cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Intellectual Property Rights and Ethics in Archaeology

I began working as an ethnoarchaeologist in Yarsuit, also known as Kuna Yala, or Commarca de San Blas in 1995. I was interested in studying how a population living in a tropical, maritime environment formed middens with their refuse. I wanted to know what they considered refuse, when it became refuse, and how the people disposed of it. This information would be used to offer insights for valid interpretation of midden samples from the coastal peninsulas along the Georgia, Florida, and Alabama coastline in the Southeastern United States.
Competitiveness and the Similarity of Preferred Coworkers1

The study investigated effects of different work contexts on the individual's desire to work with a similar or dissimilar coworker. Business students (N= 536) were assigned to 1 of 3 conditions (competitive task, skill-development task, and nonspecific task) and were asked to describe their preferred coworker for that task. Individuals were expected to prefer coworkers whom they perceived as similar in noncompetitive situations, but those whom they perceived as dissimilar in competitive situations. Further, it was hypothesized that the type of similarity emphasized (skills, personal values, and personal style) would reflect the type of anticipated interaction. As expected, participants in competitive conditions chose coworkers with lower skills and generally dissimilar values and personal style. Coworkers selected for the skill-development condition possessed similar skills and were more similar in values.
Role and regulation of activator protein-1 in toxicant-induced responses of the lung.

Aberrant cell proliferation and differentiation after toxic injury to airway epithelium can lead to the development of various lung diseases including cancer. The activator protein-1 (AP-1) transcr...
Self-performance survey analysis

HE NUMBER of elderly persons in the United States is increasing rapidly. People are living longer and, as a result of the vicissitudes of aging and the availability of advanced medical technology, they are consuming a percentage of health care dollars that far exceeds the percentage of the population they represent (Scitovsky & Capron, 1986). These facts make it imperative to develop strategies that will contribute to keeping the elderly population healthy. Given the complexity of the idea of health and the relative elusiveness of the concept (Kulbok & Baldwin, 1992) factors thought to influence health need to be investigated. Research devoted to factors that influence the health of elderly persons is generally descriptive. There is a need for explanatory and predictive investigation as well. In particular, instruments thought to explain health-related phenomena need to be evaluated for their usefulness with elderly populations. One factor thought to influence health is generalized self-efficacy. Also conceptualized as perceived competence, it is the expectation that one can successfully master certain behaviors. This report describes the use of an existing instrument, the Self-Performance Survey (Wallston, Wallston, Smith, & Dobbins, 1987), to measure perceived competence in an elderly population. The internal consistency of that instrument with three separate elderly populations is reported, and recommendations for further investigation of the instrument's usefulness are offered.
How to Assign Symmetric Keys in a Network of Small Computers

We discuss several efficient schemes for assigning symmetric keys in a network of small computers (e. g. an ad-hoc or sensor network) such that any two adjacent computers in the network can communicate securely using the keys assigned to both of them. The schemes are efficient because they require that each computer be assigned O(log d) symmetric keys, where d is the network degree, instead of O(d) symmetric keys that one expects in a straightforward scheme
Flux distributions and colors of accretion disks

The disk model of Shakura and Sunyaev (1973) and Novikov and Thorne (1973) is used to calculate temperature distributions and integrated spectral fluxes for disks around a typical white dwarf and a typical neutron star, under the assumption that each element of the disk locally radiates as a blackbody. In addition, the disks' integrated UBV colors are calculated using the grid colors for real model atmospheres calculated by Buser and Kurucz (1978) and the observed colors given by Allen (1973). In all the calculations the effect of radiation from one part of the disk on all the other parts is included.
Internalization as the Change Process

Abstract The process of change can be understood from a variety of perspectives. Using the case of a self-mutilating woman whose educational, social, and psychological impairments resulted from years of childhood abuse and neglect, this article demonstrates an object relational perspective whereby internalized “bad” self and object representations are modified and replaced by more benign internalizations. Additionally, a wide variety of techniques are suggested and illustrated, including those that represent our strong social work training coupled with interventions that are more usually associated with psychodynamic psychotherapy.
DNA damage and repair during lymphoid development: antigen receptor diversity, genomic integrity and lymphomagenesis

Lymphocyte maturation requires generation of a large diversity of antigen receptors, which involves somatic rearrangements at the antigen receptor genes in a process termed V(D)J recombination. Upon encountering specific antigens, B-lymphocytes undergo rearrangements in the constant region of the immunoglobulin genes to optimize immune responses in a process called class switch recombination. Activated B-cells also undergo somatic hypermutation in the variable regions of the immunoglobulin genes to enhance their antigenic affinity. These somatic events are initiated by the infliction of DNA lesions within the antigen receptor genes that are strictly confined to a specific developmental window and cell-cycle stage. DNA lesions are then repaired by one of the general DNA repair mechanisms, such as non-homologous end-joining. Mutations in key factors of these pathways lead to the interruption of these processes and immunodeficiency, making it possible to study the mechanisms of cellular response to DNA lesions and their repair. This review briefly summarizes some of the recently developed animal models with focus on current advances in the understanding of the mechanism of DNA end-joining activities, and its role in the maintenance of genomic stability and the prevention of tumorigenesis.
Physical properties of cytoplasm

