cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Internal-source method of measuring absolute pair-production cross sections

Abstract A new technique for measuring absolute pair-production cross sections by low energy γ-rays has been developed. The method consists of placing a small spherical radioactive source at the center of a spherical target and observing coincident annihilation γ-rays subsequent to creation of e − − e + pairs. Monte-Carlo calculations were used to correct the raw data for scattering and absorption of the annihilation γ-rays in the target and also to investigate the importance of pair-creation events following scattering of the incident γ-ray. The absolute cross sections for 1.8362 MeV γ-rays were measured for tin and lead targets. The resulting cross sections are (420±25) and (1460±90) mb, respectively, which are in excellent agreement with current theory.
Selenium nanoparticles inhibit Staphylococcus aureus growth

Staphylococcus aureus is a key bacterium commonly found in numerous infections. S. aureus infections are difficult to treat due to their biofilm formation and documented antibiotic resistance. While selenium has been used for a wide range of applications including anticancer applications, the effects of selenium nanoparticles on microorganisms remain largely unknown to date. The objective of this in vitro study was thus to examine the growth of S. aureus in the presence of selenium nanoparticles. Results of this study provided the first evidence of strongly inhibited growth of S. aureus in the presence of selenium nanoparticles after 3, 4, and 5 hours at 7.8, 15.5, and 31 μg/mL. The percentage of live bacteria also decreased in the presence of selenium nanoparticles. Therefore, this study suggests that selenium nanoparticles may be used to effectively prevent and treat S. aureus infections and thus should be further studied for such applications.
Multiple-Drug Use among High School Students:

A survey of tobacco, alcohol and marijuana use was completed by 309 high school students in a rural midwestern county. Frequencies of use of these drugs were similar to data obtained in urban coastal populations. Significant multi-drug-use patterns were identified. Most drug use began at ages 14 or 15 and occurred in social situations implicating social factors as primary determinants of adolescents' drug use.
Optical and electrical properties of π-conjugated polymers built with the 10 π-electron methano[10]annulene ring system

Nontraditional aromatic molecules hold tremendous promise for the design and re- alization of advanced materials for organic electronics applications. In this report, we de- scribe recent work with the 10 π-electron methano(10)annulene molecule. We used chem- istry established by Vogel and by Neidlein to incorporate this molecule into organic semiconducting polymers and found that they provide for highly delocalized charge carriers upon electrochemical oxidation/doping into conductive materials. Extensions to a variety of annulene-heteroaromatic copolymers will be described along with pertinent optical and elec- trical characterization data.
Relationship between the septum and the cingulate gyrus in Macaca mulatta

The relation between the lateral septal nucleus and the cingulate cortex of the monkey was investigated by the technique of retrograde cell degeneration. One hemidecorticate animal in which the gyrus cinguli was relatively preserved showed no cell loss in the lateral septal nucleus. Three animals, two with bilateral anterior cingulate gyrus lesions and one with a posterior cingulate gyrus lesion, showed cell loss in the lateral septal nucleus. These findings suggest that in the monkey there is a projection from the lateral septal nucleus to the gyrus cinguli.
A competitive protein binding assay for urinary riboflavin.

Abstract A competitive protein binding assay is described for the determination of riboflavin in human urine. The method uses chicken egg white as the source of specific riboflavin-binding protein and 2-14C-riboflavin as tracer. The average 24-hr urinary output of RF was 1.23 mg in men and 0.79 in women. The method is simple, specific, sensitive, and reproducible.
Comments on 'Orthogonality of exponential transients' by G.R.L. Sohie and G.N. Maracas

The work of Sohie and Maracas (ibid., vol.86, no.12, p.1616-18, Dec. 1988) concerned the representation of a decaying time function by a weighted sum of exponentials. It is shown that the problem can be solved in greater generality and in a more straightforward manner by using classical vector-space methods. The classical vector-space analysis is specialized to a particular function space containing the exponential transients. >
1.3 μm Exciton resonances in InGaAs quantum wells grown by molecular beam epitaxy using a slowly graded buffer layer

We achieve sharp excitonic resonances near 1.3 μm in InGaAs quantum wells grown on a GaAs substrate by molecular beam epitaxy using a slowly graded InGaAs buffer layer. Our results indicate that linear grading is preferable to step grading for high In composition InGaAs on GaAs. SIMS results confirm the linearity of the grading. Cross-section TEM analysis of the graded sample reveals dislocations within the buffer but none which are threading up to reach the quantum wells. In addition to a well-defined exciton at 1.25 μm under zero bias, we observe pronounced quantum confined Stark effect in the absorption spectrum of a sample including a graded buffer layer while the spectra from samples with step-graded buffers exhibit no excitonic features
Regional and global myocardial effects of intravenous and sublingual nitroglycerin treatment after experimental acute coronary occlusion

