cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Increased antigen-induced local and systemic mediator release in rhinitis subjects with pulmonary symptoms in the pollen season.

Abstract In order to delineate parameters that might discriminate between allergic subjects who develop R or R-P symptoms during natural antigen exposure, 26 subjects allergic to grass or ragweed pollen were classified into R or R-P groups, and then the antigen sensitivity and degree of in vivo mediator release were compared. Antigen-skin sensitivity was quantitated by dilutional skin-test titration, and bronchial sensitivity was quantitated by the amount of inhaled antigen required to receive the FEV 1 by 20%. Mediator release was determined by measuring the amount of histamine that was released into skin chambers during antigen incubation and the rise in plasma histamine and serum NCA during antigen-induced bronchospasm. Compared to the 13 R subjects, the 13 R-P subjects were: (1) more sensitive to antigen by both skin-test and inhalation challenge, (2) responded to inhalation of antigen with a greater fall in FEV 1 and a greater rise in serum NCA and plasma histamine, and (3) released more histamine into skin chambers after antigen incubation. Even when R and R-P subjects were matched by comparing only subjects with equal skin sensitivity to antigen, greater increases in serum NCA and plasma histamine occurred after inhalation of antigen in the R-P subjects. These data are consistent with the hypothesis that allergic rhinitis subjects who develop pulmonary symptoms during natural pollen exposure are more sensitive to antigen and release more mediators in response in antigen administration. It is therefore possible that the degree of mediator release may be an important factor in determining the pattern of clinical responses to antigen exposure.
Nationalism and modernism in the East Turkestan Republic, 1933–34

This study explains the intellectual history and ideology of the Turkic insurgency and the East Turkestan Republic in Kashgar in 1933–34. Texts in periodicals from the period suggest that the insurgency was defined by its intellectual elites more as a nationalist enterprise than as a religious one. The insurgency's ideologists established important national attributes of the East Turkestani nation, particularly its national name, homeland, symbology, and history, and they also articulated East Turkestani national interests, particularly political independence, representative government, and modernization. Regardless of the arguably low degree of social penetration of the ideas of the elites among common society and the small extent to which policy was actually implemented, the intertwining of East Turkestani national identity and interests with political self-government and modernization was an ideological concept that had a profound impact on all subsequent administrations in Xinjiang.
CHARACTERIZATION AND OPTIMIZATION OF THE LPCVD SILICON OXYNITRIDE PROCESS, USING THE DESIGN OF EXPERIMENTS METHOD

The LPCVD of silicon oxynitride has been characterized and optimized using the Design of Experiments method. The data of a half factorial matrix were converted with multiple linear regression analysis into an adequate empirical model: it appeared to be possible to predict the process output parameters (e.g. deposition rate), when applying more or less random input parameters (e.g. process pressure). The method supplies a tool to optimize a process in an efficient way: the optimum settings, found for the silicon oxynitride process are: temperature 800°C, ramp &8OC, pressure 400 mTorr, DCS flow 70 sccm, (N20+NH3) / DCS=3, NH3 / N20= 0.18. Corresponding predicted output parameters are: deposition rate 14.2 hmin., uniformity over the wafer lt2 % and the uniformity over the boat 0 %. The refractive index becomes 1.70 + 0.01.
Structure of amorphous transition metal sulfides

Abstract The structures of amorphous MoS 3 and WS 3 were studied using x-ray radial distribution analysis and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The first three peaks of the x-ray radial distribution function of amorphous WS 3 can be fitted by a series of Gaussian curves centered at 2.46 A, 2.83 A and 3.24 A. A model containing WS 6 clusters as in crystalline WS 2 provides a fit to the area and position of the first peak in the RDF. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy has been used to probe the charge states of metal and S atoms in these compounds. Structural models based on these experimental data are presented.
IL-7 and IL-15 differentially regulate CD8+ T-cell subsets during contraction of the immune response

Although it is known that interleukin-7 (IL-7) and IL-15 influence the survival and turnover of CD8+ T cells, less is known about how these cytokines affect different subsets during the course of the immune response. We find that IL-7 and IL-15 differentially regulate CD8+ T-cell subsets defined by KLRG1 and CD127 expression during the contraction phase of the immune response. The provision of IL-15, or the related cytokine IL-2, during contraction led to the preferential accumulation of KLRG1hiCD127lo CD8+ T cells, whereas provision of IL-7 instead favored the accumulation of KLRG1loCD127hi cells. While IL-7 and IL-15 both induced proliferation of KLRG1lo cells, KLRG1hi cells exhibited an extraordinarily high level of resistance to cytokine-driven proliferation in vivo despite their dramatic accumulation upon IL-15 administration. These results suggest that IL-15 and IL-2 greatly improve the survival of KLRG1hi CD8+ T cells, which are usually destined to perish during contraction, without inducing proliferation. As the availability of IL-15 and IL-2 is enhanced during periods of extended inflammation, our results suggest a mechanism in which a population of cytokine-dependent KLRG1hi CD8+ T cells is temporarily retained for improved immunity. Consideration of these findings may aid in the development of immunotherapeutic strategies against infectious disease and cancer.
Hegemonic beliefs and territorial rights

