cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Design of the Integrated Intelligent Detection Platform for Electric Energy Measuring Device

For effectively detect and estimate the performance of various electric energy measuring devices, this paper proposes an integrated intelligent detection platform for the electric energy measuring device, which includes detection hardware, software and a good communication between hardware and software. With the study on the power system, communication circuit, voltage and current loop, data processing executive board and carrier communication, the hardware of integrated intelligent detection platform is designed. It also gives the software framework of detection platform and the design of information interaction for software and hardware. The integrated intelligent electric energy measuring device can greatly save time and improve detection efficiency.
Using Connected Vehicle Data to Evaluate Impact of Secondary Crashes on Indiana Interstates

Interstate crashes often result in significant queuing, which can lead to secondary crashes in or at the back of the queue. These secondary crashes are of national concern and their occurrence and duration of traffic impact can now be assessed with connected vehicle data. This study evaluated 195 unique incidents in 2019 that involved one or more secondary crashes. Approximately 84% of the secondary crashes led to property damage only (PDO) whereas 15% and 1% of the secondary crashes led to personal injuries (PI) and fatalities (F) respectively. This study uses commercially available connected vehicle data to assess the impact of these secondary crashes on Interstate mobility using metrics such as event duration time and road closure time. The connected vehicle data for events longer than 2 hours showed that 29% of evaluated incidents had a total road closure and 30% of incidents over 2 hours had event duration longer than 5 hours. This study summarizes the mobility impacts of secondary crashes on Indiana Interstates and provides foundational data for agencies to invest in public safety training to accelerate incident clearance to reduce secondary crashes.
Synergistic effects of ascorbic acid, low methoxy pectin, and EDTA on stabilizing the natural red colors in acidified beverages

Abstract Betacyanins are one of the reddish to violet betalain pigments that are unstable under an oxygen atmosphere, greatly limiting their application and commercial potential. To improve the betacyanins color stability, we explored synergistic effects between ascorbic acid (AA), polysaccharides, and Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) to improve the color stability of betacyanins in acidified conditions. We found that alginate and low methoxy pectin (LMP), among the thirteen studied polysaccharides, increased the red color stability of beetroot extract at pH 3.2 during thermal treatment. Our results proved that there is a synergistic effect between polysaccharides, AA, and EDTA, for enhancing the betacyanins color stability. Further, the red color in a model sports beverage recipe protected by the LMP, AA, and EDTA was stable for up to 45 days at room temperature and under natural light. The synergistic stabilization of betacyanins in acidified beverages was confirmed through ATR-FTIR and quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation analyses.
The U3 Region of the Long Terminal Repeat of a Subgroup A Transformation-defective Rous Sarcoma Virus (tdPH2010) Converts a Noncytopathic Virus to a Cytopathic Virus

The molecular basis of the cytopathic effects (CPE) of the transformation-defective avian retrovirus mutant, tdPH2010, was studied. tdPH2010 is a subgroup A virus isolated from the Schmidt-Ruppin (NY) subgroup A strain (SRA(NY)). Subgroup A avian retroviruses are generally considered noncytopathic. Integrated tdPH2010 was molecularly cloned from infected quail cells. A noncytopathic, transformation-defective control strain, BSU, was created by deleting the src gene from the molecularly cloned wild type SRA(NY) virus. Chimeras between tdPH2010 and BSU were constructed and viruses were recovered from transfected chick embryo fibroblasts. Growth curves of cells infected with chimeric viruses indicated that the long terminal repeat (LTR) of tdPH2010 converts BSU to a cytopathic virus. Nucleotide sequencing revealed two point mutations unique to tdPH2010 in the U3 region of LTR at positions –126 and –23 from the transcription start site. Both mutations were located inside or near the promoter/enhancer elements of U3. The mutation at –126 (G to T) converted one of the very well-conserved pentanucleotide repeat (PRE) motifs from GGTGG to GGTGT. The other at –23 (G to A) is located next to the TATA box. The G at this position is conserved in all other known avian retrovirus promoters.
Australia: The Riches and Challenges of Commodities (TN)

Australia's Prime Minister Kevin Rudd faced a daunting task that he never imagined he would have to face when he was elected two years ago. Australia at that time was poised to enter its 17th year of uninterrupted growth. Commodity exports were booming, largely driven by China's insatiable appetite for raw materials. Then the global financial crisis erupted in 2008, brewing challenges for the world's biggest exporter of coal and iron ore. Prime Minister Rudd pushed for massive stimulus packages to revive domestic consumption and demand. Yet as an economy heavily dependent on trade, tumbling commodity prices brewed difficult times for Australia's trade deficit and its persistent large current account deficit. What was in hold for Australia's deficit, which had been in the red all but four years since 1950? In addition, how should policymakers address the intense concerns regarding China's growing interest in Australia the form of direct investments, particularly in Australia's prized natural resources sector?
Long-term enhancement of hippocampal synaptic transmission and the acquisition of spatial information

