cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Metal carboxylate-phosphonate hybrid layered compounds: synthesis and single crystal structures of novel divalent metal complexes with N-(phosphonomethyl)iminodiacetic acid.

Two novel divalent metal complexes with N-(phosphonomethyl)iminodiacetic acid, H(2)O(3)PCH(2)N(CH(2)CO(2)H)(2) (H(4)PMIDA), [Co(2)(PMIDA)(H(2)O)(5)] x H(2)O, 1, and [Zn(2)(PMIDA)(CH(3)CO(2)H)] x 2H(2)O, 2, have been synthesized and structurally characterized. The structure of complex 1 features two different kinds of Co(II) layers, namely, a cobalt phosphonate layer along the plane and a cobalt carboxylate layer along the plane. The Co(II) atoms in the phosphonate layer are octahedrally coordinated by 4 aqua ligands and 2 oxygen atoms from two phosphonic acid groups. Two Co(II) octahedra are bridged by a pair of phosphonic groups into a dimeric unit, and such dimers are interconnected into a layer through hydrogen bonding between aqua ligands. The Co(II) atoms in the carboxylate layer are octahedrally coordinated by a chelating PMIDA ligand, one aqua ligand, and one phosphonic oxygen atom from the neighboring PMIDA ligand. These Co(II) octahedra are interlinked by bridging carboxylic groups into a one-dimensional chain along the c-axis; such chains are held together by hydrogen bonds formed between carboxylic oxygen atoms and lattice water molecules, in such a way as to form a layer along the direction. Two such layers are interconnected into a double layer via hydrogen bonding. These double layers are further interconnected with the Co(II) phosphonate layers through phosphonate tetrahedra along the a direction, resulting in the formation of a complicated three-dimensional network. The crystal structure of 2 contains a metal phosphonate and metal carboxylate hybrid layer along the plane. One of the two zinc atoms in the asymmetric unit is tetrahedrally coordinated by four oxygen atoms from two phosphonic acid groups and two carboxylic groups; the other zinc atom is 5-coordinated by three oxygen atoms and a nitrogen atom from a chelating PMIDA ligand and one oxygen atom from the acetic acid. The above two types of zinc metal ions are interconnected by bridging carboxylic and phosphonic groups, resulting in the formation of a layered structure.
Partial nucleotide sequence of a prokaryote initiator tRNA that functions in its non-formylated form.

When grown in the absence of folate, Streptococcus faecalis initiates protein synthesis with non-formylated methionyl-tRNAfMet. The nucleotide sequence of this tRNA differs from that of tRNAfMet synthesised in the presence of folate — which functions as N-formyl-methionyl-tRNAfMet—only in the ‘GTψC’ loop, where uracil is found in the tRNAfMet of folate-free cells in place of thymine.
The effects of superimposed hydrostatic pressure on deformation and fracture: Part I. Monolithic 6061 aluminum

The effects of various levels of superimposed hydrostatic pressure on the tensile ductility and fracture micromechanisms were determined for 6061 specimens heat-treated to underaged and overaged conditions of equivalent yield strength. Superimposed pressures of 0.1, 150, and 300 MPa were selected; the ductility increased between 0.1 and 150 MPa and remained constant between 150 and 300 MPa. It is shown that the levels of pressure chosen inhibit void growth and coalescence. Void nucleation occurred at nonmetallic inclusions, and neither the ductility nor pressure response were significantly affected by the heat treatments chosen.
(De)Coding the Subject-in-Affect

In these times, the times of control societies, the subject might be described as arising out of an attraction between affect and digital code. Since affect only registers at the imperceptible pre-conscious, pre-individual scale of measure, the subject-in-affect can only be approached through decoding the digital code by which it is made perceptible. Differing from interpretation, decoding however is not about language or meaning; it is about a relation among “dividuals”. Without language as the method, or meaning as the end, writing the subject-in-affect is in search of itself.
Fast nitrogen oxide photochemistry in Summit, Greenland snow

Abstract During the 1999 summer field season at Summit, Greenland, we conducted several series of experiments to follow up on our 1998 discovery that NO x is released from the sunlit snowpack. The 1999 experiments included measurements of HONO in addition to NO and NO 2 , and were designed to confirm, for Greenland snow, that the processes producing reactive nitrogen oxides in the snow are largely photochemical. Long duration experiments (up to 48 h) in a flow-through chamber and in the natural snowpack revealed sun-synchronous diurnal variations of all three reactive nitrogen oxides. In a second set of experiments we alternately shaded or exposed snow (again in the natural snowpack and in the chamber) to ambient sunlight for short periods to reduce any temperature changes during variations in light intensity. All three N oxides increased (decreased) very rapidly when sunlit (shaded). In all experiments NO 2 was approximately 3-fold more abundant than NO and HONO (which were at similar levels). Higher concentrations of NO 3 − in the snow resulted in higher mixing ratios of HONO, NO and NO 2 in the snow pore air, consistent with our hypothesis that photolysis of NO 3 − is the source of the reactive N oxides.
Retenion characteristics of several bonded-phase liquid chromatography columns for some polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

