cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Optimal Integration of Departures and Arrivals in Terminal Airspace

compared to conventional scheduling problems. This paper presents a fast time algorithm formulation using a non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm (NSGA). It was first applied to a test problem introduced in existing literature. An experiment with a test problem showed that new methods can solve the 20 aircraft problem in fast time with a 65% or 440 second delay reduction using shared departure fixes. In order to test its application in a more realistic and complicated problem, the NSGA algorithm was applied to a problem in LAX terminal airspace, where interactions between 28% of LAX arrivals and 10% of LAX departures are resolved by spatial separation in current operations, which may introduce unnecessary delays. In this work, three types of separations ‐ spatial, temporal, and hybrid separations ‐ were formulated using the new algorithm. The hybrid separation combines both temporal and spatial separations. Results showed that although temporal separation achieved less delay than spatial separation with a small uncertainty buer, spatial separation outperformed temporal separation when the uncertainty buer was increased. Hybrid separation introduced much less delay than both spatial and temporal approaches. For a total of 15 interacting departures and arrivals, when compared to spatial separation, the delay reduction of hybrid separation varied between 11% or 3.1 minutes and 64% or 10.7 minutes corresponding to an uncertainty buer from 0 to 60 seconds. Furthermore, as a comparison with the NSGA algorithm, a First-Come-First-Serve based heuristic method was implemented for the hybrid separation. Experiments showed that the results from the NSGA algorithm have 9% to 42% less delay than the heuristic method with varied uncertainty buer sizes.
Expression and Characterization of Full-Length Human Heme Oxygenase-1: The Presence of Intact Membrane-Binding Region Leads to Increased Binding Affinity for NADPH Cytochrome P450 Reductase†

Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) is the chief regulatory enzyme in the oxidative degradation of heme to biliverdin. In the process of heme degradation, HO-1 receives the electrons necessary for catalysis from the flavoprotein NADPH cytochrome P450 reductase (CPR), releasing free iron and carbon monoxide. Much of the recent research involving heme oxygenase has been done using a 30 kDa soluble form of the enzyme, which lacks the membrane binding region (C-terminal 23 amino acids). The goal of this study was to express and purify a full-length human HO-1 (hHO-1) protein; however, due to the lability of the full-length form, a rapid purification procedure was required. This was accomplished by use of a glutathione-s-transferase (GST)-tagged hHO-1 construct. Although the procedure permitted the generation of a full-length HO-1, this form was contaminated with a 30 kDa degradation product that could not be eliminated. Therefore, attempts were made to remove a putative secondary thrombin cleavage site by a conservative mutation of amino acid 254, which replaces arginine with lysine. This mutation allowed the expression and purification of a full-length hHO-1 protein. Unlike wild type (WT) HO-1, the R254K mutant could be purified to a single 32 kDa protein capable of degrading heme at the same rate as the WT enzyme. The R254K full-length form had a specific activity of approximately 200-225 nmol of bilirubin h-1 nmol-1 HO-1 as compared to approximately 140-150 nmol of bilirubin h-1 nmol-1 for the WT form, which contains the 30 kDa contaminant. This is a 2-3-fold increase from the previously reported soluble 30 kDa HO-1, suggesting that the C-terminal 23 amino acids are essential for maximal catalytic activity. Because the membrane-spanning domain is present, the full-length hHO-1 has the potential to incorporate into phospholipid membranes, which can be reconstituted at known concentrations, in combination with other endoplasmic reticulum resident enzymes.
Reduction of reflective notching through illumination optimization

Photolithography on reflective surfaces with topography can cause exposure in unwanted areas, resulting in the phenomenon of reflective notching. Solutions to this problem are known within the industry, including the use of bottom anti-reflective coatings (ARCs) and dyed photoresist. In certain situations, such as on implant layers, the use of a BARC may be impractical. One potential solution to this problem lies in optimization of the illumination settings. It is known that changes in the illumination settings NA and sigma have an impact on the swing curve amplitude. It will be shown that for certain situations, reflective notching can be virtually eliminated through proper selection of the illumination settings.
Bovine serum corticoid response to milking and exteroceptive stimuli.

Abstract Six lactating Holstein cows were housed in pairs, and alternate members of each pair were milked on consecutive days. Each pair was milked separately to avoid the influence of exteroceptive stimuli that might be associated with milking other cows. Blood was collected simultaneously from the milked and nonmilked members of each pair via indwelling jugular cannulae at 10, 5, and 1 min before milking; at the start of milking; and at 1, 3, 5, 16, 60, and 90 min after the start of milking. Corticoid n serum from milked cows averaged 3.9 ng/ml before milking, increased (P .05) to 6.7 and 8.2 ng/ml at −5 and −1 min. By 60 min after their pairmates were milked, serum corticoid of nonmilked cows averaged 3.1 ng/ml, 32% lower (P
Asymptotic stability of Bayesian updating for Spencian examples

Abstract Under the assumption of a common prior over a signalling cost parameter, employers revising their beliefs in a Bayesian fashion are shown to converge to a separating equilibrium of Spence's (1974b) continuous ability model. Following him, specific functional forms are used.
Body condition category and harvest process affect contamination of alfalfa by Epicauta occidentalis Werner (Coleoptera: Meloidae).

