cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Tensile testing of microsamples

Structural analysis has advanced rapidly to the point where lack of knowledge about the local inhomogeneity and anisotropic nature of the materials prevents the accurate prediction of the behavior; models can incorporate local material properties provided they can be experimentally determined. Conventional tensile techniques are unable to test speciments from submillimeter-sized regions, and micro-hardness measurements do not reveal directional variations. A system has been developed to perform tensile tests on microsamples that are 3.1 mm long with a gage cross section that is 0.2 mm square. The volume of the test region is roughly 500,000 times smaller than a standard half-inch diameter specimen. Tensile stress-strain curves are measured, and the yield strength, ultimate strength, modulus and elongation are calculated for each sample. Samples cut from the weld metal of undermatched welds in HY-100 plate showed a large variation in properties from the center of the weld to the outer edge, as well as anisotropy at some locations. The average mechanical properties of a group of microsamples cut from the outer region of the weldment compared favorably with measurements made using full-sized specimens; the variation in the microsample measurements reflect local variations in the material that are not measured with full-sized specimens.
Unsymmetrical diisocyanates. III. The kinetics of reactions of DEMDI

In the previous investigation it was found that 3,5-diethyl-4,4'-diisocyanatodiphenylmethane (DEMDI) exhibits a marked asymmetry in the reaction with isoamyl alcohol. Since DEMDI is potentially rather cheap, and since the unsymmetrical nature of the diisocyanate is quite advantageous in certain urethane formulations, the reactions of this diisocyanate with a series of model compounds were investigated. The model compounds were chosen so as to represent the important classes of functional groups commonly reacted with diisocyanates in the preparation of polyurethanes. The compounds used were isoamyl alcohol, 2-octanol, water, 2,6-diethylaniline, 1-n-butyl-3-phenylurea, and 1-(4-n-butylphenyl)-3-(methylphenyl)-urea. The reactions were conducted in dry diglyme solvent. The extent of reaction of the isocyanate groups was followed by reaction with excess di-n-butylamine and back-titration with hydrochloric acid. Tetramethyl-1,3-butanediamine and dibutyltin dilaurate were used as catalysts in some runs. The results show that DEMDI has a desirably high asymmetry of reaction with alcohols or water at low temperatures. Catalysis with dibutyl dilaurate markedly increases this asymmetry. An increase in temperature generally decreases the asymmetry of DEMDI reactions, so that elevated temperatures should be avoided in prepolymer formation. The dibutyltin dilaurate is a more effective catalyst than the diamine for all of the reactions studied. The diamines are very poor catalysts for urea reactions, whereas the tin compound is quite effective.
Depth vision in monocular frogs

A test of depth discrimination ability of frogs was based upon the fact that animals will snap at prey-like objects within a sharply delimited zone but will orient to more distant objects. Following monocular blinding, frogs retained preoperative accuracy of discrimination between snapping and orienting distances.
Personality correlates of sexual behavior in black women

Black women (N =35)were asked via questionnaires to provide information about various aspects of their sexual behavior (e.g., orgasm consistency, clitoral-vaginal preferences, intercourse frequency, and masturbation). They also responded to the Edwards Personal Preference Schedule, to a measure of attitudes toward their parents, and to a measure of their preferences for external and internal sources of stimulation. The sexual behavior of the blacks was generally more similar to than different from that of female white controls. Furthermore, a number of correlations between sexual response patterns and personality and attitudinal measures that were previously found in white women were duplicated in the black women. However, there were also previous correlations that were not duplicated. Overall, the results for the black women paralleled those for white women.
On modeling the advertising-operations interface under asymmetric competition

Abstract Using a market share attraction structure of advertising competition and following a supermodular game approach, this article demonstrates for an asymmetric oligopoly, the directional impact of changes in model parameters on the marketing controlled variables of all rivals (advertising budgets) and the operations controlled variables of all rivals (ordered quantities). Importantly, the various changes are examined analytically, empirically and numerically in both non-dominated and dominated asymmetric oligopolies. In this regard, the results indicate that firms in a dominated oligopoly (one firm of market share larger than or equal to 50%) behave differently compared to firms in a non-dominated oligopoly (each firm of market share less than 50%) in response to changes in model parameters. Furthermore, changes in model parameters are investigated in terms of their relative influential impact on a variety of equilibrium measures. In this regard, the findings indicate that for the analyzed model the marketing parameters exert much more influence on the equilibrium measures than the operations parameters. Additionally, a change in the mode of competition from non-cooperation (oligopoly) to cooperation (joint ownership) dictates that strong asymmetric firms (of favorable marketing and operations parameters) continue advertising (but at lower levels) and weak asymmetric firms (of less favorable parameters) cease advertising altogether.
The Double-Edged Sword of Open Access to Research Data

