cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Production of active oxygen species (1O2 and O2-.) by psoralens and ultraviolet radiation (320-400 nm).

Abstract Furocoumarins (psoralens) are potent skin photosensitizing agents that are used in combination with long-wavelength ultraviolet radiation (320–400 nm) in the treatment of psoriasis and other skin diseases. Twelve linear and angular psoralens, capable of forming monofunctional and bifunctional adducts with DNA, were examined with a view to elucidate the role of 1 O 2 and O 2 ⨪ in evoking skin photosensitization reactions and skin carcinogenesis. The results showed that both linear psoralens (capable of forming interstrand cross-links) and isopsoralens (angular, monofunctional type) and 3-carbethoxypsoralen (a linear and monofunctional type) produced 1 O 2 and O 2 ⨪ , although at varying degrees. Psoralen and 3-carbethoxypsoralen produced 1 O 2 greater than isopsoralens (angelicins). However, nonphotosensitizing angelicin, 5-methyl-angelicin, and 4,8-dimethyl-5′-carboxypsoralen produced 1 O 2 greater than 8-methoxypsoralen and 5-methoxypsoralen. The three monofunctional angelicin derivatives (isopsoralens) produced more O 2 ⨪ than 8-methoxypsoralen, 5-methoxypsoralen, and 3,4′-dimethyl-8-methoxypsoralen. 3-Carbethoxypsoralen, a potent generator of 1 O 2 and a moderate producer of O 2 ⨪ , was highly photolabile. Until recently, skin photosensitization reactions (erythema, edema, damage to DNA or the membrane of cutaneous cells, the inhibition of scheduled DNA synthesis and skin carcinogenesis, etc.) were believed to involve photocyclo-addition of psoralens to DNA mediated by a type-I or anoxic reaction (a sensitizer-substrate interaction through the transfer of hydrogen atoms or electrons, but no direct involvement of molecular oxygen). Oxygen-dependent sensitized photodynamic reactions of type-II, involving the production of reactive oxygen ( 1 O 2 and O 2 ⨪ ), were believed not to mediate psoralen photosensitization reactions. We suggest that 1 O 2 and O 2 ⨪ may also participate in skin photosensitization and cell membrane-damaging reactions. The fact that certain monofunctional isopsoralens produce 1 O 2 and O 2 ⨪ at rates comparable to or better than bifunctional psoralens suggests that these reactive moieties of oxygen could play a major role in explaining their recently observed carcinogenic property and cell membrane-damaging reactions (e.g., edema or inflammation, etc.).
Deep defect structure and carrier dynamics in amorphous silicon and silicon-germanium alloys determined by transient photocapacitance methods

A detailed comparison between transient junction photocurrent and photocapacitance spectra can be used to examine separately the majority and minority carrier processes in amorphous semiconductors. Such methods are employed both on intrinsic samples of hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) and also amorphous silicon-germanium alloys (a-Si, Ge:H) with a Tauc gap near 1.3 eV. It is demonstrated how this method can be used not only to map out the deep defect distribution in such samples, but also to determine the effective μτ products for the minority carrier motion.
Capturing the process of critical reflective teaching practices through e-portfolios

This study examines aspects of professional development experiences of 19 Greek Fulbright teachers of humanities regarding schooling, learning and teaching as documented in e-portfolios completed during a project of academic course and fieldwork in the United States during their collective participation in an international professional development program. Multiple influences on teachers' learning were made visible in the portfolios: cross-cultural ideas about schooling, student-centered teaching practice, international mindedness, critical reflective practice, ongoing professional development, and changes and challenges. Action plans implemented in Greek schools and documented in e-portfolios enabled multiple stakeholders to examine project impact on teachers' thinking and educational practice, including the challenges and opportunities they encountered upon their return to Greece. Recommendations for using e-portfolios in international teacher professional development projects are offered.
Decreased left ventricular ejection fraction in transgenic mice expressing mutant cardiac troponin T-Q(92), responsible for human hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

The causality of mutant sarcomeric proteins in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is well established. The current emphasis is to elucidate the pathogenesis of HCM in transgenic animal models. We determined the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) in transgenic mice expressing mutant cardiac troponin T (cTnT)-Q(92), known to cause HCM in humans. Transgenes were constructed by placing wild-type (R(92)) or mutant (Q(92)) full-length human cTnT cDNAs 3' into a 5.5-kb murine [alpha -myosin heavy chain (MyHC)] promoter injected into fertilized zygotes. Three wild-type and six mutant lines were produced. Transgene mRNA and proteins, detected using transgene-specific probes were expressed at high levels in all wild-type and three mutant lines. The total cTnT mRNA pool was increased by up to five-fold in transgenic mice, but the total cTnT protein remained unchanged. The mean values of LVEF, determined by(178)Ta radionuclide angiography, were 57.8+/-6% (n=4) in non-transgenic littermate (NLM), 53.3+/-10 (n=6) in wild-type and 39. 4+/-6 (n=5) in mutant transgenic mice (P=0.009). The heart/body weight ratios and the number of cells stained with terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT)-mediated nick end-labeling were similar among the groups. Three mutant mice had myocyte disarray and excess interstitial collagen and two had normal myocardial structure despite having reduced LVEF. Thus, in vivo expression of the mutant cTnT-Q(92)protein, responsible for human HCM, impaired global cardiac systolic function in transgenic mice, which also occurred in the absence of myocyte disarray and increased interstitial collagen.
Use of Advanced Meteorological Model Output for Coastal Ocean Modeling in Puget Sound

