cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Discrete- vs. Continuous-Time Nonlinear Signal Processing: Attractors, Transitions and Parallel Implementation Issues

Artificial neural networks (ANNs) are often used for short term discrete time prediction of experimental data. In this paper we focus on the capability of such networks to identify long term behavior and, in particular, observed bifurcations correctly. The usual discrete time mapping approach is (precisely because of its discrete nature) often incapable of reproducing observed bifurcation sequences. If the interest is only in periodic or temporally more complicated behavior, a Poincare map extracted from the experimental time series can be used to circumvent this problem. A complete dynamic picture including bifurcations of steady states can, however, only be captured by a continuous-time model. We present ANN configurations which couple a "nonlinear principal component" network for data preprocessing with (a) a composite ANN based on a simple explicit integrator scheme and (b) a recurrent ANN based on an implicit integrator scheme. These ANNs are able to correctly reconstruct bifurcation diagrams based on experimental data from the electrodissolution of metals in acidic solutions. We also discuss some issues of parallel implementation of the training algorithms.
Fiji versus FIJI: Negotiating Over Water (TN)

This case examines negotiations between a company and government over natural resources. The Fijian government proposed a substantial increase in its water extraction tax that would only apply to large extractors, and thus to FIJI Water and not to its competitors. FIJI Water responded by calling the increase "discriminatory" and threatening to shut down its operations, but in the end its negotiations resulted in its agreeing to pay the tax increase.Learning Objective: The case can be taught in MBA and executive level courses on negotiation or conflict resolution to highlight any of the following issues: negotiating over scarce resources in multi-party negotiations, ethics in complex negotiations, and establishing trust in long-term relationships involving negotiation. An analysis of the negotiations and the position of each of the parties allow students to reflect on issues of power, trust, strategic decisions and ethics in negotiations and conflict resolution.
Atmospheric transport of freshwater algae Pediastrum in the American Southwest

A single colony of the freshwater green algae Pediastrum boryanum boryanum was observed in a 1994 Tauber trap north of Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA. The rate of deposition for the colony is low, 0.8 per square centimeter per year. The likely source of the freshwater algae is Cochiti Lake reservoir 42 km southwest of the Tauber pollen collector. The ability of Pediastrum to be dispersed in the atmosphere and to survive desiccation gives the freshwater algae a unique biogeographic capability of rapid dispersal and colonization independent of streams and aquatic birds.
Low power techniques for modular processors

Discusses highly specialized, modern electronics including powerful microcontroller devices with specialized peripherals. Without this technology, products would not have been manufacturable in a form that would be accepted by the general public. The imaginative use of technology and its rapid developments will continue to enable new products and new opportunities for old products. >
Chapter 6 Observation of sea level change from satellite altimetry

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on satellite altimetry and considers the errors in those measurements, especially errors that take the form of a long-term drift. The first point to make about satellite altimeter data is that they are not simply the product of an instrument but come from a measurement system. Several different observations need to be made to produce high-quality sea surface heights, and maintaining the quality of the final height observations requires high performance by all components of the system. The chapter discusses those components and addresses the errors associated with each component, paying particular attention to whether a given component of the system might be prone to drift errors. Understanding how altimeter range measurements are collected and converted to sea-level measurements is conceptually straightforward, although the details are complex. The satellite transmits a radar pulse toward the ocean surface. After passing through the atmosphere, the pulse arrives at the atmosphere/ocean boundary, interacts with the ocean, and is then reflected back toward the satellite, again passing through the atmosphere.
A multiple-winding magnetics model having directly measurable parameters

A general model of the multiple-winding transformer and coupled inductor is presented, in which all parameters can be directly measured. The approach is suitable for all winding geometries, and simplifying approximations can be easily made. This model can be applied in the determination of cross-regulation, current ripple and small-signal dynamics of multiple-output DC-DC power converters. An experimental four-winding flyback transformer example is investigated. Observed leakage inductance parameter measurements are interpreted physically, and are related to observed flyback converter waveforms. It is also shown that the model correctly predicts small-signal dynamics.
Cambodia in 2011: A Thin Veneer of Change

Abstract Cambodia9s economy in 2011 recovered from the global economic downturn with a rise in garment exports. Hun Sen and the ruling Cambodian People9s Party further consolidated power via the exercise of rule by law and patronage politics. Relations with Thailand returned to normal; ties with China strengthened with increased assistance and trade. The Khmer Rouge Tribunal proceeded amid allegations of political interference by the Cambodian government, making the further expansion of indictments unlikely.
A Theoretical Explanation of the Influence of Gentrification on Neighborhood Crime

ABSTRACTGentrification and other types of neighborhood revitalization strategies have been promoted as viable crime reduction strategies, but empirical assessments of this relationship produced inconsistent results. The mixed results were partly due to a narrow theoretical focus on social disorganization and routine activities, but also because of a limited conceptualization of gentrification. The current study draws on gentrification literature more broadly and incorporates insights from additional criminological theories to provide a more complete understanding of how gentrification is related to neighborhood crime. Specifically, three pathways through which gentrification influences neighborhood crime are identified.
Psychosocial factors underlying the mother’s decision to continue exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months: an elicitation study

