cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Geometric Design and Safety Aspects of Roundabouts

The findings of a 3-year study conducted at Pennsylvania State University for FHWA on the safety and operational performance and geometric characteristics of roundabouts are presented. The study focused on geometric characteristics that influence the safety and operational performance of roundabouts. Accident data (including driver testimonials) were reviewed along with videotapes developed at several roundabouts in Maryland, Florida, and Nevada. Several conclusions were drawn, including the need to improve geometric design on approaches to rural round abouts to reduce loss-of-control accidents; the need for adequate right-of-way to properly deflect vehicles around the center island; and the need for guidance regarding operating-volume-to-capacity ratios. The findings from the study will assist planners, designers, and engineers in avoiding unnecessary safety hazards and operational failures.
Formation, Characterization, and Reactivity of Adsorbed Oxygen on BaO/Pt(111)

The formation of adsorbed O (Oad) species and their reactivities in CO oxidation on BaO/Pt(111) (at two BaO coverages) were studied with temperature programmed desorption (TPD), infrared reflection absorption (IRA), and X-ray photoelectron (XP) spectroscopies. In neither of these two systems was the Pt(111) surface completely covered with BaO. On the system with lower BaO coverage (∼45% of the Pt(111) surface is covered by BaO), two different Oad species form following the adsorption of O2 at 300 K: O adsorbed on the BaO-free Pt(111) sites (OPt) and at the Pt−BaO interface (Oint). On the system with higher BaO coverage (∼60% of the Pt(111) surface is covered by BaO), two types of Oint are seen at the Pt−BaO interface. The desorption of OPt from the BaO-free portion of the Pt(111) surface gives an O2 desorption peak with a maximum desorption rate at ∼690 K. Migration of Oint to the Pt(111) sites and their recombinative desorption give two explosive desorption features at ∼760 and ∼790 K in the TPD spectrum...
Nonlinear analyses in sales research: theoretical bases and analytical considerations for polynomial models

Despite theoretical bases that may support nonlinear relationships, there is a relative paucity of studies testing these effects in organisational and behavioural research. Theories hypothesising linear associations among variables in sales research found to have low predictive validity are prime candidates for re-conceptualisation with theories predicting nonlinear relationships. In the sales domain, while nonlinear-oriented theories have been advanced and many nonlinear associations have been explored, myriad additional variables may possess theoretically-based nonlinear relationships with key sales-related outcomes. Further, nonlinear integration can be useful in improving linear analyses involving moderation. The purpose of this article is to expound upon and promote the utilisation of theoretically-driven nonlinear analyses in sales research. In this pursuit, the article delineates the rationale for nonlinear examinations and provides an extensive review of nonlinear research conducted in the extant ...
The preparation of tin(II) dithiocarbamates from ammonium dithiocarbamate salts

Abstract Ammonium dithiocarbamate salts, which can be formed directly from carbon disulfide and the appropriate dialkylamine, serviced as convenient precursors for tin(II)DTC complexes. The compounds Sn[S2CNR2]2, (R = CH3 and C2H5) were prepared in this manner and characterized by their ir, nmr, ESCA, and mass spectra as well as by thermogravimetric analysis.
Phase I trial of PEG-interferon and recombinant IL-2 in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma

Purpose Pegylated interferon α-2b (PEG-Intron®) is a conjugate of polyethylene glycol (PEG) and interferon alpha-2b, has a prolonged half-life, and an increased area under the curve (AUC) for interferon α-2b. The combination of PEG-Intron® with recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2) was investigated in a phase 1 trial. To determine the maximal tolerable dose (MTD) and preliminary efficacy of concurrent subcutaneous (SC) administration of PEG-Intron® and rIL-2 in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC).
On the structure of m-benzynes

The question of the structure of m-benzynes is discussed in light of recent theoretical and experimental results. The calculated density functional IR spectrum (B3LYP) of tetrafluoro-m-benzyne is reported and compared with the experiment. It is concluded that without additional experiments and possibly calculations the question of whether m-benzynes exist as a closed shell bicyclic or open shell monocyclic structures cannot yet be definitely answered.
Hairy cell leukaemia: seven cases with probable B-lymphocytic origin.

Summary. Mononuclear cells from seven patients with hairy cell leukaemia were examined for features suggestive of either a lymphocytic or monocytic origin. Immunofluorescent staining of both methanol fixed and incubated cells, using monospecific antisera, revealed a predominant cell-associated immunoglobulin in each case. Three were positive for mu and kappa chains, two for gamma and kappa chains, one for delta and kappa chain determinants and one reacted only with antigamma chain serum. Formation of EAC rosettes, a feature of both B lymphocytes and monocytes, was variable. T cells, as judged by E rosettes, were not elevated in any patient. Phytohaemagglutinin reactivity was normal in six and depressed in one case. With the exception of minimal activity in assays for glass adherence and latex particle phagocytosis, none of the cells showed features typical of monocytes. Hairy cells were negative by peroxidase stain and lacked the electron microscopic characteristics of monocytes. They did not react in either rosette or phagocytic assays with anti-A or anti-D coated erythrocytes nor did they elaborate granulocyte colony stimulating factor, a monocyte-derived in vitro granulopoietin. Although unequivocal classification of these abnormal cells is not possible, the data strongly suggests that this represents a variant of a B lymphocytic neoplasm.
a model of illness treatment decisions in a Tarascan town

