cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Learning to join everything

Text, speech, images, video, DNA sequences provide information about entities that people can recognize when looking at a particular instance. But those entities and their attributes and relationships are not directly accessible to queries that join across types of sources. Information extraction methods based on supervised machine learning recognize mentions of entities and relationships of predefined types in different kinds of sources, which can then be used to answer some useful types of queries. However, supervised learning relies on hand-annotated training sets that are difficult to create and limit what types of entities and relationships can be joined for new applications. These limitations have prompted research into unsupervised extraction methods that rely on correlations among sources rather than hand-annotated training sets. While these methods are not yet as accurate as those based on supervised learning, they have the potential for a new query-by-example approach to information integration in which seed sets of query answers are expanded into ranked lists of potential answers by learning occurrence patterns from the seed answers. I will give examples of both types of methods from our research on biomedical information extraction, leading to some ideas on a possible convergence of search and databases through machine learning.
A trend toward Work–Life Fusion: A multi-generational shift in technology use at work

Abstract In this coming year, there will be five generations co-existing in the work environment and we believe that how technology is utilized in both spheres of work and life is shifting with the advancements in technology. This study is designed to explore how certain technology patterns are shifting the relationship between work and life spheres and results show that the spheres are becoming fused. A scale is developed and used as a resource to explore the impact that using certain technologies at work has on Work–Life Balance Satisfaction, Job Satisfaction, and Psychological Job Control. In this paper, Work–Life Fusion is defined as the concurrent management of work and life demands while at work. Multi-group analysis across generations surfaces clear indications of a shift to a fused approach toward work and life management especially in younger cohorts (Millennials). Findings from this study would have implications for leaders and managers, as this increasingly diverse workforce would extend what we have come to know as Work–Life balance to what we call Work–Life Fusion.
A simplified calorimeter for the precise determination of purity

Abstract A calorimetric apparatus has been constructed for the determination of the mole fraction of impurity in a highly purified sample of a chemical compound by measurement of the temperature of solid-liquid equilibrium as a function of the fraction of the sample melted. An experimental value of the heat of fusion of the compound is also obtained, thus yielding the cryoscopic constant A. The apparatus, though relatively simple to Operate, has given results of good precision. The method has been tested over a wide temperature range using methylcyclopentane, n-heptane, n-decane, cyclohexylcyclohexane, and n-hexadecane, which have freezing points ranging from —142°C to +18°C.
Effects of vegetation on soil slippage by pore pressure modification

Influences of vegetation on shallow (< 1 m) soil slip formation through modification of soil water was investigated on hillsides covered by verdant chaparral (dense shrubland), and burned vegetation in the Transverse Ranges of California. Per cent available water and hydraulic potentials were obtained from electrical resistance blocks and tensiometers for one year in soils under burned and unburned vegetation on three slopes. Soil remained moister during a dry period under burned vegetation than under unburned chaparral on two of the three slopes studied. Daily increases in per cent available water and hydraulic potential of soils were greatest for a given storm where soil was driest prior to the storm. Furthermore, water levels in soil tended to be greatest for a given storm where soil water levels had been lowest prior to the storm. These two findings were corroborated by laboratory wetting trials on undisturbed soils of vastly differing mechanical properties in that initially drier soils always absorbed water faster and became wetter than initially moister soils. In the field, soil water levels became similarly high under all vegetation after several storms and varied little throughout the remainder of the wet season. These results contradict the common assumption that depletion of soil water by vegetation would result in slower saturation rates and hence greater resistance of a soil mass to slippage.
Constitutive expression of costimulatory molecules by human microglia and its relevance to CNS autoimmunity

Human microglia constitute the primary residential antigen presenting cells (APCs) in the central nervous system (CNS) and have the capacity of activating myelin reactive T-cells. T-cell activation requires two signals: first is the interaction of the T-cell receptor with the MHC-antigen complex and, secondly, contact of the CD28/CTLA4 T-cell surface molecules with the B7 family of costimulatory molecules on the APCs. We have previously shown high expression of B7.1 in early multiple sclerosis (MS) plaques, suggesting that acute T-cell-mediated CNS inflammation may require local B7.1 upregulation. We have now examined the expression of B7.1 and B7.2 costimulatory molecules on resting ex-vivo human microglia isolated directly from biopsy specimens. We found constitutive expression of B7.2 but not B7.1 on resting microglia, suggesting that B7.2 expression may lead to downregulation of pro-inflammatory Th1 T-cell responses in the normal brain.
FATTY ACID AND FATTY ALDEHYDE COMPOSITION OF GLIAL CELL LIPIDS ISOLATED FROM BOVINE WHITE MATTER

