cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Geometry of Bubbles and Foams

We consider mathematical models of bubbles, foams and froths, as collections of surfaces which minimize area under volume constraints. The resulting surfaces have constant mean curvature and an invariant notion of equilibrium forces. The possible singularities are described by Plateau’s rules; this means that combinatorially a foam is dual to some triangulation of space. We examine certain restrictions on the combinatorics of triangulations and some useful ways to construct triangulations. Finally, we examine particular structures, like the family of tetrahedrally close-packed structures. These include the one used by Weaire and Phelan in their counterexample to the Kelvin conjecture, and they all seem useful for generating good equal-volume foams.
An Empirical Investigation of the Relationshops Among Math Confidence, Computer Confidence and Computer Self-Efficacy: Implications for Technology Education.

A popular issue in the 1980’s and early 1990’s, computer self-efficacy (CSE) remains an important area of research. Educators, industry leaders, and government officials argue that the United States is falling behind other countries in technology innovation. And, most attribute this situation to ineffective education in the areas of math, science, and technology. The current study provides insight into these issues by linking math confidence, computer confidence, and CSE. Four hypotheses were tested using data gathered from undergraduate business students in a southern university. The results were significant, suggesting that both Math Confidence and Computer Confidence have a significant effect on CSE, both directly and indirectly. This study extends prior research on CSE by examining the link between Math Confidence and CSE and posits that technology educators may be well-served to consider some of the same techniques and methodologies applied in mathematics education to improve CSE in college students.
Preventing Liability in Vocational Education Classes

(1991). Preventing Liability in Vocational Education Classes. The Clearing House: A Journal of Educational Strategies, Issues and Ideas: Vol. 64, No. 3, pp. 195-198.
A feasibility study quantifying in vivo human α-tocopherol metabolism

Background Quantitation of human vitamin E metabolism is incomplete, so we quantified RRR- and all-rac-alpha-tocopherol metabolism in an adult. Objective The objective of the study was to quantify and interpret in vivo human vitamin E metabolism. Design A man was given an oral dose of 0.001821 micromol [5-14CH3]RRR-alpha-tocopheryl acetate (with 101.5 nCi 14C), and its fate in plasma, plasma lipoproteins, urine, and feces was measured over time. Data were analyzed and interpreted by using kinetic modeling. The protocol was repeated later with 0.001667 micromol [5-14CH3]all-rac-alpha-tocopheryl acetate (with 99.98 nCi 14C). Results RRR-alpha-tocopheryl acetate and all-rac-alpha-tocopheryl acetate were absorbed equally well (fractional absorption: approximately 0.775). The main route of elimination was urine, and approximately 90% of the absorbed dose was alpha-2(2'-carboxyethyl)-6-hydroxychroman. Whereas 93.8% of RRR-alpha-tocopherol flow to liver kinetic pool B from plasma was returned to plasma, only 80% of the flow of all-rac-alpha-tocopherol returned to plasma; the difference (14%) was degraded and eliminated. Thus, for newly digested alpha-tocopherol, the all-rac form is preferentially degraded and eliminated over the RRR form. Respective residence times in liver kinetic pool A and plasma for RRR-alpha-tocopherol were 1.16 and 2.19 times as long as those for all-rac-alpha-tocopherol. Model-estimated distributions of plasma alpha-tocopherol, extrahepatic tissue alpha-tocopherol, and liver kinetic pool B for RRR-alpha-tocopherol were, respectively, 6.77, 2.71, and 3.91 times as great as those for all-rac-alpha-tocopherol. Of the lipoproteins, HDL had the lowest 14C enrichment. Liver had 2 kinetically distinct alpha-tocopherol pools. Conclusions Both isomers were well absorbed; all-rac-alpha-tocopherol was preferentially degraded and eliminated in urine, the major route. RRR-alpha-tocopherol had a longer residence time and larger distribution than did all-rac-alpha-tocopherol. Liver had 2 distinct alpha-tocopherol pools. The model is a hypothesis, its estimates are model-dependent, and it encourages further testing.
Automatic Implanted Defibrillator — Initial Clinical Experience

The automatic implantable defibrillator is an electronic device designed to continuously monitor cardiac rhythm, identify ventricular fibrillation and deliver corrective defibrillatory discharges, when indicated. Physically similar to early pacemakers, it weights 250 grams and has a volume of 145 cc (Figure 1). All materials in contact with body tissue are biocompatible. The defibrillating electrodes are made from titanium and silicone rubber. One electrode, designed for placement in the superior vena cava near the right atrial junction, is located on the distal end of an intravascular catheter. The second electrode, in the form of a flexible rectangular patch, is placed extrapericardially over the apex of the heart. The outside surface of the apical electrode is insulated to achieve optimal current distribution. The device is powered by lithium batteries having a projected monitoring life of approximately 3 years or a discharge capability of approximately 100 shocks. The sensing system detects ventricular fibrillation by monitoring a sampled probability density function of ventricular electrical activity.
Velocities of P at short distances

