cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
‘Knowing’ Pakistan: knowledge production and area studies

This article explores the processes that contribute towards the image of Pakistan as portrayed to the West. It does this by critically analysing the discursive practices through which knowledge, an...
Meson Production in p+d Collisions and the I=0 π-π Interaction. II. Study of the Reactions p+d-->He 3 +π 0 and p+d-->H 3 +π +

Absolute cross sections for the reactions $p+d\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{\mathrm{He}}^{3}+{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{0}$ and $p+d\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{\mathrm{H}}^{3}+{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+}$ have been measured at several angles and energies. The experimental ${\mathrm{He}}^{3}$ and ${\mathrm{H}}^{3}$ momentum resolution has been computed and compared with the results obtained for these two reactions. By comparing experimental data on these reactions with the reaction $p+p\ensuremath{\rightarrow}d+{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+}$ it has been possible to compute the impulse-approximation integral relating the processes. The results are in good agreement with other experiments.
Efficient Hydrogen Generation from Ammonia Borane and Tandem Hydrogenation or Hydrodehalogenation over AuPd Nanoparticles

Alternatives to the use of pressurized hydrogen (H2) in chemical syntheses are of growing interest and importance in developing safer protocols. Ammonia borane (AB), with its high hydrogen content ...
Identification of Quality Improvement Projects from AUA White Papers

AbstractIntroduction:Health care professionals often lack training in quality improvement methods, which makes it challenging to participate in improvement efforts.Methods:Following a review of the...
Simulations of activities, solubilities, transport properties, and nucleation rates for aqueous electrolyte solutions.

This article reviews recent molecular simulation studies of “collective” properties of aqueous electrolyte solutions, specifically free energies and activity coefficients, solubilities, nucleation rates of crystals, and transport coefficients. These are important fundamental properties for biology and geoscience, but also relevant for many technological applications. Their determination from molecular-scale calculations requires large systems and long sampling times, as well as specialized sampling algorithms. As a result, such properties have not typically been taken into account during optimization of force field parameters; thus, they provide stringent tests for the transferability and range of applicability of proposed molecular models. There has been significant progress on simulation algorithms to enable the determination of these properties with good statistical uncertainties. Comparisons of simulation results to experimental data reveal deficiencies shared by many commonly used models. Moreover, there appear to exist specific tradeoffs within existing modeling frameworks so that good prediction of some properties is linked to poor prediction for specific other properties. For example, non-polarizable models that utilize full charges on the ions generally fail to predict accurately both activity coefficients and solubilities; the concentration dependence of viscosity and diffusivity for these models is also incorrect. Scaled-charge models improve the dynamic properties and could also perform well for solubilities but fail in the prediction of nucleation rates. Even models that do well at room temperature for some properties generally fail to capture their experimentally observed temperature dependence. The main conclusion from the present review is that qualitatively new physics will need to be incorporated in future models of electrolyte solutions to allow the description of collective properties for broad ranges of concentrations, temperatures, and solvent conditions.
Romantic relationships in adults with ADHD: The effect of partner attachment style on relationship quality:

Prior literature indicates that insecure attachment styles (i.e., anxious or avoidant) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) both have negative impacts on romantic relationships, but ...
Sports Journalism: A History of Glory, Fame, and Technology: by Patrick Washburn and Chris Lamb, Lincoln, University of Nebraska Press, 2020, 288 pp.

In Sports Journalism: A History of Glory, Fame, and Technology, authors Patrick Washburn and Chris Lamb set out to deliver the “first comprehensive, chronological account” of American sports journa...
Embracing to Creating Curriculum: Levels of Engagement Among Student Teachers:

This qualitative study explored the experiences, and specifically the challenges, of white elementary student teachers in an urban setting. One of the most interesting findings from this study invo...
X heterochromatin subdivision and cytogenetic analysis in Sciara coprophila (Diptera, Sciaridae)

The so-called controlling element (CE), which normally programs the curious behavior of the sex chromosome in this genus, has been localized in the short right arm of the polytene X in S. coprophila. The localization was accomplished by use of five X-autosome translocations whose break points define three blocks of heterochromatin (“heterochromomeres”) extending from the X centromere to the very end (right) of the chromosome. The behavior of the translocation chromosomes at the crucial second spermatocyte division was examined and the “precocious” chromosome identified in all five cases. Then, knowing the heterochromomere make-up of each chromosome, the position of the CE could be mapped; it is located in heterochromomere H2, the same block of heterochromatin that contains 50% of the ribosomal RNA cistrons. — The question of whether the CE can manipulate any centromere in the nucleus has been only partially answered. It can manipulate translocation chromosomes which possess the centromere of the metacentric autosome (salivary chromosome IV) or that of the shorter rod (salivary chromosome II); but the longer rod (salivary chromosome III) whose proximal end, as seen in the polytene nucleus, is heavily laden with heterochromatin of its own, has not been brought under CE control. — In one of the translocations, T23, the precocious chromosome is a very large metacentric chromosome which resembles the “peculiar” V-shaped X of S. pauciseta. This peculiarity is not observed in the J-shaped precocious chromosome of T29. These points are discussed.
Biogeochemistry of arsenic and antimony in the North Pacific Ocean

