cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Logics and Politics of Post-WWII Migration to Western Europe: The Domestic Legacies of Postwar Immigration

A citizen is by definition a citizen among citizens among countries. His rights and duties must be defined and limited … by the boundaries of a territory…. (Hannah Arendt 1970: 81–2) Rights that used to belong solely to nationals are now extended to foreign populations, thereby undermining the very basis of national citizenship. (Yasemin Nuhoglu Soysal 1994: 137) The porousness of borders is a necessary while not sufficient condition of liberal democracies. By the same token, no sovereign liberal democracy can lose its right to define immigration and [immigrant] incorporation policies. (Seyla Benhabib 1999: 713) As we saw in the previous chapter, interdependence sovereignty is not a zero-sum condition. Initiatives to regulate, restrict, and even communitarize some facets of immigration do not signal that European states have ceded or involuntarily suffered a loss of sovereignty. Specifically, they do not indicate that the capacity of the immigrant-receiving states to define and achieve their self-interests in this important and contentious public policy domain has irrevocably eroded. What, then, of the widely propagated thesis that, regardless of the strength of its direct effects, mass immigration has indirectly undermined domestic institutions and deeply embedded norms of national identity, belonging, and inclusion? Specifically, what should we make of the claims of some scholars that post-WWII migration has facilitated irreversible change in the norms and practices underpinning national citizenship, the sociocultural foundations of the nation-state, and domestic social welfare regimes (Feldblum 1998; Heisler 1986; Jacobson 1997; Joppke 1999b; Koslowski 2000: 91–2)?
Coupled Hydrothermal Flows of Liquid and Vapor in Welded Tuff: Numerical Modeling of Proposed Experiment

Pretest calculations of a proposed small-scale, heatpipe experiment have been made using a finite element, multiphase flow, computer code. The purpose of the experiment is to characterize the response of partially saturated, welded, volcanic tuff to the two-phase countercurrent flow induced by an applied temperature gradient. The experimental measurements will be used to refine the presumed permeability and capillary pressure functions, which are used in the finite element analysis. The calculations presented in this paper, using the presumed material functions, show that saturation profiles and experimental time scales are sensitive to applied temperature gradients and initial liquid saturations. The results have been used to predict appropriate experimental parameter ranges. 7 refs., 11 figs.
Kinetics of Fungal Growth and Phosphatase Formation in Aspergillus nidulans

Dorn, G. (Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, N.Y.), and W. Rivera. Kinetics of fungal growth and phosphatase formation in Aspergillus nidulans. J. Bacteriol. 92:1618–1622. 1966.—A liquid culture system is described for growing Aspergillus nidulans in a manner amenable to kinetic studies. Changes in dry weight, protein, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), inorganic phosphate, alkaline phosphatase, and acid phosphatase activity were followed over a 40-hr interval. In both limiting- and high-phosphate media, the doubling time of DNA during the logarithmic phase was 3.5 ± 0.5 hr. Of the four phosphatases which have been found in this fungus, three were markedly derepressed by low levels of inorganic phosphate.
Variability in Chinese as a Foreign Language Learners' Development of the Chinese Numeral Classifier System

This study examined variability in Chinese as a Foreign Language (CFL) learners' development of the Chinese numeral classifier system from a dynamic systems approach. Our data consisted of a longitudinal corpus of 657 essays written by CFL learners at lower and higher intermediate levels and a corpus of 100 essays written by native speakers (NSs) of Chinese. A combination of quantitative and qualitative methods was employed to analyze the fluency, diversity, and accuracy of learners' and NSs' classifier use. Usage by 4 focal learners from the higher immediate level was then closely examined to discover inter- and intraindividual variability in learners' development of these dimensions and to reveal the patterns of interaction among these dimensions. Learners exhibited varied, nonlinear developmental paths for all three dimensions, with different degrees of fluctuation and regression for each path. The three dimensions did not always develop in parallel, but interacted with each other in divergent ways. Pedagogically, we advocate for a collocational approach to presenting and teaching classifiers and recommend that tailored assistance be provided to individual learners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Laser-tissue Interaction

There are many uses of lasers for medical purposes, including both diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. In order to effectively select, and predict the result of laser energy that is to be applied to living tissue, one must have a basic understanding of laser-tissue interaction. For example, how does a clinician choose the appropriate wavelength, power, and spot size to achieve a particular effect? The mechanisms of tissue optics and the ramifications of photon absorption, scattering, and propagation all contribute to the result. This chapter provides a basic overview of these considerations, and provides brief descriptions of some of the more common modeling techniques used to predict laser-tissue interaction. The reader is referred to sources such as [1, 2, 3, 4, 5] for more extensive background information and theory. Note that while some equations describing aspects of laser-tissue interaction will appear in this chapter, the level of discussion is such that the reader can gain much useful information without necessarily having an extensive background in physics or engineering. This chapter is an overview only; it should not be considered a rigorous mathematical treatment.
Modeling trade-offs between plant fiber and toxins: a framework for quantifying risks perceived by foraging herbivores

