cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Experimental measurements and mechanisms of selective hindrance of oil mixtures in Niobrara shale

Abstract In nanoporous rocks, potential size exclusion and fluid-rock interactions in nano-sized pores and pore throats may turn the rock into a semi-permeable membrane, hindering the transport of certain molecules while allowing other molecules to pass freely. In this work, to investigate whether Niobrara samples possess such selectivity to a liquid hydrocarbon mixture, we conducted core-flow tests by pumping a binary hydrocarbon mixture (decane, C10 and heptadecane, C17) into Niobrara samples and analyzing the produced fluid compositions. Molecular dynamics simulation of C10 and C17 adsorption on calcite surfaces using all-atom models was performed to help understand the mechanisms of the experiments. Experimental results show that the transport of heavier component (C17) was noticeably hindered, with a decrease of its mole fraction in the produced fluid and an increase in the upstream injection fluid, demonstrating the presence of selective hindrance. Simulation results indicate that, for a calcite surface in equilibrium with the binary mixture of C10 and C17, more C17 molecules adsorb on the calcite surface than C10. Compositional change of fluid upstream of the sample and a mole balance calculation suggest that size exclusion should also exist.
A deep neural-network classifier for photograph-based estimation of hearing protection attenuation and fit.

Occupational and recreational acoustic noise exposure is known to cause permanent hearing damage and reduced quality of life, which indicates the importance of noise controls including hearing protection devices (HPDs) in situations where high noise levels exist. While HPDs can provide adequate protection for many noise exposures, it is often a challenge to properly train HPD users and maintain compliance with usage guidelines. HPD fit-testing systems are commercially available to ensure proper attenuation is achieved, but they often require specific facilities designed for hearing testing (e.g., a quiet room or an audiometric booth) or special equipment (e.g., modified HPDs designed specifically for fit testing). In this study, we explored using visual information from a photograph of an HPD inserted into the ear to estimate hearing protector attenuation. Our dataset consists of 960 unique photographs from four types of hearing protectors across 160 individuals. We achieved 73% classification accuracy in predicting if the fit was greater or less than the median measured attenuation (29 dB at 1 kHz) using a deep neural network. Ultimately, the fit-test technique developed in this research could be used for training as well as for automated compliance monitoring in noisy environments to prevent hearing loss.
Aesthetic Consolation in an Age of Extinction

In light of the environmental pressure humans are currently placing on the biosphere, there is overwhelming evidence to think that we have entered the early stages of a major extinction event. Inde...
Italy's Margins: Social Exclusion and Nation Formation since 1861

Italy's Margins explores how certain places and social groups in Italy have been defined as marginal or peripheral since unification. This marginalization involves not only concrete policies but also ways of perceiving people and places as outside society's centre. The author looks closely at how photography and writing have supported political and social exclusion and, conversely, how they have been enlisted to challenge it. Five cases are examined: the peripheries of Italy's major cities after unification; its East African colonies in the 1930s; the less developed areas of its south in the 1950s; its psychiatric hospitals before the reforms of the late 1970s; and its 'nomad camps' after 2000. Each chapter takes its lead from a symptomatic photograph and is followed by other pictures and extracts from written texts. These allow the reader to examine how social marginalization is discursively performed by cultural products.
Managing relationships across generations of academics: Psychological contracts in faculty‐doctoral student collaborations

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to apply psychological contract theory to the study of faculty‐doctoral student collaborations.Design/methodology/approach – Through a survey of 170 doctoral students, four types of psychological contracts were investigated and reliable measures of relationship quality were developed.Findings – The results showed that the quality of collaborations differ significantly across the four contract types. In addition, quality of collaboration varied significantly across collaborations using different research methods (e.g. laboratory work, theory building) and disciplinary paradigms (i.e. high and low consensus). Several other factors conducive to enhanced evaluation of relationship quality were also identified, including similarity in research philosophy, perceived motives for being in the research collaboration, meeting frequency, and conflict resolution.Research limitations/implications – The present study is somewhat limited in its sample, which is drawn from one unive...
The effect of vaginally administered prostaglandin F2α on corpus luteum function

Abstract To evaluate luteolytic activity, prostaglandin F 2α (PGF 2α ) was administered intravaginally to 7 women in doses ranging from 125 to 400 mg. during the late luteal phase of the cycle. Twenty-four and 48 hours after treatment with PGF 2α , each woman received 3,000 and 6,000 I.U. of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) intramuscularly. Although a transient decrease was observed in 5 subjects, progesterone levels increased after the HCG. The length of the cycle was prolonged significantly in 5 of 7 subjects. It is concluded that PGF 2α fails to disrupt corpus luteum function in the late luteal phase.
Relationship of active site topology to substrate specificity for cytochrome P450terp (CYP108).

