cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGY UNCERTAINTY AND THE OPTIMAL LOCATION OF THE FIRM

This paper investigates the implication of production-technology uncertainty for the exclusion theorem. The paper presents the result that the risk-averse firm facing production technology uncertainty prefers an intermediate location to avoid risk under certain conditions. The firm chooses an intermediate location (over a corner location) particularly if its degree of risk aversion overwhelms the inherent convexity of profit with respect to location. The latter depends, in turn, on the structure of production technology characterized by the elasticity of substitution and returns to scale parameters.
Risk Factors for Lymphedema In Breast Cancer Survivors, the Iowa Women’s Health Study

Risk factors for lymphedema and related arm symptoms in breast cancer (BC) survivors have not been examined using a large prospective population-based cohort. The Iowa Women’s Health Study (IWHS) collected self-reported data for diagnosed lymphedema in 2004, and data for cancer diagnosis, treatment, behavioral and health characteristics between 1986 and 2003. We studied 1,287 women, aged 55–69 at baseline, who developed unilateral BC: n = 104 (8%) with diagnosed lymphedema, n = 475 (37%) with arm symptoms but without diagnosed lymphedema, and n = 708 without lymphedema. Age- and multivariate-adjusted logistic regression models examined risk factors for lymphedema and related arm symptoms (OR [95% confidence interval]). The mean time between BC and the 2004 survey was 8.1 ± 5.0 (mean ± SD) years. After multivariate adjustment, the following cancer characteristics were positively associated with lymphedema: tumor stage (regional vs. in situ: 3.92 [1.61–9.54]), number of excised nodes (highest vs. lowest quintile: 3.52 [1.32–9.34], P trend = 0.003), tumor-positive nodes (yes vs. no 2.12 [1.19, 3.79]), and adjuvant chemotherapy (yes vs. no: 3.05 [1.75–5.30]). Several health characteristics were positively associated with lymphedema: baseline body mass index (highest vs. lowest tertile: 3.24 [1.70–6.21]), waist and hip circumference, and general health (fair/poor vs. excellent: 3.44 [1.30–9.06]). Positive associations with arm symptoms were number of excised nodes (highest vs. lowest quintile: 2.38 [1.41–4.03], P trend = 0.007), axillary radiation (yes vs. no: 1.72 [1.15–2.57]), and baseline general health (fair/poor vs. excellent: 4.27 [2.60–7.00]). In the IWHS, obesity, poorer general health, and markers of more advanced cancer were risk factors for lymphedema and related arm symptoms in BC survivors.
Insulin Signaling: GLUT4 Vesicles Exit via the Exocyst

The localization of the GTP-binding protein TC10 to lipid raft microdomains has been suggested to play a role in the stimulation of GLUT4 translocation. The exocyst has now been identified as a downstream target for TC10, directing GLUT4-containing vesicles to the site of fusion.
URBAN EROTICS AND RACIAL AFFECT IN A NEOLIBERAL “RACIAL DEMOCRACY”: BRAZILIAN AND PUERTO RICAN YOUTH IN NEWARK, NEW JERSEY

This essay examines the power-evasive reduction of “race,” racial conflict, and racial subordination from the terrain of the social, material, and structural to the “private” realm of affect and emotions, in an effort to explain how neoliberalism operates in the everyday lives of U.S.-born Latino and Latin American migrant youth, particularly, young, working-class Puerto Rican and Brazilian women in Newark, New Jersey. A main argument of this project is that urban neoliberalism has been complicit in generating new racial configurations in the United States and that, in the case of populations of Latin American and Spanish-speaking Caribbean backgrounds, such articulations of difference have deployed a variation of “racial democracy” ideologies. This “cartography of racial democracy” gives credence to denunciations of racism or racial subordination as long as they are launched in the realm of intimate relationships and attraction—as aspects of “affect” or an “urban erotics”—that frequently overshadows and ...
Contamination of soil and transmission of seedborne potato dry rot fungi ( Fusarium spp.) to progeny tubers

A survey of selected potato soils in Maine was made to determine the species and populations ofFusarium spp. present.Fusarium solani ‘Coeruleum’ was most often isolated butFusarium roseum ‘Sambucinum’ was not recovered from any soil. Crops or cropping sequences in general showed no direct relationship to observed Fusaria populations or tuber dry rot. Field studies were conducted to determine the effect ofFusarium contaminated seed on soil and daughter tuber contamination. Whole and cut seed were inoculated withFusarium roseum ‘Sambucinum’ and half of each lot treated with thiabendazole (1500 ppm) to controlFusarium seed decay. Soil populations ofF. roseum ‘Sambucinum’ were higher near plants produced from non-treated, cut seed tubers. No increase inFusarium populations was found between plants or near plants produced from whole or thiabendazole treated seed. Daughter tuber contamination was greatest from plants produced from non-treated contaminated cut seed, and lowest from whole or treated seed. Whole non-treated seed produced daughter tubers with contamination equal to treated whole seed. This indicates that the use of whole seed could be a method to reduce daughter tuber contamination and reduce reliance on chemical treatments. Cut seed contaminated withFusarium spp. is an important source of daughter tuber contamination which can result in a high amount of tuber dry rot in storage.
The effect of the pro‐ and anti‐ERA campaign contributions on the ERA voting behavior of the 80th Illinois house of representatives

