cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Acceptability of male circumcision for prevention of HIV infection in Zambia

Numerous epidemiological and biological studies report male circumcision (MC) to have a significant protective effect against HIV-1 acquisition. This study assesses the acceptability of MC in four districts in Malawi, a country with high HIV-1 prevalence and low prevalence of MC. Thirty-two focus group discussions were conducted with 159 men and 159 women ages 16–80 years. Acceptability was lower in the north where the practice was little known, higher in younger participants and higher in central and southern districts where MC is practiced by a minority Muslim group (Yao). Barriers to circumcision included fear of infection and bleeding, cost, and pain. Facilitators included hygiene, reduced risk of STI, religion, medical conditions, and enhanced sexual pleasure. If MC services are introduced in Malawi, acceptance is likely to vary by region, but many parents and young men would use the services if they were safe, affordable and confidential.
Near Myopic Heuristics for the Fixed-Life Perishability Problem

This paper details the application of a class of heuristics to the Fixed-life Perishability Problem formulated by Nahmias 1975a and Fries 1975. Various assumptions for this model include i.i.d. demand, linear ordering, holding and penalty costs. Goods have a known fixed lifetime and perished goods cause a linear outdating cost to be incurred. The approach we use, that of developing heuristics from 'near myopic' bounds, involves viewing periodic inventory problems in the framework of the classic "newsboy" model. We exploit various properties of the problem under consideration to derive tight bounds on the newsboy parameters, thus leading to efficient bounds on the order quantities. Computational studies reveal that the heuristic policies are near optimal, and are easy to compute.
Legal Perspectives on the Interstate Incidence and Shifting of State and Local Taxes

Lawyers, especially constitutional lawyers, have long been concerned with the problems associated with the interstate incidence and shifting of state and local taxes. The Constitution has frequently been invoked as a restraint on the states' power to levy taxes on persons, property, or activities outside their borders. Yet the lawyer's view of tax incidence embodied in these constitutional disputes often bears little resemblance to the economist's. In recent years, however, lawyers have sought to import economic concepts of shifting and incidence into the legal analysis of the constitutional limitations on the states' power to export tax burdens to residents of other states. Despite the Supreme Court's refusal to constitutionalize the concept of excessive state tax exportation, lawyers' increased sensitivity to the economic issues associated with interstate incidence of state and local taxes may well have an impact on future court decisions and legislation in this domain.
Fatigue life prediction of small notched Ti–6Al–4V specimens using critical distance☆

Abstract This study investigated the method of estimating the fatigue strength of small notched Ti–6Al–4V specimen using the theory of critical distance that employs the stress distribution in the vicinity of the notch root. Circumferential-notched round-bar fatigue tests were conducted to quantify the effects of notch radius and notch depth on fatigue strength. The fatigue tests show that the larger notch radius increases the fatigue strength and the greater notch depth decreases the fatigue strength. The theory of critical distance assumes that fatigue damage can be correctly estimated only if the entire stress field damaging the fatigue fracture process zone is taken into account. Critical distance stress is defined as the average stress within the critical distance from notch root. The region from the notch root to the critical distance corresponds to the fatigue fracture process zone for crack initiation. It has been found that a good correlation exists between the critical distance stress and crack initiation life of small notched specimens if the critical distance is calibrated by the two notched fatigue failure curves of different notch root radii. The calibrated critical distances did not vary clearly over a wide range of fatigue failure cycles from medium-cycle low-cycle fatigue regime to high-cycle fatigue regime and have an almost constant value. This critical distance corresponds to the size of crystallographic facet at the fatigue crack initiation site for the wide range of fatigue cycles.
Transient IκB Kinase Activity Mediates Temporal NF-κB Dynamics in Response to a Wide Range of Tumor Necrosis Factor-α Doses

Dynamic properties of signaling pathways control their behavior and function. We undertook an iterative computational and experimental investigation of the dynamic properties of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)alpha-mediated activation of the transcription factor NF-kappaB. Surprisingly, we found that the temporal profile of the NF-kappaB activity is invariant to the TNFalpha dose. We reverse engineered a computational model of the signaling pathway to identify mechanisms that impart this important response characteristic, thus predicting that the IKK activity profile must transiently peak at all TNFalpha doses to generate the observed NF-kappaB dynamics. Experimental confirmation of this prediction emphasizes the importance of mechanisms that rapidly down-regulate IKK following TNFalpha activation. A refined computational model further revealed signaling characteristics that ensure robust TNFalpha-mediated cell-cell communication over considerable distances, allowing for fidelity of cellular inflammatory responses in infected tissue.
Discovery of Histone Modification Crosstalk Networks by Stable Isotope Labeling of Amino Acids in Cell Culture Mass Spectrometry (SILAC MS)

