cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Testing challenges for extending SQL server's query processor: a case study

With enterprise-class database systems like Microsoft SQL Server, changing mission-critical components such as the relational database engine pose significant challenges to the engineering teams involved. This is because customers carefully configure, tune, and test applications and the underlying database system for their specific scenario to ensure they achieve desirable performance. This situation poses particular challenges for developing and extending existing database components of high complexity such as relational query processing where a change to a policy or heuristics may adversely affect performance of a customer workload [1]. Mitigating risk of regressions through a variety of testing and validation techniques during development is essential for the database system engineering team. In this paper, we present a case study to demonstrate the challenges of testing an extension to the query processor in Microsoft SQL Server 2008 targeted at improved query performance for star join queries [2]. We discuss the unique range of problem spaces which must be addressed, and present an overview of the variety of techniques that are used to provide a high level of quality. Our main contribution is an iterative process of interleaved development and performance test phases using customer workloads to quantify performance improvement and to limit regressions. We present our experiences with this approach and explore some future opportunities with the hope that they will encourage discussion and additional research in the area of query processor architecture and testing.
Effects of non-linear terms in the Weinberg lagrangian on pion-nucleus scattering and nuclear binding

Abstract The non-linear terms in the Weinberg chiral lagrangian for pion-nucleon systems give large individual contributions to the S-wave pion-nucleus optical potential, but strong cancellations leave only an insignificant net contribution. The cancellation is exact in the zero range limit. These terms also give rise to 4-nucleon interactions which however only marginally affect nuclear binding.
Document classification efficiency of phrase-based techniques

Due to the exponential growth of available text documents in digital form, it is of great importance to develop techniques for automatic document classification based on the textual contents. Earlier document classification techniques have used keyword-based features and related statistics to achieve good results when applied to certain datasets. More recently, some of these techniques have been extended to include phrase-based and'concept-based features to achieve better results. Since the characteristics of data sets used by each of these research groups are remarkably different, it is not possible to compare the efficiency of these methods. In this paper, we present a study that uses the same data set to compare efficiency of a phrase-based technique with key-word based techniques. Results prove conclusively that use of phrase-based features is very effective in document classification.
Pressure differential scanning calorimetry

Abstract A system is described for obtaining differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) data under reduced (to 10 microns) or elevated (to 1000 psi) pressure. Applications illustrating vapor—liquid equilibrium, competitive reactions, relative oxidative stability and pressure induced reactions are discussed.
Tracer diffusion through F-actin: Effect of filament length and cross- linking

We have determined diffusion coefficients for small (50- to 70-nm diameter) fluorescein-thiocarbamoyl-labeled Ficoll tracers through F-actin as a function of filament length and cross-linking. fx45 was used to regulate filament length and avidin/biotinylated actin or ABP-280 was used to prepare cross-linked actin gels. We found that tracer diffusion was generally independent of filament length in agreement with theoretical predictions for diffusion through solutions of rods. However, in some experiments diffusion was slower through short ( 1.0 micron were more rapid than predicted by theory for tracer diffusion through rigid, random networks, which was consistent with some degree of actin bundling. Avidin-induced cross-linking of biotinylated F-actin did not affect diffusion through unregulated F-actin, but in cases where diffusion was slower through short filaments this cross-linking method resulted in enhanced tracer diffusion rates indistinguishable from unregulated F-actin. This finding, in conjunction with increased turbidity of 1.0-micron filaments upon avidin cross-linking, indicated that this cross-linking method induces F-actin bundling. By contrast, ABP-280 cross-linking retarded diffusion through unregulated F-actin and decreased turbidity. Tracer diffusion under these conditions was well approximated by the diffusion theory. Both cross-linking procedures resulted in gel formation as determined by falling ball viscometry. These results demonstrate that network microscopic geometry is dependent on the cross-linking method, although both methods markedly increase F-actin macroscopic viscosity.
Determinants of homeowner's response to energy conservation in non-metropolitan areas

Abstract The purpose of this paper is to analyze determinants of the household energy response, including physical adjustments of the house and behavioral adjustments of household members. Three models are constructed: the first is used to quantify conservation actions using an index of energy conservation; the second is employed to identify factors related to behavioral adjustments with respect to no-cost measures; the third model deals with household future energy conservation plans. One of the most important observations from this study is that energy conservation is a cumulative process for households that is multi-dimensional in scope. Another important finding is that household participation in a utility energy audit program is highly related to levels of energy conservation. Special attention is paid to particular socioeconomic groups, who are identified as having specific needs for tailored educational programs.
On investigating social dynamics in tactical opportunistic mobile networks