Abstract Irredentism conflicts are ravaging human lives across the globe. These conflicts arise not only from the aggressive abrogation of settled boundaries, but from real pressures to accommodate population growth, migration, changes in solidarity patterns, and increased political mobilization. Any intellectually interesting criterion for evaluating claims to territories must be formulated without ascribing decisive significance to the scriptures or beliefs of any particular people or group of peoples. Two problems arise, however, that complicate any effort to substitute a moral rule for the logically contradictory, empirically incorrect, and ethically bankrupt principle of “might makes right”. Unless there is a practical meaning to the criterion, neither movements, nor governments, nor the peoples they represent will be inclined to pay any attention to it. On the other hand, any specific operational, criterion, such as current habitation, land to population ratio, prior habitation, or productivity of use, will encourage “ethnic cleansing” or demands for impossibly constant adjustments in allocation of territory. This impossibility will drain the criterion of meaning or plunge the world into an endless and dangerous process of territorial re-demarcation. A partial solution to this problem is offered by conceiving of legitimate boundaries as hegemonically institutionalized beliefs — difficult to establish, tenacious once established, and linked via politics and economics to the real capacities of peoples, to their aspirations, and to prevailing international conceptions of right and wrong.
Effects of starvation and neuroactive drugs on feeding in Caenorhabditis elegans

Caenorhabditis elegans concentrates its food, bacteria, by pharyngeal pumping. The rate of pumping is affected by the presence of bacteria. Using a new assay that allows measurement of pumping rate in a population of worms suspended in liquid by measuring their uptake of microscopic iron particles, we have confirmed and quantitated this effect. Furthermore, we demonstrated that starvation stimulates pumping. Worms that had been deprived of bacteria for more than 4 hours pumped in the absence of bacteria under conditions in which well-fed worms did not. Furthermore, starved worms responded to lower amounts of bacteria than did fed worms. The assay was also useful for measuring effects of drugs on pumping. Of about 30 chemicals screened, 5 had clear effects. The neurotransmitter serotonin and the serotonin uptake inhibitor imipramine stimulated pumping, while the serotonin antagonist gramine inhibits. Imipramine stimulation is greatly decreased in cat-1 and cat-4 mutants, which have low levels of serotonin. Muscimol, an agonist for the neurotransmitter GABA, and ivermectin, whose site of action may also be the GABA receptor, both inhibit pumping. Qualitative observations suggested a role for acetylcholine in the regulation of pumping.
Current Injection Emitters at 1.54 µm Based on Erbium Doped GaN p-i-n Structures

GaN:Er p-i-n structures were prepared by metal organic chemical vapor deposition with GaN:Er active layers grown at various pressures. The effect of GaN:Er growth pressure on the performance of these p-i-n structures was studied.
Explaining German Selectivity Regarding European Union Pension Directives

Why do German policymakers support some aspects of a single European pension market, but not others? This article argues that the German government’s preferences towards European Union (EU) pension directives are best explained by combining historical institutionalism (HI) and domestic discourse analysis (DA). Each approach by itself is insufficient to account for the observed variation between 1991 and 2007. Arguments based on party ideologies offer less explanatory power. HI explains why all governments – Kohl, Schroder, and Merkel – protected employer-sponsored book reserve pensions, a cornerstone of Germany’s coordinated market economy, from the scope of EU directives. DA allows us to grasp how interests were reframed. While the status quo stance of the Kohl government succeeded in delegitimizing supporters of alternative pension security concepts, the Schroder administration imposed an economically efficient pension reform without much public support. The grand coalition, in turn, abandoned Chancellor Merkel’s initial plan to expand second-tier pensions in the light of rising pressures that the Left Party posed for the Social Democratic coalition partner.
A comparison of 2-amino-4-phosphonobutyric acid (AP4) receptors and [3H]AP4 binding sites in the rat brain

Abstract The glutamate analogue 2-amino-4-phosphonobutyric acid (AP4) is a potent antagonist at several synapses where an excitatory amino acid appears to be the neurotransmitter. Previous studies identified a Cl − /Ca 2+ dependent [ 3 H]glutamate binding site in synaptic plasma membrane (SPM) preparations that was also labeled by [ 3 H]AP4 and exhibited a pharmacology similar to the AP4 receptor. This report examines the pharmacological specificity in both biochemical and electrophysiological preparations in greater detail. Several compounds are identified which readily interact with the apparent binding site in membranes, but neither mimic nor inhibit the action of AP4 in electrophysiological studies. The rate of dissociation of [ 3 H]AP4 from SPMs is shown to increase in the presence of added AP4 and increasing the osmolarity in the SPM binding assay decreases the level of observed [ 3 H]AP4 binding. These finding indicate both a heterogenous population of binding sites and the occurrence of transport. It is concluded that much of the AP4 binding observed in SPM preparations is to a site other than the AP4 receptor. The results provide a further pharmacological description of AP4 receptors which should facilitate the identification of the receptor in biochemical preparations.
Numerical analysis of Bragg fibers using a compact 1D finite-difference frequency-domain method

