cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Quantification of aristolochic acids I and II in herbal dietary supplements by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography–multistage fragmentation mass spectrometry

A rapid, selective and sensitive ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-multistage fragmentation mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS³) method was developed and evaluated for the determination of aristolochic acids I and II (AA I and II) in herbal dietary supplements. A hybrid triple quadrupole/linear ion-trap mass spectrometry was used to monitor MS³ ion transitions m/z 359.2 > 298.1 > 268.0 and m/z 329.2 > 268.2 > 238.0 to detect AA I and II, respectively. The extraction and clean-up of target analytes from dry powdered samples was performed using the quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged and safe (QuEChERS) procedure. Herbal liquid extracts were analysed directly. Average recoveries ranged from 89% to 112%, with relative standard deviations (RSDs) ranging from 3% to 16%. Limits of quantification (LOQs) estimated for three selected matrices were as follows (AA I/II): 5/10 ng g⁻¹ (tablets); 25/50 ng g⁻¹ (capsules); and 2.5/5.0 ng ml⁻¹ (liquid herbal extract). The method was applied in a limited survey of 30 herbal products marketed in the United States via the Internet. AA I and II were detected in 20% and 7%, respectively, of tested samples.
Granulomatous Liver Disease

Hepatic granulomata are not infrequently encountered in liver biopsy and often are associated with systemic disease. The clinical presentation varies with the particular systemic process. From a biochemical standpoint, the most common abnormalities are elevated serum alkaline phosphatase and γ-glutamyltransferase. The observation of granulomata in a liver biopsy specimen warrants workup to identify a possible cause. Clues may be obtained in the medical history, on physical examination, or with specialized blood testing or radiologic studies. Treatment involves therapy of the underlying cause of the disease associated with the development of the granulomatous hepatitis.
Worm chips: microtools for C. elegans biology.

The study of small-size animal models, such as the roundworm C. elegans, has provided great insight into several in vivo biological processes, extending from cell apoptosis to neural network computing. The physical manipulation of this micron-sized worm has always been a challenging task. Here, we discuss the applications, capabilities and future directions of a new family of worm manipulation tools, the ‘worm chips’. Worm chips are microfabricated devices capable of precisely manipulating single worms or a population of worms and their environment. Worm chips pose a paradigm shift in current methodologies as they are capable of handling live worms in an automated fashion, opening up a new direction in in vivo small-size organism studies.
Mechanisms of epileptogenesis

The cellular mechanisms of epileptogenesis are reviewed as related to their role(s) in the expression of hyperexcitability and hypersynchrony. The data on the roles of the glutamate, GABA, acetylcholine, and adenosine receptors is discussed. The recent information on the role of glial cells in the expression of epileptogenicity is reviewed.
Price Changes and the Rate of Change of Money Wage Earnings in the Light of American Data

* This research was supported by a grant from the Ford Foundation for study of the Dynamics of the Labor Market, and is part of the research efforts of the Institute for Research on Poverty, University of Wisconsin. 1. Tsunehiko Watanabe. "Price Changes and the Rate of Change of Money Wage Earnings in Japan, 1955-1962," this Journal, LXXX (Feb. 1966). 2. In many fields of scientific research there is a well-developed tradition of replicating experiments. The discipline of describing data and methods in the original papers with sufficient care and accuracy to allow such replications is healthy in itself. If the original results are sustained by an independent check, a good deal more confidence can be placed in the results. Economic research could certainly benefit from such discipline and such double checking! We know that the estimates of regression coefficients even for data from a single country may be quite different when estimated from data over two different time spans. That is to say the estimates are to some extent dependent upon the particular economic fluctuations observed. Although the economic conditions in Japan will not necessarily be the same as in the United States over any given time span, there are linkages through international trade and capital movements that tend to some degree to produce an international synchronization of economic fluctuations. Thus there is some basis for feeling that by maintaining the same time span for the estimates in both countries one source of incompatibility between the estimates will be minimized. While applying the same two equation models to a national economy hardly qualifies as a controlled experiment, the authors would argue that there is some real virtue in making a serious attempt exactly to replicate the original work. If any changes had been made in time span, types of data or the model itself, the question would have been introduced as to whether the United States is really different from Japan in the phenomenon studied, or whether observed differences were instead traceable to the changes that had been made in the experiment.
Elemental fractionation of Si, Al, Ti, Fe, Ca, Mn, P, and Ba in five marine sedimentary reference materials: results from sequential extractions

