cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Strength degradation during fatigue of unidirectional and cross-ply SCS-6/Ti-15-3 composites

The majority of previous fatigue studies on Titanium Matrix Composites (TMCs) have investigated fatigue life where specimens are cycled until failure. Although fatigue life is very important to designers, it is not the only cycle-dependent criterion used to characterize the material. Another behavior required to evaluate the material is the residual strength degradation due to cyclic loading. To date, very few investigations have been completed to determine this behavior in TMCs. Of those investigations, none has explicitly determined the dependence of residual strength reduction on laminate orientation. To study this, the residual strength behaviors of SCS-6/Ti-15-3 with laminate orientations of [0]8 and [0/90]2s were investigated after being fatigued at 427°C with different frequencies, R-ratios and control modes. Results show that residual strength degradation is primarily dependent on laminate orientation and percent of cyclic life. Different test parameters mainly affect residual strength degradation through the corresponding changes in cyclic life. Micromechanical analysis reveals that the laminate dependence is due to differences in damage morphologies and there is no single parameter, such as axial fiber stress, that can correlate all the residual strength data from the different fatigue conditions.
Variable Flip Angle Excitation for Reduced Acquisition Time Magnetic Resonance Imaging

This paper describes an MRI technique which can be used to acquire images at short TR values while maintaining the sensitivity to disease found in longer TR images. For spin echo imaging there are three acquisition parameters that can be set in the imaging protocol; TR, the repetition interval; TE, the time of echo and THETA, the excitation flip angle. Standard imaging techniques set THETA to 90 degrees regardless of the TR value. With THETA fixed, imaging systems have been optimized by varying the value for TE and TR with the results in general indicating the need for long TR values. However, if the flip angle is included as a variable acquisition parameter the optimal operating point can be changed. The solution to the Bloch equation shows a functional relationship between the flip angle and the ratio TR/T1. This functionality was first observed by Ernst and Anderson as a method to increase the signal generated in fourier transform magnetic resonance spectroscopy. When TR/T1<1 the optimum flip angle for producing maximum magnetization in the transverse plane is less then 90 degrees. Therefore, by reducing both TR and flip angle it is possible to maintain signal intensity while reducing the time ofmore » data acquisition.« less
Delivering the Goods: Fair Trade, Solidarity, and the Moral Economy of the Coffee Contract in Nicaragua

This paper explores a deceptively simple question: why do peasant farmers participate in Fair Trade coffee networks? Campaigns touting Fair Trade often suggest that farmers are incentivized to participate due to price premiums and social development benefits. However, a growing literature documenting development outcomes in coffee farming communities suggests that farmers do not reap the benefits of Fair Trade in the way they are presented in the global North. I draw upon ethnographic research in a community that is one the earliest suppliers of Fair Trade in Nicaragua. Combining participant observation, political economic analysis, and oral history interviews, I explore a conflict over out-of-network coffee sales in 2005 that threatened to undermine supplies of high quality coffee critical to the growth of the producer organization and by extension the Fair Trade network. The conflict and its aftermath reveal place-based moral economic entanglements between farmers and producer organizations in Nicaragua...
Rapid Procedure for Assessment of Compounds that Modify Uptake and Release of Tritiated Norepinephrine

A rapid procedure to estimate tritiated norepinephrine (levarterenol) in a single mouse heart is described. The method is based upon oxidation of the tritium in the tissue to tritiated water, which is then determined by liquid scintillation spectroscopy. Large numbers of samples can be assayed with great facility. The effects of standard compounds that modify the uptake and release of 3H-norepinephrine in heart tissue were determined with this system, and a procedure for studying their interactions is described.
Sago production in a New Guinea economy

The techniques used by the Sanio-Hiowe of Papua New Guinea to produce edible starch from the sago palm (Metroxylon sp.) are described. Input-output analysis demonstrates that this is a highly productive subsistence technology; nevertheless, the Sanio-Hiowe economy is characterized by an absence of intensification. This is ascribed to functional consequences of dependence on hunting and gathering in the interior. In coastal and riverine habitats, other societies using sago supplemented by fishing or horticulture can more fully exploit the potential of sago as a basis for economic intensification and a more sedentary life.
Estimation of spatially varying parameters in partial differential equations

The estimation of a vector of unknown spatially varying parameters in non-linear partial differential equations from noisy observations is considered. Two algorithms are presented. The first is a method of steepest descent based on consideration of the unknown parameter vector as a control vector. The second is baaed on treating the parameter as an additional state vector and employing least-square filtering. Computational results are presented on the estimation of the diffusivity in the heat equation
Intelligent information extraction to aid science decision making in autonomous space exploration

