cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Controlled Vocabularies in OODBs: Modeling Issues and Implementation

A major problem that arises in many large application domains is the discrepancy among terminologies of different information systems. The terms used by the information systems of one organization may not agree with the terms used by another organization even when they are in the same domain. Such a situation clearly impedes communication and the sharing of information, and decreases the efficiency of doing business. Problems of this nature can be overcome using a controlled vocabulary (CV), a system of concepts that consolidates and unifies the terminologies of a domain. However, CVs are large and complex and difficult to comprehend. This paper presents a methodology for representing a semantic network-based CV as an object-oriented database (OODB). We call such a representation an Object-Oriented Vocabulary Repository (OOVR). The methodology is based on a structural analysis and partitioning of the source CV. The representation of a CV as an OOVR offers both the level of support typical of database management systems and an abstract view which promotes comprehension of the CV‘s structure and content. After discussing the theoretical aspects of the methodology, we apply it to the MED and InterMED, two existing CVs from the medical field. A program, called the OOVR Generator, for automatically carrying out our methodology is described. Both the MED-OOVR and the InterMED-OOVR have been created using the OOVR Generator, and each exists on top of ONTOS, a commercial OODBMS. The OOVR derived from the InterMED is presently available on the Web.
Maternal placental and myometrial blood flow of the rhesus monkey during uterine contractions

Abstract Cardiac output and regional blood flows were measured in 20 nonpregnant and 10 pregnant rhesus monkeys at term. Pregnant animals at term had 27 per cent higher cardiac output and a sixteenfold increase in the fraction of cardiac output directed to the uterus. Uterine contractions were induced by amniotic fluid removal. Cardiac output was consistently higher during contractions than during relaxation. Maternal placental flow before labor was 4.5 per cent of cardiac output, decreasing to 2.9 per cent during uterine contractions and increasing to 7.2 per cent during uterine relaxation. The fraction of cardiac output reaching the placenta was most reduced with higher intra-amniotic pressures. Myometrial flow rose from a control 0.48 per cent of cardiac output before labor to 0.64 per cent during contractions and to 0.95 per cent during uterine relaxation.
3D packaging technology overview and mass memory applications

In response to the need for significant reductions in size and weight of digital electronic systems, several companies have developed packaging technologies that focus on miniaturization of memory functions. This paper describes the four basic three dimensional (3D) memory packaging technologies. Physical descriptions and sample photographs of the options provided. Metrics of packaging are developed to provide potential users a means of determining which technology might be best suited to their application. The basics of how to apply 3D memory products are also discussed. Consideration of design and test decisions on product cost are discussed. Also provided are examples of how 3D memory modules may be used in both processor multichip module (MCM) applications and in mass memory (solid-state recorder) applications.
Emerging therapy for endometriosis.

Introduction: Endometriosis is a chronic disease manifested by pain and infertility due to ectopic implantation of endometrial glands and stroma causing inflammation. Treatment of endometriosis utilizes a significant amount of health-care resources and requires chronic therapy. Management involves a combination of surgical and medical interventions and requires long-term treatment to avoid repeated surgeries.Areas covered: Whereas medical therapies exist for management of endometriosis-related pain, each class has its limitations including side effects, cost, and known duration of relief of symptoms. Development of effective, well-tolerated medical therapies that are appropriate for long-term use is crucial to provide adequate treatment for this chronic disease. This review discusses the various medical therapies available, their limitations, and emerging therapies being developed to address many of these concerns.Expert opinion: The authors recommend chronic suppressive therapy for management of endometr...
Where Do Medical Students Turn? The Role of the Assigned Mentor in the Fabric of Support During Medical School

Background: The University of Washington School of Medicine implemented an assigned mentoring program in 2002. The College Mentors are assigned at matriculation, advise students throughout medical school, and teach and evaluate students in the 2nd-year Introduction to Clinical Medicine course. Purpose: The purpose of the study was to determine from whom students report they would seek advice and support for academic, professional, personal, and research issues. Methods: A cross-sectional cohort survey asking students whom they would first contact about academic, personal, professional, and research issues was administered to three cohorts of students in 2007. Results: Students reported that they would contact their College Mentor first for general academic progress (49.6%), personal issues (36.2%), and professional issues (64.1%) but not for research issues. Conclusions: Students identified their College Mentor as a primary contact for academic, professional, and personal issues, suggesting that neither t...
High-Resolution Scalar and Velocity Measurements in an Internal Combustion Engine

