cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Deltaic Deposits of Upper Part of Dakota Formation (Upper Cretaceous), Central Kansas: ABSTRACT

Sedimentary deposits within the upper 40-100 ft of the Dakota Formation exposed in Russell County, Kansas, record deposition in an environmentally diverse deltaic setting developed during the initial stages of the Greenhorn marine cyclothem. The lower two thirds or more of the Dakota (200-300 ft thick in central Kansas) consists predominately of nonmarine kaolinitic mudstone and discontinuous channel sandstone lenses; however, the upper part contains a complex of fluvial-deltaic, delta-plain and marginal-marine lithofacies, which grade upward into the shallow-water marine Graneros Shale. Such lithofacies have been mapped in detail and can be differentiated according to macroinvertebrate and trace-fossil assemblages, sedimentary body geometry and lateral depositional relat ons, sedimentary structures, and petrology. The sedimentary complex in Russell County is dominated by an elongate fluvial-deltaic channel sandstone which changes within 30 mi from a highly meandering, trough-shaped fluvial sandstone body containing freshwater mollusks to a tabular-wedge shaped, delta-front sandstone body containing freshwater to brackish-water macroinvertebrates and a variety of trace fossil types. Kaolinitic floodplain deposits containing abundant plant fossils most commonly are laterally associated with channel sandstones; however, within the upper 20-30 ft of the formation, freshwater lignitic coal-swamp facies and freshwater to brackish-water sideritic clay-ironstone swamp facies are common. Locally, laminated to highly burrowed delta-marine and strandline marine sandstones are present. These contain a dive se association of marine macroinvertebrates and an abundance of trace fossil types. The deltaic facies grade upward into the fossiliferous, glauconite-rich marine sandstone and montmorillonitic shale of the Graneros. End_of_Article - Last_Page 364------------
The physics of solid-state neutron detector materials and geometries

Detection of neutrons, at high total efficiency, with greater resolution in kinetic energy, time and/or real-space position, is fundamental to the advance of subfields within nuclear medicine, high-energy physics, non-proliferation of special nuclear materials, astrophysics, structural biology and chemistry, magnetism and nuclear energy. Clever indirect-conversion geometries, interaction/transport calculations and modern processing methods for silicon and gallium arsenide allow for the realization of moderate- to high-efficiency neutron detectors as a result of low defect concentrations, tuned reaction product ranges, enhanced effective omnidirectional cross sections and reduced electron–hole pair recombination from more physically abrupt and electronically engineered interfaces. Conversely, semiconductors with high neutron cross sections and unique transduction mechanisms capable of achieving very high total efficiency are gaining greater recognition despite the relative immaturity of their growth, lithographic processing and electronic structure understanding. This review focuses on advances and challenges in charged-particle-based device geometries, materials and associated mechanisms for direct and indirect transduction of thermal to fast neutrons within the context of application. Calorimetry- and radioluminescence-based intermediate processes in the solid state are not included.
The Pax-5 Gene Is Alternatively Spliced during B-cell Development

The transcription factor Pax-5 is expressed during the early stages of B-cell differentiation and influences the expression of several B-cell-specific genes. In addition to the existing isoform (Pax-5, which we have named Pax-5a), we have isolated three new isoforms, Pax-5b, Pax-5d, and Pax-5e, from murine spleen and B-lymphoid cell lines using library screenings and polymerase chain reaction amplification. Isoforms Pax-5b and Pax-5e have spliced out their second exon, resulting in proteins with only a partial DNA-binding domain. Isoforms Pax-5d and Pax-5e have deleted the 3′-region, which encodes the transactivating domain, and replaced it with a novel sequence. The existence of alternative Pax-5 transcripts was confirmed using RNase protection assays. Furthermore, Pax-5a and Pax-5b proteins were detected using Western blot analysis. Pax-5a was detectable in pro-, pre-, and mature B-cell lines, but not in two plasmacytomas; Pax-5b was shown to be present at low levels in mature B-cell lines and, unexpectedly, in one plasma cell line, but not in pro-B-cell or T-cell lines. Mobility shift assays showed that in vitro translated Pax-5a and Pax-5d, but not Pax-5b or Pax-5e, could interact with a B-cell-specific activator protein-binding site on the blk promoter. Using this assay, we also showed that Pax-5d was present in nuclear extracts of some (but not all) B-lymphoid lines and interacts with the B-cell-specific activator protein-binding site. The pattern of differential expression of alternatively spliced Pax-5 isoforms suggests that they may be important regulators of transcription during B-cell maturation.
Te/Cu bi-layer: A low-resistance back contact buffer for thin film CdS/CdTe solar cells

