cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Reflection spectra of shocked ordinary chondrites and their relationship to asteroids

Spectral reflectance measurements are conducted of a number of mineralogically well-characterized, shock-blackened ordinary chondrites exhibiting four types of shock-generated black features: (1) opaque melt shock veins, (2) melt pockets and irregular interconnected melt veins, (3) melt dikes, and (4) black chondrites. While their spectra resemble those of C asteroids, these materials are found in impact crater basements and floors rather than surfaces and are of low abundances; they therefore cannot be responsible for large-scale spectral alterations of the parent asteroids of ordinary chondrites, and offer no support for the supposition that ordinary chondrite asteroids are hidden among C asteroids.
Fetal heart rate patterns during labor: Neurologic and cognitive development at six to nine years of age

The development of 50 children relative to the fetal heart rate patterns they demonstrated during labor and delivery was prospectively studied. Normal deceleration patterns were recorded for 12 of the children, while 16 were recorded as moderately severe and 22 as severe variable or late deceleration patterns. The parity and socioeconomic status of the mothers and the sexes of the infants were similar among the groups. A statistically significant developmental difference in favor of children with normal fetal heart rate patterns was seen in the first year of life. However, at 6 to 9 years of age the difference in neurologic and cognitive development was no longer evident. These data do not support the hypothesis that brief abnormal fetal heart rate patterns recorded during labor are indicative of irreversible central nervous system injury.
Evaluation of theories and calculation tools in ecology

Abstract The concept of validation is inappropriate for the evaluation of ecological models. Classification of models into logical, theoretical, and calculation tool (predictive) types provides a sounder basis for choosing an evaluation technique. The dangers of model “tuning” are presented.
Multimedia learning: Cognitive individual differences and display design techniques predict transfer learning with multimedia learning modules

In the wake of the information explosion and rapidly progressing technology [Mayer, R. E. (2001). Multimedia learning. Cambridge: University Press] formulated a theory that focused on human cognition, rather than technology capacity and features. By measuring the effect of cognitive individual differences and display design manipulations on performance, the current research evaluates the impact of multimedia combinations on college student transfer test performance. Results indicated that multimedia combination accounted for variance in transfer test scores beyond the impact of relevant cognitive individual differences. Findings demonstrated that text positioning and motion distraction accounted for the inferiority of transfer test performance in certain multimedia conditions. Research yields support for the notion that display design can split attention, increase cognitive load, and reduce transfer learning. Key design principles must be evaluated further before prescriptive guidelines for educational multimedia can be solidified.
Heterocyclic inhibitors of human leukocyte elastase: 3-Hydroxypyridazopyrimidine, 3-hydroxypyridopyrimidine and 3-hydroxyquinazoline-2,4-1H,3H0dione derivatives

Abstract Several heterocyclic compounds derived from 3-hydroxypyridazopyrimidine-(I), 3-hydroxypyridopyrimidine-(II) and 3-hydroxyquinazoline-2,4(1H,3H)diones-(III) have been found to be time-dependent irreversible inhibitors of human leukocyte elastase.
From the Editor: Epistemology, Methodology, and the Many Ways of Knowing

Gregory Bateson (1972, 1979) was instrumental in introducing into the behavioral sciences a focus on epistemology. Examining the general question regarding how we come to know what we know, Bateson also used the term more specifically to refer to the personal worldview or framework according to which each person operates. The latter use is the one with which we marriage and family therapists (MFTs) tend to be particularly concerned as we reflect on our influence on clients and also attempt to understand where they are coming from. At the same time, it often becomes important to consider the general meaning of the term. According to the Oxford English Dictionary (OED, on-line), epistemology refers to the theory or science of the method or grounds of knowledge and answers the general question ‘‘What is Knowing and the Known?’’ or more shortly, ‘‘What is Knowledge?’’ In any professional field, such questions are likely to lead to a consideration of methodology. The OED defines methodology as referring originally to ‘‘the branch of knowledge that deals with method generally or with the methods of a particular discipline or field of study.’’ In subsequent usage the term also has come to refer to, ‘‘the study of the direction and implications of empirical research, or of the suitability of the techniques employed in it; (more generally) a method or body of methods used in a particular field of study or activity.’’ In addition to the particular areas of study described in the following pages, this issue also provides an opportunity to consider both the suitability of the techniques employed by researchers and the body of methods used in the MFT field to enhance our knowledge. Heather Ramey’s article, ‘‘Modernism, Postmodernism and (Evidence-Based) Practice’’ offers food for thought regarding the use of various methodologies and their consistency with a particular epistemology. Moving from the more theoretical to the empirical, the next three articles describe the process and outcomes of research using a qualitative methodology. Ronald Chenail, Cynthia Somers, and Joy Benjamin outline their findings from
A simple theory for the propagation of film detonations

Detonation propagation velocity through tubes with walls coated with thin fuel film, using turbulent boundary layer theory
Desmoplakin I and II in acantholytic dermatoses: Preservation in pemphigus vulgaris and pemphigus erythematosus and dissolution in Hailey-Hailey's disease and Darier's disease

