cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Fisetin Inhibits UVB‐induced Cutaneous Inflammation and Activation of PI3K/AKT/NFκB Signaling Pathways in SKH‐1 Hairless Mice

Solar ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation has been shown to induce inflammation, DNA damage, p53 mutations and alterations in signaling pathways eventually leading to skin cancer. In this study, we investigated whether fisetin reduces inflammatory responses and modulates PI3K/AKT/NFκB cell survival signaling pathways in UVB-exposed SKH-1 hairless mouse skin. Mice were exposed to 180 mJ cm(-2) of UVB radiation on alternate days for a total of seven exposures, and fisetin (250 and 500 nmol) was applied topically after 15 min of each UVB exposure. Fisetin treatment to UVB-exposed mice resulted in decreased hyperplasia and reduced infiltration of inflammatory cells. Fisetin treatment also reduced inflammatory mediators such as COX-2, PGE2 as well as its receptors (EP1-EP4) and MPO activity. Furthermore, fisetin reduced the level of inflammatory cytokines TNFα, IL-1β and IL-6 in UVB-exposed skin. Fisetin treatment also reduced cell proliferation markers as well as DNA damage as evidenced by increased expression of p53 and p21 proteins. Further studies revealed that fisetin inhibited UVB-induced expression of PI3K, phosphorylation of AKT and activation of the NFκB signaling pathway in mouse skin. Overall, these data suggest that fisetin may be useful against UVB-induced cutaneous inflammation and DNA damage.
A comparison of four tests for assessing the pain sensitivity of different subjects and test areas

Four different testing methods were used to estimate the sensitivity of body surfaces to pain-causing stimuli for a group of 24 healthy male subjects. These methods were (a) determination of the heat pain threshold, (b) determination of the pain threshold for pinching of a skin fold, (c) discrimination of a sharp prick from a blunt contact, and (d) estimation of the pain caused by application of an ice-cold cylinder. Three different body regions were tested: the abdomen, the anterior surface of the neck and the lateral surface of the thigh. Of the three body regions, the thigh area required the strongest stimulation for pain in all 4 tests. The neck was the most sensitive for cold pain, and the abdomen had the lowest threshold for heat pain. There was a barely statistically significant tendency for subjects relatively sensitive on one test to be also relatively sensitive on other tests. Correlation coefficients between any two tests on the same subject were always less than 0.6. Possible reasons for the relative lack of agreement among the results of the different pain tests are discussed.
Calibration of rotational acceleration for the rotarod test of rodent motor coordination

The latency of mice and rats to fall from the accelerating rotarod can differ markedly between laboratories using the same brand of rod as well as between studies using different kinds of rods. These discrepancies can arise from different rod diameters, surface textures, test protocols, or laboratory environmental factors beyond the test itself, but it is also possible that the actual acceleration rates of the different rods do not correspond to the nominal rates set on the devices. This paper describes a simple method to measure acceleration rate of the rotarod and to set the rate to a desired value for any brand of rod.
Brillouin spectroscopy of Langmuir-Blodgett films

Using Brillouin scattering we have been able to measure the Brillouin Spectra of thin cadmium arachidate (CdA) films which were deposited by the Langmuir-Blodgett (L-B) technique onto aluminum film substrates. A 9-pass tandem Fabry-Perot interferometer [1] was used to frequency analyze light scattered by multiple, high frequency, thermally-excited surface acoustic waves guided by the CdA film.
Concurrent replicating garbage collection

We have implemented a concurrent copying garbage collector that uses replicating garbage collection. In our design, the client can continuously access the heap during garbage collection. No low-level synchronization between the client and the garbage collector is required on individual object operations. The garbage collector replicates live heap objects and periodically synchronizes with the client to obtain the client's current root set and mutation log. An experimental implementation using the Standard ML of New Jersey system on a shared-memory multiprocessor demonstrates excellent pause time performance and moderate execution time speedups.
7.4 - Design considerations for Raman lasers

The Raman laser is potentially a device capable of converting laser output of poor spatial quality into a nearly diffraction-limited beam with high efficiency. A number of factors must be considered in the design of a Raman laser. To avoid beam trapping, gases are preferable as Raman media at high-power levels. For optimal mode control, an oscillator-amplifier combination is the most flexible configuration. Considerations of oscillator and amplifier design are reviewed. The backward-traveling Raman amplifier is considered as a means of obtaining very high powers in short pulses, and its ultimate limitations are briefly discussed.
The ubiquitin system: an essential component to unlocking the secrets of malaria parasite biology

