cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The latest disease burden challenge: People with multiple chronic conditions

In order for the transformation of the health care system to be successful, all aspects of the health care system must evolve to meet the new challenges created by a changing burden of disease. This chapter focuses on five components of the health care system that have evolved continuously over the past 50 years and will continue to need to evolve if the health care system is going to be responsive to the current and future burden of disease. The five components of the health care system are: 1) biomedical and health services research, 2) health professions education, 3) financing of health care services, 4) delivery systems, and 5) quality metrics.
Web search and data mining of natural products and their bioactivities in PubChem

Natural products, as major resources for drug discovery historically, are gaining more attentions recently due to the advancement in genomic sequencing and other technologies, which makes them attractive and amenable to drug candidate screening. Collecting and mining the bioactivity information of natural products are extremely important for accelerating drug development process by reducing cost. Lately, a number of publicly accessible databases have been established to facilitate the access to the chemical biology data for small molecules including natural products. Thus, it is imperative for scientists in related fields to exploit these resources in order to expedite their researches on natural products as drug leads/candidates for disease treatment. PubChem, as a public database, contains large amounts of natural products associated with bioactivity data. In this review, we introduce the information system provided at PubChem, and systematically describe the applications for a set of PubChem web services for rapid data retrieval, analysis, and downloading of natural products. We hope this work can serve as a starting point for the researchers to perform data mining on natural products using PubChem.
Conflict Intensity, Family History, and Physiological Stress Reactions to Conflict Within Romantic Relationships

This study drew upon the physiological model of stress and desensitization processes to deduce hypotheses linking the intensity of conflict communication and exposure to familial verbal aggression in childhood to experiences of conflict within romantic relationships. One hundred college-aged students (50 dating couples) participated in a dyadic interaction in which partners discussed a source of conflict in their romantic relationship. Participants reported childhood exposure to familial verbal aggression, third-party observers rated the intensity of conflict communication, and salivary cortisol indexed physiological stress responses to the conflict interactions. As predicted, results showed a positive association between conflict intensity and cortisol reactivity, and this association was attenuated for individuals who reported higher, rather than lower, levels of childhood exposure to familial verbal aggression.
A new integration technology platform: Integrated fan-out wafer-level-packaging for mobile applications

3D sub-system integration of logic and DRAM with TSV is desirable for wide memory bandwidth and reduced power for mobile applications. However, its manufacturing cost, along with testing and heat dissipation, remains to be outstanding issues. A new integration technology platform, InFO, is proposed to address it. In this paper, we compare three main 3D integration architectures: InFO_PoP, FC_PoP and 3DIC with TSV based on mobile product requirements, including system power- performance-profile (form factor), heat dissipation, memory bandwidth and production cycle-time along with cost. InFO not only best optimizes and achieves the requirements, but also more readily integrates partitioned-chips, which further impacts on the manufacturing of the logic/DRAM sub-system.
Parallel architecture for video processing in a smart camera system

In this paper, we present our research on parallel architectures for a smart camera system. We analyze the available data independencies for a particular application, namely human detection and activity recognition, and discuss the potential architectures to exploit the parallelism resulted from these independencies. Three architectures-VLIW, symmetric parallel, and macro-pipeline architectures-are discussed and their performances are presented.
Perceptual Support of Diagram Creation and Editing

Diagrams mediate thinking and understanding largely through the human visual system’s innate ability to perceive visuo-spatial structure. Tools for working with diagrams will benefit from the ability of machines to identify visual structure in concert with their human users. This poster and its companion summarize recent progress in perceptually-supported diagram creation and editing. In particular, our research group has deployed a document image editing program realizing some measure of Gestalt Perceptual Organization for sketches and diagrams.
Implications of Alternative Mitigation Policies on World Prices for Fossil Fuels and Agricultural Products

Emissions mitigation policies affect prices, including prices for fossil fuels and agricultural products. Consumer prices for coal and natural gas are expected to rise when climate policy is implemented, while oil prices may be reduced or remain the same in comparison to a no policy scenario. Impacts on agricultural prices are more controversial as reduced negative productivity impacts on yields are compensated by increased costs of energy inputs to agriculture, lower CO2 fertilization effect, and a competition for land from biofuels. In most of the mitigation scenarios considered in the paper, mitigation policies increase agricultural prices in comparison to the no policy scenario.
Renormalizing chaotic dynamics in fractal porous media with application to microbe motility

[1] Motivated by the need to understand the movement of microbes in natural porous systems and the evolution of their genetic information, a renormalization procedure for motile particles in media with fractal functionality between upper and lower cutoffs is developed and applied to Levy particles. On the micro scale, particle trajectories are the solution to an integrated stochastic ordinary differential equation (SODE) with Markov, stationary, ergodic drift subject to Levy diffusion. The Levy diffusion allows for self-motile particles. On the meso scale, the trajectory is the solution to an integrated SODE with Levy drift and diffusion arising from the microscale asymptotics. Levy drift is associated with the fractal character of the Lagrangian velocity. On the macro scale, the process is driven by the asymptotics of the mesoscale drift without additional diffusion. Renormalized dispersion equations are presented on the meso and macro scales.
Phase-sweep method for characterization of cw-laser-induced dielectric gratings

