cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Wrist-Worn Sensor-Derived Frailty Index Based on an Upper-Extremity Functional Test in Predicting Functional Mobility in Older Adults.

INTRODUCTION Preoperative frailty is an independent risk factor for postoperative complications across surgical specialties. Functional mobility such as gait, timed up and go (TUG), and 5 times sit-to-stand (5-STS) are popular preoperative frailty measurements but are not suitable for patients with severe mobility impairment. A wrist-worn sensor-derived frailty index based on an upper-extremity functional test (20-s repetitive elbow flexion-extension task; UEFI) was developed previously; however, its association with functional mobility remained unexplored. We aimed to investigate the predictive power of the UEFI in predicting functional mobility. METHODS We examined correlation between the UEFI and gait speed, TUG duration, and 5-STS duration in 100 older adults (≥ 65 years) using multivariate regression analysis. The UEFI was calculated using slowness, weakness, exhaustion, and flexibility of the sensor-based 20-s repetitive elbow flexion-extension task. RESULTS The UEFI was a significant predictor for gait speed and TUG duration and 5-STS duration (all R ≥ 0.60; all p < 0.001) with the variance (adjusted R2) of 35-37% for the dependent variables. The multivariate regression analysis revealed significant associations between the UEFI and gait speed (β = -0.84; 95% confidence interval [95% CI] = [-1.19, -0.50]; p < 0.001) and TUG duration (β = 16.2; 95% CI = [9.59, 22.8]; p < 0.001) and 5-STS duration (β = 33.3; 95% CI = [23.6, 43.2]; p < 0.001), found after accounting for confounding variables (e.g., age and fear of falling scale). CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that the UEFI can be performed with a wrist-worn sensor and has been validated with other established measures of preoperative frailty. The UEFI can be applied in a wide variety of patients, regardless of mobility limitations, in an outpatient setting.
Intangible Asset Reallocation and Financial Frictions

I develop and estimate a novel dynamic model of the secondary market trading of intangible assets in an environment where financial market frictions interfere with firm investment. Intangible asset trading (IAT) not only serves as an alternative means of financing but also reallocates investment opportunities to firms in better positions to exploit them. Estimation of the model uncovers high trading frictions, but the option to trade still leads to significant efficiency gains. These gains stem both from IAT's direct effect on relaxing firms' financial constraints and especially from ex ante changes in firms' expectations, which influence their investment choices. I also show that the impact of financial frictions depends largely on the ease with which firms can trade intangibles. Finally, I present corroborating reduced-form evidence that firms sell a particular type of intangible asset, patents, during times of financial distress and their financial conditions appear to improve after these sales.
The Birth and Growth of the Social-Insurance State:Explaining Old-Age and Medical Insurance Across Countries

We seek to explain why countries have adopted national Old-Age Insurance and Health Insurance programs. Theoretical work has posited several factors that could lead to this adoption: the strain from expanding capitalism; the need for political legitimacy; the desire to transfer to similar people; increased wealth; and the outcome of leviathan government. We relate the probability of a country's creating social insurance to proxies for each of these theories. We find weak evidence that the probability of adopting a system declines with increases in wealth and with greater ethnic heterogeneity. Still, none of the theories is very strongly related to system adoption. We conclude that social insurance can be politically expedient for many different reasons.
Connectionist models and their implications: readings from cognitive science

This volume includes a number of articles, some of which have previously appeared in "Cognitive Science". The contributions as a whole present a fair sample of the late-1980s research and practice in connectionist models.
Human intelligence: sex differences.

An extensive review of the literature on sex differences in human intelligence leads to the conclusion that there is strong evidence for sex differences in processing both verbal and spatial information. The few genetic studies that there are all point toward a sex-linked mode of inheritance of certain spatial abilities.
Urinary Taurine Excretion as a Function of Taurine Intake in Adult Cats

Experiments were designed to develop a urinary excretion model for the study of taurine status in adult cats. The time course of changes in urinary taurine excretion in response to alterations in dietary taurine was examined in Experiment 1. Urinary taurine excretion decreased rapidly when cats were switched from a casein diet supplemented with 2000 mg crystalline taurine/kg diet to a diet containing no supplemental taurine reaching a plateau in 2 d, but the cats required 7 d to reach a plateau when switched from the nonsupplemented diet to the 2000 mg taurine/kg diet. In Experiment 2, the casein diets contained graded levels of crystalline taurine (0, 250, 500, 1000, 1500 or 2000 mg/kg). After a 7-d adjustment period, urinary taurine excretion was quantified over 5 d, and blood taurine concentrations were measured on d 6. Plasma taurine concentration increased linearly (r = 0.88) as taurine intake increased, but whole-blood taurine increased asymptotically. Taurine intakes of greater than 96 mumol/(kg body wt.d) resulted in urinary excretion rates that were 15 times greater than those occurring below this break point. We suggest that urinary taurine excretion by cats fed taurine at levels above the break point has potential for estimating taurine bioavailability in intact meat-source proteins.
A $(-q)$-analogue of weight multiplicities

We prove a conjecture in \cite{L} stating that certain polynomials $P^{\sigma}_{y,w}(q)$ introduced in \cite{LV1} for twisted involutions in an affine Weyl group give $(-q)$-analogues of weight multiplicities of the Langlands dual group $\check{G}$. We also prove that the signature of a naturally defined hermitian form on each irreducible representation of $\check{G}$ can be expressed in terms of these polynomials $P^{\sigma}_{y,w}(q)$.
Analysis of ceramic substrate found in cremains.

