cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Oil Spills in Polar Climates: The Bahia Paraiso Accident

Spillage of approximately 600,000 litres of refined product (diesel fuel arctic, DFA) into Arthur Harbor in January 1989 by the BAHIA PARAISO marked the beginning of one of the first major spill clean-up and monitoring efforts in Antarctica. The impacted area contains numerous islands, breeding sites for sea birds and penguins, seal habitats, as well as abundant assemblages of macroalgae and invertebrates. Intertidal areas were most directly impacted and all components of the harbor ecosystem were contaminated during the first few weeks of the spill. DFA was detected in tissues from birds, limpets, macroalgae, clams, bottom feeding fish as well as in water and sediments. While the most intense contamination was during the first few weeks, some areas continued to be contaminated one year after the incident. The high energy environment, the relatively volatility of the refined product combined to limit the spill's impact both areally and temporally. Even in this polar climate most of the spilled material evaporated. The remaining material was diluted with seawater and swept from the area by winds and currents.
Supplement: The Hg-Cd-Zn-Te Phase Diagram

Arguments are given favoring values for the high temperature heat capacity and Gibbs energy of formation of CdTe that are different from those we used previously. Based on these, the quaternary phase diagram has been reanalyzed. The changes are discussed and the new associated liquid phase model parameters given.
Total quality through empowered training

Considers the relationships between ISO 9000, TQM and business performance. Argues that the correlation between ISO 9000 and success is still weak, and that many organizations still have difficulty reconciling the apparent conflict between the “compliance” philosophy of ISO 9000, and the strong innovative demands of TQM. Suggests a way of reconciling these apparent conflicts, which entails the use of a third package of management tools, introduced through a programme of empowered training, to provide performance‐driven quality. This additional package harnesses the output of TQ initiatives to the continuous improvement of delivered quality of goods and services, and to the development of new customer‐pleasing products ‐ the elements that are missing from ISO 9000. Provides a specific example of the ISO 9000/TQM conflicts, and of successful use of a particular third package ‐ all within the same company.
Isospin-symmetry breaking in the πN system

Abstract There are only two independent isospin amplitudes for pion-nucleon scattering if isospin is assumed to be a good symmetry. In those cases in which isospin symmetry is broken (but time-reversal symmetry is valid), six more are needed to express an on-shell amplitude and two more to express an off-shell amplitude or potential. An independent set of these operators is constructed and analyzed.
Numerical calculation of nonlinear normal modes in structural systems

This paper presents two methods for numerical calculation of nonlinear normal modes (NNMs) in multi-degree-of-freedom, conservative, nonlinear structural dynamics models. The approaches used are briefly described as follows. Method 1: Starting with small amplitude initial conditions determined by a selected mode of the associated linear system, a small amount of negative damping is added in order to “artificially destabilize” the system; numerical integration of the system equations of motion then produces a simulated response in which orbits spiral outward essentially in the nonlinear modal manifold of interest, approximately generating this manifold for moderate to strong nonlinearity. Method 2: Starting with moderate to large amplitude initial conditions proportional to a selected linear mode shape, perform numerical integration with the coefficient e of the nonlinearity contrived to vary slowly from an initial value of zero; this simulation methodology gradually transforms the initially flat eigenspace for e = 0 into the manifold existing quasi-statically for instantaneous values of e. The two methods are efficient and reasonably accurate and are intended for use in finding NNMs, as well as interesting behavior associated with them, for moderately and strongly nonlinear systems with relatively many degrees of freedom (DOFs).
Material requirements planning with flexible bills-of-material

In conventional Material Requirements Planning (MRP), a Bills-of-Materials (BOM) for products is fixed. If time or quantity as stated in the Master Production Schedule (MPS) is not flexible for the final product, flexible BOM may be introduced to compensate for the inflexibility in the MPS. This paper addresses situations where a flexible BOM could be used to deal with unexpected shortages when using MRP to plan for requirements of dependent demand items. The requirements stated in the MPS are met in a timely manner by allowing the substitution of items for one another in the case of a shortage. A linear programming (LP) formulation is provided to help deal, if possible, with a shortage using the flexibility in the BOM. The LP model identifies a ‘mix’ of lower-level items that satisfy both the reality of shortages and ensure as small a deviation from the default BOM as possible. A detailed example in the food production environment is presented to explain how the flexible BOM concept may be applied.
Craniofacial, limb, and abdominal anomalies in a distinct syndrome: relation to the spectrum of Pfeiffer syndrome type 3.

