cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
D'Agents: applications and performance of a mobile-agent system

D'Agents is a general-purpose mobile-agent system that has been used in several information-retrieval applications. In this paper, we first examine one such application, operational support for military field personnel, where D'Agents greatly simplifies the task of providing efficient, application-specific access to remote information resources. After describing the application, we discuss the key differences between D'Agents and most other mobile-agent systems, notably its support for strong mobility and multiple agent languages. Finally, we derive a small, simple application that is representative of many information-retrieval tasks, including those in the example application, and use this application to compare the scalability of mobile agents and traditional client/server approaches. The results confirm and quantify the usefulness of mobile code, and perhaps more importantly, confirm that intuition about when to use mobile code is usually correct. Although significant additional experiments are required to fully characterize the complex mobile-agent performance space, the results presented here help to answer the basic question of when mobile agents should be considered at all, particularly for information-retrieval applications.
Compatibilized Blends of Polyamide-6 and Polyethylene

An increasing number of polymer alloys made by reactive processing of a compatibilizer precursor (CP) to form the compatibilizer in situ have appeared in recent years. Literature reports on compatibilization studies have focused on interactions of chemistry-morphology, processing-morphology, morphology-rheology, morphology-properties, etc. In commercial alloys, the interaction of chemistry and processing results in a material that has a balance of physical properties and rheological behavior. To maximize the contribution of each phase, it is of interest to be near the phase inversion region
Mean-risk decision analysis

Some decision theorists criticize expected utility decision analysis and propose mean-risk decision analysis as a replacement. They claim that expected utility decision analysis neglects attitudes toward risk whereas mean-risk decision analysis accords these attitudes their proper status. However mean-risk decision analysis and expected utility decision analysis are not incompatible, and it is advantageous for decision theory to develop each in a way that complements the other. Here I present a mean-risk rule that governs preferences among options and options given states. This mean-risk rule complements an expected utility rule that takes the utility of an option-state pair as the utility of the option given the state. I argue for the mean-risk rule using principles concerning basic intrinsic desires. The rule is comparative, but the last section offers some suggestions for its quantitative development.
Effect of Glycols on the Self-Assembly of Amphiphilic Block Copolymers in Water. 1. Phase Diagrams and Structure Identification

The effects of cosolvents such as glycerol, propylene glycol, ethanol, or glucose (referred here as “glycols”) on the phase behavior of a representative poly(ethylene oxide)−poly(propylene oxide)−poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO−PPO−PEO) triblock copolymer (Pluronic P105, (EO)37(PO)58(EO)37) are presented. Regions of lamellar, bicontinuous cubic, hexagonal, and micellar cubic lyotropic liquid crystalline structures (established from small-angle X-ray scattering measurements) have been delineated in the four ternary isothermal (25 °C) PEO−PPO−PEO−water−glycol phase diagrams. Pronounced effects on the concentration range of stability of the different phases were found when the glycol was varied from ethanol (the least polar glycol examined here) to glucose (the most polar). For example, glycerol and glucose swell the hexagonal phase to lower copolymer content, while propylene glycol and ethanol do not show this effect. Our experimental observations are discussed in terms of modification of the system “interfacial ...
In-Plane Permittivity of Spin-Cast Polymer Films

Polymeric materials such as polyimides are used in a multitude of microelectronic applications including interlevel dielectrics for insulation. Polyimide films have shown a difference between the through-plane and in-plane refractive index measurements.(1,2,3) This anisotropy in optical properties has been attributed to in-plane orientation of polymer chains and implies anisotropy in electrical properties. Thus, it is necessary to measure the electrical properties in both the in-plane and through-plane directions to accurately design three-dimensional electronic packages. The purpose of this research is to develop an in-situ technique to measure the in-plane permittivity of these spin-coated polymer films. Using capacitance measurements obtained from interdigitated electrodes, through-plane permittivity measurements, and ANSYS finite element analysis software, the in-plane permittivity of a given material can be determined. Several polyimide systems including Du Pont PI-2611 (BPDA-PPD), Du Pont PI-2540 (PMDA-ODA), and Probimide 293 (BTDA-DAPI) from OCG Microelectronics, as well as Cyclotene 3022 (BCB) from Dow Chemical were investigated. Anisotropy in the permittivity was observed in the three polyimide films, but not in the BCB film. Results were compared with predictions using refractive index measurements and a modified form of Maxwell's equation.
Fuel processing for fuel cell power systems.