With the recent increase in the number of lawsuits questioning the possible commingling of cremains, recognition of nonosseous artifacts may aid in the circumstantial identification of a decedent. The remains of a cremated individual were analyzed both macroscopically and microscopically. Examination of material ranging in size from 1.5 cm × 1.0 cm to less than 0.5 cm yielded evidence of numerous nonosseous artifacts. Of primary interest were several fragmentary ceramic objects located in the material, which were pieced together under a microscope and photographed to reveal the imprint of circuitry suggesting a computer chip, subsequently identified from a pacemaker. Although this particular ceramic substrate did not have the necessary markings to facilitate identification of the manufacturer, the pacemaker brand may aid in identification.
Computer-Man Communication: Using Computer Graphics in the Instructional Process

Publisher Summary The ultimate purpose of most information-processing systems is to convey information to the human mind. This is also the purpose of any method of instruction. This chapter is a progress report on a group of experiments and projects at a laboratory, each of which explores a different aspect of the application of computer graphics to instruction. The concept behind all of this is that the human mind can be considered to have many input channels of various bandwidths and impedances. The most effective processes of communicating with the mind will be those that use many channels and low-impedance ones. Recently, computer systems have incorporated graphical display devices and audio answerback devices as additional means of providing information to the user. In Prokop's and Oliver's experiments reported in this chapter, strong effects offering substantial improvement in instructional effectiveness and computer–man communication are found. These modes of the use of computer graphics appear to be more promising for the college-teaching application than conventional computer-assisted instructions (CAIs), which are found to have weaker effects.
Standardization of terminology of virological response in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C: panel recommendations.

Summary. The treatment paradigm for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is at a critical point in its evolution. The addition of a protease inhibitor to peginterferon plus ribavirin has become the new standard-of-care treatment for most patients. Data from clinical trials of new antivirals have been difficult to interpret and compare, partly because of heterogeneity in trial design, and partly because of inconsistencies in terminology used to define viral responses and the populations evaluated. Present definitions of viral responses for treatment with peginterferon and ribavirin are insufficient for novel treatment paradigms. Further, categorization of prior patient treatment experience in clinical trials, particularly of nonresponders to prior therapy, is inconsistent. Existing terms and definitions must be updated, standardized and/or redefined for easier interpretation of data and effective communication among clinicians. A panel of experts in HCV infection treatment met on 3 December 2009. Goals of the panel were to evaluate terms and definitions used traditionally in treatment with peginterferon and ribavirin, to refine and clarify definitions of existing terms that have varying meanings and to propose new terms and definitions appropriate for novel treatment paradigms emerging with development of new agents. A number of recommendations were accepted unanimously by the panel. Adoption of these terms would improve communication among investigators, enhance comparability among clinical trials, facilitate development of therapeutic guidelines and provide a standardized terminology for use in clinical practice.
Everything in Moderation--Dietary Diversity and Quality, Central Obesity and Risk of Diabetes.

Diet guidelines recommend increasing dietary diversity. Yet, metrics for dietary diversity have neither been well-defined nor evaluated for impact on metabolic health. Also, whether diversity has effects independent of diet quality is unknown. We characterized and evaluated associations of diet diversity and quality with abdominal obesity and type II diabetes (T2D) in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis. At baseline (2000–02), diet was assessed among 5,160 Whites, Hispanic, Blacks, and Chinese age 45–84 y and free of T2D, using a validated questionnaire. Three different aspects of diet diversity were characterized including count (number of different food items eaten more than once/week, a broad measure of diversity), evenness (Berry index, a measure of the spread of the diversity), and dissimilarity (Jaccard distance, a measure of the diversity of the attributes of the foods consumed). Diet quality was characterized using aHEI, DASH, and a priori pattern. Count and evenness were weakly positively correlated with diet quality (r with AHEI: 0.20, 0.04), while dissimilarity was moderately inversely correlated (r = -0.34). In multivariate models, neither count nor evenness was associated with change in waist circumference (WC) or incident T2D. Greater food dissimilarity was associated with higher gain in WC (p-trend<0.01), with 120% higher gain in participants in the highest quintile of dissimilarity scores. Diet diversity was not associated with incident T2D. Also, none of the diversity metrics were associated with change in WC or incident T2D when restricted to only healthier or less healthy foods. Higher diet quality was associated with lower risk of T2D. Our findings provide little evidence for benefits of diet diversity for either abdominal obesity or diabetes. Greater dissimilarity among foods was actually associated with gain in WC. These results do not support the notion that “eating everything in moderation” leads to greater diet quality or better metabolic health.
The relative influence of advertising-evoked personal and historical nostalgic thoughts on consumers' brand attitudes

