cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Uncovering the Origins of a Sociologist’s Thoughts: A Methodology to Identify and Analyze Thought-Models

The article introduces a methodological framework for sociologists to identify, isolate, and analyze a thinker’s thought-model. The author introduces the analytical strategy through the example of Emile Durkheim and shares a research agenda and preliminary findings on the thought-model(s) of Olive Schreiner as a heuristic device to demonstrate how scholars can utilize the methodology in their own work. The article concludes with a discussion of how isolating and analyzing influential thinkers’ thought-models is critical for the history of sociology. A thorough understanding of the thought-models within the discipline will illuminate the philosophical, religious, and cultural currents that have informed the foundation of the field and reveal possible sources behind the marginalization of certain theorists. Sociologists’ ability to identify the systems of thought that facilitated past and current sociologists in conceiving innovative ideas not only contributes to the history of sociology but also to the discipline moving into the future.
Rapid Prospective Risk Assessment of Mobile Products in Healthcare

There is much hope and hype surrounding the development of innovative technologies, but are we as motivated and effective in assessing the potential risks of these technologies? It is prudent to as...
Gold Nanoparticle Contrast in a Phantom and Juvenile Swine: Models for Molecular Imaging of Human Organs using X-ray Computed Tomography

Rationale and Objectives The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the application of gold nanoparticles (AuNP) as a contrast agent for a clinical x-ray computed tomography (CT) system using a phantom and juvenile swine. Materials and Methods A tissue-mimicking phantom with spherical inclusions containing known concentrations of Au was scanned. Swine were injected with gum Arabic stabilized Au nanoparticles (GA-AuNP), up to 85 mg kg−1 body weight. CT scans were performed before and after the injections. Changes in Hounsfield unit (HU) values between pre- and post- injection scans were evaluated and compared to postmortem determinations of Au uptake. Average uptake of GA-AuNP in the liver of the swine was 380 μg per gram of liver and 680 μg per gram of spleen. Results Concentrations of Au in tissues increased the CT numbers in liver by approximately 22 HU per mg Au concentration at 80 kVp and 27 HU per mg Au concentration at 140 kVp. These data were consistent with HU changes observed for similar concentrations in the phantom. Conclusions AuNP-based contrast agents may be useful in x-ray based CT. This study provides data for determining concentrations of AuNP in comparison to other contrast materials.
Congenital defects in the biosynthesis of thyroid hormone; report of two cases.

Two patients with goitrous cretinism were studied by use of I-131 and chromatographic analyses of the thyroid gland, plasma and urine. These studies showed normal mechanisms existed to carry iodine through the steps of organic binding of iodide and deiodination of free iodotyrosines. There was nearly complete failure to form iodothyronine derivatives (e.g., thyroxine and tri-iodothyronine). The nature of this reaction in the normal thyroid is not known and the nature of a defect at this stage can only be the subject of speculation. The possible mechanisms involved are discussed in the light of current concepts of thyroidal metabolism of iodine.
A passively sprawling miniature legged robot

The paper reports on the design and preliminary experimental testing of a novel 3D-printed miniature legged robot. It is called Passively Sprawling Robot (PSR), and it features a mechanism that achieves passive adjustment of the sprawl angle of the robot's legs. Passive sprawling in this robot exhibits compliance by design, yet it can be controlled indirectly by regulating the yaw rate. Spring-loaded assemblies on the left and right side of the robot function independently, allowing the vehicle to overcome asymmetrical obstacles with improved lateral stability, and withstand falls from moderate heights without sustaining structural damage. The regulation of the sprawling angle by means of varying yaw rates, as well as the improved motion characteristics have been experimentally observed and verified, and open-loop motion accuracy along straight and constant curvature paths was tested on a number of repeated trials.
Context-based models to overcome operational challenges in maritime security

Piracy and smuggling are major international problems which not only threaten maritime security but also affect the global economy. Even though NATO and international forces have been relentlessly fighting maritime crime in East Africa (Gulf of Aden), the problems still persist and maritime crime has moved to West Africa (Gulf of Guinea). In the same vein, the Joint Interagency Task Force-South (JIATF-S) has had substantial operational success, controlling the vast geographical spread of smugglers in the East Pacific and Caribbean Sea. Due to limited number of maritime assets available, every resource needs to be efficiently allocated, both in time and space. This poses a great operational challenge requiring the integration and fusion of disparate information relevant to the mission and dynamic allocation of resources under uncertainty. Operational planning and execution for counter-smuggling and counter-piracy operations involve surveillance (to search, detect, track and identify potential threats) and interdiction operations (to intercept, investigate and potentially apprehend the suspects) in a dynamic and uncertain mission environment. In this paper, we present context-based models for counter-smuggling and counter-piracy missions, where the smuggling and piracy activities are represented in the form of color coded heat maps built using Intelligence information (INTEL), meteorological and oceanographic (METOC) information and other mission-specific attributes (sensor observations, target types and their behavior, etc.); these maps are interpreted as probability of activity (PoA) surfaces. These PoA surfaces form an input to the decision support module discussed in this paper.
Agent influence as a predictor of difficulty for decentralized problem-solving