Recording of P and S at six or more stations to epicentral distances not over 160 km. makes it possible to calculate the velocities, assuming only that they are constant. Origin times, epicenters, and depths are found independently of velocity. Installation of new temporary stations has supplied appropriate data in southern California. For 6 of 8 well-recorded shocks the calculated velocity of P is near 6.4 km/sec.
A case‐control study of risk indicators among women with premenopausal and early postmenopausal breast cancer

Among 714 premenopausal and 130 postmenopausal breast cancer cases matched with 8440 controls for age in years and menopausal status, risk indicators for breast cancer were similar, although most associations were stronger in the premenopausal women. Compared with nulliparous women, the relative risk (RR) for those with first birth before age 25 years was 0.7 (95% confidence limits [CL] from 0.5 to 0.9) among premenopausal women, and 0.7 (0.4–1.4) for postmenopausal women. In the premenopausal cases, a history of breast cancer in a sister gave a RR of 3.0 (2.1–4.1) and in a mother 1.9 (1.4–2.5), whereas for the postmenopausal women the RRs were 1.4 (0.6–3.1) and 13 (0.6–2.6), respectively. Fibrocystic breast disease was also a significant predictor of subsequent breast cancer in the premenopausal and postmenopausal women. In relation to women having a single birth, premenopausal women with six or more births had a risk of breast cancer of 0.6 (0.4–1.0), which was present even after adjustment for age at first birth.
High precision structural study of Si/Si1-xGex superlattices

Abstract We report on a structural study of molecular-beam epitaxy grown Si/Si 1- x Ge x superlattices by grazing incidence X-ray reflectometry and Raman spectroscopy. X-ray reflectometry proved to be very sensitive to superlattice stacking anomalies and modeling of the reflectivity profiles has allowed estimation of the period length fluctuations and the sharpness of the interfaces. The results of simulations are consistent with thickness fluctuations of the order of 1–2% and symmetrical interfaces with a roughness of about monolayers. Perfection of the superlattices was also assessed by high resolution (∼0.1 cm -1 ) Raman spectroscopy of folded longitudinal acoustic phonons. In the best samples the recorded spectrum exhibited a rich low-frequency phonon structure with a well-resolved Brillouin peak and sharp-folded acoustic phonons extending up to 90 cm -1 . Measurement of the dispersion relation of the folded phonons allowed accurate determination of the superlattice parameters. The line shapes and widths of the folded phonon peaks are also sensitive to thickness variations, as is demonstrated in a study of a superlattice which contains intentionally built-in thickness inhomogeneities.
Mechanisms of chromosomal aberration production III. Chemicals and ionizing radiation

Abstract • A general model for the production of aberrations in eukaryote chromosomes is proposed. The basic assumptions of this model are: • (1) The chromosome is mononeme, containing but a single DNA double helix before replication; (2) Aberrations result only from lesions in DNA; (3) The primary lesions may be either polynucleotide strand breaks or altered bases which are converted to strand breaks either through the operation of enzymatic repair mechanisms or as a consequence of normal semiconservative DNA replication; (4) Final expression of polynucleotide strand breaks as chromosomal aberrations of various types is the consequence of the operation of repair mechanisms, DNA replication, and a single strand DNAase. • It is shown that this model is consitent with the available data on chromosomal aberration production by a variety of chemical agents as well as by ionizing radiation. In particular, it accounts for the observed differences in the types of aberrations produced by these two classes of aberration producing agents at different points in the cell cycle.
A therapeutic trial of amniotic epithelial cell implantation in patients with lysosomal storage diseases

To determine whether allografts of normal amniotic epithelium might provide a nonimmunogenic cellular source of exogenous lysosomal enzymes, subcutaneous implants of amniotic epithelium were performed in six children with clinically advanced storage diseases. The clinical and the biochemical status of each patient was observed for several weeks after amniotic epithelial cell implantation (AECI). Serial studies of blood samples from each patient in the post-AECI period did not demonstrate any increase in levels of deficient lysosomal hydrolase. In two patients, quantitative urinary excretion of substrate was also studied and did not show consistent alterations after AECI. No patient had objective improvement in clinical or neurodevelopmental status following AECI. Two patients died with progressive disease at 2 1/2 and 3 1/2 mo after AECI; no residual amniotic epithelium was found at postmortem examination. Four patients are alive with progressive disease at 6-14 mo after AECI. We conclude that allografts of normal human amnion do not provide sufficient replacement hydrolases for clinical or biochemical improvement in lysosomal storage diseases.
Steady state hemolymph osmotic and chloride ion regulation and percent body water in Clibanarius vittatus (decapoda: Anomura) from the texas gulf coast

Abstract 1. 1. Clibanarius vittatus regulates its hemolymph hyperosmotic to the medium at salinities ranging from 5 to 50‰ The maintenance of a constant hemolymph osmolality at low salinities switches to the maintenance of an osmotic concentration a set difference above the medium at salinities greater than 20‰ 2. 2. Hemolymph chloride ion concentration is regulated hyperionic to the external medium in salinities below 15‰, and is hypoionic to the medium at higher salinities. 3. 3. When in its shell, the hermit crab is a good volume regulator as evidenced by no change in percent body water over a wide range of salinities. 4. 4. The shell offers protection to the crab and aids in the regulation of osmotic pressure and water balance in dilute media.
Sensitive detection of sample interference in environmental qPCR.

