cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A high isoflavone diet does not change glucose tolerance, body weight, or body fat accumulation in Wistar rats (LB424)

Obesity is associated with increased risk of developing insulin resistance, inflammation, heart disease, and cancer. The accumulation of fat can be influenced by a variety of factors, including diet and activity. There is evidence that soy isoflavones may prevent fat gain by increasing thermogenesis. We hypothesized that rats fed a high isoflavone (HIF) diet would have decreased fat accumulation and improved basal glucose tolerance compared to animals fed a low isoflavone (LIF) control diet. Male Wistar rats were fed a low isoflavone control diet (LIF) diet for 72 days. Intraperitoneal glucose tolerance tests were performed, and body fat percentage was determined via Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). There were no differences in body weight (p=0.125), body fat percentage (p=0.218), fat pad weight as a percentage of body weight, or glucose tolerance area under the curve (AUC) (p=0.401). These findings suggest that the effects of an HIF diet may be strain-dependent. Moreover, a metabolic challenge suc...
Response of hya Expression to External pH in Escherichia coli

The hya operon of Escherichia coli is composed of the genes which synthesize uptake hydrogenase isoenzyme 1 (Hyd1). Although hya expression and Hyd1 synthesis occur only under anaerobic conditions, Hyd1 is not essential for growth. In this study we used a hya'-'lacZ fusion to characterize parameters of anaerobic growth that maximize hya expression in an attempt to further elucidate Hyd1 function. We found that the expression pattern of hya followed a decline of external pH. In buffered media where the pH value was set, the onset of hya expression initiated earlier in growth and reached a greater peak level in acidic than in alkaline medium. When cultures expressing hya were shifted from acidic to alkaline conditions, hya expression was arrested; shifting from alkaline to acidic conditions stimulated hya expression. Maximal expression of hya under all growth conditions required the sigma factor RpoS and transcriptional regulators AppY and ArcA. In the absence of RpoS or AppY, the response of hya expression onset to external pH was evident and maximal hya levels remained greater in acidic than in alkaline medium. However, the absence of ArcA led to a diminished response of expression onset to external pH and the loss of elevated expression at an acidic external pH. The fermentation end product formate slightly altered hya expression levels but was not required for hya to respond to external pH. In contrast to hya expression, the onset of hyb operon expression, encoding uptake hydrogenase isoenzyme 2, was constitutive with respect to external pH. However, external pH did affect hyb expression levels, which, in contrast to hya, were maximal in alkaline rather than acidic medium.
Using the Gibbs Motif Sampler to Find Conserved Domains in DNA and Protein Sequences

The Gibbs Motif Sampler (Gibbs) is a software package for discovering conserved elements in biopolymer sequences. This unit describes the basic operation of the Web-based interface to Gibbs, along with advanced examples of its use, and the Web interface to dscan, a sequence database search program. Keywords: Gibbs sampling; Transcription factor binding site; Sequence Alignment; Motif; DNA; Protein; Phylogentic Footprinting; Stochastic Algorithm; Markov Chain Monte-Carlo; Bayesian statistics
Response-class hierarchies and resurgence of severe problem behavior

Resurgence may be defined generally as the extinction-induced recurrence of previously learned response patterns. Understanding the conditions under which this phenomenon occurs has theoretical, clinical, and applied implications, particularly with respect to a related area of research on response-class hierarchies. In the current study, we examined resurgence with 2 participants who exhibited response-class hierarchies consisting of various topographies of severe problem behavior maintained by positive reinforcement. Baseline levels of responding were maintained by brief access to tangible items. In a second condition, reinforcement was produced by an alternative topography of severe problem behavior, and the initial topography was extinguished concurrently. When the reinforcement contingency for alternative behavior was removed, previously reinforced topographies recovered. This resurgence was specific to behavior that recently produced the reinforcer, which suggests that the recovery was not simply extinction-induced variation or emotional responding. The clinical implications of the results are discussed and related to results that have been produced in the laboratory by a variety of methods.
A New Spin on the Doppler Effect

Direct measurements can now be made of electron spin currents, which play a key role in advanced memory applications.
Calculation of separated flows at subsonic and transonic speeds

A boundary-layer integral approach is combined with a finite-difference relaxation method to calculate viscous interactions between separated flows at subsonic and transonic velocities. Results are obtained for separated laminar flows on circular-arc airfoils at zero angle of attack and are compared with data of Collins (1972). Inviscid and viscous flows are covered.
Shale Failure Mechanics and Intervention Measures in Underground Coal Mines: Results From 50 Years of Ground Control Safety Research

Ground control research in underground coal mines has been ongoing for over 50 years. One of the most problematic issues in underground coal mines is roof failures associated with weak shale. This paper will present a historical narrative on the research the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health has conducted in relation to rock mechanics and shale. This paper begins by first discussing how shale is classified in relation to coal mining. Characterizing and planning for weak roof sequences is an important step in developing an engineering solution to prevent roof failures. Next, the failure mechanics associated with the weak characteristics of shale will be discussed. Understanding these failure mechanics also aids in applying the correct engineering solutions. The various solutions that have been implemented in the underground coal mining industry to control the different modes of failure will be summarized. Finally, a discussion on current and future research relating to rock mechanics and shale is presented. The overall goal of the paper is to share the collective ground control experience of controlling roof structures dominated by shale rock in underground coal mining.
Video Gaming Increases Physical Activity.

