cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Enzyme activities in granulation tissue: Energy for collagen synthesis.

Abstract A microchemical technique was used to measure the activities of twelve key enzymes of glucose catabolism in granulation tissue of wounds healing by second intention. The glycolytic enzymes exhibited a prominent increase during the first eight days of wound healing, with phosphofructokinase increasing to twelve times normal. The enzymatic reactions of the pentose phosphate shunt and Krebs cycle were not increased as markedly as those of glycolysis. Glutamate dehydrogenase and β-hydroxybutyryl CoA dehydrogenase also exhibited significant increases during wound healing.
Trench Inserts as Long-term Barriers to Root Transmission for Control of Oak Wilt

Physical and chemical barriers to root penetration and root grafting across trenches were evaluated for their effectiveness in improving trenches as barriers to root transmission of the oak wilt fungus in live oaks. Four trench insert materials were tested, including water-permeable Typar and Biobarrier, and water-impermeable Geomembrane of two thicknesses. Systemic fungicide treatments of trees immediately outside of trenches also were tested. In the first several years following trench installation, an abundance of small adventitious roots commonly formed from roots severed by trenching. These roots provided opportunities for initiation of root grafts across trenches in subsequent years. Although trench inserts did not significantly improve trenches during the first 3 years following trench installation, water-permeable inserts did effectively improve the performance of trenches beyond the third posttrenching year, when trenches are normally effective, and extended trench longevity indefinitely. The water-permeable inserts were more effective root barriers because they did not direct root growth from the point of root contact. The water-impermeable materials, however, did tend to direct root growth around these barriers, leading to the development of new root graft connections and associated oak wilt root transmission across the trench. The additional cost of trench inserts above trenching costs was justified in urban and rural homestead sites, where high-value landscape trees required more protection and additional retrenching costs were avoided.
How Firm Customer Heterogeneity Can Enhance and Limit Firm Outcomes

Abstract: Customer heterogeneity has been a topic of discussion in the emerging demand-side strategy research stream (e.g. Priem, Li, & Carr, 2012) suggesting that how managers deal with difference...
Science and sustainable development

Jeffrey Sayer and Bruce Campbell bring literally a world of experience from the front lines to this challenging contribution to the debate about sustainable development. Their focus is on the contribution of science and research to improving natural resource management (NRM) in tropical developing countries. The authors begin with well trodden ground: the importance of natural resources to rural livelihoods; their precipitous decline owing to poor management based on maximizing short-term production; the need to move to an integrated approach directed by the resource users and based on their (insufficiently valued) local knowledge; and the need for basic changes in existing institutions, attitudes, incentives and power structures for this move to happen.
Christmas on the Web: 1998 vs. 1999

The 1998 Christmas season established the Internet as a viable consumer sales channel; a year later, the holiday season brought increasing numbers of shoppers to the Web. By relating the insights of the Diffusion of Innovation model and of Expectancy-Disconfirmation theory to the results of a number of surveys of Web shoppers, the present paper considers why 1999 online shoppers may have been harder to satisfy than were their cyber counterparts in 1998. The paper also discusses the efforts e-tailers made to deal with the more mainstream consumers of 1999, and how the appearance of the sites evolved during the period between the two holidays.
Lysis time and FDP immunoprecipitation by soluble and immobilized urokinase.

Urokinase (UK) was immobilized to the lumen of dacron-reinforced fibrocollagenous tubes (UK-FCT) using a glutaraldehyde entrapment process, in an effort to develop a fibrinolytic small diameter (i.e., 4 mm i.d.) vascular graft. Soluble and immobilized urokinase were evaluated for their ability to lyse synthetic clots made from purified physiologic substrates, alpha 2 plasmin inhibitor (alpha 2PI) mediated whole canine blood (WCB) and alpha 2PI-depleted WCB by measuring lysis time and fibrin degradation product (FDP) formation. Lysis times were orders of magnitude lower and FDP formation rates were orders of magnitude higher with synthetic clots compared with either alpha 2-mediated or alpha 2-depleted WCB clots as a substrate, using both soluble and immobilized UK. However, both soluble and immobilized UK catalyzed FDP formation at an enhanced rate for alpha 2PI-depleted WCB compared with the inhibitor-mediated substrate. These results suggest that both soluble and immobilized UK behave similarly when treated with either standard clots, alpha 2PI-mediated WCB and alpha 2PI-depleted WCB as substrates and the use of urokinase-bound fibrocollagenous tube may prove suitable as a fibrinolytic vascular prosthesis.
Killing of spores of Bacillus subtilis by tert-butyl hydroperoxide plus a TAML activator.