Fuel processors to produce hydrogen from conventional and alternative fuels are being developed for use in fuel cell power generators. The design of these fuel processors hinges on many factors that include the temperature and pressure required for the conversion, the type and level of by-product that the fuel cell can tolerate, and the duty cycle of the fuel cell power system. This article reviews the types of fuels being considered for fuel cell systems, the reformer technologies being pursued, and the suitability of the reformers for specific applications. The various components needed in the fuel processor have been identified, and some results obtained from the fuel processor development work being conducted at Argonne National Laboratory have been reported.
RhoA activity and post-ischemic inflammation in an experimental model of adult rodent anterior ischemic optic neuropathy

Activation of inflammatory cells and the RhoA signaling pathway may contribute to optic nerve damage following non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION). We induced an optic nerve infarct with a photothrombotic mechanism in a rat model of AION (rAION). Immunohistochemistry and Western blot were performed to detect activation of RhoA signaling and inflammation. The extent of Rho activity, inflammation, retinal ganglion cell (RGC) loss and extent of axon regeneration were determined at 8 and 14 days after infarct. Eight days after stroke, we observed significant inflammation and RhoA activity at the site of infarction as well as loss of cells in the RGC layer. RhoA activity had decreased and inflammation had decreased at day 14 compared with day 8; however, loss of RGCs was greater at 14 days than at 8 days. Stroked eyes showed minor axon regeneration around the optic nerve lesion site at both 8 and 14 days. These results demonstrate that inflammation and RhoA activation occur in rAION at the site of infarction.
Combined-Cycle Power Plant Maintenance Costs

This paper describes a methodology to quantify scheduled and unscheduled maintenance costs and a software framework for estimating operations and maintenance (O&M) costs of combined-cycle power plants over their operating life. Scheduled maintenance costs consist primarily of replacement and repair of hot section components of the combustion turbine that occur during planned inspections and overhaul events. Scheduled maintenance costs can be estimated based on anticipated parts life, operating conditions and parts costs. Some degree of uncertainty exists, but the range of costs is fairly well understood. Unscheduled maintenance costs are not as readily defined. Experiential data of unplanned events from a large sampling of plants over time can be used to estimate unscheduled costs. Because of the wide variation in experience from unit to unit, a range of costs are anticipated. This paper includes a description of a study of F-class combined-cycle plant data that provides the basis for defining a cost distribution of unscheduled maintenance costs. In addition, the reliability and availability statistics of these plants are used to estimate lost generation revenue due to unplanned outages, which can be significantly higher than the cost of performing the repairs to return the unit to service.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
Fully collapsed carbon nanotubes

IT has been suggested1 that the tensile strength of carbon nanotubes2 might exceed that of other known fibres because of the inherent strength of the carbon–carbon bond. Calculations of the elastic properties of nanotubes confirm that they are extremely rigid in the axial direction and are most likely to distort perpendicular to the axis3'4. Carbon nanotubes with localized kinks and bends5'6, as well as minor radial deformations7'8, have been observed. Here we report the existence of multi-shelled carbon nanotubes whose overall geometry differs radically from that of a straight, hollow cylinder. Our observations reveal nanotubes that have suffered complete collapse along their length. Theoretical modelling demonstrates that, for a given range of tube parameters, a completely collapsed nanotube is favoured energetically over the more familiar 'inflated' form with a circular cross-section.
Why do Central Asian governments fear religion? A consideration of Christian movements

ABSTRACT Despite the freedoms each Central Asian state announced following their respective declarations of independence in 1991, numerous legislative revisions have led to the restriction of religious freedom in the 1990s and the 2000s. Tighter legislation and pressure against religion stems from the desire of Central Asian authorities to channel the risks that the “revival” of faith may pose. Although for the ruling regimes, the changes set forth in religious matters were and remain a means of giving credence to a “new era” in favor of the independent states; the management of religion is seen as one of the essential elements necessary to maintain the standards and rules that prevailed under the previous regime, revealing the difficulty to think of the relationship between state and religion in a different conceptual framework. In order to highlight the paradoxes of the Central Asian states' fear of religion, this article focuses on Christian movements, which have to deal both with a Muslim majority and with secular states afraid of the potential for competition coming from religion.
From mad-doctor to forensic witness: The evolution of early english court psychiatry

When nine medical witnesses offered testimony in the 1843 trial of Daniel McNaughtan, few observers in the courtroom could have appreciated the evolutionary dynamics which were transforming the mad-doctor into an expert witness. Certainly, medical witnesses were no strangers to the court; one can find written acknowledgement of medical testimony in continental jurisprudence dated as early as 13 11. The growth of legal medicine was encouraged in France through the use of surgeons as court experts as evidenced by Norman laws and decrees of St. Louis, and in Italy by the Canon Law which mandated that the “character of wounds . . . be determined by medical experts.“’ Cases involving impotency, leprosy, and deaths of a suspicious nature all contributed to the growth of and reliance on medical pronouncements. Forensic medicine until the early 19th century was largely confined to injuries and diseases of a physical nature. What was novel by the 1840s in Britain was the dramatic increase in the participation of medical witnesses in trials in which they had heretofore played but a small role. Where mad-doctors appeared in only 1 in 10 insanity trials in 1760, by 1840 they testified in half of all insanity cases concerned with a property offense, and almost 90% of trials involving personal assault. Clearly, the mad-doctor had “arrived” by the mid 19th century in England, but one wonders what avenue these new medical witnesses had taken to claim legitimacy for their expertise. This article reports on a study of insanity trials heard in Britain between 1760 and 1843 which was undertaken to determine, among other matters: (1) who the first medical witnesses were, (2) how they became acquainted with criminal defendants and found their way into the courtroom, and (3) in what manner the court responded to their increasing presence. In sketching the contours of the professional association among the first forensic specialists in insanity, we are also asking a more fundamental question: to what extent did these early medical witnesses
Comprehensive sexual health assessment

