cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
NMR of organic semiconductors

Organic semiconductors are conjugated molecules that act as charge carriers and are photo-active. Mainly due to their ease of processing, they offer great promise in replacing conventional semiconductors in optoelectronic devices, such as light-emitting diodes and photovoltaic cells [1]. In particular, organic light emitting diode (OLED) devices [2] have received considerable attention over the last 15 years. Their improved electro-optical properties, such as low operational voltage, high brightness, and luminescence efficiency combined with the ease of fabrication have made them very good candidates for flat panel displays
The Financial Rewards of New Product Introductions

There is little question that new product innovation is a cornerstone to firm success. Particularly in technologically dynamic markets like personal computers, new products are central to long-term financial performance. However, exactly how new product introductions influence firm value is less clear. Based on data from firms in the personal computer industry, we study the effect of new product introductions on three key drivers of firm value: profit rate, profit rate persistence, and firm size as reflected in asset growth. We find that new product introductions influence profit rate and size, but not persistence. Interestingly, the effect of new product introductions on profit rate appears to stem from a reduction in selling and general administrative expenditure intensity rather than through an increase in gross operating return. Firm profitability apparently benefits from new product introduction because new products need less marketing support than older products.
Flexibility‐Corotational Formulation of Space Frames with Large Elastic Deformations and Buckling

While the joints of a frame move in the space with large displacements and rotations, the deformations of the frame member with respect to the imaginary line connecting end joints, known as the chord, remain relatively small but still affect the stress field along the member length. A separation, known also as the corotational formulation, is simple for small displacements and rotations, and for small deformations, while in presence of large geometric changes the kinematic and dynamic interaction between the two systems (rigid and deformational) requires enhanced treatment. An enhanced corotational formulation, based on the flexibility modeling of elastic space frames with large deformations and rotations, expanding the prior developments by the authors, is presented in this article. The enhancements with respect to previous formulations cover: (1) rigid translations and expanded rotations of the chord; (2) a combination of axial and flexural deformations expanded to include torsional and shear influences; (3) a consistent formulation of geometric stiffness matrix; and (4) a rederivation of the formulation in time-independent incremental form. The entire reformulation enables the application of flexibility-based solutions to space frames addressing flexural and torsional buckling or postbuckling problems and allows for further integration of material nonlinearity.
Communication performance in a hierarchical bus system

An analysis is presented of a new bus structure, called the hierarchical bus structure. An exact analytical model of a two-level hierarchical bus is developed. The results from both the analytical model and simulation are shown. They indicate that a hierarchical bus would be a more cost-effective bus structure than the conventional multiple-bus and partial-multiple-bus structures. >
Comparison of Survival and Quality of Life in Advanced Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer Patients Treated With Two Dose Levels of Paclitaxel Combined With Cisplatin Versus Etoposide With Cisplatin: Results of an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Trial

PURPOSE: Treatment with cisplatin-based chemotherapy provides a modest survival advantage over supportive care alone in advanced non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). To determine whether a new agent, paclitaxel, would further improve survival in NSCLC, the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group conducted a randomized trial comparing paclitaxel plus cisplatin to a standard chemotherapy regimen consisting of cisplatin and etoposide. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study was carried out by a multi-institutional cooperative group in chemotherapy-naive stage IIIB to IV NSCLC patients randomized to receive paclitaxel plus cisplatin or etoposide plus cisplatin. Paclitaxel was administered at two different dose levels (135 mg/m2 and 250 mg/m2), and etoposide was given at a dose of 100 mg/m2 daily on days 1 to 3. Each regimen was repeated every 21 days and each included cisplatin (75 mg/m2). RESULTS: The characteristics of the 599 patients were well-balanced across the three treatment groups. Superior survival was observed w...
Referents for Changing a Science Curriculum: A Case Study of One Teacher's Change in Beliefs.

This interpretive investigation of curricular change involved Karl, a middle school science teacher. Initially, he made sense of his and student roles in terms of objectivism and the teacher having control. When Karl had opportunities to observe the teaching of a colleague he began to consider changes in his teaching. The referents used to frame alternative teacher and student roles were students having greater autonomy for their actions and constructivism. However, constraints, such as shortage of time and beliefs of colleagues and students favored the retention of traditional practices. Although Karl's commitment to change was sufficiently strong to ensure that changes would be attempted, old belief sets and associated practices, restraints, and new belief sets and associated practices co-existed in a dialectical relationship. Effecting meaningful change necessitated teacher learning and sustaining of new equilibria between a complex array of interacting sociocultural factors.
Importance of type II secretion for survival of Legionella pneumophila in tap water and in amoebae at low temperatures.

