cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Critical Behavioral Competencies for IT Project Managers: What Are They? How Are They Learned?

What behavioral competencies do experienced IT project managers apply when facing critical situations in their projects, and how have they developed those competencies? In this paper, the authors answer these questions. The authors interviewed 23 experienced IT project managers from 11 organizations, focusing on critical situations that they now managed differently from their earlier, novice, practices, and on how they had learned to develop these different approaches. The authors discuss a variety of management development and training interventions. They use a thematic analysis to identify the key competencies being applied and learning methods experienced by this set of managers. Results suggest that IT project managers are drawing on a different set of competencies from those required for project management in other industries. Additionally, this paper reveals the importance of informal learning channels, often involving project experiences, for the development of IT project management competencies.
Selecting software tools for IS/IT curricula

The evaluation and selection of software tools for use in an IS or IT curriculum is difficult not only because actual industry software tools are often used but also because there is no formal approach to guide the process. How does one choose between SQL Server and MySQL, or Dreamweaver and Expression Studio? IS and IT educators must periodically go through the process of assessing the most suitable tools for their courses. Given how common such decisions are and how frequently they must be made, it is surprising to find that there is a lack of literature that deals with comparative studies of software tools for higher education. This paper proposes a set of criteria for the selection of software tools for IS and IT programs, explains how multi-criteria decision analysis can be used to weight those criteria, and details an approach for the application of those weighted criteria. The proposed approach is structured and replicable, and allows for a more thorough evaluation of the available options and a more easily supportable selection.
Mixed-metal metallocryptands. Short metal-metal separations strengthened by a dipolar interaction.

The deep-red, air-stable mixed-metal metallocryptands, [AuPdTl(P2phen)3](PF6)2, 1·(PF6)2, and [AuPtTl(P2phen)3](PF6)2, 2·(PF6)2, are easily prepared in good yield (60−70%) by reacting 3 equiv of P2phen with 1 equiv of Au(THT)Cl, excess thallous acetate, and the appropriate amount of either Pd2(dba)3 for 1 or Pt(dba)2 for 2 in acetonitrile where P2phen is 2,9-bis(diphenylphosphino)-1,10-phenanthroline, THT is tetrahydrothiophene, and dba is dibenzylidineacetone. Compared to the more symmetrical bimetallic metallocryptands, these trimetallic species show shorter than expected Au(I)−Tl(I), Pt(0)−Tl(I), and Pd(0)−Tl(I) separations. The enhanced bonding interaction is attributed to the incorporation of the dissimilar capping metals introducing dipole moments that strengthen the dispersion forces responsible for maintaining the metallophilic interactions.
FULL NEWTON LATTICE BOLTZMANN METHOD FOR TIME-STEADY FLOWS USING A DIRECT LINEAR SOLVER

A full Newton lattice Boltzmann method is developed for time-steady flows. The general method involves the construction of a residual form for the time-steady, nonlinear Boltzmann equation in terms of the probability distribution. Bounce-back boundary conditions are also incorporated into the residual form. Newton's method is employed to solve the resulting system of non-linear equations. At each Newton iteration, the sparse, banded, Jacobian matrix is formed from the dependencies of the non-linear residuals on the components of the particle distribution. The resulting linear system of equations is solved using a direct solver designed for sparse, banded matrices. For the Stokes flow limit, only one matrix solve is required. Two dimensional flow about a periodic array of disks is simulated as a proof of principle, and the numerical efficiency is carefully assessed. For the case of Stokes flow (Re = 0) with resolution 251×251, the proposed method performs more than 100 times faster than a standard, fully explicit implementation.
The compositional limits of fluid immiscibility in the system H2ONaClCO2 as determined with the use of synthetic fluid inclusions in conjunction with mass spectrometry

Abstract The compositional limits of fluid immiscibility in the system NaClH2OCO2 were investigated from 500° to 700°C at pressures of 1, 2 and 3 kbar. Synthetic fluid inclusions formed in quartz prisms were equilibrated with high-temperature, high-pressure fluids in hydrothermal pressure vessels. The inclusions were analyzed optically, by mass spectrometry, and by microthermometry. The fields of immiscibility were defined as a function of temperature and pressure. Mass spectrometry was used to validate the existence of the immiscible fluids and to determine the CO 2 H 2 O ratios of the two coexisting phases. Microthermometry, i.e. the measurement of the melting temperature of solid sodium chloride, was used in conjunction with the results of the mass spectrometry measurements to define the tie-lines within the two-phase fields. Isochores and the location of a portion of the isopleth were determined for composition NaCl8.9H2O76.1CO215.0.
Reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic separation and quantitation of phenylthiohydantoin derivatives of 25 amino acids, including those of cysteic acid, 4-hydroxyproline, methionine sulfone, S-carboxymethylcysteine and S-methylcysteine.

Abstract A high-performance liquid chromatography system is presented which allows separation and quantitation (in the range 4–1000 pmol) of all common phenylthiohydantoin amino acids, including derivatives of 4-hydroxyproline, methionine sulfone and three differently modified forms of cysteine. By showing the actual solvent gradient during elution (as opposed to the programmed gradient) and by supplying information on the effects of minor changes in solvent-pH, column temperature, flow-rate, and concentration of 2-propanol in the gradient, we make guidelines available for fine-tuning the separation with new Ultrasphere-ODS (C 18) columns.
Predictors of mortality in patients with lower extremity peripheral arterial disease: 5-year follow-up.

