cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Toxicity and behavioral effects of dimethylsulfoxide in planaria

In this work, we describe aspects of the toxicity and behavioral effects of dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) in planaria. Planarian worms have traditionally been a favored animal model in developmental biology. More recently, this organism is being recognized as an animal model in neuropharmacology research. DMSO is often used in cell and tissue culture as a cryoprotectant agent and is also commonly used to enhance the solubility of hydrophobic drugs in aqueous solutions. This compound can elicit various physiological effects in both vertebrates and invertebrates. Many drugs and drug candidates are hydrophobic, needing solvents like DMSO to be able to reach their physiological targets. As planaria becomes increasingly popular in neuropharmacology research, a description of the DMSO effects in this organism is essential. We found that DMSO is toxic to planarians at concentrations above 5% (705 mM), with an LD(50) of 10% (1.4M) at exposure times above 5 min. At sub-toxic concentrations, DMSO decreases planarian exploratory behavior in a concentration-dependent manner. This reduction in locomotor behavior is reversible and preincubation-independent. DMSO at a concentration of 0.1% (14.1 mM), which is usually enough to solubilize hydrophobic substances in aqueous solutions, did not display any toxic or behavioral effects in planaria. Therefore, in this animal model, DMSO concentrations above 0.1% should be avoided in order to be able to reliably observe any behavioral or toxic effects of hydrophobic drugs.
The genomic structure of DCTN1, a candidate gene for limb-girdle muscular dystrophy (LGMD2B)

Abstract Dynactin is a required activator for the molecular motor cytoplasmic dynein, and is likely to be essential for normal neuronal development. Previously we mapped the human gene encoding the p150 Glued subunit of dynactin to 2p13, in the vicinity of the locus linked to limb-girdle muscular dystrophy ( LGMB2B ). We now report the genomic organization of DCTN1 . We have identified 32 exons in the gene which spans ∼25 kb. Alternative splicing of several of the exons generates functionally distinct isoforms of the p150 Glued polypeptide.
A CFD Investigation of Window Cooling for an Optically Accessible Combustion Rig

Numerical simulation was performed for the window cooling system of a new facility, the High Pressure Optically Accessible Combustion Rig, at Institute for Aerospace Research, National Research Council Canada. The Shear-Stress Transport k-ω two-equation model in FLUENT was used to solve the complex flows. The numerical results revealed that a cooling film was formed along the window glass. However, because of the presence of the bridge blocks the cooling film was not quite uniform. The bridge blocks for the cooling slots induced complex flow patterns and thus reduced the cooling effectiveness for the window. The maximum surface temperature was found to be at the trailing edge of the inner window surface. The cooling flow exiting from the downstream end cooling slot formed a large and strong vortex, which entrained hot air from the combustion air flow and caused the described high surface temperature. At the current flow condition, the maximum value of the temperature on the window surface was slightly higher than the allowable temperature for the designed window material.Copyright © 2010 by Crown in Right of Canada
Radiation damage effects in tritium implanted Si(Li) detectors

Abstract Tritium implanted Si(Li) detectors suffer from the effects of radiation damage during the implantation. These effects are manifested as a pulse height defect and as a broadening of the response function, and thus cause problems in the determination of the tritium beta end-point energy and in the determination of the electron antineutrino mass from the shape of the spectrum near the end point. We use simple models of the trapping of charge carriers to illustrate some of these problems.
Heterogeneous polymer–polymer composites. III. Viscoelastic properties of acrylic polyblends

The physical properties of heterogeneous polymer–polymer composites such as rubber-modified plastics depend not only on the properties of the constituent polymers, but also on structural characteristics such as phase geometry and morphology. The dependence of the viscoelastic properties of particulate composites on phase morphology and composition has been treated in a previous paper. This analysis is further modified and applied to dynamic Young's modulus (E*) data on several types of heterogeneous acrylic polyblends prepared in this laboratory. By taking into account interparticle interactions, copolymerization effects, and phase inversion, a nearly quantitative representation of E* is obtained. Deviations from calculated behavior can be explained by assuming more complicated models of phase structure and composition and by postulating higher-order and temperature-dependent interaction effects.
Packet radar spectrum recovery for physiological signals

Packet Doppler radar is investigated for extracting physiological signals. System on Chip is employed as a signal source in packet mode, and it transmits signals intermittently at 2.405 GHz to save power. Reflected signals are demodulated directly by spectral analysis of received pulses in the baseband. Spectral subtraction, using data from an empty room, is applied to extract the periodic movement. It was experimentally demonstrated that frequency of the periodic motion can be accurately extracted using this technique. Proposed approach reduces the computation complexity of the signal processing part effectively.
Outback Steakhouse in Korea A Commentary

Economics is only the beginning of the puzzle for successful international expansion by food-service firms. As depicted in the accompanying case study, Outback Korea seems to have considered such other factors as local culture and proper entry strategy.
The kallikrein–kinin system in health and in diseases of the kidney

