cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Development of a service-simulating, accelerated aging test method for exterior tire rubber compounds I. Cyclic aging

Aging of tire rubber compounds in real service is affected by multiple factors. This process cannot be accurately represented by conventional single-factor tests. A novel cyclic aging test is proposed as a multiple factor, service simulating, accelerated aging test method. It includes four sub-tests of oxygen bomb, dynamic ozone, ultraviolet light, and water solution attack. The proposed cyclic test is compared against thermal, dynamic ozone, and dynamic outdoor aging by characterizing material property degradation as a function of aging time. Four formulations of exterior tire rubber compounds are used as experimental materials. The experimental results show that the proposed cyclic aging test is closer to dynamic outdoor aging than the conventional dynamic ozone and thermal aging tests. The static modulus increases with thermal aging, and decreases with dynamic ozone aging time. For dynamic outdoor and cyclic aging, the modulus initially increases, but then later decreases, showing traces of both of the previously mentioned results. It is also found that the size of the specimen has a significant affect on aging. Such effect can be utilized to accelerate the artificial aging without elevating the temperature.
Radio Stars Beta Persei and Beta Lyrae

FOLLOWING the discovery that the radio emission of the Antares system originates from the B3 V component1,2, observations of other binary star systems were undertaken with the NRAO interferometer operating at 2,695 and 8,085 MHz. Here we report the detection of radio emission from two well known eclipsing binaries, β Persei (Algol) and β Lyrae.
Exploiting syntactic structure of queries in a language modeling approach to IR

Natural Language Processing (NLP) techniques have been explored to enhance the performance of Information Retrieval (IR) methods with varied results. Most efforts in using NLP techniques have been to identify better index terms for representing documents. This use in the indexing phase of IR has implicit effect on retrieval performance. However, the explicit use of NLP techniques during the retrieval or information seeking phase has been restricted to interactive or dialogue systems. Recent advances in IR are based on using Statistical Language Models (SLM) to represent documents and ranking them based on their model generating a given user query. This paper presents a novel method for using NLP techniques on user queries, specifically, a syntactic parse of a query, in the statistical language modeling approach to IR. In the proposed method, named Concept Language Models, a query is viewed as a sequence of concepts and a concept as a sequence terms. The paper presents different approximations to estimate the concept and term probabilities and compute the query likelihood estimate for documents. Some empirical results on TREC test collections comparing Concept Language Models with smoothed N-gram language models are presented.
Necessary and sufficient condition for a model insect population to go to extinction.

A necessary and sufficient condition on the parameters for a model population to become extinct is presented. The mathematical model describes an insect population with overlapping generations where the females are polyandrous and the males are subject to autosterilization. The relationship between the values of the parameters of the model and the time to extinction is illustrated.
Scalar curvature and volume of a Riemannian manifold

The link between volume and scalar curvature of a Riemannian manifold does not have such an easy description. In dimension two, for example, in the case of the standard sphere, the classical Gauss-Bonnet theorem relates the two concepts, i.e. the total curvature of the sphere is 4π times the volume of the sphere. However, in higher dimension any relation that the volume and scalar curvature may have, requires a finer analysis. This paper explores the relation between the two concepts from the viewpoint of contracting maps while provides counterexamples to the use of weaker hypotheses in the main theorem proved in [L].
Models of Gender Differences in Cardiovascular Disease

Clinical observations made over several decades support the existence of gender differences in cardiovascular disease prevalence and severity. For example, women exhibit a delay in the onset of vascular disease compared to men and the temporal link between menopause and the rise in vascular events in women suggests that ovarian hormones may be important in reducing the risk of vascular disease in women. Gender differences have also been observed in the severity and outcome of myocardial diseases such that women with heart failure have a better prognosis than men coupled with gender-specific patterns of ventricular remodeling. These clinical observations have fostered great interest in understanding the mechanisms of gender differences in cardiovascular diseases with the goal being to identify novel therapeutic targets. The purpose of this review is to describe animal models of cardiovascular disease that have demonstrated clear gender differences in the pathophysiologic responses to a given stimulus. Animal models from two broad areas of cardiovascular investigation will be highlighted: vascular disease and heart failure.
An overview of wearable applications for healthcare: requirements and challenges

The integration of wearable devices with mobile applications has a promising potential for healthcare in general, and for behavior change in particular. While wearables collect users' data and quantify information about their daily lives, mobile applications aid them to analyze and visualize the information collected, to raise their awareness and to encourage behavior changes. Several applications have been proven successful within this research context, for instance to promote healthier eating habits and the incorporation of physical activities in users' daily habits. Despite promising, the development of wearable solutions for healthcare still encompasses significant challenges; not only the devices must be comfortable and easy to use, but also their underlying strategies must be carefully designed to ensure users' acceptance, adoption and sustained engagement. This paper discusses opportunities and challenges of wearable applications dedicated to promote healthcare and behavior changes particularly.
A maximum entropy approach for property prediction of random microstructures

