cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Consequences of symmetry in the computation of characteristic modes for conducting bodies

When computing the characteristic modes of a symmetric conducting body, it is always advantageous and sometimes absolutely necessary to block diagonalize the matrix representation of the operator for the eigencurrents. This procedure reduces computation time and memory requirements. The formal theoretical approach to operator block diagonalization is developed using group theory. It is shown that the operator for the eigencurrents on a conducting body is invariant under the group of symmetry operations of the structure. The eigencurrents are shown to provide bases for the irreducible representations of the symmetry group. It is further proven that expansion of the current in terms of functions belonging to the irreducible representations of the symmetry group of the structure leads to block diagonalization of the matrix representation of the operator. Basis functions for bodies of revolution are discussed as an example.
Entropy measurements and the kinetic method : A statistically meaningful approach

In the literature, data obtained using the kinetic method have been analyzed to provide both ion affinities and relative entropies for the competitive dissociations involved. In this work, the procedure used to extract this information is shown to be statistically flawed. Using more rigorous statistical procedures, we outline alternative methods of acquiring the same information, including straightforward means of analyzing the uncertainties in the thermodynamic quantities obtained. Fortunately, it is expected that the central values reported in previous work need not be changed, but the uncertainties are much larger than has been previously detailed. The validity of the assumptions involved in the extraction of entropy effects is discussed in some detail.
Agentenbasierte Simulation zur Analyse und Lösung betriebswirtschaftlicher Entscheidungsprobleme

In komplexen okonomischen Systemen ergeben sich oft Fragestellungen bzw. Entscheidungsprobleme, die mit klassischen Analyse- und Optimierungstechniken nur schwer adressierbar sind. Markte, auf denen Akteure mit heterogenen Zielsetzungen dynamisch interagieren, oder Unternehmen, in denen vielschichtige Prozesse ineinandergreifen, sind typische Beispiele fur solche Systeme in unserer global vernetzten Wirtschaft. In den letzten Jahren hat mit der agentenbasierten Simulation (ABS) eine Technik zunehmende Verbreitung gefunden, die hilft, solche Systeme zu simulieren und inharente Wirkungszusammenhange besser zu erfassen. Im vorliegenden Beitrag stellen wir die Moglichkeiten der ABS insbesondere zur Analyse und Losung betriebswirtschaftlicher Problemstellungen naher vor und geben eine systematische Ubersicht von Anwendungsfallen aus der Forschung und der unternehmerischen Praxis. Abschliesend analysieren wir den Anwendungsprozess zur Nutzung einer ABS, von der Konzeption und Modellierung bis hin zur Implementierung und dem Ablauf der Simulation.
Performance tuning non-uniform sampling for sensitivity enhancement of signal-limited biological NMR

Non-uniform sampling (NUS) has been established as a route to obtaining true sensitivity enhancements when recording indirect dimensions of decaying signals in the same total experimental time as traditional uniform incrementation of the indirect evolution period. Theory and experiments have shown that NUS can yield up to two-fold improvements in the intrinsic signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of each dimension, while even conservative protocols can yield 20–40 % improvements in the intrinsic SNR of NMR data. Applications of biological NMR that can benefit from these improvements are emerging, and in this work we develop some practical aspects of applying NUS nD-NMR to studies that approach the traditional detection limit of nD-NMR spectroscopy. Conditions for obtaining high NUS sensitivity enhancements are considered here in the context of enabling 1H,15N-HSQC experiments on natural abundance protein samples and 1H,13C-HMBC experiments on a challenging natural product. Through systematic studies we arrive at more precise guidelines to contrast sensitivity enhancements with reduced line shape constraints, and report an alternative sampling density based on a quarter-wave sinusoidal distribution that returns the highest fidelity we have seen to date in line shapes obtained by maximum entropy processing of non-uniformly sampled data.
Ice loads on an elastic model of the Molikpaq

Abstract In 1986, the offshore structure Molikpaq experienced severe vibrations due to ice loading while drilling for hydrocarbons in the Canadian Beaufort Sea. These strong ice-induced vibrations were unprecedented for a wide structure in ice, and their cause is not yet fully understood. Motivated by this event and the ensuing controversy over its cause, the Canadian Hydraulics Centre has conducted a series of physical model tests to gain further insight into the loading and dynamic response of wide structures in ice. A sophisticated segmented elastic model of the Molikpaq structure was designed and built for this study. The stiffness of the model can be adjusted to simulate both stiff and soft sand cores. This paper provides information on the test program, the design of the elastic model and its behavior in a wide range of ice conditions. Results on ice loads, foundation loads, and structural deformations are presented and discussed. Finally, global ice loads from the model study are favorably compared to available information on the full scale ice loads experienced by the real Molikpaq. This result highlights the usefulness of physical model tests to determine ice loads on Arctic structures.
Development: Reflections from Bolivia

