cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Trends in Dietary Quality Among Adults in the United States, 1999 Through 2010

Importance Many changes in the economy, policies related to nutrition, and food processing have occurred within the United States since 2000, and the net effect on dietary quality is not clear. These changes may have affected various socioeconomic groups differentially. Objective To investigate trends in dietary quality from 1999 to 2010 in the US adult population and within socioeconomic subgroups. Design, Setting, and Participants Nationally representative sample of 29 124 adults aged 20 to 85 years from the US 1999 to 2010 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Main Outcomes and Measures The Alternate Healthy Eating Index 2010 (AHEI-2010), an 11-dimension score (range, 0-10 for each component score and 0-110 for the total score), was used to measure dietary quality. A higher AHEI-2010 score indicated a more healthful diet. Results The energy-adjusted mean of the AHEI-2010 increased from 39.9 in 1999 to 2000 to 46.8 in 2009 to 2010 (linear trendP Conclusions and Relevance Although a steady improvement in AHEI-2010 was observed across the 12-year period, the overall dietary quality remains poor. Better dietary quality was associated with higher socioeconomic status, and the gap widened with time. Future efforts to improve nutrition should address these disparities.
In Vivo Pharmacokinetics of Triazinate in L-1210 and W-256 Cells

A pharmacokinetic model for triazinate uptake in L-1210 cells in mice and W-256 cells in rats was developed to describe the observed concentration profiles with time in these cells following a 36 mg/m2 ip injection. The L-1210 cell permeability to triazinate was found to be ~ 15 times smaller compared with W-256 cells. Similarly, the partition coefficient for L-1210 cells was calculated to be ~ 175 times smaller than for W-256 cells. Cell membrane permeability appears to be the key parameter determining drug transport at a short time after injection.
The effects of delayed presentation of the object of aggression on pain-induced fighting

It has been suggested that an aversive stimulus produces a drive to aggress in shocked organisms. Presumably this drive state will last a short time after the pain stimulus in absence of an object of aggression. This notion was studied in the present experiment by presenting the object of aggression (another rat) 0, 2, 4, or 6 sec after the cessation of the shock. Some fighting behavior was observed, regardless of when the object of aggression was presented. However, the intensity of the fighting behavior decreased markedly as delay of presentation increased from 0-6 sec.
Willing and able: explaining individuals' engagement in environmental policy making

Research on attitudes toward environmental policy making has often overlooked the important role that risks play in forming individual attitudes towards the environment. Similarly, this research often assumes that the factors that affect attitudes are similar across different environmental domains. The purpose of this research is to examine how the factors that affect an individual's willingness to get involved in environmental policy making differ on two environmental issues – nuclear power and drinking water. The study utilises multivariate statistical techniques to explore the relationship that uncertainty, risk, and trust play in an individual's willingness to take action in environmental policy making. The data consist of responses to a national random telephone survey of 403 adults in the United States. The individuals surveyed are more likely to take action on the less avoidable potential threat of nuclear power than they are on drinking water. The respondents believe that the potential harm from n...
Sedimentation studies of skin-sensitizing antibody.

Abstract Serums from allergic patients have been fractionated by preparative and analytic ultracentrifugation into fractions devoid of the S19 components and fractions containing S19 components. Skin-sensitizing activity has been found to be associated with both kinds of fractions. The skin-sensitizing activity could not be correlated with the S19 globulin fraction alone.
Panel Summaries: Real-Time Volume Diagnostics--Requirements and Challenges

A report on the IEEE VLSI Test Symposium (VTS 06) panel on "Real-time volume diagnostics: requirements and challenges.
Analysis of Impact-Induced Head Disk Interface Damage During Op-Shock

Hertzian impact theory is used to analyze impact-induced head disk interface (HDI) contact damage. Contact parameters including penetration (media damage), contact force, contact radius, impact duration, maximum and mean contact pressure are given at different normal impact velocities and slider corner radii in the form of contour plots. The results clearly suggest that the decrease of impact velocity or the increase of corner radius could both reduce the possibility of plastic deformation due to slider (head) disk impact contact.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
Quantifying boundary extension in scenes

 After viewing a picture of a scene, people remember having seen a wider-angle view than was originally presented (Intraub & Richardson, 1989)  Similar “spatial compression” effects occur in other paradigms with non-scene stimuli: eg, localization of briefly-presented targets (Sheth & Shimojo, 2001), line length judgment (Sneider & Ehrlich, 1978), multiple object tracking (Liverence & Scholl, 2011)  Our goal: quantify the magnitude of the boundary extension effect to determine what portion of the effect can be explained by low-level perceptual processes
Near-Infrared Observations at 1.56 Microns of the 2003 October 29 X10 White-Light Flare

