cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Bovine T cell responses to recombinant thioredoxin of Fasciola hepatica

Fasciolosis is an economically significant disease of ruminants, caused by infection with the digenetic trematodes, Fasciola hepatica and F. gigantica. Some vaccination trials using irradiated metacercariae or isolated proteins have been shown to afford significant protection. However, the mechanisms of specific immunity against this pathogen have not been elucidated. We have identified thioredoxin, a tegument antigen of F. hepatica, among several proteins that are common to both the juvenile and adult fluke within the mammalian host and have undertaken studies to characterize bovine T cell responses to recombinant thioredoxin protein (FH 2020). Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from immune cattle proliferated specifically to crude F. hepatica antigenic extract but not to FH 2020. However, after repeated stimulation of lymphocytes by alternating crude extract and FH 2020, FH 2020-specific proliferation by T cell lines was observed. T cell clones were subsequently generated and found to respond specifically but weakly to both crude antigen and FH 2020. Thioredoxin appears to be only weakly antigenic for bovine T cells and is, therefore, an unpromising candidate for inducing resistance to F. hepatica.
A Pluralist Critique of Contractarian Proceduralism

In pluralistic societies with conflicting conceptions of the good, purely procedural justice looms as particularly attractive. Moreover, the social contract device, in at least some of its conceptual adaptations, appears capable of yielding purely procedural outcomes. Based on an assessment of the respective contractarian arguments of Hobbes and Rawls, the author asserts that contractarian proceduralism is either purely procedural but not just, or else just but only derivatively procedural. Finally, after proposing that Habermas' discourse ethics and proceduralist paradigm of law can be regarded as the perfection and culmination of contractarianism, the author concludes that it also ultimately fails to produce purely procedural justice.
The Banality of Rhetoric? Assessing Steven Katz's “the Ethic of Expediency” against Current Scholarship on the Holocaust:

Since 1992, Steven Katz's “The Ethic of Expediency” on the rhetoric of technical communication during the Holocaust has become a reference point for discussions of ethics. But how does his thesis compare to current understandings of the Holocaust? As this article describes, Katz was in step with the trend two decades ago to universalize the lessons of the genocide but his thesis presents key problems for Holocaust scholars today. Against his assertion that pure technological expediency was the ethos of Nazi Germany, current scholarship emphasizes the role of ideology. Does that invalidate his thesis? Katz's analysis of rhetoric and his universalizing application to the Holocaust are two claims that may be considered separately. Yet even if one does not agree that “expediency” is inherent in Western rhetoric, Katz has raised awareness that phronesis is socially constructed so that rhetoric can be unethically employed. Thus, rather than remain an uncritically accepted heuristic for technical communicators, ...
Size histograms of gold nanoparticles measured by gravitational sedimentation

Abstract Sedimentation curves of gold nanoparticles in water were obtained by measuring the optical density of a suspension over time. The results are not subject to sampling errors, and refer to the particles in situ. Curves obtained simultaneously at several wave lengths were analyzed together to derive the size histogram of the sedimenting particles. The bins in the histogram were 5 nm wide and centered at diameters 60, 65, …, 110 nm. To get the histogram, we weighted previously calculated solutions to the Mason–Weaver sedimentation–diffusion equation for various particle diameters with absorption/scattering coefficients and size (diameter) abundances { c j }, and found the { c j } which gave the best fit to all the theoretical sedimentation curves. The effects of changing the number of bins and the wave lengths used were studied. Going to smaller bins would mean determining more parameters and require more wave lengths. The histograms derived from sedimentation agreed quite well in general with the histogram derived from TEM. Differences found for the smallest particle diameters are partly due to statistical fluctuations (TEM found only 1–2 particles out of 103 with these diameters). More important is that the TEM histogram indicates 12% of the particles have diameters of 75 ± 2.5 nm, and the sedimentation histogram shows none. We show that this reflects the difference between the particles in situ, which possess a low-density shell about 1 nm thick, and the bare particles on the TEM stage. Correcting for this makes agreement between the two histograms excellent. Comparing sedimentation-derived with TEM-derived histograms thus shows differences between the particles in situ and on the TEM stage.
Scans of Comet Bennett, 19691

Abstract We present drift curves through the head and tail of Comet Bennett at λλ5892 (Na) and 6110 A (continuum) made on 30.5 March 1970 with a 14 arc-sec entrance diaphragm. Quantitative photometry of the sodium emission lines radial profile show a maximum intensity peak offset some 7000 km to the Sun-ward direction of the continuum (dust) maximum. Both the dust and Na distributions on the tail side of Comet Bennett show nearly exponential decays in emission away from the Sun. The interpretation of these data is briefly discussed.
Synthesis of 3‐quinuclidinol‐18O, benzilic‐d5 acid, and 3‐quinuclidinyl‐18O benzilate‐d5

