cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Academic Librarians and Volunteerism: Applying Valuable Talents to Community Service

This article illustrates volunteering in the community available to academic librarians to accompany their academic librarian profession. Real cases in point in community volunteerism academic librarians may choose from abound in the article. Key issues covered are stirring volunteerism, what should volunteers look for, determine interference when volunteering, improving the academic library's image, sources for volunteerism, contribute actual library skills, places to volunteer, working with children, assisting the elderly, volunteering in a city other than a librarian's place of work, creating harmony, time spent volunteering, and mutual benefits. Academic librarians volunteering in the community is progress to improving themselves and the lives of others.
Synthesis and Functionalization of ROMP-Based Gradient Copolymers of 5-Substituted Norbornenes

Gradient copolymers of exo-5-(benzyloxy)norbornene and exo-5-[(4-tert-butyl)benzyloxy]norbornene were synthesized via ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP). Kinetic studies revealed that the reactivity ratios of both monomers were close to unity. As predicted, this monomer pair did not result in copolymers with significant gradients under batch polymerization conditions. However, semibatch conditions resulted in copolymers with sizable gradients whose shape was independent of the rate of addition. Addition of the monomers simultaneously via a dual and opposite ramping strategy led to a 50/50 copolymer with an exceptionally linear gradient. These gradient copolymers were further functionalized via hydrogenation, bromination, and bromoalkoxylation.
Elder abuse and neglect

In the past 10 years, reports of the abuse of older adults have risen by 30%. Supported by a growing body of work, research, practitioner and policy communities are poised to confront the problem. This article represents a review of the elder abuse and neglect literature published since 2001. Literature on elder abuse and neglect tends to be grouped in the following categories: definitional issues; screening and assessment instruments; the scope of elder abuse and neglect; sexual abuse; risk factors; outcomes; studies of Adult Protective Services; multidisciplinary teams; interventions by medical, criminal justice and policy communities; long-term care facilities; and theoretical perspectives. The authors suggest that studies of elder abuse and neglect move beyond descriptive studies and include more nuanced statistical methods and mixed methods approaches, further explore the promising research design of crosslinking a variety of databases, include a theoretical underpinning and work toward more theorizi...
The simplest problems for elastic Cosserat surfaces

For elastic Cosserat surfaces, we discuss an attempt to characterize cases where the equations are reducible to algebraic form and to explain how the reduction can be accomplished.
Analysis of Darwin Rainfall Data: Implications on Sampling Strategy.

Rainfall data collected by radar in the vicinity of Darwin, Australia, have been analyzed in terms of their mean, variance, autocorrelation of area-averaged rain rate, and diurnal variation. It is found that, when compared with the well-studied GATE (Global Atmospheric Research Program Atlantic Tropical Experiment) data, Darwin rainfall has larger coefficient of variation (CV), faster reduction of CV with increasing area size, weaker temporal correlation, and a strong diurnal cycle and intermittence. The coefficient of variation for Darwin rainfall has larger magnitude and exhibits larger spatial variability over the sea portion than over the land portion within the area of radar coverage. Stationary, and nonstationary models have been used to study the sampling errors associated with space-based rainfall measurement. The nonstationary model shows that the sampling error is sensitive to the starting sampling time for some sampling frequencies, due to the diurnal cycle of rain, but not for others. Sampling experiments using data also show such sensitivity. When the errors are averaged over starting time, the results of the experiments and the stationary and nonstationary models match each other very closely. In the small areas for which data are available for I>oth Darwin and GATE, the sampling error is expected to be larger for Darwin due to its larger CV.
Trail making test results for normal and brain-damaged children.

The Trail Making Test (a shortened version for use with children) was administered to 98 normal children who ranged in age from 109 to 179 mo. No significant differences between the performances of boys and girls were found. Relatively weak but significant relationships between scores on both Parts A and B and chronological age were present. The second part of the study compared 35 matched pairs of Ss with and without cerebral lesions. The non-brain-damaged Ss had scores comparable to those of normal children tested in the first part of the study, but the brain-damaged children performed much more poorly. The results indicate that the skills required by either Part A or Part B of the Trail Making Test are significantly impaired by cerebral damage.
Questioning as a Teaching Tool

The Dreyfus and Bloom frameworks can help the great clinical teacher craft questions that are learner-centric and appropriately challenging.Employing strategies to ask the right questions in the right way can further add to the effectiveness of using questions as a valuable teaching,learning, and assessment tool.
The PPARγ ligand, rosiglitazone, reduces vascular oxidative stress and NADPH oxidase expression in diabetic mice