Forage harvesters equipped with mechanical conditioners are known to cause significant mortality of blister beetles inhabiting hay. Studies also have documented that a large part of the mortality associated with the use of the sicklebar mower is caused by tractor-tire traffic over the swathed hay. Our study was designed to evaluate the likelihood that beetles with swathed alfalfa may become incorporated within and dislodged from hay during harvesting. Results indicated that the blister beetle back-to-hay effect was related to the body condition category of the beetles. Living beetles had the greatest chance of being incorporated into hay from a ground-surface position. Nondried beetles (freshly killed or living) on the ground had a significant chance of being crushed and incorporated into the hay. Dead dried beetles located on the ground under the windrow were more likely to be crushed but had little chance of being incorporated into the hay. Tractor tires running over the alfalfa returned ≍10% of the beetles on the ground to the hay. Beetles located above the alfalfa were more likely to be killed or crushed by tractor tires and to become stuck to the alfalfa than were those on the ground. Raking significantly reduced the number of beetles incorporated in the hay. Baling did not change Significantly the quantity of beetles remaining in the hay after raking. Fingerprint powder, applied to the beetles as a marker, did not alter the rates of beetle crushing, dislodging, or incorporation.
Management of patients with persistent recurrent aphthous stomatitis and Sutton's disease.

Abstract Approximately 2 per cent of patients with recurrent aphthous stomatitis present the severe, persistent form of the disease. Although the number of persons affected may be small, the suffering is great. Such patients frequently present histories of continual referral between various specialties of the healing profession, with little definitive or beneficial therapy being instituted. This paper deals with the management of such patients. Therapy can be either topical or systemic, or a combination of both. With the aid of analgesics to reduce the oral pain, the lesions are debrided with a tetracycline mouthwash. After the lesions have been dried with cotton applicators, a heavy layer of triamcinolone acetonide in emollient dental paste (Kenalog in Orabase) is applied four times a day. When lesions are too numerous, expansive, and inaccessible, systemic steroids are recommended, with appropriate antibiotic coverage in addition to the above-mentioned recommendations for debridement. Once the lesions become reduced in size, topical application of steroid can be initiated in order to permit further and quicker reduction of the systemic steroid dosage.
Broadly Neutralizing Anti-HIV-1 Antibodies Require Fc Effector Functions for In Vivo Activity

Broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) against HIV-1 provide both effective pre-exposure prophylaxis and treatment of HIV-1 infection in murine and nonhuman primate models, suggesting their potential use in humans. Although much is known about the role of variable domains in the neutralization breadth and potency of these bNAbs, the contribution of Fc domains to their activities is, by contrast, poorly characterized. Assessment of the in vivo activity of several bNAbs revealed that FcγR-mediated effector function contributes substantially to their capacity to block viral entry, suppress viremia, and confer therapeutic activity. Enhanced in vivo potency of anti-HIV-1 bNAbs was associated with preferential engagement of activating, but not inhibitory FcγRs, and Fc domain-engineered bNAb variants with selective binding capacity for activating FcγRs displayed augmented protective activity. These findings reveal key roles for Fc effector function in the in vivo activity of anti-HIV-1 bNAbs and provide strategies for generating bNAbs with improved efficacy.
The Global Politics of Medicine: Beyond global health, against securitisation theory

This article makes the case for a new field in International Relations (IR): the Global Politics of Medicine. It argues that significant avenues of research can be opened up by focusing on medicine and the life sciences, in order to both challenge current IR theories, and develop new theoretical and empirical insights in IR. In particular, the article challenges the validity of securitisation theory, and specifically the argument that health has been securitised. Showing instead that medicine and warfare have been imbricated from the nineteenth century as strategies of population, it challenges securitisation theory's ahistoricism and its assumption that social security and international security (and the norm/exception) are analytically divisible. Bringing this into the present through the examples of triage, psychological resilience, and genetic intelligence in counterinsurgency, it traces how warfare and medicine now ambitiously seek to treat populations as sets of individual bodies. Arguing that we cannot retreat to some mythical state of politics ‘prior’ to securitisation, it draws out how the fields of war, health, and medicine are nonetheless highly contested. The article concludes by challenging the fields of Global Health, war, and security studies, but also suggests novel routes for pursuing the study of the Global Politics of Medicine.
Structural studies of polyurethane ionomer solutions. 1. Dynamic light scattering