Legionella pneumophila type II secretion mutants showed reduced survival in both tap water at 4 to 17°C and aquatic amoebae at 22 to 25°C. Wild-type supernatants stimulated the growth of these mutants, indicating that secreted factors promote low-temperature survival. There was a correlation between low-temperature survival and secretion function when 12 additional Legionella species were examined.
An achievable rate region for the 3-user-pair deterministic interference channel

This paper presents a new coding scheme and a corresponding achievable rate region for a class of deterministic interference channels with three sender-receiver pairs (3-DIC). The codebook structure uses rate splitting, Marton coding, and superposition coding. The receivers use interference decoding to exploit the structure of the combined interference signal without uniquely decoding any of the interfering messages partly or fully. The corresponding rate region is shown to contain all previously known achievable rate regions for the deterministic interference channel. The scheme can be extended to general discrete memoryless interference channels and provides a natural generalization of the Han-Kobayashi scheme for the two-user-pair case.
Metabolic Syndrome: Do clinical criteria identify similar individuals among overweight premenopausal women?

The purpose of this analysis was to determine to what extent the clinical criteria for metabolic syndrome (MetSyn) proposed by the World Health Organization (WHO), the European Group for Study of Insulin Resistance (EGIR), the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III (ATP III), and the International Diabetes Foundation (IDF); triglyceride (TG)/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) ratio ≥3.0; and enlarged waist circumference (≥88 cm) and elevated TG (≥129 mg/dL) (EWET) identified similar or different overweight women and, secondarily, to examine the effect of 7% weight reduction on MetSyn status. Metabolic syndrome was determined among 256 premenopausal women (age = 41 ± 6 years, body mass index [BMI] = 32 ± 4 kg/m2) participating in a dietary weight loss clinical trial based on the clinical criteria proposed by WHO, EGIR, ATP III, and IDF. The prevalence of TG/HDL-C ratio ≥3.0 and EWET was determined and compared with MetSyn status. Based on the clinical criteria, 16.1% (EGIR), 20.7% (WHO), 31.0% (ATP III), and 31.8% (IDF) of participants met the criteria for MetSyn; 30.3% and 31.8% had TG/HDL-C ≥3.0 and EWET, respectively. Between 77% and 99% of participants were similarly classified across the clinical criteria. The highest and lowest agreements were between ATP III and IDF (κ = 0.98; 95% confidence interval, 0.96-1.0) and WHO and IDF (κ = 0.39; 95% confidence interval, 0.26-0.51), respectively. The TG/HDL-C ratio ≥3.0 and EWET moderately agreed with all 4 clinical criteria for MetSyn (κ range, 0.36-0.59). Among those diagnosed with MetSyn at baseline, 64.0% to 75.0% of the participants who lost ≥7% and 25.8% to 55.6% of participants who lost <7% of their baseline body weight in 6 months no longer met the various clinical criteria for MetSyn, TG/HDL-C ≥3.0, or EWET. Our findings indicate that MetSyn varies substantially between clinical criteria, which raise questions about the clinical utility of these criteria. Regardless of MetSyn clinical criteria, ≥7% reduction in body weight has a beneficial impact on variables used to define MetSyn.
Nature-Oriented Tour Operators: Travel To Developing Countries

This article presents the results of a telephone survey of U.S.-based, nature-oriented tour operators. Emphasis is placed on the types of activities , destinations, clientele, limitations to growth, and potential benefits for development.
Mashing Up the Internet

SUMMARY Mashups are blended applications combining two or more existing programs to produce a third program offering a unique view and distribution of information or enhancement of services. Currently the most popular mashups today use mapping programs to illustrate and present data. With the growth of software, tools, and common programming languages and platforms, mashups have begun to explode on to the Internet. Their creation and utilization within medical research and libraries is discussed along with concerns regarding data and security.
Biochemical and molecular control of cold-induced sweetening in potatoes

The benefits of being able to process potatoes directly into chips or fries from cold storage (2 to 4 C) include less shrinkage, retention of dry matter, decreased disease loss, extended marketability, and the elimination of the need for dormancy-prolonging chemicals. Unfortunately at low temperature, potato tubers undergo a phenomenon known as cold-induced sweetening where the rate of conversion of starch to reducing sugars (i.e., glucose and fructose) is accelerated. As raw potatoes are sliced and cooked in oil at high temperature, the accumulated reducing sugars react with free amino acids in the potato cell forming unacceptably brown- to black-pigmented chips or fries via a non-enzymatic, Maillard-type reaction. Potatoes yielding these unacceptably colored products are generally rejected for purchase by the processing plant. All commercial potato cultivars presently used for the production of potato chips and fries accumulate excess free reducing sugars when exposed to cold stress. If a “cold-processing potato” was available, energy savings would be realized in potato-growing regions where outside storage temperatures are cool. In regions where outside temperatures are moderately high, increased refrigeration costs may occur. This expense would be offset, however, by removal of the need to purchase dormancy-prolonging chemicals, by a decreased need for disease control and by improvement of long-term tuber quality. The primary goal of this review is to describe recent research of a biochemical and molecular nature that relates to the underlaying mechanisms regulating post harvest, cold-induced sweetening in potato tubers. No attempt was made to outline the extensive research conducted on the genetic manipulation of carbon metabolism between starch and free sugars during photosynthesis and/or during potato development in relation to source/sink interactions.
Transitioning patients from cangrelor to clopidogrel: pharmacodynamic evidence of a competitive effect.

