cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Genetic parameters of body size in purebred and crossbred dairy cattle.

Abstract Breed additive, breed maternal, and heterozygotic effects on body weight, height at withers, depth of fore-chest, girth of fore-chest, length from withers to pins, length from withers to hips, and length from hips to pins at 6, 12, 18, and 30 mo of age were estimated from linear regression analyses. Data were available on 87 purebred Ayrshire, Brown Swiss, Holstein, and 213 two-way, three-way, and five-eighths crosses. Birth year, birth month, and age of dam were significant environmental effects. Ayrshire additive effects were smaller than Holstein for all traits at all ages except length from hips to pins at 6 and 12 mo of age. Additive effects for Brown Swiss were smaller than for Holstein for body weight at 12 mo, height at withers at all ages, depth of fore-chest and girth of fore-chest at 6, 12, and 18 mo,length from withers to pins and length from withers to hips at 12 and 30 mo, and length from hips to pins at 18 mo. Breed maternal effects were not significant for any trait at any age. Means of crossbreds generally exceeded means of parental breeds, especially body weight. Average heterosis for body weight was 3.0% at 6 mo, 4.6% at 12 mo, 5.0% at 18 mo, and 3.5% at 30 mo of age. Heterosis for weight increased with age through 18 mo and declined by 30 mo of age. Heterosis for other traits was generally 1 to 2% with no trend with age.
Impact of native defects in high‐k dielectric oxides on GaN/oxide metal–oxide–semiconductor devices

We perform first-principles calculations to investigate the electronic structure of native defects in various oxide dielectrics to address the impact of defects on GaN/oxide metal–oxide–semiconductor (MOS) devices. We calculate defect formation energies in Al2O3, HfO2, and LaAlO3, as a function of the chemical potentials and of the Fermi-level position in the band gap. By aligning the conduction-band and valence-band edges of these oxides to those of GaN, the role of native defect as charge-trap or fixed-charge centers in GaN-based MOS devices is examined. We find that oxygen vacancies in the oxide dielectrics result in charge-state transition levels near the GaN conduction-band edge. They can therefore introduce border traps and/or leakage current through the gate dielectric in the n-GaN/oxide MOS devices such as MOS field-effect-transistors. While the transition levels for other defects are well away from the GaN conduction-band edge, these defects are stable in non-neutral charge states and thus act as sources of fixed charge in MOS devices.
Metallicities of Two Distant Globular Clusters from Spectra of Moderate Dispersion

We have used model atmospheres and spectrum synthesis to analyze medium resolution, moderate signal-to-noise, blue spectra of three stars in each of the globular clusters NGC 7006 and NGC 6229 for metallicity and carbon abundance. Both clusters are known to have intermediate metallicity, but NGC 7006 has a reddish horizontal branch, while NGC 6229 has a blue horizontal branch. We find that [M/H] = -1.6 for NGC 7006 and [M/H] = -1.4 for NGC 6229, with uncertainties near ±0.1. In NGC 7006 carbon is depleted, presumably by CN cycling, so that [C/Fe] = -0.7. Our [C/Fe] ratio, as derived for stars with Teff ~ 4200 K, agrees with the [C/Fe] ratio found by Friel et al. for stars with Teff between 4500 and 4700 K. This shows that the stars in NGC 7006 have not suffered additional mixing as they advance up the giant branch from 4700 K to the red giant tip. For NGC 6229 we derive [C/Fe] = -0.56. We find evidence for a scatter in [C/Fe], indicating differing degrees of carbon depletion from star to star.
Regional asynchrony during acute myocardial ischemia quantified by ultrasound strain rate imaging

OBJECTIVES We propose a new method to easily quantify asynchronous wall motion due to postsystolic shortening (PSS). We also studied the relationship of the spatial and temporal extent of PSS to the extent of myocardium at ischemic risk after variable duration of ischemia. BACKGROUND Postsystolic shortening is a sensitive marker of asynchrony during ischemia. Current techniques for detection of asynchrony are either subjective, or invasive and time-consuming. Strain rate imaging (SRI) can noninvasively depict PSS as prolonged compression/expansion crossover. METHODS Nineteen open-chest pigs were scanned from apical views, before and after left anterior descending coronary artery occlusion. Strain rates were derived offline from tissue Doppler velocity cineloops. The time from electrocardiographic R-wave to the occurrence of compression/expansion crossover (TCEC) was calculated. Prolonged TCEC during ischemia was identified using a standardized analysis and both spatial (% of left ventricle) and temporal extent were quantified. The extent of myocardium at risk was measured in seven animals from dye-stained specimens. RESULTS Prolonged T CEC was found in all ischemic segments. There was a good correlation (r 5 0.91; p , 0.001) and good agreement between the spatial distributions of prolonged TCEC and myocardium at risk. The extent of myocardium at risk was better approximated by TCEC measurement (36 6 7% vs. 39 6 8%, respectively; p 5 NS) than by wall motion analysis (47 6 17%, p , 0.05). The duration of occlusion did not prolong T CEC. CONCLUSIONS Prolonged TCEC consistently occurs in ischemic myocardium and is apparently not affected by the duration of ischemia. Standardized analysis of TCEC in SRI closely quantifies the extent of ischemic myocardium. This new method may be a useful tool in other cardiac conditions associated with regional diastolic asynchrony. (J Am Coll Cardiol 2001;37: 1141‐ 8) © 2001 by the American College of Cardiology
An Iterative Solution for the Plane Hybrid Bearing

