cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Why People Turn to Religion: A Motivational Analysis

The «Reiss Profile of Fundamental Goals and Motivational Sensitivities», a standardized psychological measure that assesses 15 fundamental desires, was administered to college students (n= 214) and to mental retardation service providers (n= 344), total N = 558, who rated themselves as «very», «somewhat», and «not» religious. How religious a person rated himself, called religiosity, was associated with high desire scores for honor and family, and with low desire scores for vengeance and independence. The investigation provided evidence that the desire for dependence on God is unrelated to any desire for psychological weakness (submission to another person or political leader).
Optical Signal Interconnection Between GaAs Integrated Circuit Chips

Requirements of advanced generations of computers and signal processors dictate not only high computational speed, but highly parallel architectures. These highly parallel systems require significant communication at gigabit data rates with high fanout capabilities. These systems also require multiple switching of high rate data paths to cilitate efficient functioning of parallel architectures. To realize these requirements, MSI level GaAs optoelectronic integrated circuits have been developed to overcome the limitations associated with conventional electrical interconnections. Digital GaAs circuits have been integrated with optoelectronic laser transmitters and detectors to achieve high speed, high bandwidth, optoelectronic ICs for chip level and board level optical data communications. More recently these chips are being interfaced high speed VLSI silicon ICs to form optical fiber crossbar switches, under the sponsorship of DARPA/NOSC. These circuits are expected to operate with data rates of 250 MHz and reconfiguration times of 1 nanosecond. Optical fiber crossbar switches up to 32 X 32 arrays are planned.
Estimation of Genetic Trends in Simulated Data

Abstract Simulated records of 1,556 2-yr-old dairy cows with dam information were used to test the accuracy of a modified method of Smith (4) for estimation of genetic and environmental trends in production. Of the total number of cows, 1,008 were daughters of 128 bulls that sired daughters in two or more years. Accurate estimates of actual genetic and environmental trends were obtained by pooling the regression of production on time within sires according to the inverse of the variance of each regression. The merits of estimates of genetic parameters obtained are discussed. Corrections for the effects of culling and age of dam are presented.
Esophageal Cancer Metabolite Biomarkers Detected by LC-MS and NMR Methods

Background Esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) is a rarely curable disease and is rapidly rising worldwide in incidence. Barret's esophagus (BE) and high-grade dysplasia (HGD) are considered major risk factors for invasive adenocarcinoma. In the current study, unbiased global metabolic profiling methods were applied to serum samples from patients with EAC, BE and HGD, and healthy individuals, in order to identify metabolite based biomarkers associated with the early stages of EAC with the goal of improving prognostication. Methodology/Principal Findings Serum metabolite profiles from patients with EAC (n = 67), BE (n = 3), HGD (n = 9) and healthy volunteers (n = 34) were obtained using high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) methods. Twelve metabolites differed significantly (p<0.05) between EAC patients and healthy controls. A partial least-squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) model had good accuracy with the area under the receiver operative characteristic curve (AUROC) of 0.82. However, when the results of LC-MS were combined with 8 metabolites detected by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) in a previous study, the combination of NMR and MS detected metabolites provided a much superior performance, with AUROC = 0.95. Further, mean values of 12 of these metabolites varied consistently from healthy controls to the high-risk individuals (BE and HGD patients) and EAC subjects. Altered metabolic pathways including a number of amino acid pathways and energy metabolism were identified based on altered levels of numerous metabolites. Conclusions/Significance Metabolic profiles derived from the combination of LC-MS and NMR methods readily distinguish EAC patients and potentially promise important routes to understanding the carcinogenesis and detecting the cancer. Differences in the metabolic profiles between high-risk individuals and the EAC indicate the possibility of identifying the patients at risk much earlier to the development of the cancer.
A consistent cure kinetic model for AS4/3502 graphite/epoxy

Accurate cure kinetic model is crucial for correctly identifying the amount of heat generated for composite process simulation. This paper presents a new technique for identifying cure kinetics parameters for Hercules AS4/3502 prepreg by normalizing the DSC data. The cure kinetics is based on an autocatalytic model for the proposed method, which uses dynamic and isothermal DSC data to determine its parameters. Existing models are also used to determine kinetic parameters but rendered inadequate because of the material's temperature dependent final degree of cure. The model predictions determined from the new technique showed good agreement to both isothermal and dynamic DSC data. The final degree of cure was also in good agreement with experimental data.
BCR-ABL point mutants isolated from patients with imatinib mesylate–resistant chronic myeloid leukemia remain sensitive to inhibitors of the BCR-ABL chaperone heat shock protein 90