We present a new phase-sweep method for characterizing laser-induced complex dielectric gratings. This characterization requires four parameters: the amplitudes and the spatial phases of both the refractive-index and the absorption components. We apply this phase-sweep method to study a complex polarizability grating in a nominally undoped cubic photorefractive Bi12TiO20 crystal. We determine the polarizability difference αfe between a full and an empty photoexcitable deep trap at 633 nm in Bi12TiO20 to be (2.5 − 8.3i ± 1.0 ± 3.3i) × 10−40 F m2 in SI units or (2.3 − 7.5i ± 0.9 ± 3.0i) × 10−24 cm3 in Gaussian units.
Enteral autonomy, cirrhosis, and long term transplant-free survival in pediatric intestinal failure patients.

Abstract Purpose Patient selection for transplant evaluation in pediatric intestinal failure is predicated on the ability to assess long-term transplant-free survival. In light of trends toward improved survival of intestinal failure patients in recent decades, we sought to determine if the presence of biopsy-proven hepatic cirrhosis or the eventual achievement of enteral autonomy were associated with transplant-free survival. Methods After IRB approval, records of all pediatric intestinal failure patients (parenteral nutrition (PN) >90days) treated at a single intestinal failure center from February 2002 to September 2014 were reviewed. Chi-squared, Mann–Whitney, and log-rank testing were performed as appropriate. Results Of 313 patients, 174 eventually weaned off PN. Liver biopsies were available in 126 patients (most common indication was intestinal failure associated liver disease, IFALD), and 23 met histologic criteria for cirrhosis. Transplant-free survival for the whole cohort of 313 patients was 94.7% at 1year and 89.2% at 5years. Among patients with liver biopsies, transplant-free survival in cirrhotics vs. noncirrhotics was 95.5% vs. 94.1% at one year and 95.5% vs. 86.7% at 5years (P=0.29). Transplant-free survival in patients who achieved enteral autonomy compared with patients who remained PN dependent was 98.2% vs. 90.3% at one year and 98.2% vs. 76.9% at 5years (P Conclusions Achieving enteral autonomy was associated with improved transplant-free survival in pediatric intestinal failure patients. There was no association between histopathological diagnosis of cirrhosis and transplant-free survival in the cohort. These data suggest that automatic transplant referral may not be required for histopathological diagnosis of cirrhosis alone, and that ongoing efforts aimed at achievement of enteral autonomy remain paramount in pediatric intestinal failure.
Potential use of Red Palm Oil in Combating Vitamin A deficiency in India

Deficiency of vitamin A has long been recognized as a serious and preventable nutritional disease. Various intervention strategies have been implemented to combat the problem. Massive dosing of the vitamin has the advantage of immediate implementation but suffers from the disadvantage in that it applies to the isolated nutrient and requires repetitive administration. Natural food sources regularly included in diets offer a more viable long term solution. Red palm oil (RPO) can emerge as a viable alternative to other vitamin A rich foods, since it contains enormous amounts of natural carotenoids to the tune of around 700 PPM, the predominant ones being a and b carotene which have the highest biological potential for vitamin A conversion. Value addition of palm oil for edible purposes results in several nutritionally rich products like edible grade red palm oil (RPO), deacidified, deodourised RPOlein, isolated carotenoids and refined, bleached and deodourized palmolein oil RBD palmolein). RBD palmolein oil can serve as a replacement for any other commonly used edible oil, but has little additional advantage over other edible oils, stripped of its carotenoids. However, it’s naturally rich composition of tocopherols and tocotrienols, as well as the balanced fatty acid composition, makes it more superior to other edible oils used for dietary purposes. Addition of RBD palmolein to hydrogenated vegetable oil confers no advantage, and paradoxically, decreases it’s beneficial properties making it a more harmful vegetable oil from the cardiovascular health angle, because of conversion of fatty acids from the cis to trans type.
Towards Prediction of Thermally Induced Microcrack Initiation and Closure in Porous Ceramics

This article describes development of a model to predict microcrack density evolution as a function of thermal history in porous ceramics with anisotropic thermal expansion coefficients. The model is based on the evolution of statistical distributions of grain-boundary stresses and crack opening displacements (CODs), and represents universal cracking and crack closure behavior scaled by coefficients that depend on the microstructure and material properties. The functional forms for this model were developed from a 2D finite element simulation of thermally induced microcracking. Specifically, the grain-boundary stresses and CODs were studied, and a parameter describing each quantity was calibrated from modulus hysteresis data. An additional calibration parameter was also introduced to link crack density to macroscopic behavior. The model was applied to experimental results from a porous cordierite ceramic and shown to accurately describe its behavior.
Orientation responses of an isopod to temporal changes in relative humidity: simulation of a «humid patch» in a «dry habitat»

