cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of Age-Hardening on Long-Term Aged Asphalt Binders

Abstract Oxygen reacts with asphalt binders over time. This time-dependent reaction generates aged asphalt binder that is vulnerable to diseases (i.e., fatigue cracking) in the service stage. Investigation into oxidative aging and its impact on asphalt binder property improve the evaluation of asphalt concrete performance. This paper studied the long-term oxidative aging of unmodified, styrene–butadienestyrene (SBS)- modified and rubber-modified binders. Chemical changes in the binder were tracked by carbonyl area index measured with Fourier-transform infrared reflection spectrometer. The SBS- and rubber-modified binders showed a fewer increase of carbonyl area index than unmodified binders from the same refinery after pressure aging vessel (PAV) protocol. This study also evaluated the change in the binder viscosity that was calculated from dynamic moduli and phase angles. One previous study has proposed a generic hardening susceptibility (GHS) model to describe the linear correlation between the change of logarithmic viscosity and the change of carbonyl area index. This study modified the preliminary GHS model to improve the prediction accuracy of the long-term aged binder viscosity based on the linearity principle between total logarithmic viscosity and carbonyl area index in a wide range of testing temperatures and loading frequencies (between 20 °C and 85 °C and frequencies between 0.0159 Hz and 3.99 Hz). This linearity defines a GHS parameter that can indicate the age-hardening of the binder viscosity. Comparison between model predicted viscosities and measured viscosities shows that the GHS model can predict the viscosity of PAV-aged binder at the investigated temperature and frequency using carbonyl area index and GHS parameter.
Power in International Human Rights

There are immediate difficulties presented by human rights internationally, such as how to conceptualize and enforce them. Upon both a conceptual analysis of human rights and a review of their usage in practical application, the noble picture painted by human rights is unfortunately sullied. By using a three-dimensional view of power, I argue that the very concept of human rights is warped by power relations and ultimately reflective of the imbalances between nations. Furthermore, I reveal a distinction between the influence of political interests and of business interests in the application of human rights. Ultimately, even human rights, a concept that is designed to be equal, all too often becomes a tool to produce inequalities and domination.
A Bio-inspired Wing Driver for the Study of Insect-Scale Flight Aerodynamics

Insect flight studies have advanced our understanding of flight biomechanics and inspire micro-aerial vehicle (MAV) technologies. A challenge of centimeter or millimeter scale flight is that small forces are produced from relatively complex wing motions. We describe the design and fabrication of a millimeter-sized wing flapping mechanism to simultaneously control pitch and stroke of insect and MAV wings. Using micro-fabrication techniques we construct this wing driver and observe that wing motion matches the natural degrees of freedom of insect wings. We actuate wing stroke-position and pitch in open-loop at frequencies relevant to Dipteran and Hymenopteran flight (100-200Hz) and describe the advancements and limitations of this system.
A Critique of the PRAM Model of Computation

In theoretical computer science, parallel computation has been traditionally studied by investigating time, processor, and space complexities of various problems in a model of parallel random access machine called the PRAM model. The PRAM model assumes that there are some number of processors and a global memory into which the data is stored. In one step, a processor can read or write one word from the global memory into its registers or it can perform some simple operations such as adding two numbers or comparing them. Unfortunately, this model is too simplistic and does not capture some important aspects of parallel computation that are observed in practice. In particular, real computers are connected to each other by an interconnection network.; This imposes the following constraints that are not taken into account by the PRAM model: communication latency and local versus global communication, block transfers, memory and network conflicts, and the bandwidth of the interconnection network. We give below a brief description of these constraints and indicate some recent work that has been done in order to obtain more realistic models of parallel computation.
Corruption Issues in State and Local Politics: Is Political Culture a Deep Determinant?

To what extent do variations in political culture influence the number and types of corruption issues arising in U.S. states? Drawing upon Daniel Elazar’s enduring typology of American political subcultures — Moralistic, Individualistic, and Traditionalistic — and using a new Corruption Reflections Index (CRI) based upon news reports of corruption within states, we find that political culture remains a “sticky” deep determinant of the distribution of corruption issues. Unlike previous empirical studies we do not treat political culture as a set of consensus values, but rather emphasize tensions that can arise when multiple political cultures coexist in a state. Thus, we show that certain combinations of political cultures tend to produce more numerous news reports of corruption issues. Those effects, in turn, depend in part upon the overall frequency of corrupt events and related controversies within the states: those in the higher quantiles of the CRI exhibit distinctive relationships between mixes of political culture and CRI scores. Our findings are of interest not only with respect to the enduring role of culture itself, but also in terms of how it might help us understand the growing number of actions that are legal, yet still seen by many as corrupt.
Level of the conus in pediatric patients with skeletal dysplasia.

