cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Is cancer vaccination feasible at older age

Age-related defects of the immune system are responsible for T cell unresponsiveness to cancer vaccination at older age. Major immune defects at older age are lack of naive T cells, impaired activation pathways of T cells and antigen-presenting cells (APCs), and age-related changes in the tumor microenvironment (TME). This raises the question whether cancer vaccination is feasible at older age. We compared various cancer vaccine studies at young and old age, thereby focusing on the importance of both innate and adaptive immune responses for cancer immunotherapy. These analyses suggest that creating an immune-stimulating environment with help of the innate immune system may improve T cell responses in cancer vaccination at older age.
Dissociation of Proteins into Sub-units by Succinylation: Hæmerythrin

IN the course of investigation of the molecular weight of the marine oxygen-carrying pigment haemerythrin (obtained from Golfingia gouldii), indications arose that the macromolecule of about 105,000 molecular weight might be constituted of several smaller units. A few sedimentation experiments in solutions of sodium dodecyl sulphate, following a suggestion of Schachman1, did reveal sub-units, but complete dissociation could not be obtained and the presence of detergent created a number of difficulties in experimental procedure. Since the effectiveness of the detergent in splitting the macromolecule probably depends in part on the electrostatic repulsion produced by the large negative charge of the bound ions, it seemed worth while to examine the effect of the introduction of additional negative charges covalently linked to the macro-molecule. Reaction of protein with succinic anhydride2,3 should replace each cationic ɛ-NH3+ charge by an anionic carboxylate group. Since haemerythrin contains about 80 lysine groups, complete succinylation would change the charge on the 105,000 molecular weight macromolecule at pH 7 by about 160 units.
Processing and characterization of lead magnesium tantalate ceramics

Using a processing route that employed closed platinum crucibles, single phase ceramics of Pb(Mg{sub 1/3}Ta{sub 2/3})O{sub 3} (PMT) relaxor ferroelectrics were prepared with densities greater than 95{percent} of their theoretical value. The improvements in the sintering characteristics of this system that result from this route were reflected by the dielectric properties, {epsilon}{sub max}{sup {prime}}=6300 at 182 K, which are similar to those reported for single crystal PMT. Contrast originating from nanosized polar clusters was evident in dark-field TEM images collected from the PMT ceramics at room temperature and showed little change upon cooling through the permittivity maximum. The electron diffraction patterns contained weak superlattice reflections at (h{plus_minus}1/2, k{plus_minus}1/2, l{plus_minus}1/2) that originate from a 1:1 ordering of the B-site cations. High resolution imaging indicated that the lengthscale of the chemical ordering in PMT is essentially identical to niobate relaxors such as PMN, with the 1{endash}2 nm ordered domains being surrounded by a disordered matrix. {copyright} {ital 1997 Materials Research Society.}
Low level of SO2 enhanced chromatid aberrations in tradescantia pollen tubes and seasonal variation of the aberration rates

Abstract Pollen tube cultures of Tradescantia paludosa Anders. Sax clone-3 were grown on microslides coated with lactose agar medium (0.02% colchicine). They were incubated in an air-tight moist chamber for 18 h to obtain the metaphase chromosomes of the pollen tube generative nuclei. SO2 treatments were applied at the beginning of the germination stage, 7–10 min after sowing the pollen. A total of about 0.075 ppm of SO2 was used for the entire incubation period. SO2 gas was either generated by the reaction between K2S2O5 and HCl inside the chamber or obtained from diluting the gas from commercial SO2 gas (Matheson Gas Products) of known concentration through a gas dilution system. Full-grown cultures fixed in Gate's fluid and stained in Feulgen were made into permanent slides for aberration-rate determination. Year-round study of SO2 effect on chromosomes was made possible by using a GRO-LUX lamp (Sylvania) illuminated incubator, in winter, to promote mitotic activity of pollen culture. In these studies, SO2 enhanced chromatid aberration rates (average 46 breaks/100 cells) in the cultures grown from field or hot-house plants during 3 consecutive summers (1970–1972). There was a gradual decrease in the fall and a gradual increase in spring in both background and enhanced aberration rates. When summer pollen cultures from GRO-LUX lamp pre-conditioned (7–20 days) plants were treated with SO2 in the same chamber with those grown from summer hot-house plants, high rate (42 breaks/100 cells) of aberration was observed only in cultures from summer hot-house plants.
Couples, pairs, and clusters: mechanisms and implications of centromere associations in meiosis

Observations of a wide range of organisms show that the centromeres form associations of pairs or small groups at different stages of meiotic prophase. Little is known about the functions or mechanisms of these associations, but in many cases, synaptonemal complex elements seem to play a fundamental role. Two main associations are observed: homology-independent associations very early in the meiotic program—sometimes referred to as centromere coupling—and a later association of homologous centromeres, referred to as centromere pairing or tethering. The later centromere pairing initiates during synaptonemal complex assembly, then persists after the dissolution of the synaptonemal complex. While the function of the homology-independent centromere coupling remains a mystery, centromere pairing appears to have a direct impact on the chromosome segregation fidelity of achiasmatic chromosomes. Recent work in yeast, Drosophila, and mice suggest that centromere pairing is a previously unappreciated, general meiotic feature that may promote meiotic segregation fidelity of the exchange and non-exchange chromosomes.
The adsorption of PH3 on the Si(111)-(7×7) surface : an example of autocatalytic dissociative chemisorption