The 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans and Mypramid recommend that children get 60 minutes of moderate level exercise each day. Obesity has become a serious health concern for children and adolescents. Idaho currently has an obesity rate of 10.1% for children ages 10-17. As a response to this, the Nintendo Wii was introduced into a 4-H after-school program in Idaho. Data was collected to determine if participating in exergames was an effective way to be physically active for youth ages 9-12 years of age.
Treatment as Part of Drug Court: The Impact on Graduation Rates.

Abstract Drug treatment is one of the critical components of drug court programming, yet it has not been thoroughly studied in the drug court literature. Very little is understood about the nature of drug treatment services provided in the drug court setting. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of selected treatment variables on drug court outcomes. In this study of four drug courts, the researchers explored how drug treatment services were provided using a mixture of qualitative and quantitative measures. Observations of drug treatment counselors found that treatment sessions varied in terms of the content of the sessions with a tendency to cover a broad range of topics. An analysis of graduation rates in drug courts found that participation in drug treatment affects graduation-offenders who participate more tend to graduate from drug court. However, even graduates could not follow the multilayered drug court program requirements. In the multivariate models explaining graduation rates, t...
Overview of qPCR Molecular Probes

In recent times, varieties of modified synthetic oligonucleotides conjugated with reporter molecules have been employed in hybridization-based assays. These methods have broad applications in both basic molecular biology research and in clinical diagnostics and screening because they have high specificity to a target nucleic acid sequence. The development of the fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) process has improved the performance and utility of these hybridization-based assays. In this unit, we discuss the main principles of the design and synthesis of the qPCR probes. © 2015 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Keywords: qPCR; fluorophore; quencher dye; molecular probes; molecular beacons; fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET)
Need for touch and information processing strategies: An empirical examination

Drawing from literatures on haptic modality and information processing, direct measures of information processing strategy are developed and applied to investigate whether touch search is a form of analytical processing. Applying two distinct approaches in the two studies, evidence of the processing style of those high in need for touch, compared with those low in need for touch, is gathered and tested in an online context where touch is not available. Cumulatively, the findings indicate that high-need-for-touch consumers follow an analytical, feature-by-feature processing strategy, whereas those low in need for touch rely more on a relational processing strategy. Theoretical and managerial implications are provided. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The Rationalizability of Two-Step Choices

This paper presents a formal characterization of a two stage decision rule. This characterization involves three conditions which, together, are satisfied by any choice function that can be represented as a two-tier choice function. And any choice function satisfying these three conditions can be represented as a two-tier choice function. The first condition identifies particular features of two-tier choice functions when they violate Property α. The other two conditions are essentially existence claims, required to ensure that the two tiers of a choice function can be represented as (pseudo-)rationalizable choice functions. My aim is to offer a formal result that provides insight into the nature of two-tier decisions. The more we understand how a particular decision procedure operates, the more we should expect to predict its results accurately, and the more we should be able to understand the circumstances under which its use is (and is not) appropriate.
The relationship between wheelchair mobility patterns and community participation among individuals with spinal cord injury

Participation is considered the most meaningful outcome of rehabilitation. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether there were correlations between wheelchair activity recorded with a data logger and community participation as measured by the Participation Survey/Mobility. Data from 16 participants were included in this study. Data collected during a two week period using a data logging device were analyzed to determine the mobility characteristics of participants. Among manual wheelchair users, significant positive correlations were found between average speed traveled and the community participation content areas of transportation (rs = .837, p = .019) and socialization (rs = .772, p = .042). In addition, for manual wheelchair users there was a trend toward a significant correlation between average speed traveled and total community participation score (rs = .714, p = .071). Among power wheelchair users, there was a trend toward a significant negative correlation between average speed travel...
Hyaluronic acid synthesis in a cell-free system from rat fibrosarcoma

Abstract A transplantable rat fibrosarcoma (in both ascites and solid forms) has been shown to contain and synthesize large amounts of hyaluronic acid. A particulate hyaluronic acid synthesizing system has been isolated from the solid fibrosarcoma and some characteristics of the enzyme system are detailed. The enzyme complex transferred GlcUA or GlcNAc from UDP-GlcUA or UDP-GlcNAc at a rate of approximately 60 nmole/hr/mg protein to extend hyaluronic acid chains by approximately 45,000 daltons.
An evaluation in rats of the relationship between the frequency of providing food and the caries-producing ability of diets.