Presented are 2 patients with abnormal craniofacial region, limbs, and abdomen, features that may be consistent with Pfeiffer syndrome, type 3. Both patients had bicoronal and bisphenoidal synostosis, extreme exophthalmic midface hypoplasia, and hydrocephalus. The limbs had a fixed flexion deformity of the elbows with broad thumbs which were radiopalmarly deviated; the toes were broad with a varus deformity and syndactyly of toes 2–5. Both patients developed bowel obstruction secondary to midgut malrotation, and one of the patients had prune belly syndrome. Review of the literature disclosed an additional patient who, in retrospect, had Pfeiffer syndrome type 3 and midgut malrotation. These patients suggest that intestinal malrotation with or without prune belly syndrome may be a common component of this entity. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Mutations in an Exposed Domain of Sindbis Virus Capsid Protein Result in the Production of Noninfectious Virions and Morphological Variants

Abstract A critical event in the process of Sindbis virus assembly is the interaction of the virus nucleocapsid with the target membrane which has been modified by virus envelope glycoproteins. A specific association between the endodomain of the pE2/E2 glycoprotein and an unidentified domain in the capsid protein is responsible for this association. We have examined the nature of this association by the production of a mutant which has two amino acid substitutions in a domain of the capsid protein known to be exposed on the surface of the assembled nucleocapsid (Ser180/Gly183). These substitutions result in a mutant which is defective in production of infectious virus, especially at low (28°) and high (39.5°) temperatures. Although noninfectious, the mutant virus is as efficient at mediating cell-virus-cell fusion from without as is an equal amount of wild-type virus particles, suggesting that the envelope glycoproteins are functional and that the loss of infectivity may be due to an event after membrane fusion, possibly nucleocapsid uncoating. At low temperature but not high temperature, the mutant produces normal size virus particles ( T = 4) and larger particles with a predicted triangulation number of 7. These data suggest that, at low temperature, the mutant capsid protein may assume two different conformations capable of assembling either T = 4 or T = 7 nucleocapsids.
Central collisions produced by relativistic heavy ions in nuclear emulsion

We have performed an experimental study of the angular and momentum distributions of fragments emitted from central collisions between emulsion nuclei (AgBr) and heavy-ion projectiles /sup 4/He, /sup 1/6O, and /sup 4/0Ar at beam rigidity 5.72 GV. Central collisions are here defined as interactions that exhibit an absence of projectile fragmentation, i.e., no beam-velocity fragments are produced within 5/sup 0/ of the incident beam direction. Production angles have been measured for all fragments having a restricted gain density g > or = 2g/sub min/, corresponding to protons of E < or = 250 MeV. Both range and angle measurements have been made for fragment ranges < or = 4 mm, corresponding to protons of E < or = 31 MeV. The data are analyzed in terms of a modified Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution from which we obtain estimates of the longitudinal velocity ..beta../sub parallel/ and the characteristic spectral volocity ..beta../sub 0/ of the particle-emitting systems. We find that no unique Maxwellian distribution can account for the observed fragment distributions. The angular distributions do not display statistically significant structure attributable to collective phenomena.
Trace elements in human seminal plasma and spermatozoa.

Abstract Methodologies for the analysis of cadmium, copper, iron, lead, selenium and zinc in human seminal plasma and spermatozoa have been developed. Analyses were made directly in a dilution of seminal plasma or nitric acid digest of lyophilized cells using Zeeman-effect atomic absorption spectroscopy. Within-run coefficients of variation (CV's) for pooled specimens ranged from 0.5% to 9%. Between-run CV's ranged from 4% to 13%. Analysis of a seminal plasma specimen at 1 2 , 1, 1 1 2 , 3 1 2 , and 5 hours post emission indicated that no change in seminal plasma trace element concentrations occurred on standing in contact with spermatozoa. Trace element concentrations were determined in specimens from patients undergoing infertility studies.
Antinociceptive effects of monoamine reuptake inhibitors administered alone or in combination with mu opioid agonists in rhesus monkeys

Cocaine, which non-selectively blocks the reuptake of the monoamines serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine, produces weak antinociceptive effects and increases the antinociceptive effects of low- to intermediate-efficacy mu opioid agonists in rhesus monkeys. In the present study, the antinociceptive effects of more selective monoamine reuptake inhibitors administered alone and in combination with mu opioid agonists were evaluated in rhesus monkeys using a warm-water tail-withdrawal assay of thermal nociception. Like cocaine, the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors clomipramine (0.01-3.2 mg/kg) and fluoxetine (0.1-10 mg/kg) produced weak antinociceptive effects. Pretreatment with the serotonin receptor antagonist mianserin (0.032-0.32 mg/kg) produced rightward and downward shifts in the clomipramine dose-effect curve, suggesting that the effects of clomipramine were mediated by serotonin receptors. Combination of clomipramine with the low efficacy mu agonist nalbuphine or the intermediate efficacy mu agonist morphine produced more antinociception than did the mu agonists alone. Fluoxetine also produced a small leftward shift in the morphine dose-effect curve. The selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors nisoxetine (0.1-10 mg/kg) and tomoxetine (0.1-10 mg/kg) and the selective dopamine reuptake inhibitors bupropion (0.032-3.2 mg/kg) and GBR 12909 (0.1-10 mg/kg) did not produce antinociception or increase antinociception induced by nalbuphine or morphine. In fact, GBR 12909 produced dose-dependent allodynia and reduced the maximal antinociceptive effects of morphine. These results suggest that inhibition of serotonin reuptake is sufficient to produce weak antinociceptive effects and enhance the antinociceptive effects of low efficacy mu opioid agonists. These results also suggest that the effects of cocaine on serotonin reuptake may contribute to cocaine's antinociceptive effects in rhesus monkeys.
Rising Powers in the Global Economy: Issues and Questions