Abstract We have compared the retention of twelve polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) on columns packed with octadecyl bonded phases from eight different manufacturers. The capacity ratios and selectivity factors were calculated for each compound on every column, under conditions of isocratic elution with identical mobile phase strength and similar linear flow velocities. We observed a wide range of capacity ratios and significantly different selectivity on different material. These data did not correlate with the carbon content or the surface concentration of alkyl groups for the various stationary phases. We also report the retention and selectivity characteristics for these PAHs on different manufacturing lots of the octadecyl silica used for one of the commercial columns.
Optimal Decision Fusion in Multiple Sensor Systems

The problem of optimal data fusion in the sense of the Neyman-pearson (N-P) test in a centralized fusion center is considered. The fusion center receives data from various distributed sensors. Each sensor implements a N-P test individually and independently of the other sensors. Due to limitations in channel capacity, the sensors transmit their decision instead of raw data. In addition to their decisions, the sensors may transmit one or more bits of quality information. The optimal, in the N-P sense, decision scheme at the fusion center is derived and it is seen that an improvement in the performance of the system beyond that of the most reliable sensor is feasible, even without quality information, for a system of three or more sensors. If quality information bits are also available at the fusion center, the performance of the distributed decision scheme is comparable to that of the centralized N-P test. Several examples are provided and an algorithm for adjusting the threshold level at the fusion center is provided.
A porous silicon-palladium composite film for optical interferometric sensing of hydrogen.

Porous Si Fabry−Perot films are coated with Pd via immersion plating. The materials are characterized by electron microscopy and infrared spectroscopy. The Pd-coated porous Si samples exhibit distinct Fabry−Perot fringes in the optical reflection spectrum due to thin film optical interference in the porous Si layer, though the reflectivity spectrum loses fidelity upon Pd coating. The effect of H2 exposure on the interference spectrum is studied. Absorption of hydrogen into Pd induces a lattice expansion, which results in a shift of the optical fringes and a decrease in the reflected intensity. The detection limit measured at room temperature is ∼0.2% (by volume) in an N2 carrier gas, with a response time of a few seconds.
cis‐3‐Aza­bicyclo­[3.2.0]heptane‐2,4‐dione

The title compound, C6H7NO2, was synthesized from cis-1,2-cyclo­butane­dicarboxylic anhydride by reaction with ammonium acetate under microwave conditions. The crystal structure of the compound shows that the cyclo­butane ring is planar with angles ranging from 89.64 (12) to 90.37 (12)°. The cis-3-aza­bicyclo­[3.2.0]heptane-2,4-dione mol­ecules are linked into a chain formation through hydrogen N—H⋯O=C bonds. Parallel packing is seen between two cyclo­butane rings related by inversion symmetry.
Cumulative Risk for Early Sexual Initiation Among American Indian Youth: A Discrete‐Time Survival Analysis

Approximately 3 million teens are diagnosed with a sexually transmitted disease (STD) annually; STDs rates for American Indian young adults are among the highest of any racial/ethnic group. An important risk factor for STDs is early initiation of sex. In this study, we examined risk for early initiation with 474 American Indian youth ages 14–18, using 11 risk factors from three developmentally important microsystems (family, school, peers) along with several individual characteristics; a cumulative risk index was also calculated. Discrete-time survival analyses showed that predictors of early initiation differed by gender. For young men, younger initiation of sex was predicted by lower grades, liking school less, having peers with less prosocial attitudes, a greater likelihood of having used alcohol or drugs at first sex, and having higher sensation-seeking. For young women, earlier initiation was related to having mothers who had their first child at an early age and who had less formal education, to having parents who had divorced, dropping out of high school, using alcohol/drugs at first sex, and higher sensation-seeking. Higher cumulative risk was associated with elevated risk of sexual initiation, although the degree of added risk varied with age for women. Cumulative risk deserves broader attention in understanding the early initiation of sexual intercourse.
On the Hardness of Adding Nonmasking Fault Tolerance

This paper investigates the complexity of adding nonmasking fault tolerance, where a nonmasking fault-tolerant program guarantees recovery from states reached due to the occurrence of faults to states from where its specifications are satisfied. We first demonstrate that adding nonmasking fault tolerance to low atomicity programs—where processes have read/write restrictions with respect to the variables of other processes—is NP-complete (in the size of the state space) on an unfair or weakly fair scheduler. Then, we establish a surprising result that even under strong fairness, addition of nonmasking fault tolerance remains NP-hard! The NP-hardness of adding nonmasking fault tolerance is based on a polynomial-time reduction from the 3-SAT problem to the problem of designing self-stabilizing programs from their non-stabilizing versions, which is a special case of adding nonmasking fault tolerance. While it is known that designing self-stabilization under the assumption of strong fairness is polynomial, we demonstrate that adding self-stabilization to non-stabilizing programs is NP-hard under weak fairness.
Biography: Rhazes: His career and his writings

