cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Refractory inclusions in the unique carbonaceous chondrite Acfer 094

Abstract– Acfer 094 is an unshocked, nearly unaltered carbonaceous chondrite with an unusual suite of refractory inclusions. The refractory inclusions in a newly prepared thin section and a small aliquot of disaggregated material were studied to compare the population with previous work, and to report new or unusual inclusion types. A total of 289 Ca-, Al-rich inclusions in the thin section and 67 among the disaggregated material, having a total of 31 different mineral assemblages, were found. Inclusions are largely free of secondary alteration products, and are typically ≤200 μm across. The most common are gehlenitic melilite+spinel±perovskite, spinel+perovskite, and spinel with a thin, silicate rim, typically melilite±diopside. Such rims and (thicker) mantles are very common among Acfer 094 inclusions, and they exhibit a variety of zoning patterns with respect to akermanite and FeO contents. In the thin section, about 13% of the inclusions contain hibonite and approximately 5% are grossite-bearing; in the disaggregated material, the percentages are 14 and 9, respectively, comparable to previous work. Among the unusual inclusions are a fine-grained, porous, Ti-rich hibonite+spinel+perovskite+melilite inclusion with a compact, coarse, Ti-poor hibonite+spinel+melilite clast; two inclusions in which hibonite has reacted to form grossite; two inclusions with FeO-rich spinel; and a small object consisting of fassaite enclosing euhedral spinel, the first fragment of a Type B inclusion reported from Acfer 094. Inclusions similar to those found in CM or CV chondrites are rare; Acfer 094 contains a distinctive population of inclusions. The population, dominated by small, melilite-bearing inclusions, is most similar to that of CO chondrites. A distinguishing feature is that in Acfer 094, almost every phase in almost every refractory inclusion contains 0.5–1.5 wt% FeO. A lack of diffusion gradients and the pristinity of the matrix imply that the inclusions experienced prolonged exposure to FeO-bearing fluid prior to accretion into the Acfer 094 parent body. There are no known nebular conditions under which the refractory phases found in the present samples could acquire FeO enrichments to the observed levels. The most likely setting is therefore in an earlier, FeO-rich parent body. The inclusions were ejected from this parent body, mixed with typical CAIs, chondrules, amoeboid olivine aggregates, and amorphous material, and incorporated into the Acfer 094 parent body.
The Pitch Angle Distribution of > 40 keV Electrons

The subject of wave-particle interactions inside the magnetosphere has become an increasingly active area of research in recent years. Of the many interactions and instabilities that have been discussed in the literature those dealing with gyro-resonant interactions have received considerable attention. A recent review by Gendrin (1972) on these types of wave-particle interactions summarizes the present state of the theories and points out that “uncertainties about the anisotropy of the particle distribution functions are a heavy handicap for obtaining good comparisons between theory and experiment.” The present paper presents conclusions drawn about the pitch angle distribution of > 40 keV electrons in the outer radiation zone which should add some insight into the behavior of this often studied but not well understood component of the magnetospheric particle population.
Technology choice and pooled investment among networks: supply chain roadmaps

Pooled investment across the supply chain is rooted in a shift from minimizing transaction costs across individual firms to maximizing the value created by individual firms competing as networks. Underpinning pooled investment strategies are information technology approaches to capturing and sharing information, real options valuation of technology choices, and an understanding of the time value of information in turbulent environments.
Value-Based Software Engineering (VBSE)

We consider a set of programs a family when it pays to look at their common aspects before looking at their differences. For commercial software developers the implications are twofold: First, making rational decisions about product-line processes and products requires the ability to answer the question: “Does it pay?” Second, whether or not something pays is ultimately a business (rather than software engineering) question. In short, making sound software engineering decisions requires understanding the business implications of those decisions, and vice versa. This paper describes work in progress to develop a product-line process model and common value metric that adequately link product value drivers (what it pays) with the software engineering decisions that affect those drivers. We describe a systematic approach to quantifying the return on both product and process improvements, based on common software engineering principles and a common value metric, customer value .
Design and Optimization of a Natural Graphite/Iron Phosphate Lithium-Ion Cell

This paper uses a model for a natural graphite/lithium hexafluoro phosphate (ethylene carbonate:diethyl carbonate)/iron phosphate lithium-ion cell in order to study its performance and aid in its optimization. The model is used to generate Ragone plots for various designs, where both the average power of the cell and the peak power, defined at 80% depth-of-discharge for a 30 s pulse, are evaluated. This allows us to assess the ability of this chemistry to achieve the U.S. Department of Energy goals. The model is then used to maximize the specific energy of the cell by optimizing the design for a fixed time of discharge. The cell was optimized for the porosity and thickness of the positive electrode, while holding constant the capacity ratio of the two electrodes, the thickness and porosity of the separator, the electrolyte concentration, and the porosity of the negative electrode. The effect of the capacity ratio was qualitatively examined. The optimization was performed for discharge times ranging from 10 h to 2 min in order to map the maximum performance of this chemistry under a wide operating range. The study allows us to gauge the ability of this chemistry to be used in a particular application. The optimized designs derived in this paper are expected to be a starting point for battery manufacturers and to help decrease the time to commercialization. © 2004 The Electrochemical Society. All rights reserved.
A pricing problem under Monge property