Abstract A buffer layer based on a Te/Cu bi-layer useful for forming ohmic contact to p-CdTe has been developed for application in CdS/CdTe solar cells. The bi-layer buffer was prepared by vapor deposition and a thermal annealing (~200 °C) was required for activation. Enhanced efficiency and stability were obtained by optimizing the Cu/Te compositions and the thermal activation conditions. Characterization by XRD, XPS, and PL indicates that under the thermal activation conditions Cu diffuses rapidly in the Te without forming CuxTe compounds. The enhanced stability can be attributed to the mediation of Cu diffusion into CdTe by the Te layer. The Te/Cu buffers are particularly useful for the fabrication of ultra-thin CdS/CdTe solar cells.
Determinants of CEO severance contracts and their components and the effects of severance contracts on executive turnover

Abstract This paper identifies the determinants of executive severance contracts and their components and the effect of severance contracts on the likelihood of forced and unforced turnover. The results provide evidence that severance contracts are used as a form of insurance for incoming CEOs. The results also provide evidence that a fixed cash component and a time-dependent maturity policy in the severance contract increases the likelihood of forced turnover.
Perceived Stigma and Depression among Black Adolescents in Outpatient Treatment.

Abstract Despite the high prevalence of depression among children and adolescents, most that need mental health treatment do not seek care. This is especially true for ethnic minority adolescents. Prior research has shown that perceived stigma may act as a barrier to the initiation of and adherence to depression treatment, yet few studies have examined the relationship between stigma and depression among Black adolescents. This exploratory study examined the relationship between Black adolescents' depression severity and their current level of perceived stigma in an outpatient sample. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with a clinical sample of adolescents referred for mental health services at a community-based outpatient clinic (n =108), participating in a prospective pilot study on adolescents' patterns of mental health service use. The analyses revealed that greater depression severity was significantly associated with higher perceived stigma (p
Identification of 5-pyridoxic acid and 5-pyridoxic acid lactone as metabolites of vitamin B6 in humans

Abstract Plasma and urine from individuals ingesting large amounts of vitamin B 6 contain several unidentified vitamin B 6 metabolites. Based on movement in 6 TLC solvents, elution in HPLC, and ultraviolet and infrared spectra, two of these metabolites have been identified as 5-pyridoxic acid and its lactone. These two compounds can account for 10–20% of the urinary vitamin B 6 metabolites.
Management of psoriatic arthritis : The therapeutic interface between rheumatology and dermatology

Psoriatic arthritis is an inflammatory arthritis, which occurs in up to 30% of individuals with psoriasis. Dermatologists and other physicians treating psoriasis are in an ideal position to screen for the condition, and with rheumatologists, strategize optimal therapy. Mild skin and joint manifestations may be treated effectively with topical agents, ultraviolet light therapy, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. More severe manifestations of the disease, including progressive peripheral joint damage, spine disease, enthesitis, dactylitis, and severe skin changes, require systemic therapy. Traditional systemic agents include methotrexate, sulfasalazine, and cyclosporine. When these agents are not adequate or not tolerated, new biologic agents, particularly antitumor necrosis factor (TNF) compounds, have shown significant and enduring benefit in all disease domains, improvement in quality of life and function, and inhibition of progressive joint damage.
The Peace Process in Guatemala and the Role of Third Parties

The purpose of the Symposium is to share experiences on preventing violent conflicts, especially with regard to the situation of ethnic minorities. In this respect, this contribution might be slightly off-base: Guatemala's experience is not about preventing violent conflicts, but of ending a conflict of 40-years duration. Still, there is an underlying concern common to all, and that is to promote peace, plural democracy, respect for human rights and development.
Resonance Raman evidence for a novel charge relay activation mechanism of the CO-dependent heme protein transcription factor CooA.

Resonance Raman spectra of the CO-responsive transcription factor CooA from Rhodospirillum rubrum provides evidence on the nature of heme ligation and its CO activation mechanism. The Fe(III) form ...
The days of our lives: Language, gender and affluence on a daytime television drama

In this article, I discuss the results of a small case study of one daytime serial drama in the United States and show that it links the macro-social category of gender to desire for upward social mobility through the use of linguistic tropes that conventionally index both gender and social class. This connection is critical to the more general commercial imperative inherent in the daytime drama to connect consumers with advertised products. In the case of this daytime drama, male characters are shown to disrupt stereotypical norms of masculinity at least in part through a sociolinguistic package that includes linguistic strategies stereotypically associated with upward social mobility and wealthy lifestyles. In so doing, male characters become critical to the entailment of wealth and social privilege as normative values while female characters reinforce the same normativity through their own sociolinguistic patterns.
The three pillars of photo-initiated quantum molecular dynamics.

Studies of the interaction of light with matter, based on spectroscopy and diffraction, yielded a microscopic view of nature. The detailed structure of molecules and solids emerged from this effort and led to many of the advances of the 20th century, with the ‘structure-function’ paradigm being perhaps paramount. This static view of Nature is a necessary but insufficient advance and, in the 21st century, we will need to develop microscopic yet dynamical views of Nature. We consider here issues in Photo-initiated Quantum Molecular Dynamics raised by Faraday Discussions 163, in the context of three main categories or ‘pillars’ of light-matter interaction: energy/time, phase/coherence, intensity.
Role of TLR-2 in the activation of nuclear factor kappaB by oxidative stress in cardiac myocytes.

