cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Muslims in Medieval Inquisitorial Thought: Nicolau Eymeric and His Contexts

This article analyzes the scant treatment of Muslims in medieval inquisitorial thought, focusing mainly on the late fourteenth-century Aragonese inquisitor Nicolau Eymeric's Directorium inquisitorum (1376). It argues for four contexts in which to understand his engagement with Islam. First, as background, is a longstanding Christian (although not inquisitorial) tradition categorizing Islam as a heresy, with which he did not substantially engage. Second is his own goal to extend inquisitorial authority to new subjects, in which he drew on previous inquisitorial thought about Jews. The third involves conflicts between church officials and the Crown of Aragon about jurisdiction over non-Christian subjects. The fourth centers on the supposition that he did not view Muslims living within Christendom as an especially covert or insidious threat requiring special investigation to uncover, which speaks to how he and other inquisitors viewed their role and the nature of the threats they aimed to counter. In broad terms, this article contributes to our understanding of one important way in which medieval Christianity engaged with other religions. It also provides a basis for understanding later developments in early modern Europe.
Otological and hearing characteristics in children with Turner syndrome

Objective: To explore the otological and hearing characteristics in children with Turner syndrome (TS), to determine risk factors of hearing loss, and to discuss algorithms for future surveillance. Methods: The clinical data of otolaryngology in children with TS from January 2018 to April 2020 were reviewed retrospectively. A total of 46 female children with TS, aged from 5 to 18 years were enrolled. Karyotypes included 17 cases (37.0%) of monosomy, 16 cases (34.7%) of mosaicism, and 13 cases (28.3%) of abnormal X chromosome structures. The otoscopic characteristics, audiological performance, and otologic diagnoses were evaluated. Multivariate logistic regression and Mann-Whitney U test were used for statistical analysis. Results: The most common otologic comorbidity was otitis media with effusion (OME), including 20 cases (43.5%) with 33 ears (35.9%). 14 cases (30.4%) were diagnosed with hearing loss. The regression analysis revealed that the age (OR=1.345, 95%CI: 1.072-1.760) and comorbidity of OME (OR=9.460, 95%CI: 2.065-60.350) were risk factors associated with hearing loss. In TS with OME, when compared with the mean air conduction threshold, the hearing loss of the group with pars flaccida retractions was significantly higher ((24.3±13.8) dB HL vs. (14.4±4.2) dB HL, U=59.500, P=0.008) than that of the group with none retractions. Conclusion: OME and hearing loss are common in children with TS. As age increases or suffers from OME, the risk of hearing loss increases.
Global conversations: recovery and detection of Global South multiply-marginalized bodies

This paper problematizes, in the spirit of loving critique, the paucity of global intersectional dis/ability politics in the fields of Disability Studies and Critical Race Theory. In this paper, we...
Principal Component Analysis in MCDM: An exercise in pilot selection

Abstract Assignment of criteria weights during group multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) processes is a challenging and time-consuming process often rife with subjectivity. This is particularly evident in hiring or personnel selection processes. Both the military and corporate aviation communities have required a large influx of pilots recently due to an increasing pilot shortage. This paper outlines a study conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of principal component analysis (PCA) as an objective weight assignment method to establish a rank order of United States Army pilots based upon their emotional intelligence, safety attitude, and safety citizenship scores. PCA results were compared to an algorithm tracking the rank order of pilots using every possible criteria weighting combination to test PCA's validity as a criteria weight assignment method. Regression analysis demonstrated a strong correlation (p
Spatial Moran models, II: cancer initiation in spatially structured tissue

We study the accumulation and spread of advantageous mutations in a spatial stochastic model of cancer initiation on a lattice. The parameters of this general model can be tuned to study a variety of cancer types and genetic progression pathways. This investigation contributes to an understanding of how the selective advantage of cancer cells together with the rates of mutations driving cancer, impact the process and timing of carcinogenesis. These results can be used to give insights into tumor heterogeneity and the “cancer field effect,” the observation that a malignancy is often surrounded by cells that have undergone premalignant transformation.
Toward an Understanding of Basic Movement Education in the Elementary Schools

(1968). Toward an Understanding of Basic Movement Education in the Elementary Schools. Journal of Health, Physical Education, Recreation: Vol. 39, No. 3, pp. 26-78.
Job Satisfaction: The Management Tool and Leadership Responsibility

Job satisfaction’s tenuous relationship to a variety of work behaviors is reviewed from the perspective of a management tool and as a leadership responsibility. It may be viewed a management tool for accomplishing certain organizational objectives related to reducing absenteeism and tardiness. However, job satisfaction’s importance is neither limited to nor justified by its somewhat weak relationship to certain organizational outcomes. Rather, job satisfaction is analyzed as a leadership responsibility with effects that extend far beyond the bounds of any given organization. Some fundamental assumptions surrounding job satisfaction are reviewed, and an argument for job satisfaction as an ethical imperative that results from organizational and management practices that emphasize positive reinforcement, not aversive control, is advanced.
Regulation of Escherichia coli secA mRNA translation by a secretion-responsive element.