We present high-resolution observations of an X10 white-light flare in solar NOAA Active Region 10486 obtained with the Dunn Solar Telescope (DST) at the National Solar Observatory/Sacramento Peak on 2003 October 29. Our investigation focuses on flare dynamics observed in the near-infrared (NIR) continuum at 1.56 μm. This is the first report of a white-light flare observed at the opacity minimum. The spatial resolution was close to the diffraction limit of the 76 cm aperture DST. The data benefited from a newly developed high-order adaptive optics system and a state-of-the-art NIR complex metal oxide semiconductor focal plane array. In addition, we compared hard X-ray (HXR) data of RHESSI and magnetograms of the Michelson Doppler Imager on board SOHO with the NIR continuum images. Although it is still possible that some high-energy electrons penetrate deep to this layer, a more likely explanation of the observed emission is back-warming. During the impulsive phase of the flare, two major flare ribbons moved apart, which were both temporally and spatially correlated with RHESSI HXR ribbons. The maximum intensity enhancement of the two flare ribbons is 18% and 25%, respectively, compared to the quiet-Sun NIR continuum. The separation speed of the ribbons is about 38 km s-1 in regions with weak magnetic fields and decreases to about 19 km s-1, where stronger magnetic fields are encountered. The derived electric field in reconnection current sheet Ec is of the order of 45 V cm-1 during the flare maximum.
Can equilibrium models explain nominal exchange regime non-neutrality? Evidence from the European monetary system

Abstract In a recent paper, Alan Stockman argues that the finding that real exchange rate variability id higher under flexible nominal exchange rate systems than under fixed nominal exchange rate systems, typically interpreted as evidencee of price stickiness, is consistent with equilibriu models. Stockman's theory, we argue, predicts that the formation of the European Monetary System should have had no effect on the real exchange rate variability of its members. We test this prediction, and interpret our findings as evidence in support of Stockman's theory, although not as evidence that equilibrium models can account for nominal exchange regime non-neutrality. (JEL F31).
Collaborative imaging of urban forest dynamics: augmenting re-photography to visualize changes over time

The ecological sciences face the challenge of making measurements to detect subtle changes sometimes over large areas across varied temporal scales. The challenge is thus to measure patterns of slow, subtle change occurring along multiple spatial and temporal scales, and then to visualize those changes in a way that makes important variations visceral to the observer. Imaging plays an important role in ecological measurement but existing techniques often rely on approaches that are limited with respect to their spatial resolution, view angle, and/or temporal resolution. Furthermore, integrating imaging acquired through different modalities is often difficult, if not impossible. This research envisions a community-based and participatory approach based around augmented rephotography of ecosystems. We show a case study for the purpose of monitoring the urban tree canopy. The goal is to explore, for a set of urban locations, the integration of ground level rephotography with available LiDAR data, and to create a dynamic view of the urban forest, and its changes across various spatial and temporal scales. This case study gives the opportunity to explore various augments to improve the ground level image capture process, protocols to support 3D inference from the contributed photography, and both in-situ and web based visualizations of the temporal change over time.
Performance of a Parallel Algorithm for Standard Cell Placement on the Intel Hypercube

In this paper, we present a parallel simulated annealing algorithm for standard cell placement that is targeted to run on the Intel Hypercube. We present a novel tree broadcasting strategy that is used extensively in our algorithm for updating cell locations in the parallel environment. Studies on the performance of our algorithm on example industrial circuits show that it is faster and gives better final placement results than the uniprocessor simulated annealing algorithms.
Reform without Liberalization: China's National People's Congress and the Politics of Institutional Change

Since its founding in 1954, the National People's Congress of China (NPC) has followed a difficult course of development, a course which has been characterized by periods of limited progress intermingled with periods of stagnation and regression. Political campaigns from the Anti-Rightist Movement (1957–1958) to the Great Leap Forward (1958–1960) to the Cultural Revolution (1966–1976) frustrated the establishment of any consistent policy concerning the appropriate role of the legislature within the one-party, Maoist regime. Mao's death in 1976, however, ushered in a new era of political reform which has included the strengthening of the NPC. In this detailed study of the NPC, Kevin O'Brien examines how the NPC has changed from its founding under Mao through the regime of Deng Xiaoping. He describes the various functions it has served, from the management of intra-elite relations; to the incorporation, and co-optation, of criticisms of regime policies into regime debates; to legislation and supervision of government agencies.
Kinetics, simulation and insights for CO selective oxidation in fuel cell applications

Abstract The kinetics of CO preferential oxidation (PROX) was studied to evaluate various rate expressions and to simulate the performance the CO oxidation step of a methanol fuel processor for fuel cell applications. The reaction was carried out in a micro reactor testing unit using a commercial Engelhard Selectoxo (Pt–Fe/γ-alumina) catalyst and three self-prepared catalysts. Temperature was varied between 100 and 300 °C, and a of range feed rates and compositions were tested. A reaction model in which three reactions (CO oxidation, H2 oxidation and the water gas shift reaction) occur simultaneously was chosen to predict the reactor performance. Using non-linear least squares, empirical power-law type rate expressions were found to fit the experimental data. It was critical to include all three reactions to determine good fitting results. In particular, the reverse water gas shift reaction had an important role when fitting the experimental data precisely and explained the selectivity decrease at higher reaction temperatures. Using this three reaction model, several simulation studies for a commercial PROX reactor were performed. In these simulations, the effect of O2/CO ratio, the effect of water addition, and various non-isothermal modes of operation were evaluated. The results of the simulation were compared with corresponding experimental data and shows good agreement.
Measuring carbon uptake by karsts in southwestern China