We study the effect of problem structure on the practical performance of optimal dynamic programming for decentralized decision problems. It is shown that restricting agent influence over problem dynamics can make the problem easier to solve. Experimental results establish that agent influence correlates with problem difficulty: as the gap between the influence of different agents grows, problems tend to become much easier to solve. The measure thus provides a general-purpose, automatic characterization of decentralized problems, identifying those for which optimal methods are more or less likely to work. Such a measure is also of possible use as a heuristic in the design of algorithms that create task decompositions and control hierarchies in order to simplify multiagent problems.
Finding the Elusive Psychiatric “Lesion” With 21st-Century Neuroanatomy: A Note of Caution

The widespread use of MRI has led to a wealth of structural and functional anatomical findings in patients with diverse psychiatric disorders that may represent insights into pathobiology. However, recent technical reports indicate that data from popular MRI research—particularly structural MRI, resting-state functional MRI, and diffusion tensor imaging—are highly sensitive to common artifacts (e.g., head motion and breathing effects) that may dominate the results. Because these and other important confounders of MRI data (e.g., smoking, body weight, metabolic variations, medical comorbidities, psychoactive drugs, alcohol use, mental state) tend to vary systematically between patient and control groups, the evidence that findings are neurobiologically meaningful is inconclusive and may represent artifacts or epiphenomena of uncertain value. The authors caution that uncritically accepting from study to study findings that may represent fallacies of all sorts carries the risk of misinforming practitioners a...
An in situ attenuated total reflection-surface enhanced infrared absorption spectroscopic study of enhanced methanol electro-oxidation activity on carbon-supported Pt nanoparticles by poly(vinylpyrrolidone) of different molecular weights

Abstract The effect of the commonly used 55,000 Mw (PVP55) and a heavier chain of 360,000 Mw (PVP360) on commercial 40 wt% Pt/C were probed using electrochemical methods and in situ SEIRAS experiments during the MOR and related gaseous CO oxidation. The polymer-modified samples exhibited an enhanced long-term CO tolerance with a small hindrance to the intrinsic activity of Pt/C. Increased water adsorption in the presence of polymer was observed to coincide with the oxidation of adsorbed CO and was related to the desorption of the surface-bound carbonyl of PVP via in situ SEIRAS. The notable differences between the adsorbate trends are indicative of adsorbed polymer interactions with the surface, but more interestingly is the strong dependence of the polymer molecular weight Mw that led to qualitatively different behavior. Understanding the effects of adsorbed PVP on electrocatalytic reactions is of fundamental and practical importance due to its widespread use in synthesized NPs targeted for fuel cell applications.
The placement problem as viewed from the physics of classical mechanics

This paper presents a procedure for placing electronic components on a printed circuit board. The procedure is essentially force directed, solving a set of simultaneous nonlinear differential equations which are derived from the laws of physics. The paper derives the set of force equations, then develops an economical method for solving them.
Reversal of Insulin Inhibition of Gastric Secretion by Intravenous Injection of Potassium

Insulin inhibition of gastric electrolyte secretion during a histamine infusion in 8 dogs was completely and rapidly reversed by an intravenous injection of KCl and the reversal maintained for 1–1 1/2 hr. after the injection. The continuous infusion of KCl after insulin prevented any change in the concentrations of H+, Cl−, and Na+, but there was partial inhibition of K+ and volume secretion. The results suggested that the mechanism of insulin inhibition might be a redistribution of intracellular K+ with depletion of K+ from sites essential to secretion, and replenishment by injected K+ with resulting restoration of secretion.
The timing of exposure in clinic-based treatment for childhood anxiety disorders.

The present study examines treatment length and timing of exposure from two child anxiety disorders clinics. Data regarding symptoms and treatment characteristics for 28 youth were prospectively ob...
Extensible hierarchical simulation of network systems

The system architecture of a network system is of fundamental importance to the performance of computer networks. However, evaluating different architectural and algorithmic choices of network systems is usually difficult. This poster presents NetSysSim, a network system simulator implemented in SystemC. NetSysSim provides a hierarchical framework of different levels of abstraction. With SystemC's modular and timing based simulation, researchers can simulate any part of the system with the desired level of details. Our design of NetSysSim allows for performance evaluation of data plane architectures, including different queuing, scheduling or transmission schemes.
Morphological variation of Setaria faberii and S. viridis