Viscometry and dynamic light scattering experiments have been used to characterize model polyurethane ionomers in dimethylacetamide (DMAc). The structures in solution are studied as a function of concentration and ionic content. These ionomers have regularly spaced ionic groups and form good model systems to study the effect of ionic interactions on the properties of polymers. These ionomers in DMAc are found to exhibit characteristic behavior of salt-free polyelectrolyte solutions. Viscometric measurements show an upturn in reduced viscosity at very low concentrations. Analysis of dynamic light scattering data by CONTIN indicates the existence of two diffusive modes, a fast mode and a slow mode, differing by 2 orders of magnitude. The diffusion coefficient of the fast mode increases slightly with concentration, whereas the diffusion coefficient corresponding to the slow mode is independent of concentration within the concentration range studied. The rate of increase of the diffusion coefficient of the fast mode with concentration increases with increasing ionic content. The fast mode arises from intermolecular electrostatic interactions while the slow mode is due to motions associated with the formation of domains of associated polymer chains. Both modes do not show any time dependence, suggesting that the solution structures are at equilibrium. The slow mode persists even after filtration through filters with pore sizes that are small compared to the size of domains and therefore the formation of domains is due to reversible interactions in solution. These results indicate that free polyions and associated species coexist in dilute solutions of polyurethane ionomers in polar solvents.
Accuracy of urine urobilinogen and bilirubin assays in predicting liver function test abnormalities

Components of the dipstick urinalysis (urine urobilinogen and urine bilirubin) are often used by emergency physicians to screen for the need to obtain liver function tests in many clinical situations. A prospective observational study was conducted to evaluate the sensitivity, specificity, and predictive properties of spot urine bilirubin and urobilinogen assays in the emergency department as screening test for serum liver function test (LFT) abnormalities. Of 122 patients, abdominal pain was the indication for laboratory evaluation in 54%; jaundice and constitutional symptoms were the indication in 29%. Overall sensitivities for both urine assays were 70% to 74% for serum bilirubin, but 43% to 53% for other LFTs; specificities were 77% to 87% for both urine screens. Positive predictive values show that the urine assays were 83% to 86% reliable for detecting at least one LFT abnormality. Negative predictive values were 85% for both urine assays for serum bilirubin elevations, but lower for other LFTs. Urineurobilinogen has its greatest clinical utility as a screen when a normal/abnormal threshold of 2.0/4.0 mg/dL is used.
Referring physicians' decision making for pediatric anti-reflux procedures

Background Rates of anti-reflux procedures (ARP) vary greatly among pediatric hospitals. How pediatric subspecialists make referral decisions for ARPs has not been described. The aim of this study was to characterize pediatric subspecialists' decision making for referring children for ARPs. Methods Pediatric subspecialists at a single children's hospital were interviewed about their decision making when referring for ARPs. Qualitative analysis was performed on clinicians' perceptions of the risks and benefits of the treatment options. Clinical algorithms were derived from each interview and were compared using the Clinical Algorithm Nosology. Clinical Algorithm Structural Analysis (CASA) scores were calculated to assess algorithm complexity. Clinical Algorithm Patient Abstraction (CAPA) scores on a scale from 0 (different) to 10 (identical) were generated based on algorithm agreement. Results The interviews yielded 15 algorithms. There was substantial variation in the providers' perceived risks and benefits of the treatment options. CASA scores ranged from 8 to 28 and CAPA scores ranged from 0 to 5.7 (median, 0), indicating great variation in both complexity and patient management. Management variation included testing (33% of algorithms incorporated pH probe test, 67% upper gastrointestinal, and 47% small bowel follow-through), procedure contraindications (33% considered history of gagging a contraindication to ARP), and use of gastrojejunostomy tubes (20% using gastrojejunostomy tube before ARP). Conclusion No standards exist for the decision to refer children with gastroesophageal reflux disease for ARP. There is great variation among pediatric subspecialists in their decision making. Differences in providers' perception of the risks and benefits of these procedures contribute to this variation.
Analyses of Contact Pressure and Stress Amplitude Effects on Fretting Fatigue Life

Elastic-plastic finite element analyses of a cylinder-on-plate configuration, studied experimentally, were performed to provide an explanation for the decrease in fretting fatigue life with increasing contact pressure. Three values of normal load, namely 1338 N, 2230 N, and 3567 N, and three stress ratios (0.1, 0.5, and 0.7) were considered. Based on a previously determined dependency between contact pressure and friction coefficient, the effect of coefficient of friction was also evaluated. The deformation remained elastic under all conditions examined. Cyclic, interfacial stresses, and slips were analyzed in detail. The amplification of remotely applied cyclic stress in the contact region is shown to provide a rationale for the effect of contact pressure and stress amplitude on life. Comparisons with previous experiments indicate that the local stress range computed from finite element analysis may be sufficient for predicting fretting fatigue life. Further, the results suggest that the slip amplitude and shear traction may be neglected for this purpose.
Intracellular analysis of interleukin-2 induction provides direct evidence at the single cell level of differential coactivation requirements for CD45RA+ and CD45RO+ T cell subsets.

