cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Influence of steroid structure on the pyrolytic formation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

Abstract It is well known that polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are formed from the pyrolysis of biomass, but the precursors and pathways that lead to PAHs are not well characterized. In this investigation, the flash vacuum pyrolysis (FVP) and the atmospheric pressure flow pyrolysis of a series of structurally different plant steroids, including stigmasterol, stigmasteryl acetate, β-sitosterol, stigmasta-3,5-diene, cholesterol, cholesteryl acetate, dihydrocholesterol, and ergosterol was investigated at 700 °C to determine the impact of steroid structure on the formation of three, four, and five ring PAHs. FVP of the steroids revealed that PAHs, such as phenanthrene, anthracene, pyrene, chrysene, benz[a]anthracene and their monomethylated derivatives, were formed by a series of unimolecular reactions, and the PAH yields were dependent upon the steroid structure. PAH yields were most sensitive to the number of double bonds in the steroid B-ring. Ergosterol (two double bonds) produced 13-fold more PAHs than dihydrocholesterol (no double bonds) in FVP experiments and 4-fold more PAHs in the flow pyrolysis experiments. Increasing the temperature from 700 to 800 °C in the FVP experiments only slightly increased the PAH yields for dihydrocholesterol relative to cholesterol, but the yield of small aromatic hydrocarbons, such as benzene and toluene, increased approximately 2-fold. Small increases in PAH yields (10–40%) were found in the FVP experiments if a double bond was placed in the steroid A-ring by 1,2-elimination of an ester (as for cholesteryl acetate), but this trend was not observed in the flow pyrolysis experiments. Insight into the structural origins of the PAHs was gained by FVP of [4-13C]cholesterol, in which the 13C content of the products were determined by mass spectrometry. The PAH yields from the flow pyrolysis of steroids esterified with saturated and unsaturated long chain fatty acids, i.e. cholesteryl stearate, cholesteryl oleate, and cholesteryl linolenate, were 20–40% lower (per gram of steroid) than the free steroid. The yield of three to five ring PAHs did not correlate with the number of double bonds in the ester chain, but the yield of benzene increased as the number of double bonds in the ester chain increased. In general, this investigation has shown that structural differences in steroids can significantly alter the PAH yields formed from the vacuum pyrolysis or atmospheric pressure pyrolysis of steroids.
The Significance of Risk Factors for Infection in Patients Undergoing Lumpectomy and Axillary Dissection

: Controversy concerning the use of prophylactic antibiotics in breast surgery may be due to uncontrolled variability in infection risk among breast procedures, in surgical techniques used by different surgeons, or in length of follow-up at different institutions. In order to control variability, risk factors for postoperative infections after one breast procedure performed by a single surgeon with prolonged follow-up were evaluated. We studied 302 consecutive patients undergoing lumpectomy and axillary dissection by a single surgeon and followed for at least 6 months. Age, height, weight, Quetelet's index, diabetes, prophylactic antibiotics, re-excision of the biopsy site, tumor size, number of involved nodes and overall pathologic stage were evaluated using univariate and multivariate analysis. Eight patients (2.5%) developed wound infections within 30 days of surgery and an additional six (2%) developed infections between 30 days and 1 year. One (2.5%) of 41 patients who received prophylactic antibiotics developed an infection compared to 13 (5.2%) of the 261 patients who did not receive prophylactic antibiotics (chi-square = 0.103, p = 0.749). Eight (8%) of 103 patients diagnosed by ex-cisional biopsy prior to definitive surgery with re-excision of the biopsy site developed infections compared to 6 (3%) of the 199 patients who underwent surgery without re-excision (chi-square = 2.475, p = 0.116). There were also no statistically significant differences between patients with and without infections in age, height, weight, Quetelet's index, diabetes, tumor size, number of involved nodes, or overall pathologic stage. This data does not justify the use of prophylactic antibiotics for lumpectomy and axillary dissection.
Using Aptamer-Conjugated Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer Nanoparticles for Multiplexed Cancer Cell Monitoring

To facilitate the selection of effective therapeutic pathways and improve clinical outcomes, sensitive and simultaneous diagnosis of multiple trace biomarkers or cancer cells from complex living samples is particularly critical in the early stages of tumor development. To achieve this, we have combined the selectivity and affinity of aptamers with the spectroscopic advantages of fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) nanoparticles (NPs). This has produced an aptamer-conjugated FRET NP assay that performs simultaneous multiplexed monitoring of cancer cells with the desired degree of sensitivity and selectivity. First, by changing the doping ratio of three different dyes, the FRET-mediated emission signatures could be tuned such that the nanoparticles would exhibit multiple colors upon excitation with a single wavelength. These FRET nanoparticles were then modified by a few aptamers specific for different cancer cell lines, in this case, T-cell leukemia and B-cell lymphoma. As a result, simultaneous ...
Long-term performance of the Johns Hopkins-built hydrogen maser