— Glial cells were isolated from bovine white matter by differential centrifugation. The fatty aldehyde and fatty acid compositions of ethanolamine glycerophosphatides (EGP), serine glycerophosphatides (SGP) and choline glycerophosphatides (CGP) were determined by gas-liquid chromatography. The fatty acid compositions of the sphingo-lipids including sphingomyelin, cerebroside and cerebroside sulphate, and of minor lipid components including cholesterol esters and triglycerides, were also determined by gas-liquid chromatography. The relative proportions correlated closely with the results obtained by O'Brien and Sampson (1965b) for adult human brain. The fatty aldehyde compositions of the glycerophosphatides were more closely related to the corresponding fatty acid compositions of the plasma membrane than of the mitochondria. Long-chain fatty acids (19–26 carbon atoms) were detected in sphingomyelin, cerebroside and cerebroside sulphate; this indicates that chain-elongation beyond C18 occurs in the glial cells.
Diameter Tuning of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes with Reaction Temperature Using a Co Monometallic Catalyst

Metal incorporated MCM-41 has proven to be a valuable template for the growth of narrow distributions of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNT), producing samples with a wide range of different mean diameters. The ability to obtain narrow diameter distributions at different mean diameters is important for applications that require particular (n,m) nanotubes. Another advantage of this system is the ease of cleaning and low metal content as compared to bimetallic systems. In this Article, we show that Co-MCM-41 allows diameter tuning of SWNT produced over a broad diameter range (from 0.6−0.8 to 1.8−2.0 nm) by changing reaction temperature. The lower temperature reaction provides a robust means to obtain very small diameter SWNT. X-ray absorption experiments show that the change in SWNT diameter correlates with the change in metal particle size.
Spaces betweenX and its Freudenthal compactification

Let ϕX indicate the Freudenthal compactification of a rimcompact, completely regular Hausdorff spaceX. In this paper the spacesY which satisfyX⊑Y⊑ϕX are characterized. From this a characterization of whenX lies between its locally compact partL(X) and ϕ(L(X)) follows. Such spaces necessarily possess a compactification αX for whichCl αX (αX−X) is 0-dimensional. Conditions, including those internal toX, are provided which are necessary and sufficient for this property to hold.
Effects of phenoxide ligation: Synthesis and characterization of the [Mo2Fe6S8(SEt)3(OPh)6]3− ion

Reaction of phenol with an alkylthiolate-ligated double cubane complex effects phenolate substitution at the terminal positions; the product can be isolated as its benzyltriethylammonium salt. The phenolate cluster possesses unaltered magnetic properties and blue shifted optical spectra, and undergoes ligand exchange reactions with electrophiles as expected for terminal phenolate substitution. Increased isotropic proton NMR shifts and large negative shifts in corresponding first and second reduction potentials are consistent with increased donation of electron density to the [MoFe3S4]3+ cores for phenolate versus thiophenolate terminal ligands to iron. Similar behavior has been observed for Fe4S4, Fe2S2 and MoS2Fe systems.
On Switching Inductive Loads with Power Transistors

Any switch handling inductive loads must, at some time or another, dissipate the energy stored in the inductance. In the case of a knife switch, this energy can be both seen and heard as an electric spark. In the case of a transistor, this energy is dissipated as heat and the resultant junction temperature rise can lead to catastrophic failure within the device.1The failure mechanism is referred to as ``reverse-biased second breakdown'', hereinafter termed RBSB.
Divertor heat flux footprints in EDA H-mode discharges on Alcator C-Mod

Abstract The physics that sets the width of the power exhaust channel in a tokamak scrape-off layer and its scaling with engineering parameters is of fundamental importance for reactor design, yet it remains to be understood. An extensive array of divertor heat flux diagnostics was recently commissioned in Alcator C-Mod with the aim of improving our understanding. Initial results are reported from EDA H-mode discharges in which plasma current, input power, toroidal field and magnetic topology were varied. The integral width of the outer divertor heat flux footprint is found to lie in the range of 3–5 mm mapped to the mid-plane. Widths are insensitive to single versus double-null topology and the magnitude of toroidal field. Pedestal physics appears to largely determine these widths; a dependence of width on plasma thermal energy is noted, yielding a reduction in width as plasma current is increased for the best EDA H-modes.
Sodium metavanadate exhibits carcinogenic tendencies in vitro in immortalized human bronchial epithelial cells.

Pentavalent vanadium compounds induce intracellular changes in vitro that are consistent with those of other carcinogenic substances. While there is no clear evidence that vanadium compounds cause cancer in humans, vanadium pentoxide causes lung cancer in rodents after long-term inhalation exposures and in turn IARC has categorized it as a group 2B possible human carcinogen. The goal of this study was to investigate the carcinogenicity of NaVO3 in the human immortalized bronchial epithelial cell line, Beas-2B. Cells were treated with 10 μM NaVO3 for 5 weeks, with or without recovery time, followed by gene expression microarray analysis. In a separate experiment, cells were exposed to 1–10 μM NaVO3 for 4 weeks and then grown in soft agar to test for anchorage-independent growth. A dose-dependent increase in the number of colonies was observed. In scratch tests, NaVO3-transformed clones could repair a wound faster than controls. In a gene expression microarray analysis of soft agar clones there were 2010 differentially expressed genes (DEG) (adjusted p-value ≤ 0.05) in NaVO3-transformed clones relative to control clones. DEG from this experiment were compared with the DEG of 5 week NaVO3 exposure with or without recovery, all with adjusted p-values < 0.05, and 469 genes were altered in the same direction for transformed clones, 5 week NaVO3-treated cells, and the recovered cells. The data from this study imply that chronic exposure to NaVO3 causes changes that are consistent with cellular transformation including anchorage-independent growth, enhanced migration ability, and gene expression changes that were likely epigenetically inherited.
New records of Heteroptera from Serbia (Insecta: Heteroptera, Tingidae)