The results of development are now widely thought to have betrayed expectations. Using illustrations from Bolivia, this essay argues that these dispiriting results often owe to distortions that render development something other than what it pretends to be, or is usually understood to be. The distortions derive from the use of inappropriate mental constructs, from links to foreign policy, from "expert" ignorance, and from weak sensitivity by development agencies to how their interventions are construed by local economic and power elites. While these agencies have formal mechanisms to correct some of the distortions, the mechanisms too often fail to work. Correcting these distortions is a daunting task, rooted as they are deep in national institutions and conceptions of national interest. The end of the Cold War nonetheless affords an auspicious moment for doing so. Indeed, not to is to risk turmoil in regions like Latin America. Yet international capitalist powers and local elites are not seizing the mome...
Theoretical Studies of Raman Spectra for Planar Polymerized C60

We have used an approximate first-principles method together with a bond-polarizability model to calculate theoretical Raman spectra for the orthorhombic (O), tetragonal (T), and rhombohedral (R) phases of pressure-polymerized C 60 solid. We have also calculated Raman spectra for a sequence of C 60 polymer structures which include all possible two-connected C 60 balls, to help elucidate the yet unknown structure of the room-temperature C 60 photopolymer. To quantitatively determine the contribution of the I h C 60 vibrational modes to each polymer mode, we have expanded the polymer eigenvectors in the eigenvectors of I h C 60 . Our calculated O-polymer Raman spectrum is compared with the available experimental spectrum measured under off-resonance conditions. For the sequence of two-connected-ball polymers, we present our calculated spectra in the frequency region of the I h C 60 Ag(2) vibrational mode, and relate these spectra to measured spectra for the room-temperature photopolymer. We find the simplest agreement with experiment for the triangular C 60 trimer.
Visible/near-infrared hyperspectral imaging for beef tenderness prediction

Beef tenderness is an important quality attribute for consumer satisfaction. The current beef quality grading system does not incorporate a direct measure of tenderness because there is currently no accurate, rapid, nondestructive method for predicting tenderness available to the beef industry. The objective of this study was to develop and test a visible/near-infrared hyperspectral imaging system to predict tenderness of 14-day aged, cooked beef from hyperspectral images of fresh ribeye steaks acquired at 14-day post-mortem. A pushbroom hyperspectral imaging system (wavelength range: 400-1000nm) with a diffuse-flood lighting system was developed and calibrated. Hyperspectral images of beef-steak (n=111) at 14-day post-mortem were acquired. After imaging, steaks were cooked and slice shear force (SSF) values were collected as a tenderness reference. All images were corrected for reflectance. After reflectance calibration, a region-of-interest (ROI) of 200x600 pixels at the center was selected and principal component analysis was carried out on the ROI images to reduce the dimension along the spectral axis. The first five principal components explained over 90% of the variance of all spectral bands in the image. Gray-level textural co-occurrence matrix analysis was conducted to extract second-order statistical textural features from the principal component images. These features were then used in a canonical discriminant model to predict three beef tenderness categories, namely tender (SSF@?205.80N), intermediate (205.80N=254.80N). With a leave-one-out cross-validation procedure, the model predicted the three tenderness categories with a 96.4% accuracy. All of the tough samples were correctly identified. Our results indicate that hyperspectral imaging has considerable promise for predicting beef tenderness.
Construction of linkage maps with DNA markers for human chromosomes

DNA markers and sampling of three-generation families can be used to construct complete linkage maps of human chromosomes. This is important in mapping disease loci and in determining the genetic or environmental component of a disease.
Experiment Study on Shear Capacity of RC Beams

Based on cyclic loading experiment of nine beams in the two groups, the relationship among the average web stress, initial diagonal crack width and shear capacity of RC beams was studied. Experimental result shows that the decline of the shear strength of the RC beams due to cyclic loading can be characterized by the width of diagonal crack. Under the same load amplitude, the larger crack width is, the greater the decline of the bearing capacity is. Besides, under the same number of cycles, the greater the load amplitude is, the larger the crack width is, the greater the decline in the bearing capacity of beams is. In addition, according to the experimental phenomena and the shear compression failure mechanism of beam, a formula for shear capacity after cyclic loading is derived for engineering use.
Pathogenesis of Experimental Arteriosclerosis in the Rat.

Summary1. Pathogenesis of severe arteriosclerosis and disseminated myocardial necrosis, induced in the albino rat by standard renal injury, was investigated. These cardiovascular lesions are due to autointoxication with parathyroid hormone, and this hormone apparently contains an important hypertensive factor. 2. Evidence was presented that excess production of parathyroid hormone, as a consequence of renal dysfunctions, is mediated through the adrenal cortex and that mineralocorticoids are essential for direct or indirect activation of the parathyroid gland. To some degree, androgens can enhance the mineralocorticoid effect, whereas estrogens seem to inhibit emergence of muscular necrosis. The incidence of cardiovascular injury in intact and adrenalectomized rats was found to be substantially higher in male than in female animals. 3. It was shown further that, in the absence of parathyroid glands, mineralocorticoids in excessive dosage fail to produce cardiovascular necrosis, whereas excess parathyroid h...
The oxidation of hydrocarbons and CO over metal oxides: III. Co3O4

