cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
LIGO data analysis

Abstract Gravitational waves promise to provide new information about massive astrophysical objects in the universe. Technological advances and engineering experience have finally made it feasible to construct detectors with sufficient sensitivity to detect the extremely weak waves which are believed to reach Earth. The Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) project has constructed two “observatories” in the United States which are poised to begin collecting scientifically interesting data. The LIGO Data Analysis System has been designed to support various types of scientific analysis to be performed using this data; its components include an interface to the raw data archive, a “Beowulf” cluster of PCs for parallel processing, and a database to store data analysis products. Attention has also been paid to the deployment of client interface programs and utility software to scientists throughout the LIGO Scientific Collaboration.
Envisioning the Handheld-Centric Classroom

While appropriate as an initial focus, it is time that the educational community move beyond an emphasis on 1:1 computing (each child having his/her own personal computer) to a vision of a handheld...
The cybernavigators of Chicago public library and the 'informatics moment': the information revolution in civil society and people's everyday lives

Community informatics research examines how people in their everyday lives, in civil society, are navigating the information revolution. An empirical study is underway in Chicago, USA, of the process whereby public library patrons get help with using computers and the internet. This involves the public library providing 1) networked public access computers and 2) helping staff called CyberNavigators. The focus here is on the latter, and four key findings have emerged. First, the process of getting help from a CyberNavigator is a particular instance of a central process in the information society that we call the 'informatics moment.' Second, this informatics moment entails four types of digital literacy work. Third, social capital is a critical contributing factor. And finally, by means of this informatics moment and the staffing arrangement that has evolved to support it, the conscious invention of the branch public library of the future is underway.
Role of oxidative stress in cereal protoplast recalcitrance

Cereal leaf protoplasts are often extremely unstable in culture and usually lyse within 24 hours. Using the thiobarbituric acid test and the ferrous thiocyanate test we have shown that corn (Zea mays L. cv. Market Beauty) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv. Benito) leaf protoplasts accumulate peroxides and peroxide degradation products during culture. This increase correlated with an increase in lipoxygenase activity. On the other hand, enzymes involved in detoxification of peroxides such as catalase and peroxidase decreased during culture. The occurrence of lipid peroxidation in leaf protoplasts is likely to be a consequence of a temporary imbalance in the enzymes involved in oxygen metabolism. It has previously been shown that the lipoxygenase inhibitor n-propyl gallate stabilizes the protoplasts in culture and so peroxidation is likely to be the cause of leaf protoplast instability. Protoplasts obtained from suspension cultures are stable in culture and do not undergo lipid peroxidation. This stability is due to a decrease in lipoxygenase activity and increases in catalase and peroxidase activity after protoplast isolation.
The fluorocarbon-ozone theory—II. Tropospheric lifetimes—an estimate of the tropospheric lifetime of CCl3F

Abstract Expected tropospheric CCl 3F concentrations as a function of time, eddy diffusion profile, and tropospheric lifetime have been calculated using production and release data presented earlier. The calculations are compared with the available experimental measurements of Lovelock, which have the advantage of continuous monitoring in the Northern Hemisphere since 1971, a substantial data base for the Southern Hemisphere, and data obtained on an extensive north-south cruise. The latter allow an analysis of the latitudinal dependence of CCl3F concentrations, an analysis crucial in relating measurements at a given latitude to the global averages produced in model calculations. Data from other workers on CCl3F concentrations, and earlier attempts at establishing experimental tropospheric lifetimes, are discussed. It is concluded that the most probable lifetime for CCl3F, assuming the Hunten eddy diffusion profile, lies between 15 and 20 y. The analysis based on the Lovelock data is self-consistent, leaving mainly a question with regard to absolute calibration of the electron capture gas chromatography data. Changes in absolute calibration would lead to revisions in the estimated lifetimes. The data from other workers are, in general, consistent with the above conclusions. In particular, recent measurements from Washington State University and from Stanford Research Institute lead to 10–15 y lifetimes. Faster eddy diffusion than the Hunten scheme would lead to correspondingly longer calculated lifetimes.
THz/optical properties of semiconductor quantum wells

We outline an engineering approach to modeling the optical properties of semiconductor quantum wells which are driven by a growth-direction polarized electric field at frequency in the THz range. The approach is based on solving the Schroedinger equation for the electron-hole envelope wavefunction with inclusion of the excitonic effects. Unlike the usual case of a dc applied field when the optical response is a time-independent function, the presence of the THz field requires introduction of a response function with periodicity given by the THz period. Our focus is on the linear, with respect to the optical power, regime while the THz field can be strong and thus must be accounted nonperturbatively.
Dehydrogenation of Ethylbenzene to Styrene Using Commercial Ceramic Membranes as Reactors