Effective scientific exploration of remote targets such as solar system objects increasingly calls for autonomous data analysis and decision making on-board. Today, robots in space missions are programmed to traverse from one location to another without regard to what they might be passing by. By not processing data as they travel, they can miss important discoveries, or will need to travel back if scientists on Earth find the data warrant backtracking. This is a suboptimal use of resources even on relatively close targets such as the Moon or Mars. The farther mankind ventures into space, the longer the delay in communication, due to which interesting findings from data sent back to Earth are made too late to command a (roving, floating, or orbiting) robot to further examine a given location. However, autonomous commanding of robots in scientific exploration can only be as reliable as the scientific information extracted from the data that is collected and provided for decision making. In this paper, we focus on the discovery scenario, where information extraction is accomplished with unsupervised clustering. For high-dimensional data with complicated structure, detailed segmentation that identifies all significant groups and discovers the small, surprising anomalies in the data, is a challenging task at which conventional algorithms often fail. We approach the problem with precision manifold learning using self-organizing neural maps with non-standard features developed in the course of our research. We demonstrate the effectiveness and robustness of this approach on multi-spectral imagery from the Mars Exploration Rovers Pancam, and on synthetic hyperspectral imagery.
Synthesis of allyl sulfides via a palladium mediated allylation

Abstract A mild chemo-, regio-, and diastereoselective substitution of allyl carbonates and vinyl epoxides by sulfur nucleophiles catalyzed by palladium can overcome difficulties in and complement conventional displacement without poisoning of the catalyst.
CAN THE BLOOD‐TRANSMITTED HEPATITIS PROBLEM BE SOLVED?

Of the approaches presently available for prevention of blood-transmitted hepatitis, most clearly effective is the avoidance of high-risk donor populations, such as most paid commercial donors. It should be emphasized that even after screening for hepatitis B antigen most paid donor blood carries with it a five-ten times higher risk of transmitting hepatitis than volunteer donor blood. Hepatitis B screening is certainly the next most useful approach. However, it has been pointed out that even with the most sensitive of current assays, as much as two-thirds of infective blood may not be eliminated. In part this is due to failure to detect hepatitis B antige, which may be detectable by such currently investigational approaches as selective antibody inhibition or testing for Core antibody. However, a major factor is the inability of hepatitis B screening to eliminate all infectious blood appears to be due to the existence of viruses other than hepatitis B that play a major role in blood-transmitted hepatitis. Tests for detection of carriers of this virus, or viruses, remain to be developed. Improved reporting of hepatitis cases with investigation and registration of implicated donors may provide an additional means for reducing the incidence of hepatitis transmission. The efficiency of additonal approaches, such as transaminase screening of donors and passive or active immunization, remains to be determined.
Methyl-branched poly(hydroxyalkanoate) biosynthesis from 13-methyltetradecanoic acid and mixed isostearic acid isomer substrates

Pseudomonas resinovorans, a known medium-chain-length (mcl-) poly(hydroxyalkanoate) (PHA) producer, was grown on 13-methyltetradecanoic acid (13-MTDA) and a mixture of isostearic acid (IA) isomers to produce methyl-branched mcl-PHA polymers. Shake-flask experiments revealed polymer productivities (the percent of the cell mass that is polymer) of 31 ± 1% (n = 3) and 23 ± 3% (n = 3) when grown in 13-MTDA and IA, respectively. Monomer content was determined by a combination of gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) of the acid hydrolyzed, silylated methyl esters, and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Results showed that the mcl-PHA polymer derived from 13-MTDA was primarily composed of 3-hydroxy-7-methyloctanoic acid and 3-hydroxy-9-methyldecanoic acid (67 and 16 mol% by GC/MS, respectively). In contrast, the mcl-polymers synthesized from the IA isomeric mixture were more complex, containing both even and odd chain-length monomers as well as varying distributions of methyl-branched derivatives. The PHA distributions among the C8, C10, C12, and C14 carbon chain-length monomers included three isomers of C8, five isomers of C10, seven isomers of C12, and nine isomers of C14 each containing one linear-chain derivative and n−6 methyl-branched derivatives where n equals the total number of carbon atoms in each monomer unit (C8–C14).
Commentary: Functional Neuronal CB2 Cannabinoid Receptors in the CNS

Cannabinoids are the constituents of the marijuana plant (Cannabis sativa). There are numerous cannabinoids and other natural compounds that have been reported in the cannabis plant. The recent progress in marijuana-cannabinoid research include the discovery of an endocannabinoid system with specific genes coding for cannabinoid receptors (CBRs) that are activated by smoking marijuana, and that the human body and brain makes its own marijuana-like substances called endocannabinoids that also activate CBRs. This new knowledge and progress about cannabinoids and endocannabinoids indicate that a balanced level of endocannabinoids is important for pregnancy and that the breast milk in animals and humans has endocannabinoids for the growth and development of the new born. There are two well characterized cannabinoid receptors termed CB1-Rs and CB2-Rs and these CBRs are perhaps the most abundant G-protein coupled receptors that are expressed at high levels in many regions of the mammalian brain. The expression of CB1-Rs in the brain and periphery and the identification of CB2-Rs in immune cells and during inflammation has been extensively studied and characterized. However, the expression of functional neuronal CB2-Rs in the CNS has been much less well established and characterized in comparison to the expression of abundant brain CB1-Rs and functional neuronal CB2-Rs has ignited debate and controversy. While the issue of the specificity of CB2-R antibodies remains, many recent studies have reported the discovery and functional characterization of functional neuronal CB2-Rs in the CNS beyond neuro-immuno cannabinoid activity.
Depression of fatty acid synthesis in chick liver (Gallus domesticus) by aflatoxin