Sample interference in environmental applications of quantitative PCR (qPCR) can prevent accurate estimations of molecular markers in the environment. We developed a spike-and-recovery approach using a mutant strain of Escherichia coli that contains a chromosomal insertion of a mutant GFP gene. The method was tested in water samples by separately reducing extraction efficiency or adding humic acids and ethanol, compounds that often contaminate environmental DNA extracts, and analyzing qPCR amplification of the spiked E. coli control and human fecal Bacteroides markers (HF183 and HF134). This approach, coupled with previously developed kinetic outlier detection (KOD) methods, allowed sensitive detection of PCR inhibition at much lower inhibitor concentrations than alternative approaches using Cq values or amplification efficiencies. Although HF183 was more sensitive to the effects of qPCR inhibitors than the E. coli control assay, KOD methods correctly identified inhibition of both control and HF183 assays in samples containing as little as 0.1 ng humic acids per reaction or 5% ethanol. Because sigmoidal modeling methods allow distinction of qPCR inhibition from poor DNA recovery, we were able to simultaneously identify qPCR-inhibited reactions and estimate recovery of nucleic acids in environmental samples using a single control assay. Since qPCR is currently used to estimate important water quality parameters that have serious economic and human health outcomes, these results are timely. While we demonstrate the methods in the context of water quality regulation, they will be useful in all areas of environmental research that use qPCR.
Contributions of traT and iss genes to the serum resistance phenotype of plasmid ColV2-K94

Abstract A genetic determinant for serum resistance, designated iss , has been found previously on the colicinogenic plasmid ColV2-K94. In this work we have identified a second serum resistance gene, traT, on ColV2-K94. The serum resistance mediated by derivatives of ColV2-K94 was due to presence of one or both of the iss and traT genes. Plasmid pWS12 (TraT + Iss + ) contained the kanamycin (Km) resistance transposon Tn 903 inserted near the origin of replication of ColV2-K94, and plasmids pWS15 (TraT + ), pWS16 (TraT + ) and pWS18 (TraT + Iss + ) were deletion derivatives of pWS12 constructed in vitro and in vivo. pWS12 and pWS18 conferred a 20-fold increase in relative resistance to 20% guinea pig serum when introduced into the serum-susceptible, genetically defined recA strain of Escherichia coli K-12, AB2463. Plasmids pWS15 and pWS16, from which iss had been deleted, still conferred 5-fold increases in relative resistance on AB2463. The level of resistance conferred on this strain by the antibiotic resistance plasmid R100-1 (which expresses the traT serum resistance gene) was comparable to that of plasmids pWS15 and pWS16. The 25-kDa traT gene product was identified by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) analysis of the outer membrane proteins of strain AB2463 carrying ColV2-K94. This protein cross-reacted immunologically with the traT protein expressed by F or R100-1. Our results indicated that both traT and iss are capable of mediating serum resistance in ColV2-K94.
C-fos and jun-B mRNAs are transiently expressed in fetal rodent suprachiasmatic nucleus following dopaminergic stimulation

We examined the time-course of expression of c-fos and jun-B mRNAs in the fetal rat suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN) following maternal cocaine injection on gestational day 20. Both c-fos and jun-B mRNA levels increased within 20 min, peaked at 40 min and declined to baseline by 120 min after cocaine treatment (30 mg/kg). In mice, the D1-dopamine agonist, SKF 38393, induced c-fos and jun-B mRNAs in the fetal SCN and striatum. Regulated expression of immediate early genes in the fetal SCN may play a role in entrainment of the fetal clock.
Comparing alliance network structure across industries: observations and explanations

Much research in strategic entrepreneurship has focused on the consequences of network structure for firm performance. Despite this emphasis, little is known about variation in network structure across industries, or about the antecedents of this variation. In a comparative study of alliance networks in 32 industries, we demonstrate substantial variety in network structure, and develop a typology of network structures. We then endeavor to explain this variation by focusing on dimensions of the products and technologies that characterize these industries—such as technological uncertainty and dynamism, product modularity, and architectural control—and associating them with underlying characteristics of network structure. We conclude with a discussion of implications of our findings for research in strategic entrepreneurship. Copyright © 2008 Strategic Management Society.
Capsule commentary on Goetz et al., The effect of charge display on cost of care and physician practice behaviors: a systematic review.