The efficiency of military mobile network operations at the tactical edge is challenging due to the practical Disconnected, Intermittent, and Limited (DIL) environments at the tactical edge which make it hard to maintain persistent end-to-end wireless network connectivity. Opportunistic mobile networks are hence devised to depict such tactical networking scenarios. Social relations among warfighters in tactical opportunistic mobile networks are implicitly represented by their opportunistic contacts via short-range radios, but were inappropriately considered as stationary over time by the conventional wisdom. In this paper, we develop analytical models to probabilistically investigate the temporal dynamics of this social relationship, which is critical to efficient mobile communication in the battlespace. We propose to formulate such dynamics by developing various sociological metrics, including centrality and community, with respect to the opportunistic mobile network contexts. These metrics investigate social dynamics based on the experimentally validated skewness of users’ transient contact distributions over time.
Origins of variability in the fracture-related mechanical properties of a tilt-pour-permanent-mold cast Al-alloy

Abstract Variability in the ductility and strength of a tilt-pour-permanent-mold cast Al-alloy is examined. The variability exhibits strong correlation with the amount of oxide films and shrinkage pores in the corresponding fracture surfaces. The variability can be decreased through a reduction in the amount of these defects via better process control.
Clarifying a quote on women in science.

The article “U.S. agencies quiz universities on the status of women in science” (News of the Week, 30 Mar., p. [1776][1]) contains a quote from me that was taken out of context from a lengthy conversation and that does not represent my views on the subject. While the specific issue I referred to in the quote (gender bias relating to which students may use what equipment) is, to my knowledge, not a problem in our department or other physics departments, the status of women is very important to us. We are committed to removing barriers to achievement and to increasing the diversity of our department. We are working hard to increase the representation of women and underrepresented minorities among our students, research associates, and faculty and to ensure that there is no discrimination nor any other barrier to achievement. We support the Title IX process as a way to help achieve these important goals. [1]: /lookup/doi/10.1126/science.315.5820.1776
S-Ethyl-N,N-dipropylthiocarbamate Exposure and Cancer Incidence among Male Pesticide Applicators in the Agricultural Health Study : A Prospective Cohort

BackgroundThe Agricultural Health Study (AHS) is a prospective cohort study of licensed pesticide applicators from Iowa and North Carolina enrolled between 1993 and 1997. EPTC (S-ethyl-N,N-dipropyl...
Long-Term Results with Cryopreserved Arterial Allografts (CPAs) in the Treatment of Graft or Primary Arterial Infections

Objective Our purpose was to evaluate our results with CPAs in patients with infected grafts or primary arterial infection with emphasis on long-term durability of these grafts. Methods To evaluate the long-term durability of CPAs, clinical outcomes were analyzed following their use for either graft or primary arterial infections at a single institution over a 9-y period (2000–2009). The 30-d mortality rate, 90-d mortality rate, and the cause of early mortality were determined in each case. Among those surviving 90 d, the grafts were evaluated for subsequent failure. Results From 2000 through 2009, 51 patients with either infected prosthetic grafts (35) or primary arterial infections (15) received CPAs. One patient had infection of a previously placed thoracic allograft. Forty-three graft infections involved either the thoracic or abdominal aorta. Eleven patients presented with fulminant sepsis with systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), seven of whom died postoperatively. Eight patients presented with aorto-enteric, esophageal, or bronchial fistulae with infected prosthetic grafts. The 30-d mortality rate was 25.5% (11 deaths) seven of which occurred in patients with SIRS. The 90-d mortality rate was 41.4%. There were 10 graft failures, seven occurring in patients with aorto-enteric or bronchial fistulae all of whom had recurrent hemorrhage. The other three graft failures were due to anastomotic hemorrhage in the early postoperative period. Among those surviving 90 d, the mean follow-up was 46.4 mo (range 1–112 mo). No aneurysmal degeneration of the CPAs was noted. Only one subsequent allograft graft failure was noted among those surviving more than 90 d. Conclusions CPAs are a suitable option in dealing with cardiovascular infections. Patients with enteric or bronchial fistulae are a difficult group to treat perhaps because of ongoing contamination of the allograft. The operative mortalities are largely determined by patient comorbidities (SIRS). Subsequent degeneration or infection of the CPAs is rare.
Comparison of methods for calculating third virial coefficients: Application to binary mixtures of CO2 with N2, CH4, and C2H6

Abstract Several methods for calculating cross third virial coefficients are compared using experimental data for the systems N 2 +CO 2 , CH 4 +CO 2 , and C 2 H 6 +CO 2 . The methods considered are: ideal solution, geometric mean, Orbey and Vera, Lennard-Jones, MHEMHS, and algebraic determination using two mixture third virial coefficients. The calculated values are compared with cross virials determined from experimental data for the three systems.
Fiber optic oxygen sensors based on the sol-gel coating technique

