cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Energy expenditure of nonexercise activity

BACKGROUND We found recently that changes in nonexercise activity thermogenesis (NEAT) mediate resistance to weight gain with overfeeding in sedentary adults. A potentially important, yet seldom investigated, component of NEAT is the energy expenditure of fidgeting-like activities. OBJECTIVE Our goal was to measure changes in energy expenditure with fidgeting-like activities. DESIGN Energy expenditure was measured in 24 subjects (17 women and 7 men x+/- SD body weight: 76 +/- 21 kg) while recumbent at rest, sitting motionless, standing motionless, partaking of self-selected fidgeting-like movements while seated and while standing, and walking on a treadmill at 1.6, 3.2, and 4.8 km/h (1, 2, and 3 mph). Measurements were performed by using a high-precision, indirect calorimeter connected to the subject via a transparent, lightweight facemask that enabled almost unrestricted movement. RESULTS Compared with metabolic rate in the supine position (5.4 +/- 1.5 kJ/min), energy expenditure increased while sitting motionless by 4 +/- 6%, while fidgeting while seated by 54 +/- 29% (P: < 0.0001), while standing motionless by 13 +/- 8% (P: < 0.0001), while fidgeting while standing by 94 +/- 38% (P: < 0.0001), while walking at 1.6 km/h by 154 +/- 38% (P: < 0.0001), while walking at 3.2 km/h by 202 +/- 45% (P: < 0.0001), and while walking at 4.8 km/h by 292 +/- 81% (P: < 0.0001). There was a significant, positive correlation between changes in energy expenditure and body weight for fidgeting-like activities while standing (r = 0.43, P: = 0.02) but not while seated. CONCLUSIONS There is marked variance between subjects in the energy expenditure associated with self-selected fidgeting-like activities. The thermogenic potential of fidgeting-like and low-grade activities is sufficiently great to substantively contribute to energy balance.
Design and Applications of Genetically Engineered Nanocomposites

The sections in this article are Introduction Genetically Modifiable Biomacromolecules for the Design of Genetically Engineered Nanocomposites Bacteriophage as a Bacteria-Specific Virus Bacterial Flagella as Genetically Modifiable Protein Nanotubes Nanocomposites Built from Genetically Engineered Biomacromolecules One-Dimensional Nanocomposites Templated by Filamentous Biotemplates Inorganic Nanomaterials on Genetically Engineered Biotemplates Organic Nanomaterials on Genetically Engineered Biotemplates Three-Dimensional Assembly of Genetically Engineered Biomacromolecules and Nanomaterials Layer-by-Layer Assembly into 3-D Structures Solvent-Assisted Capillary Molding into 3-D Assemblies Genetically Engineered Nanocomposite Films Applications of Genetically Engineered Nanocomposites Engineered Nanocomposites for Device Applications Engineered Nanocomposites for Medical Applications Engineered Nanoconstructs for Sensing Applications Summary and Outlook Acknowledgments Keywords: nanocomposites; genetic engineering; filamentous bacteriophage; bacterial flagella; inorganic nanomaterials; organic nanomaterials; devices; sensors and films; nanomedicine
Portfolio Assessment of Teachers

(1993). Portfolio Assessment of Teachers. The Clearing House: A Journal of Educational Strategies, Issues and Ideas: Vol. 66, No. 4, pp. 235-237.
DEFINING NORMAL LEFT VENTRICULAR TORSION ASSESSED BY 3D ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY IN A COMMUNITY-DWELLING ELDERLY COHORT: THE ARIC STUDY

Left ventricular (LV) torsion describes the opposing basal to apical myocardial systolic twisting and appears to increase with advancing age. Few data exist regarding normal reference values, particularly in healthy elderly. Of 1,130 community dwelling elderly from the Atherosclerosis Risk in
Formation of topological and nontopological defects in the early universe

Abstract The formation of defects in the early universe is investigated used the Kibble mechanism. The distinction between topological and nontopological defects is discussed. the probability for formation of a topological defect in a d -dimensional physical space is found to be 1 2 d . The probability for formation of nontopological configurations with given winding number n is obtained and their evolution is discussed. A simple criterion for a configuration to be regarded as a defect is given for the nontopological texture. We find the critical winding above which a texture forms to be in the interval n c ϵ [ 1 2 , 1] , which leads to a probability for formation per correlation volume in the range from 0.01 to 0.21.
A framework for the safe interoperability of medical devices in the presence of network failures

There exists a growing need for automated interoperability among medical devices in modern healthcare systems. This requirement is not just for convenience, but to prevent the possibility of errors due to the complexity of interactions between the devices and human operators. Hence, a system supporting such interoperability is supposed to provide the means to interconnect distributed medial devices in an open space, so must be designed to account for network failures. In this paper, we introduce a generic framework, the Network-Aware Supervisory System (NASS) to integrate medical devices into such a clinical interoperability system that uses real networks. It provides a development environment, in which medical-device supervisory logic can be developed based on the assumptions of an ideal, robust network. A case study shows that the NASS framework provides the same procedural effectiveness as the original logic based on the ideal network model but with protection against real-world network failures.
Racial diversity in the suburbs: how race-neutral responses to demographic change perpetuate inequity in suburban school districts