Through measurements of intracellular cytokine production, evidence is provided at the single cell level that triggering different cell surface molecules preferentially activates discrete human per...
Sponge symbionts and the marine P cycle

Marine sponges are ubiquitous colonizers of shallow, clear-water environments in the oceans (1, 2). Sponges have emerged as significant mediators of biogeochemical fluxes in coastal zones by virtue of respiring organic matter and facilitating both the consumption and release of nutrients (3, 4). Sponges gain their nutrition through filtering out plankton and organic detritus and through uptake of dissolved organic matter from seawater (4). Many species host diverse microbial symbiont communities that contribute to digestion and nutrient release from the filtered organics, and in some species cyanobacterial symbionts can supply fresh photosynthate to meet a substantial fraction of the sponge energy requirements (5). In PNAS, Zhang et al. (6) reveal a major and heretofore unknown role for sponges with regard to the marine phosphorus cycle. The authors present strong evidence for polyphosphate (poly-P) production and storage by sponge endosymbionts. Zhang et al. also may have detected apatite, a calcium phosphate mineral, in sponge tissue. This work has major implications for our understanding of nutrient cycling in reef environments, the roles played by microbial endosymbiont communities in general, and aspects of P cycling on geologic timescales.
Conducting polymers: The benefit of order

The device properties of polymer semiconductors are heavily dependent on the morphology of the constituent materials. Some of the morphological characteristics of thiophene-based polymers are now being unravelled.
Increase in cruciferous vegetable intake in women previously treated for breast cancer participating in a dietary intervention trial.

Abstract Consumption of cruciferous vegetables has been associated with reduced breast cancer risk mechanistically and in population-based studies, although evidence has been inconsistent. This inconsistency may be related to limitations in quantifying and qualifying cruciferous vegetable exposure using standard instruments for dietary assessment (for example, food-frequency questionnaires, FFQs) or due to low levels of intake demonstrated among U.S. population samples. Cruciferous vegetable intake data are presented from a longitudinal study of a high-vegetable dietary intervention to reduce breast cancer recurrence among breast cancer survivors (n = 1,156; 536 intervention and 620 comparison group subjects). Intake was assessed using repeat administration of an FFQ and cross-sectional administration of a cruciferous vegetable–specific FFQ (CVFFQ). Mean intake in the intervention group assessed using the standard FFQ was 37.7 g/day at baseline and increased to 57.1 g/day at 12 mo (P = 0.0001) and was sus...
Group rings over Dedekind rings

Seghal posed the following question: IfA andB are rings, doesA[X,X −1] ℞B[X,X −1] implyA ℞B. In general the answer to this question is no. In this note we give an affirmative answer in the case thatA andB are Dedekind rings.
Risk factors for fatigue severity in primary brain tumor patients.

BACKGROUND: In addition to neurologic symptoms, fatigue is commonly reported in patients with primary brain tumors during radiation therapy and in long–term survivors of low–grade brain tumors. Other factors have not been explored. The aim of this study was to identify demographic and clinical factors that predict fatigue severity and to evaluate the association of fatigue with other symptoms throughout the disease trajectory. METHODS: Two hundred one patients with primary brain tumors completed the M. D. Anderson Symptom Inventory–Brain Tumor Module and a demographic checklist. Clinical data, including treatment, tumor grade, and performance status, were also collected. Correlations among fatigue and other recorded symptoms were evaluated. Logistic regression modeling was performed to evaluate factors associated with fatigue severity. RESULTS: Fatigue severity was associated with symptoms including pain, drowsiness, distress, difficulty sleeping, and weakness as well as overall symptom severity and interference. Poor performance status (Karnofsky scale) (odds ratio [OR], 5.73; P = .001), female sex (OR, 2.48; P = .005), and disease status (OR, 2.20; P = .013) were the strongest predictors of fatigue. Severity of fatigue for women was primarily predicted by disease status (OR, 3.33; P = .01) For men, antidepressant use (OR, 4.43; P = .013) in addition to opioids (OR, 3.46; P = .017) and performance status (OR, 12.47; P = .0001) predicted fatigue severity. CONCLUSIONS: Fatigue should not be considered a solitary symptom with 1 root cause, but a complex symptom related to the severity of other symptoms and potentially having various etiologies. Future studies should consider these factors in planning interventions and assessing response. Cancer 2010. © 2010 American Cancer Society.
Hot spots and hot moments of planktonic nitrogen fixation in a eutrophic southern reservoir

Reservoirs have been identified as hot spots of biogeochemical activity, although they are known to exhibit pronounced temporal and spatial variability in planktonic community dynamics. Results from this 19-month study at 5 locations on a southern polymictic reservoir identify pronounced temporal (seasonal and interannual) and significant spatial variability in planktonic nitrogen fixation. Planktonic nitrogen fixation was found to be high during the warmest portion of the year and undetectable for most of the rest of the year. Interannual variability between 2 consecutive summer periods was high and likely due to differences in rainfall pattern and resulting differences in ambient nutrient concentrations and flushing rates. Rates during the dry summer exceeded those during the following summer when unexpected summer rains occurred. Spatial differences in areal and volumetric rates were also significant. Volumetric rates were highest in the inflow transition zone of a river draining a watershed impacted b...
Field installation of a model for transient simulation of canal flow

