cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Thermodynamic Modeling of Eutectic Point in the LiNO3-NaNO3-KNO3 Ternary System

A thermodynamic model based on the thermodynamic principles is developed to predict the eutectic temperature and composition in molten salt systems. The LiNO3-NaNO3-KNO3 ternary system was chosen to demonstrate the applicability of this model. The calculated eutectic composition and temperature obtained from the thermodynamic model were verified experimentally using the Differential Scanning Calorimeter (DSC) technique. The experimentally determined melting temperature of the eutectic composition was in excellent agreement with that of calculated eutectic temperature of the system. The results obtained from this study suggest that this thermodynamic model can be successfully extended to predict the eutectic points in other molten salt systems.
Solvent-free copolymerization of rigid and flexible bis-1,3-benzoxazines: Facile tunability of polybenzoxazine network properties

Abstract We report the copolymerization of a flexible aliphatic-bridged bisphenol-based benzoxazine monomer comprising ten methylene units (BZ(10)BA) with two rigid benzoxazine monomers (commercially available Araldite 35600 and 35900) via a solvent-free cationic ring-opening polymerization process. The effects of monomer feed composition on polymerization behavior, thermomechanical transitions, and thermal degradation properties are reported. DSC of the ring-opening copolymerizations showed that the copolymerization behavior – in terms of polymerization onset temperature and total exothermic transition – depend greatly on the composition of the monomer feed. Samples containing larger concentrations of BZ(10)BA exhibited higher onset temperatures with lower polymerization enthalpies. The thermomechanical properties of the copolybenzoxazine networks, as evaluated by DMA, show a strong dependence on the monomer feed ratio, where higher Araldite content resulted in a higher T g of the network. The most salient feature of benzoxazine copolymerization was revealed in the tailorability in thermomechanical properties, which were varied by 149 °C simply by changing the monomer feed ratio and the T g was observed to be accurately predicted using the Fox equation.
Implications of first-line adjuvant treatment with aromatase inhibitors in recurrent metastatic breast cancer.

Abstract The role of adjuvant tamoxifen therapy has gone unchallenged until recently. With the introduction of the selective aromatase inhibitors (AIs), the paradigm for treatment of hormone receptor—positive breast cancer in postmenopausal women is changing. New data from randomized clinical trials have shown the impact of the use of an AI compared with tamoxifen or in sequence with tamoxifen. This review will emphasize some of the highlights from these data sets and the limitations of our current knowledge. Finally, we will discuss the implications of the use of nonselective AIs in the adjuvant setting for the patient who develops recurrent metastatic disease.
Creating Processes Associated with Providing Government Goods and Services Under the Commercial Space Launch Act at Kennedy Space Center

Kennedy Space Center (KSC) has decided to write its agreements under the Commercial Space Launch Act (CSLA) authority to cover a broad range of categories of support that KSC could provide to our commercial partner. Our strategy was to go through the onerous process of getting the agreement in place once and allow added specificity and final cost estimates to be documented on a separate Task Order Request (TOR). This paper is written from the implementing engineering team's perspective. It describes how we developed the processes associated with getting Government support to our emerging commercial partners, such as SpaceX and reports on our success to date.
An Interdisciplinary Treatment Approach for Soldiers With TBI/PTSD: Issues and Outcomes

Abstract Purpose: While the co-morbidity of symptoms associated with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in the injured military population is currently being discussed and researched, those of us in the rehabilitation fields need to be ready now to serve this complex population. We are challenged to provide the best services with limited research and evidence-based practices to guide us. This article presents an interdisciplinary approach to treatment for soldiers with TBI. Method: We compare and contrast the blast-induced brain injury acquired in the military population, designated as the “signature injury of this war,” to “typical” TBI populations. Results and conclusions: We share what we have learned by serving this population and present each discipline's assessments, treatment strategies, outcome measures, and suggestions for navigating the military “mindset” of the soldiers being served.
MEASURE EMPLOYEE INFLUENCE IN RESIDENTIAL INSTITUTIONS

The centralization of influence in residential mental health institutions is an important variable to those who wish to study the impact of organizational structure on various performance outcomes. The "control graph method" developed by Tannenbaum and his associates has been the most popular approach to the measurement of perceived influence distribution in organization. The authors discuss the benefits and weakness of this approach as the basis for the development of a new measurement instrument, the Employee Influence Scale. The E.I.S. was tested in four wards of a public psychiatric receiving hospital, modified, and then retested with 297 staff members in 22 wards of three long-term public psychiatric residential institutions. Findings strongly support the usefulness of this approach to measuring centralization, thus providing a new instrument for use in further research on this important aspect of service delivery.
Airloads near the open port of a one-meter airborne telescope

An infrared telescope is mounted in a cavity in the fuselage of a C-141 airplane. The cavity is sealed off from the rest of the fuselage and can be opened to the outside for viewing. A retractable porous spoiler is installed ahead of the opening to inhibit cavity resonance. The paper presents the mean pressures, pressure fluctuations, spectra, phase, and coherence of the pressures in the cavity and on the fuselage near the cavity, along with pertinent acceleration and torque information for the aircraft structure and telescope. It is shown that a moderate spoiler extension controls resonance in normal flight attitudes and produces a cavity environment with approximately the same turbulence intensity as an attached turbulent boundary layer.
Cell Adhesion: Separation of p120's Powers?

