cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Critical mass and willingness to pay for social networks

Abstract Disagreement surrounds a formal definition of ‘critical mass’ and of the economic willingness to pay for membership in a social network. Our paper adapts work from percolation theory to analyze the structure of social networks, and draws an analogy for critical mass in social networks to the concept of phase changes in materials. We show how network growth can be actively managed, and define how to manage the willingness to pay for membership. We show, if achieving a critical mass of members in a social network is our objective, that prior to achieving critical mass, (1) the probability of accepting an invitation must vary inversely with individuals’ breadth of contacts; and (2) the number of special interest groups of any size will decrease following a power law until immediately below critical mass. Targeted invitations enabled through sophisticated programs such as AdWords and IndexTools can help to actively maximize the probability of forming an acquaintance link. Our model defines a willingness to pay for network membership that is nearly zero below critical mass, and is an involved function above critical mass whose shape appears to be close to a logarithmic function. Our robust measure of the connectedness of members of a particular social network yields values that are consistent with the independently developed metrics of Odlyzko and Tilly [Odlyzko, A., and Tilly, B. A refutation of Metcalfe’s Law and a better estimate for the value of networks and network interconnections, 2005 (downloaded from http://www.dtc.umn.edu/~odlyzko July 3, 2008)], and differ from eponymous ‘laws’ of Sarnoff, Metcalfe and Reed. There also appears to be plausible evidence in support of the market actually pricing networks at values close to Odlyzko and Tilly’s estimates.
Thermodynamics of multicomponent electrolytic aerosols

Abstract Considerable evidence exists for the presence of multicomponent aqueous electrolytic aerosols in the atmosphere. The size and chemical composition of these aerosols depend in large part on the interfacial equilibrium between the aerosol and surrounding gases, and correct description of condensation/evaporation on/from the particle requires knowledge of the thermodynamics at the interface. This work examines four models used for predicting the water activity and solute activity coefficients of electrolytic aerosols. The predictions of these models are compared to data of various electrolyte solutions, including data on H 2 SO 4 -(NH 4 ) 2 SO 4 -H 2 O and (NH 4 ) 2 SO 4 -NH 4 NO 3 -H 2 O systems. Particular emphasis is placed on model predictions for low water activities, which are important for aerosol modeling in arid regions.
Utility maximization? An expectancy view of entrepreneurial persistence

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the use of expectancy and valence in the decision policies of entrepreneurs when choosing whether or not to persist with their current venture.Design/methodology/approach – Using a conjoint experiment design, 105 entrepreneurs made a series of decisions based on a common set of attributes. The decisions were analyzed using hierarchical linear modeling to determine how the attributes were weighed in the decision policies.Findings – The results indicate that entrepreneurs use expectancy and valences and interestingly, a negative interaction between expectancy and valences in their persistence decision policies.Practical implications – An understanding of how individuals make decisions may be of great value to entrepreneurs as they consider the decision to persist with a venture in the face of adversity.Originality/value – Previous research has focused on the decision to start a business. This study adds to the literature by considering the important decision...
Performance and microbial ecology of air-cathode microbial fuel cells with layered electrode assemblies

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) can be built with layered electrode assemblies, where the anode, proton exchange membrane (PEM), and cathode are pressed into a single unit. We studied the performance and microbial community structure of MFCs with layered assemblies, addressing the effect of materials and oxygen crossover on the community structure. Four MFCs with layered assemblies were constructed using Nafion or Ultrex PEMs and a plain carbon cloth electrode or a cathode with an oxygen-resistant polytetrafluoroethylene diffusion layer. The MFC with Nafion PEM and cathode diffusion layer achieved the highest power density, 381 mW/m2 (20 W/m3). The rates of oxygen diffusion from cathode to anode were three times higher in the MFCs with plain cathodes compared to those with diffusion-layer cathodes. Microsensor studies revealed little accumulation of oxygen within the anode cloth. However, the abundance of bacteria known to use oxygen as an electron acceptor, but not known to have exoelectrogenic activity, was greater in MFCs with plain cathodes. The MFCs with diffusion-layer cathodes had high abundance of exoelectrogenic bacteria within the genus Geobacter. This work suggests that cathode materials can significantly influence oxygen crossover and the relative abundance of exoelectrogenic bacteria on the anode, while PEM materials have little influence on anode community structure. Our results show that oxygen crossover can significantly decrease the performance of air-cathode MFCs with layered assemblies, and therefore limiting crossover may be of particular importance for these types of MFCs.
ARP2/3-dependent growth in the plant kingdom: SCARs for life