Abstract The catalytic oxidation of CO, C2H4, and C2H6 has been studied over Co3O4 and Co3O4 supported on alumina. At low temperatures the reaction kinetics can be described by the general expression of Rate = kp O 2 m p CO n (or HC) p H 2 O −l e − ΔE RT where l, m, and n are in the range of 0.3 to 0.5 and ΔE 20 − 23 kcal/mol. At high temperatures the rates are controlled by bulk diffusion. The specific catalytic activity over the Co3O4 powder is the highest among the various metal oxides previously studied. Mutual retardation was observed between CO and C2H4 when they coexist in the gas phase. NO can reversibly inhibit the oxidation of CO at 200 °C without reaction. A few ppm of SO2 in the gas phase can cause irreversible reduction of the Co3O4 catalytic activity at 500 °C or below. At 550 °C or above, finite equilibrium between the SO2 concentration in the gas phase and the reduction in activity can be reached, and the SO2 inhibition becomes reversible. The activity of the supported Co3O4 catalysts varies over several orders of magnitude depending on the method of preparation. In general, the mechanical mixtures of Co3O4 and collodial alumina are much more active than those prepared by impregnation. The nature of the diluents used in the mixtures also influences the activity. Heating the supported catalysts to 850 °C deactivates the catalysts severely due to (1) sintering of the Co3O4, (2) sintering of the diluents to form mass transfer barrier, and (3) reaction to form the catalytically inactive CoAl2O4.
Threatened fishes of the world: Etheostoma perlongum (Hubbs and Raney 1946) (Percidae)

tion status: Threatened (Warren et al. 2000); Threatened in North Carolina (Shute 1997). Identification: Subgenus Boleosoma. Adults reaching 45–75 mm SL (Shute et al. 1982). Similar to its sister species, Etheostoma olmstedi, with the exception of having a more-slender body and higher vertebral and lateral scale counts. D1 IX– XII; D2 13–15; A II + 8–9; Vertebrae 39–42; Lateral scales 59–64. Lateral line complete. Illustration by E. F. Menhinick. Distribution: Along with Menidia extensa and Fundulus diaphanus, one of three endemic fishes in Lake Waccamaw, North Carolina, (Hubbs and Raney 1946). Specimens from the headwaters of the Waccamaw River, just below the Lake Waccamaw dam are morphological intermediates between E. perlongum and E. olmstedi. Abundance: The least common of the three Lake Waccamaw endemics; Lindquist and Yarbrough (1982) estimated the population to be approximately 125,000 individuals, –25%. Habitat and ecology: Diet consists primarily of aquatic insects, particularly chironomid larvae. Found in offshore waters in fall and winter, they migrate to shallow inshore waters in March to spawn. Reproduction: Spawning occurs from March through June beneath woody debris and rocks, typically in <1 m depth (Lindquist et al. 1981). Males guard nests where several females may spawn (Lindquist et al. 1981, 1984). An annual species; most individuals die shortly after spawning (Shute et al. 1982), perhaps due to depleted somatic lipid levels (Schultz 1999). Threats: Two primary threats to E. perlongum are degradation of water quality and destruction of habitat (Shute 1997). The Lake Waccamaw shoreline is densely developed with homes and cottages. Development is likely to increase nutrient loading in the lake (Shute 1997), causing wide-scale algal blooms. Additionally, suitable spawning habitat such as fallen trees and rocks are considered dangerous to boaters and are often removed. Because E. perlongum has an annual life cycle, reproductive failure for even a single year could lead to rapid extinction. Conservation actions: Habitat is indirectly protected because Lake Waccamaw has been designated T. J. Krabbenhoft (&) AE J. M. Quattro Department of Biological Sciences, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA e-mail: Krabbenhoft@biol.sc.edu
Take Me Out to the Ball Game? Baseball, Hot Dogs, and Assumption of the Risk in the Missouri Supreme Court's Coomer v. Kansas City Royals Baseball Corp. Decision

Does a spectator at a baseball game assume the risk of being injured from a mascot's hot dog toss? According to a unanimous opinion by the Missouri Supreme Court, the answer is no.1Coomer v. Kansas...
On the action of 5-amino-salicylic acid and sulfapyridine on M. avium including subspecies paratuberculosis.

