cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Optimizing surface finish in a turning operation using the Taguchi parameter design method

This paper presents an application of the Taguchi parameter design method to optimizing the surface finish in a turning operation. The Taguchi parameter design method is an efficient experimental method in which a response variable can be optimized, given various control and noise factors, and using fewer experimental runs than a factorial design. The control parameters for this operation included: spindle speed, feed rate, depth of cut, and tool nose radius. Noise factors included varying room temperature, as well as the use of more than one insert of the same specification, which introduced tool dimension variability. A total of 36 experimental runs were conducted using an orthogonal array, and the ideal combination of control factor levels was determined for the optimal surface roughness and signal-to-noise ratio. A confirmation run was used to verify the results, which indicated that this method was both efficient and effective in determining the best turning parameters for the optimal surface roughness.
Delayed Presentation of a Posttraumatic Superficial Femoral Artery Pseudoaneurysm

i w i g 28-year-old man presented with sudden-onset leftower-extremity claudication that progressively worsned over time. Five years earlier, he suffered a gunshot ound to the left thigh, resulting in chronic left midhigh swelling and tenderness. On physical examination e had a large pulsatile mass on the medial aspect of the eft thigh. The left pedal pulses were not palpable. A CT can revealed a normal left common femoral artery, and n enlarged superficial femoral artery (SFA) and vein SFV) proximal to a large SFA pseudoaneurysm (A, arow pseudoaneurysm; arrowhead SFA; SFV is beng compressed in this image and is not identifiable). ncreased contrast in the proximal SFV along with the ncreased diameter suggested an arteriovenous fistula AVF). An angiogram confirmed a 3.8-cm pseudoaneurysm f the SFA (B, arrow) with an associated AVF (B, arrowead). Runoff revealed an interesting anatomic embrylogic variant. Bilaterally, the patient had single vessel unoff via a peroneal artery that bifurcated above the nkle to a dorsalis pedis (DP) and posterior tibial (PT) rtery (C). Bilaterally, the anterior tibial artery was tretic and the PT artery was congenitally absent. On the A
Factors in the design and manufacture of large high pressure and high temperature triaxial cells

Factors important to the design of vessels for testing the physical and hydraulic properties of rock samples of the order of one meter diameter by three meters long are discussed. The stored energy of water and nitrogen gas pressurized at 60 MPa and 200° C are shown to be comparable. Some constraints imposed by heating needs, vessel material selection, cell geometry, materials handling, and safety are reviewed.
Self-efficacy and prior domain knowledge: to what extent does monitoring mediate their relationship with hypermedia learning?

While research has documented the key role of monitoring processes during hypermedia learning, limited empirical research has used process data to examine the possibility that these processes mediate the relationship between motivational constructs (such as self-efficacy) and cognitive factors (such as prior domain knowledge) with hypermedia learning outcomes. This multi-method study addressed this issue by examining: (1) The extent to which the relationship between self-efficacy and hypermedia learning outcomes is mediated by the use of specific monitoring processes and; (2) The extent to which the relationship between prior domain knowledge and hypermedia learning outcomes is mediated by the use of specific monitoring processes. Participants included 68 education majors. A self-report questionnaire was used to measure self-efficacy, a pretest was used to measure prior domain knowledge, a posttest was used to measure learning outcomes, and a think-aloud protocol were used to identify the deployment of monitoring processes during a 30-min hypermedia learning task. Results indicated that the relationship between self-efficacy and specific monitoring processes (Monitoring Understanding, Monitoring Environment, and Monitoring Progress Towards Goals) was significantly detectable. Additionally, the relationship between prior domain knowledge and Monitoring Understanding was significantly detectable. Lastly, regression analyses revealed that the relationship between self-efficacy and hypermedia learning outcomes was mediated by the extent to which participants monitored their understanding and the environment.
Lamb waves generated by the 1970 solar eclipse

Abstract The Lamb waves excited by an eclipse induced cooling of a cloud bearing tropospheric region are invoked to explain an experimental result obtained in the 7 March 1970 solar eclipse. Quantitative investigations are severely handicapped by the lack of data concerning the cooling rates throughout the region, but show that if this cooling rate is of the order of magnitude of the ‘lost’ insolation the Lamb waves will explain the observed ground level pressure fluctuations.
Quantitative evidence that the genetic basis of human mortality operates at the translation level: A preliminary assessment

The dying off of human population cohorts due to different age related diseases rigorously follows stochastically derived rules. The existence of such rules suggests a common, fundamental mechanism for human mortality. We show here, by a simple quantitative analysis, that the progressive loss with age of genetic triplet code information (anticodons) in body cells, as described by the statistics of extremes in order theory, serves as such a mechanism.
One-dimensional gradient-index metrology based on ray slope measurements using a bootstrap algorithm