In this issue of Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes , 2 articles have made a compelling case for an aggressive move to widespread dissemination of study data that can support other scientists' independent analyses and publications. The first article, by Gotzsche,1 is a revised transcript of a speech made to the European Parliament in Brussels, and the second is a thoughtful commentary by Ross and colleagues.2 Both of these articles make a compelling argument that open access to clinical study data would accelerate science, illuminate new opportunities to improve care, optimally leverage existing resources to generate the most knowledge in the most cost-effective manner, and are an ethical responsibility to the patients who participated in the original studies so that their experiences can help the greatest number of individuals. These are all important points, and I wholeheartedly embrace the vision of these scholars; however, a number of practical issues need to be considered for such an approach to become a reality. First, there needs to be a means of ensuring that data are appropriately analyzed so that the results of any published findings are, in fact, true. Although the primary analysis of a randomized trial is straightforward, investigators often use these data to examine other …
Scattering phase function of very large particles in the ocean

Scattering properties of large particles are mostly unknown, either in theory or measurement, primarily due to the significant variations of large particle characteristics in the natural environment and the inability to sample non- invasively. The Marine-Aggregated, Profiling and Enumerating Rover, measures scattering angles in the vicinity of 50, 90 and 130 degrees caused by very large particles ranging from 280 micrometers and up. Measurements were made during SIGMA cruise, April 13-21, 1994 in East Sound, Washington, using structured light sheet formed by 4 diode lasers of 660nm wavelength. The results fit the analytic phase function used by Beardsley and Zaneveld, and indicate a significant elevation of back-scattering efficiency throughout the water column for all downcasts during our multi-day experiments. Some of this increase in efficiency can be explained by multiple scattering, using Monte Carlo simulation, assuming independent scattering. Measured in-situ particle size distributions, in conjunction with Mie theory, demonstrate that large particles are significant scatterers in the ocean and contribute up to 20 percent of total scattering. These measurements support previous theories that large, marine- snow types of particles enhance back scattering efficiency and, when present, contribute significantly to remote sensing signals.© (1997) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Unsteady loading of a vertical-axis turbine in the interaction with an upstream deflector

Torque generation and flow distribution of a lift-based vertical-axis turbine with an upstream deflecting plate are investigated in water tunnel experiments. The deployment of a deflector in front of a lift-based turbine is a promising approach to increase local flow velocity and enhance energy conversion efficiency without consideration for complicated control. For the turbine with the deflector, the phase during which the blade passes near the front end of the turbine has a major contribution to torque increase from the case without the deflector. Meanwhile, the deflector can have a negative effect in torque generation at the phase when the blade moves upstream against free stream if the turbine is placed close to the deflector in a crosswise direction. The change of nearby flow distribution by the deflector is also examined to find its correlation with torque generation. When the blade rotates through the near-wake region of the deflector, the blade can collides with the vortical structure shed from the deflector. This interaction causes significant torque fluctuation.
Characterization of the Yersinia enterocolitica Type III Secretion ATPase YscN and Its Regulator, YscL

Type III secretion is a mechanism used by a broad range of gram-negative bacteria to neutralize eukaryotic defenses by enabling translocation of bacterial proteins directly into the cytoplasm of host cells. The bacterial energy source for secretion is ATP, which is consumed by an ATPase that couples ATP hydrolysis to the unfolding of secreted proteins and the dissociation of their chaperones just prior to secretion. By studying the biochemical properties of YscN and YscL of Yersinia enterocolitica, we have characterized them as the ATPase and ATPase regulator, respectively, of the type III secretion system of this organism. In vivo, YscL and YscN interact with each other, and the overexpression of glutathione S-transferase-YscL abolishes secretion and down-regulates the expression of secretion apparatus components.
Scanning tunneling microscopy and atomic force microscopy studies of biomaterials at a liquid–solid interface

We have compared the scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) using a clean gold surface under electrochemical potential control, finding that the STM usually yields higher resolution, although this may be a consequence of better production methods for STM tips. New methods for tethering DNA molecules to substrates have yielded many excellent AFM images of DNA, even under water. The highest resolution has been obtained with specially sharpened tips, but recent work suggests that this may not be necessary. Control of contamination, and tip–sample interactions (i.e., adhesion) are also important factors. We describe a scheme of magnetic control of AFM cantilevers which should overcome the mechanical instability that places a lower limit on contact force. This should permit active control of interaction forces with the instrument operated in water. We illustrate local force measurements made under water with examples of the measurements of the microelastic properties of bone and ...
Interactive continuous collision detection for topology changing models using dynamic clustering

We present a fast algorithm for continuous collision detection between deformable models. Our approach performs no precomputation and can handle general triangulated models undergoing topological changes. We present a fast decomposition algorithm that represents the mesh boundary using hierarchical clusters and only needs to perform inter-cluster collision checks. The key idea is to compute such clusters quickly and merge them to generate a dynamic bounding volume hierarchy. The overall approach reduces the overhead of computing the hierarchy and also reduces the number of false positives. We highlight the the algorithm's performance on many complex benchmarks generated from medical simulations and crash analysis. In practice, we observe 1.4 to 5 times speedup over prior CCD algorithms for deformable models in our benchmarks.
Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy for Ocular Adnexal Melanoma: Experience in 30 Patients