Abstract The catalytic dehydrogenation of ethylbenzene to styrene in a membrane reactor was studied at 600° to 640°C. The reactor selected in this study is a commercial alumina membrane tube with 40A pore diameter packed with granular catalysts. One of the reaction products, hydrogen, was separated through the membrane. Therefore, the catalytic dehydrogenation was enhanced by reducing the hydrogen partial pressure in the reactor. The conversion of ethylbenzene increased ∼15% compared to the conversion in the packed-bed reactor. The hydrothermal stability of membrane reactor after reactions was examined by nitrogen permeation test and SEM. It indicated that the pore diameter increased to 60 ∼ 90A and the microstructure of membrane remained intact.
Parallel sensitivity analysis for DAEs with many parameters

In this paper, we discuss the parallel computation of the sensitivity analysis of systems of differential-algebraic equations (DAEs) with a moderate number of state variables and a large number of sensitivity parameters. Several parallel implementations based on DASSLSO are explored and their performance when using the Message Passing Interface (MPI) on an SGI Origin 2000 is compared. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Local, Regional, and Systemic Recurrence Rates in Patients Undergoing Skin-Sparing Mastectomy Compared With Conventional Mastectomy

BACKGROUND: Although the use of SSM is becoming more common, there are few data on long-term, local-regional, and distant recurrence rates after treatment. The purpose of this study was to examine the rates of local, regional, and systemic recurrence, and survival in breast cancer patients who underwent skin-sparing mastectomy (SSM) or conventional mastectomy (CM) at our institution. METHODS: Patients with stage 0 to III unilateral breast cancer who underwent total mastectomy at our center from 2000 to 2005 were included in this study. Kaplan-Meier curves were calculated, and the log-rank test was used to evaluate the differences between overall and disease-free survival rates in the 2 groups. RESULTS: Of 1810 patients, 799 (44.1%) underwent SSM and 1011 (55.9%) underwent CM. Patients who underwent CM were older (58.3 vs 49.3 years, P<.0001) and were more likely to have stage IIB or III disease (53.0% vs 31.8%, P<.0001). Significantly more patients in the CM group received neoadjuvant chemotherapy and adjuvant radiation therapy (P<.0001). At a median follow-up of 53 months, 119 patients (6.6%) had local, regional, or systemic recurrences. The local, regional, and systemic recurrence rates did not differ significantly between the SSM and CM groups. After adjusting for clinical TNM stage and age, disease-free survival rates between the SSM and CM groups did not differ significantly. CONCLUSIONS: SSM is an acceptable treatment option for patients who are candidates for immediate breast reconstruction. Local-regional recurrence rates are similar to those of patients undergoing CM. Cancer 2011. © 2010 American Cancer Society.
How to manage a 36-year-old man with coronary disease.

To the Editor.— Dr Dunn's response to the question of how best to manage a 36year-old man with coronary artery disease1overlooked an important consideration. While this patient has risk factors for coronary artery disease (smoking, obesity, and hypertension), it is my opinion that any 36-year-old with advanced coronary atherosclerosis should be screened for elevation of serum lipid levels. Familial hypercholesterolemia and familial combined hyperlipidemia are common in those who present with coronary disease at an early age,2and although the efficacy of cholesterollowering treatment in the setting of advanced coronary artery disease remains controversial,3identification of a lipid disorder in the patient described would be beneficial in several ways. First, it would affect the selection of the most appropriate antihypertension regimen (thiazides and β-blockers both lead to elevations of the low-density lipoprotein level). In addition, it would provide greater impetus to the patient to attempt to achieve
The differential loss of [3H]pirenzepine vs [3H] (-) quinuclidinylbenzilate binding to soluble rat brain muscarinic receptors indicates that pirenzepine binds to an allosteric state of the muscarinic receptor.

[3H]Pirenzepine ([3H]PZ) and [3H](−)Quinuclidinylbenzilate ([3H](−)QNB) specific binding to soluble rat brain muscarinic cholinergic receptors was assessed as a function of time subsequent to receptor solubilization. The soluble brain muscarinic receptor is stable at 4°C when assayed by [3H](−)QNB binding (t12 = 80 hrs). In contrast the pirenzepine state of the receptor decays rapidly (t12 = 3.0 hrs). Prior occupation of the receptor with [3H](−)QNB or [3H]PZ increases the receptor stability by two to five fold (t12QNB >1,000 hrs; t12PZ = 6.5 hrs). These data indicate that pirenzepine binds to an allosteric state of the muscarinic receptor and that caution should be employed in the assignment of receptor subtypes based solely upon the binding of ligands which recognize unique conformational states.
Not only immunoglobulins, C-reactive protein too

The purpose of this letter is to expand a discussion, published recently in Molecular Immunology, on the post-secretion gain of function by immunoglobulins. It was reported that some circulating IgG molecules in all healthy individuals acquire novel antigen-binding specificity after exposure to conditions that change protein conformation, such as acidic pH. Another protein, C-reactive protein, also acquires novel ligand-binding specificity post-secretion after a switch from its native pentameric conformation to non-native pentameric conformation. Thus, that the functions of a protein depend upon its alternate structural states, and therefore on the surrounding milieu, is a more general phenomenon for some ancient molecules of the immune system than previously thought.
ARMA companding scheme with improved symbol error rate for PAPR reduction in OFDM systems