Exploration of the ubiquitin system in eukaryotes has shown that the chemical modification of proteins by ubiquitin, known as ubiquitylation, is an incredibly important post-translational event that is crucial to numerous cellular processes. Ubiquitylation is carried out by a series of enzymes that specifically target proteins to either change their activity or their location or earmark them for degradation. Using a wide range of genome-wide approaches, the ubiquitin system has been shown to be of particular importance in the survival and propagation of the human malaria parasites. In this review, we highlight our current understanding of the ubiquitin system in Plasmodium, and discuss its possible role in the development of drug resistant malaria strains.
Strategic management and fundraising: A planning model for resource development in the nonprofit organisation

Many nonprofits can benefit greatly from integrating their strategic, marketing and fundraising planning into an environmentally comprehensive process. Even during this critical period for them, many nonprofits typically have failed to implement this type of integrated planning because their corporate culture often nurtures: an inner process focus, leadership pathologies, professional balkanisation, reluctance to accept advancement as a global organisational activity, an unwillingness to accept the realities of a moving market and a lack of political will to undertake social advocacy on behalf of their clients. In order to succeed in the future, nonprofit organisations will need to approach strategic planning through an interdisciplinary methodology that will be shaped by multiple market audits focusing on: mission and institutional capabilities, image and competitive analysis, philanthropic feasibility and flexible integration of revenue/resource development. Nonprofits that adopt this interdisciplinary process will be rewarded by enhanced fundraising returns, once re-founded on a culture that has remained mission-relevant while becoming market-driven. The nonprofit that bases its planning on more effective use of intelligence gathering and flexible focusing of its human and financial capital will be more capable of acting upon a fluid environment and realising the institution's optimal future.
Management illusions and biases: Their impact on strategic decisions

Abstract Strategic decision-making often involves a great deal of uncertainty and ambiguity. Because managers are subject to ‘bounded rationality’ their cognitive processes may result in systematic decision biases. This paper summarizes research in the areas of cognitive psychology and behavioural decision theory dealing with human cognitive biases which may influence strategic decision-making. Examples of the probable operation of these biases in strategy formulation are given and conjectures about specific decision errors resulting from the biases are offered.
Framing recommendations to promote prevention behaviors among people at high risk: A simulation study of responses to melanoma genetic test reporting

A CDKN2A/p16 mutation confers 76 % lifetime risk of developing melanoma to US residents, and high-risk individuals are counseled to use sunscreen. Generally, for patients at population risk, gain framing more effectively promotes prevention behaviors; however, it is unknown whether loss frames might more effectively promote behavioral intentions and perceived control over disease risk among high-risk patients. Undergraduates (N = 146) underwent a simulated genetic counseling and test reporting session for hereditary melanoma. Participants watched a video of a genetic counselor providing information in which genetic risk of melanoma (Low: 15 %; High: 76 %) and framed recommendations to use sunscreen (Loss: Risk may increase by 15 % if don’t use sunscreen; Gain: Risk may decrease by 15 % if use sunscreen) were manipulated. Controlling for baseline sunscreen use, high-risk participants given loss frames reported greater beliefs that sunscreen would reduce risk than high-risk participants given gain frames. Further, high-risk participants with fair skin tended to report greater intentions to use sunscreen when given loss frames versus gain frames. Perceived control over risk mediated the effect of message frame and disease risk on intentions to use sunscreen. When counseling patients with elevated cancer risk, genetic counselors may consider framing prevention behavioral recommendations in terms of potential losses.
Basal conditions and glacier motion during the winter/spring transition, Worthington Glacier, Alaska, U.S.A.

Observations of the motion and basal conditions of Worthington Glacier, Alaska, U.S.A., during late-winter and spring melt seasons revealed no evidence of a relationship between water pressure and sliding velocity. Measurements included borehole water levels (used as a proxy for basal water pressure), surface velocity, englacial deformation, sliding velocity, and time-lapse videography of subglacial water flow and bed characteristics. The boreholes were spaced 10–15 m apart; six were instrumented in 1997, and five in 1998. In late winter, the water-pressure field showed spatially synchronous fluctuations with a diurnal cycle. The glacier’s motion was relatively slow and non-cyclic. In spring, the motion was characterized by rapid, diurnally varying sliding. The basal water pressure displayed no diurnal signal, but showed high-magnitude fluctuations and often strong gradients between holes. This transition in character of the basal water-pressure field may represent a seasonal evolution of the drainage system from linked cavities to a network of isolated patches and conduits. These changes occurred as the glacier was undergoing a seasonal-velocity peak. The apparent lack of correlation between sliding velocity and water pressure suggests that local-scale water pressure does not directly control sliding during late winter or early in the melt season.
Upcycled Parachutes Project at Colorado State University

(2014). Upcycled Parachutes Project at Colorado State University. Fashion Practice: Vol. 6, No. 1, pp. 119-124.
Increasing team collaboration using a mobile device-based communication tool

