cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Social Life of Hagiography in the Merovingian Kingdom

This book charts the influence of Christian ideas about social responsibility on the legal, fiscal and operational policies of the Merovingian government, which consistently depended upon the collaboration of kings and elites to succeed, and it shows how a set of stories transformed the political playing field in early medieval Gaul. Contemporary thinkers encouraged this development by writing political arguments in the form of hagiography, more to redefine the rules and resources of elite culture than to promote saints' cults. Jamie Kreiner explores how hagiographers were able to do this effectively, by layering their arguments with different rhetorical and cognitive strategies while keeping the surface narratives entertaining. The result was a subtle and captivating literature that gives us new ways of thinking about how ideas and institutions can change, and how the vibrancy of Merovingian culture inspired subsequent Carolingian developments.
Ants in parking lots

Ants provide an attractive metaphor for robots that "cooperate" to perform complex tasks. This paper is a step toward understanding the algorithmic concomitants of this metaphor, the strengths and weaknesses of ant-based computation models.We study the ability of finite-state ant-robots to scalably perform a simple path-planning task called parking, within fixed, geographically constrained environments ("factory floors"). This task: (1) has each ant head for its nearest corner of the floor and (2) has all ants within a corner organize into a maximally compact formation. Even without (digital analogues of) pheromones, many initial configurations of ants can park, including: (a) a single ant situated along an edge of the floor; (b) any assemblage of ants that begins with two designated adjacent ants. In contrast, a single ant in the middle of (even a one-dimensional) floor cannot park, even with the help of (volatile digital) pheromones.
Multiple myeloma: significance of plasmablastic subtype in morphological classification.

We classified 100 cases of myeloma before chemotherapy as mature (28), intermediate (38), immature (19), or plasmablastic (15). The plasmablastic group had an estimated median survival (Kaplan-Meier method) of ten months, compared to 35 months for the other types (P less than .05). Decreased survival in the plasmablastic group was due to more frequent deaths in the first six months. There were no significant differences in survival among the mature, intermediate, and immature groups or among patients with different morphological grade or asynchrony scores. The plasmablastic myeloma group had more frequent renal insufficiency and higher plasma cell labeling indices, which may have contributed to the shorter survival.
Direct inhibition of hypothalamic proopiomelanocortin neurons by dynorphin A is mediated by the μ-opioid receptor

Key points Dynorphin A inhibits anorexigenic hypothalamic proopiomelanocortin neurons by activating a potassium conductance. Although dynorphin A is considered selective for κ-opioid receptors, the present data show that the dynorphin A-induced potassium conductance is reversed by a μ-opioid receptor-selective antagonist and is absent in mice lacking functional μ-opioid receptors. Thus, μ-opioid receptors mediate the inhibition of proopiomelanocortin neurons caused by dynorphin A, consistent with other studies showing that κ-opioid receptor-selective agonists and antagonists can act at the μ-opioid receptor when used at sufficiently high concentrations. The results indicate that if dynorphin A inhibits proopiomelanocortin neurons to increase food intake, it does so either by activating μ-opioid receptors on these neurons or by inhibiting κ-opioid receptors located in the presynaptic compartment of proopiomelanocortin neurons. Abstract It has recently been shown that dynorphin A (Dyn A), an endogenous agonist of the κ-opioid receptor (KOR), directly inhibits proopiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons in the hypothalamus through activation of G-protein-coupled inwardly rectifying K+ channels (GIRKs). This effect has been proposed to be mediated by the putative κ2-opioid receptor (KOR-2), and has been suggested as a possible mechanism for the orexigenic actions of KOR agonists. Using whole-cell voltage clamp recordings in brain slice preparations, the present study demonstrates that Dyn A (1 or 5 μm) induces an outward current in POMC neurons that is reversed by the highly selective μ-opioid receptor (MOR) antagonist CTAP and is absent in mice lacking MORs. Additionally, the KOR-2-selective agonist GR89696 binds MORs on POMC neurons but fails to induce an outward current. Similar to Dyn A, the KOR-selective antagonist nor-binaltorphimine (nor-BNI) lacked specificity when used at sufficiently high concentrations. Maximal concentrations of the MOR-selective agonist DAMGO induced outward currents in POMC neurons that were completely reversed by a relatively high concentration of nor-BNI. Experiments using a half-maximal concentration of DAMGO demonstrate that nor-BNI must be used at concentrations <100 nm to avoid non-specific actions of the antagonist at MORs located on POMC neurons. These data suggest that direct inhibition of POMC neurons by Dyn A is mediated through the MOR, not the KOR-2, which is consistent with previous studies demonstrating that Dyn A can act at the μ-opioid receptor (MOR) when present in high concentrations.
FRICTIONLESS CONTACT IN A LAYERED PIEZOELECTRIC MEDIUM COMPOSED OF MATERIALS WITH HEXAGONAL SYMMETRY