This paper describes the rationale underlying illness treatment decisions in a rural Tarascan community in west-central Mexico. The focus is the development and verification of a formal model of treatment choice. The model, based on cognitive-ethnographic methods, describes the principal kinds of information involved in treatment decisions and the process whereby actors use this information in selecting among the available treatment alternatives. Applied to test data on 323 actual illness episodes, the model correctly accounts for 91 percent of the treatment choices made. The relationship of the model to other recent work on decision making in natural situations and the implications of these findings for the study of medical choice in pluralistic settings are discussed. [decision making, hierarchical choice, illness treatment, Mexican ethnomedicine, Tarascans]
IgE, Mast Cells, Basophils, and Eosinophils

IgE, mast cells, basophils, and eosinophils are essential components of allergic inflammation. Antigen-specific IgE production, with subsequent fixation of IgE to FceRI receptors on mast cells and basophils, is central to the initiation and propagation of immediate hypersensitivity reactions. Mast cells, basophils, and eosinophils are central effector cells in allergic inflammation, as well as in innate and adaptive immunity. This review highlights what is known about these components and their roles in disease pathogenesis.
Improve the effectiveness of the opinion retrieval and opinion polarity classification

Opinion retrieval is a document retrieving and ranking process. A relevant document must be relevant to the query and contain opinions toward the query. Opinion polarity classification is an extension of opinion retrieval. It classifies the retrieved document as positive, negative or mixed, according to the overall polarity of the query relevant opinions in the document. This paper (1) proposes several new techniques that help improve the effectiveness of an existing opinion retrieval system; (2) presents a novel two-stage model to solve the opinion polarity classification problem. In this model, every query relevant opinionated sentence in a document retrieved by our opinion retrieval system is classified as positive or negative respectively by a SVM classifier. Then a second classifier determines the overall opinion polarity of the document. Experimental results show that both the opinion retrieval system with the proposed opinion retrieval techniques and the polarity classification model outperformed the best reported systems respectively.
EX VIVO EXPRESSION OF NITRIC OXIDE SYNTHASE ISOFORMS (eNOS/ iNOS) AND CALMODULIN IN HUMAN PENILE CAVERNOSAL CELLS

AbstractPurpose: Nitric oxide (NO) synthesized by nitric oxide synthase (NOS) is recognized as the central mediator of penile erection. This process appears to be mediated mainly by neuronal NOS (nNOS), which is localized to the nonadrenergic, noncholinergic innervation of the penis. However, the role of non-neuronal penile constituents (specifically the cavernosal smooth muscle), as well as other NOS isoforms in NO production in the human penis is not well understood. The present study evaluates the expression of non-neuronal (inducible and endothelial) isoforms of NOS in human penile cavernosal smooth muscle cells in culture.Materials and Methods: Primary culture was initiated with explants of human corpora cavernosa. For gene expression studies, total RNA was extracted from cavernosal cells and subjected to reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). For NADPH-diaphorase histochemistry, the cells were incubated with 1 mM beta-NADPH and 0.5 mM nitrobluetetrazolium at 37C for 3 hours. For i...
Do Schools in North Carolina have Policies that Promote Nutrition for School Age Children

Abstract The purpose of this study was to determine the extent school districts in North Carolina have policies that promote nutrition for school age children and the degree to which these policies were consistent with the Center for Disease Control's (CDC) GuidelinesforSchoolHealthProgramstoPromoteLifelongHealthyEating . School food service directors of each public school district in North Carolina (N=117) were surveyed by questionnaire at the annual state conference. Those who were unable to attend were surveyed by mail and a total useable response of n=106(92%). Only 24.5% of the school districts had a coordinated nutrition policy and none of these were consistent with all of the CDC guidelines. Those having comprehensive nutrition policies were more likely to have individual policies for fund raising (p
Spectrum Characterization for Opportunistic Cognitive Radio Systems

Spectrum sensing is one of the most challenging problems in cognitive radio systems. The spectrum of interest needs to be characterized and unused frequencies should be identified for possible exploitation. This process, however, should be computationally simple and fast in order to catch up with the changing transmission parameters. This paper proposes a sensing method for identifying the unused spectrum for opportunistic transmission by estimating the RF transmission parameters of primary users. The primary users are identified by matching the a priory information about their transmission characteristics to the features extracted from the received signal. The application of the proposed sensing method to WiMAX mobile stations for finding the active channels during initial network entry is also discussed as a case study.
Highly specific testicular adenosine-3', 5'-monophosphate phosphodiesterase associated with sexual maturation.

