cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Personality Trait Differences of Traditional Sport Athletes, Bullriders, and Other Alternative Sport Athletes

The purpose of this study was to examine the personality characteristics of traditional and alternative sport athletes. The participants were comprised of 70 male University Division I traditional sport athletes (e.g., tennis and volleyball), 63 male bullriders, and 50 male contemporary alternative sport athletes (moto-cross, wakeboarding, etc.). Athletes provided demographic information and responded to items related to Zuckerman's Sensation Seeking Scale and Cattell's 16 Personality Factor Inventory. Results indicated significant differences between the two alternative sport groups and the traditional sport group. Specifically, the alternative sport athletes were more reserved, self-sufficient, and sensation seeking than traditional athletes. Alternative sport athletes may need to be coached, conditioned, and rehabilitated differently than traditional sport athletes, because they seem to possess different personality characteristics than traditional sport athletes.
Integrating Turkish communities: a German dilemma

The social and economic integration of the Turkish minority into German society reflects a systemic problem to which policy makers have not yet found a response. Marginalized by the larger society and separated by cultural and religious life styles, a significant proportion of the Turkish minority is becoming part of a “parallel society” reinforced by discrimination, restricted educational achievements, and a low socioeconomic status.
Day hospital as an alternative to inpatient care for cancer patients: A random assignment trial

A stratified, random-assignment trial of 442 cancer patients was conducted to evaluate medical, psychosocial, and financial outcomes of day hospital treatment as an alternative to inpatient care for certain cancer patients. Eligible patients required: a 4- to 8-hour treatment plan, including chemotherapy and other long-term intravenous (i.v.) treatment; a stable cardiovascular status; mental competence; no skilled overnight nursing; and a helper to assist with home care. Patients were ineligible if standard outpatient treatment was possible. No statistically significant (p < 0.05) differences were found between the Adult Day Hospital (ADH) and Inpatient care in medical or psychosocial outcomes over the 60-day study period. The major difference was in medical costs—approximately one-third lower for ADH patients (p < 0.001) than for the Inpatient group. The study demonstrates that day hospital care of medical oncology patients is clinically equivalent to Inpatient care, causes no negative psychosocial effects, and costs less than Inpatient care. Findings support the trend toward dehospitalization of medical treatment.
Insects in hypoxia

Insects exhibit a remarkable array of adaptations that allow them to handle more or less severe hypoxia associated with numerous aquatic and terrestrial habitats. We consider these habitats and then discuss physiological, behavioral and morphological mechanisms that facilitate insect life under oxygen deprivation. Actually or potentially hypoxic habitats include aquatic systems, flood-prone soils and burrows, intertidal zones, ice encasement and high altitudes. Some microhabitats, including dung, carrion, mammalian alimentary canals, grain and wood, also are subject to hypoxia. Adaptations to hypoxia include the ability to switch from aerobic to anaerobic metabolic pathways (with attendant generation of end products), the ability to drastically attenuate basal metabolic rates, altered behaviors and enlarged tracheal system volumes. Research into the biology of hypoxia seems to be progressing from early observations of the abilities of some insects to withstand exposure to hypoxia or anoxia through studies of organismal mechanisms operating in hypoxia to detailed investigations of cellular and intracellular signaling processes. Our hope is this essay will help crystallize the emergent picture of this area for those interested in contributing to future research.
Local binary patterns for face recognition under varying variations

In this paper, an integrated method of Local Binary Pattern (LBP) and Discrete Cosine Transform (DCT) is used for face recognition under different variations with illumination, pose and facial expression. LBP is applied as a preprocessing step to generate the LBP image which is then analyzed on a block-by-block basis. Facial features are extracted from each block using the DCT algorithm. The objective is to explore the performance of LBP under different illumination, pose and expression variations. Face images in the Yale database and ORL database are used in our experiments. A comparison on the sensitivities of the LBP operator in illumination, pose and expression variations is provided.
Creatine kinase MM isoenzyme subforms in myocardium, cardiac lymph and blood after coronary artery occlusion in dogs

A time-varying pattern of creatine kinase MM (CK-MM) isoenzyme subforms has been found in the blood of patients after acute myocardial infarction, but the site of enzyme modification has not been identified. Therefore, we studied the CK-MM subform patterns in myocardium, cardiac lymph and blood of dogs after coronary artery occlusion. In five conscious dogs, serial blood samples were taken for 72 h after occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery. Samples of non-infarcted and infarcted myocardium were taken after 72 h. In five other anaesthetised, open-chest dogs, cardiac lymph and blood samples were taken for 6 h after coronary artery occlusion. CK-MM subforms were quantitated by an isoelectric focusing method. Before coronary occlusion, 64% of the total CK activity in blood appeared as the anodal subform CK-MM 1 (pI 6.3); 20% and 9% as the cathodal subforms CK-MM 2 (pI 6.6) and CK-MM 3 (pI 6.9), respectively. However, after 2 h of coronary occlusion CK-MM 2 and CK-MM 3 were increased (38% and 17% of total activity respectively) compared with CK-MM 1. Between 4 h and 10 h, CK-MM 2 and CK-MM 3 decreased as CK-MM 1 increased restoring the control relative activities of subforms. In contrast to the subform changes in blood, CK-MM 3 was the predominant subform in both non-infarcted and infarcted myocardium after 72 h of coronary occlusion and in cardiac lymph during 6 h of coronary occlusion. Thus, the changing pattern of subforms in blood resulted from conversion of the dominant myocardial subform, CK-MM 3, to other subforms, but not until the enzyme reached the blood. Since the modification of CK-MM was intravascular, we conclude that the pattern of CK-MM subforms in blood may be useful to predict the time of onset of enzyme release from myocardium.
Heat transfer during dry spinning of fibers