Aims: To determine the effectiveness of tert-butyl hydroperoxide (tBHP) plus the cationic surfactant cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) and a tetraamido macrocyclic ligand (TAML®) activator in killing spores of Bacillus subtilis and the mechanisms of spore resistance to and killing by this reagent. Methods and Results: Killing of spores of B. subtilis by tBHP was greatly stimulated by the optimum ratio of concentrations of a TAML activator (1·7 μmol l−1) to tBHP (4·4%, vol/vol) plus a low level (270 mg l−1) of CTAB. Rates of killing of spores lacking most DNA protective α/β-type small, acid-soluble spore proteins (α−β− spores) or the major DNA repair protein, RecA, by tBHP plus CTAB and a TAML activator were essentially identical to that of wild-type spore killing. Survivors of wild-type and α−β− spores treated with tBHP plus CTAB and a TAML activator also exhibited no increase in mutations. Spores lacking much coat protein either because of mutation or chemical decoating were much more sensitive to this reagent than were wild-type spores, but were more resistant than growing cells. Wild-type spores killed with this reagent retained their large pool of dipicolinic acid (DPA), and the survivors of spores treated with this reagent were sensitized to wet heat. The tBHP plus CTAB and TAML activator-killed spores germinated with nutrients, albeit more slowly than untreated spores, but germinated faster than untreated spores with dodecylamine. The killed spores were also germinated by application of 150 and 500 megaPascals of pressure for 15 min and by lysozyme treatment in hypertonic medium, but these spores lysed shortly after their germination. Conclusions: The combination of tBHP plus CTAB and a TAML activator is effective in killing B. subtilis spores. The spore coat is a major factor in spore resistance to this reagent system, which does not kill spores by DNA damage or by inactivating some component needed for spore germination. Rather, this reagent system appears to kill spores by damaging the spore's inner membrane in some fashion. Significance and Impact of the Study: This work demonstrates that tBHP plus CTAB and a TAML activator is an effective and mild decontaminant for spores of Bacillus species. Evidence has also been obtained on the mechanisms of spore resistance to and killing by this reagent system.
Evolutionary optimization of energy systems using population graphing and neural networks

This paper examines the simultaneous use of graph based evolutionary algorithms (GBEAs) and a real-time estimate of the final fitness for evolutionary optimization of systems modeled using computational fluid dynamics (CFDs). GBEAs are used to control the rate at which information travels, enabling the diversity of the population to be tuned to match the solution space. During each fitness evaluation, the CFD solver iteratively solves the fluid flow and heat transfer characteristics of the proposed design. In this paper, an artificial neural network is used to develop a real-time estimate of the final fitness and error bounds at each iteration of the solver. Using these estimates, the evolutionary algorithm can determine when the fitness of the design is known with sufficient accuracy for the evolutionary process. This significantly reduces the overall compute time. These techniques are demonstrated by optimizing the spatial temperature profile of the cooking surface of a biomass cookstove. In this cookstove, hot gases from biomass combustion flow under the cooking surface. Within this flow area, a set of baffles direct the flow of hot gases and establish the spatial temperature profile of the stove's cooking surface. The location and size of a series of baffles within the hot gas flow area are determined by the optimization routine. In this design problem, it is found that the two techniques are compatible; both the number of fitness evaluations and the time required for each CFD fitness evaluation are reduced while utilizing GBEAs to preserve the diversity of the population.
AN EFFICIENT ALGORITHM FOR MANAGING A PARALLEL HEAP

Abstract We design a cost-optimal algorithm for managing a parallel heap on an exclusive-read exclusive-write (EREW), parallel random access machine (PRAM) model. We also analyze the time and space complexities of our algorithm, which efficiently employs p processors in the range 1 ≤ p ≤ n, where n is the maximum number of items in the parallel heap. It is assumed that a delete-think-insert cycle is repeatedly performed, and each processor requires an arbitrary but the same amount of time (called the think time) for processing an item which in turn generates at most two new items. The use of a global data structure for each level of the heap helps reduce the working memory space required. The time complexity for deleting p items of the highest priority from the parallel heap is O(logp), while that for inserting at most 2p new items is O(logn). With or without incorporating the think time, the speedup of our algorithm is shown to be linear, i.e. O(p). Hence this algorithm is an improvement in time over the...
Effects of alternative cloud radiation parameterizations in a general circulation model

Using the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) general circulation model (CCM2), a suite of alternative cloud radiation parameterizations has been tested. Our methodology relies on perpetual July integrations driven by ±2 K sea surface temperature forcing. The tested parameterizations include relative humidity based clouds and versions of schemes involving a prognostic cloud water budget. We are especially interested in testing the effect of cloud optical thickness feedbacks on global climate sensitivity. All schemes exhibit negative cloud radiation feedbacks, i.e., cloud moderates the global warming. However, these negative net cloud radiation feedbacks consist of quite different shortwave and longwave components between a scheme with interactive cloud radiative properties and several schemes with specified cloud water paths. An increase in cloud water content in the warmer climate leads to optically thicker middle- and low-level clouds and in turn negative shortwave feedbacks for the interactive radiative scheme, while a decrease in cloud amount leads to a positive shortwave feedback for the other schemes. For the longwave feedbacks, a decrease in high effective cloudiness for the schemes without interactive radiative properties leads to a negative feedback, while no distinct changes in effective high cloudiness and the resulting feedback are exhibited for the scheme with interactive radiative properties. The resulting magnitude of negative net cloud radiation feed-back is largest for the scheme with interactive radiative properties. Even though the simulated values of cloud radiative forcing for the present climate using this method differ most from the observational data, the approach shows great promise for the future.
#13-S does subsequent pregnancy influence breast cancer survival?