A matrix formulation is presented for the solution of frictionless contact problems on arbitrarily multilayeredpiezoelectric half-planes. Different arrangements of elastic and transversely orthotropic piezoelectric materials within themultilayered medium are considered. A generalized plane deformation is used to obtain the governing equilibrium equations for each individual layer. These equations are solved using the infinite Fourier transform technique. The problem isthen reformulated using the local/global stiffness method, in which a local stiffness matrix relating the stresses and electricdisplacement to the mechanical displacements and electric potential in the transformed domain is formulated for each layer. Then it is assembled into a global stiffness matrix for the entire half-plane by enforcing interfacial continuity of tractions and displacements. This local/global stiffness approach not only eliminates the necessity of explicitly finding the unknown Fourier coefficients, but also allows the use of efficient numerical algorithms, many of which have been developed for finite element analysis. Unlike finite element methods, the present approach requires minimal input. Application of the mixedboundary conditions reduces the problem to an integral equation. This integral equation is numerically solved for theunknown contact pressure using a technique based on the Chebyshev polynomials. Resumen: Se presenta una formulacion matricial para la solucion de problemas de contacto sin friccion en semiplanos piezoelectricos elasticos de multiples capas. Se consideran diferentes disposiciones de materiales piezoelectricos elasticos y transversalmente ortotropicos dentro del medio de multiples capas. Se usa una deformacion de plano generalizada para obtener las ecuaciones gobernantes de equilibrio para cada capa individual, que se resuelven con la tecnica de transformada de Fourier infinita. Entonces el problema se reformula con el metodo de rigidez local/global, en el cual se formula para cada capa una matriz de rigidez local que relaciona los esfuerzos y el desplazamiento electrico con los desplazamientos mecanicos y el potencial electrico en el dominio transformado. En seguida se ensambla en una matriz de rigidez global para todo el semiplano imponiendo la continuidad interfacial de tracciones y desplazamientos. Este enfoque por rigidez local/global no solo elimina la necesidad de hallar explicitamente los coeficientes de Fourier desconocidos, sino que tambien permite el uso de algoritmos numericos eficientes, muchos de los cuales se desarrollaron para analisis por elementos finitos. A diferencia de los metodos de elementos finitos, este enfoque requiere una entrada minima. El uso de condiciones de borde mezcladas reduce el problema a una ecuacion integral, que se resuelve para la presion de contacto desconocida con una tecnica basada en los polinomios de Chebyshev.
Observations on the effect of levodopa on tardive lingual-facial-buccal dyskinesia.

Abstract A patient with neuroleptic-induced lingual-facial-buccal dyskinesia and minimal drug-induced Parkinsonism was treated with Levodopa. This markedly worsened her abnormal movements. This observation supports the concept that tardive dyskinesias are related to hypersensitivity of dopaminergic receptors to dopamine. It is suggested that Levodopa should be avoided in such patients.
COMMENT ON g-SHIFTS IN THE ELECTRON PARAMAGNETIC RESONANCE OF F-CENTERS

A critical discussion is given of the recent calculations for the theoretical g-shift in the electron paramagnetic resonance of F-centers which is induced by nuclear hyperfine interactions. For cases requiring only the use of the contact hyperfine term of the first shell of nuclei, the computed g-shift is found to be too small to be of interest. For F-centers with large anisotropic hyperfine interaction constants, the concept of a hyperfine-induced g-shift may be given meaning only in terms of an electron-nuclear double resonance experiment Under these circumstances, the experimentally observed hyperfine g-shifts are comparable, to the shifts induced by spin-orbit effects, but the theoretical computation would require an extensive computer program. It is noted that the computation of such g-shifts is of only formal interest, since the sign of the experimentally determined g-shift is not a positive definite criterion for assignment of the sign of the electronic charge of a paramagnetic radical. Neuere Berechnungen der g-Verschiebung bei der paramagnetischen Resonanz von F-Zentren, die durch eine Kern-Hyperfein-Wechselwirkung hervorgerufen wird, werden kritisch diskutiert. Fur die Falle, bei denen nur die Verwendung des Kontakt-Hyperfeinterms der ersten Kernschale erforderlich ist, ist die berechnete g-Verschiebung sehr klein und deshalb nicht von Interesse. Bei F-Zentren mit einer grosen anisotropen Hyperfein-Wechselwirkungskonstanten kann dem Begriff einer durch Hyperfein-Wechselwirkung hervorgerufenen g-Verschiebung nur im Sinne eines Elektron-Kern-Doppelresonanz-Experiments eine Bedeutung gegeben werden. Unter diesen Umstanden sind die experimentell beobachteten Hyperfein-g-Verschiebungen vergleichbar mit den durch Spin-Bahn-Effekt hervorgerufenen Verschiebungen, jedoch die theoretischen Berechnungen erfordern ein ausgedehntes Rechenmaschinenprogramm. Die Berechnung einer solchen g-Verschiebung sind nur von formalem Interesse, da das Vorzeichen der experimentell bestimmten g-Verschiebungen kein positiv definites Kriterium zur Bestimmung des Vorzeichens der elektronischen Ladung eines paramagnetischen Radikals ist.
Heme oxygenase, steering dioxygen activation toward heme hydroxylation.

