cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Birth-Site Selection by Alaskan Moose: Maternal Strategies for Coping with a Risky Environment

We studied birth-site selection in Alaskan moose ( Alces alces gigas ) from 1990 to 1994 in Denali National Park and Preserve in interior Alaska. Twenty percent of preparturient females made extensive movements (≥5 km) immediately before giving birth. Females selected (use was greater than availability) sites for giving birth ( n = 39) that were on southerly exposures with low soil moisture and high variability in overstory cover. Moose selected birth sites based on micro-site characteristics rather than on broad types of habitat, which were used in proportion to their availability. Spatial distribution of birth sites did not differ significantly from random locations. We hypothesize that such unpredictable behavior by females is a strategy to avoid predators. Parturient females also selected sites with high visibility that were located at high elevation, which ostensibly allowed them to see and then hide from approaching predators. We rejected the hypothesis, however, that moose in this population spaced themselves away from predators or avoided habitat types favored by large carnivores. Likewise, we rejected the hypothesis that moose gave birth close to human developments to avoid predators; random sites were >100 m closer to human developments than were birth sites. Cover of forage, especially willows ( Salix ), was more than twice as abundant at birth sites than random sites. Forage quality, as indexed by nitrogen content and in vitro dry matter digestibility, was slightly but significantly higher at birth sites. An inverse relationship between visibility and availability of forage indicated that female moose made tradeoffs between risk of predation and food in selecting sites to give birth. Thus, maternal females coped with a risky environment; they gave birth at sites that helped them minimize risk of predation but exhibited risk-averse behavior with respect to the forage necessary to support the high cost of lactation. We hypothesize that risk of predation prevented moose from seeking birth sites with more forage and, hence, a greater nutritional reward, which reduced the variance in forage availability at birth sites.
CA-MRSA Infection Incidence and Care in High School and Intercollegiate Athletics.

ABSTRACTPurposePosition papers offer solutions to manage community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA), yet few studies establish the infection rate, management protocols, and referral practices among student-athletes. Over the 2012–2013 and 2013–2014 school years, we as
Studies on class I integron carriage among 100 Escherichia coli isolates from clinical children

Objective:To investigate the occurrence and distribution of class I integron among 100 Escherichia coli isolates from clinical children.Methods:Antibacterial susceptibility testing was conducted by agar dilution test according to NCCLS.ClassⅠintegrase gene PCR was performed to detect the presence of integron.Results:The positive rate of class Ⅰ integrase and integron were 68% and 65% respectively.The size of class Ⅰ integrons ranged from 772 bp to 2360 bp.Each of the 100 isolates had 1 or 2 class Ⅰ integrons.The main order of inserted gene cassettes was dfrA17 + aadA5 and dfrA12 + aadA2.Conclusion:Class Ⅰ integrons are widespread in isolates of multidrug resistant E.coli.Integrons are important molecular mechanism in the development of multidrug resistance.The results stressed the need for surveillance of bacteria in genetic levels.
Analysis of the Surveillarce of Aucte Flaccid Paralysis (AFP) in Zhangtong City from 1992 to 2011

Objective Learning about the surveillance of Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP) in Zhao tong City in the past 20 years to identify problems, improve working methods and provide a theoretical basis to keep the citizens polio-free. Methods Analyzing statistically the results of surveillance in the polio laboratory and active surveillance in 11 counties and districts of Zhao tong city. Result 740 cases reported; reported incidence over 1/100 000 except 1993, 1994; the not-immunized and the unknown respectively accounting for 11.89% and 12.3%; 29 vaccine-related cases reported, accounting for 3.92% ; years of failing reaching the sensitive rate of qualified specimens collection, specimens’ timely delivery, and cases’ timely follow-up respectively accounted for 30%, 30% and 50%. Conclusion AFP surveillance fails maintaining a high degree of sensitivity, mainly ascribed to the poor interdepartmental coordination and the crew’s stupefied and mechanical quality. There exist an amount of not immunized people. Transient children remains as the major issue. The control of vaccine-related cases should be paid more attentions on.
MEASUREMENT OF SLUDGE CONTENT IN COAL TAR AND EFFICIENCY EVALUATION OF SLUDGE RE MOVAL FROM COAL TAR IN CENTRIFUGAL SYSTEM

A modified procedure for measurement of sludge content in coal tar w as proposed by combining the centrifugal separation process and the extraction pro cess. The size distribution of the sludge grains after the solvent extraction tr eatment was determined using laser beam refraction technique with Mastersizer 20 0 device. The results prove that the proposed method is effective to evaluate th e efficiency of sludge removal from coal tar and the efficiency of the sludge gr ains with particles over 100 靘 in the centrifugal system for treatment of coal tar.
Transmitter Biochemistry of Huntington’s Disease

A great deal of new data on the neurochemistry of human brain has resulted from the availability of post-mortem brain tissues from patients dying from Huntington’s disease (H.D.).
A Prehistoric Quarry Near Ray, Arizona