Abstract The dissociative chemisorption of phosphine, PH3, on the Si(111)-(7 × 7) surface has been examined employing supersonic molecular beam techniques. The initial probability of reaction, SR,0, has been found to be sensitive to substrate temperature, Ts, where SR,0 increases sharply by approximately a factor of 4–5 as Ts is increased above 800°C, which corresponds well with the (7 × 7) ↔ “(1 × 1)” phase transition. The reaction probability, SR, measured as a function of dose for PH3 reacting on Si(111)-(7 × 7) at Ts
THE PHOTOPEROXIDATION OF UNSATURATED ORGANIC MOLECULES—XV. O21δg QUENCHING BY BILIRUBIN AND BILIVERDIN

—The use of competitive methods with rubrene as reference acceptor provides values of the rate constants kBQ= 2.3 times 109/ mol-1 s-1 and kvq= 3.3 times 109 mol-1 s-1 for the physical quenching of O21δg, by bilirubin (in CCl4) and biliverdin (in CHCl3) respectively attributed to electron and energy transfer processes. The rate constant kBR= 1.7 times 108/ mol-1 s-1 for bilirubin reaction with O21δg is considerably greater than that kvR 3 times 108 mol- s-1 for the reaction of biliverdin which has identical O21δa, acceptor sites, and is attributed to a primary Type I oxidation process followed by a slower Type II addition of O21δg to the primary products.
Children's discourse during peer learning in experimental and naturalistic situations

Two complementary studies are reported concerning the characteristics of peer communication styles as children help one another learn. In the experimental study, 64 pairs of children (kindergarten and grade 2) were videotaped while working at a balance scale problem, either cooperatively or by one teaching another. Aspects of discourse associated with effectiveness were identified. In the naturalistic study, 22 second‐graders were audiorecorded during classroom peer learning. Patterns of didactic, learner‐initiated, and collaborative interactions were analyzed by form, function, and frequency. Among the qualities of interaction significant in peer learning were the negotiation of teaching and collaborative roles, attention‐focusing, showing and pointing, and informative messages.
THE GROWTH AND DEATH OF TISSUE CULTURES EXPOSED TO SUPRANORMAL TEMPERATURES.

In a study of the growth of chicken osteoblasts in cultures exposed to supranormal temperatures of 42°C., 44°C., 47°C., 50°C., and 52°C., it has been observed that: 1. There is no lethal effect after prolonged exposures at 42°C. and 44°C. 2. Cultures are killed after an exposure of 105 minutes at 47°C., of 6 minutes at 50°C., and of 3.5 minutes at 52°C. 3. A definite inhibition of growth occurs after different exposures at all temperatures from 44°C. onwards (see Table I). 4. There is a latent period of approximately 24 hours before any discernible effect of sublethal or just lethal exposures; this latent period appears to be independent of the duration of the sublethal exposure and of the temperature. 5. The high temperature coefficients for lethal exposures and for exposures just sufficient to inhibit growth indicate an underlying "destructive" process in the cells of the culture.
The Gifts of God for the People of the World: A Look at Pneumatology in the Work of Jacques Dupuis and Samuel Solivan on Interreligious Dialogue

This article addresses interreligious dialogue from a pneumatological Hispanic Pentecostal perspective in dialogue with Jesuit theologian Jacques Dupuis. The article is an expression of contextual theology taking into consideration the multilayered character of the Hispanic Pentecostal communities based on ethnicity, race, gender, socio-political, and religious location. Both Samuel Solivan and Jaques Dupuis conceived pneumatology as intrinsically necessary for constructing communities of solidarity and empowerment with adherents of other faith traditions. The article concludes with a visionary calling to the Hispanic Pentecostal community to contribute to the larger conversation of religious pluralism and interreligious dialogue based on the diversity and inclusivity of their shared history.
A Simple Mechanism to Teach a Complex Practitioner Knowledge Set