The paper describes a method of successive approximations for calculating lubricant film pressures in plane bearings under the combined action of hydrodynamic and hydrostatic lubrication. Successive iterations are obtained through redefinition of the boundary pressures. The accuracy and convergence of the method are discussed.
How secretarial studies might evolve

Abstract The social implications the impact of the new technology in the office could bring about if critical thought is not given to current methods of secretarial training are quite frightening. The implications of change in terms of the extent office jobs will be affected by the new technology are outlined in the report ‘Office Technology’ published by the Royal Society of Arts, but the possible future career structure in secretarial work requires further elaboration for the full impact of the urgent necessity for a changed emphasis in the curricula to be more clearly apparent. An awareness of how future career patterns are likely to evolve and how the present structure of secretarial training equates with future commercial needs will enable teachers to identify areas of the secretarial curriculum that require a different emphasis. Whilst a changed secretarial curriculum is perhaps a long-term prospect, flexible teaching techniques can be implemented immediately and can go a long way to helping the evo...
Magnetic properties of some copper(II) complexes of N-salicylideneamino acids and N-2-hydroxy naphthylideneamino acids

Abstract Some new copper(II) complexes with N-salicylideneamino acids and N-2-hydroxy-naphthylideneamino acids have been synthesized and characterized. Two different types of complexes could be prepared with these ligands: Cu(ONO) and Cu(ONO). H2O (where ONO represents tridentate dibasic ligands derived from salicylaldehyde or 2-hydroxynaphthaldehyde and α-amino acids). The Cu(ONO) complexes are involved in antiferromagnetic exchange and the Cu(ONO). H2O complexes are simple spin doublet species. Magnetic susceptibilities, ESR, i.r. and optical spectral data of the complexes are reported.
Opinion: Mathematical models: A key tool for outbreak response

The 2014 outbreak of Ebola in West Africa is unprecedented in its size and geographic range, and demands swift, effective action from the international community. Understanding the dynamics and spread of Ebola is critical for directing interventions and extinguishing the epidemic; however, observational studies of local conditions have been incomplete and limited by the urgent need to direct resources to patient care.
Body boundary and psychological control in an arthritic population.

Summary This study investigated the relationship of body boundary and psychological control in a sample of 115 arthritic and connective tissue disorder patients. Barrier and penetration scores in the Rorschach were compared with ratings of outer and inner control. A positive significant relationship was found between barrier and outer control and a negative significant relationship was found between penetration and inner control. It is indicated that in this population a combination of high barrier and low penetration is associated with good psychological control while a combination of low barrier and high penetration is associated with poor psychological control. A combination of high barrier and high penetration is associated with poor inner control and a combination of low barrier and low penetration is associated with poor outer control.
Writing an operating system/2 application

This paper illustrates use of the key facilities of Operating System/2™ (OS/2™). It provides some guidance on how to use the interfaces and functions implemented by the system and then introduces the program development environment. Two examples demonstrate the use of some of the more interesting capabilities. The paper discusses many of the significant differences between the functions of OS/2 and those of the Disk Operating System (DOS).
De-Facto Science Policy in the Making: How Scientists Shape Science Policy and Why it Matters (or, Why STS and STP Scholars Should Socialize)

Science and technology (S&T) policy studies has explored the relationship between the structure of scientific research and the attainment of desired outcomes. Due to the difficulty of measuring them directly, S&T policy scholars have traditionally equated “outcomes” with several proxies for evaluation, including economic impact, and academic output such as papers published and citations received. More recently, scholars have evaluated science policies through the lens of Public Value Mapping, which assesses scientific programs against societal values. Missing from these approaches is an examination of the social activities within the scientific enterprise that affect research outputs and outcomes. We contend that activities that significantly affect research trajectories take place at the levels of individual researchers and their communities, and that S&T policy scholars must take heed of this activity in their work in order to better inform policy. Based on primary research of two scientific communities—ecologists and sustainability scientists—we demonstrate that research agendas are actively shaped by parochial epistemic and normative concerns of the scientists and their disciplines. S&T policy scholarship that explores how scientists balance these concerns, alongside more formal science policies and incentive structures, will enhance understanding of why certain science policies fail or succeed and how to more effectively link science to beneficial social outcomes.
In vitro human metabolism of permethrin: the role of human alcohol and aldehyde dehydrogenases

