cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Anorexia induced by chronic central administration of cytokines at estimated pathophysiological concentrations.

Abstract Interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-6, IL-8, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) induce acute anorexia by direct action in the central nervous system (CNS) at estimated pathophysiological concentrations reported in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Cytokine-induced anorexia may also participate in the long-term anorexia observed during disease. Here, we studied the effects of chronic intracerebroventricular (ICV) microinfusion (through osmotic minipumps) of various cytokines on feeding and drinking in rats. The results show: IL-1β decreased nighttime feeding dose-dependently (with 0.5, l.0, 2.0, and 8.0 ng/24 h, n ≥ 8/group). The decrease of feeding and corresponding decrease of body weight persisted during the 7-day infusion. Total daily food intake decrease was less prominent relative to the nighttime decrease because daytime food intake slightly increased. Feeding and body weight increased toward baseline following the end of the IL-1β infusion. ICV microinfusion of heat-inactivated IL-1β or IL-1β plus IL-1 receptor antagonist had no effect, suggesting specificity of action of IL-1β. Water intake did not decrease in any IL-1β-β-treated group, suggesting specificity on feeding. Chronic ICV administration of TNF-α (20, 100, or 300 ng/24 h), IL-6 (100 ng/24 h), or IL-8 (20 ng/24 h) was significantly less effective than IL-1β in inducing behavioral modifications. The results suggest that IL-1β, at doses that yield estimated pathophysiological concentrations in the CSF, is capable of inducing long-term anorexia and this effect may participate in the anorexia observed during chronic disease.
Succinoxidase activities and cytochrome oxidase of extracts of Ascaris eggs

Abstract 1. 1. Extracts prepared from eggs of Ascaris lumbricoides cultured aerobically in 0·1 N H 2 SO 4 up to 120 days, and anaerobically up to 64 days were found to oxidize reduced cytochrome c by a cyanide-sensitive pathway. These extracts also catalyzed the reduction of added cytochrome c in the presence of succinate. 2. 2. The activities of both cytochrome c and cytochrome oxidase in extracts were sufficiently high to account for the rate of oxygen uptake of intact eggs. 3. 3. It is concluded that, in contrast to the adult parasite, Ascaris egg contain a succinoxidase system which reacts with atmospheric oxygen via the cytochrome c-cytochrome oxidase system.
The patterns and determinants of longevity in Russia's regions: Evidence from panel data

Abstract In this paper we examine whether regions of Russia have been converging or diverging in their longevity levels during the 1990s and evaluate the divergence effect of the 1998 financial crisis. We also estimate the impact of changes in poverty and public health spending on inter-temporal variations in longevity using regional-level panel data for 77 Russian regions from 1994 to 2000. Finally, we investigate the extent to which the gradual recovery in longevity observed after 1994 was derailed by the 1998 financial crisis and the public policy shifts required for regions to regain their Soviet-era levels of longevity. We find a significant negative effect of the 1998 crisis on longevity independently of the factors related directly to poverty and public health spending. In addition, a permanent negative shock to the incidence of poverty and the amount of publicly-provided health care in a region has enduring consequences on the population's health. Finally, the effect of increases in public health spending on longevity is related positively to the incidence of poverty. Journal of Comparative Economics 33 (4) (2005) 788–813.
An experimental technique for obtaining controlled diagonal tension failure of shear critical reinforced concrete beams

An energy absorbing ‘stiff’ test facility has been developed for obtaining stable and controlled diagonal tension failure in shear-critical reinforced concrete beams. The test facility allows the monitoring of the complete curve of load versus mid-span deflection (including the post-peak region) of the shear-critical beams. For stiffening the existing test facility and to provide the energy absorption capability, two kinds of test set-up have been developed: the parallel steel beam test set-up and the cross steel beam test set-up. The test set-up with a cross steel beam as the stiffening element is much stiffer than the parallel steel beam test set-up and hence more stable for obtaining a controlled and stable failure even for the higher strengh concrete beams. The results indicate the post-peak branch of the load versus mid-span deflection of the shear-critical high strength concrete beams is relatively steeper than that of normal strength concrete beams.
Learning-induced changes of auditory receptive fields

Classical conditioning specifically modifies receptive fields in primary and secondary auditory cortical areas to favor the frequency of a tone signal over other frequencies, including tuning shifts toward, or to, this frequency. This plasticity of receptive fields is associative and highly specific, can develop very rapidly, can be expressed under anesthesia and can be maintained indefinitely. Muscarinic receptors in the cortex may be involved. Non-lemniscal thalamic nuclei also develop receptive field plasticity that may contribute to cortical plasticity.
Versatile, portable, and efficient OS profiling via latency analysis

Operating systems are complex and their behavior depends on many factors. Source code, if available, does not directly help understand the OS's behavior, as the behavior depends on actual workloads and external inputs. Runtime profiling is a key technique for understanding the behavior and mutual-influence of modern OS components. Such profiling is useful to prove new concepts, debug problems, and optimize the performance of existing OSs. Unfortunately, existing profiling methods lack in important areas: they do not provide much of the necessary information about the OS's behavior; they require OS modification and therefore are not portable; or they exact high overheads thus perturbing the profiled OS.
β-lapachone, a novel plant product, overcomes drug resistance in human multiple myeloma cells