Adenosine 3',5'—monophosphate (cyclic AMP) is known to be the intracellular mediator of the action of several hormones. Both ICSH and FSH have been shown to increase testicular cyclic AMP concentration. Cyclic AMP has been shown to increase the production of testosterone by the perfused testis. The effective concentration of cyclic AMP is determined both by its rate of synthesis and its rate of degradation effected by cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase (PDE). Seven separate isoenzymes of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase (labeled a—g) are present in tissues of rat and rabbit. The adult rat testis contains the c and f components; the f component is only found in the testis. In the 20–day—old rat only the c component is present. The f component begins to appear at 40 days of age and reaches adult levels by 50 days of age. Histological sections show spermatids present at 30 days and mature spermatozoa at 50 days of age. Total PDE activity increased 5—fold from day 20 to day 50. This increase in PDE activi...
Optical sensing of atmospheric emissions with Cubesats and Nanosats

Small satellites and payloads in the (1-2 kg) class called Cubesats and (20-30 kg) called Nanosats have been under development at the University of Illinois since fall, 2001. The ION1 Cubesat was a 10x10x21.5 cm3 satellite with the experiment consisting of photometric remote sensing of mesospheric structures (near 94 km) in the O2 (0,0) band airglow at 762 nm. ION1 development began in 2001 and was lost on the failed launch attempt, July 26, 2006. ION2 development began in Fall 2005, and has a remote sensing experiment to measure Hα (656.3 nm) originating in the Earth's geocorona from which column H densities can be deduced. Taylor University has led the development of a Nanosat called TEST, which was designed to study ionospheric structures. Illinois provided remote sensing payloads including a CCD camera and dual photometers. The development activity is largely implemented by a College of Engineering Interdisciplinary Design class (ENG 491), where students typically participate in the systems engineering experience for two semesters. The students (15-20 average enrollment) are responsible for the design, fabrication, and testing of the systems. This paper describes the development of these Cubesat and Nanosat systems.
Optical encryption of personal identification information using orthogonal code

Optical information processing techniques have been developed for information security and fraud deterrent applications. Several encryption methods have been proposed in the literature, which includes optical double random-phase encryption, polarization encoding, encryption and verification using a multiplexed minimum average correlation energy phase-encrypted filter. All these reports employed a pseudo-random number for the code. But as such numbers are not uncorrelated, the security is not guaranteed because a wrong code may also extract some of the features of the coded information. The objective of the paper is to develop an optical security system employing orthogonal code for protection of personal identification information. As the orthogonal codes have zero or minimum cross-correlation depending on the offset between the codes, a wrong code can not decrypt any information. Here a simple encryption technique is proposed in spatial domain, where the input images are first spread in one dimension using an optical lens and then multiplied by the respective code. Finally, the individual encrypted images are superimposed on a common spatial domain. The individual images can then be decrypted by correlating the received signal with the respective address code. Computer simulation results show that any information containing binary characters can be encrypted and then decrypted successfully. The encrypted images are found to be secure, because no unwanted reproduction is possible without having the appropriate code. The technique also offers an efficient use of the storage or transmission capacity. Therefore, the proposed optical encryption technique can be applied to securing personal identification or similar information.
Pain Control and Quality of Life After Pancreatectomy with Islet Autotransplantation for Chronic Pancreatitis

In selected patients with chronic pancreatitis, total pancreatectomy with islet autotransplantation can be effective for the treatment of intractable pain while ameliorating postoperative diabetes. Improved quality of life scores and decreased daily narcotic use, as indicators of successful pain relief, are expected after total pancreatectomy. These outcomes and their relationship have not been well examined in this patient group. A prospectively collected database of patients undergoing extensive pancreatectomy with islet autotransplantation for pancreatitis was reviewed. Data pertaining to daily oral morphine equivalents (MEs) and quality of life (QOL), as measured by the SF-12 questionnaire, in the preoperative and postoperative period were reviewed. Approval from the IRB for the evaluation of human subjects was obtained. Over a 20-month period, 33 patients (25 women, median age 42) underwent extensive pancreatectomy with islet autotransplantation for pancreatitis. Mean follow-up was 9 months with a range of 6–12 months. Postoperative complications occurred in 16 patients (48%). Preoperative QOL scores were a mean 25 for physical component and 32 for mental health component. Postoperatively, physical component scores averaged 33 at 6 months (p = 0.025) and 36 at 12 months (mean increase of 11); the mental health component scores averaged 43 at 6 months (p = 0.007) and 44 at 12 months (mean increase of 12). Preoperative MEs averaged 357 mg daily. At discharge from the hospital, this number increased to 536 mg average MEs daily, a 50% increase, as expected after major surgery in the chronic pain patient. At 6 months, 15 out of 31 patients (48%) required less daily MEs than preoperatively and averaged 161 mg daily (−55%). By 12 months, 11 out of 17 patients (65%) required less daily MEs than preoperatively and averaged 128 mg daily (−64%); four were narcotic-free (23%). Of the six patients who did not decrease their analgesic requirements at 1 year, five (83%) still had an improved physical QOL score (one patient was unchanged) and all six had an improved mental health QOL. Total pancreatectomy with islet autotransplant is an effective surgery for end-stage chronic pancreatitis. Quality of life improves early postoperatively while decreased narcotic analgesia requirements occur later. Both improved quality of life and decreased narcotic analgesia requirements continue to occur at least up to 1 year postoperatively. Further investigation is needed to assess the durability of total pancreatectomy with islet autotransplantation for severe chronic pancreatitis with respect to pain relief and improved quality of life.
Mixing God's Work and the Public Business: A Framework for the Analysis of Faith‐Based Service Delivery