Abstract We report on the elemental results from sequential extractions of BCSS-1 (marine sediment), MESS-1 (estuarine sediment), MAG-1 (marine mud), SCo-1 (Cody shale), and NIST-1c (argillaceous limestone) to encourage future comparisons of sequential extraction results within the marine geochemical and paleoceanographic communities. We measured Si, Al, Ti, Fe, Mn, Ca, P, and Ba in sequential de-ionized water (loosely-bound), MgCl2 (exchangeable), acetic acid (carbonate), hydroxylammonium hydrochloride (oxide), H2O2 (organic), Na2CO3 (opal), and residual (lithogenic) leaches. The protocol and selected elements were tailored to be most relevant to paleoceanographic geochemical studies instead of to environmental studies. Our results show that the sequential extraction procedure faithfully yields elemental distributions that are consistent with individual SRM lithologies. Our results also show that the procedure is typically reproducible within approximately 15%. However, in almost all cases, the procedure suffers from a systematic under-recovery of material when compared with the certified, bulk chemical analysis, and the under-recovery appears to be related to the lithology of the SRM. Similar under-recovery appears to be typical of sequential extraction procedures as reported by other previous studies. While this is problematic in assessing closure, it does not diminish the potential of inter-lab comparisons and first-order accuracy comparisons. We found that the elemental totals for the sequential extractions of MAG-1 compared best with the certified, bulk totals, and we recommend using this SRM to facilitate future accuracy assessments and inter-lab comparisons.
Surgical management of patients with ulcerative colitis during pregnancy: maternal and fetal outcomes.

Background and aims: Ulcerative colitis can develop during the reproductive years, and there are limited data about perinatal care for patients with ulcerative colitis. In this study, we analyzed perinatal follow-up, complications, and maternal and fetal outcomes in pregnant patients undergoing surgery for ulcerative colitis. Methods: Between January 1998 and July 2013, female patients who underwent surgery during pregnancy for abdominal complications of ulcerative colitis and followed up during their pregnancy in our institution were included in our study. Patient characteristics, complications, operations performed, maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality during the perinatal period, and type of delivery were analyzed. Results: There were nine female patients with a median (range) age of 30 (21–33) years. Indications for surgery were fulminant/refractory colitis ( n = 6) and bowel obstruction ( n = 3). Operations performed were subtotal colectomy with an end ileostomy ( n = 3), Turnbull blowhole procedure ( n = 3), adhesiolysis with small bowel resection (n = 1), detorsion and decompression of bowel (n = 1) and adhesolysis ( n = 1). Median (range) postoperative length of stay was 11 (5–28) days and median (range) duration of pregnancy was 36 (32–40) weeks. There were only two patients who had a transvaginal delivery, while a cesarean section was performed in seven patients. Indications for cesarean section were as follows: physician’s preference ( n = 4), planned small bowel surgery with cesarean section ( n = 2), and metabolic disorders ( n = 1). There were no perinatal maternal or fetal deaths. Conclusions: Surgery for ulcerative colitis complications can be performed safely if indicated during pregnancy under the care of a multidisciplinary team that includes gastroenterologists, obstetricians, and colorectal surgeons.
On the limited power of linear probes and other optimization oracles

Throughout this note, X denotes a real vector space of finite dimension d _> 2. As the term is used here, a convex body in X is a compact convex subset C of X whose interior is nonempty. When the origin 0 is interior to C, the gauge functional of C is the positively homogenous function gc whose value is 1 at all points of C's boundary bd C. This function is subadditive, and is symmetric (gc(x) = gc(-x)) precisely when C itself is symmetric about 0 (i.e. C = -C). In this case, gc is a norm for the space X. Here we consider the problem of using norm-computations to find a convex polytope P (not necessarily in any sense the smallest one) that contains C. By finding P we mean to produce its vertex-set or, equivalently for our model, the set of hyperplanes determined by P's facets. It is assumed that the usual arithmetic operations in R and the usual vector operations in X are available without cost, so the problem's difficulty is measured solely in terms of the number of calls to the "oracle" that computes norms. Computing the norm of a point x E X \ {0} is equivalent to finding the point at which the ray [0, co)x intersects the boundary bd C. Thus we refer to C's ray-oracle (Pc, which, when presented with any ray R issuing from 0, returns the point R N (bd C). Such probing oracles are currently of widespread interest because of their use in robotics and tomography (see, e.g.,)
Southeast Asian textiles: new research and writing

L'A. analyse brievement 11 ouvrages concernant les textiles de l'Asie du Sud-Est (parmi lesquels « Handwoven textiles of Southeast Asia » de S. Frazer-Lu, « Textiles of Southeast Asia : Tradition, trade, and transformation » de R. Maxwell), dont 5 concernent plus particulierement les textiles indonesiens (« To speak with cloth : studies in Indonesian texiles » de M. Gittinger, « Indonesian textiles » de M. Hitchcock, « The Ikat textiles of Lamalera » de R. Barnes, « Indonesian textiles : symposium 1985 » de G. Volger et K. v. Welk, « Textiles of Bali ») et 4 les textiles des principales terres (« Lan Na textiles : Yu, Lue, Lao » de S. Prangwatthanakun et P. Cheesman, « Lao textiles : ancient symbols » de P. Cheesman, « Costume and culture : vanishing textiles of some of the Tai groups in Laos PDR » de P. Naenna, « Chiang Mai's textile heritage » de S. Prangwatthanakun et P. Naenna.
Diversity and distribution of oribatid mites (Acari:Oribatida) in a lowland rain forest in Peru and in several environments of the Brazilians states of Amazonas, Rondônia, Roraima and Pará.