Fourteen morphological characteristics ofSetaria faberii andS. viridis were investigated in wild populations and in plants grown in a greenhouse under uniform treatments. Five quantitative and one qualitative characteristic, with a difference in chromosome number, proved satisfactory for distinguishing these two species. The quantitative data are presented in tables which include the ‘t’ values.S. viridis is a diploid species (2n=18), andS. faberii is a tetraploid species (2n=36). The data indicated thatS. faberii was probably introduced within a onehundred mile radius of New York City in the 1920’s. A map showing the distribution ofS. faberii in New Jersey is included.
Unified Modeling Language and Object-Oriented Design Pattern Based Computer-Aided Welding Fixture Design System

Most of previous computer aided fixture design (CAFD) research has mainly concentrated on machining fixtures rather than welding fixtures, and how to face the challenges such as dynamic requirements, expansion, maintenance and management in the development of complicated computer aided welding fixture design (CAWFD) software system has received much less attention. Application of Unified Modeling Language (UML) and Object-oriented Design Pattern (OODP) for developing CAWFD software system has been discussed in this paper. CAWFD system functions like design phases, workflow and design subtasks in each design phase are introduced. How to employ UML fundamental elements such as use case diagram, class diagram and component diagram to model the CAWFD system has been demonstrated. Multiple-tier architecture of CAWFD and its benefits are also presented. OODP has been certified to be an effective and efficient method especially for class diagram creation and refinement which is the key point during system analysis and design. Due to the complexity of CAWFD, the class diagram for CAWFD is classified as conceptual class diagram and detailed class diagram. How to use Model-View-Control (M-V-C) design pattern in conceptual class diagram and the benefits of M-V-C application are discussed. For detailed class diagram, the techniques of applying Command, Observer, Factory and Template patterns to realize code reuse are articulated. As a result, the extension, reusability and maintainability of CAWFD system can be obtained by applying UML and OODP.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
Thyroid Cancer Molecular Signaling Pathways and Use of Targeted Therapy

Several agents are currently being tested that target thyroid molecular signaling and cancer cell biology. The pathways involved include but are not limited to the Ras pathway, vascular endothelial growth factor and epidermal growth factor receptors and antibodies, angiogenesis inhibitors, tyrosine kinase inhibitors, heat shock protein inhibitors, demethylating agents, histone deacetylase inhibitors, and gene therapy. Each of these targeted approaches holds promise for our future ability to treat patients with thyroid cancer unresponsive to traditional therapy.
Single-server queues with controlled bulk service, random accumulation level, and modulated input

A class of bulk queueing models with one server of random capacity is introduced and studied. It is assumed that upon completion of a previous service, the server takes a group of random size from units that are available. Or, the server waits until the queue attains a desired level. In addition, the input is supposed to be modulated by the queueing process and both service times of groups of units and batch sizes are under control. After establishing an ergodicity criterion for both the Queueing process with continuous time parameter and the embedded process, the author obtains explicit formulas for the stationary distributions of both processes by using semi–regenerative techniques. Various characteristics of related processes (idle and busy periods and intensity of the input) are obtained and examples and special cases are discussed
Maintaining odor tracking behavior using an established tracking direction in a dynamic wind environment

The ability to autonomously track a fluid-borne odor has numerous engineering applications and natural occurrences. Engineering systems can use odor-guided navigation in tasks ranging from search and rescue to locating dangerous chemicals. Animals use odors to locate food and mates. For animals in strong unsteady turbulent flow environments where the wind is intermittent and occasionally vanishes, there is an ecological benefit to maintaining wind-driven tracking behavior. This has been shown in experiments performed using moths and cockroaches, where animals that began tracking odor in wind maintained their wind driven tracking behavior and eventually located the source after the wind was shut off during their tracking behavior. Here, we use RoboMoth, a previously developed 3D odor-tracking robot, to replicate these experiments. Our results can aid biologists in understanding how animals track odors in dynamic environments. In engineering, this study provides a first step in a hardware system towards linking odor tracking in strong wind environments to tracking in zero/low flow environments by studying the transition between the two regimes. This can help further engineers' efforts to design odor-tracking systems capable of negotiating diverse and dynamic environments. Our study of the transition from using the wind as a primary directional cue to relying on odor and an established tracking direction appears to be novel in an engineering context and unique to our work.
Tax-mediated re-routing of the HTLV-1 p13 protein to nuclear speckles

Human T-cell Leukemia Virus type-1 (HTLV-1) is highly immunogenic and has low variability so tight regulation of its expression is essential for virus maintenance in vivo. HTLV-1 replication is positively regulated by Tax and Rex, and negatively by the p30 and HBZ proteins. Here, we demonstrate that HTLV-1 encodes another negative regulator of virus expression, the p13 protein. Expressed separately, p13 localizes to the mitochondria, but in the presence of Tax, p13 is stabilized, and re-routed to the nuclear speckles. The p13 protein directly binds Tax, decreases Tax binding to the CBP/ p300 transcriptional co-activator and, by reducing Tax transcriptional activity, suppresses viral expression. These findings suggest that HTLV-1 has evolved a complex mechanism to control its own replication through regulation of positive and negative viral proteins. Further, these results emphasize the importance of studying the function of the HTLV-1 viral proteins, not only in isolation, but also in the context of full viral replication.
Plant-virus-based vectors for gene transfer may be of considerable use despite a presumed high error frequency during RNA synthesis.