Abstract A computer programme defined a simulated “patch” of high relative humidity within a “habitat” of lower relative humidity; successive encounters of the isopod Armadilidium nasatum with the drier unfavourable condition were recorded to delineate the overall strategy of finding and remaining within a resource of this kind. Because the humidity status of the air was made to change relative to the movements of the isopod, and because the dry or humid air moved vertically and not in the plane of the isopod's orientation, it was only possible for the isopod to return to the humid zone based entirely on its responses to temporal changes in relative humidity. The results show that isopods recognize the “edge” of the experimental resource patch through temporal comparisons of external chemosensory information, and suggest that the isopods return to the resource patch using genetically stored and possibly idiothetic information.
One-pot tandem decarboxylative allylation-Heck cyclization of allyl diphenylglycinate imines: rapid access to polyfunctionalized 1-aminoindanes.

1-Aminoindanes are generated from allyl diphenylglycinate imines employing a “one-pot” palladium-catalyzed decarboxylative allylation−Heck cyclization cascade. Variation of both the aryl and allyl moieties leads to a diverse range of polycyclic imines, amenable to the synthesis of natural products and other biologically relevant small molecules.
Psychologists and Psychiatrists as Leaders and Managers

Received: June 01, 2014 | Published: June 02, 2014 Our professional world is changing rapidly, creating unique opportunities and challenges for traditionally trained psychologists and psychiatrists entering leadership positions and assuming management responsibilities. Kelly and Finkelman [1] evaluated the advantages and limitations of these professionals in management within the context of the wide array of leadership possibilities and variety of their training and experience. They compared the knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) of the psychological professions to the requirements of organizations and management hierarchies ranging from traditional corporations to healthcare, educations, and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs).
Endoplasmic reticulum and its relation to microtubules in sieve elements of sugarbeet and spinach.

In healthy and virus-infected sugarbeet (Beta vulgaris L.) and spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) the sieve element in later stages of differentiation and at early maturity contains tubules consisting of microtubules surrounded by electron-dense material and enclosed in an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) cisterna. The dense material corresponds to the intercisternal material occurring between ER cisternae when the latter are stacked parallel to one another. The enclosure of microtubules into the combination of ER and intercisternal material starts at the beginning of degenerative changes leading to sieve element maturation. Only part of the microtubules are enclosed. The ER and intercisternal material also form tubules without the participation of microtubules. In addition to tubule formation, the ER undergoes various forms of aggregation, which are analyzed with reference to ER-intercisternal material relation. The intercisternal material often has orderly substructure.
Cardiac valvular dysfunction associated with Crohn's disease in the absence of ankylosing spondylitis

vessels were evident. In control animals, the microvascula-. ture was smooth and without abrupt terminations. There is abundant evidence that acute viral myocarditis produces cardiac dysfunction by mechanisms other than myocyte necrosis. For example, Burch5 demonstrated alterations in the small and large coronary arteries after coxsackie B4 and encephalomyocarditis (EMC) murine infections; these included extensive capillary and arterial damage associated with thrombus formation, which he felt resulted in obstruction to myocardial blood flow and subsequent ischemic damage to the myocardium. Factor et al.” have previously reported the presence of microvascular spasm in acute murine Chagas’ disease, although it was noted that the observed microvascular changes could have been secondary to the loss of supporting interstitial framework. Our findings in this study demonstrate widespread coronary microvascular narrowing consistent with spasm, extraluminal compression, or coronary vascular remodeling of the intima, media and/or supporting structures. Further study is required to extend these observations and to determine the morphologic nature of this luminal narrowing and the pathogenetic mechanisms involved.
On Wavelet Fundamental Solutions to the Heat Equation—Heatlets

Abstract We present an application of wavelet theory in partial differential equations. We study the wavelet fundamental solutions to the heat equation. The heat evolution of an initial wavelet state is called a heatlet. Like wavelets for the L2 space, heatlets are “atomic” heat evolutions in the sense that any general heat evolution can be “assembled” from a heatlet according to some simple rules. We study the basic properties and algorithms of heatlets and related functions.
Development and Confirmatory Factor Analysis of the Community Norms of Child Neglect Scale

This article describes the development of the Community Norms of Child Neglect Scale (CNCNS), a new measure of perceptions of child neglect, for use in community samples. The CNCNS differentiates among four subtypes of neglect (failure to provide for basic needs, lack of supervision, emotional neglect, and educational neglect). Scenarios ranging in seriousness for each subtype were presented to a large community sample (N = 3,809). Confirmatory factor analyses indicated that a four-factor model provided a better fit to the data than did a model specifying only one overall neglect factor, suggesting this sample distinguished among the four subtypes of neglect. The authors tested measurement equivalence across individuals who work with children and lay community respondents and across rural and urban respondents, with results indicating a very similar structure across these groups. These initial reliability and validity data suggest that the CNCNS may be of use in comparing perceptions of child neglect among individuals and across communities.
Sampling-based approximation of the viability kernel for high-dimensional linear sampled-data systems

