cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Self-Assembled α-Helical Polypeptide Films

Poly(γ-benzyl-L-glutamate) (PBLG) derivatized at its N-terminus with lipoic acid, a disulfide-containing moiety, self-assembles on gold from helicogenic solvents to give a thin film with the polypeptide α-helices orientation distribution different from the planar orientation in the unlabeled, physisorbed PBLG films (control) and Langmuir-Blodgett monolayers. The SA films were studied by angle-dependent XPS, reflection-absorption FTIR spectroscopy, and ellipsometry. The IR dichroic properties of the amide I and amide II bands were used to infer the orientational distribution of the helices in the self-assembled film and lead to two extreme pictures of the helix axis distribution function: (a) random (hemispherical distribution) and (b) perfect order with a tilt of 53° from the surface normal. Additional characterization is necessary to differentiate between these two distributions.
The change of EMG during lifting a object from floor according to foot position

The purpose of this study is to represent a basic data about the comparison between EMG of lumbar and leg by the change of foot position. Ten women in their twenties volunteered for this study. They took a measurement change between EMG of lumbar and leg with 'pick up a object' according to the change in foot position. Foot position degree was 0 and 45 degree. We measured 3 times for each person and the order of foot position was random. The EMG measure instrument(TeleMyo DTS telementry system; Noraxon, USA) was used in the study. The muscle activation of TA(tibialis anterior), VL(vastus lateralis), MG(medial gastrocnemius), IC(iliocostalis) were increased in 45 degree and there were significant difference in TA, VL, IC of right side between o and 45 degree but only VL of left side has a significant difference between o and 45 degree (p<0.05). These finding suggest that muscle activation during pick up a object differs depending on foot angle. We believe that these difference should be considered when physical therapist educate the proper posture to patient
A Remark on the Concepts of Input-Memory and Output-Memory of Sequential Machines

The definitions of input-memory and output-memory of a sequential machine are examined and an attempt is made to clarify some, confusion in the literature regarding the concepts of input-memort and output-memory.
Evolution of open magnetic structures on the sun - The Skylab period

High-resolution harmonic analysis of the measured photospheric magnetic field of the sun is used to construct models of open magnetic structures over a period of 11 solar rotations. The models successfully reproduce the surface location and topology of all coronal holes during the Skylab period. In addition, there is persistent evidence in the models that open field lines are associated with active regions in a systematic way. These associations are listed for the period studied; they suggest that open field lines are a basic feature of solar magnetism. Specific examples of the evolution of coronal holes and of calculated open structures are presented. Quantitative study of the measured field strength within and neighboring a hole confirms the fact that coronal hole regions are indistinguishable by local magnetic properties. However, the calculated field strengths at the footpoints of open field lines within coronal holes show distinct evolutionary patterns and may indicate that, at least in young coronal holes, a significant amount of magnetic flux is closed. Problems of studying magnetic field divergence by using these models are discussed.
Low-Temperature Carburization of the Ni-base Superalloy IN718: Improvements in Surface Hardness and Crevice Corrosion Resistance

“Case-hardening” of the Ni-base superalloy IN718 has been achieved by low-temperature gas-phase carburization. After carburization under optimum conditions, the hardened surface layer (the “case”) has about twice the hardness of the core (HV of ≈800) and contains ≈12 at pct carbon in interstitial solid solution. This causes a lattice parameter expansion of ≈1 pct perpendicular to the surface and, because of the mechanical constraint provided by the noncarburized core below, develops a large biaxial surface compressive residual stress (≈1.9 GPa) parallel to the surface. Microstructural studies and X-ray diffractometry reveal no carbide precipitates in the case. In agreement with this observation, low-temperature carburization does not compromise the ductility and actually improves the crevice corrosion resistance of the alloy.
Effect of progressive cachectic parasitism and growth hormone treatment on hepatic 5′-deiodinase activity in calves

