cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
On the relationship between the Cottrell―Stokes law and the Haasen plot

Abstract The Cottrell–Stokes (CS) law requires that the ratio between the flow stress at two temperatures and same material structure (the CS ratio) is a function of the two temperatures involved and is independent of strain. This holds in many pure single and polycrystalline metals and provides fundamental insight into the nature of thermally activated plastic flow. The standard method for testing the validity of the law in given material system is to monitor the dependence of the strain rate sensitivity coefficient S on the applied stress, i.e. the Haasen plot. It is conjectured in the literature that if the Haasen plot is a straight line passing through the origin, the Cottrell–Stokes law holds. In this article we study this conjecture using a model of thermally activated dislocation motion across arrays of obstacles. It is shown that multiple types of Haasen plots may be obtained at constant CS ratio, i.e. when the CS law is imposed at all times. Hence, the validity of the CS law cannot be determined exclusively based on the Haasen plot. As a corollary it is shown that S is a convex function of the flow stress.
Testing the Hypothesis of a Homoscedastic Error Term in Simple, Nonparametric Regression.

Consider the nonparametric regression model Y = m(X)+ τ(X)e, where X and e are independent random variables, e has a median of zero and variance σ2, τ is some unknown function used to model heteroscedasticity, and m(X) is an unknown function reflecting some conditional measure of location associated with Y, given X. This article considers the problem of testing H0:τ = 1, the hypothesis that the error term is homoscedastic. Several methods were considered, two of which were found that control the probability of a Type I error well in simulations. One is fast from a computational point of view, and the other is based in part on a bootstrap method. Neither dominates in terms of power.
AFRICANS LIKE MARKETS; WHY DON’T THEY FAVOR CAPITALISM?

ABSTRACT The recent study of African politics suggests that while African voters tend to be ambivalently positive about democratic reforms, they are even less supportive of market reforms. African states have, if anything, been ahead of their publics in instituting economic reforms. But African leaders have failed to explain or defend these policies to their electorates. This may reflect their own ambivalence—at best—about capitalism.
An interpretation of the results from atmospheric general circulation models forced by the time history of the observed sea surface temperature distribution

Recent studies using atmospheric general circulation models forced by the observed time history of global sea surface temperature anomalies have been used to hind-cast the temporal history of the North Atlantic Oscillation. They find that the mean of a large ensemble of integrations using slightly different initial atmospheric conditions reproduces the observed variability surprisingly well, especially on time scales longer than a few years. However, they also find that amplitude of the atmospheric variability is considerably reduced and the air-sea heat fluxes are of the reverse sign to those observed. Here, a linear model of midlatitude atmosphere/ocean interaction forced only by high-frequency atmospheric stochastic variability is shown to reproduce all of these findings. This model suggests that despite the hind-cast skill, the useful predictability associated with midlatitude SST anomalies may be limited to one or two seasons.
Serum alanine aminotransferase elevation during 10 days of acetaminophen use in nondrinkers.

Asymptomatic alanine aminotransferase (ALT) elevations have been detected with acetaminophen use at the maximum daily dose of 4 grams/day (g/d) for more than 3 consecutive days in subjects with and without concurrent ethanol use. The purpose of this study is to describe the changes in serum ALT activity in non-drinkers treated with acetaminophen for 10 days. Methods Study Objective to describe the change in serum ALT in non-drinkers administered acetaminophen for 10 days. Study Design: Prospective, single arm trial. Setting: Outpatients. Interventions: Acetaminophen 4 g/day starting on day study day 1. Measurements: Serum ALT, total billirubin and international normalized ratio (INR) were measured on study day 0, 4, 7, 9, 11 and 14.
Diagnosis of Subtraction Bugs Using Bayesian Networks

Diagnosis of misconceptions or ‘‘bugs’’ in procedural skills is difficult because of their unstable nature. This study addresses this problem by proposing and evaluating a probability-based approach to the diagnosis of bugs in children’s multicolumn subtraction performance using Bayesian networks. This approach assumes a causal network relating hypothesized subtraction bugs to the observed test items. Two research questions are tested within this framework. First, it is investigated whether more reliable assessment of latent subtraction bugs can be achieved by hypothesizing and using subskill nodes in the Bayesian network as causal factors affecting bugs. Second, network performance is evaluated using two types of testing situations, one using binary data (items scored as correct or incorrect) and the other simulating a multiple-choice test format with diagnostic use of specific wrong answers. The resulting four types of Bayesian networks are evaluated for their effectiveness in bug diagnosis. All four ne...
Minimization of uncertainty for ordered weighted average

Existing ordered weighted average (OWA) characterization methods maximize similarity among information sources by seeking maximal weights entropy or by minimizing weights variance. These methods are based solely on the weights, and the uncertainties of input information sources are ignored. However, the purpose of information fusion is to decrease uncertainty and improve data quality. Following this objective, this work proposes a new method to calculate the OWA weights based on the minimization of the aggregated uncertainty. The resulting aggregated value is the most precise, in the sense that any other combination of weights produces larger uncertainty. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Monoclonal IgM in two patients with motor neuron disease bind to the carbohydrate antigens Gal(β1–3)GalNAc and Gal(β1–3)GlcNAc