We are summarizing the current state of knowledge of the diversity and distribution of oribatid mites in 26 environments in northern Brazil and of a rain forest in Peru. the published studies were mostly concentrated in central amazon. Only one report is a result from an agricultural polyculture. We are providing the first lists of species for savannas and for the brazilian states of Roraima and Para. up to date, 146 species are definitively identified from a total of 444 taxa with 188 known genera, reinforcing the notion of a rich biodiverse area. the high number of 298 non-described species (morphospecies) clearly shows the inadequacy of the current taxonomic knowledge for the region. most of the registers are from forest environments. in the soil from primary forests, we registered the highest diversity (54-155 species/morphospecies). eighty-nine species were unique to primary forests, followed by 34 for savannas, 32 in trees, 10 in "igapo", 4 in caatinga, 3 in secondary forests, two in "varzea" and one in polyculture. twenty genera were the most speciose. the species with the largest home ranges were Rostrozetes foveolatus, Scheloribates sp. a, and Galumna sp. a. our numbers reflect the lack of taxonomists and show that the taxonomic knowledge must be improved for the region or we will continue to work with taxonomic resolution of order or family and a high percentage of morphospecies, which will probably be appropriate to the question being asked in each study, but not for a comparison among environments.
In vivo and in vitro release of macromolecules from polymeric drug delivery systems.

Abstract □ In vivo release rates of a macromolecule from an ethylene–vinyl acetate copolymer have been shown to be indistinguishable from those of identical implants tested in vitro . The studies were conducted for ~ 2 months, and two different techniques were used to assess release rates. One of these techniques, using [ 3 H]inulin as a marker, may be particularly useful in future studies assessing in vivo release rates from drug delivery systems. The appearance of [ 3 H]inulin in the urine of rats bearing implants allowed continuous monitoring of release. A histological evaluation of tissue sections surrounding polymer implanted for 7 months showed no inflammatory cell reaction.
Effects of thermal gradient and residual stresses on thermal barrier coating fracture

Abstract Driving mechanisms which lead to internal crack growth and failure in the thermally sprayed coatings are identified using detailed finite element models. Coatings are assumed to contain embedded cracks and they are thermally loaded according to a typical high temperature environment. In order to determine the accurate stress state, the thermal gradient within the coating is calculated from the steady-state heat transfer analysis. Our models take into account various locations of cracks, temperature-dependent and -independent plasticity, thermal conductivities of different layers and thermal insulation across crack surfaces. The results indicate that the energy release rate of large cracks can reach close to fracture toughness of ceramic coatings. We have also studied the effect of residual stresses on the fracture behavior. For a penny-shaped crack located parallel to the coating layers, a limited influence of residual stresses is observed. The effect is more pronounced when the crack orientation is perpendicular to the coating layers where it has shown a beneficial influence. In both cases, the effects of residual stresses are relevant to the cracks close to the ceramic–bond interface. In addition, we have modeled functionally graded material and investigated its mechanical influence on the embedded cracks. The implications of the present work to internal crack initiation and growth, which can lead to coating failure, are also addressed.
Multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging in prostate cancer: present and future.

Purpose of reviewThe purpose of this article is to review the current status of advanced MRI techniques based on anatomic, metabolic and physiologic properties of prostate cancer with a focus on their impact in managing prostate cancer patients.Recent findingsProstate cancer can be identified based
Feuerbach's relation and Ptolemy's theorem in R n

Ptolemy's equality for four points on a circle is related to a Feuerbach-type area relation. This suggested an extension of Ptolemy's inequality to a Feuerbach type volume relation between simplexes formed from n+2 points in Rn (n≥2). Extensions of the Mobius-Neuberg and Pompeiu Theorems in R2 are given for Rn. Ptolemy's inequality is also extended to convex n-gons in R2 yielding an extension of Fuhrmann's hexagon theorem to 2n-gons in R2 (n≥3).
Developments of a powder-metallurgy, MZC copper-alloy, water-cooled gas turbine component

The Department of Energy of the Federal Government has sponsored a technology development and verification testing program. This work is in support of an advanced, watercooled gas turbine firing at 2600 ‡F (1427 ‡C). As part of this turbine, strong emphasis has been placed on the design and testing of a composite firststage nozzle. One of the materials making up this composite structure is a copper-alloy sublayer of Cu-MgZrCr (MZC). This alloy will serve as a heat-transfer medium to keep surface-metal temperatures, as well as internal temperature gradients, to acceptable levels.
Impact of natural variability in the 11-year mesopause region temperature observation over Fort Collins, CO (41°N, 105°W)

Abstract The Colorado State University Sodium Lidar has measured temperatures in the mesopause region (80–105 km) for over 11 years. Based on 7 years' observation, an episodic change with a warming of 11.8 K in 1993 at the mean mesopause altitude of 98 km, attributable to Mt. Pinatubo eruptions, was reported. In this paper, we focus on the solar cycle effects. With 11 years of data, we observed a maximum solar response of 0.06 K/SFU at 99 km, which decreases at lower and higher altitudes to nearly zero and appears to change sign at ∼82 and ∼104 km. The phase changes are consistent with earlier midlatitude observation with incoherent scatter radar above and Rayleigh lidar below the altitudes reported here, providing clear experimental evidence of dynamical influences throughout different layers of Earth's atmosphere. We discuss the altitude dependence of response amplitudes and the effect of volcanic and solar flux variability have on the mesopause region temperatures, as well as long-term temperature trends.
Protection by WR-2721 and WR-151327 against late effects of gamma rays and neutrons