Abstract The Escherichia coli secA gene, whose translation is responsive to the proficiency of protein export within the cell, is the second gene in a three-gene operon and is flanked by gene X and mutT. By using gene fusion and oligonucleotide-directed mutagenesis techniques, we have localized this translationally regulated site to a region at the end of gene X and the beginning of secA. This region has been shown to bind SecA protein in vitro. These studies open the way for a direct investigation of the mechanism of secA regulation and its coupling to the protein secretion capability of the cell.
Planning and synthesizing superhero motions

This paper presents an approach to planning and synthesizing collision-free motions of characters with extreme physical capabilities, or superheroes, using a human motion database. The framework utilizes the author's previous work on momentum-based motion editing, where the user can scale the momentum of a motion capture sequence to make more or less dynamics motions, while maintaining the physical plausibility and original motion style. In our new planning framework, we use a motion graph that contains all possible motion transitions to list the candidate motion segments at each planning step. The planner then computes the momentum scale that should be applied to the original motion segment in order to make it collision-free. Experimental results demonstrate that the planning algorithm can plan and synthesize motions for navigating through a challenging environment, using a relatively small motion capture data set.
Enhancing hydrogen production for fuel cell vehicles by superposition of acoustic fields on the reformer: a preliminary study

Because of recent interest in energy efficiency and environmental issues, fuel cell vehicles are seen by many to be the way of the future. As near term fuel cell vehicles will likely use the existing liquid fuel infrastructure, the efficient reformation of hydrocarbon fuels is one technological hurdle that must addressed. An investigation has been made into the possibility of enhancing reformation processes through superposition of an acoustic field on the catalyst bed of a methanol steam reformer. As part of this study, background is given outlining the difficulties and liabilities of steam-reformation for transportation applications. Proven acoustic enhancement of various processes is reviewed and theory of acoustic enhancement of the steam-reforming process is developed. The facility studied includes a steam-reforming reactor that has been modified to accept an acoustic field. Relevant parameters of the acoustic field are quantified and discussed. The effect of the acoustic field has been investigated with relation to the reactor output parameters. Although the facility used has not been optimized for utilizing acoustic waves, significant acoustic enhancement of the steam-reformation process is demonstrated by the study and such enhancement has shown a positive effect on the reformation process. Potential benefits insulting from acoustic enhancement of steam reforming as shown by this study are: an increased reactor capacity for a given size and mass, smoothing of the temperature profile and better control of the temperatures in the catalyst bed. It is expected that for different fuels and/or reforming methods, similar results would be obtained for comparable process constraints.
Nonlinear strong ground motion in the ML 5.4 Chittenden earthquake: Evidence that preexisting damage increases susceptibility to further damage

[1] We use 55 repeating earthquake sequences located near the 1989 Mw 6.9 Loma Prieta earthquake to identify time dependent velocity changes in the shallow crust. In addition to large delays caused by the Loma Prieta mainshock, the ML 5.4 Chittenden earthquake, an aftershock of Loma Prieta, caused direct S wave delays of up to 6ms and S coda delays exceeding 15ms. We attribute the delays to cracks formed or opened during the strong shaking of the Chittenden earthquake, the same mechanism believed responsible for the delays observed following Loma Prieta. The magnitude of the delays caused by Chittenden strongly correlate with those caused by Loma Prieta. This suggests that rocks recently damaged by nonlinear strong ground motion are particularly susceptible to further damage until they are completely healed. Therefore, we expect that the onset of nonlinearity will occur at substantially lower ground motion for large aftershocks than would otherwise be anticipated.
The Derived Categories of Some Blocks of Symmetric Groups and a Conjecture of Broué

Abstract A well-known conjecture of Broue in the representation theory of finite groups involves equivalences of derived categories of blocks. The aim of this paper is to verify this conjecture for defect 2 blocks of symmetric groups. Actually we prove for these blocks a refinement of Broue's conjecture due to Rickard.
Reaction of NH (X) with Oxygen in a Solid Xenon Matrix: Formation and Infrared Spectrum of Imine Peroxide, HNOO

The reaction between molecular oxygen and the imidogen radical NH in their ground electronic states has been investigated in solid cryogenic rare gas matrices. A photolabile product forms upon annealing a xenon matrix containing oxygen and trapped NH radicals produced by in situ UV photodissociation of hydrazoic acid. The product is identified as imine peroxide, HNOO, by its infrared spectrum and its photoisomerization to nitrous acid, with support from the calculated vibrational spectrum and 18O isotope shifts. The reaction is essentially activationless. Some aspects of the potential energy surface for this species are delineated by the conditions under which HNOO is formed and destroyed. This is the first detection of this compound, a 1,3-dipole isoelectronic with ozone and peroxymethylene.
ST segment elevation myocardial infarction as a presenting feature of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura

Myocardial infarction with ST segment elevation (STE) on electrocardiography (ECG) is a common presentation in emergency rooms across the world. Myocardial injury and necrosis are infrequently the initial presentation in patients with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP). A 48-year-old woman presented with STE myocardial infarction from outside hospital for primary percutaneous coronary intervention. However, her clinical picture was not consistent. Rapid evaluation revealed symptoms associated with microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, acute kidney injury with waxing and waning mental status. A diagnosis of TTP was made with low ADAMST-13 activity. Plasmapheresis was initiated along with intravenous steroid therapy. The patient had a full recovery and went home after full recovery of left ventricular ejection fraction and normal myocardial perfusion studies. Rapid evaluation is needed to identify infrequent causes of STE myocardial infarction. As swift protocols are activated in the emergency room and catheterization laboratories to ensure quality control, it is equally important to integrate all aspects of the patient's clinical and objective data to detect unusual disease entities. Key words: Acute coronary syndrome, electrocardiography, microangiopathy, plasmapheresis, ST segment elevation myocardial infarction, thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura.
Electron spin resonance and optical fluorescence of the chromia-alumina system☆

Abstract Polycrystalline α-phase Al 2 O 3 Cr 2 O 3 solid solutions containing 0.01–4.98% Cr have been examined using electron spin resonance (ESR) and optical fluorescence techniques. The KU -band ESR spectrum of isolated Cr 3+ ions in the α-phase material is quantitatively explained using perturbation theory. Arguments against a previous explanation of one of the resonance lines from coupled Cr 3+ ions are given. The absence of sharp line fluorescence in the presence of the relatively narrow ESR line at g = 1.98 in the γ-phase material is further evidence for its assignment to Cr 5+ ions as opposed to Cr 3+ ions. Two new fluorescent lines are observed when the γ-phase and α-phase coexist and possible explanations are given.
Optimal Positioning of Strips for Heat Transfer Reduction within an Enclosure

Heat transfer reduction capabilities of a vertical or a horizontal adiabatic partial partition fixed in a differentially heated cavity with insulated top and bottom walls are analyzed and compared. The effects of length and location of the partition is taken into account for aspect ratios from 1 to 4 and for Rayleigh numbers from 103 to 106. Different characteristics of square and higher aspect ratio cavities are compared and a comprehensive correlation of the heat transfer reduction is introduced, incorporating all the pertinent parameters. Based on our results, vertical baffles more efficiently reduce heat transfer, in most cases.
Rationality in Religion

Religion can be defined narrowly as belief in anthropomorphic supernatural beings. For Levy-Bruhl this meant that prelogical ‘mystic participation’ preceded true religion. For Donald Wiebe and others it means that philosophical-scientific rationality has been struggling to replace religion since the axial age. A broader definition of religion interprets rational post-axial theology as a development within religion, not a replacement of true religion. Both definitions are legitimate. The narrow definition highlights a tendency to superstition in religion. The broader definition recognizes the possibility of an evolution of religious thought.
The aged suprachiasmatic nucleus is phase-shifted by cAMP in vitro.

Abstract The cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) analog, 8-bromo-cAMP, phase advanced circadian neuronal rhythms in both aged and adult rat suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN) by ≈2 h in vitro. Rhythm amplitude was 20% lower in aged compared to adult SCN. The diminished efficacy of serotonergic agonists to phase shift behavioral rhythms of aged animals may be due to decrements in signal transduction mechanisms proximal to cAMP.
Ammonia line profiles: On deviations from the Lorentz shape

The profiles of ammonia lines in the v(sub 2) band appear to have wings which are both super-Lorentzian at distances less than 10/cm from the line center and sub-Lorentzian at much greater distances.
Medicaid prescription cost containment and schizophrenia: a retrospective examination.

Objectives In 2002, the Mississippi Division of Medicaid enacted several policies to curb prescription spending including increasing prescription copayments from $1 to $3 per brand, a cap of 7 prescriptions per month, a 34-day supply limitation, and a 5% reduction in dispensing fees. The objectives of this study were to examine the influence of these policies on (1) compliance to antipsychotic medications and (2) mental health care utilization and payments among patients with schizophrenia. Methods This study used a 12-month pretest and 12-month posttest longitudinal design to compare the effect of these policies among patients with schizophrenia in Minnesota and Indiana, who had less restrictive cost-containment using administrative claims data. Generalized estimating equations were used to run difference in difference models to compare medication compliance (proportion of days covered) and health care utilization in Mississippi to the control states. Results After policy adoption, patients in Mississippi were 4.87% less compliant with antipsychotic treatments and experienced 20.5% more 90 day antipsychotic treatment gaps than patients in the control states. Although these policies did not affect inpatient or emergency department care among patients with schizophrenia, there was a 3.7% reduction in outpatient mental health visits and a 4.2% reduction in mental health care payments. Conclusions Despite the potential for savings, policy makers should consider carefully the potential adverse consequences that may arise from implementing aggressive cost-containment policies among patient with severe mental illness.
Survival Prediction in Ambulatory Patients With Stage III/IV Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Using the Palliative Performance Scale, ECOG, and Lung Cancer Symptom Scale.