Abstract A simple full vectorial finite-difference frequency-domain method is presented for dispersion and loss analysis of Bragg fibers. In both axial and azimuthal directions, the derivatives of the Maxwell’s equations are calculated analytically, and the solution of Maxwell’s equations is reduced to a 1D eigenvalue problem. Standard step-index and graded-index fibers with parabolic-index cores are analyzed to verify the validity of this method to round symmetric fibers with arbitrary index profiles. Numerical results on the mode propagation characteristics of Bragg fibers are found to agree very well with those obtained by transfer matrix method and Chew’s method.
The Cyclic GMP-Mediated Calcium Release Pathway in Sea Urchin Eggs Is Not Required for the Rise in Calcium during Fertilization

Abstract The mechanisms required for cGMP-induced Ca 2+ release in the sea urchin egg were investigated using both egg homogenates and intact eggs. The postulated pathway of cGMP-dependent protein kinase (PKG) activation of ADP-ribosyl cyclase for production of cADPR to activate the ryanodine receptor Ca 2+ channel was tested with a variety of activators (cGMP analogs and cIMP) and inhibitors (Rp-8-pCPT-cGMPS, 3-aminopyridine NAD, nicotinamide, and spermine). Our observations are consistent with Ca 2+ release by cGMP in the egg being dependent on an isoform of PKG that is distinct from the mammalian enzyme. PKG activity in the sea urchin egg was activated by cIMP, but was insensitive to cGMP analogs, which are potent activators of mammalian isoenzymes. Surprisingly, it appears the activation of the cGMP-dependent Ca 2+ release pathway was unnecessary during fertilization. Inhibitors of either PKG or ADP-ribosyl cyclase activities did not prevent the transient rise in intracellular Ca 2+ activity in heparin-loaded eggs during fertilization. These results suggest the synthesis of cADPR during fertilization is not necessary for regulating the Ca 2+ event.
Abstract 3548: Role of synuclein-gamma (SNCG) in paclitaxel resistance and mitogen activated protein kinase activation in uterine papillary serous carcinoma(UPSC)

Objectives: SNCG is a novel prognostic biomarker in UPSC. We have shown that its overexpression correlates with aggressive cellular properties and resistance to paclitaxel in a UPSC cell line (SPEC2) as well as poor prognosis in a pilot set of UPSC patients. The goal of this study was to determine the mechanism of SNCG-associated taxane resistance by evaluating the effect of SNCG on the mitotic checkpoint and its propensity to modulate extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase 1/2 (ERK 1/2) signaling pathways. Methods: A stably transfected SPEC2 cell line was created using shSNCG versus shControl oligonucleotides. Similarly, Ishikawa cells were transiently transfected with an SNCG expression vector versus empty vector. Differences in cell proliferation were measured using a cell viability assay and BrdU incorporation assay after treatment with paclitaxel. Cell cycle analysis was used to study the effect of SNCG on the mitotic checkpoint. Differences in expression of the checkpoint kinase BubR1 due to SNCG were studied using real time PCR, Western blot, 26S ubiquitin-proteasome inhibition, and siRNA to BubR1. ERK and phospho-ERK levels were measured in SPEC2 cells with and without SNCG expression by Western blot. SPEC2 cells were treated with paclitaxel with and without the MEK inhibitor UO126 and apoptosis was measured using cleaved PARP analysis. Results: SNCG overexpression lead to acquired, reversible paclitaxel resistance in endometrial cancer cell lines. SNCG was noted to interfere with mitotic checkpoint function by causing degradation of the critical checkpoint protein BubR1 thereby allowing cells to escape paclitaxel-induced mitotic arrest. SPEC2 cells exhibited sustained activation of ERK which was attenuated by silencing SNCG. When SPEC2 cells were exposed to paclitaxel combined with the MEK inhibitor UO126, decreased cell viability and increased apoptosis was noted compared to either agent alone. SNCG knockdown further enhanced paclitaxel and UO126 sensitivity. Cell cycle analysis revealed that silencing SNCG in SPEC2 cells and adding UO126 acted synergistically in overcoming paclitaxel resistance. Conclusions: SNCG overexpression in UPSC leads to taxane resistance by interacting with the mitotic checkpoint kinase BubR1 causing its degradation. SNCG is also associated with sustained ERK activation. Targeting SNCG in conjunction with MEK inhibition may represent a novel therapeutic strategy to overcome taxane resistance in these cells. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 3548.
Convergence-divergence of U.S. State unemployment rates

The dispersion of U.S. state unemployment rates and those of many industrialized countries has been observed to maintain persistent dispersion. This paper, by using a model of conditional expectation, investigates the question wheter there was a tendency toward convergence or divergence of the U.S. state unemployment rates. The paper identifies the states that persistently performed above or below unemployment expectations on average for the period 1978–1999. Data were provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.(JELR10)
Light-scattering studies of liquid crystal dispersions