Abstract Objective To evaluate the anti-tumor potential of β-lapachone in multiple myeloma (MM) cell lines (U266, RPMI8226, and MM.1S); MM cell lines resistant to dexamethasone (MM.1R), melphalan (RPMI8226/LR5), doxorubicin (RPMI8226/DOX40), and mitoxantrone (RPMI8226/ MR20); and MM cells from patients (MM1-MM4). Materials and Methods Cytotoxicity of β-lapachone was assessed by MTT and [ 3 H]-thymidine uptake assays. Apoptosis was analyzed using propidium iodide staining, DNA fragmentation, TUNEL assay, caspase-9 colorimetric assay, and immunoblotting for caspase-3, poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), and caspase-8 cleavage products. Paracrine growth of MM cells was assessed by [ 3 H]-thymidine uptake in cultures of bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) and MM cells. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) secretion in the culture supernatants was measured by specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs). Results β-lapachone showed significant cytotoxicity in MM cells (IC 50 : 4–8 μM). In contrast, normal peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and BMSCs from MM patients were relatively resistant (IC 50 : 8–16 μM). IL-6 did not protect against β-lapachone–induced apoptosis in MM.1S cells, and dexamethasone showed additive cytotoxicity. β-lapachone also decreased binding of MM.1S cells to BMSCs; abrogated IL-6 and VEGF secretion triggered by adhesion of BMSCs to MM.1S cells; reduced proliferation of MM.1S cells adherent to BMSCs; and decreased intracellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) expression on MM.1S cells. Furthermore, β-lapachone induced typical PARP cleavage, increased caspase-9 proteolytic activity, and activation of caspase-3, without activation of caspase-8 in U266 cells. Conclusion These studies provide a framework for clinical evaluation of β-lapachone to improve the outcome for patients with MM.
Discrete Hessian Eigenmaps method for dimensionality reduction

For a given set of data points lying on a low-dimensional manifold embedded in a high-dimensional space, the dimensionality reduction is to recover a low-dimensional parametrization from the data set. The recently developed Hessian Eigenmaps method is a mathematically rigorous method that also sets a theoretical framework for the nonlinear dimensionality reduction problem. In this paper, we develop a discrete version of the Hessian Eigenmaps method and present an analysis, giving conditions under which the method works as intended. As an application, a procedure to modify the standard constructions of k -nearest neighborhoods is presented to ensure that Hessian LLE can recover the original coordinates up to an affine transformation.
Uncertainty-aware geospatial system for mapping and visualizing underground utilities

Abstract Underground utility lines being struck is a long-standing problem worldwide, causing public service disruptions, project delays, cost overruns, property damage, injuries, and fatalities that cost billions of dollars each year. Utility strikes are attributed to two main causes: the lack of reliable data regarding the true locations of underground utilities and the lack of an effective means to communicate the inherent uncertainties associated with utility location data to end-users (e.g., excavator operators). Inaccurate utility location information leads to falsely instilled confidence and potentially misleads equipment operators into unintentional utility strikes. There is a great need to map underground utilities and to model and communicate uncertainties to end-users for safe excavations. This paper presents a geospatial system for mapping and uncertainty-aware visualization of underground utilities. Ground penetrating radar (GPR), global positioning system (GPS), and geographical information system (GIS) are integrated into a total 3G system for geospatial utility data collection. Field experiments are conducted to assess the locating accuracy of the system and reveal the patterns of positional errors. Three-dimensional (3D) probabilistic uncertainty bands that enclose the true utility line with specific probabilities are developed to handle the positional uncertainties of underground utilities. Multipatch surface models are adopted to visualize the 3D uncertainty bands in GIS to communicate both the locations of utilities and the associated uncertainties to end-users. The geospatial 3G system, together with the proposed 3D probabilistic uncertainty bands, enables the mapping and visualization of some underground utilities in a non-destructive and uncertainty-aware manner to avoid disastrous utility strikes and promote safe excavations.
Effect of RuOxHy Island Size on PtRu Particle Aging in Methanol

The aging properties of two different commercial PtRu black catalysts, Johnson-Matthey HiSpec6000 and Tanaka TEC90110, were observed in 1 M trifluoromethanesulfonic acid with 0.3 M methanol as a function of both time and potential cycling. Cu underpotential deposition, cyclic voltammetry, and x-ray absorption spectroscopy, using both the extended x-ray absorption fine structure and Δμ x-ray absorption near-edge spectroscopy analysis techniques, on samples after potential cycling between 0.02 and 0.8 V, revealed the PtRu aging mechanism and offer an explanation of why the two catalysts age differently. The Tanaka catalyst had relatively large RuOxHy islands on the surface and underwent little dissolution and agglomeration after 40 cycles. This had little detrimental effect on the CO oxidation properties as seen in the CO stripping data, and therefore, this catalyst can be expected to be relatively more tolerant to poisoning in direct methanol fuel cells. The Johnson-Matthey catalyst, on the other hand, was...
Parenting behavior of adolescent children of alcoholics