Two fiber optic oxygen sensor designs were demonstrated by sol-gel coatings doped with an organo-metallic complex, ruthenium (II) tris-4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline. The first design implemented a porous optical fiber coated with sol-gel that showed high sensitivity (less than 1 ppm) towards oxygen gas and a dynamic range up to 1% oxygen. The second optical sensor was based on a collimator device which involved a sol-gel film that was spin coated onto a silica glass disk. Compared to the porous fiber approach, a faster response time and lower oxygen gas sensitivity were determined for this sensor configuration. According the lifetime decay behavior of a sol-gel spin coating, the luminescence decay of the ruthenium complex followed a single exponential decay in nitrogen and air. Also, the spin coated sample showed a greater degree of quenching according to the Stern-Volmer ratio, at greater oxygen concentrations than the ratio calculated for the monolithic film. Analysis of the lifetime decay behavior of the different forming methods revealed that the micro-structure of the gel was dependent upon the type of sol-gel deposition. In this case, spin coated gels resulted in a denser coating than the monolithic film. As a result, these differences in the sol- gel micro-structure were used to discuss the different behavior of the collimator sensor with respect to the porous fiber oxygen sensor.© (1996) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
The relationship between vascular expansion of the aorta and pulmonary artery and the genesis of the impedance cardiogram using the technique of sonomicrometry

Primary objective: This prospective animal study aims to evaluate the contribution of the pulmonary artery (PA) and aorta on the morphology of the impedance cardiogram using sonomicrometry.Methods: Impedance electrodes were placed around the thorax, aorta and in the oesophagus of five dogs. Sonomicrometry crystals were mounted on the PA and aorta for tracking vascular distension while a Doppler flow probe measured aortic blood flow.Results: No significant differences (p > 0.05) were recorded between the onset of aortic expansion, aortic blood flow and the start of the impedance dZ/dt signal. Significant differences (p > 0.001) were recorded between the onset of PA expansion and the dZ/dt signal. PA expansion began 41.6 ± 6.0 ms, 60.7 ± 7.2 ms and 42.2 ± 4.9 ms respectively, before surface, aortic and oesophageal impedance recordings.Conclusion: The genesis of the impedance cardiogram is attributed to volumetric expansion of the aorta.
Jeffrey T. Kiehl Receives 2012 Climate Communication Prize: Citation

Jeffrey T. Kiehl was awarded the 2012 Climate Communication Prize at the AGU Fall Meeting Honors Ceremony, held on 5 December 2012 in San Francisco, Calif. The Climate Communication Prize is funded by Nature's Own, a purveyor of fossils, minerals, and handcrafted jewelry based in Boulder, Colo. The prize honors an “AGU member-scientist for the communication of climate science, and highlights the importance of promoting scientific literacy, clarity of message, and efforts to foster respected and understanding of science-based values as they relate to the implications of climate change.”
Eldor spin echoes and slow motions

Abstract It is shown how an ELDOR technique based upon spin echoes and rapid stepping of the magnetic field may be employed to measure rotational correlation times, τ R for very slow motions. Experiments on PD-Tempone in 85% glycerol/ D 2 O at low temperatures led to τ R values of 10 −4 to 10 −5 s obtained with a simple analysis of the data.
Bladder Cancer Associated Gene Expression Signatures Identified by Profiling of Exfoliated Urothelia

Bladder cancer is the fifth most commonly diagnosed malignancy in the United States and one of the most prevalent worldwide. It harbors a probability of recurrence of >50%; thus, rigorous, long-term surveillance of patients is advocated. Flexible cystoscopy coupled with voided urine cytology is the primary diagnostic approach, but cystoscopy is an uncomfortable, invasive procedure and the sensitivity of voided urine cytology is poor in all but high-grade tumors. Thus, improvements in noninvasive urinalysis assessment strategies would benefit patients. We applied gene expression microarray analysis to exfoliated urothelia recovered from bladder washes obtained prospectively from 46 patients with subsequently confirmed presence or absence of bladder cancer. Data from microarrays containing 56,000 targets was subjected to a panel of statistical analyses to identify bladder cancer-associated gene signatures. Hierarchical clustering and supervised learning algorithms were used to classify samples on the basis of tumor burden. A differentially expressed geneset of 319 gene probes was associated with the presence of bladder cancer (P < 0.01), and visualization of protein interaction networks revealed vascular endothelial growth factor and angiotensinogen as pivotal factors in tumor cells. Supervised machine learning and a cross-validation approach were used to build a 14-gene molecular classifier that was able to classify patients with and without bladder cancer with an overall accuracy of 76%. Our results show that it is possible to achieve the detection of bladder cancer using molecular signatures present in exfoliated tumor urothelia. Further investigation and validation of the cancer-associated profiles may reveal important biomarkers for the noninvasive detection and surveillance of bladder cancer.
A psychobiological theory of attachment.