Abstract Earlier studies have shown that the reactions of cytochrome P450 with arylhydrazines yield aryl-iron complexes, and that oxidative migration of the aryl groups to the pyrrole nitrogens of the heme provides information on the active site topology. Comparison of cytochromes P450terp (CYP108), P450cam (CYP101), and P450BM-3 (CYP102) by this method suggests that the active site of P450terp is effectively more sterically restricted than those of the other two enzymes and is primarily open above pyrrole ring D of the heme group. This experimental model of the P450terp active site differs from that deduced by x-ray crystallography, which shows that pyrrole ring C is also relatively open. The results suggest that aryl shifts can be used to probe conformations of the active site other than that trapped in the crystal state. Identification of the product formed from alpha-terpineol by P450terp shows that the enzyme exclusively hydroxylates the most sterically accessible, allylically activated position. The enzyme also oxidizes substituted thioanisoles and styrenes unrelated to alpha-terpineol to the corresponding sulfoxides and epoxides. In the case of 4-methylthioanisole and 4-methylstyrene, methyl hydroxylation competes effectively with sulfoxidation and epoxidation in the reaction catalyzed by P450terp but not those catalyzed by P450BM-3 or P450cam. Comparison of the stereoselectively of thioanisole sulfoxidation and styrene epoxidation by P450terp, P450cam, and P450BM-3 shows that P450terp is the most, and P450BM-3 the least, stereospecific. The stereospecificity of thioanisole sulfoxidation by P450terp depends on the electronic nature of the para-substituent and rises from an (R):(S) ratio of 20:80 for p-MeO to a value of < 01:99 for p-CN. The (R):(S) ratio for the epoxides produced by P450terp is approximately 90:10 for the two substituents investigated. Cytochromes P450cam and P450BM-3 are much less stereoselective. A model is suggested by the stereochemical and topological data for the binding of substrates in P450terp.
A Unified Approach to Pattern Analysis

Publisher Summary This chapter presents an approach to pattern recognition based on a formal description of some basic concepts—such as pattern, image, deformation mechanism—and in which the design of recognition algorithms is carried out within this formalism. One of the main obstacles to the successful recognition of patterns is the sheer size of the computing effort that would be needed to implement a highly discriminating recognition algorithm. This is particularly clear for those statistically oriented recognition methods that attempt to distinguish among the patterns of quite general nature a priori through the use of learning algorithms. The reason for this is that the problems in pattern recognition have not been sufficiently structured. One seldom defines what constitutes a pattern in a general context (not necessarily pictorial, two- or three-dimensional) or how patterns are formed in principle and relate to observables. These questions are discussed informally in this chapter.
IMSEI: a graduate education, research, and technology transfer program in integrated manufacturing systems supported by a university/industry consortium

A cooperative industry/university graduate education research, and technology transfer program in computer integrated manufacturing systems at North Carolina State University is described. Administrated through the Integrated Manufacturing Systems Engineering Institute (IMSEI), the program draws its resources from six academic departments in the College of Engineering and a consortium of industrial associates. Details are presented on the organization, structure, and operation of the Institute, including university and industry participation, the academic program, research mechanisms and areas of interest, laboratory facilities, technology transfer activities, and program funding. >
Chronic Compression of the Dorsal Root Ganglion Enhances Mechanically Evoked Pain Behavior and the Activity of Cutaneous Nociceptors in Mice

Radicular pain in humans is usually caused by intraforaminal stenosis and other diseases affecting the spinal nerve, root, or dorsal root ganglion (DRG). Previous studies discovered that a chronic compression of the DRG (CCD) induced mechanical allodynia in rats and mice, with enhanced excitability of DRG neurons. We investigated whether CCD altered the pain-like behavior and also the responses of cutaneous nociceptors with unmyelinated axons (C-fibers) to a normally aversive punctate mechanical stimulus delivered to the hairy skin of the hind limb of the mouse. The incidence of a foot shaking evoked by indentation of the dorsum of foot with an aversive von Frey filament (tip diameter 200 μm, bending force 20 mN) was significantly higher in the foot ipsilateral to the CCD surgery as compared to the contralateral side on post-operative days 2 to 8. Mechanically-evoked action potentials were electrophysiologically recorded from the L3 DRG, in vivo, from cell bodies visually identified as expressing a transgenically labeled fluorescent marker (neurons expressing either the receptor MrgprA3 or MrgprD). After CCD, 26.7% of MrgprA3+ and 32.1% MrgprD+ neurons exhibited spontaneous activity (SA), while none of the unoperated control neurons had SA. MrgprA3+ and MrgprD+ neurons in the compressed DRG exhibited, in comparison with neurons from unoperated control mice, an increased response to the punctate mechanical stimuli for each force applied (6, 20, 40, and 80 mN). We conclude that CCD produced both a behavioral hyperalgesia and an enhanced response of cutaneous C-nociceptors to aversive punctate mechanical stimuli.
Evaluation of right ventricular and right atrial size in children with atrial septal defect using two‐dimensional apex echocardiography