Abstract Two thiophosphoroate compounds WR-2721 and WR-151327 were assessed for their ability to modify the deleterious effects (life shortening and carcinogenesis) of fission-spectrum neutrons (kerma-weighted mean energy of 0.85 MeV) or gamma rays on B6CF1 hybrid mice. Male and female mice, 200 of each sex per experimental group, were irradiated individually at 110 days of age. Radioprotectors (400 mg/kg of WR-2721 or 580 mg/kg of WR-151327) were administered intraperitoneally 30 min prior to irradiation. Neutron doses were 10 cGy or 40 cGy and gamma ray doses were 206 cGy or 417 cGy. Animals were housed five to a cage; cage locations in the holding rooms were randomized by computer. Animals were checked daily and all deceased animals were necropsied. WR-2721 afforded protection against both neutron- and gamma-ray-induced carcinogenesis and subsequent life shortening. Cumulative survival curves for unirradiated mice of either sex were unaffected by protectors. WR-2721 protected irradiated groups against life shortening by approximately 10 cGy of neutrons or 100 cGy of gamma rays. WR-151327 was as effective as WR-2721 against neutron irradiation.
Symmetry of the stress tensor

Abstract The stress tensor for a medium with internal angular momentum is considered, and it is shown how a symmetric stress tensor can be formed. Construction of the symmetric tensor requires that the contribution to the linear momentum of a distribution of internal angular momentum be taken into account.
Enhanced correlation between quantitative ultrasound and structural and mechanical properties of bone using combined transmission-reflection measurement

Quantitative ultrasound (QUS) is capable of predicting the principal structural orientation of trabecular bone; this orientation is highly correlated with the mechanical strength of trabecular bone. Irregular shape of bone, however, would increase variation in such a prediction, especially under human in vivo measurement. This study was designed to combine transmission and reflection modes of QUS measurement to improve the prediction for the structural and mechanical properties of trabecular bone. QUS, mechanical testing, and micro computed tomography (μCT) scanning were performed on 24 trabecular bone cubes harvested from a bovine distal femur to obtain the mechanical and structural parameters. Transmission and reflection modes of QUS measurement in the transverse and frontal planes were performed in a confined 60° angle range with 5° increment. The QUS parameters, attenuation (ATT) and velocity (UV), obtained from transmission mode, were normalized to the specimen thickness acquired from reflection mode...
Type 2 Abernethy malformation presenting as a portal vein-coronary sinus fistula ☆

We report the case of a child with Abernethy malformation with an anomalous connection between the portal vein and the coronary sinus. After 30 months of close follow-up, the patient developed hepatoblastoma, a previously documented complication of the Abernethy malformation. This case reports a unique variant of Abernethy malformation and documents the first reported case of hepatoblastoma in a patient with type 2 Abernethy malformation.
African American Actresses: the struggle for visibility, 1900–1960

African American Actresses: the struggle for visibility, 1900–1960 CHARLENE REGESTER Bloomington, IN, Indiana University Press, 2010 ix+405 pp., illus., bibliography and index, $27.95 (paper) Afric...
The synthesis of UDP-galactosamine and UDP-N-acetylgalactosamine

Abstract A commercially available preparation of galactose-1-phosphateuridyl transferase was used in the synthesis of UDP-galactosamine and UDP-N-acetylgalactosamine. The method provides a relatively simple means for preparing these important biological materials in high yield and in an isotopic form of almost any desired specific radioactivity, labeled singly or in combination. Support for the route of metabolism of galactosamine in rat liver proposed previously is also presented.
Extending liaison collaboration: partnering with faculty in support of a student learning community

Purpose – The purpose of this article is to describe the successful collaboration between faculty in Eastern Kentucky University Libraries and the University's Occupational Therapy Department in supporting a graduate student learning community, and the benefits of stepping outside of typical liaison activities to play an active role in this new educational paradigm.Design/methodology/approach – In 2006, graduate students and faculty in Occupational Therapy at Eastern Kentucky University, with a librarian and with the support of a national professional organization, facilitated the completion of a graduate thesis through the use of a topic‐based learning community. This team completed an in‐depth, evidence‐based review of occupational therapy journal articles in the context of a regional university environment. This article focuses on the collaboration between faculty and librarian as they facilitated this new learning paradigm, the enhancement of the liaison partnership, and the results of the project esp...
Quantum manifestations of bifurcations of classical orbits: An exactly solvable model.