Abstract We investigated the epitope specificity of monoclonal antibodies (M-proteins) from two patients with motor neuron disease and IgM monoclonal gammopathy. In previous studies, both M-proteins bound to gangliosides G M1 and G D1b which share Gal(β1–3)GalNAc as their terminal structure, and to lacto- N -tetraose-BSA which has the structure Gal(β1–3)GlcNAc(β1–3)Gal(β1–4)Glc-BSA. In this study we show that the serum IgM from both patients bind to bovine serum albumin (BSA) glycoconjugates of both Gal(β1–3)GalNAc and Gal(β1–3)GlcNAc. Binding was detected at serum dilutions of up to 1 : 100 000, and absorption with Gal(β1–3)GlcNAc-BSA completely removed the IgM binding to Gal(β1–3)-GalNAc-BSA, indicating that the same antibodies bound to both epitopes. Low levels of antibodies to Gal(β1–3)GalNAc-BSA and to Gal(β1–3)GlcNAc-BSA were also detected in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and in normal subjects at serum dilutions of up to 1 : 500, but these did not have the same specificity as the M-proteins, as binding to Gal(β1–3)GalNAc-BSA was not inhibited by absorption with Gal(β1–3)GlcNAc-BSA.
Influence of surgical volume on operative failures for hyperparathyroidism.

Parathyroidectomy is the mainstay of treatment for hyperparathyroidism. Operative intervention in a previously unexplored neck can yield cure rates greater than 95% 1,2. Unfortunately, once a patient has undergone neck surgery, such as in the case of failed parathyroidectomy, reoperation leads to cure rates of only 80% 3,4. Similarly, complication rates associated with parathyroidectomy have been found to be much greater during reoperations than initial surgeries 3. The significantly lower success rate for reoperation combined with the higher complication rate, illustrates the need for a surgeon to achieve eucalcemia at the initial operation.
Generalized treatment for the vapor pressure behavior of polar and hydrogen‐bonding compounds

The vapor pressure behavior of 25 polar compounds, including water and a number of alcohols, has been analyzed and subjected to a generalized treatment using the relationship, for a total of 1343 experimental measurements presented in the literature and covering the range included between their respective triple points and critical points. For each of these compounds, the parameters of this equation were established using a nonlinear regression numerical technique. The parameters resulting from this regression reproduce vapor pressures for all these polar compounds with an average deviation of 0.44 percent (1343 points). To extend the application of this vapor pressure relationship, the original parameters of these polar substances were correlated with their respective basic physical properties M, Tc, Pc and Tb. The resulting generalized parameters reproduce vapor pressures with an average deviation of 1.44 percent (1343 points) for all these polar and hydrogen-bonding compounds. This generalized correlation can be applied for the reliable prediction of vapor pressures for polar substances for which inadequate information is available.
Hyperglycosylated human chorionic gonadotropin and the source of pregnancy failures.

Objective To investigate the proportion of hyperglycosylated human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG-H) produced at the time of implantation as a predictor of pregnancy success. Design Measuring daily urine hCG and hCG-H on the day of implantation. The time of implantation was assumed to be the first day of hCG detection (total hCG >1 mIU/mL). Setting Urine samples were collected at volunteers' homes throughout city of Albuquerque. Patient(s) 110 women attempting to conceive spontaneously; 62 achieved pregnancies (42 to term and 20 failed). Intervention(s) None. Main Outcome Measure(s) Measurements of the total hCG and hCG-H, and calculations of the proportion of hCG-H. Result(s) In all 42 term pregnancies, the proportion of hCG-H on the day of implantation was >50%. This was also true for 7 of the 20 failures. Statistically significant lower proportions of hCG-H ( Conclusion(s) Hyperglycosylated is produced by cytotrophoblast cells in early pregnancy at the time of implantation. Effective proportions of hCG-H (>50%) are required for successful growth and invasion by cytotrophoblasts at the time of implantation. Low proportions of hCG-H at implantation predict failure and are likely to be the root of many pregnancy failures. The 7 of 20 failures with normal proportions of hCG-H were likely due to genetic, immune, or maternal causes. Measurement of a proportion of hCG-H
Temperature distribution and nitrous oxide formation in the non-adiabatic combustion of fuel oil

A model is developed to predict the NO levels and the temperature distribution in a non-adiabatic flow process. The analytical model is based on the NASA General Chemical Kinetics program and considers one dimensional steady state flow through an arbitrarily assigned area profile. The global mass conservation and individual species continuity equations are solved with the momentum, energy and ideal gas equations to obtain the local velocity, pressure, temperature, density and species concentrations. A simplified quasi-global reaction scheme is used to simulate the fuel oil combustion. The reaction scheme can include both thermal NO and fuel NO generating reactions. Three different experimental tests are simulated and the results show good comparison with these data.
Effects of acute ultra-low dose mecamylamine on cognition in adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

