cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Business Model Design: A Course Overview

The course requires students to identify a market opportunity and develop a business model. The components of the business model are the key deliverables expected in this course. The business model design is key to the development of the business plan. The business model creates, delivers, monetizes, and sustains the customer value. The more efficient and sustainable the business model, the lower is the uncertainty of the cash flow. A business model should tell potential investors and others concerned why your business would succeed. Investors want to know about your "unfair advantage." Investors find your marketing strategy of particular importance; they will want to know how your business is going to make money and how you will make it happen.
REJECTING SCIENCE WITH SCIENCE: BOUNDARY-WORK IN ANTI-MASK TWITTER REPLY THREADS DURING COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic has been marked by a controversy in the United States over the public health benefits of mask-wearing, especially on social media. Many have contested the scientific consensus that masks are an effective method to prevent and slow the spread of COVID-19 infections, often along explicitly political lines. Here, we investigate specifically how Twitter users engaging in arguments about mask-wearing invoke scientific principles to argue against masks. We further analyze the sources that these users cite to support their claims. Using a qualitative approach drawing from constructivist grounded theory, we show how these users work to defend the legitimacy of their claims and their external sources by selectively exploiting rhetorical values of scientific endeavour. We analogize their work to the process of scientific boundary-work, in which actors consciously manipulate the boundary between science and not-science for personal and political gain.
Assembled triphenylamine bis-urea macrocycles: exploring photodriven electron transfer from host to guests

Absorption of electronic acceptors in the accessible channels of an assembled triphenylamine (TPA) bis-urea macrocycle 1 enabled the study of electron transfer from the walls of the TPA framework to the encapsulated guests. The TPA host is isoskeletal in all host–guest structures analyzed with guests 2,1,3-benzothiadiazole, 2,5-dichlorobenzoquinone and I2 loading in single-crystal-to-single-crystal transformations. Analysis of the crystal structures highlights how the spatial proximity and orientation of the TPA host and the entrapped guests influence their resulting photophysical properties and allow direct comparison of the different donor–acceptor complexes. Diffuse reflectance spectroscopy shows that upon complex formation 1·2,5-dichlorobenzoquinone exhibits a charge transfer (CT) transition. Whereas, the 1·2,1,3-benzothiadiazole complex undergoes a photoinduced electron transfer (PET) upon irradiation with 365 nm LEDs. The CT absorptions were also identified with the aid of time dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) calculations. Cyclic voltammetry experiments show that 2,1,3-benzothiadiazole undergoes reversible reduction within the host–guest complex. Moreover, the optical band gaps of the host 1·2,5-dichlorobenzoquinone (1.66 eV), and host 1·2,1,3-benzothiadiazole (2.15 eV) complexes are significantly smaller as compared to the free host 1 material (3.19 eV). Overall, understanding this supramolecular electron transfer strategy should pave the way towards designing lower band gap inclusion complexes.
Bringing back targets to "IMPROVE" atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease outcomes: the duel for dual goals; are two targets better than one?

In this issue of Circulation , Bohula et al1 publish an elegant and very clinically relevant analysis from the Improved Reduction of Outcomes: Vytorin Efficacy International Trial (IMPROVE-IT) of patients who were randomly assigned to either simvastatin or ezetimibe/simvastatin combination following an acute coronary syndrome. This analysis evaluates outcomes based on 1-month on-treatment levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP).1 Importantly, it was prespecified and not exploratory. Four mutually exclusive groups were compared: those achieving dual targets of LDL-C <70 mg/dL and hsCRP <2.0 mg/L, one of these targets, or neither target. In comparison with those who achieved neither target, those reaching dual targets had a statistically significant 27% lower relative risk for the primary end point of major atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) events. Article see p 1224 More patients treated with ezetimibe added to simvastatin reached these dual targets than those treated with simvastatin alone. However, the benefit in risk reduction for those meeting both targets was similar by treatment arm. This has important clinical implications because it opens discussion about on-treatment monitoring and personalization of combination lipid therapy. A high-intensity statin was not evaluated in this trial, but could confer similar reductions in LDL-C and hsCRP. In this IMPROVE-IT analysis, successful achievement of dual LDL-C and hsCRP targets was more important than the specific agent(s) used. However, one should have a level of caution here and only extend that concept to drugs with proven efficacy for hard clinical outcomes and safety. Currently, the concept of lower is better should not be extended to other classes of lipid-modifying drugs like cholesterol ester transfer protein inhibitors. In contrast, the proprotein convertase subtilisin kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors seem more promising in achieving large reductions in LDL-C, a good safety profile, and a signal for …
Biosynthesis of Pyrimidine Nucleotides in Mouse Salivary Glands Stimulated with Isoproterenol

