cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
BACKGROUND REDUCTIONS OBTAINED WITH GAMMA DETECTORS BY USE OF MASSIVE COSMIC-RAY SHIELDING.

Abstract A counting facility has been established 110 m below the top of Grand Coulee Dam to investigate the effects of massive concrete and water cosmic-ray shielding on gamma detector backgrounds. Curves are presented which show that backgrounds at this facility are greatly reduced compared with surface values. Both mercury and special lead shielding have been explored as a means of further reducing the background, and have been found to yield significant improvement at low energies. Detector systems evaluated include NaI(Tl) anticoincidence shielding and two-parameter NaI(Tl) detectors.
Joint estimation of contingent valuation survey responses.

Hanemann's utility difference model for the dichotomous choice contingent valuation method is modified to account for interrelationships between responses to a set of contingent valuation questions. A nonlinear seemingly unrelated regression model is presented to jointly estimate the probit models and to derive WTP from the CV responses. The model is used to test and impose restrictions derived from economic theory on the utility difference model. Mean WTP estimates for three different types of changes in the quality of California deer hunting were uniformly lower for the joint response probit model compared to a set of independent probit models.
International Rare Blood Donor Centre

When a patient needs a rare blood type not present or identified routinely, immediate assistance is needed from the facility capable of supplying the product. If this reserve is not available domestically, patient care is in jeopardy. This presentation will discuss fundamentals of establishing an International Rare Blood Donor Center.
Performance of the mood disorders questionnaire in a psychiatric outpatient setting

Objectives: The Mood Disorders Questionnaire (MDQ) has been the most widely studied screening questionnaire for bipolar disorder, though few studies have examined its performance in a heterogeneous sample of psychiatric outpatients. In the present report from the Rhode Island Methods to Improve Diagnostic Assessment and Services (MIDAS) project, we examined the operating characteristics of the MDQ in a large sample of psychiatric outpatients presenting for treatment. Methods: A total of 534 psychiatric outpatients were interviewed with the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV and asked to complete the MDQ. Missing data on the MDQ reduced the number of patients to 480, 10.4% (n = 52) of whom were diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Results: Based on the scoring guidelines recommended by the developers of the MDQ, the sensitivity of the scale was only 63.5% for the entire group of bipolar patients. The specificity of the scale was 84.8%, and the positive and negative predictive values were 33.7% and 95.0%, respectively. When impairment was not required to define a case on the MDQ, then sensitivity increased to 75.0%, specificity dropped to 78.5%, positive predictive value was 29.8%, and negative predictive value was 96.3%. Conclusions: In a large sample of psychiatric outpatients, we found that the MDQ, when scored according to the developers’ recommendations, had inadequate sensitivity as a screening measure. After the threshold to determine MDQ caseness was lowered by not requiring moderate or severe impairment, the sensitivity of the scale increased, but specificity decreased, and positive predictive value remained below 30%. These results raise questions regarding the MDQ’s utility in routine clinical practice.
A discrete-trials/fixed-interval method of discrimination training

An efficient new method of discrimination training is described which has several advantages over older free-operant and discrete-trials procedures. Illustrative data on reversal learning in pigeons and goldfish are presented.
X-ray photochemistry in iron complexes from Fe(0) to Fe(IV) – Can a bug become a feature?

Under intense soft X-ray irradiation, we have observed time-dependent changes in the soft X-ray spectra of virtually all the Fe coordination complexes that we have examined, indicating chemical transformation of the compound under study. Each compound, with oxidation states ranging from Fe(IV) to Fe(0), has been studied with either Fe L-edge spectroscopy or N K-edge spectroscopy. We find that very often a well-defined spectroscopic change occurs, at least initially, which is apparently capable of straightforward interpretation in terms of X-ray induced photoreduction, photooxidation or ligand photolysis. We briefly discuss the probable chemical nature of the changes and then estimate the rate of chemical change, thereby establishing the necessary radiation dose. We also demonstrate that the photochemistry not only depends on the Fe oxidation state but also the coordination chemistry of the complex. It seems that a proper understanding of such X-ray photochemical effects could well greatly assist the assignment of soft X-ray spectra of uncharacterized metal sites.
Study of SEI layer formed on graphite anodes in PC/LiBOB electrolyte using IR spectroscopy

Formation of the SEI layer on graphite anodes cycled in propylene carbonate (PC) lithium bis(oxolato)borate (LiBOB) electrolyte was studied by ex-situ Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis in the attenuated total reflection (ATR) mode. The results provide a more refined description of the composition than earlier analyses with x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The vibrational spectra clearly show that electrochemical reduction of the BOB anion is a part of the SEI formation chemistry. Carboxylate and/or oxalate functional groups derived from the BOB anion were the components assigned as the ''semicarbonate'' species in the C 1s XPS spectra of the SEI layer formed in LiBOB electrolyte. Reduction of the BOB anion changes the oxygen coordination around the B atom from tetrahedral BO4 to trigonal BO3, e.g., meta- or orthoborate. Based on the combination of electrochemical and FTIR data, we propose that the preferential reduction of the BOB anion versus the PC solvent molecule is responsible for the cyclability of graphite anodes in purely PC-based electrolyte.
Simulation of the anomalous cosmic ray radiation belt with atmospheric production and decay