Permethrin is a pyrethroid insecticide widely used in agriculture and public health. It has been suggested that permethrin may interact with other chemicals used during military deployments and, as a result, be a potential cause of Gulf War Related Illness. To determine the causal relationship between permethrin and human health effects, the basic enzymatic pathway of permethrin metabolism in humans should be understood. In the present study we report that trans-permethrin is metabolized in human liver fractions, producing phenoxybenzyl alcohol (PBOH) and phenoxybenzoic acid (PBCOOH). We identified human alcohol (ADH) and aldehyde dehydrogenases (ALDH) as the enzymes involved in the oxidation of phenoxybenzyl alcohol, the permethrin hydrolysis product, to phenoxybenzoic acid by way of phenoxybenzaldehyde (PBCHO). Cis-permethrin was not significantly metabolized in human liver fractions. Cytochrome P450 isoforms were not involved either in the hydrolysis of trans-permethrin or in the oxidation of PBOH to PBCOOH. Purified ADH isozymes oxidized PBOH to PBCHO and PBOH was a preferred substrate to ethyl alcohol. Purified ALDH was responsible for PBCHO oxidation to PBCOOH with similar substrate affinity to a previously known substrate, benzyl alcohol. Based on these observations, it appears that PBOH is oxidized to PBCHO by ADH and subsequently to PBCOOH by ALDH, although PBCHO does not accumulate during microsomal incubation. In order to analyze permethrin and its metabolites, previous HPLC-UV methods had to be re-validated and modified. The resulting refined HPLC-UV method is described in detail.
A finite element analysis of cylinder and ring compression and its experimental verification

Abstract The role of interfacial friction on the deformation behavior of metals under uniaxial compression was analyzed employing a finite element procedure. At the same time, analytical results were compared with those obtained from a series of carefully controlled experiments made with 6061-T6 aluminum cylinder and ring specimens. The updated Lagrangian formulation and the contact surface algorithm of the ADINA finite element code were used for the analysis of the axisymmetric problems. Comparison of the experimental findings with those of the finite element analysis results shows reasonable agreement for some cases as well as some discrepancies in others. Possible causes for the discrepancies are discussed.
No other Tale to Tell: “Sonny's Blues” and Waiting for the Rain

(1995). No other Tale to Tell: “Sonny's Blues” and Waiting for the Rain. Critique: Studies in Contemporary Fiction: Vol. 36, No. 3, pp. 195-209.
Recent increase in atmospheric deposition of mercury to California aquatic systems inferred from a 300-year geochronological assessment of lake sediments

Age-dated sediment cores from 4 remote lakes across California were analyzed for total Hg (HgT) concentration as a function of pre- and post-industrialization. Particle size, magnetic susceptibility and organic C and N, were measured to determine if the Hg concentration in sediment cores could be related to atmospheric deposition and/or watershed processes. Results indicate that (a) for each lake modern (1970–2004) HgT lake sediment concentrations have increased by an average factor of 5 times more than historic (pre-1850) HgT concentrations; (b) the ratio of modern to pre-industrial lake sediment HgT for these lakes are higher than estimated for other locations where atmospheric deposition is presumed to be the main source of Hg; (c) 2 of the 4 studied lakes demonstrated significant relationships between HgT concentrations and percentage organic material (r2 = 0.68 and p < 0.01; r2 = 0.67 and p < 0.01) whereas the other two indicated no significant relationship (r2 = 0.05 and p = 0.51; r2 = 0.12 and p = 0.36).
Model calculation of brownian motion parameters at a metal surface

Abstract We calculate the friction parameter and electronic contribution to the binding energy of a single adparticle just inside a metal surface. The semi-infinite metal is treated as a free electron gas bounded by an infinite repulsive barrier. Closed form expressions are obtained for the relevant Green's function through the application of various image theorems which relate this problem to one in which an adparticle and its image are immersed in a uniform electron gas. Numerical calculations are carried out for a simple treatment of the adparticle scattering properties. A strong variation of the results with the distance of the adparticle from the surface is found and discussed.
Complex Permittivity of Beryllium Oxide between 100 and 300 K at 9.3 GHz

9.3 GHz measurement results of the relative permittivity and loss tangent of beryllium oxide at 99, 145, 223, and 300 K are reported.
Austerian economics: : Does the Vienna school favor fiscal deficit reduction even in a subpar economy?

Does the economic analysis associated with the modern Austrian school favor a policy of restraining the government’s fiscal deficit even in a subpar economy, as suggested by those who (pejoratively) label such a policy “austerian”? Because resources are not superabundant even in a subpar economy, the answer is yes, unless (implausibly) the return on the last (lowest-payoff) dollar of government expenditure exceeds the return on private investment.
Predominant droplet nucleation in emulsion polymerization

Emulsions stabilized against diffusional degradation by incorporating a polymeric cosurfactant have been produced and polymerized. The presence of large numbers of small droplets shifts the nucleation mechanism from micellar or homogeneous nucleation, to droplet nucleation. When an efficient cosurfactant is used, this process is referred to as miniemulsion polymerization. Polymer, however, is known to be a poor cosurfactant. Its advantage is that, unlike most cosurfactants, it is innocuous in the recipe. Results indicate that even a poor cosurfactant (polymer) is adequate to stabilize small droplets against diffusional degradation long enough to nucleate them into polymer particles. The dependence of the concentration and molecular weight of the cosurfactant on the droplet size and distribution is investigated. Droplet diameters range from 19.5 to 141.2 nm with polydispersities of about 1.023. The polymeric cosurfactant is found to affect the mechanism of nucleation. On-line conductance measurements are used to successfully differentiate between nucleation mechanisms. The observed reaction rates are dependent on the amount of polymeric cosurfactant present. In addition, the latexes prepared with the polymeric cosurfactant have lower polydispersities (1.006) than either latexes prepared from classical emulsions (1.049) or from alkane-stabilized miniemulsions (1.037). © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Controlling the resolution of acute inflammation: a new genus of dual anti-inflammatory and proresolving mediators.