Abstract The activation of dioxygen by heme oxygenase proceeds via formation of an obligatory ferric hydroperoxide intermediate (Fe III –OOH), as is the case in the activation of dioxygen by monooxygenase enzymes. This review summarizes current understanding of the structural and dynamic properties in heme oxygenase that channel the reactivity of the Fe III -OOH intermediate toward heme hydroxylation rather than oxoferryl formation. In addition, structural and electronic factors dictating the regiospecificity of heme oxygenation are analyzed in the context of recent X-ray and NMR spectroscopic studies. Differences in mechanism between heme hydroxylation, as carried out by heme oxygenase, and the coupled oxidation process, are also addressed.
Empirical Research for Public Policy: With Examples from Family Law

Drawing on three family law studies as examples, this article discusses strengths and weaknesses of policy-relevant empirical research. Its main message is that policy-relevant empirical legal research should be encouraged, but the policy relevance of research, especially single studies, should not be oversold. It concludes with five points that consumers of policy-relevant empirical research should keep in mind: (1) do not rest policy change or analysis on a single study, no matter how good it is; (2) when reading the report of an empirical study, look beyond the researcher's bottom line to other relationships revealed in the data; (3) no matter how unversed one is in statistics, commonsense and a close reading of tables, graphs, and methodological narratives can take one a long way; (4) always ask about mechanism: understanding why a situation exists is as important to policy analysis as knowing whether it exists; and (5) if results seem too good to be true, this is often because they are not true.
Evaluation of mechanical properties of TiN films by ultralow load indentation

Abstract The mechanical properties of titanium nitride films of varying composition deposited on stainless steel substrates were studied using an indentation technique with a mechanical properties microprobe which allows measurement of film properties without contribution from the substrate material. A polishing technique was developed that gave consistent indentation measurements on films with initially rough surfaces. The elastic modulus increases linearly with increasing nitrogen content in the N:Ti range of 0.5–1.05, while the hardness of the film depends on other factors. Possible factors contributing to the hardness of the films are discussed.
Specific effects of punishment on biogenic monoamine turnover in discrete rat brain regions

Specific effects of punishment on the turnover rates of norepinephrine, dopamine and serotonin (5-HT) in brain regions were investigated in rats exposed to punishment. Two yoked controls were also used in an attempt to separate the non-specific effects of response rate, reinforcement density and direct effects of punisher (foot shock). Punished and unpunished littermate rats had similar response rates, and the reinforcement density was almost identical for both groups. A third group (yoked-shock rats) received food and shock independent of responding whenever these were given to the punished rats. When compared to the unpunished rats, changes in the monoamine turnover rates resulting from the punishment were similar to the effects of yoked-shock with respect to the direction of action in most cases (13 out of 17 changes). These changes may be related to non-specific effects of the shock. Four changes by the punishment were determined to be specific effects of the punishment since the yoked-shock had no effect or changed the turnover to the opposite direction. Among these, increase in 5-HT turnover rate in the frontal cortex (greater than 7-fold) was the largest change. These results and reported effects of drugs which act on serotonergic systems on the punished behavior suggest that the increase in 5-HT neuronal activity in the frontal cortex is involved in the behavioral suppression induced by the punishment.
Coal liquefaction and catalysis

Abstract There appears to be considerable potential for improving the processing and economics of direct coal liquefaction through the development and application of highly dispersed catalysts, where the aims are to promote the process of primary coal dissolution, and produce a solubilized product that can be readily upgraded in a second stage over a supported catalyst. Dispersed catalysts may also help to realize the potential of using cheap low-rank coals as liquefaction feedstocks by increasing the low rate and extent of conversion that are normally obtained. While iron based catalysts lack the high activity associated with other metals, such as molybdenum, their low cost has attracted considerable attention. Research to increase the activity of iron based catalysts focuses on decreasing the particle size, increasing catalyst dispersion, modifying the catalyst composition by the addition of promoters, or a combination of these strategies. To date, most of the work has been conducted on a laboratory scale. Several of the more promising lines of research are discussed.
Neuroprotective clinical strategies for Parkinson's disease.

Increasing knowledge of the role of brain iron in health and disease has prompted consideration of therapeutic strategies aimed at attenuating the effects of iron and its untoward oxidative consequences. The success of this approach is critically dependent on a better understanding of the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease. The controlled trial «Deprenyl and Tocopherol Antioxidative Therapy of Parkinsonism» (DATATOP) represents a clinical strategy to detect neuroprotective effects of antioxidative interventions
The status of school psychology: Implications of a major personnel shortage

The findings of earlier studies are reviewed and results of analyses of recent data are reported in presenting an overview of the current and possible future status of school psychology in the United States. Recognizing that legislation could have major, but as yet unclear, implications for the field, projections suggest that school psychology is likely to face a severe personnel shortage over the next 10 years. Projections also indicate that serious, although less severe, shortages are likely to continue through at least 2020. Shortages are predicted to vary markedly by geographical region of the country and type of school setting. Potential implications of the shortage are examined for the public schools. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Psychol Schs 41: 431–442, 2004.
Asymptotic theory of some tests for a possible change in the regression slope occurring at an unknown time point

Based on least squares estimators and aligned rank order statistics, some testing procedures for a possible change in the regression slope occurring at an unknown time point are considered. The asymptotic theory of the proposed tests rests on certain invariance principles relating to least squares estimators and aligned rank order statistics, and these are developed here.
Comment on "Mean glucose level is not an independent risk factor for mortality in mixed ICU patients" by Ligtenberg et al.