In response to the rising cost of health care in the United States, third-party payers are shifting more of the cost burden to patients. Physicians are often confronted with clinical decisions that have important economic implications for patients and health care payers. Providing physicians with information about the cost of health care services and pharmaceuticals serves two main purposes: first, it enables physicians to make informed decisions on the cost and effectiveness of diagnostic and treatment alternatives; second, it increases transparency and awareness among the medical community regarding the affordability of such treatment options for patients. Health professionals rely on the biomedical literature as part of their clinical practice, often neglecting the economic literature that has extensively illustrated the theory of incentives and its effects on the health care provider’s behavior. The significance of the study by Goetz et al. (2015) would have been further enhanced had the authors1 included the economic literature on payment mechanisms and provider behaviors.2–5 In addition, an assessment of the quality of studies included in the review would be helpful for explaining the implications of the different methodological designs used (Cross-sectional, Cohort, Case-control studies). The literature review could also discern the effect of including studies conducted in distinct health care systems (USA, South Africa, Sweden, France), assessing a variety of health care services (laboratory test, imaging and radiology, pharmaceuticals, emergency visits), provided in different health care settings (hospital, outpatient, emergency), to different patients (adult, pediatric). A more comprehensive and systematic literature review could disentangle these factors and result in more robust findings. Health care systems coverage, funding, and reimbursement mechanisms are significantly correlated with the provision of care. These are also key factors driving providers’ decision-making processes, clinical practice, and prescribing behaviors. The effect of the display of cost information (or, alternatively, charges and fees to proxy cost) on physicians’ behavior is a timely policy issue of high clinical and economic importance. Further research is needed to assess the effect of providing outcomes and cost information to health care providers on the efficient allocation of scarce health care resources.
Extremely Isolated Early-type Galaxies in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. I. The Sample

We describe the properties of a sample of extremely isolated early-type galaxies (IEGs) selected from the spectroscopic Sloan Digital Sky Survey. Sample galaxies are isolated from nearest neighbors more luminous than MV = ?16.5 by a minimum distance corresponding to 2.5?Mpc and 350?km?s?1 in redshift space. The candidate IEGs exhibit a number of unusual features as compared to bulge-dominated galaxies in cluster and group environments, including fainter luminosities, blue colors suggesting possible recent star formation, and smaller physical sizes. The paper is the first in a series analyzing this isolated galaxy sample.
Heavy chain subclass of human anti-platelet antibodies.

Abstract The IgG subclass distribution of the antiplatelet antibodies present in several clinical conditions was determined. Studies were carried out on antiplatelet antibodies present in patients with autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura, systemic lupus erythematosis, drug-induced immunologic thrombocytopenic purpura, and after multiple transfusions. The antiplatelet antibodies in autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura appeared to be restricted to the γG3 subclass in every one of 15 patients studied. In contrast, nine patients with systemic lupus erythematosis who had antiplatelet antibodies were found to have antiplatelet antibodies detectable in three out of four or in all four subclasses. Different patterns of subclass distribution were observed in the other clinical conditions studied. The subclass distribution of antiplatelet antibodies may be of assistance in distinguishing systemic lupus erythematosis from autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura.
Inhibition of the phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase signaling pathway leads to decreased insulin-stimulated adiponectin secretion from 3T3-L1 adipocytes.

Adiponectin is a protein secreted by adipocytes, which modulates insulin resistance and is thought to confer protection from atherosclerosis. Decreased circulating adiponectin is seen in states of insulin resistance, yet the cause of this decrease remains unclear. We investigated the role of insulin in adiponectin secretion and the effect of selective insulin resistance on insulin-stimulated adiponectin secretion by 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Inhibition of the phosphatidylinositol 3′-kinase (PI3K) insulin-signaling pathway was induced with wortmannin (WT) or with a kinase-inactive Akt adenoviral construct (Akt-KD), and inhibition of the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway was induced with PD98059 or with a dominant-negative ras adenoviral construct (DNras). The PI3K pathway was activated with a constitutively active Akt adenoviral construct (Akt-myr). Adiponectin was measured by Western blot, and adiponectin messenger RNA (mRNA) levels were determined by real-time reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction. Insulin treatment increased adiponectin secretion and decreased intracellular adiponectin. Treatment with 100 nmol/L insulin for 24 hours resulted in a 78% increase in secreted adiponectin (P < .05). Insulin had no effect on adiponectin mRNA. WT or Akt-KD, but not PD98059 or DNras, inhibited insulin-stimulated adiponectin secretion (P < .05). Activation of the PI3K pathway resulted in increased insulin-independent adiponectin secretion. Inhibition of the PI3K- or mitogen-activated protein kinase–dependent pathway decreased adiponectin mRNA by 50% (P < .01). We demonstrate a decrease in insulin-stimulated adiponectin secretion with selective inhibition of the PI3K pathway. These results suggest a mechanism for the observed decreased adiponectin levels associated with insulin resistance, when defects in the PI3K-dependent insulin-signaling pathway lead to decreased adiponectin production, inadequate adiponectin secretion, and therefore low circulating adiponectin levels.
Very low viscosity at the solid–liquid interface induced by adsorbed C 60 monolayers