The physical properties of cytoplasm differ considerably from dilute aqueous solutions. Recent research has improved our understanding of the properties of the fluid phase and provided a more detailed picture of cytoarchitecture and its relation to cytomechanics. Several recent holistic models indicate novel directions for future research.
Mechanical properties of inconel 625 welds in 21-6-9 stainless steel at 4K

Abstract Tensile and fracture properties of 21-6-9 austenitic stainless steel welded with inconel 625 were determined at 4 K. Welds were made by the shielded metal-arc, gas tungsten-arc, and gas metal-arc processes. Results from this study showed that base metal, the heat-affected-zone, and all three types of weld metal had good strength, ductility, and toughness at low temperatures.
Offshore Structure Design and Development

The kinds of technology currently being applied to the design, construction, installation and operation of offshore structures for oil and gas exploration and production are quite sophisticated and include many examples of innovative configurations and approaches. The decade of the 1990s should see further evolution, reinterpretation and improvements of concepts that are already in service or being readied for service. The importance of offshore oil and gas may be judged by the projection that over half of overall exploration investments will go to offshore prospects in future years. This paper surveys some expected evolutions, with particular emphasis on the challenging area of deep-water applications. Some features of a tension leg platform design are discussed as an example of a deep-water oil production system. An attempt is made to recognize the problems of applying advanced engineering and analytical capabilities, when many specialists must interact, to producing a thoroughly engineered design, which is also balanced and economical, for such innovative systems.
An alternative common view method for time transfer with GPS

The standard method of using GPS to compare the times of distant clocks is called the common view technique, by which two or more ground stations simultaneously observe a single GPS space vehicle (SV). In the most widely used form of common view, the positions of the SVs must be known because the signal transit times must be calculated. However, common view is one form of multilateration, by which solutions can be obtained for the positions of both stations and satellites, as well as clock offsets, We show in this paper how to adapt the principles from the classical geodetic literature on multilateration to time transfer. We discuss the need to optimize the geographic distribution of common view stations and the times of observation. A proposal for field tests is also presented, based on numerical simulations.
Resident Stress Revisited: A Senior Pediatric Resident’s Point of View

It has been 15 years since Dr Abraham Bergman1 wrote his poignant essay for Pediatrics on resident stress. In some ways, it seems little has changed in those 15 years in the area of resident stress. Many of the points raised in Dr Bergman’s article are still relevant today. However, pediatric residents have recently entered a new era in pediatric education and training led by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME).2 The ACGME has established guidelines that limit the number of hours a pediatric resident can work per shift, as well as per week. The guidelines set new standards for “competencies” in which residents should be trained as well as new ways that administrators must track and evaluate residents’ progress. The ACGME expects full compliance with these guidelines beginning July 1, 2003. As residents look forward with anticipation and hope to what changes these new guidelines will bring, it seems an appropriate time to revisit Dr Bergman’s article and evaluate the past and current sources of resident stress. This commentary will consider which sources of stress described by Dr Bergman are still relevant today, and whether the advent of the ACGME guidelines will alleviate any of these stressors for tomorrow’s pediatric house officer. Global causes of resident stress, as Dr Bergman explains, include the developmental milestones that pediatric residents must face as adults learning to balance their personal and professional lives. Dr Bergman lists the development of autonomy, individuation from one’s parents, and wrestling with financial independence as global causes of resident stress. These stressors are much the same today, as every new physician must struggle with his/her new role and new identity of being a physician. The development of financial independence continues to be a large source of stress for today’s debt-laden residents. The Future … Address correspondence to Megan A. Moreno, MD, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 3009 Stevens St, Madison, WI 53705. E-mail: ma.moreno{at}hosp.wisc.edu
Spouses of thoracic surgery applicants: changing demographics and motivations in a new generation.

Introduction Applications to thoracic residency have decreased. The causes are multifactorial, but include changing motivations such as lifestyle concerns. Thoracic residents (TRs) have been well studied, but no one has ever characterized the influence or motivations of their spouses. We sought to evaluate the demographics and interests of TR spouses. Methods An electronic survey was sent to all TR applicants over 2 years at 2 training programs and to all current TRs in 2010. Recipients were asked to forward the survey to their spouses. Responses were analyzed globally and compared in subgroups. Results Sixty-six surveys were completed and returned for a response rate of 19%. Among them, 86% of respondents were female, with 82% being married for a mean of 4.3 years. Fifty-nine percent of respondents had children and 64% were planning on having more children within 3 years. Hundred percent felt optimistic that they would be financially stable after training, but only 57% were optimistic about quality of life after training. Eighty-four percent felt that they had influence on the choice of training program. Almost 80% wanted more information on salary, housing, and access to faculty spouses. Quality of fellowship, geographic location, and proximity to family were the top 3 factors in choosing a program. Conclusions Nearly 90% of respondents reported they want to travel to more interviews, and nearly 90% of respondents reported having some to complete influence over which training program to attend. It is safe to presume, therefore, that applicant spouses are not only highly influential on TR applicants but also interested in greater inclusion in the interview process. The results show numerous demographic and characteristic trends which, if further validated by definitive studies, would be applicable to all post–surgery residency training programs and may help TR programs to be more competitive in attracting applicants and their families.
Single crystal critical dimension reference materials (SCCDRM): process optimization for the next generation of standards