The task of reconstruction of microstructures from their limited description is posed as a maximum entropy (MaxEnt) problem. Microstructural descriptors are taken in the form of volume fractions, correlation functions and grain sizes. Morphological and size quantifications are used as features of microstructures and samples consistent with these features are reconstructed. The non-uniqueness of the reconstructed distribution is effectively encountered by choosing the distribution with the maximum entropy. Properties of random microstructures are characterized statistically using the MaxEnt solution. Microstructures reconstructed from correlation measures are interrogated to obtain elastic properties. For estimating plastic property statistics, grain size and orientation distribution information are incorporated. Analysis of plastic properties is performed in two steps, firstly by reconstructing microstructures with macro-specifications of grain size and secondly by attributing an orientation to each grain drawn from the MaxEnt distribution of the orientation distribution function (ODF). The MaxEnt ODF distribution is obtained by constraining the expected ODF over a sufficiently large number of microstructure samples to match with the given ODF information. Further, the effect of incorporating a larger amount of information on the variation of the effective behavior is studied. Numerical examples demonstrating the method for one- and two-dimensional microstructures are discussed.
How about watching others? Observation of error-related feedback by others in autism spectrum disorders

Research indicates that individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) may have a reduced ability to utilize performance feedback to regulate their behavior; however, it is unclear to what degree alterations in the environmental context affect feedback processing and contribute to the symptoms of ASD. We utilized the observational FRN (oFRN), an event-related potential (ERP) component that putatively indexes feedback processing while observing feedback directed toward another person, to examine the influence of motivational and social demands on feedback processing in ASD. High-density electroencephalogram recordings were collected from 38 youth with ASD and 31 control participants similar on age and IQ while they observed a confederate performing a modified Eriksen Flanker task. Participants were instructed to count the confederate's errors and were told that they would be awarded based on performance: the confederate would either earn points for the participant or herself. Both groups showed robust oFRN activity on traditional scalp-electrode waveforms and waveforms identified using temporospatial principal components analysis. Amplitude of oFRN did not differentiate groups. Results remained non-significant when comparing medicated to non-medicated participants. There were no significant correlations between oFRN amplitudes, autism symptom severity, and anxiety symptoms. Findings suggest that the social context of the task and motivational significance of the confederate's performance did not limit feedback processing in ASD. Future research in which the context is manipulated further is warranted to determine whether increased environmental complexity influences feedback processing in ASD.
Standpoint: On the ethics of research in a socially constructed reality

The emergence of hermeneutic perspectives which see humans as actors in a continuous effort of reality construction positions scholars as agents of their claims, fully responsible for their contribution to the reality they study.
Needle suspension procedure in pelvic prolapse: objective and subjective outcomes

Abstract Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the outcome of the needle suspension procedure (NSP) in a population with pelvic prolapse. A secondary goal was to evaluate patient satisfaction. Methods: All patients who underwent NSP between 1996 and 1998 and who underwent treatment from a resident or attending physician were included in this study. Data were collected from patient charts and structured mail or telephone surveys to assess subjective and objective cure. Objective cure of genuine stress incontinence (GSI) was defined as absence of urine leakage with moderate or strenuous activity. Subjective cure was defined by patient response to satisfaction questions. Results: 139 patients were identified as undergoing the NSP using CPT codes. Fifty-seven patients were excluded from analysis due to inadequate documentation, misreported information, or inability to contact the patient for follow-up. Eighty-two patients were included in final analysis. The objective cure rate was 66%. Sixty-eight percent of patients reported subjective cure. Eighty percent felt their symptoms were improved, and 10% felt their symptoms were worse following surgery. Fifty-eight percent would undergo the procedure again had they known the outcome and 30% would not. Twelve percent had no opinion. During the NSP, 72% of patients underwent anterior repair and 47% underwent posterior repair with 36% receiving vaginal hysterectomy. Conclusion: NSP has a moderately high objective and subjective cure rate in our patient population. In appropriate situations and with adequate counseling, NSP can be utilized for the treatment of GSI when the patient desires a vaginal approach to pelvic prolapse and incontinence.
Tests of Independence in Contingency Tables with Small Samples: A Comparison of Statistical Power

The chi-square test of independence is a frequently used nonparametric test. Although the Type I error estimates for small-sample chi-square statistics applied to 2 x 2 tables have been relatively thoroughly studied, the Type II error rate (or power) has not been as extensively investigated. Additionally, most of the previous research has been limited to 2 x 2 tables and has not been extended to tables of larger dimensions. The objectives of the present research were (a) to investigate the small-sample power of several statistical tests in 2 x 2 and 3 x 3 contingency tables, and (b) to examine the Type I error rates for these tests under studied conditions. Various marginal distributions, sample sizes, and effect sizes were examined.
Above-ground net primary productivity and nitrogen mineralization in a mixed mesophytic forest of eastern Kentucky