Since kallikrein was discovered as a vasodilatory substance in human urine, the kallikrein–kinin system (KKS) has been considered to play a physiological role in controlling blood pressure. Gene targeting experiments in mice in which the KKS has been inactivated to varying degrees have, however, questioned this role, because basal blood pressures are not altered. Rather, these experiments have shown that the KKS has a different and important role in preventing changes associated with normal senescence in mice, and in reducing the nephropathy and accelerated senescence-associated phenotypes induced in mice by diabetes. Other experiments have shown that the KKS suppresses mitochondrial respiration, partly by nitric oxide and prostaglandins, and that this suppression may be a key to understanding how the KKS influences senescence-related diseases. Here we review the logical progression and experimental data leading to these conclusions, and discuss their relevance to human conditions.
INTERACTION OF ESTROGEN AND PROGESTERONE IN CHICK OVIDUCT DEVELOPMENT : I. Antagonistic Effect of Progesterone on Estrogen-Induced Proliferation and Differentiation of Tubular Gland Cells

Daily administration of estrogen to immature female chicks results in marked oviduct growth and appearance of characteristic tubular gland cells which contain lysozyme. Although a rapid increase in total DNA and RNA content begins within 24 hr, cell specific protein, lysozyme, is first detectable after 3 days of estrogen. Progesterone administered concomitantly with estrogen antagonizes the estrogen-induced tissue growth as well as appearance of tubular gland cells and their specific products, lysozyme and ovalbumin. When the initiation of progesterone administration is delayed for progressively longer periods (days) during estrogen treatment, proportionally greater growth occurs with more lysozyme and tubular gland cells after 5 days of total treatment. Progesterone does not inhibit the estrogen-stimulated increase in uptake of α-aminoisobutyric acid and water by oviduct occurring within 24 hr or the estrogen-induced increase in total lipid, phospholipid, and phosphoprotein content of serum. The above results of progesterone antagonism can best be explained by the hypothesis that progesterone inhibits the initial proliferation of cells which become tubular gland cells but does not antagonize the subsequent cytodifferentiation leading to the synthesis of lysozyme and ovalbumin once such cell proliferation has occurred.
Effects of Hue, Value, and Chroma on College Students' Preferences for Apparel and Upholstery Fabrics

To investigate the effects of hue, value, and chroma on college students' color preferences for apparel and upholstery fabrics, experimental conditions were established for evaluation of coded fabr...
Infrequent composted biosolids applications affect semi-arid grassland soils and vegetation.

Abstract Monitoring of repeated composted biosolids applications is necessary for improving beneficial reuse program management strategies, because materials will likely be reapplied to the same site at a future point in time. A field trial evaluated a single and a repeated composted biosolids application in terms of long-term (13–14 years) and short-term (2–3 years) effects, respectively, on soil chemistry and plant community in a Colorado semi-arid grassland. Six composted biosolids rates (0, 2.5, 5, 10, 21, 30 Mg ha −1 ) were surface applied in a split-plot design study with treatment (increasing compost rates) as the main factor and co-application time (1991, or 1991 and 2002) as the split factor applications. Short- and long-term treatment effects were evident in 2004 and 2005 for soil 0–8 cm depth pH, EC, NO 3 -N, NH 4 -N, total N, and AB-DTPA soil Cd, Cu, Mo, Zn, P, and Ba. Soil organic matter increases were still evident 13 and 14 years following composted biosolids application. The repeated composted biosolids application increased soil NO 3 -N and NH 4 -N and decreased AB-DTPA extractable Ba as compared to the single composted biosolids application in 2004; differences between short- and long-term applications were less evident in 2005. Increasing biosolids rates resulted in increased native perennial grass cover in 2005. Plant tissue Cu, Mo, Zn, and P concentrations increased, while Ba content decreased depending on specific plant species and year. Overall, the lack of many significant negative effects suggests that short- or long-term composted biosolids application at the rates studied did not adversely affect this semi-arid grassland ecosystem.
Advanced percutaneous transhepatic biliary access.

Percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography and percutaneous biliary drainage are generally routine procedures in the majority of patients. However, when difficult clinical situations arise, advanced techniques for achieving biliary access may be required. Several advanced techniques for drainage are discussed.
Molecular dynamics simulation of SWCNT–polymer nanocomposite and its constituents

Elastic and engineering properties of nanoparticle enhanced composites and their constituents (matrix, reinforcement and interface) are calculated. The nanocomposites considered in this study consist of a single-wall carbon nanotube (SWCNT) embedded in polyethylene matrix. Molecular dynamics simulations are used to estimate the elastic properties of SWCNT, interfacial bonding, polyethylene matrix and composites with aligned and randomly distributed SWCNTs. The elastic properties of bundles with 7, 9, and 19 SWCNTs are also compared using a similar approach. In all simulations, the average density of SWCNT–polymer nanocomposite was maintained in the vicinity of CNTs, to match the experimentally observed density of a similar nanocomposite. Results are found to be in good agreement with experimentally obtained values by other researchers. The interface is an important constituent of CNT–polymer composites, which has been modeled in the present research with reasonable success.
Resuscitation Following Prolonged Cardiac Arrest