Abstract A mechanical device was used to offer food to caries-susceptible rats for limited, reproducible periods throughout each day of the 60-day experimental period. When cariogenic diet 2700 was provided for four 60-min or four 84-min periods each day, the rate of growth was good and highly significant reductions in the prevalence of dental caries occurred in the occlusal sulci and on the smooth surfaces. When an additional four 84-min feedings of either sucrose or diet 2700 were offered, major increases in carious lesions occurred. When four daily 84-min feedings of Purina Laboratory Meal were alternated with four daily 84-min feedings of sucrose or diet 2700, the prevalence of carious lesions in both groups was significantly less than when diet 2700 was fed ad libitum throughout the day. The periodic feeding device and the general procedure employed proved to be worthwhile for the evaluation of the caries-producing potential of a diet or a food item, such as sucrose, when fed intermittently.
Prevalence of α-Subunit Hypersecretion in Patients with Pituitary Tumors: Clinically Nonfunctioning and Somatotroph Adenomas*

Hypersecretion of the pituitary glycoprotein hormone α-subunit has been reported in pituitary adenomas, particularly in clinically nonfunctioning tumors and somatotroph adenomas. However, the prevalence of such hypersecretion has not been precisely defined. Using both a new highly sensitive and specific monoclonal antibody assay and a polyclonal antibody assay, serum levels of free α-subunit were compared in 63 unselected patients with these tumors, 19 patients with acro-megaly, and 95 normal controls. In all patients the monoclonal assay detected a significantly greater number of subjects with elevated α-subunit levels than did the polyclonal assay (21 vs. 14; P < 0.01). Fourteen of the 63 patients with clinically nonfunctioning tumors (22%) had elevated serum α-subunit levels in the monoclonal assay vs. 11 (17%) in the polyclonal assay. Among the 19 patients with acromegaly, the prevalence was 7 (37%) and 3 (16%) using the monoclonal and polyclonal assays, respectively.Twenty-eight (44%) of the patients...
Social Television: Enabling Technologies and Architectures

In this paper, we review recent networking developments that will help create the next-generation social television experiences. These include revisiting the way networks are created and using social connectivity to drive physical connectivity and network virtualization. Multipath dissemination and reduction of interruptions will provide better quality of experience. Content protection and privacy are also essential to enable social commentary and metadata applications and will be briefly introduced. Examples of potential applications and results of field trials are also included.
Methamphetamine-induced depression of monoamine synthesis in the rat: development of tolerance.

: Animals treated with high doses of amphetamines have been used as a model of schizophrenia due to the similarities between the psychosis associated with this mental disorder and that induced by chronic amphetamine abuse. When administered to naive rats in high doses, the amphetamine-like CNS stimulant methamphet-amine produces drastic alterations in the neurochemical parameters of the neostriatal monoaminergic systems. These alterations are characterized by a decrease in the activities of the rate-limiting enzymes for dopamine and serotonin synthesis, as well as a decrease in the concentrations of both neurotransmitters and their metabolites. However, tolerance develops to these neurochemical effects when drug administration occurs in a pattern similar to that encountered during chronic amphetamine abuse. The results indicate that the neurochemical alterations produced by amphetamines in naive and tolerant animals differ widely. This suggests that the administration of high doses of amphetamine-like central stimulants to naive rats may not be an appropriate model for studying the neurochemical changes associated with psychosis and amphetamine abuse.
Synthesis of ZnO coated activated carbon aerogel by simple sol–gel route

We demonstrated the synthesis of high surface area ZnO–ACA composites with well-crystallized ZnO nanoparticles by simple sol–gel process. The coverage of ZnO nanoparticles on the carbon framework of ACA is very uniform, with no exposed carbon framework. Thermal removal of carbon produces ZnO replica structure mimicking the original ACA framework.
Advice for residency candidates going to the Midyear Clinical Meeting

Mingling with 20,000 other pharmacists can be an intimidating experience for residency candidates at their first ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting (MCM). A little bit of preparation on your part will improve your MCM experience and, most importantly, help you to identify residency programs that are a
Asymmetric hydrogenation of methyl α-benzamido cinnamate in ionic liquid solvent

Abstract The room temperature ionic liquid EMIMOTf was employed as the sole reaction solvent for the asymmetric hydrogenation of methyl α-benzamido cinnamate. Under conditions of 60 psi hydrogen and 50 °C for 24 h, near quantitative conversions were observed using both the achiral DiPFc–Rh catalyst, and the chiral EtDuPHOS–Rh catalysts. Enantiomeric excess of 89% ee was observed for hydrogenations carried out with the chiral catalyst.
Dielectric Relaxation in Alkaline-Earth Fluoride Crystals

