cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Reply to “When does lag structure really matter...indeed?

Bultez and Naert (Bultez, A. V., P. A. Naert. 1988. When does lag structure really matter … indeed? Management Sci. 34(July).) provide an analytical example and several simulations that show profits to be more sensitive to advertising lag structure misspecification the higher the advertising goodwill elasticity. We explain how this result is consistent with our (Magat, McCann, and Morey [Magat, W. A., J. M. McCann, R. C. Morey. 1986. When does lag structure really matter in optimizing advertising expenditures? Management Sci. 32(February) 182–193.]) result that a given amount of advertising error induced by misspecification causes greater reductions in profits the lower the advertising goodwill elasticity. We also use their simulation results to identify the pattern of prior advertising used in estimation as an important determinant of when misspecification matters in estimating advertising lag structures.
Food and the Mid‐Level Farm: Renewing an Agriculture of the Middle – Edited by Thomas A. Lyson, G. W. Stevenson, and Rick Welsh

The article reviews the book "Food and the Mid-Level Farm: Renewing an Agriculture of the Middle," edited by Thomas A. Lyson, G. W. Stevenson and Rick Welsh.
Application of a Performance Based Approach to Economic Valuation of Information

The application of a system dynamics model to establish a monetary value for the management information to be provided by a proposed MIS for the road operations department of a contract motor carrier is described. The information system, management policies and decision rules of the department are modelled. Results from the case study are presented, and an argument is made for generalizing the demonstrated system dynamics approach to economic valuation of information to other organizations.
Alteplase beyond three hours in ischemic stroke: do we know enough?

Alteplase (tPA) remains the only approved treatment for stroke that has a beneficial functional outcome if used within 3 h of an ischemic event. The results of the recently published European Cooperative Stroke Study III trial (1) and the Safe Implementation of Thrombolysis in Stroke-International Stroke Register (2) study suggest that the time window during which alteplase could be safely administered in stroke patients may extend up to 4 5 h. In these studies and previous tPA trials, the focus of outcome measures has been on physical disability and dependence in basic activities of daily living assessed via the NIH stroke scale, modified Rankin, Barthel, and Glasgow outcome scales (1, 2). An evaluation of the instrumental and cognitive outcomes, however, has been overlooked. It would seem to be important to assess cognitive outcomes since almost onefourth of stroke patients develop poststroke dementia within 3 months of the event (3). Thus far, the cognitive and instrumental outcomes have only been studied by Nys and colleagues, who showed that tPA administration within 3 h of stroke did not have a beneficial cognitive outcome. They suggested that either the reduction in the volume of the ischemic region by tPA is not sufficient to have an effect on cognitive outcomes or that the focal cognitive improvement by tPA is countered by a global cognitive decline that could potentially result from tPA treatment (4). It has been suggested that tPA could be deleterious to neurons through a number of mechanisms involving excitotoxicity, activation of microglia, and degradation of extracellular matrix components (5). N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor-mediated excitotoxicity is a key pathway leading to neuronal cell death during ischemic stroke. Glutamate is the main trigger of NMDA-mediated excitotoxicity and its parenchymal levels increase with the duration of the ischemic insult (6). tPA has been shown to potentiate NMDA-mediated excitotoxicity by increasing the calcium influx and production of nitric oxide. Mouse models deficient in tPAwere shown to be resistant to the NMDA-mediated excitotoxic neuronal death, whereas exogenous administration of tPA reinstated excitotoxicity in these animals (5). A delayed administration of tPA in patients with ischemic stroke, given the greater concentration and geographic localization of glutamate with the passage of time might as well provide a greater substrate for the tPA potentiating of excitotoxicity. Perhaps, it would seem appropriate to assess the patients treated with alteplase in the ongoing International Stroke Trial III and any subsequent trials for more comprehensive clinical outcome including cognition and instrumental functioning. That might be the best way we assure ourselves that the thrombolytic benefits of tPA continue to outweigh the risk of neurotoxicity associated with it, even outside the conventional 3-h time window.
Synthesis, Characterization, and Reactivity of the Thermally Stable Lutetium Tris(alkyl) Complex (tBu2bpy)Lu(CH2SiMe3)3

4,4′-Di-tert-butyl-2,2′-bipyridyl (tBu2bpy) stabilizes the thermally sensitive [Lu(CH2SiMe3)3] unit, giving the isolable lutetium(III) (trimethylsilyl)methyl complex (tBu2bpy)Lu(CH2SiMe3)3 (4). This tris(alkyl) complex does not undergo alkane elimination, and it readily reacts with Ph3COH, H2N-2,6-iPr2-C6H3, H2N-2,4,6-tBu3-C6H2, and N,N′-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCHCDI) to afford a variety of Lu(III) tris(alkoxide), tris(amide), mono(amide) bis(alkyl), and amidinate bis(alkyl) compounds. Reaction of the amide bis(alkyl) complex (tBu2bpy)Lu(NH-2,4,6-tBu3-C6H2)(CH2SiMe3)2 (7) with triphenylphosphine oxide gives (Ph3P═O)2Lu(NH-2,4,6-tBu3-C6H2)(CH2SiMe3)2 (9), showing that the bidentate tBu2bpy ligand can be displaced.
Xenogeneic Spermatogenesis Following Transplantation of Hamster Germ Cells to Mouse Testes

