cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
High freestream turbulence effects on turbulent boundary layers

High freestream turbulence levels significantly alter the characteristics of turbulent boundary layers. Numerous studies have been conducted with freestreams having turbulence levels of 7 percent or less, but studies using turbulence levels greater than 10 percent have been essentially limited to the effects on wall shear stress and heat transfer. This paper presents measurements of the boundary layer statistics for the interaction between a turbulent boundary layer and a freestream with turbulence levels ranging from 10 to 20 percent. The boundary layer statistics reported in this paper include mean and rms velocities, velocity correlation coefficients, length scales, and power spectra. Although the freestream turbulent eddies penetrate into the boundary layer at high freestream turbulence levels, as shown through spectra and length scale measurements, the mean velocity profile still exhibits a log-linear region. Direct measurements of total shear stress (turbulent shear stress and viscous shear stress) confirm the validity of the log-law at high freestream turbulence levels. Velocity defects in the outer region of the boundary layer were significantly decreased resulting in negative wake parameters. Fluctuating rms velocities were only affected when the freestream turbulence levels exceeded the levels of the boundary layer generated rms velocities. Length scales and power spectra measurements showed large scale turbulent eddies penetrate to within y+ = 15 of the wall.
Spatial Instability of the Barotropic Jet with Slow Streamwise Variation

Abstract A two-scale expansion technique is used to study the barotropic instability of basic flows with slow streamwise variation. Disturbances in nonparallel flow possess properties that differ from those calculated from parallel flow theory. The difference, which is obtained at higher order in the parameter that measures the nonparallelism, depends on the first derivative of the parallel flow properties with respect to the streamwise direction. This higher order correction shifts the spatial growth rate profile for the nonparallel flow downstream relative to the spatial growth rate profile for parallel flow. These results are compared with a previous numerical study by Tupaz, Williams and Chang and some of their conclusions are modified. Physically, the difference in the spatial instability for parallel and nonparallel flow is subject to two combined effects. The first is the lag effect discussed by Tupaz et al., which causes the disturbance structure to lag the parallel-flow solution structure in regi...
A Sum Frequency Generation Study of the Room-Temperature Ionic Liquid−Titanium Dioxide Interface

The interfacial structure between TiO2 and the room-temperature ionic liquids 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium dicyanamide ([BMIM][DCA]) and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium methyl sulfate ([BMIM][MS]) was examined using sum frequency generation (SFG) vibrational spectroscopy and contact angle measurements. Vibrations corresponding to the normal modes of the [BMIM]+ cation and dicyanamide [DCA]- were detected. The results suggest that the cation and the anion are present and oriented at the interface for [BMIM][DCA]. The molecular orientation of the ionic species was calculated using a simulation on the basis of the polarization dependence of the sum frequency spectra. The tilt of the C3 axis of the methyl group from the butyl chain in [BMIM]+ ranges from 57 to 90° from the surface normal for [BMIM][MS] and from 66 to 90° for [BMIM][DCA]. The C2 axis from the dicyanamide anion tilts at an angle of 53−90° as a function of the twist. The imidazolium ring seems to lie nearly parallel to the TiO2 surface as suggested b...
The gastric mucosal barrier: structure of intercellular junctions in the dog

The canine gastric mucosa consists of two regions, the surface mucous cells and gland area cells including parietal, chief, and mucous-containing cells. We have used quantitative freeze-fracture methods in conjunction with thin-section extracellular tracers to document and correlate tight junction morphology with epithelial permeability. The number of strands in the tight junction complexes of the surface cells and gland cells is the same, but differences in strand arrangement exist. The surface cells have an interwoven tight junction configuration which is impermeable to extracellular tracers. The gland cell junctions are regularly arranged and often permeable to extracellular lanthanum. The possibility that the observed difference in permeability between the tight junctions of the surface mucous cells and those of the gland cells is related to their structural configuration is discussed.
Activated Metals VII. An Improved Method for the Synthesis of Trialkyl and Triaryl Indium Compounds

Abstract An improved method has been developed for the synthesis of triaryl and trialkyl indium compounds by the reaction of diorganomercury compounds with activated indium metal which was prepared by reducing an indium salt with alkali metals in hydrocarbon solvents. Trimethylindium, triphenyl-indium and tritolylindium have been prepared in hydrocarbon solvents using this activated indium metal.
On the nonemptiness of the α-core of discontinuous games: Transferable and nontransferable utilities

Abstract The nonemptiness of the α-core of games with continuous payoff functions was proved by Scarf (1971) for nontransferable utilities and by Zhao (1999) for transferable utilities. In this paper we present generalizations of their results to games with possibly discontinuous payoff functions. Our handling of discontinuity is based on Reny's (1999) better-reply-security concept. We present examples to show that our generalizations are nonvacuous.
Male circumcision in HIV prevention