BACKGROUND Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is associated with increased mortality. Lower extremity (LE) revascularization improves symptoms, but less is known about long-term survival benefits of LE arterial revascularization. METHODS Two hundred and eighty-three patients with an ankle brachial index (ABI) or=65 years (HR 2.42 [95% CI 1.52-3.85], P < 0.001), history of coronary artery disease (HR 1.67 [95% CI 1.13-2.46], P = 0.010), chronic kidney disease (HR 1.75 [95% CI 1.15-2.67], P = 0.010), and an ABI <or= 0.4 (HR 1.88 [95% CI 1.19-2.96], P = 0.006). CONCLUSION Few patients at this center with LE-PAD underwent arterial revascularization. After adjusting for baseline differences, there is a trend toward lower 5-year mortality in those undergoing LE arterial revascularization when compared to those who do not.
Sulfurized vegetable oil products as lubricant additives

Sulfurized products based on hog fat and its derivatives have extensive commercial use as additives for metalworking and industrial oils, but only relatively small quantities of vegetable oils find such application in North America. Products were made by sulfurization of soybean, sunflower, cottonseed, high erucic rapeseed, canola,Limnanthes (meadowfoam) and prime lard oils. Unlike products from the wax ester jojoba oil, the sulfurized vegetable triglycerides alone had physical properties generally undesirable for lubricant additives. When the oils were sulfurized in the presence of methyl lardate, however, the products had potential practical application. High-sulfur (active) products were made using a 50:50 ratio of triglyceride to methyl lardate, and low-sulfur (inactive) products were made using a 70:30 ratio. Compared to the other sulfurized vegetable triglyceride products,Limnanthes products showed the best solubility in high viscosity-index paraffinic oil. For solutions, measurements of extreme pressure, friction and wear were compared. Whereas products from jojoba were best, of the triglyceride group theLimnanthes-containing products generally gave the best performance. Although this oil had much promise, it is only in its early stage of commercial development. The other vegetable oils also have potential depending on cost and applications. However, overall competition with the well-established, usually lower-cost products from hog fat or greases would appear to be difficult.
Alternative Agents in Refractory Chronic Urticaria: Evidence and Considerations on Their Selection and Use

Patients with chronic urticaria (CU) who are refractory to antihistamines are frequently encountered by allergy specialists. Several alternative agents have been used to treat these patients; however, the evidence to support these agents is generally limited. This review focuses on some of the more commonly used alternative agents in refractory CU, including anti-inflammatory agents (montelukast, hydroxychloroquine, dapsone, sulfasalazine, methotrexate, colchicine), immunosuppressants (cyclosporine, tacrolimus, mycophenolate), and immunomodulatory agents (omalizumab, immune globulin). The evidence to support their use, dosing, potential toxicity, monitoring, and selection of these alternative agents is reviewed. Although numerous knowledge gaps exist for alternative agents in refractory CU, a rational, patient-based approach can be used with a goal of improving control and quality of life and minimizing adverse medication effects.
Adaptive back-stepping control of active magnetic bearings

An adaptive back-stepping control (ABC) is originally applied to a linearized model of an active magnetic bearing (AMB) system. Our control objective is to regulate the deviation of the magnetic bearing from its equilibrium position in the presences of an external disturbance and system uncertainties. The ABC consists of a recursive Lyapunov controller and adaptive laws. It is based on full-state feedback, for which all three states in the linearized AMB model (velocity, position, and current) are estimated to construct the control law. It is proved that the adaptive back-stepping controlled AMB system is asymptotically stable around the system's equilibrium points. Simulation results verify the effectiveness and robustness of the ABC against external disturbances and system uncertainties.
The CRAC Channel Activator STIM1 Binds and Inhibits L-Type Voltage-Gated Calcium Channels

Voltage- and store-operated calcium (Ca(2+)) channels are the major routes of Ca(2+) entry in mammalian cells, but little is known about how cells coordinate the activity of these channels to generate coherent calcium signals. We found that STIM1 (stromal interaction molecule 1), the main activator of store-operated Ca(2+) channels, directly suppresses depolarization-induced opening of the voltage-gated Ca(2+) channel Ca(V)1.2. STIM1 binds to the C terminus of Ca(V)1.2 through its Ca(2+) release-activated Ca(2+) activation domain, acutely inhibits gating, and causes long-term internalization of the channel from the membrane. This establishes a previously unknown function for STIM1 and provides a molecular mechanism to explain the reciprocal regulation of these two channels in cells.
Normal human rectal mucosa and its mechanism of repair.

1. The histologic appearance of 100 biopsy specimens of normal rectal mucosa has been studied.
Rhythmic leptin is required for weight gain from circadian desynchronized feeding in the mouse.

