cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Development and validation of a casino service quality scale: A holistic approach

Abstract The primary purpose of this inquiry was to reexamine casino service quality scale development in a major U.S. gaming market. A secondary objective was to then examine this relationship with the satisfaction and loyalty constructs, as the structural connection among service quality, customer satisfaction, and customer loyalty has been established as an indicator of retention. This examination fills a research gap by investigating different service factors in casino resort operations with distinct, measurable items. Both exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis were employed in the investigation. The four casino service quality factors that emerged were gaming service, restaurant service, hotel service, and cleanliness. This model clearly deviates from previous attempts at casino service quality scale development, and we posit that the scale in this research is more actionable for managers. Our findings indicated that the second order model, CASQUAL, was directly related to customer loyalty and customer satisfaction.
A multiple surrounding point set approach using Theta* algorithm on eight-neighbor grid graphs

Abstract Path planning on grid graphs has been studied for decades in several applications such as robotics and computer games. However, the process for determining short paths can still be inefficient on large grid graphs. The SPS (Surrounding Point Set) method has made it efficient by considering only a few unblocked cells. Since eight-neighbor grid graphs do not provide sufficient connectivity for SPS, it found a path on a graph where two cells are connected with an edge within a given density bound. However, verifying whether the resulting edges are blocked is time-consuming; further, it is unclear which density bound to use and restrictive to allow only edges within the bound. To address these limitations, we propose a multi-SPS with Theta* that uses eight-neighbor grid graphs, allows distant connectivity by Theta*, and improves the SPS by considering more obstacles between the start and goal cells. Our experimental results demonstrate that compared with the existing path planning algorithms , multi-SPS with Theta* and variants of Theta* can run faster and obtain similar path lengths. The results also demonstrate the beneficial effect for Theta* in that the expensive runtime of Theta* can be reduced by the SPS approach.
Increased 5HT2A Receptors and Impaired Phosphoinositide Signaling in the Postmortem Brain of Suicide Victims

Abnormalities in the serotonergic system have been implicated in suicidal behavior; however, the neurobiology of teenage suicide is relatively unexplored. We have studied 5HT2A receptors, phospholipase C (PLC), and protein kinase C (PKC), which are important components of the phosphoinositide (PI) signaling system and to which 5HT2A receptors are linked, in the postmortem brain of teenage suicide victims and nonpsychiatric controls. We found that the number of binding sites (Bmax) for the 5HT2A receptor were increased without any change in the affinity in the membrane fraction and that [3H]PDBu binding to PKC was decreased in the membrane and cytosol fractions of prefrontal cortex of teenage suicide victims as compared to nonpsychiatric control subjects. We also found that the mean PI-PLC activity was significantly decreased in both the membranal and cytosolic fractions of the prefrontal cortex of teenage suicide victims as compared to nonpsychiatric control subjects, and this decrease was accompanied with selective decrease in the immunolabeling of PLC β1 isozyme without any significant change in PLC-δ1 or PLC-γ1 These studies thus indicate that the 5HT2A receptors, PKC, and PLC are altered in teenage suicides such that the phosphoinositide signaling system to which 5HT2A receptors are linked appear to be impaired in these individuals.
The differential rotation and evolution of spots on UX Arietis from a sequence of Doppler images

We present a sequence of three Doppler images of the spotted RS CVn star UX Arietis obtained over a 5-month interval from August 1986 through January 1987. The spot distribution was quite complex and consisted of a large stable polar spot, a spot near the equator, and several other spots at intermediate positive and negative latitudes. The time intervals between successive images were small enough that we were able to reliably track the evolution of the spot distribution, measuring accurate longitudes, latitudes, and areas of the major spots, as well as their drift rates in longitude and latitude. The longitudinal drifts of spot features at equatorial, intermediate, and high latitudes yielded an accurate measurement of differential rotation. We find that the spotted primary of UX Arietis is indeed rotating differentially and in the sense opposite to that of the Sun, i.e. the poles rotate faster than the equator. The equator is synchronized to the orbital angular velocity, and the angular velocity increases towards either pole. The angular velocity distribution can be expressed as Ω(°/day) = −55.91 + 1.09(±0.09) sin2φ, where φ is the latitude. The amount of differential rotation, parameterized as the ratio of the difference between the equatorial and polar angular velocities to the equatorial angular velocity, is then α = −0.020(±0.002), as compared to a value of α = +0.2 for the Sun.
Abstract NS5: Early Infection Worsens ICH

Background: Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is a dynamic disease in which coagulopathy, early re-bleeds, and tissue ischemia account for potential decline. Infection is known to contribute to coagulopathy and ischemia and may be a significant source of early decline and worse initial clinical presentation. Hypothesis: Infection within 72 hours is an independent marker of early decline in hemorrhagic stroke. Methods: To validate our hypothesis, we retrospectively analyzed infection and ICH presentation in 53 ICH patients at Houston Methodist Hospital from 2011-2013. We used the Glasgow Coma Score (GCS) on admission and the ICH Score as the primary outcome data on the severity of the initial clinical presentation of ICH patients. We considered the following diagnostic measures to determine infection within 72 hours: fever, leukocytosis, positive blood culture, positive urinalysis, positive chest X-ray, and use of non-prophylactic antibiotics. If any one of the diagnostic measures was positive then we counted...
The B. subtilis accessory helicase PcrA facilitates replication through transcription units genome-wide (LB126)

