cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Chromatin configuration as a battlefield in plant-bacteria interactions

Regulation of chromatin dynamics by remodeling complexes is well known to play critical roles in gene expression changes during plant development and stress response. Recent discoveries implicated that chromatin remodelers also regulate plant immunity. Upon pathogen infection, histone modifying enzymes and ATP-dependent chromatin remodelers, in conjunction with other regulatory proteins, are recruited to defense-related gene regions, resulting in transcription reprogramming. The presence of a large number of potential components of chromatin remodeling complexes may contribute to the integration of various signals, and eventually lead to the quantitative and kinetical immune response. Biotrophic and hemibiotrophic pathogens have evolved virulence factors to suppress plant defense, which is essential for disease development. The conserved nature of chromatin remodeling complexes makes them attractive targets of these pathogens. Here, we update our knowledge on the emerging role of chromatin configuration in the tight control of plant defense response against bacterial infection, and discuss the potential functions of bacterial virulence proteins to subvert immunity by modulating chromatin-remodeling processes.
Effect of Race on Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction Decline After Initial Improvement with Beta Blockers in Patients with Non-Ischemic Cardiomyopathy: A Retrospective Analysis

Background Although beta blockers (BBs) are established therapy in heart failure, some patients whose left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) initially increases on BB therapy experience a subsequent LVEF decline. This study aimed to evaluate the proportion of patients with non-ischemic cardiomyopathy (NICM) whose LVEF declines while on BB therapy and determine important predictors of LVEF decline.
‘Western Union Daddies’ and Their Quest for Authenticity: An Ethnographic Study of the Dominican Gay Sex Tourism Industry

This article draws on ethnographic research among two categories of male sex workers in the Dominican Republic in order to describe the relationships between gay male tourists and the Dominican men they hire on their trips to the Caribbean. Drawing on both qualitative interview data and quantitative surveys, the discussion examines the usefulness of theories of 'authenticity,' as they have been applied in the analysis of tourist practices more generally, in accounting for the behaviors and practices of male sex workers and their foreign gay clients. While the flow of international remittances from 'Western Union daddies' to their Dominican 'boys' creates a continuous reminder of the utilitarian nature of the exchange, both sex workers and clients are motivated to camouflage this instrumentality in their construction of a more 'authentic,' fulfilling relationship. The article examines the consequences of this ambivalent negotiation for the emotional and economic organization of gay male sex tourism in the Caribbean.
Effect of process parameters on the rate of abrasive assisted brush deburring of microgrooves

Abstract Burrs in micromilled parts need to be removed for proper functioning of the parts. Abrasive assisted brushing presents a fast and effective method for deburring these parts. The deburring rate in abrasive brushing depends on the workpiece material, abrasive grit size, type and rotational speed of the brush. In this paper the effects of these variables on the rate of deburring micromilled grooves in copper and tool steel workpieces are studied experimentally. It is found that the burr removal rate is proportional to the initial burr height and deburring speed. An empirical model derived from the experimental data is used to predict the deburring time. Groove depth change after deburring is less than 8 μm and surface roughness improves by about 100 nm in all cases studied.
The Influence of Convention Center Performance on Hotel Room Nights

The economic contribution of convention centers has received a great deal of attention from past research studies. However, arguments still remain about convention centers’ postexpansion impact on hotel room nights. In addition, there is a lack of research regarding the link between demand for hotel room nights and commonly adopted measurements of a convention center’s performance. This study examines the impact of convention center performance on the demand for hotel room nights through an investigation of a convention center located in a metropolitan city in the middle Atlantic region of the United States. Results show that there is a positive relationship between the quantity of function space and demand for hotel room nights in comparison to other factors of the convention center’s performance. The key findings provide practical implications for local convention and visitors bureaus and convention center managers in terms of marketing strategies and revenue management.
Collagen Synthesis by Normal and Fibrotic Human Lung Fibroblasts and the Effect of Transforming Growth Factor-β

Collagen accumulation is a major feature of pulmonary fibrosis and other fibrotic lesions. We have studied the synthesis of collagens in fibroblasts cultured from normal and fibrotic human lung specimens and evaluated how it is affected by transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β). Fibroblasts were obtained from normal and fibrotic adult human lungs (n = 11; normal = 6, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis = 5). They were exposed to TGF-β and pulse-labeled with [3H]proline and [3H]glycine. Collagen production was measured as bacterial collagenase-susceptible radioactivity, and collagen mRNA levels were determined by a solution hybridization assay using labeled procollagen α1[l] cDNA clone HF677 as probe. Synthesis of collagen types I, III, and V were assessed after separating them by DEAE-cellulose chromatography and SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The results showed that both normal and fibrotic lung fibroblasts synthesized similar amounts of collagen. Type I was the major collagen species synthesized by bot...
The Electroactive Integrated Optical Waveguide: Ultrasensitive Spectroelectrochemistry of Submonolayer Adsorbates