Dielectric absorption has been investigated over a temperature range from -34 to 450\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}C and a frequency range from 1 to ${10}^{6}$ cps for doped Ca${\mathrm{F}}_{2}$, Ba${\mathrm{F}}_{2}$, and Sr${\mathrm{F}}_{2}$ crystals. The activation and association energies for the dipolar complexes have been determined. The activation energy for Ca${\mathrm{F}}_{2}$ doped with 0.01-mole% Y${\mathrm{F}}_{3}$ was found to be 1.17 eV.
Retention of quantum numbers by quark and multiquark jets

Quantum-number retention in the fragmentation region of a jet is investigated as a means to identify and classify quark and multiquark systems in lepton- and hadron-induced reactions. We show that a simple "inside-outside" cascade model with a causal space-time structure predicts that the mean charge of hadrons in the jet fragmentation region equals the charge of the parent quark system modulo a universal constant ${\ensuremath{\eta}}_{Q}$ (the mean quark charge of the sea) confirming previous analyses. Specific tests are discussed, including deep-inelastic neutrino scattering, ${e}^{+}{e}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ annihilation with a strongly leading hadron, and massive-lepton-pair production. We emphasize that the Drell-Yan process could play a crucial role in testing these ideas for multiquark jets and identifying a possible "hole" fragmentation region. We also discuss the utility of using a charge-momentum vector as a discriminant of jet structure. Finally we emphasize the utility of charge-retention tests in large-${p}_{T}$ hadronic reactions in order to discriminate between various contributing subprocesses.
The French Paradox: 20 Years Later

The recognition by scientists and the public of potential health effects of moderate drinking increased approximately two decades ago from reports of the so-called ‘French Paradox’: high levels of risk factors among the French but very low rates of coronary heart disease (CHD). Literally thousands of publications since then have confirmed that moderate drinking, especially of wine, is associated with a lower risk of many of the diseases of ageing. Further, a large number of mechanisms have been identified, including effects of drinking on blood lipids, endothelial function, coagulation, inflammation, glucose metabolism, and gene expression. When a national television program in the US in 1991 informed the public that moderate wine consumption may lower the risk of CHD, it was the first time that a reliable major news source had even suggested that there may be beneficial, rather than just harmful, effects of a beverage containing alcohol. This information immediately led a number of ‘scientists’ and ‘expe...
Florida current volume transports from voltage measurements.

The volume transport of the Florida Current is determined from the motionally induced voltage difference between Florida and Grand Bahama Island. Simultaneous measurements of potential differences and of volume transport by velocity profiling have a correlation of 0.97. The calibration factor is 25± 0.7 sverdrups per volt, and the root-mean-square discrepancy is 0.7 sverdrup. The induced voltage is about one-half the open-circuit value, implying that the conductance of the sediments and lithosphere is about equal to that of the water column.
The effect of variable-rate cash incentives on safety belt use

Following an awareness campaign targeting the use of safety belts at a large pharmaceutical company, the present research examined the effects of a variable-rate cash-incentive strategy designed to further boost the level of plant-wide safety belt use. The observed percentage of belt use showed a sig- nificant increase during the incentive phase and a subsequent decline during short-term follow-up, although levels during follow-up were significantly higher than during baseline. Belt wearing was found to be essentially un- changed 6 months later during long-term follow-up.
Activation of NF-κB-dependent gene expression by Salmonella flagellins FliC and FljB

Bacterial flagellin is recognized by Toll-like receptor (TLR5) and activates NF-κB which leads to the induction of proinflammatory gene expression. Salmonella expresses two flagellin proteins, FliC and FljB. We purified FliC and FljB and examined the ability of the Salmonella flagellins to activate the NF-κB transcription factor in human embryonic kidney cells. We found that FliC and FljB as purified proteins possessed a comparable specific activity for activation of NF-κB-dependent gene expression in HEK293 cells. We also determined the ability of UV-inactivated bacteria, both wild-type and fliC and fljB mutant strains, to activate NF-κB. Wild-type fliC+/fljB+ Salmonella and the fliC+/fljB− mutant strain were robust activators, whereas the fliC−/fljB+ and flhC− mutant strains were very poor activators. The NF-κB activation capacity of bacterial strains correlated with their flagellin expression level. Finally, Salmonella cell wall-associated polymeric flagellin displayed greatly reduced ability to activate NF-κB compared to purified monomeric flagellin.
Finite Element Studies of the Influence of Pile-up on the Analysis of Nanoindentation Data

