cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Further studies on the induction of tyrosine aminotransferase in Morris hepatoma 9618A.

Summary Tyrosine aminotransferase and the amino acid transport system in the host liver and hepatoma of rats bearing Morris hepatoma 9618A responded positively to a combined injection of glucagon and theophylline or to glucagon alone, injected s.c., but only the host liver responded to an injection of theophylline alone. Glucagon injected s.c. was more effective than that injected i.p. in inducing tyrosine aminotransferase and the amino acid transport system and lowering tissue glycogen levels in normal liver, host liver and hepatoma 9618A. Hepatoma glycogen levels in rats bearing hepatoma 9618A were increased by injections of hydrocortisone and were lowered by an injection of glucagon. Chronic treatment with hydrocortisone of rats bearing hepatoma 9618A was not necessary in order to get induction of tyrosine aminotransferase and the amino acid transport system when the glucagon was injected s.c. However, this hydrocortisone treatment abolished the differential effect of the route of administration of glucagon injected.
Diffusion in the bubble flow meter in inverse gas chromatography experiments

Causes d'erreurs dans la mesure des debits, realisation d'un nouveau debitmetre pour He, N 2 ou un autre gaz
Oophorectomy by natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery: feasibility study in dogs

Background Natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) represents a potentially less-invasive alternative to conventional or laparoscopic surgery. Objective Our purpose was to develop a canine oophorectomy model for prospective evaluation of intraoperative complications, surgical stress, and postoperative pain and recovery with NOTES. Design Feasibility study. Setting Academic preclinical research. Patients Ten healthy female dogs. Interventions NOTES procedures were performed through gastric access with an electrocautery snare to resect and retrieve the ovaries. The gastrotomy was closed with prototype T-fasteners. Main Outcome Measurements Operative time; complications; postoperative pain scores, and nociceptive threshold; surgical stress markers (interleukin-6 [IL-6], C-reactive protein); systemic stress parameters (cortisol, glucose); necropsy evaluation at 10 to 14 days. Results The mean operative time was 154 minutes (SD ± 58 minutes) and no animals died as a result of complications from the procedure. The primary difficulty was incomplete ovarian excision and conversion to an open procedure in 1 dog. Serum glucose concentrations increased after surgery and remained elevated for at least 36 hours. The serum cortisol concentration was transiently increased from baseline at 2 hours after surgery. The serum IL-6 concentration peaked at 2 hours after surgery and returned to the baseline value by 18 hours. The serum C-reactive protein concentration increased significantly from baseline, peaked at 12 hours after surgery, and then slowly declined toward baseline but remained elevated at 72 hours after surgery. Nociceptive threshold measurements indicated increased sensitivity to pain for 2 to 24 hours after surgery. At necropsy, surgical sites were healing uneventfully with no significant damage to surrounding organs, no significant growth on bacterial cultures, and no evidence of peritonitis. Limitations Small number of animals, single center. Conclusions The NOTES approach to oophorectomy in dogs appears to be a reasonable alternative to traditional surgery. Attention must be paid to ensure complete excision of the ovaries.
Repression of plant tissue culture growth by light is caused by photochemical change in the culture medium.

Abstract The effect of light on the growth of cultured Lycopersicon esculentum L., Daucus carota L. and Arabidopsis thaliana L. tissues was investigated. Callus growth from Arabidopsis leaf tissue was poor in the dark, but was stimulated by light filtered to remove UV and blue wavelengths. Tomato hypocotyl callus grew equally well in the dark and in filtered light. With respect to growth in the dark and filtered light, carrot hypocotyl callus was intermediate between the Arabidopsis and tomato tissues. However, for all three plant tissues, growth was reduced by unfiltered white light relative to the filtered light. The reduced growth caused by unfiltered white light can be attributed primarily to photochemical alterations of the culture medium rather than to photosensory functions of the plant tissues. Moreover, comparative studies with light-labile and light-stable auxins showed that the white-light-induced growth reduction was primarily due to photodegradation of components in the medium other than auxin.
Differences in acoustic directionality among vocalizations of the male red-winged blackbird (Agelaius pheoniceus) are related to function in communication

Studies of animal acoustic communication have found that the frequency and temporal structure of acoustic signals can be shaped by selection for efficient communication. The directionality of acoustic radiation may also be adapted for communication, but we know relatively little about how directionality varies with signal function, sender morphology, and the environment in which the sound is transmitted. We tested the hypothesis that the directionality of a vocalization is adapted to its function in communication. This hypothesis predicts that vocalizations that are directed to multiple conspecifics (e.g., advertisements and alarms) will be relatively omnidirectional because this will maximize the number of neighbors and mates that receive the signal, and that vocalizations directed to particular individuals will be relatively directional because this will maximize detection of the signal by the targeted receiver and minimize eavesdropping. To test these predictions, we measured the directionality and amplitude of red-winged blackbird (Agelaius pheoniceus) vocalizations in the field by recording vocalizations simultaneously on eight calibrated microphones encircling the bird. We found significant variation in directionality among vocalizations. Supporting our predictions, we found that the most omnidirectional vocalizations were those used to alert conspecifics to danger, and the most directional vocalizations are those used during courtship and solicitation of copulation, when the costs of eavesdropping are likely to be high. These results suggest that the directionality of red-winged blackbird vocalizations is shaped by selection for effective communication. This study is the first to provide statistical support for the hypothesis that directionality is related to the function of a signal in communication.
On the temporal characteristics of a model for the Zhabotinskii-Belousov reaction