Heat transfer to fibers formed in dry spinning has been subjected to fundamental analysis. Solutions of the equation of energy have been derived and tested with experimental data. Results were deemed satisfactory in view of the accuracy of the experimental data. The present work is believed to yield a good representation of the heat transfer in the dry spinning process.
Two Distinct Tumor Suppressor Loci Within Chromosome 11p15 Implicated in Breast Cancer Progression and Metastasis

Chromosome 11p15 has attracted considerable attention because of the biological importance of this region to human disease. Apart from being an important tumor suppressor locus showing loss of heterozygosity (LOH) in several adult and childhood cancers, 11p15 has been shown by linkage analysis to harbor the gene(s) for the Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome. Furthermore, the clustering of known imprinted genes in the 11p15.5 region suggests that the target gene may also be imprinted. However, positional cloning efforts to identify the target genes have been complicated by the large size (approximately 10 Mb) and complexity of LOH at 11p15. Here, we have analyzed 94 matched normal and breast tumor samples using 17 polymorphic markers that map to 11p15.5-15.4. We have defined precisely the location of a breast tumor suppressor gene between the markers D11S1318 and D11S4088 (approximately 500 kb) within 11p15.5. LOH at this region occurred in approximately 35-45% of breast tumors analyzed. In addition, we have fine-mapped a second, critical region of LOH, that spans the markers D11S1338-D11S1323 (approximately 336 kb) at 11p15.5-p15.4, that is lost in approximately 55-60% of breast tumors. There is a striking correlation between the loss of the two 11p loci and the clinical and histopathological features of breast tumors. LOH at region 1 correlated significantly (P = 0.016) with early events in malignancy and invasiveness. In contrast, the loss of the more proximal region 2, is highly predictive (P = 0.012) of aggressive metastatic disease. Thus, two distinct tumor suppressor loci on chromosome 11p15 may contribute to tumor progression and metastasis in breast cancer. The fine mapping of this intriguing chromosomal region should facilitate the cloning of the target genes and provide critical clues to understanding the mechanisms that contribute to the evolution of adult and childhood cancers.
Child sexual abuse and the Catholic Church

M. Keenan, 2012, Oxford, Oxford University Press, £40 (hbk), 355 pp., ISBN 978-0-19-989567-0 At the time when it seems like hardly a day goes by without further revelations of child sexual abuse hi...
Dislocation motion and multiplication during the growth of silicon ribbon

Abstract The production and motion of dislocations during the growth of silicon ribbon by the dentritic web process is treated. Thermal elastic stresses are calculated from a temperature distribution defined along the growth direction of the ribbon. Dislocation motion and multiplication in the ribbon due to thermal stresses are monitored taking the ribbon crystallography into consideration and employing the Hassen-Sumino deformation model. The dislocation density and distribution obtained from the crystallographic considerations are compared with experimental observations of the defect configuration in silicon ribbon and similar computational results obtained assuming isotropic deformation conditions.
A simplified education program improves knowledge, self-care behavior, and disease severity in heart failure patients in rural settings

Background Self-monitoring by heart failure (HF) patients of worsening symptoms caused by fluid overload is a cornerstone of HF care. Disease management has improved outcomes in HF; however, these resource-intensive programs are limited to urban centers and are generally unavailable in rural or limited health care access areas. This pilot study sought to determine whether a simplified education program focused on a single component of disease management (symptom recognition and management of fluid weight) could improve knowledge, patient-reported self-care behavior, and HF severity in a rural setting. Methods This randomized clinical trial enrolled 36 rural HF patients into an intervention or control group. The intervention group received a simplified education program with a follow-up phone call focusing on symptom management delivered by a non–cardiac-trained nurse. Patient knowledge, self-care behaviors, and HF severity (B-natriuretic peptide [BNP]) were measured at enrollment and at 3 months. Results The sample was primarily white men and married with a mean age of 71 years and ejection fraction of 47%. There were no differences between groups in knowledge, self-care behaviors and BNP at baseline; however, knowledge and self-care behavior related to daily weights improved significantly at 3 months in the intervention group (P = .01 and .03, respectively). Although the changes in mean BNP at 3 months were in the hypothesized direction, the difference between the 2 groups was not significant. Conclusions A simplified education program designed for use in resource scarce settings improves knowledge and patient-reported self-care behaviors. These findings are important in providing care to patients with HF in limited access settings but should be studied for longer periods in more heterogeneous populations.
A simple rain attenuation model for earth‐space radio links operating at 10–35 GHz