Although researchers' conceptualizations of nostalgia (a yearning for the past) often acknowledge that it may be comprised of various types and forms, few studies to date have attempted to empirically investigate any of these differences in an advertising context. The study reported here examines two prevalent types of nostalgia reported in the literature and appearing in the media today – personal and historical nostalgia – and explores the relative influence each type may have on the formation of consumer brand attitudes. Findings suggest that, irrespective of whether individuals are exposed to a personally nostalgic or historically nostalgic ad, responses of a personally nostalgic nature tend to predominate and are more influential in shaping brand attitudes. Attitudes toward the ad were shown to mediate this relationship for both nostalgia ad types. The theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed, and future research directions are offered.
An on-line Chinese character recognition system

This paper describes an experimental system for the on-line recognition of handwritten Chinese characters. Constituent shapes of the characters are recognized as they are formed on an electronic tablet. The 72 constituent shapes can define a very large set of Chinese characters. The implementation described recognizes more than 2200 Chinese characters. More symbols can be added with relative ease. Experimental results are given for two writer populations.
Mediastinitis in infants from deep neck space infections.

Abstract Objective To describe mediastinitis in infants. Study Design Case series. Setting Tertiary-care, academic, pediatric hospital. Subjects Four infants managed during eight months. Results Patients were eight months (two patients), nine months, and 18 months old. They had retropharyngeal phlegmons and were started on clindamycin/cephalosporin. Interval imaging scans revealed abscess formation with mediastinal extension. All retropharyngeal abscesses were drained; three patients required video-assisted thoracoscopic debridement. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (two patients) and methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (two patients) were cultured. Peak white blood cell counts were 15,000, 18,400, 30,200, and 44,900. The patients survived without long-term morbidity. Conclusions In infants with pediatric deep neck space infections, increased vigilance should be maintained for progression to mediastinal extension. Optimal management includes imaging of the neck and chest as indicated, broad-spectrum antibiotic coverage, and aggressive surgery as warranted to clear the neck space infections with appropriate surgical consultants to manage the mediastinal process. Despite high morbidity and mortality in adult mediastinitis, infant mediastinitis may be a different disease process as all patients survived without sequelae.
Redox inactivation of human 15-lipoxygenase by marine-derived meroditerpenes and synthetic chromanes: archetypes for a unique class of selective and recyclable inhibitors.

The selective inhibition of human 15-lipoxygenase (15-hLO) could serve as a promising therapeutic target for the prevention of atherosclerosis. A screening of marine sponges revealed that crude extracts of Psammocinia sp. exhibited potent 15-hLO inhibitory activity. Bioassay-guided fractionation led to the isolation of chromarols A−E (8−12) as potent and selective inhibitors of 15-hLO. An additional 22 structurally related compounds, including meroditerpenes from the same Psammocinia sp. (3, 4, 13−16) and our pure compound repository (17, 18), commercially available tocopherols (19−24), and synthetic chromanes (25−32), were evaluated for their ability to inhibit human lipoxygenases. The 6-hydroxychromane moiety found in chromarols A−D was identified as essential for the selective redox inhibition of 15-hLO. Furthermore, the oxidized form of the 6-hydroxychromane could be reduced by ascorbate, suggesting a potential regeneration pathway for these inhibitors in the body. This pharmacophore represents a prom...
Studies of Engine-Airframe Integration on Hypersonic Aircraft

Airframe-propulsion system integration for Mach 6 transport and Mach 12 research airplane, examining off-design operation effects and interaction of aerodynamic forces
Product integration and solution of ordinary differential equations

by the method of product integration. We will prove an existence and uniqueness theorem and related results for solutions of (0.2) when A is a (time dependent, possibly non-linear) vector field on a Banach space, satisfying a Lipschitz condition in the “space” variable and an integrability condition in the “time” variable. These results are, of course, not new, and can be proved in the usual way by iteration of Eq. (0.2); however, the use of product integration in the generality presented here will, it is hoped, be of sufficient novelty to justify the present work. To give an idea of our method, we first recall (see [ 1 ] for a discussion of the finite-dimensional case) that if the vector field A satisfies appropriate continuity conditions in the time variable, then the solution x(t) of (0.1) can be obtained by associating with partitions
Periodic Trends in Electrode−Chemisorbate Bonding: Benzonitrile on Platinum-Group and Other Noble Metals As Probed by Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy Combined with Density Functional Theory