Abstract Background Cangrelor is a direct, parenteral, and reversible inhibitor of the platelet P2Y 12 receptor currently undergoing Phase III testing. As many individuals treated acutely with cangrelor will often be treated long-term with a thienopyridine, it is important to determine the effects of concurrent cangrelor and clopidogrel administration. Methods and results Ten healthy volunteers received a 600 mg oral loading dose of clopidogrel and then underwent serial platelet function monitoring for 6 h. Two weeks later these same individuals received a 600 mg clopidogrel loading dose simultaneously with a cangrelor IV bolus (30 μg/kg) and a 2-hour infusion (4 μg/kg/min). A separate group of ten volunteers received a 600 mg clopidogrel loading dose after administration of a cangrelor bolus and a 1-hour infusion. The effects on ADP-induced platelet activation and aggregation were evaluated by flow cytometry, whole-blood electrical impedance, and light-transmittance aggregometry. Cangrelor and clopidogrel alone achieved the expected levels of platelet inhibition. However, the sustained platelet inhibition anticipated for clopidogrel treatment did not occur when cangrelor was initiated simultaneously. No such effect was found when clopidogrel was started upon completion of the cangrelor infusion. Conclusion To achieve sustained platelet P2Y 12 inhibition in patients treated with cangrelor, clopidogrel administration should be started when the cangrelor infusion is terminated.
An example about normalizers in mapping class groups

J. Birman has raised the question as to whether every element of the mapping class group of genus g, M(g), is in the normalizer of some element of finite order (see p. 190 and p. 219, problem 26 of [1]). In this paper we find an element of M(g), g > 3, which is not in the normalizer of any element of finite order. The example is found by combining the methods of Raymond and Tollefson [3] with a result about the action on homology of automorphisms of a surface [2]. I want to thank J. Birman for pointing out the relevance of [3].
Measurement of the internal strain in concrete elements using embedded fiber sensors

Experimental results are presented on the embedding of optical fiber cables into cement specimens in order to determine the feasibility and limitations of using said fibers as sensors for the measurement of internal stresses as well as the evaluation of structural integrity. Pull-out tests have revealed that the surface bonding between the plastic jacket of a fiber cable and the cement matrix is poor and inadequate for an effective load transfer. Experiments using loaded cement specimens with embedded fiber cables inside suggest that the various protective layers present in the cable's construction prevent the fibers from properly sensing any external perturbations up to the specimen's failure and, in some instances, even after failure. Therefore, use of optical fiber cables as direct sensing elements for stress/strain measurement is not recommended for most applications, due to the lack of an appropriate load transfer mechanism and sensitivity. However, they can instead be used as leads to communicate the actual embedded sensors with the outside world.
Inhibitory Effects of Insulin-like Growth Factor-1 and Osteogenic Protein-1 on Fibronectin Fragment- and Interleukin-1β-stimulated Matrix Metalloproteinase-13 Expression in Human Chondrocytes

Matrix metalloproteinase-13 (collagenase-3), a member of the family of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), plays a major pathological role in the cartilage destruction of arthritis. A dramatic up-regulation of MMP-13 by inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-1β or by fibronectin fragments has been observed in chondrocytes. In this study, we investigated the inhibitory effects of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and osteogenic protein-1 (OP-1) on the expression of MMP-13, which was induced by fibronectin fragment or IL-1β in human immortalized or human primary chondrocytes. IGF-1 and OP-1 each significantly reduced the basal level as well as fibronectin fragment- or IL-1β-stimulated transcription of the MMP-13 gene in a dose-dependent fashion with the corresponding decreases in the protein level of MMP-13. The most prominent suppressive effect was observed by the combination of IGF-1 and OP-1, which decreased the basal promoter activity by 60% and almost completely abrogated the fibronectin fragment-stimulated MMP-13 promoter activity. OP-1 was found to enhance mRNA levels of IGF-1 and the IGF-1 receptor, the latter of which appeared to be responsible for the combined effect of IGF-1 and OP-1. The suppressive effect of IGF-1 and OP-1 on MMP-13 expression was due in part to down-regulation of the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and the activity of their intermediate molecules, including NF-κB and AP-1 factors. We propose that IGF-1 and OP-1 could be key physiological regulators of MMP-13 gene expression and that the combination of IGF-1 and OP-1 may be useful in controlling the excess catabolic activity in arthritis.
Sources of individual differences in spatial visualization ability