Clinical resistance to imatinib mesylate is commonly observed in patients with advanced Philadelphia chromosome– positive (Ph+) leukemias. Acquired resistance is typically associated with reactivation of BCR-ABL due to kinase domain mutations or gene amplification, indicating that BCR-ABL remains a viable target for inhibition in these patients. Strategies for overcoming resistance can be envisioned through exploitation of other molecular features of the BCR-ABL protein, such as its dependence on the molecular chaperone heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90). To determine whether inhibition of Hsp90 could induce degradation of imatinib mesylate–resistant, mutant BCR-ABL proteins, hematopoietic cells expressing 2 mutant BCR-ABL proteins found in imatinib mesylate–resistant patients (T315I and E255K) were examined for sensitivity to geldanamycin and 17-allylaminogeldanamycin (17-AAG). Both compounds induced the degradation of wild-type and mutant BCR-ABL and inhibited cell growth, with a trend indicating more potent activity against mutant BCR-ABL proteins. These data support clinical investigations of 17-AAG in imatinib mesylate–resistant Ph+ leukemias.
The AP1000® PWR Project Moving Toward Completion in China

The AP1000® pressurized water reactor (PWR) is the first and only Generation III+ nuclear power plant to be granted design certification by the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The initial deployment of this technology has been the construction of dual AP1000 units in each of two coastal sites in the People’s Republic of China (PRC), at Sanmen (Zhejiang Province) and Haiyang (Shandong Province). The contracts for these units were framed to support the PRC’s intention to achieve self reliance in its nuclear supply infrastructure. Westinghouse is implementing its innovative supply chain strategy, “We Buy Where We Build”™, to promote the technology transfer and increasing levels of localization needed as each unit is constructed.Since the initial contract award in 2007, the Westinghouse Consortium and the purchasers, State Nuclear Power Technology Corporation of China (SNPTC), the Shandong Nuclear Power Company (SDNPC), and the Sanmen Nuclear Power Company (SMNPC) have worked in harmony to build the units using advanced modular construction techniques that reduce construction timescales and associated risks. First-of-a-kind (FOAK) plant components have been manufactured and delivered, including reactor vessels, steam generators, and other safety equipment. With construction and equipment installation in the final stages, the planning and implementation of the pre-operational testing, system turnover, and commissioning are now underway to prepare for fuel load and future commercial operation.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
Large eddy simulation of buoyant turbulent pool fires

Three-dimensional large eddy simulations (LES) of two buoyant flows were performed in conjunction with a Smagorisky turbulence model. The flows included a non-reacting helium plume previously simulated with two-dimensional simulations and a methane/air turbulent diffusion flame. In comparison with the previous two-dimensional simulation results, the three-dimensional LES results for the helium plume show much better agreement with the available experimental data. A relatively simple combustion model involving Lagrangian thermal elements with a single empirical constant involving the time to burn out of notional fuel parcels was adequate for obtaining reasonable predictions of the mean velocity and vorticity fields. The model also captured the temperature distribution patterns in the methane/air diffusion flames reasonably well. The agreement between the measurements and predictions for these two flows establishes the basic capabilities of LES for buoyant fire applications.
Beta-spectrum shape measurements with a 4π semiconductor spectrometer

Abstract A 4π semiconductor spectrometer employing diffused window lithium-drifted silicon detectors has been constructed. It was tested by varying the parameters of the system, so as to eliminate possible sources of distortion. It was further tested by measuring the shapes of two simple β-spectra ( 143 Pr and 185 W) and two inner group β-spectra ( 198 Au and 86 Rb) in coincidence with the subsequently emitted γ-rays. The γ-ray pulse, detected by a NaI well counter that envelops the beta spectrometer, supplied the gate to the 400-channel pulse-height analyser. In all cases, the results of these measurements are in good agreement with those previously reported. The beta spectrum of the 170 Tm decay to the first excited level in 170 Yb was measured in coincidence with the 84 keV gamma ray. The experiment was performed under the same measurement conditions used for the 198 Au and 86 Rb experiments. The spectrum exhibits a definite non-statistical energy dependence, falling below any straight line Fermi-Kurie plot fit at low energies. The shape factor was fitted by a polynomial of the form 1+ aW + b / W + cW 2 . A good fit was obtained for a = 1.11, b = −0.85, c = − 0.24. The end-point of this transition was determined to be 879±7 keV.
Expression of decorin by sprouting bovine aortic endothelial cells exhibiting angiogenesis in vitro

In our recent studies, we have demonstrated that monolayer cultures of bovine aortic endothelial (BAE) cells that do not express type I collagen also fail to express and synthesize decorin, a small chondroitin/dermatan sulfate proteoglycan that interacts with type I collagen and regulates collagen fibrillogenesis in vitro. However, BAE cells exhibiting a spontaneous sprouting phenotype and a predisposition toward the formation of cords and tube-like structures (an in vitro model for angiogenesis) initiate the synthesis of type I collagen during their morphological transition from a polygonal monolayer to an angiogenic phenotype. In the present study, we examined whether BAE cells also initiate the synthesis of the proteoglycan decorin during this morphological transition. We show by Northern blot analysis and by immunochemical methods that BAE cell cultures containing sprouting cells and cords, but not monolayer cultures of these cells, express and synthesize decorin (M(r) approximately 100,000). We also show that type I collagen expression by BAE cell cultures is initiated concomitantly. However, the localization of decorin and type I collagen in cord and tube-forming BAE cell cultures is not completely identical. Type I collagen is detected only in sprouting BAE cells and in endothelial cords, whereas decorin is also apparent in BAE cells surrounding the cords and tubes. Our results indicate that the synthesis of decorin as well as type I collagen is associated with endothelial cord and tube formation in vitro.
Tunneling investigation of Cu-Pb proximity sandwiches. Barrier transmission effects

