cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Methanation on Ir surfaces at low gas pressure and temperature: A study by pulsed-laser field desorption time-of-flight mass spectroscopy

Abstract Methanation on Ir surfaces at low gas pressure (∼10 −8 Torr) and low temperature (150 K) has been observed using pulsed-laser imaging atom probe. The reaction intermediates can be detected in the pulsed-laser field desorption time-of-flight mass spectrum, thus it is possible to study the reaction steps in detail. Based on our results, it is reasonable for us to conclude that formation of methane at low gas pressure and temperature is through hydrogenation of surface carbon dissociated from carbon monoxide on iridium surfaces. We have also studied the pressure dependence of production of CH 4 and CO 2 , and observed oscillations in the signal intensities of CH 4 + and CO 2 + with a time period of ∼8 s under the condition of our experiment. It is noted that the oscillation of the signal intensities of CH 4 and CO 2 has a 180° phase difference.
Metabolites as global regulators: A new view of protein regulation

Small metabolites represent the group of non-polymer compounds that a cell continually synthesizes, acquires, and utilizes from its surroundings. In any living cell, small metabolites outnumber proteins by at least one order of magnitude, creating a plethora of non-inherited molecular interactions. Recent systematic examination disclosed that 20% of proteins bind to at least one hydrophobic metabolite, suggesting that a large fraction of the proteome may bind metabolites. These interactions can modify protein activities and abundance. Regulation of protein function by metabolites may provide benefits for cells to adapt to ever-changing environmental conditions. The construction of a global small metaboliteprotein interactome will provide new insights into functional genomes and small-molecule drug development. The inherited and acquired biomolecules have to work in concert to keep life from collapsing out of the state of dynamic equilibrium in accordance with the second law of thermodynamics [1]. The underlying regulatory mechanisms are traditionally thought to be biochemical reactions where protein enzymes control the abundance and flux of metabolites in feedback and feedforward loops. However, given the fact that most proteins are surrounded by an excessive number of metabolites, it is reasonable to postulate that protein functions can also be modulated by interacting with metabolites that are not their substrates or products. In fact, several classic examples exist in which metabolites regulate protein functions in a nonenzymatic manner, including transcription co-factors, hormone signals or neurotransmitters. A recent study has also noted ‘‘strongly bound impurities’’ in commercial protein samples [2], suggesting undisclosed metaboliteprotein interactions. However, the extent to which such types of regulators exist in cells has not been systematically examined until recently. In this paper, we attempt to review recent advances in querying metaboliteprotein interactions, and speculate on its potential impact in systems biology and drug development. Throughout this paper we use small metabolites to denote non-polymer natural compounds found in cells, and small molecules to denote both small metabolites and synthetic pharmaceutical chemicals.
On the Composition and Structural Organization of Complex III of the Mitochondrial Electron Transfer Chain

Abstract The sulfhydryl groups of Complex III of the electron transport chain were titrated with 5,5'-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid) (DTNB) under a variety of conditions. In the absence of added detergents, a total of about eight sulfhydryl groups per complex was readily titratable by DTNB, whether the complex was oxidized, reduced, or inhibited with antimycin A. Titration of eight sulfhydryl groups with DTNB or with mersalyl did not affect enzymic activity. The enzyme was, however, reversibly inactivated by 12 eq of mersalyl. In the presence of high levels of taurocholate or guanidine hydrochloride, 23 sulfhydryl groups were titrated by DTNB per mole of oxidized complex. When the complex was reduced prior to prolonged incubation with DTNB in concentrated detergent, 14 to 15 sulfhydryl groups were titrated. In the presence of antimycin A, only 12 groups were titrated in the oxidized complex. The decreased titer in these latter two cases probably reflected an increased conformational stability of the complex attendant upon reduction or treatment with antimycin A. However, the decreased titration in the case of the reduced complex was due only indirectly to this stabilizing effect. Enzymatic activity was lost upon digestion of the complex with phospholipase A but was partially restored by treatment with phospholipid. The complex was irreversibly inactivated by incubation with trypsin or chymotrypsin, the rate of this inactivation being greater when the complex was in the reduced state. The non-heme iron protein of the complex was the component most sensitive to tryptic digestion. Electrophoresis of the complex on polyacrylamide gel revealed six major, staining species. Fractionation procedures were used to assign identities to these species. In order of increasing mobility, these were a new major protein component ("core protein"); "polymeric" cytochrome c1; non-heme iron protein; "monomeric" cytochrome c1; cytochrome b; and a new, as yet uncharacterized, component. A new technique was used to separate the components of the complex, based on the solubility of certain species in methanol or chloroform-methanol following precipitation by acid. The over-all organization of the complex is discussed in the light of these findings.
Efficient GPS Position Determination Algorithms