ABSTRACTA prehistoric chrysocolla quarry was discovered near the Kennecott open pit copper mine at Ray, Arizona. Chrysocolla, a blue copper silicate, was sought by aboriginal miners, who moved over one hundred and eighty tons of rock in the quarry to obtain the mineral. Stone tools were recovered at the site, but no pottery was found. Prehistoric ruins in the area indicate that the miners may have been Hohokam.
Analysis of Water Advance in Surface Irrigation

Equations describing the advance of water on borders and furrows during surface irrigation have been developed. These equations yield good results as shown by comparisons with field data. Empirical equations of water surface profiles on the soil surface and water distribution profiles in the soil have been suggested and proven practical. Methods for the computation of surface storage and for the evaluation of the empirical exponent of the advance function have been formulated.
Live Personalized Nutrition Recommendation Engine

Dietary choices are the primary determinants of prominent diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and obesity. Human health care providers, such as dietitians, cannot be at the side of every user at all times to manually guide them towards optimal choices. Automated adaptive guidance fused with expert knowledge can use multimedia data to technologically scale health guidance without human intervention. Addressing the correct granularity of recommendations (in this case meal dishes) is essential for effortless decision making. Thus we make a decision support system using multi-modal data relying on timely, contextually aware, personalized data to find local restaurant dishes to satisfy a user's needs. Algorithms in this system take nutritional facts regarding products, efficiently calculate which items are healthiest, then re-rank and filter results to users based on their personalized health data streams and environmental context. Our recommendation engine is driven by the primary goal of lowering the barriers to a personalized healthy choice when eating out, by distilling dish suggestions to a single contextually aware and easily understood score.
Making of an In-Joke: Humor Appreciation as an Ingratiation Strategy Following Ostracism

Humans have a fundamental need to belong, and when thwarted, engage in behaviors to facilitate reaffiliation. Humor, a uniquely human trait, evolved as a means of facilitating rapport between individuals and fostering stronger interpersonal bonds through the elicitation of positive affect and activation of reward centers in the brain. We predicted that those experiencing acute ostracism would rate others’ attempts at humor (i.e., jokes) as funnier than those experiencing social inclusion, particularly low-quality jokes, as a means of ingratiating themselves to new opportunities for affiliation. Men and women were either included or ostracized via Cyberball and rated male and female targets’ funniness and likeability, half of which were paired with a funny joke and the other half an unfunny joke. Excluded men rated women as funnier than did included men, even when women’s jokes were categorically unfunny. Collectively, these results suggest that humor appreciation may be a means of facilitating social affiliation following rejection; however, this effect seems specific to men.
Pathogenesis of Primary Cutaneous Lymphomas

Primary cutaneous lymphomas are now defined in the WHO EORTC classification on the basis of specific clinico-pathologic features [1], but the underlying pathogenesis of these extranodal lymphomas has yet to be fully characterised. Primary cutaneous T-cell lymphomas do not show diseasespecific translocations and are distinct from nodal lymphomas with a similar pathology. In contrast, primary cutaneous B-cell lymphomas appear to be much closer pathogenetically to their nodal or extranodal counterparts and can share specific chromosomal translocations.
Mixed Reality Space Travel for Physics Learning

In this paper we describe research being conducted on a mixed reality simulation called MEteor that is designed for informal physics learning in science centers. MEteor is a 30 x 10 foot floor area where participants use their bodies to interact with projected astronomical imagery. Participants walk and run across the floor to simulate how objects move in space, and to enact basic physics principles. Key to the success of this learning environment is an interface scheme that supports the central metaphor of “child as asteroid.” Using video data collected in our studies we examine the extent to which feedback mechanisms and interface conventions strengthened the metaphorical connection, and we describe ways the interaction design can be improved for future iterations.
Revised Airborne Exposure Limits for Chemical Warfare Agents

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is revising airborne exposure limits (AELs) for tabun (GA), sarin (GB), VX, and sulfur mustard (H, HT, and HD) for demilitarization workers and the general public. New exposure criteria include short-term exposure limits (STELs) and immediately dangerous to life or health (IDLH) values. These new criteria augment revised long-term criteria, which include worker population limits (WPLs) and general population limits (GPLs). The criteria were revised using various risk assessment approaches, including reference concentration (RfC), relative potency, categorical regression (CatReg), carcinogenicity potency, and the CDC/National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) IDLH methods. CDC believes the revised criteria meet the goal of protecting workers and the public at potential airborne concentration levels below those that would result in adverse health effects from acute exposures and further protect against risk for effects from long-term exposure.
Welfare under friction and uncertainty: General equilibrium evaluation of temporary employment in the U.S.