Proving that systems satisfy hard input and state constraints is frequently desirable when designing cyber-physical systems. One method for doing so is to compute the viability kernel, the subset of the state space for which a control signal exists that is guaranteed to keep the system within the constraints over some time horizon. In this paper we present a novel method for approximating the viability kernel for linear sampled-data systems using a sampling-based algorithm, which by its construction offers a direct trade-off between scalability and accuracy. We also prove that the algorithm is correct, that its convergence properties are optimal, and demonstrate it on a simple example. We conclude by briefly describing additional results which are omitted due to space constraints.
Discretization techniques applied to the study of two-photon ionization in systems with two active electrons

We analyze a method based on discretized basis sets to calculate multiphoton ionization effects in two-electron systems. One-electron systems will serve as a benchmark; then the case of two-photon ionization of helium will be investigated. Emphasis will be placed on the role of correlations. Finally the choice of different type of basis sets (Slater-type orbitals, B-spline functions) will be discussed.
Case study research methods for theory building

This article provides a new definition for case study research. Achieving deep understanding of processes and other concept variables (e.g. actors’ perceptions of their own thinking processes, intentions and contextual influences) is identified as the principal objective of case study research. Using multiple methods to “triangulate” (i.e. confirm and deepen understanding by using multiple sources all focusing on the same process/event) within the same case is described. The article outlines the core criticisms made by case study researchers of large sample surveys. A need exists for a paradigm shift in research on organizational behavior (including modeling the antecedents of new product performance). The article outlines the telling weaknesses of case study research as seen by other researchers. The article examines Senge’s core propositions related to the “mental models” of decision participants. Details illustrate the use of specific research methods for case studies to achieve different research objectives and the combination of objectives. Finally, the article illustrates basic concept variables in a case study and 12 propositions are reviewed briefly. This report reviews classic and recent contributions in the literature on case study research.
The relationship between spontaneous echocontrast, transesophageal echocardiographic parameters, and blood hemoglobin levels.

Background Spontaneous echocontrast (SEC) or "smoke" is an intracavitary echocardiographic finding seen in situations of stasis or low blood flow. Increased hematocrit and fibrinogen levels have been associated with SEC in prior studies. Whether low hemoglobin (Hb) levels are an independent predictor of lower prevalence of SEC is a question that remains unanswered. Methods A total of 266 transesophageal echocardiographic (TEE) studies were reviewed. Hb levels within 1 month from the TEE study were used as the baseline Hb before the study (75% had Hb on the same day of the TEE study). Clinical characteristics and demographics, and all relevant TEE variables including left atrial (LA) size, LA appendage emptying velocity (LAAEV), and presence or absence of SEC, were obtained using electronic patient information system search of TEE reports. Multivariate regression analysis was performed to identify the independent predictors of SEC. Results Two groups were analyzed SEC (n = 45) or no SEC (n = 221). Only 7 patients had both LA and right atrial SEC. On univariate analysis, male sex, greater age, prior coronary artery bypass grafting, low ejection fraction ( P = .01). However, after adjusting for clinical and echocardiographic variables, low Hb levels did not independently predict absence of SEC. Low LAAEV ( P P = .001), and prior statin therapy ( P = .001) were the most powerful independent predictors of SEC. Conclusion A low Hb level is not associated with a lower prevalence of SEC when controlled for clinical and echocardiographic variables. Our study confirms the importance of LAAEV and dilated LA in determining presence of SEC, but also raises interesting questions of the relationship between statins and SEC that warrant further study.
Some consequences of the Luttinger theorem: The Luttinger surfaces in non-Fermi liquids and Mott insulators

Landau and Luttinger have shown that the properties of so-called Fermi liquids are determined by the Fermi surface of their excitations. The present analysis of mathematics of the Luttinger paper proves that non-Fermi liquids where there are no well-defined excitations and Mott insulators are essentially characterized by the Fermi-surface analog---the Luttinger surface, a feature of particle's propagator.
Materials of history: saving and discarding

Is this a fair description of conditions in typical large American libraries? Buildings that once seemed so spacious gradually (rapidly?) fill with books, journals, and other kinds of stuff. We squeeze in more ranges, making aisles too narrow for comfort or efficiency; then add little sections of disjunctive, unmatching shelves in whatever nooks happen to be left. We put big, old, ugly encyclopedic sets on the crowns of shelving units—all right, maybe, for basketball players. Fading papers hang shaggily into space intended for people.
Calculation of Interleaflet Domain Coupling in Mixed Lipid Bilayers