This research is aimed at improving the state of the art of GPS algorithms, namely, the development of a closed-form positioning algorithm for a stand-alone user and the development of a novel differential GPS algorithm for a network of users. The stand-alone user GPS algorithm is a direct, closed-form, and efficient new position determination algorithm that exploits the closed-form solution of the GPS trilateration equations and works in the presence of pseudorange measurement noise for an arbitrary number of satellites in view. A two-step GPS position determination algorithm is derived which entails the solution of a linear regression and updates the solution based on one nonlinear measurement equation. In this algorithm, only two or three iterations are required as opposed to five iterations that are normally required in the standard Iterative Least Squares (ILS) algorithm currently used. The mathematically derived stochastic model-based solution algorithm for the GPS pseudorange equations is also assessed and compared to the conventional ILS algorithm. Good estimation performance is achieved, even under high Geometric Dilution of Precision (GDOP) conditions. The novel differential GPS algorithm for a network of users that has been developed in this research uses a Kinematic Differential Global Positioning System (KDGPS) approach. A network of mobile receivers is considered, one of which will be designated the 'reference station' which will have known position and velocity information at the beginning of the time interval being examined. The measurement situation on hand is properly modeled, and a centralized estimation algorithm processing several epochs of data is developed. The effect of uncertainty in the reference receiver's position and the level of the receiver noise are investigated. Monte Carlo simulations are performed to examine the ability of the algorithm to correctly estimate the non-reference mobile users' position and velocity despite substantial satellite clock errors and receiver measurement noise.
Fish Oil Increases Cholesterol Storage in White Adipose Tissue with Concomitant Decreases in Inflammation, Hepatic Steatosis, and Atherosclerosis in Mice

Although fish oil has hypolipidemic and antiatherosclerotic properties, the potential for white adipose tissue (WAT) to mediate these effects has not been studied. LDL-receptor deficient (LDLR-/-) mice were fed high fat, olive oil-containing diets supplemented with additional olive oil or with fish oil for 12 wk. Fish oil feeding significantly reduced plasma lipid levels. In contrast, lipid storage in WAT was increased in fish oil-fed mice as evidenced by increased total fat (P < 0.05) and perigonadal WAT mass (P < 0.05), increased cholesterol storage (P < 0.001), and adipocyte hypertrophy. Despite increased adipose tissue mass, WAT-specific inflammation and insulin sensitivity were improved (P < 0.05), concomitant with reduced macrophage infiltration. Furthermore, fish oil increased WAT and plasma levels of adiponectin. In addition, fish oil feeding decreased the formation of proinflammatory F 2 - isoprostanes, markers of oxidative stress (P < 0.05). The increased WAT lipid storage in fish oil-fed mice was associated with reduced lipid accumulation in liver (P < 0.05) and decreased atherosclerotic lesion area (P < 0.05). Taken together, these data highlight the specific role of WAT in regulating dietary fish oil-mediated improvement in systemic lipid homeostasis and atherosclerosis.
As NICSPs e a Contabilidade Governamental de Países em Desenvolvimento

With the purpose of reaching ambitious socioeconomic goals, developing countries need to evolve their institutional capacity in the public sector to establish and implement public policies, which, on their turn, prescind a reform in its government accounting. The social value of reform in government accounting lies, therefore, in its contribution to the development goals, including decrease of poverty. This grounding has lead international and multilateral donors and funders to endorse the International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) and its compliance by developing countries. The emphasis on ensuring financial integrity and the change to the accrual accounting can make the IPSAS more useful in reforming the public accounting in developing countries.
Structuring Software Functional Requirements For Automated Design And Verification

We propose a new domain model for representing software functional requirements that can help the subsequent phases of design, development, and testing. The model consists of a use-relationship between the operations and the data-items and a finite-state model for the valid sequences of those operations. We show how this model can help us in the analysis and structuring of the requirements via the identification of submodels, which in turn can simplify the design and other phases. We also give an algorithm to compute the use-relationship for an object-oriented source-code as a reengineering step for requirements verification. We give several detailed examples.
Feeding behavior of monkeys: glucose utilization rate and site of glucose entry.

Abstract Hypoglycemia can induce hunger, but evidence of increased rates of glucose utilization contributing to satiety signals is tenuous. Therefore, monkeys (4.5–6.5 kg) were given 30-min injections of 0.9% NaCl on control days or glucose (5 g) into the jugular vein, mesentary vein, or stomach prior to daily 2-hr feedings. In spite of high levels of serum glucose, immunoreactive insulin and glucose utilization rate prior to and during initial stages of the feeding period, food intake was essentially not decreased. A similar pre-feeding load of 25 g into the stomach was also ineffective. However, if 25 g were given during the first 30 min of the feeding, the monkeys ate very little after 30 min, total depression, 60 per cent. Thus, high levels of glucose and glucose utilization alone are not sufficiently strong satiety factors in monkeys to reduce food intake of a single daily meal. However, if gastrointestinal glucose loads accompany oral feeding, intake of a scheduled meal is greatly suppressed. It is not clear what mechanism sensitizes the satiety receptor system to these signals of glucose metabolism.
Causal condition, causal asymmetry, and the counterfactual analysis of causation