Abstract Temporary contracts usually fall outside of employee protection litigation, thus they are often cheaper than permanent contracts and are offered on-demand by firms. In the last two decades, there has been a sharp growth in such contracts in the U.S. labor market. This paper investigates the welfare consequences of offering temporary contracts in the U.S., an environment with low employee protection litigation and high production risk for firms. Employee protection litigation creates firing rigidity in regular labor markets. Pairing firing rigidity with high production risk, firms reduce employment and output, which generates welfare loss. The inexpensive and flexible nature of temporary contracts offers firms a buffer strategy in making employment decisions under risk and navigating the firing rigidity of the regular labor sector, thereby reducing welfare loss. However, temporary contracts cannot fully compensate for the efficiency cost from rising firing rigidity and risk.
Sleep in Teens With Type 1 Diabetes: Perspectives From Adolescents and Their Caregivers.

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to identify barriers, facilitators, and consequences of obtaining sufficient sleep in adolescents with type 1 diabetes.MethodsSemistructured interviews were cond...
Cardiac outcomes in aging survivors of childhood cancer exposed to cardiotoxic therapy: A report from the St. Jude Lifetime (SJLIFE) Cohort Study.

10025 Background: Cardiac studies among adult survivors of childhood cancer have generally relied on self-report or registry data; few have systematically performed comprehensive clinical assessmen...
Preparing Counselors to Work with Refugees: Integration of Experiential Activities

The number of globally displaced refugees has increased by record-high numbers. Refugees are forced out of their home countries and many are resettled in the United States. As the number of refugee...
Factors Affecting the Damping Capacity of TiC Particle Reinforced Zinc-22 Aluminum Composites

Damping behavior of eutectoid zinc-aluminum composites was studied in the 25 to 330°C temperature range using a low-frequency torsion pendulum. In this study the internal friction was affected by changes in microstructureand by the amount of cold work prior to testing. The highest damping was obtained for a composite with 15% titanium carbide (TiC) particles, a fine lamellar microstructure, and after being cold worked 20%. A high-temperature (HT) internal friction peak at a temperature just below the eutectoid transformation temperature was observed in the composite materials, and in the annealed base alloys cold worked prior to testing. The authors believe this HT peak is associated with recrystallization of the matrix prior to the eutectoid transformation.
Clientelism by Committee: The Effect of Legislator–Constituent Relationships on Legislative Organization:

In this paper, we analyze how legislator–voter relationships influence legislative organization. We argue that legislators who engage in clientelistic practices to gain votes will create much large...
The Backlash Against School Choice and Accountability Policies: The Organizations and Their Politics:

The organizers of this colloquy and the authors of The Fight for America’s Schools ask two important questions: What are the political and organizational challenges faced by groups opposed to schoo...
Neuropathological correlates of amyloid PET imaging in Down syndrome.

Down syndrome (DS) results in an overproduction of amyloid-β (Aβ) peptide associated with early onset of Alzheimer's disease (AD). DS cases have Aβ deposits detectable histologically as young as 12-30 years of age, primarily in the form of diffuse plaques, the type of early amyloid pathology also seen at pre-clinical (i.e., pathological aging) and prodromal stages of sporadic late onset AD. In DS subjects aged >40 years, levels of cortical Aβ deposition are similar to those observed in late onset AD and in addition to diffuse plaques involve cored plaques associated with dystrophic neurites (neuritic plaques), which are of neuropathological diagnostic significance in AD. The purpose of this review is to summarize and discuss findings from amyloid PET imaging studies of DS in reference to postmortem amyloid-based neuropathology. PET neuroimaging applied to subjects with DS has the potential to (a) track the natural progression of brain pathology, including the earliest stages of amyloid accumulation, and (b) determine whether amyloid PET biomarkers predict the onset of dementia. In addition, the question that is still incompletely understood and relevant to both applications is the ability of amyloid PET to detect Aβ deposits in their earliest form.
Associations between Nocturnal Moths and Flowers in Urban Gardens: Evidence from Pollen on Moths

Pollination is an important plant-animal interaction, and moths (Lepidoptera) are frequent flower visitors. With 11,000 moth species in North America, this group of organisms has potential to largely influence the plant communities they exist in. To date, most pollination research has focused on diurnal (day active) pollinators. However, nocturnal plant visitors, such as moths, may represent a significant and underreported portion of plant-animal interactions. Understanding the role of nocturnal pollinators in ecological communities is important for informing conservation practices as well as making predictions for how plant-insect interaction networks may shift in response to environmental changes, which may be especially important in disturbed habitats like urban gardens. We aimed to address this gap in our understanding by surveying moth-plant interactions in urban environments. We collected 260 moths over a two-year period, 68% of which were carrying pollen. By family—88% of Erebidae species, 89% of Noctuid species, and 92% of Geometrid species were pollen carriers. We conclude that moths frequently interact with a diversity flowers in urban gardens.
Applying Feminist Pedagogy to Teaching Counselor Advocacy