The ability of two-dimensional apex echocardiography to evaluate right ventricular and right atrial size was evaluated in 43 normal children and compared with 20 patients with a secundum atrial septal defect. From the apical four chamber view, the long axis length and short axis diameter of the right ventricle and right atrium were measured. The end-diastolic area of the right ventricle and end-systolic area of the right atrium were determined by planimetry. These data were indexed for body surface area. When compared with normal subjects, the area index of the right atrium and right ventricle were enlarged significantly in patients with a secundum atrial septal defect (p less than 0.001 and p less than 0.001, respectively). Mean values for the short axis dimension of the right ventricle and for the short axis and long axis diameter of the right atrium were greater in atrial septal defect patients than in normal subjects (p less than 0.001 for all). However, when both groups were compared, considerable overlap existed between the dimension measurements. Right ventricular long axis length failed to separate the two groups. Thus, two-dimensional apex echocardiography provides a noninvasive means of assessing right ventricular and right atrial size in children with an atrial septal defect.
Effect of Two Exercise Programs on Balance Scores in Elderly Ambulatory People

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of two exercise programs on balance in elderly, ambulatory people. Thirteen residents of a long term care facility were randomly assigned to a control (N = 7) or experimental group (N = 6). Both groups received supervised exercise twice each week for eight weeks. The control group performed “traditional” exercises while the experimental group performed the same traditional exercises plus exercises on a Swiss gymnastics ball. Each subject's balance was tested before and after the exercise program using the Tinetti Assessment Tool. Both groups demonstrated non-significant increases in balance scores following completion of the exercise program. Individuals with initial balance scores less than 19 did not improve regardless of the exercise program. Subjects with initial scores greater than 21 displayed improvements in their final scores. These findings suggest the initial balance score, not the type of exercise program, may be a critical factor for improv...
Managing programs and libraries in AIX version 3 for RISC System/6000 processors

This paper describes the program and program-library management facility that has been developed for the AIX operating system, Version 3, as implemented for the IBM POWER (performance optimization with enhanced RISC) architecture. It provides run-time loading of libraries, symbol resolution with type checking, and relocation. In addition, the use of the loader to add programs to an already running process or to the kernel is offered. The advantages of these functions and the techniques needed to provide a usable and efficient realization are described. Particular attention is given to the special problems posed by very large programs, and by very small programs which use services from very large libraries.
Determination of Low Critical Surface Tensions of Novel Fluorinated Poly(amide urethane) Block Copolymers. 3. Siloxane-Containing Side Chains

Low critical surface tensions (CST's) of novel copolymers containing a “hard block” polyurethane and a “soft block” polyamide with siloxane side chains are reported. The hard segment consists of methylenebis(cyclohexyl isocyanate) (H12MDI) and butanediol or a fluorinated analog. The soft segment contains a diacid chloride and secondary siloxane-containing diamines. The different diamines studied were N,N‘-bis[3-(pentamethyldisiloxyl)propyl]-1,6-diaminohexane, N,N‘-bis[3-(heptamethyltrisiloxyl)propyl]-1,6-diaminohexane, and N,N‘-bis[3-(poly(dimethylsiloxyl)propyl]-1,6-diaminohexane. The two diacid chlorides studied were hexafluoroglutaryl chloride and adipoyl chloride. The polyamide oligomers were synthesized from different combinations of these diamines and diacid chlorides. Films of the segmented copolymers were examined by contact angle measurements with water, and CST's were determined from contact angles of water and methylene iodide. Poly(amide urethanes) containing PDMS side chains displayed high ad...
Anomalous inferior vena cava with azygos continuation, high (sinus venosus) atrial septal defect and alterations of sinoatrial rhythm

Abstract Three cases with the triad of anomalous inferior vena cava draining into the superior vena cava by way of azygos continuation, high (sinus venosus) atrial septal defect and alterations in sinoatrial rhythm are presented. They are believed to represent a syndrome not previously described and probably represent a mild form of the cardiovascular malformations associated with visceral heterotaxia.
Structural determinants of the capacity of heparin to inhibit the proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells

Previous work from our laboratory has demonstrated that both anticoagulant and nonanticoagulant heparin species can inhibit the proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells in vivo and in vitro. In this communication, we report studies on the structure-function relationships of heparin to its antiproliferative effect on vascular smooth muscle cells. These structure-function studies were carried out by preparing discrete sizes of heparin fragments and by chemically modifying heparin. The compounds were tested for their ability to inhibit rat and calf aortic smooth muscle cell growth. The minimum fragment size which retains some growth inhibitory activity is a hexasaccharide; maximal antiproliferative activity was obtained with dodecasaccharide and larger fragments. Both O-sulfation and N-substitution were found to be important for the growth inhibitory effect. Comparison of the antiproliferative and anticoagulant activities of the different heparin species has allowed us to identify several heparin molecules which have lost their anticoagulant properties, but retain antiproliferative activity.
Incipient corrosion behavior of Haynes 230 under a controlled reducing atmosphere at high temperatures

