cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Is One Rating Enough

There are sound reasons why investors should require a second credit rating when screening CDO investments. A rating from one agency may reflect the likelihood that the issue will default while a rating from another may provide a measure of expected loss. It seems that most prudent investors would be interested in both risk measures, or perhaps even better, other measures of risk and reward that are easily incorporated into their risk monitoring systems. While it is often possible to “back out” these risk measures from two or more agency ratings, a better solution would be for each rating agency to publish a second rating (risk measure) to provide a more complete characterization of the risk of a given security.
Initial Weather Regimes as Predictors of Numerical 30-Day Mean Forecast Accuracy.

Thirty 30-day mean 500-mb-height anomaly forecasts generated by the NCAR Community Climate Model (CCM) for the year 1978 are examined in order to determine if the forecast accuracy can be estimated with the initial conditions. The initial weather regimes were defined in such a way that the regimes could discriminate between the best and the worst 30-day mean forecasts run from the initial fields in this data set. On the basis of the CCM experiments, it is suggested that the accuracy of numerical 30-day mean forecasts may depend upon the accuracy with which the cyclones and their interactions with the planetary scale are predicted early in the forecast cycle, and that this accuracy may depend upon the initial conditions.
STABILITY OF PYRIDINIUMYLQUINONES TO AQUEOUS MEDIA : THE FORMATION OF PYRIDINIUM-OXY ZWITTERIONIC QUINONES

The stability of perpyridiniumyl- and halopyridiniumylbenzoquinones was investigated. Reactions of p-chloranil and p-fluoranil with pyridines, followed by hydrolysis under mild conditions, gave 2,3-dihalo-5-oxy-6-(pyridinium-1‘-yl)-1,4-benzoquinones 1 and 2,5-dioxy-3,6-bis(pyridinium-1‘-yl)-1,4-benzoquinone 2. Using the H0 technique, the aqueous pKa's for two of these pyridinium−oxy zwitterions were determined to be −3 for 2,5-bis(4‘-tert-butylpyridinium-1‘-yl)-3,6-dioxy-1,4-benzoquinone (2) and −2 for 2,3-dichloro-5-oxy-6-(4‘-tert-butylpyridinium-1‘-yl)-1,4-benzoquinone (1a). In addition, it was found that a pyridinium-substituted anthraquinone, 1-[4‘-(dimethylamino)pyridinium-1‘-yl]anthraquinone (3), is quite stable toward hydrolysis conditions and shows two reversible reductions at E1/2 = −0.69 and −1.10 V vs SCE.
The Galvanization of Biology: A Growing Appreciation for the Roles of Zinc

Zinc ions are key structural components of a large number of proteins. The binding of zinc stabilizes the folded conformations of domains so that they may facilitate interactions between the proteins and other macromolecules such as DNA. The modular nature of some of these zinc-containing proteins has allowed the rational design of site-specific DNA binding proteins. The ability of zinc to be bound specifically within a range of tetrahedral sites appears to be responsible for the evolution of the side range of zinc-stabilized structural domains now known to exist. The lack of redox activity for the zinc ion and its binding and exchange kinetics also may be important in the use of zinc for specific functional roles.
Potential Si atomic layer epitaxy processes using halogenated Si precursors

Potential methods for atomic layer epitaxy growth of Si using halogenated silane precursors are discussed. One method uses alternating exposures of Si 2 H 6 and Si 2 Cl 6 . This method deposits «new» Si (Si ≡ 8) on Si(100) as demonstrated through the attenuation of a boron «marker» layer. Another method uses self-terminating adsorption of SiClH 3 or SiCl 2 H 2 at about 500 o C, followed by exposure to atomic H. Only the initial adsorption step of this method is studied here
Lipase-catalyzed enantioselective esterification of ibuprofen in organic solvents under controlled water activity

Abstract The enantioselective esterification of ibuprofen (2-(4-iso-butylphenyl)propionic acid), catalyzed by Candida antarctica lipase (type B), was performed in various organic solvents. The reactions were conducted in controlled water activity atmosphere, thereby permitting the influence of the solvents to be separated from their ability to strip water from the solid enzymes. Even in these constant water activity conditions, hydrophobic solvents allow higher enzyme activity than hydrophilic ones, indicating that hydrophilic solvents impede enzyme activity in essence and not because they strip water from the enzyme. The highest enantioselectivity was obtained in solvents leading to low reaction rates. Different properties were used to describe the solvents, namely the hydrophobicity, quantified by log P; ϵ, the dielectric constant; and ETN, a normalized electron acceptance index. None gave a clear and predictive portrait of the influence of the solvent, however, the hydrophobicity was the most satisfactory. This could be linked to the solubility of ibuprofen, which varies linearly with the value of log P. The highest enantioselectivity was observed at low water activities. This is caused by different effects of water activity on the reaction rates with the two isomers. The activity toward the less favored one decreased after reaching a maximum while the rate with the other isomer continued to rise when aW decreased.
Features of autoantigens.