Objective Nicotinic cholinergic stimulation has known beneficial effects in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Mecamylamine is a non-competitive nicotinic antagonist which is reported in several animal studies to have paradoxical positive effects on cognition at ultra-low doses. Comparable studies in humans have not been conducted. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of acute ultra-low doses of mecamylamine on cognition in adult ADHD.
Is there leaderless protein secretion in plants

The sugar alcohol mannitol and it’s catabolic enzyme mannitol dehydrogenase (MTD), in addition to welldocumented roles in metabolism and osmoprotection, may play roles in hostpathogen interactions. Research suggests that in response to the mannitol that pathogenic fungi secrete to suppress reactive oxygen-mediated host defenses, plants make MTD to catabolize fungal mannitol. Yet previous work suggested that pathogen-secreted mannitol is extracellular, while in healthy plants MTD is cytoplasmic. We have presented results showing that the normally cytoplasmic MTD is exported into the cell wall or extracellular space in response to the endogenous inducer of plant defense responses salicylic acid (SA). This SA-induced secretion is insensitive to brefeldin A, an inhibitor of Golgimediated protein transport. Together with the absence of MTD in Golgi stacks and the lack of a documented extracellular targeting sequence in the MTD protein, this suggests MTD is secreted by a non-Golgi, pathogen-activated secretion mechanism in plants. Here we discuss the potential significance of non-Golgi secretion in response to stress.
Postdelivery Mortality in Tennessee, 1989–1991

Abstract Objective: To describe postdelivery mortality rates among residents of Tennessee from 1989 through 1991 and to compare these rates with those of women who had not delivered a live or stillborn infant in the previous year. Methods: Postdelivery deaths (those occurring within a year of delivery of a live or stillborn infant) were identified using a computerized linkage of birth and fetal death certificates to death certificates of female decedents aged 15–44 years. Each identified postdelivery death was reviewed and categorized as either pregnancy-related (temporally and causally related to pregnancy) or pregnancy-associated-but-not-related (temporally but not causally related to pregnancy). Cause-specific mortality rates were compared for women who died postdelivery with women who died but had not delivered in the previous year. Results: We identified 129 postdelivery deaths, one quarter of which were classified as pregnancy-related. The rates of postdelivery pregnancy-related and of pregnancy-associated-but-not-related death were 14.6 and 58.7, respectively, per 100,000 women who had delivered. Nonwhite women were 6.9 times more likely to experience postdelivery pregnancy-related death and 2.0 times more likely to experience postdelivery pregnancy-associated-but-not-related death than were white women. The leading cause of death among both women who had delivered and women who had not delivered a live or stillborn infant in the previous year was injury, although the risk of death the year after delivery was lower than for women who had delivered. Conclusion: Women were less likely to die in the year after delivery than were women who had not delivered a live or stillborn infant in the previous year. However, regardless of their delivery status, injuries were the leading cause of death among women. Postdelivery mortality was statistically significantly higher in nonwhite than white women, especially for pregnancy-related deaths.
Cost Structures for Fossil Fuel-Fired Electric Power Generation

This paper estimates short- and long-run marginal production costs and returns to scale in electric power generation in the United States. We find substantial short-run diseconomies of scale at high output levels. A relatively large number of small and mid-sized firms have optimal capital stocks below actual levels. In contrast, several large firms have optimal capital stock targets, substantially above current levels. These disparities in actual and optimal capital' suggest a possible consolidation in the industry.
A spherical pendulum system to teach key concepts in kinematics, dynamics, control, and simulation

The Rice Spherical PENDUlum Laboratory APparatus (SPENDULAP) is a rich teaching aid for senior and first year graduate courses in kinematics, dynamics, control and simulation. It consists of a free-swinging (unactuated) rigid pendulum mounted in a rotating frame. The frame rotates about an axis perpendicular to the pendulum swing axis and is driven by an electric motor. The SPENDULAP is attractive as a teaching tool because it is easy to visualize the motion of the pendulum, but somewhat challenging to model kinematically and dynamically. In particular, the three-dimensional nature of the pendulum motion allows students to gain proficiency and confidence not possible with a planar apparatus. Additionally, nonlinearities in the dynamics present interesting, but tenable, control challenges. In this paper, the authors illustrate each step in the process of kinematic and dynamic modeling, simulation and control of the SPENDULAP. They start with the kinematic analysis and then develop the equations of motion using both Newtonian and Lagrangian approaches. The spherical pendulum is sufficiently complex to demonstrate the advantages of the Lagrangian approach, and it also offers an excellent illustration of the benefits of the Newtonian formulation. Next, they illustrate the development of a numerical simulation of the SPENDULAP dynamics, and provide examples of uses of simulation and animation using MATLAB. Finally, they show the development of linear and nonlinear control laws, and illustrate testing them using simulation.
Meet the tenascins: multifunctional and mysterious.