The Serbian fauna of Heteroptera is increased by four new species from the family Tingidae. These species are: Catoplatus fabricii (Stal), Copium teucrii teucrii (Host), Derephysia cristata (Panzer), and Dictyla convergens (Herrich-Schaeffer). The paper also includes a summary of literature data on the heteropteran biology and distribution.
The effects of phencyclidine on ethanol and sodium hexobarbital in mice

Abstract Phencyclidine (PCP) is a veterinary anesthetic which acts as a psychotomimetic in man. This study determined the effects of PCP on ethanol and hexobarbital sleep times in mice. The disappearance of PCP was also examined utilizing whole mouse homogenates as well as select tissues. Male albino mice were injected with saline alone or 3, 6, 9, 12, or 15 mg/kg of PCP plus sodium hexobarbital (100 mg/kg) or ethanol (4 g/kg) administered simultaneously or delayed 30 min. Loss-of-righting reflex (sleep time) was measured and a regression line was fitted to the data. In both cases, regression analysis indicated the existence of a clear dose-response relationship. In the disappearance study, mice were injected with 25 mg/kg of PCP and their body tissues were homogenized at intervals ranging from 0 to 160 min. The half-life of the alpha phase was 8 min, and the beta phase, 48 min. Disappearance studies in the lung, liver, and brain indicated higher PCP concentrations in the liver and lung than in the brain.
Global Environmental Change Symposium

The global environmental warming issue has been catapulted to the forefront of media attention as a result of the drought of 1988 and extremely warm temperatures. NASA scientist James Hansen testified last year that the warming trend has begun and that part of the temperature rise is due to gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, and chlorofluro-carbons (CFCs) being released into the atmosphere by human activity. In response to recent scientific speculation on the issue, the National Academy of Sciences, Washington, D.C., hosted the symposium Global Environmental Change April 24 as part of their annual meeting. Speakers included Bert Bolin, University of Stockholm; Robert White, National Academy of Engineering; Stephen Schneider, National Center for Atmospheric Research; and Peter Raven, Missouri Botanical Garden. Moderator was Russell Train, World Wildlife Fund.
Instability of Metabolic Quotients Obtained from Tissue Cultures.

SummaryMaximal growth of Earle's Strain L cells is obtained by using 15-20% horse serum with a medium containing 0.5% lactalbumin hydrolysate. Rate of lactate formation decreases as pH decreases but remains constant if the suspension is adequately buffered with bicarbonate. Respiration continues as a straight line function with time even though pH decreases. Sera from different horses affects growth rate of tissue cultures differently and as a consequence a culture in one horse serum may contain more rapidly dividing cells than another culture in another horse serum. Young, rapidly growing tissue cultured cell strains respire and glycolyze at a greater rate than old ones. This difference in metabolic rate occurs even though the cells are washed free of culture medium and resuspended in balanced saline solution before the metabolic determination is made. Metabolic rate is related to growth rate. This can be easily demonstrated by simply growing the cells at 31°C even though the actual determination is made...
Ulex europaeus agglutinin II (UEA-II) is a novel, potent inhibitor of complement activation.

Complement is an important mediator of vascular injury following oxidative stress. We recently demonstrated that complement activation following endothelial oxidative stress is mediated by mannose-binding lectin (MBL) and activation of the lectin complement pathway. Here, we investigated whether nine plant lectins which have a binding profile similar to that of MBL competitively inhibit MBL deposition and subsequent complement activation following human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) oxidative stress. HUVEC oxidative stress (1% O2, 24 hr) significantly increased Ulex europaeus agglutinin II (UEA-II) binding by 72 ± 9% compared to normoxic cells. UEA-II inhibited MBL binding to HUVEC in a concentration-dependent manner following oxidative stress. Further, MBL inhibited UEA-II binding to HUVEC in a concentration-dependent manner following oxidative stress, suggesting a common ligand. UEA-II (≤ 100 μmol/L) did not attenuate the hemolytic activity, nor did it inhibit C3a des Arg formation from alternative or classical complement pathway-specific hemolytic assays. C3 deposition (measured by ELISA) following HUVEC oxidative stress was inhibited by UEA-II in a concentration-dependent manner (IC50 = 10 pmol/L). UEA-II inhibited C3 and MBL co-localization (confocal microscopy) in a concentration-dependent manner on HUVEC following oxidative stress (IC50 ≈ 1 pmol/L). Finally, UEA-II significantly inhibited complement-dependent neutrophil chemotaxis, but failed to inhibit fMLP-mediated chemotaxis, following endothelial oxidative stress. These data demonstrate that UEA-II is a novel, potent inhibitor of human MBL deposition and complement activation following human endothelial oxidative stress.
Inhibition of synthesis of RNA in E. coli by the narcotic drug laevorphanol.