Abstract Two experiments are reported in which different batteries of specially designed spatial tasks were administered to male college students. The subjects were selected to be either high or relatively low in spatial visualization ability as assessed by performance on four paper-and-pencil tests (Paper Folding, Surface Development, Form Board, and Cube Comparisons). Three hypotheses proposed to account for individual differences in spatial visualization ability were investigated. These hypotheses attribute differences in spatial visualization ability to variations in: (a) representational quality, (b) transformational efficiency, and (c) preservation of representations during transformations. The failure to find differences related to spatial visualization ability in the accuracy of recognition memory decisions and in the speed of transformations is inconsistent with the first two hypotheses. The evidence was somewhat mixed with respect to the preservation-under-transformation hypothesis, but it does appear that spatial visualization differences are most pronounced when some information must be preserved while the same or other information is being processed.
Petri nets and large finite sets

Abstract An upper bound is given for the complexity of the Karp-Miller decision procedure for the Finite Containment Problem for pairs of Petri nets; the procedure is shown to be primitive recursive in the Ackermann function. Bounds for the lengths of the searches involved are obtained in terms of large finite sets in the sense of Paris-Harrington and of Ketonen-Solovay.
Information sharing for situational understanding and command coordination in emergency management and disaster response

This paper explores why information sharing is important to successfully dealing with large-scale events and how a lack of public safety communications systems interoperability is a major impediment. It describes how “holistic interoperability,” which addresses matters of trust and understanding that lead to predictable collaboration, is needed and how the lessons from the lack of information sharing during Pearl Harbor remains instructive today. It goes on to describe how a conceptual technical framework of information layers (i.e., the data, integration and presentation layers) is useful to developing solutions to this lack of interoperability. It also postulates how emerging technologies will move us from today's flawed “publish-and-subscribe” environment, which suffers from many of the “Pearl Harbor failures,” to an automated preplanned “sense-and — respond” model. Work reported herein was derived from an Urban Area Security Grant as part of interoperable communications programs for the National Capital Region (NCR).
Corruption, Intermediary Companies, and Energy Security: Lithuania's Lessons for Central and Eastern Europe

Local interests may facilitate Gazprom's entry into Central and East European energy markets.
Solution conformation of laminaribioside and (1 → 3)‐β‐D‐glucan from optical rotation

A chiroptical method of conformational analysis is applied to linear (1 3)-β-D-glucans and the dimeric analogues β- and α-laminaribioside. The method is based on a recently developed semiempirical calculational model for saccharide optical activity. We conclude that disaccharide conformational energy maps in the literature represent the effective potential energy surface in aqueous solution well. The positive optical rotation observed with long chains in dilute alkaline solution is not characteristic of any single–chain conformation, and must reflect chain association.
Chronic periglandular inflammation on prostate needle biopsy does not increase the likelihood of cancer on subsequent biopsy.

Purpose Recent literature suggests a role for chronic inflammation in the development of prostate cancer. We investigated the association of chronic periglandular inflammation on prostate needle biopsy with subsequent prostate cancer development and clinical disease features at presentation. Methods Six hundred fifty-five patients were abstracted from a prostate /needle biopsy registry from Brigham and Women's Hospital presenting with prostate-specific antigen (PSA) > 4 ng/mL or abnormal digital rectal examination (DRE) between the years 1990 and 2004. DRE, PSA, PSA density, prostate volume, histology, and age were analyzed to identify clinical and pathologic associations with inflammation. Chronic inflammation was defined as an inflammatory cell infiltrate composed predominately of lymphocytes in a periglandular distribution. A subset of patients (n = 308) with follow-up biopsy results were used to identify if prostate inflammation predicted development of prostate cancer. Results Modeling performed based on 4 biopsy samples revealed prostate volume ( P P = .02) as significant predictors of inflammation; DRE lost significance in models accounting for volume. Kaplan-Meier analysis demonstrated inflammation does not predict subsequent prostate cancer ( P = .2). Cox models with the same endpoint show inflammation at initial biopsy ( P = .3), inflammation at last biopsy ( P = .4), and inflammation on any previous biopsy ( P = .08) are not associated with time-to-positive biopsy. Conclusions Although inflammation on initial and subsequent biopsy does not predict prostate cancer in this cohort, we cannot dismiss its role in prostate cancer pathogenesis. Addditional research is necessary to explore the relationship between prostate inflammation and prostate cancer development.
Variation-aware multimetric optimization during gate sizing

The aggressive scaling of technology has not only accentuated the effects of intradie parametric variations in devices, but it has also impacted the effects of optimizing a certain performance metric on the optimality of other metrics. Thus, there is a need for optimization methods that can perform the simultaneous optimization of multiple metrics considering the effects of process variations. In this article, a novel variation-aware gate sizing framework has been developed that can perform simultaneous optimization of multiple performance metrics. In this framework, the relationships between the optimization metrics (like dynamic power, leakage power, and crosstalk noise) are modeled as a function of the gate sizes in the objective function. The delay values obtained from unconstrained delay optimization and the noise margins derived from coupling capacitance information form the constraints for the multimetric optimization problem. As an abstract framework, it is independent of the type of mathematical programming approach as well as the metrics chosen to be optimized. The framework has been implemented using a mathematical programming approach and has been tested on ITC'99 benchmarks for different combinations of multimetric and single-metric optimizations of delay, dynamic power, leakage power, and crosstalk noise. The results indicate that the framework identifies good solution points, and is efficient for postlayout optimization via gate sizing.
Sexuality in aging: A study of 106 cultures