The coupling between the physical states of the two leaflets (monolayers) of a lipid bilayer is a subject of current interest in relation to both the biology of lipid rafts and the physics of model membranes capable of liquid-liquid phase separation. In these model systems there is experimental evidence of a large coupling which maintains micron-scale registry between domains in the two leaflets. Nevertheless, the mechanism of this coupling has been unclear. We have performed a mean-field calculation with molecular detail to evaluate the contribution to this coupling due only to lipid tail interdigitation. By comparing the free energies of symmetric and asymmetric lipid compositions, we obtain a coupling strength of 0.2 kT per square nanometer. This is enough to account for micron-scale domain registry and is in favorable agreement with a recent estimate from a coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulation. Our result supports the hypothesis that lipid interdigitation is the dominant mechanism for interleaflet domain coupling in model membranes capable of liquid-liquid phase separation.
Polarization of high energy protons scattered by nuclei

The attempt is made to explain the polarization recently observed in protons of several hundred MeV scattered by nuclei in terms of the same spin orbit coupling that is assumed in the nuclear shell model. It is found that the extrapolation to high energy of the spin orbit coupling observed at low energy is adequate to yield the correct order of magnitude of the polarization.
A 3D object recognition system using voxel representation

Abstract An algorithm is developed to recognize an unknown 3D object by matching it with some given models. The percentage of match of the unknown object with each of the given models is measured and the object is compared by changing the best position match. The models are stored using the voxel representation and certain algebraic methods are used to develop the algorithm.
A selective advantage with mitral valve prolapse.

Excerpt To the editor: The article by Devereux and associates (1) suggests that variable penetrance explains the sexual predisposition for mitral valve prolapse in women. The authors also confirmed...
Introduction: tales of power

We used to feel we knew what it meant to say "Iran." We could imagine that cat-shaped territory and visualize a single culture more or less contained by its boundaries. Whatever its fabled diversity, we could imagine a national character shaped by its geography and see its literature as a reasonably direct, unmediated transcription of the national character, a spiritual secretion emerging spontaneously, organically from the national soil. But what do we do with the culture that has been refracted through the events of 1979? Now we are faced with a subject which refuses to be defined by the map--a country whose writers are in large numbers (even more than in the shah's time) living overseas, whose patterns of life at home are molded by a peculiarly distorted version of a popular culture which we have never really had to study as a serious political phenomenon. New variables enter the equation, and it becomes painfully clear that culture is an equivocal tension constantly negotiated between innumerable forces.
Temporal evolution of the cluster size distribution during brownian coagulation

Abstract We used an optical pulse particle size analyzer to determine the detailed form of cluster size distributions arising from salt-induced aggregation of polystyrene microspheres. We found that von Smoluchowski theory describes both the shape and temporal evolution of the distribution at short times. This theory assumes that aggregation is unidirectional and irreversible and that the two-particle association coefficient is a constant independent of the size of the interacting clusters. However, we observed a sharp departure from von Smoluchowski theory after roughly three reaction half-lives. This departure may result from the approach to equilibrium and the associated growth of a gel phase. These experiments provide a direct means of testing both the equilibrium and kinetic theories of cluster formation and of probing the two-particle potential, particularly its strength at short range.
An introduction to programming curriculum including elements of mathematics, art, and creative writing (abstract only)

During the Fall 2007 and Spring 2008 semesters, I tested a new style of teaching introductory programming in which graphics are covered early in the curriculum. Students gained familarity with the XY-Coordinate system used by most graphics packages. They used this system to create scalable (size and location) and color paraterizable graphics for use in other graphics. The mathematical properties of sine and cosine were used to generate points evenly distributed around a circle. Objects were collected into a function library to encourage collaboration. All this was finally used to create an interactive illustrated story. This new style of programming pedagogy can be applied to teaching middle- or high-school level mathematic.
The effect of perceived control over eating on the life satisfaction of women and men: results from a community sample

Objective To test whether overweight, or perception of lack of control over eating, or both, contributed to the level of life satisfaction for women and men in a random sample of community-dwelling adults. Method This study examined the effects of body mass index (BMI) and perceived control over eating on life satisfaction for women and men in a community-based sample of 1,069 women and 963 men. Results For women, both lack of perceived eating control and higher BMI were associated with less life satisfaction, and lack of control over eating was the more important predictor. For men, only lack of perceived eating control was associated with less life satisfaction. Furthermore, for both women and men, the contribution of eating control to life satisfaction was unaffected by BMI, that is, the life satisfaction of heavier people was not more affected by perceived control over eating than was the life satisfaction of lighter people. Discussion These findings suggest that psychological issues related to eating and weight can affect global aspects of well-being. © 1998 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 24: 415–419, 1998.
Revisit Kaplan-Meier Estimator in Estimating QAL Survival Distributions

Quality-adjusted lifetime (QAL) is an important component in evaluation of clinical trials. In a seminal paper, Gelber et al. (1989) claimed that the Kaplan–Meier estimator is inconsistent in estimating the distribution of QAL under the presence of censoring. However, in this article, we show that, with appropriate censoring indexing, the Kaplan–Meier estimator actually is consistent in some practically important QAL data settings.
Nucleotide sequence and characterization of toxR: a gene involved in exotoxin A regulation in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