Abstract In situ thermogravimetry analysis (TGA) was used to investigate the incipient corrosion behavior of alloy 230 exposed under a reducing environment in a temperature range of 850–1000 °C. Both oxidation and loss of alloying elements of alloy 230 were observed to occur concurrently in these conditions. The surface oxide which formed on the substrate does not appear to be as effective in providing a protective layer during the incipient corrosion period.
Time-denominated achievement cost curves, learning differences and individualized instruction

Abstract This study derives a time-denominated learning cost curve from an economic model of programmed instruction and uses experimental data to identify it for each learner. The OLS estimates show that a legitimate cost curve has been identified and the use of a heterogeneity test reveals the pronounced existence of inter-learner differences, 83% of which are explained by ability, learning style and predetermined achievement goals. These results demonstrate the feasibility of using a time-denominated cost curve for investigating the learning process and portray the class as a family of unique equations. This portrayal suggests that equalizing the time allowed to learn as in conventional group instruction distributes learning outcomes and human capital unevenly. It also predicts that the distribution of education would become less inequitable if instruction were individualized. Finally, it provides a framework for assessing equal education policy.
Employment gains highlight study

The number of employed environmental scientists increased by 74% between 1976 and 1983, according to a new report by the National Science Foundation (NSF). NSF also reported that nearly all environmental scientists who earned doctoral degrees in 1981 and 1982 were employed in science and engineering in 1982.
Early diagenesis of organic matter in a Sawgrass peat from the Everglades, Florida

Abstract The transformation of plant biopolymers to humic substances in peats during early diagenesis is a critical but poorly understood step in the formation of coal. This paper presents results concerning the structural interrelationships among various fractions of the organic matter in peat and the dissolved organic matter in the pore water from a site in The Everglades, relying primarily on elemental analysis and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance for structural elucidation. Our goal was to obtaine some insight into the sequence of steps involved in the formation of humic substances Results show that the major change occurring in the whole peat during diagenesis is loss of carbohydrates. The components of the peat which are more resistant to microbial degradation become concentrated in the humin fraction. This resistant fraction of the organic matter includes aliphatic and aromatic components. The aromatic components are thought to be derived from lignin while the aliphatic moieties may represent decomposed algal remains. The carbohydrates lost from the whole peat appear to be concentrated in the fulvic acids and the dissolved organic matter in the pore water. The humic acids consist predominantly of aromatic and aliphatic structures, and may represent partially degraded lignin-like structures and aliphatic compounds from algae. The data presented here suggest that humic and fulvic acids are the partially degraded fractions of the peat while the humin contains the resistant or preserved portion of the organic matter. The proposition that humic substances are formed by the condensation of amino acids and sugars is not supported by the results of this study.
Perceptions of forgiveness among Palestinian teachers in Israel

This article presents the results of a study conducted among Palestinian teachers in Israel to address their contextual understanding and perceptions of forgiveness. It sheds light on K–12 teachers’ responses to daily cultural and social conflict situations in a Middle Eastern context. This research aims to contribute to our understanding of forgiveness on conceptual as well as perceptual levels, hoping to enhance the knowledge-base needed to educate for forgiveness and reconciliation in Arab society. The present study is the first of several examining forgiveness among teachers in four Middle Eastern countries (Palestine, Lebanon, Jordan, and Egypt). Sixty-two classroom teachers in Arabic-speaking schools among Palestinians in Israel participated in the study. The teachers filled out a survey that included 10 hypothetical scenarios requiring forgiveness. The results from the survey and qualitative written responses suggest a high level of forgiveness when the situation involves parents, children, and soc...
Traumatic Wound Dehiscence in Pseudophakia

In a series of 11 Pseudophakic patients (11 eyes) who sustained wound dehiscence as a result of blunt trauma, five intraocular lenses were dislocated, one was fractured, and two were expulsed. Wound rupture occurred from three days to one year after surgery; the most common cause of injury was a fall. Iris prolapse was observed in all patients, with hyphema observed in seven. Vitreous prolapse occurred in four patients, and three patients developed retinal detachment. Six of the 11 patients had a visual acuity of 20/40 or better after repair. The limbal wound of a Pseudophakic eye can dehisce as a consequence of blunt trauma long after surgery, and the position of the intraocular lens can be disrupted. Patients undergoing cataract extraction with intraocular lens implantation should be advised about the importance of long-term protective eyewear.
Multiple RNA surveillance pathways limit aberrant expression of iron uptake mRNAs and prevent iron toxicity in S. cerevisiae

Tight regulation of the expression of mRNAs encoding iron uptake proteins is essential to control iron homeostasis and avoid intracellular iron toxicity. We show that many mRNAs encoding iron uptake or iron mobilization proteins are expressed in iron-replete conditions in the absence of the S. cerevisiae RNase III ortholog Rnt1p or of the nuclear exosome component Rrp6p. Extended forms of these mRNAs accumulate in the absence of Rnt1p or of the 5'-->3' exonucleases Xrn1p and Rat1p, showing that multiple degradative pathways contribute to the surveillance of aberrant forms of these transcripts. RNase III-deficient cells are hypersensitive to high iron concentrations, suggesting that Rnt1p-mediated RNA surveillance is required to prevent iron toxicity. These results show that RNA surveillance through multiple ribonucleolytic pathways plays a role in iron homeostasis in yeast to avoid the potentially toxic effects of the expression of the iron starvation response in iron-replete conditions.
Empirical Evidence of the Effects of Marriage on Male and Female Attendance at Sports and Arts