Abstract PURPOSE: The influence of subsequent pregnancy following breast cancer diagnosis and treatment is an issue of much concern among young patients. Given the current patterns of delayed childbearing, many young breast cancer patients are questioning the safety of subsequent pregnancy. This collaborative investigation further explores this relationship. METHODS: A retrospective case-case study utilizing data abstracted from medical records maintained by Kaiser Permanente enabled comparison of the hazard of recurrence and breast cancer death among 105 women with one or more pregnancies following diagnosis and 335 matched cases without a subsequent pregnancy. Matching criteria included: stage at diagnosis and at time of first subsequent pregnancy, age [± 8], and year [± 8] of diagnosis, and survival time from diagnosis to first subsequent pregnancy. Kaplan-Meier curves were generated to compare time to recurrence and death due to breast cancer among cases with and without a history of subsequent pregnancy. Matched Cox regression models were constructed to assess the risk of recurrence and death controlling for family history of breast or ovarian cancer, estrogen and progesterone receptor status, prior pregnancy history, adjuvant radiation and chemotherapy. RESULTS: Among the 440 young cases [mean age 34 years], reproductive history at diagnosis was similar for women with and without a subsequent pregnancy; 20% were nulliparous. Records indicated that 49% [51/105] of subsequent pregnancies were interrupted. Kaplan-Meier analysis indicated no significant differences in time to recurrence or death by subsequent pregnancy status. Similarly, the matched Cox proportional hazards models revealed the risk of recurrence [1.4 (0.6,3.3)] and breast cancer death [0.97 (0.3,3.0)] was not influenced by subsequent pregnancy history. CONCLUSION: The risk of recurrence or breast cancer death is similar for young cases regardless of subsequent pregnancy history.
Changes in relationship satisfaction across the transition to parenthood: a meta-analysis.

The U.S. government has recently spent several hundred million dollars to promote healthy relationships in new parents. The influx of money implies that relationships of new parents are at elevated risk for declining satisfaction and dissolution. This meta-analysis aggregates data from 37 studies that track couples from pregnancy to after the birth of the first child and 4 studies that track childless newlywed couples over time and compare couples who do and do not become parents. Results indicate significant, small declines in relationship satisfaction for both men and women from pregnancy to 11-months post-birth; five studies that followed couples for 12–14 months found moderate-sized declines. Seven variables moderated the decrease in relationship satisfaction from pregnancy to early parenthood. However, the decrease in satisfaction may not indicate anything unique about the transition to parenthood; the four studies following newlyweds indicated that those who do not become parents experience a similar decrease in relationship satisfaction as parents do across a comparable span of time. Implications for prevention and future directions are discussed.
Correlation between light-scattering changes and the energy state of phosphorylating submitochondrial particles

Abstract The light-scattering technique provides a convenient way of continuously monitoring configurational changes during the energy cycle of mitochondria and submitochondrial particles. The available evidence strongly suggests the view that under the appropriately controlled conditions of our experiments the light-scattering changes in mitochondria and ETP H reflect primarily configurational changes in the membranes.
“Good Enough Stories”: Helping Couples Invest in One Another's Growth

This article utilizes key constructs of the narrative metaphor: that stories organize, structure, and give meaning to events in our lives. When stories are used as a way to understand the lives of couples, they have the potential for enhancing individual and relational growth. It is proposed that knowing both our own and our partner's story and development goals increases the likelihood of making an investment in self/other and relational growth. It is further suggested that helping couples develop narratives with a sense of "We" promotes a more generative perspective. These ideas were developed in a small qualitative pilot study with long-married, middle-class, heterosexual couples, which suggested that the synthesis of each partner's life story into a couple story promoted individual and relational development. Implications for therapeutic work with couples are presented as well as specific recommendations for ways to utilize the life story approach as an aspect of treatment. It is intended to assist clinicians and teachers in translating narrative ideas into therapeutic work with couples.
Theory of Worksoftening in High-Performance Alloys

