cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effect of Silwet L-77 and Diazinon on Three Tephritid Fruit Flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) and Associated Endoparasitoids

Tests were done in the laboratory to determine the toxicity of the organosilicone surfactant Silwet L-77 against three tephritid fruit flies, Ceratitis capitata (Weidemann), Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel), and B. cucurbitae (Coquillett). The biological activity of Silwet was compared with cliazinonby exposing C. capitata puparia to sand treated with each chemical within 1 h, 7 d, and 14 d after treatment. Tests were also done to determine the effect of Silwet against the endoparasitoids Diachasmimorpha longicaudata (Ashmead), Tetrastichus giffardianus (Silvestri), and Psyttalia fletcheri (Silvestri). Silwet killed C. capitata and B. dorsalis at concentrations within the range of field application rates. Response of B. cucurbitae was the most variable and very high concentrations were required to kill >90% of puparia. A 75% decrease in mortality of C. capitata puparia occurred 14 d after sand treatment with diazinon. In contrast, Silwet remained as toxic to C. capitata puparia at 14 d as on the- 1st d of treatment. All 3 parasitoid species were susceptible to diazinon Silwet when ≥0.001 and ≥0.05% (AI) respectively, (wt:vol in water) were added to sand. Because Silwet has very low mammalian toxicity, it is of considerable interest for larger scale testing for fruit Hies. However, more work is needed at the field level to determine possible adverse effects to nontarget species.
Modal parameter identification of civil engineering structures under operational conditions

This paper deals with the realization of finite dimensional, linear, time-invariant models of structural systems in the state space description from the response (output) of the system. The theory and and underlying principles of two stochastic system identification algorithms are first described. The applications of the algorithms to two civil engineering structures follow the theory. Ambient vibration data collected from a building and a bridge, both are permanently instrumented by accelerometer networks, are used to derive the models. The vibration characteristics, i.e., the frequencies, damping ratios, and associated mode shapes, of the structures are then retrieved from the models. The stochastic system identification algorithms prove to be very effective in identifying the vibration characteristics of the structures.
BOOK REVIEW: "Information and Communication Technologies, Society and Human Beings" Edited by Darek M. Haftor and Anita Mirijamdotter

This volume provides a multi perspective analysis of the deployment of information and communication technologies. Multiple perspectives theory which was introduced by Harold A. Linstone argues that there are always three perspectives which should be considered in making decisions: technical, personal and organizational. This becomes more important in the case of technologies as we tend to focus on technical elements and ignore the rest. We teach many of such cases in our classes. The perspectives analyzed in this book are the personal and organizational ones. The chapters are written by a balanced group of authors from Europe, Asia and the US. The first three sections focus on the personal elements of information and communication technologies. The chapters explore the interaction of these technologies, human beings and the society. They delve into how psychological elements play into the adoption of such technologies. Then the following sections consider the organizational elements and they study the changing organizational structures due to the institutionalization of these technologies. A specific section introduced virtual education and collaboration such as e-conferences. A large section studies how the society is evolving into the information and communication society. The book ends with sections on the ethical elements and emerging topics. Overall the book would fit to a course on technology and society. It would also be a good grounding text for those of use thinking to conduct research in this area.
The Development and Use of Metal Deactivators in the Petroleum Industry: A Review

The development of metal deactivator additives for the petroleum industry is reviewed from the first additive used in gasoline to the present. The chemistry of how these additives are thought to work is detailed and related to chemical structure. Discussions of the three classes of action attributed to metal deactivators: chelation, surface passivation, and bulk phase reactivity, are provided. In this regard, special emphasis is given to the metal deactivator N,N‘-disalicylidine-1,2-propane diamine (MDA) in aviation turbine fuels. Previously reported work, especially work from 1991 to the present, investigating the impact of MDA on jet fuel thermal stability is reviewed. A discussion of the six classes of metal deactivators most commonly found in the literature is also provided.
Feature Selections for Effectively Localizing Faulty Events in GUI Applications

Due to the complex causality of failure and the special characteristics of test cases, the faults in GUI (Graphic User Interface) applications are difficult to localize. This paper adapts feature selection algorithms to localize GUI-related faults in a given program. Features are defined as the subsequences of events executed. By employing statistical feature ranking techniques, the events can be ranked by the suspiciousness of events being responsible to exhibit faulty behavior. The features defined in a given source code implementing (event handle) the underlying event are then ranked in suspiciousness order. The evaluation of the proposed technique based on some open source Java projects verified the effectiveness of this feature selection based fault localization technique for GUI applications.
Pathogenesis of an unexpected sudden death: Role of early cycle ventricular premature contractions