Abstract Desmoplakin I and II are important components of the attachment plaque of the desmosome which mediates cell to cell adhesion, in epithelial cells. In this study we used well-characterized antibody against desmoplakin I and II immunohistochemically and immunoelectron microscopically on two cases of pemphigus vulgaris and one case of pemphigus erythematosus and two cases each of Hailey-Hailey's disease and Darier's disease. In the normal human epidermis the desmosomes were demonstrated in a dotted pattern along cell periphery. In pemphigus vulgaris and pemphigus erythematosus acantholytic cells and the perilesional cells exhibited normal dotted pattern along the cell periphery. In Hailey-Hailey's disease and Darier's disease, the dotted pattern in lost in acantholysed and perilesional areas and anti-desmoplakin I + II positive proteins were observed diffusely in the cytoplasm. Immunoelectron microscopical findings correspond to these light microscopical observations. It is concluded that in autoimmune acantholytic disease such as pemphigus vulgaris and pemphigus erythematosus, desmoplakins are intact even in acantholytic cells, whereas in genodermatoses such as Hailey-Hailey's disease and Darier's disease primary or secondary abnormalities of desmosomes may be involved in their pathogenesis.
SUBCORTICAL APHASIA AND THE PROBLEM OF ATTRIBUTING FUNCTIONAL RESPONSIBILITY TO PARTS OF DISTRIBUTED BRAIN PROCESSES

N&C's discussion is, in places, an exemplar of the sort of rigor and attention to detail that will bring us closer to an understanding of the functional organization of the brain. Indeed, it is this level of work that pushes us to reflect on the assumptions that undergird our research efforts. Our criticisms have developed four main points. First, the level of rigor applied to the consideration of basal ganglionic aphasia should extend to each application of the CPC method (thalamic aphasia included). Second, in our haste to identify specific brain systems with distinct cognitive functions we should not neglect the more basic question of the causal mechanisms by which the brain organizes behavior. Questions of "direct" versus "indirect" involvement of a particular organ in a cognitive function are only likely to distract our attention from this more basic and less inferentially perilous issue. Third, pure cases should no longer be considered touchstones against which all behavioral disturbances are measured. Reifying such ideals is more likely to shroud than reveal the brain's true complexity. Finally, the functions that we enshrine in particular brain regions should explain the particular character of the symptoms observed when they are damaged and should admit of independent verification.
Concurrent validity of the Berg Balance Scale and the Dynamic Gait Index in people with vestibular dysfunction

Background and Purpose The Berg Balance Scale is a reliable and valid measure that is used to assess characteristics of balance. The Dynamic Gait Index is a relatively new measure that has been used to record dynamic gait tasks in people with vestibular dysfunction. The purpose of the present study was to determine the concurrent validity of the Dynamic Gait Index with the Berg Balance Scale in people with vestibular disorders. Method A retrospective review of the charts of people who met the criteria of having completed both the Berg Balance Scale and the Dynamic Gait Index during their first physiotherapy visit. Seventy patients (19 male, 51 female) were identified through the retrospective review of the charts of people referred for vestibular rehabilitation with varying diagnoses of vestibular and balance dysfunction. All were seen at a tertiary medical centre in an outpatient physiotherapy setting. Their age range was from 14 to 88 years (mean 65 years). Results Correlation between the scores on the Dynamic Gait Index and the Berg Balance Scale was moderate but significant by use of the Spearman rank order correlation (r = 0.71; p<01). No difference was found between scores on the Dynamic Gait Index or Berg Balance Scale based on gender or diagnosis. A significant difference was identified on the Berg Balance Scale between older and younger people with vestibular disorders. Using previously established criteria to determine increased risk of falling, the Berg Balance Scale and the Dynamic Gait Index agreed 63% of the time. Conclusions The moderate correlation between the Dynamic Gait Index and the Berg Balance Scale establishes the concurrent validity of the Dynamic Gait Index in people with vestibular dysfunction. Both these measures provide valuable information to clinicians about patients' functional balance capabilities. However, the lack of perfect correlation indicates that the tests measure different aspects of balance. The Dynamic Gait Index appears to be a more sensitive assessment tool in identifying people with vestibular disorders who are at increased risk for falling, based on currently published criteria. Copyright © 2003 Whurr Publishers Ltd.
RPC electrode material study

Various aspects of RPC electrode material, such as surface smoothness, surface UV sensitivity and its resistance to HF attack, have been studied. Based on these studies we can direct our R&D effort to some of the most critical issues related to RPC performance and aging.
Shear Stress Regulates the Flk-1/Cbl/PI3K/NF-κB Pathway Via Actin and Tyrosine Kinases

