cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Inhibition of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 stimulated osteocalcin gene transcription by tumor necrosis factor-alpha: structural determinants within the vitamin D response element.

Control of osteoblast function requires the coordinate activity of systemic and local regulatory factors. We have investigated the mechanism of interaction between the secosteroid 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25-(OH)2D3] and the cytokine tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) by measuring their effects on two 1,25-(OH)2D3 responsive matrix protein genes, osteocalcin (OC) and osteopontin (OP). Our previous studies revealed that an inhibitory effect of TNF-alpha on 1,25-(OH)2D3-stimulated OC gene transcription is conferred by the same 25 base pair region of 5'-flanking DNA that confers a response to vitamin D (VDRE). Gel mobility shift studies of [32P]VDRE binding to ROS 17/2.8 cell nuclear extract revealed that TNF-alpha inhibits 1,25-(OH)2D3 stimulated formation of specific retinoid X receptor/vitamin D receptor (RXR/VDR)-DNA complexes in vitro. To determine if TNF-alpha was inhibiting nuclear protein-VDRE binding by modulation of VDR availability, we measured intranuclear VDR in cells treated with 1,25-(...
Description And Limitations Of An Automated Scatterometer

AbstractThe methods, capabilities and limitations of a multiwavelength scatterometer aredescribed.IntroductionThe University of Arizona Scatterometer (AZSCAT) has been developed over the course ofmany years. It is still being modified and improved. The basic operation is showndiagrammatically in Fig. 1. A HeNe laser is used for 0.6328 pm radiation. A second HeNelaser with a special cavity configuration is used for operation at 1.15 pm and at 3.39 pm.A 3 W CO2 laser is used for 10.6 pm. Long wavelengths from about 40 pm to about 500 pm canbe obtained by filling a laser cavity with an appropriate gas mixture at appropriate pres-sure and driving it with the correct CO2 line. The stronger lines emit about 1 mW, aboutthe same as the other lasers (except CO2). Each laser is separately beam shaped and colli- mated. The laser is chosen by the positioning of a kinematically mounted flat pickoffmirror. The radiation is then directed toward a reflective chopper. That which is re-flected is used as a reference signal in a ratiometer circuit. That which passes entersan attenuator bank, impinges onto an off -axis parabola and focuses down to a pinhole.This pinhole is typically about 10 Airy discs in diameter so that it does a minimum ofbeam scraping. It is mostly a scattered -light reducer. It is the source for the outputsphere which generates an F /40 beam that is focused onto the appropriate detector. Thelight can be reflected from or refracted through a sample placed in the sample holder.The holder is in a gimbal so that the sample can be moved in pitch, yaw, roll and spunaround its own axis. It can also be translated in x and y with some special mounts.
Quantitative genetics of growth and development in Populus. II. The partitioning of genotype × environment interaction in stem growth.

Two interspecific hybrid pedigrees of Populus trichocarpa and P. deltoides, each containing parental, F1 and F2 generations, and planted in two contrasting environments in northern Oregon, served to estimate the interactions of genotypes × environments for stem growth during the first two years of growth. All three generations showed greater mean growth in the warm, high-radiation, and well-watered regime of the interior (Boardman) than in the cooler coastal conditions of Clatskanie. In the two F2 families, all stem traits displayed significant genotype × environment interactions which accounted for ≈10 per cent of the total phenotypic variance. Genetic correlations across environments were larger for basal area and volume growth than for stem height and proportion. Genotype × environment interaction variance was further partitioned into two components attributable to the heterogeneity of genetic variance between environments and the lack of genetic correlation across environments. For radial and volume growth, a large amount of genotype × environment interaction was associated with the heterogeneity of genetic variance across environments. For stem height and proportion, lack of genetic correlation across environments explained more of the genotype × environment interaction. The Spearman rank correlations of phenotypic means between the two environments were moderately high but significantly less than unity in most cases. Much of the growth difference in the two F2 families had a significant genetic component, with broad-sense heritabilities at each location ranging from 0.70–0.90. The implications for breeding and selection of superior poplars for these environments are discussed.
Protein and glycoprotein components of phagosome membranes derived from mouse L cells

Abstract 1. 1. Sodium dodecylsulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis has been employed to analyze the protein and glycoprotein components of phagosome membranes prepared from mouse L cells by the polystyrene latex bead method. 2. 2. These experiments showed that phagosome membranes contain at least 20 major membrane protein species having apparent molecular weights between 27,000 and 250,000; the most abundant proteins have molecular weights of 112,000, 103,000, 76,000, 68,000, 62,000, 42,000 and 36,000. 3. 3. Phagosome membrane glycoproteins, which were detected on the gels by staining with periodic acid-Schiff's reagent, were found to migrate in two broad zones centered at positions on the gel corresponding to proteins of mol. wt 140,000 and 85,000. 4. 4. Comparison of the phagosome membrane results with the results of similar experiments carried out with cell surface membranes revealed a high degree of similarity between the two. All major protein and glycoprotein components present in phagosome membranes could be identified in both of two types of cell surface membrane preparations analyzed. 5. 5. These results strongly support the view that phagosome membranes contain a representative, not a highly selected, sample of surface membrane proteins and glycoproteins.
Quantification of amounts of coronary arterial narrowing in patients with types II and IV hyperlipoproteinemia and in those with known normal lipoprotein patterns