Cellular proliferation was stimulated with isoproterenol in submaxillary glands of mice. The activities of both carbamyl-P synthetase and aspartate transcarbamylase were rapidly increased in response to isoproterenol, reaching a peak between 4 and 6 hours. The increase in activity of carbamyl-P synthetase was 2-fold, the increase in aspartate transcarbamylase was 1.5-fold. Incorporation of 14CO2 and [14C]orotate into RNA was also stimulated reaching a maximum within 2 hours. The bulk of [14C]orotate appeared in the RNA found in the nucleus. No [14C]orotate was incorporated into DNA, even if the glands were exposed to the [14C]orotate for 24 hours. The activity of uridine kinase was also stimulated by isoproterenol, although the maximum response was not obtained until 12 hours after injection. Incorporation of [14C]uridine into RNA was stimulated within 8 hours of administration of isoproterenol, but there was no significant stimulation of the label into DNA. In contrast, labeled-thymidine was incorporated into DNA after a lag of 20 to 24 hours. The isoproterenol stimulated incorporation of orotate into RNA and thymidine into DNA was significantly inhibited by the administration of 6-azauridine, whereas incorporation of uridine into RNA was not inhibited.
Granzymes and Cell Death

Granzymes are cell death-inducing serine proteases released from cytotoxic granules of cytotoxic T lymphocytes and natural killer cells during granule exocytosis in response to viral infection or against transformed cells marked for elimination. A critical cofactor for the granule exocytosis pathway is perforin, which mediates the entry of granzymes into target cells, where they cleave specific substrates that initiate DNA fragmentation and apoptosis. One of the biggest challenges in studying the biology of granzymes has been the functional redundancy of granzymes in animal models making an in vitro experimental system essential. This chapter discusses methods to study granzyme function in vitro under physiologically relevant experimental conditions.
Development of a passive VHF radar system using software‐defined radio for equatorial plasma instability studies

[1] In this paper, a bistatic passive radar receiver system named “Coherent-scatter Atmospheric Passive Radar Imager (CAPRI)” is described. It is primarily designed to study the dynamics of the upper atmosphere by utilizing “transmitters of opportunity” as the RF target illuminators. CAPRI is constructed using the open source software-defined radio toolkit, GNU Radio, to meet the signal processing requirements in combination with the open source hardware, Universal Software Radio Peripheral 2, for data acquisition. The resultant system is highly flexible, and we present the details of the design as well as a performance analysis. CAPRI will be deployed in Peru, near the magnetic equator, for long-term operations in the area. FM stations near Lima, Peru, will be utilized with the targets of interest being the equatorial electrojet and the spread F. The results will then be compared to the Jicamarca Unattended Long-term investigations of the Ionosphere and Atmosphere (JULIA) radar data, and CAPRI will be used to improve the simultaneous time and spatial coverage in the region in a more cost-effective manner.
Genome reconstructions indicate the partitioning of ecological functions inside a phytoplankton bloom in the Amundsen Sea, Antarctica

Antarctica polynyas support intense phytoplankton blooms, impacting their environment by a substantial depletion of inorganic carbon and nutrients. These blooms are dominated by the colony-forming haptophyte Phaeocystis antarctica and they are accompanied by a distinct bacterial population. Yet, the ecological role these bacteria may play in P. antarctica blooms awaits elucidation of their functional gene pool and of the geochemical activities they support. Here, we report on a metagenome (῀160 million reads) analysis of the microbial community associated with a P. antarctica bloom event in the Amundsen Sea polynya (West Antarctica). Genomes of the most abundant Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria populations have been reconstructed and a network analysis indicates a strong functional partitioning of these bacterial taxa. Three of them (SAR92, and members of the Oceanospirillaceae and Cryomorphaceae) are found in close association with P. antarctica colonies. Distinct features of their carbohydrate, nitrogen, sulfur and iron metabolisms may serve to support mutualistic relationships with P. antarctica. The SAR92 genome indicates a specialization in the degradation of fatty acids and dimethylsulfoniopropionate (compounds released by P. antarctica) into dimethyl sulfide, an aerosol precursor. The Oceanospirillaceae genome carries genes that may enhance algal physiology (cobalamin synthesis). Finally, the Cryomorphaceae genome is enriched in genes that function in cell or colony invasion. A novel pico-eukaryote, Micromonas related genome (19.6 Mb, ~94% completion) was also recovered. It contains the gene for an anti-freeze protein, which is lacking in Micromonas at lower latitudes. These draft genomes are representative for abundant microbial taxa across the Southern Ocean surface.
Modulation of cytoskeletal dynamics by mammalian nucleoside diphosphate kinase (NDPK) proteins

Nucleoside diphosphate kinase (NDPK) proteins comprise a family of ten human isoforms that participate in the regulation of multiple cellular processes via enzymatic and nonenzymatic functions. The major enzymatic function of NDPKs is the generation of nucleoside triphosphates, such as guanosine triphosphate (GTP). Mechanisms behind the nonenzymatic NDPK functions are not clear but likely involve context-dependent signaling roles of NDPK within multi-protein complexes. This is most evident for NDPK-A, which is encoded by the human NME1 gene, the first tumor metastasis suppressor gene to be identified. Understanding which protein interactions are most relevant for the biological and metastasis-related functions of NDPK will be important in the potential utilization of NDPK as a disease target. Accumulating evidence suggests that NDPK interacts with and affects various components and regulators of the cytoskeleton, including actin-binding proteins, intermediate filaments, and cytoskeletal attachment structures (adherens junctions, desmosomes, and focal adhesions). We review the existing literature on this topic and highlight outstanding questions and potential future directions that should clarify the impact of NDPK on the different cytoskeletal systems.
Growth characteristics of human esophageal epithelial cells in primary explant and serial culture.