A well-integrated host inflammatory response is essential in maintaining health and fighting disease. It is important to achieve a complete understanding of the cellular and molecular events that govern the resolution of acute inflammation. Because novel lipid-derived mediators, called resolvins and protectins in animal models, control the duration and magnitude of inflammation, the mapping of these resolution circuits may provide new ways of understanding the molecular basis of many inflammatory diseases. This article provides an overview of recent studies on resolvin and protectin biosynthesis and of advances in understanding the actions of these novel anti-inflammatory and proresolving lipid mediators. These new families of lipid-derived mediators were originally isolated from experimental murine models of acute inflammation identified during the natural spontaneous resolution phase. They are biosynthesized from omega-3 fatty acids (eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid) and possess potent ant...
A TEM study of microstructures associated with solution cleavage in limestone

Abstract Microstructures associated with clay-filled seams in the Scaglia Rossa limestone from the Umbria-Marche Apennines, Italy, were characterized with transmission electron microscopy (TEM) in order to study one of the mechanisms that presently falls under the heading of “pressure solution”. Only seams that formed after lithification, often called “solution” of “spaced” cleavage were examined. Although some observations supported suggestions that much of the clay in the solution cleavage seam could be authigenic, this report focuses primarily on the limestone microstructures. No evidence of plastic deformation could be observed around the seams with an optical microscope. However, the TEM resolved dislocations concentrated within limited areas of single grains. Comparisons with experimentally deformed calcite microstructures and with computer simulations of TEM dislocation contrast allowed further interpretation of the character and density of dislocations. Dislocation concentrations were frequently associated with voids and pits. The pits and voids were usually elongate in a calcite dislocation slip plane, and were interpreted as dissolution features. These and other observations suggested that selective dissolution of localized dislocation tangles was responsible for solution cleavage formation. Similar microstructures associated with the stress corrosion cracking have been interpreted elsewhere as evidence of plastic strain enhanced heterogeneous dissolution. Further interpretations indicated that a solution cleavage surface grows laterally like a fracture tip.
Validity and reliability of cardiac output by CO2 rebreathing.

This article reviews the available literature on the validity and reliability of the non-invasive techniques, commonly known as CO2 rebreathing, for estimating cardiac output. The differing indirect methodologies are described and illustrated. A table, constructed from the available literature, comparing criterion versus estimated cardiac outputs is presented. The varying combinations of methods employed, differing measurement conditions, i.e. rest and exercise, and divergent populations are illustrated and discussed. The correlation between criterion and estimated cardiac output for these studies ranged from r = 0.09 to 0.96, with a % standard deviation of the differences of 1.5 to 176.8%. The Collier and end-tidal methods, in conjunction with either the Comroe or McHardy CO2 dissociation curve appears to be the most established, valid and reliable combination of methods for estimating resting cardiac output. These methods appear to be comparable to the combination of the Defares, end-tidal and Comroe curve methods for estimating cardiac output during exercise. Because of the potential for large errors, caution is urged when interpreting cardiac output results based on indirect estimation for individual assessment, or for subjects with certain types of pulmonary or heart diseases.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea-induced Supraventricular Tachycardia

Obstructive sleep apnea has been associated with various cardiac arrhythmias; however, supraventricular tachycardia has not been reported to occur in this disorder. This case report describes a patient who developed episodes of supraventricular tachycardia during periods of apnea and oxygen desaturation. With the initiation of nasal continuous positive airway pressure during sleep, the arrhythmia was abolished. The etiology and possible mechanisms responsible for the supraventricular tachycardia are discussed.
K-distribution and polarimetric terrain radar clutter

A multivariate K-distribution is proposed to model the statistics of fully polarimetric radar data from earth terrain with polarizations HH, HV, VH, and VV. In this approach, correlated polarizations of radar signals, as characterized by a covariance matrix, are treated as the sum of N n-dimensional random vectors; N obeys the negative binomial distribution with a parameter alpha and mean N-bar. Subsequently, an n-dimensional K-distribution, with either zero or nonzero mean, is developed in the limit of infinite N-bar or illuminated area. The probability density function (PDF) of the K-distributed vector normalized by its Euclidean norm is independent of the parameter alpha and is the same as that derived from a zero-mean Gaussian-distributed random vector.
Rodent thyroid, liver, and fetal testis toxicity of the monoester metabolite of bis-(2-ethylhexyl) tetrabromophthalate (tbph), a novel brominated flame retardant present in indoor dust.