Mechanical engineering technology graduates must exhibit a number of skills as industrial practitioners. While certain skills are learned on the job, fundamental knowledge acquired in school coursework actually forms the basis for successful development of that necessary skills set. Within the skill set, one given great emphasis is that of communications. At Purdue University, the emphasis on communications skills crosses many courses but is divided among four veins: 1) written communications dealing with papers, reports, etc.; 2) oral communications dealing with effective presentations and interpersonal relationships; 3) computational communications, mathematical problem-solving, be it via hand, calculator or computer; and 4) graphics communications dealing with 3D modeling and the development and interpretation of specifications documented on engineering drawings. This paper describes a project where a simple mechanical device is used to teach complex topics, bridging multiple communications veins. In this case the project centers on the design and modification of an arbor press, but could be based on any number of devices. The simple arbor press forms the foundation for the development of a complex industry-driven knowledge set. Included are topics common to practitioners employed in design, manufacturing and quality - all of which are typical industrial assignments for MET graduates. The assignment is part of Production Design & Specifications (PD&S), a core course and the second in a two-course CAD-based freshman sequence. Where the first course teaches 3D modeling skills, PD&S concentrates on the cognitive aspects of problem-solving using modeling, calculations and extracted drawings. Students complete the project in three phases over an eight-week period. Each phase is driven by an Engineering Change Order (ECO), a common industrial practice. Contained in the ECOs are both detailed requirements and open-ended requirements. While fulfilling the ECOs, students must make decisions on interconnected requirements that ripple through design, manufacturing, and quality assurance. Requirements include: • Design based on ISO preferred numbers. • Selection of standard parts and stock materials. • Determination of cost/benefit ratios. • Manufacturing tolerances and tolerance stack-ups. • Fits calculations based on ASME B4.2 standards. • Calculation of mass properties. • Use of geometric dimensioning & tolerancing. • Documentation of product lifecycle changes. Together, these and other varied topics, when woven around the simplicity of an arbor press, give students real-world experiences without the process becoming daunting due to the sheer complexity of the mechanism.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
Biosynthesis of protein relative to the accumulation of fat in the liver of EFA deficient rats.

Effect of an essential fatty acid (EFA) deficiency in the rat on the incorporation of leucine-14C and glucosamine-14C into serum and liver protein are reported. Weanling male rats of the Sprague-Dawley strain were raised on a fat-free diet for 10–12 weeks and then switched to diets supplemented with 10% corn oil or 10% hydrogenated coconut oil. Leucine-14C or glucosamine-14C was injected into the tail veins of the animals of each group. At selected intervals up to 120 min after the injections, the animals were sacrificed and the radioactivity of the liver and serum proteins was measured. The levels of triglyceride (TG) in the serum and the liver were also determined. Less radio-activity was incorporated into the serum β-lipoprotein (β-LP) fraction of the hydrogenated coconut oil than the corn oil fed animals injected with leucine-14C, but no differences were observed in the incorporation of radioactivity into the liver protein and both albumin and globulin fractions of the serum of these groups of animals. In the similar experiments with glucosamine-14C less radioactivity was incorporated into the β-LP fraction of the serum and into the smooth endoplasmic reticulum of the liver in the hydrogenated coconut oil (EFA deficient) than the corn oil fed animals. Time course studies also indicated that less radioactivity was incorporated into the β-LP fraction than into the albumin and globulin fractions of the serum of the hydrogenated coconut oil group. These findings suggest that an EFA deficiency results in an impairment of the synthesis or release of lipoprotein.
Isolation of leaf bundle sheath protoplasts from C4 dicot species and intracellular localization of selected enzymes

Abstract A new source of cell wall digestive enzymes, Onozuka Cellulase RS (from Trichoderma viride), was evaluated for the effectiveness of leaf digestion and the release of bundle sheath protoplasts (BSP) in a variety of C4 monocots and dicots. Several dicot species were identified from which BSP, as well as mesophyll protoplasts (MP), can readily be isolated by using the RS cellulase. Assays of marker enzymes, plus chlorophyll measurements, permitted analysis of protoplast yield and purity. BSP and MP have been purified (90–100%) from Atriplex spongiosa (NAD-malic enzyme (ME) subgroup) and from Falveria trinervia (NADP-ME subgroup), with final yields ranging from 6–24%. Enzyme localization studies indicate that a substantial amount of NADP-malate dehydrogenase (DH) in F. trinervia occurs not only in the mesophyll chloroplasts, but also in the bundle sheath chloroplasts. Similar activities of an apparent NADP-utilizing malate dehydrogenase (but not activated by dithioerythritol, DTE) occurs in the mitochondria of bundle sheath cells of A. spongiosa. Aspects of the potential role of this enzyme in photosynthetic metabolism are further discussed.
Long-chain carboxylic acids in pyrolysates of Green River kerogen

Long-chain fatty acids (C10-C32), as well as C14-C21 isoprenoid acids (except for C18), have been identified in anhydrous and hydrous pyrolyses products of Green River kerogen (200-400 degrees C, 2-1000 hr). These kerogen-released fatty acids are characterized by a strong even/odd predominance (CPI: 4.8-10.2) with a maximum at C16 followed by lesser amounts of C18 and C22 acids. This distribution is different from that of unbound and bound geolipids extracted from Green River shale. The unbound fatty acids show a weak even/odd predominance (CPI: 1.64) with a maximum at C14, and bound fatty acids display an even/odd predominance (CPI: 2.8) with maxima at C18 and C30. These results suggest that fatty acids were incorporated into kerogen during sedimentation and early diagenesis and were protected from microbial and chemical changes over geological periods of time. Total quantities of fatty acids produced during heating of the kerogen ranged from 0.71 to 3.2 mg/g kerogen. Highest concentrations were obtained when kerogen was heated with water for 100 hr at 300 degrees C. Generally, their amounts did not decrease under hydrous conditions with increase in temperature or heating time, suggesting that significant decarboxylation did not occur under the pyrolysis conditions used, although hydrocarbons were extensively generated.
High Abundance of Ammonia-Oxidizing Archaea in Coastal Waters, Determined Using a Modified DNA Extraction Method