Abstract Above-ground net primary productivity (ANPP) and potential nitrogen (N) mineralization were measured in four forest types along a soil fertility gradient in eastern Kentucky to test the hypothesis that ANPP in the mixed mesophytic forest region is related to both species composition and mineralizable N. N mineralization differed significantly among the four forest types, with the lowest values occurring on sites containing oak forest and the highest rates occurring on sites containing a mixed mesophytic forest. However, ANPP did not differ among forest types, and was unrelated to mineralizable N. ANPP averaged 6306 kg ha −1 year −1 , of which 56% was woody production and 44% was above-ground litter production. The poor relationship between ANPP and site fertility may reflect differential patterns of nutrient use efficiency among the deciduous species which make up the vegetation gradients of eastern Kentucky.
Dynamic performance improvement of bidirectional battery chargers using predictive current control

This paper presents dynamic performance improvement of the bidirectional battery chargers using predictive current control. The proposed controller is designed using the small signal analyses and derived transfer functions considering the equivalent battery circuit to extend an effective operational range for wide input voltage variations via or from wide battery voltage variations. With analytical modeling and control, the proposed controller achieved over the wide input voltage and load current range. For validation, the converter showed better and fast performance in both steady state and transient state than conventional linear control methods. Simulation demonstrates the effectiveness of the proposed PPC.
Managing genetic diversity in a tree improvement program

Abstract Maintenance of species and within-species diversity is a goal of the USDA Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Region, which is examining and monitoring the genetic effects of silvicultural activities using isozyme analysis in conjunction with traditional methods. An effective monitoring and evaluation program will help improve silvicultural practices. Regional policies on gene conservation focus mainly on artificial regeneration. Tree improvement, nursery, and reforestation activities in the PSW Region may significantly affect adaptability, genetic diversity, and economic timber traits. The Base-Level Tree Improvement Program (TIP) aims for: (1) high adaptability via use of native species and local wild seed; (2) high within-species genetic diversity via designs for sampling several local seedstands and via long-term plans for improvement using simple recurrent selection and bulking among the seed-production-area plantations; and (3) moderate improvement in performance via mild selection for superior phenotypes. The ceiling on genetic diversity is established by the seed collected. Nursery and reforestation practices may result in some loss of original (seed collection) diversity. Nursery practices aim to maximize plantable seedlings per unit of seed and thereby preserve diversity through sound management. Reforestation practices aim to achieve high local diversity by mixing appropriate species at planting, allowing natural regeneration to established in plantations, encouraging high survival and using higher planting densities so that natural selection can operate effectively. The High-Level TIP involving selective breeding and orchards will supplant the wild collections for major species and productive sites. Orchard seed will have a base of 50–60 unrelated, interbreeding parents, each representing a separate stand. Cooperative programs will enhance the genetic base by providing a broad range of material for breeding. New genes may be infused into breeding populations from material selected in natural forest reserves to increase diversity. Production plantations will be genetically more diverse that naturally regenerated stands.
Improving safety of aircraft engines: a consortium approach

With over seven million departures per year, air transportation has become not a luxury, but a standard mode of transportation for the United States. A critical aspect of modern air transport is the jet engine, a complex engineered component that has enabled the rapid travel to which we have all become accustomed. One of the enabling technologies for safe air travel is nondestructive evaluation, or NDE, which includes various inspection techniques used to assess the health or integrity of a structure, component, or material. The Engine Titanium Consortium (ETC) was established in 1993 to respond to recommendations made by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Titanium Rotating Components Review Team (TRCRT) for improvements in inspection of engine titanium. Several recent accomplishments of the ETC are detailed in this paper. The objective of the Engine Titanium Consortium is to provide the FAAand the manufacturers with reliable and costeffective new methods and/or improvements in mature methods for detecting cracks, inclusions, and imperfections in titanium. The consortium consists of a team of researchers from academia and industry-namely, Iowa State University, Allied Signal Propulsion Engines, General Electric Aircraft Engines, and Pratt & Whitney Engines-who work together to develop program priorities, organize a program plan, conduct the research, and implement the solutions. The true advantage of the consortium approach is that it brings together the research talents of academia and the engineering talents of industry to tackle a technology-base problem. In bringing industrial competitors together, the consortium ensures that the research results, which have safety implications and result from FAA funds, are shared and become part of the public domain.© (1996) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Kinetics and thermochemistry of amyl xanthate adsorption by pyrite and marcasite