Recent randomised trials of male circumcision in sterile conditions show substantially reduced HIV incidence in circumcised men. However the epidemiological mechanism for this effect remains unclear. Although trial investigators have suggested unsubstantiated physiological factors for the apparent protective effect other mechanisms could account for the results. Circumcision reduces the incidence of genital symptoms. Consequently circumcised men might receive fewer unsafe injections and other blood exposures during treatment for genital symptoms. Also some Africans believe that anal sex has a lower risk of HIV transmission than vaginal sex. Men who mistakenly practice anal sex as a protective behaviour might feel after circumcision less at risk of acquiring HIV and therefore shift to vaginal sex with its lower actual risk of transmission. In sub-Saharan Africa circumcised virgins and adolescents are substantially more likely to be HIV-infected than their uncircumcised counterparts. This result is consistent with repeated observations of unhygienic circumcision procedures. Circumcised adult men however are less likely to be infected than uncircumcised men. The apparent protective effect of circumcision in observational studies of African men could be due to mortality from circumcision-related HIV infections circumcised mens decreased exposure to contaminated sharps during treatment for genital symptoms and other factors. We need studies that involve comprehensive assessment of transmission modes including tracing of sexual partners and HIV DNA sequencing for incident case-partner pairs both to determine the mechanism for the observed protective effect and understand whether interventions aside from circumcision would more directly effectively and inexpensively activate this mechanism. (full text)
Characterization of Estolides Produced from the Acid"Catalyzed Condensation of Oleic Acid

Estolides produced from an acid-catalyzed condensation of oleic acid were characterized by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), gas chromatography (GC), GC-mass spectrometry (MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). C-8 reverse-phase HPLC provided a clean resolution of the estolide oligomers present in the reaction mixtures, allowing an average oligomier distribution to be calculated. Corroboration of HPLC results were obtained either through hydrolysis of the estolide mixture and quantitation of the hydroxy fatty acid content by GC, through the integration of the α-methylene protons adjacent to the carbonyl of the acids vs. the esterns in the1H NMR spectrum, or by titration of the carboxylic acid with standardized base. GC and GC-MS analysis of the hydrolyzed estolide mixture indicated that the ester position were centered around the original double-bond position, with linkages ranging from positions 5–13. Likewise, the unsaturation was distributed along the fatty acid backbone.
Distributed Pareto Optimization via Diffusion Strategies

We consider solving multi-objective optimization problems in a distributed manner by a network of cooperating and learning agents. The problem is equivalent to optimizing a global cost that is the sum of individual components. The optimizers of the individual components do not necessarily coincide and the network therefore needs to seek Pareto optimal solutions. We develop a distributed solution that relies on a general class of adaptive diffusion strategies. We show how the diffusion process can be represented as the cascade composition of three operators: two combination operators and a gradient descent operator. Using the Banach fixed-point theorem, we establish the existence of a unique fixed point for the composite cascade. We then study how close each agent converges towards this fixed point, and also examine how close the Pareto solution is to the fixed point. We perform a detailed mean-square error analysis and establish that all agents are able to converge to the same Pareto optimal solution within a sufficiently small mean-square-error (MSE) bound even for constant step-sizes. We illustrate one application of the theory to collaborative decision making in finance by a network of agents.
Elimination of residual tumor cells from autologous bone marrow grafts by dye-mediated photolysis: preclinical data.

MC540-mediated photolysis has several features that make it potentially attractive as a clinical purging procedure. (1) The experience with experimental tumors suggests that MC540-mediated photolysis is effective against a broad range of leukemias and solid tumors, including drug-resistant tumors (Sieber et al., 1984b). Drug-resistant tumor cells are likely to occur in heavily pretreated patients. (2) MC540-mediated photolysis is not cell-cycle dependent (Manna and Sieber, 1985). It kills both resting and cycling cells. In this regard, MC540-mediated photolysis is a valuable complement to cell-cycle specific cytotoxic drugs. (3) There is a large differential in sensitivity between normal pluripotent hematopoietic stem cells and leukemia and neuroblastoma cells. (4) The mechanism of action of MC540-mediated photolysis is different from that of lectins, antibodies and most cytotoxic drugs. MC540 binds to the lipid portion of the plasma membrane and membrane lipids are probably a primary target of the toxic photoproducts. Antibodies and lectins react with proteins and carbohydrates and most drugs have intracellular targets (e.g., nuclear DNA). We would therefore expect little cross-resistance if MC540-mediated photolysis were used in combination with other purging procedures.(5) The small amounts of dye that remain associated with the marrow graft and are infused into the patient are approximately 100,000-fold less than the LD(10) (in mice) and therefore unlikely to cause any harm. The outcome of the first clinical application of the technique supports this view (Sieber et al., 1986c). A better understanding of the underlying molecular mechanisms will undoubtedly lead to more effective applications of the technique and perhaps to the identification of more potent analogs of MC540.
Anti-native DNA detection by the Crithidia luciliae method: an improved guide to the diagnosis and clinical management of systemic lupus erythematosus