When selecting habitats, herbivores must weigh multiple risks, such as predation, starvation, toxicity, and thermal stress, forcing them to make fitness trade-offs. Here, we applied the method of paired comparisons (PC) to investigate how herbivores make trade-offs between habitat features that influence selection of food patches. The method of PC measures utility and the inverse of utility, relative risk, and makes trade-offs and indifferences explicit by forcing animals to make choices between two patches with different types of risks. Using a series of paired-choice experiments to titrate the equivalence curve and find the marginal rate of substitution for one risk over the other, we evaluated how toxin-tolerant (pygmy rabbit Brachylagus idahoensis) and fiber-tolerant (mountain cottontail rabbit Sylviagus nuttallii) herbivores differed in their hypothesized perceived risk of fiber and toxins in food. Pygmy rabbits were willing to consume nearly five times more of the toxin 1,8-cineole in their diets to avoid consuming higher levels of fiber than were mountain cottontails. Fiber posed a greater relative risk for pygmy rabbits than cottontails and cineole a greater risk for cottontails than pygmy rabbits. Our flexible modeling approach can be used to (1) quantify how animals evaluate and trade off multiple habitat attributes when the benefits and risks are difficult to quantify, and (2) integrate diverse risks that influence fitness and habitat selection into a single index of habitat value. This index potentially could be applied to landscapes to predict habitat selection across several scales.
Breastfeeding in Depressed Mother-Infant Dyads

Depressed versus non-depressed mothers were interviewed on their breastfeeding practices and perceptions of their infants' feeding behavior when their infants were eight-months-old. The depressed mothers less often breastfed, they stopped breastfeeding their infants significantly earlier in infancy and they scored lower on a breastfeeding confidence scale. Independent of maternal depression, mothers who breastfed rather than bottle fed their infants had higher confidence levels and rated their infants as less alert and less irritable during feedings.
Discovery of a 3-Amino-6-phenyl-pyridazine Derivative as a New Synthetic Antineuroinflammatory Compound

Excessive glial activation, with overproduction of cytokines and oxidative stress products, is detrimental and a hallmark of neurodegenerative disease pathology. Suppression of glial activation is a potential therapeutic approach, and protein kinases are targets of some antiinflammatory drugs. To address an unmet need for selective inhibitors of glial activation, we developed a novel 3-amino-6-phenylpyridazine derivative that selectively blocks increased IL-1β, iNOS, and NO production by activated glia, without inhibition of potentially beneficial glial functions.
Time-resolved quantum process tomography using Hamiltonian-encoding and observable-decoding

The Hamiltonian encoding observable decoding (HE-OD) technique is experimentally demonstrated for process tomography of laser-induced dynamics in atomic Rb vapor. With the assistance of a laser pulse truncation method, a time dependent reconstruction of the quantum evolution is achieved. HE-OD can perform full as well as partial process tomography with appropriate measurements to characterize the system. The latter feature makes HE-OD tomography suitable for analyzing quantum processes in complex systems.
Differential effects of chlorpromazine and reserpine.

Forty-eight chronic schizophrenic subjects were randomly divided into chlorpromazine and reserpine treatment groups for a period of three months. After this phase, half of the subjects in each group were switched to the other drug. Pre-drug ratings by an abridged Lorr Multidimensional Rating Scale and various psychological tests, monthly ratings, and psychological testing every third month were carried out. No significant behavioral differences were found for the six-month period, although reserpine—at the end of the third month—tended to be temporarily superior in its action. Analysis of behavioral change disclosed that chlorpromazine produced significant effects after the first month, whereas a reserpine build-up until the third month was necessary before conclusive behavioral changes occurred. In general, no significant differences in psychological test performances were found between the various groups.
Investigation of carbon materials for use as a flowable electrode in electrochemical flow capacitors

Abstract A recently introduced, novel electrical energy storage concept, the electrochemical flow capacitor (EFC), holds much promise for grid-scale energy storage applications. The EFC combines the principles behind the operation of flow batteries and supercapacitors, and enables rapid charging/discharging and decoupled energy/power ratings. Electrical charge is stored in a flowable carbon slurry composed of low-cost and abundantly available carbon particles in pH-neutral, aqueous electrolyte. Charge storage and transfer is analogous to solid carbon electrodes in conventional supercapacitors. Here, the effects of carbon particle solid fraction, shape, and size on the electrochemical and rheological properties of slurry electrodes are investigated. A static cell configuration is utilized for studying the electrochemical properties of the flowable electrodes. The electrochemical properties of the slurry electrodes tested in a static cell are found to be similar to that of solid electrodes in conventional supercapacitors for both, large spherical and anisometric activated carbons. Flow properties of the slurry electrodes are obtained for shear rates corresponding to pumping shear rates by rheometry. Results indicate that electrochemical and rheological properties of slurries depend on their concentration, shape and size of the carbon particles used in the slurries. For a range of concentrations, slurries based on spherical carbon particles show lower viscosities compared to anisometric activated carbon based slurries while performing similar electrochemically.
Smart temperature sensors