Abstract 1. 1. Dietary aflatoxin reduced the incorporation of acetate-14C into long-chain fatty acids of chick liver (Gallus domesticus) in a dose-related fashion. 2. 2. Feeding 10 μg of aflatoxin per g of diet for 3 weeks depressed the activities of the microsomal system of fatty acid elongation and fatty acid synthetase in liver. 3. 3. Crystalline aflatoxin did not inhibit fatty acid synthetase in vitro at levels up to 20 μg/ml of incubation medium. 4. 4. It is suggested that aflatoxin exerts its effects on lipogenesis by depressing the formation of the enzymes involved in fatty acid synthesis.
Life-Skills as a Predictor of Academic Success: An Exploratory Study:

Traditional predictors of academic performance in college, such as measures of verbal and mathematical abilities [i.e., Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT)] and academic achievement (i.e., high school GPA), often account for less than 25% of the variance in college performance, thus leaving a considerable amount of variance unexplained. The primary goal of this study was to examine developmental variables that may account for academic achievement beyond the traditional indices mentioned. Specifically, the relationships among four categories of life-skills and cumulative GPA were examined. A hierarchical multiple-regression analysis revealed that the four life-skills categories predicted an additional 9.4% of the variance in cumulative GPA beyond high school GPA and SAT scores. Of the four categories, physical fitness/health maintenance skills made a statistically significant, unique contribution to predicting cumulative GPA. Because of the exploratory nature of the current study, suggestions are made for condu...
The Influence of Decision Makers' Goals on Their Concerns About Procedural Justice1

Two studies examine how decision makers' goals of enhancing organizational effectiveness and promoting positive interpersonal relations shape their decision making when they are allocating scarce resources among group members. Past research has conceptualized this problem as one of balancing between the use of two distributive justice principles: equity and equality. The studies reported examine the degree to which authorities are also concerned about issues of procedural justice. The results suggest that experienced decision makers—both managerial and administrative—believe that when trying to maintain positive interpersonal relations it is as important to use decision-making procedures that will be regarded as fair (procedural justice) as it is to allocate outcomes in ways which will be regarded as fair (distributive justice). Decision makers' definitions of procedural justice are also examined.
Does the use of orthoses improve self-reported pain and function measures in patients with plantar fasciitis? A meta-analysis.

Abstract Objectives To perform a meta-analysis examining the effects of foot orthoses on self-reported pain and function in patients with plantar fasciitis. Data Sources MEDLINE, SPORTDiscus, and CINAHL were searched from their inception until December 2007 using the terms "foot", "plantar fascia", "arch", "orthotic", "orthoses" and "plantar fasciitis". Study Selection Original research studies which met these criteria were included: (1) randomised controlled trials or prospective cohort designs, (2) the patients had to be suffering from plantar fasciitis at the time of recruitment, (3) evaluated the efficacy of foot orthoses with self-reported pain and/or function, (4) means, standard deviations, and sample size of each group had to be reported. Results We utilised the Roos, Engstrom, and Soderberg (Roos, E., Engstrom, M., & Soderberg, B. (2006). Foot orthoses for the treatment of plantar fasciitis. Foot and Ankle International , 8 , 606–611) night splint condition to compare our pooled orthoses results. The meta-analysis results showed significant reductions in pain after orthotic intervention. The Roos et al.' (Roos, E., Engstrom, M., & Soderberg, B. (2006). Foot orthoses for the treatment of plantar fasciitis. Foot and Ankle International , 8 , 606–611) study also showed significant reduction in pain after night splint treatment. The meta-analysis results also showed significant increases in function after orthotic use. In contrast, the Roos et al.' (Roos, E., Engstrom, M., & Soderberg, B. (2006). Foot orthoses for the treatment of plantar fasciitis. Foot and Ankle International , 8 , 606–611) study did not show a significant increase in function after night splinting for 12 weeks. Conclusion The use of foot orthoses in patients with plantar fasciitis appears to be associated with reduced pain and increased function.
Prenatal ablation of nicotinic receptor alpha7 cell lineages produces lumbosacral spina bifida the severity of which is modified by choline and nicotine exposure