We study a pricing problem where buyers with non-uniform demand purchase one of many items. Each buyer has a known benefit for each item and purchases the item that gives the largest utility, which is defined to be the difference between the benefit and the price of the item. The optimization problem is to decide on the prices that maximize total revenue of the seller. This problem is also called the optimal product line design problem in the absence of competition. Even though the general problem is known to be NP-hard, it can be solved efficiently under some natural assumptions on customer benefits. In this paper we study properties of optimal solutions and present a dynamic programming algorithm when customer benefits satisfy the Monge property. The same algorithm can also be used to solve the problem under the additional requirement that all buyers should be served.
Oxygen content of selected coals as determined by charged particle activation analysis

Abstract Coal samples are irradiated with 3He ions to produce 11C, 13N, and 18F via the following nuclear reactions: 12C(3He, 4He)11C; 12C(3He, d)13N; 16O(3He, p)18F. By comparing the 11C to 18F production, a direct comparison of the amounts of carbon and oxygen present in the coal samples can be obtained. The 13N production provides an internal check for the amount of carbon present. In preference to calculating the yield of C-11 and F-18 on an absolute basis, organic standards with known oxygen-to-carbon ratios can be irradiated which provide a direct correlation between the 18 F 11 C produced and the 16 O 12 C originally present in the sample. By using this ratio method, the necessity for accurately known reaction cross-sections and beam fluxes is eliminated. If the standards and samples can be irradiated simultaneously, corrections for differences in saturation can be eliminated.
Confirmatory factor analysis of the Machiavellian Personality Scale

Abstract According to Christie and Geis (1970), Machiavellianism predisposes one to self-interested behavior, manipulation, and deceit often at the expense of others. The measurement of Machiavellianism began with the Mach IV (Christie & Geis, 1970), which has long suffered from an indeterminant factor structure and poor reliability. Dahling, Whitaker, and Levy (2009) developed the Machiavellian Personality Scale (MPS) to address these shortcomings. In the current examination of the MPS, a four-factor structure is supported with confirmatory factor analysis, but the relationships in a full structural equation model between the four subscales and the criterion of empathy is problematic in that some MPS subscales are negative, some positive, and some unrelated to empathy. Additionally, reliability issues arose with the MPS as have historically occurred with the Mach IV. The four subscales of the MPS appear to act as suppressors of each other, further complicating the predictive relationship between Machiavellianism and other variables.
Transgressive physiological and transcriptomic responses to light stress in allopolyploid Glycine dolichocarpa (Leguminosae)

Allopolyploidy is often associated with increased photosynthetic capacity as well as enhanced stress tolerance. Excess light is a ubiquitous plant stress associated with photosynthetic light harvesting. We show that under chronic excess light, the capacity for non-photochemical quenching (NPQmax), a photoprotective mechanism, was higher in a recently formed natural allotetraploid (Glycine dolichocarpa, designated ‘T2’) than in its diploid progenitors (G. tomentella, ‘D3’; and G. syndetika, ‘D4’). This enhancement in NPQmax was due to an increase in energy-dependent quenching (qE) relative to D3, combined with an increase in zeaxanthin-dependent quenching (qZ) relative to D4. To explore the genetic basis for this phenotype, we profiled D3, D4 and T2 leaf transcriptomes and found that T2 overexpressed genes of the water–water cycle relative to both diploid progenitors, as well as genes involved in cyclic electron flow around photosystem I (CEF-PSI) and the xanthophyll cycle, relative to D4. Xanthophyll pigments have critical roles in NPQ, and the water–water cycle and CEF-PSI are non-photosynthetic electron transport pathways believed to facilitate NPQ formation. In the absence of CO2, T2 also exhibited greater quantum yield of photosystem II than either diploid, indicating a greater capacity for non-photosynthetic electron transport. We postulate that, relative to its diploid progenitors, T2 is able to achieve higher NPQmax due to an increase in xanthophyll pigments coupled with enhanced electron flow through the water–water cycle and CEF-PSI.
Artificially layered nanocomposites fabricated by jet vapor deposition

