cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Fuel Effects on Soot Processes of Fuel Jets at DI Diesel Conditions

The effects of fuel composition on soot processes in diesel fuel jets were studied in an optically-accessible constant-volume combustion vessel at experimental conditions typical of a Dl diesel. Four fuel blends used in recent engine studies were investigated, including three oxygenates and one diesel reference fuel: (1) T70, a fuel blend containing the oxygenate tetraethoxy-propane; (2) BM88, a fuel blend containing the oxygenate dibutyl-maleate; (3) GE80, a fuel blend containing the oxygenate tri-propylene-glycol-methyl-ether and (4) CN80, a diesel reference fuel composed of an n-hexadecane and heptamethyl-nonane mixture. Measurements of the soot distribution along the axis of quasi-steady fuel jets were performed using laser extinction and planar laser-induced incandescence (PLII) and were compared to previous results using a #2 diesel fuel (D2). In addition to the soot measurements, lift-off length and ignition delay measurements were performed for an extensive range of ambient gas temperatures and densities. Flame lift-off lengths were used in the interpretation and analysis of the soot measurements. Lift-off lengths, ignition delays and soot levels for these fuel blends follow similar trends with respect to ambient temperature or density established using D2 fuel. With increasing ambient temperature or density, lift-off length and ignition delay decrease and peak soot levels in a fuel jet increase. The increase in peak soot level is linear with respect to temperature and non-linear with respect to ambient density. Although following established trends with temperature or density, at a given experimental condition there is significant variation in lift-off length, ignition delay, and soot level for each fuel blend. The soot level in decreasing order with respect to fuel composition is: D2 > CN80 > BM88 > T70 > GE80. The distance from the injector to the region of first soot formation has an inverse relationship to the sooting propensity given above. That is, the first-soot distance is longest for GE80 and shortest for D2. The order in sooting tendency is found at either fixed ambient and injector operating conditions or at equivalent fuel-oxygen mixtures at the jet lift-off length, confirming that fuel molecular structure effects are important to the soot processes at diesel conditions. Differences in soot level with respect to fuel composition are quantified at many experimental conditions and axial positions of the fuel jet.
The Odin System

The Odin System is a simpler, more powerful, and more reliable replacement for Make. It computes complete dependency information automatically, making the build scripts shorter and easier to manage. Odin gains efficiency by parallel builds on remote machines, by eliminating most of the file system status queries required by Make, and by sharing from a cache of previously computed derived files.
Use of Glycan Microarrays to Explore Specificity of Glycan-Binding Proteins

Microarrays of defined glycans represent a high throughput approach to determining the specificity of lectins, or more generally glycan-binding proteins (GBPs). The utility of a glycan microarray is directly related to the number and variety of the glycans available on the printed surface for interrogation by GBPs. The Consortium for Functional Glycomics (CFG), funded by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS), has generated a glycan microarray available to the public as an investigator-driven resource, where hundreds of GBPs have been analyzed. Here we describe the methods generally used by the CFG to prepare glycan arrays and interrogate them with GBPs. We also describe our new approach to normalizing glycan microarray data derived from concentration-dependent analyses of GBP binding, and the application of this approach with the plant lectin Sambucus nigra agglutinin (SNA-I) and human galectin-8. The use of glycan microarrays with this approach readily generates a prediction of the glycan determinants required for high affinity binding by a GBP.
CMA-ES with Two-Point Step-Size Adaptation

We combine a refined version of two-point step-size adaptation with the covariance matrix adaptation evolution strategy (CMA-ES). Additionally, we suggest polished formulae for the learning rate of the covariance matrix and the recombination weights. In contrast to cumulative step-size adaptation or to the 1/5-th success rule, the refined two-point adaptation (TPA) does not rely on any internal model of optimality. In contrast to conventional self-adaptation, the TPA will achieve a better target step-size in particular with large populations. The disadvantage of TPA is that it relies on two additional objective function
Acoustic noise cancellation in a multiple noise source environment

A multireference adaptive noise canceller (MRANC) is derived from an analysis of a multiple-noise-source acoustic environment. The approach places a microphone near each noise source and one microphone near the speech source. Each noise reference microphone receives a signal primarily from its associated noise source along with contributions from other sources. This is called coupling, which degrades the MRANC performance under certain circumstances. The optimal noise cancelling structure is determined. From this optimal filter structure, several filter structures for processing the reference signals are derived based on assumptions about the environment. Quantitative test results from real-life environments are presented and discussed. >
Electrophoretic and Other Properties of Bacteriophage Qβ: the Effect of a Variable Number of Read-Through Proteins