In a recent paper ‘Causal Asymmetry’, Douglas Ehring has proposed an intriguing solution to the vexing problem of causal asymmetry. The aim of this paper is to show that his theory is not satisfactory. Moreover, the examples that I use in showing the defect of Ehring's theory also indicate that the counterfactual analysis of causation has a problem that cannot be remedied by Marshall Swain's suggested refinement of the counterfactual analysis of causation in ‘Causation and Distinct Events’.
Commentary: A New Role for Technical Communication

Le fait qu'un public de plus en plus large, en particulier des responsables politiques, soit implique dans le domaine des sciences et techniques suggere un nouveau role a la communication technique: l'adaptation d'un contenu technique aux besoins de public et aux contraintes organisationnelles serait remplacee par la capacite a faciliter les propres recherches d'information de ce public. Ce changement implique pour le redacteur technique d'acquerir des competences multidisciplinaires, en particulier en politique de l'information
Energy-harvesting thermoelectric sensing for unobtrusive water and appliance metering

Fine-grained energy metering in homes and buildings provides a promising technique for addressing the unmaintainable energy consumption levels of worldwide buildings. Metering electricity, lighting, natural gas, HVAC, occupancy, and water on a per appliance or room basis can provide invaluable insight when trying to reduce a building's energy footprint. A myriad of sensor designs and systems collect data on particular building aspects, but are often hampered by installation difficulty or ongoing maintenance needs (like battery replacement). We address these common pitfalls for water and heat metering by developing a small, energy-harvesting sensor that meters using the same thermoelectric generator with which it powers itself. In short, the rate at which the harvester captures energy is proportional to the heat production of the monitored appliance or pipe and this relationship allows us to estimate energy use simply based on the sensor's ability to harvest. We prototype our sensor in a bracelet shaped form-factor that can attach to a shower head pipe, faucet, or appliance to provide local hot water or heat metering.
REACTION OF p-HYDROXYCINNAMYL ALCOHOLS WITH TRANSITION METAL SALTS IV. TAILORED SYNTHESES OF β-O-4 TRIMERS1

Reaction of coniferyl alcohol or sinapyl alcohol with β-O-4 dimeric model compounds in the presence of manganese(III), copper(II), or vanadium(V) gave trimeric compounds that served as superior models for13C chemical shift assignments in natural and synthetic lignins. By appropriate choice of dimer and monomer, seven of the eight possible sequences of guaiacyl (G) and syringyl (S) units were prepared: GGG, GGS, GSG, GSS, SSS, SSG, and SGG. Preparaton of the missing sequence (SGS) by this method was not successful, so it was obtained by conventional synthetic techniques. Stereochemistry in the trimers was also controlled to some extent by utilizing dimers that were predominantly erythro (e) or threo (t), and by performing the oxidative coupling under conditions of high stereo-selectivity. The maximum number of geometric isomers in β-O-4 trimers is eight (one pair each of ee, et, te, tt). In this study the GGG and GGS trimers contained all eight isomers, the SGG trimer contained four isomers, and GSG, GSS, ...
Effects of Ration and Temperature on Growth of Age-0 Atlantic Sturgeon

Abstract Our objective was to gain insight into the optimum temperature and ration for growth of age-0 Atlantic sturgeon Acipenser oxyrinchus in culture. We conducted two trials, each for 8 weeks. Trial 1 started with 60-g fish, trial 2 started with 0.3-g fish. Water temperatures of 15, 17, and 19°C were used separately in each trial. Rations (dry food : wet weight of fish) for 60-g fish were 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5% of biomass per day; for 0.3-g fish, rations were 3, 5, and 7% of biomass per day. We set up three tank replicates, of equal fish biomass, at each combination of temperature and ration. The highest growth rate in trial 1 (for 60-g fish) was 0.014/d at 15°C and the 1.5% ration, although this growth rate was not significantly different from the growth rate at 17°C and 1.5% ration or at 17°C and 1.0% ration. The highest growth rate in trial 2 (for 0.3-g fish) was 0.067/d at 19°C and the 7.0% ration. Instantaneous growth at these conditions was significantly different from all other combinations of temp...
Research strategies and methodologic standards in studies of risk factors for child abuse

Abstract A major focus of studies of child abuse has been the identification of children who are at high risk for abuse. Despite this emphasis, little has been written about the research methodology in such studies. This paper reviews the three major research strategies to investigate risk factors: (1) randomized controlled trials, (2) prospective or observational cohort studies, and (3) retrospective or case-control studies. In addition, eight methodological standards are presented that should help to minimize bias in studies of risk factors for child abuse. These standards are: (1) clear description of abuse, (2) choice of a specific control group, (3) equal demographic and clinical susceptibility, (4) clear definition of the risk factor or protective factor, (5) unbiased ascertainment of the risk factor, (6) clear temporal sequence between risk factor and abuse, (7) equal detection of child abuse, and (8) equal review of abused and nonabused subjects. Most studies of risk factors for child abuse have used either a case-control or, less frequently, an observational cohort design, both of which are nonexperimental research strategies. In such studies, the use of comparable control groups (standards 2 and 3) and equal detection of abuse in exposed and nonexposed children (standard 7) are of major importance in minimizing bias.
Alcohol involvement and other risky driver behaviors: effects on crash initiation and crash severity.