A 61 year old man who had been studied extensively died unexpectedly (“instantaneously”) outside the hospital while wearing an electrocardiographic recorder. Death was caused by ventricular fibrillation, which was initiated by an early cycle ventricular premature contraction occurring in the vulnerable period of repolarization. Such early cycle ventricular premature contractions had been noted in recordings 4 years previously but had never been observed to encroach on the T wave until 5 minutes before death. In the intervening period, the patient had shown increasing evidence of myocardial ischemia and hypertrophy and congestive heart failure, which had been partly obscured by his concealment or denial of symptoms and refusal to change his pattern of activities. Autopsy revealed two old myocardial infarcts and pronounced left ventricular hypertrophy. There was advanced occlusive arteriosclerosis of the major coronary vessels with a recent thrombus in the right coronary artery.
Christian Wilhelm Blomstrand (1826–1897) Swedish chemist and mineralogist

Summary Christian Wilhelm Blomstrand, Professor of Chemistry and Mineralogy at Lund University from 1862 to 1895, was one of the important chemists of the second half of the nineteenth century. His theoretical ideas and experimental accomplishments contributed to advances in several branches of chemistry. Living in Sweden during a transitional period between the older and newer chemistry and being a scientific as well as a political conservative, Blomstrand sought to reconcile Berzelius's dualistic theory with the unitary and type theories. He was opposed to Kekule's dogma of constant valency, and he strove to establish a sound and complete theory of variable valency. This article briefly outlines Blomstrand's life and considers his best known book, Die Chemie der Jetztzeit (1869), as well as his work on mineralogy, inorganic chemistry (the earth acid elements, heteropoly acids, platinum complexes), and his theoretical views on valency, diazo compounds, and metal-ammines. His so-called ‘chain theory’, as ...
Inhibition of viral assembly in murine cells by HIV-1 matrix

In human cells, the N-terminal matrix (MA) domain of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) Gag targets assembly to specific membrane compartments. In murine fibroblasts, membrane targeting of Gag and assembly of HIV-1 are inefficient. These deficiencies are relieved by replacement of HIV-1 MA with murine leukemia virus (MLV) MA in chimeric proviruses. In this study, we examined chimeric HIV-1 carrying tandem MLV and HIV-1 MA domains and found that the addition of MLV MA to the N-terminus of HIV-1 Gag enhanced membrane binding in murine cells, but was not sufficient to stimulate virus production. Removal of HIV MA was required to observe more efficient Gag processing and increased virus production in murine cells. Deletion of the globular head of MA also alleviated the blocks to membrane binding and Gag processing in murine cells, yet did not lead to increased virus production. These MA-dependent, cell-type-specific phenotypes suggest that host factors interact with the globular head of MA to regulate membrane binding and additional membrane-independent step(s) required for assembly.
Tectonic implications of glacio-eustatic sea level fluctuations

Data concerning the late Wisconsin low sea level stand are consistent with the hypothesis that ocean basins respond isostatically to eustatic loading and unloading attendent to continental glaciation. The large scale movements of mantle material implied by this hypothesis may be an important factor in models concerning the mechanism of ocean floor spreading. Inasmuch as chronology of glaeiation is well known or strongly inferred to at least 800,000 B.P., it may be possible to test the Ocean Basin Isostasy hypothesis by dating volcanics associated with large scale tectonic events which must accompany the periodic large scale movement of mantle material implied by the hypothesis.
Diffraction characterization of microstructure scale fatigue crack growth in a modern Al–Zn–Mg–Cu alloy

Abstract SEM-based electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD) measurements characterize constituent-particle nucleated fatigue crack path relative to local grain orientation and crack wake defect distribution for Al–Zn–Mg–Cu alloy 7050-T7451 stressed in moist air. Crack propagation is primarily transgranular; consisting of facets parallel to {1 0 0}, {1 1 0} and high-index planes with no evidence of {1 1 1} slip-based cracking; and is also inter-subgranular involving pre-existing or fatigue process zone generated subgrain boundaries. Dislocation substructure develops close to the fatigue crack surface due to dynamic recovery of crack tip cyclic plasticity. Crack growth through subgrain structure explains the broad occurrence of crack features without a low-index orientation and is justified based on trapped-hydrogen embrittlement. A failure criterion for environmental fatigue modeling must capture a failure mechanism based on: (a) formation of localized defect structure from cumulative cyclic plasticity (perhaps H sensitive), and (b) subsequent embrittlement due to interaction of H trapped at this defect structure with microstructure-sensitive local tensile stresses normal to this weakened interface. Crack interaction with subgrain (and grain) boundaries produces local deflections and branches that arrest over a short distance. Such features should cause a distribution of microstructure-sensitive growth rates.
Uncultured microorganisms as a source of secondary metabolites.

The vast majority of microbial species are ‘uncultured’ and do not grow under laboratory conditions. This has led to the development of a number of methods to culture these organisms in a simulated natural environment. Approaches include placing cells in chambers that allow diffusion of compounds from the natural environment, traps enclosed with porous membranes that specifically capture organisms forming hyphae—actinobacteria and microfungi, and growth in the presence of cultivable helper species. Repeated cultivation in situ produces domesticated variants that can grow on regular media in vitro, and can be scaled up for secondary metabolite production. The co-culture approach has led to the identification of the first class of growth factors for uncultured bacteria, iron-chelating siderophores. It appears that many uncultured organisms from diverse taxonomical groups have lost the ability to produce siderophores, and depend on neighboring species for growth. The new cultivation approaches allow for the exploitation of the secondary metabolite potential of the previously inaccessible microorganisms.
Determinants of exposure to fragranced product chemical mixtures in a sample of twins.