Background: Despite numerous benefits of exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) for infants and mothers, a significant decrease in the EBF rate in the USA at six months compared to the rate at birth suggests that reasons for initiation and continuation of EBF may differ. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore psychosocial factors underlying the continued EBF behaviour for six months, in order to identify salient belief structures according to the theory of planned behaviour. Methods: Participants were recruited from central Indiana in the USA. They were asked to respond to an open-ended questionnaire designed to elicit positive/negative consequences, approving/disapproving social referents, and easy/difficult circumstances in continuing EBF for six months. Responses were translated into behavioural, normative, and control beliefs of the theory. Results: Findings suggest that respondents (1) value emotional and health benefits of continued EBF for six months; (2) feel the approval from family and friends but disapproval from the society; (3) view health professional’s position as positive and negative. Conclusions: Breastfeeding educators can more likely improve the EBF duration by addressing these salient beliefs. Identified beliefs provide a basis for the development of a quantitative instrument to further study the EBF behaviour.
Jonah and God: Plants, Beasts, and Humans in the Book of Jonah (An Essay in Interpretation)1

AbstractThe book of Jonah concludes with a puzzling rhetorical question by God, connecting plants, animals, and the people of Nineveh (4:10–11). This essay attempts to explain the logic of this rhetoric and to lay out its precise force, thereby clarifying the literary message of the book.
Variation in narrative identity is associated with trajectories of mental health over several years.

This article presents 2 longitudinal studies designed to assess the relationship between variability in narrative identity and trajectories of mental health over several years. In Study 1, core scenes from 89 late-mid-life adults� life stories were assessed for several narrative themes. Participants� mental health and physical health were assessed concurrently with the narratives and annually for the subsequent 4 years. Concurrent analyses indicated that the themes of agency, redemption, and contamination were significantly associated with mental health. Longitudinal analyses indicated that these same 3 themes were significantly associated with participants� trajectories of mental health over the course of 4 years. Exploratory analyses indicated that narratives of challenging experiences may be central to this pattern of results. In Study 2, similar longitudinal analyses were conducted on a sample of 27 late-mid-life adults who received a major physical illness diagnosis between the baseline assessment and 6 months later and a matched sample of 27 control participants who remained healthy throughout the study. Participants� mental health and physical health were assessed every 6 months for 2 years. In this study, the themes of agency, communion, redemption, and contamination in participants� life narratives collected at baseline (before any participant became sick) were significantly associated with mental health in the group of participants who went on to receive a medical diagnosis, but not in the control group. Taken together, the results of these 2 studies indicate that the way an individual constructs personal narratives may impact his or her trajectory of mental health over time. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2015 APA, all rights reserved)
Assessing the Impact of Business Study Abroad Programs on Cultural Awareness and Personal Development

In this article, the authors assessed results from a cultural awareness instrument administered to business student participants at the beginning of a summer study abroad program in London, England, and then again at the program's conclusion. The data indicated that the program enhanced cultural awareness and personal development. Moreover, additional information from a student survey reinforced the results of the cultural-awareness instrument.
Effects of sample topography and thermal features in scanning thermal conductivity microscopy

This article analyses the operation of an atomic force microscope whose cantilever, which is heated at its free end, is used to map topography and thermal features across a sample surface. The analysis takes into account the thermal flow along the cantilever, between the cantilever and sample via air, and through the constriction formed at the tip-sample contact area. The thermal flow through the constriction is analysed in terms of Maxwell and Sharvin components as given by Wexler. Examples using silicon tips and samples with a rectangular grid consisting of (a) silicon and silicon oxide features and (b) silicon oxide steps of 100 nm height, show that long tips are more sensitive to the thermal features of the sample while short once are more sensitive to its topography.
Regression-assisted deconvolution.

We present a semi-parametric deconvolution estimator for the density function of a random variable biX that is measured with error, a common challenge in many epidemiological studies. Traditional deconvolution estimators rely only on assumptions about the distribution of X and the error in its measurement, and ignore information available in auxiliary variables. Our method assumes the availability of a covariate vector statistically related to X by a mean–variance function regression model, where regression errors are normally distributed and independent of the measurement errors. Simulations suggest that the estimator achieves a much lower integrated squared error than the observed-data kernel density estimator when models are correctly specified and the assumption of normal regression errors is met. We illustrate the method using anthropometric measurements of newborns to estimate the density function of newborn length. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Characterization of a new tailoring domain in polyketide biogenesis: the amine transferase domain of MycA in the mycosubtilin gene cluster.