The tenascins are a highly conserved family of large oligomeric glycoproteins found in the extracellular matrix (ECM) 1 of vertebrate organisms. Two decades ago, the molecule now known as tenascin-C was among the first proteins shown to have an adhesion modulatory role antagonizing cell attachment to fibronectin (1). Cells that normally demonstrate a stationary phenotype on the fibronectin-containing matrix by spreading out and forming cortical actin stress fibers (Fig. 1A) will show morphological changes when tenascin-C is included in the matrix by extending membrane protrusions and exhibiting decreased stress fiber formation (Fig. 1B), characteristics more typical of a migratory phenotype (2). The presence of ECM proteins such as tenascins during developmental and pathological states is now well recognized if still not well understood. Although each type has a distinctive expression pattern, the tenascins share the characteristic of having tightly regulated expression during development and throughout an organism's life. Tenascins also share the characteristic of modulating cell-matrix interactions and mediating a state of matrix attachment that promotes motility while also influencing other cell functions. As such, this protein family has important functions not only during development but also during pathological states in the adult such as tissue injury and tumorigenesis where remodeling processes are prominent. Reviews in recent years have covered pertinent aspects of tenascin biology including domain structure, modulation of cell functions, in vivo null deletion phenotypes, and contributions to human pathology (3-10). This minireview will provide a concise summary of information from these reviews, which the reader is encouraged to refer to for greater detail, and will also discuss a few of the more recent developments in the field.
Isolation and characterization of rabbit liver xenobiotic carbonyl reductases.

Abstract Xenobiotic carbonyl reductases have been isolated from rabbit liver by ammonium sulfate fractionation and isoelectric focusing. Although these enzymes are very heterogeneous, the above procedures resolve the majority of the reductases in good yield. Most of the carbonyl reduction of oxisuran, 3,7-dimethyl-1-(5-oxyhexyl)-xanthine, metyrapone and daunorubicin (pH6.0) was accomplished by two distinct enzymes of pI 4.84 and 4.98. Other reductases with lesser activities toward these same substrates also occurred at higher pI values. Also resolved were several forms of enzymes that reduced daunorubicin (pH8.5) (previously identified as aldehyde reductase), naloxone and naltrexone (dihydrornorphinone reductases), and the model compounds, p -nitrobenzaldehyde and p -nitroacetophenone. The hydrogen stereospeciflcity of each of the rabbit liver carbonyl reductases, as well as rat liver aldehyde reductase, was determined by reducing the carbonyl substrates with A- and B-labeled [4- 3 H]NADPH and examining transfer of label to alcohol products and retention of label in the resulting oxidized cofactors. All of the oxisuran, metyrapone and daunorubicin (pH 6.0) reductases displayed B-hydrogen stereospecificity. Some enzymes that reduce 3,7-dimethyl-1-(5-oxyhexyl)-xanthine, p -nitroacetophenone and p -nitrobenzaldehyde were also B-stereospecific while other forms of these same enzymes were A-stereospecific. Only daunorubicin (pH8.5) (rabbit and rat), naloxone and naltrexone reductases were exclusively A-stereospecific. Apparent deuterium isotope effects of A- and B-labeled [4- 2 H]NADPH with daunorubicin (pH 6.0) reductases, daunorubicin (pH 8.5) reductase and naloxone reductases confirm the above hydrogen stereospecificity assignments. The results confirm the hydrogen specificity of aldehyde reductases as A-stereospecific and the majority of ketone reductases as B-stereospecific. In addition, several significant A-stereospecific ketone reductases appear to represent exceptions to the generalization that enzymes which catalyze the same reaction have the same stereospecificity. Finally, the binding of rat liver aldehyde reductase to NADPH produced a red shift in the cofactor 340 nm absorbance maximum which is opposite to that predicted on the basis of its hydrogen stereospecificity.
Optical properties of normal and diseased breast tissues: prognosis for optical mammography

The use of near-infrared (NIR) measurements of photon migration has been recently demonstrated for the detection of breast cancer in Europe. Yet the clinical success of this potential screening tool depends upon consistent detection of the disease at earlier stages than is currently possible with conventional x-ray mammography. In this paper, we present the optical property measurements of 115 histologically classified breast tissue specimens in order to determine whether consistent and significant optical contrast exists for detection of the disease. Our in vitro optical properties measured with a double integrating sphere technique show consistent changes (yet statistically insignificant) in effective scattering coefficients, ms8, with tissue classification of infiltrating carcinoma (n=48), ductal carcinoma in situ (n=5), mucinous carcinoma (n=3), normal fatty (n=23), and normal fibrous tissues (n=35). However, there is little change in the in vitro tissue absorption coefficient, ma , measured at 749, 789, and 836 nm. For normal and diseased tissue specimens extracted from the same patient, we found differences in optical properties, indicating optical contrast. Using a finite-element prediction of light propagation, we evaluated this optical contrast for photon migration detection of ductal carcinoma in situ tissues using these optical properties measured in vitro.
Poetry, Romanticism, and the Practice of Nineteenth-Century Books