Growth characteristics of human esophageal epithelial cells have been determined in primary explant and serial culture. Normal human esophagus was obtained from donor patients in a heart/lung transplantation program; tissue obtained at autopsy (6 to 22 h after death) was not viable. When mucosal specimens (1.5 mm2) were explanted on a plastic surface and attached with a plasma clot, 35% of explants detached from the surface within 48 h. The addition of epsilon amino caproic acid (EACA) to the culture medium increased explant attachment of 93% (P<0.001). Outgrowth kinetics were similar in both the presence and absence of EACA. No advantage of human serum over nonhuman sera was observed in primary culture. Esophageal epithelium could be frozen in 10% dimethyl sulfoxide without affecting growth kinetics. Addition of dexamethasone (DEX) significantly altered esophageal cell morphology in primary culture and increased viability on serial culture. Studies of pH revealed an optimum at pH 7.4 with significantly decreased growth occuring at 6.8 and no growth at 6.2.
Effects of Io ejecta on Europa

The effects of plasma ejected from Io on the nature and evolution of the surface of Europa and on the relative importance of the roles played by the two satellites in the Jupiter magnetosphere are examined. Observations of an ultraviolet absorption feature on the trailing side of Europa are interpreted as due to an equilibrium column density of SO2 in a steady-state model of the implantation of iogenic ions into the surface of Europa and their subsequent sputtering. The observed sulfur column density of 2 x 10 to the 16th/sq cm implies a slow loss of material from Europa, mainly water ice, and indicates that the spectrum of particles sputtered is soft. Considerations of the comparative roles of corotating and energetic heavy ions are shown to suggest that the implantation and sputtering is primarily the result of the proton and light ion component of the plasma. The weakness of Europa as a plasma source resulting from the soft sputtered particle spectrum thus leads to the dominance of Io in contributing to the magnetospheric plasma.
Dependence of ohmic contact resistance on barrier thickness of AlN/GaN HEMT structures

Abstract A multi-faceted study on the reduction of ohmic contact resistance to AlN/GaN-based heterostructures is presented. Minimum contact resistance of 0.5 Ω mm has been achieved by partially etching the AlN barrier layer using a chlorine-based plasma dry-etch prior to ohmic contact metallization. For thin GaN-capped AlN/GaN heterostructures, we find it is necessary to remove the GaN cap in the vicinity of the contact metal in order to obtain a linear current–voltage relationship. We compare our results of the pre-metallization etched contacts to those without an etch as well as to results reported in the literature.
The growth/predation risk trade-off: so what is the mechanism?

Abstract: Among damselflies in natural lakes, Ischnura species grow faster than coexisting Enallagma species, but Enallagma species have higher survival under predation than Ischnura species. This growth/predation risk trade‐off apparently allows these taxa to coexist in ponds and lakes across the Holarctic. However, laboratory studies presented here show that the mechanism assumed by most theoretical and empirical studies to mediate this trade‐off, namely activity simultaneously modulating foraging returns and predation risk, does not operate in this system. Ischnura verticalis larvae were more active than larvae of Enallagma species in a short‐term behavioral experiment, which explains why Ischnura experiences greater mortality from predation. However, this greater activity did not translate into higher feeding rates. Ischnura verticalis and Enallagma species ate comparable amounts of food in both the short‐term behavioral experiment and a longer feeding and digestion experiment. In spite of no differen...
Hubert on the african origin of the hurricane of September 1938

The West African origin of the New England hurricane of September 21, 1938, which was suspected by me [see 1 of “References” at end of paper] and probably by others in America and was briefly reported by Henry Hubert as having been the case [2], has now been fully substantiated in a detailed discussion by M. Hubert [3]. The general circulation if West Africa in late summer and early autumn [4] is controlled by the Azores High, the Tamanrasset Low, and the Bouake High, which is an extension over Guinea and Nigeria of the St. Helena High. Superimposed on these more or less permanent centers are the waves of low and high pressure of an amplitude of about 12 millibars that pass from the east about every four days. In connection with these waves, the circulations of the centers of action may be intensified and extended, bringing diverse air-masses into direct conflict and thereby producing a cyclone.
The chemical identification of baltic amber at the Celtic oppidum Staré Hradisko in Moravia