The catenin p120 is involved in many processes, including cell–cell adhesion and cancer. Recent work explores whether p120 independently regulates two key binding partners, RhoGTPase and cadherin.
Climate Change and Agriculture: A Perspective on Priorities for Economic Policy

Research on the effects of climate change on U.S. agriculture and world grain markets suggests that adaptation will occur with relatively small effects on total production. Additional research shows that reducing emission of greenhouse gases from U.S. agricultural production is relatively expensive compared to encouraging reforestation as an offset to emissions of carbon dioxide. Nevertheless, continued population growth and the increasing inequality of income across countries are likely to exacerbate the adverse effects of climate change. Concepts of sustainability should be expanded to cover industrial as well as agricultural production, and promote the efficient use of fossil fuels in general. Dealing with climate change effectively will require international cooperation and a willingness to address population growth and the divergence of incomes between rich and poor countries.
Effect of zidovudine (AZT) on the structure and function of rat skeletal muscle

On a examine le role de l'anti-VIH zidovudine (ZDV = AZT) dans la formation des myopathies mitochondriales et des alterations contractiles subsequentes du muscle squelettique chez des rats mâles dont l'eau de breuvage a ete additionnee de zivoduvine (1 mg/mL). Apres 6 semaines, les rats experimentaux (n = 6) et les rats temoins (n = 6) n'ont presente aucune difference durant une epreuve sur tapis roulant. La zidovudine n'a eu d'effet ni sur la production de tension du groupe de muscles gastrocnemien-plantaire-soleaire stimule in situ, a des frequences de 15, 30, 45 et 75 contractions/min, ni sur l'activite de la cytochrome oxydase des fibres oxydatives a secousse lente, des fibres glycolytiques oxydatives a secousse rapide ou des fibres glycolytiques a secousse rapide, apres 6 ou 15 semaines de traitement. Un groupe de rats femelles, soumis a la meme epreuve apres 6 semaines de traitement a la ZDV, a raison de 1 (n = 4) ou 2 (n = 4) mg/mL, n'a pas presente non plus de differences appreciables. Toutefois, lorsque les donnees des 10 rats temoins ont ete comparees a celles des 19 rats traites a la ZDV, l'activite de la cytochrome oxydase du muscle glycolytique oxydatif a secousse rapide a ete significativement plus elevee (35,0 ± 1,36 versus 40,7 ± 1,14 μmol.min -1 .g -1 ; p < 0,05). Aucune anomalie ultrastructurale n'a ete observee dans le muscle cardiaque traite pendant 15 semaines a la ZDV ni dans aucun des trois types de fibres musculaires squelettiques. Ces resultats suggerent que, chez les patients atteints du SIDA, les myopathies reliees a la zidovudine pourraient etre dues a des interactions entre le medicament et les complications associees a l'infection par le VIH.
Pineal Function in Sparrows: Circadian Rhythms and Body Temperature

Deep body temperature of the house sparrow, Passer domesticus, was monitored continuously by radio telemetry. Pinealectomy abolished the normal circadian rhythm of body temperature in constant darkness, and significantly altered the amplitude of body temperature rhythms entrained to light cycles. The body temperature minima of pinealectomized birds never fell as low as those of unoperated birds regardless of the light conditions; the temperature maxima of both normal and pinealectomized birds were higher in light than in darkness. In sparrows the pineal organ is essential to the normal function of the biological clock controlling both activity and body temperature rhythms and may be directly involved in thermoregulation.
Clustering of cardiometabolic risk factors and risk of elevated HbA1c in non-Hispanic White, non-Hispanic Black and Mexican-American adults with type 2 diabetes.