Methods currently used for analyzing nanoindentation load-displacement data give good predictions of the contact area in the case of hard materials, but can underestimate the contact area by as much as 40% for soft materials which do not work harden. This underestimation results from the pile-up which forms around the hardness impression and leads to potentially significant errors in the measurement of hardness and elastic modulus. Finite element simulations of conical indentation for a wide range of elastic-plastic materials are presented which define the conditions under which pile-up is significant and determine the magnitude of the errors in hardness and modulus which may occur if pile-up is ignored. It is shown that the materials in which pile-up is not an important factor can be experimentally identified from the ratio of the final depth after unloading to the depth of the indentation at peak load, a parameter which also correlates with the hardness-to-modulus ratio.
Low dose of morphine and the consumption of a sweetened ethanol solution: Differential effects on acquisition and maintenance

The influence of a low dose of morphine was investigated on the acquisition and maintenance of consumption of a sweetened ethanol solution with water as the alternative in a two-bottle choice procedure. During acquisition in Experiment 1, morphine failed to significantly increase the consumption of a sweetened ethanol solution compared to either a postinjection period in the same animals or a no-treatment control group. Although morphine significantly increased sweetened ethanol consumption when compared to a saline control group, this appears to be due to a stress response to the injections, which suppressed ethanol consumption in the saline animals. During maintenance in Experiment 2, morphine significantly increased consumption of sweetened ethanol in all groups compared to consumption following saline control injections. There was no difference in this effect among the three groups, suggesting that prior history with morphine was not a factor. In addition, rats that were exposed to morphine during both experiments drank significantly more sweetened ethanol following injections in Experiment 2 than in Experiment 1. This suggests that morphine's potentiation of ethanol consumption is due to its interaction with endogenous opioid receptors that modulate the reward value of ethanol rather than more general mechanisms affecting satiety or taste. The results of these experiments provide support for both the Deficit and Surfeit Hypotheses of ethanol consumption, both of which suggest that endogenous opioid receptors are responsible, in part, for ethanol's reinforcing properties.
16th Moon of Jupiter discovered

Stephen P. Synnott, a Voyager project navigator at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, who discovered a 15th moon of Jupiter last spring, has done it again. He discovered a 16th Jovian satellite while searching through photographs taken last year by Voyager spacecraft whose missions were to confirm the discovery of a 14th satellite. Synnott's newest discovery, tentatively numbered 1979 J3, is about 340 km in diameter. It circles the planet once in 7 hours, 4 minutes, 30 seconds, with an uncertainty of 3 to 5 seconds. This latest discovery came from the same process in which he found the 15th satellite in March 1980. Synnott believed at that time that he had confirmed the earlier sighting of the 14th satellite because they had similar orbits and sizes.
Integration of the Mortgage Market into the National Capital Markets: 1963–1993

Abstract Over the period 1963–1993, many of the institutions of the secondary mortgage market were formed and the thrifts were deregulated. These changes were expected to make the mortgage market more closely related to the national capital markets. This study uses two methods to test the impact of these changes. First, cointegration analysis tests this relationship over the entire period and in three subperiods (1963–1968, 1969–1979, and 1980–1993). We selected the subperiods to reflect the changes in the mortgage market. Unlike prior studies, we find the mortgage market to have been cointegrated with the national markets over the entire period as well as in each of the subperiods. Estimates of the error correction model show a change in the short-run dynamics between the two markets. Second, quality control charts and regression analysis are used to examine changes in the geographic variation in local mortgage rates. If the local markets became more integrated into the national market, the geographic variation in the rates should decrease. The results are consistent with this hypothesis.
Charactervation of Adhesion in Thin-Film Materials by the Blister Test

In this work a blister test is applied to study the adhesion of thin films to substrates. In the blister test one injects a fluid at constant rate at the interface between the substrate and an overlayer to create a “blister”. The fluid pressure is measured as function of time. An analysis gives a reliable way of calculating the adhesion energy Ga. from the time-dependent pressure data. The method was applied to a variety of systems including polymer/polymer, polymer/silicon and polymer/metal interfaces. The results show that the test is very sensitive and is able to determine small adhesion energies inaccessible in conventional peel tests. This work demonstrates that the blister test provides a means of relating the mechanical strength of an interface to its microscopic dynamic and structural features.
Synthesis, characterization, and in vitro assay of folic acid conjugates of 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine (AZT): toward targeted AZT based anticancer therapeutics.