Object Skeletal dysplasias are a heterogeneous group of disorders that affect bone development and can result in reduced vertebral body growth and short stature. The level of the conus medullaris is unknown in this population. The purpose of this review was to determine the level of the conus in a population of pediatric patients with skeletal dysplasia. Methods A retrospective chart review of a 7-year period was undertaken at a tertiary care pediatric hospital to identify patients in whom skeletal dysplasia had been diagnosed. Radiographs and MR imaging studies were evaluated to discern the level of the conus with respect to the bony vertebral column. Results Four hundred sixty-seven patients with skeletal dysplasia were identified. One hundred eleven patients had quality MR images. Forty-seven different skeletal dysplasias were observed. The mean conus level was found at the L-1 vertebral body. No difference was noted with respect to the age of the patients or the type of skeletal dysplasia. Two patient...
Water and membrane treatment

Water treatment in membrane plants implies pre-treatment and often post-treatment also. Pre-treatment is mandatory because membrane systems are susceptible to fouling. The extent of physical and chemical pre-treatment depends on the quality of raw water, e.g. well water typically require minimum pre-treatment, whereas wastewaters require extensive pre-treatment. Both physical and chemical pre-treatment processes and technologies are discussed in detail. Post-treatment technologies are also detailed. Post-treatment is required depending on the application of product water at the point-of-use, e.g. RO permeate is remineralised prior to distribution for potable use. Conversely, RO product water is polished to further demineralise it for applications that require high-purity water (pharmaceuticals) or ultrapure water (microelectronics). Membrane scaling/fouling, process design guidelines to minimise fouling and membrane cleaning are discussed in detail. This chapter describes in detail membrane system designs including important design features and system controls.
Barriers to Entry

Different versions of barriers to entry have been defined in the economics literature. These are reviewed and the policy implications are discussed. Keywords: entry; market structure; economic profit
Abstract 12493: Impact of Ticagrelor Re-Load on Pharmacodynamic Profiles in Patients on Maintenance Ticagrelor Therapy

Background: Although ticagrelor is associated with superior clinical efficacy than clopidogrel, ticagrelor-treated patients may still require subsequent revascularization procedures, either due to acute or chronic progression of atherosclerotic disease. However, the optimal dosing regimen of ticagrelor to be administered among patients already on maintenance therapy has been questioned. Methods: This was a prospective, randomized, double-blind study assessing the pharmacodynamic (PD) effects of two dosing regimens of ticagrelor among patients already on standard aspirin (81 mg/qd) and ticagrelor (90 mg bid) maintenance therapy for at least 14 days. Patients were randomized to either 90 mg (MD group; one 90 mg tablet and one matching placebo) or 180 mg (LD group; two 90 mg tablets). Study treatment was administered 12 hours after the last maintenance dose (timing of trough PD level). PD assessments were conducted at 3 time-points (baseline, 1 hour and 4 hours after administration of randomized treatment) u...
Effectiveness of enhanced external counterpulsation in patients with left main disease and angina.

Background: Enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) is a noninvasive device that uses three pairs of sequentially inflated pneumatic cuffs applied to the lower extremities and synchronized with the heart beat to provide diastolic augmentation, increase coronary blood pressure and flow, venous return and cardiac output, and decrease afterload. Hypothesis: This study examines the safety and effectiveness of EECP therapy in patients with significant left main coronary artery disease (LMD). Methods: In all, 2,861 patients enrolled in the International EECP Patient Registry (IEPR) were divided into three groups, those without LMD (n = 2,377), those with LMD and prior CABG (n = 431), and those with unbypassed LMD (n = 53). Results: Patients with LMD, with or without prior CABG, were significantly more likely to have triple-vessel disease (98.1 and 88.7%, respectively) than patients without LMD (41.9%). Post-EECP, 74% without LMD, 75% with LMD with prior CABG, and 65% with unbypassed LMD improved their Canadian Cardiovascular Society (CCS) angina by at least one class (p = NS). There were no differences in the mean decrease in weekly angina episodes (7.1 vs. 8.0 vs. 7.6) and in the mean frequency of weekly nitroglycerinuse (6.6 vs. 8.1 vs. 8.9). At 6-month follow-up, the CCS class improved further in all three groups, and there was a further reduction in mean weekly angina episodes (4.7 vs. 4.6 vs. 5.3) and nitroglycerinuse (6.5 vs. 6.8 vs. 8.2). Kaplan-Meier life table analysis 8 months after starting EECP demonstrated a major cardiovascular event rate of 11.2% in patients without LMD, 15.6% in LMD with CABG, and 24.3% in LMD without prior CABG. Late mortality in unbypassed LMD was 13.2% (confidence interval [CI] 3.3-23.1) versus 4.8% (CI 2.7-7.1) in LMD with CABG, and 2.8% (CI 2.1-3.5) without LMD (p = 0.0039 by log-rank test). Conclusion: Enhanced external counterpulsation is equally effective in relieving angina in patients with or without LMD. However, the significantly increased late mortality in patients with LMD without prior CABG suggests that early revascularization should be considered in these patients.
Image-guided anatomical and morphometric study of supraorbital and transorbital minicraniotomies to the sellar and perisellar regions: comparison with standard techniques.