In bacteria, transcription and DNA replication occur concurrently, inevitably causing replication-transcription conflicts. Conflicts can occur both co-directionally (leading strand genes) and head-on (lagging strand genes), leading to replisome stalling and restart. Because the majority of genes are co-oriented with replication in most bacteria, co-directional conflicts are expected to be highly prevalent, impacting replication speed and genomic stability. Consequently, mechanisms that deal with these conflicts should be critical for the timely and accurate duplication of genomes. Here we report that the essential Bacillus subtilis accessory helicase, PcrA, mitigates both co-directional and head-on conflicts between the replication and transcription machineries. Using ChIP-seq, we have identified genomic regions where PcrA associates and facilitates replication progression. We find that PcrA predominantly associates with co-directional rDNA and tRNA genes, in a transcription-dependent manner. When PcrA is...
An $L^p$ a priori estimate for the Tricomi equation in the upper half space

We establish an LP a priori estimate for the Tricomi equation. Our main tool is Mihlin's multiplier theorem combined with well-known estimates of the Newtonian potential. 0. INTRODUCTION The purpose of this paper is to establish an LP a priori estimate for the Tricomi equation in the upper half-space. The Tricomi equation arises in transonic gas dynamics, and is a typical model equation of changing type. It has been extensively investigated from the various viewpoints. The Tricomi equation can be interpreted as an elliptic equation which degenerates on the boundary, which is our viewpoint in this paper. We can formulate the Dirichlet boundary value problem in the upper half-space as follows. 02 + Yacuz=f, in R+ (0.2) u(0,x) = (x), on MT, where R+ {(y, x) : y > 0, x E Rn-} and /x is the Laplacian in the x variable. An L2 a priori estimate can be obtained very easily. Following the presentation in [8], we suppose that u E Co (Rn), and multiply the equation (0.1) by &92U Then, we integrate over R,r to obtain (0.3) IR ( dy2x)2Jj+ V dydx Rn-1 o 9Y2 Rn-1 o a'y 2IRn1l |Vq$ dx + j-1 f ,3 dydx, where Vx stands for the gradient in x E R n-. This yields (0.4) 2U + \F 1 +YX 4Y21 L2(Rn) Dy L2(Rn) L2(Rn) < M(||f 1|L2(Rn) + 11VX01iL2(Rn-1))7 Received by the editors December 30, 1996 and, in revised form, February 10, 1998. 1991 Mathematics Subject Classification. Primary 35J70, 35B45.
Longitudinal dichotic listening patterns for aphasic patients. III: Relationship to language and memory variables

Longitudinal dichotic scores were obtained for aphasic patients for whom extensive language and memory data were also available. Severity of language impairments was related to ear advantage, but this occurred because larger lesions yielded more severe language impairments and were more likely to involve Heschl's gyrus. Extent of language recovery was not related to changes in ear dominance. Relationships that occurred generally supported a functional-anatomical interpretation which stressed the importance of the integrity of the posterior superior temporal lobe to performance both on dichotic tests and on specific language or memory tests.
A study on the improving product usability applying the kano's model of customer satisfaction

User-Centeredness is the popular approach for achieving users' satisfaction. Nevertheless, when considering profit optimization under economy efficiency and the limit of development period, it is almost impossible to apply solutions to all the usability problems reported during the test. Therefore, the strategic approach is required to maximize the perceived usability under the limited circumstance. Physical User Interaction (PUI) is defined as the physical side view of the usability and the broader concept of the usability. In this research, we constructed UI guidelines for PUI (Physical Usability Interaction) of mobile phone reflecting the user's value. This research applied the Kano's model of customers' satisfaction to classify the PUI guidelines into two groups. One is the design standards which must be satisfied to guarantee the minimum satisfaction. The other is the value-adding criteria to hold a dominant position compared to competitive product. From this categorization, we could use the PUI design guidelines not only for evaluating current product quality, but also for finding the direction of strategic value improvement.
A conformal decomposition finite element method for arbitrary discontinuities on moving interfaces

SUMMARY Interface capturing methods using enriched finite element formulations are well suited for solving multimaterial transport problems that contain weak or strong discontinuities. The conformal decomposition FEM decomposes multimaterial elements of a non-conforming background mesh into sub-elements that conform to material interfaces captured using a level set method. As the interface evolves, interfacial nodes move, and background nodes may change material. The present work describes approaches for handling moving interfaces in the context of the conformal decomposition FEM for both weakly and strongly discontinuous fields. Dynamic discretization methods using extrapolation and moving mesh approaches are considered and developed with first-order and second-order time integration methods. The moving mesh approach is demonstrated to be a stable method that preserves both weak and strong discontinuities on a variety of one-dimensional and two-dimensional test problems, while achieving the expected second-order error convergence rate in space and time. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Service systems, service scientists, SSME, and innovation