Effective team collaboration often requires effective communication tools. Tools such as cell phones, email and web-based wikis have been used to communicate among project team members. However, these existing tools do not seem to be actively used during the course of a team project or information overload occurs where too much information is given that it is hard to track the progress of the project. The current generation of smart-phones can be utilized to create a team communication tool that encourages and facilitates team collaboration. As a mobile device is pervasive, it has great advantage in encouraging fast, easy and frequent communication between team members and increases the likelihood that communication is not ignored. We introduce a mobile device-based tool, called iProjectBuddy, which uses an iPhone and its capabilities to implement communication features that can enable effective team collaboration through frequent communication. By facilitating active participation in a team project, the overall success of a team project can be affected positively.
Reliability of postural response as a function of muscular synergisms: Effect of supraspinal lesions

Abstract The characteristics of muscle discharge were evaluated for a non-choice reaction time postural task. Five normal and four hemiplegic subjects were required to match the height of a target trace representing 50% of total body weight by swaying on a force plate in a predetermined direction. The number of default response for hemiplegics (trials with no muscle discharge) was significantly higher than normal and the nature of muscle discharge was tonic rather than phasic. As the number of trial repetitions increased, postural reaction time showed a tendency to decrease for normals and increase for hemiplegics. We have proposed that the reliability and phase quality of muscle discharge following target appearance was directly proportional to the degree of muscle preprogramming. In this regard, patients with supraspinal lesions could not fully integrate automatic components of postural sway and instead relied on conscious intervention to maintain balance.
Loving Women: Attachment and Autonomy in Lesbian Relationships.

The love relationships of lesbians were investigated as part of a questionnaire study of a diverse sample of 127 lesbians. The majority of women said their current relationship was extremely close, personally satisfying, and egalitarian. Differences among women's values concerning relationships reflected two distinct dimensions: dyadic attachment and personal autonomy. These relationship values were associated with women's social characteristics and feminist involvement. Relationship values were also related to such characteristics of women's current relationships as measures of love and satisfaction, future commitment, sexual exclusivity, and problems of independence/dependence.
Sex-role differentiation in contemporary communes

This research tests the hypothesis that the social interactions and sex roles of persons living in communes will become similar to those of persons in extended families, although the commune residents were raised in nuclear families. Commune residents and university students were asked to compare their present and their past social interactions in terms of 13 questions derived from established differences between nuclear and extended families. Commune residents, compared to students, described their present situation as less competitive, hostile, independent, and more cooperative. They also regard the statuses of men and women as more dissimilar than do students. Commune men are more likely to do more cross-sex-type chores than are male students, but still view their present and future status as higher than that of women. The findings confirm the hypothesis that communal social roles evolve to become similar to those in extended families, with the exception of work roles.
REVIEW: Near infrared reflectance spectroscopy for online particle size analysis of powders and ground materials

The cross-sensitivity of near infrared (NIR) reflectance to the particle size of powders or ground materials has long been documented but not fully exploited for particle size estimation. Diffuse reflectance of a powder sample is dependent on light scattering within its layers, and a powder's absorption and scattering coefficient are related to its particle size. This is the basis of NIR reflectance–particle size calibrations. The availability of fibre optic probes and the speed of NIR spectrometers make them suitable for remote and online sensing of particle size, in addition to providing chemical information of a powder sample. The basics of NIR reflectance spectroscopy relevant to particle size determination and its relation to sample preparations, methods of presentation, reference methods, calibration development and validation are reviewed in this paper.
Impact of genetic selection for growth and immunity on resource allocations.

Abstract The allocation of resources for maintenance, growth, reproduction, and health is a dynamic throughout the life of an animal. Resources are finite, and where allocations are directed is a function of an individual's genetic background, stage in the life cycle, and environmental challenges. Included in this paper are discussions of the concept of resource allocation with examples from experiments.
Heidegger and the ontological significance of the work of art

L'A. propose une lecture du traitement de l'art chez Heidegger en relation avec l'ensemble de son oeuvre philosophique. Examinant le rejet de l'esthetique et de la philosophie de l'art comme divisions traditionnelles de la philosophie, ainsi que le rejet de la conception esthetique de l'art comme heritage de la metaphysique occidentale dans «Les origines de l'oeuvre d'art», l'A. montre que la signification positive de l'art chez Heidegger consiste en sa participation ontologique au devoilement de l'etre et du monde et en son role salvateur a l'epoque de la technologie
Next-Generation Navigational Infrastructure and the ATLAS Event Store

The ATLAS event store employs a persistence framework with extensive navigational capabilities. These include real-time back navigation to upstream processing stages, externalizable data object references, navigation from any data object to any other both within a single file and across files, and more. The 2013-2014 shutdown of the Large Hadron Collider provides an opportunity to enhance this infrastructure in several ways that both extend these capabilities and allow the collaboration to better exploit emerging computing platforms. Enhancements include redesign with efficient file merging in mind, content-based indices in optimized reference types, and support for forward references. The latter provide the potential to construct valid references to data before those data are written, a capability that is useful in a variety of multithreading, multiprocessing, distributed processing, and deferred processing scenarios. This paper describes the architecture and design of the next generation of ATLAS navigational infrastructure.
Structure and behavior of a deterministic model of reproductive performance in beef cattle