We compared the parenting behavior of children of alcoholics (COAs) and non-COAs within a sample of adolescent mothers. COAs and their children showed dyadic behaviors that were less problematic than those of their peers on mother-child teaching interactions at 1 year of age, mother-child interactions during structured play at pre-school age and child attachment behavior at pre-school age. COAs reported feeling relatively more rejection as compared to love from the alcoholic parent, but this was not related to their own parenting scores. Similar to other research, COAs reported more historical life stress, more family disruption and more drug use compared to non-COAs, but these measures also were not related to parenting scores. These results suggest that, although adolescent mothers are at risk for parenting difficulties compared to adult mothers, adolescent COAs do not necessarily encounter more problems in parenting their own children compared to other adolescent mothers.
Long Term Results With the Cabrol Aortic Root Replacement

Cabrol aortic root replacement is rarely performed in recent years because of potential coronary complications. The purpose of this study was to investigate its early and late results, including coronary complications, by evaluating our experience thus far. A retrospective lookup of patients who underwent Cabrol aortic root replacement between 1988 and 2001 found a total of 36 patients (24 men and 12 women) with a mean age of 45 years. Annuloaortic ectasia was the most frequent cause (n = 22), followed by chronic dissection (n = 5), acute dissection (n = 5), and aneurysm with prior aortic operation (n = 4). Early mortality occurred in one patient (2.8%). The mean follow-up period was 104 months. There were 7 late deaths, 4 of which were disease-related. The actuarial survival was 83.3% at 5 years and 72.9% at 10 years, and the freedom from reoperation was 87.9% at 5 years and 76.6% at 10 years. There were no reoperations on the ascending aorta. Coronary ostia were examined by angiography or 64-row multidetector computed tomography in 18 patients 43 to 189 months after the operation. Two patients developed stenosis or occlusion of the right coronary ostium. The early and late results of the Cabrol operation were favorable with the exception of coronary complications. The importance of careful follow-up for late coronary complications cannot be overemphasized.
Inter-technology knowledge spillovers for energy technologies

Abstract Both anecdotal evidence and the innovation literature indicate that important advances in energy technology have made use of knowledge originating in other technological areas. This study uses the set of U.S. patents granted from 1976 to 2006 to assess the role of knowledge acquired from outside each energy patent's technological classification. It identifies the effect of external knowledge on the forward citation frequency of energy patents. The results support the claim above. Regression coefficients on citations to external prior art are positive and significant. Further, the effect of external citations is significantly larger than that of other types of citations. Conversely, citations to prior art that is technologically near have a negative effect on forward citation frequency. These results are robust across several alternative specifications and definitions of whether each flow of knowledge is external. Important energy patents have drawn heavily from external prior art categorized as chemical, electronics, and electrical; they cite very little prior art from computers, communications, and medical inventions.
A comparative study of the chromosomal polymorphs in the incipient species of the Drosophila paulistorum complex.

Ninety-six geographical strains distributed among the incipient species of the Drosophila paulistorum complex were examined cytologically, and the results obtained were correlated with available data on hybridization tests and chromosomal analysis. The complex was found to contain more than sixty-three different inversions, out of which thirty-two were 3rd chromosome configurations. This placed Drosophila paulistorum among the most chromosomally polymorphic species in the genus. The species differs from D. willistoni, in that a great number of inversions is concentrated in one of the chromosomes, as opposed to approximately equal distribution of inversions in the chromosomes of willistoni. — The data obtained in the course of this investigation seem to support the idea that either massive populations become isolated and then form new species, or that the newly forming species tend to retain some of their ancestral polymorphs which might present them with heterotic effects, gradually replacing them with more successful combinations as speciation progresses.
Transient myocardial ischemia of the newborn infant: a form of severe cardiorespiratory distress in full-term infants.

In three mature newborn infants a syndrome of cyanosis, congestive failure, and acuteleft ventricular failure has mimicked severe congenital heart disease. Weak arterial pulses, liver enlargement, and right heart overload in the electrocardigram suggested the diagnosis of hypoplasia of the left heart. It is postulated that the disorder is one of impaired coronary perfusion to portions of the right and left ventricular myocardium through increased work demands created by unusually brisk pulmonary vasoconstriction from hypoxia. The evidence for this tenet lies in the striking abnormality of left ventricular ejection at angiocardiography and the development of signs of myocardial ischemia on the electrocardiogram.
Terminal oxidases of Micrococcus denitrificans.

