cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Hydrogen-exchange labeling study of the allosteric R-state to T-state equilibrium in methemoglobin

Abstract Hydrogen-exchange labeling methods can be used to identify functionally important changes at positions all through a protein structure, can monitor the effect at these positions of structure changes anywhere in the protein, and can quantify these effects in terms of change in structural-stabilization free energy. These methods were used to study effects at two widely separated positions in human methemoglobin (metHb). The results show that the observed changes in hydrogen-exchange behavior reflect changes in the global R-state to T-state equilibrium, and specifically that stabilizing salt links at the α-chain N-terminus and the β-chain C-terminus are reformed in the R-T transition. The strong allosteric effector, inositol hexaphosphate (IHP), switches R-state methemoglobin to the T-state, but achieves a T/R equilibrium constant of only ≈ 3 (at pH=6.5, 0°C). Addition of the weaker effector, bezafibrate (Bzf), promotes this transition by an additional 0.7 kcal (T/R shifts to ≈ 12). Bzf alone is insufficient to cause the transition, indicating that R/T is 10 or more in stripped metHb under these conditions. However, R/T is small enough, not more than 103, to be reversed by the differential (T versus R) binding energy of IHP. The R-T transition caused by IHP and Bzf acting together can be reversed by some covalent modifications that sever the stabilizing salt links at the chain termini and thus favor transition back to the R-state.
Involvement of tryptophan 209 in the allosteric interactions of Escherichia coli aspartate transcarbamylase using single amino acid substitution mutants

Abstract Five mutant versions of aspartate transcarbamylase have been isolated, all with single amino acid substitutions in the catalytic chain of the enzyme. A previously isolated pyrB nonsense mutant was suppressed with supB, supC, supD and supG to create enzymes with glutamine, tyrosine, serine or lysine, respectively, inserted at the position of the nonsense codon. Each of these enzymes was purified to homogeneity and kinetically characterized. The approximate location of the substitution was determined by using tryptic fingerprints of the wild-type enzyme and the enzyme obtained with a tyrosine residue inserted at the position of the nonsense codon. By first cloning the pyrBI operon, from the original pyrB nonsense strain, followed by sequencing of the appropriate portion of the gene, the exact location of the mutation was determined to be at position 209 of the catalytic chain. Site-directed mutagenesis was used to generate versions of aspartate transcarbamylase with tyrosine and glutamic acid at this position. The Tyr209 enzyme is identical with that obtained by suppression of the original nonsense mutation with supC. The two enzymes produced by site-directed mutagenesis were purified using a newly created overproducing strain. Kinetic analysis revealed that each mutant has an altered affinity for aspartate, as judged by variations in the substrate concentration at one-half maximal activity. In addition, the mutants exhibit altered Hill coefficients and maximal activities. In the wild-type enzyme, position 209 is a tryptophan residue that is involved in the stabilization of a bend in the molecule near the subunit interface region. The alteration in homotropic co-operativity seems to be due to changes induced in this bend in the molecule, which stabilizes alternate conformational states of the enzyme.
532 nm Pulsed Potassium‐Titanyl‐Phosphate Laser Treatment of Laryngeal Papillomatosis under General Anesthesia

Objectives: Angiolytic lasers have been shown to be an effective treatment strategy for laryngeal papillomatosis. These lasers precisely target hemoglobin within the microcirculation of papillary lesions. We have previously demonstrated the advantages of the fiber-based pulsed 532-nm potassium-titanyl-phosphate (KTP) laser in an office setting (with local anesthesia). This investigation provides the first report of the pulsed-KTP laser during microlaryngoscopy under general anesthesia. Study Design: A prospective pilot study was performed in 55 adult patients with laryngeal papillomatosis to determine disease response. Methods: During suspension microlaryngoscopy, a solid-state 532 nm pulsed-KTP laser was used (15 ms pulse width, 5.25–7.5 J/pulse maximum output, 2 Hz repetition rate, 0.4 mm fiber, approximately 20–80 J/cm2 fluence) to treat laryngeal papillomatosis. All patients underwent postoperative videolaryngoscopy to assess disease regression based on a previously used rating scale. Results: Thirty-seven patients underwent 55 procedures during the 18-month study period. Near-term follow-up with an early postoperative evaluation was available in 23 patients (35 procedures). Fourteen patients (20 procedures) were geographically distant and only returned after developing symptoms with significant disease recurrence. Of the 35 procedures in which near-term follow-up was available, 90% or greater disease regression was achieved in 28 of 35 (80%), 75% to 89% disease regression was achieved in 4 of 35 (11%), and 50% to 74% disease regression in 3 of 35 (9%). Anterior-commissure disease was present in 51 of 55 (93%) cases, and no new webbing/synechia occurred. All patients reported that their vocal function improved after treatment. Conclusions: The 532 nm pulsed-KTP laser was effective for treating recurrent respiratory papillomatosis, which was similar to our experience as an office-based procedure.
Coordination failures and government policy: A model with applications to East Asia and Eastern Europe