The refractive index profile of one-dimensional gradient-index (GRIN) samples can be measured using the incident and exit beam angles of multiple beams passing through the sample at different positions along the index gradient. Beginning from a region of known refractive index, the collective angular deflection measurement of multiple beams is boot- strapped to compute the index profile of the entire sample. An alternative method using an approximate beam displacement model and a corrective algorithm is also presented. The two techniques are used to measure the index profile of a thick GRIN sample, and experimental results show good agreement with a maximum discrepancy of 1.5 × 10 −3 in the calculated index. An index accuracy of 5 × 10 −4 is predicted for the bootstrap method
Sit, Cook, Eat, Full Stop: Religion and the Rejection of Ritual in Auhelawa (Papua New Guinea)

The Auhelawa people of Normanby Island (Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea) typically observe the death of an individual through a series of feasts in which the lineage of the deceased and its lateral relatives exchange food and perform rituals of mourning. Recently, a number of people have decided to reject all forms of 'custom' in favor of a practice of 'Christian custom' in which no food is exchanged and no rituals are performed. This paper examines the way people view custom and its Christian alternative. It argues that the basis for Christian forms of mortuary feasting is a shift away from thinking of feasts in terms of reciprocity and towards thinking of them in terms of traditional customary rules. In this context, active church members have begun to represent the absence of markers of custom as itself a marker of an alternative Christian custom. I argue that this reformulation of the relationship of custom and change is meant to give concrete form to the value of Christian individualism as the basis for sociality. The paper then concludes that in order to explain historical changes in ritual systems, the study of ritual needs to examine ritual in relation to the values that underlie it.
An analysis of the metabolic theory of the origin of the genetic code

A computer program was used to test Wong's coevolution theory of the genetic code. The codon correlations between the codons of biosynthetically related amino acids in the universal genetic code and in randomly generated genetic codes were compared. It was determined that many codon correlations are also present within random genetic codes and that among the random codes there are always several which have many more correlations than that found in the universal code. Although the number of correlations depends on the choice of biosynthetically related amino acids, the probability of choosing a random genetic code with the same or greater number of codon correlations as the universal genetic code was found to vary from 0.1% to 34% (with respect to a fairly complete listing of related amino acids). Thus, Wong's theory that the genetic code arose by coevolution with the biosynthetic pathways of amino acids, based on codon correlations between biosynthetically related amino acids, is statistical in nature.
Experimental studies on congenital malformations.

Abstract A survey of the literature reveals that there are approximately 60 methods whereby congenital malformations have been produced in laboratory animals. These were grouped into several categories as follows: physical agents, nutritional deficiencies, growth and metabolic inhibitors, infectious agents, endocrine states, and a miscellaneous group of chemicals and drugs that had little in common except their teratogenicity. A representative list of agents that failed to cause malformations was also presented. After careful consideration of the available information it was possible to formulate five general principles that seem to be applicable to most situations in experimental teratology. (1) The susceptibility of an embryo depends upon the developmental stage at which a teratogenic agent is applied. (2) Each teratogenic agent appears to act in a specific way on a particular aspect of cellular metabolism. (3) The genotype of the animal influences to a greater or lesser degree the reaction to a teratogenic agent. (4) Agents that cause malformations also cause a rise in embryonic mortality. (5) Teratogenic agents may have little or no deleterious action on the maternal organism. Although present knowledge of the mechanisms of teratogenic action is meager, there are ample indications that several different pathways of action exist. Regardless of how it may be mediated, the ultimate action of all teratogens seems to be to produce either cell death or an alteration in the rate of cell growth (mitosis).
Geographic Mobility and Locus of Control

Migrants and nonmigrants are often alleged to differ on numerous psychological traits; little empirical analysis, however, has examined this possibility. This study examined the hypothesis that geographic mobility is associated with locus of control, a key dimension of the self-concept. No relationships between these variables were uncovered for a national sample of older white men.
Glucagon-like peptide 2 enhances intestinal epithelial restitution.

Background. Glucagon-like peptide 2 (GLP-2) is a potent intestinotrophic peptide that enhances recovery following intestinal injury. We tested the hypothesis that GLP-2 acutely enhances intestinal epithelial restitution. Material and methods. Rat jejunal segments were mounted in Ussing chambers. HCl (10 mM) was applied to the mucosal surfaces for 10 min to induce injury. Tissues were then lavaged with modified Ringer's solution and maintained in the chambers for an additional 3 h. Tissues were treated with 10 μM GLP-2 or vehicle alone (control). Electrical parameters were recorded, and tissues were salvaged for morphometric analysis. Results. GLP-2-treated tissues exhibited a significantly greater recovery of potential difference and resistance (P < 0.05) than did controls. Morphometric analysis revealed that columnar cells covered a greater percentage of the epithelial surface in GLP-2-treated tissues than in controls (P < 0.05). Conclusions. These results suggest that GLP-2 acutely enhances intestinal epithelial restitution following acid-induced injury. This novel biological action of GLP-2 may contribute to its therapeutic effect in models of intestinal disease.
Density functional theory study of interactions of cyclotrimethylene trinitramine (RDX) and triacetone triperoxide (TATP) with metal–organic framework (IRMOF-1(Be))

