cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The stable rank of full corners in C*-algebras

We give a treatment of Rieffel's theory of stable rank for C*-algebras in terms of left invertibility of generalized nonsquare matrices, and prove that if p is a full projection in a unital C*-algebra A, then the stable rank of the corner pAp is at least as large as the stable rank of A.
Capnographic documentation of nasoesophageal and nasogastric feeding tube placement in dogs

Objective: To evaluate the ability of capnography to document proper placement of nasoesophageal (NE) and nasogastric (NG) feeding tubes. This study was conducted in 3 phases. Phase I of this study was designed in order to test the efficacy of capnography to distinguish placement of a feeding tube in the alimentary tract versus the respiratory tract. Phase II was designed in order to document that carbon dioxide (CO2) could be measured through a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) feeding tube. Phase III was performed in order to evaluate the technique of continuous monitoring during insertion of the feeding tube into the esophagus and stomach as would be performed during a clinical-tube placement. Design: Prospective study. Setting: Research laboratory. Animals: 24 adult dogs. Interventions: In Phase I, sedated dogs were instrumented with an intratracheal catheter and an 8 French feeding tube placed nasally into the distal esophagus and later advanced into the stomach. In Phase II, dogs were anesthetized and an 8 French feeding tube was placed down the endotracheal tube, then into the esophagus and later advanced into the stomach. In Phase III, sedated dogs were instrumented with an 8 French feeding tube inserted intranasally and then advanced to the level of the nasopharynx, distal esophagus and, lastly, the stomach. Fluoroscopy was used in order to determine location of the feeding tube. Measurements and main results: Phase I measurements included respiratory rate and CO2 from the trachea, esophagus, and stomach and pH of gastric fluid sample. Phase II measurements included respiratory rate and CO2 from the endotracheal tube, feeding tube in the endotracheal tube, feeding tube in the distal esophagus, and feeding tube in the stomach. Phase III data collection included respiratory rate and CO2 as the tube was passed through the nasal cavity, nasopharynx, esophagus and stomach. Phase I fluid samples were collected from 5 of the 9 dogs and had pH values from 1.68 to 4.20. In both phases, values for the respiratory rate and CO2 from the esophagus and stomach were 0 ± 0, significantly lower (P < 0.001) than the values from the trachea. In Phase II, there was no significant difference between the respiratory rates (P = 0.886) and CO2 (P = 0.705) readings obtained from the endotracheal tube compared to readings from the feeding tube in the endotracheal tube. In Phase III, there was a significant difference (P < 0.001) between the respiratory rates and CO2 readings obtained from the nasal cavity and the nasopharynx when compared to those readings obtained from the esophagus and stomach. Measurement of CO2 and respiratory rate resulted in a reading of 0 every time the feeding tube was in the esophagus or stomach. Conclusions: Capnography may be used in order to detect airway placement of NE and NG tubes.
In Vitro Stimulation of Human Peripheral Blood Lymphocytes by Soluble and Membrane Fractions of Renografin-Purified Typhus Group Rickettsiae

Cell-free extracts of disrupted Renografin-purified Rickettsia typhi and R. prowazekii were evaluated as antigens in lymphocyte transformation assays for cell-mediated immunity to typhus group rickettsiae in 19 individuals with and 9 without histories of exposure to these organisms. Exposure consisted of clinical disease, vaccination with epidemic typhus vaccine, or occupational exposure to these agents. Both the soluble and membrane fractions of disrupted purified rickettsiae were used, and transformation of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) was determined in microcultures by incorporation of [3]thymidine. Of the antigen concentrations tested (1 to 400 μg/ml), 10μg/ml appeared to be the most satisfactory. At this concentration, PBL transformation was highly reproducible and correlated well with donor exposure and the presence of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay anti-typhus group immunoglobulin G. At higher concentrations, PBL from both exposed and control donors often responded to a lipopolysaccharide-like component present in these preparations. Specific transformation responses to rickettsial fractions were detected in several individuals decades after infection or vaccination, indicating that both fractions contained antigens associated with persisting cell-mediated immunity in humans. Generally, stimulation indexes with the soluble fraction were slightly greater than those obtained with corresponding concentrations of the membrane preparation, and in three individuals transformation was observed only with the soluble fraction. PBL transformation to soluble fractions also appeared to have some species specificity, since PBL from individuals with documented R. typhi infections were more responsive to the homologous soluble preparation than to the soluble fraction of R. prowazekii. PBL transformation also correlated well with homologous but only poorly with heterologous enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay immunoglobulin G titers.
Variations in male oriental fruit moth courtship patterns due to male competition

In a laboratory flight tunnel, the first oriental fruit moth males to arrive near females had the highest rate of mating success and performed the standard sequence of behaviors including a hairpencil display that attracted females. Late arrivals performed atypical courtship patterns that enabled them to sneak copulations or disrupt first males' courtships to succeed in mating occasionally.
Medication use in breast cancer survivors compared to midlife women.

