compared to normally fertile couples. Several autoimmune diseases occurred concurrently in family members of patients, but not in the family members of normally fertile couples. CONCLUSIONS: Autoimmune diseases occur more frequently in the families of women who have experienced recurrent spontaneous abortions. Both types of diseases involve genes in the class II region of the major histocompatibility complex.
In Situ Grown Titania Composition for Optimal Performance and Durability of Nafion® Fuel Cell Membranes

Nafion® membranes were modified via in situ, catalyzed sol–gel reactions of titanium isopropoxide to form titania particles in the polar acid domains. FTIR spectroscopy showed successful intraparticle chemical bond formation with incomplete condensation of TiOH groups. Although such modification can lower membrane fuel cell performance, this study was aimed at reducing membrane degradation without significantly altering performance in the sense of material optimization. These incorporated particles did not change membrane equivalent weight and the water uptake was similar to that of the unmodified Nafion® membrane. Membrane dimensional stability, mechanical properties, and ability to withstand contractile stresses associated with humidity change at 80°C and 100% RH were improved. An open circuit voltage (OCV) accelerated degradation test showed the titania modification held voltage better than the unmodified membrane. Performance deterioration of Nafion® after the OCV test was much higher than that of the modified membrane and the fluoride emission of the latter was lower. The degraded Nafion® membrane failed when subjected to creep, whereas the modified membrane remained intact with significantly low deformation. This inorganic modification offers a simple way to enhance membrane durability by reducing both physical and chemical degradation. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011
Thinking about Television Science: How Students Understand the Nature of Science from Different Program Genres.

Student views on the nature of science are shaped by a variety of out-of-school forces and television-mediated science is a significant force. To attempt to achieve a science for all, we need to recognize and understand the diverse messages about science that students access and think about on a regular basis. In this work I examine how high school students think about science that is mediated by four different program genres on television: documentary, magazine-format programming, network news, and dramatic or fictional programming. The following categories of findings are discussed: the ethics and validity of science, final form science, science as portrayed by its practitioners, and school science and television science. Student perceptions of the nature of science depicted on the program sample used in this study ranged from seeing science as comprising tentative knowledge claims to seeing science as a fixed body of facts. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Res Sci Teach 40: 234–256, 2003
Wright and Fisher on Inbreeding and Random Drift

Sewall Wright and R. A. Fisher often differed, including on the meaning of inbreeding and random gene frequency drift. Fisher regarded them as quite distinct processes, whereas Wright thought that because his inbreeding coefficient measured both they should be regarded as the same. Since the effective population numbers for inbreeding and random drift are different, this would argue for the Fisher view.
Frozen fruits and vegetables: their chemistry, physics, and cryobiology.

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses that freezing has become an important method of food preservation during the last 30 years. If the most desirable food quality is that of the freshly harvested fruit or vegetable, then the ultimate in frozen food would be perfect preservation of the living state. Water is the major component of plants and most plant parts (except seeds and woody stems) and the major component undergoing a phase change during freezing. Water, the major component of plants, undergoes a phase change during freezing. When solutions freeze, loss of water to the solid phase leaves the remaining solution more concentrated. Plants differ widely in their responses to low temperatures. Seeds are a means of reproducing and increasing the number of plants. In plants, beyond the young seedling stage, a number of responses to chilling have been observed. Most plants that survive freezing temperatures during winter experience a frost-free season during which their major growth takes place. Dehardening (loss of the ability to survive low temperatures) is the response of hardened plants to temperature increases. Fruits and vegetables include a wide range of plant parts harvested and eaten at various stages of maturity. Fresh fruits and vegetables are living organs that continue their metabolic processes after they have been harvested. The chapter discusses that fruits and vegetables are obtained from a variety of plants whose edible parts are harvested at times ranging from the extreme immaturity of germinating seedling to the senescence of mature fruit.
Oxy-methoxy compounds of molybdenum(VI) and their relationship to the selective oxidation of methanol over molybdate catalysts

Abstract The selective oxidation of methanol to formaldehyde over molybdate catalysts has been modeled synthetically by the formation of oxy-methoxy compounds of molybdenum(VI). The formation, decomposition and reoxidation of the compound Mo2O5(OCH3)2 are found to correspond remarkably well with the three elementary steps of the catalytic cycle. Thermal decomposition experiments performed on the compounds and Na4[Mo8O24(OCH3)4] · 8CH3OH imply that CH bond breaking is rate-limiting in accord with the kinetically determined catalytic result. The nature of the catalytic site, inhibition of the reaction by water, and poisoning of the catalyst by pyridine are also adequately modeled. The structure of Na4[Mo8O24(OCH3)4] · 8CH3OH is seen as a model for coordination geometry of the molybdenum-methoxy interaction at the catalyst surface.
Investigating DNA adduct-targeted mutagenicity of tamoxifen: preferential formation of tamoxifen-DNA adducts in the human p53 gene in SV40 immortalized hepatocytes but not endometrial carcinoma cells.