Abstract The number and stability of stationary and periodic solutions in a semi- phenomenological reaction mechanism that qualitatively models the Zhabotinskii- Belousov reaction are studied as functions of parameters in the model. Both multiple stationary solutions and multiple periodic solutions can exist simultaneously. Periodic solutions bifurcate in one of three ways: at zero amplitude as predicted from the Hopf theorem; pairwise at finite amplitude, the so-called “hard” bifurcation; or by coalescense with separatrix loops. Detailed computations for several cases reveal the dependence of the period and amplitude of the periodic solutions on the parameters. The results show that the model exhibits all the qualitative features that might be expected in intracellular reactions and so can serve as a model system for theoretical studies of pattern formation in developing systems.
Laboratory evaluation of a chromogenic amylase method.

Abstract An evaluation was performed of a routine amyloclastic procedure and a new commercially available chromogenic method for the assay of serum amylase. Minor modifications of the commercial method seem to result in a sensitive and reliable procedure, which compares favorably with the amyloclastic assay. The substrate appears to react within a broad pH range (6.7–8.4) and the reaction is linear for at least 30 min, which is double the normal assay incubation time. Bilirubin and hemoglobin did not seem to interfere.
Inactivation of hCDC4 can cause chromosomal instability

Aneuploidy, an abnormal chromosome number, has been recognized as a hallmark of human cancer for nearly a century; however, the mechanisms responsible for this abnormality have remained elusive. Here we report the identification of mutations in hCDC4 (also known as Fbw7 or Archipelago) in both human colorectal cancers and their precursor lesions. We show that genetic inactivation of hCDC4, by means of targeted disruption of the gene in karyotypically stable colorectal cancer cells, results in a striking phenotype associated with micronuclei and chromosomal instability. This phenotype can be traced to a defect in the execution of metaphase and subsequent transmission of chromosomes, and is dependent on cyclin E--a protein that is regulated by hCDC4 (refs 2-4). Our data suggest that chromosomal instability is caused by specific genetic alterations in a large fraction of human cancers and can occur before malignant conversion.
A simple empirical forward model for combined nuclear and multiple Coulomb scattering in proton radiography of thick objects

Abstract A deterministic forward model that includes the essential physics of all of the elements of the radiographic chain is required to extract volume density distributions and material interface surface positions from proton transmission radiographs by iterative non-linear fitting of parametric forward models. An essential part of the forward model is an analytic description of the angular distribution that an incident pencil beamlet acquires in passing through a thick slab of material. The angular-distribution model described here includes nuclear attenuation, multiple Coulomb scattering, coherent nuclear elastic scattering, and quasielastic nuclear scattering. The model is in good agreement with experimental step-wedge proton transmission data from experiments at the AGS proton accelerator at Brookhaven National Laboratory.
Genetic analysis of the pathogenic molecular sub-phenotype interferon-alpha identifies multiple novel loci involved in systemic lupus erythematosus

Genetic analysis of the pathogenic molecular sub-phenotype interferon-alpha identifies multiple novel loci involved in systemic lupus erythematosus
Validation of a Breast Cancer Nomogram for Predicting Nonsentinel Lymph Node Metastases after a Positive Sentinel Node Biopsy

Background Although completion lymph node dissection (CLND) is the standard of care for breast cancer patients with sentinel lymph node (SLN) metastases, the SLN is the only node with tumor in 40% to 60% of cases. To assist with decision-making regarding CLND, investigators at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center devised and validated a nomogram for predicting the likelihood of non-SLN metastases. To assess the generalizable use of this nomogram, validation analysis was performed by using an external database.
Postmetaphysical Thinking or Refusal of Thought? Max Horkheimer’s Materialism as Philosophical Stance

Abstract Frankfurt School critical theory has long opposed metaphysical philosophy because it ignores suffering and injustice. In the face of such criticism, proponents of metaphysics (for example Dieter Henrich) have accused critical theory of not fully investigating the questions is raises for itself, and falling into partial metaphysical positions, despite itself. If one focuses on Max Horkheimer’s early essays, such an accusation seems quite fitting. There he vociferously attacks metaphysics, but he also develops a theory that pushes toward metaphysical questions. His work can thus seem laden with unpacked metaphysical baggage, and fraught with contradiction. The aim of this paper is to show that Horkheimer’s critique of metaphysics makes sense and is not contradicted by a surreptitious metaphysics. To show this, Horkheimer’s views will be compared with Bas van Fraassen’s in The Empirical Stance. Ultimately, the paper should show that Horkheimer’s early philosophy can be reconstructed in such a way th...
Target localization: Energy-information trade-offs using mobile sensor networks