MOLECULES of C60 (refs 1–4) are near-perfect spheres, and in the crystalline solid each molecule rotates rapidly while remaining at its lattice position. Speculation that this property may be conducive to good lubrication has not been borne out by experiments, at least for C60 on its own5–8. Here we report measurements of the intermolecular interactions of C60 adsorbed as monolayers on surfaces immersed in a liquid. We find that the adsorbed layers impart a surprising effect on the flow properties of the liquid at the surface. The measured short-range oscillatory force indicates weak adsorption of one to two layers of C60 on each surface. In the presence of adsorbed layers, fluid flow between two surfaces exhibits full-slip (zero drag) boundary conditions, giving rise to flow behaviour that is totally different from conventional fluid flow through narrow pores. This suggests that C60 might be effectively used as an additive to conventional lubricant fluids.
Study of the charge-remote fragmentation of bradykinin using 252Cf-plasma desorption mass spectrometry

Abstract The 252Cf-plasma desorption mass spectra of the peptide bradykinin and several chemical derivatives of bradykinin were studied with emphasis on the fragmentation of the peptide and the effect of the derivatization on the fragmentation. Through these studies, we have determined that charge-remote fragmentation is the primary process for peptide fragmentation in plasma desorption mass spectrometry (PDMS) for peptides containing basic amino acids. The relative intensities of the charge-remote fragment ions containing a basic amino acid follow the same progression as the gas-phase basicities of the basic amino acid: arg > his > lys. Through the observation of C-terminal fragmentions from an N-terminal triphenylphosphonium bradykinin derivative, evidence for fragment ion formation from a doubly charged molecular ion was obtained. For two bradykinin derivatives which did not contain strong basic sites, fragmentation was still observed in PDMS. The observed fragmentation of these non-basic bradykinin derivatives suggest involvement of the proline residues, where fragmentation is charge induced, resulting from protonation of the proline amide bond. These non-basic bradykinin derivatives exhibited M+ molecular ions rather than the typical (M + H)+ “quasi-molecular” ion, and strong (M + Na)+ and (M + K)+ ions even though only trace amounts of sodium and potassium were present.
Metabotropic glutamate receptors as novel targets for anxiety and stress disorders

Anxiety and stress disorders are the most commonly occurring of all mental illnesses, and current treatments are less than satisfactory. So, the discovery of novel approaches to treat anxiety disorders remains an important area of neuroscience research. Glutamate is the major excitatory neurotransmitter in the mammalian central nervous system, and G-protein-coupled metabotropic glutamate (mGlu) receptors function to regulate excitability via pre- and postsynaptic mechanisms. Various mGlu receptor subtypes, including group I (mGlu(1) and mGlu(5)), group II (mGlu(2) and mGlu(3)), and group III (mGlu(4), mGlu(7) and mGlu(8)) receptors, specifically modulate excitability within crucial brain structures involved in anxiety states. In addition, agonists for group II (mGlu(2/3)) receptors and antagonists for group I (in particular mGlu(5)) receptors have shown activity in animal and/or human conditions of fear, anxiety or stress. These studies indicate that metabotropic glutamate receptors are interesting new targets to treat anxiety disorders in humans.
Lack of microsatellite instability in giant cell tumor of bone

Microsatellite instability was searched for at six different loci on chromosome arms 5q, 18q, 15q, 17p, 19q, and 11p in 22 patients (12 men and 10 women; average age of 31.8 years, range of 20–55 years) with giant cell tumor of bone (GCT). These loci were chosen because of their use in microsatellite instability studies in other tumors such as colorectal cancer (e.g., 5q, 18q, 17p) or because of the presence of chromosomal abnormalities such as telomeric associations commonly occurring at 19q and 11p termini (thus the reason for including the 19q and 11p termini microsatellites in our study of GCT). No microsatellite instability or loss of heterozygosity were detected when comparing normal and tumor cells from any of the GCT patients. Unlike several other tumors, our study indicates that microsatellite instability does not appear to play a role in the tumorigenesis of GCT although other abnormal cytogenetic, biochemical, and molecular genetics data do exist for this musculoskeletal tumor.
Cotton Profitability with Alternative Lime Application Rates, Cover Crops, Nitrogen Rates, and Tillage Methods

Soil acidity and cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) yield may be influenced by cover crop, N, and tillage method. Application of half the recommended lime rate may be possible without reducing lint yield and net revenue. The objective was to determine cotton yields and profitability for full and half recommended rates of lime, cover crops, N rates, and tillage methods. Data for 1995 through 2001 from a long-term experiment on a Memphis silt loam (fine-silty, mixed, active, thermic Typic Hapludalf) were used to estimate cotton lint yield response functions. The experimental design was a split-split-split randomized complete block with four replications. Plots were established in 1981 with four cover crop alternatives, four N rates, and two tillage methods. Soil pH declined until 1995 when plots were split into blocks and assigned a one-time application of lime at the recommended rate and half the recommended rate. Results for no cover (unplanted winter cover) and winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and hairy vetch (Vicia villosa L.) winter covers suggest that the amount of N fertilizer had a significant effect on lint yields, but was less important for the crimson clover cover (Trifolium incarnatum L.). No-tillage significantly increased cotton lint yields over time. When either the half or full rates of lime were applied, the plots combined with no-tillage resulted in the highest net revenues. Cotton lint yields and net revenues for the half rate of lime were comparable or greater than the full rate of lime for both tillage methods and all cover alternatives. In the short-to-medium term, cotton farmers may be able to apply half the recommended rate of lime without reducing yield or net revenue.
A methodology to assess the utility of future space systems