Over the past thirty years, there has been a dramatic transformation in the way the American political process operates. There has been a growing public perception that traditional political institutions lack the capacity to meet existing challenges. This has led many observers to call for a rethinking of how government does its work. Numerous alternatives, including the use of faith-based organizations, have been suggested. The current popular debate on the appropriate role of faith-based organizations in public service delivery has shed little light on a number of important issues raised by engaging such actors in governance issues. The impact of using faith-based institutions to design and implement public policy must be considered not only in terms of traditional evaluation standards, but also regarding potential long-term impacts on the political process itself. This article outlines a theoretical framework for the evaluation of faith-based organizations as “alternatives” to conventional governance structures. It identifies key practical and theoretical issues raised by such substitution, in both short and long range systemic terms.
Estimates of stage-specific survival are altered by changes in the 2002 American Joint Committee on Cancer staging system for melanoma

BACKGROUND The objectives of the current study were to examine how the estimated stage-specific survival is altered in the 2002 American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) melanoma staging system compared with the 1997 AJCC staging system and to contrast the predictive accuracy of the 2 staging systems. METHODS There were 5847 consecutive melanoma patients who presented to Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center from 1996 to 2004 and who were entered prospectively into a data base. These patients were staged according to both the 1997 and 2002 AJCC staging criteria. Overall survival estimates were determined using the Kaplan–Meier method. The overall predictive accuracy of the two staging systems was compared using concordance estimation. RESULTS In total, 1035 patients were shifted to a lower stage in the 2002 staging system, whereas only 15 patients were upstaged. The number of patients with Stage I melanoma increased by 697 under the 2002 system (n = 2166 patients) compared with the 1997 system (n = 1463 patients). Because of the changes in 2002, the estimated 5-year overall survival for patients with Stage II melanoma decreased considerably, from 79% (1997) to 64% (2002). With the initiation of subgroups in 2002, it became apparent that patients with Stage III melanoma were very heterogeneous in terms of their survival probabilities (5-yr overall survival ranged from 70% in patients with Stage IIIA disease to 24% in patients with Stage IIIC disease). Furthermore, in the 2002 system, there was substantial prognostic overlap between Stage II and Stage III. Despite the increased complexity of the 2002 system, the 2 staging systems had similar concordance estimates: 58% for the 1997 staging system compared with 58% (ignoring the subgroups) and 59% (with subgroups) for the 2002 system. CONCLUSIONS Estimates of stage-specific survival were altered substantially by the changes made in the 2002 AJCC staging system for melanoma, particularly for Stage II. Stage subgroups that were added in the 2002 system resulted in a large diversity of risk within Stage III. This must be taken into account to stratify patients properly for clinical trials. The increased complexity of the 2002 system did not improve its predictive ability over the simpler 1997 system, highlighting the importance of developing individualized risk-prediction models. Cancer 2006. © 2005 American Cancer Society.
Redox modifier genes in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in mice

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), one of the most common adult-onset neurodegenerative diseases, has no known cure. Enhanced redox stress and inflammation have been associated with the pathoprogression of ALS through a poorly defined mechanism. Here we determined that dysregulated redox stress in ALS mice caused by NADPH oxidases Nox1 and Nox2 significantly influenced the progression of motor neuron disease caused by mutant SOD1G93A expression. Deletion of either Nox gene significantly slowed disease progression and improved survival. However, 50% survival rates were enhanced significantly more by Nox2 deletion than by Nox1 deletion. Interestingly, female ALS mice containing only 1 active X-linked Nox1 or Nox2 gene also had significantly delayed disease onset, but showed normal disease progression rates. Nox activity in spinal cords from Nox2 heterozygous female ALS mice was approximately 50% that of WT female ALS mice, suggesting that random X-inactivation was not influenced by Nox2 gene deletion. Hence, chimerism with respect to Nox-expressing cells in the spinal cord significantly delayed onset of motor neuron disease in ALS. These studies define what we believe to be new modifier gene targets for treatment of ALS.
The Social Context of Marital Happiness in Urban Indian Couples: Interplay of Intimacy and Conflict.