Computer scientists work with formal models of algorithms and computation, and someday service scientists may work with formal models of service systems. The four examples here document some of the early efforts to establish a new academic discipline and new profession.
Commentary: Writing about Clients: Ethical and Professional Issues in Clinical Case Reports

From the standpoint of a former journal editor and long-time professional, this commentary challenges the direction of the profession as demonstrated in this special section. The ongoing creation of more and more ethical constraints not only harms the profession but also loses sight of fundamental ethical principles.
Heat Budget of the Siberian High and the Winter Monsoon

Abstract The heat budget of the Siberian high is investigated by using a compositing method. Ninteen cases of strong Siberian highs that moved over China from the northwest were selected from datasets covering five winters (December through February of 1980–1984). The apparent heat source (Q1)and the apparent moisture sink (Q2) were estimated via budget calculations. The diabatic heating terms were also calculated via direct use of physical parameterization schemes. The vertical transports of sensible and latent heat from subgrid-scale of motions were estimated as residuals from the thermodynamic energy equation. Over the region of the region of the Siberian high, strong radiative cooling and large-scale descending motion (with large-scale mass convergence over the upper and middle tropospheric and divergence over the lower troposphere) contributes to a rapid buildup of the Siberian high. Heating in the upper troposphere due to subgrid-scale sensible heat transfer is also an important factor in the mainte...
Interactions of 6,7-3H-17β-Estradiol with the Mouse Lactating Mammary Tissue in Vivo and in Vitro

The soluble supernatant fraction of the lactating mammary glands contain a 3H-17β- estradiol binding protein with an identical sedimentation coefficient to the uterine estrogen receptor. The binding protein of the mammary gland has a disassociation constant for 17β-estradiol of 10-10M and the binding is specific for estrogenic compounds only. The number of estrogen receptors is estimated to be -5OOO/cell. Nuclei of the lactating mammary gland do not bind 3H-17β-estradiol specifically under cell-free conditions but are able to retain the labeled hormone specifically under in vivo conditions. Our studies on the interaction of cytoplasmic and nuclear binding sites suggest that the nuclear localization of the hormone is dependent on an initial interaction of the hormone with the cytoplasmic receptors. (Endocrinology 91: 861, 1972)
Specializations of Pascal's theorem on an oval

An oval C In a projective plane is a set of triply noncollinear points such that each point of C is on exactly one line which contains no other point of C. An oval has the Pascalian property if each of its hexagons has collinear diagonal points. The author considers those hexagons in which at least two vertices coincide and shows that if every hexagon in this class of 5-point hexagons is Pascalian then the oval has the Pascalian property. Therefore, the 5-point Pascalian property is equivalent to the full Pascalian property. The proof makes use of the coordinatization found in Artzy [1, 2].
Modification of radiant enclosure equations for third generation digital computers

The purpose of the Note is to demonstrate the effect on nozzle performance predictions of using the drag laws devised before data were available. The calculations were performed using a computer program1 for one-dimensional two-phase flow with chamber conditions typical of a solid-propellant motor and chamber pressures ranging between 100 and 1000 psia. Mass median particle sizes as measured by tank collection tests1 from subscale motors were used in the calculations at the various pressure levels. Vacuum specific impulses of a nozzle with a 40:1 expansion ratio and a 1.2-in. diam. throat were calculated employing the various drag laws. The percentage difference in nozzle performance predictions resulting from using each devised drag law and that validated by experiment [Eq. (5) ] is illustrated in Fig. 2. At low-pressure levels the drag law used by Kliegel leads to a performance prediction which is 1% too high whereas the use of the other two drag laws results in very small differences in performance prediction. At the high-pressure levels, where rarefaction effects are less significant, Carlson's law results in the least accurate prediction although still less than 0.5%. Performing the same calculations for larger nozzles shows that the choice of drag law has even less effect on performance predictions because of reduced two-phase flow losses with increased nozzle scale. Using the drag coefficient for a sphere in incompressibl e flow as the drag law in the flow analysis of the same nozzle considered previously results in a vacuum specific impulse which is 3.7% too high at a chamber pressure of 100 psia. An inaccuracy of this magnitude would lead to an intolerable 10-12 point error in the specific impulse prediction of a high-performance low-pressure motor to operate in a space environment, thereby showing the importance of accounting for flow-rarefaction effects. In conclusion, the drag laws devised before data were available to account for rarefaction effects have not led to large errors in specific impulse predictions. Thus discrepancies between predicted and measured nozzle performance which, in the past, were attributed to lack of knowledge of the particle drag coefficient were likely a result of the still unresolved problem of condensed-phase particle size.
Lignin geochemistry of a Late Quaternary sediment core from Lake Washington