In the human experience SCARs (suppressor of cAMP receptors) are permanent reminders of past events, not always based on bad decisions, but always those in which an interplay of opposing forces leaves behind a clear record in the form of some permanent watery mark. During plant morphogenesis, SCARs are important proteins that reflect an unusual evolutionary outcome, in which the plant kingdom relies heavily on this single class of actin-related protein (ARP) 2/3 complex activator to dictate the time and place of actin filament nucleation. This unusually simple arrangement may serve as a permanent reminder that cell shape control in plants is fundamentally different from that of crawling cells in mammals that use the power of actin polymerization to define and maintain cell shape. In plant cells, actin filaments indirectly affect cell shape by determining the transport properties of organelles and cargo molecules that modulate the mechanical properties of the wall. It is becoming increasingly clear that polarized bundles of actin filaments operate at whole cell spatial scales to organize the cytoplasm and dictate the patterns of long-distance intracellular transport and secretion. The number of actin-binding proteins and actin filament nucleators that are known to participate in the process of actin network formation are rapidly increasing. In plants, formins and ARP2/3 are two important actin filament nucleators. This review will focus on ARP2/3, and the apparent reliance of most plant species on the SCAR/WAVE (WASP family verprolin homologous) regulatory complex as the sole pathway for ARP2/3 activation.
Location of Coronary Arterial Occlusions and Their Relation to the Arterial Pattern

The present study shows that the coronary artery pattern is not related to the prognosis after infarction nor can it be correlated with the incidence of occlusion or with the severity of atherosclerosis. This analysis re-emphasizes the severity of the occlusive process in patients with angina pectoris and, conversely, the relatively large percentage of patients having coronary occlusion who had either congestive heart failure or who were asymptomatic. The proper selection of patients for coronary artery surgery requires accurate angiography. The occurrence of multiple occlusions in a large number of cases points to certain difficulties in the interpretation of the coronary angiogram and also indicates the extremely limited role endarterectomy may be expected to play in the therapy of angina pectoris. Until such a time as the operative mortality and secondary failure rate, due to restenosis, can be reduced through new surgical technics, coronary endarterectomy should be considered an experimental procedure...
Confirming the Factor Structure of the Cognitive Test Anxiety Scale: Comparing the Utility of Three Solutions

This study validated the factor structure of a popular assessment of learner's cognitive test anxiety. Following recent findings in a study with Argentinean students' use of the Spanish version of the Cognitive Test Anxiety Scale (CTAS), this study tested the factor structure using data from 742 students who completed the original English version in the United States. Comparison of three confirmatory factor analyses confirmed the prior finding that reverse-coded items included in the original CTAS produced a second factor that did not add to the model fit for the CTAS. In addition, the results identified that a reduced length (17-item) version of the CTAS that removed all reverse-coded items was preferable to the two-factor solution for the full scale. Implications for assessment of test anxiety as well as the use of reverse-coded items in self-report survey research are discussed.
Addressing alcohol abuse in gay men

Research indicates gay men have higher rates of alcohol abuse compared to their heterosexual counterparts, suggesting this is a serious health concern for this patient population. Clinicians need to have a comprehensive understanding of this clinical problem and need to have an applicable understanding of strategies they can use to address this issue. This article presents a brief overview of alcohol abuse by gay men and highlights an approach clinicians can employ to effectively screen and treat these men for this problem. In conclusion, recommendations for future research are also discussed. Clinicians need to present with a non-judgmental and unbiased attitude towards their gay patients to best meet their health needs, including issues related to mental health and substance abuse. Language: en
Nano-photonics: past and present

Nanotech is at the scale of 10 -9 meters, located at the mesocopic transition phase, which can take both classical mechanics (CM) and quantum mechanics (QM) descriptions bridging ten orders of magnitude phenomena, between the microscopic world of a single atom at 10 -10 meters with the macroscopic world at meters. However, QM principles aid the understanding of any unusual property at the nanotech level. The other major difference between nano-photonics and other forms of optics is that the nano-scale is not very 'hands on'. For the most part, we will not be able to see the components with our naked eyes, but will be required to use some nanotech imaging tools, as follows:
Piezoelectric unimorph MEMS deformable mirror for ultra-large telescopes

This paper describes the results of our demonstration on a proof-of-concept piezoelectric unimorph-based deformable mirror (DM) with continuous single-crystal silicon membrane. A PZT unimorph actuator of 2.5 mm in diameter with optimized PZT/Si thickness and design showed a deflection of 5 μm at 50 V. DMs consisting of 10 μm thick single-crystal silicon membranes supported by 4×4 actuator arrays were fabricated and optically characterized. An assembled DM showed a stroke of 2.5 μm at 50 V with a resonant frequency of 42 kHz and influence function of approximately 25%.
The Risk of Waking-Up. Impact of the Morning Surge in Blood Pressure