The recent study by Ligtenberg et al. [1] examined at diabetic and nondiabetic ICU patients with various blood glucose measurements and found that the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II score was the most important factor in predicting mortality. Recent data suggest that mortality in patients with known diabetes is less than that in patients with injuryinduced hyperglycemia. In the Van den Berghe et al. study [2] all medical ICU patients received intravenous insulin administration or conventional therapy regardless of admission glucose. Interestingly, patients given IVIA without known diabetes had a trend to lower mortality (40.9% vs. 36.8%). Intravenous insulin administration to medical and surgical ICU patients with two measurements of blood glucose above 199mg/dl reduced overall (20.9% vs. 14.8%) and septic shock mortality (60% vs. 33%) [3]. It appears that patients with
MP2//DFT calculations of interaction energies between acetaminophen and acetaminophen analogues and the aryl sulfotransferase active site

Abstract Paracetamol, or acetaminophen, is a commonly used analgesic and antipyretic. Cresols such as p -cresol, o -cresol, and m -cresol can compete with acetaminophen for metabolism via several pathways, including via sulfation by aryl sulfotransferase. We have applied the MP2 method to study the interaction of acetaminophen and these cresol analogues with the active site of aryl sulfotransferase. Docking and BHandHLYP/6-31G optimization were used to find the structures of the ligand–protein complexes assuming a static active site. Interaction energies between the ligands and each of the amino acids in the active site were calculated using MP2 with a basis set of 6-311+g * . Further optimizations were then performed to allow flexibility of the amino acid residue side-chains in the active site and interaction energies were calculated for these complexes as well. p -Cresol is shown to compete with acetaminophen for this metabolic pathway, in agreement with experiment. We also show that m -cresol should be competitive for this metabolic pathway.
Costs and consequences of comprehensive stillbirth assessment.

Abstract Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the consequences and costs of comprehensive stillbirth assessment. Study Design: Through reconstruction, we determined what consequences arise from assessment in the first 1477 stillborn pregnancies that were referred to the Wisconsin Stillbirth Service Program. Economic costs of stillbirth assessment were derived from real-time studies of those who performed the analyses and the costs of materials that were consumed. Results: When comprehensive, nonselective analysis is performed, new information that is relevant to recurrence risk estimation, prenatal diagnosis recommendation, or preconceptual, prenatal, perinatal, or neonatal treatment will arise in 51% of stillborn infants. The real cost of such assessment is approximately $1450 per assessment, or approximately $12 per cared-for pregnancy. Conclusion: Substantial relevant information can be learned from stillbirth assessment at a modest economic cost. Programs that can provide comprehensive stillbirth assessment services should become part of routine pregnancy care. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 2002;186:1027-34.)
INHIBITION OF APOPTOSIS BY THE γ-HERPESVIRUSES

All members of the gamma-herpesvirus family encode genes capable of inhibiting apoptosis. Inhibition of a variety of types of apoptotic stimuli have been demonstrated for specific viral genes, including pathways induced by the immune system as well as internal pathways. Virally encoded genes inhibit the activation of caspase-8 by the TNF receptor and Fas; activate NF-kappaB to increase expression of antiapoptotic genes; inhibit interferon response; bind to p53, thereby blocking p53 dependent apoptosis; and interact with other pro- and antiapoptotic cellular genes. All gamma-herpesviruses also express viral homologues of cellular antiapoptotic genes, including one or two Bcl-2 homologues. The human gamma-herpesviruses encode genes that can inhibit apoptosis during both latent and lytic infection. During latent phase infection inhibition of apoptosis is likely important for persistence of the gamma-herpesviruses in the face of immune attack, but it is also required for maintenance of infected cells in culture. During lytic replication the virus inhibits apoptosis to prevent cell death before viral replication and spread occurs.
Principles, approaches, and challenges for predicting protein aggregation rates and shelf life

Control and prevention of unwanted aggregation for therapeutic proteins is a ubiquitous hurdle during biopharmaceutical product manufacture, storage, shipping, and administration. Methods to predict the relative or absolute rates of aggregation are therefore of great practical interest in biopharmaceutical research and development. Aggregation is often well-described as a multi-stage process involving unfolding or misfolding of free monomers, along with one or more assembly steps to form soluble or insoluble oligomers or higher-molecular-weight species. This report reviews the current state of the art in experimental and practical theoretical approaches that attempt to predict in vitro protein aggregation rates or propensities relevant to pharmaceutical proteins. Most available approaches fall within four primary categories. The principles and assumptions underlying each category are reviewed, along with advantages and limitations in each case. The importance of appropriate experimental techniques and models to probe and quantify the thermodynamics and/or dynamics of multiple steps or stages within the overall aggregation process is stressed. The primary focus is on aggregation in solution, relevant to parenteral dosage forms. Additional challenges are briefly reviewed.
Directions in optical storage