Abstract If improved restoration of blood pressure and cardiac output could be provided by a method such as mechanical ventricular assistance (MVA), success in cardiac resuscitation might be more frequent. To investigate this possibility, cardiopulmonary resuscitation using MVA was compared to open-chest manual cardiac massage in two series of canine experiments. Of 16 dogs whose hearts were arrested for fifteen minutes, 7 of 8 given MVA were resuscitated and 4 survived more than 24 hours. Three regained reflexes, and I achieved pupillary miosis and spontaneous movement. Only 1 animal could be resuscitated by manual massage, and it died 2 hours later. Renal function was markedly better in animals given MVA during the first hour of resuscitation. In 12 other dogs whose hearts were arrested for twenty minutes, only 1 dog given MVA survived more than 24 hours. None given conventional resuscitation survived this long. In 7 human cadaver organ donors in whom conventional cardiopulmonary resuscitation had failed to restore any signs of organ function, renal output was reestablished in 4, cardiac action in 5, and cerebral function in 1 during MVA.
Echocardiographic evaluation of left ventricular function in children with congestive cardiomyopathy

Echocardiography was used to study left ventricular function in 37 children with congestive cardiomyopathy. Left atrial and left ventricular diameters were approximately 1.5 times that predicted by body weight, whereas systolic decrease in left ventricular diameter (shortening fraction) and increase in posterior wall thickness were half that of normal children. The ratio of left ventricular preejection period to ejection time was increased in 25 patients and normal in 10. The mean velocity of circumferential fiber shortening was decreased in 30 of 34 patients and averaged 52 percent of that predicted by heart rate. The shortening fraction was higher in the 12 patients who were asymptomatic at the time of study than in the 25 who had symptoms of congestive heart failure (19.6 ± 2.4 standard error of the mean versus 14.6 ± 1.2) (P < 0.05). In 11 patients whose condition improved after therapy with digoxin and diuretic drugs, serial echocardiograms showed significant increases in shortening fraction and posterior wall thickening and decreases in left atrial diameter and the ratio of preejection period to ejection time. However, one or more indexes of left ventricular function remained abnormal, despite the resolution of symptoms and a return of heart size to normal as judged from the chest roentgenogram.
P-169: Touch-Fingerprint Display for Supporting Identity Sensing

Due to the surge in the number of touch based smart devices, there is a growing need for touch based authentication. Historically, fingerprint has been one of the most effective ways for establishing the uniqueness of an individual's identity. Motivated by the fact that both touch sensing and fingerprint scan can be based on the same capacitive sensing principle, one can design a single unified sensing device that can support both multi-touch interactions and identity sensing based on fingerprint biometrics. Such design will not only enable user friendly mobile identity solutions, but also support more elegant and compact physical design of future smart mobile devices. In this paper, we present and explore three approaches for creating such a device. They are, transparent fingerprint readers on-top of a touch panel - fingerprint reader on-panel, unified touch-fingerprint panel, and touch-fingerprint in-cell TFT-LCD. Further, we discuss the challenges faced by each approach, compare the pros and cons of each approach, and propose solutions accordingly. Finally, we conduct evaluations using state-of-the-art modeling tools and perform quantitative studies.
Popular [Mis]conceptions of Medieval Warfare

Popular portrayals of war in the Middle Ages, such as medieval-themed films and video games, draw large crowds, big money, and tremendous interest among the general public. As a result, certain dubious stereotypes now overwhelm depictions of medieval combat, and further reinforce extant misconceptions. However, there is a long history of this, both at the hands of popular entertainers and professional military historians. This article identifies the causes of a number of these fallacies, and points out that popular entertainment sometimes merely reflects ongoing disputes among medieval and military historians. Finally, it suggests that, even if factually problematic, historians should not simply dismiss these popular media. Rather, films and games can be employed to help clarify the general public's misunderstandings about medieval warfare.
Children's perceptions of cancer in comparison to other chronic illnesses

Research which deals with beliefs and feelings about cancer suggests that cancer is somewhat unique among chronic illnesses with respect to the intensity of negative feelings and stigma attached to this disease. The research results to date fit well in the context of the health belief model and indicate that cancer is extremely high in perceived severity, moderate in perceived susceptibility, and extremely low in perceived benefits of preventive and treatment programs. This paper reports the results of a study which used the semantic differential technique to determine a sample of seventh-grade students' perceptions of cancer in comparison to heart disease, diabetes, and mental illness. The results indicated that children generally view cancer as higher in severity (except for heart disease), higher in susceptibility, and lower in benefits of treatment than the other illnesses. Perceptions did not differ by sex, socio-economic background, or knowledge of cancer. However, in addition to perceiving cancer as being very high in severity and feeling pessimistic about the chances of recovering, black children believe they are personally more susceptible than do white children. In general, this combination of perceptions provides a unique stigma to cancer as a fearsome chronic disease with little hope of cure. The low perceived benefits of treatment presents a barrier to action which has important implications for health education programs.
Multifunctional microtruss laminates: Textile synthesis and properties