We have measured the tunneling characteristics (I, dV/dI, and d 2 V/dI 2vs. voltage) for a series of junctions of the form Al-Ox-Cu-Pb for Cu thicknesses ranging from 400 to 3000 ». From the second derivative characteristics we observe two distinct contributions, one from an electron interference effect and another from the interaction of the superconducting electrons with phonons in the Cu. These contributions may be separated by the application of a magnetic field less than the critical field of the sandwich. The electron interference effect provides a direct measurement of the Fermi velocity in the normal metal, while the interactions with the Cu phonons provide a measurement of the electron-phonon coupling constant. Contamination of the interface between Cu and Pb by oxidation of the Cu allows us to decouple the two films and observe the effects of changing the transmission coefficient t. We find that the electron interference is reduced as t is reduced but its energy dependence is unchanged, so that the evaluation of V F is unaffected. The phonon structure from the Cu is also decreased with t. The measured energy gap is proportional to the amplitude of the interference effect, indicating that both measure the pair amplitude at the free surface of the Cu. The phonon structure in Cu is proportional to the induced gap squared, independent of whether the gap is varied by a change in thickness or in transition coefficient. For Cu we find V F = 1.06 × 108 cm/sec and the dimensionless electron-phonon coupling constant λ = 0.11 ± 0.03.
Stimulation of the amidase and esterase activity of activated bovine plasma protein C by monovalent cations.

Summary The rate of hydrolysis of suboptimal concentrations of N-benzoyl- L ¯ ¯ -phenylanalyl- L ¯ ¯ -valyl- L ¯ ¯ -arginine- p- nitroanilide hydrochloride (S-2160) by activated bovine plasma protein C is greatly enhanced by the presence of monovalent cations. Of the cations tested, at their maximal effective concentrations, the order of the ability to enhance the S-2160 amidase activity of activated protein C is Cs+ > Rb+ > K+ > NH4+ > Na+ > Li+. Progressive substitution of methyl groups for hydrogen in NH4+ leads to a concomitant decrease in the ability of these compounds to enhance the amidase activity of activated protein C. Divalent cations, at low concentrations, weakly enhance the amidase activity of activated protein C and show a decreased tendency in this regard at high concentrations. The above observations also apply to hydrolysis of the substrate α -N-tosyl- L ¯ ¯ -arginine methyl ester.
In-depth Proteomic Analysis of Mouse Cochlear Sensory Epithelium by Mass Spectrometry

Proteomic analysis of sensory organs such as the cochlea is challenging due to its small size and difficulties with membrane protein isolation. Mass spectrometry in conjunction with separation methods can provide a more comprehensive proteome, because of the ability to enrich protein samples, detect hydrophobic proteins, and identify low abundant proteins by reducing the proteome dynamic range. GELFrEE as well as different separation and digestion techniques were combined with FASP and nanoLC-MS/MS to obtain an in-depth proteome analysis of cochlear sensory epithelium from 30-day-old mice. Digestion with LysC/trypsin followed by SCX fractionation and multiple nanoLC-MS/MS analyses identified 3773 proteins with a 1% FDR. Of these, 694 protein IDs were in the plasmalemma. Protein IDs obtained by combining outcomes from GELFrEE/LysC/trypsin with GELFrEE/trypsin/trypsin generated 2779 proteins, of which 606 additional proteins were identified using the GELFrEE/LysC/trypsin approach. Combining results from the different techniques resulted in a total of 4620 IDs, including a number of previously unreported proteins. GO analyses showed high expression of binding and catalytic proteins as well as proteins associated with metabolism. The results show that the application of multiple techniques is needed to provide an exhaustive proteome of the cochlear sensory epithelium that includes many membrane proteins. The mass spectrometry proteomics data have been deposited to the ProteomeXchange Consortium with the data set identifier PXD000231.
Mass transfer rates of oxygen, nitrogen, and argon in carbon molecular sieves determined by pressure-swing frequency response

Abstract The adsorption rates of pure O 2 , N 2 , and Ar have been measured at pressures from 0.125 bar to 1 bar on two carbon molecular sieve materials, Shirasagi MSC-3R type 162 and type 172, using pressure-swing frequency response. For each material, O 2 adsorbs much faster than the other two gases, with Ar being the slowest of the three. Adsorption rates of N 2 and Ar on both materials obey the linear driving force rate equation, indicating that a barrier resistance is rate limiting. Adsorption of O 2 on both materials is best described using a combined resistance model, which treats a barrier resistance in series with a micropore diffusion resistance. However, the contribution of micropore diffusion to O 2 adsorption rates is small. The experimental barrier resistance coefficients for all gases on both materials increase with pressure. The pressure dependence of the barrier coefficient can be explained by the existence of either Langmuir kinetics with a distribution of pore sizes or shell diffusion where the adsorbent with constricted pores in the shell has different equilibrium characteristics than the adsorbent in the core of a particle. The two materials investigated in this work demonstrate high kinetic selectivity for O 2 over N 2 and Ar, suggesting that they could be useful in pressure-swing adsorption processes designed to generate a high-purity O 2 product.
Real-time molecular uptake and membrane-specific transport in living cells by optical microscopy and nonlinear light scattering