Molecular characterizations of environmental microbial populations based on recovery and analysis of DNA generally assume efficient or unbiased extraction of DNA from different sample matrices and microbial groups. Appropriate controls to verify this basic assumption are rarely included. Here three different DNA extractions, performed with two commercial kits (FastDNA and UltraClean) and a standard phenol-chloroform method, and two alternative filtration methods (Sterivex and 25-mm-diameter polycarbonate filters) were evaluated, using the addition of Nitrosopumilus maritimus cells to track the recovery of DNA from marine Archaea. After the comparison, a simplified phenol-chloroform extraction method was developed and shown to be significantly superior, in terms of both the recovery and the purity of DNA, to other protocols now generally applied to environmental studies. The simplified and optimized method was used to quantify ammonia-oxidizing Archaea at different depth intervals in a fjord (Hood Canal) by quantitative PCR. The numbers of Archaea increased with depth, often constituting as much as 20% of the total bacterial community.
Parametric estimation of location and scale parameters in ranked set sampling

Abstract This paper develops parametric inference for the parameters of location-scale family of distributions based on a ranked set sample. Likelihood function incorporates within-set ranking errors into the model through a missing data mechanism. The maximum likelihood estimators of the location-scale and missing data model parameters are constructed and an EM-algorithm is provided. It is shown that the proposed estimator is robust against imperfect ranking error and provides higher efficiency over its competitors.
Jack Reeves and his science.

John T. (Jack) Reeves’ science is reviewed across the 37 years of his research career at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, a period which occupied approximately half his remarkable life. His contributions centered on understanding the inter-relatedness as well as the underlying mechanisms controlling the various components of the O2 transport system. We review here his studies on exercise performance; these encompassed about half his scientific output with the other half being devoted to the study of hypoxic pulmonary hypertension. Early studies concerned cardiac output, showing how it was a balance between O2 uptake and O2 extraction, and that cardiac output during exercise at high altitude was reduced, most likely because of decreased plasma volume and left ventricular filling. Jack's many studies addressed virtually every aspect of the O2 transport system—adding significantly to our understanding of the syndromes of altitude illness, the mechanisms by which ventilatory sensitivity to hypoxia and hypercapnia influenced ventilatory acclimatization, and the contributions of the various limbs of the autonomic nervous system on systemic blood pressure, vascular resistance and substrate utilization. His scientific career ended abruptly in 2004 when struck by a car while biking to work, but his legacy remains in his more than 385+ research articles or chapters, the 40+ fellows he trained, and the countless number of younger (and older) scientists for whom he served as a role model for learning how to scrutinize their data and present their findings in clear and sometimes bold prose. An integral man, he is sorely missed.
Computer Search Services and Information Brokering in Academic Libraries

The information explosion is bringing many changes to academic libraries. This article discusses some of the changes and results found during an investigative study of reference departments in forty-four libraries. The computer search services results deal with administrative concerns, organization and staffing, staff training, user education and orientation, fees, quick reference and end-user searching, and policy manuals. Discussed also are the information-fee-based services developed by several of the academic libraries visited. A short history of information brokering, characteristics of an informaiton broker, and charging methods are included. People who need information on demand can use either a library which offers a computer search service or a type of information broker.
Inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis: A possible mechanism for stress-induced hypertension

Essential hypertension, while considered to be idiopathic, may be due to a variety of physiologic and/or psychologic factors, including stress. A possible mechanism for stress-induced hypertension is the inhibition of prostaglandin (PG) synthesis by the release of corticoids in the stereotypical stress response. PGI2 and PGE2, acting as vasodilators are important antagonists to the pressor effects of norepinephrine. However, a decreased synthesis of these PGs due to higher cortisol levels associated with stress, would negate their vasodilatory action, thus favoring vasoconstriction due to vascular suprasensitivity to norepinephrine. PGF2 alpha, a vasoconstrictor thought to be synthesized in the brain in response to a stressor, may also play a key role in the pathogenesis of hypertension.
ELABORATION OF DESOXYRIBONUCLEASE BY STREPTOCOCCI IN THE RESTING STATE AND INHIBITION OF THE ENZYME BY A SUBSTANCE EXTRACTABLE FROM THE COCCI

As a preliminary to the study of desoxyribonuclease elaboration by resting cells, 34 strains of streptococci were examined for their capacity to produce desoxyribonuclease in broth cultures. The largest amounts of enzyme were found to be produced by strains belonging to Lancefield group A and by certain strains belonging to groups C and D. Many strains, especially those belonging to other groups, produced little or no enzyme. Washed cocci of certain strains elaborated desoxyribonuclease extracellularly upon suspending them in a solution containing an energy source, phosphate and magnesium ions. When any one of these factors was omitted, no enzyme was produced. The appearance of extracellular desoxyribonuclease was found to be inhibited by a variety of enzyme poisons, and this and other findings indicate that desoxyribonuclease is synthesized in the resting cell system. Cocci were found to contain a substance which partially inhibits the desoxyribonuclease formed by group A strains but which fails to inhibit the desoxyribonuclease formed by strains belonging to groups B and C or to inhibit the desoxyribonuclease derived from yeast, barley, and pancreas. The inhibitor of group A desoxyribonuclease has been identified as streptococcal ribonucleic acid. Preparations of ribonucleic acid derived from yeast differed from streptococcal ribonucleic acid in failing to inhibit the group A desoxyribonuclease.
Papillary thyroid carcinoma: demographics, treatment, and outcome in eleven pediatric patients treated at a single institution