Abstract This study provides evidence that campaign Financing has contributed to the defeat of the equal rights amendment (ERA) in Illinois. It is not the primary factor, but it is an important one. Since 1972 eleven votes have been taken on the ERA in the Illinois House and seven votes in the Senate. Also, since 1976, Illinois has required that the campaign finances of the candidates for state office be made public, both these developments provided a unique opportunity to study the effect over time of campaign contributions on the voting behavior of legislators with regard to a single “ideological” issue. The study focuses on the 80th House of Representatives. Six of the eleven House votes on the ERA were taken in its two sessions, two in 1977, and four in 1978. The law‐makers fell into two important categories: consistent voters on this issue, and inconsistent ones. Using a multivariate analysis technique it was found that campaign donations considerably influenced the ERA positions of the inconsistent ...
New Nonlinear Control Technique for Ascent Phase of Reusable Launch Vehicles

Modifications and extensions to a recently developed hybrid numerical-analytical method for optimization of future launch vehicles are presented, to allow for the real time generation of abort trajectories. A set of terminal constraints is formulated that targets an entry condition for the abort case and allows the vehicle to attach tangentially to a nominal entry path. The trajectories are optimal in the sense of maximizing terminal energy. In addition, the algorithm has been extended to include path constraints on both angle of attack and q . α. A second issue addressed concerns the possibility of singular arcs, both for nominal ascent and aborts. It is proven that such arcs are not feasible, both within the atmosphere and in vacuum, when the control variables consist of body attitude and throttle. Finally, numerical results for different abort scenarios using a single-stage vehicle model illustrate both the capabilities and some of the deficiencies of the approach.
Successful management of acute renal failure with a vaginal pessary: a case report

Persistent uterine prolapse with secondary acute renal failure is a very uncommon event. We report the case of a 77-year-old woman with a 5-year history of uterine prolapse. She was referred to our gynecologic oncology service for 3rd degree uterine prolapse and was found to have bilateral hydronephrosis and acute renal insufficiency. The patient was fitted for a pessary to manage the uterine prolapse, which resulted in resolution of her hydronephrosis and renal insufficiency. Prompt assessment with nephrology consultation and pessary placement for patients with 3rd degree genital prolapse is imperative to ensure that irreversible renal complications do not manifest themselves.
Postradiation sarcomas of bone.

Fifty-nine patients with osteogenic sarcomas arising in bones following exposure to x rays and 20 patients with postradiation malignant fibrous histiocytomas of bone arising as a direct consequence of irradiation were studied. These represent 5.5% of all osteogenic sarcomas and 4.9% of all malignant fibrous histiocytomas of bones. The sarcomas may affect any skeletal site, but most commonly they arose in bones of the pelvic and shoulder girdles or the distal end of the femur. Grounds for irradiation were either nonosseous conditions or preexistent skeletal lesions. Reasons for incidental osseous irradiation included Hodgkin's disease, carcinoma of cervix, breast or lung; bilateral retinoblastoma and others, and giant cell tumor predominated among the irradiated skeletal lesions. The mean and the median radiation doses were 6040 cGy (rad) and 5700 cGy (rad), respectively. The period of latency between irradiation and the appearance of the bone sarcoma ranged from 3.5 to 47 y with a mean of 16.5 and median of 14.5, respectively. The cumulative disease-free survival rate for malignant fibrous histiocytoma patients at 3 y was 58%. The cumulative disease-free survival rate at 5 y for patients with osteogenic sarcoma was 17%, with a median survival estimate of 1 y. Although all patientsmore » with malignant fibrous histiocytoma who received their radiation therapy for a preexistent bone lesion survived, only 27% of the patients whose bone was normal at the time of irradiation are alive and well at the 3-y mark.« less
Regulation of Transforming Growth Factor-β1-Mediated Apoptosis in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

The apoptotic cell death in Cal-27 cells induced by exposure to transforming growth factor-β1 was inhibited by the endonuclease inhibitor aurintricarboxylic acid (ATA) in a concentration-dependent fashion. In vitro studies of cytotoxicity, DNA fragmentation, and protein synthesis by Cal-27 cell lines were performed. Inhibition of cytotoxicity as well as endonucleolytic DNA cleavage was detected. ATA did not inhibit cytotoxicity either via transforming growth factor cell-surface-receptor alteration or by inhibition of macromolecular synthesis. ATA-sensitive events occurred late during treatment. These data suggest that endonucleolytic DNA cleavage is a mandatory event leading to cell death in this system. Laryngoscope, 106:889-894, 1996
Chemical priming for spinal cord injury: a review of the literature. Part I—factors involved