Objective: Alcohol-involved drivers or those with blood alcohol concentrations greater than 0.00 percent have more frequent and more severe crashes than other drivers. Alcohol use, because it delays perception and response and impairs coordination, increases the risk of a crash. However, those using alcohol may take additional driving risks, which may also lead to crashes. This study was done to learn whether risks besides alcohol involvement contributed to crash initiation and whether crash severity increased with alcohol involvement or with those other risky behaviors. Methods: Data that represented nearly 1.4 million motor vehicle crashes were accessed from an NHTSA database. Analyses evaluated whether alcohol-involved driving was associated with other driving risks and whether driver alcohol involvement, alone or together with other risks, increased the likelihood of initiating a 2-vehicle crash or in the event of a crash or increased crash severity. Results: Alcohol-involved drivers were less likely ...
Selling college: a longitudinal study of American college football bowl game public service announcements

Using ideological analysis as a frame, researchers analyzed institutionally created commercials (PSAs) that appeared in 28 U.S. college football bowl games over a seven-year period (2003–2009) to better understand the universities' brands as represented in these advertisements. They found many common elements such as showing traditional architectural elements (e.g., clock towers, grounds), highlighting areas of institutional excellence (e.g. rankings), and connecting attendance to the achievement of grandiose goals (e.g., “changing the world”). In spite of these similarities, there were also areas of difference (e.g., unique topographies, alumni) to differentiate institutions from one another. In addition, even though consistency is a hallmark of successful brands, some institutions shifted their narratives from year to year. Future research should explore the effects of these differences on the development of the brand, the role these advertisements play in the larger marketing campaigns, and if these sp...
Development of a laboratory test device for electrorheological fluids in hydrostatic lubrication

Electrorheological (ER) fluids exhibit changes in their rheological behaviour in the presence of an external electric field. Research and development activities related to ER fluids and their applications have increased dramatically during the last few decades. If commercialised, ER fluids could have a significant impact on hydraulic equipment, and be utilised in the automotive, marine, aerospace, robotics, and machinery industries. The objective of the present study is to demonstrate the feasibility of using ER fluids to produce ‘smart’ lubricants that can control friction and wear of sliding components. The ER lubricant effect is demonstrated using a unique test machine that utilises hydrostatic lubrication. It is found that the friction torque increases by as much as 30% when a voltage of 2000 V is applied to an ER fluid in the newly developed test machine.
Enthalpies of formation of molecular addition compounds in tetrachloromethane + p-xylene, + toluene, and + benzene from (solid + liquid) phase equilibria

Abstract A detailed (solid + liquid) phase diagram for (tetrachloromethane + p -xylene) has been obtained from time-against-temperature warming curves. The standard molar enthalpies of formation of the 1-1 intermolecular compounds in tetrachloromethane + benzene, + toluene, and + p -xylene have been calculated from the corresponding (solid + liquid) equilibria.
Determination of trimethylsilyl meethylated nucleic acid bases in uring by gas—liquid chromatography☆

A method for the determination of the urinary excretion level of methylated nucleic acid bases by gas-liquid chromatography (GLC) has been developed. A clean-up procedure prior to GLC analysis consisted of hydrolysis, filtration, charcoal adsorption, and anion exchange. Studies to determine optimum derivatization conditions for conversion of the methylated bases to their trimethylsilyl derivatives and to evaluate GLC parameters and columns to obtain the best separation were conducted. Application of the method was shown by determining the excretion levels of methylated bases in urine of normal controls and of patients with various types of malignancy.
Estimates of comet fragment masses from impact crater chains on Callisto and Ganymede

Chains of impact craters, or catenae, have been identified in Voyager images of Callisto and Ganymede. Although these resemble in some respects secondary crater chains, the source craters and basins for the catenae cannot be identified. The best explanation is a phenomenon similar to that displayed by former comet Shoemaker-Levy 9; tidal (or other) breakup close to Jupiter followed by gradual orbital separation of the fragments and collision with a Galilean satellite on the outbound leg of the trajectory. Because the trajectories must pass close to Jupiter, this constrains the impact geometry (velocity and impact angle) of the individual fragments. For the dominant classes of impactors, short period Jupiter-family comets and asteroids, velocities at Callisto and Ganymede are dominated by Jovian gravity and a satellite's orbital motion, and are insensitive to the pre-fragmentation heliocentric velocity; velocities are insensitive to satellite gravity for all impactor classes. Complex crater shapes on Callisto and Ganymede are determined from Voyager images and Schmidt-Holsapple scaling is used to back out individual fragment masses. We find that comet fragment radii are generally less than about 500 m (for ice densities) but can be larger. These estimates can be compared with those for the Shoemaker-Levy 9 impactors.
Formulation of Navier- Stokes Equations for Moving Grid and Boundary