Abstract The Celtic oppidum Stare Hradisko north of Brno in Moravia, CSSR, has long been noted for its wealth of archaeological amber artifacts. Since there are several substantial deposits of fossil resins in the immediate vicinity of the site, it has been an open question whether the settlement was a centre of exploitation and exportation of these local raw materials, or whether it was an entrepot of Baltic amber on its way to southern and southeastern Europe. Because of extensive weathering, many of the amber finds at Stare Hradisko cannot be identified by infra-red spectroscopy. A new analytical method, which determines the amount of succinic acid by means of gas chromatography, has been developed to show that the amber of Stare Hradisko is, in fact, of the Baltic variety called succinite.
The Sunrise Technique: The Correction of Occipital Plagiocephaly Using Bandeau Occipital Plate and Radial Osteotomies

Posterior plagiocephaly secondary to lambdoid suture stenosis requires surgical release and repair to prevent progressive deformational changes associated with a suture stenosis. A surgical technique is described for release of the stenosed lambdoid suture and asterion region, followed by occipital reconstruction. This technique provides excellent cosmetic results. Using a standard biparietal incision, most of the occipital bone is removed en bloc. The asymmetric occiput is then reconstructed using an autologous bone bandeau and Marchac forehead template graft. The remaining bone is cut into longitudinal strips and placed in a centrifugal fashion around this construct. This technique creates a stable unit that provides immediate symmetry to the occipital area. The operative time and blood loss are comparable to that of similar procedures. With this technique there have been no complications or need for reoperation.
A new combination in Matelea (Asclepiadaceae) and lectotypification of M. parvifolia

Vegetative similarities as well as a syntype specimen with discordant elements have evidently misled botanists to equateLachnostoma hastatulum withGonolobus parvifolius. Both species are considered representatives of a broadly interpreted genusMatelea, subgenusChthamalia. A new combination,M. hastatula, is proposed, andG. parvifolius is lectotypified.
Adaptive variation of the transfer unit in a storage hierarchy

Consider a paged storage hierarchy with at least two levels L1 and L2 where L1 denotes main storage and L2 secondary storage. Suppose that the unit of replacement for L1 is a single page, and that the L2-to-L1 transfer unit, given a page fault, is an integer number of pages. Then, given a suitable replacement policy for L1 increasing the unit of transfer often results in a lower miss ratio at the expense of increased paging traffic. This paper explores the possibility of adaptively varying the L2-to-L1 transfer unit as a function of the reference history of the data to be fetched. Experiments on traces drawn from two large data base systems suggest that such adaptation can result in improved tradeoffs between miss ratios and paging traffic.
An analytical model of process choice in the chemical industry

Abstract The purpose of this paper is to develop an analytical technique for process selection and evaluation for manufacturing systems. This technique which is based on quality function deployment (QFD), analytic hierarchy process (AHP), and analytic network process (ANP) is used to determine the best process for a new facility. The proposed procedure is a novel prescriptive methodology that is applied to a strategic decision problem involving multiple criteria in manufacturing for which comprehensive and sophisticated decision support tools are lacking. The novelty of the outlined technique lies in the fact that customers’ preferences concerning the product are taken into consideration in making the process choice.
Cell Types as Natural Kinds

Talk of different types of cells is commonplace in the biological sciences. We know a great deal, for example, about human muscle cells by studying the same type of cells in mice. Information about cell type is apparently largely projectible across species boundaries. But what defines cell type? Do cells come pre-packaged into different natural kinds? Philosophical attention to these questions has been extremely limited [see e.g., Wilson (Species: New Interdisciplinary Essays, pp 187–207, 1999; Genes and the Agents of Life, 2005; Wilson et al. Philos Top 35(1/2):189–215, 2007)]. On the face of it, the problems we face in individuating cellular kinds resemble those biologists and philosophers of biology encountered in thinking about species: there are apparently many different (and interconnected) bases on which we might legitimately classify cells. We could, for example, focus on their developmental history (a sort of analogue to a species’ evolutionary history); or we might divide on the basis of certain structural features, functional role, location within larger systems, and so on. In this paper, I sketch an approach to cellular kinds inspired by Boyd’s Homeostatic Property Cluster Theory, applying some lessons from this application back to general questions about the nature of natural kinds.
Maternal emotional reactions to young children with different types of handicaps

ABSTRACT. Emotional reactions were examined cross-sectionally over the 1-to 6-year period in mothers of children with Down syndrome (N = 25) and with predominantly motor impairments (N = 20). Mothers rated their degree of concern about 16 early milestones and four events, and were also interviewed with the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales. Although milestones occurring during the first year caused higher levels of maternal concern than did later-occurring ones, concern was also evident for some later milestones. Mothers of Down syndrome and of motor-impaired children were equally concerned about motor milestones, but mothers in the Down syndrome group were more concerned about developments in communication. The two groups modulated their maternal concern based on different aspects of the child's communication skills. The timing, specificity, and sensitivity of maternal reactions identified in this study are discussed in relation to the unidirectional, time-bound model of “maternal mourning.” J Dev Behav Pediatr 13:118–123, 1992.
Elevated numbers of gamma-delta (γδ+) T lymphocytes in children with immune thrombocytopenic purpura

Immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) in childhood is a heterogeneous clinical disorder characterized by immune-mediated platelet destruction. Although generally considered to involve autoreactive B lymphocytes which produce antiplatelet antibodies, there is increasing evidence that T lymphocytes also play an important role in this autoimmune process. We studied 11 children with acute ITP and 19 children with chronic ITP and observed elevated numbers of TCRγδ+ T lymphocytes in several patients. In the three children with the highest elevations (TCRγδ+/CD3+ percentage ranging from 37.8 to 48.1% at initial evaluation), the expanded cell population exclusively expressed the surface Vδ2/Vγδ heterodimer and had enhanced,in vitro proliferation to mycobacterial extracts and IL-2. Analysis of the nucleotide sequences used by these TCRγδ+ cells demonstrated a diverse set of VDDJC gene rearrangements, indicating polyclonal expansion of cells reminiscent of a superantigen response. There was a close correlation between the number of TCRγδ+ T lymphocytes and the degree of thrombocytopenia in each patient. TCR78+ T lymphocytes may be important in the pathogenesis of immunemediated platelet destruction in some children with ITP.
Fabricating Tunable Nanoparticle Density Gradients with the Contact Printing Based Approach

Abstract Recently, the generation of spatial gradient nanoparticle assemblies has attracted much attention. Such assemblies can be intriguing templates for building novel molecular architectures, and be employed as a combinatorial tool for quick determination of interaction selectivity for nanoparticles. In this communication, we report on convenient contact printing based techniques for generating lateral gradients containing nanoparticles with tunable geometry, scale and steepness. In the first method, octadecyltrichlorosilane (OTS) gradient surfaces were generated via the contact printing approach, and then spaces un-occupied by OTS molecules were back-filled with an amine-terminated silane, which allows the grafting of nanoparticles that were surface functionalized with carboxylic acid. By varying the size and geometry of the stamp, different geometrical gradients were generated. In addition, by changing the stamping procedures, either well-defined stepwise gradients or continuous gradients can be achieved. Furthermore, the contact printing based technique can be utilized in combination with diffusion of the aminosilane molecules to directly create its gradient, and consequently a nanoparticle density gradient.
Collaboration between distinct subpopulations of T cells in in vitro generation of effector cells capable of growth prevention of syngeneic SV40-induced sarcoma in mice.

Abstract The concept of T-T cell interaction which was first suggested during cell-mediated immune response to alloantigens was evaluated in a syngeneic tumor system. The combination of lymph node and thymus cells from BALB/c mice immune against syngeneic tumor cells, mKSA, was shown to exhibit collaboration with respect to in vitro generation of effector cells capable of preventing growth of corresponding tumor cells in the tumor cell neutralization assay. While each cell population of either anatomical site did not prevent tumor growth when tested alone, combinations of both did. The antigen specificity of effector cells generated by synergizing cultures was similar to that of effectors derived from cultures containing optimal numbers of responding lymph node cells. The lymph node and thymus cell populations participating in synergy were found to be thymus dependent. These results suggest that we may be dealing with the same or similar T 1 - and T 2 -cell populations described before as displaying synergy in response to alloantigens in the graft versus host, mixed lymphocyte, and cell-mediated cytotoxicity reactions.
A little better than placebo is still better than nothing.

Doctors often dismiss drugs as ineffective if they fail to outperform dummy pills in randomized trials. That's a mistake. When active medicines have few side effects and produce a strong placebo effect, such drugs, even if they prove just slightly better than placebo, should be embraced for the relief they can bring to patients who have few safe alternatives.
is affirmative action still necessary

The influences of socio-race, racial identity development, gender, educational level, and age on promotion and compensation decisions by midlevel supervisors in industry were examined in this analogue study of 74 midlevel business and industry supervisors. The participants varied in socio-racial classifications, gender, educational levels, and age. Results of this study indicated statistically significant differences in promotion rates of female analogue employees, rates of promotion between White male and Black male supervisors, and the rate of promotion when comparing older versus younger supervisors.
Incorporation of 18O2 and absence of stereospecificity in primary product formation during fungal metabolism of a lignin model compound

Abstract The metabolism of a lignin substructure model compound, 1,2-bis(3-methoxy-4-ethoxyphenyl)propane-1,3-diol (Ia) in ligninolytic cultures of Phanerochaete chrysosporium was studied to help elucidate the biochemical mechanism of lignin degradation. The primary reaction was cleavage of the model compound between C 1 and C 2 of the propane moiety to produce 1-(3-methoxy-4-ethoxyphenyl)ethane-1,2-diol and a C 6 -C 1 product (probably 3-methoxy-4-ethoxybenzaldehyde). Other identified products arose secondarily; all were further metabolized. Even though the model compound was a mixture of four stereoisomers, no stereoselectivity was observed in its metabolism. In cultures under 18 O 2 , the initial cleavage produced the diol product with ≈70% enrichment by 18 O in the benzyl alcohol group. The diol was a mixture of the two possible enantiomers, and the O 2 -derived hydroxyl was incorporated at the asymmetric (benzyl) carbon. (Limited optical activity in the diol was traced to selective further metabolism of the D form.) These results show that the primary cleavage reaction lacked stereospecificity and was primarily oxygenative, implicating a nonspecific oxygenase or a nonenzymatic reaction involving activated oxygen. Preliminary experiments demonstrated no cell homogenate activity against Ia.
Recoilless fraction, structural, magnetic and thermal properties of Fe73.5Cu1Nb3Si13.5B9 alloy