Abstract Aim To determine which cardiometabolic risk factors and clusters of cardiometabolic risk factors that are mostly associated with elevated HbA1c in non-Hispanic White (NHW), non-Hispanic Black (NHB) and Mexican-American (MA) adults who have type 2 diabetes. Methods Data ( n = 2910) from the United States National Health and Nutritional Examination Surveys were used in this study. Elevated HbA1c was defined as having HbA1c value was 7% or greater. Race/ethnicity-specific associations of individual and clustered (2–5 factors) cardiometabolic risk factors with elevated HbA1c were determined using prevalence odds ratio from multivariate logistic regression analyses. Statistical adjustments were made for sex, age, education, income and marital status. Results Joint occurrence of abdominal obesity, high blood pressure, and elevated triglycerides and joint occurrence of high blood pressure, elevated triglycerides and low HDL were more highly associated with elevated odds of HbA1c compared to other cardiometabolic risk factors joint occurrences. Joint occurrences of abdominal obesity, high blood pressure, and elevated triglycerides was associated with 2.3 (95% CI: 1.2–3.3), 9.1 (95% CI: 2.9–28.7) and 4.8 (95% CI: 2.0–11.5) increased odds of elevated HbA1c in NHW, NHB and MA, respectively. The corresponding values for the joint occurrence of high blood pressure, elevated triglycerides and low HDL was associated with 2.4 (95% CI: 1.2–3.7), 3.5 (95% CI: 1.1–5.5) and 2.6 (95% CI: 1.5–4.7) increased odds of elevated HbA1c in NHW, NHB and MA, respectively. Conclusion This finding calls for consideration of cardiovascular risk factor clustering in deciding medical therapies to optimize glycemic control in individuals with type 2 diabetes. Interventions designed to achieve glycemic control coupled with modification of cardiometabolic risk factors may be crucial in alleviating sequelae resulting from type 2 diabetes.
The effective elastic constants and bond stresses for a fiber reinforced elastic sheet

Abstract The bond stress distributions, effective modulus of elasticity and effective Poisson's ratio for a homogeneous, isotropic sheet reinforced by repeating arrays of overlapping fibers are calculated. The sheet is subjected to uniform tension in the direction of the fibers. The parameters involved are the relative stiffness of the fibers and matrix, and the spacing between the fibers. The redistributions of bond stress caused by partial debonding between the fibers and matrix are also discussed.
Endoproteolytic conversion of β-endorphin-1-31 to β-endorphin-1-27 potentiates its central cardioregulatory activity

Abstract Brain neurons that express the pro-opiomelanocortin gene secrete multiple forms of β-endorphin (βE) which subserve diverse bioregulatory processes. βE-1-31, for example, is a potent analgetic but βE-1-27 acts as an opioid antagonist and βE-1-26, as well as theN-acetyl derivatives of all 3 peptides, lack opioid receptor activity. The present study examines the effects of β-endorphin processing on its central cardioregulatory potency. Consistent with previous reports, intracisternal βE-1-31 (1.5 nmol) injection lowered mean arterial pressure (MAP); MAP was reduced by29.7 ± 3.9mm Hg at 60 min and returned toward baseline by 120 min. Unexpectedly, βE-1-27 displayed a 10-fold greater hypotensive potency than βE-1-31. At 0.15 nmol, it produced a response equivalent to 1.5 nmol βE-1-31 while 1.5 nmol βE-1-27 sustained a maximal reduction in MAP (49.2 ± 3.9mm Hg) throughout the 120-min test period contrast, β-1-26 andN-acetyl-βE-1-26, -1-27 and -1-31 were inactive at 1.5 nmol. Bradycardia accompanied the depressor response to the higher βE-1-27 dose but not to βE-1-31. Naloxone pretreatment completly blocked the depressor of both βE-1-31, and reversed the bradycardia produced by βE-1-27, suggesting that both peptides act through opioid receptors. βE-1-27 also stimulated catecholamine release from the perfused adrenal gland but βE-1-31 was inactive. These findings emphasize the importance of regionally selective post-translational processing in defining the functional specificity of βE peptides.
Use of principal component regression to characterize a complex oxidation product mixture

Abstract Analytical data for complex mixtures (e.g., humic substances and hydrocarbon fuel deposits) contain a wealth of information about the components which cannot be interpreted without resolution of the contributions from the various species present. Such resolution can be achieved by separation of components (chromatography, distillation, etc.) prior to analysis or use of selective detectors or methods. Multivariate statistical methods offer an alternative approach; mathematical resolution of the data which does not require painstaking chemical separations and can be applied to mixtures not amenable to conventional separation methods. In this example, acid—base fractionation and complementary instrumental analyses provide the discriminators to select mass spectral features of components from the pyrolysis mass spectrum of the complex mixture of air oxidation products of 1-tetralone.
Acute versus chronic acoustic deprivation: effects on auditory evoked potentials and seizures in mice.

C57BL/6J mice are not typically susceptible to audiogenic seizures, but temporary conductive hearing loss (via earplugging) can induce susceptibility in these subjects. The present study observed that a 40-dB hearing loss, beginning at 17 days postpartum, requires 2 days before it induces susceptibility to audiogenic seizures. When this hearing loss occurred only between 17 and 21 days postpartum, seizures were maximally severe 1–2 days after earplug removal. The peak-to-peak amplitudes of the auditory evoked potential (AEP) were also maximal at this same time. But mice deprived of acoustic input between ages 42–46 days exhibited equally large or even larger AEP amplitudes, while not exhibiting susceptibility to audiogenic seizures. Animals at this older age were shown to be capable of convulsing, in that chronic conductive loss from 17–42 days maintained susceptibility to audiogenic seizures. The acoustic deprivation produced both behavioral (audiogenic seizures) and neural (augmented AEP amplitudes) supersensitivity to sound, but the former requires a critical period, whereas the latter does not. Some degree of residual hearing loss persisted at all ages for approximately 2 days after removal of the earplugs.
Estimation of percent aluminum saturation from soil chemical data