We investigate the energy-information trade-offs in target localization using a group of N sensing agents based on bearing measurements. We aim to design optimal trajectories for the coordinating sensing agents that minimize the kinetic energy and maximize the information collected by the agents along their trajectories. The determinant of Fisher information matrix (FIM) is used as a metric for the information. Inspired by biology, we construct a constrained calculus of variations problem that captures the observation that better information results in more energy dissipation, which requires higher energy supply. We solve the equations of motion as Hamilton equations, which produce a set of ordinary differential equations that can be integrated for the trajectories of the agents. An extended Kalman filter (EKF) is used to produce estimates of the state of the target.
Preliminary Data on the Behavior, Ecology, and Morphology of Pygmy Tarsiers (Tarsius pumilus)

We here present the first behavioral, morphological, and ecological data on a living group of highland pygmy tarsiers, Tarsius pumilus, and compare them with the lowland tarsier species of Sulawesi. Pygmy tarsiers were previously known only from 3 museum specimens and had not been seen alive since the first specimens were collected in 1917 and 1930. As part of a 2-mo exploratory study, we recently located a group consisting of ≥4 pygmy tarsiers in the mossy cloud forest of Lore Lindu National Park, Central Sulawesi, Indonesia. We captured 1 adult female and 2 adult male group members. The tarsiers weighed a mean of 50 g, less than half the weight of adult lowland tarsiers. Our behavioral observations indicate that these tarsiers live in small groups that return to the same sleeping tree each morning. Though our data are preliminary, pygmy tarsier body proportions appear to differ from the lowland Sulawesian tarsier species, with relatively long hind limbs compared to total body length. We also observed differences in grouping and communication behaviors. Unlike lowland tarsiers, pygmy tarsiers possess multiple adult males per group and rarely vocalize or scentmark. These differences may correlate with variables unique to their high altitude habitat, especially a reduction in food and tree resources, given that tree density declined sharply along an altitudinal gradient. Our preliminary study identifies the importance of altitudinal ecological gradients to tarsier behavioral ecology in Central Sulawesi, providing questions and predictions for future research directions.
Calmodulin-dependent protein kinase in acini from lactating rat mammary tissue: Subcellular locale, characterization, and solubilization

Abstract Acini isolated from lactating rat mammary tissue were used as the starting material to determine the subcellular location and characteristics of a calcium and calmodulindependent protein kinase. The kinase activity phosphorylated a 53,600-Da endogenous protein, required Mg2+, and was stimulated only by the simultaneous presence of calcium and calmodulin. Fractionation by differential and sucrose gradient centrifugation demonstrated the enzyme activity in acinar homogenates to be largely particulate; yet the activity did not cofractionate with markers for nuclei, secretory vesicles, endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria, lysozymes, Golgi or plasma membranes. The addition of dephosphorylated k-casein to these preparations resulted in a calcium and calmodulin-dependent phosphorylation of the exogenous substrate. A combination of differential centrifugation and equilibrium sucrose density gradient centrifugation purified the kinase 15-fold and revealed a density for the kinase activity between 1.33 and 1.27 g/cm3, suggesting that the kinase was associated with a particle composed largely or entirely of protein. Gel chromatography on Sephacryl S-1000 also purified the activity significantly, and provided a molecular weight of approximately 106. In both procedures, the enzymatic activity and principal endogenous protein substrate were enriched indicating that the kinase was associated with the 53,600-Da substrate. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-gel electrophoresis of the fractions enriched in kinase activity by either gel-exclusion chromatography or equilibrium density gradient centrifugation revealed a discrete set of proteins common to both preparations. These included proteins with molecular weights of approximately 32, 35, 54, 70, 94, 100 and 103 K. The calmodulin-dependent protein kinase of mammary acini may be associated in a large complex with these protein species or may represent a polymer of one or several of the proteins. Despite no apparent association with the common phospholipid membranous organelles, the kinase activity was solubilized by treatment with a mixture of phospholipases C and D. After phospholipase treatment and chromatography on Sephacryl S-1000, calcium and calmodulin-dependent phosphorylation was no longer detectable, indicating separation of enzyme and endogenous substrate. Phospholipase treatment of the kinase preparation may be useful in future studies as a method to solubilize the activity.
Congressional--Constituent Telecommunication: The Potential and Limitations of Emergent Channels