This paper discusses the conceptual design of a family of specially-designed temperature surety sensors made with shape-memory alloys (SMA). These sensors are capable of detecting a one time temperature excursion or variance form a predetermined temperature range. The propose designs can also be used to detect a one-time temperature rise and persistence above a certain pre-selected critical temperature. In that respect, these sensors relate to a family of one-time thaw sensors detecting whether or not frozen food items or other frozen products or objects experience a thawing-refreezing process in their journey from point A to point B. The proposed sensor can also detect a one time temperature excursion into non-allowable temperatures for non-frozen food, as well as pharmaceutical or other medical products. The essential design of these smart sensor is a lever arm attached to an SMA wire whose temperature is initially below Austenite start temperature or well into the Martensite region. As a given product experiences an undesirable temperature range which pushes the SMA material into the Austenite region the wire contracts and moves the lever arm outside a display window area and exposes either a red working indicator or a graduated scale calibrated to the range of temperature excursion experienced by the product. The sensor is designed such that if the temperature returns to normal the excursion indication will not disappear, but will permanently shown the amount of excursion above the temperature surety region for that product. Several possible design variations are presented and discussed. The proposed embodiments include a rupture type thaw sensor made with short SMA springs or bellows, SMA foil roll-up type sensors, SMA wire-loaded shutter type thaw sensors, SMA torsion strut-loaded shutter type thaw sensors, multiple shutter SMA wire-loaded thaw sensors, multiple shutter, SMA torsion-rod-loaded thaw sensors, and rupture-Type SMA spring-loaded thaw sensors.
Evolution of proliferation and the angiogenic switch in tumors with high clonal diversity.

Natural selection among tumor cell clones is thought to produce hallmark properties of malignancy. Efforts to understand evolution of one such hallmark—the angiogenic switch—has suggested that selection for angiogenesis can “run away” and generate a hypertumor, a form of evolutionary suicide by extreme vascular hypo- or hyperplasia. This phenomenon is predicted by models of tumor angiogenesis studied with the techniques of adaptive dynamics. These techniques also predict that selection drives tumor proliferative potential towards an evolutionarily stable strategy (ESS) that is also convergence-stable. However, adaptive dynamics are predicated on two key assumptions: (i) no more than two distinct clones or evolutionary strategies can exist in the tumor at any given time; and (ii) mutations cause small phenotypic changes. Here we show, using a stochastic simulation, that relaxation of these assumptions has no effect on the predictions of adaptive dynamics in this case. In particular, selection drives proliferative potential towards, and angiogenic potential away from, their respective ESSs. However, these simulations also show that tumor behavior is highly contingent on mutational history, particularly for angiogenesis. Individual tumors frequently grow to lethal size before the evolutionary endpoint is approached. In fact, most tumor dynamics are predicted to be in the evolutionarily transient regime throughout their natural history, so that clinically, the ESS is often largely irrelevant. In addition, we show that clonal diversity as measured by the Shannon Information Index correlates with the speed of approach to the evolutionary endpoint. This observation dovetails with results showing that clonal diversity in Barrett's esophagus predicts progression to malignancy.
Varieties of Sensitivity Training

Types of sensitivity training groups are distinguished according to their general orientations, practice and aims. Observations are made on the Esalen, Tavistock, and NTL approaches as well as on some sources of the different approaches and suggestions as to their advantages and disadvantages.
Reiter's syndrome and acute aortic insufficiency

A 24-year-old man with active Reiter's syndrome suddenly developed aortic insufficiency. The significance of this lesion is commented upon. He represents the first well-documented case of acute aortic insufficiency associated with Reiter's syndrome.
Theorizing socialism: a prologue to the “transition”

The startling transformations of eastern European polities during 1989 offer anthropologists a remarkable opportunity: firsthand observation of the “transition from socialism,” the process by which the internal organization of these societies and their place within western political and economic circuits will be reconfigured. As a contribution to conceptualizing the possible forms of the transition, this article offers a theoretical model of the “socialism” from which these societies begin their departure. The article concludes by suggesting some research problems that follow from the model. [theory, socialism, eastern Europe, political economy, cultural politics, social change]
In vivo mutant frequency of thioguanine-resistant T-cells in the peripheral blood and lymph nodes of melanoma patients