Tamoxifen is a widely used drug for chemotherapy and chemoprevention of breast cancer worldwide. Tamoxifen therapy is, however, associated with an increased incidence of endometrial cancer. The carcinogenicity of tamoxifen is ascribed to its genotoxic and estrogen agonist effects. We investigated DNA adduct-targeted mutagenicity of tamoxifen as a function of its genotoxicity in the cII transgene in Big Blue mouse embryonic fibroblasts and mapped the formation of tamoxifen-induced DNA adducts in the p53 tumor suppressor gene in SV40 immortalized human hepatocytes and human endometrial carcinoma cells. We used the terminal transferase-dependent polymerase chain reaction for mapping of DNA adducts in the cII and p53 genes. We utilized a lambda phage-based assay and DNA sequencing for determining cII mutant frequency and mutation spectrum, respectively. Tamoxifen treatment yielded polymerase-blocking DNA adducts at multiple nucleotide positions along the cII transgene. The treatment significantly and dose-dependently increased the cII mutant frequency (p T:A transversions (p < 0.03), relative to the control. Tamoxifen treatment of the immortalized human hepatocytes but not endometrial carcinoma cells, even in the presence of an external activation system, i.e., rat liver S9 mix, induced DNA adducts at specific codons along exons 6 and 8 of the p53 gene. These data suggest a proficient metabolic activation of tamoxifen in human liver and an inefficient activation and/or efficient detoxification of tamoxifen in human endometrium. Because the liver is essentially a mitotically quiescent organ, tamoxifen-DNA adduction in the liver may, at least partially, prevent its reactants from reaching highly proliferative organs via, e.g., circulating blood. Thus, tamoxifen-DNA adduction in the liver may not have as significant biological consequences as it might have in highly proliferative organs. Our findings favor an involvement of a nongenotoxic mechanism in tamoxifen-associated human endometrial cancer.
Free Radical Scavenging Activity of Aqueous and Ethanolic Extract of Brassica oleracea L. var. italica

In this study, antioxidant activities of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of Brassica oleracea L. var. italica were investigated. The antioxidant properties of both extracts of Brassica oleracea L. var. italica were evaluated using different antioxidant tests, including 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging, superoxide radical scavenging, inhibition of microsomal lipid peroxidation, reduction of power, and metal ion chelating activities. Inhibition of superoxide scavenging by aqueous and ethanolic extracts showed an IC50 of 0.93 and 0.25 mg/ml, respectively. Metal ion chelation showed an IC50 of 0.35 mg/ml of both the extracts and was equipotent to positive control, ethylenediamine tetra-acetic acid. The ethanolic extract of Brassica oleracea L. var. italica exhibited higher antioxidant activity in DPPH radical and superoxide anion scavenging than that of aqueous extract. The results obtained in the in vitro models clearly suggest that, Brassica oleracea L. var. italica is a natural source for antioxidants, which could serve as a nutraceutical with potential applications in reducing the level of oxidative stress and related health benefits. However, comprehensive studies need to be conducted to ascertain the in vivo safety of such extracts in experimental animal models.
An Ontology-Based Information Extraction (OBIE) Framework for Analyzing Initial Public Offering (IPO) Prospectus

With the large amounts of information associated with the Initial Public Offering (IPO) process, an intelligent tool is needed for assisting the decision-making activities for both the investors and the underwriters. Even though a large body of related studies exists in extant literature, minimum attention has been devoted to the aspect of understanding hidden semantics within the informative contents of IPO prospectus. In this paper, we present a framework for processing the textual content of IPO prospectus based on an emerging technique named Ontology Based Information Extraction (OBIE). Preliminary results indicates that the framework is capable of meeting the design requirements identified. Moreover, lessons learned during the design and implementation span technical and organizational considerations and can serve as guidance for future research and development in related areas.
Does a neutron know that the earth is rotating

In 1979 we observed the quantum mechanical phase shift of neutron deBroglie waves due to the Earth’s rotation. After the result was published, a number of very nice theoretical papers on the experiment appeared. I have two favorites: The one by M. Dresden and C. N. Yang in which they view the effect as due to the Doppler shift created by reflection from moving mirrors; and the other one by J. J. Sakurai in which he views the origin of the effect as being due to a flux of rotation threading the neutron interferometer loop, in much the same way that magnetic flux threads the electron interferometer loop to create the topological Aharonov-Bohm effect. Here, I would like to place their explanations of the physics of this experiment in juxtaposition with my own understanding of it.
The Ca2+ and Mg2+ activated ATPase and ADPase in subcellular fractions of beaver (Castor canadensis) enamel organ

Abstract 1. 1. Ca 2+ and Mg 2+ stimulated ATPase activities were indistinguishable according to their subcellular distribution. 2. 2. Ca 2+ and Mg 2+ ATPase activities were chiefly associated with the microsomal and mitochondrial fractions. 3. 3. Ouabain did not inhibit Ca 2+ ATPase activity. 4. 4. The Ca 2+ and M 2+ activated ADPase associated with the supernatant fraction may be largely attributed to myokinase and non-specific phosphatase activities. 5. 5. Ca 2+ and Mg 2+ activated ADPases, separate from the action of myokinase and non-specific phosphatases, were associated chiefly with the microsomal and mitochondrial fractions.
Anthropogenic effect recorded in the live-dead compositional fidelity of land snail assemblages from San Salvador Island, Bahamas.