Isotopically labeled analogs of 3-quinuclidinol (Q), benzilic acid (BA), and 3-quinuclidinyl benzilate (BZ), for use as internal standards for isotope dilution measurements and the labeled intermediates 3-quinuclidinone and methyl benzilate used in their production, were synthesized. The isotopic purities of the 1-azabicyclo[2.2.2]octan-3-18O-ol, α-hydroxy-a-phenyl-d5-benzeneacetic acid, and 3-quinuclidinyl-18O benzilate-d5 were determined and the electron impact ionization mass spectrum was obtained for each.
High-Precision, Whole-Genome Sequencing of Laboratory Strains Facilitates Genetic Studies

Whole-genome sequencing is a powerful technique for obtaining the reference sequence information of multiple organisms. Its use can be dramatically expanded to rapidly identify genomic variations, which can be linked with phenotypes to obtain biological insights. We explored these potential applications using the emerging next-generation sequencing platform Solexa Genome Analyzer, and the well-characterized model bacterium Bacillus subtilis. Combining sequencing with experimental verification, we first improved the accuracy of the published sequence of the B. subtilis reference strain 168, then obtained sequences of multiple related laboratory strains and different isolates of each strain. This provides a framework for comparing the divergence between different laboratory strains and between their individual isolates. We also demonstrated the power of Solexa sequencing by using its results to predict a defect in the citrate signal transduction pathway of a common laboratory strain, which we verified experimentally. Finally, we examined the molecular nature of spontaneously generated mutations that suppress the growth defect caused by deletion of the stringent response mediator relA. Using whole-genome sequencing, we rapidly mapped these suppressor mutations to two small homologs of relA. Interestingly, stable suppressor strains had mutations in both genes, with each mutation alone partially relieving the relA growth defect. This supports an intriguing three-locus interaction module that is not easily identifiable through traditional suppressor mapping. We conclude that whole-genome sequencing can drastically accelerate the identification of suppressor mutations and complex genetic interactions, and it can be applied as a standard tool to investigate the genetic traits of model organisms.
Introductory Psychology from the Standpoint of the Consumer.

Psychology and other majors were surveyed before and after completing an introductory psychology course to determine their interest in topics traditionally covered in such a course. No substantial difference between the two groups was observed. In addition, interest levels did not change significantly as a result of the course experience. Students were most interested in topics relating to their immediate individual needs (e.g., interpersonal relationships) and least interested in the "hard science" aspects o f psychology. Results are compared to a similar survey taken 50 years ago. Implications for course content and organization are discussed.
The Use Of Fourth Generation Ct Scanners For Gated Heart Scanning

The use of any ECG-gated CT heart scanning technique which uses a single scan must necessarily have gaps in the data. In third generation scanners these are view gaps, while in conventional fourth generation scanners they create incomplete views. It is possible to re-sort the raw data from a fourth generation scanner so that the views are defined in a third generation manner. This paper addresses two potential difficulties with this technique: (1) loss of resolution and (2) sensitivity to inequalities in detector gains. It is shown how the reconstruction algorithm can be modified to avoid these problems.
Approaches for analyzing local carbon mitigation strategies: Tompkins County, New York, USA

Abstract A carbon budget was calculated for Tompkins County, NY, a semi-rural upstate county with a population density of 78 pp/km 2 . The costs and potential for several carbon mitigation options were analyzed in four categories: terrestrial C sequestration, local power generation, transportation, and energy end-use efficiency. This study outlines a methodology for conducting this type of local-scale analysis, including sources and calculations adaptable to different localities. Effective carbon mitigation strategies for this county based on costs/Mg C and maximum potential include reforestation of abandoned agricultural lands, biomass production for residential heating and co-firing in coal power plants, changes in personal behavior related to transportation (e.g., public transportation), installation of residential energy efficient products such as programmable thermostats or compact fluorescent light bulbs, and development of local wind power. The total county emissions are about 340 Gg C/year, with biomass sequestration rates of 121 Gg C/year. The potential for mitigation, assuming full market penetration, amounts to about 234 Gg C/year (69%), with 100 Gg C/year (29%) at no net cost to the consumer. The development of local-scale C mitigation plans based on this sort of model of analysis is feasible and would be useful for guiding investments in climate change prevention.
Transformation of carbon dioxide to methoxide by the complex [(C5H5)Ti]2(μ-H)2(μ-C10H8)

Abstract Hydrogenation of carbon dioxide by the complex (CpTi)2(μ-H)2(μ-C10H8) (1), in a ratio of 1.5 to 1, affords a mixture of products. Reaction of the product mixture with 2 equiv. of HCl in THF results in H2, CO2, H2O, MeOH, and (CpTi)2(μ-Cl)2(μ-C10H8). The amount of H2 formed reveals that one of the two bridging hydrides reacts with CO2. The unreacted bridging hydride becomes a terminal hydride, as indicated by infrared spectroscopy. Carbon dioxide released during protonation stems from the complexes formed between CO2 and reaction products. Protonation also converts the oxo ligand originated from CO2 to H2O. The labeling study with DCl in D2O yields DOCH3, indicating that the complex 1 transforms CO2 to methoxide, not formaldehyde.
Inhibierte Chlorid‐Kühlsolen