Abstract T-cell activation by malignant melanoma would be anticipated to stimulate T-cell proliferation, which in turn has been associated with increasing the likelihood of somatic gene mutation. The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that in vivo hypoxanthine guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (hprt) mutant frequencies (MFs) are increased in peripheral blood T-cells from melanoma patients compared to normal controls. Assays were made of 48 peripheral blood samples from melanoma patients with stage 3 (13 patients) and stage 4 (35 patients) disease, 38 normal controls, and of nine tumor bearing lymph nodes. The mean hprt log10(MF) in patient peripheral blood was −4.77 (geometric mean hprt MF=17.0×10−6) compared to a mean hprt log10(MF) of −4.87 (geometric mean hprt MF=13.5×10−6) in controls. Although modest, this difference is statistically significant both by t-test (P=0.049) and after adjustment for covariates of age, gender, and cigarette smoking by regression analysis (P=0.001). Among the melanoma patients, the mean log10(MF) for the 17 patients who had received potentially genotoxic therapies was not significantly different from the mean log10(MF) for the 31 patients not receiving such therapies. The hprt MFs in the nine tumor bearing nodes were compared with MFs in peripheral blood from the same patients and revealed a non-significant (P=0.07) trend for increasing MFs in blood. Furthermore, analyses of T-cell receptor gene rearrangement patterns revealed hprt mutants originating from the same in vivo clone in both peripheral blood and a tumor-bearing node. The finding of elevated hprt MFs not entirely explained by genotoxic therapies in patients compared to controls can be explained either by hypermutability or in vivo T-cell activation. The similar MFs in peripheral blood and tumor bearing lymph nodes, as well as the finding of mutant representatives of the same in vivo T-cell clone in both locations, support monitoring peripheral blood to detect events in the nodes. If in vivo proliferation accounts for the current findings, the hprt deficient (hprt−) mutant fraction in blood may be enriched for T-cells that mediate the host immune response against malignant melanoma. Further studies will characterize the functional reactivity of hprt mutant isolates against melanoma-related antigens.
Action Health Self-Efficacy Assessment Tool Development for Online Cancer Support Groups

This Work in Progress constitutes the development of an Action Health Self-Efficacy (AHSE) Assessment Tool for online cancer support groups that will permit assessment of individual AHSE while avoiding direct interventions in vulnerable communities. Benefits accrue to participants in online health support groups, but few individuals contribute even once. Those with higher levels of AHSE have been shown to persist longer and with more effort in online groups, and AHSE levels can be increased in those not demonstrating it. However, determining levels of AHSE requires direct intervention in groups. This tool for assessing AHSE supports non-invasive measurement through behavior patterns and text analysis.
The LKB1 tumor suppressor negatively regulates mTOR signaling

Germline mutations in LKB1, TSC2, or PTEN tumor suppressor genes result in hamartomatous syndromes with shared tumor biological features. The recent observations of LKB1-mediated activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and AMPK inhibition of mTOR through TSC2 prompted us to examine the biochemical and biological relationship between LKB1 and mTOR regulation. Here, we report that LKB1 is required for repression of mTOR under low ATP conditions in cultured cells in an AMPK- and TSC2-dependent manner, and that Lkb1 null MEFs and the hamartomatous gastrointestinal polyps from Lkb1 mutant mice show elevated signaling downstream of mTOR. These findings position aberrant mTOR activation at the nexus of these germline neoplastic conditions and suggest the use of mTOR inhibitors in the treatment of Peutz-Jeghers syndrome.
An environment for evaluation of assembly languages (UAL-E)

Abstract This paper deals with the development of an environment for evaluation of assembly languages. The environment, called UAL-E (universal assembly languages environment), consists of three main parts: (a) the UAL kernel used as the common translation ground for other assembly languages; (b) the (SP) software packages used for the translation of an assembly language program into its UAL version and vice versa; and (c) the PROTASK command control language for the synchronization of the UAL-E processes. The UAL-E environment could also be used as an automatic compiler generator.
Identifying DNA polymorphisms in human TCRA/D variable genes by direct sequencing of PCR products.

The T-cell receptor (TCR) is a highly variable molecule composed of two polypeptide chains that recognize antigenic peptides in the context of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules. In this study, we describe a sequence-based search for germline polymorphisms in the variable (V) gene segments of the humanTCRA/D locus. Thirty differentV gene segments were amplified from six to eight unrelated individuals and sequenced from low melting point agarose. Twenty-seven polymorphisms were identified in 15V gene segments. These polymorphisms are mainly single nucleotide substitutions, but an insertion/deletion polymorphism and a single dinucleotide repeat with variable length were also seen. Of the 15 sequence variations found in the coding regions, six are silent and nine encode amino acid changes. All of the amino acid changes are found at non-conserved residues, frequently in the hypervariable regions, where they may influence MHC and/or peptide recognition. Therefore, it is possible that germline variations inTCR genes could influence an individual’s immune response, and may also contribute to susceptibility to diseases such as autoimmunity.
Science in Your Own Backyard: Using Locally Abundant Caterpillars & Plants to Teach about Herbivory

National science standards require an understanding of animal behavior, diversity, and adaptations of organisms, as well as the concept of science as inquiry. We have developed a hands-on classroom activity that addresses these standards through teaching about herbivory and diet breadth, using locally abundant caterpillars and plants. This activity provides students with opportunities for careful observation, data collection and analysis, and development of testable hypotheses for further experimentation. The lesson can be adapted to different grade levels, with students taking on varied levels of responsibility for formulation of hypotheses, experimental design, data collection, and data analysis.
Minimum energy control and ARMA splines

This paper considers the problem of exact minimum energy control of linear systems with linear functional constraints on the output. An explicit correspondence is established between constrained minimum energy control and interpolation with ARMA (autoregressive-moving average) splines, and then used to obtain a formula for the optimal control. The control-spline correspondence is an input-output duality: if the system is driven by the optimal control, the output will be the appropriate spline.
Architecture of the suprachiasmatic nuclei in BALB/c and C57BL/6 inbred mouse strains