Oxidative stress plays an important role in diabetic vascular dysfunction. The sources and regulation of reactive oxygen species production in diabetic vasculature continue to be defined. Because peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma) ligands reduced superoxide anion (O(2)(-.)) generation in vascular endothelial cells in vitro by reducing NADPH oxidase and increasing Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD) expression, the current study examined the effect of PPARgamma ligands on vascular NADPH oxidase and O(2)(-.) generation in vivo. Lean control (db(+)/db(-)) and obese, diabetic, leptin receptor-deficient (db(-)/db(-)) mice were treated with either vehicle or rosiglitazone (3 mg/kg/day) by gavage for 7-days. Compared to controls, db(-)/db(-) mice weighed more and had metabolic derangements that were not corrected by treatment with rosiglitazone for 1-week. Aortic O(2)(-.) generation and mRNA levels of the NADPH oxidase subunits, Nox-1, Nox-2, and Nox-4 as well as Nox-4 protein expression were elevated in db(-)/db(-) compared to db(+)/db(-) mice, whereas aortic Cu/Zn SOD protein and PPARgamma mRNA levels were reduced in db(-)/db(-) mice. Treatment with rosiglitazone for 1-week significantly reduced aortic O(2)(-.) production and the expression of Nox-1, 2, and 4 but failed to increase Cu/Zn SOD or PPARgamma in aortic tissue from db(-)/db(-) mice. These data demonstrate that the vascular expression of Nox-1, 2, and 4 subunits of NADPH oxidase is increased in db(-)/db(-) mice and that short-term treatment with the PPARgamma agonist, rosiglitazone, has the potential to rapidly suppress vascular NADPH oxidase expression and O(2)(-.) production through mechanisms that do not appear to depend on correction of diabetic metabolic derangements.
Taylor series approximation of geometric shape variation for the Euler equations

References Free Turbulent Shear Flows, NASA SP-321, 1973. Launder, B. E., Morse, A. Rodi, W., and Spalding, D. B., "Prediction of Free Shear Flows: A Comparison of the Performance of Six Turbulence Models," Free Turbulent Shear Flows, NASA SP-321, 1973, pp. 361-426. Birch, S. F., and Eggers, J. M., "A Critical Review of the Experimental Data for Developed free Turbulent Shear Layers," Free Turbulent Shear Flows, NASA SP-321, 1973, pp. 11-40. Dash, S. M., Weilerstein, G., and Vaglio-Laurin, R., "Compressibility Effects in Free Turbulent Shear Flows," Air Force Office of Scientific Research, AFOSR-TR-75-1436, Aug. 1975. Chuech, S. G., Lai, M.-C., and Faeth, G. M., "Structure of Turbulent Sonic Underexpanded Free Jets," AIAA Journal, No. 5, Vol. 27, 1989, pp. 549-559. Sarkar, S., Erlebacher, G., Hussaini, M. Y., and Kreiss, H. O., "The Analysis and Modeling of Dilatational Terms in Compressible Turbulence," Journal of Fluid Mechanics, Vol. 227, 1991, pp. 473-493. Zeman, O., "Dilation Dissipation: The Concept and Application in Modeling Compressible Mixing Layers," Physics of Fluids A, Vol. 2, No. 2, 1990, pp. 178-188. Kim, S. C., "New Mixing-Length Model For Supersonic Shear Layers," AIAA Journal, Vol. 28, No. 11, 1990, pp. 1999-2000. Brescianini, C. P., Morgan, R. G., and Stalker, R. J., "Numerical Modeling of Sidewall Injected Scramjet Experiments in a High Enthalpy Airflow," Shock Tunnel Studies of Scramjet Phenomena — Supplement 6, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, Univ. of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, 1990. Bogdanoff, D. W., "Compressibility Effects in Turbulent Shear Layers," AIAA Journal, Vol. 21, No. 6, 1983, pp. 926-927. Papamoschou, D., and Roshko, A., "The Compressible Shear Layer: An Experimental Study," Journal of Fluid Mechanics, Vol. 197, 1988, pp. 453-477. Samimy, M., and Elliott, G. S., "Effects of Compressibility on the Characteristics of Free Shear Layers," AIAA Journal, Vol. 28, No. 3, 1990, pp. 439-445. Rodi, W., "A Review of Experimental Data for Uniform Density Free Turbulent Boundary Layers," Studies in Convection, Vol. 1, Academic Press, London, 1975, pp. 79-165.
Mouse lens stiffness measurements.

Abstract Presbyopia is a gradual loss of accommodation with age. Various studies have shown that an age-related increase in lens stiffness may be one factor involved. Lens stiffness has previously been measured using lens spinning experiments, resistance to conical probe penetration and dynamic mechanical analysis. In the current study, two different techniques have been used to evaluate the stiffness of isolated mouse lenses. In the first method, compressive forces were applied to mouse lenses using microscope cover-slips to exert incremental forces on the lens. Lens images were captured for analysis of change in diameter. In the second method, a fully automated squeezer system with an actuator, electronic scale and a CCD camera was used to apply incremental compressive forces to the lenses. The actuator exerted forces comparable to those exerted by cover-slips. Force and actuator displacement data together with images of the lenses as they were compressed were captured. Images were analyzed for change in lens diameter on application of force and also with actuator displacement. Lenses from 19 young male mice (4-weeks old) and 28 male retired breeders (7–9 months old) were tested. Lenses were used immediately after sacrificing the mice and extracting the lenses. The lenses from the older male mice were stiffer compared to the lenses from the younger male mice. This was determined by comparing the average change in lens diameter at various force values used. The two methods provide a good indication of the stiffness properties of mouse lenses.
Comparative Study of Piezoelectric Transducers for Power Scavengers