The RNA genomes of some plant viruses have properties which make them suitable for development into vectors for gene transfer. It has been claimed that the low fidelity of RNA synthesizing enzymes may limit the usefulness of such vectors. Arguments are presented here to indicate that the problem may not be serious. Examples are presented of plant RNA replicons which carry relatively stable coding sequences whose products are superfluous to either the replicon or the host. In addition, there are numerous instances in which slowly replicating virus strains are maintained in ‘pure’ culture in a host and are not overgrown by more rapidly replicating strains. It is difficult to estimate the error frequency of RNA replicating enzymes. Methods which rely on host-shift may be subject to error.
Assessment of Maternal Antenatal Steroid Use for the Treatment of Very Low Birth Weight Infants (VLBWI) 1184

This study examined demographic data to determine the relationship between maternal factors and antenatal corticosteroid administration based on the NIH Consensus Conference guidelines published in 1995. A retrospective study of mothers delivering VLBWIs at Tod Children's Hospital in Youngstown, Ohio between April 1, 1995 and April 31, 1997 was conducted (n=47). Variables examined included treatment status, maternal race, adequacy of prenatal care, maternal age, parity, infant weight and time between maternal hospital admission and delivery. All mothers admitted more than 6 hours before delivery received some corticosteroid treatment, while 73.1% of those presenting at less than 6 hours received no treatment. 65.5% of women receiving adequate prenatal care received treatment while all women lacking adequate prenatal care failed to be treated. Time between release of the NIH guidelines and delivery for women receiving any therapy was 16.04±7.27 months, while those receiving no therapy delivered 8.24±4.85 months after release of the guidelines. Factors not found to be significant included maternal race, age and parity. We conclude that practicing obstetricians have gradually adopted NIH guidelines concerning antenatal steroid administration. We speculate that educational efforts designed to improve the awareness of preterm labor may result in earlier presentation of mothers in preterm labor, resulting in an increase in the number of VLBWI receiving the benefits of antenatal corticosteroid therapy.
Comparative Investment per Worker in Agriculture and Manufacturing Sectors of the Economy

in the last 10 years. Substitution of capital for labor through increased mechanization of farming operations has resulted in a reduction in farm workers and increased investment in production assets. The introduction of the mechanical cotton harvester is an outstanding instance of the substitution of capital for labor, along with grain combines, corn pickers, potato harvesters, and fruit pickers. How does investment per worker in agriculture compare with investment per worker in the manufacturing industry? Generally, the comparison is made between asset data from the Balance Sheet of the Farming Sector for agriculture and data from the Quarterly Report of Manufacturing Firms for manufacturing. Assets are not valued the same way, however, for these two reports. Agricultural assets are valued on a current basis-that is, essentially, an inventory of physical units is multiplied by the current market value per unit. Assets for manufacturing enterprises, on the other hand, are compiled from financial statements of manufacturing firms and are generally values based on cost less capital consumption (depreciation plus other capital disappearance allowances). In inflationary periods, especially, the two values are not comparable. A second problem in comparing agriculture with manufacturing is the definition of a production worker. Most farms combine labor and management in one individual, with one or two additional hired workers. In manufacturing, management and labor are generally separated.
Non-native competitive perennial grass impedes the spread of an invasive annual grass

Invasive plants are degrading wildlands around the globe by displacing native species, reducing biodiversity, and altering ecological functions. The current approach of applying herbicides to invasive plants in wildlands has not been effective at curtailing their expansion and, in certain circumstances, may do more harm than good. Preventing the spread of invasive species has been identified as an important strategy to protect wildlands. However, few prevention strategies have actually been tested. We hypothesized that establishing competitive vegetation next to infestations would increase the biotic resistance of the plant community to invasion and decrease the invasive species propagule pressure beyond the competitive vegetation. To evaluate this, we established twelve competitive vegetation barriers in front of invasive annual grass, Taeniatherum caput-medusae (L.) Nevski, infestations. The non-native perennial grass Agropyron desertorum (Fisch. ex Link) Schult. was seeded into plant communities adjacent to the infestations to create the competitive vegetation barriers. Soil nutrient concentrations and the spread of T. caput-medusae were compared between where A. desertorum was seeded and not seeded (control treatment) 3 years after treatment. Less T. caput-medusae and lower soil ammonium and potassium concentrations in the competitive vegetation barrier than control treatment (P ≤ 0.01) suggest that establishing competitive vegetation increased the biotic resistance of the plant communities to invasion. Taeniatherum caput-medusae cover and density in the plant communities protected by the competitive vegetation barrier (locales across the barriers from the infestations) were ~42- and 47-fold less, respectively, than unprotected plant communities (P < 0.01). This suggests that invasive plant propagule pressure was decreased in the plant communities protected by competitive vegetation barriers. The establishment of competitive vegetation around infestations may be an effective strategy to prevent or at least reduce the spread of invasive plant species.
Provider choice of quality and surplus