Background Introduced in 1942, sulfasalazine (a conjugate of 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) and sulfapyridine) is the most prescribed medication used to treat “inflammatory” bowel disease (IBD.) Although controversial, there are increasingly compelling data that Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) may be an etiological agent in some or all of IBD. We have shown that two other agents used in the therapy of IBD (methotrexate and 6-MP) profoundly inhibit MAP growth. We concluded that their most plausible mechanism of action is as antiMAP antibiotics. We herein hypothesize that the mechanism of action of 5-ASA and/or sulfapyridine may also simply be to inhibit MAP growth.
Adaptive VBR video traffic management for higher utilization of ATM networks

The VBR video traffic exhibits high burstiness and correlation properties that are quite complex to be captured by a single traffic model. Efficient resource management based on few parameters of the source traffic is highly desirable. The real-time VBR video traffic has stringent quality of service (QoS) requirements such as delay (few milliseconds) and cell loss (1 in 10 -5) that are difficult to achieve with good utilization (> 0.6) by static bandwidth allocation schemes. In order to satisfy such QoS constraints with good utilization, proper adaptive mechanisms have to be devised. This paper presents a dynamic bandwidth allocation scheme for VBR video traffic based on buffer monitoring and a simple LMS (least mean square) traffic prediction system. The goal is to reduce the frequency of the bandwidth reallocations and at the same time reduce the Cell-loss Ratio (CLR) with increased utilization. Simulation results indicate that utilization up to 0.8 can be achieved by the proposed scheme even under high source alignment [26] for bursty VBR video traffic. It is found that the proposed adaptive scheme outperforms the static FCFS allocation scheme with lower buffer requirements and fewer (
Clinical correlates of granulomas in muscle

We evaluated the clinical and myopathological features of all patients with granulomas in muscle biopsy specimens identified over a 5-year period (1992-1996) at the Washington University Medical Center. Ten patients were found to have granulomas in their muscle biopsy specimens. Of these, eight patients had myopathic changes. Seven had dysphagia as a major functional difficulty during the course of their disease. None had elevated levels of serum creatine kinase (CK). Four of the patients with myopathy had systemic sarcoidosis and relatively severe proximal weakness with functional disability. Treatment with corticosteroids was followed by marked improvement in strength and functional disability. The four other patients with myopathy had no systemic signs of sarcoidosis. Weakness was especially prominent distally in three of these patients. The two patients in this group treated with corticosteroids did not improve. The final two patients, who had granulomas in muscle but no myopathic changes, had clinical syndromes of mononeuritis multiplex and eosinophilic fasciitis (Shulman syndrome). We conclude that granulomatous myopathy, in the presence or absence of systemic sarcoidosis, is commonly associated with dysphagia (87%) and a normal serum CK. Clinical features in patients with sarcoidosis included severe proximal weakness with functional disability that often responded to corticosteroid treatment. Granulomatous myopathy without systemic sarcoidosis was associated with milder, but more predominantly distal weakness.
Temperature dependence for in-use stiction of polycrystalline silicon MEMS cantilevers

Abstract Adhesion during operation, referred to as in-use stiction, shortens the useful lifetimes and reliability of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS). In this paper, operational reliability tests were performed to investigate the effect of temperature on in-use stiction for surface-micromachined, polycrystalline silicon MEMS cantilevers subject to three release techniques: supercritical CO 2 drying, laser irradiation repair, and an octadecyltrichlorosilane (OTS) deposition process. The cantilevers were heated from room temperature to 300 °C and then returned to room temperature. The cantilevers were electrostatically actuated at specific temperatures between 22 and 300 °C during the heating and cooling stages, and their sticking probabilities determined. The failure probability results exhibit a slight variation with temperature for microcantilevers released using the supercritical CO 2 dry and laser irradiation repair. However, in-use stiction of microcantilevers coated with OTS is strongly dependent on temperature. The incidence of in-use stiction was highest during the heating stage, reduced during the cooling stage, and decreased further when the samples were reheated to 300 °C. The results indicate that thermal annealing of OTS coated structures in air decreases in-use stiction failures. Surface characterization of OTS coated samples was conducted using contact angle goniometry, atomic force microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy.
DEVELOPMENTAL CHANGES IN RABBIT JUXTAMEDULLARY PROXIMAL CONVOLUTED TUBULE(JMPCT) WATER PERMEABILITY • 2191

The proximal tubule (PT) reabsorbs the bulk of the glomerular ultrafiltrate in a nearly isosmotic fashion due to the high osmotic water permeability(Pf) of this segment. CHIP28, the water channel responsible for the high Pf in this segment, demonstrates a developmental increase in expression from fetal to adult PT suggesting that the Pf of the PT should increase with maturation. The first purpose of the present in vitro microperfusion study was to directly examine both osmotic (Pf) and diffusional (PDw) water permeabilities of adult and neonatal(10±2 days old) JMPCT.
Current Density and Temperature of High-Current Arcs

DURING INTERRUPTION of high-current arcs in circuit breakers and contactors, the region between the contacts must be converted from an intensely hot conducting medium to a relatively cool insulating medium. Although the cooling of low-current arcs has been explained by means of conduction, free convection, and radiation, extension of these mechanisms to relatively short (2- to 3-inch) high-current arcs accounts for no more than 25% of the total electric energy input. The purpose of this article is to present a theory, physical picture, and supporting data to explain the cooling process in a high-current (10,000- to 20,000 ampere) free arc.
Integral approximations to classical diffusion and smoothed particle hydrodynamics