High-resolution planar laser-induced fluorescence and particle image velocimetry (PIV) measurements were acquired during the intake stroke in a motored engine to investigate the mixing behavior of in-cylinder flows. The data were analyzed to determine the scalar energy and kinetic energy spectra, which were used to find the corresponding dissipation spectra. The results were compared with a model turbulent spectrum. The scalar energy and scalar dissipation spectra were shown to be resolved through the full dissipation range, enabling the determination of the Batchelor/Kolmogorov length scale and agreed well with the model turbulent spectrum at all but the highest wavenumbers where the effects of random noise were present. The 2% point in the scalar dissipation spectra was used to estimate the Batchelor scale, which was found to be approximately 32 µm. The PIV data, which had a 675 µm interrogation region, were used to calculate a one-dimensional kinetic energy spectrum. The kinetic energy spectrum agreed well with the scalar energy spectrum and the model spectrum up to wavenumbers corresponding to approximately two times the PIV interrogation region size. For the present measurements, this meant that the PIV data were not able to resolve the peak in the dissipation spectrum, i.e., the full high-wavenumber part of the inertial subrange.
On explanation Aristotelean and Hempelean

Abstract Given the great historical distance between scientific explanation as Aristotle and Hempel saw it, some important similarities and differences between the two approaches are examined and appraised, especially the inclination to take deduction itself as the very model of scientific knowledge: an inclination we have good reasons to reject.
Jet Pump Cavitation With Ambient and High Temperature Water

Cavitation characteristics of a jet pump were explored in tests with 80 C and 280 C water. A cavitation coefficient based on suction velocity and net suction head was used to correlate results. Results at low temperature compared well with results in literature. Results at high temperature and comparison of jet pump cavitation at low and high temperatures are the first to be reported as far as known. The jet pump was substantially less susceptible to cavitation at 280 C than at 80 C. The effects of cavitation, as indicated by drop-off in jet pump performance, vibration, and acoustic noise, were also much less severe at 280 C than at 80 C.
Compliance with the American Academy of Ophthalmology Preferred Practice Pattern for Diabetic Retinopathy in a resident ophthalmology clinic.

Purpose:The purpose of this study was to evaluate compliance with the American Academy of Ophthalmology Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) Preferred Practice Pattern for an initial DR examination in a resident ophthalmology clinic.Methods:Adult patients with diabetes were included if seen in the resident oph
A comparative study of trimethylamine-N-oxide biosynthesis.

A broad spectrum of species of plants and animals have been examined for their ability to convert trimethylamine to its N-oxide. Of the animal species studied, and under the conditions used in this investigation, trimethylamine-N-oxide synthesis from trimethylamine seems generally to be restricted to the vertebrates. Within this group at least one example of each class has been shown competent to carry out the reaction. An exhaustive examination of fishes has shown elasmobranches, and both fresh- and salt-water teleost to be active in trimethylamine-N-oxide biosynthesis; however, many species of fishes did not given detectable trimethylamine-N-oxide synthesis under the conditions of assay. Although all attempts to demonstrate trimethylamine-N-oxide synthesis in plants in vitro were negative, suggestive evidence was obtained that certain plants can carry out this synthesis in vivo.
Strategy and Reality: A Challenge for Business Policy

This article attempts to establish a deliberate, empirical-based development of the underlying theory for the policy course. The author notes that a course in business policy is now commonly the capstone course in business school curricula, generally built on the concept of strategy formulation by top business managers. These courses typically bring together the theories of marketing, management, accounting, finance, organizational behavior, quantitative methods and economics applied to situational problems. The author suggests that it has become necessary to develop a formal theoretical structure for these courses that recognizes business planning, portfolio management and strategy. He examines several possible instruction methods and discusses their benefits and drawbacks.
Methodology for computer-aided design and analysis of passive solar buildings

Abstract A methodology for the development of a combined knowledge-based-algorithmic program for computer-aided design and the analysis of passive solar buildings is presented. The methodology and associated program are based on the integration of heuristic and algorithmic techniques. This program, which is intended to be a design assistant, comprises several modules: an energy-analysis program (BEEP), a knowledge-based system, a database, and a hypertext, all running simultaneously with a flexible graphical user interface. The system supports a systematic, iterative procedure of design-alternative generation and evaluation. Energy and comfort indices are used in evaluating the various design alternatives. Two typical applications are presented for residential passive solar buildings. The program developed is intended primarily for the design of direct-gain residential or office buildings.
In search of a new strategy for better human settlements

It is my great pleasure to see that the United Nations General Assembly decided to create the Commission on Human Settlements, to act as the focal point of its activities related to the problems of human settlements. I say this not only as an individual associated with this field, throughout the post-war years, but also as a former member of the United Nations Committee on Housing Building and Planning, from its very first session in 1963 to the seventh session in 1971 (the second session in 1964 was unforgettable). During the debate on the organizational problem for the United Nations in this field, it was argued that housing had been treated separately by many different agencies-as fringe areas, in spite of its crucial importance-and that a focal point in the United Nations system should be established to deal with this field as a unit. The late Constantine Doxiadis, then also a member, came out with a draft resolution to create the United Nations Organization for Human Settlements (UNOHS) as a specialized agency to perform this function. I was co-sponsor of an alternative resolution proposing that this should be promoted by stepby-step ways. After heated and lengthy debate, the latter draft was finally adopted. However, through the debate I was very much impressed by the very convincing argument of Doxiadis as well as the eagerness of the representatives of the developing countries for the creation of such an organization. After all, the difference was about the timing, not the direction which the United Nations should aim to achieve.
Fragmented Borders, Fallen Men, Bestial Women: Violence in the Casta Paintings of Eighteenth-century New Spain