This talk will focus on the key technical and functional advantages of optical storage, and how they must evolve over time for optical recording to continue its penetration into the data storage hierarchy.
Spectral radiation analyses of the GOES solar illuminated hexagonal cell scan mirror back

A ray tracing analytical tool has been developed for the simulation of spectral radiation exchange in complex systems. Algorithms are used to account for heat source spectral energy, surface directional radiation properties, and surface spectral absorptivity properties. This tool has been used to calculate the effective solar absorptivity of the geostationary operational environmental satellites (GOES) scan mirror in the calibration position. The development and design of Sounder and Imager instruments on board GOES is reviewed and the problem of calculating the effective solar absorptivity associated with the GOES hexagonal cell configuration is presented. The analytical methodology based on the Monte Carlo ray tracing technique is described and results are presented and verified by experimental measurements for selected solar incidence angles.
Multi-criteria GA-based Pareto optimization of building direction for rapid prototyping

Selection of a building direction is an important step for rapid prototyping regardless of the specific processes used to create the part. It involves the consideration of multi-factors that have influences on surface quality, build efficiency and support structure, etc. Contemporary approaches did not consider the global directional space to search for the optimal building direction. In this paper, we use a multi-sphere model for multi-criteria optimization of building direction in rapid prototyping. Each sphere represents the global directional space for one optimization criterion, and is obtained by uniformly discretizing the surface of a unit sphere. Optimization is then conducted over each discretized spherical surface for each criterion. Two objectives, theoretical volume deviation (TVD) and part height are simultaneously optimized using genetic algorithm. TVD is computed to evaluate the volumetric error along each building direction in a general way. The Pareto front is computed as well in order to study the competing effect from these two criteria. At the end of the paper, examples are presented to show the effectiveness of the method.
Cellular composition and ultrastructure of hepatic neoplasms induced by diethylnitrosamine in Oryzias latipes

Abstract In vivo exposure of young Oryzias latipes to the carcinogen, diethylnitrosamine (DENA), results in tumor formation after a brief latent period. 1,2 During serial analysis of cytologic changes accompanying, neoplastic progression, 3 we reported light microscopic alterations and appearance of enzyme-altered foci. In addition, we have shown hepatocellular neoplasms containing basophilic hepatocytes. These were arranged as thickened tubules, solid round cellular masses and elongated, triangular-shaped cells forming irregular extensions (poorly differentiated tumor). Common cytologic features of tumor cells and cells of early altered foci (enzyme and tinctorial) suggested rapid neoplastic transformation of hepatocytes. The purpose of this study was to examine the ultrastructure of alterations occurring with development of hepatic neoplasms in O. latipes exposed to a tumorigenic concentration of DENA.
Regulatory properties of primate sperm phosphofructokinase.

Abstract 1. 1. The enzyme phosphofructokinase (ATP: d -fructose-6-phosphate 1-phosphotransferase EC 2.7.1.11) has been solubilized from spermatozoa of the rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta) by sonic irradiation and purified approx. 18-fold by a combination of (NH4)2SO4 fractionation and gel filtration on Sephadex G-200. Sperm phosphofruktokinase is inactivated by molecular sieving but may be stabilized by addition of Fru-6- P , ATP, and MgSO4 to the column elution medium 2. 2. The partially purified enzyme, free of ATPase activity, is insensitive to ATP inhibition in the presence of (NH4)2SO4 but markedly inhibited in its absence. Orthophosphate functions both as a deinhibitor at high ATP levels and as a pure enhancer at low ATP levels 3. 3. ATP inhibition is also modulated by 3′-AMP, 5′AMP, ADP, 3′, 5′-AMP, and Fru -1,6-P 6 . In all cases, except the latter, modulators owe their effects to alterations in the binding of Fru -6-P to phosphofructokinase. ADP and 3′,5′-AMP are the most potent compounds tested. Orthophosphate plus adenine mono- and dinucleotides are synergistic in relieving ATP inhibition 4. 4. Sperm phosphofructokinase is inhibited by low levels of citrate, the inhibition being synergistic with that of ATP. Citrate inhibition may be overcome by Fru -6-P , P1, and 5′-AMP but not by Fru -1-6,P 2 . P1 and 5′-AMP are synergistic in relieving citrate inhibition. Partially purified sperm phosphofructokinase is rapidly desensitized to both ATP and citrate inhibition 5. 5. It is concluded that the kinetic properties of phosphofructokinase are consistent with a role for the enzyme in the regulation of sperm cell glycolysis.
Internal Vertical Eyelid Shortening to Treat Surgically Induced Segmental Blepharoptosis

In a procedure to relieve segmental blepharoptosis after surgery for thyroid eyelid retraction and carcinoma, I applied a clamp to the internal eyelid tissues over the blepharoptotic segment, and excised the tissues held in the clamp. The procedure was successful in four patients.
Materials Used in the Research of State History: A Citation Analysis of the 1986 Tennessee Historical Quarterly

Good library service means providing information that will satisfy the needs of patrons. Developing a sound collection of materials is best achieved by assessing user demands. Requests for materials are not always for specific titles, but rather for information related to a certain subject area. This is often the situation for state and local history. When developing a collection in local history, the librarian is faced with deciding what types of materials should be obtained to best satisfy patrons' needs. Examining materials actually used provides a valuable selection tool to aid in the collection development process.
Hierarchical spatial modeling of uncertainty in air pollution and birth weight study.