ABSTRACT Dispersions of liquid crystals in polymeric matrices (PDLC) are used as light control devices because of the possibility of varying their light scattering through alignment changes arising from the application of electric fields. The scattering from such systems is very similar to that found with crystalline polymers which have been extensively studied in our laboratory for over 25 years. Studies of the scattering from spherulitic polymers have been modelled as that arising from anisotropic spheres. Theories and measurements have been made with parallel (V) and crossed (H,) polarization as a function of the radii, anisotropy, and volume fraction of spheres, and the refractive index of the matrix. 1. INTRODUCTION Polymer dispersed liquid crystals (PDLC) consist of low molecularweight liquid crystals dispersed in cavities within a polymer matrix.. The orientation of the liquid crystals is affected by an electrical voltage applied to a conducting surface coating which changes theirlight scattering and consequently, the light transmission. Th optics ofsuch systems are formally similar to that from spherulitic structuresin a crystalline polymer. Theories and experimental techniques for
Intelligence, Parental Depression, and Behavior Adaptability in Deaf Children Being Considered for Cochlear Implantation

Cognitive ability and behavioral adaptability are distinct, yet related, constructs that can impact childhood development. Both are often reduced in deaf children of hearing parents who do not provide sufficient language and communication access. Additionally, parental depression is commonly observed due to parent-child communication difficulties that can lead to parents' feelings of inadequacy and frustration. We sought to assess whether adaptive behavior in deaf children was associated with nonverbal intelligence and parental depression. Parents of precochlear implant patients seen for neuropsychological assessment were administered the Parenting Stress Index and Vineland Behavior Adaptive Scales to obtain measures of parental distress and child's behavioral adaptability. Precochlear implant patients' cognitive functioning was assessed via the Mullen Scales of Early Learning or the Leiter International Performance Scale-Revised, depending on the child's age at the time of testing. Regardless of age or neurological status, the deaf child's adaptive behavior consistently showed a strong relationship with intelligence. Moderate correlation between parental depression and the child's adaptive behavior was observed only in the younger group. The relationship between parental depression and communication subscale was moderated by intelligence for deaf children without neurological complications. The findings provide important implications for promoting family-centered interventions with early communication and language development.
The case against free market environmentalism

Free market environmentalists believe that the extension of private property rights and market transactions is sufficient to address environmental difficulties. But there is no invisible hand operating in markets that ensures that environmentally sound practices will be employed just because property rights are in private hands. Also, liability laws and the court systems cannot be relied upon to force polluters to internalize the social costs of pollution. Third, market prices do not provide an “objective measure” of environmental matters. Finally, there is a right to a livable environment that justifies regulations protecting the public from unreasonable environmental risks.
Ovarian development in the stable fly, Stomoxys calcitrans, in relation to diet and juvenile hormone control

. When female Stomoxys calcitrans were supplied a daily blood-meal their polytrophic ovaries developed and deposited yolk, whereas those of females fed only 5% sucrose deposited no yolk and remained in a ‘resting’ condition. Longevity of the sugar-fed flies was also reduced. Blood feeding was thus obligatory for general metabolism as well as reproduction. The follicles did not develop in females allatectomized within 1 h of emergence, irrespective of diet, and degenerated if blood was not provided. If blood was available the follicles did not degenerate, nor did they accumulate yolk. In both circumstances development was restored by implanting corpora allata. If allatectomy was delayed until 72 h after eclosion the follicles of sugar-fed flies developed to the resting stage, and those of blood-fed flies deposited yolk.
Supernatant protein factor requires phosphorylation and interaction with Golgi to stimulate cholesterol synthesis in hepatoma cells.

Supernatant protein factor (SPF) is a poorly characterized cytosolic protein that stimulates HMG-CoA reductase and squalene monooxygenase in vitro and cholesterol synthesis when expressed in hepatoma cells. The activation of SPF by protein kinases A (PKA) and Cδ enhances its ability to stimulate these cholesterolgenic enzymes in microsomal preparations. The present studies demonstrate that the ability of SPF to stimulate cholesterol synthesis in cell culture is also modulated by phosphorylation. Addition of dibutyryl-cAMP, a PKA activator, to hepatoma cells expressing SPF increased cholesterol synthesis by 62%, whereas addition of a cell-permeable PKA inhibitor blocked the SPF-mediated increase in cholesterol synthesis. To confirm a role for PKA in the regulation of SPF, substitution of alanine for serine-289 (a putative PKA recognition site) blocked the stimulation of cholesterol synthesis by SPF. Serine-289 is located at the junction of the proposed lipid-binding domain and the carboxyl-terminal Golgi dynamics domain, suggesting that phosphorylation may alter the interaction of these two domains. In a test of this hypothesis, deletion of the Golgi dynamics domain blocked the ability of SPF to stimulate cholesterol synthesis, supporting a role for Golgi in SPF function; this finding was buttressed by the observation that addition of brefeldin A, which disrupts Golgi formation, also abolished the ability of SPF to stimulate cholesterol synthesis. The activation of SPF by PKA suggests that cholesterol synthesis can be rapidly modulated in response to external stimuli by changes in cAMP levels, and that this regulation is dependent on an as yet undefined interaction with Golgi.
FROM ENCYCLOPÆDIA BRITANNICA TO WIKIPEDIA Generational differences in the perceived credibility of online encyclopedia information