Long-term performance data has been taken of the NR-6 Johns Hopkins-built hydrogen maser. Data on frequency stability relative to the ensemble of worldwide atomic standards whose data are reported by The Bureau of International de l'Heure (BIH) [1] spans two years. As a clock, this instrument has performed as well as the best standards of Germany and Canada who also report performance through the BIH.
Post-2014 Afghanistan Policy and the Limitations of China’s Global Role

Although China is Afghanistan’s neighbor, strategic partner, and one of its largest foreign investors, it has kept a low profile overall on Afghanistan compared to other states in the region. This article seeks to understand China’s Afghanistan policy within the context of the Chinese government’s overall approach to foreign affairs. A review of China’s Afghanistan policy show a reluctant involvement, with domestic economic and security interests leading and foreign policy following. A final section examines the uncertain policy environment that China faces in devising an Afghanistan policy and some of the scenarios that Chinese scholars envisage for Afghanistan post-2014.
Rate Constants and Thermodynamic Parameters of Rotation of Axial Ligands in a Bisligated Ferric Tetramesitylporphyrinate Complex Measured from the Temperature Dependence of 1H Transverse Relaxation Rates

The rate constant of the four-site cyclic chemical exchange between pyrrole protons in tetramesitylporphyrinatoiron(III)bis(2-methylimidazole) has been measured in the temperature range 236−255 K from 1H transverse relaxation times (T2) observed at the 500 MHz field strength. The values of the rate constant were obtained through the simulation of the observed T2's under the assumption that their values are dominated by the rate of the chemical exchange. The measurement of the exchange rate constant was also attempted at a lower temperature (230 K), but the use of extrapolated intrinsic T2's at that temperature introduces a significant error into the simulated rate constant. The thermodynamic activation parameters of the cyclic exchange were determined as ΔH⧧ = 48 ± 1 kJ/mol and ΔS⧧ = −10 ± 6 J/K·mol. The value of k varied from 30 to 270 s-1 in the temperature range 236−255 K. The near-zero exchange activation entropy is consistent with two previous studies but contradicts another study based on saturation...
772 NATURAL IMMUNITY TO PYOGENIC BACTERIA

Acquisition of bacteria possessing antigens cross-reactive with groups A, B, C meningococci (Mgc) and H.influenzae Type B (HIB) was examined in 99 infants. Pharyngeal and rectal swabs were obtained at every visit to the pediatrician (MR) during the first year of life and cultured aerobically on TSB agar containing specific antibody to groups A, B, C Mgc and HIB. Bacteria around which antigen-antibody haloes formed were identified by standard methods. Sera were obtained at 12-15 months of age and tested for bactericidal antibody. Forty-four % of 68 infants who were cultured 4 or more times carried bacteria in the rectal culture cross-reactive with group B Mgc and 38% acquired pharyngeal organisms which cross-reacted with group C Mgc. Less than 2% of infants had bacteria cross-reactive with group A Mgc or HIB. Bacteria associated with cross-reactions included: Group A Mgc (Staph. aureus and Staph. epidermidis), Group B Mgc (E.coli, Streptococcus viridans), Group C Mgc (Streptococcus viridans), and HIB (E.coli). Bactericidal antibody against group B Mgc was present at 1 year of age in 84% of carriers of cross-reactive E.coli but was not found against group C Mgc in carriers of cross-reactive Streptococci.
Moore's Paradox and Epistemic Norms

We shall evaluate two strategies for motivating the view that knowledge is the norm of belief. The first draws on observations concerning belief's aim and the parallels between belief and assertion. The second appeals to observations concerning Moore's Paradox. Neither of these strategies gives us good reason to accept the knowledge account. The considerations offered in support of this account motivate only the weaker account on which truth is the fundamental norm of belief.
Second-Order Bichromatic Waves Produced By Generic Planar Wavemaker In A Two-Dimensional Wave Flume

Abstract A complete second-order solution is presented for the wave field produced by the bichromatic harmonic motion of a generic (piston or flap type) planar wavemaker in a semi-infinite two-dimensional channel. The velocity potentials at both first- and second-order are obtained explicitly in terms of eigenfunction expansions. Explicit analytical expressions are presented for the high- and low-frequency second-order potential components which occur at the sum and difference frequencies of the component first-order wavemaker motions. The relative magnitudes of the forced and free second-order waves are investigated for a range of wavemaker geometries, relative water depths and wave frequency combinations.
Matrix isolation and theoretical study of the photochemical reactions of C2H3Br and 1,2-C2H2Br2 with CrO2Cl2