Highly sensitive spectroelectrochemistry of adsorbed films on ITO is demonstrated with the electroactive integrated optical waveguide (EA-IOW). The EA-IOW, a single-mode planar waveguide coated with an ITO layer, is ∼104-fold more sensitive to changes in absorbance occurring during electrochemical events versus a single-pass transmission spectroelectrochemical experiment, as demonstrated by reduction of surface-adsorbed methylene blue. Furthermore, the EA-IOW is selective to near-surface events, as it is relatively insensitive to absorbance by solutions of dissolved chromophores at <1 mM. The EA-IOW is also used to monitor the formation of Prussian Blue during the reduction of ferricyanide, an event that is not easily followed using current-detected cyclic voltammetry, due to interfering faradaic and non-faradaic electrochemical events. The optical background of the EA-IOW is potential-dependent and is explained by ion diffusion into the ITO and by voltage-dependent changes in optical constants for the ma...
Clinical and pathologic correlations in 96 patients with panniculitis, including 15 patients with deficient levels of α1-antitrypsin

α 1 -Antitrypsin levels were determined for 96 patients with various forms of biopsy-proved panniculitis. Fifteen of the 96 patients had α 1 -antitrypsin deficiency, and 12 of these also had an abnormal α 1 -antitrypsin phenotype. This group of patients showed substantial and characteristic clinical and histopathologic differences from the group of patients with normal levels and phenotypes of α 1 -antitrypsin. Spontaneous ulceration and drainage of panniculitis lesions were much more common in patients with α 1 -antitrypsin deficiency, and biopsy specimens from lesions of panniculitis in these patients were much more likely to show large areas of normal fat adjacent to necrotic lobular and septal areas, which contained many polymorphonuclear leukocytes and histiocytes. Destruction of elastic tissue was more frequent and extensive in patients with α 1 -antitrypsin deficiency.
Early Life History of the Northern Pike, Esox lucius L., with Special Reference to the Factors Influencing the Numerical Strength of Year Classes

Abstract The early life history of northern pike was studied to determine the relationship of adult pike abundance to the strength of resulting year classes and the existence and chronology of critical survival periods, along with the nature and origin of the mortality mechanisms involved. Adult abundance and the strength of the resulting year classes were not directly related. Two critical survival periods were located, one during the embryo stage between fertilization and closure of the blastopore, and the second between hatching and the termination of the alevin stage. The mortality during these periods may result from toxic concentrations of iron compounds or from excessively rapid temperature change. Growth, food utilization, and oxygen, ammonia, and sulfide levels in the nursery slough did not appear to influence survival. Greatest survival of naturally reared fingerlings will result from stabilization of water levels in the nursery areas. Water is required for at least 3 months after egg deposition...
Retention of Oxytetracycline Residues in Cooked Channel Catfish Fillets

Catfish (mean body weight 0.87 kg) treated with oxytetracycline (OTC) at 150.0 mg/kg body weight for 10 days and slaughtered 18 hr after last feeding had higher OTC residue levels than those receiving OTC at 37.5 or 75.0 mg/kg. Individual differences in feed uptake and metabolism of OTC among catfish might contribute to variability in residue. Baking and smoking at 190°C were more effective in reducing OTC residues than frying. The reduction appeared to be related to the final temperature reached and duration of cooking. Results confirmed that common cooking procedures may not completely degrade OTC in catfish fillets.
Rare De Novo and Transmitted Copy-Number Variation in Autistic Spectrum Disorders

To explore the genetic contribution to autistic spectrum disorders (ASDs), we have studied genomic copy-number variation in a large cohort of families with a single affected child and at least one unaffected sibling. We confirm a major contribution from de novo deletions and duplications but also find evidence of a role for inherited "ultrarare" duplications. Our results show that, relative to males, females have greater resistance to autism from genetic causes, which raises the question of the fate of female carriers. By analysis of the proportion and number of recurrent loci, we set a lower bound for distinct target loci at several hundred. We find many new candidate regions, adding substantially to the list of potential gene targets, and confirm several loci previously observed. The functions of the genes in the regions of de novo variation point to a great diversity of genetic causes but also suggest functional convergence.
ErratumErratum to “Historic fire regime dynamics and forcing factors in the Boston Mountains, Arkansas, USA” [Forest Ecol. Manage. 234 (2006) 293–304]

www.elsevier.com/locate/forecoForest Ecology and Management 239 (2007) 222–223DOI of original article: 10.1016/j.foreco.2006.07.016.* Corresponding author.E-mail address: guyetter@missouri.edu (R.P. Guyette).0378-1127/$ – see front matter # 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.doi:10.1016/j.foreco.2006.11.001
Keeping World Heritage in the Family: A Genealogy of Maya Labour at Chichén Itzá