Abstract On December 9, 1979, the World Health Organization announced the global eradication of smallpox. Because of the devastation caused by the disease, for centuries physicians focused their attention on ways to prevent it, the first step of which involved understanding its nature. The individual who is credited with being the first to differentiate smallpox from measles was Abu Bakr Muhammad Ibn Zakariya al-Razi (864-925 AD ). Also known in the Latin West as Rhazes, this imminent medieval physician has been lauded as “the greatest physician of Islam and the Medieval Ages” and even “perhaps the greatest clinician of all times.” Numerous “firsts” in medical research and clinical care are attributed to him, and his writings alone set him apart. This article presents a brief life of the leading figure in the field of medieval medicine. Copyright © 2001 by W.B. Saunders Company
A contribution to the linear magnetoresistance problem

Abstract It is shown that semi-classical transport theory provides an extremely accurate prediction of the limiting high field transverse magnetoresistivities of the compensated metals Cd, Pb and W. These results invalidate those theoretical models based on scattering effects which have been proposed to explain the linear term in the magnetoresistivities of K, Al and In. We argue that the only remaining viable models are those based on the effects of sample imperfections and inhomogeneities.
Maternal underweight status and association with preterm contractions

Objective The purpose of the study is to investigate whether underweight pregnant women are more likely to be admitted for preterm contractions compared to normal or overweight women.
Genetic and environmental interactions in determining the early lexicon: Evidence from a set of tri-zygotic quadruplets

A set of tri-zygotic quadruplets, three girls and one boy, participated in weekly observations from 1;2 to 1;10 (years; months), a period of transition from prelinguistic gesture to 50 words. In the study, one girl served as a genetic mate to her identical twin and a biological risk mate to her fraternal sister. The biological risk mates achieved milestones in lexical development at similar times ; however, the genetic mates demonstrated more similarities in pattern of lexical development and in the modality of their word productions. Degree of similarity changed over the observation period. Imposed upon the natural experiment was a within-subject manipulation of the social environment : The experimenters modelled a core vocabulary via the gesture+verbal modalities to the children during each visit. The modelling resulted in increased rates of word learning for three of the children ; the child with the greatest biological risk, the boy, derived the greatest benefit. The findings provide unique support for a dynamic, multi-factorial model of lexical development involving the interaction of genetics, the biological environment and the social environment. Furthermore, they illustrate the robustness of early lexical development in the face of biological risks.
Selective oxidations of a dithiolate complex produce a mixed sulfonate/thiolate complex.

Oxygenation or peroxidation of a planar, tetracoordinate, low-spin nickel(II) complex of a N2S2-donor ligand, (N,N‘-dimethyl-N,N‘-bis(2-mecaptoethyl)-1, 3-propanediaminato)nickel(II), proceeds via the formation of a mixed sulfinate/thiolate complex and leads to the production of a novel dimeric complex containing both sulfonate and thiolate ligands. Thus, reaction proceeds via selective oxidation of the sulfinate sulfur atom, leaving the thiolate reduced. The novel sulfonate/thiolate complex has been isolated and characterized by electospray ionization mass spectrometry and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Crystals form in the monoclinic space group P21/c with cell dimensions a = 8.4647(12) A, b = 12.592(3) A, and c = 12.531(2) A, angles α = γ = 90° and β = 106.645(11)°, and Z = 2. The structure was refined to R = 5.20% and Rw = 12.86% [I > 2σ(I)]. The isolation of this mixed sulfonate/thiolate complex from oxidation of a mixed sulfinate/thiolate complex provides experimental evidence for the formation o...
Squeeze Film Dynamics of Two-Phase Seals

A dynamic analysis of two-phase face seals including squeeze film effects and thermal transients is presented. Axial responses to perturbations from equilibrium for various sets of typical seal operating conditions are examined, and the sensitivity of these responses to certain parameters is discussed. Sample calculations indicate damped transient responses which often decay as steady state is approached asymptotically. In some cases, however, stable and unstable oscillations are observed
Some Applications of Optimal Control Theory to Fisheries Management

Abstract A review is made of some optimization techniques appiled to fisheries and related problems. Explanations of optimal control theory as applied to the Schaefer or logistic model and to the Beverton and Holt model are provided. An optimal policy for a fishery management model based on the Brody growth function is developed. The control variable in each of the above examples is the rate of fishing and the objective function is the maximum biomass yield. A method for estimating the parameters of the Brody growth function is illustrated for the albacore tuna.
An Ensemble View of Allostery

Allostery is the process by which biological macromolecules (mostly proteins) transmit the regulatory effects induced by the binding of a ligand at one site to a different, often distant, functional site. This process governs the function of almost all metabolism and gene regulation ( 1 , 2 ). Despite the importance of this process, a general understanding of the structural and energetic basis for allostery has been elusive. On page 685 of this issue, Bai et al. ( 3 ) shed light on a key obstacle to understanding allosteric control by showing how proteins existing as ensembles of multiple conformations affect the allosteric signal transduction process.
A solution to problem #4: the lie transform

The following SCRATCHPAD conversation for carrying out the Lie Transform computation represents a slight modification of one written by Dr. David Barton, when he was a summer visitor during 1972 at the Watson Research Center.
Issues and Trends in Culture-Fair Assessment:

When a test is said to be biased against one or more cultural minority groups in a society, the underlying cause can take on several different forms. Some of the more common types of cultural test bias and how they may negatively affect scores are discussed here. In addition, the author reviews the case law and federal statutes that have been a driving force behind the trend of developing assessments for special education purposes that are more "cultural neutral." Research exploring bias issues in testing is discussed; finally, several recently published ability assessments that have been developed to accommodate a variety of different backgrounds and experiences are detailed.
Expression of an Aspergillus niger phytase (phyA) in Escherichia coli.

