cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Measuring Influences on Public Opinion of the Police Using Time-Series Data: Results of a Pilot Study

This article reports on the outcome of a pilot study that used time-series data to examine both the indirect effects on community opinion of police-public contacts as citizens recount their experiences to friends and family and the effects of negative news coverage of the police on public opinion. In the 9-month period of data collection, there was sufficient variation neither in customer satisfaction with voluntary police contacts nor in public opinion, providing strong clues about the relationship between the two. There was, however, notable variation in negative news coverage of the police in the face of stable public opinion, suggesting some resistance among the public to its influence. This article concludes with reflections and ideas for future research efforts to measure changes to public opinion and satisfaction using surveys.
The SO(7) symmetry of d = 11 supergravity on the parallelized seven-sphere

Abstract Englert's vacuum solution, where the non-vanishing three-index photon of d = 11 supergravity parallelizes the seven-sphere, is reformulated in terms of a constant SO(8) tensor. Its residual bosonic symmetry is found to be an SO(7) subgroup of the original SO(8).
Therapeutic efficacy of monoclonal antibodies to Cryptococcus neoformans glucuronoxylomannan alone and in combination with amphotericin B

The therapeutic efficacy of the immunoglobulin G1 (IgG1) monoclonal antibody (MAb) 2H1 to the Cryptococcus neoformans capsular polysaccharide was studied with and without amphotericin B (AmB) in a murine model of intravenous (i.v.) infection. MAb and AmB were administered by intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection after i.v. infection with a C. neoformans serotype D strain. Intraperitoneal administration of MAb 2H1 resulted in rapid distribution to the intravascular compartment, and the half-lives of i.p. and i.v. administered MAb were similar. Administration of MAb 2H1 alone resulted in increased survival, decreased lung fungal burden, and reduced serum glucuronoxylomannan antigen levels when given 2 to 6 h but not 24 h after infection. In vivo, the combination of MAb 2H1 and AmB was more effective at prolonging survival than either agent alone. MAbs of IgM, IgG1, IgG3, and IgA isotypes given 1 day after infection were effective in reducing serum GXM-D levels, with their relative efficacy being IgG1 > IgG3 > IgM > IgA. In vitro, MAb 2H1 was a potent opsonin of C. neoformans and the combination of MAb 2H1 and AmB was more effective than either agent alone in decreasing C. neoformans colony counts in the presence of the murine macrophage cell line J774.16. The results confirm that capsule-binding MAbs can enhance the effect of AmB against C. neoformans and provide support for considering combined therapy in humans.
The effect of imputation procedures on first birth intervals: evidence from five African fertility surveys.

In most African societies there is little motivation to remember dates of demographic events with the level of precision required in demographic surveys. Consequently it is common that the large majority of survey respondents can provide only the calendar year of occurrence or their age at the time of the event. The World Fertility Survey Group decided to handle the problem of poor date reporting by using a computer program to impute the missing information. This article illustrates the effect of these imputation procedures on cross-national differentials in the proportion of premarital first births in Benin, Cameroon, Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana, and Nigeria. The analysis demonstrates that the exceptionally low proportion of premarital first births in Ghana is an artifact of the imputation procedures.
Time-dependent helical waves in rotating pipe flow

The Navier-Stokes equations for flow in a rotating circular pipe are solved numerically, subject to imposing helical symmetry on the velocity field v = v(r, θ + αz,t). The helical symmetry is exploited by writing the equations of motion in helical variables, reducing the problem to two dimensions. A limited study of the pipe flow is made in the parameter space of the wavenumber α, and the axial and azimuthal Reynolds numbers. The steadily rotating waves previously studied by Toplosky & Akylas (1988), which arise from the linear instability of the basic steady flow, are found to undergo a series of bifurcations, through periodic to aperiodic time dependence. The relevance of these results to the mechanism of laminar-turbulent transition in a stationary pipe is discussed.
A class of algorithms for identification in H/sub infinity /: continuous-time case

The problem of system identification in H/sub infinity / for the continuous-time case is investigated. It is shown that the class of systems with a lower bound on the relative stability, an upper bound on the steady-state gain, and an upper bound on the roll-off rate is admissible. This allows one to develop a class of robustly convergent nonlinear algorithms. The algorithms in this class have a two-stage structure and are characterized by the use of window functions. Explicit worst-case error bounds in H/sub infinity / norm between the identified model and the unknown system are given for a particular algorithm. An example is provided to illustrate the application of the results obtained. >
Detection of atomic hydrogen by two-color laser-induced grating spectroscopy.

We report a novel multiphoton scheme for the detection of atomic hydrogen. Interference of two laser beams near 243 nm crossed at a small angle induces a spatially modulated two-photon excitation (i.e., a grating of excited atoms), which diffracts a third laser beam tuned to either 486 or 656 nm to generate a coherent signal beam. We demonstrate the technique by making H-atom concentration measurements that compare quantitatively with those made using laser-induced fluorescence in low-pressure H2/O2 flames.
A quasi-sampling theory of the generalization of causal relationships

This chapter discusses the generalization of causal relationships and offers an applied, meta-analytical approach.
Determination of the upper critical field of the electron-doped superconductor Sm1.85Ce0.15CuO4-y from resistive fluctuations.