The hypothesis that memories are stored as a specific distribution of strengths in a population of modifiable synapses was examined by the bilateral induction of long-term enhancement in synapses of the main afferent fiber system to the hippocampal formation in rats. Brief, high- frequency activation of the perforant pathway in chronically prepared animals resulted in a persistent increase in the field EPSP and population spike, measured extracellularly in fascia dentata. This treatment resulted in a profound and persistent deficit in the acquisition of new spatial information in a task requiring spatial “reference” memory, and disruption of recently acquired spatial information. Well-established spatial memory was completely unaffected, however, as was the acquisition of spatial information into short-term “working” memory. These results support the hypothesis that, during the formation of “cognitive maps,” spatial information must be temporarily stored at modifiable synapses at the input stage to the hippocampal formation, but that this information is not needed once the representation of the environment is well established. Spatial working memory, in a familiar environment, appears not to depend on the distribution of synaptic strengths in this system at all.
Income Generation in Recovering Heroin Users: A Comparative Analysis of Legal and Illegal Earnings

Research has shown employment to be a central mediator to sustained recovery and community reentry for substance abusers; however, heroin users have lower employment rates and report lower mean incomes than other drug users. The authors of the present study assessed income generating behaviors of substance users recruited from substance abuse treatment facilities (N=247). Heroin users had higher mean incomes from illegal sources. Further, logistic regression analysis found heroin use to increase the likelihood of engagement in illegal income generating behaviors. As these results increase the likelihood of involvement in the criminal justice system, the implications for heroin specific treatment and rehabilitation are discussed.
Being a Pilgrim: Art and Ritual on the Medieval Routes to Santiago

Reviewed Medium: book Authors: Kathleen Ashley and Marilyn Deegan Year: 2009 Pages: 264 Publisher: Lund Humphries ISBN: 978-0-85331-989-4 (hard cover).
A Review of “The Sounds of Capitalism: Advertising, Music, and the Conquest of Culture”

This study of the history of the auditory in American radio and television advertising addresses the absence of scholarly attention to an immense body of largely neglected evidence about major cult...
Frequency of Restaurant Advertising and Promotion Strategies

Abstract This project investigated the benefit and use of ten advertising and promotion strategies used by urban restaurants. A phone survey was conducted of randomly selected restaurant members of an urban restaurant association. Respondents were asked to evaluate each of the strategies based on frequency of use and derived benefit. The survey achieved a 39.7 percent response rate. Overall, respondents reported limited use and benefit from advertising and promotion activities. However, radio advertising, coupons, electronic/Internet media, and food samples appeared to be more frequently used and produce greater benefit when differences did exist. Franchisees, larger restaurants, and higher guest check establishments indicated greater use of and more benefit from these selected advertising and promotion strategies.
The benefits and costs of web surfing

Although the Web audience is growing exponentially, little research has explored the benefits that the audience derives from their use of the Web. This study took a cost‐benefit approach to exploring the specific benefits and opportunity costs associated with World Wide Web use. We hypothesized that greater benefits coupled with fewer opportunity costs (e.g., computer and Internet access, computer expertise, connection speed, effort, and multimedia) would have an impact on the amount of time people spend on the Web and the value they attach to their Web use. We conducted a Web‐based survey of 250 students enrolled at two “wired” universities who were required to use the Web for coursework. The results revealed that Learning was the most salient benefit of the Web, followed by Pass Time and Entertainment. We found some support for the impact of opportunity costs on Web use. Stronger support was found for the impact of benefits and costs on Web surfing value. We also found that Entertainment and sports Web ...
Nonequilibrium heterogeneous catalysis in the long mean-free-path regime

It is shown that a standard principle of traditional catalysis-that a catalyst does not alter the final thermodynamic equilibrium of a reaction-can fail in low-pressure, heterogeneous gas-surface reactions. Kinetic theory for this epicatalysis is presented, and two well-documented experimental examples are detailed: surface ionized plasmas and hydrogen dissociation on refractory metals. This phenomenon should be observable over a wide range of temperatures and pressures, and for a broad spectrum of heterogeneous reactions. By transcending some constraints of equilibrium thermodynamics, epicatalysis might provide additional control parameters and synthetic routes for reactions, and enable product streams boosted in thermochemical energy or desirable species.
Far-infrared harmonic generation from semiconductor heterostructures

Carriers confined in quantum well structures in the GaAs-AlxGa1-xAs and InAs-AlSb systems have strongly nonlinear response at far-infrared (FIR) frequencies: they are strong harmonic generators. To date, studies of FIR frequency harmonic generation from heterostructures have been limited primarily to discrete frequencies accessible by molecular gas lasers (MGL). Because the mechanisms responsible for harmonic generation are expected to have frequency dependence in the FIR, the broad, continuous frequency coverage of the free electron lasers (FEL) at UCSB (4 cm-1 - 25 cm-1 for the millimeter FEL, and 32 cm-1 to 155 cm-1 for the FIR FEL) make them ideal sources for studies of free carrier nonlinearities in heterostructures. Quantitative experiments on harmonic generation must distinguish the small harmonic signals generated by the samples from the fundamental, and from the harmonic content of the incident FEL light. Here we discuss strategies for achieving the required selectivity, preliminary data taken with an MGL on heterostructure samples, and data taken with the FEL for a suitable calibration sample, LiNbO3.© (1993) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
An empirical assessment of IT project selection and evaluation methods in state government