Lumbosacral spina bifida is a common debilitating birth defect whose multiple causes are poorly understood. Here, we provide the first genetic delineation of cholinergic nicotinic receptor alpha7 (Chrna7) expression and link the ablation of the Chrna7 cell lineage to this condition in the mouse. Using homologous recombination, an IRES-Cre bi-cistronic cassette was introduced into the 3′ noncoding region of Chrna7 (Chrna7:Cre) for identifying cell lineages expressing this gene. This lineage first appears at embryonic day E9.0 in rhombomeres 3 and 5 of the neural tube and extends to cell subsets in most tissues by E14.5. Ablation of the Chrna7:Cre cell lineage in embryos from crosses with conditionally expressed attenuated diphtheria toxin results in precise developmental defects including omphalocele (89%) and open spina bifida (SB; 80%). We hypothesized that like humans, this defect would be modified by environmental compounds not only folic acid or choline but also nicotine. Prenatal chronic oral nicotine administration substantially worsened the defect to often include the rostral neural tube. In contrast, supplementation of the maternal diet with 2% choline decreased SB prevalence to 38% and dramatically reduced the defect severity. Folic acid supplementation only trended towards a reduced SB frequency. The omphalocele was unaffected by these interventions. These studies identify the Chrna7 cell lineage as participating in posterior neuropore closure and present a novel model of lower SB that can be substantially modified by the prenatal environment. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Diagnostic potential of the pulsed discharged helium ionization detector (PDHID) for pathogenic Mycobacterial volatile biomarkers.

Pathogenic Mycobacteria cause diseases in animals and humans with significant economic and societal consequences. Current methods for Mycobacterial detection relies upon time- and labor-intensive techniques such as culturing or DNA analysis. Using gas chromatography and mass spectrometry, four volatile compounds (methyl phenylacetate, methyl p-anisate, methyl nicotinate and o-phenyl anisole) were recently proposed as potential biomarkers for Mycobacteria. We demonstrate for the first time the capabilities of a field-deployable, pulsed discharge helium ionization detector (PDHID) for sensing these volatiles. We determined the analytical performance of the PDHID toward these Mycobacterial volatiles. Detector performance was moderately affected over the temperature range of 150 to 350 °C. The linear dynamic range for all four analytes exceeded three orders of magnitude. The limits of detection (LOD) and quantitation (LOQ) were calculated as 150 and 450 pg respectively, for all compounds, except methyl phenylacetate (LOD and LOQ, 90 and 270 pg, respectively). Control charts revealed that the PDHID detection system was generally stable, and deviations could be traced to common causes and excluded special causes. Grob tests and ionization potential data suggest that the PDHID is capable of detecting Mycobacterial volatiles in a complex milieu such as culture headspace or breath samples from tuberculosis patients. The diagnostic potential of the PDHID is critical to our goal of a handheld, field-deployable ‘sniffer’ system for biological pathogens and chemical warfare agents.
Control of body fluids and saline intake in hamsters.

Nondeprived hamsters resist increases of saline intake, even though the consequences may include weight loss or death (e.g., after adrenalectomy), but fluid-deprived hamsters will increase isotonic saline intake more than water consumption during rehydration. Experiment 1 examined plasma volume and body water changes during rehydration to see if residual saline drinking could be accounted for by a differential repletion of the extracellular space. Results showed that water and saline were equally effective in replacing lost plasma volume, but that saline intake produced up to 25% plasma expansion. Together with a previous finding of increased positive 24-hr sodium balances during saline rehydration, the observed plasma expansion suggests an explanation for increased saline intake based on a delay of cellular rehydration secondary to sodium retention rather than a mechanism of sodium appetite or “hypovolemic” drinking. Other desert-adapted species reportedly show a similar saline aversion and sodium retention. Experiment 2 asked whether hamsters would increase saline intake after fasting in order to maintain a normal rate of refeeding. Saline intake did not increase, and refeeding, like ad lib feeding, was depressed by saline consumption. Thus, hamsters increase saline intake in defense of fluid, but not energy, balance.
EUS-guided fiducial placement for image-guided radiation therapy in GI malignancies by using a 22-gauge needle (with videos).

Background Image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT) is dependent on the presence of fiducial markers for target localization and tracking. EUS-guided placement of fiducial markers with a 19-gauge needle has been reported. However, the size and stiffness of the 19-gauge needle may compromise the safety and ease of fiducial placement. Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and feasibility of EUS-guided placement of thin flexible gold coil fiducials by using a 22-gauge needle. Design Retrospective study. Setting Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, between December 2008 and November 2009. Patients A total of 30 patients with GI malignancies of the mediastinum and upper abdomen who were to undergo IGRT. Interventions EUS evaluation with a curvilinear-array echoendoscope was performed. The target lesion was identified, a 22-gauge needle preloaded with a gold coil fiducial was inserted into the lesion, and the fiducial was deployed under EUS guidance. Main Outcome Measurements Technical success was defined as the ability to place fiducials in the desired location. Immediate and delayed complications were also noted. Results A total of 69 fiducials were placed in 12 different sites in the mediastinum and upper abdomen. Technical success was achieved in 29 out of 30 cases (97%). No intraprocedural complications were encountered. One patient developed a fever and abnormal liver function tests 12 hours after fiducial placement. Limitations Retrospective design, small case series. Conclusions EUS-guided placement of thin flexible gold coil fiducials by using a 22-gauge needle is both safe and feasible for upper GI malignancies.
Living Liquid: Design and Evaluation of an Exploratory Visualization Tool for Museum Visitors