Abstract The contribution of the paper is the approximation of a classical diffusion operator by an integral equation with a volume constraint. A particular focus is on classical diffusion problems associated with Neumann boundary conditions. By exploiting this approximation, we can also approximate other quantities such as the flux out of a domain. Our analysis of the model equation on the continuum level is closely related to the recent work on nonlocal diffusion and peridynamic mechanics. In particular, we elucidate the role of a volumetric constraint as an approximation to a classical Neumann boundary condition in the presence of physical boundary. The volume-constrained integral equation then provides the basis for accurate and robust discretization methods. An immediate application is to the understanding and improvement of the Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) method.
Boundaries of Legitimacy and Illegitimacy in Islamic Lineage Regulations

Islamic lineage regulations are rooted in religiously binding foundations. Paternity is tied to the notion of licit sexual relationship through the concept of firash (matrimonial bed). A legal husband is presumed to be the father of the children born by his wife during a valid and verified marital relationship. The paternity relationship in Islam relies on the concept of licit sex in the form of marriage, or in the past ownership of a female slave. While the definition of maternity is also related to the concept of licit sex, it is not entirely dependent on it, at least in the Sunni tradition. In cases of birth outside of marriage, for example, the maternal connection, unlike the paternal one, cannot be severed. Modern genetic technologies have revolutionized inherited concepts of genealogy and kinship and enabled, for the first time, clear and (near) certain distinction between legal and biological paternity. Similarly, new reproductive technologies have introduced new models of motherhood through surrogacy and assisted reproduction especially by donor gametes. These developments have sparked renewed interest in lineage regulations, particularly in as far as impact of these developments on established norms and institutions are concerned. While Muslim scholars and researchers emphasize the importance of legitimate sexual relationship in the determination of lineage, lesser attention is paid to subtle distinctions made by some classical jurists in the definition and conceptualization of genealogical connections. In these discussions formulations of genealogical connections rest on both formalist and objectivist statements about the human body, the marital bond, and filial relationships. The formalist-objectivist dichotomy/duality cuts across school boundaries and depends on the issue at hand. This presentation will focus on some illustrative debates pertaining to the concepts of firash, nikah, as well as the methods for the verification of lineage and the hierarchy of these methods. The presentation argues that this formalist-objectivist distinction alludes to a more complex conceptualization of lineage regulations than what is usually understood to be the standard Islamic one. Moreover, paying attention to this distinction leads to a deeper understanding of the modern discourse on this issue as well.
The binary phase diagram of lecithin and cholesteryl linolenate

Abstract The condensed binary phase diagram of cholesteryl linolenate-egg yolk lecithin has been determined by polarizing light microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray diffraction. On increasing the temperature lecithin forms rectangular, cubic and hexagonal liquid-crystalline structures into which varying amounts of cholesteryl linolenate are incorporated. As more cholesteryl linolenate is incorporated, the transition temperatures between different phases are lowered. The rectangular and cubic structures incorporate only small amounts of cholesteryl linolenate; the molar ratios, lecithin to cholesteryl linolenate, being 11:1 and 16:1, respectively. However, the hexagonal phase, in which the phosphorylcholine groups of the lecithin molecules form the core of the rod-like assembly of molecules, incorporates up to approximately 25% cholesteryl linolenate by weight, corresponding to a molar ratio 3:1. At higher concentrations, cholesteryl linolenate forms an excess phase and may be present as crystals, smectic or cholesteric liquid crystals, or as liquid oil, depending on the temperature. At higher temperatures, a large zone of a single isotropic liquid phase exists in which large amounts of lecithin are solubilized by the cholesterol ester. Up to 40% cholesteryl linolenate by weight, the transition temperatures between different phases are influenced by approximately 1% water (by weight) associated with egg lecithin. It is probable that the incorporated apolar cholesterol ester molecules are associated primarily with the apolar hydrocarbon chain region of the different lecithin structures. The resultant decrease in the observed transition temperatures would suggest an overall chain-disordering role for the incorporated cholesteryl linolenate molecules. The influence of cholesteryl linolenate on the thermodynamic stability of the different lecithin structures, together with the models suggested for the molecular orientations of cholesterol esters in the different liquid crystalline structures, may be relevant to the role of these lipids in more complex biological systems, particularly serum lipoproteins.
Impacts of acute and long-term vehicle exposure on physiology and reproductive success of the northern spotted owl

Stress physiologists posit that multiple simultaneous demands faced by an organism may have non-additive effects on the magnitude of their response to disturbance. The environmental assessment literature emphasizes a similar phenomenon at the population level, arguing that populations can compensate for perturbations up to a threshold, beyond which disturbance impacts may be greatly magnified—and even cause system collapse. We integrated these two approaches to examine the roles of environment, life history stage, prior disturbance experience, and their interactions on vulnerability to disturbance in a free-living species. Specifically, we examined the effects of off-highway vehicle use on the federally threatened northern spotted owl (NSO), Strix occidentalis caurina, by measuring fecal glucocorticoid metabolites (fGCs), which reflect disturbance; fecal thyroid hormone metabolites (fT3), which reflect nutrition; and the number of offspring fledged within a season. We experimentally applied one hour of mo...
IDENTIFICATION OF SUBDOMAIN IB IN HUMAN SERUM ALBUMIN AS A MAJOR BINDING SITE FOR POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBON EPOXIDES