[1] Uptake of carbon by karsts, a type of landscape shaped as water dissolves carbonate bedrock, can be a significant factor in carbon budgets. Yan et al. measured carbon uptake by karsts in the Houzhai Basin in southwestern China from 1986 to 2007. The researchers estimated that the mean uptake rate was 20.7 grams of carbon per square meter per year. Surface water and underground water contributed about equally to the carbon uptake. The scientists also observed seasonal and interannual variations in carbon uptake by karsts. In addition, they estimate that the rate of carbon uptake by karsts in all of China is about 12 teragrams of carbon per year, which is about 57% of the rate of carbon accumulation by forest biomass in China from 1981 to 1998, indicating that karsts are also a relatively important carbon sink. They suggest that carbon uptake by karsts should therefore be included in studies of the regional carbon budget in China. (Journal of Geophysical Research-Biogeosciences, doi:10.1029/2011JG001686, 2011)
Regulation of expression of cytochrome P-450 2D mRNA in rat brain with steroid hormones

Abstract Cytochrome P-450 2D is a subfamily of the cytochrome P-450-dependent mixed function oxidase system which is widely distributed in the various tissues of mammals. Sex steroid hormones have been shown to affect the expression of CYP2D in rat brain. Testosterone treatment of ovariectomized female rats elicits a dramatic increase in CYP2D expression, estrogen treatment brings about a modest increase in brain CYP2D expression and reduces the increase in CYP2D expression elicited with testosterone when the two hormones are coadministered. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has been used in our laboratory, as well as other laboratories, to measure the low levels of message for various P-450s in brain [Hodgson, A.V., White, T.B., White, J.W., Strobel, H.W., 1993. Expression analysis of the mixed function oxidase system in rat brain by the polymerase chain reaction. Mol. Cell. Biochem. 120, 171–179; Omiecinski, C.J., Redlich, C.A., Costa, P., 1990. Induction and developmental expression of cytochrome P450IA1 messenger RNA in rat and human tissues: detection by the polymerase chain reaction. Cancer Res. 50, 4315–4321]. In this study, competitive PCR (cPCR) approaches have been used to determine effects of progesterone and testosterone on CYP2D expression levels in brains of intact and ovariectomized female rats. When administered for seven treatments, testosterone significantly increases the expression of CYP2D in brain from intact female rats, while repeated treatment with progesterone elicits the opposite effect. Coadministration of testosterone and progesterone causes an intermediate effect such that the net result is an increase in expression only slightly above control levels. Interestingly, when ovariectomized female rats treated with testosterone and progesterone are used as a source of brain tissue for RNA preparation a similar trend toward an intermediate value is seen but the net result is an expression level of CYP2D below the control value. This approach utilizes cPCR to analyze the levels of CYP2D mRNA, semi-quantitatively and quantitatively, in the brains of female intact and ovariectomized Sprague–Dawley rats treated with testosterone, progesterone, a combination of the two or corn oil.
Competition Among Flow, Dissolution, and Precipitation in Porous Media

A theoretical and experimental study has been carried out on flow, dissolution, and precipitation in porous media. Flow experiments were performed on linear carbonate cores using acidic ferric chloride solutions. Dissolution of the carbonate by the acid causes an increase in the solution pH, thereby precipitating ferric hydroxide. This precipitate plugs up the pore throats in the medium and increases the resistance to fluid flow. Fluctuations in the permeability ratio were observed during core flood experiments, confirming the competition between channel formation due to dissolution and pore plugging due to precipitation. The evolution of the pore structure was characterized by Wood’s metal castings. A network model has also been developed to describe flow and reaction in porous media. The model was used to simulate the ferric chloride system, and pressure oscillations predicted by the model show identical trends to those observed experimentally. Additionally, the evolution of pores in the network were graphically represented.
Global interaction, global inequality, and migration of the highly trained to the United States.