This article describes a neurobiological basis for the “first attachment” of the primate infant to its caretaker. The infant normally internalizes a neurobiological “image” of the behavioral and emotional characteristics of its caregiver that later regulates important features of its brain function. Current models of sensorimotor analysis and its relation to emotion suggest that sensorimotor systems are also habit and memory systems, their functional status and lability regulated in part by biogenic amine systems. The intertwined development of neural and social functions can sometimes go awry. If the attachment process fails or the caregiver is incompetent, the infant may become socially dysfunctional. This helps explain the developmental psychopathology and later vulnerability to adult psychopathology that result from disruptions of social attachment.
The treatment of socially oriented underachievers: A case study

Abstract Socially oriented underachievers are students who work for the rewards of social interaction rather than for those of academic achievement. A case report is presented which outlines the treatment of a socially oriented underachiever. The successful treatment employed behavior modification techniques and consisted, essentially, of rewarding the entire class for academic improvement shown by the underachiever.
Aspirin use among U.S. adults: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.

Background The role of aspirin in prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and cardiovascular complications among people with diabetes has been examined. A Healthy People 2010 objective calls for increasing the proportion of people with diabetes aged ≥40 years who take aspirin ≥15 times per month. Methods Data from 2003 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System were used to examine (1) the prevalence of aspirin intake, (2) aspirin use among those with CVD, (3) aspirin use among those with diabetes, (4) current status with respect to Healthy People objective 5-16, and (5) changes in aspirin intake from 1999. Results Daily or every-other-day aspirin use was reported by 36.2% of participants in 2003. Aspirin intake among those with CVD and diabetes was 82.8% and 62.6%, respectively. The Healthy People 2010 objective of increasing the proportion of adults with diabetes aged ≥40 years who take aspirin to 30% was achieved. The prevalence of aspirin intake was higher in 2003 compared to 1999 among all participants, those with CVD, and those with diabetes (relative increase of about 20%, 12%, and 36%, respectively). Most participants (74%) reported cardiovascular reasons for aspirin use. Among those without CVD or diabetes, the prevalence of aspirin intake increased with the increasing number of CVD risk factors. Conclusions Regular aspirin use increased over a 4-year period. Greater use of inexpensive and easily accessible interventions to prevent cardiovascular events is encouraging. Increased efforts to continue preventive uses of available treatment and reduction in risk by modifying other risk factors will help lower future disease burden.
Analytical description of a trapped semi-ideal Bose gas at finite temperature

Present experiments with Bose condensed gases can be largely described by a semi-ideal two-gas model. In this model, the condensate is influenced only by the mean-field repulsion among condensed atoms, while the thermal cloud is considered an ideal gas confined by an effective potential that consists of the external trap and the mean-field repulsion by the condensate. This simple, intuitive model provides explicit analytical expressions for the density distributions of the condensate and the thermal component. It describes the reduction of the condensate fraction relative to that of an ideal gas as a consequence of the positive chemical potential due to interactions in the condensate.
Role of imaging in the management of pancreatic mass

Pancreatic cancer is the second commonest malignant gastrointestinal neoplasm. Modern imaging techniques have greatly increased sensitivity in diagnosing and staging pancreatic cancers. Multidetector CT in particular, plays a critical role in local staging and determining the resectability of pancreatic tumours. MR and endoscopic ultrasound are valuable in those groups of patients in whom CT findings alone are inconclusive in tumour characterisation and local staging, particularly vascular involvement. In this article we review the current established concepts and the role of imaging in the multidisciplinary management of pancreatic tumours together with a comprehensive review of the literature.
The IR energy distribution of SS433

The infrared energy distribution of the emission-line object SS 433 in the range 1 to 10 microns is determined. Photometric measurements were made with a 2.2-m telescope using an InSb detector and a 6-arcsec diaphragm for 1.2- to 4.8-micron observations and a gallium-doped germanium bolometer with a 6-arcsec diaphragm for 8- to 13-micron observations. Results indicate the presence of substantial night-to-night flux density and color variations, and a decrease in flux density at wavelengths greater than 5 microns. The energy cut-off is used to estimate a physical size of 1 AU for the emitting region and an electron density of 10 to the 11th/cu cm on the basis of a model of reddened free-free emission from an ionized plasma, with self-absorption of radiation over 5 microns. The greater variability observed at longer wavelengths is also interpreted in terms of this model.
Effects of Underlining Textbook Sentences on Passage and Sentence Retention.

Abstract Below average college freshmen read an 1844‐word selection about the Kalahari Desert. The experimental group underlined one sentence per paragraph, and the control group only read the passage. Afterwards subjects took a multiple‐choice test of items drawn from superordinate and subordinate sentences. While overall passage retention was not improved, underlined sentences were recalled better than nonunderlined sentences, and superordinate sentences, whether or not underlined, were retained better than subordinate sentences by the experimental but not by the control group. When a review was added in a second experiment, passage retention was still not improved. This time both experimental and control groups retained superordinate sentences better than subordinate sentences. Underlining subordinate sentences improved their retention even above that achieved by the control group. Results suggest that without review, underlining helped these below average students sort out superordinate ideas. With re...
Making the Case for Law that Improve Health: The Work of the Public Health Law Research National Program Office