Abstract Novel jet vapor deposition (JVD) processes offer considerable promise for the inexpensive synthesis of functionally graded (composite) materials (FGMs). Here, we explore microstructure-mechanical property relationships for a model Al/Cu metal-metal system and an Al/Al203 metal-metal oxide multilayered nanocomposite system fabricated by the JVD process. The 10μm thick Al Cu multilayers were deposited on silicon wafers at a substrate temperature of ∼140°C. The A1 and Cu layers were of approximately equal thickness and were systematically varied from ∼20 to ∼1000 nm. The 20μm thick rmAl Al 2 O 3 multilayers were deposited on glass slides at ∼250°C. The oxide layer thickness was held constant in the ∼2–6 nm range, whilst the Al layer thickness was systematically varied from ∼3 to ∼50 nm. The structure of the Al/Cu multilayers was polycrystalline and had a strong [111] texture, whereas the Al/Al2O3 multilayers consisted of amorphous aluminum oxide layers and polycrystalline metal layers with randomly oriented grains. The yield strength of the Al/Cu multilayers exhibited an inverse dependence upon layer thickness when the layer spacing exceeded ∼50 nm. When the Al Cu layer spacing was thinner than ∼50 nm, the strength was better predicted by a Koehler image force model. A similar phenomenon was also found in the Al/Al2O3 multilayers. In this case the critical metal layer thickness for the transition from an Orowan to a Koehler type behavior was approximately 25 nm. This is consistent with theoretical predictions which indicate that the critical layer thickness of the low modulus consistuent decreases as the difference in shear moduli between the two constituent layers increases.
Efficient iPS cell production with the MyoD transactivation domain in serum-free culture.

A major difficulty of producing induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) has been the low efficiency of reprogramming differentiated cells into pluripotent cells. We previously showed that 5% of mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) were reprogrammed into iPSCs when they were transduced with a fusion gene composed of Oct4 and the transactivation domain of MyoD (called M3O), along with Sox2, Klf4 and c-Myc (SKM). In addition, M3O facilitated chromatin remodeling of pluripotency genes in the majority of transduced MEFs, including cells that did not become iPSCs. These observations suggested the possibility that more than 5% of cells had acquired the ability to become iPSCs given more favorable culture conditions. Here, we raised the efficiency of making mouse iPSCs with M3O-SKM to 26% by culturing transduced cells at low density in serum-free culture medium. In contrast, the efficiency increased from 0.1% to only 2% with the combination of wild-type Oct4 and SKM (OSKM) under the same culture condition. For human iPSCs, M3O-SKM achieved 7% efficiency under a similar serum-free culture condition, in comparison to 1% efficiency with OSKM. This study highlights the power of combining the transactivation domain of MyoD with a favorable culture environment.
Effects of thematic structure on syntactic comprehension in aphasia.

Abstract This study assessed (1) aphasic subjects' sensitivity to the given-new structure within simple paragraphs and (2) the extent to which narrative discourse is facilitative of syntactic processing in the absence of semantic constraints. Subjects were divided into four groups along the dimensions of comprehension level and fluency. Stimulus items consisted of reversible active and passive sentences that were presented in the following three conditions: (1) isolation, (2) at the end of paragraphs such that the given-new structure was respected, and (3) at the end of paragraphs such that the given-new structure was violated. Fluency did not significantly influence performance but comprehension level did. The high-comprehension group presented no significant differences between contextual conditions. The low-comprehension group, however, favored both paragraph contexts over isolation with no difference occurring between contextual conditions. These results suggest that lower level aphasic subjects are able to utilize thematic, antecedent verbal information for comprehending sentences in connected discourse even when the discourse is not semantically predictive of the underlying meaning of these sentences. Whether the narrative respects or violates the given-new relationship may not be an important factor. The reasons for these findings are explored.
Toll-Like Receptor-9 Agonist Inhibits Airway Inflammation, Remodeling and Hyperreactivity in Mice Exposed to Chronic Environmental Tobacco Smoke and Allergen

Background: As passive environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure in nonsmokers can increase both asthma symptoms and the frequency of asthma exacerbations, we utilized a mouse mode
Burst of pulses in lightning electromagnetic radiation: observations and implications for lightning test standards

Bursts of regular microsecond-scale electric field pulses produced by three multiple-stroke cloud-to-ground discharges (a total of 2782 pulses) and by three cloud discharges (a total of 1436 pulses), all recorded within 20 km or so at the NASA Kennedy Space Center, are analyzed. The regular pulse bursts are similar in both cloud-to-ground and cloud discharges. A burst is characterized by some tens of pulses, each having a total width of a few microseconds, with an average interpulse interval of 6-7 /spl mu/m. Pulse peaks in cloud-to-ground discharges are approximately two orders of magnitude smaller than return-stroke initial field peaks in the same flash. In both cloud and ground discharges, there is a tendency for the bursts to occur in the latter stages of a discharge, and positive and negative pulse polarities are about equally probable. Many bursts were found to be associated with the latter part of K changes while one pronounced M change appeared to be initiated by a regular pulse burst. The observed regular burst exhibit some similarity to the "multiple burst" (component H) of the standard lightning environment for the design and testing of aerospace vehicles. Overall, neither the present definition of the H component given in a previously published document (see Fed. Aviation Admin., US Dept. of Trans., advisory circular no. 20-136, Mar. 5, 1990) nor its newly proposed revision appears to be based on adequate experimental data.
Maximum flow problem in wireless ad hoc networks with directional antennas

Directional antenna offers a variety of benefits for wireless networks, one of which is the increased spatial reuse ratio. This feature gives rise to the improved throughput in resource limited wireless ad hoc networks. In this paper, we formulate the maximum flow problem as an optimization problem in wireless ad hoc networks with switched beam directional antennas constrained by interference. We demonstrate how to solve this optimization problem. It turns out that the proposed method works for both single beam antenna and multi-beam antenna, with minor variation of the constraints.
Radiographic assessment of cranial gunshot wounds