Abstract The matrix-isolation technique has been combined with infrared spectroscopy and theoretical calculations to characterize the products of the photochemical reactions of C 2 H 3 Br and 1,2-C 2 H 2 Br 2 with CrO 2 Cl 2 . For these systems, oxygen-atom transfer occurred upon visible–near ultraviolet irradiation, yielding bromoacetaldehyde and CrOCl 2 in the former case and bromoacetyl bromide and CrCl 2 O in the latter. For each system, the products were formed in the same matrix cage and strongly interacted to form a distinct molecular complex. No evidence was obtained for the acetyl bromide derivative in the C 2 H 3 Br system, indicating the occurrence of oxygen-atom attack at the less substituted carbon of vinyl bromide, nor was any evidence obtained for the formation of a possible five-membered metallocycle. Two different modes of interaction were explored computationally: η 1 (end-on) to the oxygen atom and η 2 (side-on) to the C O bond. Theoretical calculations indicated that the η 1 complex of CH 2 BrCHO–CrCl 2 O was 13 kcal mol −1 more stable than the η 2 complex at the B3LYP/6-311++G(d,2p) level of theory. The binding energy of the η 1 complex was found to be 21 kcal mol −1 , compared to 8 kcal mol −1 for the η 2 complex at this level of theory.
Rural education in Bolivia & the potential of educational technology

The educational needs of Bolivia are great, as are the untapped human resources. The field of educational technology with its multi-disciplinary expertise and its emphasis on systematic problem solving could play a major, beneficial role in the improvement of Bolivian rural education.
From Here to Seniority: The Effect of Experience and Job Tenure on Faculty Salaries.

The general impressions of salary compression and a negative return on seniority for faculty are overstated and depend greatly on the specification of the salary model used by researchers.
THE WISDOM OF HORMONE-REPLACEMENT THERAPY IN SURVIVORS OF OVARIAN AND ENDOMETRIAL CANCER

This article reviews the relationship between estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) and hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in the development of endometrial, ovarian, and breast cancers. The wisdom of HRT in survivors of ovarian and endometrial cancers is reviewed by critically analyzing recent data. Because of methodological limitations in the reported studies, there are no definite data to support the safety of ERT and HRT in survivors of ovarian or endometrial cancer.
Synthesis of 6-alkyl and 6-aryl substituted 9-β--ribofuranosyl purines via the nickel catalyzed coupling of grignard reagents to 2′,3′,5′-tris-0-(t-butyldimethylsilysl)-9-β--ribofuranosyl-6-chloropurine

Abstract A series of 6-substituted purine nucleosides have been synthesized in moderate yield by the nickel catalyzed cross coupling reaction between alkyl- and aryl- Grignard reagents and 2′,3′,5′-tris-0-(t-butyldimethylsilyl)-9-β- D -ribofuranosyl-6-chloropurine.
The importance of agroforestry education and training.

Sustainable agriculture should involve the successful management of resources for agriculture to satisfy changing human needs, while maintaining or enhancing the quality of the environment and conserving natural resources. The rapid depletion of forest resources and agricultural sustainability — two major global concerns — could be impacted significantly through agroforestry practices. Widespread application of agroforestry concepts and techniques offers great potential for helping to alleviate critical shortages of fuelwood and contributing to sustainable farming systems. There is a vital need to broaden the knowledge base of the subject of agroforestry in order to provide a more substantive basis for effective teaching and training programs. In a typical university organization, it is fairly easy to see how interdisciplinary research teams can be brought together to work on agroforestry projects. But how do we structure the education and training programs? The purpose of this conference is to address these issues and to guide the further evolution and development of agroforestry.
Determination of beta-isomerized aspartic acid as the corresponding alcohol.

The age-related formation of succinimides in proteins, through spontaneous deamidation of asparagine, and through cyclization of aspartic acid, is thought to be followed by the hydrolysis of the succinimide ring, yielding a mixture of “normal” aspartic acid sites andΒ-isomerized aspartic acid sites (isoaspartic acid). The chemical reduction of an isoaspartyl site to the corresponding amino acid alcohol, isohomoserine, has now been investigated as a general approach to measuring the accumulation of isomerized residues in aging proteins. The methods employed were based on conditions previously found to be successful in reducing protein aspartic acid to homoserine. Borane was employed as the reducing agent, and was found to produce the expected amino acid alcohols in reactions with model peptides. In addition, amino acid analysis revealed a complex pattern of unknown products of these reduction reactions, some of which were also evident when a much stronger reducing agent, lithium aluminum hydride, was used. The correlation of some of these side-products with the isomerization of the peptide suggests, unexpectedly, that the reactivity of reducing agents toward aspartyl residues and perhaps other sites in the peptide may be influenced by steric factors related to aspartyl isomerization. The borane reduction method was also applied to proteins. No detectable isohomoserine was formed either in ovalbumin, a model aged protein, or in human lens proteins of advanced age, with conditions that fully reduced normal aspartyl residues to homoserine. These tests thus indicate that the percentage of aspartic acid in the isomerized form in these proteins is below the limit of detectability (below ∼5%). These results complement previous experimental results that have indicated a low bulk isoaspartyl content in most natural proteins.
Human cells required for macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) production.