Purpose Many breast cancer survivors (BCS) take multiple medications for health problems associated with the treated cancer and other noncancer comorbidities. However, there is no published, large-scale descriptive evaluation of medication use in BCS compared to midlife women. The purpose of this study was (1) to compare the number and types of prescription medications and over-the-counter medications between BCS and midlife women without cancer and (2) to assess possible drug–drug interactions by evaluating the cytochrome P450 isoform properties of medications (inductors and inhibitors) in both groups.
Dermatomyositis: a contemporary review for oral health care providers

Dermatomyositis (DM) is an autoimmune muscle disorder characterized by skin rashes and progressive muscle weakness. This disease is a subset of the idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM) and affects both children and adults. Increased incidence of malignancy has been observed in adult DM, making early diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring crucial. In the past, limitations of these diagnostic criteria and classifications often made it difficult to identify the disease in the early stages. However, in recent years a new understanding of the pathogenesis and clinical features of DM has developed, which enables clinicians to distinguish DM from other autoimmune disorders and other subsets of IIM. Many signs and symptoms of DM involve the orofacial regions. This paper reviews and updates the disease process, orofacial manifestations, and dental considerations for patients with DM. Understanding new knowledge of DM helps oral health care providers coordinate care for patients with this disease.
Evaluation of the enantiomeric composition of amino acids in tobacco.

Despite the fact that several studies have reported the concentrations of various free amino acids in tobacco, their enantiomeric composition is unknown. Both the absolute and enantiomeric compositions of proline, alanine, asparagine, aspartic acid, valine, methionine, leucine,and phenylalanine were determined for three strains of tobacco leaf, three types of smokeless tobacco, and six different blended filtered and nonfiltered reference cigarettes. Some of the highest levels of D-amino acids ever found in agricultural products were observed. Possible mechanisms for the production of these D-amino acids are considered. The relevance of D-amino acids in tobacco is discussed.
Capture of Diaprepes abbreviatus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in Traps: Effects of Location in a Citrus Tree and Wick Materials for Release of the Attractant

In replicated field tests made in Florida in October and November 1982 to develop a survey for Diaprepes abbreviatus L., we devised a trap, obtained an attractant from the weevil colony, and then used the trap and attractant to determine the best trap location in a citrus tree as well as to identify a wick material for release of the attractant. Traps were constructed with a cage attached to an inverted funnel. An attractant used in the traps was from a chloroform extract of weevil frass. Trap location was a highly significant factor in weevil capture in a 4-m-high citrus tree. Traps in the top (4.3 m above ground) captured 349 weevils, those in the middle captured 138, and those at a low level (0.3 m above ground) captured 19 weevils. Top and middle traps also captured significantly more male than female weevils (2.8:1). Presence of the attractant significantly increased weevil capture per trap compared with traps with no attractant. Significantly more weevils were captured in traps when glass wool rather than cotton or rubber was used as the wick material for release of the attractant.
Compatibility of detached divertor operation with robust edge pedestal performance

Abstract The compatibility of detached radiative divertor operation with a robust H-mode pedestal is examined in DIII-D. A density scan produced low temperature plasmas at the divertor target, Te ⩽ 2 eV, with high radiation leading to a factor of ⩾4 drop in peak divertor heat flux. The cold radiative plasma was confined to the divertor and did not extend across the separatrix in X-point region. A robust H-mode pedestal was maintained with a small degradation in pedestal pressure at the highest densities. The response of the pedestal pressure to increasing density is reproduced by the EPED pedestal model. However, agreement of the EPED model with experiment at high density requires an assumption of reduced diamagnetic stabilization of edge Peeling–Ballooning modes.
Appendectomy in patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery for pelvic pain.

Abstract Study Objective To evaluate pathologic findings in appendixes of women undergoing laparoscopic surgery for pelvic pain. Design Retrospective study (Canadian Task Force classification II-2). Setting Private practice specializing in gynecologic endoscopic surgery. Patients One hundred ninety women. Intervention Prophylactic appendectomy Measurements and Main Results On pathologic evaluation, 154 appendixes were diagnosed as having one or more abnormal findings, such as endometriosis, carcinoid, chronic appendicitis, periappendicitis, fibrous obliteration, and lymphoid hyperplasia. Conclusion Women undergoing laparoscopic surgery for pelvic pain should be counseled on the high frequency of abnormal findings in the appendix, including endometriosis. Prophylactic appendectomy appears to be a worthwhile consideration in these patients.
Complex Defects in GaAs and GaP

A study of the electronic states associated with divacancy defects and with the defect complexes involving an anion antisite with a group IV atom (Ac-IV) in GaAs and GaP is reported. The local densities of states have been determined using the large cluster recursion approach. The properties as well as the position of the gap states of the divacancy defect in GaAs are found to be consistent with the experimental results for the EL2 level. The change of the position of the defect levels of (Ac-IV) as a result of the change of bonding is analyzed. The effect of GaAs-AlAs interface on the (Ac-IV) defect level is also examined.
Does safety climate moderate the influence of staffing adequacy and work conditions on nurse injuries