Though advances in MRI will undoubtedly increase its use, particularly in the subacute period, CT will likely continue its primary role in the management of these injuries in the foreseeable future. The spectrum of imaging features of cranial gunshot injuries is vast, because they encompass all of the findings encountered in closed head injury in addition to the wide variety of problems associated with penetration. Thus, only a brief summary of the many varied aspects of this complex problem is presented here as a review of the more salient issues.
Effect of Azide Position on the Rate of Azido Glucose–Cyclooctyne Cycloaddition

The strain-promoted azide–alkyne cycloaddition (SPAAC) is the most widely used bioorthogonal reaction for imaging azide-labeled glycans in living systems. Rapid SPAAC reactions are essential for visualizing biological processes that occur on a short timescale, and efforts to increase SPAAC reaction rates by modulating the cyclooctyne structure have been highly successful. However, optimizing azido sugar structure for improved SPAAC rates has not been explored. In this study, we show that altering azide position on the sugar ring can have a modest but significant impact on SPAAC reaction rate, which has implications for designing and interpreting experiments involving azide-specific bioorthogonal reactions.
A Novel Protein Distinguishes between Quiescent and Activated Forms of the Type I Transforming Growth Factor β Receptor

Transforming growth factor beta (TGFbeta) signal transduction is mediated by two receptor Ser/Thr kinases acting in series, type II TGFbeta receptor (TbetaR-II) phosphorylating type I TGFbeta receptor (TbetaR-I). Because the failure of interaction cloning, thus far, to identify bona fide TbetaR-I substrates might reasonably have been due to the use of inactive TbetaR-I as bait, we sought to identify molecules that interact specifically with active TbetaR-I, employing the triple mutation L193A,P194A,T204D in a yeast two-hybrid system. The Leu-Pro substitutions prevent interaction with FK506-binding protein 12 (FKBP12), whose putative function in TGFbeta signaling we have previously disproved; the charge substitution at Thr204 constitutively activates TbetaR-I. Unlike previous screens using wild-type TbetaR-I, where FKBP12 predominated, none of the resulting colonies encoded FKBP12. A novel protein was identified, TbetaR-I-associated protein-1 (TRAP-1), that interacts in yeast specifically with mutationally activated TbetaR-I, but not wild-type TbetaR-I, TbetaR-II, or irrelevant proteins. In mammalian cells, TRAP-1 was co-precipitated only by mutationally activated TbetaR-I and ligand-activated TbetaR-I, but not wild-type TbetaR-I in the absence of TGFbeta. The partial TRAP-1 protein that specifically binds these mutationally and ligand-activated forms of TbetaR-I can inhibit signaling by the native receptor after stimulation with TGFbeta or by the constitutively activated receptor mutation, as measured by a TGFbeta-dependent reporter gene. Thus, TRAP-1 can distinguish activated forms of the receptor from wild-type receptor in the absence of TGFbeta and may potentially have a functional role in TGFbeta signaling.
Beyond social support: Using family expectations to predict psychological adjustment in end-stage renal disease patients

One hundred fifty-nine hemodialysis patients completed questionnaires measuring three interpersonal processes, specifically, family expectations, social support, and negative support, and psychological adjustment as measured by depression, optimism, and quality of life. Follow-up assessments were collected three months later. Cross-sectionally family expectations predicted depression when social support was controlled and both depression and quality of life when negative support was controlled. Prospectively, family expectations predicted depression at Time 2 after controlling for social support. Family expectations also predicted depression, optimism and quality of life at Time 2 after controlling for negative support. Implications for designing relevant intervention research are discussed.
Expression, purification, and refolding of mouse islet neogenesis associated protein-related protein for NMR studies.

Abstract Islet neogenesis associated protein-related protein (INGAPrP) is thought to be involved in the differentiation of non-insulin-producing cells to insulin-secreting cells. INGAPrP is a mouse gene product that has a 72% identical amino acid sequence to a known islet-generating factor, hamster islet-neogenesis-associated protein (INGAP), which acts by differentiating pancreatic ductal cells into β-cells. The three-dimensional structure of these proteins is unknown. The structure would provide information about the conformation of the active portion of INGAP, the so-called INGAP pentadecapeptide, leading to a well-defined target for rational drug design. An efficient procedure for the production of INGAPrP would facilitate the process of structure determination. We have successfully produced and isolated 15 N-labeled INGAPrP by expression in Escherichia coli Rosetta (DE3) cells in Spectra-9 media followed by a two-step purification and refolding protocol. The hexahistidine tag engineered at the N-terminus of the protein is used in the first step for standard immobilized-metal affinity chromatography purification under denaturing conditions. The secondary purification step utilizes a gel permeation chromatography column, producing homogeneous INGAPrP as well as refolding the protein. To verify that the protein was folded, we performed a 1 H– 15 N HSQC NMR experiment that showed excellent dispersion of signals, indicative of a folded protein. We also performed circular dichroism experiments, which demonstrated the presence of secondary structure. In summary, we report the first expression and isolation of INGAPrP, as well as demonstrate that our method produces a folded protein, which is necessary for structure determination.
Collider dipole magnet field angle measurement

