cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Fragrance material review on 1-spiro[4.5]dec-7-en-7-yl-4-pent-1-one

Abstract A toxicologic and dermatologic review of 1-spiro[4.5]dec-7-en-7-yl-4-pent-1-one when used as a fragrance ingredient is presented. 1-Spiro[4.5]dec-7-en-7-yl-4-pent-1-one is a member of the fragrance structural group Alkyl Cyclic Ketones. These fragrances can be described as being composed of an alkyl, R 1 , and various substituted and bicyclic saturated or unsaturated cyclic hydrocarbons, R 2 , in which one of the rings may include up to 12 carbons. Alternatively, R 2 may be a carbon bridge of C2–C4 carbon chain length between the ketone and cyclic hydrocarbon. This review contains a detailed summary of all published and unpublished toxicology and dermatology papers that are related to this individual fragrance ingredient and is not intended as a stand-alone document. Available data for 1-spiro[4.5]dec-7-en-7-yl-4-pent-1-one were evaluated then summarized and includes acute toxicity, skin irritation, mucous membrane (eye) irritation, skin sensitization, phototoxicity, photoallergy, repeated dose, and genotoxicity data. A safety assessment of the entire Alkyl Cyclic Ketones will be published simultaneously with this document; please refer to Belsito et al. (2013) for an overall assessment of the safe use of this material and all Alkyl Cyclic Ketones in fragrances.
In Silico Functional Pathway Annotation of 86 Established Prostate Cancer Risk Variants

Heritability is one of the strongest risk factors of prostate cancer, emphasizing the importance of the genetic contribution towards prostate cancer risk. To date, 86 established prostate cancer risk variants have been identified by genome-wide association studies (GWAS). To determine if these risk variants are located near genes that interact together in biological networks or pathways contributing to prostate cancer initiation or progression, we generated gene sets based on proximity to the 86 prostate cancer risk variants. We took two approaches to generate gene lists. The first strategy included all immediate flanking genes, up- and downstream of the risk variant, regardless of distance from the index variant, and the second strategy included genes closest to the index GWAS marker and to variants in high LD (r2 ≥0.8 in Europeans) with the index variant, within a 100 kb window up- and downstream. Pathway mapping of the two gene sets supported the importance of the androgen receptor-mediated signaling in prostate cancer biology. In addition, the hedgehog and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathways were identified in pathway mapping for the flanking gene set. We also used the HaploReg resource to examine the 86 risk loci and variants high LD (r2 ≥0.8) for functional elements. We found that there was a 12.8 fold (p = 2.9 x 10-4) enrichment for enhancer motifs in a stem cell line and a 4.4 fold (p = 1.1 x 10-3) enrichment of DNase hypersensitivity in a prostate adenocarcinoma cell line, indicating that the risk and correlated variants are enriched for transcriptional regulatory motifs. Our pathway-based functional annotation of the prostate cancer risk variants highlights the potential regulatory function that GWAS risk markers, and their highly correlated variants, exert on genes. Our study also shows that these genes may function cooperatively in key signaling pathways in prostate cancer biology.
Hydrogen Exposure Effects on Pt/Al2O3 Catalysts Coated with Thiolate Monolayers

Diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS) was used to examine the effect of thermal treatment of self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) produced from various thiols (1-hexanethiol, 1-decanethiol, 1-octadecanethiol, 1,6-hexanedithiol, 1,10-decanedithiol, 1,2-benzenedithiol) on a 5 wt % Pt/Al2O3 catalyst. Catalysts were characterized during heating and cooling between 290 and 553 K in both the presence and absence of H2. Overall, the behavior of thiols on Pt/Al2O3 in an inert He environment was similar to the behavior reported in other works on Au, although in the case of the Pt catalyst, C–H bond dissociation in the thiols was apparent at high temperatures. Under H2 flow, however, markedly different behavior was observed; in particular, conformational order was observed to increase with increasing temperature, up to temperatures as high as 500 K for octadecanethiol-coated catalysts. The effects of H2 exposure are much less pronounced for alkanedithiol-coated catalysts. 1,2-Benzenedithi...
Mathematical Model of Bubble Sloshing Dynamics for Cryogenic Liquid Helium in Orbital Spacecraft Dewar Container

A generalized mathematical model is investigated of sloshing dynamics for dewar containers, partially filled with a liquid of cryogenic superfluid helium 2, driven by both gravity gradient and jitter accelerations applicable to two types of scientific spacecrafts, which are eligible to carry out spinning motion and/or slew motion to perform scientific observations during normal spacecraft operation. Two examples are given for the Gravity Probe-B (GP-B) with spinning motion, and the Advanced X-Ray Astrophysics Facility-Spectroscopy (AXAF-S) with slew motion, which are responsible for the sloshing dynamics. Explicit mathematical expressions for the modelling of sloshing dynamics to cover these forces acting on the spacecraft fluid systems are derived. The numerical computation of sloshing dynamics will be based on the noninertial frame spacecraft bound coordinate, and we will solve the time-dependent three-dimensional formulations of partial differential equations subject to initial and boundary conditions. Explicit mathematical expressions of boundary conditions lo cover capillary force effects on the liquid-vapor interface in microgravity environments are also derived. Results of the simulations of the mathematical model are illustrated.
The status of lepista—a new section of clitocybe