Upon a poet's page I wrote Of old two letters of her name; Part seemed she of the effulgent thought Whence that high singer's rapture came. –When now I turn the leaf, the same Immortal light illume...
Role of dietary protein and blood pressure in the progression of renal disease

Role of dietary protein and blood pressure in the progression of renal disease. The Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) Study examined the effect of two interventions, reduction of dietary protein and control of blood pressure below the usual recommended level, on the progression of chronic renal disease. Patients in Study A ( N = 585), GFR of 25 to 55 ml/min, were randomized to a group following a usual or low protein diet (1.3 or 0.58 g/kg body wt/day) and maintained at a usual (107mm Hg) or low (92mm Hg) mean arterial pressure. Patients in Study B ( N = 255), GFR 13 to 24 ml/min, were randomized to a group following a low protein diet or a very low protein diet (0.28g/kg body wt/day supplemented with a mixture of keto acids and amino acids), and maintained at a usual or low blood pressure level. During the first four months of follow-up in Study A, GFR declined at a faster rate in patients assigned a low protein diet or low blood pressure goal. The "terminal" GFR slope (measured from the fourth month of follow-up and projected to 3 years of follow-up) was 28% less, as a mean, in patients in the low protein group versus those on the usual protein diet ( P = 0.009). Also, the low blood pressure group showed a significantly ( P = 0.006) slower progression of renal disease (29%) than the usual blood pressure group. The effects of low blood pressure on the GFR decline were significantly related to the level of proteinuria during the baseline period. The results of Study B strongly suggest beneficial effects of the very low protein diet on renal function in patients with a GFR less than 25ml/min.
A review of personality and performance: Identifying boundaries, contingencies, and future research directions

Abstract This article reviews the literature linking the Big Five personality traits with job performance in order to identify the most promising directions for future research. Specifically, we recommend expanding the criterion domain to include internal and external service-oriented behavior as well as adaptive performance. We also review situational moderators of the personality–performance relationship and suggest additional moderators at the task, social, and organizational levels. Finally, we discuss trait interactions and explain why we expect that our capability to predict employee behavior will be considerably improved by considering the interaction among traits.
A Dialectical Examination of Remarriage Dyadic Communication and Communication with Social Networks

Nearly half of all marriages are remarriages, yet the remarital dyad is the least studied dyad in marital or stepfamily research. The focus of the author in the present study was on the communicative interactions and negotiations in remarriage dyads and the interactions with their external networks. The author performed an interpretive study grounded in relational dialectics theory and based on interviews with 16 remarried participants. Through a thematic analysis, six tensions unique to the remarriage dyad emerged. Three tensions are present for the remarried dyad: old–new, emotional closeness–distance, past and present; and three tensions are present for the remarried dyad and their networks: their time frame–our time frame, dyadic revelation–network revelation, and old–new. Participants also discussed ways they approach and manage the presence of the tensions. Implications of these findings are discussed.
Calcium and neurogenesis in Alzheimer's disease.

It was evidenced that impairment of calcium homeostasis is a potential mechanism in the development of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). It remains, however, unclear how the calcium signaling are associated with in Alzheimer’s disease progression. Here we review recent studies to discuss the relationship among the signaling of intracellular calcium concentration, neurogenic activity, and AD progression. Analyzing these findings may provide new ideas to improve the neurogenic status in pathological processes in the aging brain.
Adjuvant Radiation Therapy of Patients with Rectal Cancer

The standard in rectal cancer has been to add adjuvant radiation therapy to surgery in patients with stage II and III disease. Total mesorectal excision has led to lower local recurrence rates, and, if properly performed, may make adjuvant radiation unnecessary for certain stage II and III patients, such as T3 N0 patients with proximal lesions. There is also debate about the best method of delivering adjuvant radiotherapy. Preoperative radiotherapy at low dose per fraction with concurrent chemotherapy offers the advantages of maximizing sphincter preservation and greater tolerability. However, this will occasionally result in treating patients who are overstaged by ultrasound and may lead to greater postoperative morbidity and mortality than postoperative radiation. Preoperative radiotherapy has stronger data to support a survival advantage when added to surgery than postoperative radiation. Two randomized, phase III European studies may answer the question of which radiation technique is best for the near future. Protracted venous infusion of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) is the standard method of radiosensitization. However, studies are ongoing using concurrent oxaliplatin, irinotecan, and oral 5-FU prodrugs. For now, we recommend that stage II and III rectal cancer patients receive protracted venous infusion 5-FU concurrent with preoperative radiation.
Characterizing asymptotic D-values for Salmonella spp. subjected to different heating rates in sous-vide cooked beef