Thyroid status is compromised in a variety of acute and chronic infections. Conversion of thyroxine (T(4)) into the metabolically active hormone, triiodothyronine (T(3)), is catalyzed by 5'-deiodinase (5'D) mainly in extrathyroidal tissues. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of protozoan parasitic infection (Sarcocystis cruzi) on hepatic 5'D (type I) activity and plasma concentrations of T(3) and T(4) in placebo- or bovine GH (bGH)-injected calves. Holstein bull calves (127.5+/-2.0 kg BW) were assigned to control (C, ad libitum fed), infected (I, 250,000 S. cruzi sporocysts per os, ad libitum fed), and pair-fed (PF, non-infected, fed to intake of I treatment) groups placebo-injected, and three similar groups injected daily with pituitary-derived bGH (USDA-B-1, 0.1mg/kg, i.m.) designated as C(GH), I(GH) and PF(GH). GH injections were initiated on day 20 post-infection (PI), 3-4 days prior to the onset of clinical signs of the acute phase response (APR), and were continued to day 56 PI at which time calves were euthanized for liver collection. Blood samples were collected on day 0, 28, and 55 PI. Alterations in nutritional intake did not affect type I 5'D in liver. Treatment with bGH increased (P<0.05) 5'D activity in C (24.6%) and PF (25.5%) but not in I calves. Compared to PF calves, infection with S. cruzi reduced 5'D activity 25% (P<0.05) and 47.8% (P<0.01) in placebo- and bGH-injected calves, respectively. Neither nutrition nor bGH treatment significantly affected plasma concentrations of T(4) and T(3) on day 28 and 55 PI. However, plasma thyroid hormones were reduced by infection. On day 28 PI, the average plasma concentrations of T(3) and T(4) were reduced in infected calves (I and I(GH)) 36.4% (P<0.01) and 29.4% (P<0.05), respectively, compared to pair-fed calves (PF and PF(GH)). On day 55 PI, plasma T(3) still remained lower (23.7%, P<0.01 versus PF) in infected calves while plasma T(4) returned to control values. The data suggest that parasitic infection in growing calves inhibits both thyroidal secretion and extrathyroidal T(4) to T(3) conversion during the APR. After recovery from the APR, thyroidal secretion returns to normal but basal and bGH-stimulated generation of T(3) in liver remains impaired.
Growth hormone receptor and growth hormone-binding protein messages in mouse placenta contain the exon analogous to human exon 3

Growth hormone receptor (GHR)-encoding messages from the human placenta and other tissues have been recently characterized by several investigators. Of particular interest is the finding that exon 3 is deleted from the mRNA encoding GHR in human placenta, but not in maternal tissues. We have used a reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) technique to amplify the distinct mRNAs encoding GHR and GH-binding protein (GHBP) in the mouse placenta and liver, followed by restriction analysis, to determine whether an analogous deletion exists in these mRNAs. The restriction analysis and sequencing of the PCR products shows that the mRNAs encoding GHBP and GHR in the mouse placenta do not have a deletion analogous to that found in human placental GHR mRNA.
Multiple States of β-Sheet Peptide Protegrin in Lipid Bilayers†

Protegrin-1 (PG-1), a β-sheet antimicrobial peptide, was studied in aligned lipid bilayers by oriented circular dichroism (OCD). All of its spectra measured in a variety of lipid compositions were linear superpositions of two primary basis spectra, indicating that PG-1 existed in two different states in membranes. We designated these as state S and state I. The state assumed by PG-1 was strongly influenced by lipid composition, peptide concentration, and hydration condition. We have previously reported that the helical peptides, alamethicin and magainin, also exhibit two distinct OCD basis spectraone corresponding to surface adsorption with the helix parallel to the bilayer and the other with perpendicular transbilayer insertion. States S and I of PG-1 may correspond to the surface state and the insertion state of alamethicin, since they show a similar dependence on lipid composition, peptide concentration, and hydration condition. Nonoriented CD spectra obtained from vesicle, micelle, and solution prepar...
Symmetry and integrable canonical flows

Following the method of a group theoretic formulation of rigid body dynamics, we construct an elementary proof that f commuting generators of symmetries of an f degree-of-freedom Hamiltonian system yield integrability of the dynamics in the form of f independent translations in phase space. The integrability of the dynamical system follows directly from the trivial integrability of a particular set of group parameter velocities that are nonintegrable in the absence of symmetry, and does not rely at all upon any assumption of separability of the Hamiltonian-Jacobi partial differential equation. Our method relies upon Hamel's explanation of when one can and cannot choose group parameters as generalized coordinates, and uses the Poisson bracket formulation of mechanics that is familiar to physicists. We formally extend Euler's theorem on rigid body motions to other transformation groups for Hamiltonian flows in phase space, and also note the analogy between nonholonomic coordinates in classical mechanics and uncertainty principles in quantum mechanics.
m2 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor‐immunoreactive neurons are not reduced within the nucleus basalis in Alzheimer's disease: Relationship with cholinergic and galaninergic perikarya

The distribution of profiles containing the m2-muscarinic acetylcholine receptor within the aged human basal forebrain and its relationship to cholinergic and noncholinerigc neurons and alterations in Alzheimer's disease (AD) was investigated by using an m2-specific monoclonal antibody (Levey et al. [1995] J. Comp. Neurol. 351:339–356). Immunocytochemistry revealed that the m2 receptor protein is expressed primarily in noncholinergic multipolar neurons (mean ± S.E.M.; 355.7 ± 15.4 μm2) located primarily outside the cholinergic nucleus basalis subfields. Dual-stained sections from the septal/diagonal band complex revealed that m2 was detected in only 14% of choline acetyltransferase-labeled neurons, whereas only 13% of m2-stained neurons colocalized choline acetyltransferase. Within the nucleus basalis, choline acetyltransferase was found in 35% of the m2-labeled neurons, whereas only 6% of choline acetyltransferase-stained perikarya were dual labeled for m2. Although we did not visualize colocalization of m2+/choline acetyltransferase-immunonegative neurons and the inhibitory neuropeptide galanin, galaninergic fibers coursed in close apposition to m2+ cells. Cell counts demonstrated that 90% of choline acetyltransferase-labeled striatal neurons expressed the m2 receptor. Despite the extensive reduction in cholinergic basal forebrain neurons, cell counts of the relative number of m2-immunoreactive neurons within the nucleus basalis complex from aged controls and AD patients revealed that the m2 neurons are spared. Finally, our findings suggest that most m2 receptors in the cholinergic basal forebrain are located on noncholinergic structures; therefore, they are not the major source of m2 receptors in the cortex. Thus, the reduced levels of the m2 receptor seen in AD cortex probably reflect changes in other neuronal populations. J. Comp. Neurol. 392:313–329, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Some properties of photon scattering in water phantoms in diagnostic radiology.