The gene (phyA) for the Aspergillus niger phytase with optima at pH 5.5 and 2.2 was expressed in Escherichia coli under the control of the T7lac promoter. A 56 kDa fusion protein comprised of phytase linked to an S-Tag leader peptide accumulated in inclusion bodies at 30 °C. The yield of unglycosylated recombinant phytase purified from 50 mL cultures by anion exchange chromatography of solubilized inclusion body protein was 10 mg. The refolded enzyme had an activity of 1.5 μmol mg-1 min-1 at 37 °C, but most of the protein was in the form of inactive aggregates. Recombinant phytase displayed a single pH optimum at pH 5.1, was irreversibly denatured at pH 2.0 and was not active above 55 °C. As with A. niger phytase, the initial breakdown product observed was inositol 1,2,4,5,6-pentakis(phosphate). Km values for the hydrolysis of inositol hexakis(phosphate) and p-nitrophenylphosphate were 96 μM and 2.0 mM, respectively, at pH 4.5. Keywords: Phytase; phosphatase; phytic acid; inositol phosphates; Aspergillus ...
Toxicology of inhaled NiO and CoO in Syrian golden hamsters.

Syrian golden hamsters exposed in several manners to the inhalation of nickelous oxide (NiO) and cobaltous oxide (CoO) showed completely different behavior in response to these two compounds. Exposures ranged from 3 to 7 hours per day for up to 60 days. The NiO concentrations were from 10 to 190 µg/liter, and CoO concentrations were from 2 to 160 µg/liter. Nearly 20% of the inhaled NiO was retained in the lungs after initial clearance, and 45% of this was still present after 45 days. Comparable figures for CoO were less than 1% after initial clearance and none after 6 days. No hamster exposed to NiO at any concentration died before scheduled sacrifice within 6 months postexposure. All the hamsters exposed to CoO at 106 µg/liter died by the fourth of the 3-hour exposures.
Effects of friction at the digit-object interface on the digit forces in multi-finger prehension

The effects of surface friction at the digit-object interface on digit forces were studied when subjects (n=8) statically held an object in a five-digit grasp. The friction conditions were SS (all surfaces are sandpaper), RR (all are rayon), SR (S for the thumb and R for the four fingers), and RS (the reverse of SR). The interaction effects of surface friction and external torque were also examined using five torques (–0.5, –0.25, 0, +0.25, +0.5 Nm). Forces and moments exerted by the digits on a handle were recorded. At zero torque conditions, in the SS and RR (symmetric) tasks the normal forces of the thumb and virtual finger (VF, an imagined finger with the mechanical effect equal to that of the four fingers) were larger for the RR than the SS conditions. In the SR and RS (asymmetric) tasks, the normal forces were between the RR and SS conditions. Tangential forces were smaller at the more slippery side than at the less slippery side. According to the mathematical optimization analysis decreasing the tangential forces at the more slippery sides decreases the cost function values. The difference between the thumb and VF tangential forces, ΔF t, generated a moment of the tangential forces (friction-induced moment). At non-zero torque conditions the friction-induced moment and the moment counterbalancing the external torque (equilibrium-necessitated moment) could be in same or in opposite directions. When the two moments were in the same direction, the contribution of the moment of tangential forces to the total moment was large, and the normal forces were relatively low. In contrast, when the two moments were in opposite directions, the contribution of the moment of tangential forces to the total moment markedly decreased, which was compensated by an increase in the moment of normal forces. The apparently complicated results were explained as the result of summation of the friction-related (elemental) and torque-related (synergy) components of the central commands to the individual digits.
Comparison of anxiety between patients with mixed incontinence and those with stress urinary incontinence.

Objective. Some authors insist that patients with mixed incontinence (MI) suffer from more anxiety than those with pure stress urinary incontinence (SUI) due to the added emotional stress caused by various symptoms of an overactive bladder. We objectively evaluated and compared the degree of anxiety between the two groups. Material and methods. Among 172 patients who presented with urinary incontinence, 118 showed MI and 54 SUI. They were surveyed regarding their anxiety using the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) questionnaire. Results. The mean BAI score was 12.0±8.8 in the MI group and 7.8±5.2 in the SUI group and this difference was statistically significant (p<0.05). Conclusions. This study provides objective evidence that patients with MI have a higher degree of anxiety than those with pure SUI. Therefore, we suggest that doctors should pay more attention to anxiety symptoms when caring for patients with MI.
An Improved Sign Test for Experiments in Which Neutral Responses Are Possible

A nonrandomized sign test is described that is less conservative than the commonly prescribed, and used, sign test for experiments in which neutral responses are possible. Tables of critical values are given for the new one-sided test with α = 0.01 and 0.05 (which can also be used for two-sided tests with α = 0.02 and 0.10).
Quantitative PCR estimates Angiostrongylus cantonensis (rat lungworm) infection levels in semi-slugs (Parmarion martensi)