This article discusses the fundamentals of sexual functioning and describes the elements of a comprehensive, developmentally relevant sexual health assessment. Personal barriers that may prevent clinicians from comfortably addressing sexual issues are discussed, and useful strategies for facilitating effective, reciprocal communication during a sexual health history are presented. A therapeutic intervention model for counseling, referral, and sexual health assessment of women in the primary care setting is also included.
Involvement of Gq/11 in signal transduction in the mammalian vomeronasal organ

SUMMARY Social behaviors of most mammals are profoundly affected by pheromones. Pheromones are detected by G-protein coupled receptors in the vomeronasal organ (VNO). To investigate the role of Gα q/11 in vomeronasal signal transduction pathways, microvillar membranes from murine VNO were prepared. Incubation of such membranes from prepubertal females with adult male urine results in an increase in production of inositol-(1,4,5)-trisphosphate (IP 3 ). This stimulation is mimicked by GTPγS, blocked by GDPβS and is tissue specific. Furthermore, use of bacterial toxins such as pertussis that lead to ADP-ribosylation of the G-protein alpha subunits of G o and G i2 do not block the increase in IP 3 levels but U-73122, a PLC inhibitor, blocks the production of IP 3 . Studies with monospecific antibodies revealed the presence of three G-proteins, Gα o , Gα i2 and Gα q/11 -related protein, in vomeronasal neurons, concentrated on their microvilli. Our observations indicate that pheromones in male urine act on vomeronasal neurons in the female VNO via a receptor-mediated, Gα q/11 -protein-dependent increase in IP 3 levels.
Local Scarcity of Women Predicts Higher Fertility among Married Couples and More Single Father Households

Because the reproductive strategies of men and women are somewhat divergent, influences of the sex ratio on the intensity of mating competition and selectivity for partners produce different outcomes in female biased and male biased populations. Male mating opportunities are enhanced by scarcity and incentives for long-term commitment are diminished, encouraging serial and simultaneous polygyny. Paternal investment is lower in these populations, as indicated by higher divorce rates, more out-of-wedlock births, and a greater proportion of single mother households. Scarce females are able to more effectively secure commitment from partners as well as demand higher levels of resource investment. Women marry earlier in these populations. Although single father households are relatively uncommon, we expect to see higher proportions of households with children headed by single fathers where women are scarce. We also expect to see higher fertility among married couples, both because women may have greater bargaining power in reproductive decision-making and the role of woman in childbearing may be more salient to and valued by men. Data from the 2000 U.S. Census across 318 Metropolitan Statistical Areas supported these hypotheses.
Product Life Cycles of Durable Goods for the Home

This is a study of product life cycles of durable goods used in the home. Data of durable goods shipments from 1922 to 1978 were analyzed, and the products were classi-fied into various shapes of product life cycles. Fifty percent of the products were found to be in the typical life cycle pattern. Most big ticket items in this industry are still in the maturity stage. There are a few significant products in the growth stage. marketing prospects for individual products are suggested, based on the shapes of their product life cycles.
VLSI architectures for computing the arithmetic Fourier transform

Modular and area-efficient VLSI architectures are proposed for computing the arithmetic Fourier transform (AFT). By suitable I/O schedule and activation of PEs, nonuniform data dependencies in the AFT computation which require nonequidistant inputs and assignment of Mobius function values are resolved. The proposed design employs 2N+1 PEs to compute 2N+1 Fourier coefficients. Each PE has an adder and a fixed amount of local storage and one PE has a multiplier. I/O with the host is performed using a fixed number of channels. The design achieves O(N) speed up. Compared with known designs for AFT, the proposed design uses significantly less PEs and supports real-time applications. This design can be extended to achieve linear speed up in a fixed size array with 2p+1 PEs, 1 >
Using Assessment Data to Monitor Physical Education Programs

(2002). Using Assessment Data to Monitor Physical Education Programs. Journal of Physical Education, Recreation & Dance: Vol. 73, No. 8, pp. 25-30.
Thermometric Lag of Four Temperature Sensing Elements in Milk High-Temperature Heating Systems