Abstract When subjected to electrophoresis in polyacrylamide gels, the virions of wild-type Qβ bacteriophage are found in a single, major, anomalously wide band. With Qβ mutant 27-2, this wide band is replaced by a set of narrow, well-defined bands. The most rapidly migrating band of the mutant, comprising less than 10% of the total, contains defective virions. These virions have sedimentation coefficients ranging from 70 to 100% of the bulk of the unfractionated mutant, they contain no read-through protein (protein IIb), and they are deficient in maturation protein and contain fragmented RNA. The second band, comprising less than 3% of the total virus, has not been well characterized. The virions in the remaining electrophoretic bands are infective. Their distribution into bands is believed due to differences in their effective volume resulting from differences in their content of protein IIb. The most rapidly migrating band of this series contains virions with a few molecules of IIb protein, whereas the more slowly migrating bands contain virions with a larger number of IIb molecules. The adjacent bands in the series contain virions which differ by approximately three IIb molecules. Wild-type Qβ virus is similar to the mutant in that the more slowly migrating virions contain more protein IIb than the more rapidly migrating virions. Their failure to resolve into distinct bands upon electrophoresis is believed due to a less restricted packing of protein IIb into their virions. Both wild-type Qβ and mutant 27-2 also have 1 to 5% of the virions in the form of dimers which migrate with approximately one-half the mobility of the respective monomer forms. When the average amount of IIb per virion is increased by growth of the virus in a UGA suppressor strain, the electrophoretic pattern is altered. In the case of wild-type Qβ, the single band is wider, whereas with Qβ mutant 27-2 there occurs an increased number of partially resolved narrow bands. We suggest that the structural feature responsible for the difference in electrophoretic pattern between mutant 27-2 and wild-type Qβ is the mode of IIb packing in the virions. In the mutant, the IIb proteins are found in the virions only in multiples of three, whereas wild-type virions may differ by only a single IIb protein.
Some significant obstetric trends in a metropolitan area

Abstract Because of the importance of planning for the future, three significant obstetric trends were examined in the metropolitan area in which the author resides: the number of infants born; the source of obstetric care sought; and the utilization of obstetric care resources of this metropolitan area by surrounding rural areas. If present trends continue, the number of births will increase 50 per cent by 1990, the number of general practitioners practicing obstetrics will be negligible and the obstetric care facilities of metropolitan counties will be used to an increasing degree by surrounding rural counties.
5-HTTLPR Genotype Moderates the Effects of Past Ecstasy Use on Verbal Memory Performance in Adolescent and Emerging Adults: A Pilot Study

Objective Ecstasy use is associated with memory deficits. Serotonin transporter gene (5-HTTLPR) polymorphisms have been linked with memory function in healthy samples. The present pilot study investigated the influence of 5-HTTLPR polymorphisms on memory performance in ecstasy users, marijuana-using controls, and non-drug-using controls, after a minimum of 7 days of abstinence. Method Data were collected from 116 young adults (18–25 years-old), including 45 controls, 42 marijuana users, and 29 ecstasy users, and were balanced for 5-HTTLPR genotype. Participants were abstinent seven days prior to completing memory testing. Three MANCOVAs and one ANCOVA were run to examine whether drug group, 5-HTTLPR genotype, and their interactions predicted verbal and visual memory after controlling for gender, past year alcohol use, other drug use, and nicotine cotinine levels. Results MANCOVA and ANCOVA analysis revealed a significant interaction between drug group and genotype (p = .03) such that ecstasy users with the L/L genotype performed significantly worse on CVLT-2 total recall (p = .05), short (p = .008) and long delay free recall (p = .01), and recognition (p = .006), with the reverse pattern found in controls. Ecstasy did not significantly predict visual memory. 5-HTTLPR genotype significantly predicted memory for faces (p = .02); short allele carriers performed better than those with L/L genotype. Conclusions 5-HTTLPR genotype moderated the effects of ecstasy on verbal memory, with L/L carriers performing worse compared to controls. Future research should continue to examine individual differences in ecstasy’s impact on neurocognitive performance as well as relationships with neuronal structure. Additional screening and prevention efforts focused on adolescents and emerging adults are necessary to prevent ecstasy consumption.
Enabling Different Paths to Development of Mobile Money Ecosystems

Building a successful mobile money system requires a complex ecosystem of players handling a large volume of transactions. This paper identifies four principal paths to building mobile money ecosystems; makes the case that countries should adopt regulatory frameworks that allow for any or all of these models to emerge; and develops the commercial case for interconnection between schemes.
The E × B instability in auroral arcs

The E × B instability is predicted to occur in auroral arcs, where it generates oscillations which propagate in the E × B direction with speeds of several hundred meters per second, and which have wavelengths of about 1 km. The instability may cause oscillations in an otherwise quiescent plasma, or cause the growth of fluctuations occurring in the source of ionization. The dispersion relation is derived under conditions corresponding to the auroral oval, including the effects of ion-electron recombination and the effects of the vertical variation of collision frequencies. The instability occurs when the horizontal gradient of the logarithm of the electron density exceeds a value of 0.5 × 10−4 m−1, so that auroral arcs with a width of less than 20 km should exhibit the instability. The instability occurs only on one side of an auroral arc (the side where the electric potential is high) so we predict an asymmetry to be produced in the distribution of plasma about the center of narrow auroral arcs.
An identification system for primates in social groups