The authors "argue that national variation in the size of highly trained migration can be explained by interaction and inequality between nations both reflecting the process of global integration. Guided by this analytical framework we tested the structural determinants of highly skilled migration to the United States. The evidence confirms our hypotheses that economic and educational interactions between sending countries and the United States increase the flow of the highly trained to the United States. Results also provide mixed proof for our hypotheses that levels of professional migration are positively associated with disparities between sending countries and the United States in living conditions research conditions childrens educational opportunities political conditions and professional employment opportunities." (EXCERPT)
Calculation of direct exchange areas for nonuniform zones using a reduced integration scheme

In the zonal method, considerable computational resources are needed to calculate the direct exchange areas (DEA) among the isothermal zones due to integrals with up to six dimensions, while strong singularities occur in the integrands when two zones are adjacent or overlaying (self-irradiation). A special transformation of variables to reduce a double integral into several single integrals is discussed. This technique was originally presented by Erkku for calculation of DEA using a uniform zone system in a cylindrical enclosure. However, nonuniform zones are needed for applications with large thermal gradients. Thus we extended this technique to calculate the DEA for nonuniform zones in an axisymmetrical cylinder system. A six-fold reduction in computational time was observed in calculating DEA compared with cases without a variable transformation
Radial distribution of martensitic phase transformation in a metastable stainless steel under torsional deformation: A synchrotron X-ray diffraction study

The strain-induced martensitic phase transformation in a metastable 304 L stainless steel under torsional deformation was investigated using synchrotron X-ray diffraction. The measured radial distribution of the martensite phase fraction in a solid cylindrical specimen agrees well with the prediction based on a combination of transformation kinetics and a radial plastic strain distribution equation.
Observations on the growth of turbot larvae Scophthalmus maximus L. reared in the laboratory

Abstract A system is described in which larvae of the turbot, Scophthalmus maximus L., were reared from hatching to, and beyond, metamorphosis. Larvae were fed initially on rotifers, followed by Artemia nauplii and subsequently larger stages of Artemia . After metamorphosis, which occurred between 23.0 and 30.0 mm in length, the fish were fed a diet of trash fish. Overall survival from hatching to metamorphosis was low, approximately 1%. Data on the growth rates of hatchery-reared and wild fish indicated that under artificial conditions a minimum market size of 30 cm could be attained in a little over one year from hatching.
Molecular Structures of Cation···π(Arene) Interactions for Alkali Metals with π- and σ-Modalities

The monovalent cations of Na+, K+, Rb+, and Cs+ derived from the highly electropositive alkali metals represent prototypical charged spheres that are mainly subject to relatively simple electrostatic and solvation (hydration) forces. We now find that the largest of these Rb+ and Cs+ are involved in rather strong cation···π(arene) interactions when they are suitably disposed with the ambifunctional hexasubstituted benzene C6E6. The ether tentacles (E = methoxymethyl) allow these cations to effect η1-bonding to the benzene center in a manner strongly reminiscent of the classical σ-arene complexes with positively charged electrophiles where Z+ = CH3+, Br+, Cl+, Et3Si+, etc. The somewhat smaller potassium cation is involved in a similar M+···π(arene) interaction that leads to η2-bonding with the aromatic center in the π-mode previously defined in the well-known series of silver(I)/arene complexes. We can find no evidence for significant Na+··· π(arene) interaction under essentially the same conditions. As suc...
Quantitative autoradiographic changes in 5-[3H]HT-labeled 5-HT1 serotonin receptors in discrete regions of brain in the rat model of persistent dyskinesias induced by iminodipropionitrile (IDPN).

Abstract Chronic injections of iminodipropionitrile (IDPN) to rat cause a persistent motor hyperactivity, lateral and vertical sustained twisting movement of the neck, random circling and increased startle response. These abnormalities are similar to those observed after the acute administration of serotonin (5-HT) agonists in rodents. Significant changes in 5-HT concentration and in 5-HT 2 receptor density in several motorrelated brain regions have been observed in IDPN-treated rats. The present quantitative autoradiographic study was undertaken to assess the possibility that IDPN may also affect 5-HT 1 receptors in rat brain. IDPN caused significant increases of 5-[ 3 H]HT binding in the oriens and pyramidal layers of the CA3 field of hippocampus. In contrast, there were significant decreases of 5-[ 3 H]HT binding in the frontal and cingulate cortices, the olfactory tubercle, the ventromedial aspect of the caudate-putamen, the nucleus accumbens, the superior colliculus, and the lateral septal nuclei. These results provide further evidence for the involvement of the 5-HT system in the development of the IDPN-induced dyskinetic syndrome.
Differential utilization of nuclear factor-κB signaling pathways for gingival epithelial cell responses to oral commensal and pathogenic bacteria

Introduction Human β-defensin-2 (hBD-2) is an antimicrobial peptide, induced by bacterial stimuli and inflammation, that plays a role in mucosal and skin innate immune defense. The nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) transcription factor family is important in innate and adaptive immune responses to bacteria and proinflammatory cytokines. NF-κB operates via the traditional IKKβ signaling, as well as an alternative pathway utilizing IKKα signaling, which is important in keratinocyte differentiation. Our previous studies showed that pathogenic, but not commensal, bacteria used NF-κB signaling in hBD-2 induction. The objective of this study was to understand which arm of the NF-κB pathway is involved in gingival epithelial cell responses to pathogenic bacteria, including hBD-2 induction.
Pronominal reference skills of second and fourth grade children with language impairment