The Air Force SPACECAST 2020 study identified and prioritized some future space systems and technologies required in the next century. This paper presents the results of research on the SPACECAST 2020 value model. The model determines and prioritizes future space systems’ utility towards controlling and exploiting space. This research identifies the assumptions and simplifications in the additive utility function and assesses modifications. The research shows that mutual utility independence of the mission areas is a reasonable assumption. Mutual utility independence allows the use of the multiplicative and multilinear utility functions. Also, the SPACECAST 2020 scoring functions used the same scoring scale and only measured the utility of future capabilities. This study makes modifications to the SPACECAST 2020 measure-of-merit scoring functions. It replaces most of these functions with either a concave, convex, linear or ‘S’ scoring function, which have expanded capability ranges to include both current and future capabilities. The modified scoring functions and alternative utility functions do not alter the SPACECAST 2020 results but do improve the credibility and future usefulness of the model. This study shows that the initial assumption of using an additive utility function is also valid. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Brief alcohol intervention for college drinkers: how brief is?

Abstract Objective Brief interventions for college student drinkers have been shown to be effective in reducing the amount of alcohol consumed as well as the number of alcohol-related problems. However, the duration of brief interventions varies substantially across studies. Method In the present study 114 undergraduate students who drank alcohol heavily were randomly assigned to a 10-minute brief intervention, a 50-minute brief intervention, or assessment-only control. The content of the active interventions was based on the same concept, and both interventions incorporated motivational interviewing components. Participants were assessed at baseline and 4-week post intervention on quantity of alcohol use, alcohol-related problems, and protective behavioral strategies. Results As hypothesized, there was a significant difference between participants in the 10-minute intervention and control condition regarding their alcohol consumption at 4-week follow up. However, there was no significant difference between the 50-minute intervention and the control condition on alcohol consumption. There were also no significant differences between active intervention conditions, and neither intervention showed advantages for reducing problems or increasing protective behaviors relative to the control condition. Conclusions Results suggest a very brief intervention can impact short-term alcohol use outcomes, with potentially no advantage of longer interventions for this population.
The composition and metabolism of developing brown and white fats.

This investigation was concerned with analysis of the composition and metabolism of developing adipose tissues in the postnatal hamster. Particular attentions were given to the development of brown fat and the relationship of brown and white fats to each other. Correlations with previous histological studies are stressed. The parameters studied were water content, total lipid content, glycogen content, fatty acid compositions of total lipid extracts, malic dehydrogenase activity as assayed from oxaloacetate to malate, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity and aldolase activity.
Plasticity of CD4+ T Cell Lineage Differentiation

The differentiation of naive CD4 + T cells into lineages with distinct effector functions has been considered to be an irreversible event. T helper type 1 (Th1) cells stably express IFN-γ, whereas Th2 cells express IL-4. The discovery and investigation of two other CD4 + T cell subsets, induced regulatory T (iTreg) cells and Th17 cells, has led to a rethinking of the notion that helper T cell subsets represent irreversibly differentiated endpoints. Accumulating evidence suggests that CD4 + T cells, particularly iTreg and Th17 cells, are more plastic than previously appreciated. It appears that expression of Foxp3 by iTreg cells or IL-17 by Th17 cells may not be stable and that there is a great degree of flexibility in their differentiation options. Here, we will discuss recent findings that demonstrate the plasticity of CD4 + T cell differentiation and the biological implications of this flexibility.
Dynamics of the Muslim-Hindu differential in family planning practices in rural East Pakistan.

A 1968 study analyzing the relationship between religious affiliation and family planning practice in a rural East Pakistan area was conducted by interviewing a probability sample of 1600 currently married Hindu and Muslim women. The differential appeared to be inconsistent and often insignificant when the control variables of social and demographic factors were applied. The differential disappears in cases where the husbands occupation is "unskilled worker" possibly due to equal exposure of Hindu and unsecluded Muslim women to developmental programs; in cases of no land ownership when economic hardships may transcend the importance of religious values in influencing family planning practices of both groups; and in cases where the women are most affected by traditional norms or modern orientations. Childless Hindu and Muslim women under traditional pressure to have children do not practice contraception. Those modernized women in both groups who delay marriage until they are over 15 years old are educated or have educated husbands and who are cooperative members differed little in family planning practice. Thus if practice has an effect on fertility the Muslim-Hindu fertility differential may diminish as Pakistan develops and becomes more modernized.
Canine Models of Occupational Expertise