Abstract A system has been devised to identify monkeys in social groups. Identification is achieved by exciting a resonant circuit built into a plastic collar that is worn by the monkey and detecting the electromagnetic energy (260–705 kHz) that is retransmitted from the collar. The resonant circuit is completely passive and can be worn indefinitely. The system is rugged, and its excitation and detection electronics can survive in severe environments.
Intensity variations in outer Van Allen radiation belt

Using data from Explorer VII, the changes in the intensity of the outer Van Allen radiation belt were investigated in detail over the period October 26, 1959, to December 9, 1959. To relate the intensities to location in the belt, the parameter L was used. L is defined as a function of the integral invariant I and scalar magnetic field B, such that everywhere on the shell described by the motion of a trapped particle in the earth's magnetic field, L closely approximates the equatorial radius of the shell. For the period under study, the intensity variations at selected values of L were negatively correlated with geomagnetic activity. However, an analysis of data over a much longer period is required to determine whether this correlation is statistically significant. For the period studied, the decrease in measured intensity during periods of magnetic storms (large a/sub p/) is consistent with the idea that some of the particles are 'dumped' into the auroral and subauroral zones where they may partly contribute to the auroral zone currents that account for a /sub p/. In addition, the reduction in intensity generally occurred in the outer part of the zone. The low values of intensity, formore » L = 3.5, 4.1, and 4.7, oc curred in the interval November 22 to December 9, at times when the equatorial ring current field, U (southward on the earth at the equator), was large. Thus, U cannot be due to the westward current due to the longitudinal drift of measured trapped particles in the region for which L is greater than 3.5, since a decrease in particle density therein would diminish the westward drift current with a consequent decrease in U, which is opposite to what is observed. This result indicates that the site of the ring current is either elsewhere, or that the principal contribution to it comes from drifting particles having energies below the detection thresholds of Explorer VII equipment. The phenomena were investigated over a longer period, using daily averages of the maximum counting rates. This procedure had serious limitations. (auth)« less
Characterization of a novel prolactin-related protein from bovine fetal placenta.

The bovine fetal placenta transcribes a family of PRL-related genes that are distinct from the bovine placental lactogen gene. To demonstrate that one of these cDNAs, bovine PRL-related cDNA-I (bPRCI), is expressed at the protein level, a recombinant form of the bPRCI product was overexpressed in Escherichia coli. An antiserum raised against this recombinant product did not cross-react with the pituitary members of the PRL-GH family or with bovine placental lactogen, although cross-reactivity within the bPRC subfamily cannot be ruled out. The antiserum detected a doublet with apparent mol wt of 34,000 and 35,000 in bovine fetal placenta, but not in other fetal tissues. Treatment with several glycosidases revealed a glycoprotein with asparagine-linked carbohydrates of the biantennary complex or hybrid type. We conclude that the bovine fetal placenta expresses at least one of the novel members of this gene family at the protein level. (Endocrinology 126: 2377–2382, 1990)
Exploring the mechanism of ammonium uptake in phytoplankton with an ammonium analogue, methylamine

Uptake of the ammonium analogue methylamine hydrochloride was used to examine the mechanism of ammonium transport in several species of marine phytoplankton (mainly Skeletonema costatum, but also Thalassiosira weissflogii, Emiliania huxleyi and Gonyaulax polyedra). Ambient pH had no effect on the retention of methylamine between pH 3.6 to 9.2 HgCl2 markedly inhibited methylamine transport. Transport was temperature-dependent and the Michaelis-Menten equation described methylamine transport as a function of concentration in experiments of less then 20 to 30 min duration. Pulse-chase experiments showed that only 5 to 15% of intracellular methylamine was readily exchanged with external methylamine or ammonium, and the remaining 85 to 95% exchanged more slowly. These results suggest that methylamine transport, hence ammonium uptake, probably was an active metabolic process as it occurred against typical values of algal electrochemical gradients. The “acid-trap” model of ammonium transport was not consistent with these data. A two-compartment model where ammonium is transported into the cytoplasm and vacuole is proposed.
Parity violation in high energy Lepton pair production and QCD

Abstract We use the quark-parton model with perturbative QCD corrections in the Weinberg-Salam theory to calculate a parity-violating asymmetry in inclusive lepton pair production. We estimate the asymmetry proportional to the triple correlation 〈 P·l + × l − 〉 of the lepton momenta l + and l − and the incident hadron momentum P . We find that a nonzero asymmetry requires inclusion of nonperturbative effects.
Purification and characterization of enolases from coho (Oncorhynchus kisutch) and chum (Oncorhynchus keta) salmon

Abstract Enolase from two species of Pacific salmon has been isolated and characterized. Both crystalline preparations show the presence of three electrophoretically distinct enzyme forms, but while the chum salmon enolases appear in an approximate ratio of 1:3:4, the coho salmon has one predominant (95%) form and only traces of two other enolases. The enolases from the two salmon species have many properties in common. Both have a molecular weight of 100,000 and based on carboxylterminal analyses, contain two polypeptide chains per mole. In both enzymes both chains terminate with an isoleucine-asparagine sequence. Other points of structural similarity are illustrated by the identical analyses of 12 cysteines and 1 cystine for each of the two enzymes, and their very similar amino acid content. Major differences are found in their different electrophoretic behavior and in the tryptophan content. The kinetic parameters ( K m V max , pH-optimum, Mg 2+ activation, and fluoride inhibition) are essentially identical for the two enzymes.
Investigation of Al Selectivity in Si‐Doped Tetramethylammonium Hydroxide Solutions by Raman Spectroscopy