Abstract The production of MIF and [ 3 H]-thymidine incorporation by cultures containing mononuclear leukocytes and paired monocyte-depleted lymphocytes activated by antigens or mitogens were compared. In general, both types of responses to soluble antigens were significantly reduced by monocyte depletion. However, about one-third of monocyte-depleted lymphocyte preparations produced significant MIF activity in response to antigenic stimulation. Monocyte depletion did not appreciably lower the production of this mediator in response to concanavalin A. A subpopulation of lymphocytes that rosette with mouse erythrocytes may be a factor in the significant MIF responses by some monocyte-depleted cultures.
“Justifiable Provocation”: Violence against Women in Essex County, New York, 1799–1860

In the years between the ratification of the federal Constitution and the beginning of the Civil War, American society experienced fundamental changes in family relations, the criminal law, and public attitudes towards violence. Male heads of households found their authority challenged by evangelical religion, the emergent industrial order, reformers, and judicial intervention in family matters. By the mid-nineteenth century, the ideologies of separate spheres and the affectionate family displaced the traditional authoritarian, patriarchal family. In New York State, these familial changes were paralleled by revision of the criminal laws in 1829, the rapid development of reform campaigns against capital and corporal punishment, and the emergence of the women's rights movement. These progressive changes masked the reality of increasing violence against women in Essex County, New York as murder, rape, and assault rates rose dramatically. As wife murder, sexual assault, and unprosecuted cases of violence increased women continued to meet with limited success in prosecuting their assailants. These crime trends were rooted in both the new cultural sensibility, that idealized family harmony, female sexual purity, and individual reformation and in the emergence of an aggressive form of patriarchy based on control, access, and regulation of women's sexuality. Language: en
Attitudes Toward Direct Marketing and Its Regulation: A Comparison of the United States and Japan

Abstract The authors propose that the high-context nature of Japanese communication and the collectivistic nature of Japanese culture have an impact on attitudes toward direct marketing and its regulation. The results of a survey of Japanese and U.S. university students suggest that certain types of direct marketing messages are less effective in Japan than in the United States. The results also indicate a greater willingness by Japanese respondents to support regulation of direct marketing practices. The authors discuss managerial implications of the findings for multinational marketers and advertisers and suggest public policy implications for direct marketing in Japan.
Cloning and characterization of a novel peptidase from rat and human ileum.

A novel 100-kDa ileal brush border membrane protein (I100) has been purified by anionic glycocholate affinity chromatography. Polyclonal antibodies raised against this protein were utilized to clone and characterize I100 in rats. A partial length human I100 cDNA was identified by hybridization screening. In the rat, the I100 protein is a 746-amino acid glycosylated (calculated core molecular mass of 80 kDa) type II integral membrane protein found on the apical surface of ileal villus enterocytes. Its 2.6-kilobase mRNA is expressed in distal small intestine in rats and in humans. The I100 cDNA is homologous to but distinct from human prostate-specific membrane antigen and rat brainN-acetylaspartylglutamate peptidase. It is expressed on both the basolateral and apical surfaces of stably transfected Madin Darby canine kidney cells. Analysis of these stably transfected Madin Darby canine kidney cells and I100 immunoprecipitates of rat ileal brush border membrane vesicles reveals that it has dipeptidyl peptidase IV activity. Future invesitgations will need to determine the exact substrate specificity of this novel peptidase.
Diversity Identity Management: An Organizational Perspective

Organizations are faced with the challenge of responding to increasing pressures to promote diversity in various ways. We draw attention to one possible proactive organizational response—the incorporation of diversity in organizational identity. This initial response necessarily evokes subsequent tasks of managing the changed identity. Therefore, this article also addresses the management of diversity identity within organizations, and relevant organizational outcomes. Our theoretical model is grounded in institutional theory, and we propose that the management of diversity identity can impact both perceptions of legitimacy as well as diversity identity. Adequate, inadequate, and optimal management of diversity identity have differential effects on legitimacy and diversity identity. We contribute to the literature by a) unbundling initial and later firm responses to promoting diversity at the organizational level, and b) offering a more nuanced understanding of the complexities of managing diversity identity within organizations.
High aspect ratio, functionalizable conducting copolymer nanobundles

High aspect ratio (50 : 1), 10 μm long, multifunctional and electrically conductive nanobundles are templated via conformal oxidative chemical vapor deposition (oCVD) of a copolymer of 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) and 3-thiopheneethanol (3TE). The presence of –OH groups provides a platform, as depicted by covalently attaching silica nanoparticles, to fabricate high surface area hybrid nanomaterials. Furthermore, conformal surface modification with a vapor-deposited poly(perfluorodecyl acrylate) (PPFDA) coating on top of the multifunctional nanobundles renders the surface hydrophobic and oleophobic and provides the nanostructures with additional stability against ambient moisture and possible solvent spillage.
Bright source of spectrally uncorrelated polarization-entangled photons with nearly single-mode emission.