In der Kaltetechnik gebraucht man, trotz vermehrter Anwendung der direkten Verdampfung des Kaltemittels, in grosem Ausmase Kuhlsolen als Kaltetrager. Ein wichtiger Teil davon sind die Chlorid-Kuhlsolen, wasrige Losungen der Chloride von Natrium oder Calcium. Fur den Schutz der Werkstoffe solcher Anlagen hat sich der Zusatz von Inhibitoren zur Kuhlsole bewahrt. Der meist auf 8,5 eingestellte pH-Wert sinkt bei Calciumchlorid-Solen durch Aufnahme von Kohlendioxyd aus der Luft und die dadurch bedingte Bildung von Salzsaure manchmal rasch ab. Ebenfalls in Kochsalz-Solen mit einem Gehalt an Calcium. Ein Zusatz von Calciumhydroxyd stabilisiert den pH-Wert. Ein Inhibitor in solchen Solen mus nicht nur allein die flachenmasige Abtragung der Werkstoffe vermindern, sondern insbesondere Lochfras verhindern. Eine Anzahl gebrauchlicher Inhibitoren mit besonders charakteristischer Wirkung wurde deshalb unter verschiedenen Bedingungen gepruft. Als wesentlich zeigte sich dabei das Einhalten eines pH-Wertes der Sole von uber 7, zweckmasig von etwa 8,5.
Evidence for a large valence-band offset at HgTe-CdTe heterojunctions.

Most theoretical and experimental studies of HgTe-CdTe interfaces have found a valence-band offset of \ensuremath{\lesssim}0.35 eV, and in many cases much lower. Here it is suggested that the available theoretical calculations can equally well be interpreted as indicating a valence-band offset of nearly 0.5 eV, which is apparently consistent with the limited experimental evidence available.
Ocean inherent optical property determination from in-water light field measurements.

An algorithm is described and evaluated for determining the absorption and backscattering coefficients a (z) and bb (z) from measurements of the nadir-viewing radiance Lu (z) and downward irradiance Ed (z). The method, derived from radiative transfer theory, is similar to a previously proposed one for Eu (z) and Ed (z), and both methods are demonstrated with numerical simulations and field data. Numerical simulations and a sensitivity analysis show that good estimates of a (z) and bb (z) can be obtained if the assumed scattering phase function is approximately correct. In an experiment in Long Island Sound, estimates of a (z) derived with these methods agreed well with those obtained from an in situ reflecting tube instrument.
Antiarrhythmic drug efficacy for ventricular tachyarrhythmias associated with coronary artery disease as assessed by electrophysiologic studies

Abstract The efficacy and proarrhythmic potential of antiarrhythmic agents were evaluated. Programmed ventricular stimulation was performed in 160 consecutive patients with coronary artery disease during a baseline study and 432 subsequent drug studies. The tachyarrhythmlas induced during baseline studies were sustained ventricular tachycardia (121 patients), ventricular fibrillation (16 patients), and symptomatic nonsustained ventricular tachycardia (23 patients). Regimens were completely successful if fewer than 6 repetitive ventricular responses were inducible during therapy and partially successful if no more than 15 repetitive ventricular responses were inducible. Procainamide and quinidine were the most successful single agents, with overall success rates of 24% and 35%, respectively. Either procainamide or quinidine combined with mexiletine was the most successful combination (overall success of 23% ). Each antiarrhythmic regimen showed a proarrhythmic potential. The incidence of proarrhythmic effects ranged from 4 to 13%, with no significant difference between regimens. In 13% of patients at least 1 regimen produced a proarrhythmic effect. Patients treated with an antiarrhythmic regimen that prevented induction of arrhythmia had significantly fewer arrhythmia recurrences than patients treated with a regimen that failed to prevent it. In conclusion, identification of an effective drug regimen is possible in 38% of patients with lethal ventricular arrhythmias, proarrhythmic effects occur in a significant number of patients during electrophysiologic testing of antiarrhythmic regimens, and the clinical outcome in patients in whom ventricular arrhythmias are not inducible with ventricular stimulation have a better prognosis than those in whom arrhythmias continue to be inducible on therapy.
Volume of the pineal gland in schizophrenia; an MRI study

Pineal gland abnormality has been proposed as a possible biological defect in schizophrenia. This study was designed to investigate volumetric differences of the pineal gland using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). Patients with a DSM-III-R diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizophreniform disorder (n = 45) and normal controls (n = 86) were scanned using a 1.5 Tesla scanner. The volume of the pineal was obtained by blind manual tracing of the gland on T1 weighted images, using locally developed software, BRAINS. The inter-rater reliability (n = 25) yielded an intraclass r of 0.92. Comparison of the volumes by t-test showed no significant difference between patients and normal controls (p = 0.77). This study, backed by a large sample size, suggests that there are no volumetric differences between schizophrenic patients and controls in regard to the pineal gland.
Making science comprehensible for language minority students