We study the quality choices of institutional health-care providers, such as hospitals, assuming that the utility function of the key organizational decision maker includes both quality of care and financial surplus. We are primarily concerned with how changes in outside claims—particularly proportional outside claims—on the provider’s financial surplus affect his choice of quality. We use the term “rate of surplus retention” to refer to the fraction of surplus remaining after deducting all such claims. Using the Arrow-Pratt coefficient of relative risk aversion as a measure of curvature of the provider’s utility-from-money function, we show that increasing the surplus retention rate increases (decreases) quality if the provider’s coefficient of relative risk aversion is greater than (less than) 1.
Supression of newborn natural killer cell activity by prostaglandin E2

The effect of prostaglandin E 2 on natural killer cell activity of cord blood was examined. Natural killer cell activity, determined by chromium 51 release, was significantly reduced after prostaglandin E 2 (1 μg/ml) treatment. Prostaglandin E 2 has been found to enhance the cellular spread of herpesvirus. Thus prostaglandins may enhance viral infections indirectly by suppressing natural killer cell activity.
Management of viral hepatitis in hematologic malignancies

Viral hepatitis is the third major cause of liver dysfunction in allogeneic transplant recipients and has become a significant concern in patients with hematological malignancies receiving chemotherapy. Thus, identification of patients at risk for viral hepatitis is very important when evaluating and treating hematological malignancies. Serologic screening for all patients should include anti-HCV, hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), hepatitis B surface antibody (anti-HBs), and hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc) testing. Current therapies for hepatitis B (HBV) virus infection are aimed at viral suppression, while treatment for hepatitis C (HCV) virus can eradicate infection in many treated patients. To prevent HBV viral reactivation, prophylaxis with nucleoside analogues should be initiated for all HBsAg-positive patients. HCV infection appears to have little impact on short-term survival after bone marrow transplantation (BMT), but eventually can impact long-term survival due to progression of liver disease. In this review we will highlight the mechanisms of virus reactivation, clinical manifestations, and management strategies to minimize acute and chronic morbidity in this population.
Batch culture evaluation of carbohydrase inhibitors to moderate rumen fermentation

Abstract While carbohydrase inhibitors have been widely investigated for regulating human carbohydrate assimilation, their potential application to animal nutrition has been largely ignored. Batch culture fermentations were conducted to determine how commercially available α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitors affect rumen fermentation. Fermentations were with 0.5 g of ground corn grain, and 40 mL of buffered rumen fluid inoculum. Rumen fluid donors were fed a 0.5 concentrate 0.5 forage diet. Incubations were conducted in duplicate and replicated on consecutive days with pH and volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentrations measured. The microbial-derived inhibitors, acarbose (ACB) and trestatin (TRE), prevented the decreases in pH and VFA production observed in the control tubes at doses of 1.2–9.5 and 0.1–1.1 mg, respectively. Miglitol, glipizide, and the plant-derived amylase inhibitors failed to affect pH or reduce VFA concentrations with the same apparent potency as did ACB and TRE, which both show the potential to reduce the amount of starch fermented in the rumen. These compounds may be potentially useful for reducing ruminal acid production and allowing more starch to pass to the small intestine from the forestomachs.
Two closely related receptor‐type tyrosine phosphatases are differentially expressed during rat lung development

Transmembrane protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPases) comprise a newly identified class of receptor-like molecules. In most cases their ligands and the substrates they dephosphorylate are not known. In order to begin to explore the functions of the PTPases in cell physiology and in mammalian development, we examined the expression patterns of two closely related receptor-type tyrosine phosphatase genes, namely LAR and PTP delta, in fetal rat lung and in selected adult rat tissues. In the lung, in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry show that the LAR mRNA and protein are expressed exclusively in the epithelium. In the early embryonic or fetal lung (day 13 to 18) LAR is expressed by all of the epithelial cells of the forming bronchial tree. This widespread pattern of expression is lost later in fetal life (day 21) as the lung matures and acquires the morphologic and biochemical features of the adult organ. LAR gene expression is then confined to two epithelial progenitor cells of the distal airways, namely the bronchiolar Clara cell and the alveolar type II cell. The LAR gene products were also found abundantly expressed in epithelial progenitor cells of adult esophagus, skin, and small intestine, all of which are continuously renewing epithelia. The rat PTP delta gene, on the other hand, is specifically expressed in the mesenchyme of the developing lung. The level of the PTP delta mRNA decreases as the lung matures. These results suggest that the two closely related receptor-type tyrosine phosphatases are differentially expressed in a tissue-specific fashion. They are expressed mostly in proliferating cells or in cells which have potential to proliferate.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Use of an antisense gene to characterize glutathione S-transferase functions in transformed suspension-cultured rice cells and calli