This research examines the happiness of 182 married, urban Hindu husbands and wives. Prior research emphasizes that the processes mediating well-being diverge across cultures with personal desires not impacting the happiness of non-Western couples. However, with globalization as self needs become important, barometers of happiness such as intimacy and conflict in a relationship assume a critical role in the quality and longevity of marriage, even for non-Western marriages in a contemporary India. Participants were 91 Indian couples, married an average of 11 years, from three socioeconomic classes, three family structures, and arranged and love marriages. Results reveal that happy couples, compared with unhappy couples, reported agreement, empathy, validation, support, and fulfilled expectations. Couples’ experience and expression of intimacy, affected by social context, also predicted enhanced levels of happiness in marriage while conflict had a negative effect on marital happiness. This research suggests how personal desires may be transforming cultural practices.
Anti‐tumor MHC class Ia‐unrestricted CD8 T cell cytotoxicity elicited by the heat shock protein gp96

In Xenopus as in mammals, gp96 stimulates MHC-restricted cellular immunity against chaperoned minor histocompatibility (H) antigens (Ag). In adult Xenopus, gp96 also elicits peptide-specific effectors against MHC class Ia-negative 15/0 tumors. To determine whether gp96 can generate functionally heterogeneous CD8+ effectors (CTL that kill MHC class Ia+ minor H-Ag-disparate lymphoblasts and MHC class Ia- tumor targets), LG-6 isogenetic frogs were immunized with gp96 purified either from MHC-identical but minor H-Ag-disparate LG-15 normal tissues or from the MHC class Ia-negative 15/0 tumor line (derived from LG-15 frogs). LG-15 normal liver-derived gp96 did not induce detectable CD8+ in vitro killing against 15/0 tumor cells. However, 15/0-derived gp96 did induce killing against both MHC class Ia+ LG-15 lymphoblasts and the MHC class Ia- 15/0 tumor, but not against another MHC class Ia- tumor (B3B7) or against LG-6 lymphoblasts. Tumor killing was better when 15/0 rather than normal LG-15 irradiated stimulators were used, but in vitro stimulation without prior in vivo immunization was ineffective. These data suggest that (1) 15/0-derived gp96 chaperones minor H-Ag shared with normal LG-15 lymphocytes and elicits MHC-restricted CTL, and (2) 15/0-derived gp96, but not normal liver-derived gp96, generates CD8+ effectors that kill 15/0 tumor cells in the absence of MHC class Ia expression.
A catalyCEST MRI contrast agent that detects the enzyme-catalyzed creation of a covalent bond.

CatalyCEST MRI can detect enzyme activity by employing contrast agents that are detected through chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST). A CEST agent, Tm-DO3A-cadaverine, has been designed to detect the catalytic activity of transglutaminase (TGase), which creates a covalent bond between the agent and the side chain of a glutamine amino acid residue. CEST appeared at −9.2 ppm after TGase conjugated Tm-DO3A-cadaverine to albumin, which also caused a decrease in CEST from albumin at +4.6 ppm. Studies with model peptides revealed similar appearances and decreases in detectable CEST effects following TGase-catalyzed conjugation of the contrast agent and peptide. The MR frequencies and amplitudes of these CEST effects were dependent on the peptide sequence, which demonstrated the sensitivity of CEST agents to ligand conformations that may be exploited to create more responsive molecular imaging agents. The chemical exchange rates of the substrates and conjugated products were measured by fitting modified...
Self awareness: Effects of feedback and review on verbal self reports and remembering following brain injury

Brain injury may produce impairments in self awareness. The magnitude of impairment is often determined by comparing patient self reports with self reports of others (report-report) or with patient performance (report-performance). This paper presents data on the pattern of a self-awareness deficit in memory functioning exhibited by a brain injury survivor 5 years post-injury. The effects of practice and feedback on reporting-recall differences was examined using single case methodology. Several prospective and retrospective self reports were obtained, to allow an examination of reporting about past or future recall. Results showed that recall improved and the magnitude of report-recall differences were reduced with practice and feedback.
Violence in America: An Integrated Approach to Understanding and Prevention

Violence in our country has reached epidemic proportions, especially among our youth. Of 22 industrialized nations, the United States has the highest homicide rate among young males 15 to 24 years of age. To reduce the incidence of violence, we must radically shift our approach to emphasize prevention and intervention. There are several ways of achieving violence reduction through these means. The scientific approach requires the determination of causation and risk factors to shed light on the patterns of violence and the effects on subgroups of the population. Also required is the development of targeted programs aimed at specific high-risk populations. In the area of youth violence intervention, programs must focus on young children and their parents, often children themselves, to prompt appropriate changes in knowledge, skills, and attitudes. Community-based programs can go a step further to initiate changes in the social environment that will create opportunities for adequate housing, job training or employment, or academic achievement. These efforts exemplify the notion that violence is not a factor of race, but rather is based on socioeconomic factors, particularly poverty and racism.
Calculation of turbulent skin friction on a rotating disk.