It is a great challenge to specify meteorological forcing in estuarine and coastal circulation modeling using observed data because of the lack of complete datasets. As a result of this limitation, water temperature is often not simulated in estuarine and coastal modeling, with the assumption that density-induced currents are generally dominated by salinity gradients. However, in many situations, temperature gradients could be sufficiently large to influence the baroclinic motion. In this paper, we present an approach to simulate water temperature using outputs from advanced meteorological models. This modeling approach was applied to simulate annual variations of water temperatures of Puget Sound, a fjordal estuary in the Pacific Northwest of USA. Meteorological parameters from North American Region Re-analysis (NARR) model outputs were evaluated with comparisons to observed data at real-time meteorological stations. Model results demonstrated that NARR outputs can be used to drive coastal ocean models f...
976-15 Assessment of Pacing Maneuvers to Validate Anterograde Accessory Pathway Potentials

Four pacing maneuvers have been proposed to validate anterograde accessory potentials (APP): 1) atrial pacing to induce complete block between the atrial electrogram (Egm) and the APP; 2) atrial pacing to induce complete block between the APP and the ventricular Egm; 3) ventricular pacing to advance the ventricular Egm without altering the timing of the APP; 4) ventricular pacing to advance the APP without altering the timing of the atrial Egm. The purpose of this study was to determine the specificity of these validation techniques by applying them to split Egm's known, based on the location of the recording site, to consist of two atrial components. In 23 patients undergoing an electrophysiology test, a double atrial Egm was recorded in the high, lateral right atrium, mid lateral right atrium, right atrial appendage or the right atrium-inferior vena cava junction. The two atrial Egm components were 54 ± 15 msec apart at baseline. In each patient, critically timed atrial or ventricular premature depolarizations resulted in complete block between the second atrial component and the ventricular Egm, advancement of the ventricular Egm without altering the timing of the second atrial component, and advancement of the second atrial component by 10 – 35 msec without altering the timing of the first component. In no case could complete block be induced between the two components of the atrial Egm. In conclusion, among the four criteria proposed to validate anterograde APP's, the only one which may be specific for an APP is the induction of complete block between the atrial Egm and the APP.
The impacts of future climate and carbon dioxide changes on the average and variability of US maize yields under two emission scenarios

The United States is the largest producer of maize in the world, a crop for which demand continues to rise rapidly. Past studies have projected that climate change will negatively impact mean maize yields in this region, while at the same time increasing yield variability. However, some have questioned the accuracy of these projections because they are often based on indirect measures of soil moisture, have failed to explicitly capture the potential interactions between temperature and soil moisture availability, and often omit the beneficial effects of elevated carbon dioxide (CO2) on transpiration efficiency. Here we use a new detailed dataset on field-level yields in Iowa, Indiana, and Illinois, along with fine-resolution daily weather data and moisture reconstructions, to evaluate the combined effects of moisture and heat on maize yields in the region. Projected climate change scenarios over this region from a suite of CMIP5 models are then used to assess future impacts and the differences between two contrasting emissions scenarios (RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5). We show that (i) statistical models which explicitly account for interactions between heat and moisture, which have not been represented in previous empirical models, lead to significant model improvement and significantly higher projected yield variability under warming and drying trends than when accounting for each factor independently; (ii) inclusion of the benefits of elevated CO2 significantly reduces impacts, particularly for yield variability; and (iii) net damages from climate change and CO2 become larger for the higher emission scenario in the latter half of the 21st century, and significantly so by the end of century.
Online subspace learning and nonlinear classification of Big Data with misses

‘Big Data’ classification is hindered by the large volume of often high-dimensional data, missing or absent features and, in streaming operation, the need for real-time processing. This paper aims at learning a kernelized support-vector-machine (SVM) classifier from (generally nonlinearly separable) large-scale incomplete data ‘on the fly.’ Leveraging the low-rank attribute of the (even incomplete) data matrix, a novel online algorithm is developed for tracking the latent linear subspace jointly with the nonlinear classifier. Tailored for big data applications, dimensionality reduction based on the learned subspace is carried out online, while at the same time seeking the classifier in the reduced dimension. Performance analysis along with preliminary tests corroborate the effectiveness of the novel approach.
STRATEGIES FOR ENHANCING SERVICES QUALITY

Everybody pays lip service to service quality. A few have invested the level of effort required to make a difference. This article examines the impact that service quality has on corporate performance. The article also summarizes why so many have underestimated the challenge of improving service quality. Finally the article presents some strategies which have helped companies in building or rebuilding the quality of service that customers expect.
Fibrous Proteins of Bovine Hoof