References ^apamoschou, D., and Roshko, A., "The Compressible Turbulent Shear Layer: An Experimental Study," Journal of Fluid Mechanics, Vol. 197, Dec. 1988, pp. 453-477. Northam, G. B., Greenberg, I., and Byington, C. S., "An Investigation of Wall Injectors for Supersonic Mixing Enhancement," AIAA Paper 89-2525, July 1994. Buckmaster, J., Jackson, T. L., and Kumar, A., Combustion in High-Speed Flows, Kluwer Academic, Norwell, MA, 1994, pp. 131190. Hammitt, A. G., "The Oscillation and Noise of an Overpressure Sonic Jet," Journal of the Aerospace Science, Vol. 28, No. 9, 1961, pp. 673-680. Yu, K. H., and Schadow, K. C., "Cavity-Actuated Supersonic Mixing and Combustion Control," Combustion and Flame, Vol. 99, No. 2, 1994, pp. 295-301. McIntyre, S. S., and Settles, G. S., "Optical Experiments on Axisymmetric Compressible Turbulent Mixing Layers," AIAA Paper 910623,Jan. 1991. Clemens, N. T, and Mungal, M. G., "Twoand Three-Dimensional Effects in the Supersonic Mixing Layer," AIAA Journal, Vol. 30, No. 4, 1992, pp. 973-981.
Cable Barriers and Traffic Safety on Rural Interstates

High-tensioned cable barriers have been introduced in the United States as a median barrier option, primarily as a result of state agencies looking for a cost-effective means by which to mitigate or eliminate cross-median crashes. This paper studies the impact of cable barriers on crash frequency and severity in a way that can be utilized in the benefit-cost estimation for new cable barrier installations where other cost components have to be included, such as right-of-way and bridge structure widening. A before-and-after analysis with negative binomial and logistic regression was applied to data obtained from eight states to investigate the impact of cable barriers on the frequency and severity of crashes on a roadway segment. Three types of crashes were investigated for both the frequency and severity of crashes: single vehicle, multiple vehicle—same direction, and multiple vehicle—opposite direction (also called cross-median or crossover crashes). These three crash categories were considered separately with the assumption, confirmed with the results, that they are all affected by the presence of a median barrier. The result indicates that an installation of cable barriers, both low- and high-tensioned, eliminates 94% of multiple vehicle—opposite direction crashes. The before-and-after analysis showed that installing cable barriers results in an increase in reported single-vehicle crashes on wide, depressed medians by about 70%. In contrast, on narrow, depressed medians, the installation of a low-tensioned cable barrier essentially results in no change in safety. For multiple vehicle—same direction crashes, there is a weak, if any, effect on safety. Considering severity, the proportion of severe crashes decreases by more than 8% when adding a lane in each direction and installing a low-tensioned cable barrier on a wide, depressed median. The reduction in the proportion of severe crashes is less than 6% when the width is reduced in addition to the widening of the roadway and installation of a low-tensioned cable barrier. The narrower median is also the only median treatment that shows a considerable change in the proportion of crashes in response to an increase in average annual daily traffic. Finally, the effect of installing high-tensioned cable barriers on severity measured with the proportion of injury and fatal crashes is small if not negligible.
Enzymatic inactivation of human alpha-1-proteinase inhibitor by neutrophil myeloperoxidase.

Human myeloperoxidase, in the presence of H2O2 and halide ion, can catalytically inactivate human alpha-1-proteinase inhibitor (α-1-PI), the major plasma inhibitor of elastolytic activity. The rate of inactivation is directly proportional to both the myeloperoxidase and α-1-PI concentrations and inversely proportional to the H2O2 concentration. Amino acid analysis of the oxidized α-1-PI reveals that the only modified amino acid is methionine, which is converted to the sulfoxide form during the course of the reaction. Significantly, this system has no effect on either α-2-macroglobulin (α2M) or α-1-antichymotrypsin (α-1-Achy), two other important plasma proteinase inhibitors, nor can the system be replaced with horseradish peroxidase. Since it has been shown recently that methionine occupies part of the reactive site of α-1-PI, it is possible that the release of myeloperoxidase by leukocytes during phagocytosis inactivates this inhibitor through oxidation of this particular residue, thereby indirectly augmenting the proteolytic activity released by these same cells.
Hopes Dashed and Dreams Fulfilled: Contingencies of Self-Worth and Graduate School Admissions

James (1890/1950) argued that self-esteem fluctuates around a typical level in response to successes and failures in domains on which self-worth is staked. In a test of James’s hypothesis, 32 students applying to graduate school completed a measure of contingencies of self-worth, and then for 2 months reported global self-esteem twice a week and any day they heard from a graduate program. As predicted, participants who were higher in basing their self-esteem on academic competence showed greater increases in self-esteem on acceptance days and greater decreases in self-esteem on rejection days than participants low in this contingency of self-worth. Daily affect was significantly related to daily self-esteem, but this association was stronger for students who based their self-esteem on academic competence, suggesting that affect and self-esteem are more strongly related when events are relevant to one’s contingencies of self-worth. Implications for research on stability of self-esteem are considered.
Seizure Occurrence During Long-Term Monitoring