Objectives. This article provides an examination of how men and women spend their recreational attendance time and how their behavior differs when they are single and married. The battle of the sexes model and the theory of artistic human capital acquisition from one's spouse both suggest that married individuals will have different patterns of attendance than singles. Methods. Using data from the Performing Arts Research Coalition, we estimate a number of models to examine the differences between male and female attendance at art, professional sports, and popular culture events for those single and married. Results. We find that single males prefer sports, while single females prefer the arts. As predicted by the battle of the sexes model, men are more likely and women less likely to attend art events after marriage. This increase in male attendance is also predicted by human capital models of attendance that argue that the choice of art events is based on acquired tastes that can be influenced by the human capital of one's spouse. The battle of the sexes model, however, also predicts a decline in male and an increase in female attendance at professional sports. We find a small increase in female, but also an increase in male, attendance. Conclusions. The behavior of married and single males and females tends to correspond to the predictions made by the battle of the sexes and human capital models of attendance.
Personality disorders in the chronic pain population: Basic concepts, empirical findings, and clinical implications

Personality traits and characteristics have repeatedly been studied in the chronic pain literature. Accurate personality disorder diagnosis is now being conducted in the psychiatric literature through the use of semistructured interview techniques. There have been four studies to date that have used similar technology to diagnose personality disorders in chronicpain patients. Accurate personality disorder diagnosis can be beneficial if used appropriately to guide treatment decisions and to help treating clinicians work within a common paradigm. Unfortunately, there has yet to be a rigorous investigation of personality disorder diagnosis using semistructured instruments widely used in psychiatric research. The authors suggest that a diathesis-stress model may best help to explain the relatively high prevalence of personality disorder seen in the chronic pain population.
INFRARED SCENE MODELING AND INTERPOLATION USING FRACTIONAL LÉVY STABLE MOTION

Many data arising from natural phenomena exhibit "1/f" behavior, indicating a long-range dependence structure in the increments. The data is said to be self-similar or fractal, which has been traditionally modeled by fractional Brownian motion (fBm). This stochastic fractal model assumes a Gaussian distribution of the increments which is at times too rigid, particularly for data emanating from a long-tailed distribution. Therefore, the fractional Levy stable motion stochastic process is proposed as a means of modeling a wider range of data. For these processes the increments are assumed to be from the family of stable distributions which have been shown to be good models of long-tailed behavior. The model is applied to data from infrared scenes and used to perform fractal interpolation, preserving not only the self-similarity, but also the probability distribution of the increments over the newly generated scales. This offers a flexible new model for a broader class of data than the fBm model.
The I1-imidazoline receptor in PC12 pheochromocytoma cells reverses NGF-induced ERK activation and induces MKP-2 phosphatase

Abstract We sought to further elucidate signal transduction pathways for the I1-imidazoline receptor in PC12 cells and their interaction with the well-characterized signaling events triggered by nerve growth factor (NGF) in these cells. Stimulation of the I1-imidazoline receptor with moxonidine, a centrally acting antihypertensive, increased by greater than two-fold the proportion of ERK-1 and ERK-2 in the phosphorylated active form. Similarly, NGF elicited a five-fold increase in activated ERKs. Surprisingly, treatment of NGF-treated cells with moxonidine completely reversed activation of ERK. Moxonidine-induced inhibition of ERK activation in NGF-treated cells was dose-dependent, followed a limited time course and could be blocked by the I1-antagonist efaroxan. These data suggested possible deactivation of ERK by specific phosphatases. Therefore, we assayed levels of MKP-2, a dual specificity phosphatase whose substrates include ERK. Moxonidine and NGF both increased levels of MKP-2 by three-fold. These effects were additive, as both agents together increased MKP-2 by a total of six-fold. Moxonidine-induced induction of MKP-2 was time- and dose-dependent and could be blocked by the I1-antagonist efaroxan or by D609, an inhibitor of phosphatidylcholine-selective phospholipase C known to block downstream signaling events coupled to I1-receptors. Thus, I1-receptors can abrogate the primary signaling cascade activated by NGF, most likely by increasing levels of a specific phosphatase to return dually phosphorylated ERK to its unphosphorylated state.
On the admissibility of the maximum-likelihood estimator of the binomial variance

This paper addresses the admissibility of the maximum-likelihood estimator (MLE) of the variance of a binomial distribution with parameters n and p under squared-error loss. We show that the MLE is admissible for n ≤ 5 and inadmissible for n≥ 6. RESUME Cet article concerne l'admissibilite, sous la fonction de perte quadratique, de l'estimateur a vraisemblance maximale de la variance d'une loi binomiale de parametres n et p. II y est montre que l'estimateur en question n'est admissible que si n ≥ 5.
Chemoprevention of colorectal cancer: why all the confusion?