Growing evidence from patients with heart failure and from experimental animal models implicates effectors of innate immunity in the pathogenesis of this syndrome. The expression of the innate immunity signaling protein, Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), is increased in cardiac myocytes in situ and in failing myocardium, but the mechanism by which TLRs may be activated in the failing heart remains unclear. We report that TLR2, which is expressed in cardiac myocytes, participates in the response of these cells to oxidative stress, a major contributor to the pathogenesis of cardiac dysfunction. Hydrogen peroxide increased nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) activation in Chinese hamster ovary fibroblasts that overexpress TLR2 but not in normal or TLR4-overexpressing Chinese hamster ovary cells, an effect that was abrogated by an α-TLR2 antibody. In neonatal rat ventricular myocytes, the α-TLR2 antibody inhibited hydrogen peroxide-induced nuclear translocation of NF-κB and activator protein-1 (AP-1). Inhibition of TLR2 had no effect on tumor necrosis factor α-induced NF-κB or AP-1 activation, on the DNA binding of the basal transcription factor Oct-1, or on hydrogen peroxide-induced phosphorylation of p38 MAP kinase. Importantly, oxidative stress-induced cytotoxicity was enhanced by blocking TLR2. Given the importance of cytotoxicity and apoptosis to the pathology of the ischemic heart, an anti-apoptotic effect of TLR2 in cardiac myocytes exposed to elevated levels of ROS may limit further cardiac dysfunction.
Sensitivity analysis and automation for intraoperative implementation of the atlas-based method for brain shift correction

The use of biomechanical models to correct the misregistration due to deformation in image guided neurosurgical systems has been a growing area of investigation. In previous work, an atlas-based inverse model was developed to account for soft-tissue deformations during image-guided surgery. Central to that methodology is a considerable amount of pre-computation and planning. The goal of this work is to evaluate techniques that could potentially reduce that burden. Distinct from previous manual techniques, an automated segmentation technique is described for the cerebrum and dural septa. The shift correction results using this automated segmentation method were compared to those using the manual methods. In addition, the extent and distribution of the surgical parameters associated with the deformation atlas were investigated by a sensitivity analysis using simulation experiments and clinical data. The shift correction results did not change significantly using the automated method (correction of 73±13% ) as compared to the semi-automated method from previous work (correction of 76±13%). The results of the sensitivity analysis show that the atlas could be constructed by coarser sampling (six fold reduction) without substantial degradation in the shift reconstruction, a decrease in preoperative computational time from 13.1±3.5 hours to 2.2±0.6 hours. The automated segmentation technique and the findings of the sensitivity study have significant impact on the reduction of pre-operative computational time, improving the utility of the atlas-based method. The work in this paper suggests that the atlas-based technique can become a ‘time of surgery’ setup procedure rather than a pre-operative computing strategy.
Steps on As-terminated Ge(001) revisited: theory versus experiment.

We examine the double-layer B -type steps on As-terminated vicinal Ge(001) surfaces. The currently accepted structure is a chemically inert bulklike structure without any gap state, and with all the chemical bonds of the Ge and As atoms being satisfied. However, we show that the need for optimizing the p{sup 3} pyramidal angles of the threefold coordinated As atoms drives unusual atomic rearrangement. This leads to a more stable reconstruction involving odd-membered (5-7-5) rings at the step edge. Comparison between theoretical and experimental scanning tunneling microscopy images yields excellent agreement.
Phosphoinositide 3-kinase is not overexpressed in melanocytic lesions

Background: Although various studies have stressed the role of phosphatase and tensin homologue deleted on chromosome 10 (PTEN)-PI3K-AKT pathway in the progression of melanocytic lesions, little is known about the expression pattern of PI3K in these lesions. Objective: To investigate the expression pattern of PI3K in benign and dysplastic nevi, primary melanomas, and metastatic melanomas and the role of PTEN and PI3K in melanocytic tumor progression. Methods: Tissue microarrays were constructed using formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded archival tissue blocks from 89 melanocytic lesions: 17 benign nevi, 18 dysplastic nevi, 23 primary melanomas, and 31 metastatic melanomas. Expression of PTEN and PI3K (p85 and p110 subunits) was evaluated immunohistochemically, and the number of cells and labeling intensity were assessed semiquantitatively. Results: Both benign and dysplastic nevi showed strong cytoplasmic staining with PTEN, which was subsequently less in melanomas and completely lost in the metastatic lesions. Eleven of 17 (64%) benign nevi, seven of 10 (70%) dysplastic nevi, four of 23 (17%) primaries, and one of 31 (3%) visceral or lymph node metastasis showed strong positivity. Loss of PTEN expression from benign and dysplastic nevi to melanoma was statistically significant (p = 0.001). Although few cells showed reactivity for phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3 kinase)-p85 subunit, strong positivity was not detected in the cytoplasm of benign, malignant, or metastatic lesions, except for a single visceral metastasis. Three of 13 (23%) nevi showed positivity for the p110 subunit. No positivity was observed in the dysplastic nevi. Two of 22 (9%) melanomas, one of 14 (7%) visceral metastasis, and three of 12 (25%) lymph node metastasis showed strong positivity. There was no statistical difference in PI3 kinase expression in benign and malignant melanocytic lesions (p = 0.2). Conclusion: PI3K is not overexpressed in melanocytic lesions.
Lightning-A Hazard to Electric Systems [includes discussion]