The clinical value of the Crithidia luciliae (CL) method for detection of antibodies to native DNA (nDNA) was assessed. Significant titers were limited almost exclusively to patients with active systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Evaluation of sera from patients at the onset of active lupus demonstrated elevated anti-nDNA levels in 80% of subjects with active disease and in 94% of patients with clinically evident lupus nephritis. In longitudinal studies, rising titers of anti-nDNA were invariably accompanied by exacerbation of lupus activity. These findings suggest that the CL method correlates more closely with active SLE than do other anti-DNA methods in common use and indicate that it will prove highly useful in the diagnosis and management of SLE.
Escape from Zurg: an exercise in logic programming

In this Pearl we illustrate with an example that modern functional programming languages like Haskell can be used effectively for programming search problems, in contrast to the widespread belief that Prolog is much better suited for tasks like these.
Further thoughts on convective heat transport in a variable-viscosity fluid

In a previous paper (Booker 1976) we found experimentally that the convective heat transport in a fluid with temperature-dependent viscosity decreased significantly as the ratio of the viscosities at the top and bottom boundaries increased. In this note, we show that this decrease in heat transport can be entirely accounted for by an increase in the critical Rayleigh number with variable viscosity.
What Do Educational Credentials Signal and Why Do Employers Value Credentials

Abstract This paper examines whether employers can infer information about workers' pre-college abilities from the college credentials they acquire and whether employers value the attainment of credentials because credentials signal these abilities. I find that a high school diploma, college attendance, a bachelor's degree and a graduate degree signal higher pre-college abilities that are reflected in scores from tests administered to respondents in the NLSY. However, an associate's degree does not. Estimating a sorting model of wage determination, the results indicate that employers do value the attainment of a bachelor's degree in part because it signals these pre-college abilities. The coefficient estimates on an associate's degree and a bachelor's degree remain statistically significant after controlling for ability. This indicates that these degrees mark other attributes that employers find worthwhile, perhaps unobserved ability such as motivation and perseverance. [JEL J31]
Nickel-Catalyzed Cyclizations of Enoates and Chiral Allenes: An Approach to Domoic Acid

The kainoid family of marine natural products has attracted considerable interest due to the potent pharmacological properties of compounds in this class.[1] By serving as conformationally restricted analogues of glutamate, this group of natural products displays potent neuroexcitatory activity, and the more complex members of the domoic acid type have been responsible for outbreaks of poisioning from mussel toxins.[2] The kainic acid and domoic acid families of natural products include a diverse range of structures that possess highly functionalized pyrrolidine di- or triacid motifs (Scheme 1).[3] Kainic and allokainic acids possess a simple C4 propenyl substituent, whereas domoic acid and its isomers possess more complex C4 functionality. Our interest in the synthesis of members of this class of compounds has led to the development of a number of nickel-catalyzed processes, including the alkylative cyclization of enoate-alkyne and enoate-allene substrates. These processes have served as key steps in the total syntheses of kainic acid (1), allokainic acid (2), and isodomoic acids G (3) and H (4).[4-6] We envisioned that the development of a related cyclization method involving cyclization of an enoate tethered with a chiral allene would allow synthesis of the remaining members of the domoic acid class, including domoic acid (5), that do not possess the C4 exocyclic functionality seen in isodomoic acids G and H. Herein, we describe an initial investigation of this strategy, and the synthesis of a model substructure of domoic acid.
Metallothionein alleviates cardiac contractile dysfunction induced by insulin resistance: role of Akt phosphorylation, PTB1B, PPARγ and c-Jun

Aims/hypothesis: Insulin resistance is concom- itant with metabolic syndrome, oxidative stress and cardiac contractile dysfunction. However, the causal relationship between oxidative stress and cardiac dysfunction is un- known. This study was designed to determine the impact of overexpression of the cardiac antioxidant metallothionein on cardiac dysfunction induced by insulin resistance in mice. Methods: Whole-body insulin resistance was gen- erated in wild-type FVB and metallothionein transgenic micebyfeedingthemwithsucrosefor12weeks.Contractile and intracellular Ca 2+ properties were evaluated in ventric- ular myocytes using an IonOptix system. The contractile indices analysed included: peak shortening (PS), time to 90% PS (TPS90), time to 90% relengthening (TR90), half- widthduration,maximalvelocityofshortening(+dL/dt)and relengthening (−dL/dt), fura-fluorescence intensity change (ΔFFI) and decay rate (τ). Results: The sucrose-fed mice displayed glucose intolerance, enhanced oxidative stress, hyperinsulinaemia, hypertriglyceridaemia and normal body weight. Compared with myocytes in starch-fed mice, those fromsucrose-fedmiceexhibiteddepressedPS,+dL/dt, −dL/ dt, prolonged TR90 and decay rate, and reduced ΔFFI associated with normal TPS90 and half-width duration. Western blot analysis revealed enhanced basal, but blunted insulin (15 mU/g)-stimulated Akt phosphorylation. It also showed elevated expression of insulin receptor β, insulin receptor tyrosine phosphorylation, peroxisome proliferator- activated receptor γ, protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B and phosphorylationofthetranscriptionfactorc-Jun,associated with a reduced fold increase of insulin-stimulated insulin receptor tyrosine phosphorylation in sucrose-fed mice. All western blot findings may be attenuated or ablated by metallothionein. Conclusions/interpretation: These data indicate that oxidative stress may play an important role in cardiac contractile dysfunction associated with glucose intolerance and possibly related to alteration in insulin signalling at the receptor and post-receptor levels.
Responsibility Diffusion in Cooperative Collectives