The genus Lepista (Tricholomataceae, Agaricales) is discussed in relation to Clitocybe, and evidence is presented to warrant a transfer of the species of Lepista to Clitocybe. A new section, sect. Verruculosae, is proposed in Clitocybe to accommodate these species and several other Clitocybes with ornamented spores. New taxa proposed are: Clitocybe subalpina, C. tarda var. alcalina, C. pseudoirina, C. irina var. luteospora. New combinations proposed are: C. panaeoliformis var. panaeoliformis and var. westii, C. densifolia, C. praemagna, C. nuda, C. glaucocana, C. saeva, C. graveolens. One nomen novum, Clitocybe fasiculata, is proposed for Lepista caespitosa (Bresadola) Singer. Eighteen species and three varieties are treated with a key to taxa and a complete description of each.
Waiting to be born: the ethical implications of the generation of "NUBorn" and "NUAge" mice from pre-pubertal ovarian tissue.

Oncofertility is one of the 9 NIH Roadmap Initiatives, federal grants intended to explore previously intractable questions, and it describes a new field that exists in the liminal space between cancer treatment and its sequelae, IVF clinics and their yearning, and basic research in cell growth, biomaterials, and reproductive science and its tempting promises. Cancer diagnoses, which were once thought universally fatal, now often entail management of a chronic disease. Yet the therapies are rigorous, must start immediately, and in many cases result in premature failure of the body's reproductive ability. In women, this loss is especially poignant; unlike the routine storage of sperm, which is done in men and boys facing similar treatment decisions, freezing oocytes in anticipation of fertility loss is not possible in most cases, and creating an embryo within days of diagnosis raises significant moral, social and medical challenges. Oncofertility is the study of how to harvest ovarian tissue in women facing...
Inertial mass of a moving singularity in a Fermi superfluid.

The authors consider the problem of the inertial mass of vortex lines and related singularities in both neutral and charged s-wave Fermi superfluids at T = O, taking into account the difference between amplitude and phase motion, Fermi liquid effects and electromagnetic screening. Their results are consistant with earlier estimates as regards order of magnitude, but differ from them in detail.
Chronic Carotid Sinus Compression in Dogs: A Study of Hemodynamic Changes with and without Sinus Denervation

In two groups of dogs the carotid sinuses were chronically compressed bilaterally by the application of plastic Wakerlin clamps. In the first series of three dogs, the carotid sinus nerves were sectioned and the adjacent vessel walls thoroughly cleaned. Chronic carotid sinus compression resulted in an increase in arterial systolic pressure, diastolic pressure, average arterial pressure, pulse pressure, and heart rate over a period of 422 to 485 days. In the second series of five dogs, in which the carotid sinus innervation was preserved, chronic carotid sinus compression resulted in a variable but slight change in arterial systolic pressure, a consistent increase in diastolic pressure, a variable but slight change in average arterial pressure--with only one dog showing a consistent significant increase, a consistent decrease in pulse pressure, and a variable effect on heart rate over a period of 593 to 695 days. The daily administration of 6 Gm. of sodium chloride per day to the second series of dogs resulted in no appreciable changes in pressure. However, there was a tendency for the heart rate to decrease, with three dogs showing a significant decrease. When the salt administration was stopped, the heart rates returned to values near those observed prior to salt administration. The results suggest that in the first series of dogs, with the carotid sinuses denervated chronically, there is an increase in cardiac output and a decrease in peripheral resistance. In the second series of dogs, with innervation of the sinuses intact and with chronic compression, the results suggest a decrease in cardiac output and an increase in peripheral resistance.
Androgens Promote Maturation and Signaling in Mouse Oocytes Independent of Transcription: A Release of Inhibition Model for Mammalian Oocyte Meiosis

Normal fertility in females depends upon precise regulation of oocyte meiosis. Oocytes are arrested in prophase I of meiosis until just before ovulation, when meiosis, or maturation, is triggered to resume. Whereas sex steroids appear to promote maturation in fish and amphibians, the factors regulating mammalian oocyte maturation have remained obscure. We show here that, similar to lower vertebrates, steroids may play a role in promoting the release of meiotic inhibition in mammals. Specifically, testosterone induced maturation of mouse oocytes arrested in meiosis, as well as activation of MAPK and cyclin-dependent kinase 1 signaling. These responses appeared to be transcription independent and might involve signaling through classical androgen receptors expressed in the oocytes. Our results are the first to show that sex steroids can modulate meiosis in mammalian oocytes and suggest a model whereby dominant ovarian follicles in mammals may produce sufficient androgen and/or other steroids to overcome constitutive inhibitory signals and allow oocyte maturation and subsequent ovulation to occur.
Influence of oral contraceptives on breast diseases