Abstract We show that the comparably simple and widely available technique, optical transmission microscopy (TM), can be used in a time-resolved way to independently measure uptake of any molecule (that absorbs visible light) into living cells. This technique complements second-harmonic light scattering (SHS), which can be used for time-resolved observation of adsorption and transport of small molecules, with non-zero first-order hyper-polarizability, through membranes in living cells. While either technique can be used alone, a combination of the pair allows a fully complementary and quantitative characterization of molecular uptake with membrane specificity in living cells. Specifically, TM permits detection of the changing bulk molecular concentrations within the cell, and SHS, with its inherent interface sensitivity, provides sequential differentiation of molecular density at membrane surfaces. Simultaneous global analysis of the TM and SHS observations yield molecular diffusion rate constants for all traversed cellular barriers.
Argand diagrams of dielectric response

Abstract We plot the dielectric function of CsCl in an Argand diagram and find that it consists almost entirely of resonance loops. This method of analysis is useful for finding resonances and critical points, as well as for inter-relating various experimental quantities, such as reflectivity, absorption, and energy loss spectra.
Signals and systems II-Part IV: DSP approaches to IQ modulation and demodulations

This six-part series is a mini-course, focused on system concepts, that is aimed at the gap between Signals and Systems and the usual first DSP course. This fourth article in the series is about analog and DSP-based IQ demodulation.
Organic chemistry: Synthetic lessons from nature

Most syntheses in organic chemistry target one molecule, or a few closely related analogues at most. But by taking a leaf from nature's book, the latest synthetic strategy opens the door to a whole family of compounds.
Transferkatalyse zwischen zwei Feststoffen und ihre Anwendung auf die Reduktion von Nitroarenen

Ein breites Spektrum aromatischer Nitroverbindungen kann mit einem CrII/Mn0-Redoxpaar in Gegenwart von Trimethylsilylchlorid (TMSCl) zu Anilinen reduziert werden [Gl. (1)]. Nur 0.25 Aquivalente Chrom werden benotigt, um Nitroarene an fester Phase zu reduzieren (R=feste Phase). Dies reprasentiert den seltenen Fall einer Transferkatalyse zwischen zwei festen Phasen. Die Reaktion eignet sich auch fur die Synthese in Losung (R=OH).
A new method of preparing Ca2+-ATPase from sarcoplasmic reticulum: extraction with octylglucoside.

A fast method for preparing Ca2+-ATPase from rabbit muscle sarcoplasmic reticulum was devised. The method involves extracting extrinsic membrane proteins with the non-ionic detergent octylglucoside at high salt concentration. A Ca2+ ATPase of consistently high specific activity (about 25 μmoles/mg·min) is found in the insoluble residue. The method was optimized with respect to the concentrations of detergent and salt, pH, and other extraction conditions. By the criteria of the protein pattern in SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, dependence of the hydrolytic activity on the presence of Ca2+, and the phosphoprotein formation, the preparation is identical with the Ca2+-ATPase isolated previously by MacLennan [10] and other authors. The main advantages of the new method are its rapidity, its reliability, and the high specific activity of the purified enzyme.
Measurement of J/V characteristics of a GaAs submicron n+-n--n+ diode

The J/V characteristics of a GaAs 0.24 μm channel length n+-n--n+ diode have been measured at 8 K, 77 K and 300 K. Good agreement is observed with the J/V predictions recently reported by Awano et al. using a Monte-Carlo simulation of a similar device. This verifies the accuracy of their model, and substantiates their findings that electron transport in a 0.25 μm channel is near-ballistic at 77 K, with a peak ensemble-average electron velocity approaching 108 cm s-1 for an ensemble-average energy just under 0.36 eV. An effective time-average velocity of about half this value can be expected for the total channel transit.
Can predators assess the quality of their prey’s resource?

Predator–prey interactions play a substantial role in shaping spatial distributions of organisms in biological communities. Recent theory has considered optimal habitat selection strategies for predators and prey that interact in real time. One consistent prediction across many theoretical studies is that it could be adaptive for predators to assess and respond to the quality of resources consumed by their prey (resources the predators do not consume). However, extremely few empirical studies have tested this prediction. We utilized a tritrophic system in which seven-spotted lady beetles (Coccinella septempunctata L., Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), pea aphids (Acyrthosiphon pisum (Harris), Hemiptera: Aphididae) and tic bean plants (Vicia faba L., Fabaceae) were, respectively, the predators, prey and prey’s resource. In microcosms, we created patches of varying quality (from the perspective of the prey) among which predators and prey were allowed to move freely. By utilizing treatments in which there were (1) prey but no predators, (2) predators but no prey and (3) predators and prey simultaneously, we determined which sources of information influenced movement and habitat selection. Predators were able to detect and respond to the quality per se of their prey’s resource, and they preferred the highest-quality patch regardless of the presence of prey. While theory has frequently predicted such behaviour, direct responses of predators to resource quality (rather than resource amounts, resource damage, or indirect cues of prey) have not previously been demonstrated. These results substantiate general predictions of ecological theory and have implications for predicting the behaviour of biological control agents.
NOAA's data and information stewardship programs