The biogeochemical cycles of the metalloid elements arsenic and antimony were examined along a 15,000 km surface water transect and at 9 vertical profile stations in the western North Pacific Ocean as part of the 2002 IOC Contaminant Baseline Survey. Results show that the speciation of dissolved arsenic (As III, As V, and methylated As) was subtly controlled by the arsenate (AsV)/phosphate ratio. An additional fraction of presumed organic arsenic previously reported in coastal waters was also present (∼15% of the total As) in oceanic surface waters. Dissolved inorganic antimony displayed mildly scavenged behavior that was confirmed by correlations with aluminum, but atmospheric inputs that may be anthropogenic in origin also affected its concentrations. Monomethyl antimony, the predominant organic form of the element, behaved almost conservatively throughout the water column, radically changing the known biogeochemical cycle of antimony.
A variation of conceptual graphs: an object-oriented approach

Object-oriented programming has become a popular programming paradigm. The number of researchers in the field has grown since the introduction of the Smalltalk programming language. Researchers interested in knowledge representation are striving to introduce more comprehensive ways to represent knowledge. Proposed is the representation of knowledge for an object-oriented programming language by using a conceptual knowledge representation method. Techniques and constructs to perform the object-oriented programming paradigm and their formal design, based on Sowa's conceptual graph theory, will be discussed.
An Economic Analysis of Yard Care and Synthetic Chemical Use: The Case of San Francisco

Yard care is an economically important household production activity that also has potentially significant environmental or health impacts. Of particular concern are the possible negative impacts of using synthetic pesticides and fertilizers. But economic models and empirical analyses of yard care and chemical use are rare. We develop a simple model of household production and consumption to analyze yard care and chemical use. We then estimate a multinomial logit model of these behavioral choices with household data from San Francisco. Attitudes towards the quality of one's outdoor residential environment and time scarcity are important determinants of the odds of chemical use whereas financial variables play the major role in determining the odds that people have and care for yards. These results could help to improve educational or marketing campaigns that aim to reduce potential or actual problems associated with yard chemical use. Better data for models similar to this one are needed for future research.
Control of the nanopositioning devices

We present a paradigm which prescribes a procedure for a systematic design, analysis and development of nanopositioning devices. In this effort, we have used many tools from modern control theory to model devices, to quantify device resolution, bandwidth, range, and robustness, and to tackle undesirable nonlinear effects such as hysteresis and creep. The implementation of this procedure for the simultaneous achievement of robustness, high precision, and high bandwidth objectives is presented. Emphasis is placed on the robustness aspects that make the nanopositioner operable in diverse need for tuning that is present paradigm are demonstrated operating conditions thus alleviating the need for tuning that is present in existing designs. The merits of the through experimental results.
Ribonucleic acid synthesis in regenerating and embryonic liver. II. The synthesis of RNA during embryonic liver development and its relationship to regenerating liver.

The synthesis of RNA in fetal liver has been examined from the 14th day until parturition. Populations of RNA molecules present at various stages were intercompared by competition in DNA/RNA hybridization reactions. Evidence is presented for the synthesis of characteristic molecules of RNA at different stages in the development of fetal liver. The greatest apparent diversity in the RNA molecules synthesized and the most distinctive population occur at 14 days of fetal development, the earliest time studied. Since some RNA molecules actively synthesized at one time are absent one day later, much of the RNA made must be of limited life-time. As fetal liver development proceeds, the RNA becomes more similar to that of the adult, although some molecules present in adult liver are absent in early embryonic liver. The new species of RNA which appear prior to regeneration in response to partial hepatcetomy were compared with those associated with rapid cell proliferation in embryonic liver. Since 14-day embryonic liver RNA is an efficient competitor for early regenerating liver RNA, much of the characteristic regenerating liver RNA appears to be the result of re-activation of genes active in liver development but repressed in adult liver.
Impaired search for orientation but not color in hemi-spatial neglect

Patients with hemi-spatial neglect have trouble finding targets defined by a conjunction of visual features. The problem is widely believed to stem from a high-level deficit in attentional deployment, which in turn has led to disagreement over whether the detection of basic features is also disrupted. If one assumes that the detection of salient visual features can be based on the output of spared 'preattentive' processes (Treisman and Gelade, 1980), then feature detection should remain intact. However, if one assumes that all forms of detection require at least a modicum of focused attention (Duncan and Humphreys, 1992), then all forms of search will be disrupted to some degree. Here we measured the detection of feature targets that were defined by either a unique color or orientation. Comparable detection rates were observed in non-neglected space, which indicated that both forms of search placed similar demands on attention. For either of the above accounts to be true, the two targets should therefore be detected with equal efficiency in the neglected field. We found that while the detection rate for color was normal in four of our five patients, all showed an increased reaction time and/or error rate for orientation. This result points to a selective deficit in orientation discrimination, and implies that neglect disrupts specific feature representations. That is, the effects of neglect on visual search are not only attentional but also perceptual.
Surface Plasmon Resonance Spectroscopy of Dielectric Coated Gold and Silver Films on Supporting Metal Layers: Reflectivity Formulas in the Kretschmann Formalism:

In surface plasmon resonance (SPR) studies of thin films, a binder metal (Cr, W, or Ti) is often used to support the SPR-active gold or silver substrate on a glass prism. The optical response of the SPR device is affected by such binder layers, and in the analysis of experimental data, it is necessary to account for these effects. The present report examines the theoretical considerations for SPR spectroscopy involving these types of supported substrates. It is shown that usually, the binder effects are weak in the neighborhood of the resonance angle. In the same region, the SPR plot exhibits an approximately Lorentzian behavior and is characterized here by extending the previously known Kretschmann formalism to a five-phase system. The calculations lead to a set of analytical formulas, indicating the limiting factors of the binder metal and expressing the reflectivity of the multilayer structure in terms of the thickness and dielectric function of the sample layer. In addition, these formulas explicitly show how the characteristic features of SPR plots are governed by certain experimental variables. The calculations provide a relatively simple framework for analyzing the results of SPR studies that focus primarily on resonance angle measurements.
Thylakoid lumenal pH determination using a fluorescent dye: Correlation of lumen pH and gating between localized and delocalized energy coupling

Abstract Thylakoid lumen pH measurements were made using the fluorescent dye 8-hydroxypyrene 1,3,6-trisulfonic acid (HPTS; pyranine). The purpose was twofold: (1) to develop the method for use in the fluorescence ratio mode (permitting assays independent of lumenal dye concentration and lumen volume); (2) to use the technique to measure transmembrane ΔpH values in thylakoids predicted by previously used criteria to be energizing ATP formation with a delocalized or localized protonmotive force. The dye was readily loaded into thylakoids at pH 6 and the loading, washing and resuspension steps did not disrupt the localized or delocalized energy coupling patterns, tested by the effect of a permeable amine on the flash number required to initiate ATP formation as described in earlier work (Beard, W.A. and Dilley, R.A. (1988) J. Bioenerg. Biomembr. 20, 129). Light-dependent dye fluorescence changes were recorded in continuous illumination over 10–20 s with low- or high-salt-stored thylakoids under either coupled or basal conditions to assess the extent of the ΔpH developed across the membranes. Low-salt stored membranes - which were predicted by the criteria developed earlier to show localized Δ \ gm H + energy coupling - gave a ΔpH below the thermodynamically predicted energetic requirement for ATP formation at external pH of 7.8 to 8.9. At an external pH of 7.8 or 8.0 the lumen pH under coupled conditions in the low-salt-stored thylakoids was about 6.8 to 7.0, respectively, (ΔpH ≈ 1.0 unit), and at pH 8.2 the ΔpH was about 1.4 units (lumen mpH = 6.8). At pH 8.9 the lumen pH reached near 7.3 (ΔpH 1.6) under the coupled conditions for low-salt-stored thylakoids. Under basal conditions (no ADP) low-salt-stored membranes gave a ΔpH of 2.4 to 2.8 units, at moderate and high intensities, respectively, when the external pH was 8.9. The pH calibration is not sensitive enough at pH values less than about 6.0 to 6.3 to obtain accurate internal pH data in that range. For that reason, when the external pH was 7.8 to 8.0 all that can be said is that the basal ΔpH could be observed to be >1.7 units. At an external pH of 8.9, high-salt-stored thylakoids - predicated to have a delocalized Δ \ gm H + coupling mode - showed a μpH >2.3 in all cases, coupled or basal, but in the coupled mode the ΔpH was near 2.3 at low light and near 2.7 at high light intensity. That is the expected result of the faster electron-proton transport at the high intensity. These lumen pH measurements support the concept developed with other techniques that thylakoids can maintain either localized or delocalized energy coupling Δ \ gm H + gradients, and that in the localized energy coupling mode, the H+ ions involved in driving ATP formation do not equilibrate with the lumen.
A new, wider-diameter Crawford tube for stenting in the lacrimal drainage system.