The neuroendocrine and metabolic effects of leptin have been extensively researched since the discovery, and the later identification, of the leptin gene mutated within the ob/ob mouse. Leptin is required for optimal health in a number of physiological systems (e.g. fertility, bone density, body weight regulation). Despite the extensive leptin literature and many observations of leptin’s cyclical pattern over the 24-hour day, few studies have specifically examined how the circadian rhythm of leptin may be essential to leptin signaling and health. Here we present data indicating that a rhythmic leptin profile (e.g. 1 peak every 24 hours) leads to excessive weight gain during desynchronized feeding whereas non-rhythmic leptin provided in a continuous manner does not lead to excessive body weight gain under similar feeding conditions. This study suggests that feeding time can interact with leptin’s endogenous rhythm to influence metabolic signals, specifically leading to excessive body weight gains during ‘wrongly’ timed feeding.
Screwed up, but working on it: (Dis)ordering the self through e-stories

The turn to narrative as a form of therapy has become a common practice with individuals telling their stories in private and public forums in hopes of finding healing and recovery for a wide variety of mental health disorders. With the emergence of the internet and the proliferation of new media forms, narrative practices have evolved concurrently. An examination of the digitally mediated narratives I call e-stories, on mental health community websites can provide a window into how people use psychological concepts in narratives to do mental health work in everyday life (Edwards & Potter, 1992). This case study of the HealthyPlace online journal community shows how e-stories play a significant role in self-identity construction and ideological reproductive work in relation to mental illness and recovery. This research examines autobiographical introductions posted on twenty-eight journal homepages to explore how everyday people use psychotherapeutic coherence systems — lay versions of expert knowledge — to demonstrate expertise and authority while organizing experiences into a socially sharable narrative, characterizing self-identity in terms of illness and health simultaneously. These e-stories reveal the power of language to serve as a tool to negotiate community membership, reproduce ideologies about mental health and recovery, and employ narrative devices online to represent self-identities of people as “screwed up, but working on it.”
Notch1 and Amyloid Precursor Protein Are Competitive Substrates for Presenilin1-dependent γ-Secretase Cleavage

Proteolytic processing of the amyloid precursor protein (APP) by beta- and gamma-secretases results in the production of a highly amyloidogenic Abeta peptide, which deposits in the brains of Alzheimer's disease patients. Similar gamma-secretase processing occurs in another transmembrane protein, Notch1, releasing a potent signaling molecule, the Notch C-terminal domain. It has been shown that both events are dependent on a presenilin-dependent protease. We now test the hypothesis that activated Notch1 and APP are competitive substrates for the same proteolytic activity in neurons. Treatment of neurons with the native Notch ligand, Delta, induces endogenous Notch1 intramembraneous cleavage and diminishes Abeta production in a dose-dependent manner. Complementary experiments showed that the converse was also true. Overexpressing human APP (APP(695Sw)) in neurons leads to a decrease in endogenous Notch1 signal transduction, as assessed by a CBF1 luciferase transcription assay, by Notch C-terminal domain nuclear translocation in vitro and by analysis of Notch C-terminal domain generation and Notch1 staining in vivo. In summary, two complementary approaches suggest that APP and Notch1 are physiologically relevant competitive substrates for gamma-secretase activity.
COMPARISON OF BUTAPERAZINE AND PERPHENAZINE: A DOUBLE-BLIND CONTROLLED STUDY.

Fifty-three chronically ill institutionalized psychotic patients were placed on a double-blind study, using a newer phenothiazine, butaperazine, unmarketed in the United States, and a well-known and widely marketed compound, perphenazine. Matched patients received medication for a period of 8 weeks. Dosage of butaperazine was increased from 20 to 100 mg daily, and of perphenazine from 16 to 80 mg daily. Butaperazine was found to be better than perphenazine in 8 pairs and equal to it in 5 pairs. Perphenazine was better than butaperazine in 12 pairs. Of the butaperazine patients, 1 showed moderate improvement, 9 were slightly improved, and 6 were slightly worse. In the perphenazine group, 7 were much improved, 10 slightly improved, and 3 slightly worse. The chief side effects in both groups were extrapyramidal phenomena, which responded to benztropine methanesulfonate. These results indicate that in this chronic psychotic population, butaperazine does not seem to be a more effective compound than perphenazine, and has more side effects in the nature of extrapyramidal phenomena.
RAMAN SPECTROMETRIC STUDY OF THE THERMAL DECOMPOSITION OF AQUEOUS TRI-AND TETRATHIONATE

Abstract The decomposition of 0.25 M trithionate and 0.5 M tetrathionate was followed at 20, 35, 50 and 70°C. During the reaction tri-and tetrathionate interconvert. Thiosulfate is observed as a prominent intermediate. The end products are elemental sulfur, sulfate, disulfite and bisulfite. The decomposition of trithionate follows a first order reaction with a rate constant of 1.4 × 10−1 at 70°C. In tetrathionate the reaction is preceded by an induction period and is second order, with a rate constant of 4 × 10−3 at 20°C. In both systems sulfate is formed in a first order reaction with a rate constant of 3.1 × 10−3 hrs−1 at 20°C. The decomposition mechanism in both systems involves the hydrolysis of trithionate.
Emergence of excitotoxicity in cultured forebrain neurons coincides with larger glutamate-stimulated [Ca2+]i increases and NMDA receptor mRNA levels