Over the past 20 years, social scientists, government officials, and investors have expressed mounting interest in the BRIC countries, which include Brazil, Russia, India, and China. This acronym was originally coined in 2001 by a Goldman Sachs official who was concerned with the increasing role these countries were playing in global finance (Hounshell 2011). Recently, there has been a growing recognition that the effects of the BRICs on the global economy are not limited to finance. It is also clear that these countries are key political actors: all but one of them possess nuclear weapons, they are regional powers, and many observers view China as a potential challenger to the United States in global political-military affairs. Many observers have argued that the BRICs are budding rivals of the United States and the European Union (EU). The purpose of this paper is to identify some key topics and questions stemming from this development, and to discuss some possible avenues for future research on the BRICs. From a conceptual standpoint, some researchers have described the BRICs as middle powers or rising powers in the global economy. At the outset, I will address some issues associated with defining these countries as rising powers. I then discuss whether the existing theoretical literature in the field of international political economy suffices to explain the role of BRICs and whether there is a need for new theories. Finally, I offer a few comments on China, since its rapid growth has stimulated particular interest. ### What Are Rising Powers? The BRIC countries are often referred to as rising powers. However, the existing literature provides surprisingly little guidance on how to assess whether a given state is rising in a substantively important way. One concern expressed by various observers is that the growth of the BRICs will alter or destabilize the existing international …
Development and validation of the Mayo Clinic Bowel Prep Tolerability Questionnaire.

Abstract Background Bowel cleansing is paramount for colonoscopy quality. Unfortunately, an adequate bowel preparation is often limited by side effects and/or patient's intolerance to bowel preparation solutions. Comparisons among different preparations are limited by the lack of validated instruments designed to assess patient's tolerability. Aim To develop and validate a simple, comprehensive instrument to assess bowel preparation tolerability in patients undergoing colonoscopy. Methods Development and validation by phases: Phase I (bibliographic search and questionnaire design); Phase II (assessment of content validity and modification of the questionnaire); Phase III (assessment of reproducibility, final validation, and definitive version of the questionnaire). Results The initial draft of the questionnaire was generated based on a systematic literature review and feedback from a panel of consultants. Content validity was tested in a focus group of 25 patients undergoing colonoscopy. Patients’ suggestions were reviewed by the research team and a second draft of the questionnaire was generated. Final validation and reproducibility were successfully tested (agreement: 86–100%, kappa: 0.77–1.00) in a convenience sample of 100 patients undergoing bowel preparation with different cleansing solutions. Conclusion The Mayo Clinic Bowel Prep Tolerability Questionnaire is a simple, comprehensive instrument suitable to evaluate the tolerability of various types of bowel preparations.
Methylene blue and toluidine blue interfering with the production of respiration-deficient mutants in yeast by acriflavine

Abstract Methylene blue and toluidine blue, which are ineffective to produce respiration-deficient mutants of yeast, counteract the effect of acriflavine in producing the mutants. Magdala red and rhodamine B, which do not produce the mutants by themselves, do not counteract acriflavine.
Microsatellite instability in human solid tumors

BACKGROUND Microsatellite instability (MIN) has been identified in a wide variety of human tumors, both familial and sporadic. In this study the authors attempted to correlate MIN with other biologic parameters to assess the significance of MIN in cancer. METHODS The current literature up to May 1997 was reviewed critically. Comparative assessment and analysis of published MIN data in human solid tumors was addressed. RESULTS Based on review of the current medical literature, the following conclusions can be drawn: 1) MIN associated with inherited mutations of the DNA mismatch repair genes (predominantly hMSH2/hMLH1) appears to characterize only the hereditary nonpolyposis colon carcinoma (HNPCC)/Muir-Torre family cancer syndrome category, and a subset of young colorectal carcinoma patients. Constitutional hMSH2/hMLH1 mutations rarely are reported in other than colon MIN+ tumor types; 2) MIN in non-HNPCC tumors generally is not associated with somatic mutations in the mismatch DNA repair genes most commonly involved in HNPCC; 3) loci of individual chromosomes containing microsatellite markers demonstrating high MIN frequency may be linked to particular tumor types (tumor specific MIN hot spots); 4) the gel banding patterns of MIN observed in noncolon tumors differ significantly from those reported previously in HNPCC; 5) although overall no association between MIN and histopathology is observed in the literature, a statistically higher MIN frequency has been noted in certain tumor subtypes; and 6) MIN in tumors can be associated with early or late stages of tumor progression, and also has been found in nontumor tissues. CONCLUSIONS Molecular diagnosis using MIN analysis has been documented in at least two types of tumors (HNPCC and sporadic bladder carcinoma), suggesting a potential role of MIN in the diagnosis and/or prognosis of other solid human tumors as well. Cancer 1998;82:1808-20. © 1998 American Cancer Society.
Evidence for an Hesperian-aged South Circum-Polar Lake Margin Environment on Mars