The amount of cross-sectional area narrowing by atherosclerotic plaques in each 5 mm long sement of the left main, left anterior descending, left circumflex, and right coronary arteries was analyzed at necropsy in 15 patients with type II hyperlipoproteinemia (HLP), in 13 with type IV HLP, and in 10 with known normal lipoprotein patterns. All 38 study patients had clinical evidence of coronary heart disease. Of the 2593 five mm segments examined histologically, narrowing of 76% to 100% in cross-sectional area by aterosclerotic plaques was as follows: type II = 39%, type IV = 67%, and normal lipoprotein pattern = 35% (controls = 4%). Utilizing a scoring system of 1 to 4 for the four categories of narrowing (0% to 25%, 26% to 50%, 51% to 75%, 76% to 100%), the mean score per 5 mm segment for the patients with type IV HLP was significantly higher (3.5) than that for the patients with type II HLP (3.0), normal lipoprotein patterns (3.0), and the controls (2.3). Thus, our patients with type II HLP and those with normal lipoprotein patterns had similar amounts of severe coronary narrowing and significantly less severe coronary narrowing than the patients with type IV HLP.
Patterns of Medical, Educational, and Mental Health Service Use in a National Sample of US Children

Background.—Special services are provided to children by the medical, educational, and mental health service systems, but it is unknown whether the same group of children receives different types of services or whether discrete subgroups predominantly receive these services. Objective.—To determine the proportions of children who receive special medical, educational, and mental health services, individually and in combination. Design/Methods.—Using data from the 1994 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) and its concurrent Disability Supplement (NHIS-D), we determined the proportions of children under age 18 (N = 30 032) who received each of 3 types of special services (medical, educational, mental health). We also examined the proportions of children who used combinations of these services. Finally, we determined whether the patterns of service use differed across age, sex, socioeconomic, or racial/ethnic groups. Results.—Overall, 9.6% of children used some type of special services. Somewhat greater proportions of children used specialized health services (5.5%) or educational services (5%) than mental health services (1.5%). About one third of children receiving services in each of the special medical and educational sectors are users of another type of services as well, but among children receiving mental health services, the majority also are recipients of another type of services. Highest rates of overall service use and of use in all 3 sectors were found among subgroups of children who were elementary school–aged or adolescents, male, of white non-Hispanic race/ethnicity, and living below the federal poverty level. This pattern is consistent with the literature on service utilization within the 3 systems of care and with the greater prevalence of children with chronic conditions in these same subgroups. Conclusion.—These findings underscore the importance of communication in the planning of services for children across the medical, educational, and mental health sectors. Further research is needed to assess the actual degree of overlap among the various systems providing this care and the degree to which children and their families would benefit from more integrated systems.
Patient safety – perspectives on evidence, information, and knowledge transfer

The published literature on patient safety principles is largely anecdotal and the evidence-based knowledge in the field remains scarce. Lorri Zipperer, the editor of this new and groundbreaking book (Box), has to be commended for her effort in providing a fresh perspective on the impact of ?EI&K? (Evidence, Information, Knowlegde) principles for patient safety. The new book appears to successfully complete the daunting task of extrapolating the ?dry? theoretical aspects of interest to librarians and patient safety professionals, to relevant clinical processes and applications of interest to practicing physicians (including surgeons). The foreword by Robert M. Wachter, MD, a globally respected expert in the field of medical errors and patient safety, provides weight and credibility to the authoritarian nature of this new work. The textbook is structured into five main sections. These include an introductory part on the basic context for innovation and improvement, followed by three specific sections devoted to the ?EI&K? paradigm and its practical applicability in patient safety, and finalized by a section dedicated to future perspectives. Each chapter is written by distinguished experts in the field. Multiple tables, ?infoboxes?, and algorithms enhance the readibility of the individual chapters. In addition, the appendices at the end of the book serve as a valued resource to the reader. For example, appendix 1 provides a concise and highly appealing historic timeline on the evolution of patient safety, stratified from a ?sporadic period? and a ?cult period? to the current ?breakout period? of the 21st century following the publication of the Institute of Medicine?s seminal report, To Err is Human, in 1999. The standardized structure of providing boxes with specific case examples, as well as relevant take-home messages at the end of each chapter (?key take-aways?), allows for the reader to easily comprehend the complex content of this book, particularly from a clinician?s perspective. The key objective of this textbook is to inform healthcare professionals about the relevance of EI&K to core principles of patient safety, and their applicability in the clinical setting. The book furthermore raises awareness of the potential for failure of EI&K processes in the extrapolation to the clinical practice, and outlines the underlying root causes of failure. Beyond a doubt, this meritorious work was desperately needed, and will hopefully allow to foster the ?buy-in? and support by healthcare providers in sustaining and growing the current global momentum of the patient safety initiative.
Effects of basement topography on subsidence history analysis