Fragranced product chemical mixtures may be relevant for environmental health, but little is known about exposure. We analyzed results from an olfactory challenge with the synthetic musk fragrance 1,3,4,6,7,8-hexahydro-4,6,6,7,8,8-hexamethyl-cyclopento-γ-2-benzopyran (HHCB), and a questionnaire about attitudes toward chemical safety and use of fragranced products, in a sample of 140 white and 17 black twin pairs attending a festival in Ohio. Data for each product were analyzed using robust ordered logistic regressions with random intercepts for “twin pair” and “sharing address with twin”, and fixed effects for sex, age, education, and “ever being bothered by fragrances”. Due to the small number of black participants, models were restricted to white participants except when examining racial differences. Overall patterns of association were summarized across product-types through random-effects meta-analysis. Principal components analysis was used to summarize clustering of product use. The dominant axis of variability in fragranced product use was “more vs. less”, followed by a distinction between household cleaning products and personal care products. Overall, males used fragranced products less frequently than females (adjusted proportionate odds ratio 0.55, 95% confidence interval 0.33, 0.93). This disparity was driven by personal care products (0.42, 95% CI: 0.19, 0.96), rather than household cleaning products (0.79, 95% CI: 0.49, 1.25) and was particularly evident for body lotion (0.12, 95% CI: 0.05, 0.27). Overall usage differed by age (0.64, 95% CI: 0.43, 0.95) but only hand soap and shampoo products differed significantly. “Ever being bothered by fragrance” had no overall association (0.92, 95% CI: 0.65, 1.30) but was associated with laundry detergent use (0.46, 95% CI: 0.23, 0.93). Similarly, black vs. white differences on average were not significant (1.34, 95% CI: 0.55, 3.28) but there were apparent differences in use of shampoo (0.01, 95% CI: 0.00, 0.69), body lotion (4.67, 95% CI: 1.18, 18.47), and perfume (6.22, 95% CI:1.08, 35.89). There was no overall association with thinking about product risks (0.90, 95% CI: 0.79, 1.02), nor with inability to smell HHCB (0.84, 95% CI: 0.63, 1.12). Exposure to fragranced products may differ demographically. The relevance for health disparities should be studied.
Photometric measurements of thin tracks in nuclear emulsion

Abstract Difficulties observed in the application of track theory to CNO particles are attributed to problems in the application of a light scattering correction in microphotometry.
The function of agonistic display behaviours in Gnathonemus petersii

In pairs of interacting Gnathonemus petersii, a mormyrid electric fish, dominant individuals were larger (longer body). Pairs of interacting fish of similar body size emitted more parallel displays at the onset of an interaction. Over the course of 10 min interactions, head butting increased and parallel display decreased. This decrease occurred primarily in pairs that contained a prior resident and intruder, as compared with two intruders. The patterns of electric organ discharge during parallel display, and the possible sensory modalities mediating this behaviour are discussed.
The Evil in Technical Communication Katz, Ward, Moore, and Overnaming

Ethics and technical communication have a long history. Much of the discussion has ignored, though, the evil in language—overnaming. We see clearest this evil in what some have called “administrative evil.” Technical communicators, like all good rhetoricians, need to understand how to respond to it. Overnaming as part of “administrative evil” is that evil which grounds all other evils. It is a certain understanding of language and what naming can do. When we overname, we try to control words to mean one thing eternally. Rhetoric is a move of renaming those words that have been overnamed. Such invention is needed as part of any rhetorical education for technical communicators.
Patterns of activities of root phosphomonoesterase and phosphodiesterase in wetland plants as a function of macrophyte species and ambient phosphorus regime

Summary • Phosphorus (P)-limited plants produce higher amounts of root phosphatases, but research has mostly focused on phosphomonoesterases (PMEs). Because phosphate diesters can form a significant proportion of organic P in wetlands, we aimed to determine whether wetland plants produce both root PMEs and root phosphodiesterases (PDEs), and, if so, what factors influence activities of these enzymes. • We measured the activities of root PMEs and PDEs colorimetrically in a wide range of macrophytes from natural and P-enriched wetlands. Hydrolyzable P in sediments was analyzed using commercially available PMEs and PDEs. • In all species, both root PMEs and PDEs were always present, and their activities were closely correlated. Sedges and broadleaved emergents had the highest activity of both enzymes, while those of floating-leaved plants were the lowest. Redundancy analysis revealed close association between root enzymes and the proportion of monoesterase- and diesterase-hydrolyzable dissolved unreactive P. Both enzymes were positively correlated with root tissue N : P ratio. • Both plant and sediment traits were important when explaining differences in enzyme activities. Although the activities are related to ambient P regime, the relationship was not close enough to use root enzymes as reliable predictors of dissolved unreactive P that is hydrolyzed by sediment phosphomono- and diesterases.
A domain decomposition approach for radiation transport in astrophysical dust envelopes