Problem:Hospital nurses have one of the highest work-related injury rates in the United States. Yet, approaches to improving employee safety have generally focused on attempts to modify individual behavior through enforced compliance with safety rules and mandatory participation in safety training. We examined a theoretical model that investigated the impact on nurse injuries (back injuries and needlesticks) of critical structural variables (staffing adequacy, work engagement, and work conditions) and further tested whether safety climate moderated these effects.Method:A longitudinal, non-experimental, organizational study, conducted in 281 medical–surgical units in 143 general acute care hospitals in the United States.Results:Work engagement and work conditions were positively related to safety climate, but not directly to nurse back injuries or needlesticks. Safety climate moderated the relationship between work engagement and needlesticks, while safety climate moderated the effect of work conditions on both needlesticks and back injuries, although in unexpected ways.Discussion and Impact on Industry:Our findings suggest that positive work engagement and work conditions contribute to enhanced safety climate and can reduce nurse injuries.
15N solid-state NMR provides a sensitive probe of oxidized flavin reactive sites.

Flavins are central to the reactivity of a wide variety of enzymes and electron transport proteins. There is great interest in understanding the basis for the different reactivities displayed by flavins in different protein contexts. We propose solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (SS−NMR) as a tool for directly observing reactive positions of the flavin ring and thereby obtaining information on their frontier orbitals. We now report the SS−NMR signals of the redox-active nitrogens N1 and N5, as well as that of N3. The chemical shift tensor of N5 is over 720 ppm wide, in accordance with the predictions of theory and our calculations. The signal of N3 can be distinguished on the basis of coupling to 1H absent for N1 and N5, as well as the shift tensor span of only 170 ppm, consistent with N3's lower aromaticity and lack of a nonbonding lone pair. The isotropic shifts and spans of N5 and N1 reflect two opposite extremes of the chemical shift range for “pyridine-type” N's, consistent with their electrophil...
Scalable Implicit Flow Solver for Realistic Wing Simulations with Flow Control

Massively parallel computation provides an enormous capacity to perform simulations on a timescale that can change the paradigm of how scientists, engineers, and other practitioners use simulations to address discovery and design. This work considers an active flow control application on a realistic and complex wing design that could be leveraged by a scalable, fully implicit, unstructured flow solver and access to high-performance computing resources. The article describes the active flow control application; then summarizes the main features in the implementation of a massively parallel turbulent flow solver, PHASTA; and finally demonstrates the methods strong scalability at extreme scale. Scaling studies performed with unstructured meshes of 11 and 92 billion elements on the Argonne Leadership Computing Facility's Blue Gene/Q Mira machine with up to 786,432 cores and 3,145,728 MPI processes.
Prevalence, clinical characteristics, and causes of vision loss in patients with ocular toxoplasmosis.

Purpose.To describe the prevalence, demographics, clinical features, and contributors to vision loss at presentation in a large cohort of patients with ocular toxoplasmosis seen at a tertiary referral center in northern California.Methods.A retrospective review of the charts of 233 patients with ocular toxoplasmosis examined over 24 years.Results.Ocular toxoplasmosis was diagnosed in 233 (8.4%) of 2761 patients with uveitis. The mean age at presentation was 27.2 years. Patients with ocular toxoplasmosis were more likely to be young (p<0.01), male (p<0.001), and Latino (p<0.001) as compared with patients in the entire uveitis cohort. At presentation, 159 patients (68.2%) had active disease, which was unilateral in all but one. Among the 160 eyes with active disease, 145 (90.6%) presented with a focal retinochoroiditis, 57.2% of which had an adjacent retinochoroidal scar. Atypical presentations occurred in 11 patients (6.9%). Of eyes with active disease, the main contributors to vision loss at presentation ...
Superconducting microstrip resonator on YSZ buffered silicon

Abstract For the purpose of comparison we have fabricated identical microstrip gap-coupled meanderline half-wave resonators using both 500 nm thick aluminum and 500 nm thick YBa2Cu3O7 high temperature superconductor films on 50 Ω cm (1 0 0) silicon buffered with a 50 nm film of yittria stabilized zirconia. The YBa2Cu3O7 films were crack-free and exhibited a zero resistance temperature of 82 K. Measured Q-values at 15 K for this resonator were 560, in good agreement with the literature value of 0.002 for the tanδ for this type of silicon at these temperatures. The aluminum structures did not exhibit any resonance whatsoever. Clearly there is a significant advantage in using YBa2Cu3O7 films at low temperatures. Fabrication, measurement and materials characterization are presented and the implications of the result are discussed.
Transforming growth factor beta increases the expression of HIV-1 gene in transfected human mesangial cells