This study uses a survey of U.S. state government information technology (IT) project management practitioners to investigate the utilization of IT project selection and evaluation methodologies-fi...
Block copolymers of poly(m-phenylene isophthalamide) and poly(ethylene oxide) or polydimethylsiloxane: Synthesis and general characteristics

The syntheses of poly(m-phenylene isophthalamide-b-ethylene oxide) and poly(m-phenylene isophthalamide-b-dimethylsiloxane) are reported. The development of synthesis procedures for (AB)n and predominantly triblock ABA and BAB sequences are discussed. Chemical compositions, dilute solution viscosities, and solubility behavior of these systems are also given some consideration. These considerations include the problems that arise in condensing block segments together when phase separation is occurring and developing control of the synthesis procedure to produce block systems of varying compositions.
Rearrangement of phenylcarbene radical cation to dehydrotropylium cation

Abstract Dichlorocarbene radical cation reacts with benzaldehyde in the gas phase by oxygen radical anion abstraction, generating a new carbene radical cation population. The ion population consists of two isomeric carbene radical cations. Molecular orbital calculations, diagnostic ion-molecule reactions, and examination of ion-molecule reactions’ kinetics and thermochemistry were utilized to elucidate the structures (phenylcarbene radical cation and dehydrotropylium cation), provide the relative abundances (20% and 80%, respectively) and propose a likely mechanism for the formation of the two isomeric carbene radical cations. A single potential energy surface was found to explain the formation of both carbene radical cations. Oxygen radical anion abstraction followed by prompt dissociation of the collision complex leads to the formation of the phenylcarbene radical cation. However, in a longer-lived collision complex, the phenylcarbene radical cation can rearrange to a more stable isomer, the dehydrotropylium cation.
Protecting Special Interests in the Name of “Good Science”

WITHOUT FANFARE OR DEBATE, A MEMBER OF Congress places a rider on the omnibus appropriations bill enacted at the end of the Clinton Administration in late 2000. A new 2-sentence law, now known as the Data Quality Act (DQA), directs the administration’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to provide a potent mechanism for interested parties to change the way government agencies review science. The full impact of the act is as yet unknown, but it has already resulted in the significant delay of the release and use of valid scientific information. This new tool, to date used primarily by those who have reason to silence or politicize objective scientific research, should be cause for great concern and serious examination.
Development of Eimeria auburnensis in cell cultures.

SYNOPSIS. Monolayer established cell line cultures of bovine kidney (Madin-Darby) and human intestine (Intestine 407), as well as embryonic bovine tracheal and embryonic spleen cell line cultures were inoculated with E. auburnensis sporozoites and observed for a maximum of 22 days. Mature 1st generation schizonts developed in the kidney, tracheal and spleen cells. In the intestine cells, trophozoites were seen in 3 of 4 experiments, but schizonts were not found. Sporozoites penetrated cells, beginning within a few minutes after inoculation. Penetration was usually accomplished within 10 seconds, and the body of the sporozoite underwent a slight constriction as it passed thru the host cell membrane. Some sporozoites left cells. Numerous intracellular sporozoites were observed in kidney, tracheal and spleen cultures. Crescent bodies were seen in the parasitophorous vacuole as early as 1 day after inoculation. At this time, the nuclei of most intracellular sporozoites had changed from vesicular to compact. Beginning 4 days after inoculation, enlarged sporozoites and parasites having a sporozoite shape, but with 2-5 nuclei, were frequently seen. These enlarged sporozoites and sporozoite-shaped schizonts evidently transformed into trophozoites and spheroidal schizonts by means of lateral outpocketings. Few trophozoites were seen. More immature schizonts developed in kidney cells than in the other cell types. The numbers of mature schizonts observed in kidney and tracheal cells were similar, but development occurred less consistently in the latter. Few immature and mature schizonts developed in spleen cells. Mature schizonts, first seen 9 days after inoculation, were considerably smaller than those reported from calves. Some motile merozoites were seen; evidently no development beyond these occurred. The nucleus and nucleolus of host cells were enlarged; this enlargement was not as pronounced as in infections in calves. Multiple host cell nuclei were frequently observed. Degenerative changes in the cultured cells and in the parasites usually occurred, beginning 9-17 days after inoculation; these were more pronounced in the spleen cells than in the others.
The Death of an Amoeba1

A geneological study shows that about 4% of the cells in healthy, adequately fed Amoeba proteus cultures are inviable. Two different categories of inviability are distinguished. About 44% of all inviability involves twin sisters formed at a division. Another 39% involves single cells with viable sisters and nieces. The inviable singles usually die more rapidly and show fewer visible abnormalities than the twins. The mothers of inviable twins show an increased interdivision time compared to mothers of inviable singles. Both categories of death are more rapid than starvation. The 17% of the deaths which involve aunt-niece pairs appear to be special cases of twin sister or single cell deaths. There is no evidence for stem line division where a cell forms only one viable daughter for several generations. It is proposed that death is a normal occurrence in amoeba populations. It occurs regardless of culture conditions and may be a measure of accumulated lethal mutations in an asexual polyploid organism.
Single-stranded DNA genome in a whitefly-transmitted plant virus.