Abstract A spatial domain decomposition method is presented for computing the continuum transfer of radiation associated with luminous astrophysical sources, embedded in extended clouds, in which dust gives rise to a substantial opacity. The method is relevant to the modelling of protostars, evolved stars, galaxies, and active galactic nuclei. Different transport algorithms are used in each subdomain. The algorithms are each specialized to handle conditions of high or low opacity, and internal opacity boundaries. Grid cell spacing can be adjusted to efficiently resolve variation in the radiation field on different length scales. The method is applied to a set of test problems in which a central point source and a thin, luminous accretion disk are enclosed in an envelope. A simple two-group wavelength approximation is used, representing optical and thermal radiation. Group opacities drop to zero at the dust vaporization temperature. Domain decomposition computations are first checked against a semi-analytic solution to the diffusion approximation for spherically symmetric problems. The method is then applied to more realistic axisymmetric problems to compute the temperature structure of the envelope and accretion disk surface, and the location of the dust destruction front.
Tanning Device Usage: What Are Parents Thinking?

Tanning device usage is prevalent among adolescents. Few studies have assessed the role of parental influence on children's use of indoor tanning facilities. Our objective was to determine if children's tanning device usage is affected by parental knowledge of risks of indoor tanning or by parental tanning practices. A survey was administered to 160 parents of 328 children at a general pediatrics clinic and 204 parents of 367 children at a pediatric dermatology clinic (parents n=364, children n=695). Over half of all parents and 17% of all teenagers queried had previously used tanning devices. The level of parental knowledge did not predict tanning device usage by their children. However, parental tanning device usage was associated with increased usage by children (p<0.05). Children began using tanning devices on average more than 4 years earlier than their parents. Most parents (69%) never wanted their children to use tanning devices, but only 15% of parents had discussed them with their children. Therefore, health providers can provide an important service by initiating discussions about tanning devices. Additional measures, including legislation requiring parental consent for indoor tanning, are needed to reduce tanning device usage by minors.
Using Authentic Cases through the Use of a Web-Based Professional Development System to Support Preservice Teachers in Examining Classroom Practice

Abstract Within the past few years, there have been numerous studies that suggest that preservice teachers need and want opportunities to observe, visit, interact, and collaboratively reflect with teachers who are attempting to implement reform-based teaching strategies. Unfortunately, for many schools of education, it is logistically difficult to locate a sufficient number of teachers who are teaching using such strategies. However, providing opportunities to view and interact with teachers who are teaching in innovative ways is critical for preservice teachers if they are to develop the skills and confidence that they need to teach in similar ways. This article describes how a web-based professional development system, the Inquiry Learning Forum, was implemented in a science methods class. The Inquiry Learning Forum provides beginning teachers with opportunities to reflect on their beliefs, critically examine real classrooms through online videos of teaching practice, and engage in collaborative discuss...
Guy de Maupassant and Narrative Strategies of "Othering"

Thematiques de la difference sexuelle, ethnique, raciale mises en oeuvre dans les strategies narratives de M. pour designer l'alterite feminine
Temperature-dependent behavior of 980-nm strained quantum well lasers

Temperature dependent efficiency and modulation characteristics of strained quantum well (QW) InGaAs/InGaAsP/InGaP 980 nm laser diodes of various designs are analyzed using self consistent carrier transport analysis including stimulated emission. The decrease of the differential efficiency of 980 nm laser diodes with temperature is found to be caused by an increased modal loss attributed to the free carrier (electron and hole) absorption. The obtained results agree well with experimentally observed increase of internal loss at higher temperatures. Modulation characteristics are determined mainly by drift-diffusion in separate confinement region along with processes of carrier capture and escape in QWs. At high temperatures modulation bandwidth is reduced because of the decrease in differential gain. Graded index separate confinement heterostructure and multi-QW lasers show superior efficiency and modulation behavior at high temperatures.
Racial variations in treatment for glaucoma and cataract among Medicare recipients.

Purpose To identify the location of barriers to treatment for glaucoma and cataract among African-American Medicare beneficiaries.Methods We examined the receipt of eye care in general and care for glaucoma and cataract in particular among black and white Medicare beneficiaries using 1991 Medicare physician claims data.Racial differences in treatment for glaucoma and cataract were examined both for the Medicare population as a whole and for identified eye care users. The results were compared to the expected value of black-white difference based on population prevalence data for each specific condition.Results Thirty percent of black beneficiaries and 45% of white Medicare beneficiaries used eye care services in 1991. After adjusting for the expected difference in prevalence, black beneficiaries were half as likely to be surgically treated for glaucoma compared to white beneficiaries, and 80% as likely for cataract. When the analysis was restricted to those using eye care services, blacks continued to hav...
The Impacts of Party Membership Size: A Cross-National Analysis