Detailed intramolecular vibrational spectra obtained by means of surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) for benzonitrile adsorbed on seven electrode surfaces-four Pt-group metals (platinum, palladium, rhodium, and iridium) and the Group IB metals (copper, silver, and gold)-are reported with the aim of exploring the metal-dependent nature of surface-chemisorbate interactions. The Pt-group surfaces were prepared as ultrathin electrodeposited films on gold, enabling the SERS activity inherent to the substrate to be imparted to the overlayer material. Benzonitrile was selected as a "model" organic adsorbate since it displays a rich array of coupled aromatic ring as well as substituent modes which collectively can provide insight into the various molecular perturbations induced by surface coordination via the nitrile substituent. The experimental spectra are compared with ab initio calculations of vibrational frequencies, bond geometries, and charge distributions obtained by means of Density Functional Theory (DFT), which yields valuable insight into the underlying structural reasons for the sensitivity of the experimental coordination-induced frequency shifts to the nature of the intramolecular mode and the metal surface. The DFT results also form an invaluable aid in making SER spectral assignments, along with providing detailed information on the coupled atomic displacements involved in each vibrational mode. Benzonitrile surface coordination was modeled in the DFT calculations by binding the nitrile group to metal atoms and small metal clusters. While the majority of the aromatic-ring SER frequencies are altered only slightly (approximately < 5 cm(-1)) upon surface coordination, several modes (especially nu(1), nu(6a)) are blue-shifted substantially (by up to 50 cm(-1)). These shifts were identified by DFT as arising from mode coupling to the nitrile substituent, especially involving the C-CN bond that is compressed upon nitrile coordination, associated with metal-adsorbate back-donation. The small (<5 cm(-1)) red-shifts seen for ring vibrations not involving coupled substituent motion apparently arise from increased antibonding aromatic electron density. The metal-dependent frequency shifts seen for these coupled aromatic vibrations as well as for the more localized C-N nitrile stretching mode are consistent with increased back-donation anticipated in the sequence d(10) < d(9) < d(8) within a given Periodic row. Overall, the findings provide a benchmark illustration of the virtues of DFT in interpreting complex vibrational spectra for larger polyatomic adsorbates.
Interaction Networks in Yeast Define and Enumerate the Signaling Steps of the Vertebrate Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor

The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) is a vertebrate protein that mediates the toxic and adaptive responses to dioxins and related environmental pollutants. In an effort to better understand the details of this signal transduction pathway, we employed the yeast S. cerevisiae as a model system. Through the use of arrayed yeast strains harboring ordered deletions of open reading frames, we determined that 54 out of the 4,507 yeast genes examined significantly influence AHR signal transduction. In an effort to describe the relationship between these modifying genes, we constructed a network map based upon their known protein and genetic interactions. Monte Carlo simulations demonstrated that this network represented a description of AHR signaling that was distinct from those generated by random chance. The network map was then explored with a number of computational and experimental annotations. These analyses revealed that the AHR signaling pathway is defined by at least five distinct signaling steps that are regulated by functional modules of interacting modifiers. These modules can be described as mediating receptor folding, nuclear translocation, transcriptional activation, receptor level, and a previously undescribed nuclear step related to the receptor's Per–Arnt–Sim domain.
Weak evidence that oral midazolam is an effective sedative agent for children undergoing dental treatment.

Weak evidence that oral midazolam is an effective sedative agent for children undergoing dental treatment
Inhaled corticosteroids and β-agonists inhibit oxidant production by bronchoalveolar lavage cells from normal volunteers in vivo

To study the anti-inflammatory mechanisms of inhaled corticosteroids and beta-agonist therapies, we evaluated basal and stimulus-induced superoxide production by human airway inflammatory cells obtained by bronchoalveolar lavage from normal volunteers before and after 3 weeks of an inhaled corticosteroid (flunisolide) and beta-agonist (metaproterenol). Assay of superoxide production by the bronchoalveolar lavage cells was performed in the presence of media alone or media containing phorbol ester by optical density determination of reduced ferricytochrome c at 550 nm. Interleukin-1β released from unstimulated cells and cells stimulated with lipopolysaccharide was quantitated by enzyme immunoassay. Interestingly, phorbol ester-stimulated superoxide production was strikingly inhibited (P<0.05) by inhaled therapies, while stimulus induced Interleukin-1β production was not significantly affected (P=0.12). Suppression of oxidant production by airway inflammatory cells may be a major mechanism for the beneficial anti-inflammatory effects of inhaled corticosteroids and β-agonists.
Cytochemical analysis of alkaline phosphatase and esterase activities and of lectin-binding and anionic sites in rat and mouse Peyer's patch M cells

M cells in Peyer's patch follicle epithelium endocytose and transport luminal materials to intraepithelial lymphocytes. We examined (1) enzymatic characteristics of the epithelium covering mouse and rat Peyer's patches by using cytochemical techniques, (2) distribution of lectin-binding sites by peroxidase-labeled lectins, and (3) anionic site distribution by using cationized ferritin to develop a profile of M cell surface properties. Alkaline phosphatase activity resulted in deposits of dense reaction product over follicle surfaces but was markedly reduced over M cells, unlike esterase which formed equivalent or greater product over M cells. Concanavalin A, ricinus communis agglutinin, wheat germ agglutinin and peanut agglutinin reacted equally with M cells and with surrounding enterocytes over follicle surfaces. Cationized ferritin distributed in a random fashion along microvillus membranes of both M cells and enterocytes, indicating equivalent anionic site distribution. Staining for alkaline phosphatase activity provides a new approach for distinguishing M cells from enterocytes at the light microscopic level. Identical binding of lectins indicates that M cells and enterocytes share common glycoconjugates even though molecular groupings may differ. Lectin binding and anionic charge similarities of M cells and enterocytes may facilitate antigen sampling by M cells of particles and compounds that adhere to intestinal surfaces in non-Peyer's patch areas.
Biomimetic synthesis of a new class of bacterial signaling molecules.