Ambient energy scanvengers have the potentials to replace batteries, which have limited lifetime and large volume, and to realize the miniaturized devices. Piezoelectric materials have been testified as a promising candidate for converting vibration energy into electric energy. The conversion efficiency depends on the types of piezoelectric materials and structural designs. PZT, PVDF and MFC cantilevers were studied to compare the performance and applicability under various operational conditions. The resonant frequency of cantilever was calculated and measured to optimize the dimension of cantilevers because the maximum output power density can be achieved when it matches the exciting frequency. The safety factor or maximum operating acceleration (S) is considered to predict the maximum acceleration on the cantilevers without fracture. Results showed that PVDF- and MFC-based devices are around five orders of magnitude higher between PZT-based one. The relationship between the output power density and the dimension of power generator was extensively examined. The output power densities of cantilever-based prototypes fabricated using three piezoelectric materials were obtained through a simple resistive load and the PZT-based device showed the highest value. All three types of devices were demonstrated sufficient power density required to operate microsensor systems in this experimental range.
Condition of vibrational stabilizability for a class of nonlinear systems

A notion of vibrational stabilizability for a class of nonlinear systems is introduced and analyzed.
The immediate effects of homicidal, suicidal, and nonviolent heavy metal and rap songs on the moods of college students.

The authors examined the impact of homicidal, suicidal, and nonviolent heavy metal and rap songs on the moods of male undergraducates under the guise of administering a memory for lyrics test. Subj...
The effect of PPARγ ligands on UV- or chemically-induced carcinogenesis in mouse skin

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma) is a ligand activated transcription factor. There have been suggestions that PPARgamma ligands may have utility in preventing tumor development in rodent mammary glands and colon. The recent finding that mice lacking one allele of the PPARgamma gene were significantly more susceptible to 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA)-induced skin carcinogenesis compared to wild-type mice highlights mouse skin as another potential organ in which PPARgamma ligands may be effective as chemopreventive agents. In this study, we assessed the effect of two PPARgamma ligands (rosiglitazone and troglitazone) on UV and DMBA/12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-induced mouse skin carcinogenesis, two of the most commonly used mouse skin carcinogenesis models. Unexpectedly, neither rosiglitazone (dietary 200 ppm) nor troglitazone (topical 100 microg) significantly inhibited UV-induced skin tumor development in SKH-1 hairless mice. Likewise, dietary rosiglitazone did not statistically significantly inhibit DMBA/TPA-induced skin tumor development. Interestingly, dietary troglitazone significantly inhibited basal level keratinocyte proliferation as shown by 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) labeling, but it had no effect on TPA-induced epidermal cell proliferation. Northern blot analysis showed that PPARgamma expression was extremely low in normal mouse epidermis and was virtually undetectable in skin tumors. Collectively, our data suggest that PPARgamma ligands may not be useful in the prevention of chemically or UV-induced skin tumors.
AUXOSPORE FORMATION IN AN ANTARCTIC CLONE OF NITZSCHIA SUBCURVATA HASLE

Several clones of an ice-related, planktonie diatom, forming chains with overlapping tips (as is typical in the section Pseudonitzschia), were isolated at Texas A&M University from a water sample collected a month earlier near McMurdo Sound, Antarctica, and later identified as Nitzschia subcurvata Hasle. After a week of log phase growth following the first transfer from a 5 ml microtest plate well in clone Mc-2, healthy, rapidly-growing cells clumped together in masses. Upon examination of the clumps, some free amoeboid-like cells were seen in fixed slides. The expanded auxospore had balloon-shaped walls, and the zygotes apparently developed into the elongate, banded perizonium (up to 92 μm) noted with complex organelles or the initial cells formed inside. The empty parent cells were ca. 52–58 μm in length, some vegetative cells were as small as 46 μm, while the newly formed, expanded cells were up to 92 μm long. Evidence of sexual reproduction has been little noted in marine planktonie Nitzschia species,...
Serotonin receptor interactions of harmaline and several related β-carbolines

Abstract The isolated rat fundus preparation was used to determine the serotonin (5-HT) receptor affinities (pA 2 values) of harmaline, harmine and several other related β-carbolines. Replacement of a 7-methoxy group by a hydroxy group decreases affinity; the 6-methoxy β-carbolines possess two to three times the affinity of their 7-methoxy isomers. A new model is proposed for the interaction of these β-carbolines with 5-HT receptors.
Architecting for edge diversity: supporting rich services over an unbundled transport

The end-to-end nature of today's transport protocols is increasingly being questioned by the growing heterogeneity of networks and devices, and the need to support in-network services. To address these challenges, we present Tapa, a transport architecture that systematically combines two concepts. First, it unbundles today's transport such that network specific functions (e.g., congestion control) are implemented on a per-segment basis, where a segment spans a part of the end-to-end path that is homogeneous (e.g., wired Internet or an access network) while functions that relate to application semantics (e.g., data ordering) are still implemented end-to-end. Second, it has an explicit notion of in-network services (e.g., caching, opportunistic content retrieval, etc) that can be supported while maintaining precise end-to-end application semantics. In this paper, we present the basic design, implementation and evaluation of Tapa. We also present diverse case studies that show how Tapa can easily support opportunistic content retrieval in online social networks, various mobile and wireless optimizations, and an in-network energy saving service that improves battery life of mobile devices.
Indian and American consumer perceptions of cockpit configuration policy