We performed a density functional study of the interactions of 1,3,5-trinitro-s-triazine (RDX) and triacetone triperoxide (TATP) with small fragments of isoreticular crystalline metal–organic frameworks having beryllium as connector metal center (IRMOF-1(Be)). The influence of different metal centers of the connector was evaluated. For particular IRMOF-1 clusters, used small IRMOF-1(Zn) fragments are reported to have higher binding affinity than such components of IRMOF-1(Be), and their interactions with TATP are favored compared with the RDX systems. The binding efficiency is also influenced by the presence of linkers. One benzene linker connected with a Be–O–C cluster was found to have the lowest binding energy for the target molecules when compared with larger fragments containing more linkers. Binding with IRMOF-1 fragments leads to polarization of RDX and TATP. The said effect is found to be larger for the TATP systems.
An algorithm and a stability theory for downdating the ULV decomposition

An alternative to performing the singular value decomposition is to factor a matrixA into $$A = U\left( {\begin{array}{*{20}c} C \\ 0 \\ \end{array} } \right)V^T $$ , whereU andV are orthogonal matrices andC is a lower triangular matrix which indicates a separation between two subspaces by the size of its columns. These subspaces are denoted byV = (V 1,V 2), where the columns ofC are partitioned conformally intoC = (C 1,C 2) with ‖C 2 ‖ F ≤ e. Here e is some tolerance. In recent years, this has been called the ULV decomposition (ULVD). If the matrixA results from statistical observations, it is often desired to remove old observations, thus deleting a row fromA and its ULVD. In matrix terms, this is called a downdate. A downdating algorithm is proposed that preserves the structure in the downdated matrix $$\bar C$$ to the extent possible. Strong stability results are proven for these algorithms based upon a new perturbation theory.
Glutamate-mediated synaptic transmission between neuron B4 and salivary cells of Helisoma trivolvis.

In this study, we have further characterized the morphology and physiology of the neuroglandular synapse between the identified buccal neuron, B4, and the salivary gland ofHelisoma. We demonstrate that the coupling coefficient between salivary cells within an individual acinus is approximately 1.0. We also demonstrate that synapses within the salivary gland are located near a superficial muscle layer. We examine the effects of glutamate on the salivary gland and on the B4-salivary gland EPSP.l-glutamate produces a transient, rapid onset depolarization of salivary gland cells. The response is mimicked by high concentrations ofl-homocysteic acid, but not by NMDA,l-aspartate,d-glutamate or kainate. The response is blocked by the presence ofl- ord-glutamate in the bath, but not by CNQX, DNQX, DGG,d-AP5, orl-AP3. The depolarization is primarily dependent on the presence of calcium in the bathing solution. When eitherl- ord-glutamate is present in the bathing solution, the amplitude of the B4-salivary gland EPSP is reversibly reduced. The similar pharmacological properties of the response of the salivary gland to glutamate and the B4 epsp indicate thatl-glutamate is a strong candidate for the fast excitatory neurotransmitter at theHelisoma neuroglandular synapse.
Analysis and tests of boned insulted rail joints subjected to vertical wheel loads

Abstract In traditional railroad tracks, joint bars are being used to connect the ends of adjoining rails. Because the vertical bending stiffness of two bars is generally much lower than of the rails, the passing wheels generate larger deflections in the joint region. This in turn leads to larger wheel forces caused by the dynamics of the passing vehicles and to accelerated track deterioration. In recent decades these expansion joints are being eliminated by the introduction of the continuously welded rails (CWRs). However, the retention of the automatic block signaling system created the need for electrically insulated joints is that the bending stiffness of the insulated joints bars is even smaller than of the non-insulated bars that are being eliminated. There are very few published analyses of joints in track; especilly of insulated joints. The purpose of this paper is to contribute to a better understanding of the mechanics of rail joints. At first an analysis is presented for the joint tests to be conducted. Then a test program is described that utilizes actual bonded joints. The obtained test results are then compared with the corresponding analytical results. The agreement is good. This confirms the validity of the assumed joint model and of the presented analysis. The paper concludes by analyzing the effect of a rail joints in a CWR track caused by a vertical wheel load.
Protective effect of oral acetylcysteine against the hepatorenal toxicity of carbon tetrachloride potentiated by ethyl alcohol.