We describe 11 cases (8 females, 3 males) of papillary thyroid carcinoma in children treated at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital over a 33-year period, and review the literature. Ages ranged from 7-25 years (median, 16 years). Six patients had primary papillary thyroid carcinoma. Five patients had secondary papillary thyroid carcinoma after treatment of Hodgkin's disease (n = 2), acute lymphoblastic leukemia (n = 2), and neuroblastoma (n = 1) with chemotherapy and cervical radiation. The typical presentation was either cervical lymphadenopathy or a thyroid mass of short duration. Treatment consisted of thyroidectomy, cervical lymph node dissection, and postoperative thyroid hormone replacement (n = 1), parathyroid reimplantation (n = 1), 131I ablation (n = 4), external-beam irradiation (n = 1), and chemotherapy with doxorubicin (n = 1) or carboplatin and topotecan (n = 1). Nine patients are alive without evidence of disease 3.0-22.4 years from diagnosis. One patient has persistent but stable disease 17.3 years after diagnosis. One patient relapsed with metastatic lung disease 0.3 years after the initial diagnosis. He continues to do well after a brief but unsustained complete radiographic remission of disease to combination chemotherapy with carboplatin and topotecan. Our review supports excellent long-term outcome for primary or secondary papillary thyroid carcinoma in pediatric patients although complications may require close follow-up in a multidisciplinary setting.
Fast phase-contrast velocity measurement in the steady state.

A new method of encoding flow velocity as image phase in a refocused steady-state free precession (SSFP) sequence, called steady-state phase contrast (SSPC), can be used to generate velocity images rapidly while retaining high signal. Magnitude images with refocused-SSFP contrast are simultaneously acquired. This technique is compared with the standard method of RF-spoiled phase contrast (PC), and is found to have more than double the phase-signal to phase-noise ratio (PNR) when compared with standard PC at reasonable repetition intervals (TRs). As TR decreases, this advantage increases exponentially, facilitating rapid scans with high PNR efficiency. Rapid switching between the two necessary steady states can be accomplished by the insertion of a single TR interval with no flow-encoding gradient. The technique is implemented in a 2DFT sequence and validated in a phantom study. Preliminary results indicate that further TR reduction may be necessary for high-quality cardiac images; however, images in more stationary structures, such as the descending aorta and carotid bifurcation, exhibit good signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and PNR. Comparisons with standard-PC images verify the PNR advantage predicted by theory.
Forward to Better Understanding of Optical Characterization and Development of Colored Polyamides for the Infra-Red/Laser Welding, Part II - Family of Colored Polyamides

Recent developments were oriented towards optical characterization (laser transmission, absorption, etc.) at a wide range of the infrared wavelengths and optimized mechanical performance of polyamides (PA) for the infrared/laser through-transmission welding technology (TTLW).The influence of coloring technology and type of pigments being used was also analyzed. During this study, recommendations were developed for optimizing the non carbon black pigment loading in various non-reinforced and fiber-glass-reinforced PA 6 grades. Additionally, we will discuss the efficiency of an advanced method of J - color technology (structural methods of coloring effects) for TTLW of the colored PA based plastic.
Degradation of zirconate materials in ultra-high temperature reverse-flow pyrolysis reactors

A reverse-flow reactor enables the pyrolysis of hydrocarbons at temperatures up to 2000 °C to high value petrochemical products. Materials in the reactor hot zone, exposed to such extreme temperatures, are also subject to rapid oxidative cycling over a period of several seconds between a regeneration (heat addition) step that is mildly oxidizing and a pyrolysis (cracking) step that is strongly carburizing. This paper addresses the performance of a class of zirconate ceramics such as BaZrO3, SrZrO3, and La2Zr2O7 that have been tested in a laboratory scale reverse-flow reactor and compares the results with thermodynamic predictions. It is observed that zirconate ceramics degrade by decomposition to zirconia and the second oxide, vaporization of the second oxide, and ceramic dusting corrosion of zirconia that involves carbide-oxide inter-conversion and carbon precipitation. The pyrolysis reaction promotes carbon deposition and carburization of zirconia leading to the formation of a non-protective porous carbide layer. The regeneration reaction converts the carbide layer partially back to oxide while also oxidizing away some of the deposited carbon. Repeated cycles of pyrolysis and regeneration steps eventually result in the breakup of the bulk zirconate ceramic structure into powder or dust.
Performance analysis of spread spectrum modulation in data hiding