The authors examined questions about diffusion of responsibility in groups by asking group members to apportion responsibility for an outcome to each group member: Does responsibility diffuse more as groups increase in size but eventually level off in larger groups? Does responsibility diffuse equally, with each member getting an equal portion, or is it concentrated on certain individuals? Do group members apportion responsibility in ways that maximize their own self-esteem? Dyads attributed more responsibility to others after failure than success, but four-person groups tended to take the blame for failure. Overall, however, responsibility diffused in proportion to group size as group members concentrated more responsibility on some group members and withheld responsibility from others through specific role allocations. There was a significant degree of consensus in group members’ perceptions of individual members’ contributions to performance, but members generally felt they contributed more to the grou...
Thermodynamic Dissection of the Substrate-Ribozyme Interaction in the Hammerhead Ribozyme †

The free energy of substrate binding to the hammerhead ribozyme was compared for 10 different hammerheads that differed in the length and sequence of their substrate recognition helices. These hammerheads were selected because neither ribozyme nor substrate oligonucleotide formed detectable alternate secondary structures. The observed free energies of binding varied from - 8t o-24 kcal/mol and agreed very well with binding energies calculated from the nearest-neighbor free energies if a constant energetic penalty of ¢G°core )+ 3.3 ( 1 kcal/mol is used for the catalytic core. A set of substrates that contained a competing hairpin secondary structure showed weaker binding to the ribozyme by an amount consistent with the predicted free energy for hairpin formation. These thermodynamic conclusions permit the prediction of substrate binding affinities for ribozyme -substrate pairs of any helix length and sequence, and thus, should be very valuable for the rational design of ribozymes directed toward gene inactivation.
Multivitamin-multimineral supplements' effect on total nutrient intake

Use of multivitamin-multimineral supplements is widespread and can contribute substantially to total nutrient intakes. In the Hawaii-Los Angeles Multiethnic Cohort (MEC), 48% of men and 56% of women without chronic diseases reported use of multivitamin supplements at least weekly over the past year. We calculated the prevalence of nutrient adequacy for 17 nutrients based on responses to a self-administered quantitative food-frequency questionnaire administered to MEC participants at baseline in 1993-1996. Although the prevalence of nutrient adequacy from food only was higher for multivitamin supplement users (n = 21 056) than for nonusers (n = 69 715), differences averaged only 2 percentage points. For multivitamin users, the prevalence of adequacy improved by an average of 8 percentage points for both men and women when intake from supplements was included. Users were also more likely to have potentially excessive intakes, particularly for iron, zinc, vitamin A, and niacin. The 26 735 MEC participants in Hawaii who answered an open-ended question about multivitamin use in 1999-2001 reported using 1246 different products. The nutrient profile of these products varied widely, and the composition of products at the 90th percentile was 10-fold greater than the composition at the median for some nutrients. We conclude that analyses of nutrient adequacy and excess for supplement users should be extended to national samples and that composition data on actual supplements used are preferable to assuming a default nutrient profile for multivitamin supplements. Multivitamin products could be better formulated to reduce the prevalence of inadequacy and also to reduce the risk of excessive intakes.
Analysis of urinary metabolites of sulfur mustard in two individuals after accidental exposure.

In July 2004, two individuals developed blisters after the destruction of a WWl-era munition. To determine the causative agent, urine samples were collected from both the highly blistered patient (patient 1; 6.5% of total body surface area) and patient 2, who had only one small blister. Their urine was analyzed for metabolites of known vesicants including sulfur mustard (HD), Lewisite (L1), and nitrogen mustards. The urine samples only tested positive for metabolites of HD. Additional metabolites were measured to confirm the exposure of sulfur mustard agent HD, including thiodiglycol (TDG), TDG-sulfoxide, and the bismercapturate of mustard sulfone. On day 2 after the exposure, patient I had a lS-lyase metabolite level of 41 ng/mL, and patient 2 had a level of 2.6 ng/mt. Detectable levels of the ~-Iyase metabolite were observed in patient 1 11 days and in patient 2 for 7 days. Levels of TDG and both TDG and its sulfoxide measured together in the urine of patient 1 were found to be 24 ng/mL and 50 ng/mL, respectively, on day 2. The bis-mercapturate of mustard sulfone was detected in patient 1 (3.1 ng/mL) on day 2 but was not detected in samples taken on subsequent days.
Interval timing in Siamese fighting fish (Betta splendens)

The present study evaluated the temporal performance of Siamese fighting fish (Betta splendens) given short-term exposure to four fixed interval (FI) schedules of reinforcement, FI 30, 60, 120, and 240 s, during which a reinforcer (mirror image) was given for the first response (swimming through a hoop) after the interval requirement had elapsed. Response levels were generally low early in an interval and increased as the interval elapsed; wait times and break points in an interval increased with increases in the FI requirement. The results were similar to that obtained with other species and different types of responses and reinforcers, and demonstrate that the procedure is a feasible method for studying interval timing in fish.
Making males from females: the effects of aromatase inhibitors on a parthenogenetic species of whiptail lizard.