Object Minimally invasive approaches have been proposed for the treatment of anterior cranial base pathology. Whereas earlier studies have quantified surgical exposure by referring to the opening on the surface, this cadaveric morphometric study redefines the concept of working area by examining the deep exposures afforded by several different approaches. Specifically, the authors systematically quantify and compare the operative exposure afforded by the pterional, supraorbital, and transorbital keyhole approaches to the sellar, suprasellar, and perisellar regions, including the anterior communicating artery complex. Methods Pterional, supraorbital, and transorbital approaches were sequentially performed in 5 embalmed cadaveric heads on both sides. Preoperative and postoperative CT scans were obtained for frameless stereotactic navigation and measurements. Using reproducible anatomical landmarks, 6 triangles were defined to systematically measure the working area, depth of the surgical window, and angle o...
Scientific Thinking and Science Literacy

What is developing when children learn science? Images of science and of development inform this inquiry and cannot be separated from its conduct or conclusions. Accordingly, we first contrast three images of science: science-as-logic, science-as-theory, and science-as-practice, and explore their associations with perspectives on the nature and mechanisms of development. We turn then to classroom design studies as crucibles for development and as test beds for each theoretical perspective. Although all perspectives seek to change educational practice in ways that foster the development of scientific thinking, each exemplifies a somewhat different sense of “what develops.” We compare the findings emerging from seven extended programs of classroom research with an eye toward developing a wider perspective on relations between development and elements of the designed environment (e.g., representational systems, discourse patterns, and the nature of the classroom community). We call for comparative analysis to better understand the relation between forms of scientific literacy (e.g., general versus professional practice) and elements of the educational design. We conclude with a personal perspective on the challenges and opportunities of design studies for informing the study of the growth of scientific reasoning and literacy. We are especially mindful of the need to explain phenomena that are contingent, emergent, and ineluctably historical. Keywords: conceptual development in science; learning and development; science learningxs; scientific literacy; scientific thinking
Disproportion at the pelvic outlet incident to forceps delivery

Abstract 1. 1. Attention is called to the fact that there is a high fetal mortality incident to forceps delivery in funnel pelves. 2. 2. A study of the mechanism of labor in funnel pelves is presented which indicates that the obstruction encountered in forceps delivery is usually due not to preexistent disproportion, but to disproportion resulting from deflexion incident to forceps traction. 3. 3. Deflexion is particularly likely to result in disproportion when there is a coexistent contraction in the sacropubic diameter. 4. 4. The present study substantiates the view long entertained that forceps delivery is usually contraindicated in funnel pelves.
Evaluation of Moduli Backcalculation Programs for Low-Volume Roads

At the present time, numerous computer programs are available for backcalculating layer elastic moduli using deflection basins obtained by nondestructive testing. These programs usually utilize both a forward calculation and a backcalculation scheme. This paper presents the results of a study made of several of these computer codes with deflection basins obtained from several low-volume (surface-treated) road sections using a falling weight deflectometer (FWD). A nonlinear finite-element program (ILLIPAVE) was first used to backcalculate the layer moduli of the surface-treated pavement sections using FWD deflection basins by the trial-and-error approach. A pavement dynamic cone penetrometer (PDCP) was also used (in situ) to measure the layer moduli. Several backcalculation programs, namely, BISDEF, CHEVDEF, ELSDEF, ISSEM4, MODCOMP2, LOADRATE, and MODULUS then were used to backcalculate the layer moduli. The forward calculation schemes considered include: BISAR, CHEVRON, ELSYM5, NELAPAV, and ELMOD as well as ILLIPAVE. All of these programs, including ILLIPAVE, are microcomputer based. The paper also includes an example problem which involves backcalculating the layer moduli of a 30.48-m (100-ft) stretch of a typical farm-to-market road in which deflection basins were taken at one-foot spacings.
Effects of a strongly interacting Higgs sector on gamma gamma -->WL+WL-,ZL0ZL0 scattering.

We study the effects of a strongly interacting Higgs sector on the amplitudes for $\ensuremath{\gamma}\ensuremath{\gamma}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{W}_{L}^{+}{W}_{L}^{\ensuremath{-}}$, ${Z}_{L}^{0}{Z}_{L}^{0}$ by unitarizing the ${W}_{L}^{+}{W}_{L}^{\ensuremath{-}}$, ${Z}_{L}^{0}{Z}_{L}^{0}$, $\ensuremath{\gamma}\ensuremath{\gamma}$ system using the $K$-matrix technique. Unitarization produces substantial corrections to the cross sections for gauge boson pair production by photon fusion when ${m}_{H}\ensuremath{\gtrsim}5\ensuremath{-}10$ TeV. We also investigate the extent to which including transverse $W$'s modifies the unitarized $\ensuremath{\gamma}\ensuremath{\gamma}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{W}_{L}^{+}{W}_{L}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ amplitude.
Galton, Stein and empirical Bayes: artefacts and connections

The problem of fallible data ('errors-in-variables') is traced back to Galton's original discovery of 'regression'. Galton's regression is nothing more than the statistical artefact associated with the well known bias of least squares. The interconnections of Galtonts regression, errors-in-variables, Stein-rule estimation, psychometric test theory, least squares, 'permanent income hypothesis', reliability and empirical Bayes are investigated. This essay discusses how a hybrid solution for fallible observation, Stein-rule least squares, can help to improve our understanding of diverse statistical approaches and problems and why the reliability of our data needs to be explicitly incorporated into our empirical estimates.
Transfer function evaluation in MRAC for synchronous machine speed