We examine photodetachment of ${\mathrm{H}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ in parallel electric and magnetic fields, $h\ensuremath{\nu}+{H}^{\ensuremath{-}}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}H+{e}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ using semiclassical approximations. The fields cause the electron to return to the atom, producing recurrences that are visible as interference oscillations in the photodetachment cross section. As the energy is varied, new returning orbits are created through bifurcations. Each such new recurrence increases the complexity of the absorption spectrum, and each bifurcation causes a local failure of the semiclassical approximation. The failure is repaired by a Fresnel diffraction integral.
Serological screening for coeliac disease: methodological standards and quality control

To establish methodological standards for serological investigation and screening of coeliac disease, a joint venture has been launched by the European Medical Research Council and the European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition. Before general screening can be recommended, robust methods and technical standards ought to be introduced. Joint test protocols were defined: an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for IgG and IgA gliadin antibodies and an immunofluorescent test for IgA endomysium antibodies. Protocols have now been tested prospectively by one laboratory. Eighty-eight Tuebingen patients were studied (47 coeliac disease on normal diet, 22 coeliac disease on a gluten-free, and 19 disease controls). Single tests did not produce acceptable levels, but combinations of IgA gliadin antibodies and IgA endomysium antibodies showed 98% sensitivity, 100% specificity and 98% predictive efficiency. Only standardized and refereed methods established by ring testing can serve as a reliable basis for serological coeliac screening.
Analysis of T-cell clonality using laser capture microdissection and high-resolution microcapillary electrophoresis.

Identification of clonal lymphocytic populations by polymerase chain reaction may be difficult in cases with scant cellular infiltrates or those with a heterogeneous population of cells. Here, we assessed the diagnostic utility of laser capture microdissection (LCM) and high-resolution microcapillary electrophoresis in the analysis of clonality of small biopsy specimens. Clonality was determined in 24 cases: five reactive tonsils, five reactive lymph nodes, six inflammatory skin lesions, and eight T-cell lymphomas. CD3-positive T lymphocytes were captured by LCM from paraffinized immunohistochemically stained sections. Genomic DNA was analyzed for T-cell receptor-γ gene rearrangement by polymerase chain reaction followed by high-resolution microcapillary electrophoresis with the DNA 500 LabChip and the Agilent Bioanalyzer. In the reactive specimens, T-cell receptor-γ polymerase chain reaction revealed monoclonal bands when 10 to 1000 cells were captured. This pattern changed to polyclonal when higher numbers of cells were microdissected (2000 to 10,000 cells). In contrast, lymphoma cells were consistently monoclonal whether low or high numbers were microdissected. Microcapillary electrophoresis coupled with LCM facilitated clonality analysis in equivocal cases. In two of eight lymphoma cases, LCM revealed diagnostic monoclonal bands, whereas routine T-cell receptor-γ assessment of whole tissue sections with 10% polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis demonstrated only minor clonal bands. We conclude that clonality determined by LCM is cell number-dependent. Biopsy specimens containing low numbers of reactive polyclonal T cells may produce pseudomonoclonal bands and therefore should be interpreted with great caution.
Surgical management of high risk prostate cancer: The Mayo Clinic experience

Although the prostate specific antigen (PSA) era has altered the clinical and demographic characteristics of men with newly-diagnosed prostate cancer, the impact on patients with high risk disease has been less predictable. We have long advocated aggressive surgical resection for patients with high risk prostate cancer at the Mayo Clinic, including patients with clinical T3 tumors, and have reported our results as well of radical prostatectomy with adjuvant hormonal therapy in the setting of lymph node positive disease. At the same time, multiple predictive models have been developed to assess the risk of disease progression following definitive therapy for prostate cancer. One such model is pretreatment risk group stratification, based on patients' PSA at diagnosis, biopsy Gleason score, and clinical stage. Here, we will review our institution's experience with surgical treatment for men with high risk prostate cancer, and will address the benefits and potential pitfalls of the pretreatment risk group classification model for high risk patients.
Clinical, pathologic, and therapeutic aspects of carcinoma of the pancreas

Summary The records of 121 cases of pancreatic carcinoma recorded over a ten year period (1962 through 1971) at a 600 bed county hospital were analyzed. In 109 cases, the tumor was visualized at either laparotomy or autopsy. The most frequent presenting symptoms were weight loss, jaundice, and abdominal pain. Laboratory studies showed evidence of obstructive jaundice, anemia, hypoproteinemia, and a reversed albumin/globulin ratio. An upper gastrointestinal series was a helpful diagnostic tool. The prognosis was uniformly poor, with a resectability rate of only 2.5 per cent. Reasonable palliation was obtained with bypass surgery. It is concluded that both biliary and duodenal bypass procedures should be used routinely to avoid having patients return for additional operation in the terminal stages. Recent developments in diagnosis and treatment are reviewed.
Risk-taking propensity of faculty, administrators and academic departament heads at large, urban, multicampus community college