Abstract 1. 1. A cytochrome c oxidase was partially purified from the facultative anaerobe, Micrococcus denitrificans . This enzyme was shown to be associated with the particulate matter of the cell and was capable of oxidizing reduced mammalian cytochrome c . A procedure for purification of this oxidase is given. 2. 2. The optimum pH for the bacterial cytochrome oxidase was found to be from 7.0 to 7.4. Activity was not increased by the addition of aluminum ion to the assay system, and magnesium and manganous ions had no effect upon the activity. The oxidase activity was 98% inhibited by 5·10 −4 M cyanide, while a similar concentration of azide inhibited only 55%. Carbon monoxide affected 100% inhibition which was light-reversible. 3. 3. The reduced spectrum of a purified cytochrome oxidase fraction had maxima at 421, 522 and 553 mμ, while the corresponding maxima for a cell-free extract were at 417, 522 and 551 mμ, indicating removal of cytochrome c during the purification procedure and concentration of cytochrome c 1 in the particulate matter containing the cytochrome oxidase. Cell-free extracts had ability to perform oxidative phosphorylation, with an average P:O ration of 0.39 when oxidizing reduced cytochrome c . 4. 4. A cyanide-insensitive DPNH oxidase, which appeared to be a soluble flavoprotein, was partially purified from cells of M. denitrificans . The Michaelis constant with respect to DPNH was determined to be 1.5·10 −6 moles per liter. The activation energy was found to be 14,900 cal per mole. A comparison of these two oxidase as a terminal oxidative enzyme was determined, showing that the DPNH oxidase can accommodate approximately one-half as much oxygen uptake as the cytochrome oxidase system.
Pressure transient testing at Cerro Prieto geothermal field

Abstract The Cerro Prieto geothermal reservoir may be classified as a liquid-dominated system whose initial temperature and pressure conditions place it in the liquid-saturated region. In this field commercial power production began in 1973 and has continued since that date. Because of the inherent problems in applying pressure build-up tests to wells producing two-phase fluids, it was decided to use variable flow tests of short duration known as two-rate tests. In these tests a variation in the well flow rates can be used to interpret the transient pressure response in order to determine reservoir parameters such as permeability, well-bore damage and mean reservoir pressure in the well drainage area. Some examples will illustrate the application of this technique. Pressure drawdown tests have been planned in some of the wells in the field. On the other hand, a well interference test has been made in the southern part of the field using M-90, M-91, M-50 and M-51 as production wells and M-101 as an observation well. The interpretation of this test using curve-matching procedures is illustrated. In the future, several of these tests are planned which will take advantage of the wells being drilled in new areas of the field.
An antisilencer element is involved in the transcriptional regulation of the human vimentin gene.

Abstract Vimentin is an intermediate filament protein normally expressed in cells of mesenchymal origin. The promoter of the human vimentin gene was previously reported to contain two positive-acting regions, separated by a negative region (Rittling, S.R., Baserga, R., 1987. Functional analysis and growth factor regulation of the human vimentin promoter. Mol. Cell. Biol. 7, 3908–3915). Here, detailed studies reveal two additional regulatory elements, a new positive transcriptional element located between −717 and −757, and a new repressor element at −780 to −821. In transient transfections, the positive-acting element is able to completely override the effect of different silencer elements when fused to a heterologous promoter. However, this element does not enhance gene activity when the silencer element is absent and thus cannot be viewed as a true enhancer. Since it appears to overcome the effect of a silencer element, we refer to it as an antisilencer element. Gel mobility shift assays, UV-cross-linking experiments, and Southwestern blots reveal that a 105-kDa protein specifically binds to this region.
Partition behavior of manganese(III) from aqueous bromate solutions of perchloric, formic and acetic acids into bis(2-ethyhexyl) hydrogen phosphate (HDEHP)

Abstract In an extension of a previous study[1] tracer level Mn(VII), as 303d 54 MnO 4 − , was reduced in strong acid media of HClO 4 , HCOOH and CH 3 COOH to weak divalent complexes. The addition of bromate ion oxidized Mn(II) species to HDEHP- n -heptane extractable Mn(III) species postulated to be Mn 2 O 3 or some hydrated form of this oxide. Distribution ratios (K) varied from 300 in HClO 4 media to greater than 10 3 in HCOOH and CH 3 COOH systems. Variations in K were studied as affected by H + , HDEHP and bromate ion concentrations, as well as by initial temperatures and degree of ageing of the pregnant aqueous systems. The nature of the Mn-DEHP complex formed in the organic systems was studied spectrophotometrically and is tentatively identified as Mn(DEHP) 3 or some solvated variant.
Induction by morpholine of lysosomal α-mannosidase and acid phosphatase in rabbit alveolar macrophages in vivo and in vitro