PURPOSE OF REVIEW Chemoprevention provides an opportunity to complement screening for the prevention of colorectal neoplasia. Findings from prospective randomized trials often conflict with those of observational studies. This review discusses some of the possible reasons based on recent clinical trials. RECENT FINDINGS A recent prospective randomized trial demonstrates that folic acid supplementation in patients with a previous history of colorectal adenomas does not reduce future colorectal adenoma risk, and may possibly increase the risk of colorectal neoplasia. SUMMARY The results of prospective randomized human trials of chemopreventive agents have in many cases been less impressive or have conflicted with the results of observational studies. Issues to be considered are the timing of the intervention during multistep carcinogenesis, baseline levels in a given individual or population, the complexity of dietary interactions, dose-response effects, and the duration of study.
Reflections on political identity

"Norton powerfully defends the inevitability and value of `those particular, concrete traits and actions whereby men differentiate themselves from one another.'"--'Ethics.'
Direct boolean intersection between acquired and designed geometry

In this paper, a new shape modeling approach that can enable direct Boolean intersection between acquired and designed geometry without model conversion is presented. At its core is a new method that enables direct intersection and Boolean operations between designed geometry (objects bounded by NURBS and polygonal surfaces) and scanned geometry (objects represented by point cloud data). We use the moving least-squares (MLS) surface as the underlying surface representation for acquired point-sampled geometry. Based on the MLS surface definition, we derive closed formula for computing curvature of planar curves on the MLS surface. A set of intersection algorithms including line and MLS surface intersection, curvature-adaptive plane and MLS surface intersection, and polygonal mesh and MLS surface intersection are successively developed. Further, an algorithm for NURBS and MLS surface intersection is then developed. It first adaptively subdivides NURBS surfaces into polygonal mesh, and then intersects the mesh with the MLS surface. The intersection points are mapped to the NURBS surface through the Gauss-Newton method. Based on the above algorithms, a prototype system has been implemented. Through various examples from the system, we demonstrate that direct Boolean intersection between designed geometry and acquired geometry offers a useful and effective means for the shape modeling applications where point-cloud data is involved.
An Experimental Study of the Change in the Contact Angle of an Oil on a Solid Surface

The effects of pH and surfactant concentration on the change in the contact angle of an oil on both stainless steel and glass surfaces have been studied. The pH ranged from 7.0 to 10.0. Sodium dode...
Fatigue crack propagation in polyacetal

The fatigue crack propagation characteristics of a typical commercial homopolymer and copolymer polyacetal were determined. These materials were found to be the most fatigue resistant plastics examined to date, thus confirming the generally high fatigue resistance of all crystalline polymers. A discontinuous fatigue cracking process was identified at all test frequencies in the acetal copolymer and at high frequencies in the homopolymer, while continuous crack propagation occurred at low test frequencies in the homopolymer. The discrete advance increments of the crack in the discontinuous mode were equal to the dimension of the prevailing crack-tip plastic zone. On a more local scale, the crack path is seen to be mainly trans-spherulitic in nature.
Abstract shape recognition by machine

Graphic pattern recognition in the development of total systems for information selection and retrieval is considered. A particular hypothetical machine model for shape recognition is described. Examples are given of recognition of 12 to 20 categories of geometric shapes, by use of a contour-projection principle. Within certain limitations, the model identifies these graphic patterns, regardless of size, location, and certain rotational transformations. It provides means for detecting classes of patterns which would or would not be ambiguous with respect to any of the patterns that are recognizable. Problems in practical application, including possibilities for recognition of constrained handdrawn figures, are considered. Possible means of implementation are also discussed.
Relationship of Triglyceride Levels to Thrombosis in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease

The relationship of triglyceride levels to coagulation abnormalities was studied in 43 patients, who were divided into two groups. Group 1 consisted of patients with triglyceride levels less than 200 mg% (range, 75 to 190 mg%), and Group 2 consisted of patients with triglyceride levels greater than 250 mg% (range, 255 to 890 mg%). Analysis of the data revealed that patients with high triglyceride levels also have a high incidence of low antithrombin III activity and increased platelet aggregation. It is likely that hyperlipidemic patients are more prone to thrombosis of diseased coronary arteries or saphenous vein bypass grafts, and should definitely be placed on appropriate anticoagulants.
Ultrastructural localization of oxidative and peroxidative activities in a carrot suspension cell culture