Abstract The structure and behavior of a deterministic model of reproductive performance in beef cattle is presented. The model is written in PASCAL and runs rapidly on a microcomputer using a one day timestep and producing yearly output. Annual calving percentage is calculated based on three biological variables (gestation length, length of postpartum anestrus and conception rate) and one managerial variable (breeding season length). Convergence to a steady state calving percentage was observed for a wide variety of initial parameter values, indicating a convergence of distribution from an initial uniform distribution. Steady state values display nonlinear responses to changes in the driving variables, typical of beef production operations in North America. The model was challenged by testing predicted values of annual calving percent against values observed in 136 single-sire herds over eight years as breeding season length changed. Results of the challenge indicate that the model adequately predicts reproductive performance, but changing only breeding season length resulted in consistent overprediction of annual calving percent. Accurate prediction requires accurate measurement of all four driving variables.
Advanced lipid peroxidation end-products in Alexander's disease

Rosenthal fibers (RF), intra-astrocytic hyaline inclusions, accumulate in various pathological conditions and are the histological hallmark of Alexander's disease. While the major protein components of RF have been identified, the factors accounting for their pathogenesis, accumulation, and insolubility are largely unknown. In this study, we immunohistochemically examined three cases of Alexander's disease using antibodies to a lysine-derived pyrrole modification arising from 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal, a highly cytotoxic reactive aldehyde produced by lipid peroxidation. In all the cases of Alexander's disease examined, strong immunolabeling of RF by the antibodies to 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal pyrrole adducts were noted. By contrast, age-matched control cases showed no immunoreactivity. These results indicate that modification of protein by lipid peroxidation adducts may play an important role in the formation of RF as well as in the pathogenesis of Alexander's disease. Furthermore, taken together with our previous data indicating advanced Maillard reaction end products in RF, it seems that post-translational modification of RF, initiated by oxidative stress, is critical for both the accumulation and the insolubility of RF, and therefore, by inference, in the pathogenesis of Alexander's disease.
RESEARCH LETTER: What are quality of life improvements measuring and do they last? An explanatory model

To the Editor: The growing propensity to use the many validated instruments that measure improvements in physical, psychological and social wellbeing following clinical intervention raises two important questions. Are clinical interventions more likely to impact physical functions than psychological and social functions? Since it has been argued (Brook 1973, Donabedian 1980; Bergner 1989; Kaplan et al. 1989) that quality of life instruments should quantify benefits from clinical intervention that are additional to traditionally measured clinical benefits, are quality of life benefits additive to traditional clinical benefits? An important corollary is that if quality of life assessment does not add to the information derived from typical clinical evaluation, is it worth the additional cost? An explanatory model of the relationship between clinical outcome measures and quality of life outcome measures that result from clinical (medical) intervention is presented.
Factors involved in the production of plantlets from date palm callus cultures

A discussion of a suitable procedure to rapidly propagate free-living date palms (Phoenix dactylifera L.) from callus cultures is presented. Embryogenic callus derived from lateral bud explants was subjected to various auxin treatments in liquid and agar media including p-chlorophenoxyacetic acid. α-naphthaleneacetic acid or 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid at 0.0, 0.1, 1.0 and 10.0 mg/l concentrations in order to obtain optimum growth. Subsequent plantlet initiation from callus was found to be related to initial auxin pretreatments upon subculture to medium devoid of hormones. Plantlet production from callus subcultured from media containing 0.0, 1.0 and 10.0 mg/l auxin concentrations was notably lower than from callus precultured on the 0.1 mg/l auxin levels. In order to improve in vitro adventitious rooting isolated plantlets were cultured on media containing 0.0, 0.1, 1.0 and 10.0 mg/l concentrations of indole-3-acetic acid or α-naphthaleneacetic acid in various physical environments. Optimum adventitious rooting responses and survival in free-living conditions were obtained by culturing plantlets in medium containing 0.1 mg/l for 8–16 weeks prior to transplanting to soil. Axillary shoot outgrowths (offshoots) were found to be common in plantlets cultured on a variety of media once an adequate root-shoot system was developed. Mention of a trademark name or proprietary product does not constitute a guarantee or warranty of the product by the US. Department of Agriculture and does not imply its approval to the exclusion of other products that may be suitable.
A Combined Experimental and Theoretical Study Examining the Binding of N-Heterocyclic Carbenes (NHC) to the Cp*RuCl (Cp* = η5-C5Me5) Moiety: Insight into Stereoelectronic Differences between Unsaturated and Saturated NHC Ligands