Vascular endothelial cells (ECs) are continuously exposed to mechanical stimuli (e.g., shear stress). Our previous study has shown that the shear-induced nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) activation is mediated by integrins [Bhullar, I. S., Y. S. Li, H. Miao, E. Zandi, M. Kim, et al. J. Biol. Chem. 273:30544–30549, 1998]. The shear-activated integrins can also transactivate Flk-1 (a receptor for vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)) [Wang, Y., H. Miao, S. Li, K. D. Chen, Y. S. Li, et al. Am. J. Physiol. Cell Physiol. 283:C1540–C1547, 2002], which subsequently recruits Casitas B-lineage lymphoma (Cbl) to regulate inhibitor of κB protein kinase (IKK) [Wang, Y., J. Chang, Y. C. Li, Y. S. Li, J. Y. Shyy, and S. Chien. Am. J. Physiol. Heart Circ. Physiol. 286:H685–H692, 2004], an upstream molecule of NF-κB. Therefore, shear stress may likely utilize the Flk-1/Cbl pathway in regulating NF-κB. In this paper, we confirmed that the inhibition of Flk-1 by its specific inhibitor SU1498 blocked the shear-induced NF-κB translocation. The inhibition of Cbl (an adaptor protein which binds to Flk-1 upon shear) by using a negative mutant (Cblnm) also blocked the promoter activity of NF-κB, and the inhibition of the Cbl-downstream molecule phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K) abolished the NF-κB translocation. Further experiments revealed that the disruption of actin cytoskeleton inhibited the Flk-1 and Cbl interaction and NF-κB translocation. The inhibition of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and Src family kinases, which are involved in the integrin-mediated focal adhesion complex, also blocked the shear-induced NF-κB translocation. Together with our previous findings that integrins mediate the shear-induced activation of Flk-1 and NF-κB [Bhullar, I. S., Y. S. Li, H. Miao, E. Zandi, M. Kim, et al. J. Biol. Chem. 273:30544–30549, 1998; Wang, Y., H. Miao, S. Li, K. D. Chen, Y. S. Li, et al. Am. J. Physiol. Cell Physiol. 283:C1540–C1547, 2002], the present results suggest that Flk-1, Cbl, and PI3K act upstream to NF-κB in response to shear stress. This Flk-1/Cbl/PI3K/NF-κB signaling pathway may be originated from integrins and transmitted by key tyrosine kinases and actin cytoskeleton. These results shed new lights on the molecular mechanism by which mechanical shear stress activates the NF-κB signaling pathway, which is critical for vascular inflammatory responses and atherosclerosis.
The distribution of 5-bromodeoxyuridine in the DNA of polyoma-transformed mouse cells and some apparent effects on transcription

Abstract The DNA of polyoma-transformed mouse cells grown in the presence of 5-bromodeoxyuridine (BUdR) was examined in neutral and alkaline CsCl gradients. All of the cells had incorporated BUdR into their DNA and no distinct classes of different degrees of substitution were observed. The reassociation kinetics of DNA containing tritiated BUdR demonstrated that the analog did not preferentially replace thymidine in either the repetitive or non-repetitive sequences. RNA-DNA saturation hybridization experiments using RNA extracted from cells grown in medium containing BUdR revealed an apparent reduction in the extent of non-repetitive DNA transcription compared with untreated control cells. The degree to which regulatory genes, as opposed to structural genes, is involved in this decrease cannot be determined from these data.
E-Priming the Listener: Sensitizing Students to Listening for Verbal Aggression.

This paper argues that the concept of E-Prime (E′) holds practical benefits to effective listening for students of interpersonal communication. In advancing this argument, the paper includes a concise review of relevant literature on E-Prime, defensiveness, and conflict, with particular emphasis on verbal aggression. The literature demonstrates that traditional imperatives to reduce listener defensiveness need careful consideration. In fact, offering unqualified assertions for listeners to reduce defensiveness may place students at undue risk for harm. This paper reviews pedagogical uses of E-Prime in interpersonal communication courses.
OLED displays in military applications

Application of OLED displays in military applications could have a significant long-term impact for future warfighters in the form of size, weight, power, and usability. This paper provides an overview of some preliminary prototyping work performed under contract with the United States Displays Consortium and an overview of the performance testing performed.
Signature analysis for board testing

A signature analyser detects and displays the unique digital signatures associated with the data nodes in a circuit under text. By comparing these actual signatures with the correct ones, faulty nodes can be detected. The technical details of a practical signature analyser for use in production are presented and its application to the testing of complex printed circuit boards incorporating l.s.i. devices, such as memories and microprocessors, is described.
Editing Strategies and Error Correction in Basic Writing

Two studies investigated the editing strategies used by college basic writing (BW) students as they went about correcting sentence-level errors in controlled editing tasks. One study involved simple word processing, and a second involved an interactive editor that supplemented the word-processing program, giving students feedback on their correction attempts and helping them focus on the errors. In both studies BW students showed two clearly different editing strategies, a consulting strategy in which grammatical rules were consulted and an intuiting strategy in which the sound of the text was assessed for “goodness” in a rather naturalistic way. Students consistently used their intuiting strategies more effectively; however, errors requiring consulting strategies showed a larger improvement after intervention by the interactive editor. Cognitive implications of the editing strategies are discussed in terms of the requisite knowledge involved in successful application of each strategy.
Loss of Cholinergic and Dopaminergic Amacrine Cells in Streptozotocin-Diabetic Rat and Ins2Akita-Diabetic Mouse Retinas