In this paper we describe an approach that combines stable isotope labeling of amino acids in cells culture, high mass accuracy liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry and a novel data analysis approach to accurately determine relative peptide post-translational modification levels. This paper describes the application of this approach to the discovery of novel histone modification crosstalk networks in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Yeast histone mutants were generated to mimic the presence/absence of 44 well-known modifications on core histones H2A, H2B, H3, and H4. In each mutant strain the relative change in H3 K79 methylation and H3 K56 acetylation were determined using stable isotope labeling of amino acids in cells culture. This approach showed relative changes in H3 K79 methylation and H3 K56 acetylation that are consistent with known histone crosstalk networks. More importantly, this study revealed additional histone modification sites that affect H3 K79 methylation and H3 K56 acetylation.
A Role for Preoptic Glutamate in the Regulation of Male Reproductive Behavior

Although much progress has been made toward understanding the role of the medial preoptic area (MPOA) in the regulation of male reproductive behaviors, the precise mechanisms responsible for its activation during mating are largely unclear. Several studies implicate glutamate in this response. However, not until recently was there direct evidence supporting this hypothesis. Results obtained using in vivo microdialysis showed that levels of glutamate increased in the MPOA during mating, particularly with ejaculation. Levels then decreased rapidly following ejaculation, during a period of sexual quiescence. The magnitude of this decrease correlated with time spent in quiescence. Additionally, central administration of glutamate uptake inhibitors increased levels of glutamate and facilitated behavior. Glutamate activation of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors in the MPOA is at least partly responsible for behavioral effects evoked by increase glutamate. This is evidenced by histological analysis of the MPOA, which shows that nearly all cells containing mating-induced Fos also contained NMDA receptors. Mating also increased phosphorylation of NMDA receptors, indicating receptor activation. Finally, bilateral microinjections of NMDA receptor antagonists inhibited copulation. This neurochemical, anatomical, and behavioral evidence points to a key role of preoptic glutamate in the regulation of sexual behavior in males. The implications of these findings are discussed.
Antisense Oligonucleotides Containing an Internal, Non-Nucleotide-Based Linker Promote Site-Specific Cleavage of RNA

We have designed and synthesized a series of novel antisense methylphosphonate oligonucleotide (MPO) cleaving agents that promote site-specific cleavage on a complementary RNA target. These MPOs contain a non- nucleotide-based linking moiety near the middle of the sequence in place of one of the nucleotide bases. The region surrounding the unpaired base on the RNA strand (i.e. the one directly opposite the non-nucleotide-linker) is sensitive to hydrolytic cleavage catalyzed by ethylenediamine hydrochloride. Furthermore, the regions of the RNA comprising hydrogen bonded domains are resistant to cleavage compared with single-stranded RNA alone. Several catalytic moieties capable of supporting acid/base hydrolysis were coupled to the non-nucleotide-based linker via simple aqueous coupling chemistries. When tethered to the MPO in this manner these moieties are shown to catalyze site-specific cleavage on the RNA target without any additional catalyst.
Characterization of inward-rectifier K+ channel inhibition by antiarrhythmic piperazine.

Strong inward-rectifier K+ (Kir) channels play a significant role in shaping the cardiac action potential: they help produce its long plateau and accelerate its rate of repolarization. Consequently, genetic deletion of the gene encoding the strongly rectifying K+ channel IRK1 (Kir2.1) prolongs the cardiac action potential in mice. In principle, broadening the action potential lengthens the refractory period, which may in turn be antiarrhythmogenic. Interestingly, previous studies showed that piperazine, an inexpensive and safe anthelmintic, both inhibits IRK1 channels and is antiarrhythmic in some animal preparations. This potential pharmacological benefit motivated us to further characterize the energetic, kinetic, and molecular properties of IRK1 inhibition by piperazine. We show how its blocking characteristics, in particular, its shallow voltage dependence, allow piperazine to be effective even in the presence of high-affinity polyamine blockers. We also examine the channel selectivity of piperazine ...
Distraction and Pedestrian Safety: How Talking on the Phone, Texting, and Listening to Music Impact Crossing the Street

As use of handheld multimedia devices has exploded globally, safety experts have begun to consider the impact of distraction while talking, text-messaging, or listening to music on traffic safety. This study was designed to test how talking on the phone, texting, and listening to music may influence pedestrian safety. 138 college students crossed an interactive, semi-immersive virtual pedestrian street. They were randomly assigned to one of four groups: crossing while talking on the phone, crossing while texting, crossing while listening to a personal music device, or crossing while undistracted. Participants distracted by music or texting were more likely to be hit by a vehicle in the virtual pedestrian environment than were undistracted participants. Participants in all three distracted groups were more likely to look away from the street environment (and look toward other places, such as their telephone or music device) than were undistracted participants. Findings were maintained after controlling for demographics, walking frequency, and media use frequency. Distraction from multimedia devices has a small but meaningful impact on college students’ pedestrian safety. Future research should consider the cognitive demands of pedestrian safety, and how those processes may be impacted by distraction. Policymakers might consider ways to protect distracted pedestrians from harm and to reduce the number of individuals crossing streets while distracted.
Electrical Properties of Tellurium at the Melting Point and in the Liquid State