The calm faces of the castas, the racially mixed individuals portrayed in the casta paintings of eighteenth-century New Spain, known as cuadros de castas, seem to convey profound tranquillity.1 Fam...
Impact of cosolvents (polyols) on globular protein functionality: Ultrasonic velocity, density, surface tension and solubility study

Abstract The objective of this study was to understand how cosolvents influence the molecular and functional properties of globular proteins in aqueous solutions. The ultrasonic velocity, density and adiabatic compressibility of cosolvent solutions (0–50 wt% sorbitol or glycerol) were measured in the absence and presence of a globular protein (1 wt% β-lactoglobulin) at 30 °C. These measurements were used to calculate the partial specific apparent volume and adiabatic compressibility of the protein. The protein's volume decreased and its compressibility increased in the presence of high cosolvent concentrations, which were attributed to changes in the properties of the protein interior and solvation layer. Sorbitol was more effective than glycerol at decreasing the protein volume at high cosolvent concentrations, which may be because glycerol has some surface activity and may therefore accumulate around hydrophobic regions on the protein surface. Our data were used to account for the observation that sorbitol is more effective than glycerol at increasing the thermal stability and self-association of the β-lactoglobulin. A better understanding of the influence of protein–cosolvent–solvent interactions on the functionality of globular proteins may facilitate the design of protein-based products.
Simulation of Dynamic Armature Motion in a Railgun with Coupling of Electromagnetic, Thermal and Structural Effects Using Shifted Finite Element Fields

A moving armature railgun code (called HERB) has been developed for coupled electromagnetic, thermal and structural fields using the general purpose code ANSYS as the underlying computational engine. This analysis uses shifted electromagnetic fields to simulate the velocity effects associated with such motion (akin to EMAP3D [1]). Specifically, the velocity effects are produced by the shift of the magnetic vector and scalar potential fields, the temperature and structural fields, and the respective element material attributes. The cylindrical symmetry of the model allows us to employ 3D finite element bricks. These have an advantage over tetrahedral elements by allowing very high aspect ratios to model longer stretches of the problem not in the immediate vicinity of the armature or the end of the rails, with a minimal number of elements, thereby reducing both the model size and the required computational time. The armature motion is calculated self-consistently from the electromagnetic forces on the armature; however, the armature is stationary. Instead the electromagnetic, thermal and structural degrees of freedom, as well as the element material attributes of the non-armature components of the model are shifted to simulate the motion. It is these other non-armature components that move but in the direction opposite to the actual armature motion. The method has been verified for electromagnetic velocity effects using several simple modified textbook cases of closed wire loops moving through either uniform or spatially dependent magnetic fields. In both cases the agreement between the ANSYS and analytical results was very good. In addition, the model has been verified against published EMAP3D coupled electromagnetic railgun results with good agreement. Using ANSYS has many benefits. ANSYS is commercially available, validated and maintained. Further it has fully developed pre and post processors, multi-elements, and multiple field types that can be readily coupled requiring no further user development. Moreover, ANSYS is being continuously improved and updated and comes equipped with full technical support. In addition, the user can add more physics via a relatively straightforward Fortran-like scripting language.
Stem-like cells in bone sarcomas: implications for tumorigenesis.

Abstract Bone sarcomas are a clinically and molecularly heterogeneous group of malignancies characterized by varying degrees of mesenchymal differentiation. Despite advances in medical and surgical management, survival rates for high-grade tumors have remained static at 50% to 70%. Tumor stem cells have been recently implicated in the pathogenesis of other heterogeneous, highly malignant tumors. We demonstrate here the existence of a small subpopulation of self-renewing bone sarcoma cells that are capable of forming suspended spherical, clonal colonies, also called "sarcospheres," in anchorage-independent, serum-starved conditions. These bone sarcoma cells as well as tissue specimens express activated STAT3 and the marker genes of pluripotent embryonic stem (ES) cells, Oct 3/4 and Nanog . Expression levels of Oct 3/4 and Nanog are greater in sarcospheres than in adherent cultures. A subset of bone sarcoma cells displays several surface markers of mesenchymal stem cells (Stro-1, CD105, and CD44) as well as attributes of mesodermal, ectodermal, and endodermal differentiation. Although previously documented in brain and breast tumors, our results support the extension of the cancer stem cell hypothesis to include tumors of mesenchymal lineage. Furthermore, they suggest the participation of ES cell homeobox proteins in non-germ cell tumorigenesis.
Intracellular analysis of excitatory subthalamic inputs to the pedunculopontine neurons.