Purpose To report the findings on sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) in 30 patients with ocular adnexal (conjunctival or eyelid) melanomas. Design Prospective nonrandomized clinical trial. Participants Thirty patients with diagnosis of eyelid or conjunctival melanoma. Methods All patients with ocular adnexal melanoma who underwent SLNB at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center between December 2000 and July 2008 are the subject of this report. Sentinel lymph node biopsy was performed as previously described by our group, and patients were prospectively followed up. Main Outcome Measures Findings on preoperative lymphoscintigraphy, SLNB, histopathologic examination of the primary tumor and sentinel lymph nodes (SNL), and nodal recurrence after SLNB. Results Tumor sites were as follows: bulbar conjunctiva only, 14 patients; palpebral conjunctiva only, 8 patients; both bulbar and palpebral conjunctiva, 4 patients; and eyelid skin only, 4 patients. At least 1 SLN was identified in all patients. The median number of SLNs removed was 2 (range, 1–5). The most common basin sampled was the intraparotid (16 patients), followed by submandibular (level I) (11 patients), preauricular (9 patients), and superior cervical (level II) (6 patients). Five patients had SLN metastasis. Among the 25 patients with negative SLNB findings, there were 2 false-negative events. There were no false-negative events among patients treated during the last 4.5 years of the study. The mean Breslow thickness was 2.57 mm (range, 0.62–12 mm) among patients with negative SLNB and 4.86 mm (range, 2.0–7.2 mm) among patients with positive SLNB findings ( P = 0.055). Ulceration was present in 11 patients (39%): 4 (80%) of 5 patients with positive SLNB and 7 (28%) of 25 with negative SLNB, including both patients with false-negative results. The median time from SLNB to last contact was 2 years (range, 10 months to 6 years). Conclusions Sentinel lymph node biopsy is effective for identifying nodal micrometastasis in patients with ocular adnexal melanoma and provides important prognostic information. The false-negative event rate in our series improved in the last 4 years, most likely because of a better technique and better patient selection for SLNB. We recommend consideration of SLNB for patients with intermediate-thickness ocular adnexal melanoma and those with ulceration. Financial Disclosure(s) The author(s) have no proprietary or commercial interest in any materials discussed in this article.
Differential binding and activation of thyroid hormone response elements by TRα1 and RXRα-trap heterodimers

Abstract Thyroid hormone receptor (TR) forms homo- and heterodimers on various thyroid hormone response elements (TREs). We wished to clarify the relationship of homo- and heterodimer binding to TREs and their trans -activation. We investigated binding characteristics in gel mobility shift assays using synthetic direct repeat (DR) TREs having the consensus motifs separated by different oligonucleotide gaps, and we compared binding to trans -activation mediated via the direct repeat TRE. HTR α1 purified from E. coli formed a monomer and homodimer on DR-TRE +0 to +5 but binding did not closely correlate with T 3 -dependent trans -activation. When RXR α expressed in COS 1 cell was added to purified TR α1 in the gel shift assays, TR/RXR heterodimers were formed, and binding of heterodimers correlated highly with the level of trans -activation. These results strongly suggest that TR/TRAP heterodimers mediate the effect of thyroid hormone on DR-TREs. We also found T 3 -dependent disruption of homodimer formation on DR +0 to +2 and that T 3 increased heterodimer formation on these TREs.
A radiation boundary condition for multi-dimensional flows

A radiation boundary condition designed for use at open or computational boundaries with multidimensional flows is formulated and tested on three two-dimensional problems. Two of the problems simulate a simple wave propagation and possess analytic solutions so that the effectiveness of the boundary condition can be measured in terms of a r.m.s. error. A more subjective analysis must be used in the final problem, which is the simulation of an atmospheric cold front. The proposed radiation boundary condition utilizes the phase velocity projection in each coordinate direction or equivalently a weighted configuration of the phase velocities. This approach greatly reduces the sensitivity on the spatial derivative normally displayed in the phase velocity calculations. Comparisons are made against the traditionally used Sommerfeld radiation condition and various numerical schemes are tested. For multi-dimensional flows the proposed radiation boundary condition is found to give significant improvement over the traditional Sommerfeld radiation condition.
Antigenic Studies on an Enzymatically Sialylated Carbohydrate: NeuAc(α2-3)Gal(β1-3)GalNAc