Bean golden yellow mosaic virus (GYMV) DNA sedimented in sucrose density gradients and in an analytical ultracentrifuge as a single component. Values of s(20,w) which depended upon ionic strength (i) and pH, were 16.0 (pH = 7.0, i = 0.1); 16.3 (pH = 7.0, i = 1.0); 9.0 (pH = 13, i = 0.1); and 12.0 (0.1 N NaOH, i = 1.0). GYMV-DNA banded in CsCl as a single component with a buoyant density of 1.7170 g/ml and exhibited hyperchromicity when heated between 20 and 70 degrees . Hyperchromicity and a shift in the ultraviolet light absorption maximum were observed when the DNA was treated with formaldehyde (1.8%) at room temperature. Nuclease sensitivity tests showed that the DNA was susceptible to hydrolysis by DNase I and nuclease S1 (specific for single-stranded DNA) but not to hydrolysis by RNase A or by 0.3 N NaOH. Molecular weight values calculated from sedimentation velocity and CsCl equilibrium data were in the range of 0.66 to 0.95 x 10(6) daltons GYMV thus contains DNA with the properties of a predominantly single-stranded molecule and represents the first reported single-stranded DNA virus from plants.
Black Children's Associations of Class-Descriptive Labels

The literature is replete with descriptions of black people as culturally deprived, culturally disadvantaged, slow learners, and the like. Despite repeated use of these pejorative terms and labels, the question remains as to how blacks see themselves. In an early and classic study, Clark and Clark (1947) analyzed the genesis and development of racial identification in black children three to seven years. Their results indicated that the children clearly understood the application of "white" and "colored" to the white dolls and brown dolls, respectively, but that the concept "Negro" was not so well developed (72% chose the brown doll). Only two-thirds of the children accepted the term "colored" as applicable to themselves, and approximately two-thirds of the respondents claimed they like the white dolls "best" (or would prefer to play with the white dolls) and that the white dolls were "nice." Fifty-nine percent of the black children indicated that the colored dolls "looked bad," and only 38% thought the the brown dolls were a "nice color."
A dendrimer-based platform for simultaneous dual fluorescence imaging of hydrogen peroxide and pH gradients produced in living cells

We present a modular dendrimer-based platform for simultaneous dual fluorescence imaging of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and pH gradients produced in living cells. Acetyl-capped G5 PAMAM dendrimers functionalized with boronate-caged Peroxyfluor-1 (PF1) fluorophores for H2O2 detection and semi-naphthorhodafluor (SNARF2) dyes for pH sensing provide a single probe system that is capable of sensing multiple analytes at a time by multicolor fluorescence imaging. Spectroscopic measurements of the doubly-labeled dendrimer conjugates establish their ability to simultaneously monitor changes in both H2O2 and pH using different excitation/emission profiles. Moreover, this dual-probe platform allows for selective discrimination between H2O2 and pH changes in live RAW 264.7 macrophage cells when stimulated by an immune insult. Further imaging experiments show that pharmacological inhibition of NADPH oxidase (Nox) proteins triggers a decrease in both oxidative burst and in pH regulation within phagocytic compartments and leads to disruptions of endocytic activity, suggesting that Nox-derived H2O2 signaling is critical to the maintenance of multiple components of the immune response. This work establishes a general molecular platform for simultaneous, real-time imaging of multiple analytes associated with redox biology in living systems and should be applicable to a wide range of chemosensor constructs.
Creating a campus on-line news system

Information Systems, MIT's campus-wide computing service organization, recently reorganized and strengthened its resources. Out of this recent effort came the decision to explore several ways of reporting on the expanded range of systems and services we offer.One service that central computing facilities must provide is timely notice of changes to the supported systems. This paper presents the design and implementation of Information Systems' “On-Line News System”, which keeps users updated about changes in the wide variety of services offered by Information Systems.
Forum on Nancy Krieger's geospatial approach to social epidemiology: an introduction.