Conjugates of three components namely folic acid, poly(ethyleneglycol) and 3 ′-azido-3 ′-deoxythymidine (AZT) are presented. Folate-PEG units were coupled to AZT to facilitate delivery of the nucleoside into the cell. A convenient separation of the polydisperse PEGylated-folic acid regioisomers produced upon conjugation is described. This is to select for the active γ-regioisomer over the inactive α-regioisomer. In vitro cytotoxicity assays were conducted against an ovarian cell line (A2780/AD) that overexpresses the folate receptor (FR) and compared to a FR free control cell line. Compared to AZT a ∼20-fold greater potency against the resistant ovarian line was observed for the conjugates.
Giant Electrostriction and Relaxor Ferroelectric Behavior in Electron-Irradiated Poly(vinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene) Copolymer

An exceptionally high electrostrictive response ( approximately 4 percent) was observed in electron-irradiated poly(vinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene) [P(VDF-TrFE)] copolymer. The material exhibits typical relaxor ferroelectric behavior, suggesting that the electron irradiation breaks up the coherent polarization domain (all-trans chains) in normal ferroelectric P(VDF-TrFE) copolymer into nanopolar regions (nanometer-size, all-trans chains interrupted by trans and gauche bonds) that transform the material into a relaxor ferroelectric. The expanding and contracting of these polar regions under external fields, coupled with a large difference in the lattice strain between the polar and nonpolar phases, generate an ultrahigh strain response.
Trie representation for expressing the compatibility between items in a logical bill of material structure

This paper presents a new technique which uses a tree for constraining the compatibility among components in a logical bill of material (BOM) structure. The new representation for restricting possible combinations of components is designed to address the limitations of matrix representations that were used for the same purpose in earlier work. These matrix representations, which assume that the compatibility in a BOM can always be described for pairs of components, cannot be used for products in which the compatibility among three or more components is an issue. Thus, it is proposed to use a standard tree with a special representation, which is called a trie, to represent the compatibility between the components in a product configuration. Similar to the inter-component compatibility matrix, the trie can be used to validate and/or complete an arbitrary product configuration during the configuration process without having to spell out product configuration rules. The new representation provides the user with a means to describe all possible compatibility relationships with a limited amount of data. This trie representation is comprehensive, easy to maintain, and easy to understand.
Remission of Maternal Depression: Relations to Family Functioning and Youth Internalizing and Externalizing Symptoms

Family functioning and parenting were hypothesized to mediate the relation between remission of maternal depression and children's psychosocial adjustment. Participants were 114 mother-child dyads participating in the Sequenced Treatment Alternatives to Relieve Depression Child 3-month follow-up. All mothers had been diagnosed with major depressive disorder and were treated initially with citalopram; 33% of mothers experienced remission of depressive symptoms. Youth ranged in age from 7 to 17. Remission of maternal depression was associated with changes in children's reports of their mothers' warmth/acceptance, which in turn partially mediated the relation between maternal depression remission and youth internalizing symptoms, accounting for 22.9% of the variance.
FOKKER-PLANCK EQUATION AND NON-LINEAR HYDRODYNAMIC EQUATIONS OF A SYSTEM OF SEVERAL BROWNIAN PARTICLES IN A NON-EQUILIBRIUM BATH

Abstract The Fokker-Planck equation of a system of several Brownian particles immersed in a non-equilibrium bath of light particles is derived from first principles of statistical mechanics using time-dependent projection operators. The Fokker-Planck equation contains the usual equilibrium streaming and dissipative terms as well as terms reflecting spatial variations in the bath pressure, temperature and velocity. We make use of the effective Liouvillian obtained from the Fokker-Plank equation and of time-dependent projection operators involving properties of local equilibrium distribution functions to derive the exact non-linear hydrodynamic equations of the Brownian particles. The exact equations are simplified using the fact that the thermodynamic forces vary slowly on a molecular timescale and the resulting local transport equations are expressed in terms of homogeneous local equilibrium averages. The non-equilibrium conditional distribution for the bath is obtained from the Fokker-Planck equation using time-dependent projection operators and is used to derive the non-linear hydrodynamic equations of the bath. The number density hydrodynamic equations for the bath and the Brownian particles remain unchanged from the case of a system of isolated particles, but the momentum and energy density expressions are no longer conserved and contain additional terms accounting for the non-equilibrium nature of the bath and for the irreversible processes occurring in the system. The non-linear hydrodynamic equations for the bath and Brownian densities are combined to yield the conserved non-linear hydrodynamic equations for the total densities of the system.
Health Resources for Performers: Preventing, Negating, and Healing Performance-Related Injuries

With the increasing awareness and research invested into the field of performing arts medicine, musicians and health care professionals seeking information about performance-related injuries have access to a rapidly growing array of resources and databases. Health information specialists can have an immense beneficial impact by introducing these resources as well as by providing training and assistance in the navigation and evaluation of the contained health information. The following article presents an overview of resources available to assist musicians and health care professionals as they seek to prevent, adjust to, or recover from their injuries.
A POSSBLE INDICATION OF LARGE 'PENGUIN'-CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE KS→ππ DECAY

Experiment data on the decay D0→π+π-, combined with a factorization hypothesis, may be used to estimate the size of 'penguin'-contributions to the ΔI=1/2 kaon decays. The result of such an analysis supports the expectation that the ΔI=1/2 rule in the kaon decays may arise from a large 'penguin'-contribution enhancement.
Bruton and Tec: New Links in Osteoimmunology