Human Relations Area Files data relating to sexual activity among older individuals in 106 traditional societies were studied to identify cross-cultural patterns of variability in sexual behavior occurring with age. In 70% of the societies for which data were available relating to the sexual behavior of older males, a continuation of sexual activity of various kinds was found to occur with aging. These groups were seen to have expectations for continued sexual activity for older men that implied little, if any, loss of their sexual powers until very late in life. Among females, reports of continued sexual activity and interest were found to occur in 84% of the files containing data on the sexual behavior of this age group. Reports of expressions of strong sexual interest by older women were common in these societies. In addition, 50% of the references to sexual activity of older females were found to relate to changes in the women's role as procreant. A lessening of inhibition in regard to sexual conversation, sexual humor, and sexual gestures was noted in 22% of these 106 societies. This diminution of restraint in regard to sexual conversation was reported more frequently among older women, 74% of the reports of such behavior referring to females. The continuance of sexuality in many societies during aging and the limitation of sexuality in other societies suggests that cultural as well as biological factors may be key determinants in sexual behavior in the later part of life.
Emotional Expression, Ambivalence Over Expression, and Marital Satisfaction

This study examined the relations among emotional expression, ambivalence over expression and marital satisfaction. Fifty married couples completed two mail-in surveys containing the Emotional Expressiveness Questionnaire and the Ambivalence Over Emotional Expression Questionnaire as well as measures of marital satisfaction. Subjects also rated their spouses' emotional expressiveness. Emotional expressiveness was positively correlated with marital satisfaction. Spouses' ratings of each other's expressiveness correlated with marital satisfaction, independent of spouses' self-reported expressiveness. Only husbands' ambivalence over expression was negatively correlated with wives' satisfaction. Results are discussed in terms of the importance of emotional expressiveness to close interpersonal relationships, particularly for men, and the relation between intrapsychic inhibitory processes and social relationships.
Evaluation of diffusion coefficient based on multiple forward solutions

Abstract This note is concerned with the identification of the unknown diffusion coefficient for a parabolic equation. It introduces an iterative algorithm that can be used to recover the unknown function. The algorithm assumes an initial guess for the unknown function and obtains a background field. It obtains an equation for the error field. It then formulates three forward problems for the error field. These three formulations share the same unknown function which is the correction to the assumed value of the unknown diffusion coefficient. By equating the responses of these three formulations, the algorithm obtains two working equations for the unknown function. A number of numerical examples are also used to study the performance of the algorithm.
EGFR Inhibitors as First-Line Therapy in Advanced Non-small Cell Lung Cancer

Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), erlotinib and gefitinib, are active agents in the treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Although platinum-based doublet chemotherapy remains the cornerstone for the first-line treatment of metastatic NSCLC, several phase II and III trials have been conducted utilizing EGFR TKIs in this setting. Patients with advanced NSCLC who are life long never-smokers, those with EGFR TK mutations, and those with bronchioloalveolar cell carcinoma histology seem to have promising efficacy with first-line therapy with EGFR TKIs compared with unselected groups of patients receiving the same agents. Phase III trials have clearly demonstrated no improvement in survival when EGFR TKIs were combined with conventional platinum-based doublets, with the exception of subset analysis in nonsmokers. This review will summarize the results of clinical trials on erlotinib or gefitinib in the first-line treatment of select and unselected patients with NSCLC and describe ongoing studies with these agents in NSCLC.
Adsorption-Partitioning Uptake of Nine Low-Polarity Organic Chemicals on a Natural Sorbent

Sorption of comparatively nonpolar organic chemicals by natural solids not only can be predominated by partitioning with organic matter but also can reflect a substantial contribution from adsorption at low relative concentration. Sorption of nine polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and chlorinated benzenes (CBs) was investigated on a subsurface aquitard through batch study, with results interpreted by a composite adsorption-partitioning model. For both PAHs and CBs, the low-concentration adsorption slope and the coefficient for partitioning each correlated well with Kow; however, PAHs consistently sorbed more strongly than CBs at given Kow. For all chemicals, adsorption contributions were only important at low relative concentration and could be successfully modeled by assuming either Langmuir-type or Polanyi-type isotherms. Isotherms for all liquid chemicals fell on a single isotherm when plotted on a Polanyi basis (adsorbed volume per mass of sorbent versus adsorption potential density), providing ...
Mechanisms and kinetics of aqueous formic acid and formate ion dehydrogenation on platinum and subsequent reaction of adsorbed hydrogen