Three sources of information are available pertaining to the effect of oral contraceptive hormones on the breast: 1) toxicity experiments in animals; 2) histologic examinations of breast tissue from women taking hormones; and 3) epidemiologic studies of women using hormones. Animals treated with hormones at doses equivalent to the human contraceptive level have not developed cancer of the breast at a greater than expected frequency. Monkeys, the one experimental animal with a reproductive cycle similar to humans, have not developed cancer during long-term hormone administration except for a single animal which likely represents a chance occurrence. In humans, histologic studies of breast tissue have failed to identify abnormalities which could be attributed to hormones with rare exceptions of secretory change indistinguishable from normal lactating breast. Epidemiologic studies have usually shown a decreased frequency of benign breast disease and neither an increase nor a decrease in carcinoma of the breast. The one exception to the latter statement is a possible increased risk of cancer in long-term users who have had previous surgery for benign breast disease.
A statistical approach to predictive detection

Abstract Service providers typically define quality of service problems using threshold tests, such as “Are HTTP operations greater than 12 per second on server XYZ?” Herein, we estimate the probability of threshold violations for specific times in the future. We model the threshold metric (e.g., HTTP operations per second) at two levels: (1) non-stationary behavior (as is done in workload forecasting for capacity planning) and (2) stationary, time-serial dependencies. Our approach is assessed using simulation experiments and measurements of a production Web server. For both assessments, the probabilities of threshold violations produced by our approach lie well within two standard deviations of the measured fraction of threshold violations.
Latent variable probit ANCOVA: treatment effects in the California Civil Addict Programme.

An ANCOVA model is formulated for two non-equivalent groups, experimentals and controls. The response variable of interest is a continuous latent variable construct, measured by four dichotomous variables. Estimation and testing draws on methodology of Muthen (1984). The modelling is carried out on data from the California Civil Addict Programme, studying treatment effects related to drug abuse, employment, crime and incarceration.
Multivalent Recognition: Between Fixity and Fluidity in Identity Politics

Critics have charged the politics of recognition with producing fixed conceptions of collective identities that reinforce hierarchical relations within and between identity groups; some conclude that marginalized groups should forgo recognition politics. I assess both criticism and conclusion in light of black Americans’ recognition movements. Focusing on the underappreciated cultural dimension of recognition politics, I differentiate between two variants of the politics of recognition—a “politics of monovalent recognition” that presents black identity as having a single definitive positive content and a “politics of multivalent recognition” that revalues blackness by drawing attention to diverse ways of being black. A politics of multivalent recognition that stretches the symbolic boundaries of black identity while maintaining its importance constitutes a third way between essentialism and deconstruction. Such a politics has an important role to play in addressing the problematic consequences of monovale...
Physical activity, functional limitations, and the risk of fall-related fractures in community-dwelling elderly

This case-control study examines the association of vigorous and mild physical activity with fall-related fractures in a community-dwelling population age 65 and older in South Florida. Vigorous physical activity was defined as exercising, doing heavy housecleaning, or other hard labor three or more times per week in the month prior to the index date; mild physical activity was defined as the number of hours per day subjects reported spending on their feet. A case was any subject who sustained a fall-related fracture (ICD-9CM-800 through ICD-9CM-829) over a 21-month period (n = 471). Controls were at 10% random sample selected from the Health Care Financing Administration Medicare files (n = 712). The presence of any limitation in activities of daily living (ADL) significantly modified the effect of vigorous physical activity. Physically active subjects with no limitations (ADL = 0) were less likely to sustain a fall-related fracture than were inactive subjects with an adjusted odds ratio (aOR) of 0.6, (0.5-0.8 95% CI), and active subjects with any limitation (ADL > or = 1) had an aOR of 3.2 (1.1-9.8 95% CI). Limiting this analysis to 159 hip fracture cases produced similar results. Mild physical activity was not associated with fracture. These results suggest that vigorous physical activity is associated with a lower fracture risk among elderly persons who have no limitation in ADL and with a higher risk among those with any limitations.
Studies on "mosaic fungus".

The so-called “mosaic fungus” is a frequent finding in the routine examinations of skin scrapings for superficial pathogenic fungi. It may be found alone or with regular mycelium, with arthrospores or with both. There is, as yet, no agreement as to the nature of the “mosaic fungus,” and the investigators may be separated into two groups-those who claim that the structure is an artefact (1-4) and those who regard it as definitely related to the presence of dermatophytes (5-7).
Differential UWB Communications With Digital Multicarrier Modulation

As a high-rate alternative of impulse radio (IR) ultrawideband (UWB) communications, analog and digital multicarrier UWB radios with coherent detection have been introduced. In this paper, we investigate digital multicarrier differential (MCD) modulation and demodulation schemes for UWB communications. In our approach, the differential encoding and decoding are carried out across multiple digital carriers in the frequency domain. Hence, channel estimation is bypassed by using neighboring carriers as reference carriers. Compared with the transmitted reference TR-UWB which relies on delaying and correlating the received signal segments in time domain, our MCD-UWB avoids the need for analog delay elements. In addition, our digital-carrier based approach does not incur any spectrum expansion. We also show that our approach enables variable data rates, and remains operational even in the presence of severe interframe interference (IFI). In addition, the small spacing between differentially encoded carriers ensures that the data rate is not limited by the channel coherence bandwidth. Furthermore, our schemes are flexible in providing variable-rate transmissions. Simulations are also carried out to corroborate our theoretical analysis.
Steady-state creep of alloys due to viscous motion of dislocations☆