This study examined the perceived credibility of user-generated (i.e. Wikipedia) versus more expertly provided online encyclopedic information (i.e. Citizendium, and the online version of the Encyclopaedia Britannica) across generations. Two large-scale surveys with embedded quasi-experiments were conducted: among 11–18-year-olds living at home and among adults 18 years and older. Results showed that although use of Wikipedia is common, many people (particularly adults) do not truly comprehend how Wikipedia operates in terms of information provision, and that while people trust Wikipedia as an information source, they express doubt about the appropriateness of doing so. A companion quasi-experiment found that both children and adults assess information to be more credible when it originates or appears to originate from Encyclopaedia Britannica. In addition, children rated information from Wikipedia to be less believable when they viewed it on Wikipedia's site than when that same information appeared on eith...
Thermal Decomposition of Pentacarbonyl(1-acyloxyalkylidene)chromium(0) Complexes: Formation of Z-Enol Esters

Pentacarbonyl(1-acyloxyalkylidene)chromium(0) complexes, formed in situ by reaction of the corresponding tetramethylammonium pentacarbonyl(1-oxoalkyl)chromate(1−) salts with carboxylic acid halides, affords enol esters in moderate to good yields. In all cases examined, the Z-enol ester was obtained as the major or exclusive isomer. Addition of 1 equiv of pyridine to the reaction mixture substantially improved the Z/E ratio and, in most cases, increased the chemical yield.
Identifying a comparison for matching rough voice quality.

Purpose Perceptual estimates of voice quality obtained using rating scales are subject to contextual biases that influence how individuals assign numbers to estimate the magnitude of vocal quality....
Obesity and Weight Gain in Relation to Incidence of Sarcoidosis in US Black Women: Data From the Black Women's Health Study

Abstract BACKGROUND : Sarcoidosis, a systemic disorder characterized by chronic granulomatous inflammation, occurs more frequently among US black women, as do overweight and obesity. Little is known about the relation of overweight and obesity, which induce chronic inflammation, to incidence of sarcoidosis. METHODS : We assessed the relation of obesity and weight gain to the incidence of sarcoidosis in the Black Women's Health Study, a follow-up study of 59,000 US black women aged 21 to 69 years at baseline in 1995. Information on weight at age 18 years, height, current weight, incident sarcoidosis, and covariates was collected at baseline and on biennial follow-up questionnaires. Cox regression models adjusted for age, education, geographic region, smoking, alcohol consumption, and physical activity were used to estimate incidence rate ratios (IRRs) and 95% CIs. RESULTS : From 1995 through 2011, 454 incident cases of sarcoidosis occurred during 707,557 person-years of follow-up. The incidence of sarcoidosis increased with increasing BMI and weight gain. The IRR was 1.40 (95% CI, 0.88-2.25) for BMI ≥ 30 kg/m 2 at age 18 years relative to 20 to 24 kg/m 2 ( P trend =.18), 1.42 (95% CI, 1.07-1.89) for BMI ≥ 35 kg/m 2 at baseline relative to 20 to 24 kg/m 2 ( P trend =.01), and 1.47 (95% CI, 1.10-1.97) for a weight gain between age 18 years and baseline of ≥ 30 kg relative to 0 to 9 kg ( P trend =.16). In stratified analyses, there were significant trends of sarcoidosis incidence with increasing BMI and weight gain in women aged ≥ 45 years and ever smokers. CONCLUSIONS : The present study provides evidence that weight gain and obesity during adulthood are associated with increased sarcoidosis incidence.
Compactness determines the success of cube and octahedron self-assembly.

Nature utilizes self-assembly to fabricate structures on length scales ranging from the atomic to the macro scale. Self-assembly has emerged as a paradigm in engineering that enables the highly parallel fabrication of complex, and often three-dimensional, structures from basic building blocks. Although there have been several demonstrations of this self-assembly fabrication process, rules that govern a priori design, yield and defect tolerance remain unknown. In this paper, we have designed the first model experimental system for systematically analyzing the influence of geometry on the self-assembly of 200 and 500 µm cubes and octahedra from tethered, multi-component, two-dimensional (2D) nets. We examined the self-assembly of all eleven 2D nets that can fold into cubes and octahedra, and we observed striking correlations between the compactness of the nets and the success of the assembly. Two measures of compactness were used for the nets: the number of vertex or topological connections and the radius of gyration. The success of the self-assembly process was determined by measuring the yield and classifying the defects. Our observation of increased self-assembly success with decreased radius of gyration and increased topological connectivity resembles theoretical models that describe the role of compactness in protein folding. Because of the differences in size and scale between our system and the protein folding system, we postulate that this hypothesis may be more universal to self-assembling systems in general. Apart from being intellectually intriguing, the findings could enable the assembly of more complicated polyhedral structures (e.g. dodecahedra) by allowing a priori selection of a net that might self-assemble with high yields.
Combined natural convection and radiation in a volumetrically heated fluid layer