The simple attenuation model has been improved from an earlier version and now includes the effect of wave polarization. The model is for the prediction of rain attenuation statistics on earth-space communication links operating in the 10-35 GHz band. Simple calculations produce attenuation values as a function of average rain rate. These together with rain rate statistics (either measured or predicted) can be used to predict annual rain attenuation statistics. In this paper model predictions are compared to measured data from a data base of 62 experiments performed in the U.S., Europe, and Japan. Comparisons are also made to predictions from other models.
On the factors that affect the mode of cyclization of α-silyl radicals: A method for angular hydroxymethylation by the 5-exo cyclization

Abstract The steric and stereochemical factors which favor the 5-exo cyclization of a 5-substituted 2-sila-5-hexen-1-yl radical have been probed. This radical cyclization approach constitutes a highly efficient and convenient means for the stereospecfic introduction of an angular hydroxymethyl group.
Laboratory Evaluation of Aggressive Behavior of the Grasshopper Mouse (Onychomys)

Abstract The genetically predisposed aggressive behavior of two species of grasshopper mouse, Onychomys leucogaster and O. torridus , was evaluated in an experimental paradigm involving isolation‐induced aggression. O. leucogaster exhibited considerably more aggression than did O. torridus. When aggression was provoked in Onychomys by isolation, the behavior could not be suppressed by pentobarbital nor by chlordiazepoxide. Indeed, chlordiazepoxide increased the amount of time spent fighting. Chlorpromazine was able to depress fighting behavior in torridus but not in leucogaster. The results obtained support the contention that an animal's behavioral predisposition may markedly alter the organism's response to drugs.
Effects of exported seston on aquatic insect faunal similarity and species richness in lake outlet streams in Montana, USA

The quantity of seston exported from a lake affected the qualitative composition and species richness of aquatic insects in 13 lake outlet streams in northwestern Montana. Mean values for chlorophyll and particulate organic carbon in lake effluent waters ranged from 0.5 to 2.7 and 80 to 601 mg m-3, respectively. Correlations between a detrended correspondence analysis of faunal similarities in outlet streams and measures of organic export from the lake indicated that distributional patterns were primarily dependent upon the general trophic status of the lakes. A comparison of faunal assemblages at stream stations located at the outlet and 100 m downstream demonstrated that species composition at the two stations was more similar in productive systems.
Response to nutritional and growth hormone treatment in progeria

Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome (HGPS) is a rare condition with an unknown molecular defect. Patients with HGP progressively develop failure to thrive (FTT), alopecia, loss of subcutaneous fat, scleroderma, stiffening of various joints, and severe atherosclerosis. The median life span is 13 years, and the main cause of death is cardiovascular complications. There are few reports of endocrine and metabolic studies because of the rarity of this condition, and the response to long-term growth hormone (GH) treatment has not been described. We report the results of endocrine and metabolic studies performed to investigate the etiology of growth failure in five patients with HGP. Additionally, the response to nutritional therapy (NT) and GH treatment in three of these patients is presented. Our results suggest that elevated GH levels are characteristic of this disease and that an elevated basal metabolic rate (BMR) could be the cause of the FTT seen in HGP. Nonaggressive NT slightly improved weight gain and growth velocity (GV). Combined NT and GH treatment in three patients improved the GV, increased the levels of growth factors, and paradoxically resulted in decreased BMRs. However, the response to these therapies decreased over time and did not seem to prevent the progression of atherosclerotic disease.
Information transfer and firm‐level strategy

In this article, I examine a previously unexplored avenue for information transfer: similarities in firms’ strategies. This examination is based on the idea that information transfer is likely to be positively related to similarity in business activities. Drawing on the concept of generic strategies found in the strategy literature, I develop a measure of strategic distance between firms. Using this measure, I provide evidence that information transfer is positively related to the similarity of firms’ strategies. In addition, I find that this information transfer is strongest when the announcing firm is large or has persistent earnings.
Second-order Cone Programming Methods for Total Variation-Based Image Restoration

In this paper we present optimization algorithms for image restoration based on the total variation (TV) minimization framework of Rudin, Osher, and Fatemi (ROF). Our approach formulates TV minimization as a second-order cone program which is then solved by interior-point algorithms that are efficient both in practice (using nested dissection and domain decomposition) and in theory (i.e., they obtain solutions in polynomial time). In addition to the original ROF minimization model, we show how to apply our approach to other TV models, including ones that are not solvable by PDE-based methods. Numerical results on a varied set of images are presented to illustrate the effectiveness of our approach.
Properties and modifications of a cryomacroglobulin possessing cold agglutinin activity.