Abstract The creep process due to atmosphere dragging-controlled glide and climb of dislocations has been modelled. The resulting dislocation density and creep rate at the steady-state showed fair agreement with the experimental results on Class I alloys.
Effects of Nb-Alloying on High-Temperature Oxidation of MoSi_2

The e ects of alloying with 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 at.% Nb on oxidation resistance of MoSi2 are investigated at temperature range of 1400 ◦C 1700 ◦C. Rapid formation of a stable protective layer of silica resulted in a parabolic oxidation rate. The oxide layer thickness and the sample weight increased with increasing oxidation time. Impurities accelerated oxidation rate of MoSi2 only slightly, however, did not a ect the rate controlling mechanism for oxidation. There was no correlation between oxidation rate and the amount of impurity. The values of activation energies for oxidation of pure MoSi2 and Nb-alloyed samples were similar to activation energy for di usion of O2 through silica. Di usion of O2 through the oxide scale remained the rate controlling mechanism with or without Nb impurity.
Striving for survival and success: Chinese private higher education in the twenty‐first century

Purpose – This general review paper aims to examine the special features of Chinese private higher education institutions (HEIs), discuss the challenges that Chinese private HEIs face, and explore what is needed for the further development of Chinese private higher education.Design/methodology/approach – The paper takes the form of a general review and comparison.Findings – Specifically, Chinese private higher education is characterized by volatile development that is easily affected by government policy inconsistencies. Today's private higher education faces serious challenges, including perceived low quality and low reputation, fierce competition within the private sector, and with the public sector and international forces, and difficulties in recruiting students. To facilitate the further development and improvement of Chinese private higher education, it is crucial to have a mature and stable education policy‐making process that involves multiple stakeholders, to provide substantive government suppor...
Retrospective. Joseph Rotblat (1908-2005).

In his Retrospective, Holdren describes the physicist and Nobel Laureate Joseph Rotblat (1908-2005), whose life9s work was committed to determining the health impacts of ionizing radiation and to building international cooperation for reducing the dangers associated with weapons of mass destruction.
The 19F nuclear magnetic resonance spectra of liquid and gaseous fluorine, oxygen difluoride, and nitrogen trifluoride

Abstract The 19 F nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra of fluorine, oxygen difluoride, and nitrogen trifluoride have been reported previously. The data in the literature were obtained from gaseous and liquid samples, and from solutions. Direct comparisons between liquid and gaseous F 2 , OF 2 , and NF 3 have not been reported. The values reported here are a direct comparison of gaseous and liquid NMR shifts for F 2 , OF 2 , and NF 3 . The chemical shifts of liquid F 2 and OF 2 have not previously been reported. The shift of F 2 was measured directly against the widely accepted reference, Freon 11 (CFCl 3 ).
Viking Imaging of Phobos and Deimos: An Overview of the Primary Mission

During the Viking primary mission the cameras on the two orbiters acquired about 50 pictures of the two Martian moons. The Viking images of the satellites have a higher surface resolution than those obtained by Mariner 9. The typical surface resolution achieved was 100-200 m, although detail as small as 40 m was imaged on Phobos during a particularly close passage. Attention is given to color sequences obtained for each satellite, aspects of phase angle coverage, and pictures for ephemeris improvement.
TEXTURAL CHARACTERIZATION OF SQUID (Loligo pealei LESUER): SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY OF COOKED MANTLE

SEM was used to reveal progressive structural alterations in the tissue components of cooked squid mantle. Progressive changes were observed at various cook temperatures, 50, 60, 70, 80 and 100°C and after different periods of cooking, 1, 2, 4, 8,16, 32 and 64 min at 100°C. Thermal alterations of connective tissues first appeared as interfibril ‘melting,’ then total fiber gelatinization at higher temperatures. The onset temperatures of ‘melting’ and gelatinization differed depending on the anatomical location of the connective tissue tunics. Thermal alterations of muscle fibers appeared as a loss of myofibril distinction first evident at 50°C. Increasing temperature of muscle fibers caused, in order, coagulation of sarcoplasmic proteins, disintegration of the sarcoplasm, and continuous fiber shrinkage and dehydration. These changes in tissue structure were partially explained by simultaneous changes in gross body dimensions, and mantle pH, moisture, and protein content.
The natural history of the development of obesity in a cohort of young U.S. adults between 1981 and 1998.