Considering the well-documented protection of acetylcysteine (AC) in hepatotoxicity related to acetaminophen, we studied the preventive potential of AC against mild hepatotoxicity of CCl4, potentiated with ethyl alcohol (ETH) and the role of tissue glutathione. Rats fed a liquid diet with 30% of energy from ETH, had intraperitoneal CCl4 administered in three injections, at 7-day intervals. AC was ingested at the level for acetaminophen overdose. ETH markedly potentiated the injury induced by CCl4, as evidenced by higher values of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), urinary bile acids (BA), serum creatinine, histological score of liver cell necrosis, mortality and by lower body weights and lower liver glutathione, when compared with CCl4 alone. Protective effect of AC consisted of a lesser hepatocytic necrosis, better body weights and higher liver glutathione. We conclude, that AC favorably modifies liver damage induced by CCl4 and potentiated with ETH. There is a preventive role for AC in subjects who combine ETH overuse with exposure to hepatotoxic xenobiotics, whose toxicity is modified by tissue glutathione.
Acclimation to humic substances prevents whole body sodium loss and stimulates branchial calcium uptake capacity in cardinal tetras Paracheirodon axelrodi (Schultz) subjected to extremely low pH

Kinetics of sodium (Na+) and calcium (Ca2+) uptake were studied in cardinal tetras Paracheirodon axelrodi acclimated to humic substances (HS, 35 mg C l−1) and low pH (pH 3·72), parallel to analysis of whole body Na+ and Ca2+ content. This species had a high uptake capacity (Jmax) for both Na+ and Ca2+ in soft, ion-poor water. The affinity constant (Km) did not vary significantly among treatments for either Na+ or Ca2+. Jmax Na+ increased 30% in fish acclimated to HS for 5 weeks. Acclimation to low pH had no effect on Jmax Na+ but this treatment was associated with a 32% decrease on whole body Na+ content, suggesting that fish were unable to compensate for the increased Na+ loss induced by extreme acidity. Exposure of fish to HS + low pH, the treatment most closely approximating to the conditions experienced by the species in its native environment, resulted in an increase in whole body Na+ by 31% relative to acclimation to low pH alone. Jmax Ca2+ in cardinal tetras was high relative to that documented in other freshwater species acclimated to soft water (Jmax= 30 nmol g−1 h−1). Prolonged exposure of fish to pH 3·72 inhibited Jmax Ca2+ by 53%, although whole body Ca2+ content remained unchanged relative to control. Acclimation of fish to HS + low pH resulted in an increase of Jmax Ca2+ by 166% relative to low pH alone. Collectively, these results suggest that HS protect cardinal tetras acclimated to soft, acidic waters by preventing excessive Na+ loss (as indicated by whole body Na+ content) and by stimulating Ca2+ uptake (as indicated by increased Jmax Ca2+) to ensure proper homeostasis.
Synthesis and characterization of amorphous carbon nitride films

Abstract We report the high-pressure, 1066 Pa (8 Torr), chemical vapor deposition (CVD) synthesis of amorphous carbon nitride films using a d.c. glow discharge technique. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and near edge X-ray absorption fine structure were used to study the film stoichiometry and bonding as a function of substrate temperature and flux of hydrogen to the growth surface. Experiments show that the film stoichiometry is constant with substrate temperature up to 600 °C, above which film growth was not observed. The addition of small amounts (1.5 at.%) of molecular hydrogen causes poisoning of film growth. Multiple sp 2 bonding states, with little sp 3 bonding, were present in the films. Scanning electron microscopy of the films reveals an unusual filamentary growth phase.
Handbook of Health Economics

The two volumes of the Handbook of Health Economics testify to the flowering of health economics as sub-discipline of economics. The editors are at pains to point out the size, diversity, and newness of the literature subsumed under the heading “health economics”. They are justified in doing so. The Handbook is staggering for a number of reasons. One is sheer size and cost. The two volumes consist of 35 chapters by a total of 55 authors (36 from the USA, 11 from the UK, two each from Sweden, Finland, The Netherlands, and one each from Canada and Switzerland) divided into nine ‘parts’: (1) overview and paradigms; (2) demand and reimbursement for medical services; (3) insurance markets, managed care, and contracting; (4) specific populations; (5) the medical care market; (6) law and regulation; (7) health habits; (8) health and (9) equity. The text comprises of 1910 pages of text and
Sexual cannibalism is associated with female behavioural type, hunger state and increased hatching success

Precopulatory sexual cannibalism may represent the most extreme form of sexual conflict because it necessarily truncates the reproductive potential of the victim. Three of the most prominent mechanisms invoked to explain incidence of precopulatory sexual cannibalism are the ‘adaptive foraging’, ‘aggressive spillover’ and ‘mate choice’ hypotheses. These hypotheses argue that sexual cannibalism is either (1) the result of female choice, where females gauge the benefits of suitors as perspective mates versus prey, (2) a neutral (or deleterious) by-product of selection on aggressiveness in nonreproductive contexts, or (3) a mechanism by which females express their mating preferences, respectively. We tested the predictions of these hypotheses in the funnel-web spider Agelenopsis pennsylvanica using staged laboratory encounters. We then tracked numerous fitness proxies of cannibalistic versus noncannibalistic females to determine whether cannibalism was associated with increased female performance. We found that more aggressive females and those deprived of food were more likely to engage in precopulatory cannibalism. Cannibalism was not associated with male condition, male body size or female body size, nor with the mass of females' egg cases, the number of eggs therein, or the mass of individual eggs. In contrast, there was a positive association between the mass of the egg case and the number of offspring that emerged in cannibalistic females, but not in noncannibalistic females. Thus, offspring of cannibalistic mothers appear to have increased hatching success in heavier egg cases. This may represent a novel advantage associated with sexual cannibalism.
Remarks on translation transversal designs