In environmental health studies air pollution measurements from the closest monitor are commonly used as a proxy for personal exposure. This technique assumes that air pollution concentrations are spatially homogeneous in the neighborhoods associated with the monitors and consequently introduces measurement error into a resultant model. To model the relationship between maternal exposure to air pollution and birth weight, we build a hierarchical model that accounts for the associated measurement error. We allow four possible scenarios, with increasing flexibility, for capturing this uncertainty. In the two simplest cases, we specify models with a constant variance term and a variance component that allows uncertainty in the exposure measurements to increase as the distance between maternal residence and the location of the closest monitor increases. In the remaining two models, we introduce spatial dependence using random effects. The models are illustrated using Bayesian hierarchical modeling techniques that relate pregnancy outcomes from the North Carolina Detailed Birth Records to air pollution data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Multiattribute Approaches for Product Concept Evaluation and Generation: A Critical Review:

Multiattribute research in marketing seeks an understanding of the structure of customer decisions with respect to the market offerings of a firm and its competitors. Through such understanding the...
Epithelial Integrity Is Maintained by a Matriptase-Dependent Proteolytic Pathway

A pericellular proteolytic pathway initiated by the transmembrane serine protease matriptase plays a critical role in the terminal differentiation of epidermal tissues. Matriptase is constitutively expressed in multiple other epithelia, suggesting a putative role of this membrane serine protease in general epithelial homeostasis. Here we generated mice with conditional deletion of the St14 gene, encoding matriptase, and show that matriptase indeed is essential for the maintenance of multiple types of epithelia in the mouse. Thus, embryonic or postnatal ablation of St14 in epithelial tissues of diverse origin and function caused severe organ dysfunction, which was often associated with increased permeability, loss of tight junction function, mislocation of tight junction-associated proteins, and generalized epithelial demise. The study reveals that the homeostasis of multiple simple and stratified epithelia is matriptase-dependent, and provides an important animal model for the exploration of this membrane serine protease in a range of physiological and pathological processes.
T2 Mapping and Functional Outcome of Patients With Medial Knee Osteoarthritis After the Use of Unloader Bracing

Introduction: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a debilitating and costly disease, affecting 27 million Americans and costing over $60 billion annually. Most clinical treatments are aimed at minimizing pain and maintaining quality of life as opposed to altering disease processes. Unloader knee braces improve mechanical alignment and provide a non-invasive, conservative form of treatment for patients with mild to moderate OA. However, previous studies have not identified a quantifiable, sustained benefit to this treatment. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of unloader bracing on patients with unicompartmental, medial knee OA using quantitative T2 mapping MRI in attempt to elucidate whether bracing results in physiological articular cartilage changes. Methods: Seven patients with Kellgren-Lawrence grade 1 or 2 OA of the medial compartment (4 males, 3 females) were scanned at baseline and following a 3-month period of unloader knee bracing. All knees were imaged at 3.0 Tesla in the sagittal plane using a Discovery MR750 scanner and an 8-channel transmit-receive knee coil. Cartilage was manually segmented in five regions of interest (ROIs) in the medial femur using OsiriX: medial anterior femur (MAF), medial central femur (MCF), medial posterior femur (MPF), medial anterior tibia (MAT), medial posterior tibia (MPT). T2 fit maps were generated and T2 relaxation times were measured preand post-bracing. Patients completed a daily bracing diary to document the amount of time for which the brace was worn, along with the Knee Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) and Visual Analog Scale (VAS) questionnaires at baseline and at 3-months follow-up. Braces also included iButton technology, which acquired temperature readings every 20 minutes to objectively document hours of brace-wear. Results: According to bracing diaries, braces were worn for an average of 35.7 hours per week versus 28.1 hours according to the iButton sensor. Daily bracewear was also overestimated by patient diaries versus the iButton sensor (5.09 vs. 4.15 hrs per day). The average T2 relaxation time of articular cartilage of the medial femur pre-bracing was 35.88 ±4.24 ms versus 40.54±4.77 ms post-bracing (p=0.150). In the medial tibia, the average T2 relaxation time of cartilage was 40.97±5.11ms pre-bracing vs. 38.49±5.87 ms post-bracing (p=0.814). There were no significant results when the regions were further subdivided (MAF, MCF, MPF, MAT, MPT). Improvements were seen in the VAS pain score (2.4 pre-bracing vs. 1.2 post-bracing) as well as the KOOS pain, daily living, function, and quality of life sub-scores following the bracing period, however these results did not reach statistical significance (p>0.05). International Society of Arthroscopy, Knee Surgery and Orthopaedic Sports Medicine 9 th Biennial ISAKOS Congress • May 12-16, 2013 • Toronto, Canada ISAKOS
Consciousness monitoring using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) during high +Gz exposures