Marked ethnic-based differences were found in rates of weight gain in young U.S. adults, with later birth cohorts experiencing earlier onset of obesity. To alter the course of obesity in the United...
Microscopic model for static and dynamic loading of chiral sculptured thin films

The localized homogenization framework, the Mori-Tanaka average stress and the Eshelby tensor for ellipsoids are used to estimate the elastic constitutive properties of chiral sculptured thin films from their microstructural details. The devised model contains five arbitrary parameters, whose values can be decided upon by suitable experimentation. The responses of a chiral STF to static and dynamic loading along the axis of nonhomogeneity are presented.
Analyte–receptor binding on surface plasmon resonance biosensors: a fractal analysis of Cre–loxP interactions and the influence of Cl, O, and S on drug–liposome interactions

A fractal analysis of the association and dissociation (whereever applicable) of Cre-loxP interactions and drug-liposome interactions on a sensor chip surface is presented. In both of these cases a dual-fractal analysis is required to adequately describe the association kinetics. The dissociation kinetics for Cre-loxP interactions is adequately described by a single-fractal analysis. The dual-fractal analysis used to describe the association kinetics of Cre-loxP interactions is consistent with the original two-step mechanism presented using a surface plasmon resonance biosensor. Our analysis includes both diffusion and surface effects by introducing the fractal dimension which makes quantitative the degree of heterogeneity on the sensor chip surface. Affinities are provided. Only the association kinetics were analysed for drug-liposome interactions since the initial sections of the dissociation curves were too steep to obtain reasonable drug-liposome complex concentration values on the sensor chip with time. Attempts made to relate the association rate coefficients with the molecular weight of the drug were unsuccessful. On using desipramine and imipramine as "arbitrarily selected standards" or "references" (only C, H, and N atoms present), it was noticed from the data analysed that the inclusion of the O and S atoms in the drug leads to a decrease in the association rate coefficients, ka1 (or k1) and ka2 (or k2) (compared with the arbitrarily selected standards or references). Similarly, the addition of the Cl atom in the drug leads to an increase in the association rate coefficient (compared with the arbitrarily selected standards or references). More data needs to be analysed to determine whether this is true for other drugs also.
Renal cell carcinoma with tumor thrombus extending above diaphragm: avoiding cardiopulmonary bypass.

Abstract Objectives Renal cell carcinoma with a tumor thrombus extending into the supradiaphragmatic inferior vena cava (IVC) and right atrium represents a challenge to the surgical team. We describe a technique that can be used to resect these tumors safely through a transabdominal approach without recourse to cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) or entry into the thoracic cavity. Methods Between May 1997 and August 2004, 59 patients (mean age 61 years) underwent surgical resection of a renal tumor extending into the IVC by techniques developed with the intention to avoid sternotomy and CPB. In 7 patients (12%), the tumor thrombus extended into the supradiaphragmatic IVC and right atrium. Complete surgical resection was successful through a transabdominal approach without CPB in all 7 of these patients. Results In the 7 patients who underwent the described technique, the median age was 71 years (range 51 to 80). The mean operative time was 7 hours, 47 minutes. The mean estimated blood loss was 2514 mL (range 500 to 6000). The mean number of blood units transfused was 4.7 (range 0 to 11). One patient died in the immediate postoperative period of cardiac arrhythmia. The median follow-up was 11.1 months, and 5 patients were disease free. Conclusions In select cases, renal cell carcinoma extending into the supradiaphragmatic IVC and right atrium can be resected without the use of CPB. We describe our technique.
Efficiency and temperature dependence of water removal by membrane dryers

The vapor pressure of water in equilibrium with sorption sites within a Nafion membrane is given by log PWN = −3580/T + 10.01, where PWN is expressed in Torr and T is the membrane temperature, in kelvin. The efficiency of dryers based on selective permeation of water through Nafion can thus be enhanced by cooling the membrane. Residual water in effluents exceeds equilibrium levels if insufficient time is allowed for water to diffuse to the membrane surface as gas passes through the dryer. For tubular configurations, this limitation can be avoided if L ≥ Fc(103.8/120πD), where L is the length of the tubular membrane, in centimeters, Fc is the gas flow rate, in mL/min, and D is the diffusion coefficient for water in the carrier gas at the operating temperature of the dryer, in cm2/s. An efficient dryer that at room temperature dries gas to a dew point of −61 °C is described; the same dryer maintained at 0 °C yields a dew point of −80 °C and removes water as effectively as Mg(ClO4)2 or a dry ice/acetone slus...
Financial barriers to the adoption of anaerobic digestion on US livestock operations

Purpose – Anaerobic digestion (AD) of livestock waste is a potential source of renewable energy and can reduce the methane emissions associated with livestock waste storage. Because AD is capital intensive, lenders will play a key role in the adoption of this technology. The purpose of this paper is to describe some of the barriers that currently make lenders reluctant to finance AD systems and provide recommendations for public policies that would reduce these barriers, making financing more available and encouraging farmers to adopt digester systems.Design/methodology/approach – This paper describes some of the barriers that currently make lenders reluctant to finance AD systems and makes recommendations for public policies that would reduce these barriers, thus making finance available.Findings – AD systems face a number of financial barriers which make lenders reluctant to finance them. Many of these barriers can be overcome by adopting policies and programs designed to improve the understanding of th...
Role of crustal thickening and extensional collapse in the tectonic evolution of the Sevier-Laramide orogeny, western United States