The electrical resistivity, the Hall coefficient, and the thermoelectric power of spectroscopically pure tellurium decrease abruptly on melting. The Hall coefficient and the thermoelectric power remain positive above the melting point up to approximately 575\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}C where they reverse their sign and above which they remain negative up to the highest temperatures measured. The resistivity continues to decrease with rising temperature in the liquid until it approaches a constant value at about 650\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}C. The experimental results indicate that semiconducting properties persist in the liquid state and that a gradual transition to metallic conduction takes place at higher temperatures.
Steroid Secretion by Masculinizing and “Feminizing” Hilus Cell Tumors

The clinical course, histology, and steroid secretion observed in two patients with hilus cell tumors are presented. One patient had signs of virilism and the other had estrogenic signs only. Steroid secretion was examined by measuring peripheral and ovarian venous gradients and pre-and postoperative levels of hormones to explain the profound differences in the biological effects exerted by the neoplasms. In the patient with virilism, the tumor's major secretory product was testosterone (T), and the dominant biosynthetic pathway was pregnenolone (Pe) → 17-hydroxypregnenolone → 17-hydroxyprogesterone → androstenedione (Δ) → T. In the patient with estrogenic signs, the major secretory product was Δ, derived from a similar pathway of pregnenolone → 17-hydroxypregnenolone → 17-hydroxyprogesterone → Δ Circulating estrone and estradiol levels were elevated, but the tumor showed limited aromatase activity, as reflected by 60-to 1500-fold larger peripheral-ovarian venous gradients of Δ and T than estrone and estr...
Nonlinear analysis of laminated shells including transverse shear strains

Numerical results obtained using a doubly curved, shear deformable shell element are presented for geometrically nonlinear analysis of laminated composite shells. The element is based on an extension of Sanders' shell theory and accounts for the von Karman strains and transverse shear strains. The sample numerical results presented here for the geometrically nonlinear analysis of laminated composite shells should serve as references for future investigations.
TURBULENCE CLOSURE MODELING OF TWO-PHASE FLOWS

A second order turbulence closure model is developed for the numerical prediction of isothermal non-reacting, two-phase turbulent shear flows. This model is based on the two-equation (k - ∊) model but treats the continuous (gas) phase and (solid) particulate phase as separate interacting continua. The presence of the particles will increase the dissipation rate in the gas phase and additional terms based on the particle size and loading are added to the traditional k and ∊ equations. The model is tested by making predictions of the spreading rate and velocity decay in the developing region of the two-phase axisymmetric jet. The predictions agree favorably with available experimental data in this region.
Inversion charge redistribution model of the high-frequency MOS capacitance

Abstract The high-frequency semiconductor capacitance in an MOS structure is ordinarily calculated by a depletion-charge analysis approach assuming that there is no response of the inversion layer charge to the a.c. signal. The more realistic model, in which the inversion charge is allowed to be spatially redistributed at the high frequency, is treated here by the solution of the Poisson-Boltzmann equation incorporating an appropriate quasi-Fermi level for the inversion layer carriers. The inclusion of this effect leads to a much faster saturation of the capacitance and increases the value at strong inversion by 2–5 per cent for silicon at room temperature. It also predicts a shallow minimum less than 1 per cent below the asymptotic value. Agreement with experiment is shown to be excellent. An analytic expression for the asymptotic value is given.
Tensor fascia lata: neurosensory musculo-cutaneous free flap.

Abstract A tensor fascia lata musculo-cutaneous free flap has provided reconstruction of a traumatic lower leg defect in 1 operation. By inclusion of this flap's sensory nerve, an innervated musculo-cutaneous flap has been designed to satisfy the particular reconstructive requirement in certain areas for a neurosensory free flap.
Neutron scattering study of thermally excited density fluctuations in a dense classical fluid

Collective density fluctuations in $^{36}\mathrm{Ar}$ gas at 456 atm pressure and 295 K have been studied by thermal neutron scattering using time-of-flight techniques. Well-defined collective modes are observed for wave-vector transfers $\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\mathrm{k}}\ensuremath{\lesssim}0.1$ ${\mathrm{\AA{}}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ which become strongly damped at larger $k$. The data have been compared in detail with predictions of the generalized Enskog equation. Although extrapolation of the predictions to $k=0$ gives the correct transport coefficients to better than 5% accuracy, the generalized Enskog equation does not properly predict the wave-vector dependence of the scattering law.
An examination of stimulatory effects of ionizing radiation in plants

Abstract Stimulatory effects of ionizing radiations were investigated with X-rays in seeds ( Helianthus, Fagopyrum ), plants ( Fagopyrum ) and leaf disks ( Nicotiana and Phaseolus ). About 1,600 plants and over 400 leaf disks were employed and over 28,000 individual measurements were made. Small but significant growth increases were produced in certain instances but such results were not always reproducible from one experiment to another. Also, when increases did occur, they were not always produced by the same exposure levels. On the basis of these results—the great variability associated with the appearance of positive stimulatory effects and the relatively small increases that are produced—it is doubtful that ionizing radiations, except for genetic and plant-breeding applications, are likely to become useful in increasing agricultural crop yields on a commercial scale. Some of the data obtained in these experiments suggest that low exposures of radiation may result in depression of growth of dividing cells, but stimulation of growth of expanding cells.
WHEN COTORSION MODULES ARE PURE INJECTIVE