(1995). Making science comprehensible for language minority students. Journal of Science Teacher Education: Vol. 6, No. 2, pp. 71-78.
STATUES OF LIBYANS DEDICATED TO ONE OF THE ANCIENT LIBYAN GODS IN THE AREA OF TRIPOLITANIA

Three small statues were found in the village of Zintan at Al Jabal al Gharbi, or West Mountain area, near Tripoli. They are made of local alabaster (marble) and are similar to others found in the Ancient Near East. Their height is 60 cm, their weight is 3 kg each. The purpose of the study was to clarify the identity of the statues, and to derive from them information on the civilisation of the ancient Libyans. It is concluded that the three statues can be dated to the first and second centuries AD. They represent gift-monuments (idols) dedicated to a Libyan god as a sacrifice or offering and were put in a temple, which may be a temple of the Libyan god, Amon, because Libyans built temples to him in various areas, such as Ojela, Siwa, Zawiat al Mahjoub. This preliminary analysis has been based only on the translation of the Punic inscriptions found on two of the sculptures, and further laboratory tests together with site investigation are needed.
Global linguistic diversity for the internet

The Script Encoding Initiative wants to encode the world's unencoded scripts, making electronic text communication possible for millions of native speakers.
Consumer acceptance of irradiated foods: dawn of a new era?

Irradiation of meat, poultry, and other foods helps to preserve food quality and to prevent foodborne disease. This review examines current acceptance and use of irradiated foods in consumer food products and institutional food service applications. In the United States food irradiation is currently used in the space program, in some commercial food applications and in therapeutic diets fed to immunosuppressed patients in health care facilities. In spite of the potential benefits of food irradiation in the United States controversy remains, considerable consumer resistance con-tinues, and adoption of food irradiation for consumer products has been slow des-pite regulatory approval and endorsements by scientific organizations. However, consumer attitudes may be shifting. Experience gathered from the recent uses of irradiation for inactivating anthrax spores in contaminated mail after the terrorist attacks of September 2001 will undoubtedly make irradiation a more familiar process. Possible strategies for improving acceptance are discussed. Consumer education and information about food irradiation are key to greater acceptance.
Penicillamine therapy for pediatric cystinuria: experience from a cohort of American children.

Purpose: Cystinuria, an inherited defect of dibasic amino acid transport, causes accumulation of urinary cystine and cystine urolithiasis. In adults penicillamine reduces stone formation but has a high incidence of dose limiting toxicity. We evaluated the effects of penicillamine in preventing stone formation and with respect to toxicity in our cystinuria cohort at a pediatric biochemical genetics clinic.Materials and Methods: We reviewed the charts of all 11 children with cystinuria treated at our clinic using a gradual dose escalation of penicillamine. Mean ± SD patient age at diagnosis was 5.8 ± 4.3 years (range 1.2 to 12). We tracked urinary cystine concentration before and after initiation of treatment, penicillamine side effects and incidence of new stones during maintenance therapy.Results: During the gradual escalation of penicillamine to the target dose none of the 11 patients experienced toxicity and all had improved urinary cystine concentration (mean ± SD percent reduction 54% ± 25%, range 5% ...
Disease transmission models for public Health decision making: Analysis of epidemic and endemic conditions caused by waterborne pathogens

Developing effective policy for environmental health issues requires integrating large collections of information that are diverse, highly variable, and uncertain. Despite these uncertainties in the science, decisions must be made. These decisions often have been based on risk assessment. We argue that two important features of risk assessment are to identify research needs and to provide information for decision making. One type of information that a model can provide is the sensitivity of making one decision over another on factors that drive public health risk. To achieve this goal, a risk assessment framework must be based on a description of the exposure and disease processes. Regarding exposure to waterborne pathogens, the appropriate framework is one that explicitly models the disease transmission pathways of pathogens. This approach provides a crucial link between science and policy. Two studies--a Giardia risk assessment case study and an analysis of the 1993 Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Cryptosporidium outbreak--illustrate the role that models can play in policy making.
Inflammatory adverse events are associated with disease-free survival after vaccine therapy among patients with melanoma.

Multipeptide vaccines for melanoma may cause inflammatory adverse events (IAE). We hypothesize that IAE are associated with a higher rate of immune response (IR) to vaccination and improved clinical outcomes. Adult patients with resected, high-risk (stage IIB to IV) melanoma were vaccinated with a combination of 12 class I major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-restricted melanoma epitopes, and IAE were recorded. A separate category for hypopigmentation (vitiligo) was also assessed. CD8+ T cell IR was assessed by direct interferon gamma ELISpot analysis. Overall survival and disease-free survival were analyzed by Cox proportional hazard modeling. Out of 332 patients, 57 developed IAE, the majority of which were dermatologic (minimum Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events [CTCAE] grade 3). Most nondermatologic IAE were CTCAE grade 1 and 2. Vitiligo developed in 23 patients (7 %). A total of 174 patients (53 %) developed a CD8+ response. Presence of IAE was significantly associated with development of IR (70 vs. 49 %, p = 0.005) and with disease-free survival (hazard ratio 0.54, p = 0.043). There were no significant associations relating vitiligo or IR alone with clinical outcomes. IAE are associated with a higher rate of CD8+ T cell response after vaccination therapy for high-risk melanoma. Our findings suggest either that antitumor activity induced by class I MHC-restricted peptide vaccines may depend on immunologic effects beyond simple expansion of CD8+ T cells or that the intrinsic inflammatory response of patients contributes to clinical outcome in melanoma.
Highly Polar Organic Compounds Present in Meat Smoke