Combined solution calorimetric and quantum mechanics studies of reactions involving saturated and unsaturated N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands show that the difference in their relative bond dissociation energies is very small (1 kcal·mol-1). Structural and computational studies reveal small metric parameter differences. These observations in conjunction with relative reactivity profiles of NHC-modified ruthenium-based olefin metathesis catalysts suggest that very small changes in the donor properties of the NHC ligands can translate into significant differences in catalytic properties.
An adaptive importance sampling algorithm for Bayesian inversion with multimodal distributions

Parametric uncertainties are encountered in the simulations of many physical systems, and may be reduced by an inverse modeling procedure that calibrates the simulation results to observations on the real system being simulated. Following Bayes' rule, a general approach for inverse modeling problems is to sample from the posterior distribution of the uncertain model parameters given the observations. However, the large number of repetitive forward simulations required in the sampling process could pose a prohibitive computational burden. This difficulty is particularly challenging when the posterior is multimodal. We present in this paper an adaptive importance sampling algorithm to tackle these challenges. Two essential ingredients of the algorithm are: 1) a Gaussian mixture (GM) model adaptively constructed as the proposal distribution to approximate the possibly multimodal target posterior, and 2) a mixture of polynomial chaos (PC) expansions, built according to the GM proposal, as a surrogate model to alleviate the computational burden caused by computational-demanding forward model evaluations. In three illustrative examples, the proposed adaptive importance sampling algorithm demonstrates its capabilities of automatically finding a GM proposal with an appropriate number of modes for the specific problem under study, and obtaining a sample accurately and efficiently representing the posterior with limited number of forward simulations.
The Role of Generational Status, Self‐Esteem, Academic Self‐Efficacy, and Perceived Social Support in College Students' Psychological Well‐Being

This study examined the influences of generational status, self-esteem, academic self-efficacy, and perceived social support on 367 undergraduate college students' well-being. Findings showed that 1 st-generation students reported significantly more somatic symptoms and lower levels of academic self-efficacy than did non-1 st-generation students. In addition, students' generational status was found to moderate predictive effects of perceived family support on stress. Implications for professional practices, limitations, and directions for future research are discussed.
African American and Francophone Black Intellectuals during the Harlem Renaissance

(1998). African American and Francophone Black Intellectuals during the Harlem Renaissance. The Historian: Vol. 60, No. 3, pp. 487-505.
Accuracy of the finite element method near a curved boundary

Abstract Solutions of problems by the finite element method, when curved boundaries are present in the model, may not be accurate. Such a difficulty arises when straight-line elements are used to approximate the curved boundary. This behavior is known in the literature as the “Babuska Paradox”. Despite the fact that the problem has been recognized since the mid 60's, and methods to overcome it have been used quite successfully, many textbooks still ignore it. Here, this “paradox” is demonstrated by plane-stress problems, to which analytical results exist. One known method (the isoparametric element) is used to show how to overcome these difficulties.
Efficient alias-free rendering using bit-masks and look-up tables

We demonstrate an efficient method of rendering alias-free synthetic images using precomputed convolution integrals. The method is based on the observation that a visible polygon fragment's contribution to an image is solely a function of its position and shape, and that within a reasonable level of accuracy, a limited number of shapes represent the majority of cases encountered in images commonly rendered.The convolution integral is precomputed for all pixels affected by the polygon fragment and is stored in a table. Completely visible fragments which are either triangular or trapezoidal produce two indices into the table. Most other fragments which are represented as differences of simple fragments. The remaining cases are characterized by a bit-mask for which each bit has a corresponding set of look up tables.The basic technique has been applied to several fundamentally different rendering algorithms. In addition, we illustrate a version of the newly introduced nonuniform sampling technique implemented in the same program, but with different table values.
Conformational Studies in the Cyclohexane Series. 1. Experimental and Computational Investigation of Methyl, Ethyl, Isopropyl, and tert-Butylcyclohexanes.

The conformational enthalpy (ΔH°), entropy (ΔS°), and free energy (−ΔG°) of methyl- (1), ethyl- (2), and isopropylcyclohexane (3) have been reinvestigated both experimentally and computationally. A novel experimental approach to evaluation of highly biased conformational equilibria is described that obviates the need to measure large axial/equatorial isomer ratios directly in order to determine the equilibrium constant: the natural abundance 13C signal for the C(2,6) resonance in the equatorial isomer of an alkylcyclohexane may be used as an internal reference, and the ratio of this band area to that of an enriched 13C nucleus in the axial isomer gives K following correction for statistical differences and the differing 13C-content of the signals being monitored. The experimental conformational enthalpies (ΔH°), determined at 157 K in independent studies at two laboratories, were found to be (kcal/mol) 1.76 ± 0.10 (Me), 1.54 ± 0.12 (Et), and 1.40 ± 0.15 (i-Pr); the corresponding conformational entropies ...
STOCHASTIC RESONANCE AND OPTIMAL CLUSTERING FOR ASSEMBLIES OF ION CHANNELS