Transforming growth factor beta increases the expression of HIV-1 gene in transfected human mesangial cells. Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV) infection is often complicated by focal glomerulosclerosis (FGS) and other renal lesions collectively termed HIV associated nephropathy (HIVAN). FGS is characterized by glomerular mesangial expansion and increased synthesis of matrix components. The molecular pathogenic mechanisms associated with the development of HIV associated nephropathy are unknown. Experimental animal models suggest a role for cytokines and growth factors, particularly transforming growth factor β (TGF-β), in the pathogenesis of glomerulosclerosis. Patients with AIDS have elevated plasma and tissue levels of TGF-β. We carried out experiments to determine whether primary human mesangial cells (HMC) in culture can be transfected with HIV-1 genes. HMC were transfected with a chloramphenicol acetyl transferase (CAT) reporter construct containing HIV-1 LTR sequences. Our results show successful transfection of HMC with HIV-1 LTR gene. HMC transfected with LTR gene are responsive to the HIV-1 regulatory gene product Tat. To study whether TGF-β can modulate the expression of HIV-1 LTR gene in HMC, HMC transfected with an HIV-1 LTR CAT plasmid were treated with TGF-β and other growth factors two hours before harvest. TGF-β specifically increased the expression of the HIV-1 gene in HMC in a dose dependent manner. We further studied whether up-regulation of HIV-1 LTR expression in HMC was mediated by the effect of TGF-β on the interaction of transcription factors to their binding sites. Our results suggest that TGF-β treatment of HMC does not effect the binding of NF-κB, NF-1, or US-F transcription factors to their respective binding sites. Since patients with AIDS have elevated plasma and tissue levels of TGF-β, our results may indicate that HIV-1 gene expression in renal tissue, in the presence of increased levels of TGF-β, may contribute to the pathogenesis of HIV associated nephropathy. The mechanisms underlying the effect of TGF-β on HIV-1 gene expression in HMC and their relationship to the pathogenesis of renal disease are currently unknown and require further study.
GIANT MAGNETO-ELECTROLUMINESCENCE FROM HYBRID SPIN-ORGANIC LIGHT EMITTING DIODES

An important application that may boost the use of magnetic-field controlled organic devices is significant magnetically modulated electroluminescence (MEL) at room temperature (RT). Whereas inorganic magnetic tunnel junctions show RT magneto-resistance (MR)> 80%, these devices do not exhibit electroluminescence. In contrast, organic light-emitting diodes (OLED) show substantive electroluminescence. Alas, at RT both organic spin valves and spin-OLEDs have shown rather small MR and MEL. We report here a hybrid organic/inorganic magnetic-field controlled device (h-OLED) which comprises of an inorganic magnetic tunnel junction with large room temperature MR, and OLED having efficient electroluminescence. At RT the h-OLED devices exhibit up to 80% giant MEL in the red, green, and blue spectral ranges. Moreover studies of "white" h-OLED devices show a surprising magnetic-field controlled color manipulation. The h-OLED devices may open a new avenue in the application of multifunctional organic displays.
Prenatal cocaine exposure and age of sexual initiation: direct and indirect effects.

Background Prenatal cocaine exposure (PCE) has been linked to child behavior problems and risky behavior during adolescence such as early substance use. Behavior problems and early substance use are associated with earlier initiation of sexual behavior. The goal of this study was to examine the direct and indirect effects of PCE on sexual initiation in a longitudinal birth cohort, about half of whom were exposed to cocaine in utero.
KAHLUA: A Hierarchical Circuit Disassembler

A new tool called a circuit disassembler has been developed to transform a mask level layout into an equivalent symbolic layout. This technique has been implemented in the program called KAHLUA that can handle mask layout containing arbitrary Manhattan geometry and is independent of the circuit technology. Circuits designed using physical layout systems can be automatically disassembled into a symbolic environment. Once converted, the disassembled cells can be manipulated further by any existing symbolic design or verification tools. In particular, these cells can be automatically remapped for a new technology. Our formulation of the problem consists of two major stages: device extraction, and net decomposition. In the first stage the transistors and contacts are extracted from the layout to form leaf cells. In the second stage a set of symbolic wires is derived from the remaining interconnect geometry. KAHLUA has been tested on a wide range of physical cells and has produced high quality results with modest execution times. An additional feature of the technique include the ability to disassemble hierarchically, which makes disassembling large layouts feasible.
Fluoride accumulations in soil and vegetation in the vicinity of a phosphorus plant