This paper proposes a new nonlinear companding scheme with reduced symbol error rate (SER) that can be used to reduce peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR) in orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) systems. The proposed system outperforms conventional companding systems using the same nonlinear companding functions with respect to SER without impairing PAPR reduction capability. The proposed system estimates a few autoregressive moving average (ARMA) model parameters of the difference signal between the companded and uncompanded OFDM envelopes and passes these parameters to the receiver. Upon receiving the ARMA model parameters, the receiver regenerates the difference signal and then adds it to the received companded OFDM envelope to recover the uncompanded OFDM signal. The traditional schemes employ decompanding process instead to reconstruct the uncompanded OFDM signal. Mathematical proofs and simulation results for three typical nonlinear companding functions show that, under mild sufficient conditions, the proposed scheme outperforms the conventional schemes with respect to SER performance without impairing PAPR reduction capability.
Evidence for an essential DNA component in the Scrapie agent.

ONE of the enigmas of microbiology has been the nature of the aetiological agent causing scrapie disease in sheep and goats. The unusual resistance of infectivity to heat, formaldehyde, nucleases and UV irradiation has stimulated many hypotheses, including speculation that the scrapie agent may lack nucleic acid1. This stability to physical and chemical inactivation has been due in part to the intimate association of the agent with the cell membrane2,3, making it impossible to obtain soluble fractions of brain tissue containing high titres of infectivity. A hamster model of scrapie disease has been developed4,5 that has shorter incubation periods and higher brain titres of infectivity than any other animal model. Studies on the subcellular distribution of scrapie agent in hamster brain have shown that 8–9% of the total infectivity can be found in membrane-free high-speed supernatant (HSS) fractions6. Infectivity in the HSS exists as small heterogeneous complexes which are resistant to detectable enzymatic degradation, but are more sensitive to inactivation by heat and UV irradiation than are cruder brain preparations7. We report here further partitioning of scrapie infectivity in the HSS using two methods of separation, hydroxyapatite chromatography and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, both of which result in isolation of a fraction of scrapie infectivity that is inactivated by deoxyribonuclease (DNase). We therefore conclude that the scrapie agent contains an essential DNA component.
Electromagnetically Induced Transparency via Spin Coherences in Semiconductors

I will review recent progresses on the realization and application of electromagnetically induced transparency in semiconductors. The emphasis will be on the use of electron spin coherence in quantum well structures. Electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) exploits destructive quantum interference induced by a nonradiative quantum coherence to make an otherwise opaque medium transparent. EIT and EIT-related processes provide a powerful and effective mechanism for controlling and manipulating light. While most EIT studies have thus far been carried out in atomic or atomic-like systems, the basic concept of EIT can also be applied to optical excitations in semiconductors. In this talk, I will discuss recent progresses on EIT studies in semiconductors. There are two major obstacles for realizing EIT and, more generally, for coherent manipulation of quantum coherences in semiconductors. First of all, with the exception of electron spin coherence, quantum coherences in semiconductors are typically short lived and are extremely fragile against dynamic processes such as carrier-carrier and carrier-phonon scattering. Secondly, coherent nonlinear optical processes in semiconductors are profoundly modified by manybody Coulomb interactions between carriers. I will discuss various EIT schemes that have been used to take advantage of the robust electron spin coherence in semiconductors and to harness effects of inherent manybody Coulomb interactions.
Total synthesis of africanol

Abstract The first total synthesis of africanol has been achieved in 18 steps from ketone 5 by a route that for the most part is highly stereocontrolled.
The Molecular Weight of Antibodies

1. Highly purified rabbit Type III pneumococcus anticarbohydrate proved to be homogeneous in the ultracentrifuge and its sedimentation constant, 7.0.10(-13), did not differ from that of the principal component of normal rabbit globulin or of immune rabbit globulin containing up to 50 per cent of anti-egg albumin. The molecular weight of antibody in the rabbit is therefore probably very close to that of the principal normal globulin component, namely, 150,000. 2. Highly purified horse Type I pneumococcus anticarbohydrate, on the other hand, was only homogeneous in the ultracentrifuge when prepared from sera stored without preservative. Its sedimentation constant, 18.4.10(-13), coincided with that of the principal globulin component in most of the Felton solutions and purified antibody solutions studied. The molecular weight of pneumococcus anticarbohydrate in the horse is probably three to four times that of the principal normal globulin component. 3. The significance of the differences between pneumococcus anticarbohydrate formed in the rabbit and in the horse is discussed. 4. Results are given of ultracentrifuge studies on the molecular species in solutions of egg albumin-anti-egg albumin specific precipitates dissolved in excess egg albumin. The implications of the results are discussed.
Evidence-Based Practice for Psychiatric Rehabilitation in the United States