In anticipation of the large jump in data volumes projected from future operational satellite and weather radar systems, and as lead agency for climate science, NOAA is developing ambitions programs for data and information stewardship. These programs are intended to provide broad access to a suite of products and services and to ensure long-term preservation of not simply the data, but of the information content of the observations. This paper outlines the vision and scope of these programs.
Determination of 2-deoxy-2-sulfoaminohexose content of mucopolysaccharides.

Abstract Nitrous acid reacts with N-sulfated- d -glucosamine present in mucopolysaccharides to yield deaminated compounds, presumably oligosaccharides with reducing terminal 2,5-anhydromannose groups; these react with the indole-hydrochloric acid reagent permitting the direct assay of N-sulfated- d -glucosamine present in heparin and heparitin sulfate. Protein present in the extracts of mucopolysaccharides must be removed prior to the reaction with nitrous acid. Of the substances tested for interference, only DNA is sufficiently chromogenic to interfere significantly with the determination of N-sulfated hexosamine under most circumstances.
Comparative temporal behavior of radon- and thoron-progeny in surface air over the midwestern U.S.

Temporal variations in airborne210Pb,212Pb,214Pb,218Po, and214Bi concentrations at Springfield, Missouri, USA, are compared with each other and with results reported from studies performed in other parts of the world. At Springfield diurnal concentration patterns of210Pb are similar to those of212Pb, but seasonal concentration patterns differ markedly. Additionally, abnormal disequilibrium conditions are sometimes found to exist in Springfield among218Po,214Pb, and214Bi in which progeny/parent ratios are greater than 1. Findings similar to those presented here have been reported at some sites throughout the world, but different temporal patterns have been reported at others. Examination of concentration dependence on meteorological conditions at Springfield indicates that some of these differences are correlated with temperature and ground snow cover. Implications of these findings for use of thoron- and radon-progeny as atmospheric tracers are discussed.
Boundary integral equation methods for evaluating the flow about smooth bodies

Abstract This paper examines the merits of using two alternatives to the traditional boundary integral equation methods where the control and the integration points are defined on different curves. In the case of a direct approach where Green's theorem is used to solve for the velocity potential the collocation points are placed inside the body, unlike the traditional approach where the collocation points are located on the body surface. In the case of an indirect method, the flow is represented by a source distribution which is submerged below the body surface. Results obtained by these methods for infinite-fluid and free-surface potential flow examples are compared with exact results and results obtained by the conventional approaches. In all cases considered, these alternative methods produce significantly more accurate results at no extra computational cost. Furthermore, if a free-surface flow is analyzed, the first method suppresses the detrimental effects of the ‘irregular frequencies’.
Segmentation-based motion estimation and residual coding for packet video: a goal-oriented approach

Image transmission via packet switched networks has a significant impact on encoded image data. To develop an efficient image codec for packet video, the goals of image coding are redefined and formulated as an optimization problem. Guided by these goals, a set of design requirements and a new segmentation based coding technique is developed. This approach features region based motion estimation, region based residual coding and region based single frame coding. The performance of the proposed algorithm is evaluated and a packet loss compensation algorithm is presented. As a result, good image quality at very low-bit rates can be achieved.© (1992) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Computational Fluid Dynamic Modeling for Engine Diagnosis

This paper presents the results of a demonstration problem where computational fluid dynamics modeling (CFD) is used for engine diagnosis. As computational resources become faster and cheaper and detailed numerical models of heat transfer, fluid dynamics and chemical kinetics become more accurate, these numerical models can become viable alternatives for seeded fault tests. The work done here is one of the ways this could be done; that is, by using the results of a CFD model to map the effects of certain faults to a model parameter computed by a less detailed lumped parameter model.Copyright © 2003 by ASME
Z Dependence of Radiative Corrections to β Decay

We show that to first order in $\ensuremath{\alpha}$, and with neglect of effects which vanish in the limit of zero lepton momenta, the theoretical $\mathrm{ft}$ value in 0 \ensuremath{\rightarrow} 0 Fermi transitions is independent of $Z$. The only model-dependent feature of this argument is in the treatment of effects induced by the axial current. It is further shown that in higher order radiative corrections the power of $Z$ cannot exceed the power of $\ensuremath{\alpha}$; the leading term in the radiative correction to the $\mathrm{ft}$ value is therefore of order ${Z}^{2}{\ensuremath{\alpha}}^{2}$.
Analysis of commercial kidney stone probiotic supplements.