Abstract Differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray diffraction and room temperature Mossbauer spectrum measurements of Fe 73.5 Cu 1 Nb 3 Si 13.5 B 9 (Finemet) alloy have been carried out in order to study its structural and magnetic properties as a function of annealing temperature. The DSC profile of as-quenched Finemet showed two exothermic peaks at 530 and 702 °C, corresponding to two crystallization processes. The Finemet alloy remains amorphous at 450 °C with one broad peak in XRD pattern and one broad sextet in Mossbauer spectrum. When the Finemet alloy was annealed at 550 °C, only well indexed body-center-cubic phase was detected. After being annealed at 650 and 750 °C, the XRD patterns showed the coexistence of α-Fe(Si) and Fe–B intermetallic phases with the increase in XRD peak intensities, indicating the growth of crystallites and the decomposition of Fe 73.5 Cu 1 Nb 3 Si 13.5 B 9 alloy at elevated temperatures. The Mossbauer spectra of annealed Finemet alloy could be fitted with 4 or 5 sextets and one doublet at higher annealing temperatures, revealing the appearance of different crystalline phases corresponding to the different Fe sites above the crystallization temperature. The appearance of the nanocrystalline phases at different annealing temperatures was further confirmed by the recoilless fraction measurements.
Performance of U-Pole Writers With Straighter Field Contours

Curvature of transitions recorded onto a magnetic disc has become more pronounced as tracks narrow. Curvature creates interference between adjacent transitions recorded at high bit density, and broadens the read back signal pulse. Curved transitions have a shape similar to that of the field contours that write them. A concave write pole trailing surface, or “U-pole”, pushes the field contours near the pole edges farther down track. This straightens the contours by partially compensating for transition curvature. We used a track trimming technique to compare transition curvature of flat poles and U-poles, and verified that the U-pole reduced curvature by more than 30%. We also demonstrated that the more curved transitions written by flat poles generate ~ 1 nm more pulse broadening at the track edge relative to those written by U-poles. However, modeling predicts a ~ 10% loss in down track field gradient near the center of a U-pole. Measurements of bit error rate across the track confirm the corresponding loss in U-pole performance relative to a flat pole over all but the outer portions of a track.
Deceit, distrust and the social milieu: Application of deception research in a troubled world

Abstract This essay draws together deception detection research and explains its relevance to decision‐making in today's social milieu. Major areas of research focus are described including the differential effects of observational conditions, the correspondence between perceived and actual signs of deception, training observers to detect deception, and communicating with suspected deceivers. Communicator relationships, observer characteristics and observer professions are considered in relation to accurate deception detection, as is overall confidence in the ability to detect deception. Implications are drawn for legal, organizational, sales, medical and relational settings.
Using a sequence of intensity and texture images to form an environment model for navigation

A low-flying autonomous rotorcraft traveling in an unknown domain must use passive sensors to detect obstacles and form a three-dimensional model of its environment. As the rotorcraft travels toward a predefined destination, it acquires images of stationary objects in its field of view. Several texture classifying operators are applied to the original intensity images to obtain "texture" images. The application of each operator to the sequence of images will form an alternate sequence of images in which pixel values encode a measure of texture. In our approach to reconstruct the environment, we divide the three dimensional space of interest ( i.e. the environment) into small cubic volumetric elements (voxels). It is assumed that the position and orientation of the the camera with respect to the environment is known. Thus, for every pixel in each image in a sequence, we can compute a ray originating at the camera center and extending through and beyond the pixel. The value observed at the pixel is assigned as an observation for all the voxels through which the ray passes. Then, using the mean and variance of the observations for each voxel, one can determine whether the voxel is full or empty. Each sequence of images is used to form a three dimensional model of the environment. The reconstruction obtained using the sequence of intensity images is not necessarily the same as that obtained using texture images. While intensity images may do well in one area of the scene, texture images may do well in others. Thus, by fusing the different environment models together, a more robust model of the environment is formed. We discuss various methods of fusing the environment models obtained using intensity as well as texture measures and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each as related to our application. Finally, we present experimental results obtained using real image sequences.
Physical aging of amorphous PEN : Isothermal, isochronal and isostructural results