0 0.1191 0.2382 0.3573 0.4764 0.5956 0.7147 0.8338 0.9529 1.0000 1.0000 0.8809 0.7618 0.6427 0.5236 0.4045 0.2854 0.1663 0.0471 0 there was confusion in the definition of "the characteristic value of the frequency" and associated conclusions in the present Note. A technical comment by us (identical to the one above, by Flax) sent earlier, is due to appear in July or Aug. 1973. To verify South well's theorem Eq. (1) above, one has to resort to exact closed form solutions for all elastic restraints. This is possible for a circular plate with in-plane loads. For all boundary conditions in Eq.(l), is unity. As an illustration, we quote the values for a simply supported plate in Table 1 below and the value of 0 is unity correct to four significant figures. For a definition of the symbols, reference may be made to the comment by Flax.
Physical communication : An organizational asset

A strategic communication system is the vehicle for creating, managing and disseminating an organization’s excellence in design, process, and human capital. We propose that organizational communication should be measured in an effort to influence the business outcomes and the behavior of shareholders, customers, and employees. An often overlooked asset is an organization’s physical environment and that which it communicates. This article presents the literature addressing the correlation between the physical environment and behaviors as well as an audit inventory that allows an organization to examine its environment from a strategic view in order to align its surroundings with its culture, image, desirable behaviors, and expected outcomes.
Surface Chemistry of Methanol on Clean and Atomic Oxygen Pre-Covered Au(111)

Desorption kinetics of methanol on Au(111) and the oxidation of methanol on atomic oxygen pre-covered Au(111) have been investigated employing temperature programmed desorption (TPD) and molecular beam reactive scattering (MBRS). On clean Au(111), methanol is weakly adsorbed and desorbs molecularly. Three adsorption states, which are assigned to methanol molecules desorbing from the monolayer (β phase), amorphous multilayers (α2 phase), and crystallized multilayers (α1 phase), are observed. For the β peak, detailed numerical analysis, based on mathematical inversion of the Polanyi-Wigner equation, leads to an optimized pre-exponential factor (log ν = 11.3 ± 1.1 s-1) and coverage-dependent desorption energies, which are further used to accurately simulate TPD spectra for submonolayer initial methanol coverages. For methanol coverages of 0.2 and 1.0 ML, desorption energies of 40.6 ± 1.6 kJ/mol and 34.8 ± 1.4 kJ/mol are extracted. In the presence of atomic oxygen, TPD of adsorbed methanol exhibits desorption...
The molecular role of mast cells in atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease

Human atherosclerosis has many characteristics of an inflammatory disorder. Recent data suggest that mast cells might be important in the pathogenesis of atherosclerotic disease. By secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines, mast cells can assist in the recruitment of monocytes and lymphocytes into vascular tissue, thereby propagating the inflammatory response. Mast cell enzymes might activate pro-metalloproteinases, thereby destabilizing atheromatous plaques. Mast cells can facilitate foam cell formation by promoting cholesterol accumulation. However, mast cell tryptase could slow thrombus formation at sites of plaque rupture by interfering with coagulation. Therefore, mast cells can modulate coronary artery disease by both facilitatory and inhibitory pathways.
Two-Photon Correlations in Atomic Transitions

A general foformula is derived for two-photon coincidence rates. The result oobtained is a function of the orientation of linear polarizers, of the solid angles subtended, and of the relative position of the photon detectors. It applies to both cascade emissions and resonance flourescence when the transitions are of electric dipole type. Allowance is made for anisotropic initial-state populations. It is shown that a single parameter discribed the atomic transition when a initial states are isotropically populated. This parameter is found to have a particularly simple form, even when the nuclear spin is nonzero. It is the product of two Racah coefficients and an E coefficient difined here. Tables of the required Racah and E coefficients are provided so that this parameter can be easily determined when the states in the transitions have J values 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, (l/2), (3/2), (5/2), (7/2), or (9/2) and when the nuclear spin is 0, 1, (1/2), (3/2), (5/2), (7/2), or (9/2). Experiments to test hidden-variable theories which are possible in view of these results are discussed. Experiments to determine the effective quantum efficiency of photon detectros using these results are described. (auth)
Quark spectroscopy with a new flavor

Abstract Hydrogen-like bound states of very heavy quark-antiquark pairs discovered in the past few years provide us with new powerful ways to investigate the properties of quarks and their interactions. In particular, the recent direct evidence from CESR for the existence of a new flavored quark (the b quark) and the observation of three bound plus one quasibound bb states, provide us with a unique new spectroscopy with a wealth of hadronic and electromagnetic transitions whose unraveling will greatly refine our understanding of the interquark forces.
A direct and continuous assay for the determination of thioredoxin reductase activity in cell lysates