Sialic acid residues are often the end moiety of the carbohydrate chain of biologically important glycoconjugates. It is difficult to study sialylated glycoconjugates because the purification of these compounds is often laborious yielding only very small amounts of oligosaccharides for study. Chemical synthesis of sialylated compounds is complicated by the labile nature of the sialic acid bond. In both of these cases the sialylated compounds would need to be conjugated to a polypeptide to be an effective immunogen, and again, such conjugation is fraught with problems due to the instability of the sialic acid linkage. We have developed a combined enzymatic and synthetic route for obtaining quantities of sialylated carbohydrates conjugated to a protein carrier in amounts sufficient for antigenic studies. The notable novelty of this protocol is the addition of sialic acid after the carbohydrate-protein conjugation step. Antiserum to the compounds was developed and after absorption, antibodies that demonstrat...
In Vivo Formation of a Human β-Globin Locus Control Region Core Element Requires Binding Sites for Multiple Factors Including GATA-1, NF-E2, Erythroid Kruppel-like Factor, and Sp1

The active elements of the β-globin locus control region (LCR) are located within domains of unique chromatin structure. These nuclease hypersensitive sites (HSs) are characterized by high DNase I sensitivity, erythroid specificity, similar nucleosomal structure, and evolutionarily conserved clusters ofcis-acting elements that are required for the formation and function of the core elements. To determine the requirements for HS core formation in the setting of nuclear chromatin, we constructed a series of artificial HS cores containing binding sites for GATA-1, NF-E2, and Sp1. In contrast to the results of previous in vitro experiments, we found that when constructs were stably integrated in mouse erythroleukemia cells the binding sites for NF-E2, GATA-1, or Sp1 alone or in any combination were unable to form core HS structures. We subsequently identified two new cis-acting elements from the LCR HS4 core that, when combined with the NF-E2, Sp1, and tandem inverted GATA elements, result in core structure formation. Both new cis-acting elements bind Sp1, and one binds erythroid Kruppel-like factor (EKLF). We conclude that in vivo β-globin LCR HS core formation is more complex than previously thought and that several factors are required for this process to occur.
The impact of organizational practices on safety in manufacturing: A review and reappraisal

Research suggests that human error contributes to unsafe practices and accidents more than two thirds of the time in industries such as manufacturing. As such, many organizations take a microlevel approach to addressing workplace safety (i.e., focusing on individual workers). However, it has been argued that organizations should take a broader (i.e., macrolevel) approach to improving workplace safety. Despite the suggested benefits of macrolevel approaches (e.g., positive safety culture), we found that their implementation is lacking in many organizations. Therefore, we developed guidelines to assist in the development of a safety culture that encourages safe practices at all levels of the organization. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Hum Factors Man 15: 133–176, 2005.
In search of structural validity

Abstract In this rejoinder, I address concerns specific to Swanson (1992; this issue) raised by authors of the seven reaction papers, and discuss general themes common across the reaction papers. My comments are divided into five sections: (1) adequacy of the sample, (2) measurement of Holland's personality types, (3) methods of data analysis, (4) purpose of research on Holland's structural model, and (5) future directions for research and theory.
Dehiscence of a Carpentier mitral ring: diagnosis by transesophageal echocardiography.

We describe a patient with a long-standing dehiscence of a Carpentier ring and severe mitral insufficiency. The nature of the abnormality, which was suggested by transthoracic echocardiography, was definitively diagnosed by transesophageal echocardiography and was confirmed by surgery
Bounded Hybrid Connectivity Control of Networked Multiagent Systems

Connectivity refers to the problem that the initial information flow between a group of agents is required to be preserved for all time in order to achieve a given set of system- level objectives. This paper focuses on a new connectivity control architecture for networked multiagent systems based on hybrid protocols. Specifically, for a group of agents subject to -disk proximity graphs, we consider the consensus problem while preserving connectedness with a priori given bounds on the control inputs. The bounds on the control inputs are shown neither to depend on potential functions nor system states. Instead the bounds are user selected continuous functions. Using the proposed framework, we show that the maximum distance among neighboring agents strictly decreases, and hence, the connectivity problem is solved while satisfying the consensus objective. Illustrative numerical examples are provided to demon- strate the efficacy of the proposed bounded hybrid connectivity control architecture.
Relationships between nuclear DNA content and seed and leaf size in soybean

A correlation between genome size and agronomically important traits has been observed in many plant species. The goal of the present research was to determine the relationship between genome size, seed size, and leaf width and length in soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] Twelve soybean strains, representing three distinct seed size groups, were analyzed. Flow cytometry was used to estimate their 2C nuclear DNA contents. Data on seed size and leaf size of the 12 strains were obtained from 1994 and 1995 field experiments. Variation of 2C nuclear DNA among the 12 soybean strains was 4.6%, ranging from 2.37 pg for a small-seed strain to 2.48 pg for a large-seed strain. Strain seed size was positively associated with leaf width (r=0.92) and leaf length (r=0.93). Genome size was highly correlated with seed size (r=0.97), leaf width (r=0.90) , and leaf length (r=0.93). The results of our study indicate that there is a significant correlation between genome size and leaf and seed size in soybean. It is possible that selection for greater seed size either leads to, or results from, greater genome size. If so, this relationship might be worth exploring at a more fundamental level.
Myths about Group Counseling: Identifying and Challenging Misconceptions.