Raman spectroscopy was used to investigate Al selectivity in Si-doped tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH) solutions whose Si dopant concentration covers both Al passivating and Al nonpassivating instances. Raman spectra of the Si doped solutions suggest different dominant ionic silicate species for passivating and nonpassivating cases: octamers in the nonpassivating case and cyclic trimers, tetramers, and oligomers in the passivating case. pH measurement results on both Al passivating and Al nonpassivating TMAH solutions suggest that pH cannot be considered as the sole parameter affecting aluminum selectivity. Al dissolution was observed in the solutions doped below the Al passivating concentration, while no Al dissolution occurred in the solutions doped above the Al passivating concentration, consistent with reported results. Al(OH) - 4 ions were detected as products of the Al dissolution in the nonpassivating solutions which suggests Al dissolution chemistry in TMAH resembling Al dissolution chemistry in other alkaline solvents. A surface coating layer was observed on the surface of undissolved aluminum. Raman measurements indicate that the coating layer consists primarily of vitreous silica with some embedded nonpolymerized Si-O-Al units. The silica coating layer is suggested as the Al protective layer against TMAH etching.
Connecting prognostic ligand receptor signaling loops in advanced ovarian cancer.

Understanding cancer cell signal transduction is a promising lead for uncovering therapeutic targets and building treatment-specific markers for epithelial ovarian cancer. To brodaly assay the many known transmembrane receptor systems, previous studies have employed gene expression data measured on high-throughput microarrays. Starting with the knowledge of validated ligand-receptor pairs (LRPs), these studies postulate that correlation of the two genes implies functional autocrine signaling. It is our goal to consider the additional weight of evidence that prognosis (progression-free survival) can bring to prioritize ovarian cancer specific signaling mechanism. We survey three large studies of epithelial ovarian cancers, with gene expression measurements and clinical information, by modeling survival times both categorically (long/short survival) and continuously. We use differential correlation and proportional hazards regression to identify sets of LRPs that are both prognostic and correlated. Of 475 candidate LRPs, 77 show reproducible evidence of correlation; 55 show differential correlation. Survival models identify 16 LRPs with reproduced, significant interactions. Only two pairs show both interactions and correlation (PDGFAPDGFRA and COL1A1CD44) suggesting that the majority of prognostically useful LRPs act without positive feedback. We further assess the connectivity of receptors using a Gaussian graphical model finding one large graph and a number of smaller disconnected networks. These LRPs can be organized into mutually exclusive signaling clusters suggesting different mechanisms apply to different patients. We conclude that a mix of autocrine and endocrine LRPs influence prognosis in ovarian cancer, there exists a heterogenous mix of signaling themes across patients, and we point to a number of novel applications of existing targeted therapies which may benefit ovarian cancer.
Cloud top remote sensing by airborne lidar

Observations of cloud top height, backscattering, and signal depolarization have been obtained by a lidar system operating onboard a high-altitude research aircraft. The transmitter for the cloud lidar system is a doubled Nd:YAG laser operating at 5 Hz. The system functions as a fully automated sensor under microprocessor control and operates from a nominal 19-km altitude. Measurements have been acquired over a wide variety of cloud cover in conjunction with passive visible and infrared measurements. Initial observation results are reported.
Gas exchange rates between air and sea

Gas exchange rate studies carried out in the laboratory suggest that the stagnant film model is adequate to relate the transfer coefficients of most gases between the atmosphere and sea to an accuracy of ±15%. Estimates of the average film thickness prevailing for the world ocean based on the distribution of natural radiocarbon, bomb-produced radiocarbon, and radon are in good agreement. Radon data from the BOMEX area and from station PAPA lend support to Kanwisher's suggestion that gas exchange rates should vary in proportion to the square of the wind velocity. These observations permit a number of generalizations regarding the potential of the ocean as a source and sink for trace gases to be made. They also permit the more complicated situation for carbon dioxide to be assessed. DOI: 10.1111/j.2153-3490.1974.tb01948.x
Social experience affects territorial and reproductive behaviours in male leopard geckos, Eublepharis macularius