Abstract In this paper the existence of translation transversal designs which is equivalent to the existence of certain partitions in finite groups is studied. All considerations are based on the fact that the particular component of such a partition (the component representing the point classes of the corresponding design) is a normal subgroup of the translation group. With regard to groups admitting an ( s , k , λ)-partition, on one hand the already known families of such groups are determined without using R. Baer′s, O. H. Kegel′s, and M. Suzuki′s classification of finite groups with partition and on the other hand some new results on the structure of p -groups admitting an ( s , k , λ)-partition are proved. Furthermore, the existence of a series of nonabelian p -groups of odd order which can be represented as translation groups of certain ( s , k , 1)-translation transversal designs is shown; moreover, the translation groups are normal subgroups of collineation groups acting regularly on the set of flags of the same designs.
Therapy Insight: sexual dysfunction in patients with chronic kidney disease

Decreased libido, difficulty becoming aroused and achieving orgasm, erectile and ejaculatory dysfunction, and lack of vaginal lubrication are common problems that have a substantial impact on the quality of life of people with chronic kidney disease. This guide to the assessment and management of sexual dysfunction in renal patients emphasizes the multifactorial nature of such problems, and the need for medical teams to initiate discussion of sexual issues as part of routine care. Sexual dysfunction is common in people with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Sexual dysfunction in these patients should be thought of as a multifactorial problem that is affected by a variety of physiological and psychological factors, as well as by comorbid conditions. Assessment of sexual difficulties in patients with CKD, therefore, involves a careful investigation of a variety of domains. The development of treatment strategies presents challenges as it is often difficult to determine the primary factor(s) responsible for the sexual dysfunction. It is important to think of the treatment in the overall context of the management of various medical problems presented by patients with CKD. It must be remembered that the design of therapeutic approaches for each patient is dependent on the systematic evaluation of the functional and psychosocial problems presented, and assessment of the cause(s) of sexual dysfunction.
Balance with flat objects

When computing derived functors of a functor of two variables there is often balance. This means that these functors can be computed using a resolution of either variable. Now that flat covers are known to exist in many categories, derived functors can be computed using flat resolutions. So it is natural to ask if we have balance in this situation. When the ring is left perfect we get the usual balance. This raises the question of whether these are the only rings where we get balance. In this article we show that if the ring R is commutative and noetherian, then R must be perfect in order to get the desired balance.
Kinesin motor mechanics: binding, stepping, tracking, gating, and limping.

This critical review was motivated by the 10th Biophysical Discussions meeting, “Molecular Motors: Point Counterpoint”, held in Asilomar, CA, during October 19–22, 2006. Biophysical Discussions are meetings that focus on cutting-edge or emerging topics in biophysics that can benefit from intense discussions. Streaming videos of the speaker presentations at this conference, including a synopsis of this review, are available through the Biophysical Society's web site at http://www.biophysics.org/discussions. In keeping with the spirit of a discussions meeting, I present here a personal perspective on the current state of kinesin motor mechanics. Nearly a generation has passed since the discovery of the motor named kinesin (1), and the subsequent development of the very first single-molecule gliding-filament and bead assays for motility (2,3), which helped to establish the modern field of single-molecule biophysics. Discrete steps of single molecules were first measured for kinesin (4), followed shortly thereafter by reports of similar steps for myosin (5,6). Since then, literally thousands of single-molecule experiments have been performed on a whole variety of molecular motors, all with the aim of discovering how these remarkable protein machines function. Considerable and impressive progress has been achieved, but key questions still abound, and this remains a very lively field of endeavor. I discuss below my current thinking on several questions concerned with kinesin mechanics, listed in no particular order of precedence. I wade into controversy holding no illusions that everyone will share my views on the answers to these questions, but I do hope to provoke a more thoughtful examination, and set the record straight on at least a few points. By choice, and in keeping with the topic of the meeting session where this was presented (“Motor Walking Mechanisms”), the questions that I've posed relate directly to the nanoscale mechanics of kinesin motion. However, these same questions are intimately and inevitably linked to other aspects of kinesin structure, biochemistry, and cellular function.
Singing the CD‐ROM installation blues

Happy were the days B.C.D.S. (Before Compact Disc Standards)! This sounds retrograde, renegade, heretic, pagan, you name it. But it is the conclusion I have come to after installing a good dozen CD‐ROM databases in the past few weeks at the Graduate School of Library and Information Studies of the University of Hawaii. I was fortunate enough not only to be awarded a research scholarship from the Princeton‐based IREX (International Research Exchange Program) to study CD‐ROM sources for serials cataloguing, but also to be able to come here. Yeah, I know what you think, but I don't mean for that alone.
Minocycline Reduces Traumatic Brain Injury-mediated Caspase-1 Activation, Tissue Damage, and Neurological Dysfunction