We have previously reported the discovery and subsequent cloning of a regulatory gene, designated toxR, which appears to regulate the expression of the exotoxin A (ETA) structural gene toxA. Subsequent work by this laboratory has resulted in the subcloning of the toxR gene and its transfer to a high copy number plasmid (pGW28). Functional analysis of the toxR gene using a Tn5 insertion along with toxR deletions indicates that inactivation of toxR results in a dramatic reduction of ETA production. Nucleotide sequence analysis of pGW28 has revealed a 675 bp major open reading frame (225 codons) which could encode for a protein of 24,626 daltons. Using S1 nuclease mapping, the toxR RNA transcript has been shown to originate 20 bp upstream of the presumptive translation initiation codon. Experiments using a toxA specific probe have revealed the the toxR gene product appears to regulate the expression of ETA at the transcriptional level.
Number of mating males and mating interval affect last-male sperm precedence in Tenebrio molitor L.

Abstract Polyandrous females often mate with more than two males, and yet most studies of postcopulatory sexual selection involve only two males. In insects, second-male sperm precedence is usually taken as evidence of overall last-male sperm precedence despite some studies to the contrary. Furthermore, the processes or mechanisms causing the patterns are often unknown and yet are important when estimating how postcopulatory sexual selection might act on males. Whether the patterns and processes change in normal sperm competitive situations and the effects of other factors besides mating order need to be examined to better assess the evolutionary potential of postcopulatory sexual selection. In this study, I assessed the effects of mating interval and number of mating males on sperm precedence patterns and their causal mechanisms in the mealworm beetle, Tenebrio molitor . Last-male sperm precedence was the same when two or three males mated, but also depended on mating intervals and hence mechanisms of paternity bias. However, when females mated with many males, one of the mechanisms no longer created last-male sperm precedence. This example illustrates the importance of knowing both the patterns and mechanisms of paternity bias and whether they change depending on female mating frequency to make reasonable inferences about the potential for postcopulatory sexual selection on males. Copyright 2003 Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour.
Temperature dependence of lead loss in r.f. magnetron sputtering of a stoichiometric Pb(Zr,Ti)O3 target

Abstract The temperature dependence of lead loss was studied for r.f. magnetron sputtering of a stoichiometric Pb(Zr,Ti)O 3 target (Zr:Ti ratio of 53:47). Films deposited at 200 °C or below crystallized into perovskite Pb(Zr,Ti)O 3 on receiving an annealing treatment at 600 °C or above. No excess lead was used either during sputtering or during post-deposition annealing. The Pb(Zr,Ti)O 3 films thus prepared are highly ferroelectric with a maximum polarization of 37 μCcm −2 , a remanent polarization of 22 μCcm −2 , and a coercive field of 40 kVcm −1 measured at 50 Hz. This suggests that lead loss during deposition is negligible for deposition temperatures of 200 °C or below. Films deposited at 500 °C were dielectric as-deposited, and became weakly ferroelectric after being annealed at 800 °C for 1 h. X-ray spectroscopy analysis of the film indicates significant loss of lead at 500 °C. Depositions at 600 °C, however, resulted in thermally stable and dielectric ZrTiO 4 films. The structural and dielectric properties of the films remained unchanged even after annealing at 800 °C for 1 h. X-ray spectroscopy analysis indicates that lead was lost completely during sputtering at 600 °C. Utilizing this temperature dependence of lead loss to control the composition of deposited films, a Pb(Zr,Ti)O 3 /ZrTiO 4 heterostructure was also prepared successfully from a single oxide target with a two step, single deposition process.
Polycarbonate networks. 1. Synthesis and characterization of vinylphenylcarbonate terminated oligomers

Abstract Vinylphenylcarbonate terminated oligocarbonates were synthesized with number average molecular weights ranging from 1.5 to 10 kg/mol. The oligomers were synthesized by the addition of the hydrolysis products of 4-acetoxystyrene into a bisphenol A and phosgene interfacial polymerization reaction. Good molecular weight control was obtained. The functional oligomers were characterized by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and were found to have glass transition temperatures (Tg) that reflected the molecular weight of the oligomers and to undergo an exothermic cure reaction at temperatures that depended on the molecular weight of the oligomers. The cure of the oligomers into insoluble networks was observed after DSC measurements by solubility tests, and the Tg was observed to increase upon a second heat to reflect the high molecular weight polycarbonate obtained after cure. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) of the polymers showed an increase in the temperature for 5% weight loss with a decrease in molecular weight of the functional oligomers.
Mobilization of ectopic yolk in Gallus gallus domesticus : a novel reverse lipid transport process

