cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Phase diagrams of binary alloys calculated from a density functional theory

Phase behaviors of binary alloys with an embedded atom model potential are investigated using the thermodynamic perturbation theory. The free energies of the liquid and solid phases are computed using the fundamental measure density functional theory and accurate approximations to the hard-sphere mixture correlation functions. The method is applied to calculate the Au-Cu alloy phase diagram. To improve the accuracy of the computed phase diagram, we developed a systematic approach to optimize the model potential of Au-Cu by adjusting the melting temperature of the pure Au to its experimental one. With such an optimized potential the computed Au-Cu alloy phase diagram is in good agreement with the experimental one for the whole composition range.
Character tables of association schemes of affine type

Abstract We define association schemes of affine type. These are the association schemes defined by the action of the semidirect products of finite classical groups and the underlying vector spaces on the same vector spaces. We show that the entries in the character tables of association schemes of affine type are expressed in terms of Gaussian periods. Furthermore, we show that the characer tables of association schemes of affine type defined by higher-dimensional classical groups are controlled by the character tables of association schemes of affine type defined by a lower-dimensional classical group.
67Gallium Citrate Lung Scans in Interstitial Lung Disease

Patients with diffuse interstitial lung disease often require a lung biopsy to determine the diagnosis and proper therapy. However, once the diagnosis is established, clinical evaluation of symptoms, chest roentgenogram and pulmonary function testing are the only noninvasive means currently available to assess activity of the disease process and response to the therapy. Although these measures appear adequate in the presence of acute active disease in which response to therapy results in readily demonstrable changes in the above parameters, they may be insensitive to subtle changes that can occur in minimally active disease with slowly progressive interstitial pulmonary fibrosis over a period of years. A more sensitive noninvasive technique for identifying these cases with a smoldering diffuse interstitial inflammatory process might greatly improve our ability to effectively manage such patients. With this in mind, the value of gallium lung scan was investigated to assess its ability to predict inflammatory activity in such a clinical setting.
A review of the existing methodology in competing-risk theory☆

Abstract The theory of competing risks is concerned with assessing a specific risk in the complicating presence of other risks. This paper reviews existing methods for dealing with the problem. Much of the existing methodology (both parametric and nonparametric) involves the assumption of independent risks. This situation receives most of the attention in this paper, although a brief discussion summarizing attempts to deal with the complicated problem of dependent risks is given. Adaptations of methods used to incorporate concomitant information in survival analyses are discussed. Brief reference is made to the most relevant graphical methods that have been proposed. The review tends to be verbal in nature, leaving the interested reader to check out mathematical details in the references.
Intracellular leptin signaling following effective weight loss

Abstract Aim To investigate the effect of ex-vivo leptin treatment before and after weight loss on key-molecules of intracellular leptin signaling in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of obese women. Materials and methods Five healthy obese women underwent a 12-week medical nutrition treatment aiming at inducing 10% weight loss. Isolated PBMCs at baseline, and at weeks 8 and 12 were treated with increasing leptin doses (0, 25 and 75 ng/ml) for 30 min. The phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT)3, extracellular-signal-regulated kinase (ERK), protein kinase B (Akt) and 5' adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) of PBMCs was analyzed using Western blotting. Results Women lost 10 ± 1% and 13 ± 1% of weight at week 8 and 12, respectively. Circulating leptin and insulin significantly decreased from 39.5 ± 7.7 to 12.2 ± 2.4 ng/ml (p = 0.026) and from 13.0 ± 1.6 to 5.4 ± 0.9 μU/ml (p = 0.005) at week 12, respectively. In the ex vivo study, a significant decrease in STAT3 phosphorylation was observed in the control group after weight loss. Treatment of PBMCs with leptin 75 ng/ml increased significantly ERK, STAT3 and Akt phosphorylation, but no weight loss induced change was observed in response to leptin treatment ex vivo. Conclusions A 10%–15% weight loss decreases baseline STAT3 phosphorylation ex vivo, but does not alter the effect of increasing doses of leptin on the incremental intracellular phosphorylation of STAT3, ERK, Akt and AMPK. Supraphysiologic leptin doses (75 ng/ml) result in higher protein phosphorylation compared to either physiologic doses or no treatment, before and after weight loss.
Relational Resources in Interorganizational Exchange: The Effects of Trade Equity and Brand Equity

Abstract This research examines the effects of two key relational resources in relationships between retailers and national brand manufacturers. We introduce the new concept of trade equity, defined here as the value that accrues to a firm from being known in a trading network as a trustworthy trading partner, to explore the relational resources that are inherent in a firm’s ties with trading partners. We consider brand equity to represent relational resources that are located in a firm’s relational ties with end consumers. Based on data collected in a survey of 797 home appliance retailers, results show that a manufacturer’s trade equity and brand equity have differential effects on the retailer’s dependence and commitment to the manufacturer. Findings show that a manufacturer’s brand equity strengthens the effect of its trade equity on the retailer’s dependence and weakens the effect on the retailer’s commitment.
Thomas F. Malone (1917–2013)