The effects of crustal thickening and extensional collapse of continental crust, combined with variations in plate-convergence forces, provide a coherent explanation for evolution of the Cretaceous-early Tertiary Sevier-Laramide orogeny. Crustal thickening of the Sevier-Laramide hinterland region was triggered by the combination of compressive plate-convergence forces and subduction-induced conductive heating of the crust. Eastward progradation of the locus of Sevier-Laramide deformation through time reflects the progressive widening of the region of crustal thickening. The region of maximum crustal thickening migrated outward until about 80 to 75 Ma, when it encountered excessively strong lithosphere of the Colorado Plateau. The locus of deformation was then transmitted laterally across both a hinterland that had attained maximum crustal thickness and the rigid Colorado Plateau, into the Laramide Rocky Mountain foreland. An episode of vigorous extensional collapse of orogenically thickened crust affected the southern Cordillera between about 75 and 35 Ma. Early Tertiary waning of plate-convergence rates and continued subduction-induced conductive heating of thickened crust allowed extensional collapse along the southern Cordillera region to drive the Colorado Plateau block northward. The result was the late Laramide phase of Rocky Mountain foreland deformation. Because of this, compressive deformation in the central and southern Laramide Rocky Mountain region continued through Eocene time, rather than ceasing at 56 Ma, as it did in the northern Cordillera.
System-level approach to predict the transient fire response of double angle connections

Abstract This paper presents a system-level approach to simulate the transient response of double angle connection under realistic fire and loading conditions. The numerical model, developed using commercially available finite element software ANSYS, accounts for material and geometrical nonlinearities, degradation of constitutive material properties with temperature and non-linear contact interactions. The model is validated by comparing predictions from the analysis with the published experimental results. The validated model is applied to study the effect of system-level interactions, load level, non-standard fire scenarios and high-temperature properties of bolts on the fire performance of double angle connections. Results from the parametric studies indicate that type of fire scenario, system-level interactions and high-temperature bolt properties have significant influence on the transient fire performance of connection assembly. However, the type of bolts (grade) does not have much influence on the fire performance of double angle connections.
Beyond the Ivory Towers: Organizational Power Practices and a“Practical” Critical Postmodernism

The aim of this article is to consider how the important insights offered by critical management studies (CMS) can be made more accessible to wider audiences and used to inform organizational pract...
Siphon-Based Verification of Component Compatibility

In component-based systems, two interacting components are compatible if any sequence of services requested by one component can be provided by the other. This concept of compatibility can easily be extended to a set of interacting components. Checking the compatibility of interacting components is essential for any dependable software system. Recently, an approach to verification of component compatibility has been proposed in which the behavior of individual components (at component interfaces) was modeled by labeled Petri nets. Moreover, the composition of interacting components was designed in such a way that all component incompatibilities were manifested by deadlocks in the composed model. Consequently, the verification of component compatibility is performed by deadlock analysis of the composed model. One of techniques for deadlock analysis is based on net structures called siphons. Siphon-based verification of component compatibility is the subject of this paper.
Electroporation to deliver plasmid DNA into rat dental tissues.

Background Delivery of DNA into the target tissues is an important technique in gene function studies and gene therapy. Surgical treatment of tooth eruption disorders, such as impacted third molars, is a major healthcare cost. Because the dental follicle (DF) is essential for regulating tooth eruption, establishment of local gene transfer protocols is needed to determine the effect of various genes on eruption and to develop gene therapy approaches for inducing the eruption of impacted molars. Methods Plasmids containing lacZ reporter gene were injected into rat mandibles and then electroporated at the designated settings. Mandibles were collected 24 h after electroporation for X-gal staining to evaluate the transfection efficiency. Tissues were collected at various days post-electroporation to determine the expression of the transgene. Results For the DF, depth of injection and pulse number appear to be important. Six pulses can achieve above 80% transfection of the DF at 50 V or 120 V. For alveolar bone (AB) transfection, voltages are important, with 120 V being optimal. Regarding pulse durations, we determined that durations of 20 and 30 ms achieve the maximum transfection in AB and DF, respectively. Conclusions The present study demonstrates for the first time the feasibility of electroporation to locally deliver plasmids into dental tissues. Parameters affecting electroporation to deliver plasmids into the dental tissues were optimized. This protocol could be used to deliver short hairpin RNA or genes of interest into the dental tissues to regulate tooth eruption. Thus, it may be possible to develop nonsurgical treatments for inducing the eruption of impacted teeth. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Development of a Hierarchical Taxonomy for Standardization of Microvascular Surgery

Although widely practiced in the medical field, the current “see one, do one, teach one” surgical training model introduces a wide variety of variation between surgeons. Without a standardized procedure, causes of medical errors and relationships between surgery and outcomes are hard to identify. The proposed study will utilize work method techniques to develop a hierarchical taxonomy of essential tasks which will help identify and measure the effects of surgical techniques on patient outcomes. Video data of microvascular anastomosis was recorded and task decomposition analysis was completed for two full procedures. The resulting analysis was used to create a hierarchical taxonomy describing the surgery in the varying granularity levels of job, task, subtask, element, and motion. The taxonomy can be effective in identifying technique and tools variations at different levels. Future work includes linking the surgery variables to outcome measures and creating protocols for training and evaluating students i...
Illegitimacy is Dangerous: How Authorities Experience and React to Illegitimacy