Abstract The opencircuit chemical behavior of dissolved HCOOH and HCOONa at Pt electrodes was studied. A doublepulse electrochemical anodic charging technique was used to first strip the surface and to then quantitatively determine the amount of atomic hydrogen formed on the clean electrode from the dissociation of formic acid and formates and the net rate at which this atomic hydrogen was removed from the electrode surface by reaction with formate species. The integrated rates of the reaction of PtO ads with hydrogen and/or formate species, of the dehydrogenation of formic acid and formates on clean Pt, and of the atomic hydrogen removal were measured. The kinetics of the net atomic hydrogen removal process were determined and shown to be first order in respect to hydrogen atom concentration at the surface. The formation of residues from the organic free radicals which were the products of dehydrogenation retarded the further dissociation of formic acid and formates. Sulfuric acid solutions of very low pH values and molecular hydrogen could strongly affect the reaction rates and retarded the rate of hydrogen atom removal from the electrode surface. Generalizations concerning fuel cell anodic reactions are made.
Norm-Referenced Testing and Low-Income Blacks.

The purpose of this article is to highlight biases, that is, learning styles and test bias, involved in testing low-income Blacks with norm-referenced, achievement tests and to offer suggestions to assist counselors in improving their students' test performance.
Mechanisms of exchange and substitution reactions in platinum (IV) complexes

Abstract Preliminary investigations on some reactions of platinum (IV) complexes are reported. Substitution and exchange reactions of platinum (IV) complexes were observed to be accelerated both by light and by platinum (II). Catalysis by Pt (en) 2 2 + of the extremely slow exchange of chloride ion with trans - Pt (en) 2 Cl 2 2+ believed to take place via a chloronium ion transfer through a bridged intermediate. The base hydrolysis of trans - Pt (en) 2 Cl 2 2+ is independent of hydroxide ion concentration which suggests that the reaction proceeds by the dissociation of the conjugate base. Finally what may be the first example of a direct displacement ( S N 2) reaction of an octahedral complex in water solution was observed for the reaction of trans - Pt (en) 2 Cl 2 2+ with NO 2 − .
Realistic Partial State Densities for Proton-Neutron Configurations in Nuclei near Closed Shells

Using Nilsson single-particle level schemes as input, we have calculated partial state densities for excited proton-neutron configurations with specified particle-hole numbers. The recursion relation method used is general and free of any mathematical approximations. Results are given for nuclides in the Sn region and for several Pb isotopes. The strong shell effects in these nuclei are clearly reflected in their state densities. The results are compared to densities obtained from the equidistant-spacing model. This model not only fails completely at low excitation energies as expected, but it also disagrees in several cases with the average behavior of the realistic densities at higher energies.
Determination of leucine enkephalin and methionine enkephalin in equine cerebrospinal fluid by microbore high-performance liquid chromatography and capillary zone electrophoresis coupled to tandem mass spectrometry

Abstract The performance of microbore high-performance liquid chromatography and capillary zone electrophoresis, both equipped with on-line tandem mass spectrometric detection capability, was evaluated critically for the determination of endogenous amounts of leucine enkephalin and methionine enkephalin in equine cerebrospinal fluid. Using an identical sample clean-up and enrichment procedure, capillary zone electrophoresis—mass spectrometry is limited in its concentration detection capacity owing to its much smaller injection volume. Leucine enkephalin was identified in post-mortem equine cerebrospinal fluid at the 1–5 ng/ml level by liquid chromatography—mass spectrometry.
Goodwin's growth cycle and the efficiency wage hypothesis

Abstract This model examines the robustness of the growth cycle of Goodwin (1967) when the effort level of the workers depends on the level of the real wage, using the Hopf bifurcation theorem. We show that if the effort level decreases as the real wage increase, this model gives rise to a growth cycle, which is locally stable on the side of a unstable stationary equilibrium under a technical condition. We also show that if the effort level depends positively on the real wage, then the stationary equilibrium is stable.
Chromosomal Effect in vivo of Exposure to Lysergic Acid Diethylamide

Chromosome studies of persons exposed to lysergic acid diethylamide, either self-administered or received during medical therapy, failed to demonstrate significant chromosomal damage.
Cholinesterase activity as a biological indicator of exposure to pesticides.

Cholinesterase activity measurement should be considered in relationship to its proposed use, whether for diagnostic information, a monitor of health status or because of its logistical and economic practicality. To prevent confusion one must consider that measurement of cholinesterase activity may confirm the existence of poisoning by an inhibitor, may measure an individual worker's overall exposure or his characteristic individual response. Where groups of workers are involved a group response may be derived to identify the magnitude of the response at some preset value of significance from which a biological threshold limit value may be established. The population at risk, the intensity and frequency of exposure dictate the frequency of sampling. Pesticide exposed workers are grouped according to confined and unconfined environments. Confined environments are those associated with manufacturing, formulating and warehousing of pesticidal products. Unconfined environments are those associated with application and postapplication exposures. All of the aforementioned factors must be considered before employing cholinesterase activity measurement as an index of exposure to pesticides.
Homogenized mechanical properties for the jellyroll of cylindrical Lithium-ion cells