In this paper, model reference adaptive control (MRAC) with adjustable reference model parameters is presented. The adjustable MRAC can force the controlled plant to follow as closely as possible a desired reference model whose parameters can be adjusted online through fuzzy logic easily and properly, ensuring that the error between the outputs of the real system and the reference model approaches zero. This control design is applied to a synchronous machine to control its speed. The effectiveness of the proposed design is confirmed through numerical simulation.
The dawn of a new era of metabolic systems analysis

Novel high-throughput techniques are capable of producing dense time series of many simultaneous in vivo measurements of the expression of genes, concentrations of metabolites, the prevalence and activation states of proteins, and of other biomarkers characterizing the physiological state of a cell or organism. These data contain enormous information, much of which, however, is not explicit but must be extracted with mathematical and computational means. The magnitude of high-throughput data generation and the potential and demands that these data entail will dramatically affect strategies for modeling, analyzing, and optimizing pathways and usher in a new era of metabolic systems analysis.
Cardiac Memory in Canine Atrium Identification and Implications

Background —Memory is a diverse biological phenomenon whose importance in the ventricle has been demonstrated. We hypothesized its occurrence in the atrium, contributing to the modulation of cardiac rhythm. Methods and Results —We analyzed P and Ta waves in conscious chronically instrumented dogs with complete heart block. Animals were atrioventricularly sequentially paced at 5% greater than the sinus rate from the lateral right atrium (RA) during control, followed by 2 periods of 1-hour test pacing at 50% greater than the sinus rate, or by equivalent test pacing from the left atrial appendage (LAA) at 5% or 50% greater than the sinus rate. Recovery RA pacing periods of 20- and 30-minute duration, respectively, succeeded each test pacing period. RA test pacing at either rate did not affect the variables measured, but changing the pacing site from RA to LAA altered the P and Ta waves. Displacement of the spatial atrial gradient vector occurred during recovery from LAA pacing, was more marked at rapid pacing rates, and manifested accumulation and resolution consistent with cardiac memory. Concurrently, the right effective refractory period decreased. Conclusions —Memory is demonstrable in canine atrium, showing rapid onset, accumulation during successive pacing periods, and resolution on cessation of pacing. Given its association with a reduced effective refractory period, it may contribute to the substrate for atrial arrhythmias.
Surface Water Concentrations and Loading Budgets of Pharmaceuticals and Other Domestic-Use Chemicals in an Urban Watershed (Washington, DC, USA)

Pharmaceuticals and domestic-use chemicals (PDCs) are classes of emerging chemical contaminants thought to enter the aquatic environment primarily through wastewater treatment plant (WTP) discharges. The intent of this study was to quantify loadings of PDCs in an urban watershed. The watershed has two major branches but with wastewater discharge occurring in only one of the two major branches. Surface water from the Anacostia River (Washington, DC) was collected in base-flow and storm-flow regimes. Surface water was filtered to separate water and particles, and the PDCs were extracted from water with Oasis HLB solid-phase extraction cartridges and extracted from sediments using microwave-assisted extraction. The PDCs in the extracts were quantified using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry in the form of the trimethylsilyl ether derivatives. The most frequently detected PDC with the highest concentration was bisphenol-A in both branches of the Anacostia River watershed and the least frequently detected PDC was diclofenac. The overall median concentrations for all measured PDCs in surface water ranged from nondetectable to 54.9 ng/l. Alternatively, in the collected WTPs samples, naproxen was observed, with the highest concentration and the median concentrations in WTP effluent ranging from nondetectable to 276 ng/l. Estimates of PDC loadings for February 2006 from WTP effluent showed that <2% of the downstream load in the NE Branch was derived from WTP discharge. PDC sources other than WTP effluent appear to influence surface water concentrations in the urban Anacostia River watershed.
Clarifying reversible efficiency misconceptions of high temperature fuel cells in relation to reversible heat engines

Abstract High temperature fuel cells are promising energy conversion devices. Optimal design and analysis require a thorough understanding of their second law limitations. Fuel cells do not produce work from thermal energy as do heat engines. This has led to the provocative statement that fuel cells are ‘non-Carnot limited’. This label easily, yet erroneously, connotes that an ideal fuel cell is superior to an externally reversible heat engine. Clarity is achieved by analyzing the corresponding systems of these technologies. Conventional reversible fuel cell efficiency is also addressed, and a modified relation is developed. It accounts for the needed coupling of high temperature fuel cells with reversible heat engines, in order for maximum work to be produced.
Business Improvement Districts and the Management of Innovation

Innovation is a major theme in contemporary American public administration. Innovative structures are assumed to change both service delivery and managerial behavior. This assumption is currently being tested in many policy areas but perhaps nowhere better than in the management of a recent innovation in public administration: the business improvement district (BID). To discover the relationship between the innovative structure of BIDs and the adoption of an entrepreneurial approach to management, a national survey of BID managers was undertaken. As expected, the survey found that almost half of the BID executives emphasized entrepreneurial activities. But, unexpectedly, the other half were less interested in finding new ways of doing things and more focused on either local political problems or day-to-day supervisory tasks. The conclusion is that innovative structures provide managers with the opportunity to adopt an entrepreneurial approach to management but also with the possibility of not following su...
Economic Analysis of Conflict