We consider the statistical properties of action potentials generated by clusters of sodium and potassium channels due to channel noise and/or external stimulation. Since the fluctuations are related to the cluster size, a size-resonance effect — analog to stochastic resonance — is observed that facilitates optimal decoding of small external stimuli at optimal cluster sizes. Furthermore, in analogy to the coherence resonance effect, the channel-noise induced firing patterns exhibit a resonant-like temporal coherence as a function of the cluster size even in the absence of a periodic stimulus. In the presence of additional synaptic noise, SR occurs only for large cluster sizes which possess suboptimal internal noise levels.
ARSENIC IN WETLAND VEGETATION: AVAILABILITY, PHYTOTOXICITY, UPTAKE AND EFFECTS ON PLANT GROWTH AND NUTRITION

In wetland surface sediments of Louisiana, arsenic (As) concentrations are elevated because of a wide use of inorganic arsenicals as cotton desiccants and of organic arsenicals as herbicides in rice-producing areas. Beside this, As levels are even higher in the region of produced water discharge associated with petroleum hydrocarbon recovery operations. The uptake, potential bioavailability and phytotoxicity of As to an important wetland plant species, growing in the vicinity of produced water discharge sites, were studied. The effects caused by As chemical form and concentration on growth, tissue concentrations and distribution of As and nutrient elements were studied in Spartina alterniflora growing in hydroponic conditions. A 4×4 factorial experiment was conducted with treatments consisting of four As chemical forms [arsenite, As(III); arsenate, As(V); monomethyl arsonic acid, MMAA; and dimethylarsinic acid, DMAA] and four As concentrations (0, 0.2, 0.8 and 2.0 mg As l−1). Arsenic phytoavailability and phytotoxicity were primarily determined by the As chemical form present in the nutrient solution. MMAA was the most phytotoxic species to this marsh grass. Regardless of the chemical form, an As level in the nutrient solution of 0.2 mg l−1 was safe or caused no toxic effects for this marsh grass (it did not reduce plant growth or interfere with plant nutrition). In fact, inorganic arsenicals significantly increased total dry biomass production at an application rate of 0.2 mg l−1. Arsenic availability followed the trend DMAA≪MMAA<As(V)<As(III). Root and shoot As concentrations significantly increased with increasing As application rates (all four species) to the rooting medium. Inorganic arsenicals and MMAA were mainly accumulated in roots, while DMAA was readily translocated to shoots. Arsenic chemical form and concentration significantly affected macro- and micro-nutrient concentrations in plant tissue. Plants treated with As(V) had an improved growth compared to control plants; this seemed to be associated to an increase in plant P concentrations. Organic arsenicals caused the highest Na root concentrations and simultaneously the lowest plant K levels (antagonism K–Na). A significant increase in leaf Ca concentrations was found when organic As species were applied; this could have been due to the protective action of this nutrient to metals and metalloids toxicity. Inorganic arsenicals significantly increased the concentrations of B (root), Cu (root) and Cu (shoot). The high phytotoxicity of the MMAA treatments could have been related to the significant reductions in the concentrations of several essential macronutrients P, K, Ca and Mg and micronutrients B, Cu and Fe.
Effects of Diversity Management on Attachment

The theoretical underpinnings of this paper explain the process of organizational transformation to value differences and the attitudinal transformation of minority and majority individuals to appreciate diversity. As an empirical test of these theories, the research investigated absenteeism and psychological attachment in 2 Fortune 100 conglomerates in different stages of managing their diversity. Cox (1991) suggests that organizations evolve toward multiculturalism, a state in which employee differences are valued and appreciated. Analyses of 284 respondents reveal that majority and minority employees in a more multicultural firm experienced greater attitudinal attachment. Study results suggest that a culture that stresses inclusion of all individuals will have a positive impact on the demographic majority.
Impact of optical coating on InP/InGaAsP laser-diode performance at high power and high temperature

The degradation mechanisms of laser diodes are studied. It is shown that the reliability of the SDL-5410 and the SDL-2441 result in projected lifetimes of greater than 60,000 at 25 C and 200,000 at 15 C, respectively. The high maximum output power protects the laser from optically induced degradation; residual degradation is due to thermally- or field-induced recombination centers.
Low‐Temperature Solid‐Oxide Fuel Cells Utilizing Thin Bilayer Electrolytes

Solid‐oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) with electrolytes that provide high open‐circuit voltage (OCV) and low ohmic loss down to 550°C are described. The electrolytes were bilayers consisting of a 4 to 8 μm thick Y‐doped ceria (YDC) layer with a 1 to 1.5 μm thick Y‐doped zirconia (YSZ) layer on the fuel side. The cathode/supports were . The anodes consisted of thin YDC and Ni‐YSZ layers. The YDC/YSZ electrolyte SOFCs yielded 85 to 98% of the theoretical OCV, compared with ≈50% for YDC electrolyte SOFCs. The cathode overpotential, which was a main factor limiting SOFC power density, was lower for YDC/YSZ than YSZ electrolytes. The maximum power density at 600°C, 210 mW/cm2, is higher than for previously reported SOFCs.
TU‐D‐BRC‐09: Is Respiratory Gating More Prone to Dosimetric Errors Due to Irregular Respiratory Motion?

