cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Perspectives on exploiting near-critical fluids for energy-efficient catalytic conversion of emerging feedstocks

Abstract Near-critical fluids possess unique tunability of the physical and transport properties for performing resource-efficient catalysis (i.e., conserving feedstock and energy) characterized by process intensification, high product selectivity, enhanced safety and facile separation steps. Alternative technology concepts for energy-intensive and waste-generating megaton industrial processes (such as ethylene and propylene epoxidations, p-xylene oxidation and olefin hydroformylations) that employ gas-expanded liquids or supercritical fluids to demonstrate such process attributes are highlighted. In particular, continuous or flow processes that employ either homogeneous or supported ionic liquid phase (SILP) catalysts are emphasized. Economic and LCA analyses based on plant-scale simulations reveal clear potential for practical viability and lowered environmental impacts of these alternative processes (relative to the conventional technologies). The emerging biomass and shale gas based chemical industry, where new catalytic technologies are needed to make equivalent petrochemical intermediates, may be receptive to adopt and implement such new resource-efficient technologies.
A Longitudinal Study of Factors Influencing the Retention of Title IV-E Master's of Social Work Graduates in Public Child Welfare

This article investigates factors predicting the retention of 201 Title IV-E MSW graduates at a large, urban public child welfare agency in California over 2 years of employment. Using a discriminant function analysis, factors taken at the end of the first and second year of employment were used to predict whether these graduates left prior to or at the end of their commitment or stayed past their commitment. The most consistent predictor of whether MSWs stayed past their stipend commitment was organizational commitment. Other significant predictors varied by year and included burnout, working conditions, supervisor support, job satisfaction, role conflict and autonomy. Qualitative findings about the reasons why these graduates decided to remain or leave the agency are also presented.
Role of the actin cytoskeleton on epithelial Na+ channel regulation.

Role of the actin cytoskeleton on epithelial Na + channel regulation. The regulatory role of actin filament organization on epithelial Na + channel activity is reviewed in this report. The actin cytoskeleton, consisting of actin filaments and associated actin-binding proteins, is essential to various cellular events including the maintenance of cell shape, the onset of cell motility, and the distribution and stability of integral membrane proteins. Functional interactions between the actin cytoskeleton and specific membrane transport proteins are, however, not as well understood. Recent studies from our laboratory have determined that dynamic changes in the actin cytoskeletal organization may represent a novel signaling mechanism in the regulation of ion transport in epithelia. This report summarizes work conducted in our laboratory leading to an understanding of the molecular steps associated with the regulatory role of the actin-based cytoskeleton on epithelial Na + channel function. The basis of this interaction lies on the regulation by actin-binding proteins and adjacent structures, of actin filament organization which in turn, modulates ion channel activity. The scope of this interaction may extend to such relevant cellular events as the vasopressin response in the kidney.
Housing demand in the United States in the late nineteenth century: Evidence from the commissioner of labor survey, 1889/1890

Abstract This paper examines homeownership and housing demand for a sample of approximately 6800 urban, industrial workers in the United States for the period 1889/1890, using data from the Sixth and Seventh Annual Reports of the U.S. Commissioner of Labor. Tenure choice and renter demand equations are estimated, using both permanent and current income. Data limitations did not permit estimation of owner demand. The results indicate lower homeownership rates among American workers circa 1890 than later, and significant effects on ownership of income, age of household head, region, industry, occupation, ethnicity, and family size and composition. Rental prices and value/rent ratios had effects in the expected directions. Partial and full elasticities calculated for renter demand reveal downward biases if only current income is used to estimate housing demand. Comparisons of these historical data to contemporary housing information reveal greater similarities to present day developing nations than to recent U.S. data. The results indicate that modern housing demand theory performs well with historical data.
Strain transfer between thin films on buried oxide and its application in heteroepitaxial crystal growth

Abstract A strain transfer process between two epitaxial thin films with different lattice constants will be discussed. It is demonstrated that an epitaxial film (epifilm) grown on top of a thin buffer layer may release the strain to the buffer layer, leaving the epifilm dislocation free. A criterion to achieve this strain transfer is also derived. The strain transfer model can explain recent experiments on the growth of low dislocation relaxed SiGe material on Si. For GaAs-based materials we propose a scheme to form a thin buffer by GaAs situated on top of a buried oxide such as Al2O3 through wet oxidation of AlAs. This GaAs thin buffer provides a flexible substrate for the growth of epifilms with thicknesses not limited by conventional critical thickness for strained layers. Detailed numerical analysis on the growth of InxGa1−x As on GaAs is also performed.
Modelling the behaviour of homogeneous scalar turbulence