Abstract The consequences of sublingual and intravenous nitroglycerin treatment after acute coronary occlusion were studied in 18 closed chest dogs. Intravenous (0.1 mg/min) or sublingual (0.4 mg/15 min) nitroglycerin therapy was instituted 1 hour after occlusion and the effects were observed over a period of 2 hours. Hemodynamics and global and regional cardiac function were measured in both the coronary occluded and nonoccluded segments of the left ventricle before and during coronary occlusion, and after administration of nitroglycerin. A similar nine dog control series was used to establish the significance of the measured effects of nitroglycerin. Intravenous nitroglycerin therapy after 1 hour of occlusion resulted in a marked increase in heart rate (37 ± 12 [mean ± standard error of the mean] percent), reduction of systolic blood pressure (9 ± 3 percent), decrease in left ventricular end-diastolic and end-systolic volumes (32 ± 5 percent and 34 ± 5 percent), increase in coronary sinus flow (64 ± 24 percent) and decrease in left ventricular stroke work (29 ± 8 percent). Sublingually administered nitroglycerin produced similar trends but much less pronounced effects. However, intravenous or sublingual administration of nitroglycerin provided no improvement or caused further deterioration in ischemic region lactate extraction and potassium loss. The left ventricular ejection fraction, which was severely depressed after 1 hour of occlusion, changed minimally after administration of nitroglycerin, and there was no evidence of any correction of regional left ventricular akinesia or dyskinesia. Whereas mean systemic vascular resistance changed minimally as a result of nitroglycerin therapy, it increased 19 ± 8 percent during a corresponding period of an untreated coronary occlusion series suggesting that nitroglycerin prevented an anticipated increase. Postocclusion S-T segment elevation in the electrocardiogram persisted after treatment. Our data corroborated that nitroglycerin reduced left ventricular volumes and increased coronary sinus flow; however, these improvements were accompanied by persisting metabolic and mechanical derangements in the ischemic region.
Protein C activation following coronary artery occlusion in the in situ porcine heart.

BACKGROUNDActivated protein C, the body's natural anticoagulant, may play a role in protecting the heart during and following an occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) in the porcine heart.METHODS AND RESULTSInfusion of 1 unit thrombin over 30 seconds into the LAD of juvenile pigs produced a prolongation of the Xa clotting time (153 +/- 14%) in blood drawn from the anterior interventricular vein (AIV). The action of the anticoagulant was blocked by a polyclonal immunoglobulin G antibody directed against porcine activated protein C. A brief (30 seconds) occlusion of the LAD induced a similar prolongation of the Xa clotting time (138 +/- 11%), which was also blocked by the polyclonal antibody. To determine whether activated protein C helps sustain the heart during and following a 2-minute occlusion, three groups of pigs were studied: 11 controls, six receiving activated porcine protein C, and nine receiving a monoclonal antibody (HPC4) that blocks protein C activation. Relative to t...
Hypoxia upregulates cyclooxygenase-2 and prostaglandin E2 levels in human peritoneal fibroblasts

Objective To determine the levels of COX-1, COX-2, and prostaglandin (PG) E 2 in human fibroblasts isolated from normal peritoneal and adhesion tissues. Design Prospective experimental study. Setting University medical center. Patient(s) Fibroblast cultures from both peritoneum and adhesion tissues of five patients. Intervention(s) Treatment of the primary cultured fibroblasts with NS398. Main Outcome Measure(s) We used Western blot to determine the effects of hypoxia on COX-1 and COX-2 levels from lysates of normal peritoneal and adhesion fibroblasts before and after hypoxia. We also used the ELISA techniques to determine PGE 2 levels in media collected from these fibroblasts before and after hypoxia and with and without NS398, a COX-2–specific inhibitor. Result(s) There was no difference in COX-1 levels between normal and adhesion fibroblasts with and without hypoxia. Basal COX-2 and PGE 2 levels were significantly higher in adhesion than normal fibroblasts. Hypoxia gradually increased COX-2 and PGE 2 levels in normal peritoneal fibroblasts over time, reaching a peak at 24 hours but had no effect on adhesion fibroblasts. Inhibition of COX-2 by NS398 significantly reduced PGE 2 levels in both normal and adhesion fibroblasts. Conclusion(s) The presence of higher levels of COX-2 in adhesion fibroblasts and the induction of COX-2 in normal peritoneal fibroblasts in response to hypoxia indicate a possible inflammatory response. Regulation of COX-2 may alter peritoneal healing and may provide the opportunity to reduce postoperative adhesion development.
Provider-delivered, Theory-based, Individualized Prevention Interventions for HIV Positive Adults Receiving HIV Comprehensive Care