The role of inherent talents or biological predispositions in the acquisition of expertise is controversial. Because the genetics and early life experiences of humans are not open to direct manipulation, human experimental studies are of limited utility in resolving this issue. Studies employing non-humans as expert models may prove more useful. In order for non-humans to be considered proper models of human experts, there needs to be evidence supporting a shared expertise-acquisition mechanism. A candidate mechanism is deliberate practice. The deliberate practice theory of expertise acquisition was investigated in dogs competing in agility. The relationships between amounts of accumulated deliberate practice and agility performance measures were examined in this study, controlling for sex, breed, age, and height. There was a statistically significant relationship between the amount of deliberate practice and measured performance in agility dogs.
Comprehensive NO-Dependent Study of the Products of the Oxidation of Atmospherically Relevant Aromatic Compounds

A comprehensive product study, performed via the turbulent flow chemical ionization mass spectrometry (TF-CIMS) technique, of the primary OH-initiated oxidation of many of the atmospherically abundant aromatic compounds was performed. The bicyclic peroxy radical intermediate, a key proposed intermediate species in the Master Chemical Mechanism (MCM) for the atmospheric oxidation of aromatics, was detected in all cases, as were stable bicyclic species. The NO product yield dependences suggest a potential role for bicyclic peroxy radical + HO(2) reactions at high HO(2)/NO ratios, which are postulated to be a possible source of the inconsistencies between previous environmental chamber results and predictions from the MCM for ozone production and OH reactivity. The TF-CIMS product yield results are also compared to previous environment chamber results and to the latest MCM parametrization.
Network-centric systems

The author describes a graduate-level course that addresses cutting-edge issues in network-centric systems while following a more traditional graduate seminar format.
Spatial solitary waves, solitons, and vortices

Self-focusing leads to bifurcations of transverse solitary waves in sodium vapor (2D) and to second-order spatial solitons in a GaAs planar waveguide gain medium (1D). Transverse patterns in vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers are shown to contain field vortices under some conditions. Good agreement is found between experimental data and computations.© (1994) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Subclinical atherosclerosis and subsequent cognitive function

Objective To examine the relationship between measures of subclinical atherosclerosis and subsequent cognitive function.
Allosteric activation of chymotrypsin-catalyzed hydrolysis of specific substrates

The rates of hydrolysis of three specific substrates of chymotrypsin, glutaryl-L-phenylalanine p-nitroanilide, acetyl-DL-tyrosine p-nitroanilide and acetyl-L-tyrosine anilide were enhanced by 2,2′-bis[α-(benzyldimethylammonium)methyl] azobenzene dibromide and less so by related compounds. Detailed studies with glutaryl-L-phenylalanine p-nitroanilide showed a 42-fold increase in kcat with no change in Km. No acceleration (or inhibition) was noted with esters, hydroxamides or proteins as substrates. Tryptic hydrolysis of benzoyl-DL-arginine p-nitroanilide was unaffected. It was concluded that certain quaternary compounds can act as allosteric effectors of chymotrypsin.
The ‘no man’s land’ of intermediate legal sanctions

This is an exercise in convict criminology, taking its orientation from the literature on legal narrative and storytelling. It addresses a current and long-standing area of criminal justice policy, the use of intermediate sanctions in corrections, doing so from a participant’s perspective. Prison is described as being part of the crime problem, in part because it brings lasting harm to those within its persistent embrace. Intermediate penal sanctions, touted as a true corrections alternative, are shown to have significant shortcomings. Convict criminology and legal storytelling are presented as encouraging restorative responses to instances of harm occurring through both crime and crime control.
Sources of Satisfaction: A Second Administration of the Program Director Satisfaction Survey

Q T D m m c t s j C c n the past decade, the short half-life of leaders in cademic medicine has been an important issue, but esidency program directors have been of particular nterest because of their roles in developing and mainaining a high-quality academic environment, ensuring ontinuous cycles of program and process improveent, and monitoring the development and well-being f physicians-in-training from the time of recruitment o graduation. Program directors have short job duraions and high burnout associated with administrative hassles,” long work hours, dissatisfaction with promoion opportunities, and concerns about resources. In 1996, 34% of internal medicine program directors eported some degree of “burnout,” defined as “the loss f enjoyment or enthusiasm for a job, so that an indiidual is no longer able to devote emotional energy to ts accomplishment.” Among this group of 262 proram directors, a 3-year cohort study demonstrated a 9% turnover and mean job duration of 2.4 years. urnover was highly associated with overall job satisaction. Program director characteristics that were inependently predictive of job turnover included low atisfaction with colleague relationships, high percentges of administrative work time, perceptions of the job
Molecular Cloning and Functional Characterization of Murine Sphingosine Kinase