Purpose To determine whether technology is available to secure a larger-diameter Crawford tube swedged onto the metal Crawford introducer and to use the system in a closed intubation to treat a failed dacryocystorhinostomy. Methods A metal ferrule has been developed to swedge a larger-diameter Crawford tube onto the standard Crawford probe. Seven patients with failed dacryocystorhinostomy procedures were treated with probing and intubation with the use of this larger-tube Crawford system. Results Six of the 7 patients had patent lacrimal systems after the tubes were removed, a result comparable to open revision after a failed dacryocystorhinostomy. In each case, on insertion, the tube remained firmly attached to the Crawford probe and did not dislodge. Conclusions The technology of using a metal ferrule at the junction of the standard Crawford probe and a larger silicone tube was successful in creating a Crawford system with greater dilation capability than the standard Crawford system. The technique of probing and intubation with this larger Crawford system may be a simple alternative to open revision of a failed dacryocystorhinostomy procedure.
Systemic elevation of interleukin-15 in vivo promotes apoptosis in skeletal muscles of young adult and aged rats.

In this study, we tested the hypothesis that systemic elevation of IL-15 would attenuate apoptosis in skeletal muscles of aged rats. IL-15 was administered to young adult (n = 6) and aged (n = 6) rats for 14 days. Apoptosis was quantified using an ELISA assay and verified through TUNEL staining of muscle sections. As expected, apoptosis was greater in muscles from aged control rats, compared to age-matched control. Apoptosis was also greater in the muscles from young adult and aged rats treated with IL-15. These increases in apoptosis were associated with decreases in muscle mass of IL-15 treated rats. These data do not support our initial hypothesis and suggest that systemic elevation of IL-15 promotes apoptosis in skeletal muscle. The proposed anti-apoptotic property of IL-15 may be specific to cell-type and/or the degree of muscle pathology present; however, additional research is required to more clearly decipher its role in skeletal muscle.
802-2 Cardiovascular Risk Factors Levels and Changes Following Lifestyle Intervention In Families: The British Family Heart Study

2373 families were recruited to a national randomised controlled trial of cardiovascular screening and lifestyle intervention in 26 general practices in 13 towns across Britain, 2054 (87%) comprised both a male and female partner and amongst these 1477 (72%) were represented at screening by both partners. There was a significant association between reported cigarette smoking habits in partners (odds ratio 6.1 95% Cl 4.6, 8.0) at baseline. Where both partners were initially smokers, men were 5 times and women were 10 times (p l 0.05) more likely to have quit where their partner had also quit. Body mass index (BMI) measurements were correlated (r = 0.21, p l 0.0001) at baseline and one year changes in BMI in partners were also significantly correlated (r = 0.20, p l 0.0001). Similar results were found for systolic blood pressure, blood cholesterol and blood glucose cross-sectionally (r = 0.14, 0.10, 0.13 respectively, p l 0.0005) and longitudinally (r = 0.14, 0.24, 0.19 respectively, p l 0.0001). Whilst the cross sectional inter-partner relationships are weak the longitudinal results demonstrate the scope for cardiovascular intervention programmes to capitalize on the tendency of partners to change together. Men and women most able to improve their risk factor profile over a one year period tend to have partners who also improve substantially. Therefore, for lifestyle intervention programmes in middle aged men and women, targeting a couple together rather than as individual patients may result in a greater reduction in cardiovascular risk factors through mutual reinforcement of lifestyle changes.
Weighted principal component analysis for real-time background removal in GPR data

Unprocessed ground penetrating radar (GPR) imagery often suffers from horizontal background striations owing to internal system noise and/or ground layers. These striations adversely affect the ability to identify buried objects, either via visual inspection of the imagery or by automatic target detection techniques. Singular value decomposition (SVD) is one of the most common techniques for removing these background striations, but it is hindered in real-time implementations due to its computational overhead. This paper proposes and demonstrates an alternative technique. The resulting background removal process based on weighted principal component analysis runs faster, preserves more of the target information, and removes a greater percentage of the background compared to standard SVD-based techniques.
Schistosoma mansoni: immunity in Macaca mulatta.

Abstract Twenty-nine rhesus monkeys were used to investigate immunity to Schistosoma mansoni . Infection with 1000 cercariae conferred complete protection to reinfection; this was demonstrated by failure of challenge cercariae to develop into egg-producing adults. Sensitization of monkeys with adult worm extracts did not result in any protection against subsequent exposure. Humoral response was assayed by indirect hemagglutination, cercarienhullenreaktion, and circumoval precipitation, bentonite flocculation, and complement fixation tests. Infection or sensitization stimulated reactivity in all except the circumoval precipitation test. In this test reactivity was only induced by infection. Reinfection stimulated marked anamnestic responses detectable by all tests except the circumoval precipitation. Skin tests and passive cutaneous anaphylaxis reactions revealed reaginic type antibody in infected monkeys. Delayed-type skin reactivity was not observed. Antilymphocytic serum, Cytoxan and total-body irradiation were unable to alter the actively acquired immunity.
Local motions of fluorophores

We further describe the general formulation of fluorescence depolarization in which the depolarization results from exchanges between a number of oscillator orientations in thermal equilibrium. Temperature and pressure affect the polarization by changing the relative populations of the allowed orientations as well as the rate of exchanges during the fluorescence lifetime. This treatment satisfactorily describes the limited motions that fluorophores undergo when they are either attached to a macromolecule such as the local tryptophan rotations in proteins, or embedded in a biological membrane.
Mohs Versus Traditional Surgical Excision for Facial and Auricular Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer: An Analysis of Cost-Effectiveness