The matrix region of calf hoof was identified as the living precursor layer of the hardened hoof plate. Fibrous protein was isolated from the matrix with citrate buffer, pH. 2.65, while Tris buffer, pH. 9.5, with 8 M urea and a reducing agent was required to dissolve the cornified hoof. The purified matrix protein had a sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoretic pattern similar to hoof plate and different from bovine epidermis. When the s-carboxymethyl derivatives of matrix, hoof plate, and hair proteins was compared by urea-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, they were identical, and different from that of epidermal protein. The matrix protein reacted with an antibody to hair fibrous protein. Cultured matrix keratinocytes appeared to be identical to cultured epidermal cells, pointing to the importance of the dermis in epidermal cell differentiation.
Extending Summation Precision for Network Reduction Operations

Double precision summation is at the core of numerous important algorithms such as Newton-Krylov methods and other operations involving inner products, but the effectiveness of summation is limited by the accumulation of rounding errors, which are an increasing problem with the scaling of modern HPC systems and data sets. To reduce the impact of precision loss, researchers have proposed increased- and arbitrary-precision libraries that provide reproducible error or even bounded error accumulation for large sums, but do not guarantee an exact result. Such libraries can also increase computation time significantly. We propose big integer (BigInt) expansions of double precision variables that enable arbitrarily large summations without error and provide exact and reproducible results. This is feasible with performance comparable to that of double-precision floating point summation, by the inclusion of simple and inexpensive logic into modern NICs to accelerate performance on large-scale systems.
The enzyme histochemistry of isoproterenol-induced salivary gland hyperplasia

Abstract Recent biochemical studies in isoproterenol (ISOP)-induced salivary gland hyperplasia have shown that ISOP selectively enhanced the appearance of enzymes necessary for the synthesis of DNA. These studies have prompted a histochemical investigation of the enzyme activities in ISOP-induced salivary gland hyperplasia in the rat. Diminished activity of cytoplasmic oxidases—glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, alpha-glycerophosphate dehydrogenase, and lactate dehydrogenase—was noted in the secretory ducts of ISOP-treated animals. Slight reduction of mitochondrial oxidases, namely, succinate dehydrogenase, NADH diaphorase, and cytochrome oxidase, was noted in both excretory and secretory ducts of ISOP-treated animals. Hydrolytic enzyme activity was, for the most part, similar in control and experimental animals.
Automated Compliance Checking of Construction Operation Plans Using a Deontology for the Construction Domain

AbstractAutomated compliance checking (ACC) in the construction domain continues to be a challenge. Current ACC systems do not provide the level of knowledge representation and reasoning that is needed to efficiently interpret applicable norms (e.g., laws, regulations, contractual requirements, advisory practices) and check conformance of designs and operations to those interpretations. In this paper, the authors explore a new approach to ACC and propose to apply theoretical and computational developments in the fields of deontology, deontic logic, and natural language processing to the problem of compliance checking in construction. Deontology is a theory of rights and obligations, and deontic logic is a branch of modal logic that deals with obligations, prohibitions, and permissions. This paper focuses on presenting a deontology for ACC in construction. The deontic model is composed of a hierarchy of normative concepts, interconcept relations, and deontic axioms (rules represented using deontic logic). ...
Molecular Basis of ChvE Function in Sugar Binding, Sugar Utilization, and Virulence in Agrobacterium tumefaciens

ChvE is a chromosomally encoded protein in Agrobacterium tumefaciens that mediates a sugar-induced increase in virulence (vir) gene expression through the activities of the VirA/VirG two-component system and has also been suggested to be involved in sugar utilization. The ChvE protein has homology to several bacterial periplasmic sugar-binding proteins, such as the ribose-binding protein and the galactose/glucose-binding protein of Escherichia coli. In this study, we provide direct evidence that ChvE specifically binds the vir gene-inducing sugar D-glucose with high affinity. Furthermore, ChvE mutations resulting in altered vir gene expression phenotypes have been isolated and characterized. Three distinct categories of mutants have been identified. Strains expressing the first class are defective in both virulence and D-glucose utilization as a result of mutations to residues lining the sugar-binding cleft. Strains expressing a second class of mutants are not adversely affected in sugar binding but are defective in virulence, presumably due to impaired interactions with the sensor kinase VirA. A subset of this second class of mutants includes variants of ChvE that also result in defective sugar utilization. We propose that these mutations affect not only interactions with VirA but also interactions with a sugar transport system. Examination of a homology model of ChvE shows that the mutated residues associated with the latter two phenotypes lie in two overlapping solvent-exposed sites adjacent to the sugar-binding cleft where conformational changes associated with the binding of sugar might have a maximal effect on ChvE’s interactions with its distinct protein partners. Virulent strains of Agrobacterium tumefaciens contain the tumor-inducing (Ti) plasmid that carries virulence (vir) operons. Products of vir operons are involved in infecting wound sites of dicotyledonous plants and initiating tumor formation. The expression of vir genes in A. tumefaciens is activated by plant-released signals, namely, phenolic derivatives, acidic pH, and monosaccharides (for a review, see reference 6), via the combined activities of the periplasmic protein ChvE and the VirA/VirG two-component regulatory system. Upon perception of these plant signals, autophosphorylated VirA, a transmembrane histidine kinase, transfers a phosphoryl group to VirG, a response regulator, and then the phosphorylated VirG activates the expression of vir genes by binding vir boxes in their promoters (8, 19, 24, 31, 52). Perception and transduction of the sugar signals is crucial to the virulence of A. tumefaciens: strains lacking ChvE, a chro
Preschoolers' Ability to Distinguish Living Kinds as a Function of Regrowth