Monte Carlo simulation was applied to study the histories of photoninteractions in a soft‐tissue‐equivalent medium under diagnostic imaging conditions. We examined the dependence on incident x‐ray energy and phantom thickness of the basic properties of photon scattering, including the probabilities of occurrence of the various interaction processes, and the frequency distributions of scattering events. We investigated the properties of scattered radiation for monoenergetic incident x rays, which provide a basis for deriving the physical properties of scattered radiation for any polyenergetic incident beam. We also included four incident x‐ray beams with broad spectra; these represented the incident x rays typically used for diagnostic imaging.
NEITHER ABSOLUTISM NOR RELATIVISM

Rejetant a la fois la doctrine absolutiste et la doctrine relativiste concernant le statut culturel, historique et contextuel des croyances et de la verite, l'A. developpe un modele anticonvergentiste des oppositions d'ordre moral ou realiste relevant de la nature de la recherche humaine. L'A. conclut a l'efficacite politique du modele pragmatique de la communaute scientique
The promise and peril of uncertainty quantification using response surface approximations

Conventional sampling-based uncertainty quantification (UQ) methods involve generating large numbers of random samples on input variables and calculating output statistics by evaluating the computational model for each set of samples. For real world applications, this method can be computationally prohibitive due to the cost of the model and the time required for each simulation run. Using response surface approximations may allow for the output statistics to be estimated more accurately when only a limited number of simulation runs are available. This paper describes an initial investigation into response surface based UQ using both kriging and multivariate adaptive regression spline surface approximation methods. In addition, the impact of two different data sampling methods, Latin hypercube sampling and orthogonal array sampling, is also examined. The data obtained from this study indicate that caution should be exercised when implementing response surface based methods for UQ using very low sample siz...
A New Synchronous Generator Out-of-Step Relay Scheme Part II Complete Version

In the complete version of the proposed generator out-of-step relay scheme, the equations solved by the powerplant computer are based on a two-machine system model which provides for the, effects of circuit resistance, constant uniform damping, and varying internal voltage of the protected generator. Transient saliency and variable damping effects are neglected. Mechanical shaft power is considered to remain constant throughout the transient period of a disturbance. The Direct Method of Lyapunov is used to determine the stability boundary for the two-machine system. The Lyanunov V-function employed in scheme computations is Mansour's generalized V-function developed via the EMA (Energy Metric Algorithm). Tripping is initiated when the iteratively computed value of the generalized V-function during a system disturbance exceeds the iteratively computed value of b(t) or when it is determined that V>O. Nondelayed tripping prior to the time system torque angle reaches 180°is permitted provided the angle is favorable for breaker operation. If the angle is not favorable at the time instability is detected, tripping is delayed until the angle becomes favorable.
Studies of in vivo recruitment and activation of cytotoxic lymphocytes using a gelatin‐sponge model of concomitant tumor immunity

We have earlier described a sponge model of concomitant tumor immunity that permits the capture and isolation of effector T lymphocytes that mediate the rejection of a secondary EMT6 tumor implant. In this study, we have employed the sponge model to study lymphocyte homing and in situ activation during the development of concomitant tumor immunity. Our results demonstrate that EMT6-specific CTL in animals bearing primary EMT6 tumors home preferentially to sponges implanted with EMT6 tumor cells, as compared with contralateral sponges lacking tumor cells or sponges injected with antigenically distinct 168 tumor cells. We further show that recruitment is selective and is not in response to a foreign-body reaction to the sponge. In addition, we show that EMT6-specific CTL were recovered from sponges injected either with intact EMT6 tumor cells or with a mixture of EMT6-derived membranes and supernatant. In contrast, cells accumulating in sponges injected with membranes or supernatant alone were not cytolytic. Thus, maximal recruitment, retention, and activation of CTL precursors require putative chemo-attractive factors secreted by tumor cells as well as interaction with tumor antigen.
Experience-driven experimental systems research

The most direct way toward understanding whether PlanetLab and other such systems serve their purpose is to build, deploy, and use them.
Autoimmune Ovarian Failure: Comparing the Mouse Model and the Human Disease