In conventional alloys ductility decreases with rising flow stress to negligible values at some maximum yield stress (τm), whereas high-performance alloys, e.g. formed throgh mechanical alloying or nano-powders, can have much higher yield stresses with ductility, but tend to worksoften. A simple theory is presented, based on the LEDS concept, to account for both of these behaviors: The flow stress is τ = τ0 + const √ϱ with ϱ the dislocation density, and the workhardening coefficient is θ ≈ dτ0/dγ + Cβ with β the rate of glide dislocation trapping. β depends on the specific LEDS formed but always decreases with stress and can become negative for τ > τm at artificially high ϱ. Worksoftening results when unconventional manufacturing methodes have produced LEDS with metastable ϱ and/or τ0 values that are higher than conform to the LEDS generated through the conventional straining conditions in testing or use. In konventionellen Legierungen nimmt die Duktilitat mit zunchmender Festigkeit ab, um bei einer oberen Spannung (τm) zu verschwinden. Dagegen konnen wesenlich hohere Streckgrenzen mit nennenswerter Verformbarkeit durch mechanisches Legieren oder Verwendung von Feinstpulvern erzielt werden, aber solche Legierungen neigen zur Erweichung durch Verformung. Beide Erscheinungen konnen aufgrund des LEDS Konzeptes wie folgt erklart werden: Die Fliesspannung ist τ = τ0 + const √ϱ (ϱ Versetzungsdichte), und der Verfestigungskoeffizient ist θ ≈ dτ0/dγ + Cβ (β Rate der Versetzungszunahme), β hangt von der spezifischen LEDS ab, sinkt aber mit der Spannung und kann bei uberhohten Versetzungsdichten negativ werden. Erweichung kann deswegen durch metastabile LEDS mit zu hohen τ0 und/oder ϱ-Werten entstehen, wie sie etwa durch unkonventionelle Herstellungsmethoden erzeugt werden.
Simulation of melt spinning including flow-induced crystallization: Part I. Model development and predictions

Abstract A mathematical model based on the formalism of Doufas et al. [A.K. Doufas, I.S. Dairanieh, A.J. McHugh, J. Rheol. 43 (1999) 85–109] was developed for the simulation of both low- and high-speed melt spinning including the combined effects of flow-induced crystallization (FIC), viscoelasticity, filament cooling, air drag, inertia, surface tension and gravity. Both an amorphous phase, simulated as a modified Giesekus fluid, and a semi-crystalline phase, approximated as rigid rods that grow and orient in the flow field, are coupled through the stress and momentum balance and the feedback of crystallinity to the system relaxation times. Since the onset of crystallization occurs at the equilibrium melting point, the freeze point arises naturally. The model is robust over a wide range of processing conditions and input parameters and exhibits material behavior consistent with that observed for semi-crystalline polymers under all spinning conditions. The model predicts neck-like deformation and associated strain softening in high-speed spinning, as well as the related velocity-, diameter-, temperature-, tensile stress-, apparent elongational viscosity-, orientation- and crystallinity-profiles. Calculations for the systems studied indicate that extensional softening followed almost immediately by FIC provides the primary mechanism responsible for neck formation, in agreement with experimental observations. The model provides a framework for the simulation and optimization of melt spinning involving FIC.
Viscoelastic properties of fibrinogen adsorbed to the surface of biomaterials used in blood-contacting medical devices.

The hemocompatibility of polymeric vascular implants is in part dependent on the propensity of fibrinogen to adsorb to the implant surface. Fibrinogen surface adsorption was measured in real time using a quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring (QCM-D). Six new, biodegradable tyrosine-derived polycarbonates were used as test surfaces. Stainless steel, poly(l-lactic acid), poly(d,l-lactide-co-glycolide), and poly(ethylene terephthalate) surfaces served as controls and provided a comparison of the test surfaces with those of commonly used biomaterials. Our study addressed the question regarding to which extent systematic variations in polymer structure can be used to optimize X-ray visibility and provide tunable degradation rates while generating protein-repellant surface properties that minimize fibrinogen adsorption. QCM-D revealed surface-dependent changes in fibrinogen layer thickness (2 to 37 nm), adsorbed wet mass (0.2 to 4.3 μg/cm2), and viscosity (0.001 to 0.005 kg/ms). While we did n...
Daily Price Adjustments in the U.S. Market for Natural Gas

A daily model of cash market for natural gas in the U.S. is presented and estimated over 1997. The model develops the notion that the expected rather than the actual amount of gas in storage (along with weather) and storage changes impact the current daily cash price. These notions are supported by the estimations presented. At the daily observation level, reported changes in storage levels are signals that actual consumption or production are either as expected and result in no price pressure or are not as expected and do result in price pressures.
Spectral Evaluation of Windowless Argon Discharge Vacuum Ultraviolet Lamps for Matrix Isolation Spectroscopy

Windowless argon discharge tubes used as resonance lamps in matrix isolation experiments produced strong argon resonance radiation at 1048 and 1067 A, and at low pressures, the Ar+ resonance doublet at 920 and 932 A made a major contribution to the vacuum ultraviolet spectrum. At discharge pressures below 60 μ, the relative intensities of the 1048, 1067 A argon resonance doublet are reversed in favor of the 1067 A line, although the Ar+ resonance lines are substantially increased relative to the neutral atom emissions.
Human Health Effects of Air Pollution

Over the past three or four decades, there have been important advances in the understanding of the actions, exposure-response characteristics, and mechanisms of action of many common air pollutant...
A method for evaluation of small sample, short duration experiments.