Abstract Tectonic subsidence history analyses performed without consideration of fault-controlled or other basement topography and interpreted using the depth-dependent extension model may yield very inaccurate estimates of crustal and subcrustal extension for sedimentary basins. Analyses of data from wells over local basement highs can lead to predictions of incorrectly low crustal extension and high subcrustal extension. Predictions based on data from wells over basement lows may be incorrect in the opposite sense. Calculating the sediment unloading correction assuming local-isostatic compensation, rather than flexural compensation, reduces this problem. This is not meant to indicate that depth-dependent extension does not occur, but that it should not be invoked simply to explain variations in basement depth due to rough topography.
Coordination in irrigation systems: An analysis of the Lansing–Kremer model of Bali

Abstract Farmers within irrigation systems, such as those in Bali, solve complex coordination problems to allocate water and control pests. Lansing and Kremer’s [Lansing, J.S., Kremer, J.N., 1993. Emergent properties of Balinese water temples. American Anthropologist 95(1), 97–114] study of Balinese water temples showed that this coordination problem can be solved by assuming simple local rules for how individual communities make their decisions. Using the original Lansing–Kremer model, the robustness of their insights was analyzed and the ability of agents to self-organize was found to be sensitive to pest dynamics and assumptions of agent decision making.
Control of night vision pilotage systems

The control system requirements for a night vision pilotage system (NVPS) are not well understood. Terms such as 'good control' and 'no objectionable overshoot' are common when referring to control system response. Understanding the pilot's performance is key to the design of NVPS systems. The pilot's head motions become the 'target dynamics' for the NVPS to track and, as a result, are the foundation for the requirements of a pilotage system. Mission success and pilot survival depend on presenting the right image at the right time. To date, extensive research has revealed only portions of a suitable head motion model. Most studies focus on average human performance while this system requires performance at the extremes. Additional information gleaned from the references include several heuristic block diagram 'models' describing the eye and head coupled vision system. While the blocks were not defined in empirical terms that lend themselves to direct simulation and thus system synthesis, the information assembled does provide valuable insight into the dynamics of the human vision system. The above form the basis of the model presented here. This paper presents the important points and conclusions from reference materials and provides a quantitative guide for design of NVPS control systems. Additionally, a single-axis model is presented that provides a framework for additional study. This model incorporates the significant delays, models a head motion tracker, and provides a proper head motion model for the case whereby the pilot's eyes are assumed fixed with respect to the head. Results using this model are presented.© (1991) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Modeling river plume dynamics with the HYbrid Coordinate Ocean Model

The dynamics of large-scale river plumes are investigated in idealized numerical experiments using the HYbrid Coordinate Ocean Model (HYCOM). The focus of this study is to address how the development and structure of a buoyant plume are affected by the outflow properties, as impacted by processes within the estuary and at the point of discharge to the coastal basin. Changes in the outflow properties involved vertical and horizontal redistribution of the river inflow and enhanced vertical mixing inside an idealized estuary. The development of the buoyant plume was evaluated in a rectangular, f-plane basin with flat and sloping bottom conditions and in the absence of other external forcing. The general behavior of a mid-latitude river plume was reproduced, with the development of a surface anticyclonic bulge off the estuary mouth and a surface along-shore coastal current which flows in the direction of Kelvin wave propagation (‘‘downstream”); the momentum balance was predominantly geostrophic. Conditions within the estuary and the outflow properties at the river mouth (where observed profiles may be available) greatly impacted the fate of riverine waters. In flat bottom conditions, larger mixing at the freshwater source enhanced the estuarine gravitational circulation, promoting larger upward entrainment and stronger outflow velocities. Although the overall geostrophic balance was maintained, estuarine mixing led to an asymmetry of the currents reaching the river mouth and to a sharp anticyclonic veering within the estuary, resulting in reduced upstream flow and enhanced downstream coastal current. These patterns were altered when the plumes evolved in the presence of a bottom slope. The anticyclonic veering of the buoyant outflow was suppressed, the offshore intrusion decreased and the recirculating bulge was displaced upstream. The sloping bottom impacts were accompanied by enhanced transport and increased downstream extent of the coastal current in most cases. No major changes in the general properties and especially the vertical structure of the plumes were observed when the vertical coordinates were changed from cartesian–isopycnal, to sigma or to sigma–isopycnal. The findings offer a benchmark for coastal studies with HYCOM, where plume dynamics should be examined in tandem with additional circulation forcing mechanisms, resulting in transitions of the vertical coordinate system that are dictated by the prevailing dynamics.
Discrimination of individual odours by hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) varies with the location of those odours