The neonatal-thymectomy-induced mouse model of autoimmune oophoritis has two important similarities with human autoimmune oophoritis. First, in both cases there is some defect in the immune system that permits the development of organ-specific autoimmunity. Second, in both there is some ovarian target under attack. In neither case do we fully understand the nature of the immune defect or the ovarian target. Because of its strong analogy with the human disease, murine experimental postthymectomy autoimmune oophoritis may provide insight into the pathogenesis of autoimmune premature ovarian failure in women. Such studies may open new avenues toward the development of specific diagnostic and therapeutic methods. The histologic distribution of the ovarian lymphocytic infiltration is similar in the mouse and the human, and both mice and women with the disorder have reduced natural killer cell activity. Furthermore, susceptibility in both mice and women appears to be associated with genes outside the major histocompatibility complex. Finally, the mouse disorder is associated with a persistent neonatal-like Th2 response that suggests possible similarities with autoimmune polyglandular failure type 1 in humans. There is no currently available validated serum antibody marker that will confirm a clinical diagnosis of autoimmune premature ovarian failure. While investigating this animal model we cloned a novel gene that encodes an ooplasm-specific antigen associated with autoimmune oophoritis in mice. Based on its role in preimplantation development, we have designated this antigen Maternal Antigen That Embryos Require (MATER). MATER provides a new determinant with which to investigate the mechanisms of autoimmune premature ovarian failure.
Multi-sonar target detection using multi-channel coherence analysis

The use of multiple disparate platforms in many remote sensing and surveillance applications allows one to exploit the coherent information shared among all sensory systems thereby potentially reducing the risk of making single-sensory biased detection and classification decisions. This paper introduces a target detection method based upon multi-channel coherence analysis (MCA) framework which optimally decomposes the multi-channel data to analyze their linear dependence or coherence. This decomposition then allows one to extract MCA features that can be used to implement a coherence-based detector. This detector is applied to a data set of underwater side-scan sonar imagery provided by the Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division. This database contains data from 2 disparate sonar systems, namely one high frequency (HF) sonar and one broadband (BB) sonar coregistered over the same region on the sea floor. Test results illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed multi-platform detection system in terms of probability of detection, false alarm rate, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves.
Evaluating Parsing Strategies Using Standardized Parse Files

The availability of large files of manually-reviewed parse trees from the University of Pennsylvania "tree bank", along with a program for comparing system-generated parses against these "standard" parses, provides a new opportunity for evaluating different parsing strategies. We discuss some of the restructuring required to the output of our parser so that it could be meaningfully compared with these standard parses. We then describe several heuristics for improving parsing accuracy and coverage, such as closest attachment of modifiers, statistical grammars, and fitted parses, and present a quantitative evaluation of the improvements obtained with each strategy.
Analysis of the DNA damage produced by a platinum–acridine antitumor agent and its effects in NCI-H460 lung cancer cells

High-performance liquid chromatography in conjunction with electrospray mass spectrometry (LC-ESMS) was used to structurally characterize the adducts formed by the platinum–acridine agent [PtCl(en)(N-(2-(acridin-9-ylamino)ethyl)-N-methylpropionimidamide)](NO3)2 (compound 1) in cell-free DNA. Compound 1 forms monofunctional adducts exclusively with guanine, based on the fragments identified in enzymatic digests (dG*, dGMP*, dApG*, and dTpG*, where the asterisk denotes bound drug). The time course of accumulation and DNA adduct formation of compound 1 and the clinical drug cisplatin in NCI-H460 lung cancer cells at physiologically relevant drug concentrations (0.1 μM) was studied by inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Compound 1 accumulates rapidly in cells and reaches intracellular levels of up to 60-fold higher than those determined for cisplatin. The hybrid agent shows unusually high DNA binding levels: while cisplatin adducts form at a maximum frequency of 5 adducts per 106 nucleotides, compound 1 produces 25 adducts per 106 nucleotides after only 3 h of continuous incubation with the lung cancer cells. The high overall levels of compound 1 in the cells and in cellular DNA over the entire 12-h treatment period translate into a rapid decrease in cell viability. Possible implications of these findings for the mechanism of action of compound 1 and the agent's potential to overcome tumor resistance to cisplatin are discussed.
A multi-index model for quantile regression with ordinal data

In this paper, we propose a quantile approach to the multi-index semiparametric model for an ordinal response variable. Permitting non-parametric transformation of the response, the proposed method achieves a root-n rate of convergence and has attractive robustness properties. Further, the proposed model allows additional indices to model the remaining correlations between covariates and the residuals from the single-index, considerably reducing the error variance and thus leading to more efficient prediction intervals (PIs). The utility of the model is demonstrated by estimating PIs for functional status of the elderly based on data from the second longitudinal study of aging. It is shown that the proposed multi-index model provides significantly narrower PIs than competing models. Our approach can be applied to other areas in which the distribution of future observations must be predicted from ordinal response data.
Clustering gene expression patterns