Through ambulatory blood pressure (BP) monitoring, we know that BP usually follows a distinct circadian rhythm, characterized by a nocturnal decline during sleep of 10% to 30%, followed by a moderate-to-marked increase coinciding with the time of awakening.1 For >2 decades, there has been great interest in the early morning period by preventive cardiologists and hypertension specialists, because it became evident that the onset of acute events, including sudden death, myocardial infarction, and stroke peak in the first 4 to 6 hours postawakening.2,3 Because BP, heart rate, and these cardiovascular events all follow the same temporal pattern, it has been suspected that a pathophysiological relationship exists between hemodynamic aberrations, such as the early morning BP surge and vascular damage.3 Previous researchers have characterized the morning BP surge associated with increased target organ injury.3,4 Risk factors for a profile of excessive early morning hypertension include older age, excessive alcohol and/or smoking, longer sleep times and later awakening times, cold weather climates, and day of the week (primarily Monday!).5,6 Several studies performed in the past decade have found significant relations among the early morning BP surge and vascular disease,7 cardiac hypertrophy,4 and white matter lesions of the brain.6,8 Prospective studies in Japanese individuals8,9 have demonstrated a clinical impact of the early morning BP surge in predicting cardiovascular events. In one such cohort with ≈3.5 years of follow-up, for each 10-mm Hg increase in the early morning systolic BP surge obtained at baseline, the risk of stroke increased by 22%.8 Of note, this change of BP on arising predicted cardiovascular events independently of age, the average 24-hour systolic BP, and antihypertensive therapy. …
RECURRENCE QUANTIFICATIONS: FEATURE EXTRACTIONS FROM RECURRENCE PLOTS

Recurrence plots are two-dimensional representations of multidimensional dynamics captured by applying time delays to a single series (vector) of ordinal data in time or space. Recurrence plots may be presented with beautiful lace-like structures, but most important is the inference these patterns make about the underlying dynamics. Complex patterns in recurrence plots can be reduced to primary diagonal, vertical and horizontal dot patterns aligned on a grid. It is the mixing and matching of these primary structures that give rise to all derivative graphical complexities. Once strict definitions are in place, features are easily quantified from recurrence plots of any form including cross recurrence plots.
BIDIRECTIONAL SYNTHESIS OF [5-ASPARTIC ACID] ARGININE VASOPRESSIN ON POLY-N-ACRYLYLPYRROLIDINE RESIN

In the proposed biologically active conformation of vasopressin at its antidiuretic receptor, the side-chain carboxamide moiety of the 5-position asparaginyl residue has been suggested to be an active element for the initiation of the antidiuretic response. [5-Aspartic acid] arginine vasopressin, the analog in which the -NH2 portion of the primary amide has been replaced by an -OH group, has been synthesized and tested for some of the pharmacological activities of vasopressin. The partially protected nonapeptide intermediate was assembled bidirectionally on a poly-N-acrylylpyrrolidine resin. The 6-position cysteinyl residue was attached to the resin via its side-chain through an S-carbamoyl linkage. First the COOH-terminus was extended by coupling with Pro-Arg(Tos)-Gly-NH2, then the NH2-terminus was extended in a stepwise manner. [5-Aspartic acid] arginine vasopressin was found to possess 86.5 +/- 4.8 units/mg of antidiuretic potency, 17% of the parent hormone. In addition, the analog possesses rat pressor and rat uterotonic potencies of 6.93 +/- 0.15 and 0.38 +/- 0.03 units/mg, respectively. This result suggests that a carboxylic acid moiety on the 5-position aspartyl residue retains sufficient steric features and hydrophilicity in common with the carboxamide moiety present in the hormone to substitute for it as an active element at the antidiuretic receptor.
EXPERIMENTAL AND COMPUTATIONAL INVESTIGATION OF FLOW IN GAS TURBINE BLADE COOLING PASSAGES

Results of experimental and numerical investigations into internal gas turbine cooling passage ∞ows are presented in the context of developing fundamental data sets and numerical tools. In the former work, observations and comparisons of the ∞ow downstream of a backward facing step and four turbulator arrangements are described using PIV and hot-wire measurements. In the latter research, results are presented for flts to high time resolution measurements of turbulent ∞ow; the type of which are required for accurate predictions of a chaotic nature.
The phosphorylated form of the enhancer-binding protein NTRC has an ATPase activity that is essential for activation of transcription

Abstract The NTRC protein of enteric bacteria is an enhancer-binding protein that activates transcription in response to limitation of combined nitrogen. NTRC activates transcription by catalyzing formation of open complexes by RNA polymerase (θ 54 holoenzyme form) in an ATP-dependent reaction. To catalyze open complex formation, NTRC must be phosphorylated. We show that phosphorylated NTRC has an ATPase activity, and we present biochemical and genetic evidence that NTRC must hydrolyze ATP to catalyze open complex formation. It is likely that all activators of θ 54 holoenzyme have an ATPase activity.
Mechanical response of skeletal muscle following oral administration of pesticides.