PURPOSE. To identify amacrine cells that are vulnerable to degeneration during the early stages of diabetes. METHODS. Whole retinas from streptozotocin (STZ)-diabetic rats and Ins2 Akita mice were fixed in paraformaldehyde. Apoptotic cells in the retina were quantified using terminal dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) and active caspase-3 (CM-1) immunohistochemistry. Immunohistochemical markers for choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) and tyrosine hyroxylase (TH) were also used to quantify populations of amacrine cells in the Ins2 Akita mouse retinas. RESULTS. The number of TUNEL-positive nuclei increased from 29 ± 4 in controls to 72 ± 9 in the STZ-diabetic rat retinas after only 2 weeks of diabetes. In rats, CM-1-immunoreactive (IR) cells were found primarily in the inner nuclear and ganglion cell layers after 2, 8, and 16 weeks of diabetes. At each end point, the number of CM-1-IR cells in the retina was elevated by diabetes. Approximately 2% to 6% of the CM-1-IR cells in the inner nuclear layer (INL) were double-labeled for TH immunoreactivity. After 6 months of diabetes in the Ins2 Akita mouse, the morphology of the labeled ChAT-IR and TH-IR amacrine cell somas and dendrites appeared normal. A quantitative analysis revealed a 20% decrease in the number of cholinergic and a 16% decrease in dopaminergic amacrine cells in the diabetic mouse retinas, compared with the nondiabetic control. CONCLUSIONS. Dopaminergic and cholinergic amacrine cells are lost during the early stages of retinal neuropathy in diabetes. Loss of these neurons may play a critical role in the development of visual deficits in diabetes.
EM1: RISK ATTITUDE: ASSOCIATION WITH MAGNITUDE OF RISK AND PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS

BACKGROUND: Decision analytic models typically compare strategies using expected values, which assumes risk neutrality in all situations for all individuals. OBJECTIVE: Examine how risk attitude is affected by the magnitude of the risk involved, and by the sociodemographic characteristics of the patient. METHODS: A set of 5 related standard gambles was created. In all of them the patient has an asymptomatic disease that will cause painless death in 5 years. The only treatment is a pill that only works if taken immediately. If successful, the patient will live for 15 years. The 5 scenarios correspond to 0–4 years until death in the event of treatment failure. The probability of failure was varied to establish the break-even point. The expected break-even point was calculated based on expected values. Risk attitude was measured using the Risk Attitude Ratio (RAR), the ratio of the individual's break-even point to the expected break-even point. RAR = 1 indicates perfect risk neutrality, with lower values indicating risk adversity. Regression models for each scenario were constructed for RAR, with regressors based on age, race, sex, education, income and marital status. Additionally, a hierarchical linear model was constructed using data from all 5 scenarios. RESULTS: 167 people were surveyed. Significant risk adversity was observed in all scenarios. Mean break-even points ranged from .07–.35. When treatment failure meant immediate death, risk aversity was great with no statistically significant associations. As time until death increased, RAR increased (less risk averse) and was associated with sex, race and marital status. These associations were upheld in the overall model. Males and the previously married were less risk averse. African-Americans were more risk averse. CONCLUSIONS: Risk attitude varies according to the specifics of the gamble as well as sociodemographics. Assumptions of risk neutrality may be particularly poor in cases where treatment failure carries a severe penalty.
MR-compatible pumps versus manual titration of propofol for pediatric sedation

This study aimed to review the use of two methods of propofol infusion: a metred burette system where propofol is diluted in Lactated Ringer using the rule of six [ 1 ] or an infusion pump: Medrad Continuum Magnetic resonance (MR) compatible Infusion System (Medrad Inc. Indianola, PA) and to determine the difference, if any, between the total amount of drug delivered, the impact on vital signs, sedation status and discharge time of the patients. With Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval, 140 children aged 0 to 18 years, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status I or II requiring sedation for elective outpatient brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) examination were included in the study. A total of 70 patients in each group were studied. The (Mean ± S.D.) total amount of propofol infused was significantly less in the infusion pump group (12.47 ± 7.67 mg/kg) than the metred burette system (15.84 ± 16.13 mg/kg, p = 0.003). There were also significant mean differences in awakening times (26.63 ± 16.35 vs. 37.06 ± 20.98 min, p = 0.006), and discharge times (53.46 ± 21.12 vs. 67.89 ± 26.84 min, p = 0.008) in the infusion pump group versus the buretrol infusion group. This study demonstrates that both infusion techniques preserve haemodynamic stability and are associated with minimal complications. The use of an infusion pump, which consistently maintains accurate dosing, reduces the amount of propofol judged adequate by the anaesthesiologist to achieve sedation in MRI. This leads to a more consistently faster emergence and early discharge after sedation in children undergoing MRI studies.
An Experimental Method for the Study of Aortic Insufficiency