We report the expression and characterization of a truncated form of MycA from the Mycosubtilin gene cluster from Bacillus subtilis. The MycA fragment contains a new amino transferase (AMT) tailoring domain, allowing the first detailed study of a PLP-dependent enzyme operating in cis within the PKS and NRPS biosynthetic paradigm. As the AMT domain acts on covalently bound β-ketothioesters, and is therefore a single-turnover system, electrospray ionization−Fourier transform mass spectrometry (ESI−FTMS) was used to observe the amine-transfer reaction both for amine donor substrate specificity and to regiospecifically determine enzyme-bound intermediates. We confirm the function of the AMT domain, dissect the mechanistic steps of amine transfer, identify the preferred amine source, and localize the β-ketothioester substrate during amine transfer.
Herbert Sloan, MD, October 10, 1914 - May 17, 2013.

Dr Herbert Sloan was the 10th president of The Society of Thoracic Surgeons and served for 15 years as the second editor of The Annals of Thoracic Surgery . One of few thoracic surgeons to lead both organizations, he also served as the 60th president of the American Association for Thoracic Surgery. Deeply committed to the mission of the American Board of Thoracic Surgery to maintain the highest standards for our specialty, he served on the American Board of Thoracic Surgery for 20 years, 13 as its secretary-treasurer. He left a legacy of thoracic surgery resident education as head of the Section of Thoracic Surgery at the University of Michigan.
Supporting evidence from single unit experiments for the cochlea as an addressed delay line.

WE have already outlined the principles of a theory of cochlear organization1, 2 whereby acoustic signal components in the low and mid frequency range—-that is to say, frequencies for which good or moderate phase locking of unit response is possible—are detected by the cochlea using an approximate cross-correlation mechanism which operates on the time varying signal displayed along the basilar membrane, the latter acting as an acoustic exponential delay line. The running correlations are performed using fixed patterns of control fibres addressed to the outer hair cells, the pattern of addressing for each control fibre group corresponding to an instantaneous wave pattern for a specific frequency defined by the location of the fibre system along the length of the membrane. The fibres of each control system synapse with the afferent dendrites associated with a definite inner hair cell and act as a frequency sensitive gate, the inner hair cell of the assembly providing generator current related to signal amplitude.
Toxin production by a rhizobacterialPseudomonas sp. that inhibits wheat root growth

We studied the production of a toxin inhibitory to both winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) root growth andEscherichia coli that was produced by a rhizobacterial pseudomonad. Of several carbon sources tested, the most rapid growth and highest toxin concentrations were obtained with glucose, glycerol, or trehalose. Toxin production was repressed with L-cysteine as the nitrogen source. Toxin was produced during the late exponential and early stationary phase of growth by the bacterium and, contrary to studies with other toxins, was unaffected by Fe and P concentrations in the growth medium. Toxin production by the bacterium was the same at growth temperatures of 25 and 15°C while it produced less at 5°C. If the bacterium was able to grow, it produced toxin. No compound tested induced an increase in toxin production indicating toxin production is constitutive.
Phase transitions in vapor-deposited water under the influence of high surface electric fields

Abstract Field ionization of vapor-deposited water on a platinum field emitter tip was studied over a temperature range of 103–150 K. Water adlayers 50–3600 A thick were grown under field-free conditions by exposure of a cryogenically cooled emitter tip to water vapor in ultrahigh vacuum. Field ionization was probed by ramped field desorption, in which desorption of ionic species (hydrated protons) is measured while increasing the applied electric field linearly in time. The dependence of the field required for ionization onset as a function of temperature and water thickness is presented and discussed. Experiments were performed for equal deposition and desorption temperatures over the range of 105 to 150 K and also for a mixed temperature case (145 K deposition, 110 K desorption) to investigate the nature of the deposited layer on ionization properties. The onset field for ionization increased linearly with adlayer thickness, but with different slopes for thin and thick layers of water. The thin layers were more sensitive to the deposition conditions of the adlayer than were the thick layers, with the difference attributed to different ionization locations in the two cases: at the exposed water–vacuum interface for thin layers and at the buried tip–water interface for thick layers. In the limit of zero adlayer thickness the onset field decreased from 0.5 to 0.2 V A−1 as temperature increased from 105 to 150 K. An activation barrier of 0.7 eV (16 kcal mol−1) for ionization of amorphous and crystalline water was estimated from the temperature dependence of the onset field. This is in excellent agreement with the 0.74 eV (17 kcal mol−1) required to produce a pair of ions from a pair of solvated water molecules.
Non-equilibrium particle-field simulations of polymer-nanocomposite dynamics

We present a theoretical framework for simulating dynamic processes in polymeric fluids with embedded nanoparticles. The method couples an Eulerian, field-theoretic description of polymer hydrodynamics with a Lagrangian technique for tracking particles of arbitrary shape and size. Results are presented which reproduce nanoparticle localization in diblock nanosphere composites and interfacial jamming in homopolymer blend nanocomposites. Some of the method's unique capabilities are demonstrated by simulating systems containing non-spherical particles, particles of multiple sizes, and surface driven self-assembly.
DNA Double-strand Breaks Induce Deletion of CTG·CAG Repeats in an Orientation-dependent Manner in Escherichia coli