A broad pitted plain and an elongated low rise occur near the south pole of Mars between a region of major cavi (Cavi Angusti) and a regionally smooth and broad valley (Argentea Planum). Viking, Mars Global Surveyor (MGS), and Odyssey data reveal a densely pitted plain covering ∼6750 km^2, and containing >300 irregularly shaped, steep-walled and flat-floored depressions with a mean diameter of ∼3.5 km. At the southernmost (poleward) extent of this plain are 12 north/south trending linear valleys that are characterized by theater-shaped heads abutting a major cavi within Cavi Angusti. The pitted plain, which abuts Cavi Angusti to the southwest, is separated from the floor of Argentea Planum by a smooth, elongated low rise that extends parallel to the plain for ∼200 km. These unusual features are all found within the Hesperian-aged circumpolar Dorsa Argentea Formation, which has been interpreted by some workers to be an ice-rich glacier-related deposit. We interpret the pitted plain to represent the maximum northern extent of the Angusti lobe ice deposit. The pits are analogous in morphology and distribution to terrestrial kettle holes, which form from the melting of isolated ice-blocks surrounded and partly buried by sediment, to leave hollows. The linear valleys are consistent with sapping valleys formed from the release of an elevated groundwater table, fed by meltwater lakes. On the basis of these characteristics, relationships and analogs, we interpret the marginal facies to represent an ice-sheet/lake contact environment that existed during Hesperian time.
Comparative treatment of experimental Staphylococcus epidermidis endophthalmitis

• We created experimental Staphylococcus epidermidis endophthalmitis of moderate severity in the aphakic rabbit eye by injecting 100 000 organisms of a standardized laboratory strain (ATCC 155) into the mid-vitreous cavity. This model of endophthalmitis self-sterilizes in about 4 days, but inflammatory signs continue to increase 5 to 7 days after the initial bacterial inoculum. Control eyes were compared with eyes treated with five different strategies 24 hours after bacterial inoculation: intravitreal cefazolin sodium, intravitreal cefazolin plus intramuscular corticosteroid, vitrectomy plus intravitreal antibiotics, vitrectomy plus intravitreal antibiotics and intramuscular corticosteroids, and vitrectomy plus intravitreal antibiotics and corticosteroids. Quantitative grading of inflammation and media clarity were compared at the end of weeks 1, 2, and 3 after treatment. At week 1, eyes treated with vitrectomy had significantly lower inflammatory scores; those treated with corticosteroids had significantly lower scores than those without. The two effects were independent. The best results were observed with treatment consisting of vitrectomy, intraocular antibiotics, and corticosteriods. This strategy also produced significantly more eyes with clear media at the end of week 3 than treatment with intravitreal antibiotics alone.
Autologous retro-pubic urethral sling: a novel, quick, intra-operative technique to improve continence after robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy

After radical prostatectomy, many men may suffer from urinary incontinence, which can have detrimental effects on quality of life. We describe a novel technique using an autologous retro-pubic urethral sling placed at the time of robotic-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RALP) and evaluate its impact on post-operative urinary continence. During 2011, 153 men who underwent sling placement at the time of RALP at a high-volume academic institution were compared to 78 men who did not undergo sling placement. The primary outcomes were time to one and no pads per day. The association between these outcomes and placement of a sling was assessed using Cox proportional hazards regression. Median follow-up was 26 weeks in those who had slings and 32.5 weeks in those who did not. Clinical and pathological characteristics were similar between the groups, with the exception that sling patients were older (p < 0.01) and underwent less nerve sparing (p < 0.01). Multivariate analysis showed that sling placement did not appear to have an effect on time to one (p = 0.24) or no pads per day (p = 0.20). Although the association between sling placement and early return of urinary continence did not reach statistical significance, there was a selection bias against the sling, since it was placed in men who were expected to have more difficulty regaining their continence. A randomized trial is needed to assess the true benefit of sling placement on urinary continence.
Reply to “Is mismatch repair really required for ionizing radiation–induced DNA damage signaling?”