Critical dimension atomic force microscopes (CD-AFMs) are rapidly gaining acceptance in semiconductor manufacturing metrology. These instruments offer non-destructive three dimensional imaging of structures and can provide a valuable complement to critical dimension scanning electron microscope (CD-SEM) and optical metrology. Accurate CD-AFM metrology, however, is critically dependent upon calibration of the tip width. In response to this need, NIST has developed prototype single crystal critical dimension reference materials (SCCDRMs). In 2004, a new generation of SCCDRMs was released to the Member Companies of SEMATECH - a result of the fruitful partnership between several organizations. These specimens, which are fabricated using a lattice-plane-selective etch on (110) silicon, exhibit near vertical sidewalls and high uniformity and can be used to calibrate CD-AFM tip width to a standard uncertainty of about ± 1 nm. Following the 2004 release, NIST began work on the "next generation" of SCCDRM standards. A major goal of this thrust was to improve upon the SCCDRM characteristics that impact user-friendliness: the linewidth uniformity and cleanliness. Toward this end, an experiment was designed to further optimize the process conditions. The first round of this experiment was recently completed, and the results show great promise for further improvement of the SCCDRM manufacturing process. Among other observations, we found that the minimum linewidth and linewidth uniformity were primarily sensitive to different factors - and can thus be independently tuned to meet our future goals - which include linewidths as small as 20 nm and a standard uncertainty due to non-uniformity at the ± 0.5 nm level. Our future work will include a new refining experiment to further optimize the important factors that we have identified, and extension of the methodology to a monolithic 200 mm implementation.
Review: Strange Fruit: Why both sides are wrong in the race debate by Kenan Malik

Is there really such a thing as race? It fails as a scientific category, but as a social category race's roots run deep
Robotic Walking in the Real World

Studies of the mechanical stresses on plates moving through loose materials were used to simulate and optimize robot locomotion over soft ground.
Preparative GPC in fundamental polymer synthesis

A simple efficient preparative gel permeation chromatography assembly (prep GPC) has been built using largely commercially available components, (i.e., pump, columns, all glass solvent recirculating system) and its usefulness in fundamental polymer synthesis was demonstrated. The operating cost of prep GPC has been reduced and the safety much improved by the use of n-hexane as the mobile phase. Rapid one-recycle narrow fractionation (Mw/Mn=1.1–1.2) and purification of relatively large quantities (up to 20 g/loading) of polyisobutylene (PIB) samples is described. Operating parameters and efficiency are illustrated by examples. By the use of this equipment sufficient quantities of narrow MWD polyhydrocarbons can be conveniently and rapidly obtained for meaningful structure/property research.
Predicting in vivo fluorescence lifetime behavior of near-infrared fluorescent contrast agents using in vitro measurements

Fluorescence lifetime (FLT) information is complementary to intensity measurement and can be used to improve signal-to-background contrast and provide environment sensing capability. In this study, we evaluate the FLTs of eight near-infrared fluorescent molecular probes in vitro in various solvent mediums and in vivo to establish the correlation between the in vitro and in vivo results. Compared with other mediums, two exponential fittings of the fluorescence decays of dyes dissolved in aqueous albumin solutions accurately predict the range of FLTs observed in vivo. We further demonstrate that the diffusion of a near-infrared (NIR) reporter from a dye-loaded gel can be detected by FLT change in mice as a model of controlled drug release. The mean FLT of the NIR probe increases as the dye diffuses from the highly polar gel interior to the more lipophilic tissue environment. The two-point analysis demonstrates an efficient in vitro method for screening new NIR fluorescent reporters for use as FLT probes in vivo, thereby minimizing the use of animals for FLT screening studies.
Testing a Conceptual Model of Postpartum Depressive Symptoms in the First Year

Postpartum depressive symptoms (PPDS) are likely to have a multifactorial etiology. The relationships among identified PPDS risk factors, however, remain inconclusive. A vulnerability-stress conceptualization of PPDS was tested with a sample of 144 U.S. mothers aged 18-46 years, who had given birth in the last 12 months. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, Dysfunctional Attitude Scale Form A-17, Parenting Sense of Competence Scale, and Quality of Relationships Inventory were completed. The conceptual model and three alternative models were tested using structural equation modeling. A variation of the conceptual model yielded the best fit, χ(2) (98) = 133.541, p = .0099, Standardized Root Mean Residual (SRMR) = 0.071, Root Mean Square Error of Approximation (RMSEA) = 0.050 (90% CI = 0.026-0.070), Tucker Lewis Index (TLI) = 0.953, Comparative Fix Index (CFI) = 0.961. Dependency and partner conflict were positively related to PPDS, while maternal-efficacy was negatively related to PPDS. Dependency moderated the relationship between maternal-efficacy and PPDS, so that this relationship was stronger for mothers with higher dependency than for those with lower dependency. Dependency, partner conflict, and maternal-efficacy should be considered when building interventions that target the wellbeing of mothers in the first year after birth.
Colorectal cancer screening barriers and facilitators in older persons.