The major cellular antigens recognized by autoantibodies in SLE and other systemic autoimmune diseases have been identified and characterized over the past 25 years. The pioneering studies of Eng Tan demonstrate the importance of autoantibodies as diagnostic markers. However, why certain autoantibodies, such as anti-Sm, are pathognomonic of SLE, while others are markers of othe autoimmune disease subsets, remains unanswered. This central question continues to drive much current research into the pathogenesis of SLE. Features of the autoantigens recognized by autoantibodies may provide important clues to the causes of lupus. Most autoantigens in systemic autoimmunity are multicomponent nucleoprotein complexes. These particles are encountered by the immune system as units, resulting in the tandem production of autoantibodies recognizing several components of the same complex. However, the intermolecular-intrastructural spreading of autoimmunity is regulated by mechanisms that at present are defined poorly. Also unexplained is the observation that the antigenic determinants recognized by autoantibodies are restricted and frequently correspond to active sites or functional domains. Analysis of experimental models of autoimmunity suggests that altering the structure of autoantigens, due to abnormal protein-protein interactions, hapten binding, altered degradation, or other mechanisms, could help to explain both the restricted patterns of autoantibody spreading and the selective targeting of antigenic sites. This may be a worthwhile area for further investigation of the pathogenesis of systemic autoimmune diseases.
A Hybrid Nano-Bioprinting Device for Tissue Engineering

Tissue engineering may require precise patterning of cells and bioactive factors to recreate the complex, 3D architecture of native tissue. These cells and bioactive components may then need to be repositioned during tissue growth in vitro and noninvasively imaged to track tissue development. We developed a new hybrid nano-bioprinting system by combining the initial patterning capabilities of a direct cell writing system with the active patterning capabilities of superparamagnetic nanoparticles. The iron oxide nanoparticles can be conjugated with proteins or loaded inside cells, printed into computer-defined patterns, and then manipulated and imaged within the 3D tissue engineering construct. In this study, iron oxide nanoparticles were bioprinted either in an alginate scaffold or inside endothelial cells. Cell viability, patterning, and imaging were assessed.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
Construction of periodic prolate spheroidal wavelets using interpolation

Periodic prolate spheroidal wavelets (periodic PS wavelets), based on the periodizaton of the first prolate spheroidal wave function (PSWF), were recently introduced by the authors. Because of localization and other properties, these periodic PS wavelets could serve as an alternative to Fourier series for applications in modeling periodic signals. In this paper, we continue our work with periodic PS wavelets and direct our attention to their construction via interpolation. We show that they have a representation in terms of interpolation with the modified Dirichlet kernel. We then derive a group of formulas of interpolation type based on this representation. These formulas enable one to obtain a simple procedure for the calculation of the periodic PS wavelets and finding expansion coefficients. In particular, they are used to compute filter coefficients for the periodic PS wavelets. This is done for a number of concrete cases.
Development of an Active Control System for a Variable Electromotive-Force Generator With Applications to Wind Turbines, Ships, and Hybrid Vehicles

An active control system is developed to adjust the overlap between the rotor and the stator of a modified generator, called a variable electromotive-force generator (VEG), based on the desired output power at different input speeds. A novel test stand for a VEG prototype, including a 700 W electric motor as the prime mover, a 12 V DC synchronous generator with an adjustable overlap between the rotor and the stator, and a stepper motor as an actuator for the active control system, is designed and fabricated. The national instrument LabVIEW platforms are used to perform the feedback control algorithm. In this paper, the performance of the VEG with an active control system to adjust the overlap between the rotor and the stator is studied theoretically and experimentally. The control algorithm can be expressed in discrete and continuous models to cover a broad range of applications of a VEG in wind turbines, ships, hybrid vehicles, and so on. The two goals of observing the increase in the generator rotor speed by decreasing the overlap between the rotor and the stator, and adjusting the overlap between the rotor and the stator based on a desired and optimum output voltage, were investigated in designing and implementing the active control system for the VEG.© 2013 ASME
Topical lidocaine does not limit autonomic dysreflexia during anorectal procedures in spinal cord injury: a prospective, double-blind study.

Background and aims: Autonomic dysreflexia is a common and potentially dangerous response in patients with spinal cord injury at T6 or above. Acute blood pressure elevation may be precipitated by rectosigmoid distention and anal manipulation. Topical anesthetics are widely recommended to minimize the incidence and severity of autonomic dysreflexia, although no scientific evidence supports or refutes this practice. This study tested whether topical lidocaine would prevent or limit anorectal procedure-associated autonomic dysreflexia. Patients and methods: We enrolled patients with chronic, complete spinal cord injury scheduled for anoscopy and/or flexible sigmoidoscopy. In a double-blind fashion they were randomized to receive either 2% lidocaine jelly (n=18) or nonmedicated lubricant (control; n=32) just prior to the procedure. We measured blood pressure before, during, and after procedures. Results: Mean maximal systolic blood pressure increased 35±25 mmHg in the lidocaine group vs. 45±30 mmHg in the control group (NS). However, there was a significant difference between anoscopic procedures and flexible sigmoidoscopies without anoscopy (49±29 vs. 25±20 mmHg). Conclusion: Topical lidocaine did not significantly limit or prevent autonomic dysreflexia in susceptible patients. Both anoscopy and flexible sigmoidoscopy caused significant blood pressure elevation. Anoscopy, which involves stretching of the anal sphincters, was a more potent stimulus for autonomic dysreflexia than flexible sigmoidoscopy, which involves gaseous distention of the rectosigmoid. Anal sphincter stretch and rectosigmoid distention, rather than a mucosal stimulus, are likely nociceptive triggers for procedure-associated autonomic dysreflexia.
Continuous-wave operation of a room-temperature, diode-laser-pumped, 946-nm Nd:YAG laser.