Oxidative and peroxidative activities were localized at the ultrastructural level in suspension cells of an anthocyanin-producing strain of carrot after treatment with dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) and diaminobenzidine (DAB). In DOPA-treated cells a reaction ascribed to polyphenoloxidase (PPO) occurred in the thylakoids of plastids. After DAB treatment at pH 9.0 reactions occurred in microbodies and plastid thylakoids; after treatment at pH 6.8 additional reactions occurred in the mitochondrial cristae and cytoplasmic ground substance. No reaction occurred in the cell walls at either pH. A reaction could not be unequivocally detected in the vacuoles because of the natural occurrence of osmiophilic material. Application of peroxidase and PPO inhibitors indicated that four distinct systems were involved in the DAB reactions: catalase was correlated with the reaction in the microbodies, peroxidase with the reaction in the cytoplasmic ground substance, cytochromes with the mitochondrial reaction, and PPO with the reaction in the thylakoids of the plastids.
Unsupervised learning of arbitrarily shaped clusters using ensembles of Gaussian models

We propose a new clustering algorithm, called SyMP, which is based on synchronization of pulse-coupled oscillators. SyMP represents each data point by an Integrate-and-Fire oscillator and uses the relative similarity between the points to model the interaction between the oscillators. SyMP is robust to noise and outliers, determines the number of clusters in an unsupervised manner, and identifies clusters of arbitrary shapes. The robustness of SyMP is an intrinsic property of the synchronization mechanism. To determine the optimum number of clusters, SyMP uses a dynamic and cluster dependent resolution parameter. To identify clusters of various shapes, SyMP models each cluster by an ensemble of Gaussian components. SyMP does not require the specification of the number of components for each cluster. This number is automatically determined using a dynamic intra-cluster resolution parameter. Clusters with simple shapes would be modeled by few components while clusters with more complex shapes would require a larger number of components. The proposed clustering approach is empirically evaluated with several synthetic data sets, and its performance is compared with GK and CURE. To illustrate the performance of SyMP on real and high-dimensional data sets, we use it to categorize two image databases.
Mutations in AXIN2 cause colorectal cancer with defective mismatch repair by activating beta-catenin/TCF signalling.

Mutations in AXIN2 cause colorectal cancer with defective mismatch repair by activating β-catenin/TCF signalling
Rainfall Occurrence in the U.S. Warm Season: The Diurnal Cycle*

The diurnal occurrence of warm-season rainfall over the U.S. mainland is examined, particularly in light of forcings at multiple scales. The analysis is based on a radar dataset of 12-seasons duration covering the U.S. mainland from the Continental Divide eastward. The dataset resolves 2-km features at 15-min intervals, thus providing a detailed view of both large- and regional-scale diurnal patterns, as well as the statistics of events underlying these patterns. The results confirm recent findings with respect to the role of propagating rainfall systems and the high frequency at which these are excited by sensible heating over elevated terrain. Between the Rockies and the Appalachians, 60% of midsummer rainfall occurs in this manner. Most rainfall in the central United States is nocturnal and may be attributed to the following three main forcings: 1) the passage of eastward-propagating rainfall systems with origins near the Continental Divide at 105°W; 2) a nocturnal reversal of the mountain–plains solenoid, which is associated with widespread ascent over the plains; and 3) the transport of energetic air and moisture convergence by the Great Plains low-level jet. Other features of interest include effects of the Appalachians, semidiurnal signals of regional significance, and the impact of breezes along the Gulf of Mexico. A modest effort was put forth to discern signals associated with El Nino and the Southern Oscillation. While tendencies in precipitation patterns are observed, the record is too short to draw conclusions of general significance.
Decreased insulin-like growth factor I-mediated protein tyrosine phosphorylation in human olivopontocerebellar atrophy and lurcher mutant mouse.

Abstract We examined insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I)-dependent phosphorylation and protein tyrosine kinase (PTK) activity in cerebellar cortex of normal humans, patients with olivopontocerebellar atrophy (OPCA) ("C" kindred) and in lurcher mutant mouse, a suggested animal model for OPCA. PTK activity and IGF-I-dependent protein tyrosine phosphorylation was significantly reduced in cerebellar cortex of human OPCA patients as compared to the normal controls. Immunoblot analysis also demonstrated a decrease in cerebellar 80 kDa phosphotyrosine protein in these patients. By autoradiography, IGF-I receptors were localized in the molecular layer of 30-day-old control and lurcher mutant mice cerebella. However, the lurcher mutant mice showed a decrease in [ 125 I]-IGF-I binding in the molecular layer as compared to the littermate controls. The IGF-I receptor autophosphorylation was also markedly reduced in 15-day- and 22-day-old lurcher cerebella. These results suggest that the process of cerebellar degeneration in human OPCA and lurcher mutant mouse may be associated with altered IGF-I receptor binding and protein tyrosine phosphorylation.
Compression for exact match identification

In this paper, we consider the problem of determining whether sequences X and Y, generated i.i.d. according to PX × PY, are equal given access only to the pair (Y, T(X)), where T(X) is a rate-R compressed version of X. In general, the rate R may not be sufficiently large to reliably determine whether X=Y. We precisely characterize this reliability - i.e., the exponential rate at which an error is made - as a function of R. Interestingly, the exponent turns out to be related to the Bhattacharyya distance between the distributions PX and PY. In addition, the scheme achieving this exponent is universal, i.e. does not depend on PX, PY.
A homozygous nonsense mutation in the β3 chain gene of laminin 5 (LAMB3) in Herlitz junctional epidermolysis bullosa