WE have found that morphine and certain of its analogues inhibit the growth of E. coli. With one of these, laeevorphanol, complete inhibition is observed at a concentration of 10−3 M and partial inhibition at 10−4 M. Inhibition of growth is demonstrable in minimal as well as in rich culture media and is completely reversible on removal of the drug.
Morally Judging Entertainment: A Case Study of Live Tweeting During Downton Abbey

In this study, we propose that the massive, unsolicited, real-time data generated by social media might provide media psychologists with new paths for examining the role that morality and moral thinking play during the consumption of entertainment. Our broad goal was to explore a potentially new methodological approach to the study of morality and media and to offer an initial case study in applying that approach. The case study examined if, and if so how, viewers used Twitter to express their moral thoughts during the Season 3 finale of Downton Abbey. Based on moral foundation theory and affective disposition theory, we derived and examined a set of propositions. Specifically, we observed and discussed the importance of tweets (a) reflecting language from five moral domains, (b) for a beloved character who suffers pain and loss, and (c) about a character who regularly violates moral norms. We conclude that social TV analysis offers a promising new way for researchers to explore issues of morality and med...
Simulation of firms as a planning support system to limit urban sprawl of jobs

Besides the urban sprawl of housing, many regions suffer from an employment shift from city centres to the suburbs. A simulation model has been developed that analyses alternative strategies for limiting the suburbanisation of employment. It applies microsimulation by representing single businesses individually. The establishment, growth, decline, closure, and relocation of firms are simulated. The model was implemented in the urban region of Dortmund in Germany. Zoning, transport, and tax-related policies were tested and compared to estimate their likely success in fostering a more sustainable land-use development. The analyses reveal that a regionally coordinated approach would be the most successful policy option for reducing the urban sprawl of employment. Benefits and drawbacks of using microsimulation for business modeling are discussed.
Peroxide Increase in Fat of Milk During Foam-Spray-Dried Powder Manufacture

Abstract Fresh milk contains low levels of peroxides which increase in concentration during its conversion to whole milk powder by spray drying. Analysis of peroxide increase during 20 foam-spray-drying runs showed the average peroxide value (meq O 2 /kg fat) of fresh milk taken from bulk tanks to be .019; on concentrating to 50% total solids in a falling film evaporator this value rose to .024; after drying with nitrogen injection, the fat in the finished powders had an average peroxide value of .036. The peroxide content of fat in milk powders produced by conventional spray drying was approximately one-half that in the foam-spray-dried products. Further increases in peroxide of both types of powders could be detected after one to three days of holding in air after manufacture. The low peroxide values were measured using minor modifications of Horgan's method, in which peroxides convert the reduced leuco form of Brilliant Cresyl Blue to its oxidized blue form.
Thermodynamic bounds and selection of technologies in the petrochemical industry

Abstract Thermodynamic availability is briefly reviewed, emphasizing its application to steady state flow systems undergoing physical or chemical changes. While thermodynamic availability provides an upper fixed bound for the energy performance of an industry, the creation of entropy provides a lower evolutionary one. These concepts are applied to the petrochemical industry, a representative large interactive system. The objectives: maximization of availability change, minimization of entropy creation, are formulated as large linear programming problems, whose solutions provide two bounding structures for the sector.
Colorectal cancer in inflammatory bowel disease: A continuing problem

PURPOSE: Because of the increased risk of colorectal cancer in patients with inflammatory bowel disease, surveillance colonoscopy with mucosal biopsies for dysplasia has been advocated to prevent malignancy or permit its early diagnosis. However, despite adoption of colonoscopic surveillance programs by many clinicians, we have noted a pattern of continued referrals for inflammatory bowel disease-associated malignancy. This study was undertaken in an effort to characterize this cohort of patients. METHODS: We reviewed the operative records of a large metropolitan colorectal practice from 1983 to 1995. During this period 40 large-bowel resections were performed for patients with documented inflammatory bowel disease and concomitant carcinoma. A retrospective analysis was conducted with emphasis on clinical presentation, pathologic description, and most recent follow-up. RESULTS: Mean age at the time of diagnosis of cancer was 48 years with an average inflammatory bowel disease duration of 19 years. Seven patients had documented inflammatory bowel disease for less than eight years before their cancer diagnosis. Carcinomas were identified preoperatively by colonoscopy in 92 percent of patients. One-half of these patients had the colonoscopy to investigate a recent change in inflammatory bowel disease symptoms or signs, whereas the other half underwent endoscopy as routine surveillance. For the remaining 8 percent of patients, operated on for worsening symptoms, the carcinoma was detected in the pathological specimen only. The majority of patients (68 percent) did not have a preoperative diagnosis of dysplasia. Twenty-five percent of tumors were mucinous, 20 percent were multicentric, and 70 percent were located distal to the splenic flexure. Among the seven patients who died, four had pancolitis, six had a recent worsening of symptoms, and all had cancer involving the rectum. CONCLUSION: Cancer occurs at a younger age in patients with long-standing inflammatory bowel disease. The tumors are often mucinous, multiple, and located in the left colon. Despite increasing acceptance of surveillance colonoscopy as a recommended strategy in cancer prevention, almost one-half of the patients in this study had their cancer diagnosed because increased colitis symptoms led to colonoscopic examination. Eighteen percent of patients developed cancer with less than an eight-year history of inflammatory bowel disease. These data call into question the effectiveness of dysplasia surveillance as a population-based strategy to decrease the colorectal cancer mortality in inflammatory bowel disease patients.
State-dependent learning produced by Metrazol.