It was recently demonstrated that rat spermatogenesis can occur in the seminiferous tubules of an immunodeficient recipient mouse after transplantation of testis cells from a donor rat. In the present study, hamster donor testis cells were transplanted to mice to determine whether xenogeneic spermatogenesis would result. The hamster diverged at least 16 million years ago from the mouse and produces spermatozoa that are larger than, and have a shape distinctly different from, those of the mouse. In four separate experiments with a total of 13 recipient mice, hamster spermatogenesis was identified in the testes of each mouse. Approximately 6% of the tubules examined demonstrated xenogeneic spermatogenesis. In addition, cryopreserved hamster testis cells generated spermatogenesis in recipients. However, abnormalities were noted in hamster spermatids and acrosomes in seminiferous tubules of recipient mice. Hamster spermatozoa were also found in the epididymis of recipient animals, but these spermatozoa generally lacked acrosomes, and heads and tails were separated. Thus, defects in spermiogenesis occur in hamster spermatogenesis in the mouse, which may reflect a limited ability of endogenous mouse Sertoli cells to support fully the larger and evolutionarily distant hamster germ cell. The generation of spermatogenesis from frozen hamster cells now adds this species to the mouse and rat, in which spermatogonial stem cells also can be cryopreserved. This finding has immediate application to valuable animals of many species, because the cells could be stored until suitable recipients are identified or culture techniques devised to expand the stem cell population.
Nested Markov Compliance Class Model in the Presence of Time-Varying Noncompliance

We consider a Markov structure for partially unobserved time-varying compliance classes in the Imbens-Rubin (1997) compliance model framework. The context is a longitudinal randomized intervention study where subjects are randomized once at baseline, outcomes and patient adherence are measured at multiple follow-ups, and patient adherence to their randomized treatment could vary over time. We propose a nested latent compliance class model where we use time-invariant subject-specific compliance principal strata to summarize longitudinal trends of subject-specific time-varying compliance patterns. The principal strata are formed using Markov models that relate current compliance behavior to compliance history. Treatment effects are estimated as intent-to-treat effects within the compliance principal strata.
Production of 41Ca and K, Sc and V short-lived isotopes by the irradiation of Ti with 35 to 150 MeV protons: applications to solar cosmic ray studies

In order to accurately model 41Ca production from solar cosmic ray (SCR) proton interactions on titanium at the lunar surface, we have measured the natTi(p,3pχn)41Ca excitation function for Ep = 35−150 MeV. The irradiated Ti foils were initially analyzed for their induced γ-activity to identify short-lived products and subsequently measured for their 41Ca content by accelerator mass spectrometry. Excitation curves, over the above energy range, were also obtained for 42,43K, 44g,44m,46,47,48Sc and 48V results for 41Ca are compared to both semi-empirical and model-based nuclear spallation calculations. We also used it to determine the magnitude and energy spectrum of the SCR flux from the measured Ca production profile in the Ti-rich lunar basalt, 74275. The results for K, Sc and V radionuclides were compared to previous measurements and agree favourably at low energies (E < 50 MeV) but are larger by ∼10–30% for higher energies.
Guanyl Nucleotide Potentiation of Parathyroid Hormone-Stimulated Adenylate Cyclase in Chicken Renal Plasma Membranes: A Receptor-Independent Effect*

We investigated the interaction of guanyl nucleotides with the parathyroid hormone (PTH) receptor-adenylate cyclase system in chicken renal plasma membranes. Micromolar concentrations of guanosine triphosphate and its hydrolysis-resistant analog 5'-guanylimidodiphosphate [Gpp(NH)p] increased both basal and PTH-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity. The enzyme activation produced by the amino-terminal 1--34 peptide of bovine PTH [bPTH-(1--34)] was potentiated by both guanyl nucleotides, although quantitatively greater effects were seen with Gpp(NH)p. The apparent activation constant for bPTH-(1--34) stimulation of adenylate cyclase, 16 nM, was reduced to 3.7 nM in the presence of 1.0 microM Gpp(NH)p. The interaction of guanyl nucleotides with the PTH receptor was evaluated by measurement of specific 125I-labeled bPTH-(1--34) binding to chicken renal plasma membranes in the presence and absence of Gpp(NH)p. There was no effect of the guanyl nucleotide on the rate of binding or dissociation of 125I-labeled bPTH-(1--34) from its renal receptor. Scatchard analysis of steady state PTH binding revealed that 1.0 microM Gpp(NH)p had minimal effect on either the affinity of PTH receptors (Kd increased from 25 nM to 30 nM) or their number (total number of binding sites increased from 8.6 to 9.4 pmol/mg protein). Separate experiments demonstrated a concentration-dependent effect on Gpp(NH)p to decrease the apparent activation constant for bPTH-(1--34) stimulation of adenylate cyclase, with no detectable guanyl nucleotide effect on the affinity of PTH receptors. The results suggest that guanyl nucleotides may enhance the coupling of occupied PTH receptors to adenylate cyclase independent of direct nucleotide effects on renal PTH receptors.
The rhetoric of Islamic activism: A DICTION study