Objectives:Patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) have a life expectancy of less than 1 year. Therefore, it is important to maximize their quality of life and find a tool that ca...
A New Hybrid Image Reconstruction Algorithm for Magnetic Induction Tomography

A new hybrid algorithm is presented in this paper, which solves the ill-posed inverse problem of magnetic induction tomography (MIT) and improves the quality of reconstructed image. The hybrid algorithm firstly produces the preliminary image region using Tikhonov regularization algorithm, and then it obtains the final reconstructed image using variation regularization algorithm. The hybrid algorithm, compared with the Tikhonov regularization algorithm and the variation regularization algorithm, overcomes the numerical instability of MIT image reconstruction and accelerates the convergence speed of image reconstruction, and it also improves the resolving power of targets conductor and the quality of the reconstructed image. Simulation results show that the quality of the reconstructed image obtained using the hybrid algorithm is enhanced, so an effective algorithm for magnetic induction tomography (MIT) is introduced.
Polymer sorption of nitroglycerin and stability of molded nitroglycerin tablets in unit‐dose packaging

The sorption of nitroglycerin by thermoplastic polymers and the stability of molded nitroglycerin tablets in strip packaging were studied. The polymers investigated varied greatly in their affinity for nitroglycerin, the order of decreasing affinity being: vinyls greater than low density polyethylene greater than ionomers greater than high density polyethylene. With the proper choice of packaging, molded nitroglycerin tablets stabilized with povidone maintained acceptable potency for up to 2 years at 26 degrees when strip packaged in unit doses. Chemical decomposition (hydrolysis) of nitroglycerin also was investigated. Povidone accelerated the decomposition of nitroglycerin; at high temperature, decomposition was a significant factor in tablet stability for tablets containing povidone.
Making a Case for the Geel Model: The American Experience with Family Care for Mental Patients

The historic colony for the mentally afflicted in Geel, Belgium is often cited as a unique example of integrating patients into the community. However, scholarly work on Geel largely ignores the history of similar programs that existed in the United States. This study will look into the practice of family care modeled after the Geel program in the 19th and 20th century U.S. The importance of this research is twofold: it shows that the program is not new for the American context while at the same time it informs about the logistics involved in initiating and running family care programs in the U.S. milieu.
Thinking Pluralistically: Dynamic Decision Making in Kinesiology

In this age of postmodern supercomplexity, universities face increased demands from many precincts in our society to respond to such issues as broader access, graduation rates, costs, and relevance, to name just a few. The cultivation of professional conditions that will help higher education and its kinesiology professoriate to not only to survive, but flourish, in an age of supercomplexity is a necessary adaptation for the future. No obvious single, coherent moral framework exists to use as a guide for today’s (and tomorrow’s) faculty. This article argues, then, for a pluralistic way of thinking by applying reason to the diverse moral frameworks in kinesiology in higher education. The purpose of this article is to explicate a moral positioning in kinesiology based on this pluralistic approach so that decision making can extend beyond the current boundaries of pragmatic thought, now prevalent in higher education. Specific examples of this approach and some accompanying strategies are offered.
Effect of Several Growth Factors on Canine Flexor Tendon Fibroblast Proliferation and Collagen Synthesis In Vitro

Purpose Growth factor delivery may be useful to accelerate the rate of tendon healing. Before in vivo use, however, the effects of growth factors on tendon cells need to be well characterized. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of 4 growth factors on intrasynovial tendon fibroblast proliferation and collagen production in vitro . Our first hypothesis was that platelet-derived growth factor BB (PDGF-BB) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) would promote cell proliferation and collagen production. Our second hypothesis was that there would be a positive effect from the combination of PDGF-BB and bFGF. Methods The growth factors PDGF-BB, bFGF, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP-2) were evaluated in vitro with canine flexor tendon fibroblasts. The effects of single factors (PDGF-BB, bFGF, VEGF, or BMP-2) or a combination of factors (PDGF-BB and bFGF) on cell proliferation (ie, thymidine incorporation) and collagen production (ie, proline incorporation) were evaluated. Results The results supported our hypotheses. Cell proliferation increased significantly with PDGF-BB and bFGF. Collagen production also increased significantly with PDGF-BB and bFGF. Cell proliferation and collagen production were unchanged with VEGF and BMP-2. A dose-response effect was seen for PDGF-BB combined with bFGF. The combination of PDGF-BB and bFGF led to an increase in cell proliferation but no change in collagen production compared with each factor alone. Conclusions The growth factors PDGF-BB and bFGF significantly increased flexor tendon fibroblast proliferation and matrix synthesis when applied singly. Administration of PDGF-BB and bFGF combined led to increased proliferation to single factors.
The interactions of human complement with interfacially aggregated preparations of human secretory IgA.