Summary: Purpose: Intensive long-term monitoring (LTM) for patients with refractory seizures is common and expensive. Methods to decrease the length of stay would improve patient experience and reduce cost. Therefore, we prospectively analyzed seizure occurrence in 36 patients who had LTM. Methods: Antiepileptic drug (AED) levels and reduction were monitored and seizures were related to these changes. Patients were divided into temporal and extratemporal groups. Results: Twenty patients had partial seizures of temporal lobe origin. The temporal lobe partial seizures occurred between LTM days 1 and 16. All but 4 of the patients required reduction or discontinuation of a least one AED and had subtherapeutic levels of the tapered medications. In 16 patients with extratemporal partial seizures, seizures occurred between LTM days 1 and 8. Six of these patients required reduction of at least one AED, and 5 of the 6 had subtherapeutic levels of that medication. These differences between length of monitoring monitoring and AED reduction in temporal and extratemporal patients were statistically significant. The groups did not differ significantly with respect to number or identity of tapered or nontapered medications or levels of nontapered medications. Reported seizure frequency at home was significantly related to number of seizures recorded in the temporal group only. The only significant predictor of secondarily generalized seizure activity during monitoring was a history of such activity occurring at home. Conclusions: We conclude that patients with extratemporal partial seizures need little reduction of AED for seizures to be captured in a minimal time period. Patients with temporal lobe seizures, however, required drastic reduction of AEDs to allow capture of seizures in a long time period.
Imaginary Homes, Transplanted Traditions: The Transnational Optic and the Production of Tradition in Indian Television

This article calls for an understanding of Indian television as a transnationally mediated apparatus, rather than examining it as a national enterprise. At the production, distribution and receptio...
Transesterification Catalysts from Iron Doped Hydrotalcite-like Precursors: Solid Bases for Biodiesel Production

Described are new solid base catalysts for transesterification of seed oil triglycerides to fatty acid methyl esters, a key step in biodiesel production. These were prepared by substituting Fe3+ ions substitute for a fraction of the Al3+ ions in the Mg/Al layered double hydroxide lattices of hydrotalcites (HTC) and calcining to give porous metal oxides (PMOs). These iron-doped PMOs are much stronger bases than those derived from undoped or Ga3+ doped HTCs and are effective catalysts for the methanol transesterification of triacetin (glycerol triacetate) and of soybean oil. New solid base catalysts for transesterification of seed oil triglycerides to fatty acid methyl esters, a key step in biodiesel production, were prepared by substituting Fe3+ for Al3+ cations in hydrotalcite (HTC) structures and calcining to give porous metal oxides.
A unifying perspective of coherent and non-coherent change detection

In this paper we present a new generalized family of change detection algorithms for SAR imagery that includes traditional non-coherent and coherent processing as special cases. The parameterized family of algorithms, referred to as partially coherent change detection (PCCD), allows the user to select the level of coherence desired in the change detection algorithm. This and other settings of the algorithm enable one to specify the types of changes that are significant, thereby reducing the number of false alarms due to insignificant changes—such as foliage motion. Algorithm settings may also be applied spatially in order to support spatially varying levels of coherence based on scene content. Examples from synthetic and measured imagery demonstrate the efficacy of the new family of algorithms.
Biframe bundle geometry: An extension of Rainich-Misner-Wheeler theory to include sources

Recently the original theory of Rainich, Misner, and Wheeler (RMW) has been shown to have a natural reformulation in terms of a new principal fiber bundle, namely the bundle of biframesL2M over spacetime. We extend this new formalism further and show that the original RMW program can be generalized to include Einstein-Maxwell spacetimes with geometrical sources. The assumptions of a Riemannian connection one-form on the linear frame bundleLM and a general connection one-form onL2M necessarily imply the existence of a difference formK. A generalization of the standard RMW theorem is developed which provides the necessary and sufficient conditions on an arbitrary triple (M, g, K) in order for this triple to be an Einstein-Maxwell spacetime with geometrical sources. All sources for the field equations associated with such spacetimes are geometrical, as they are constructible from the metricg, the difference formK, and their derivatives. The extension of the RMW program presented here introduces a second complexion vector, in addition to the standard RMW complexion vector, and the formalism reduces, in the special case of no sources, to the standard RMW program.
Unidirectional Optical Pulse Propagation Equation

A unidirectional optical pulse propagation equation, derived directly from Maxwell's equations, provides a seamless transition between various nonlinear envelope equations in the literature and the full vector Maxwell's equations. The equation is illustrated in the context of supercontinuum generation in air and is compared to a recent scalar model of Brabec and Krausz. Fully vectorial aspects of the model are illustrated in the context of extreme focusing of a femtosecond pulse.
Control of metal dusting corrosion in Ni-based alloys