Abstract The influences of double-strand breaks (DSBs) within a triplet repeat sequence on its genetic instabilities (expansions and deletions) related to hereditary neurological diseases was investigated. Plasmids containing 43 or 70 CTG·CAG repeats or 43 CGG·CCG repeats were linearized in vitro near the center of the repeats and were transformed into parental, RecA-dependent homologous recombination-deficient, or RecBC exonuclease-deficient Escherichia coli . The resulting repair process considerably increased deletion of the repeating sequence compared to the circular DNA controls. Unexpectedly, the orientation of the insert relative to the unidirectional ColE1 origin of replication affected the amount of instability generated during the repair of the DSB. When the CTG strand was the template for lagging-strand synthesis, instability was increased, most markedly in the recA − strain. Results indicated that RecA and/or RecBC might play a role in DSB repair within the triplet repeat. Altering the length, orientation, and sequence composition of the triplet repeat suggested an important role of DNA secondary structures during repair intermediates. Hence, we hypothesize that ColE1 origin-dependent replication was involved during the repair of the DSB. A model is presented to explain the mechanisms of the observed genetic instabilities.
Food consumption and energy, water, and nitrogen budgets in captive great-horned owls (Bubo virginianus).

Abstract 1. 1. The metabolizability of diets of laboratory white mice and 1-day-old domestic turkey poults by adult great-horned owls averaged about 67·9 and 71·2 per cent respectively. 2. 2. The metabolizable energies of these two diets were 4304 and 4151 cal/g respectively. 3. 3. The owls ate about 26·5 g/kg (dry weight) of each diet per day. 4. 4. The owls consumed an average of 4·4 per cent of their body weight in water per day. All water consumed was in their food. Sensible water losses amounted to slightly over 50 per cent of water consumed for both diets.
Effects of symbiont elimination and reinfection on the life processes of the planktonic foraminifer Globigerinoides sacculifer

Laboratory experiments were carried out to determine the influence of symbiotic dinoflagellates (zooxanthellae) on the shell growth, longevity, and reproductive potential of Globigerinoides sacculifer (Brady). Its symbionts were eliminated by 72-h treatment with a photosynthetic inhibitor (DCMU). Symbiont elimination resulted in earlier gametogenesis (shortened survival time) and smaller shell sizes of G. sacculifer when compared to untreated foraminifera grown in sea water. Individuals kept in continuous darkness in untreated sea water also exhibited early gametogenesis, short survival times and small shell sizes. Aposymbiotic foraminifera formed on the average one or two chambers fewer per individual and their rate of shell size increase is slower than symbiont-bearing foraminifera. Symbionts were lysed within perialgal vacuoles of G. sacculifer when subjected to DCMU treatment or kept in continuous darkness. One DCMU-treated group was reinfected with symbionts from crushed G. sacculifer donors. Soon after reinfection, these foraminifera resumed a shell growth rate and exhibited developmental stages that were nearly equivalent to those of untreated individuals, as deduced from their shell size, frequency of sac-like chambers, rate of gametogenesis, and survival time. Our experiments indicate that the symbionts aid in calcification and that elimination of symbionts triggers gametogenesis, thus shortening the life span of the foraminiferal host. The results imply that shell growth in symbiont-bearing planktonic foraminifera occurs mainly in the euphotic zone and that they do not survive for long periods below it.
Establishing and maintaining wireless communication coverage among multiple mobile robots using artificial neural network

This paper introduces a distributed motion control scheme, using an artificial neural network, to adapt to the fluctuating wireless communication conditions in realistic environments and establish and maintain desired wireless communication connections for multi-robot systems. A neural network controller is designed for each robot, trained with sample data, and applied to multi-robot deployment for communication coverage. In this paper, the received signal strength indicator (RSSI) is used as the measure of the wireless link quality, and the signal propagation condition among mobile robots is modeled using the probabilistic log-distance path loss model. The simulation results show that the proposed scheme can establish and maintain effective communication coverage under different path loss exponents and uncertainties, and the average RSSI converges to the desired range.
Episiotomy use in the United States, 1979-1997.

Abstract Objective To describe episiotomy usage at vaginal delivery in the United States from 1979–1997. Methods We used the National Hospital Discharge Survey, a federal database of a national sample of inpatient hospitals. Data from 1979 to 1997 were analyzed using International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification codes for diagnoses and procedures. Rates per 1000 women were calculated using the 1990 census population for women aged 15–44 years. We calculated the number of episiotomies per 100 vaginal deliveries. Rates and percentages were compared using the score test for linear trend. Results The number of episiotomies ranged from a high of 2,015,000 in 1981 to a low of 1,128,000 in 1997. The age-adjusted annual rate for episiotomy with vaginal deliveries varied from 32.7 in 1979 to 18.7 in 1997 per 1000 women aged 15–44 years. The percentage of episiotomy with vaginal deliveries ranged from 65.3% in 1979 to 38.6% in 1997 ( P P P P P P Conclusion Although episiotomy use has decreased over time, the most recent rate of 39 per 100 vaginal deliveries remains higher than evidence-based recommendations for optimal patient care.
Social Problems, Political Issues: Marriage and Divorce in the USSR