Abstract Two different experimental paradigms were used to test a state-dependency explanation for memory impairments produced by convulsive doses (50 mg/kg i.p.) of Metrazol. The results using passive avoidance conditioning were suggestive but may have been confounded by the general activity depression that was found to follow Metrazol-induced seizures. In a discriminated escape paradigm the results were in agreement with predictions based on a state-dependency interpretation. These experiments suggest that Metrazol seizures, like electroconvulsive shock, may interfere with memory retrieval rather than storage.
Identification of new medium reiteration frequency repeats in the genomes of Primates, Rodentia and Lagomorpha

We report eleven new families of MEdium Reiteration frequency (MER) interspersed repeats in the genomes of Primates, Rodentia, and Lagomorpha. Two families of the human repeats, MER46 and MER47, represent non-autonomous DNA transposons. These sequences are flanked by TA target site duplications and have terminal inverted repeats (TIRs) similar to TIRs of DNA transposons. The sequences of five other families of repeats, MER41, MER48, MER50, MER51, and RMER3, resemble long terminal repeats of retroviruses. A potential involvement of some of the reported MER repeats in the regulation of transcription and genetic rearrangements is suggested. Age estimations place the origin of most MER repeats at the time of decline in MIR (Mammalian-wide Interspersed Repeats) retroposition and before the origin of the Alu family.
Lower extremity injuries at the New York City Marathon

The purpose of this study was to determine the type and frequency of lower extremity running injuries incurred by athletes participating in the New York City Marathon. A survey was conducted of 265 athletes presenting to medical stations for podiatric care during the 1994 New York City Marathon. The results of the survey indicated that the most common injuries occurring in marathon runners were corns, calluses, blisters, muscle cramps, acute knee and ankle injuries, plantar fasciitis, and metatarsalgia. An inverse relationship was observed between the number of miles trained per week and the number of injuries. These findings are consistent with long-term studies of running injuries.
Liquid phase separation methods: HPLC, FFF, electrophoresis

Recent research in separations has been directed towards extending the molecular weight range for these high-resolution methods, while at the same time improving reproducibility and convenience of operation. This overview summarizes some of these developments and provides insights into the inherent resolution, range, speed, and limitations of these methods.
Storm-Wave Genesis of Bioclastic Carbonates in Upper Jurassic Epicontinental Mudstones, East-central Wyoming

ABSTRACT The offshore mud facies of the Late Jurassic (Callovian-Oxfordian) North American epicontinental seaway is represented in east-central Wyoming by the Redwater Shale Member of the Sundance Formation. This member contains stratigraphically discontinuous concentrations of carbonate skeletal debris and fossiliferous mudstone within an otherwise siliciclastic lithologic association. Individual limestone beds thin and thicken laterally and range in thickness from a few centimeters to several tens of centimeters. Detailed petrographic analysis reveals several distinct carbonate depositional textures; grainstones (containing no mud-sized matrix grains other than remnant grain-sheltered patches), packstones and wackestones. These carbonate textures indicate multiple modes of formation. Fossil rains similar to those from carbonate lithologies occur, in much lower concentration, within surrounding siliciclastic mudstones. Muddy fabrics suggest that original skeletal accumulation took place under non-turbulent conditions. Subsequent winnowing during passage of greater-than-normal magnitude waves resulted in varying degrees of grain-support. Winnowing is attributed to turbulence generated near effective wave base, resulting in entrainment of grains and/or pressure gradients created by the passing wave form, which gently flush mud and interstitial waters from saturated bottom sediments. Wackestone and packstone fabrics are the result of incomplete winnowing of mud-sized matrix grains and form at greater distances from the effects of wave energy. Grainstone fabrics result from wave energies that either entrain bioclasts or cause a thorough flushing of mud from near-surface sediments. Progressively shoaling regressive conditions during upper Redwater Shale deposition facilitated the winnowing and concentrating effects of storm-wave interaction with the fossiliferous mud facies of topographically higher areas in the Late Jurassic sea. It is proposed that a variety of carbonate fabrics result from wave-caused winnowing effects, which vary with water depth and wave magnitude. Such fabrics are present in thin bioclastic carbonate units of the Redwater Shale Member of the Sundance Formation, and it is suggested that their origin is due to storm-wave winnowing of a slightly irregular muddy sea bottom. This mechanism and the depositional textures it produces are significant in the distinction between diastemic skeletal grain accumulations and wave-winnowed grainstones. The storm-wave process may also prove applicable in the re-evaluation of certain epicontinental marine deposits previously interpreted as classical "turbidite" lithologies. Given the vast expanse of geologic time, it is likely that catastrophic events, suc as intense storms and their related processes, have contributed significantly to the preserved sedimentary record.
Studies in the control of tubular reactors—III stabilization by observer design