Abstract Social interactions have lasting effects on behaviour and physiology in a variety of organisms. In the leopard gecko, Eublepharis macularius, social experience alters neural metabolism and elevates circulating concentrations of androgens. In this study, we assessed the effects of social experience (housing with females versus housing in isolation) on the expression of social behaviours in male geckos (1) when gonadally intact, (2) following castration and (3) following testosterone administration. Given the neural and endocrine changes following social experience, we hypothesized that social experience would increase the capacity to display territorial and courtship behaviour in male leopard geckos. We found that intact males previously housed with females (experienced males) displayed more territorial marking and more activity when exposed to a neutral test arena relative to males housed in isolation (naive males). Experienced males continued to show more marking and activity in the testing arena relative to naive males following castration. However, the courtship behaviour of castrated naive and experienced males did not differ significantly. Following testosterone administration, experienced males again showed more activity in the empty test arena and tended to show more courtship behaviour. In summary, we found support for the hypothesis that social experience leads to changes in territorial and courtship behaviours and, moreover, found that male leopard geckos share some degree of commonality with other vertebrates in behavioural plasticity following social experience.
Polyacrylamide Adsorption from Aqueous Solutions on Gold and Silver Surfaces Monitored by the Quartz Crystal Microbalance

Viscoelastic properties of ultrathin films are important in such applications as polymer-supported lipid bilayers, and the quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) offers the ability to measure these prop...
The utility of liver function test abnormalities concomitant with biliary symptoms in predicting a favorable response to endoscopic sphincterotomy in patients with presumed sphincter of oddi dysfunction

Objectives: We sought to study the utility of liver function test abnormalities concomitant with biliary symptoms in predicting a favorable response to endoscopic sphincterotomy in patients with Geenen class II sphincter of Oddi dysfunction. Methods: We reviewed the clinical course and liver function test results of 24 Geenen-Hogan class II postcholecystectomy patients with biliary colic secondary to sphincter of Oddi dysfunction who did not undergo sphincter of Oddi manometry before treatment with endoscopic sphincterotomy. Results: Twenty of the 24 patients had an average of 1.4 episodes of abnormal liver function tests associated with biliary colic; eight patients had dilated common bile duct on cholangiogram. Eighteen of the 20 patients with abnormal liver function tests (90%) were pain-free after sphincterotomy; in contrast, only one of four patients (25%) without liver function test changes responded to sphincterotomy. Fisher exact analysis showed that abnormal liver function tests was a significant predictor for favorable response to sphincterotomy with a two-tail p value of 0.018. Of the eight patients with bile duct dilatation, six (75%) responded favorably to sphincterotomy, whereas 13 of 16 patients (81%) without dilatation also responded to sphincterotomy. Analysis of common bile duct dilatation as a predictive factor showed no significance (p = 1.00). Conclusions: We conclude that the occurrence of abnormal liver function tests during biliary colic may be used to select patients for endoscopic sphincterotomy. Sphincter of Oddi manometry may not be needed in these cases.
Religion and verbal ability

Abstract Religion has a powerful influence on learning and development, and this provides an important cultural foundation for stratification processes. Findings from prior studies of the connection between religion and educational attainment are mixed, but most studies point to negative effects of sectarian Protestant affiliation and fundamentalist beliefs in the inerrancy of sacred texts on educational attainment, aspirations, occupational attainment, and wealth. Verbal ability provides an important potential mechanism through with conservative religion anchors stratification outcomes. I examine the impact of religious affiliation, religious participation, and beliefs in the inerrancy of the Bible on verbal ability. Using data from the 1984–2006 General Social Surveys, I find that both inerrantist beliefs and sectarian affiliations have substantial negative effects on verbal ability. Religious participation has a modest positive effect on verbal ability, but its influence is mostly confined to sectarian Protestants and biblical inerrantists. Importantly, the positive effect of age on verbal ability is substantially weaker among sectarians and biblical inerrantists, suggesting that their closed social networks hinder learning throughout the lifecourse.
Boundary element analysis of the directional sensitivity of the concentric EMG electrode

Employing the boundary element method, the authors improve earlier models of the concentric electromyography (EMG) electrode by including an accurate geometric representation of the electrode, as well as the mutual electrical influence between the electrode surfaces. A three-dimensional sensitivity function is defined from which information about the preferential direction of sensitivity, blind spots, phase changes, rate of attenuation, and range of pick-up radius can be derived. The study focuses on the intrinsic features linked to the geometry of the electrode. The results show that the cannula perturbs the potential distribution significantly. The preferential directions of sensitivity are determined by the amount of geometric offset between the individual sensitivity functions of the core and the cannula. The sensitivity function also reveals a complicated pattern of phase changes in the pick-up range. Rotation of the electrode about its axis was found to alter the duration, the peak-to-peak amplitude, and the risetime of waveforms recorded from a moving dipole. >
Suicide Survivors' Perceptions of the Treating Clinician

Seventy-one suicide survivors were surveyed about their perceptions of the clinicians who were treating their loved one at the time of death. Survivors provided information regarding their perceptions and attitudes toward clinician behaviors before and after the suicide and their perceptions of helpful and troubling aspects of clinician behaviors. Results indicated that survivors share a number of common opinions regarding the mental health care providers treating their loved ones. Several differences existed between survivors who consider lawsuits against mental health care providers versus those who do not. The implications of these findings for clinical practice, legal issues, surviving suicide, and future research are discussed.
Development of a binder fracture test to determine fracture energy properties