The first synthesis of a newly discovered class of bacterial signaling molecules from Streptomyces coelicolor has been developed. These molecules, known as the methylenomycin furans (MMFs), trigger production of the antibiotic methylenomycin. The synthesis features a scandium triflate-catalyzed domino reaction of β-ketoesters and dihydroxyacetone yielding 2,3,4-substituted furans. The proposed reaction sequence (aldol reaction, cyclization, and dehydrative aromatization) may be reminiscent of the biosynthetic reaction in which dihydroxyacetone phosphate and a β-ketothioester are condensed by an enzyme.
Growth Performance and Root Transcriptome Remodeling of Arabidopsis in Response to Mars-Like Levels of Magnesium Sulfate

Background Martian regolith (unconsolidated surface material) is a potential medium for plant growth in bioregenerative life support systems during manned missions on Mars. However, hydrated magnesium sulfate mineral levels in the regolith of Mars can reach as high as 10 wt%, and would be expected to be highly inhibitory to plant growth. Methodology and principal findings Disabling ion transporters AtMRS2-10 and AtSULTR1;2, which are plasma membrane localized in peripheral root cells, is not an effective way to confer tolerance to magnesium sulfate soils. Arabidopsis mrs2-10 and sel1-10 knockout lines do not mitigate the growth inhibiting impacts of high MgSO(4).7H(2)O concentrations observed with wildtype plants. A global approach was used to identify novel genes with potential to enhance tolerance to high MgSO(4).7H(2)O (magnesium sulfate) stress. The early Arabidopsis root transcriptome response to elevated concentrations of magnesium sulfate was characterized in Col-0, and also between Col-0 and the mutant line cax1-1, which was confirmed to be relatively tolerant of high levels of MgSO(4).7H(2)O in soil solution. Differentially expressed genes in Col-0 treated for 45 min. encode enzymes primarily involved in hormone metabolism, transcription factors, calcium-binding proteins, kinases, cell wall related proteins and membrane-based transporters. Over 200 genes encoding transporters were differentially expressed in Col-0 up to 180 min. of exposure, and one of the first down-regulated genes was CAX1. The importance of this early response in wildtype Arabidopsis is exemplified in the fact that only four transcripts were differentially expressed between Col-0 and cax1-1 at 180 min. after initiation of treatment. Conclusions/significance The results provide a solid basis for the understanding of the metabolic response of plants to elevated magnesium sulfate soils; it is the first transcriptome analysis of plants in this environment. The results foster the development of Mars soil-compatible plants by showing that cax1 mutants exhibit partial tolerance to magnesium sulfate, and by elucidating a small subset (500 vs. >10,000) of candidate genes for mutation or metabolic engineering that will enhance tolerance to magnesium sulfate soils.
NITRATE REDUCTASE ACTIVITY OF AMPHIDINIUM CARTERI AND CACHONINA NIEI (DINOPHYCEAE) IN BATCH CULTURE: DIEL PERIODICITY AND EFFECTS OF LIGHT INTENSITY AND AMMONIA1,2

SUMMARY The activity of extracted NADH-NO3− reductase was measured in the marine dinoflagellates Amphidinium carteri Hulburt and Cachonina niei Loeblich. Its activity showed a diel periodicity and was ca. twice as great at midday as at midnight. The enzyme activity was unstable, with an in vitro half-life of 2–3 h. Values of enzyme activity were low or undetectable during lag phase but paralleled the instantaneous growth rate value during log phase. Nitrate reductase activity was not found in the stationary phase of growth, but additions of NO3− resulted in enzyme activity after 24h. When A. carteri was exposed to a series of light intensities for several weeks, the division rate and enzyme activity increased with increasing light intensity up to saturating intensities. In 6 h exposures, enzyme activity decreased with decreasing light intensities below light intensities saturating division rate. Additions of NH4+ (0.5–50 μm) to A. carteri cultures decreased the amount of extractable enzyme. The in vitro activity was not inhibited by similar NH+4 concentrations.
Twenty-First-Century Organizations: Business Firms, Business Schools, and the Academy

The article presents a 1997 Presidential Address, “Twenty-first-century Organizations: Business Firms, Business Schools, and the Academy,” by Michael A. Hitt of Texas A&M University. The author refers to the Academy of Management, business education, technology, strategic planning, and innovation adoption.
Spectroscopic studies of the structure of amorphous and microcrystalline SiC prepared by the polymer route

The structural evolution of amorphous and microcrystalline SiC prepared from polycarbosilane was studied using various spectroscopic methods, 13C CPMAS NMR (cross-polarization, magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance), ESR (electron spin resonance), FTIR (Fourier transformation infrared spectroscopy), and Raman. These studies indicate that the carbon-rich a-SiC has two major structural defects, C==C double bonds and C-dangling bonds. Both defect concentrations vary with firing conditions. The effect of hydrogen on the defect concentrations was also investigated by heat-treating the sample under hydrogen atmosphere. The mechanisms of the conversion process were discussed and the structural models for both amorphous and microcrystalline SiC were also proposed.
Microwave ablation at 915 MHz vs. 2.45 GHz: Single and multiple-antenna considerations