No one who attended the 2010 national public health law conference hosted by the Public Health Law Association (PHLA) and the American Society of Law, Medicine, and Ethics (ASLME) could miss the sense of excitement and momentum. The revival of this annual public health law meeting, with the support of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), the energetic leadership of the PHLA president and board, ASLME’s expert guidance, and a rousing address by Dr. Tom Frieden, Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), symbolize the continued commitment of a wide range of important individuals and institutions to the proposition that law is of substantial importance to public health. There is more than just symbolism to be excited about. RWJF has made a dramatic and farsighted commitment to building the field with an integrated program of support for the effective use of law in public health. This includes investments in exemplary programs like the Public Health Institute, the National Policy and Legal Analysis Network, Healthy Eating Research and Active Living Research, and the Public Health Law Network. This paper introduces the Public Health Law Research (PHLR) Program, another integral part of RWJF’s vision for improving public health through law. Public health law research, the scientific study of the relation of law and legal practices to population health, builds the evidence base for public health law. This paper describes PHLR’s work in funding research and helping strengthen the quality and rigor of public health law research. It also discusses how this approach fits within the larger RWJF effort to put law to work in practice by working as allies with a wide community of health agencies and organizations.
Monodisperse Thioether-Stabilized Palladium Nanoparticles: Synthesis, Characterization, and Reactivity

Size control of monodisperse palladium nanoparticles with sizes ranging from 1.7 to 3.5 nm was accomplished using thioethers as stabilizing ligands, in a one-step procedure. Modulation of the reaction temperature, reaction time, solvent, and carbon chain length of the thioether provided control over the nanoparticle size and size distribution. The resulting Pd nanoparticles were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). 1H NMR spectroscopy provided insight into the thioether−Pd nanoparticle surface interaction. To demonstrate the catalytic activity of the thioether-stabilized Pd nanoparticles, hydrogenation reactions were carried out using the as-synthesized Pd nanoparticles. We observed a trend in the reactivity of the nanoparticles with respect to their size, however, recovery of the nanoparticles following subsequent reactions was rather challenging. Immobilization of the Pd nanoparticles onto commerci...
Pion-nucleus scattering at 50 MeV☆

Abstract An optical potential using kinematic, absorption and correlation corrections is applied to the scattering of 50 MeV pions by 12 C, 40 Ca, 90 Zr and 208 Pb. Each effect is found to be important.
Association of urinary KIM-1, L-FABP, NAG and NGAL with incident end-stage renal disease and mortality in American Indians with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Kidney injury molecule 1 (KIM-1), liver fatty acid-binding protein (L-FABP), N-acetyl-β-d-glucosaminidase (NAG) and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) are urinary biomarkers of renal tubular injury. We examined their association with incident end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and all-cause mortality in American Indians with type 2 diabetes. Biomarker concentrations were measured in baseline urine samples in 260 Pima Indians who were followed for a median of 14 years. HRs were reported per SD of creatinine (Cr)-normalised log-transformed KIM-1, NAG and NGAL, and for three categories of L-FABP. During follow-up, 74 participants developed ESRD and 101 died. Median concentrations of KIM-1/Cr, NAG/Cr and NGAL/Cr and the proportion of detectable L-FABP were highest in those with macroalbuminuria (p < 0.001 for KIM-1/Cr, NAG/Cr and L-FABP; p = 0.006 for NGAL/Cr). After multivariable adjustment, NGAL/Cr was positively associated with ESRD (HR 1.59, 95% CI 1.20, 2.11) and mortality (HR 1.39, 95% CI 1.06, 1.82); L-FABP/Cr was inversely associated with ESRD (HR [for highest vs lowest tertile] 0.40, 95% CI 0.19, 0.83). Addition of NGAL/Cr to models that included albuminuria and glomerular filtration rate increased the c-statistic for predicting ESRD from 0.828 to 0.833 (p = 0.001) and for death from 0.710 to 0.722 (p = 0.018). Addition of L-FABP/Cr increased the c-statistic for ESRD from 0.828 to 0.832 (p = 0.042). In Pima Indians with type 2 diabetes, urinary concentrations of NGAL and L-FABP are associated with important health outcomes, but they are unlikely to add to risk prediction with standard markers in a clinically meaningful way given the small increase in the c-statistic.
Arms Control in a New Era

Depending on unilateral arms control measures alone may remove the impetus for cooperation between Moscow and Washington, making a new relationship unattainable. Additional principles will need to be embraced to truly transform relations.
RABBIT SERUM PARAOXONASE 3 (PON3) IS A HIGH DENSITY LIPOPROTEIN-ASSOCIATED LACTONASE AND PROTECTS LOW DENSITY LIPOPROTEIN AGAINST OXIDATION