Abstract The kinetics and thermochemistry of the xanthate adsorption reaction on pyrite and marcasite were evaluated with respect to the existing theory. The rate of xanthate adsorption was studied in a stirred reactor and the xanthate concentration was determined by UV spectrophotometry as a function of time. The heat of the adsorption reaction was measured with a microcalorimeter. The results from both experiments indicate that xanthate adsorption by pyrite or marcasite involves the formation of dixanthogen by an electrochemical reaction at the solid surface which supports the conclusions of other investigators: 1 2 O 2 (aq) = 1 2 O 2 (ad) 2X + 2H + + 1 2 O 2 → X 2 (ad) + H 2 O The rate of the adsorption reaction was found to be approximately one-half order with respect to the xanthate concentration and to have an activation energy of 7.5 kcal/mole. Additionally, the rate was found to have a slight dependence on pH under certain conditions. In view of these results, it appears that the adsorption reaction is controlled by electrochemical discharge at the pyrite surface. Analysis of the data in terms of an electrochemical kinetic model successfully explained the observed rate phenomena. The measured heat of the adsorption reaction at low pH was found to be between −63 and −56 kcal/mole of adsorbed dixanthogen and independent of surface coverage. These experimental heats of adsorption agree with the value of −57 kcal/mole of dixanthogen calculated for the oxidation of xanthate by oxygen from thermodynamic data reported in the literature.
Superconducting electron pair breaking in DHCP LA-EU and LA-GD☆

Abstract In metallic form Eu and Gd both have seven unpaired 4f electrons in an 8 S state; surprisingly, however, Eu impurities are only half as effective as Gd in lowering the superconducting transition temperature of dhcp La. This implies a much smaller 4f conduction electron coupling for Eu — a result which we show is in quantitative agreement with Dirac-Fock calculations.
Compressibility of Salts

AbstractThe mechanism of tablet compression of the chloride, bromide and iodide salts of sodium, potassium and ammonium was studied, by obtaining their force-displacement curves. The area under these curves, which represents the work done on the tableting mass during compaction, was calculated. The effect of duration of the compressive force, of applied pressure on tablet strength and of pressure on the relative volume for potassium bromide were also studied.
In vitro angiogenesis by human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) induced by three-dimensional co-culture with glioblastoma cells

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is one of the most highly vascularized of all human tumors. Our objective was to characterize a 3-dimensional (3-D) in vitro angiogenesis model by co-culturing HUVEC and GBM cells, and to study the role of VEGF in mediating capillary tubule formation in this model. HUVEC-coated dextran beads were suspended in fibrin gel with human glioma cells on top. The number of sprouts and the length of the processes were measured. HUVEC can be induced to form sprouts and longer processes with lumens, in co-culture with glioma cells that secrete VEGF. Addition of exogenous VEGF enhances this effect. In the absence of glioma cells, many single HUVEC migrate away from the beads, without significant tubule formation. Hypoxia further stimulated sprout formation by 50–100%. Anti-VEGF neutralizing antibody suppressed HUVEC sprouting by 75% in co-culture with glioma cells. This 3-D in vitro co-culture system provides a robust and useful model for analysis of the major steps of glioma-induced angiogenesis.
Optical Dating of Holocene Dune Sands in the Ferris Dune Field, Wyoming

Optical dating of late Quaternary quartz dune sands from the Clear Creek portion of Ferris dune field, Wyoming, demonstrates the considerable potential of the technique as a chronostratigraphic tool. A sequence of radiocarbon-dated Holocene interdune strata permit optical dating of the intercalated dune sand to be tested; the concordance is good. The optical dates for the aeolian deposits not datable by radiocarbon suggest that aeolian sedimentation at Clear Creek peaked during two relatively short phases at ca. 8500 and 4000 yr B.P. The dates indicate that aeolian accumulation maxima (at least in the Clear Creek area) may not be synchronous with previously defined phases of marked aridity.
Gene Dosage at the Lactate Dehydrogenase b Locus in Triploid and Diploid Teiid Lizards

Triploid parthenogenetic lizards which are heterozygous at the lactate dehydrogenase b locus show approximately two doses of the b allele and approximately one dose of the b' allele. This finding agrees with the triploid karyotype composed of two haploid complements of chromosomes indistinguishable from those of species carrying the b allele and one complement indistinguishable from that of the species which carries the b' allele. Densitometry of electrophoretic patterns of lactate dehydrogenase from heart muscle and from kidney indicates approximately equal expression of each of the b alleles in the triploid lizards. Heterozygouis diploid lizards from the same parthenogenetic species, in agreement with their karyotype, show equal doses of b and b' alleles.
What's going on in the cell?