In order to acquire a theory of biology, children must acquire knowledge about living kinds. Although many studies have shown that preschool children do not accurately classify living kinds and do not use appropriate properties when asked to decide whether something is a living kind, recent work has shown that 3- and 4-year-olds do know something about biological growth. The ability of kinds to heal through regrowth was used in this paper as a measure of children's implicit understanding that plants and animals can be grouped together. In 3 experiments, children were told that animals, plants, and artifacts had been damaged and were asked whether the objects could heal through regorwth and whether a person could mend them. In all studies, children were sensitive to ontological kind, 4-year-olds realized that both plants and animals can regrow but that artifacts must be fixed by human intervention. 3-year-olds were less knowledgeable but did realize that artifacts cannot regrow. Overall, children showed some biological knowledge, implicity grouping plants and animals together and differentiating them from artifacts.
Scanning tunnelling microscopy studies of heteroepitaxy: CaF2 on Si(111)

SUMMARY We apply scanning tunnelling microscopy and tunnelling spectroscopy to study the initial stages of CaF2 epitaxy on Si(111)-(7×7) for a range of deposition temperatures. We find that deposition at surface temperatures <700°C leads to CaF2 clustering. At temperatures between 750 and 800°C two new structures, a 2×3 and a (√3 X √3***)R30°, are observed. Tunnelling spectra and topographs obtained at different energies allow us to measure interface band gaps, and determine the valence state of Ca bonded directly to silicon and the valence state of Ca in the second layer. More importantly, we demonstrate that STM can be used to image thick insulating layers of CaF2 by tunnelling into the conduction band of the films. One of our goals in this study has been to test the ability of STM to image insulating multilayers. It is generally believed that STM cannot be applied to insulators. We find, however, that despite the large band gap of ∼12 eV, the CaF2 conduction band is accessible, and that insulating films can be imaged by STM.
Fibrinogen may mediate the association between long sleep duration and coronary heart disease

Summary Long sleep duration has been associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and all-cause mortality. Inflammation and coagulation have been hypothesized as possible physiological pathways to explain this association, although specific biomarkers have not been studied. Using longitudinal data from 3942 postmenopausal women in the Women's Health Initiative observational study and clinical trials, we investigated whether fibrinogen, an acute-phase inflammatory protein involved in blood clotting, mediates the associations between sleep duration and coronary heart disease (CHD) and mortality among women. Fibrinogen levels were associated positively with self-reported long sleep duration (9+ h per night), CHD and all-cause mortality, even after adjustment for a range of sociodemographic characteristics, cardiovascular risk factors and comorbidities.Compared with self-reported 7–8 h per night sleep duration, self-reported long sleep duration was associated with increased odds of CHD [odds ratio (OR) = 2.05, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.02–4.11]. Adjustment for fibrinogen levels reduced the increased odds of CHD associated with long sleep by approximately 8 percentage points (OR = 1.97, 95% CI: 0.98–3.97). A similar reduction in the OR was observed with mortality. For both outcomes there is support for partial mediation of 6–7%, suggesting that fibrinogen may be a mechanism through which long sleep duration is associated with CHD and mortality.
Micromolding of photocrosslinkable hyaluronic acid for cell encapsulation and entrapment

Micropatterning of hydrogels is potentially useful for a variety of applications, including tissue engineering, fundamental biological studies, diagnostics, and high-throughput screening. Although synthetic polymers have been developed for these applications, natural polymers such as polysaccharides may have advantages for biological samples and cell-based devices because they are natural components of the in vivo microenvironment. In this study, we synthesized and used hyaluronic acid (HA) modified with photoreactive methacrylates to fabricate microstructures as functional components of microfabricated devices. To demonstrate the universality of this approach, two types of microstructures were formed. In the first approach, HA microstructures were fabricated and used as docking templates to enable the subsequent formation of cell microarrays within low shear stress regions of the patterns. Cells within these microwells remained viable, could generate spheroids, and could be retrieved using mechanical disruption. In the second approach, cells were encapsulated directly within the HA hydrogels. Arrays of viable embryonic stem (ES) cells or fibroblasts were encapsulated within HA hydrogels and could later be recovered using enzymatic digestion of the microstructures. These results demonstrate that it is possible to incorporate photocrosslinkable HA, a natural, versatile, degradable, and biocompatible biopolymer, into micro-electromechanical systems.
Molecular Insights Into μ Opioid Pharmacology: From the Clinic to the Bench