HIV prevention efforts are often difficult to emphasize in settings delivering comprehensive HIV care due to factors such as time constraints and differing priorities about the use of clinical time. To assist clinicians within dedicated HIV clinics to offer prevention strategies, investigators at two universities in the United States (Johns Hopkins University and the University of Alabama at Birmingham) have developed and implemented similar, audio-computerized-assisted, self-interviewing systems that have been programmed to assess individual patient risk factors and identify based on the patient’s self-assessment, the patient’s behavioral stage or, readiness for changing, each identified target behavior. Following the assessment, the systems provide printouts of key elements of this information along with individualized, theory-based intervention strategies to the medical provider. This paper will describe our efforts in developing provider-delivered, individualized, stage-based interventions intended to reduce high-risk behaviors among HIV-infected persons.
Formulation of a statistical equation of motion of a viscous fluid in an anisotropic non-rigid porous solid

Abstract The motion of a viscous fluid through an anisotropic non-rigid porous solid is studied. The porous solid considered in this study is a solid medium involving a very dense and fine network of tubules, whose diameter is much smaller than the characteristic length of the flow system. Kinematically, such a medium should behave like a continuum, i.e. the state of deformation can be well described macroscopically. Dynamically, this type of medium has to be distinguished from the true solid continuum, because one additional body force in addition to its weight (the surface traction exerted by the viscous fluid moving through it) has to be considered in the deformation of the porous solid. Their own weight is the only body force in a true solid continuum. The equations governing the macroscopic motion of the viscous fluid flow through the porous medium of this type are derived by averaging the motion of the fluid through individual elements of pores over a small volume of the porous medium. The physics of the derived equations and the possible applications to the blood flow in the network of capillary blood vessels and to the motion of extracellular fluid through the network of interstitial space are discussed.
Behçet’s disease: a new target for anti-tumour necrosis factor treatment

Behcet’s disease is a multisystemic, chronic relapsing inflammatory disease classified among the vasculitides. Recurrent mucocutaneous lesions may be the only symptoms in mild cases, but articular, ocular, vascular, and/or gastrointestinal and central nervous system involvement may occur in most of the patients. Ocular disease is the most frequent cause of morbidity leading to blindness in 25% of those affected. The various non-specific immunosuppressive drugs, used either alone or in combinations, frequently fail to control inflammation or maintain remissions. The aetiology of Behcet’s disease is unknown, however it is currently thought that a central pathogenetic role of tumour necrosis factor (TNF) in the inflammatory process is possible. Until June 2002, and according to published and anecdotal data, more than 80 patients from 10 different countries have received anti-TNF treatment. The short-term effects of the anti-TNF monoclonal antibody infliximab have been reported in several case reports and small case series, whereas the effects of etanercept have been presented in recent conferences. Preliminary results strongly suggest that infliximab is remarkably effective in inducing short-term remission of almost all manifestations of the disease, including acute, sight threatening panuveitis. A double blind, placebo controlled, one month study on the efficacy of etanercept in suppressing the mucocutaneous manifestations of the disease showed beneficial results. To date, significant side effects have not been reported. It seems that TNF block is an effective new treatment for patients with Behcet’s disease. Whether such treatment is superior to the conventional therapeutic approaches in preventing relapses and progression of the disease remains to be determined by carefully controlled studies. At least three open, long term studies, including larger numbers of patients are currently being conducted.
What explains the deviations of purchasing power parity across countries? International evidence from macro data

Abstract This paper explores systematic cross-national sources affecting the amplitude of Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) deviations. We theoretically show that a more open economy has smaller PPP deviations, as its monetary factors are less dominant. 63 cross-country data evidences this prediction.
An effective hash-based algorithm for mining association rules

In this paper, we examine the issue of mining association rules among items in a large database of sales transactions. The mining of association rules can be mapped into the problem of discovering large itemsets where a large itemset is a group of items which appear in a sufficient number of transactions. The problem of discovering large itemsets can be solved by constructing a candidate set of itemsets first and then, identifying, within this candidate set, those itemsets that meet the large itemset requirement. Generally this is done iteratively for each large k-itemset in increasing order of k where a large k-itemset is a large itemset with k items. To determine large itemsets from a huge number of candidate large itemsets in early iterations is usually the dominating factor for the overall data mining performance. To address this issue, we propose an effective hash-based algorithm for the candidate set generation. Explicitly, the number of candidate 2-itemsets generated by the proposed algorithm is, in orders of magnitude, smaller than that by previous methods, thus resolving the performance bottleneck. Note that the generation of smaller candidate sets enables us to effectively trim the transaction database size at a much earlier stage of the iterations, thereby reducing the computational cost for later iterations significantly. Extensive simulation study is conducted to evaluate performance of the proposed algorithm.
Two-flash threshold, skin conductance and skin potential

The subjective threshold of fusion of paired light flashes (two-flash threshold) and tonic levels of skin conductance and skin potential were simultaneously measured in samples of drug free and medicated psychiatric patients. Significant intercorrelations were found between the two-flash threshold and a range corrected index of skin conductance and potential in both patient samples.
Dynamic Pax6 expression during the neurogenic cell cycle influences proliferation and cell fate choices of retinal progenitors.