The paraoxonase gene family contains at least three members: PON1, PON2, and PON3. The physiological roles of the corresponding gene products are still uncertain. Until recently, only the serum paraoxonase/arylesterase (PON1) had been purified and characterized. Here we report the purification, cloning, and characterization of rabbit serum PON3. PON3 is a 40-kDa protein associated with the high density lipoprotein fraction of serum. In contrast to PON1, PON3 has very limited arylesterase and no paraoxonase activities but rapidly hydrolyzes lactones such as statin prodrugs (e.g. lovastatin). These differences facilitated the complete separation of PON3 from PON1 during purification. PON3 hydrolyzes aromatic lactones and 5- or 6-member ring lactones with aliphatic substituents but not simple lactones or those with polar substituents. We cloned PON3 from total rabbit liver RNA and expressed it in mammalian 293T/17 cells. The recombinant PON3 has the same apparent molecular mass and substrate specificity as the enzyme purified from serum. Rabbit serum PON3 is more efficient than rabbit PON1 in protecting low density lipoprotein from copper-induced oxidation. This is the first report that identifies a second PON enzyme in mammalian serum and the first to describe an enzymatic activity for PON3.
A benchmark process for measuring consumer perceptions of total quality

Researchers and business practitioners have made much progress in the last several decades towards both the measurement and management of the many aspects of quality. However, a standardised and co...
Use of a two-hybrid system to investigate molecular interactions of GAP-43

Abstract We used the ‘interaction trap’ (two-hybrid system) to identify polypeptides that interact with the neuronal phosphoprotein, GAP-43, in an intracellular environment. GAP-43 (neuromodulin, B-50, F1), a protein kinase C (PKC) substrate important for the growth and plasticity of neuronal connections, has been implicated in vitro in several signal transduction pathways. In the yeast-based cloning system, the only strong interaction that was detected was between GAP-43 and the calcium effector protein, calmodulin (CaM). PKC phosphorylates GAP-43 on serine 41. When we changed this serine to an aspartate residue to mimic constitutive phosphorylation, the interaction with CaM was blocked. Surprisingly, the N-terminal third of GAP-43 alone bound CaM more strongly than did intact GAP-43, suggesting that the protein's C-terminus may play a role in modulating the interaction with CaM. These results, along with other recent findings, suggest a novel role for the interaction between GAP-43 and CaM.
Comparative Antirachitic Value of Field–Cured Hay, Barn–Dried Hay, and Wilted Grass Silage for Growing Dairy Calves

Summary and Conclusions 1. Wilted silage fed as the sole roughage to growing dairy calves produced gains as good or better than those observed in calves fed barn-cured and field-cured hay. The calves that were fed the wilted silage were sleek and excellent in appearance. 2. Wilted silage, made in two different years, contained sufficient vitamin D to prevent rickets in growing calves that were kept out of sunlight when the silage was fed at the rate of 1.2 to 1.7 lb. per 100 lb. of body weight on the hay-equivalent basis (3 to 4 lb-. per 100 lb. body weight on the silage basis). 3. Barn-cured hay made one year contained sufficient vitamin D to prevent rickets in calves that were kept out of sunlight when it was fed at the rate of 1.2 to 1.7 lb. per 100 lb. of body weight. 4. Eat bioassays of the forages fed for vitamin D, which confirmed the results of the calf-feeding experiment, showed that they contained sufficient vitamin D to prevent rickets in growing calves. 5. While further fundamental data must be collected on the factors affecting the vitamin D content of forages harvested with a minimum exposure to the sun, it seems quite likely that barn-cured hay and wilted silage, at least as conserved under Beltsville conditions, contain sufficient vitamin D for growing calves to prevent rickets if fed at the usual levels of roughage feeding.
Shell manipulation: interactive alteration of multiple-material fuzzy structures

ABSTRACT Shell rendering uses a recently described data stnxture, called a shell, for representing semi-transparent volumes. Theshell is a generalization of the senu-boundary representation used for fast visualization, manipulation, and analysis of binary volumetric objects. Shell manipulation is an extension of the previously developed manipulation operations on binary objects to fuzzily defined objects. The paper clesceibes algcrithms for plane and curved cut-away, separation, and segmentalmovement operations. These operations are done interactively on volume renditions of the objects in a standard workstation environment using portable software.Keywords: object manipulation, visualization, volume rendering, 3D imaging 1. INTRODUCTION Three-dimensional digital imaging is becoming increasingly important in many branches of science, engineering, andmedical care. Often data are quimd in three-dimensional form by the use of a scanning device; in other cases a simulationprocedure generates three-dimensional digital image data. Visualization is a discipline dealing with mechanisms that enable
Right-side dominance for song control in the zebra finch.

Adult male zebra finches underwent unilateral denervation of the syrinx or unilateral lesion of the forebrain nucleus HVC known to be important for song control. Disruptive effects of song were greater after right-side than after left-side operations. After denervation of the right half of the syrinx, the fundamental frequencies of all syllables within a song converged on a value near 500 Hz, and nearly all syllables were altered in type. In contrast, the syllables produced after denervation of the left side of the syrinx largely maintained their preoperative frequencies, and fewer syllables changed in type. Unlike nerve sections, HVC lesions did not result in strikingly lateralized effects on syllable phonology; however, HVC lesions did affect the temporal patterning of a bird's song, whereas nerve sections did not, and changes in temporal patterning were more marked after right than after left HVC lesions. Right-side dominance for zebra finch song control is the reverse of that described in other songbird species with lateral asymmetry for vocal communication. We suggest that the need for a dominant side is more important than the side of dominance. © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Biochemical analyses of multiple fractions of PKR purified from Escherichia coli.