In many oviparous animals, bursting type atresia of ovarian follicles occurs during the reproductive cycle, resulting in the escape of yolk into the extracellular compartment. In birds, this ectopic yolk is rapidly cleared by an unknown process that involves the appearance of yolk-engorged macrophage-like cells. To study this unique type of lipid transport, we injected young male chickens intra-abdominally with egg yolk. Absorption of egg yolk from the body cavity markedly increased the triacylglyceride-rich fraction (TRL) of plasma lipoproteins and was coincident with increased levels of plasma triacylglycerides (TAGs) but not non-esterified fatty acids (NEFAs). Thus, the transport of yolk lipids from the abdominal cavity appears to occur in lipoproteins and be more similar to the transport of hepatic TAGs to the periphery via lipoproteins than to transport of adipose TAGs to the periphery via NEFAs released by the action of lipases. When macrophages were exposed to yolk in vitro, they quickly phagocytized yolk; however, it is unclear whether this level of phagocytosis contributes significantly to total yolk clearance. Instead, the chicken macrophage may function more as a facilitator of yolk clearance through the modification of yolk lipoproteins and the regulation of the local and systemic immune response to ectopic yolk. Yolk appears to be anti-inflammatory in nature. Yolk did not increase levels of the inflammatory cytokines IL-1, IL-6 and IFNγ either in vivo or in vitro; in fact, yolk dampened many inflammatory changes caused by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Conversely, LPS-induced inflammation retarded yolk clearance from the abdominal cavity and plasma TAG levels.
Information policy and the information professions

L'evolution de la documentation avec l'automatisation des bibliotheques et l'information electronique assignent un nouveau role aux professionnels de l'information, pour activer les politiques d'information et identifier les priorites. Cet article detaille ce role notamment en soulignant l'aspect juridique de l'acces a l'information
Do smokers crave cigarettes in some smoking situations more than others? Situational correlates of craving when smoking.

Introduction: Smokers tend to smoke when experiencing craving, but even within smoking occasions, craving may vary. We examine variations in craving when people were smoking in various real-world situations. Methods: Using Ecological Momentary Assessment, 394 smokers recorded smoking, craving, and smoking context in real time on electronic diaries over 2 weeks of ad libitum smoking. Assessments occurred immediately prior to smoking. Mixed modeling was used to analyze associations between craving and situational variables. Results: Craving varied across smoking situations, but the differences were small (<1 on a 0-10 scale). Specifically, craving was higher in smoking situations where smoking was restricted, likely because high craving leads smokers to violate restrictions. Controlling for restrictions, craving was higher when cigarettes were smoked while eating or drinking, were with other people (vs. alone), were in a group of people (vs. other people simply in view), during work (vs. leisure), and during activity (vs. inactivity). In addition, craving was higher for cigarettes smoked early in the day. No differences in craving were observed in relation to drinking alcohol or caffeine (vs. doing anything else), being at work (vs. home), being at a bar or restaurant (vs. all other locations), interacting with others (vs. not interacting), or other people smoking (vs. no others smoking). Discussion: Even though most craving reports prior to smoking were high, and situations were thus expected to have little influence on craving, results suggest that some cigarettes are craved more than others across different smoking situations, but differences are small.
Application of the radiating divertor approach to innovative tokamak divertor concepts

Abstract We survey the results of recent DIII-D experiments that tested the effectiveness of three innovative tokamak divertor concepts in reducing divertor heat flux while still maintaining acceptable energy confinement under neon/deuterium-based radiating divertor (RD) conditions: (1) magnetically unbalanced high performance double-null divertor (DND) plasmas, (2) high performance double-null “Snowflake” (SF-DN) plasmas, and (3) single-null H-mode plasmas having different isolation from their divertor targets. In general, all three concepts adapt well to RD conditions, achieving significant reduction in divertor heat flux ( q ⊥ p ) and maintaining high performance metrics, e.g., 50–70% reduction in peak divertor heat flux for DND and SF-DN plasmas that are characterized by β N ≅ 3.0 and H 98(y,2) ≈ 1.35. It is also demonstrated that q ⊥ p could be reduced ≈50% by extending the parallel connection length ( L ||-XPT ) in the scrape-off layer between the X -point and divertor targets over a variety of the RD and non-RD environments tested.
X-ray Crystal Structures of Discrete and Polymeric Silver Based Molecules Containing 4,4′-Dimethyl-2,2′-Bipyridine and 2,2′-Bipyridine

The reaction of AgBF4 with 4,4′-dimethyl-2,2′-bipyridine and 2,2′-bipyridine yields three previously unreported compounds. The molecular structures of these compounds were obtained by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Crystallization of 1 occurs in the centrosymmetric monoclinic space group C2/c (No. 15) with a = 23.407(3), b = 10.7552(13), c = 13.9332(17); and β = 111.893(2) and Z = 8. Crystallization of 2 occurs in the centrosymmetric orthorhombic space group Pbca (No. 61) with a = 11.178(3), b = 23.590(6), c = 29.339(8) and Z = 8. Crystallization of 3 occurs in the centrosymmetric monoclinic space group P21/c (No. 14) with a = 11.2250(6), b = 8.7713(5), c = 15.4048(8), and β = 109.333(2) and Z = 4. Details of the synthesis and the structural characterization of the title compounds are presented and discussed. The organic ligands 4,4′-dimethyl-2,2′-bipyridine and 2,2′-bipyridine, were used to synthesize three new complexes with AgBF4, whose structures are dependent on the type of solvent used in the reaction as well as solvent of crystallization.
Commercial Influences in the Lyrics of Popular American Music of the Postwar Era