There are significant differences between the propensity of neural regeneration between the central and peripheral nervous systems. Following a review of the literature, we describe the role of growth factors, guiding factors, and neurite outgrowth inhibitors in the physiology and development of the nervous system as well as the pathophysiology of the spinal cord. We also detail their therapeutic role as well as those of other chemical substances that have recently been found to modify regrowth following cord injury. Multiple factors appear to have promising futures for the possibility of improving spinal cord injury following injury.
A Tradition of Literacy: Césaire in and out of the Classroom

Literacy, often considered an individual achievement, brings with it, accord- ing to Aime Cesaire, special responsibility, that is, its beneficiaries should speak for the oppressed and be in the forefront in the struggle for collective liberation. Cesaire's model stands in stark contrast to the goal of French colonial education, a crucial arm of the mission civilisatrice that trains the elite to maintain the status quo. This essay examines on a broad scale Aime Cesaire's presence in the educational arena. Who were his role models as a student and what societal prejudices and pressures did he have to over- come? What influence did he have as a classroom teacher? What impact did he have as a mentor to those who discovered him only through his work? I contend that Cesaire's defense of literacy is one key aspect of his legacy.
Smoldering combustion propagation through a permeable horizontal fuel layer

Abstract Although the propagation rate of smoldering through porous horizontal fuel layers has been measured for a variety of materials, there has been little work on the structure of the smolder reaction zone and the factors controlling it. These latter aspects are the focus here for the case of thick (18 cm) layers of wood-based fibers in the form of cellulosic insulation smoldering under natural convection air supply conditions. Two-dimensional profiles of temperature, oxygen mole fraction, and residual organic material have been measured both for unretarded insulation and for insulation having 25 wt% of the smolder retardant, boric acid, added on. It is inferred that the overall wave structure is dominated by oxygen diffusion from above. The heat release chemistry appears to involve both oxidative pyrolysis and char oxidation in a shifting balance depending on depth in the layer. Boric acid is unable to halt the smolder process in these thick fuel layers but it slows its spread by about a factor of 2 by a combination of endothermic and kinetic effects.
Sequential phosphorylation of rhodopsin at multiple sites

Photolyzed rhodopsin is phosphorylated at multiple serine and threonine residues during the quenching of phototransduction. Sites of phosphorylation by rhodopsin kinase have been localized to the C-terminal region of rhodopsin, but no information was available on the kinetics and identity of phosphorylated residues. To determine the kinetics of phosphorylation at specific residues, the phosphorylated C-terminal peptide of rhodopsin (330DDEASTTVSKTETSQVAPA) obtained by proteolysis of rhodopsin with endoproteinase Asp-N was subjected to further subdigestion followed by electrospray mass spectrometry. Analysis of monophosphorylated peptide revealed that the major initial phosphorylation site is 338Ser. The analysis of di- and triphosphorylated peptides indicated that 343Ser or 336Thr residues are subsequent phosphorylation sites. These three residues, located in the C-terminal region of rhodopsin, are likely to be key phosphorylation sites of rhodopsin during the quenching of phototransduction. Identification of the kinetics of phosphorylation will facilitate understanding the functional significance of rhodopsin phosphorylation at multiple sites and the mechanism of rhodopsin kinase action.
The [Ca2++ Mg2+]-dependent adenosine triphosphatase of SV40 transformed WI38 lung fibroblasts

The Ca2+-stimulated, Mg2+-dependent ATPase of SV40 transformed WI38 lung fibroblast homogenates exhibits a high affinity for Ca2+ (K0.5 = 0.20 microM) and moderately high affinity for ATP (Km = 28.6 microM) and Mg2+ (K0.5 = 138.5 microM). This activity was NaN3, KCN and oligomycin insensitive but very sensitive to vanadate (I50 = 0.5 microM) suggesting its being neither mitochondrial or microsomal but plasma membrane in origin. Under optimal conditions of protein, hydrogen ion and substrate concentration, 16-19 nmoles phosphate was released per min per mg protein. Hill plot analysis indicated no cooperativity to occur between Ca2+ binding sites. Nucleotides other than ATP and dATP were ineffective as substrates. The trivalent cation, lanthanum (La3+) completely inhibited hydrolysis of ATP at approximately 70 microM (I50 = 25 microM). Calmodulin antagonists trifluoperazine and calmidazolium inhibited ATP hydrolysis in a dose dependent fashion.
An improved distributed RC notch filter and its application to an extremely insensitive bandpass amplifier

A distributed RC notch filter with an improved frequency selectivity is described. An extremely insensitive bandpass amplifier can be obtained by use of such a filter.
THE SELECTION OF VARIABLES IN MULTIPLE REGRESSION ANALYSIS

4 different procedures are commonly employed with sample data to reduce a set of predictor variables. In the present study these procedures were repeatedly applied to computer-simulated samples to provide comparative data pertaining to two questions: (a) Which procedure can be expected to produce an equation that yields the most accurate predictions for the population? (b) Which procedure is most likely to identify the optimal set of independent variables? The samples were drawn from 12, mathematically defined, multivariate normal populations. Each population consisted of 1 criterion and 10 predictor variables. Five or fewer independent variables constituted the optimal set in each case. With respect to both questions small differences among the procedures were observed. However, the forward selection and stepwise procedures consistently produced more favorable results than the 2 backward elimination procedures. The question of the number of sampling units to use is discussed.
Computerized simulation of meshing and contact of enveloping gear tooth surfaces