PKR is a cellular protein kinase activated by double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) that phosphorylates eukaryotic initiation factor a (eIF2a) and inhibits protein translation. Activation of PKR is accompani...
Instability of Shearing Geostrophic Currents in Neutral and Partly Unstable Atmospheres.

Abstract The instabilities of a vertically varying composite geostrophic current, consisting of a zonal component that increases with height either linearly or with variable sheer, and a low-level jet-type V-component in an atmosphere of depth H either neutrally or unstably stratified in the surface layer and stably stratified above are analyzed with respect to mesoscale disturbances. The most unstable mesoscale disturbance excited by the instability of the U current is found to be the symmetric mode with very large wavelength in the x-direction and short wavelength in the y-direcfion, while the instability of the low-level V jet gives rise to two separate, most unstable disturbances, one with Lx ≈ 2H, Ly ≈ ∞ and the other with Lx ≈ ∞ and Ly ≈ 2H in the absence of friction. When both U and V currents are present, there appear again two sets of unstable disturbances, one with Lx in the 40–60H range and Ly ≈ 6H and slowly moving, while the other has its wavenumbers k and l in the x- and y-directions satisfy...
Postnatal experience and the detection of the effects of prenatal stress on behavior: a reply to Archer and Blackman.

In the course of a recent review of the effects of prenatal stress on offspring behavior, Archer and Blackman (1971) advanced some suggestions concerning the effects of the age of the offspring and their postnatal experience on the detection of prenatal stress effects. Specifically, they felt that studies they reviewed indicated that the behavioral effects of prenatal stress wane as offspring grow older and that “previous test experience (involving a mild or severe stress situation) causes the response to persist, enabling it to be detected in tests carried out when the animals are older”.
A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to evaluate the effect of enalapril in patients with clinical diabetic nephropathy.

It is unknown if the antiproteinuric effect of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors reflects attenuation in the rate of progression of diabetic nephropathy. We report the results of a randomized, double-blind clinical trial designed to evaluate the longitudinal (18-month) effect of the ACE inhibitor, enalapril (5 to 40 mg/d), versus a placebo on 24-hour urinary protein excretion and on the rate of progression of renal disease in 33 patients with clinical diabetic nephropathy. Systemic blood pressure was controlled throughout the trial with conventional antihypertensive drugs. Glomerular filtration rate (GFR), determined by Tc 99m DTPA renal clearance, and urinary protein excretion were monitored at 3-month intervals. Enalapril, in contrast to placebo therapy, was associated with an initial (40%) and sustained (33%) decrease in urinary protein excretion. Patients randomized to both enalapril or placebo experienced mean decreases in GFR, from 1.01 mL/s/1.73 m 2 (61 mL/min/1.73 m 2 ) to 0.85 mL/s/1.73 m 2 (51 mL/min/1.73 m 2 ), and from 1.06 mL/s/1.73 m 2 (64 mL/min/1.73 m 2 ) to 0.97 mL/s/1.73 m 2 (58 mL/min/1.73 m 2 ), respectively. Eleven of 18 patients (61 %) randomized to enalapril, and 10 of 15 (66%) patients randomized to placebo, had a decrease in GFR; their rates of progression were −1.18 mL/min/1.73 m 2 /mo and −1.00 mL/min/1.73 m 2 /mo, respectively. In the absence of changes in blood pressure, the addition of an ACE inhibitor to patients with clinical diabetic nephropathy could not be shown to confer a unique renal protective effect. A prolonged decrease in 24-hour protein excretion could not be shown to predict attenuation in the progression of established clinical diabetic nephropathy.
Suboptical wavelength atomic gratings generated in a time-domain interferometer