Long-term lignin stability and paleovegetation patterns were investigated using CuO oxidation products of sediments from an 11 m core of Late Quaternary sediment collected from the mid-basin of Lake Washington, Washington State. Relatively constant yields of lignin-derived phenols (normalized to organic carbon) from the entire core indicate minimal in situ lignin degradation over the last 13,000 years. Compositional patterns within the phenolic suite and increased corresponding yields from baseextracted sediments indicate that sedimentary lignins are present predominantly as well preserved plant tissue fragments. Abundance patterns of vanillyl, syringyl, and cinnamyl phenols record four distinct sequences within the core characterized by: 1. (a) high concentrations of gymnosperm wood in a basal horizon of glacial flour, 11-10 m; 2. (b) an essentially pure mixture of nonwoody angiosperm tissues in late Pleistocene sediments, 10-8 m; 3. (c) relatively high concentrations of angiosperm woods in the bottom half of a limnic peat sequence deposited approximately 10,000–7,000 years B.P., 8-4 m; and 4. (d) a progressive enrichment in gymnosperm woods at the expense of angiosperm woods over the last 7,000 years in the upper limnic peat, 4-0 m. Vascular plant tissues account for less than half the total sedimentary organic carbon throughout the core.
Dispersion tests and adjustments for survival and case-control studies

Cox and Snell have pointed out that when the empirical variance of a measured response y is quite different from its nominal variance under an assumed probability model, standard errors that are not adjusted for the discrepancy may yield misleading inferences. This article describes a test for assessing departures from nominal dispersion in survival analysis and case-control studies. Also, a robust procedure for adjusting standard errors for these models is given.
NF-κB-mediated integrin-linked kinase regulation in angiotensin II-induced pro-fibrotic process in cardiac fibroblasts.

Abstract Aims Cardiac fibrosis is a final outcome of many clinical conditions that lead to cardiac failure and is characterized by a progressive substitution of cellular elements by extracellular-matrix proteins, such as collagen type I, collagen type II, connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), etc. The aim of this study was to identify the mechanisms responsible for angiotensin II (Ang II)-stimulated cardiac fibrosis using rat neonatal cardiac fibroblasts. Main methods Neonatal fibroblasts were transfected with IκBα mutant, constitutively active (ca) integrin-linked kinase (ILK), dominant negative of ILK and small interfering RNA (siRNA) of ILK in the presence and absence of Ang-II stimulation. The pro-fibrotic gene expression and protein levels were determined by quantitative real time PCR and western blotting using their specific probes and antibodies. NF-κB translocation was determined by immunocytochemistry and confocal microscopy images were analyzed. Key findings Our results indicate that overexpression of ILK promotes a pro-fibrotic process by upregulating collagen type I and CTGF genes via activation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) in cardiac fibroblasts. Inactivation of either NF-κB by the super-repressor IκBα or ILK by siRNA significantly attenuates the pro-fibrotic process. Moreover, ILK overexpression triggers NF-κB-p65 translocation to the nucleus, and ILK inhibition prevents the translocation in cardiac fibroblasts stimulated with Ang II. Significance Our data suggest that the Ang II-stimulated pro-fibrotic process is regulated by a complex mechanism involving crosstalk between ILK and NF-κB activation. This dual mechanism may play a critical role in the progression of cardiac fibrosis.
Transesophageal Doppler echocardiographic demonstration of pulmonary venous flow velocity in restrictive cardiomyopathy and constrictive pericarditis.

Restrictive cardiomyopathy and constrictive pericarditis are indolent disabling diseases of diastolic cardiac function. Both are characterized by high vena caval and pulmonary venous pressures and low cardiac output. Because the history and physical examination of these diseases are often similar, separating them on an anatomic basis requires the use of chest x-ray, echocardiography, computerized tomographic scanning or magnetic resonance imaging. On a physiologic basis, intracardiac pressure measurements at cardiac catheterization and digitized analysis of ventricular filling imaged using contrast or radionuclide ventriculography or echocardiography can occasionally differentiate the 2 diseases. Unfortunately, when these tests are equivocal, making the definitive diagnosis requires myocardial biopsy or exploratory thoracotomy.1 Doppler echocardiography has been used to study vena caval and atrioventricular valvular flow velocities in both constrictive pericarditis and restrictive cardiomyopathy.2,3 Pulmonary venous flow velocities have been described in patients with constrictive pericarditis before and after pericardiectomy.4 This report describes the Doppler-derived pulmonary venous flow velocity pattern in patients with restrictive cardiomyopathy, compares this pattern with that of patients with constrictive pericarditis and introduces this technique for the differentiation of restrictive cardiomyopathy from constrictive pericarditis.
Purification and quantification of L-selectin-reactive GlyCAM-1 from mouse serum

Abstract GlyCAM-1 is an endothelial-derived mucin found in the conditioned medium of organ-cultured lymph nodes and in serum. It is a ligand for L-selectin, but also interacts with P- and E-selectin. It may play a role in the modulation of leukocyte trafficking into secondary lymphoid tissues as well as chronic inflammatory sites. Here we report the development of an ELISA that quantifies GlyCAM-1 in complex biological fluids such as serum. The ELISA response is linear over a concentration range of 13–800 ng/ml. The level of GlyCAM-1 in mouse serum was found to be 1.3–1.6 μg/ml. Using mouse serum as starting material, we report a rapid and efficient purification scheme for the isolation of biologically active GlyCAM-1. This material may now be used to address the biological functions of GlyCAM-1 and to further define its structural features.
Population distribution models: species distributions are better modeled using biologically relevant data partitions