Abstract Poor countries must specialize in standardized, labor-intensive commodities. Middle-income countries may have a richer menu of options if their labor force is reasonably well educated and skilled. The multiplicity of equilibria is due to a coordination problem inherent in activities that require specialized inputs. If no intermediate inputs are presently produced, there may be little incentive for any single firm to do so on its own. The economy may get stuck in a low-wage, low-tech equilibrium. An investment subsidy or a minimum-wage policy can enhance welfare by moving the economy to a superior equilibrium.
Beta W7 MCT — New Ways in Surface Modification

BETA W7 MCT is the first reactive cyclodextrin derivative manufactured on an industrial scale. It has a monochlorotriazinyl group as a reactive anchor well known from many reactive dyes. This derivative is able to form stable covalent bonds with nucleophilic groups and can be easily prepared in water in an effective one pot synthesis from cyanuric chloride and β-cyclodextrin in a yield of approx. 90% based on the triazinyl group. The optimised degree of substitution of DS = 0.4 per anhydroglucose ensures a good complexation capacity even when this derivative is fixed to surfaces like textiles. This cyclodextrin derivative containing 2-3 reactive groups in the ring can be used as building block for new CD derivatives, as a crosslinking agent or as an excellent material for surface modification.
The Science of Group and Organizational Processes

This article is the first of a pair about the representation of group and organizational processes. The article begins with a model of the science of group and organizational processes. It depicts the main subcommunities and how their interdependence affects their progress. This interdependence would be improved if there was a common definition and representation for group and organizational processes. Recognizing that there are many existing concepts of group and organizational processes and several efforts to create a representation, it is clear that more work is required. A common representation of group and organizational processes ought to meet five criteria in order to be feasible. Then, to select among the feasible candidates, a set of ten desiderata for comparing, contrasting, and synthesizing them is presented.The second article in this series derives a working common representation of group and organizational processes.
Terahertz Technology for Space Exploration and Data Communications

For the last 500,000 years, progress of human civilization has been linked to exploration of electromagnetic spectrum. Photonic devices progressed from torches to candles, from gas lamps to electric bulbs, and finally to visible, infrared, and UV lasers and light emitting diodes. Electronic devices, such as High Electron Mobility Transistors and Heterojunction Bipolar Transistors, reached into the sub-terahertz range. The terahertz range (0.3 THz to 30 THz) is in between the spectral ranges dominated by electronic and photonic device. In this paper, we review applications of terahertz technology for space exploration and data communications.
Evaluation of progeny tests of dairy sires in single herds.

Abstract First-lactation Holstein-Friesian HIR records of 37,890 animals were studied for the usefulness of average deviations of daughter records from contemporaries to estimate breeding values of sires whose daughters are in one herd. Breeding values based on daughters’ deviations were termed unadjusted breeding values. The added usefulness of the dams’ deviation from their contemporaries to adjust for selection of mates of sires also was examined. Breeding values adjusted for the deviations of the sires’ mates were termed adjusted breeding values. Breeding values from Dairy Herd Improvement Association records including artificially sired daughters for 99 of the 1,355 sires involved were compared with the unadjusted and adjusted breeding values. Comparisons of the unadjusted and adjusted breeding values with estimates of breeding values based on the average of daughter records indicated that both are more efficient than the daughter average. The adjusted had slightly more precision than the unadjusted breeding value, and it was corrected for possible effects of selection of dams. These effects do not appear to be important for comparisons among groups of sires with single-herd proofs, since rank correlations between unadjusted and adjusted breeding values were 0.978 for milk and 0.972 for per cent fat. Results of the theoretical and actual comparisons of the single-herd proofs with the breeding values from Dairy Herd Improvement Associations were in close agreement. The rank correlation between the single-herd proofs and the AIBV's for the 99 bulls was 0.51 for milk yield, and in theory the correlation was expected to lie between 0.45 and 0.51. The results of the investigation do not justify routine adjustment of regressed daughter deviations for the difference of their dams from their herdmates, even for single-herd progenies.
THE ROOTS OF COINCIDENCE: AN EXCURSION INTO PARAPSYCHOLOGY, Arthur Koestler

(1975). THE ROOTS OF COINCIDENCE: AN EXCURSION INTO PARAPSYCHOLOGY, Arthur Koestler. The Philosophy Forum: Vol. 14, No. 3, pp. 307-312.
Genomic characterization of six novel Bacillus pumilus bacteriophages

Twenty-eight bacteriophages infecting the local host Bacillus pumilus BL-8 were isolated, purified, and characterized. Nine genomes were sequenced, of which six were annotated and are the first of this host submitted to the public record. The 28 phages were divided into two groups by sequence and morphological similarity, yielding 27 cluster BpA phages and 1 cluster BpB phage, which is a BL-8 prophage. Most of the BpA phages have a host range restricted to distantly related strains, B. pumilus and B. simplex, reflecting the complexities of Bacillus taxonomy. Despite isolation over wide geographic and temporal space, the six cluster BpA phages share most of their 23 functionally annotated protein features and show a high degree of sequence similarity, which is unique among phages of the Bacillus genera. This is the first report of B. pumilus phages since 1981.
From Online Documentation to Intuitive Interfaces: Technical Communicators Join the Design Team.