Studies were made of the mechanical response characteristics of the soleus muscle, in situ, in rats orally dosed with a pesticide. The compounds tested and the doses administered were: carbaryl, 56 mg/kg; parathion, 1.8 mg/kg; p,p′-DDT, 50 mg/kg; chlordane, 260 mg/kg. Two hr after administration of the calculated dose, the rat was anesthetized with sodium pentobarbital, the distal tendon of the right soleus muscle was freed from its insertion, and attached to a force-displacement strain gauge transducer; stimulating electrodes were affixed to the sciatic nerve. Characteristics of performance measured were stimulus frequency required (critical frequency) and tension developed for complete tetanus; frequency of stimulation required and tension developed for maximum tension; time constants for tetanic contraction and relaxation; single contraction tension and duration. DDT treatment resulted in statistically significant reductions in tension of both the single twitch and complete tetanus contractions. Carbaryl increased the tensions developed during complete tetanus and decreased the time constant of tension development. Neither parathion nor chlordane altered any of the response characteristics at the doses tested. It is concluded that skeletal muscle mechanical behavior provides important criteria for the evaluation of effects and mechanisms of action of pesticides in intact animals.
Experience (mostly negative) with the use of sympathomimetic agents for weight loss

Sympathomimetic agents have a poor history of long-term success in the treatment of obesity. From earlier experiences with amphetamine and its analogs, to more recent drugs with direct effects on adrenergic receptors or indirect effects from release of catecholamines or inhibition of reuptake, cardiovascular toxicity (strokes and cardiac arrhythmias) has been the major concern. These concerns also extended to food supplements containing ephedra alkaloids and may require consideration for current supplements containing the sympathomimetic drug, synephrine.
Estimated risk of perihippocampal disease progression after hippocampal avoidance during whole-brain radiotherapy: safety profile for RTOG 0933.

Abstract Background and purpose RTOG 0933 is a phase II clinical trial of hippocampal avoidance during whole-brain radiotherapy (HA-WBRT) to prevent radiation-induced neurocognitive decline. By quantifying baseline incidence of perihippocampal or hippocampal metastasis, we sought to estimate the risk of developing metastases in the hippocampal avoidance region (the hippocampus plus 5mm margin). Materials/methods Patients with ⩽10 brain metastases treated at two separate institutions were reviewed. Axial images from pre-treatment, post-contrast MRIs were used to contour each metastasis and hippocampus according to a published protocol. Clinical and radiographic variables were correlated with perihippocampal metastasis using a binary logistical regression analysis, with two-sided p Results 1133 metastases were identified in 371 patients. Metastases within 5mm of the hippocampus were observed in 8.6% of patients (95% CI 5.7–11.5%) and 3.0% of brain metastases. None of the metastases lay within the hippocampus. A 1-cm 3 increase in the aggregate volume of intra-cranial metastatic disease was associated with an odds ratio of 1.02 (95% CI 1.006–1.034, p =0.003) for the presence of perihippocampal metastasis. Conclusion With an estimated perihippocampal metastasis risk of 8.6%, we deem HA-WBRT safe for clinical testing in patients with brain metastases as part of RTOG 0933.
Toward Next Century’s Industrial Catalysis

Environmental issues will be determining the future of the chemical industry around the globe. The signs are very clear: it is becoming increasingly difficult to obtain permits, eliminate waste, construct incinerators and receive and ship toxic materials. The enviro-economics will guide corporate decisions in technology and will aim to improve productivity. Prices will be set to reflect the cost of using environmental resources, and this will clearly affect the relative importance of environmental vs variable costs for current and future plants. Catalysis will play a key role in providing solutions to these environmental challenges by designing processes with 100% yield (by whatever process); by improved catalyst recovery, regeneration and recycle; by heterogenization of homogeneous catalysts; by increasing importance of chiral pharmaceutical and agrochemicals; by polymer recycle and by synthesizing environmentally safer products. Several of these aspects will be highlighted in this paper.
Estimation, smoothing, and characterization of apparent diffusion coefficient profiles from High Angular Resolution DWI

We present a new variational framework for recovery of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC)from High Angular Resolution Diffusion-weighted (HARD) MRI. The model approximates the ADC profiles by a 4th order spherical harmonic series (SHS), whose coefficients are obtained by solving a constrained minimization problem. By minimizing the energy functional, the ADC profiles are estimated and regularized simultaneously across the entire volume. In this model, feature preserving smoothing is achieved by minimizing a non-standard growth functional, and the estimation is based on the original Stejskal-Tanner equation. The antipodal symmetry and positiveness of the ADC are also accommodated into the model. Furthermore, coefficients of the SHS and the variance of ADC profiles from its mean are used to characterize the diffusion anisotropy. The effectiveness of the proposed model is depicted via application to both simulated and HARD MRI human brain data. The characterization of non-Gaussian diffusion based on the proposed model showed consistency with known neuroanatomy.
Use of B-natriuretic peptide as a diagnostic marker in the differential diagnosis of transfusion-associated circulatory overload