Purpose: The aim of this study is to investigate the dosimetric effects of the irregular respiratory motion of lungtumors treated using respiratory gating techniques. Several treatment parameters such as the gating window, average target motion, and the inclusion of respiratory coaching techniques are also investigated for their effect on target dosimetric coverage. Methods and Materials: Respiratory motion traces of 11 lungcancer patients are used to reflect the typical respiratory irregularities. From the entire respiratory motion data, an average respiratory cycle is calculated to represent the corresponding regular motion for the patient. Using the regular motion amplitude, target volume is expanded by the amount of residual motion observed within the gating window and a treatment plan is generated. The target is then subjected to both regular and irregular motions without affecting anatomical topology. Target dosimetry under regular and irregular motion conditions is compared for quantitative evaluations Results: The reduction in Dmin due to irregular motion was less than 1% (4%) for a mean target motion of 1.0 cm (2.0 cm) when no gating technologies utilized. The drop in target Dmin increased as the shorter gating window sizes are implemented. For gated treatments with 50% duty cycle, largest change in Dmin was 2% and 9% for 1.0 and 2.0 cm mean target motions respectively. More importantly, gated treatments were observed to undermine target dosimetry in cases where the synchronization between the target motion and the external respiratory signal doesn't stay constant as observed by other investigators. Within the parameter space investigated here, up to 35% reduction in target Dmin was observed. Conclusion: Being a more aggressive treatment strategy, respiratory gated treatments were observed to be more susceptible to dosimetric uncertainties as compared to traditional delivery techniques in presence of irregular respiratory motion.
Macroeconomic aspects of exchange rate pass-through

Abstract This paper addresses the cause of the variability in exchange rate pass-through. We develop a model in which foreign exporters, setting prices under uncertainty, infer the value of domestic income and prices based upon their observation of the exchange rate and their knowledge of the stochastic structure of the economy. This inference problem links pass-through to the underlying stochastic macroeconomic structure of the economy rather than the source, direction, or size of the endogenous exchange rate movement that period. The predictions of the model are consistent with pass-through experience in the United States during the past decade.
A laboratory for a computers and programming course

The computer organization and assembly language course is part of most of computer science undergraduate curricula. With the advance of microcomputers into small business and engineering firms even management information systems and engineering majors are enrolling in this course. The work described here began in 1978 to upgrade this sophomore course in computer fundamentals. The goal was to make the small computer an integral part of the course's laboratory.The task was to create a laboratory providing hands-on computing to reinforce concepts in the areas of1. computer organization, assembly language programming, and architecture;2. computer operation;3. hardware/software interfaces; and4. operating systems.To accomplish these goals, the three phases of the project were in hardware, software, and curriculum development.Before the project began, the course reflected the outline of curriculum course B2 [1]. The topics covered included the assembly process with one and two pass assemblers; the use of absolute and linking loaders; computer architectural details of register, memory, and CPU organization; addressing schemes; and input/output programming. Although these topics are satisfactory, our methods of teaching them were not. We used the University's main computer, the Xerox Sigma 7, for the laboratory portion of the course. The Sigma 7's operating system shielded the student from the computer architecture. The system posed difficulties of varying degrees in the presentation of most of the topics and prevented any real understanding of input/output programming. Attempts to simulate input/output for the students met with unenthusiastic responses.
Modulation of immunosuppression by DNA transfer in transplantation.

Abstract Acute and chronic rejection of organ transplants continues to be the single most important source of allograft loss, and the induction of chronic immunosuppression leads to significant morbidity and mortality in transplants with long-term allograft function. Thus, induction of donor-specific unresponsiveness to organ allografts remains an elusive goal in clinical transplantation. Successful clinical transplantation depends upon a complex variety of factors. Such factors include the compatibility between the immunogenetic markers of the donor-recipient pairs, particularly the HLA antigens; the balance between the immunoregulatory mediators including cytokines and growth factors; and the adequacy of immunosuppression. Despite the availability of powerful immunosuppressive drugs, allograft survival remains imperfect, and long-term therapy has often been accompanied by numerous side effects. Because the ultimate goal of transplant immunology is the development of a state of nonresponsiveness to the transplanted organ, gene transfer approaches may provide useful strategies for fulfillment of this goal.
Design and analysis of the statically balanced direct-drive robot manipulator