Enhanced and deficient immune responses are associated with abnormal bone homeostasis. A new study by Shinohara et al. (2008) shows that protein phosphorylation by the tyrosine kinases Bruton and Tec links immunity and bone as well as two signaling pathways in precursors of osteoclasts, the cells that degrade bone.
High-Technology Restructuring in the USA and Japan

In this paper, the comparative responses of the USA and Japan to the rise of new high-technology industries are examined. The United States pattern mainly revolves around the rise of high-technology districts like Silicon Valley and Route 128 which comprise dense networks of small entrepreneurial firms and other related institutions. Despite its tremendous innovative capabilities, this pattern generates significant costs (that is, high turnover of labor, chronic entrepreneurship, and an emphasis on breakthrough innovations at the expense of manufactured products) which are not sufficiently recognized by proponents of the flexible specialization or ‘simple flexibility’ thesis. The Japanese approach to restructuring is contrasted as one of ‘structured flexibility’ where large corporations perform important ‘system governance’ functions in the linking of manufacturing and innovation and act as focal points in just-in-time production complexes. Japan's pattern of ‘structured flexibility’ overcomes many of the...
Effects of prevailing wage laws on municipal government wages

Abstract A number of authors have suggested that prevailing wage laws tend to raise the wages of covered employees. Yet, no one has previously tested this hypothesis directly. In OLS regressions the prevailing wage law is found to have a negative effect that is not statistically significant. In a two-stage procedure the effect is found to be positive and statistically significant in the preferred formulation. Further tests provide additional evidence that the existence of prevailing wage laws is responsive to economic conditions.
Obstetric complications correlate with neurobehavioral and brain structural alterations in young relatives at risk for schizophrenia.

: As complications of pregnancy and birth may be important risk factors for the development of schizophrenia, studying the “roots” of schizophrenia in high-risk offspring may better elucidate the interface between biology, environment, and susceptibility to illness. Using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), neurobehavioral assessments and obstetric histories, we found several significant correlations between these multiple factors, suggesting that birth complications may be a nonspecific etiopathogenic risk factor for psychopathology in young relatives at risk for schizophrenia.
A nonrelativistic formula for calculating Doppler broadening in two-body collisions

Abstract A nonrelativistic formula for calculating the Doppler (kinematic) broadening of the energies of groups of atomic or nuclear particles emitted in two-body collisions is derived. This formula is a third-order expansion in the small angular deviations from the mean direction of emission of the observed particles. The relative importance of the first-, second- and third-order terms in this expansion is considered for three representative examples.
PBI powder processing to performance parts

A new route (“direct forming”) was developed for forming dense PBI shapes from PBI powder. The new process affords the possibility of automated PBI powder shaping (“cold compaction”) and densification in batches of multiple parts by a “powder-assisted hot isostatic pressing” process. Direct forming is a more productive alternative to hot compression molding. Two developments enable PBI direct forming: (1) the discovery that PBI powders that are porous and plasticized with moisture can be shaped by compaction at ambient temperatures (cold-compacted), and (2) a finding that cold-compacted shapes can be densified in large batches by a powder-assisted hot isostatic pressing. The porous PBI powder is formed from PBI in solution by a spray-precipitation process. When plasticized with moisture, this powder is cold-compactible to PBI shapes with densities up to 94% of that of ultimate density of PBI. These shapes, which have sufficient strength to be handled, are then further consolidated via powder-assisted hot isostatic pressing to shapes with excellent thermal and mechanical properties and densities of about 99% of the ultimate. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
ITP in pregnancy and the newborn: introduction

Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) occurs more commonly in young women and is one of the commonest immune mediated disorders in pregnancy. It may exist as an incidental finding in an otherwise healthy pregnant woman or may be associated with symptomatic reduction in the platelet count and varying degrees of clinical hemorrhage. The condition termed incidental thrombocytopenia of pregnancy is invariably associated with a platelet count of greater than 100 x 10(9)/L and a very low incidence of fetal thrombocytopenia. Symptomatic thrombocytopenia is more commonly associated with low platelet counts in the fetus (estimated between 20%-40%). It has recently been suggested that the incidence of fetal thrombocytopenia is substantially lower than this figure. The management of ITP in pregnancy is complicated by the fact that fetal thrombocytopenia is difficult to diagnose and carries substantial risks during the delivery process with rare cases of fetal hemorrhage occurring spontaneously in utero. Unfortunately there are no laboratory studies that can be performed precisely in the mother that may predict the occurrence of fetal thrombocytopenia. Maternal management is usually directed towards treatment of maternal symptoms. Maternal treatment or response to treatment is inconsistently associated with predictable changes in the fetal platelet count. Obstetric management is aimed at reducing the risks of life threatening fetal hemorrhage occurring at the time of delivery, and fetal management is directed towards the obtaining of fetal platelet samples in order to plan an appropriate strategy for obstetrical delivery. Fetal blood samples are obtained either by a scalp vein puncture at the time of delivery or earlier in gestation by the use of the newer technique termed percutaneous umbilical blood sampling. Fetuses with platelet counts of less then 50 x 10(9)/L are generally delivered by cesarean section whereas those with counts greater than 50 x 10(9)/L are allowed to proceed with vaginal delivery assuming no obstetrical contraindications exist. The use of IVIgG therapy during pregnancy has theoretical implications on improving platelet counts in the mother in situations of severe hemorrhage, however cannot be considered to be appropriate treatment for the prevention of fetal thrombocytopenia, since the exogenous transport of IVIgG across the placenta appears to be inconsistent and unpredictable.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Prolactin, calcitonin, and blood calcium in the toads Bufo boreas and Bufo marinus.