The upper critical field ${\mathit{H}}_{\mathit{c}2}$(T) for the magnetic field applied parallel to the c axis of a ${\mathrm{Sm}}_{1.85}$${\mathrm{Ce}}_{0.15}$${\mathrm{CuO}}_{4\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}\mathit{y}}$ single crystal has been determined from an analysis of magnetoresistance data in terms of the Ginzburg-Landau fluctuation theory for layered superconductors. The fluctuations are predominantly two dimensions (2D) away from ${\mathit{T}}_{\mathit{c}}$(H) with a crossover to 3D as ${\mathit{T}}_{\mathit{c}}$(H) is approached. The ${\mathit{H}}_{\mathit{c}2}$(T) curve shows negative curvature and is in excellent agreement with the Werthamer, Helfand, Hohenberg, and Maki theory for conventional superconductors without paramagnetic limiting effects. The values of the initial slope (${\mathit{dH}}_{\mathit{c}2}$/dT${)}_{\mathit{T}\mathit{c}}$=-7.38 kOe/K, coherence length \ensuremath{\xi}(0)=48.4 \AA{}, and orbital critical field ${\mathit{H}}_{\mathit{c}2}$(0)=97.6 kOe, derived from this analysis, are in good agreement with the values we previously obtained from fits of the Hao-Clem variational model to reversible magnetization data below ${\mathit{T}}_{\mathit{c}}$.
Raman amplification of recirculating pulses in a reentrant fiber loop.

We report the generation of a train of 130 optical pulses derived from a single input pulse recirculating in an active reentrant fiber loop. This was achieved in a 810-m-long single-mode fiber loop closed by a fiber directional coupler. Propagation loss and coupler bifurcation of the 1.12-μm signal were compensated for by Raman amplification using 1.064-μm pump pulses. The effects of pump-power fluctuations on the pulse's amplitude stability and background noise are also reported.
Genetics statistics and relationships of teat and udder traits, somatic cell counts, and milk production.

Abstract Teat lengths and diameters, udder clearance, cleft depth, and distances between teats were measured from 1967 to 1982 on Holstein cows. Numbers of observations per trait ranged from 5934 to 11,449. Cows were from six herds owned by the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and two research herds of North Carolina State University. Repeatabilities between adjacent lactations for physical traits of udder were mostly between .60 and .80. Repeatabilities between first and second lactations for average somatic cell count and mean log somatic cell count were .11±.04 and .21±.04. Heritabilities in first lactation were .63 for front teat length, .44 for teat diameter, .56 for rear udder clearance, .10 for cleft depth, .32 for mature equivalent milk, and .18 for somatic cell counts. Heritabilities of distances between teats ranged from .33 to .48. Cows with udder clearance higher from the ground, deeper clefts, smaller distances between teats, and teats of smaller diameter had lower somatic cell counts. Multiple regression analysis showed that dams' somatic cell counts and rear udder clearances were not significant predictors of daughters' somatic cell counts. Lactation average somatic cell counts of daughters were predicted with greater accuracy from averages of somatic cell counts of multiple lactations of dams than from single lactations of dams. Milk production and somatic cell counts seemed positively genetically correlated, more so in first than later lactations.
Emerging drugs for renal cell carcinoma.

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) still represents a therapeutic challenge when patients have advanced or metastatic disease. Treatment using IL-2 and IFN-α continues to be the standard of care in patients who are able to tolerate such regimens. Targeted therapy may become the first-line treatment for patients resistant or intolerant to cytokines as new emerging drugs continue to be investigated. Understanding the genetic abnormalities related to the development of RCC (e.g., VHL gene abnormalities) and identifying molecular targets (e.g., epidermal growth factor, vascular endothelial growth factor and carbonic anhydrase IX) are playing a major role in the emergence of these novel agents for the treatment of this malignancy. Overall, these drugs are better tolerated and more acceptable to use by patients than the traditional cytokine-based regimens. The use of oral drugs to treat various malignancies including RCC seems to be the new paradigm of the future. Further understanding of their mechanisms of action and...
Parameter estimation in systems with binary-valued observations and structural uncertainties

This paper studies identification of linear systems with binary-valued observations generated via fixed thresholds. In addition to stochastic measurement noises, the systems are also subject to structural uncertainties, including deterministic unmodelled dynamics, nonlinear model mismatch, and sensor observation bias. Since binary-valued observations can supply only limited information on the signals, truncated empirical measures are introduced to extract further information for system identification. An effective identification algorithm is constructed based on the proposed empirical measures. Optimal identification errors, time complexity, optimal input design, and impact of disturbances, unmodelled dynamics, observation bias, and nonlinear model mismatch are thoroughly investigated in a stochastic information framework. Asymptotic upper and lower bounds are established on identification errors. Numerical experiments are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the algorithms and the main results.
Blends of high temperature copolycarbonates with bisphenol-A-polycarbonate and a copolyester