Abstract A gear mechanism with enveloping gear tooth surfaces is considered. Initially such surfaces are in line contact at every instant. Due to gear misalignment caused by errors of assembly (change of crossing angle, center distance, axial displacements of gears, etc.), the surfaces start to contact each other at every instant at a point but not a line. A computerized approach is proposed for simulation of meshing and contact, determining (i) the paths of the contact point on gear tooth surfaces, (ii) deviations of the transmission function from the theoretical one (transmission errors), and (iii) the bearing contact that is formed as a set of contact ellipses. Direct relations between principal curvatures and principal directions for enveloping tooth surfaces have been developed. It is proved that the eigenvectors of the matrix curvature represent the directions of extreme relative normal curvature. There are two side-effects of this research: (i) proof that the surface torsions for enveloping surfaces are equal at any point on their contact line (characteristic); (ii) the opportunity to determine the normal component of displacement of a contact point over the tooth surface, although the direction of total displacement is indefinite. The normal component of infinitesimal displacement is perpendicular to the tangent to the contact line. The proposed approaches are illustrated with the example of a gear drive with a ruled surface of the worm.
Current Transport in Al-Diffused ZnO/Si Heterostructures

The current–voltage–temperature (I-V-T) characteristics of transparent Al-doped ZnO (AZO) on n-Si heterojunction structures were analyzed with respect to two different Al diffusion temperatures, 200°C and 600°C. Thin films of Al were deposited on top of the ZnO/Si structures, followed by introducing the Al atoms into the ZnO to form AZO through a process of thermal diffusion. Measurements at temperatures of 150–400 K were carried out in order to understand the temperature dependence of the heterostructure diode characteristics for photovoltaic applications. The results indicated the difference in current mechanisms observed in the two diodes with different Al-diffusion temperatures and Al thicknesses. The charge transport mechanism in the 200°C diodes indicated thermionic field emission (TFE) as the dominating mechanism, whereas the 600°C diodes resulted in field emission (FE) as the dominating current transport. The differences in conduction mechanisms explain the better solar cell performance using the 200°C process.
Coffee, tea, caffeine and risk of breast cancer: A 22-year follow-up

The relation between consumption of coffee, tea and caffeine and risk of breast cancer remains unsettled. We examined data from a large, long-term cohort study to evaluate whether high intake of coffee and caffeine is associated with increased risk of breast cancer. This was a prospective cohort study with 85,987 female participants in the Nurses' Health Study. Consumption of coffee, tea and caffeine consumption was assessed in 1980, 1984, 1986, 1990, 1994, 1998 and the follow-up continued through 2002. We documented 5,272 cases of invasive breast cancer during 1,715,230 person-years. The multivariate relative risks (RRs) of breast cancer across categories of caffeinated coffee consumption were: 1.0 for or=4 cups per day (p for trend = 0.14). Intakes of tea and decaffeinated coffee were also not significantly associated with risk of breast cancer. RRs (95% CI) for increasing quintiles of caffeine intake were 1.00, 0.98 (0.90-1.07), 0.92 (0.84-1.00), 0.94 (0.87-1.03) and 0.93 (0.85-1.01) (p for trend = 0.06). A significant inverse association of caffeine intake with breast cancers was observed among postmenopausal women; for the highest quintile of intake compared to the lowest RR 0.88 (95% CI = 0.79-0.97, p for trend = 0.03). We observed no substantial association between caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee and tea consumption and risk of breast cancer in the overall cohort. However, our results suggested a weak inverse association between caffeine-containing beverages and risk of postmenopausal breast cancer.
High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) for Specific Therapeutic Treatments: A Literature Review:

A literature review is provided concerning the scientific studies that have been published involving high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) as a therapeutic treatment for tumors of the prostate, uterus, and brain. This is a revival of earlier work that now focuses on targeted therapy with sonography, but the studies that have been conducted vary in their level of evidence and translation to clinical practice. The review arranges the published studies by levels of evidence and provides a meta-analysis of the potential for using HIFU to treat prostate cancer, fibroids, and glioblastomas. Human studies are needed that provide clear levels of frequency, intensity, temperature, and treatment patterns. The bioeffects of sonography play a huge role in the destruction of these tumors as well as the potential to cause collateral damage in the surrounding healthy tissue. The hope is that with continued research, a fusion of technology with HIFU can provide patients with a noninvasive, nonionizing therapy for thes...
The stereochemical requirement for protein kinase C activation by 3-methyldiglycerides matches that found in naturally occurring tumor promoters aplysiatoxins.