Abstract Numerous studies since the early 1970's have shown that percent aluminum (Al) saturation of the soil ion exchange complex is a useful index for predicting the effects of Al toxicity on crop yield and root growth. However, direct measurements of percent Al saturation are unavailable for many acid soils, especially for those sampled prior to the early 1970's. This paper presents simple multiple regression equations based on texture and frequently measured chemical properties for 446 horizons of 102 soil pedons of Alfisols, Inceptisols, Oxisols, Spodosols, and Ultisols. The regression equations account for up to 91% of the Variation in percent Al saturation for the data set used to generate the equations. For an independent data set of 45 horizons (9 from Alfisols, 10 from Inceptisols, 13 from Oxisols, 5 from Spodosols, and 8 from Ultisols) the simple correlation coefficient between actual and estimated percent Al saturation was 95%.
Ultrastructural localization of concanavalin A binding sites on the surface of differentiating hemopoietic cells.

The surface characteristics of hemopoietic cells in normal human bone marrow have been explored by the use of the ultrastructural concanavalin A-peroxidase-diaminobenzidine (CAPD) procedure for the detection of specific carbohydrate residues (α-D-mannopyranoside, α-D-glucopyranoside, and α-N-acetyl-D-glycosaminide) associated with the cell surface. All cells present in the bone marrow were capable of binding Con A to their surfaces. The extent of binding proved cell specific and could be related to the stage of morphological development of each cell line. Maximum surface reactivity in the bone marrow cell population occurred with the most immature cells (myeloblast and erythroblast), lymphocytes, eosinophils, monocytes, macrophages and platelets, while mature neutrophils, basophils, and erythrocytes showed only minimum surface reactivity. These findings serve not only to expand our knowledge of the chemical nature of the surface of differentiating hemopoietic cells but provide striking evidence that modifications in the surface of hemopoietic cells occur during the process of normal cell differentiation in the bone marrow.
Channel assignment on Cayley graphs

We address various channel assignment problems on the Cayley graphs of certain groups, computing the frequency spans by applying group theoretic techniques. In particular, we show that if G is the Cayley graph of an n-generated group Γ with a certain kind of presentation, then λ(G;k, 1)≤2(k+n−1). For certain values of k this bound gives the obvious optimal value for any 2n-regular graph. A large number of groups (for instance, even Artin groups and a number of Baumslag–Solitar groups) satisfy this condition. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Graph Theory 67: 169-177, 2011 © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Doing science making art

It is a challenge to balance doing both science and art, but I attempt both because each provides unique insight into perception and cognition, often to mutual benefit. The techniques I use in visual neuroscience (psychophysics, fMRI, microelectrode recording) are different from those I use in visual art (etching, watercolor and oil paint, glass and silk), but the process is always empirical, testing hypotheses driven by observation, trial and error, while striving to be creative.
'Milk' secretion for embryogenesis in a viviparous cockroach.

Abstract The brood sac of viviparous Diploptera punctata is a typical insect integumentary gland which secretes a ‘milk’ containing protein and carbohydrate to nourish the developing embryos. During gestation the secretory cells proliferate organelles of protein synthesis and secretion and brood sac wet weight, protein content, synthetic activity and secretory output increase five- to six-fold ; a maximum of 0.4 mg protein was collected in 24 hr from one brood sac in a later stage of gestation. Following parturition, when secretory activity ceases, these parameters fall markedly, and the secretory cells decrease their mass by autophagic regression. Acid phosphatase has been located histochemically in autolysomes and assayed in brood sac homogenates; activity reaches a maximum five days after parturition.
Critical perspective: named reactions discovered and developed by women.

Named organic reactions. As chemists, we’re all familiar with them: who can forget the Diels−Alder reaction? But how much do we know about the people behind the names? For example, can you identify a reaction named for a woman? How about a reaction discovered or developed by a woman but named for her male adviser? Our attempts to answer these simple questions started us on the journey that led to this Account.We introduce you to four reactions named for women and nine reactions discovered or developed by women. Using information obtained from the literature and, whenever possible, through interviews with the chemists themselves, their associates, and their advisers, we paint a more detailed picture of these remarkable women and their outstanding accomplishments.Some of the women you meet in this Account include Irma Goldberg, the only woman unambiguously recognized with her own named reaction. Gertrude Maud Robinson, the wife of Robert Robinson, who collaborated with him on several projects including the ...
Neutrophil-derived oxidants promote leukocyte adherence in postcapillary venules.