Recent advances in biotechnology allow researchers to measure expression levels for thousands of genes simultaneously, across different conditions and over time. Analysis of data produced by such experiments offers potential insight into gene function and regulatory mechanisms. A key step in the analysis of gene expression data is the detection of groups of genes that manifest similar expression patterns. The corresponding algorithmic problem is to cluster multicondition gene expression patterns. In this paper we describe a novel clustering algorithm that was developed for analysis of gene expression data. We define an appropriate stochastic error model on the input, and prove that under the conditions of the model, the algorithm recovers the cluster structure with high probability. The running time of the algorithm on an n-gene dataset is O{n2[log(n)]c}. We also present a practical heuristic based on the same algorithmic ideas. The heuristic was implemented and its performance is demonstrated on simulate...
Studies on Ruminal Gas Formation and on Consumption of Alfalfa Pasture by Cattle

Summary and Conclusions In an average of four trials, 4.7 cubic feet of gas were produced when cows consumed 47.6 lb. of green Sudan tops fed ad libitum over a 4-hour period as compared to 4.3 cubic feet when cows consumed an average of 15.5 lb. of green alfalfa tops over a similar period. The amount of gas formed following drenching with glucose or starch was determined both by feeding cows 20 hours before the experimental period or feeding them with alfalfa tops ad libitum 4 hours preceding drenching. In the former instance, glucose caused a more prompt increase in gas formation, whereas the effect of starch was more prolonged. When cows were fed immediately preceding drenching, on the other hand, no difference between glucose and starch as regards gas formation was discernible. Studies on the consumption of alfalfa pasture indicate that alfalfa becomes more palatable as it matures up to the early bloom stage, but the results were inconclusive.
Ordering transition of gases adsorbed on a C 60 surface: Monte Carlo simulations and lattice-gas models

A monolayer of ${\text{C}}_{60}$ molecules on a flat surface provides an unusual substrate for the adsorption of simple gases. Both the lattice constant and the corrugation are larger than is typical of most traditional surfaces. These differences give rise to different phenomena, such as unusual commensurate phases. This paper discusses the ordering transition of various gases corresponding to the filling of the honeycomb array of threefold coordinated hollow sites located between ${\text{C}}_{60}$ molecules. That transition is investigated with Monte Carlo simulations and analytical (lattice-gas) models. The value of the resulting transition temperature $({T}_{c})$ depends on the form assumed for the long-range interaction and the role of many-body effects, i.e., screening, due to gas molecules' close proximity to the ${\text{C}}_{60}$ layer. The effect of three-body interactions is found to be large in all cases considered.
Lurasidone for the acute treatment of adults with schizophrenia: what is the number needed to treat, number needed to harm, and likelihood to be helped or harmed?

Objective: To describe the efficacy, safety and tolerability of lurasidone for the acute treatment of schizophrenia using the metrics number needed to treat (NNT) and number needed to harm (NNH). Methods: Study data were pooled from six Phase II and III, 6-week, randomized, placebo-controlled trials that were conducted to test the efficacy and safety of lurasidone for the acute treatment of schizophrenia. Included were the following interventions: fixed doses of lurasidone 20, 40, 80, 120 and 160 mg/d; haloperidol 10 mg/d; olanzapine 15 mg/d; quetiapine extended-release 600 mg/d; placebo. The following outcomes were assessed: responder rates as defined by a reduction of ≥20, 30, 40 or 50% from baseline on the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) total score; study completion; discontinuation due to an adverse event (AE); weight gain ≥7% from baseline; incidence of spontaneously reported AEs; incidence of total cholesterol ≥240 mg/dL, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol ≥160 mg/dL, fasting triglyce...
In vitro and in vivo suppressive effects of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol on interferon production by murine spleen cells

Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the major psychoactive component in marijuana, has been reported to be suppressive on some immune functions. Since interferons (IFNs) are important immunomodulatory proteins, the effect of in vivo or in vitro administration of THC on induction of IFN by various mitogens was examined. Splenocytes from normal mice in the presence of THC produced significantly less IFN when stimulated by phytohemagglutinin (PHA), concanavalin A (Con A), or Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Induction of IFN by a bacterial antigen, Legionella pneumophila bacterial cells, was also suppressed by THC. Also, splenocytes which were incubated up to 24 h in the presence of THC partially recovered responses to mitogens when cells were washed before stimulation. This suggested that THC must be present in order to mitigate IFN induction. Splenocyte cultures from mice which were chronically injected with THC for 6-8 weeks were also less responsive to induction of IFN by the various mitogens. These results suggest that at least part of the immunosuppressive effects of THC may be related to depressed IFN production by stimulated lymphocytes. Since Con A and PHA are T cell mitogens and LPS is considered to be a macrophage and B cell stimulator, suppression of IFN production by these classes of cells indicate a wide range of effects of THC.
Held in mind, out of awareness. Perspectives on the continuum of dissociated experience, culminating in dissociative identity disorder in children