OBJECTIVE To evaluate and compare Mohs micrographic surgery and traditional excision in terms of cost and outcomes. DESIGN We developed a computer-simulation, probabilistic, decision model to perform a cost-effectiveness analysis, with each patient serving as his or her own control. SETTING University of Connecticut dermatology clinic, a tertiary care referral center. PARTICIPANTS Input data were derived from results of a consecutive sample of 98 patients with nonmelanoma skin cancer on the face and ears, estimates in the literature on 5-year recurrence rates, and a query of healthy focus-group participants. INTERVENTION We considered Mohs and traditional excision strategies. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Outcomes were measured in quality-adjusted life years, cost, and cost-effectiveness. RESULTS The Mohs strategy was $292 less expensive than the traditional surgical strategy and was more effective by an incremental quality-adjusted life year of 0.056 (translating to approximately 3 weeks of optimal quality of life). Results were robust to subgroup and sensitivity analyses. CONCLUSIONS Mohs may be more cost-effective than traditional excision in eradicating nonmelanoma skin cancer. Further investigation of costs from various geographic payment localities and assessment of quality-of-life outcomes from a population-based sample are needed.
Methods for assessing stormwater management at archaeological sites: Copan Ruins case study

Abstract Archaeological sites may be discovered by fortuitous soil erosion, but their protection requires deliberative stormwater management plans and estimates of runoff volumes. This paper uses the Maya site of Copan, Honduras to demonstrate widely applicable methods to estimate runoff, including use of satellite rainfall data processed by single parameter models. Our analysis compares present day estimates of runoff and erosion with those of two historic periods, 900 A.D during peak Maya occupation of the Great Plaza, and 1800 A.D. prior to excavation when the site was mostly forest covered. For each period, the watershed area, soil, land cover, and rainfall data were used with a single parameter Curve Number model to estimate the runoff volume for annual to decadal storms. The maximum runoff depth and erosive potential in conveyance channels was then computed with the HEC-RAS model. The models did not predict runoff would occur for the forested period of 1800 A.D., but predicted that runoff for 900 and post-1800 A.D was large enough to cause the erosion observed in the drainage channel today. Our results provide runoff magnitudes that demonstrate the need for Copan Maya designed stormwater removal infrastructure described in earlier archaeological analysis. The need for stormwater removal was also designed into the wet Maya site of Palenque, while stormwater capture and storage was designed into the Maya sites of Tikal, a drier site due to local drainage characteristics and water availability. Methods used in stormwater runoff analysis can empower communities and managers to develop scientifically and culturally appropriate non-structural management methods to conserve archaeological sites.
Human cathepsin B-encoding cDNAs: sequence variations in the 3'-untranslated region.

Abstract We have isolated two cathepsin B (CTSB)-encoding cDNAs, h CBF 1 and h CBF2 , from a normal human embryonic fibro blast library. These clones demonstrate 98% identity to overlapping regions of published human hepatoma and kidney CTSB cDNAs, but show some interesting differences from the published sequences in the 3′-untranslated region (3′- UTR ). Both h CBF1 and h CBF2 contain a 10-bp insertion in the 3′- UTR that may permit formation of a highly stable stem-loop structure not present in mRNAs without this insertion. Our h CBF1 cDNA also contains a 1019-bp extension of the 3′- UTR sequence that resembles the long 3′- utr reported for murine CTSB cDNAs. Probes unique to this 3′- UTR extension hybridize to 4.0- and 1.7-kb CTSB RNAs on Northern blots, but not to the major 2.2-kb mRNA transcript. Our data reveal variations in normal human CTSB transcripts that result from differences in the length of the 3′- UTR , as well as the presence or absence of a stem-loop stabilizing sequence.
Distributed operations for the Mars Exploration Rover Mission with the science activity planner

The unprecedented endurance of both the Spirit and Opportunity rovers during the Mars Exploration Rover Mission (MER) brought with it many unexpected challenges. Scientists, many of whom had planned on staying at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, CA for 90 days, were eager to return to their families and home institutions. This created a need for the rapid conversion of a mission-planning tool, the science activity planner (SAP), from a centralized application usable only within JPL, to a distributed system capable of allowing scientists to continue collaborating from locations around the world. Rather than changing SAP itself, the rapid conversion was facilitated by a collection of software utilities that emulated the internal JPL software environment and provided efficient, automated information propagation. During this process many lessons were learned about scientific collaboration in a concurrent environment, use of existing server-client software in rapid systems development, and the effect of system latency on end-user usage patterns. Switching to a distributed mode of operations also saved a considerable amount of money, and increased the number of specialists able to actively contribute to mission research. Long-term planetary exploration missions of the future will build upon the distributed operations model used by MER
Static Power Reduction Techniques for Asynchronous Circuits