The life cycle of the nematode Angiostrongylus cantonensis involves rats as the definitive host and slugs and snails as intermediate hosts. Humans can become infected upon ingestion of intermediate or paratenic (passive carrier) hosts containing stage L3 A. cantonensis larvae. Here, we report a quantitative PCR (qPCR) assay that provides a reliable, relative measure of parasite load in intermediate hosts. Quantification of the levels of infection of intermediate hosts is critical for determining A. cantonensis intensity on the Island of Hawaii. The identification of high intensity infection ‘hotspots’ will allow for more effective targeted rat and slug control measures. qPCR appears more efficient and sensitive than microscopy and provides a new tool for quantification of larvae from intermediate hosts, and potentially from other sources as well.
MHC class II tolerant T cells undergo apoptosis upon re-exposure to tolerogen in vivo

Tolerance of MHC class II alloantigens can be achieved by intravenous injection of semiallogeneic hematopoietic cells into neonatal mice. Lymphoid cells of tolerant mice fail to proliferate or secrete interleukins IL-2 or IL-4 when stimulated in vitro with tolerogen. Since the lymphoid organs of B10.T(6R) tolerant mice contain normal levels of I-E reactive (V beta 11+) CD4+ T cells, deletion of alloreactive T cells does not appear to be the mechanism involved in the tolerance induction. To test whether T cells from tolerant animals can become activated under conditions that do not involve alloantigen stimulation, we stimulated these cells with immobilized anti-V beta 11 antibodies. Spleen cells from grafted tolerant and rejector mice proliferated in response to anti-V beta 11+ antibodies, suggesting they were not inert. We then tested whether V beta 11+ T cells from grafted mice can be induced to proliferate following stimulation with alloantigen in vivo. We adoptively transferred T cells from grafted tolerant and rejector mice into irradiated (B10.AQR x B10.T(6R))F1 mice and harvested the lymphoid organs after 65 h. Cells from both grafted tolerant and rejector mice underwent blast transformation, but only cells from rejector mice proliferated when exposed to immobilized anti-V beta 11 antibodies. The failure of V beta 11+ cells from tolerant mice to proliferate after in vivo stimulation may be because they are apoptotic. To test this hypothesis, spleen cells from naive or neonatally tolerized (with (B10.AQR x B10.T(6R))F1 cells) B10.T(6R) mice were adoptively transferred into irradiated (B10.AQR x B10.T(6R))F1 mice and bcl-2 expression was analysed in harvested V beta 11+ cells. Large cells recovered from recipients of naive 6R cells expressed bcl-2 mRNA. By contrast, large cells harvested from recipients of tolerized 6R cells did not express bcl-2 mRNA, suggesting bcl-2 mRNA expression was downregulated in these mice. Moreover, in another experiment, large V beta 11+ cells from grafted tolerant animals recovered after transfer into irradiated (B10.AQR x B10.T(6R))F1 mice did not express the bcl-2 protein as determined by flow cytometry, and contained fragmented DNA as assessed by the TUNEL method. Taken together, these data suggest that MHC class II tolerant T cells undergo apoptosis upon re-exposure to tolerogen in vivo.
Statins improve the resolution of established murine venous thrombosis: reductions in thrombus burden and vein wall scarring.

Despite anticoagulation therapy, up to one-half of patients with deep vein thrombosis (DVT) will develop the post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS). Improving the long-term outcome of DVT patients at risk for PTS will therefore require new approaches. Here we investigate the effects of statins—lipid-lowering agents with anti-thrombotic and anti-inflammatory properties—in decreasing thrombus burden and decreasing vein wall injury, mediators of PTS, in established murine stasis and non-stasis chemical-induced venous thrombosis (N = 282 mice). Treatment of mice with daily atorvastatin or rosuvastatin significantly reduced stasis venous thrombus burden by 25% without affecting lipid levels, blood coagulation parameters, or blood cell counts. Statin-driven reductions in VT burden (thrombus mass for stasis thrombi, intravital microscopy thrombus area for non-stasis thrombi) compared similarly to the therapeutic anticoagulant effects of low molecular weight heparin. Blood from statin-treated mice showed significant reductions in platelet aggregation and clot stability. Statins additionally reduced thrombus plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), tissue factor, neutrophils, myeloperoxidase, neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), and macrophages, and these effects were most notable in the earlier timepoints after DVT formation. In addition, statins reduced DVT-induced vein wall scarring by 50% durably up to day 21 in stasis VT, as shown by polarized light microscopy of picrosirius red-stained vein wall collagen. The overall results demonstrate that statins improve VT resolution via profibrinolytic, anticoagulant, antiplatelet, and anti-vein wall scarring effects. Statins may therefore offer a new pharmacotherapeutic approach to improve DVT resolution and to reduce the post-thrombotic syndrome, particularly in subjects who are ineligible for anticoagulation therapy.
Detection and assessment of wood decay in glulam beams using a modified impulse-echo approach