A numerical simulation of the anomalous cosmic ray (ACR) radiation belt, including production by electron stripping and decay by energy loss in a model atmosphere, predicts altitude and time variations over the last solar cycle. Satellite ACR data are used to estimate the unknown trapping cross sections. Energy loss to free electrons is significant for the high altitude trapped ACR which have not yet been observed.
Alternatives to lactic acid: Possible advantages

Many groups of invertebrates use metabolic strategies that do not lead to the accumulation of lactate during periods of hypoxia or anoxia. These animals may accumulate some combination of the following: alanine, octopine, alanopine, strombine, acetate, propionate, 2-methylbutyrate, 2-meth-ylvalerate, and succinate. An organism may derive a benefit from production of an alternative end product when the yield of ATP per mole of glucose 6-phosphate is greater than that found in lactate production. Formations of succinate, propionate, 2-methylbutyrate, and 2-methylvalerate have been shown to yield more ATP in a few species. This analysis can be extended to the formation of alanine, as this is accompanied by the conversion of aspartate to succinate. Formations of octopine, alanopine, or strombine apparently do not increase the yield of ATP per mole of glucose 6-phosphate, because the enzymes forming these compounds are functionally analogous to lactate dehydrogenase. A potential advantage of producing these compounds might be maintenance of a constant intracellular osmotic pressure during periods of anoxia. The significance of this is uncertain, because if lactate were to accumulate, the expected change in osmotic pressure appears to be trivial. Another possible advantage of accumulating octopine, alanopine, or strombine, would be the ability to maintain a lower NADH/NAD+ ratio as compared with the accumulation of lactate. This might assist the organism in maintaining a high rate of glycolysis by reducing the inhibition of glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase by NADH. Other possibilities are smaller perturbations of the acid–base balance of the cell, or producing a compound that has less effect on the catalytic and regulatory properties of enzymes in the cell.
Positrons observed to originate from thunderstorms

[1] Thunderstorms are the result of warm, moist air moving rapidly upward, then cooling and condensing. Electrification occurs within thunderstorms (as noted by Benjamin Franklin), produced primarily by frictional processes among ice particles. This leads to lightning discharges; the types, intensities, and rates of these discharges vary greatly among thunderstorms. Even though scientists have been studying lightning since Franklin's time, new phenomena associated with thunderstorms are still being discovered. In particular, a recent finding by Briggs et al. [2011], based on observations by the Gamma-Ray Burst Monitor (GBM) instrument on NASA's satellite-based Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope (Fermi), shows that positrons are also generated by thunderstorms. Positrons are the antimatter form of electrons—they have the same mass and charge as an electron but are of positive rather than negative charge; hence the name positron. Observations of positrons from thunderstorms may lead to a new tool for understanding the electrification and high-energy processes occurring within thunderstorms. New theories, along with new observational techniques, are rapidly evolving in this field.
The Chiwaukum Structural Low: Cenozoic shortening of the central Cascade Range, Washington State, USA

The Chiwaukum area on the eastern flank of the Cascade Range of Washington State is a type locality for a clastic basin in what is, broadly speaking, a continental arc province. [Evans (1994)][1] concluded that the Eocene Chumstick Formation was deposited syntectonically in the Chiwaukum graben in a
Magnetic Resonance Imaging With 3-Dimensional Analysis of Left Ventricular Remodeling in Isolated Mitral Regurgitation Implications Beyond Dimensions

Background—Although surgery is indicated in patients with mitral regurgitation (MR) when left ventricular (LV) end-systolic (LVES) dimension is >40 mm, LV ejection fraction may decrease after mitral valve surgery. We hypothesize that significant LV remodeling before surgery is not reflected by standard echocardiographic parameters measured at the base of the heart. Methods and Results—Ninety-four patients (age, 54±11 years; 38% female) with degenerative isolated MR underwent cine magnetic resonance imaging with tissue tagging and 3-dimensional analysis. In 51 control subjects (age, 44±14 years; 53% female), the relation between LVES volume (LVESV) and LVES dimension was quadratic, whereas in 94 MR patients, this relation was cubic, indicating a greater increase in LVESV per LVES dimension among MR patients. Moreover, magnetic resonance imaging LVESV from summated serial short-axis slices was significantly greater than LVESV assessed with the Bullet formula in MR patients, attributed to a more spherical re...
Improved Gender Classification Using Nonpathological Gait Kinematics in Full-Motion Video

In this paper, we exploit nonpathological gait kinematics to improve gender classification from motion information using large-scale datasets with subjects moving in a less controlled environment. Dynamic motion features are extracted from motion capture data using principal component analysis. Features are further refined in the time and spatial domain by exploiting gait phase cycles and significant body part indicators obtained from analyzing nonpathological gait kinematics. Classification is performed using support vector machine with a radial basis function. Experimental testing with a dataset of 49 subjects reveals that human gender classification rates are improved from 73% to 93% using leave-one-out cross validation.
Thomson scattering from analytical plasmas