Fine particulate matter emitted during meat cooking is known to contribute a significant fraction of the total fine aerosol concentration in urban areas. In the present study, polar organic compounds in meat smoke fine particulate matter are converted to their trimethylsilyl derivatives and analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Silylation enables the detection of monoglycerides in the meat smoke extracts and enhances the detection of cholesterol. These compounds are detected in atmospheric fine particle samples collected in Bakersfield, CA, with relative abundances that show substantial agreement between the meat smoke source samples and the atmosphere. The data suggest that the saturated monoglycerides, as well as cholesterol, may be suitable for use as tracers for the atmospheric particles generated by meat cooking operations.
Edge dislocation effect on optical properties in wurtzite ZnO

Abstract The effect of edge dislocations on optical properties in wurtzite ZnO is studied using a k·p multiband Hamiltonian model. An edge dislocation is modeled as a negatively charged line due to its electron-acceptor nature with an elastic strain field due to the lattice distortion around the dislocation. The electrostatic potential strength of the negatively charged dislocation depends on the filling fraction, which describes the fraction of acceptor sites occupied by trapped electrons along the dislocation line. To understand the effect of electrostatic potential strength, the filling fraction has been varied in this work. Using the calculated energy levels and wave functions for electrons and holes from the k·p multiband Hamiltonian, the spontaneous emission spectrum has been obtained as a function of dislocation density and filling fraction. The calculated results are compared with available experimental photoluminescence data. The band edge peak intensity decreases significantly with increasing dislocation density. It is found that the electrostatic potential strength does not affect the band edge peak emission, but it generates deep level emissions. For low filling fractions, corresponding to high temperature, the most commonly observed green luminescence is found. For a high filling fraction, corresponding to low temperature, the green luminescence shifts to red luminescence, which is consistent with experimental observation.
STUDY OF PMN-PT THICK FILMS FABRICATED BY SPIN-COATING

Having high dielectric constants and large mechanical strain, relaxor materials are attractive to the application of actuators in electromechanical systems and elements for large and bright display of optical image where the lower operation voltage and larger deformation are required. In this paper, we study the dielectric properties of 0.9PMN-0.1PT thick films fabricated by a spin coating method. The thick film is prepared for the application of large and bright display elements of an optical-image. In this application a layer of PMN-PT is filled in a mold. The thickness of the layer in the device should be in tens or hundreds of micrometers. Therefore, we used spin-coading technique to make PMN-PT thick films. The thickness of the films fabricated with this method ranges from 70mm to 100mm which are suitable to this application. The samples were electroded with silver print and characterized by dielectric constant and loss measurements. The experimental results show that the dielectric loss is less than 2 percent and the dielectric constant is greater than 10 at the room temperature in the frequency ranging from 100Hz to 1.0 MHz. A comparison of the results with those of PZT thick films manufactured with the same method is also presented.
Design and characterization of a modified T‐flask bioreactor for continuous monitoring of engineered tissue stiffness

Controlling environmental conditions, such as mechanical stimuli, is critical for directing cells into functional tissue. This study reports on the development of a bioreactor capable of controlling the mechanical environment and continuously measuring force-displacement in engineered tissue. The bioreactor was built from off the shelf components, modified off the shelf components, and easily reproducible custom built parts to facilitate ease of setup, reproducibility and experimental flexibility. A T-flask was modified to allow for four tissue samples, mechanical actuation via a LabView controlled stepper motor and transduction of force from inside the T-flask to an external sensor. In vitro bench top testing with instrumentation springs and tissue culture experiments were performed to validate system performance. Force sensors were highly linear (R2 > 0.998) and able to maintain force readings for extended periods of time. Tissue culture experiments involved cyclic loading of polyurethane scaffolds seeded with and without (control) human foreskin fibroblasts for 8 h/day for 14 days. After supplementation with TGF-β, tissue constructs showed an increase in stiffness between consecutive days and from the acellular controls. These experiments confirmed the ability of the bioreactor to distinguish experimental groups and monitor tissue stiffness during tissue development. © 2010 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 2010
US Border Enforcement and the Net Flow of Mexican Illegal Migration