We examined several factors related to the increase in susceptibility to excitotoxicity that occurs in embryonic forebrain neurons over time in culture. Neuronal cultures were resistant to a 5-min exposure to 100 microM glutamate/10 microM glycine at 5 days in vitro (DIV), but became vulnerable to the same stimulus by 14 DIV. We used the fluorescent indicators, fura-2 and magfura-2, which have high and low affinity for Ca(2+), respectively, to measure changes in [Ca(2+)](i). Glutamate-stimulated increases in the fura-2 and magfura-2 ratio reached maximum values by 10 DIV. Fura-2 reported similar [Ca(2+)](i) changes with exposure to 3 or 100 microM glutamate for 5 min, whereas magfura-2 reported larger [Ca(2+)](i) increases with 5-min exposure to 100 microM glutamate than with exposure to 3 microM glutamate, 100 microM kainate or 50 mM K(+) from 10 DIV onward. This suggests that the magnitude of the [Ca(2+)](i) changes correlated with the excitotoxicity potential of a stimulus when magfura-2, but not fura-2, was used to measure Ca(2+). We also used RNase protection assays to measure NMDA receptor subunit mRNA levels. NR1 and NR2A mRNA increased continuously over time in culture, whereas NR2B mRNA increased dramatically during the first 10 days and subsequently remained stable. The time course of the increase in NR2B mRNA most closely followed the increase in glutamate-stimulated changes in the magfura-2 signal and neuronal injury. Therefore, the increases in the glutamate-stimulated [Ca(2+)](i) responses and NMDA receptor subunit mRNA levels (especially NR2B) are likely involved in the development of susceptibility to excitotoxicity in cultured rat forebrain neurons.
Characterisation of Ferroelectric Lithium Tantalate thin Films Prepared by a Sol-Gel Process

Thin LiTaO3 films were prepared by spin coating of polymerized sol-gel precursor solution. Films have been deposited on single crystal silicon substrate, Ti/Pt or SiO2 coated silicon substrate. Films were characterized by x-ray diffraction, dielectric and pyroelectric measurements. High Curie temperature (above 550 °C) was assumed for LiTaO3 thin films from the temperature dependence of dielectric constant. Replacing 35% of tantalum by titanium atoms in the LiTaO3 precursor solution has resulted the thin films with Curie temperature of 330 °C. The lower Curie temperature leads to the larger pyroelectric coefficient at room-temperature, which is more than double that of the undoped LiTaO3 thin films. The dielectric, pyroelectric, and ferroelectric properties have been compared to the single crystal LiTaO3 and ceramic Li0.91Ta0.73Ti0.36O3. LITaO3 thin films are available by sol-gel process at low temperature, and their properties may possibly be controlled by varying the composition of the sol-gel precursor solution.
A buffered Giemsa-Bodian stain for neurological material.

A buffered Giemsa counterstain for the Bodian method is described. It is very useful for bringing out Nissl substance and nerve fibers in the same section. Bouin perfused or formalin fixed material from mammals, amphibia, reptiles and fish was used. After fixation, all tissues were decalcified for at least a week in 50% formic acid (1 part) and 20% sodium citrate (1 part). This was washed out thoroughly. The method described by Bodian (1936) was followed except for the following minor changes: Winthrop Protargol (Strong Protein Silver) Batch N346BJ was used exclusively; all glassware was cleaned with acid prior to setting up the stain; before developing, the sections were washed in warm tap water for 10 minutes; the gold chloride was chilled before use. The sections were then put into buffered Giemsa for 24 hours. Stock Giemsa: 0.75 grams powdered Giemsa (Coleman and Bell, Certification No. CGe-3) was dissolved in 50 ml. of glycerin overnight in the oven, then 50 ml. of methyl absolute alcohol were added....
The peripheral vascular consequences of smoking.

Cigarette smoking is associated with an increased risk and extent of advanced atherosclerotic vascular disease in peripheral as well as coronary arteries. The likelihood of claudication, amputation, stroke, abdominal aortic aneurysm, and failure of vascular reconstruction is higher in smokers than nonsmokers. Smoking exerts its deleterious effects through many interactive mechanisms. Nicotine and carbon monoxide produce acute cardiovascular consequences, including altered myocardial performance, tachycardia, hypertension, and vasoconstriction. Smoking injures blood vessel walls by damaging endothelial cells, thus increasing permeability to lipids and other blood components. Among metabolic and biochemical changes induced by smoking are elevated plasma, free fatty acids, elevated vasopressin, and a thrombogenic balance of prostacyclin and thromboxane A2.Chronic smoking is associated with a tendency for increased serum cholesterol, reduced high density lipoprotein, and other lipid effects that contribute to atherosclerosis. In addition to rheologic and hematologic changes from increased erythrocytes, leukocytes, and fibrinogen, smokers have alterations in platelet aggregation and survival that produce thrombosis. Considering the ubiquitous repercussions of this menace, vascular surgeons should play an active role in motivating their patients to quit smoking.
Applying knowledge compilation techniques to model-based reasoning