As user advocate, usability tester, screen designer, and online documentation specialist, the technical communicator is now playing a role in all phases of product development, from initial design to final support. How has this expanded role come about? What kinds of decisions is the technical communicator responsible for? How must the technical communicator interact with other team members, especially in the exciting, interdisciplinary area of “external design”? This article examines the rapidly growing role for technical communicators in the computer industry as members of the external design team.
Algebraic expressions for the waveforms of sea urchin sperm flagella

The waveforms of live sea urchin sperm flagella were digitized with videodigitizing apparatus. The flagellar waveforms were expressed by the coordinates of 20 points spaced 2 μm apart along the flagella. The waveforms were condensed into simple algebraic expression with four parameters. Each of these parameters showed a systematic variation with the flagellar frequency. These average trends of the parameters made it possible to define an average, idealized, waveshape as a function of the flagella frequency, in the range 8–80 Hz.
Conceptualization and measurement of relationship quality: Linking relationship quality to actual sales and recommendation intention

Abstract Following over a decade of relationship marketing, this paper re-visits the notion of relationship quality to determine relational drivers of account profitability. Customer executives from multiple industries are interviewed to identify critical success factors in buyer–seller relationships. Based on their responses, a “back-to-the-basics,” grass roots approach to the measurement of relationship quality is offered. To further demonstrate its value for marketing practice, this measure of relationship quality is administered to a nationwide sample of key customer decision-makers to determine its link to profitable outcomes. The results support this measure as a driver of actual sales and recommendation intention.
Testing Hypotheses in Ecoimmunology Using Mixed Models: Disentangling Hierarchical Correlations

Synopsis Considerable research in ecoimmunology focuses on investigating variation in immune responses and linking this variation to physiological trade-offs, ecological traits, and environmental conditions. Variation in immune responses exists within and among individuals, among populations, and among taxonomic groupings. Understanding how variation and covariation are distributed and how they differ across these levels is necessary for drawing appropriate ecological and evolutionary inferences. Moreover, variation at the among-individual level directly connects to underlying quantitative genetic parameters. In order to fully understand immune responses in evolutionary and ecological contexts and to reveal phylogenetic constraints on evolution, statistical approaches must allow (co)variance to be partitioned among levels of individual, population, and phylogenetic organization (e.g., population, species, genera, and various higher taxa). Herein, we describe how multi-response mixed-effects models can be used to partition variation in immune responses among different hierarchical levels, specifically within-individuals, among-individuals, and among-species. We use simulated data to demonstrate that mixed models allow for proper partitioning of (co)variances. Importantly, these simulations also demonstrate that conventional statistical tools grossly misestimate relevant parameters, which urges caution in relating ecoimmunological hypotheses to existing empirical research. We conclude by discussing the advantages and caveats of a mixed-effects modeling approach.
Drug-Absorption Analysis from Pharmacological Data II: Transcorneal Biophasic Availability of Tropicamide

Following an ophthalmic dose, the mydriatic drug, tropicamide, may traverse the cornea to reach its vicinal sites of action (biophase) directly or indirectly gain access subsequent to its systemic absorption. The latter route of entry into the biophase may be attributed to fluid volume loss and scleral absorption. A means by which the relative quantities of the drug absorbed transcorneally directly into the biophase and indirectly following systemic absorption at any time can be discerned from concomitant measurements of pupillary diameters in drug-treated and untreated eyes is described. However, except at very high dosage, the observed magnitude of effects in the control eye were insufficient for this method to be practical for tropicamide. The determination of the total relative quantities of drug ultimately dissipated from the absorption site by routes other than transcorneal absorption into the biophase was, however, approximated from measurements performed on the treated eye alone. Semilogarithmic plots of the time course of transcorneal drug passage were linear, indicating the biophasic availability of tropicamide to occur through the operation of apparent first-order processes. A comparison of pharmacological and biokinetic parameters characterizing the mydriatic behavior of tropicamide administered in vehicles having a pH of 5.0 and 7.4 is presented.
Treatment of subclinical intraurethral human papilloma virus infection with interferon alfa-2b

Abstract Objectives Anogenital human papilloma virus (HPV) infection represents a growing concern among physicians in the United States. An intraurethral reservoir of the virus has been suggested as a possible source for reinfection between sexual partners, and may contribute to the increase in the number of affected individuals. Treatment reports of intraurethral HPV infection with adequate follow-up have been lacking. Our goals in this study were to identify the patients with cytologie evidence of HPV intraurethral infection, and to attempt treatment with intraurethral instillations of Interferon alfa-2b. Methods Eighty-nine men with anogenital lesions or known exposure to HPV underwent cytologie examination using a urethral swab after all visible disease was adequately treated. Sixteen patients with positive cytology results were treated with weekly instillations of 25 million U of interferon alfa-2b solution for 6 weeks. Urethral cytology was monitored at 2 and 6 weeks post-treatment, as well as every 3 months thereafter up to a year. Those who had a recurrence during the study were retreated with a 6-week course using 50 million U per instillation. Patients were monitored for possible side effects. Results Seventeen (19%) of 89 patients who entered the study had urethral cytology positive for HPV infection with no evidence of visible disease. Seven (41%) of these 17 patients did not show external (meatal or skin) manifestations of the disease. Fourteen of 16 (88%) men who underwent the therapy were followed for an average of 11.8 months. Nine of those 14 (64%) remained disease free throughout the follow-up. Of the 5 who had a recurrence, 3 were successfully retreated, with a mean of 7.2 months of disease-free follow-up after the second course. No adverse effects of the treatment were noted by blood testing, semen analysis, and patient report. Conclusions The urethra is a significant HPV reservoir and should be investigated in patients exposed to the virus. Interferon is a potentially safe and effective treatment option for intraurethral HPV.
Chasing the elusive pressure-volume relationships.