Thomas F. Malone, a prominent figure in meteorological and climatological research and institutions in the mid and late twentieth century and AGU president from 1961 to 1964, died at his home on 6 July 2013 at age 96. He made his mark not only in research but also as an organizer of large-scale projects, as an administrator of critical institutions, and as an early voice for scientists concerned about nuclear war, climate change, and responsible development.
Towards Fast and Accurate Segmentation

In this paper we explore approaches to accelerating segmentation and edge detection algorithms based on the \emph{gPb} framework. The paper characterizes the performance of a simple but effective edge detection scheme which can be computed rapidly and offers performance that is competitive with the pB detector. The paper also describes an approach for computing a reduced order normalized cut that captures the essential features of the original problem but can be computed in less than half a second on a standard computing platform.
Involvement of a heat-stable and heat-labile component of Bordetella pertussis in the depression of the murine hepatic mixed-function oxidase system.

Abstract Experiments were conducted to determine whether the decrease in ethylmorphine N -demethylase and aniline hydroxylase activities and in the levels of cytochrome P-450 observed after injection of Bordetella pertussis to mice was related to an activity of the well-characterized 80°-heatlabile bacterial component (HSF) which causes an increased sensitivity to histamine. Temporal studies over 10–15 days following B. pertussis inoculation of mice suggested a possible correlation between the development of histamine sensitivity and the decrease in both in vivo and in vitro activities of the hepatic mixed-function oxidase system. Treatment of mice with unheated or 56°-heated vaccine produced a decrease in microsomal drug-metabolizing enzyme activity and an increased sensitivity to histamine at both 24 hr and 5 days after injection. In contrast, mice injected with an 80°-heated vaccine did not show an increased sensitivity to histamine at either time point or a decrease in drug-metabolizing activity at 5 days. There was, however, a significant loss of microsomal enzyme activity determined at 24 hr post-injection of the 80°-heated vaccine. Injection of B. pertussis into a strain of mice insensitive to HSF activity was shown to produce a decrease in the drug-metabolizing activity at both 24 hr and 5 days without the concomitant increase in histamine sensitivity. On the other hand, injection of partially purified HSF into a susceptible strain of mice produced histamine sensitization without the loss of hepatic enzyme activity. These studies suggest that HSF per se is not the bacterial component responsible for the reduction in the hepatic microsomal enzyme activity. The results would indicate that two separate bacterial components may be involved. One is stable to heat of 80° and may cause the acute (24 hr) loss of activity. The second is labile to heat between 56 and 80° and may be responsible for the prolonged (5–10 days) loss of enzyme activity. The identity of the heat-labile component is unknown but the former, heat-stable component may be bacterial endotoxin. This conclusion is based on the similarity between the transient reduction in drug-metabolizing activity produced by injection of 500 μmg/kg of endotoxin and that produced by the 80°-heated vaccine.
Does Merit-Based Aid “Crowd Out” Need-Based Aid?

The advent of merit-based state financial aid programs has had several first order effects, such as changes in enrollment. However, these programs may also have second order effects, such as declining state support for need-based state financial aid programs. I hypothesize that the advent of merit-based state financial aid may be an example of Baumgartner and Jones’ punctuated equilibria. Results from estimation of models for dynamic panel data suggest instead that need-based aid has changed only incrementally in the states, without an observable effect of merit-based aid.
Affordable technologies for utilization of methane in a landfill environment: An example of an integrated technology array and evolving institutional networks

CARIBELATE, the Caribbean Environmental Laboratory for the Advancement of Technological Entrepreneurship is an evolving institutional concept, as well as a physical complex, that provides a dynamic environment for public, academic and private sector organizations to conduct proof of concept technology demonstrations in a landfill environment. This article traces the successful networking of demonstrations at a landfill in New Jersey and the subsequent design of the CARIBELA TE project in the Municipality of Carolina, Puerto Rico. The institutional model developed for the Puerto Rico facility has brought together an unlikely combination of stakeholders. Those from the private sector, here called industrial partners, are paired with academic researchers to optimize products for local markets. The basic technology system demonstrated in New Jersey and to be replicated in Puerto Rico removes harmful contaminants from landfill gas and in so doing produces a variety of useful products. A portion of the landfill gas is utilized for micro-turbine electricity generation and for heating a demonstration greenhouse that houses aquaculture coupled with hydroponic crop production, where aquaculture effluents are recycled as plant nutrients. A strict protocol to verify emission reduction is imposed on all the demonstrations at the CARIBELATE project. Although greenhouse gas credit verification is not the prime mission, it is suggested that the credits verified from these demonstrations are of high quality, and can serve as an excellent training platform. CARIBELATE is conceived to be operated at the municipal level and contribute to income generation and economic development. The continuing networking of stakeholders from the public and private sectors offers some potential guidance for replicating this design in the developing world.
ICAP: An Interactive Cluster Analysis Procedure for analyzing remotely sensed data