Abstract Pronominal referencing was evaluated in a sample of 569 children comprising four diagnostic subgroups: typical language (TL), specific language impairment (SLI), nonspecific language impairment (NLI), and typical language with low nonverbal IQ (LNIQ). Participants generated oral narratives in second grade and again in fourth grade. The narratives of the females in the TL group included a significantly higher rate of pronominal references than the narratives of both the males in the TL group and the females in the NLI group. A higher percentage of complete pronominal references was found in the TL group compared to the SLI group. These findings suggest that pronominal referencing measures are not sensitive enough to differentiate school-aged children with typical language development from those with language impairment. Learning outcomes The reader will: (1) become familiar with narrative language measures and (2) learn how groups of children with varying language and cognitive profiles perform on measures of referential cohesion.
Biased Against Whom? The Problems of “Group” Definition and Membership in Test Bias Analyses

Industrial and organizational psychologists have made significant contributions to the definition and measurement of test bias. The article by Meade and Tonidandel (2010) offers an additional advance—making the case that differential prediction is not, by itself, an evidence of test bias. However, almost all of our contributions have focused on psychometric and statistical issues surrounding test bias, and Meade and Tonidandel’s article is no exception. What is still missing is a better grasp of why a test may or may not be biased against a demographic group (Guion, 1998). Until we get a better grasp of the underlying psychological dynamics of test bias and differential prediction, it is unlikely that incremental statistical advances will give us much more traction (Roberts, Hulin, & Rousseau, 1978). We would like to suggest one area that may help in understanding test bias: the nature of group membership. Group membership is the sine qua non of test bias analyses. A potentially significant cause of
PLASMA SELENIUM LEVEL BEFORE DIAGNOSIS AND THE RISK OF PROSTATE CANCER DEVELOPMENT

Purpose: Epidemiological studies and a randomized intervention trial suggest that the risk of prostate cancer may be reduced by selenium intake. We investigated whether plasma selenium level before diagnosis correlated with the risk of later developing prostate cancer.Materials and Methods: A case control study was performed on men from the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging registry, including 52 with known prostate cancer and 96 age matched controls with no detectable prostatic disease. Plasma selenium was measured at an average time plus or minus standard deviation of 3.83 ± 1.85 years before the diagnosis of prostate cancer by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Adjusted odds ratio and 95% confidence interval were computed with logistic regression.Results: After correcting for years before diagnosis, body mass index, and smoking and alcohol use history, higher selenium was associated with a lower risk of prostate cancer. Compared with the lowest quartile of selenium (range 8.2 to ...
Conceptual Design of a Plasma Exhaust and Fuel Recovery System for an Inertial Fusion Energy (IFE) Power Reactor

A conceptual design has been developed for the recovery of un-expended fuel, ash, and associated post-detonation products from a ~ 2 GW IFE power reactor. The conceptual design incorporates systems for the safe, efficient collection, processing, and purification of IFE plasma exhaust fuel components. The system has been designed and sized such that tritium bred within blankets can also be collected, processed, and introduced into the fuel cycle. The system is nominally sized to process ~2 kg of tritium per day and is designed to link directly to the target chamber mechanical pumping system. The plasma exhaust can be directly processed from the exhaust of the vacuum pumping system or can be processed in batch mode from buffer vessels in the receiving and analysis system (RAS). Systems for the accurate measurement of material in-process (MIP) have been included. Design emphasis is on safety, reliability, redundancy, and efficiency in order to maximize availability. The primary goal of the fuel recovery system (FRS) design is to economically recycle components of IFE fuel back to the target manufacturers in a fashion by which fuel components are rapidly made available for re-use thus lowering the total active inventory. The FRS design is presented as a facility sub-system in the context of supporting the safe and efficient operation of the IFE target chamber.
Why do expiring futures and cash prices diverge for grain markets

In recent years, cash and futures prices have failed to converge at expiration for selected corn, soybean, and wheat commodity contracts. This lack of convergence raises questions about the effectiveness of arbitrage activities, and increases concerns about the usefulness of these contracts for hedging. We describe the delivery process for these contracts, and show that it embeds a valuable real option on the long side—the option to exchange the deliverable for another futures contract. As the relative volatility of cash and futures prices increases, this option increases in value, which disconnects the cash market from the deliverable instrument in a futures contract. Our estimates of this option's value show that it may create significant price divergence. We parameterize an option pricing model using data on these three commodities from 2000 to 2008 and show that the option model fits closely to recent episodes of non-convergence, which lends support to the importance of real option effects. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Jrl Fut Mark Hedging works primarily because changes in futures prices generally track with changes in cash prices. The delivery process forges the cash-futures link. So strong is that link that the futures price equals the cash price at expiration at the futures delivery location. —Chicago Board of Trade Handbook of Futures and Options (2006)
LRU stack processing