Open cell periodic metal truss structures can exhibit significantly higher stiffnesses and strengths than stochastic cellular metal structures of the same relative density while still providing high mechanical energy absorption and efficient heat exchange opportunities. Here, a potentially inexpensive textile-based approach to the synthesis of periodic metal microtruss laminates is reported. The process consists of selecting a wire weave, laying up the mesh and joining using a transient liquid phase. Example structures constructed from nichrome (Ni–24Fe–16Cr) wire cloth were made and tested. These exhibited a linear dependence of stiffness and strength upon relative density, absorbed large amounts of mechanical energy, and showed good potential for efficient heat exchange.
Looking Beyond Fear and Extinction Learning: Considering Novel Treatment Targets for Anxiety

Fear conditioning studies provide valuable insight into how fears are learned and extinguished. Previous work focuses on fear and extinction learning to understand and treat anxiety disorders. However, a cascade of cognitive processes that extend beyond learning may also yield therapeutic targets for anxiety disorders. Throughout this review, we will discuss recent findings of fear generalization, memory consolidation, and reconsolidation. Factors related to effectiveness, efficiency and durability of extinction-based treatments will be addressed. Moreover, adolescence may be a key developmental stage when threat-related perturbations emerge; therefore, targeting interventions during adolescence when these nascent processes are more malleable may alter the trajectory of anxiety disorders.
Postkeratoplasty crystalline deposits mimicking bacterial infectious crystalline keratopathy

Three corneal transplant patients developed white, crystalline, anterior stromal lesions in their grafts while receiving long-term topical corticosteroid therapy. A presumed diagnosis of infectious crystalline keratopathy was made in each case. However, histologic examination of the lesions failed to show gram-positive cocci. A fungal infiltrate was present in the first two patients, and calcium deposits produced the lesion in the third patient.
Surrogate Efficacy Endpoints in Oncology Trials

There will be little debate with the statement that the single most important goal of anti-neoplastic therapy in the setting of advanced or metastatic disease is to substantially prolong overall survival (or ‘cure’) from the time of initial diagnosis. As a result, this objective has been established as the primary endpoint in the majority of cancer trials conducted in this clinical setting. However, documenting an improvement in overall survival may require waiting until a sufficient number of study participants have died. As a result, there has been interest in developing acceptable surrogates (e.g. progression-free survival [PFS]) that may be employed at an earlier time point to declare whether a particular strategy will, or will not, ultimately be revealed to improve overall survival. In the discussion that follows, the potential utility of, and difficulties with, surrogates for overall survival in cancer trials will be discussed. Further, a rationale for considering the legitimate use of surrogates for defining clinical efficacy, independent of the relationship between the surrogate and overall survival, will be highlighted. It is concluded that in some settings an improvement in PFS is an excellent surrogate for overall survival, and the acceptance of PFS as a valid ‘early’ study endpoint will permit patients to experience the benefits of a new management approach at an earlier point following its initial introduction into clinical evaluation. However, it is also the case that an improvement in PFS may not translate into a subsequently documented superior overall survival. This result may occur due to the administration of increasingly effective ‘second-line’ treatment approaches employed following the completion of study-based therapy. In this setting, to accept PFS as the sole indicator of clinical benefit (without a documented improvement in overall survival), it will be critical to determine if this outcome was achieved with an acceptable treatment-related toxicity profile and a favourable impact on objective measures of quality of life.
Teachers' Perspectives of Whole-Class Discourse: Focusing on Effective Instruction to Improve Student Learning.

Improving student learning is a constant goal within classrooms and schools, yet decisions based on a single test score may lead to less effective learning environments. Increased student learning stems from more effective and student-centered learning situations wherein students play a fundamental role in the formulation and development of their learning. Because these learning situations are typically developed and enacted by teachers, teachers’ perspectives on effective instructional practices are important in understanding how best to improve and refine learning situations. This article examines nine middle-level mathematics teachers’ perspectives toward whole-class discourse (WCD) from three diverse school districts. Specifically, teachers’ definition and evidence of meaningful WCD is examined along with their roles and responsibilities when facilitating WCD. Areas of strength and concern are highlighted so that teachers and teacher leaders have a better understanding of how to structure and implemen...
The relation of agenda creation and use to group support system experience

The meeting agenda is often recommended as a critical element for conducting successful meetings. However, assertions about the value of meeting agendas are rarely explained or empirically tested. This study surveyed 238 group facilitators, including 113 who reported facilitating at least one meeting using group support systems (GSS), to examine their views on the use of agendas in meetings.Analyses are based on overall responses by group facilitators and by responses of the subset of facilitators who have used GSS. In addition, correlation analyses between the amount of GSS experience and the responses of the full group of facilitators and the subset with GSS experience are reported. Frequency of agenda use and of evaluation of the "goodness of the agenda" both correlated with GSS experience. Pre-meeting sessions with the group sponsors correlated significantly with GSS experience as did the frequency of varying from the agenda. Finally, quality of meeting deliverables, satisfaction with outcomes, and satisfaction with process were viewed as most important benefits of using an agenda; but they did not correlate with GSS experience. Meeting efficiency as a benefit of agenda use was negatively correlated with GSS experience. The implications of these findings for GSS facilitation and for future research are discussed.
ED predictors of upper gastrointestinal tract bleeding in patients without hematemesis