Living beings everywhere compete for the means of existence. Competition takes the more intense form we call conflict when, instead of merely using available resources for productive or consumptive purposes, contenders try to hamper, disable, or destroy rivals. Conflict theory has to deal not only with the standard technology of production, but also with the technology of struggle.... Exchange theory and conflict theory constitute two coequal branches of economic analysis: the former based upon two-sided advantage and contract, the latter upon one-sided advantage and struggle.
Synthesis of cancer-associated glycoantigens: stage-specific embryonic antigen 3 (SSEA-3).

The synthesis of the tumor-associated carbohydrate antigens SSEA-3 and Gb3 in a semi-convergent fashion using building blocks bearing a S-thiazolinyl (STaz) moiety is reported. Complete stereoselective control of a difficult α-(1→4)-galactosylation and high overall yields were achieved.
A Novel Lipase Belonging to the Hormone-sensitive Lipase Family Induced under Starvation to Utilize Stored Triacylglycerol in Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Twenty-four putative lipase/esterase genes of Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv were expressed in Escherichia coli and assayed for long-chain triacylglycerol (TG) hydrolase activity. We show here that the product of Rv3097c (LIPY) hydrolyzed long-chain TG with high specific activity. LIPY was purified after solubilization from inclusion bodies; the enzyme displayed a K(m) of 7.57 mM and V(max) of 653.3 nmol/mg/min for triolein with optimal activity between pH 8.0 and pH 9.0. LIPY was inhibited by active serine-directed reagents and was inactivated at temperatures above 37 degrees C. Detergents above their critical micellar concentrations and divalent cations inhibited the activity of LIPY. The N-terminal half of LIPY showed sequence homology with the proline glutamic acid-polymorphic GC-rich repetitive sequences protein family of M. tuberculosis. The C-terminal half of LIPY possesses amino acid domains homologous with the hormone-sensitive lipase family and the conserved active-site motif GDSAG. LIPY shows low sequence identity with the annotated lipases of M. tuberculosis and with other bacterial lipases. We demonstrate that hypoxic cultures of M. tuberculosis, which had accumulated TG, hydrolyzed the stored TG when subjected to nutrient starvation. Under such conditions, lipY was induced more than all lipases, suggesting a central role for it in the utilization of stored TG. We also show that in the lipY-deficient mutant, TG utilization was drastically decreased under nutrient-deprived condition. Thus, LIPY may be responsible for the utilization of stored TG during dormancy and reactivation of the pathogen.
Dosimetric and toxicity comparison between prone and supine position IMRT for endometrial cancer.

Purpose: To determine the dosimetric and toxicity differences between prone and supine position intensity-modulate radiotherapy in endometrial cancer patients treated with adjuvant radiotherapy. Methods: Forty-seven consecutive endometrial cancer patients treated with adjuvant RT were analyzed. Of these, 21 were treated in prone position and 26 in the supine position. Dose–volume histograms for normal tissue structures and targets were compared between the two groups. Acute and chronic toxicity were also compared between the cohorts. Results: The percentage of volume receiving 10, 20, 30, 40, 45, and 50 Gy for small bowel was 89.5%, 69%, 33%, 12.2%, 5%, and 0% in the prone group and 87.5%, 62.7%, 26.4%, 8%, 4.3%, and 0% in the supine group, respectively. The difference was not statistically significant. The dose–volume histograms for bladder and rectum were also comparable, except for a slightly greater percentage of volume receiving 10 Gy (1.5%) and 20 Gy (5%) for the rectum in the prone group. Acute small bowel toxicities were Grade 1 in 7 patients and Grade 2 in 14 patients in the prone group vs. Grade 1 in 6 patients and Grade 2 in 19 patients in the supine group. Chronic toxicity was Grade 1 in 7 patients and Grade 3 in 1 patient in the prone group and Grade 1 in 5 patients in the supine group. Conclusion: These preliminary results suggest that no difference exists in the dose to the normal tissue and toxicity between prone and supine intensity-modulated radiotherapy for endometrial cancer. Longer follow-up and more outcome studies are needed to determine whether any differences exist between the two approaches.
Potential of Nanocrystalline Cellulose–Fibrin Nanocomposites for Artificial Vascular Graft Applications