The study reported here undertakes an exploratory inquiry into the potential use of selected emergent telecommunication channels for communication between congressmen and their constituents. The potential and limitations of each channel are identified through interviews with a stratified judgment sample of U. S. Representatives and senior staff from the 93rd Congress. The interview data then form the basis for an assessment of the political and public policy implications of using emergent channels for congressional-constituent telecommunication. Three channels-cable television, information retrieval, and the videoconference-are perceived by more than half of the congressmen and staff as being potentially useful for constituent communication. Possible adverse effects or serious limitations are also identified, especially for cable TV polling and the videophone. The study concludes that priority should be given to research and pilot studies on those configurations where the potential public benefits appear to far outweigh the possible public costs or risks, such as with legislative telecasting and the community information center. Given further research along with public education and the appropriate public policy decisions, emergent channels appear on balance to offer at least some realistic hope for improving democratic political processes.
Complementary Field Method For Holographic Interferometric Reconstruction Of Three-Dimensional Flow Fields In High-Speed Aerodynamics

The complementary field method has been applied to interferometric tomographic reconstruction of high speed aerodynamic flows involving a shock. It is based on the reconstruction of the complementary field, which is the difference between the object field to be reconstructed and its estimate. The method is iterative and incorporates a priori information. This study demonstrates advantages of the method in alleviating the difficiencies associated with computational reconstructors and measured data. Substantial reconstruction improvement is obtained, especially near a shock when its position is utilized as a priori information. Under the test conditions, convergence is rapid.
Motivated processing of fear appeal and disgust images in televised anti-tobacco ads

The current study experimentally tested the effects of two types of content commonly found in anti-tobacco television messages – content focused on communicating a health threat about tobacco use (fear) and content containing disgust related images – on how viewers processed these messages. In a 2 × 2 within-subjects experiment, participants watched anti-tobacco television ads that varied in the amount of fear and disgust content. The results of this study suggest that both fear and disgust content in anti-tobacco television ads have significant effects on resources allocated to encoding the messages, on recognition memory, and on emotional responses. Most interesting, although messages high in both fear and disgust content were rated the most unpleasant and arousing, these same messages reduced corrugator responses, accelerated heart rate, and worsened recognition memory. Implications for the study of motivated processing and for the construction of anti-tobacco messages are discussed.
Polarization propagator calculation of spectroscopic properties of molecules

We propose 10 desirable features or criteria for general purpose methods to be applied to the calculation of a range of spectroscopic properties. We discuss the second-order polarization propagator approximation (SOPPA) in light of these criteria by giving the actual computational expression used as well as a few numerical examples taken from the theory of NMR spectra (magnetic shieldings and spin-spin coupling constants). We demonstrate that SOPPA comes close to fulfilling these criteria.
FOODBORNE DISEASE OUTBREAKS OF CHEMICAL ETIOLOGY IN THE UNITED STATES, 1970–1974

In the United States between 1970 and 1974 there was an increase each year both in the absolute number of foodborne diseases outbreaks of chemical etiology reported to the Center for Disease Control and in the proportion of these outbreaks in the total reported foodborne disease outbreaks. Nearly half (48.9%) of these foodborne disease outbreaks of chemical origin were caused by toxic fish or shellfish. Of the rest, 16.5% were caused by poisonous mushrooms, 10.9% by heavy metal poisoning, 7.2% by excessive use in food of monosodium glutamate (the etiologic agent of Chinese Restaurant Syndrome) and 16.5% by miscellaneous chemicals. Practices that contributed to the occurrence of these outbreaks included the inadvertent selection for consumption of toxic fish, shellfish, or mushrooms, storage of fish at improper temperatures, storage of acidic liquids in metal containers, and addition of excessive amounts of monosodium glutamate to foods. Commercially-processed foods were responsible for outbreaks of scombroid fish poisoning, shellfish poisoning, and heavy metal poisoning. Because outbreaks of chemical etiology due to contaminated commercial products do occur, prompt recognition and reporting of outbreaks to public health personnel are essential so that epidemiologic investigations can be conducted and effective control measures promptly initiated.
Two Puzzles About Mercy

Anslem raised a puzzle about mercy: How can anyone (God, say, or a judge) be both just and merciful at the same time? For it seemed to Anselm that justice requires giving people what they deserve, while being merciful involves treating people less harshly than they deserve. This puzzle has led to a number of analyses of mercy. But a strange thing emerges from discussions of this topic: people seem to have wildly divergent intuitions about putative cases of mercy. Examples that are taken by some to be paradigm cases of mercy are seen by others to be clear instances of non-mercy. This phenomenon gives rise to a new puzzle: Why is it that people seem to have such wildly divergent intuitions about putative examples of mercy? This paper proposes a new analysis of mercy that provides solutions to both of these puzzles about mercy.
Associations of Social Support and 8-Year Follow-Up Depressive Symptoms: Differences in African American and White Caregivers.