An Interactive Cluster Analysis Procedure (ICAP) was developed to derive classifier training statistics from remotely sensed data. The algorithm interfaces the rapid numerical processing capacity of a computer with the human ability to integrate qualitative information. Control of the clustering process alternates between the algorithm, which creates new centroids and forms clusters and the analyst, who evaluate and elect to modify the cluster structure. Clusters can be deleted or lumped pairwise, or new centroids can be added. A summary of the cluster statistics can be requested to facilitate cluster manipulation. The ICAP was implemented in APL (A Programming Language), an interactive computer language. The flexibility of the algorithm was evaluated using data from different LANDSAT scenes to simulate two situations: one in which the analyst is assumed to have no prior knowledge about the data and wishes to have the clusters formed more or less automatically; and the other in which the analyst is assumed to have some knowledge about the data structure and wishes to use that information to closely supervise the clustering process. For comparison, an existing clustering method was also applied to the two data sets.
Does suture material and technique really matter? Lessons learned from 800 consecutive blepharoplasties.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate established suture materials and techniques for blepharoplasty closure and evaluate for any differences in rates of complications between these groups. Study Design and Methods: This was a prospective study of a large sequential series of patients undergoing upper blepharoplasty who were treated by the same senior author over a 5-year period. Patients were assigned one of four techniques for closure of the incision based on the senior author's experience. After 6 weeks, rates of complications and revisions were noted and addressed. Satisfaction rates were noted at 3 months. Results: In the group whose incisions were closed with running subcuticular polypropylene (Prolene), 5 (2.5%) presented with milia, and 11 (5.5%) had a standing cone deformity (SCD). Use of running cutaneous locked Prolene resulted in 8 patients (17%) with milia and 2 patients (4.4%) requiring revision of a SCD. Use of a running 6-0 plain gut suture resulted in 12 patients (6.7%) with milia and 5 patients (2.8%) with unsightly scarring. In the group whose incisions were closed with running 6-0 fast-absorbing gut, 10 patients (2%) presented with milia, and there were no scar revisions. There were statistically significant differences between the groups with respect to formation of milia, scarring, and persistent erythema (P < .008). Conclusions: Blepharoplasty is a safe and effective procedure that can be performed successfully with several established techniques. In our experience, closure with two interrupted 6-0 Prolene sutures and a running 6-0 fast-absorbing gut resulted in the lowest rates of complications and revisions.
C-RINGS, COPRODUCTS, AND REFLECTION FUNCTORS

The paper begins with a detailed study of the category of modules over two different rings using a coproduct construction. If C is a commutative ring and R and S are rings together with ring homomorphisms from C to R and C to S, then we show that the category of C-modules that are also left R-modules and right S-modules is equivalent to the category of left modules over the coproduct of R and Sop in an appropriate category. Letting K denote a field, we apply this to show that the category of K-representations of a quiver that is reflection equivalent to a path algebra KΓ is equivalent to a full subcategory of left and right K-representations of KΓ.
Parental employment circumstances and children's academic progress.

Abstract Using data from the 1996 Survey of Income and Program Participation, we examine 4476 school-age children in 2569 families with matched pairs of married fathers and mothers to study children’s academic progress as a function of fathers’ and mothers’ employment circumstances, with a particular focus on involuntary employment separations. We draw on weekly work histories, collected at 4-month intervals, to characterize parental employment circumstances over a two-year period. Results find no significant associations between mothers’ employment experiences and children’s academic progress, even in households where mothers earn more than fathers. In contrast, fathers’ experience of involuntary employment separations is associated with children’s academic progress. On average, fathers’ experience of involuntary employment separations is associated with a higher likelihood of children’s grade repetition and suspension/expulsion from school. However, subgroup analyses reveal this association only in households where mothers earn more than fathers. We conclude that the adverse impacts of fathers’ involuntary employment separations in two-parent families have less to do with income losses than with family dynamics.
Green animals in the eighteenth century

Nature's Second Kingdom. By Francois Delaporte Translated by A. Goldhammer Pp.266. ISBN 0-262-04066-2. (MIT Press: 1982.) $20, £16.
Viral inhibition studies on sulfated lignin, a chemically modified biopolymer and a potential mimic of heparan sulfate.

In our previous work, we discovered potent HSV-1 inhibitory activity arising from sulfated form of lignin, a highly networked natural biopolymer composed of substituted phenylpropanoid monomers (Raghuraman et al. Biomacromolecules 2005, 6, 2822). We present here detailed characterization of the viral inhibitory properties of this interesting macromolecule. The inhibition was proportional to the average molecular weight of the lignin sulfate preparation with IC50 values in the range of 17 nM to 5 μM against HSV-1 and HSV-2, and 29 nM to 763 nM against HIV-1. Cytotoxicity studies displayed selectivity indices in the range of 14 to 31 suggesting reasonably good difference between activity and toxicity for polymeric preparations. Comparative molecular modeling studies suggest that lignin sulfate may contain certain structural features that mimic the three-dimensional organization of sulfate groups in heparan sulfate, thereby providing a plausible basis for its anti-viral activity. The combination of strongly hydrophobic (–Ar) and strongly hydrophilic (–OSO3−) groups in lignin sulfate makes this chemically modified biopolymer an interesting molecule for further work.
Satan's injured innocence in Genesis B, 360–2; 390–2: A Gregorian source

(1984). Satan's injured innocence in Genesis B, 360–2; 390–2: A Gregorian source. English Studies: Vol. 65, No. 4, pp. 289-290.
Residents' perceptions of the impact of major annual tourism events in Macao: cluster analysis.