We present results of a bright polarization-entangled photon source operating at 1552 nm via type-II collinear degenerate spontaneous parametric down-conversion in a periodically poled potassium titanyl phosphate crystal. We report a conservative inferred pair generation rate of $123\text{ }000\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{pairs}/\mathrm{s}/\mathrm{mW}$ into collection modes. Minimization of spectral and spatial entanglement was achieved by group velocity matching the pump, signal, and idler modes and through properly focusing the pump beam. By utilizing a pair of calcite beam displacers, we are able to overlap photons from adjacent down-conversion processes to obtain polarization-entanglement visibility of $94.7+/\ensuremath{-}1.1%$ with accidentals subtracted.
Investigation of a Vitamin B12 Conjugate as a PET Imaging Probe

Nutrient demand is a fundamental characteristic of rapidly proliferating cells. Vitamin B12 is vital for cell proliferation; thus neoplastic cells have an increased demand for this essential nutrient. In this study we exploited the vitamin B12 uptake pathway to probe the nutritional demand of proliferating cells with a radiolabeled B12 derivative in various preclinical tumor models. We describe the synthesis and biological evaluations of copper-64-labeled B12 -ethylenediamine-benzyl-1,4,7-triazacyclononane-N,N',N''-triacetic acid (B12 -en-Bn-NOTA-(64) Cu), the first example of a B12 derivative for positron emission tomography (PET) imaging. Small-animal imaging and pharmacological evaluation show high tumor uptake ranging from 2.20 to 4.84% ID g(-1) at 6 h post-administration. Competition studies with excess native B12 resulted in a 95% decrease in tumor accumulation, indicating the specificity of this radiopharmaceutical for B12 endocytotic transport proteins. These results show that a vitamin B12 PET radiopharmaceutical has potential utility for non-invasive imaging of enhanced nutrient demand in proliferating cells.
The Neglected 95%: Why American Psychology Needs to Become Less American.

This article proposes that psychological research published in APA journals focuses too narrowly on Americans, who comprise less than 5% of the world's population. The result is an understanding of psychology that is incomplete and does not adequately represent humanity. First, an analysis of articles published in six premier APA journals is presented, showing that the contributors, samples, and editorial leadership of the journals are predominantly American. Then, a demographic profile of the human population is presented to show that the majority of the world's population lives in conditions vastly different from the conditions of Americans, underlining doubts of how well American psychological research can be said to represent humanity. The reasons for the narrowness of American psychological research are examined, with a focus on a philosophy of science that emphasizes fundamental processes and ignores or strips away cultural context. Finally, several suggestions for broadening the scope of American psychology are offered.
The role of Fe2+-induced lipid peroxidation in the initiation of the mitochondrial permeability transition

Iron and iron complexes stimulate lipid peroxidation and formation of malondialdehyde (MDA). We have studied the effects of Fe2+ and ascorbate on mitochondrial permeability transition induced by phosphate and Ca2+. Iron is necessary for detectable MDA formation, but only Ca2+ and phosphate are necessary for the induction of membrane potential loss (Deltapsi) and Ca2+ release. Keeping the iron at a constant concentration and varying the Ca2+ level changed the mitochondrial Ca2+ retention times, but not the amount of MDA formation. The antioxidant butylated hydroxytoluene at low concentrations prevented MDA formation, but not mitochondrial Ca2+ release. Preincubation of mitochondria with Fe2+ decreased Ca2+ retention time in a concentration-dependent manner and facilitated Ca2+-stimulated MDA accumulation. Thus, Ca2+ phosphate-induced mitochondrial permeability transition (MPT) can be separated mechanistically from MDA accumulation. Lipid peroxidation products do not appear to participate in the initial phase of the permeability transition, but sensitize mitochondria toward MPT.
Arthroscopically assisted repair of articular fractures

Abstract Arthroscopic assistance in the management of articular fractures should be the standard of treatment because of the numerous advantages afforded by the technique. Arthroscopic evaluation of the entire joint as well as fracture reduction are superior to that obtained by radiography, fluoroscopy, or direct observation. Condylar fractures and third carpal slab fractures are the most commonly performed procedures with the technique but simple phalangeal fractures, mid-body sesamoid fractures, and other injuries can be managed similarly. The arthroscopic evaluation should be combined with intraoperative radiographic/fluoroscopic imaging of the internal fixation.
Studies on growth hormone secretion. IV. In vivo effects of prostaglandin E1.

Prostaglandin E1 (20μg/kg i.v.) increased plasma growth hormone levels of conscious sheep from 2ng/ml to a mean maximum of 14.4ng/ml (P<0.01) within 20 min. of injection, without affecting plasma free fatty acids, glucose or insulin. The same dose of PGE1 given during i.v. infusion of epinephrine (0.5μg/kg/min) failed to stimulate GH release. Intracardiac injection of PGE1 to pentobarbital anesthesized rats (5μg/rat) also caused a significant rise (P<0.01) in plasma GH within 15–20 min. This was accompanied by elevated plasma FFA and glucose levels without a significant change in insulin concentrations. These results indicate that PGE1 is a potent GH secretagogue.
Service Control Layer (SCL): Enabling Rule-based Control and Enrichment in Next-Generation Telecom Service Delivery