This work compares microwave ablation with interstitial antennas operating at 915 MHz vs. 2.45 GHz. Numerical simulations and experiments in ex vivo tissues are used to compare single- and multiple-antenna ablations at both frequencies. When considering multiple-antenna ablations, both synchronous and asynchronous arrays are investigated. Simulation and experimental results indicate that a single antenna operating at 2.45 GHz yields an ablation zone diameter ~25% larger than an antenna operating at 915 MHz when powered with 30 W for 10 min. At both frequencies considered in this study, synchronous equal-phased arrays yield more spherical ablation zones than asynchronous arrays. These results suggest that antennas operating at 2.45 GHz may be better suited for rapid creation of spherical ablation zones in liver tissue.
Atypical porcelain jacket crown preparations

Abstract 1. The procedures that have been described are not hypothetical but have been proved clinically. 2. Jacket crown preparations cannot be the same for all teeth. 3. A complete uniform shoulder is not essential for all teeth although it is the preparation of choice. The condition in which we find the tooth, its anatomy, and position in the arch are the factors that determine whether the preparation should have a full or partial shoulder or be shoulderless. 5. Preparations must be completed so that the resulting crown will be adequately supported and uniformly thick. This insures a durable, esthetically acceptable result.
1H, 19F and 11B nuclear magnetic resonance characterization of BF3: amine catalysts used in the cure of C fibre-epoxy prepregs

Abstract 1H, 19F and 11B nuclear magnetic resonance studies are reported which characterize the complexes of boron trifluoride with monoethylamine and with piperidine, BF3:NH2C2H5 and BF3:NHC5H10, respectively. These complexes are used as catalysts for the cure of high performance C fibre-epoxy composities from prepregs. The chemical compositions of commercial BF3:amine complexes are variable and contain BF4− and BF3(OH)− salts together with other unidentified highly reactive species. The BF3:amine complexes, which are susceptible to hydrolysis, also partially convert to the BF4− salt (i.e. BF4−NH3+C2H5) upon heating. This salt formation is accelerated in dimethyl sulphoxide solution and in the presence of the epoxides that are present in commercial prepregs. Commercial C fibre-epoxy prepregs are shown to contain either BF3:NH2C2H5 or BF3:NHC5H10 species together with their BF4− salts and a variety of boron-fluorine or carbon-fluorine prepreg species. Considerable variation in the relative quantities of BF3:amine to its BF4− salt was observed from prepreg lot to lot, which will cause variable viscosity-time-temperature prepreg cure profiles. It is concluded that the chemically stable and mobile BF4− salt is the predominant catalytic species, acting as a cationic catalyst for the prepreg cure reactions. During the early stages of cure the BF3:amine catalysts convert to the BF4− salts in the presence of epoxides, whereas the BF3-prepreg species are susceptible to catalytic deactivation and immobilization.
Toxicity of 1.4-Dihexylpiperazine

ABSTRACTAttempts to synthesize the insect repellent, N, N'-dihexyl-N-carbomethoxyethylenediamine, led to an impurity which exhibited strong toxicity in the rabbit eye irritation test. Isolation of the impurity led to its identification at 1,4-dihexylpiperazine.
A histone variant, H2AvD, is essential in Drosophila melanogaster.

Abstract H2AvD, a Drosophila melanogaster histone variant of the H2A.Z class, is encoded by a single copy gene in the 97CD region of the polytene chromosomes. Northern analysis shows that the transcript is expressed in adult females and is abundant throughout the first 12 h of embryogenesis but then decreases. The H2AvD protein is present at essentially constant levels in all developmental stages. Using D. melanogaster stocks with deletions in the 97CD region, we have localized the H2AvD gene to the 97D1-9 interval. A lethal mutation in this interval, l(3)810, exhibits a 311-base pair deletion in the H2AvD gene, which removes the second exon. P-element mediated transformation using a 4.1-kilobase fragment containing the H2AvD gene rescues the lethal phenotype. H2AvD is therefore both essential and continuously present, suggesting a requirement for its utilization, either to provide an alternative capability for nucleosome assembly or to generate an alternative nucleosome structure.
Effect of Eprinomectin or Fenbendazole on the Performance of Growing Steers Grazing Tall Fescue

Abstract Gunter, SA., Beck, PA. and Hubbell III, D.H. 2006. Effect of eprinomectin or fenbendazole on the performance of growing steers grazing tall fescue. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 29: 1–5. Two experiments were conducted over 98 and 113 days in the fall and spring, respectively, with growing steers grazing tall fescues (Festuca arundinacea Schreb). In both experiments, untreated steers weighed less (P 0.33). Untreated steers had average daily gains that were less (P<0.01) than steers treated with eprinomectin or fenbendazole. No differences (P=0.49) were noted in average daily gains between eprinomectin and fenbendazole. Untreated steers had higher (P<0.01) strongyle egg counts than the steers treated with eprinomectin or fenbendazole. Steers de-wormed with eprinomectin or fenbendazole responded similarly to treatment in both grazing seasons wit...
Salmonid spleen and anterior kidney harbor populations of lymphocytes with different B cell repertoires