Interactive visualizations can allow science museum visitors to explore new worlds by seeing and interacting with scientific data. However, designing interactive visualizations for informal learning environments, such as museums, presents several challenges. First, visualizations must engage visitors on a personal level. Second, visitors often lack the background to interpret visualizations of scientific data. Third, visitors have very limited time at individual exhibits in museums. This paper examines these design considerations through the iterative development and evaluation of an interactive exhibit as a visualization tool that gives museumgoers access to scientific data generated and used by researchers. The exhibit prototype, Living Liquid, encourages visitors to ask and answer their own questions while exploring the time-varying global distribution of simulated marine microbes using a touchscreen interface. Iterative development proceeded through three rounds of formative evaluations using think-aloud protocols and interviews, each round informing a key visualization design decision: (1) what to visualize to initiate inquiry, (2) how to link data at the microscopic scale to global patterns, and (3) how to include additional data that allows visitors to pursue their own questions. Data from visitor evaluations suggests that, when designing visualizations for public audiences, one should (1) avoid distracting visitors from data that they should explore, (2) incorporate background information into the visualization, (3) favor understandability over scientific accuracy, and (4) layer data accessibility to structure inquiry. Lessons learned from this case study add to our growing understanding of how to use visualizations to actively engage learners with scientific data.
Linear Programming Isn't Always the Answer

Linear programming has been frequently applied to the problem of finding the best mix of raw material for a particular selection of products. In applications of this type where one or more of the raw materials is nonuniform, application of linear programming can increase the cost of operation Calculation of charge for a metal melting furnace is discussed as an example.
Chemical reactions of uranium in ground water at a mill tailings site

We studied soil and ground water samples from the tailings disposal site near Tuba City, AZ, located on Navajo sandstone, in terms of uranium adsorption and precipitation. The uranium concentration is up to 1 mg/l, 20 times the maximum concentration for ground water protection in the United States. The concentration of bicarbonate (HCO3−) in the ground water increased from ≤7×10−4 M, the background concentration, to 7×10−3 M. Negatively charged uranium carbonate complexes prevail at high carbonate concentrations and uranium is not adsorbed on the negatively charged mineral surfaces. Leaching experiments using contaminated and uncontaminated sandstone and 1 N HCl show that adsorption of uranium from the ground water is negligible. Batch adsorption experiments with the sandstone and ground water at 16°C, the in situ ground water temperature, show that uranium is not adsorbed, in agreement with the results of the leaching experiments. Adsorption of uranium at 16°C is observed when the contaminated ground water is diluted with carbonate-free water. The observed increase in pH from 6.7 to 7.3 after dilution is too small to affect adsorption of uranium on the sandstone. Storage of undiluted ground water to 24°C, the temperature in the laboratory, causes coprecipitation of uranium with aragonite and calcite. Our study provides knowledge of the on-site uranium chemistry that can be used to select the optimum ground water remediation strategy. We discuss our results in terms of ground water remediation strategies such as pump and treat, in situ bioremediation, steam injection, and natural flushing.
The medial amygdala is part of a mineralocorticoid-sensitive circuit controlling NaCl intake in the rat

Damage in female rats to the medial region of the amygdala abolished the sodium appetite that is evoked by mineralocorticoids (both aldosterone and deoxycorticosterone) without preventing the sodium appetite induced by body sodium depletion. It also eliminated or reduced the daily-need free saline intake of the female rat. These results suggest that the medial region of the amygdala is part of a specifically mineralocorticoid-sensitive neural circuit subserving sodium appetite.
Quantitative chromatographic determination of fucose as tritiated fucitol

Abstract A procedure has been described which provides a highly sensitive method for fucose estimation. Fucose with ribose added as an internal standard, was reduced with tritium-labeled sodium borohydride, and the resulting radioactive sugar alcohols, fucitol and ribitol, were separated by thin-layer chromatography on Kieselguhr. Tritium was fixed into the sugar alcohols in proportion to amounts of sugars added. This method was applied to estimation of fucose content of human orosomucoid. The procedure as described required about 0.3–1.6 μg of fucose, and is capable of much greater sensitivity.
Integrating Reticence Management into the Basic Communication Curriculum.

(1980). Integrating reticence management into the basic communication curriculum. Communication Education: Vol. 29, No. 3, pp. 215-221.
Therapeutic changes in children, parents, and families resulting from treatment of children with conduct problems.

ABSTRACT Objective To examine changes in child, parent, and family functioning over the course of child therapy among children who completed outpatient treatment. Method Children (N = 250, ages 2-14 years) referred for oppositional, aggressive, and antisocial behavior received variations of cognitive-behavioral treatments. Outcome was evaluated by changes in the children (multiple symptom domains), parents (symptoms, stress), and family (relationships, family functioning, support, marital satisfaction). Results Child, parent, and family functioning improved significantly over the course of therapy. The magnitude of these changes indicated large improvements for child outcome measures and smaller improvements for parent and family outcome measures. Improvements in children, parents, and family measures were significantly and moderately correlated. Finally, the pattern of predictors varied among child, parent, and family outcomes. Conclusions The benefits of child therapy extended to parent and family functioning, even though these were not focused on directly. The broad changes have significant implications for evaluating the effectiveness of treatment and the benefits and costs of delivering services to children.
Singular sets of a class of locally conformally flat manifolds