A glulam beam retired from the field and without visible indications of wood decay was used. Towards detection and assessing wood decay, X-ray computer tomography and ultrasonic measurements were carried out. It was observed that decrease in mass density with increasing levels of wood decay affects x-rays attenuation and allows radioscopy to detect and assess wood decay. To detect and assess decay when only one lateral side of the beam is available, a modified impulse-echo was developed. The modified impulse-echo approach is based on observing the dynamic response of the glulam beams to the drop of a steel sphere onto a steel plate coupled to the glulam beam lamina. It was observed that monitoring certain frequency bands allows detection and assessment of wood decay. The selection of these frequency bands requires knowledge of the nominal beam transverse dimensions. Because of the high ultrasonic material attenuation values of decayed wood as compared with those of sound wood, the area under the power spectral density in these frequency bands is smaller in regions of decayed wood. Results show that results from both X-ray computer tomography and impulse-echo measurements are consistent with each other and can be used to detect and assess wood decay in structural lumber.
An Orphan Meets Family Members in Skin

If you are diagnosed with a skin disease by one of the readers of the Journal of Investigative Dermatology chances are that you will be prescribed glucocorticoids, retinoids (vitamin A analogs) or deltanoids (vitamin D analogs). Glucocorticoids, a class of steroid drugs, are the mainstay for the treatment of skin inflammatory conditions, e.g. dermatitis, psoriasis, and sunburns, which are manifested as a result of hyperactive immune system. Oral and topical retinoids (acitretin, tazarotene, retinoic acid and adaplene) are indicated for the treatment of psoriasis, acne and wrinkle effacement. Similarly, topical deltanoids (calcipotriol, calcitriol and tacalcitol) are prescribed for mild to moderate plaque psoriasis, severe seborrheic dermatitis and disorders of keratinization. Further, retinoids and deltanoids have shown efficacy in limited clinical experiences with actinic keratosis, Kaposi's sarcoma, cutaneous T cell lymphoma (CTCL), vitiligo, scleroderma and disorders of keratinization. Recently, a new class of retinoid, called rexinoid (bexarotene), has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment CTCL.
Status-liking-power: An analysis of two models

Abstract This study of differentiation in task groups focuses on valued behaviors and the rewards given to individuals who can perform them. Two exchange models are used to investigate three types of reward: status, likeability, and power. Model I reflects a cooperative model of differentiation in which competent people are rewarded with both status and liking while Model II reflects a competitive process in which highly competent people are respected but not liked. A mathematical correlation design incorporating magnitude estimates procedures is utilized. Subjects are 125 registered nurses employed in a university hospital. Path analysis is used to examine the two models. The results of study give unequivocal support to neither model but instead support portions of both. The three rewards, status, likeability, and power seem to be used for specific purposes in the group of nurses studied. Status is given for behavior which is scarce and valued. Competency is assumed to be such a characteristic and the data show that competency is, in fact, the sole determinant of a person's status. Power is also a reward for valued behavior, for the power one has comes directly from her status and competency. Likeability is given to individuals who are willing to help others and thus, it is suggested, that likeability is a reward given for personally pleasing rather than normatively valued behavior. It would seem, therefore, that status and likeability, while positively correlated, arise from divergent sources.
Infinitesimal Perturbation Analysis in Networks of Stochastic Flow Models: General Framework and Case Study of Tandem Networks with Flow Control

This paper presents a general algorithmic framework for computing the IPA derivatives of sample performance functions defined on networks of fluid queues. The underlying network-model consists of bi-layered hybrid dynamical systems with continuous-time dynamics at the lower layer and discrete-event dynamics at the upper layer. The linearized system, computed from the sample path via a discrete-event process, yields fairly simple algorithms for the IPA derivatives. As an application-example, the paper discusses loss and workload performance functions in a tandem network with congestion control, subjected to signal delays.
When to refer patients to a nephrologist

(2003). When to refer patients to a nephrologist? Postgraduate Medicine: Vol. 113, No. 2, pp. 11-11.
An Accurate, Easy-To-Use Abundance Scale for Globular Clusters Based on 2.2 Micron Spectra of Giant Stars

We present a new method for the determination of [Fe/H] for globular clusters. This method is based on moderate-resolution (~1500) near-IR spectroscopy in the K band of six to 10 of the brightest giants in a cluster. Our final [Fe/H] calibration is derived from spectra of 105 stars in 15 globular clusters with [Fe/H] ranging from near solar to -1.8. We measure the equivalent widths of three features in these spectra, EW(Na), EW(Ca), and EW(CO). Our calibration reproduces the Zinn & West abundance scale as updated by Harris to better than ±0.10 dex. A quadratic fit to the data is somewhat better than a simple linear fit. Three advantages of this new method are that it can be used for metal-rich, heavily reddened globular clusters in crowded fields; it does not require any knowledge of any other cluster or stellar parameter, such as reddening, distance, or luminosity; and it does not require much telescope time. If stellar (J-K)0 and MK values are available in addition to the near-IR spectra, the accuracy of the [Fe/H] value derived is further improved. If observations—either near-IR spectra alone or spectra plus colors and magnitudes—of only three stars in a cluster are available, the resulting value of [Fe/H] will be nearly as reliable as the application of our new technique to 2 to 3 times as many stars. The accuracy of an [Fe/H] value based on observations of CO absorption by itself is significantly less than that which results from the three spectroscopic indices, in spite of the fact that the CO feature is by far the strongest feature in the spectrum. There are two probable reasons for this. First, the CO bands approach saturation for bright giants in high-metallicity clusters. Second, within a cluster there is considerable intrinsic star-to-star scatter in EW(CO) due to differences in mixing histories on the giant branch. In contrast, we do not find evidence for any intrinsic scatter in the Na or Ca indices. Nevertheless, we predict that observations from space of CO absorption in the integrated light of stellar systems will prove to be of great value for abundance determinations at least as distant as the Coma cluster of galaxies. Finally, a comparison of globular cluster abundances based on high-resolution spectroscopy with the Zinn & West/Harris [Fe/H] scale—and by inference ours—leads us to conclude that the two are closely linearly related over the entire range of globular cluster abundances, although there might be a small, constant offset between the two.
Alkamide stability in Echinacea purpurea extracts with and without phenolic acids in dry films and in solution.