Abstract When animals perceive social signals, information about the identity and the location of the signaller can be important determinants of a response by the perceiver. An unfamiliar individual often elicits a greater response than does a familiar individual. Similarly, a signal from an unexpected location may elicit a greater response than if it came from an expected location. For example, in field experiments on vocal communication in birds, an unexpected location has been many metres away from the expected one. Laboratory experiments on the responses of voles and hamsters to scent overmarks and on the habituation of hamsters to social scents suggest that much smaller differences in the location of odours may be salient. To explore this further, we examined the influence of changes in spatial location of familiar and novel male scents on responses of female golden hamsters,M. auratus . The spatial changes were about 9 cm, less than three-fourths of the body length of our subjects. The decline in females' investigation of the same male's flank odour across four habituation trials was not affected by changing the location of the odour. During test trials, however, changes in location did influence the results. The expected higher level of investigation of a novel scent versus that of a familiar one was observed primarily when the novel scent occupied a novel location. Such increases in investigation were usually not seen when only one of these variables was changed (individual or location). Thus, small changes in spatial location influence the salience of conspecific odours in this species. Copyright 2002 The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Thermophysical Properties of Multiphase Borosilicate Glass‐Ceramic Waste Forms

Multiphase borosilicate glass-ceramics represent one candidate to contain radioactive nuclear waste separated from used nuclear fuel. In this work, the thermophysical properties from room temperature to 1273 K were investigated for four different borosilicate glass-ceramic compositions containing waste loadings from 42 to 60 wt% to determine the sensitivity of these properties to waste loading, as-fabricated microstructure, and potential evolutions in microstructure brought about by temperature transients. The thermal expansion, specific heat capacity, thermal diffusivity, and thermal conductivity are presented. The impact of increasing waste loading is shown to have a small but measurable effect on the thermophysical properties between the four compositions, contrasted to a much greater impact observed when transitioning from predominantly crystalline to amorphous systems. Thermal cycling below 1273 K was not found to measurably impact the thermophysical properties of the compositions investigated here.
CAN MULTI-SOURCE FEEDBACK CHANGE PERCEPTIONS OF GOAL ACCOMPLISHMENT, SELF-EVALUATIONS, AND PERFORMANCE-RELATED OUTCOMES? THEORY-BASED APPLICATIONS AND DIRECTIONS FOR RESEARCH

Multi-source feedback extends traditional performance appraisal by collecting information from subordinates, peers, supervisors, and customers. Ratees often receive the results along with normative data and self-ratings. This paper explores how multi-source feedback goes beyond traditional performance appraisal by providing ratees with comparative information. Focusing on person perception and information processing dynamics, this paper develops a model and associated propositions to explain the effects of multi-source feedback on perceptions of goal accomplishment, re-evaluation of self-image, and changes in outcomes such as goals, development, behavior, and performance. Moderators of relationships between the major components in the model include individual difference variables (self-image, feedback seeking, self-monitoring, task-specific self-efficacy, and impression management) and situational conditions (the content and process of multi-source feedback and organizational performance standards). Issues of research and practice intended to improve understanding and effectiveness of multi-source feedback are discussed.
Determining pion source parameters in relativistic heavy-ion collisions

Abstract Two-pion inclusive spectra from relativistic heavy-ion collisions are related to single-particle inclusive measurements in a Lorentz-invariant formulation of the Hanbury-Brown-Twiss effect. A thermal pion source with a gaussian space-time distribution is assumed. The angular anisotropy and moments of the correlation function are computed to facilitate the determination of pion source parameters from the ratios of the two-pion to single-pion inclusive data.
Finding a Home for a Psychology of Volition

The distinction proposed by Davidson (1963, 1980, 1987) between causes and reasons in the explanation of action is examined in the context of traditional positions on the issue of determinism and the will, and in light of causation theories advanced by Aristotle and Hume. It is suggested that explanations of volition limited to efficient causation and variance-partitioning approaches in empirical research are deficient, and that psychology should explicitly incorporate established philosophical positions on the will into emerging theories of volition.
Monte Carlo study of domain formation in YBa2(Cu1−xFex)3Oz

Abstract Upon progressive doping with Fe the YBa 2 (Cu 1−x Fe x ) 3 O z compound transforms from an orthorhombic to a tetragonal structure without an accompanying loss of superconductivity. This behavior has been interpreted by assuming that the tetragonal structure consists of many conflicting orthorhombic microdomains pinned by the Fe-atoms. Extending an Ising model previously used to model the undoped compound, we show by Monte Carlo simulation that such microdomains do indeed occur. The oxygen content is allowed to vary in the simulations, while the FeCu sublattice is handled in the canonical ensemble (fixed Fe-content). The Fe-atoms are mobile and found to cluster along the 〈11〉 direction in precise agreement with experimental observations.
Veratrum Alkaloids XLIII: The Structure of Cevadine