Suburbs across the US are experiencing dramatic demographic shifts, yet there is little research available on how suburban school districts are dealing with these changes. In this article, we examine the discourses surrounding race and demographic change in three suburban school districts that have been undergoing rapid demographic changes and which contain demographically distinct areas within their district boundaries. Utilizing a critical discourse analysis (CDA) approach, we analyze how the policy context (federal and state) frames actors’ discourses and understandings of race, paying particular attention to the political and institutional factors affecting school policy. We illustrate how the discourse, in turn, is related to the actions (or inactions) taken by district and school leaders to respond to demographic change. We conclude the article by discussing policy implications and potential challenges districts may face in the future if efforts to purposively address racial changes continue to be a...
O-methylsterigmatocystin, a new metabolite from aspergillus flavus, link ex fries

Abstract A new metabolite has been isolated from the aflatoxin-containing fraction of Aspergillus flavus and identified as O-methylsterigmatocystin. This structure was derived from elemental analysis, NMR, IR, UV and mass spectral data and confirmed by identity with synthetic O-methylsterigmatocystin.
Unified approach to mode splitting and scattering loss in high- Q whispering-gallery-mode microresonators

Current theoretical treatments of mode splitting and scattering loss resulting from subwavelength scatterers attached to the surface of high-quality-factor whispering-gallery-mode microresonators are not satisfactory. Different models proposed for distinct scatterer regimes cannot be reconciled. In addition, many experimental results are difficult to understand within the existing theoretical framework. Here, we develop a unified approach that applies to an arbitrary number of scatterers. Comparison with the existing theoretical models reveals their applicable conditions and limits. Moreover, many new understandings on the mode splitting and scattering loss are achieved, which are supported by numerical and experimental evidence.
Effects of prostaglandins and hydroxyoctadecadienoic acid on epidermal growth factor-dependent DNA synthesis and c-myc proto-oncogene expression in syrian hamster embryo cells

Abstract Epidermal growth factor (EGF) stimulates DNA synthesis in quiescent Syrian hamster embryo (SHE) cells. Work in the present authors' laboratory has shown that the formation of 9- and 13-hydroxyoctadecadienoic acid (HODEs), 15-lipoxygenase-derived metabolites of linoleic acid, are involved in the mitogenic response to EGF in these cells (Glasgow et al. (1992) J. Biol. Chem. 267, 10771–10779). SHE cells also produce prostaglandin E 2 (PGE 2 ) and prostaglandin F 2α (PGF 2α ). We now report the effects of HODEs and prostaglandins on EGF-dependent expression of the growth-related proto-oncogene c- myc in SHE cells. Treatment of cells with eicosatetraynoic acid (ETYA), which blocks EGF-dependent HODE formation, inhibited the mitogenic response to EGF, while exogenous 13-HODE potentiated EGF-dependent DNA synthesis. However, neither ETYA or 13-HODE altered the accumulation of c- myc mRNA in response to EGF. In contrast, PGE 2 inhibited EGF-induced DNA synthesis and down-regulated EGF-stimulated c- myc mRNA accumulation in a dose-dependent manner, whereas PGF 2α had no effect on these responses. PGE 2 , but not PGF 2α , induced a rapid increase in cAMP formation, and both forskolin and 8-(4-chlorophenylthio)-cAMP mimicked the inhibitory effects of PGE 2 on EGF-dependent DNA synthesis and c- myc mRNA accumulation, suggesting that the involvement of cAMP. The results indicate that the modulation of EGF-dependent DNA synthesis by PGE 2 , but not by HODEs, is associated with altered expression of the proto-oncogene c- myc in SHE cells.
An Empirical Study of the Transnational Production Sharing of the Asian NICs with Japan

The Purpose of the present study are: (1) to extend Kim and Kim's [1984] original study of transnational product sharing (TPS) of the Newly Industrializing Countries (NICs) of Asia with Japan from an aggregate-flow analysis to a product sectoral analysis; and (2) to provide additional empirical evidence for the macro economic approach to trade.
Minimum-Seeking for CLFs: Universal Semiglobally Stabilizing Feedback Under Unknown Control Directions

Employing extremum seeking (ES) for seeking minima of control Lyapunov function (CLF) candidates, we develop 1) the first systematic design of ES controllers for unstable plants, 2) a simple non-model based universal feedback law that emulates, in an average sense, the “ $L_{g}V$ controllers” for stabilization with inverse optimality, and 3) a new strategy for stabilization of systems with unknown control directions, as an alternative to Nussbaum gain controllers that lack exponential stability, lack transient performance guarantees, and lack robustness to changes in the control direction. The stability analysis that underlies our designs is inspired by an analysis approach synthesized in a recent work by Durr, Stankovic, and Johansson, which combines a Lie bracket averaging result of Gurvits and Li with a semiglobal practical stability result under small parametric perturbations by Moreau and Aeyels.
Effects of animal age and phenobarbital on rat liver glucose-6-phosphatase activity.