Degradation of the major alkamides in E. purpurea extracts was monitored under four different accelerated storage conditions, phenolic-depleted and phenolic-rich dry E. purpurea extracts and phenolic-depleted and phenolic-rich DMSO E. purpurea extracts at 70, 80, and 90 °C. Degradation of alkamides followed apparent first-order reaction rate kinetics. Alkamides degraded faster in dry films than in DMSO solution. The phenolic acids acted as antioxidants by limiting the loss of the alkamides in dry E. purpurea extracts. In contrast, E. purpurea alkamides in DMSO degraded faster when the phenolic fraction was absent. The overall order of degradation rate constants was alkamides 1 ≈ 2 ≈ 6 > 9 ≈ 8 > 3 ≈ 5 ≈ 7. The energy of activation (Ea) predicted for alkamide degradation averaged 101 ± 12 kJ/mol in dry films ± phenolic acids, suggesting the oxidation mechanism was the same under both conditions. In DMSO solutions, Ea values were about one-half of those in dry films (61 ± 14 kJ/mol), suggesting a different m...
Spatial correlation of dipole fluctuations in liquid water

The molecular dipole moments and local environments of water in its liquid phase were examined for a series of first-principles Gibbs ensemble Monte Carlo simulations along the vapour–liquid coexistence curve using the Becke–Lee–Yang–Parr (BLYP) and Perdew–Burke–Ernzerhof (PBE) exchange/correlation density functionals. Molecular dipole moments were computed using maximally localized Wannier functions with the Berry phase scheme, while the structure was analysed with respect to tetrahedral order parameter and hydrogen bonding. Increasing the temperature results in a decrease of both the average molecular dipole moment and the local structure, although the width of the dipole distribution remains fairly constant. A correlation is found between the extent of the local structure and the magnitude of the molecular dipole moment, but this correlation is limited to the first solvation shell.
Deterministic model of biomolecular networks with stimuli-responsive properties

A deterministic model is presented for predicting the passive and stimuli-responsive characteristics of biomolecular networks. These biomolecular networks consist of multiple bilayer interfaces that can incorporate stimuli-responsive molecules such as peptides and proteins. A model is presented and a lumped parameter method is used to obtain the network equations for several case studies. The model is then utilized to predict the response of a biomolecular network that exhibits rectification behavior due to the presence of voltage-responsive protein incorporated into the interfacial bilayer. This article demonstrates the electric response of systems of biomolecular networks and prompts further research into their use for engineering applications.
Dynamic changes in circulating 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D during reproduction in rats

The concentrations of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D [1,25-(OH)2D], calcium, and phosphorus were measured in the serum of rats during pregnancy and at various stages of lactation. The concentration of 1,25-(OH)2D hormone increased almost two-fold during pregnancy and the latter part of lactation, but decreased to control levels or very low values immediately after birth and weaning, respectively. Furthermore, the concentration of 1,25-(OH)2D was inversely correlated with the concentration of calcium, suggesting that circulating 1,25-(OH)2D fluctuates in concert with calcium demands during the reproductive cycle. Parathyroidectomy in lactating rats caused a 70 percent inhibition of the normally observed 1,25-(OH)2D increase, indicating that parathyroid hormone, in response to changes in serum calcium, is a primary modulator of 1,25-(OH)2D during lactation.
A new solution for minority-carrier injection into the emitter of a bipolar transistor

A new analytic solution for minority-carrier injection into the emitter of a bipolar transistor has been derived. Effects such as Shockley-Read-Hall (SRH) recombination, Auger recombination, bandgap narrowing, graded impurity profile, and position-dependent mobility have been included. A quantitative definition of "transparency" in an emitter is presented. Numerical results show the appearance of a minimum in injected minority-carrier current with respect to the impurity concentration at the surface. This minimum is due to the interaction of Auger recombination and the built-in electric field as impurity concentration is increased. The relative ease and speed necessary to obtain numerical results makes this method very useful for the design and optimization of transistors.
Comparing the performance of two observers using a novel utility-based performance metric for ROC analysis