Power gating techniques are effective in mitigatingleakage losses, which represent a significant portion of power consumption in nanoscale circuits. We examine variants of two representative techniques, Cut-Off and Zig-Zag Cut-Off [1], and find that they offer an average of 80% and 20% in power savings, respectively, for asynchronous circuit families. We also present a new zero-delay (ZDRTO) wakeup technique for power gated asynchronous pipelines, which leverages the robustness of asynchronous circuits to delays and supply voltage variations.Our ZDRTO technique offers a tradeoff between wakeup timeand static power reduction, making it suitable for power gating pipelines with low-duty cycle, bursty usage patterns.
Reliable density‐functional‐theory calculations of adsorption in nanoscale pores

A popular approach for the modeling of adsorption phenomena is density-functional theory (DFT). A new methodology described in this paper is the first completely reliable technique for finding all solutions to the nonlinear equation systems arising in the lattice-DFT modeling of adsorption in porous materials. The method is based on interval analysis, in particular on an interval Newton/generalized bisection algorithm, which provides a mathematical and computational guarantee that all solutions are enclosed. The method is demonstrated using a model, formulated using DFT for a confined lattice, of adsorption in slit-like nanoscale pores. In addition to confirming solutions found previously, the method also found on several test problems a number of additional, previously unreported solutions.
Comparison of the immunological and protective responses elicited by microencapsulated formulations of the F1 antigen from Yersinia pestis

Purified native F1 antigen from Yersinia pestis was used to assess controlled-release vaccine delivery systems in poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLG) microparticles and liposomes. Antigen encapsulated in PLG microparticles induced high serum titres when injected i.p. in mice: mucosal IgA was also detected. Mice immunized with F1 in Alhydrogel or PLGs were protected against subcutaneous challenge with Y. pestis. F1 antigen surface-labelled onto liposome vesicles stimulated high serum titres in Balbc mice and also induced a mucosal response: F1-labelled liposomes protected mice against challenge with up to 1 × 105 organisms. These findings indicate that a significant immune response is induced by immunizing with F1 formulated in PLGs and liposomes and that protection was achieved after only one dose.
FROM BLOWOUT TO BEACH: AN INTEGRATED MODELING APPROACH

ABSTRACT As part of the response to the BP Deepwater Horizon spill in 2010, we have been funded by the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative to construct a nested model suite that can follow an oil pa...
Associations between psychological distress and alcohol outcomes as mediated by time perspective orientation among college students

The present study examined time perspective orientation as an underlying factor in explaining the associations between psychological health and alcohol use outcomes. Participants were 250 college students (182 women) from a mid-size public university. Participants completed measures of time perspective orientation, alcohol consumption and problems, and psychological symptomatology. Mediational analyses revealed that past-negative time perspective acted as an underlying mechanism in the relationships between all psychological symptoms variables (e.g. anxiety, depression) and alcohol-related problems. Our findings indicate that having a pessimistic view of one's past may help explain the positive relationship between poorer mental health symptoms and alcohol-related problems. Intervention strategies could be developed to focus more specifically on time perspective in this population.
Model error compensation for observer design

We consider the state and disturbance estimation problem for a linear system with uncertainties as additive deterministic disturbances. Instead of attempting to minimize the effects of the disturbance as in the robust filters or to decouple the disturbance as in the unknown input observers, it is proposed to estimate the disturbance and to use it to reduce the model error and thus to improve the state estimation. This technique is denoted as model error compensator (MEC). Sufficient conditions for achieving bounded disturbance estimation error are presented. These conditions are different from those required in the unknown input observers and the robust filter for state estimation only. In addition, no differentiation of the measured signals is required. This paper also discusses how existing state observers can be used with the MEC as a two-step observer design strategy.
Analysis of Oligosaccharides Derived from Heparin by Ion-Pair Reversed-Phase Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry

Current chromatographic and mass spectrometric techniques have limitations for analyzing heparin and heparin oligomers due to their high polarity, structural diversity, and sulfate lability. A rapid method for the analysis of heparin oligosaccharides was developed using ion-pair reversed-phase ultraperformance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray quadruple time-of-flight mass spectrometry (IPRP-UPLC ESI Q-TOF MS). The method utilizes an optimized buffer system containing a linear pentylamine and a unique additive, 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propanol (HFIP), to achieve highly efficient separation together with enhanced mass response of heparin oligosaccharides. Analyses of a heparin oligosaccharide test mixture, dp6 through dp22, reveal that the chromatographic conditions enable baseline resolution of isomeric heparin oligosaccharides (dp6) and produce intact molecular ions with no sulfate losses during mass spectrometric analysis. In addition, the described conditions are amenable to the detectio...
A prognostic utility bias in judgments of similarity between past and present instances: How available information is deemed useful for prediction