A method is presented for the experimental creation and correction of acute and chronic aortic insufficiency in dogs. Fifteen animals with acute, 11 with chronic, and 5 with corrected aortic insufficiency were studied. In all animals, mean central aortic blood pressure [see Table in PDF] was essentially normal, while pulse pressure was widened in the acute and chronic states, returning to normal with valvular repair. In the acute state, 41 per cent regurgitation was achieved without a significant alteration in stroke volume. However, in the chronic preperations, when 49 per cent regurgitation was present, there was a 70 per cent increase in stroke volume, accompanied by cardiac hypertrophy. Valvular repair in four of five animals reduced the aortic regurgitation to less than 10 per cent without altering cardiac output. Because of the consistent and predictable results, this method can be used for studies of the pathophysiological alterations attendant upon aortic insufficiency in humans.
Biochemical and molecular modeling studies of the O-methylation of various endogenous and exogenous catechol substrates catalyzed by recombinant human soluble and membrane-bound catechol-O-methyltransferases.

Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT, EC 2.1.1.6) catalyzes the O-methylation of a wide array of catechol-containing substrates using s-adenosyl-l-methionine as the methyl donor. In the present study, we have cloned and expressed the human soluble and membrane-bound COMTs (S-COMT and MB-COMT, respectively) in Escherichia coli and have studied their biochemical characteristics for the O-methylation of representative classes of endogenous catechol substrates (catecholamines and catechol estrogens) as well as exogenous catechol substrates (bioflavonoids and tea catechins). Enzyme kinetic analyses showed that these two recombinant human COMTs are functionally active, with catalytic and kinetic properties nearly identical to those of crude or purified enzymes prepared from human tissues or cells. Kinetic parameters for the O-methylation of various substrates were characterized. In addition, computational modeling studies were conducted to better understand the molecular mechanisms for the different catalytic beh...
FATIGUE DAMAGE IN ROLLER-COMPACTED PAVEMENT FOUNDATION WITH RECYCLED AGGREGATE AND WASTE PLASTIC STRIPS

Repeated-load tests were conducted in the laboratory on an alternative low-strength roller-compacted concrete material containing cementbound reclaimed crushed aggregate, Class C fly ash, and strip reinforcement made of waste high-density polyethylene plastic. During cyclic loading tests, the dynamic midspan deflection was recorded for all loading cycles to failure for the purpose of characterizing the damage accumulation process in the material. The primary motivation for evaluating this composite (with >90% recycled materials) was to develop an alternative high-quality foundation layer for a conventional flexible or rigid pavement while addressing such an increasingly crucial issue as solid waste disposal in the United States. The main objectives of this endeavor were to evaluate the flexural fatigue behavior of the new composite and to evaluate the accumulation of fatigue damage in the material. Results indicate that the fatigue strength and endurance limit of this material are similar to those of trad...
Homonegativity, Substance Use, Sexual Risk Behaviors, and HIV Status in Poor and Ethnic Men Who Have Sex with Men in Los Angeles

This study evaluates associations between internalized homonegativity and demographic factors, drug use behaviors, sexual risk behaviors, and HIV status among men who have sex with men (MSM) and with men and women (MSM/W). Participants were recruited in Los Angeles County using respondent-driven sampling (RDS) and completed the Internalized Homonegativity Inventory (IHNI) and questionnaires on demographic and behavioral factors. Biological samples were tested for HIV and for recent cocaine, methamphetamine, and heroin use. The 722 MSM and MSM/W participants were predominantly African American (44%) and Hispanic (28%), unemployed (82%), homeless (50%), and HIV positive (48%) who used drugs in the past 6 months (79.5%). Total and Personal Homonegativity, Gay Affirmation, and Morality of Homosexuality IHNI scores were significantly higher for African American men than for other ethnicities, for MSM/W than for MSM, for recent cocaine users than for recent methamphetamine users, and for HIV-seronegative men than for HIV-seropositive men. Linear regression showed the Gay Affirmation scale significantly and inversely correlated with the number of sexual partners when controlling for effects of ethnicity/race and sexual identification, particularly for men who self-identified as straight. Highest IHNI scores were observed in a small group of MSM/W (n = 62) who never tested for HIV. Of these, 26% tested HIV positive. Findings describe ways in which internalized homophobia is a barrier to HIV testing and associated HIV infection and signal distinctions among participants in this sample that can inform targeted HIV prevention efforts aimed at increasing HIV testing.
Two-photon ionization of Li2: isotopic separation and determination of IP(Li2) and De(Li+2)

Abstract Complete isotope separation is achieved by two-photon ionization of Li 2 by a single mode Ar + laser. With the use of two Ar + lasers, the ionization potential of Li 2 is found to be 5.174 ± 0.013 eV, and the dissociation energy D e (Li + 2 ) to be 1.274 ± 0.019 eV.
Can I Call This Place Home? Poetic Representation of a Border Crossing by Sea