Background: Bis-(2-ethylhexyl) tetrabromophthalate (TBPH) is widely used as a replacement for polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in commercial flame retardant mixtures such as Firemaster 550. It is also used in a commercial mixture called DP 45. Mono-(2-ethyhexyl) tetrabromophthalate (TBMEHP) is a potentially toxic metabolite. Objectives: We used in vitro and rodent in vivo models to evaluate human exposure and the potential metabolism and toxicity of TBPH. Methods: Dust collected from homes, offices, and cars was measured for TBPH by gas chromatography followed by mass spectrometry. Pregnant rats were gavaged with TBMEHP (200 or 500 mg/kg) or corn oil on gestational days 18 and 19, and dams and fetuses were evaluated histologically for toxicity. We also assessed TBMEHP for deiodinase inhibition using rat liver microsomes and for peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) α and γ activation using murine FAO cells and NIH 3T3 L1 cells. Results: TBPH concentrations in dust from office buildings (median, 410 ng/g) were higher than in main living areas in homes (median, 150 ng/g). TBPH was metabolized by purified porcine esterases to TBMEHP. Two days of TBMEHP exposure in the rat produced maternal hypothyroidism with markedly decreased serum T3 (3,3´,5-triiodo-l-thyronine), maternal hepatotoxicity, and increased multinucleated germ cells (MNGs) in fetal testes without antiandrogenic effects. In vitro, TBMEHP inhibited deiodinase activity, induced adipocyte differentiation in NIH 3T3 L1 cells, and activated PPARα- and PPARγ-mediated gene transcription in NIH 3T3 L1 cells and FAO cells, respectively. Conclusions: TBPH a) is present in dust from indoor environments (implying human exposure) and b) can be metabolized by porcine esterases to TBMEHP, which c) elicited maternal thyrotoxic and hepatotoxic effects and d) induced MNGs in the fetal testes in a rat model. In mouse NIH 3T3 L1 preadipocyte cells, TBMEHP inhibited rat hepatic microsome deiodinase activity and was an agonist for PPARs in murine FAO and NIH 3T3 L1 cells.
Technical change and the structure of production: A non-stationary Markov analysis

Elasticities of farm structure and of the probabilities of movement from one size of farm to another are derived and calculated from a Markov model. They are used to examine the impact of technical change on the size distribution of farms over time. Imperfectly observed aggregate data are used to estimate non-stationary transition probabilities which characterise movement in farm size. The model examines the structure of small (one to 29 cows), medium (30 to 49 cows), large (50 to 99 cows), and very large (100 or more cows) Wisconsin dairy farms during the 1980s and early 1990s. Findings confirm the non-stationary nature of the evolution in farm structure. Copyright 1995 by Oxford University Press.
SIMS analyses of minor and trace element distributions in fracture calcite from Yucca Mountain, Nevada, USA

Abstract Fracture-lining calcite samples from Yucca Mountain, Nevada, obtained as part of the extensive vertical sampling in studies of this site as a potential high-level waste repository, have been characterized according to microbeam-scale (25–30 μm) trace and minor element chemistry, and cathodoluminescent zonation patterns. As bulk chemical analyses are limited in spatial resolution and are subject to contamination by intergrown phases, a technique for analysis by secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) of minor (Mn, Fe, Sr) and trace (REE) elements in calcite was developed and applied to eighteen calcite samples from four boreholes and one trench. SIMS analyses of REE in calcite and dolomite have been shown to be quantitative to abundances Bulk chemical signatures noted by Vaniman (1994) allowed correlation of minor and trace element signatures in Yucca Mountain calcite with location of calcite precipitation (saturated vs. unsaturated zone). For example, upper unsaturated zone calcite exhibits pronounced negative Ce and Eu anomalies not observed in calcite collected below in the deep unsaturated zone. These chemical distinctions served as fingerprints which were applied to growth zones in order to examine temporal changes in calcite crystallization histories; analyses of such fine-scale zonal variations are unattainable using bulk analytical techniques. In addition, LREE (particularly Ce) scavenging of calcite-precipitating solutions by manganese oxide phases is discussed as the mechanism for Ce-depletion in unsaturated zone calcite.
A Conceptual Framework for Developing and Implementing Effective Policy in Children's Mental Health:

This article presents a framework to be used in studying public policy development and implementation in children's mental health. It particularly focuses on policy related to the establishment of community-based systems of care.The framework is based on a review of the literature on policy development and implementation. It focuses on four dimensions: the stages of policy development and implementation, the relationships among different levels of government, the relationships among different service sectors, and variables that affect the likelihood that a policy will achieve its intended effect.
Merging concurrent behaviors on a redundant manipulator

The control of a redundant manipulator with multiple simultaneous control sources is described. Each control source provides a different behavior type. An application is decomposed into multiple simultaneous behaviors whose resultant behavior will provide the motion necessary to execute the task. The simultaneous control inputs are merged using impedance control to compute a resultant command to the manipulator. The task space of each behavior can have the dimensionality of the mechanism being controlled. Control of a seven-degree-of-freedom manipulator is described. The available task space for each behavior has dimensionality seven. >
The Khalistan Movement in Punjab, India, and the Post-Militancy Era: Structural Change and New Political Compulsions