Predicting the geographic distribution of widespread species through modeling is problematic for several reasons including high rates of omission errors. One potential source of error for modeling widespread species is that subspecies and/or races of species are frequently pooled for analyses, which may mask biologically relevant spatial variation within the distribution of a single widespread species. We contrast a presence-only maximum entropy model for the widely distributed oldfield mouse (Peromyscus polionotus) that includes all available presence locations for this species, with two composite maximum entropy models. The composite models either subdivided the total species distribution into four geographic quadrants or by fifteen subspecies to capture spatially relevant variation in P. polionotus distributions. Despite high Area Under the ROC Curve (AUC) values for all models, the composite species distribution model of P. polionotus generated from individual subspecies models represented the known distribution of the species much better than did the models produced by partitioning data into geographic quadrants or modeling the whole species as a single unit. Because the AUC values failed to describe the differences in the predictability of the three modeling strategies, we suggest using omission curves in addition to AUC values to assess model performance. Dividing the data of a widespread species into biologically relevant partitions greatly increased the performance of our distribution model; therefore, this approach may prove to be quite practical and informative for a wide range of modeling applications.
Statistical Inference Using Maximum Likelihood Estimation and the Generalized Likelihood Ratio when the True Parameter is on the Boundary of the Parameter Space

Abstract The classic asymptotic properties of the maximum likelihood estimator and generalized likelihood ratio statistic do not hold when the true parameter is on the boundary of the parameter space. An inferential procedure based on an enlarged parameter space is shown to have the classical asymptotic properties. Some other competing procedures are also examined.
Angiotensin-(1-7) Abolishes AGE-Induced Cellular Hypertrophy and Myofibroblast Transformation via Inhibition of ERK1/2

Abstract Angiotensin-(1–7) (Ang-(1–7))/AT 7 -Mas receptor axis is an alternative pathway within the renin–angiotensin system (RAS) that generally opposes the actions of Ang II/AT 1 receptor pathway. Advanced glycated end product (AGEs) including glucose- and methylglyoxal-modified albumin (MGA) may contribute to the development and progression of diabetic nephropathy in part through activation of the Ang II/AT 1 receptor system; however, the influence of AGE on the Ang-(1–7) arm of the RAS within the kidney is unclear. The present study assessed the impact of AGE on the Ang-(1–7) axis in NRK-52E renal epithelial cells. MGA exposure for 48 h significantly reduced the intracellular levels of Ang-(1–7) approximately 50%; however, Ang I or Ang II expression was not altered. The reduced cellular content of Ang-(1–7) was associated with increased metabolism of the peptide to the inactive metabolite Ang-(1–4) [MGA: 175 ± 9 vs. Control: 115 ± 11 fmol/min/mg protein, p 7 -Mas receptor antagonist D-Ala 7 -Ang-(1–7) abolished the inhibitory actions of Ang-(1–7). In contrast, AT 1 receptor antagonist losartan did not attenuate the MGA-induced effects. We conclude that Ang-(1–7) may provide an additional therapeutic approach to the conventional RAS blockade regimen to attenuate AGE-dependent renal injury.
Survival of Island flaps after tissue expansion: a pig model

Survival of island flaps after tissue expansion has been studied. Expanders were placed under each buttock flap of six minipigs and one side was expanded while the other was left empty as a control. Both flaps were then raised and isolated on their vascular pedicles in order to compare flap survival 7 days later. It was found that the survival lengths of the expanded flaps were approximately 50 percent greater than those of the delayed controls. Microangiography suggested that the diameter of the axial artery increased following expansion. In clinical practice this technique would provide a larger flap for reconstruction and the possibility of direct closure of the donor site. In addition, the observed increase in vessel caliber should facilitate the free tissue transfer of expanded flaps.
Calorimetric determination of the solution affinity of YbCl3 for HMPA in tetrahydrofuran

Abstract Isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) is employed to determine the energetics and stoichiometry of binding of HMPA to YbCl3 in THF. The calorimetrically obtained stoichiometry for the trivalent ytterbium/HMPA complex agrees with the previously reported crystal structure.
Highly conductive electrospun carbon nanofiber/MnO2 coaxial nano-cables for high energy and power density supercapacitors

Abstract This paper presents highly conductive carbon nanofiber/MnO2 coaxial cables in which individual electrospun carbon nanofibers are coated with an ultrathin hierarchical MnO2 layer. In the hierarchical MnO2 structure, an around 4 nm thick sheath surrounds the carbon nanofiber (CNF) in a diameter of 200 nm, and nano-whiskers grow radically outward from the sheath in view of the cross-section of the coaxial cables, giving a high specific surface area of MnO2. The CNFs are synthesized by electrospinning a precursor containing iron acetylacetonate (AAI). The addition of AAI not only enlarges the specific surface area of the CNF but also greatly enhances their electronic conductivity, which leads to a dramatic improvement in the specific capacitance and the rate capability of the CNF/MnO2 electrode. The AAI-CNF/MnO2 electrode shows a specific capacitance of 311 F g−1 for the whole electrode and 900 F g−1 for the MnO2 shell at a scan rate of 2 mV s−1. Good cycling stability, high energy density (80.2 Wh kg−1) and high power density (57.7 kW kg−1) are achieved. This work indicates that high electronic conductivity of the electrode material is crucial to achieving high power and energy density for pseudo-supercapacitors.
Early experience with the artificial nipple