AbstractIn 1999, the landmark Mental Health: A Report of The Surgeon General in the United States, urged mental health systems to utilize knowledge gained from research to improve service delivery in mental health. These services have been called evidence-based practice (EBP). The implementation of EBP is rapidly becoming standard practice and required by most funding sources in the United States. By 2003, forty-eight states responded to the country’s State Mental Health Agency Profiles System shows that all responded states are actively working to provide EBP to mental health consumers (National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors Research Institute [NRI], 2004). This movement of implementing evidence-based practice is becoming the trend for psychiatric rehabilitation in the United States. The purposes of this article are to introduce and provide an overview of the six EBPs for psychiatric rehabilitation which are developed and implemented in the United States and to identify some of the...
Olympic Advertisers Win Gold, Experience Stock Price Gains During and After the Games

Abstract There has been considerable research examining the relationship between stockholders equity and various marketing strategies. These include studies linking stock price performance to advertising, customer service metrics, new product introductions, research and development, celebrity endorsers, brand perception, brand extensions, brand evaluation, company name changes, and sports sponsorships. Another facet of marketing investments which has received heightened scrutiny for its purported influence on stockholder equity is television advertisement embedded within specific sporting events such as the Super Bowl. Research indicates that firms which advertise in Super Bowls experience stock price gains. Given this reported relationship between advertising investment and increased shareholder value, for both general and special events, it is surprising that relatively little research attention has been paid to investigating the relationship between advertising in the Olympic Games and its subsequent i...
A picture is worth a thousand words: art indexing in electronic databases

The enormous number of images of works of art available on the Internet promises great potential for research in art history and related image-using disciplines. Yet without adequate indexing, this resource is very difficult to explore. It is certainly necessary to identify each image with the basic unique information relating to it, but more is needed. Since it is largely the concepts related to works of art that interest art historians, it is these concepts that need to be reflected in indexing terminology. As these concepts have changed over time, a sizeable verbal infrastructure is needed to support the indexing of large image databases to achieve maximum use by art historians.
Preparation and x-ray crystal structure of a bidentate diamine complex of palladium(II) with a free ketonic group

The crystal structure of [Pd(C9H20N2O)Cl2] has been determined from three dimensional x-ray diffraction counter data. The compound crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P21/n with unit cell dimensions of a = 6.317(2), b = 16.246(2), c = 13.471(2) A, \ = 98.22(3)†. Full matrix least squares refinement with 1850 independent reflections gave a final R(F) value
Incidence, clinical features, and prognosis in Bell's palsy, Rochester, Minnesota, 1968–1982

The average annual incidence of Bell's palsy per 100,000 population in Rochester, Minnesota, for 1968 through 1982 was 25.0 for both sexes combined; crude rates for males and females were 22.8 and 26.9, respectively, based on 85 males and 121 females. The relationship between various clinical features, patient characteristics, and the type of recovery was analyzed. In 206 patients, 28 (14%) experienced incomplete recovery and 178 (86%) had complete recovery, based on evidence in the medical records. Using logistic regression, complete facial weakness, non-ear pain, and hypertension were identified as the most important risk factors for incomplete recovery. Patients were divided into two groups for comparison of treatment results; one group (n = 94) was without any of the three identified risk factors, and the other group (n = 112) consisted of patients who had one or more risk factors. Results suggested that among the latter group, those treated with steroids fared better than those in any of the other treatment groups.
Magnetic bead-based solid phase for selective extraction of genomic DNA

Magnetic bead-based solid phases are widely used for the separation of nucleic acids from complex mixtures. The challenge to selectively separate specific DNA molecules (via complementary hybridization) in a single step is the selection of a linker between the capture probe and the solid support that can be exposed to high temperatures in the presence of a high salt media. This article presents a general platform for the fabrication of a magnetic bead-based selective solid phase that can be used for subtractive hybridization or sequence capture applications. Phosphorus dendrimers are used for the first time as linkers in a magnetic bead-based selective solid phase for capture of genomic DNA. Aside from providing a high loading capacity, they render a stable bond between the capture probe and the surface under the high temperature and salt conditions required for denaturation and capture to proceed in a single step. The thermal stability of the solid phase under these conditions is first demonstrated by hybridizing a Cy3-labeled target. The selective capture of DNA targets in a single step is then demonstrated by subtractive hybridization of fragmented human genomic DNA. The specificity and selectivity of the solid phase are demonstrated by the recovery of adenovirus serotype 4 DNA spiked into the human DNA target. The effect of steric and electrostatic constraints was also investigated by using dendrimers of different generations that vary in their size and the number of branches. The results demonstrate that this platform can be used for single-step subtractive hybridization applications with better performance over the conventional two-step method using streptavidin-coated magnetic beads.
Novel Characterization Method of Biodiesel Produced from Soybean Oil using Thermogravimetric Analysis