Stack processing, and in particular stack processing for the least recently used replacement algorithms, may present computational problems when it is applied to a sequence of page references with many different pages. This paper describes a new technique for LRU stack processing that permits efficient processing of these sequences. An analysis of the algorithm and a comparison of its running times with those of the conventional stack processing algorithms are presented. Finally we discuss a multipass implementation, which was found necessary to process trace data from a large data base system.
Cell-matrix interactions during tumor invasion

This manuscript reviews the molecular aspects of tumor cell invasion of extracellular matrix. The changes in cell:substrate and cell:cell receptors that characterize motile cells are discussed for their importance not only in mediating invasive cell behavior, but also as diagnostic markers for invasive potential. Autocrine motility and scatter factors probably have key roles in initiating migratory behavior, while specific and non-specific extracellular matrix alterations can facilitate cell locomotion. The manuscript reviews reported changes, such as induction of cell motility, matrix degrading enzymes, and invasive/metastatic potential, which can follow transfection with ras oncogenes, and details the key roles of metalloproteinases, heparanase, and plasminogen activator in matrix degradation. Enzymatic inhibitors of initial steps in extracellular matrix degradation, such as rTIMP, and synthetic blockers of adhesive steps in tumor cell invasion represent types of reagent with potential as anti-metastatic agents. Their potential usefulness may be increased if they can be incorporated into a novel, long-term, non-traditional delivery system.
Mechanical characterization of active poly(vinyl alcohol)–poly(acrylic acid) gel

Abstract Active polymer gels expand and contract in response to certain environmental stimuli, such as the application of an electric field or a change in the pH level of the surroundings. This ability to achieve large, reversible deformations with no external mechanical loading has generated much interest in the use of these gels as actuators and “artificial muscles.” This work focuses on developing a means of characterizing the mechanical properties of active polymer gels and describing how these properties evolve as the gel actuates. Poly(vinyl alcohol)–poly(acrylic acid) (PVA–PAA) gel was chosen as the model material for this work because it is relatively simple and safe to both fabricate and actuate. PVA–PAA gels are fabricated on-site using a solvent-casting technique. These gels expand when moved from acidic to basic solutions, and contract when moved from basic to acidic solutions. The mechanical properties of the gel were characterized by conducting uniaxial tests on thin PVA–PAA gel films. A testing system has been developed which can measure stress and deformations of these films in a variety of liquid environments. The experimental results on PVA–PAA gels show these materials to be relatively compliant, and slightly viscoelastic and compressible. These gels are also capable of large recoverable deformations in both acidic and basic environments.
A voice without organs: interviewing in posthumanist research

In keeping with the editor’s call for this special issue, this paper discusses how a posthumanist stance has enabled me to materialize a different conception of the interview and interview data in postqualitative inquiry. More specifically, I am thinking with Deleuze and Guattari’s concept, the Body without Organs, one they use to enact thinking without a subject and to liberate thought from overcoded images in order to confront a reliance on objects or material representations to understand and explain. Using this concept, I theorize a Voice without Organs (VwO) as a voice that does not emanate from a singular subject but is produced in an enactment among research-data-participants-theory-analysis. The article concludes with an analysis of data from a recent interview project that illustrates how VwO is both produced by and producing different knowledge and suggests implications for thinking interviewing and interview data differently.
The United States and the Shaping of West Germany's Social Compact, 1945–1966

Given the destructiveness of the Nazi regime, the major tasks of recon struction that the Germans faced after the defeat of the Third Reich, and the centrality of labor relations to the political economies of advanced industrial societies such as Germany's, it is not surprising that the role of the organized working class and of trade unions in particular should have been hotly contested, first in the western zones of occupation and, after 1949, in the Federal Republic. What emerged over the years from this contest is what some people have called the "German model" of industrial relations, in which the peculiar system of codetermination (Mitbestim mung) is usually highlighted and extolled as centerpiece. Codetermination, to be sure, does give labor an important voice in the management of large corporations, and probably a greater one than in many other comparable countries. For the period covered by this article (i.e., before Mitbestimmung was extended, albeit in modified form, to large enterprises in all branches of industry), it applied only to heavy industry. Here it meant both equal representation of capital and labor on the supervisory board (Aufsichtsrat) of major coal and steel companies under a "neutral" chairman and a "worker director" as an equal member of the management board (Vorstand) in charge of labor relations. This ar rangement, first introduced by the British occupation authorities in the Ruhr in 1947, was confirmed in the 1951 Codetermination Act, but the unions failed to obtain the extension of this model to the rest of industry. Instead they were given the 1952 Works Constitution Act, which required all large companies to hold elections for a works council. Representatives on these works councils had no decision making powers like those of the labor representatives on supervisory councils and "worker directors" under the 1951 Codetermination Act. Their role was advisory. Still, the manage ment was obliged to discuss major developments with them, such as pro posed layoffs, mergers, and so on. The obvious imbalances of power between labor and management/ shareholders that were behind this constitutional structure have led many scholars to argue that West Germany's unions largely lost out in the post war contest for the reorganization and recasting of industrial relations. Labor, they point out, may have retained a foot in the door, but achieved much less than leaders and members expected to gain in 1945-1946. There is a good deal of truth in this assessment. In 1945, managers and owners, many of whom had been deeply implicated in the Nazi regime, were dis
Multiple mode model of tokamak transport