We look at complete, locally conformally flat (lcf) metrics defined on a domain Ω⊂Sn. There is a lot of information about the singular set ∂Ω contained in the positivity of σk, and, in particular, we obtain a bound for the Hausdorff dimension of ∂Ω in relation to Schoen and Yau's work [18] for the scalar curvature. On the other hand, since some locally conformally flat manifolds can be embedded into Sn, this dimension bound implies several topological corollaries.
Non-invasive in vivo mapping of tumour vascular and interstitial volume fractions

Non-invasive measurement of haemodynamic parameters and imaging of neovasculature architecture is of importance in determining tumour prognosis, in directing tissue sampling and in assessing treatment efficacy. In the current research we investigated a dual tracer nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) technique to map the tumour vascular (VVF) and interstitial volume fraction (IVF) non-invasively in vivo. We hypothesised that a NMR signal emanating after intravenous administrations of a vascular paramagnetic probe (MPEG-PL-GdDTPA) can be maximised so that additional signal after administration of a second interstitial probe (GdDTPA) would only reflect the IVF but not the VVF. The method and its assumptions were verified and experimental conditions optimised both in phantoms and in C6 glioma bearing rats. Data derived from in vivo studies show tumoral VVF and IVF values that are consistent with histology data and literature values; the relative ranking order of values was tumour > muscle > brain. Image maps showed intratumoral and intertumoral heterogeneity of both parameters at submillimetre pixel resolution. The method is applicable to a wide variety of tumour models and can theoretically be performed repeatedly to study tumour growth or involution during therapy.
Offshore pipeline protection against seabed gouging by ice: An overview

Abstract Offshore operators in the Arctic will rely on seafloor installations, notably pipelines, to manage and transport hydrocarbons. In icy waters, these structures are at risk of being damaged by gouging ice features, either icebergs or sea ice ridges. This phenomenon generally occurs when an ice feature drifts into shallower areas and its keel starts plowing the seabed over considerable distances. It is generally agreed that adequate protection against these events can be achieved by burying the pipeline below the seafloor. The question is: what constitutes a safe and economical burial depth for any given location? An answer to this question requires adequate knowledge of material properties (soil, ice keel and pipeline), a reliable handle on the processes taking place during gouging and a consensus on what constitutes acceptable risks. Research on this subject has been on-going for the past few decades, along several fronts. One is by means of field studies, including replicating gouging scenarios in a natural environment, in situ ice characterization, seabed mapping and on-land relict gouge investigations. Another is through laboratory studies, either at single gravity or in a centrifuge. Theoretical analyses and numerical simulations have also contributed to our current understanding of gouging phenomena. Several research groups proposed some form of guidelines for estimating gouging parameters—examples are presented. These methodologies are instructive in that they represent an integrated approach to an improved understanding of gouging phenomena. They point the way to what one may expect in terms of future guidelines to a safe and cost-effective burial depth.
Maintenance bacillus Calmette–Guérin therapy prolongs recurrence-free survival in non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer: A real-world experience

Abstract Objective We studied the benefit of bacillus Calmette–Guerin (BCG) maintenance therapy to determine the ideal maintenance therapy schedule. Methods We retrospectively reviewed non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer patients who underwent transurethral resection of bladder tumors and BCG instillation treatment at Chang-Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou, Taiwan, from January 1997 to December 2009. All patients in the study had non-muscle-invasive urothelial carcinoma of the bladder or carcinoma in situ . We compared the recurrence-free rate of patients who received induction alone and with maintenance BCG therapy sessions. In addition, we analyzed the best number of maintenance therapy sessions that gave the lowest cancer recurrence. Results This study included 427 patients with a mean age of 64 years. The median number of BCG treatments was 11, and the ratio of male to female was 3:1. Receiving an induction dose alone was a significant factor for tumor recurrence with a hazard ratio of 3.77. The recurrent risk rate of patient who received BCG therapy 13–15 times had lower recurrence rate than other groups. Conclusion A maintenance dose gave patients a significant benefit over those who just received induction therapy. BCG maintenance therapy worked best if given 13–15 times in our study.
Effect of polymer–nanoparticle interactions on the glass transition dynamics and the conductivity mechanism in polyurethane titanium dioxide nanocomposites

Abstract We report on the glass transition dynamics and the conductivity properties of a nanodielectric system composed of pre-synthesized TiO2 nanoparticles embedded in thermoplastic polyurethane. Increase of TiO2 loading results in enhanced segmental mobility of the composites and less steep temperature dependence, i.e., lower fragility index. The decrease in the fragility index and glass transition temperature is discussed based on the FTIR results. We observe different behavior of conductivity for temperatures above and below the glass transition temperature. At high temperatures the composites exhibit conductivity values more than 2 orders of magnitude higher than those in the pristine matrix. At the same time, at sub-Tg temperatures composites are characterized by superior electrical insulation properties compared to pristine matrix material. Such drastic temperature dependence of the conductivity/insulating ability of the flexible and light-weight, low-Tg composite material can be utilized in various applications including sensing and temperature switching materials.
Ethylene glycol induces hyperoxaluria without metabolic acidosis in rats