Abstract The authors identify nine myths prospective members frequently hold regarding group counseling and discuss four leader strategies for challenging these myths.
Stability of penetrators in dense fluids

Abstract The differential equation of yawing motion of a gyroscopically unstable, gigid body penetrator in a dense fluid is examined for application to flash radiographie measurements of a bullet penetrating gelatin. A functional form for the relationship of overturning moment to instantaneous yaw is derived. Using this expression for the overturning moment, a greatly simplified equation of gyroscopically unstable yawing motion is fitted to the bullet's yaw history. By pooling the data for the eight firings, a very good estimation of the overturning moment, valid for yaws up to 140°, is obtained.
The sociocultural context of nursing in Japan

Both by the standards of American nurses and in the eyes of the Japanese public, nurses in Japan appear subservient. In this paper I explore this situation from three perspectives. Most Japanese nurses lack a sense of professionalism which the nursing elite in Japan as well as sociological theory attributes to the low educational levels of the nurses. The second perspective investigates the nurses' functional role as intermediary between the medical world and the many patients who regard physicians as socially distant. Thirdly, Japanese nurses might be considered the "housewives" of the hospital in terms not only of their physical duties but also of their caretaking role. If the housewife analogy holds, the values, behavior, and attitudes that give Japanese housewives their satisfaction and their autonomy would considerably alter the role of the nurse in the delivery of cosmopolitan medical care.
Water chemistry control of cadmium content in Recent benthic foraminifera

The micropalaeontology and isotopic chemistry of foraminifera and other fossils have provided a detailed picture of the surface ocean environment during glaciation1,2. Less is known about climate-related changes in the deep ocean, although Weyl3 and Newell4 have proposed significant variations on theoretical grounds. It is clear that significant variations in the population assemblages and δ13C of benthic foraminifera occur5,6 but these changes do not yet constrain a unique hydrographical solution. Adsorption of phosphate onto calcite and unfavourable solid solution behaviour7,8 preclude direct palaeonutrient determination. Because CdCO3 and CaCO3 form a continuous solid-solution series9 it has been suggested that the trace cadmium variability in foraminifera may provide an additional tool for probing changes in deep ocean circulation10. Here we demonstrate that certain benthic foraminifera, Uvigerina spp. and C. kullenbergi, show a consistent relationship between the Cd/Ca of the bottom water and of their calcite shells.
Printability of pellicle defects in DUV 0.5-um lithography

An image simulation program was developed and the corresponding experiment was performed to study the printability of particle on pellicle or pellicle defect for a DUV (X = 248 nm) stepper exposure. As an application of the program, we calculated the printability of pellicle defects for pellicles on both sides of the mask as a function of light source wavelength, numerical aperture, pellicle stand off distance, partial coherence, mask pattern feature size, defocus, etc. The results showed that at 248 nm wavelength exposure the change of aerial image at the wafer plane induced by the chrome side pellicle defect was larger than that of g-line (X=436 nm) or Mine exposure (X=365 nm). Simulation for a given pellicle defect size, placed at different side of mask indicated that glass side defect gave a larger change on the aerial image in terms of loss of image energy, and smaller change in terms of decrease in modulation transfer function (MTF) than that of chrome side. Experimental results performed on our DUV stepper substantiated the simulation results.
RhoA mutations identified in diffuse gastric cancer.

The diffuse-type histologic variant of gastric cancer is characterized by highly invasive growth patterns and lack of cellular cohesion. Two recent studies have identified highly recurrent mutations of the gene encoding the small GTPase RhoA and suggest that RhoA activity may have a tumor suppressive role in this disease.
Children of Omar Resistance and Reliance in the Expressive Cultures of Black New Orleans Cultures

The history of black people in the United States is an epic saga of dislocation, dispersal, and dispossession. Consequently the instability, insecurity, and disruption that accompany displacement have been a persistent part of the black experience in the United States. The post-Katrina crisis confronted by black New Orleanians was yet another chapter in this ongoing saga. This article seeks to explore the ways in which the culture and music of New Orleans has functioned as a reservoir of human resilience and resistance. Specifically, in addition to reflections on the impact of enslavement, Jim Crow, and the Great Migration on the cultural history of black New Orleans, this article considers the cultural significance of the Crescent City in American history as one of the major reasons why issues of resettlement must be central to rebuilding efforts.
The Deficiency of PGI2 Signaling Induces STAT6-independent Allergic Airway Inflammation