The parthenogenetic whiptail lizard Cnemidophorus uniparens provides a good model for the study of sex determination and sexual differentation because genetic variation is minimal and all unmanipulated embryos will develop as females. Thus any deviation from the established course of development can be identified as a treatment effect. Previous work has shown that early prenatal treatment with CGSI6949A, a nonsteroidal aromatase inhibitor, causes hatchlings to develop as males. The present study explores more fully the effects of dosage and timing of application of CGS16949A and examines the sex-reversing potential of CGS20267, a new and reputedly more potent aromatase inhibitor. Eggs were treated with a range of dosages of the aromatase inhibitors. Hatchlings that received 1 μg or more of either inhibitor were all male, while those that received 0.1 μg or less were all female. No difference in potency between the two compounds was detected. Animals treated with 100 μg of CGS16949A on Day 20 of incubation or later were all female, while those treated on Day 5 were all male. Seven sex-reversed male parthenogens have been raised to sexual maturity. The animals appear similar morphologically and behaviorally to males of the sexually reproducing whiptail species. Spermatogenesis and spermiogenesis have been confirmed by histological examination of the testes and by postcopulatory cloacal swabs. Application of aromatase inhibitors has been shown to sex-reverse both avian and reptilian species. In mammals, the male determining gene of the Y chromosome (SRY) may code for an intrinsic aromatase inhibitor. Studies show the gene's product has a binding domain which recognizes regulatory elements in the promoter of the aromatase gene. These results suggest that the superficially different sex-determining processes of many amniotes may have underlying mechanisms in common.
HABITAT USE BY GILA MONSTERS: THE IMPORTANCE OF SHELTERS

Many desert organisms cope with extreme and variable conditions by retreating to sub-surface refugia, yet little is known of the patterns of refuge use by most desert inhabitants. We investigated shelter use by the Gila Monster, Heloderma suspectum, an ectotherm closely tied to sub-surface refugia in a strongly seasonal desert environment. We addressed hypotheses that ectotherms may use habitats based on availability of shelters, select shelters based on particular cues, respond to seasonal variation in refuge characteristics, and show fidelity to specific retreats. Using radiotelemetry, we monitored microhabitat use by eight to ten Gila Monsters for six years, recording timing, frequency, and duration of visitation to over 250 specific shelters. We used transects to assess shelter availability, recorded structural features of all shelters, and used dataloggers to monitor seasonal changes in microenvironments within subsets of shelters for periods up to two years. Shelters, and the habitats where they occurred, were not chosen by Gila Monsters at random. Heloderma spent more time in areas where a higher density of potential shelters was available, and selected shelters based on rockiness, slope and entrance aspect, depth, humidity, and temperature. Gila Monsters showed longer residence times and greater fidelity to shelters used during extreme periods (e.g., winter) and these patterns were paralleled by seasonal changes in the characteristics of shelters chosen. Winter shelters tended to be south-facing, rockier, deeper, and warmer than those used in other seasons, whereas dry-summer shelters were more soil-like in composition, cooler, and more humid. Gila Monsters showed strong fidelity to specific shelters, some of which were used by two or more lizards, sometimes concurrently. Seasonal variation in use of ''social'' shelters coincided with annual cycles of intraspecific behaviors and reproduction. Our results underscore the importance of sub-surface refugia in the ecology of a sedentary desert ectotherm. Because many other ectotherms also spend significant periods sequestered in below-ground retreats, it is surprising that ecologists have not more extensively investigated this phenomenon. An understanding of the cues used by desert ectotherms to choose refuge-sites, the spatial and temporal variability in refuge characteristics, and the fidelity shown to particular retreats, may help better explain patterns of habitat selection, behavior, distribution, and abundance.
Covariability of Spring Snowpack and Summer Rainfall across the Southwest United States

Abstract Interannual fluctuations of observed summer rainfall across the monsoon region of the southwestern United States are analyzed to ascertain their spatial coherence and to test the hypothesis that antecedent spring snowpack anomalies may modulate the monsoon and exhibit an inverse correlation with summer rainfall anomalies. To characterize the spatial coherence of seasonal rainfall anomalies, an objective linear analysis of interannual variability is applied to climate divisional data across the Southwest. Three coherent subregions are identified, broadly representing rainfall anomalies across Arizona, eastern New Mexico/western Texas (the Southwest Plains), and most of New Mexico. Interannual fluctuations of summer rainfall in the New Mexico region exhibit a very significant negative correlation with a large-scale index of the antecedent 1 April snowpack over the southern U.S. Rocky Mountains during the 1961–90 climatic averaging period. This strong relationship seems to break down in the years be...
Millennials and chocolate product ethics: Saying one thing and doing another