Abstract In 1970, vegetation in the vicinity of the ERCO phosphorus reduction plant at Long Harbour, Newfoundland (47°26′N, 53°47′W) began to show symptoms of fume damage, e.g. tip-burn and margin-burn. Samples of vegetation and soil were collected in the summers of 1973, 1974 and 1975 within a radius of 20 km of the plant in an attempt to assess levels of accumulation of fluoride in soil and vegetation. The degree of damage to vegetation and fluoride levels in soil-humus were inversely related to the distance of sites from the phosphorus plant. The average levels of fluroide in vegetation ranged from 281 ppm in severely damaged areas to 44 ppm in lightly damaged areas. The corresponding fluoride level in controls was only 7 ppm. In soil-humus, the available and total fluoride concentrations ranged from 58 to 3·8 ppm and 908 to 16 ppm, respectively. The levels in controls were 2·4 and 10 ppm. The extremely high levels of calcium closer to the plant indicated that the rock-dust fallout contributed significantly to the high level of total fluoride in the soil-humus. The fluoride emissions from the plant were composed of both gaseous and particulate forms of fluoride; however, the particulate forms appeared to affect only aareas closer to the plant.
Practice patterns in screening and management of prostate cancer in elderly men.

Abstract Objectives To determine the practice preferences for prostate cancer screening and treatment in men 75 years of age or older among healthcare providers in Iowa. Methods Practice patterns were determined by an institutional review board-approved 15-item survey mailed to all 3105 Iowa healthcare providers who care for older men. A modified Dillman method was used for the survey. Actual prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing practices derived from our institutional database were correlated with the survey data. Results The survey yielded a response rate of 32% (997 respondents). Of the respondents, 96% of primary care physicians and 97% of urologists preferred to stop PSA-based prostate cancer screening by age 80. This was compatible with our institutional data that indicated a PSA testing rate of 5.2% in men 80 years or older. Most physicians used the digital rectal examination as the first test for screening and reported a lack of educational materials to provide to patients. Older physicians and family practitioners were more likely to continue prostate cancer screening beyond 75 years, and most consented to patient requests for screening. Conclusions The predilection for prostate cancer screening among healthcare providers declines with increasing patient age but persists for a small proportion of patients. The education of both patients and healthcare providers to more selectively screen men older than 75 years and the development of educational materials are needed. A consensus among healthcare providers would facilitate adoption of a tailored approach to managing prostate cancer in older men, thereby decreasing healthcare costs and morbidity while limiting the use of unnecessary therapy.
Society and economy of the tribal belt in Pakistan

Abstract This study investigates the relationship between the socio-ecological and economic environments of the tribal belt of Pakistan and points out the importance of an understanding of traditional society in devising socio-economic policies and implementing development programs in the area. Considering some of the problems of the social system, it suggests that development policies addressed to tribal problems should be regional in scope. Planning policies should be designed to limit the importance of resource base factors, whereas the social value system should play a significant role in restructuring the economy. Moreover, development policies should provide a means of combining the communities in an interactive system.
Valproic acid selectively reduces the low-threshold (T) calcium current in rat nodose neurons

Valproic acid (VPA) is an antiepileptic drug used in the treatment of a wide variety of human seizures including generalized absence (GA) (petit mal) seizures. The mechanism of action of VPA in controlling GA seizures is not known. We tested the effects of VPA on the Ca2+ current components of acutely dissociated rat nodose ganglion neurons. VPA reduced the low-threshold (T) Ca2+ current at clinically relevant concentrations but had no effect on the high-threshold (N and L) current components. The effect on T current was concentration-dependent and most apparent at peak current. There was little effect seen on late current. VPA did not affect the rate or voltage-dependency of T current activation. The selective reduction of T current may be a means by which VPA is effective in controlling GA seizures.
Angiographic management of bleeding in gestational trophoblastic malignancy

tions of pooled ejaculate and reanalyzed chromatographically. All tests were performed in duplicate. The results were read with a Kontes reflectance densitometer and reported as a percentage of the total phospholipid fraction. Human seminal ejaculate was found to be rich in sphingomyelin, low in acetone-precipitable phosphatidylcholine, and deficient in phosphatidylglycerol. The mean lecithin/sphingomyelin (LIS) ratio of seminal ejaculate was 0.60 ± 0.03 (SEM). The mean LIS ratio of seminal plasma was much lower, 0.24 ± 0.03 (SEM), reflecting the high percentage of sphingomyelin (Fig. 1). Contamination of amniotic fluid with seminal ejaculate significantly lowered the LIS ratio (p < 0.05, paired t test) up to a fiftyfold dilution . The effect was greater with an increasingly mature LIS ratio (Fig. 2). Our study points out the necessity to inquire about recent coitus prior to the rupture of membranes. A mature LIS ratio in such circumstances is reliable because of the one-directional influence of seminal ejaculate contamination. Any phosphatidylglycerol found in amniotic fluid obtained from the vaginal pool that is possibly contaminated with seminal ejaculate can still be considered indicative of fetal lung maturity even in the case of a low LIS ratio due to lack of this compound in the seminal ejaculate. Otherwise, the results of the LIS ratio should be doubted.
Ten years progress in quantitative research on libraries.