Abstract The response time of flow-diversion valve controls currently available is about 5 seconds when the sensing element is immersed in water, and can be as much as 15 seconds in viscous milk products. Control systems with faster response times are needed for both ultra high-temperature and high-temperature, short-time systems. The temperature sensing element is the slowest component of the control system, and because of this, the speed of response of a thermocouple, thermistor, and resistance bulb was compared with that of the vapor-filled bulb currently used. Measurements were made in a 7.6-cm-diameter tube, with initial and final milk temperatures of 78.3 and 67.8C. Sixty-three per cent of the down-scale step change (the thermometric lag) occurred at diversion temperature of 71.7C. With a milk velocity of 2.4 meters per second, thermometric lags of the thermocouple, vapor-filled bulb, thermistor, and resistance bulb were 0.34, 1.5, 2.0, and 2.4 seconds. With a milk velocity of 0.3 meters per second, thermometric lags were 0.86, 3.1, 3.0, and 3.6 seconds. The thermocouple was the only sensing element tested with the potential for significantly decreasing response time of flow-diversion valve control systems.
Eco-composite design method

In this work, the homogenization design method (HDM) is proposed to design material microstructure made of environmental friendly constituents. This research aims at employing HDM techniques to design the topology of microstructure with specified mechanical properties and extend previous works to accommodate material design with three constituents phases. Special efforts have been made to design materials with unusual coefficients of thermal expansion, in particular, materials with zero and negative expansion properties.
Interactions among fire, insects and pathogens in coniferous forests of the interior western United States and Canada

Natural and recurring disturbances caused by fire, native forest insects and path- ogens have interacted for millennia to create and maintain forests dominated by seral or pioneering species of conifers in the interior regions of the western United States and Canada. 2 Changes in fire suppression and other factors in the last century have altered the species composition and increased the density of trees in many western forests, leading to concomitant changes in how these three disturbance agents interact. 3 Two- and three-way interactions are reviewed that involve fire, insects and path- ogens in these forests, including fire-induced pathogen infection and insect attack, the effects of tree mortality from insects and diseases on fuel accumulation, and efforts to model these interactions. 4 The emerging concern is highlighted regarding how the amount and distribution of bark beetle-caused tree mortality will be affected by large-scale restoration of these fire-adapted forest ecosystems via prescribed fire. 5 The effects of fire on soil insects and pathogens, and on biodiversity of ground- dwelling arthropods, are examined. 6 The effects of fire suppression on forest susceptibility to insects and pathogens, are discussed, as is the use of prescribed fire to control forest pests.
Fault-tolerant external clock synchronization

We address the problem of how to integrate fault-tolerant internal and external clock synchronization. We propose a new algorithm which provides both external and internal clock synchronization for as long as no more than F reference time servers out of a total of 2F+1 are faulty. When the number of faulty reference time servers exceeds F, the algorithm degrades to a fault-tolerant internal clock synchronization algorithm. We prove that at least 2F+1 reference time servers are necessary for achieving external clock synchronization when up to F reference time servers can suffer arbitrary failures, thus our algorithm provides maximum fault-tolerance. The algorithm is also optimal in another sense: we show that the maximum deviation between reference time and the clocks of nonreference time servers is minimal.
Michigan multioption program in electrical engineering

A multioption (three) program in electrical engineering is proposed to meet the needs of a rapidly advancing technology and a wide range of student interests and objectives. A specific program is described which includes a wide range of technical electives outside of electrical engineering, and also features a novel treatment of advanced mathematics for electrical engineering students in both the systems and science areas. An integrated humanities-social sciences program is additionally described.
Design considerations of statistical multiplexors

Design considerations for statistical multiplexors with Poisson message arrivals and the following three types of messages are considered: 1) constant length messages, 2) random length messages, and 3) segmented random length messages with fixed-size blocks. The operating costs of the multiplexors can be divided into transmission costs and storage costs. The transmission costs are dependent on the transmission rates of the lines and the number of lines used. The storage costs are dependent on the buffer length required, the cost of overhead in buffer management, and the cost of waste spaces of fixed-size block messages. The queuing delays imposed by multiplexors are dependent, for example, on delays due to buffering and computer scheduling algorithms. The trade-offs among transmission costs, storage costs, and delays are described. An optimal multiplexor is the one that yields minimum operating costs yet satisfies the required performances (e.g., delays, overflow probabilities). Some design considerations of multiplexing systems are then illustrated via examples.
Death of a Senator: Life Expectancy and Causes of Death in 20th-Century US Senators

The only prior study of mortality in US senators suggested that the mean life expectancy of 20th-century US senators was 6 years less than that of an overall White male US reference population.1,2 The only current physician in the Senate has raised doubts about this finding.3 A case series of all expired US senators born in the 20th century was studied to settle the issue.
A computational study of ionic vacancies and diffusion in MgSiO 3 perovskite and post-perovskite