Because of changes in contemporary American culture, attitudes toward certain product characteristics like clean labels, certified ethical sourcing, and sugar/fat content seem to be changing, especially among Millennials. The present project focused on Millennials’ judgment of the importance of various product characteristics in their choice of chocolate confections. After a series of focus groups to inform the design, an experiment was conducted in which participants made a series of choices between product characteristics. The choice data were subjected to a cluster analysis to identify subgroups of consumer preferences and then subjected to multidimensional scaling to visualize the preference space. Most participants showed little discriminability among factors like organic, certified ethical sourcing, and rainforest friendly, a strong preference for clean labels, and more concern about high levels of fat rather than sugar in their chocolate confections. For most participants, their choice behavior reflected minimal concern for ethical factors whereas their public declarations in a focus group suggested otherwise.
Cadaveric Analysis of the Kambin's Triangle

Introduction Kambin’s Triangle is a right triangle over the dorsolateral disc. The area of this right triangle currently serves as a strategic site of posterolateral, minimally invasive access to the nerve root for delivery of epidural steroid injections. This posterolateral approach has also been considered a safe area of access to the intervertebral disc space and, thus, an effective approach in reducing complications, such as violation of the thecal sac, the nerve root, or the bony elements of the spine during minimally invasive spinal surgery. No published studies have been performed to characterize the dimensions of the Kambin's Triangle. Our aim is to characterize its dimensions at the lumbar levels and determine its efficacy and safety as a site of access for minimally invasive spinal surgery. Methods Two randomly chosen adult male cadavers were used for this study. The measurements were made bilaterally at their lumbar levels (L1–L5), which equates to 16 total measurements (eight bilateral disc spaces on two cadavers). The disc space was first accessed using a Kirschner wire in a standard oblique approach. With the assistance of fluoroscopy, a Kirschner wire was passed into the disc through the Kambin’s Triangle. The procedure was performed on the cadavers bilaterally at four levels, followed by open dissection. The calculations of the area were made by measuring the exiting nerve root, the superior border of the caudal vertebra, and the superior articulating facet—the borders of the Kambin's Triangle. Results The Kambin’s Triangle height and width respectively averaged at 12 mm and 10 mm (L1–L2), 13 mm and 11 mm (L2–L3), 17 mm and 11 mm (L3–L4), and 18 mm and 12 mm (L4–L5). Thus, the area at each level was 60 mm2 (L1–L2), 71.5 mm2 (L2–L3), 93.5 mm2 (L3–L4), and 108 mm2 (L4–L5). All dissected levels demonstrated adequate anchoring of the Kirschner wire into the disc space with no evidence of nerve injury. Following this, a retractor was placed and complete discectomies were performed. All exiting nerves were protected in this safe zone and the thecal sac remained inviolate. Conclusion Understanding the Kambin’s Triangle will assist surgeons in the minimally invasive approach to spinal surgeries, with potentially safe placement of interbody cages through this strategic space.
Design and characterization of the ePix100a: A low noise integrating pixel ASIC for LCLS detectors

ePix100 is the first variant of a novel class of integrating pixel ASICs architectures optimized for the processing of signals in second generation LINAC Coherent Light Source (LCLS) X-Ray cameras. ePix ASICs are based on a common platform composed of a random access analog matrix of pixel with global shutter, fast parallel column readout, and dedicated sigma-delta analog to digital converters per column. The ePix100 variant is optimized for low noise application requiring high spatial resolution and fast frame rates. The ASIC has pixels of 50×50 µm2 size arranged in a 352×384 array, a resolution of 50e− r.m.s., and a signal range of 35fC (100 photons at 8keV). In its final version it will be able to sustain a frame rate of 1 kHz. Currently a full-size analog version, ePix100a, has been fabricated in TSMC CMOS 0.25 µm technology. The ePix100a has been fully characterized and results are here reported.
Searching for new ferroelectrics and multiferroics: A user’s point of view

A perspective on computational studies of ferroelectrics and multiferroics is given that emphasises what has yet to be done, along with some subtleties in previously studied systems. Beginning with the extensive data-mining studies of Abrahams and more recently, Rabe, a survey is given of magnetostrictive effects in antiferromagnetic antiferroelectrics (after Toledano and Toledano), which has an nonmagnetic analogy in the antiferroelectric phase of tris-sarcosine calcium chloride and a reminder of the unusual spin–phonon coupling of Holden et al. in systems such as KCoF3 and EuTiO3. Attention is also paid to field-temperature phase diagrams, finite non-periodic boundary conditions, and processing-dependent structures.
Characterization of Brx, a novel Dbl family member that modulates estrogen receptor action