Objective To examine the levels of Oxalobacter formigenes in probiotic supplements marketed by PRO-LAB, Ltd, Toronto, Canada, and capsules of Oxalo purchased from Sanzyme Ltd, Hyderabad, India, and to measure the ability of these preparations to degrade oxalate in vitro. Methods Probiotic supplements and pure cultures of O. formigenes were cultured in a number of media containing oxalate. Optical density at 595 nm (OD 595 ) was used to measure bacterial growth, and ion chromatography was used to measure loss of oxalate in culture media. O. formigenes –specific and degenerate Lactobacillus primers to the oxalate decarboxylase gene ( oxc ) were used in polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results Incubating probiotic supplements in different media did not result in the growth of oxalate-degrading organisms. PCR indicated the absence of organisms harboring the oxc gene. Culture and 16S ribosomal ribonucleic acid gene sequencing indicated the PRO-LAB supplement contained viable Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis (GenBank accession no. KJ095656.1), whereas Oxalo contained several Bacillus species and Lactobacillus plantarum . Conclusion The probiotic supplement sold over the Internet by PRO-LAB Ltd and Sanzyme Ltd did not contain identifiable O. formigenes or viable oxalate-degrading organisms, and they are unlikely to be of benefit to calcium oxalate kidney stone patients.
Is Shareholder Wealth Maximization Immoral

For those educated in modern business schools, the justification for decisions made by financial professionals in business organizations has been supplied by financial economic theory. Broadly, thi...
Common genetic variation in IGF1, IGFBP1 and IGFBP3 and ovarian cancer risk

Insulin-like growth factor (IGF) 1 and its binding proteins foster cellular proliferation and inhibit apoptosis. In vitro studies show that IGF1 increases ovarian cell growth and invasive potential, suggesting a role for the IGF1 pathway in ovarian cancer etiology. We evaluated genetic variation in the IGF1, IGFBP1 and IGFBP3 genes in relation to ovarian cancer risk by genotyping 29 haplotype-tagging single nucleotide polymorphisms in 1173 cases and 1201 controls from the New England Case-Control (NECC) study and 296 cases and 854 controls from the Nurses' Health Study (NHS). The association of haplotypes and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with ovarian cancer was estimated using unconditional (NECC) and conditional (NHS) logistic regression. Additionally, we evaluated the association of SNPs with IGF1, IGF-binding protein (IGFBP) 3 and IGFBP2 plasma levels (n = 380 NHS controls). Our data suggest a decreased risk for women carrying haplotype 2C of the IGF1 gene [odds ratios (ORs) = 0.82, 95% confidence intervals (CIs) = 0.69-0.98] and an increased risk for women carrying haplotype 1D (OR = 1.41, 95% CI = 1.03-1.94) or 2D (OR = 1.20, 95% CI = 1.01-1.41) in the binding proteins. When evaluated individually, three SNPs in the IGFBPs (rs10228265, rs4988515 and rs2270628) were associated with increased ovarian cancer risk, and several IGF1 (rs11111285, rs1996656 and rs1019731) and IGFBP3 (rs2270628, rs2854746 and rs2854744) SNPs were significantly associated with IGF1, IGFBP3 and IGFBP2 plasma levels. Some haplotypes and SNPs in the IGF pathway genes may be associated with ovarian cancer risk; however, these results need to be confirmed. Of particular interest was the IGFBP3 SNP rs2270628, which was associated with both increased IGF1 plasma levels and higher ovarian cancer risk.
Synthesis of new siloxane urethane block copolymers and their properties

Siloxane urethane block copolymers were prepared with siloxanes as the soft segment. Films were cast from a variety of solvents. Solvent has an effect on the segregation of soft and hard segments. Surface studies, including ESCA, EDS, and FT-IR, show well segregated block copolymers with enhanced siloxane on the surface. DSC studies show a low mp (-44°C) for the soft segment and a Tg for the hard segment above room temperature. These materials show higher thermal stability compared to polyether urethane block copolymers. These copolymers also show relatively good resistance to exposure to oxygen plasma and show improved flame retardancy compared to nonsiliconated, polyether polyurethane block copolymers. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Is burn severity related to fire intensity? Observations from landscape scale remote sensing

Biomass burning by wildland fires has significant ecological, social and economic impacts. Satellite remote sensing provides direct measurements of radiative energy released by the fire (i.e. fire intensity) and surrogate measures of ecological change due to the fire (i.e. fire or burn severity). Despite anecdotal observations causally linking fire intensity with severity, the nature of any relationship has not been examined over extended spatial scales. We compare fire intensities defined by Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer Fire Radiative Power (MODIS FRP) products with Landsat-derived spectral burn severity indices for 16 fires across a vegetation structure continuum in the western United States. Per-pixel comparison of MODIS FRP data within individual fires with burn severity indices is not reliable because of known satellite temporal and spatial FRP undersampling. Across the fires, 69% of the variation in relative differenced normalized burn ratio was explained by the 90th percentile of MODIS FRP. Therefore, distributional MODIS FRP measures (median and 90th-percentile FRP) derived from multiple MODIS overpasses of the actively burning fire event may be used to predict potential long-term negative ecological effects for individual fires.
Dynamic control channel management in presence of spectrum heterogeneity