BACKGROUND: Transfusion-associated circulatory overload (TACO) occurs when the transfusion rate or volume exceeds the capacity of a compromised cardiovascular system. Characteristic symptoms and signs associated with TACO are neither sensitive nor specific. B-natriuretic peptide (BNP) is a 32-amino-acid polypeptide secreted from the cardiac ventricles in response to ventricular volume expansion and pressure overload. This study was performed to explore the usage of BNP in the differential diagnosis of TACO. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Pre- and posttransfusion BNP levels were determined in 21 patients with suspected TACO and 19 control patients. The BNP was considered significant if the posttransfusion-topretransfusion ratio was at least 1.5 and the posttransfusion BNP level was at least 100 pg per mL. RESULTS: The BNP test has a sensitivity and specificity of 81 and 89 percent, respectively, in diagnosis of TACO. It has a positive predictive value of 89 percent, a negative predictive value of 81 percent, and an accuracy of 87 percent. In logistic regression analysis, BNP was found to have significant predictive power independent of other clinical variables in models predicting which patients had TACO. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that in patients who present symptoms suggestive of TACO, BNP can be a useful adjunct marker in confirming volume overload as the cause of acute dyspnea and symptoms related to cardiovascular compromise. cute respiratory distress during or shortly after transfusion may be due to transfusionassociated circulatory overload (TACO), transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI), allergic reactions, or underlying disease. The risk of TACO is generally believed low; however, the incidence can be as high as 1 percent in patients who receive transfusions.
Comparison of verapamil and nifedipine in the treatment of variant angina pectoris: Preliminary observations in 10 patients☆

Abstract To assess the relative efficacy of verapamil, nifedlpine and placebo in the therapy of patients with variant angina pectoris, 10 such patients (6 men and 4 women, average age 52 years) were treated for 2 month periods with verapamil (mean ± standard deviation 400 ± 80 mg / day in three to six equal doses; range 240 to 480 mg/day), nifediplne (82 ± 31 mg / day in four to six equal doses; range 40 to 160 mg/day) and placebo. Eight of the 10 patients were maintained throughout the study on a stable regimen of oral isosorbide dinitrate (137 ± 56 mg / day in four to six equal doses; range 40 to 200 mg/day). Before the study, all underwent cardiac catheterization: eight had no fixed coronary artery disease, one had single vessel and one had triple vessel disease. Two patients had been resuscitated from sudden cardiac death before the study. Each patient underwent calibrated two channel ambulatory electrocardiographic monitoring for 24 hours during each week of the study. During each 2 month period, the following data were quantitated: (1) chest pains per week, (2) nitroglycerin tablets used per week, (3) required hospitalizations for clinical instability, (4) adverse effects, and (5) episodes of transient S-T segment deviation on ambulatory monitoring. The number of chest pains per week, the number of nttroglycerin tablets used per week and the number of transient S-T segment deviations on calibrated two channel ambulatory electrocardiographic monitoring were similar during treatment with verapamil and nifedipine and less than with placebo. Hospitalization for clinical instability was required in two patients taking placebo and in two taking nifedipine; no patient required hospitalization during treatment with verapamil. Verapamil caused mild constipation in two patients, sinus nodal pauses in one patient and palpitations in one; none of these effects forced a discontinuation or substantial reduction in dosage. In contrast, the dosage of nifedipine was reduced because of induced orthostatic hypotension in two patients, marked pedal edema in one patient and nausea, anorexia and nonorthostatic dizziness in three. Thus verapamil and nifedipine showed similar efficacy in the treatment of variant angina, although nifedipine was associated with more substantial adverse effects than either placebo or verapamil in this small number of patients.
Defining the General Motors 2-Mode Hybrid Transmission

The new General Motors 2-Mode Hybrid transmission for full-size, full-utility SUVs integrates two electromechanical power-split operating modes with four fixed gear ratios and provides fuel savings from electric assist, regenerative braking and low-speed electric vehicle operation. A combination of two power-split modes reduces the amount of mechanical power that must be converted to electricity for continuously variable transmission operation. Four fixed gear ratios further improve power transmission capacity and efficiency for especially demanding maneuvers such as full acceleration, hill climbing, and towing. This paper explains the basics of electro-mechanical power-split transmissions, input-split and compound-split modes, and the addition of fixed gear ratios to these modes to create the 2-Mode Hybrid transmission for SUVs.
Measuring β-Galactosidase Activity in Bacteria: Cell Growth, Permeabilization, and Enzyme Assays in 96-Well Arrays

Abstract We describe a high-throughput procedure for measuring β-galactosidase activity in bacteria. This procedure is unique because all manipulations, including bacterial growth and cell permeabilization, are performed in a 96-well format. Cells are permeabilized by chloroform/SDS treatment directly in the 96-well blocks and then transferred to 96-well microplates for standard colorimetric assay of β-galactosidase activity as described by Miller [J. H. Miller (1972) Experiments in Molecular Genetics, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, NY]. Absorbance data are collected with a microplate reader and analyzed using a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet. The β-galactosidase specific activity values obtained with the high-throughput procedure are identical to those obtained by the traditional single-tube method of Miller. Thus, values obtained with this procedure may be expressed as Miller units and compared directly to Miller units reported in the literature. The 96-well format for permeabilization and assay of enzyme specific activity together with the use of 12-channel and repeater pipettors enables efficient processing of hundreds of samples in an 8-h day.
Mitigation of Sulfur Effects on a Lean NOx Trap Catalyst by Sorbate Reapplication