Terrestrial malacofaunas that inhabit islands are vulnerable to human activities. Habitat destruction, introduction of exotic species, predators, etc. are distorting the composition and distribution of indigenous snail communities. Specifically, the taxonomic discordance between live and dead assemblages may be the consequence of anthropogenic disturbances rather than natural post-mortem processes. Live-dead fidelity may hence reflect the degree of human alteration in a given locality. This approach was used to study the relative abundance of live and dead land snails from pristine and urbanized localities around San Salvador Island (Bahamas). Thirteen species were encountered from 64 samples containing 5,343 specimens. Taxonomic composition was significantly different between areas of negligible anthropogenic disturbance and those impacted by humans. Although which species of land snails are endemic to San Salvador is unknown, all identified species are native to the Caribbean region and invasive species were not encountered. However, some synanthropic species, found exclusively in urban-developed areas, have not been recovered from the local fossil record, pointing to their relatively recent introduction possibly from nearby islands. Non-metric MDS, Jaccard-Chao index, and Spearman correlation analyses indicated that dead assemblages displayed a good compositional correspondence to live communities at pristine sites, whereas considerable disparity was sometimes observed at human-modified areas. Urbanized areas probably favored the proliferation of synanthropic species whereas dead assemblages may contain anthropophobic taxa that lived there prior to recent human modification. These findings are consistent with previous live-dead fidelity studies of marine molluscan and terrestrial small-mammal assemblages, and suggest that the taxonomic discordance between live and dead assemblages of land snails may be indicative of recent anthropogenic alteration.
Reducing copyright piracy using entrepreneurial intermediary platforms

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the role of intermediary platforms, such as Pandora and Spotify, in reducing piracy of digital music. Design/methodology/approach – The authors modify a predator-prey theoretical framework of copyright piracy to account for the impact of intermediary platforms on the consumption of original works and illegal copies. Findings – The theory shows that an increase in the number of legal alternative platforms available to consumers of digital music results in an unambiguous increase in the consumption of legitimate music and an unambiguous decrease in the consumption of unauthorized copies. Practical implications – The results suggest that policies to encourage entrepreneurship by intermediary platforms in the music industry serve as a complement to other policies currently being employed to combat piracy of digital music. Originality/value – The paper is the first of its kind to analyze the important role of intermediary platforms in reducing piracy of digital music while encouraging innovation by artists. Historically, entrepreneurship in this field has been controversial, given the gray areas surrounding what is and is not copyright infringement in the ever-evolving digital age. This paper highlights that once copyright laws are clearly defined, business growth in this area can be a highly effective solution to the piracy problem.
Computer network for a diagnostic virology laboratory

A data base for a large diagnostic virology laboratory is described. The system uses a network of personal computers. It allows the entry, long-term storage, and subsequent retrieval of specimen and patient records (comprising personal identifiers and specimen and result information), and hard-copy results reporting. Sited entirely within the laboratory, the network is not connected to a modem. Within the laboratory there is restricted access to human immunodeficiency virus test results to guarantee patient confidentiality. Retention of a hard-copy of specimen request cards ensures the availability of the original clinical information. The data base is copied on a second file server to facilitate searches, and daily streaming onto magnetic tape provides system protection in the event of hard disc failure. Matching of old and new patient records is done by surname, date of birth, and sex, and therefore duplicate records accumulate when patient names are misspelt on specimen request forms. The system requires further development to speed searches of the data base and to achieve automatic generation of laboratory worksheets. Future goals are the replacement of hard-copy records of clinical information and hard-copy reporting with on-line access to hospital data bases and on-line requesting by and reporting to the clinician.
Hispanic Farmers and Farmworkers: Social Networks, Institutional Exclusion, and Climate Vulnerability in Southeastern Arizona

ABSTRACT In the U.S. Southwest, prolonged drought may force those most dependent on water to abandon their livelihoods. By focusing on Hispanic farmers and farmworkers, in this article I examine how ethnicity and other factors compound risk and create highly vulnerable groups. I use the concept of “social capital” to understand how the critically vulnerable access resources embedded in informal social networks of mutual aid to reduce their vulnerability. By contrasting their situation to that of Anglo farmers, I explore how social networks emerge as a result of diverse socioeconomic and ethnic contexts. Under a more permanent scenario of increased aridity, a better understanding of the risk management mechanisms deployed by vulnerable groups sheds light on how collective approaches build resilience and on the role of policy in promoting or inhibiting these approaches. I seek to contribute to discussions about the importance of sociocultural dynamics and policy decisions to improving society's adaptive capacity.
Are hepatitis C-positive allografts in simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation underutilized?