Abstract Response patterns of the pedunculopontine (PPN) area neurons to electrical stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus (STH) were investigated in anesthetized rats. Intracellular recordings demonstrated that STH stimulation evoked short duration (mean value: 11.6 ms) depolarizing potentials which were identified as excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) by intracellular current injection. These potentials were considered monosynaptic because the latency was constant in spite of changes in stimulus intensities. The conduction velocities of STH-PPN area afferents ranged from 1.2 to 8.3 m/s (mean value: 1.6 m/s). Similar results were obtained in rats with chronic unilateral coronal lesion just rostral to STH which eliminated the rostral afferents. In some neurons, EPSPs were followed by IPSPs. PPN area neurons were also antidromically activated by STH stimulation. Some of these neurons could also be antidromically activated by substantia nigra stimulation. We could differentiate PPN area projection neurons into two groups based on their conduction velocity. One group had a conduction velocity of 6.0 m/s and the second one 1.7 m/s. The morphology of 5 HRP-labeled PPN area neurons was analyzed. The somata were fusiform, polygonal and oval in shape, and the size varied from 152 to 1310 μm2. Two to nine dendrites emerged from the somata and extended either radially or more in one direction (e.g. rostrocaudal). Axons arose, in general, from a proximal dendritic trunk close to the soma except one and branched near the soma. These data indicate a reciprocal connection between STH and PPN area and that STH exerts excitatory influence on PPN area neurons.
Molecular Dynamics Studies of Lipid I and Lipid II in Various of Lipid Bilayer Environments

The peptidoglycan biosynthesis and assembly is needed for (both gram-negative and positive) bacterial cell wall formation. In the pathway, there are lipid-linked precursors such as lipid I (in the inner leaflet of the cytoplasmic membrane) and lipid II (in its outer leaflet). In addition, by peptidoglycan glycosyltransferase, one peptidoglycan unit from lipid II is transferred to the growing peptidoglycan oligomers attached to lipid II (lipid II-PG(x); x is the number of transferred peptidoglycan units). In this work, lipid I, lipid II-PG(0), lipid II-PG(2), lipid II-PG(5) of both gram-negative and positive bacteria are modeled and simulated in all-atom POPE/POPG (3:1; gram-negative membrane mimetics), POPE/POPG (1:3; gram-positive membrane mimetics), and POPC (neutral) bilayers. Presented and discussed are the structure and dynamics of the lipid-linked precursors and their dependence on bilayer types and vice versa. The preferred structures of these precursors are also discussed in terms of the reactions in (1) glycosyltransferase to add GlcNAc to lipid I, (2) peptidoglycan glycosyltransferase to add peptidoglycan units to lipid II-PG(x), and (3) transpeptidase that cross-links the peptidoglycan units.
An exploration of stigma in the lives of sex offenders and heroin abusers

Research was conducted on variations and commonalities of sexual offenders and heroin abusers and how they manage stigma in their everyday lives. Interviews with 13 sex offenders (SOs) and 44 heroin abusers (HAs) were conducted in New York City. Results suggest that both SOs and HAs disclose or conceal their stigmatized status based on their relationship to others and the situations in which they anticipate social condemnation. Both groups have formed intra-group hierarchies based on status, where child molesters and heroin abusers receive the most disdain. Some heroin abusers manage their stigma by engaging in behavior that we term redemptive passing, in which stigmatized individuals attempt to pass as non-stigmatized through deceptive means in order to make amends for prior harms they have caused. The stigmatization of sex offenders and heroin abusers has important implications for health, as members of these groups are less likely to seek treatment in order to distance themselves from their stigmatizin...
Fabrication of organic thin-film transistors by spray-deposition for low-cost, large-area electronics

Abstract We report on high performance organic thin-film transistors fabricated by spray-deposition, an innovative coating technique for organic electronic devices. This method is simple and inexpensive, compatible with room-temperature processing and easily scalable from laboratory-based devices to large-area electronics. Our spray-deposited 2,8-difluoro-5,11-bis (triethylsilylethynyl) anthradithiophene transistors show very good homogeneity, with mobilities of 0.2 cm 2 / V s , and on/off ratios of 10 7 . This performance is comparable to that of our best spin-coated devices fabricated on the same substrate type, while offering additional advantages such as using 20 times less organic semiconductor and facilitating fast coating of large-areas.
Reactive and effortful processes in the organization of temperament

Self-organization can be approached in terms of developmental processes occurring within and between component systems of temperament. Within-system organization involves progressive shaping of cortical representations by subcortical motivational systems. As cortical representations develop, they feed back to provide motivational systems with enhanced detection and guidance capabilities. These reciprocal influences may amplify the underlying motivational functions and promote excessive impulsivity or anxiety. However, these processes also depend upon interactions arising between motivational and attentional systems. We discuss these between-system effects by considering the regulation of approach motivation by reactive attentional processes related to fear and by more voluntary processes related to effortful control. It is suggested than anxious and impulsive psychopathology may reflect limitations in these dual means of control, which can take the form of overregulation as well as underregulation.
Patterns of surface burrow plugging in a colony of black-tailed prairie dogs occupied by black-footed ferrets