Lean NOx trap catalysis has demonstrated the ability to reduce NOx emissions from lean natural gas reciprocating engines by >90%. The technology operates in a cyclic fashion where NOx is trapped on the catalyst during lean operation and released and reduced to N2 under rich exhaust conditions; the rich cleansing operation of the cycle is referred to as “regeneration” since the catalyst is reactivated for more NOx trapping. Natural gas combusted over partial oxidation catalysts in the exhaust can be used to obtain the rich exhaust conditions necessary for catalyst regeneration. Thus, the lean NOx trap technology is well suited for lean natural gas engine applications. One potential limitation of the lean NOx trap technology is sulfur poisoning. Sulfur compounds directly bond to the NOx trapping sites of the catalyst and render them ineffective; over time, the sulfur poisoning leads to degradation in overall NOx reduction performance. In order to mitigate the effects of sulfur poisoning, a process has been developed to restore catalyst activity after sulfur poisoning has occurred. The process is an aqueous-based wash process that removes the poisoned sorbate component of the catalyst. A new sorbate component is reapplied after removal of the poisoned sorbate. The process is low cost and does not involve reapplication of precious metal components of the catalyst. Experiments were conducted to investigate the feasibility of the washing process on a lean 8.3-liter natural gas engine on a dynamometer platform. The catalyst was rapidly sulfur poisoned with bottled SO2 gas; then, the catalyst sorbate was washed and reapplied and performance was reevaluated. Results show that the sorbate reapplication process is effective at restoring lost performance due to sulfur poisoning. Specific details relative to the implementation of the process for large stationary natural gas engines will be discussed.
Fundamental studies of hydrogen chemisorption on supported monometallic and bimetallic catalysts using microcalorimetry

Highly dispersed transition metal catalysts are used in numerous commercial processes such as hydrocarbon conversions. For example, the use of Pt supported on acidic alumina or silica-alumina for reforming of naphtha in the production of gasoline is well known. Another use of supported catalysts is in automobile emission control where supported Pt-Rh bimetallic catalysts are used. Supported Ru can be used in Fischer-Tropsch synthesis for the production of higher hydrocarbons from synthesis gas. While many of these catalyst systems have been in commercial operation for several decades there is still a lack of consensus regarding the exact role of the catalyst on a molecular level. In particular, little is known about the mechanisms operating on the catalyst surface at the high pressure and high temperature conditions typically used in commercial operations. This report contains the general introduction and conclusions and an appendix containing the operating instructions for a microcalorimeter. Three chapters have been processed separately. They are: the effect of K on the kinetics and thermodynamics of hydrogen adsorption on Ru/SiO{sub 2}; hydrogen adsorption states on silica supported Ru-Ag and Ru-Cu bimetallic catalysts investigated via microcalorimetry; a comparative study of hydrogen chemisorption on silica supported Ru, Rh, and Pt.
Effect of grooves on magnetization reversal in amorphous TbFeCo thin films

We have investigated the effect of grooves milled by argon ions in soda lime glass substrates on the magnetic behavior of amorphous TbFeCo films deposited onto these substrates. The domains are shown to expand along the grooves when the groove depth exceeds 10 nm. The effect originates from the difference in the coercivities of the film on the land and on the groove, as well as from the pinning of domain walls by the side-walls of the grooves. >
Synonymy of Etiennea Matile-Ferrero with Hemilecanium Newstead (Hemiptera : Coccidae), based on morphology of adult females, adult males and first-instar nymphs, and description of a new potential pest species from the Ryukyu Archipelago, Japan

The genus Etiennea Matile-Ferrero is synonymized with Hemilecanium Newstead (Hemiptera: Coccidae). We base this decision on a morphological comparative study of adult females, adult males and first-instar nymphs (crawlers), including a phylogenetic analysis. We recovered a sister group relationship between the type species of the two genera, Etiennea villiersi Matile-Ferrero and Hemilecanium theobromae Newstead; that is, each was more closely related to the other than either was to other species in their respective genera. All species hitherto included in Etiennea are transferred to Hemilecanium: H. bursera (Hodgson & Kondo) comb. nov., H. cacao (Hodgson) comb. nov., H. candelabra (Hodgson) comb. nov., H. capensis (Hodgson) comb. nov., H. carpenteri (Newstead) comb. nov., H. cephalomeatus (Hodgson) comb. nov., H. combreti (Hodgson) comb. nov., H. ferina (De Lotto) comb. nov., H. ferox (Newstead) comb. nov., H. gouligouli (Hodgson) comb. nov., H. halli (Hodgson) comb. nov., H. kellyi (Brain) comb. nov., H. madagascariensis (Hodgson) comb. nov., H. montrichardiae (Newstead) comb. nov., H. multituberculum (Hodgson) comb. nov., H. petasus (Hodgson) comb. nov., H. sinetuberculum (Hodgson) comb. nov., H. tafoensis (Hodgson) comb. nov., H. ulcusculum (Hodgson) comb. nov., and H. villiersi (Matile-Ferrero) comb. nov. Keys to the adult females of all 26 species and known adult males and first-instar nymphs are provided. The adult males and first-instar nymphs of H. theobromae Newstead and E. villiersi Matile-Ferrero are for the first time fully described and illustrated. One new potential pest species of Hemilecanium, H. uesatoi Kondo & Hardy sp. nov., which was collected on three islands of the Ryukyu Archipelago, Japan, is described and illustrated based on the adult female, adult male and first-instar nymph. We discuss evidence that H. uesatoi is a new introduction to the Ryukyu Archipelago. The first-instar nymphs of Hemilecanium can be divided into two distinct morphological groups, the petasus group and the theobromae group.
MITE-Hunter: a program for discovering miniature inverted-repeat transposable elements from genomic sequences