Robert Michels' seminal work on the German Social Democratic Party (SPD) leads us to expect that the growth of party size and the development of complex structures have serious repercussions on the centralization of power and the level of intraparty participation Inferring from Michels' work, I derive several testable hypotheses and construct a path model of the effect of party size The general expectation is that party size has an inverse relationship with intraparty participation and a positive relationship with the degree of centralization of power The hypotheses are empirically tested using available party-level and cross-national data on 23 political parties from eight Western democracies from the ICPP Project and the Party Organizations Project The findings show that while party size does not affect the degree of centralization of power, the larger the party the more complex the party organization and the lower the level of intraparty participation.
Healthcare non-adherence decisions and internet health information

While the internet is emerging as an important transforming mechanism for health care and public health, questions remain about its limitations. Growing evidence indicates that a significant proportion of internet health information consumers is engaging treatment strategies inconsistent with professional recommendations. This study aimed to distinguish internet users who report non-adherence behavior from their counterparts based on several personal and environmental determinants. Using information obtained via the internet to refuse or discontinue treatment recommended by a doctor or dentist proved to be a widespread (11.2%) behavior. Internet health information bolstered non-adherence appears strongly linked with personal determinants such as anxiety, diminishing health, and gender - a pattern consistent with prior adherence research - and with environmental determinants including the perceived importance of both internet health information and internet-facilitated interpersonal interactions as well as using the internet as a social support vehicle.
Role of MacMARCKS in Integrin-dependent Macrophage Spreading and Tyrosine Phosphorylation of Paxillin

The cellular function of the MARCKS family of protein kinase C substrates is unknown. In this report, we present evidence that indicates a role for MacMARCKS, a member of the MARCKS family, in the integrin-dependent signal transduction pathways in macrophages. Using a dominant negative mutant of MacMARCKS, we showed that MacMARCKS participates in several integrin-dependent macrophage functions, including the phorbol ester-stimulated macrophage spreading, a process involving multiple integrins. The dominant negative mutant also blocks macrophage spreading on immune complex-coated surfaces, a process again requiring beta2 integrin. More direct evidence of the role of MacMARCKS in the integrin-dependent pathway is the ablation of macrophage binding to complement iC3b-coated sheep erythrocytes by MacMARCKS mutant, suggesting an effect of this mutant on the avidity of complement receptor 3, a member of the beta2 integrin family. To further evaluate the possible mechanism of MacMARCKS function, the integrin-dependent tyrosine phosphorylation of paxillin was examined. Concomitant with the inhibition of macrophage spreading and rosette formation, MacMARCKS mutant also inhibits integrin-dependent tyrosine phosphorylation of paxillin. Furthermore, immunofluorescent microscopy data showed that MacMARCKS and paxillin colocalize in the membrane ruffles at the leading edge of the spreading cells, providing a potential site and opportunity for MacMARCKS to participate in the regulation of integrin-dependent tyrosine phosphorylation of paxillin. Together, these data strongly suggest that MacMARCKS plays a role in integrin-dependent signal transduction pathways in macrophages.
Regulation of angR, a gene with regulatory and biosynthetic functions in the pJM1 plasmid-mediated iron uptake system of Vibrio anguillarum.

Abstract AngR and the product(s) encoded in the trans-acting factor (TAF) region are necessary for the full expression of the pJM1 plasmid-mediated anguibactin iron-uptake system in Vibrio anguillarum (Va). In this report, we analyzed the factors that affect the expression of the angR gene. Northern blot analysis showed that angR encodes a 3.1-kb transcript which is expressed only under iron-limiting conditions. Measurement of steady-state RNA levels show that, under iron-limiting conditions, angR is positively regulated at the transcriptional level by product(s) of the Va TAF region. However, this enhancement of angR expression by TAF does not occur at high levels of the AngR protein, as assessed by using an angR::lacZ fusion in the presence of a construct containing angR under the control of ptac . We also report that repression of angR by iron could possibly be mediated by an endogenous Va antisense RNAβ, which contains a stem-loop structure complementary to the stem-loop structure located at the 5′ end of angR
Lorazepam and diazepam rapidly relieve catatonic signs in patients with schizophrenia

The uses of lorazepam and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) have been proven to be effective in treating catatonia. In the present study a modified treatment strategy (i.e. lorazepam i.m. injection or diazepam infused i.v. if lorazepam failed, not with ECT) was proposed to rapidly relieve catatonic signs in patients with schizophrenia. During a 3-year period, 14 patients with catatonic schizophrenia in Chinese ethnic background Taiwanese were brought to the emergency unit of a general hospital. First, the patients were immediately treated with lorazepam 1 or 2 ampules (2 mg/mL per ampule) i.m. injection (IMI) during 2 h. Second, if the previous 2 ampules of lorazepam IMI failed, diazepam infused i.v. (10 mg/2 mL per ampule) in normal saline 500 mL every 8 h would be done during 1 day. The response rate of catatonic signs in these 14 patients with lorazepam IMI during the first 2 h was 85.7% (12/14). However, according to the results of this method, the total response rate to benzodiazepines during 1 day was 100%(14/14). These results suggested that this modified treatment strategy could rapidly and completely relieve catatonic signs, even without the use of ECT.
MO‐FF‐A2‐01: Development of a Coincidence Detection Spectrometry System to Electronically Filter the Bremsstrahlung Continuum from a 90Y Gamma Spectrum