Quantification of ventricular pump function is fundamental to the practice of cardiology and is required for research into most aspects of cardiac physiology, disease, and therapeutics. Drawing an analogy between the heart and a steam engine, Otto Frank ([1][1]) introduced the pressure–volume
Hornberger receives the Excellence in Geophysical Education Award

George M. Hornberger was awarded the Excellence in Geophysical Education Award at the AGU Spring Meeting Honors Ceremony, which was held on June 2, 1999, in Boston, Massachusetts. The award acknowledges a sustained commitment to excellence in geophysical education by a team, individual, or group.
ANALYSIS OF THERMAL STRESSES IN A FLAT PLATE SUBJECTED TO CONDUCTIVE HEAT TRANSFER WITH THERMAL BOUNDARY CONDUCTANCE

An analysis is presented of the effect of a finite boundary conductance on the magnitude of the thermal stresses in a flat plate subjected to symmetric and asymmetric conductive heat transfer from an infinite, mechanically noninteracting medium.
Effects of polymer end groups on chemical amplification

Polymer end groups could affect the sensitivity of chemical amplification resist systems based on acid catalysis in a fashion completely different from the conventional resist systems. Their acidolysis susceptibility could depend on the initiator employed in polymerization, which is illustrated by two examples in this paper. When (alpha) ,(alpha) -azobis(isobutyronitrile) is used as the radical polymerization initiator, PBOCST with a lower molecular weight provides a less sensitive tBOC resist than a higher molecular weight polymer, which is due to the poisoning effect of the CN group attached to the polymer end. Low molecular weight PBOCST's were prepared also with benzoyl peroxide and via living anionic polymerization to confirm the end group effect on the tBOC acidolysis. In contrast, there are cases where certain end groups could provide reaction sites to photochemically generated acids. One such example is poly(hydroxy-(alpha) -methylstyrene) (PHOMS). The (rho) -PHOMS prepared by heating the tBOC-protected polymer (made by cationic polymerization) undergoes extremely efficient acid-catalyzed depolymerization. In contrast, the (rho) -PHOMS made by desilylation of anionically obtained silyl-protected polymer is very inert to such acidolysis. The high sensitivity of the cationic (rho) -PHOMS is due to the presence of end groups that are introduced during accidental and/or intentional termination and that are very reactive toward acids.
Collaborative Decision-Making in Emergency and Disaster Management

Decision-making in emergencies requires non-traditional approach and tools characterized by non-hierarchical structure and flexibility. The dynamic environment of disasters makes it imperative to invest in inter-sector and inter-agency cooperation and coordination. Focusing on the Emergency Management Assistance Compact's (EMAC) response to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005, this article examines the decision-making structure of the agreement. EMAC is an inter-state mutual aid agreement that facilitates sharing of resources during and after disasters. While EMAC's overall decision-making performance was relatively satisfactory and flawless, investment in communication, trust-building, and eradication of inter-agency value differences and discrepancies is imperative.
Ecology and population status of Trout-perch (Percopsis omiscomaycus) in western Lake Erie

Abstract Trout-perch Percopsis omiscomaycus is among the most abundant benthic species in Lake Erie, but comparatively little is known about its ecology. Although others have conducted extensive studies on trout-perch ecology, those efforts predated invasions of white perch Morone americana , Dreissena spp., Bythotrephes longimanus and round goby Neogobius melanostomus , suggesting the need to revisit past work. Trout-perch were sampled with bottom trawls at 56 sites during June and September 2010. We examined diets, fecundity, average annual mortality, sex ratio, and long-term population trends at sites sampled since 1961. Trout-perch abundance fluctuated periodically, with distinct shorter- (4-year) and longer-term (over period of 50 years) fluctuations. Males had higher average annual mortality than females. Both sexes were equally abundant at age 0, but females outnumbered males 4:1 by age 2. Diets of trout-perch were dominated by macroinvertebrates, particularly chironomids and Hexagenia sp. Size distributions of trout-perch eggs varied widely and exhibited multiple modes indicative of protracted batch spawning. A review of the few other studies of trout-perch revealed periodic fluctuations in sex ratio of adults, which in light of our evidence of periodicity in abundance suggests the potential for sex-ratio-mediated intrinsic population regulation. Despite the introduction of numerous invasive species in Lake Erie, trout-perch remain one of the most abundant benthic invertivores and the population is relatively stable.
Single-locus control of saccharin intake in BXD/Ty recombinant inbred (RI) mice: some methodological implications for RI strain analysis.