The aim of this study was to demonstrate thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) as a potential method for monitoring biodiesel production. Soybean oil and commercial biodiesel were mixed in different proportions by weight. Mixtures of different biodiesel/soybean oil ratios were also created by interrupting a base-catalyzed transesterification process for producing biodiesel at various times. The mixtures produced by both approaches were analyzed with TGA. The results were then compared with data obtained by proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1HNMR spectroscopy). The relative weight losses in both sets of mixtures we generated correlated well to the proportion of biodiesel present in the sample. The results from both analytical methods were in good agreement and within a deviation of 5%. Thus, TGA is a simple, convenient and economical method for monitoring biodiesel production.
Motives, values and moral judgments

This study examined McClelland's (1981) hypothesis that operant and respondent measures of personality are orthogonal and assess different dimensions of personality structure. An operant measure of motives, a sentence completion test, and two respondent measures of cognitive schema variables, the Rokeach Value Survey and the Defining issues Test, were administered to 311 subjects. As predicted and in support of McClelland's hypothesis, 69% of the correlations between the respondent measures were significant at the alpha .05 level of probability versus 14% of the correlations between the operant and respondent measures. Further, within the domain of cognitive schema variables, it was theoretically possible to predict which values would correlate with different levels of moral judgment. The findings were discussed in terms. of their implications for person × situation models of social interaction and the prediction of criterion variables from typologies of personality.
Daytime Sleepiness Is Associated With Reduced Integration of Temporally Distant Outcomes on the Iowa Gambling Task

Sleep deprivation is associated with performance decrements on some measures of executive functioning. For instance, sleep deprivation results in altered decision making on the Iowa Gambling Task. However, it is unclear which component processes of the task may be driving the effect. In this study, Iowa Gambling task performance was decomposed using the Expectancy-Valence model. Recent sleep debt and greater daytime sleepiness were associated with higher scores on the updating parameter, which reflects the extent to which recent experiences are emphasized over remote ones. Findings suggest that the effects of insufficient sleep on IGT performance are due to shortening of the time horizon over which decisions are integrated. These findings may have clinical implications in that individuals with sleep problems may not integrate more temporally distant information when making decisions.
THE KINETICS OF ETTRINGITE FORMATION

Abstract Conversion of hemihydrate to gypsum, and ettringite formation in the system C 3 A  CaSO 4 · 1 2 H 2 O  H 2 O three hydration temperatures using x-ray diffraction. Analysis of the kinetics of gypsum formation suggests that the rate limiting step changes from an initial dependence on the hemihydrate surface area to a dependence on the gypsum growth rate. The formation of ettringite was found to be controlled by diffusion. In accord with the needle-like morphology that ettringite exhibits, a nucleation and growth model predicted one-dimensional growth. An apparent activation energy calculated for ettringite formation is consistent with a diffusionally controlled process.
Chemical Agent Simulant Release from Clothing Following Vapor Exposure

Objectives: Most ambulatory victims of a terrorist chemical attack will have exposure to vapor only. The study objective was to measure the duration of chemical vapor release from various types of clothing. Methods: A chemical agent was simulated using methyl salicylate (MeS), which has similar physical properties to sulfur mustard and was the agent used in the U.S. Army's Man-In-Simulant Test (MIST). Vapor concentration was measured with a Smiths Detection Advanced Portable Detector (APD)-2000 unit. The clothing items were exposed to vapor for 1 hour in a sealed cabinet; vapor concentration was measured at the start and end of each exposure. Clothing was then removed and assessed every 5 minutes with the APD-2000, using a uniform sweep pattern, until readings remained 0. Results: Concentration and duration of vapor release from clothing varied with clothing composition and construction. Lightweight cotton shirts and jeans had the least trapped vapor; down outerwear, the most. Vapor concentration near the clothing often increased for several minutes after the clothing was removed from the contaminated environment. Compression of thick outerwear released additional vapor. Mean times to reach 0 ranged from 7 minutes for jeans to 42 minutes for down jackets. Conclusions: This simulation model of chemical vapor release demonstrates persistent presence of simulant vapor over time. This implies that chemical vapor may be released from the victims' clothing after they are evacuated from the site of exposure, resulting in additional exposure of victims and emergency responders. Insulated outerwear can release additional vapor when handled. If a patient has just moved to a vapor screening point, immediate assessment before additional vapor can be released from the clothing can lead to a false-negative assessment of contamination. Language: en
Mucosal adjuvanticity of immunostimulatory DNA sequences.