This account of the everyday politics of the World Heritage archaeological site of Chichen Itza (Yucatan, Mexico) contributes to a new impulse in the study of heritage and tourism: the interests and participation of multiple publics in the production of sites of national cultural identities and international tourism. For decades, Maya residents in and around Chichen Itza have been employed in the site’s excavation, maintenance, and protection. For these indigenous heritage workers, patrimonial claims to the site are based not on the monuments themselves but on inherited job positions. The transformation of these workers into a local elite has occasioned contentious broader community politics as other local residents advocate opening the site’s benefit stream to a wider group of stakeholders. This case study thus addresses the role played by heritage workers in the micro‐politics of patrimony at a World Heritage Site.
3D lensless fluorescence imaging

This paper presents a miniaturized, inexpensive, lensless fluorescence microscope, built using a CMOS sensor. This is the first report of 3D imaging with a lensless fluorescence microscope. This technology will enable the development of self-contained lab-on-a-chip implementations of a variety of complex biomedical protocols.
Serum amyloid A predicts early mortality in acute coronary syndromes : A TIMI 11A substudy

Abstract OBJECTIVES We evaluated the ability of serum amyloid A (SAA), alone and in combination with a rapid qualitative assay for cardiac-specific troponin T (cTnT), to predict 14-day mortality in patients with unstable angina or non-Q wave myocardial infarction (NQMI). BACKGROUND Elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) has been associated with adverse outcomes in unstable coronary syndromes but data regarding its acute phase counterpart, SAA, are conflicting. METHODS Serum amyloid A measurement and a rapid cTnT assay were performed on blood obtained at enrollment into Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction 11A, a dose-ranging trial of enoxaparin for unstable angina and NQMI. RESULTS Serum amyloid A was higher in patients who died compared with survivors (6.28 vs. 0.75 mg/dL, p = 0.002). Among patients with a negative rapid cTnT, mortality was higher for those in the top quintile of SAA (6.1 vs. 0.7%, p = 0.003). Patients with both an early positive rapid cTnT (≤10 min until assay positive) and SAA in the fifth quintile had the highest mortality followed by those with either markedly elevated SAA or an early positive rapid cTnT, while patients with both a negative rapid cTnT and SAA in quintiles 1–4 were at very low risk, (9.1 vs. 3.6 vs. 0.7%, p CONCLUSIONS Similar to CRP, baseline elevation of SAA identifies patients hospitalized with unstable angina and NQMI at higher risk for early mortality, even among those with a negative rapid assay for cTnT. These data support further investigation of inflammatory markers used alone and in combination with cardiac troponins for risk assessment in unstable coronary syndromes.
Model dependence of ann' PP Bremsstrahlung, and the binding energy of nuclear matter

Abstract Hard core, soft core, finite core, short range p2-dependent, and intermediate range p2-dependent potentials with one-pion-exchange tails are precisely matched to the 0-330 MeV 1S0 data. Adding the Hamada-Johnston potential for other states when necessary, predictions are made for the neutron-neutron scattering length, proton-proton bremsstrahlung, and the binding energy per nucleon in nuclear matter. Of these, only the nuclear matter binding energy shows significant model dependence.
Maternal leptin is elevated during pregnancy in sheep.

Abstract Maternal plasma leptin is elevated during pregnancy in several species, but it is unclear to what extent this elevation reflects changes in adiposity or energy balance. Therefore, Karakul ewes ( n = 8) were fed to minimize changes in maternal energy status over the pregnancy-lactation cycle. They were studied 20–40 d before breeding and during mid pregnancy (d 50–60 post coitus [PC]), late pregnancy (d 125–135 PC) and early lactation (d 15–22 post partum). Consistent with the maintenance of near energy equilibrium in nongravid maternal tissues, maternal body weight was increased only during late pregnancy when the weight of the conceptus became significant and plasma concentrations of insulin, NEFA and glucose did not vary with physiological state. In contrast, maternal plasma leptin concentration rose from 5.3 to 9.5 ng/mL between prebreeding and mid pregnancy and then declined progressively through late pregnancy and early lactation. Leptin gene expression increased 2.3 fold in maternal white adipose tissue (WAT) from prebreeding to mid pregnancy and declined to prebreeding levels during early lactation. To determine whether tissue response to insulin was involved in this effect, insulin tolerance tests were performed. The maternal plasma glucose response declined from prebreeding to early lactation, but was not correlated with either plasma leptin concentration or WAT leptin mRNA abundance. In conclusion, pregnancy causes an increase in the synthesis of leptin in sheep. This stimulation does not require increases in adiposity or energy balance and is unrelated to the ability of insulin to promote glucose utilization.
Forensic printer detection using intrinsic signatures

Several methods exist for printer identification from a printed document. We have developed a system that performs printer identification using intrinsic signatures of the printers. Because an intrinsic signature is tied directly to the electromechanical properties of the printer, it is difficult to forge or remove. In previous work we have shown that intrinsic signatures are capable of solving the problem of printer classification on a restricted set of printers. In this paper we extend our previous work to address the problem of forensic printer identification, in which a document may or may not belong to a known set of printers. We propose to use a Euclidean distance based metric in a reduced feature space. The reduced feature space is obtained by using sequential feature selection and linear discriminant analysis.
Self-objectification among physically active women