This study examines how local residents perceive major tourism events in Macao, China. A cluster analysis revealed three clusters of residents with distinct views toward these events. Although the similarities of the major findings to those in previous studies are apparent, this study extends the others by identifying a new factor regarding the impact of events on a community. Also, unlike other studies that have focused on a single event, this study looked at a set of major events, thereby providing decision makers a more complete view of event tourism in a community.
Observation of Chaos in Optical Bistability

Optical turbulence and periodic oscillations are easily seen with a hybrid optically bistable device with a delay in the feedback. The behavior of these instabilities is in good agreement with the recent work of Ikeda, Daido, and Akimoto, who predicted them for both ring-cavity and delay-line hybrid devices.
FACTORS AFFECTING THE MEASUREMENT OF PROTEOLYTIC ACTIVITY OF THYROID TISSUE

This study was undertaken to determine, under adequately controlled conditions, a satisfactory experimental method for measuring proteolytic activity of thyroid and other tissues. Hemoglobin was used as a stable and reproducible substrate. The temperature of the reaction was controlled within constant limits (± 0.02° C.); the use of a microtome gave uniform tissue slicing. The effects of the following factors were investigated: hydrogen ion concentration, salt environment, the addition of a compound containing a labile reducing group, and previous heating of the tissue extract. In evaluating proteolytic activity of tissue, it is essential that the experimental measurements include “blank” values for reagents, tissue and substrate. If proteolytic activity is to be attributed to an enzyme, experimental evidence of destruction of this activity by heat is important. No mention of “blanks” or heat inactivation is made in the papers of De Robertis and Nowinski (1946) and of Dziemian (1943) in their investigatio...
Feeding and pupation sites of Diatraea lineolata, D. saccharalis, and Eoreuma loftini (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) in relation to corn phenology.

Location of larvae and pupae of the stalkborers Diatraea lineolata (Walker), D. saccharalis (F.), and Eoreuma loftini (Dyar) at different growth stages of corn was determined for the spring and fall growing seasons in northeastern Mexico. Feeding habits and movements within the plant varied with stalkborer species, larval stages, corn phenology, and growing seasons. However, feeding behavior of all species appeared typical for pyralid corn stalkborers; small larvae fed on tender and succulent tissues (whorls, leaves, leaf sheaths, developing ears), and mid sized larvae began tunneling into the stalks. Most large larvae were found in the stalks with few in the ears. Pupation occurred at the sites where the ultimate instars were feeding. E. loftini occurred more frequently in leaf sheaths than the other two species. In contrast, D. lineolata and D. saccharalis were found more frequently in the ears than E. loftini.
Egyptologists’ Fallacies: Fallacies Arising from Limited Evidence

It has been noted that Egyptologists tend to neglect methodology and consequently we are sometimes guilty of logical fallacies in our work. A subset of those fallacies that we tend toward are those fallacies in logic that result from our evidence being limited or inadequate. Those logical fallacies examined here are the fallacy of negative proof, the elimination of evidence, the fallacy of the lonely fact, and canonized guesswork. The fallacy of negative proof arises when we assume that absence of evidence is evidence of absence. When evidence contrary to our theories based on the fallacy of negative proof appears there is a tendency to explain it away or dismiss it. The fallacy of the lonely fact results when we generalize from a single case. There is also a tendency in the discipline to treat the guesses of others as facts even when correcting evidence appears.
Optimization of a Non-Pneumatic Tire for Reduced Rolling Resistance

Recently, the development of non-pneumatic tires (NPT) such as the Michelin Tweel is receiving increased attention due to potential advantages over pneumatic tires, including characteristics of rolling resistance (RR). This study focuses on the design of a NPT based on properties of vertical stiffness and rolling energy loss. Using a finite element (FE) model, a parametric study is conducted to study the effect on vertical stiffness and RR response considering two design variables; (a) thickness of the spokes, and, (b) the shear band thickness of the NPT. Using the two geometric variables, a design of experiments (DOE) is performed to study the effect on both RR and vertical displacement. Results from the DOE are used to create response surface models (RSM) for both the objective function (minimal RR) and a constraint on vertical deflection. The analytical RSM function is optimized for minimizing the rolling loss subjected to the given constraint. In addition a design sensitivity study is performed to evaluate the influence of the design variables on the output response. Results indicate that both variables have significant effect on RR, with the shear band thickness having the greater effect.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
Structural Findings regarding the Silencing the Self Scale

Principal components factor analysis, based on scores of 363 college women, confirmed four subscales of the Silencing the Self Scale; however, 5 items loaded differently in the structure of these subscales. Recommendations for scale revision and studies with other populations are suggested.
CHEMOPATHOLOGICAL STUDIES WITH COMPOUNDS OF ARSENIC II. HISTOLOGICAL CHANGES IN ARSENIC KIDNEYS.