GROUP APPROACHES to policy making in the USSR have generally focused on what might be termed 'internal' decision making: whether the participants represent bureaucratic or occupational or opinion groups, they are sets of actors who may or may not have a formal role in policy formation, but who at least provide much of the advice and information used by those who do make policy, and/or are then responsible for implementation. Hence the literature on policy making includes studies of the role of educators on education policy, the military on defence policy, ministry personnel on policy in their respective domains, and so on.1 The emphasis on 'internal' actors, though, and the interests and preferences they may bring to an issue, distracts from the fact that much policy has been, and still is, made without the participation of those directly affected by it. Certainly, the notion that issues are resolved in total isolation from any pressure from below is inaccurate, especially today when the power of that pressure is transforming the Soviet system. Important sectors of the mass public are still without an active role in shaping policies affecting them, though, and must settle instead for passive, or very indirect, influence. The legal barriers to organisation may have finally fallen but others remain, including attitudinal ones and those owing to a simple lack of experience. Groups are none the less highly relevant to analyses of policy making, for it is clear from the outcomes that policy often targets specific groups, including those without any institutionalised existence through which to articulate their own interests. One of the most striking developments of the Gorbachev era is the evolution in official attitudes towards group interests. Still, if it has become easier for groups to organise and express demands, exercising actual influence remains difficult, however much mass support their agendas may claim. Though competitive elections have been introduced, for example, candidates do not depend on groups for contributions and other forms of campaign support, eliminating a major lever
2B-4 Square-Wave Aperture Weightings for Reception Beam Forming in High Frame Rate Imaging

Recently, the high frame rate (HFR) imaging method was extended to include multiple transmission beams such as steered plane waves and limited-diffraction array beams to improve image quality. In addition, limited-diffraction array beam transmissions have been approximated with square-wave aperture weightings so that only one or two transmitters are needed for three-dimensional imaging with a fully populated two-dimensional array transducer, simplifying the transmission subsystem of an imager. In this paper, the square-wave aperture weightings are applied to reception beamforming to simplify the limited-diffraction array beam aperture weightings proposed previously, which allows the production of all spatial frequency components of analog echo signals in realtime over a transducer aperture by direct summation and subtraction of these signals for image reconstructions. This approach reduces the need of some high-speed digital circuits and can also be used as a realtime spatial spectrum analyzer to produce both amplitude and phase of the waves impinging on the surface of a receiver with simple electronics as long as the spatial Nyquist sampling criterion is satisfied. Both in vitro (on an ATS539 phantom) and in vivo (on the hearts and a kidney of volunteers) experiments were performed with a broadband phased array transducer of 2.5 MHz center frequency, 128 elements, and 0.15 mm pitch using a home-made general-purpose HFR imaging system. A one-cycle, 2.5 MHz sine wave pulse was used to excite the transducer with a pulse repetition period of about 187 microseconds. Results show that the quality of images reconstructed with the reception square-wave aperture weightings is very close to that of images reconstructed with the exact limited-diffraction array beam weightings or spatial Fourier transform on echo signals. The images reconstructed have over plusmn45 degree field of view and an image frame rate of about 486/s is achieved for a depth of 120 mm
Instructor and student knowledge of study strategies

Students’ self-reported study skills and beliefs are often inconsistent with empirically supported (ES) study strategies. However, little is known regarding instructors’ beliefs about study skills and if such beliefs differ from those of students. In the current study, we surveyed college students’ and instructors’ knowledge of study strategies and had both groups evaluate the efficacy of learning strategies described in six learning scenarios. Results from the survey indicated that students frequently reported engaging in methods of studying that were not optimal for learning. Instructors’ responses to the survey indicated that they endorsed a number of effective study skills but also held several beliefs inconsistent with research in learning and memory (e.g., learning styles). Further, results from the learning scenarios measure indicated that instructors were moderately more likely than students to endorse ES learning strategies. Collectively, these data suggest that instructors exhibited better knowledge of effective study skills than students, although the difference was small. We discuss several notable findings and argue for the improvement of both students’ and instructors’ study skill knowledge.
Differential Roles of Extracellular Signal-regulated Kinase-1/2 and p38MAPK in Interleukin-1β- and Tumor Necrosis Factor-α-induced Low Density Lipoprotein Receptor Expression in HepG2 Cells