Purpose: To demonstrate the ability of a newly constructed coincidence detection spectrometry system to better resolve the 511 keV peak present in a 90Y gamma spectrum due to the internal pair production (IPP) component of 90Y decay by electronically filtering out the bremsstrahlung continuum. Method and Materials: A recently determined low‐uncertainty branching ratio for the IPP component of 90Y decay provides the potential to spectroscopically assay the activity of 90Y by measuring the resulting 511 keV peak. However, the use of a single spectrometer to accomplish this is plagued by the presence of a large bremsstrahlung continuum. In this work, a coincidence detection system was constructed that paired a HPGe detector with a large NaI detector. A series of NIM electronics were tuned to gate the energy signal of the HPGe detector by the coincidence signal. A 90Sr /90Y source was measured for 4 h. The energy spectrum gated by coincidence, the non‐gated energy spectrum, and the energy spectrum gated by random coincidence were all collected concurrently. Environmental background (EBG) (i.e. no source present) was measured for 12 h. Canberra Genie™ 2000 software was used to analyze the spectra. Results: The EBG measured with the gated method was found to be negligible with no counts in the peak area. The EBG of the non‐gated method was subtracted from the non‐gated 90Sr /90Y spectrum. Genie™ 2000 was used to determine the 511 keV peak area and uncertainty. The uncertainty was 1.7% for the gated spectrum and 7.9% for the non‐gated spectrum. Conclusion: The ability of this detection system to electronically filter the bremsstrahlung continuum from the 511 keV peak‐of‐interest has been demonstrated. This method results in a reduced uncertainty in the peak area compared to measurement with a single detector.
Westley Tire Fire, Stanislaus County, California

ABSTRACT This is a case study of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) emergency response actions taken at one of the largest tire fires in California. The site was an illegal scrap tire dump known as the Filbin Tire Pile. There was an estimated 7 million tires in the pile. The site was located in a canyon in the rolling hills above the San Joaquin Valley near the Town of Westley, California. This tire fire was considered a major environmental disaster where large populations were affected and there was a potential for severe environmental damage. Responders with past experience recognized that the tire fire would be a unique multi-category event containing the elements of a major fire: hazardous materials release and oil spill discharge combined into one event. Shortly after the fire ignited the tires began to pyrolyze, producing a steady stream of oil that discharged to an unnamed drainage in the hills above the valley. The oil in the drainage flashed sending great plumes of thick black smoke into ...
Rice Bran Fermented with Saccharomyces boulardii Generates Novel Metabolite Profiles with Bioactivity

Emerging evidence supporting chronic disease fighting properties of rice bran has advanced the development of stabilized rice bran for human use as a functional food and dietary supplement. A global and targeted metabolomic investigation of stabilized rice bran fermented with Saccharomyces boulardii was performed in three rice varieties. Metabolites from S. boulardii-fermented rice bran were detected by gas chromatography−mass spectrometry (GC−MS) and assessed for bioactivity compared to nonfermented rice bran in normal and malignant lymphocytes. Global metabolite profiling revealed significant differences in the metabolome that led to discovery of candidate compounds modulated by S. boulardii fermentation. Fermented rice bran extracts from three rice varieties reduced growth of human B lymphomas compared to each variety’s nonfermented control and revealed that fermentation differentially altered bioactive compounds. These data support that integration of global and targeted metabolite analysis can be uti...
Changes in Kale (Brassica oleracea L. var. acephala) Carotenoid and Chlorophyll Pigment Concentrations during Leaf Ontogeny

Abstract There has been recent market interest in “baby” salad greens. However, little information exists on the nutritional differences between immature “baby” greens and produce traditionally sold at the fully mature stage. Kale ( Brassica oleracea L. var. acephala D.C.) contains high levels of lutein and β-carotene, which possess important human health properties. Kale was grown in a controlled environment and pigments were measured in young ( 4 weeks) leaves using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Significant differences were observed for all pigments during leaf development. Pigment accumulation followed a quadratic trend, with maximums occurring between the 1st and 3rd week of leaf age. The highest concentrations of lutein measured 15.1 mg/100 g fresh mass and occurred in 1–2 week old leaves. The remaining pigments reached maximum levels at 2–3 weeks (β-carotene at 11.6 mg/100 g; chlorophyll a at 251.4 mg/100 g; and chlorophyll b at 56.9 mg/100 g fresh mass). Mature fully expanded kale leaves accumulated higher carotenoid concentrations than immature or “baby” leaves, with senescent leaves having the lowest carotenoid concentrations. Harvesting kale leaves at a mature stage of development resulted in maximum carotenoid values. Cultural management practices that increase carotenoid concentrations would be expected to improve nutritional quality for fresh markets.
Sub-atmospheric gas purification for EUVL vacuum environment control