Abstract α-Mannosidase and acid phosphatase were induced in alveolar macrophages from the lungs of rabbits following exposure to morpholine. The induction was observed after inhalation of morpholine vapor or when macrophages were cultured in the presence of morpholine. Lysosomal hydrolases were not induced uniformly. In vivo , maximum induction of α-mannosidase and acid phosphatase in female rabbits was 1.7-fold and 2-fold, respectively, and in male rabbits, 3-fold and unchanged, respectively. In vitro , maximum hydrolase induction of α-mannosidase and acid phosphatase in macrophages from male rabbits was 1.4-fold and 1.3-fold, respectively, and from female rabbits, 1.3-fold and 1.5-fold, respectively. The induction of acid hydrolases in vitro was rapid, reaching a maximum within 4 hr in alveolar macrophages from male rabbits and within 8 hr in those from females. The induction was dose dependent. This study indicates that the lysosomal enzyme system of the alveolar macrophage may be stimulated by a low molecular weight xenobiotic.
Antarctic sea-ice relationships with indices of the atmospheric circulation of the Southern Hemisphere

A link between the Antarctic sea-ice extent and low-frequency atmospheric variations, particularly ENSO, has been suggested by recent modeling and empirical studies. This question is examined here using a high-resolution (by week, by region) data base of Antarctic sea-ice extent for the 1973–1982 period. Although of relatively short duration by Northern Hemisphere standards, such a data base offers an opportunity rare in Southern Hemisphere climate studies. The seaice variations are examined in the context of longer-term indices of the large-scale atmospheric circulation. These are a Southern Oscillation Index (SOI) and an index of sea-level pressure (SLP) wavenumber one in the Southern Hemisphere extratropics. The indices are updated through 1982, and their associations with regional-scale pressure indices in the Australia-New Zealand sector are also examined. The 1973–1982 period is anomalous when compared with the period 1951–1972. Correlation analysis of the monthly sea ice and circulation index values reveals that much of the apparent link between the ice and the SOI suggested in previous studies arises from autocorrelations present in both data sets and the strong annual cycle of sea-ice extent. Removing these effects from the data and re-running the correlations reveals that most of the resulting “significant” associations between the ice and one or other of the circulation indices can probably be explained on the basis of chance. In order to reconcile these findings with previous studies that show some strong ice-circulation interactions on regional scales, only those months in which significant correlations occur between both largescale circulation indices and the sea ice are examined further. These occur preferentially in the Ross and Weddell sectors, which constitute the regions contributing most to the variability of Antarctic sea ice. The analysis suggests that the sea-ice-extent changes lag the SOI by several months but may precede changes in extratropical SLP wavenumber one. Confirmation of these tentative regional ice extent-circulation teleconnections necessarily awaits the forward extension of the high-resolution sea-ice data base beyond the 10 years available here.
Distance segregation and compound sex chromosomes in mantispids ( Neuroptera: Mantispidae )

The sex chromosomes segregate precociously in prometaphase I of male meiosis, without prior synapsis or any physical connection, in 4 species of American mantispids (Neuroptera: Mantispidae). Segregational movements are interpolar, and are implemented through chromosomal fibers. Univalent autosomes, present from diakinesis on in several species, are capable of a similar distance segregation in prometaphase. The sex chromosomes are XX ♀ —XY ♂, as is characteristic of the Order, with the exception of Entanoneura phthisica in which both elements are compound —X1X2X3Y1Y2Y3in the male, and X1X1X2X2X3X3 in the female. In tetraploid sectors of gonial origin in testes of this species no sex bivalents are formed; a distance segregation of 6 sex univalents to each pole is effected, but — as observed in the one individually identifiable pair — segregation separates complete homologues, Y1 from Y1, X1 from X1, etc. In all species the male meiotic spindle is formed by the collocation of individual chromosomal spindle units within which bivalents become deformed; the timing and degree of deformation vary with the species. In karyotype the American species conform to a common pattern with the known Japanese and European species; diploid numbers range only from 18 to 22, and each complement carries the family insigne of one pair of disproportionately large autosomes in a set of small and rather uniformly sized chromosomes.
A test of three hypotheses concerning attributions toward female promiscuity

Abstract We performed two experiments to test three alternative hypotheses concerning negative attributions toward sexually promiscuous females. The first two possibilities are based on female-to-female negative attributions. The first hypothesis, the Competition Hypothesis, states that females could be using a negative attribution towards other females for derogation purposes when in competition for a mate. Second, the Self-esteem Hypothesis states that females could be using negative attributions towards other females to build Self-esteem. Finally, according to the Social Norm Hypothesis, both males and females see female promiscuous behaviors as deviant thereby resulting in negative attributions towards the women who perform them. In both experiments, the Social Norm Hypothesis received more support than the other two hypotheses.
Driving Under the Influence of Prescription Drugs Used Nonmedically: Associations in a Young Adult Sample

ABSTRACTBackground: Over the past 20 years, there has been a dramatic increase in the nonmedical use of prescription drugs (NMUPD). However, minimal attention has been given to driving under the influence of prescription drugs used nonmedically. Methods: This study examines attitudes and characteristics that might be associated with driving while engaging in NMUPD. College students (N = 763) aged 18–25 years completed online surveys assessing demographic information, NMUPD, recreational use of other drugs, psychological variables, attitudes towards NMUPD and driving, and driving behavior. Results: Overall, 28.0% of participants reported lifetime NMUPD; 12.2% reported ever driving while engaging in NMUPD; and 7.9% reported this behavior in the past 3 months. Participants who reported engaging in NMUPD while driving were significantly more likely to report the use of alcohol, marijuana, ecstasy, cocaine, methamphetamine, ketamine, GHB (γ-hydroxybutyric acid), rohypnol, and mephedrone. These participants als...
Size effect in Paris law for quasibrittle materials analyzed by the microplane constitutive model M7