The paper considers the problem of calculating the statistical characteristics of a passive scalar dispersed by a homogeneous turbulence field. In many turbulent shear flows the time-scale for the evolution of the scalar field is intrinsically related to that of the turbulent velocity field. This is by no means always the case, however, and it is at this more general situation that the present work is aimed. An approximate transport equation for the rate of dissipation of scalar variance is proposed which, it is argued, must contain (at least) two sink terms one of which responds to the time scale of the velocity field while the other reflects that of the scalar field itself. The model has been applied to the limited number of homogeneous scalar flows for which data are available and achieves satisfactory agreement as judged by the evolution of the mean-square scalar variance.
Preparation, characterization, resistance to protein adsorption, and specific avidin-biotin binding of poly(amidoamine) dendrimers functionalized with oligo(ethylene glycol) on gold

Protein-resistant films derived from the fifth-generation poly(amidoamine) dendrimers (PAMAM G5) functionalized with oligo(ethylene glycol) (OEG) derivatives consisting of various ethylene glycol units (EG(n), n = 3, 4, and 6) were prepared on the self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of 11-mercaptoundecanoic acid (MUA) on gold substrates. The resulting films were characterized by ellipsometry, contact angle goniometry, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). About 35% of the peripheral amines of the dendrimers were reacted with N-hydroxysuccinimide-terminated EG(n) derivatives (NHS-EG(n)). The dendrimer films showed improved stability over octadecanethiolate SAMs on gold in hot solvents, attributed to the formation of multiple amide bonds per PAMAM unit with underlying NHS-activated MUA monolayer. The EG(n)-attached PAMAM surfaces with n = 3 reduced the adsorption of fibrinogen to approximately 20% monolayer, whereas 2-3% for n = 4 or 6. The dendrimer films with various densities of EG(n) molecules on PAMAM surfaces were prepared by immersion of the NHS-terminated MUA-functionalized gold substrates in ethanolic solutions containing PAMAM and NHS-EG(n) of various mole ratios. The density (r) of the EG(n) molecules on the PAMAM surfaces is consistent with the mole ratio (r') of NHS-EG(n)/free amine of PAMAM in solutions. The resistance to protein adsorption of the resulting surfaces is correlated with the surface density and the length of the EG chains. At their respective r, the EG(n)-modified dendrimer films resisted approximately 95% adsorption of fibrinogen on gold surfaces. Finally, the specific binding of avidin to the approximately 5% and approximately 40% biotinylated EG3 dendrimers (surface density of biotin with respect to the total number of terminal amino groups on PAMAM G5) gave rise to about 50% and 100% surface coverage by avidin, respectively.
Spending degrees of freedom in a poor economy: A case study of building a sightability model for moose in northeastern Minnesota

Sightability models are binary logistic-regression models used to estimate and adjust for visibility bias in wildlife-population surveys. Like many models in wildlife and ecology, sightability models are typically developed from small observational datasets with many candidate predictors. Aggressive model-selection methods are often employed to choose a best model for prediction and effect estimation, despite evidence that such methods can lead to overfitting (i.e., selected models may describe random error or noise rather than true predictor–response curves) and poor predictive ability. We used moose (Alces alces) sightability data from northeastern Minnesota (2005–2007) as a case study to illustrate an alternative approach, which we refer to as degrees-of-freedom (df) spending: sample-size guidelines are used to determine an acceptable level of model complexity and then a pre-specified model is fit to the data and used for inference. For comparison, we also constructed sightability models using Akaike's Information Criterion (AIC) step-down procedures and model averaging (based on a small set of models developed using df-spending guidelines). We used bootstrap procedures to mimic the process of model fitting and prediction, and to compute an index of overfitting, expected predictive accuracy, and model-selection uncertainty. The index of overfitting increased 13% when the number of candidate predictors was increased from three to eight and a best model was selected using step-down procedures. Likewise, model-selection uncertainty increased when the number of candidate predictors increased. Model averaging (based on R = 30 models with 1–3 predictors) effectively shrunk regression coefficients toward zero and produced similar estimates of precision to our 3-df pre-specified model. As such, model averaging may help to guard against overfitting when too many predictors are considered (relative to available sample size). The set of candidate models will influence the extent to which coefficients are shrunk toward zero, which has implications for how one might apply model averaging to problems traditionally approached using variable-selection methods. We often recommend the df-spending approach in our consulting work because it is easy to implement and it naturally forces investigators to think carefully about their models and predictors. Nonetheless, similar concepts should apply whether one is fitting 1 model or using multi-model inference. For example, model-building decisions should consider the effective sample size, and potential predictors should be screened (without looking at their relationship to the response) for missing data, narrow distributions, collinearity, potentially overly influential observations, and measurement errors (e.g., via logical error checks). © 2011 The Wildlife Society.
Canal atresia reconstruction with dental impression material