The inflammatory cytokines interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF), elevated in inflammatory, malignant, and infectious diseases, induce low density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor transcription in HepG2 cells, and such an induction can account for hypocholesterolemia associated with these states. However, the signaling mechanisms of cytokine-mediated LDL receptor induction are largely unexplored. In the present studies, we examined the potential involvement of different mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways. Northern analysis demonstrated that IL-1β or TNF significantly increased LDL receptor transcript in HepG2 cells, whereas expression of another tightly regulated sterol-responsive squalene synthase gene was unaffected. IL-1β treatment resulted in transient activation of three MAPK cascades, namely p46/54JNK, p38MAPK, and ERK-1/2, with maximal activation of 20-, 25-, and 3-fold, respectively, occurring 15–30 min after cytokine addition. PD98059, a specific inhibitor of MAPK kinase activity, inhibited IL-1β-induced LDL receptor expression. In contrast, SB202190, a specific inhibitor of p38MAPK, enhanced IL-1β-induced LDL receptor expression, with a concomitant increase in ERK-1/2 activity. Similarly, TNF induced LDL receptor expression also required ERK-1/2 activation. Finally, sterols repressed IL-1β induced receptor expression, without affecting ERK-1/2 activation. These results show that IL-1β- or TNF-induced LDL receptor expression requires ERK-1/2 activation, that the p38MAPK pathway negatively regulates LDL receptor expression, and that sterols inhibit induction at a point downstream of ERK-1/2 in HepG2 cells.
The IIA Code of Ethics: An International Perspective

Highlights similarities among the codes of ethics promulgated by professional societies in the United States such as The Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA), the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA), and the EDP Auditors Association (EDPAA). Takes the Code of Ethics of the Institute of Internal Auditors, an international professional association, as an example to demonstrate that most of the articles of professional codes do not reflect the cultural dimensions of Asian, European, and other countries. Since one single universal code of ethics may not meet the needs of an international group, international professional societies may wish to consider alternatives to incorporate in their codes of ethics, especially the cultural dimensions of other countries. Cultural differences often limit the effectiveness of a uniform international code of ethics because they create a lack of consensus within a profession as to what constitutes acceptabl...
Structure–function relationships of insulin-like growth factor binding protein 6 (IGFBP-6) and its chimeras

Insulin-like growth factor binding protein 6 (IGFBP-6) is a high-affinity IGFBP with substantially greater affinity for insulin-like growth factor-II (IGF-II) than IGF-I. IGFBP-6(3) is a chimera which has a 20 amino acidC -terminal portion of IGFBP-6 switched with the homologous area of IGFBP-3, P3. Unlike IGFBP-4(3), in which the P3 region was exchanged for the homologous region of IGFBP-4 (P4), IGFBP-6(3) does not bind to endothelial cells. Double mutations were made with the P3 region exchanged as well as a second area differing from IGFBP-3 to form IGFBP-6(3)A and IGFBP-6(3)B, by replacing this area with the homologous region of IGFBP-3. Neither [(125)I]IGFBP-6(3)A nor IGFBP-6(3)B specifically bound to endothelial cells. However, each double mutant competed for [(125)I]IGFBP-3 binding to cultured cells. In the perfused heart, transendothelial transport of IGFBP-6 and IGFBP-6(3) was only 25% of similar transendothelial transport of perfused IGFBP-3. We conclude that chimeras of IGFBP-6 and IGFBP-3(6) clearly differ from IGFBP-4(3) in their ability to bind specifically to endothelial cells and in their capacity to undergo transendothelial transportation in the perfused heart.
Lack of correlation between body weight and cortisol secretion, and between adrenal weight and cortisol secretion in the dog.

Abstract The most meaningful way to express steroid secretion rates in adrenal venous effluent is a matter of considerable controversy. This controversy has been engendered by the arbitrary assumption that adrenal function is related to various anatomical masses. Traditionally, this function has been considered in terms of time, body weight and/or adrenal weight (1). However, for the latter two expressions to be valid a correlation between function and body and adrenal weight should exist. Duyck (2) recently reported little correlation between body weight and corticosterone secretion in the rat. The purpose of this report is to show that a lack of correlation also exists between body weight and cortisol secretion rate in the dog. Moreover, it will be shown that no significant correlation was found between adrenal weight, single or paired, and cortisol secretion in the dog. A statistically significant correlation was found however, between body weight and adrenal weight.
Optical Pumping Of The v3 + v4 Band Of The CF 4 Molecule

The possible development of a room-temperature, 16 μm CF4 laser optically pumped by 5 μm radiation from a frequency-doubled CO, laser has been iyvestigated. This laser would utilize pumping ofithe v3 + v4 band of the CF4 at 1916-1 cm with subsequent lasing to v3 levels at 1283 cm-1 where there is essentially no thermally excited population. A spectrophone instrument was used to measure absorption cross sections of CF4 at the second harmonic frequencies of 22 of the 10 µm CO2 laser transitions. Lasing experiments to detect transitions at 16 μm are described.
Impact of Tube Curvature on the Ground-State Magnetism of Axially Confined Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes of the Zigzag-Type