The physical properties of a pathological γM-globulin with cold agglutinin activity and cryoglobulin solubility could be modified by changes in temperature and pH and upon dilution. The type of changes noted appear to simulate those expected in a readily dissociable antigen-antibody complex. Naturally occurring and chemically produced subunits of the γM-globulin and Fc-fragments of myeloma proteins diminished the cryoproperty of the γM-globulin and effected changes in its physical properties but did not alter its cold agglutinin activity. Cryoglobulin properties could be conferred upon some purified γM-globulins by reacting them with Fc-fragments. Mercaptan dissociation of the Cryomacroglobulin produces subunits with loss of the noted activities. Reaggregation of these subunits restores some of the native properties, but variable results which are dependent on the type of mercaptan employed are obtained. Attempts to explain the cold agglutinin activity of γM-globulin hybrids containing variable amounts of mercaptan-produced active and inert subunits suggest that activity requires two of the five subunits to be derived from the γM-cold agglutinin and to be adjacent to each other.
CHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF MOUSSE AND SELECTED ENVIRONMENTAL SAMPLES FROM THE AMOCO CADIZ OIL SPILL

ABSTRACT Mousse, biota, soil, sediment and reference mousse (collected immediately adjacent to the wreck) samples were collected during and immediately after the Amoco Cadiz oil spill. A medium Arabian crude oil was used as a nonweathered control sample. The extracts were fractionated by liquid/solid chromatography and analyzed by high resolution gas chromatography and GC-MS techniques (mass spectrometry). GC-MS analysis had identified most of the major components in the 40 percent benzene in n-hexane fractions of the samples. Relative concentrations of selected aromatic components in the various samples were compared using a unique three-dimensional plotting format. The presence of oxidation products from the diben-zothiophenes were characterized in methanol fractions of actual environmental samples. Laboratory experiments conducted under simulated environmental conditions suggest that these oxidized products may arise by photochemical transformations. Products were identified by GC and GC-MS techniques ...
Duration of Allergic Susceptibility in Maternal Transmission of Asthma Risk

Problem Asthma has its origins in early-life. Maternal, not paternal asthma is an important risk factor, but the mechanisms and the duration of the maternal effect are unknown. Method of Study Offspring of asthmatic and normal mice were sensitized with ovalbumin (OVA) at 1, 3, 6 and 10 weeks of age, challenged with aerosolized OVA 2 weeks later and tested for airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) and allergic airway inflammation (AI). Results Offspring of asthmatic, but not normal, mothers showed AHR and AI after OVA sensitization at week 1. Similarly increased susceptibility to OVA was observed when sensitized at 3 or 6 weeks, although the magnitude diminished. Offspring sensitized at 10 and challenged at 12 weeks showed some AI but no AHR. Conclusion In offspring from asthmatic mothers increased allergic susceptibility persisted through the young adulthood, albeit with gradual decline, which suggests a long-lived but reversible skewing of the developing immune system.
Projectile-energy dependence of H-like Ar Lyman-α emission in solids

Spectra of K x rays from Ar ions (incident energy 15 MeV/u) traveling in thick solid targets of Be, C, NaF, and KCl were measured with a curved crystal spectrometer for the purpose of investigating the dependence of the H-like Ar 2p-state population fraction on projectile energy and target atomic number. Information pertaining to the energy dependence of the 2p fraction was obtained from the Doppler-shifted average energies and peak shapes associated with the Lyman-{alpha} lines. Model calculations that took into consideration the fraction of ions with one 2p electron and x-ray absorption as a function of depth in the target were performed. Generally good agreement between the experimental results and the predictions of the model were observed for all of the targets except NaF. {copyright} {ital 1997} {ital The American Physical Society}
Safety strategy for the first deployment of a hydrogen-based green public building in France

Abstract HELION, a subsidiary of AREVA in charge of the business unit Hydrogen and energy storage, is deploying for the first time in a French public building, a hydrogen-based energy storage system, the Greenergy Box™. The 50 kWe system is coupled with a photovoltaic farm to ensure up to 45% electrical autonomy and power backup to the building. The safety system and siting measures of the complete hydrogen chain are described. The paper also highlights the work accomplished with Fire Authorities and Public to gain the acceptance of the project and allow the deployment of four other hydrogen-based green buildings.
‘My music, my freedom(?): the troubled pursuit of musical and intellectual independence on the Internet in Indonesia’

In Indonesia, the Internet has reshaped music industry praxis, particularly artist marketing and promotion. It is also a primary resource for artistic inspiration, providing musicians and producers with unprecedented access to recording artists worldwide. Finally, for the nation's top musicians, the Internet can lead to national and even international recognition, by means independent of – and even superior to – the production, distribution, or promotional support Indonesia's major record labels can provide. Answering Lysloff's call that examinations of digital media should consider how and why they are meaningful,this qualitative analysis examines the Internet practices consultants believe have radically reshaped Indonesia's national music industry and advanced its global impact. Particularly among the nation's self-described non-mainstream or independent music professionals, the Internet has revolutionized professional and social communication. Furthermore, through online intellectual critique, individu...
Reversal of copper inhibition in chloroplast reactions by manganese.