Given the paucity of understanding in the West regarding Middle Eastern discourse, this study provides a careful description of Islamic activist rhetoric. Using DICTION, a program that calculates some 40 different stylistic variables and 5 master variables, we compared the rhetoric of Western politicians, protestors, preachers, and pundits to that of Islamic activists. Relative to the West, the Islamic sample was relatively hopeful and communal, extremely doctrinaire, and often had a transcendental tone. Analysis within the Islamic sample showed it to be more flexible and variegated than might have been expected. Intriguingly, the rhetoric of violent Islamists was more optimistic than that of their nonviolent brethren. The violent groups were more likely to embrace charismatic authority and to substitute ideology for practicality. In short, our findings confirm some popular expectations of Muslim discourse but also call into question a number of received truths, all of which suggests that much more needs ...
Energetics of amino acid synthesis in hydrothermal ecosystems

Thermodynamic calculations showed that the autotrophic synthesis of all 20 protein-forming amino acids was energetically favored in hot (100 degrees C), moderately reduced, submarine hydrothermal solutions relative to the synthesis in cold (18 degrees C), oxidized, surface seawater. The net synthesis reactions of 11 amino acids were exergonic in the hydrothermal solution, but all were endergonic in surface seawater. The synthesis of the requisite amino acids of nine thermophilic and hyperthermophilic proteins in a 100 degreesC hydrothermal solution yielded between 600 and 8000 kilojoules per mole of protein, which is energy that is available to drive the intracellular synthesis of enzymes and other biopolymers in hyperthermophiles thriving in these ecosystems.
INFECTIONS OF THE LIVER IN HIV-INFECTED PATIENTS

Despite the comparatively recent recognition of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) 20 years ago, HIV infection has undergone a major evolution. In the developed world, HIV has been transformed from a disease that was almost uniformly fatal owing to opportunistic infection, to a chronic illness that may last for decades without opportunistic disease. Although highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) can control HIV, it is unavailable to most HIV-infected patients in underserved regions of the world; in these patients, severe immunosuppression and opportunistic infections remain the rule rather than the exception. Reviews of HIV disease now must encompass the experience of these disparate groups. Immunosuppressed HIV patients experience a wide variety of hepatic manifestations. They are at risk for infection with opportunistic viral, fungal, bacterial, and protozoal pathogens. Liver disease presents in many ways, most commonly with fever, right upper quadrant pain, and hepatomegaly. Additionally, up to 90% of patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) have abnormalities of liver-associated enzymes at presentation. When the liver is examined histologically, abnormalities almost universally are seen. Although HIV patients with controlled disease and minimal immunosuppression are typically free from these infections, they face morbidity and mortality due to infection with hepatitis viruses.
Age-dependent differences in nicotine reward and withdrawal in female mice

Rationale Adolescent smoking is an increasing epidemic in the US. Research has shown that the commencement of smoking at a young age increases addiction and decreases the probability of successful cessation; however, limited work has focused on nicotine dependence in the female.
Neonatal thyroid enlargement associated with propylthiouracil therapy of Graves disease during pregnancy : a problem revisited

roid enlargement may be caused by TSH stimulation of the fetal thyroid gland (secondary to PTU-induced fetal hypothyroidism) or secondary to TSIG stimulation. Thyroid enlargement can be severe enough to cause respiratory compromise and should always be considered in the differential diagnosis of a neonatal neck mass.
Smashing the Gadgets: Hindering Return-Oriented Programming Using In-place Code Randomization

The wide adoption of non-executable page protections in recent versions of popular operating systems has given rise to attacks that employ return-oriented programming (ROP) to achieve arbitrary code execution without the injection of any code. Existing defenses against ROP exploits either require source code or symbolic debugging information, or impose a significant runtime overhead, which limits their applicability for the protection of third-party applications. In this paper we present in-place code randomization, a practical mitigation technique against ROP attacks that can be applied directly on third-party software. Our method uses various narrow-scope code transformations that can be applied statically, without changing the location of basic blocks, allowing the safe randomization of stripped binaries even with partial disassembly coverage. These transformations effectively eliminate about 10%, and probabilistically break about 80% of the useful instruction sequences found in a large set of PE files. Since no additional code is inserted, in-place code randomization does not incur any measurable runtime overhead, enabling it to be easily used in tandem with existing exploit mitigations such as address space layout randomization. Our evaluation using publicly available ROP exploits and two ROP code generation toolkits demonstrates that our technique prevents the exploitation of the tested vulnerable Windows 7 applications, including Adobe Reader, as well as the automated construction of alternative ROP payloads that aim to circumvent in-place code randomization using solely any remaining unaffected instruction sequences.
Characterization of insoluble organic matter associated with non-settling clay minerals from Syncrude sludge pond tailings