We characterize rings over which every cotorsion module is pure injective (Xu rings) in terms of certain descending chain conditions and the Ziegler spectrum, which renders the classes of von Neumann regular rings and of pure semisimple rings as two possible extremes. As preparation, descriptions of pure projective and Mittag–Leffler preenvelopes with respect to so-called definable subcategories and of pure generation for such are derived, which may be of interest on their own. Infinitary axiomatizations lead to coherence results previously known for the special case of flat modules. Along with pseudoflat modules we introduce quasiflat modules, which arise naturally in the model-theoretic and the category-theoretic contexts.
The effect of the reaction heat on kinetic analysis by TG under a rising temperature program. Part 1

Abstract In Parts 1 and 2 of this study (Thermochimica Acta 215 (1993) 83 and 97), the effect of the reaction heat changes on the rising temperature program was accounted for by using a relationship between the sample's temperature T and time t as a function of the degree of conversion α. The computer simulation and kinetic analysis in those publications dealt with two extreme situations. In the present study, the more common case is considered, in which the temperature recorded by the thermocouple has a value between those of the sample and the furnace. As before, a simulation of TG, DTG and T-t curves has been made, and a kinetic analysis has been achieved for the calculation of the Arrhenius parameters and the determination of the reaction mechanisms using the integral or differential methods. The results obtained show that either the kinetic parameters or the reaction mechanism changes as a result of the reaction heat. To obtain the correct mechanism and an accurate value of the kinetic parameters, it was found advantageous to use the initial decomposition data, rather than data for the whole decomposition period. The use of the initial decomposition data, however, makes it difficult to distinguish the mechanism but this can be overcome by using both single and multiple heating-rate kinetic analysis.
Vibrational lineshapes of adsorbates: the role of substrate electronic excitations

Abstract The vibrational spectrum of an atom or molecule adsorbed on a metallic surface is influenced by the dynamic interaction between the localized oscillator and the continuum of electron-hole pair excitations in the solid. Features of an exactly soluble model for this interacting system are presented, the local spectral function is obtained in terms of calculable level shift and broadening functions, and some prototypical numerical results are displayed and discussed.
Undistributing Work Through Writing: How Technical Writers Manage Texts in Complex Information Environments

This article presents findings from a recent study of mediated writing in a technical writing firm to examine distributed work conditions and how they affect the practices of individual technical writers. Distribution of labor, texts, and technologies for producing documentation creates complex information environments that writers must negotiate. In doing so, they practice two kinds of expertise central to technical writing as a profession—technological and rhetorical skill. This article examines how those skills are affected by distributed work.
SU-E-T-663: Extended TrueBeam Patient-Independent Phase Space Library for the 6X, 6XFFF, 10X and 10XFFF Radiotherapy Beams

Purpose: To develop a patient‐independent IAEA‐compliant phase space database using accurate geometry representation of the treatment head components imported from CAD (Computer‐Aided‐Design) drawings and a physics list exploration for the specific materials of the linac treatment head. Methods: Geant4.9.4 was employed to simulate the TrueBeam 6X, 6XFFF, 10X and 10XFFF photon beams. Electron beamtransport in the linac was simulated with Parmela and used as input into dose calculations. Geometry components were tessellated solids, i.e. Generalized‐Dynamic‐Markup‐Language files, extracted from mechanical CAD drawings. A phase space scorer was implemented above the upper jaws on a cylindrical surface. The simulations were run on the Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud. Dose calculations in a water phantom (with 6×6×4 mm3 voxels) were performed using two physics lists, Standard Option‐0 and Low‐Energy Livermore/Penelope, with a 10um range‐cut. The Urban93 and Goudsmit‐Saunderson models were considered for electron multiple‐scattering, while Tsai and 2BN models for electron Bremsstrahlung angular generators. Results: The maximum dose difference between simulation and experiment was <1% for the percent depth dose curves and <3% for in‐field dose profiles. For large fields, the simulated dose profile horns were smaller by 2% for the 6X beam and larger by 3% for the 10X beam compared to the experiment. Simulations using the Goudsmit‐Saunderson model reproduced the experiment with higher accuracy than Urban93, causing a 3x CPU increase. No CPU penalty or accuracy differences were observed in simulations using the Tsai versus the 2BN angular generators. The Standard Option‐0 list has the advantage of providing 2x CPU speedup and can be used with a range cut of 0.1mm for medical physics applications above 1MeV, ensuring the same accuracy as the Low‐Energy Livermore/Penelope list. Conclusions: We developed an extended TrueBeam phase space database using high precision geometry implementation from CAD that can be used for future medical physics user applications. Work supported by Varian Medical Systems
Arsenite resistance inListeria monocytogenes

Abstract A total of 74 isolates of Listeria (53 L. monocytogenes , ten L. innocua , three L. ivanovii , six L. welshimeri and two L. seligeri ) were evaluated for their ability to grow in the presence of 100 μg ml −1 sodium arsenite. Six L. monocytogenes and one L. innocua strains were arsenite-resistant. There appeared to be a relationship between arsenite resistance and serotype, with five of the six arsenite-resistant strains of L. monocytogenes being serotype 4, and the incidence of arsenite resistance being substantially higher in type 4 L. monocytogenes than type 1 (63% vs 3%). Plasmid profiles of selected strains indicated that arsenite resistance is not a plasmid-linked trait in Listeria .
The interactions of tropolone with magnesium ions and tubulin.