The phase behavior of blends of copolycarbonates containing 1,1-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-3,3,5-trimethylcyclohexanone (TMC-PC) and bisphenol-A repeat units with its constituent homopolymers was determined using melt mixing, solution casting, and precipitation casting methods. Miscibility was observed for all combinations except for some involving the TMC-PC homopolymer. Phase behavior was assessed using differential scanning calorimetry and visual assessment of optical clarity. The blending procedure was found to affect the phase behavior in some blends due to interchange reactions and casting methods. Based on the observations of the cast blends, the intramolecular interaction energy of the copolycarbonate was determined to be between 0.029 and 0.036 cal/cc. The phase behavior of these copolycarbonates and a copolyester based on 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol with terephthalic and isophthalic acids was determined after melt mixing. The copolyester is miscible with all of the copolycarbonates, even in the absence of interchange reactions.
Induction of NAD+-Linked 15-Hydroxyprostaglandin Dehydrogenase Expression by Androgens in Human Prostate Cancer Cells

Abstract Prostate cancer cells are known to express cyclooxygenases (COXs) and synthesize prostaglandins. Catabolism of prostaglandins in these cells remains to be determined. Induction of NAD+-dependent 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase (15-PGDH), a key metabolic inactivation enzyme, was investigated in androgen-sensitive LNCaP cells and in hormone-independent PC3 cells. 15-PGDH was found to be induced by dihydrotestosterone or testosterone in a time- and dose-dependent manner in LNCaP but not in PC3 cells as shown by activity assay and immunoblot analysis. However, prostaglandin synthetic enzymes, COX-1 and COX-2, were not found to be induced by androgens. Induction was also achieved by 17β-estradiol and progesterone, although to a lesser extent. Induction of 15-PGDH was not blocked by steroid receptor antagonist, RU 486, nor by antiandrogen, flutamide. However, induction was inhibited by tyrosine kinase inhibitor, genistein, and by ERK kinase inhibitor, PD 98059, but not by protein kinase C inhibitor, GF109203X. These results suggest that androgens induce 15-PGDH gene expression through an unconventional nongenomic pathway.
Embryotoxicity of 4-deoxynivalenol (vomitoxin) in mice.

The teratogenic potential of vomitoxin is at present unknown, therefore this study was conducted to assess the embryotoxic effects of vomitoxin in pregnant mice. In this study vomitoxin manifested a specific lethal effect on the mouse embryo associated with or without maternal vaginal bleeding but with no apparent maternal toxicity at the 2.5, 5, 10 and 15 mg/kg doses. Multiple teratogenic effects occurred at the 2.5 and 5 mg/kg doses but no adverse effects were observed at the 0.5 mg/kg dose.
Wavelength Dependence of the Fluorescence Quenching Efficiency of Nearby Dyes by Gold Nanoclusters and Nanoparticles: The Roles of Spectral Overlap and Particle Size.

The efficiency of the glutathione monolayer-protected gold nanocluster (NC) Au25 (1.2 nm metal core diameter (d)) in quenching the emission of dyes intercalated into DNA is compared with that of 2 and 4 nm gold nanoparticles (NPs). In all cases, the DNA/dye moieties and the gold particles are not covalently attached but rather form noncovalent ground state complexes. Under these conditions, steady-state measurements reveal that the quenching efficiency of Au25 is a factor of 10 lower than that of plasmonic 4 nm gold NPs but comparable to that of 2 nm particles, which do not show a distinct plasmon band. Nonetheless, significant emission quenching is observed even at very low (nanomolar) concentrations of Au25. The quenching efficiency of the 4 nm NPs is significantly higher for dyes emitting near the wavelength of the plasmon peak, whereas that of the 2 nm gold NPs is well-described by the nanosurface energy transfer (NSET) model proposed by the Strouse group (J. Am. Chem. Soc.2005, 127, 3115). Interestin...
Total System Performance Assessment Model for the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Potential High-Level Nuclear Waste Repository at Yucca Mountain