AbstractI investigate the effect of US border enforcement on the net flow of Mexican undocumented migration, both of which have been considerably increasing in the last 3 decades. This effect is theoretically ambiguous, as increases in border controls deter prospective migrants from crossing the border illegally but lengthen the duration of current illegal migrations. The inflow and outflow of illegal Mexican migration respond to changes in border enforcement. The marginal effect of enforcement on the inflow increases with enforcement and is consistent with the hypothesis that tighter enforcement selects more productive migrants. This positive selection makes the outflow sensitivity to marginal enforcement changes comparatively more stable over time. A marginal increase in border controls increases the stock of undocumented migrants between 1972 and 1986, has either no effect or a small and negative effect between 1987 and 1996, and has a larger and significant negative effect between 1997 and 2003.
Effect of Rearing Floor Type and Ten-Day Beak Trimming on Stress and Performance of Caged Layers

Abstract Beak trimming pullets at an early age is a widespread industry practice. There is some concern that this practice may have effects on the subsequent performance of the birds in the production phase. Effects of beak treatment (trimmed or untrimmed) and rearing floor type (litter or wire) on performance of caged layers were evaluated in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments. Pullets that were trimmed or untrimmed at 10 days of age and reared on either litter or wire floors were placed in a cage house. Production factors and stress measurements were recorded to determine detrimental effects of the early trimming and rearing floor types. No interactions (P = .15) between rearing floor type and beak treatment were observed for BW, feed consumption, egg production, heart weight, spleen weight, or blood corticosterone. However, an interaction (P = .02) between rearing floor type and beak treatment was observed for adrenal weight. There were no differences (P = .08) in the final BW of the pullets. Birds reared on litter ate considerably (P = .0002) more than those reared on wire. There were no differences (P = .27) in egg production rate. Adrenal weights were different (P = .007), with the litter-raised birds having much smaller adrenals at the end of the 36-wk trial. Hearts of the beak-trimmed birds were smaller (P = .02) than those of the untrimmed birds. There were no differences in spleen weights (P = .07) or blood corticosterone levels (P = .07). Differences in the feather cover were observed.
Strategies of fault tolerant operation for three-level PWM inverters

This paper proposes fault tolerant operation strategies for three-level neutral point clamped pulsewidth modulation inverters in high power, safety-critical applications. Likely faults are identified and fault tolerant schemes based on the inherent redundancy of voltage vectors are presented. Simulation verification is performed to show fault handling capabilities. Prototyping and principle investigation are performed on a 150-KW inverter and testing results are presented.
Glucose downregulation of PKG-I protein mediates increased thrombospondin1-dependent TGF-β activity in vascular smooth muscle cells

Diabetes is a major predictor of in-stent restenosis, which is associated with fibroproliferative remodeling of the vascular wall due to increased transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) action. It is well established that thrombospondin1 (TSP1) is a major regulator of TGF-β activation in renal and cardiac complications of diabetes. However, the role of the TSP1-TGF-β pathway in macrovascular diabetic complications, including restenosis, has not been addressed. In mesangial cells, high glucose concentrations depress protein kinase G (PKG) activity, but not PKG-I protein, thereby downregulating transcriptional repression of TSP1. Previously, we showed that high glucose downregulates PKG-I protein expression by vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) through altered NADPH oxidase signaling. In the present study, we investigated whether high glucose regulation of PKG protein and activity in VSMCs similarly regulates TSP1 expression and downstream TGF-β activity. These studies showed that high glucose stimulates both TSP1 expression and TGF-β bioactivity in primary murine aortic smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). TSP1 is responsible for the increased TGF-β bioactivity under high glucose conditions, because treatment with anti-TSP1 antibody, small interfering RNA-TSP1, or an inhibitory peptide blocked glucose-mediated increases in TGF-β activity and extracellular matrix protein (fibronectin) expression. Overexpression of constitutively active PKG, but not the PKG-I protein, inhibited glucose-induced TSP1 expression and TGF-β bioactivity, suggesting that PKG protein expression is insufficient to regulate TSP1 expression. Together, these data establish that glucose-mediated downregulation of PKG levels stimulates TSP1 expression and enhances TGF-β activity and matrix protein expression, which can contribute to vascular remodeling in diabetes.
A method to estimate the Leslie coefficients of liquid crystals based on MBBA data

A new effective approach for estimating the Leslie coefficients of liquid crystals based on MBBA data is presented. Literature values of the temperature‐dependent Leslie viscosity coefficients of MBBA are used to fit with the analytical functions of Leslie coefficients based on the Imura and Okano theory, and a set of constants in these functions are determined. The same functions are then applied to two high birefringence liquid crystal mixtures, E7 and UCF‐2, to extract their Leslie coefficients based on their order parameters. Using the extracted Leslie coefficients, the simulation results agree very well with the experimental data.
Blood Pressure and Heart Rate Responses to Anticipated High-stress Dental Treatment

Twenty-four healthy adults participated in a study to determine the effects of anticipated high-stress dental treatment on blood pressure and heart rate. Blood pressure, heart rate, and state anxiety were assessed prior to four consecutive dental appointments. Appointments 1, 2, and 4 were of relatively low stress and appointment 3 was of relatively high stress. Blood pressure was unaffected while heart rate was highest prior to appointment 3 and lowest prior to appointment 1.
A depth-first approach to system integration