Abstract Metal dusting is a major issue in plants used in the production of hydrogen-and methanol-reformer systems, and syngas (H2/CO mixtures) systems that are pertinent to the chemical and petrochemical industries. Usually, metal dusting corrosion has two stages: incubation and growth resulting in propagation of metal dusting pits. The two stages were studied by scanning electron microscopy and profile mapping to evaluate the scale of the surface oxide in the initiation and propagation of metal dusting attack. The initiation occurs because of the presence of defects, and the propagation is determined by the diffusion of carbon into the alloy. The carbon diffusion pathways can be blocked by periodically oxidizing alloy surface at moderate temperatures in controlled atmospheres. It was concluded that metal dusting degradation can be mitigated by selecting an alloy with a long incubation time and subjecting it to intermediate oxidation.
Matrix-degrading metalloproteinases in photoaging.

UV radiation from the sun impacts skin health adversely through complex, multiple molecular pathways. Premature skin aging (photoaging) is among the most widely appreciated harmful effects of chronic exposure to solar UV radiation. Extensive damage to the dermal connective tissue is a hallmark of photoaged skin. Disruption of the normal architecture of skin connective tissue impairs skin function and causes it to look aged. UV irradiation induces expression of certain members of the matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) family, which degrade collagen and other extracellular matrix proteins that comprise the dermal connective tissue. Although the critical role of MMPs in photoaging is undeniable, important questions remain. This article summarizes our current understanding of the role of MMPs in the photoaging process and presents new data that (1) describe the expression and regulation by UV irradiation of all members of the MMP family in human skin in vivo and (2) quantify the relative contributions of epidermis and dermis to the expression of UV irradiation-induced MMPs in human skin in vivo.
Needs assessment and beyond in the setup of centers for teaching and learning excellence: An-Najah University center as a case study

Abstract An-Najah University recently established a center for excellence in learning and teaching (CELT) in collaboration with Northwestern University. The main goal of the center is to support the university's transition to a more learner-centered, technology-assisted environment. This paper focuses on the CELT Teaching Fellows Program, a program to build leadership capacity in learning and teaching. It also reports on key challenges which the center encountered when it began to engage with the university and its response to those challenges which included: i) developing a participation strategy, ii) creating multi-specialist teaching fellow teams, and iii) responding to macro-intervention requests.
Identification and quantification of subsets of mononuclear inflammatory cells in melanocytic and other human tumors.

We used monoclonal antibodies and an indirect immunoperoxidase technique to identify mononuclear inflammatory cells associated with human tumors. The absolute number of the different types of inflammatory cells was assessed by using a point-counting technique. We studied tissues from six primary cutaneous melanomas, six metastatic melanomas, eight melanocytic nevi, 14 breast cancers, seven examples of fibrocystic disease of the breast, 11 lung cancers, and six colon cancers. Virtually all tumors were associated with substantial numbers of T lymphocytes (Leu3a-positive T helper-inducer cells predominating) and macrophages. Primary melanomas contained significantly more T lymphocytes (P less than .002), macrophages (P less than .005), and Langerhans/dendritic cells (P less than .002) than nevi or normal skin and had a higher proportion of T cells than metastatic melanomas (P less than .01). Breast cancers contained more T lymphocytes and macrophages than occur with fibrocystic disease (P less than .0001 and P less than .002, respectively) and more B lymphocytes. Cancers of the lung and colon contained moderate numbers of T lymphocytes and macrophages; however, colon cancers contained a higher proportion of B cells. Leu7-positive NK/K cells were noted in small numbers in all tumors examined.
Chromosomal location of genes controlling heat shock proteins in hexaploid wheat.

The low molecular weight heat shock protein (HSP) profiles of the hexaploid wheat cultivar “Chinese Spring” and its ditelosomic series were characterized by isoelectric focusing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of denatured in vivo radiolabeled proteins. Comparisons of the ditelosomics (DTs) to the euploid “Chinese Spring” enabled the assignment of genes controlling 9 of the 13 targeted HSPs to seven chromosome arms. There did not appear to be a genome-specific action in the regulation of expression of these HSPs. There did appear to be a higher frequency of controlling genes within homoeologous DT lines 3, 4 and 7. Significant variation in protein quantity was evident among the DT lines for some HSPs, while other HSPs were remarkably stable in their expression across all DTs examined. The results are useful in identifying specific DT lines for the investigation of HSP functions in hexaploid wheat.
Statistical distributions of particulate matter and the error associated with sampling frequency