With reference to research from the fields of neurophysiology and psychoanalytic theory, this paper gives an overview of the present understanding of how trauma is processed and the possible aetiology of multiple self-states. Clinical examples of a variety of self-states are given and thought about in terms of neuroception. Finally, some thoughts on clinical implications of treatment are offered.
Densities of bacteria and fungi in coastal surface films as determined by a membrane‐adsorption procedure1,2

A membrane-adsorption technique for counting surface slick microbial populations was evaluated. The simple procedure gave bacterial and fungal populations several orders of magnitude greater than those previously reported for surface slicks.
Characterization of single-mode coated fibers at low temperatures using periodic distortion of the fiber axis

Microbending effects on cabled single-mode optical fibers are analyzed both theoretically and experimentally over the temperature range -30°C-25°C. The loss in single-mode fiber is attributed to the coupling between the guided and radiative modes caused by micro-bending effects. The primary coupling between the guided LP 01 and the radiative LP 11 modes is studied by imposing periodically controlled perturbations on the fiber axis at different temperatures.
A theoretical assessment of low and high bandwidth gallium arsenide, germanium and silicon avalanche photodiodes for optical communication systems

Abstract A comparison is made of the relative properties of avalanche photodetectors for use in optical communication systems operating up to 1 GHz bandwidth over the wavelength range 730–1130 nm. Detectors for optical communications systems may have to operate at voltages limited by the electrical feeds to repeaters, hence the present comparison is for the specific case of diodes with a maximum operating voltage. The voltage used is generally 100V, but the analysis is also extended to 200V. The speed of the diodes is considered briefly then the main analysis compares the signal to noise performance of gallium arsenide, germanium and silicon diodes. The most recent noise theory is used incorporating the frequency dependence of multiplication and a detailed comparison is made of the results and their differences for the three materials analysed. In addition comparison is made with results using less accurate theories. The optimum diode material, for the simple uniformly doped 100V diodes considered, varies with wavelength and frequency. However the results show that there is no clear-cut choice and that, for instance, at long wavelengths (i.e. greater than 1·05 nm) germanium diodes, despite their high dark current, have comparable or better performance than silicon diodes for operation at 100V. Similarly in the conditions considered gallium arsenide photodiodes might provide an alternative detector for high frequency systems using gallium aluminium arsenide lasers.
Treatment of advanced pancreatic cancer patients with opioid growth factor

Previous studies have shown that an endogenous pentapeptide. (Met5)-enkephalin (Opioid Growth Factor) inhibits growth of human pancreatic cancer cells in culture and when grown as xenografts to nude mice. Results from phase 1 of our study found that OGF may be safely administered to human subjects with pancreatic cancer up to doses of 250 mcg|[sol]|kg.
Reactions of Japanese markets to changes in credit ratings by global and local agencies

Abstract We examine data from the mid-1980s to 2003 to investigate whether stock prices set on the Tokyo Stock Exchange for Japanese firms react more strongly to changes in credit ratings of global rating agencies than of local agencies. This offers a strong test of relative influence of the two groups of rating agencies. We hypothesize that global raters will have more influence, but given that the two global agencies, Moody’s and Standard and Poors, are headquartered in the United States, analysis of stocks of Japanese firms listed on US exchanges would confound the results to the extent there is a home bias for raters. We find that global agencies are more influential than the two major local raters, Japan Rating and Investment Information and Japan Credit Rating Agency, for rating downgrades. Thus for credit downgrades, global raters are more influential than local ones even in the local market. Consistent with previous research, we find that upgrades are benign events, and this holds true for global as well as local agencies.
Chemical and hydrostatic pressure in natrolites: Pressure-induced hydration of an aluminogermanate natrolite

The ambient structure and pressure-induced structural changes of a synthetic sodium aluminogermanate with a natrolite (NAT) framework topology (Na−AlGe-NAT) were characterized by using Rietveld refinements of high-resolution synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction data at ambient and high pressures. Unlike a previously established model for Na8Al8Ge12O40·8H2O based on a single-crystal study, the ambient structure of the Na−AlGe-NAT is found to adopt a monoclinic space group Cc (or Fd) with a ca. 6% expanded unit cell. The refined ambient structure of Na8Al8Ge12O40·12H2O indicates an increased water content of 50%, compared to the single-crystal structure. The unit-cell volume and water-content relationships observed between the two Na−AlGe-NAT structures at ambient conditions with 8 and 12 H2O respectively seem to mirror the ones found under hydrostatic pressure between the Na8Al8Si12O40·8H2O and the parantrolite phase Na8Al8Si12O40·12H2O. Under hydrostatic pressures mediated by a pore-penetrating alcohol an...
Diffusion induced grain boundary migration at low temperatures and its effect on measuring chemical grain boundary diffusivities

In the present work the authors investigate both diffusion induced grain boundary migration and grain boundary chemical diffusion in the Au/Ag system at an unusually low temperature, i.e., at room temperature. At this temperature the diffusion distance in the lattice during all experiments is very much smaller than an atomic jump distance, i.e., smaller by a factor of at least 10{sup 4}. Lattice diffusion is therefore completely frozen out. Nevertheless, the authors find that measurable DIGM occurs. The current models (at least in their present form) cannot explain these results, and some discussion is devoted to this result.
The effect of cyclic AMP on glycoprotein secretion in isolated rat hepatocytes.