Most of the opioids used in clinical practice exert their effects through mu opioid receptors. Yet, subtle but important pharmacological differences have been observed among the mu opioids. Their potency, effectiveness, and adverse effects can vary unpredictably among patients. These clinical differences among the mu opioids strongly argue against a single receptor mediating their actions. The cloning of the mu opioid receptor has greatly enhanced our understanding of the complexity of this system and has provided possible mechanisms to explain these observations. A single mu opioid receptor gene has been identified, but we now know that it generates a multitude of different mu opioid receptor subtypes through a mechanism commonly used to enhance protein diversity, alternative splicing. Early studies identified a number of splice variants involving the tip of the C-terminus. This region of the receptor is far away from the binding pocket, explaining why these variants still exhibit the same selectivity for mu opioids. However, the differences in structure at the C-terminus influence the activation patterns of the mu opioids. In addition, a second series of variants has been isolated that involves alternative splicing at the N-terminus. Together, these sets of mu opioid receptor splice variants may help explain the clinical variability of the mu drugs among patients and provide insights into why it is so important to individualize therapy for every patient in pain.
Fano line shape and anti-crossing of Raman active E2g peaks in the charge density wave state of NbSe2

Abstract Low energy Raman scattering from the ab-plane of the 2H polytype single crystal NbSe2 has been investigated in the normal (N), incommensurate charge density wave (ICDW) and superconducting (SC) phases. The temperature dependence of the polarization resolved Raman response has been obtained for the excitation wavelength of 647 nm and fitted to phenomenological models for the E2g and A1g symmetry channels. The A1g response can be fitted by a simple damped oscillator peak superimposed on continuous background. The E2g response displays an anti-resonance interference pattern between the inter-layer phonon and the CDW-induced mode such that a hybridized configuration (Fano line shape [1] ) is required for modelling. The polarization specific peak maxima positions and line widths as a function of temperature, deduced in this manner, are presented. Partial suppression of the electronic continuum scattering in the Raman shift range up to 110 cm−1 in the A1g symmetry channel and beyond 300 cm−1 in the E2g symmetry channel is indicative of high energy electronic states far away from the Fermi surface participating in the ICDW formation.
Mating strategies in a Darwinian microworld: simulating the consequences of female reproductive refractoriness

Characteristic sex differences in mating strategies (e.g., choosy females, unselective males) have been claimed by Trivers and other theorists to evolve as an automatic consequence of sex differences in minimum parental investment, arising chiefly from greater female reproductive refractoriness. The theory has been supported by correlational evidence and conceptual analogies to economics. A simulated evolution experiment was performed to provide a clearer test of whether female reproductive refractoriness alone can drive the emergence of differences in mating selectivity. A population of male and female replicators initially differed only in that females were unavailable to mate for a fixed period prior to the appearance of offspring. Over succeeding generations, females evolved far greater selectivity than males with respect to the longevity of potential mates. This greater selectivity was relatively robust with respect to population and genetic parameters, but quantitatively unstable with realistic breeding population sizes.
In vivo expression of a nonselected gene transferred into murine hematopoietic stem cells by electroporation

Summary Mouse bone marrow cells were subjected to electroporation in the presence of RSVCAT and SV2NEO plasmids. CAT activity was detected in the G-418 resistant granulocyte-macrophage colonies. RSVCAT electroporated into primary bone marrow cells, repopulated lethally irradiated mice as demonstrated by the persistence of CAT activity in the hematopoietic tissues showing that electroporation can offer a powerful mode of gene transfer into bone marrow cells.
Synthesis, structural characterization and photocatalytic performance of mesoporous W-MCM-48.

Tungsten-containing mesoporous MCM-48 was synthesized by a rapid and facile room-temperature procedure. The mesoporous structure and the local environment of tungsten species were studied by powder X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, nitrogen adsorption isotherms, UV−visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, and Raman spectrometry. The long-range ordered mesoporous structure of MCM-48 was well preserved after tungsten incorporation. Tungsten oxide species were highly dispersed in the MCM-48 matrix, and no bulk crystalline WO3 was formed. The as-prepared W-MCM-48 materials show notable photocatalytic activity for hydrogen evolution from a methanol−water mixture under UV irradiation though bulk WO3 is not active for the reaction. The photocatalytic mechanism was studied by electron spin resonance spectroscopy.
Pseudocysts of the mandibular condyle

The panoramic radiographs of 507 consecutive patients receiving comprehensive dental treatment were evaluated for the presence of radiolucencies in the mandibular condyles. Nine patients met the study criteria. Five patients had bilateral and four patients had unilateral circumscribed radiolucencies in the anterior aspect of the condyle. Computerized tomography confirmed that these radiolucencies were age-related anatomic variants that were accentuated and distorted during panoramic radiography.
Synergistic effects of carbon fillers on tensile and impact properties in nylon 6,6 and polycarbonate based resins