OBJECTIVE: Caspase-1 plays an important functional role mediating neuronal cell death and dysfunction after experimental traumatic brain injury (TBI) in mice. Minocycline, a derivative of the antibiotic tetracycline, inhibits caspase-1 expression. This study investigates whether minocycline can ameliorate TBI-mediated injury in mice. METHODS: Brains from mice subjected to traumatic brain injury underwent immunohistochemical analyses for caspase-1, caspase-3, and a neuronal specific marker (NeuN). Minocycline- and saline-treated mice subjected to traumatic brain injury were compared with respect to neurological function, lesion volume, and interleukin-1b production. RESULTS: Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that activated caspase-1 and caspase-3 are present in neurons 24 hours after TBI. Intraperitoneal administration of minocycline 12 hours before or 30 minutes after TBI in mice resulted in improved neurological function when compared with mice given saline control, as assessed by Rotarod performance 1 to 4 days after TBI. The lesion volume, assessed 4 days after trauma, was significantly decreased in mice treated with minocycline before or after trauma when compared with saline-treated mice. Caspase-1 activity, quantified by measuring mature interleukin-1b production by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, was considerably increased in mice that underwent TBI, and this increase was significantly diminished in minocycline-treated mice. CONCLUSION: We show for the first time that caspase-1 and caspase-3 activities localize specifically within neurons after experimental brain trauma. Further, these results indicate that minocycline is an effective pharmacological agent for reducing tissue injury and neurological deficits that result from experimental TBI, likely through a caspase-1-dependent mechanism. These results provide an experimental rationale for the evaluation of minocycline in human trauma patients. (Neurosurgery 48:1393‐1401, 2001)
Novel Melting Phenomena in a Series of Isothermally Crystallized Polyethylene Single Crystals

Abstract Polymer single crystals or lamellae are widely used in models for more complex systems such as fibers, films, or bulk polymer. Determination of important thermodynamic and physical properties for the crystals is often frustrated by their tendency to reorganize on heating. Partly as a consequence of this, the melting ranges for high molecular weight polymers are often quite broad. A novel technique has been developed which permits a more detailed examination of the melting/morphology relationships that exist in single crystals. This has led to the observation that high molecular weight polyethylene (PE) single crystals possess much narrower melting ranges than had been previously reported. It has been possible to determine distinct transformation temperatures for the {100} and {110} fold sectors that exist in some PE crystals. Melting point determinations have been made on a series of isothermally crystallized PE crystals using DTA. Narrow multiple peaked thermograms were obtained, and peak positi...
Covalent Synthesis and Optical Characterization of Double-Walled Carbon Nanotube-Nanocrystal Heterostructures

The unique electronic structure and optical properties of double-walled carbon nanotubes (DWNTs) have made them a key focus material of research in recent years. However, the incorporation of DWNTs with quantum dots (QDs) into nanocomposites via a covalent chemical approach as well as the optical properties of the composites have rarely been explored. In particular, we have been interested in this model system to investigate whether nanomaterial heterostructures can provide efficient pathways for charge separation relative to loss mechanisms such as recombination. In this specific work, the synthesis of DWNT-CdSe QD heterostructures obtained by using a conventional covalent protocol has been demonstrated. CdSe QDs with terminal amino groups have been conjugated onto the surfaces of oxidized DWNTs by the formation of amide bonds. The observed trap emission of CdSe is thought to arise from the presence of 2-aminoethanethiol capping ligands and is effectively quenched upon conjugation with the DWNT surface b...
Cardiac disease in the adult: MR evaluation.

Cardiac MR imaging to date has provided detailed information regarding cardiac structure and anatomy. Recent developments in imaging speed have broadened the applications of cardiac MR from the research laboratory to a wide variety of clinical applications involving assessment of both cardiac function and perfusion. In this review, we present methods used for MR evaluation of acquired cardiac disease in the adult. Applications to ischemic heart disease, cardiomy-opathy, coronary imaging, myocardial perfusion, and pericardial disease are discussed.
Retrograde cardioplegia cannulation during cardiopulmonary bypass

A simplified method of transatrial cannulation of the coronary sinus during cardiopulmonary bypass, with the heart completely decompressed, is described. The technique is easy to adopt and inherently safe because the catheter is guided toward the great cardiac vein visually, rather than by manual palpation.
Should those charged with corporate governance care about auditor offshoring

In light of reported increases in the offshoring of audit procedures, we propose that understanding the potential risks and rewards of auditor offshoring is important. In this article, we provide a background intended to deepen readers’ understanding about the rewards and risks of offshoring audit procedures, discuss views of practitioners engaged in offshoring and perceptions of audit committee members concerning offshoring. On the basis of the background and feedback, we suggest questions that audit committee members and senior management may want to ask their independent auditors in order to help reduce the risk of audit quality not being maintained at the desired level, and to ensure that companies are able to share in the rewards of offshoring audit procedures.
Modifying IGF1 activity: an approach to treat endocrine disorders, atherosclerosis and cancer

Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) is a polypeptide hormone that has a high degree of structural similarity to human proinsulin. Owing to its ubiquitous nature and its role in promoting cell growth, strategies to inhibit IGF1 actions are being pursued as potential adjunctive measures for treating diseases such as short stature, atherosclerosis and diabetes. In addition, most tumour cell types possess IGF1 receptors and conditions in the tumour microenvironment, such as hypoxia, can lead to enhanced responsiveness to IGF1. Therefore, inhibiting IGF1 action has been proposed as a specific mechanism for potentiating the effects of existing anticancer therapies or for directly inhibiting tumour cell growth.
Infra-red Emission Spectra of Minerals

THIS study was undertaken to explore the feasibility of measuring infra-red emission spectra of bulk, opaque minerals. As this involved the examination of the rough, irregular surfaces of bulk specimens at temperatures close to room temperature, emission methods using conventional spectrometers1 were not applicable. The emittance of specimens near room temperature is too low to operate dispersion spectrometers.
Alkoxyl Radical Generation Following Nitric Oxide Synthase Inhibition 179

Background: Previous studies suggest that peroxynitrite is a mediator of lipid peroxidation. Hypothesis: Nitric oxide (NO) synthase inhibition by Nω-nitro-L-arginine (NNLA) will result in decreased peroxynitrite, leading to decreased alkoxyl radical, an index of lipid peroxidation during cerebral hypoxia. Subjects: 20 piglets Vn: vehicle, normoxia; Vh: vehicle, hypoxia; Nn: NNLA (40 mg/Kg), normoxia and Nh: NNLA, hypoxia. (n=5, each). Method: Tissue hypoxia was documented by measuring levels of ATP and phosphocreatine. Free radicals, trapped with PBN were measured by electron spin resonance spectroscopy (ESR). Signal characteristics were compared with chemically produced alkoxyl and hydroxyl radical. Results: Hyperfine splitting constant (Hfsc) of brain sample (αN=13.5-13.8 G, αH=2.1-2.3 G) were closely identical to reported Hfsc of alkoxyl and hydroxyl radical. The alkoxyl radical(αN=13.7 G, αH=2.2 G) was identical to those observed in hypoxic brain. Hypoxic brain tissue addition to the hydroxyl radical generating system decreased the signal by 63%, and increased signal 2500% for alkoxyl radical. Free radical intensity in Vn, Vh, Nn and Nh was 11.6 ± 4.4, 27.7± 18.8, 15.3 ± 6.5, and 11.6 ± 2.0, respectively. Free radical production was increased in Vh vs Vn and Nn (p<0.05). NNLA reduced predominantly alkoxyl radical in Nh vs Vh (p<0.05).Conclusion: Decreased generation of alkoxyl radical by NNLA suggests that peroxynitrite is a mediator of lipid peroxidation during hypoxia and NO is a limiting factor. (By NIH-HD-20337)
QoS-aware dynamic resource allocation for spatial-multitasking GPUs

General-purpose computing on GPUs (GPGPU computing) is becoming widely adopted; however, some GPGPU applications fail to fully utilize GPU resources. In these cases, spatial multitasking better exploits the parallelism offered by GPUs by partitioning the GPU resources among simultaneously-running applications. When one or more such applications have quality-of-service (QoS) requirements, enough resources must be allocated for those applications to satisfy their requirements. Remaining resources can be either disabled to reduce power consumption or used to accelerate other applications. However, we observe that the amount of resources for a QoS application to satisfy its performance requirement is dependent in part upon the co-executing applications. In this paper, we propose a runtime technique to dynamically partition GPU resources between concurrently running applications - at least one of which has a QoS requirement. We demonstrate that the proposed technique can satisfy a 100% QoS requirement while also achieving either a 7W power consumption reduction or a 17.57% performance improvement for co-executing best-effort applications.
The Variety of Thermal Pericyclic Reactions

The six-electron thermal pericyclic reactions are examined systematically as to the number and kind which are possible by varying both the σ shell and the combinations of different atoms in all orientations, on both a six-atom and a five-atom framework. A simple unifying nomenclature is offered for these reactions, which number in the thousands. Further, in order to comprehend this very large number of possible reactions, they are also organized systematically in terms of their value for basic synthesis operations: construction, elimination, refunctionalization, etc. The methodology is aimed at providing a basis of selection for the invention of useful new reactions. A discussion of reaction energetics leads also to an analysis of molecular features which can facilitate reaction.
Cultural Foundations of the Idea and Practice of the Teaching Profession in Africa: Indigenous Roots, Colonial Intrusion, and Post-Colonial Reality.