Single-stripe diode-laser-pumped operation of a continuous-wave 946-nm Nd:YAG laser with less than 10-mW threshold has been demonstrated. A slope efficiency of 16 percent near threshold was shown with a projected slope efficiency well above a threshold of 34 percent based on results under Rhodamine 6G dye-laser pumping. Nonlinear crystals for second-harmonic generation of this source were evaluated. KNbO3 and periodically poled LiNbO3 appear to be the most promising.
Calculation impairment in neurodegenerative diseases.

We examined oral calculation in patients with corticobasal degeneration (CBD; N=17), frontotemporal dementia (FTD; N=17), and Alzheimer’s disease (AD; N=20), as well as 17 healthy seniors matched for age and education. Our calculation model involves at least three components: numerosity, combinatorial processes, and executive resources such as working memory. We assessed addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division involving small numbers (small, single-digit answers) and large numbers (larger, single- and double-digit answers). We also assessed dot counting for small numbers (2–5) and large numbers (6–9), as well as a measure of working memory. All patient groups differed from healthy seniors in oral calculation. CBD (36% correct) and FTD (65% correct) demonstrated a significant overall impairment in oral calculation relative to AD (76% correct). CBD (66% correct) had more difficulty counting dots overall relative to AD (94% correct) and FTD (86% correct), consistent with our hypothesis that the calculation deficit in CBD is due in large part to a numerosity deficit. FTD had more difficulty relative to AD in their performance of reverse digit span, consistent with our hypothesis that FTD patients’ executive resource limitation contributes to their pattern of calculation impairment. D 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
The effects of pitressin and desoxycorticosterone in low dosage on the excretion of sodium, potassium, and water by the normal dog.

In 1938, Silvette and Britton presented evidence that there exists a physiological antagonism between the diuretic action of adrenal cortical hormone and the antidiuretic action of posterior pituitary hormone. An antagonism between the sodium and chloride conserving effects of the former and the chloruretic and natriuretic effects of the latter has also been postulated—first by Silvette and Britton (1938), and more recently by Roemmelt, Sartorius and Pitts (1949). It has been suggested that the major disturbances in electrolyte and water metabolism of the adrenalectomized animal resemble an exaggerated effect of posterior pituitary antidiuretic hormone (Roemmelt et al., 1949, Birnie et al., 1949). As desoxycorticosterone is known to correct the disturbed electrolyte balance in Addison’s disease without significantly altering the disturbed water balance (Talbott et al., 1942; Reforzo-Membrives et al., 1945), it seemed reasonable to predict that desoxycorticosterone would reduce the natriuresis but have no ...
Impact of Delay on Survival in Patients with Ruptured Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm

Rupture of the abdominal aortic aneurysm (RAAA) is a common surgical emergency. Surgical treatment of this condition carries a high morbidity and mortality rate. For successful outcome, an early diagnosis and prompt treatment are essential. However, recently, some centers have reported better results in patients whose surgery had been delayed because of interhospital transfer. Delay in treatment sometimes occurs as patients are transferred from one institution to another where specialized vascular care is available. This retrospective study sought to determine the effect of delay in treatment on the mortality of patients with RAAA repair.The time from arrival at the emergency room to surgery and operative time were obtained from the case notes of 45 consecutive patients with RAAA. Patients' physiology scores on admission were calculated using V-POSSUM for the RAAA model.Thirty-five patients were diagnosed with RAAA in the emergency room and were transferred to surgery. These patients were divided into two...
Nurse perception of Bispectral Index monitoring as an adjunct to sedation scale assessment in the critically ill paediatric patient.

Summary Background Reliability of clinical scales and haemodynamic variables for assessing sedation depth in critically children is limited, particularly for those receiving neuromuscular blocking agents (NMBAs). Objective To introduce and integrate the use of Bispectral Index (BIS) monitoring as adjunct to sedation scale assessment in intubated mechanically ventilated Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) patients. Methods Quality improvement intervention including: BIS education for all PICU nurses; 8-week implementation of BIS monitoring guided by Paediatric BIS Sedation Protocol; evaluation by convenience sample of nurses ( n = 17). Measurements 15-Item survey assessing perceptions of BIS attributes was given to nurses after first 4 BIS encounters; nurse comments and project coordinator observations were recorded. Findings Survey data (intermediate reliability and nurse attitude ratings and low ratings on other attributes; little change over time) revealed nurses’ reservations about the usefulness of BIS as an adjunct to sedation scales, but qualitative data indicated that they valued BIS for assessing sedation depth in children receiving NMBAs. Conclusions Post-intervention, BIS monitoring was adopted in PICU for children receiving NMBAs. One year later, this practice is sustained, and the percentage of BIS-monitored patients has increased. Guidelines addressing the use of BIS in patients not receiving paralytics are needed.
Horizontal knife cuts either ventral or dorsal to the hypthalamic paraventricular nucleus block testicular regression in golden hamsters maintained in short days