We have performed first-principles simulations within density functional theory to investigate the effects of pressure on the formation of defects (ionic vacancies) and ionic diffusion in the perovskite (pv) and post-perovskite (ppv) phases of MgSiO3. Our results show that the predicted formation enthalpies of three Schottky (MgO, SiO2 and MgSiO3) defects are similar between the two phases at high pressures (100 to 150 GPa) with MgO Schottky defect being the most favorable. However, the calculated activation enthalpies and activation volumes of diffusion are shown to differ substantially between them. In particular, the activation enthalpies for Mg and Si diffusion in ppv are smaller than the corresponding values for pv, for example, by factors of 2.2 and 3.4, respectively, at 120 GPa, whereas the O migration enthalpy of ppv is only slightly larger than that of pv. The easy migration paths of the cations in ppv are shown to take place along the 〈100〉 direction in which Si–O octahedra share the edges. Visualization of the simulation data reveals that the vacancy defects and migrating ions induce substantial distortions in the atomic and electronic structures around them. It is suggested that diffusion is equally easy for all three species in ppv and is likely to occur through extrinsic processes near the bottom of the lower mantle. Published by Elsevier B.V.
Decarceration of U.S. Jails and Prisons: Where Will Persons With Serious Mental Illness Go?

Decarceration (decreasing the number of persons incarcerated in U.S. jails and prisons) has begun. It is estimated that more than 350,000 persons with serious mental illness (SMI) are among those incarcerated in the United States and that many thousands of them will probably be among those released. Currently, the prison population in general is being reduced as a consequence of concerns about overcrowding and of policies and programs such as reclassification of drug possession, which would affect many persons with mental illness. Court-ordered diversion and changes in sentencing guidelines are also serving to reduce prison populations. In recent years, the mental health system did not have to manage as large a number of persons with SMI, especially those who were among the most difficult and expensive to treat, because many of them were incarcerated in jails and prisons. Now, with decarceration and the release of many such persons, the mental health system may be expected to assume more responsibility for them and should be prepared and funded to meet their needs. This population of persons with SMI needs structure and treatment that, depending upon their individual needs, may include 24-hour supportive housing, ACT and FACT teams, assisted outpatient treatment, psychiatric medication, and psychiatric hospitalization.
Drought response and yield formation of spring safflower under different water regimes in the semiarid Southern High Plains

Abstract Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) is a deep rooted drought tolerant crop that originated in desert environments of the Middle East, and could be very well adapted to the semi-arid Southern High Plains. A field experiment was conducted at Clovis, New Mexico during 2012 and 2013 seasons to assess drought physiology and yield formation of two diverse spring safflower cultivars under different irrigation levels with or without preseason irrigation. One half of the experimental blocks received preseason irrigation of 164 mm in 2012 and 153 mm in 2013 to refill the soil profile utilized by the previous crops, while the other half remained depleted. Five in-season irrigation levels (I1–I5) ranging from 88 to 392 mm in 2012 and from 83 to 373 mm in 2013 were imposed on both preseason irrigation and no-preseason irrigation blocks. Higher leaf water potential (Ψl) was observed under increased water availability either by preseason irrigation or by higher in-season irrigation level in safflower during two observation dates in both years. Osmotic potential at full turgor (Ψπ100), photosynthesis rate (Pn) and transpiration rate (Tr) decreased with a reduction in Ψl under water stress conditions. The relative water content (RWC) was affected only by the in-season irrigation levels in both years. The preseason irrigation increased seed yield of safflower by 39 and 118% over no-preseason irrigation in 2012 and 2013, respectively. A gradual increase in seed yield was observed with an increase in irrigation levels; and the highest irrigation level, I5 increased seed yield by 85 and 171% over the lowest irrigation level, I1 in 2012 and 2013, respectively. Seed yield increased with increase in Pn, plant biomass, number of heads per plant, and number of seeds per head but not with 1000-seed weight under increased water availability. Overall, increased availability of water through preseason irrigation or through in-season irrigation levels improved safflower physiology and yield formation.
Confronting Challenges at the Intersection of Rurality, Place, and Teacher Preparation: Improving Efforts in Teacher Education to Staff Rural Schools