The following poems are both ethnographic and artistic in both scope and intention. I use poetic inquiry to explicate an experience in time, hoping to challenge the way in which we think of what we hear, daily, in the media about immigration and migration, and to put a human face on the phenomenon.
Dualband infrared imaging spectrometer: observations of the moon

We reported previously on full-disk observations of the sun through a layer of black polymer, used to protect the entrance aperture of a novel dualband spectrometer while transmitting discrete wavelength regions in the MWIR & LWIR 1 . More recently, the spectrometer was used to assess the accuracy of recovery of unknown blackbody temperatures 2 . Here, we briefly describe MWIR observations of the full Moon made in Jan 2008. As was the case for the solar observations, the Moon was allowed to drift across the spectrometer slit by Earth's rotation. A detailed sensor calibration performed prior to the observations accounts for sensor non-uniformities; the spectral images of the Moon therefore include atmospheric transmission features. Our plans are to repeat the observations at liquid helium temperatures, thereby allowing both MWIR & LWIR spectral coverage.
Heuristic Reduction of Gyro Drift in Gyro-based Vehicle Tracking

This paper pertains to the reduction of measurement errors due to drift in rate gyros used for tracking the position of moving vehicles. In these applications, gyros and odometry are often used to augment GPS when GPS reception is unavailable. Drift in gyros causes the unbounded growth of errors in the estimation of heading, rendering low-cost gyros almost entirely useless in applications that require good accuracy for more than just a few seconds or minutes. Our proposed method, called "Heuristic Drift Reduction" (HDR), applies a unique closed-loop control system approach to estimate drift in real-time and remove the estimated drift instantaneously from the gyro reading. The paper presents results of experiments, in which a gyro-equipped car was driven hundreds of miles on highways, rural roads, and city streets. HDR reduced the average heading error over all of these drives by one order of magnitude.
Plant dieback under exceptional drought driven by elevation, not by plant traits, in Big Bend National Park, Texas, USA

In 2011, Big Bend National Park, Texas, USA, experienced the most severe single year drought in its recorded history, resulting in significant plant mortality. We used this event to test how perennial plant response to drought varied across elevation, plant growth form and leaf traits. In October 2010 and October 2011, we measured plant cover by species at six evenly-spaced elevations ranging from Chihuahuan desert (666 m) to oak forest in the Chisos mountains (1,920 m). We asked the following questions: what was the relationship between elevation and stem dieback and did susceptibility to drought differ among functional groups or by leaf traits? In 2010, pre-drought, we measured leaf mass per area (LMA) on each species. In 2011, the percent of canopy dieback for each individual was visually estimated. Living canopy cover decreased significantly after the drought of 2011 and dieback decreased with elevation. There was no relationship between LMA and dieback within elevations. The negative relationship between proportional dieback and elevation was consistent in shrub and succulent species, which were the most common growth forms across elevations, indicating that dieback was largely driven by elevation and not by species traits. Growth form turnover did not influence canopy dieback; differences in canopy cover and proportional dieback among elevations were driven primarily by differences in drought severity. These results indicate that the 2011 drought in Big Bend National Park had a large effect on communities at all elevations with average dieback for all woody plants ranging from 8% dieback at the highest elevation to 83% dieback at lowest elevations.
Alpha-Particle Stopping Cross Section of Solids from 0.3 to 2.0 MeV

Stopping cross sections of $\ensuremath{\alpha}$ particles for 12 solid elements Se, Y, Zr, Nb, Mo, Sb, Te, La, Dy, Ta, W, and Au have been measured for $0.3l~{E}_{\ensuremath{\alpha}}l~2.0$ MeV. Structure additional to that previously obtained was observed, in the periodic dependence of the stopping cross section on the atomic number of the stopping element. Good agreement in the periodic dependence of the structure was found when the experimental results were compared to theoretical calculations based on Lindhard's statistical approach, carried out by Rousseau, Chu, and Powers. The energy dependence of the stopping cross section was examined by fitting the experimental results to a three-parameter formula recently suggested by Brice. The usefulness of this formula in extrapolating the results to energy regions outside the measurements is investigated.
Significance of p53 dynamics in regulating apoptosis in response to ionizing radiation and polypharmacological strategies

Developing pharmacological strategies for controlling ionizing radiation (IR)-induced cell death is important for both mitigating radiation damage and alleviating the side effects of anti-cancer radiotherapy manifested in surrounding tissue morbidity. Exposure to IR often triggers the onset of p53-dependent apoptotic pathways. Here we build a stochastic model of p53 induced apoptosis comprised of coupled modules of nuclear p53 activation, mitochondrial cytochrome c release and cytosolic caspase activation that also takes into account cellular heterogeneity. Our simulations show that the strength of p53 transcriptional activity and its coupling (or timing with respect) to mitochondrial pore opening are major determinants of cell fate: for systems where apoptosis is elicited via a p53-transcription-independent mechanism, direct activation of Bax by p53 becomes critical to IR-induced-damage initiation. We further show that immediate administration of PUMA inhibitors following IR exposure effectively suppresses excessive cell death, provided that there is a strong caspase/Bid feedback loop; however, the efficacy of the treatment diminishes with increasing delay in treatment implementation. In contrast, the combined inhibition of Bid and Bax elicits an anti-apoptotic response that is effective over a range of time delays.
Ergodic properties of populations. I. The one sex model.