The total-system performance assessment (TSPA) model for the final environmental impact statement (FEIS) for the potential high-level nuclear-waste repository at Yucca Mountain, Nevada was developed from a series of analyses and model studies of the Yucca Mountain site. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has recommended the Yucca Mountain, Nevada site for the potential development of a geologic repository for the disposal of high-level radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel. In May 2001, the DOE released the Yucca Mountain Science and Engineering Report (S&ER) for public review and comment. The S&ER summarizes more than 20 years of scientific and engineering studies supporting the site recommendation (SR). Following internal reviews of the S&ER and other documents, the DOE performed supplemental analyses of uncertainty in support of the SR as summarized in the Supplemental Science and Performance Analysis (SSPA) reports [2, 3]. The SSPA (1) provided insights into the impact of new scientific data and improved models and (2) evaluated a range of thermal operating modes and their effect on the predicted performance of a potential repository. The various updated component models for the SSPA resulted in a modified TSPA model, referred to as the supplemental TSPA model or SSPA TSPA model capturing the combined effects of the alternative model representations on system performance. The SSPA TSPA model was the basis for analyses for the FEIS for the Yucca Mountain site. However, after completion of the SSPA, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its final radiation-protection standards for the potential repository at Yucca Mountain (40 CFR Part 197). Compliance with the regulation required modification of several of the component models (e.g., the biosphere transport model and the saturated-zone transport model) in order to evaluate repository performance against the new standards. These changes were incorporated into the SSPA TSPA model. The resulting FEIS TSPA model, known as the “integrated TSPA model,” was used to perform the calculations presented in this report. The results of calculations using the FEIS TSPA model under a non-disruptive scenario, show that the potential disposal of commercial and DOE waste at a Yucca Mountain repository would not produce releases to the environment that would exceed the regulatory standards promulgated in the EPA Final Rule 10 CFR 197 and the NRC Final Rule 10 CFR 63 for both individual protection and groundwater protection. The analyses also show that both the high and low-temperature operating modes result in similar mean annual dose to the reasonably maximally exposed individual (RMEI). Further, the analyses show that consideration of intrusive and extrusive igneous events, human intrusion, or inclusion of the potential inventory of all radioactive material in the commercial and DOE inventory would not exceed those published standards.Copyright © 2002 by ASME
Transnational Families in Armenia and Information Communication Technology Use

Considerable evidence has shown that migrants use ICT to maintain connections to their families and home. Unlike most previous researchers of migrant ICT use, we study those left behind. Using a nationally representative sample in which two thirds of respondent households have a migrant, we determine the effect of this on ICT use. Multivariate analyses including relevant demographic factors that influence both migration and ICT use reveal that transnational (migrant) family status influences frequency of Internet use, Internet ownership, and Skype use, but not other activities. Given the positive social effects of maintaining family connections, ICT use may lessen the negative effects of migration on families and society.
Temperature-Mediated Development Thresholds of Sparganothis sulfureana (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) in Cranberries

Larvae of Sparganothis sulfureana Clemens frequently attack cranberries, often resulting in economic damage to the crop. Because temperature dictates insect growth rate, development can be accurately estimated based on daily temperature measurements. To better predict S. sulfureana development across the growing season, we investigated the temperature range within which S. sulfureana larvae can feed and grow. Larvae were reared at 13 constant temperatures ranging from 6.5–38.6°C. Larval growth rate was determined by the rate of change of larval weight across time. The respective growth rates among these temperatures were modeled using simple linear, cubic, and Lactin nonlinear development functions. These models isolated the lower temperature threshold at which growth became nonzero and the upper temperature at which growth was maximized. All three models were significantly predictive of S. sulfureana growth, but the cubic model best represented the observed growth rates, effectively isolating lower and upper thresholds of 9.97 and 29.89°C, respectively. We propose that these thresholds be used to create a degree-day model of temperature-mediated S. sulfureana development.
Subjective Age, Health, and Survivorship in Old Age:

The power of subjective health and subjective age in predicting survivorship among older people is evaluated relative to the predictive power of objective health and life expectancy, respectively, ...
Revisiting the orogenic energy balance in the western Taiwan orogen with weak faults

Orogens at convergent margins must meet the energetic requirements necessary to lift rocks against gravity, allow for frictional sliding along basal detachments and accommodate internal deformation processes. The combination of critical taper and kinematic wedge theories predicts the partitioning between these energy sinks as a function of both fault and crustal strengths. Integrating contemporary estimates of both crustal pore fluid pressures and the coefficient of friction on major faults, we find that work associated with internal deformation processes is the dominant energy sink in the western Taiwan orogenic wedge. These processes consume 54% of the total work budget, while the dissipation rates associated with frictional sliding on the basal detachment and lifting rocks against gravity are lower, requiring only 11% and 35% respectively. These results suggest a mechanical dichotomy in orogenic wedges where the faulting dominates the kinematic deformation budget, but internal distributed deformation processes dominate the energy budget.
Impacts of Nonpoint-Source Pollution on the Structure of Diatom Assemblages, Whole-Stream Oxygen Metabolism, and Growth of Selenastrum capricornutum in the Red River Watershed of North-Central Tennessee

Abstract Assessments of stream biology are prerequisites to developing watershed management plans to improve ecological integrity. We sampled six streams in the Red River Watershed of North-Central Tennessee to evaluate the effects of non-point source pollution on diatom assemblages, primary production, and potential for excessive algal growth. We used diatom indices to assess the structure of diatom assemblages, changes of oxygen concentrations to evaluate primary production, and growth dynamics of the green alga Selenastrum capricornutum to evaluate the potential for excessive algal growth. The three most abundant diatom taxa collected were Nitzschia linearis (16%), Navicula reichardtiana (15%), and Navicula tripunctata (7%). Habitat impairment in all six streams is indicated by: (1) high Siltation Index values for diatom assemblages which indicate loss of biotic integrity as a result of excessive sediments from erosion, (2) high rates of whole-stream oxygen metabolism characteristic of eutrophic condit...
Students' Involvement as Indicated by Personality and Graphological Factors