A Sikh militant movement in Punjab is unlikely to reemerge in the near future because of exhaustion from the militant era, the shift toward federalism in the Indian political system, the increased importance of state level parties, the rise of the Bharatiya Janata Party, and the emergence of coalition politics.
Recent advances in health professional training on substance abuse disorders

The trainee health professional is influenced by many factors-personal and family experiences, the effectiveness of the teacher as role model, the attitudes in the institution in which training takes place and the cultural norms of society. Adverse experiences, if any, in these areas can negate the input from training programmes. This is particularly true for training in substance use disorders. In designing curricula in this field it is crucial to identify the core competencies expected at the end of training. 'Project Adept', a comprehensive compilation of curriculum materials, is based on such competencies. It emphasizes skills training and an adult learning mode of education. However, to achieve sustained curricular changes, development of a committed faculty is essential. Training must be complemented by systematic programmes of early diagnosis and treatment for substance use disorders in teaching hospitals. The need to train generalist physicians and to focus on early intervention have been endorsed by the recent Institute of Medicine report on the treatment of alcohol problems.
Determination of D-amino acid oxidase activity in tumour cells.

Background We evaluated the assay for determining D-amino acid oxidase (DAAO) activity in tumour cells, rat liver and rat kidney for studying the effects of D-amino acid-containing solution on cancer patients. Methods and Results In this method the amount of ammonia produced by the DAAO activity after removal of endogenous ammonia using a Sephadex G25 column was determined. The highest activity was observed in rat kidney, which was almost eight times that found in rat liver. As compared with host tissues, the DAAO activity in tumour cells was considerably less. Conclusions This DAAO assay may be useful for analysis of various tissue samples as well as tumour cells.
Frequency Transformation of a Whistler Wave by A Collapsing Plasma Medium in a Cavity: FDTD Solution

A whistler wave in a cavity filled with a magnetoplasma medium is strongly affected when the plasma source is switched-off. Due to such a collapse of the plasma, the whistler wave is converted to an electric- field-intensified higher frequency wave (with an order of magnitude upshift of the frequency). In principle, it is possible to transform a 2.45 GHz source radiation to 300 GHz Terahertz radiation, with significant strength of the electric field. Finite difference time domain (FDTD) technique is used to study the effect of the following parameters: the rate of collapse, spatial plasma-density profile, collision frequency as well as the switching angle.
Efficient code diversification for network reprogramming in sensor networks

As sensors in a network are mostly homogeneous in software and hardware, a captured sensor can easily expose its code and data to attackers and further threaten the whole network. To increase the survivability of a sensor network, code diversification has been shown to be an effective solution. However, disseminating many diversified code images is very costly in current network reprogramming systems, as it does not take advantage of the epidemic propagation of network reprogramming. New mechanisms need to be studied for integrating code diversification with network reprogramming. This paper proposes an efficient code diversification scheme for network reprogramming in sensor networks. The scheme uses Deluge to disseminate code images of sensor applications that carry diversification information and allows sensors to randomize the layout of their own executables. Such diversification can defeat a wide range of attacks that exploit the knowledge of code layout, as no sensors have the same code layout in their executables. Except the cost determined by the code size, the computational overhead of diversification in sensors can be reduced to 60%, while sacrificing only 10% of security.
Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry as Related to Surface Analysis

Many important processes such as catalysis, corrosion, and adhesion depend on the elemental and molecular composition of the surface or interfacial region. The focus of this article is specifically surface applications of secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS). Conceptually, SIMS is a very simple technique consisting of a primary ion bombardment step, an energy transfer step, a particle desorption step, and an ion detection step. SIMS experiments are carried out in either a dynamic or a static mode. The two modes are distinguished on the basis of ion dose. Dynamic SIMS uses high primary ion beam doses and is generally used for elemental depth profiling. Static SIMS uses low primary ion beam doses (≤1 × 1012 ions cm−2) and is generally used for the chemical characterization of surfaces. The major advantages of SIMS include high sensitivity (parts per million detection limits for some elements), the ability to obtain molecular information, isotopic analysis, lateral characterization (imaging), and analysis of low-atomic-number elements such as H and Li. These characteristics combine to make SIMS a very powerful analytical tool. The key disadvantages of SIMS are that the instrumentation is relatively expensive and that the data can be complex. Related analytical techniques for surface analysis include X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Auger electron spectroscopy (AES), Scanning Auger Microscopy (SAM), and laser desorption mass spectrometry (LDMS).
Mammalian facilitative glucose transporters: evidence for similar substrate recognition sites in functionally monomeric proteins