Abstract The effects of dibutyryl cyclic AMP on glycoprotein biosynthesis, intracellular mobilization, and secretion in isolated rat hepatocytes are described. Dibutyryl cyclic AMP (2.5 m m ) initially suppresses [ 3 H]glucosamine or [ 3 H]fucose incorporation into cellular macromolecular material; however, after 3 1 2 h, the incorporation of these radiolabeled carbohydrates into macromolecular material was stimulated relative to control cells. The stimulation in accumulation of cellular glycoprotein occurred in membrane-associated fractions, with most of this accumulation occurring in the Golgi elements. The glycoprotein produced in the presence of dibutyryl cyclic AMP was quantitatively precipitated by antibodies directed against rat serum, suggesting that the accumulated cellular material is normally destined for secretion from the cell. Dibutyryl cyclic AMP also produced a drastic inhibition of glycoprotein secretion which persisted during the cellular accumulation of glycosylated material. Exposure of the hepatocytes to colchicine (10 μ m ) produced a similar increase in accumulation of [ 3 H]glucosamine-containing immunoprecipitable material in the cellular fraction and a similar inhibition in secretion. The initial dibutyryl cyclic AMP-mediated suppression of synthesis of intracellular glycosylated material occurred entirely in non-membrane-associated intracellular fractions. Also, the initial accumulation of [ 3 H]glucosamine-containing immunoprecipitable material was not suppressed during the first 3 1 2 h after exposure to dibutyryl cyclic AMP, suggesting the initial suppression represents a metabolic process unrelated to secretion. The incorporation of [ 3 H]leucine into macromolecular material was inhibited in both cellular and secreted fractions after exposure to dibutyryl cyclic AMP; however, the accumulation into the extracellular environment was inhibited to a greater extent. The patterns of [ 3 H]glucosamine-containing lipid biosynthesis were unaffected by dibutyryl cyclic AMP.
First description of the nymph and larva of Dermacentor raskemensis (Acari: Ixodidae), parasites of pikas and other small mammals in Central Asia.

Dermacentor raskemensis Pomerantzev, 1946 is one of the rare Asian species in this genus. The immature stages of this species have never been described. Reexamination of D. raskemensis holdings stored in the United States National Tick Collection revealed a collection lot containing reared nymphs and larvae of this species. This collection made it possible for us to find numerous nymphs and larvae of D. raskemensis among previously unidentified material collected in the field. Both immature stages of D. raskemensis are described here for the first time. Nymphs of D. raskemensis can be distinguished from those of other Dermacentor species in the region by small spiracular plate, relatively short and obtuse lateral projections of basis capituli dorsally, relatively short spurs on coxa I and the internal spur is characteristically very broadly rounded at its apex, and very small spur on coxa IV, whereas larvae of D. raskemensis can be distinguished from other Dermacentor by relatively short and obtuse lateral projections of basis capituli, ≈6 denticles in the median files on hypostome, and relatively short, broad, and rounded spur on coxa I. The nymphs and larvae of D. raskemensis studied originate from Afghanistan, India, Iran, and Pakistan, where they were collected from pikas and other small mammals.
Towards the unification of policing innovations under community policing

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine how various policing innovations, including problem‐oriented policing, broken windows, intelligence‐led policing, Compstat, third‐party policing, and hot spots, could be integrated into the community policing philosophy.Design/methodology/approach – The paper provides a definition of community policing and individually examines each policing innovation to determine how they fit within the community policing philosophy.Findings – The findings suggest that various policing innovations are wholly compatible with the community policing philosophy and that incorporating these innovations into community policing may improve their overall utility and the likelihood of their adoption.Research limitations/implications – The paper highlights the need for new ideas in policing to be built into existing policing innovations rather than developed in isolation.Practical implications – The findings have implications for how law enforcement agencies fundamentally approach...
Why Nouns Trump Verbs in Word Learning: New Evidence from Children and Adults in the Human Simulation Paradigm

Despite tremendous cross-linguistic and cross-cultural variation in linguistic input, early vocabularies are dominated by nouns. One explanation for this pattern appeals to the conceptual capacity of the learner—nouns predominate because the concepts to which they refer are somehow simpler or more accessible to young learners than the concepts to which verbs refer. Evidence for this viewpoint has come primarily from infants and toddlers. Another explanation appeals to the linguistic requirements underlying word learning—nouns predominate because their acquisition is well-supported by observation, while verbs often depend on additional linguistic information which early word learners are not yet able to utilize. Evidence for this viewpoint has thus far come primarily from adults in the Human Simulation Paradigm (HSP). To bridge this gap, we modified the HSP task to accommodate children. Although children's approach to this task differed markedly from that of adults, their patterns of performance were strik...
Minority Politics Courses: Moving beyond Controversy and toward Active Learning.