Research on legitimacy has focused on subordinate groups to the exclusion of authority figures. The present research explores how authorities experience concerns with their own legitimacy. We do so in the context of law enforcement asked to enact a legitimacy-challenging policy: cross-deputization (requiring police to enforce immigration laws similar to Arizona’s SB1070).We expect that authorities’ perceptions of their own legitimacy rest on two factors: a) their own judgments of policies they enforce; and b) how they imagine subordinates would react to the enforcement of those policies. We examine the role of these factors on officers’ sense of anxiety and physical safety. Results reveal that officers’ feelings of safety are driven both by their own views and, to a greater extent, by how they imagine subordinates would react to the policy. These results demonstrate the importance of police legitimacy to officers’ perceptions of their own safety, a vital factor in maintaining low levels of police/community conflict.
East Central Europe as a Politically Correct Scapegoat: The Case of Bulgaria

Roumiana Deltcheva's article, "East Central Europe as a Politically Correct Scapegoat: The Case of Bulgaria," analyzes the mechanisms of image construction of East Central Europe in the West, taking Bulgaria as a case study as seen in literary and filmic texts. A historical overview of literary and theoretical texts which deal with the cultural semiosphere of Bulgaria is presented to demonstrate that contrary to widely held perceptions in North American "politically correct" scholarship, Europe is not a homogeneous cultural unity. In fact, a clear centre/periphery situation is established and delineated along the geographical axis West/East. In the post-communist period, preconceived notions from earlier times continue to dominate, sustained by the dominant cultural discourses in East Central Europe. Roumiana Deltcheva, "East Central Europe as a Politically Correct Scapegoat: The Case of Bulgaria" page 2 of 11 CLCWeb: Comparative Literature and Culture 1.2 (1999):
ET-24A NOVEL TROJAN HORSE FOR IN-VIVO SENSITIVITY TESTING OF MEDULLOBLASTOMA THERAPIES.

INTRODUCTION: Neural tumors such as medulloblastomas, have distinct genetic signatures, including neurotransmitter receptors, indicative of their developmental lineage. Neurotransmitter receptors have been well-defined in normal neurophysiological, developmental, and pharmacological settings. However, their importance in the maintenance and progression of brain tumors and, importantly, the effect of their targeting in brain cancers remains unclear. In a recent genomic study of primary medulloblastomas, high levels of GABRA5 expression were observed in a particularly aggressive molecular subtype of medulloblastoma (MYC-amplified). We then went on to demonstrate that modulation of GABRA5 receptor activity in these tumors could alter their survival characteristics and provide a novel treatment strategy for individuals diagnosed with this subtype of medulloblastoma. Using a novel implantable device for high-throughput in-vivo drug sensitivity measurements we performed the first in-vivo efficacy studies of several lead compounds. These lead compounds will be further developed to reduce their potential toxicity and side-effects. METHODS: We used an implantable device to treat flank medulloblastoma tumors expressing GABRA5 in vivo with local microdoses of cisplatin and GABA receptor agonists, such as diazepam, QHii066, and other similar derivatives. We compared these to non-GABRA5 expressing tumors. Our results revealed significantly higher apoptosis induction by these compounds in GABRA5 expressing flank tumors with the GABA receptor agonists, whereas we do not see a similar effect with Cisplatin. The converse is true for the non-GABRA5 expressing tumors. CONCLUSION: This is the first successful in-vivo study demonstrating that tumors expressing GABRA5 are sensitive to GABRA5 agonists, providing a more efficient and potentially less toxic approach to developing GABRA5 agonists and other compounds. Validation of targets and identification of the most active lead compounds in vivo before pharmacological optimization may represenent a new paradigm for developing drugs more efficiently in whole animal or human studies in the future.
Dilution analysis for unidirectional diffusers

The paper discusses the mixing mechanics of submerged, multi-port diffusers used to discharge heated water from steam-electric power plants into shallow receiving waters. An analysis for co-flowing diffusers is presented. The analysis is compared with similar fluid flow situations and predicted dilutions are compared with available laboratory measurements. The behavior of a co-flowing diffuser is then contrasted with that of a tee diffuser. A semi-empirical theory is derived for the tee diffuser and is compared with available measurements.
Dynamic Testing and Calibration of Gaussian Processes for Vehicle Attitude Estimation

A method of estimating a vehicle's attitude in relation to the road surface using only light detection and ranging (lidar) measurements is presented. Gaussian processes, a machine learning technique, is used to relate the measurements of the road surface to the pitch and roll of the vehicle. Testing was performed under normal driving conditions on a test track as well as under high dynamic maneuvers on a skid-pad to assess performance of the algorithm. On-vehicle results show that the attitude calculations are capable of being implemented in a real-time system and have been compared against a multi-antenna GPS attitude measurement for accuracy.
Stimulation-produced descending inhibition from the periaqueductal gray and nucleus raphe magnus in the rat: mediation by spinal monoamines but not opioids