S A T U R D A Y 209 Peripheral Blood Natural Killer Cells from Asthmatic Subjects Respond Differently to Stimulation with Poly(I:C) and Diesel Exhaust Particles C. V. E. Chehrazi, K. M. Horvath, I. Jaspers; University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC. RATIONALE: It has been suggested that NK cells in asthmatic and healthy subjects differ, but it is unknown whether these differences alter NK responses to virus and contribute to increased asthmatic susceptibility to viral infections. Data from our lab suggest that diesel exhaust exposure enhances virally-induced exacerbation of allergic inflammation, yet the role of NK cells in these responses is unknown; therefore, we examined the response of asthmatic peripheral NK cells to polyriboinosinic acid-polyribocytidylic acid [poly(I:C)a mimetic of virus-derived dsRNA] and diesel exhaust particles (DEP). METHODS: NK cells were isolated from the blood of asthmatic subjects and subsequently incubated with vehicle, poly(I:C), DEP, or poly (I:C)+DEP. Flow cytometry and cytokine analysis were performed to evaluate changes in cell surface markers and mediator profiles, respectively. RESULTS: As compared to vehicle control, poly(I:C) and DEP stimulation significantly augmented surface expression of CD16, which mediates antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity. In contrast, only DEP stimulation significantly enhanced surface expression of CXCR3, the receptor for CXCL10, which is expressed by virally-infected cells and promotes NK chemotaxis. Analysis of cytokines and other cell surface receptors will be performed. CONCLUSIONS: Stimulation with poly(I:C) and DEP alters the expression of cell surface markers involved in NK activity. Whereas NK cytotoxicity appears enhanced by stimulation with dsRNA, NK chemotactic potential appears enhanced by DEP, suggesting that the NK response of asthmatics may be altered by air pollution. These novel findings offer insight into potential mechanisms by which pollutant exposure amplifies asthmatic morbidity due to viral infection.
Forced ventilation increases variability of isometric finger forces

The study aimed to assess the effects of forced ventilation on variability of the index finger force at the submaximal levels. Fourteen (6 men, 8 women) healthy subjects were instructed to perform self-initiated forced inspiration and forced expiration, the Valsalva maneuver and normal breathing while sustaining 15%, 30%, and 45% of maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) by the index finger. Standard deviation (S.D.) of finger forces increased significantly with the level of force. At each level of force, the mean force was not significantly changed under different breathing conditions. S.D. and coefficient variation (CV) during forced inspiration and expiration was significantly greater than S.D. and CV during normal breathing and the Valsalva maneuver at each force level. No significant differences in S.D. and CV were found between forced inspiration and expiration or between normal breathing and the Valsalva maneuver. Force variability synchronized with the initiation of forced inspiration and expiration, but not with the ventilation data during the Valsalva maneuver or normal breathing. These findings demonstrate clearly that finger force variability is affected by specific ventilation patterns at submaximal force levels. Therefore, assessment of force variability should consider the influence of ventilation.
The behavior of unintentional impurities in Ga0.47 In0.53As grown by MBE

A number of factors contribute to the high n-type background carrier concentration (high 1015 to low 1016 cm−3) measured in MBE Ga0.47In0.53As lattice-matched to InP. The results of this study indicate that the outdiffusion of impurities from InP substrates into GalnAs epitaxial layers can account for as much as two-thirds of the background carrier concentration and can reduce mobilities by as much as 40%. These impurities and/or defects can be gettered at the surfaces of the InP by heat treatment and then removed by polishing. The GalnAs epitaxial layers grown on the heat-treated substrates have significantly improved electrical properties. Hall and SIMS measurements indicate that both donors and acceptors outdiffuse into the epitaxial layers during growth resulting in heavily compensated layers with reduced mobilities. The dominant donor species was identified by SIMS as Si, and the dominant acceptors as Fe, Cr and Mn.
Comparison of a multifilament stainless steel suture with FiberWire for flexor tendon repairs — an in vitro biomechanical study

Our goal was to investigate and compare the mechanical properties of multifilament stainless steel suture (MFSS) and polyethylene multi-filament core FiberWire in flexor tendon repairs. Flexor digitorum profundus tendons were repaired in human cadaver hands with either a 4-strand cruciate cross-lock repair or 6-strand modified Savage repair using 4-0 and 3-0 multifilament stainless steel or FiberWire. The multifilament stainless steel repairs were as strong as those performed with FiberWire in terms of ultimate load and load at 2 mm gap. This study suggests that MFSS provides as strong a repair as FiberWire. The mode of failure of the MFSS occurred by the suture pulling through the tendon, which suggests an advantage in terms of suture strength.
Initial trust formation in Virtual Organisations