Thioredoxin reductase (TR) is an oxidoreductase responsible for maintaining thioredoxin in the reduced state, thereby contributing to proper cellular redox homeostasis. The C-terminal active site of mammalian TR contains the rare amino acid selenocysteine, which is essential to its activity. Alterations in TR activity due to changes in cellular redox homeostasis are found in clinical conditions such as cancer, viral infection, and various inflammatory processes; therefore, quantification of thioredoxin activity can be a valuable indicator of clinical conditions. Here we describe a new direct assay, termed the SC-TR assay, to determine the activity of TR based on the reduction of selenocystine, a diselenide-bridged amino acid. Rather than being an end-point assay as in older methods, the SC-TR assay directly monitors the continuous consumption of NADPH at 340 nm by TR as it reduces selenocystine. The SC-TR assay can be used in a cuvette using traditional spectrophotometry or as a 96-well plate-based format using a plate reader. In addition, the SC-TR assay is compatible with the use of nonionic detergents, making it more versatile than other methods using cell lysates.
On the aspect ratio effect of multi-walled carbon nanotube reinforcements on the mechanical properties of cementitious nanocomposites

Abstract For their novel mechanical, thermal, chemical, and electrical properties, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are widely used in many fields of nanocomposite materials. In cementitious nanocomposites, CNTs can act as effective bridges to minimize and limit the propagation of micro-cracks through the matrix, under the conditions of well dispersion of the CNTs within the matrix and good bonding between the CNTs and the surrounding hydrated cement matrix. This study focuses on the effect of different concentrations of long multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) – high length/diameter aspect ratios of 1250–3750 – and short MWCNTs – aspect ratio of about 157 – in cement paste. Flexural bending tests were performed to evaluate four major mechanical properties of the cement/CNTs composites at ages of 7, 14, and 28 days. Results show that the flexural strength of short 0.2 wt.% MWCNT and long 0.1 wt.% MWCNT increased by 269% and 65%, respectively, compared to the plain cement sample at 28 days. The highest increase in ductility at 28 days for the short 0.1 wt.% MWCNT and the short 0.2 wt.% MWCNT was 86% and 81%, respectively. It is concluded that nanocomposites with low concentration of long MWCNTs give comparable mechanical performance to the nanocomposites with higher concentration of short MWCNTs. Clear evidence was obtained from scanning electron microscope images for micro-crack bridging; many of the MWCNTs were stretching across the micro-cracks showing CNTs breakage and pull-out.
How can we identify parasite genes that underlie antimalarial drug resistance

This article outlines genome-scale approaches that can be used to identify mutations in malaria (Plasmodium) parasites that underlie drug resistance and contribute to treatment failure. These approaches include genetic mapping by linkage or genome-wide association studies, drug selection and characterization of resistant mutants, and the identification of genome regions under strong recent selection. While these genomic approaches can identify candidate resistance loci, genetic manipulation is needed to demonstrate causality. We therefore also describe the growing arsenal of available transfection approaches for direct incrimination of mutations suspected to play a role in resistance. Our intention is both to review past progress and highlight promising approaches for future investigations.
The Magic of RFID: Just how do those little things work anyway?

Many modern technologies give the impression they work by magic, particularly when they operate automatically and their mechanisms are invisible. A technology called RFID (radio frequency identification), which is relatively new to the mass market, has exactly this characteristic and for many people seems a lot like magic. RFID is an electronic tagging technology that allows an object, place, or person to be automatically identified at a distance without a direct line-of-sight, using an electromagnetic challenge/response exchange. Typical applications include labeling products for rapid checkout at a point-of-sale terminal, inventory tracking, animal tagging, timing marathon runners, secure automobile keys, and access control for secure facilities.
Reading Center Characterization of Central Retinal Vein Occlusion Using Optical Coherence Tomography During the COPERNICUS Trial

Purpose To determine the impact of segmentation error correction and precision of standardized grading of time domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) scans obtained during an interventional study for macular edema secondary to central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO).
Nucellar Senescence and Ethylene Production as they Relate to Avocado Fruitlet Abscission

Events preliminary to avocado (Persea americana Mill) fruitlet abscission include senescence of the nucellus and seed coat. The dynamics of nucellar deterioration and ethylene production leading to seed abortion and abscission in avocado was examined. Excised branches bearing clusters of fruit from 1'0-2-5 cm diameter were placed in humid chambers to reduce transpirational water loss. Fruitlets synchronously began nucellar and seed coat deterioration 27-33 h after excision and rapidly progressed through stages of increasing degradation culminating in abscission approximately 2 days later. The nucellus-seed coat produced a temporary burst of ethylene at the first visible sign of nucellar senescence followed by less ethylene production in the mesocarp approximately 12 h later. All fruit underwent nucellar degradation prior to abscission. Exogenously applied ethylene accelerated fruitlet abscission with concentrations as low as 1-0 //11~' and with maximum response at 100 /il 1~' or greater. Maximal response took 2 days. Afninoethoxyvinyl-glycine (AVG) at 30 ftM inhibited ethylene production and fruitlet abscission. The senescence process, however, was not affected in any way by ethylene or AVG treatments. Observations of attached fruit suggest that nucellar-seed coat senescence, concomitant ethylene production, and resulting abscission take place in a manner and within a time period similar to that observed on detached branches. It is concluded that nucellar and seed coat senescence is prerequisite to avocado fruitlet abscission, and the time required from the first indication of nucellar breakdown to abscission of that fruitlet appears to be approximately 2 days. The senescence process is responsible for a large, transient rate increase in ethylene production by the nucellus and perhaps seed coat. Ethylene is considered to be the result rather than the cause of nucellar-seed coat senescence. The ethylene thus produced induces fruit abscission.
Effects of wave‐current interaction on rip currents