The application of knowledge compilation techniques to a specialized class of knowledge-based systems known as model-based reasoning (MBR) systems is discussed. Knowledge compilation is defined and explained, and the motivation for applying knowledge compilation techniques to MBR systems, namely, to improve their run-time efficiency on tasks such as diagnosis, design, and simulation, is examined. As an example, a prototype knowledge compilation system capable of compiling both diagnosis and design rules from a general-purpose structure/behavior model of the reaction wheel assembly of NASA's Hubble Space Telescope is considered. R. Davis' criticisms (see proc. 1989 workshop on model-based reasoning, 11-27) and the author's response are reviewed. >
Side force augmentation at high angle of attack from pneumatic vortex control

An experiment has been undertaken to measure side and lift forces with various nozzle blowing locations on an elliptic fore body. In this study a jet of small momentum excites a corrective instability to produce an amplified side force at high angle of attack for a fighter forebody. This study has identified an optimized nozzle position around the circumference of the forebody and axial location using a slotted nozzle at various pressure ratio values. A forward sweep of the nozzle provided for the greatest augmentation of side force at angles of attack below 55 deg. A beveled nozzle has shown active control of side force beyond 55-deg angle of attack and has merit in extending the angle of attack range. The mass flow requirements to produce a side force are sensitive to the angle of the jet relative to the forebody axis. The required mass flow is compatible with available engine bleed air that could be dedicated to pneumatic control. Data for different forebody strake configurations shows a degradation in side force magnitude with pneumatic blowing.
Preparation of low-affinity red cells with dimethylsulfoxide-mediated inositol hexaphosphate incorporation: Hemoglobin and ATP recovery using a continuous-flow method

Incorporation of IHP into red cells decreases oxygen affinity as a result of the binding of this compound to the 2,3-DPG site of hemoglobin. This investigation describes a continuous-flow method which utilizes the osmotic pulse technique to transport IHP into RBC. Using this procedure, it is possible to obtain a significant increase in P50 while maintaining in vitro cellular integrity. For example, IHP incorporation sufficient to cause an increase in the P50 of 20 mm Hg may be achieved with recovery of approximately 75% of the hemoglobin and with maintenance of ATP levels compatible with good viability. The continuous-flow method allows uniform treatment of large, unit-size volumes of red cells with a relatively small quantity of reagents. The final cell product is macrocytic/hypochromic with an increased number of stomatocytes.
Cytochrome caa3 from the thermophilic bacterium Thermus thermophilus: a member of the heme-copper oxidase superfamily.

The subject of this short review is the cytochromec oxidase (caa3) from the thermophilic bacteriumThermus thermophilus. First, some of the extensive physical and enzymological results obtained with this enzyme are reviewed, and two experiments are described, involving isotope substitutions in combination with Mossbauer and ENDOR spectroscopies, which have provided novel insight into the active sites of the enzyme. Second, we summarize recent molecular genetic work showing thatThermus cytochromecaa3 is abona fide member of the superfamily of heme-copper oxidases. Finally, we present a rough three-dimensional model and speculate about certain features of the metal-binding sites.
Diminished stepping responses lead to a fall following a novel slip induced during a sit-to-stand

While neuromotor responses associated with successfully restoring balance have been widely characterized, little is known of how responses employed to regain balance fail. We identified biomechanical factors that characterized the unsuccessful recovery responses to a novel perturbation. An unexpected forward slip was induced, using a low-friction platform, just after seat-off of a sit-to-stand in 41 young subjects. Kinematic variables describing the recovery responses were compared between fallers and those who recovered; "falls" into the fall-arrest system were identified based on center of mass (COM) descent. Twelve "single-step" falls, four "multi-step" falls, and 11 recoveries resulted. Single-step fallers exhibited a more posterior COM at slip onset, support (nonstepping) limb collapse resulting in hip vertical descent, and a shortened protective step backward. A factor analysis indicated that six common factors explained 88% of the variance in 22 kinematic variables describing the slip and recovery response. Single-step falls were associated with two factors, one related to initial or imposed instability and one to the reactive response. The former factor indicated that step length and COM position at step touchdown were related to COM position at slip onset. Support limb collapse comprised the latter factor. Multi-step fallers, by appearance, exhibited a shortened initial backward step that was ineffective at enabling balance recovery. As a whole, the results indicated that unsuccessful recovery was associated with a diminished stepping response. Fallers may have inadequately scaled an appropriate reflexive stepping response or might, inappropriately, have reflexively attempted to recover without stepping.
Simulating Globalization: Oil in Chad

The conflicting interests that underlie globalization can be difficult to grasp in a traditional classroom setting. The simulation presented here challenges students to examine the many different actors operating in the international system today. The focus is the Chad–Cameroon oil pipeline—a landmark example of cooperation and conflict between international institutions, non-governmental organizations and business interests. Given a scenario, students assume these roles and negotiate for the continued success of the pipeline. All the materials to run this exercise are included and if utilized, can provide a positive active learning experience.
Zwitterionic Geminis. Coacervate Formation from a Single Organic Compound

Easily “tunable” zwitterionic gemini surfactants were prepared with a wide variety of chain combinations. These geminis self-assemble into micelles, vesicles, and tubules at low concentrations in water. Two particularly remarkable geminis form a coacervate whose “sponge-like” structure is visible by cryo-high-resolution scanning electron microscopy.
Reduction of phosphorus and other pollutants from industrial dischargers using pollution prevention