Molecular Cell Biology. By James Darnell, Harvey Lodish and David Baltimore. W.H. Freeman: 1986. Pp. 1,187. Hbk 42.95, 42.95; pbk 19.95.
Major depressive disorder: mechanism-based prescribing for personalized medicine.

Individual patients with depression present with unique symptom clusters – before, during, and even after treatment. The prevalence of persistent, unresolved symptoms and their contribution to patient functioning and disease progression emphasize the importance of finding the right treatment choice at the onset and the utility of switching medications based on suboptimal responses. Our primary goal as clinicians is to improve patient function and quality of life. In fact, feelings of well-being and the return to premorbid levels of functioning are frequently rated by patients as being more important than symptom relief. However, functional improvements often lag behind resolution of mood, attributed in large part to persistent and functionally impairing symptoms – namely, fatigue, sleep/wake disturbance, and cognitive dysfunction. Thus, patient outcomes can be optimized by deconstructing each patient’s depressive profile to its component symptoms and specifically targeting those domains that differentially limit patient function. This article will provide an evidence-based framework within which clinicians may tailor pharmacotherapy to patient symptomatology for improved treatment outcomes.
The effects of statistical training on choice heuristics in choice under uncertainty

Kahneman and Tversky (1984) proposed that decision makers perceive choice uncertainty in two ways: (1) as a distribution of possible outcomes or (2) as a single uncertain outcome. Using statistical training as a factor that influences these perceptions, and thus the type of decision approach individuals use, we found that individuals with different levels of experience displayed differences in the decisions they made and in the choice heuristics used to make those decisions. Statistically naive individuals were more likely to prefer loss-minimizing alternatives, use a more non-compensatory heuristic, and spend more time on loss-related information than their statistically experienced counterparts. When a distributional cue, indicating the distributional nature of choice outcomes, was presented to both experience groups, the naive group was found to use a decision approach similar to the experienced group and to make similar decisions. The results are discussed in terms of the need to include factors that alter individuals' approaches to uncertainty in future behavioral models of uncertain choice.
An N-acyl homolog of mycothiol is produced in marine actinomycetes.

Marine actinomycetes have generated much recent interest as a potentially valuable source of novel antibiotics. Like terrestrial actinomycetes the marine actinomycetes are shown here to produce mycothiol as their protective thiol. However, a novel thiol, U25, was produced by MAR2 strain CNQ703 upon progression into stationary phase when secondary metabolite production occurred and became the dominant thiol. MSH and U25 were maintained in a reduced state during early stationary phase, but become significantly oxidized after 10 days in culture. Isolation and structural analysis of the monobromobimane derivative identified U25 as a homolog of mycothiol in which the acetyl group attached to the nitrogen of cysteine is replaced by a propionyl residue. This N-propionyl-desacetyl-mycothiol was present in 13 of the 17 strains of marine actinomycetes examined, including five strains of Salinispora and representatives of the MAR2, MAR3, MAR4 and MAR6 groups. Mycothiol and its precursor, the pseudodisaccharide 1-O-(2-amino-2-deoxy-α-d-glucopyranosyl)-d-myo-inositol, were found in all strains. High levels of mycothiol S-conjugate amidase activity, a key enzyme in mycothiol-dependent detoxification, were found in most strains. The results demonstrate that major thiol/disulfide changes accompany secondary metabolite production and suggest that mycothiol-dependent detoxification is important at this developmental stage.
Racializing language: A history of linguistic ideologies in the US Census

This article builds on research on institutional language policies and practices, and on studies of the legitimization of racial categories in census data collection, in an exploration of language ideologies in the US Census. It traces the changes in language-related questions in the two centuries of decennial surveys, contextualizing them within a discussion of changing policies and patterns of immigration and nativism, as well as evolving hegemonic notions of race. It is argued that the US Census has historically used language as an index of race and as a means to racialize speakers of languages other than English, constructing them as essentially different and threatening to US cultural and national identity.
Inflation and non-minimal supergravity

Abstract Inflation based on a single chiral superfield (the inflaton) in N = 1 supergravity has been shown to be incompatible with the so-called thermal constraint requiring a high temperature minimum at a point at which the zero-temperature scalar potential is flat, in a theory using fields with minimal scalar kinetic terms. Here we show that by modifying the kinetic terms of the inflaton, one can satisfy the thermal constraint without introducing additional fields or small parameters.
Privatization, governance, and survival: MNE investments in private participation projects in emerging economies

Abstract Multinational enterprises (MNEs) investing in infrastructure privatization projects in emerging economies – often known as private participation projects – face both market-based and nonmarket-based competition simultaneously. Integrating transaction cost economics, bargaining model, and the institution-based view, we examine the bargaining process between MNEs and host governments. Leveraging data from 113 emerging economies, we find that the survival of MNE investments is dependent on the bargaining outcomes between MNE and host governments around investment location, governance structure, and host governments’ ownership of the private participation projects.
Convective plumes and the scarcity of Titan's clouds