Abstract A hybrid experimental/analytical approach was developed for extracting the average mechanical properties of cylindrical Li-ion cells. By using the principle of virtual work, and estimating the load transfer mechanism inside the cell, the stress–strain relation for the jellyroll was calculated for the case where the cell was crushed between two flat plates. The procedure was illustrated on an example of a commercial 18650 cell. A finite element model of the cell was then developed using the crushable foam material in LS Dyna. The model calibrated with this method closely predicts kinematic of the cell during two different load cases used for validation. These cases include local crush by a hemispherical punch and indentation by a rigid rod. The load and displacement during deformation, as well as onset of electric short circuit observed from experiments were closely predicted from simulations. It was found that the resistance of the cell comes primarily from the jellyroll. Additional analytical calculations showed that the shell casing and the end-caps provide little contribution to the overall crash resistance of the cell in the loading cases studied in this paper.
Usp18 regulates epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor expression and cancer cell survival via microRNA-7.

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is involved in development and progression of many human cancers. We have previously demonstrated that the ubiquitin-specific peptidase Usp18 (Ubp43) is a potent regulator of EGFR protein expression. Here we report that the 3′-untranslated region (3′-UTR) of the EGFR message modulates RNA translation following cell treatment with Usp18 siRNA, suggesting microRNA as a possible mediator. Given earlier evidence of EGFR regulation by the microRNA miR-7, we assessed whether miR-7 mediates Usp18 siRNA effects. We found that Usp18 depletion elevates miR-7 levels in several cancer cell lines because of a transcriptional activation and/or mRNA stabilization of miR-7 host genes and that miR-7 acts downstream of Usp18 to regulate EGFR mRNA translation via the 3′-UTR. Also, depletion of Usp18 led to a decrease in protein levels of other known oncogenic targets of miR-7, reduced cell proliferation and soft agar colony formation, and increased apoptosis. Notably, all of these phenotypes were reversed by a specific inhibitor of miR-7. Thus, our findings support a model in which Usp18 inhibition promotes up-regulation of miR-7, which in turn inhibits EGFR expression and the tumorigenic activity of cancer cells.
A practical model for multidisciplinary analysis data and algorithm abstraction

Abstract A discussion of current concepts and methodologies is presented for systems designed for multidisciplinary analysis (MDA) applications. A prototype system is presented which forms a foundation for a MDA system by integrating the fundamental components of grid generation, field visualization, and field solution into a tightly integrated network distributed system. As a result of this early design, a new model is proposed which simplifies the programming paradigm with a model based on data and algorithm encapsulation. The new model distributes the application on a heterogeneous network based on domain decomposition, with each domain potentiall a different physical media.
Pandemics: good hygiene is not enough.

The US government is doing well to communicate uncertainty over swine flu. It must also help the public to visualize what a bad pandemic might be like, says Peter M. Sandman.
Additive channel-constrained metallization of high-resolution features

Abstract The patterned, selective electroless deposition of submicron metal features has been achieved on Si by using a channel-constrained technique. Chemically-amplified negative tone photoresists, exposed with UV or e-beam sources, were developed to create patterned channels for constrained, additive, metal growth on an underlying ligating self-assembled monolayer film. The process is attractive for the production of plasma etch-resistant high resolution metal features for VLSI applications, as well as for the fabrication of high aspect ratio metal lines useful as electrical interconnects. The adhesion of the photoresist to the underlying monolayer plays a critical role in the process, permitting the removal of photoresist residues from patterned channels during development to allow metallization without the loss of feature critical dimension control or photoresist delamination. Patterned, etched metal features with linewidths to ∼0.1 μm have been demonstrated.
The Importance of Teleology to Boyle's Natural Philosophy

Boyle prefaced his Disquisition about the Final Causes of Natural Things with the claim that there are three dangerous consequences for failing to engage in the pursuit of final causes. Boyle was sincere in this claim, for there is a systematic line of reasoning in his texts that incorporates all three consequences and establishes conceptual connections between his science, his theology, and his value theory. I argue in this paper that Boyle's teleological outlook led him to believe that the natural philosopher is morally obligated to continue his investigations of nature on the grounds that a deeper understanding of the teleological order necessarily motivates divine worship. Moreover, Boyle saw a conceptual connection between a teleological study of nature and revealed theology, a connection that reveals that a study of teleological nature can lead to the highest form of happiness. I conclude with a summary, and some remarks about the sincerity and weaknesses of Boyle's reasoning.
PGP whole disk encryption: blazing trails in IT security at UW Medicine