Abstract During the course of this five-year project, the Minnesota Technical Assistance Program (MnTAP) at the University of Minnesota helped industrial wastewater dischargers reduce 65,950 pounds of phosphorus, 7.5 million pounds of organic and solids loading, and 104 million gallons water; and save $3.2 million. Publicly owned treatment works (POTWs) were key partners working with industrial wastewater dischargers in small communities. As industrial users implemented pollution prevention strategies, POTWs could see the impact of those changes reflected in their monitoring data. Some municipalities avoided the need to add treatment capacity and others reduced chemical cost. Some industries had reduced surcharges.
The effects of acidification on life-history traits of the freshwater clam Musculium partumeium (Say, 1822) (Bivalvia: Pisidiidae)

This study examines the effects of acidification on growth, survivorship, and natality of the fingernail clam, Musculium partumeium. Six groups of newborn clams (parents), collected in either Octob...
Effect of tube-to-tube conduction on plate-fin and tube heat exchanger performance

We study the effect of heat transfer between the tubes of a plate-fin and tube heat exchanger by conduction through the fins. Fin conduction not only enhances heat transfer to the over-tube fluid, but also increases tube-to-tube conduction. A continuum model to evaluate this conduction is developed and conditions under which it may or may not be neglected are determined. The effect of parametric variation on the performance of a single-row plate-fin and tube heat exchanger is considered in some detail. Tube-to-tube conduction is found to degrade the performance of the heat exchanger. It is found that the same heat transfer area distributed in a different number of tubes affects its performance.
Alterations in the structural gene and the expression of p53 in rat liver tumors induced by aflatoxin B1.

Rat hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) induced by aflatoxin B1 (AFB) treatment were examined for changes in the p53 tumor suppressor gene and in p53 suppressor gene expression. A high proportion of HCCs (nine of 11 tumors in six of eight animals) exhibited new p53 restriction fragments, indicating genomic alterations of one of the p53 alleles. Each tumor with an altered p53 restriction-fragment pattern exhibited a new fragment in one of two size classes (3 kb or 7 kb with EcoRl digestion) that were missing portions of the 3' end of the p53 gene. These findings indicate that apparently similar genomic rearrangements or deletions occurred independently in AFB-induced tumors. When compared with nontumor liver tissue from the same animal, the tumors with p53 gene alterations showed dramatically reduced levels of p53 mRNA and protein and greatly increased levels of histone H2B and retinoblastoma tumor suppressor (Rb) mRNA. In two HCCs showing no evidence of p53 restriction-fragment alterations, mutant p53 protein was detected. Mutant protein was also detected in two liver samples containing an adenoma and altered foci. These data suggest that alterations of the p53 tumor suppressor gene are involved in the induction of rat HCC by AFB. © 1992 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
A pictorial representation of product operator formalism: Nonclassical vector diagrams for multidimensional NMR

A complete pictorial representation for the product operator formalism has been developed to describe arbitrary multidimensional and multinuclear NMR experiments. A complete set of 16 multiple-headed vectors has been derived for a weakly coupled, two-spin (I = ½) system and extended to a three-spin system. The time evolution of chemical shift, scalar coupling, and the effects of pulses can then be easily visualized. The concepts of coherence transfer, multiple-quantum spectroscopy, and phase cycling are illustrated for a variety of experimental techniques. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Gibberellic acid effects on germination and α-amylase activity of winter wheats

Sensitivity to GA in non-Gai genome winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars was investigated to determine magnitude of variation of the trait, its association with other traits, and effects of geographical location of production. α-Amylase enzyme activity was measured before and after treatment with gibberellic acid in 18 cultivars grown at one location and in five cultivars grown at six locations. Dye-labeled starch and agar-starch media procedures were used for the first and second experiments, respectively. α-Amylase activity differed significantly among the 18 cultivars after germination in water, germination in GA, and in absolute and relative sensitivity to GA. Cultivars that reacted similarly to GA had some common ancestors in their pedigrees, and α-amylase activity and sensitivity to GA were significantly negatively associated with seed weight. α-Amylase activity differed between tall and semi-dwarf cultivars in the second experiment, but not in the first experiment. The magnitude of variation in α-amylase activity and its relationship to preharvest sprouting susceptibility of the cultivars suggested that the trait can be modified to improve seed dormancy. Significant interactions between cultivar responses to GA and geographical location of grain production suggested that selection should be carried out in several environments.
Discriminative stimulus effects of 1-(2,5-dimethoxy-4-methylphenyl)-2-aminopropane in rhesus monkeys.