The possible involvement of efferent pathways from the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) in the photoperiodic regulation of reproduction was studied by measuring the testis size of hamsters bearing a horizontal knife cut either ventral or dorsal to the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) that were transferred from photostimulatory long days (light:dark (L:D) 14:10 h) to non-stimulatory short days (L:D 6:18 h). Knife cuts placed either ventral or dorsal to the PVN blocked testicular regression induced by exposure to short days. These results indicate that efferent fibers running dorsally from the SCN to the PVN are involved in relaying photoperiodic information from the SCN to the PVN. Furthermore, recently-defined efferents that leave the PVN dorsally and terminate in the spinal cord appear to be responsible for relaying seasonal information about day-length to the pineal-reproductive axis of hamsters.
Indirect Costs of Federally Supported Research.

Indirect costs of federally supported research have increased steadily and dramatically since the current indirect cost policy became effective in 1966. The amount of research supported by any given level of federal funding has thus been markedly reduced, and this has become a critical factor limiting research support in the United States. The current policy has had multiple adverse effects that threaten the health of both the federal research program and the universities in which most of the research is conducted. This article examines the background and nature of the current policy, describes its consequences, and proposes simplifying modifications.
National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I football players' perceptions of women in the athletic training room using a role congruity framework.

Abstract Context: Previous researchers have demonstrated that male and female athletes feel more comfortable with treatment by a same-sex athletic trainer for sex-specific injuries and conditions. ...
On the Important Mechanical Properties of Rubber-Sand

More than a billion rubber tires are discarded annually around the world. Growing piles of discarded tires create fire and environmental hazards. Current disposal methods are mostly wasteful and costly. Tires possess high tensile strength, are chemically very stable, practically non-destructible and light in weight. All of these properties make tires a potentially useful geo-material. This paper presents the results of an extensive laboratory testing study investigating the potential of using shredded tires mixed with sandy soils (rubber-sand) as lightweight fill and backfill material in road construction. The results show that rubber-sand has significant promise for use as an earthwork fill material. In addition to its engineering benefits, such use of scrap tires would significantly contribute to solving the ever-growing tire disposal problem.
Mercury in the North Atlantic

Abstract Reactive mercury (Hg) concentrations (0.80±0.44 pM), measured during a cruise in the sub-polar North Atlantic (50–70°N) in August 1993 were lower those of more southerly regions of this ocean. A large fraction of the Hg in the surface waters was elemental Hg (Hg°; 88% of the reactive Hg, on average; 0.65±0.50 pM). Little dimethylmercury (DMHg) or monomethylmercury (MMHg) was found in surface waters but higher concentrations were found at depth. The high surface water Hg° concentrations likely reflect production of Hg° in concert with the short season of primary production in these waters. Overall, gas exchange plays a dominant role in the cycle of Hg in the upper waters of this region. For the sub-thermocline waters, a comparison of the Hg speciation in different water masses suggests that surface waters accumulate reactive Hg and methylated Hg—due to input of reactive Hg via remineralization and conversion of reactive Hg to methylated Hg—after sinking during winter to form North Atlantic deep water. Reactive Hg concentrations varied between water masses with the lowest concentrations being found in the waters north of Iceland (the source waters for deep water formation). DMHg was found throughout the sub-thermocline water column and the limited data set for MMHg suggests that this species was also prevalent. These observations suggest that methylated Hg production in the ocean is not confined to low oxygen or anoxic regions, as has been found in lakes. Concentrations of DMHg (0.08±0.07 pM, on average) were lower than those previously measured in the equatorial Pacific. Total Hg concentrations averaged 2.4±1.6 pM but little of this was particulate Hg (
Maximum principle for the optimal control of systems with continuous leads

A sufficiency theorem is provided for the optimal control of systems with continuous leads wherein the motion of today's state is governed by the future trajectory of the control and the state. An application to the economics of dynamic limit pricing is given.
Regulation of NF-κB signaling by the A20 deubiquitinase

The NF-κB transcription factor is a central mediator of inflammatory and innate immune signaling pathways. Activation of NF-κB is achieved by K63-linked polyubiquitination of key signaling molecules which recruit kinase complexes that in turn activate the IκB kinase (IKK). Ubiquitination is a highly dynamic process and is balanced by deubiquitinases that cleave polyubiquitin chains and terminate downstream signaling events. The A20 deubiquitinase is a critical negative regulator of NF-κB and inflammation, since A20-deficient mice develop uncontrolled and spontaneous multi-organ inflammation. Furthermore, specific polymorphisms in the A20 genomic locus predispose humans to autoimmune disease. Recent studies also indicate that A20 is an important tumor suppressor that is inactivated in B-cell lymphomas. Therefore, targeting A20 may form the basis of novel therapies for autoimmune disease and lymphomas.
Synthetic vaccines: Immunity without harm.