Abstract Background This systematic review identifies factors that are most consistently mentioned as either barriers to or facilitators of colorectal cancer (CRC) screening in older persons. Methods A systematic literature search (1995–2008) was conducted to identify studies that reported barriers to or facilitators of CRC screening uptake, compliance or adherence specifically for older persons (≥ 65 years). Information on study characteristics and barriers and facilitators related to subjects; healthcare providers; policies; and screening tests were then abstracted and analyzed. Results Eighty-three studies met the eligibility criteria. Low level of education, African American race, Hispanic ethnicity, and female gender were the most frequently reported barriers, whereas being married or living with a partner was the most frequently reported facilitator. The most cited barrier related to healthcare providers was lack of screening recommendation by a physician; having a usual source of care was a commonly reported facilitator. Lack of health insurance, and dual coverage with Medicare and Medicaid were the most frequently reported barriers, whereas Medicare's coverage of screening colonoscopy was consistently reported as a facilitator. Conclusions Barriers to, and facilitators of, CRC screening among older persons are reported. Particular attention should be paid to modifiable factors that could become the focus of interventions aimed at increasing CRC screening participation in older persons.
Hydorxyproline biosynthesis in plant cells Peptidyl proline hydroxylase from carrot disks

Abstract Hydroxyproline occurs in many plant proteins and is especially abundant in the proteins associated with the primary cell wall. In vivo evidence indicates that the synthesis of peptidyl hydroxyproline occurs by the hydroxylation of peptidyl proline. We have shown that plant cells contain an enzyme which catalyzes this hydroxylation reaction. The hydroxylase has the following characteristics: it requires O2, Fe2+, ascorbate and an α-keto acid for activity; it does not react with free proline; it is localized in the soluble cytoplasm; it readily hydroxylates prolyl residues of protocollagen isolated from chick embryos. A partial purification of the enzyme was achieved by the use of (NH4)2SO4 and Ca3(PO4)2 gel fractionations.
A 'center-wobbling' ultrasonic rotary motor using a metal tube-piezoelectric plate composite stator

This paper demonstrates a new type of compact ultrasonic motor that operates using a wobbling mode of motion. The motor was driven by a piezoelectric composite stator that consisted of a hollow metal cylinder whose outside surface was flattened on two sides at 90° to each other, upon which two rectangular piezoelectric plates were bonded. A wobbling motion was generated at both ends and at the center of the stator upon application of a sinusoidal voltage to each piezoelectric plate (which were phase shifted by 90° with each other). Results showed that the flexural displacement at the stator's center was ∼ 4 × that at its ends. Consequently, the stator could drive a rotor using a center wobbling motion. Our prototype motor had a significantly higher driving force than conventional end driven stators. The prototype was 4.7 mm in diameter and 20 mm in length, having a rotor 20 mm in diameter. The prototype operated at 46 kHz, had a maximum torque output of ∼ 50 mNm, and had a no-load rotational speed of 70 r...
Russia, America and missile defense

Russia has sharply objected to US plans for ballistic missile defense. The Russian official explanation is that the real purpose of the US missile defense plan is to make it impossible for Russia to retaliate against a US nuclear (or massive conventional) attack, thus making Russia subject to military blackmail by the US. The Russian response has been the result of a sum total of various factors, mostly political and cultural, while the technical capabilities of the proposed system have played a secondary role.
Static and Dynamic Handling Stability of Server Rack Computers

This paper discusses the static and dynamic stability analysis of rack or frame computer/server products during shipping and relocation. The static stability is the ability of server products to resist tipping over on a typical raised floor in a datacenter or when it is installed in its operational product environment. The dynamic stability is the ability to resist tipping over when a velocity change occurs during re-location either on flat or inclined planes. The product consists of a frame or a rack in which components such as processor units, input-output units and power supplies are installed.The static stability analysis presented here calculates the tip over threshold angle, which is the maximum angle of an inclined plane on which the product can be placed without tipping over. The location of the installed components in a frame, the dimension and weight of the installed components, and the dimension of the product dictate the overall static stability of the product. Specifically, those parameters affect the location of the center of gravity of the product and the tip over threshold angle. The tip over threshold angle is a critical parameter influencing the dynamic stability of the product..The dynamic stability of an unpackaged product moving on casters can be calculated using the conservation of mechanical energy principle. Finite element modeling is a good way to evaluate the dynamic stability of a product during manual handling or mechanical handling; for instance, on a forklift. The objective of the finite element modeling is to provide guidelines on the maximum speed, minimum radius curvature, and safe turning speed of a forklift when transporting a product.The main objective of the analysis presented here is to provide a method for analyzing the static and dynamic stability of a rack style computer server product during shipping, relocation, and handling.Copyright © 2014 by ASME
Diagnostic Quandary: Premature Ovarian Failure and Galactosemia Variants in Adolescent Girls with Delayed Puberty