This study is the third in a program of research consisting of content analyses of commercial influences in popular cultural products. The first two studies, which looked at the texts of bestselling novels and the scripts of long-running Broadway plays, found dramatic increases in brand-name usage over the course of the postwar period. These results were also found in the third study, which examined the lyrics of the top American song hits of each year for the 1946–1980 period. The consistency of the findings suggests the presence of a new phenomenon which we have called “word-of-author advertising.” The implications of this phenomenon for consumer policies, especially those relating to education and product information programs, are drawn and discussed.
Application of sodium dodecyl sulfate electrophoresis of hemolysate to the biochemical systematics of the rockfish Sebastes

Sodium dodecyl sulfate electrophoresis of rockfish hemolysate was carried out to investigate problems in the systematics of the genus Sebastes. Results generally revealed species-specific electropherograms that were generally intra-specifically invariant. Experimental findings supported the distinction of S. chrysomelas and S. carnatus as valid species which hitherto had not been accomplished on a morphometric or meristic basis. Moreover, common protein subunits occurred within all specimens studied, and additional interspecific differences suggested several biochemical subgroupings (caurinus, nebulosus; paucispinis, goodei; carnatus, chrysomelas, atrovirens, melanops, mystinus and serranoides). These proposed subgroupings generally differed from previous classifications based on morphometric and meristic data. Some of these differences may ultimately be attributed to pressure adaptive differences in the hemoglobin molecule.
M. tuberculosis passes the litmus test

One of the body's key defenders against infection—the activated macrophage—engulfs bacteria and destroys them with an acid cocktail inside lysosomes. Mycobacterium tuberculosis seems to have evolved a strategy to cope with this threat (pages 849–854).
90 nm multi-level-cell flash memory technology

Intel's 90 nm flash technology delivers industry leading 0.076 /spl mu/m/sup 2/ flash single bit memory cell at 210 nm pitch which translates to 0.038 /spl mu/m/sup 2/ bit size with multi-level-cell (MLC), using 193 nm lithography and Cu interconnect [Y. Song (2003)]. The 193 nm lithography required significant etch improvement especially at flash gate patterning with multi-layer gate stack and contact patterning due to reduced etch selectivity to resist. The other technology enablers are advanced STI gap fill, improved process at self-aligned-polysilicon (SAP) polish to enable vertical scaling, improved oxidation for trench sidewall oxidation, advanced cleaning tool to reduce defects for data retention and cycling endurance, and improved contact patterning and dielectric strength film to endure the program/erase cycles at reduced contact to gate spaces.
Characterization of commercially available coffee filter papers

Abstract Commercially available coffee filter papers were evaluated for extractable materials to determine differences between chlorine bleached, peroxide beached and unbleached products. Organic species were determined by initial Sohxlet extraction followed by GC/MS analysis for semi‐volatile organics, dibenzofurans and dioxins. Inorganic species were initially extracted with heated water. Representative inorganics were determined either by atomic absorbtion spectroscopy or ion selective electrodes as the method of analysis. No direct relationship between bleaching method and the presence of halo‐genated materials in the final filter product was observed. Only in one cases was a single dioxin isomer detected. Three semi‐volatile species not consistent with natural products were detected in any of the filter papers. Both a chlorine bleached and unbleached paper were found to contained a single brominated species whereas tributyl phosphate, a plasticizer for cellulose esters and plastics was found in a sin...
The use of air quality forecasts to assess impacts of air pollution on crops: Methodology and case study

Abstract It has been reported that ambient ozone (O3), either alone or in concurrence with acid rain precursors, accounts for up to 90% of US crop losses resulting from exposure to all major air pollutants. Crop damage due to O3 exposure is of particular concern as ambient O3 concentrations remain high in many major food-producing regions. Assessing O3 damage to crops is challenging due to the difficulties in determining the reduction in crop yield that results from exposure to surface O3, for which monitors are limited and mostly deployed in non-rural areas. This work explores the potential benefits of using operational air quality forecast (AQF) data to estimate rural O3 exposure. Using the results from the first nationwide AQF as a case study, we demonstrate how the O3 data provided by AQF can be combined with concurrent crop information to assess O3 damages to soybeans in the United States. We estimate that exposure to ambient O3 reduces the US soybean production by 10% in 2005.
Spectroscopic brain mapping the N-acetyl aspartate to cognitive-perceptual states in chronic pain.

Spectroscopic brain mapping the N-acetyl aspartate to cognitive-perceptual states in chronic pain