Abstract Objectives In patients with gastrointestinal (GI) tract bleeding, the bleeding source is uncertain in the absence of hematemesis. We sought to identify clinical variables predictive of an upper GI bleeding source. Methods This retrospective cohort study involved patients admitted via the ED for GI tract bleeding without hematemesis, who underwent confirmatory testing. We used logistic regression analysis to identify clinical variables independently associated with an upper GI source. Results Among 325 patients, odds ratios for the strongest predictors were as follows: black stool, 16.6 (95% confidence interval [CI], 7.7-35.7); age less than 50 years, 8.4 (95% CI, 3.2-22.1); and blood urea nitrogen/creatinine ratio 30 or greater, 10.0 (95% CI, 4.0-25.6). Seven (5%) of 151 with none of these factors had an upper GI tract bleed, versus 63 (93%) of 68 with 2 or 3 factors. Conclusion Black stool, age less than 50 years, and blood urea nitrogen/creatinine ratio of 30 or greater independently predict an upper GI tract bleeding source.
Thermal Response of Rolling Components Under Mixed Boundary Conditions: An Analytical Approach

An analytical solution for the steady-state temperature distribution in a cylinder undergoing uniform heating and nonuniform cooling is presented. The method of solution is a Fourier integral transform technique. The analysis shows that the Neumann series resulting from an integral equation can be well represented by a first-order approximation when the Peclet number is large. Furthermore, it is shown that the ratio of the Biot number to the square root of the Peclet number of the cooling zones is found to play an important role in governing the thermal response of the cylinder surface. The predicted results for the circumferential temperature distribution are compared to published experimental measurements for hot rolling and also existing analytical solutions for special cases. The agreement is found to be very good. By an appropriate superposition technique, the analysis presented may be easily extended to various heat sources and convective cooling zones at different locations of the cylinder surface.
Effects of vial shape on the rate of mechanical alloying in Si80Ge20

The rate of mechanical alloying for doped Si80Ge20 alloys was studied using flat and concave ended hardened tool steel vials. Alloying was found to occur at significantly higher rates using a flat ended vial. It was also found by X-ray diffraction that the homogeneity of the alloy remained constant between 9 and 30 h for the flat ended vial and between 1.5 and 30 h for the round ended vial.
A catalog of nonstellar water maser sources

A list of 195 nonstellar galactic sources of water maser emission has been compiled. This list is not a comprehensive catalog of all the available information; it is intended to be used as an index. As such, it contains only coordinates, velocities, and selected references. The extragalatic sources are listed in a separate table.
Electrical and Optical Properties of Transparent Conducting Homologous Compounds in the Indium–Gallium–Zinc Oxide System

The homologous compounds In1˛xGa1+xO3(ZnO)k (where k = 1, 2, or 3) were prepared at a temperature of 1400°C. The solubility limits (as determined via X-ray diffractometry) were 0.47 < [In]/([In] + [Ga]) < 0.67 for the k =1 member, 0.35 < [In]/([In]+[Ga]) < 0.77 for the k = 2 member, and 0.29 < [In]/([In]+[Ga]) < 1.00 for the k = 3 member. Four-point-conductivity and diffuse-reflectance measurements were performed on as-fired and reduced samples. The band gap that was determined from diffuse reflectance increased as the Ga 31 content increased and k decreased. The conductivity increased as k decreased and the In 31 content increased. A maximum conductivity of 250 S/cm was obtained for k = 3 and [In]/([In]+[Ga]) = 1 after reduction. The minimum absorption edge of 325 nm was obtained for k = 2 and [In]/([In]+[Ga]) = 0.35 prior to reduction. The potential for metastable phases in the In-Ga-Zn-O system with enhanced transparent-conducting properties has been discussed.
Free radical scavenging alleviates the biomechanical impairment of gamma radiation sterilized bone tissue

Terminal sterilization of bone allografts by gamma radiation is often essential prior to their clinical use to minimize the risk of infection and disease transmission. While gamma radiation has efficacy superior to other sterilization methods it also impairs the material properties of bone allografts, which may result in premature clinical failure of the allograft. The mechanisms by which gamma radiation sterilization damages bone tissue are not well known although there is evidence that the damage is induced via free radical attack on the collagen. In the light of the existing literature, it was hypothesized that gamma radiation induced biochemical damage to bone's collagen that can be reduced by scavenging for the free radicals generated during the ionizing radiation. It was also hypothesized that this lessening of the extent of biochemical degradation of collagen will be accompanied by alleviation in the extent of biomechanical impairment secondary to gamma radiation sterilization. Standardized tensile test specimens machined from human femoral cortical bone and specimens were assigned to four treatment groups: control, scavenger treated-control, irradiated and scavenger treated-irradiated. Thiourea was selected as the free radical scavenger and it was applied in aqueous form at the concentration of 1.5 M. Monotonic and cyclic mechanical tests were conducted to evaluate the mechanical performance of the treatment groups and the biochemical integrity of collagen molecules were assessed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The native mechanical properties of bone tissue did not change by thiourea treatment only. The effect of thiourea treatment on mechanical properties of irradiated specimens were such that the post-yield energy, the fracture energy and the fatigue life of thiourea treated-irradiated treatment group were 1.9-fold, 3.3-fold and 4.7-fold greater than those of the irradiated treatment group, respectively. However, the mechanical function of thiourea treated and irradiated specimens was not to the level of unirradiated controls. The damage occurred through the cleavage of the collagen backbone as revealed by SDS PAGE analysis. Irradiated specimens did not exhibit a noteworthy amount of intact alpha-chains whereas those irradiated in the presence of thiourea demonstrated intact alpha-chains. Results demonstrated that free radical damage is an important pathway of damage, caused by cleaving the collagen backbone. Blocking the activity of free radicals using the scavenger thiourea reduces the extent of damage to collagen, helping to maintain the mechanical strength of sterilized tissue. Therefore, free radical scavenger thiourea has the potential to improve the functional life-time of the allograft component following transplantation.
Finding a maximum weight triangle in n3-Δ time, with applications