Reply to “Is mismatch repair really required for ionizing radiation–induced DNA damage signaling?”
The effect of volume conductor modeling on the estimation of cardiac vectors in fetal magnetocardiography

Previous studies based on fetal magnetocardiographic (fMCG) recordings used simplified volume conductor models to estimate the fetal cardiac vector as an unequivocal measure of the cardiac source strength. However, the effect of simplified volume conductor modeling on the accuracy of the fMCG inverse solution remains largely unknown. Aiming to determine the sensitivity of the source estimators to the details of the volume conductor model, we performed simulations using fetal-maternal anatomical information from ultrasound images obtained in 20 pregnant women in various stages of pregnancy. The magnetic field produced by a cardiac source model was computed using the boundary-element method for a piecewise homogeneous volume conductor with three nested compartments (fetal body, amniotic fluid and maternal abdomen) of different electrical conductivities. For late gestation, we also considered the case of a fourth highly insulating layer of vernix caseosa covering the fetus. The errors introduced for simplified volume conductors were assessed by comparing the reconstruction results obtained with realistic versus spherically symmetric models. Our study demonstrates the significant effect of simplified volume conductor modeling, resulting mainly in an underestimation of the cardiac vector magnitude and low goodness-of-fit. These findings are confirmed by the analysis of real fMCG data recorded in mid-gestation.
Modeling of Ion Current Signal in Diesel Combustion

Ionization in internal combustion engines produces a signal indicative of in-cylinder conditions that can be used for the feedback electronic control of the engine, to meet production goals in performance, fuel economy and emissions. Most of the research has been conducted on carbureted and port injection spark ignition engines where the ionization mechanisms are well defined. A limited number of investigations have been conducted on ionization in diesel engines because of its complex combustion process.In this study, a detailed ionization mechanism is developed and introduced in a 3-D diesel cycle simulation computational fluid dynamics (CFD) code to determine the contribution of different species in the ionization process at different engine operating conditions. The CFD code is coupled with DARS-CFD, another module used to allow chemical kinetics calculations. The three-dimensional model accounts for the heterogeneity of the charge and the resulting variations in the combustion products. Furthermore, the model shows the effects of varying fuel injection pressure and engine load on the ion current signal characteristics. Ion current traces obtained experimentally from a heavy duty diesel engine were compared to the 3-D model results. The results of the simulation indicate that some heavy hydrocarbons, soot precursors play a major role, in addition to the role of NOx in ionization in diesel combustion.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
Corticosterone alters 5-HT1A receptor-mediated hyperpolarization in area CA1 hippocampal pyramidal neurons

The 5-hydroxytryptamine 1A (5-HT 1A ) receptor in the CA1 region of the hippocampus is linked through a G protein to an inwardly rectifying potassium conductance. Activation of the 5-HT 1A receptor results in a membrane hyperpolarization and decreases neuronal firing rate. The hippocampus contains a high concentration of the mineralocorticoid (MR) and glucocorticoid (GR) corticosterone (CT) receptor subtypes. Some laboratories have reported that CT modulates 5-HT 1A receptor binding density and mRNA levels in area CA1 of the hippocampus; however, others have reported no change. Previous electrophysiological studies have demonstrated that acute (1 to 4 hour) MR activation in slices from adrenalectomized (ADX) rats attenuates the 5-HT 1A receptor-mediated hyperpolarization, while acute MR + GR or GR activation alone did not alter the 5-HT 1A response. Our results confirm that the 5-HT 1A response was attenuated 2 to 8 hours following MR activation. However, we found that GR activation alone decreased the potency, but not the maximal response to 5-HT. Chronic (2-week) treatment with basal levels of CT did not alter the 5-HT 1A response. Administration of high concentrations of CT in vitro to neurons from chronically treated ADX rats decreased the magnitude of the 5-HT 1A receptor-mediated hyperpolarization. We conclude that the 5-HT 1A receptor-effector system in CA1 hippocampal pyramidal neurons is modulated by CT in a dose- and time-dependent manner.
The “good” and the “bad” of spiritual leadership

This paper develops and presents a spiritual contingency model of spiritual leadership that includes spiritual leadership characteristics such as follower’s feelings of interconnectedness, religious or existential faith, and leader charisma along with such boundary conditions and contingencies (moderators) as narcissism, pro-social motivation to lead, follower perceptions of leader integrity (ethics), and perceived organizational support. In exploring these contingency factors, the paper also examines the potential “dark side” of spiritual leadership and concludes with implications for future research and managerial practice as suggested by the model.
New collective mode and corrections to Fermi-liquid theory in two dimensions.

We study a two-dimensional Fermi gas with an arbitrary short-range repulsive interaction. We show that the vertex part has an unusual singularity in the particle-particle channel for all momenta q2${\mathit{k}}_{\mathit{F}}$, which is not found in higher dimensions. We interpret this as a collective mode representing a bound excitation of two holes. This mode, however, does not lead to an instability, or to a breakdown of Fermi-liquid theory in the low-density limit. The resulting Fermi-surface phase shift vanishes, and a \ensuremath{\Vert}\ensuremath{\omega}${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Vert}}}^{5/2}$ correction to \ensuremath{\Sigma}''(${\mathit{k}}_{\mathit{F}}$,\ensuremath{\omega}) is obtained. The 2D case is also contrasted with a similar calculation in 1D.
Can modern nuclear Hamiltonians tolerate a bound tetraneutron