Abstract Protein kinase C is stereospecifically activated by, sn -1,2-(S)-diglycerides. A second chiral center was introduced into the diglycerides by preparing the 3-methyl derivatives. The activation of protein kinase C was also stereospecific with respect to the new chiral center established at the C3 position of the methylated diglycerides. The stereospecificity of protein kinase C directed towards the C2 and C3 positions of the diglycerides is matched in the analogous C29 and C30 stereocenters of the tumor promoting debromoaplysiatoxins. This finding strengthens the view that the structurally diverse tumor promotors contain the embedded diglyceride-like pharmacophore.
Differential distribution of spinal cord field potentials.

Electrical stimulation of the sural, superficial peroneal and plantar nerves in anesthetized cats produces a sequence of potentials in the spinal cord lumbosacral enlargement. The distributions of the spinal cord dorsum negative intermediary potential (N1 wave) and of the associated field potential recorded in depth from the spinal gray matter were mapped. The N1 wave produced by the sural nerve was largest at the junction of the S1 and L7 segments, whereas that evoked by the other two nerves was maximum in L6 and L7. The field potentials recorded in depth also showed a differential distribution. The maximum negativity during phase 2, corresponding to the N1 cord dorsum potential, was found to lie laterally in the dorsal horn when the sural nerve was stimulated, but medially when the plantar nerve was activated. The superficial peroneal nerve produced its largest negative field potential in the central region of the dorsal horn. The negative field potentials from the sural and superficial peroneal nerves were not as well separated spatially from each other as they were from the potential evoked by the plantar nerve.
Dithering and betweenness centrality in weighted graphs

This paper applies dithering to design a node centrality measure for weighted graphs. The construction is an improvement on the stable betweenness centrality measure which, in turn, was introduced as a robust alternative to the well-known betweenness centrality. We interpret any given graph as the mean representation of a distribution of graphs and define the dithered centrality value as the expected centrality value across all graphs in the distribution. We show that the dithered stable betweenness centrality measure preserves robustness in the presence of noise while improving the behavior of stable betweenness. Numerical experiments demonstrate the advantages of dithering by comparing the performance of betweenness, stable betweenness and dithered stable betweenness centralities in terms of robustness to noise, dependence on the number and quality of alternative paths, and distribution of centrality values across the graph.
SU‐FF‐I‐27: CT Urography Radiation Dose Using Automatic Exposure Control

Purpose: To measure and compare patient radiation doses during CT urography with automatic exposure control (both angular and z‐axis tube current modulation) to patient radiation doses without automatic exposure control (tube current modulation alone), and to correlate these doses with corresponding imagenoise measurements. Method and Materials:Skin doses were measured by exposing thermoluminescent dosimeters placed on the abdomen (AP) and side (lateral position) of 18 patients examined with CT urography consisting of automatic exposure control (CARE Dose 4D group), and 20 different patients examined with angular tube current modulation only (CARE Dose group). Mean and standard deviation of patient skin doses were calculated. The CT urography protocol included three volumetric acquisitions of the abdomen and pelvis. Effective doses were calculated and used to compare radiation risk between the two patient groups. The variation in effective dose with patient size was also evaluated. Imagenoise was evaluated by calculating the standard deviation of pixel values from a region of interest in patient liverimages.Results: The mean skin dose for CARE Dose 4D patients (63.4 ± 16.4 mGy) was 14.2% higher than that of CARE Dose patients (54.4 ± 7.39 mGy). The mean effective dose for CARE Dose 4D patients (10.6 ± 2.3 mSv) was 17.1% higher than that of CARE Dose patients (8.8 ± 1.8 mSv). Imagenoise increased with increasing patient size, however the increase was less for patients exposed with automatic exposure control.Conclusion: Patient effective dose, and thus radiation risk was 17.1% higher for CT urography patients examined with automatic exposure control compared to those examined with tube current modulation alone. Using automatic exposure control techniques in CT may be useful in reducing dose in small patients, however, for large patients the dose may actually increase to compensate for the increase in imagenoise.
Computational insights to the mechanism of alkene epoxidation by manganese-based catalysts in the presence of bicarbonate

Abstract The density functional theory (DFT) was applied to elucidate the electronic structure of a Mn catalyst, which is known to catalyze olefin epoxidation in the presence of H 2 O 2 and catalytic amounts of bicarbonate buffer. We considered a Mn(II)-peroxycarbonate complex Mn(η 2 -CO 4 ) 1a as a starting point. It was shown that the coordination of sulfate anion to Mn(η 2 -CO 4 ) decreases the barrier for O Mn bond formation from 9.7 to 2.3 kcal/mol. More importantly, it changes the nature of the transition state corresponding to the rate-determining barrier; in the reaction Mn(η 2 -CO 4 ) 1a → OMn(η 2 -OCO 2 ) 4a it corresponds to the O–O bond cleavage, while in SO 4 2− + Mn(η 2 -CO 4 ) 1a → [(SO 4 )Mn(η 2 -CO 4 )] 2− 1b → [(SO 4 )OMn(η 2 -OCO 2 )] 2− 4b it is associated with the rotation of the Mn–OCO 2 bond. The solvent (water) molecules do not play significant role in activation of O–O peroxo bond of peroxycarbonate ligand or formation of active oxidant species of oxo-manganese complex 4 . The epoxidation of ethylene by oxo-manganese complex 4b is a multi-step process and involves two major steps: one electron transfer from 4b to substrate and O-atom transfer. These steps of the reaction are found to proceed with 14.6 and 16.6 kcal/mol barriers, respectively.
Watershed Glacier Coverage Influences Dissolved Organic Matter Biogeochemistry in Coastal Watersheds of Southeast Alaska