We present the first truly sub-cubic algorithms for finding a maximum node-weighted triangle in directed and undirected graphs with arbitrary real weights. The first is an O(B • n3+ω/2) = O(B • n2.688) deterministic algorithm, where n is the number of nodes, ω is the matrix multiplication exponent, and B is the number of bits of precision. The second is a strongly polynomial randomized algorithm that runs in O(n3+ω/2 log n) expected worst-case time. To achieve this, we show how to efficiently sample a weighted triangle uniformly at random, out of just those triangles whose total weight falls in some prescribed interval (W1,W2) for arbitrary weights W1 and W2. Previous approaches to the problem resulted in time bounds with either an exponential dependence on B, or a runtime of the form Ω(n3/(log n)c). The algorithms are easily extended to finding a maximum node-weighted induced subgraph on 3k nodes in O(n(3+ω)k/2) = O(n2.688 k) time.We give applications to a variety of problems, including a stable matching problem between buyers and sellers in computational economics, and discuss the possibility of extending our approach to a truly sub-cubic algorithm for computing all-pairs shortest paths on directed graphs with arbitrary weights.
Institutional researchers' expanding roles: Policy, planning, program evaluation, assessment, and new research methodologies

This chapter explores how institutional researchers can enhance their value by expanding roles in policy, planning, evaluation and assessment, and by assuming new roles in program design and knowledge generation.
A meta-analysis of psycho-behavioral obesity interventions among US multiethnic and minority adults.

OBJECTIVE: The present review examines efficacious psycho-behavioral interventions in preventing weight gains or reducing weight among US multiethnic and minority adults as few studies were conducted to review such interventions to date. METHODS: Data were examined from 24 controlled intervention studies, representing 23 programs and involving 13,326 adults. Studies were identified through manual and online search of databases that include MEDLINE, Academic Search Premier, ERIC, PsycARTICLES, SPORTDiscus, and CINAHL Plus. RESULTS: Whereas one-component (n=5, d=0.08, 90% CI=-0.04, 0.35) and two-component interventions (n=13, d=0.22, 90% CI=0.05, 0.40) showed a low mean effect size, three-component interventions (n=6, d=0.52, 90% CI=0.39, 0.65) showed a moderate effect size. Interventions conducted in individual sessions (n=15, d=0.40, 90% CI=0.24, 0.56) showed a higher mean effect size than group interventions (n=9, d=0.08, 90% CI=-0.04, 0.30) although the confidence intervals overlapped. CONCLUSIONS: The study results indicate that future obesity prevention interventions targeting multiethnic and minority adults might benefit from incorporating individual sessions, family involvement, and problem solving strategies into multi-component programs that focus on lifestyle changes.
Methods for diagnosing multiplicative-interaction models for two-way contingency tables

An expanded class of multiplicative-interaction (M-I) models is proposed for two-way contingency tables. These models a generalization of Goodman's association models, fill in the gap between the independence and the saturated models. Diagnostic rules based on a transformation of the data are proposed for the detection of such models. These rules, utilizing the singular value decomposition of the transformed data, are very easy to use. Maximum likelihood estimation is considered and the computational algorithms discussed. A data set from Goodman (1981) and another from Gabriel and Zamir (1979) are used to demostrate the diagnostic rules.
Mapping and ablating stable sources for atrial fibrillation: summary of the literature on Focal Impulse and Rotor Modulation (FIRM).