Abstract Rice glutathione S -transferases (GSTs) conjugate the herbicide pretilachlor with glutathione and this reaction is induced by the safener fenclorim. A cDNA construct of the gene coding for the Os GST III subunit of rice GSTs was inserted in antisense orientation into the vector pBC302 under the control of an enhanced p CaMV 35S promoter. The final clone containing the bar gene as marker was used to transform suspension-cultured cells and calli of Lemont rice ( indica × japonica ) via the Agrobacterium Ti vector pTOK233. Five lines of suspension-cultured rice cells transformed with the antisense GST gene (α-3, α-5, α-8, α-12, and α-15) were selected and analyzed by Southern and Northern blot analyses. Transformed suspension-culture cells and calli of rice exhibited resistance to the herbicide glufosinate because of the bar gene, but were sensitive to pretilachlor. The α-5 and α-8 rice cell lines contained a single copy of the Os GST III gene, while the α-3 line contained two copies of this gene. Os GST III mRNA levels present in wild type rice cells were induced by fenclorim. Os GST III mRNA levels were undetectable in the transformed cell lines of rice and were not induced by fenclorim treatments, except for line α-5. GST activity utilizing cinnamic acid, CDNB, and pretilachlor as substrates was reduced in all cell lines of transformed rice. SDS–PAGE analysis showed that the band of the Os GST III subunit was very faint in α-3 rice cells. HPLC analysis showed that the levels of cinnamic acid, coumaric acid, and phenylalanine were significantly higher in transformed cells than in wild type cells of rice. These results suggest that the Os GST III gene plays an important role in the detoxification of the herbicide pretilachlor and the metabolism of phenolic compounds in suspension-cultured rice cells and calli.
The Rapidly Expanding Family of Adipokines

Chemerin is a newly described adipokine with effects on adipocyte differentiation and metabolism in vitro. Its relationship with body mass index and aspects of the metabolic syndrome suggests a larger role for this protein in obesity-associated complications.
C Problem: Climb or Catastrophe

While community colleges serve as a postsecondary entry point for many “at-risk” students, not many who enroll will be ready or able to participate in college level courses on entry. Statistically, large numbers of community college students require college remediation, and only a handful are able to successfully emerge from the remediation pipeline. Many students find mathematics the most challenging course sequence and frequently report high levels of math anxiety and lower completion rates. Using population data from a large urban district in a western state, this study examined the impact of course grades on subsequent grades within math courses.
BODY ROTATION AND THE STABILITY OF FIELD DEPENDENCE.

Summary An experiment was performed to determine whether or not changes in field dependence could be obtained under laboratory-produced stress conditions: i.e., body rotation. Two treatments and one control group were employed. Subjects in the first group were given the Rod and Frame Test; and, after a delay, they were spun and retested immediately after rotation (immediate-test group). Subjects in another group were given the Rod and Frame Test, were rotated ; and given the Rod and Frame Test after a delay of 10 minutes (delay-test group). Subjects in the control group were given the Rod and Frame Test and then given the Rod and Frame Test after a 15-minute delay. Subjects in both the immediate-test group and control group showed a decrease in field dependence, with the immediate-test group showing a slightly greater decrease than did the control group. Subjects in the delay-test group did not show a decrease in field dependence. Contrary to expectation, in no case was there a mean increase in field depe...
Coupled modelling of stress and fluid flow, with applicationsto gas extraction and disposal of energy residues

Coupled flow-stress numerical models have been increasingly used in geomechanical studies for a better understanding and more accurate prediction of subsurface behaviour due to the extraction of hydrocarbons and geological storage of energy residues. Two application studies are described demonstrating various ways of integration of the flow models with the stress models. The first study describes one-directional coupling, in which the stress evolution depends on the pressure evolution, but not vice versa. This approach, generally suitable to model flow-driven stress changes, was used to study the relationship between reservoir depletion and possible fault reactivation, which causes induced microseismicity in the study area. The second case study describes two-directional coupling between the flow model and the stress model, which is an appropriate way to model load-driven flow in the subsurface. A fully coupled flow-stress analysis was conducted to analyse combined load- and hydraulic-driven groundwater flow for safety assessment of a geological disposal site. Presented cases demonstrate that increasingly complex coupled flow-stress modelling, with conventional modelling tools, has become feasible in engineering practice. © 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
Effects of pair correlations in statistical gamma -decay spectra.