Abstract The objective of this study was to determine whether hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ), hypochlorous acid (HOCl), and monochloramine (NH 2 Cl), at concentrations produced by activated neutrophils, promote leukocyte adherence to microvascular endothelium in postcapillary venules. Cat mesenteric venules (30–45 μm diameter) were examined using intravital video microscopy. Red blood cell velocity ( V RBC ), venular diameter ( D V ), and the number of adherent leukocytes ( N WBC ) were measured in postcapillary venules. Venular blood flow and wall shear rate (τ) were calculated from the measured values of V RBC and D V . Different concentrations (0.01–1.0 m M ) of H 2 O 2 , HOCl, or NH 2 Cl were superfused on the mesentery. In some experiments, the contributions of the leukocyte adhesive glycoprotein CD11/CD18 and platelet-activating factor (PAF) in the oxidant-induced leukocyte adherence were determined using a CD18-specific antibody (IB 4 ) and a PAF-receptor antagonist (WEB 2086), respectively. The results of our in vivo experiments indicate that H 2 O 2 and NH 2 Cl, but not HOCl, promote leukocyte adhesion to venular endothelium. Incubation of isolated cat neutrophils with either NH 2 Cl or H 2 O 2 resulted in activation of CD11/CD18, as assessed by flow cytometry. Although the leukocyte adhesion induced by both H 2 O 2 and NH 2 Cl was associated with a reduction in venular wall shear rate, corresponding decrements in shear rate induced by partial occlusion of the mesenteric artery did not lead to similar levels of leukocyte adherence. The leukocyte adherence induced by H 2 O 2 and NH 2 Cl was largely prevented by monoclonal antibody IB 4 , indicating that both oxidants promote leukocyte adherence via activation of CD11/CD18. The H 2 O 2 -induced, CD18-mediated leukocyte adherence appears to be elicited by PAF and by a direct effect of the oxidant on CD11/CD18 expression. The mechanisms underlying the NH 2 Cl-induced leukocyte adherence remain unclear.
Low-Calcemic, Highly Antiproliferative, 1-Difluoromethyl Hybrid Analogs of the Natural Hormone 1α,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3: Design, Synthesis, and Preliminary Biological Evaluation

Replacing the 1α-OH group of the natural hormone 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (calcitriol) by a 1α-CHF2 group and incorporating a potentiating side chain produced two new hybrid analogs 6 and 7. Both of these two hybrid analogs are as transcriptionally active as calcitriol and are strongly antiproliferative in vitro but are low-calcemic in vivo.
CCAAT/Enhancer-binding Protein-β Participates in Insulin-responsive Expression of the Factor VII Gene *

Expression of the human coagulation factor VII (FVII) gene by hepatoma cells was modulated in concert with levels of glucose and insulin in the culture medium. In low glucose medium without insulin, amounts of both FVII mRNA and secreted FVII protein were coordinately increased; in the presence of glucose with insulin, both were decreased. Analysis of the FVII promoter showed that these effects could be reproduced in a reporter-gene system, and a small promoter element immediately upstream of the translation start site of the gene, which mediated these effects, was identified. Mutation of this element largely abrogated the glucose/insulin-responsive change in expression of the reporter gene. Several members of the CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein family were found to be capable of binding the identified sequence element but not the mutated element. The expression of a FVII minigene directed by a segment of the native FVII promoter responded to co-expressed activating and inhibiting forms of CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein β.
Chickenpox Outbreak in a Highly Vaccinated School Population: In Reply

In Reply .— We appreciate the opportunity to address the points made by Drs Jumaan and Harpaz and by Mr Heath and Dr Watson. Certainly varicella is highly contagious and may be spread not only in the classroom but in areas throughout a school. However, we did not “presume that there was zero exposure for children in the unaffected classrooms,” as Drs Jumaan and Harpaz suggest; rather, we presumed neither that they were exposed nor that they were unexposed and excluded them from analysis a priori. Recalculating the vaccine efficacy including children in unaffected classrooms yields a value of 80%, which is higher than our calculated efficacy of 72%, although not significantly so, given the small number of chickenpox cases. As we indicated, however, the 80% figure involves making …
Temperature dependence of kinetic isotope effects for enzymatic carbon-hydrogen bond cleavage