The Coast Mountains of southeast Alaska are currently experiencing some of the highest rates of glacier volume loss on Earth, with unknown implications for proglacial stream biogeochemistry. We analyzed streamwater for δ18O and dissolved organic matter (DOM) biogeochemistry (concentration, δ13C-dissolved organic carbon (DOC), and fluorescence characterization) during the 2012 glacial runoff season from three coastal watersheds in southeast Alaska that ranged in glacier coverage from 0 to 49% and a glacier outflow stream. Our goal was to assess how DOM biogeochemistry may change as receding glaciers are replaced by forests and glaciers contribute less meltwater to streamflow. Discharge and streamwater δ18O varied seasonally reflecting varying contributions of rainfall and snow/icemelt to streamflow over the runoff season. Mean DOC concentrations were lowest in the glacial outflow and highest in the non-glacial stream reflecting an increasing contribution of vascular plant-derived carbon with decreasing watershed glaciation. Fluorescence and δ13C-DOC signatures indicated that DOM shifted from vascular plant-derived, humic-like material in the non-glacial stream toward more δ13C-DOC enriched, glacier-derived DOM in the glacial outflow. Streamwater δ18O was significantly correlated to DOC concentration, δ13C-DOC, and protein-like fluorescence of streamwater DOM (all P < 0.05), demonstrating that changes in the source of streamwater across the glacial watershed continuum have important implications for the amount and quality of stream DOM export. Overall, our findings show that continued glacial recession and subsequent changes in glacial runoff could substantially influence the biogeochemistry of coastal temperature watersheds by altering the timing, magnitude, and chemical signature of DOM delivered to streams.
Aqueous Infrared Spectroscopy - Potential Pitfalls Studies Of EDTA And Complexes In Solution

Due to the strong absorbance of water in the mid-infrared region of the spectrum, studies of aqueous solutions have usually been performed by either spectral subtraction of the pure solvent from the spectrum, or by substituting heavy water in the system to study absorbances below the 1640 cm-1 scissor. Both methods can lead to erroneous results, if invalid assumptions are made in each case.
Cytokine mRNA expression in intestine from normal and inflammatory Bowel disease patients

Abstract Cytokines are involved in the regulation of normal immune events and may be important in the development or perpetuation of immune events in inflammatory bowel disease. We have previously shown that normal human mononuclear cells from tonsil, spleen, and peripheral blood exhibit tissue and stimulus-specific patterns of cytokine mRNA expression. The aim of this study was to determine if disease-dependent differences of cytokine mRNA expression could be found in the intestine. Total RNA was isolated from intestinal mucosa and lamina propria mononuclear cells from inflammatory bowel disease patients and controls. cDNA probes specific for interleukins (IL)-1, -4, -5, and -6 and transforming growth factor-β were used. IL-1β mRNA and TGF-β mRNA steady state expressions were higher in inflammatory bowel disease specimens than in normal intestine. In addition, mononuclear cell specimens had stronger cytokine mRNA expression than mucosal specimens. The steady state mRNA expression of proinflammatory cytokines is higher in inflammatory bowel disease, consistent with the ongoing inflammation seen.
Electronic excitation of Ti atoms sputtered by energetic Ar+ and He+ from clean and monolayer oxygen covered surfaces☆

Electronic excitation of Ti atoms ejected during energetic ion bombardment (Ar+, He+) of well characterized clean and oxygen covered polycrystalline Ti metal surfaces has been determined. For states with 0 to 2 eV and 3 to 5.5 eV of electronic energy, static mode laser fluorescence spectroscopy (LFS) and static mode spontaneous fluorescence spectroscopy (SFS) were used respectively. These experiments which were carried out in a UHV (<10−10 Torr) system equipped with an Auger spectrometer provide measurements of the correlation between oxygen coverage (0 to 3 monolayers) and the excited state distribution of sputtered Ti atoms. The experimentally determined electronic partition function of Ti atoms does not show an exponential dependence on energy (E) above the ground state but rather an E−2 or E−3 power law dependence.
Is God essentially God

If theism is true, then there exists a being to which we appropriately refer with the term ‘God’. This point is analytic. Any object to which we appropriately refer with the term ‘God’ bears certain properties – e.g. omniscience, omnipotence and moral perfection. While the analyticity of this point may be a matter of debate, I find no problem granting its necessary truth , at least for the purposes of this paper. There are properties essential to the appropriate wearing of the title ‘God’. Does it follow from these claims that the object to which we appropriately apply the term ‘God’ bears the properties in question – omniscience, omnipotence, etc. – essentially? Is God essentially God? Or is it possible that the being to whom we refer with ‘God’ exist but not be God? Many would assume that the answers to these questions are obvious – that God is God essentially, or not at all. However, I wish to argue that there may be properties essential to Godhood, but not essential to the being that is God.
Hymenolepis diminuta: lack of pathogenicity in the healthy rat host.