Background The paired homeobox protein Pax6 is essential for proliferation and pluripotency of retinal progenitors. However, temporal changes in Pax6 protein expression associated with the generation of various retinal neurons have not been characterized with regard to the cell cycle. Here, we examine the dynamic changes of Pax6 expression among chicken retinal progenitors as they progress through the neurogenic cell cycle, and determine the effects of altered Pax6 levels on retinogenesis.
Functional differentiation of placental syncytiotrophoblasts during baboon pregnancy: Developmental expression of chorionic somatomammotropin messenger ribonucleic acid and protein levels

The objective of the present study was to determine whether, in addition to the onset of chorionic somatomammotropin (CS) production previously shown to result from the morphological differentiation of cytotrophoblasts into syncytiotrophoblasts, there is a further developmental increase in the capacity of syncytiotrophoblasts to produce CS with advancing stages of baboon pregnancy. Placentas were obtained from baboons in early (days 48–62), mid (days 97–110), and late (days 161–175) gestation (term = 184 days), and CS messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) and protein levels were determined in a syncytiotrophoblast-rich cell fraction isolated by Percoll gradient centrifugation. CS mRNA levels in syncytiotrophoblasts, expressed as a ratio of β-actin, exhibited a progressive increase from early (0.04 ± 0.04 relative arbitrary units) to mid (2.37 ± 0.33; P < 0.001) to late (3.66 ± 0.39; P < 0.05) gestation. Levels of the 22-kDa CS protein were very low on days 48–55 (0.83 ± 0.09 arbitrary units), increased 10-fol...
Desertification, land use, and the transformation of global drylands

Desertification is an escalating concern in global drylands, yet assessments to guide management and policy responses are limited by ambiguity concerning the definition of “desertification” and what processes are involved. To improve clarity, we propose that assessments of desertification and land transformation be placed within a state change–land-use change (SC–LUC) framework. This framework considers desertification as state changes occurring within the context of particular land uses (eg rangeland, cropland) that interact with land-use change. State changes that can be readily reversed are distinguished from regime shifts, which are state changes involving persistent alterations to vegetation or soil properties. Pressures driving the transformation of rangelands to other types of land uses may be low, fluctuating, or high, and may influence and be influenced by state change. We discuss how the SC–LUC perspective can guide more effective assessment of desertification and management of drylands.
Choice and conditional expected utility

L'A. analyse l'exemple de la cause commune dont le principe selon lequel les agents doivent maximiser l'utilite conditionnelle attendue (UCA) dans des situations de choix est empreint d'elements irrationnels. Cela justifie la refutation de la maximisation de l'UCA en faveur de la theorie de la decision causale
Rapid multivariate curve resolution applied to identification of explosives by ion mobility spectrometry

Abstract Ion mobility spectrometers (IMS) are routinely used by airport personnel to screen for explosive residues on luggage, and law enforcement officials use ion mobility spectrometers to screen samples at crime scenes for drugs of abuse. IMS has several advantages when screening which include high sensitivity, low detection limits, and short analysis times. The Barringer Ionscan® 350, coupled to LabVIEW™ for data acquisition, can collect 50 spectra per second. These features are very important because of the high throughput demanded for screening luggage. Carry-on luggage in airports undergoes screening for explosive residues by swiping a small filter over the surface. The filter is then inserted into the spectrometer and analyzed. Results of the analysis are available in a matter of seconds. The detection method used must be accurate and rapid because of the large number of samples that must be analyzed in short periods. Unfortunately, IMS spectra can contain interferents because of the sample collection method. Rapid temperature programming coupled with chemometrics has been shown as a useful tool for the separation of analytes from interferents. Pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN) and cyclotetramethylene tetranitrate (HMX) are nonvolatile explosives. They decompose rapidly upon heating, making traditional analyses by gas chromatography difficult. In this work, PETN and HMX with interfering compounds were analyzed using rapid temperature programming. The Barringer Ionscan® 350, was modified so that the desorber heater could be programmed and the spectra acquired in real-time. Simple-to-use interative self-modeling mixture analysis (SIMPLISMA) was applied to the data to resolve spectral features that vary with respect to temperature.
Genetic and environmental changes in SUMO homeostasis lead to nuclear mRNA retention in plants

Protein sumoylation plays an important role in plant development, flowering-time regulation, and abiotic stress response. However, the molecular role of sumoylation in these pathways is largely unknown. It was shown previously that in mutants of the inner nuclear basket nucleoporin NUA a large increase in the abundance of high-molecular weight SUMO conjugated proteins correlated with nuclear retention of bulk mRNA. Here, the connection between sumoylation and mRNA export in plants was further investigated. Both SUMO-conjugate accumulation and mRNA retention were also found in a second nucleoporin mutant that does not affect NUA, and SUMO conjugates accumulated predominantly in the nucleus. Similarly, after heat and ethanol treatment, two abiotic stress treatments known to lead to the accumulation of sumoylated proteins, nuclear mRNA was retained. To establish a causal relationship between sumoylation and mRNA export, mutations in two enzymes in the SUMO pathway were tested. Mutating either SUMO E3 ligase or SUMO isopeptidase lead to nuclear mRNA retention, indicating that both an increase and a decrease in the pool of sumoylated nuclear proteins blocks mRNA export. Together, these data show that sumoylation acts upstream of mRNA export in plants, likely through the transient sumoylation status of one or more factors involved in mRNA trafficking.
Gene expression in proliferating human erythroid cells.