The purpose of this study was to see if any statistically significant differences could be shown between groups when using small experimental samples in a short duration experiment. Because small samples were employed and because normality and equality of variance assumptions were doubtful, the «Kruskal-Wallis» Nonparametric «One-Way» Analysis of Variance by Ranks was performed on the data to test for statistical significance (Siegel 1956). The data suggest that, within the severe limits of this study, any of the alterations from normal caused changes in cementum. The effects of hypophysectomy, adrenocorticotropic hormone and somatotrophic hormone on the thickness of cementum of rat molar roots were investigated, using statistical methods which were able to show some between-group differences when small samples were used in short experiments. Some of the anticipated changes in cementum with these hormones did not become apparent in the 32 rat molars during the 36 day experiment.
Color Improvement and Metallo-chlorophyll Complexes in Continuous Flow Aseptically Processed Peas

Fresh and frozen green peas were blanched in zinc solution (50 to 500 mg/L) and thermally processed in a particle cell reactor, which simulates a continuous flow aseptic processing system. The thermal process temperatures ranged from 121 to 145 °C at holding times from 0 to 20 min. The degradation of chlorophyll and the resulting formation of Zn-pheophytin a and Zn-pyropheophytin a were monitored. Quantitative analysis of the metallo-chlorophyll complexes was performed by high-performance liquid chromatography. Complex formation increased during heat processing and was dependent on the zinc concentration absorbed within the peas during blanching. At 130 to 145 °C, the formation of Zn-pyropheophytin a increased and processing between 121 to 125 °C promoted the formation of Zn-pheophytin a. Improvements in color relative to control samples suggested that the process might be applicable to two-phase continuous aseptic processing of vegetables.
Mass distribution in the fission of 232Th by 14·8-MeV neutrons

Abstract Radiochemical measurements have been made of the fission yields of eight mass chains, mostly in the symmetric region, from the fission of 232Th induced by 14·8-MeV neutrons. The mass distribution in the symmetric valley region indicate the presence of a third peak in the mass-yield curve.
Genetic structure and heterogeneity of hepatitis C virus: a vaccine impediment?

The nucleotide sequence of the RNA genome of the human hepatitis C virus (HCV) has been determined from overlapping cDNA clones. The sequence (9379 nucleotides) has a single large open reading frame that could encode a viral polyprotein precursor of 3011 amino acids. While there is little overall amino acid and nucleotide sequence homology with other viruses, the 5′ HCV nucleotide sequence upstream of this large open reading frame has substantial similarity to the 5′ termini of pestiviral genomes. The polyprotein also has significant sequence similarity to helicases encoded by animal pestiviruses, plant potyviruses, and human flaviviruses, and it contains sequence motifs widely conserved among viral replicases and trypsin-like proteases. A basic, presumed nucleocapsid domain is located at the N terminus upstream of a region containing numerous potential N-linked glycosylation sites. These HCV domains are located in the same relative position as observed in the pestiviruses and flaviviruses and the hydrophobic profiles of all three viral polyproteins are similar. These combined data indicate that HCV is an unusual virus that is most related to the pestiviruses. Significant genome diversity is apparent within the putative 5′ structural gene region of different HCV isolates, suggesting the presence of closely related but distinct viral genotypes. The nucleotide sequences of cDNAs (275 base-pairs) in the non-structural protein 5 regions of Japanese isolates of hepatitis C virus (HCV-J) from the plasma of 11 patients with non-A, non-B hepatitis and the livers of five patients with hepatocellular carcinoma were analyzed. Approximately 14 to 17% of nucleotide sequences of the HCV-Js examined differed from that of the original isolate in the United States (HCV-US). Furthermore, 2.5 to 11% sequence diversity was found among the HCV-Js. The nucleotide sequences of the HCV-Js showed characteristic common differences from that of HCV-US, although they also showed some random substitutions. Plural HCV-J genomes were found in two of the cDNAs derived from liver specimens, and a deletion of 102 nucleotides was found in the eDNA derived from one plasma specimen. These results suggest that HCV-J is a strain different from the HCV-US and that mutation of the viral genome occurs at as high a frequency as in that of the human immunodeficiency virus.
A Family Aggregation Study: The Influence of Family History and Other Risk Factors on Language Development

Substantial evidence continues to accrue for familial transmission of specific language impairment (SLI). The incidence in families with a history of SLI is estimated at approximately 20%-40%, whereas in the general population the estimated incidence is about 4%. Typical aggregation studies compare data on the speech and language status of parents and siblings of individuals with SLI (the probands) to similar data from family members of control individuals with no speech or language disorder history. In the present study, family aggregation of SLI was examined for a unique sample of children who were ascertained before 6 months of age and thus did not have SLI, but were born into a family with a positive history of SLI (FH+). No study to date has examined the pattern of affectance in families of children ascertained at such a young age. In addition, the ratio of boys to girls born into such families was investigated, as previous studies have suggested alterations in the expected gender ratios. Consistent with prior research, SLI was found to aggregate in families; the average affectance rate in FH+ families was 32%, with significantly more boys (41%) reported as having SLI than girls (16%). A comparison of FH+ and control families (FH-) on sociodemographic factors and medical history revealed differences in the overall rate of autoimmune diseases; FH+ families reported a significantly higher incidence (35%) compared to FH- families (9%). Finally, the 3-year language abilities of a subset of 32 children from FH+ families were compared with those of 60 children from FH- families. Children from FH+ families scored significantly lower on standardized measures of language and were more likely to fall below the 16th percentile (28%) than children from FH- families (7%). These results provide converging evidence that children from FH+ families are indeed at greater risk of developing language delay compared to children from control families.
Security studies and the end of the cold war