Numerous architectures, applications, and algorithms and software-defined radios have been proposed for cognitive radio networks. In order to work or to achieve maximum performance, many of the developed systems and control algorithms require the exchange of control and configuration messages among the network nodes, typically on a dedicated control channel. In a practical deployment, however, the presence of such a commonly known, dedicated control channel might not be feasible, and for some scenarios should especially be avoided. Since such a signaling channel will be the critical link for the network's operation, link failure or interference will cause the entire network to loose its ability to adapt. In this paper, we evaluate our previously biologically inspired distributed channel selection algorithm and compare it to an "optimal" centralized algorithm formulated as a standard multi-commodity flow linear program.
Phylogeography of Acesta clams from submarine seamounts and escarpments along the western margin of North America

Genetic connectivity and habitat characteristics were examined in two species of Acesta clams (Bivalvia: Limidae) from submarine seamounts and continental slopes along the western North America margin. Two species were identified from dive videos obtained with submarine remotely operated vehicles that surveyed a 2200-km range between 27� and 46� N latitude. Acesta sphoni was only found at shallower habitats (545‐860 m depth) in the southern part of this range, whereas Acesta mori was more abundant and widely distributed in deeper habitats (1029‐1996 m). Both species occurred on seamounts and on the walls of submarine canyons and continental slopes. Segregation of these species by depth exposes them to correlated differences in water temperatures and dissolved oxygen concentrations. Ninety-eight individuals sampled from seven seamounts and one escarpment locality were characterized with DNA-barcodes based on 643 base pairs of mitochondrial cytochrome-c-oxidase subunit I (COI). Further analysis of these sequences revealed no significant geographical subdivision across the sampled range. This lack of differentiation suggests ongoing genetic exchange between the seamount populations and those possibly distributed along the continental margins. Examination of regional bathymetric profiles suggested that an abundance of suitable habitat might exist along these margins.
Does the Organization of Capital Matter? Employers and Active Labor Market Policy at the National and Firm Levels

Does the organization of business matter for social policy development in the advanced capitalist democracies? Conventional welfare state analysis has given this significant question scant attention. We argue, however, that the representational power of business, coordination across business interest units, and integration of associations in corporatist policy-making forums, or what we call the social corporatist organization of business, should result in greater support and participation by employers in social policy formation and implementation. We test our arguments with models both of 1980–98 pooled time-series data on within- and across-country variation in spending on active labor market programs and of extensive firm-level survey data from Denmark and the United Kingdom. We find that the centralization and coordination of employers as well as the integration of employer organizations in corporatist policy-making forums are strongly associated with shares of national income devoted to active labor market policy. We find, moreover, that the degree of employer organization conditions active labor market policy responses to “de-industrialization” and increases in general unemployment. At the firm level, membership in an employer association has a significant positive effect on employer participation in active labor market programs in corporatist Denmark but not in the pluralist United Kingdom.
The biogeography of the austral, subalpine genus Ourisia (Plantaginaceae) based on molecular phylogenetic evidence: South American origin and dispersal to New Zealand and Tasmania

Molecular phylogenetic analyses of 26 of the 28 species of Ourisia, including eight of ten subspecies and two purported natural hybrids, are presented and used to examine the biogeography of the genus, which is distributed in subalpine to alpine habitats of South America, New Zealand and Tasmania. Gondwanan vicariance, often cited as the cause of this classic austral biogeographical pattern, was rejected by parametric bootstrapping of our combined dataset. Alternatively, various lines of evidence are presented in favour of a South American origin of Ourisia and subsequent dispersal to Australasia. Specifically, the genus likely arose in the Andes of central Chile and spread to southern Chile and Argentina, to the north-central Andes, and finally to Tasmania and New Zealand. The ancestor of the New Zealand species probably first arrived on the South Island, where the New Zealand species of Ourisia are most diverse, and migrated to the North and Stewart Islands. Because the Tasmanian and New Zealand species are sister to one another, the direction of dispersal between these two areas is equivocal. These results agree with other molecular phylogenetic studies that show that past dispersal between southern hemisphere continents has played an important role in the evolutionary history of many high-elevation austral plants. Our data also show that within South America, many of the geographical barriers (with the exception of the Atacama Desert) that have played a role in the evolution of other plant groups have not affected Ourisia species. Within New Zealand, the phylogeny and biogeography of species of Ourisia coincide with the geological history of the country and patterns of other alpine plants. © 2006 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2006, 87, 479–513.
Understanding Falls in Multiple Sclerosis: Association of Mobility Status, Concerns About Falling, and Accumulated Impairments