Prior studies have examined the passenger's trust in a human operated system versus an autonomous autopilot operated system. The results indicated that passengers had a more negative attitude toward the autopilot systems. The current study expands on this by examining perceptions of different cockpit configurations, and exploring cultural differences between Indian and American individuals. Participants from both India and the United States were asked to imagine a) that they were on a commercial flight, b) that they were sending a package on a cargo flight, or c) that they were on a corporate flight. In addition they were told that the aircraft was piloted by: a) two pilots in the cockpit, b) one pilot in the cockpit and one pilot located in a ground facility using remote controls, or c) two pilots in a ground facility using the remote controls. The results demonstrated that participants were strongly against having two pilots on the ground controlling the aircraft with remote controls, although most accepted this if the pilots were remote controlling cargo flights. In addition, American participants had more extreme views than the Indian participants, except with the cargo situation.
On the use of confidence levels in risk management

Abstract A framework for incorporating uncertainty in risk management is developed and applied to two aspects of decision making: meeting standards or safety goals, and cost-benefit criteria. The framework is applied to several case studies including toxic chemicals in water, failure of civil engineering structures and nuclear power plants. The framework proposes that decisions be based on a level of confidence, in addition to comparing best estimate or point values with standards and goals.
The use of beta-glucuronidase as a measure of pleural irritation.

SUMMARY 1) The effect of a number of intra-pleural therapeutic agents increasing the Beta-Glucuronidase activity of pleural fluids is presented. 2) Evidence that the pleural epithelium when irritated acts as a differentially secretory organ for the enzyme is discussed.
Association between childhood trauma and physical disorders among adults in the United States.

BACKGROUND: The goal of this investigation was to determine the association between self-reported childhood trauma and physical disorders among adults in the United States. METHOD: Data were drawn from the National Comorbidity Survey (N=5877). Multiple logistic regression analyses were used to determine the associations between childhood physical abuse, sexual abuse, and childhood neglect and the likelihood of specific physical disorders among adults. RESULTS: Childhood physical abuse, sexual abuse and neglect were associated with a statistically significantly increased risk of a wide range of physical illnesses during adulthood. After adjusting for demographic characteristics, lifetime anxiety and depressive disorders, alcohol and substance dependence, and all types of trauma: results showed that childhood physical abuse was associated with increased risk of lung disease (OR= 1.5 (1.1, 2.2)), peptic ulcer (OR= 1.5 (1.03, 2.2)) and arthritic disorders (OR= 1.5 (1.1, 2.2)); childhood sexual abuse was associated with increased risk of cardiac disease (OR = 3.7 (1.5, 9.4)); and childhood neglect was associated with increased risk of diabetes (OR=2 2 (1.1, 4.4)) and autoimmune disorders (OR =4.4 (1.7, 11.6)). CONCLUSIONS: Consistent with previous work, these results suggest that self-reported childhood trauma is associated with increased risk of a range of physical illnesses during adulthood. Future research that includes replication of these findings using prospectively assessed physical and mental disorders with objectively measured biological data using a longitudinal design, including other known risk factors for these diseases and more detailed information on specific forms of abuse, is needed to understand the potential mechanisms of these links. Language: en
Effect of Vitamin D on Tissue Distribution and Transport of Electrolytes, 47Ca and 28Mg

The administration of 100,000 to 200,000 U of calciferol to adult dogs daily for 5 weeks caused marked hypercalcemia and significant decreases in plasma concentrations of sodium, potassium, magnesium and chloride. Cellular concentrations of calcium were increased by 30 to 300 % in muscle, myocardium, pancreas and aorta and were unchanged in liver, brain and nerve. Bone uptake of 47Ca was increased by 45 %. The exchangeable body and tissue pools of calcium were increased by 100% but the fractional rate of exchange of tissue calcium was unaltered. The magnesium concentrations of liver, pancreas and bone were increased by 16 to 20 % by calciferol and the fractional rate of exchange of tissue magnesium with 28Mg was increased by 23 %. Calciferol administration had a minor effect on tissue concentrations of acidsoluble phosphorus. The sodium concentrations of 5 tissues and the chloride concentrations of 3 tissues were significantly decreased, whereas the potassium concentrations of 2 tissues were increased sig...
Starch self-processing in transgenic sweet potato roots expressing a hyperthermophilic α-amylase