Objectification Theory (Fredrickson & Roberts, 1997) was used to examine (a) the mediation effects of body shame and flow on the relationship between self-objectification and disordered eating, (b) age differences in self-objectification, body shame, flow, and disordered eating, (c) the prediction of physical activity from self-objectification, flow, body shame, and disordered eating, and (d) the relationships between self-objectification, flow, and physical activity. Participants were 394 women ages 18–64. Results revealed that (a) body shame mediated the relationship between self-objectification and disordered eating, (b) younger women reported higher levels of self-objectification, body shame, dieting, and several flow characteristics, (c) older women scored higher on the loss of self-consciousness subscale of the flow measure, and (d) self-objectification was a significant predictor of physical activity.
Alcohol Use as a Potential Mediator of Forced Sexual Intercourse and Suicidality Among African American, Caucasian, and Hispanic High School Girls

Abstract Purpose Sexual assault on adolescent females is a major public health concern. The purposes of this study were to examine: (1) whether alcohol use mediates the relationship between forced sexual intercourse and suicidality in high-school girls, and (2) whether this mediation differs by ethnicity. Methods Using cross-sectional data from the 2009 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (n = 6,294), we used logistic regression and simple mediation using the Sobel test for indirect effect for our analyses. Results Overall rates for forced sexual intercourse, alcohol use, and suicidality were 10.9%, 56.6%, and 18%, respectively. Current alcohol use significantly mediated the relationship between forced sexual intercourse and suicidality in African American, Caucasian, and Hispanic high-school girls. Overall, 13% of variance in participants' suicidality can be accounted for by the indirect effect of forced sexual intercourse on suicidality through alcohol use. The amount of variance accounted for by alcohol use varied significantly by ethnicity, with the largest amount of variance (21%) accounted for suicidality in Hispanic girls. Conclusion In addition to its acute affects, alcohol use may serve as a general risk factor for suicidality in girls who have experienced forced sexual intercourse. Intervention programs targeting female adolescent sexual assault victims should include an alcohol use component.
Transport Phenomena in a Completely Ionized Gas in Presence of a Magnetic Field

Conduction coefficients were calculated connecting the electric and heat currents with the electric field and the temperature gradient, which are both assumed at right angles to the magnetic field. The coefficients are represented in a complex fashion, the real part giving a flow in the direction and the imaginary part giving a flow at right angles to the driving force. The calculation was carried through for the nuclear charges one, two, and three and for the limit of very large nuclear charges.
Cultural competence and the culture of medicine.

The phrase “cultural competence” arises often in discussions about improving medical education and health care in the United States. Renee Fox writes that most considerations of cultural competence neither identify nor explore the culture of medical training grounds.
Turner's syndrome.

A SYNDROME of decreased stature, sexual infantilism, congenital webbing of the neck and cubitus valgus was described by Turner in 1938 (1). All of his seven patients were females and ranged in height from 50 to 56 inches and were between the ages of 15 and 23 years. All showed evidence of extreme prepuberal hypo-ovarianism for which Turner felt that the anterior pituitary gland was responsible. Roentgenograms showed delayed union of bones and evidence of demineralization in six of his cases. No hormone assays were obtained in his original series. Since Turner's first report, Varney, Kenyon and Koch (1942) reported on the association of short stature, retarded sexual development and high urinary gonadotropin titers in women (2). No congenital anomalies were noted in their series. In the same year, Albright, Smith and Fraser described eleven patients who had a syndrome of primary ovarian insufficiency and decreased stature (3). An excess of urinary gonadotropins was demonstrated in these cases. Furthermore,...
Evolution of Voronoi/Delaunay Characterized Micro Structure with Transition from Loose to Dense Sphere Packing

Micro structures of equal sphere packing (ranging from loose to dense packing) generated numerically by discrete element method under different vibration conditions are characterized using Voronoi/Delaunay tessellation, which is applied on a wide range of packing densities. The analysis on micro properties such as the total perimeter, surface area, and the face number distribution of each Voronoi polyhedron, and the pore size distribution in each Voronoi/Delaunay subunit is systematically carried out. The results show that with the increasing density of sphere packing, the Voronoi/Delaunay pore size distribution is narrowed. That indicates large pores to be gradually substituted by small uniformed ones during densification. Meanwhile, the distributions of face number, total perimeter, and surface area of Voronoi polyhedra at high packing densities tend to be narrower and higher, which is in good agreement with those in random loose packing.
Up-regulation of WRN and DNA ligase IIIα in chronic myeloid leukemia : consequences for the repair of DNA double-strand breaks