Thesac locus, with a major effect on saccharin preference, was discovered by Fuller (1974) in C57BL/6J (B6), DBA/2J (D2), and derived crosses, and is now supported in the BXD/Ty recombinant inbred (RI) series by a marked bimodal distribution in saccharin preference among 20 strains. The B6 allele led to increased saccharin preference compared to the D2 allele. Since the search for bimodal distributions reflecting major gene loci is an essential part of RI strain analysis, a new statistical method is proposed to test for bimodality, and comparisons are made to previously proposed methods. Another new RI method, quantitative trait loci (QTL) analysis, allows provisional detection and mapping of minor as well as major gene loci. Using this method as a screen, significant associations with saccharin preference were suggested with marker loci on portions of six chromosomes. One of these, theD12nyu1 locus on chromosome 12, was independently supported in a panel of standard (non-RI) inbred strains also tested for saccharin preference. It is unclear whether this reflects thesac locus.
Forensic Assessment of Illness Falsification, Munchausen by Proxy, and Factitious Disorder, NOS

The purpose of this article is to propose guidelines for the evaluation of possible Munchausen by proxy child abuse for the court systems. These assessments require the evaluator to have an understanding of the complexity involved when this type of abuse is alleged. The evaluator should have an appreciation of how falsification of illness may or may not occur, recognize the need for careful analysis of medical records, and understand the problems associated with the use of a profile in determining the validity of an abuse allegation. This article presents guidelines for gathering pertinent data, analyzing records, and evaluating psychological testing for forensic evaluations when the questions for the evaluation are the following: (a) Is there evidence that child abuse did occur? (b) Does the alleged perpetrator meet criteria forfactitious disorder, NOS (or factitious disorder by proxy)? and (c) What management and treatment recommendations should be made?
HIV test-seeking before and after the restriction of anonymous testing in North Carolina.

OBJECTIVES: This study assessed the impact on HIV test-seeking of North Carolina's restriction of anonymous testing to 18 of its 100 counties as of September 1, 1991. METHODS: Trends from 4 months prerestriction to the 16-month restriction period in counties retaining vs counties eliminating anonymous testing were compared. RESULTS: HIV testing increased throughout the state, but more rapidly where anonymous testing was retained than elsewhere: 64% vs 44%. These differences held for all sociodemographic subgroups and were most pronounced among adolescents and African Americans and other non-Whites. CONCLUSIONS: The data are consistent with a detrimental effect of elimination of anonymous testing, although confounding from differences in AIDS awareness or in repeat tests is possible.
Immediate-early gene regulation in herpes simplex virus

All α herpesviruses have a rather similar immediate-early gene organization and gene regulation pathway, which differs dramatically from those of the β (CMV) and γ (EBV) subclasses of herpesviruses. Herpes simplex virus (HSV), the prototype for α herpesviruses, encodes a virion transcription factor (VP16) that complexes with the cellular Oct-1 DNA binding protein in newly-infected cells and specifically activates several viral immediate-early promoters. Subsequently, three viral nuclear transactivators (IE175, IE110 and IE63) act together, at both the transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels, to maximize expression of the downstream cascade of delayed-early and late genes. IE175 is a DNA-binding protein that can also specifically down-regulate both its own and one or more latent state promoters. During maintenance of the latent state in sensory neurons, viral IE expression is kept shut-down by a variety of negative factors that probably include antisense mechanisms. Finally, the IE110 protein appears to be a key alternative trigger of lytic cycle events for reactivation in the absence of the virion factor.
General internal medicine in internal medicine: at the core or on the periphery?

Abstract ▪ In the past decade, faculty in sections of general internal medicine have assumed responsibility for training residents, for staffing clinical practices, and for developing new domains o...
A finite element stress analysis of a crack in a bi-material plate

A stress analysis is presented for the problem of a crack in one material of a bi-material plate located perpendicular to the material interface. A numerical solution using the finite element techniques to determine the force displacement relationships is used. Knowing this, a work integral method is used to determine the stress intensity factors for the crack. Since the work integral is independent of path, the path of integration can be chosen far enough away from the crack tip to avoid the complications of the crack tip singularity. The problem is studied for a number of cases where the crack length to plate width ratio, distance from crack tip to material interface, and the ratio of material constants were varied as parameters.
Methods of processing Si3N4/SiC nano-nano composites from polymer precursor

Abstract Three approaches have been attempted in this investigation to bring the grain size of silicon nitride and silicon carbide composites into the truly nanometric range, i.e., where the grain size of both silicon nitride and silicon carbide phases are within the 100 nm limit. The first approach was crystallization of amorphous Si–C–N bulk materials which were first synthesized by a processing route based on pyrolysis of polymer precursor in order to obtain the polycrystalline silicon nitride/silicon carbide composites with grain size of 30–50 nm with varied phase proportions. The second processing method was high pressure sintering. Oxide additives were incorporated into precursor pyrolysis-derived powders, and sintering was conducted at 1400–1600 °C under a pressure of 1–2 GPa. The crystallinity and grain size of the sintered product can be controlled by the sintering temperature. The third method was electric field assisted sintering. With decreased additive amounts, the grain size of the sintered materials can be controlled to grain diameter as small as 38 nm.
Bile salts as biological surfactants