Discriminative stimulus effects of 1-(2,5-dimethoxy-4-methylphenyl)-2-aminopropane (DOM) and related drugs have been studied extensively in rodents, although the generality of those findings across species is not known. The goals of this study were to see whether monkeys could discriminate DOM and to characterize the DOM discriminative stimulus by studying a variety of drugs, including those with hallucinogenic activity in humans. Four rhesus monkeys discriminated between 0.32 mg/kg s.c. DOM and vehicle after an average of 116 (range = 85–166) sessions while responding under a fixed ratio 5 schedule of stimulus shock termination. Increasing doses of DOM occasioned increased responding on the drug lever with the training dose occasioning DOM-lever responding for up to 2 h. The serotonin (5-HT)2A/2C receptor antagonists ritanserin and ketanserin, the 5-HT2A receptor antagonist (+)2,3-dimethoxyphenyl-1-\[2-(4-piperidine)-methanol\] (MDL100907), and its (-)stereoisomer MDL100009 [(-)2,3-dimethoxyphenyl-1-[2-(4-piperidine)-methanol], but not haloperidol, completely blocked the discriminative stimulus effects of DOM. Quipazine as well as several drugs with hallucinogenic activity in humans, including (+)lysergic acid diethylamide, (-)DOM, and 2,5-dimethoxy-4-( n )-propylthiophenethylamine (2C-T-7), occasioned DOM-lever responding. The κ-opioid receptor agonists U-50488 and salvinorin A (a hallucinogen) did not exert DOM-like effects and neither did ketamine, phencyclidine, amphetamine, methamphetamine, cocaine, morphine, yohimbine, fenfluramine, 8-hydroxy-2-(dipropylamino)tetralin hydrobromide (8-OH-DPAT), or (±)-2-( N -phenethyl- N -1′-propyl)amino-5-hydroxytetralin hydrochloride (N-0434). These data confirm in nonhuman primates a prominent role for 5-HT2A receptors in the discriminative stimulus effects of some drugs with hallucinogenic activity in humans. The failure of another drug with hallucinogenic activity (salvinorin A) to substitute for DOM indicates that different classes of hallucinogens exert qualitatively different discriminative stimulus effects in nonhumans.
Does assisted hatching pose a risk for monozygotic twinning in pregnancies conceived through in vitro fertilization

Abstract Objective: To examine the association between assisted hatching and monozygotic (MZ) twinning. Design: Case-control. Setting: Population-based sample of IVF-ET cycles initiated in U.S. clinics, 1996. Patient(s): The IVF-ET (n = 35,503) cycles and 11,247 resultant pregnancies. Intervention(s): Use of an assisted hatching procedure on embryos transferred. Main Outcome Measure(s): Cases were pregnancies for which number of fetal hearts observed on ultrasound exceeded number of embryos transferred. These pregnancies were considered to contain at least one MZ set of twins. Cases were compared with two control groups: other multiple-gestation pregnancies (≥2 fetal hearts but number of fetal hearts ≤ number of embryos transferred); and singleton pregnancies (1 fetal heart). Result(s): Women with a case pregnancy were more likely to have received embryos treated with assisted hatching procedures than were women in either control group. After adjustment for patient age, number of embryos transferred, prior cycles, infertility diagnosis, intracytoplasmic sperm injection, and whether embryos from the current cycle were cryopreserved for later use, odds ratios and 95% CIs for use of assisted hatching were 3.2 (1.2–8.0), compared with other multiple-gestation pregnancies, and 3.8 (1.8–9.8), compared with singleton pregnancies. Conclusion(s): Assisted hatching may pose a risk for MZ twinning.
Bridging Process Threshold for Sediment Infiltrating into a Coarse Substrate

Sand infiltration into gravel frameworks poses significant engineering and ecological difficulties. Ten flume experiments were conducted to quantify a sand bridging threshold in a static gravel bed. The D15 substrate / d85 sand ratio was computed for each of 37 unique sand-substrate pairs and the data were plotted, with previously published flume data, to determine the threshold between bridging and unimpeded static percolation. The process threshold boundary between bridging and unimpeded static percolation fell in the range of 12< D15 substrate / d85 sand <14 , substantially higher than predicted by standard geotechnical filter criteria. Plotting the results against the critical constriction size of the substrates provided a more definitive process separation along the line Dc∗ / d85 =3 .
Aerosol size distribution, composition, and CO2 backscatter

The aerosol size distribution, composition, and CO2 backscatter at 10.6 microns (beta-CO2) were measured continuosly at the Mauna Loa Observatory (Hawaii) during January-March and November-December, 1988 periods to compare the characteristics of periods associated with appreciable Asian dust transport to that site (January-March) with those of periods characterized by low-dust condition. The aerosol size distribution in the range 0.15 micron to 7.6 microns was measured at temperatures of 40, 150, and 340 C to differentiate between volatile and nonvolatile aerosols. Large ranges of variability was found in measurements of aerosol size distribution during both periods, but the average distributions were similar for both the high-dust and the low-dust periods. However, values for beta-CO2 were more elevated (by about six times) during periods associated with active Asian dust transport to the observatory site than during the low-dust periods.
Hydramnios prediction of adverse perinatal outcome.