Galactosemia is a metabolic disease wherein galactose, a sugar found in milk products, cannot be properly metabolized, causing an elevated blood galactose concentration. This disease has several variants, including a ‘‘classic’’ form. The ‘‘classic’’ form has long been associated with premature ovarian failure, although the mechanism by which this occurs is unclear. However, in our experience, variant forms of galactosemia can also be associated with premature ovarian failure, and the goal of this study is to present a series of cases wherein this association was found to occur, especially in circumstances where premature ovarian failure led to the diagnosis of a galactosemia variant. Galactose is present in a free form in some fruits and vegetables but is more typically found in milk products as part of the disaccharide lactose, which is hydrolyzed to glucose and galactose by the enzyme lactase. The galactose is then converted to glucose and used as an energy souce. End products of galactose metabolism typically include CO2, glycogen, glycolipid, and glycoproteins. This pathway includes several enzymes, and genetic disorders can lead to defectiveness in three of them, including galactose1-phosphate uridyl transferase (GALT), galactokinase (GALK), and uridine diphosphate galactose-4epimerase (GALE). Galactose therefore accumulates, and alternative pathways for metabolism lead to increased production of galactonic acid, which is metabolized through the pentose pathway, and galactitol, which accumulates in cells as an end product. GALT deficiency causes what is referred to as ‘‘classic’’ galactosemia and is an autosomal recessive disorder with several enzymatic variants caused by different missense mutations. One of the most common of these is the Q188R mutation, which is also responsible for one of the most severe forms of the disease. Severe mutations occur in about 1 in 35,000 newborns, but less severe mutations occur in
Resource-competitive error correction

We present a resource-competitive Monte Carlo algorithm for the problem of error correction for message transmission along a noisy channel when a limited amount of feedback is available. To transmit a message of length n in the presence of T ≤ n/log n adversarial errors, our algorithm sends n + 2√{n(T+1)log n} +c T log n bits.
Fixed bed adsorption drying

In this paper, mathematical models for a single adsorbate component present in a gas phase have been developed for isothermal and adiabatic dynamic adsorption-desorption processes with special emphasis on adsorption drying by supported hygroscopic salts. The proposed generalized models are applicable to both an unsupported absorbent bed and a fixed bed of adsorbents impregnated on a supporter which may have nonlinear equilibrium relationships. The partial differential equations governing the dynamic adsorption-desorption processes and the nonlinear equilibrium relations were solved numerically on the digital computer. An experimental study was conducted to measure the adsorption and desorption rates of water vapor by lithium chloride impregnated on a solid supporter, Torvex. The proposed adiabatic adsorption-desorption model has been verified for unsupported adsorbent beds in the cases of water vapor adsorption from air by silica gel and of methane adsorption from a helium-methane mixture by activated carbon. The validity of the generalized adiabatic model for supported adsorbent beds with nonlinear equilibrium relationships was established by a direct comparison of experimental data obtained in this study with the predicted values.
On the Reasonable and Unreasonable Effectiveness of Mathematics in Classical and Quantum Physics

The point of departure for this article is Werner Heisenberg’s remark, made in 1929: “It is not surprising that our language [or conceptuality] should be incapable of describing processes occurring within atoms, for … it was invented to describe the experiences of daily life, and these consist only of processes involving exceedingly large numbers of atoms. … Fortunately, mathematics is not subject to this limitation, and it has been possible to invent a mathematical scheme—the quantum theory [quantum mechanics]—which seems entirely adequate for the treatment of atomic processes.” The cost of this discovery, at least in Heisenberg’s and related interpretations of quantum mechanics (such as that of Niels Bohr), is that, in contrast to classical mechanics, the mathematical scheme in question no longer offers a description, even an idealized one, of quantum objects and processes. This scheme only enables predictions, in general, probabilistic in character, of the outcomes of quantum experiments. As a result, a new type of the relationships between mathematics and physics is established, which, in the language of Eugene Wigner adopted in my title, indeed makes the effectiveness of mathematics unreasonable in quantum but, as I shall explain, not in classical physics. The article discusses these new relationships between mathematics and physics in quantum theory and their implications for theoretical physics—past, present, and future.
Electrochemical sensor for organophosphate pesticides and nerve agents using zirconia nanoparticles as selective sorbents.