Telecom operators have started to make significant investments towards evolving their Service Delivery Platforms (SDPs) to a next-generation architecture, based on IP technologies and standards such as Session Initiation Protocol (SIP), Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) and increasingly, Web 2.0. These investments are tightly coupled with demands for network middleware infrastructures that allow for rapid service creation and execution, efficient service orchestration and management, and flexible exposure of core network capabilities as services. A key service management functionality of integrated SDP is IP-based service control. Traditionally, service control functionalities have been vertically integrated with service logic and hence, are inflexible and costly to maintain and upgrade. IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS), which defines the overlay service architecture for next generation networks, stopped short in designing a flexible service control component. In this paper, we present the design and implementation of a service control layer (SCL) for IMS networks, which is flexible on two fronts, viz., the SIP based service modeling for fine grained service control and the programmability of the controlling action implemented by external business services. We present the detailed description of the design and implementation of SCL followed by the results obtained from a performance evaluation exercise that evaluates the scalability of SCL.
Nuclear finite-size effects in light muonic atoms

Abstract The finite nuclear size corrections to the s-state energy levels of light muonic (or hydrogenic) atoms are calculated analytically through order (Zα)6. In addition to the usual expression of order (Zα)4, the (Zα)5, (Zα)6 and (Zα)6 log(Zα) contributions have been determined. These corrections have been separated into terms of nonrelativistic and relativistic orders. The results have been checked by solving perturbatively the exact eigenvalue equations of the Schroedinger and Dirac problems of a particle orbiting in the Coulomb field of a uniform charge distribution of fixed radius. Application is made to the case of the μ-4He atom. Finite-size contributions to the hydrogen Lamb shift and the relativistic recoil effect are briefly discussed.
New treatments for age related macular degeneration

Treatment of age related macular degeneration (AMD) has progressed dramatically in the last 10 years, particularly in the neovascular stage of the disease. This has been accomplished in part through greater understanding of the pathophysiology of neovascular AMD and the role of VEGF in vessel growth and leakage. Anti-VEGF treatment halts vision loss in more than 90% of patients, and leads to vision improvement in a third. Ideally, however, we would like to develop treatments that can prevent AMD or halt its progression as well as to prevent any vision loss, and this requires greater understanding of the earliest events in AMD. Genetic studies have identified associations with the CFH gene and HTRA-1 gene amongst others, suggesting key pathways in the disease process. Delineating the dysfunction in these pathways through additional genetic and functional studies, and then developing effective interventions, is the current goal of AMD research. In addition, investigators seek to refine our current therapies as well as to improve current diagnostic modalities in order to better characterize the phenotype of AMD patients. Finally, since photoreceptor loss is the ultimate cause of vision loss in patients with AMD as well as other retinal disorders, investigations are ongoing to identify the molecular pathways of photoreceptor cell death and test therapies that might be used for neuroprotection. Commercial interest
Rediscovering Gabriel Tarde

Gabriel Tarde (l843–1904) is thought to have “lost” his debates with Durkheim by insisting that sociology ought to occupy itself with observable interpersonal processes. Given contemporary interest in such processes—much abetted by the computer—Tarde's reputation is being rehabilitated. Terry Clark (1969) was first to notice that Tarde (1898) had anticipated Lazarzfeld's two-step flow of communication. Tarde's work has bearing on social networks, interpersonal influence, diffusion of innovation, and the aggregation of public opinion.
Focusing on pattern matching

In this paper, we show how pattern matching can be seen to arise from a proof term assignment for the focused sequent calculus. This use of the Curry-Howard correspondence allows us to give a novel coverage checking algorithm, and makes it possible to give a rigorous correctness proof for the classical pattern compilation strategy of building decision trees via matrices of patterns.
Effect of the sodium/potassium ratio on glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase interaction with red cell vesicles.

Abstract Binding of glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate to glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, the membrane protein known as Band 6, causes shifts in the 31P nuclear magnetic resonance spectrum of the substrate (Fossel, E.T. and Solomon, A.K. (1977) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 464, 82–92). We have studied the resonance shifts produced by varying the sodium/potassium ratio, at constant ionic strength, in order to examine the relationship between the cation transport system and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase. Alteration of the potassium concentration at the extracellular face of the vesicle affects the conformation of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase at the cytoplasmic face, thus showing that a conformation change induced by a change in extracellular potassium can be transmitted across the membrane. Alterations of the sodium concentration at the cytoplasmic face also affect the enzyme conformation, whereas sodium changes at the extracellular face are without effect. In contrast, there is no sidedness difference in the effect of potassium concentrations. The half-values for these effects are like those for activation of the red cell (Na+ + K+)-ATPase. We have also produced ionic concentration gradients across the vesicle similar to those Glynn and Lew ((1970) J. Physiol. London 207, 393–402) found to be effective in running the cation pump backwards to produce adenosine triphosphate in the human red cell. The sodium/potassium concentration dependence of this process in red cells is mimicked by 31P resonance shifts in the (glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate/glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase/inside out vesicle) system. These experiments provide strong support for the existence of a functional linkage between the membrane (Na+ + K+)-ATPase and the glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase at the cytoplasmic face.
Seasonal variation of diurnal perturbations in mesopause region temperature, zonal, and meridional winds above Fort Collins, Colorado (40.6°N, 105°W)