Abstract Herlitz junctional epidermolysis bullosa (H-JEB) is a severe autosomal recessive disorder characterized by blister formation within the dermal-epidermal basement membrane. Based on immunofluorescence analysis recognizing laminin 5 epitopes (previously known as nicein/kalinin), the genes for this lamina lucida protein have been proposed as candidate genes in H-JEB. In this study, we examined the gene encoding the β3 polypeptide chain of laminin 5 (LAMB3) by Northern hybridization and RT-PCR analysis of keratinocyte mRNA from a proband in a family with H-JEB. Northern analysis revealed markedly reduced levels of the laminin β3 chain mRNA. Amplification of mRNA by RT-PCR, followed by direct nucleotide sequencing, revealed a homozygous C-to-T transition resulting in a premature termination codon (CGA → TGA) on both alleles. This mutation was verified at the genomic DNA level, and both parents were shown to be heterozygous carriers of the same mutation. This is the first description of a mutation in the laminin β3 chain gene (LAMB3) of laminin 5 in an H-JEB patient.
Management of systolic anterior motion after mitral valve repair: an algorithm.

Objective To evaluate the effectiveness and outcomes of an intraoperative and postoperative algorithm for managing systolic anterior motion (SAM) after mitral valve repair (MVRr). Methods All consecutive patients who underwent MVRr for degenerative disease from January 2002 to June 2011 were included, with the data collected retrospectively. Patients who underwent MVRr for primary SAM were excluded from the study. Patients who developed SAM after the repair were systematically treated according to the algorithm. The intraoperative algorithm first involved medical management techniques, followed by surgical correction for significant SAM (mild or greater mitral regurgitation, left ventricular outflow tract gradient > 50 mm Hg). The postoperative algorithm focused on medical management and symptoms to guide the treatment decisions. Results The overall in-hospital incidence of SAM was 6.6% (52/785). In 41 patients, SAM was identified in the operating room, and in 11 patients, it was found postoperatively on the predischarge echocardiogram. Of the 41 patients with intraoperative SAM, 35 (85.4%) had resolution with medical management and 6 (14.6%) required surgical repeat repair while in the operating room. No patient required mitral valve replacement for persistent SAM. Postoperatively, 11 new cases were identified, and 7 cases of resolved intraoperative SAM recurred. These postoperative cases of SAM were managed according to the postoperative SAM algorithm. At last follow-up, 17 (94.4%) of 18 patients had resolution of SAM and 1 (5.6%) patient had mild SAM (less than mild mitral regurgitation, peak left ventricular outflow tract gradient Conclusions SAM is a relatively frequent complication after MVRr and can occur intraoperatively or postoperatively. A systematic approach addressing perioperative SAM after MVRr yields excellent mid-term results.
Power production by a dynamic micro heat engine with an integrated thermal switch

Mechanical power production by a dynamic micro heat engine with integrated thermal switch is demonstrated. A microengine operated from a constant heat source of 60 °C is shown to produce 350 µW of mechanical power. Employing an active thermal switch to control heat rejection from the microengine enables power to be increased to 2500 µW. Power consumption by the thermal switch is shown to be minimized by operating the cantilever switch at its resonant frequency. Thermal switch power requirements can be reduced to less than 20 µW for operational speeds up to 100 Hz.
Development of a coculture system and use of confocal laser fluorescent microscopy to study human microvascular endothelial cell and mural cell interaction.

Abstract In the present study, human myometrial microvascular endothelial cells (HMMEC) were cocultured with human vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) labeled with fluorescent dyes to examine their morphological interaction using confocal laser fluorescent microscopy. HMMEC and VSMC labeled with fluorescent green and red dyes, respectively, attached to opposite sides of polyethyleneterephthalate membranes and remained viable for up to 96 h. In defined medium, 5% ± 3% of the VSMC cytoplasmic processes and 71% ± 17% of the HMMEC processes extended completely across the 13 μm thickness of the transmembrane. However, 41% ± 21% of the VSMC projections and 10% ± 3% of the HMMEC processes that traversed the membrane made contact with the opposing cell type. In cocultures incubated with angiopoietin-1 (Ang-1), although the number of VSMC or HMMEC projections was not significantly increased, the number of VSMC extending across the membrane and making contact with HMMEC was increased (P
Professional Values and the Ethical Perceptions of Internal Auditors

Examines the influence which the Institute of Internal Auditors′ Code of Ethics has on its members′ ethical perceptions. Also determines whether this influence is greater than members′ personal moral philosophies (i.e. idealism and relativism), and corporate ethical values. Data for the study were obtained by questionnaires sent to 1,000 members of the Institute of Internal Auditors, located in the Southeastern United States. The results generally indicate that professional values, as operationalized by the members′ use of the code of ethics, influence their perceptions of ethical problems in a positive way. However, no significant linkages were found to exist between the internal auditors′ personal moral philosophies or corporate ethical values and their perceptions of ethical problems.