Abstract Solutions of human secretory IgA (S-IgA) did not interact with complement. When S-IgA solms were lyophilized, and resuspended with gentle stirring only 50–70 per cent of the resulting powder dould be redissolved subsequently. Incubation of the insoluble residue with human serum remove complement activity. Simple freezing and thawing of S-IgA solns did not produce anticomplementary activity. Solution of human S-IgA, IgG, and albumin were evaporated on a rotary evaporator at 37°C. The residues were resuspended and analyzed for anticomplementary activity using a method which measures rate of cell lysis by following turbidity changes in suspensions of sensitized red cells to which complement has been added. On a relative scale, the quantities of the individual human residues required to remove one half of the complement offered were: IgG = 1, IgA = 5, albumin = 27. Aggregated human Fabα fragments of secretory IgA as well as aggregated serum myeloma IgA were also found to be complement reactive. Aggregated secretory IgA was found to reduce the hemolytic activity of human C3–9 but not that of human C1. the IgA aggregates were probably not held together with covalent bonds since they readily dissolved at alkaline pH. The results suggest that the Fab region of S-IgA may be involved in the complement interactions of S-IgA aggregates and that secretory component is not necessary of these interactions.
Silicates in Evolved Stars: The LRS-Maser Chronology Revisited

Since the publication of our correlation (1990 Ap.J. 350, L45) suggesting a temporal relationship among: (a) shapes of 10 micron silicates seen in IRAS Low Resolution Spectra (LRS); (b) IRAS broad band colors; (c) light curve asymmetries, and (d) the types of masers associated with various Mira variable stars, the question has arisen whether the implied chronology refelcts the interval between thermal pulses, or the more lengthy ascent of the AGB. There is evidence in favor of the former interpretation. A strong implication of this idea is that variability among pre-silicate spectra should be significant. Several examples of this have been found in the extended LRS database, and are presented. Finally, plans are presented to continue monitoring of selected variables in the 10 micron region, to verify the variability suggested in the limited phase coverage provided in the LRS database. Monitoring will include use of our facilities at the Mt.Evans-Womble Observatory — highest in the world at 4313 meters altitude.
Where is ENSO stress balanced

Abstract The zonal surface torque budget associated with the tropical wind stress anomalies during El Nino/Southern Oscillation is analyzed. Mountain and surface stress torques over South America are found to play a prominent role. Local momentum change is negligible for 6 month averages allowing the balance among regional contributions to the torque anomalies to be compared. During El Nino, eastward torque anomalies over the central equatorial Pacific are largely compensated by westward anomalies elsewhere in the equatorial band, notably over South America. Torque anomalies over South America and the Pacific in latitude bands north and south of the equator are both westward and are not compensated within the band, implying an export of eastward momentum to higher latitudes.
The formation of Pd8W in proton irradiated palladium-rich PdW alloys

Observations are reported on radiation induced microstructures in Pd-W alloys. Proton irradiation at temperatures of 300/sup 0/C and above was used. Results suggest that the face-centered tetragonal phase A/sub 8/B may be more common than supposed. It is possible that A/sub 8/B is a degenerate ground state structure. (FS)
Energetic particle absorption by atmosphereless satellites and rings

Abstract In outer planet magnetospheres, theoretical estimates of the rate of energetic particle absorption by solid satellites and rings have two primary applications. First, in regions where satellite absorption is the dominant energetic particle loss process, model calculations combined with measured fluxes and derived phase space densities can be employed to constrain the amplitude and L-dependence of the magnetospheric radial diffusion process that is responsible for populating the radiation belts. Since only flyby data are available, this approach provides the only present means for probing the dynamics of outer planet radiation belts. Second, if the rate of radial diffusion is independently constrained, observed ring absorption signatures can be combined with model calculations to solve for certain undetermined parameters such as the mean particulate size in a planetary ring. Examples of applications to radial diffusion in the Uranian radiation belts and to the interpretation of the Jovian ring absorption signature in Pioneer 11 energetic particle data are discussed.
Effect of fentanyl on 5‐HT efflux involves both opioid and 5‐HT1A receptors

Fentanyl is a μ-opioid analgesic that might disinhibit 5-HT neurons and thus increase 5-HT efflux. However, fentanyl also binds to 5-HT1A receptors, and if it activates 5-HT1A somatodendritic autoreceptors, the resultant inhibition might offset opioid-mediated increases in 5-HT efflux. To test this hypothesis, we used microdialysis to study effects of fentanyl on extracellular 5-HT in the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) of unanesthetized rats. Systemic administration of fentanyl (0.01–0.2 mg kg−1, s.c.) increased 5-HT efflux in the DRN. An intermediate dose of fentanyl (0.05 mg kg−1) produced the maximum increase in 5-HT to ∼180% of baseline levels in the DRN. Naltrexone (10 mg kg−1, s.c.) blocked the increase in response to systemic fentanyl (0.05 mg kg−1). In contrast, during infusion into the DRN, fentanyl (10–1000 μM) induced a dose-dependent decrease in 5-HT. Naltrexone and nor-binaltorphimine failed to block the decrease suggesting that μ- and κ-opioid receptors did not mediate this effect. Systemic (−)-pindolol (8 mg kg−1, s.c.) or infusion of WAY-100635 (100 μM) into the DRN blocked the decrease, and instead 5-HT increased in response to local infusion of fentanyl (100 μM). WAY-100635 (0.3 mg kg−1, s.c.) also potentiated the effect of systemic fentanyl (0.2 mg kg−1, s.c.). (−)-Pindolol and WAY-100635 block 5HT1A receptors, indicating that inhibition of 5-HT neuronal activity resulting from fentanyl binding to somatodendritic autoreceptors attenuated opioid-mediated increases in 5-HT efflux. These results provide novel evidence that besides stimulating μ-opioid receptors, fentanyl is a 5-HT1A receptor agonist. Possibly, this contributes to lethality of fentanyl overdose. British Journal of Pharmacology (2003) 139, 1498–1504. doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0705378
Development of a peroxidase-coupled fluorometric assay for lysyl oxidase.