Ethylene glycol (EG) consumption is commonly employed as an experimental regimen to induce hyperoxaluria in animal models of calcium oxalate nephrolithiasis. This approach has, however, been critic...
Historical change and developmental change

(1999). Historical change and developmental change. Mind, Culture, and Activity: Vol. 6, No. 2, pp. 113-116.
Spinal Epidural Abscess

Spinal epidural abscesses are often initially misdiagnosed, particularly in neurologically intact patients. Epidural infections can cause injury to the spinal cord. The incidence of these infections has increased with increasing use of spinal instrumentation, vascular access, and injection drugs. This review explains the diagnostic and therapeutic challenges and how to avoid spinal cord infarction.
A Norm Optimal Iterative Learning Control framework towards Internet-Distributed Hardware-In-The-Loop simulation

Internet-Distributed Hardware-In-the-Loop (ID-HIL) simulation couples geographically-dispersed hardware-in-the-loop setups into an integrated system simulation over the Internet. The challenge is that the Internet is a dynamic system on its own with delay, jitter, and loss that can interfere with the dynamics of the integrated system, lowering the simulation fidelity. This paper focuses on the effects of delay in a linear time invariant ID-HIL system and presents a Norm Optimal Iterative Learning Control (NO-ILC) based method to improve the fidelity of the integrated system. It is shown that the method guarantees monotonic convergence; i.e., with each iteration, the fidelity of the simulation will improve further. A recursive, data-driven calculation method is also presented that avoids the need for ad-hoc tuning of learning gains and does not require any knowledge about the setups that are being integrated. A simulated networked mass-spring-damper system is used to demonstrate the technique.
Load characterization of high displacement piezoelectric actuators with various end conditions

Abstract Piezoelectric ceramic transducers are characterized by relatively small strains on the order of 0.1%. One method of achieving significantly larger displacements is to utilize flexural mode actuators, such as unimorphs or bimorphs. In this paper, we investigate a particular type of stressed unimorph flexural actuator, viz. the ‘THUNDER’ actuators. (THUNDER™ is a trademark of Face International Corporation). These stressed unimorphs are of interest due to their particularly large flexural strains. To determine their versatility as high displacement actuators, it was necessary to investigate their actuation capability as a function of load. In addition, our investigation determined that end conditions have an appreciable effect, which has also not been reported in the literature. Therefore, experimental results of the load capabilities of these high displacement actuators with various end conditions are presented here. Commercially available rectangular actuators were chosen for this study. The actuators had been constructed by bonding thin PZT ceramics (0.152 mm thick, 1.37 cm wide, 3.81 cm long) to stainless steel sheets (0.20 mm thick, 1.27 cm wide, 6.35 cm long). They were operated in a flexural mode. It was shown that progressively restrictive end conditions increased the stiffness, ranging from 2.5 to 23 N/m, enhancing the load capabilities of the actuator. In some cases, displacement actually increased as a function of load. This enhanced stiffness was obtained at a cost of reduced no load flexural strain (defined as the ratio of flexural displacement and ceramic length), ranging from 1.08% for free-end conditions to 0.2% for highly restricted end conditions. The load bearing capabilities were tested out to 10 N for most end conditions.
Molecular genetic approaches to the cytoskeleton in Dictyostelium

Recent advances in molecular genetic techniques are being applied in Dictyostelium to test and expand prevailing views on the functioning of the actin-based cytoskeleton. Current research involves the disruption, by homologous recombination, of genes encoding cytoskeletal elements. We suggest combining classical and molecular genetic approaches to supplement these investigations.
Guest Editors' Introduction: Datacenter-Scale Computing

Although the field of datacenter computing is arguably still in its relative infancy, a sizable body of work from both academia and industry is already available and some consistent technological trends have begun to emerge. This special issue presents a small sample of the work underway by researchers and professionals in this new field. The selection of articles presented reflects the key role that hardware-software codesign plays in the development of effective datacenter-scale computer systems.
Intracellular Pool of Unhydroxylated Polypeptide Precursors of Collagen

The hydroxyproline and hydroxylysine in collagen are synthesized by an apparently unique pathway in which proline and lysine are hydroxylated after they are incorporated into a large polypeptide precursor of collagen called protocollagen. When the hydroxylation of protocollagen in isolated tissues is intermittently interrupted, hydroxylation can occur after complete polypeptides are released from ribosomal complexes. Cartilage from chick embryos was incubated with the iron chelator α,α'-dipyridyl for 2 hours to inhibit protocollagen hydroxylase, and then the inhibition was reversed by transferring the tissues to medium containing ferrous iron and no α,α'-dipyridyl. "Pulse labeling" of the tissues during these two periods indicated that both the accumulated protocollagen and the polypeptides synthesized after reversal of the inhibition were hydroxylated at the same rate. Even when no measures are taken to inhibit the hydroxylation of protocollagen, most of the hydroxyproline in collagen is probably synthesized after complete protocollagen polypeptides are released from ribosomes.
Effects of polymer layer anisotropy on the interaction between adsorbed layers