Understanding the social determinants of health remains a global priority (WHO 2008). Advances in social epidemiology during the past 20 years have revealed a complex web of social factors that explain the distribution of mortality and morbidity at multiple scales. Among the numerous ground-breaking works published in social epidemiology, Nancy Krieger’s discoveries stand out prominently for geographers due to her overt emphasis on spatial/geographical dimension of her work. The five papers in this Forum focus on Nancy Krieger’s geospatial approach to social epidemiology and how her work has helped us understand crucial health issues from a geographical perspective. Hailed as the people’s epidemiologist (Drexler 2008), Nancy Krieger’s contributions to epidemiology in general and social epidemiology in particular are multi-faceted. This Forum only covers Krieger’s work related to the geospatial themes. Readers interested in Nancy Krieger’s other works are referred to her web site (http://www.hsph.harvard. edu/faculty/nancy-krieger/). We would like to thank all the contributors to this Forum who delivered their papers on time. Thanks are also due to Nancy Krieger who completed her rejoinder in a timely fashion. Hopefully, this Forum starts an interesting dialogue between geographers and epidemiologists. The complex connections between social justice and public health, between our bodily truths and the bodily politic mandate an interdisciplinary approach. It is our goal that this Forum will reach an interdisciplinary audience in epidemiology, public health, geography, planning, and other branches of social sciences so that we can keep the conversation going for this very important topic.
Super-resolution terrain map enhancement for navigation based on satellite imagery

Super resolution techniques are commonly used to enhance images and video. The techniques have previously been applied to the enhancement of map data via enhancing aerial imagery. This paper proposes the use of super resolution techniques for enhancing topographic data directly. Specifically, a database-driven super resolution algorithm that is trained with domain-specific patterns is used to enhance topographic digital elevation model (DEM) data from NASA/NGIA SRTM. This enhancement process is evaluated using a elevation-difference evaluation technique where downscaled and enhanced DEM data is compared to the origional higher-resolution data. It is also evaluated with a threshold-based elevation difference metric and visually. The benefits that it might have for flight path planning for a UAV application are discussed. The challenges of using super resolution style techniques on non-visual data are also reviewed.
Properties of He 3 at Pressures Near the Minimum in the Melting Curve

At pressures slightly above that of the melting curve minimum and at temperatures below 0.l deg K, measurements of sound propagation, magnetic susceptibility, nuclear spin relaxation times T/sub 1/ and T/sub 2/, and the diffusion coefficient suggested solid-like behavior, while the specific heat was characteristic of the liquid. lt is shown that these properties are those expected in a liquid-solid mixture and that the He/sup 3/ sample used was probably in a mixed phase during the measurensents. (L.N. N.)
Age related changes in auto-erythrocyte rosettes in the C57BL/6J and NZB/BINJ mice.

Abstract The changes in the auto-erythrocyte rosetting thymic and splenic lymphocytes and the induction of autoimmunity was followed with age in C57BL/6J and NZB/BINJ mice. The auto-erythrocyte rosetting cells (auto-RFC) showed shifts in their pattern in both thymus and spleen in C57BL/6J and NZB/BINJ mice. Both strains had approximately the same percentage (∼3%) of thymic auto-RFC at 1 month of age. In C57BL/6J mice the rosette population increased to 6.6% by 2 months, declined after 3 months and subsequently increased gradually with age. In contrast, the NZB/BINJ thymic auto-rosettes peaked at 4 months and gradually declined thereafter. Both the NZB/BINJ and C57BL/6J strains were tested for the presence of anti-erythrocyte antibodies by the direct Coombs' agglutination test. The results showed that at 6 and 10 months 50% and 90% of the NZB/BINJ mice were positive for antibodies, respectively, and the thymic and splenic auto-RFC dramatically decreased in numbers. In the C57BL/6J mice during this same period, very low incidence of auto-antibodies was detected by the Coombs' test and auto-RFC increased in numbers.
The Information: A History, a Theory, a Flood

This paper reviews a book titled 'The Information: A History, A Theory, A Flood'. It is a book by science history writer James Gleick, author of Chaos: Making a New Science. It covers the genesis of our current information age.
Seasonal alterations in plasma β-hydroxybutyrate and related biochemical parameters in the desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii)

Abstract β-Hydroxybutyrate and routine biochemical parameters were determined on plasma and urine samples obtained from free-ranging desert tortoises over a 1-year period. Urea nitrogen varied inversely with total protein concentration (P
Canine COL1A2 Mutation Resulting in C‐Terminal Truncation of Pro‐α2(I) and Severe Osteogenesis Imperfecta

RNA and type I collagen were analyzed from cultured skin fibroblasts of a Beagle puppy with fractures consistent with type III osteogenesis imperfecta (OI). In a nonisotopic RNAse cleavage assay (NIRCA), the proband's RNA had a unique cleavage pattern in the region of COL1A2 encoding the C-propeptide. DNA sequence analyses identified a mutation in which nucleotides 3991-3994 ("CTAG") were replaced with "TGTCATTGG." The first seven bases of the inserted sequence were identical to nucleotides 4002-4008 of the normal canine COL1A2 sequence. The resulting frameshift changed 30 amino acids and introduced a premature stop codon. Reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) with primers flanking the mutation site amplified two complementary DNA (cDNA) fragments for the proband and a single product for the control. Restriction enzyme digestions also were consistent with a heterozygous mutation in the proband. Type I procollagen labeled with [3H]proline was analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Increased density of pC-alpha2(I) suggested comigration with the similarly sized pro-alpha2(I) derived from the mutant allele. Furthermore, a-chains were overhydroxylated and the ratio of alpha1(I):alpha2(I) was 3.2:1, consistent with the presence of alpha1(I) homotrimers. Analyses of COL1A2 and type I collagen were both consistent with the described heterozygous mutation affecting the pro-alpha2(I) C-propeptide and confirmed a diagnosis of OI.
Strain-induced magnetocrystalline anisotropy in Ni on Cu(001)