Hot water extraction of bitumen from Alberta oil sands generates large quantities of tailings slurry. The fine grained sludge component of this waste is the most troublesome because of its stability and poor compaction potential. Dispersed bitumen, and organic matter that is insoluble in common solvents (IOM), are associated with the fines contained in these clay slimes. This organic matter is believed to be partly responsible for the intractability of the sludge, and it could therefore play an important role in determining the behavioural characteristics of oil sands slimes. In this investigation the settling behaviour of the sludge was studied after removal of emulsified bitumen by an oil phase agglomeration technique. After partial removal of bitumen the sludge was fractionated into settling and non-settling fractions. The insoluble organic matter associated with the clay fines present in the non-settling portion of sludge was concentrated by dissolving the mineral matter in HClHF. These fractions were analysed using elemental analysis and solid state 13C n.m.r. spectroscopy. The elemental analyses were discussed in terms of a van Krevelen diagram by plotting HC atomic ratios against OC atomic ratios. N.m.r. data were used to calculate the aromaticities of the various organic fractions. Based on the n.m.r. data, it is suggested that the IOM associated with sludge solids is derived from the parent oil sand feed.
Spatial organization of the extracellular matrix modulates the expression of PDGF-receptor subunits in mesangial cells

Spatial organization of the extracellular matrix modulates the expression of PDGF-receptor subunits in mesangial cells. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that changes in the extracellular matrix environment regulate rat mesangial cell growth by modulation of the expression of both PDGF-receptor α- and β-subunits. We investigated the mitogenic effects of the PDGF isoforms AA, AB and BB in conventional two-dimensional (2D) culture on laminin, fibronectin, type I, IV and V collagen and in the different spatial organization of matrix in type I collagen gels in three-dimensional culture (3D). In 2D culture PDGF BB was a potent mitogen, AB elicited an intermediate response while AA had no effect on cell proliferation. Extracellular matrix did not modify the PDGF responsiveness in 2D-culture. The different effects of the three PDGF isoforms were due to differential expression and isoform specific association of the PDGF-receptor subunits. Specifically, the β-receptor was strongly expressed, whereas the α-receptor was only barely detectable on the cell surface. Metabolic labeling revealed synthesis and intracellular accumulation of the complete α-receptor protein, and treatment with suramin increased its surface expression, suggesting continuous receptor down-regulation by endogenous PDGF. Morphological and ultrastructural analysis in 3D culture revealed a change in mesangial cell phenotype, forming a branching network of multicellular structures. Assessment of proliferation in 3D culture showed quiescent cells and PDGF unresponsiveness. Investigation of the PDGF β-receptors revealed a rapid down-regulation in 3D culture; both receptor subunits were not detectable on the cell surface. We conclude that 3D culture promotes the induction of a different mesangial cell phenotype. The lack of a mitogenic response to PDGF in 3D culture is due to the down-regulation of the PDGF β-receptors driven by the surrounding matrix. The nonproliferating but metabolically active cells in 3D culture appear to be more closely related to the in vivo phenotype than mesangial cells in conventional 2D culture.
An evaluation of the role of prealbumin in the binding of thyroxine.

ABSTRACT The role of prealbumin in the binding of thyroxine has been investigated. Electrophoresis of human serum in agar gel with buffer solutions of barbital, borate or tris-maleate at pH 8.6, or phosphate at pH 7.4, results in a distinct separation of prealbumin from other proteins. Moreover, prealbumin is stained readily with amido black, a standard protein stain. This suggests that prealbumin is a specific fraction of the serum proteins and is not an artifact produced by certain buffer systems. Radiothyroxine, added to human serum in physiologic concentration and subjected to electrophoresis with agar gel in phosphate buffer at pH 7.4, binds to inter-alpha globulin, albumin and prealbumin. Measurements of radioactivity indicate that interalpha globulin binds approximately 46% of the radiothyroxine, albumin, 20%, and prealbumin, 30%, the remaining 4% being dispersed among the other proteins. These in vitro experiments, performed at pH 7.4 and with a physiologic concentration of hormone, favor a role f...
Interprofessional simulation-based education enhances student knowledge of health professional roles and care of patients with tracheostomies and Passy-Muir® Valves

An interprofessional simulation-based education activity involving speech language pathology, cardiorespiratory care, and nursing students was integrated into existing curriculum by an interprofessional faculty team. Students were presented with a realistic acute care environment containing a high-fidelity simulator as the patient and standardized patient as the family member. Small groups comprised of students from each discipline (nursing n = 60, speech language pathologists n = 17, respiratory therapists n = 24) worked together in an interactive simulation scenario that included evaluation of patient, tracheostomy care, and speaking valve placement, with an emphasis on interprofessional teamwork and patient communication. Based upon pretest/posttest results, including an attitudinal survey, enhanced knowledge and teamwork associated with health professional roles and responsibilities and the care of tracheostomy patients with speaking valves was found.
Technological innovation in the semiconductor industry

A comprehensive list of innovations in the semiconductor industry during 1970 to 1980 was derived. The patterns of innovation across eight organizations showed consistency between the stages of initiation, adoption and implementation. Smaller organizations compared to large implemented a lower percentage of the innovations they initiated. The value of organization net sales and the dollar amount of the R&D budget, but not the number of organization of R&D personnel were significantly related to the number of innovations.
Gang Membership Between Ages 5 and 17 Years in the United States