Abstract The stabilization of an unstable nonlinear distributed chemical reactor system is examined when concentration measurements are not possible. The linearized form of the finite dimensional approximate model developed in Parts I[1] and II[2] is used to show that the observability index is equal to two. Furthermore it is shown that the dynamical characteristics of the reactor are such that, by a proper design of the Luenberger observer, the concentration estimation at a given collocation point can be made independently of the estimation at other collocation points. For purposes of control a one-dimensional observer is designed to directly estimate the control variable. Simulations of the nonlinear model of the reactor show that the observer design is quite successful in the stabilization of an unstable steady state when only temperature measurements along the reactor are available.
Room temperature fracture of FeAl and NiAl

Abstract The room temperature fracture behavior of the B2 compounds FeAl and NiAl has been examined as a function of alloy stoichiometry. In tension tests, iron-rich FeAl (⩽ 45 at.% Al) exhibited some ductility whereas the stoichiometric compound is brittle. In contrast, stoichiometric NiAl shows ductility but nickel-rich compositions are brittle. For both FeAl and NiAl fracture is predominantly intergranular at the stoichiometric compositions and becomes increasingly transgranular with decreasing aluminum concentration. For FeAl good quality selected area channeling patterns (SACP) could be obtained from the intergranular facets of the stoichiometric compound but not from iron-rich alloys. In contrast, good quality SACPs could be obtained from all the NiAl alloys.
Microwave afterglow measurements of the dissociative recombination of molecular ions with electrons

Abstract Microwave-afterglow measurements of the electron-temperature dependence of dissociative electron—ion recombination coefficients are subject to some recently discovered complications arising from non-uniformities of the microwave heating fields, inelastic collisions of electrons with molecular additives, and effects of vibrational excitation of ions and neutrals. This paper presents the results of recent experimental and theoretical work and examines consequences for earlier experimental data on electron—ion recombination. It appears that, in some cases, the electron temperatures attained by microwave heating were actually lower than had been thought. As a consequence, the inferred dependences on electron temperature of the recombination coefficients were weaker than the true dependences.
Sequential disinfection of E. coli O157:H7 on shredded lettuce leaves by aqueous chlorine dioxide, ozonated water, and thyme essential oil

There have been numerous studies on effectiveness of different sanitizers for microbial inactivation. However, results obtained from different studies indicate that microorganism cannot be easily removed from fresh cut vegetables because of puncture and cut surfaces with varying surface topographies. In this study, three step disinfection approach was evaluated for inactivation of E. coli O157:H7 on shredded lettuce leaves. Sequential application of thyme oil, ozonated water, and aqueous chlorine dioxide was evaluated in which thyme oil was applied first followed by ozonated water and aqueous chlorine dioxide. Shredded lettuce leaves inoculated with cocktail culture of E. coli O157:H7 (C7927, EDL 933 and 204 P), were washed with ozonated water (15 mg/l for 10min), aqueous chlorine dioxide (10 mg/l,for 10min) and thyme oil suspension (0.1%, v/v for 5min). Washing of lettuce leaves with ozonated water, chlorine dioxide and thyme oil suspension resulted in 0.44, 1.20, and 1.46 log reduction (log10 cfu/g), respectively. However, the sequential treatment achieved approximately 3.13 log reductions (log10 cfu/g). These results demonstrate the efficacy of sequential treatments in decontaminating shredded lettuce leaves containing E. coli O157:H7.© (2001) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Directed Self‐Assembly of Gradient Concentric Carbon Nanotube Rings

Hundreds of gradient concentric rings of linear conjugated polymer, (poly[2-methoxy-5-(2-ethylhexyloxy)-1,4- phenylenevinyl-ene], i.e., MEH-PPV) with remarkable regularity over large areas were produced by controlled "stick-slip" motions of the contact line in a confined geometry consisting of a sphere on a flat substrate (i.e., sphere-on-flat geometry). Subsequently, MEH-PPV rings were exploited as a template to direct the formation of gradient concentric rings of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) with controlled density. This method is simple, cost effective, and robust, combining two consecutive self-assembly processes, namely, evaporation-induced self-assembly of polymers in a sphere-on-flat geometry, followed by subsequent directed self-assembly of MWNTs on the polymer-templated surfaces.
Effects of seed availability, site conditions, and herbivory on pioneer recruitment after logging in Sabah, Malaysia