Abstract Inactivation rates of a cocktail of Salmonella spp. in sous vide cooked beef exposed to varied ‘come-up’ heating times of zero (control), and 1–3 h from 10 °C to the processing temperature of 58 °C were examined. The observed survival curves, determined for 58 °C, displayed a slight ‘shoulder’ followed by a non-zero asymptotic D -values. Comparisons of the survival curves confirm that the rate of heating can substantially influence the heat resistance of Salmonella spp. While there was no significant difference between the estimated asymptotic D -values for the control and 1-h come-up heating time survival curves, the estimated D -values were significantly larger for the 2- and 3-h come-up heating times curves. The estimated averages of the asymptotic D -values for the control and 1-h come-up time survival curves are approximately 5.7 min; for the 2-h come-up time curves, 7 min; and for the 3-h come-up time curves, 8 min. These findings could have substantial practical importance to food processors in sous vide cooked beef that are processed by slow heating rate/long come-up times and low heating temperatures.
DRIVING PATTERNS BEFORE AND AFTER HOSPITALIZATION FOR HEART DISEASE

Persons hospitalized with heart disease were licensed as often in the pre-hospital period and drove slightly (but not significantly) fewer miles than did healthier persons of similar age, sex and neighborhood. After discharge, those who returned to driving reduced their mileage and drove under different conditions. This occurred both because of overall changes in life style (e.g. retirement) associated with illness and because of health effects on driving per se. In fact, while activities changed, the methods of transportation used to accomplish these remained the same, with driving oneself being the preferred mode. Physicians advised patients only about driving during the immediate recovery period rather than with an eye toward long-term safety risk. Few people reported their heart condition to the Department of Motor Vehicles. A functional severity score based on primary and comorbid conditions was developed to distinguish individuals with different amounts of impairment relevent to driving.
Effects of Aging on Natural Killer Cell Activity and Activation by Interleukin-2 and IFN-α

To address the conflicting reports concerning both innate and lymphokine-inducible NK activity of elderly individuals, NK activity of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of 21 young (23 to 35 years old) and 43 elderly (65 to 100 years old) subjects was assessed using a 4-hr chromium release assay with K562 or Daudi cells as targets. Significantly higher innate NK cell activity was observed in elderly compared to young individuals (P < 0.001, Student t test). NK activity of both groups was enhanced to the same degree by IL-2. Although intermediate amounts of IFN-alpha (100-500 mu/10(6) cells) induced comparable maximal NK activity of both young and elderly subjects, young subjects responded better than elderly to low amounts of IFN-alpha (10 mu/10(6) cells), while higher amounts (10(3) mu/10(6) cells) reduced the NK activity of the elderly, but not young, to basal levels. IFN-alpha also expanded the range of target cells susceptible to NK activity. Untreated cells of neither young nor elderly showed activity against Daudi targets. Two-hour treatment with IFN-alpha resulted in significant activity against Daudi cells; however, this activity was significantly lower in the elderly compared to the young subjects.
Proctolinlike immunoreactivity and identified neurosecretory cells as putative substrates for modulation of courtship display behavior in the blue crab, Callinectes sapidus

Pheromonally stimulated courtship display (CD) behavior in male blue crabs (Callinectes sapidus) is characterized by rhythmic waving of the fifth legs. The waving of the fifth legs is modulated by proctolin in freely moving crabs and in reduced preparations. To begin to identify an anatomical substrate for CD behavior we have localized putative proctolinergic cells and described the morphology of neurosecretory neurons known to oscillate during pheromonal stimulation of reduced preparations. Proctolin-induced CD occurs with developmental and seasonal dependence. Male crabs altered hormonally by eyestalk ligation spontaneously produce CD behavior. We have localized proctolinlike immunoreactivity (PIR) in the central nervous system (CNS) and compared this immunoreactivity across sexes, developmental stage, eyestalk ligation, and seasonal conditions to determine whether or not expression of PIR is correlated with CD behavior. PIR was found in most areas of the CNS. Clusters of PIR-positive cells were found in the sinus gland and eyestalk ganglia, olfactory neuropil with associated cell bodies, and in a large cell cluster in the subesophageal region of the ventral nerve cord. Three pairs of cell bodies in different cell body groups in the brains of adult crabs stained positively for PIR but did not stain in the youngest juvenile animals. Comparison of PIR distribution with toluidine blue studies of the ventral nerve cord indicated a high likelihood that cells in the PIR-positive cluster of the subesophageal ganglia were also members of the cluster of neurons identified as oscillatory neurosecretory neurons.
Regulating synthetic gene networks in 3D materials