Abstract Hepatic glucose-6-phosphatase activity declines gradually throughout development, maturation and senescence in the Fischer 344 male rat. The loss of activity between maturity and senescence may be correlated with a concomitant reduction in the amount of hepatic SER, a primary intracellular site of this enzyme. Phenobarbital, a repressor of glucose-6-phosphatase, causes a marked decline in the activity of this enzyme in young, mature and senescent rats. However, the young animals exhibit a more rapid loss of enzyme activity and a quicker subsequent recovery to basal levels following the cessation of drug treatment than either the mature or senescent rats. These data suggest that the hepatic adaptive capacity as manifested in enzyme repression and recovery declines as a function of animal age. This phenomenon may represent an additional biochemical index of chronological age, i.e. similar to the reported lag in hepatic enzyme induction with increasing age.
Cell-specific expression of SERCA, the exogenous Ca2+ transport ATPase, in cardiac myocytes.

We evaluated various constructs to obtain cell-specific expression of the sarco(endo)plasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase (SERCA) gene in cardiac myocytes after cDNA transfer by means of transfections or ...
Bayesian Networks for Set-Based Collaborative Design

A set-based approach to collaborative design is presented, in which Bayesian networks are used to represent promising regions of the design space. In collaborative design exploration, complex multilevel design problems are often decomposed into distributed subproblems that are linked by shared or coupled parameters. Collaborating designers often prefer conflicting values for these coupled parameters, resulting in incompatibilities that require substantial iteration to resolve, extending the design process lead time without guarantee of achieving a good design. In the proposed approach to collaborative design, each designer builds a locally developed Bayesian network that represents regions of interest in his design space. Then, these local networks are shared and combined with those of collaborating designers to promote more efficient local design space search that takes into account the interests of one’s collaborators. The proposed method has the potential to capture a designer’s preferences for arbitrarily shaped and potentially disconnected regions of the design space in order to identify compatible or conflicting preferences between collaborators and to facilitate a compromise if necessary. It also sets the stage for a flexible and concurrent design process with varying degrees of designer involvement that can support different designer strategies such as hill-climbing or region identification. The potential benefits are the capture of expert knowledge for future use as well as conflict identification and resolution. This paper presents an overview of the proposed method as well as an example implementation for the design of an unmanned aerial vehicle.
Essay: Seeing Science: Research Opportunities in the Visual Communication of Science

This article explores some of the issues associated with the visual communication of science and emphasizes the important role of research in contributing to public understanding of visual science....
Role of multiple β1 integrins in cell adhesion to the disintegrin domains of ADAMs 2 and 3

Abstract ADAM disintegrin domains can support integrin-mediated cell adhesion. However, the profile of which integrins are employed for adhesion to a given disintegrin domain remains unclear. For example, we suggested that the disintegrin domains of mouse sperm ADAMs 2 and 3 can interact with the α6β1 integrin on mouse eggs. Others concluded that these disintegrin domains interact instead with the α9β1 integrin. To address these differing results, we first studied adhesion of mouse F9 embryonal carcinoma cells and human G361 melanoma cells to the disintegrin domains of mouse ADAMs 2 and 3. Both cell lines express α6β1 and α9β1 integrins at their surfaces. Antibodies to the α6 integrin subunit inhibited adhesion of both cell lines. An antibody that recognizes human α9 integrin inhibited adhesion of G361 cells. VLO5, a snake disintegrin that antagonizes α4β1 and α9β1 integrins, potently inhibited adhesion of both cell lines. We next explored expression of the α9 integrin subunit in mouse eggs. In contrast to our ability to detect α6β1, we were unable to convincingly detect α9β1 integrin on the surface of mouse eggs. Moreover, treatment of mouse eggs with 250 nm VLO5, which is 250 fold over its ∼IC50 for inhibition of somatic cell adhesion, had minimal effect on sperm-egg binding or fusion. We did detect α9 integrin protein on epithelial cells of the oviduct. Additional studies showed that antibodies to the α6 and α7 integrins additively inhibited adhesion of mouse trophoblast stem cells and that an antibody to the α4 integrin inhibited adhesion of MOLT-3 cells to these disintegrin domains: Our data suggest that multiple integrins (on the same cell) can participate in adhesion to a given ADAM disintegrin domain and that interactions between ADAMs and integrins may be important for sperm transit through the oviduct.
Induction of interleukin‐2 receptor α‐chain gene expression by cytochalasin B and 12‐O‐tetradecanoylphorbol‐13‐acetate in T lymphocytes

The high affinity form of interleukin-2 receptor (IL-2R) is composed of two subunits; the alpha (p55) and beta (p75). The alpha chain, unlike the beta, is expressed only on activated T lymphocytes. Therefore, high affinity binding of interleukin-2 (IL-2) is controlled by the expression of the IL-2R alpha-chain. In this study, we examined the effect of cytochalasin B (CB) plus 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) on expression of IL-2 and IL-2R. Northern blot and flow cytometric analysis showed that the IL-2R alpha-chain was expressed both at mRNA and protein levels. However, IL-2 gene expression was not induced by this treatment. Unlike the cells treated individually with CB or TPA, cells treated with CB plus TPA accumulated IL-2R mRNA at all the times examined. In order to determine the percentage of cells that incorporated tritiated thymidine ([3H]dT) in the presence of IL-2 after treatment with CB plus TPA, autoradiography was carried out. We found that about 11% of the cells were labelled. Because the percentage of labelled cells and cells expressing IL-2R alpha-chain was relatively low (11% and 9% respectively), perhaps CB plus TPA caused IL-2R expression in only a subset of T cells.
A Low-Power Adaptive Receiver Utilizing Discrete-Time Spectrum-Sensing