Abstract Lysyl oxidase catalyzes the oxidation of peptidyl lysine in elastin and collagen and also acts upon nonpeptidyl amines, although the enzyme becomes slowly inactivated while processing nonpeptidyl substrates. In spite of this complexity, it has been possible to devise a continuously monitored peroxidase-coupled fluorometric assay for the oxidation of simple amines by lysyl oxidase. In the present study, optimal assay conditions have been explored and found to include assay temperatures of 50 to 60°C, the presence of urea in the assay, and the use of diaminopentane as substrate. Although the assay is subject to interference by contaminating macromolecules in enzyme fractions, a linear assay response to enzyme concentration is obtained with highly purified lysyl oxidase with a limiting sensitivity of 0.3 μg of enzyme per assay.
Exponential approximation with piecewise linear error criteria

Abstract The problem of approximating a continuous function on the interval [0, T] with a linear combination of real exponential functions is considered. Rather than restricting the analysis to mathematically well behaved error criteria, such as least-squares, the theory of distributions is used to analyze criteria based on piecewise linear weighting of the error. For such criteria, it is found that the first and second derivatives of the error measure E with respect to the parameters of the approximating function can be obtained from exact and easily evaluated formulae. A descent search to find the solution to the approximation problem by minimizing E is thus economically feasible, since no inaccurate and time-consuming numerical integrations are required to produce the needed derivatives. As an example of such a criterion, approximation in the L1 norm is treated.
A note on the G value for the production of the lowest excited singlet state of cyclohexane

Abstract The fluorescence quantum yield of liquid cyclohexane has been determined for excitation wavelengths from 165 to 178 nm. This data together with new measurements on the intensity of fluorescence of cyclohexane and benzene liquids excited by 85Kr β particles provide confirmation of a previously reported G value for the production of the S1 state of cyclohexane of G(S1)= 1.45 ±0.15. Arguments in the literature that support lower values of 0.3–0.5 are discussed.
On type II0 E0-semigroups induced by boundary weight doubles

Abstract Powers has shown that each spatial E 0 -semigroup can be obtained from the boundary weight map of a CP-flow acting on B ( K ⊗ L 2 ( 0 , ∞ ) ) for some separable Hilbert space K. In this paper, we define boundary weight maps through boundary weight doubles ( ϕ , ν ) , where ϕ : M n ( C ) → M n ( C ) is a q-positive map and ν is a boundary weight over L 2 ( 0 , ∞ ) . These doubles induce CP-flows over K for 1 dim ( K ) ∞ which then minimally dilate to E 0 -semigroups by a theorem of Bhat. Through this construction, we obtain uncountably many mutually non-cocycle conjugate E 0 -semigroups for each n > 1 , n ∈ N .
The early stages of financial distress

More firms enter financial distress as a result of poor management than as a result of economic distress. Management actions are a significant determinant of recovery and improvement in the industry-adjusted market value for firms entering financial distress as a result of poor management, but not for firms entering as a result of economic distress. In the early stages of financial distress, median firm operating income measured on an unadjusted basis and after controlling for other factors which alter firm performance increases significantly. The results support Jensen’s hypothesis that financial distress triggers corrective action which improves firm performance. (JEL G300)
Capital and income breeding and the evolution of colony founding strategies in ants

Ability to store resources that will be used for reproduction represents a potential life history adaptation because storage permits feeding and reproduction to be decoupled spatially and/or temporally. The two ends of a continuum involve acquiring all resources prior to reproduction (capital breeding) or acquiring all resources during the reproductive period (income breeding). Traditional life history theory examines tradeoffs between costs and benefits of such strategies, but this theory has not been integrated into life history studies of ants, even though founding queens have the analogous strategies of fully claustral (capital breeding) and semi-claustral (income breeding). This study demonstrates that facultatively semi-claustral queens of the seed-harvester ant Pogonomyrmex desertorum exhibit phenotypic plasticity during colony founding because unfed queens produced few, small minims, whereas ad libitum fed queens produced larger, heavier minims and additional brood. Fed queens also lost less mass than unfed queens despite their producing more brood. Overall, foraging provides queens with a suite of benefits that likely offset potential negative effects of foraging risk. Life history studies across a diverse array of taxa show that capital breeding is consistently associated with low availability and/or unpredictability of food, i.e., environmental conditions that favor prepackaging of reproductive resources. Such a broad and consistent pattern suggests that similar factors favored the evolution of fully claustral (capital breeding) colony founding in ants. Overall, these data suggest that ant researchers should revise their conventional view that fully claustral colony founding evolved because it eliminated the need for queens to leave the nest to forage. Instead, colony founding strategies should be examined from the perspective of environmental variation, i.e., availability and predictability of food. I also provide a functional scenario that could explain the evolution of colony founding strategies in ants.
Prevalence of advanced adenomas in small and diminutive colon polyps using direct measurement of size.