An electrochemical sensor for detection of organophosphate (OP) pesticides and nerve agents using zirconia (ZrO2) nanoparticles as selective sorbents is presented. Zirconia nanoparticles were electrodynamically deposited onto the polycrystalline gold electrode by cyclic voltammetry. Because of the strong affinity of zirconia for the phosphoric group, nitroaromatic OPs strongly bind to the ZrO2 nanoparticle surface. The electrochemical characterization and anodic stripping voltammetric performance of bound OPs were evaluated using cyclic voltammetric and square-wave voltammetric (SWV) analysis. SWV was used to monitor the amount of bound OPs and provide simple, fast, and facile quantitative methods for nitroaromatic OP compounds. The sensor surface can be regenerated by successively running SWV scanning. Operational parameters, including the amount of nanoparticles, adsorption time, and pH of the reaction medium have been optimized. The stripping voltammetric response is highly linear over the 5−100 ng/mL ...
Activation of phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase Cδ from rat liver by polyamines and basic proteins

Phospholipase C from rat liver with a molecular weight of 87,000 (PLC delta) is stimulated by polyamines, basic proteins, and basic polyamino acids. The activation occurs in both the presence and the absence of detergents. Half-maximum activation by spermine is observed at 0.15 mM, with optimum effects between 0.2 and 0.5 mM. Spermine inhibits above 0.5 mM. Half-maximum activation by spermidine and putrescine is observed at 0.9 and 6 mM, respectively, with optimum effects at 2 and 5 mM, respectively. These polyamines also inhibit at higher concentrations. Neomycin activates the enzyme with an optimum concentration of 10 microM, but maximum activation is less than with polyamines. Half-maximum activation by histone 2B occurs at 0.5 micrograms/ml (36 nM), with maximum stimulation at 1.5 micrograms/ml. Other histones, protamine, melittin, poly-L-ornithine, poly-L-lysine, poly-D-lysine, and poly-L-arginine, activate optimally at 3-10 micrograms/ml. Myelin basic protein and lysozyme activate optimally at 50-100 micrograms/ml. Typical activations are three- to eightfold, but under some conditions the enzyme shows little or no activity in the absence of basic activators. The basic activators lower the salt concentration required for maximal activity. In the case of the detergent-micelle assay, histone shifts the optimum NaCl concentration from 350 to 200 mM for PIP2, from 260 to 100 mM for PIP, and from 150 to 0 mM for PI. Histone potentiates the activation by Ca2+, but does not shift the optimum Ca2+ concentration. The optimum salt and Ca2+ concentrations are linked, such that a decrease in the concentration of one decreases the optimum concentration of the other. Activation by histone is diminished by MgCl2 in a concentration-dependent manner.
Weighing the Hazards of Erythropoiesis Stimulation in Patients with Cancer

On May 10, the FDA convened a meeting to discuss concerns about risks associated with the erythropoiesis-stimulating agents used to treat anemia caused by chemotherapy. Dr. Fadlo Khuri discusses the long-standing debate about whether erythropoietins pose risks in patients with cancer. James Doroshow discusses the use of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) to treat anemia associated with cancer chemotherapy and the new studies suggesting an association between ESAs and an increased risk of tumor growth. Dr. Doroshow is a medical oncologist and the director of the Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis at the National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland.
Real time failure detection in unreinforced cementitious composites with triboluminescent sensor

Abstract The in-situ triboluminescent optical fiber (ITOF) sensor has an integrated sensing and transmission component that converts the energy from damage events like impacts and crack propagation into optical signals that are indicative of the magnitude of damage in composite structures like concrete bridges. Utilizing the triboluminescence (TL) property of ZnS:Mn, the ITOF sensor has been successfully integrated into unreinforced cementitious composite beams to create multifunctional smart structures with in-situ failure detection capabilities. The fabricated beams were tested under flexural loading, and real time failure detection was made by monitoring the TL signals generated by the integrated ITOF sensor. Tested beam samples emitted distinctive TL signals at the instance of failure. In addition, we report herein a new and promising approach to damage characterization using TL emission profiles. Analysis of TL emission profiles indicates that the ITOF sensor responds to crack propagation through the beam even when not in contact with the crack. Scanning electron microscopy analysis indicated that fracto-triboluminescence was responsible for the TL signals observed at the instance of beam failure.
Neutralino dark matter at 14 TeV and 100 TeV