Expression of oncogenic BCR-ABL in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) results in increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) that in turn cause increased DNA damage, including DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs). We have previously shown increased error-prone repair of DSBs by nonhomologous end-joining (NHEJ) in CML cells. Recent reports have identified alternative NHEJ pathways that are highly error prone, prompting us to examine the role of the alternative NHEJ pathways in BCR-ABL–positive CML. Importantly, we show that key proteins in the major NHEJ pathway, Artemis and DNA ligase IV, are down-regulated, whereas DNA ligase IIIα, and the protein deleted in Werner syndrome, WRN, are up-regulated. DNA ligase IIIα and WRN form a complex that is recruited to DSBs in CML cells. Furthermore, “knockdown” of either DNA ligase IIIα or WRN leads to increased accumulation of unrepaired DSBs, demonstrating that they contribute to the repair of DSBs. These results indicate that altered DSB repair in CML cells is caused by the increased activity of an alternative NHEJ repair pathway, involving DNA ligase IIIα and WRN. We suggest that, although the repair of ROS-induced DSBs by this pathway contributes to the survival of CML cells, the resultant genomic instability drives disease progression.
The Learning and Transfer of Prosocial Behavior in Adventure Education: Effects of a Treatment Curriculum

The issue of learning transfer is of prime importance to adventure education programs (Gass, 1999). These programs are designed to promote a variety of personal development outcomes for participants, and a substantial amount of research has validated these outcomes (e.g., Hattie, Marsh, Neill, & Richards, 1997). However, in order for students to use the learning gained during their course, they must transfer the learning from a backcountry setting to their life post-course. Broadly speaking, learning transfer describes how learning achieved in one context can be applied in another context (Santrock, 2001). Literature suggests that three main influences of transfer are characteristics of (a) the student, (b) the training program, and (c) the transfer environment (Baldwin & Ford, 1988). Within each of these influences, there exist a number of specific mechanisms that may affect transfer. Key mechanisms include reflection activities, framing discourse in transfer-positive ways, goal setting, and using an action-plan to set goals for application (Burke & Hutchins, 2007; Cyboran, 2005; Gass, 1999; Foxon, 1994). Expedition behavior (EB) is a learning outcome used in many adventure programs such as the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS). EB has been defined as a concern for others, coupled with the willingness to demonstrate this concern (Petzoldt, 1984). This construction of expedition behavior bears a strong resemblance to the construct of prosocial behavior (PSB). Prosocial behaviors are described as behaviors that are primarily aimed at benefiting others (Eisenberg & Fabes,1998; Staub, 1978). These behaviors can be described as sharing, comforting others, donating goods, and helping (Carlo et al., 2007). This purpose of this study is to measure the effects of a treatment curriculum on the learning transfer of prosocial skills following a twoweek long program with NOLS. The treatment curriculum incorporates a number of interventions that are designed to increase transfer, including: (a) a pre-course goal setting worksheet; (b) an intentionally framed positive learning environment discussion; (c) a case-study analysis; (d) creation of an action plan; (e) a journaling exercise; and (f) a letter home to parents. These interventions may be able to foster transfer of learning.
Location of the Permeation Pathway in the Recombinant Type 1 Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate Receptor

The inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor (InsP3R) forms ligand-regulated intracellular Ca2+ release channels in the endoplasmic reticulum of all mammalian cells. The InsP3R has been suggested to have six transmembrane regions (TMRs) near its carboxyl terminus. A TMR-deletion mutation strategy was applied to define the location of the InsP3R pore. Mutant InsP3Rs were expressed in COS-1 cells and single channel function was defined in planar lipid bilayers. Mutants having the fifth and sixth TMR (and the interceding lumenal loop), but missing all other TMRs, formed channels with permeation properties similar to wild-type channels (gCs = 284; gCa = 60 pS; PCa/PCs = 6.3). These mutant channels bound InsP3, but ligand occupancy did not regulate the constitutively open pore (Po > 0.80). We propose that a region of 191 amino acids (including the fifth and sixth TMR, residues 2398–2589) near the COOH terminus of the protein forms the InsP3R pore. Further, we have produced a constitutively open InsP3R pore mutant that is ideal for future site-directed mutagenesis studies of the structure–function relationships that define Ca2+ permeation through the InsP3R channel.
Orthogonality considerations for library searching Nth-order data

Abstract Identification of chemicals from multi-order ( N th-order) instruments is typically carried out with only first-order library searches. Simultaneous library searches for all orders of N th-order data enhances identification of chemicals. Three methods are presented for simultaneous N th-order library searches based on measuring the angle between the unknown and reference chemicals present in a library. The first method, called first-order limited (FOL), consists of unfolding N th-order data to first-order and using the standard dot product function to compute the angle. The second approach, second-order limited (SOL), unfolds N th-order data to second-order and uses singular value decomposition to obtain the angle. The third method, N th-order (NO), computes the angle directly without unfolding. Performance evaluations show the advantages of SOL in search time for large libraries while FOL and NO appear to have a higher degree of selectivity. The methods of FOL and NO are shown to be the same measures but NO has a computational advantage. Computer memory usage for all three methods is also addressed.
Strain aging behavior of austenitic stainless steels containing strain induced martensite