Abstract A complete understanding of human erythropoiesis will require a robust description of transcriptional activity in hematopoietic cells that proliferate and differentiate in response to erythropoietin (EPO). For this purpose, we cultured peripheral blood mononuclear cells in the presence or in the absence of EPO and examined the transcriptional profile of those cells arising only in response to EPO. A distinct population of CD71 ++++ cells that demonstrated an average of six additional doublings in suspension culture and erythroid colony formation in methylcellulose was isolated. Suppression subtractive hybridization of mRNA isolated from those cells permitted the identification of transcribed genes. A summary of 719 expressed sequence tags (ESTs) describing 505 independent transcripts is provided here with a full analysis of each EST available at http://hembase.niddk.nih.gov . Several transcripts that matched genes previously reported in the context of erythroid differentiation including 4 cell surface proteins were expressed at this developmental stage. Active chromatin remodeling was suggested by the identification of 4 histone proteins, 4 high-mobility group proteins, 13 transcription factors, and 6 genes involved in DNA recombination and repair. Numerous genes associated with leukemic translocations were also recognized including topoisomerases I and II, nucleophosmin, Translin, EGR1, dek, pim-1, TFG, and MLL. In addition to known transcripts, 44 novel EST were discovered. This transcriptional profile provides the first genomic-scale description of gene activity in erythroid progenitor cells.
Does Enrollment in Cancer Trials Improve Survival

Background Stakeholders derive many benefits from cancer clinical trials, including guidance for future oncologic treatment decisions. However, whether enrollment in cancer trials also improves patient survival independently of trial outcomes remains underinvestigated. We hypothesized that cancer trial enrollment is not associated with patient survival outcomes. Study Design Using the 2002 to 2008 California Cancer Registry, we identified 555,469 patients with stage I to IV solid organ tumors. Baseline characteristics were compared by trial participation status. Logistic regression determined predictors of trial enrollment. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression examined the impact of trial participation on overall and cancer-specific mortality with adjustment for covariates. Results Only 0.33% of our cohort was enrolled in clinical trials. Trial participants were likely to be younger than 65 (odds ratio [OR] 2.13; 95% CI 1.90 to 2.38), Hispanic rather than non-Hispanic white (OR 0.78; 95% CI 0.67 to 0.90), and have breast cancer (OR 3.14; 95% CI 2.62 to 3.77). Multivariate survival analyses demonstrated that enrollment in cancer trials predicted a lower hazard of death. However, when stratified by disease site, this survival benefit was observed only in lung, colon, and breast cancers. Sensitivity and interaction analyses confirmed these relationships. Conclusions In this first population-based study examining trial effect in solid organ cancers, enrollment into cancer trials predicted lower overall and cancer-specific mortality among common cancer sites. Although these findings may demonstrate a survival benefit due to trial enrollment, they likely also reflect the favorable attributes of trial enrollees. Once corroborated, stakeholders must consider broader cancer trial designs representative of the cancer burden treated in the real world.
Probing the electron distribution inside the ATA beam pulse

Analysis of the Cherenkov light emitted from a single ATA beam pulse provides quantitative information regarding the distribution of beam particles in a four dimensional transverse phase space. Using the techniques described in this report we conclude that the experimentally observed spatial distribution of Cherenkov light implies a parabolic distribution of beam particles. Using the transfer matrix of the magnetic solenoid transport, quantitative values of the emittance, radius, tilt and energy at a position upstream of the Cherenkov foil may be obtained, and the beam brightness as a function of radius within the beam may be calculated. The brightness is defined as the ratio of the beam current within a given radius to the normalized four dimensional volume occupied by particles within that radius. The normalized four volume is the four dimensional volume multiplied by the relativistic parameters β2γ2. We find that the parabolic phase space distribution gives a core brightness three times the edge brightness and agreement with the core brightness measured by the two aperture emittance diagnostic.
A control-oriented model for lead-acid batteries including degradation

Battery packs used in hybrid applications often operate at high state of charge, especially during charging. To model battery performance during charge/overcharge, side reactions that affect the performance and cause degradation should be included. Control-oriented models must be accurate enough to predict side reactions but simple enough to be used for control algorithm analysis, design, and implementation. In this work, a lumped, nonlinear state space model for lead-acid cells is developed including electrolysis (gassing or water loss), the main side reaction for this chemistry during overcharge. The model is validated against voltage and pressure test data from a VRLA battery during charge and overcharge. The model predicts the rapid rise in voltage and pressure during overcharge as the input current is diverted from the main reaction to the electrolysis side reaction.
Clone maintenance through analysis and refactoring