Sweet potato is a major crop in the southeastern United States, which requires few inputs and grows well on marginal land. It accumulates large quantities of starch in the storage roots and has been shown to give comparable or superior ethanol yields to corn per cultivated acre in the southeast. Starch conversion to fermentable sugars (i.e., for ethanol production) is carried out at high temperatures and requires the action of thermostable and thermoactive amylolytic enzymes. These enzymes are added to the starch mixture impacting overall process economics. To address this shortcoming, the gene encoding a hyperthermophilic α-amylase from Thermotoga maritima was cloned and expressed in transgenic sweet potato, generated by Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation, to create a plant with the ability to self-process starch. No significant enzyme activity could be detected below 40°C, but starch in the transgenic sweet potato storage roots was readily hydrolyzed at 80°C. The transgene did not affect normal storage root formation. The results presented here demonstrate that engineering plants with hyperthermophilic glycoside hydrolases can facilitate cost effective starch conversion to fermentable sugars. Furthermore, the use of sweet potato as an alternative near-term energy crop should be considered.
Gonadotrophic effect of juvenile hormone in Blattella germanica: A rapid, simple quantitative bioassay

Abstract The German cockroach is convenient for assaying gonadotrophic effects of juvenile hormone (JH) analogues. The animals can be raised synchronously from egg to adult state in 2·5 months at 30°C, a shorter time than for any of the common laboratory-reared cockroaches. Last instar larvae can be stored for up to a month at 16 to 18°C and brought to 30°C to metamorphose when needed, providing a convenient source of bioassay animals. The assay takes 2 days to complete, less time than previously published gonadotrophic assays. The growth of terminal oocytes of the ovary responds linearly with log dose between 0·08 and 0·8 μg of Cecropia JH-I. The analogues JH-I ethyl ester and methyl-juvenate have dose response curves parallel to that for JH-I, enabling potencies, r , relative to JH-I to be calculated ( r = 1·01, 0·35 respectively). There is no significant effect of the volume of hormone vehicle between 2 and 8 μl. A 30 per cent increase in the precision of the bioassay is obtained by correcting the oocyte growth for the fed-weight of the animal. The bioassay is adequate to resolve a twofold difference in potency using as few as 36 animals per analogue.
Transmembrane Protein Insertion Orientation in Yeast Depends on the Charge Difference across Transmembrane Segments, Their Total Hydrophobicity, and Its Distribution

The determinants of transmembrane protein insertion orientation at the endoplasmic reticulum have been investigated in Saccharomyces cerevisiae using variants of a Type III (naturally exofacial N terminus (Nexo)) transmembrane fusion protein derived from the N terminus of Ste2p, the α-factor receptor. Small positive and negative charges adjacent to the transmembrane segment had equal and opposite effects on orientation, and this effect was independent of N- or C-terminal location, consistent with a purely electrostatic interaction with response mechanisms. A 3:1 bias toward Nexo insertion, observed in the absence of a charge difference, was shown to reflect the Nexo bias conferred by longer transmembrane segments. Orientation correlated best with total hydrophobicity rather than length, but it was also strongly affected by the distribution of hydrophobicity within the transmembrane segment. The most hydrophobic terminus was preferentially translocated. Insertion orientation thus depends on integration of responses to at least three parameters: charge difference across a transmembrane segment, its total hydrophobicity, and its hydrophobicity gradient. Relative signal strengths were estimated, and consequences for topology prediction are discussed. Responses to transmembrane sequence may depend on protein-translocon interactions, but responses to charge difference may be mediated by the electrostatic field provided by anionic phospholipids.
Herbivory and novel weapons: no evidence for enhanced competitive ability or allelopathy induction of Centaurea diffusa by biological controls

Biological control of weeds by arthropod herbivores is thought to work by reducing the competitive ability of the weed relative to the surrounding vegetation. However, the assumption that herbivory reduces plant competitive ability has not been tested in most biological control systems, and counter to expectation, recent research on the impact of biological control agents on invasive Centaurea species suggests that this genus may respond to herbivory by increased competitive ability through enhanced plant re-growth and/or by inducing increased production of phytotoxic allelochemicals. We examined the impact of two biological control agents of the invasive plant diffuse knapweed (C. diffusa) to see if feeding by either of these insects would enhance the plant’s competitive ability or allelochemical output. Sub-lethal herbivory by either of the biological control agents significantly reduced knapweed performance when the plant was grown in competition with either of two native species. Competition with knapweed significantly reduced the performance of both native species (Artemisia frigida and Bouteloua gracilis), and herbivory by one of the biocontrol agents resulted in a small but significant increase in both native species’ performance. Diffuse knapweed’s putative allelochemical 8-hydroxyquinoline was not detected in experimental or field collected soils from knapweed-infested sites. In contrast to other studies on the impacts of biological control on other Centaurea species, these data support the premise that biological control agents may reduce invading plant competitive ability. We find no evidence for diffuse knapweed allelopathy mediated by 8-hydroxyquinoline or enhanced allelopathy in response to herbivory by biological control agents.
Refining and optimization in multilayers.