In recent years the search for dark matter has intensified with competitive bounds coming from collider searches, direct detection, and indirect detection. Collider searches at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) lack the necessary center-of-mass energy to probe TeV-scale dark matter. It is TeV-scale dark matter, however, that remains viable for many models of supersymmetry. In this paper, we study the reach of a 100 TeV proton-proton collider for neutralino dark matter and compare to 14 TeV LHC projections. We employ a supersymmetric simplified model approach and present reach estimates from monojet searches, soft lepton searches, and disappearing track searches. The searches are applied to pure neutralino spectra, compressed neutralino spectra, and coannihilating spectra. We find a factor of 4-5 improvement in mass reach in going from 14 TeV to 100 TeV. More specifically, we find that given a 1% systematic uncertainty, a 100 TeV collider could exclude winos up to 1.4 TeV and higgsinos up to 850 GeV in the monojet channel. Coannihilation scenarios with gluinos can be excluded with neutralino masses of 6.2 TeV, with stops at 2.8 TeV, and with squarks at 4.0 TeV. Using a soft lepton search, compressed spectra with a chargino-neutralino splitting of Δm = 20 − 30 GeV can exclude neutralinos at ~1 TeV. Given a sufficiently long chargino lifetime, the disappearing track search is very effective and we extrapolate current experimental bounds to estimate that a ~2TeVwinocouldbediscoveredanda ~3TeVwinocouldbeexcluded.
Depressed arteriolar responsiveness to norepinephrine in streptozotocin-induced diabetes in the rat

Abstract We examined the contribution of prostaglandins to altered reactivity to norepinephrine in rat cremaster third order arterioles of streptozotocin (STZ) treated rats and age-matched controls. NE was applied topically to the cremaster muscle of pentobarbital (35 mg/kg) anesthetized rats before and during topical administration of indomethacin (IND: 10 μg/ml) four and eight weeks after i.v. injection with of 50 mg/kg STZ (STZ-4W; STZ-8W) or vehicle (C-4W; C-8W), and before and during topical administration of 5,8,11,14 eicosatetraynoic acid (ETYA; 20 μg/ml) in STZ-8W and C-8W. Plasma glucose was elevated significantly in STZ-treated rats. Blood pressures and resting arteriolar diameters did not differ. However, vasoconstrictor responses to NE were depressed in STZ-4W and to a greater degree in STZ-8W. IND normalized reactivity to the low doses of NE and partially restored reactivity to the higher doses. ETYA enhanced reactivity to all doses of NE to a greater extent than did IND. These data are consistent with a role for locally produced vasomodulatory arachidonic acid metabolites, including prostaglandins, in the decreased reactivity to NE in diabetic rat cremaster muscle arterioles.
An introduction to CAPS: computer-aided programming for simulation

This paper describes CAPS, a simulation system which enables an analyst without programming experience to quickly produce (in hours) guaranteed executable programs through the use of an interactive dialog. The result is a substantial reduction in both time and effort from the point of problem definition to the availability of model output for decision making. CAPS was developed by Dr. A. T. Clementson of the University of Birmingham and this paper draws heavily upon his work. (See Ref. 1) The user dialog with CAPS is described and examples of the ease of use are given, including an actual model.
Demonstration of Laser Phase Correction Using Supersonic Gas Jets

Preliminary experiments have been carried out to demonstrate the feasibility of using active gas optics to compensate for distortions in the phase of laser beams. Two parallel supersonic gas jets, in which a simple mechanical control system varied the mean optical density of one of the jets, were placed orthogonal to the beam path. When operated with combinations of He and He-Ar mixtures, phase shifts of ftp to 3?r have been introduced into a HeNe laser beam. The resulting far-field diffraction patterns have been shown to compare well with theoretical predictions for these phase shifts. Qualitative phase restoration has been achieved when a simply distorted laser beam is passed through the jets. Unwanted phase distortions resulting from the waves in the flow in the present nozzle design limited the Strehl ratio to a low value.
Broadband ultrasound attenuation value dependence on bone width in vitro

The purpose of this study was to examine the dependence of broadband ultrasound attenuation (BUA) on bone width using 16 samples of dense bovine cancellous bone. Both BUA and density were measured simultaneously so that a dependence of BUA on bone width independent of density could be found. BUA was found to increase significantly with bone width (3.6 dB , r = 0.92, p < 0.0001) and this increase could not be explained by associated changes in density.
Studies on Measuring the Environment of Turkeys Raised in Confinement

Abstract VERTICAL integration in the turkey industry, with stress on operating efficiency and lowered production costs, has resulted in larger flocks, new types of housing and management, and unevaluated changes in the environment of the turkey (Hamilton, 1959; Hinshaw, 1959). In most instances these changes have been beneficial, aiding in the rapid growth and development of the turkeys. However, particularly in the turkey producing area of the North Central States (Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa), problems have been encountered that were primarily related to the type of housing utilized. Birds were of necessity confined during the cold winter months. When ambient temperatures reached as low as minus 20°F., insufficient fresh air was drawn into the buildings. Inadequate ventilation was often further compounded by overcrowding. Hinshaw and Rosenwald (1951) suggested that poor ventilation may weaken poults and make them more susceptible to disease, whereas plenty of fresh air helps to prevent such air-borne…
Smokeless tobacco, smoking cessation and harm reduction: an economic analysis