Watermarking or steganography technology provides a possible solution in digital multimedia copyright protection and pirate tracking. Most of the current data hiding schemes are based on spread spectrum modulation. A small value watermark signal is embedded into the content signal in some watermark domain. The information bits can be extracted via correlation. The schemes are applied both in escrow and oblivious cases. This paper reveals, through analysis and simulation, that in oblivious applications where the original signal is not available, the commonly used correlation detection is not optimal. Its maximum likelihood detection is analyzed and a feasible suboptimal detector is derived. Its performance is explored and compared with the correlation detector. Subsequently a linear embedding scheme is proposed and studied. Experiments with image data hiding demonstrates its effectiveness in applications.
Torsional Model Identification for Turbine-Generators

A method for identifying the parameters of a turbine-generator torsional model from measured data is presented. The method is based on the use of trajectory sensitivities and least squares to compute changes in model parameters. This method is illustrated by identifying the shaft stiffness and inertia constants of a torsional model from data collected by a Torsional Vibration Monitor.
Photoemission study of Nb-Ni glasses☆

Abstract The photoemission spectra for two Nb-Ni glasses are compared with those for the pure elements Nb and Ni. A decrease in the density of states at the Fermi level is found for glasses as compared with that of either pure element. The significance of this result as related to the formation of the glass is discussed.
Interior Design Education in the Year 2000: A Challenge to Change

Anticipating the year 2000 is a popular activity in the early years of the 1990s. This article presents perceptions about current and possible future trends and how these could influence and challenge the interior design profession and interior design education. Changing population, social structure, cultural values, economics, technology, and resources will influence the future course of any profession and education. Interior design will become more technical, complex, and specialized, and at the same time it will be more valued and creative. Within the context of technology and aesthetics, it is suggested that interior design continue its unique identity through a humanistic approach. To respond to global and professional changes in the new millennium, interior design education should experience modifications in substantive content, pedagogy, students, and formal structure. In the process of change, the relationship between education and the profession needs revision. All of this will take energy and creativity to develop and execute during the next decade.
Examining relations among mothers', fathers', and children's language use in a dyadic and triadic context

This study investigated mothers' and fathers' language use in dyadic and triadic contexts. Specific attention was paid to factors associated with the quantity and quality of mother and father language use in triadic settings. Sixty-three predominantly middle-class, two-parent families with toddlers (age 16 to 37 months) participated. Mother–child and father–child dyads and mother–father–child triads were observed in a laboratory setting during structured and free-play sessions. Results reveal differences in father and mother language usage across contexts and differential patterns of associations between fathers' and mothers' language use and children's language use in triadic settings. Mothers' language use in triadic settings was predicted by child age, maternal education, and maternal employment status. In contrast, father language use was related to child age, paternal sensitivity, and balanced co-parenting. Results are discussed in relation to Family Systems Theory and existing research on co-parenti...
Changes in Electromagnetic Properties of the Upper Atmosphere due to Rocket Effluents

Artificial reduction of the plasma concentrations in the ionosphere and magnetosphere can affect electromagnetic wave propagation. The molecular species found in rocket exhaust vapors promote recombination of electrons and ions (i.e., O + , H + , and He + ) in the upper atmosphere. This recombination produces localized regions with strong variations in radio refractive index. Regions of ionospheric plasma reduction produce focusing at high and very high frequencies and defocusing at very low frequencies. Subionospheric propagation in the vicinity of an artificial plasma hole can suffer the effects of multipath fading and defocusing by reflection at the sides of the hole. Should irregularities form because of the plasma gradients, amplitude scintillations will be introduced in waves passing through the region.
Regulation of the transmodulated epidermal growth factor receptor by cholera toxin and the protein phosphatase inhibitor okadaic acid

Addition of tumor promoting phorbol esters, such as phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), to many cell lines results in a decrease of 125I-epidermal growth factor (EGF) binding and increased serine/threonine phosphorylation of the EGF receptor in a process termed transmodulation. It is, however, unclear whether or not receptor phosphorylation is causally related to the inhibition of high affinity EGF binding. We have investigated the significance of phosphorylation/dephosphorylation events in the mechanism of PMA-induced transmodulation using the adenylate cyclase activator cholera toxin and the serine/threonine protein phosphatase inhibitor okadaic acid. In Rat-1 fibroblasts treated at 37 degrees C, PMA induced a rapid decrease in EGF binding which persisted for 3 hours. In contrast, cells exposed to PMA in the presence of cholera toxin exhibited a marked recovery of binding within 60 minutes. The PMA-stimulated decrease in binding correlated with a rapid increase in the phosphorylation state of the EGF receptor. While phosphorylation of the receptor was sustained at an elevated level for at least three hours in cells receiving PMA alone, EGF receptor phosphorylation decreased between 1 and 3 hours in cells treated with PMA and cholera toxin. Furthermore, the cholera toxin-stimulated return of EGF binding was inhibited by treatment with the phosphatase inhibitor okadaic acid. These results suggest that a cholera toxin-activated phosphatase can increase binding capacity of the transmodulated EGF receptor in Rat-1 cells. Cholera toxin treatment elicited a qualitatively similar response in cells transmodulated by platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF). Okadaic acid antagonized the natural return of binding observed in cells stimulated with PDGF alone, indicating that a dephosphorylation event may be required for the recovery of normal EGF binding after receptor transmodulation.
Analysis of the He ii 4686-Å (n = 4 to n = 3) Line Complex Excited in an Atomic-Beam Light Source*