An analysis is reported of the anomalously weak temperature dependence of large kinetic isotope effects (KIEs) observed for enzymes that catalyze carbon-hydrogen bond cleavage. After a critical examination of the experimental data, rate expressions for proton tunneling are used to derive a universal relationship between KIEs and their temperature dependence for a model in which the tunneling coordinate, represented by two crossing Morse potentials or a quartic double-minimum potential, is assisted by a harmonic promoting mode. Since the reactions involve electron transfer to a redox system as well as proton transfer from a CH to an OH bond, both adiabatic and nonadiabatic mechanisms are considered. Model calculations are reported, which show that the derived relationship is valid under a wide range of conditions and depends on a minimum number of model parameters, namely almost exclusively on the proton transfer distance and the tunneling-mode anharmonicity. The results are used to derive proton transfer distances and promoting-mode force constants from the available data on temperature-dependent isotope effects for several enzymatic reactions effecting CH cleavage, including the reactions of linoleic acid catalyzed by soybean lipoxygenase-1 (SLO1), of primary amines catalyzed by methylamine and aromatic amine dehydrogenase (MADH and AADH), and of a dicopper complex that models the active site of monooxygenases and lacks a protein environment. These distances are found to be shorter and the force constants to be larger than those implied by van der Waals radii, but with anharmonicities suitably adjusted, they resemble those encountered in systems with hydrogen bonding. It is proposed that the strong redox system, which is always present in these enzymes, acts so as to withdraw electron density from the C...H...O transfer system. This will tend to shrink the tunneling barrier to a size that allows effective passage of H but not necessarily of D, a condition that may lead to a large KIE. It will also increase the enzyme-substrate force constant, thus reducing the temperature dependence of the KIE. For the reaction catalyzed by SLO1, a transfer distance of 0.9-1.0 A is found. Similar results are obtained for three artificial mutants from which it is concluded that parts of the protein located outside the reaction site have little influence on the proton transfer. For the reactions catalyzed by MADH and AADH, the corresponding values range from 0.5 to 1.0 A; however, the values much below 1.0 A may be unrealistic since they are based on data that show anomalies suggesting that an incomplete kinetic model was used in their derivation. The analysis also yields a transfer distance of about 0.9 A for the dicopper complex, a value similar to that of SLO1, although no protein is present. Since results for three different systems cluster about the same transfer distance of 0.9-1.0 A, it is concluded that the large KIEs and their weak temperature dependence are due to a redox-induced C...H...O hydrogen bond.
Stable, repeatable, and adaptable digital testing in a varying interconnect environment

Automatic Test Equipment (ATE) must deliver repeatable, stable results through a variety of interconnections and into any type of Unit Under Test (UUT). Different UUTs have different signaling needs. Some UUTs transmit and receive single-ended as well as differential signals; some transmit and receive signals from multiple logic families including custom ones; and some transmit and receive high-speed as well as low-speed signals. Furthermore, modern-day test instruments are tasked to operate in legacy system environments where the interconnections between the ATE and the UUT are not designed to support fast rise and fall times. In many cases, it is important for the test instrument to monitor the interconnections and the UUT for short circuit and over-voltage fault conditions. This paper describes ways that digital test instruments can adapt to varying environments and protect against out-of-tolerance fault conditions
Estimating the sequence complexity of a random oligonucleotide population by using in vitro thermal melting and Cot analyses

Randomly generated oligonucleotide populations have a high potential to serve as pools for selecting non-cross-hybridizing sequences, which are useful for nanoscale self-assembly and biological and biomedical applications, as well as for DNA computing applications. In this study a nonlinear kinetic model was developed for the complexity estimation of large unknown polynucleotide populations and was experimentally verified. The model was implemented to estimate the sequence complexity of the random 20 base-pair population after in vitro renaturation experiments. The kinetic behaviors of the random 20mers were also evaluated with in vitro thermal melting experiments. This study represents a step in realizing the potential of random oligonucleotides for DNA computing and nanoscale self-assembly applications for biology and medicine.
Simulating fish dispersal in stream networks fragmented by multiple road crossings

a b s t r a c t Organisms inhabiting stream ecosystems are vulnerable to the effects of habitat fragmentation because of the inherent hierarchical structure of patches in riverscapes. Fragmentation caused by road-stream crossings contributes to alteration of stream organism distribution globally. We used principles of graph theory to develop three artificial riverscapes and test for network-scale changes in simulated fish dispersal caused by barriers that resembled the properties of road-stream crossings (semi-permeable; numerous within a network). Fish occupancy of nodes (habitat patches) declined in the presence of a single barrier when barrier permeability was <0.5, and fish with high dispersal experienced greater declines in occu- pancy compared to fish with low dispersal. Probability of extirpation (emigration without return) from fragments was greatest for nodes that mimicked headwater stream segments. We used a network-scale measure of habitat connectivity (the dendritic connectivity index; DCI) to measure changes in occupancy across all nodes and found the DCI predicted declines in occupancy as the number of barriers in the river- scape increased. Declines in occupancy were driven by threshold responses by fish to the occurrence of small fragments (≤3 nodes). Our simulations identified three important properties of stream fish dis- persal that are likely relevant to natural systems: (i) species dispersal affinities determine response to fragmentation; (ii) fragments that are too "small" for organism persistence drive declines in riverscape occupancy; and (iii) measurements of structural (habitat) connectivity used to draw inference on func- tional (population) connectivity require knowledge of organism dispersal affinity and dispersal-mediated response to barrier positioning.
Correlating Wafer-Level TDDB Lifetime Projections to HTOL Gate-Oxide Failures

The power-law model provides a relatively good correlation between the wafer-level (WL) time-dependent dielectric breakdown (TDDB) test (highly accelerated) conducted on test structures and high-temperature operating life (HTOL) test (moderately accelerated) conducted on product. This is true when WL stress is configured identically to HTOL stress, and the difference in oxide area between the two devices under stress is taken into account for lifetime projections.
Asbestos and Colon Cancer: Lack of Association in a Large Case-Control Study