High purity gas supply for optics purging and cleaning under vacuum is required to be maintained at the output of the mini-environment gas distribution box in EUV scanners. Typically H2 gas is used for cleaning and purging while N2 gas is used for purging H2 lines post exposure. An investigation of gas purifier performance for moisture removal is made under sub-atmospheric pressure conditions. An evaluation of moisture levels as a function of switching between H2 and N2 gas supply states is also conducted. A superior performance (below instrument LDL) is observed for HX (Entegris, Inc.) gas purifier under various test conditions in the 10-100 kPa pressure range. Our preliminary studies provide a better understanding of gas purifier related moisture outgassing under vacuum and should facilitate better control and standardization of tool set-up parameters for environment in EUV lithography.
The application of ab initio molecular orbital theory to the anomeric effect. A comparison of theoretical predictions and experimental data on conformations and bond lengths in some pyranoses and methyl pyranosides

Abstract Ab initio molecular orbital calculations on methanediol have been used to predict the favored orientations and interatomic distances of the C-O-C-O-R portion in pyranoses. The results found for methanediol suggest, for the sugars, favored conformations that are consistent with the observed anomeric and exo-anomeric effects. The calculations also show that shortenings of the C-O bond of the order of 0.01 to 0.04 A, relative to methanol, are to be expected, and that the bond lengths have a strong conformational dependence. A comparison with the experimental data from the X-ray crystal-structure determinations, both for conformational angles and bond lengths, of eighteen pyranoses and methyl pyranosides shows agreement with the theory that is surprisingly good when consideration is taken of the experimental errors, the limitations of the theoretical model, and the expected differences in the structures of the crystal and the isolated molecule.
Use of the amicyanin signal sequence for efficient periplasmic expression in E. coli of a human antibody light chain variable domain

Abstract Periplasmic localization of recombinant proteins offers advantages over cytoplasmic protein expression. In this study signal sequence of amicyanin, which is encoded by the mauC gene of Paracoccus denitrificans , was used to express the light chain variable domain of the human κIO8/O18 germline antibody in the periplasm of Escherichia coli . The expressed protein was purified in good yield (70 mg/L of culture) in one step from the periplasmic fraction by affinity chromatography using an engineered hexahistidine tag. Circular dichroism spectroscopy was used to determine if the secondary and tertiary structures of the protein and its thermal stability corresponded to those of the native folded protein. The expressed and purified protein was indeed properly folded and exhibited a reasonable thermal transition temperature of 53 °C. These results indicate that the amicyanin signal sequence may be particularly useful for prokaryotic expression of proteins which are prone to mis-folding, aggregation or formation of inclusion bodies, all of which were circumvented in this study.
Relational queries computable in polynomial time

We characterize the polynomial time computable queries as those expressible in relational calculus plus a least fixed point operator and a total ordering on the universe. We also show that even without the ordering one application of fixed point suffices to express any query expressible with several alternations of fixed point and negation. This proves that the fixed point query hierarchy suggested by Chandra and Harel collapses at the first fixed point level. It is also a general result showing that in finite model theory one application of fixed point suffices.
Plasmas with an index of refraction greater than 1

Over the past decade, x-ray lasers in the wavelength range 14–47 nm have been used for interferometry of plasmas. As in optical interferometry of plasmas, the experimental analysis assumed that the index of refraction is due only to free electrons. This makes the index of refraction less than 1. Recent experiments in Al plasmas have shown fringe lines bending the wrong way as though the electron density were negative. We show how the bound electrons can dominate the index of refraction in many plasmas and make the index greater than 1 or enhance the index such that one would greatly overestimate the density of the plasma using interferometry.
Do Major League Baseball Hitters Engage in Opportunistic Behavior

This study focuses on 256 Major League Baseball free agent hitters playing under the 2006–2011 collective bargaining agreement to determine whether players engage in opportunistic behavior in their contract year, i.e., the last year of their current guaranteed contracts. Past studies of professional baseball yield conflicting results depending on the econometric technique applied and choice of performance measure. When testing whether players’ offensive performances increase during their contract year, the omitted variable bias associated with OLS and pooled OLS estimation leads to contrary results compared to fixed effects modeling. Fixed effects regression results suggest players increase their offensive performance subject to controlling for the intention to retire.
REPLICATION OF OPTIMISM AND PESSIMISM OF DISTANCE-LEARNING AND ON-CAMPUS STUDENTS '

Summary.-The purpose of this study was to replicate a prior study showing distance-learning students scored predominately more optimistic and less pessimistic than on-campus students using the Optimism and Pessimism scale with 197 distance learning and 200 on-campus graduate srudenrs. t tests for independent samples indicated the expected significant differences.
Mitochondrial Reactive Oxygen Species and Calcium Uptake Regulate Activation of Phagocytic NADPH Oxidase