Methods and devices for measuring the prototype Superconducting Super Collider (SSC) dipole magnetic field angle with respect to a vertical reference are discussed. An internal research and development project was conducted to develop a low-cost device for production measurement of the SSC dipole field verticality. The system employs Hall probes, a level sensor, and precision electronics interfaced to a personal computer to perform this critical measurement at discrete points along the magnet beam axis. Specification, component selection, mechanical and electrical design, calibration, and test results are presented.
Passive ring resonator method for sensitive inertial rotation measurements in geophysics and relativity

As part of a program to develop sensitive laser inertial rotation sensors, we have studied the performance of a passive-resonator technique using a 0.7-m × 0.7-m optical cavity. For an averaging time τ of 10 sec, the random drift was 1.1 × 10−2 deg/h, which was consistent with the shot-noise limit for the present setup. For a longer averaging time the random drift was 5.6 × 10−3 deg/h (τ = 90 sec), showing a slight departure from the shot-noise limit. The problems encountered in the present apparatus, as well as those that are critical in the development of much larger resonators for geophysics and relativity applications, are discussed.
BRET Biosensor Analysis of Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Functionality.

Bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET) is an improved version of earlier resonance energy transfer technologies used for the analysis of biomolecular protein interaction. BRET analysis can be applied to many transmembrane receptor classes, however the majority of the early published literature on BRET has focused on G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) research. In contrast, there is limited scientific literature using BRET to investigate receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) activity. This limited investigation is surprising as RTKs often employ dimerization as a key factor in their activation, as well as being important therapeutic targets in medicine, especially in the cases of cancer, diabetes, neurodegenerative, and respiratory conditions. In this review, we consider an array of studies pertinent to RTKs and other non-GPCR receptor protein–protein signaling interactions; more specifically we discuss receptor-protein interactions involved in the transmission of signaling communication. We have provided an overview of functional BRET studies associated with the RTK superfamily involving: neurotrophic receptors [e.g., tropomyosin-related kinase (Trk) and p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR)]; insulinotropic receptors [e.g., insulin receptor (IR) and insulin-like growth factor receptor (IGFR)] and growth factor receptors [e.g., ErbB receptors including the EGFR, the fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR), the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR) and the c-kit and platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR)]. In addition, we review BRET-mediated studies of other tyrosine kinase-associated receptors including cytokine receptors, i.e., leptin receptor (OB-R) and the growth hormone receptor (GHR). It is clear even from the relatively sparse experimental RTK BRET evidence that there is tremendous potential for this technological application for the functional investigation of RTK biology.
A WF6 bubble chamber

A small bubble chamber has been constructed, for testing corrosive, high density liquids. Its successful operation with tungsten hexafluoride (W F6) is described, together with some of the techniques necessary for handling this liquid and measurements of its physical properties. Some work on stannic chloride (SnCl4) and stannic bromide (SnBr4) is also summarized.
Discrete time H/sub /spl infin// control/estimation applied to the target tracking problem using a variation of parameters approach

Provides a complete derivation of the discrete time H/sub /spl infin// controller and filter using a variation of parameters approach. We show that the H/sub /spl infin// filter has a similar structure to the Kalman filter. These results are consistent with existing derivations under alternative techniques. Conditions, derived from the variational technique, which provide for filter existence are presented. As an example, the Kalman, H/sub 2/, and H/sub /spl infin// filters are applied to the steady state target tracking problem where their performance is examined.
Increased blood lead levels in severe smoke inhalation.

Abstract Lead-containing paint is common in structures built before 1977. Heated lead in burning paint can be aerosolized and absorbed directly into the bloodstream through the lungs. Acute lead intoxication has been reported in this setting. The objective of this study was to determine if victims of severe smoke inhalation secondary to closed-space fires have clinically important elevated blood lead levels. A case-control study, with a 2:1 ratio of cases to controls, was matched for age and sex. Cases were drawn from a prospective convenience sample of intubated victims of closed-space fires presenting to the ED of an urban tertiary burn center. Cases had blood lead levels obtained 24 hours postexposure. Matched control subjects had blood lead levels obtained during ED evaluation for a complaint unrelated to smoke inhalation. The difference between mean lead levels for cases and control subjects was expressed with a 95% confidence interval (CI). Among 22 cases, the mean lead level was 6.64 μg/dL (standard deviation [SD], 4.14 μg/dL). Among the 44 matched control subjects, mean lead level was 2.89 μg/dL (SD, 1.65 μg/dL). The mean difference between cases and control subjects was 3.75 μg/dL (95% confidence interval, 1.86–5.64). Although severe smoke inhalation is associated with a more than 2-fold statistically significant increase in blood lead levels, there is no evidence to suggest that these elevations are clinically important.
Social correlates of suicide and homicide in urban and rural regions.