Purpose: This study determined the frequency, prevalence, and turnover in gang membership between ages 5 and 17 years in the United States. Methods: Data were from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997, which is representative of youth born between 1980 and 1984. Age-specific patterns of gang joining, participation, and leaving are estimated based on youths (N ¼ 7,335) self-reported gang membership at the baseline and eight subsequent interviews, which were combined with population age estimates from the 2010 U.S. Census to produce national estimates of gang membership. Sampling variance-adjusted bounds were estimated based on assumptions about missing cases and survey design effects. Demographic and socioeconomic variables are used to compare differences between gang and nongang youth. Results: Youth gang members were disproportionately male, black, Hispanic, from single-parent households, and families living below the poverty level. We estimated that there were 1,059,000 youth gang members in the United States in 2010 (bounds ranging from 675,000 to 1,535,000). The prevalence of youth gang membership was 2.0% (1.2%e2.8%), peaking at age 14 years at 5.0% (3.9%e6.0%). Annually, 401,000 (204,000e639,000) juveniles join gangs and 378,000 (199,000e599,000) exit gangs, with a turnover rate of 36%. Conclusions: We discovered that significantly more people are involved with gangs than previous estimates would suggest. Clinicians and policy makers must recognize that youth gang members may not conform to popular perceptions of gang demographics. The patterns of youth gang membership observed in this study support prevention programs aimed at children before the teen years. This strategy is more likely to succeed than gang intervention or suppression strategies aimed at teens.
Precision plating of stearic acid-1-carbon-14 from benzene solutions☆

A quick and precise method of counting benzene solutions of stearic acid with a thin end-window Geiger counter was required. During a given series of analyses, either Teflon discs or watch glasses were used, however, a solution plated on Teflon gave higher counts. A table is given of samples of radiostearic acid plated from benzene solutions. (P.C.H.)
Evolution of minimal specificity and promiscuity in steroid hormone receptors.

Most proteins are regulated by physical interactions with other molecules; some are highly specific, but others interact with many partners. Despite much speculation, we know little about how and why specificity/promiscuity evolves in natural proteins. It is widely assumed that specific proteins evolved from more promiscuous ancient forms and that most proteins' specificity has been tuned to an optimal state by selection. Here we use ancestral protein reconstruction to trace the evolutionary history of ligand recognition in the steroid hormone receptors (SRs), a family of hormone-regulated animal transcription factors. We resurrected the deepest ancestral proteins in the SR family and characterized the structure-activity relationships by which they distinguished among ligands. We found that that the most ancient split in SR evolution involved a discrete switch from an ancient receptor for aromatized estrogens—including xenobiotics—to a derived receptor that recognized non-aromatized progestagens and corticosteroids. The family's history, viewed in relation to the evolution of their ligands, suggests that SRs evolved according to a principle of minimal specificity: at each point in time, receptors evolved ligand recognition criteria that were just specific enough to parse the set of endogenous substances to which they were exposed. By studying the atomic structures of resurrected SR proteins, we found that their promiscuity evolved because the ancestral binding cavity was larger than the primary ligand and contained excess hydrogen bonding capacity, allowing adventitious recognition of larger molecules with additional functional groups. Our findings provide an historical explanation for the sensitivity of modern SRs to natural and synthetic ligands—including endocrine-disrupting drugs and pollutants—and show that knowledge of history can contribute to ligand prediction. They suggest that SR promiscuity may reflect the limited power of selection within real biological systems to discriminate between perfect and “good enough.”
The Bearing strength of e-glass/vinyl-ester composites fabricated by vartm

Abstract This paper investigates the bearing properties of mechanically fastened glass-fiber/vinyl-ester composite joints. Two glass composites of different fabrics and lay-ups were fabricated by vacuum-assisted resin-transfer molding (VARTM) and tested by using a double-lap joint configuration. The results of this study are presented as experimental characterization and analytical prediction. The major focus of the experimental part of the paper was to characterize the bearing failure behavior of these composites. The effects of geometric parameters were evaluated and correlated with the resulting bearing strength and failure modes by the statistical method of analysis of variance. From the experimental results obtained, it is concluded that the edge-distance ratio (e/d) and thickness of the specimen strongly affect the bearing strength of the composites. On the other hand, the failure mode is determined by the width ratio (w/d). In the analytical part of the study, Chang’s strength-prediction model, which is based on a two-dimensional finite-element analysis, was utilized to predict the bearing strength of these composite joints. The predicted values were compared with the experimental data obtained from this study and the results suggest that this model can be used to give accurate predictions of the bearing strength of these composites.
Grain Boundary Precipitate Density as a Function of Time and Misorientation in an Al-5 WT% Cu Alloy

The variation of 0 (CuAl2) precipitate density as a function of heat treatment time and grain boundary misorientation was investigated in an Al-5 wt % Cu alloy. In this study, precipitate densities have been quantitatively linked to grain boundary structure. It was found that, for a given heat treatment time, the precipitate density varied in a reproducible manner (108 to 1010 ppts/cm2/ as a function of misorientation between the grains (20 to 60 degrees). Additionally, misorientation was found to be the most important factor governing the precipitate density at a given grain boundary. The grain boundary plane orientation played a secondary role in determining the precipitate density. Bollmann O-lattice modeling allows comparison of the relative effects of grain boundary plane orientation relative to the misorientation between grains.
The effects of post-exposure smallpox vaccination on clinical disease presentation: addressing the data gaps between historical epidemiology and modern surrogate model data.