Regulation of gene activation by the estrogen receptor (ER) is complex and involves co-regulatory proteins, oncoproteins (such as Fos and Jun), and phosphorylation signaling pathways. Here we report the cloning and initial characterization of a novel protein, Brx, that contains a region of identity to the oncogenic Rho-guanine nucleotide exchange (Rho-GEF) protein Lbc, and a unique region capable of binding to nuclear hormone receptors, including the ER. Western and immunohistochemistry studies showed Brx to be expressed in estrogen-responsive reproductive tissues, including breast ductal epithelium. Brx bound specifically to the ER via an interaction that required distinct regions of ER and Brx. Furthermore, overexpression of Brx in transfection experiments using an estrogen-responsive reporter revealed that Brx augmented gene activation by the ER in an element-specific and ligand-dependent manner. Moreover, activation of ER by Brx could be specifically inhibited by a dominant-negative mutant of Cdc42Hs, but not by dominant negative mutants of RhoA or Rac1. Taken together, these data suggest that Brx represents a novel modular protein that may integrate cytoplasmic signaling pathways involving Rho family GTPases and nuclear hormone receptors.
A new low Temperature Chemical Vapor Deposition Technique for Growing Thin Films of Ti, TiN on Copper and TiO2, TixSiy on Silicon

In this paper, we present a process which has the benefits of operating at lower temperatures than conventional CVD, that uses low cost precursors, and produces only environmentally benign byproducts. This new method for depositing Ti, TiN, TiO2, and Ti.Siy thin films has been demonstrated using a coflow diffusion reactor to react Na metal vapor with TiCl4 as described by the following equation: 4Na(g) + TiCl4(g) ---Ar ---> Ti(s) + 4NaCl(g). In this reaction, sodium strips chlorine from titanium tetrachloride freeing titanium metal to grow into a thin film on a substrate placed in the reaction zone. TiN and TiO2 films were produced by the introduction of N2 gas or O2 gas into the reactor, respectively. Using this reaction chemistry, we have produced Ti and TiN thin films on Cu substrates at 610 °C (considerably lower than the 900 °C to 1200 °C required for conventional thermal CVD of titanium) and TiO2 and titanium silicides (TixSiy) films on silicon substrates. Thermodynamics calculations indicated that this class of chemistry is generic and that a wide range of metals and ceramics could be grown; and preliminary experiments do suggest that TiC and SiC thin films can be grown using this process. The thin films were primarily analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS), and Raman pectroscopy.
Influence of Position and Color of Male-Baited Traps on Captures of Boll Weevils 1 , 2 , 3

The male boll weevil, Anthonomus grandis Boheman, after feeding on cotton, produces a pheromone that attracts both sexes of weevils (Cross and Mitchell 1966, Keller et al. 1954, Bradley et al. 1968). Also, boll weevils respond to spectral wavelengths from 315 to 665 nm, with response peaking between 490 and 515 nm (Hollingsworth et al. 1964). Similarly, Taft et al. (1969) found that overwintered weevils responded to painted traps and plants which reflected most strongly from 500 to 550 nm.
Observation on mosquito repelling efficacy of one kind of controlled released formulation

Objective To study the repelling efficacy of one kind of repellent against Aedes albopictus in laboratory.Methods Making the repellent deet with ethyl butylacetylaminopropionate and high polymer,comparing the effectiveness in the lab and fields.Results After human legs exposed to the repellents with the dosage of 1.5 μl/cm2 or 1.5 mg/cm2,the results indicated that the average effective repelling times of repellents to Aedes albopictus was between 9 and 11 hours in the lab and more than 8 hours in the field expetiment.The effective protection rates after 10 h were 92.3%.Conclusion The new type repellents have the advantages of being easy to use and no sense of oily.
Investigation on Lead and Cadmium in Food in Qingyuan During 2005-2006

Objective To understand lead and cadmium pollution status in food in Qingyuan City. Methods Statistical analysis was conducted to food pollutant monitoring . Results In each kind of food, the mean value of lead contents was 0.021-0.074mg/kg. The qualification rate was 88.6%. The contents of lead exceeded government's standards in 1 sample of rice, 5 samples of vegetables, 1 sample of peanut, 2 samples of meat and 4 samples of legumes, respectively. In each kind of food, the mean value of cadmium contents was 0.003-0.34mg/kg. The qualification rate was 97.5%. The contents of cadmium exceeded government's standards in 2 samples of rice and 2 samples of vegetables. Conclusions The situation of lead and cadmium pollution in main food is not optimistic in Qingyuan City, which asks for strengthened supervision.
Class and Politics: Referendum Data

In this analysis, we test the theory of the New Class against rival theories of social class and politics with data from a variety of referenda conducted in Massachusetts and California during the years 1968–1986. This was an era when the New Class was a new force in American politics, and also when a variety of relatively new “social issues” had arisen to be contested among rival classes.
Comparisons Across Age of Selected Visual Functions

Data from eyes having 20/20 or better best corrected visual acuity are compared across age for several measures or indices of foveal visual sensitivity. These measures and indices include blue cone sensitivity, sensitivity at absolute threshold to a long-wavelength test, color match area effect, and time constant of rate of recovery during dark adaptation.
Fundamental Analysis of Full-Duplex Gains in Wireless Networks