The origin of the observed perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) in Ni/Cu(001) for thick Ni layers is investigated using the ab initio full potential linearized augmented plane wave method. With the aid of the state tracking and torque approaches, very stable results are obtained for the magnetocrystalline anisotropy (MCA) energies for both the Ni/Cu(001) overlayer systems and the distorted bulk fct Ni. We find that the PMA is due mainly to the strain induced bulk contribution rather than to interfacial hybridization. The calculated value of the bulk MCA energy, 65 μeV/atom, is very close to recent experimental data extrapolated to zero temperature, 70 μeV/atom.
Cloning and characterization of a phospholipase C-beta isoform from the sea urchin Lytechinus pictus.

Calcium is a ubiquitous intracellular signaling molecule controlling a wide array of cellular processes including fertilization and egg activation. The mechanism for triggering intracellular Ca2+ release in sea urchin eggs during fertilization is the generation of inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate by phospholipase C (PLC) hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate. Of the five PLC isoforms identified in mammals (β, γ, δ, ∈ and ζ), only PLCγ and PLCδ have been detected in echinoderms. Here, we provide direct evidence of the presence of a PLCβ isoform, named suPLCβ, within sea urchin eggs. The coding sequence was cloned from eggs of Lytechinus pictus and determined to have the greatest degree of homology and identity with the mammalian PLCβ4. The presence of suPLCβ within the egg was verified using a specifically generated antibody. The majority of the enzyme is localized in the non-soluble fraction, presumably the plasma membrane of the unfertilized egg. This distribution remains unchanged 1 min postfertilization. Unlike PLCβ4, suPLCβ is activated by G protein βγ subunits, and this activity is Ca2+-dependent. In contrast to all known PLCβ enzymes, suPLCβ is not activated by Gαq-GTPγS subunit suggesting other protein regulators may be present in sea urchin eggs.
Coexisting primary hyperparathyroidism and sarcoidosis cause increased angiotensin-converting enzyme and decreased parathyroid hormone and phosphate levels.

Context: Primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) and sarcoidosis may separately contribute to abnormal calcium and phosphate metabolism via different mechanisms, and their coexistence is infrequently reported. Objective: We sought to characterize a group of 50 patients with coexisting PHPT and sarcoidosis in our institution to evaluate their clinical and laboratory characteristics. Design and Setting: This was a retrospective observational study of patients with both disorders at our institution between January 1980 and December 2011. Outcome: A cohort of 50 patients was identified, with mean ± SD age 59.6 ± 13.9 years and 86% women. Serum calcium in the cohort was 11.1 ± 1.1 mg/dL, phosphate was 3.3 ± 0.6 mg/dL, and PTH was 76 ± 42 pg/mL. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D was 25 ± 9 ng/mL, and serum 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D was 51 ± 20 pg/mL; 24-hour urine calcium was 275 ± 211 mg. In subjects with sarcoidosis, serum angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) was 47.2 ± 37.4 U/L. Sarcoidosis was diagnosed first in 50% of pat...
Decreasing LDL Cholesterol and Medication Cost With Every‐Other‐Day Statin Therapy

Statins are administered daily, but because of their long half-lives, atorvastatin and rosuvastatin can be given every other day (q.o.d.). We examined the effect of q.o.d. statin therapy in 25 patients treated with either atorvastatin (mean dose, 18.8 mg q.o.d.) or rosuvastatin (mean dose, 9.7 mg q.o.d.). Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol decreased 43%, triglycerides (mean +/- SEM) decreased 22%+/-6%, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol increased 9%+/-6% with q.o.d. atorvastatin (n=9; p<0.05 for all). Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol decreased 28%, triglycerides decreased 15%+/-6%, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol increased 10%+/-5% with rosuvastatin q.o.d. (n=16; p<0.05 for all). We conclude that q.o.d. treatment with long-acting statins significantly improves serum lipid levels.
A Twin Study of Age-related Macular Degeneration

Purpose To determine the importance of genetic factors in age-related macular degeneration by using a twin study to compare the concordance of age-related macular degeneration in monozygotic and dizygotic twin pairs. Methods We prospectively examined 134 consecutive twin pairs and two triplet sets for age-related macular degeneration. The zygosity was determined by genetic laboratory tests. Results The concordance of age-related macular degeneration was 100% (25 of 25) in monozygotic and 42% (five of 12) in dizygotic twin pairs. The other twins or triplets had no macular changes of age-related macular degeneration. Conclusions The statistically significant higher concordance of age-related macular degeneration in monozygotic than in dizygotic twin pairs and the clinical heterogeneity of age-related macular degeneration strongly suggest the importance of genetic and nongenetic factors, respectively, in age-related macular degeneration.
Changing geographic access to and locational efficiency of health services in two Indian districts between 1981 and 1996.