Unlike the skin which is relatively impermeable, mucosal surfaces allow for the intake of oxygen, water, and other nutrients, and the excretion of metabolic byproducts. This relatively permeable nature places unique constraints and requirements on the immunocytes which protect mucosal surfaces, and makes these sites particularly susceptible to penetration by infectious agents. Despite the relative efficiency of the mucosal immune system in preventing infection, the respiratory, gastro-intestinal and vaginal mucosa represent major portals of entry for pathogens [8, 37]. Locally produced and secreted IgA and cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) within the mucosal tissue and draining lymph nodes protect against microbial infection [1, 8, 12, 37]. Because the mucosal immune system serves a front line role in protecting us from infection, there is a great deal of interest in developing strategies for stimulating protective mucosal immune responses. Unfortunately, traditional vaccination methods are not effective, and at present there is no simple, safe, and generally applicable approach for the induction of mucosal immune responses.
Success matters: Recasting the relationship among geophysical, biological, and behavioral scientists to support decision making on major environmental challenges

[1] Coping with global change, providing clean water for growing populations, and disposing of nuclear waste are some of the most difficult public policy challenges of our time. Unknowns in the physical sciences are one source of the difficulty. Real difficulties in meeting these challenges also arise in the behavioral sciences. A potentially rich vein of transdisciplinary research is to integrate the psychology of decision making, known as “judgment and decision making,” or JDM, with the development of technical information and decision support tools for complex, long-term environmental problems. Practitioners of JDM conduct research on how individuals and groups respond to uncertainty and ambiguity, hedge against risks, anchor decisions to the status quo, compare relative risks and rewards of alternative strategies, and cope with other classes of decisions. Practitioners use a variety of stimuli, chance devices, hypothetical and real choices involving small stakes, scenarios, and questionnaires to measure (directly and indirectly) preferences under varying conditions. These kinds of experiments can help guide choices about the level of complexity required for different types of decision-making processes, the value of new data collection efforts, and the ways in which uncertainty in model outcomes can be cast to minimize decision-making paralysis. They can also provide a scientific basis for interacting with decision makers throughout the model development process, designing better ways of eliciting and combining opinions and of communicating information relevant to public policy issues with the goal of improving the value of the scientific contribution to the social decision.
Predicted roles of defects on band offsets and energetics at CIGS (Cu(In,Ga)Se2/CdS) solar cell interfaces and implications for improving performance

The laboratory performance of CIGS (Cu(In,Ga)Se2) based solar cells (20.8% efficiency) makes them promising candidate photovoltaic devices. However, there remains little understanding of how defects at the CIGS/CdS interface affect the band offsets and interfacial energies, and hence the performance of manufactured devices. To determine these relationships, we use density functional theory with the B3PW91 hybrid functional that we validate to provide very accurate descriptions of the band gaps and band offsets. This confirms the weak dependence of band offsets on surface orientation observed experimentally. We predict that the conduction band offset (CBO) of perfect CuInSe2/CdS interface is large, 0.79 eV, which would dramatically degrade performance. Moreover we show that band gap widening induced by Ga adjusts only the valence band offset, and we find that Cd impurities do not significantly affect the CBO. Thus we show that Cu vacancies at the interface play the key role in enabling the tunability of CBO. We predict that Na further improves the CBO through electrostatically elevating the valence levels to decrease the CBO, explaining the observed essential role of Na for high performance. Moreover we find that K leads to a dramatic decrease in the CBO to 0.05 eV, much better than Na. We suggest that the efficiency of CIGS devices might be improved substantially by tuning the ratio of Na to K, with the improved phase stability of Na balancing phase instability from K. All these defects reduce interfacial stability slightly, but not significantly.
A simple technique for selective radiofrequency ablation of the slow pathway in atrioventricular node reentrant tachycardia

Objectives. A simple technique was designed for radiofrequency ablation therapy of atrioventricular (AV) node reentrant tachycardia. Background. This technique was based on the hypothesis that slow pathway conduction reflects conduction through the compact node and its posterior atrial input. Methods. A total of 100 consecutive patients were studied; there were 37 men and 63 women, with a mean age of 48 ± 15 years. All 100 patients had induction of sustained tachycardia with (51 patients) or without (49 patients) administration of isoproterenol or atropine, or both. The ablation catheter was initially manipulated to record the largest His bundle deflection from the apex of Koch's triangle. It was then curved downward and clockwise to the area of the compact node when His deflection was no longer visible and the ratio of atrial to ventricular electrogram was < 1. The radiofrequency current was delivered from the 4-mm tip electrode a mean of 5 ± 7 times at a power of 25 ± 4 W for a duration of 21 ± 4 s. The total fluoroscopic time was 19 ± 11 min. Results. Selective ablation (56 patients) or modification (26 patients) of the slow pathway without affecting anterograde and retrograde fast pathway conduction was achieved in 82 patients. Ablation or modification of both the retrograde fast pathway and the slow pathway but with preservation of anterograde fast pathway conduction was noted in 12 patients. Ablation or modification of the retrograde fast pathway alone or both anterograde and retrograde fast pathway conduction was noted in three patients. Complete AV node block occurred in three patients. Seventy-three patients had no induction of echo beats or tachycardia and 24 patients had induction of a single echo beat after ablation. Follow-up study was performed in 62 patients 76 ± 18 days after ablation. Thirty-nine patients had no induction of echo beats or tachycardia, 22 had induction of echo beats alone and 1 patient had induction of sustained tachycardia. Conclusion. Selective ablation of the slow AV node pathway can be achieved by a simple procedure with a high success rate and few complications.
Influence of the Radial Component of Total Pressure Gradient on Tip Clearance Secondary Flow in Axial Compressors