The removal of duplicate code associated with code clones provides a mechanism to improve code clone maintenance by eliminating redundant code and reducing the amount of code that needs to be maintained. The research described in this paper contributes to the field of code clone maintenance by exploring techniques that determine novel factors influencing code clone analysis and refactoring, and by developing a process that unifies the phases of code clone detection, analysis, and refactoring.
The Nebular Shock Wave Model for Chondrule Formation: One-Dimensional Calculations

Abstract We present numerical simulations of the interaction of a one-dimensional radiative gas dynamic shock wave with a dust cloud in the solar nebula that is finite in dimension parallel to the direction of shock propagation. Energy and momentum transfer to the shock-heated gas as the gas penetrates the dust cloud is computed at each time step as well as grain heating due to molecular collisions and radiation from shocked gas and radiation from surrounding dust grains. For all explicit calculations, the dust cloud is composed of equal-sized (1 mm radius) silicate grains and the nebula gas has an initial number density of 10 14 cm -3 and a temperature of 500 K. For the case of a marginally optically thick dust cloud (half thickness 100 km and dust number density 3.2 grains m -3 ), shock Mach numbers >3.1 are sufficient to bring a small fraction of grains within the cloud to the melting temperature while Mach numbers >4 are sufficient to melt most grains in the cloud. Larger dust densities (optical depth ⪢1) result in more rapid melting of grains near the upstream edge of the dust cloud but grains in the interior are relatively shielded from drag heating due to momentum loss by the shocked gas. For initial nebula number densities greater (smaller) than 10 14 cm -3 , smaller (larger) Mach numbers are required to melt grains. Nonspherical (e.g., fractal) grains would reach melting temperatures for smaller Mach numbers at a given initial nebula density and temperature. More detailed calculations for a continuous size distribution of dust grains may provide a means of understanding the observed narrow range of chondrule sizes.
Performance Characteristics and Validation of the Opioid-Related Symptom Distress Scale for Evaluation of Analgesic Side Effects After Orthopedic Surgery

BACKGROUND:The Opioid-Related Symptom Distress Scale (ORSDS) is a 4-point scale that evaluates 3 symptom distress dimensions (frequency, severity, bothersomeness) for 12 symptoms. The symptom-specific ORSDS is the average of the 3 symptom distress dimensions. The composite ORSDS is the average of 12
Influence in international conferences

A valuable source of data for the international organization researcher is interviews with delegates sent by their governments to participate in international conferences and meetings. With the appearance of many newly independent states in the 1960s and early 1970s, the size of international conferences and the workload of the individual delegate have grown to such an extent that it has become difficult to tap this resource effectively.
Dopaminergic involvement in the cocaine-induced up-regulation of benzodiazepine receptors in the rat caudate nucleus

One group of 12 rats received discrete 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) injections into the caudate nucleus on one side of the brain and sham infusions on the other. Following chronic daily injections of cocaine (20 mg/kg, i.p.) or saline (1 ml/kg, i.p.) for 15 days, the caudate nuclei were separately dissected, and the number of benzodiazepine receptors labeled with [3H]Ro 15-1788 were assessed using individual homogenate receptor binding assays. A second group of 24 rats received bilateral infusions of 6-hydroxydopamine or sham infusions into the lateral ventricles followed by chronic cocaine or saline administration as described above. The animals were sacrificed by cardiac perfusion, and the brains were sectioned and prepared for light microscopic quantitative autoradiography. The extent of the lesion was assessed by measuring dopaminergic and noradrenergic uptake sites visualized with [3H]mazindol, while [3H]Ro 15-1788 was used to estimate the number of benzodiazepine receptors. Chronic cocaine administration resulted in significant increases in benzodiazepine receptors in the caudate nucleus, and these effects were attenuated following dopamine depletion. These data suggest that the effects of cocaine on benzodiazepine receptors may be mediated, in part, through the effects of the drug on dopaminergic neuronal activity.
New and future uses of enzymes in food processing

Abstract Enzymes are often thought of by the food processing industry as detrimental, to be destroyed by heat treatment. This is based on undesirable changes in texture, color, flavor, aroma and nutrition that may occur on harvest and storage. However, the uses of enzymes in brewing, cheese manufacture, meat tenderization, baking and protein hydrolysis are well known, having been used for many years. Of more recent utilization are enzymes for making glucose and fructose from starch, for separating racemic mixtures of D‐and L‐amino acids, for cleaning of processing equipment, for changes in functionality of high protein foods and increasing juice yield and clarity. In the last five years there has been renewed interest in developing additional uses of enzymes for food processing. In general, these methods require much more specificity and controlled conditions than previous methods. These methods include use of lipases for transesterification of triglycerides, production of specific monoglycerides and high...
Role of adenosine receptors in volatile anesthetic preconditioning against neutrophil-induced contractile dysfunction in isolated rat hearts.