In developing countries, including India, the role of the private sector in the provision of basic healthcare services is gradually expanding, since the public sector provides limited services and covers only limited areas. Using location-allocation models (LAM), this paper (1) examines the changing geographic access to and locational efficiency of basic public healthcare vis-a-vis private healthcare services in two districts located in northwestern part of India, and (2) interrogates the factors that govern their geographic accessibility and locational-efficiency. Although this research confirms regional inequalities in geographic accessibility and locational efficiency of both public and private healthcare services in the selected districts, the locational efficiency of private health services is significantly lower than that of public health services. This paper further demonstrates the use of LAM for new site identification (keeping the existing healthcare sites intact) that will, in the future, improve locational efficiency of these services. This paper not only recommends improved geographic access to both public and private health services and their enhanced complementary role, but also stresses the need to evaluate geographic access from the service-users' perspective and the use of more realistic data on demand and supply in future research. The findings of this paper can be extended to areas with similar geographic settings, and socio-economic and demographic conditions.
Differential effects of cocaine and MDMA self-administration on cortical serotonin transporter availability in monkeys.

Cocaine self-administration alters brain dopaminergic and serotonergic function primarily in mesolimbic and prefrontal brain regions whereas 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) self-administration predominately alters brain serotonergic function in a more widespread distribution across cortical regions. We previously reported that, compared to drug-naive rhesus monkeys, self-administration of cocaine but not MDMA was associated with increased serotonin transporter (SERT) availability in two mesolimbic regions, the caudate nucleus and putamen, as measured by positron emission tomography (PET) using the SERT-specific ligand [(11)C]-3-amino-4(2-dimethylamino-methyl-phenylsulfanyl)-benzonitrile ([(11)C]DASB). The goal of the present study was to extend this comparison between cocaine and MDMA self-administration to SERT availability in cortical regions, which have been shown previously to be affected in human drug abusers and are associated with executive function. PET studies using [(11)C]DASB were conducted in adult male rhesus monkeys with a history of cocaine (mean intake = 742.6 mg/kg) or MDMA (mean intake = 121.0 mg/kg) self-administration, and drug-naive controls (n = 4/group). Regions of interest were drawn for several cortical (prefrontal, temporal, parietal, occipital and midcingulate) and subcortical (thalamus, amygdala and hippocampus) areas. Cortical SERT availability was significantly higher in monkeys with a cocaine self-administration history compared to controls whereas MDMA self-administration resulted in lower levels of SERT availability. These data extend our previous findings indicating that cocaine and MDMA self-administration differentially alter SERT availability in subcortical and cortical regions, which may have implications for development of treatment drugs.
Grit-mediated frictional ignition of a polymer-bonded explosive during oblique impacts: Probability calculations for safety engineering

Abstract Frictional heating of high-melting-point grit particles during oblique impacts of consolidated explosives is considered to be the major source of ignition in accidents involving dropped explosives. It has been shown in other work that the lower temperature melting point of two frictionally interacting surfaces will cap the maximum temperature reached, which provides a simple way to mitigate the danger in facilities by implementing surfaces with melting points below the ignition temperature of the explosive. However, a recent series of skid testing experiments has shown that ignition can occur on low-melting-point surfaces with a high concentration of grit particles, most likely due to a grit–grit collision mechanism. For risk-based safety engineering purposes, the authors present a method to estimate the probability of grit contact and/or grit–grit collision during an oblique impact. These expressions are applied to potentially high-consequence oblique impact scenarios in order to give the probability of striking one or more grit particles (for high-melting-point surfaces), or the probability of one or more grit–grit collisions occurring (for low-melting-point surfaces). The probability is dependent on a variety of factors, many of which can be controlled for mitigation to achieve acceptable risk levels for safe explosives handling operations.
Acoustic emission for on-line reactor monitoring: results of intermediate vessel test monitoring and reactor hot functional testing

Abstract This article discusses a program designed to develop the use of acoustic emission (AE) methods for continuous surveillance to detect and evaluate flaw growth in reactor pressure boundaries. Technology developed in the laboratory for identifying AE from crack growth and for using that AE information to estimate flaw severity is now being evaluated on an intermediate vessel test and on a reactor facility. A vessel, designated ZB-1, has been tested under fatigue loading with simulated reactor conditions at Mannheim, West Germany, in collaboration with the German Materialprufungsanstalt (MPA), Stuttgart. Fatigue cracking from machined flaws and in a fabrication weld were both detected clearly by AE. AE data were measured on a US nuclear reactor (Watts Bar, Unit 1) during hot functional preservice testing. This demonstrated that coolant flow noise is a manageable problem and that AE can be detected under operational coolant flow and temperature conditions.
Role of Plasma Fibronectin in the Foreign Body Response to Biomaterials