Black-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus) can surface-plug openings to a burrow occupied by a black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes). At a coarse scale, surface plugs are more common in colonies of prairie dogs occu- pied by ferrets than in colonies without ferrets. However, little is known about spatial and temporal patterns of surface plugging in a colony occupied by ferrets. In a 452-ha colony of black-tailed prairie dogs in South Dakota, we sampled burrow openings for surface plugs and related those data to locations of ferrets observed during spotlight surveys. Of 67,574 burrow openings in the colony between June and September 2007, 3.7% were plugged. In a colony-wide grid of 80 m × 80 m cells, the occurrence of surface plugging (≥1 opening plugged) was greater in cells used by ferrets (93.3% of cells) than in cells not observably used by ferrets (70.6%). Rates of surface plugging (percentages of openings plugged) were significantly higher in cells used by ferrets (median = 3.7%) than in cells without known ferret use (median = 3.2%). Also, numbers of ferret locations in cells correlated positively with numbers of mapped surface plugs in the cells. To investigate surface plugging at finer temporal and spatial scales, we compared rates of surface plugging in 20-m- radius circle-plots centered on ferret locations and in random plots 1-4 days after observing a ferret (Jun-Oct 2007 and 2008). Rates of surface plugging were greater in ferret-plots (median = 12.0%) than in random plots (median = 0%). For prairie dogs and their associates, the implications of surface plugging could be numerous. For instance, ferrets must dig to exit or enter plugged burrows (suggesting energetic costs), and surface plugs might influence microclimates in burrows and consequently influence species that cannot excavate soil (e.g., fleas that transmit the plague bacterium Yersinia pestis).
Electroweak high-energy scattering and the chiral anomaly

The effect of perturbative QCD interactions on the high-energy scattering of electroweak vector bosons, when the exchanged channel has pion quantum numbers, is considered. The chiral anomaly is shown to appear in the couplings of particular transverse momentum diagrams, producing an enhancement of the scattering amplitude by a power of the energy. At $O({\ensuremath{\alpha}}_{s})$ a single large transverse momentum gluon is involved and, within the transverse momentum diagram framework, there is no cancellation. In higher orders, soft gluons, carrying both normal and anomalous color parity, are also present. The manipulation of a transverse momentum cutoff to replace the ultraviolet anomaly divergence by infrared divergences that can lead to confinement and chiral symmetry breaking is briefly discussed. The possible implications for electroweak symmetry breaking are noted.
Sodium-Accelerated Diffusion of Magnesium in Silica and Its Retardation by Aluminum

Fused silica platelets were implanted or coimplanted with sodium, magnesium, and aluminum and annealed in 1 atm flowing oxygen at 900°C. Concentration depth profiles of these elements in the implanted samples were obtained using secondary ion mass spectrometry before and after the annealing treatment. The presence of fast-moving sodium markedly accelerated the diffusion of magnesium in silica. Incorporation of aluminum in silica significantly retarded the diffusion of sodium and magnesium. This study yielded valuable information for the understanding of the roles of various grain-boundary cations in oxidation of silica-forming ceramics.
Stochastic Petri net models of Ca2+ signaling complexes and their analysis

Mathematical models of Ca2+ release sites derived from Markov chain models of intracellular Ca2+ channels exhibit collective gating reminiscent of the experimentally observed phenomenon of stochastic Ca2+ excitability (i.e., puffs and sparks). Ca2+ release site models are composed of a number of individual channel models whose dynamic behavior depends on the local Ca2+ concentration which is influenced by the state of all channels. We consider this application area to illustrate how stochastic Petri nets and in particular stochastic activity networks can be used to model dynamical phenomena in cell biology. We highlight how state-sharing composition operations as supported by the Mobius framework can represent both mean-field and spatial coupling assumptions in a natural manner. We investigate how state-of-the-art techniques for the numerical and simulative analysis of Markov chains associated with stochastic Petri nets scale when modeling Ca2+ signaling complexes of physiological size and complexity.
Titanium aluminide sheets made using roll bonding and reaction annealing

Abstract The process of roll bonding and reactive annealing was used to process γ-titanium aluminide sheets with a nearly fully lamellar microstructure. Cold roll bonding was employed to bond elemental titanium and aluminum foils. A two stage annealing treatment initially at 600 °C and then at 1300 °C resulted in a two phase (γ + α2) structure along with Kirkendall porosity. Hot rolling of the sheet followed by a heat treatment at 1400 °C resulted in a nearly fully lamellar microstructure and denser material compared to sheet that was not subjected to hot rolling. The process parameters and resulting microstructures are presented. Mechanical properties of the processed sheet were measured and found to be comparable to those in the literature for bulk material processed by foil metallurgy. Thus the processing approach presented for the Ti–Al binary alloy is found to be viable for the processing of gamma titanium aluminide sheets.
The future of primary care: reforming physician payment.