An important aspect of modern thin film design work is the use of computers to match the multilayer parameters to a set of optical specifications such as a desired reflectance curve. Following a brief historical survey we discuss modern optimization algorithms as they apply to thin film design. Optimization is an active research field in present-day applied mathematics, and it is important to use recently developed techniques. Without going into mathematical detail we compare the operation of two algorithms that have proven successful—a modification of the damped least squares method common in lens design, and a gradient (steepest descent) method using several different merit functions. Examples of designs obtained by optimization techniques are given, including some in which the process achieved the known theoretically optimum design starting from arbitrary or simple quarterwave initial designs. Optimization techniques have other applications in thin films and we mention briefly two of these: determination of dispersion characteristics of single layers and design of masks for coating tanks.
The development of British tourism in Egypt, 1815 to 1850

Abstract Tourism is one of Egypt's leading industries, yet there is no general historical narrative on how tourism developed in Egypt even though Egypt was one of the first locations tourism expanded to outside Europe. While the nature or experience of tourism has been well covered by anthropologists and social scientists, histories of tourism are rare. This paper will provide a basic history of the development of tourism in Egypt from 1815 through 1850 and argues that Muhammad Ali's early welcome of European travellers in his attempt to develop and expand his power in Egypt provided the basis for the development of tourism. Further, Britain's informal Mediterranean Empire after the Napoleonic Wars provided an umbrella of protection for British travellers to Egypt. The overland route to India also sent large numbers of Britons through Egypt, each with time for tourism before travelling to India. Nevertheless, tourism has its own structures which once established provided their own, mainly economic, mechan...
Dependency of olfactory localization on non-olfactory cues

Abstract Seven subjects were exposed on different occasions to supra-threshold levels of coffee, n -butane and ammonia (increasing trigeminal effects, respectively). When randomly presented intranasally to the right or left side of the nose, with the diluent flowing at constant rate to both sides, ability to localize was limited to ammonia. The odorants were then presented from one of three tips placed 8 cm in front and 60° either side of center with head held still. Of the three odors, only coffee could not be localized. The three odors were then presented instranasally to both sides of the nose in two different concentrations and again with two different arrival times. Less than half the subjects were able to localize either the strong odors or the odors presented first. When head rotation was added to the sniffing procedure, all three odors were accurately localized as to right, left and center. Accurate olfactory localization would appear to require additional information from the trigeminal and/or the position sense.
Relationship of Specific Gravity of Chicken Eggs to Number of Cracked Eggs Observed and Percent Shell

Abstract When eggs differing in specific gravity were processed through an egg-sizing machine and candled for cracks, there was a significance decrease in the number of cracked eggs as specific gravity increased. There was also a significant increase in percent shell as specific gravity increased.
Thermostability/Infectivity Defect Caused by Deletion of the Core Protein V Gene in Human Adenovirus Type 5 Is Rescued by Thermo-selectable Mutations in the Core Protein X Precursor

Mastadenoviruses represent one of the four major genera of the Adenoviridae family comprising a variety of mammalian pathogens including human adenovirus (Ad), whose genomes encode a gene for minor core protein V (pV), not found in other genera of Adenoviridae. Deletion of other genus-specific genes (gene IX and E3 genes) from the Ad type 5 (Ad5) genome has been studied experimentally in vitro and the results on biological characterization of the mutants support the phylogenetic evidence of those genes being non-essential for Ad viability. On this basis it seemed logical to suggest that a deletion of gene V from the Ad5 genome could also be tolerated. To test this hypothesis we constructed and rescued the first pV-deletion mutant of human Ad5. As compared to Ad5, this mutant formed small plaques, had dramatically reduced thermostability and lower infectivity. A subsequent thermoselection screen of the pV-deleted Ad5 allowed isolation of a suppressor mutant Ad5-dV/TSB with restored biological characteristics. Since replication and viral assembly of Ad5-dV/TSB could still occur in the absence of pV, we conclude that pV is a non-essential component of the virion. The observed rescue of the biological defects appears to be associated with a cluster of point mutations in the gene encoding the precursor for the other core protein, X/Mu. This finding, thus, suggests possible roles of pV and protein X/Mu precursor in viral assembly. It also provides an interesting insight into genetic events that mediate molecular adaptation of viruses to possible changes in the genetic background in the course of their evolutionary divergence. The possible mechanism of the observed genetic suppression is discussed.
SU-FF-J-128: An Automatic Method to Delineate 18F-FDG PET Tumor Volumes for Radiation Treatment Planning

Purpose: To develop and evaluate an automatic method of segmenting biological tumor volumes in 18F‐FDG‐PET images for radiation treatment planning. Method and Materials: We developed a method of correcting errors in biologic tumor volume due to the finite spatial resolution in 18F‐FDG PET images. The PET image is acquired, then used to generate a “spillover image”S, defined as the difference between an iteratively deconvolved image and the original PET image. The biologic tumor boundary was defined along the contour where the spillover imageS changes sign. This algorithm was validated with tumors simulated with various sizes (11–28 mm) and background levels, and also with PET/CT images from 10 patients having FDG‐avid head/neck tumors having anatomical boundaries clearly defined with CT. PET‐derived biologic tumor volumes were compared against the CT‐derived anatomic tumor volumes and against the volumes extracted by applying a simple threshold to the PET image.Results: The biologic tumor volumes derived with the proposed method matched the CT‐derived anatomic tumor volumes for all tumor sizes having background activities from 0 to 33% of the tumor activity in the simulated data, and agreed to within 90% for all tumors evaluated in the patient data. For all tumor sizes, the PET volumes derived from this algorithm matched more closely with the CT‐derived volumes than those obtained with a fixed threshold applied to the PET images.Conclusion: The proposed algorithm incorporates the spatial resolution of the imaging system to automatically segment biologic tumor volumes. The algorithm automatically compensates for differences in tumor size and tumor:background contrast, and does not require a fixed threshold to be applied to the PET image. Such a scheme will be useful for defining biologic tumor volumes with 18F‐FDG PET for radiation treatment planning. Research sponsored by Siemens Oncology Care.
Dielectric Response Measurements on Concentrated Colloidal Dispersions