Covalent adducts between serum albumin and low molecular weight organic electrophiles are formed with a high degree of regioselectivity mostly for nucleophilic amino acid residues located in subdomains IIA and IIIA. Previous studies have indicated that diol epoxide metabolites of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) may target residues in a different subdomain. The regioselectivity of PAH epoxide and diol epoxide binding was examined in this study by reaction of human serum albumin in vitro with the racemic trans,anti-isomers of 7,8-dihydrobenzo[a]pyrene-7,8-diol 9,10-epoxide (1), 2,3-dihydrofluoranthene-2,3-diol 1,10b-epoxide (2), 1,2-dihydrochrysene-1,2-diol 3,4-epoxide (5), 6-methyl-1,2-dihydrochrysene-1,2-diol 3,4-epoxide (6), 5-methyl-1,2-dihydrochrysene-1,2-diol 3,4-epoxide (7), 3,4-dihydrobenzo[c]phenanthrene-3,4-diol 1,2-epoxide (8), 11,12-dihydrobenzo[g]chrysene-11,12-diol 13,14-epoxide (9), and 11,12-dihydrodibenzo[a,l]pyrene-11,12-diol 13,14-epoxide (10) and the racemic epoxides cyclopenta[cd...
Ammonia-oxidizing bacteria and archaea in sediments of the Gulf of Mexico

The diversity (richness and community composition) of ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) and bacteria (AOB) within sediments of the Gulf of Mexico was examined. Using polymerase chain reaction primers designed to specifically target the archaeal ammonia monooxygenase-subunit (amoA) gene and bacterial amoA gene, we found AOA and AOB to be present in all three sampling sites. Archaeal amoA libraries were dominated by a few widely distributed Nitrosopumilus-like sequence types, whereas AOB diversity showed significant variation in both richness and community composition. Majority of the bacterial amoA sequences recovered belong to Betaproteobacteria and very few belong to Gammaproteobacteria. Results suggest that water depth and nutrient availability were identified as potential drivers that affected the selection of the AOA and AOB communities. Besides influencing the abundance of individual taxa, these environmental factors also had an impact on the overall richness of the overall AOA and AOB communities. The...
Dermal clearance model for epidermal bioavailability calculations.

A computational model for estimating dermal clearance in humans of arbitrary, nonmetabolized solutes is presented. The blood capillary component employs slit theory with contributions from both small (10 nm) and large (50 nm) slits. The lymphatic component is derived from previously reported clearance measurements of dermal and subcutaneous injections of 131I-albumin in humans. Model parameters were fitted to both blood capillary permeability data and lymphatic clearance data. Small molecules are cleared largely by the blood and large molecules by the lymph. The combined model shows a crossover behavior at approximately 29 kDa, in acceptable agreement with the reported value of 16 kDa. When combined with existing models for stratum corneum permeability and appropriate measures of tissue binding, the developed model has the potential to significantly improve tissue concentration estimates for large or highly protein-bound permeants following dermal exposure. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association J Pharm Sci 101:2094–2108, 2012
Initial experience with a new method for the dynamic assessment of pelvic floor function in women: the Kolpexin Pull Test.

The aim of this study was to evaluate a newly developed, simple test for assessing pelvic floor muscular function in women. Pelvic floor strength in women with symptomatic pelvic floor dysfunction was evaluated with a newly developed assessment tool, the Kolpexin Pull Test, and compared to a clinically validated digital pelvic floor strength assessment scale (DPA). A 36-mm Kolpexin sphere was inserted into the vagina above the levator plate and connected to a digital tensiometer/force gauge. The force required to remove the sphere was recorded for three resting trials and three maximum pelvic floor contractions. Results of the DPA and Kolpexin Pull Test were analyzed using ANOVAs of contrast variables, intraclass correlations, and regression analyses. Twenty-one women participated in the study. Age range was 36–85 years, parity range was 2–5. All six trials required less than 5 min to perform in each patient. Intraperson maximum contraction data were correlated at 0.96 (95% CI: 0.91, 0.98), and were greater at higher DPA scores (p=0.016). There were positive correlations between the maximum contraction and DPA data (adjusted R2=0.52; p <0.001), and the maximum contraction minus resting vs DPA data (adjusted R2=0.54; p< 0.001). The Kolpexin Pull Test is reproducible, rapid, and correlates with digital clinical assessment of pelvic floor strength during maximal contractions.
Are Allogeneic Blood Transfusions Associated With Decreased Survival After Surgery for Long-bone Metastatic Fractures?