Counselor educators must integrate advocacy, multiculturalism, and social justice within the counselor education curriculum. Experiential strategies with a strong pedagogical framework can address ...
Do-it-yourself and direct-to-consumer neurostimulation

Abstract There is a growing concern for how unintended audiences are co-opting neuroscience knowledge for use outside conventional medical or academic settings. In particular, do-it-yourself (DIY) and direct-to-consumer (DTC) transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) have not been well received by scientists and ethicists, who have warned against the practice both in media outlets and academic journals. In this chapter, I provide an overview of tDCS technology and a historical characterization of the rise of DIY and DTC neurostimulation. Next, I review empirical research on the home use of brain stimulation, focusing on demographics, usage practices, and safety and efficacy. In the ensuing section I present previously unpublished pilot data on the provision of tDCS by practitioners in private clinics in the United States. I then outline the regulatory issues surrounding both the sale of DTC neurostimulation devices as well as the provision of neurostimulation services. Finally, the chapter concludes with a brief discussion of the ethical issues surrounding both the home use of tDCS and the provision of tDCS in private practice.
Generalized joint spectral radius and stability of switching systems

Abstract This paper extends the notion of generalized joint spectral radius with exponents, originally defined for a finite set of matrices, to probability distributions. We show that, under a certain invariance condition, the radius is calculated as the spectral radius of a matrix that can be easily computed, extending the classical counterpart. Using this result we investigate the mean stability of switching systems. In particular we establish the equivalence of mean square stability, simultaneous contractibility in square mean, and the existence of a quadratic Lyapunov function. Also the stabilization of positive switching systems is studied. Numerical examples are given to illustrate the results.
State Responsibility under the Indian Child Welfare Act: The People of the State of Colorado, in the Interest of K.C. and L.C., Children, and Concerning D.C. (2020)

In The People of the State of Colorado, Appellee, In the Interest OF K.C. and L.C., Children, and Concerning D.C., Appellants (2020), the Colorado Court of Appeals issued a ruling to vacate and rem...
The Impact of Placement Errors on the Tumor Coverage in MRI-Guided Focal Cryoablation of Prostate Cancer.

Rationale and Objectives There have been multiple investigations defining and reporting the effectiveness of focal cryoablation as a treatment option for organ-confined prostate cancer. However, the impact of cryo-needle/probe placement accuracy within the tumor and gland has not been extensively studied. We analyzed how variations in the placement of the cryo-needles, specifically errors leading to incomplete ablation, may affect prostate cancer's resulting cryoablation. Materials and Methods We performed a study based on isothermal models using Monte Carlo simulations to analyze the impact of needle placement errors on tumor coverage and the probability of positive ablation margin. We modeled the placement error as a Gaussian noise on the cryo-needle position. The analysis used retrospective MRI data of 15 patients with biopsy-proven, unifocal, and MRI visible prostate cancer to calculate the impact of placement error on the volume of the tumor encompassed by the −40°C and −20°C isotherms using one to four cryo-needles. Results When the standard deviation of the placement error reached 3 mm, the tumor coverage was still above 97% with the −20°C isotherm, and above 81% with the −40°C isotherm using two cryo-needles or more. The probability of positive margin was significantly lower considering the −20°C isotherm (0.04 for three needles) than using the −40°C isotherm (0.66 for three needles). Conclusion The results indicated that accurate cryo-needle placement is essential for the success of focal cryoablation of prostate cancer. The analysis shows that an admissible targeting error depends on the lethal temperature considered and the number of cryo-needles used.
Too much of a good thing: frequent retrieval can impair immediate new learning.

Interpolated testing can reduce mind-wandering and proactive interference, and improve note-taking. However, recent research using face-name-profession triads, has also shown that interpolated test...
The Design of Production System Algorithms

This chapter discusses the design of production system algorithms. The description of production system algorithms is hampered by the lack of adequate terminology to describe the primitive operations composed to form production system algorithms. A convenient way to describe a production system is to make a direct analogy to more familiar relational database terminology. If the working memory elements of a production system are considered to be tuples of a relational database, then it becomes apparent that the LHS of a rule in a production system is analogous to a query in a relational database. The constants in a single-condition element may be viewed as a relational selection over a database of working memory. Consistent bindings of pattern variables between distinct conditions elements may be regarded as a database join operation on the relations formed by the selections. Consequently the primitive steps of production system algorithms may be expressed in terms of relational database operators. A collection of rules may be viewed as a collection of concurrent database queries. Database systems are usually optimized to execute a small set of queries, one at a time, on megabytes or even gigabytes of data. Production systems must match hundreds or thousands of rules concurrently. By database standards the size of working memory is quite modest, on the order of hundreds or thousands of tuples.
An Analysis of Shadows Made from Sunlight Reflected by a Curved Surface