The end of the cold war has generated numerous reflections on the nature of the world in its aftermath. The reduced military threat to American security has triggered proposals for expanding the concept of national security to include nonmilitary threats to national well-being. Some go further and call for a fundamental reexamination of the concepts, theories, and assumptions used to analyze security problems. In order to lay the groundwork for such a reexamination, the emergence and evolution of security studies as a subfield of international relations is surveyed, the adequacy of the field for coping with the post—cold war world is assessed, and proposals for the future of security studies are discussed. It is argued that a strong case can be made for reintegration of security studies with the study of international politics and foreign policy.
The role of minerals in the thermal alteration of organic matter—IV. Generation of n-alkanes, acyclic isoprenoids, and alkenes in laboratory experiments

The effect of common sedimentary minerals (illite, Na-montmorillonite, or calcite) under different water concentrations on the generation and release of n-alkanes, acyclic isoprenoids, and select alkenes from oil-prone kerogens was investigated. Matrices containing Green River Formation kerogen or Monterey Formation kerogen, alone or in the presence of minerals, were heated at 200 or 300 C for periods of up to 1000 hours, and the pyrolysis products were analyzed. The influence of the first two clay minerals was found to be critically dependent on the water content. Under the dry pyrolysis conditions, both minerals significantly reduced alkene formation; the C12+ n-alkanes and acyclic isoprenoids were mostly destroyed by montmorillonite, but underwent only minor alteration with illite. Under hydrous conditions (mineral/water of 2/1), the effects of both minerals were substantially reduced. Calcite had no significant effect on the thermal evolution of the hydrocarbons.
Improved Therapeutic Monitoring With Several Interventions: A Randomized Trial

Background: Medication errors are frequently related to failure to appropriately select medications or adjust for laboratory parameters. Differences between guidelinerecommendationsandactualfrequencyoftherapeuticlaboratorymonitoringaresubstantial.Thisstudyevaluated interventions to improve laboratory monitoring at initiation of medication therapy. Methods:This cluster-randomized trial compared 3 interventions to usual care for 10 medications in 15 primary care clinics in a health maintenance organization with an electronic medical record system. Eligible patients, identified from electronic databases, had not receivedrecommendedlaboratorymonitoringwithin5days after new dispensing of a study medication. Interventions were an electronic medical record reminder to the prescribing health care professional, an automated voice message to the patient, and a pharmacy team outreach to the patient. Primary outcome was completion of all recommended baseline laboratory monitoring. Results:Atotalof961patientsparticipatedinthestudy. At 25 days, 95 (48.5%) of 196 patients in the electronic medical record reminder group, 177 (66.3%) of 267 in the automated voice message group, 214 (82.0%) of 261 in the pharmacy team outreach group, and 53 (22.4%) of 237 in the usual care group had completed all recommended baseline laboratory monitoring (P.001). After adjustments, the hazard ratios for completing laboratory monitoring compared with usual care were 2.5 (95% confidence interval, 1.8-3.5) for electronic medical record reminder, 4.1 (95% confidence interval, 3.05.6) for automated voice message, and 6.7 (95% confidence interval, 4.9-9.0) for pharmacy team outreach. Conclusions: All 3 interventions were effective in increasinglaboratorymonitoringwheninitiatingnewmedications in primary care. Further work is necessary to determineiftheseinterventionsimprovepatientoutcomes. Trial Registration: clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00256386
A review of the biologic and pharmacologic role of docosapentaenoic acid n-3

Fish oil contains a complex mixture of omega-3 fatty acids, of which eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosapentaenoic acid (DPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) are the three predominant forms. There has been a plethora of previous research on the effects and associations of fish oil supplementation with various clinical manifestations. While the majority of this work was focused on EPA and DHA as the active compounds, emerging research has begun to elucidate the specific role that DPA plays in these physiological processes and its differences with the other omega-3 fatty acids. The purpose of this review is to focus on the new studies undertaken with DPA. This review summarizes the biochemical mechanisms involved in the biosynthesis and metabolism of DPA before focusing on its effects in cardiovascular disease, immune function, and psychiatric and cognitive health. The limited studies point toward a positive role that DPA supplementation can play in these processes and that is separate and distinct from traditional supplementation with DHA and EPA.
Higgs particle production by Z→Hγ☆