The potential of synthesizing new nanocomposites from nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) and fibrin for small-diameter replacement vascular graft (SDRVG) application was demonstrated. Periodate oxidation of NCC can augment reactive carbonyl groups on NCC and facilitate its cross-linking with fibrin. NCC-fibrin nanocomposites were synthesized, composed of homogeneously dispersed oxidized NCC (ONCC) in a fibrin matrix, with fibrin providing elasticity and ONCC providing strength. The maximum strength and elongation of the nanocomposites were determined by Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and compared with a native blood vessel. The manipulation of degree of oxidation of NCC and the NCC-to-fibrin ratio resulted in the variation of strength and elongation of the nanocomposites, indicating that the nanocomposites can be tailored to conform to the diverse mechanical properties of native blood vessels. A mechanistic understanding of the molecular interactions of ONCC and fibrin was illustrated. This study established ...
Stereoelectronic effects in the conformation and hydrolysis of epimeric(4aα, 8aβ)-hexahydrobenzo-2-(p-nitrophenoxy)-2-oxo-1,3,2λ5-dioxaphosphorinanes and 4aα-methyl-8aβ-pentahydrobenzo-2-(p-nitrophenoxy)-2-oxo-1,3,2λ5-dioxaphosphorinanes

The epimeric (4aα, 8aβ)-hexahydrobenzo-2-(p-nitrophenoxy)-2-oxo- 1,3,2 λ5-dioxaphosphorinanes 1a, 1b (axial and pseudo-equatorial p-nitrophenoxy group) and 4aα-methyl-8aβ-pentahydrobenzo-2-(p-nitrophenoxy)-2-oxo-1,3,2λ5-dioxaphosphorinanes 2a,2b (axial and equatorial p-nitrophenoxy group) were hydrolyzed in 12% methanol/water. For axial isomers 1a and 2a, the methyl group at the trans-ring junction did not affect the rate of hydrolysis. The methyl substitution of the equatorial isomer 2b, on the other hand, decreased the hydrolysis rate by 30% as compared to 1b. For both epimers, the equatorial compounds (as viewed in a chair conformation) hydrolyzed faster than the corresponding axial isomer. These results are consistent with the idea that the axial isomers react via a chair conformation and the equatorial isomer 1b reacts via a twistboat conformation with the leavinq group in a pseudo-axial position.
Clozapine-induced dopamine release in the medial prefrontal cortex is augmented by a moderate concentration of locally administered tyrosine but attenuated by high tyrosine concentrations or by tyrosine depletion.

Rationale Tyrosine availability can affect indices of dopamine (DA) release in activated central DA systems. There are, however, inconsistencies between studies. One possibility is that the relationship between tyrosine availability and DA release is non-linear.
Notch regulates numb: integration of conditional and autonomous cell fate specification

The Notch cell-cell signaling pathway is used extensively in cell fate specification during metazoan development. In many cell lineages, the conditional role of Notch signaling is integrated with the autonomous action of the Numb protein, a Notch pathway antagonist. During Drosophila sensory bristle development, precursor cells segregate Numb asymmetrically to one of their progeny cells, rendering it unresponsive to reciprocal Notch signaling between the two daughters. This ensures that one daughter adopts a Notch-independent, and the other a Notch-dependent, cell fate. In a genome-wide survey for potential Notch pathway targets, the second intron of the numb gene was found to contain a statistically significant cluster of binding sites for Suppressor of Hairless, the transducing transcription factor for the pathway. We show that this region contains a Notch-responsive cis-regulatory module that directs numb transcription in the pIIa and pIIIb cells of the bristle lineage. These are the two precursor cells that do not inherit Numb, yet must make Numb to segregate to one daughter during their own division. Our findings reveal a new mechanism by which conditional and autonomous modes of fate specification are integrated within cell lineages.
Effects on food intake, somatic growth and dentinogenesis in immature male albino rats of a low dose of propylthiouracil without, and together with, desiccated thyroid.

Abstract Four groups of twelve male weanling albino rats were vitally stained at age 21 days, then fed for 20 days as follows: 1, PTU diet ad libitum (0.2 mg propylthiouracil/g food); TPTU diet, pairfed with 1 (0.2 mg desiccated thyroid/g PTU diet); 3, R diet (Purina chow), pairfed with 1; 4, TPTU diet ad libitum . The findings showed that the PTU diet resulted in increased food intake and body weight, but, the PTU diet depressed growth of salivary and adrenal glands, and testes. The addition of desiccated thyroid to the PTU diet counteracted these effects of the PTU (group 2). The rats which ate TPTU diet ad libitum consumed the most food and had the lowest ratio weight gain/food intake, and the heaviest eyes. The goitrogen alone or together with the desiccated thyroid had no effect on dentinogenesis as measured on tracings of comparable, central undemineralized sections (95–105 μ thick), cut mesio-distally of the mandibular first molars.
Matching- and delayed matching-to-sample performance as measures of visual processing, selective attention, and memory in aging and alcoholic individuals.