Quantitative values representing the length, girth, volume, shape, and cell counts of the suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN) were measured in BALB/cByJ and C57BL/6J inbred mouse strains, which exhibit a large interstrain difference in the free-running period of their circadian locomotor rhythms. There were no differences in the gross architectural features of the SCN in these two strains.
The electron affinity of cyclopropyl radical measured by the kinetic method

Abstract The electron affinity of cyclopropyl radical (cC3H5.) has been derived using a single reference variant of the Cooks kinetic method. Thiocarboxylate anions (RCOS: RPhCH2, CH2CH, CH2CHCH2, CH3C(O), and cC3H5) were synthesized in a helium flow reactor by the addition of OCS to alkyl anions or by reaction of SH− with acyl chlorides. Collision-induced dissociation of these ions in a triple quadrupole mass analyzer generated, inter alia, R− and OCS− fragments. Plots of the electron affinities of R against the natural logarithms of the yield ratios of R− to OCS− were linearly correlated. From these calibration lines, the electron affinity of cC3H5. was determined to be 0.397 ± 0.069 eV. This value is slightly lower than, but in good agreement with, the electron affinity of cC3H5. predicted by G2 theory. Deleterious effects due to structural dissimilarity in the fragment ions and to multiple fragmentation channels are minimal.
Hemodynamics in Patent Ductus Arteriosus Without a Murmur

The clinical and hemodynamic features are described in a 7½-year-old boy who had a patent ductus arteriosus and pulmonary hypertension without a murmur. Values for oxygen saturation of the blood and dye-dilution curves demonstrated that the flow through the ductus was mainly from pulmonary artery to aorta. This was reversed when the patient breathed 99.6 per cent oxygen. Blood shunted from right to left through the ductus could be detected at the right radial artery. Thus retrograde movement of blood occurred in the aortic arch. Clamping of the ductus caused an increase in pulmonary arterial pressure, a decrease in systemic arterial pressure, an increase in arterial oxygen saturation and a change in the arterial dye-dilution curve toward normal. Division of the ductus was followed by clinical improvement.
Carcinogenic and fibrogenic effects of zeolites: Preliminary observations

Abstract Two natural zeolite minerals, erionite, a fibrous form, and mordenite, a mixture of fibrous and granular types, were injected intraperitoneally into 45 Swiss albino male mice with a single administration of 10 or 30 mg of zeolite suspended in 1 cc of saline solution. The erionite was 0.4–24 μm in length (1 μm average, 95% shorter than 8 μm) and 0.01–2.5 μm in width (0.1 μm average, 94.4% smaller than 1 μm). The granular mordenite was 0.33–5.7 μm in the long axis and 0.27–1.67 μm in the short axis. The fibrous mordenite was 0.4–6 μm in length and 0.05–0.67 μm in width. Thirteen untreated mice and five mice treated with 10 mg chrysotile (Calidria, 90% shorter than 1 μm) were used as controls. Six of ten mice treated with 10 mg of erionite developed malignant peritoneal tumors between 8 and 22 months after the single administration. The neoplasms in four of the six animals were consistent with malignant mesothelioma. Two of four chrysotile-treated controls also developed malignant peritoneal mesotheliomas between 9 and 16 months. A fibrogenic effect was noted in both the erionite-and mordenite-treated mice, the effect being more pronounced in the former. Fibrotic lesions induced by these mineral fibers commonly presented in the primary site of these induced peritoneal tumors. Findings suggest that the carcinogenic and fibrogenic effects of the fibrous erionite are similar to those of asbestos.
Herceptin conjugated PLGA-PHis-PEG pH sensitive nanoparticles for targeted and controlled drug delivery.

Abstract A dual functional nano-scaled drug carrier, comprising of a targeting ligand and pH sensitivity, has been made in order to increase the specificity and efficacy of the drug delivery system. The nanoparticles are made of a tri-block copolymer, poly( d , l lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA)-b-poly( l -histidine) (PHis)-b-polyethylene glycol (PEG), via nano-precipitation. To provide the nanoparticle feature of endolysosomal escape and pH sensitivity, poly( l -histidine) was chosen as a proton sponge polymer. Herceptin, which specifically binds to HER2 antigen, was conjugated to the nanoparticles through click chemistry. The nanoparticles were characterized via dynamic light scattering (DLS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Both methods showed the sizes of about 100 nm with a uniform size distribution. The pH sensitivity was assessed by drug releases and size changes at different pH conditions. As pH decreased from 7.4 to 5.2, the drug release rate accelerated and the size significantly increased. During in vitro tests against human breast cancer cell lines, MCF-7 and SK-BR-3 showed significantly increased uptake for Herceptin-conjugated nanoparticles, as compared to non-targeted nanoparticles. Herceptin-conjugated pH-sensitive nanoparticles showed the highest therapeutic effect, and thus validated the efficacy of a combined approach of pH sensitivity and active targeting.
On the consistency of defeasible databases