Abstract Bufo boreas and B. marinus show a hypocalcemic response to a single injection of porcine calcitonin (significant in the latter). Chronic treatment results in hypercalcemia. Ovine prolactin treatment results in a tendency toward hypercalcemia in all cases, which was not significant in any single experiment. However, a possible prolactin-ultimobranchial relation remains equivocal.
Susceptibility of Selected Strains of Australian Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) to Rift Valley Fever Virus

We evaluated the ability of selected strains of the Australian mosquitoes, Aedes notoscriptus (Skuse), Ae. vigilax (Skuse), Culex annulirostris Skuse, and Cx. quinquefasciatus Say, to function as potential vectors of Rift Valley fever (RVF) virus, should that virus be introduced accidentally into Australia. After feeding on a hamster with a viremia of 107 plaque-forming units/ml of blood, Ae. notoscriptus and Cx. annulirostris were the most susceptible, with infection rates of 86 and 55%, respectively. Female Ae. vigilax and Cx. quinquefasciatus also were susceptible, with infection rates of 38 and 30%, respectively. All of these species transmitted RVF virus by bite 7–10 d after intrathoracic inoculation, and all, except Cx. quinquefasiatus (not tested), transmitted RVF virus 10–16d after oral exposure. The presence of competent mosquito vectors for RVF virus in Australia indicates the potential for RVF virus epizootics to occur should this virus be introduced into Australia.
Pitfalls of sequential extractions

Abstract An increasing number of researchers are using sequential extractions to determine the speciation of trace elements in sediments. Unfortunately, sequential extraction methods have not been successfully validated. The results are simply taken as providing “operational definitions” of the phases one is trying to measure. A more rigorous approach is required to gain insight into the geochemistry of trace elements or their bioavailability.
Dielectric-breakdown and conduction-mechanism in a thinned alkali-free glass

The leakage current in alkali-free glass was analyzed to understand the dielectric breakdown behavior and the potential conduction mechanism. The dielectric breakdown strength and the leakage current were increased after the thickness of the glass had been recuded. To identify the predominant conduction mechanism, we carefully interpreted the dc voltage-current curves via fitting with various conduction mechanisms, e.g.) Poole-Frenkel emission, Schottky emission, space-charge-limited current, and hopping conduction. The result suggested that the space-charge-limited current and the hopping conduction of thermally-excited carriers were the most likely mechanisms of conduction in alkali-free glass.
Direct Numerical Simulation of Heat Transfer in Spray Cooling Through 3D Multiphase Flow Modeling Using Parallel Computing

Thermal management issues have become a major bottleneck for further miniaturization and increased power consumption of electronics. Power electronics require more increasing use of high heat flux cooling technologies. Spray cooling with phase change has the advantage of large amount of heat transfer from the hot surface of many power electronics. Spray cooling is a complex phenomenon due to the interaction of liquid, vapor, and phase change at small length scale. A good understanding of the underlying physics and the heat removal process in spray cooling through numerical modeling is needed to design efficient spray cooling system. A computational fluid dynamics based 3D multiphase model for spray cooling is developed here in parallel computing environment using multigrid conjugate gradient solver. This model considers the effect of surface tension, gravity, phase change, and viscosity. The level set method is used to capture the movement of the liquid-vapor interface. The governing equations are solved using finite differercce method. Spray cooling is studied using this model, where a vapor bubble is growing in a thin liquid film on a hot surface and a droplet is impacting on the thin film. The symmetry boundary condition considered on four sides of the domain effectively represents a large spray made up of multiple equally sized droplets and bubbles and their interaction. Studies have also been performed for different wall superheats in the absence of vapor bubble to compare the effect of two-phase heat transfer compared to single-phase in spray cooling. The computed interface, temperature, and heat flux distributions at different times over the domain are visualized for better understanding of the heat removal mechanism.
Cost Effective Fiber Communications in the Middle East

Fiber optic communications is a "must" in the Middle East for economic, sociological and military defense reasons. This paper outlines the reasons and the applications.