The first phase of the problem of lightning protection of power systems from the damaging effects of lightning has been completed. A working knowledge of the parameters of the transients which may be applied to lines or apparatus as the result of lightning storms is now available from studies of natural lightning and its effects in various parts of the world through the use of devices especially designed for the purpose.
Pesticidal and Receptor Binding Properties of Bacillus thuringiensis Cry1Ab and Cry1Ac δ-Endotoxin Mutants to Pectinophora gossypiella and Helicoverpa zea

Bacillus thuringiensis produces several larvicidal crystalline inclusions during sporulation. An understanding of their mechanisms of action is commercially important. In this study, two toxins, Cry1Ab and Cry1Ac, were compared that showed 98% amino acid identity in domain I and II, but differed significantly in domain III. Using site-directed mutagenesis techniques, two conserved loop 2 Arg's (368RR369) of Cry1Ab and Cry1Ac toxins were replaced with Ala (368AR369, 368RA369, 368AA369), Glu (368EE369), Phe (368FF369), His (368HH369), and Lys (368KK369). The effect of these mutants on structural stability, larvicidal potency, receptor binding, and ionic permeability towards two important cotton pests, pink bollworm (Pectinophora gossypiella) and bollworm (Helicoverpa zea) were analyzed. All seven mutants of Cry1Ab, excluding 368AR369, produced a stable protoxin, whereas for Cry1Ac all seven mutants yielded stable protoxin. Results showed that all the stable mutants behaved similarly to the wild type on incubation with trypsin and gut extract of both insect larvae. The Cry1Ab mutants, 368AR369, 368AA369, 368FF369, and 368HH369, lost toxicity; 368EE369 had reduced toxicity; whereas the more conserved change 368KK369 retained the toxicity similar to the wild type towards P. gossypiella. Double mutants of Cry1Ac, 368AA369 and 368FF369, abolished the toxicity. Double mutant 368KK369 of Cry1Ac retained its toxicity against P. gossypiella, whereas single mutants 368AR369, 368RA369, and 368HH369 retained only reduced toxicity. All the mutants of Cry1Ab lost their toxicity against H. zea except 368KK369. In Cry1Ac single mutants, 368AR369 and 368RA369, reduction in the toxicity was observed. A double mutant of Cry1Ac, 368KK369, also retained reduced toxicity. All the other double mutants lost their toxicity. Voltage clamping experiments on H. zea midguts provided an additional evidence about the insecticidal property and inhibition of Isc across the transepithelial membrane of the insect midgut.
Organic Carbon and Sulfur in the Sediments of the Virginia Chesapeake Bay

ABSTRACT Organic carbon and sulfur contents of 900 sediment samples from the Virginia portion of Chesapeake Bay average 1.0 percent and 0.35 percent, respectively. The concentrations are closely related to the weight percent clay in the sediment, which in turn appears to be a function of depth and wave or current energy. Additionally there is a close relationship between the organic carbon and sulfur contents, a result of the limiting-role played by organic matter in the bacterial reduction of sulfate.
An Educational HIV Pretest Counseling Video Program for Off-Hours Testing in the Emergency Department

Study objective Multiple barriers to traditional pretest HIV counseling make HIV testing difficult to accomplish in the emergency department setting in off hours. This study compares the educational effectiveness of a 10-minute pretest counseling video with the usual practice of a session with an HIV counselor. Methods This was a prospective randomized controlled trial of adult patients presenting to the urgent care area of a busy inner-city hospital. Patients either viewed an HIV educational video or spoke with an HIV counselor for pretest counseling. The video was developed by 2 of the investigators (YC, MH) and covered essential educational elements for HIV testing, as required by the New York State Department of Health. All participants completed a measure of HIV knowledge after their intervention. An equivalence analysis was performed to assess whether the video was at least as good as counseling in terms of overall mean knowledge score. Results Of 129 patients recruited for the study, 65 patients were randomized to the intervention and 64 patients to the control group. Five patients were unable to complete the study. The final analysis was based on 124 patients. Mean knowledge scores were higher in the intervention (85.3% versus 79.7%; 90% confidence interval for the difference 2.6% to 8.7%). Conclusion We conclude that the use of an educational video with an inner-city adult population was at least as effective as in-person pretest counseling in conveying information related to HIV testing.
A multilingual embodied conversational agent for tutoring speech and language learning.