The sub-glass-transition viscoelastic and physical aging responses of an amorphous poly(ethylene naphthalate) (PEN) have been studied using uniaxial tension stress relaxation experiments. It is known that PEN exhibits a strong β relaxation that overlaps the α relaxation in the experimental time and temperature ranges studied. In prior work, we had shown that both amorphous and semicrystalline PEN exhibit thermorheologically complex behaviors in that neither time−temperature nor time−aging time superposition apply to the materials. Here we compare results from two-step aging experiments in which the material is first annealed at a temperature near the nominal glass transition temperature of 120 °C. In the second step, the viscoelastic response of the material is tested at a lower temperature, following classical sequential aging techniques. We find, for samples first annealed at 100 °C, that the amorphous PEN shows time−temperature superposition behavior for constant annealing times. The results are interp...
Surface modification of polymers: Physical, chemical, mechanical and biological methods

The principal objectives and methods of surface modification of polymers are reviewed in this paper. The techniques covered include physical, chemical, mechanical and biological methods.
Moving beyond the welfare standard of psychological well-being for nonhuman primates: the case of chimpanzees

Since 1985, the US Animal Welfare Act and Public Health Service policy have required that researchers using nonhuman primates in biomedical and behavioral research develop a plan “for a physical environment adequate to promote the psychological well-being of primates.” In pursuing this charge, housing attributes such as social companionship, opportunities to express species-typical behavior, suitable space for expanded locomotor activity, and nonstressful relationships with laboratory personnel are dimensions that have dominated the discussion. Regulators were careful not to direct a specific set of prescriptions (i.e., engineering standards) for the attainment of these goals, but to leave the design of the programs substantially up to “professional judgment” at the local level. Recently, however, the Institute of Medicine, in its path-finding 2011 report on the necessity of chimpanzee use in research, bypassed this flexible and contingent concept, and instead, required as a central precondition that chimpanzees be housed in “ethologically appropriate” environments. In so doing, obligations of ethical treatment of one great ape species were elevated above the needs of some research. The evolution and significance of this change are discussed.
Effect of Interface Geometry on Fracture Parameters at Corrugated Interface

Interfaces are ubiquitous in both natural and synthetic structural materials. Materials ultimate performance is often determined by interfacial properties (as a weak link). One aspect that is expected to substantially affect crack propagation at interfaces is interfacial geometry. Several works were devoted to the investigation of surface pretreatment influence on the fracture parameters and adhesive strength [1–4]. They showed substantial effect of interfacial micro- and nano-roughness on fracture toughness. However, the experiments to date were performed on random interfaces and it was often difficult to separate chemical and geometric effects.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
A community survey of psychological impairment among Anglo- and Mexican Americans and its relationship to service utilization.

Discussions of Mexican American mental health need have been limited to analyses of service utilization statistics, most of which have shown Mexican Americans to use mental health services proportionally less than other racial/ethnic groups. Consequently, Mexican Americans have been viewed as a group having greater unmet mental health needs. Yet, these utilization-based needs assessments make an implicit and untested assumption: that the proportion of the psychologically impaired is comparable across racial/ethnic groups. The purpose of the present investigation was, first, to contribute to a baseline measurement of psychological impairment among Mexican Americans in order to assess what utilization should be for this group and, second, to determine relationships between impairment symptomatology and sociodemographic characteristics which are unique to the Mexican American population. Anglo- and Mexican Americans (n=515) living in one of three suburban communities in Southern California were selected by way of a random-digit, multistage cluster telephone sampling procedure. Respondents gave responses to a standardized measurement of psychological impairment. Results showed that Anglo- and Mexican Americans did not differ in anxiety, psychosocial dysfunction, and depressive symptoms. Mexican Americans in the three communities, however, were found to use mental health services proportionally less than Anglos. Relationships between age and psychosocial dysfunction symptoms, and between income and anxiety problems were different for Mexican Americans than those for Anglos. Issues related to what constitutes mental health need and the use of self-report measures of impairment to estimate mental health need across culturally diverse groups are discussed.
Pricing and Replenishment Strategies in a Distribution System with Competing Retailers

We consider a two-echelon distribution system in which a supplier distributes a product toN competing retailers. The demand rate of each retailer depends on all of the retailers' prices, or alternatively, the price each retailer can charge for its product depends on the sales volumes targeted by all of the retailers. The supplier replenishes his inventory through orders (purchases, production runs) from an outside source with ample supply. From there, the goods are transferred to the retailers. Carrying costs are incurred for all inventories, while all supplier orders and transfers to the retailers incur fixed and variable costs. We first characterize the solution to the centralized system in which all retailer prices, sales quantities and the complete chain-wide replenishment strategy are determined by a single decision maker, e.g., the supplier. We then proceed with the decentralized system. Here, the supplier chooses a wholesale pricing scheme; the retailers respond to this scheme by each choosing all of his policy variables. We distinguish systematically between the case of Bertrand and Cournot competition. In the former, each retailer independently chooses his retail price as well as a replenishment strategy; in the latter, each of the retailers selects a sales target, again in combination with a replenishment strategy. Finally, the supplier responds to the retailers' choices by implementing his own cost-minimizing replenishment strategy. We construct a perfect coordination mechanism. In the case of Cournot competition, the mechanism applies a discount from a basic wholesale price, based on thesum of three discount components, which are a function of (1) annual sales volume, (2) order quantity, and (3) order frequency, respectively.
The Upper-Oceanic Response to Overflows: A Mechanism for the Azores Current