A computerized hydraulic model developed at Utah State University was installed at a large-scale irrigation project in Northeast Thailand with the objective of improving water management in the supply and distribution system. The model was calibrated for measured field conditions by determining discharge coefficients for flow control structures, measuring seepage loss rates, and calculating hydraulic roughness coefficients. The logistical and technical problems associated with the model installation, and the respective solutions, are presented in this paper.
Deep defect states in narrow band-gap semiconductors

Abstract The nature of defect states associated with group III impurities (Ga, In, and Tl) in PbTe, a narrow band-gap semiconductor, has been studied within density functional theory and supercell model. For all three impurities (both substitutional—at the Pb site and interstitial—at the tetrahedral site), there is a hyper-deep defect state which lies about 0.5–1.0 eV below the valence band. It is a highly localized bonding state between the impurity s-orbital and the surrounding p-orbitals of the Te atoms. The corresponding anti-bonding state, denoted as the deep defect state, lies in the band-gap region. Its precise position vis-a-vis the conduction- and valence-band extrema controls the unusual properties exhibited by these defects.
Repair of Descemet's membrane detachment with the assistance of intraoperative ultrasound biomicroscopy.

Purpose To evaluate the ability of ultrasound biomicroscopy to monitor the repair of large Descemet's membrane detachments. Methods Intraoperative ultrasound biomicroscopy was performed in two patients who had undergone previous unsuccessful surgical repair of large Descemet's membrane detachments. Results Ultrasound biomicroscopy visualized and located Descemet's membrane detachment and verified proper suture placement and membrane repositioning. Conclusions Ultrasound biomicroscopy is a useful tool to guide surgical repair of Descemet's membrane detachments, particularly when hazy media prevent satisfactory visualization.
Social skills deficits among the socially anxious: Rejection from others and loneliness

Based on evidence linking social anxiety with social skills deficits, it was hypothesized that socially anxious individuals would exhibit diminished social skills in a naturalistic interaction, relative to socially nonanxious persons, and that they would also elicit rejection from their conversational partners and experience loneliness. Socially anxious and nonanxious persons were surreptitiously videotaped while they waited with partners for an experiment to begin. Analyses of subjects' social skills indicated that, behaviorally, the socially anxious appear very similar to their nonanxious peers. At the same time, however, they exhibited a tendency to negatively misperceive their own social skills. Although socially anxious persons did not elicit significantly more rejection from their conversational partners, they did report being more lonely than nonanxious persons. Socially anxious subjects were also rated by their conversational partners as lower in social skill than were nonanxious subjects. Implications for further study of social skills among the socially anxious are discussed.
New Therapeutic Targets in the Neurovascular Pathway in Alzheimer’s Disease

Recent findings indicate that neurovascular dysfunction is an integral part of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Changes in the vascular system of the brain may significantly contribute to the onset and progression of dementia and to the development of a chronic neurodegenerative process. In contrast to the neurocentric view, which proposes that changes in chronic neurodegenerative disorders, including AD, can be attributed solely to neuronal disorder and neuronal dysfunction, the neurovascular concept proposes that dysfunction of non-neuronal neighboring cells and disintegration of neurovascular unit function may contribute to the pathogenesis of dementias in the elderly population, and understanding these processes will be crucial for the development of new therapeutic approaches to normalize both vascular and neuronal dysfunction. In this review, I discuss briefly the role of vascular factors and vascular disorder in AD, the link between cerebrovascular disorder and AD, the clearance hypothesis for AD, the role of RAGE (receptor for advanced glycation end products) and LRP (low density lipoprotein receptor related protein 1) in maintaining the levels of amyloid β-peptide (Aβ) in the brain by controlling its transport across the blood—brain barrier (BBB), and the role of impaired vascular remodeling and cerebral blood flow dysregulation in the disease process. The therapeutic strategies based on new targets in the AD neurovascular pathway, such as RAGE and LRP receptors, and on a few selected genes implicated in AD neurovascular dysfunction (e.g., mesenchyme homeobox gene 2 and myocardin) are also discussed.
ATP-dependent Activation of KCa and ROMK-type KATP Channels in Human Submandibular Gland Ductal Cells