Abstract Electrons play an essential role in energy transfer and many other processes within analytical plasmas, so a complete characterization of any plasma requires spatially and temporally resolved data for the electron number density and temperature, as well as the electron energy distribution function. Thomson scattering provides a reliable non-intrusive means of determining inherently radially resolved absolute values for these fundamental parameters, without the assumptions about cylindrical symmetry or thermodynamic conditions in the plasma that are required by many other techniques. However, because of the relatively complex and expensive instrumentation required to perform successful Thomson scattering measurements, this method has not been widely applied in the field of analytical chemistry. The goal of this review was to clarify the history and theory of Thomson scattering, discuss the instrumental details that must be considered in a Thomson scattering experiment, and summarize the results of studies in which the technique has been applied to the characterization of analytical plasmas, in order to demonstrate the power of Thomson scattering as a tool for plasma characterization.
Hydrogen peroxide formation from the photooxidation of formaldehyde and its presence in rainwater

Abstract The photooxidation of formaldehyde with sunlamps (Emax = 3100 A) produces hydrogen peroxide at varying concentrations depending upon the amount of water vapor present. It is postulated that the variable production of H2O2 is a result of condensation on the reactor surface. Rainwater samples were also analyzed for H2O2. Summer rain in the Triangle area of North Carolina contained as much as 200 ppb (w/w) of H2O2. Rainwater collected in December contained much less H2O2, usually 2–8 ppb. The lower concentration found in the colder conditions is attributed to a decrease in photochemical activity.
Sferic detection-the first line of defense

Building a simple lightning detector can be accomplished in a few hours and will provide years of useful information; like what are the characteristics of this storm and when to unplug. It is also an excellent way of getting children interested in science. Electromagnetic pulses called Sferics (from atmospherics) can easily be detected out to a few hundred miles with just a short 12-in antenna. Sferics radiate broadband energy and can be discovered by simultaneously monitoring multiple frequencies around the 430-kHz, 2-MHz, and 5-MHz bands and computing the ratio of detections between them.
In vitro and in vivo cytogenetic investigations of tilorone HCl.

Summary Tilorone hydrochloride, an orally active antiviral agent, was examined in vitro in the rat-kangaroo cell line and in vivo in rat bone marrow for its ability to produce chromosomal aberrations. A significant increase in aberrations was found in vitro at concentrations of 1.5, 3.0, and 6.0 μ/ml, with significant mitotic inhibition at the latter two levels. In the in vivo studies, the proportion of chromosomal abnormalities did not differ significantly from the control value although inhibition of division was apparent at all dosages tested.
Genetic dissection reveals two separate pathways for rod and cone regeneration in the teleost retina.

Development of therapies to treat visual system dystrophies resulting from the degeneration of rod and cone photoreceptors may directly benefit from studies of animal models, such as the zebrafish, that display continuous retinal neurogenesis and the capacity for injury-induced regeneration. Previous studies of retinal regeneration in fish have been conducted on adult animals and have relied on methods that cause acute damage to both rods and cones, as well as other retinal cell types. We report here the use of a genetic approach to study progenitor cell responses to photoreceptor degeneration in the larval and adult zebrafish retina. We have compared the responses to selective rod or cone degeneration using, respectively, the XOPS-mCFP transgenic line and zebrafish with a null mutation in the pde6c gene. Notably, rod degeneration induces increased proliferation of progenitors in the outer nuclear layer (ONL) and is not associated with proliferation or reactive gliosis in the inner nuclear layer (INL). Molecular characterization of the rod progenitor cells demonstrated that they are committed to the rod photoreceptor fate while they are still mitotic. In contrast, cone degeneration induces both Muller cell proliferation and reactive gliosis, with little change in proliferation in the ONL. We found that in both lines, proliferative responses to photoreceptor degeneration can be observed as 7 days post fertilization (dpf). These two genetic models therefore offer new opportunities for investigating the molecular mechanisms of selective degeneration and regeneration of rods and cones.
Reduced chemical and electrical connections of fast-spiking interneurons in experimental cortical dysplasia

Aberrant neural connections are regarded as a principal factor contributing to epileptogenesis. This study examined chemical and electrical connections between fast-spiking (FS), parvalbumin (PV)-immunoreactive (FS-PV) interneurons and regular-spiking (RS) neurons (pyramidal neurons or spiny stellate neurons) in a rat model of prenatal irradiation-induced cortical dysplasia. Presynaptic action potentials were evoked by current injection and the elicited unitary inhibitory or excitatory postsynaptic potentials (uIPSPs or uEPSPs) were recorded in the postsynaptic cell. In dysplastic cortex, connection rates between presynaptic FS-PV interneurons and postsynaptic RS neurons and FS-PV interneurons, and uIPSP amplitudes were significantly smaller than controls, but both failure rates and coefficient of variation of uIPSP amplitudes were larger than controls. In contrast, connection rates from RS neurons to FS-PV interneurons and uEPSPs amplitude were similar in the two groups. Assessment of the paired pulse ratio showed a significant decrease in synaptic release probability at FS-PV interneuronal terminals, and the density of terminal boutons on axons of biocytin-filled FS-PV interneurons was also decreased, suggesting presynaptic dysfunction in chemical synapses formed by FS-PV interneurons. Electrical connections were observed between FS-PV interneurons, and the connection rates and coupling coefficients were smaller in dysplastic cortex than controls. In dysplastic cortex, we found a reduced synaptic efficiency for uIPSPs originating from FS-PV interneurons regardless of the type of target cell, and impaired electrical connections between FS-PV interneurons. This expands our understanding of the fundamental impairment of inhibition in this model and may have relevance for certain types of human cortical dysplasia.
Treatment of squamous cell carcinoma of the buccal mucosa.