Abstract We propose a norm of consistency for a mixed set of defeasible and strict sentences which, guided by a probabilistic interpretation of these sentences, establishes a clear distinction between exceptions, ambiguities and outright contradictions. A notion of entailment is then defined which represents a minimal core of beliefs that must follow from the database if one is committed to avoid inconsistencies. The paper establishes necessary and sufficient conditions for consistency, and provides a simple decision procedure for testing the consistency of a database or whether a given sentence is entailed by the database. It is also shown that if all sentences are of Horn type, consistency and entailment can be tested in polynomial time. Finally, we discuss procedures for reasoning with inconsistent databases and identifying sentences directly responsible for the inconsistency.
Material coefficients of anisotropic poroelasticity

The material coefficients of Biot's anisotropic poroelasticity are interpreted following micromechanical considerations. The adoption of the micro-homogeneity and micro-isotropy assumptions leads to a most practical model for laboratory measurement: the material is defined within 21 drained elastic constants M ijkl , a solid grain bulk modulus K s , and a Biot modulus M. To facilitate engineering applications, relations among Hookean, engineering and micromechanical constitutive constants are explicitly and extensively listed. These relations are used to convert a set of anisotropic data measured in traditional engineering tests under undrained condition to various continuum mechanical constants.
Evaluating a diverse panel of biocontrol agents against infection of blueberry flowers by Monilinia vaccinii-corymbosi

Abstract Seven microorganisms were evaluated for their biocontrol potential against Monilinia vaccinii-corymbosi which causes mummy berry disease through gynoecial (stigma-style-ovary) infection of blueberry flowers: the bacteria Bacillus subtilis QRD137, B. mojavensis RRC101, B. mycoides 7IIC4, and Pantoea agglomerans C9-1S; the yeast Wickerhamiella australiensis Y-27360; and the filamentous fungi Trichoderma harzianum KRL-AG2 and Gliocladium roseum H47. The epiphytic fitness of each organism was investigated by evaluating population dynamics or fungal growth on the stigmas of detached blueberry flowers, and such flowers, co-inoculated with M. vaccinii-corymbosi, were used to determine efficacy in reducing pathogen infection of the style. In addition, all organisms were tested in vitro for antibiosis using dual cultures and for nutrient competition (niche overlap) using Biolog microplates. The most promising antagonists were P. agglomerans, which exhibited high epiphytic fitness on the stigma and consist...
Molecular cloning of the human brain and gastric cholecystokinin receptor: structure, functional expression and chromosomal localization.

Abstract The receptors for the brain and gastrointestinal peptide, cholecystokinin, can be classfied into CCKA and CCKB subtypes. Having recently cloned the rat CCKB receptor, we used it's cDNA to isolate the human CCKB receptor homologue from brain and stomach which encodes a 447 amino acid protein with 90% identity to both rat CCKB and canine gastrin receptors. Northern hybridization identifies transcripts from stomach, pancreas, brain and gallbladder. The CCKB receptor gene maps to chromosome 11. Expression of the receptor cDNA in COS-7 cells was characteristics of a CCKB receptor subtype pharmacology. These data confirm that we have cloned a novel gene for the human brain and stomach CCKB receptor.
Chondrite Barium, Neodymium, and Samarium Isotopic Heterogeneity and Early Earth Differentiation

Isotopic variability in barium, neodymium, and samarium in carbonaceous chondrites reflects the distinct stellar nucleosynthetic contributions to the early solar system. We used 148Nd/144Nd to correct for the observed s-process deficiency, which produced a chondrite 146Sm-142Nd isochron consistent with previous estimates of the initial solar system abundance of 146Sm and a 142Nd/144Nd at average chondrite Sm/Nd ratio that is lower than that measured in terrestrial rocks by 21 ± 3 parts per million. This result strengthens the conclusion that the deficiency in 142Nd in chondrites relative to terrestrial rocks reflects 146Sm decayand earlyplanetary differentiation processes.
Technetium(III), Technetium(II), and Technetium(I) Complexes with Pyridine Ligands. Can Pyridine Coordination Stabilize the Low Oxidation States of Technetium?