Background Previous studies have shown that perioperative blood transfusion increases cancer recurrence and decreases patient survival after resection of primary malignancies. The question arises whether this association also exists in patients with already disseminated disease undergoing surgery for metastatic long-bone fractures.
Political Struggle to Political Sting: A Theory of Democratic Disillusionment

Why do residents in new democracies become disillusioned with democracy, despite significant improvements in the development of liberal-democratic institutions, the extension of political rights and freedoms, and peaceful turnovers of power? This article advances a theory of democratic disillusionment, which is based on the concept of political sting: feelings of betrayal, insult, and disrespect among ordinary citizens stemming from a government’s failure to protect and provide for its population. In new democracies, political sting motivates and propels collective action and provides a basis for future claims for social justice. Building from the redistribution-versus-recognition debate between Nancy Fraser, Axel Honneth, and their critics, this article extends that analysis to include conditions in the political realm—in particular, problems of political accountability. The article illustrates its theoretical claims through references to South Africa’s recent history of democratization.
The Mouse Alpha-Fetoprotein Promoter is Repressed in HepG2 Hepatoma Cells by Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor-3 (FOXA)

The mouse alpha-fetoprotein gene is expressed at high levels in the fetal liver and is transcriptionally silenced at birth. The repression is governed, at least in part, by the 250 base pair (bp) AFP promoter. We show here that the AFP promoter is dramatically repressed by HNF3 in HepG2 hepatoma cells. This repression is governed by the region between -205 and -150. Furthermore, this fragment can confer HNF3-mediated repression on a heterologous promoter. The repression is abolished by a mutation that is centered at -165. EMSA analyses using in vivo and in vitro synthesized proteins indicate that HNF3 proteins do not bind DNA from the -205 to -150 region. We propose that HNF3 represses AFP promoter activity through indirect mechanisms that modulate the binding or activity of a liver-enriched factor that interacts with the -165 region of the AFP promoter.
A Major Pitfall to Avoid: Retroclival Hematoma due to Odontoid Fracture

Background Retroclival hematoma (RCH) is a rare occurrence. The hemorrhage is usually small and hidden and can be easily missed on CT scan. Here, we report the association of a RCH with an odontoid fracture.
Family size in women with polycystic ovary syndrome

Given that polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is associated with oligo-ovulatory infertility and is an inherited trait, we hypothesized that the families of patients with PCOS are smaller than those of matched controls. However, our study of 106 white patients with PCOS, ages 18–45, and 53 healthy eumenorrheic nonhirsute white controls did not indicate a difference in family size between the groups; these results have important implications for the design of prospective studies of the heritability and genetics of PCOS.
Working lifetime risk of occupational fatal injury

Estimates of risk accumulated over a working lifetime are used to assess the significance of many workplace health hazards. Utilizing data from the National Traumatic Occupational Fatalities (NTOF) surveillance system, estimates of the risk of work-related fatal injuries are provided for the 50 industries and the 50 occupations having the highest risks. Cause-specific risk estimates are provided for the six occupations at the greatest risk of occupational fatal injuries. Results suggest that the risks of certain work-related fatal injuries in some occupations (e.g., loggers being struck by falling objects) are of the same magnitude as risks previously identified for specific occupational illness exposures (e.g., lung cancer among uranium miners exposed to ionizing radiation). Assuming a 45-year working lifetime, cause-specific fatal injury risks reported in this paper range from a predetermined minimum of 1 death per 1,000 lifetime workers to 36.4 deaths per 1,000 lifetime workers. These results suggest that risk assessment for traumatic causes of death should be considered equally with risk assessments for health exposures, such as potential carcinogens. Am. J. Ind. Med. 31:459–467, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.1
Closing the Gap: Enacting Care and Facilitating Black Students' Educational Access in the Creation of a High School College-Going Culture

Research clearly shows the importance of obtaining a postsecondary education in terms of accessing job opportunities, higher salaries, and improved benefits for a better quality of life in the United States. Bringing together the literature on school-based caring for Black students and the literature on college preparation, I utilize notions of institutional and interpersonal caring to analyze Black students' perspectives and the complexities of caring embedded within (a) the academic expectations of minihouses, (b) the distributive counseling structure of learning centers, and (c) students' participation in cocurricular activities. The findings provide insight into the ways high school educators, administrators, teachers, and counselors, can create and sustain a college going school culture focusing on the nature, quality, and alignment of institutional and interpersonal structures of care that improve Black students' educational experiences and college access.
Site characterization of the Yucca Mountain disposal system for spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste

Abstract This paper summarizes the investigations conducted to characterize the geologic barrier of the Yucca Mountain disposal system. Site characterization progressed through (1) non-intrusive evaluation and borehole completions to determine stratigraphy for site identification; (2) exploration from the surface through well testing to evaluate the repository feasibility; (3) underground exploration to study coupled processes to evaluate repository suitability; and (4) reporting of experimental conclusions to support the repository compliance phase. Some of the scientific and technical challenges encountered included the evolution from a small preconstruction characterization program with much knowledge to be acquired during construction of the repository to a large characterization program with knowledge acquired prior to submission of the license application for construction authorization in June 2008 (i.e., the evolution from a preconstruction characterization program costing
Current-distance relation for rewarding brain stimulation