Incremental delivery, a new approach to system integration, is proposed and established. It permits usable and useful subsystems to be delivered before the entire project is completed. The underlying concepts of incremental delivery are presented. Incremental delivery is a depth-first strategy compared with most existing approaches, which use a breadth-first strategy. A detailed discussion is given, and it concludes that the proposed approach is a promising technique. >
Realizing Efficient Wireless Power Transfer Using Small Folded Cylindrical Helix Dipoles

We demonstrate that electrically small antennas can be designed to approach the recently derived theoretical bounds for wireless power transfer. Short dipole coupling is first simulated to determine the antenna design specifications for efficient coupling beyond the coupled mode region. Electrically small (kr=0.31) but highly efficient folded cylindrical helix (FCH) dipoles with 50- input impedance are designed. The power transfer efficiency (PTE) between two such antennas is simulated for the colinear and parallel configurations. Two FCH dipoles are constructed, and the PTE between them is measured and compared to the simulation. The measured results show a PTE of 40% at a distance of 0.25 (0.39 m at 195 MHz) in the colinear configuration.
Diabetes and Risk of Fracture-Related Hospitalization: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study

OBJECTIVE To examine the association between diabetes, glycemic control, and risk of fracture-related hospitalization in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Fracture-related hospitalization was defined using International Classification of Diseases, 9th revision, codes (733.1–733.19, 733.93–733.98, or 800–829). We calculated the incidence rate of fracture-related hospitalization by age and used Cox proportional hazards models to investigate the association of diabetes with risk of fracture after adjustment for demographic, lifestyle, and behavioral risk factors. RESULTS There were 1,078 incident fracture-related hospitalizations among 15,140 participants during a median of 20 years of follow-up. The overall incidence rate was 4.0 per 1,000 person-years (95% confidence interval [CI], 3.8–4.3). Diagnosed diabetes was significantly and independently associated with an increased risk of fracture (adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 1.74; 95% CI, 1.42–2.14). There also was a significantly increased risk of fracture among persons with diagnosed diabetes who were treated with insulin (HR, 1.87; 95% CI, 1.15–3.05) and among persons with diagnosed diabetes with HbA 1c ≥8% (1.63; 1.09–2.44) compared with those with HbA 1c CONCLUSIONS This study supports recommendations from the American Diabetes Association for assessment of fracture risk and implementation of prevention strategies in persons with type 2 diabetes, particularly those persons with poor glucose control.
Usage-Based Collection Evaluation with a Curricular Focus

Systematic evaluation of a library’s collection can be a useful tool for collection development. After reviewing three evaluation methods and their usefulness for our small academic library, I undertook a usage-based evaluation, focusing on narrow segments of our collection that served specific undergraduate courses. For each section, I collected data on the number of books owned, number of checkouts in the past four years, and number of unique books used. Using examples from the data, I discuss possible ways to interpret and act on the data. I also note how the knowledge gained from this evaluation fits into the larger toolkit of librarian competencies for collection development.
Software support for interactive multimedia performance

A set of techniques have been developed and refined to support the demanding software requirements of combined interactive computer music and computer animation. The techniques include a new programming environment that supports an integration of procedural and declarative score-like descriptions of interactive real-time behavior. Also discussed are issues of asynchronous input, concurrency, memory management, scheduling, and testing. Two examples are described.
Module Matching Schemes for Input-Queued Clos-Network Packet Switches

Current schemes for configuration of input-queued three-stage Clos-network (IQC) switches involve port matching and path routing assignment, in that order. The implementation of a scheduler capable of matching thousands of ports in large-size switches is complex. To decrease the scheduler complexity for such switches (e.g., 1024 ports or more), we propose a configuration scheme for IQC switches that hierarchizes the matching process. In a practical scenario our scheme performs routing first and port matching thereafter. This approach reduces the scheduler size and the configuration complexity of IQC switches. We show that the switching performance of the proposed approach using weight-based and weightless selection schemes is high under uniform and nonuniform traffic
Aschoff Bodies in an Operatively Excised Mitral Valve

Aschoff bodies are granulomatous lesions believed to be pathognomonic of rheumatic fever. Most histologic descriptions have been limited to locations adjacent to or within the myocardium. Aschoff bodies within valves are uncommon findings. We report a case showing the typical granulomas in an excised mitral valve. We suggest that Aschoff bodies can, and do, occur in valve tissue during acute rheumatic carditis and that structural differences between valves and typical intramyocardial locations, variations in frequency and strength of individual infections, individual host responses, and time intervals between infection and histologic examination often obscure their findings in valves.
Provenience and Provenance

An essential term in archaeology is provenience. Provenience has two meanings: the place of discovery and the place of origin. The provenience of an artifact can be the place where it was found in excavations – that is a very important piece of information. Artifacts and other archaeological objects with an unknown provenience provide very little information for learning about the past. Provenience of discovery implies context, meaning that there is additional information available about the object of interest. Provenience also means the place of origin, or source, the place from where an artifact, object, or person came; the term might refer to the place of manufacture. Thus, one should be clear about the precise usage.
Spin reversal of the rattleback: theory and experiment