Statistical $\ensuremath{\gamma}$-decay spectra from excited nuclear states are calculated. The spectra reflect the perturbation of the level density by pair correlations and, hence, the stepwise weakening of the pair correlations with increasing quasiparticle number. The level density is obtained by counting many-quasiparticle states from a self-consistent BCS calculation or from a diagonalization of particle number-projected states. The calculated spectra resemble measured spectra from the decay out of superdeformed bands, but have only $\ensuremath{\sim}70$% of the measured intensity.
Intercalation and exfoliation : A review on morphology of polymer nanocomposites reinforced by inorganic layer structures

ABSTRACT This review aims to address the morphology issues of polymer nanocomposites based on inorganic layer structures. Depending upon the degree of dispersion of nano-sized layer structure, polymer composites can be divided into three main categories: microcomposites, intercalated nanocomposites, and exfoliated nanocomposites. The exfoliated nanocomposites can be subdivided into ordered and disordered exfoliations. An intermediate morphology between intercalation and exfoliation, known as partial exfoliation, is also commonly seen. The above differences in morphology lead to significant variations in physical and mechanical properties of polymer nanocomposites. This review uses epoxy/clay nanocomposites to illustrate the development and recent achievements in the syntheses and exfoliation of polymer nanocomposites. Herein, a recent study on an epoxy nanocomposite based on synthetic α-zirconium phosphate is reviewed. The potential impact of using the synthetic α -zirconium phosphate as a reinforcement p...
Evolutionary variational inequalities with a volterra term

The mathematical model of the injection molding process is characterized by evolutionary inequalities with an elliptic principal part and a Volterra term. Existence and uniqueness of the solution of these problems are derived by means of an argument based on the Banach fixed point theorem. Regularity results are obtained by using the penalty and Rothe method. The results can be considered as a starting point for the numerical treatment and for the application to injection molding.
The Past and Present Influence of World Views: Max Weber on a Neglected Sociological Concept

Weber’s definition of world views is summarized and the several ways in which world views in his sociology influence the formation of social groupings are outlined. The manner in which a ‘sustaining’ and a ‘dynamic’ autonomy characterize world views is noted; their capacity to constitute foundational and ‘background’ forces for (a) a methodical-rational organization of life and (b) historical developments and social change is also addressed. The influence of world views is then discussed in reference to the crucial question of how their ‘autonomy’ is conveyed; salvation doctrines, social carriers and various ‘social configurations’, it is argued, are indispensable. Finally, Weber’s analysis of an epoch in which world views have lost a great deal of their original influence - namely our own - is examined. Do societies ‘require’ world views? Are the consequences significant when world views become severely weakened? World views, it is concluded, constitute a significant concept for sociological analysis, ye...
PATIENT VARIABILITY AS A FACTOR IN GROUP ACTIVITIES ON A MAXIMUM SECURITY WARD.

Observations and techniques in conducting ward meetings and group therapy sessions during 18 months on a maximum security ward of depressed, assaultive, confused, and escapee patients were described. The effect of their variability in intellectual contact, social integration, and quality of expressed affect upon group activities was detailed. Ward meetings provided an opportunity to meet patients, observe their progress, determine their needs, answer their questions, and recruit for group therapy. More than half could not participate in a ward meeting, because of confusion and withdrawal. Group therapy provided further contact, and served to increase reality-testing, permit ventilation, give social support, and create an atmosphere in which consensual validation could occur. Different types of groups were organized according to the degree of personality integration of the patients. It was recommended that group activities take into account the variability between patients, and that a variety of approaches be made available. Many patients were in sufficiently good contact to engage in meaningful group exploration of their personalities and life situations.
Two-segmented channel routing is strong NP-complete

Two-segmented channel routing is a special case of segmented channel routing where each net connection is restricted to occupying two track segments at most. In order to achieve various performance measures in a design, such a restriction is sometimes necessary. Segmented channel routing problems come from the wiring of field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) and are known to be NP-complete in the strong sense. However, whether the special case 2-segmented channel routing remains NP-complete in the strong sense or not has not been proved. In this paper, we show that the 2-segmented channel routing problem remains strongly NP-complete, and thus an efficient optimal algorithm for this special case of the segmented channel routing problem is unfortunately unlikely to exist. Our technique holds also for the case where connection lengths are bounded and settles an open question raised in Gamal et al. (1991), Li (1995), and Roychowdhury (1993).
Self-replication in colloids with asymmetric interactions