Abstract A novel approach to estimating the current density required to directly activate axons involved in the reinforcing effect of brain stimulation is described. Self-stimulating rats received trains of cathodal pulse pairs via two adjacent, stimulating electrodes which were positioned in the lateral hypothalamus and oriented to lie in a plane transverse to the medial forebrain bundle. The first pulse of each pair was delivered through one electrode and, after varied delays, the second was applied to the other electrode in an attempt to detect a loss of stimulation effectiveness attributable to refractoriness of axons that penetrated the intersection of the two stimulation fields. In low-current tests, no change in the psychophysically scaled effectiveness was observed as the interval separating the pulses was varied but, at higher currents, the stimulation effectiveness rose when the delay between the pulses surpassed the refractory periods of these cells. Our inference was that greater currents produced progressively overlapping stimulation fields. Moreover, evidence of overlap was seen at lower currents in rats that had been prepared with smaller separations between the electrodes. Our estimate of the threshold current density for the most sensitive of the reward units is 1300 μA/mm 2 when 0.1 ms pulses are used.
Urban Affairs Graduate Programs: A Ranking in U.S. Colleges and Universities

Ranking urban affairs graduate programs is a difficult undertaking because there is no objective or consensual measure of quality. This study utilizes three empirical measures- reputation, productivity, and quality of individual output—to rank urban affairs programs. These measures as well as an overall ranking are presented for each program. In addition, per capita productivity and quality of individual output ratings are presented to control for program faculty size; the same measures are presented with the most productive member and the most cited member of each faculty removed from the respective rankings to control for a "superstar" effect.
The IS Organization of the Future: The IT Talent Challenge

Current projections are that the demands for IS workers in the U.S. are on the verge of exceeding the supply, and IS managers are reporting increased concerns for the recruitment and retention of IT staff. The authors argue that industry and universities need to take actions today to address the projected shortfalls, and offer some guidelines for recruiting and retaining IT professionals.
Appraisal of Interpolation Instruments for the International Practical Temperature Scale from 630.74 to 1064.43?C

A better interpolating instrument has long been needed to replace the standard platinum-10% rhodium/platinum thermocouple for the International Practical Temperature Scale. In this paper we compare the characteristics of the high temperature platinum resistance thermometer and the photoelectric spectral pyrometer with those of the standard thermocouple and conclude that the resistance thermometer is the better replacement, in terms of both accuracy and convenience.
Amino acid, fatty acid, and mineral composition of 24 indigenous plants of Burkina Faso

Abstract The leaves, seeds, flowers, and fruit of many indigenous plants are staples of populations who inhabit the Sahel region of Africa. They serve to supplement the nutrients provided by cereals such as millet and sorghum. However, there is a lack of comprehensive compositional data regarding the nutrient content of these indigenous plants. In this report, we present nutritional data for 24 plant materials collected in Burkina Faso, including their content of amino acids, fatty acids, and minerals. Three plants contained 20 to 37% protein (on a dry weight basis): Vigna sp., Hibiscus esculentus, and Parkiia biglobosa. Relative to a WHO protein standard, three plants scored relatively high: Voadzeiia subterranea, Pennisetum americanum, and Bixa orellana. Plants which contained large amounts of the essential fatty acids linoleic or α-linolenic acid were Vigna sp., Hibiscus esculentus seeds, Parkiia biglobosa seeds, and Vitex doniana fruit. Three plants were rich in iron: Adansonia digitata, Bixa orellana, and Xylopia sp. The fruit and seeds of Hibiscus esculentus were an excellent source of zinc. The plant foods with the highest calcium content were Adansonia digitata leaves, Hibiscus sp., and Bombax costatum. These data show that in terms of both quality and quantity there are numerous spontaneous desert plants that can serve as significant sources of essential amino acids, essential fatty acids and trace minerals for populations living in the western Sahel.
Interaction of bradykinin with sodium dodecyl sulfate and certain acidic lipids.

The striking change in the circular dichroism (CD) of bradykinin (BK) occasioned by its interaction with sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) is evidently due in large part to a change in the conformation of the C-terminal tetrapeptide moiety of the hormone. The full change in CD is induced by the binding of two molecules of monomeric SDS per peptide molecule, the complex being aggregated. Formation of the 1:2 BK-SDS complex apparently proceeds via intermediates of stoichiometry 1:1 and 2:1. The cooperative nature of the interaction is attributed to the SDS-promoted aggregation of BK. Electrostatic interactions with the Arg residues appear important for the binding reaction per se. CD reveals that BK also interacts with acidic lipids which bear a net electrical charge (e.g., cerebroside sulfate and phosphatidyl inositol) but not with lipids bearing no net charge (e.g., cerebroside and phosphatidyl choline). The interactions are with particular mixed micelles of the lipid and the nonionic surfactant used for their solubilization, micellar size and structure being examined by surface tensiometry and electron microscopy.