A flexible spectrum-sensing receiver in 65-nm CMOS consists of a wideband front-end spectrum-adaptive (SA) filtering, switched-capacitor amplifiers, and a filtering specific absorption rate ADC. The SA filter uses a discrete-time (DT) spectrum-analyzer and a reconfigurable DT notch filter to detect and suppress strong interferers over a 55-MHz range. In IEEE 802.15.4 tests, the receiver exceeds sensitivity and interferer rejection requirements. With SA filtering enabled, it achieves ≥ + 55-dB rejection from + 25- to + 65-MHz FM interferers.
Deficient maternal zinc intake—but not folate—is associated with lower fetal heart rate variability

Objective Few studies of maternal prenatal diet and child development examine micronutrient status in relation to fetal assessment.
The scattering rate of solar 834 Å radiation by magnetospheric O+ and O++

Several recent proposals to image sunlit magnetospheric O+ have been difficult to assess because of the lack of detailed knowledge of the solar spectrum at 834 A. An NRL solar spectrograph flown on a sounding rocket in 1962 actually had sufficient resolving power to allow the calculation of scattering rates. Using these solar data, examples of scattering rates for a range of thermal and bulk velocities are presented for both O+ and O++, and the effects of ionospheric albedo are estimated. The scattering rates are significantly lower than previously estimated for hot or moving plasma and exhibit substantial structure.
Adjustable rollator with dual brake system to enhance stability

Many senior citizens and disabled patients use mobility aid devices. However, walker and cane instability accounts for 47,000 falls among senior citizens annually. Bone fractures occur in one in three individuals. To address this issue a new rollator (JabbaWalker) has been designed to improve stability and safety. Improvements to the basic rollator include adjustments for height and an innovative dual brake system. Testing of the design's stability includes testing of brake wear, forward/backward and side tipping and wheel skidding (friction). The resultant forces on the walker were calculated and measured as a function of patient loading patterns and proximity (force of weight acting at a 30° angle). The JabbaWalker will support a person with a maximum bodyweight of 300 lbs. This type of ambulatory assist device may provide not only stability, but augmentation of muscle activation and a reduction in weight bearing load.
Postantibiotic Effects of Daptomycin against 14 Staphylococcal and Pneumococcal Clinical Isolates

Daptomycin mean staphylococcal postantibiotic effects (PAEs) were 1.1 to 6.2 h, with a mean of 2.5 h. The mean pneumococcal PAEs were 1.7 h, ranging between 1.0 and 2.5 h. The staphylococcal and pneumococcal postantibiotic sub-MIC effects at 0.4 times the MIC ranged from 3.0 to >12.0 h and 1.9 to >12.0 h, respectively.
Steady-state propagation of a crack in a viscoelastic strip

The theory of steady-state propagation of a crack in a viscoelastic solid is reexamined in light of recent developments in ostensibly similar free-boundary problems, specifically, dendritic crystal growth and viscous fingering. We find that, at least within the conventional formulation of fracture dynamics, the problem of predicting the growth rate and the shape of a crack does not involve mathematical subtleties analogous to those which have been found in the previously mentioned situations. We derive some general formulas for the variation of the shape of the cohesive zone at the crack tip as a function of driving force, and we compute specific shapes, growth rates, and dissipation patterns for a simple model of the cohesive stresses.
Acid-base maneuvers and phosphate transport in the isolated rat kidney.

The influence of bicarbonate (HCO 3 − ), the carbon dioxide tension ( $$p_{CO_2 } $$ , and pH on phosphate (Pi) excretion were assessed in isolated rat kidneys, perfused in vitro with recirculating synthetic solutions. After establishing control values, the perfusate HCO 3 − or $$p_{CO_2 } $$ was altered separately. When the perfusate pH was decreased, either by increasing $$p_{CO_2 } $$ or decreasing HCO 3 − , the absolute and fractional Pi excretions increased. Perfusate alkalinization by slightly decreasing the $$p_{CO_2 } $$ did not affect Pi excretion, but increasing the perfusate pH with addition of HCO 3 − elicited phosphaturia. Other kidneys were perfused with a solution from which the CO2/HCO 3 − buffer system was nominally absent. Alkalinization of HCO 3 − -free perfusate had no effect upon Pi excretion, but acidification resulted in marked phosphaturia. Perfusate acidification, whether achieved by decreasing HCO 3 − , increasing $$p_{CO_2 } $$ , or by adding hydrogen ions, uniformly elicited phosphaturia. The data indicate that either decreasing the extracellular pH or increasing the extracellular HCO 3 − inhibits renal Pi reabsorption.
Activation of Fyn tyrosine kinase upon secretagogue stimulation of bovine chromaffin cells.