We examine the effects of polymer layer anisotropy (bond correlations) on the numerical mean-field predictions of the interactions between two physisorbed polymer layers under restricted equilibriu...
The incentive for conservation investment in regulated utilities

Abstract Some public utilities have implemented programs which call for their direct investment in residential energy conservation measures. This paper examines the set of regulatory circumstances in which a rational regulated utility would have an incentive for such investment. Given this regulatory environment, we determine whether or not the utility will invest in the correct amount in the sense of economic efficiency. Finally, we analyze how corrective regulatory policy can aid in attaining the goal of economic efficiency.
Discovery of pyrimidine benzimidazoles as Lck inhibitors: Part I

Abstract A series of 4-amino-6-benzimidazole-pyrimidines was designed to target lymphocyte-specific tyrosine kinase (Lck), a member of the Src kinase family. Highly efficient parallel syntheses were devised to prepare analogues for SAR studies. A number of these 4-amino-6-benzimidazole-pyrimidines exhibited single-digit nanomolar IC50s against Lck in biochemical and cellular assays. These 4-amino-6-benzimidazole-pyrimidines represent a new class of tyrosine kinase inhibitors.
Disruption of BCATm in Mice Leads to Increased Energy Expenditure Associated with the Activation of a Futile Protein Turnover Cycle

Leucine is recognized as a nutrient signal; however, the long-term in vivo consequences of leucine signaling and the role of branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) metabolism in this signaling remain unclear. To investigate these questions, we disrupted the BCATm gene, which encodes the enzyme catalyzing the first step in peripheral BCAA metabolism. BCATm(-/-) mice exhibited elevated plasma BCAAs and decreased adiposity and body weight, despite eating more food, along with increased energy expenditure, remarkable improvements in glucose and insulin tolerance, and protection from diet-induced obesity. The increased energy expenditure did not seem to be due to altered locomotor activity, uncoupling proteins, sympathetic activity, or thyroid hormones but was strongly associated with food consumption and an active futile cycle of increased protein degradation and synthesis. These observations suggest that elevated BCAAs and/or loss of BCAA catabolism in peripheral tissues play an important role in regulating insulin sensitivity and energy expenditure.
Nutrient excretion and odorant production in manure from cattle fed corn wet distillers grains with solubles.

Twenty-four cross bred steers (BW 452.5 +/- 15.5 kg) were used to evaluate nutrient excretion and odorous compounds in urine and feces of feedlot steers fed diets containing corn wet distillers grains with solubles (WDGS). Cattle were weighed, blocked by BW, and assigned randomly to 1 of 4 dry-rolled corn-based diets containing 0, 20, 40, or 60% WDGS (DM basis). A 96-h total fecal and urine collection was conducted. Orts, feces, and urine were collected daily. Samples were analyzed for moisture, total N, total P, water soluble P, and total S. Fresh fecal samples were collected at the end of the balance trial for analysis of VFA, phenol, p-cresol, indole, skatole, ammonia-N, and lactate concentration. Total P, N, and S intake increased linearly as the amount of WDGS increased in the diet (P or= 0.11). Total N excretion increased linearly as dietary WDGS inclusion increased (P or= 0.07). Total VFA concentration in feces decreased as WDGS increased in the diet (P or= 0.09). This study indicates that feedlot cattle fed increasing amounts of WDGS had increased P, N, and S intake and excretion, which may contribute to the production of odorous compounds (primarily long- and branched-chain VFA, and phenol) as well as increased ammonia and H(2)S emissions from the feedlot. Increased P concentration in livestock waste will increase the amount of land necessary to utilize manure P. Because of increased urinary P excretion, producers should consider environmental implications of liquid runoff from the feedlot surface as well as solid manure when WDGS are fed to feedlot cattle.
Thermal infrared properties of the Martian atmosphere: 1. Global behavior at 7, 9, 11, and 20 μm

Infrared observations of Mars by the Viking infrared thermal mapper (IRTM) are presented for conditions of both a relatively clear and a dust-laden atmosphere. The 7-, 9-, 11-, and 20-micron bands of the IRTM respond differently to radiation emitted through and by a dusty atmosphere, permitting characterization of the global atmospheric state, monitoring of secular changes, and derivation of optical depth information. Surface temperature behavior is found to be greatly modified by the diminution of insolation and thermal blanketing resulting from global dust storms. Brightness temperature at 7 microns is employed to estimate surface temperatures in the presence of dust absorption. The difference (T7) is indicative of airborne dust when thermal contrast exists between the surface and atmosphere. The diurnal behavior of T7-T9 reveals changes in the contrast; the sign of the differential reverses as the surface, warmer than the atmosphere in daytime, becomes cooler than the atmosphere at night. IRTM observations of local areas at varying emission angle yield optical depths indicative of global trends. Two global dust storms in 1977 produced large optical depth changes: at 9 microns the optical depth became as large as 2.0.