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained arrhythmia and the most common indication for catheter ablation. However, despite substantial technical advances in mapping and energy delivery, ablation outcomes remain suboptimal. A major limitation to AF ablation is that the areas targeted for ablation are rarely of proven mechanistic importance, in sharp contrast to other arrhythmias in which ablation targets demonstrated mechanisms in each patient. Focal impulse and rotor modulation (FIRM) is a new approach to demonstrate the mechanisms that sustain AF (“substrates”) in each patient that can be used to guide ablation then confirm elimination of each mechanism. FIRM mapping reveals that AF is sustained by 2–3 rotors and focal sources, with a greater number in patients with persistent than paroxysmal AF, lying within spatially reproducible 2.2 ± 1.4-cm2 areas in diverse locations. This temporospatial reproducibility, now confirmed by several groups using various methods, changes the concepts regarding AF-sustaining mechanisms, enabling localized rather than widespread ablation. Mechanistically, the role of rotors and focal sources in sustaining AF has been demonstrated by the acute and chronic success of source (FIRM) ablation alone. Clinically, adding FIRM to conventional ablation substantially improves arrhythmia freedom compared with conventional ablation alone, and ongoing randomized trials are comparing FIRM—ablation with and without conventional ablation to conventional ablation alone. In conclusion, ablation of patient-specific AF-sustaining mechanisms (substrates), as exemplified by FIRM, may be central to substantially improving AF ablation outcomes.
Opioid-mediated responses of dietary protein on reticular motility and plasma insulin.

Four ruminally and abomasally cannulated steers (603 ± 22.7 kg of body weight) were used to determine whether ruminally undegradable protein (RUP) would exert opioid-mediated effects on reticuloruminal motility or circulating concentrations of insulin. Steers were fed isonitrogenous diets (16% crude protein) containing either 30 or 40% RUP. The low RUP diet was supplemented with urea and soybean meal, and the high RUP diet was supplemented with blood meal, fish meal, corn gluten meal, and meat and bone meal. Diets contained 57% wheat silage and were fed twice daily at 0800 and 1600 h. Experimental periods were 10 d in length. Blood samples were taken from jugular catheters, and reticular motility was measured at hourly intervals on d 10 over a 16-h period. Either naltrexone (0.5 mg/kg of body weight) or saline was infused into the abomasum at the second feeding (9 h). Naltrexone reduced the frequency of reticular contractions by 16.5% for steers fed the low RUP diet. Naltrexone decreased the duration of reticular contractions by 9.3% for steers fed the low RUP diet and increased duration by 8.7% for steers fed the high RUP diet. Naltrexone decreased the opening time of the reticuloomasal orifice, expressed as a percentage of predose measurements, by 16.3% for steers fed the high RUP diet. Insulin was 21.3% higher with the high RUP diet. The postprandial rise in insulin decreased 36.7% with naltrexone. Dietary protein can exert effects mediated by opioids in ruminants.
Testing Social Democracy's Inner Limits: From Collectivism to the Politics of Dissonance in Britain

In a world where transitions to democracy are often turbulent, interrupted, and uncertain, it is easy to think of Britain, where an embryonic form of parliamentary democracy emerged in the seventeenth century as an exception because the basic shape of politics has appeared settled for so long. On the contrary, I will argue, since the 1970s Britain has been fundamentally transformed from a consensus-driven, institutionally cohesive, model West European democracy, into a fractious, institutionally rigid, and quite unresponsive political system. I will suggest that these developments in Britain have broader comparative significance for they help identify a critical shift from social democracy or collectivism to what I call a post-collectivist politics of dissonance.
A multilevel analysis of the relationship between institutional and individual racial discrimination and health status.

Objectives. This study examined whether individual (self-perceived) and institutional (segregation and redlining) racial discrimination was associated with poor health status among members of an ethnic group.Methods. Adult respondents (n = 1503) in the cross-sectional Chinese American Psychiatric Epidemiologic Study were geocoded to the 1990 census and the 1995 Home Mortgage Disclosure Act database. Hierarchical linear modeling assessed the relationship between discrimination and scores on the Medical Outcomes Study Short-Form 36 and revised Symptom Checklist 90 health status measures.Results. Individual and institutional measures of racial discrimination were associated with health status after control for acculturation, sex, age, social support, income, health insurance, employment status, education, neighborhood poverty, and housing value.Conclusions. The data support the hypothesis that discrimination at multiple levels influences the health of minority group members.
Differentiation of Methyl-glucopyranoside Anomers by Infrared Multiple Photon Dissociation with a Tunable CO2 Laser

Fragmentation of lithium cation-attached α- and β-O-methyl-glucopyranoside precursor ions, formed by electrospray ionization (ESI) and trapped in a Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FTICR)...
Experimental evidence of the angular dependence of electron excitation in photoemission