Medium-density viscosity dental impression material has recently been used after repair of an atretic canal to stent open the newly created external auditory canal for 2 weeks, followed by a hard acrylic stent. This may provide more benefits than traditional packing, but caution must still be used. We recently have used the dental impression material to help in the reconstruction of seven ear canals. The medium-viscosity impression material hardens quickly and provides a solid, nonmobile stent, which usually pulls out without difficulty. The stent that is removed may then be used by our prosthodontist to fashion a hard, acrylic, removable stent to be worn for the next few months. This hard stent is used to prevent further stenosis. As with any technique, complications may arise and, through experience, common mistakes that can hinder a good outcome can be avoided. We will report six cases with illustrated tips on how to avoid complications when using this technique.
REDUCED GROWTH IN HOSPITAL DISCHARGED LOW BIRTH WEIGHT (LBW) INFANTS FED FORMULAS WITH ADDED MARINE OIL (MO). † 1878

REDUCED GROWTH IN HOSPITAL DISCHARGED LOW BIRTH WEIGHT (LBW) INFANTS FED FORMULAS WITH ADDED MARINE OIL (MO). † 1878
Podcasting the past: 'Africa Past and Present' and (South) African history in the digital age

Abstract The World Wide Web and other computer-based technologies like listservs, reference management tools, databases, blogs, Skype and visual media have transformed the field of history. In 2008, Peter Alegi and Peter Limb, historians of South Africa at Michigan State University, USA, launched Africa Past and Present, a podcast about history, culture, and politics (http://afripod.aodl.org). Drawing on the 54 episodes of the podcast produced through June 2011, this article explores the role of podcasting technology in the production and dissemination of historical knowledge about Africa and South Africa in a global context. It begins with an examination of the technical aspects of podcasting, and then interrogates the relationship between podcasting and Africanist scholarship and teaching in the digital age. The study demonstrates that, if the advantages are maximized and disadvantages minimized, podcasting can be a useful tool with which to democratize knowledge, enrich classroom learning, and signific...
First principles investigation of zinc-induced embrittlement in an aluminum grain boundary

Abstract Aluminum–zinc alloys have an extensive range of structural applications, but their susceptibility to intergranular stress corrosion cracking limits their wider use. In the present work the influence of zinc on a ∑5(0 1 2)[1 0 0] aluminum grain boundary was investigated by means of first principles calculations with the full potential linearized augmented plane wave method using two approaches: (i) within the framework of the Rice–Wang thermodynamic model; (ii) by the ab initio tensile test method. We determined the most energetically favorable segregation site of Zn along the Al grain boundary, its segregation energy from the Al grain boundary, the possible fracture paths of the grain boundary with Zn and the corresponding fracture energies. We established that Zn has a large driving force (−0.19 eV atom −1 ) for segregation from the Al bulk to the asymmetrical grain boundary site, and its segregation reduces the grain boundary strength slightly. Unusually, segregation of larger atomic size Zn leads to grain boundary contraction. Through precise calculations it was confirmed that zinc is a weak embrittler with a potency of +0.05 eV atom −1 . Analysis in terms of the relaxed atomic and electronic structures and bonding characters showed that aluminum–zinc bonds have a metallic character in both grain boundary and free surface environments. This work provides a fundamental quantitative understanding of Zn-induced grain boundary embrittlement in Al alloys on the electronic level and establishes that Zn segregation is one of the factors contributing to stress corrosion cracking in Al alloys.
Neoadjuvant chemotherapy of stage III-A and B lung carcinoma using the PACCO regimen

Previously, we reported an effective chemotherapeutic combination regimen for non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) : cisplatinum, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, CCNU, and vincristine (PACCO). Forty-one patients with a diagnosis of NSCLC Stages III-A and III-B were entered into the protocol of neoadjuvant PACCO chemotherapy. Following two courses of chemotherapy, the patients were evaluated for surgical therapy. The overall response rate to the chemotherapy was 60%. Subsequently, 65% of the patients underwent surgical resection. The overall estimated median survival was 18 months. The survival of patients in III-A was 36 months and that of III-B was 18 months (95% confidence lower bounds for III-A : 8 months and for III-B : 13 months). There was one chemotherapy-related mortality but no surgical mortality. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy with PACCO regiment offers an alternative to chemoradiation therapy, without increasing the surgical mortality, and should be validated in a randomized clinical trial. For successful neoadjuvant chemotherapy of Stage III NSCLC, chemotherapy combination which would give a high response rate without significant side effects must be chosen. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
TFPI and venous thrombosis

Tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI) plays a critical role in the regulation of tissue factor-induced blood coagulation. This has been corroborated by gene knock-out experiments in mice and TFPI immunodepletion experiments in rabbits challenged with tissue factor. Numerous clinical studies,
Analysis of the limiting-dilution assay used for estimating frequencies of immunocompetent units.