Abstract Sphingosine-1-phosphate (SPP) is a novel lipid messenger that has dual function. Intracellularly it regulates proliferation and survival, and extracellularly, it is a ligand for the G protein-coupled receptor Edg-1. Based on peptide sequences obtained from purified rat kidney sphingosine kinase, the enzyme that regulates SPP levels, we report here the cloning, identification, and characterization of the first mammalian sphingosine kinases (murine SPHK1a and SPHK1b). Sequence analysis indicates that these are novel kinases, which are not similar to other known kinases, and that they are evolutionarily conserved. Comparison withSaccharomyces cerevisiae and Caenorhabditis elegans sphingosine kinase sequences shows that several blocks are highly conserved in all of these sequences. One of these blocks contains an invariant, positively charged motif, GGKGK, which may be part of the ATP binding site. From Northern blot analysis of multiple mouse tissues, we observed that expression was highest in adult lung and spleen, with barely detectable levels in skeletal muscle and liver. Human embryonic kidney cells and NIH 3T3 fibroblasts transiently transfected with either sphingosine kinase expression vectors had marked increases (more than 100-fold) in sphingosine kinase activity. The enzyme specifically phosphorylatedd-erythro-sphingosine and did not catalyze the phosphorylation of phosphatidylinositol, diacylglycerol, ceramide,d,l-threo-dihydrosphingosine orN,N-dimethylsphingosine. The latter two sphingolipids were competitive inhibitors of sphingosine kinase in the transfected cells as was previously found with the purified rat kidney enzyme. Transfected cells also had a marked increase in mass levels of SPP with a concomitant decrease in levels of sphingosine and, to a lesser extent, in ceramide levels. Our data suggest that sphingosine kinase is a prototypical member of a new class of lipid kinases. Cloning of sphingosine kinase is an important step in corroborating the intracellular role of SPP as a second messenger.
Design of photonic crystal microcavities for cavity QED

We discuss the optimization of optical microcavity designs based on two-dimensional photonic crystals for the purpose of strong coupling between the cavity field and a single neutral atom trapped within a hole. We present numerical predictions for the quality factors and mode volumes of localized defect modes as a function of geometric parameters, and discuss some experimental challenges related to the coupling of a defect cavity to gas-phase atoms.
Raman spectroscopy with intensified vidicon detectors: A study of intact bovine lens proteins

Raman spectra of intact ocular lenses contain important structural information related to aging and cataract formation. However, the direct application of Raman spectroscopy to human eyes for cataract diagnosis has been considered unsafe because of the high laser power (∼100 mW) required to generate Raman spectra using the photomultiplier-photon counting (PMT-PC) detection method. The clinical application of Raman spectroscopy has become more likely with the development of sensitive multichannel optical detectors such as the ‘silicon intensified target’ (SIT) coupled to an optical multichannel analyzer (OMA). We have incorporated the SIT in a novel mismatched subtractive dispersion double monochromator that has optimum stray light (<5×10−9), throughput, and resolution for these experiments. It is demonstrated that the new SIT–OMA detection method is capable of obtaining high-quality Raman spectra of an intact bovine lens with a laser power (∼1 mW) significantly below the threshold for retinal damage. The multichannel and photon counting detection systems have been carefully compared under high and low light level conditions so that the advantages of the SIT-OMA system for other Raman experiments may be easily evaluated.
Application of solid-state NMR restraint potentials in membrane protein modeling.

Abstract We have developed a set of orientational restraint potentials for solid-state NMR observables including 15 N chemical shift and 15 N– 1 H dipolar coupling. Torsion angle molecular dynamics simulations with available experimental 15 N chemical shift and 15 N– 1 H dipolar coupling as target values have been performed to determine orientational information of four membrane proteins and to model the structures of some of these systems in oligomer states. The results suggest that incorporation of the orientational restraint potentials into molecular dynamics provides an efficient means to the determination of structures that optimally satisfy the experimental observables without an extensive geometrical search.
A class of elastic-plastic stress distributions

Abstract Similarity methods are used to find solutions to the equations governing elastic-plastic torsion of a solid of revolution. The solutions are expressed in terms of integrals of two ordinary differential equations.
Fault-block origin of the western Cayman Ridge, Caribbean Sea

Abstract The western end of the Cayman Ridge is bounded by linear scarps to north and south. Analysis of seismic reflection profiles indicates that this portion of the Ridge is a fault block uplifted some 1500 m above the Yucatan Abyssal Plain to the north and the Bartlett Trough to the south. An asymmetric positive magnetic anomaly of 300 gammas is associated with the southern margin of the Ridge and exhibits a steep gradient to the north. Its source is interpreted as an igneous intrusion within the block, emplaced prior to or during faulting. This intrusion has a steep northern boundary located within the fault block, and may crop out along the southern slope of the Ridge in this region. Topographic evidence for the westward continuation of the Cayman Ridge into British Honduras is lacking. A piston core from the northwestern slope of the Ridge revealed 350 cm of Globigerina ooze overlying partially cemented, fossiliferous volcanic ash. The ooze is of varied age (Oligocene-Recent) and the faunal assemblages are mixed, indicating slumping. The fossiliferous ash is of Early Pleistocene age and may represent a blanket of sediment over the Ridge, rather than an intrinsic portion of the Ridge.