The requirements Parlett introduces for stability of non-negative matrices, irreducibility and primitivity, have an intuitive base. Irreducibility translates as the restriction that the projection matrix be for a single population, as in the continuous form of the renewal equation. (Matrix techniques for extracting stable roots and vectors do not apply to non-interacting populations; nor in general would such populations have the same roots.)
Effect of pyruvate and HEPES on pulmonary allograft acidosis and cell death after long-term storage

Abstract Introduction: Perfadex® has become a preferred lung preservation solution. We previously demonstrated that adding pyruvate to Perfadex® increases graft metabolism and improves reperfusion lung function after 24 hours of storage. However, increased metabolism can lead to greater acidosis, risking additional cellular injury. We hypothesized that more effective pH regulation would result in further improvements in lung survival after extended hypothermic storage. Methods: Rat lungs (n = 6 per group) were harvested and stored for 24 hours at 10 C in one of three storage solutions (initial pH 7.4 ± 0.1): 1) Perfadex® group, 2) Perfadex® with 32mM Pyruvate added (Pyruvate group) 3) Perfadex with Pyruvate and 30mM N-2-hydroxyethylpiperazine-propanesulfonic acid (HEPES group). Control lungs were removed and immediately fixed. pH change in the storage solution was measured after 24 hours. Cell death was evaluated by quantifying apoptotic (TUNEL positive) and necrotic (trypan blue permeable) cells in tissue sections. Results: Cell death in control lungs was minimal. Lungs stored in Perfadex® demonstrated the greatest degree of cell death. Lungs from the Pyruvate group exhibited decreased cell death despite much greater acidosis. The HEPES group demonstrated improved acid/base balance and significantly reduced graft cell death compared to Perfadex® and Pyruvate groups (p Conclusions: Adding pyruvate to the preservation solution increases acid formation during storage but reduces cell death. HEPES ameliorates this acidosis and significantly reduces allograft cell destruction. Further refinements to create a more physiologic storage milieu may prove important for long-term lung preservation. Table 1 . Cell death and pH changes in stored allografts Group Δ pH % Dead cells % Apoptotic % Necrotic Control NA 1 ± 1 ∗ 17 ± 9 83 ± 9 Perfadex −0.42 ± .02 ∗ 25 ± 4 ∗ 2 ± 2 98 ± 2 Pyruvate −0.53 ± .03 # 15 ± 2 # 1 ± 1 99 ± 1 HEPES −0.15 ± .02 † 8 ± 1 † 6 ± 4 94 ± 4 Data are mean ± SEM; comparisons by one-way analysis of variance. ∗ p † p # p
Muslim Anti-Semitism: Historical Background

This article very briefly surveys and compares the history of Christian and Muslim anti-Semitism. Drawing on recent studies by German scholars and on newly declassified CIA records, the author focuses on the critical role of the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, Haj Amin al-Husseini. Through his radio broadcasts and other work during World War II, Haj Amin instilled Nazi images of the Jew as the international power behind the scenes to Arab nationalists and to the Middle East generally.
Bromodeoxyuridine- and cyclic AMP-mediated regulation of tyrosinase in Syrian hamster melanoma cells

The thymidine analog 5-bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) suppresses pigmentation and tyrosinase activity in Syrian hamster melanoma cells W1-1-1. Studies on the molecular mechanism of suppression of pigmentation indicated that BrdU treatment affects the level of tyrosinase gene transcripts. No detectable tyrosinase message was found by Northern blot analysis in cells cultured in the presence of BrdU at concentrations even as low as 0.2 µM. The level of tyrosinase mRNA was found to reflect the level of pigmentation and tyrosinase activity. Studies with dibutyryl cyclic AMP (cAMP) showed that it inhibited pigment synthesis in W1-1-1 cells. With increasing concentrations of cAMP ranging from 10 µM to 300 µM, pigmentation and tyrosinase activity decreased progressively. This inhibition was found to be associated with a corresponding decrease in the level of tyrosinase mRNA. W1-1-1 cells were found not to respond to melanocyte stimulating hormone (MSH). There was no change in pigmentation, tyrosinase activity, or tyrosinase mRNA level in W1-1-1 cells in the presence of MSH. Similarly, theophylline, a phosphodiesterase inhibitor, had no effect on pigmentation or tyrosinase activity in W1-1-1 cells.
Methodological Limitations and Proposal to Improve Lodging Feasibility Studies