Abstract Amphiphatic bile salts are the main product of cholesterol metabolism. Their structure determines their biological and physicochemical properties which in turn are related to their multifaceted biological behavior. Their main biological function is to solubilize dietary lipids and thus greatly accelerate their absorption. The efficient performance of this function is facilitated by the concentrating effect of the gallbladder upon the bile secreted by the liver, the solubility of the bile salts under conditions prevailing in the small intestine, and their ability to form micelles which are powerful solubilizers for fatty acids and monoglycerides. In addition, the resistance of bile salts to digestive enzymes and to absorption by the mucosa of the upper intestine, combined with their rapid absorption in the lower intestine and ready resecretion by the liver, makes possible the repeated reuse of most of the bile salt molecules, thus reducing the metabolic burden of this operation. The unique suitability of natural bile salts to perform their functions becomes apparent when unnatural analogues, differing in structure, are prepared and their physicochemical and biological properties are studied.
A Study of the Effect of Success on Risk Aversion in a Naturally Occurring Experiment

Prospect theorists and behavioral economists argue that a decision maker’s risk-taking behavior is influenced by being in the realm of gains and by being in the midst of a successful decision-makin...
Design and analysis of crossbar circuits for molecular nanoelectronics

We consider crossbar structures for nanoelectronics from a circuit design perspective. Given the large design space and the many promising nanotechnologies, we develop parameterized circuit models for quickly surveying the crossbar design space. We then present methods for implementing logic and memory in crossbars via a programmed decoder. Finally, we consider the implications of logic representation when mapping circuits to crossbars.
THE ESTIMATION OF CAUSAL EFFECTS FROM OBSERVATIONAL DATA

▪ Abstract When experimental designs are infeasible, researchers must resort to the use of observational data from surveys, censuses, and administrative records. Because assignment to the independent variables of observational data is usually nonrandom, the challenge of estimating causal effects with observational data can be formidable. In this chapter, we review the large literature produced primarily by statisticians and econometricians in the past two decades on the estimation of causal effects from observational data. We first review the now widely accepted counterfactual framework for the modeling of causal effects. After examining estimators, both old and new, that can be used to estimate causal effects from cross-sectional data, we present estimators that exploit the additional information furnished by longitudinal data. Because of the size and technical nature of the literature, we cannot offer a fully detailed and comprehensive presentation. Instead, we present only the main features of methods ...
Methodology of Precise Skull Model Creation

While CT imaging is excellent for demonstrating bone structures, it is unable to display an accurate rendition of the teeth. To address this problem, a method of incorporating accurate teeth into the CT scan was developed. This method combined a 3D CT bone model with digital dental models creating a "precise skull model". An experiment was completed to test the accuracy with which the digital dental models were incorporated into the CT bone models.
A New Method for Modeling the Coronal Magnetic Field with STEREO and Submerged Dipoles

Recent magnetic modeling efforts have shown substantial misalignment between theoretical models and observed coronal loop morphology as observed by STEREO/EUVI, regardless of the type of model used. Both potential field and non-linear force-free field (NLFFF) models yielded overall misalignment angles of 20 – 40 degrees, depending on the complexity of the active region (Sandman et al., Solar Phys. 259, 1, 2009; DeRosa et al., Astrophys. J. 696, 1780, 2009) We demonstrate that with new, alternative forward-fitting techniques, we can achieve a significant reduction in the misalignment angles compared with potential field source surface (PFSS) models and NLFFF models. Fitting a series of submerged dipoles to the field directions of stereoscopically triangulated loops in four active regions (30 April, 9 May, 19 May, and 11 December 2007), we find that 3 – 5 dipoles per active region yield misalignment angles of ∼ 11° – 18°, a factor of two smaller than those given by previously established extrapolation methods. We investigate the spatial and temporal variation of misalignment angles with subsets of loops for each active region, as well as loops observed prior to and following a flare and filament eruption, and find that the spatial variation of median misalignment angles within an active region (up to 75%) exceeds the temporal variation associated with the flare (up to 40%). We also examine estimates of the stereoscopic error of our analysis. The corrected values yield a residual misalignment of 7° – 13°, which is attributed to the non-potentiality due to currents in the active regions.
Flexible-Membrane Airfoils at Low Reynolds Numbers