The effect of radiation in combination with turbulent natural convection on the rates of heat transfer in volumetrically heated fluid layers characterized by high temperatures has been considered in this study. It is demonstrated that even at high Rayleigh numbers the radiation mode is as effective as the turbulent natural convection mode in removing the heat from the upper surface of the molten pools with adiabatic lower boundary. As a result of this improved heat transfer, it is shown that considerably thicker molten pools with internal heat generation can be supported without boiling inception. The total Nusselt number at a moderate but fixed value of conduction-radiation parameter, can be represented as a function of Rayleigh number in a simple power-law form. As a consequence of this relationship it is shown that maximum nonboiling pool thicknesses vary approximately inversely as the 0.9% power of internal heat generation rate. A comparison between exact analysis using the integral formulation of radiation flux and Rosseland approximation shows that the latter approximation bears out very adequately for optically thick pools with conduction-radiation parameters greater than or equal to 0.4 inspite of the fact that individual components of Nusselt number due to radiation and convection, respectively,more » are grossly in error. These errors in component heat fluxes are compensating due to the total heat balance constraint. However, the comparison between Rosseland approximation and exact formulation gets poorer as the value of conduction-radiation parameters decreases. This increase in error is principally incurred due to the error in estimating wall temperature differences.« less
Charm or Harm: Effect of Passage Content on Listener Attitudes Toward American English Accents:

This study examined how passage content influences attitudes towards American English Accents. Participants listened to passages differing in topic content spoken in an American Southern English or Standard American English accent. Although Southern-accented speakers were rated higher in sociality, but lower in status, than standard-accented speakers, sociality ratings varied as a function of passage topic only for Standard-accented speakers. Linguistic content appeared most likely to influence listeners' attitudes when preexisting assumptions based on regional accent were absent.
Accrued Earnings and Growth: Implications for Earnings Persistence and Market Mispricing

An important goal of accounting research is to provide evidence that improves the analysis of financial statements for predicting future profitability. Research (Sloan 1996; Xie 2001) has found that (1) the persistence of earnings performance depends on the proportions of the cash and accrual components and that (2) a market inefficiency results from the failure of investors to fully appreciate the implications of cash flows and accruals for future earnings performance. In this study we investigate whether these results with respect to accruals can be generalized to another form of growth in net operating assets. We find that growth in long-term net operating assets, like accruals, has a negative association with one-year-ahead return on assets. We also find that the negative associations of both forms of growth (accruals and growth in long-term net operating assets) to one-year-ahead return on assets are attributable to the effect of growth on the denominator of return on assets. Furthermore, we find that the apparent market mispricing of accruals applies to growth in long-term net operating assets and that the severity of the mispricing does not significantly differ between the components of growth. Thus, the results suggest that the accrual anomaly documented in Sloan (1996) is a subset of a larger anomaly with respect to a general market mispricing of growth in net operating assets. Statement Analysis, Market Mispricing
Organizational compassion: a litmus test for a spiritually centered university culture

Compassion, a central concept in religious traditions, is often treated as an individual virtue. In this exploratory essay the enactment of compassion as an organizational norm is studied in the context of a university. How might compassion toward faculty colleagues in times of personal crisis be imbedded as an attribute of organizational spirituality?
Providing a reinforcement history that reduces the sunk cost effect

The sunk cost error occurs when individuals persist with a non-optimal course of action because they have already invested time or resources in it. The current study examined the effect of specific experiences on the likelihood of the sunk cost error. Six pigeons were given repeated choices between persisting with and escaping from relatively large fixed ratios. In most conditions escaping was the choice pattern producing the smallest mean response requirement. In Experiment 1, four of six pigeons persisted, committing the sunk cost error. Some subjects continued to persist even when persistence increased the mean number of responses to reinforcement by 99. In Experiment 2, the absolute difference between the mean numbers of responses to reinforcement for persistence and escape was increased even further for these subjects, and the relative cost of persistence was increased. Once escape had been established, pigeons were less likely to commit the sunk cost error in some conditions where they had previously made the error frequently. Together, the results of both experiments show changes in the frequency of the sunk cost error caused by specific experiences, and that persistence is likely more sensitive to its relative than absolute costs.
7:52 Recombinant human bone morphogenic protSD stem–2 in a posterior lumbar interbody fusion construct