ABSTRACT We have studied sub-optical wavelength atomic gratings generated by the interference of atomic de Brogue wavesin a time-domain interferometer. Three short optical standing-wave pulses, detuned from resonance with a cloud of-40O pK 85Rb atoms, act as phase gratings for atomic matter waves. Shortly after the first pulse, a modulation inthe atomic density containing spatial harmonics of period )t/2N appears (A is the optical wavelength, and N is anyinteger) and then rapidly vanishes due to the atomic thermal motion. The cloud maintains phase memory of thismodulation, however, and the second pulse (applied at time T after the first one) results in a temporal sequence ofatomic density gratings of periods A/2N. The appearance of a grating is referred to as an echo. The third pulse( and a subsequent traveling wave pulse) is used to detect these gratings. By this technique, we have created anddetected in real time a grating with period A/4 at time 1.5T after the first pulse and observed new types of "echoes"caused by interaction of the de Brogue waves with all three phase gratings. This ability to produce sub-wavelengthstructures makes our techniques applicable to atomic beam lithography.Keywords: Atom optics, matter wave interference, echo, periodic nanostructures.We have expanded the capabilities of the time-domain atom interferometer demonstrated by Calm et al.1 togenerating and on-line monitoring of periodic nanostructures created in a cloud of '1OO aK 85Rb atoms by theaction of a sequence of three short optical standing-wave pulses. The nanostnictures have periods of a fraction ofthe optical wavelength A.Focusing of atoms into the nodes (or anti-nodes) of a single opticai standing wave was exploited by several othergroups,25 who are doing lithography by creating periodic structures in the cross-section of an atomic beam anddepositing them on a substrate located close to the place of the atom-light interaction. Gratings obtained by thosegroups have the same period, A/2, as the focusing potential induced due to the coupling of atomic levels by thestanding wave. In the reference frame of moving atoms, the affect of this standing wave is equivalent to a singlepulse of this wave acting on an atomic cloud. In our experiment exploiting the phenomenon of the "echo" ,
Alkene oxidatioh by an iron(II)/persulfate/acetic acid system

Abstract Mono- and disubstituted alkenes were converted to trans-vicinal diacetates by heating with an iron(II)/persulfate/acetic acid system. The synthetic utility and limitations were identified. A mechanism for the transformation is proposed which involves an initial addition of sulfate radical anion to the alkena followed by solvolysis, addition, hydrolysis, and aoetylation.
Emergence of targeted molecular imaging in atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease

Atherosclerosis, a systemic disease, remains one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in the world. Our improved understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying atherosclerotic lesion progression and sudden transformation into unstable plaques, indicate complex interactions of lipid metabolism, inflammatory processes and genetic predisposition. Currently, novel imaging approaches to visualize the process of atherosclerosis, particularly at the molecular level, are actively being developed. Important targets include inflammatory and endothelial cells, as well as apoptosis and angiogenesis. The next decade should solidify the role of targeted molecular imaging in all aspects of cardiovascular medicine.
More bang for your audit buck

You should expect more from an audit than just assurance that your firm is complying with the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, creditors, or others. Here's how to gain more from your audit—and perhaps even reduce the fee. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Dissociation constants of the trans-plutonium element chelates of 1,2-diaminocyclohexanetetraacetic acid

Abstract The dissociation constants of the DCTA complexes with Am, Cm, Bk, Cf, Es, and Fm were determined by an ion exchange technique. The values obtained are: Americium 10−18.79 Curium 10−18.81 Berkelium 10−19.16 Californium 10−19.41 Einsteinium 10−19.44 Fermium 10−19.56 The Fm Es and Es Cf ion exchange separation factors are 1·38 and 1·21, respectively.
Localization of nerve growth factor receptor immunoreactivity in the trigeminal nucleus of kittens

A monoclonal antibody raised against the human nerve growth factor receptor (NGFr) was used to map the distribution of NGFr-immunoreactivity (IR) in the trigeminal nuclear complex of 8- to 10-week-old, immature felines. Somata and fibers show NGFr-IR within the trigeminal ganglion and the mesencephalic trigeminal nucleus. NGFr-IR is also found in fibers within the trigeminal root entry zone, the spinal trigeminal tract, and in fibers and terminals within all the central trigeminal sensory nuclei. The NGFr-IR found within the trigeminal sensory nuclei typically occurs in circumscribed zones that vary in position for the different subnuclei. NGFr-IR is found in the dorsomedial and ventrolateral subdivisions of the main sensory nucleus, in the dorsomedial and occasionally in ventral positions within pars oralis, in dorsal and ventral regions within pars interpolaris, and primarily in outer lamina II with fibers that project to lamina V within pars caudalis/medullary dorsal horn. These results show some overlap with the central distribution of trigeminal primary afferent nociceptive fibers such as those found from the tooth pulp and overlap with the central distribution of such peptides as calcitonin gene-related peptide and substance P, but NGFr-IR is more restricted. Thus, it appears that NGFr-IR is associated with the endings of primary afferent fibers in the brain stem, and that these fibers may represent a certain subclass of primary afferent nociceptors. It is speculated that fibers showing NGFr-IR may have the ability to alter their response to peripheral deafferentation when compared to fibers lacking NGFr-IR.
Linear features for photogrammetric restitution and object completion

Rigorous formulation in terms of only feature descriptors is given for: two- and three- dimensional transformations, photogrammetric conditions, and linear feature geometric constraints. Experimental results, considering control and pass features, from single photo resection (recovering both interior and exterior orientation elements) and two-photo triangulation (estimating pass lines for object completion), using simulated data and some real image data. Geometric constraints are used to provide redundancy in place of straight lines in stereo pairs. Extensive investigation is continuing.