An experimental study was conducted to assess the benefits of using flexible-membrane airfoils/wings at low Reynolds numbers for micro air vehicle applications compared with using a conventional rigid airfoil/wing. In addition to measuring aerodynamic forces acting on flexible-membrane airfoils/wings, a high-resolution particle image velocimetry system was used to conduct flowfield measurements to quantify the transient behavior of vortex and turbulent flow structures around the flexible-membrane airfoils/wings to elucidate the associated underlying fundamental physics. The aerodynamic force measurements revealed that flexible-membrane airfoils could provide better aerodynamic performance compared with their rigid counterpart at low Reynolds numbers. The flexibility (or rigidity) of the membrane skins of the airfoils was found to greatly affect their aerodynamic performance. Particle image velocimetry measurements elucidated that flexible-membrane airfoils could change their camber (i.e., crosssectional shape) automatically to adapt incoming flows to balance the pressure differences on the upper and lower surfaces of the airfoils, therefore suppressing flow separation on the airfoil upper surfaces. Meanwhile, deformation of the flexible-membrane skins was found to cause significant airfoil trailing-edge deflection (i.e., lift the airfoil trailing edge up from its original designed position), which resulted in a reduction of the effective angles of attack of the flexible-membrane airfoils, thereby delaying airfoil stall at high angles of attack. The nonuniform spanwise deformation of the flexible-membrane skins of the flexible-membrane airfoils was found to significantly affect the characteristics of vortex and turbulent flow structures around the flexible-membrane airfoils.
Sintering of Whisker-Reinforced Ceramics and Glasses

The sintering rates of whisker-reinforced ceramics and glasses have been calculated. The calculations reveal that retardation of sintering may occur because of the development of hydrostatic tensile stress in the matrix. The application of pressure to counteract the retardation and of an initial gap between the whisker and the matrix to delay material contact are addressed.
Structural Vs. Behavioral Change: the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978:

The Civil Service Reform Act (CSRA) is an attempt to change the way people behave in person nel management. This article examines four major assumptions about what was wrong with pre- reform personnel management that lead to the CSRA, and the structural changes initiated by the Act to correct these deficiences. It concludes that without a behaviorally-oriented change strategy, these structural reforms are not likely to lead to lasting behavioral change. This failure will result in the law falling short of its goals.
Coaches' Use of Anticipatory and Counterfactual Regret Messages During Competition

By focusing on coaches' use of anticipatory and counterfactual regret messages, this investigation examined video footage (i.e., pre-game, halftime, and post-game speeches) of high school football coaches' interaction with their athletes during competition. Participants were 17 high school football coaches who were found to use a combination of regret messages: accountability, individual performance, collective failure, social significance, regret reduction, and future regret. Results describe how coaches use these regret message types during different points in athletic competition and how they vary as a function of team success (winning or losing at the time of the speech) and whether the game occurred during the regular or post-season. Applications for coaches, including pedagogical and athlete emotional response, are discussed.
Cavity sideband cooling of a single trapped ion.

We report a demonstration and quantitative characterization of one-dimensional cavity cooling of a single trapped $^{88}\mathrm{Sr}^{+}$ ion in the resolved-sideband regime. We measure the spectrum of cavity transitions, the rates of cavity heating and cooling, and the steady-state cooling limit. The cavity cooling dynamics and cooling limit of 22.5(3) motional quanta, limited by the moderate coupling between the ion and the cavity, are consistent with a simple model [Phys. Rev. A 64, 033405 (2001)] without any free parameters, validating the rate equation model for cavity cooling.
Some characteristics of hamster liver and lung microsomal aryl hydrocarbon (biphenyl and benzo(a)pyrene) hydroxylation reactions

Abstract Aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylation (AHH) reactions were compared using liver and lung microsomes of corn oil- and 3-methylcholanthrene (3-MC)-treated hamsters, employing benzo(a)pyrene (BAP) and biphenyl as substrates. The predominant AHH activity of liver and lung microsomes from corn oil- or 3-MC-treated hamsters was biphenyl 4-hydroxylase. Biphenyl 2-hydroxylase and BAP-hydroxylase activities were approximately 50 per cent as active as biphenyl 4-hydroxylase in liver and approximately 1–3 per cent as active as biphenyl 4-hydroxylase in lung microsomes. Biphenyl 4-hydroxylase activity was 70–80 per cent as active in lung as in liver microsomes. Treatment with 3-MC in vivo induced the biphenyl 4-hydroxylation reaction in liver but not in lung microsomes, the biphenyl 2-hydroxylation reaction both in lung and liver microsomes, and the BAP hydroxylation reaction in lung but not in liver microsomes. Biphenyl 2- and 4-hydroxylase activities of liver microsomes displayed similar sensitivities to inhibition by a number of chemical inhibitors in vitro . Inhibition of biphenyl hydroxylation reactions by metyrapone or carbon monoxide did not distinguish between lung or liver microsomal mono-oxygenases of corn oil- or 3-MC-treated hamsters. While small differences were expressed by inhibition with ethylmorphine, large differences became apparent through inhibition studies with BAP or α-naphthoflavone. It is concluded that the major aromatic hydroxylase activity of lung microsomes from corn oil- or 3-MC-treated hamsters resembles the constitutive (uninduced) AHH of the liver microsomes and that the minor aromatic hydroxylase activity of lung microsomes from corn oil- or 3-MC-treated hamsters resembles the induced AHH of the liver microsomes.
High speed silicon modulators

Recent silicon modulator research using ring modulators, electroabsorption modulators, and Mach-Zehnder modulators are reviewed and compared for specific applications.
Progressive Ganglion Cell Degeneration Precedes Neuronal Loss in a Mouse Model of Glaucoma