Combining synthetic biology and materials science will enable more advanced studies of cellular regulatory processes, in addition to facilitating therapeutic applications of engineered gene networks. One approach is to couple genetic inducers into biomaterials, thereby generating 3D microenvironments that are capable of controlling intrinsic and extrinsic cellular events. Here, we have engineered biomaterials to present the genetic inducer, IPTG, with different modes of activating genetic circuits in vitro and in vivo. Gene circuits were activated in materials with IPTG embedded within the scaffold walls or chemically linked to the matrix. In addition, systemic applications of IPTG were used to induce genetic circuits in cells encapsulated into materials and implanted in vivo. The flexibility of modifying biomaterials with genetic inducers allows for patterned placement of these inducers that can be used to generate distinct patterns of gene expression. Together, these genetically interactive materials can be used to characterize genetic circuits in environments that more closely mimic cells’ natural 3D settings, to better explore complex cell–matrix and cell–cell interactions, and to facilitate therapeutic applications of synthetic biology.
Ras Promotes Cell Survival in Drosophila by Downregulating hid Expression

Activation of Ras inhibits apoptosis during Drosophila development. Genetic evidence indicates that Ras antiapoptotic activity in the developing eye is regulated by the Drosophila EGF receptor and operates through the Raf/MAPK pathway. Decreased activity of this pathway enhances, and increased activity suppresses, apoptosis induced by ectopic expression of the cell death regulators reaper (rpr) and head involution defective (hid). In addition, ectopic activation of the Ras/MAPK pathway in the developing embryo and in the developing eye suppresses naturally occurring apoptosis and regulates the transcription of the proapoptotic gene hid. Null alleles of hid recapitulate the antiapoptotic activities of Ras/MAPK, providing genetic evidence that downregulation of hid is an important mechanism by which Ras promotes survival.
Proceedings of the 5th Symposium on Usable Privacy and Security

Welcome to the Fifth Symposium On Usable Privacy and Security! This year's program features 15 technical papers, two tutorials, 19 posters, 11 posters published in the past year at other conferences, a panel, six discussion sessions, and an invited talk. On Wednesday evening SOUPS 2009 attendees will head to the Computer History Museum for dinner among a wonderful collection of artifacts of computing history. This year we received 49 technical paper submissions. Each paper was refereed by at least three members of the technical papers committee, and through an online discussion process the committee selected 15 papers for presentation and publication. The technical papers committee selected the paper "Ubiquitous Systems and the Family: Thoughts about the Networked Home" by Linda Little, Elizabeth Sillence, and Pam Briggs to receive the SOUPS 2009 Best Paper Award. This paper presents a study that used videotaped scenarios to elicit participants' trust, privacy and identity concerns about pervasive computing. SOUPS 2009 features an invited talk on redirects to login pages by Eric Sachs of Google. A panel discussion will focus on the usability of open source security software. Finally, the SOUPS 2009 program includes six parallel "discussion" sessions, featuring moderated discussion on a topic of interest to attendees. We hope the informal, small group format will lead to lively and productive interactions. This is the fifth year of SOUPS and the first year that SOUPS is being held outside of Pittsburgh. We are excited to bring SOUPS to a new location where it will be accessible to a new audience. We would like to thank Google for their generosity in hosting and sponsoring SOUPS.
Ion filtration chromatography: a powerful new technique for enzyme purification applied to E. coli alkaline phosphatase.

Abstract Ion filtration chromatography is a convenient, rapid, and gentle technique for the purification of a single enzyme. It is also readily adapted for large scale preparation. Ion exchange chromatography of an enzyme is accomplished simultaneously with solvent exchange in a single ion filtration step. The enzyme is eluted from the column in a minimal volume and is easily concentrated for storage or additional chromatography. During ion filtration, the enzyme is never exposed to extremes of absorption nor to denaturing solvents. Because ion filtration chromatography is very reproducible, the need for enzyme assays at each step of purification is practically eliminated. This report describes the technology of ion filtration chromatography and explains the unique properties of ion exchange gels which contribute to the ion filtration process. The utility of the technique is illustrated by the purification of E. coli alkaline phosphatase.
Programmed cell death in neurotumour cells involves the generation of ceramide.

Ceramide has been typically thought of as the membrane anchor for the carbohydrate in glycosphingolipids but many studies have suggested that it may cause apoptosis. Apoptosis or programmed cell death (PCD) is thought to be responsible for the death of one-half of neurons surviving the development of the nervous system. The potential involvement of the sphingomyelin-ceramide signaling process as an integral part of PCD was therefore examined in several neurotumour cell lines. We show that synthetic C2-ceramide (N-acetylsphingosine), a soluble ceramide analogue, can rapidly trigger PCD in these cells, characterized by: 1) classic DNA laddering on agarose gels; 2) DNA fragmentation as determined by Hoechst Dye; and 3) cell viability (mitochondrial function and intact nuclei) assays. We report that staurosporine can both activate PCD (by all three criteria above) in neurotumour cells and increase both the formation of ceramide and ceramide mass. Both ceramide formation and the induction of PCD were further enhanced by the co-addition of a ceramidase inhibitor oleoylethanolamine (25 µM). Staurosporine and oleoylethanolamine were similarly effective in inducing ceramide formation and PCD in immortalized hippocampal neurons (HN-2) and immortalized dorsal root ganglion cells (F-11). Our data suggests that formation of ceramide is a key event in the induction of PCD in neuronally derived neurotumour cells.
Rate-switching unequal error protection for wireless electrocardiogram (ECG) transmission