Multilamellar lipid vesicles with crosslinked walls carrying protein antigens in the vesicle core and immunostimulatory drugs in the vesicle walls generate immune responses comparable to the strongest live vector vaccines.
Transitional features observed in the charge and angular distributions of deeply inelastic fragments produced in the reaction 181Ta + 620 MeV 86Kr

Abstract Charged fragments produced in the reaction 181Ta + 620 MeV 86Kr have been studied with ΔE-E telescopes. Kinetic energy spectra, charge distributions and angular distributions have been measured for atomic numbers in the range 13 ≦ Z ≦ 49. For all observed atomic numbers and for all angles, the energy spectra show the presence of energetically relaxed products in the vicinity of the Coulomb barrier. The spectra for elements near the projectile also show a large contribution from incompletely damped events at angles close to the grazing angle. For these elements the spectra show no clean separation between the relaxed and partially damped components. The charge distributions peak at or slightly above the projectile Z. For elements well removed in Z from the projectile, the angular distributions are forward peaked, whereas elements near Kr have angular distributions which are side peaked. The transition from side peaking to forward peaking takes place over a smaller range of Z-values than was observed for the reaction 197Au + 620 MeV 86Kr. The experimental data are interpreted within the framework of a diffusion model. Angular distributions calculated with the diffusion model are in semi-quantitative agreement with experiment. The coupling between energy dissipation and mass transfer is also discussed.
Structural role of the Vps4-Vta1 interface in ESCRT-III recycling.

Summary The ESCRT complexes are required for multivesicular body biogenesis, macroautophagy, cytokinesis, and the budding of HIV-1. The final step in the ESCRT cycle is the disassembly of the ESCRT-III lattice by the AAA+ ATPase Vps4. Vps4 assembles on its membrane-bound ESCRT-III substrate with its cofactor, Vta1. The crystal structure of the dimeric VSL domain of yeast Vta1 with the small ATPase and the βdomains of Vps4 was determined. Residues involved in structural interactions are conserved and are required for binding in vitro and for Cps1 sorting in vivo. Modeling of the Vta1 complex in complex with the lower hexameric ring of Vps4 indicates that the two-fold axis of the Vta1 VSL domain is parallel to within ∼20 degrees of the six-fold axis of the hexamer. This suggests that Vta1 might not crosslink the two hexameric rings of Vps4, but rather stabilizes an array of Vps4-Vta1 complexes for ESCRT-III disassembly.
Long-term sex reversal by oestradiol in amniotes with heteromorphic sex chromosomes

Oestradiol application during embryonic development reverses the sex of male embryos and results in normal female differentiation in reptiles lacking heteromorphic sex chromosomes, but fails to do so in birds and mammals with heteromorphic sex chromosomes. It is not clear whether the evolution of heteromorphic sex chromosomes in amniotes is accompanied by insensitivity to oestradiol, or if the association between oestradiol insensitivity and heteromorphic sex chromosomes can be attributable to phylogenetic constraints in these taxa. Turtles provide an ideal system to examine the potential relationship between oestradiol insensitivity and sex chromosome heteromorphy, since there are species with heteromorphic sex chromosomes that are closely related to species lacking heteromorphic sex chromosomes. We investigated this relationship by examining the long-term effects of oestradiol-17β application on sex determination in Staurotypus triporcatus and Staurotypus salvinii, two turtle species with male heterogamety. After raising the turtles in the lab for 3 years, we found follicular and Mullerian duct morphology in oestradiol-treated turtles that was identical to that of untreated females. The lasting sex reversal suggests that the evolutionary transition between systems lacking heteromorphic sex chromosomes and those with heteromorphic sex chromosomes is not constrained by a fundamental mechanistic difference.
A computational investigation of noncontinuum gas-phase heat transfer between a heated microbeam and the adjacent ambient substrate

Abstract Noncontinuum gas-phase heat transfer in two microscale geometries is investigated computationally. The motivation is microscale thermal actuation produced by heating-induced expansion of a near-substrate microbeam in air. The first geometry involves a 1-μm microgap filled with argon or nitrogen and bounded by parallel solid slabs. The second geometry involves a heated I-shaped microbeam 2 μm from the adjacent ambient substrate, with nitrogen in between. Two computational methods are applied to the above. The Navier–Stokes slip-jump (NSSJ) method uses continuum heat transfer in the bulk gas and temperature jumps at the boundaries to treat noncontinuum effects. The Direct Simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) method uses computational molecules to simulate noncontinuum gas behavior more rigorously. For the microgap, the heat-flux values from both methods are in good agreement for all pressures and accommodation coefficients except for intermediate pressures and near-unity accommodation coefficients, where differences up to 8% are observed. For the microbeam, both methods are in good agreement except for low pressures and near-unity accommodation coefficients, where differences up to a factor of 2 are observed in the heat-flux values. The causes of these discrepancies are explained in terms of noncontinuum gas behavior in the vicinity of solid surfaces, and modifications to the NSSJ temperature-jump boundary condition that improve agreement are presented. DSMC simulations of the microbeam are presented that show the steady gas motion produced by noncontinuum stresses in gases with nonparallel isotherms.
Streptococcus uberis acquires plasmin activity following growth in the presence of bovine plasminogen through the action of its specific plasminogen activator