The fine structure of the 4686-A (n = 4 to n = 3) line complex of ionized helium has been studied using a gaseous atomic-beam light source and a pressure-scanned Fabry–Perot spectrometer. The separations, intensities, and widths of the fine-structure components were found by computer analysis of the recorded spectra. With this technique we located some components with uncertainties as small as ± 0.2 mK, only about 1/500 of their full width at half intensity. In all, 11 of the 13 predicted fine-structure components were found at their quantum-electrodynamic positions, including two very weak, optically unresolved components whose existence has not been conclusively shown in past studies. The Lamb shifts of the 4S and 3S levels of He ii, calculated indirectly from the observed optical transitions, are, respectively, 60 ± 4 mK and 138.5 ± 1.6 mK. The observed relative intensities, characteristic of a gas at near zero pressure, appear to depend on at least two basic excitation mechanisms: simultaneous ionization–excitation from the ground state of the helium atom and excitation from the ground state of the helium ion. The first quantitative study of the widths of the components has shown that the excessive widths that have plagued the study of this line in the past are most likely due to momentum transfer during excitation of the helium atom by energetic electrons. For most of the components, source widths of 85 mK were observed, about ten times that expected in the atomic-beam source, while transitions arising from the 4S level were even broader, about 100 mK.
Dental Health Diet and Social Status among Central African Foragers and Farmers

An oral health survey of African pygmies and Bantu revealed significant contrasts that can be explained by differences in diet, social status, and oral hygiene. Pygmy men have fewer carious lesions and less tooth loss than pygmy women. Ethnographic data suggest that this results from sex differences in eating habits and access to cariogenicfoods. Pygmy "leaders" have much better dental health than "nonleaders." This status difference appears to be explained by social and dietary variables. T HIS ARTICLE PRESENTS THE RESULTS OF A DENTAL HEALTH SURVEY of pygmy hunter-gatherers and Bantu horticulturalists living in the Central African Republic and Zaire (Figure 1). One goal of the study was to test a series of hypotheses we formulated based on previous ethnographic research concerning correlations between a person's sex, social status, and diet. Another purpose of the survey was to collect information for use by archeologists and physical anthropologists who reconstruct prehistoric behavior patterns using dental evidence. By investigating the sociocultural variables that influence the dental health of ethnographically well-documented groups of hunter-gatherers and agriculturalists, we hoped to strengthen the empirical basis for interpreting variation in the dental health of prehistoric populations.
Major trends in the microbial etiology of nosocomial infection

To determine trends in the microbial etiology of nosocomial infections in the 1980s, surveillance data on the microbiology of documented nosocomial infection reported to the National Nosocomial Infections Surveillance System and from the University of Michigan Hospital were analyzed. Antimicrobial susceptibility data on selected pathogens from both sources were also reviewed. Overall, Escherichia coli decreased from 23% of infections in 1980 to 16% in 1986–1989, Klebsiella pneumoniae dropped from 7% to 5%, whereas coagulase negative staphylococci increased from 4% to 9% and Candida albicans increased from 2% to 5%. Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterobacter species and enterococci had minor increases, but antimicrobial resistant strains for these pathogens as well as coagulase-negative staphylococci were seen more frequently. In contrast to the 1970s, major shifts in the etiology of nosocomial infection have occurred in the decade of the 1980s. Taken as a whole, the shifts are away from more easily treated pathogens toward more resistant pathogens with fewer options for therapy. These shifts underscore the continued need for prevention and control to accompany new developments in therapy.
Balance‐of‐threat theory and the genesis of the gulf cooperation council: An interpretative case study

(1996). Balance‐of‐threat theory and the genesis of the gulf cooperation council: An interpretative case study. Security Studies: Vol. 5, No. 4, pp. 143-171.
Evaluation of ozone measurements from a tethered balloon-sampling platform at South Pole Station in December 2003

Abstract Vertical boundary-layer ozone profiles were measured from a tethered balloon platform during the 2003 Antarctic Tropospheric Chemistry Investigation (ANTCI) at South Pole Station, Antarctica. Electrochemical concentration cell (ECC) ozonesondes were used in obtaining 128 ascent and descent profile measurements to about 500 m height during 13–30 December 2003. Various data checks and intercomparisons were done to confirm the accuracy of the ozonesondes. The ozonesondes compared well to a surface ozone ultra-violet (UV) absorption monitor located next to the tether balloon site. During the 18-day period, ozonesonde measurement checks at the surface averaged 0.2±1.0 ppbv higher than the continuous ozone measurements under ambient concentrations ranging from 18 to 51 ppbv. This agreement was also consistent when compared to the nearby NOAA UV-monitor sampling at 17 m above ground level during well-mixed conditions near the surface. In addition to the single ECC sonde profiles, five dual ECC ozonesondes were run on the tether platform. Four release balloon-borne ozonesondes were also launched during the project. Under very sharp ozone gradient events, the release ozonesonde (with a rise rate of ∼4–6 m s−1) passed through the gradient layer too quickly to capture the detail as measured by the controlled tethersonde at ∼0.3 m s−1 ascent/descent rate. Another method of ozone profiling was also done utilizing the UV monitor at the tether site and a 135-m-long Teflon sampling line with a sampling inlet mounted to and raised with the tethered balloon. The ECC ozonesonde averaged about 0.7±0.8 ppbv lower than the long-line sampling method from eight profiles.
Food consumption, utilization and detoxification enzyme activity of larvae of three polyphagous noctuid moth species when fed the botanical insecticide rotenone