Abstract The distribution of particulate matter (PM) concentrations has an impact on human health effects and the setting of PM regulations. Since PM is commonly sampled on less than daily schedules, the magnitude of sampling errors needs to be determined. Daily PM data from Spokane, Washington were resampled to simulate common sampling schedules and the sampling error was computed for regulatory and distribution statistics. Probability density functions (pdf's) were fit to the annual daily data to determine the shape of the PM2.5 and PM8 concentration distributions and they were also fit to the less than daily sampling to determine if pdf's could be used to predict the daily high-concentration percentiles. There is an error when using a less than daily sampling schedule for all statistics. The error expressed as a percentage difference from the everyday sampling for the PM2.5 mean was as large as 1.7, 3.4 and 7.7% and the 98th percentile error was as great as 8.8, 18 and 67% for 1-in-2 day, 1-in-3 day and 1-in-6 day sampling, respectively. For PM8 the error in the mean was 2.5, 4.7 and 8.6% for and the error in the 99th percentile was 27, 18 and 46% for 1-in-2 day, 1-in-3 day, and 1-in-6 day sampling, respectively. The PM2.5 and PM8 concentration data were best fit by a three-parameter lognormal distribution and a generalized extreme value distribution, respectively. For PM2.5 and PM8, as the annual mean increased the mode concentration increased, but for PM8 the shape of the distribution also flattened. Predicting the daily high percentiles from pdf's that were fit to the less than daily sampled data produced mixed results. For PM8, the pdf's predicted high concentrations were closer to the daily percentiles than the actual less-than-daily sampling percentile while for PM2.5 they were not.
Merchants in Safavid Iran: Participants and Perceptions

When dealing with the domestic merchants of Safavid Iran, modern scholarship has largely confined itself to Armenians. But Armenians were by no means the only indigenous traders to engage in commercial and financial transactions. This article looks at Armenians along with the other merchant groups active in Iran's domestic trade-Jews, Banians, and Muslims-from three different angles. Part one, an overview of the types of activities these groups were involved in, finds that, while Jews acted as bankers, they also were active in the long-distance commodity trade. Muslims played a crucial role in the transportation business, but also provided credit to foreign merchants operating in Iran. Part two discusses a topic that has received a great deal of attention in Mughal studies, but that remains neglected in the Safavid context: the position of merchants in society, in particular their relationship with the state. Were merchants an integral part of the state, or did they operate as an autonomous class whose interests differed from those of the political elite? Part three probes this issue further by examining how the state perceived merchants and the group consciousness of merchants themselves. The Safavid state had an eye for trade and its benefits, but there was no fundamental convergence of interests between politics and trade. Merchants, in turn, achieved high levels of status and wealth, yet were not holders of power. Though vulnerable to oppression by local officials, they often offered stiff resistance to those who contravened them.
Economic Optimization of Tom Turkey Production

Abstract A method for economic optimization of tom turkey production was developed by combining an energetic model for production characteristics with a building response model. The objective of economic optimization is to maximize the net return from a growout house. Three sets of simulation experiments were conducted to evaluate the model. These were to determine the effect on production and economic predictions of 1) daily outside temperature, 2) flock starting date, and 3) building overhead costs. Two methods of economic optimization were evaluated: per bird day (PBD) and per unit mass (PUM). The PBD strategy resulted in lower growout temperatures, shorter growout periods, and savings of .1 to .2 cents/kg when compared with a conventional management strategy. The PUM strategy minimized daily costs to maximize net return, with predicted savings of 1.1 to 1.3 cents/kg. The effect of flock starting date significantly affected growout temperature and indicated the sensitivity of the method to outside temperature. The effect of building overhead was an increased potential for savings at 20 C mean outside temperature using the PBD method, and decreased savings for other temperatures and the PUM method. An example of the adaptability of the model to alternate situations is given.
An Investigation of PT/PT(111) Homoepitaxy with Molecular Dynamics Simulation and Static-Energy Calculation

We present the results of a study of Pt/Pt(111) epitaxial thin-film growth with molecular-dynamics simulation and static-energy calculation. Interatomic forces are modeled with Corrected-Effective-Medium theory. Atomic details of deposition, such as dissipation of the kinetic energy of an impinging gas atom, adatom motion on and approaching descending step edges, effects of the geometry of a step edge on the interlayer transport of adatoms, etc., have been intensively investigated. We have observed a novel mechanism for adatom incorporation into descending-step edges which involves a concerted motion of the adatom and edge atoms. Our study supports the “island size and shape” model which has been proposed to explain the reentrant layer-by-layer growth mode seen experimentally in Pt/Pt(111) homoepitaxy.
Model Based Development with the Skeleton Design Method

In the template design method, an algorithm is defined in abstract terms. The template can then be used to create various subclasses to override that abstract behavior. This paper discusses a way in which the template method can be extended to the generation of software artifacts from models. Specifically, this new method will be an amalgam of techniques for applying template design concepts to modeling. This extended method is referred to as the skeleton method and has two major sub- methodologies that compose it. First, skeleton files are created to represent the end artifacts of the modeling language. Second, an interpreter template can be constructed from which language interpreters can be derived. As such, the modeling language can be easily extended to generate software for new programming languages or for new third party middleware. This paper presents two modeling languages which use the skeleton method for model based development.