In this article I analyze some of the cultural factors that have determined and influenced the teaching profession and its evolution in African countries. Firstly, I use an historical approach to review conceptual issues on teachers, teaching and learning; secondly, I examine salient features of the idea and practices of teachers and teaching in the pre‐colonial and less Westernized contemporary African contexts and elements of Quranic schools; thirdly, I offer an account of how teachers were introduced to formal learning of European education in the colonial era; and, fourthly, I examine the declining prestige and other outstanding issues of teaching and the teaching profession amidst the call of quality Education for All. In the main, most African countries have to grapple with the daunting challenges of providing quality education to the entire school‐age populations in African countries, especially with the approaching 2015 date for meeting the second Millennium Development Goal (MDG) of achieving uni...
Testing the NORAD Command and Control System

This paper describes closed-loop testing of the NORAD Command and Control System's ability to perform its assigned task: provide support for CINCNORAD in directing the air defense of North America. Special techniques were required to perform this testing since human beings were an integral part of the feedback loop. System test design and results are treated.
Early case finding, treatment and mortality from cervix and breast cancer.

Abstract Data from California are presented, bearing on the effectiveness of early case-finding and treatment in reducing mortality from cervix and breast cancer. In the case of cervix cancer, case-finding by the cytologic test (Papanicolaou smear) accelerated in the late 1950's and by the early 1960's had been applied to more than half the women of the state. No evidence of changing incidence of cervix cancer during the 1960's could be found and evidence showed no improvement in effects of treatment for the in situ and localized stages, with only slight improvement in survival from invasive cervix cancer. The accelerating decline in cervix cancer mortality in California during the 1960's appears to have been due to the widespread use of the cytologic test beginning in the late 1950's, resulting in discovery of the disease during the early stages when cure is more likely. In breast cancer no such effective case-finding technique was in use prior to the 1960's. Any decrease in mortality from breast cancer in California from 1950 into the early 1960's appears attributable to longer survival after treatment as well as to earlier diagnosis.
A nonlinear boundary value problem arising in the structure of the double layer at an enzymatic surface

Abstract The structure of the diffuse double layer, developed when mobile ions equilibrate with a surface bearing fixed charge, depends on factors such as surface charge density, surface potential, surface geometry, solution ionic strength, and mobile ion valency. When the charged surface contains bound enzymes, as is the case with most living cells, the concentration field and the potential can be perturbed from the equilibrium value because reactive ionic species no longer distribute according to a simple Boltzmann (or equivalently Donnan) equilibrium. In this paper, the total electrostatic potential contains a nonequilibrium contribution which is essentially a diffusion potential. Poisson's equation, which determines the overall potential, is formulated as a boundary value problem involving a nonlinear ordinary integrodifferential equation. This equation is transformed to a nonlinear ordinary differential equation, the solution of which is related to the so-called second Painleve transcendent. Analytical and numerical results for the potential and substrate and product concentration profiles are obtained. The results indicate: (1) The potential profile outside a chemically reactive surface, such as a cell membrane, can have a dynamic character, varying with the rate of surface enzymatic reaction. (2) Surface reactions can greatly alter the distribution of chemically reactive ions in the vicinity of the surface. (3) Local maxima or minima can occur in the potential. (4) Corresponding local extrema in the concentration of nonreacting ions may also arise. The reaction-perturbed potential is capable of maintaining both reacting and nonreacting ionic species away from their equilibrium profiles, and therefore may be a key control variable in many cellular processes.
Increases in maternal education and low-income children's cognitive and behavioral outcomes.

Although the strong link between maternal education and children’s outcomes is one of the most well-established findings in developmental psychology (Reardon, 2011; Sirin, 2005), less is known about how young, low-income children are influenced by their mothers completing additional education. In this research, longitudinal data from the Head Start Impact Study were used to explore the associations between increases in maternal education and Head Start eligible children’s cognitive skills and behavioral problems in 1st grade. Propensity score weighting was used to identify a balanced comparison group of 1,362 children whose mothers did not increase their education between baseline (when children were aged 3 or 4) and children’s kindergarten year, who are similar on numerous covariates to the 262 children whose mothers did increase their education. Propensity-score weighted regression analyses indicated that increases in maternal education were positively associated with children’s standardized cognitive scores, but also with higher teacher-reported externalizing behavioral problems in 1st grade. The increases in externalizing behavioral problems were larger for children whose mothers had less than a college degree at baseline.
Detection of statistically significant differences in cat jaw muscle movement using the EMG linear envelope

A study of jaw movement in the cat using experimental protocols to elicit biting and hissing responses is discussed. The EMG was recorded and its morphology was characterized by employing preprocessing and pattern analysis techniques for feature extraction. Time series electromyographic (EMG) episodes were conditioned by reduction to 40 representative sample points (approximating the EMG linear envelope), aligning, and taking the Karhuenen-Loeve expansion. To test the hypothesis that biting and hissing responses were reproducible, and yet statistically different from each other, the F test was used to determine the significance of differences in standard deviation of the KLE eigenvectors. It was found that jaw movement was significantly different for biting versus hissing protocols. >