We assessed the effects of the isoflavonoid rotenone, an insecticidal allelochemical occurring in various legumes, on larval performance of three polyphagous noctuid species: the corn earworm (CEW), the fall armyworm (FAW) and the southern armyworm (SAW). As rotenone concentration was increased up to 1% fresh mass in an artificial diet, neither mortality (for all three species) nor food consumption (for SAW and FAW) was significantly affected, but developmental time of the latter two species was prolonged. In contrast, for CEW developmental time was shortened and food consumption declined, especially at the two highest rotenone concentrations. Final biomass of all three species declined as dietary rotenone increased. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was used to evaluate larval food utilization analogous to, but without the potential statistical problems of, the traditional ratio-based indices approximate digestibility (AD) and efficiency of conversion of digested food (ECD). Frass output, statistically adjusted to account for differences in consumption, increased with rotenone concentration for all three species, suggesting that, when ingested, this allelochemical interfered with the digestion and/or absorption of ingested food, especially at the higher concentrations tested. Significant statistical interactions in the ANCOVA necessitated the use of utilization plots to examine the linear regressions between biomass gain and absorption at each rotenone concentration. At the two highest concentrations, rotenone tended to reduce the amount of food absorbed by the larvae, as well as their ability to convert the absorbed food to biomass. When piperonyl butoxide, an inhibitor of the polysubstrate monooxygenase (PSMO) system known to metabolize rotenone, was added to the diet along with 0.5 or 1% rotenone, mortality increased significantly only for FAW, approaching or exceeding 50%. The only apparent effects of dietary rotenone on PSMO (aldrin epoxidase) activity (adjusted by ANCOVA for the covariate, crude homogenate protein) were for CEW, where activity decreased in all rotenone treatments compared to the control, and for SAW, where activity at the 3 lowest rotenone concentrations (0.001–0.1% fm) declined about 50% below that of larvae on the control diet, whereas at 0.5 and 1% rotenone, it increased approximately 2-fold over that on the control diet.
Capturing device mismatch in analog and mixed-signal designs

As feature size goes below 70 nm, process variation introduced device mismatch may cause over 40% performance variations and circuit failures especially for analog/mixed-signal designs. The location dependent correlations among devices and the large number of devices in some practical designs make it difficult to predict performance corners accurately and efficiently. This paper aims to provide an overview of possible methodologies and approaches that model and analyze device mismatch. In particular, the paper describes a new finite point device modeling technique that can speed up the analysis procedure, a new parametric reduction method and a novel Chebyshev Affine Arithmetic (CAA) based performance bound estimation approach.
Shade tolerance of temperate Asian bamboos: a harbinger of their naturalization in Pacific Northwest coniferous forests?

Bamboos native to temperate East Asian coniferous forests arrive with increasing frequency in the United States as horticultural imports, and some are becoming naturalized locally. Given the strong floristic and physiognomic similarities between East Asian and western North American coniferous forests, we asked whether these introduced bamboos could tolerate the varied light regimes within coniferous forests in their new range. Seven temperate Asian bamboos and one North American bamboo (Arundinaria gigantea) were grown within shade structures in an experimental garden; these structures reduced ambient light to three light levels (50, 70, 90 % shade) that occur routinely within coniferous forests in the Pacific Northwest. Species’ responses under these light levels were measured by their light response curves to photosynthesis, resource allocation to light or carbon harvesting centers inferred by CO2 response curves, and shifts amongst forms of leaf Chlorophyll. Bashania fargesii has lower chlorophyll content and photosynthetic rates under high shade (90 %) relative to other Asian species and to B. fargesii grown in 50 and 70 % shade. Bashania fargesii, Sasa kurilensis and A. gigantea also displayed lower photosynthetic rates under 90 % shade compared to plants grown in 50 and 70 % shade and lower electron transport capacity under 70 and 90 % shade compared to plants grown in 50 % shade. In contrast, Pleioblastus chino, Pleioblastus distichus, Pseudosasa japonica, Sasa palmata and Sasaella ramosa display strong tolerance of low light. Our results indicate these five Asian bamboos (and others yet to be introduced) could skirt a major environmental barrier to new species establishment in these North American forests. Measuring a species’ light response curve offers a reliable, rapid means to assess an immigrant species’ potential to tolerate forests’ varied light regimes.