Abstract The rate for the decay of a Z-boson into a Higgs boson and monochromatic photon is computed to leading order in the standard SU(2) × U(1) gauge theory. The coupling has contributions from fermion and W-boson loops. The W-boson loop dominates unless the number of heavy fermion generations exceeds six. The branching ratio computed from the W-boson loop contribution, B(Z→Hγ), is approximately 2 × 10−6 (1−( M H 2 M Z 2 )) 3 .
Thrombosis Of the middle cerebral artery associated with birth trauma

After birth trauma, an infant had middle cerebral artery thrombosis, proved at autopsy. Unusual forces exerted on the head and neck at the time of attempted high forceps delivery damaged the inner layers of the right middle cerebral artery, which led to thrombosis and infarction.
On homogeneous sets of positive integers

The main result of this paper is the proof of the following partition property of the family of all two-element sets of the first n positive integers.There is a real constant C > 0 such that for every partition of the pairs of the set [n] = {1,2, ...,n} into two parts, there exists a homogeneous set H⊆[n] (i.e., all pairs of H are contained in one of the two partition classes) with min H ≥ 2 such that ∑h∈H1\logh ≥ C log log log log n/log log log log log n.This answers positively a conjecture of Erdos (see "On the combinatorial problems which I would most like to see solved", Combinatorica 1 (1981) 25).
Fresnel prism treatment of sensory exotropia with restoration of sensory and motor fusion.

Abstract Anterior segment surgeons may treat patients with long-standing media opacities oruncorrected aphakia who have developed sensory strabismus. These patients are at risk for diplopia after surgery to clear the visual axis and restore emmetropia. This report describes 2 patients who regained comfortable single binocular vision without strabismus surgery. Sensory fusion was restored with Fresnel prisms, which were weaned and ultimately discarded as the patients' motor fusion was re-engaged after decades of disuse. Surgeons who restore vision in an eye with manifest sensory strabismus should be aware of this noninvasive, well-tolerated treatment option. Collaboration with an orthoptist or strabismologist may be helpful.
Structural characterization of the antigenic O-polysaccharide in the lipopolysaccharide produced by Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae serotype 14.

Abstract The antigenic O-polysaccharide of the lipopolysaccharide produced by Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae serotype 14 was shown by chemical analysis and 1D and 2D nuclear magnetic resonance methods to be a high-molecular-mass polymer of a repeating disaccharide unit composed of a chain of (1 → 5)-linked β- d -galactofuranose (β- d -Gal f ) residues substituted at their O-2 positions by α- d -galactopyranose residues ( d -Gal p ) (1:1):
Global Restructuring, Social Distancing, and a Community-Based Worker's Center Response

This paper addresses the impacts of global “social distancing” on employers and workers and examines community-based worker center strategies to mitigate those impacts. Through a case study of El C...
Sequential coding for channels with feedback

In this note we consider a discrete memoryless channel (DMC) where noiseless feedback is present. Shannon showed (Shannon, 1956) that the capacity of the DMC is not increased by feedback (in the case of block coding) by providing a weak converse. Later Kemperman and Kesten (unpublished) independently proved a strong converse. Kemperman's proof is published in (Wolfowitz, 1964, Chapter 4), and also in (Kemperman, 1971) . Even though feedback has no effect on the value of the capacity of a memoryless channel in the case of block coding, it does, however, provide new possibilities for the actual construction of codes, as was shown in (Berlekamp, 1968) and (Ahlswede, 1971) . A different approach to the problem is to try sequential coding, which Horstein did for the binary symmetric channel with feedback in (Horstein, 1963) . The results of this note are (1) a weak converse for the DMC with feedback in the case of sequential coding, and (2) a counterexample to the strong converse.
Two classes of piecewise-linear difference equations with eventual periodicity three

In this paper, we will study two classes of difference equations which are piecewise-linear and of similar forms. We will show that all nontrivial solutions of one equation are eventually periodic with prime period three. We will show this result for one case of the second equation.
Arousability and dreaming.

This study finds that dream valence and the frequency with which several types of dreams were experienced are related to arousability. Specifically, compared to 214 university students who were classified as low in arousability, 182 university students who were high in arousability reported more frequent dreams for all seven types of dreams measured. This relationship between arousability and dreaming was especially salient for the three types of nightmares, (i.e., Fantastic Nightmares, Posttraumatic Nightmares, and Night Terrors) that were measured.
The Zoot Suit Riots: Exploring Social Issues in American History

The Zoot Suit Riots provide students with a case study of social unrest in American history. The influx of Latinos into the Los Angeles area prior to World War II created high levels of social unrest between Mexican Americans, military servicemen, and local residences. With large numbers of soldiers stationed in the area during the Second World War, conflicts broke out between the young Latinos and the soldiers. The following material provides a short historical review of the events related to the riots, a lesson plan, and resources to engage the students in exploring the events of this time period.
Environmental designs for streambank protection projects