Previous studies linking exposure to asbestos with human colon cancer have used mortality rather than incidence as their endpoint and have neither assessed nor controlled for confounding by diet, genetic factors, or other risk factors for colon cancer. A case-control study of 746 histologically confirmed cases of colon cancer and 746 matched neighborhood controls was conducted in Los Angeles County, California. In univariate analyses of the 419 male pairs, a weak association was found between asbestos exposure and colon cancer (odds ratio (OR) = 1.16, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.80-1.69). When confounding by family history of large bowel cancer, diet, body weight, and physical activity was controlled, there was no association between colon cancer and exposure to asbestos among males (OR = 0.99, 95% CI 0.66-1.50). When asbestos exposure was restricted to occurrences preceding diagnosis by more than 15 years, there was no clear association between such exposure and colon cancer, either before (OR = 1.14, 95% CI 0.76-1.70) or after confounding was controlled (OR = 0.93, 95% CI 0.60-1.44). Further analyses by frequency and duration of exposure failed to show any association between asbestos and risk of colon cancer, but did show a consistent pattern of confounding by nonoccupational factors that, when controlled, invariably produced a weak protective effect of asbestos exposure. Among the 327 female pairs, only 6 cases and 11 controls reported asbestos exposure (OR = 0.55, 95% CI 0.20-1.48), and there was no evidence of risk increasing as the frequency or duration of exposure increased. This study suggests not only that occupational exposure to asbestos is not a risk factor for colon cancer in the general population of Los Angeles, but also that observed associations between asbestos and colon cancer should not be interpreted as causal unless confounding by nonoccupational factors has been evaluated and controlled.
Niacin increased glucose, insulin, and C-peptide levels in sedentary nondiabetic postmenopausal women

The current study examined the effects of niacin and a single bout of aerobic exercise on plasma glucose, insulin, and C-peptide in sedentary, nondiabetic postmenopausal women. As a crossover design, 17 participants underwent four different trials: rest during the no-niacin condition (R), exercise during the no-niacin condition (E), rest during the with-niacin condition (RN), and exercise during the with-niacin condition (EN). All participants took 1,000 mg/day of extended-release niacin for 4 weeks during the with-niacin conditions (RN and EN). The exercise treatment consisted of a single bout of treadmill walking at 60% heart rate reserve until 400 kcal were expended. Blood samples were collected at 24 hours after each trial and analyzed for changes in plasma glucose, insulin, and C-peptide. A two by two analysis of variance was used to examine the changes in dependent variables, and the Bonferroni adjustment was employed as the post hoc test. The level of statistical significance was set at P<0.05. There was no significant interaction between exercise and niacin, nor was there a main effect of exercise for changes in glucose, insulin, or C-peptide. However, there was a significant main effect for niacin as mean glucose, insulin, and C-peptide values significantly increased with niacin; glucose increased 10.6% (P=0.001), from 95.03±10.67 mg/dL to 105.07±13.56 mg/dL; insulin increased 61.8% (P=0.001), from 16.98±12.49 μU/mL to 27.48±14.84 μU/mL; and C-peptide increased 46.1% (P=0.001), from 1.65±0.75 ng/mL to 2.41±0.97 ng/mL. Although niacin was generally well tolerated, given its adverse effects on glucose, insulin, and C-peptide profiles, the use of niacin should be done so with caution and under medical supervision.
Psychometric properties of the PTSD Checklist-Civilian Version

We examined the psychometric properties of the PTSD Checklist (PCL), a self-report instrument designed to assess symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder. Three hundred ninety-two participants recruited in a university setting completed the PCL in addition to several well-established self-report instruments designed to assess various forms of psychopathology (e.g., depression, general anxiety, PTSD). Ninety participants returned for readministration of selected measures. Findings provided support for psychometric properties of the PCL, including internal consistency, test-retest reliability, convergent validity, and discriminant validity. Additional strengths of the PCL are discussed.
Optimization of Nonlinear Ultrasound Results to Determine Dynamic Properties of Concrete

This paper presents the development of a new algorithm to identify dynamic properties of concrete by comparing simulated and experimental results of nonlinear ultrasound testing. Prismatic concrete specimens with different water-cement (w/c) ratios, 0.45, 0.60, and 0.75, were prepared. The specimens were damaged progressively by loading them in compression up to 20, 40, 60, and 80% of the ultimate strength. After each load step, the load was released, and the specimens were tested for the fundamental, second-, and third-harmonic frequencies. An algorithm was developed to determine the dynamic properties of the specimen through the progression of damage. The proposed algorithm used ABAQUS to simulate the dynamic response of the specimens. A MATLAB program was used to update the material properties by minimizing the sum of squared differences between the measured and simulated harmonic frequencies. Excellent agreement was obtained between the reconstructed elastic modulus values and values obtained by testing the prisms according to ASTM C 215. Damping ratios provided by the reconstruction were observed to increase with increasing damage and with increasing w/c ratio.
The Privilege of Teaching about Privilege