Abstract A problem encountered in limiting-dilution analysis: decreased response frequency caused by low numbers of antigen-stimulated lymphoid cells, was approached by manipulating the concentration of spleen cells in vitro . The results show that frequency of response can be markedly elevated by culturing cells at optimal concentration. Associated with this rise is the disappearance of the “shoulder” commonly seen in the limiting-dilution curve. The slope of the regression line, however, remains unaltered, and therefore the presence of the shoulder does not detract from the use of this analysis to estimate the number of immunocompetent units, although it does indicate that the culture conditions are inadequate for refined kinetic studies of the early antigen-stimulated cellular events of an immune response.
Are day traders bias free?—evidence from internet stock message boards

This study addresses the issue whether day traders’ recommendations on stocks are biasfree. We test whether on average day traders’ “Hold” sentiment is skewed and different from a neutral opinion. Posted messages and mature text classifier technology provide a novel approach to analyze the content of these “Hold” sentiment postings among day traders. Findings indicate that the self-disclosed “Hold” sentiment conveys an optimistic opinion and significantly differs from neutral. These results help both investors and researchers to better understand day traders’ psychology and behaviors when they recommend stocks. The paper also provides insight into the construction of future online sentiment indexes based on stock message boards.
An Important Role for the Multienzyme Aminoacyl-tRNA Synthetase Complex in Mammalian Translation and Cell Growth

In mammalian cells, aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (aaRSs) are organized into a high-molecular-weight multisynthetase complex whose cellular function has remained a mystery. In this study, we have taken advantage of the fact that mammalian cells contain two forms of ArgRS, both products of the same gene, to investigate the complex's physiological role. The data indicate that the high-molecular-weight form of ArgRS, which is present exclusively as an integral component of the multisynthetase complex, is essential for normal protein synthesis and growth of CHO cells even when low-molecular-weight, free ArgRS is present and Arg-tRNA continues to be synthesized at close to wild-type levels. Based on these observations, we conclude that Arg-tRNA generated by the synthetase complex is a more efficient precursor for protein synthesis than Arg-tRNA generated by free ArgRS, exactly as would be predicted by the channeling model for mammalian translation.
Regulating technical design

Should software developers be required to include infringement-inhibitingcomponents such as filters in their technologies?
Two-dimensional wave motion caused by circular and elliptical sources

Abstract The two-dimensional wave motion caused by a circular ring and elliptic ring impulsive source is studied with respect to the geometric shape of the wave fronts and features of the motion behind the wave fronts. Particular attention is paid to focusing of the inner wave front at a point. Several attractive curves, using Huyghens' construction, are drawn with the aid of “mathematica”.
Nonspecific immunity in the uterus and placenta

Summary The studies described above clearly illustrate the principle that preventing the mother from rejecting her “foreign” fetus takes precedence over protecting the pregnancy from infection or invasion by foreign cells. In a recent commentary on the conflicting needs of pregnancy, Nahmias and Kourtis (1997) concluded that this causes no unacceptable risk to perpetuation of the species. Our experiments would support this conclusion; the pathways uncovered thus far are cleverly designed so that the negative effects are likely to be comparatively inconsequential. Regarding production of soluble HLA-G in macrophages, synthesis is linked to cell activation, a state wherein the phagocytic and degradative functions of the macrophages are improved. No conflict thus ensues; innate immunity provided by the macrophages would be enhanced rather than impaired by conditions associated with successful pregnancy. It will be extremely interesting to learn whether soluble HLA-G does stimulate programmed cell death in T lymphocytes and what concentrations of soluble HLA-G are required to inhibit NK cells. As for reduced production of NO and TNF, tight control is highly desirable; excessive production of either substance could interrupt pregnancy. It is therefore satisfying to find that progesterone, the dominant hormone of pregnancy, provides the control. Furthermore, the elegant dose-dependent system uncovered in our experiments, where only high concentrations of progesterone inhibit NO and TNF production, assures that synthesis of these two powerful molecules will be unimpaired in macrophages residing in tissues and organs distant from the progesterone-producing ovaries and placeta. As illustrated in the studies described above and recently summarized ( Hunt and Hutter, 1996 ), the mechanisms protecting the fetus from destruction by the maternal immune system are redundant and complex. Significant progress is being made in identifying and elucidating the specific features of each system. Concurrently, related issues such as the risks of chimerism in the mother and fetus and mechanisms underlying immune privilege are under intensive investigation ( Nelson, 1996 ; Runic et al., 1996 ; Green and Ware, 1997 ; Hunt et al., 1997b ).
The Construction of Indigenous Suspects: Militarization and the Gendered and Ethnic Dynamics of Human Rights Abuses in Southern Mexico

I use the tools of ethnography to analyze the gendered and ethnic patterns of militarization and torture in southern Mexico. Such patterns replay gendered and sexual stereotypes of indigenous men and women as captured in national myth and vision. While such an analysis is useful for Mexico, it draws from and is applicable to other situations of political violence and provides a way of understanding the underlying culture wars—signaled by crises of representation at the margins of states—being waged to redefine nations. I argue that the insights of anthropological analysis (particularly historical and cultural analysis) are key in clarifying the rationales official for treating some people differently than others, and thus constructing them as suspects vulnerable to political violence and human rights abuses, [ethnicity, gender, sexuality, human rights, political violence, militarization, Mexico]
Phase transitions to 120 GPa for shock-compressed pyrolytic and hot-pressed boron nitride