Abstract Tropolone, a simple analog of colchicine, interacts with Mg2+ with the formation of a 1:1 complex and an apparent equilibrium binding constant Kb of 1.4 · 104 M−1 in neutral aqueous solution at 25°C. The tropolone-Mg2+ complex, but not tropolone, is fluorescent. Since tubulin binds Mg2+ (Frigon, R.P. and Timasheff, S.N. (1975) Biochemistry 14, 4567–4573), previous reports of tropolone interaction with tubulin in Mg2+-containing buffers must be critically re-examined. Fluorescence and difference absorption spectroscopy experiments performed at essentially constant Mg2+ activity indicate that tubulin does bind tropolone, but the optical effects are too weak to use in quantitative studies.
Early Prediction of Initiation of Abstinence From Cocaine

The authors administered a five-item craving questionnaire daily to 86 outpatients to determine whether initial craving scores predicted the likelihood of initiation of abstinence within a 30-day period. Patients with higher mean craving scores during the first 3 days of the study were less likely to initiate abstinence. However the relationship between craving and abstinence initiation was not linear. Rather, patients in the top quartile of craving scores were significantly less likely to abstain than were patients in the lower three quartiles. The findings suggest that this rapid, easily administered craving questionnaire may have short-term predictive validity.
Microwave, air and combined microwave–air-drying parameters of pumpkin slices

Abstract Pumpkin slices (Cucurbita maxima) which weighs 50 g with moisture of 9.31 g water/g dry solids, were dried using three drying methods, microwave, air and combined microwave–air. Drying continued until slice moisture reduced to 0.1 g water/g dry solids. Two different microwave output powers 160 and 350 W were used in the microwave drying. Drying treatments in air-drying were 50 and 75 °C and 1 m/s fan speed. The combination drying in which microwave and air-drying were applied together was four different combination levels. Drying periods lasted 125–195, 45–90 and 31–51 min for microwave, air and combined microwave–air-drying, respectively, depending on the drying level. Energy consumption was 0.23–0.34, 0.61–0.78 and 0.29–0.42 kW h, respectively. In this study, measured values were compared with predicted values obtained from Page's semi-empirical equation. Optimum drying period, colour and energy consumption was obtained when microwave and air-drying was applied simultaneously and the optimum combination level was 350 W microwave applications at 50 °C.
Study of singlet and triplet 2,6-difluorophenylnitrene by time-resolved infrared spectroscopy.

The solution-phase photochemistry of 2,6-difluorophenyl azide was studied by time-resolved infrared (TRIR) spectroscopy. A vibrational band of singlet 2,6-difluorophenyl nitrene (1N) was observed at 1404 cm-1 between 243 and 283 K. At ambient temperature, it was not possible to detect this intermediate. At 298 K, only the decay products of the singlet nitrene, the isomerized products ketenimine (K) and triplet-2,6-difluorophenyl nitrene (3N), were observed at 1576 and 1444 cm-1, respectively. The assignments are consistent with density functional theory calculations and previous studies of this system by laser flash photolysis techniques with UV−visible detection.
A Multi-Parameter Platform For Gas Sensing Using Semiconducting Metal Oxide Films

A multi-parameter sensor platform for engineering gas responsive semiconducting metal oxide (SMO) materials and gas sensors is demonstrated. The platform combines a chemiresistor with a Metal Oxide Semiconductor (MOS) capacitor for the detection of oxidation-reduction reactions occurring in SMO films. With this platform, changes in resistance, work function, and capacitance of the SMO film can be simultaneously measured upon exposure to reducing or oxidizing gases, such as NOx, CO, H2O or O2. The relative contributions of materials parameters on sensor response can be elucidated from the resulting measurements and utilized for improved understanding of sensing mechanisms and optimizing sensor design.
Systematic study of the radion in the compact Randall-Sundrum model

We systematically study the question of identification and consistent inclusion of the radion, within the Lagrangian approach, in a two-brane Randall-Sundrum model. Exploiting the symmetry properties of the theory, we show how the radion can be identified unambiguously and give the action to all orders in the radion field and the metric. Using the background field method, we expand the theory to quadratic orders in the fields. We show that the most general classical solutions, for the induced metric on the branes in the case of a constant radion and a factorizable four-dimensional metric, correspond to Einstein spaces. We discuss extensively the diagonalization of the quadratic action. Furthermore, we obtain the four-dimensional effective theory from this and study the question of the spectrum as well as the couplings in these theories.
Anisotropic dielectric constant of Bi8Te7S5