BACKGROUND A recent review reported that recipient HCV infection had no significant impact on acute rejection rates or patient survival in SPKT but the utilization of HCV(+) organs was negligible. Using the UNOS database, we sought to determine utilization rates for HCV(+) allografts in Simultaneous Pancreas-Kidney Transplantation (SPKT. MATERIAL/METHODS The Organ Procurement and Transplant Network / United Network for Organ Sharing database was employed to obtain information regarding HCV(+) and HCV-negative (HCV(-)) SPKT recipients and the disposition of donor pancreata. RESULTS Between 2000 and January 2011, 702 of 25,904 donors (2.7%) were HCV(+) and met otherwise ideal criteria. We identified 16 patients who received HCV(+) organs for SPKT between 1995 and 2010. Four had kidney allograft losses secondary to chronic rejection. Six had pancreatic allograft losses: one due to pancreatitis, one to infection, one to chronic rejection, one to acute rejection and two to graft thrombosis. None of the sixteen patients were subsequently listed for liver transplantation. Meanwhile, 702 HCV(+) donors between the age of 14 and 40 with a BMI less than 30 were identified. During that time period, only 8 simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplants using HCV(+) donor organs occurred. Therefore, 694 HCV(+) pancreata were not utilized for SPKT in that time span. CONCLUSIONS 16 patients have undergone SPKT with HCV(+) organs. Aggressive use of HCV(+) organs for SPKT could potentially lead to earlier transplantation for HCV(+) recipients and allow HCV(-) organs to be available more quickly for HCV(-) recipients additional research of this topic is warranted.
Illness Beliefs of Chinese American Immigrants with Major Depressive Disorder in a Primary Care Setting

Underutilization of mental health services in the U.S. is compounded among racial/ethnic minorities, especially Chinese Americans. Culturally based illness beliefs influence help-seeking behavior and may provide insights into strategies for increasing utilization rates among vulnerable populations. This is the first large descriptive study of depressed Chinese American immigrant patients’ illness beliefs using a standardized instrument. 190 depressed Chinese immigrants seeking primary care at South Cove Community Health Center completed the Explanatory Model Interview Catalogue, which probes different dimensions of illness beliefs: chief complaint, labeling of illness, stigma perception, causal attributions, and help-seeking patterns. Responses were sorted into categories by independent raters and results compared to an earlier study at the same site and using the same instrument. Contrary to prior findings that depressed Chinese individuals tend to present with primarily somatic symptoms, subjects were more likely to report chief complaints and illness labels related to depressed mood than physical symptoms. Nearly half reported they would conceal the name of their problem from others. Mean stigma levels were significantly higher than in the previous study. Most subjects identified psychological stress as the most likely cause of their problem. Chinese immigrants’ illness beliefs were notable for psychological explanations regarding their symptoms, possibly reflecting increased acceptance of Western biomedical frameworks, in accordance with recent research. However, reported stigma regarding these symptoms also increased. As Asian American immigrant populations increasingly accept psychological models of depression, stigma may become an increasingly important target for addressing disparities in mental health service utilization.
Scheduling expressions on a pipelined processor with a maximal delay of one cycle

Consider a pipelined machine that can issue instructions every machine cycle. Sometimes, an instruction that uses the result of the instruction preceding it in a pipe must be delayed to ensure that a program computes a right value. We assume that issuing of such instructions is delayed by at most one machine cycle. For such a machine model, given an unbounded number of machine registers and memory locations, an algorithm to find a shortest schedule of the given expression is presented and analyzed. The proposed algorithm is a modification of Coffman-Graham's algorithm [7], which provides an optimal solution to the problem of scheduling tasks on two parallel processors.
Environmental and psychological challenges facing entrepreneurial development in transitional economies

Abstract In the former planned economies, a major result of the economic reform programs has been the resurgence of private entrepreneurship. As these countries have struggled to make the transition to a market-based economy over the past decade, the environment has played an important structural role in entrepreneurial development. However, from a psychological perspective, the environmental structural context affects human action through cognitive processes such as self-regulation. Thus, we first identify and analyze the effect of the political, economic, legal, and cultural environment on the development of entrepreneurship in transitional economies, mainly using the former Soviet Union and particularly the Republic of Kazakhstan as an example. We then examine the role that social cognitive variables such as self-efficacy may play in the relationship between this external environment and entrepreneurial development.
Effect of electron correlation on theoretical vibrational frequencies