Recruiting and retaining highly qualified teachers in rural schools is a persistent struggle in many countries, including the U.S. Salient challenges related to poverty, geographic isolation, low teacher salaries, and a lack of community amenities seem to trump perks of living in rural communities. Recognizing this issue as a complex and hard to solve fixture in the composition of rural communities, we sought to understand how teacher preparation programs might better prepare preservice teachers for successful student teaching placements and, ideally, eventual careers in rural schools. In this study, we explore teacher candidatesΓCO perceptions of rurality while examining how specific theory, pedagogy, and practice influence their feelings of preparedness for working in a rural school. Using pre- and post- questionnaire data, classroom observations, and reflections, we assess the effectiveness of deliberate efforts in our teacher preparation program to increase readiness for rural teaching. In our analysis and discussion, we draw on critical and sociocultural theories to understand the experiences of a cohort of teacher candidates as they explore personal histories, the importance of place, expectations, and teaching strategies for rural contexts. While rural education researchers have long lamented the struggle to recruit and retain teachers, there is relatively little known about intentional efforts to prepare teachers specifically for rural classrooms. We conclude our article with recommendations for enhancing teacher preparation programs in ways that might result in significant progress toward the goal of staffing rural schools with the highly skilled teachers all students deserve.
Egophobic voting algorithms

AbstractApproximate agreement is one form of distributed agreement, in which the processes in executing a voting algorithm are required to agree on values that are very close to each other. Recent studies have partitioned the voting algorithms into three broad categories: anonymous, egocentric, and egophobic. Among these categories, Egophobic algorithms have not yet been studied. This article considers one family of Egophobic algorithms. They are studied under a hybrid-fault model consisting of asymmetric, symmetric, and benign faults. We obtain their convergence rate and fault-tolerance expressions, show that these algorithms cannot discriminate between asymmetric and symmetric faults, and compare their performance against that of algorithms in other categories. The study of Egophobic algorithms will further research into forming a unified model capable of addressing any algorithms in these categories.
Predictive Model for the Combined Effect of Temperature, Sodium Lactate, and Sodium Diacetate on the Heat Resistance of Listeria monocytogenes in Beef

The effects of heating temperature (60 to 73.9 degrees C), sodium lactate (NaL; 0.0 to 4.8% [wt/wt]), and/or sodium diacetate (SDA; 0.0 to 0.25% [wt/wt]) and of the interactions of these factors on the heat resistance of a five-strain mixture of Listeria monocytogenes in 75% lean ground beef were examined. Thermal death times for L. monocytogenes in filtered stomacher bags in a circulating water bath were determined. The recovery medium was tryptic soy agar supplemented with 0.6% yeast extract and 1% sodium pyruvate. Decimal reduction times (D-values) were calculated by fitting a survival model to the data with a curve-fitting program. The D-values were analyzed by second-order response surface regression for temperature, NaL level, and SDA level. The D-values observed for beef with no NaL or SDA at 60, 65, 71.1, and 73.9 degrees C were 4.67, 0.72, 0.17, and 0.04 min, respectively. The addition of 4.8% NaL to beef increased heat resistance at all temperatures, with D-values ranging from 14.3 min at 60 degrees C to 0.13 min at 73.9 degrees C. Sodium diacetate interacted with NaL, thereby reducing the protective effect of NaL and rendering L. monocytogenes in beef less resistant to heat. A mathematical model describing the combined effect of temperature, NaL level, and SDA level on the thermal inactivation of L. monocytogenes was developed. This model can predict D-values for any combination of temperature, NaL level, and SDA level that is within the range of those tested. This predictive model will have substantial practical importance to processors of cooked meat, allowing them to vary their thermal treatments of ready-to-eat meat products in a safe manner.
Habitat Use and Population Characteristics of the White-Tailed Ptarmigan in the Sierra Nevada, California

We studied an introduced population of White-tailed Ptarmigan (Lagopus leucurus) during 1987 and 1988. Ptarmigan colonized alpine habitat 79 km north and 114 km south of their release site within 18 years of their liberation in the Sierra Nevada, California. Population densities were the lowest reported for the species. However, sex and age ratios were similar to native populations. Breeding season habitats were in areas of tall (>30 cm) willow (Salix) shrubs and contained more subshrub, moss, and boulder cover than in unused habitats. In the postbreeding season, ptarmigan used topographic depressions within breeding territories; brooding hens used moist meadows, while flocks occupied sites with abundant boulders. Ptarmigan primarily used the Salix anglorum antiplasta vegetation alliance on rocky, north-facing slopes. Willow abundance and proximity to water were the most discriminatory variables in logistic regression analyses between habitats used and unused by ptarmigan during the breeding and postbreeding seasons.
An herbal supplement containing Ma Huang-Guarana for weight loss: a randomized, double-blind trial