Four facilitative glucose transporters isoforms, GLUT1/erythrocyte, GLUT2/liver, GLUT3/brain, and GLUT4/muscle-fat, as well as chimeric transporter proteins were expressed in Xenopus oocytes, and their properties were studied. The relative Km's of the transporters for 2-deoxyglucose were GLUT3 (Km = 1.8 mM) > GLUT4 (Km = 4.6 mM) > GLUT1 (Km = 6.9 mM) > GLUT2 (Km = 17.1 mM). In a similar fashion, the uptake of 2-deoxyglucose by GLUT1-, GLUT2-, and GLUT3-expressing oocytes was inhibited by a series of unlabeled hexoses and pentoses and by cytochalasin B in a similar hierarchical order. To determine if the functional unit of the glucose transporter was a monomer or higher-order multimer, the high-affinity transporter GLUT3 was coexpressed with either the low-affinity GLUT2 or a GLUT3 mutant which contained a transport inactivating Trp410-->Leu substitution. In oocytes expressing both GLUT2 and GLUT3, the transport activity associated with each transporter isoform could be distinguished kinetically. Similarly, there was no alteration in the kinetic parameters of GLUT3, or the ability of glucose or cytochalasin B to inhibit 2-deoxyglucose uptake, when coexpressed with up to a 3-fold greater amount of functionally inactive mutant of GLUT3. These studies suggest that the family of glucose transporters have similar binding sites which may be in the form of a functional monomeric unit when expressed in Xenopus oocytes.
Sediment transport by burrowing mammals, Marin County, California

ABSTRACT Field observations suggest that burrowing activity is the primary mode of sediment transport currently active in a small grassland drainage basin in Marin County, California. Spatial concentrations of the 1 150 gopher mounds surveyed vary from 0.16 mounds m-' on interfluves to 0.32 mounds m-' on sideslopes and in the topographic hollow, with localized concentrations of up to 2.88 mounds m- on the margins of the colluvial deposit. Simple models of sediment transport by burrowing activity yield estimates of between 0.91 and 2.33 cm3 cm-' yr-' for the basin as a whole, with absolute minimum and maximum rates of 048 and 6.31 cm3 cm- yr-I. These values are similar to those previously estimated for this area (Lehre, 1982) and are nearly an order-of-magnitude less than average long-term sediment transport rates at the same site (Reneau, 1988). KEY WORDS Sediment transport Erosion rates Bioturbation INTRODUCTION Burrowing animals disturb and transport soil in environments ranging from alpine tundra to humid grasslands (Hansen and Morris,
Accounting for an Isobaric Interference Allows Correct Determination of Folate Vitamers in Serum by Isotope Dilution-Liquid Chromatography-Tandem MS

Mild and prolonged oxidative degradation of 5-methyltetrahydrofolate (5-methylTHF) leads to the biologically inactive pyrazino-s-triazine derivative of 4α-hydroxy-5-methylTHF (MeFox). MeFox and the biologically active 5-formyltetrahydrofolate (5-formylTHF) are isobaric compounds that behave similarly during chromatographic and mass separation, making coelution and misidentification likely. Our published routine liquid chromatography-tandem MS (LC-MS/MS) method did not discern between 5-formylTHF and MeFox, measuring the sum of these compounds at a mass to charge ratio (m/z) of 474→327 as 5-formylTHF. We modified this method to separate MeFox and 5-formylTHF by either chromatography or unique mass transitions and then applied the 2 methods to serum specimens to determine typical concentrations of these compounds. The 2 unique transitions (m/z: 5-formylTHF, 474→299; MeFox, 474→284) showed good sensitivity [limit of detection (nmol/L): 5-formylTHF, 0.21; MeFox, 0.34], selectivity (no interfering peaks), spiking recovery (mean ± SD: 5-formylTHF, 103 ± 3.4%; MeFox, 94 ± 10%), and low imprecision (CV: 5-formylTHF, 3.9% at 2.4 nmol/L; MeFox, 5.1% at 2.9 nmol/L). The mass separation method detected 5-formylTHF in the same specimens as the chromatographic separation method. Analysis of several thousand serum specimens showed that the majority (∼85%) contained MeFox at 1 nmol/L and MeFox at >10 nmol/L. In summary, serum can contain 5-formylTHF high enough to contribute to total folate and contains MeFox that will bias total folate if not appropriately separated. Including measurements of MeFox and 5-formylTHF along with the other folate vitamers will enhance assessments of the association between biologically active folate and health effects.
Effects of Tail Docking on Milk Quality and Cow Cleanliness

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of tail docking on somatic cell count (SCC), intramammary infection (IMI), and udder and leg cleanliness in commercial dairy herds. Lactating dairy cows (n = 1250) from eight Wisconsin farms were blocked by farm and randomly allocated to tail docked (D) or control (C) groups. Milk samples, somatic cell counts, and hygiene scores were collected for 8 to 9 mo. The prevalence of IMI was determined for each of the five occasions when milk samples were obtained. Udder and leg cleanliness were assessed during milk sample collection. Docked and control animals were compared by logSCC, prevalence of IMI, and leg and udder cleanliness score. Variables were analyzed according to all treatment, period, and farm interactions. At the end of the study period 76 (12.2%) and 81 (13%) of cows were culled in the D and C groups, respectively. There were no significant differences in the initial data for parity, daily milk yield, logSCC, or DIM between treatment groups. Effects significant to farms were identified for all variables over all periods. Period was significant for all variables except for the prevalence of environmental pathogens, but no period x treatment interactions were detected. There was no significant difference between treatment groups for somatic cell count. The prevalence of contagious, environmental, or minor pathogens did not differ significantly between treatment groups. This study did not identify any differences in udder or leg hygiene or milk quality that could be attributed to tail docking.
A Semi-Automatic Framework for Mining ERP Patterns