In the Mehler reaction, a Hill reaction utilizing molecular oxygen as the electron acceptor, rates of net oxygen uptake are stimulated by added manganous ions. Both whole cell photosynthesis and the Mehler reaction are inhibited by copper. Copper inhibition of the Mehler reaction can be reversed by manganese salts. Glutathione. which alone has no effect on Mehler reaction rates, enhances the effect of manganese in reversing copper inhibition. The effects of added Cu2+, Cu2+ and Mn2+, or Cu2+, Mn2+, and glutathione exhibit no induction phenomena when measured manometrically. Furthermore, the order of addition of these factors is unimportant: final rates are dependent only on the composition of reaction mixtures. Compared to the Mehler reaction, conventional Hill reactions are less sensitive to copper poisoning, while certain chloroplast mediated photoxidations (e.g. the photoxidation of diketogulonic acid) are far more sensitive. In all of the chloroplast mediated photoreactions tested, manganese is effective in reducing the sensitivity to copper poisoning.
Bismuth tri-iodide radiation detector development

ABSTRACT Bismuth tri-iodide (BiI 3 ), a wide band-gap semiconductor, demonstrates many of the material properties necessary for high resolution room temperature gamma-ray spectroscopy. These material properties include high density, large band-gap, and high atomic number. The theoretical intrinsic photopeak efficiency of BiI 3 is approximately 2-3 times higher than CdZnTe over the range of 200-3000 keV. BiI 3 has a theoretical intrinsic photopea k efficiency of 19% at 662 keV, compared to CdZnTe which has a theoreti cal intrinsic photopeak efficiency of 13% at 662 keV. A modified vertical Bridgman growth method is being used to grow large, greater than 100 mm 3 , single BiI 3 crystals. Growth parameter optimization has demonstrated that single crystals can be obtained with temperature gradients of 10 o /cm or 15 o /cm and a growth rate of 0.5 mm/hr, or with a temperature gradient of 10 o /cm and a growth rate of 1 mm/hr. Polycrystalline material results from all other growth parameter combinations . X-ray diffraction spectra are used to determine if the crystals are single crystals or polycrystalline. UV-VIS spectra analysis has revealed that the band-gap of BiI
Early Mars hydrology: Meridiani playa deposits and the sedimentary record of Arabia Terra

United States. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA Mars Data Analysis Program)
Determination of Winds from Balloon Tracking with a Doppler Weather Radar

Abstract Computer programs for antenna control and data processing were prepared and interfacing was fabricated to enable the Doppler radar at Norman, Oklahoma, to track a reflectorized balloon, and define winds in the layer through which the balloon rises. Differences between wind speeds and directions estimated by this radar and by radiosonde were about ½ m s−1 and 4°. Given a network of Doppler radars such as projected by the NEXRAD program, the incremental cost of hardware for measuring winds by this radar method is small. Subject to refinement of balloon launch and acquisition procedures, and consideration of other possible consraints, the method represents an opportunity to collect wind data by radar during periods of fair weather when natural tracers are weak or absent and the radars are not otherwise dedicated. Winds so acquired could expand the base of data used in weather forecasting.
On the distribution of hotelling's trace and power comparisons

This paper deals with the statistic U(p) (a constant times Hotelling's ) in connection with (A) testing , (B) MANOVA and (C) testing canonical correlations. The distribution of U(p) is derived for p = 3 and p = 4 in the central case and for p = 3 in the non-central case. Using these results, the criterion U(3) is studied (for a specific value of one of the degrees of freedom) based on the power tabulations in view of (A), (B) and (C). Comparisons between the powers of the criterion U(p) and the largest root are also carried out. in addition, the form of the distribution of U(p) suggested by Pillai is studied and some tabulations of upper percentage points and powers are carried out.
Microearthquake Study of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge near 37° N, using Sonobuoys

IN view of the successful use of telemetering radio sonobuoys for detecting and locating microearthquakes in the Gulf of California1, we carried out a similar survey of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, in the region near latitude 37° N, during May and June of this year. Our object was to study the level of distribution of seismicity; in particular, we hoped to locate some earthquakes sufficiently accurately that we could associate them with local physiographic features, and draw conclusions about the present tectonic activity of this section of the ridge. Teleseismic study of the mid-ocean ridge suffers from two basic limitations: the epicentral locations are not sufficiently accurate to allow more than a general correlation of seismic activity with the median rift (where present) and with the transform faults offsetting the ridge segments2, and it is not generally possible to locate earthquakes of magnitude less than about 4 (ref. 3). Ocean bottom seismometers have also been used to study ridge seismicity, but the results to date have been fairly limited.
Creatinine Clearance, Walking Speed, and Muscle Atrophy: A Cohort Study