Decades after public health interventions – including pre- and post-exposure vaccination – were used to eradicate smallpox, zoonotic orthopoxvirus outbreaks and the potential threat of a release of variola virus remain public health concerns. Routine prophylactic smallpox vaccination of the public ceased worldwide in 1980, and the adverse event rate associated with the currently licensed live vaccinia virus vaccine makes reinstatement of policies recommending routine pre-exposure vaccination unlikely in the absence of an orthopoxvirus outbreak. Consequently, licensing of safer vaccines and therapeutics that can be used post-orthopoxvirus exposure is necessary to protect the global population from these threats. Variola virus is a solely human pathogen that does not naturally infect any other known animal species. Therefore, the use of surrogate viruses in animal models of orthopoxvirus infection is important for the development of novel vaccines and therapeutics. Major complications involved with the use of surrogate models include both the absence of a model that accurately mimics all aspects of human smallpox disease and a lack of reproducibility across model species. These complications limit our ability to model post-exposure vaccination with newer vaccines for application to human orthopoxvirus outbreaks. This review seeks to (1) summarize conclusions about the efficacy of post-exposure smallpox vaccination from historic epidemiological reports and modern animal studies; (2) identify data gaps in these studies; and (3) summarize the clinical features of orthopoxvirus-associated infections in various animal models to identify those models that are most useful for post-exposure vaccination studies. The ultimate purpose of this review is to provide observations and comments regarding available model systems and data gaps for use in improving post-exposure medical countermeasures against orthopoxviruses.
Absolute single photoionization cross-section measurements of Se 3+ and Se 5+

Absolute single photoionization cross-section measurements of Se3+ and Se5+ ions were performed using monochromatized synchrotron radiation and the photo-ion merged-beams technique. Se3 + measurements were made at a photon energy resolution of 20 ± 3 meV from 41.90 to 54.56 eV, spanning the 2P1/2 ground state ionization threshold. Numerous autoionizing resonances arising from both the 2P1/2 ground state and 2P3/2 metastable state are identified using quantum defect analysis. For Se5 +, measurements were made at a photon energy resolution of 60 ± 10 meV from 81 to 101 eV, spanning the 2S1/2 ground state ionization threshold, and at a photon energy resolution of 28 ± 3 meV from 100.175 to 106.675 eV in a region rich with autoionizing resonances. The direct ionization threshold of the Se5 + 2S1/2 ground state is experimentally determined to be 81.780 ± 0.010 eV.
Faithful and Efficient in Vitro Reconstitution of Vesicular Stomatitis Virus Transcription Using Plasmid-Encoded L and P Proteins

We demonstrate here that plasmid-expressed polymerase proteins of a negative-strand RNA virus can faithfully reconstitute all aspects of the transcription process carried out by virion cores in vitro. The assay is based on adding purified nucleocapsid templates of vesicular stomatitis virus to extracts of cells expressing L and P viral polymerase proteins via the vaccinia-T7 RNA polymerase recombinant virus. No significant differences were seen between the native virion core reaction and the optimally reconstituted system including ratio of transcripts produced, polyadenylation, net synthesis per template, amounts of polymerase proteins and template, and competence to initiate infection in vivo. Reconstitution was not dependent on cotranslation of P and L proteins in the same cell since nearly as much activity was obtained by mixing extracts expressing each protein individually. Cotransfection with P plasmid, however, stimulated L protein accumulation two- to fivefold relative to transfection with L alone. Surprisingly, deleting a small region in the C-terminal half of the L polymerase protein (amino acids 1638 to 1673) abolished transcription as well as stimulation by P coexpression. Since the polymerase domain of L presumably lies in the N-terminal half of the protein, these results suggest that the putative nucleotide-binding motif in the deleted segment may be involved in an accessory function essential for the transcription process.
Legacy of the Age-Related Eye Disorder Study

T HE AGE-RELATED EYE DISORDER STUDY (AREDS) was designed as a long-term multicenter prospective study of the clinical course of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and age-related cataract. The primary goal of the study was to generate data progression rates and risk factors for these disorders to increase our understanding of the clinical course of AMD and cataract, generate hypotheses about etiology, and aid in the design of clinical trials for intervention. In addition, 2 clinical trials were included in the design: a high-dose vitamin and mineral trial for AMD and a high-dose vitamin trial for cataract. The AREDS certainly achieved the primary goal of the study. We obtained important natural history data, including rates of progressions for different stages of AMD, providing prognostic information for patients and facilitating the design of subsequent interventional studies. The AREDS refined useful grading schemes for both clinical trials and clinical practice. A treatment regimen for certain patients with AMD was identified and adopted, though acceptance of AREDS recommendations has been tainted by controversy over the data presentation and analysis. While there is continued discussion of the molecular mechanisms underlying the treatment benefit demonstrated for patients with AMD, the AREDS findings have spawned other clinical trials for nonneovascular AMD. These include a followup, AREDS 2, and other interventions to prevent progression. The AREDS generated other observations, including the interaction of cataract and AMD, the reliability of quality of life measures, and the association of AMD and mortality. There have been 24 published manuscripts from AREDS through 2008 and scores of published abstracts and proceedings.
Amebic dysentery in North Carolina