Shock-compression characteristics of two types of hexagonal graphitelike boron nitride have been investigated. Highly oriented very pure pyrolytic boron nitride exhibits shock-velocity versus particle-velocity discontinuities that appear to be manifestations of the initiation of a sluggish phase transition. This transition begins at 20 GPa and is driven to completion (melting) at 75 GPa. Discontinuities in the plot for impure hot-pressed boron nitride indicate initiation at 10 GPa and completion at 20 GPa. The (${U}_{s},{U}_{p}$) plots follow essentially the same paths for $4.0l{U}_{p}l5.2$ km/sec. No evidence for a transition to a metalliclike state was seen. Temperature calculations indicate that the material is liquid above \ensuremath{\sim}80 GPa.
Metallography of a pulsed Nd: YAG laser weld in a RS/PM Al8Fe2Mo alloy

Abstract The microstructure of a pulsed Nd:YAG laser weld in a rapid solidification/powder metallurgy (RS/PM) Al-8.0 wt.% Fe-2.3 wt.% Mo (Al8Fe2Mo) alloy was investigated using light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques. This analysis revealed significant microstructure variations across the weld fusion zone (FZ). Near the fusion boundary, a light-etching FZ microstructure was observed to contain submicron dispersoids “entrapped” in a matrix of fine-sized dendritic alpha aluminum. At the center of the FZ, the presence of relatively coarse-sized intermetallic particles that served as growth centers for coarser dendritic alpha aluminum promoted a dark-etching microstructure. In the boundary between successive melt zones, both a heat-affected zone (HAZ) containing acicular dispersoids and a fusion boundary region (FBR) containing irregular-shaped particles in a coarse-grained dendritic alpha aluminum matrix were observed. A HAZ comprised of slightly coarsened dispersoids was also observed in the base metal bounding the FZ. Knoop hardness traverses across the FZ indicated a maximum hardness of KHN 260 in the light-etching FZ and a minimum hardness of KHN 135 in the HAZ between successive melt zones.
Surface Morphologies and Interfaces of TiSi2 Formed from UHV Deposited Ti on Si

The island formation of TiSi 2 and the surface morphologies and interfaces of TiSi 2 on Si have been examined and related to the surface and the interface energies. Ti (200A and 400A) films were deposited on clean, reconstructed Si(100) and Si(111) substrates at room temperature and also at high substrate temperatures (500°C~800°C). The TiSi 2 formation process is monitored with in-situ LEED and AES and the surface morphologies and interfaces are examined with ex-situ SEM and TEM. For annealing to temperatures such that the C54 phase forms, the results indicate island formation with clean reconstructed substrate regions between the islands. The TiSi 2 islands show different morphology on the (100) and (111) oriented substrates. The mechanism of TiSi 2 island formation is described in terms of a liquid-liquid model, and the surface and interface energies for the TiSi 2 island are determined from contact angle measurements.
Joining bulk metallic glass using reactive multilayer foils

Abstract We have welded a zirconium-based bulk amorphous alloy using Ni/Al multilayer foils that are capable of producing a self-propagating exothermic reaction. The shear strength of the welded joints increases with both the foil thickness and the pressure that is applied during joining. We measured shear strengths as high as 480 MPa in a compressive single-lap specimen geometry.
Experimental and finite-element analysis of the anisotropic response of high-purity α-titanium in bending

Abstract In this paper, we present results of four-point bending tests performed on beams of high-purity α-titanium material. These tests have been performed at room temperature for different beam configurations and loading orientations with respect to the orthotropy axes of the material. Digital image correlation was used to determine local strains in the deformed beams. Experimental results compare very well with the predictions of finite-element simulations obtained using the elastic/plastic model developed by Nixon et al. (2010) [12] . Specifically, we compare local deformations and the cross-sections of each beam for all loading configurations. We show that the model predicts with great accuracy the tension–compression asymmetry and the evolving anisotropy of the material. The experimentally observed upward shift of the neutral axis, as well as the rigidity of the response along the hard to deform c-axes are very well described by the proposed model.
The design of organizations and the right to act

Recent innovations in the structure of formal organizations suggest possible directions for the design of schools to bring about high achievement. The structure of “output-driven” in contrast to “administratively-driven” schools is described, and designs are described which address both the goal of high achievement and the goal of reduced inequality.
Power Differentials and War in Rival Dyads

The relationship between static and dynamic power distributions and war is a central element in the realist literature of international politics. The distribution of power and shifts in these distributions are held to be a principal source of conflict in works from Thucydides to Waltz. Most attempts to test empirically for a structural association between capability distributions and conflict have treated disputes as independent events; however, over the last two centuries a disproportionate amount of interstate conflict has occurred in the context of extended dyadic rivalries. This study focuses on the conflict patterns of these “enduring rivals.” Based on a Markov chain analysis of 456 militarized disputes occurring between 1816 and 1986, the findings indicate that power parity and shifts toward parity are approximately twice as likely to be associated with war as is a condition of power preponderance. By definition, rival dyads have issues in conflict. Equality of power or shifts toward equality create a situation in which both sides can perceive the potential for successful use of force. The findings generated in this analysis indicate that with such power distributions war between rival nations is most probable.
Effects of ethanol on CRF release in vitro.