The structure of cevadine, the principal alkaloid of Scboenocaulon officinale A. Gray, has been elucidated as veracevine 3-angelate (III). Acylation of veracevine with a limited amount of 3-bromoangeloyl chloride afforded veracevine 3-(3'-bromoangelate) (II). The latter compound, on hydrogenolysis, afforded veracevine 3-angelate which was found to be identical with cevadine.
Foreign aid and conditions precedent: Political and bureaucratic dimensions

Abstract International donor agencies increasingly use their influence to press for major reforms in development policies and administrative practices in Third World countries. Reform recommendations are often conceptualized with little regard for the political and bureaucratic contexts in which they are to be adopted and pursued. Without greater concern for issues of political and bureaucratic feasibility, however, reform recommendations are likely to have only minimal impact. Policy space research and administrative systems research are promising approaches for acquiring and analyzing information about the political and bureaucratic aspects of government decision-making. Such analyses can improve the potential for reform recommendations to be adopted and pursued.
Fulminant bacterial meningitis.

Background:Fulminant bacterial meningitis is a rare host reaction to infection characterized by sudden onset, rapid deterioration, abrupt cerebral edema and refractory intracranial hypertension associated with an extremely high mortality rate.Methods:A search of all relevant medical literature since
Divorce Education for Parents: A Comparison of Online and In-Person Delivery Methods

Divorce education classes are common across the United States, and results suggest they are generally effective. No studies, however, have examined the effectiveness of an online version of a divorce education course. Using data from a sample of 778 divorced and separated parents who participated in the Focus on Kids (FOK) divorce education class in person, and 517 participants who completed the online version of the course, we examine program effectiveness by method of delivery. Results from retrospective pre–post surveys indicate there are minimal differences in understanding, knowledge, and anticipated behavior change across delivery method. Overall, both groups of parents indicated the FOK program was helpful and worthwhile, and anticipated making positive changes in their coparenting behaviors as a result.
Energetic ions, large diamagnetic cavities, and Chapman‐Ferraro cusp

[1] Extremely large diamagnetic cavities with a size of as large as 6 RE have been observed in the dayside high-altitude cusp regions. These diamagnetic cavities were associated with strong magnetic field turbulence. Associated with these cavities are >40 keV ions that are more typical of the trapped ring current and radiation belt populations than the solar wind. The charge state distribution of these cusp cavity ions was indicative of their seed populations being a mixture of ionospheric and solar wind particles. In April 1999, the cusp diamagnetic cavities were observed by the Polar spacecraft almost in every orbit, indicating that such cavities are always there day by day. Some of the diamagnetic cavities were independent of the interplanetary magnetic field directions, suggesting that the cusp diamagnetic cavities are different from the magnetospheric sash predicted by MHD simulations. During a high solar wind pressure period on 21 April 1999, the Polar spacecraft observed lower energetic (>20 keV/e) ion fluxes in the dayside high-latitude magnetosheath than that in the neighboring cusp cavities. By their geometry cusp magnetic field lines are connected to all of the magnetopause boundary layers. These energetic particles in the cusp diamagnetic cavity together with the cusp's connectivity probably have significant global impacts on the geospace environment.
Accelerating advanced mri reconstructions on gpus

Computational acceleration on graphics processing units(GPUs) can make advanced magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) reconstruction algorithms attractive in clinical settings, thereby improving the quality of MR images across a broad spectrum of applications. At present, MR imaging is often limited by high noise levels, significant imaging artifacts, and/or long data acquisition (scan) times. Advanced image reconstruction algorithms can mitigate these limitations and improve image quality by simultaneously operating on scan data acquired with arbitrary trajectories and incorporating additional information such as anatomical constraints. However, the improvements in image quality come at the expense of a considerable increase in computation.This paper describes the acceleration of an advanced reconstruction algorithm on NVIDIA's Quadro FX 5600. Optimizations such as register allocating the voxel data, tiling the scan data, and storing the scan data in the Quadro's constant memory dramatically reduce the reconstruction's required bandwidth to on-chip memory. The Quadro's special functional units provide substantial acceleration of the trigonometric computations in the algorithm's inner loops, and experimentally-tuned code transformations increase the reconstruction's performance by an additional 20%.The reconstruction of a 3D image with 128^3 voxels ultimately achieves 150 GFLOPS and requires less than twominutes on the Quadro, while reconstruction on a quad-core CPU is thirteen times slower. Furthermore, relative to the true image, the error exhibited by the advanced reconstruction is only 12%, while conventional reconstruction techniques incur error of 42%. In short, the acceleration afforded by the GPU greatly increases the appeal of the advanced reconstruction for clinical MRI applications.
Adaptive Nonlinear Control of SMA-Based Bending Micro Actuator