Most studies reporting polyp size use visual estimates. Determining the prevalence of advanced histology based on direct measurement of polyp size may help guide the management of polyps found at optical colonoscopy (OC) and CT colonography (CTC). We designed a large, prospective study to assess the prevalence of advanced adenomas based on direct measurement of polyp size by a certified pathologists’ assistant as reported in the pathology report. Patients between 40 and 89 years of age who presented for screening colonoscopy were included in our study. Advanced adenomas were defined as ≥10 mm or ≥25% villous features, high grade dysplasia or cancer. Polyps were divided by size into three groups: diminutive (≤5 mm), small (6–9 mm) and large (≥10 mm). If more than one adenoma was present, the most advanced was used for analysis. We evaluated 6,905 consecutive patients referred for colonoscopy between January 2005 and December 2006. Of the 4,967 who met the inclusion criteria, the mean age was 58.8 and consisted of 59% women. Overall, 930 (18.7%) had an adenoma; 248 (5%) were advanced adenomas including 8 (0.16%) cancers. Of 89 polyps ≥10 mm, 76 (85%) had advanced histology; of 247 polyps 6–9 mm, 67 (27%) were advanced; of 1,025 polyps ≤5 mm, 105 (10%) were advanced. Thus, 172 of 248 (69%) patients with advanced adenomas had small or diminutive adenomas. Our data indicate the majority (69%) of advanced adenomas are <10 mm. Even among polyps ≤5 mm, there was an appreciable prevalence of advanced adenomas (10%). These findings may help guide the management of sub-centimeter colon polyps found by OC or CTC.
Numerical Modeling of Vapor Condensation During Cadmium Quenching Process in a Solar Receiver

Cadmium quencher is an important equipment for the high efficiency generation of hydrogen fuel using solar thermochemical splitting of water. In order to effectively guide the design of solar decomposer and vapor quencher, it is of critical importance to understand the mechanisms of transport phenomena inside them. The mixture model was selected for modeling the multiphase flow, and the two-equation RNG k-e model was used to model the turbulent flow and heat transfer. Numerical results showed that flowrate of the quencher air directly influences the velocity, temperature and mole fraction of cadmium vapor inside the decomposer and quencher. The developed CFD model can be used to guide the design of efficient solar receiver and cadmium decomposer/quencher.© 2009 ASME
An Inequality for a Class of Bivariate Chi-Square Distributions

Abstract The inequality is shown to hold when the joint distribution of U 1 and U 2 is a member of a class of bivariate Chi-Square distributions given. The relevance of this result to the construction of two-sided simultaneous confidence intervals for variances is noted.
An Efficient Copper-Catalyzed Etherification of Aryl Halides.

The method allows the straightforward preparation of various aryl ethers without the need of any additional ligand.
Soft Patchy Nanoparticles from Solution-Phase Self-Assembly of Binary Diblock Copolymers

The fabrication of highly ordered, defect-free nanostructures is a key challenge in nanotechnology. Bottom-up fabrication approaches require nanobuilding blocks of precisely defined size and shape. In this work we propose a simple approach to obtain one type of building blocksoft patchy nanoparticlessuggested by a series of coarse grain molecular dynamics simulations. A binary mixture of two different diblock copolymers with a common hydrophobic block but sufficiently dissimilar hydrophilic blocks reliably self-assembles into a “patchy” spherical micelle in water, with phase separation of the two hydrophilic blocks on the surface of the micelle core. Subsequent crosslinking of the core to solidify the patchy sphere geometry should allow further hierarchical assembly. Altering the hydrophilic versus hydrophobic composition of each polymer yields a change of morphology from “patchy spheres” to “patchy cylinders”. Furthermore, by controlling the interaction strength of the blocks with solvent, the patches ca...
Redox properties of cytochrome oxidase and vascular reactivity of astrocytomas and neuroblastomas in vivo.

— Dual wavelength reflection spectrophotometry was used to determine steady state changes in the reduction-oxidation ratio of cytochrome c oxidase (a,a3) and vascular reactivity accompanying progressive growth of cortical and subcutaneous astrocytomas and neuroblastomas in vivo. Blood volume responses indicate that vessels invading the tumors retain regulatory reactivity typical of the body region of implantation and do not acquire those typical of the tissue of origin of the neoplastic cells. In comparison with non neoplastic tissue, early stage tumor growth was associated with highly oxidized ratios of cytochrome a,a3. A transition to highly reduced cytochrome a,a3 occurred during late stage tumor development. Such differences from normal cerebral tissues reflect alterations in micro-circulation and respiratory chain function accompanying the dynamics of tumor growth, and could provide a basis for selective therapeutic measures.
Metal-based nanoparticle synthesis from the rapid expansion of carbon dioxide solutions.