Abstract The dielectric constant of the semimetal Bi 8 Te 7 S 5 determined from oblique incidence reflectivity data is found to be highly anisotropic and temperature dependent.
Individual bumblebees vary in response to disturbance: a test of the defensive reserve hypothesis

Bees may leave their nest in the event of an attack, but this is not their only response. Here, we examine the behavior of those individuals that remain inside the nest during a disturbance. Specifically, we test the hypothesis that bee workers usually exhibiting high levels of inactivity (i.e., ‘lazy’ bees) may function as defensive reserves that are more likely to respond when the colony is disturbed. We explore this hypothesis by simulating vertebrate attacks by vibrating or blowing carbon dioxide into two colonies on alternating days and measuring the movements and tasks performed by bees inside the nest. Our results show that regardless of the disturbance type, workers increase guarding behavior after a disturbance stops. Although previously inactive bees increased their movement speed inside the nest when the disturbance was vibration, they were not more likely to leave the nest (presumably to attack the simulated attacker) or switch to guarding behavior for any disturbance type. We therefore reject the hypothesis that inactive Bombus impatiens bumblebees act as defensive reserves, and propose alternative hypotheses regarding why many workers remain inactive inside the nest.
A boundary element method based on Cauchy integrals for some linear quadratic boundary control problems on a circle

For certain types of elliptic boundary control problems, the boundary element method has considerable advantage over the traditional finite element or finite difference methods because of the reduction of dimensionality in computations. In this paper we examine a variant of such boundary integral methods based on Cauchy integrals. The cost functional here contains only finitely many quadratic terms related to sensory data at those finite interior points. We see that the numerical efficiency of this approach hinges largely on the complexity of the inverse of a certain boundary integral operator. In the case of a circle, such an inverse is readily obtainable and entire computations require only a small effort to yield useful numerical information about the optimal control. Other general situations are also discussed.
LOCAL VOLUME-AVERAGED EQUATIONS OF MOTION FOR SUSPENSIONS IN SECOND-ORDER FLUIDS

The local volume averages of the equations of motion as well as the appropriate boundary conditions are developed for a flowing suspension of non-neutrally buoyant, uniform spheres in an incompressible, weak, second-order fluid under conditions such that inertial effects can be neglected. These equations do not represent an asymptotic theory with respect to the volume fraction of solids. Higher order terms have been retained everywhere, except where it has been necessary to estimate the stress distribution on the surface of each sphere. In estimating the stress distribution on the surface of each sphere, we have assumed that the suspension is sufficiently dilute that the disturbance neighborhoods associated with any two spheres do not significantly overlap. The resulting local volume-averaged equations of motion and their boundary conditions involve no free or undetermined parameters. For the special case of a very dilute suspension of neutrally buoyant spheres and for a special class of flows of neutrall...
Event Location and Vagueness

Most event-referring expressions are vague it is utterly difficult, if not impossible, to specify the exact spatiotemporal location of an event from the words that we use to refer to it. We argue that in spite of certain prima facie obstacles, such vagueness can be given a purely semantic (broadly supervaluational) account.
Inhibition of Platelet-Derived Growth Factor-AB Signaling Prevents Electromechanical Remodeling of Adult Atrial Myocytes that Contact Myofibroblasts

Background Persistent atrial fibrillation (PAF) results in electromechanical and structural remodeling by mechanisms that are poorly understood. Myofibroblast proliferation and fibrosis are major sources of structural remodeling in PAF. Myofibroblasts also interact with atrial myocytes via direct physical contact and release of signaling molecules, which may contribute to remodeling. Objective To determine whether myofibroblasts contribute to atrial myocyte electromechanical remodeling via direct physical contact and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) signaling. Methods Myofibroblasts and myocytes from adult sheep atria were co-cultured for 24 hours. Alternatively adult sheep atrial myocytes were exposed to 1ng/mL recombitant PDGF AB peptide for 24 hours. Results Myocytes making contact with myofibroblasts demonstrated significant reduction (P ≤ .05) in peak L-type calcium current density, shortening of action potential duration (APD), and reduction in calcium transients. These effects were blocked by pretreatment with a PDGF-AB neutralizing anti-body. Heterocellular contact also severely disturbed the localization of the L-type calcium channel. Myocytes exposed to recombinant PDGF-AB peptide for 24 hours demonstrated reduced APD50, APD80 and Peak L-type calcium current. Pretreatment with a PDGF-AB neutralizing antibody prevented these effects. Finally, while control atrial myocytes did not respond in a 1:1 manner to pacing frequencies of 3Hz or higher, atrial myocytes from hearts that were tachypaced for 2 months and normal myocytes treated with PDGF-AB for 24 hours could be paced up to 10Hz. Conclusions In addition to leading to fibrosis, atrial myofibroblasts contribute to electromechanical remodeling of myocytes via direct physical contact and release of PDGF-AB, which may be a factor in PAF-induced remodeling.
The biological oxidation of 2,2-dimethyloctanoic acid