Abstract A study was made of seventy-seven patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the buccal mucosa (cheek) treated at the Mayo Clinic from 1945 through 1954. All patients who received any form of treatment were included. A five-year survival rate of 50 per cent of the patients who were followed up was obtained. An attempt was made to determine the most effective method of treatment of these lesions. Because of the difficulty in estimating the extent of the disease from the records, and because of the small number of patients in each category of treatment, no exacting conclusions could be drawn regarding the most effective method of treatment. In contrast to the many reported series in which radiation was the mainstay of treatment, most tumors in this series were removed by thorough electrocoagulation or excision, and cervical metastatic lesions were removed by block dissection of the neck. In this unselected series, a survival rate was obtained which was equally as good as has been obtained with other methods.
Oxygen-isotope systematics of the tin deposits of the Northeast USSR

(1983). Oxygen-isotope systematics of the tin deposits of the Northeast USSR. International Geology Review: Vol. 25, No. 1, pp. 107-116.
The association of physical and mental health with sexual activity in older adults in a retirement community.

Introduction. Understanding sexual behavior is important when evaluating the health needs of older adults. Little research has addressed the effect of specific health conditions on sexual inactivity in this growing population. Aim. The study aims to assess the association of mental and physical health conditions with sexual inactivity among adults 55 and older living in The Villages, Florida. Methods. Exposure data for 22 self-reported health conditions were assessed in relation to sexual inactivity in 22,654 participants ages 55 and older, including 1,879 participants over age 80 in a community-based cross-sectional study. Logistic regression analyses were conducted separately for men and women to evaluate the likelihood of being sexually active for each health condition. Covariates included age, race, education, income, self-reported overall health, and marital status. Main Outcome Measures. The odds ratio and 95% confidence intervals for sexual activity status were calculated separately for men and women. Results. Fifty-five percent of men and 45% of women reported being sexually active. Significant positive correlates of sexual activity included walking at least 1-2 times per week, participating in at least two registered clubs, engaging in physical and social activities, no tobacco use, fewer medications, increased alcohol consumption, and reporting a good quality of life, psychological well-being, or social support. Sexual inactivity was significantly related to cancer, bladder/bowl problems, major surgery, poor vision, mental health conditions, and cardiovascular disease and its risk factors including diabetes, hypertension, and high cholesterol. Additional associations with sexual inactivity included hearing loss and dementia for men, and dermatologic conditions, problems with the joints, bone or back, gastroin- testinal problems, alcohol misuse, chronic wound care, and gum disease in women. Conclusions. Mental and physical health conditions have very similar associations with sexual inactivity in men and women. Increased sexual activity was associated with positive physical, social, and emotional health indicators. Bach LE, Mortimer JA, VandeWeerd C, and Corvin J. The association of physical and mental health with sexual activity in older adults in a retirement community. J Sex Med **;**:**-**.
PERFORMANCE COMPARISON OF NUMERICAL PROCEDURES FOR EFFICIENTLY SOLVING A MICROSCALE HEAT TRANSPORT EQUATION DURING FEMTOSECOND LASER HEATING OF NANOSCALE METAL FILMS

An alternative discretization and solution procedure for implicitly solving a 3-D microscale heat transport equation during femtosecond laser heating of nanoscale metal films has been developed (Kunadian et al. [1]). The proposed numerical technique directly solves a single partial differential equation, unlike other techniques available in the literature which splits the equation into a system of two equations and then apply discretization. The present paper investigates performance of its split and unsplit methods of solution via numerical experiments using Gauss–Seidel, conjugate gradient, generalized minimal residual and δ-form Douglas–Gunn time-splitting methods to compare the computational cost involved in these methods. The comparison suggests that the unsplit method [1] employing δ-form Douglas–Gunn spatial time-splitting is the most efficient way in terms of CPU time taken to complete the simulation of solving the 3-D time dependent microscale heat transport equation.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
Prediction markets as a tool for management of political risk

Recently, several prediction markets for various events have been launched. The literature so far has focused on the predictive power of such markets. This paper considers such markets as tools for management of political risk. It outlines a model for use and pricing of such assets, and discusses the various benefits of a well-functioning, liquid prediction market for political decisions.
Modeling Molecules: Computational Nanotechnology as a Knowledge Community