A variety of theorists have proposed that individuals desire to be confident in their inferences and predictions. One way this can be accomplished is by overestimating the extent to which available information provides a logic basis for such conclusions. Thus, when one's goal is to make an accurate prediction, if information about a prior known instance has potential implications for the prediction, one may overestimate the similarity of the prior known instance to the current instance. In this way, the perceived utility of the information as a basis for prediction can be inflated. To test this idea, three studies were conducted. In each study, subjects were asked to judge the similarity of past instances to an upcoming instance for which an outcome prediction was required. Judging a past instance as similar to the upcoming instance should only provide a firm basis for outcome prediction if outcome information regarding the past instance is known. Therefore, it was expected that when subjects are asked to make an outcome prediction, they would judge a past instance more similar to the upcoming instance if outcome information about the past instance is known than if it is not. Support for this hypothesis was obtained along with evidence concerning the conditions under which the eflect does and does not occur.
The soul of leadership

by Deepak Chopra, Random House Group, 2010, 217 pp., US$19.99 (hardback) ISBN 9781846042706 It is bit daunting to write a book review on such a well-known and celebrated author and healer. Dr. Chop...
Shape resonance scattering as a probe of excited-state adsorbate dynamics for CO chemisorbed on Ni(111)

This paper demonstrates that electronically resonant inelastic electron scattering can be used to probe the vibrational dynamics of chemisorbed species, and that the formation of a transient negative ion during scattering can lead to significant enhancement in the probability for vibrationally inelastic scattering. We specifically examine CO/Ni(111) chemisorbed in a c(4X2) structure. Our measurements consist of the incident energy dependencies for vibrationally inelastic scattering from different adsorbate modes, as well as the final angular distributions for electrons emerging from the transiently formed resonance. We also observe the presence of weak first overtone scattering for the CO intramolecular stretch under resonant scattering conditions. All of the observations are consistent with the formation of a (Sigma) shape resonance in the vicinity of 18 eV which is slightly lower in energy, and has a shortened lifetime, than in the gas phase. Discussions are presented which emphasize that the presence (or absence) of vibrational excitation in a given vibrational coordinate following negative ion formation can be used to infer important details about femtosecond nuclear coordinate evolution for the system in the excited state.© (1994) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Dissolved organic matter in pore water of carbonate sediments from Bermuda

Abstract Pore water samples from seven nearshore areas in Bermuda were obtained under in situ conditions and analyzed for dissolved organic carbon, dissolved carbohydrates, dissolved free amino acids and dissolved humic substances. The concentration of dissolved organic carbon is higher than in the overlying nearshore waters indicating significant diagenetic remobilization of carbon in these recently deposited carbonate sediments. Dissolved carbohydrates decrease with depth due to microbial utilization.
Motive, role identity, and prosocial personality as predictors of volunteer activity

Constructs from the functional analysis and role identity models of volunteerism were combined in a study of activity and tenure among hospice volunteers. The influence of prosocial personality tendencies on sustained volunteer activity was also examined. The findings were most supportive of a role identity model of sustained volunteerism. Identity and perceived expectations emerged as the strongest predictors of both time spent volunteering and length of service. Initial motives for volunteering showed a weaker than expected relationship with volunteerism. Motives were, however, correlated with role identity and perceived expectations in an interpretable and theoretically coherent manner. The results provided preliminary support for a conceptual framework that integrates the functional and identity approaches to understanding long-term volunteers.
Nitrogen balance and blood metabolites of alpaca (Lama pacos) fed three forages of different protein content

Abstract Sixteen intact male alpaca consisting of four age groups (AG1, 16 ± 4.4 months, 44.3 ± 9.2 kg; AG2, 25 ± 1.8 months, 51.7 ± 2.3 kg; AG3, 35 ± 1.1 months, 64.7 ± 15.6 kg; and AG4, 60 ± 12.0 months, 67.0 ± 8.2 kg) were housed in metabolism crates (20 °C with 12:12 h on:off light cycle). Three forages, straw (ST), grass hay (GH) and alfalfa (ALF) were fed to each alpaca in random order. The forages were fed at 12 h intervals with water provided ad libitum. Treatment periods were 14 days, with blood samples collected over a 24 h period on day 14 to determine temporal patterns of plasma metabolite and electrolytes. Dry matter intake was lower ( P P P P P P P P P P 0.75 for AG1, AG2, AG3 and AG4, respectively. Overall N requirement was calculated to be 0.60 g/W 0.75 . These data demonstrate the effects of feeding forages of varying quality on whole-body N utilization, temporal blood metabolite and electrolyte patterns and a possible age effect on maintenance N requirements.
Nonlinear instability of travelling waves with a continuous spectrum