The present study used data from the Alzheimer's Study of Emotions in Caregivers (ASEC) to evaluate perceptions of social support assessed at baseline, as well as changes in social support assessed...
Adaptive Bayesian multivariate density estimation with Dirichlet mixtures

SUMMARY We show that rate-adaptive multivariate density estimation can be performed using Bayesian methods based on Dirichlet mixtures of normal kernels with a prior distribution on the kernel’s covariance matrix parameter. We derive sufficient conditions on the prior specification that guarantee convergence to a true density at a rate that is minimax optimal for the smoothness class to which the true density belongs. No prior knowledge of smoothness is assumed. The sufficient conditions are shown to hold for the Dirichlet location mixture-of-normals prior with a Gaussian base measure and an inverse Wishart prior on the covariance matrix parameter. Locally H¨ older
Signal estimation with neural networks for multipath mobile communications

This paper deals with signal estimation in multipath fading channels. Multipath fading is a significant problem in wireless communications systems and may occur whenever there is more than one path from a transmitter to the intended receiver. One method of addressing this task is to implement a RAKE receiver. However, this requires estimates of tap weights based on characteristics of the channel model. Within limited environments the multipath characteristics of a channel may exhibit little variation over time. Under these conditions a neural network can be employed to learn the tap weights. This paper illustrates the use of neural networks in solving this problem and presents results from simulations.
The role of higher order modes in the characterization of a shielded transition to a dielectric waveguide

The S-parameters of a shielded sub-mm/THz monolithic transition between a layered rigged dielectric waveguide and a power source are determined from results obtained by an integral equation mode matching method. The impact of the higher-order modes was minimized by designing an appropriate shielding structure for the transition. A simple model was developed for determining the transition's S-parameters. The variation of the S-parameters over frequency and conductor width is shown, and the transition is found to be very efficient over a wide frequency band and a broad range of widths. >
Investigation of accelerated Monte Carlo techniques for PET simulation and 3-D PET scatter correction

The authors have been developing Monte Carlo Techniques for calculating primary and scatter photon distributions in PET. Their first goal has been to accelerate the Monte Carlo Code for fast PET simulation. Their second goal has been to use the simulation to analyze scatter effects in PET and explore the potential for use in scatter correction of clinical 3D PET studies. The authors have reduced the execution time to about 30 minutes or /spl sim/1 million coincidences per minute on a dual 300 MHz processor UltraSparcII workstation. The short execution time makes it feasible to use this technique for 3D PET scatter correction in the clinic. Fast simulation also allows the authors rapid feedback for the close examination of the accuracy of the method. They present techniques used to improve computational efficiency of Monte Carlo PET simulations. They use the simulation to analyze how scatter from within the body, outside the FOV, and from scanner shielding as well as the chosen energy threshold affect 3D PET sinograms.
Rockfall-Avalanche and Rockslide-Avalanche Deposits at Sawtooth Ridge, Montana

Rockfall avalanches and rockslide avalanches are here defined as exceptionally large rockfalls and rockslides composed of rock debris that moved rapidly as dry flows, forming tonguelike or lobate masses. A review of distinctive features of some of the modern rockfall- and rockslide-avalanche deposits was necessary to identify the character of the movement of the prehistoric deposits. Sawtooth Ridge in northwestern Montana was the source of three rockfall avalanches on its east side and two rockslide avalanches on its west side. The three rockfall-avalanche deposits cover about 2870 acres and had an original volume of 850 million cubic yards. These deposits, although differing in some ways, consist of a heterogeneous mixture of relatively coarse angular rock fragments and some exceptionally large blocks. They are characteristically very porous and hummocky. They resulted from structural conditions in carbonate rocks that permitted extremely large cliff segments to fall simultaneously from Sawtooth Ridge, possibly because of the following factors that occurred singly or in combination: earthquakes, tilting related to regional uplift, and loss of stratigraphic support. Repeated falls caused the eastern edge of Sawtooth Ridge to recede almost 1200 feet. First, broad open folds with widely spaced, steeply dipping strike joints probably permitted very large segments of the cliff to drop simultaneously. Then, smaller segments of the cliff calved off individually, controlled by more closely spaced, steeply dipping strike joints. Finally, frost wedging of closely spaced joints released small blocks that accumulated as talus. Rockslide avalanches on the west side of Sawtooth Ridge descended a dip slope and formed two dams across Home Gulch; the largest has a volume of about 10 million cubic yards.
Familial Dilated Cardiomyopathy

To the Editor: The article by Ichihara and colleagues published in the November 3, 1998, issue of Circulation describes an association between a G994→T missense mutation in the plasma platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase gene and genetic susceptibility to nonfamilial dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM).1 No definition of nonfamilial DCM is offered. Prospective studies in which relatives of patients with DCM were screened by echocardiography have consistently demonstrated a familial prevalence …
Mice lacking insulin receptor substrate 4 exhibit mild defects in growth, reproduction, and glucose homeostasis.