ABSTRACT: Streambank protection projects are intended to prevent streambank erosion, thereby preventing streambank failure and maintaining a desirable channel alignment. Streambank erosion is a natural process of unaltered, dynamic river systems, and protection projects seek to impose stability on this natural system. The environmental impacts of such projects are primarily changes to terrestrial and aquatic habitats and to aesthetics. Adverse environmental impacts have been minimized and enhancement of existing habitat and aesthetics have been achieved through the development of new, innovative designs or modifications to existing designs and through use of construction and maintenance practices that promote habitat and aesthetics. Designs based on channel flow characteristics, e.g., revetments using a variety of structural materials, can result in preservation of wildlife habitat by reducing the use of structural protection by matching the erosion potential of flow at the bank with the protection capability of the materials used. Designs based on streambed stabilization prevent bank failure caused by bank undermining, result in preservation or establishment of streamside vegetation, and enhance aesthetics. Protection schemes that manage and preserve floodplains, berms, and riparian areas preserve the natural condition of the floodplain area. Designs based on deflection of erosive flows, e.g., dikes, minimize disturbance to the bank vegetation and create low-velocity aquatic habitats. Use of vegetation for bank protection is most effective when used in combination with structural components. Construction and maintenance practices can be scheduled and modified to minimize impacts to floodplain areas and to enhance wildlife habitat while preserving the integrity of the protection structure.
Association of interleukin-1-induced, NFκB DNA-binding activity with collagenase gene expression in human gingival fibroblasts

Abstract During earlier examination of interleukin-1 (IL-1)-induced matrix metalloproteinase gene expression in human gingival fibroblasts a highly induced immediate early gene, IκB-α, a NFκB DNA-binding inhibitor, was identified. The aim now was to investigate whether recombinant (r)IL-1β induces the stimulation of NFκB and its inhibitor proteins in human gingival fibroblasts and to understand if inhibition of its activity affects collagenase gene expression. Primary gingival fibroblasts (human) were treated with rIL-1β to determine the effect on NFκB-like DNA-binding activity. IL-1 induced the production of steady-state mRNA levels of IκB-α in the cultured fibroblasts. Nuclear run-on transcription studies demonstrated that rIL-1 induction of IκB-α may be transcriptionally regulated. Using electrophoretic mobility gel-shift assays it was shown that rIL-1 activates NFκB-like DNA-binding activity in these fibroblasts. NFκB-like DNA-binding activity was rapidly induced and turned over in gingival fibroblasts with peak activity at 30 min after rIL-1 treatment. Further, treatment with chymotrypsin protease inhibitor and antioxidant inhibitor prevented IL-1-induced, NFκB-like, DNA-binding activity and collagenase mRNA production. When coupled with the existence of NFκB consensus DNA-binding sites on the collagenase gene promoter, these findings suggest that the stimulation of NFκB in gingival fibroblasts by rIL-1 could play an important part in the regulation of their collagenase gene expression. The ability of IL-1 to stimulate this expression may define a pivotal role for this cytokine in the pathogenesis of periodontitis.
Expression of microRNAs and Other Small RNAs in Prefrontal Cortex in Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder and Depressed Subjects

Because of the role played by miRNAs in post-transcriptional regulation of an array of genes, their impact in neuropsychiatric disease pathophysiology has increasingly been evident. In the present study, we assessed microRNA expression in prefrontal cortex (Brodmann area 10) of a well-characterized cohort of major depressed, bipolar, and schizophrenia subjects (obtained from Stanley Neuropathology Consortium; n = 15 in each group), using high throughput RT-PCR plates. Discrete miRNA alterations were observed in all disorders, as well as in suicide subjects (pooled across diagnostic categories) compared to all non-suicide subjects. The changes in the schizophrenia group were partially similar to those in the bipolar group, but distinct from changes in depression and suicide. Intriguingly, those miRNAs which were down-regulated in the schizophrenia group tended to be synaptically enriched, whereas up-regulated miRNAs tended not to be. To follow this up, we purified synaptosomes from pooled samples of the schizophrenia vs. control groups and subjected them to Illumina deep sequencing. There was a significant loss of small RNA expression in schizophrenia synaptosomes only for certain sequence lengths within the miRNA range. Moreover, 73 miRNAs were significantly down-regulated whereas only one was up-regulated. Strikingly, across all expressed miRNAs in synaptosomes, there was a significant inverse correlation between the fold-change of a given miRNA seen in schizophrenia and its synaptic enrichment ratio observed in controls. Thus, synaptic miRNAs tended to be down-regulated in schizophrenia, and the more highly synaptically enriched miRNAs tended to show greater down-regulation. These findings point to some deficit in miRNA biogenesis, transport, processing or turnover in schizophrenia that is selective for the synaptic compartment. A novel class of ncRNA-derived small RNAs, shown to be strongly induced during an early phase of learning in mouse, is also expressed in man, and at least one representative (SNORD85) was strongly down-regulated in schizophrenia synaptosomes.