I propose that a sociological and historical examination of nanotechnologists can contribute more to an understanding of nanotechnology than an ontological definition. Nanotechnology emerged from the convergent evolution of numerous “technical knowledge communities”—networks of tightly-interconnected people who operate between disciplines and individual research groups. I demonstrate this proposition by sketching the co-evolution of computational chemistry and computational nanotechnology. Computational chemistry arose in the 1950s but eventually segregated into an ab initio, basic research, physics-oriented flavor and an industry-oriented, molecular modeling and visualization, biochemical flavor. Computational nanotechnology arose in the 1990s as a synthesis of these two subgroups, infused by people and practices from computational materials science, engineering, computer science, and elsewhere. I show that to understand the aims and outcomes of computational nanotechnology—and nanotechnology more genera...
Formulating a Communication Strategy for Effective Knowledge Sharing

Overcoming cultural resistance from a workforce and gaining sufficient buy-in from senior management are both critical to the successful implementation of Knowledge Management (KM) initiatives in any organization. The main purpose of this study is to identify an effective communication strategy at the onset of the implementation process, aimed at helping the workforce to comprehend the need for KM in the organization and to solicit maximum support from the senior management and staff alike. It is based on a case study of the KM initiatives in Singapore’s Civil Service College, a training school for public officials. The strategy will also facilitate effective communication between staff so that effective knowledge sharing can take place and provide proactive and reactive communication, to achieve acceptance of and commitment to KM in the organization. The communication strategy was formulated using inputs collected from focus group discussions and observational field work.
Charge-transfer strings in the extended Hubbard model for copper oxide superconductors.

Near the Cu/sup 2+/..-->..Cu/sup +/ valence instability, there are low-lying excitations in the extended Hubbard model for CuO/sub 2/ superconductors which consist of spatially extended, contiguous strings of Cu/sup +/-O/sup -/ pairs. Such strings can be electrically neutral or carry charges +e or -e. Results for the string band structure, their internal excitations, and possible attractive string-pairing interactions are presented. Important experimental implications are discussed.
Interaction evidence between Enceladus' atmosphere and Saturn's magnetosphere

[1] Saturn’s ultraviolet (UV) auroras are highly variable, with much of the activity believed to be controlled by conditions in the solar wind. Like Jupiter, Saturn is also expected to have an electrodynamic interaction between the planet’s ionosphere and its satellites’ atmospheres, a process that is responsible for the moon’s auroral footprint components at Jupiter. Recent observations from several instruments on the Cassini spacecraft, e.g., the UltraViolet Imaging Spectrograph (UVIS) and the Cassini Plasma Spectrometer (CAPS), show strong evidence that Enceladus makes significant plasma contributions to Saturn’s magnetosphere. Modeling by Pontius and Hill (2006) suggests that Enceladus’ mass loading region may be comparable in extent to Io’s, whose auroral footprint emissions are clearly detected. However, the upper limits of Enceladus’ magnetic footprint emissions are predicted to be only a few tenths of kilo-Rayleighs (kR). We present results of a search for Enceladus’ auroral footprint using series of UV images of Saturn’s aurora taken by the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (STIS) in January 2004 and the Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS) between February 2005 and January 2007. We detected no auroral evidence of the electromagnetic connection between Enceladus’ atmosphere and Saturn’s ionosphere, in agreement with modeling predictions. As our study could detect no signature of currents linking Saturn’s ionosphere and Enceladus’ interaction region, the implication is that the field-aligned currents associated with mass loading at Enceladus are too weak to cause auroral emission.
A Comparative Study of Thin-Film and Bulk Reaction Kinetics and Diffusion Path: the Ir/GaAs System

Control of the structure and chemistry at the interfaces of compound semiconductors is essential for the commercial use of these materials in electronic and optical technologies. This can only be achieved when the governing thermodynamics and kinetics of interfacial reactions are understood. Based primarily on the experience of metal/Si interactions, however, a prevailing belief was born that thin-film reactions follow a separate set of thermodynamic and kinetic “rules” which are different from bulk reactions. The intent of our work has been to not only characterize metal/GaAs contact reactions but also to rationalize these reactions with equilibrium phase diagrams and bulk metal/GaAs diffusion couple experiments. Through this approach, a better understanding of thin-film and bulk differences has been obtained. The Ir/GaAs system is used as an example. Phase formation and reaction kinetics were studied for 30 nm Ir films on (100) GaAs using TEM, XTEM, and AEM. Bulk diffusion between 0.25 mm thick Ir foil and (100) GaAs wafers was studied with SEM and electron probe microanalysis (EPMA). The diffusion paths and kinetics were the same for thin-film and bulk. The phase sequence Ir/IrGa/IrAs2/GaAs formed for all diffusion couples. Reaction kinetics were parabolic with an activation energy of 3.0 eV for both thin-film and bulk, and the data was colinear in an Arrhenius plot. Reacted layer morphology in both cases was layered. The effects of grain size, crystallographic texturing, and the relative diffusivities of the components on the reaction mechanisms in bulk versus thin-film reactions are considered.
Holistic Customer Requirements and the Design-Select Decision