Shape Memory Alloys (SMAs) have several attractive features that make them potentially useful concepts as bending micro actuators. SMA linear actuators are among those producing the highest strains and highest forces available, and when employed in a bending mode, their deflection capability is enhanced even more leading to potential new applications. This paper addresses the basic design concept for a bi-material actuator modeled as an initially curved composite beam with one active layer, the SMA material, and one conventional elastic layer. This device must be accurately controlled to achieve an optimal range of motion and to serve in many new applications so we have designed a nonlinear and adaptive control scheme based on Lypaunove stability theory to prevent erratic motion and even component separation and partial buckling. In addition, this control scheme is able to achieve high precision tracking without the need for detailed system parameters. Simulation is conducted which confirm the effectiveness of the proposed method.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
Chemical bonding and structure-reactivity correlation in Meldrum's acid: a combined experimental and theoretical electron density study.

Chemical bonding in Meldrum’s acid (MA) based on the experimental electron density obtained from high-resolution X-ray diffraction data at 20 K and from solid state theoretical calculations at the ...
Geographic and Network Surveillance via Scan Statistics for Critical Area Detection

Both statistical ecology and environmental statistics have numerous challenges and opportunities in the waiting for the twenty-first century, calling for increasing numbers of nontraditional statistical approaches. Both theoretical and applied ecology are using advancing data analytical and interpretational software and hardware to satisfy public policy and discovery research, variously incorporating geospatial information, site-specific data and remote sensing imagery. We discuss a declared need for geoinformatic surveillance for spatial critical area detection. We explore, for ecological and environmental use, an innovation of the circle-based spatial scan statistic popular in the health sciences.
The three human cytochrome P450 lanosterol 14α-demethylase(CYP51) genes reside on chromosomes 3, 7, and 13: structure of the two retrotransposed pseudogenes, association with a line-1 element, and evolution of the human CYP51 family.

Abstract The three human lanosterol 14α-demethylase (CYP51) genes have been mapped to human chromosomes 3, 7, and 13 using a polychromosomal somatic cell hybrid panel. Two of the genes have been cloned from human chromosome 3-specific (CYP51P1) or from human chromosome 13-containing (CYP51P2) cell hybrids. Both were found to be processed pseudogenes, the first reported in the cytochrome P450 (CYP) gene superfamily. The functional CYP51 gene resides on human chromosome 7. CYP51P1 is 96.5% identical to the human CYP51 coding sequence and is not interrupted with introns but has six in-frame stop codons resulting from point mutations. The intronless CYP51P2 gene is 97.2% identical to the CYP51 cDNA coding region. It has a 1-bp insertion leading to a change of reading frame after codon 9 and a stop codon after amino acid 81. In addition, the CYP51P2 sequence is interrupted with a 5′ truncated 131-bp LINE-1 element after nucleotide 606. The element belongs to the youngest LINE subfamily Sb and is 98.2% identical to the LINE-1 element expressed in human teratocarcinoma cells. CYP51 processed pseudogenes are the only known examples of the reverse flow of genetic information during evolution of the large (more than 480 genes) CYP superfamily, suggesting expression in the germ line and a housekeeping function of the lanosterol 14α-demethylase gene. CYP51 pseudogenes evolved by two independent reverse transcription events of the human CYP51 mRNA ∼9.5 MYR (CYP51P2) and ∼11.7 MYR (CYP51P1) ago and were inactivated soon after the insertion. The truncated L1 element was inserted into CYP51P2 ∼6 MYR ago.
Preoperative and postoperative care in cosmetic laser resurfacing

Advances in laser technology have allowed the application of lasers to cosmetic facial skin resurfacing. While this application has been extremely advantageous to patients, the development of pre- and postoperative therapeutic regimens was necessary to mitigate potential complications associated with laser resurfacing. Potential complications of laser resurfacing include prolonged postoperative erythema, hyperpigmentation, hypopigmentation, herpetic, bacterial or candidal infection, and other concerns including scarring and abnormal wound healing. In this report we review the state of the art of preoperative and postoperative care for cosmetic laser resurfacing.
Field Testing for Automated Identification of Turning Movements at Signalized Intersections

Obtaining turning-movement counts at signalized intersections is a routine task in traffic engineering and can be tedious and time-consuming. Previous research in automating turning-movements counts focused on estimating the turning movements from approach and departure volumes and developing detection systems for exclusive-turn lanes. The accuracy of an alternative method, called the time-and-place system (TAPS), is examined through a field study of five signalized intersections in Columbia, Missouri. TAPS uses both the locations and times of actuations from a small number of detectors to classify movements from shared approach lanes. The five intersections are representative of different geometrics and signal timings. At four intersections a standard video camera was placed at a height of about 30 ft and as close to the departure lanes as possible to provide a reasonable view. Additional cameras showed current signal indications into the departure leg. At the fifth location a single elevated camera capt...
Hydraulically Actuated Patient Transfer Device With Passivity Based Control