Theoretical models for radial transport of energy and particles in tokamaks due to drift waves, rippling modes and resistive ballooning modes have been combined in a predictive transport code. The resulting unified model has been used to simulate low confinement mode (L-mode) energy confinement scalings. The dependence of global energy confinement on electron density for the resulting model is also described.
“New Discoveries on Lost Lake”: 2004 Acquisitions Institute at Timberline Lodge

The fifth annual Acquisitions Institute at Timberline Lodge took place on May 15-18, 2004. The majestic setting on Mount Hood in Oregon is a stellar location for a conference! The Acquisitions Inst...
Logistic model-based forecast of sales and generation of obsolete computers in the U.S.

Abstract Our goal is to characterize future trends in the generation of obsolete computers in the U.S. Starting from historical sales data on new computers and assuming a plausible first lifespan distribution, we extrapolate the historical sales trend to the future using a logistic model. The major challenge is that the personal computer is still in an early stage of its technology adoption life cycle and thus early for statistical fits to yield a reasonable estimation of carrying capacity (or saturation adoption level). Our approach is to use a bounding analysis which characterizes a range based on plausible upper and lower bounds on the future carrying capacity (1.3 and 1.0 computers per capita respectively). These lower and upper bounds yield a generation of 92 and 107 million obsolete computers in 2020 respectively. The growth rates of adoption over the next decade are very different for lower versus upper bound, however by 2020 the adoption will be at most 8% away from the long-term carrying capacity in both cases. Assuming computer adoption follows logistic behavior we assert that the saturation level of generation of obsolete computers is not much more than a decade away. The current recycling level of computers is 65 million units, thus if the U.S. expects to recycle computers domestically significant growth of recycling facilities will be required. Note however that this analysis does not address how long obsolete computers are stored nor the distribution of obsolete computers to reuse, recycling, landfill options. This is an important issue to resolve in future work.
A pyrene dihydrodioxin with pyridinium “arms”: A photochemically active DNA cleaving agent with unusual duplex stabilizing and electron trapping properties

Abstract Pyrene dihydrodioxins (PDHD) comprise effective DNA intercalation agents that are masked ortho-quinones, which can be released by near ultraviolet or visible irradiation. We have studied the binding and photoreactions of chiral dipyridinium PDHDs with herring sperm DNA and an 11-mer duplex DNA containing all 10 basepair steps. Binding affinities to herring sperm DNA were determined for purified enantiomers (Kb = 1.6 ± 0.15 × 105 and 2.3 ± 0.2 × 105 M−1). UV-melting experiments using the 11-mer DNA revealed significant stabilization of duplex DNA, (ΔTm = 11.5° and ΔTm = 15.3° C). Both enantiomers linearized (double-strand cleavage) supercoiled ΦX174 plasmid DNA with high efficiency. PDHDs have specificity to cleave and/or damage DNA duplexes at Gs and have preferable binding to GG DNA sites. A full range of transient absorption spectroscopy from the ultrafast femtosecond to the microsecond domains has been applied in the study of this system. These studies have revealed a novel mechanism for quinone release via the pyrene radical cation and the entrapment of the released electron by the coordinated action of the two pyridinium rings. These same studies have shown that the released pyrenequinone can photochemically initiate the further release of pyrenequinone. Thus, this reaction is autocatalytic and can be initiated with visible light.
Structural relaxation in a bulk metallic glass

Abstract Differential scanning calorimetry has been used to investigate the structural relaxation in a bulk metallic glass designated Vit 4. Results indicate that Vit 4 has a broad glass transition region with a glass transition temperature of approximately 621 K and an activation enthalpy of 834 kJ/mol. Despite the broad transition region, Wunderlich’s model suggests that structural relaxation in Vit 4 involves the cooperative motion of a single bead. The relaxation behavior was well described by the Tool–Narayanaswamy equation, with x and β values not significantly different from other glass formers. The dynamic and thermodynamic fragility of Vit 4 is compared with other glasses.
Management of solitary palatal metastasis from renal cell carcinoma.