When confronted with the task of developing a new product, a firm chooses either to design new components, unique to the product application, or to select components from those offered in the catalogs of suppliers or from those already in use in its other products. We call this the design-select decision. The benefits of selecting an existing component include minimizing investment, exploiting economies of scale, and preserving organizational focus. On the other hand, designing product-specific components allows a firm to (a) maximize product performance with respect to holistic customer requirements-those requirements that arise in a complex way from most of the components of a product; (b) minimize the size and mass of a product; and (c) minimize the true variable costs of production. When these benefits exceed those from selecting existing components, firms will tend to design product-specific components. Our approach is to develop this theory by linking concepts from marketing, technological innovation, and engineering design. This theory yields four testable hypotheses. A cross-sectional analysis of 225 products finds substantial support for the theory.
Instrumentation of NRC's experimental tractor-semitrailer

Heavy road vehicles are responsible for a significant portion of road damage, at a substantial financial burden to society at large. One of the most pressing questions that needs to be answered in the area of vehicle-generated road damage deals with the issue of spatial correlation properties of dynamic wheel loads produced by heavy road vehicles. This paper describes two types of instrumentation developed by NRC for its project to measure and analyze these properties. The paper deals with the general aspects of instrumentation used to measure vertical dynamic wheel loads at the interface of pavements and rolling tires, and with the design characteristics and performance of a high-precision odometer capable of measuring the distance travelled by a vehicle with a repeatability of /spl plusmn/2 cm over 750 m. >
PlasmID: a centralized repository for plasmid clone information and distribution

The Plasmid Information Database (PlasmID; http://plasmid.hms.harvard.edu) was developed as a community-based resource portal to facilitate search and request of plasmid clones shared with the Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center (DF/HCC) DNA Resource Core. PlasmID serves as a central data repository and enables researchers to search the collection online using common gene names and identifiers, keywords, vector features, author names and PubMed IDs. As of October 2006, the repository contains >46 000 plasmids in 98 different vectors, including cloned cDNA and genomic fragments from 26 different species. Moreover, the clones include plasmid vectors useful for routine and cutting-edge techniques; functionally related sets of human cDNA clones; and genome-scale gene collections for Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Yersinia pestis, Francisella tularensis, Bacillus anthracis and Vibrio cholerae. Information about the plasmids has been fully annotated in adherence with a high-quality standard, and clone samples are stored as glycerol stocks in a state-of-the-art automated -80 degrees C freezer storage system. Clone replication and distribution is highly automated to minimize human error. Infor-mation about vectors and plasmid clones, including downloadable maps and sequence data, is freely available online. Researchers interested in requesting clone samples or sharing their own plasmids with the repository can visit the PlasmID website for more information.
Metal-Dielectric-Washer cathode for long-pulse relativistic magnetron

The UM/L-3 relativistic magnetron operates at -300 kV, 2-5 kA, for durations of 500 ns and is capable of generating microwave pulses of 100's MW output power at 1 GHz for 100's ns. Previous research at UM utilized Metal-Oxide- Junction (MOJ) cathodes to exploit triple point field enhancement to stimulate electron emission. These MOJ cathodes generated fast current turn-on, however, the lifetime of the HfO8 thin film islands were limited in the relativistic magnetron. In order to extend the lifetime, a new Metal- Dielectric-Washer (MDW) cathode has been developed that exhibits high current and expected long lifetime. The MDW cathode consists of alternating washers of OFHC-Cu and BN. Three primary configurations of the MDW cathode are under investigation: 1) Metal washer equal to dielectric washer, 2) Metal washer diameter larger than dielectric washers, 3) Metal washer diameter less than dielectric washers.
Template-Based Inverse Planning Simulated Annealing for CT-Based High-Dose-Rate Brachytherapy of Cervical Cancer: Feasibility Study

Abstract: Purpose : To investigate the feasibility of using an inverse planning technique for CT-based ring and tandem high-dose rate brachytherapy of cervical cancer. Methods and Materials : Two patients previously treated with high-dose-rate brachytherapy for cervical cancer were retrospectively identified for this study. Each patient had five intracavitary insertions using CT/MR-compatible tandem and ring applicators. The 6Gy isodose lines from the original clinical plans were converted into a structure set (S6) using MIMvista. Inverse plans were then generated in Oncentra using the inverse planning simulated annealing (IPSA) with S6 as the optimization target. The dose to 0.1cm 3 , 1cm 3 , 5cm 3 of bladder (D B0.1 , D B1 , and D B5 ) and rectum (D R0.1 , D R1 , D R5 ) were determined from the dose volume histogram (DVH). Percentage of physician drawn clinical target volume (CTV) and S6 coverage (V 100CTV , V 100S6 ) were also recorded. Results : The mean V 100%CTV of the original clinical plans and the inverse plans were 88.14% and 87.57%. The mean V 100%S6 of the original clinical plans and the inverse plans was 98.68% and 97.00%. The mean dose reduction for D B0.1 , D B1 and D B5 were 5.4%, 5.4%, and 4.7%, respectively. The mean dose reduction for D R0.1 , D R1 and D R5 were 6.4%, 5.5%, and 4.8%. Conclusions : This work demonstrated the feasibility of this structure-based inverse planning. It can achieve comparable CTV coverage while reducing dose to critical structures. Once template structure set is constructed, this procedure can not only reduce planning time, but improve quality assurance by standardizing the procedure. This approach can be directly extended to other applicator-based brachytherapy procedures.
An adaptive first-order polarization-mode dispersion compensation system aided by polarization scrambling: theory and demonstration