Foreword The editors asked several experts to share their perspectives on the crisis in U.S. primary care. Their articles, which address this crisis from six different angles, follow. We also brought the five U.S. contributors together for a roundtable discussion of the problems and potential solutions for training, practice, compensation, and systemic change. A video of the discussion and reader comments can be seen at www.nejm.org. At the heart of the decline in primary care lie dysfunctional payment systems, from the “gatekeeper” schemes of the 1990s to the current volume-driven, fee-for-service approaches. These have proved antithetical to the goals of primary care, leaving patients unhappy, physicians demoralized, a generation of U.S. medical students shunning careers in the field, and access to care increasingly problematic — all contributing to an impending national health care crisis.1 Several payment reforms have been proposed. One approach would augment fee for service with a “management fee” to...
Libraries: once and future

In a recent article in The New Yorker, Nicholson Baker laments the demise of the paper card catalogue as a ‘paroxysm of shortsightedness and anti‐intellectualism’ on the part of over‐zealous librarians, wrecking destruction ‘in a class with the burning of the library at Alexandria.’ Baker's poignant plea on behalf of the venerable catalogue fails to acknowledge or even mention the numerous benefits and advantages gained by libraries with online catalogues. In this article, Brian Helstien responds to Baker's piece focusing on four issues not discussed by Baker — authority control, collection preservation, collection access and collection costs. Vastly improved authority control is a major benefit of library automation, allowing library staff members to create and maintain large bibliographic databases efficiently and effectively, with more ease and accuracy than was possible with paper catalogues. Technology and automation are providing essential methods to fighting the ongoing deterioration of acidic collections and preserving the very scholarly materials indexed in catalogues. Without such technology, libraries (and scholars) can expect to lose large parts of their collections over relatively short periods of time. Rising collection costs faced by libraries is another issue not addressed by Baker. The use of technology such as online catalogues by libraries is one way libraries are fighting the rising costs of acquiring materials and providing access to these materials; without the technology, libraries and the scholars that use them will acquire fewer materials at a higher cost. Baker's viewpoint evokes nostalgia, but ultimately fails to recognise the real issues faced by libraries of today.
Osteoblast-like cell attachment to and calcification of novel phosphonate-containing polymeric substrates†

In an attempt to interact natural bone and bone cells with biomaterials and to begin to develop modular tissue engineering scaffolds, substrates containing phosphonate groups were identified to mimic mineral-protein and natural polymer-protein interactions. In this study, we investigated poly(vinyl phosphonic acid) copolymer integration with existing materials as a graft-copolymer surface modification. Phosphonate-containing copolymer-modified surfaces were created and shown to have varying phosphate content within different polymeric surfaces. As the phosphonate content in the monomer feed approached 30% vinyl phosphonic acid, increased osteoblast-like cell adhesion (3- to 8-fold increase in adhesion) and proliferation (2- to 10-fold increase in proliferation rate) was observed. Since surfaces modified with 30% vinyl phosphonic acid in the feed exhibited a maximal cell adhesion and proliferation (9.4 x 10(4) cells/cm(2)/day), it was hypothesized that this copolymer composition was optimal for protein-polymer interactions. Osteoblast-like cells formed confluent layers and were able to differentiate on all surfaces that contained vinyl phosphonic acid. Most importantly, cells interacting with these surfaces were able to significantly mineralize the surface. These results suggest that phosphonate-containing polymers can be used to integrate biomaterials with natural bone and could be used for tissue engineering applications.
Error Detection and Prediction Algorithms: Application in Robotics

This article presents research on error detection and prediction algorithms in robotics. Errors, defined as either agent error or Co-net error, are analyzed and compared. Three new error detection and prediction algorithms (EDPAs) are then developed, and validated by detecting and predicting errors in typical pick and place motions of an Adept Cobra 800 robot. A laser Doppler displacement meter (LDDM?) MCV-500 is used to measure the position of robot gripper in 105 experiment runs. Results show that combined EDPAs are preferred to detect and predict displacement errors in sequential robot motions.
Site-specific labeling of RNA with fluorophores and other structural probes.

Site-specific probes provide a powerful tool for structure and function studies of nucleic acids, especially in elucidating tertiary structures of large ribozymes and other folded RNA molecules. Among many types of extrinsic labels, fluorophores are most attractive because they can provide structural information at millisecond time resolution, thus allowing real-time observation of structural transition during biological function. Methods for introducing fluorophores in RNA molecules are summarized here. These methods are robust and readily applicable to the labeling of other types of probes. However, as each case of RNA modification is unique, fine tuning of the general methodology is beneficial.
Synthesis and Activity of Dafachronic Acid Ligands for the C. elegans DAF-12 Nuclear Hormone Receptor