An O-antigen extract of the fish pathogen Vibrio anguillarum was used to stimulate plaque-forming cells (PFC) in coho salmon. The kinetics of the response demonstrates peak PFC per organ on day 16 post immunization for the spleen and anterior kidney. Significant PFC were also seen in thymic tissue. PFC responses were shown to be immunoglobulin mediated and antigen specific. Inhibition profiles of responding PFC populations demonstrate that the cells of the anterior kidney are more restricted in their recognition of antigen than those of the spleen. These data lend functional support to the concept of the hematopoietic nature of the anterior kidney of teleosts.
Justice: Metaphysical, After All?

Political liberals, following Rawls, believe that justice should be ‘political’ rather than ‘metaphysical.’ In other words, a conception of justice ought to be freestanding from first-order moral and metaethical views. The reason for this is to ensure that the state’s coercion be justified to citizens in terms that meet political liberalism’s principle of legitimacy. I suggest that privileging a political conception of justice involves costs—such as forgoing the opportunity for political theory to learn from other areas of philosophy. I argue that it is not clear that it provides any benefit in return. Whether a political conception of justice more adequately satisfies the liberal principle of legitimacy than a metaphysical conception of justice is an open question. To show this, I describe three ways in which political conceptions of justice have been developed within the literature. I then argue that while each might be helpful in finding reasons that reasonable citizens can accept, all face challenges in satisfying the liberal principle of legitimacy. Political conceptions of justice confront the same set of justificatory problems as ‘metaphysical’ conceptions. The question of whether a political conception is preferable should receive greater scrutiny.
On distinguishing natural from cultural damage on archaeological antler

Abstract Natural traces produced on antlers during the life of the deer may be mistaken for use wear inflicted by humans when the antler is recovered from archaeological contexts. In the process of discarding their velvet and engaging in a variety of rutting behaviors, deer inflict several forms of damage to their antlers. The abrasion, polishing, marring, and terminal impact fractures noted on 110 pairs of uncast, unused antlers from 11 species of deer demonstrate that this damage is widespread and diagnostic. Comparisons were made between characteristic natural surface modifications and wear found on two common antler tools, pressure flakers and soft hammers.
Effect of expandable clays and cometabolism on PAH biodegradability

Pyrene and phenanthrene degradation was examined in both single and binary slurry systems for three different natural soils. It was found that the amount of total expandable clays (smectite and vermiculite) was in a good agreement with the achieved rate and extent of biodegradation. For instance, the intrinsic phenanthrene biodegradation rate was 626 µg/L/day for the soil with the largest expandable clay and 3203 µg/L/day for the soil with the least. Similarly, the smallest total pyrene biodegradation (65%) was found for the soil rich in expandable clays, compared to an 82% pyrene reduction in the soil that had the lowest amount. Mass transfer limitation after compound sorption to the clays was more pronounced for the more hydrophobic pyrene. In the presence of phenanthrene, total pyrene biodegradation increased by 2 to 7% due to cometabolism, while the total phenanthrene biodegradation was only enhanced by 0.5 to 5% in the binary system. This research demonstrated that expandable clays might govern the substrate availability to microorganisms and microbial accessibility to substrates. Therefore, the contribution of organic matter and expandable clays to sorption, desorption and biodegradation should be taken equally into account in order to better understand complex bioremediation issues.
14C-Proline and Hydroxyproline in the Protein Metabolism of Plants: An Episode in the Relation of Metabolism to Cell Growth and Morphogenesis

14C-Proline and Hydroxyproline in the Protein Metabolism of Plants: An Episode in the Relation of Metabolism to Cell Growth and Morphogenesis
Composition of particles dry deposited to an inert surface at ithaca, new york

Abstract The composition of inorganic particles deposited to an inert surface was determined at a rural site near Ithaca, New York, using energy dispersive X-ray analysis and particle morphometry. The analyzed particles, collected over the course of 1 year, were in a selected size between 0.3 and 10.0 μm. The distribution of particle sizes was approximately lognormal with a mean geometric diameter, by particle number, of 1.68 μm(± one geometric standard deviation from 0.76 to 3.69 μm). The particle counts were classified into the following categories: CaSO 4 (14–18%); CaCO 3 , dolomite (CaCO 3 -MgCO 3 ) and CaO (11–15%); ammonium sulfate or bisulfate, or other sulfur-rich species (2 %); sulfur species adsorbed to other mineral types (6%); iron oxides (7%); quartz (11%); clay, albite, horneblende, mica and feldspar (34%); and miscellaneous and unknown (12 %). Data are also presented in terms of percent of total particle mass. Most of these particles are crustally derived. However, 15–30% of the particles, including the S species, some of the unknowns, most of the S in CaSO 4 , and a small amount of the SiO 2 (flyash) and iron oxides, probably originated from combustion sources or are indirect products of combustion emissions. CaSO 4 represents one-half, in terms of numbers of particles, and one-third, in terms of mass, of the total Ca species. The abundance of CaSO 4 appears to be from the conversion of alkaline Ca species, probably by the adsorption of SO 2 - Data presented here demonstrate conversion rates of CaCO 3 to CaSO 4 ranging from 0 to 20% per day in this relatively unpolluted rural environment. While CaSO 4 may account for a major amount of particle S dry deposition (> 50 %), it represents only 3–5 % of the S wet deposition.
Intensities and half-widths for several H2O ν2 lines in the region 1500−1523 cm−1