An adaptive polarization-mode dispersion (PMD) compensation system has been developed to cancel the effects of first-order PMD by producing a complementary PMD vector in the receiver. Control parameters for the PMD compensation system comprised of a polarization controller and a PMD emulator are derived from the nonreturn-to-zero (NRZ) signal in the channel to be compensated. Estimates of the link's differential group delay (DGD) and principal states of polarization (PSPs) based on this signal are reliable when the signal power is equally split between the link's two PSP's; however this condition cannot be assumed. To meet this requirement, we scramble the state of polarization (SOP) of the input signal at a rate much greater than the response time of the PMD monitor signal so that each sample represents many different SOP alignments. This approach allows the effective cancellation of the first-order PMD effects within an optical fiber channel.
Electrical strength of XLPE cable insulation containing controlled amounts of the volatile products of the crosslinking reaction

Previous reports have shown that the addition of small amounts of acetophenone, cumyl alcohol, alpha methyl styrene, and cumene to devolatilized compression-molded samples of XLPE (cross-linked polyethylene) has a small effect on the breakdown strength of these samples. The AC breakdown strength is increased; the impulse breakdown strength is decreased. The question addressed is whether the results for the extruded XLPE cable insulation will be the same. The results presented suggest that, qualitatively, the results for the two types of XLPE are much the same. Quantitatively, the breakdown strength of the XLPE cable insulation is much less than that of the compression-molded XLPE. >
Activity of the APCCdh1 form of the anaphase-promoting complex persists until S phase and prevents the premature expression of Cdc20p

Cell cycle progression is driven by waves of cyclin expression coupled with regulated protein degradation. An essential step for initiating mitosis is the inactivation of proteolysis mediated by the anaphase-promoting complex/cyclosome (APC/C) bound to its regulator Cdh1p/Hct1p. Yeast APCCdh1 was proposed previously to be inactivated at Start by G1 cyclin/cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK). Here, we demonstrate that in a normal cell cycle APCCdh1 is inactivated in a graded manner and is not extinguished until S phase. Complete inactivation of APCCdh1 requires S phase cyclins. Further, persistent APCCdh1 activity throughout G1 helps to ensure the proper timing of Cdc20p expression. This suggests that S phase cyclins have an important role in allowing the accumulation of mitotic cyclins and further suggests a regulatory loop among S phase cyclins, APCCdh1, and APCCdc20.
Polymorphism discovery in 51 chemotherapy pathway genes

Candidate gene pharmacogenetic studies offer a strategy for the rapid assessment of putative predictive markers. As a first step toward studying the pharmacogenetics of cancer chemotherapy, 51 candidate genes from the pathways of antineoplastic agents were resequenced to identify common genetic polymorphisms that might alter therapeutic response or toxicity. Forty DNA samples were screened from each of three population groups: African-Americans, Asian-Americans and European-Americans. Nearly 378 kb of genomic sequence was obtained from each sample. Nine hundred and four variants were identified, including 139 coding single nucleotide polymorphisms (cSNPs). Three hundred and fifty-six (40%) polymorphisms were common to all three populations and 366 (41%) were population specific. Three hundred and forty-six (38%) variants were novel polymorphisms that were not present in the three public databases that were examined. One hundred and eleven (35%) of the 319 non-synonymous cSNPs that were identified by either resequencing or database mining were predicted by PolyPhen to be either possibly or probably damaging. For the non-synonymous cSNPs identified by resequencing, both the number of cSNPs found and the maximum estimated allele frequency decreased with increasing predicted severity. These results provide experimental validation and estimated allele frequencies for polymorphisms in three common ethnic groups and facilitate applied pharmacogenetic studies of anticancer drugs.
The Classroom for a Learning Community

This column focuses on Eighth Street Bridge, a street newsletter printed in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The evolution of the newsletter is depicted along with a discussion of the essence of a learning community. Teaching-learning endeavors associated with the newsletter are explicated and activities of this collaborative community effort are presented in light of Parse’s community change concepts.
Cell Cycle Regulation of Human Interleukin-8 Gene Expression by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Tat Protein