1. We have shown that the type of renal lesion produced by compounds of arsenic varies widely: while some arsenicals produce changes in which vascular injury predominates, others produce an equally dominant tubular injury. 2. In either of these groups the character and degree of the vascular or tubular injury produced by different compounds shows further variation, such that the lesions of different arsenicals of the same group are not identical. Each compound of arsenic that we have tested, therefore, produces a lesion-complex in the kidney that is relatively characteristic for that compound. 3. The mode and character of the action of arsenicals are dependent upon the chemical constitution of the compound.
Computerized lung nodule detection on thoracic CT images: Combined rule-based and statistical classifier for false positive reduction

We are developing a computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) system for lung nodule detection on thoracic helical computed tomography (CT) images. In the first stage of this CAD system, lung regions are identified and suspicious structures are segmented. These structures may include true lung nodules or normal structures that consist mainly of vascular structures. We have designed rule-based classifiers to distinguish nodules and normal structures using 2D and 3D features. After rule-based classification, linear discriminant analysis (LDA) is used to further reduce the number of false positive (FP) objects. We have performed a preliminary study using CT images from 17 patients with 31 lung nodules. When only LDA classification was applied to the segmented objects, the sensitivity was 84% (26/31) with 2.53 (1549/612) FP objects per slice. When the LDA followed the rule-based classifier, the number of FP objects per slice decreased to 1.75 (1072/612) at the same sensitivity. These preliminary results demonstrate the feasibility of our approach for nodule detection and FP reduction on CT images. The inclusion of rule-based classification leads to an improvement in detection accuracy for the CAD system.
What Is a Supranational Constitution? An Essay in International Relations Theory

Under the banner of “regime theory,” the study of international relations has experienced a massive if largely unacknowledged return to law, the study of the nature, scope, and relevance of norms international politics. Regime is shorthand for forms of institutionalized cooperation in the international system. The article provides one way to assess this movement. In part I, I develop an abstract conception of constitutions as bodies of metanorms, those higher order norms that govern how lower order norms are to be produced, applied, and interpreted. I then examine the extent to which international relations theory is equipped to recognize that some international regimes are constitutional in form (part II). In part III, I propose a means of situating all regime forms, from the most primitive to the full blown constitutional, along a continuum. The central claim is that the distinction made between international and domestic society, for the most part a matter of dogma in mainstream theory, is relative not absolute.
No association of psychosis in Alzheimer disease with neurodegenerative pathway genes

Psychotic symptoms occur in approximately 40% of subjects with Alzheimer disease (AD with psychosis; AD + P) and identify a subgroup with more rapid cognitive decline. We evaluated in 867 AD subjects the association of AD + P with genes which may modify the pathological process via effects on the accumulation of amyloid beta (Aβ) protein and/or hyperphosphorylated microtubule-associated protein tau (MAPT): amyloid precursor protein (APP), beta-site amyloid precursor protein cleaving enzyme (BACE1), sortilin-related receptor (SORL1), and MAPT. Each gene was thoroughly interrogated with tag single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), and gene-based tests were used to enhance power. We found no association of these genes with AD + P.
Hardware homework for courses in circuits and electronics

This paper reports first efforts to implement the hardware homework concept in both the first circuit theory course and the first analog electronics course in electrical engineering at Texas Tech University. Hardware homework creates individual interactive learning environments outside the classroom, without a commitment of laboratory space, with little direct intervention by the faculty member, at no cost to the academic program and at a cost less than that of a textbook. Teaching assistants grade the hardware homework in much the same way that they grade ordinary homework. A majority of students in the first electronics course, for which the cost of the recommended parts exceeded $50, felt the cost of the components was too high. Few students in the first circuits course, for which the cost of the recommended parts was less than $40, felt cost was a concern. Students in both courses agreed that hardware homework helped them. In addition, they felt that students should continue to do hardware homework in the two courses.
Children's Learning from Informational Text: The Relationship between Prior Knowledge and Text Structure.