Good estimates place ‘hard core’ smoking rates in the United States at approximately 25%, with little change over the decade of the 1990s. This paper examines the possibilities of ‘harm reduction’ with the use of smokeless tobacco. Specifically, using an econometric model we seek to determine whether an increase in the use of smokeless tobacco would lead to reduced smoking rates in the United States. Applying our model to the NHANES III (National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey) we find that the use of smokeless tobacco by an average U.S. male smoker would increase the average probability of smoke cessation by over 10%. Approximately 3 million additional ‘quits’ would result for 26 million smokers. Our study permits an examination of cessation by age groups and we find that males who use smokeless tobacco between 16 and 65 have a 10–14% probability of quitting but that the probability falls beyond age 66. Important implications for life extension and health costs would attend these results with, u...
High-speed black blood imaging of vessel stenosis in the presence of pulsatile flow

Stenosis phantoms were created to study the ability of "black blood" methods to image a vessel stenosis in the presence of pulsatile flow. Black blood images were acquired with a modified TurboFLASH (fast low-angle shot) method that eliminates flow signal by applying a set of prepulses before segmented data acquisition. With this high-speed approach, imaging can be completed within 16 seconds. This technique was compared with conventional spin-echo black blood, gradient-echo black blood, and gradient-echo bright blood methods. Loss of flow signal, which extended beyond the site of the stenosis, was seen on the gradient-echo bright blood images. The pattern of signal loss varied with the type of stenosis. Flow voids were achieved with spin-echo black blood imaging; however, substantial ghosting artifacts were seen. With gradient-echo black blood imaging, it was difficult to eliminate all flow signal, particularly for in-plane flow. The modified TurboFLASH method produced high-quality black blood images in a fraction of the time needed for spin-echo imaging. It showed no ghosting artifacts even in the presence of pulsatile flow.
Complete MTF evaluation of two cone beam CT systems

The Modulation Transfer Function (MTF) of any system is the frequency response to a delta signal. This response is degraded by several factors such as the inherent veiling glare of the detector and the focal spot size among others. Consequently, the MTF has been one of the physical characteristics that are commonly used to quantitatively measure the physical performance of a system. In this article, the MTF of two flat panel detectors (FPD) and of two Cone Beam CT systems is evaluated. First, the MTF of PaxScan 2520 and of PaxScan 4030CB is evaluated. One of the standard techniques to evaluate the MTF of a FPD is by using an edge of a metal with high atomic number. For instance, it has been suggested by IEC 62220-1 to use an opaque edge to evaluate the MTF of a FPD. Yet, it was found that different metals yield slightly different MTF. In this study, the effects on the MTF evaluation of different metals and exposure parameters was studied and analyzed. First, the MTF was evaluated using different kVps and exposures levels. Second, the MTF was evaluated using aluminum edges of different thickness. Third, the MTF was evaluated using the following four different metals: Aluminum, Copper, Steel and Lead. Finally, the MTF obtained previously were compared to the MTF obtained by using a pinhole. In the second part of this study, the MTF of two systems using these two FPDs were also evaluated using different wires, filters and acquisition modes. The preliminary results demonstrate that the MTF is independent of kVp and exposure level. Yet, it is dependent on the material used to evaluate it.
Carboxylate bioisosteres of pregabalin.

Abstract Several β-amino tetrazole analogs of gabapentin 1 and pregabalin 2 were prepared by one of two convergent, highly efficient routes, and their affinity for the α 2 –δ protein examined. Two select compounds with potent affinity for α 2 –δ, 8a and 16a , were subsequently tested in vivo in an audiogenic seizure model and found to elicit protective effects.
Dispositional Influences on Attributions Concerning Absenteeism

Because the degree to which absenteeism is within or beyond an employee’s control is a significant yet unresolved issue in the absence literature, it is important to understand the factors which influence employees’ attributions about the causes of absence events. As a result of recent research suggesting that personality variables are important influences on work attitudes and behaviors, the present study took a dispositional approach in investigating the predictors of employee absence attributions. Using data collected from three sources, between-subjects analyses suggested a number of dispositional influences on absence attributions. Within-subjects analyses suggested that the factors leading to external attributions vary widely across individuals.
A New custodian for a realistic Higgsless model

We present an example of a realistic Higgsless model that makes use of alternative SU(2){sub R} assignments for the top and bottom quarks recently proposed by Agashe et al. which results in an enhanced custodial symmetry. Using these new representations reduces the deviations in the Zb{sub l}b{sub l} coupling to {approx}4% for a wide range of parameters, while this remaining correction can also be eliminated by varying the localization parameter (bulk mass) for b{sub r}.
Data Analysis and Statistics in Middle Grades: An Analysis of Content Standards

The purpose of the study reported herein was to identify the important aspects of statistical knowledge that students in the middle school grades in United States are expected to learn as well as what the teachers are expected to teach. A systematic study of 49 states standards and one set of national standards was used to identify these important aspects, and to measure the degree of emphasis or importance suggested for the content. Results show that state and national standards differ greatly in their expectations of what topics in data analysis and statistics students and teachers should master. There is also a large variation in the degree of emphasis given to the content. The majority of the standards analyzed suggest giving greater emphasis to the selection and proper use of graphical data representation and measures of center.