Abstract Approximately ten years ago there developed a widespread interest in the application of Operations Research techniques to library problems. An extensive body of literature now exists. However, implementation has been limited and some important topics have been neglected. This survey reviews the areas in which most work has been done, identifies neglected areas and concludes that the progress and lack of it is typical of the application of quantitative research in social service situations. Numerous references are made to the literature.
Competitive Behaviours of American and Chinese Children Working Individually and Working Together: A Comparative Study.

Abstract The study compared American (N=50) and Chinese (N= 84) school‐age children's co‐operative‐competitive behaviours using a puzzle completion task. The differences in performance of boys and girls when working alone and when working together with the same sex partner as well as among grades were investigated. For the American sample there were 16 kindergartners, 14 first‐, and 20 second‐graders, resulting in 15 boy‐ and 10 girl‐pairs. The Chinese sample consisted of 28 children from each grade with a total of 21 boy‐ and 21 girl‐pairs. For both samples the children were matched within grade on sex and age. The behaviours were measured by using three puzzles arranged in three orders. Each child participated in a puzzle completion task 3 times: alone, with the same sex partner as a leader, and as a helper. For the pairs, only the leader's completion time was recorded. There were no significant cultural differences between the American and the Chinese children's co‐operative and competitive behaviours ...
Use of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 and vitamin E to improve tenderness of beef from the longissimus dorsi of heifers

The objective of this trial was to determine whether a single bolus of 25-hydroxyvitamin D(3) (25-OH D(3)), vitamin E, or a combination of the 2 would improve the tenderness of steaks from the LM of beef heifers. Forty-eight Angus crossbred heifers were allotted randomly to 8 pens. Six heifers were in each pen, and there were 2 pens per treatment. The 4 treatments included control (no 25-OH D(3) or vitamin E); 25-OH D(3) (500 mg of 25-OH D(3) administered as a one-time oral bolus 7 d before slaughter); vitamin E (1,000 IU of vitamin E administered daily as a top-dress for 104 d before slaughter); or combination (500 mg of 25-OH D(3) administered as a one-time oral bolus 7 d before slaughter and 1,000 IU of vitamin E administered daily as a top-dress for 104 d before slaughter). Blood samples were obtained on the day that heifers were allotted to treatments, on the day 25-OH D(3) was administered, and on the day before slaughter. Plasma calcium concentration was increased when 25-OH D(3) was administered with or without vitamin E (P < 0.007). In LM, calcium concentration tended to increase (P = 0.10) when 25-OH D(3) was administered alone but not when 25-OH D(3) was administered with vitamin E. Concentrations of 25-OH D(3) and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) in plasma were increased when 25-OH D(3) was administered with or without vitamin E (P < 0.001). Steaks from heifers treated with 25-OH D(3) or vitamin E, but not both, tended to have lower Warner-Bratzler shear force than steaks in the control group at 14 d postmortem (P = 0.08). Postmortem protein degradation as measured by Western blot of the 30-kDa degradation product of troponin-T was increased with all treatments after 3 d postmortem (P </= 0.07), but not at 7 or 14 d postmortem. Unexpectedly, the use of 500 mg of 25-OH D(3) fed as an oral bolus 7 d before slaughter or 1,000 IU of vitamin E administered daily for 104 d before slaughter alone, but not in combination, effectively decreased Warner-Bratzler shear force.
Altered mechanism of the alkanesulfonate FMN reductase with the monooxygenase enzyme

The two-component alkanesulfonate monooxygenase system from Escherichia coli is comprised of an FMN reductase (SsuE) and a monooxygenase enzyme (SsuD) that together catalyze the oxidation of alkanesulfonate to the corresponding aldehyde and sulfite products. To determine the effects of protein interactions on catalysis, the steady-state kinetic parameters for SsuE were determined in single-enzyme assays and in the presence of the monooxygenase enzyme and alkanesulfonate substrate. In single-enzyme kinetic assays, SsuE followed an ordered sequential mechanism, with NADPH as the first substrate to bind and NADP+ as the last product to dissociate. However, in the presence of SsuD and octanesulfonate the kinetic mechanism of SsuE is altered to a rapid equilibrium ordered mechanism, and the Km value for FMN is increased 10-fold. These results suggest that both the SsuD enzyme and alkanesulfonate substrate are required to ensure that the FMN reductase reaction proceeds to form the ternary complex with the subsequent generation of reduced flavin transfer.
Shock profile solutions of the Boltzmann equation

Shock waves in gas dynamics can be described by the Euler Navier-Stokes, or Boltzmann equations. We prove the existence of shock profile solutions of the Boltzmann equation for shocks which are weak. The shock is written as a truncated expansion in powers of the shock strength, the first two terms of which come exactly from the Taylor tanh (x) profile for the Navier-Stokes solution. The full solution is found by a projection method like the Lyapunov-Schmidt method as a bifurcation from the constant state in which the bifurcation parameter is the difference between the speed of soundc 0 and the shock speeds.
Burner Design Criteria and Variables Affecting Flashback of Acetylene Flames