Electrically and thermally conductive resins can be produced by adding conductive fillers to insulating polymers. Mechanical properties such as tensile modulus, ultimate tensile strength, strain at ultimate tensile strength, and notched Izod impact strength are also important and cannot be ignored. This research focused on performing compounding runs followed by injection molding and tensile and impact property testing of carbon filled nylon 6,6 and polycarbonate based resins. The three carbon fillers investigated included an electrically conductive carbon black, synthetic graphite particles, and a milled pitch based carbon fiber. For each polymer, resins were produced and tested that contained varying amounts of these single carbon fillers. In addition, combinations of fillers were investigated by conducting a full 23 factorial design and a complete replicate in each polymer. The objective of this paper was to determine the effects and interactions of each filler on the tensile and impact properties. The results showed that, in many cases, combining two and three different fillers caused a statistically significant effect at the 95% confidence level. Polym. Compos. 25:172–185, 2004. © 2004 Society of Plastics Engineers.
DIVERSIFICATION IN THE REAL ESTATE PORTFOLIO

This study investigates primarily the relationship between portfolio size and the reduction of return variation in real estate portfolios and attempts to provide some notion of what represents an “adequate” level of naive diversification. The study also examines the proportional components of the total risk in real estate investment. The results provide information on the relative percentage of total risk accounted for by systematic or “market” factors.
Zero-shear-rate viscosity measurements for polymer solutions by falling ball viscometry

Abstract Falling ball viscometry experiments were carried out for three polymer solutions. The data were analyzed following eight different methods available in the literature for obtaining the zero-shear-rate viscosity. It is concluded that the procedures involving extrapolation of the natural logarithm of the apparent viscosity to zero characteristic shear stress is the most reliable technique for obtaining an estimate of the zero-shear-rate viscosity.
176 FETAL SHEEP PLASMA INSULIN CONCENTRATION AND UMBILICAL LACTATE UPTAKE

To determine the relationship between fetal and maternal plasma insulin concentrations (If, Im) and umbilical uptake of glucose (Qg) and lactate (Ql) in sheep, 6 ewes of 120-130 days gestation were prepared with indwelling catheters in the umbilical vein, fetal pedal artery and vein, and maternal uterine and femoral arteries. Fed state Qg, Ql, If, and I were determined at intervals from the 2nd to the 11th postoperative day (POD). Qg and Ql were determined by the Fick principle employing steady state diffusion of antipyrine to determine umbilical blood flow. Studies were performed before (control n=15) and after (n=15) the perfusion of the uterine artery with ovine insulin 7.5 mU/kg ewe/30 min. Insulin was measured by radioimmunoassay. Results: Control If and Im in μ U/ml increased with increasing POD as described by the following regression equations: If = 0.76 POD + 3.74, (F ratio, p < .025), and Im = 1.86 POD + 8.61, (p < .05). Uterine artery insulin infusion increased Im but did not affect If or Ql. The postoperative increase in If from 5.5-16.0μ μ U/ml was associated with a decrease in Ql in mM/min/kg fetus: Ql = -0.004 If + 0.072 (p < .025). Qg was unrelated to POD, Ql, or If. Conclusions: These studies (1) confirm the lack of ovine insulin transfer across the ovine placenta in vivo, (2) demonstrate increasing Im and If for as long as 11 days after surgery and resumption of maternal nutrition, and (3) show that umbilical lactate uptake is inversely related to fetal plasma insulin concentration, but is independent of umbilical glucose uptake and of maternal plasma insulin concentration.
Size control, metal substitution, and catalytic application of cryptomelane nanomaterials prepared using cross-linking reagents

A novel sol−gel-assisted solid-state synthetic method has been developed to prepare pure and transition-metal-substituted cryptomelane 1D nanomaterials with controlled particle sizes. Different cross-linking reagents (PVA, glycerol, or glucose) have been used to prepare precursor powder materials and to produce nanorods, nanoneedles, or nanowires. The phase transformation, crystal structures, and properties of these nanomaterials have been investigated using a variety of characterization techniques including XRD, TEM, SEM, FT-IR, TGA, and BET surface area measurement. Both the cross-linking reagents and nitrate were found to affect the crystalline phase transformation of the nanomaterials. The cryptomelane phase was formed around 500−600 °C in the nanomaterials depending on the type of cross-linking reagent used. The nanoscale materials exhibit long-range ordered structures along the b axis. No cross-linking reagent residues were found in the final products after the reactions were complete. Several types...
Hard wall imaging of objects hidden by non-penetrating obstacles using time reversal technique

One of the important current problems is imaging and detection of objects hidden by obscuring non-penetrating obstacles. There have been extensive research on “through wall imaging”, but our interest is focused on imaging objects which are obscured by non-penetrating obstacles such as “hard wall”. The hard wall imaging may have potential applications in many problems of practical interest such as objects behind hard walls near terrain.
The maternal cortisol awakening response in human pregnancy is associated with the length of gestation.