Background Chronic kidney disease is associated with malnutrition and inflammation. These processes may lead to loss of skeletal muscle and reduced physical performance. Associations of kidney function with muscle composition and longitudinal measures of physical performance are unknown. Study Design Prospective cohort study. Setting & Participants We evaluated 826 community-dwelling older adults enrolled in the Invecchiare in Chianti (InCHIANTI) Study who were free of baseline stroke or activities of daily living disability. Predictor Baseline creatinine clearance (Clcr) based on 24-hour urine collection. Outcomes Cross-sectional and longitudinal trajectories of physical performance measured by 7-m usual gait speed, 400-m fast gait speed, and knee extension strength using isometric dynamometry. Calf muscle composition assessed by quantitative computed tomography. Results Mean age of participants was 74±7 (SD) years, with 183 having Clcr 2 . After adjustment, each 10–mL/min/1.73m 2 decrement in Clcr was associated with 0.01 (95% CI, 0.004-0.017) m/s slower 7-m usual walking speed and 0.008 (95% CI, 0.002-0.014) m/s slower 400-m walking speed. Each 10–mL/min/1.73m 2 decrement in Clcr was associated with 28 (95% CI, 0.8-55) mm 2 lower muscle area and 0.15 (95% CI, 0.04-0.26) mg/cm 3 lower muscle density. After adjustment, lower Clcr was associated with slower mean 7-m ( P =0.005) and 400-m ( P =0.02) walk and knee extension strength ( P =0.001) during the course of follow-up. During a mean follow-up of 7.1±2.5 years, each 10–mL/min/1.73m 2 lower baseline Clcr was associated with 0.024 (95% CI, 0.01-0.037) kg/y greater decline in knee strength. Limitations Single baseline measurement of Clcr and 3-year interval between follow-up visits may lead to nondifferential misclassification and attenuation of estimates. Conclusions Among older adults, lower Clcr is associated with muscle atrophy, reduced walking speed, and more rapid declines in lower-extremity strength over time.
Mechanism of copper(I)/TEMPO-catalyzed aerobic alcohol oxidation.

Homogeneous Cu/TEMPO catalyst systems (TEMPO = 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-N-oxyl) have emerged as some of the most versatile and practical catalysts for aerobic alcohol oxidation. Recently, we disclosed a (bpy)CuI/TEMPO/NMI catalyst system (NMI = N-methylimidazole) that exhibits fast rates and high selectivities, even with unactivated aliphatic alcohols. Here, we present a mechanistic investigation of this catalyst system, in which we compare the reactivity of benzylic and aliphatic alcohols. This work includes analysis of catalytic rates by gas-uptake and in situ IR kinetic methods and characterization of the catalyst speciation during the reaction by EPR and UV–visible spectroscopic methods. The data support a two-stage catalytic mechanism consisting of (1) “catalyst oxidation” in which CuI and TEMPO–H are oxidized by O2 via a binuclear Cu2O2 intermediate and (2) “substrate oxidation” mediated by CuII and the nitroxyl radical of TEMPO via a CuII-alkoxide intermediate. Catalytic rate laws, kinetic iso...
Inelastic electron scattering cross sections using a finite nuclear well

Abstract Theoretical studies of the electro-excitation of light nuclei were carried out using a Woods-Saxon potential with spin-orbit coupling as an approximation to the nuclear self-consistent field. These calculations are expected to yield more realistic results at high momentum transfer than those given by conventional harmonic oscillator wave functions. A finite-range residual interaction was used with the Woods-Saxon potential in the particle-hole formalism to generate consistent wave functions for the excited states of closed shell or closed subshell nuclei. These were then used to calculate inelastic electron scattering form factors based on the Born approximation. Particular attention was given to the lowest octupole excitation of 16 O, to the magnetic dipole state in 12 C at 15.1 MeV, and to the giant resonance levels of both these nuclei. Comparison was made with the results of calculations performed using a harmonic oscillator potential and with experiment.
3D parametric model of lesion geometry for evaluation of MR-guided radiofrequency ablation therapy

Radiofrequency current energy can be used to ablate pathologic tissue. Through magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), real-time guidance and control of the procedure is feasible. For many tissues, resulting lesions have a characteristic appearance with two boundaries enclosing an inner hypo-intense region and an outer hyper-intense margin, in both contrast enhanced T 1 and T 2 weighted MR images. We created a model having two quadric surfaces and twelve-parameters to describe both lesion surfaces. Parameter estimation was performed using iterative optimization such that the sum of the squared shortest distances from segmented points to the model surface was minimized. The method was applied to in vivo image volumes of lesions in a rabbit thigh model. For all in vivo lesions, the mean signed distance from the model surface to segmented boundaries, accounting for the interior or exterior location of points, was approximately zero with standard deviations less than a voxel width (0.7 mm). For all in vivo lesions, the median absolute distance from the model surface to data was <= 0.6 mm for both surfaces. We conclude our model provides a good approximation of actual lesion geometry and should prove useful for three-dimensional lesion visualization, volume estimation, automated segmentation, and volume registration.
Warnings of aftershocks from 1 May earthquake in eastern Turkey