The focus of this study was on the role of prior knowledge and text structure in children's comprehension of informational text. It examined the effects of two levels of prior knowledge (High Prior Knowledge and Low Prior Knowledge) and two types of text structure (Attribution and Comparison) on the recall and question performance of fifth graders who were average readers. The 90 subjects in the study were selected on the basis of a pretest of their knowledge about two cities in their home state and two cities in another state. All selected subjects had high knowledge of the cities in their home state and low knowledge of the cities in the other state. Each subject read one of two passages (high prior knowledge passage or low prior knowledge passage) that was organized in one of two ways (attribution version or comparison version). Measures of written free recall and comprehension questions were the dependent variables. The measures were designed so that both qualitative and quantitative effects could be ...
Age-related differences in polyfunctional T cell responses

A reduced number of naive T cells along with an accumulation of differentiated cell types in aging have been described but little is known about the polyfunctionality of the T cell responses. In this study we compared the individual and polyfunctional expression of IFN-γ, MIP-1α, TNF-α, perforin, and IL-2 by T cell subsets, including the newly described stem cell like memory T cells (TSCM), in response to stimulation with superantigen staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) in older (median age 80, n = 23) versus younger (median age 27; n = 23) adults. Older age was associated with a markedly lower frequency of CD8+ naive T cells (11% vs. 47%; p < 0.0001) and an expansion in memory T cell subsets including central memory (p < 0.05), effector memory and effector T cells (p < 0.001 for both). There was also a decline in CD4+ naive T cells in older subjects (33% vs. 45%; p = 0.02). There were no differences in frequencies or polyfunctional profiles of TSCM between groups. CD8+ naive cells in the older group had increased expression of all functional parameters measured compared to the younger subjects and exhibited greater polyfunctionality (p = 0.04). CD4+ naive T cells in the older group also showed greater polyfunctionality with a TNF-α and IL-2 predominance (p = 0.005). CD8+ effector memory and effector T cells exhibited increased polyfunctionality in the older group compared with younger (p = 0.01 and p = 0.003). These data suggest that aging does not have a negative effect on polyfunctionality and therefore this is likely not a major contributor to the immunesenescence described with aging.
Relationship Between COX-2 Specific Inhibitors and Hypertension

There is controversy whether cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) specific inhibitors are associated with elevations in blood pressure requiring treatment in typical clinical practice. We examined the risk of new onset hypertension in a retrospective case-control study involving 17 844 subjects aged ≥65 years from 2 US states. Multivariable logistic models were examined to assess the relative risk of new onset hypertension requiring treatment in patients who used celecoxib or rofecoxib compared with patients taking either the other COX-2 specific inhibitor, a nonspecific NSAID, or no NSAID. During the 1999 to 2000 study period, 3915 patients were diagnosed and began treatment for hypertension; 4 controls were selected for every case. In no model was celecoxib significantly associated with the development of hypertension. Rofecoxib users were at a significantly increased relative risk of new onset hypertension compared with patients taking celecoxib (odds ratio [OR] 1.6; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.2 to 2.1), taking a nonspecific NSAID (OR 1.4; 95% CI, 1.1 to 1.9), or taking no NSAID (OR 1.6; 95% CI, 1.3 to 2.0). There were no clear dosage or duration effects. In patients with a history of chronic renal disease, liver disease, or congestive heart failure, the relative risk of new onset hypertension was twice as high in those taking rofecoxib compared with celecoxib (OR 2.1; 95% CI, 1.0 to 4.3). In this retrospective case-control study of patients aged ≥65 years, rofecoxib use was associated with an increased relative risk of new onset hypertension; this was not seen in patients taking celecoxib.
Application of the impedance sheet concept to thin periodically varying dielectrics

The impedance sheet concept used to predict the transmission and reflection properties of thin dielectrics is extended to determine the transmission and reflection properties of thin periodically varying dielectrics. For plane-wave incidence, the effect of the periodic interface is to generate a higher order modal distribution on both sides of the boundary. It is shown that situations exist where the higher order modes can be strongly excited, and in fact can carry more power than the dominant transmitted mode. The frequency response of the dielectric is obtained and shown to be quite different than the homogeneous thin dielectric except at lower frequencies.
Does Counseling Need the Mind

In this article, the author argues that the language used in counseling practice is largely a common sense language using mentalistic words. Basic mentalistic assumptions and challenges to those assumptions are outlined. The practical consequences of retaining or discarding mentalism in counseling are discussed. The author concludes that mentalistic language persists in counseling practice because it offers a useful vocabulary, but that the counseling field could benefit from adopting a path similar to that used in the cognitive sciences.
Novel Postentry Resistance to AKV Ecotropic Mouse Gammaretroviruses in the African Pygmy Mouse, Mus minutoides