Abstract Woody pioneers invade disturbed tropical forests but can be patchily distributed. We investigated causes of this patchiness in selectively logged forests near the Danum Valley Field Centre (DVFC) in Sabah, Malaysia. In a recently logged forest, we compared seed sources and seedling establishment between two logging systems (conventional practices [CL] and reduced impact logging [RIL]) and between two soil disturbance classes (topsoil or subsoil exposed). Tree seeds were less abundant than shrub and treelet seeds, and seed banks contributed many more viable seeds than did seed rain. Topsoil removal reduced seed and seedling counts and growth rates of planted seedlings. More pioneer seedlings established on RIL than on CL plots, but survival of planted seedlings was lower under RIL, perhaps due to denser canopy cover. Broadcasting seeds increased seedling recruitment for five animal-dispersed pioneer trees but not for two wind-dispersed trees. Longer term survival and growth of pioneer seedlings were compared between logging gaps (canopy but not soil disturbed) and skid tracks (canopy and soil disturbed) at a second site. Relative numbers in gaps vs. skid tracks varied by species, but across species, seedlings grew 40% more rapidly in gaps than in skid tracks. Survivorship differed among species but not between habitats. The three most common species experienced >95% mortality within 42 months. At a third site, we compared effects of mammalian herbivores on pioneer seedling performances in exclosures and open (control) plots centered at the edge of recently abandoned skid tracks. Fewer pioneer seedlings established in skid tracks than in less-disturbed edges, but abundances did not differ between exclosure and control plots. Over 18 months, pioneers survived better and grew on average 44% taller with mammalian herbivores excluded. Pioneer colonization can be seed limited, but high seedling mortality, exacerbated by herbivore damage, can limit recruitment even when seeds are available.
Phylogeny of the Madagascan endemic family Didiereaceae

A molecular phylogeny of the Didiereaceae was produced through parsimony analysis of chloroplastrpl16 intron andtrnL-trnF andtrnT-trnL intergenic spacer sequences of all eleven species of the Didiereaceae and several outgroup taxa from the Portulacaceae. Results indicated that: 1) the Didiereaceae were embedded within the Portulacaceae, withCalyptrotheca as the sister group of the family; 2) present generic limits were supported; 3)Alluaudiopsis was the most basal lineage; 4) at least two separate episodes of polyploidization within the genusAlluaudia had occurred, and 5) unusually low amounts of variation were present in rapidly evolving noncoding plastid sequences.
Character and multiplicity formulas for compact Hamiltonian G-spaces

Abstract Let K ⊂ G be compact connected Lie groups with common maximal torus T . Let ( M , ω ) be a prequantisable compact connected symplectic manifold with a Hamiltonian G -action. Geometric quantisation gives a virtual representation of G ; we give a formula for the character χ of this virtual representation as a quotient of virtual characters of K . When M is a generic coadjoint orbit our formula agrees with the Gross–Kostant–Ramond–Sternberg formula. We then derive a generalisation of the Guillemin–Prato multiplicity formula which, for λ a dominant integral weight of K , gives the multiplicity in χ of the irreducible representation of K of highest weight λ .
Cigarette smoking, estrogen levels, and hot flashes in midlife women

Abstract Objective The aims of this study were to examine the association of smoking with the occurrence, frequency, and severity of hot flashes and to determine whether the mechanism by which active cigarette smoking increases the risk of hot flashes is by lowering estradiol and estrone levels. Methods A case–control study was conducted among women aged 45–54 years to examine risk factors for hot flashes. Cases were women who reported ever experiencing hot flashes ( n = 353). Controls were women who reported never experiencing hot flashes ( n = 258). Each participant completed a questionnaire and provided a blood sample that was used to measure estradiol and estrone levels. Results The results showed that both current and ever smokers had higher odds than never smokers of experiencing any and more severe hot flashes. Further, significant positive associations were observed between frequency and duration of smoking and the experiencing of any and more severe hot flashes. Smoking was not associated with estradiol or estrone levels in univariate analyses. In addition, the odds ratios for the associations between the cigarette smoking variables and hot flashes did not change when the hormone variables were added to the model. Conclusions These findings indicate that smoking is associated with the occurrence of any and more severe hot flashes, independent of estrogen levels.
Firms and the Competitive Advantage Period

An important component of the valuation process is estimating the length of a firm’s competitive advantage period (CAP), the period during which the firm earns returns in excess of the costs associated with generating those returns. Although the finance literature largely recognizes the significance of the horizon estimate in determining a firm’s intrinsic value, less attention is paid to the role the CAP may play in the portfolio selection process. Estimating the expected length of a firm’s CAP implied by the current market capitalization—the market-implied competitive advantage period, or MICAP—we find that shares of firms in the longest-MICAP quintile provide greater trailing returns but significantly lower subsequent returns compared with shorter-MICAP firms. Focusing instead on the change in a firm’s MICAP provides similar results. A contrarian strategy using long/short portfolios, however, provides abnormal returns subsequent to portfolio formation. These findings suggest that shares of longer-MICAP firms may be overpriced and those of shorter-MICAP firms underpriced.
On noncoherent correction of network errors and erasures with random locations

We consider the problem of correcting errors and erasures with network coding. Unlike existing works which consider performance limits for worst-case locations of given numbers of errors and erasures, we consider the performance of given (not necessarily optimal) coding and forwarding strategies for given (not necessarily worst-case) models of error and erasure locations. Our approach characterizes decoding success in terms of the rank of certain matrices corresponding to useful and erroneous information received at the sink nodes. We use this approach to analyze random coding and forwarding strategies on a family of simple networks with random error and erasure locations, and show that the relative performance of the strategies depends on the erasure and error probabilities.
Metastability in pixelation patterns of coexisting fluid lipid bilayer phases imposed by e-beam patterned substrates