Self-replication is a ubiquitous process in organisms. Understanding the key ingredients of self-replication is critical for developing self-sustaining systems in the laboratory. Moreover, finding the optimal conditions to generate accurate replicas and adequate output can accelerate industrial processes enormously. Here, we propose a scheme for self-replication where asymmetric interactions in colloids are used to find optimal self-replication conditions by controlling the input of energy. We generalize a recently developed kinetic Monte Carlo algorithm to treat both translational and rotational motions of Brownian anisotropic colloids. We report two main findings from our simulations: first, by fine tuning the particle interactions, highly accurate self-replication is achievable with a moderate sacrifice of reaction speed. Second, with the introduction of energy cycling to enable periodic assembly/disassembly of the system's components the replicator population grows exponentially. The exponential growth constant is a non-monotonic function of the period of the pulsed energy delivery.
Computational prediction of durable amorphous metal membranes for H2 purification

Abstract Amorphous metals are interesting candidates as membranes for H 2 purification. Identifying materials with high permeability for H 2 remains a challenge in this field. We apply recently developed methods that combine first principles density functional theory calculations and statistical mechanics to make predictions of the properties of interstitial H in amorphous metals. Our calculations greatly expand the number of amorphous metals which have been considered as membranes, and predict several materials with promising properties.
Dynamical Calculations of Angle-Resolved Ultraviolet Photoemission from c ( 2 × 2 ) O and S on Ni(001)

Dynamical caluclations which include initial- and final-state scattering effects are presented for $c(2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}2)$ O- and S-Ni(001). The dependence of emission intensity on polar angle of emission, plane of emission, photon emission, photon incidence, and polarization are reported. Evidence is presented for separating contributions from ${a}_{1}$ and $e$ symmetry orbitals in S-derived levels with use of polarized light. Results of intensity dependence on azimuthal angle for $c(2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}2)$ S-Ni(001) are shown.
Inhibition of D-ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase by pyridoxal 5'-phosphate.

Abstract Homogeneous D-ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase from Rhodospirillum rubrum , Chlamydomonas reinhardtii , and Hydrogenomonas eutropha are inhibited by low concentrations of pyridoxal 5′-phosphate. In the case of the enzyme from Rhodospirillum rubrum , this inhibition is strongly antagonized by the substrate, D-ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate. These results suggest that pyridoxal 5′-phosphate may act close to or at the ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate binding site of the enzyme from Rhodospirillum rubrum .
Orbiter Motion - Microgravity and pointing

The Orbiter Motion section of the Environet Data Base deals with the acceleration and pointing environment on the Space Shuttle Orbiter. This paper presents a discussion of the contents of this section, how to effectively use the material, and plans for further development and modification of the material. Topics covered in the section include types of disturbance forces, terminology, instrumentation, and sources of motion. The sources of motion are further classified as gravity-gradient, aerodynamic drag, thrusting events, crew motion, and machinery motion. Acceleration levels given are the results of direct measurement and also calculation from known force levels. Where appropriate, power spectral density has been used to evaluate frequency content of the acceleration time history. The pointing accuracy of the Orbiter and instruments carried by the Orbiter for fine pointing is also given.
Effects of Lead and Mercury on the Blood Proteome of Children

Heavy metal exposure in children has been associated with a variety of physiological and neurological problems. The goal of this study was to utilize proteomics to enhance the understanding of biochemical interactions responsible for the health problems related to lead and mercury exposure at concentrations well below CDC guidelines. Blood plasma and serum samples from 34 children were depleted of their most abundant proteins using antibody-based affinity columns and analyzed using two different methods, LC-MS/MS and 2-D electrophoresis coupled with MALDI-TOF/MS and tandem mass spectrometry. Apolipoprotein E demonstrated an inverse significant association with lead concentrations (average being one microgram/deciliter) as deduced from LC-MS/MS and 2-D electrophoresis and confirmed by Western blot analysis. This coincides with prior findings that Apolipoprotein E genotype moderates neurobehavioral effects in individuals exposed to lead. Fifteen other proteins were identified by LC-MS/MS as proteins of interest exhibiting expressional differences in the presence of environmental lead and mercury.
Ultrasound Evaluation of Pregnancy in the First Trimester

Improvements in ultrasound technology, including transvaginal sonography and higher frequency probes, have led to a betterunderstanding of early pregnancy development. These advances and the increasing availability of ultrasound allow women to have anearlier and more accurate assessment of their pregnancy. First trimester sonographic signs have been identified that can be used toreassure women that their pregnancy is progressing normally or counsel them that their pregnancy will fail. In addition, first trimesterultrasound can accurately predict the type of twinning in multiple gestations, allowing for appropriate counseling and management.Objectives� Know the first trimester ultrasound findings of a normal intrauterine pregnancy� Understand the ultrasound findings that diagnose an early pregnancy failure� Know the ultrasound criteria used to diagnose a multifetal gestation