Abstract The nonlinear evolution of a continuous spectrum of travelling waves resulting from the growth of unstable disturbances in fully-developed fluid flows is studied. The disturbance is represented in its most general form by a Fourier integral over all possible wavenumbers. The Fourier components of the disturbance quantities are expanded in a series of the linear-stability eigenfunctions, and a set of integro-differential equations for the amplitude density function of a continuous spectrum is derived. No approximations are involved in this reduction; hence, a numerical solution of the integro-differential equations is an exact solution of the Navier-Stokes equations. Numerical integration of the integro-differential equations with different initial conditions shows that the equilibrium state of the flow is not unique after the first bifurcation point, but depends on the waveform of the initial disturbance or, equivalently, on ambient noise which cannot always be controlled in practical situations. Multiple equilibrium states are found to occur at the same value of the dynamic similarity parameters; this implies that any property transported by the fluid can at best be determined within a limit of uncertainty associated with nonuniqueness. A perturbation expansion with multiple time scales is used to show that the equations describing the evolution of monochromatic waves and slowly-varying wavepackets in classical weakly nonlinear theories are special limiting cases of the integro-differential equations near the onset of linear instability. The range of validity of the weakly nonlinear expansions is examined for mixed-convection flow in a heated vertical annulus. The results confirm that weakly nonlinear theories fail to give an adequate description of the physics of the flow even near the onset of linear instability. This is because these theories consider only the most unstable mode, and neglect the contribution from other eigenmodes which can have a large effect on the mean flow distortion. Without considering the leading-order effect of the mean-flow distortion, classical weakly nonlinear instability theories fail to account for proper energy exchanges. The numerical results of the integro-differential equations for the amplitude density function are compared with a direct numerical simulation of the Navier-Stokes equations using a Fourier-Chebyshev spectral method. Complete agreement is found between the two numerical solutions. The solution of the integro-differential equations is simpler than and requires only a small fraction of the computer time necessary for solving the Navier-Stokes equations by a spectral method. The current formulation presents an efficient algorithm to solve the Navier-Stokes equations.
Rediscovering mycophenolic acid: A review of its mechanism, side effects, and potential uses

Oral mycophenolic acid (MPA) therapy has been investigated in the treatment of moderate to severe psoriasis since the early 1970s and has been found to be both safe and effective. By inhibiting de novo purine biosynthesis, it functions as an antifungal, antibacterial, antiviral, and immunosuppressive agent. The recent availability of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), a morpholinoester of MPA, has created renewed interest in the antipsoriatic properties of MPA. MMF is currently indicated for the prevention of organ rejection in transplant recipients and is used concomitantly with cyclosporine and corticosteroids. This review focuses on the pharmacology of MPA and MMF, studies of MPA in the treatment of psoriasis, and therapy with MMF. There is a potential application of MMF in the treatment of severe psoriasis and other inflammatory dermatoses, as well as topical MPA for the treatment of psoriasis.
DYNAMICAL PROPERTIES OF EPITAXIAL FERROELECTRIC SUPERLATTICES

The dynamical properties of epitaxial ferroelectric heterostructures have been investigated by studying the dielectric behavior under external electric field. A phenomenon with a giant permittivity was observed. At low frequencies, real permittivities as high as 420 000 have been measured. Real and imaginary parts of the dielectric constant show large dispersion at high frequencies. In dc measurements, a nonlinear resistance is observed with a well-defined threshold field, correlating with the dc bias-field dependence of ac permittivities. We model these observations as a result of the motion of pinned domain-wall lattices, having sliding-mode motion at high electric fields. The good agreement between the experimental and theoretical results suggests that the deposited interdigitated electrode pattern plays a crucial role in controlling domain-wall dynamics. The pinning of the domain wall comes from a nucleation barrier to the creation of new domain walls.
Motion-compensated transform coding of video using adaptive displacement fields

To find good trade-offs between the rate-distortion efficiency of motion-compensated, discrete-cosine-transform video coding and its computational complexity, we explore a scheme which uses an adaptive displacement vector field for motion compensation. The sampling density of the field is nonuniform and is adapted to the image scene using a Lagrangian optimization algorithm. The algorithm is formulated to minimize an overall distortion for a given bit rate constraint on the video frame. The algorithm takes into account the contributions to the overall bit rate and distortion due to motion vector and prediction residual coding. Our simulation results demonstrate that, for various common video sequences, the proposed scheme outperforms a popular H.263 test model by about 0.5 dB of peak signal-to-noise ratio. Significant reduction in coding artifacts is observed, and visual quality improvement is highly palpable. The work demonstrates that a suitably crafted rate-distortion optimization scheme can improve performance without exacerbating complexity.
Fixed Poles in the Model Matching Problem for Systems over Semirings

In this paper, we study the model matching problem for systems over semirings, which are used in many applications, such as queueing systems, communication networks, and manufacturing systems. The main contribution of this paper is the discovery of fixed pole structure of solutions to the model matching problem. This fixed pole structure provides essential information contained in the solutions to the model matching problem. For a discrete event dynamic system, a common Petri net component in the solutions to the model matching problem can be discovered from the fixed pole structure. Keywords: Model matching problem, discrete-event dynamic systems, max-plus algebra, fixed poles.