Abstract Quasibrittle materials exhibit a structure size effect on the fatigue crack growth rate, and especially in the Paris law coefficient. In previous studies, this effect was demonstrated experimentally for concrete and rock, which led to a size-adjusted Paris law for quasibrittle materials. A new length scale, viz. the transitional size for fatigue fracture, D 0 c , was introduced and was shown to be related to the size of the cyclic fracture process zone (FPZ). Here, the size effect is analyzed numerically by using the most recent version of the microplane constitutive damage model for quasibrittle fatigue fracture. Simulations reveal that, in contrast to earlier deductions, the cyclic FPZ size is smaller than the monotonic one. Also revealed is a discrepancy between the D 0 c obtained from the existing size effect hypothesis and the physical cyclic FPZ size measured from the simulations. To explain this discrepancy, a new size-adjusted Paris law is proposed and verified by updated dimensional analysis. It involves two length scales, one for the monotonic size effect, and the other for fatigue. The modified framework is seen to yield fatigue transitional size values more consistent with the cyclic FPZ size.
Hamiltonian N 2 -locally connected claw-free graphs

A graph G is N2-locally connected if for every vertex ν in G, the edges not incident with ν but having at least one end adjacent to ½ in G induce a connected graph. In 1990, Ryjacek conjectured that every 3-connected N2-locally connected claw-free graph is Hamiltonian. This conjecture is proved in this note. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Graph Theory 48: 142146, 2005
Abstract 25: Targeting c-Myc in pediatric sarcoma xenografts with the BET bromodomain inhibitor, JQ1, disrupts angiogenesis

Histone acetylation regulates activation and repression of multiple angiogenesis and inflammatory genes known to play critical roles in the pathogenesis of various diseases. The current study was designed to elucidate the therapeutic potential of JQ1, an inhibitor of the BET class of human bromodomain proteins (“readers” of histone acetylation marks), in pediatric sarcomas. Surprisingly, our results demonstrated that in-vivo xenografts showed similar sensitivity to JQ1, despite their cell lines showing >20 fold differences in sensitivity in-vitro. cMYC expression significantly down regulated in most rhabdomyosarcoma cell lines after JQ1 treatment, however there was no significant down regulation of cMYC in Ewings sarcoma lines, despite similar sensitivities to JQ1. When administered to mice bearing human sarcoma xenografts, JQ1 (50mg/kg/d) significantly retarded tumor growth. Whereas Ki67 staining remained unchanged in treated tumors, CD34-positive staining decreased after 2 weeks of treatment. Microvessel density (CD34-positive cells) in tumors of JQ1-treated animals was reduced by at least 60% compared with controls (P Citation Format: Hemant Kumar Bid, Doris A. Phelps, Linlin Xiao, Laurence Baker, Jun Qi, Peter J. Houghton. Targeting c-Myc in pediatric sarcoma xenografts with the BET bromodomain inhibitor, JQ1, disrupts angiogenesis. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 25. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-25
Correlates of dissociative symptomatology in patients with physical and sexual abuse histories

Recent studies have demonstrated a high prevalence of sexual and physical abuse histories and high levels of dissociative symptoms in psychiatric inpatients. We examined whether severity, frequency, and age of onset of abuse correlated with subjects' levels of dissociative symptoms. Sixty-four women reporting a lifetime history of physical and/or sexual abuse were recruited from consecutive admissions to three wards of a psychiatric hospital. Subjects completed the Life Experiences Questionnaire (LEQ) and the Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES). Subjects' self-reports of severity, frequency, and age of onset of abuse were analyzed for correlations with DES score. More invasive sexual abuse was associated with more dissociation. Higher-frequency physical abuse was associated with more dissociation, but no conclusion could be drawn about the impact of frequent sexual abuse due to missing data. An inverse correlation was found between age of onset of abuse and degree of dissociative symptomatology. These preliminary findings are consistent with hypotheses linking more severe, more chronic, and earlier abuse to the greater development of dissociative symptoms. The findings further emphasize the importance of recognizing dissociative symptoms in the clinical setting, and of continued study into the effects of childhood trauma.
Localized network layer protocols in wireless sensor networks based on optimizing cost over progress ratio

We present a simple framework for designing network layer protocols for sensor networks including localized routing, broadcasting, area coverage, and so on. The framework is general enough and is applicable to a variety of problems, network assumptions, and optimality criteria. Our simple framework is based on optimizing the ratio of the cost of making certain decisions (e.g., selecting a forwarding neighbor for routing) to the progress made in doing so (e.g., reduction in distance to destination). We show how to apply this general guideline for the design of hop count, power awareness, maximal lifetime, beaconless and physical-layer-based routing, minimal energy broadcasting, sensor area coverage, and multicasting protocols. Moreover, we show that in the case of routing, the best known strictly localized position-based techniques are, in almost all cases, special cases of the described general cost-to-progress ratio paradigm
An Experimental Study of Time-Independent and Time-Dependent Externalities in the Commons☆☆☆