Shadows produced by sunlight reflected from convex surfaces can be very well defined. This article provides an explanation for this phenomenon as well as a demonstration/lab activity for students to investigate properties of shadows made from sunlight reflected by a curved surface.
Leer demasiado, no leer lo suficiente:: relación, ilegibilidad y lo popular en Alejandro Moreno

espanolEl presente articulo examina criticamente el trabajo de Alejandro Moreno, especificamente su proyecto de articular una episteme popular como un modo de estar en el mundo basado en la relacion como idea/praxis estructurante del sujeto popular venezolano. En este sentido, se hara enfasis en su libro Historia-de-vida de Felicia Valera (1998), buscando escenas de lectura que a su vez reflejen los dilemas teoricos que se derivan del intento de leer ciertas realidades latinoamericanas, y venezolanas especificamente, abriendo asi una serie de preguntas acerca de que significa leer en general, y mas alla de eso, presentar un objeto (teorico, estetico, social, etc.) como “legible” o “ilegible” dentro de una logica impuesta por la modernidad. EnglishThis article critically examines the work of Alejandro Moreno, particularly his project to articulate a popular episteme as a way of being in the world based on the idea of relation as a structuring idea/practice of the Venezuelan popular subject. In this sense, the article will focus on his book Historia-de-vida de Felicia Valera (1998), looking for scenes of reading that reflect the theoretical dilemmas that derive from the attempt to read certain Latin American, and specifically Venezuelan, realities, thus opening a series of questions about what it means to read in general, and presenting an object (theoretical, aesthetic, social, etc.) as “legible” or “illegible” within a logic imposed by modernity.
Conserved Architecture of Brain Transcriptome Changes between Alzheimer's Disease and Progressive Supranuclear Palsy in Pathologically Affected and Unaffected Regions

We identify a striking correlation in the directionality and magnitude of gene expression changes in brain transcriptomes between Alzheimer9s disease (AD) and Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP). Further, the transcriptome architecture in AD and PSP is highly conserved between the temporal and cerebellar cortices, indicating highly similar transcriptional changes occur in pathologically affected and "unaffected" areas of the brain. These data have broad implications for interpreting transcriptomic data in neurodegenerative disorders.
Development of polyvinyl alcohol/chitosan/modified bacterial nanocellulose films incorporated with 4-hexylresorcinol for food packaging applications

Abstract Bacterial nanocelluloses (BNCs) were successfully modified with aminosilane, n-2-aminoethyl-3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane. Polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH)/chitosan (CS) composite films incorporated with modified BNCs (mBNCs) and 4-hexylresorcinol (4-HR) were produced using a solution casting technique. The morphological properties and chemical structure were studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Incorporation of mBNCs and 4-HR increased the film redness and yellowness but decreased the film brightness and transparency. The moisture content, elongation at break, and water vapor permeability of the films were improved with the addition of mBNCs and 4-HR, while water solubility and tensile strength were reduced. The antioxidant properties of the films were greatly improved upon the addition of 4-HR. The active films showed excellent antimicrobial effect against spoilage bacteria on vacuum packaged refrigerated raw beef. Thus, PVOH/CS composite films incorporated with mBNCs and 4-HR have a great potential to be used as an active packaging material in food industry.
Structural Error and Identifiability

In most identification problems, the possibility of identifying a model from the observation of input and output is approached by first assuming that the model is an exact representation of the process. Since models are only approximations to a real process, this paper presents a concrete way of taking into account the difference in structure between the model and the process it represents. The identifiability problem is reformulated on the basis of equivalence and near-equivalence between model and process. Necessary and sufficient conditions under which the differences between the outputs of the process and a model remains within a desired bound in the presence of modeling error are given. Necessary and sufficient conditions for the identifiability of parameters are presented.
The economics of tobacco advertising: spending, demand, and the effects of bans

This study examines most of the published evidence worldwide on the effects of aggregate advertising and of advertising bans on aggregate cigarette and tobacco consumption. Thirty-five studies representing eight countries published 350 advertising–demand coefficients, the majority of which (66.8%) were not positive and statistically significant, suggesting that aggregate advertising generally bears little or no relation to aggregate demand. Twenty-one studies representing 23 countries published 199 advertising ban coefficients, the majority of which (70.8%) were not negative and statistically significant, suggesting that advertising bans also bear little or no relation to aggregate demand. On the whole, the evidence indicates that full or partial bans on advertising are likely to have little or no effect on aggregate cigarette or tobacco demand because the banned advertising itself apparently has little or no effect on aggregate demand.
Development of membrane-based biosensors: Measurement of current from photocycling bacteriorhodopsin on patch clamp electrodes

Our initial work toward developing membrane protein-based biosensors has involved use of bacteriorhodopsin (BR) as a model membrane protein. BR was incorporated into liposomes of a polymerizable lecithin, and was shown to pump protons in response to illumination both before and after polymerization of the lipids. In the work described in this paper, BR was first reincorporated in liposomes of asolectin by consonication with purple membrane. The liposomes, which sustained the function of the protein, were used to form a monolayer at the air-water interface. This monolayer was transferred as a bilayer onto patch electrode. When illuminated with a pulse of 514.5-nm light the lipid/protein patch produced a current spike into the pipette corresponding to events no later than the generation of the 412-nm intermediate, probably caused by pumping of protons across the patch membrane. The experiment demonstrates not only the extreme sensitivity of amperometric detection, but also a small tendency for membrane proteins to preferentially orient in this configuration.
Inhibition of glucosyltransferase activity by antisera to known serotypes of Streptococcus mutans.