[1] On the basis of lidar observations from May 2002 through April 2003, covering both day and night, we performed a harmonic analysis to extract the diurnal perturbations in mesopause region temperature, zonal and meridional winds over Fort Collins, Colorado (40.6°N, 105°W), binned every 2 months. The results were compared to predictions of the 2000 and 2002 versions of Global-Scale Wave Model (GSWM00 and GSWM02). The diurnal tidal period oscillations showed a mixture of propagating and evanescent (trapped) modes, but the propagating modes dominated for most of the year. The agreement in temperature diurnal phases between observation and GSWM prediction is marginal. On the other hand, other than July-August meridional winds, the observed diurnal phases in both wind components are in good agreement with GSWM predictions for most of the altitude range reported. The diurnal amplitude predictions of GSWM00 were reasonably close to lidar observations, while other than January-February, the GSWM02 amplitude prediction overestimated the observations, typically by a factor of two. We also conducted comparisons on tidal perturbations in zonal wind between radar campaigns and our lidar observations. The lidar data agreed reasonably well with the MF radar data from 2000 to 2001 at nearby Platteville, Colorado (40.2°N, 104.7°W), but showed considerable differences with the data from other midlatitude stations from 1992 to 1993. The dominance of the evanescent mode in the temperature diurnal tidal oscillation during the early winter (November and December), which reached a peak value at midnight, was interesting and anomalous. By invoking the more recent data (November and December in 2003), as well as the diurnal temperature observations from December 1998, we report that the evanescent (trapped) diurnal tidal perturbations were robust and persisted from one year to the next.
Fall detection and classifications based on time-scale radar signal characteristics

Unattended catastrophic falls result in risk to the lives of elderly. There are growing efforts and rising interest in detecting falls of the aging population, especially those living alone. Radar serves as an effective non-intrusive sensor for detecting human activities. For radar to be effective, it is important to achieve low false alarms, i.e., the system can reliably differentiate between a fall and other human activities. In this paper, we discuss the time-scale based signal analysis of the radar returns from a human target. Reliable features are extracted from the scalogram and are used for fall classifications. The classification results and the advantages of using a wavelet transform are discussed.
Absolute configurations of N,N-dialkyl α-amino acids and β-amino alcohols from exciton-coupled circular dichroism spectra of Cu(II) complexes

A circular dichroism technique has been applied to the absolute configurational assignment of acyclic α-amino acids and β-amino alcohols with single stereogenic centers via a one-step derivitization procedure requiring microgram quantities of material. Metal ions fix the geometrical relationship of two chromophores, affording CD spectra that agree with theory on the basis of the expected conformation of the ligands in the metal complexes.
Direct-to-Consumer Genetic Testing: Interdisciplinary Crossroads

Genetics has fascinated societies since ancient times, and references to traits or behaviors that appear to be shared or different among related individuals have permeated legends, literature, and popular culture. Biomedical advances from the past century, and particularly the discovery of the DNA double helix, the increasing numbers of links that were established between mutations and medical conditions or phenotypes, and technological advances that facilitated the sequencing of the human genome, catalyzed the development of genetic testing. Genetic tests were initially performed in health care facilities, interpreted by health care providers, and included the availability of counseling. Recent years have seen an increased availability of genetic tests that are offered by companies directly to consumers, a phenomenon that became known as direct-to-consumer genetic testing. Tests offered in this setting range from the ones that are also provided in health care establishments to tests known as 'recreational genomics,' and consumers directly receive the test results. In addition, testing in this context often does not involve the availability of counseling and, when this is provided, it frequently occurs on-line or over the phone. As a field situated at the interface between biotechnology, biomedical research, and social sciences, direct-to-consumer genetic testing opens multiple challenges that can be appropriately addressed only by developing a complex, inter-disciplinary framework.
Thermal Behavior of Alumina—Silica Xerogels During Calcination

Xerogels of 3Al2O3·2SiO2 mullite were prepared by hydrolyzing Al(NO3)3·9H2O and Si(OC2H5)4 solutions with pH values of 8.3, 9.4, 10.1, and 10.4; the xerogels were composed of a combination of singlephase and diphasic materials. A strong alkaline solution enhanced bayerite formation in the gels. Mullite from the diphasic xerogels was produced by reacting θ-Al2O3 with amorphous SiO2, whereas mullite from the single-phase xerogels was transformed from Al-Si spinel. For the single-phase xerogel, the DTA curve closely resembled the kaolinite-to- mullite reaction. For the diphasic xerogels, the Al3+ -containing solution gelled to pseudoboehmite, which transformed to bayerite in solution. The bayerite then decomposed to η-Al2O3 and to θ-Al2O3 sequentially on heating.
First-principles Study of Nitrogen Vacancies in GdN