Abstract Whether Hymenolepis diminuta (Cestoda: Cyclophyllidea) might affect adversely the growth of its host under normal conditions was studied. Rats were divided into four experimental groups: (1) rats infected with the tapeworm and fed ad libitum , (2) uninfected rats fed ad libitum , (3) and infected rats fed isocalorically with (4) uninfected rats. Growth rates of infected rats did not differ from infected animals. Infected, meal fed rats limited to 15 g synthetic diet/day grew as rapidly as their uninfected counterparts, and infected rats fed ad libitum did not consume more food than the comparable infected group. There were no significant differences in consumption or in excrement produced between groups (1) and (2) and groups (3) and (4). Weights attained by the worms were not affected by mode of host feeding ( ad libitum or meal fed), whether expressed as wet or dry weight. Since H. diminuta appears not to affect nutrient utilization or consumption in a healthy, unstressed host, at least on a gross level, it probably should be considered an endocommensal.
Catalytic ignition and extinction of hydrogen: comparison of simulations and experiments

Surface ignition and extinction of hydrogen/air mixtures on platinum surfaces are modeled using a detailed surface kinetic mechanism and transport phenomena. It is shown that the platinum surface can be poisoned by different adsorbates, and the dynamic process of catalytic ignition and extinction is associated with a phase transition from one poisoning species to another. For certain temperatures, multiple poisoned states of the surface coexist. Comparison of simulations with experiments is conducted, and it is shown that the self-inhibition of hydrogen catalytic ignition is caused by poisoning of platinum by atomic hydrogen.
Agents of the mind

The higher order circuitry of the brain is comprised of a large-scale network of cerebral cortical areas that are individually regulated by loops through subcortical structures, particularly through the basal ganglia and cerebellum. These subcortical loops have powerful computational architectures. Using, as an example, the relatively well-understood processing that occurs in the cortical/basal ganglionic/cerebellar distributed processing module that generates voluntary motor commands, I postulate that a network of analogous agents is an appropriate framework for exploring the dynamics of the mind.
Optical properties of metallodielectric nanostructures calculated using the finite difference time domain method

The optical properties of metallodielectric nanostructures, variations of a core−shell geometry, are investigated using the finite difference time domain method. This method provides a convenient, systematic, and general approach for calculating the optical response of a nanostructure of arbitrary symmetry and geometry to an incident light wave. Properties such as the optical absorption and scattering cross sections as well as the local electromagnetic fields and induced charge densities at the surfaces of the nanostructures can be obtained by this method. Issues of convergence with grid size and other simulation parameters are discussed in detail. The method is applied to uniform single nanoshells, nanoshells with surface defects, and nanoshells with shape distortions from a spherical geometry. The results show that, while defects can significantly affect local surface field enhancements, far field properties such as optical absorption and scattering spectra can be remarkably insensitive to defects and d...
Organisational agility and the knowledge infrastructure

Flexibility has become a matter of survival for many organisations as we embark on the twenty‐first century. In the real estate field, flexibility has historically meant some combination of different forms of procuring, planning, constructing and financing space. This paper argues that such approaches are necessary, but not sufficient. Senior managers need more robust adaptive strategies that exploit knowledge management tools to model, under conditions of uncertainty, the real estate and human resource implications of different workplace decisions. These facets of workplace strategies are the knowledge infrastructure that enables agile organisations to cope successfully with chronic uncertainty.
Bloodstream infections caused by Stenotrophomonas maltophilia: a seven-year review.

Summary Background Stenotrophomonas maltophilia is a significant nosocomial pathogen, responsible for an increasing number of infections, particularly in immunocompromised patients. Aim This study describes the clinical and microbiological characteristics of patients with Stenotrophomonas maltophilia bacteraemia. Methods We reviewed the charts of 102 patients with Stenotrophomonas maltophilia bacteraemia over a seven-year period from 2001 to 2007 in two tertiary care centres in New York, USA. Findings There were 79 episodes (77.5%) related to nosocomial acquisition, 21 (20.6%) were healthcare-associated and two episodes (2%) were community-acquired. The most common source of bacteraemia was an infected central catheter in 44 patients (43.1%); 17 (16.6%) were related to neutropenic sepsis; nine (8.8%) were from an abdominal source; six (5.9%) were from a respiratory source, and the source of the bacteraemia was unclear in 26 cases (25.5%). The majority (94.1%) of the patients had central venous access devices. Intensive care unit stay, intubation, septic shock, neutropenia at the time of bacteraemia or carbapenem antibiotic use within 30 days of the episode were associated with mortality according to univariate analysis. By multivariate analysis, hypotensive shock and carbapenem use within 30 days of the episode were factors significantly correlated with mortality. The 102 isolates were mostly susceptible in vitro to trimethoprim–sulfamethoxazole (97.1%), levofloxacin (92.9%), ceftazidime (53.0%) and ticarcillin–clavulanic acid (49.2%). Conclusion Our data describe the characteristics of patients with Stenotrophomonas maltophilia bacteraemia and emphasize the importance of careful evaluation of vascular access devices in those patients.
Observations on the killing of microbial protoplasts by serum.