The present study examined the newborn pup's responsiveness to artificial nipples that differed in length and width. In a series of experiments, pups were: exposed to a long (5.0 mm), thin (1.0 mm) nipple or a short (2.0 mm), fat (2.5 mm) nipple and their immediate behavioral responses including oral grasping were recorded and quantified (Experiment 1); preexposed to one artificial nipple and then reexposed to another artificial nipple to determine how early nipple experience affected subsequent responding to the artificial nipple (Experiment 2); videotaped to characterize details of oral grasping and to develop a technique for measuring depth of nipple entry into the pup's mouth (Experiment 3a); provided early nipple experience to see how depth of nipple entry into the pup's mouth changed when pups were reexposed to another artificial nipple (Experiment 3b); and exposed to an artificial nipple to determine how early nipple experience changed the pattern of oral grasping and ingestion of milk from a surrogate nipple (Experiment 4).
Do microbes with peptides mimicking myelin cause multiple sclerosis if the T cell response to their unique peptides is limited

This hypothesis for the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis is based upon assumptions about the response of the T cell repertoire to pathogens. Immunologic and epidemiologic observations of several conditions suggest that activation of T cells formed in early life mediate injury to the central nervous system. Early in life, selection of lymphocytes by the thymus produces a weakly autoreactive T cell repertoire which, with the help of transient maternally-derived defenses, recognizes pathogens. These responses later are supplemented by pathogen-specific responses, acquired as microbes are encountered. As the thymus involutes, the diversity of pathogen-specific responses to microbial epitopes is progressively fixed. Reduced and delayed pathogen exposure, common in developed societies, limits the repertoire of memory T cells, which can efficiently eliminate pathogens. Due to their small number, pathogen-specific lymphocytes which mature extrathymically may not be able to rapidly eliminate most pathogens, and without the editing of the thymus, they may be autoreactive. In this setting, novel pathogens with epitopes mimicking myelin may elicit a T cell response which is autoreactive. Peptides of common microbes are known to activate T cells recognizing dominant antigens of myelin. It is postulated that at the equator, intense, non-seasonal encounters with microbes elicit an immune repertoire that produces resistance to autoimmunity, while, in temperate climates, moderate, seasonal exposures increase susceptibility to it. The differences in responses to microbes between populations with a low or high prevalence of multiple sclerosis suggests that T cell repertoires are divergent in these groups. An exuberant innate response, postulated to diminish as the load of enteric microbes falls and sanitation improves in relation to the distance from the equator, may increase resistance to multiple sclerosis by eliminating the need for T cell activation. Human herpesvirus-6 and respiratory syncytial virus are possible prototypes of microbes which activate myelin-directed T cells.
Study of the φ4-model with Yukawa coupling and dynamical fermions

Abstract We study the one-component φ 4 -model with Yukawa coupling and dynamical fermions. The unbiased Hybrid Monte Carlo algorithm is applied to this model for the first time. Our results show that inside the broken symmetry phase all the measured quantities change continuously when the bare Yukawa coupling Y is increased and the fermion sector behaves approximately like a free fermion with mass m f related to the scalar field vacuum expectation value 〈 φ 〉 by m f = Y 〈 φ 〉 even for large Y . We do not find evidence for a phase transition induced by large Y inside the broken symmetry phase. We also present a method to simulate the effective potential in the presence of dynamical fermions. For small Y , we demonstrate that the measured effective potential agrees well with lowest order perturbative calculation in Y .
Biophysical and social barriers restrict water quality improvements in the Mississippi River Basin

in the Mississippi River Basin Mark B. David,*,† Courtney G. Flint,‡ Gregory F. McIsaac,† Lowell E. Gentry,† Mallory K. Dolan,‡ and George F. Czapar †Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, University of Illinois , W503 Turner Hall, 1102 S. Goodwin Avenue, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States ‡Department of Sociology, Social Work & Anthropology, Utah State University, 0730 Old Main Hill, Logan, Utah 84322-0730, United States Illinois State Water SurveyPrairie Research Institute, University of Illinois, 2204 Griffith Dr., Champaign, Illinois 61820-7495, United States
An Application of the Stock Adjustment Model in Estimating Employment Multipliers for the South Central Louisiana Petroleum Economy 1964–84