Host responses to biomaterials control the biological performance of implanted medical devices. Upon implantation, synthetic materials adsorb biomolecules, which trigger an inflammatory cascade comprising coagulation, leukocyte recruitment/adhesion, and foreign body reaction. The foreign body reaction and ensuing fibrous encapsulation severely limit the in vivo performance of numerous biomedical devices. While it is well established that plasma fibrinogen and secreted cytokines modulate leukocyte recruitment and maturation into foreign body giant cells, mediators of chronic inflammation and fibrous encapsulation of implanted biomaterials remain poorly understood. Using plasma fibronectin (pFN) conditional knock-out mice, we demonstrate that pFN modulates the foreign body response to polyethylene terephthalate disks implanted subcutaneously. Fibrous collagenous capsules were two-fold thicker in mice depleted of pFN compared to controls. In contrast, deletion of pFN did not alter acute leukocyte recruitment to the biomaterial, indicating that pFN modulates chronic fibrotic responses. The number of foreign body giant cells associated with the implant was three times higher in the absence of pFN while macrophage numbers were not different, suggesting that pFN regulates the formation of biomaterial-associated foreign body giant cells. Interestingly, cellular FN (cFN) was present in the capsules of both normal and pFN-depleted mice, suggesting that cFN could not compensate for the loss of pFN. These results implicate pFN in the host response to implanted materials and identify a potential target for therapeutic intervention to enhance the biological performance of biomedical devices.
Flexure Toughness of Polymer Fiber-reinforced Cementitious Materials

In this article, the toughening effect of polymer fibers in cementitious materials is analyzed through an energy method. When a crack front encounters a fiber array, additional fracture work is required to overcome the barrier effect. The influences of fibers, matrix, and crack length on the critical energy release rate are collectively described by a single system parameter.
Poly(carbonate urethane) and poly(ether urethane) biodegradation: In vivo studies

Several strategies have been used to increase the biostability of medical-grade polyurethanes while maintaining biocompatibility and mechanical properties. One approach is to chemically modify or replace the susceptible soft segment. Currently, poly(carbonate urethanes) (PCUs) are being evaluated as a replacement of poly(ether urethanes) (PEUs) in medical devices because of the increased oxidative stability of the polycarbonate soft segment. Preliminary in vivo and in vitro studies have reported improved biostability of PCUs over PEUs. Although several studies have reported evidence of in vitro degradation of these new polyurethanes, there has been no evidence of significant in vivo degradation that validates a degradation mechanism. In this study, the effect of soft segment chemistry on the phase morphology, mechanical properties, and in vivo response of commercial-grade PEU and PCU elastomers was examined. Results from dynamic mechanical testing and infrared spectroscopy suggested that the phase separation was better in PCU as compared with PEU. In addition, the higher modulus and reduced ultimate elongation of PCU was attributed to the reduced flexibility of the polycarbonate soft segment. Following material characterization, the in vivo biostability and biocompatibility of PEU and PCU were studied using a subcutaneous cage implant protocol. The results from the cage implant study and cell culture experiments indicated that monocytes adhere, differentiate, and fuse to form foreign body giant cells on both polyurethanes. It is now generally accepted that the reactive oxygen species released by these adherent macrophages and foreign body giant cells initiate PEU biodegradation. Attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared analysis of explanted samples provided evidence of chain scission and crosslinking in both polyurethanes. This indicated that the PCU was also susceptible to biodegradation by agents released from adherent cells. These results reinforce the need to evaluate and understand the biodegradation mechanisms of PCUs.
Porous tube plant nutrient delivery system development: A device for nutrient delivery in microgravity

The Porous Tube Plant Nutrient Delivery Systems or PTPNDS (U.S. Patent #4,926,585) has been under development for the past six years with the goal of providing a means for culturing plants in microgravity, specifically providing water and nutrients to the roots. Direct applications of the PTPNDS include plant space biology investigations on the Space Shuttle and plant research for life support in the Space Station Freedom. In the past, we investigated various configurations, the suitability of different porous materials, and the effects of pressure and pore size on plant growth. Current work is focused on characterizing the physical operation of the system, examining the effects of solution aeration, and developing prototype configurations for the Plant Growth Unit (PGU), the flight system for the Shuttle mid-deck. Future developments will involve testing on KC-135 parabolic flights, the design of flight hardware and testing aboard the Space Shuttle.
Delay performance modeling and analysis in clustered cognitive radio networks

Cognitive radio networks (CRNs) emerge as a promising solution for overcoming the shortage and inefficient use of bandwidth resources by allowing secondary users (SUs) to access the primary users' (PUs) channels so long as they do not interfere with them. The random availability of the PU channels makes the delay analysis of the SU, which accesses the channels opportunistically, plays a crucial role as a quality of service measure. In this paper, we model and characterize the total average delay the SUs experience in a CRN. The cognitive radio system is modeled as a discrete-time queueing system. The availability of the N independent and identical PU channels is modeled as a two states Markov chain. Our contributions in this paper is that we provide a solid performance evaluation that gives a closed-formula for the two delay components experienced by the SUs, namely the waiting delay and the service delay. We derive the waiting delay using the residual time concept. We characterize the service time distribution by considering the buffered-slotted-ALOHA systems. We also provide numerical results to show the effects of the analysis on the CRN design.