Background. Falls in people with multiple sclerosis (MS) are a serious health concern, and the percentage of people who restrict their activity because of concerns about falling (CAF) is not known. Mobility function and accumulated impairments are associated with fall risk in older adults but not in people with stroke and have not been studied in people with MS. Objective. The purposes of this study were: (1) to estimate the percentage of people who have MS and report falling, CAF, and activity restrictions related to CAF; (2) to examine associations of these factors with fall status; and (3) to explore associations of fall status with mobility function and number of accumulated impairments. Design. A cross-sectional survey was conducted. Methods. A total of 575 community-dwelling people with MS provided information about sociodemographics, falls, CAF, activity restrictions related to CAF, mobility function, and accumulated impairments. Chi-square statistics were used to explore associations among these factors. Results. In all participants, about 62% reported CAF and about 67% reported activity restrictions related to CAF. In participants who did not experience falls, 25.9% reported CAF and 27.7% reported activity restrictions related to CAF. Mobility function was associated with fall status; participants reporting moderate mobility restrictions reported the highest percentage of falls, and participants who were nonwalkers (ie, had severely limited self-mobility) reported the lowest percentage. Falls were associated with accumulated impairments; the participants who reported the highest percentage of 2 or more falls were those with 10 impairments. Limitations. This cross-sectional study relied on self-reported falls, mobility, and impairment status, which were not objectively verified. Conclusions. Both CAF and activity restrictions related to CAF were common in people with MS and were reported by people who experienced falls and those who did not. The association of fall status with mobility function did not appear to be linear. Fall risk increased with declining mobility function; however, at a certain threshold, further declines in mobility function were associated with fewer falls, possibly because of reduced fall risk exposure.
Effect of bundle branch block on local electrogram morphologic features: implications for arrhythmia diagnosis by stored electrogram analysis.

Abstract Analysis of stored local ventricular electrogram recordings is a useful diagnostic tool in the evaluation of patients with implantable cardioverter defibrillators. Visual analysis of local electrogram morphologic features has been demonstrated to be useful in distinguishing ventricular tachycardia from supraventricular rhythm. The effect of bundle branch block (BBB) aberration during supraventricular tachycardia on local electrogram morphologic features is not entirely clear. Erroneous diagnoses resulting from a change in electrogram morphologic features with BBB may occur. To determine whether the development of BBB can produce a change in local electrogram morphologic features and whether this change is dependent on the site of recording, we retrospectively reviewed local electrogram recordings from 23 patients who had intermittent BBB during electrophysiologic evaluation of documented or suspected supraventricular tachycardia. Local electrogram recordings from catheters placed in the right ventricular apex and coronary sinus during supraventricular tachycardia with BBB aberrancy were compared with recordings during narrow complex supraventricular tachycardia or normal sinus rhythm. Bipolar recordings were made with a 5 mm inter-electrode distance with filter settings at 40 to 400 Hz. Three independent blinded observers defined the paired electrograms as the same or distinctly different. During right BBB a change in electrogram morphologic features was demonstrated in 11 (85%) of 13 recordings from the right ventricular apex and in only 1 (8%) of 12 recordings from the coronary sinus. In contrast, during left BBB a change in electrogram morphologic features was seen in 6 (100%) of 6 recordings from the coronary sinus and in only 1 (8%) of 13 recordings from the right ventricular apex. These results demonstrate that when the described recording techniques are used, a change in local ventricular electrogram morphologic features during BBB is predominantly manifest in recording sites ipsilateral to the BBB, whereas recording sites contralateral to the BBB are relatively unaffected. This information may have implications regarding interpretation of stored electrograms when an attempt is made to establish a rhythm diagnosis leading to implantable cardioverter defibrillator therapy.
Solubility of corundum in the system Al2O3–SiO2–H2O–NaCl at 800 °C and 10 kbar

Abstract The solubility of corundum was measured at 800 °C and 10 kbar in NaCl–H2O–SiO2 fluids over NaCl mole fractions (XNaCl) of 0 to 0.5 and SiO2 concentrations of zero to quartz or albite + melt saturation, depending on XNaCl. Experiments were performed in a piston-cylinder apparatus. Dissolved Al2O3 and SiO2 were determined by weight losses of corundum and quartz crystals, or by bulk compositions of bracketing experiments. Although kyanite and sillimanite are slightly more stable than corundum + quartz at these pressures (P) and temperatures (T), neither appeared in any of the experiments. Results indicate that the enhancement of corundum solubility by NaCl at this P and T is further promoted by the addition of SiO2. At quartz saturation, significant enhancement occurs in initially pure H2O and addition of NaCl yields yet higher Al2O3 concentrations. At 0.03 ≤ XNaCl ≤ 0.1, quartz saturation is replaced by albite + silicate melt. The anhydrous melt composition is nearly on the join NaAlSi3O8–SiO2. Al2O3 molality rises rapidly with NaCl concentration to 0.038 at XNaCl = 0.1 and then increases more slowly to 0.052 at halite saturation. There is, in addition, a measurable reciprocal enhancement of Si solubility by virtue of dissolved Al at a fixed XNaCl. Quench pH in NaCl-bearing fluids is strongly acidic and Na/Cl 3 at high XNaCl. Our data show that Al2O3 is a moderately soluble component in quartz + aluminosilicate-saturated rocks in the presence of intergranular salt solutions at deep-crustal metamorphic P–T conditions and commonly realized salinities. Al2O3 should not be regarded as a fixed reference component, because it may exhibit substantial mobility.