This research project was designed to examine the relations of students' involvement to personality or graphological factors. A second purpose concerned possible relations between personality and graphology. Subjects were undergraduate students enrolled in a general education course. Each of 244 subjects completed a personality measure, a use of eight services questionnaire, and a handwriting sample. The personality measure provided scores on each of 11 subscales. The handwriting sample was used to make specific measures of 25 graphological characters per subject. Their intercorrelations were factor analyzed and clustered into 12 factors. Statistically significant, extremely small, canonical correlations between involvement and personality and between involvement and graphological factors were noted. Redundancy analyses identified that 08% of the variance of the involvement variables was explained by the personality variates and .08% by the graphological variates, suggesting an extremely low correlation, ...
Tolerance and dependence in neonates sedated with fentanyl during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

We undertook a retrospective chart review of 37 neonates who received fentanyl by continuous infusion while undergoing extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) between May 1986 and October 1988. We quantified the doses of all sedatives utilized, determined the incidence of neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS), and identified risk factors associated with NAS. We determined peak fentanyl infusion rate, mean fentanyl infusion rate, total fentanyl dose, and duration of ECMO therapy. NAS was observed in 21 of 37 neonates (57%). In both the NAS and non-NAS neonates, mean infusion rate increased steadily during ECMO therapy, from a mean of 11.6 +/- 6.9 (SD) micrograms.kg-1.h-1 on day 1 to a mean of 52.5 +/- 19.4 (SD) micrograms.kg-1.h-1 by day 8. Total fentanyl dose and duration of ECMO were significantly greater in neonates with NAS. We found that neonates with a total dose greater than 1.6 mg/kg or an ECMO duration greater than 5 days had a significantly greater incidence of NAS (chi-squared test, P less than 0.01 and P less than 0.005; odds ratios = 7.0 and 13.9, respectively). With multiple logistic regression, ECMO duration was found to be the most powerful predictor of the occurrence of NAS. We also measured plasma fentanyl concentrations in a separate group of 5 neonates receiving fentanyl by continuous infusion for sedation. Fentanyl concentrations increased steadily during the period of infusion, suggesting the development of tolerance to the sedating effects. We conclude that continuous administration of fentanyl for sedation is associated with the uniform development of tolerance and a significant incidence of dependence. Alternative approaches to sedation should be investigated.
Observation of Compositional Heterogeneity in Poly(styrene sulfonate) Using Frontal Analysis Continuous Capillary Electrophoresis

Sulfonated polystyrene is frequently studied as a model polyelectrolyte because of its narrow molecular weight distribution, corresponding to that of the precursor, anionically polymerized polystyrene. Frontal analysis continuous capillary electrophoresis (FACCE) was carried out for polystyrenesulfonate (PSS) samples from various commercial sources. Whereas some of the electropherograms appeared as abrupt and discontinuous, indicating a single uniform mobility, others were sigmoidal, corresponding to a distribution of mobilities. This distribution must reflect sample heterogeneity, possibly due in part to the molecular weight distribution (MWD) for the low-MW samples, but only attributable to chemical heterogeneity for the higher-MW samples. Size-exclusion chromatography (SEC) was used to establish the possibility of some MWD contribution to the distribution of mobilities for the low-MW PSSs, but not for the high-MW ones. Because a high-MW sample with a broad MWD prepared by polymerization of styrenesulfonate did not show a mobility distribution, the only plausible explanation for those distributions is compositional heterogeneity, i.e., chain-to-chain variations in the degree of sulfonation.
Dynamic telecytopathology of on site rapid cytology diagnoses for pancreatic carcinoma

Diagnosis of pancreatic lesions can be accurately performed by endoscopic ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) with onsite cytopathologists to assess specimen adequacy and to determine a preliminary diagnosis. Considerable time is needed to perform on-site assessments. This takes away work time of cytopathologists and prohibits them from serving remote locations. It is therefore logical to ask if real-time telecytopathology could be used to assess specimen adequacy and if telecytopathology diagnosis has the same level of agreement to the final diagnosis as that of onsite evaluation. In this study, we compare agreement between cytodiagnoses rendered using telecytopathology with onsite and final interpretations.
Quantitative Analyses of Major Carotenoid Fatty Acid Esters in Fruits by Liquid Chromatography: Persimmon and Papaya

A procedure for the quantitative analyses of major carotenoids and carotenoid esters in persimmons and papayas using column and liquid chromatography is described. The carotenoids and carotenoid esters were first separated by column chromatography on alumina into three fractions by elution with petroleum ether-benzene (80:20), benzene and methanol. The column fractions were further separated by reversed phase liquid chromatography and characterized. The total carotenoid contents in persimmon and papaya calculated as beta-carotene equivalents were 43 and 25 μg/g, respectively. The major carotenoids in persimmon were beta-cryptoxanthin, zeaxanthin, beta-carotene, lycopene and antheraxanthin and the major carotenoids in papaya were beta-cryptoxanthin, cryptoxanthin 5,6-epoxidc, beta-carotene and antherxanthin. The xanthophylls were acylated with C8 to C16 saturated fatty acids.
Radioimmunoassay for monitoring zidovudine in dried blood spot specimens