I show that it does not seem possible to change modern nuclear Hamiltonians to bind a tetraneutron without destroying many other successful predictions of those Hamiltonians. This means that, should a recent experimental claim of a bound tetraneutron be confirmed, our understanding of nuclear forces will have to be significantly changed. I also point out some errors in previous theoretical studies of this problem.
Relations between capillary dimensions and transmural pressure in the turtle lung

Abstract The interalveolar capillaries of the turtle lung were treated as a vascular sheet. Dimensional changes in the vascular sheet with transmural pressure were examined in the most vascular portion (anterior and medial segments) of the lung. The sheet thickness increased with transmural pressure by an average value of 0.082 μm·cm H 2 O −1 , but the vascular density (proportion of alveolar surface area occupied by capillaries) did not change. The compliant behaviour of the interalveolar capillaries is compared with respiratory capillaries in other vertebrates and is discussed in terms of its potential effect on pulmonary blood flow.
Efficient reuse and integration at NASA - Its not just the technology

Let's just all go to Service Oriented Architectures, have everyone follow our group's data formats, and make sure all new systems share my system's requirements. I'll build the best system with the latest technologies and use it for everything we do. Imagine how high our scores will be for reuse percentage and for integration time when the metrics team completes their assessment.
Learning to Walk by Imitation in Low-Dimensional Subspaces

In this paper, we provide the first demonstration that a humanoid robot can learn to walk directly by imitating a human gait obtained from motion capture (mocap) data without any prior information of its dynamics model. Programming a humanoid robot to perform an action (such as walking) that takes into account the robot's complex dynamics is a challenging problem. Traditional approaches typically require highly accurate prior knowledge of the robot's dynamics and environment in order to devise complex (and often brittle) control algorithms for generating a stable dynamic motion. Training using human mocap is an intuitive and flexible approach to programming a robot, but direct usage of mocap data usually results in dynamically unstable motion. Furthermore, optimization using high-dimensional mocap data in the humanoid full-body joint space is typically intractable. We propose a new approach to tractable imitation-based learning in humanoids without a robot's dynamic model. We represent kinematic informati...
Effect of o,p'DDD on Human Adrenal Steroid llβ-Hydroxylation Activity

Plasma levels of cortisol, corticosterone, deoxycortisol, deoxycorticosterone, 17OH-progesterone and progesterone were measured in a group of patients with untreated Cushing's disease and compared to levels in a similar group of patients with Cushing's disease while under treatment with the adrenalytic agent o,p'DDD. A significant increase of the deoxycortisol/cortisol and the deoxycorticosterone/corticosterone ratios was found indicating that o,p'DDD inhibits llβ-hydroxylation activity. Evidence for inhibition of adrenal 17α and 21-hydroxylation systems was not found.
Alkylation and silylation of directed enolates from diethylketene and organometallic reagents

Abstract Diethylketene and organometallic reagents form enolates capturable by methyl iodide or trimethylsilyl chloride with greater than 95% positional selectivity.
“Sanctified Snake Oil”: Ideology, Junk Science, and Social Work Practice:

This article explores the pervasiveness of the form of junk science known as advocacy statistics, and its danger to the practice of social work. Using domestic violence statistics as exemplars, the article documents how misinterpretation and refusal to believe data that does not conform to ideology can lead to inaccurate assessments, faulty treatment recommendations, and misallocation of resources. Such practice, which clearly violates the NASW Code of Ethics, reflects poorly on the profession and, most significantly, makes it impossible to understand the true nature of the problem.
Using the gene ontology to enrich biological pathways

Most current approaches to automatic pathway generation are based on a reverse engineering approach in which pathway plausibility is solely derived from gene expression data and not independently validated. Alternative approaches use prior biological knowledge to validate automatically inferred pathways, but the prior knowledge is usually not sufficiently tuned to the pathology of focus. We present a novel pathway generation approach that combines insights from the reverse engineering and knowledge-based approaches to increase the biological plausibility of automatically generated regulatory networks and describe an application of this approach to transcriptional data from a mouse model of neuroprotection during stroke.
Web content adaptation to improve server overload behavior

Abstract This paper presents a study of Web content adaptation to improve server overload performance, as well as an implementation of a Web content adaptation software prototype. When the request rate on a Web server increases beyond server capacity, the server becomes overloaded and unresponsive. The TCP listen queue of the server's socket overflows exhibiting a drop-tail behavior. As a result, clients experience service outages. Since clients typically issue multiple requests over the duration of a session with the server, and since requests are dropped indiscriminately, all clients connecting to the server at overload are likely to experience connection failures, even though there may be enough capacity on the server to deliver all responses properly for a subset of clients. In this paper, we propose to resolve the overload problem by adapting delivered content to load conditions to alleviate overload. The premise is that successful delivery of a less resource intensive content under overload is more desirable to clients than connection rejection or failures. The paper suggests the feasibility of content adaptation from three different viewpoints; (a) potential for automating content adaptation with minimal involvement of the content provider, (b) ability to achieve sufficient savings in resource requirements by adapting present-day Web content while preserving adequate information, and (c) feasibility to apply content adaptation technology on the Web with no modification to existing Web servers, browsers or the HTTP protocol.
The human uterine smooth muscle S-nitrosoproteome fingerprint in pregnancy, labor, and preterm labor