The substitution chemistry of TcCl(3)(PPh(3))(2)(CH(3)CN) is rather facile relative to the analogous rhenium complex, since both the chloride and phosphine ligands are easily substituted for various pyridine ligands. Consequently a series of Tc(III) complexes with amine, pyridine, and polypyridyl ligands were prepared and characterized by (1)H NMR and cyclic voltammetry. In addition, the zinc reduction of TcCl(4)(py)(2) in the presence of pyridine results in TcCl(2)(py)(4). Structural and spectroscopic data indicate that this Tc(II) complex exhibits strong metal-pyridine interactions characteristic of low-valent amine complexes of Re(II) and Os(II). For example, a decrease of 0.04 and 0.06 A is observed for the trans-Tc-N bond length in TcCl(2)(py)(4 )relative to mer-TcCl(3)(pic)(3) and [TcCl(2)(py)(3)(PPh(3))](+), respectively. This ability of pyridine to function both as a strong sigma-donor and moderate pi-acid ligand has resulted in the isolation of technetium complexes in various oxidation states with similar ligand environments. As a result, a structural comparison of [TcCl(2)(py)(3)(PPh(3))](+), TcCl(2)(py)(4), TcCl(tpy)(py)(2), and other known Tc(III) and Tc(II) pyridine complexes is presented. Crystals of [TcCl(2)(py)(3)(PPh(3))]PF(6) are triclinic, with space group Po, Z = 2, and lattice parameters a = 12.677(4) A, b = 13.064(4) A, c = 13.103(5) A, alpha = 110.14(3) degrees, beta = 101.12(3) degrees, gamma = 96.61 degrees, V = 1959 A(3), and R = 0.0615 (R(w) = 0.1148). Crystals of TcCl(2)(py)(4) are tetragonal, with space group I4(1)/acd, Z = 8, and lattice parameters a = 15.641(4) A, c = 16.845(6) A, V = 4121 A(3), and R = 0.0373 (R(w) = 0.0290). Crystals of TcCl(tpy)(py)(2) are orthorhombic, with space group C222(1), Z = 4, and lattice parameters a = 9.359(3) A, b = 16.088(6) A, c = 18.367(4) A, V = 2765 A(3), and R = 0.0499 (R(w) = 0.0599).
Improved sample preparation method for glycan analysis of glycoproteins by CE-LIF and CE-MS

Capillary electrophoresis (CE) is a high resolution separation technique broadly used in the biotechnology industry for carbohydrate analysis. The standard sample preparation protocol for CE analysis of glycans released from glycoproteins generally requires derivatization times of overnight at 37°C, using ≥100 fold excess of fluorophore reagent, 8-aminopyrene-1,3,6-trisulfonic-acid (APTS), if the sample is unknown, or it is a regulated biotherapeutic product, possibly containing terminal sialic acid(s). In this paper, we report on significant improvements for the standard CE sample preparation method of glycan analysis. By replacing the conventionally used acetic acid catalyst with citric acid, as low as 1 : 10 glycan to fluorophore molar ratio (vs the typical 1 : ≥100 ratio) maintained the >95% derivatization yield at 55°C with only 50 minutes reaction time. Terminal sialic acid loss was negligible at 55°C during the derivatization process, and thus the kinetics of labeling at 55°C was faster than the loss of sialic acid from the glycan. The reduced relative level of APTS simplified the removal of excess reagent, important in both CE-LIF (electrokinetic injection bias) and CE-MS (ion suppression). Coupling capillary electrophoresis to electrospray ionization mass spectrometry confirmed that the individual peaks separated by CE corresponded to single glycans and increased the confidence of structural assignment based on glucose unit values.
Analysis of reproductive health hazard information on material safety data sheets for lead and the ethylene glycol ethers.

Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs) are essential sources of information regarding health risks from exposure to toxic chemicals. We analyzed the reproductive health hazard descriptions on nearly 700 MSDSs for lead- or ethylene glycol ether-containing products submitted by central Massachusetts firms to the Department of Environmental Protection under provisions of the Massachusetts Right-to-Know Law. Over 60% of the MSDSs made no mention whatsoever of effects on the reproductive system. Those that did were much more likely to address developmental risks than male reproductive effects. The MSDSs from firms employing 100 or more workers mentioned reproductive system effects more frequently than those from smaller companies. While the informativeness of the health hazard descriptions increased over time, 53% of the MSDSs prepared after promulgation of the OSHA Hazard Communication Standard still contained no information on reproductive risks. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Discovery of columnar jointing on Mars

We report on the discovery of columnar jointing in Marte Valles, Mars. These columnar lavas were discovered in the wall of a pristine, 16-km-diameter impact crater and exhibit the features of terrestrial columnar basalts. There are discontinuous outcrops along the entire crater wall, suggesting that the columnar rocks covered a surface area of at least 200 km 2 , assuming that the rocks obliterated by the impact event were similarly jointed. We also see columns in the walls of other fresh craters in the nearby volcanic plains of Elysium Planitia–Amazonis Planitia, which include Marte Vallis, and in a well-preserved crater in northeast Hellas.
Two Wnts Instruct Topographic Synaptic Innervation in C. elegans

Gradients of topographic cues play essential roles in the organization of sensory systems by guiding axonal growth cones. Little is known about whether there are additional mechanisms for precise topographic mapping of synaptic connections. Whereas the C. elegans DA8 and DA9 neurons have similar axonal trajectories, their synapses are positioned in distinct but adjacent domains in the anterior-posterior axis. We found that two Wnts, LIN-44 and EGL-20, are responsible for this spatial organization of synapses. Both Wnts form putative posterior-high, anterior-low gradients. The posteriorly expressed LIN-44 inhibits synapse formation in both DA9 and DA8, and creates a synapse-free domain on both axons via LIN-17 /Frizzled. EGL-20, a more anteriorly expressed Wnt, inhibits synapse formation through MIG-1/Frizzled, which is expressed in DA8 but not in DA9. The Wnt-Frizzled specificity and selective Frizzled expression dictate the stereotyped, topographic positioning of synapses between these two neurons.
The emerging role of serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine) in the skeleton and its mediation of the skeletal effects of low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 5 (LRP5)