Abstract The oceanic response to overflows is explored using a two-layer isopycnal model. Overflows enter the open ocean as dense gravity currents that flow along and down the continental slope. While descending the slope, overflows typically double their volume transport by entraining upper oceanic water. The upper oceanic layer must balance this loss of mass, and the resulting convergent flow produces significant vortex stretching. Overflows thus represent an intense and localized mass and vorticity forcing for the upper ocean. In this study, simulations show that the upper ocean responds to the overflow-induced forcing by establishing topographic β plumes that are aligned more or less along isobaths and that have a transport that is typically a few times larger than that of the overflows. For the topographic β plume driven by the Mediterranean overflow, the occurrence of eddies near Cape St. Vincent, Portugal, allows the topographic β plume to flow across isobaths. The modeled topographic β-plume circu...
The Saccharomyces cerevisiae High Mobility Group Box Protein HMO1 Contains Two Functional DNA Binding Domains

Abstract High mobility group box (HMGB) proteins are architectural proteins whose HMG DNA binding domains confer significant preference for distorted DNA, such as 4-way junctions. HMO1 is one of 10 Saccharomyces cerevisiae HMGB proteins, and it is required for normal growth and plasmid maintenance and for regulating the susceptibility of yeast chromatin to nuclease. Using electrophoretic mobility shift assays, we have shown here that HMO1 binds 26-bp duplex DNA with Kd = 39.6 ± 5.0 nm and that its divergent box A domain participates in DNA interactions, albeit with low affinity. HMO1 has only modest preference for DNA with altered conformations, including DNA with nicks, gaps, overhangs, or loops, as well as for 4-way junction structures and supercoiled DNA. HMO1 binds 4-way junctions with half-maximal saturation of 19.6 ± 2.2 nm, with only a modest increase in affinity in the absence of magnesium ions (half-maximal saturation 6.1 ± 1.1 nm). Whereas the box A domain contributes modest structure-specific binding, the box B domain is required for high affinity binding. HMO1 bends DNA, as measured by DNA cyclization assays, facilitating cyclization of 136-, 105-, and 87-bp DNA, but not 75-bp DNA, and it has a significantly longer residence time on DNA minicircles compared with linear duplex DNA. The unique DNA binding properties of HMO1 are consistent with global roles in the maintenance of chromatin structure.
Work in progress — A ubiquitous laboratory model to enhance learning in electronics courses offered by two universities with dissimilar curricula

Mobile data acquisition technology in the hands of computer-proficient college students provides opportunities to transform electronics laboratory education into a more ubiquitous model. The use of virtual instruments (VIs), handheld data acquisition (DAQ) modules, and supporting portable hardware can (a) encourage students to work outside of the classroom on procedural hands-on learning activities and (b) promote students' higher-level thinking via instructor and student interactions during follow-on meeting times. This project, funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) Course, Curriculum, and Laboratory Improvement (CCLI) program, explores ways to implement this more ubiquitous education model. The project team will (1) develop inexpensive mobile laboratory tools, (2) create new laboratory protocols, (3) assess the impact of these learning experiences, and (4) disseminate these tools and assessment results. This paper focuses on tasks (2) and (3) for four courses in the East Carolina University (ECU) General Engineering program and the Kansas State University (KSU) Electrical & Computer Engineering (ECE) programs.
The effects of roof albedo modification on cooling loads of scale model residences in Tucson, Arizona

Abstract Data supporting reductions in cooling load and related demand for electric power possible from increasing building surface albedo are limited. Electrical use of wall-mounted air conditioners, roof temperatures, and related environmental factors were monitored during the summer of 1990 on three initially identical 1/4-scale model buildings situated in rock mulch landscapes in Tucson, Arizona. Model thermodynamic properties were scaled to approximate thermodynamic similarity with full-size buildings. With ceiling insulation of R value 5.28 m2 K W−1 (R-30) installed, increasing roof albedo of the gray composition shingles (0.30 albedo, 0.94 emissivity) by painting one roof silver and another white (0.49 and 0.75 albedos, 0.70 and 0.98 emissivities, respectively) reduced daily total and hourly peak electrical use for air conditioning approximately 5% for the house with white-colored roof compared to either gray or silver-colored roofs. Larger differences were found without ceiling insulation, with daily total and peak hourly demand for houses with white compared to dark brown roofing (0.9 albedo, 0.98 emissivity) reduced 28 and 18%, respectively. Computer simulations of daily total energy use confirmed comparable savings for similar full-sized buildings. White roofs were 20 to 30°C cooler than either silver or dark-colored roofs on hot, sunny days, indicating that expected cooling due to an increase in albedo may not be realized if it is accompanied by a decrease in emissivity. Light colored roofs, by maintaining cooler attic temperatures, may provide savings in addition to those presented here by reducing heat gain to air distribution systems located in the attic space.