Theoretical HF/6-31G* (Hartree–Fock, 6-31G* basis set) and MP2/6-31G* (second-order Moller–Plesset, 6-31G* basis set) vibrational frequencies based on complete quadratic force fields have been obtained for a set of 36 one- and two-heavy-atom molecules comprising first-row elements for which experimental spectroscopic data are available. Frequencies calculated at the HF/6-31G* level are an average of 12.6% higher than experimental values. Partial treatment of electron correlation via the perturbation method of Moller and Plesset, terminated at second order, leads to a significant reduction in this error, although theoretical MP2/6-31G* frequencies are still larger than the experimental quantities by 7.3%. Part of the difference may be traced to the restriction of quadratic force fields, as comparison with experimental harmonic frequencies shows deviations of only 9.5% and 4.7% for the two levels, respectively. The calculated frequencies are used in conjunction with the corresponding theoretical equilibrium structures to obtain absolute molecular entropies, which may in turn be used to yield entropies of reaction. These latter quantities are generally in good accord with entropies derived using experimental structures and frequencies.
Promoting ecologic health resilience for minority youth: Enhancing health care access through the school health center

Ethnic minority youth experience problems in access to healthcare, yet little is known about how to enhance utilization. This article will discuss the demographic realities of children of color in the United States, with a focus on health care needs and access issues that have an enormous influence on health status. The article will consider health policy as it describes the considerable barriers to quality health care for minority youth such as a lack of a usual source of care and limited health insurance. An ecologic model is presented that incorporates cultural values and community structures into the school health center. Enhancing access and utilization through the school setting is viewed as promoting ecologic resilience in youth. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Psychol Schs 40: 265–278, 2003.
The Histochemical Demonstration of Hemoglobin in Blood Cells and Tissue Smears

The demonstration of intracellular hemoglobin in permanent preparations has long been a problem. The affinity of hemoglobin for iron hematoxylin is well known but this stain also colors yolk, chromatin, and other structures and is therefore not a reliable criterion. The presence of hemoglobin has been associated with an acidophil cytoplasm which stains a characteristic color, but a careful inspection of living cells in early hematopoetic or embryological stages demonstrates that hemoglobin is present in the erythrocytes which are quite basophilic. In the course of some research on the blood of embryonic frogs it became desirable to demonstrate the presence of hemoglobin in cells by means of a specific staining reaction.
Renormalization-group derivation of Navier-Stokes equation

The Navier-Stokes equation is proved from first principles (rotational symmetry and conservation of momentum, mass, and energy) using renormalization-group ideas. That is, we consider a system described by one (classical) conserved vector field and two conserved scalar fields, and demonstrate that on a large scale it obeys the Navier-Stokes equation. No assumptions about the physical meanings of the fields are required; in particular, no results from thermodynamics are used. The result comes about because the Euler equation is an exact fixed point of an appropriate scale-coarsening transformation, and the coefficients of the eigenvectors of the transformation with the largest (“most relevant”) eigenvalues include (in dimensiond>2) the thermal conductivity and the bulk and shear viscosities, leading to Navier-Stokes behavior on a large scale. Ford<2, the largest eigenvalue corresponds to a convection term, and the Navier-Stokes equation is incorrect. Our method differs from previous renormalization approaches in using time-coarsening as well as space-coarsening transformations. This allows renormalization trajectories to be determined exactly, and allows the determination of the macroscopic behavior of specific microscopic models. The Navier-Stokes equation we obtain is almost, but not exactly, the same as the conventional one; distinguishing between them experimentally would require measurement of the very small asymmetry of the Brillouin line in a simple fluid.
Metal selectivity by the virulence-associated yersiniabactin metallophore system.

Uropathogenic Escherichia coli secrete siderophores during human infections. Although siderophores are classically defined by their ability to bind iron(III) ions, the virulence-associated siderophore yersiniabactin was recently found to bind divalent copper ions during urinary tract infections. Here we use a mass spectrometric approach to determine the extent of non-iron(III) metal interactions by yersiniabactin and its TonB-dependent outer membrane importer FyuA. In addition to copper, iron and gallium ions, yersiniabactin was also observed to form stable nickel, cobalt, and chromium ion complexes. In E. coli, copper(II) and all other non-iron(III) yersiniabactin complexes were imported by FyuA in a TonB-dependent manner. Among metal–yersiniabactin complexes, copper(II) yersiniabactin is predicted to be structurally distinctive and was the only complex not to competitively inhibit iron(III) yersiniabactin import. These results are consistent with yersiniabactin as part of a metallophore system able to prioritize iron(III) complex uptake in high copper environments.
Monomer-grafted sucrose ester resins