The insulin receptor substrates (IRSs) function in insulin signaling. Four members of the family, IRS-1 through IRS-4, are known. Previously, mice with targeted disruption of the genes for IRS-1, -...
The role of credibility in shaping attitudes toward nonprofit websites

* The study examines the factors that impact the perceptions of consumers when visiting a nonprofit website. Measures of online communications effectiveness in the for-profit environment are applied to the nonprofit world. * Consumer reactions to two major nonprofit websites provide insight into the relationship between website credibility and attitude toward the site. * The study points to the importance of several credibility measures (particularly those related to site design) that are significantly related to attitude toward the site. Copyright # 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The Power-Conflict Story: A Dynamic Model of Interstate Rivalry. By Kelly M. Kadera. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press, 2001. 208p. $47.50

A long-standing debate in the field of international relations concerns the relationship between power and conflict. While balance of power (BOP) theorists view parity as a condition preserving peace, power transition (PT) theorists argue that parity (and transitions) between the dominant (global or regional) power and a dissatisfied challenger make war more likely. Kelly Kadera asserts that empirical evidence on whether parity is peaceful or dangerous is quite mixed. She attempts to reconcile these seemingly disparate theories by developing a dynamic model of power and conflict. She argues that the empirical puzzle stemming from the BOP-PT debate can be resolved by “defining three types of power distribution: approximate parity, a decisive advantage, and overwhelming preponderance” (p. 81). She develops a series of dynamic models that apply under each of these conditions. The key variables in each model are a state's power and the conflict it sends and receives from its rival. She assumes that 1) a state's power is generated by a dynamic process (capturing internal growth); 2) a state's power is negatively affected by the conflict a rival directs against it; and 3) more powerful states are able to direct increasing amounts of conflict toward their rivals.
Cost-effectiveness of sensor-augmented pump therapy in adults with type 1 diabetes in the United States.

Abstract Objectives A recent randomized trial demonstrated significant reductions in hemoglobin A 1c levels with sensor-augmented pump therapy (SAPT) compared with multiple daily injections of insulin (MDI) in type 1 diabetes. We analyzed resource use in the trial and estimated the long-term cost-effectiveness of SAPT from the perspective of the US health care system. Methods We undertook a cost-effectiveness analysis combining estimates from the trial and the literature to populate the previously validated Center for Outcomes Research (CORE) Diabetes Model. Results represent the use of 3-day sensors, as in the trial, and 6-day sensors, approved in most markets but not yet approved in the United States. Results Within-trial hospital days, emergency department visits, and outpatient visits did not differ significantly between the treatment groups. Assuming 65% use of 3-day sensors, treatment-related costs in year 1 were an estimated $10,760 for SAPT and $5072 for MDI. Discounted lifetime estimates were $253,493 in direct medical costs and 10.794 quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) for SAPT and $167,170 in direct medical costs and 10.418 QALYs for MDI. For 3-day and 6-day sensors, the incremental cost-effectiveness ratios were $229,675 per QALY (95% confidence interval $139,071–$720,865) and $168,104 per QALY (95% confidence interval $102,819–$523,161), respectively. The ratios ranged from $69,837 to $211,113 per QALY with different strategies for incorporating utility benefits resulting from less fear of hypoglycemia with SAPT. Conclusion Despite superior clinical benefits of SAPT compared with MDI, SAPT does not appear to be economically attractive in the United States for adults with type 1 diabetes in its current state of development. However, further clinical developments reducing disposable costs of the system could significantly improve its economic attractiveness.
Understanding the mechanism and optimizing a competitive binding fluorescent glucose sensor

Our lab group is currently developing a fluorescent competitive binding assay between the Alexa fluor 647 labeled lectin, Concanavalin A, and highly structured glycosylated dendrimers to be sensitive to varying levels of glucose. Previously, this chemistry has elicited a high sensitivity to additions of physiological concentrations of glucose. However, the exact mechanism behind the sensing has not yet been well understood. This work presents a conceptual model of the response in which competitive binding results in different distributions of aggregates size to varying amounts of glucose. Preliminary experiments were performed by using Numerical Tracking Analysis (NTA) which correlates the movement of particles, positioned by light scattering, to the equivalent Brownian motion associated with particles of a certain spherical diameter. Using this method, the sensing chemistry was exposed to two different glucose concentrations and histograms of the size distribution for glucose concentrations were obtained. Herein the aggregation profile, mean aggregate size, and the number of aggregates (aggregates per mL) for two glucose concentrations are displayed, showing a correlation between the aggregation and glucose concentration.
ASSESSING ADULTS' SOCIALIZATION: ATTITUDES OF TOP, MIDDLE, AND SUPERVISORY MANAGERS