Abstract The relationship between human consciousness and oxygen saturation (rSO 2 ) in cerebral tissue under high +Gz stress was non-invasively monitored by near-infrared multiple wavelength spectroscopy (NIRS). We studied the drop in rSO 2 levels in human subjects during exposure to various head-to-foot acceleration (+Gz) profiles. These profiles included sustained +Gz plateaus and repeated short duration +Gz pulses of varying duration. The end point in this study was +Gz-induced loss of consciousness (G-LOC). The rSO 2 levels under normal (asymptomatic), almost loss of consciousness (A-LOC) and G-LOC conditions were recorded. Correlations among decrease in rSO 2 , +Gz pulse duration, +Gz stress level and incapacitation time (ICAP) after G-LOC were also investigated. It was found that once rSO 2 fell to a certain level, G-LOC occurred. This threshold was repeatable and independent of the +Gz level or duration. It was also observed that the total ICAP after G-LOC was dependent on the length of time that rSO 2 remained below the G-LOC threshold level, i.e. the longer the rSO 2 level remained below the G-LOC induction level, the longer the subject remained unconscious. These results may prove to be useful in designing closed loop control systems for personal protective gear for pilots of high performance aircraft.
Learning styles of LD and NLD ADHD children

Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) children (N = 26) with a learning disability (LD) and without (NLD) were compared on measures of information processing using the Learning Efficiency Test (LET). Method of presentation (visual vs. auditory), order of recall (ordered vs. non-ordered), and memory processes (immediate, short-term, and long-term) were assessed. While both groups showed more difficulty with short-term and long-term memory processes than with immediate memory processes, the ADHD-LD subjects demonstrated more difficulty processing information effectively. Ordered recall was significantly more difficult for both short-term and long-term memory processes than was unordered recall. While both groups demonstrated difficulty with auditory ordered recall under short-term and long-term conditions, the ADHD-LD subjects lost the most information under auditory conditions.
Asymptotic approach to the constant velocity of hydrogen delamination growth

Abstract We consider delamination crack growth controlled by gas diffusion into the crack. If the gas is accumulated inside the delamination, after some incubation period, the crack starts growing under the pressure of the accumulated gas. An important example is given by hydrogen-induced delamination. Hydrogen absorbed by a metal is typically dissolved in the proton form within the lattice. Some of the protons reach the surface of pre-existing or freshly created cracks or delaminations where they recombine with electrons and form molecular hydrogen in the crack cavity. Since the molecular form of hydrogen is thermodynamically more stable, this process leads to accumulation of hydrogen gas inside the delamination crack. Under the excessive hydrogen pressure fracture often takes place even in the absence of any additional external loading. It is especially dangerous if the metal is covered with coating, where because of the dissimilarity of materials, microscopic voids appear more frequently. This leads first to hydrogen precipitation within these coating–metal interface voids and then to their development. This results in the delaminating of the coating. As it is well known, in the absence of aggressive media the cracking resistance of a material is characterized by a unique constant: so that if the stress intensity factor is smaller than this constant, the crack is fixed, and if it is larger, the crack moves in a dynamic regime. But in the presence of aggressive media, particularly hydrogen, the crack development is characterized by a smooth kinetic function v ( K I ), which is dependence of the crack velocity on the stress intensity factor, with the lower threshold value of resistance K scc smaller than the static critical stress intensity factor K I c . As numerically shown in the author's earlier work for the internal crack growth, the crack velocity first increases in accordance with the kinetic function, until reaching some value of v s , and remains at the same level afterwards. Since, as has been obtained by the author in the previous paper, kinetic equations for internal and delamination cracks are essentially identical, the same conclusion can be derived for the latter. In this paper the stability and asymptotic approach to the constant velocity of delamination growth is proved analytically. If v s is known, the corresponding value of the stress intensity factor, K s , is obtained by substituting v s into the kinetic function v ( K I ).
Regularity of orthogonal rational functions wih poles on the unit circle

We characterize the regularity of a system of orthogonal rational functions with given poles on the unit circle. Under the assumption of the existence of one regular system, we show that every system of orthogonal rational functions can be approximated as closely as possible by a regular system.
Teachers' and students' conceptions of ability in elementary physical education.