We investigated the low-frequency dielectric response of colloidal suspensions of a monodisperse latex suspended in mM KCl. Measurements were made at frequencies between 500 and 200 kHz with particle concentrations up to 30% (vol.) using a four-electrode cell. Particle mobility and static conductivity were also measured to test the consistency of theoretical models. With dilute systems, neither the standard electrokinetic model nor models with surface transport could be used to interpret the data in an internally consistent fashion. Nevertheless, we found empirical formulas correlated the data over the whole range of particle concentrations. Maxwell's equation was used for the static conductivity and the Cole-Cole expression could be used for the frequency-dependent dielectric constant.
The Measurement of Positive Attitudes: The Glass is Half Full

Positive thoughts play a significant role in the experience and recovery from depression. The Coping Attitudes Scale (CAS) is a rationally derived measure of positive cognitions. The CAS contains statements reflective of coping attitudes along five domains: life perspective, personal accomplishment, positive future, self-worth, and coping with problems. The current study examined the CAS in psychiatric outpatients and college students. Measures of depression, hopelessness, suicidal ideation and positive attitudes were administered to 82 adult psychiatric outpatients and 156 college students. Depression and hopelessness were strongly, negatively, partially correlated with each of the CAS factors, after controlling for age. Relationships among individual CAS factors and suicidal ideation demonstrated weak to moderate partial associations, after controlling for age. Depression was significantly associated with the coping with problems subscale (R2 = .530). Hopelessness was significantly related to the positive future subscale (R2 = .696). Further, the CAS demonstrated a significant relationship with depression and hopelessness, even after accounting for the Automatic Thoughts Questionnaire-Revised, Positive subscale. The CAS may be an improved measure of positive attitudes that could be useful in establishing a patient’s baseline of positive thinking, determining targets for therapy, and in monitoring progress in treatment.
Diabetes and enterovirus autoimmunity in glacial Europe

The incidence of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM), a chronic disease with a well-known genetic basis, is highest in Scandinavian and Sardinian populations. The high incidence of IDDM in Scandinavia and Sardinia, which were genetically isolated from the spread of agriculturists in Europe about 8000 years ago, suggests that an IDDM-susceptible genotype(s) may have been beneficial in Europe more than 8000 years ago. In glacial times, Europe had an extremely cold climate that was frequently interrupted by episodes of warming. When enteroviruses were locked in the ice and permafrost, glacial Europeans would have had little immunity to these viruses. Each time the climate warmed, enteroviruses would have spread through increased amounts of melt water. With a genetic ability to mount an autoimmune defense, the IDDM genotype(s) would have been beneficial in glacial Europe as a defense against all enteroviruses, including those that had co-evolved to mimic host tissue.
Clinically Meaningful Tumor Reduction Rates Vary by Prechemotherapy MRI Phenotype and Tumor Subtype in the I-SPY 1 TRIAL (CALGB 150007/150012; ACRIN 6657)

Purpose This study was designed to determine (1) rates of clinically meaningful tumor reduction in breast tumor size following neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC), (2) which receptor subtypes and MRI phenotypes are associated with clinically meaningful tumor reduction, and (3) whether MRI phenotype impacts concordance between pathologic and MRI size.
A continuum model of a thermoelastic solid capable of undergoing phase transitions

We construct explicitly a Helmholtz free energy, a kinetic relation and a nucleation criterion for a one-dimensional thermoelastic solid, capable of undergoing either mechanically- or thermally-induced phase transitions. We study the hysteretic macroscopic response predicted by this model in the case of quasistatic processes involving stress cycling at constant temperature, thermal cycling at constant stress, or a combination of mechanical and thermal loading that gives rise to the shape-memory effect. These predictions are compared qualitatively with experimental results.
Leadership journal club

In July 2009, the Student and New Practitioner Leadership Task Force (SNPLTF) of ASHP’s Center for Health-System Pharmacy Leadership issued the report Leadership Is a Professional Obligation. [1][1] The report was commissioned as part of efforts by ASHP and the ASHP Research and Education
Impact of dams on point bar habitat: a case for the extirpation of the Sacramento Valley Tiger Beetle, C. hirticollis abrupta