This paper describes the development of a hydraulically actuated patient transfer device, utilizing a force amplifying passivity based control strategy. The patient transfer device is intended for moving mobility limited patients, for example, from a bed to a chair, from a wheelchair into a car, or from the floor into a wheelchair. Our needs assessment has indicated that a more powerful, more easily maneuverable device is needed which is operable by a single caregiver with one hand. For this purpose, we are proposing a coordinated force amplifying control strategy. The caregiver input to the device is measured from a force sensor mounted on the device near the patient. The output is the force applied by the device actuators in the same direction as the input; this force may be amplified to assist the caregiver. Passivity-based control provides a way to implement this force amplifying control to aid in stability, which is critical for a device that interacts directly with humans. This paper describes the implementation of this force amplifying passivity-based control on a simpler pre-prototype two DOF patient transfer device.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
Driver license renewal by mail in California

Drivers under the age of 70 whose prior 4-year accident and conviction records showed no entries when examined 2 months prior to the date of expiration of their driver licenses were randomly assigned to either a group that renewed licenses in the normal manner or a group that was offered the opportunity to receive a 4-year license extension by mail. A related experiment involved comparing clean-record drivers of any age who were given a 2-year extension with a group of drivers required to renew in person. Examination of driver records 18 and 28 months subsequent to extension uncovered no deleterious effects of the program, while savings of roughly 3 million dollars annually are expected. Findings are tentative, however, until 4-year data can be collected. The report concludes that the extension program has been successful, that multiple extensions should be authorized and evaluated for drivers with continuing clean records, and that the present exclusion of drivers 70 and above does not appear to be defensible.
Characterization of nanoporous surfaces as templates for drug delivery devices.

While the earlier research in drug delivery has been focused on development of drugs, present methodologies target development of the delivery device itself (1–3). Implantable drug delivery devices offer various advantages such as maintenance of therapeutic blood levels, improved patient compliance, and improved safety (4). Nanorobots capable of treatment, prophylaxis, and diagnosis represent the next generation of drug delivery devices (5,6). Carbon nanotubes have been developed to seek and destroy tumor cells (7). Recently, Martin et al. tailored the width of microfabricated nanochannels to solute size to control diffusion kinetics of macromolecules (8). In this study, a nanoporous metal surface has been characterized for purpose of drug delivery. Drug loading into nanopores can be achieved using solutions, colloidal solutions, or polymer–drug systems. Early reports in literature have suggested use of lithography techniques for fabrication of nanostructures (9,10). Silicon wafers are coated with a combination of gold and silver. Gold is selected as a suitable surface material because it has been extensively used in development of novel nanodiagnostic tools due to its mechanical stability and biocompatibility (11–13). In photolithography, a photomask is used to transfer the pattern onto the wafer and a layer of photosensitive polymer (photo-resist) is applied using spin coating technique. The wafers are then exposed to ultraviolet light. The mask protects the portion of the wafer it covers, whereas the uncovered part gets etched by light. Silver, which is used as a sacrificial material, is precipitated out leaving, nanopores behind. In the present study, standard metric techniques, namely scanning electron microscope (SEM) and atomic force microscope, were used for characterization of the nanopores. The dimensions of the nanopores were estimated, and the measurements were used to determine the total volume of pores available for drug loading. For purpose of estimation, a bare metal stent was used as a reference. Hence, the volume of nanopores if they were built on a stent surface was calculated. In this study, nanopores were loaded using methyl orange, pH indicator (14). Poly (2-octyl cyanoacrylate) was used as a the polymer matrix because of its strong adhesive properties, biocompatibility, and as a drug carrier (15–17). It is also approved by FDA and is being currently used as a tissue adhesive (18). The role of the polymer here is to act as a sealing film formation to limit the rapid release of methyl orange from the nanopores.
Nowhere-zero modular edge-graceful graphs

For a connected graph G of order n ≥ 3, let f : E(G) → Zn be an edge labeling of G. The vertex labeling f ′ : V (G) → Zn induced by f is defined as f ′ (u) = P v∈N(u) f(uv), where the sum is computed in Zn. If f ′ is one-to-one, then f is called a modular edge-graceful labeling and G is a modular edge-graceful graph. A modular edge-graceful labeling f of G is nowhere-zero if f(e) 6 0 for all e ∈ E(G) and in this case, G is a nowherezero modular edge-graceful graph. It is shown that a connected graph G of order n ≥ 3 is nowhere-zero modular edge-graceful if and only if n 6≡2 (mod 4), G 6 K3 and G is not a star of even order. For a connected graph G of order n ≥ 3, the smallest integer k ≥ n for which there exists an edge
Context specificity of operant discriminative performance in pigeons: II. Necessary and sufficient conditions.