Using a recently developed assay for glucosyltransferase activity based on 14C-glucose incorporation into an alcohol-insoluble polysaccharide, we were able to study inhibition by antibody of this enzyme activity. Rabbit antibody was relatively specific for the strain of Streptoccus mutans from which the enzyme was obtained. Absorption studies showed that neither removal of antibodies directed to dextran nor absorption with intact bacteria offset the enzyme-inhibitory capacity of these sera, whereas absorption with partially purified enzyme did result in removal of the inhibitory capacity.
On the fragmentation of mitochondria by diethylstilbesterol: II. On the relation of the released proteins to the mitochondrial membranes

Abstract The fragmentation of mitochondria by the combined action of diethylstilbesterol andMg ++ can be controlled by the level of added Mg ++ . At concentrations of 0.01 m or less of Mg ++ , some 20% of the total protein is solubilized and the low molecular weight enzymes of the citric acid cycle are quantitatively recovered. However, the high molecular weight enzymes of the citric acid cycle are released only in small yield. At concentrations of Mg ++ approaching 0.1 m , some 30% of the total protein is released and good recoveries of the enzymes of the citric acid cycle are observed, whether these are of the low or high molecular weight category. It can be shown that under conditions of protein release, a significant amount of phospholipid is also released. This released phospholipid cosediments with the membranous residue but is separable in crude form from the cristael vesicles by gradient centrifugation. Electron microscopic studies have shown that under optimal conditions of fragmentation by diethylstilbesterol and Mg ++ , the boundary membranes of the mitochondrion completely disappear. The membranous residue has been identified with the cristael membranes on the basis of enzymic activity, composition and electron microscopy. The soluble fraction contains the same set of enzymes which has previously been assigned to the boundary membranes on the basis of other fragmenting procedures. It can be shown that authentic inner membrane particles do not release soluble protein when exposed to the combined action of diethylstilbesterol and Mg ++ . The available evidence is compatible with the thesis that the primary event in the fragmentation of mitochondria by diethylstilbesterol plus Mg ++ is the dissolution of the boundary membranes with concomitant solubilization of mitochondrial protein and release of a phospholipid-enriched fraction.
Ablation of NIF targets and diagnostic components by high-power lasers and x rays from high-temperature plasmas

The National Ignition Facility (NIF) will consist of 192 laser beams that have a total energy of up to 1.8 MJ in the 3rd harmonic ({lambda} = 0.35 {micro}m) with the amount of 2nd harmonic and fundamental light depending on the pulse shape. Material near best focus of the 3rd harmonic light will be vaporized/ablated very rapidly, with a significant fraction of the laser energy converted into plasma x rays. Additional plasma x rays can come from imploding/igniting capsule inside Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF) hohlraums. Material from outer portions of the target, diagnostic components, first-wall material, and optical components, are ablated by the plasma x rays. Material out to a radius of order 3 cm from target center is also exposed to a significant flux of 2nd harmonic and fundamental laser light. Ablation can accelerate the remaining material to high velocities if it has been fragmented or melted. In addition, the high velocity debris wind of the initially vaporized material pushes on the fragments/droplets and increases their velocity. The high velocity shrapnel fragments/droplets can damage the fused silica shields protecting the final optics in NIF. We discuss modeling efforts to calculate vaporization/ablation, x-ray generation, shrapnel production, and ways to mitigate damage to the shields.
Circulating microRNAs as Potential Biomarkers of Endothelial Dysfunction in Obese Children

Background Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a complex disease with multifactorial etiology. The presence of endothelial dysfunction constitutes an early risk factor for CVD in children. Circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNAs that regulate gene expression and represent a novel class of biomarkers and therapeutic targets; therefore, we examined whether the presence of endothelial dysfunction is associated with differential expression of plasma miRNAs in otherwise healthy children. Methods A total of 70 children (aged 5-10 years) were recruited and classified into two groups (normal endothelial function [NEF] and endothelial dysfunction). Time to peak postocclusive reperfusion (Tmax) was considered as the indicator of either normal endothelial function (NEF; Tmax Results Three miRNAs that have been previously linked to cardiomyopathy, hsa-miR-125a-5p, hsa-miR-342-3p, and hsa-miR-365b-3p, were identified as potential biomarkers of children with endothelial dysfunction. The miRNA predicted gene targets revealed 31 common targets among all three putative candidate biomarker miRNAs and encompass three biologic pathways, including transforming growth factor-β signaling, cytokine-cytokine receptor interactions, and activin receptor-like kinase in cardiac myocytes. Conclusions Plasma miRNAs may be useful as potential screening tools for the presence of endothelial dysfunction in children and may reveal endothelial dysfunction-relevant target genes.
Channel engineering in n-MOSFETs: scaling trends for hot electron injection and device degradation