The South Central Louisiana Petroleum Economy received an economic rent from its petroleum resources during the energy crisis of the 1970s and early 80s. A differential export-base model incorporating a geometric lag was developed for estimating dynamic employment multipliers. This technique is especially applicable to regional economies in which exports are a major economic factor. Employment multipliers were estimated using ordinary least squares (OLS) regression. Results from the analysis indicate that agriculture, oil and gas mining, and manufacturing are highly significant employment generators. Both long-run and short-run employment multipliers were derived from the model. It is estimated that a five-dollar change in the real price of crude oil will result in a long-run employment change of 8,027 for the oil and gas mining industry. Based on estimates of the long-run multiplier, this will result in a total employment change of 28,014 for this economy.
Development of a Micropyrolyzer for Enhanced Isotope Ratio Measurement

This paper presents design, fabrication, and testing of a microscale ceramic reactor for the pyrolysis of organic compounds. One application for this pyrolysis reactor is to convert the oxygen and hydrogen atoms in organic compounds to CO and H2 for isotope ratio measurements in a continuous flow mode. Existing commercial pyrolyzers use high carrier gas flow rates (typically 80−100 mL/min) such that >95% of the CO and H2 produced from a given sample is vented before introduction into the mass spectrometer. We describe here the fabrication and testing of a microscale pyrolysis reactor designed to be compatible with existing isotope ratio mass spectrometers. The microreactor uses carrier gas flow rates of 3−5 mL/min, decreasing the proportion of the CO and H2 lost in venting and permitting analysis of samples 20−50 times smaller than can be analyzed with conventional pyrolysis reactors. Results have shown that organic compounds, such as 1-butanol, ethanol, and ethanolamine, can be fully decomposed to desire...
Selective silicification of fossils by syntaxial overgrowths on quartz sand, Oriskany Sandstone (Lower Devonian), New York

Abstract Some fossil fragments in the Oriskany Sandstone (Lower Devonian) of New York were partially replaced by syntaxial quartz overgrowths. These replacive overgrowths are significant in that they provide insights into the mechanism and controls of quartz replacement of calcite. The susceptibility of the different calcite types of quartz replacement was governed by their microstructural complexity. Fossil fragments with finely crystalline microstructures, such as brachiopods, ostracods, and bryozoans, were partially replaced by quartz, whereas echinoderm ossicles, which consist of single large calcite crystals, were not replaced. Calcite cement was also immune to replacement. Brachiopod, bryozoan, and ostracod bioclasts (with minor exceptions) underwent partial replacement by quartz (with its concomitant shell calcite dissolution) only where the shell fragments were in contact with detrital quartz grains. Proximity to authigenic crystal nucleation sites (i.e., quartz sand grains) was thus the prime control over whether host mineral dissolution occurred, which is a situation unique to the force of crystallization-driven replacement mechanism.
Insulin receptor overexpression in a human pre-B acute lymphocytic leukemia cell line with a t(1;19) chromosome translocation near the INSR locus.

Abstract Human pre-B acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) cell line 697 contains a disease-specific chromosomal translocation, t(1;19), near the insulin receptor locus (INSR). Insulin binding, insulin receptor kinase and cell surface immunofluorescence experiments all show that 697 cells express more surface insulin receptors than 207 cells, a line of pre-B ALL cells that lack the t(1;19). Northern blot analysis confirms that 697 cells have increased levels of mRNA for the insulin receptor. Gene dosage and in situ hybridization analysis indicate that only two copies of the INSR locus are present in 697 cells, one on the translocation chromosome and one on the normal chromosome 19. The results described here demonstrate that transcriptional up-regulation of the INSR locus is correlated with the t(1;19) translocation found in human pre-B ALL cell line 697.
Reaction Of 3-(Dimethylamino)-2-Azaprop-2-En-1-Ylidene Dimethylammonium Chloride With Grignard-Reagents

Abstract We recently reported1 that [3-(Dimethylamino)-2-azaprop-2-en-1-ylidene] dimethylammonium chloride2 (1) could be reacted with anions derived from ketones or amides to produce enaminones or acylamidines, respectively.
Examining the association between cigarette smoking and colorectal cancer using historical case-control data.

Background: The majority of recent, well-designed studies have shown that long-term cigarette smoking increases colorectal cancer risk, but older studies with shorter durations of exposure often found no association. This study aimed to examine colorectal cancer risk by smoking exposure using data collected in the late-1950s and early-1960s. Methods: This case–control study examined colorectal cancer risk by lifetime smoking history. There were 1365 patients who visited Roswell Park Cancer Institute (RPCI) between 1957 and 1965 diagnosed with primary, incident colorectal cancers that were matched to 4096 malignancy-free controls on gender and age. Odds ratios were calculated using separate logistic regression models for each smoking exposure, while controlling for other tobacco use, county of residence, race, age, gender, and body mass index (BMI). Results: The adjusted OR for individuals who reported their greatest level of smoking to be more than 1 pack/day was 0.87 (95% CI = 0.67–1.15). Among those who smoked 42 or more years, the adjusted OR was 0.89 (95% CI = 0.68–1.15) compared to those who never smoked. For individuals who smoked more than 45 pack-years, the OR was 0.92 (95% CI = 0.72–1.19). The results did not differ significantly by gender, although men had considerably greater exposure compared to women. Results also did not differ by colorectal sub-site. Conclusion :N o association was found between long-term cigarette smoking and colorectal cancer risk. These results are in accord with studies that followed cohorts throughout the 1950s and 1960s. Methodological limitations, such as missing data on covariates and the higher incidence of smoking-related illness in a hospital setting, may have contributed to the null results found in this study. Prolonged population exposure to cigarettes and perhaps a changing product may explain why more recent studies have reported a positive association between smoking and colorectal cancer.
On approximate large strain relations for a shell of revolution