A study is presented on the operating characteristics of burners employing premixed, laminar flow air–acetylene and nitrous oxide–acetylene flames. The variables affecting flashback of these flames have been investigated and found to be critically dependent on such factors as burner port diameter, gas flow, fuel–oxidant ratio, and burner construction. Because the theory previously developed for stable flame formation on isothermal burners is not directly applicable to most burners used in flame spectrometry, an operational theory of flashback is developed. In accordance with this working model, safe limits of operation for conventional burners are examined and presented and important burner design criteria are established, including experimental quenching diameters for both circular port and slot-type burners.
Simultaneous on-line measurement of orthogonal displacement fields by Moiré interferometry

A modified four-beam optical arrangement for moire interferometry provides simultaneous determination of the in-plane U and V displacement fields, and is suitable for high-speed recordings.
Using multiband filtered energy matrices for recognition and illumination correction

We present an energy matrix representation for multiband im- ages that captures spatial and spectral properties. Using a physical model for spectral reflectance, we derive a pseudoinverse method for the comparison of energy matrices that is invariant to the spectral properties of the scene illumination. At the same time, this method determines the illumination change matrix, allowing direct comparison of images ob- tained under different illumination conditions. We demonstrate the per- formance of the method for both illumination-invariant recognition and illumination correction on a large set of multiband images. The energy matrices are generated using a small set of oriented steerable filters. We also demonstrate that a related set of rotationally symmetric filters can be used for recognition invariant to both illumination and rotation and that subsequent processing can be used to recover the rotation angle of a recognized object. © 1998 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers. (S0091-3286(98)01210-0)
Numerical Simulation and Mixing Study of Pseudoplastic Fluids in an Industrial Helical Static Mixer

Static mixers are increasingly being used to perform a variety of mixing tasks in industries, ranging from simple blending to complex multiphase reaction systems. Use of static mixers to process non-Newtonian fluids is quite common. Data on the pressure drop of non-Newtonian fluids in static mixers and the degree of mixing of materials through the mixer are very useful in the design and engineering application of these tools. This paper extends a previous study by the authors on an industrial helical static mixer and illustrates how static mixing processes of single-phase viscous liquids can be simulated numerically. A further aim is to provide an improved understanding of the flow pattern of pseudoplastic liquids through the mixer. A three-dimensional finite volume simulation is used to study the performance of the mixer. The flow velocities, pressure drops, etc., are calculated for various flow rates, using the Carreau and the power law models for non-Newtonian fluids. The numerical predictions by these two models are compared to existing experimental data. Also, a comparison of the mixer performance for both Newtonian and pseudoplastic fluids is presented. The effects of the Reynolds number of the flow and also properties of pseudoplastic fluids on the static mixer performance have been studied
Expressive and receptive fast-mapping in children with autism spectrum disorders and typical development: The influence of orienting cues

Abstract Typically developing toddlers accurately follow an adult's gaze learn object labels. However, children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) mis-map new words to their own focus of attention. Children with ASD and typical development participated in three word learning conditions. In the follow-in condition, the adult labeled an object which was the focus of the child's attention. In the redirecting condition, the adult labeled an object which was the focus of their own attention. In the orienting cue condition, the adult used a verbal cue to attract the child's attention, then labeled an object which was the focus of their own attention. Typically developing children learned receptive labels in all conditions. Children with ASD mis-mapped words to their own focus of attention during redirecting trials, but showed a trend toward correct receptive mapping during orienting cue trials. During expressive trials, both groups were most likely to map successfully during follow-in trials and least likely to map successfully during redirecting trials. Using a verbal orienting cue may help children with ASD learn new words. Following a child's focus of attention may confer vocabulary learning benefits for both children with ASD and children with typical development during expressive vocabulary learning tasks.
PHOTOLYSIS MECHANISM OF AQUEOUS TYROSINE AND TYROSYL PEPTIDES

— Laser flash photolysis at 265 nm has been employed for measuring the initial hydrated electron (e-aq) and p-alanylphenoxyl radical (Tyr) in aqueous Tyr, small Tyr peptides and R Nase A. The results indicate that monophotonic photolysis not involving the fluorescent or triplet states is the principal initial process. Equivalent yields of e and Tyr were found in all cases except Tyr, where the Tyr yield was 60% higher than e-aq attributed to splitting of the phenolic bond. Computer analysis of e-aq and Tyr decays for Tyr indicates the importance of electron-radical recombination in competition with electron scavenging and bimolecular radical-radical reactions. Evidence for intramolecular electron migration has been obtained in cystinyl-bis-Tyr.
“Starving Is the Most Fun a Girl Can Have”: The Pro-Ana Subculture as Edgework