Objective The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between intraindividual changes in cortisol responsiveness over pregnancy and the length of human gestation. Study Design Pregnancy-related changes in the cortisol awakening response (CAR), which is a measure of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis responsiveness, were assessed prospectively in 101 pregnant women at 16.8 ± 1.4 weeks' and 31.4 ± 1.3 weeks' (±SD) gestation. Cortisol was measured in saliva that was collected immediately and +30, +45 and +60 minutes after awakening. Results The CAR was significant in pregnancy and exhibited progressive attenuation over the course of gestation. A larger CAR in late pregnancy and reduced attenuation of the CAR from early to late gestation were associated significantly with shorter gestational length. Conclusion The findings are the first to suggest that the hormonal (cortisol) response to a naturally occurring challenge (awakening) and the degree of attenuation of this response over the course of gestation may represent a novel biomarker of increased vulnerability for earlier birth.
An improved reduced-rank CFAR space-time adaptive radar detection algorithm

The CFAR test developed in previous work is a normalized ratio test for signals in nonwhite Gaussian noise. However, in the airborne radar environment, the noise consists of strong interference and a relatively weak thermal noise, in the case of a large interference-to-thermal noise ratio, this test can be simplified to the reduced-rank CFAR test developed previously, which operates in an interference-free subspace without the need for matrix inversion operations. This test is extended in this paper to one that includes both the primary and secondary data as defined by Bose and Steinhardt (see ibid., vol.43, p.2164-75, 1995), it is also shown that this test can be modified to obtain a dramatically improved performance. A much smaller amount of sample data is needed in this new improved algorithm to achieve a given probability of detection than is required by this test. Finally, the performance of this new reduced-rank CFAR test statistic is analyzed, and a simulation is performed for an example scenario in order to validate the theoretical results.
Emotional intelligence: enhancing value-based practice and compassionate care in nursing

Commentary on: Rankin B. Emotional intelligence: enhancing values-based practice and compassionate care in nursing. J Adv Nurs 2013;69:2717–25.[OpenUrl][1][CrossRef][2][PubMed][3] Nursing school admission officers and educators alike have expressed growing interest in criteria for admission to nursing school beyond those traditionally used (standardised testing scores and previous academic achievement). This interest has grown in a care climate where a greater need for human-centred caring (the patient's experience … [1]: {openurl}?query=rft.jtitle%253DJ%2BAdv%2BNurs%26rft.volume%253D69%26rft.spage%253D2717%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Adoi%252F10.1111%252Fjan.12161%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Apmid%252F23621353%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [2]: /lookup/external-ref?access_num=10.1111/jan.12161&link_type=DOI [3]: /lookup/external-ref?access_num=23621353&link_type=MED&atom=%2Febnurs%2F18%2F1%2F8.atom
Alternative strategies of space use and response to resource change in a wintering migrant songbird

The causes and consequences of nonbreeding space-use strategies are poorly understood. We studied 2 alternatives, sedentary and floating behaviors, in a wintering population of the Ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapilla), a Neotropical‐Nearctic migrant, in response to manipulated and natural variation in food availability over 4 years in Jamaica, West Indies. Using radio transmitters, we documented in sedentary individuals use of a fixed home range, greatly overlapping those of neighbors, as well as core areas that overlapped little, suggesting that Ovenbirds defend the core of their home range as a territory. Floaters included individuals with multiple disjoined home ranges and individuals that undertook frequent excursions, but floaters always occupied relatively large feeding areas. Floaters comprised 8‐17% of the population, and in some individuals, the behavior persisted in multiple winters, but the behaviors were not sex or age restricted. Sedentary birds were attracted to artificial feeding stations located within their home range. However, reduction of food availability did not induce sedentary individuals to expand or shift their home range or to adopt floater behaviors. By contrast, floaters appeared better able to exploit seasonal or experimentally induced variation in food availability by matching their space use to the resources. The physical consequences of these alternative wintering strategies were situation dependent: Whereas body mass of territorial birds was positively correlated with food availability, floaters showed the opposite response, with higher mass in food-reduced situations. These results suggest that alternative behaviors represent a trade-off in response to resource availability. Key words: alternative strategies, floater, food supply, home range, Jamaica, migrant songbird, nonbreeding, Ovenbird, Seiurus aurocapilla, trade-off, winter. [Behav Ecol]
A study of secondary scattering

A quantitative treatment of the influence of secondary scattering on light scattering is presented and experimentally verified. It is shown that secondary scattering accounts for the apparent shortening of the cell dimensions and for the large apparent depolarizations found previously by other workers when using highly turbid solutions as calibration standards. Methods for obtaining the correct calibration constant and depolarization are suggested.
Comparative Effects of Thyroxin Analogues as Hypocholesteremic Agents

L-thyroxin and four thyroxin analogues were administered to a group of hypercholesteremic euthyroid patients, the majority with arteriosclerotic heart disease, and the effects on serum total cholesterol compared. L-thyroxin and each of the analogues studied, tetraiodothyroformic acid, dimethyldiiodothyroformic acid, D-thyroxin and D-triiodothyronine, were given to four to nine patients for periods up to 10 months. At the doses employed each of the analogues resulted in a reduction in the mean level of serum cholesterol without obvious evidence of hypermetabolism or aggravation of angina pectoris or congestive heart failure. The reduced level of serum cholesterol was sustained throughout the period of hormone administration, and upon the substitution of a placebo returned to the pretreatment range. L-thyroxin, at the dose employed, also effected a modest sustained reduction in serum cholesterol but both patients with angina included in this group experienced an increase in severity of symptoms. Except for ...
The Partnership in Teacher Excellence Program: A District-University Collaboration to Create Teacher Leaders