Based on knowledge and findings that existing binder tests may not accurately predict cracking performance at intermediate temperatures, this study embarked in the development a new binder fracture energy test to fill this void. Nonlinear 3-D finite element analysis (FEA) was used to identify and optimise an appropriate specimen geometry to allow for accurate determination of true stress and strain on the fracture plane, thereby ensuring accurate determination of fracture energy. Various binders were tested at multiple temperatures and loading rates using prototype specimens in order to evaluate the feasibility and validity of different specimen geometries. The researchers used nonlinear FEA results to establish a data interpretation system and develop a set of diagrams to simplify calculation procedures. After extensive observation of test results, the researchers concluded that the new fracture energy test and data interpretation system suitably measure unmodified and modified binder fracture energy den...
Noninvasive Measurements of Cerebral Blood Flow, Oxygen Extraction Fraction, and Oxygen Metabolic Index in Human with Inhalation of Air and Carbogen using Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Noninvasive magnetic resonance (MR) methods have been explored to provide quantitative measurements of cerebral blood flow (CBF), oxygen extraction fraction (OEF), and oxygen metabolic index (OMI = CBF × OEF). In this study, we sought to evaluate whether MR measured OEF, CBF, and OMI can consistently detect the expected physiological changes in humans under normal and hyperoxic hypercapnic conditions. Nine healthy human subjects were scanned while breathing through a mask, alternating inhaled gas in a sequential order as room air, carbogen (3% CO2 mixed with 97% O2), room air, carbogen, and room air. OEF, CBF, and OMI were obtained from the whole brain, gray matter (GM), and white matter (WM) at each gas inhalation state. Similar to previous positron emission tomography findings, our study consistently demonstrated a 10–12% decrease in OEF with a 10% increase of CBF and a stable OMI during carbogen inhalation. Moreover, GM/WM ratio in CBF and OMI remained constant during air and carbogen breathing. In addition, OEF, CBF, and OMI were highly reproducible if the same inhaled gas was used. In summary, our results demonstrate that noninvasive MR measurements can provide reproducible measurements of OEF, CBF, and OMI in normal subjects under normal and altered physiological conditions.
Discordant fibular aplasia in twins

A male infant, one of monozygotic twins, was born with absence of fibulae, ectrodactyly of the right hand and both feet, with accompanying deficiencies. This second case report of a discordant fibular aplasia developmental field defect occurring in monozygotic twins, although likely sporadic, is interesting because of the similar pattern of anomalies. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Influence of Competitive Advantage on Formulation Business Strategy

Abstract In current environment, with growing interdependence between the markets and in increasing competition, it is more difficult to maintain current enterprise market position. It is more and more important to correctly select companies’ strategy, because as mentioned by Kotler: “if the company has the same strategy as the competitors, it actually does not have a strategy. For these reasons it is necessary for the company to base this strategy on their own market position and build on their distinctive competitive advantage.” The aim of this paper is to analyze the relationship between competitive advantage and strategy and to determine in what areas of business companies have the most connected strategy with their own competitive advantage.
Lentiviral-Induced High-Grade Gliomas in Rats: The Effects of PDGFB , HRAS-G12V , AKT , and IDH1-R132H

In human gliomas, the RTK/RAS/PI(3)K signaling pathway is nearly always altered. We present a model of experimental gliomagenesis that elucidates the contributions of genes involved in this pathway (PDGF-B ligand, HRAS-G12V, and AKT). We also examine the effect on gliomagenesis by the potential modifier gene, IDH1-R132H. Injections of lentiviral-encoded oncogenes induce de novo gliomas of varying penetrance, tumor progression, and histological grade depending on the specific oncogenes used. Our model mimics hallmark histological structures of high-grade glioma, such as pseudopalisades, glomeruloid microvascular proliferation, and diffuse tumor invasion. We use our model of gliomagenesis to test the efficacy of an experimental brain tumor gene therapy. Our model allowed us to test the contributions of oncogenes in the RTK/RAS/PI(3)K pathway, and their potential modification by over-expression of mutated IDH1, in glioma development and progression in rats. Our model constitutes a clinically relevant system to study gliomagenesis, the effects of modifier genes, and the efficacy of experimental therapeutics.
Quantum interferometry: Matter waves in a new light

Ionizing radiation can diffract molecules and demonstrate a novel matter-wave interferometer. Ionization gratings may now enable quantum interference with heavier particles and interferometric measurements with higher precision.
A perturbation analysis of the problem of downdating a Cholesky factorization

Abstract The rank-one modification of a Cholesky factorization R> T R− zz T =D T D , where R and D are upper triangular matrices and z is a column vector, is called the downdating problem. There are many articles devoted to this problem, due to its broad range of applications and numerical difficulty. This paper serves as a first-order parametrized perturbation analysis of this problem.
Tuned Mass Dampers

A review of representative research on tuned massed dampers (TMD) reported in journals in recent years is presented. TMDs are divided into four categories: conventional TMDs, pendulum TMDs (PTMDs), bi-directional TMDs (BTMDs), and tuned liquid column dampers (TLCDs).
Involvement of H1 and H2 Receptors and Soluble Guanylate Cyclase in Histamine‐Induced Relaxation of Rat Mesenteric Collecting Lymphatics