Drain engineering has been the primary focus of efforts to overcome reliability trade-offs dictated by channel hot electron injection (CHEI) into the oxide in MOSFET devices. Comparatively few studies on channel, or vertical, engineering have been conducted, though recently there has been increased interest in its applications. In this study we employ a reliability simulation package to investigate the potential of channel engineering for future silicon technology by comparing scaling trends of CHEI and device sensitivity to the resulting distributions of induced interface damage for both Super-Steep-Retrograde (SSR) channel designs and more conventional (CONV) channel designs.
Modeling for metrology with a helium beam

IONiSE is a Monte Carlo simulation which describes the interactions of 5-50 keV energy He+ ions with solids, and predicts the production of ion induced secondary electron (iSE) emission. Its use to determine the most probable implant depth, the maximum ion range, and the effect of straggle are presented. IONiSE has been used to numerically fit literature tabulations of iSE generation from five elements so as to derive excitation energy and mean free path parameters. By employing those parameters in IONiSE the topographic yield variation for iSE as a function of energy and the atomic number of the target has been predicted, and estimates of the individual secondary electron contributions from the incident and backscattered ions have been made. These simulations help to create a foundation for the application and the interpretation of iSE images for metrology.
Student productivity under requirement and comprehensive care systems.

This retrospective study reviews the educational and patient care effects of changing from a numerical requirements-driven clinical curriculum to aa comprehensive care model driven by patient needs and led by faculty group leaders. In September 1994, the Columbia University School of Dental and Oral Surgery implemented a program in which all patient care shifted to a patient care completion model. Core assumptions included creating an educational setting where students were assigned to groups with continuously assigned faculty as group leaders, with intensive case discussion and monitoring of students9 progress. All patient care took lace under the direction of the group leaders with involvement of other attending interdisciplinary faculty and auxiliary staff. Data suggest that, over the period of this study (1994-97), a significant increase occurred in the number of treatment plans completed by students with no compromise in the number of specific procedures completed by individual students. We concluded that a carefully structured and monitored comprehensive care/group leader-driven model is beneficial for both student education and patient care.
Axiomatic measures of flexibility in advanced manufacturing systems

It is noted that, although the literature on flexible manufacturing systems has lately become abundant, it offers little in the way of a systematic and rigorous treatment of the notion of flexibility and its value to system performance. The authors attempt to address some of these limitations by providing a framework for generating sound measures of manufacturing flexibility. In particular, key features of system flexibility are identified and required properties that a measure of each of these features should satisfy are outlined. Examples of measures satisfying such properties are then proposed. >
Delta-aminolevulinic acid biosynthesis in Ustilago maydis.

A biosynthetic precursor of tetrapyrroles, δ-aminolevulinic acid (ALA), can be formed via two pathways: enzymatic condensation of glycine and succinyl-CoA by ALA synthase in animal mitochondria and some fungi, and the C5 pathway converting glutamate to ALA in plants, algae, archaea, and most bacteria. The two pathways are distinguishable using specifically radiolabeled compounds. The C1 of glutamate is lost during conversion to succinate in the TCA cycle, and the C2 of glycine is lost during conversion to acetyl-CoA on the way to glutamate. Desalted high-speed supernatants of Ustilago maydis sporidia extracts were assayed using specifically radiolabeled substrates. A significant amount of radiolabel was incorporated into ALA from 2-[14C]glycine. No radiolabel was incorporated into ALA from 1-[14C]glutamate. These results indicate that the basidiomycete yeast, Ustilago maydis, has active ALA synthase. (© 2005 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Laser-modified chemical beam epitaxy of InGaAs/GaAs multiple quantum wells using tris-dimethylaminoarsenic

The authors report for the first time laser-modified chemical beam epitaxy (CBE) of InGaAs/GaAs multiple quantum well (MQW) structures using trimethylindium (TMIn), triethylgallium (TEGa), and tris-dimethylaminoarsenic (TDMAAs), a safer alternative to arsine. X-ray rocking curve (XRC) and low-temperature photoluminescence (PL) measurements were used to characterize the pseudomorphic strained quantum well structures. As determined by the X-ray simulation, laser irradiation during the InGaAs well growth was found to enhance the InGaAs growth rate and reduce the indium concentration in the substrate temperature range studied, 440--500 C, where good interfaces can be achieved. The authors attribute these changes to laser-enhanced decomposition of TEGa and laser-enhanced desorption of TDMAAs. With laser irradiation, lateral variation of PL exciton peaks was observed, and the PL peaks became narrower.
Sarcomas and the immune system: implications for therapeutic strategies.