Background A 68-year-old male diagnosed with left-side renal cell carcinoma, and in clinical remission for 3 years following a nephrectomy, presented with a 2-month history of progressive difficulty in swallowing, accompanied by a new growth in the palate. Examination revealed a 25 mm × 25 mm soft-tissue growth at the junction of the hard and soft palate. Systemic examination did not reveal any other evidence of cancer progression. Investigations CT scans, nasopharyngoscopy, fine-needle aspiration of palatal lesion and immunohistochemistry of biopsy specimen. Diagnosis Solitary palatal metastasis at the junction of the hard and soft palate from renal cell carcinoma. Management Local, lesion-directed interferon therapy, repeat nasopharyngoscopy and regular clinical follow-up.
Erythrocyte drug carriers for babesiosis chemotherapy

Imidocarb was encapsulated in murine erythrocytes with a dialysis technique. Carrier erythrocytes were injected intraperitoneally in groups of mice at 2 and at 0.2 mg/kg of body weight dosage. Control groups received free (unencapsulated) drug at the same dose rates mixed with a number of untreated erythrocytes corresponding to the above groups. About 2% of the drug-loaded erythrocytes were detected in the circulation after 24 hours and were still in the circulation after 5 days. The concentration of free drug declined to undetectable levels in both the peritoneum and the circulation before 24 hours. The biological effectiveness of the encapsulated imidocarb was evaluated in mice infected with 107Babesia microti infected erythrocytes from donor mice and treated 24 hours later with either encapsulated or free imidocarb at the dosages described above. Intraperitoneal injection of drug-loaded carrier cells at a dose rate of 0.2 mg/kg resulted in a decrease in parasitemia to levels similar to those observed in mice treated with free drug at a 2 mg/kg dosage.
Research frontier on new materials and concepts for hydrogen storage

Abstract In the past two years, a number of research projects on new materials and concepts for hydrogen storage were started at US universities and national laboratories, as well as industrial entities. These projects are sponsored by the US Department of Energy (DOE), with the primary goal of discovering and developing new materials that have sufficient hydrogen storage capacity for future hydrogen-fueled vehicles. Four areas are being explored: (1) new materials that have ultra large adsorption area; (2) adsorption surfaces with highly active sites; (3) new adsorption/desorption mechanisms; and (4) high hydrogen-content compounds. This article reviews these projects with the authors’ understanding of hydrogen storage fundamentals, and hopes to provide insights into this research frontier.
Prostate-specific antigen and androgen deprivation therapy

Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is a kallikrein-like serine protease that, for all practical purposes, is specific for prostatic tissue. PSA is usually detected at low concentrations (0.0–4.0 ng/ml) in the serum and is the most important tumor marker for detecting otherwise unsuspected prostate cancer; it also useful for monitoring the response of prostate cancer to various types of therapy. Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) includes bilateral orchiectomy, luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) agonists, antiandrogens, and 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors. Treatment of benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) or prostate cancer with ADT usually decreases the serum PSA concentration. Recent basic science research has demonstrated that the expression of the PSA gene is controlled by androgens acting via the androgen receptor. Therefore, in some patients a low serum PSA concentration will be the result of hormonal down-regulation of the genetic expression of PSA and not the result of the antitumorigenic activity of the therapy. Nevertheless, in spite of the direct effect of ADT on PSA expression, PSA remains a valuable prostate cancer tumor marker for prognosticating the response to ADT and portending clinical progression after this type of treatment for most patients.
Evidence That Retinoic Acid Receptor β Induction by Retinoids Is Important for Tumor Cell Growth Inhibition

Retinoic acid receptor β (RARβ) is thought to be involved in suppressing cell growth and tumorigenicity. Many premalignant and malignant cells exhibit a reduced RARβ expression. However, in some of these cells (e.g. H157 human squamous cell carcinoma cells), RARβ can be induced by retinoids (e.g. all-trans-retinoic acid, ATRA) because its promoter contains a retinoic acid response element. To examine the hypothesis that RARβ induction is important for inhibition of cell proliferation by retinoids, we blocked ATRA-induced RARβ expression in H157 cells using a retroviral vector harboring multiple copies of antisense RARβ2 sequences. Antisense RARβ-transfected cells showed not only decreased expression of ATRA-induced RARβ protein but also reduced ATRA-induced RARE binding activity and transactivation. Importantly, all antisense RARβ transfectants of H157 cells were less responsive than vector-transfected cells to the growth inhibitory effects of the retinoids ATRA and Ch55 in vitro. These results demonstrate that RARβ induction may play an important role in mediating growth inhibitory effects of retinoids in cancer cells.
Steady growth, policy shocks, and speed of adjustment under embodiment and putty-clay

Abstract This inquiry addresses the question of adjustment speed by appealing to a model founded on embodied technical progress and putty-clay capital. It postulates a CES production structure along with static wage-expectations and derives the steady-growth solution. It also derives comparative dynamic properties involving the economic life of capital. Discussion then turns to policy shocks, which disrupt the steady state through separate changes in the rates of saving, progress, and population expansion. Simulations track the responses to those perturbations, disclosing the relationships of adjustment speed to the elasticity of substitution, embodiment rate, capital weight, and changed saving coefficient.