The social correlates of suicide and homicide rates in urban and rural states in the USA during 1980 were quite similar and fail to replicate the results from a prior analysis of counties.
Electronic Calibration of Bone-Conduction Receivers

THE IMPORTANCE of routine calibration of earphones and bone-conduction receivers used with audiometers cannot be too highly emphasized. Otherwise, it is impossible: (1) to know whether thresholds of patients are contaminated by faulty equipment; (2) to know whether apparent changes in hearing over time for a patient are due to true differences in his performance or to variations in the equipment; and (3) to accurately compare results obtained in one clinic or laboratory with those found in another clinic or laboratory. Earphone Calibration The methods of calibrating earphones have been fairly well established and reported in the literature. 1-3 Several types of artificial ears are available commercially for calibrating earphones. In our laboratory, we prefer an artificial ear complement (Bruel & Kjaer) consisting of a standard artificial ear and 6 cc coupler, condensor microphone, and spectrometer, which enables us to determine the performance of audiometers or earphones and to note
Characterization of epoxides of polyunsaturated fatty acids by mass spectrometry via 3-pyridinylmethyl esters.

The isomeric epoxides of linoleic, arachidonic and docosahexaenoic acids were prepared by reaction with m-chloroperoxybenzoic acid and, after separation by normal-phase high-performance liquid chromatography, were esterified with 3-pyridylcarbinol via the unstable imidazolide generated by the reaction with 1,1′-carbonyldiimidazole. The electron impact mass spectra of these derivatives showed a molecular ion and a sequence of peaks with two characteristic abundant ions that resulted from formal cleavage of the carbon–carbon bonds at the oxirane ring. Both these ions retained the ester group. This fragmentation pattern allowed the unequivocal identification of the separate epoxide isomers.
Microcontroller-driven gray scale plasma receiver

Plasma display panels, or PDPs, are widely used in industry. Special-purpose switches called rotary pulse generators (RPG) are used to control the various parameters of a picture on a plasma display panel: such as color, contrast, A/D rail and dot clock, which generate two different pulse patterns. When any control parameter needs to be increased or decreased, the corresponding RPG is rotated in a clockwise or anticlockwise direction, resulting in the generation of two different kinds of patterns of pulses on the two channels. The width of pulses is typically 8 ms and the time difference between the two pulses is 3 ms. In this paper, a cost-effective technique to replace these switches using the MC68HC11E9 microcontroller is presented. The MC68HC11E9 is an advanced eight-bit microcontroller (MCU) with highly sophisticated on-chip peripheral capabilities. The input capture (IC) and output compare (OC) features of the MCU are used for the control logic. The control circuitry consists of an input block, MCU and an output selection block. The input block has debounced switches for each of the control parameters. A logic ‘high’ is detected on one of the IC lines, whenever the related switch is pressed, which results in the generation of a unique pulse pattern on the OC lines. The paper presents the hardware interface and the control software developed for MC68HC11E9 to implement the plasma display control.
Elevation of intracellular cyclic AMP induces an anergic-like state in Th1 clones

Because elevated intracellular cAMP suppresses T cell receptor (TCR)-mediated effector activity and/or proliferation in response to antigen but does not always affect IL-2-stimulated proliferation, the effects of cAMP on a T lymphocyte response to antigen resemble antigen-induced anergy. To test the hypothesis that elevated cAMP induces anergy in T lymphocytes, we have precultured murine Th1 clones responsive to porcine myelin basic protein (PMBP) with dibutyryl cyclic AMP (dbcAMP) or forskolin and subsequently removed the dbcAMP or forskolin and measured the proliferative response of the clones to antigen and antigen-presenting cells (APC) in the presence or absence of exogenously added interleukin-2 (IL-2). Cells precultured with dbcAMP or forskolin for 3 days did not proliferate or produce IL-2 in response to antigen and APC, but did proliferate to antigen and APC in the presence of IL-2. Cells that had not been stimulated recently with antigen/APC or IL-2 were not affected by dbcAMP, while cells stimulated recently with antigen/APC and IL-2 were susceptible to the anergizing effect of dbcAMP. These observations support the hypothesis that elevation in intracellular cAMP in antigen-activated Th1 clones, prior to subsequent culture with antigen, induces a state of anergy.
The consequences of early marriage on marital dissolution

Research has been consistent in documenting the direct negative effect of early marriage on marital stability, while disagreeing over the level of influence of status attainment measures on divorce. However, the discipline has failed to come to consensus on the complexity of these relationships: that early marriage may operate indirectly through mediating variables to increase the likelihood of divorce. The focus of this paper is an analysis of a path model which includes the estimated effects of antecedents of early marriage, early marriage and education on the probability of divorce. Findings using the General Social Surveys support research that suggests that early marriage is the most important variable influencing divorce. Further, little influence of the early marriage measure through education was found.
Mutagenic activity of the liquid waste from the production of acetonitrile.