Full-duplex radio technology is becoming mature and holds potential to boost the spectrum efficiency of a point-to-point wireless link. However, a fundamental understanding is still lacking, with respect to its advantages over half-duplex in multi-cell wireless networks with contending links. In this paper, we establish a spatial stochastic framework to analyze the mean network throughput gain from full duplex, and pinpoint the key factors that determine the gain. Our framework extends classical stochastic geometry analysis with a new tool set, which allows us to model a tradeoff between the benefit from concurrent full-duplex transmissions and the loss of spatial reuse, particularly for CSMA-based transmitters with random backoff. We analytically derive closed-form expressions for the full-duplex gain as a function of link distance, interference range, network density, and carrier sensing schemes. It can be easily applied to guide the deployment choices in the early stage of network planning.
Community Participation Among Individuals with Serious Mental Illnesses Leaving Jail

Studies have found that higher levels of community participation are associated with a number of positive outcomes such as increased recovery and quality of life. People with serious mental illnesses (SMI) leaving jail face a number of barriers that limit their ability to participate in community activities. In this paper we examine whether the combined experience of mental illness and recent discharge from jail furthers the community isolation that is already experienced by individuals with serious mental illnesses. This analysis found that people with SMI recently released from jail had significantly lower levels of community participation in terms of overall number of community participation days and activities, number of time spent in activities individuals identified as important, and on measures of sufficiency related to the time spent engaged in these activities. Community participation is a key component of community re-integration for people with SMI leaving jail. The results of this study show that services for people with SMI leaving jail need to include interventions that foster engagement in community based activities.
Rethinking climate and energy policies: new perspectives on the rebound phenomenon

The greatly influential works of William Stanley Jevons, especially “The Coal Question” (Jevons, 1865), laid the foundations of the rebound effect concept and inspired a myriad of research efforts....
918 Overexpressing TNF-Alpha in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Cells and Fibroblasts Modifies Cell Survival and Reduces Fatty Acid Synthesis via Downregulation of Sterol Regulatory Element Binding Protein-1 and Activation of Acetyl CoA Carboxylase

The effect of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) gene delivery has been suggested as a potentially useful therapeutic approach to improve the chemotherapeutic treatment of patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA), but the exact mechanism of its action is not clearly understood. In this study, we analyzed the expression profile of TNF-α in PDA tissue and explored its potential role in fatty acid synthase (FAS) regulation in PDA cells and in fibroblasts. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to examine the expression of TNF-α in PDA, matching adjacent tissues, and benign lesions. Logistic regression models with robust variance were used to analyze the gene expression levels, and Kaplan–Meier survival curves were generated. In vitro, we overexpressed the TNF-α gene in PDA cells and fibroblasts and analyzed its effect on cell survival, migration, and on members of the FAS signaling pathway. We also evaluated TNF-α effects on a panel of inflammation-, angiogenesis-, and metastasis-related markers. In the tumor tissue of PDA patients, compared with their matched adjacent tissue, expression levels of TNF-α were not statistically different and did not correlate with survival or any other examined clinicopathological features. Overexpression of TNF-α significantly (p < 0.05) reduced PDA and fibroblast cell migration. In PDA cells that highly overexpress TNF-α, this was associated with a significant reduction of FAS mRNA and protein expression levels and significant (p < 0.05) reduction of SREBP-1 and ACC mRNA. Reduction of FAS by TNF-α was inhibited when either SREBP-1 or ACC was knocked down by siRNA. PDA cells and fibroblasts that overexpress TNF-α displayed differential regulation of several inflammation-related markers and reduced levels of metastasis-related genes. Our data demonstrate a previously unknown multi-targeted involvement of TNF-α in PDA lipogenesis and inflammation and metastasis and suggest that intratumoral introduction of TNF-α may have the potential as a novel therapeutic approach in human PDA.
Modelling Building Locations in Urban Development of Developing Countries

ABSTRACT As the economies in developing countries improve and the populations increase, the migration from rural areas to industrial urban centers is inevitable. The housing problems in large cities in developing countries are expected to get worse. Optimum solution cannot be explicitly obtained due to complexity of several interacting problems. This paper provides a descriptive simulation model for housing location considering social, economic and other physical components such as transportation. A case study of housing in Bombay, India is considered. A qualitative comparison is made with other cities. Finally, recommendations on locations to alleviate housing problems are presented.
Aggressive systolic blood pressure control in older subjects: benefits and risks

Systolic hypertension, especially isolated systolic hypertension (ISH) is very common in older subjects aged ≥ 65 years and is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD), strokes, heart failure (HF) and chronic kidney disease (CKD). It is also, directly and linearly related with these complications irrespective of sex, or ethnicity, but it is worse with the advancement of age. Effective control of systolic blood pressure (SBP), is associated with significant reduction in the incidence of these complications. Currently, there is a debate about the optimal SBP control in view of the Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial (SPRINT) showing beneficial cardiovascular (CV) effects of intensive SBP of < 120 mmHg in older patients. Also, the recently released blood pressure (BP) guidelines by the American College of Cardiology, the American Heart Association and the American Society of Hypertension (ACC/AHA/ASH) recommend a SBP reduction of < 130 mmHg. These SBP treatment recommendations are ...