Novel molecular pathways obligatory for bone health are being rapidly identified. One pathway recently revealed involves gut-derived 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) mediation of the complete skeletal effects of low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 5 (LRP5). Mounting evidence supports 5-HT as an important regulatory compound in bone with previous evidence demonstrating that bone cells possess functional pathways for responding to 5-HT. In addition, there is growing evidence that potentiation of 5-HT signaling via inhibition of the 5-HT transporter (5-HTT) has significant skeletal effects. The later is clinically significant as the 5-HTT is a popular target of pharmaceutical agents, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), used for the management of major depressive disorder and other affective conditions. The observation that 5-HT mediates the complete skeletal effects of LRP5 represents a significant paradigm shift from the traditional view that LRP5 located on the cell surface membrane of osteoblasts exerts direct skeletal effects via Wnt/beta-catenin signaling. This paper discusses the mounting evidence for skeletal effects of 5-HT and the ability of gut-derived 5-HT to satisfactorily explain the skeletal effects of LRP5.
A univariate dimension-reduction method for multi-dimensional integration in stochastic mechanics

This paper presents a new, univariate dimension-reduction method for calculating statistical moments of response of mechanical systems subject to uncertainties in loads, material properties, and geometry. The method involves an additive decomposition of a multi-dimensional response function into multiple one-dimensional functions, an approximation of response moments by moments of single random variables, and a moment-based quadrature rule for numerical integration. The resultant moment equations entail evaluating N number of one-dimensional integrals, which is substantially simpler and more efficient than performing one N-dimensional integration. The proposed method neither requires the calculation of partial derivatives of response, nor the inversion of random matrices, as compared with commonly used Taylor expansion/perturbation methods and Neumann expansion methods, respectively. Nine numerical examples involving elementary mathematical functions and solid-mechanics problems illustrate the proposed method. Results indicate that the univariate dimension-reduction method provides more accurate estimates of statistical moments or multidimensional integration than first- and second-order Taylor expansion methods, the second-order polynomial chaos expansion method, the second-order Neumann expansion method, statistically equivalent solutions, the quasi-Monte Carlo simulation, and the point estimate method. While the accuracy of the univariate dimension-reduction method is comparable to that of the fourth-order Neumann expansion, a comparison of CPU time suggests that the former is computationally far more efficient than the latter.
Stressful Life Events and Trauma Among Substance-Abusing Homeless Men

ABSTRACT This study examined the prevalence and nature of stressful life events and the impact of these events and related factors (mental health disorders, number of episodes of homelessness) on trauma severity among substance-abusing, homeless men. Data were collected at five substance abuse treatment agencies in the Southeast. Subjects (N = 99) completed the Stressful Life Events Screening Questionnaire and the Trauma Symptom Checklist-40 and provided demographics information. Analyses revealed that the number of stressful life events and the presence of a co-occurring mental health disorder were both significant predictors of the severity of trauma symptoms. Findings suggest that treatment professionals working with this population should assess for stressful life events and trauma symptoms as part of a comprehensive approach to substance abuse treatment for homeless men.
Color image processing for date quality evaluation

Many agricultural non-contact visual inspection applications use color image processing techniques because color is often a good indicator of product quality. Color evaluation is an essential step in the processing and inventory control of fruits and vegetables that directly affects profitability. Most color spaces such as RGB and HSV represent colors with three-dimensional data, which makes using color image processing a challenging task. Since most agricultural applications only require analysis on a predefined set or range of colors, mapping these relevant colors to a small number of indexes allows simple and efficient color image processing for quality evaluation. This paper presents a simple but efficient color mapping and image processing technique that is designed specifically for real-time quality evaluation of Medjool dates. In contrast with more complex color image processing techniques, the proposed color mapping method makes it easy for a human operator to specify and adjust color-preference settings for different color groups representing distinct quality levels. Using this color mapping technique, the color image is first converted to a color map that has one color index represents a color value for each pixel. Fruit maturity level is evaluated based on these color indices. A skin lamination threshold is then determined based on the fruit surface characteristics. This adaptive threshold is used to detect delaminated fruit skin and hence determine the fruit quality. The performance of this robust color grading technique has been used for real-time Medjool date grading.
Indicators of sustainable production

Abstract Over the past 10 years, firms, government and the public have increasingly focused on measurement tools to assess the environmental aspects of sustainability. While there are numerous lists of environmental performance indicators (see, for example, International Organizations for Standardization's ISO 14301, Global Reporting Initiative, and World Business Council for Sustainable Development), these lists provide little insight into how firms might revise the indicators they currently have to more accurately measure sustainability. The Lowell Center for Sustainable Production at the University of Massachusetts Lowell has developed a tool to enable companies to evaluate the effectiveness of sustainability indicator systems. The tool includes a framework that consists of five levels for categorizing existing indicators relative to the basic principles of sustainability. The purpose of the framework is not to rank indicators as better or worse, but rather to provide a method to evaluate the ability of a set of indicators to inform decision-making and measure progress toward more sustainable systems of production. In its current state, the framework focuses on environmental, health and safety aspects of production. Work is underway to expand it to include social and economic aspects.