Abstract Visual processing time, selective attention to visual cues, and memory for those cues were measured in groups of normal and alcoholic research participants within three different age ranges: young (35–45 yr), middle (46–59 yr) and older (60–70 yr). Performance across groups also was compared to that of alcoholic Korsakoff patients, known to have processing and attentional abnormalities. The matching-to-sample task was employed in which participants are required to match one of two laterally located response choices with a stimulus displayed in the center between them. Duration of the center sample stimulus varied between 20 and 500 msec, and delay between sample offset and response-choice (match) onset varied between 0 and 30 sec. Complexity of the sample stimulus also was varied, containing one or two dimensions (color and/or form). Levels of performance for all groups improved with increased sample stimulus durations, and were negatively related to a stimulus complexity and length of delay. Significant group differences in accuracy were evident with short stimulus exposures; the Korsakoff and older groups made more errors than the younger groups. Similarly, response times were influenced differentially by stimulus duration, stimulus complexity, and the delay between sample and matching stimuli, with young participants (alcoholics and controls) responding fastest. Results emphasize the contribution of processing deficits to other cognitive impairments in aging and alcoholic individuals, as well as the relative independence of aging and alcoholism.
Status assessment in acid-sensitive and non-acid-sensitive Maryland coastal planin streams using an integrated biological, chemical, physical, and land-use approach

This study was designed to: (1) evaluate the ecological status of acid-sensitive and non acid-sensitive Maryland coastal plain streams using biological (Index of biotic Integrity [IBI] for fish), chemical and physical habitat conditions; (2) determine if a low IBI for coastal plain stream fish can be related to stream sensitivity from acidic inputs and (3) correlate land use activities and watershed size in the coastal plain streams with biological, chemical and physical conditions. IBI values obtained using 12 community metrics for Maryland coastal plain stream fish demonstrated that there were no significant differences in these values when acid-sensitive and non-acid-sensitive streams were compared. However, other complementary data in acid-sensitive streams such as absence of the acid-sensitive species, blacknose dace and higher numbers and biomass of tolerant species suggested that these streams may be impacted. IBI values were also found to be negatively correlated with various trace metals in acid-sensitive streams but not in non-acid-sensitive areas. Chemical conditions such as trace metals and nutrients were associated with land use activities. Highest concentrations of trace metals (chromium, nickel, and cadmium) were found in streams with the highest percentage of low residential housing. Nitrate concentrations were significantly higher in streams found in agricultural areas than in forested areas. Agriculturally dominated streams with highest nitrate concentrations (> 10 mg l-1) also contained the highest percentage of livestock feeding operations. The mean IBI score for streams draining agricultural land was higher than the mean value for forested streams when all streams were compared. However, when several streams that were only marginally forested (< 50%) were removed from the analysis, the IBI scores did not differ significantly by land use. Two physical habitat indices exhibited a strong associated with each other. Each habitat index also correlated with IBI values.
Hepatocyte Death: A Clear and Present Danger

The hepatocyte is especially vulnerable to injury due to its central role in xenobiotic metabolism including drugs and alcohol, participation in lipid and fatty acid metabolism, its unique role in ...
Corticospinal responses to electrical stimulation of motor cortex in the rat

Direct and indirect corticospinal responses to electrical stimulation of motor cortex were identified in urethane-anesthetized rats. 'Killed-end' recordings were taken from the corticospinal tract at the level of the cervical cord (C1-C2) and from the medullary pyramid. The identities of direct (D) and indirect (I) corticospinal responses were confirmed by: (1) removing motor cortex to eliminate I activity, and (2) pharmacologically increasing neocortical excitability, prior to any lesions, to increase I activity. Our data indicate that the conduction velocity of the fastest corticospinal fibers is approximately 18 m/s. Our identification of the components of the corticospinal response will permit the interpretation of the more complicated surface or 'non-killed-end' depth recordings which have shown particular utility in evaluating spinal cord damage.
Congenital Heart Disease with Septal Defects in which Paradoxical Brain Abscess Causes Death

The presence of septal defects in congenital heart disease makes for a direct shunting of particulate matter from the venous to the arterial side of the circulation. In reviewing the literature we have been surprised to find that this phenomenon, with resultant brain abscess, has been second only to bacterial endocarditis as a septic cause of death. The subject deserves attention from the view-point of early diagnosis and cure, since the reported mortality has been almost 100 per cent.
Investigation of coincident site lattice boundary criteria in Cu thin films

A statistical investigation of the coincident site lattice (CSL) Σ=3 boundaries was performed on a Cu thin film sample. The criteria used to judge whether a given boundary is a CSL boundary were evaluated. The misorientation criterion, i.e., how near a given boundary misorientation must lie to an ideal CSL misorientation, was addressed. The results showed that the amount of allowed deviation has little impact on the CSL distribution (within the range of published values for the deviation tolerance). The second criterion addressed was the alignment of the boundary plane with coherent planes in the adjoining grains. Because the measurements were made on single section planes, the orientation of a boundary plane could not be fully measured. Rather, only the orientation of the trace of a boundary plane could be measured. The deviation of the alignment of the boundary traces and the corresponding coherent plane traces were measured. The measurements showed that the choice of a tolerance for the allowed trace deviation was significant.
Detection of C‐nitroso dimer formation by field desorption mass spectrometry

Field desorption mass spectrometry is shown to be a useful technique for observing dimer formation in C-nitroso compounds. Mixed dimer formation (RN2O2R′) is shown to be readily observed by field desorption mass spectrometry.
Gain-free square root information filtering using the spectral decomposition