OBJECTIVE: To examine in overweight humans the short-term safety and efficacy for weight loss of an herbal supplement containing Ma Huang, Guarana and other ingredients. DESIGN: An 8 week randomized, double-blind placebo controlled study of a herbal dietary supplement (72 mg/day ephedrine alkaloids and 240 mg/day caffeine). SUBJECTS: Overweight men and women (body mass index, ≥29 and ≤35 kg/m2). MEASUREMENTS: The primary outcome variable was body weight change. Secondary variables included anthropometric, metabolic and cardiovascular changes. RESULTS: Sixty-seven subjects were randomized to either placebo (n=32) or active Ma Huang/Guarana (n=35). Twenty-four subjects in each group completed the study. Active treatment produced significantly (P<0.006) greater loss of weight (X±s.d.,−4.0±3.4 kg) and fat (−2.1±3.0% fat) over the 8-week treatment period than did placebo (−0.8±2.4 kg and 0.2±2.3% fat). Active treatment also produced greater reductions in hip circumference and serum triglyceride levels. Eight of the 35 actively treated subjects (23%) and none of the 32 placebo-treated control subjects withdrew from the protocol because of potential treatment-related effects. Dry mouth, insomnia and headache were the adverse symptoms reported most frequently by the herbal vs placebo group at the final evaluation visit. CONCLUSIONS: This herbal mixture of Ma Huang and Guarana effectively promoted short-term weight and fat loss. Safety with long-term use requires further investigation.
A test of safety, violence prevention, and civility climate domain-specific relationships with relevant workplace hazards

Background: Safety climate, violence prevention climate, and civility climate were independently developed and linked to domain-specific workplace hazards, although all three were designed to promote the physical and psychological safety of workers.Purpose: To test domain specificity between conceptually related workplace climates and relevant workplace hazards.Methods: Data were collected from 368 persons employed in various industries and descriptive statistics were calculated for all study variables. Correlational and relative weights analyses were used to test for domain specificity.Results: The three climate domains were similarly predictive of most workplace hazards, regardless of domain specificity.Discussion: This study suggests that the three climate domains share a common higher order construct that may predict relevant workplace hazards better than any of the scales alone.
The relationships between Yong an canal and Xi'an City

The relationships between Yong an canal and western faire of Chang an City are very close.On the one hand,Yong an canal played on the water supply,beautification,flood storage capacity,fight a drought and other role;On the other hand,the effect of Yong an canal played an very important role in western fair.Because of Yong an canal western fair became more prosperous,so Yong an canal is very important to western faire.
Advancing Research on the Spread of Stigmatizing Beliefs With Insights From Rumor Transmission

The essay examined a commonly stated but rarely elaborated assumption in stigma theories: Stigma must be socialized to engender community-level marginalization and discrimination. Existing research...
“YOU, GUESS”: THE ENIGMAS OF CHRISTINA ROSSETTI

Throughout her life, Christina Rossetti was an enthusiastic writer and player of word games in verse. When she was seventeen, for instance, she spent the summer of 1848 in Brighton playing bouts-rimes sonnets with her brother, William. Together they timed themselves to see how fast they could write lines of verse to a given set of end rhymes: “emotional devastation in ten minutes or less,” Anne Jamison wittily puts it (145). Two years later, Rossetti published under her initials instances of different word games – an enigma (“Name any gentleman you spy”) and a charade (“My first is no proof of my second”) – as part of a series of riddling word games in verse by various authors in the Marshall's Ladies Daily Remembrancer: For 1850. They count among Rossetti's first poetic publications. These popular riddling genres, while perhaps less familiar to readers today, were immediately recognizable to Rossetti's contemporaries. In his 1872 riddle anthology, Guess Me, F. D. Planche defines an “Enigma” as a riddle in verse, or “the most ancient form of Riddle . . . often a real poem as well as a question for solution” (3). In the 1891 Cornhill Magazine, the article “Riddles” glosses a “charade” as a riddle that “turns upon the letters or syllables composing a word” (518). By publishing an enigma and a charade in Marshall's Ladies Daily Remembrancer, an inexpensive pocket book for women, Rossetti capitalized on the association of these genres as written by and for middle-class women, a point that I will argue in more detail later.
Neural Transplantation in the Nonhuman Primate Model of Parkinson’s Disease

Neural transplantation research for Parkinson’s disease has followed a circuitous and, at times, an unpredictable path. Based primarily on successful rodent studies, clinical trials using adrenal medullary tissue or fetal mesencephalic tissue were initiated throughout the world, but highly variable results in both transplant paradigms sent researchers back to the animal models for further study. Based on a then, newly available neurotoxin, MPTP was used in nonhuman primates to better model the neuropathology and behavior of Parkinson’s disease. Using the MPTP, dopamine-depleted primate model, researchers have been able to address questions that were unanswered before advancing to clinical trials and which rodent models could not or did not answer. New investigations pursued questions regarding immunorejection, sources of dopamine-producing cells, transplant location, and even characteristics of the host. While this may give the impression that neural transplantation research had taken a step backward, the nonhuman primate model has helped to lay a foundation from which other transplant approaches could be compared before moving into clinical trials. Polymer encapsulated cells and neural progenitor cell lines are two such approaches that will be examined in the nonhuman primate model before being attempted in the Parkinson’s patient population. While feasibility has been proven in the primate model, clinical applicability is still dependent on the creation of a stable source of donor cells.
Type II HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitors (Statins) Provide Acute-Graft-Versus-Host Disease Protection by Th-2 Cytokine Induction While Sparing Graft-Versus-Leukemia Activity.