Focal electrical stimulation in the midbrain periaqueductal gray (PAG) or medullary nucleus raphe magnus (NRM) inhibits spinal nociceptive transmission and nociceptive reflexes. The purpose of this study was to evaluate, in lightly pentobarbital-anesthetized rats, the spinal neurotransmitter(s) mediating descending inhibition of the nociceptive tail-flick (TF) reflex produced by focal electrical stimulation in the PAG or NRM. To characterize the neurotransmitter(s) mediating inhibition of the TF reflex, selective pharmacologic antagonists were administered into the lumbar intrathecal space. Stimulation thresholds in the PAG or NRM for inhibition of the TF reflex were established and the effects of intrathecally administered phentolamine, yohimbine, prazosin, methysergide (15 micrograms initially, 30 micrograms cumulative) or naloxone (10 micrograms initially, 20 micrograms cumulative) on TF inhibitory thresholds determined. Phentolamine, yohimbine and methysergide increased the intensity of stimulation in the PAG and the NRM for inhibition of the TF reflex; prazosin and naloxone had no effect. Descending inhibition produced by focal electrical stimulation in the PAG or NRM is mediated in part by spinal serotonergic and/or alpha 2-adrenergic receptors. Naloxone was administered both intrathecally and intravenously; however, a role for opioid receptors in descending inhibition from the midbrain or medulla was not found.
The 7–8 August 2008 eruption of Kasatochi Volcano, central Aleutian Islands, Alaska

[1] Kasatochi volcano in the central Aleutian Islands erupted unexpectedly on 7–8 August 2008. Kasatochi has received little study by volcanologists and has had no confirmed historical eruptions. The island is an important nesting area for seabirds and a long-term biological study site of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. After a notably energetic preeruptive earthquake swarm, the volcano erupted violently in a series of explosive events beginning in the early afternoon of 7 August. Each event produced ash-gas plumes that reached 14–18 km above sea level. The volcanic plume contained large amounts of SO2 and was tracked around the globe by satellite observations. The cumulative volcanic cloud interfered with air travel across the North Pacific, causing many flight cancelations that affected thousands of travelers. Visits to the volcano in 2008–2009 indicated that the eruption generated pyroclastic flows and surges that swept all flanks of the island, accumulated several tens of meters of pyroclastic debris, and increased the diameter of the island by about 800 m. Pyroclastic flow deposits contain abundant accidental lithic debris derived from the inner walls of the Kasatochi crater. Juvenile material is crystal-rich silicic andesite that ranges from slightly pumiceous to frothy pumice. Fine-grained pyroclastic surge and fall deposits with accretionary lapilli cover the lithic-rich pyroclastic flow deposits and mark a change in eruptive style from episodic explosive activity to more continuous ash emission with smaller intermittent explosions. Pyroclastic deposits completely cover the island, but wave erosion and gully development on the flanks have begun to modify the surface mantle of volcanic deposits.
Simultaneous phase and scatter correction for NMR datasets

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy has proven invaluable in the diverse field of chemometrics due to its ability to deliver information-rich spectral datasets of complex mixtures for analysis by techniques such as principal component analysis (PCA). However, NMR datasets present a unique challenge during preprocessing due to differences in phase offsets between individual spectra, thus complicating the correction of random dilution factors that may also occur. We show that simultaneously correcting phase and dilution errors in NMR datasets representative of metabolomics data yields improved cluster quality in PCA scores space, even with significant initial phase errors in the data.
Using a synoptic climatological approach to understand climate–viticulture relationships

Regional circulation and local air mass synoptic climatologies are developed for Bordeaux, France, to examine the relationship between climate and viticulture. Using a variation of the temporal synoptic index, days with similar weather (both throughout Western Europe and at Bordeaux) are grouped together. The annual relative frequencies of these groups are used as independent variables to investigate climate–viticulture relationships for the region. The viticulture data are divided annually into stages based on the region-wide mean phenology of the grapevines. Synoptic climate–phenology models are then developed using multiple linear regression analysis. A high degree of spatial and temporal cohesiveness is found between the regional and the local synoptic climatologies. Circulation patterns identified in the regional circulation analyses are linked in a consistent fashion with corresponding thermal, moisture, wind and cloud cover conditions at the Bordeaux site. A small number of synoptic clusters greatly affect viticultural potential throughout the year. In general, vintage quality and production are reduced by (i) increased frequencies of cold- and moisture-producing events that delay the plant's physiology, and (ii) increases in frontal incursions and the associated winds and rain that affect flowering and the setting of berries. Conversely, the relative occurrence of warm, stable events during maturation lead to full ripeness and higher vintage quality. Copyright © 2000 Royal Meteorological Society
Evidence for the energy dependence of effective heavy-ion interactions

By analyzing the Coulomb-nuclear interference in the excitation of 208 Pb by 16 O at sub-barrier energies, nuclear coupling strength is extracted which twice as large as its value at energies above the barrier.