We modified and evaluated a RIA for serum and used the modified RIA to measure zidovudine in dried blood spot specimens (DBSs) routinely collected for newborn screening and tested anonymously for maternally acquired HIV antibodies in the national HIV Seroprevalence Survey Among Childbearing Women. DBS calibration and quality-control materials were used to adapt the serum assay to the DBS matrix. The assay had a limit of detection of 24 micrograms/L serum and was used to measure zidovudine from both whole DBSs and the eluate remaining after HIV antibody screening. We initiated a pilot study to investigate the assay's performance and assess its potential to determine the implementation of the US Public Health Service recommendations that HIV-infected pregnant women and newborns receive zidovudine treatment to reduce the risk of perinatal HIV transmission.
Zircon age and oxygen isotopic correlations between Bouse Formation tephra and the Lawlor Tuff

The Bouse Formation in the lower Colorado River trough holds an important record of the onset of the modern drainage patterns in the southwestern United States. It comprises calcareous and clastic infill deposited during flooding of several basins, including the Bristol and Blythe subbasins of Lake Bouse. An intercalated ash bed, which is key to constraining its depositional age, is exposed in two locations, Buzzards Peak and Amboy. Comparative zircon tephrochronology by secondary ion microprobe analysis of U-Pb zircon crystallization ages, U-Th trace element abundances, and oxygen isotopic composition confirm a correlation between the Bouse Formation tephra and the 4.834 ± 0.011 Ma Lawlor Tuff (^(40)Ar/^(39)Ar eruption age). Zircon in a coeval tephra associated with the Heise volcanic complex in the Snake River Plain has distinctly lower (by ∼4.8‰, δ^(18)O VSMOW [Vienna standard mean ocean water]) oxygen isotopic compositions than zircon from Bouse tephra, and can be ruled out as a source. The ca. 4.834 Ma depositional age for the Bouse Formation tephra in fine-grained sedimentary beds of the flooded Bristol and Blythe subbasins requires widespread Colorado River inundation in the lower Bouse basins at that time.
Effects of Photometric Redshift Uncertainties on Weak-Lensing Tomography

We perform a systematic analysis of the effects of photometric redshift uncertainties on weak-lensing tomography. We describe the photo-z distribution with a bias and Gaussian scatter that are allowed to vary arbitrarily between intervals of δz = 0.1 in redshift. While the mere presence of bias and scatter does not substantially degrade dark energy information, uncertainties in both parameters do. For a fiducial next-generation survey each would need to be known to better than about 0.003-0.01 in redshift for each interval in order to lead to less than a factor of 1.5 increase in the dark energy parameter errors. The more stringent requirement corresponds to a larger dark energy parameter space, when redshift variation in the equation of state of dark energy is allowed. Of order 104-105 galaxies with spectroscopic redshifts fairly sampled from the source galaxy distribution will be needed to achieve this level of calibration. If the sample is composed of multiple galaxy types, a fair sample would be required for each. These requirements increase in stringency for more ambitious surveys; we quantify such scalings with a convenient fitting formula. No single aspect of a photometrically binned selection of galaxies such as their mean or median suffices, indicating that dark energy parameter determinations are sensitive to the shape and nature of outliers in the photo-z redshift distribution.
Internal structure identification for layered medium

One often needs to identify the internal structure of a medium based on measurements from its surface. In many the medium is with layered structure and the measurements are performed by means of reflection wave exploration on the surface. The mathematic model for such a problem is that the measurement signal, i.e., the reflected waves, is a convolution of the exploration wave and the sequence of reflectivity at the interface positions between every two layers. An essentially new approach for this problem is presented in this paper based on blind channel identification theory. According to our method, reflection measurements are performed twice at every exploration point so that a two-channel blind identification model can be constructed for internal structure identification at every such point. If the two exploration waves are different from each other to some extent, they can be estimated based on blind channel identification algorithm, and then the reflectivity sequence can be estimated. An example of seismic prospecting is given in this paper, which demonstrates the effectiveness of our method.
Statistical Issues in the Design and Analysis of Ulcer Healing and Recurrence Studies

Statistical considerations are discussed for a randomized parallel groups study to compare treatments for the healing of ulcers during a specified time period of dosing andfor the avoidance of subsequent ulcer recurrence (in patients with healing) during a follow-up period with no medication. For this study, randomization enables valid comparisons of treatments for the rates of healing during the dosing period and for the cumulative rates of being ulcer-free (ie, healing and no recurrence subsequent to healing) during the combined dosing and follow-up periods. Appropriate methods of analysis include Mantel-Haenszel tests and logistic regression for dichotomous outcomes and their life table counterparts for time to event outcomes. For recurrence rates among patients with healing, the basis for comparisons among treatments is unclear because of potential lack of similarity of treatment groups for risk factors for recurrence at the beginning of the follow-up period. This difficulty can be ad­ dressed by interpreting recurrence rates within treatment groups as descriptive for corresponding populations with healing. Moreover, such descriptions can involve statistical models which account for the effects of risk factors. Consideration is addi­ tionally given to sample size determination and other aspects of the design for a heal­ ing and recurrence study.
A novel technique for micro-patterning proteins and cells on polyacrylamide gels