Abstract The use of common-pool resources (CPRs) implies the existence of appropriation externalities. Benchmark predictions are derived and experiments conducted for a CPR game in which the appropriation externality is either time-independent or time-dependent. In the time-independent setting, externalities are restricted to within a decision period. In the time-dependent setting, externalities occur both within and across decision periods. Subject behavior is generally found to be consistent with noncooperative solution benchmarks. Further, efficiency tends to be lower in time-dependency settings, often with behavior that is best characterized as temporally myopic.Journal of Economic LiteratureClassification Numbers C7, C9, and Q2.
IN VITRO BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITIES OF 6-ISOSTERIC PENICILLINS AND 7-ISOSTERIC CEPHALOSPORINS

Antibiotic and penicillinase inhibitor activities of various penicillin and cephalosporin analogs are reported. The compounds include C-6 penicillin and C-7 cephalosporin carbon, oxygen and sulfur analogs obtained by replacing the NH of the amide side chains with CH2, O and S, respectively. In almost all cases, analogs were considerably less active than the standard compounds (benzylpenicillin and cephalothin), However, some of the analogs act as penicillinae inhibitors.
Excited state formation as a function of initial energy of H+ and He+ ions scattered from metal surfaces

Abstract Impact of 10–30 keV H+ and He+ ions on polycrystalline metal surfaces gives rise to emission from backscattered excited atoms. The intensity of this emission has been quantitatively measured in the case of copper and molybdenum targets. The dependence of intensity on incoming projectile energy is predicted and shown to be governed primarily by radiationless de-excitation of atoms while close to the surface. Parameters governing de-excitation may be inferred from the data and are in excellent agreement with results achieved by analysis of the Doppler broadening of the spectral line.
Glycerol Therapy of Experimental Cerebral Microembolism

Glycerol was administered to control rats and to animals with experimental cerebral microembolism as a single intravenous injection (1 gm per kilogram), a single one-hour intravenous infusion (1.5 gm per kilogram), daily one-hour intravenous infusions (1 gm per kilogram), or in multiple oral doses (1 gm per kilogram per four hours). There were no effects of glycerol on the mortality, brain edema or increased brain sodium concentration and 75Seselenate space due to cerebral microembolism. Brain water was not reduced in the hemispheres contralateral to embolization or in glycerol-treated controls. The results suggest that glycerol, at the dose levels reported to be beneficial in human cerebral infarction, is ineffective for cerebral dehydration.
Reproducción de Eisenia foetida en suelos agrícolas de áreas mineras contaminadas por cobre y arsénico

The objective of this work was to evaluate copper and arsenic toxicity in agricultural soils, by means of standardized bioassays of chronic and acute toxicity on Eisenia foetida, and to relate E. foetida response to copper and arsenic concentrations in soils. The agricultural soils were sampled in the proximity of copper mining industries, in the Aconcagua river basin, Chile. E. foetida exposed to the studied soils exhibited a low mortality, indicating the absence of acute toxicity. Besides, a decrease in the cocoon production and juvenile development was observed, indicating the existence of chronic toxicity. Reduction in the cocoon production and juvenile development was related to soil concentrations of copper and arsenic. Both copper and arsenic reduced the cocoon production, while only arsenic diminished the juvenile development. Agricultural soils from mining areas of the basin have potentially toxic characteristics for the development of soil macrofauna.
A Polymorphism in the Agouti Signaling Protein Gene Is Associated with Human Pigmentation

In mice and humans, binding of α-melanocyte–stimulating hormone to the melanocyte-stimulating–hormone receptor (MSHR), the protein product of melanocortin-1 receptor (MC1R) gene, leads to the synthesis of eumelanin. In the mouse, ligation of MSHR by agouti signaling protein (ASP) results in the production of pheomelanin. The role of ASP in humans is unclear. We sought to characterize the agouti signaling protein gene (ASIP) in a group of white subjects, to assess whether ASIP was a determinant of human pigmentation and whether this gene may be associated with increased melanoma risk. We found no evidence of coding-region sequence variation in ASIP, but detected a g.8818A→G polymorphism in the 3′ untranslated region. We genotyped 746 participants in a study of melanoma susceptibility for g.8818A→G, by means of polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment–length polymorphism analysis. Among the 147 healthy controls, the frequency of the G allele was .12. Carriage of the G allele was significantly associated with dark hair (odds ratio 1.8; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.2–2.8) and brown eyes (odds ratio 1.9; 95% CI 1.3–2.8) after adjusting for age, gender, and disease status. ASIP g.8818A→G was not associated independently with disease status. This is the first report of an association of ASIP with specific human pigmentation characteristics. It remains to be investigated whether the interaction of MC1R and ASIP can enhance prediction of human pigmentation and melanoma risk.
Altered Therapy of Suspected Pulmonary Embolism Using Leg Venography