The dependence of the photoemission from thin layers of trialkali antimonide on the direction of polarisation of obliquely incident light (vector effect) was measured at temperatures between 80 and 300 °K. At low temperatures a decrease of the ratio of polarisation yield is found at increasing light intensities up to I = 1015 photons/cm2 s of 1.9 eV photon energy. The decrease is nearly parallel to the measured decrease of the quantum yield Q of the relation Q ∼ I 1/2. This change is related to an increase of the surface potential of the cathode and to filling of surface traps by photoelectrons. The change of K is describable by decreasing the exit cone of the photoelectrons. The stronger decrease of K than it could be explained by that of Q with I indicates an angular dependence of the excitation process of the electrons in the cathode. A qualitative conclusion of a Compton-like preferential direction somehow perpendicular to the E-vector of the light is given. Es wurde die Abhangigkeit der Photoemission aus dunnen Schichten von Tri-Alkali-antimonid in Abhangigkeit von der Polarisation des schrag einfallenden Lichtes (Vektor-effekt) bei Temperaturen zwischen 80 und 300 °K gemessen. Bei niedrigen Temperaturen wurde ein Abfall des Polarisationsverhaltnisses mit steigender Lichtintensitat bis zu I = 1015 Photonen/cm2 s mit 1,9 eV Photonenenergie gefunden. Der Abfall verlauft nahezu parallel mit dem gemessenen Abfall der Quantenausbeute Q mit der Beziehung Q ∼ I−1/2. Die Anderung ist mit einem Ansteigen des Oberflachenpotentials der Katode und dem Fullen von Oberflachenhaftstellen durch Photoelektronen verbunden. Die Anderung von K ist mit der Verkleinerung des Austrittskegels der Photoelektronen erklarbar. Der Abfall von K, der starker ist, als der durch die Abhangigkeit von Q von I erklarbare, weist auf eine Winkelabhangigkeit des Anregungsprozesses der Elektronen in der Katode hin. Eine qualitative Schlusfolgerung auf eine Compton-ahnliche Vorzugsrichtung, etwa senkrecht zum E-Vektor des Lichts, wird angegeben.
Incommensurability then and now

The incommensurability of scientific theories is not the only famous incommensurability issue in the history of western philosophy. The commensurability of all magnitudes (things) by means of ratios of integers (arithmetical ratios) wasthe thesis of Pythagoreanism. The diagonal and side of a square, however, are not commensurable, thus the Pythagorean thesis is refuted. Most philosophers ancient and contemporary would agree that Pythagoreanism was refuted by the counter-example and the concommitant argument or proof. The incommensurabilists were victorious. The present paper examines the prospects of the contemporary thesis of the incommensurability of scientific theories in the light of the history of the Pythagorean thesis. What factors were responsible for the rather clear-cut victory of theincommensurability side? How were they able to carry through a refutation? How likely is it that the contemporary dispute over the commensurability of scientific theories will be resolved in such a sharp manner? The paper concludes that it is not at all likely.
Development of magnetic fabrics with tunable hydrophobicity

Polystyrene (PS) fiber mats incorporating iron (Fe) particles were fabricated by electrospinning and the hydrophobicity of the resulting magnetic fabrics was investigated with and without an applied magnetic field. The results show that the hydrophobicity increases in the presence of a magnetic field and the hysteresis in the advancing/receding contact angle decreases in the presence of a magnetic field. It is also shown that the contact angle and hysteresis increase with decreasing fiber diameter. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 130: 2352–2358, 2013
An Assessment of Planting Flexibility Options to Reduce the Excessive Application of Nitrogen Fertilizer in the United States of America

The analysis in this paper is directed at estimating the marginal value of a base acre, the nitrogen rate of fertilizer use, the corn yield, and the excess nitrogen fertilizer application rate unde...
Specular Reflection of X-rays

LORENZ has developed the approximate expression for the index of refraction of X-rays where “n” is the number of electrons per unit volume and “e” and “m” refer to the charge and mass of the electron. This expression would indicate that at very small angles X-rays should be totally reflected by the refracting medium. The critical glancing angle is given by the formula. A. H. Compton in the June 1923 issue of the Philosophical Magazine shows that he finds this reflection and that it is truly total reflection. His work was done by the ionisation chamber method.
The effect of collisions on ion motion in quadrupole fields

Abstract Ions trapped in RF quadrupole fields may undergo changes in their velocities because of collisions with ambient atoms or molecules. This will lead to the stabilization of some ion trajectories but the destabilization of others. The ensemble of ions can be treated in phase space in order to calculate the percentage of ions remaining trapped after one or more collisions and the distributions of ion positions and velocities.
Blockade of Fibronectin-α4β1 Adhesive Interactions Down-Regulates Cyclooxygenase-2 Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase and Prolongs Recipient Survival in a 24-Hour Model of Cold Hepatic Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury

We investigated the effects of the connecting segment-1 (CS1) peptide, which blocks fibronectin (FN)-α4β1 integrin interactions, upon recipient survival and extent of tissue injury in a well-established rat liver model of ex vivo 24-hour cold ischemia followed by isotransplantation. In this model, CS1 peptides were administered through the portal vein of rat livers prior to and after cold ischemic storage. In addition, recipients of orthotopic liver transplants (OLT) received a dose of CS1 peptides 1 hour post-OLT. CS1 peptide therapy significantly inhibited the intragraft recruitment of T lymphocytes and neutrophil activation/infiltration, and repressed important mediators of inflammation, such as cyclooxygenase-2, and inducible nitric oxide synthase expression. Importantly, CS1 peptide therapy improved function/histological preservation of liver grafts and extended their 14-day survival from 50% in control to 100% in CS1-treated OLTs. Thus, CS1 peptide-mediated blockade of FN-α4β1 interaction protects against severe ischemia-reperfusion injury experienced otherwise by OLTs. These novel findings document the potential of targeting FN-α4β1 in vivo interaction for improving OLT outcomes.