dealing with issues of race, ethnicity, gender, and sexual orientation differ from traditional political science courses. I also describe my efforts to help students develop the analytical skills they need to productively explore controversial topics in minority politics and other courses. Most importantly, I identify several useful pedagogical strategies for promoting active and collaborative learning through open and respectful discussion.
Objective Assessment of the Breathe-Right Device during Exercise in Adult Males:

In order to improve nasal breathing during competition, many athletes recently have been wearing a spring-loaded, external nasal dilator referred to as the Breathe-Right device (BRD). Although there are many subjective claims that this device improves breathing during exercise, there are currently no controlled studies documenting its efficacy. To determine objectively whether the device improves the nasal airway, 20 subjects (10 Caucasian and 10 African-American) were studied during rest and after 15 minutes of exercise using anterior rhinomanometry and acoustic rhinometry to measure changes in airway resistance and minimal cross-sectional area, respectively. We found that the BRD exerts its main effect in the region of the nasal valve improving the airway an overall 21% in our group of subjects. This anatomic improvement in nasal airway resulted in an overall 27% reduction in nasal resistance in the Caucasian group. However, in the African-American group, a wider range of resistance changes was observed with application of the BRD with significant improvement in nasal resistance in some subjects but paradoxical worsening in others. In the African-American group as a whole, no significant change in nasal resistance occurred with application of the BRD. These measured differences are likely due to variations in nasal anatomy that exist not only between races but also between individuals within a given race. In addition, this study confirms the well known decongestant effects of exercise providing anatomic data with acoustic rhinometry not previously documented in the literature. Overall improvement in nasal airway seen with application of the BRD occurred independent of these exercise-related decongestant effects.
A Comparison of User Preferences for Browser Password Managers

Building upon a previous study, this analysis compared two different types of Web browser password managers: an extension with remote storage and a bookmarklet that generates in real time site-specific passwords. All participants completed a 4-step training process, hands-on use of these managers, and a survey of their experiences. The mean responses from the survey questions were analyzed using an independent (unpaired) t-test of samples with unequal sizes assuming equal variance. The results of this study seem to indicate that a bookmarklet that generates site-specific passwords may be more popular for users to implement over remote storage password managers.
THE PROBLEM OF UNPHYSICAL STATES IN THE THEORY OF INTERMOLECULAR INTERACTIONS

It was shown by Claverie that the interactions between atoms and molecules make unphysical electronic solutions of the Schradinger equation accessible in perturbation calculations of intermolecular interactions, accessible in the sense that the perturbation expansion is likely to converge to an unphysical solution if it converges at all. This is a difficult problem because there are generally an infinite number of unphysical states with energies below that of the physical ground state. We have carried out configuration interaction calculations on LiH of both physical and unphysical states. They show that avoided crossings occur between physical and unphysical energy levels as the interaction between the two atoms is turned on, i.e. as the expansion parameter λ is increased from 0 to 1. The avoided crossing for the lowest energy state occurs for λ < 0.8, implying that the perturbation expansion will diverge for larger values of λ. The behavior of the energy levels as functions of λ. is shown to be understandable in terms of a two-state model. In the remainder of the paper, we concentrate on designing effective Hamiltonians which have physical solutions identical to those of the Schrodinger equation, but which have no unphysical states of lower energy than the physical ground state. We find that we must incorporate ideas from the Hirschfelder-Silbey perturbation theory, as modified by Polymeropoulos and Adams, to arrive finally at an effective Hamiltonian which promises to have the desired properties, namely, that all unphysical states be higher in energy than the physical bound states, that the first and higher order corrections to the energy vanish in the limitR = ∞. that the leading terms of the asymptotic 1/R expansion of the energy be given correctly in second order, and that the overlap between the zeroth order wave function and the corresponding eigenfunction of the effective Hamiltonian be close to one.
Improved gravity feeding of granular solids

Abstract Experiments with a new type of device for continuous metering of solids in gravity flow from bins or bunkers indicate that the relationship between its volumetric delivery rate, its rotational speed and its geometrical design parameters can be predicted by a simple geometrical model which can be used for design and scale-up purposes. Data obtained for the flow of several different types of particulate solids compare favorably with the predictions of this model. Because of its continuous, smooth operation and the proportionality between rotational speed and delivery rate (a proportionality set by the design parameters), this feeder is ideally suited for delivering controlled flows under regulation from feedback signals. It was also shown that this feeder did not cause segregation of a mixture of dissimilar particles. Operating experience for a large feeder installed in a full scale production process is also reviewed.