The behaviour of a top known variously as the rattleback, celt or wobblestone is studied. When spun on a flat, smooth, horizontal surface, self-induced oscillations about a horizontal axis eventually consume the initial spin energy; once the spinning has ceased, the oscillations decay and the body spins in the opposite direction. Many rattlebacks seem to be spin biased, reversing spin direction only once and only if the initial spin has the proper sense; others reverse readily from either initial spin direction. Analysis and simulation papers appearing over the past century have attempted, respectively, to explain and qualitatively predict the top's possible behaviours, and to reconcile observed behaviour with various numerical models. In this work, the two broad theories proposed to explain the spin bias, one which neglects slipping and dissipation and one which incorporates these effects, are critically investigated by several means. The validity of the no-slip assumption is questioned. A numerical model which allows for aerodynamic effects and dry friction due to spinning and slipping is developed. The complicated equations of the numerical model are simplified by analysing the transfer of energy between the spin and oscillations. A comprehensive explanation of the behaviour based on this simplified spin model and the realistic limits of the no-slip motion is proposed. Finally, the predictions of the ' complete' numerical model and the simplified model are compared with experimental data.
MPL ACE-2 observations

Micro-pulse Lidar (MPL) observations were made on Tenerife, Canary Islands during the Aerosol Characterization Experiment-2 (ACE-2) conducted June-July, 1997. The principal objective of the MPL observations was to characterize the temporal/spatial distributions of aerosols in the region, particularly to identify and profile elevated Saharan dust layers which occur intermittently during the June-July time period. In addition to the standard vertical profiling capability, the MPL was configured to make both horizontal and slant-path measurements. Making such measurements enables retrievals of aerosol extinction and backscatter without the degree of ambiguity normally associated with only vertically pointing lidar observations. This paper presents examples of horizontal and slant-path MPL measurements made during ACE-2, including estimates of aerosol extinction retrieved from these observations. Also included is an outline of the analysis methodology employed to obtain these aerosol retrievals.
Mutagenesis by 8-methoxypsoralen and 5-methylangelicin photoadducts in mouse fibroblasts: Mutations at cross-linkable sites induced by monoadducts as well as cross-links

Psoralens are used clinically in the treatment of several skin diseases, including psoriasis, vitiligo, and cutaneous T cell lymphoma. However, psoralen treatment has been associated with an increased risk of squamous cell carcinoma of the skin. To elucidate molecular events that may play a role in the psoralen-related carcinogenesis, we examined psoralen-induced mutagenesis in a mouse fibroblast cell line carrying a recoverable, chromosomally integrated lambda phage shuttle vector. Using the supF gene as a mutation reporter gene, we determined the spectrum of mutations induced by photoactivation of 8-methoxypsoralen and of 5-methylangelicin. Both psoralens generated predominately T:A to A:T and some T:A to G:C transversions. Most of the mutations occurred at either 5' TpA or 5' ApT sites, both of which are conducive to interstrand cross-link formation. However, 5-methylangelicin produces only monoadducts, whereas 8-methoxypsoralen generated 20% cross-links and 80% monoadducts under the conditions of our experiments, as measured by direct HPLC analysis of the DNA from the treated cells. Although most of the mutations occurred at potentially cross-linkable sites, these results implicate monoadducts, as well as cross-links, as critical premutagenic lesions in psoralen-treated mammalian cells. These findings may help in the identification of carcinogenic changes induced by psoralen, and they may aid in the improved design of psoralen-based treatment regimens in the future.
Moral Universals and Individual Differences

Contemporary moral psychology has focused on the notion of a universal moral sense, robust to individual and cultural differences. Yet recent evidence has revealed individual differences in the psychological processes for moral judgment: controlled cognition, mental-state reasoning, and emotional responding. We discuss this evidence and its relation to cross-cultural diversity in morality.
Joint routing and link scheduling for cognitive radio networks under uncertain spectrum supply

The essential impediment to apply cognitive radio (CR) technology for spectrum utilization improvement lies in the uncertainty of licensed spectrum supply. In this paper, we investigate the joint routing and link scheduling problem of multi-hop CR networks under uncertain spectrum supply. We model the vacancy of licensed bands with a series of random variables, and introduce corresponding scheduling constraints and flow routing constraints for such a network. From a CR network planner/operator's point of view, we characterize the network with a pair of (α; β) parameters, and present a mathematical formulation with the goal of minimizing the required network-wide spectrum resource at the (α; β) level. Given that (α; β) is specified, we derive a lower bound for the optimization problem and develop a threshold based coarse-grained fixing algorithm for a feasible solution. Simulation results show that i) for any (α; β) level, the proposed algorithm provides a near-optimal solution to the formulated NP-hard problem; ii) the (α; β) based solution is better than expected bandwidth based one in terms of blocking ratio as well as spectrum utilization in CR networks.