Miniature inverted-repeat transposable elements (MITEs) are a special type of Class 2 non-autonomous transposable element (TE) that are abundant in the non-coding regions of the genes of many plant and animal species. The accurate identification of MITEs has been a challenge for existing programs because they lack coding sequences and, as such, evolve very rapidly. Because of their importance to gene and genome evolution, we developed MITE-Hunter, a program pipeline that can identify MITEs as well as other small Class 2 non-autonomous TEs from genomic DNA data sets. The output of MITE-Hunter is composed of consensus TE sequences grouped into families that can be used as a library file for homology-based TE detection programs such as RepeatMasker. MITE-Hunter was evaluated by searching the rice genomic database and comparing the output with known rice TEs. It discovered most of the previously reported rice MITEs (97.6%), and found sixteen new elements. MITE-Hunter was also compared with two other MITE discovery programs, FINDMITE and MUST. Unlike MITE-Hunter, neither of these programs can search large genomic data sets including whole genome sequences. More importantly, MITE-Hunter is significantly more accurate than either FINDMITE or MUST as the vast majority of their outputs are false-positives.
Science on trial: The clash of medical evidence and the law in the breast implant case

Science on trial: The clash of medical evidence and the law in the breast implant case. Marcia Angell (W.W. Norton & Co., New York, N.Y., 1996), 256 pages, $27.50.
Sensitive Ultrasonic Delineation of Steroid Treatment in Living Dystrophic Mice with Energy-Based and Entropy-Based Radio Frequency Signal Processing

Duchenne muscular dystrophy is a severe wasting disease, involving replacement of necrotic muscle tissue by fibrous material and fatty infiltrates. One primary animal model of this human disease is the X chromosome-linked mdx strain of mice. The goals of the present work were to validate and quantify the capability of both energy and entropy metrics of radio-frequency ultrasonic backscatter to differentiate among normal, dystrophic, and steroid-treated skeletal muscle in the mdx model. Thirteen 12-month-old mice were blocked into three groups: 4 treated mdx-dystrophic that received daily subcutaneous steroid (prednisolone) treatment for 14 days, 4 positive-control mdx-dystrophic that received saline injections for 14 days, and 5 negative-control animals. Biceps muscle of each animal was imaged in vivo using a 40-MHz center frequency transducer in conjunction with a Vevo-660 ultrasound system. Radio-frequency data were acquired (1 GHz, 8 bits) corresponding to a sequence of transverse images, advancing the transducer from "shoulder" to "elbow" in 100-micron steps. Data were processed to generate both "integrated backscatter" (log energy), and "entropy" (information theoretic receiver, Hf) representations. Analyses of the integrated-backscatter values delineated both treated-and untreated-mdx biceps from normal controls (p<0.01). Complementary analyses of the entropy images differentiated the steroid-treated and positive-control mdx groups (p<0.01). To our knowledge, this study represents the first reported use of quantitative ultrasonic characterization of skeletal muscle in mdx mice. Successful differentiation among dystrophic, steroid-treated, and normal tissues suggests the potential for local noninvasive monitoring of disease severity and therapeutic effects.
Low-temperature operation of Ge picosecond logic circuits

Low temperature operation of emitter-coupled logic circuits offers potential advantages in reliability, noise immunity, power dissipation, and speed. Experimental picosecond germanium integrated circuits exhibit significant improvements in delay with moderate cooling, in contrast to observed degradation in the performance of comparable silicon circuits. The results of a study of the design factors and performance of germanium circuits at low temperatures are described, with comparisons to silicon. The effect of temperature on circuit propagation delay is emphasized. Brief discussions are included relating observed circuit and transistor temperature dependences to those of more fundamental parameters and processes.
Brief Report: Bridging the Divide for Better Health - Harnessing the power of Emotional Intelligence to foster an enhanced Clinician-Patient Relationship