Transformation of austenite to martensite during deformation is widely used to strengthen metastable austenitic stainless steel grades. It has been reported that aging of cold worked material can result in further strength increases through the formation of additional martensite. Alternate interpretations of the effects of aging on the strength of stainless steels containing strain induced martensite may also be hypothesized. It is well known that plastically deformed ferritic steels can be strengthened by the diffusion of interstitial solute atoms (carbon and nitrogen) during aging at low temperatures. It is anticipated that plastically deformed metastable austenitic steels containing the body-centered martensite phase may also be strengthened in a similar manner. This assumption appears reasonable as martensitic steels, with low carbon content similar to the austenitic steels of interest, have been shown to exhibit aging effects similar to those observed in low carbon ferritic steels. Thus the purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effects of time and temperature on the stress-strain behavior and strength of cold worked metastable 300 series stainless steels to determine the degree to which observed strength increases might be attributed to strain aging.
Dispersion in laminar tube flow at low Peclet numbers or short times

A new asymptotic solution is developed for the dispersion of a passive solute in a Newtonian fluid in fully-developed laminar flow through a straight circular tube. A perturbation solution to the convective dispersion problem is constructed by utilizing the pure diffusion solution as an initial approximation in an iterative successive approximation procedure. The derived perturbation solution is shown to be valid at both short and long times for sufficiently low values of the Peclet number and is also valid at any value of the Peclet number for sufficiently small values of time.
Controlled Nanocrystallization of NiTi Shape Memory Alloy by Laser Shock Peening

In this paper, partial amorphization of NiTi alloys by laser shock peening (LSP) is reported. The microstructure of NiTi after LSP was characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The amorphization mechanism was discussed in light of the high strain rate deformation characteristics of LSP. With subsequent controlled annealing after LSP, nanostructure with different grain size distribution was achieved.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
Sum rule for lattice vibrations of Wurtzite structures

Abstract An extension of the sum rule derived by Blackman and Brout is presented for the case of hexagonal crystals with ionic plus non ionic binding, such as Wurtzite.
Eutopic and ectopic macromolecular human placental lactogen.

Macromolecular forms of human placental lactogen have received little attention because it has been thought that such forms either compose only a small fraction of total immunoactive placental lactogen or are merely laboratory artifacts. We examined serum and placental tissue from women with normal pregnancy (first and third trimesters), serum and tissue from women with eutopic tumors (mole and choriocarcinoma), and serum from men with ectopic placental lactogen production. Samples were chromatographed on dextran gel (Sephadex G-100), and placental lactogen was measured in the fractions by radioimmunoassay. In all specimens examined, immunoactive placental lactogen was found at the void volume of the column (molecular weight >150,000 daltons). This macromolecular placental lactogen comprised 45% of the total placental lactogen) immunoactive species. Authentic monomeric placental lactogen was not converted to macromolecular placental lactogen by repeated freezing and thawing. Third-trimester placental macromolecular placental lactogen was unstable; only 13% remained at the void on rechromatography. First-trimester placental macromolecular placental lactogen, on the other hand, was stable to rechromatography. The behavior of immunochemical dilutions of macromolecular placental lactogen from first-trimester placenta was similar to that of monomeric placental lactogen in the same sample. Macromolecular placental lactogen is probably not artifact, and it can comprise a large fraction of the total immunoactive placental lactogen in certain conditions.
Enhanced actuation and acoustic transduction by pressurization of micromachined piezoelectric diaphragms

A strategy to increase the performance of diaphragm-type transducers is to provide an initial curvature to the diaphragm, which converts in-plane strains to motion normal to the diaphragm surface. In this paper, we analyze and measure the actuation characteristics of composite piezoelectric diaphragms that are biased by a static pressure that induces diaphragm curvature. To analyze the actuation characteristics of the curved-diaphragm transducer, a mathematical model for thin diaphragms relating the applied static pressure to the actuation characteristics is developed. In this model, the elastic response to applied pressure is caused by contributions of plate and membrane components. A linear relationship between applied voltage and boundary strain fluctuations was assumed, which leads to an analytic expression for the quasi-static diaphragm displacement amplitude in terms of diaphragm properties and biasing pressure. This expression shows that there is an upper limit to the displacement amplitude enhancement under piezoelectric actuation when diaphragms are curved by a biasing pressure. Measurements of displacement amplitude and acoustic pressure as a function of static bias pressure on micromachined piezoelectric diaphragms showed the expected behavior, which is typically displacement amplification, and a null when bending and stretching effects cancel. The model predicts that a decrease in residual stresses will increase performance at all biasing pressure levels. Residual stresses can be beneficial in a way, in that the pressure for peak performance may be varied to suit a design constraint.
Hypothermic effects of a homologous series of short‐chain alcohols in rats