[Ca(2+)](i) and membrane current were measured in human submandibular gland ductal (HSG) cells to determine the regulation of salivary cell function by ATP. 1-10 microM ATP activated internal Ca(2+) release, outward Ca(2+)-dependent K(+) channel (K(Ca)), and inward store-operated Ca(2+) current (I(SOC)). The subsequent addition of 100 microM ATP activated an inwardly rectifying K(+) current, without increasing [Ca(2+)](i). The K(+) current was also stimulated by ATP in cells treated with thapsigargin in a Ca(2+)-free medium and was blocked by glibenclamide and tolbutamide, but not by charybdotoxin. This suggests the involvement of a Ca(2+)-independent, sulfonylurea-sensitive K(+) channel (K(ATP)). UTP mimicked the low [ATP] effects, while benzoyl-ATP activated internal Ca(2+) release, a Ca(2+) influx pathway, and K(Ca). Thus, ATP acts via P(2U) (P2Y(2)) and P(2Z) (P2X(7)) receptors to increase [Ca(2+)](i) and activate K(Ca), but not K(ATP). Importantly, (i) ROMK1 and the cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator protein (but not SUR1, SUR2A, or SUR2B) and (ii) cAMP-stimulated Cl(-) and K(+) currents were detected in HSG cells. These data demonstrate for the first time that a ROMK-type K(ATP) channel is present in salivary gland duct cells that is regulated by extracellular ATP and possibly by the cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator. This reveals a potentially novel mechanism for K(+) secretion in these cells.
Optical characterization of BCN films deposited at various N2/Ar gas flow ratios by RF magnetron sputtering

Abstract We present the deposition and optical characterization of amorphous thin films of boron carbonitride (BCN). The BCN thin films were deposited in a radio frequency magnetron sputtering system using a B4C target. Films of different compositions were deposited by varying the ratio of argon and nitrogen gas in the sputtering ambient. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy was used to perform surface characterization of the deposited films and a change in composition with nitrogen flow ratio was observed. The effect of gas flow ratios on the optical properties of the films was also investigated. It was found that the transmittance of the films increases with nitrogen incorporation. The optical band gap of the films ranged from 2.0 eV to 3.1 eV and increased with N2/Ar gas flow ratio except at the highest ratio.
Control of oxidation selectivity by alkyl substitution : the reactions of t-butyl iodide and t-butanethiol on Rh(111)-p(2×1)-O

Abstract We report the formation of adsorbed t -butoxy by addition of transient t -butyl radicals to surface oxygen, in the reactions of t -butyl iodide and t -butanethiol on Rh(111)-p(2 × 1)O. t -Butanethiol reacts by cleavage of the weak SH bond, forming adsorbed t -butyl thiolate upon adsorption at 100 K. t -Butyl thiolate subsequently forms t -butanol, isobutene and water in the range of 325–345 K via a transient t -butyl radical formed by cleavage of the CS bond. Similarly, t -butyl iodide reacts by cleavage of the CI bond to yield isobutene and t -butanol at 260 K. In both cases, isobutene is proposed to form via a combination of rapid β-hydrogen elimination of the t -butyl radical and decomposition of t -butoxide formed from addition of the radical to O a . t -Butanol is produced via a competing hydrogenation of t -butoxide. The relative reaction temperatures correlate with the CI and CS bond strengths, indicating that homolytic CI and CS bond scission limit the rates of the reaction. Some t -butoxy remains on the surface up to 380 K, and is identified using high resolution electron energy-loss and temperature-programmed reaction spectroscopies. These studies demonstrate that the product distributions for reactions of alkyls on oxygen-covered Rh(111) can be manipulated by altering the molecular structure. Specifically, we were able to induce partial oxidation of the alkyl radical to the corresponding alcohol by effectively eliminating the pathway for dehydrogenation at the carbon adjacent to the oxygen via alkyl substitution.
A high-resolution electron microscopy study of MgO/Al2O3 interfaces and MgAl2O4 spinel formation

Abstract MgO films were deposited on the Al2O3 prism plane and the (0001)Al2O3 basal plane of sapphire by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE). Cross-sectional specimens with thicknesses of less than 15nm were prepared so that the MgO/Al2O3 interface could be investigated by high resolution electron microscopy (HREM). Two different orientation relationships were obtained for MgO films deposited on the differently oriented sapphire substrates. Misfit dislocations at the interface were analysed and a structural model for the atomic arrangement of the interface was proposed. Good matches between simulated and observed images of the MgO/Al2O3 interfaces were obtained. The HREM observations, image simulations and optical diffractograms confirm that MgAl2O4 (spinel) forms at the interface by a solid state reaction under electron beam irradiation.
DNA strand breakage and activation of poly-ADP ribosyltransferase: a cytotoxic pathway triggered by peroxynitrite.