Abstract Purpose of study: Recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein (rhBMP)-2 has been demonstrated to form bone in various spine fusion applications as effectively as autologous iliac crest bone, without the morbidity of the graft harvest. Posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) constructs are commonly used in the treatment of degenerative spinal disease. This study evaluates the use of rhBMP-2 in a PLIF construct. Methods used: This is a prospective, randomized, Food and Drug Administration–approved, IDE study comparing the outcome of PLIF using cylindrical titanium cages loaded with either InFuse Bone Graft (rhBMP-2 in a collagen sponge; Medtronic, Minneapolis, MN) or autologous iliac crest bone graft. Enrollment in the study was stopped at 67 patients after “excess” bone formation was noted posterior to the cage in some patients. Clinical and radiographic assessment of the patients has continued, with a minimum of 2-year follow-up now available. Radiographs were evaluated in a blinded fashion by a panel of surgeons and critically compared to the clinical data. of findings: Recombinant human BMP-2 is at least as effective as autologous iliac bone in this PLIF construct, in terms of promoting radiographic fusion. However, 58% of the rhBMP-2 patients demonstrated “greater than expected bone formation” dorsal to the cage, a finding seen in none of the controls. In 30% of the rhBMP-2 cases, this bone compromised the central canal, the neural foramen or both. At a mean 2-year follow-up, there was no correlation between the clinical outcome (Oswestry, back pain, leg pain or neurological score) and the radiological outcome in either group. Relationship between findings and existing knowledge: Recombinant human BMP-2 is an effective substitute for autogenous iliac crest bone in PLIF constructs. This is the first clinical study to document “excessive” bone formation with the use of BMP, although there was no discernable effect on the clinical outcome. The cause of the bone formation seen in selected cases is not understood, and theories to explain this finding are currently being evaluated. Overall significance of findings: BMP should not be used in PLIF constructs outside of clinical trials at this time. Disclosures: Device or drug: recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein–2. Status: investigational. Conflict of interest: Joseph Alexander, Speaker's Bureau, Mediatronic Sofamor Danek.
Graphical Approach for Evaluating Performance Limitations in Externally Modulated Analog Photonic Links

We present a novel graphical approach for evaluating the performance of analog photonic links employing an external intensity modulator biased at quadrature. A single graph is sufficient to grasp the engineering tradeoffs among noise figure, third-order spurious-free dynamic range, and RF gain for various values of half-wave voltage and dc photocurrent.
Flavopiridol increases therapeutic ratio of radiotherapy by preferentially enhancing tumor radioresponse

Abstract Purpose Recently we reported that inhibition of cyclin-dependent kinases (cdks) by flavopiridol enhanced the radiation response of murine ovarian carcinoma cells in culture. The purpose of this investigation was to extend these studies to in vivo tumor models and test whether flavopiridol increases the therapeutic ratio of radiotherapy. Methods and materials Three transplantable syngeneic mouse tumors were used: mammary carcinoma (MCa-29), ovarian carcinoma (OCa-I), and a lymphoma (Ly-TH). Tumor treatment endpoints included growth delay, cure, and spontaneous lung metastases (OCa-I tumor). The normal tissue endpoint was survival of jejunal crypt cells quantified microscopically. A range of flavopiridol doses from 0.625 to 5.0 mg/kg were given systemically once or twice daily over 5, 10, or 20 days. Combined therapy flavopiridol treatments were initiated either several days before or shortly after the start of single dose or daily fractionated radiotherapy. Results The major findings of this study are that all three tumors treated with flavopiridol alone responded by tumor growth delay. Two of the tumors (MCa-29 and Ly-TH) responded in a schedule-dependent manner with larger radiation enhancement factors when flavopiridol treatment was started a few hours after irradiation (radioenhancement factors [EF] Ly-TH = 2.04, EF MCa-29 = 1.50 for single dose irradiation). When combined with fractionated irradiation (2.6 Gy daily for 10 or 20 days), flavopiridol enhanced the response of the MCa-29 tumor by a factor of 1.25–1.46. A fractional radiation dose of 6 Gy in combination with flavopiridol produced a 62.5% cure rate compared with 25% tumor cure for radiation alone. A novel finding of this study was the demonstration of antimetastatic activity of flavopiridol in addition to its effect on the local primary tumor. Both the incidence and absolute number of lung metastasis were reduced when flavopiridol followed surgical removal of the large (10 mm) primary leg tumor. The normal jejunum treated with flavopiridol and radiation responded in a schedule independent manner and the degree of radioenhancement (EF, 1.05–1.06) was much less than for any of the tumors studied. Conclusions Therapeutic gain was achieved when flavopiridol treatment was initiated either before or after the start of radiotherapy. Flavopiridol shows promising clinical potential administered alone or in combination with other cytotoxic agents, including both chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
Application of family therapy theory to complex social issues: using the WebQuest in family therapy training

This paper describes how the WebQuest is used to foster critical thinking and application of theory to complex social problems in a Master's level class on contemporary family therapy theories. The issue of child trafficking and prostitution is explored through the web-based inquiry learning where scaffold learning is provided. Scaffolding includes resource links and guidance on cognitive and social skills, which are provided to facilitate the learner's development. The WebQuest design includes the task, the process and the evaluation rubrics. Student feedback on the WebQuest was positive and included increased motivation in learning, critical thinking and global awareness.
Binary And Gray Scale Robot Vision