Summary.-Socialization refers to the inculcation and transmission of attitudes. Parents, teachers, and managers are socializing agents who transmit aaicudes to children, students, and subordinates. In this exploratory study attitudes toward social, community, and employee programs of 166 managers in manufacturing, banking, and retailing were surveyed. Respondents indicated their favorability toward several anirudes using a Likert-type scale. Data were analyzed for differences among top, middle, and supervisory managers and extent of similarity at the top levels of management. The findings suggest that managers were not significantly different. There appears to be greater similariq, however, at top levels of management. The socialization process concerns the transformation of child into adult and the acquisition of certain attitudes and values. The principal socialization agents are parents, brothers, sisters, friends, and teachers. Although most research concentrates on early childhood years, ic is legitimate to include adult years as well because attitudinal changes occur through all life stages (Halloran, 1967). Brim and Wheeler ( 1966) studied adults and reported the socialization of individuals into new adult roles and settings. Ondrack (1975) studied attitudes of teachers, staff nurses, and head nurses in professional schools of nursing and discovered that socialization varies directly with consistency of attitude. Caplovitz (1961) studied attitudes in medical schools and suggests that students tend to adopt attitudes similar to those of their teachers. This study examined attitudes of adults in different strata of management. Position or level in the organization reflects: longevity with the firm, ability to please superiors, and effective performance. Selznick (1945) and Coleman (1958) consider that a group is more socialized if characterized by greater similarity. Tannenbaum and McLeod (1967) appear to concur when they remark the index of the degree of socialization is the similarity between aspirant and incumbent on some selected measure.
Collaborations, Instrumentation, and Funding in a Nonprofit Molecular Interactions Facility

w1-2 Surface plasmon resonance based biosensors have been used successfully for a wide range of research applications to quantify biomolecular interactions. Biacore 3000 is one of the most widely used biosensor in academic core laboratories. The presentation will focus on functioning of a biosensor core laboratory with respect to acquisition of a biosensor through Shared Instrumentation Grant, number of users, type of applications, training of users, collaborations, maintenance cost, charge backs and overall management of the facility. Proper training and education of Biacore users is the key to generate good quality research data.
Ductus Arteriosus Banding to Facilitate Stenting During the Hybrid Stage I Procedure

Neonates with hypoplastic left heart syndrome and high-risk factors for an open Norwood procedure may benefit from a hybrid stage I procedure. The presence of a giant patent ductus arteriosus prevents safe deployment of the ductus arteriosus stent. We describe a new technique that involves banding the patent ductus arteriosus, therefore allowing stent implantation during hybrid stage I palliation.
A Numerical Study of Unsteady Natural Convection in a Rectangular Enclosure: Transition From Laminar to Turbulent Flow

A two-dimensional, mathematical model is adopted to investigate the development of buoyancy driven circulation patterns and temperature stratification inside a rectangular enclosure. One of the vertical walls of the enclosure is kept at a higher temperature then the opposing vertical wall. The top and the bottom of the enclosure are assumed insulated. The physics based mathematical model for this problem consists of conservation of mass, momentum (two-dimensional, unsteady Navier-Stokes equations for turbulent compressible flows), and energy equations for the enclosed fluid subjected to appropriate boundary conditions. A standard two equation turbulence model is used to model the turbulent flow in the enclosure. The compressibility of the working fluid is represented by an ideal gas relation. The conservation equations are discretized using an implicit finite difference technique which employs second order accurate central differencing for spatial derivatives and second order (based on Taylor expansion) finite differencing for time derivatives. The linearized finite difference equations are solved using a Coupled Modified Strongly Implicit Procedure (CMSIP) for the unknowns of the problem. Numerical experiments were then carried out to simulate the development of the buoyancy driven circulation patterns inside rectangular enclosures (with aspects ratios 0.5, 1 and 1.5) filled with a compressible fluid (Pr = 0.72). Experiments were repeated for various wall temperature differences which corresponded to Rayleigh numbers between 104 and 106 . Changes in unsteady circulation patterns, temperature contours, and vertical and horizontal velocity profiles were predicted while the flow inside the enclosure transferred from laminar to turbulent flow due to the sudden temperature change imposed on the vertical walls of the enclosure. Only the results of the enclosure with aspect ratio one is presented in this paper. These results indicate that this transition is characterized by unicellular circulation patterns breaking up in to multicellular formations and increase in the values of the predicted wall heat fluxes and Nusselt number as flow becomes turbulent.© 2010 ASME
Phase Behaviors of Vegetable Oil-Based Microemulsion Fuels: The Effects of Temperatures, Surfactants, Oils, and Water in Ethanol

Vegetable oil-based microemulsification not only reduces the high viscosity of vegetable oils but also enhances the miscibility of polar and oil phases. In addition, vegetable oil-based microemulsion fuels produce lower pollutant emissions compared to neat No.2 diesel. Since the stability of microemulsion fuels is temperature sensitive, the effect of temperature on the microemulsion phase behavior should be evaluated. The overall goal of this study is to formulate temperature-robust microemulsion fuels by studying the effect of temperature on phase behaviors of different systems of vegetable oil-based reverse micelle microemulsions. Our results demonstrate that, when using an alcohol ethoxylate surfactant as a renewable surfactant, it is possible to formulate microemulsion fuels with comparable properties to nonionic surfactant evaluated in previous studies. Further, mixtures of nonedible oil (algae mixed with castor) were found to have comparable properties to edible oil (canola) used to produce microemu...
On the Determination of Grain Boundary Structure Using X-RAY Diffraction