The nuclear hormone receptor DAF-12 from Caenorhabditis elegans is activated by dafachronic acids, which derive from sterols upon oxidation by DAF-9, a cytochrome P450. DAF-12 activation is a critical checkpoint in C. elegans for acquisition of reproductive competence and for entry into adulthood rather than dauer diapause. Previous studies implicated the (25S)-Delta(7)-dafachronic acid isomer as the most potent compound, but the (25S)-Delta(4)-isomer was also identified as an activator of DAF-12. To explore the tolerance of DAF-12 for structural variations in the ligand and to enable further studies requiring large amounts of ligands for DAF-12 and homologs in other nematodes, we synthesized (25R)- and (25S)-isomers of five dafachronic acids differing in A/B-ring configurations. Both the (25S)- and (25R)-Delta(7)-dafachronic acids are potent transcriptional activators in a Gal4-transactivation assay using HEK-293 cells, with EC(50) values of 23 and 33 nm, respectively, as are (25S)- and (25R)-Delta(4)-dafachronic acids, with EC(50) values of 23 and 66 nm, respectively. The (25S)- and (25R)-Delta(5)-isomers were much less potent, with EC(50) values approaching 1000 nm, and saturated 5alpha- and 5beta-dafachronic acids showed mostly intermediate potencies. Rescue assays using daf- 9-null mutants confirmed the results from transactivation experiments, but this in vivo assay accentuated the greater potencies of the (25S)-epimers, particularly for the (25S)-Delta(7)-isomer. We conclude that DAF-12 accommodates a large range of structural variation in ligand geometry, but (25S)-Delta(7)-dafachronic acid is the most potent and probably biologically relevant isomer. Potency derives more from the A/B-ring configuration than from the stereochemistry at C-25.
Albedo and earth radiation deduced from emissivity sensors on the first orbiting solar observatory

Albedo and earth radiation data obtained from orbiting solar observatory emissivity sensors
Detectability of Guided Seismic Waves In the Presence of Attenuation: Model Study

Continuity logging measurements conducted between wells at large separations require understanding the propagation characteristics of normal and leaky modes in lossy waveguides. In this paper we determine the feasibility of detecting guided seismic waves between wells by taking into account the seismic source signal strength and receiver noise levels for a buried point source mechanism. Several computer models were constructed by varying the impedance contrast, bed thickness, Q{sub p}, Q{sub s}, and the source peak frequency. These models were used to produce waveguide responses at various well separations using a multimode analytical solution to evaluate if the trapped energy in the waveguide will reach the desired distance when the layers are continuous. The preliminary results suggested that it is feasible to detect guided waves above electronic and seismic noise levels in shaly sandstone formations at a well separation of 800 m.
Catecholamine innervation of the basal forebrain II. Amygdala, suprarhinal cortex and entorhinal cortex

The catecholamine (CA) innervation of the posterior basal forebrain, the amygdala, suprarhinal cortex and entorhinal cortex, was studied in the rat using biochemical assay and fluorescence histochemistry. The assay studies demonstrate a moderate norepinephrine (NE) content in the amygdala and entorhinal cortex with a lower value for the suprarhinal cortex. Following destruction of the locus coeruleus, the decrease in NE content of these basal forebrain structures indicates that their principal NE innervation is from locus coeruleus. An additional small NE input arises from the medullary NE neuron groups. Ablation of dopamine (DA) cell groups (substantia nigra-ventral tegmental area, SN-VTA) indicates that the DA input to the amygdala arises from the lateral VTA and medial half of the SN. Fluorescence histochemical studies using the glyoxylic acid-Vibratome technique demonstrate the presence of four distinct types of CA neuron terminal plexus in the posterior basal forebrain. These include two different DA fiber types arising in SN-VTA, small NE fibers with small varicosities arising in locus coeruleus and NE fibers with larger varicosities arising in other brainstem NE cell groups. The large NE fibers appear to enter the amygdala via the ansa peduncularis-ventral amygdaloid bundle to innervate the central and basolateral nucleus and the anterior amygdaloid area. The locus coeruleus NE fibers appear to enter the posterior basal forebrain via both the stria terminalis and ansa peduncularis-ventral amygdaloid bundle system to form a moderately dense innervation of the central and basolateral nuclei of the amygdala and a less dense innervation of the other areas. The DA neuron axons are concentrated in the central and basal nuclei and intercalated cell groups. Other areas receive a more diffuse DA input, with the exception of the moderately dense innervation of the suprarhinal cortex and DA “islands” in the ventral-anterior entorhinal cortex. The DA input to the posterior basal forebrain is complex and heterogeneous and the axonal morphology differs greatly among the terminal fields within the amygdala and adjacent cortical areas.
New onset diabetes complicated by haemolysis and rhabdomyolysis: a case report and review of the literature

Introduction Previously undiagnosed glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency can be unmasked by a diabetic crisis and both can be associated with rhabdomyolysis. The relationship between diabetes and G6PD deficiency is discussed and the possible triggers for haemolysis as outlined in this case report. The incidence of G6PD deficiency is 10% in African-American males and up to 35% in parts of Africa so an increased awareness of G6PD deficiency is important when treating diabetes in these populations.
A P2P-Based Market-Guided Distributed Routing Mechanism for High-Throughput Hybrid Wireless Networks