Spatial patterning of proteins (extracellular matrix, ECM) for living cells on polyacrylamide (PA) hydrogels has been technically challenging due to the compliant nature of the hydrogels and their aqueous environment. A traditional micro-fabrication process is not applicable. Here we report a simple, novel and general method to pattern a variety of commonly used cell adhesion molecules, i.e. fibronectin (FN), laminin (LN), collagen I (CN), etc. on PA gels. The pattern is first printed on a hydrophilic glass using a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) stamp and micro-contact printing (μCP). A pre-polymerization solution is applied on the patterned glass and is then sandwiched by a functionalized glass slide, which covalently binds to the gel. The hydrophilic glass slide is then peeled off from the gel when the protein patterns detach from the glass, but remain intact with the gel. The pattern is thus transferred to the gel. The mechanism of pattern transfer is studied in light of interfacial mechanics. It is found that hydrophilic glass offers a strong enough adhesion with ECM proteins such that a pattern can be printed, but a weak enough adhesion such that they can be completely peeled off by the polymerized gel. This balance is essential for a successful pattern transfer. As a demonstration, lines of FN, LN and CN with widths varying from 5–400 μm are patterned on PA gels. Normal fibroblasts (MKF) are cultured on the gel surfaces. The cell attachment and proliferation are confined within these patterns. The method avoids the use of any toxic chemistry often used to pattern different proteins on gel surfaces.
Toxicogenomics in Risk Assessment

Toxicogenomics is defined as the application of genomic technologies to study the adverse effects of environmental and pharmaceutical chemicals on human health and the environment. It integrates toxicant-specific alterations in gene, protein, and metabolite expression patterns with phenotypic responses of cells, tissues and organisms. These data, depending on the type of data and study design, have the potential for use in various stages of risk assessment; that is, hazard characterization, dose-response assessment and exposure identification. As genomic technologies produce global molecular response data, they provide a new and unique source of information that can inform mode of action, intraspecies variability and susceptibility, interspecies variability and/or cross-species extrapolation, and/or cumulative risk. Considerations and future challenges regarding the use of toxicogenomic data in risk assessment such as variability in response, experimental design, analysis of data, and training, are described, and regulatory agency guidance and efforts in this field are summarized. Keywords: toxicogenomics; risk assessment; microarray; genomic; mode of action; dose response; hazard characterization; exposure assessment; biomarker; bioinformatics; transcriptomics; proteomics; metabolomics; cross-species extrapolation; cumulative risk
Effects of Age on Milk Yield: Time Trends and Method of Adjustment

Abstract Multiplicative adjustment factors for age that were used in the US from 1974 through 1994 were developed from performance records of the 1960s. Rapid genetic improvement and improved management may have altered the relationship between lactation yield and calving age. The purpose of this study was 1) to examine changes in age effects on lactation milk yield over time; 2) to compare multiplicative, additive, or a combined method to adjust records for calving age; and 3) to examine effect of adjustment method on estimates of genetic trend. Data were complete lactation records (n = 765,413) of 383,011 Holsteins from Wisconsin DHI. An animal model was used with fixed effects for herd-year and month of calving by period by age-lactation class and with random effects for EBV, permanent environment, and error. Correction factors were applied additively, multiplicatively, and in combinations. The combination of additive and multiplicative adjustments that minimized heterogeneity of standard deviations within age class was considered to be optimal. The increase in yield that was associated with advancing age and lactation number was greater during recent years than during earlier years, Heterogeneity of standard deviations within age class was nearly minimum with additive adjustment for lactations 1 to 3. For lactations 4 and 5, heterogeneity was not sensitive to method of adjustment; however, multiplicative adjustment was near the optimum. The genetic trend from records with multiplicative adjustment was substantially greater than additive and optimal adjustments, especially during recent years.
High-density optical interconnect exploiting build-up waveguide-on-SLC board

More optical channels have been implemented into computing systems as the system performance keeps increasing. Optical interconnects bring advantage of high data rate density, i.e. large bandwidth with small physical dimensions, as well as large bandwidth x distance product. High data rate density enables tight integration of many optical channels with electronic chips. One technique to implement such high density benefit is a printed circuit board (PCB) integrated with optical waveguides. In this paper, we will present an optical interconnect employing a waveguide- integrated surface laminar circuit (SLC) board. A build-up waveguide layer is formed on a SLC by laminating polymer films. Both optical and electronic chips are flip-chip mounted on the board. Optical signals are coupled with the waveguides by a 45-degree mirror formed on the waveguide. Electrical connections between the chips and the SLC circuits are provided by electrical vias through the waveguide layer. 10 Gbps operation has been demonstrated by a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) mounted on the waveguide-on-SLC board.
Coherent phonons in polycrystalline bismuth film monitored by ultrafast electron diffraction