A review is given of current efforts to determine the structure of grain boundaries using X-ray diffraction. The general distribution of the diffracted intensity from the thin boundary region in reciprocal space is first described, and then some of the special experimental difficulties with measuring it quantitatively are discussed. These include, weak scattering and poor signal-to-noise ratio, preparation of sufficiently high quality bicrystal specimens, the presence of unwanted allowed and forbidden lattice reflections, double diffraction from the adjoining crystals, and limitations imposed by the scattering geometry. Various strategies for determining the boundary structure are then described. These include the measurement of either relative or absolute structure factors and the determination of structures based on either structure factor measurements alone or the combined use of structure factor measurements and computer modeling. The advantages of measuring absolute structure factors rather than relative structure factors when only a limited number of structure factors is measured is demonstrated. This situation may occur because of the experimental difficulties listed above. Current work, consisting of studies of absolute and/or relative structure factors of a range of [001] twist boundary structures in gold, is reviewed. Results obtained by the authors represent the first cases where good agreement has been obtained between boundary structures determined by X-ray diffraction and calculation using a physical model (i.e., the Embedded Atom Model). The large displacement model derived by Fitzsimmons and Sass for the Σ5 structure on the basis of relative structure factors is found to be incorrect. It is concluded that future progress will depend to a great extent upon the preparation of improved bicrystal specimens and the measurement of larger numbers of boundary structure factors.
The Utility of Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve Monitoring During Open Pharyngeal Diverticula Procedures

Objectives:The recurrent laryngeal nerve is at risk of injury during open pharyngeal diverticula operations. The utility of recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) monitoring during these procedures was investigated.Methods:A retrospective chart review was performed of 8 open pharyngeal diverticulectomies completed between 2009 and 2014. Intraoperative RLN monitoring took place during all operations.Results:Open pharyngectomy and myotomy was successfully performed in all cases. In two cases the RLN was encountered outside of its normal course. The identity of the nerve was confirmed with electrical stimulation and normal EMG response. Vocal fold motion was preserved in all cases.Conclusions:Use of intraoperative nerve monitoring in pharyngeal diverticula procedures may be beneficial, especially during open operations for Killian-Jamieson diverticulum (KJD) and large Zenker diverticulum (ZD), where the RLN is typically encountered outside of its normal course.
Central Nervous System Leukemia and Lymphoma: Computed Tomographic Manifestations

Computed tomographic (CT) abnormalities in the brain were identified in 31 of 405 patients with leukemia or lymphoma. Abnormalities included neoplastic masses (15), hemorrhage (nine), abscess (two), other brain tumors (four), and methotrexate leukoencephalopathy (one). CT was normal in 374 patients including 148 with meningeal disease diagnosed by cerebrospinal fluid cytologic examination. Prior to treatment, malignant masses were isodense or of greater density with varying amounts of edema. Increase in size or number of the masses indicated worsening. Response to radiation and chemotherapy was manifested by development of a central low density region with an enhancing rim. CT findings correlated with clinical and cerebrospinal fluid findings. The differential diagnosis of the various abnormalities is considered.
Electrocatalytic Amplification of Single Nanoparticle Collisions Using DNA-Modified Surfaces.

Here we report on the effect of DNA modification on individual collisions between Pt nanoparticles (PtNPs) and ultramicroelectrode (UME) surfaces. These results extend recent reports of electrocatalytic amplification (ECA) arising from collisions between naked surfaces, and they are motivated by our interest in using ECA for low-level biosensing applications. In the present case, we studied collisions between naked PtNPs and DNA-modified Au and Hg UMEs and also collisions between DNA-modified PtNPs and naked Au and Hg UMEs. In all cases, the sensing reaction is the catalytic oxidation of N2H4. The presence of ssDNA (5-mer or 25-mer) immobilized on the UME surface has little effect on the magnitude or frequency of ECA signals, regardless of whether the electrode is Au or Hg. In contrast, when DNA is immobilized on the PtNPs and the electrodes are naked, clear trends emerge. Specifically, as the surface concentration of ssDNA on the PtNP surface increases, the magnitude and frequency of the current transien...
Effect of adrenergically reactive drugs on peroxisomal enzymes in Tetrahymena.

The effects of several adrenergically reactive drugs and of triiodothyronine on the activities of five enzymes of Tetrahymena have been studied. The isocitrate dehydrogenase amid malate dehydrogenase activities were not altered by exposure to any of the drugs tested. Of three peroxisomal enzymes studied, D-amino acid oxidase activity was not affected, catalase activity was decreased by high concentrations of reserpine but either not changed or slightly increased by the other adrenergic drugs, and isocitrate lyase activity was strongly decreased by those drugs which depleted cell glycogen and slightly increased by aminophylline, which increased cell glycogen content. Thus one effect of the adrenergically reactive drugs in Tetrahymena is to alter the activity of the glyoxylate bypass pathway.