Objective: To determine whether hydramnios is associated with an increased risk of adverse perinatal outcomes. Methods: Computerized records of all ultrasound examinations done at the University of Alabama at Birmingham from 1986 to 1996 (n = 40,065) were reviewed to identify 370 women with singleton pregnancies beyond 20 weeks’ gestation and hydramnios diagnosed sonographically by amniotic fluid index of 25 cm or more, largest vertical pocket of 8 cm or more, or subjective impression. Controls were all women with singleton gestations with normal amniotic fluid volumes (n = 36,426). Obstetric outcomes were determined by cross-reference to our database. Cases with hydramnios were compared with controls for perinatal death, anomaly rate, fetal growth restriction (FGR), cesarean delivery, fetal aneuploidy, and maternal diabetes. Cases were sorted according to diabetes status, after which perinatal death, anomaly rate, FGR, cesarean delivery, and fetal aneuploidy were compared again. Results: The incidence of hydramnios was 1%. The perinatal mortality rate in all women with hydramnios was 49 per 1000 births, compared with 14 per 1000 births in the control group (P < .001). Women with hydramnios had 25 times more anomalies than controls (8.4% versus 0.3%; P < .001), although the prevalence of fetal aneuploidy was not significantly different (one in 370 versus one in 3643; P = .10). The cesarean rate was three times higher in women with hydramnios compared with controls (47.0% versus 16.4%; P < .001). When hydramnios cases were divided according to diabetes status, all of the increased risk was in nondiabetic women: Perinatal mortality was 60 per 1000 in nondiabetic women versus 0 per 1000 in diabetic women (P = .03); the anomaly rate was 10.4% versus 0%, respectively (P = .005). Conclusion: Hydramnios indicated an increased risk of adverse perinatal outcomes, especially if not associated with diabetes. A comprehensive fetal evaluation, a workup to rule out maternal factors, and fetal surveillance are warranted; amniocentesis for fetal karyotype analysis might not be necessary.
Large-Scale Computing in Reservoir Simulation

Operator-splitting techniques are applied to the nonlinear coupled systems of partial differential equations used to model multiphase or multicomponent flows in porous media. Convection is treated by time-stepping along the characteristics of the associated pure convection problem, and diffusion is modeled via Petrov-Galerkin finite element techniques. Accurate approximations of the fluid velocities needed in the modified method of characteristic time-stepping are obtained by mixed finite element methods. Substructuring techniques are used to develop self-adaptive local grid-refinement enhance ments to the operator-splitting methods described above. Aspects of large-scale computation will be emphasized.
Race/Ethnic Differences in the Risk of Hemorrhagic Complications Among Patients With Ischemic Stroke Receiving Thrombolytic Therapy

Background and Purpose—Race/ethnic-related differences in safety of intravenous thrombolytic therapy have been shown in patients with myocardial infarction, but not studied in ischemic stroke. Methods—Using data from the Get With The Guidelines (GWTG)-Stroke program (n=54 334), we evaluated differences in risk-adjusted bleeding rates (any, symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage [sICH], serious life-threatening [excluding sICH], or other) and mortality in white (n=40 411), black (n=8243), Hispanic (n=4257), and Asian (n=1523) patients receiving intravenous tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) for acute ischemic stroke. Results—Compared with white patients, overall adjusted hemorrhagic complications after tPA were higher in black (odds ratio, 1.14, 95% confidence interval, 1.04–1.28) and Asian (odds ratio, 1.36, 95% confidence interval, 1.14–1.61) patients. Overall adjusted bleeding complications in Hispanics were similar to those of whites. Increased risk of overall bleeding in Asians was related to highe...
General Mixed Finite Element Methods of Nonlinear Continua

General mixed finite element models of the nonlinear thermomechanical response of dissipative media are constructed. A number of existing specialized finite element models are derived from the general formulation presented in this paper. In der vorliegenden Arbeit werden Modelle der nichtlinearen thermomechanischen Reaktion fur eine allgemeine gemischte Methode der finiten Elemente konstruiert. Gewisse bereits existierende Modelle dieser Art werden aus der allgemeinen Formulierung abgeleitet und dargestellt.
Stability of behavioral and emotional disturbance in a sample of disadvantaged preschool-aged children.

This study is concerned with the long-term stability of behavioral and emotional disturbance among preschool-aged children. In conjunction with a large screening project, 111 Head Start children were rated by their teachers on the Preschool Behavior Questionnaire. Follow-up ratings were obtained 12 months later. Results indicated that hostile/aggressive behaviors were quite stable and that subjects demonstrating a preponderance of such problems were likely to maintain their symptoms over time. In contrast, subjects exhibiting anxiety-rekated behaviors were significantly more likely to improve spontaneously during the normal course of development.
Optimization of Growth and Activation of Highly Doped p-type GaN for Tunnel Junctions

Highly doped p-type GaN was grown by MOCVD with a Mg source for use in tunnel junctions for dual wavelength light emitting diodes. Highly doped p-type material (p+) is necessary for creating efficient tunnel junctions that act as buried current spreading layers and provide high quality contacts to p-type GaN. Molar flow ratios and growth temperature were varied to achieve maximum doping concentration. A range of post-growth annealing conditions to activate incorporated Mg was investigated. Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (SIMS) and Hall effect were used to measure Mg incorporation and carrier concentration, respectively. The maximum carrier concentration achieved employed a hybrid growth scheme that achieved high carrier concentration and high quality material by alternating layers of high and low growth temperature material. Atmospheric annealing was compared to standard RTA under N 2 ambient. Successful GaN tunnel junctions were grown using the hybrid p-type doping scheme developed in this work. I-V measurements were taken on these devices to evaluate the effectiveness of the devices.
Using a multi-FPGA based rapid prototyping board for system design at the undergraduate level

The rapid prototyping system created at North Carolina State University consisting of an FPGA-based board called the AnyBoard, was revised to use commercial design entry methods rather than board specific software. The resulting environment is a promising tool for teaching system design at the undergraduate level. This paper presents our experiences to date with this new tool.