The human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) Tat protein has been reported to transactivate several cellular genes, including the potent chemotactic factor interleukin-8 (IL-8). Consistent with these in vitro assays, elevated levels of IL-8 protein are found in the serum of HIV-infected individuals. We now extend these observations by demonstrating that Tat induction of IL-8 is linked to the cell cycle. Cells that constitutively express the Tat(1-86) protein (eTat) and control cells (pCEP) were reversibly blocked at the G(1)/S border with hydroxyurea or thymidine. The cells were subsequently released, and IL-8 expression was monitored by RNase protection assays and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RNase protection assays demonstrated that IL-8 mRNA expression is transiently induced, approximately fourfold, as the Tat-expressing cells enter S phase. Consistent with the RNase protection assay, an increase in IL-8 protein was observed in the cell supernatant using an IL-8 ELISA. Similar experiments were performed following a reversible block at the G(2)/M border with nocodazole and release into G(1). Using the RNase protection assay and ELISA, little or no increase in IL-8 expression was observed during G(1). Using gel shift as well as an immobilized DNA binding assay, we demonstrate that the increase in IL-8 gene expression correlates with a specific increase in p65 NF-kappa B binding activity only in the nucleus of the Tat-expressing cells. Moreover, the CREB-binding protein coactivator is present in the complex in the Tat cell line. Finally, we demonstrate that the presence of the proteasome inhibitor MG-132 inhibits the induction of NF-kappa B binding, as well as IL-8 expression, supporting the role of NF-kappa B.
A statistical methodology as applied to a 256 Mbit DRAM pass transistor design

We present a novel design for manufacturing (DFM) methodology that has been applied to the design of a pass transistor for 256 Mbit DRAM. The design inputs that include gate oxide thickness, which limits the booted wordline voltage, the threshold voltage adjust implant, and the substrate bias voltage, for different channel lengths, are optimized to meet the constraints on performance, reliability, and robustness against manufacturing variations. The problems associated with applying conventional DFM techniques are discussed and a new methodology based on "margins" is presented. The results pertaining to the optimized DRAM pass transistor design for a power supply voltage V/sub cc/=2.5 V are presented,.
When is diagnostic testing inappropriate or irrational? Acceptable regret approach.

The authors provide a new model within the framework of theories of bounded rationality for the observed physicians' behavior that their ordering of diagnostic tests may not be rational. Contrary to the prevailing thinking, the authors find that physicians do not act irrationally or inappropriately when they order diagnostic tests in usual clinical practice. When acceptable regret (i.e., regret that a decision maker finds tolerable upon making a wrong decision) is taken into account, the authors show that physicians tend to order diagnostic tests at a higher level of pretest probability of disease than predicted by expected utility theory. They also show why physicians tend to overtest when regret about erroneous decisions is extremely small. Finally, they explain variations in the practice of medicine. They demonstrate that in the same clinical situation, different decision makers might have different acceptable regret thresholds for withholding treatment, for ordering a diagnostic test, or for administe...
Impact of Foreign Official Purchases of US Treasuries on the Yield Curve

Foreign governments went from owning a tenth of publicly available US Treasury notes and bonds in 1985 to over half in 2008. Recently, foreign governments have reduced their positions. I find foreign official purchases have depressed medium-term yields, despite conventional wisdom pointing toward the long end of the yield curve. To examine effects over the entire yield curve, I embed a structural vector autoregression of macroeconomic variables into an affine term structure model. With segments of the yield curve increasingly determined by international financial markets, it may be more difficult for the Federal Reserve to implement its interest rate policy.
Elevated pulmonary arterial and systemic plasma aldosterone levels associate with impaired cardiac reserve capacity during exercise in left ventricular systolic heart failure patients: A pilot study.

Background Elevated levels of aldosterone are a modifiable contributor to clinical worsening in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). Endothelin-1 (ET-1), which is increased in HFrEF, induces pulmonary endothelial aldosterone synthesis in vitro. However, whether transpulmonary aldosterone release occurs in humans or aldosterone relates to functional capacity in HFrEF is not known. Therefore, we aimed to characterize ET-1 and transpulmonary aldosterone levels in HFrEF and determine if aldosterone levels relate to peak volume of oxygen uptake (pVO 2 ). Methods Data from 42 consecutive HFrEF patients and 18 controls referred for invasive cardiopulmonary exercise testing were analyzed retrospectively. Results Radial ET-1 levels (median [interquartile range]) were higher in HFrEF patients compared with controls (17.5 [11.5–31.4] vs 11.5 [4.4–19.0] pg/ml, p = 0.04). A significant ET-1 transpulmonary gradient (pulmonary arterial [PA] – radial arterial levels) was present in HFrEF ( p p = 0.24). Compared with controls, aldosterone levels (median [interquartile range]) were increased in HFrEF patients in the PA (364 [250–489] vs 581 [400–914] ng/dl, p p p = 0.01) and peak exercise (–20.7 [–39.6 to 79.1] vs 25.8 [–29.2 to 109.3] ng/dl, p = 0.02). The adjusted pVO 2 correlated inversely with aldosterone levels at peak activity in the PA ( r = –0.31, p = 0.01) and radial artery ( r = –0.32, p = 0.01). Conclusions These data provide preliminary evidence in support of increased transpulmonary aldosterone levels in HFrEF and suggest an inverse relationship between circulating aldosterone and pVO 2 . Future prospective studies are needed to characterize the functional effects of transpulmonary and circulating aldosterone on cardiac reserve capacity in HFrEF.