Synthesis of 10 to 500 nm diameter Fe-based nanoparticles is described. Nanometer-sized droplets of iron carbonyl are generated by the rapid expansion of CO2-based supercritical fluid solutions and are photolyzed in-flight using a UV lamp to remove the carbonyl groups. Solid metal particles are collected electrostatically. Upon air oxidation, the iron particles react rapidly to produce an iron oxide phase. Mo-based nanoparticles were similarly produced using a Mo(Co)6 precursor.
Molecular staging of colorectal cancer in African-American and Caucasian patients using phenotypic expression of p53, Bcl-2, MUC-1 AND p27kip-1

The gold standard for clinical outcome of most cancers has been the clinical and pathologic staging of the tumors after surgery. For colorectal cancer (CRC), nodal involvement at the time the primary tumor is resected has been the most reliable indicator of clinical outcome; however, recently, combinations of molecular markers have been reported to be equivalent to pathologic or clinical staging in predicting clinical outcome. In addition, molecular markers can be used in conjunction with clinical or pathologic staging to provide a stronger indicator of clinical outcome than staging alone. We propose that "molecular staging" be added to pathologic staging to aid in predicting clinical outcome and making therapeutic decisions for colorectal cancers, especially stage II and III CRCs. We have reported that the clinical usefulness of most molecular markers varies with the ethnic group of the patients and the anatomic location of CRCs; this complicates the evaluation of prognostic biomarkers and requires much larger numbers of cases to be evaluated. Nevertheless, nuclear accumulation of p53 (p53(nac)) and phenotypic expression of Bcl-2, MUC-1 and p27(kip-1) may be molecular markers approaching acceptance for use in molecular staging of specific subgroups of colorectal cancers.
Enhanced conductivity and breakdown of oxides grown on heavily implanted substrates

Abstract The enhanced conductivity exhibited by oxides on heavily-doped Si substrates is studied using substrates implanted with P, As and Si in the range 1015–1016 cm−2 with gate oxides formed by thermal oxidation and CVD. Studies of light emission photographs, TEM, I–V and breakdown characteristics suggest that the primary cause of enhanced conduction is thinning of the oxide at the field edge.
Emotional adjustment to cardiac transplantation

Abstract Emotional adjustment to cardiac transplantation is a phasic process. Each step is associated with a milestone in the transplantation protocol. The adjustment process is divided into seven distinct stages: 1) transplant proposal, 2) evaluation, 3) awaiting a donor organ, 4) perioperative period, 5) inhospital convalescence, 6) discharge, and 7) post-discharge adaptation. Patient adjustment to transplantation is influenced by the adaptive task of each stage in the procedure, personality factors, previous experience with illness, and social support. Patients need time to adjust to each stage. Do not pressure them into premature acceptance of transplantation. Verbalization of feelings should be encouraged, and adequate support ensured. Contact with already transplanted patients is helpful to surgical candidates. Psychiatric assistance can greatly aid in patient management and emotional adjustment.
Population genomics reveals a possible history of backcrossing and recombination in the gynogenetic fish Poecilia formosa

Unisexual sperm-dependent vertebrates are of hybrid origins, rare, and predicted to be short-lived as a result of several challenges arising from their mode of reproduction. In particular, because of a lack of recombination, clonal species are predicted to have a low potential to respond to natural selection. However, many unisexual sperm-dependent species persist, and assessing the genetic diversity present in these species is fundamental to understanding how they avoid extinction. We used population genomic methods to assess genotypic variation within the unisexual fish Poecilia formosa. Measures of admixture and population differentiation, as well as clustering analyses, indicate that the genomes of individuals of P. formosa are admixed and intermediate between Poecilia latipinna and Poecilia mexicana, consistent with the hypothesis of their hybrid origins. Bayesian genomic cline analyses indicate that about 12% of sampled loci exhibit patterns consistent with inheritance from only one parent. The estimation of observed heterozygosity clearly suggests that P. formosa is not comprised of direct descendants of a single nonrecombining asexual F1 hybrid individual. Additionally, the estimation of observed heterozygosity provides support for the hypothesis that the history of this unisexual species has included backcrossing with the parent species before the onset of gynogenesis. We also document high levels of variation among asexual individuals, which is attributable to recombination (historical or ongoing) and the accumulation of mutations. The high genetic variation suggests that this unisexual vertebrate has more potential to respond to natural selection than if they were frozen F1 hybrids.
Analysis of AKS- and lanthana-doped molybdenum wire

Abstract The lamp industry uses molybdenum wire in many high temperature, structural applications, for which doped molybdenum wire is an important product because it possesses greater high-temperature strength and a higher recrystallization temperature than undoped molybdenum. Prior studies on aluminum–potassium–silicon (AKS) doped tungsten wire have shown that the dispersion which provides the interlocking grain structure in recrystallized tungsten wire is bubbles of elemental potassium; these enhance incandescent lamp filament life. In doped molybdenum the dispersion can be either potassium bubbles, or solid oxide particles, depending on the processing method. Lanthana-doped molybdenum has been reported to have recrystallization temperatures above those obtained through AKS-doping. Lanthana particles are stable within molybdenum to elevated temperatures because lanthanum has very limited solubility in molybdenum. This paper will describe a series of analyses of lanthana-doped and AKS-doped molybdenum wires of a range of sizes.