Acute ethanol exposure produces activation of the brain-pituitary-adrenal (BPA) axis, resulting in the release of ACTH, β-endorphin, and glucocorticoids. While elevated levels of plasma glucocorticoids are also found after chronic ethanol administration, plasma ACTH and β-endorphin are normal or reduced. It is also unclear whether chronic ethanol exposure results in tolerance to the stimulatory effect of ethanol on BPA activity. To determine the site and mechanism of ethanol action on the BPA axis we studied the CRF secretory profile in a superfused rat hypothalamic preparation after chronic ethanol administration in vivo and the CRF responses after acute ethanol exposure ire vitro. Superfused hypothalami from normal and pair-fed control rats released CRF-like immunoreactive material (CRF-LI) in a pulsatile manner, with a mean (±SE) frequency of 5.1 ± 0.7 pulses/h. In contrast, the pulse frequency of CRFLI release from hypothalami of rats receiving chronic ethanol treatment (fed an alcohol-containing liqu...
Late-developing rostral ventrolateral medullary surface responses to cardiovascular challenges during sleep

Pressor and depressor manipulations are usually followed by compensatory autonomic, respiratory, somatomotor or arousal responses that limit the extent of blood pressure change. Of neural sites participating in blood pressure control, the rostral ventrolateral medullary surface (RVLMS) contributes significantly, and exhibits rapid-onset overall activity declines and increases to pressor and depressor challenges, respectively. In addition, longer-latency physiological responses develop that further compensate for the homeostatic challenge; some of these later influences are associated with arousal. Late-developing RVLMS activity changes accompanying physiologic responses that normalize a cardiovascular manipulation may provide insights into compensatory neural mechanisms during sleep following sustained or extreme blood pressure changes. We used intrinsic optical imaging procedures in seven unanesthetized adult cats to examine RVLMS and control site responses to pressor and depressor challenges during sleep that resulted in somatomotor, respiratory, heart rate or electroencephalographic indications of late-developing (post-baroreflex) compensatory responses. Although initial RVLMS responses differed in direction between pressor and depressor challenges, neural activity increased later in both manipulations, coincident with overt physiological manifestations indicative of compensatory responses, including arousal. Arousal occurred in 44% of blood pressure challenges. Comparable late-developing neural activity increases were not apparent in control sites. Latencies of late RVLMS responses during rapid eye movement sleep were significantly longer than in quiet sleep for pressor challenges. The pattern of the late RVLMS responses was not dependent on arousal, and suggests that the RVLMS participates in both the early baroreflex response and the late-developing compensatory actions.
Association of bilateral oophorectomy and body fatness in a representative sample of US women

Objective Preclinical studies suggest that abrupt hormone deprivation caused by oophorectomy, leads to obesity and its metabolic sequelae. The purpose of the current study was to examine the association between oophorectomy and body fatness in a nationally representative sample of women.
Architecture of a validated microRNA::target interaction.

Summary MicroRNAs are small ∼22 nucleotide regulators of numerous biological processes and bind target gene messenger RNAs to control gene expression. The C. elegans microRNA let-7 and its target lin-41 were the first microRNA::target interaction to be validated in vivo. let-7 molecules form imperfect duplexes with two required let-7 complementary sites in the lin-41 3′ UTR. Here, we show that base pairing at both the 5′ and 3′ ends of the let-7 binding site, as well as the presence of unpaired RNA residues in the predicted duplexes, are required for lin-41 downregulation. In this study, our model for microRNA::target interactions also demonstrates that the context of a microRNA binding can be critical for function, revealing an unforeseen complexity in microRNA::target interactions.
A fast pulsar in radio nebula CTB80

A fast pulsar with period of 39.5 milliseconds has been discovered in the peculiar combination nebula CTB80. This nebula has been proposed as the remnant of a possible historical supernova in ad 1408 (refs 1–3), but we argue that neither the nebula nor the new pulsar is linked to this supernova, which is in any case of doubtful veracity4. We suggest instead that the pulsar is at least 10,000 years old and that the observed features in the nebula are the result of the pulsar ploughing through the medium at ˜ 300 km s−1. In contrast to the other young pulsars, this pulsar has a smaller magnetic field strength and is consequently underluminous. We argue that this pulsar is more typical of young pulsars in general, a hypothesis that raises fundamental questions about the birth and evolution of pulsars.
Safe paediatric intensive care