Adrenal medullary chromaffin cells derive from the neural crest during embryogenesis and differentiate into dedicated secretory cells that release catecholamines in response to acetylcholine in vivo or nicotinic agonists in vitro. Previous studies have indicated that tyrosine kinases participate in early secretagogue-induced events in these cells and are required for exocytosis. Abundant levels of the cytoplasmic tyrosine kinases, c-Src and c-Yes, have been detected in chromaffin cells, thereby implicating them as kinases relevant to these events. However, c-Src has been found to undergo a decrease in activity following secretagogue-stimulation, and c-Yes appears to exist in a constitutively low activity state, suggesting that other tyrosine kinases are involved. Furthermore, other members of the Src family of tyrosine kinases have been implicated as playing roles in secretion in a variety of cell types. Therefore, we sought to determine if other Src family members were present in chromaffin cells, and if so, to examine them for subcellular localization and changes in activity following treatment with nicotinic agonists. To this end, antibodies for Fyn, Lck, Lyn, and Fgr were assembled and used in immunoprecipitation, in vitro autokinase, and Western immunoblotting assays. Of these four kinases, only Fyn was found to be expressed at detectable levels. Differential centrifugation studies revealed that Fyn resides predominantly (>95%) in the crude plasma membrane fraction and undergoes nicotinic- and carbachol-induced activation. This activation is reduced by the nicotinic antagonist, mecamylamine, is not elicited by muscarine, and is dependent upon the presence of extracellular Ca2+. These results suggest that Fyn is involved in signalling through the nicotinic receptor and may be one of the relevant kinases responsible for at least some of the tyrosine phosphorylations detected after stimulation. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Investigation of α-Synuclein Fibril Structure by Site-directed Spin Labeling

Abstract The misfolding and fibril formation of α-synuclein plays an important role in neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson disease. Here we used electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy, together with site-directed spin labeling, to investigate the structural features of α-synuclein fibrils. We generated fibrils from a total of 83 different spin-labeled derivatives and observed single-line, exchange-narrowed EPR spectra for the majority of all sites located within the core region of α-synuclein fibrils. Such exchange narrowing requires the orbital overlap between multiple spin labels in close contact. The core region of α-synuclein fibrils must therefore be arranged in a parallel, in-register structure wherein same residues from different molecules are stacked on top of each other. This parallel, in-register core region extends from residue 36 to residue 98 and is tightly packed. Only a few sites within the core region, such as residues 62–67 located at the beginning of the NAC region, as well as the N- and C-terminal regions outside the core region, are significantly less ordered. Together with the accessibility measurements that suggest the location of potential β-sheet regions within the fibril, the data provide significant structural constraints for generating three-dimensional models. Furthermore, the data support the emerging view that parallel, in-register structure is a common feature shared by a number of naturally occurring amyloid fibrils.
Catalytic performance and stability of (V) MIL-47 and (Ti) MIL-125 in the oxidative desulfurization of heterocyclic aromatic sulfur compounds

Abstract A Ti-based metal organic framework (MOF), MIL-125 (MIL stands for Material from Institut Lavoisier), and a V-based MOF, MIL-47, were synthesized and tested for their catalytic activity in the oxidation of three heterocyclic sulfur compounds (dibenzothiophene, benzothiophene, and thiophene). Dibenzothiophene (DBT) oxidation studies were used to determine kinetic parameters, and activation energies for MIL-47 and MIL-125 were found to be 51 kJ/mol and 75 kJ/mol, respectively. Benzothiophene and thiophene oxidation studies were used to show that the greater catalytic activity of MIL-47 was not simply due to the limited accessibility to the active sites of MIL-125 in the pores but rather was also a function of the type of metal center. MIL-125 had faster reaction rates in the oxidation of thiophene than DBT, which indicated that catalysis occurs on the surface of the catalyst as well as in the pores. Without DBT, however, MIL-47 degraded first into MIL-47as and then eventually 1,4-benzenedicarboxylic acid (BDC) and vanadium oxide in the presence of tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) alone. This degradation occurred even at lower temperatures in the presence of TBHP for 0.5 h. MIL-125, however, was stable in the presence of TBHP even under harsh reaction conditions (24 h at 100 °C).
Finite-element vibration analysis of tapping-mode atomic force microscopy in liquid

Investigation of morphology and mechanical properties of biological specimens using atomic force microscopy (AFM) often requires its operation in liquid environment. Due to the hydrodynamic force, the vibration of AFM cantilevers in liquid shows dramatically different dynamic characteristics from that in air. A good understanding of the dynamics of AFM cantilevers vibrating in liquid is needed for the interpretation of scanning images, selection of AFM operating conditions, and evaluation of sample's mechanical properties. In this study, a finite element (FE) model is used for frequency and transient response analysis of AFM cantilevers in tapping mode (TM) operated in air or liquid. Hydrodynamic force exerted by the fluid on AFM cantilevers is approximated by additional mass and hydrodynamic damping. The additional mass and hydrodynamic damping matrices corresponding to beam elements are derived. With this model, numerical simulations are performed for an AFM cantilever to obtain the frequency and transient responses of the cantilever in air and liquid. The comparison between our simulated results and the experimentally obtained ones shows good agreement. Based on the simulations, different characteristics of cantilever dynamics in air and liquid are discussed.
Axial Composition Gradients and Phase Segregation Regulate the Aspect Ratio of Cu2ZnSnS4 Nanorods

Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) is a promising material for solar energy conversion, but synthesis of phase-pure, anisotropic CZTS nanocrystals remains a challenge. We demonstrate that the initial concentration (loading) of cationic precursors has a dramatic effect on the morphology (aspect ratio) and composition (internal architecture) of hexagonal wurtzite CZTS nanorods. Our experiments strongly indicate that Cu is the most reactive of the metal cations; Zn is next, and Sn is the least reactive. Using this reactivity series, we are able to purposely fine-tune the morphology (dots versus rods) and degree of axial phase segregation of CZTS nanocrystals. These results will improve our ability to fabricate CZTS nanostructures for photovoltaics and photocatalysis.
Packer and colleagues' model of menopause for humans.

This article comments on Packer Tartar and Collins "grandmother hypothesis" of menopause which suggests that older females can increase genetic representation more through kin help than through direct reproduction. Several tests of the "grandmother" hypothesis and alternative models of menopause have been developed which includes more statistical controls for other variables that affect fertility and mortality than does the Packer study. The data suggest that postreproductive Ache women produce about 0.05 offspring equivalent per year through kin-directed assistance. Several facts of human life history are inconsistent with Packer and coworkers model of human menopause. Packer and colleagues hypothesis for human menopause suggests that women should stop reproducing at a certain age because they are increasingly more likely to die. The authors of this article have shown all the assumptions of this hypothesis to be false using field data on a real population. But the authors failed to support the "grandmother" hypothesis in its "opportunity costs" form. In addition they failed to find evidences for a "risky childbirth" hypothesis since rates of maternal death in childbirth are too low to overcome the advantages of reproduction.
Is Bohm's Interpretation Consistent with Quantum Mechanics?

The supposed equivalence of the conventional interpretation of quantum mechanics with Bohm's interpretation is generally demonstrated only in the coordinate representation. It is shown, however, that in the momentum representation this equivalence is not valid. Quanta 2014; 3: 43–46.
Integrated characterization of hydraulic fracture treatments in the Barnett Shale: The Stocker geophysical experiment

AbstractWe integrated several independent geophysical and geologic methods to examine the effects of stratigraphic and structural heterogeneities on the growth of hydraulic fracture networks from two horizontal wells in the Barnett Shale, Fort Worth Basin, Texas. Our data set included time-lapse 3D seismic surveys, microseismic data, wireline logs, and distributed temperature sensing (DTS) data. We first created a local stratigraphic framework using wireline logs. In our area, the lower Barnett Shale consists of siliceous mudstones (the primary reservoir) intercalated with carbonate submarine fan deposits. The latter are low porosity (i.e., nonreservoir) and, if thick enough are potential baffles to the growth of hydraulic fractures. We used stochastic inversion to define the 3D distribution of fan lobes with much better resolution than could be obtained using deterministic inversion and obtained a geologically reasonable lithology prediction. The lowest of the fan lobes partially overlies the two horizon...
Extruded PZT/polymer composites for electromechanical transducer applications

PZT/polymer composites having a 1–3 parallel connectivity were fabricated by impregnating a sintered, extruded honeycomb configuration of PZT with various polymers. The resultant composites were found to have densities less than 2900 kg/m3, a dielectric constant of ∼500 and a piezoelectric d33 of ∼300×10−12 C/N. The 1–3 connectivity increases the piezoelectric voltage coefficient (g33) from 22×10−3 Vm/N (solid PZT) to ∼70×10−3 Vm/N. The composites have thickness mode electromechanical coupling coefficients (kt) which are ∼25% greater than that of homogeneous PZT, and are readily adaptable for broad bandwidth operation. This combination of electromechanical properties makes these composites ideal for low voltage displacement and pulse echo applications.
Glider observations of the North Equatorial Current in the western tropical Pacific

The North Equatorial Current (NEC) of the Pacific Ocean advects subtropical, subpolar, and tropical water masses. Repeat underwater glider observations of the NEC from June 2009 to January 2014 along 134.3°E provide absolute zonal geostrophic velocity, transport, and water mass structure at length scales of 10–1000 km. The NEC is strongest near the surface and persistent eastward undercurrents are identified deeper than potential density surface 26 kg m−3 at 9.6°N and 13.1°N. Mean transport from the surface to 27.3 kg m−3 and 8.5°N–16.5°N is 37.6 Sv (106 m3 s−1), with a standard deviation of 15.6 Sv. The transport variability is greatest deeper than 26 kg m−3 due to undercurrent variability. Wavelet analysis at scales of 10–80 km reveals extrema of fine-scale salinity variance along isopycnals (spice variance). High spice variance is found in the North Pacific Tropical Water (NPTW) and the North Pacific Intermediate Water (NPIW), with a spice variance minimum between water masses at 25.5 kg m−3. A horizontal Cox number, CH, relates salinity variance at fine scales (10–80 km) to that at greater length scales (120–200 km). As a function of density, CH is nearly vertically uniform, indicating that the stirring of mean salinity gradients enhances fine-scale salinity variance. NPTW, with an estimated horizontal eddy diffusivity of order 104 m s−2, is a useful tracer for the region and may be used to relate the fine-scale salinity variance to an eddy diffusivity.
Importance of seep primary production to Lophelia pertusa and associated fauna in the Gulf of Mexico