A new square root state estimation algorithm is introduced, that operates in the information mode in both the time and the measurement update stages. The algorithm, called the V-Lambda filter, is based on the spectral decomposition of the covariance matrix into a V-Lambda-V exp T form, where V is the matrix whose columns are the eigenvectors of the covariance matrix, and Lambda is the diagonal matrix of its eigenvalues. The algorithm updates a normalized state estimate along with the information matrix square root factors, thus doing away with the gain computation. Both stages of the filter constitute equation-free algorithms and thus ideally suit parallel processing implementations. Singular value decomposition is used as a sole computational tool in both the eigenvectors/eigenvalues and the normalized state estimate updates, rendering a complete estimation scheme with exceptional numerical stability and precision. The distinct square root nature of the new algorithm is demonstrated numerically via a typical example, which compares the performance of the V-Lambda filter to that of the corresponding conventional Kalman algorithm. Belonging to the class of square root estimation algorithms, the new filter has all the virtues of a true square root routine. However, the new formulation also provides its user withmore » invaluable insight into the heart of the estimation process, which is a unique characteristic of the V-Lambda filters. 20 refs.« less
Institutional environments, institutional change and international alliances

Abstract Societal culture, national context, corporate culture and management practices represent multilevel forces of institutionalization and legitimation on managers. Because these forces may be sharply different for partners in international alliances, intense pressure for change and adaptation may build within the alliance as each partner's institutionally rooted values, practices and systems (VPSs) touch the other's. Current alliance research acknowledges the importance of bridging institutional distance between partners but stops short of unpacking the stages involved in the process of institutional change. In this article, I propose a process model that merges and extends insights from institutional theory and international alliance literatures. Testable propositions are developed and research implications are discussed.
Regional differentiation of fat bodies in larvae of the indianmeal moth, Plodia interpunctella

Larvae of the Indianmeal moth, Plodia interpunctella, contain two morphologically distinct fat bodies. Tan-colored, highly tracheated fat body located posteriorly in the abdomen was the predominant fat body tissue during the early larval instars. White, sheet fat body located more anteriorly became the predominant type during the fifth (last) larval instar and eventually occupied most of the space of the hemocoel. Ultrastructural morphology of tan fat body showed the tissue to be composed of cells containing numerous, large, spherical mitochondria, with only few lipid, glycogen, or protein storage structures. In contrast, white fat body was composed of cells that in later larval stages had organelles typical of storage functions. Both fat bodies produced storage proteins during the late fifth instar, whereas only white fat body accumulated the storage proteins. Tan fat body dispersed and apparently autolyzed in pharate pupae, whereas the white fat body metamorphosed and persisted into the adult stage. These observations indicate that fat body of the Indianmeal moth is functionally and morphologically differentiated along the anterior-posterior axis into two regional subgroups of cells.
Obtaining optimal mobile-robot paths with nonsmooth anisotropic cost functions using qualitative-state reasoning

This paper appeared in the International Journal of Robotics Research, 16, 3 (June 1997), 375-399. The equations were reconstructed in 2007 for better readability.
Teacher lust: reconstructing the construct for mathematics instruction

Two collegiate mathematics courses for prospective elementary and middle grades teachers provide the context for the examination of Mary Boole’s construct of teacher lust. Through the use of classroom observations and instructor interviews, the author presents a refined conception of teacher lust. Two working aspects of the construct were identified: (1) enacted teacher lust; an observable action that may remove an opportunity for students to think about or engage in mathematics for themselves; and (2) experienced teacher lust; an internal impulse to act in the manner described. Empirical examples of each facet, differences between conscious and unconscious interactions with teacher lust, along with potential antecedents are discussed.
Simulation of vapor diffusion in anisotropic particulate deposits

Abstract In this study we determine the effective diffusivity tensor of computer-generated, particulate, anisotropic deposits. Deposits of polydispersed, spherical particles were generated by several algorithmic models, which simulate different deposition conditions. Depending on the nature of the arriving particle trajectories (diffusive/deterministic), the angle of incidence and the subsequent motion after they establish contact with an already deposited particle, both the deposit anisotropy and final solid fraction can be varied. Monte Carlo simulations of vapor molecules diffusing through cubic samples extracted from the generated deposits provided accurate estimates of their effective diffusivity tensor and associated tortuosities. The effective diffusivities were directly determined over the entire Knudsen number range, assuming self-diffusion in a constant pressure pure gas that consists of hard-sphere elastic molecules with exponentially distributed free-paths. In the continuum limit the effective diffusivities of the porous solids considered here could be closely correlated with porosity alone. Archie's power law [eq. (17)] with an exponent m = 1.45 fitted our computational results accurately. In the Knudsen limit on the other hand the details of the local microstructure became important and so an accurate prediction/correlation of the effective diffusivity required higher order information. An interpolation based on the experimentally measured effective diffusivities in the two Knudsen limits (Scott and Dullien, 1962) was used to correlate the diffusivities in the transition regime. For the deposits analyzed here the diffusivity properties became anisotropic only in the high Knudsen regime, that is, when diffusing molecule/solid interactions dominate. In the Knudsen limit we have also found significant “rectification” effects. Specifically, the transmission probability as determined by the test-molecule method could be up to 25% higher when the molecules diffused away from the target than when they diffused towards the target. Such “rectification” effects are attributed to the tree-like microstructures of the deposits.