PREVIOUS investigations from this laboratory have demonstrated the production of protoplasts* in kidneys of rats by treatment of acute enterococcal pyelonephritis with penicillin1. Furthermore, reports of isolation of these forms from patients have appeared in the literature. Although these observations do not satisfy Koch's postulates2 for proof of pathogenicity, the possibility exists that these forms could play a part in the pathogenesis of disease by a variety of mechanisms. Investigation of host–parasite interaction has been made and the present report describes the killing of microbial protoplasts by serum.
Cervical Spine Tomography with an Angiographic C-arm

Phantom studies were performed to develop a technique for linear tomography of the craniocervical junction with a digital fluoroscopic angiographic C-arm unit. Section thicknesses were similar to those used at conventional tomography, and the radiation dose was lower. C-arm tomography was possible with a 6-second exposure and a 40° arc. C-arm tomography is a practical method for decreasing patient turnaround time.
Low-rank approximations for large stationary covariance matrices, as used in the Bayesian and generalized-least-squares analysis of pulsar-timing data

Many data-analysis problems involve large dense matrices that describe the covariance of stationary noise processes; the computational cost of inverting these matrices, or equivalently of solving linear systems that contain them, is often a practical limit for the analysis. We describe two general, practical, and accurate methods to approximate stationary covariance matrices as low-rank matrix products featuring carefully chosen spectral components. These methods can be used to greatly accelerate data-analysis methods in many contexts, such as the Bayesian and generalized-least-squares analysis of pulsar-timing residuals.
Some probabilistic aspects of fracture

Abstract Some probabilistic aspects of fracture in structural and mechanical components are examined. The principles of fracture mechanics, material quality and inspection uncertainty are formulated into a conceptual and analytical framework for prediction of failure probability. The role of probabilistic fracture mechanics in a more global context of risk and optimization of decisions is illustrated. An example, where Monte Carlo simulation was used to implement a probabilistic fracture mechanics analysis, is discussed.
Public health consequences of terrorism on maternal-child health in New York City and Madrid.

Past research provides evidence for trajectories of health and wellness among individuals following disasters that follow specific pathways of resilience, resistance, recovery, or continued dysfunction. These individual responses are influenced by event type and pre-event capacities. This study was designed to utilize the trajectories of health model to determine if it translates to population health. We identified terrorist attacks that could potentially impact population health rather than only selected individuals within the areas of the attacks. We chose to examine a time series of population birth outcomes before and after the terrorist events of the New York City (NYC) World Trade Center (WTC) attacks of 2001 and the Madrid, Spain train bombings of 2004 to determine if the events affected maternal–child health of those cities and, if so, for how long. For percentages of low birth weight (LBW) and preterm births, we found no significant effects from the WTC attacks in NYC and transient but significant effects on rates of LBW and preterm births following the bombings in Madrid. We did find a significant positive and sustained effect on infant mortality rate in NYC following the WTC attacks but no similar effect in Madrid. There were no effects on any of the indicator variables in the comparison regions of New York state and the remainder of Spain. Thus, population maternal–health in New York and Madrid showed unique adverse effects after the terrorist attacks in those cities. Short-term effects on LBW and preterm birth rates in Madrid and long-term effects on infant mortality rates in NYC were found when quarterly data were analyzed from 1990 through 2008/2009. These findings raise questions about chronic changes in the population’s quality of life following catastrophic terrorist attacks. Public health should be monitored and interventions designed to address chronic stress, environmental, and socioeconomic threats beyond the acute aftermath of events.
Nuclear reaction rates and primordial 6 Li

We examine the possibility that big-bang nucleosynthesis (BBN) may produce nontrivial amounts of {sup 6}Li. If a primordial component of this isotope could be observed, it would provide a new fundamental test of big-bang cosmology, as well as new constraints on the baryon density of the universe. At present, however, theoretical predictions of the primordial {sup 6}Li abundance are extremely uncertain due to difficulties in both theoretical estimates and experimental determinations of the {sup 2}H({alpha},{gamma}){sup 6}Li radiative capture reaction cross section. We also argue that present observational capabilities do not yet allow the detection of primeval {sup 6}Li in very metal-poor stars of the galactic halo. However, if the critical cross section is very high in its plausible range and the baryon density is relatively low, then improvements in {sup 6}Li detection capabilities may allow the establishment of {sup 6}Li as another product of BBN. It is also noted that a primordial {sup 6}Li detection could help resolve current concerns about the extragalactic D/H determination. {copyright} {ital 1997} {ital The American Physical Society}