The magnetic properties of axially confined, hydrogenated single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) of the (n,0)-type with n=5–24 are systematically explored by density functional theory. Emphasis is placed on the relation between the ground-state magnetic moments of SWCNTs and zigzag graphene nanoribbons (ZGNRs). Comparison between the SWCNTs considered here and ZGNRs of equal length gives rise to two basic questions: 1) how does the nanotube curvature affect the antiferromagnetic order known to prevail for ZGNRs, and 2) to what extent do the magnetic moments localized at the SWCNT edges deviate from the zero-curvature limit of n/3 μB? In response to these questions, it is found that systems with n≥7 display preference for antiferromagnetic order at any length investigated, whereas for n=5, 6 the magnetic phase varies with tube length. Furthermore, elementary patterns are identified that describe the progression of the magnitude of the magnetic moment with n for the longest tubes explored in this work. The spin densities of the considered SWCNTs are analyzed as a function of the tube length L, with L ranging from 3 to 11 transpolyene rings for n≥7 and from 3 to 30 rings for n=5 and 6.
Nickel silicidation techniques for strained Si1-xGex, Si1-x-yGexCy, and Si1-yCy alloys material-device applications

A nickel silicide process for Si1-xGex, Si1-x-yGexCy, and Si1-yCy alloy materials compatible with Si technology has been developed. Low-resistivity-phase (12–20 µΘ cm) nickel silicides have been obtained for these alloys with different low sheet-resistance temperature windows. The study shows that thin (15–18 nm) silicide layers with high crystalline quality, smooth silicide surface, and smooth interface between silicide and the underlying material are achievable. The technique could be used to combine the benefits of Ni silicide and Si1-xGex, Si1-x-yGexCy, and Si1-yCy alloys. The technique is promising for Si or Si1-xGex, Si1-x-yGexCy, and Si1-yCy alloy-based metal-oxide semiconductor, field-effect transistors (MOSFETs) or other device applications.
Analysis of some trichothecene mycotoxins by liquid chromatography

Trichothecene mycotoxins are toxic metabolites of Fusarium and other fungi which are capable of growing on agricultural products before harvest and during storage. Foodstuffs contaminated with these materials can cause severe effects in humans and animals and may result in death’. Trichothecenes in foodstuffs and body fluids have been extensively analysed by gas chromatography2 combined gas chromatography-mass spectrometry3v4, thinlayer chromatography5v6, polarography7, radioimmunoassayE, and to a limited extent by column liquid chromatography (LC) g 14. This paper describes simple LC methods for the analysis of the four trichothecene mycotoxins: T2-toxin; diacetoxyscirpenol (DAS), nivalenol (NIV), and deoxynivalenol (DON).
The elastic-plastic plate under cycles of moving dilatations and small applied load

Abstract An elastic and perfectly plastic plate is subjected to cycles of phase transformations which produce alternately positive and negative dilatations. The dilatations move symmetrically from the faces to the centre of the plate and vary only in the direction perpendicular to the faces. Simultaneously a constant load, which is small relative to the yield stress, is applied in a direction parallel to the faces of the plate. Equations based on the Tresca yield and flow condition are given for the stress and strain rates at any time, in terms of the existing stress distribution and the rate of change of the dilatation. Conditions for plastic flow to occur are derived, and it is shown that shakedown does not take place. For the special case of a dilatation occurring in a zone of zero width, the stress-rate equations are integrated analytically for the first half-cycle of dilatation and for repeated cycles without the applied load. For the general case numerical integration is used. It is found that a periodic stress distribution is established after a few cycles, with strains which change at a constant rate per cycle and are proportional to the applied load.
Signal processing for a non-invasive microwave heart rate estimator

A number of processing methods for estimating heart rate from low-level, remote microwave signals have been developed. From the return of a microwave signal reflected off the chest, a decision is made whether a heart beat signal is present, and if it is, an estimation of the heart rate is made. To achieve this, the return analog signal is amplified, filtered, sampled, and quantized. The resultant digital signal is passed through a nonlinear filter used to emphasize the impulsive character of the heart. Detection is done at this point using partial correlation and pattern recognition. >
Endgroup substituent effects on the rate/extent of network formation and adhesion for phenylethynyl-terminated poly(arylene ether sulfone) oligomers

Abstract A series of poly(arylene ether sulfone) thermosets were synthesized from oligomers ( M n =4–8000 g / mol ) endcapped with various phenylethynyl moieties which differ in their electron-withdrawing abilities of their attached substituent. 13C NMR showed that the nature of the substituent (e.g. ether, ketone, sulfone, imide) influences the electron density around the ethynyl bond, as well as the terminal phenyl-ring carbon atoms. Kinetic studies on the rate of cure at 320 and 350°C were conducted using FTIR, and in both cases the rate laws approximated second-order reactions at low to moderate conversions of the ethynyl bond. The rate of the curing reaction was observed to increase with the electron-withdrawing ability of the substituent on the phenylethynyl endcapper Glass transition temperatures (Tg) and the elastic modulus above the Tg of the networks increased with increasing electron-withdrawing ability of the substituent. Cured materials were solvent resistant and all formed tough creasable films, even when the oligomer Mn was as low as 4000 g/mol. The adhesive strengths of the cured materials were studied by Ti–Ti lap shear tests, and excellent values comparable to those of control polyimides, 5329 psi (37 MPa), were recorded. Interestingly, under constant curing conditions, the values obtained increased with the electron-withdrawing ability of the reactive endgroup.
LIFE CYCLE OF ASCOSPHAERA APIS (PERICYSTIS APIS)