Speech and language science and technology evolved under the assumption that speech was a solely auditory event. However, a burgeoning record of research findings reveals that our perception and understanding are influenced by a speaker's face and accompanying gestures, as well as the actual sound of the speech. Perceivers expertly use these multiple sources of information to identify and interpret the language input. Given the value of face-to-face interaction, our persistent goal has been to develop, evaluate, and apply animated agents to produce realistic and accurate speech. Baldi® is an accurate threedimensional animated talking head appropriately aligned with either synthesized or natural speech. Baldi has a realistic tongue and palate, which can be shown by making his skin transparent. Based on this research and technology, we have implemented computer-assisted speech and language tutors for children with language challenges and for all persons learning a second language. Our language-training program utilizes Baldi (or his likeness) as the conversational agent, who guides students through a variety of exercises designed to teach vocabulary and grammar, to improve speech articulation, and to develop linguistic and phonological awareness. We have also implemented multilingual agents, using a client/server architecture system. This system has been used to develop Bao, a Mandarin talker, which has been used in an initial training study for college students learning Mandarin as a new language. The results address the potential for using visible speech technology and pedagogy in language learning of both similar segments in the two languages and new speech segments in the new language. Although visible speech did not facilitate pronunciation learning relative to just auditory speech, we expect that a more prolonged training period would show an advantage of visible speech. Some of the advantages of the Baldi pedagogy and technology include the popularity and proven effectiveness of computers and embodied conversational agents, the perpetual availability of the program, and individualized instruction. The science and technology of Baldi holds great promise in language learning, dialog, human-machine interaction, education, and edutainment. Index Terms: Speech Animation, Language Learning
An updated geometric build-up algorithm for solving the molecular distance geometry problems with sparse distance data

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) structure modeling usually produces a sparse set of inter-atomic distances in protein. In order to calculate the three-dimensional structure of protein, current approaches need to estimate all other ``missing'' distances to build a full set of distances. However, the estimation step is costly and prone to introducing errors. In this report, we describe a geometric build-up algorithm for solving protein structure by using only a sparse set of inter-atomic distances. Such a sparse set of distances can be obtained by combining NMR data with our knowledge on certain bond lengths and bond angles. It can also include confident estimations on some ``missing'' distances. Our algorithm utilizes a simple geometric relationship between coordinates and distances. The coordinates for each atom are calculated by using the coordinates of previously determined atoms and their distances. We have implemented the algorithm and tested it on several proteins. Our results showed that our algorithm successfully determined the protein structures with sparse sets of distances. Therefore, our algorithm reduces the need of estimating the ``missing'' distances and promises a more efficient approach to NMR structure modeling.
Scaling method for fast Monte Carlo simulation of diffuse reflectance spectra from multilayered turbid media

A scaling Monte Carlo method has been developed to calculate diffuse reflectance from multilayered media with a wide range of optical properties in the ultraviolet-visible wavelength range. This multilayered scaling method employs the photon trajectory information generated from a single baseline Monte Carlo simulation of a homogeneous medium to scale the exit distance and exit weight of photons for a new set of optical properties in the multilayered medium. The scaling method is particularly suited to simulating diffuse reflectance spectra or creating a Monte Carlo database to extract optical properties of layered media, both of which are demonstrated in this paper. Particularly, it was found that the root-mean-square error (RMSE) between scaled diffuse reflectance, for which the anisotropy factor and refractive index in the baseline simulation were, respectively, 0.9 and 1.338, and independently simulated diffuse reflectance was less than or equal to 5% for source-detector separations from 200 to 1500 μm when the anisotropy factor of the top layer in a two-layered epithelial tissue model was varied from 0.8 to 0.99; in contrast, the RMSE was always less than 5% for all separations (from 0 to 1500 μm) when the anisotropy factor of the bottom layer was varied from 0.7 to 0.99. When the refractive index of either layer in the two-layered tissue model was varied from 1.3 to 1.4, the RMSE was less than 10%. The scaling method can reduce computation time by more than 2 orders of magnitude compared with independent Monte Carlo simulations.
A Decade of Advice for Women and Men in the Best-Selling Self-Help Literature

Many human service professionals use self-help books to supplement their services. A content analysis was conducted of the top 10 books on the New York Times best-seller list over 10 years (1988–1998) to determine the degree to which the books empower individuals to resist gender-based socialization messages. The four best-selling books contained advice for both genders to behave consistently with traditional gender socialization. Other books were generally empowering of women and men to resist these messages.
Improved protamine-sensitive membrane electrode for monitoring heparin concentrations in whole blood via protamine titration§