OF THE DISSERTATION RISK-TAKING PROPENSITY OF FACULTY, ADMINISTRATORS, AND ACADEMIC DEPARTMENT HEADS AT A LARGE, URBAN, MULTICAMPUS COMMUNITY COLLEGE by Lois Hanson Bolton Florida International University, 1997 Professor Janice R. Sandiford, Co-Major Professor Professor Paul A. Rendulic, Co-Major Professor This research was undertaken to explore dimensions of the risk construct, identify factors related to risk-taking in education, and study risk propensity among employees at a community college. Risk-taking propensity (RTP) was measured by the 12-item BCDQ, which consisted of personal and professional risk-related situations balanced for the money, reputation, and satisfaction dimensions of the risk construct. Scoring ranged from 1.00 (most cautious) to 6.00 (most risky). Surveys including the BCDQ and seven demographic questions relating to age, gender, professional status, length of service, academic discipline, highest degree, and campus location were sent to faculty, administrators, and academic department heads. A total of 325 surveys were returned, resulting in a 66.7% response rate. Subjects were relatively homogeneous for age, length of service, and highest degree. Subjects were also homogeneous for risk-taking propensity: no substantive differences in RTP scores were noted within and among
On Takahashi's study of the thermodynamics of the Heisenberg-Ising ring for | Δ | < 1

Abstract We use the equations recently proposed by Takahashi for the free energy of the Heizenberg-Ising ring for | Δ |
The SALM family of adhesion-like molecules forms heteromeric and homomeric complexes.

Synaptic adhesion-like molecules (SALMs) are a newly discovered family of adhesion molecules that play roles in synapse formation and neurite outgrowth. The SALM family is comprised of five homologous molecules that are expressed largely in the central nervous system. SALMs 1–3 contain PDZ-binding domains, whereas SALMs 4 and 5 do not. We are interested in characterizing the interactions of the SALMs both among the individual members and with other binding partners. In the present study, we focused on the interactions formed by the five SALM members in rat brain and heterologous cells. In brain, we found that SALMs 1–3 strongly co-immunoprecipitated with each other, whereas SALMs 4 and 5 did not, suggesting that SALMs 4 and 5 mainly form homomeric complexes. In heterologous cells transfected with SALMs, co-immunoprecipitation studies showed that all five SALMs form heteromeric and homomeric complexes. We also determined if SALMs could form trans-cellular associations between transfected heterologous cells. Both SALMs 4 and 5 formed homophilic, but not heterophilic associations, whereas no trans associations were formed by the other SALMs. The ability of SALM4 to form trans interactions is due to its extracellular N terminus because chimeras of SALM4 N terminus and SALM2 C terminus can form trans interactions, whereas chimeras of SALM2 N terminus and SALM4 C terminus cannot. Co-culture experiments using HeLa cells and rat hippocampal neurons expressing the SALMs showed that SALM4 is recruited to points of contact between the cells. In neurons, these points of contact were seen in both axons and dendrites.
The application of spectral methods in simulating compressible fluid and magnetofluid turbulence

Abstract We consider the requirements a computational method must meet for the simulation of compressible hydrodynamic and magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) turbulence. After reviewing the properties which make spectral (Galerkin) and pseudospectral methods particularly useful for incompressible turbulence simulations, we consider how well these methods carry over to the compressible case. Major obstacles exist in formulating algorithms using the Galerkin method. In spite of the presence of aliasing errors, the pseudospectral method can be used to write algorithms that conserve a number of important global quantities. Accordingly, we suggest pseudospectral forms for a polytropic MHD model. Finally, a pseudospectral algorithm for the ideal gas MHD model is suggested. This algorithm conserves energy in terms of the dynamical fluid variables and not, as is common practice, due to a separate energy equation written in conservative form.
A three-field finite element method for elliptic partial differential equations driven by stochastic loads

This paper is concerned with the application of nonconforming finite element methods to stochastic partial differential equations. We present a mixed formulation of a three-field finite element method applied to an elliptic model problem involving stochastic loads. We then derive the exact form for the expected value and variance of the solution. Additionally, the rate of convergence for the stochastic error is presented. Finally, we demonstrate through numerical experiments that the method is robust and reliable.
Cyclization of dipehenylacetylene on methylchromium σ-complexes IV. Gaseous products

Abstract CD 3 MgI and CrCl 3 (THF) 3 react at - 70° to give a reagent which on warming to 20° fragments giving mainly CD 3 H, together with 14% CD 2 H 2 . Hydrolysis of the resulting mixture produces CD 3 H and some HD. These observations are considered in relation to the interaction of the methyl-chromium reagent with diphenylacetylene.
Effect of coping on substance use in adolescent girls: a dyadic analysis of parent and adolescent perceptions

This study retrospectively investigated the relationship between internalising/externalising behaviours, coping behaviours and substance use in adolescent girls using data from 91 mother–daughter dyads. Participants filled out self- or parent questionnaires that incorporated Achenbach's [Achenbach, T. M. (1991). Manual for the youth self-report and 1991 profile. Burlington, VT: Department of Psychiatry, University of Vermont] Young Adult Behavior Checklist (YABCL) and Young Adult Self-Report Form (YASR) to measure internalising/externalising and drug use, as well as additional questions on coping behaviours. Data analysis included exploratory factor analysis, linear regression and structural equation modelling utilising a common fate model for the analysis of dyadic data. The results demonstrated a significant positive relationship between escape/avoidance coping and internalising/externalising and a significant positive relationship between externalising and drug use. Implications for the use of dyadic d...
Character Displacement in Cambrian Agnostid Trilobites: ABSTRACT