Objective This study investigated the roles of the H1 and H2 histamine receptors, nitric oxide (NO) synthase, and soluble guanylate (sGC) cyclase in histamine-induced modulation of rat mesenteric collecting lymphatic pumping.
The Protean Role of Health Care Delivery Organizations in Comparative Effectiveness Research

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 appropriated $1.1 billion for comparative effectiveness research (CER) and delineated CER as a key component of the national health care agenda. Most discussions of CER have focused on definitions, topic prioritization, and the potential impact of this discipline on individual patient care decisions. Less has been said about the role of health care delivery organizations (herein considered to be establishments with centralized, multidisciplinary resources to provide direct patient care, such as an integrated health system or a practice network) in contributing to the CER knowledge base and applying CER findings.
Serum and Insulin Induce a Grb2-Dependent Shift in Agonist Affinity of β-Adrenergic Receptors

Abstract β-Adrenergic receptors transduce catecholamine binding to activation of adenylylcyclase, a response counter-regulated by insulin. Insulin stimulates tyrosine phosphorylation of Tyr 350/354, which abolishes the catecholamine response. Phosphorylation of Try 350/354 creates a Src homology 2 (SH2) domain on the β2-adrenergic receptor and the binding of adaptor protein Grb2 to this SH2 domain of the β-adrenergic receptor takes place in an insulin-dependent manner. In membranes from serum-deprived S49 mouse lymphoma cells, GTPγS yields the well-known agonist-specific shift in agonist affinity for β2-adrenergic receptors. The agonist-specific shift is observed in cell membranes either in the absence or in the presence of exogenously added purified Grb2. In membranes for serum-fed cells, in contrast, the addition of Grb2 induces an agonist-specific shift in receptor affinity that mimics addition of GTPγS to the membranes. The ability of the Grb2 to induce an agonist-specific shift in the membranes from serum-fed cells was abolished equally effectively either by competition with phosphopeptide harbouring the (p)YVNV motif or by disruption of the SH2 domain of added Grb2. Challenging Chinese hamster ovary cells with insulin (100 nM) for 30 min enabled Grb2 to induce an agonist-specific shift in agonist affinity for β2-adrenergic receptors, suggestive of uncoupling of the receptors from G proteins. The insulin-dependent Grb2 effect on receptor–G-protein coupling was sensitive to competition by the pYVNY phosphopeptide and to disruption of the SH2 domain of Grb2. These data provide a biochemical link between the ability of insulin to counter-regulate catecholamine stimulation of cyclic AMP accumulation and the phosphorylation of the β-adrenergic receptor, consequent biding of the adaptor molecule Grb2 and disruption of receptor–G-protein coupling.
Mental health correlates of victimization classes among homeless youth

Literature reports high rates of street victimization among homeless youth and recognizes psychiatric symptoms associated with such victimization. Few studies have investigated the existence of victimization classes that differ in type and frequency of victimization and how youth in such classes differ in psychiatric profiles. We used latent class analysis (LCA) to examine whether classes of homeless youth, based on both type and frequency of victimization experiences, differ in rates of meeting diagnostic criteria for major depressive episodes and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in a sample of homeless youth (N=601) from three regions of the United States. RESULTS suggest youth who experience high levels of direct and indirect victimization (high-victimization class) share similarly high rates of depressive episodes and PTSD as youth who experience primarily indirect victimization only (witness class). Rates of meeting criteria for depressive episodes and PTSD were nearly two and three times greater, respectively, among the high victimization and witness classes compared to youth who never or rarely experienced victimization. FINDINGS suggest the need for screening and intervention for homeless youth who report direct and indirect victimization and youth who report indirect victimization only, while prevention efforts may be more relevant for youth who report limited victimization experience. Language: en
EFFECTS OF AMINOOXYACETIC ACID AND l‐GLUTAMIC ACID‐γ‐HYDRAZIDE ON GABA METABOLISM IN SPECIFIC BRAIN REGIONS

— Aminooxyacetic acid (AOAA) administration produced an increase in γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) levels in regions of cerebral cortex, subcortex and cerebellum. In some cortical areas studied, the maximal effect was observed with 25 mg/kg AOAA; in other regions GABA levels were increased further with 50 and 75 mg/kg AOAA. Pretreatment with 25 mg/kg AOAA effectively inhibited GABA:2-oxoglutarate aminotransferase (GABA-T) and partially inhibited glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) activity in regions of cerebral cortex. However, this dose did not affect GAD activity in substantia nigra while GABA-T in the nigra and in the cerebellum was only partially inhibited. In both cortical and subcortical areas, the increase in GABA produced by 25 mg/kg of AOAA was linear. In contrast, l-glutamic acid-hydrazide (GAH) had no effect in the pyriform and cingulate cortex for the first 60 min after injection, and produced a biphasic GABA increase in caudate and substantia nigra over a 4 h period. Results suggest that GAH and AOAA affect regional GABA metabolism differentially and that there are several problems associated with estimating absolute GABA synthesis rates by measuring the rate or GABA accumulation after inhibition of GABA catabolism with these agents. This approach, however, may provide an easily obtainable indication of whether drugs or other manipulations are altering GABA synthesis in a given region.
Locally Anisotropic Porous Materials from Polyethylene and Crystallizable Diluents