Using Nicholl's (1989) and Dweck's (1999, 2002) theories on ability as conceptual frameworks, this study explored teachers' and students' conceptions of ability in elementary physical education. Participants were 8 physical education specialists from five public schools and 160 students from their second- and fourth-grade classes. Teacher and student interviews and questionnaires were used for data collection. When asked to describe the “best” and “poorest” students in their physical education classes, teachers defined or referenced student status solely in terms of class behavior and effort, such as participation and working hard. In contrast, students primarily used ability-related indicators, such as task mastery and social comparison along with class behavior as criteria of their own ability. Overall, teachers and students had different views of “good” students in elementary physical education. In an era of standards-based learning and accountability in education, teachers may need to focus more on a ...
Sol-gel fabrication of oriented PZT thin films: Effect of buffer layer in promoting epitaxial growth

Abstract Pb(Zr0.52Ti0.48)O3 (PZT) thin films were deposited onto platinum coated silicon substrates with and without PbTiO3 (PT) buffer layers. PZT thin films on pure Pt coated Si (100) substrates showed (100) and (110) orientations with 100 to 80 intensity while these films on the same substrate with an intermediate PT buffer layer showed preferred (100) orientation. The intermediate buffer layer seems to promote epitaxial growth. Increase in thickness of the intermediate buffer layer resulted in lowering of rcmanent polarization and an increase of coercive field parameters.
The Imagined And The Concrete: What is an Artifact?

A few years ago, in conversation with a friend in engineering, I mentioned that I had been collecting and analyzing artifacts – conference covers, magazine layouts, art history texts – anything that might help me understand how words, typography, and images collaborate on the page to make messages that could not be produced by text or image alone. But our discussion did not get past my use of the term artifact. My colleague simply could not wrap his mind around the idea that an artifact’s third dimension could be so narrow, its material so contemporary, and its value so seemingly insignificant. He cautioned me against the use of that term. I conceded the point. Were I to encounter that friend today, I would not only apply the term artifact to my data, I would take that claim further.
Relative Potencies of Some Phenothiazines as Pecking Syndrome Inhibitors

Members of a select group of chlorinated, fluorinated, and unhalogenated phenothiazines of known (i.e., reported) antiemetic potency in dogs were evaluated as pecking syndrome antagonists in pigeons. Assigning to chlorpromazine an arbitrary potency value of 1.0, it was calculated that promazine = 0.1, prochlorperazine = 2.3, triflupromazine = 4.4, trifluoperazine = 7.2, and perphenazine = 10.2. The relationship of these data to the reported antiemetic activity of the compounds is discussed.
Channeling and electrical investigations of Au doped CdTe

Abstract Channeling measurements (2MeV He+) of Au doped CdTe annealed at 800–900°C indicate Au concentrations between 1018 and 1020/cm3 with a substitutional Au solubility that increases with both increasing temperature and decreasing PCd. The partial pressure dependence is consistent with the model of doubly ionized Frenkel defects on the Cd lattice and ionized AuCd. Optical absorption from ∼4μ to the band edge is seen to increase with both increasing anneal temperature and decreasing PCd. Hall measurements show substantial charge compensation in all the annealed samples.
1851–2004 annual heat budget of the continental landmasses

[1] Changing climate is accompanied by changing energy in various climate system components including the continental landmasses. When the temperature at ground surface rises, more heat will be deposited to the rocks beneath the ground subsurface, whereas when ground surface temperature falls, certain amount of heat will escape from the ground into the atmosphere. Based on the land-only global meteorological record, I analyze the annual heat budget of the world continents except for Antarctica. I show that between the period from 1851 to 2000 a total of 10.4 ZJ (Zetta-Joules or 10 21 J) of thermal energy had been absorbed by Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, and South America landmasses. An additional 1.34 ZJ of heat has been stored beneath the ground surface of these continents over the first four years of the 21st century from 2001 to 2004. The recent global climate change has led to an intensified heating in the continental landmasses.
Quantized plasmon quenching dips nanospectroscopy via plasmon resonance energy transfer

We observed quantized plasmon quenching dips in resonant Rayleigh scattering spectra by plasmon resonance energy transfer (PRET) from a single nanoplasmonic particle to adsorbed biomolecules. This label-free biomolecular absorption nanospectroscopic method has ultrahigh molecular sensitivity.
Plasma exchange in the therapy of Behçet's disease.

Present therapies for Behcet's disease are unsatisfactory in many cases. We investigated the role of plasma exchange in four patients with severe Behecet's retinitis who were unresponsive to standard medical therapies. Plasma exchange induced a rapid reduction of ocular inflammation with improved visual acuity in all cases. In patients with severe Behcet's retinitis, plasma exchange is able to interrupt the acute inflammatory activity, but relapses may occur.
House finches (Carpodacus mexicanus) balance investment in behavioural and immunological defences against pathogens

Infection with parasites and pathogens is costly for hosts, causing loss of nutritional resources, reproductive potential, tissue integrity and even life. In response, animals have evolved behavioural and immunological strategies to avoid infection by pathogens and infestation by parasites. Scientists generally study these strategies in isolation from each other; however, since these defences entail costs, host individuals should benefit from balancing investment in these strategies, and understanding of infectious disease dynamics would benefit from studying the relationship between them. Here, we show that Carpodacus mexicanus (house finches) avoid sick individuals. Moreover, we show that individuals investing less in behavioural defences invest more in immune defences. Such variation has important implications for the dynamics of pathogen spread through populations, and ultimately the course of epidemics. A deeper understanding of individual- and population-level disease defence strategies will improve our ability to understand, model and predict the outcomes of pathogen spread in wildlife.