Molecular mechanisms involved in uterine quiescence during gestation and those responsible for induction of labor at term are incompletely known. More than 10% of babies born worldwide are prematur...
Longitudinal strength of ships with accidental damages

This paper presents an investigation of the longitudinal strength of ships with damages due to grounding or collision accidents. Analytical equations are derived for the residual hull girder strength and verified with direct calculations of sample commercial ships for a broad spectrum of accidents. Hull girder ultimate strengths of these sample vessels under sagging and hogging conditions are also calculated, based on which correlation equations are proposed. To evaluate a grounded ship, using the section modulus to the deck would be optimistic, while using the section modulus to the bottom would be conservative. On the contrary, to evaluate a collided ship, using the section modulus to the deck would be conservative, while using the section modulus to the bottom would be optimistic. The derived analytical formulae are then applied to a fleet of 67 commercial ships, including 21 double hull tankers, 18 bulk carriers, 22 single hull tankers and six container carriers. The mean values, standard deviations and coefficients of variation for the coefficients in these new analytical formulae are obtained. The ship length exhibits little influence on these coefficients because they are close to the mean values although ship length spans from 150 to 400 m. The ship type shows some influence on the residual strength. Uniform equations are proposed for commercial ships which do not depend on a ship's principal dimensions. These formulae provide very handy tools for predicting the residual strength in seconds, without performing step-by-step detailed calculations, an obvious advantage in cases of emergency or salvage operation.
Polyelectrolyte precipitation of β-galactosidase fusions containing poly-aspartic acid tails

Abstract Protein recovery from industrial microbial processes can be very expensive, often exceeding the cost of protein production. We have genetically engineered 3 β-galactosidase (β-gal) fusion proteins containing poly-aspartic acid tails to test the effect of the tails on recovery by the relatively inexpensive method of polyelectrolyte precipitation. The fusion proteins, designated T1, T2, and T3, were constructed with C-terminal tails of 5, 11, and 16 aspartic acid residues, respectively. The fusion proteins were expressed in Escherichia coli, and purified by affinity chromatography. T1 and T2 had specific activities similar to that of wildtype β-gal, whereas the specific activity of T3 was about half that of T1 and T2. The increased net charge of the fusion proteins compared to wildtype β-gal was indicated both by ion-exchange chromatography and their migration pattern in non-denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. All three tails enhanced polyethyleneimine (PEI) precipitation of the fusion proteins compared to wildtype β-gal. At a low PEI/protein ratio (0.01, g g−1), recovery by precipitation of T2 and T3 was more than 2 × that of the β-gal control, whereas that of T1 was only slightly greater than that of the control. At a higher PEI/protein ratio (0.03, g g−1) the amount of precipitation of all three fusion proteins was nearly the same, about 1.5 × that of the control.
Lensless fluorescent on-chip microscopy using a fiber-optic taper

We demonstrate a lensfree on-chip fluorescent microscopy platform that can image fluorescently labeled cells over −60 mm2 field-of-view with 5-fold higher density of fiber-optic waveguides in its top facet compared to the bottom facet. For excitation, an incoherent light source (e.g., a simple light emitting diode — LED) is used to pump fluorescent objects through a glass hemi-sphere interface. Upon interacting with the entire sample volume, the excitation light is rejected by total internal reflection process occurring at the bottom of the sample substrate. Fluorescent emission from the objects is then collected by the smaller facet of the tapered faceplate and is delivered to a detector-array with an image magnification of ∼2.4X. A compressive sampling based decoding algorithm is used for sparse signal recovery, which further increases the space-bandwidth-product of our lensfree on-chip fluorescent imager. We validated the performance of this lensfree imaging platform using fluorescent micro-particles as well as labeled water-borne parasites (e.g., Giardia Muris cysts). Such a compact and wide-field fluorescent microscopy platform could be valuable for cytometry and rare cell imaging applications as well as for micro array research.
Facies Relationships of Sespe and Alegria Formations, Santa Barbara County, California: ABSTRACT

The stratigraphic relation between the Sespe and Alegria formations consist of a gradual facies change from the terrestrial environment of the Sespe to the marine environment of the Alegria. Detailed columnar sections show the gross lithologic members within the two formations. Individual members lose their identity laterally over the relatively short distance of approximately a mile or less, with changes in lithology, texture and color, or a combination of these, and exhibit much End_Page 132------------------------------ thinning, wedging and grading. The major lithologic units recognized within the two formations consist largely of cobble and pebble conglomerate, fine-, medium- and coarse-grained sandstone, siltstone, and mudstone. The red pigment (Fe2O3) which colors several members within the Sespe and Alegria formations is dispersed throughout the clay complex of the finer-grained sediments. The rapid burial of these sediments before alteration has thus preserved much of the original red coloration. The presence of organic matter at the site of deposition caused reduction and the initially red sediments transformed into drab-colored deposits. End_of_Article - Last_Page 133------------
History of “Rainmaking”