Sarcomas are rare tumors that account for less than 1% of all adult cancers. 1 The role of the immune system in cancer was first studied in sarcomas as immune responses to a bacterial toxin challenge were observed in metastatic bone sarcoma patients. Instances of spontaneous sarcoma regression and the observation of immune responses in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) patients with Kaposi sarcoma undergoing antiretroviral therapy further suggest an immune-mediated antisarcoma mechanism. The development of sarcoma cell lines in preclinical animal models has allowed for further investigation of immune-related therapies, leading to clinical trials in sarcoma vaccines and cellular adoptive immunotherapy. Important to this burgeoning field, the discovery of tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) specific to sarcoma has been critical for the continued development of targeted therapies. This review highlights the early studies of the immune system and its relationship to sarcomas, preclinical models designed to study the immunology of sarcomas, and the most current immunotherapy trials in the field. As a group, these tumors are generally thought of as aggressive, with high rates of mortality secondary to metastatic disease. 2 As the prognosis for metastatic sarcoma is generally poor, an improved understanding of and the ability to manipulate the immune system is emerging as a viable treatment modality. 3
Neighborhood Characteristics, Parental Practices and Children's Math Achievement in Elementary School.

Abstract This paper investigates the relationships among neighborhood characteristics, education-related parental practices, and children’s academic achievement during a critical but under-studied stage of children’s educational trajectories – the elementary school years. Using a large, nationally representative database of American elementary school students – the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study – Kindergarten Cohort (ECLS-K) – and contextual data from the 2000 US Census, we examine parental practices and neighborhood characteristics at the beginning of children’s school careers (grades K-1) and their associations with math achievement through the end of the 5th grade. Findings: Net of family-level characteristics, higher levels of early education-oriented parental practices were associated with higher mathematics achievement at the end of 5th grade, while neighborhood disadvantage was associated with lower 5th grade math achievement. Families residing in high poverty, high unemployment, low-education neighborhoods employed fewer education-oriented practices with their kindergarten-first grade children, but the positive effect of such parental practices on children’s mathematics achievement was stronger for children who live in disadvantaged neighborhoods.
Murray Rothbard, political strategy, and the making of modern libertarianism

On Black Friday, March 27, 1981, at 9:00 A.M. in San Francisco, the “libertarian” power elite of the Cato Institute, consisting of President Edward H. Crane III and Other Shareholder Charles G. Koc...
Risk Aversion in Contests

In a contest, participants spend money or effort to increase their chances of winning a prize. The authors examine primarily the following question: Could the timid (the more risk averse) have a better chance of winning in contests? Under limited liability the answer is always positive. In the absence of limited liability there is no single answer, whereas when the prize is shared as a function of effort the outcome is independent of the contestants' risk aversion. The authors also relate their results to self-protection and examine some other implications of risk aversion. Copyright 1995 by Royal Economic Society.
Film and penetration theories for a first-order reaction in exothermic gas absorption

Film and penetration models for simultaneous heat and mass transfer are developed for the absorption of gas with a first-order chemical reaction in the liquid phase with temperature-dependent solubility and reaction rate coefficient. These two models represent two extreme conditions of interfacial temperature rise and gas solubility and they are compared with some previous models (Allan and Mann, 1979; Asai et al., 1985). The approximate analytical expressions of the penetration model of Asai et al. (1985) are in good agreement with the numerical results of this work. The results reveal that under many practical circumstances the gas-liquid interfacial temperature may be several degrees Kelvin higher than the bulk liquid temperature. The degree of deviation of the enhancement factor from its isothermal value at the bulk liquid temperature depends on the degree of difference of a certain dimensionless activation energy group from zero, which confirms the previous finding of Asai et al. (1985). On a mis au point un modele de penetration et un modele de films pour le transfert de matiere et de chaleur simultane afin d'etudier l'absorption d'un gaz en presence d'une reaction chimique de premier ordre dans la phase liquide; dans ces modeles, la constante de vitesse de reaction et la solubilite dependent de la temperature. Ces deux modeles representent deux conditions extrěmes d'augmentation de la emperature interfaciale et de solubilite du gaz et sont compares a des modeles precedents (Allan et Mann, 1979, Asai et coll., 1985). Les expressions analytiques approximatives du modele de penetration de Asai et coll. (1985) sont en bon accord avec les resultats numeriques de ce travail. Les resultats montrent que dans de nombreuses situations pratiques la temperature de l'interface gaz-liquide peut ětre superieure de plusieurs degres Kelvin a la temperature du liquide. Le degre de deviation du facteur d'acceleration par rapport a sa valeur isotherme a la temperature du liquide, depend de l'ecart d'un certain groupe adimensionnel comportant l'energie d'activation par rapport a la valeur zero, ce qui confirme les resultats precedents d'Asai et coll. (1985).