The electronic structure of nitrogen vacancies in gadolinium nitride are studied using the full-potential linearized muffin-tin orbital method in the local spin density approximation with Hubbard U corrections (LSDA+U). The vacancy is found to have two localized defect levels in the gap, one of each spin. The third electron of each vacancy in the neutral state dopes the conduction band. The single positive state is found to be the ground state for Fermi levels located anywhere within the band gap. The vacancy has a net magnetic moment of 1 μB in the neutral charge state. The presence of the vacancy is found to increase the average exchange interactions between Gd atoms and hence the Curie temperature but only by about a factor 2 compared to GdN without vacancies.
Evaluation of Infrared Vapor-Phase Libraries for Matrix Isolation Spectral Searching

By broadening matrix isolation absorbance bands to match vapor-phase bandwidths, it is possible to employ vapor-phase libraries to provide structural information from matrix isolation infrared spectra. However, matrix effects cause frequency shifting and peak multiplicity in matrix isolation spectra which decrease correlation between matrix isolation and vapor-phase spectra. The effect of matrix effects on library search results is investigated. Of 40 matrix isolation spectra tested, 28 were identified by library search with the use of a band-broadening factor of 1.8.
Reaction of salmine with ovalbumin, hemoglobin, insulin and casein.

Abstract The reactions of salmine with ovalbumin, hemoglobin, insulin, and casein have been examined to determine, at the pH below which complete precipitation of each of these four proteins from mixtures containing an excess of salmine ceases (transitional pH), the relation of the ratio of the weights of the reactants in the precipitate to the ratio of their generally accepted molecular weights. In the case of ovalbumin this ratio is the same as that of the molecular weights, as was previously found for bovine albumin and β-lactoglobulin. In the case of casein there is no generally accepted value for the molecular weight so that a comparison cannot be made at this time. For hemoglobin and insulin the former ratio is one-half and twice as large as the latter, respectively.
Extensions of Results on Rainbow Hamilton Cycles in Uniform Hypergraphs

Let $${K_n^{(k)}}$$ K n ( k ) be the complete k-uniform hypergraph, $${k\ge3}$$ k ? 3 , and let l be an integer such that 1 ≤ l ≤ k?1 and k?l divides n. An l-overlapping Hamilton cycle in $${K_n^{(k)}}$$ K n ( k ) is a spanning subhypergraph C of $${K_n^{(k)}}$$ K n ( k ) with n/(k?l) edges and such that for some cyclic ordering of the vertices each edge of C consists of k consecutive vertices and every pair of consecutive edges in C intersects in precisely l vertices. An edge-coloring of $${K_n^{(k)}}$$ K n ( k ) is (a, r)-bounded if every subset of a vertices of $${K_n^{(k)}}$$ K n ( k ) is contained in at most r edges of the same color. In this paper, we refine recent results of the first author, Frieze and Rucinski by proving that there is a constant c = c(k, l) such that every $${(\ell, cn^{k-\ell})}$$ ( l , c n k - l ) -bounded edge-colored $${K_n^{(k)}}$$ K n ( k ) in which no color appears more that cn k-1 times contains a rainbow l-overlapping Hamilton cycle. We also show that there is a constant c? = c?(k, l) such that every (l, c?n k-l)-bounded edge-colored $${K_n^{(k)}}$$ K n ( k ) contains a properly colored l-overlapping Hamilton cycle.
CHITEST: A Monte-Carlo computer program for contingency table tests

Abstract CHITEST is an interactive FORTRAN 77 program that uses Monte-Carlo methods to test the null hypothesis that the row and column factors of a r-by-k contingency table are independent of each other. The program optionally performs the test for two populations: (1) the population of tables that have the same row and column marginal frequencies as the observed table; and (2) the population of tables that have the same total frequency as the observed table. The test does not require the expected cell frequencies to be large values—a requirement necessary for the standard chi-square test of independence to be valid. The program also will test the goodness-of-fit of an empirical distribution to a discrete theoretical distribution, and this test does not require large expected values for the theoretical distribution.
Blind channel estimation based on speech correlation structure

Cepstral mean normalization is the standard technique for channel robustness. Despite its good performance, the effectiveness of cepstral mean normalization (CMN) for short sentences is argued. CMN underlying hypothesis that the speech cepstral mean is constant is not valid for short processing windows. This implies the removal of some phonetic information. In this paper we show that the speech correlation structure may be used to estimate the communication channel and we propose an efficient algorithm to compute this estimate. We argue that the resulting channel estimate is more accurate because the underlying hypothesis is better verified than the original CMN hypothesis. Results for the Kai-Fu Lee phone recognition task on NTIMIT, with acoustic models trained on TIMIT (mismatch conditions), show that our method provides an 8% relative error rate reduction as compared to CMN.
A CMOS latch circuit for multiple-valued bi-directional current signals

Abstract A new latch circuit for bi-directional multiple-valued logic (MVL) current signals has been realized in a standard 2-microri poly-silicon gate CMOS process. The circuit accepts and quantizes a bi-directional input current during the SETUP clock phase and latches the quantized input during the HOLD clock phase. Using logical current increments of only l0μA, the bi-directional current-mode MVL latch set-up and hold time has been determined to total approximately 45 ns. The input/output propagation delay for transitions between adjacent states has been determined to be approximately 45 ns at these low current levels.