[1] We show that simple thermodynamic models of convective plumes predict the area fraction of convective plumes (i.e., updrafts) in Titan's atmosphere to be ∼12 smaller than on Earth. This result is in agreement with predictions by sophisticated dynamical models and with the relative tropospheric cloud cover, which is only ∼1% on Titan. Rainstorms on Titan, being so rare, may be violent.
Lubricant bonding, chemical structure, and additive effects on tribological performances at head-disk interfaces

The lubricant film for head/disk application consists of bonded fraction and unbonded (mobile) fraction. It is well known that the mobile fraction of the lubricant film can replenish the surface sites where the lubricant film was depleted, thus, the surface wear is postponed or alleviated. With a continuous decrease in the head disk spacing, however, too much mobile fraction of lubricant may cause head slider lubricant pick-up, and deteriorate the interface. Two perfluoropolyether (PFPE) lubricants of Z-tetraol and Z-DOL are discussed in this paper. Lubricant Z-tetraol is characteristic of stronger bonding to a carbon overcoat, lower vapor pressure, and higher thermal stability but less mobility than Z-DOL. It is found that, for CSS (contact-start-stop) durability, the interfaces with Z-tetraol show no worse in performance than those with Z-DOL, and less head slider lubricant pick-up on those with Z-tetraol. Based on the above-mentioned, it is possible that the interfaces relying more on the lubricant bonding strength and chemical structure stability are more beneficial to tribological performances than those relying more on the lubricant replenishment. The effects of lubricant additive X1P mixed to Z-tetraol, and Z-DOL, respectively are also studied on tribological performances. Stiction, CSS durability, and head slider lubricant pick-up are discussed among lubricants Z-tetraol, Z-DOL, Z-tetraol/X1P and Z-DOL/X1P. Statistical t-test, F-test, and Weibull analyses are applied to CSS data to differentiate CSS durability performances. Additive X1P is found to enhance CSS durability for both lubricants. Lubricant Z-tetraol/X1P is recommended for the best tribological performances, followed by Z-DOL/X1P, Z-tetraol, and Z-DOL.
Correlates of Selection in the Presidential Management Internship Program

The Presidential Management Internship Program (PMIP) was established in an effort to attract young individuals to the federal service. Since its creation, few studies have examined the characteristics of the interns selected for the program. This study investigates not only the intern characteristics but also the institutions that nominated them. Two findings are of particular interest. First, because few minorities are nominated for PMIP, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) should continue to take measures to attract minorities to the PMI program. Second, the study found that a few programs/schools dominate the PMI program. This therefore suggests that OPM should continue to reach out to graduate programs that do not have a history of involvement with PMIP.
Isosexual pair housing improves the welfare of young Amazon parrots

It has been suggested that isolation from conspecifics may contribute to the development of abnormal behaviors that are common in captive parrots, including stereotypy, feather plucking, excessive fearfulness and aggression (e.g. [Proceedings of the European Symposium on Bird Diseases, Beerse, Belgium (1987), p. 98; Kleintierpraxis 38 (1993) 511]). Thus, we assessed the influence of isosexual pair housing on the development of these behaviors, as well as the incidence of illness and injury, in young Orange-winged Amazon parrots (Amazona amazonica). Parrots (n=21) were parent raised to 6 months of age and then housed either singly or in isosexual pairs. All cages included inanimate enrichments that were changed regularly, and all parrots were handled regularly. Behavioral activity was recorded 0,3,6,9 and 12 months after the parrots were housed in the experimental cages, and responses (e.g. willingness to approach, tolerance to touch, flight distance) to familiar and strange human handlers and to novel objects introduced into the home cage were recorded periodically. Paired parrots used their enrichments more (GLM: F1,10=13.74; P=0.004), and spent less time screaming (F1,10=4.90; P=0.051), less time preening (F1,10=5.12; P=0.047), and less time inactive (F1,10=9.24; P<0.012) than singly housed parrots. Time spent climbing, walking and flying decreased in both groups during the study, but the decrease was greater in the singly housed parrots (F1,54=4.50; P=0.038). None of the paired parrots developed stereotypy by month 12, while 57% of the singly housed parrots did. Responses to familiar handlers did not differ, but paired parrots responded increasingly significantly less fearfully and aggressively to unfamiliar handlers during the study than did singly housed parrots (F1,54=6.37; P=0.015). Latency to approach novel objects was significantly reduced in the paired group when the two birds were tested together (F2,15=7.69; P=0.005). No parrots in the single group sustained injuries while 21% of the parrots in the paired condition experienced injuries, although none of these could be directly linked to intra-pair aggression. Rates of illness did not differ between the two groups. Isosexual pair housing resulted in a more active and diverse behavioral repertoire, eliminated the development of stereotypy and reduced fear responses to novel objects without imparting significant risk of illness and injury or jeopardizing the ability of parrots to relate positively with humans. Thus, it appears that pair housing can significantly improve environmental quality and positively affect the welfare of captive parrots.
The glucagonoma syndrome: clinical features, diagnosis, and treatment.