ABSTRACT The purpose of the research was to identify methodological constraints and present a proposal to improve lodging feasibility studies based on summary results of previously conducted surveys of lenders and hotel consultants. The research used qualitative methodology based on an extensive synthesis of the industry literature combined with telephone interviews with leading hotel consultants. The key findings of the research were the identification and discussion of nine methodological limitations of feasibility studies. We propose specific processes to overcome some of these methodological limitations and recommend establishing minimum benchmarks for the preparation of these studies. This research is a continuation of the issue raised in the seminal two-part paper by Beals and Troy (1982) and Troy and Beals (1982) that made some recommendations to improve feasibility studies. Since that time, there have been no major improvements in their preparation.
THE RATIONAL JUSTIFICATION OF MORAL CONSTRAINT

L'A. presente la conception de Gauthier de la maximisation contrainte en tant que regle de conduite. Son but est de refuter l'affirmation de Gauthier: la rationalite instrumentale est suffisante pour justifier la contrainte morale
On the National Commission: a puritan critique of consensus ethics.

he Report and Recommendations of the National Commission for the Protection of Human Subjects on research involving the institutionalized mentally infirm is an extraordinary example of the development of public ethics. Prudent and helpful as its recommendations are, perhaps more significant is the social institution of ethical deliberation and policy-making that the Commission has created in producing this and its many other reports. The present report presents a general consensus about the moral conflicts involved in doing research on people institutionalized as mentally infirm-a consensus that is adequate for recommending sane, cautious policies with a broad base of support. The Commission has done what it was asked to do. Although I believe that is the proper way of establishing national policy, we must recognize the degree to which this form of deliberation and policy-making exerts a conservative force in choosing among a variety of ethical options. Precisely when the underlying value assumptions of our society cry out for reconsideration, social institutions such as the commission reinforce those assumptions by rationalizing, coordinating, and making them practically applicable.
High-power high-efficiency 910- to 980-nm broad-area laser diodes

A new generation of very efficient high power laser diodes has been developed. The design was optimized for efficient operation of a long cavity device necessary to reduce electrical and thermal resistance. CW operation of a 100 μm wide laser at 25C yielded slope efficiency as high as 1.14W/A and 64% electrical-to-optical conversion efficiency. Optical power as high as 13.5 W for thermally limited CW operation and 17.3 W for pulsed operation were also recorded.
Space, Place and the City: Emerging Research on Public Space Design and Planning

Our understanding of urban public space has evolved dramatically in recent decades. On the heels of urban race riots and civil strife in the late 1960s and early 1970s, the social sciences—in parti...
Authentic purpose: the spiritual infrastructure of life

Purpose is an intention and a cognitive sense of one’s life. As an intention, purpose is the quality of being determined to do or achieve something, which resides in all forms of life in the universe. For humans, however, the valence and likelihood of enactment of the intention of purpose is capricious, as is the resulting sense of purpose in life. When absent or low, a sense of purpose places individuals at risk for psychopathologies; when present in sufficient levels, a sense of purpose buffers against adversity and enhances life chances. Unfortunately, studies show that key measures of “authentic purpose”, which are a psychological purpose in life (i.e. direction and goals) and social contribution (i.e. has something of value to give to society), are at their zenith in young adulthood and decline steadily throughout the lifespan. In addition to reviewing the religious and social scientific literature on the nature, function, and age trajectories of purpose in adult life, this article explores why this ...
Variation of fluorescence in tissue with temperature

Background and Objective Previous studies demonstrated a decrease in fluorescence intensity as tissue temperature increased. In vitro samples were increased from room temperature and in vivo canine liver from body temperature. This study investigated variations in fluorescence intensity with temperatures starting at 14°C and compared in vivo and in vitro results for consistency. Study Design/Material and Methods A fiber optic-based noninvasive system was used to characterize the temperature effect on tissue fluorescence in hamster dorsal skin in vivo, and in sclera and cornea of enucleated pig eyes in vitro. As tissue was allowed to progress through the temperature range of 14–42°C, the spectra of auto-fluorescence with respect to temperature was sampled every 1–2 minutes. A pulsed nitrogen laser was used to excite fluorescence through a fiber optic probe with a source-detector aperture separation of 370 µm. Results Fluorescence intensity decreased as temperature increased from 14 to 42°C in a phantom containing Rhodamine B dye. Results from both in vivo and in vitro tissue followed the same trend of decreasing intensity as tissue temperature increased from 14°C. Spectral intensity lineshape changed around 450 nm due to absorption from tissue. Conclusion Cooling a tissue increased fluorescence intensity of skin in vivo, in all experiments. In vitro results were consistent with in vivo measurements. Lasers Surg. Med. 43:36–42, 2011. © 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
An Empirical Comparison of Factor Scoring Methods

Various procedures have been used to estimate factor scores and the present study empirically compared the differential effectiveness of factor scoring by unit weights, by fractional weights using ...
Visual Benefits of High-Intensity Discharge Automotive Forward Lighting

This paper describes a study that compares the relative merits of high-intensity discharge vehicle headlamps with conventional halogen vehicle headlamps. Reaction times of study participants are measured. The study has implications for driving safety and for the ways in which it would be useful to refine vehicle headlamps.