1. Amebic dysentery is prevalent in North Carolina. 2. Diagnosis is relatively easy, if proctoscopic examination is employed. 3. Adequate treatment is highly effective.
Mitigating Toxicity To Permit Bioremediation of Constituents of Nonaqueous-Phase Liquids

A study was undertaken to find means by which bacteria may degrade phenanthrene initially dissolved in toxic nonaqueous-phase liquids (NAPLs). In shaken cultures containing 5% NAPLs, bacteria readily mineralized phenanthrene initially present in di-n-butyl phthalate or 2,2,4,4,6,8,8-heptamethylnonane but not in 1,2-dichlorobenzene, toluene, 2-chlorotoluene, or 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene. Attempts to acclimate bacteria to tolerate higher concentrations of the first two NAPLs were unsuccessful. However, bacteria sensitive to 1,2-dichlorobenzene and toluene extensively degraded phenanthrene initially present in these toxic NAPLs in a system containing the toxic NAPL, a water phase, and a separate nontoxic NAPL to lower the toxicant concentration in the aqueous phase.
Archimedes’ lost treatise on the centers of gravity of solids

Introductory note. The present paper is one of a series developing out of my study of the chronological ordering of the Archimedean corpus ("Archimedes and the Elements," to appear late this year). This issue had been obscured by several implausible ideas introduced by Heiberg, reproduced by Heath (10, p. xxxii; 9, II, p. 22) and perpetuated uncritically in the secondary literature ever since. For instance, viewing the Dimension of the Circle as late and the Method as early, as Heath did, how could one avoid confusion on the development of Archimedes' work? In discovering Heath's error and reversing his judgment on these two works, I hit upon a criterion by which to divide the writings in the corpus into an "early group" and a "mature group." The former, including Dimension of the Circle and parts of Quadrature of the Parabola, apply t echn iques characteristic of Euclid's Elements: most n o t a b l y , convergence is one-sided, a magnitude being approximated by a sequence of inscribed rectilinear figures. By contrast, the mature treatises invariably apply two-sided conve rgence , in which the magnitude is compressed between sequences of circumscribed and inscribed figures whose difference can be made arbitrarily small. Further, these works frequently employ the "Archimedean axiom" on convergence, instead of the Euclidean bisection principle (Euclid's Elements X, I).
Comparison of oral microbiota in tumor and non-tumor tissues of patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma

Bacterial infections have been linked to malignancies due to their ability to induce chronic inflammation. We investigated the association of oral bacteria in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC/tumor) tissues and compared with adjacent non-tumor mucosa sampled 5 cm distant from the same patient (n = 10). By using culture-independent 16S rRNA approaches, denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) and cloning and sequencing, we assessed the total bacterial diversity in these clinical samples. DGGE fingerprints showed variations in the band intensity profiles within non-tumor and tumor tissues of the same patient and among the two groups. The clonal analysis indicated that from a total of 1200 sequences characterized, 80 bacterial species/phylotypes were detected representing six phyla, Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria, Fusobacteria, Actinobacteria and uncultivated TM7 in non-tumor and tumor libraries. In combined library, 12 classes, 16 order, 26 families and 40 genera were observed. Bacterial species, Streptococcus sp. oral taxon 058, Peptostreptococcus stomatis, Streptococcus salivarius, Streptococcus gordonii, Gemella haemolysans, Gemella morbillorum, Johnsonella ignava and Streptococcus parasanguinis I were highly associated with tumor site where as Granulicatella adiacens was prevalent at non-tumor site. Streptococcus intermedius was present in 70% of both non-tumor and tumor sites. The underlying changes in the bacterial diversity in the oral mucosal tissues from non-tumor and tumor sites of OSCC subjects indicated a shift in bacterial colonization. These most prevalent or unique bacterial species/phylotypes present in tumor tissues may be associated with OSCC and needs to be further investigated with a larger sample size.
Reconstruction in United States History Textbooks