Abstract A series of geometric and constitutive relations is studied for large axisymmetric strain of elastic shells of revolution. The kinematic assumption employs a modified Kirchhoff hypothesis which accounts for thickness changes but neglects transverse shear deformation. Calculations are presented for cylindrical and spherical shells composed of incompressible materials with two types of strain energy density function: Mooney-Rivlin (rubber) and exponential (biological tissue). Comparison of results for large bending at a clamped edge demonstrates the accuracy and limitations of various approximations for stress and strain. The computations indicate that the stress resultants are quite sensitive to the details of the asymmetric motion of points relative to the reference surface.
Verification of statistical-overlap theory in micellar electrokinetic chromatography

The limited peak capacity of neutral compounds in micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC) causes peak overlap in a simple 38-compound sample that is predicted by statistical-overlap theory (SOT). The low-concentration sample was prepared in-house from several compound classes to span the entire migration-time range and was resolved partially in a pH=7 phosphate buffer containing 50 mM sodium dodecyl sulfate. Peaks, singlets, doublets, and other multiplets were identified on the basis of known migration times and were counted at 13 voltages spanning 4 – 26 kV. These numbers agreed well with predictions of a simple SOT based on the assumption of an inhomogeneous Poisson distribution of migration times. Because the dispersion theory of MEKC is simple, the standard deviations of single-component peaks were modeled theoretically. As part of a new way to implement SOT, probability distributions of the numbers of peaks, singlets, and so on, were computed by Monte Carlo simulation. These distributions contain all theoretical information on peak multiplicity predictable by SOT and were used to evaluate the agreement between experiment and theory. The peak capacity of MEKC was calculated numerically and substituted into the simplest equations in SOT, affirming that peak overlap arises from limited peak capacity.
Association between Cystatin C and MRI Measures of Left Ventricular Structure and Function: Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis

Introduction. Reduced kidney function, approximated by elevated cystatin C, is associated with diastolic dysfunction, heart failure, and cardiovascular mortality; however, the precise mechanism(s) that account for these relationships remains unclear. Understanding the relationship between cystatin C and subclinical left ventricular (LV) remodeling, across ethnically diverse populations, may help explain the mechanisms underlying the association of kidney dysfunction with heart failure and cardiovascular mortality. Methods. Measures of cystatin C and LV parameters were obtained from the multi-ethnic study of atherosclerosis (MESA) cohort at baseline ( with complete data on cystatin C and LV parameters). LV parameters; LV end-diastolic (LVEDV) and end-systolic volumes (LVESV), LV mass (LVM), concentricity (LV mass/LV end-diastolic volume), and LV ejection fraction (LVEF) were measured using magnetic resonance imaging. Nested linear models were used to examine the relationship between higher quartiles of cystatin C and LV parameters, with and without adjustment for demographics, height, and weight, and traditional cardiovascular risk factors. Similar analyses were performed stratified by ethnicity and gender. Results. A fully adjusted model demonstrated a linear relationship between higher quartiles of cystatin C and lower LVEDV, (Mean ± SE, 128 ± 0.7, 128 ± 0.7, 126 ± 0.7, 124 ± 0.8 mL; ). Associations were also observed between higher quartiles of cystatin C and lower LVESV () and concentricity (). In contrast, no association was detected between cystatin C and LVM or LVEF. In analyses stratified by race and gender, the patterns of association between cystatin C quartiles and LV parameters were qualitatively similar to the overall association. Conclusion. Cystatin C levels were inversely associated with LVEDV and LVESV with a disproportionate decrease in LVEDV compared to LVM in a multi-ethnic population. This morphometric pattern of concentric left ventricular remodeling, may in part explain the process by which kidney dysfunction leads to diastolic dysfunction, heart failure and cardiovascular mortality.
Juliet 1.1 C/C++ and Java Test Suite

Juliet Test Suite 1.1 offers test cases for assessing the effectiveness of static analyzers and other software-assurance tools.
Immunizations in Older Adults

Older adults disproportionately sustain morbidity and mortality due to vaccine-preventable illnesses. Despite this observation, adult immunization rates continue to lag behind national goals. Reduced vaccine efficacy in older adults leading to apathy regarding the need for vaccine administration, unrealistic expectations for disease prevention rather than reduced illness severity, and system issues that make vaccine administration and tracking difficult all contribute to this problem. In this review, the biologic and system-based causes for vaccine failure in aged adults are reviewed, issues of efficacy and cost-effectiveness in older adults are summarized for influenza and pneumococcal vaccine, and ways to improve vaccine effectiveness in older adults, now and in the future, are outlined.