We present a conceptual framework that introduces key concepts capturing initial trust establishment in on-demand Virtual Organisations (VO). This framework can be used to develop trust formation protocols and policies. The framework can serve as a basis for implementing an automated system that facilitates the establishment of a VO, considerably reduces the effort for setting up a VO and consequently reduces the VO's time to operation. A novel aspect of the initial trust establishment described in this paper is the consideration of the mutual trust effects of the participants' behaviour during the trust negotiation process.
Notch signals positively regulate activity of the mTOR pathway in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Constitutive Notch activation is required for the proliferation of a subgroup of T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL). Downstream pathways that transmit pro-oncogenic signals are not well characterized. To identify these pathways, protein microarrays were used to profile the phosphorylation state of 108 epitopes on 82 distinct signaling proteins in a panel of 13 T-cell leukemia cell lines treated with a gamma-secretase inhibitor (GSI) to inhibit Notch signals. The microarray screen detected GSI-induced hypophosphorylation of multiple signaling proteins in the mTOR pathway. This effect was rescued by expression of the intracellular domain of Notch and mimicked by dominant negative MAML1, confirming Notch specificity. Withdrawal of Notch signals prevented stimulation of the mTOR pathway by mitogenic factors. These findings collectively suggest that the mTOR pathway is positively regulated by Notch in T-ALL cells. The effect of GSI on the mTOR pathway was independent of changes in phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase and Akt activity, but was rescued by expression of c-Myc, a direct transcriptional target of Notch, implicating c-Myc as an intermediary between Notch and mTOR. T-ALL cell growth was suppressed in a highly synergistic manner by simultaneous treatment with the mTOR inhibitor rapamycin and GSI, which represents a rational drug combination for treating this aggressive human malignancy.
Nonseparable Preferences, Measurement Error, and Unstable Survey Responses

A person has nonseparable preferences when her preference on an issue depends on the outcome of other issues. A model of survey responses in which preferences are measured with error implies that responses will change depending on the order of questions and vary over time when respondents have nonseparable preferences. Results from two survey experiments confirm that changes in survey responses due to question order are explained by nonseparable preferences but not by the respondent's level of political information, partisanship, or ideology.
Intrinsic temperature compensation of highly resistive high-Q silicon microresonators via charge carrier depletion

We report on a novel temperature compensation technique that exploits the dependence of TCF on the free charge carriers in silicon bulk acoustic resonators (SiBARs). The free charge carriers are considerably minimized by creating single and multiple pn-junction based depletion regions in the body of the resonator. The TCF of a highly resistive (>1000 Ω-cm) conventional rectangular SiBAR has been reduced from −32 ppm/°C to −3 ppm/°C. We previously exploited the dependence of TCF on silicon resonator geometry for TCF compensation. However, at large charge carrier depletion levels achieved in this work, the TCF is found to become independent of silicon resonator geometry.
Breakdown voltages of commercial polymer films following exposure to various gas plasmas

A parametric study of the breakdown voltage of six commercially available thin polymer films before and after exposure to three gas plasmas was performed. Systematic changes of breakdown voltage were observed. This inexpensive and rapid gas treatment is a suitable method of increasing breakdown voltages in commercial polymer films. >
Azathioprine monotherapy in HLA-identical live donor kidney transplant recipients

The high success rate of HLA-identical sibling transplants and our previous experience with steroid-free immunosuppressive regimens and cyclosporine withdrawal prompted us to evaluate the safety and efficacy of monotherapy with azathioprine in 12 HLA-identical kidney transplant recipients with a serum creatinine concentration less than 176.8 μmol/L, a 1-way stimulatory index less than 2.0 in a posttransplant mixed lymphocyte culture, and a demonstrated tolerance of a minimum azathioprine dose of 1.0 mg/kg per day without leukopenia. Eleven of 12 patients were successfully converted to azathioprine monotherapy without a significant change in serum creatinine concentration for as long as 76 months. Benefits of steroid and cyclosporine withdrawal included a significant reduction in mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure, number of blood pressure medications, total serum cholesterol, and glycohemoglobin in diabetic subjects. Our results suggest that azathioprine monotherapy is safe and effective in a sele...
Teachers’ attitudes about language diversity

Abstract This paper addresses regular-classroom teachers' attitudes toward language diversity and linguistically diverse students. We examined salient contextual variables hypothesized in the research literature to be associated with language attitudes-experience with linguistically diverse students, region of the country, formal training in second-language learning, graduate education, and grade level taught. The respondents ( N = 191) were teachers selected from three states: Arizona, Utah, and Virginia. Our findings show that region of the country, experience working with language-minority children, a completed graduate degree, and formal training were related to positive language attitudes. These findings are discussed in relation to strategies for attitude change in teachers.
Weibull tolerance intervals associated with moderate to small survival proportions for use in a new formulation of lanchester combat theory

Abstract : Given herein is an easily implemented method for obtaining from complete or censored data, approximate tolerance intervals associated with the upper tail of a Weibull distribution. These approximate intervals are based on point estimators that make essentially most efficient use of sample data. They agree extremely well with exact intervals (obtained by Monte Carlo simulation procedures) for sample sizes of about 10 or larger when specified survival proportions are sufficiently small. Ranges over which the error in the approximation is within 2 percent are determined. The motivation for investigation of the methodology for obtaining the approximate tolerance intervals was provided by the new formulation of Lanchester Combat Theory by Grubbs and Shuford, which suggests a Weibull assumption for time-to- incapacitation of key targets. With the procedures investigated herein, one can use (censored) data from battle simulations to obtain confidence intervals on battle times associated with given low survivor proportions of key targets belonging to either specified side in a future battle. It is also possible to calculate confidence intervals on a survival proportion of key targets corresponding to a given battle duration time.
Estimating action potential thresholds from neuronal time-series: new metrics and evaluation of methodologies