A scholarly literature on the intersectional realities of race, class, gender, and sexual privilege exists, but professors often struggle with how to teach it, especially given our own (often) privileged positions. Here, the author describes how he uses self-reflexive story-telling as a point of entre to encourage students to think about their own lives within a matrix of privilege and subordination. He shows how stories can illuminate the central role played by ideologies of individual meritocracy in privileged peoples' narratives. The author argues that personal stories are limited unless they also are contextualized within structural analyses that illuminate collective agency. He ends by describing an undergraduate study of USC janitors that reveals how the institution constrains these low-wage workers, while putting into stark relief the relative privilege of students and faculty. He concludes that a pedagogy of privilege should always be grounded in the standpoints of subordinated groups of people.
Lovers as Friends

Account-making has generated considerable interest among relationship researchers and was employed in the present research. In Study 1, 41 college student participants generated freeform accounts of a romantic love relationship. When coded for love themes, based on Lee's (1973) six love styles, the most frequent theme was Storge (friendship-love). Results were similar for Study II (n = 18), and in addition, there was good correspondence between love themes in the freeform accounts and love style scores on the Love Attitudes Scale. In Study III, 25 participants generated freeform accounts of their closest friendship relationship. Some 44 percent of the participants named their romantic partner as their closest friend. Results of the three studies confirm the importance of friendship as well as passion in young adults' romantic relationships. These results also suggest the importance of freeform accounts as methodology for studying the meaning of love.
Chronic Schizophrenic Women's Attitudes Toward Sex, Pregnancy, Birth Control, and Childrearing

Interviews with 23 chronically institutionalized, schizophrenic women living on a chronic care unit indicated that the majority had a continuing interest in sex and engaged in sexual activity. Fourteen oftbe women wanted to become pregnant. Few seemed to recognize their limited potential to be adequate parents. Respondents often gave bizarre or maccurate responses to the interview questions, indicating that their ideas about contraception, pregnancy, and childrearing were affected by psychopathology. The authors concede that the task of designing and implementing birth controlprogramsfor severely ill schizophrenic patients is f ormidable but encourage mental health professionals to openly discuss sex, birth control, and having children with their patients.
Topology processing in distribution systems by Branch Current based state estimation

This paper investigates the different types of topology changes in distribution systems in initial stages. Usually, it is considered that topology of the distribution feeder is given and fixed. However, due to faults and other operational scenarios, the actual topology changes time by time. An accurate state estimation requires an accurate topology model. Here, one algorithm for detection and identification of topology changes is proposed for distribution systems by considering the limited real-time measurements and load estimation error. The performance of this algorithm is assessed on a prototype feeder for two main topology errors in distribution systems. Branch Current based SE is deployed for three-phase state estimation.
School Effects Indices: Stability of One- and Two-Level Formulations.

Three residual-based methods for indexing school effectiveness were compared using data from elementary schools in Maryland. Two of the methods were regression-based procedures at the school level, and 1 was a hierarchical linear model approach, with Level 1 at the student level and Level 2 at the school level. The 2 methods were applied to a data source in which schools were evaluated separately at Grades 3 and 5 using 3 forms of a statewide performance assessment that were administered to randomly formed groups within each school. The hierarchical linear model approach had higher stability across test forms, but the stabilities of the 1-level formulations were almost as high. The authors concluded that 1-level approaches are viable alternatives when the added data necessary for the hierarchical linear model approach are unavailable.
Impact of Crude Oil Weathering on the Calculated Effective Solubility of Aromatic Compounds: Evaluation of Soils from Ecuadorian Oil Fields

Effective solubility (Es) is the maximum dissolved concentration of a compound at equilibrium between an aqueous and organic phase. Published evaluations of crude oils suggest that the Es of only the most soluble aromatic compounds exceeds health-based drinking water goals. But because Es is a function of the concentration of a compound in the oil phase, it changes with weathering. The objective of this study was to evaluate weathering's impacts on the Es of aromatic hydrocarbon compounds. The Es of 20 aromatic hydrocarbons was calculated for Ecuadorian crude oil and 734 oiled soil samples collected in Ecuador. For the crude oil, the Es of mono-aromatic compounds exceeded health-based drinking water goals, while there were no exceedances for any polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH). For the soil, the Es of benzene exceeded the health-based drinking water goal in nine (1.2 percent) of the 734 samples. There were no other exceedances. To further evaluate the impact of weathering, two concepts are introduce...
Drinking, Socioemotional Functioning, and Academic Progress in Secondary School

Secondary schools are sites of academic instruction but also contexts of socioemotional development, and the intertwining of these two functions has consequences for adolescents' future health and education. Drawing on nationally representative data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (n = 8,271), this study explored the bidirectional associations among indicators of adolescents' alcohol use and their feelings of social integration at school. Socioemotional problems did not predict increased drinking over time, but drinking predicted declining socioemotional functioning, with negative implications for adolescents' academic grades by the end of high school. These associations, however, were conditioned by aspects of school context, with drinkers feeling more marginalized in schools characterized by dense networks with low rates of drinking.