The generation of coherent phonons in polycrystalline bismuth film is observed by ultrafast time-resolved electron diffraction. The dynamics of the diffracted intensities from the (110), (202), and (024) lattice planes show pronounced oscillations at 130–150 GHz. The anisotropy in the energy transfer rate of coherent optical phonons is discussed.
Simulation and Modeling of Substrate Noise Generation from Synchronous and Asynchronous Digital Logic Circuits

An efficient methodology for simulating the substrate noise generated by complex synchronous and asynchronous digital logic circuits is presented. By simulating digital logic at the gate level, and precharacterizing the gates, the substrate noise generation can be predicted and used in a transistor level simulation of the sensitive analog blocks. This approach is shown to be accurate for both traditional CMOS logic and null convention logic (NCL) by correctly modeling critical gate characteristics. Simulations with different implementations of an 8051 processor core are in good agreement with measurements from a 0.25 mum CMOS test chip.
Improvement of a potential anthrax therapeutic by computational protein design

Past anthrax attacks in the United States have highlighted the need for improved measures against bioweapons. The virulence of anthrax stems from the shielding properties of the Bacillus anthracis poly-γ-d-glutamic acid capsule. In the presence of excess CapD, a B. anthracis γ-glutamyl transpeptidase, the protective capsule is degraded, and the immune system can successfully combat infection. Although CapD shows promise as a next generation protein therapeutic against anthrax, improvements in production, stability, and therapeutic formulation are needed. In this study, we addressed several of these problems through computational protein engineering techniques. We show that circular permutation of CapD improved production properties and dramatically increased kinetic thermostability. At 45 °C, CapD was completely inactive after 5 min, but circularly permuted CapD remained almost entirely active after 30 min. In addition, we identify an amino acid substitution that dramatically decreased transpeptidation activity but not hydrolysis. Subsequently, we show that this mutant had a diminished capsule degradation activity, suggesting that CapD catalyzes capsule degradation through a transpeptidation reaction with endogenous amino acids and peptides in serum rather than hydrolysis.
Comparison of Chemical and Mechanical Prophylaxis of Venous Thromboembolism in Nonsurgical Mechanically Ventilated Patients

Background. Thromboembolic events are major causes of morbidity, and prevention is important. We aimed to compare chemical prophylaxis (CP) and mechanical prophylaxis (MP) as methods of prevention in nonsurgical patients on mechanical ventilation. Methods. We performed a retrospective study of adult patients admitted to the Cooper University Hospital ICU between 2002 and 2010. Patients on one modality of prophylaxis throughout their stay were included. The CP group comprised 329 patients and the MP group 419 patients. The primary outcome was incidence of thromboembolic events. Results. Acuity measured by APACHE II score was comparable between the two groups (p = 0.215). Univariate analysis showed 1 DVT/no PEs in the CP group and 12 DVTs/1 PE in the MP group (p = 0.005). Overall mortality was 34.3% and 50.6%, respectively. ICU LOS was similar. Hospital LOS was shorter in the MP group. Multivariate analysis showed a significantly higher incidence of events in the MP prophylaxis group (odds ratio 9.9). After excluding patients admitted for bleeding in both groups, repeat analysis showed again increased events in the MP group (odds ratio 2.9) but this result did not reach statistical significance. Conclusion. Chemical methods for DVT/PE prophylaxis seem superior to mechanical prophylaxis in nonsurgical patients on mechanical ventilation and should be used when possible.
Emission of Volatile Compounds by Seeds Under Different Environmental Conditions

Abstract Small mammals locate buried wet seeds more efficiently than buried dry seeds. This may be attributable to emission of volatile compounds by the seeds. To test this hypothesis I measured emission of volatile compounds from seeds of three plant species (Pinus contorta, Purshia tridentata and Achnatherum hymenoides) under wet and dry conditions using solid phase micro-extraction, gas chromatography/mass spectrometry headspace analysis. Seeds responded in two ways: (1) wet seeds released different, generally greater, amounts of volatile gas than dry seeds and (2) wet seeds and dry seeds released different compounds. Pinus contorta seeds release greater amounts of three compounds when wet; Purshia tridentata seeds release two compounds when dry that are not released when wet, and release increased amounts of two compounds when wet, and increased amounts of two compounds when dry; Achnatherum hymenoides releases at least 22 compounds, one of which is released in large concentrations when wet. These dat...
Huidobro and the notion of translatability

In one of his manifestoes, “El creacionismo” (published in French in 1924), the Chilean poet Vicente Huidobro claims that the new “creationist” poetry should be translatable and universal (1:736). A desire for universality in poetry is not unusual poets and critics like Shakespeare, Sidney, Shelley, Hoelderlin and Rilke have spoken of the cosmic implications of the poet’s act but the intent to write poems that will be translatable is an anomaly in the history of poetics. We need only recall Frost’s dictum that poetry is “that which gets lost from verse and prose in translation” (Burnshaw, xi), or Whitman’s lines -