Abstract Peroxynitrite is a reactive oxidant produced from nitric oxide (NO) and superoxide. Although its reactivity and decomposition are very much dependent on the constituents of the cellular environment, peroxynitrite is considered a potent oxidant that reacts with proteins, lipids, and DNA. Inasmuch as peroxynitrite is formed in many pathophysiological conditions that are associated with NO and/or superoxide overproduction, the investigation of the cytotoxic pathways triggered by peroxynitrite is of major importance. Here we review the evidence that peroxy-nitrite is a potent initiator of DNA strand breakage, which is an obligatory stimulus for the activation of the nuclear enzyme poly ADP ribosyl synthetase (PARS). We present an overview of experimental data that demonstrate or suggest that the peroxynitrite-PARS pathway, by leading to cell necrosis or apoptosis, contributes to cellular injury in a number of pathophysiological conditions including shock and inflammation, pancreatic islet cell destruction, and diabetes, stroke, and neurodegenerative disorders, as well as the toxic effects of various environmental oxidants or cytotoxic drugs.
Orbits of Charged Particles in Constant Fields

Solutions of the relativistic equations of motion of a charged particle in a constant electromagnetic field are obtained in terms of a Lorentz transformation determined by the tensor describing the field. Some results of O. Veblen, J. W. Givens, and the author on Lorentz transformations are summarized in Appendiz A and are used to obtain explicit expressions for the orbits. The methods used may be applied to the orbit of a charged particle in the field of a plane wave. The latter orbits are discussed in detail in Appendix B.
Qualitative Research on Korean American Dementia Caregivers' Perception of Caregiving: Heterogeneity between Spouse Caregivers and Child Caregivers

This study explores Korean American dementia caregivers' attitudes toward caregiving. Qualitative descriptive interviews were conducted with four female spouse caregivers and four female adult child caregivers. Analysis of these interviews disclosed five major themes related to their perception of caregiving and the factors that contribute to their experience: (1) the importance of marital commitment for spouse caregivers, (2) cultural expectations of adult child caregivers, (3) the mediating role of social support in dementia caregiving, (4) the role of spirituality in dementia caregiving, and (5) the negative image of nursing homes. Finally, implications for mental health professionals and policy makers are provided.
Infant head growth in male siblings of children with and without autism spectrum disorders

Previous research has indicated that children with autism exhibit accelerated head growth (HG) in infancy, although the timing of acceleration varies between studies. We examined infant HG trajectory as a candidate autism endophenotype by studying sibling pairs. We retrospectively obtained serial head orbitofrontal circumference measurements of: a) 48 sibling pairs in which one (n = 28) or both (n = 20) sibs were affected by an autism spectrum disorder (ASD); and b) 85 control male sibling pairs. Rate of HG of ASD subjects was slightly accelerated compared to controls, but the magnitude of difference was below the limit of reliability of standard measurement methods. Sibling intra class correlation for rate of HG was highly statistically significant; the magnitude was significantly stronger among autism-affected families (ICC = .63) than among controls (ICC = .26), p < .01. Infant HG trajectory appears familial—possibly endophenotypic—but was not a reliable marker of autism risk among siblings of ASD probands in this sample.
Colonial Dislocations and Incorporation of Indigenous Migrants From Mexico to the United States

Mexican-origin indigenous migration to the United States has a long history, overlapping colonialisms contribute to it, and dialectical systems of racial, class, and gender oppression shape its mag...
A Morley finite element method for the displacement obstacle problem of clamped Kirchhoff plates

Abstract We study a Morley finite element method for the displacement obstacle problem of clamped Kirchhoff plates on polygonal domains. Error estimates are derived in the energy norm and the L ∞ norm. The performance of the method is illustrated by numerical experiments.
What Affects New and Established Firms’ Expansion? Evidence from Small Firms in Russia

Research on financial constraints of very small firms is scarce because it is difficult to observe and measure their transactions. Previous studies on small enterprises in post-communist countries have focused either on the effect of financing constraints on business growth (Budina et al., 2000, Economics of Transition8(2), 453–475; Bratkowski et al., 2000, Economics of Transition8(1), 101–116) or on the effect of property rights (Johnson et al., 2002, American Economic Review92(5), 1335–1357). This paper provides evidence on both. It turns out that financing constraints and property rights considerations affects investment in firms of different age differently. Younger firms face higher information costs and their expansion is more dependent on the availability of internal funds than is the expansion of older firms. This paper also finds that while the financial sector did not channel funds to the most successful businesses, there is evidence that loans were given to firms that had more transparent transactions. Results also indicate that the security of property rights does not influence investment in young firms, which is interpreted to mean that only the most efficient entrepreneurs entered the market. In older small firms, investment is negatively influenced by the index of security of property rights suggesting that these firms might have “secured” their property rights by bribes. Improvements in the security of property rights, therefore, would help more micro enterprises to be born as well as decrease transaction cost of established enterprises.
Santa in the Summer