Event-related potentials (ERP) are brain electrophysiological patterns created by averaging electroencephalographic (EEG) data, time-locking to events of interest (e.g., stimulus or response onset). In this paper, we propose a semi-automatic framework for mining ERP data, which includes the following steps: PCA decomposition, extraction of summary metrics, unsupervised learning (clustering) of patterns, and supervised learning, i.e. discovery, of classification rules. Results show good correspondence between rules that emerge from decision tree classifiers and rules that were independently derived by domain experts. In addition, data mining results suggested ways in which expert- defined rules might be refined to improve pattern representation and classification results.
Genetic Tools for Allelic Replacement in Burkholderia Species

ABSTRACT Allelic replacement in the Burkholderia genus has been problematic due to the lack of appropriate counter-selectable and selectable markers. The counter-selectable marker sacB, commonly used in gram-negative bacteria, is nonselective on sucrose in many Burkholderia species. In addition, the use of antibiotic resistance markers of clinical importance for the selection of desirable genetic traits is prohibited in the United States for two potential bioterrorism agents, Burkholderia mallei and Burkholderia pseudomallei. Here, we engineered a mutated counter-selectable marker based on the B. pseudomallei PheS (the α-subunit of phenylalanyl tRNA synthase) protein and tested its effectiveness in three different Burkholderia species. The mutant PheS protein effectively killed 100% of the bacteria in the presence of 0.1% p-chlorophenylalanine. We assembled the mutant pheS on several allelic replacement vectors, in addition to constructing selectable markers based on tellurite (Telr) and trimethoprim (Tpr) resistance that are excisable by flanking unique FLP recombination target (FRT) sequences. As a proof of concept, we utilized one of these gene replacement vectors (pBAKA) and the Telr-FRT cassette to produce a chromosomal mutation in the Burkholderia thailandensis betBA operon, which codes for betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase and choline dehydrogenase. Chromosomal resistance markers could be excised by the introduction of pFLP-AB5 (Tpr), which is one of two constructed flp-containing plasmids, pFLP-AB4 (Telr) and pFLP-AB5 (Tpr). These flp-containing plasmids harbor the mutant pheS gene and allow self curing on media that contain p-chlorophenylalanine after Flp-FRT excision. The characterization of the ΔbetBA::Telr-FRT and ΔbetBA::FRT mutants indicated a defect in growth with choline as a sole carbon source, while these mutants grew as well as the wild type with succinate and glucose as alternative carbon sources.
The effects of choice in routing relevance judgments

The emergence of human computation systems, including Mechanical Turk and games with a purpose, has made it feasible to distribute relevance judgment tasks to workers over the Web. Most human computation systems assign tasks to individuals randomly, and such assignments may match workers with tasks that they may be unqualified or unmotivated to perform. We compare two groups of workers, those given a choice of queries to judge versus those who are not, in terms of their self-rated competence and their actual performance. Results show that when given a choice of task, workers choose ones for which they have greater expertise, interests, confidence, and understanding.
Thermomechanics of transient oblique compaction shock reflection from a rigid boundary

Transient oblique reflection of resolved compaction shocks in porous material from a rigid planar boundary is computationally examined to characterize how spatial reflection structures vary with reflection angle. The material response is described by a hydrodynamic theory that accounts for both elastic and inelastic volumetric deformation. The mathematical model, expressed in terms of curvilinear coordinates, is numerically integrated using a high-resolution technique. Emphasis is placed on characterizing the relative importance of compression and compaction work as heating mechanisms. Spatially continuous structures are predicted that propagate at speeds below the ambient sound speed of the solid component which are analogous to discontinuous structures for oblique reflection of gas shocks. An analogous transition from a von Neumann reflection to a Mach reflection to a regular reflection is predicted with increasing reflection angle, with high dissipative heating induced by configurations possessing a stem-like structure. Compression and dissipation by rate-dependent compaction are shown to be primary heating mechanisms, whereas dissipation by inelastic compaction is of secondary importance.
Spectral partitioning works : Planar graphs and finite element meshes

Abstract Spectral partitioning methods use the Fiedler vector—the eigenvector of the second-smallest eigenvalue of the Laplacian matrix—to find a small separator of a graph. These methods are important components of many scientific numerical algorithms and have been demonstrated by experiment to work extremely well. In this paper, we show that spectral partitioning methods work well on bounded-degree planar graphs and finite element meshes—the classes of graphs to which they are usually applied. While naive spectral bisection does not necessarily work, we prove that spectral partitioning techniques can be used to produce separators whose ratio of vertices removed to edges cut is O ( n ) for bounded-degree planar graphs and two-dimensional meshes and O(n1/d) for well-shaped d-dimensional meshes. The heart of our analysis is an upper bound on the second-smallest eigenvalues of the Laplacian matrices of these graphs: we prove a bound of O(1/n) for bounded-degree planar graphs and O(1/n2/d) for well-shaped d-dimensional meshes.