Abstract Recent studies have shown the beneficial impact of 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-CoA (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors (statins) on autoimmunity and allograft rejection. To investigate whether statins are capable of protecting from acute graft vs host disease (aGVHD) we utilized an established murine model (FVB/N->Balb/c) across major MHC barriers. Type II statins were potent inducers of a T-helper cell (Th)-2 cytokine profile in the adoptively transferred T cells upon exposure in vitro or in vivo. Expansion of alloreactive luciferase transgenic T cells as measured by total body light emission was significantly reduced by donor pre-treatment (10mg/kg bodyweight) or in vitro T cell treatment (10nM) with atorvastatin (AT vs PBS; p=0.0008) and fluvastatin (FLU vs PBS; p=0.0007). The beneficial effect of statin treatment translated into significantly reduced aGvHD lethality in statin as compared to PBS treated animals. Th-2 biased donor T cells could be tracked until day 15 after BMT by intracellular cytokine staining and FACS analysis. Host treatment prior to transplantation induced down-regulation of the costimulatory molecules CD40, CD80 and CD86 and MHC class II on recipient APCs and enhanced the protective statin effect when donor and recipient were treated (survival AT vs PBS, p=0.0012). Induction of the Th-2 cytokine profile was still permissive for in vivo graft vs leukemia effects by cytolytic effector function of CD8+ T cells against A20 B-cell lymphoma cells as assessed by bioluminescence imaging, FACS, histology and survival. In vitro CD8+ T cells derived from AT treated animals displayed equal cytolytic activity against Yac1 T-cell lymphoma cells as compared to T cells derived from PBS treated animals. Mechanistically we identified a role for the STAT-6 pathway in statin induced Th-2 induction as aGvHD protection was partially reversed with STAT-6−/− donors. The in vivo statin effect could be antagonized by L-mevalonate indicating the relevance of the mevalonate pathway for statin mediated aGvHD protection. Since L-mevalonate produced by the HMG-CoA reductase is the precursor of non steroidal isoprenoid compounds, such as farnesyl pyrophosphate and geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate, the statin impact on prenylation status of critical signaling proteins in alloreactive T cells was determined by Western blot. In vitro AT treatment reduced the levels of RAP-1, RhoB and Ras prenylation in allo-antigen exposed T cells and abrogated expression of T-bet which is critical for Th1 induction. We conclude that type II statins have significant protective impact on aGvHD lethality by Th-2 cytokine induction and inhibition of an uncontrolled Th-1 response, which is of great clinical relevance given the widespread use and well defined toxicity profile of these agents.
A modified ICA framework for motion artifact removal in wrist-type photoplethysmography during exercise

Removal of motion artifacts (MA) from wrist-type photoplethysmographic (PPG) signal recordings during exercise is a difficult problem, since the MA during exercise can be very strong. In this paper, a modified independent component analysis (ICA) algorithm to remove MA is proposed. The proposed algorithm relies on the negentropy scores of the linear combinations of the signal data to achieve maximum statistical independence. This algorithm was tested on PPG signals recorded during fast running. The results of the experiments reveal that this algorithm is robust to MA present in the PPG signals. The results of our algorithm are compared with the existing wavelet-decomposition method.
Induced thermoluminescence as a method for dating recent volcanism: Eastern Snake River Plain, Idaho, USA

The induced thermoluminescence properties of 24 samples of basalts from volcanoes in the eastern Snake River Plain, Idaho, were measured as part of an investigation into the possibility of using this technique for dating purposes. The volcanic flows sampled ranged in age from 2200 years to ~400,000 years. The TL sensitivity values obtained, i.e. maximum induced TL normalized to that of the Dhajala meteorite (where Dhajala = 1000), ranged from 1.6 ± 0.3 to 226 ± 15 and showed a correlation between log TL and age with an r2 value of 0.47. Thus TL sensitivity values correlate with age in the manner expected, although there is a high level of scatter. We discuss various mechanisms for the correlation and scatter, particularly (1) the role of primary (igneous processes) and secondary (solid state processes), (2) composition of the plagioclase feldspar, (3) weathering. The induced TL signal from feldspars, the mineral responsible for the TL, is strongly dependent on their composition and correcting for this improved the correlation (r2 = 0.7). Variations in primary feldspar are affecting the data but we find no evidence that weathering of the samples is important. Further work is required to explore the remaining causes for the scatter and the TL-age trend. However, it is clear from the present study that induced TL has the potential for dating volcanism on the 2200 to 400,000 year time frame. This dating method, if successful, would be well-suited to spacecraft use since it requires low mass and low power instruments with a low data demand.