Three (0140J, C197C and EF20) out of four strains of Streptococcus uberis exhibited high levels of bound plasmin activity following growth in the presence of bovine plasminogen. The remaining strain (C197) bound considerably less plasmin following growth in the same medium. In contrast to the others, this strain was unable to activate bovine plasminogen. Following growth of strain C197 in the presence of bovine plasminogen and a source of plasminogen activator (urokinase or culture filtrate from strain 0140J) high levels of bacterially associated plasmin were detected. None of the strains was able to activate human plasminogen and only trace levels of plasmin activity were detected in association with the S. uberis following growth in the presence of human plasminogen. All strains were able to bind plasmin activity following incubation in the presence of either bovine or human plasmin. However, in each case the level of activity detected following incubation in human plasmin was approximately five-fold less than that observed following incubation with bovine plasmin. None of the strains bound detectable levels of either human or bovine plasminogen. It is concluded that activation of plasminogen is required prior to binding of plasmin by S. uberis.
U.S. Army ultrahigh-resolution turbulence profiling FM-CW radar: description and data

The U.S. Army Atmospheric Sciences Laboratory, White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, recently received a new frequency-modulated continuous-wave (FM-CW) turbulence profiling radar. The radar is capable of high temporal (10 s) and spatial (1 to 2 m) resolution profiles of Cn2 up through 2 km above ground level. Data from this system can detect electromagnetic/atmospheric effects such as possible laser blooming/scattering regions, microwave tunneling and multipathing layers, and other clear-air and hydrometeor meteorological phenomena. The radar is superior in performance to previous high-resolution clear-air FM-CWs incorporating newer technologies and real-time processing. A system description and sample data are shown.© (1992) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Theophylline Derivatives. II. 8-Aralkyltheophyllines and Related Compounds

8-Benzyltheophylline, a substance structurally analogous to Priscoline (2-benzyl-2-imidazoline), was reported to be a potent hypotensive agent. A series of related 8-substituted-theophylline derivatives has been prepared for purposes of studying structure-activity relationships and producing vasodepressors which may be still more active, more soluble, and more readily absorbed following oral administration.
Phosphodiesterase inhibitors facilitate memory for passive avoidance conditioning

A single, post-trial injection of the phosphodiesterase inhibitors Ro-20-1276 (25 and 50 mg/kg) or isobutylmethylxanthine (IBMX, 75 mg/kg) enhanced the retention of a one-trial passive avoidance response in male ICR mice. This performance enhancement was not seen when the injection was given 1 hr following task acquisition, and no-footshock controls did not have lengthened step-through latencies at retention testing, suggesting that these drugs facilitated memory formation. At a low dose, post-trial IBMX (25 mg/kg) significantly impaired performance. These results are similar to those we have previously reported for papaverine, and suggest that cyclic nucleotides may play a role in memory formation.
Correlations of the craze profile in PMMA with Dugdale's plastic zone profile

The craze opening profile in PMMA has been determined as a function of stress intensity using interference optics and a special wedge loading device. An attempt was made to correlate the craze profile with the corresponding parameters (crack opening displacement and plastic zone length) predicted by the Dugdale model. Over the mid-range of stress intensities (KI=0.4 to 1.0 MPa m1/2), samples which were annealed after precracking were found to exhibit a profile similar in shape but smaller than that predicted by the Dugdale model. The lower limit of this range marks the critical stress intensity for crazing in PMMA. Both the craze length and the opening at the craze-crack interface increase with increasing stress intensity and, due to strain-hardening of the craze material, reach maximum values of about 40μm and 3μm respectively atKI=1.0 MPa m1/2. Experimental uncertainties cannot account for the profile difference and it is therefore concluded that the Dugdale model is not fully adequate to describe craze geometries in PMMA. The discrepency between the Dugdale model and the experimental data is suggested to be due to either fibril strain-hardening and/or the formation of a plane strain plastic zone ahead of the craze.
Age at recruitment of Hawaiian freshwater gobies

Very little is known about the dynamics of native Hawaiian stream fishes. Five species are restricted, as adults, to freshwater streams and estuaries on the major islands of the Hawaiian archipelago. This paucity of information is partly due to difficulties inherent in determination of age and subsequent determinations of life history characteristics. In the present study, we determined the age of newly recruited Hawaiian gobies,Stenogobius genivittatus andAwaous stamineus using otolith microtechniques. Internal otolith increments were enumerated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Increments of newly recruited juveniles were deposited on a daily basis as validated through a marking study. Results showed recruitment at an average age of 135 and 161 days for these two species, respectively, with more rapid growth following recruitment to freshwater. Chemical analyses of otolith carbonate of the Hawaiian gobies by electron microprobe for strontium and calcium concentrations provided valuable insights into a fish's past history. A combination of structural and chemical analyses makes it possible to link growth and recruitment to nutritional and environmental factors. Such information developed as a broad model would be applicable to the management of Hawaiian gobies and would greatly improve the quality of information available for these unique fish populations and other fish populations
Informational Size, Incentive Compatibility and the Core of an Economy with Incomplete Information