An improved protamine-sensitive electrode based on a polymeric membrane doped with the charged ion exchanger dinonylnaphthalenesulfonate (DNNS) is used for monitoring heparin concentrations in whole blood. The electrode exhibits significant nonequilibrium potentiometric response to polycationic protamine over the concentration range of 0.5-20 mg/L in undiluted whole-blood samples. The sensor can serve as a simple end point detector for the determination of heparin via potentiometric titrations with protamine. Whole-blood heparin concentrations determined by the electrode method (n > or = 157) correlate well with other protamine titration-based methods, including the commercial Hepcon HMS assay (r = 0.934) and a previously reported potentiometric heparin sensor-based method (r = 0.973). Reasonable correlation was also found with a commercial chromogenic anti-Xa heparin assay (r = 0.891) with corresponding plasma samples and appropriate correction for whole-blood hematocrit levels. Whereas a significant positive bias (0.62 kU/L; P < 0.001) is observed between the anti-Xa assay and the protamine sensor methods, insignificant bias is observed between the protamine sensor and the Hepcon HMS tests (0.08 kU/L; P = 0.02). The possibility of fully automating these titrations offers a potentially simple, inexpensive, and accurate method for monitoring heparin concentrations in whole blood.
Recent advances of the time-domain finite element method for computational electromagnetics

This paper summarizes our recent advances in the development of the TDFEM for computational electromagnetics. Because of its unique advantages, the TDFEM is expected to have a great potential in both engineering research and commercial applications.
The law on what documents scientists must keep and disclose

Recently, several climate scientists have received demands to produce their raw data, working notes, e-mails, letters, or other communications. These demands may come in the form of subpoenas, U.S. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests, or requests during litigation. Below are some general guidelines for scientists about complying with their document retention and disclosure obligations, both as a matter of routine practice and in the event of legal action. This article concerns only U.S. laws and is not legal advice, which should be sought from the scientist's lawyers or those of his or her employer.
Towards Secure Spectrum Decision

The key idea of dynamic spectrum access (DSA) networks is to allow the secondary, unlicensed users to detect and use unused portions of the spectrum (white spaces) opportunistically. The two main constraints in the design of DSA networks is to make sure that this opportunistic access is done without any disruption of service to the primary users and without any modifications to the primaries themselves. Most architectures and protocols for DSA networks in the literature assume that all parties are honest and that there are no attackers. Recently (IEEE ICC, CogNet 2008) we demonstrated the failure of this approach by showing that an attacker can manipulate messages to convince the parties involved in the protocol to make incorrect spectrum decisions. In this paper, we consider spectrum decision protocols in clustered infrastructure-based dynamic spectrum access networks where the spectrum decision in each cluster is coordinated by some central authority. We propose an efficient and provably secure protocol that can be used to protect the spectrum decision process against a malicious adversary.
Dynamics as a substitute for replicas in systems with quenched random impurities

Traces over random degrees of freedom may be performed ab initio, without replicas, provided one is using a dynamic description of the system. An effective Lagrangian is obtained after the random degrees of freedom are eliminated. An order parameter is then defined, \`a la Edwards and Anderson, in terms of the time-persistent part of the correlation function. Taking a system with random temperature as a model example, we characterize to all orders the equation of state in the ordered phase. It is found that this equation contains odd powers of the order parameter that destabilize the simplest solutions. These terms suggest that the ${t}^{\ensuremath{-}\frac{1}{2}}$ decay law, found by Ma and Rudnick for the correlation function, is restricted to a region close to the presumed transition point. The formalism is particularly suitable for treating dynamics in the ordered phase.
Progressive Resistance Training Improves Overall Physical Activity Levels in Patients With Early Osteoarthritis of the Knee: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background Prescription of resistance training (RT) exercises is an essential aspect of management for knee osteoarthritis (OA). However, whether patients with knee OA who are randomly assigned to receive RT simply substitute RT for other modes of physical activity remains unclear. Objective The aim of this study was to determine the effect of a structured RT intervention on overall levels of moderate- and vigorous-intensity physical activity (MVPA) in patients with early-onset knee OA. The study compared patients with early-onset OA who participated in an RT program, those who participated in a self-management (SM) program, and those who participated in both RT and SM. Because participants randomly assigned to receive the RT intervention may simply switch activity modes, resulting in little net effect, we assessed total MVPA in addition to tracking changes in strength (force-generating capacity). Design and Intervention This study was a randomized controlled trial comparing the effectiveness of SM alone, RT alone, and combined RT+SM on MVPA in patients with early OA of the knee. Setting The study was conducted on a university campus, with patient recruitment from the local community. Participants The participants in this study were 171 patients (74% women, 26% men) with knee OA. They had a mean age of 55.1 (SD=7.1) years, a mean body mass index of 27.6 (SD=4.2) kg/m2, and radiographic status of grade II OA (and no higher) in at least one knee, as defined by the Kellgren and Lawrence classification. They wore an accelerometer while awake (X=14.2 [SD=2.2] hours) for 5 to 7 contiguous days (X=6.8 [SD=0.5] days) at baseline and at 3 and 9 months of intervention. Results The participants engaged in MVPA a mean of 26.2 (SD=19.3) minutes per day at baseline. Both groups significantly increased their MVPA from baseline to 3 months (RT group by 18% [effect size (d)=0.26]; SM group by 22% [effect size (d)=0.25]), but only the RT group sustained those changes at 9 months (RT group maintained a 10% increase [effect size (d)=0.15]; SM group maintained a 2% increase [effect size (d)=0.03]). A significant group × time interaction for MVPA indicated that the RT group maintained higher MVPA levels than the SM group. Limitations. Lack of direct measures of energy expenditure and physical function was a limitation of the study. Conclusions Patients with early-onset OA of the knee can engage in an RT program without sacrificing their overall MVPA levels. These results support the value of RT for management of knee OA.
G Protein–Coupled Receptor Kinase 5 Gene Polymorphisms Are Associated With Postoperative Atrial Fibrillation After Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting in Patients Receiving β-Blockers