We previously introduced a utility-based ROC performance metric, the "surface-averaged expected cost" (SAEC), to address difficulties which arise in generalizing the well-known area under the ROC curve (AUC) to classification tasks with more than two classes. In a two-class classification task, the SAEC can be shown explicitly to be twice the area above the conventional ROC curve (1-AUC) divided by the arclength along the ROC curve. In the present work, we show that in tasks comparing the performance of two observers whose behavior is described by the proper binormal model, our proposed performance metric is consistent with AUC in the qualitative sense of deciding which of the two observers is "better," and by how wide a margin.
Subgrid Modeling for Simulation of Spray Combustion in Large-Scale Combustors

Simulations of spray combustion in full-scale combustors under different operating conditions are conducted using large-eddy simulations (LES). The current methodology attempts to capture not only spray-turbulence interactions but also subgrid fuel-air mixing and finite-rate kinetics occurring at scales below the LES resolution. Reduced finite-rate kinetics for n-heptane and kerosene fuels are used in these studies to predict pollutant emission. Comparison of LES predictions with measurements for a single-cup swirl combustor shows reasonably good agreement. Results for spray combustion in a realistic two-cup combustor sector show a complex vortex breakdown process that creates multiple recirculation regions in the combustor. These regions of recirculation provide multiple sites to stabilize the spray and the flame. Because of the shape of the combustor, significant three-dimensional effects are apparent with no similarity between flame structures, vortex breakdown bubbles, and outflow between the two cups. Spray combustion is quite efficient during full power operation because of the distributed injection process. It is also shown that in the current subgrid mixing and combustion approach flame stabilization is more physical, and the flame anchors downstream of the dump plane. In contrast, a conventional LES study using a subgrid eddy breakup model shows a flame anchored inside the inlet, Immediately downstream of the spray injector, which is unphysical.
Compartmentalized calcium dynamics in a C. elegans interneuron encode head movement.

Subcellular compartmentalization established by mobilization of intracellular calcium stores in RIA interneurons provides a means of self-motion monitoring and a cellular basis for integrating sensory and motor signals in nematodes’ brains. Most neurons in the small brains of roundworms such as Caenorhabditis elegans rely on a single axon both to receive inputs from and to send outputs to a number of other cells. Now, Yun Zhang and colleagues reveal that neural function in the RIA interneurons, which are crucial for complex sensorimotor tasks such as isothermal tracking and olfactory learning, is compartmentalized. Subcellular axonal activity dependent on acetylcholine release from head motor neurons is simultaneously present but independent of glutamate-dependent activity evoked by sensory inputs. Such subcellular computation prevents sensory and motor signals from getting mixed across the relatively small neuronal circuitry of nematodes' brains. The confinement of neuronal activity to specific subcellular regions is a mechanism for expanding the computational properties of neurons. Although the circuit organization underlying compartmentalized activity has been studied in several systems1,2,3,4, its cellular basis is still unknown. Here we characterize compartmentalized activity in Caenorhabditis elegans RIA interneurons, which have multiple reciprocal connections to head motor neurons and receive input from sensory pathways. We show that RIA spatially encodes head movement on a subcellular scale through axonal compartmentalization. This subcellular axonal activity is dependent on acetylcholine release from head motor neurons and is simultaneously present and additive with glutamate-dependent globally synchronized activity evoked by sensory inputs. Postsynaptically, the muscarinic acetylcholine receptor GAR-3 acts in RIA to compartmentalize axonal activity through the mobilization of intracellular calcium stores. The compartmentalized activity functions independently of the synchronized activity to modulate locomotory behaviour.
Bowlic Liquid Crystalsl

Abstract A new type of liquid crystals made up of bowl-like molecules was predicted by Lin in 1982 and was recently synthesized. In is paper, the experimental findings about these bowlic mesophases are briefly summarized. Possible mesophases (polar nematic, non-polar nematic, cholesteric, stringbean, donut, columnar, etc.) are proposed and discussed. The possible breakdown of the macroscopic symmetry n → – n (n is the director) in these mesophases is emphasized. Novel properties including phase transitions and other physical aspects (optical, elastic, flexoelectric and hydrodynamic, as well as defects) are presented. Molecular engineering to produce new compounds (e.g. anisotropic ferromagnetic fluid and bowlic polymers) is suggested. Possible instabilities and applications are discussed. The possibility of second harmonic generation and simple sub-microsecond electro-optical switching (without the complications encountered in ferroelectric smectic C*) in these bowlic mesophases are pointed out. These bow...
The importance of symmetries in spacetimes with quasiregular singularities

Abstract The process by which elementary quasingular singularities are constructed by cutting and pasting a regular spacetime after identifying points under some discrete group of isometries is reviewed. There is also a description of how the addition of “perturbing” test fields which retain the symmetry of the spacetime retains the quasiregular singularity while those which destroy the symmetry lead to stronger singularities.
Ethical guidelines for business and social marketing

The ethical sensitivity of all professionals has come under closer scrutiny recently. Within the business area, the ethics of marketing executives in particular has been viewed with skepticism. The growing use of “social marketing” also compounds the potential for ethical abuse. The ethical dimensions of both business and social marketing are examined in this paper. Four ethical guidelines-increased professionalism, ethical consultants, seminars and ethical cost-benefit analyses-are suggested as a means of improving the ethical standards of marketing decision-making.