Glaucoma is characterized by retinal ganglion cell (RGC) pathology and a progressive loss of vision. Previous studies suggest RGC death is responsible for vision loss in glaucoma, yet evidence from other neurodegenerative diseases suggests axonal degeneration, in the absence of neuronal loss, can significantly affect neuronal function. To characterize RGC degeneration in the DBA/2 mouse model of glaucoma, we quantified RGCs in mice of various ages using neuronal-specific nuclear protein (NeuN) immunolabeling, retrograde labeling, and optic nerve axon counts. Surprisingly, the number of NeuN-labeled RGCs did not decline significantly until 18 months of age, at which time a significant decrease in RGC somal size was also observed. Axon dysfunction and degeneration occurred before loss of NeuN-positive RGCs, because significant declines in RGC number assayed by retrograde tracers and axon counts were observed at 13 months. To examine whether axonal dysfunction/degeneration affected gene expression in RGC axons or somas, NeuN and neurofilament-heavy (NF-H) immunolabeling was performed along with quantitative reverse transcription-PCR for RGC-specific genes in retinas of aged DBA/2 mice. Although these mice had similar numbers of NeuN-positive RGCs, the expression of neurofilament light, Brn-3b, and Sncg mRNA varied; this variation in RGC-specific gene expression was correlated with the appearance of NF-H immunoreactive RGC axons. Together, these data support a progression of RGC degeneration in this model of glaucoma, beginning with loss of retrograde label, where axon dysfunction and degeneration precede neuronal loss. This progression of degeneration suggests a need to examine the RGC axon as a locus of pathology in glaucoma.
The C. elegans Glutamate Receptor Subunit NMR-1 Is Required for Slow NMDA-Activated Currents that Regulate Reversal Frequency during Locomotion

The N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) subtype of glutamate receptor is important for synaptic plasticity and nervous system development and function. We have used genetic and electrophysiological methods to demonstrate that NMR-1, a Caenorhabditis elegans NMDA-type ionotropic glutamate receptor subunit, plays a role in the control of movement and foraging behavior. nmr-1 mutants show a lower probability of switching from forward to backward movement and a reduced ability to navigate a complex environment. Electrical recordings from the interneuron AVA show that NMDA-dependent currents are selectively disrupted in nmr-1 mutants. We also show that a slowly desensitizing variant of a non-NMDA receptor can rescue the nmr-1 mutant phenotype. We propose that NMDA receptors in C. elegans provide long-lived currents that modulate the frequency of movement reversals during foraging behavior.
On encodings of spanning trees

Deo and Micikevicius recently gave a new bijection for spanning trees of complete bipartite graphs. In this paper we devise a generalization of Deo and Micikevicius's method, which is also a modification of Olah's method for encoding the spanning trees of any complete multipartite graph K(n"1,...,n"r). We also give a bijection between the spanning trees of a planar graph and those of any of its planar duals. Finally we discuss the possibility of bijections for spanning trees of DeBriujn graphs, cubes, and regular graphs such as the Petersen graph that have integer eigenvalues.
Developmental increase in placental low density lipoprotein uptake during baboon pregnancy.

The present study determined whether a developmental increase in placental low density lipoprotein (LDL) uptake occurred in baboon pregnancy, which was related to the increasing concentrations of estrogen typical of advancing gestation. LDL uptake was determined on collagenase-dispersed placental trophoblast cells purified via 50% Percoll gradient centrifugation and obtained from baboons between days 55-178 of gestation (i.e. the last two-thirds of gestation; term = 184 days). The majority of cells in the 50% Percoll-isolated fraction used to determine LDL uptake were syncytiotrophoblasts at all stages of gestation examined, as determined by immunohistochemical staining for syncytiotrophoblast-specific placental lactogen and pregnancy-specific-beta 1-glycoprotein. Placental LDL uptake, as determined by Scatchard analysis, increased progressively during the last two-thirds of gestation and was correlated (r = 0.87, P less than 0.001; curvilinear regression) with gestational age. Mean +/- SE LDL uptake earl...
Probabilistic Tsunami Hazard Analysis for Ports and Harbors

The December 2004 Sumatra-Andaman earthquake emphasized the need for a consistent and comprehensive assessment of tsunami hazard. The authors have developed a method for Probabilistic Tsunami Hazard Analysis (PTHA) based on the traditional Probabilistic Seismic Hazard Analysis (PSHA) and therefore completely consistent with standard seismic practice. In lieu of attenuation relations, it uses the summation of finite-difference Green’s functions that have been pre-computed for individual subfaults, which enables one to rapidly construct scenario tsunami waveforms from an aggregate of subfaults that comprise a single large event. For every fault system, it is then possible to integrate over sets of thousands of events within a certain magnitude range that represents a fully probabilistic distribution. Because of the enclosed nature of ports and harbors, effects of resonance need to be addressed as well, which is why this method has been extended to not only analyze exceedance levels of maximum wave height, but also of spectral amplitudes. As in PSHA, these spectral amplitudes can be matched with the spectral response of harbors, and thus allow a comprehensive probabilistic analysis of tsunami hazard in ports and harbors.