Neonatal and paediatric intensive care has improved the prognosis for seriously sick infants and children. This has happened because of a pragmatic approach focused on stabilisation of vital functions and immense technological advances in diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. However, the belief that more medical care must inevitably lead to improved health is increasingly being questioned. This issue is especially relevant in developing countries where the introduction of highly specialised paediatric intensive care may not lead to an overall fall in child mortality. Even in developed countries, the complexity and availability of therapeutics and invasive procedures may put seriously ill children at additional risk. In both developing and industrialised countries the use of safe and simple procedures for appropriate periods, particular attention to drug prescription patterns and selection of appropriate aims and modes of therapy, including non-invasive methods, may minimise the risks of paediatric intensive care.
Model‐based clustering for social networks

Summary. Network models are widely used to represent relations between interacting units or actors. Network data often exhibit transitivity, meaning that two actors that have ties to a third actor are more likely to be tied than actors that do not, homophily by attributes of the actors or dyads, and clustering. Interest often focuses on finding clusters of actors or ties, and the number of groups in the data is typically unknown. We propose a new model, the latent position cluster model, under which the probability of a tie between two actors depends on the distance between them in an unobserved Euclidean ‘social space’, and the actors’ locations in the latent social space arise from a mixture of distributions, each corresponding to a cluster. We propose two estimation methods: a two-stage maximum likelihood method and a fully Bayesian method that uses Markov chain Monte Carlo sampling. The former is quicker and simpler, but the latter performs better. We also propose a Bayesian way of determining the number of clusters that are present by using approximate conditional Bayes factors. Our model represents transitivity, homophily by attributes and clustering simultaneously and does not require the number of clusters to be known. The model makes it easy to simulate realistic networks with clustering, which are potentially useful as inputs to models of more complex systems of which the network is part, such as epidemic models of infectious disease. We apply the model to two networks of social relations. A free software package in the R statistical language, latentnet, is available to analyse data by using the model.
Tobacco Advertising Restrictions as Primary Prevention for Childhood Nicotine Addiction

Addiction to nicotine is a pediatric disease and is the only disease of children that is actively promoted by a major sector of corporate America—the tobacco industry. Every day, 3000-5000 young people become addicted to tobacco in the United States.1 Currently, approximately 13.8% of U.S. children in grades 9-12 are regular smokers and as many as 30.5% have used cigarettes in the last thirty days. In addition, approximately 20.4% of boys use smokeless tobacco,2 and their numbers are growing. These young people are “replacement smokers” who take the place of adult smokers who either quit smoking or die from a smoking-related disease. Almost 90% of people who are smokers began smoking prior to their 18th birthdays, before they could legally purchase cigarettes. Without the recruitment of young people, the “replacement smokers,” the tobacco industry would soon go out of business.
Miniaturized microstrip antenna array with ultra mutual coupling reduction for wearable MIMO systems

In this paper, a miniaturized microstrip antenna array with two patches is proposed for wearable MIMO systems. The array is designed to resonate at 4.2 GHz and 8.1 GHz for biomedical micro-sensing technology and biomedical diagnostics applications, respectively. In this paper, the use of a diagonal slot on the microstrip patch to reflect the surface current in a direction opposite to that of the neighboring patch. Moreover, the common area of the ground plane, between the two antennas, is augmented with Uniform Compact-Photonic Band Gap (UC-PBG) structures to prevent surface waves. This approach reduces the mutual coupling to −17 dB within a separation distance of 1.4 mm ≈ λ o /51, where λ o is the wavelength at 4.2 GHz. The microstrip antenna patch is consistent of rectangular part slotted with a diagonal trace and a meander trace which reduces the electrical size of the microstrip patch, when it is printed on substrate of e r = 3.5, to λ o /18 × λ o /5. The maximum linear dimension of the antenna array is λ o /7.2 × λ o /4.3 × λ o /137. The performance of the array is characterized in terms of S-parameters, broadband gain and correlation spectra as well as the radiation patterns. The proposed antenna array provides bore-sight gain of −15.1 dBi at 4.2 GHz and −7.5 dBi at 8.1 GHz of 54.2 MHz and 81.8 MHz, respectively. The numerical model of the proposed array is simulated based on the Finite Integration Technique (FIT) using the Transient Domain (TD) solver of CST Microwave Studio.
The Rolling Texture of Cu3Au

The rolling texture of Cu3Au has been investigated by X-ray diffraction. At room temperature, independently of the degree of long-range order, Cu3Au developed a mixed or “hybrid” texture; it consisted of elements of each of the prototype face-centered cubic textures characterized by pure copper and 70/30 brass. However, on rolling at 77 K the alloy in the disordered state was significantly more “brass-like” than when it was fully ordered. This result may be explained by a stacking fault energy texture reversal analogous to that observed in wire drawing at low SFE. The lack of twinning (or other deformation mechanism such as slip by partial dislocations) in the ordered alloy could be responsible for this reversal.
New results on topological requirements for modeling capacitors and inductors in nonlinear circuits

The modeling of capacitors and inductors in nonlinear circuits is discussed. In a previous paper by the author a theorem stated that all dependent current (voltage) sources must be terminated by a positive-valued capacitor (inductor). In this paper it is shown that this requirement can be relaxed so that only ports that contain controlling signals are required to be terminated by reactive elements.
Maintenance of testicular function in Turkish hamsters: interaction of photoperiod and the pineal gland.