The Department of Surgery at the University Of Washington School Of Medicine is faced with the challenge of providing IT security to faculty, researchers, and staff within a clinical hospital environment and at multiple sites. Many departmental faculty and staff use laptops running Windows XP and often find it necessary to travel to multiple locations throughout the day or week. Additionally, regulations such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) mandate the protection of protected health information (PHI) and student data that many members of the department interact with as a normal part of their work. Such data stored on departmental laptops must be secured. Concerned with data security, the department is deploying PGP Universal in order to protect this fleet of laptops with a centrally managed, whole disk encryption solution.A centrally managed whole disk encryption solution was desired for both Windows XP and a small number of Macintosh laptops, but not available for the latter. The Department of Surgery IT Services Group (ITSG) selected PGP Universal for the Windows-based solution and monitors PGP Corporation's ongoing development of a Mac OS X whole disk encryption solution. ITSG staff tested PGP and a deployment process was developed in the hopes of avoiding technical problems. Minor installation problems that did occur were found to be the result of computing staff's deviation from installation procedures. The amount of time required to deploy the solution across the department was underestimated; the project has taken additional time for several reasons, including the difficulty in coordinating installations with a mobile workforce; a number of competing, large scale products; and possibly the ITSG organizational structure. While the use of PGP whole disk encryption has necessitated a change in behavior for both laptop users and ITSG staff, these changes are minor and can be addressed with careful planning and forethought.
The “upside down” systematics of hairstreak butterflies (Lycaenidae) that eat pineapple and other Bromeliaceae

All Lycaenidae larvae that eat Bromeliaceae belong to the Strymon ziba and S. serapio species groups, but confusion with taxonomy has resulted in widespread misidentification of the butterflies in both the ecological and agricultural literature. Published food plant records are assessed, and new rearing records are presented. The species that have been recorded eating Bromeliaceae are Strymon ziba (Hewitson), S. megarus (Godart), S. lucena (Hewitson), S. oreala (Hewitson), S. serapio (Godman & Salvin), S. azuba (Hewitson), and S. gabatha (Hewitson). The first four are recorded from pineapple, with the sympatric S. megarus and S. ziba sometimes being especially destructive in commercial fields. Most published records lump these two species and misidentify them under the names Thecla basilides, Thecla basalides, or Tmolus echion. Strymon ziba has also been reared from other monocotyledon plant families, such as Heliconiaceae and Haemodoraceae. In most cases, caterpillars eat flowers and fruits, but larvae o...
A CD63(+ve)/c-kit(+ve) stem cell population isolated from the mouse heart.

Cardiac cell regeneration from endogenous cardiac stem cells (CSCs) following MI is rather low. Therefore, identifying mechanisms to boost endogenous CSC activation and participation in cardiac repair appears to be the most promising strategy for MI patients. We previously engineered tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1 (TIMP-1) overexpressing embryonic stem (ES-TIMP-1) cells and transplanted them into the infarcted murine heart. Collected data demonstrated that TIMP-1 enhanced transplanted ES cell engraftment, survival and differentiation into cardiac myocytes post-transplantation. Therefore, we postulated that there may be a new stem cell population present in the heart that is regulated by extracellular protein TIMP-1. Furthermore, we hypothesized that this cell population has a potential for cell proliferation and differentiation into cardiac cell types. Therefore, we isolated CSCs from 4 weeks old C57BL/6 mice and cultured them in vitro in presence of ESCM, ES-TIMP-1-CM or TIMP-1. Our immunostaining data demonstrated the existence of a novel CSC subpopulation, CD63+ve/c-kit+ve. When treated with TIMP-1, these cells showed significantly (p < 0.05) increased proliferation rates compared to control cells, enhanced TIMP-1 receptor (CD63), along with improved expression of phospho and total β-catenin proteins as demonstrated by Western blot analysis. Next, we demonstrate significantly (p < 0.05) improved cardiac myocyte, vascular smooth muscle cell, and endothelial cell differentiation. Furthermore, our RT-PCR data shows increase in cardiac gene (GATA-4, Mef2C, and Nkx-2.5) expression when compared to ESCM and control cells. Collectively, these data, for the first time, establish the existence of a new CD63+ve/c-kit+ve CSC subpopulation that has a significant potential for proliferation and differentiation into cardiac cell types once stimulated with TIMP-1.
A platform for situational awareness in operational BI

Enterprises are being swamped with data, and much of it is unstructured in origin. As these data volumes for unstructured data increase, there is a need to extract more value from them. For the purpose of gaining business insight, besides traditional text mining, we need capabilities to correlate unstructured data emanating from different sources. An important instance of this is the capability to correlate streaming unstructured web data with internal document data in near real time, which can give enterprises significant tremendous competitive advantage by enabling them to be aware of external events that can affect their business operations. This situational awareness gives business managers the opportunity to make informed operational decisions before it is too late. SIE-OBI is a platform being developed at HP Labs that responds to this need. In this paper, we describe SIE-OBI and illustrate its use via an application that provides awareness of events described in news articles that could affect the contracts of an enterprise. We present the main components of the platform architecture and illustrate their functionality to our contractual situational awareness scenario.