To provide a more accurate evaluation of hazardous waste characteristics, research is needed to test protocols and to provide information which can be used to provide the basis of a semi-quantative risk assessment. This paper discusses the mutagenic and DNA-damaging potential of a waste stream from the production of acetonitrile. The waste used in this study was collected at a petrochemical plant as the bottom stream from the acetonitrile purification column.
Thermodynamics and stability of fluids of third grade

Today, even though the Clausius-Duhem inequality is widely considered to be of central importance in the subject of continuum thermomechanics, it is also believed to be a somewhat special interpretation of a more fundamental (second) law of thermodynamics. In this work, which is concerned with the relation between thermodynamics and stability for a class of non-Newtonian incompressible fluids of the differential type, we find it essential to introduce the additional thermodynamical restriction that the Helmholtz free energy density be at a minimum value when the fluid is locally at rest. As a background to our main considerations we begin by introducing the general class of Rivlin-Ericksen fluids of complexity n and obtain, for this class, a preliminary set of thermodynamical constitutive restrictions. We then give detailed attention to the special case of fluids of grade 3 and arrive at fundamental inequalities which restrict its (temperature dependent) material moduli. When the moduli are taken to be constant we find that these inequalities require that a body of such a fluid be stable in the sense that its total kinetic energy must tend to zero in time, no matter what its previous mechanical and thermal fields, provided it is both mechanically isolated and immersed in a thermally passive environment at constant temperature from some finite time onward. When the material constants of a fluid of grade 3 are such that the Clausius-Duhem inequality is satisfied but the free energy is not at a minimum in equilibrium, we show that for a broad class of reasonably posed problems the flows are necessarily asymptotically unbounded. Finally, we determine the stability character of non-trivial base flows for fluids of grade 3 with constant material moduli, and establish a uniqueness theorem for the initial-boundary value problem and a uniqueness theorem for problems involving sufficiently slow steady flows.
Reaction Mechanisms in the Li3AlH6/LiBH4 and Al/LiBH4 Systems for Reversible Hydrogen Storage. Part 2: Solid-State NMR Studies

In Part 1, the promising hydrogen storage properties of the combined systems of Li3AlH6/LiBH4 and Al/LiBH4, exhibiting the favorable formation of AlB2 during dehydrogenation, were presented based on TGA and XRD analyses. The present Part 2 describes the characterization of the intermediate and final products of the dehydrogenation and rehydrogenation of the above systems by multinuclear solid-state NMR characterization. This work has also verified that the presence of Al resulted in the re-formation of LiBH4 occurring at a much lower temperature and H2 pressure, under which conditions the dehydrogenation product from LiBH4 alone does not show any degree of rehydrogenation. NMR studies mainly identified various reaction intermediates for LiBH4 dehydrogenation/rehydrogenation reactions. Unlike the XRD studies, the AlB2 formation, in particular, could not be unambiguously confirmed by NMR. 27Al NMR showed that aluminum was mainly involved in various Li—Al alloy formations. The catalytic role of Al in the LiB...
c-Src Tyrosine Kinase Binds the β2-Adrenergic Receptor via Phospho-Tyr-350, Phosphorylates G-protein-linked Receptor Kinase 2, and Mediates Agonist-induced Receptor Desensitization

The nonreceptor tyrosine kinase Src has been implicated in the switching of signaling of beta2-adrenergic receptors from adenylylcyclase coupling to the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway. In the current work, we demonstrate that Src plays an active role in the agonist-induced desensitization of beta2-adrenergic receptors. Both the expression of dominant-negative Src and treatment with the 4-amine-5-(4-chlorophenyl)-7-(t-butyl)pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine (PP2) inhibitor of Src kinase activity blocks agonist-induced desensitization. Agonist triggers tyrosine phosphorylation of the beta2-adrenergic receptor and recruitment and activation of Src. Because phosphorylation of the Tyr-350 residue of the beta2-adrenergic receptor creates a conditional, canonical SH2-binding site on the receptor, we examined the effect of the Y350F mutation on Src phosphorylation, Src recruitment, and desensitization. Mutant beta2-adrenergic receptors with a Tyr-to-Phe substitution at Tyr-350 do not display agonist-induced desensitization, Src recruitment, or Src activation. Downstream of binding to the receptor, Src phosphorylates and activates G-protein-linked receptor kinase 2 (GRK2), a response obligate for agonist-induced desensitization. Constitutively active Src increases GRK phosphorylation, whereas either expression of dominant-negative Src or treatment with the PP2 inhibitor abolishes tyrosine phosphorylation of GRK and desensitization. Thus, in addition to its role in signal switching to the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway, Src recruitment to the beta2-adrenergic receptor and activation are obligate for normal agonist-induced desensitization.
Organizational structuring and project team structuring in integrated product development project