Quantitative analyses of flow and stage data, remote sensing and geographic information systems analysis, and field studies were used to assess the impact of dams and diversions on the point bar habitat of the Sacramento Valley Tiger Beetle (Cicindela hirticollis abrupta). The reaches of interest include sites of known historic populations of C. h. abrupta along the Sacramento River from approximately 8 km north of Colusa southward to the confluence with the Feather River and along the Feather River between Yuba City and its confluence with the Sacramento River. The results from this study show that construction of two major dams has altered flows such that prolonged and increased flows during summer, fall, and early winter have most likely disrupted life cycles, flooded larvae, drowned overwintering adults and led to high mortality. Additionally, habitat availability has decreased over time because point bars have decreased in number and area causing increased distances between populations and isolation of populations. Moreover, point bar armouring, channel scouring, altered flows, redirected flows through weirs, and lithologic controls have produced a bimodal distribution of mean grain sizes in the Sacramento River in which the more northern bars contain gravel deposits and more southern bars possess fine sands. These conditions negatively alter moisture retention and sediment compaction and, consequently, burrowing conditions needed by this tiger beetle. Additionally, more stabilized flows (reduced variability) and increased fine-grained deposition have enabled development and encroachment of vegetation onto the sand bars. Finally, human stresses, such as foot traffic and vehicular traffic may have interfered with burrowing, ovipositing, and foraging. The combination of these stress factors has most likely led to a reduction in source populations and, ultimately, the apparent extirpation of the entire metapopulation. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Mycobacterium lentiflavum, a recently identified slow-growing mycobacterial species: clinical significance in immunosuppressed cancer patients and summary of reported cases of infection

The clinical significance of Mycobacterium lentiflavum, a recently identified nontuberculous mycobacterium, remains uncertain, especially in immunosuppressed cancer patients. The records of all patients in whom M. lentiflavum was identified using a gene sequencing technique between January 2001 and December 2003 were reviewed. The mean age among 12 patients was 51±20 years, and 11 (92%) patients had a hematologic malignancy. Six of seven (86%) hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients had received allogeneic donor grafts. Nine (75%) patients had predisposing risk factors for infection, seven (58%) had severe lymphocytopenia (<400 cells/μl), five (42%) were receiving systemic corticosteroid therapy, and three (25%) had acute graft-versus-host disease. Only 1 of the 12 (8%) patients had evidence of probable pulmonary M. lentiflavum infection. Six M. lentiflavum strains were initially misidentified as Mycobacterium simiae and Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare complex using traditional biochemical tests. Four M. lentiflavum isolates were tested for antimicrobial susceptibility; they were susceptible to isoniazid, ethambutol, clarithromycin, and amikacin, and resistant to rifampin. M. lentiflavum was not clinically significant, even in these severely immunosuppressed cancer patients.
Interaction of shear waves and propagating cracks.

Shear waves generated from an ultrasonic transducer are used to twist dynamically growing crack fronts; the response of crack front to such external perturbations is examined in order to investigate the primary cause of surface roughening in brittle materials. The response of the crack front is found to be linear in amplitude and frequency of the perturbing wave and without persistence. The response to random perturbations, e.g., by localized material inhomogeneities at the free surface, is also discussed.
Mutational Analysis of the Ras Converting Enzyme Reveals a Requirement for Glutamate and Histidine Residues

The Ras converting enzyme (RCE) promotes a proteolytic activity that is required for the maturation of Ras, the yeast a-factor mating pheromone, and certain other proteins whose precursors bear a C-terminal CAAX tetrapeptide motif. Despite the physiological importance of RCE, the enzymatic mechanism of this protease remains undefined. In this study, we have evaluated the substrate specificity of RCE orthologs from yeast (Rce1p), worm, plant, and human and have determined the importance of conserved residues toward enzymatic activity. Our findings indicate that RCE orthologs have conserved substrate specificity, cleaving CVIA, CTLM, and certain other CAAX motifs, but not the CASQ motif, when these motifs are placed in the context of the yeast a-factor precursor. Our mutational studies of residues conserved between the orthologs indicate that an alanine substitution at His194 completely inactivates yeast Rce1p enzymatic activity, whereas a substitution at Glu156 or His248 results in marginal activity. We have also determined that residues Glu157, Tyr160, Phe190, and Asn252 impact the substrate selectivity of Rce1p. Computational methods predict that residues influencing Rce1p function are all near or within hydrophobic segments. Combined, our data indicate that yeast Rce1p function requires residues that are invariably conserved among an extended family of prokaryotic and eukaryotic enzymes and that these residues are likely to lie within or immediately adjacent to the transmembrane segments of this membrane-localized enzyme.
Practitioner Decisions to Engage in Chinese Medicine: Cultural Messages Under the Skin

Theories of agency and decision making have been applied to processes by which patients select therapeutic interventions. Another kind of decision making occurs when individuals choose to engage in the practice of a therapeutic modality. This article draws on fieldwork and interview data with non-Chinese and immigrant Chinese practitioners of Chinese medicine in the United States, focusing on Boston, Massachusetts, and New York City, as case illustrations. I apply theories of agency and decision making to how and why these practitioners chose to engage in Chinese modalities. I build on Volker Scheid's (2002) analysis of agency, grounded in Chinese medicine theory, to propose the Chinese concept of xin ( heart-mind) as an analytical frame, suggesting that it can fruitfully be set in tension with Pierre Bourdieu's notion of habitus and Antonio Gramsci's discussion of the “common-sense” nature of hegemony. I draw on a non-Eurocentric concept to enrich the theoretical discussion of agency and decision making.