The purpose of this study was to assess the utility of the thermoregulatory system as an end point in predicting the toxicity of various short‐chain alcohols. Male Fischer rats developed significant hypothermia following acute administration (ip) of metha‐nol, ethanol, 1‐propanol, 2‐propanol, 1‐butanol, or 2‐butanol. The hypothermic responses to the six alcohols all showed similar segmented responses characterized by a threshold dose below which no change in body temperature occurred, and a supra‐threshold regression with increasing dose causing greater hypothermia. Relative potency of the alcohols was assessed using both the threshold dose to cause hypothermia and the dose that would cause body temperature to decrease by 1°C. Both measures gave the progression of toxicity from least to most potent of methanol < ethanol < 2‐propanol < 1‐propanol < 2‐butanol < 1‐butanol. The effective dose of each alcohol was compared to its membrane/buffer partition coefficient (Pm/b), and there was a high inverse correla...
Ultrasound characterization of arterial wall structures based on integrated backscatter profiles

Studies suggest that the composition of atherosclerotic plaque in the carotid arteries is predictive of stroke risk. The goal of this investigation has been to explore how well the true integrated backscatter (IBS) from plaque regions can be measured non-invasively using ultrasound, based on which plaque composition may be inferred. To obtain the true arterial IBS non-invasively, the scattering and aberrating effect of the intervening tissue layers must be overcome. This is achieved by using the IBS from arterial blood as a reference backscatter, specifically the backscatter from a blood volume along the same scan line as and adjacent to the region of interest. The arterial blood IBS is obtained as an estimated mean of a stochastic process, after clutter removal. We have shown that the variance of the IBS estimate of the blood backscatter signal can be quantified and reduced to a tolerable level. The results are in the form of IBS profiles along the vessel. IBS profiles not normalized with the IBS of the blood-mimicking fluid have been measured for vessels phantom, with and without an intervening inhomogeneous medium; these results are contrasted with the corresponding normalized IBS profiles.
Spectroscopic system for direct lanthanide photoluminescence spectroscopy with nanomolar detection limits.

A new spectroscopic system for direct photoluminescence of lanthanide ions (Ln(III)) through electronic transitions within the 4fn manifold is described. The system is based on an injection seeded frequency tripled (λ = 355 nm) Nd:YAG pump laser coupled with a master oscillator power oscillator (MOPO). The MOPO delivers an average pulse energy of ∼60 mJ/pulse, is continuously tunable from 425 to 690 nm (Signal) and 735 to 1800 nm (Idler) with a linewidth of <0.2 cm−1, and has a pulse duration of 10–12 ns. Aqueous solutions containing two polyaminocarboxylate complexes, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) and diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA), and Ln3+ aqua ion for several lanthanides including Eu(III), Tb(III), Dy(III), and Sm(III)) are used as steady-state and time-resolved photoluminescence standards. The versatility of the instrument is demonstrated by excitation scans over a broad visible range for aqueous solutions of complexes of Eu(III), Dy(III), Sm(III), and Tb(III). The Eu(III) excitation band (7Fo→5Do) is recorded over a range of complex concentrations that are 1000–fold less than reported previously, including Eu(EDTA) (1.00 nM), Eu(DTPA) (1.00 nM), and Eu(III) aqua ion (50.0 nM). Emission spectra are recorded in the visible range for Ln(III) complexes at pH 6.5 and 1.00 mM. Excited-state lifetimes for the standards were constant as a function of concentration from 10.0 nM to 1.00 mM for Eu(EDTA) and Eu(DTPA) and from 100 nM to 1.00 mM for Eu(III) aqua ion. Photoluminescence lifetimes in H2O and D2O are recorded and used to calculate the number of bound water molecules for all complexes.
Instructional Technology and Molecular Visualization

The effect of intervening use of molecular visualization software was tested on 73 first-year general chemistry students. Pretests and posttests included both traditional multiple-choice questions and model-building activities. Overall students improved after working with the software, although students performed less well on the model-building portion of the evaluations. First semester and second semester students exhibit differences in abilities consistent with their different exposure to molecular geometry.
When workplace safety depends on behavior change: Topics for behavioral safety research

INTRODUCTION: Comprehensive interventions that address public-health concerns invariably include behavior-change strategies. In occupational safety and health, behavioral safety is an approach designed to improve safety performance directly through peer observations of safe behaviors, goal setting, performance feedback, and celebrations or incentives for reaching safety goals. Although the basic components of behavioral safety processes have been studied and widely documented, the current safety literature reveals several gaps in knowledge. These gaps are associated mostly with wide practice variations among the common process elements and uncertainty about the influence of organizational and other external factors. IMPACT TO INDUSTRY: A major objective of this paper was to highlight not only key topic areas that warrant further research, but also to propose a list of research questions that are tied to uncertainties about various intervention practices. If only a portion of these topic areas and research questions are addressed through systematic reviews, field interventions, surveys, and laboratory-based studies, then the knowledge gained will significantly improve the delivery and effectiveness of behavioral safety interventions and thus their impact on worker health and safety. Language: en
Anticipating the future high-tech competitiveness of nations: Indicators for twenty-eight countries☆