Background— We hypothesized that genetic variations in the adrenergic signaling pathway and cytochrome P450 2D6 enzyme are associated with new-onset atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting and were treated with perioperative β-blockers (BBs). Methods and Results— Two cohorts of patients who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting and received perioperative BBs at Duke University Medical Center were studied. In a discovery cohort of 563 individuals from the Perioperative Genetics and Safety Outcomes Study (PEGASUS), using a covariate-adjusted logistic regression analysis, we tested 492 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 10 candidate genes of the adrenergic signaling pathway and cytochrome P450 2D6 for association with postoperative AF despite perioperative BB therapy. SNPs meeting a false discovery rate ≤0.20 ( P <0.002) were then tested in the replication cohort of 245 individuals from the Catheterization Genetics biorepository. Of the 492 SNPs examined, 4 intronic SNPs of the G protein–coupled kinase 5 ( GRK5 ) gene were significantly associated with postoperative AF despite perioperative BB therapy in the discovery cohort with additive odds ratios between 1.72 and 2.75 ( P =4.78×10−5 to 0.0015). Three of these SNPs met nominal significance levels in the replication cohort with odds ratios between 2.07 and 2.60 ( P =0.007 to 0.016). However, meta-analysis of the 2 data sets cohorts suggested strong association with postoperative AF despite perioperative BB therapy in all 4 SNPs (meta- P values from 1.66×10–6 to 3.39×10–5). Conclusions— In patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting, genetic variation in GRK5 is associated with postoperative AF despite perioperative BB therapy.
Voluntary Association: A Further Comment

By following Lowie's (1960) confusing use of the term "voluntary association," Anderson (1971) invited criticism of the sort offered by Amsbury (1972). The nature and source of this confusion may be outlined quite briefly. After providing this outline, I will suggest a useful and cross-cultural definition of voluntary association. In 1920, Lowie used the term "association" to designate non-kinship institutions; in 1948 he further delimited this negative or residual category to include institutions which were primarily based neither on territoriality nor kinship. Lowie also used the term "sodality" as a synonym for "association." As a residual category, Lowie's concept necessarily had a limited usefulness (Weisbrod 1966:64), though it need not have led to any misunderstandings. But, and here comes the trouble, in the second work Lowie also used the term "voluntary association" as a synonym for "association" or "sodality." He then had to note that some "voluntary associations" were not in fact "voluntary" (Lowie 1947:257-337, 1960:12-14, 294-295). It is difficult to justify the inclusion of non-voluntary associations under the heading of "voluntary associations," but perhaps Lowie merely hoped to take a step toward merging the anthropological concept of the association with the sociologists' and political scientists' concept of the voluntary association. Their concept derives from the West's historic concern for the freedom of association. Exercise of that freedom produces voluntary associations: institutions not a part of or imposed by the state (Sills 1968:362-363). This is clearly a culture bound concept. A common attempt to release the concept from its culture-boundedness is to focus on the voluntariness. Hammond, for example, has apparently followed this line of reasoning when she defines associations as "the wide range of organized groups whose membership results from an act of joining" (1972:1), even though she reje ts the idea that such associations are necessarily voluntary (1972:3). The pursuit of narrow interests, as opposed to diffuse interests or functions, is frequently cited as an attribute of voluntary associations. Banton converts this attribute into a de-
Shot noise in schottky-barrier diodes as diffusion noise

Abstract The shot noise theorem for Schottky-barrier diodes, S I ( f ) = 2 eI +4 eI 0 ( V ), is here derived from diffusion noise principles.
Diagnosis and repair of memory with coupling faults

The problem of diagnosis and spare allocation for random-access memory (RAM) with coupling faults is addressed. A number of spare allocation algorithms for RAM with row and column redundancy have recently been proposed. These procedures, however, have been restricted to repair stuck-at faults. The authors examine both diagnosis and repair of coupling faults in RAMs utilizing spare rows and columns. It is shown that a coupling fault is repaired if its coupling cell is replaced by utilizing a spare row or its coupled cell is replaced by utilizing a spare row or column. By specifying both the coupled cell and coupling cell, the amount of redundancy required to repair a given set of faults may be reduced. A diagnosis procedure for RAM is provided to locate stuck-at faults as well as coupling faults. A graph model is used to describe the repair of coupling faults. A repair procedure has been implemented to allocate rows and columns for repair. >
Microgel formation and thermo‐mechanical properties of UV‐curing unsaturated polyester acrylates