Styrenated sucrose esters of soybean fatty acids were successfully synthesized and the coatings properties were found to be comparable to a commercial styrenated alkyd while having lower volatile organic content at comparable solids content. A series of reactions were performed which varied the percent styrene incorporated into the resin. The dry time was significantly reduced as the styrene content increased which was a result of having more hard polystyrene chain segments. Tack-free times of ≈30 min were observed for resins containing high amounts of polystyrene. Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy indicated residual bisallylic hydrogens were present which are capable of further crosslinking through autoxidation after film application. The addition of cobalt and zinc driers reduced the drying time which indicates that autoxidation is occurring. Furthermore, the styrenation reaction was extended to make water-reducible resins. These resins were crosslinked with a melamine–formaldehyde resin resulting in biobased thermosets having high solvent resistance, high hardness while retaining good flexibility.
Bipolar pulse conductometric detection of enzyme reactions in flow-injection systems Urea in serum and urine

Abstract Conductometric monitoring of enzymatic reactions in a flow-injection system is described. Two conductance cells are used and the responses are manipulated automatically to provide a differential signal. The hydrolysis of urea, catalyzed by urease, is used as an example to illustrate the technique. Blood serum and urine control standards are used to assess the precision and accuracy. The conductometric method is shown to be equal to, or better than existing methods for urea with regard to detection limits (0.1 mM in urine, 0.01 mM in serum), working range, precision (3% RSD), accuracy, and sample preparation. The method has a sample throughput of 20 h −1 .
Production, Purification, and Characterization of Recombinant Human Hemoglobin Rainier Expressed inSaccharomyces cerevisiae

Abstract Hemoglobin Rainier is a naturally occurring hemoglobin variant in which the β145 tyrosine is substituted with cysteine. The α and βRainierglobin cDNAs were cloned in a high copy number vector and expressed inSaccharomyces cerevisiaeunder the control of galactose-regulated hybrid promoters. Using this system, we have expressed individual α and βRainierglobin chains. Coexpression of both α and βRainiercDNAs resulted in the production of a functional hemoglobin molecule. Purification of the recombinant protein was accomplished by ion exchange chromatography. The N-termini of the α and β chains were correctly processed, and the molecular mass, as determined by mass spectrometry, indicated amino acid composition identical to that of natural hemoglobin Rainier. The chromatographic properties of the recombinant hemoglobin Rainier were similar to human-derived hemoglobin A0. The purified recombinant hemoglobin molecule was shown to have an elevated oxygen affinity and a reduced cooperativity as previously reported for natural hemoglobin Rainier. Production of recombinant hemoglobin and especially hemoglobin variants like hemoglobin Rainier has the potential to facilitate use of hemoglobin as a blood substitute as well as in specific applications, such as for use as a therapeutic agent in the treatment of hypotension associated with septic shock.
Formation of Solute Atmospheres around Dislocations.

Solute atoms form long-range atmospheres around dislocations when in thermal equilibrium. These atmospheres scatter phonons and can be studied through their effect on the thermal conductivity. Previous studies indicate that solute atmospheres are formed after plastic deformation at room temperature in Cu-Al but not in Cu-Ge. Ordinary diffusion at room temperature is too slow to permit atmospheres to form, but excess vacancies produced by plastic deformation can enhance diffusion. One can define a net time-integrated diffusion due to excess vacancies until the excess is exhausted in terms of ${R}^{ 2}$, where $R$ is the range over which the atmosphere attains equilibrium. It depends on the excess concentration and vacancy lifetime. The lifetime of the vacancies is calculated, assuming that the dislocations act as vacancy sinks. The resulting $R$ is independent of the vacancy jump rate, and depends only on the initial vacancy concentration and on the dislocation density. The values of $R$ thus calculated are much smaller than observed. However, the tendency for the vacancies to be associated with the solute atoms, and the possibility of dislocations not acting as perfect sinks of vacancies, may enhance the effectiveness of a vacancy in promoting solute diffusion and bring the value of $R$ closer to the observed magnitude. Estimates of $R$ are given for Cu-Al and Cu-Ge. The case of Al-Mg is also discussed.
Micromotors split hairs-mechanical systems join electronics in the microscopic world

The potential benefits of microelectromechanical systems are discussed. The problems that must be resolved in designing such systems are examined. The wobble motor is used to illustrate how innovative design can overcome some of the problems posed. Torque-speed measurements on wobble motors are described, and some potential applications are indicated. >
Ultraviolet Emission Lines in Ba and Non-Ba Giants