Production of superoxide (O2·−) by NADPH oxidases contributes to the development of hypertension and atherosclerosis. Factors responsible for activation of NADPH oxidases are not well understood; interestingly, cardiovascular disease is associated with both altered NADPH oxidase activity and age-associated mitochondrial dysfunction. We hypothesized that mitochondrial dysfunction may contribute to activation of NADPH oxidase. The effect of mitochondrial inhibitors on phagocytic NADPH oxidase in human lymphoblasts and whole blood was measured at the basal state and upon PKC-dependent stimulation with PMA using extracellular 1-hydroxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidin-4-yl-trimethylammonium or mitochondria-targeted 1-hydroxy-4-[2-triphenylphosphonio)-acetamido]-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine spin probes and electron spin resonance (ESR). Intracellular cytosolic calcium [Ca2+]i was measured spectrofluorometrically using fura-2 AM. Incubation of lymphoblasts with the mitochondrial inhibitors rotenone, antimycin A, CCCP, or ruthenium red (an inhibitor of mitochondrial Ca2+ uniporter) did not significantly change basal activity of NADPH oxidase. In contrast, preincubation with the mitochondrial inhibitors prior to PMA stimulation of lymphoblasts resulted in two- to three-fold increase of NADPH oxidase activity compared with stimulation with PMA alone. Most notably, the intracellular Ca2+-chelating agent BAPTA-AM abolished the effect of mitochondrial inhibitors on NADPH oxidase activity. Cytosolic Ca2+ measurements with fura-2 AM showed that the mitochondrial inhibitors increased [Ca2+]i, while BAPTA-AM abolished the increase in [Ca2+]i. Furthermore, depletion of cellular Ca2+ with thapsigargin attenuated CCCP- and antimycin A-mediated activation of NADPH oxidase in the presence of PMA by 42% and 31%, correspondingly. Our data suggest that mitochondria regulate PKC-dependent activation of phagocytic NADPH oxidase. In summary, increased mitochondrial O2·− and impaired buffering of cytosolic Ca2+ by dysfunctional mitochondria result in enhanced NADPH oxidase activity, which may contribute to the development of cardiovascular diseases.
Area-efficient two-dimensional architectures for finite field inversion and division

Many high-throughput two-dimensional architectures for finite field inversion and division are based on reformulations of the extended Euclidean algorithm (EEA). These reformulated EEAs usually keep track of two pairs of data polynomials (or registers), and the operations of the reformulated EEAs are only within each pair of polynomials. In this paper, we propose a new reformulated EEA wherein the operations within the two pairs of polynomials are identical. Hence, the two pairs of polynomials in our new reformulated EEA can be concatenated into one pair. By utilizing some inherent properties of the EEA, we further reduce the computational complexity of our reformulated EEA by 25%. Based on our reformulated EEA, we propose new two-dimensional inversion and division architectures. How much hardware saving the reduced computational complexity translates into depends on how control mechanisms are implemented. Regardless of the implementation of control signals, our new architectures require smaller numbers of gates and latches while achieving comparable or better throughput, latency, and critical path delay in comparison to the best architectures in the literature.
Is There Equity in the Home Health Care Market? Understanding Racial Patterns in the Use of Formal Home Health Care

Objective. This article explores whether the formal home health care (HHC) market is equitable or manifests unexplained racial disparities in use. Methods. The database is the 1994 National Long Term Care Survey. We estimate logit regression models with a race dummy variable, race interaction terms, and stratification by race. We apply the Oaxaca decomposition technique to quantify whether the observed racial gap in formal HHC use is explained by racial differences in predisposing, enabling, need, and environmental characteristics. Results. We find numerous unique racial patterns in HHC use. Blacks with diabetes and low income have higher probabilities of HHC use than their White counterparts. Black older persons have a 25% higher chance of using HHC than Whites. Our Oaxaca analysis indicates that racial differences in predisposing, enabling, need, and environmental characteristics account for the racial gap in use of HHC. Discussion. We find that the HHC market is equitable, enhancing availability, aceptability, and accessibility of care for older Black persons. Thus, the racial differences that we find are not racial disparities.
Boiling Flow Instabilities in Parallel Channels

The instabilities in a two-parallel-channel forced-convection boiling upward flow system have been investigated using Freon-11 as the test fluid. Two major modes of oscillation, similar to those encountered in single-channel boiling flows, have been identified. The first, the density-wave mode, occurs with relatively high exit vapour fractions for one or both of the channels, and also when the working fluid is completely evaporated and superheated. The second, the pressure-drop mode, occurs when the pressure drop across the test section decreases with increasing flow rate and the exit vapour fraction for one of the channels is low. Whenever both of the criteria are met, the two modes of oscillation are found to be superimposed on each other. The system could be stabilized by introducing pressure drop(s) at heater inlet(s) of either channel or both channels. An analytical study has been made of the pressure-drop oscillations by linearizing the governing equations and using Routh's criterion. The conditions...