To investigate the importance of seep primary production to the nutrition of Lophelia pertusa and associated communities and examine local trophic interactions, we analyzed stable carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur compositions in seven quantitative L. pertusa community collections. A significant seep signature was only detected in one of the 35 species tested (Provanna sculpta, a common seep gastropod) despite the presence of seep fauna at the three sample sites. A potential predator of L. pertusa was identified (Coralliophila sp.), and a variety of other trophic interactions among the fauna occupying the coral framework were suggested by the data, including the galatheid crab Munidopsis sp. 2 feeding upon hydroids and the polychaete Eunice sp. feeding upon the sabellid polychaete Euratella sp. Stable carbon abundances were also determined for different sections of L. pertusa skeleton representing different stages in the growth and life of the aggregation. There was no temporal trend detected in the skeleton isotope values, suggesting that L. pertusa settles in these areas only after seepage has largely subsided. Isotope values of individual taxa that were collected from both L. pertusa and vestimentiferan habitats showed decreasing reliance upon seep primary production with average age of the vestimentiferan aggregation, and finally, no seep signature was detected in the coral collections. Together our data suggest that it is the presence of authigenic carbonate substrata, a product of past seep microbial activity, as well as hydrodynamic processes that drive L. pertusa occurrence at seep sites in the Gulf of Mexico, not nutritional dependence upon primary production by seep microbes.
Microsoft universal data access platform

Microsoft Universal Data Access defines a platform for developing multi-tier enterprise applications that require efficient access to diverse relational or non-relational data sources across intranets or the Internet. Universal Data Access consists of a collection of software components that interact with each other using system-level interfaces defined by OLE DB and providing an application-level data access model called ActiveX Data Objects (ADO). This talk provides an overview of the platform.
Assessing the Impact of a Business Communication Simulation on Students' Self-Perceptions

This article examines whether participation in a business communication simulation significantly influences students' perceptions of their business communication behaviors. Results revealed several significant differences between students' pre- and post scores. Students reported significantly higher post scores in 4 of 5 of the examined categories, including message construction, message delivery, critical analysis, and collaboration. These findings suggest that participation in the simulation positively impacts students' estimations of their business communication competencies. Possible explanations and implications behind these findings are discussed. Future research directions are proposed.
Stock dynamics for forecasting material flows—Case study for housing in The Netherlands

Abstract This article discusses the role of lifestyle in physical material accounting and introduces a new method for simultaneously determining national or regional resource demand and waste generation through estimations of the population and its lifestyle, which is manifested in the stocks of service providing goods, their composition and lifetimes. Improving our comprehension of the stocks in use is essential for environmental policy making because (1) they are becoming the most important resource providers, (2) they are important drivers for resource and energy consumption as well as waste and emission generation, and (3) their magnitudes and dynamics are the parts of the material cycles that is usually least understood. A generic dynamic material flow analysis model is presented and applied for the diffusion of concrete in the Dutch dwelling stock for the period of 1900–2100. Simulation results are illustrated for a standard scenario and a parameter variation. The results show that (1) construction and demolition flows follow a cyclical behaviour, (2) the cycles of construction and demolition flows are phase displaced in the first half of the 21st century, with decreasing construction and increasing demolition, and (3) growth of the dwelling stock is becoming increasingly more material intensive as a growing amount of material is used for replacements. The presented stock dynamics approach can principally be applied for any anthropogenic material stock; however, it is most useful for the examination of metabolic consequences of diffusion processes of durable and fixed capital stocks.
Research on personnel issues published in leading logistics journals: What we know and don't know

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide a comprehensive review of the core literature pertaining to frontline logistics personnel and their managers that has been published in the leading logistics journals. An annotated, yet integrated, review presentation will aid researchers in better understanding the concepts developed and linkages between the most critical variables studied to date. The paper aims to present a comprehensive model containing the primary variables pertaining to the recruitment, development, supervising, and retention of high quality logistics personnel to meaningfully identify what is known and not known about personnel issues in logistics.Design/methodology/approach – The findings in this paper are based on a comprehensive review of articles pertaining to frontline logistics personnel and their managers, which were published in the leading logistics journals. For analysis, the paper is divided into five related areas: student samples and student perspectives compared to tho...
Effects of aspirin-like drugs on mitogen-stimulated DNA synthesis of lymphocytes from pregnant rats and offspring