Energy efficiency for mobile wireless electrocardiography (ECG) communication is an important issue due to resource constraints in wireless Body Area Sensor Networks (BASNs). Traditional high quality ECG transmission schemes require substantial amounts of energy usage, which may not be available in BASN. Therefore, an adaptive approach is necessary to provide high quality ECG transmission with efficient usage of available energy resources. Related literature mainly focuses on data compression, where transmission energy is saved because the amount of data being transmitted is reduced. However, further reduction of energy consumption based on communication strategy is rarely discussed in literature. In this paper, we analyze the characteristics of compressed ECG data, which show that different parts of the data are unequally important to quality of ECG transmission in BASN. In this work, we propose a new Rate-switching Un-Equal Protection (RUEP) mechanism, which optimizes the distortion reduction of ECG data by adaptively assigning different Rate Compatible Punctured Convolutional (RCPC) codes to protect the different parts of the compressed ECG data. Simulation results demonstrate that our RUEP scheme results in an improved communication energy efficiency by at least 45 percent compared with traditional schemes in the AWGN channel.
Assessing postprandial glucose using 1,5-anhydroglucitol: An integrative literature review.

Purpose: Recent studies have determined postprandial blood glucose is an independent risk factor for macrovascular complications. This risk exists, despite having HbA1C results within acceptable ranges for diabetes. 1,5-Anhydroglucitol (1,5AG) has been proposed as an appropriate indicator to detect and screen for postprandial hyperglycemia (PPHG). This review discusses the efficacy of 1,5AG to predict PPHG in order to reveal those who may be at risk for macrovascular complications. Data Sources: An electronic search was conducted from 2003 to 2008 in the following databases: Medline, CINAHL, Health Source: Nursing/Academic Edition, and Pre-CINAHL. Any articles relating to 1,5AG as a marker for PPHG were used. The search was limited to any human research articles published in English. All articles were reviewed for additional relevant studies. Conclusions: 1,5AG was found to be a reliable indicator of PPHG, even when HbA1C levels were within target ranges. 1,5AG may be a simple and effective tool for primary care providers to identify those at risk for macrovascular complications, who would otherwise go unnoticed if assessed by HbA1C alone.
Optimal Sorting Algorithms for a Simplified 2D Array with Reconfigurable Pipelined Bus System

In recent years, many researchers have investigated optical interconnections as parallel computing. Optical interconnections are attractive due to their high bandwidth and concurrent access to the bus in a pipelined fashion. The Linear Array with Reconfigurable Pipelined Bus System (LARPBS) model is a powerful optical bus system that combines both the advantages of optical buses and reconfiguration. To increase the scalability of the LARPBS model, we propose a two-dimensional extension: a simplified two-dimensional Array with Reconfigurable Pipelined Bus System (2D ARPBS). While achieving better scalability, we show the effectiveness of this newly proposed model by designing two novel optimal sorting algorithms on this model. The first sorting algorithm is an extension of Leighton's seven-phase columnsort algorithm that eliminates the restriction of sorting only an r × s array, where r ? s2 , and sorts an n × n array in O(log n) time. The second one is an optimal multiway mergesort algorithm that uses a novel processor efficient two-way mergesort algorithm and a novel multiway merge scheme to sort n2 items in O(log n) time. Using an optimal sorting algorithm Pipelined Mergesort designed for the LARPBS model as a building block, we extend our research on parallel sorting on the LARPBS to a more scalable 2D ARPBS model and achieve optimality in both sorting algorithms.
The dangers of conservation by rural development – a case-study from the forests of Nigeria

The Okomu Forest Reserve in south-west Nigeria contains a 114-sq-km wildlife sanctuary that is an important refuge for several threatened species, including the white-throated guenon Cercopithecus erythrogaster. A conservation project that started in Okomu in 1987 focused initially on protection, but the emphasis recently shifted to a programme of agricultural development assistance to migrant farmers in the reserve. This approach, which appears to follow the philosophy espoused in IUCN/UNEP/WWF's Caring for the Earth, may hasten rather than prevent the destruction of this remnant tropical forest and its wildlife.
Managing Crises with Vague Information...Just a Suggestion

When disaster occurs, an authority explains the severity and gives citizens the choice to leave or stay. People complain they are not told enough regarding specifics that affect their safety. I propose a model explaining why an authority is vague due to its understanding of the citizens pessimism. While an authority may decide the disasters severity merits evacuation, a citizens definition of high risk may be different. To maximize its expected payoff, the government speaks vaguely to play off the citizens emotions and realign incentives. As the governments payoffs change in magnitude, its inclination to induce certain citizen action changes.