Adult male Turkish hamsters maintained testicular function when exposed to photoperiods of 15, 16, or 17 h of light per day. Photoperiods of less than 15 or greater than 17 h of light per day induced a rapid and complete testicular regression. As pinealectomy had been shown by others to induce testicular regression in longday Turkish hamsters, we thought that regression on 18 or more h of light might be based on the inability of the pineal to generate a daily rhythm of melatonin in production and release. This proved not to be the case. Animals exposed to 14-18 and 20 h of light per day had a robust nocturnal melatonin rhythm.
Kinetics of Color Change of Grape Juice Generated using Linearly Increasing Temperature

Kinetics of the color change of grape juice was studied using linearly increasing temperature for heating Noble grape juice in a stainless steel reactor. The juice was heated from 60o to 95oC in 9 hr. Kinetic parameters for the color change were determined using Hunter L, a, b-values, chroma values, and Total Color Difference (TCD) values. The reaction of the color change of grape juice measured by L- and a-values, and Chroma value followed first order kinetics with activation energies of 114.75, 131.80, and 121.21 kJ/mol and frequency factors of 1.30 × 1012, 8.95 × 1014 and 1.93 × 1013 sec−1, respectively. However, the reaction measured by TCD followed zero order kinetics with the activation energy and the frequency factor of 92.81 kJ/mol and 4.80 × 1010 mol/l/sec, respectively.
The Topology of Gaussian and Eisenstein-Jacobi Interconnection Networks

Earlier authors have used quotient rings of Gaussian and Eisenstein-Jacobi integers to construct interconnection networks with good topological properties. In this paper, we present a unified study of these two types of networks. Our results include decomposing the edges into disjoint Hamiltonian cycles, a simplification of the calculation of the Eisenstein-Jacobi distance, a distribution of the distances between Eisenstein-Jacobi nodes, and shortest path routing algorithms. In particular, the known Gaussian routing algorithm is simplified.
Delayed formation of proteoglycan aggregate structures in human articular cartilage disease states.

Proteoglycans are major components of many extracellular matrices. In cartilage, they provide reversible resistance to compression and exist as molecules with molecular weights (MWs) of 1-3 x 10(6). There is a central protein core of MWs approximately 2 x 10(5) (refs 1, 2) with specialized subregions, one containing mainly the chondroitin sulphate chains, another most of the keratan sulphate chains, and a third is a largely globular structure interacting specifically with both hyaluronic acid and a link protein to form stable aggregate structures such as those identified in human articular cartilage. In embryonic and tissue culture systems, proteoglycans are isolated as aggregate structures in as little as 5--10 min after synthesis (sulphation) with no nonaggregating precursor detected. However, Heinegard and Hascall have characterized the small proportion of nonaggregating proteoglycan present in bovine nasal septum cartilage and found that it contained more peptide than the aggregating proteoglycan. Work by Upholt et al. has suggested that the MW of unprocessed protein core, synthesized by a wheat-germ translating system from chick sternal cartilage mRNA, is approximately 340,000, leaving open the possibility of intermediates. I report here the presence, in some human cartilages, of a proteoglycan population that initially will not aggregate with the hyaluronic acid but subsequently can be chased into aggregate.
Power Conservation in ZigBee Networks using Temporal Control

This paper addresses power reduction in wireless sensor networks (WSNs), proposing an application-level solution for the IEEE 802.15.4 compliant ZigBee protocol. ZigBee protocol supports the least power-consuming 'sleep' mode of operation only for end-nodes that do not route packets. This significantly limits ZigBee's WSN applications. This paper presents a ZigBee-based power-conserving network design in which a multi-mode scheduler can be used at the application-level for all network nodes that brings the whole net up and down. This allows all nodes to 'deep sleep', hence increasing the per-node lifetime, leading to an increased overall network lifetime. Results of network simulations with a rate monotonic-based scheduler, schedules operating times for various nodes in the entire network, setting the devices to the lowest power operating mode - sleep mode - for all other times when no operation needs to be performed. When the network wakes up, all nodes necessary for a particular scheduled transmission awake and rebuild the ZigBee network. The paper presents power savings estimates from simulations showing significant advantages over standard ZigBee