The use of industrial robots in a non-ideal environment requires sensors. A versatile general-purpose sensor is a machine vision system. Rather than attempting to review the capabilities of commercially available machine vision hardware, this paper examines the application of both binary and gray scale techniques to the sensory tasks associated with robot part acquisition, part inspection, and part reorientation. The utility of hybrid (mixed binary and gray scale) techniques in robot vision is illustrated.© (1983) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Diagnosis of Optimal Perturbation Evolution in the Eady Model

Abstract The structure and evolution of Eady model singular vector (SV, also referred to as optimal perturbation) streamfunction perturbations are described using a combination of two different partitions of the vector subspace describing all possible streamfunction perturbations. A modal partitioning of the SV perturbation streamfunction (expressing the SV streamfunction as a linear combination of modal structures) is used to ascribe the roles and relative importance of the continuum modes (CMs) and the discrete normal modes (NMs) in SV initial structure and subsequent evolution. In addition, a potential vorticity (PV) partitioning of the SV perturbation streamfunction into parts attributed to the SV PV and the SV boundary thermal anomalies (BTAs) is employed. The structures of the CMs and NMs are described in terms of their characteristic perturbation PV and BTAs. Modal decomposition of the SVs reveals that for all zonal wavenumbers (k), the NMs have the largest projection coefficients (with magnitudes ...
It's HBO: Passionate engagement, TV branding, and tourism in the postbroadcast Era

ABSTRACTThis paper contends with how postbroadcast television branding subsumes viewers’ affective interactivities with place to produce brand value. Focusing on the HBO series Treme, I argue that Treme engendered HBO's postbroadcast brand mutation by producing “passionate engagement,” where viewers were invited to interact with the show by touring New Orleans, thus adding place to online interactivity and multiscreen engagement as a means of constructing an “authentic” brand identity. The desire for viewers to connect to New Orleans’ culture is thus transformed into a vehicle for profit making for HBO and an assurance to shareholders that the brand still holds value.
Sifting Through the Wreckage: Lessons from Recent Hedge Fund Failures

We document the empirical properties of a sample of 1,765 funds in the TASS Hedge Fund database from 1994 to 2004 that are no longer active. The TASS sample shows that attrition rates differ significantly across investment styles, from a low of 5.2% per year on average for convertible arbitrage funds to a high of 14.4% per year on average for managed futures funds. We relate a number of factors to these attrition rates, including past performance, volatility, and investment style, and also document differences in illiquidity risk between active and liquidated funds. We conclude with a proposal for the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to play a new role in promoting greater transparency and stability in the hedge-fund industry.
Distribution of desoxyribose nucleic acid in tumor nuclei.

SummaryThe relative amounts of DNA per nucleus in individual nuclei of 5 different tumor tissues, measured by absorption micro-spectrophotometry in Feulgen-stained sections, are largely distributed into classes in a geometric progression (1:2:4). The tumors showed increases in DNA amounts as compared with homologous control tissue with the exception of a benign papilloma. The occurrence of intermediate values and increased DNA classes is considered to be an expression of changes in chromosome content associated with mitosis and polyploidy rather than a disturbance in nucleic acid synthesis.
In-house windrowing of a commercial broiler farm during early spring and its effect on litter composition1

SUMMARY The use of in-house windrowing of broiler litter between flocks has been used as a litter management procedure to reduce pathogen content and improve the quality of the house environment for newly placed chicks. A trial was conducted to determine what effects different methods of in-house windrowing would have on litter composition during the early spring months of March and April. Using 2 commercial broiler houses, 3 in-house windrowing treatments were applied to built-up litter from multiple flock grow-out cycles and compared with traditional decaked, nonwindrowed litter management. Each windrowing treatment consisted of a 6-d windrow, composed of either decaked litter, caked litter incorporated into windrows, or decaked litter covered with a nonbreathable tarp. Each commercial broiler house was divided into sixteen 6.1 × 6.1-m plots with each treatment being replicated using 4 plots per house. Litter samples from each treatment plot were collected and analyzed for percent moisture, pH, and bacteria levels on d 0, 7, and 14 of the trial. Broiler chicks were placed in each house on d 7. Ammonia volatilization was assessed from each plot on d 7 and 14. Litter moisture decreased over time for all treatments and was not significantly different between treatments. Litter pH in all treatments decreased from d 7 to 14 with no differences between d 0 and 7. Temperatures for the decaked and cake-in treatments exceeded the temperature (50°C) necessary to eliminate pathogenic bacteria, but the control and covered treatments did not. Ammonia volatilization was significantly less on d 14 compared with d 7, but was not different among the treatments. Aerobic, anaerobic, and coliform litter counts decreased from d 0 to 7 with no difference between d 7 and 14 and no treatment effect. In conclusion, no differences were found between the decaked control and windrowing treatments during the spring layout period studied.
The Gap Between Perceived and Actual Learning From Group Reflection

Group reflection is often used as an intervention to facilitate group performance, but reflecting in groups may also affect individual learning. In this article, we compare the effects of individua...