Seismologists at the University of Ulster in Belfast have warned that there is a danger of further earthquakes in the area of southeastern Turkey that was struck by a magnitude 6.4 shock on 1 May. John McCloskey one of the members of the University of Ulster Geophysics Research Group, said that preliminary calculations that he and his colleagues have performed since the tremor “…indicate significant increased hazard on the East Anatolian Fault Zone (EAFZ) to the southwest of the rupture, toward the city of Elazig, and to the northeast of Bingol. These results, combined with the faults known to exist in the area, indicate that large aftershocks may occur, with events of magnitude 6 on the Richter scale possible.”
Tension―compression fatigue behavior of a H-VARTM manufactured unnotched and notched carbon/epoxy composite

Abstract The tension–compression fatigue behavior of a four-harness satin weave carbon fiber/epoxy (IM7/EPON 862) composite manufactured from the H-VARTM (Heated Vacuum Assisted Resin Transfer Molding) process was investigated. Unnotched and notched specimens were both tested in this study. The notch was a circular hole located at the center of specimen. The fatigue lives of the unnotched IM7/EPON 862 composites in the fully reversed tension–compression fatigue testing condition were significantly shorter than in the tension–tension fatigue testing condition. However, there was no effect of the notch on the fatigue life/strength. Damage mechanisms involved initial matrix cracking followed by delamination, microbuckling, fiber kinking and finally fiber breakage. The final failure occurred under compression in the shear mode. In the notched specimen, the damage was initially concentrated at the maximum stress concentration location (edge of hole).
Inhibition of phagocytosis and plasma membrane mobility of the cultivated macrophage by cytochalasin B. Role of subplasmalemmal microfilaments.

Functional and morphologic effects of cytochalasin B on the cultivated macrophage were examined to determine the basis for plasma membrane movements of the type required for endocytosis and/or spreading on a substratum. Inhibition of phagocytosis and changes in cell shape by cytochalasin B exhibited nearly identical dose-response curves requiring 2–5 x 10-6 M and 1–2 x 10-5 M cytochalasin B to inhibit these functions by 50% and 100%, respectively. In contrast, hexose transport was ten times more sensitive to the drug requiring 2–3 x 10-7 M cytochalasin B to achieve 50% inhibition of 2-deoxyglucose uptake. Inhibition of phagocytosis and changes in cell shape could not be explained solely by drug effects on hexose transport. Analysis of serial thin sections showed that cytochalasin B doses inhibitory for hexose transport had no effect on distribution or organization of either of the two subplasmalemmal microfilament types. However, cytochalasin B concentrations (2.0 x 10-5 M) that inhibited phagocytosis and altered cell shape disorganized and/or disrupted oriented bundles of 40–50-A subplasmalemmal microfilaments, but had no effect on the microfilamentous network. Comparative dose-response studies showing positive correlations among cytochalasin B effects on phagocytosis, changes in cell shape, and alterations in oriented subplasmalemmal microfilament bundles provide additional support for the hypothesis that microfilamentous structures play a role in translocation of plasma membrane required for endocytosis and cell motility.
Estimating the loss of estimators of a binomial parameter

SUMMARY A loss function is introduced, which combines the estimation error of a statistical procedure with a measure of its accuracy. The properties of this loss function are illustrated by the estimator of a binomial parameter. The choice of a conjugate prior distribution is discussed from this point of view. It is shown that there exists a unique beta prior with a conservatively biased accuracy estimate.
Effects of acute tiagabine administration on aggressive responses of adult male parolees

Experimental and clinical studies have supported a relationship between gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and aggressive behavior in non-humans and humans. Tiagabine is a GABA uptake inhibitor that has been shown to produce acute behavioral effects in animals. In addition, tiagabine has been shown to decrease aggression in agitated patients when administered chronically. The present study was designed to investigate the effects of acute administration of tiagabine on aggressive responding on a laboratory task in adult humans. Ten adult males participated in experimental sessions on the Point Subtraction Aggression Paradigm (PSAP), which provided subjects with aggressive, escape, and monetary-reinforced response options. All subjects received four acute oral doses of Tiagabine (4, 8, 12 and 16 mg) separated by placebo sessions. Tiagabine decreased aggression at doses that either did not affect, or affected to a lesser extent, monetary-reinforced responding. The results are consistent with some prior research using the PSAP showing a possible unique role for GABA in the regulation of human aggression. A possible behavioral mechanism for the rate-decreasing effects on aggressive responding produced in the present study is that tiagabine may modify aggressive responding by suppressing reactions to aversive stimuli.
P2A-8 Lipid-Stabilized Monodisperse Microbubbles Produced by Flow Focusing for Use as Ultrasound Contrast Agents