The phenomenon known as character displacement develops when the ranges of 2 or more closely related species overlap geographically. Differences between the species are accentuated in the zone of sympatry, but remain less pronounced in the parts of their ranges outside that zone. Characters displaced may be morphologic, ecologic, behavioral, or physiologic. Biologists have shown that size is one of the most common morphologic characters displaced. A moderate difference in size--on the order of 1.3--appears to be sufficient to cause obligated feeding on different kinds of food, and thus permits sympatric species to avoid competitive elimination. Although character displacement in modern faunas has been well documented, to my knowledge no examples have been described from the fossil record. Analysis of several extensive collections of Cambrian fossils suggests that size displacement was common among agnostid trilobites. Where 2 or more agnostid trilobites are found together, the interspecific ratio of maximum size usually is close to 1.3. Also, maximum size generally is more uniform where given species are separated than where they are found together. The similarity of these patterns to those displayed by certain modern faunas indicates that sympatric agnostids were structurally specialized to feed on resources of different sizes. This conclusion helps to explain how superficially similar species of Cambrian agnostids may have coexisted without competitive elimination. The examples further indicate that character displacement was operating early in the history of metazoans. End_of_Article - Last_Page 962------------
Lignification of switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) and big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii) plant parts during maturation and its effect on fibre degradability

Five cultivars of switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L) and four cultivars of big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii Vitman) were harvested at vegetative, boot and heading stages of maturity. Leaf and stem fractions were analysed for detergent fibre composition and 48-h ruminal in-vitro degradability, ester- and ether-linked non-core lignin phenolic acids, and core lignin composition. Big bluestem leaves contained more neutral detergent fibre than switchgrass, but general composition of the fibre did not differ. Stem fibre of switchgrass had relatively lower levels of cellulose and lignin at the vegetative stage than observed in big bluestem. Esterified and etherified p-coumaric and ferulic acid concentrations were generally higher in switchgrass plant parts. Yield of nitrobenzene oxidation products from core lignin was greater for switchgrass leaves, but very little difference in composition was noted. Leaf tissue contained lower concentrations of all lignin components than stems. Maturation resulted in increased total lignification, but all components did not respond in the same manner. Variation for all measures of lignification seemed to be as great within species as between the grass species. Degradability of fibre declined with maturation. The only species difference was that switchgrass fibre was more degradable at the vegetative stage. Relationships between lignification and fibre degradability were in agreement with some, but not all, previously reported relationships. Concentration of core lignin was only a significant predictor of fibre degradability when the relationship was examined across maturity stages. Within a stage of maturity, lignin composition was more closely related to fibre degradability than was concentration. However, the best predictors of fibre digestibility differed among species, plant part and maturity.
Freeway On-Ramp Metering, Delay Savings, and Diverge Bottleneck

An effort was made to clarify certain issues concerning freeway on-ramp metering and its potential for saving commuter delay. Simple analogies were used to show that delay is reduced if ramp metering increases the rates at which commuters exit the freeway. Contrary to what is frequently reported in the literature, higher travel speeds and flows on links within a freeway system are not evidence of diminished delay and this too was made clear by the analogies. The discussion explains why a metering scheme should be specially tailored to the freeway it serves, and why no single metering logic will suffice for all situations. This idea was emphasized by demonstrating that some of the best-known on-ramp metering algorithms can actually reduce freeway outflows (and therefore increase delay) when the freeway is plagued by a diverge bottleneck with a congested off-ramp. Other more effective strategies for dealing with the (commonly occurring) diverge bottleneck are described, as are methods of field-testing these strategies. Changes in commuter travel behavior brought by metering, and possible effects of these changes, are discussed as well.
Triassic-Jurassic faulting in eastern North America— A model based on pre-Triassic structures

New data from the Culpeper basin (Virginia) and data assembled from existing maps of other basins show that the Triassic-Jurassic border faults of eastern North America dip essentially parallel to the underlying foliation. This suggests that the faults were controlled by pre-existing planes of weakness during regional extension as Pangea broke apart. Such a mechanism does not require large-scale arching as has been advocated by others.
GABAergic Regulation of REM Sleep in Reticularis Pontis Oralis and Caudalis in Rats

The nucleus reticularis pontis oralis (RPO) and nucleus reticularis pontis caudalis (RPC) are implicated in the generation of rapid eye movement sleep (REM). Work in cats has indicated that GABA in...
Recent Developments of HEP Pixel Detector Readout Chips

Abstract This article reviews the development of readout integrated circuits for hybrid pixel particle physics detectors. The 250-nm feature size chips in the presently operating ATLAS and CMS experiments are compared with the current state of the art in 130-nm feature size represented by the FE-I4 chip that will be used to add a new beam pipe layer for the ATLAS experiment in 2013 and the upgrade options of the CMS pixel readout chip. This includes a discussion of the array and pixel size, analog performance, readout architecture, power consumption, power distribution options and radiation hardness. Finally, recent work in 65-nm feature size as a means to continue the evolution of readout chip technology towards smaller feature size, higher rate, and lower power is presented.
GROUND STATES OF ODD-ODD NUCLEI