This Forum article is a continuation of a regular series of columns on engineering ethics. The column has been generated, in part, by an interactive discussion on the Internet. The focus of the Ethics Case program is to present real situations taken from professional practice in order to stimulate greater attention to ethical issues, and to allow Internet Web site visitors the opportunity to avoid similar pitfalls in their own careers. In addition to providing an opportunity for individuals to read and respond to the case histories, it may also provide a convenient focus for informal brown bag discussions in firms and agencies.Those interested in this program are encouraged to visit the Web site at the following Internet address: http://www.engr.washington.edu/epp/Pepl/Ethics (Use of the capitalized letters as shown is important.) Results and discussion will also appear in the Forum section of the Journal of Professional Issues in Engineering Education and Practice. A more detailed description of this pro...
Token Status and Problem-Solving Deficits: Detrimental Effects of Distinctiveness and Performance Monitoring

The present experiment examined whether extra-task worry is associated with performance deficits in token individuals, and also examined whether deficits occur in the ongoing performance of group members who are distinctive along a nonvisual dimension. Female subjects took turns solving anagrams with three other same-sex participants who were identified as students belonging to the same school as the subject (nontoken condition) or as students from a rival institution (token condition). The three other participants were actually confederates who had been videotaped previously, thus ensuring that all subjects received the same standard treatment. The primary dependent measure of ongoing performance was the percentage of anagrams solved. Extra-task worry was assessed by examining how well subjects monitored the successes/failures of group participants. The principle hypothesis was that, relative to nontokens, tokens would display poorer problem-solving capability and enhanced performance monitoring behavior...
An Efficient Implementation of a Two-stage Production Scheduling Algorithm

In this paper, a most efficient implementation of Johnson's two-stage algorithm is presented. An illustration with numerical example and computational results is also included.
A Validation Study of the Diagnostic Analysis of Reading Errors (DARE) Screening Test

The ability of the Diagnostic Analysis of Reading Errors (DARE) test to differentiate among students representing special populations was investigated. The DARE was administered to adolescents who had been previously placed in classes for learning disabilities, emotional disturbance, giftedness, and regular education. Data were analyzed by comparing group differences in scores on the DARE correct scale and by determining how accurately the DARE classification criteria reflected differences in actual educational placement. Results indicated that the DARE might have some value as a preliminary screening instrument for identifying adolescents who are at risk for educational problems. The results also indicated, however, that no consistent pattern of scores was unique to any educational grouping of students.
Frontal Lobe Damage in Children and Adults: A Comparative Review

Clinical and experimental studies of focal frontal lobe damage in children and adults are reviewed and analyzed. Although each literature has traditionally been treated separately, we argue that they share many common issues and that comparative analysis reveals both contrasting and complementary, findings that provide the foundation for a life‐span view of frontal lobe maturation and operation. Furthermore, each literature offers unique data regarding frontal lobe damage and recovery. Integration of these diverse findings is important to clinical and theoretical advances, and leads to the common view that the frontal lobes and their connections are critical to the development and maintenance of human adjustment and adaptive behavior throughout life.
A meta-analysis of sex differences in formal operational thought.

MEEHAN, ANITA M. A Meta-Analysis of Sex Differences in Formal Operational Thought. CHILD DEVELOPMENT, 1984, 55, 1110-1124. Findings of studies of sex differences on formal operational tasks were examined using meta-analysis techniques. The results demonstrated that males exhibit a better formal operational performance than females on propositional logic tasks, combinatorial reasoning tasks, and proportional reasoning tasks. Analyses of effect size suggest that the difference was small for each task type. The sex effect for proportional reasoning was shown to be reliable, while sex differences for propositional logic and combinatorial reasoning were shown to be vulnerable to the "file drawer" problem described by Rosenthal. No age effect was associated with the observed sex differences. Possible explanations for the sex difference in formal operations are discussed in terms of the competence-utilization distinction.
A relationship between heme binding and protein stability in cytochrome b5.

Conformational changes and long-range effects are often observed in proteins when they associate with their ligands. In many cases, these structural perturbations are essential to function, and the...
Simple device for cleaning the teflon reaction coil in automatic amino acid analyzers

Abstract Recorder baseline noise and reaction coil plugging in automatic amino acid analyzers may be minimized through periodic purging of the hot coil with sodium dichromate cleaning solution. A “cleaning cell” containing the dichromate was positioned between the mixing manifold and the coil inlet tube. A three-port valve was installed between the coil exit and flow cell inlet restricting dichromate contact to the coil. Eluant buffer from an analyzer column then forced the dichromate solution through the coil. One 5 ml pass of dichromate solution through the coil completely removed oxidizable materials and resulted in improved performance and longer coil life.
Evaluating Online Courses and Programs

EVALUATION ACTIVITIES provide vital information on which to base planning and implementation decisions related to today’s rapidly changing educational environment. This article discusses the context of and rationale for the rigorous, well-planned evaluation of online courses and programs; differentiates among evaluation, assessment, and research; and describes the various purposes evaluation can serve. Further, it provides an overview of the literature with particular reference to representative examples of approaches and models currently in use for evaluating online programming. Finally, it discusses emerging trends in evaluation, including the development of standards of quality that can guide evaluation of online courses and programs and recent research on the process of evaluation itself.