The interaction of tip leakage and the rotor passage secondary flow is examined. An analytical expression is developed which relates radial components of the total pressure gradient near the wall to the passage geometry, tip speed, skew, throughflow and wall skin friction coefficient. This expression provides a correlation with the differences observed in the passage secondary velocity patterns associated with tip clearance gaps in experimental compressors. The analysis is qualitatively supported by comparison with secondary flow velocity measurements from a small sample of published test data.Copyright © 1989 by ASME
Evaluation of the Biuret and Dye-Binding Methods for Protein Determination in Meats

SUMMARY The biuret method of protein estimation was compared with the Kjeldahl method. Highly significant positive correlations with Kjeldahl protein of 0.99, 0.99, 0.98, and 0.99 were obtained for ground beef, pork, chicken breast, and cod, respectively. The high correlations between the two methods and the small standard deviations for the biuret values point out the reliability and the accuracy of the biuret method. The same substances were analyzed by the Orange G dye-binding method with highly significant positive correlations with Kjeldahl protein of 0.90, 0.80, 0.94, and 0.95 for ground beef, pork, chicken breast, and cod, respectively. However, the amount of dye bound per g protein varies with the protein content of the sample, and the precision is poor. Orange G dye binding has possibilities for use in analyzing meat proteins only if the preparations and procedures are carefully standardized and the protein content does not vary more than a few percent. With Amido Black 10B, the amount of dye bound was too strongly dependent upon sample size to justify further investigation of this dye for estimation of the protein content of comminuted meats.
The case for multiple opiate receptors

As recently as ten years ago the opiate receptor was demonstrated biochemically for the first time and it was assumed that opiate drugs produced their psychotropic actions through a unique opiate receptor. Today compelling evidence from behavioral, pharmacological and biochemical studies indicates the existence of at least four receptor classes, μ, δ, κ and σ . The constellation of neuropharmacological actions of opiates as well as those of the three major classes of opioid peptides ( β -endorphin, the enkephalins and dynorphin-related peptides) are now thought to occur by an interaction with a combination of these sites.
Star fragments in oxygen and helium under bombardment by 90 Mev neutrons

A study has been made of eighty-two stars produced in a mixture of oxygen and helium when a cloud chamber filled with these gases and placed in a magnetic field of 13,000 gauss was bombarded by 90-Mev neutrons. Stars having up to five prongs were observed.Of the forty-eight 2-prong stars, 14 could be reasonably assigned to oxygen and 14 to helium. The remaining 20 were unidentified. It was found possible to make plausible identifications of all the fragments from only 7 helium stars and one 5-prong oxygen star. The general identification procedure is discussed and the arguments for the one 5-prong oxygen star are presented in some detail. Histograms of the ${H}_{\ensuremath{\rho}}$- and scatter-angle distributions of the star fragments are given.
Radical pancreatoduodenectomy for periampullary malignancy.

Abstract Three patients with periampullary carcinoma treated by radical pancreatoduodenectomy are described. One patient survived for seven years without evidence of recurrence after pancreatoduodenectomy for carcinoma of the ampulla of Vater. One patient survived for six years without evidence of recurrence after radical pancreatoduodenectomy for carcinoma of the distal common duct. The third patient survived for four years after an operation for carcinoma of the head of the pancreas, and had no evidence of recurrence at the time of a re-exploratory operation.
A decision support methodology for dynamic taxiway and runway conflict prevention

Logic needed for decision support to detect and resolve airport surface conflicts is defined in this article based on complex network theory. In this article, conflicts in airport surface operations are defined, along with a methodology to model and analyze airport surface constraints. The conflict detection and resolution logic take advantage of properties of complex conflict networks for effective conflict detection and resolution. It is demonstrated and validated with the case of a modeled Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport. Further research will also include validation of the conflict detection and resolution logic with real airport surface operations data.
Deterioration of β‐carotene in certain hydrogenated fats. III.—Factors affecting the rate at which green discoloration occurs

The influence of a variety of additives and thermal treatments upon the rate at which green discoloration develops in β-carotene-hydrogenated fat systems is reported. The observed effects are discussed in relation to the hypothesis that the colour change is associated with the production of β-carotene epoxides from the oxidation of β-carotene by peroxy acids which are formed by the interaction of aldehydoglycerides with dissolved oxygen. Possible methods which might be employed in avoiding the incidence of the discoloration include suitable choice of oil, the use of certain additives, notably commercial lecithin (for food uses), adequate ‘tempering’ of the finished fat, and care in the use of cool (and cold) storage.
Topical Application of Green Tea Polyphenol (-)-Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) for Prevention of Recurrent Oral Neoplastic Lesions.