Previous studies have shown that salicylates and protein-calorie malnutrition compromise immunological responses in humans and experimental animals. The present study compared the effects of prenatal normal and low protein diets, with and without aspirin-like drug treatments, on lymphocyte blastogenesis measured by tritiated thymidine uptake for DNA synthesis in splenic lymphocytes from pregnant rats and their offspring following stimulation with the mitogens concanavalin A, phytohemagglutinin, and pokeweed mitogen. Aspirin treatment was associated with increased lymphocyte thymidine uptake for blastogenesis in pregnant rats fed the normal protein control diet and their offspring. The phytohemagglutinin-stimulated increase detected in offspring lymphocytes could not be statistically guaranteed. A low protein diet alone and a normal protein diet combined with salicylamide treatment was associated with decreased blastogenesis in pregnant rats but not in their offspring. Salicylamide or aspirin combined with a low-protein diet decreased blastogenesis in both dams and their offspring. Aspirin combined with a normal protein diet did not adversely affect blastogenesis in either pregnant rats or their offspring. This study suggests that low dietary protein and aspirin-like drugs may independently decrease lymphocyte blastogenesis of pregnant rats and in combination they may also reduce lymphocyte blastogenesis in offspring. The significance of increased lymphocyte blastogenesis in both mothers and offspring following aspirin treatment of pregnant rats fed a normal protein diet is unclear.
Joint IMM/MHT tracking and identification with application to ground tracking

It is widely accepted that feature data will be necessary in order to aid the data association for ground target tracking systems that are required to maintain continuous tracks on important targets. It is also recognized that target behavior as determined by a tracking system can aid target type identification. Thus, noting that the tracking and ID functions are complementary, a joint tracking and identification architecture has been developed. These methods are being tested using simulated dynamic ground targets and radar High Range Resolution (HRR) data provided by the Moving and Stationary Target Acquisition and Recognition (MSTAR) project. The paper begins by giving an overview of the IMM/MHT tracker that has been designed to handle the unique characteristics (such as on-off road behavior) of the ground target tracking problem. Then, a joint tracking identification methodology is described. Implementing this approach, target behavior (such as being part of a group, speed, and on/off road motion) can be used both in the data association and for target type information. A Dempster-Shafer method is used for combining all classification-related data. The track score, incorporated in all MHT data association decisions, is augmented with a feature-related term derived from the conflict term computed from an application of Dempster's Rule. Finally, the paper illustrates the proposed methods using results from a detailed simulation of target convoys that perform on and off road maneuvers. Results using MSTAR HRR data are presented for both Signature-Aided (SAT) and Classification-Aided (CAT) approaches to feature-aided tracking.
Lithospheric flexure and deformation-induced gravity changes: effect of elastic compressibility and gravitation on a multilayered, thick-plate model

SUMMARY An approach is formulated by which the theoretical admittance can be evaluated for the flexure of a multi-layered elastic plate overlying an inviscid fluid. The multi-layered elastic and compressible plate is subjected to well-posed boundary conditions. Gravitational body force, elastic compressibility and elastic coupling at the interfaces with elastic modulus contrast are fully accounted for. The elastic field solution was obtained by the propagator matrix technique. The contribution to gravity change from local density perturbation within the compressible plate is also included. Our calculation shows that the density perturbation component is smaller than the Bouguer component by at least an order of magnitude over the compensated waveband. The thin-plate approximation can be used with an effective flexural rigidity evaluated from the thickness-averaged values of the elastic moduli. If there is significant elastic coupling between the crust and the mantle, the discrepancy between our results and the incompressible, thick-plate model can be quite appreciable due to the different isostatic compensation mechanisms operative within the crust. Preliminary calculations show that similar conclusions would apply to the response functions for the sub-surface loading case. Our technique can also be used to compute the stress distribution in a multilayered plate. The numerical results show that the stresses can be appreciably different from that in a homogeneous plate.
Kinetic analyses demonstrate that the equilibrium assumption does not apply to [125I]endothelin-1 binding data.

Abstract The kinetics of [125I]Endothelin-1 ([125I]ET-1) binding were studied using membranes from rat heart, rat lung, rat brain, and porcine vascular smooth muscle at 37°C in 0.05M Tris-HCl buffer (pH=7.4). The dissociation half-life ( t 1 2 , diss. ) for bound [125I]ET-1 was in excess of 30 hours for each tissue studied. Equilibrium-time requirements for proper Scatchard analysis of [125I]ET-1 were also far in excess of 30 hours for each tissue. These data suggest that determination of dissociation constants, Kd, and receptor concentrations, Bmax, by conventional Scatchard analysis is not feasible with [125I]ET-1. Kinetic analyses may provide a more accurate means for determining [125I-ET-1] binding characteristics including Kd and Bmax.
Growth of Pt Nanoparticles on Reducible CeO2(111) Thin Films: Effect of Nanostructures and Redox Properties of Ceria

Pt nanoparticles grown on fully oxidized and partially reduced CeOx(111) thin films have been studied by scanning tunneling microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy to understand the effect of redox properties and nanostructures of ceria supports on the growth of Pt. Deposition of 0.2 ML of Pt on CeO2 at 300 K produces two atomic layer high nanoparticles, while on reduced ceria films Pt favors the growth of smaller particles of one−two layer thick with a larger particle density. With the increase of Pt coverage, Pt particles on CeO2 grow in size while the Pt particle density significantly increases on the reduced ceria. Heating the surface to higher temperatures causes the Pt particle agglomeration, but Pt particles sinter less on the reduced ceria compared to those on the fully oxidized ceria. New particle structures are formed on reduced ceria as a result of heating which are suggested due to the encapsulation of Pt particles by ceria. In addition to the structural changes of the Pt particles, mo...