We examine the ex ante incentive compatible core, and show that generically, when agents are informationally small in the sense of McLean and Postlewaite (1999), the ex ante incentive compatible core is nonempty.
Spin-orbit and spin-polarization effects in neptunium hexafluoride

Relativistic molecular orbital calculations in the multiple scattering approximation are reported for NpF6, and the results are used to calculate the molecular g tensor and hyperfine parameters for the Np and F nuclei. Core spin‐polarization effects are estimated from quasirelativistic spin‐unrestricted calculations, which are corrected in an approximate fashion for the effects of spin‐orbit mixing. The calculated results (with experimental values in parentheses) are: g=−0.700 (−0.604); A(237Np)=−2.02 GHz (−2.00); a∥(19F)=−103 MHz (−132); and a⊥(19F)=−43 MHz (−42). These results are among the first nonempirical calculations of magnetic resonance parameters for actinide complexes. The calculations predict that the unpaired electron in NpF6 has 4% to 5% fluorine p character.
Organizational Improvisation and Organizational Memory

We define organizational improvisation as the degree to which the composition and execution of an action converge in time, and we examine the theoretical potential of this definition. We then propose that both organizational procedural memory (skill knowledge) and declarative memory (fact knowledge) moderate improvisation's impact on organizational outcomes in distinct ways. We also suggest that improvisation influences organizational memory by (1) generating experiments and (2) permitting the development of higher-level competency in improvisation. Contemporary technological changes related to the nature of organizational memory intensify the salience of these issues.
Ultrastructure of elastofibroma

An elastofibroma from a 69-year-old white man was studied by light and electron microscopy. The lesion was comprised of abundant collagen fibers and numerous randomly disposed masses of amorphous elastinophilic material. Ultrastructurally, this material appeared to be derived from a markedly dense, finely fibrillar precursor secreted by fibroblasts and manifested a striking resemblance to young elastic tissue. Central cores of mature elastic tissue were recognized within some of these elastinophilic masses. This study demonstrates unequivocally that the abnormal elastic material in elastofibroma is derived from excessive production of young elastic tissue and not from elastotic degeneration of collagen, as suggested in some of the previous studies. This young elastic tissue manifests a marked retardation of maturation, the cause of which however is not clear. Another interesting finding in this case was the presence of prominent fibrous laminae within the nuclei of most of the fibroblasts. The significance othis finding is briefly discussed.
THE NEED TO REFORM CORPORATE GOVERNANCE IN THE MUTUAL INSURANCE INDUSTRY

Mutual insurance companies will have to reform their corporate governance practices if they want to avoid new and excessive government regulation. Steps they can take include: changes in board structure and composition, the addition of several committees, more open communication with policyholders, and greater involvement of the board in setting strategy.
Plasma treatment of automotive steel for corrosion protection – a dry energetic process for coatings

Abstract In the thrust of pursuing new environmentally friendly technology for automotive application, a new corrosion protection coating system for automotive steel has been developed through interface engineering affected by an energetic plasma process. The plasma treated coating system outperformed the current phosphated galvanized steel system in scab corrosion tests. In the plasma process, the steel substrate was subjected to plasma cleaning and in situ plasma polymerization deposition. Plasma of a mixture of argon and hydrogen was created to remove the surface contaminants and the inherent oxide layer. A very thin film (50–100 nm) was then deposited by a plasma generated from alkylsilanes (e.g. trimethylsilane (TMS)). The interface can be so designed that strong corrosion-resistant interfacial bonds such as Fe–Si, Fe–C, and Si–C can be obtained. The interfacial chemistry involved in the plasma process and corrosion reaction are characterized by reflection absorption infrared spectroscopy (RAIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and sputter neutral mass spectroscopy (SNMS).
Are life stressors associated with marital violence

The current study examined the link between different conceptualizations of life stressors and physical violence against spouses. Life stressors were measured in several different ways to test whether stressor frequencies and perceived impacts, life domains of stressors (i.e., loss, threat), and the nature of stressors (i.e., occupational, interpersonal) are correlates of men's and women's moderate and severe violence. Also explored were potential mediators and moderators of the stress-violence relationship. Community and clinic couples participated in this study. Results indicated that occupational and loss stressors were associated with men's violence whereas a wider array of stressors were associated with women's violence. In addition, stressors only discriminated between violent and nonviolent men whereas some stressors also discriminated between moderately and severely violent women. Depressive symptoms moderated the association between stressor impact and violence such that impact and women's violence were significantly correlated for women with elevated depressive symptoms. Results are discussed in light of theoretical and clinical implications.
Zinc-thiol complexes in keratin-like structures of rat spermatozoa.