The estimation of action potential thresholds is a subjective process, which we quantified by surveying experienced electrophysiologists via a software application that allowed them to select action potential thresholds from several presented neuronal time series. Independent of this survey, we derived two nonparametric techniques for automating the detection of an action potential threshold from the time-series of intracellular recordings. Both methods start with a phase-space representation of the action potential (dV/dt versus V). Method I detects the maximum slope in the phase space, while Method 11 detects the maximum second derivative in the phase space. These two methods, as well as five additional methods in the literature, were tested on three data sets representing a variety of action potential shapes, the same three datasets that were used in the electrophysiologist survey. The database of user responses was used to provide an external benchmark against which to statistically evaluate all seven methods. Method 11, as well as the curvature-based Methods VI and VII, provided the best results tracking both absolute and relative changes in threshold versus the other nonparametric methods (peak of second and third time derivatives). The one parametric method evaluated, detection of threshold crossing of the first temporal derivative, performed comparably to these methods, provided that an appropriate threshold was chosen. We conclude that Methods 11, VI, and VII were the best methods evaluated due to their performance across a wide range of action potential shapes and the fact that they are nonparametric. Our user database of responses may be useful to other investigators interested in developing additional methods in that it quantifies what has often been a subjective estimate.
Ontology-based knowledge acquisition for neuromotor functional recovery in stroke

Hemiparesis is the most common impairment after stroke, the leading cause of adult disability in the United States. The initial severity of hemiparesis had been the strongest predictor of neuromotor functional recovery level. However, the intervention response of stroke survivors does not always correlate with their initial level of impairment. This implies the existence of other factors that may significantly affect stroke survivors' recovery process. In order to design targeting intervention therapy strategies, it is critical to consider these factors in a principled, comprehensive way so that physical rehabilitation (PR) researchers may predict which stroke survivors will respond best to therapy and subsequently, determine if a particular type of therapy is a more optimal match. Currently, such prediction is primarily a manual process and remains a challenging task to PR researchers and clinicians. We propose a computing framework based upon a domain-specific ontology. This framework aims to facilitate knowledge acquisition from existing sources via semantics-enhanced data mining (SEDM) techniques. As a result, it will assist PR researchers and clinicians in better predicting stroke survivors' neuromotor functional recovery level, and will help physical therapists customize most effective intervention therapy plans for individual stroke survivors.
Top predators suppress rather than facilitate plants in a trait-mediated tri-trophic cascade

Classical ecological theory states that in tri-trophic systems, predators indirectly facilitate plants by reducing herbivore densities through consumption, while more recent work has revealed that predators can generate the same positive effect on plants non-consumptively by inducing changes in herbivore traits (e.g. feeding rates). Based on observations in US salt marshes dominated by vast monocultures of cordgrass, we hypothesized that sit-and-wait substrate-dwelling predators (crabs) could actually strengthen per capita impacts of potent grazers (snails), by non-consumptively inducing a vertical habitat shift of snails to their predation refuge high on canopy leaves that are vulnerable to grazing. A two-month field experiment supported this hypothesis, revealing that predators non-consumptively increased the mean climbing height of snails on grasses, increased grazing damage per leaf and ultimately suppressed cordgrass biomass, relative to controls. While seemingly counterintuitive, our results can be explained by (i) the vulnerability of refuge resources to grazing, and (ii) universal traits that drove the vertical habitat shift—i.e. relative habitat domains of predator and prey, and the hunting mode of the top predator. These results underline the fact that not only should we continue to incorporate non-consumptive effects into our understanding of top-down predator impacts, but we should do so in a spatially explicit manner.
Effect of Certain Tablet Formulation Factors on Dissolution Rate of the Active Ingredient I11

Abstract A hydrophobic tablet lubricant (magnesium stearate) has been found to retard the dissolution of salicylic acid from model compressed tablets, while a water‐soluble, surface‐active lubricant (sodium lauryl sulfate) enhanced markedly the dissolution rate. Experiments with nondisintegrating disks indicate that the more commonly used hydrophobic lubricants (magnesium stearate, aluminum stearate, stearic acid, talc) decrease the effective drug‐solvent interfacial area and thereby decrease the rate of dissolution of the drug, while water‐soluble lubricants (sodium oleate, sodium lauryl sulfate) do not have this effect. The dissolution rate enhancing effect of sodium lauryl sulfate (in the case of conventional tablets) is not due to any modification of microenvironmental pH or solubilization by micelles, but rather to the better penetration of solvent into tablets and their component granules and the resulting greater availability of drug surface.
Riverrun: An Epic Catalogue in The Faerie Queene

Wisdom (phronesis) is the understanding (noesis) of motion (phora) and flow (rhoos); or it might be taken as the enjoyment (onesis) of motion. In any case, it has to do with movement.—Plato, Cratylus