[1] The time evolution of rip currents in the nearshore is studied by numerical experiments. The generation of rip currents is due to waves propagating and breaking over alongshore variable topography. Our main focus is to examine the significance of wave-current interaction as it affects the subsequent development of the currents, in particular when the currents are weak compared to the wave speed. We describe the dynamics of currents using the shallow water equations with linear bottom friction and wave forcing parameterized utilizing the radiation stress concept. The slow variations of the wave field, in terms of local wave number, frequency, and energy (wave amplitude), are described using the ray theory with the inclusion of energy dissipation due to breaking. The results show that the offshore directed rip currents interact with the incident waves to produce a negative feedback on the wave forcing, hence to reduce the strength and offshore extent of the currents. In particular, this feedback effect supersedes the bottom friction such that the circulation patterns become less sensitive to a change of the bottom friction parameterization. The two physical processes arising from refraction by currents, bending of wave rays and changes of wave energy, are both found to be important. The onset of instabilities of circulations occurs at the nearshore region where rips are “fed,” rather than offshore at rip heads as predicted with no wave-current interaction. The unsteady flows are characterized by vortex shedding, pairing, and offshore migration. Instabilities are sensitive to the angle of wave incidence and the spacing of rip channels.
Mathematics Difficulty with and without Reading Difficulty: Findings and Implications from a Four-Year Longitudinal Study:

An overarching question guided this study: What is mathematics difficulty (MD) independent of reading difficulty (RD)? The sample included 203 children whom the researchers followed from kindergarten to third grade. The researchers used latent growth modeling to investigate the relationship between MD and measures of working memory, short-term memory, cognitive processing speed, early numerical skills, and phonological processing, independent of reading. Two main findings emerged: (a) deficits in early numerical skills were a defining feature of MD with or without RD, and (b) early numerical skills and phonological processing influenced growth in mathematics from kindergarten to third grade. These results indicate that future MD research should focus on numerical and language-based skills, including whether the mathematics disorder in MD—specific or otherwise—reflects underlying language and/or numerical deficits.
Comparisons of Slip-Corrected Reynolds Lubrication Equations for the Air Bearing Film in the Head-Disk Interface of Hard Disk Drives

Slip-corrected Reynolds equations have not been widely used in the air bearing simulations for the head-disk interface in hard disk drives since Fukui and Kaneko [Trans ASME J Tribol 110:253–262, 1988] published a more accurate generalized lubrication equation (FK model) based on the linearized Boltzmann equation for molecular gas lubrication. However, new slip models and slip-corrected Reynolds equations continue to be proposed with certain improvements or with the more physical basis of kinetic theory. Here, we reanalyze those slip models and lubrication equations developed after the FK model was published. It is found that all of the slip-corrected Reynolds equations are of limited use in the air bearing simulations, and that these new slip-corrected Reynolds equations cannot replace the FK model for calculating an accurate pressure distribution of molecular gas lubrication.
Ontogeny of Differential Migration and Sexual Segregation in Northern Elephant Seals

Adult northern elephant seals ( Mirounga angustirostris ) are substantially sexually dimorphic in size and in migratory behavior. Both sexes migrate over vast areas of the North Pacific Ocean during biannual migrations between rookeries in California waters and northern foraging grounds, but adult males segregate from adult females during each of these double migrations. I used satellite-linked radiotelemetry to document the ontogeny of differential migration and sexual segregation as a means to better define the ultimate causal mechanisms of these patterns and to evaluate the potential influence of this sexually dimorphic trait on the magnitude of size dimorphism between sexes in the northern elephant seal. The initial direction of migration (northwesterly from rookeries) was established during the 1st year of life in both males and females. Differential migration and sexual segregation appears to develop during puberty, when growth rates of males are substantially greater than those of females, and those patterns are well established by the time males are 4.5–5 years old. This outcome suggests that the development and proximate cause of sexual segregation of northern elephant seals is more precisely related to differential metabolic needs of males during the period of sexual maturation and accelerated growth rather than to sexual differences in gross energy requirements of adults. Segregation appears to confer to pubescent males survival benefits, which more than compensate for the higher mortality that generally is associated with rapid growth during puberty in other taxa with male-biased, sexual dimorphism. The most parsimonious explanation for the evolution of sexual dimorphism in size in northern elephant seals still appears to be sexual selection (intrasexual competition) acting through differential mating success of males. Moreover, differential, rapid growth during puberty and deferred maturity of males versus females are proximate mechanisms promoting larger size of males as adults. I suggest, however, that natural selection has led to sexually dimorphic migratory patterns and segregation of foraging elephant seals and that the segregation may partially maintain and, indeed, enhance sexual dimorphism in size.