Abstract The administration of 2,2-dimethyl [1- 14 C]octanoic acid to rats results in the urinary excretion of four 14 C-labeled polar metabolites. Three of these have been identified as 2,2-dimethyladipic acid, 2,2-dimethyl-7-hydroxyoctanoic acid, and 2,2-dimethyl-7-ketooctanoic acid. The same products are also formed during the incubation of 2,2-dimethyloctanoate with rat-liver slices. These results suggest that either the initial oxidative attack is not specific for the co-position, or that ω- and ω-1-oxidation products are interconverted enzymically.
The Effect of Water on the Work of Adhesion at Epoxy Interfaces by Molecular Dynamics Simulation

Molecular dynamics simulation can be used to explore the detailed effects of chemistry on properties of materials. In this paper, two different epoxies found in aerospace resins are modeled using molecular dynamics. The first material, an amine-cured tetrafunctional epoxy, represents a composite matrix resin, while the second represents a 177°C-cured adhesive. Surface energies are derived for both epoxies and the work of adhesion values calculated for the epoxy/epoxy interfaces agree with experiment. Adding water -- to simulate the effect of moisture exposure -- reduced the work of adhesion in one case, and increased it in the other. To explore the difference, the various energy terms that make up the net work of adhesion were compared and the location of the added water was examined.
Executive dysfunction in subcortical ischaemic vascular disease

Background: Executive dysfunction has been reported in patients with subcortical-frontal pathology, even in the absence of dementia. Objective: This study was undertaken to determine if impairments in executive functioning could be found in non-demented patients with subcortical lacunes. Methods: Cross sectional comparison between older control subjects (n=27) and non-demented patients with one or more subcortical lacunes (n=12). All participants were administered a neuropsychological test battery incorporating three measures of executive functioning, the Stroop interference test, California card sorting test, and the initiation-perseveration subtest of the Mattis dementia rating scale. Results: No group differences were found on measures of recent verbal memory, language, or spatial ability. Normal controls performed better than patients with lacunes in visual memory. On the Stroop interference test, patients with lacunes performed as well as controls on the colour naming condition but slower on the interference condition. Patients with lacunes also generated fewer correct sorts on the California card sort test and achieved lower scores on the initiation-perseveration subtest. Executive measures were correlated with extent of white matter signal hyperintensity but not number of lacunes. Conclusion: Subcortical ischaemic vascular disease is associated with subtle declines in executive functioning and visual memory, even in non-demented patients. The pattern of cognitive impairment after subcortical lacunes is consistent with models of subcortical-frontal circuits.
A possible role of electrode filming in abnormal deposition of alloys

Abstract An examination was made of the composition of binary alloys that form deposits whose composition varies relatively little with changes in solution composition or current density. It was found for an appreciable number of these deposits that the atomic ratio of the two metals in the deposits was the ratio of two small whole numbers. This data lends support to the idea that the cause of these abnormal deposition processes is the fact that deposition in these systems occurs by reduction of an insoluble film or a complex ion trapped on the surface of the electrode rather than by reduction of ions that are in thermodynamic equilibrium with the ions in solution. These abnormal plating processes include anomalous codeposition and induced codeposition. In agreement with results from studies of electroreduction of insoluble solids, the simple ratios of the metals in most cases were not the same as the ratios that would be expected by complete reduction of reasonable compounds. This may indicate that the film formation on the cathode involves polymeric anions such as occurs in chromium plating.
Mass wasting and subaerial weathering in guyot formation : the Hawaiian and Canary Ridges as examples

By using a combination of bathymetry and topography in the computerized GRASS 3D package, guyot evolution has been determined on the fast-moving Pacific plate for the subaerial, low sloped Hawaiian Island chain. On the slow-moving African plate, the timing of guyot formation has been determined for the subaerial, steeper sloped Canary Islands chain. In the Hawaiian chain, the Niihau Island platform was already essentially formed, although there is a platform at the 180 m elevation on Kauai Island if the remaining peaks are discounted. By Fuerteventura Island in the Canary chain the seamount/island has already been flattened. Both of these platforms are far above the influence of wave cutting. The causal agent of flattening is primarily mass wasting by landsliding, caused in part by earthquake activity on the moving plates. This disproves the subsidence and wavecut theory of guyot formational processes in that the guyot is already formed before it subsides. The islands lie in the tropical coral zone, yet coral formation has little effect on the flattening process. This may be because the turbidity from slumps kills the coral. This exercise also gives a time limit for the reduction of pristine volcanic slopes to the typical guyot surface, that time being between one and four million years. It is apparent that wave cutting merely polishes the stone, applying the finishing patina.
Elena Poniatowska: An Intimate Biography

Elena Poniatowska: An Intimate Biography has nine chapters, including a foreword by Carlos Fuentes, a preface, and an introduction. Each chapter has a title that gives an idea of what it will addre...
Workshop delves into research on Antarctic's Ross Orogen