Abstract The structural importance of complexes between zinc and -SH groups in rat sperm is indicated by (1) facilitation of its release from the sperm by -SH reagents; (2) enhanced reaction of sperm-SH with 14 C-iodoacetamide, following preincubation at pH 2, in order to remove zinc; and (3) localization of this trace element in keratin-like structures of sperm tails. These results appear to explain the requirement for zinc in spermatogenesis and may be pertinent to its function in keratins.
Coping with financial fragility: A global perspective

Financial fragility means that the ability of the financial system to withstand economic shocks is weak. The basic reasion that the system is held to be fragile by proponents of a financial-fragility interpretation is that the financial services industry is supposedly inherently unstable. On this view, a loss of confidence in the institutions in that industry is an imminent possibility, with disruptive consequences for the real economy. The situation, however, is even more dire, according to the proponents, because financial fragility is not limited to the domestic system. It is easily transmitted internationally.
40 Gbit/s all-optical clock recovery using two-section gain-coupled DFB laser and semiconductor optical amplifier

40 Gbit/s wavelength and polarisation insensitive all-optical clock recovery using a two-section distributed feedback (DFB) laser has been demonstrated. The polarisation sensitivity of the two-section DFB laser was solved by converting incoming data onto a local laser through cross-gain modulation using a semiconductor optical amplifier. The scheme has a sensitivity of -13 dBm.
Performance Impact of Imperfect CSI on Spatial Hiding Anti-jam Communications

This paper explores the effect of imperfect channel state information (CSI) on spatial hiding anti-jam (AJ) communications technique. Recently a fundamental technique of hiding a signal is proposed that provides a precoding technique that allows a pair of two-antenna transceivers to communicate while being jammed intentionally by a malicious single-antenna node. The precoder uses a small amount of CSI to shape the signal to appear orthogonal to the jammer at the intended receiver. However, performance of the scheme depends on the quality of two estimated parameters -- transceiver and jamming CSI. In practice, CSI estimation is always subject to error due to the presence of noise, statistical characteristics of wireless channel, and limitations of hardware. By modeling the CSI estimation error as independent complex Gaussian random variables, analytical model for post-processing residual interference is derived in closed-form for both transceiver and jamming CSI estimation error. In addition, a lower bound for jammers interference as a function of jamming CSI estimation error is derived. Through simulation we demonstrate the effect of imperfect CSI on spatial hiding anti-jam and validate the analytical model as well.
Haem oxygenase-1 overexpression alters intracellular iron distribution

Induction or ectopic overexpression of HO-1 (haem oxygenase 1) protects against a wide variety of disorders. These protective effects have been variably ascribed to generation of carbon monoxide (released during cleavage of the alpha-methene bridge of haem) and/or to production of the antioxidant bilirubin. We investigated HO-1-overexpressing A549 cells and find that, as expected, HO-1-overexpressing cells are resistant to killing by hydrogen peroxide. Surprisingly, these cells have approximately twice the normal amount of intracellular iron which usually tends to amplify oxidant killing. However, HO-1-overexpressing cells contain only ~25% as much ‘loose’ (probably redox active) iron. Indeed, inhibition of ferritin synthesis [via siRNA (small interfering RNA) directed at the ferritin heavy chain] sensitizes the HO-1-overexpressing cells to peroxide killing. It appears that HO-1 overexpression leads to enhanced destruction of haem, consequent 2–3-fold induction of ferritin, and compensatory increases in transferrin receptor expression and haem synthesis. However, there is no functional haem deficiency because cellular oxygen consumption and catalase activity are similar in both cell types. We conclude that, at least in many cases, the cytoprotective effects of HO-1 induction or forced overexpression may derive from elevated expression of ferritin and consequent reduction of redox active ‘loose’ iron.
Elastic and photoelastic relationships for crosslinked polymer networks: a statistical segment approach

Abstract The framework presented here was developed to provide an objective mechanism for incorporating the primary structural aspects of a polymer in predicting physical properties, especially mechanical and optical properties, of networks. It incorporates the effective chain distributions, obtained by Nanavati et al. from vector-length and polarizability distributions of statistical segments. The efficacy of this approach has been tested by comparing the predictions to published experimental data for networks of poly(cis-isoprene) and polyethylene, with primarily a single fitted parameter, namely, the effective chemical crosslink density. The improvement which can be obtained through an additional empirical parameter to incorporate the effects of entanglement-like topological constraints has also been explored. The best predictions are obtained through a combination of the current formulation and Treloar’s postulate of a constant chain vector length in the undeformed state. With just one (or two) fitted parameters, excellent predictions have been obtained of stress–deformation over a broad range of deformation. Also, the polarizability–deformation relationships, obtained without any additional fitted parameter, have been found to be very good. The results show that, by coupling molecular modeling with classical analysis of network characteristics, constitutive relations for rheological, optical and dielectric properties of polymer networks can be obtained, with due consideration of their primary structures.