Cells of Mus minutoides, an African pygmy mouse of the subgenus Nannomys, are susceptible to ecotropic Moloney and Friend mouse leukemia viruses (MLVs) but not to AKV-type MLVs. Transfected MA139 ferret cells expressing the mCAT-1 cell surface receptor, with the minCAT-1 substitutions K222Q and V233L, did not restrict AKV MLV. The resistance of M. minutoides cells to AKV MLV was not relieved by inhibitors of glycosylation or by the introduction of NIH 3T3 mCAT-1. Resistance is thus not mediated by receptor sequence variation, expression level, or glycosylation. M. minutoides cells are also infectible with LacZ pseudotypes having AKV Env and Moloney MLV (MoMLV) Gag proteins, further indicating that AKV Env sequence variations do not contribute to the observed block. The pattern of virus resistance in M. minutoides differs from that of the known variants of the Fv1 postentry resistance gene; M. minutoides is equally resistant to N-, B-, and NR-tropic AKV viruses and is equally susceptible to NR- and NB-tropic Friend MLVs. This novel resistance blocks replication before reverse transcription, whereas Fv1 generally restricts replication after reverse transcription; M. minutoides cells produce 2-long-terminal-repeat viral DNA circles and linear viral DNA after infection with MoMLV but not with AKV MLV. Analysis of MoMLV-AKV MLV chimeras determined that the target of resistance is in the virus capsid gene. Mutagenesis demonstrated that restriction is mediated by two amino acid substitutions, H117L and A110R; substitutions at these sites can also be targeted by the resistance genes Fv1 and TRIM5α. M. minutoides cells thus have a novel postentry resistance to AKV MLVs.
Application of Local Area Networks to Accelerator Control Systems at the Stanford Linear Accelerator

The history and current status of SLAC's SDLC networks for distributed accelerator control systems are discussed. These local area networks have been used for instrumentation and control of the linear accelerator. Network topologies, protocols, physical links, and logical interconnections are discussed for specific applications in distributed data acquisition and control sytems, computer networks and accelerator operations.
Does Familiarity Breed Content? Taking Account of Familiarity with a Topic in Personalizing Information Retrieval

We report on an evaluation of the effectiveness of considering a user's familiarity with a topic in improving information retrieval performance. This approach to personalization is based on previous results indicating differences in user search behavior and judgments according to his/her familiarity to the topic explored, and to research on using implicit sources of evidence to determine the user's context and preferences. Our attempt was to relate a topic-dependent concept and measure, familiarity with the topic, with topic-independent measures of documents such as readability, concreteness/abstractness, and specificity/generality. Contrary to our expectations, a users familiarity with a topic has no effect on the utility of readability or concrete/abstract scoring. We are encouraged, however, to find that high readability had a positive effect on search results, regardless of a users familiarity with a topic.
Discrete sequence prediction and its applications

Learning from experience to predict sequences of discrete symbols is a fundamental problem in machine learning with many applications. We present a simple and practical algorithm (TDAG) for discrete sequence prediction. Based on a text-compression method, the TDAG algorithm limits the growth of storage by retaining the most likely prediction contexts and discarding (forgetting) less likely ones. The storage/speed tradeoffs are parameterized so that the algorithm can be used in a variety of applications. Our experiments verify its performance on data compression tasks and show how it applies to two problems: dynamically optimizing Prolog programs for good average-case behavior and maintaining a cache for a database on mass storage.
The significance of prior benign needle biopsies in men subsequently diagnosed with prostate cancer.

Purpose:: We determine the relationship between a history of benign needle biopsies, and the volume and location of cancer.Materials and Methods:: We evaluated 395 men who underwent radical prostatectomy for stage T1c (nonpalpable) prostate cancer.Results:: Of the men 74 had 1 or more prior benign needle biopsies. Prior benign biopsy correlated with tumor in the anterior or lateral portion of the radical prostatectomy specimen (p = 0.044) and prostate weight (p = 0.002). The likelihood of prior benign biopsy was 32.5% for men with a 75 gm. or greater prostate compared to 15.2% for those with a less than 75 gm. prostate. Although prior benign biopsy correlated with “very limited” tumor in the prostate (less than 0.2 cc, no Gleason pattern 4 or 5 and organ confined disease) (p = 0.005), only 28.4% of patients with prior benign biopsy had “very limited” tumor. In a multivariate analysis prior benign biopsy correlated only with anterior or lateral distribution and enlarged prostate size. Of the prior benign b...
Thermal Versus Optical Transitions

A common technique for measuring the difference in energy between the ground state and an excited electronic state is by optical absorption which, of course, gives a measure of this difference, subject to definite restrictions. On the other hand, the process of electron transfer to establish a new ground state at high pressure is a thermal one. As we shall find it useful to relate these processes, it is important to understand their differences. We shall find that in many cases the thermal energy is apparently much smaller than the energy observed optically. We shall show that this is reasonable, and present an approximate relationship between them.
The REDOR transform: direct calculation of internuclear couplings from dipolar-dephasing NMR data

Abstract Rotational-echo double-resonance (REDOR) is a dipolar-dephasing NMR technique that provides measurement of dipolar couplings between nuclei in solids, and therefore allows calculation of internuclear distances. Time-domain REDOR dephasing signals do not oscillate in a periodic manner, and the analysis of frequency- and time-domain signals is complicated when discrete or continuous distributions of couplings are present. We introduce a new analytic transform method, analogous to a Fourier transform, that produces resonances at the dipolar coupling frequencies present in the REDOR signal. Computer simulations are used to demonstrate and explore details of the REDOR transform.
Internal Controls For The Revenue Cycle: A Checklist For The Consumer Products Industry