Background:The authors tested the hypothesis that adenosine receptors in polymorphonuclear neutrophils and the heart mediate the preconditioning effects of volatile anesthetics against neutrophil-induced contractile dysfunction.Methods:Studies were conducted in buffer-perfused and paced isolated rat
Maximum Amplification of Blade Response due to Mistuning: Localization and Mode Shape Aspects of the Worst Disks

This paper focuses on the determination and study of the maximum amplification of the steady state forced response of bladed disks due to mistuning. First, an optimization strategy is proposed in which partially mistuned bladed disks are considered as physical approximations of the worst case disk and the mistuned properties are sought to maximize the response of a specific blade. This approach is exemplified on both a reduced order model of a blisk and a single-degree-of-freedom per blade disk model an extensive parametric study of which is conducted with respect to blade-to-blade coupling, damping, and engine order. A mode shape-based formulation of the amplification factor is then developed to clarify the findings of the parametric study in the strong coupling/small damping limit. In this process, the upper bound of Whitehead is recovered for all engine orders and number of blades and the conditions under which this limit is exactly achieved or closely approached are clarified. This process also uncovers a simple yet reliable approximation of the resonant mode shapes and natural frequencies of the worst disk.Copyright © 2002 by ASME
A note on dichotomization of continuous response variable in the presence of contamination and model misspecification

The purpose of this note is to raise awareness of the complexity of the practice involving dichotomization. It is well known that the regular regression models are effective tools for analyzing Gaussian-type response variables, and researchers are often told that it is a 'bad idea' to practice dichotomization if continuous measurements are available. We demonstrate through special cases, however, that there is another side of the story if the response variable is contaminated. Although dichotomization causes loss of information, it can also reduce input of contamination. If the reduction of contamination input outweighs the loss of information, analysis based on dichotomization can sometimes provide better results. We derive formulas of bias and variance for binary regression estimators under a contamination model of unknown additive errors, and compare them with both the least squares and robust M-estimators from the corresponding linear regression analysis using continuous responses. As a case study, we study extensively the case in which the observed response is contaminated by an error with a mean and a variance proportional to the mean and the variance of the uncontaminated true response. Conditions under which dichotomization is preferred are obtained. A simulation study based on a real data setting is provided, which supports the theoretical developments.
Second virial coefficients of the acetonitrile‐acetaldehyde system

The low-pressure compressibilities of acetonitrile, acetaldehyde, and their mixtures were measured in the temperature range 40° to 100°C. From these data second virial coefficients were determined for the pure components and for the mixture. The absolute value of the coefficient B12, characteristic of interaction between dissimilar molecules, was considerably larger than that for B11 or B22, which are characteristic of interactions between similar molecules. As a result it was not possible to predict the properties of the mixture with only data for the pure components. Calculations based on the Stockmayer potential and with conventional mixing rules gave seriously incorrect results for the second virial coefficient B12. The data were interpreted with the aid of an association theory. Dimerization equilibrium constants and enthalpies and entropies of formation were computed for the pure-component dimers and for the complex. The heat of formation for the complex was significantly larger than that for the dimers; comparison with energy terms calculated from electrostatic theory suggest that the structure of the complex is different from that of the pure-component dimers.
On interacting finite state machine design with self-checking capability

A technique for designing interacting finite-state machines that will be totally self-checking for any single stuck-at fault is presented. M-out-of-n codes are used for both primary output and state assignments. The next state logic (NSL) for each submachine and the output logic (OL) realized are such that any single stuck-at fault results in either single bit error or unidirectional multibit error at the output. An m-out-of-n checker is added to check the validity of the output lines so that any fault can be detected online by the checker.
The outlook for noncredit workforce education

The future of noncredit workforce education programs looks bright but organizational, funding, and accountability issues remain.
Design Through Transformation

The design and verification subsystem (DAV) within IBM's engineering design system (EDS) was developed to significantly increase logic designer productivity. To obtain this gain in productivity, emphasis was placed on creating a system environment which would encourage a structured approach towards design. A key component within DAV is the logic transformation subsystem (LTS). Using LTS, the designer can automatically synthesize and map a higher-level logic description into a design implementation under cost, performance, and technology constraints. This paper describes the various uses of transformation within a structured design context and provides details on the implementation of LTS.
Estimation of density ratio and its application to design a measure of dependence

In this paper we propose a new approach to estimate the ratio of two probability density functions. The proposed approach is inspired by the kernel based function approximation technique. We apply this estimator to derive an estimator of mutual information and show that this estimator can be successfully used to detect dependence between two random variables.
White-Tailed Deer Alter Specialist and Generalist Insect Herbivory Through Plant Traits