Locally anisotropic porous materials were prepared using linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) and crystallizable organic diluents by thermally induced phase separation processes. Pyrene and hexamethylbenzene (HMB) were selected as crystallizable diluents because of their miscibility with LLDPE at elevated temperature, higher crystallization temperatures than that of LLDPE, and their individual (very different) crystallization behaviors. Equilibrium phase diagrams were calculated using the Flory−Huggins theory of solution thermodynamics and show good agreement with experimental observations. The phase separation process, which was monitored visually using an optical microscope equipped with a temperature controller, shows strong dependence on solution composition as well as the diluent identity. Solidified materials after extraction of pyrene from pyrene/LLDPE mixtures exhibit locally aligned layers of pores, with features that depend on solution composition. The pores inside semicrystalline polyethylen...
Idiopathic supraclinoid and internal carotid bifurcation steno-occlusive disease in young American adults.

We report a series of American adults with idiopathic steno-occlusive disease of the supraclinoid internal carotid artery and its bifurcation. We reviewed the clinical records and imaging of 18 patients, 16 women and 2 men, aged 20–53 years (mean 35 years). There were no predominating risk factors for vascular occlusive disease, such as oral contraceptive use, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, or smoking. Four patients had irregularity of their cervical internal carotid arteries in a pattern not classic but suspicious of fibromuscular dysplasia. Eleven patients met the criteria for moyamoya disease, having both bilateral disease and moyamoya collateral lenticulostriate arteries. Necropsy in one case showed intimal thickening with duplication of the internal elastic lamina involving the internal carotid artery bifurcation bilaterally. We found a marked predominance of young and middle-aged females in our American adults, but our findings do not support the association with birth-control pills previously reported.
Political awareness, corruption perceptions and democratic accountability in Latin America

Social scientists have demonstrated how transparency and democratic accountability can help control political corruption. Whereas this research has had much to say about how an open media environment produces constraints on politicians, the problem of how a politically ignorant public can enforce accountability has received much less attention. In this article, I argue that effective citizen monitoring of government officials depends on accurate corruption perceptions, which depends on the degree to which citizens are politically informed. An analysis of 10 Latin American countries with varied levels of corruption shows that better informed individuals have more accurate perceptions, even if, like their less informed neighbors, they still tend to underestimate the amount of corruption in their societies. The importance of citizen political awareness in the analysis strongly suggests that policy recommendations targeting corruption control feature tools that increase civic engagement along with those that increase government transparency and press freedoms.
Synthesis and oxidation of carboxylate-bridged diiron(II) complexes with substrates tethered to primary alkyl amine ligands.

Abstract The synthesis and crystallographic characterization of a series of diiron(II) complexes with sterically hindered terphenyl carboxylate ligands and alkyl amine donors are presented. The compounds [Fe 2 (μ-O 2 CAr Tol ) 4 (L) 2 ] (L = NH 2 (CH 2 ) 2 SBn ( 1 ); NH 2 (CH 2 ) 3 SMe ( 2 ); NH 2 (CH 2 ) 3 CCH ( 3 )), where − O 2 CAr Tol is 2,6-di( p -tolyl)benzoate, and [Fe 2 (μ-O 2 CAr Xyl ) 2 (O 2 CAr Xyl ) 2 (L) 2 ] (L = NH 2 (CH 2 ) 3 SMe ( 4 ); NH 2 (CH 2 ) 3 CCH ( 5 )), where − O 2 CAr Xyl is 2,6-di(3,5-dimethylphenyl)benzoate, were prepared as small molecule mimics of the catalytic sites of carboxylate-bridged non-heme diiron enzymes. The compounds with the − O 2 CAr Tol carboxylate form tetrabridged structures, but those containing the more sterically demanding − O 2 CAr Xyl ligand have only two bridging ligands. The ancillary nitrogen ligands in these carboxylate-rich complexes incorporate potential substrates for the reactive metal centers. Their oxygenation chemistry was studied by product analysis of the organic fragments following decomposition. Compound 1 reacts with dioxygen to afford PhCHO in ∼30% yield, attributed to oxidative dealkylation of the pendant benzyl group. Compound 3 decomposes to form Fe II Fe III and Fe III Fe IV mixed-valence species by established bimolecular pathways upon exposure to dioxygen at low temperatures. Upon decomposition, the alkyne-substituted amine ligand was recovered quantitatively. When the − O 2 CAr Tol carboxylate was replaced by the − O 2 CAr Xyl ligand in 5 , different behavior was observed. The six-coordinate iron(III) complex with one bidentate and two monodentate carboxylate ligands, [Fe(O 2 CAr Xyl ) 3 (NH 2 (CH 2 ) 3 CCH) 2 ] ( 6 ), was isolated from the reaction mixture following oxidation.