Abstract A practical architecture, using a four-bar linkage, is considered for the University of Minnesota direct-drive robot (Kazerooni, H., Kim, S.: A new architecture for direct drive robots. In Proc. IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, April 1988). This statically balanced direct-drive robot has been constructed for stability analysis of the robot in constrained manipulation (Kazerooni, H. et al.: Fundamentals of robust compliant motion for robot manipulators. IEEE J. Robotics Automation 2: 1986; Kazerooni, H.: On the robot compliant motion control. ASME J. Dynamic Systems Msmt Control; 111 (3): September 1989. Kazerooni, H. et al.: Theory and experiments on robot compliant motion control. ASME J. Dynamic Systems Msmt Control, June 1990). As a result of the elimination of the gravity forces (without any counterweights), smaller actuators and, consequently, smaller amplifiers were chosen. The motors yield acceleration of 5 g at the robot end point without overheating. High torque, low speed, brushless AC synchronous motors are used to power the robot. Graphite-epoxy composite material is used for construction of the robot links. A 4-node parallel processor has been used to control the robot. A compliant motion control method has been derived and experimentally verified to guarantee stable constrained maneuvers for the robot. As part of the research work, a general criterion has been derived to guarantee the stability of robot manipulators in constrained maneuvers.
Have internet message boards changed market behavior

Purpose – This study seeks to investigate the changes in stock market behavior between the pre and post internet/message board eras.Design/methodology/approach – The study examines the stock return behavior for a large subset of firms in the S&P 100 both before and after the implementation of the firms' message boards on Yahoo! Finance.Findings – The data shows a significant increase in daily trading volume after a firm's message board was established which suggests that either new investors were drawn to the market or existing investors were induced to trade more frequently. The results also show that daily returns are significantly lower in the post‐message board era and that the market may have become riskier as the variance of these daily returns is significantly higher. These results hold after controlling for market and industry wide events and they are not unique to the stock market bubble of the late 1990s or the NBER‐dated recession of 2001.Originality/value – This study builds on the work of Ast...
Evidence on the importance of spatial voting models in presidential nominations and elections

ADA scores and Nominate scores are used for the first time to examine the influence of spatial voting records on which candidate wins the party’s presidential nomination and on which nominee wins the general election. We find that the most conservative Republican candidate and moderately liberal Democrats were most likely to win their party’s nomination. For general elections we find that the candidate’s spatial record has nearly as much impact on the outcome as economic growth, which has been the focus of most past empirical research. The nominee whose voting record is more moderate is more likely to be elected.
Ginsenoside-Rb1 Prevents HIV protease inhibitor ritonavir-induced vasomotor dysfunction

Introduction. We previously reported that ritonavir (RTV), one of the clinically used HIV protease inhibitors, can cause endothelial injury by increasing oxidative stress. The objective of this study was to determine whether an active ingredient of Panax ginseng, Ginsenoside-Rb1 (Rb1), could prevent coronary arteries from RTV-induced vasomotor dysfunction. Methods. Porcine coronary arteries were cut into 5-mm rings and incubated with RTV (15 μM) or/and Rb1 (1 or 10 mg/L) for 24 h. Vasomotor function was studied with a myograph tension system in response to U46619 (contraction) and bradykinin (relaxation). The mRNA and protein levels of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) were determined by real-time PCR and Western blot, respectively. Superoxide anion levels were determined by lucigenin-enhanced chemiluminescence. Results. In response to U46619, the control vessels showed a vessel tension of 168 mN, while RTV-treated vessels had 41 mN, showing a 76% reduction (P < 0.001, n = 8). The combination of RTV and Rb1 (1 or 10 mg/L) showed a vessel tension of 76 or 90 mN, respectively. In response to bradykinin, the control vessel rings relaxed by 70%, while RTV-treated vessels only relaxed by 29%, which showed a 59% reduction (P < 0.001). Rb1 (1 or 10 mg/L) plus RTV showed 46 or 58% of vasorelaxation, respectively. The eNOS mRNA expression was decreased by 77% in RTV-treated vessels over controls (P < 0.05). Western blot and immunohistochemistry also showed a decrease of eNOS protein levels in RTV-treated vessels. Superoxide anion levels in the RTV-treated group was increased by 47% over controls (P < 0.05). Rb1 treatment (1 and 10 mg/L) significantly inhibited RTV-induced down regulation of eNOS and overproduction of superoxide anion. Conclusions. HIV protease inhibitor RTV significantly decreases vessel contractivity and endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation in porcine coronary arteries. It also decreases eNOS and increases superoxide anion production. Ginsenoside-Rb1 effectively inhibited RTV-induced endothelial dysfunction and oxidative stress in this model.