The traditional approach to the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism involves attempts to document the embolus in the lungs. An alternative diagnostic approach is to document the source of the embolus in the iliofemoral venous system. The present case shows how a search for leg thrombosis in suspected pulmonary embolism can also have an impact in choosing the optimal therapy to prevent recurrent embolization.
Dissolution Kinetics of [Hmim][BF4] Ionic Liquid Droplets in 1-Pentanol

Dissolving ionic-liquid droplets of 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoborate ([Hmim][BF4]) into surrounding 1-pentanol phase were investigated inside a glass rectangular channel microscopically at 23 ± 0.5 °C. The Epstein−Plesset mathematical model was used to fit the change of drop radius with respect to time. With solubility data of ionic liquid (IL) in 1-pentanol determined from UV−visible spectroscopy, the diffusion coefficient was determined. Measurements of conductivity and UV−visible spectroscopy at various concentrations at the same temperature were conducted in an effort to further understand the molecular aggregation/clustering behavior of the IL in 1-pentanol. Using the similarity between the solvent and the hydrophobic part of the IL, an aggregation structure was proposed.
Initial-value discrete suspension bridge analysis

Abstract A discrete formulation is presented for the analysis of suspension bridges. The resulting equations of equilibrium, which are nonlinear in the displacement terms, are solved by a Newton-Raphson procedure. The linear solution for each cycle of the Newton-Raphson method is treated as a set of linear initial-value problems. Numerical difficulties require that a suppression scheme be employed within each linearization. Numerical problems are presented for both stiffened and unstiffened structures and the results are compared with the findings of other investigators. The effects of hanger spacing on the results, especially in the end regions of the stiffening truss, are studied.
American women writers to 1800

This anthology captures the diversity of writings and experiences of women in early America. Representing women's writings in numerous generes (from letters and peitions to peotry and novels), the anthology offers rich ground for a radical rethinking of early American women's lives and writings, and challenges our assumptions about early America itself.
Estimating suspended sediment concentrations in turbid coastal waters of the Santa Barbara Channel with SeaWiFS

A technique is presented for estimating suspended sediment concentrations of turbid coastal waters with remotely sensed multi-spectral data. The method improves upon many standard techniques, since it incorporates analyses of multiple wavelength bands (four for Sea-viewing Wide Field of view Sensor (SeaWiFS)) and a nonlinear calibration, which produce highly accurate results (expected errors are approximately ±10%). Further, potential errors produced by erroneous atmospheric calibration in excessively turbid waters and influences of dissolved organic materials, chlorophyll pigments and atmospheric aerosols are limited by a dark pixel subtraction and removal of the violet to blue wavelength bands. Results are presented for the Santa Barbara Channel, California where suspended sediment concentrations ranged from 0–200+ mg l−1 (±20 mg l−1) immediately after large river runoff events. The largest plumes were observed 10–30 km off the coast and occurred immediately following large El Nino winter floods.
Using Mobile Agent-Based Middleware to Support Distributed Coordination for Vehicle Telematics

With an increasing number of vehicles equipped with embedded computing platforms and advanced wireless technology, general purpose vehicle telematics applications are highly promising. However, the implications of mobility and wireless technology, including frequent disconnection and variability in motion profiles and bandwidth availability, make the deployment of telematics applications on a rapid and dependable scale over mobile computing environments an extremely complex task. We present JNomad, a framework that integrates Jini technology with mobile agents to meet these deployment challenges.
"Vigilante Violence vs. Freedom of Choice in Marriage: The Foray/Zajazd in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth of the 18th Century"

The most famous poem in the Polish language, ‘Pan Tadeusz’ by Adam Mickiewicz, tells of the foray – an institution where the nobles might carry out acts of vigilante violence. Generally speaking, noble families would make use of the court system in search of justice, but if they could not gain justice within the courts system, they might seek vengeance through violent collective action. In some cases, the reason why estates were being raided and their inhabitants attacked was that noble families claimed to be defending the family honor. They might say that a lady's honor had been insulted if she were jilted at the altar or if she had been seduced into sexual activity when she was betrothed. The nobles might, on the other hand, feel that a widow who had freely chosen her new husband out of love had contracted a misalliance and that they – whether they were fathers, brothers or other relatives or interested parties – were determined to imprison the widow, to coerce her, and even to torture her to enforce th...
Tell me more: an actionable quality model for Wikipedia

In this paper we address the problem of developing actionable quality models for Wikipedia, models whose features directly suggest strategies for improving the quality of a given article. We first survey the literature in order to understand the notion of article quality in the context of Wikipedia and existing approaches to automatically assess article quality. We then develop classification models with varying combinations of more or less actionable features, and find that a model that only contains clearly actionable features delivers solid performance. Lastly we discuss the implications of these results in terms of how they can help improve the quality of articles across Wikipedia.