ence. That incoherence leads historians ultimately to invoke either inappropriate psychological analyses (of individuals or groups) or literary flourishes about tragic flaws in the American character- all in lieu of probing the historical forces at work. In its abbreviated form, as found in many United States history surveys, that narrative conveys the sense that there were several parallel sequences of events and developments, which were largely unrelated and disconnected. Some historical periods do resist the historian's attempt to impose a coherent narrative because they were, in fact, not coherent. But, given that Reconstruction America had just fought an enormous war, which had focused its energies and resources in ways heretofore unimaginable, and that the forces set loose by that war continued to unfold in the postwar decade, incoherence seems unlikely. Three of the textbooks under review here adhere to the traditional approach. The other four project strong conceptual or thematic schemes that lend order and perspective to their narrations. One may disagree with them, but there is something substantive to be debated. But even those texts that have avoided the incoherences of the conventional narrative fail adequately to account for the collapse of Reconstruction, especially the betrayal of the political and economic aspirations of the freed people. Of the discussions of Reconstruction in these seven texts, the fourteen-page treatment in A Short History of the American Nation by John A. Garraty and Robert A. McCaughey is the most typical of the conventional narrative of the Reconstruction era; or, perhaps more accurately, it marks an incomplete transition away from what was conventional several decades ago.' Its twelve brief sections signal that its concerns are primarily with formal politics: "Presidential Reconstruction," "Republican Radicals," "The Fourteenth Amendment," "The Reconstruction Acts," "Congress Takes Charge," "The Fifteenth Amendment," "'Black Republican' Reconstruction," "The Ravaged Land," "The White Counterrevolution," "Grant as President," "The Disputed Election of 1876," and "The Compromise of 1877."
Spectra and coordination changes of transition metals in hydrothermal solutions: Implications for ore genesis

Abstract Optical absorption spectra of Fe(II), Co(II), Ni(II) and Cu(II) have been measured in aqueous solutions of up to 5 m NaCl at temperatures from 25°C to 300°C and at water-saturated vapor pressures. Ni and Co complexes exhibited a change from octahedral to tetrahedral coordination, this occurring at both higher temperatures and Cl − concentrations. Similar transitions to lower coordination number are predicted for Cu and Fe but were not directly observed because of interference with water overtone bands. The coordination changes in response to ligand type and concentration, pressure and temperature. Formation of lower coordination complexes is attributed to the decreased dielectric constant of the solvent, the predominance of electrostatic forces and a decrease in the octahedral site preference energy at elevated temperatures. Our data suggest that lower coordination complexes with lower or neutral formal charge, will result in minerals having a higher solubility. The molecular properties and changes in coordination of these complexes are important in determining the transport and deposition of hydrothermal minerals.
The use of finite-segmentp-adic arithmetic for exact computation

A finite number system for doing exact computer arithmetic, due to Krishnamurthy, Rao, and Subramanian, is described. For each rational numbera/b, with |a| and |b| suitably bounded, the firstr digits of the (infinite)p-adic expansion ofa/b are used as a coded representation fora/b (the Hensel code). Arithmetic operations on the Hensel codes produce Hensel codes for the exact results of the arithmetic operations.
Some fundamental ideas in topology and their application to problems in metallography

Abstract The topological ideas and results that have been used by metallurgists, together with several results not previously presented in the metallurgical literature, are developed in a systematic manner. Based on this presentation, a review is given of the use of topology in metallurgy. The additional topology that is introduced is used to establish interrelationships among the results of several papers and to clarify the mathematical treatment. The new ideas introduced include the Alexander duality theorem, the Euler-Poincare formula, and the concept of deformation retract. The Euler-Poincare formula is used to relate results of F. N. Rhines to those of J. W. Cahn. The topological model of sintering of F. N. Rhines is discussed as a deformation retract. Deformation retract properties, together with the Alexander duality theorem, are used to mathematically validate a formula of Kronsbein, Buteau, and DeHoff and to establish in a new mathematical manner a formula of Kronsbein and Steele.
Detecting Crew Alertness With Processed Speech

This paper proposes a solution for improving the safety of rail and other mass transportation systems through operator alertness monitoring. A non-invasive method of alertness monitoring through speech processing is presented. Speech analysis identifies measurable vocal tract changes due to fatigue and decreased speech rate due to decreased mental ability. Enabled by existing noise reduction technology, a system has been designed for measuring key speech features that are believed to correlate to alertness level. The features of interest are pitch, word intensity, pauses between words and phrases, and word rate. The purpose of this paper is to describe the overall alertness monitoring system design and then to show some experimental results for the core processing algorithm which extracts features from the speech. The feature extraction algorithm proposed here uses a new and simple technique to parse the continuous speech signal coming from the communication signal without using computationally demanding and error-prone word recognition techniques. Preliminary results on the core feature extraction algorithm indicate that words, phrases, and rates can be determined for relatively noise-free speech signals. Once the remainder of the overall alertness monitoring system is complete, it will be applied to real life recordings of train operators and will be subjected to clinical testing to determine alert and non-alert levels of the speech features of interest.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
Observation of single dinuclear metal-complex molecules using scanning tunneling microscopy.

We report a scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) investigation of a dinuclear organometallic molecule, trans-[Cl(dppe)2Ru(C≡C)6Ru(dppe)2Cl] (Ru2), absorbed on a Au(111) surface; this molecule is a potential candidate for use in molecular quantum-dot cellular automata (QCA) devices. Isolated Ru2 molecules were observed under ultra-high-vacuum conditions. Submolecular structure was clearly discernible in the STM images, with a bright feature corresponding to each of the two Ru−ligand complexes within the Ru2 molecule. Rotation and translation of the Ru2 molecules were observed to be induced by the STM tip under some tunneling conditions.