Abstract This article presents some of the major results obtained during the third phase of a continuing research effort to develop and implement national indicators of competitiveness in high technology industries. The first phase, begun in 1987, developed a conceptual model of the processes by which industrializing nations gain access to external technology and technical information, absorb that technology/information effectively, and institutionalize a science-based development and manufacturing capability leading to export-led growth in high technology products. Four “input” or leading indicators of a nation's future capacity (15-year time horizons) to compete in international markets in high technology products were developed, as were three “output” indicators of a nation's current international competitiveness. During this first phase, the seven indicators were applied to data for twenty countries representing a range of regions and extent of industrialization. The second phase used 1990 data on an expanded set of countries to examine in detail the indicators' reliability and validity. The third phase of indicators work (1992–1995): (1) developed seven indicators whose definitions were recommended in our 1991 final report to the Science Indicators Unit of the National Science Foundation, and (2) collected the necessary data (1993) and applied them to generate a set of indicators for 28 countries using these recommended formulations. This article focuses on the input indicators for the 28 countries and compares these 1993 results with those from 1990. We discuss the implications of these results for technology-based development theory and for development policy. A separate, companion article published elsewhere presents the output indicator results.
MALDI-TOF MS identification of anaerobic bacteria: assessment of pre-analytical variables and specimen preparation techniques

Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) has emerged as a tool for identifying clinically relevant anaerobes. We evaluated the analytical performance characteristics of the Bruker Microflex with Biotyper 3.0 software system for identification of anaerobes and examined the impact of direct formic acid (FA) treatment and other pre-analytical factors on MALDI-TOF MS performance. A collection of 101 anaerobic bacteria were evaluated, including Clostridium spp., Propionibacterium spp., Fusobacterium spp., Bacteroides spp., and other anaerobic bacterial of clinical relevance. The results of our study indicate that an on-target extraction with 100% FA improves the rate of accurate identification without introducing misidentification (P<0.05). In addition, we modify the reporting cutoffs for the Biotyper "score" yielding acceptable identification. We found that a score of ≥1.700 can maximize the rate of identification. Of interest, MALDI-TOF MS can correctly identify anaerobes grown in suboptimal conditions, such as on selective culture media and following oxygen exposure. In conclusion, we report on a number of simple and cost-effective pre- and post-analytical modifications could enhance MALDI-TOF MS identification for anaerobic bacteria.
The behavior of the vestibulo-ocular reflex at high velocities of head rotation.

The behavior of the vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) during both passive and active, high-velocity head movements was recorded in three normal subjects. We found that the VOR is compensatory for head velocities up to at least 350 deg·s−1, during both active and passive head rotation provided there is an attempt to visualize a real (or imagined) stationary object in space. Slow phase velocities, however, could reach values as high as 500 deg·s−1. Furthermore, during passive rotation at high velocities, the quick phase trajectory is modified — indicating an interaction between the slow phase and quick phase eye velocity commands.
Black Walden: Slavery and its Aftermath in Concord, Massachusetts

Black Walden: Slavery and its Aftermath in Concord, Massachusetts, by Elise Lemire, Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania Press, 2009, 232 pp., $29.95/£19.50, ISBN 978-0-8122-4180-8 This is a st...
Racial and ethnic disparities in reproductive endocrinology and infertility

This review examines racial and ethnic disparities in reproductive health focusing on 3 key topical areas: (1) infertility, (2) polycystic ovarian syndrome, and (3) reproductive aging. We report that an increasing body of knowledge points toward reduced infertility access and in vitro fertilization outcomes in Asian, black, and Hispanic women compared with white women. There are differences in the reproductive and metabolic phenotypes of Asian, black, and Hispanic women presenting with the polycystic ovarian syndrome compared with white women. Reproductive aging differences appear to exist in all racial and ethnic groups. Awareness of racial and ethnic disparities is critical to a complete understanding of the health issues facing women of reproductive age.
Compressed sensing in optical coherence tomography

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a valuable technique for non-invasive imaging in medicine and biology. In some applications, conventional time-domain OCT (TD-OCT) has been supplanted by spectral-domain OCT (SD-OCT); the latter uses an apparatus that contains no moving parts and can achieve orders of magnitude faster imaging. This enhancement comes at a cost, however: the CCD array detectors required for SD-OCT are more expensive than the simple photodiodes used in TD-OCT. We explore the possibility of extending the notion of compressed sensing (CS) to SD-OCT, potentially allowing the use of smaller detector arrays. CS techniques can yield accurate signal reconstructions from highly undersampled measurements, i.e., data sampled significantly below the Nyquist rate. The Fourier relationship between the measurements and the desired signal in SD-OCT makes it a good candidate for compressed sensing. Fourier measurements represent good linear projections for the compressed sensing of sparse point-like signals by random under-sampling of frequency-domain data, and axial scans in OCT are generally sparse in nature. This sparsity property has recently been used for the reduction of speckle in OCT images. We have carried out simulations to demonstrate the usefulness of compressed sensing for simplifying detection schemes in SD-OCT. In particular, we demonstrate the reconstruction of a sparse axial scan by using fewer than 10 percent of the measurements required by standard SD-OCT.