Abstract Intensities and half-widths have been measured, using a tunable diode laser, for several water vapor lines in the ν2 spectral region between 1500 and 1523 cm−1. Where possible, results have been compared with previously published values.
Effects of confining ingested fluid to the stomach on water and saline intake in the rat

Rats ingest more pure water in a 30-min test following 17 h of water deprivation when the ingested water is confined to the stomach by a pyloric cuff than when it is allowed to enter the duodenum (6). To test the hypothesis that the reduced intake of water under normal drinking conditions is due to postgastric cellular hydration, we allowed rats to ingest pure water or 0.15 M NaCl with the pylorus open and with it closed. When the pylorus was open, rats ingested more NaCl than water. When it was closed, they drank an equal volume of each solution. With the cuff open, the rate of licking pure water began to decline within 3 min of the beginning of the test, an effect that did not occur when the cuff was closed or with NaCl under either test condition. These data support the hypothesis that the intake of water during the first 30 min of access to it following a period of water deprivation is inhibited by the hydration of cells located postgastrically.
Determination of Dobutamine in Plasma by Liquid Chromatography with Electrochemical Detection

Abstract A simple, rapid and sensitive method for the analysis of dobutamine in equine arterial and venous plasmas was developed. After the addition of an internal standard samples were extracted using disposable, prepacked reverse phase colums. Samples were chromatographed at room temperature over a 15 cm 3 um C-18 column. Detection was by a glassy carbon electrode operated at 55 volts with respect to Ag/AgCl electrode. Using this method sensitivities of 100pg/ml (signal to noise; 3:1) were obtained. The applicability of the method is shown is anesthetized horses infused at 2.5, 5.0 and 0.5 μ/kg/ min.
Wear characterization of Ti–6Al–4V under fretting–reciprocating sliding conditions

Abstract Wear affects life, vibrational characteristics, and dimensional stability of the components that slide against each other in small oscillatory movements. This study investigated the fretting–reciprocating wear behavior of a titanium alloy under cylinder-on-flat contact configuration (both Ti–6Al–4V) with bulk cyclic loading. Four series of tests were conducted to characterize the effects of sliding and loading parameters on the wear behavior. These were the relative slip, contact load, number of cycles, and bulk cyclic stress. The reciprocating wear produced “U-” and “W-”shaped (scar with multiple valleys) scars on the specimen as well as on the pad. Optical and scanning electron microscopy of the wear scars was conducted to study the wear mechanism(s). MATLAB-based computer programs were developed to determine the wear volume using the three-dimensional profilometry data, the product of contact load (P) and relative slip (δ), and the energy dissipated (Ed) per fretting cycle. Analysis of the experimental data showed that the cyclic stress increased the relative slip. The ratio of shear force to contact load (Q/P) increased with number of fretting cycles. The wear volume was proportional to the cumulative products of ΣPδn and the dissipated energy ΣEd. The microscopy of W-shaped scars showed that the valleys were covered by abrasive grooves, whiles the peaks showed signs of adhesive wear, thus suggesting that the wear was caused by both the adhesion and abrasion processes.
On generation of elliptical distributions with Gaussian form covariance matrix

Abstract This paper shows the generation of random vectors having multivariate exponential and Bessel distributions with Gaussian form variance—covariance matrix, which can be used to simulate the surface height sampled from a rough terrain. Major results include the generation of PDF of the form xaKb(x) and the representation of the Gaussian form variance- covariance matrix by the Kronecker product of matrices as well as its analytical triangular decomposition. These results are used to simplify the random vector generation and the evaluation of quadratic form.
Evaluating Theories of Health Behavior Change: A Hierarchy of Criteria Applied to the Transtheoretical Model

The most common criteria recommended by philosophers of science for evaluating theories were organised within a hierarchy ranging from the least to the most risky tests for theories of health behavior change. The hierarchy progressed across: (1) Clarity; (2) Consistency; (3) Parsimony; (4) Testable; (5) Predictive Power; (6) Explanatory Power; (7) Productivity; (8) Generalisable; (9) Integration; (10) Utility; (11) Efficacy; and (12) Impact. The hierarchy was applied to the Transtheoretical Model (TTM) as an example of a health behavior change theory. The application was from the perspective of critics and advocates of TTM. Examples of basic and applied research challenging and supporting TTM across the hierarchy of criteria are presented. The goal is to provide a model for comparing alternative theories and to evaluate progress across the hierarchy within a particular theory. As theories meet criteria at each step in the hierarchy, the research and applications they generate can have increasing impacts on the science and practice of health behavior change.