THE FUNGUS under study, a common parasite of bee larvae in Europe, has gained recognition during the past thirty years as a transitional form between the phycomycetes and ascomycetes. It has been placed in the hemiascomycetes by different authors. One early investigator (Claussen, 1921) attempted to cross it with a mucor! Because of its uncertain systematic position and unusual cytological development, Professor Lindsay S. Olive of Columbia University suggested to the author that a restudy of the species with some of the newer techniques might prove enlightening. During this study, Dr. Donald P. Rogers of the New York Botanical Garden pointed out that the original generic name was not valid. Consequently, in a previous paper (Spiltoir and Olive, in press) the name Ascosphaera apis (Maassen ex Claussen) Olive and Spiltoir has been proposed. The reader is referred to this paper for a historical sketch of the subject and the proposed taxonomic treatment.
Organizing Your Research and Developing Your Skills

Working on research can be a lot of fun, even exhilarating when you first start on a project. There are so many new things to learn in the area on which you are working and so many new techniques and experiments to try. It can also be overwhelming as you realize how many research possibilities exist and how much information there is for you to learn or how many approaches there are for you to master. Trying to do everything all at once during the flurry of new project excitement can burn you out and be depressing, as you realize that you will never know everything.
Effects of equine joint injury on boundary lubrication of articular cartilage by synovial fluid: Role of hyaluronan

Objective To compare equine synovial fluid (SF) from injured and control joints for cartilage boundary lubrication function; concentrations of the putative boundary lubricant molecules hyaluronan (HA), proteoglycan 4 (PRG4), and surface-active phospholipids (SAPLs); relationships between lubrication function and composition; and lubrication restoration by addition of HA. Methods Equine SF from normal joints, joints with acute injury, and joints with chronic injury were analyzed for boundary lubrication of normal articular cartilage (kinetic friction coefficient [μkinetic]). Equine SF samples were analyzed for HA, PRG4, and SAPL concentrations and HA molecular weight distribution. The effect of the addition of HA, of different concentrations and molecular weight, on the μkinetic of equine SF samples from normal joints and joints with acute injury was determined. Results The μkinetic of equine SF from joints with acute injury (0.036) was higher (+39%) than that of equine SF from normal joints (0.026). Compared to normal equine SF, SF from joints with acute injury had a lower HA concentration (−30%) of lower molecular weight forms, higher PRG4 concentration (+83%), and higher SAPL concentration (+144%). Equine SF from joints with chronic injury had μkinetic, PRG4, and SAPL characteristics intermediate to those of equine SF from joints with acute injury and normal equine SF. Regression analysis revealed that the μkinetic value decreased with increasing HA concentration in equine SF. The friction-reducing properties of HA alone improved with increasing concentration and molecular weight. The addition of high molecular weight HA (4,000 kd) to equine SF from joints with acute injury reduced the μkinetic to a value near that of normal equine SF. Conclusion In the acute postinjury stage, equine SF exhibits poor boundary lubrication properties, as indicated by a high μkinetic. HA of diminished concentration and molecular weight may be the basis for this, and adding HA to deficient equine SF restored lubrication function.
A study of fatigue damage mechanisms in Waspaloy from 25 to 800 C

The objective of the study was to examine the effect of various microstructures on the fatigue and damage accumulation behavior of Waspaloy, a nickel-base alloy commonly used in aircraft engines. Shearing was the dominant deformation mode in specimens with coarse grains and small (50-80 A) gamma prime particles, whereas Orowan looping was dominant in fine-grained specimens with large (about 900 A) gamma prime particles. At temperatures up to 500 C, cracks initiated transgranularly, while at 800 C the failure process was intergranular for both coarse-grained and fine-grained specimens. At temperatures above 500 C, a significant decrease in the fatigue life was observed for both coarse-grained and fine-grained material.
Identification of transcription promoter regions from rat mtDNA that are utilized invivo by the bacterial RNA polymerase

Abstract We have used a prokaryotic promoter-identification vector, pKO-1, to isolate rat mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequences that can act as bacterial transcription promoters. Three putative promoter-containing clones that hydridized to mtDNA probes were identified. The strength of the promoters was quantitated by measuring galactokinase activity. The three promoters mapped to three distinct regions of the mtDNA-one within the 5′ half of the 16S rRNA gene, one within the ATPase subunit 6 gene, and the last at the carboxy terminal end of the cytochrome oxidase subunit I gene.