The Transantarctic Mountains, one of Earth's large mountain belts, span over 3500 km between the Weddell Sea and northern Victoria Land near the Ross Sea (Figure 1). The modem Transantarctic Mountains represent an asymmetric rift-shoulder uplift of Cenozoic age, but they are underlain by an early Paleozoic mountain belt referred to as the Ross orogen. Compared with other well-studied Phanerozoic orogenic belts, geological investigation of the Transantarctic Mountains began in earnest only in the late 1950s with the International Geophysical Year program. Despite limited access, great international progress has improved our understanding of the Transantarctic Mountains tectonic evolution, particularly with regard to Ross orogenesis. There is clearly a need for further Earth science research in the Transantarctic Mountains. To develop better models of Ross orogenesis, we must expand our knowledge in the critical areas of stratigraphy, geochronology, structural geology and kinematics, isotope geochemistry, petrology, and air-borne and over-ice geophysics.
Review of SiGe process technology and its impact on RFIC design

In this paper, we review recently published SiGe BiCMOS technologies for RFIC design. Performance and integration trends in SiGe HBT's are discussed. The performance of passive devices, such as inductors, plays a key role in RF design. We review approaches to realizing high-Q inductor on a Si substrate. Finally, the interaction of HBT performance with design is illustrated through LNA design.
Lyapunov Exponents, Singularities, and a Riddling Bifurcation

There are few examples in dynamical systems theory which lend themselves to exact computations of macroscopic variables of interest. One such variable is the Lyapunov exponent which measures the average attraction of an invariant set. This article presents a family of noninvertible transformations of the plane for which such computations are possible. This model sheds additional insight into the notion of what it can mean for an attracting invariant set to have a riddled basin of attraction.
Regulatory interactions maintaining self-renewal of human embryonic stem cells as revealed through a systems analysis of PI3K/AKT pathway

Motivation: Maintenance of the self-renewal state in human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) is the foremost critical step for regenerative therapy applications. The insulin-mediated PI3K/AKT pathway is well appreciated as being the central pathway supporting hESC self-renewal; however, the regulatory interactions in the pathway that maintain cell state are not yet known. Identification of these regulatory pathway components will be critical for designing targeted interventions to facilitate a completely defined platform for hESC propagation and differentiation. Here, we have developed a systems analysis approach to identify regulatory components that control PI3K/AKT pathway in self-renewing hESCs. Results: A detailed mathematical model was adopted to explain the complex regulatory interactions in the PI3K/AKT pathway. We evaluated globally sensitive processes of the pathway in a computationally efficient manner by replacing the detailed model by a surrogate meta-model. Our mathematical analysis, supported by experimental validation, reveals that negative regulators of the molecules IRS1 and PIP3 primarily govern the steady state of the pathway in hESCs. Among the regulators, negative feedback via IRS1 reduces the sensitivity of various reactions associated with direct trunk of the pathway and also constraints the propagation of parameter uncertainty to the levels of post receptor signaling molecules. Furthermore, our results suggest that inhibition of negative feedback can significantly increase p-AKT levels and thereby, better support hESC self-renewal. Our integrated mathematical modeling and experimental workflow demonstrates the significant advantage of computationally efficient meta-model approaches to detect sensitive targets from signaling pathways. Availability and implementation: FORTRAN codes for the PI3K/AKT pathway and the RS-HDMR implementation are available from the authors upon request. Contact: ude.ttip@1bpi Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Narrative Review: Diseases That Masquerade as Infectious Cellulitis

For cellulitis that does not respond to conventional antimicrobial treatment, clinicians should consider, among other explanations, several noninfectious disorders that might masquerade as infectious cellulitis. Diseases that commonly masquerade as this condition include thrombophlebitis, contact dermatitis, insect stings, drug reactions, eosinophilic cellulitis (the Wells syndrome), gouty arthritis, carcinoma erysipelatoides, familial Mediterranean fever, and foreign-body reactions. Diseases that uncommonly masquerade as infectious cellulitis include urticaria, lymphedema, lupus erythematosus, sarcoidosis, lymphoma, leukemia, Paget disease, and panniculitis. Clinicians should do an initial diagnostic work-up directed by the findings from a detailed history and complete physical examination. In many cases, skin biopsy is the only tool that helps identify the correct diagnosis. Special tests may also be needed.
Liquid markets and competition

Abstract A market is liquid if no individual's actions have a big effect on the prices of goods traded in that market. Perfectly competitive markets are therefore perfectly liquid. It is well known that market liquidity can be achieved by increasing the number of traders so that individual trades are small compared to total trades. We show that even when there are only few traders, market liquidity can be achieved through large short sales in which net trades are small relative to gross trades. In particular, for a natural variant of the market game which permits unlimited short sales, we show that there is always a Nash equilibrium allocation arbitrarily close to a competitive equilibrium allocation. Of course, not all NE are near competitive. Only the large-short-sales NE are nearly liquid and hence close to CE.