Objective: A preliminary study was conducted to investigate the feasibility of using an oral cancer chemopreventive agent (−)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), the most biologically active component in the green tea extract, in a form of swish-and-spit mouthwash. Such application of EGCG is beneficial as it maximizes exposure of the oral mucosa to the agent but minimizes systemic side effect. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted on individuals suspected to have oral field cancerization who are at a high risk for developing recurrent oral precancerous and carcinomatous lesions. EGCG was used as a daily mouthwash for 7 days. EGCG's ability to modulate target molecules implicated in oral carcinogenesis was assessed by measuring the change in the expression levels of biomarkers. Results: Immunohistochemical expressions of phosphoactivated epidermal growth factor receptor (pEGFR), cyclooxygenase-2 (cox-2), and ki-67 were evaluated at baseline and at the endpoint (day 8). Although not statistically significant, overall decrease in expression levels of pEGFR (27.5%), cox-2 (15.9%), and ki-67 positive cells (51.8%) was observed following EGCG treatment. Moreover, a detectable level of EGCG was found in saliva but not in plasma after the 1-week treatment regime, demonstrating local availability of EGCG in oral mucosa without significant systemic absorption. Conclusion: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to explore use of oral cancer chemopreventive agent in the form of mouthwash in patients with oral field cancerization. Although a definitive conclusion was not reached due to limited sample size, if proven effective, EGCG therapy may offer a non-invasive preventive modality for oral field cancerization.
Load distributions on slender delta wings having vortex flow

Results obtained through application of potential-flow theory based on a suction flow analogy for incompressible flow are compared to attached-flow theory and to experimental data acquired for sharp-edged delta wings. The error incurred in predicting structural loads on the basis of attached-flow theory is investigated. Force and moment coefficients and load distributions are used in the comparisons. The root bending moment can be estimated by assuming vortex lift concentrated at the wing leading edge. While this may entail some error at large angles of attack (owing to inboard movement of the center of vortex lift), it may furnish an upper bound in evaluating results based on other theories.
On-Line Load Balancing and Network Flow

In this paper we study two problems that can be viewed as on-line games on a dynamic bipartite graph. The first problem is on-line load balancing with preemption. A centralized scheduler must assign tasks to servers, processing on-line a sequence of task arrivals and departures. Each task is restricted to run on some subset of the servers. The scheduler attempts to keep the load well-balanced. If preemptive reassignments are disallowed, Azar et al. [3] proved a lower bound of Ω(n 1/2 ) on the ratio between the maximum load achieved by an on-line algorithm and the optimum off-line maximum load. We show that this ratio can be greatly reduced by an efficient scheduler using only a small amount of rescheduling. We then apply these ideas to network flow. Cheriyan and Hagerup [6] introduced an on-line game on a bipartite graph as a fundamental step in improving algorithms for computing the maximum flow in networks. They described a randomized strategy to play the game. King et al. [11] studied a modified version of this game, called ``node kill,'' and gave a deterministic strategy. We obtain an improved deterministic algorithm for the node kill game (and hence for maximum flow) in all but the sparsest graphs. The running time achieved is O(mn log m/n n+n 2 log 2+e n) , compared with King et al.'s O(mn+n 2+e ) . These problems combine a demand for good competitive ratios with more traditional requirements of implementation efficiency. Our solutions deal with the tradeoffs between these measures.
A case of hematochezia

Rectal bleeding is a common presentation in primary anorectal melanoma (ARM), a rare and fatal condition. It has metastasized at diagnosis in most cases.
An improved thin layer chromatography technique for neonatal screening for amino acid disorders using dried blood spots

Abstract A revised method is described for neonatal screening for amino acid disorders by thin layer chromatography (TLC) using dried blood spots on Guthrie cards. Punched-out spots, after preparation, are placed intact on the TLC plate for elution of the amino acids from the blood followed by chromatography. This modification to the previously described method considerably reduces the time and effort required for blood spot elution and sample application and, in our hands, has proved to be robust and reliable.
A Musical Marriage: The Mash-Up Aesthetic as Governing Logic in Glee

When New Directions coach Will Schuester explains mash-ups to his students, he tells them that combining two very different things can make a greater whole, because of—rather than in spite of—their...
Preliminary representation of world population by spherical harmonics.

Abstract The geographical arrangement of people on the surface of the earth is approximated by a mathematical equation of 361 terms. This is a convenient form for comparison with other distributions and for use in global change studies, and it has other advantages, but it must be considered preliminary because of data limitations.