The spectrum of odd-odd nuclei is investigated with a general interaction of the type ${V}_{0}+{\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{1}\ifmmode\cdot\else\textperiodcentered\fi{}{\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{2}{V}_{1}$. It is shown that an inspection of the properties of some Racah coefficients is enough to determine the ground-state spin for particle-particle or hole-hole configurations in most cases. The results agree qualitatively with empirical evidence summarized by Brennan and Bernstein if ${V}_{0}$ and ${V}_{1}$ are both attractive; this agreement is insensitive to the range and other details of either ${V}_{0}$ or ${V}_{1}$.
Quantitative analysis of diseased horse tendons using Fourier-transform- second-harmonic generation imaging

Fourier transform-second-harmonic generation (FT-SHG) imaging is used to quantitatively assess the structural organization of collagen fibers in tendonitis-induced horse tendons. Fiber orientation, isotropy, and the ratio of forward to backward SHG signal (F/B ratio) are used to differentiate the fiber organization between the normal and diseased horse tendons. Each second-harmonic generation (SHG) image is divided into several smaller regions of interest (ROI) and the aforementioned quantitative metrics are calculated across the whole grid. ROIs are further labeled as dark (no or minimal presence of fibers), isotropic (random fiber organization), or anisotropic (regular fiber organization) regions. Results show that the normal tendon possesses minimal isotropic regions and small standard deviations in the histograms of orientation and F/B ratio, indicating an intact and highly regular fiber organization. However, the tendonitis-induced horse tendons possess higher number of dark and isotropic regions, and larger standard deviations of the measured parameters, suggesting significantly disoriented and disorganized collagen fibers. This type of quantification would be highly beneficial in diagnosing and determining the stage of tendonitis in clinical settings. Not limited to tendonitis, the technique could also be applied to other diseases that structurally affect collagen fibers. The advantage of FT-SHG over the conventional polarization microscopy is also discussed.
Lessons from Tumor Progression: The Invasive Radial Growth Phase of Melanoma Is Common, Incapable of Metastasis, and Indolent

Primary melanoma generally evolves through three clinically and morphologically discernable tumor progression steps. Transformed melanocytes first proliferate above the epidermal basement membrane, then invade the papillary dermis (the in situ and invasive radial growth phases of melanoma), and subsequently develop the capacity to grow as a tumor (the vertical growth phase). Here, we address three aspects of the invasive radial growth phase that provide the rationale for viewing it as the critical lesion for melanoma detection and therapy. We determined the fraction of melanomas having this growth phase, tested its hypothesized incapacity to metastasize, and estimated its longevity. The high prevalence of this step in tumor progression was demonstrated in a data base of 624 patients, where at least 87% of melanomas exhibited a radial growth phase. The benignity of this lesion was evinced by the perfect metastasis-free survival of 161 patients treated for pure radial growth-phase melanomas and followed for a median of 13.7 years. Its indolence was evident in an analysis of the ages of 234 patients with superficial spreading melanomas without or with vertical growth phase: The cases with lesions having only radial growth phase were 4.3 years younger than those additionally having vertical growth phase (p < 0.05). These features of the invasive radial growth phase of primary melanoma, first described by Wallace H. Clark, make it a pivotal lesion in the evolutionary biology of melanocytic neoplasia and confirm its central place in public health programs to control melanoma mortality.
Firmware development methodologies for synthetic test instrumentation

Traditional test equipment typically offers a fixed set of pre-determined functionality that is exposed to the test engineer by one or more fixed application programming interfaces. When building a general purpose test system using traditional test equipment, it is common to include a separate piece of test equipment for each supported protocol or bus type. As a result, these purpose-built test systems tend to have a large footprint, are difficult to maintain, and have a high obsolesce risk. To combat these issues, many system integrators are moving towards synthetic test instrumentation that can provide the functionality of several traditional test instruments.
Transforming growth factor-βs and related gene products in mosquito vectors of human malaria parasites: signaling architecture for immunological crosstalk

Abstract The participation of a divergent mosquito transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) and mammalian TGF-β1 in the Anopheles stephensi response to malaria parasite development [Infect. Genet. Evol. 1 (2001) 131–141; Infect. Immun. 71 (2003) 3000–3009] suggests that a network of Anopheles TGF-β ligands and signaling pathways figure prominently in immune defense of this important vector group. To provide a basis for identifying the roles of these proteins in Anopheles innate immunity, we identified six predicted TGF-β ligand-encoding genes in the Anopheles gambiae genome, including two expressed, diverged copies of 60A, the first evidence of ligand gene duplication outside of chordates. In addition to five predicted type I and II receptors, we identified three Smad genes in the A. gambiae genome that would be predicted to support both TGF-β/Activin- and bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-like signaling. All three Smad genes are expressed in an immunocompetent A. stephensi cell line and in the A. stephensi midgut epithelium, confirming that a conserved signaling architecture is in place to support signaling by divergent exogenous and endogenous TGF-β superfamily proteins.