Abstract Six experiments were performed to explore the necessary and sufficient conditions for producing context specificity of discriminative operant performance in pigeons. In Experiment 1, pigeons learned a successive discrimination (red S+/blue S−) in two chambers that had a particular odor present and between which they were frequently switched. The birds subsequently learned the reversal (blue S+/ red S−) in one of these chambers with a different odor present. When switched to the alternative chamber, although the odor and the reinforcement contingency were still appropriate to the reversal, performance appropriate to the original discrimination recurred in subjects for which the houselights were on during training and testing but not for those for which the houselights were off. This indicated the importance of visual contextual cues in producing context specificity. Experiment 2 showed that the frequent switching between boxes in initial training was of no consequence, presumably because the apparatus cues were highly salient to the subjects. Experiment 3 showed significantly less context specificity when odor cues were omitted. Experiment 4 showed that simply using a different reinforced stimulus in each phase of training was ineffective in producing context specificity. Experiment 5 showed that the generalization test procedure used in Experiment 4 was sensitive to context specificity when discrimination-reversal training was used with different odors in the two training phases. Experiment 6 replicated the results of Experiment 4, but then showed that when different odors accompanied the two training phases, context specificity was obtained with the single-stimulus paradigm. Thus in both single-stimulus and discrimination-reversal paradigms, redundant odor cues potentiated learning about apparatus cues.
Anti-Evolutionism, Scientific Creationism, and Education

Anti-evolutionism is alive and well in 1986, and it is especially prominent in American education. I have received comments on my teaching evaluations to the effect that "Evolution is a lot of —." High school teachers report students. walking out when they begin discussing human evolution. According to "A Consumer's Guide to Biology Textbooks" (Washington: People for the American Way, 1985), censors of the Religious Right have sufficiently Pressured textbook publishers so that the three best-selling high school biology books do not mention evolution at all, and over half of the texts reviewed recently had no or inadequate coverage of evolution.
Potency testing of bacterial vaccines for human use

The potency tests for bacterial vaccines are quite diverse. For some products (pertussis, cholera, anthrax, typhoid and BCG vaccines) these are specified as Additional Standards in the Code of Federal Regulations. For other products (tetanus and diphtheria toxoids, plague vaccine) the testing is done according to so-called Minimum Requirements, which have less regulatory authority than Additional Standards. Still other products (e.g., polysaccharide conjugate vaccines, acellular pertussis vaccine, live oral typhoid) are tested according to individualized criteria that are contained in their specific Product License Applications. For some products there is inadequate knowledge of the pathogenic mechanisms and/or protective factors to design valid in vitro potency tests. In these cases, animal testing with subsequent serologic evaluation or challenge testing is often necessary. Examples would include vaccines such as cholera and plague vaccines. The FDA supports the elimination of animal testing when suitable alternatives are available. Thus, many of the potency tests, especially for newer products, rely on in vitro characterization. For example, the immunogenicity of conventional polysaccharide vaccines is largely proportional to their molecular weight. Potency testing therefore relies heavily on physical characterization in terms of composition, molecular weight, and quantity.
Analysis of the Zn-Se system

The Zn-Se phase diagram is reanalyzed with an associated solution model for the liquid, new Se-rich liquidus points, and a new Gibbs energy of formation for ZnSe(s). After the liquid model parameters are fixed by a best fit to the liquidus points, the entire liquidus is generated as well as the partial pressures of Zn and of Se2 along the ZnSe(s) three-phase curve, isotherms for the enthalpy of mixing, and the isotherm for the activity coefficients at the 1799 K melting point of ZnSe(s).
Thirty years after: The lives of former winners of mathematical Olympiads

Mathematical Olympiads are generally regarded as one of the best methods for identifying talented students and attracting them to mathematics. Nevertheless, although the achievements and the names of certain Olympiad winners have become widely known, there are no statistics concerning the vast majority of former winners. How did their lives turn out? What became of these people who were considered mathematically gifted in childhood? What are their own views regarding the Olympiads and their mathematical education as a whole? This article attempts to answer these questions by tracing the lives of a large group of winners of the St. Petersburg (Russia) Olympiad. The research makes use of two surveys conducted in 1991 and in 2001. A comparison of the responses to these questionnaires also makes it possible to draw certain conclusions about the changes that have taken place in these people's lives over the course of the recent crucial decade in Russian history.
Control of thermal energy from a high temperature source

Abstract A unique high temperature energy source is described in which radiation from a graphite surface at 5,000°F is controlled by means of water-cooled shutters. Since the energy source available was capable of less than 300 kw power output, storage of energy was needed and was accomplished by means of an insulated muffle. Means of controlling the heat output and of regulating the duration of the radiation pulses are described.
Deviations from Matthiessen's Rule in Metals with Magnetic Impurities

It is shown that resonant scattering of the conduction electrons in a metal, when combined with ordinary impurity scattering and phonon scattering, leads to significant deviations from Matthiessen's rule for the total resistivity. The implication for the analysis of the observed resistivity of metals with magnetic impurities is discussed.