Within a plant species, leaf traits can vary across environmental, genetic, spatial, and temporal gradients, even showing drastic differences within individuals. Herbivory can also induce variation in leaf morphology, defensive structure, and chemistry including nutritional content. Indirect effects of prior insect herbivory on later herbivores have been well documented, but the induction of trait changes after vertebrate herbivory has been little explored. Here, we examined how browsing of spicebush (Lindera benzoin L.), a dominant understory shrub in eastern mesic forests, by white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus L.) altered plant quality and subsequent foliar herbivory by insects. Browsing history explained ≈ 10% of overall leaf trait variation; regenerated leaves had greater water content and specific leaf area (P = 0.009), but were lower in nitrogen and greater in carbon (P < 0.001), than leaves on unbrowsed plants. However, browsing did not shift terpene chemistry as revealed by GC-MS. In the lab, caterpillars of the specialist spicebush swallowtail (Papilio troilus L.) preferred (P = 0.02) and grew 20% faster (P = 0.02) on foliage from browsed plants; whereas total herbivory in the field, including generalist insect herbivory, was twice as high on unbrowsed plants (P = 0.016). These results suggest that the ecological impacts of deer in forest understories can have cascading impacts on arthropod communities by changing the suitability of host-plants to insect herbivores.
The Web as Television Reimagined? Online Networks and the Pursuit of Legacy Media

Television’s perceived weakness at the turn of the century opened a rhetorical and economic space for entrepreneurs eager to curate and distribute web programs. These companies introduced various f...
Potentiation of the exercise pressor reflex by muscle ischemia

The reflex responses to static contraction are augmented by ischemia. The metabolic "error signals" that are responsible for these observed responses are unknown. Therefore this study was designed to test the hypothesis that static contraction-induced pressor responses, which are enhanced during muscle ischemia, are the result of alterations in muscle oxygenation, acid-base balance, and K+. Thus, in 36 cats, the pressor response, active muscle blood flow, and muscle venous pH, PCO2, PO2, lactate, and K+ were compared during light and intense static contractions with and without arterial occlusion. During light contraction (15-16% of maximal), active muscle blood flow increased without and decreased with arterial occlusion (+35 +/- 12 vs. -60 +/- 11%). Arterial occlusion augmented these pressor responses by 132 +/- 25%. Without arterial occlusion, changes (P less than 0.05) were seen in PO2, O2 content, PCO2, and K+. Lactate and pH were unchanged. With arterial occlusion, changes in muscle PCO2 were augmented and significant changes were seen in pH and lactate. During intense static contraction (67-69% of maximal), muscle blood flow decreased without arterial occlusion (-39 +/- 9%) and decreased further during occlusion (-81 +/- 6%). Arterial occlusion augmented the pressor responses by 39 +/- 12%. All metabolic variables increased during contraction without arterial occlusion, but occlusion failed to augment any of these changes. These data suggest that light static ischemic contractions cause increases in muscle PCO2 and lactate and decreases in pH that may signal compensatory reflex-induced changes in arterial blood pressure.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Effects of Electrical Stimulation, Hot-Boning and Mixing vs Tumbling on the Physical and Chemical Properties of Beef Logs

Paired sides of 20 steer carcasses were used to determine the effects of electrical stimulation (ES), hot-boning (HB), and mixing vs tumbling on the physical and chemical properties of restructured beef logs. Proximate analysis data showed HB to increase water-holding capacity and ash content over cold-boning (CB). Electrical stimulation increased peak force (PF) values over nonstimulation (NS), but there was no difference in the distance to peak force (DPF) values or energy values, indicating a slight improvement in binding ability with ES. Electrical simulation and HB increased binding ability of the meat proteins. Results of this study suggest that tumbling should be used with HB and mixing should be used with CB to reduce moisture losses.
Composite Spreader for Cooling Computer Chip With Non-Uniform Heat Dissipation

The performance of a composite spreader, with a 0.4 mm thick top layer of porous graphite (PG), for enhanced cooling with nucleate boiling of FC-72 dielectric liquid, and a 1.6 mm copper (Cu) substrate, for achieving better cooling of underlying 10 X 10 mm computer chip, with a non-uniform surface heat flux, is investigated. This spreader takes an advantage of the enhanced nucleate boiling heat transfer of FC-72 dielectric liquid on PG and the good heat spreading by Cu. The dissipated thermal power by the chip has a cosine-like distribution with a peak-to-average heat flux, Phimax, which varied up to 2.467. The spreader surface area, the total thermal power dissipated by the chip, removed from the surface of the spreader, and the total thermal resistance are calculated and compared with those of PG and Cu spreaders of same thickness, 2.0 mm. With Phimax = 2.467, 39.48 W and 72.0 W can be removed from the surface of composite spreaders cooled with saturation and 30 K subcooled boiling, compared to 43.0 and 65.3 W for Cu spreaders. The calculated surface areas and total thermal resistances of the composite spreaders, 6.82 cm2 and 4.90 cm2 and 0.284 and 0.68degC/W, are smaller than for Cu spreaders, 12.26 cm2 and 11.92 cm2, and 0.51 and 0.83degC/W. In addition, the calculated chip maximum surface temperatures of 62.37degC and 72.2degC, are lower than with Cu spreaders (72.67degC and 76.30degC).