Islet cell tumors of the pancreas have been described for over 50 yr. Although carcinoma arising from islet tissue had been noted since the turn of the century (1), not until 1927 was the first case of a hormonally active pancreatic neoplasm, an insulinoma, recorded (2). For many years thereafter, pancreatic endocrine tumors were characterized as either insulin-producing or “nonfunctional,” the latter being derived from cells apparently devoid of clinically significant hormonal activity. With time, however, other islet cell secretory products were discovered and their tumors identified with various clinical syndromes. Whereas the hypoglycemia of insulinomas and hyperacidity of gastrinomas figured prominently in the initial recognition of these neoplasms, the clinical signs of glucagon-producing tumors were less readily apparent and not as easily attributable to specific hormone excess. Becker and co-workers (3) are credited with the first description of a glucagonoma. Their case, reported in 1947 but diag...
Mechanical characterization of adult stem cells from bone marrow and perivascular niches

Therapies using adult stem cells often require mechanical manipulation such as injection or incorporation into scaffolds. However, force-induced rupture and mechanosensitivity of cells during manipulation is largely ignored. Here, we image cell mechanical structures and perform a biophysical characterization of three different types of human adult stem cells: bone marrow CD34+ hematopoietic, bone marrow mesenchymal and perivascular mesenchymal stem cells. We use micropipette aspiration to characterize cell mechanics and quantify deformation of subcellular structures under force and its contribution to global cell deformation. Our results suggest that CD34+ cells are mechanically suitable for injection systems since cells transition from solid- to fluid-like at constant aspiration pressure, probably due to a poorly developed actin cytoskeleton. Conversely, mesenchymal stem cells from the bone marrow and perivascular niches are more suitable for seeding into biomaterial scaffolds since they are mechanically robust and have developed cytoskeletal structures that may allow cellular stable attachment and motility through solid porous environments. Among these, perivascular stem cells cultured in 6% oxygen show a developed cytoskeleton but a more compliant nucleus, which can facilitate the penetration into pores of tissues or scaffolds. We confirm the relevance of our measurements using cell motility and migration assays and measure survival of injected cells. Since different types of adult stem cells can be used for similar applications, we suggest considering mechanical properties of stem cells to match optimal mechanical characteristics of therapies.
A Path Analysis of Gender Differences in Adolescent Onset of Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drug Use(ATOD), Reported ATOD Use and Adverse Consequences of ATOD Use

Gender differences in the ways a risk factor approach explains onset of using alcohol, tobacco and other drugs (ATOD), reported use of ATOD and adverse consequences from ATOD use were investigated by means of separate path analyses for male and female adolescents. A fully recursive model was specified in which alienation, trait anger, interaction anxiety and cognitive motivation for ATOD use comprised the first column variables which were used to predict earliness of onset. For the second step, column one variables plus onset were used to predict ATOD use. In the final step, column one variables plus onset and ATOD use were used to predict adverse consequences of ATOD use. An ex post facto design was used in surveying 796 high school students in a single Midwestern community. The data from this sample supported the predictive validity of the theoretical model. In addition to the expected indirect or mediated effects of the risk factors via onset of ATOD use on ATOD use and via onset and ATOD use on adverse consequences of ATOD use, there were direct effects of column on risk factors on both ATOD use and on adverse consequences of ATOD use for both males and females, lending support to the concept of multiple pathway risk factors. The three gender differences that emerged in the separate path analyses were entirely consistent with the gendered deviance model.
If direct-to-consumer advertisements come to Europe: lessons from the USA

704 www.thelancet.com Vol 369 February 24, 2007 The appearance of racialised drugs on pharmacists’ shelves only increases the need to attend to the myriad social sources of disparities in morbidity and mortality. Although to turn a profi t from fi ghting racial discrimination is diffi cult, eff ective medical care demands continued awareness of the complex social dimensions of diseases, such as hypertension and cancer.
UPTAKE OF α‐METHYL‐D‐GLUCOSIDE BY SYNAPTOSOMES FROM RAT BRAIN