In today’s difficult economic climate, business managers must carefully consider all aspects of business operations to minimize waste and increase efficiency. The revenue cycle continues to be the primary area of fraud and abuse requiring strong, comprehensive internal controls (AICPA 2002). Internal controls in the revenue arena are now more important than ever. The current paper provides a control review checklist for the revenue cycle that will aid managers and independent auditors in the consumer products industry. The checklist is applicable for firms at various levels of the distribution channel and can be used as a general benchmark to perform preliminary evaluations of a company’s internal control system. Auditors can compare their company’s control objectives with the objectives that are presented. During preliminary investigations of the company’s internal control system, auditors should review whether important control objectives have been omitted and whether the omission incurs or heightens risk. The control review checklist can also be used by CFOs or Controllers in the Consumer Products industry in reviewing whether their company’s internal control systems are adequate. The checklist provides CFOs or Controllers internal controls that external, independent auditors consider to be important.
Diverse directional changes of cGMP relative to cAMP in E. coliM

Abstract The relationships of the changes of cAMP and cGMP concentrations in E. coli varied as a function of experimental conditions. (1) Cells starved for carbon source for a short time period had high cAMP and low cGMP concentrations. Addition of carbon source (succinate, glucose or α-methyl glucoside) led to a decrease in cAMP and an increase in cGMP (bi-directional change). (2) Washed cells starved for glucose for long time periods had low cAMP levels which did not change on glucose addition. Addition of succinate or glucose to such cells led to a transient increase in cGMP levels (uncoupled change). The cGMP concentration peaked at 15 minutes or 1 hour after glucose or succinate addition, respectively. (3) Sham shift-up experiments (addition of α-methyl glucoside to cultures growing in succinate) in E. coli 1100 and CA 8000 showed decreases in cGMP levels in both strains; however, cAMP levels increased in the former (bi-directional change) and decreased in the latter (unidirectional change).
Importance of Dynamics in Electron Excitation and Transfer of Organic Dyes

Electron excitation and transfer of a triphenylamine derivative, triazine, anthraquinone, oxadiazole, triazine−anthraquinone, and triazine−oxadiazole were studied using density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent DFT (TDDFT) calculations based on the B3LYP functional. The difference of the excitation wavelengths for anthraquinone using two basis sets, 6-311+G(d,p) and 6-31+G(d,p), was found to be within 4 nm. This indicates 6-31+G(d,p) can produce reasonable results and therefore is appropriate to use in calculations of large systems. The solvent effect on the electron excitation of these six molecules was investigated using three solvents: chloroform, dichloromethane, and ethanol. A red shift in excitation wavelength and enhanced absorption intensity were found in solution with respect to in vacuo condition. Furthermore, we introduced the concept of optically dynamic molecular orbitals (ODMOs) to account for the dynamic effect on electron transfer processes, which is critical in the interpretation...
Adsorption of Chain Molecules in Slit-Shaped Pores: Development of a SAFT-FMT-DFT Approach

Density functional theory (DFT) is commonly used to treat the adsorption of molecules in carbon and silica pores of various geometries. In this work, we develop a DFT with an accurate molecular-based equation of state to calculate thermodynamic properties using fundamental measure theory (FMT), which is a rigorous approach for the treatment of homogeneous and nonhomogeneous hard-sphere fluids. A theoretical framework results with adsorbing molecules treated as hard-sphere chains with square-well attractive interactions. The Mansoori–Carnahan–Starling–Leland and Carnahan–Starling–Boublik equations of state are used for the hard-sphere interactions, and a version of the statistical associating fluid theory for potentials of variable range (SAFT-VR) is used to describe the square-well fluid. First- and second-order perturbative attractive terms are included in the theory. Theoretical predictions are in good agreement with published results for Monte Carlo simulations of the adsorption of chain molecules. In ...
Improved Method for Solving the Capture Range Problem in Focus-Diverse Phase Retrieval for Segmented Systems

A new method of image-based wavefront sensing is introduced. It solves the capture range problem for segment tip-tilt in segmented or multi-aperture systems with focus-diverse phase retrieval.
Robotic hand with locking mechanism using TCP muscles for applications in prosthetic hand and humanoids

This paper presents a biomimetic, lightweight, 3D printed and customizable robotic hand with locking mechanism consisting of Twisted and Coiled Polymer (TCP) muscles based on nylon precursor fibers as artificial muscles. Previously, we have presented a small-sized biomimetic hand using nylon based artificial muscles and fishing line muscles as actuators. The current study focuses on an adult-sized prosthetic hand with improved design and a position/force locking system. Energy efficiency is always a matter of concern to make compact, lightweight, durable and cost effective devices. In natural human hand, if we keep holding objects for long time, we get tired because of continuous use of energy for keeping the fingers in certain positions. Similarly, in prosthetic hands we also need to provide energy continuously to artificial muscles to hold the object for a certain period of time, which is certainly not energy efficient. In this work we, describe the design of the robotic hand and locking mechanism along with the experimental results on the performance of the locking mechanism.