Thirteen years after he worked with Irving Langmuir on the project that won the Nobel Prize for chemistry, Vincent J. Schaefer filled an ordinary home freezer, supercooled well below freezing, with the moisture from his breath. He then dropped a crystal of dry ice into the freezer and produced snowflakes. This first success in the history of cloudseeding research led to Project Cirrus, a 6-year study conducted at the General Electric Company Research Laboratory in Schenectady, New York. The story of the project is told in a recently published book, Early History of Cloud Seeding.
Low temperature melting curve of He3

Measurements of the melting curve of He3 have been made from 3 m° K to 40 m° K, after cooling the liquid-solid He3 mixture by the adiabatic solidification method. The slope of the melting curve shows that at the lowest temperature there is a substantial departure of the solid He3 entropy fromR ln 2. This effect is due to nuclear spin ordering. Temperatures below 3 m° K were obtained during compression. By theoretically estimating the melting curve below 3 m° K it is possible to estimate temperatures from pressure measurements. By such means it is estimated that Kelvin temperatures of 1.5 to 2 m° K were actually achieved.
Characterization of the lung Krüppel-like transcription factor gene and upstream regulatory elements.

Abstract We previously described the isolation and characterization of the cDNA for lung Kruppel-like factor (LKLF), a zinc finger transcription factor that is predominately expressed in the lung of adult mice. In this study, we report the complete structure and nucleotide sequence of the mouse LKLF gene, which is comprised of three exons and two small introns. Moreover, the identification of critical sequence elements required for expression is described using reporter constructs with the LKLF promoter transfected into LA-4 lung cells. Results from these constructs reveal an important region for transcriptional activity that lies between the −490/−72 bp upstream sequence. This region contains two canonical Sp1 binding sites that affect expression levels in a non tissue-specific manner. In addition, using a base-pair mutagenesis strategy, a region from −157/−72 bp was found to be necessary for upregulating expression. In transfection assays, mutations of the −138/−111 bp region resulted in approximately 70–80% loss of promoter activity. This cis -element does not appear to correspond to any known transcription factor consensus sequence. Moreover, mutations within this cis -region disrupt the binding of a protein complex from nuclear extracts of various tissues.
Prepregnancy body mass index and pregnancy outcome

Abstract Objective: We sought to examine the effect of prepregnancy body mass index (BMI) on pregnancy outcome. Methods: A cohort of high-risk women with singleton gestations who gave birth between October 1995 and July 2000 were divided into four BMI subgroups based on prepregnancy weight (kg/m 2 ): lean ( 2 . Results: Using the normal BMI group as reference, associations that were found are shown in the table (all odds ratio (OR) P 1 . n = Normal Lean Overweight Obese 11,886 6,135 4,189 2,221 Preterm birth (PTB) 39.2 42.6, 1.09 39.4, 1.01 39.6, 1.01 ( Cesarean delivery 21.8 18.2, 0.83 25.5, 1.17 31.0, 1.42 Small for gestational age (SGA) 1 3.0 4.6, 1.56 2.4, 0.79 2.7, 0.90 Large for gestational age (LGA) 1 15.6 8.9, 0.57 21.1, 1.35 24.5, 1.56 1 Brenner. Conclusion: Compared with normal women, lean women are at increased risk for having an SGA infant. Overweight and obese women are at increased risk for having an LGA infant and a cesarean delivery. Preterm birth rates are similar regardless of BMI before pregnancy.
Material removal regions in chemical mechanical planarization for submicron integrated circuit fabrication: coupling effects of slurry chemicals, abrasive size distribution,and wafer-pad contact area

A material removal rate (MRR) model as a function of abrasive weight concentration has been proposed for chemical mechanical planarization/polishing (CMP) by extending a material removal model developed earlier in 2001 and 2002. With an increase of the weight concentration of abrasives, three regions of material removal exist: a chemically dominant and rapid increasing region, a mechanically dominant linear region, and a mechanically dominant saturation region. A detailed model is proposed to explain that the transition from the first to the second region is due to a transition from a wafer surface covered with a single soft material to a surface covered with both soft and hard materials. The slope of the linear region is a function of abrasive size distribution, and the saturation removal rate is a function of abrasive size distribution and wafer-pad contact area. The model can help to clarify the roles of chemicals, wafer-pad contact area, and abrasive size distribution in CMP.
Optical Properties Of Human Aorta During Low Power Argon Laser Irradiation

The optical properties of human aorta were measured during low power argon laser irradiation (~100 mW/mm2) . The delta-Eddington optical model was iterated to determine the optical properties. The results indicated that the transport albedo was nearly constant (-0.96) until the onset of tissue charring, after which it decreased quickly. The optical depth gradually declined (after an abrupt initial increase) until tissue charring when it dropped sharply. The anisotropy dropped initially and increased linearly with time of exposure.