With the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) and the Goddard High Resolution Spectrograph we have observed four barium and three weak barium stars in the ultraviolet spectral region, together with two nonpeculiar giant standard stars. An additional suspected Ba star was observed with HST and the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph. In the H-R diagram, three of the observed Ba stars lie on the same evolutionary tracks as the Hyades giants. Using International Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE) spectra of previously studied giants together with our HST spectra, we investigate whether the chromospheric and transition layer emission-line spectra of the Ba stars are different from those of nonpeculiar giants and from those of giants with peculiar carbon and/or nitrogen abundances. Except for the Ba star HD 46407 and the suspected Ba star HD 65699, the Ba star and mild Ba star emission-line fluxes are, for a given effective temperature and for a given luminosity, lower than those for the nonpeculiar giants observed with IUE. In comparison with the HST-observed standard stars, the C IV λ1550-to-C II λ1335 line flux ratios are smaller, but not necessarily so in comparison with all IUE-observed nonpeculiar giants. However, the C IV-to-C II line flux ratios for the Ba stars decrease with increasing carbon abundances. This shows that the energy balance in the lower transition layer is influenced by the carbon abundance. The temperature gradient appears to be smaller in the C II line-emitting region. There does not seem to be a difference in chromospheric electron densities for the Ba and non-Ba stars, though this result is rather uncertain.
Simulations of deformation in composites with two steady-state creeping phases

Previous numerical investigations of inelastic deformation in two-phase composites have focused on materials with a plastically deforming matrix containing either continuous or discontinuous elastic reinforcements. Time independent inelastic deformation in the matrix usually has been assumed, through steady-state creep has been simulated in some studies. Fewer analyses have been performed for composites in which both phases deform inelastically. Bao and Ramesh performed finite element method (FEM) analyses of composites in which both phases deform by time-independent plasticity. Biner performed FEM calculations in which steady-state creep was simulated in both phases, while the FEM simulations of continuous fiber composites by Park and Holmes included primary creep. The purpose of the work presented here was to supplement these efforts by exploring time-dependent deformation of discontinuously reinforced composites in which both phases individually exhibit steady-state creep. The majority of simulations performed in this study were for discontinuous fiber composites, though limited results for spherical reinforcement geometries are presented. Efforts were focused on idealized DPT composites, for which the strong'' matrix has the lower intrinsic creep rate. These results were compared with those for conventional MMCs, in which the weak'' matrix creeps at a faster rate than the reinforcement. One major goal was tomore » determine quantitatively how severely the creep resistance of strong intermetallic or ceramic materials is degraded by forming a composite with a ductile, creep-weak phase. In addition, this research addresses the usefulness of relatively complex FEM analyses compared with a simple analytical approach.« less
Left ventricular blood flow velocity in man studied with the Doppler ultrasonic flowmeter

Abstract Left ventricular blood flow velocity was recorded in 32 conscious human subjects with the Doppler ultrasonic flowmeter catheter. There are three major left ventricular flow velocity patterns in man: (1) Inflow tract blood velocity is characterized by a predominant diastolic wave related to left ventricular filling succeeded by a smaller systolic component, (2) Midcavity blood flow velocity is triphasic in nature, and (3) Outflow tract blood velocity is manifested by a major systolic wave, resulting from left ventricular ejection. These flow velocity wave-forms parallel the major hemodynamic events occurring at each anatomic site. It is concluded that such study is of value for characterizing blood velocity in the left ventricle of conscious man.
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE AND THE BANKRUPT FIRM: AN EMPIRICAL ASSESSMENT

The incidence of bankruptcy has risen dramatically among firms of all types and sizes in the past decade. Little is known, however, about the effects of alternative governance structures on the propensity of an organization to file Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Relying on logistic regression for periods 5 years and 3 years prior to the bankruptcy, as well as the contemporaneous period, we examine the relationships among independent/interdependent board composition and the structure of CEO/board chairperson positions and the filing of bankruptcy. While controlling for a series of financial indicators and firm size, the results illustrate robust explanatory power for the governance variables for both lagged periods.
Effect of cortisol on the plasma amino nitrogen of eviscerated adrenalectomized-diabetic rats.

The effects of adrenalectomy and of cortisol on the plasma amino acids of eviscerated animals were studied using alloxan-diabetic rats. The hourly changes in plasma amino nitrogen were followed for periods up to 6 hr after evisceration. Cortisol was given either at the time of evisceration or for various times (1-12 hr) beforehand. It was found: 1) The rise in plasma amino nitrogen of diabetic rats was markedly reduced by adrenalectomy. 2) Cortisol restored and increased the rate of rise of plasma amino acids of adrenalectomized-diabetic rats. 3) The administration of cortisol to adrenal-ectomized-diabetic rats at various times before evisceration did not alter the rate of increase of plasma amino nitrogen following evisceration when allowance was made for the total time of exposure to the hormone. 4) There was a significant delay of about 2 to 3 hr before the effects of cortisol on the plasma amino nitrogen could be detected. It is concluded that the effects of gluco-corticoids on gluconeogenesis cannot ...
Evidence for the sprouting of entorhinal afferents into the "hippocampal zone" of the molecular layer of the dentate gyrus.