Abstract For a superior project result, integrated product development (IPD) project need to have stage-specific management approaches where the front-end structuring supports and strengthens the management of the project and the team during the execution stages. In the current study we focus on relationships on the organizational level variable during the front-end stage of the project, organizational structuring, with a project execution level variable, project team structuring to study the impact on product design glitches and project performance in the concurrent project environment. We hypothesize that managing the overall product development projects with integrated organizational structuring at the front stage and project team structuring during the development and project implementation stages can lead to reduced product glitches which can enhance the overall IPD project performance. We test our hypothetical model using data collected from the US automotive industry. Our data supports all the three proposed hypotheses. Discussion and implication of the empirical results, limitations of the current study, and recommendations for future studies are also provided.
Risk of fatal amebic meningoencephalitis from waterborne Naegleria fowleri

Primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM) is a fatal disease of the central nervous system caused primarily by the free-living ameba,Naegleria fowleri. PAM is primarily associated with swimming in various types of fresh water. World literature was reviewed in order to derive a risk analysis model that would be helpful in the management of PAM. The management of PAM risk is difficult, and the prevention of PAM is almost impossible. However, it is reassuring that the cases and risks estimated by the risk model are usually small, with individual annual risk on the order of 10−6.
Axion production in the parton model

Abstract The use of the parton model in calculating axion production rates, first suggested by others, is discussed. An analysis of the data of the Aachen-Padova experiment of Faissner et al. shows that theoretical ambiguities in this method prevent a precise determination of the axion mass. In the context of the standard axion model, the experimental axion mass is bounded from below by the theoretical minimum, i.e. 150 keV, and from above by the threshold for axion → e+e−. It is shown that the data is possibly inconsistent with the standard axion model if one uses a reasonable set of theoretical inputs.
SU-GG-J-151: Intra-Patient Response Heterogeneity Using FLT PET during Chemotherapy in Canine Subjects with Lymphoma

Purpose:PET is routinely used for treatment response assessment in lymphoma after the completion of therapy. However, characterization of lymph node response heterogeneity during therapy could result in treatment modification to improve outcome. We used PET during chemotherapy to assess intra‐patient response heterogeneity in canine subjects with lymphoma. Method and Materials: Nine dogs with lymphoma were treated with GS‐9219, a novel antineoplastic agent preferentially targeting proliferative lymphoid cells. Using the cellularproliferation marker [18F]FLT, whole‐body PET/CT scans were acquired pre‐treatment and after 1, 3, and 5 chemotherapy cycles. Lymph nodes (∼16/dog) were segmented on CTimages and these contours were applied to PETimages to extract mean and maximum SUV for each node. Lymph node response was defined as relative change in SUV. For each dog, nodal responses and baseline values were normalized to their respective means. Heterogeneity was measured using the coefficient of variation (CV) and range of nodal responses and baseline values. Results: Intra‐patient heterogeneity of lymph node baseline values and responses were substantial. Within each dog, the average variation of mean SUV baseline values (CV: 30%) was slightly less than that of response (CV: 40%). Similar heterogeneities were measured using maximum SUV. There was no significant correlation between heterogeneities of baseline uptake and response (p=0.3). Individual dogs responded differently to treatment as some responses were very heterogeneous (most heterogeneous, CV: 115%) while others were quite uniform (least heterogeneous, CV: 5%). Response heterogeneity increased throughout therapy with CV of 35% after 1 chemotherapy cycle, 55% after 3 cycles, and 60% after 5 cycles. Heterogeneity trends measured using CV and ranges were consistent. Conclusions: During chemotherapy, there was substantial intra‐patient response heterogeneity (∼40%) in dogs with lymphoma. Early PET assessment of nodal response heterogeneity may identify poorly responding lymph nodes, permit early intervention, and improve outcomes in lymphoma patients.
Detection and tumor staging of malignancy in cystic, intraductal, and solid tumors of the pancreas by EUS

Abstract Background: EUS can provide detailed imaging of pancreatic malignancies and direct fine needle aspiration (FNA) of pancreatic masses. The ability of EUS to detect and stage malignancy in cystic and intraductal lesions has not been investigated. Our aim was to determine the sensitivity and specificity of EUS imaging and FNA in detecting and staging of malignancy in solid, cystic, and intraductal lesions of the pancreas. Methods: The records of 96 patients (46 solid, 26 cystic, 24 intraductal lesions) who underwent EUS followed by surgical exploration over a 3-year period were reviewed. The accuracy of EUS for detecting and staging malignancy was calculated based on the results of surgery and histology. Results: EUS-guided FNA provided evidence of malignancy in solid, cystic, and ductal lesions with sensitivities of 59.5%, 50%, and 60%, respectively. The accuracy of staging by EUS was significantly less for intraductal lesions (47%), compared with cystic (100%) and solid lesions (85%) ( p Conclusions: EUS can be used to detect malignancy in cystic and intraductal tumors of the pancreas. (Gastrointest Endosc 2001;53:722-7.)
Study of hadronic final states of Z boson decays

Abstract We have studied hadronic final states produced in the decays of Z bosons using the Mark II detector at SLC. We have measured the distributions of global shape parameters, inclusive charged particle distributions, charge particle multiplicity and jet multiplicity. The results are compared to predictions of QCD-based models optimized at the PEP energy. The data and models agree within the present statistical precision. We have also investigated a new method to determine the QCD scale parameter Λ MS using differential jet multiplicity,