The media have been focusing on websites that are “pro-anorexic” to illustrate the pervasiveness of eating disorders in the US. This study focuses on the narratives of women who participate in “pro-ana” sites using Lyng’s (Am J Sociol 95:851–886, 1990) concept of edgework. Results indicate that women struggle with feelings of loss of control and through various skills are able to resume control. These data point to the intense emotive reactions fasting elicits, reactions which both reinforce and provide motivation to remain in the subculture. Findings contribute to the literature by focusing on women’s edgework and demonstrating the similarities between men and women edgeworkers.
Improved block-spin transformations, redundant operators and all that☆

Abstract Improved block-spin transformations are studied both numerically and analytically. These are real-space renormalization group transformations that depend on arbitrary parameters which can be adjusted in such a way that a given action reaches the renormalized trajectory after only a few block steps. We demonstrate the role that is played by redundant operators in the optimization. Explicit calculations are done in the gaussian model and the large- N Heisenberg model. In the latter the resulting renormalization group equations are solved analytically close to the fixed point and numerically further away to obtain the renormalized trajectory for various choices of the optimization parameter.
The effect of injector design on thrust- chamber erosion.

Control of injector spray and heat transfer properties can reduce erosion of ablative and pyrolytic graphite thrust-chamber throats
Imaging cognitive reserve

We review three studies that attempt to explore the neural substrates of cognitive reserve (CR). All studies utilize two conditions of a visual recognition task: a low demand condition, and another where difficulty was titrated such that all subjects performed at 75% recognition accuracy. We hypothesized that there would be different patterns of task‐related activation as a function of a proxy measure of CR. The first two studies focused on young subjects, and found either brain areas or brain networks where the amount of increased activation from low to titrated demand correlated with CR. The third study compared activation patterns of young and elderly individuals. As in the previous studies, brain areas were found in both groups where there was differential activation as a function of CR. Most notable were locations where the relation between activation and CR differed across the two groups. These findings provide a basis for a preliminary neural implementation of cognitive reserve. They also suggest t...
Alterations in membrane potential and excitability of cat medial pontine reticular formation neurons during changes in naturally occurring sleep-wake states.

Abstract Intracellular recording of medial pontine reticular formation (mPRF) neurons in behaving cats show the following distinctive desynchronized sleep (D) state characteristics: excitability is greater in D than in waking (W) or synchronized sleep (S) and in D there is a tonic depolarization that persists throughout the state and upon which are superimposed phasic runs of further depolarization. In contrast, the background, tonic level of membrane potential in both W and S is more negative than in D, which phasic depolarizations associated with motor activity occurring in W but not in S. These data are compatible with a generating role for mPRF neurons in D sleep phenomena.
Mechanism of vitamin D action and its regulation

Abstract Most of the biological actions of 1,25(OH)2D3, the hormonal form of vitamin D, are mediated by the vitamin D receptor (VDR), a member of the steroid/thyroid receptor superfamily. The VDR functions as a ligand- induced transcription factor regulating the rate of expression of genes involved not only in the control of calcium homeostasis and bone remodeling, but also in immunomodulation, the control of hormone secretion, Inhibition of cell growth, and induction of cell differentiation. This section discusses the molecular mechanisms involved in the transcriptional control of gene expression by 1,25(OH)2D3. (Am J Kidney Dis 1998 Oct;32(2 Suppl 2):S13-24)
The β association of (DLLys)10–(LVal)20–(DLLys)10: An nmr study

(DLLys)10–(LVal)20–(DLLys)10, a copolymer of a valine block in the β conformation with randomly coiled flanking blocks of lysine [Kubota, S. & Fasman, G. D. (1975) Biopolymers14, 605–631], was studied by nuclear magnetic resonance. The peak areas of the NH and CH resonances of valine and lysine are concentration-dependent with little chemical shift change. A model is presented describing the aggregation of the copolymer. Additional evidence, obtained by monitoring the spin-lattice relaxation times of amino, amide, γ-methyl-valine, and ϵ-methylene-lysine, is consistent with the aggregation model. Hydrodynamic studies are presented which show monomer oligomer aggregation of four or five subunits.
Dose Determination for Acute Salmonella Infection in Pigs

Pigs were exposed to various levels of Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Typhimurium by either intranasal inoculation or by subjecting them to a contaminated environment. More than 103 salmonellae were required to induce acute Salmonella infection. These results indicate that intervention against acute Salmonella infection in lairage may be more readily achieved than previously thought.
Competition Among Courting Male Moths: Male-to-Male Inhibitory Pheromone

The behavioral function of a pheromone released by males of the army-worm moth Pseudaletia unipuncta was investigated both in laboratory wind-tunnel experiments and in experiments with moth-baited traps in the field. Such male moth scents have been thought to act at close range as sexual stimulants for females of the same species. However, the only obvious effect of the P. unipuncta male pheromone was upon other males, decreasing their tendency to approach sexually receptive, pheromone-releasing females and to exhibit copulatory behavior when near those females. The adaptive significance of the male pheromone may be related to the increased reproductive efficiency that results if multiple males are prevented from competing for a single female.