In a hybrid wireless network that combines a mobile ad-hoc network and an infrastructure network, efficient and reliable data routing is important for high throughput. Existing routing schemes that simply combine ad-hoc and infrastructure routings inherit the drawbacks of ad-hoc routing including congestion and high overhead for route discovery and maintenance. Although current reputation systems help increase routing reliability, they rely on local information exchanges between nodes to evaluate node reputations, so they are not sufficiently effective and efficient. A challenge here is if we can coordinately develop an efficient routing algorithm and effective cooperation incentives for reliable routing. To handle this challenge, this paper presents a peer-to-peer (P2P)-based Market-guided Distributed Routing mechanism (MDR). MDR takes advantage of widespread base stations to coordinately realize highly efficient data routing, and effective reputation management and trading market management for reliable data routing. The packets from a source node are distributively transmitted to base stations directly or indirectly, and then they are transmitted to the destination. The base stations form a P2P structure for reputation collection and querying to avoid local information exchanges, and for managing the service transactions between nodes in the trading market. By leveraging the single-relay transmission feature, base stations can monitor the actual transmitted packets of relay nodes to more accurately and efficiently evaluate their reputations and execute trading market management, as well as detect falsely reported reputation information. We further propose market-based policies to strengthen cooperation incentives. Simulation results show that MDR outperforms the traditional hybrid routing schemes and reputation systems in achieving high throughput.
The effects of Section 404 of Sarbanes‐Oxley Act of 2002 on the audit fees of foreign firms listed on US exchanges

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to examine the change in audit fees for US‐listed foreign firms in their first year of providing Section 404 auditor attestation reports for fiscal years ending between July 15, 2006 and July 14, 2007.Design/methodology/approach – During the sampling time period, foreign large accelerated filers had to provide both auditor and management Section 404 reports while the foreign accelerated filers only had to provide management Section 404 reports without the auditor attestation reports. Foreign non‐accelerated filers did not have to provide any Section 404 report. This research design and sample allows the authors to control for the general market‐wide increases in audit fees. The paper examines the annual change in audit fees from the preceding year to the first year of Section 404 compliance.Findings – It is found that foreign large accelerated filers have an average increase of 74 percent in audit fees in this first year of Section 404 compliance, while the foreign a...
Biosynthesis of 5‐Aminopentanoic Acid and 2‐Piperidone from Cadaverine and 1‐Piperideine in Mouse

1-Piperideine, 5-aminopentanoic acid, and its lactam, 2-piperidone, were identified as metabolites of cadaverine in 10,000 g mouse liver supernatants to which diamine oxidase had been added. Both metabolites were also found when the cadaverine metabolite 1-piperideine was incubated with the preparation which suggested that 1-piperideine is an intermediate in the formation of 5-aminopentanoic acid and 2-piperidone. Identification of the metabolites was based on gas chromatography-mass spectrometric analysis in comparison to authentic standards. Mouse brain homogenates converted 1-piperideine to 5-aminopentanoic acid. The results suggest that the metabolic fate of cadaverine may provide precursors of pharmacologically active analogues of GABA.
Estimating age-related changes in psychomotor function: influence of practice and of level of caloric intake in different genotypes☆

Abstract This article presents a discussion of some key considerations in the measurement of age-related changes in psychomotor function of mice. We illustrate that “standard” measures of psychomotor performance, such as running speed on a rotorod task, are highly sensitive to practice effects. Examples are cited in which failure to assess practice effects can influence conclusions regarding the magnitude and rate of change in psychomotor capacity as a function of age. A second set of examples is focused on estimating the effect of an experimental intervention, caloric restriction, on age-related changes in psychomotor performance. These examples show that psychomotor performance at a given age may vary directly, and reversibly, with the level of caloric intake. Independent of such reversible effects, the level of caloric intake can also modulate the rate of change in capacity as a function of age. It is concluded that reversible, short-term effects must be considered in estimating the effect of an experimental intervention on the rate of age-associated change in psychomotor function.
Molecularly imprinted polymers for selective analysis of chemical warfare surrogate and nuclear signature compounds in complex matrices

This paper describes the preparation and evaluation of molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) that display specificity toward diisopropyl methylphosphonate (DIMP) and tributyl phosphate (TBP). Polymer activity was assessed by solid-phase extraction and high-performance liquid chromatography experiments. Both DIMP- and TBP-specific vinylpyridine-based MIPs selectively retained their targets relative to a non-imprinted control. Proof-of-principle experiments demonstrated highly selective analysis of the targets from fortified complex matrix samples (diesel fuel, gasoline, and air extract concentrate). The retained MIP fractions gave near quantitative recovery of the target analytes with very low matrix background content. The same fraction from the control sorbent recovered only about half of the analyte and tended to be less pure.
On Electronic g Factors for Alkali Atoms

Possible theoretical deviations from ${g}_{J}=2$ for the ground state of the alkalis are investigated, and it is concluded that none is large enough to affect measurably the experimental results.