The effect of internal and terminal unsaturation on the properties of the acrylated polyester films was investigated. Four types of acrylated polyester resin were prepared using adipic acid, maleic anhydride, neopentyl glycol, trimethylolpropane, and acrylic acid. Terminal and internal double bond content as well as branching was adjusted by the molar quantities of trimethylolpropane and maleic anhydride, respectively. A reactive diluent, trimethylolpropane triacrylate (TMPTA), was also used. A three-factor, three-level Box-Behnken design was used to investigate complex nonlinear relationships. Dynamic mechanical, fracture toughness, and tensile properties were evaluated with respect to the amount of terminal and internal unsaturation, and reactive diluent concentration. It was found that microgel formation extensively affects the final UV-cured film properties. Small quantities of microgels function as micro-support units, whereas high extent of microgelation causes phase separation through cluster formation and hence, decreases the mechanical properties. It is essential to control the extent of microgelation and phase separation to optimize product performance. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008
A technique for designing totally self-checking domino logic circuits

A scheme for concurrent self-checking domino logic circuit is proposed. The self-checking feature is achieved by transistor sharing of the original and its inverse functions and by using the outputs as 1-out-of-2 code. The sharing of transistors lowers the overhead required for the inverse function. A checker circuit is embedded into the self-checking implementation. The scheme is especially suitable for large CMOS domino logic circuits.
Symmetrical recognition of cellular DNA target sequences during retroviral integration.

I ntegration of the retrovirus DNA genome into host chromosomes is essential for viral replication. After virus infection of the cell, synthesis of viral cDNA occurs by reverse transcription of the viral RNA genome. Integration of the viral DNA genome into cellular DNA is catalyzed by the viral integrase (IN) encapsulated within the infecting virus particle. Viral DNA integration has different consequences for the host. Integration of HIV type 1 (HIV-1) results in virus spread giving rise to the pathology of HIV-1/AIDS that can be suppressed by combinational drug therapies. In animal model systems, the integrated provirus of murine leukemia virus (MLV) and avian sarcoma-leukemia virus (ASLV) DNA either is transcribed to produce virus particles or is silenced by host cellular mechanisms, or, on rare occasions, may modify cellular protooncogenes that can result in different forms of cancers. In this issue of PNAS, Holman and Coffin (1) studied DNA sequences at the sites of integration of HIV-1, MLV, and ASLV viral genomes within the human genome. The evaluation of this collection of nucleotide sequences was made possible by coupling the known human genome sequence with the recent cloning and sequencing of several thousand viral DNA integration sites resulting from infection of human cells by these three retroviruses (2-5). Analysis showed significant base preferences at and near integration sites. Integration of the retrovirus DNA genome by IN occurs in the context of viral nucleoprotein complexes termed preintegration complexes (PICs) (6). Do PICs of HIV-1, MLV, and ASLV select distinct chromosomal regions in the human genome (2-5) for integration of their viral genomes? All of the chromosomes represented nearly equal targets for viral DNA integration with all three viruses. HIV-1 PIC favored integrating its viral genome inside genes (2-4). MLV preferred integrating into or near …
The economic basis of cooperation: tradeoffs between selfishness and generosity

The current study examined the economics of cooperation in controlled-payoff games by using captive blue jays, Cyanocitta cristata. This investigation used a special feeding apparatus to test for the stability of cooperative choice in a series of iterated games. The jays experienced experimentally determined game theoretical payoff matrices, which determined the distribution of food to themselves and their opponent, depending on their decision to cooperate or defect. The experiment tested four game matrices, called the cooperate only, defect only, prisoner’s dilemma, and opponent control treatments. This study found little cooperation in the defect only and prisoner’s dilemma treatments. Cooperation occurred significantly more often in the opponent control treatment. These findings suggest that the jays attend to short-term consequences; they do not cooperate in the absence of an immediate benefit (defect only), even if a long-term benefit may exist (prisoner’s dilemma). The opponent control treatment suggests that cooperation can occur when an individual’s benefits depend completely on the actions of others; therefore, generosity is cheap. This study, therefore, agrees with recent studies in proposing alternative models of cooperation.
Friction Studies on Rubberlike Materials

Abstract One of the best summaries of the theory of friction between solid materials up to 1949 was published by Bowden and Tabor. However, little attention was devoted in this review to either theoretical or experimental results on the friction between rubberlike materials and other solids. In recent years, the literature on various aspects of the friction of rubberlike materials has become quite voluminous and unfortunately sometimes contradictory in the results and interpretations presented. This is understandable, to some extent, in the light of the fact that each individual research effort has usually been directed toward some particular aspect of the problem; certain, sometimes rather arbitrary, conditions are employed or assumed, and the results obtained are often rather unclear functions of these experimental or theoretical parameters. The situation is further complicated by the facts that at the very best, experimental frictional studies do not yield very accurate or readily reproducible data and...