Influx of α-methylglucoside into synaptosomes prepared by differential and Ficoll density gradient centrifugation was studied to determine whether this sugar could be used as a model for glucose transport in nerve endings. The rate of uptake of a-methylglucoside was linear over a wide range of substrate concentrations. Influx was only slightly inhibited (12–15%) in the presence of glucose, 2-deoxyglncose, phloretin and 2,4-dinitrophenol and was unaffected by galactose or phlorizin. Conver- sion of a-methylglucoside to phosphorylated intermediates in synaptosomes was negligible. The data are consislent with the influx of a-methylglucoside being primarily a diffusion process or being mediated by a system with an extremely high Km. However, it is possible that a small portion of the sugar may be transported by the low affinity glucose transport system. The results indicate that a-methylgluco- side is not a good model for glucose transport in synaptosomes as it is in other tissues.
Decision Making in Elderly Patients with Advanced Kidney Disease

Because the fastest-growing group of patients undergoing dialysis is older than 75 years, geriatricians will be more involved in decisions regarding the appropriate treatment of end-stage renal disease. A thoughtful approach to shared decision making regarding dialysis or nondialysis medical therapy (NDMT) includes consideration of medical indications, patient preferences, quality of life, and contextual features. Determination of prognosis and expected performance on dialysis based on disease trajectories and assessment of functional age should be shared with patients and families. The Renal Physician Association�s guidelines on shared decision making in dialysis offer recommendations to help with dialysis or NDMT decisions.
Differentiation of deception using pupillary responses as an index of cognitive processing

The deception literature has predominantly focused on detection of guilty individuals using electrodermal measures. Little research has examined other psychophysiological measures or the mechanisms underlying deception. Therefore, the present study examined pupillary responses in a differentiation-of-deception paradigm. Twenty-four undergraduate participants answered the same questions twice, once truthfully and once deceptively, while pupillary responses were recorded. Questions were based on recently learned (episodic) information from scenarios or on general (semantic) knowledge from long-term memory. Task-evoked pupil dilation was significantly greater when participants confabulated responses than when they told the truth for both episodic and semantic memory questions. Previous research has demonstrated that pupil size increases with increased cognitive processing load. The present study suggested that generating deceptive recall was associated with increased pupil size and required greater cognitive processing than truthful recall.
Performance Enhancement of Crumb Rubber-Modified Asphalts Through Control of the Developed Internal Network Structure

Control of the internal network structure of crumb rubber-modified asphalt (CRMA) was investigated for its effect on property development in the study presented in this paper. The investigation included evaluation by rheological and interrupted shear tests. Rheological testing involved the monitoring of the changes of the produced complex modulus (G*) and phase angle (δ) for CRMA. In the interrupted shear tests, the shear stress profile for the produced CRMA was investigated. It was found that triggering the critical conditions of the combined interaction of speed, temperature, and time was essential to inducing the formation of the three-dimensional network structure within CRMA. Such triggering conditions played an important role in the swelling, dissolution, and release of crumb rubber modifier components into the asphalt liquid phase. Gel permeation chromatography was used to characterize the nature of modifications that led to the occurrence of a three-dimensional network structure within the produce...
Privacy preserving data mining with unidirectional interaction

Privacy concerns over the ever-increasing gathering of personal information by various institutions led to the development of privacy preserving data mining. Two main approaches to privacy preserving data mining have emerged in recent years. The first approach protects the privacy of the data by perturbing the data through a random process. The second approach uses cryptographic techniques to perform secure multi-party computation. While the second approach is generally viewed as superior due to its strong assurance of privacy, there are reasons why it might not be appropriate in certain applications. For instance, in some cases, the data collection phase usually does not allow for complicated processing, such as ballots cast via the short message service. In other cases, such as paper surveys, the data flow is unidirectional from the survey taker to the survey collector. The requested data is sent once with no further interaction. In both these cases, the complicated computations and iterative interaction between data originators and data collectors that are required for secure multi-party computation cannot be used. We show how, in these cases, random perturbation of data can be a useful approach to privacy preserving data mining. In particular, we study a data perturbation scheme which was shown to have asymptotically small privacy loss and information loss. We illustrate the ideas using an example of a privacy preserving paper-based survey where no computation is done by the users. Finally, we apply this method to privacy preserving association rules mining.
Design of a memory-efficient IIR filter bank with application to subband coding of image and video signals

An efficient IIR PR tree-structured filter bank for HDTV and video signal coding is investigated. Both the arithmetic complexity and the internal chip memory required for the decoder are considerably lower than those of existing FIR synthesis filter banks, while it provides comparable coding performance. Using modern CMOS technology, it is feasible to build the entire decoder on a single chip, thereby facilitating applications such as real-time decoding of compressed HDTV and video signals.
A multisectoral model of a small, open economy with non-shiftable capital and imperfect labor mobility

Abstract We report a model designed for the study of a less-developed economy whose labor force is composed of distinct ethnic or regional groups. The model is useful for the study of both positive and normative questions and offers a synthesis of some recent work in development and trade theory.