We study the dynamic evolution of pixilation patterns of the liquid-ordered (Lo) phase in coexistence with the liquid-disordered phase in lipid multibilayers. The pixilation patterns were formed by imposing lattice patterns of localized high curvature on phase-separating multibilayers using curvature-patterned regions of an underlying support. The projected radius of underlying hemisphere-like features, that provided the local curvature, was varied from 60 nm to 100 nm and the square lattice spacing between the features was varied between 200 nm and 400 nm using standard electron (e)-beam lithography. Over time, the area fraction of the Lo phase on the patterned regions of the substrate decreased toward zero at room temperature. This apparent metastability of the pattern derives from the high line energy of a pixelation pattern where a Boltzmann distribution shows near zero equilibrium partitioning of the Lo phase in the patterned regions. Kinetic rate analysis identifies two pattern-dependent mechanisms that dominate the transition to zero Lo area fraction; diffusion limited dissolution of the Lo phase driven by an Ostwald ripening-type process or the cooperative formation of vesicles containing Lo phase lipids. Interestingly, we observed the spontaneous formation of tubules in the corners of the array due to the high local curvature applied to the membrane. Furthermore we show that it is possible to regenerate pixilation patterns on the curvature-patterned regions by cooling below room temperature. Regenerated area fractions are in agreement with a room-temperature composition of primarily Ld phase and the high degree of overlap with the original patterns is suggestive of fixed nucleation sites.
Effect of adrenocorticotropin administration on β-adrenergic receptor adaptations in rat brain cerebral cortex

It has been reported that adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) administration reduces the time necessary for observing the imipramine-induced decline in beta-adrenergic receptor binding and function in rat brain frontal cortex. This interaction was examined in the present study following the destruction of the dorsal noradrenergic bundle in an attempt to determine whether the hormone treatment influences pre- or postsynaptic activity to facilitate the receptor response. Lesioning completely prevented the decline in beta-receptor binding normally observed following treatment with the drug combination. In fact, the number of cerebral cortical beta-adrenergic receptor binding sites was significantly greater in lesioned animals receiving ACTH than in lesioned controls. Lesioning significantly increased the amount of cyclic AMP produced in response to a saturating concentration of norepinephrine, an effect that was not influenced by ACTH treatment. These findings suggest that ACTH administration modifies the norepinephrine-stimulated cyclic nucleotide system indirectly, perhaps through an action on presynaptic neurons, whereas the effect on receptor recognition site number may be due to a direct action on the postsynaptic cell.
PREDICTING PREFERENCE FOR ITEMS DURING PERIODS OF EXTENDED ACCESS BASED ON EARLY RESPONSE ALLOCATION

Top-ranked items were identified during 30-min free-operant preference assessments for 9 individuals. Data from each session were analyzed to identify the item (a) that was engaged with first in each session and (b) to which the most responding was allocated after 5 min, 10 min, 15 min, 20 min, and 25 min had elapsed in each session. The results indicated that the first-engaged item and the 5-min high-allocation item predicted the top-ranked item in 55% and 62% of the sessions, respectively. The results also showed that engagement with the top-ranked item from the first session decreased across subsequent sessions for 6 of the 9 participants. The implications of the results for brief versus extended stimulus preference assessments are discussed.
What is the risk of stent thrombosis associated with the use of paclitaxel-eluting stents for percutaneous coronary intervention: a meta-analysis

OBJECTIVES This study investigated the risk of stent thrombosis associated with the use of paclitaxel-eluting stents (PES) compared to bare-metal stents (BMS). BACKGROUND Clinical experience with coronary drug-eluting stents (DES) is relatively limited. There is concern that DES used for percutaneous coronary intervention may result in subsequent thrombosis. METHODS We conducted a meta-analysis on eight trials (total of 13 study arms) in 3,817 patients with coronary artery disease who were randomized to either PES or BMS. RESULTS As compared with BMS, PES do not increase the hazard for thrombosis up to 12 months (risk ratio [RR] = 1.06, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.55 to 2.04, p = 0.86]). There was no evidence of heterogeneity among the studies (chi-square value for Q-statistic = 5.90 [10 degrees of freedom], p = 0.82). Similar results were obtained when the analysis was restricted to trials with a polymeric stent platform (Treatment of de novo coronary disease using a single pAclitaXel elUting Stent [TAXUS]-I, -II, -IV, and -VI) (RR = 1.01, 95% CI 0.40 to 2.53, p = 0.99), trials with longer lesions (TAXUS-IV and -VI) (RR = 0.62, 95% CI 0.2 to 1.91, p = 0.41), and trials that used a higher dose of paclitaxel (ASian Paclitaxel-Eluting Stent Clinical trial [ASPECT], European evaLUaTion of paclitaxel Eluting Stents [ELUTES], and DELIVER-I) (RR = 1.87, 95% CI 0.52 to 6.81, p = 0.34). CONCLUSIONS Current evidence suggests that standard dose PES do not increase the hazard of stent thrombosis compared to BMS.