Background: According to Daniel Goleman, Emotional Intelligence accounts for up to eighty percent of unexplained successes in life and the remaining is mainly due to technical competence accounted by differences in the Intelligence Quotient. Aim/Objective: This preliminary mini-review of the literature on Emotional Intelligence explores the application of Golemans’ definition of Emotional Intelligence’ multidimensional construct; self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy, and social skill, to the healthcare environment to foster an enhanced Clinician-Patient Relationship. Implications: As increasing minority demographics in the United States call for a high degree of cultural and emotional sensitivity in our clinician workforce, the development of Emotional Intelligence as a core competence and its inclusion in staff education and training seeks to provide clinicians with the requisite skills to address and deliver culturally appropriate health care services. Conclusion: This paper concludes with a summary of the definitions for each dimension of Emotional Intelligence and corresponding applications to the Clinician-patient relationship
Effects of materialism on work-related personal well-being

Materialism is a defining aspect of many societal cultures. Unfortunately, a large body of research has documented a negative relationship between materialism and indicators of non-work personal well-being. This study extends the materialism research into the organizational domain, investigating whether materialistic values are related to work-related indicators of personal well-being. Our field study results indicate that materialistic values are negatively associated with a range of indicators of work-related personal well-being, including intrinsic and extrinsic reward satisfaction, job satisfaction, and career satisfaction. Further analyses suggest that the relationship between materialism and work-related personal well-being is driven by the happiness and centrality dimensions of materialism, and not by the success dimension. Implications for future research and practice are presented.
Concepts, features, and design of a sixteen-to-four beam combiner for ILSE

In ILSE (Induction Linac Systems Experiment), sixteen intense parallel ion beams are to be transversely combined into four by dispersionless double bends. Emittance growth due to electrostatic energy redistribution and to the geometry is evaluated. Most bending elements are electric, and alternate with AG electrostatic quadrupoles similar to those upstream. The final elements are magnetic, combining focusing and 'unbending'. Electrode shapes and pulsed-current arrays (with very small clearances), as well as mechanical and electric features of the combiner, are described. >
Effect of Reproduction on the Bioavailability of Calcium, Zinc and Selenium

Nutrient needs increase during pregnancy and lactation to support fetal growth and milk synthesis, respectively. Physiological adjustments that are made to meet those needs alter the fraction of ingested nutrient retained, or the bioavailability. Using stable isotopes as tracers, we measured calcium, zinc and selenium homeostasis in women during reproduction. The physiological response, and therefore the bioavailability, of these three minerals differed during reproduction. Calcium absorption increased 2-fold during pregnancy but dropped to values for nonpregnant women during lactation. The calcium needs for lactation were met by renal conservation and bone resorption. In women chronically consuming a low calcium diet, fractional calcium absorption increased to >80% during reproduction. Zinc absorption tended to increase during pregnancy and lactation; renal conservation was not evident at any time during the reproductive cycle. Selenium absorption was high, ∼80% of intake, in both pregnant and nonpregnant women. Pregnant women conserved selenium by decreasing urinary selenium excretion. Studies defining the impact of maternal status and the dietary mineral source and amount on mineral bioavailability are needed to determine the potential benefits of mineral supplementation during reproduction.
The Novel Human Protein Arginine N-Methyltransferase PRMT6 Is a Nuclear Enzyme Displaying Unique Substrate Specificity *

Protein arginine methylation is a prevalent posttranslational modification in eukaryotic cells that has been implicated in signal transduction, the metabolism of nascent pre-RNA, and the transcriptional activation processes. In searching the human genome for protein arginine N-methyltransferase (PRMT) family members, a novel gene has been found on chromosome 1 that encodes for an apparent methyltransferase, PRMT6. The polypeptide chain of PRMT6 is 41.9 kDa consisting of a catalytic core sequence common to other PRMT enzymes. Expressed as a glutathioneS-transferase fusion protein, PRMT6 demonstrates type I PRMT activity, capable of forming both ω-NG-monomethylarginine and asymmetric ω-NG,NG-dimethylarginine derivatives on the recombinant glycine- and arginine-rich substrate in a processive manner with a specific activity of 144 pmol methyl groups transferred min−1 mg−1 enzyme. A comparison of substrate specificity reveals that PRMT6 is functionally distinct from two previously characterized type I enzymes, PRMT1 and PRMT4. In addition, PRMT6 displays automethylation activity; it is the first PRMT to do so. This novel human PRMT, which resides solely in the nucleus when fused to the green fluorescent protein, joins a family of enzymes with diverse functions within cells.
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of Asbestos and Lead Building Materials in Schools: Goal and Scope Definition

This paper describes ongoing research and its application of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) techniques to the problem of public school facility deterioration and resulting impacts on environmental health. Specifically, this project targets asbestoscontaining materials (ACM) and lead-based paint (LBP). These building components were chosen due to the severity of their associated health risks and their ubiquity in the national school environments. Underway is the development of an LCA framework to describe and predict environmental impacts of facility condition, deterioration, maintenance and disposal alternatives. The present paper discusses the “goal” and “scope definition” phases of the LCA process.