Fragments of the dentate gyrus containing portions of the stratum granulosum and the overlying stratum moleculare were isolated from their commissural, associational and hypothalamic inputs in 11 and 28-day-old rats. Six weeks later the distribution of the entorhinal afferents to the isolated portion of the stratum moleculare was determined autoradiographically by the injection of 3H-proline into the medial entorhinal area, and the appearance of the molecular layer was examined in Timm's sulfide silver preparations. It is evident from our material that under these circumstances the entorhinal afferents to the dentate gyrus can extend right up to the stratum granulosum and that the normal staining pattern that characterizes the “hippocampal zone” of the molecular layer in Timm's preparations may disappear and be replaced, in part, by a narrow zone of dense, mossy fiber-like staining.
A physical model of the extreme mantis shrimp strike: kinematics and cavitation of Ninjabot

To study the mechanical principles and fluid dynamics of ultrafast power-amplified systems, we built Ninjabot, a physical model of the extremely fast mantis shrimp (Stomatopoda). Ninjabot rotates a to-scale appendage within the environmental conditions and close to the kinematic range of mantis shrimp's rotating strike. Ninjabot is an adjustable mechanism that can repeatedly vary independent properties relevant to fast aquatic motions to help isolate their individual effects. Despite exceeding the kinematics of previously published biomimetic jumpers and reaching speeds in excess of 25 m s−1 at accelerations of 3.2 × 104 m s−2, Ninjabot can still be outstripped by the fastest mantis shrimp, Gonodactylus smithii, measured for the first time in this study. G. smithii reached 30 m s−1 at accelerations of 1.5 × 105 m s−2. While mantis shrimp produce cavitation upon impact with their prey, they do not cavitate during the forward portion of their strike despite their extreme speeds. In order to determine how closely to match Ninjabot and mantis shrimp kinematics to capture this cavitation behavior, we used Ninjabot to produce strikes of varying kinematics and to measure cavitation presence or absence. Using Akaike Information Criterion to compare statistical models that correlated cavitation with a variety of kinematic properties, we found that in rotating and accelerating biological conditions, cavitation inception is best explained only by maximum linear velocity.
Sex Differences, Sex-Role Orientation, and Reward Allocations.

In study 1, 52 male and 52 female undergraduates allocated rewards to pairs of children for their performances in team and competitive situations. Males allocated rewards more “equitably,” especially when allocating to boys in competition, while females allocated rewards more “equally.” Boys, but not girls, who did more work received more rewards than their partner; and children with greater work inputs under competitive conditions received more rewards than children in team conditions. In study 2, the sex-role orientation of 60 college students was found to be related to their reward allocations. Males and females with a masculine sex-role orientation allocated rewards equitably, while individuals with a feminine sex-role orientation allocated rewards equally. Results indicated that sex and situational differences in reward allocations are affected by sex-role orientation and differential socialization practices by adults.
Group Counseling With United States Racial Minority Groups: A 25-Year Content Analysis

A 25-year content analysis was conducted of published group work articles that focused on 5 racial groups (African American, Asian American/Pacific Islander, Latino/a, Native American, and Intercultural group). Articles were included if they described an intervention or conceptual model with 1 of the racial groups. The analysis revealed 15 content categories. Implications for multicultural group work practice and research are discussed.
Variation in Aboveground Cover Influences Soil Nitrogen Availability at Fine Spatial Scales Following Severe Fire in Subalpine Conifer Forests

Following fire, fine-scale variation in early successional vegetation and soil nutrients may influence development of ecosystem structure and function. We studied conifer forests burned by stand-replacing wildfire in Greater Yellowstone (Wyoming, USA) to address two questions: (1) How do the variability and spatial structure of aboveground cover and soil nitrogen availability change during the first 4 years following stand-replacing fire? (2) At fine scales (2–20 m), are postfire soil inorganic N pools and fluxes related to aboveground cover? Aboveground cover, soil N pools, and annual net N transformations were measured from 2001 to 2004 using a spatially explicit sampling design in four 0.25-ha plots that burned during summer 2000. Within-stand variability (coefficient of variation) in postfire live vegetative cover declined with time since fire, whereas variability in bare mineral soil, charred litter and fresh litter was greatest 2-3 years postfire. The soil nitrate pool was more variable than the soil ammonium pool, but annual net nitrification was less variable than annual net N mineralization. Spatial structure (quantified by semivariograms) was observed in some aboveground cover variables (for example, graminoids and fresh litter), but there was little spatial structure in soil N variables and no obvious congruence in spatial scales of autocorrelation for soil N and aboveground cover. Significant Spearman correlations (at the sample point) indicated that aboveground cover and soil N were coupled following severe fire, and the dominant influence was from aboveground cover to soil N, rather than from soil N to vegetation. Initial patterns of fire severity and re-vegetation contributed to fine-scale heterogeneity in soil N availability for at least 4 years after severe fire.