This article describes the conditions for establishing an advanced master’s degree program that focuses on teacherleadership. The creation of the model is examined from the perspective of nine administrators from EanesIndependent School District in Austin, Texas, and Texas State University – San Marcos. These administratorscollaborated to design the Partnership in Teacher Excellence Program (PTEP), with the purpose of developingteacher leaders who would become experts in their subject areas, deliver high-quality classroom instruction to theirK-12 students, provide ongoing professional development to their colleagues in the district, and serve in a variety ofteacher leadership roles. Emerging from anecdotal evidence are positive results that confirm the administrators’efforts to develop PTEP.
Chondromyxoid Fibroma of the Proximal Phalanx. A Tumour that may be Confused with Chondrosarcoma

Chondromyxoid fibroma is a rare benign tumour of chondral origin. The diagnosis is difficult, but as Jaffe emphasized, "its recognition is of some importance in that pathologically it may be mistaken for sarcoma and, as such, treated more radically than is necessary" (Jaffe, 1948). Salzer (1965) found only 136 cases in the world literature since 1948 when Jaffe defined the criteria for their histological diagnosis. Only six cases of chondromyxoid fibroma have been reported involving the hand (Frank, Rockwood, 1969; Zatyepin, Klimova, Lipkin, Perety, 1979).
Structures for digital filter banks

Signal processing structures, incorporating one and two digital filter banks (DFB's), are examined with the aid of a polyphase transform that is defined. Convenient matrix descriptions for DFB structures and the short-time Fourier transform are obtained. A condition for decimation in DFB's without aliasing is obtained and shown to be equivalent to shift invariance. Certain commonly employed filter banks with real and complex structures age seen to admit realization with the low noise, memory efficient SIDO filter structure.
Documentation of the Mantleslugs Philomycus carolinianus and Megapallifera mutabilis (Gastropoda: Philomycidae) in Wisconsin

Evidence for the presence of the native philomycid slugs Philomycus carolinianus (Carolina Mantleslug) and Megapallifera mutabilis (Changeable Mantleslug) in Wisconsin is given through data on body length, external morphology, traits of the jaw, color pattern, genital morphology, and comparison to the known distribution data for members of the genera. These are the first published records from Wisconsin for these two species.
Codon usage divergence of homologous vertebrate genes and codon usage clock

This paper is concerned with the divergence of synonymous codon usage and its bias in three homologous genes within vertebrate species. Genetic distances among species are described in terms of synonymous codon usage divergence and the correlation is found between the genetic distances and taxonomic distances among species under study. A codon usage clock is reported in alphaglobin and beta-globin. A method is developed to define the synonymous codon preference bias and it is observed that the bias changes considerably among species.
VIBRATIONAL SPECTRA AND NORMAL COORDINATE ANALYSIS OF 4-(DIMETHYLAMINO)BENZALDEHYDE AND SELECTED ISOTOPIC DERIVATIVES

Abstract Results of a normal coordinate analysis based on infrared and Raman spectra of six isotopic forms of 4-(dimethylamino)benzaldehyde are reported (DABA, DABA-CDO, DABA-13CDO, DABA-13CHO, DABA-CH18O, and DABA-3,5-D). Cs point group symmetry has been applied and all motions except the internal rotations of the dimethylamino and the two methyl groups have been used to generate symmetry coordinates. The potential energy distributions have lead to revision and extension of previous assignments. The force field and the forms of the normal modes are in excellent agreement with those reported for similar molecules.
A nerve cuff technique for selective excitation of peripheral nerve trunk regions

The numerical modeling and experimental testing of a nerve cuff technique for selective stimulation of superficial peripheral nerve trunk regions are presented. Two basic electrode configurations ('snug' cuff monopolar and tripolar longitudinally aligned dots) have been considered. In addition, the feasibility of steering excitation into superficial nerve trunk regions using subthreshold levels of current flow from an electrode dot located on the opposite side of the nerve has been tested. The modeling objectives were to solve for the electric field that would be generated within a representative nerve trunk by each electrode configuration and to use a simple nerve cable model to predict the effectiveness of each configuration in producing localized excitation. In three acute experiments on cat sciatic nerve the objective was to characterize the effectiveness of each electrode configuration in selectively activating only the medial gastrocnemius muscle. Modeling and experimentation both suggest that longitudinally aligned tripolar dot electrodes on the surface of a nerve trunk, and bounded by a layer of insulation (such as a nerve cuff), will restrict excitation to superficial nerve trunk regions more successfully than will monopolar dot electrodes. Excitation steering will improve the spatial selectivity of monopolar and tripolar electrode configurations. >