Lipid-encapsulated microbubbles have demonstrated utility in biomedical applications as ultrasound contrast agents and drug delivery vehicles. Current production methods of these microbubbles result in distributions with a large size variance. The size and monodispersity of ultrasound contrast agents are fundamentally important due to the relationship between bubble diameter and resonant frequency, destruction threshold, and susceptibility to radiation force. Several groups have recently developed microfluidic technologies for generation of microbubbles, but to date no group has demonstrated the production of shell-stabilized monodisperse contrast agents using these techniques. In this work, we use microfluidic-based flow focusing methods to produce monodisperse microbubbles in the diameter range required for in-vivo imaging. The diameter of the bubbles produced using this technique can be precisely tailored by adjusting the gas and liquid flow rate parameters. In order to stabilize the microbubbles for use as ultrasound contrast agents, we examine aqueous mixtures of glycerol/propylene glycol as well as stabilizing lipids. The effect of the lipid, emulsifier and viscosity agent concentration was found to be critical to stabilize the microbubbles. High-speed camera images and particle sizing analysis were combined to study the coalescence and dissolution phenomena as well as the size distribution. The concentration of the PEG-emulsifier and the existence of the viscosity agents determined the microbubble coalescence rate. Our experiments show that an optimum concentration of glycerol and propylene glycol in the liquid phase mixture reduces coalescence. Monodisperse microbubbles coated with a lipid-shell in a viscous solution were found to be stable up to three months
Controller Area Network for fault tolerant small satellite system design

The Controller Area Network (CAN) is a message based event triggered communication bus mostly used in the automotive industry. In this paper, however, the CAN bus is tested for being applicable to small satellite systems in order to provide better fault-tolerance. The CAN bus connects several independent CAN modules and allows them to communicate and work together asynchronously and/or synchronously. The CAN modules were designed to decrease weight and cost while improving stability and power consumption compared to current small satellite systems. We present advantages to using the CAN bus over existing satellite bus systems, design and propose a CAN protocol for CubeSats.
The National Data Bank for rheumatic diseases: a multi-registry rheumatic disease data bank

The National Data Bank (NDB) for rheumatic diseases is a patient-based multi-disease, multi-purpose rheumatic disease registry that has been used primarily to study patients with RA, SLE, FM and OA. It enrols patients from the community, follows up with questionnaires and validates key patient data using medical records. Rheumatologist-written programs make NDB data immediately available to analysts. The NDB has been used to develop and validate diagnostic criteria, develop new questionnaires, describe illness and comorbid disease, assesses disease outcomes and the effect of therapeutic interventions, and measure costs and cost-effectiveness.
Field Evaluation of Ability of Photocatalytic Concrete Pavements to Remove Nitrogen Oxides

Numerous laboratory studies have demonstrated the ability of nano and ultrafine titanium dioxide (TiO2) photocatalytic pavements to trap and degrade nitrogen oxides in the air when irradiated with ultraviolet light. However, to understand better how photocatalytic pavements will perform under real-world conditions, field studies are necessary. Quantification of the reduction of nitrogen oxides (NOx) in field studies is difficult and challenging because of the many environmental and operating variables. The objective of this paper is to identify evidence of photocatalytic NOx reduction and to determine the environmental and operating factors that affect efficiencies under real-world conditions. A quarter-mile concrete roadway was sprayed with a photocatalytic coating in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. This section was the first field installation of TiO2 photocatalytic pavement in the United States. NOx concentrations were monitored for both the coated and uncoated sections simultaneously for 3 weeks during the sp...
Model calibration as a testing strategy for system dynamics models

System dynamics models are becoming increasingly common in the analysis of policy and managerial issues. The usefulness of these models is predicated on their ability to link observable patterns of behavior to micro-level structure and decision-making processes. This paper posits that model calibration––the process of estimating the model parameters (structure) to obtain a match between observed and simulated structures and behaviors––is a stringent test of a hypothesis linking structure to behavior, and proposes a framework to use calibration as a form of model testing. It tackles the issue at three levels: theoretical, methodological, and technical. First, it explores the nature of model testing, and suggests that the modeling process be recast as an experimental approach to gain confidence in the hypothesis articulated in the model. At the methodological level, it proposes heuristics to guide the testing strategy, and to take advantage of the strengths of automated calibration algorithms. Finally, it presents a set of techniques to support the hypothesis testing process. The paper concludes with an example and a summary of the argument for the proposed approach.
Cholesterol and inventory: healthy choice guidelines

This paper is a comparative analysis of cholesterol and inventory and their similar effects on organisational and human health. Its purpose is to find a level of commonality between cholesterol and inventory and reveal how an understanding of one can provide practical insights into the other. The research focuses on the discovery of how each operates in positive and negative manners and how these behaviours produce beneficial and detrimental outcomes. A study on the similarities provide the basis for structuring healthy guidelines in the management of both. The research concludes that preventive strategies are superior to remedial responses that may only address symptoms of disorders. Thus, the results emphasise the importance of early detection, treatments (for harmful conditions), and guidelines for future lifestyle or operational modifications.
Microfabrication of oxidation-sharpened silicon tips on silicon nitride cantilevers for atomic force microscopy

We have developed a novel process for the microfabrication of atomic force microscope (AFM) cantilevered tips from silicon-on-insulator (SOI) wafers. The tip and cantilever are made of crystalline silicon and low-stress silicon nitride, respectively. This choice of materials allows us to sharpen the tips by oxidation sharpening without affecting the cantilever. We evaluated their performance in contact mode during imaging of artificial nanostructures and compared them to commercially available ones. The images acquired with our tips feature superior resolution on those samples.