cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Studying the amateur artist: A perspective on disguising data collected inhuman subjects research on the Internet

In the mid-1990s, the Internet rapidly changed from a venue used by a small number of scientists to a popular phenomena affecting all aspects of life in industrialized nations. Scholars from diverse disciplines have taken an interest in trying to understand the Internet and Internet users. However, as a variety of researchers have noted, guidelines for ethical research on human subjects written before the Internet's growth can be difficult to extend to research on Internet users. In this paper, I focus on one ethical issue: whether and to what extent to disguise material collected online in published accounts. While some people argue that vulnerable human subjects must always be made anonymous in publications for their own protection, others argue that Internet users deserve credit for their creative and intellectual work. Still others argue that much material available online should be treated as ``published.'' To attempt to resolve these issues, I first review my own experiences of disguising material in research accounts from 1992 to 2002. Some of the thorniest issues emerge at the boundaries between research disciplines. Furthermore, many humanities disciplines have not historically viewed what they do as human subjects research. Next, I explore what it means to do human subjects research in the humanities. Inspired by issues raised by colleagues in the humanities, I argue that the traditional notion of a ``human subject'' does not adequately characterize Internet users. A useful alternate mental model is proposed: Internet users are amateur artists. The Internet can be seen as a playground for amateur artists creating semi-published work. I argue that this approach helps make some ethical dilemmas easier to reason about, because it highlights key novel aspects of the situation, particularly with regard to disguising material. Finally, I conclude by proposing a set of practical guidelines regarding disguising material gathered on the Internet in published accounts, on a continuum from no disguise, light disguise, moderate disguise, to heavy disguise.
Regional multi-objective planning under uncertainty: Optimal housing supply over time

Abstract This paper studies optimal housing supply under uncertainty. We develop a dynamic, stochastically constrained optimization model featuring multi-objective planning. A general solution procedure is outlined and a specific, illustrative case is solved in detail.
Design and implementation of an embedded system for monitoring at-home solitary Alzheimer's patients

Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia cause cognitive disabilities in the afflicted person. As a result, the person with dementia often requires assistance from a primary caregiver. In this work, a system of embedded devices is presented which tracks a solitary dementia patient in the home in real-time. The system is composed of three main hardware components. Multiple passive and active sensors are strategically placed to monitor the patient. A number of custom battery-powered embedded systems read the sensors and wirelessly transmit the sensor's values. A central computational node collects the wireless transmissions and analyzes the data. Two algorithms were developed that detect the patient's eating activities and location throughout the home from the sensor data. A web-based user interface was designed that allows a primary caregiver to remotely view the patient's status while away from the home.
Intermittent and continuous enteral nutrition in critically ill dogs: a prospective randomized trial.

Background: Malnutrition is a common problem in critically ill dogs and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality in human medicine. Enteral nutrition (EN) delivery methods have been evaluated in humans to determine which is most effective in achieving caloric goals. Objectives: To compare continuous infusion and intermittent bolus feeding of EN in dogs admitted to a critical care unit. Animals: Fifty-four dogs admitted to the critical care unit and requiring nutritional support with a nasoenteric feeding tube. Methods: Prospective randomized clinical trial. Dogs were randomized to receive either continuous infusion (Group C) or intermittent bolus feeding (Group I) of liquid EN. The percentage of prescribed nutrition delivered (PPND) was calculated every 24 hours. Frequencies of gastrointestinal (GI), mechanical, and technical complications were recorded and gastric residual volumes (GRVs) were measured. Results: PPND was significantly lower in Group C (98.4%) than Group I (100%). There was no significant difference in GI or mechanical complications, although Group C had a significantly higher rate of technical complications. GRVs did not differ significantly between Group C (3.1 mL/kg) and Group I (6.3 mL/kg) and were not correlated with the incidence of vomiting or regurgitation. Conclusions and Clinical Importance: There was a statistically significant difference in the PPND between continuously and intermittently fed dogs, but this difference is unlikely to be clinically relevant. Critically ill dogs can be successfully supported with either continuous infusion or intermittent bolus feeding of EN with few complications. Increased GRVs may not warrant termination of enteral feeding.
Network Design: Algorithms and Examples

This article addresses the issues in data network design. We discuss graph models for network, issues in topology design and optimization, link and node capacity assignment, path search Algorithms, and network flow assignments. The network can support point-to-point packet-switched, connection-oriented circuit-switched, virtual circuit-switched connections. We also address performance issues such as blocking probability, throughput, and delay and how to account for them in the design of a network. The issue of fault tolerance in network design is also examined. The design is explained using a context of wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) fiber-optic network. Although Estrin-first proposed the idea of a reconfigurable system in the form of a fixed plus variable structure computer in 1960 (1) it has only been in recent years that reconfigurable fabrics have reached sufficient density to make them a compelling implementation platform for high Performance applications and embedded systems. In this article, intended for the non-specialist, we describe some of the basic concepts, tools and architectures associated with reconfigurable computing. Keywords: network optimization; graph algorithm; topological design; cutset saturation method; link capacity assignment; heuristic methods for capacity assignment; network flow assignment; max-flow min-cut theorem; flow deviation method; routing algorithms; wavelength division multiplexed (wdm) networks; fault tolerance in network design; optical fiber networks; light trail network
Transfusion medicine illustrated: Muddy waters in therapeutic plasma exchange.

A 55-year-old man with severe aplastic anemia and thymoma was treated with horse anti-thymocyte globulin, cyclosporine A, and eltrombopag 150 mg daily on an IRB-approved clinical protocol. Following thymectomy, he developed progressive encephalopathy requiring mechanical ventilation. Head CT, EEG, MRI, and cerebrospinal fluid examination via lumbar puncture were unremarkable. A presumptive diagnosis of paraneoplastic syndrome was made, and a course of therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) was initiated. In preparation for plasma exchange, the patient received transfusions of packed red cells and platelets.
Theory of the grating coupler for a grounded-dielectric-slab waveguide

The characteristics of the output and input couplers for a dielectric-slab waveguide grounded by a corrugated-conducting surface are investigated for the transverse electric mode, taking into account the small gain or loss in the dielectric. A pair of canonical equations valid for a distributed coupler with a guided wave, an incident wave and a radiated wave are derived, and all the coupling coefficients are expressed in terms of the physical parameters of the coupler. The coupling coefficients are shown to satisfy four general properties which lead to the principle of power conservation and reciprocity. The analyses of the couplers, based on the solution of the canonical equations subject to the appropriate terminal conditions, lead to the determination of the various design parameters such as the output coupling efficiency, and the optimum incident angle and grating length for the maximum input coupling efficiency. The effects of the gain or loss in the dielectric on the abovementioned parameters and on the amplitude profile of the radiated wave are investigated. The coupler with the grating on the conducting surface is compared with the coupler having the grating on the film-cover interface.
Fluvastatin and cisplatin demonstrate synergistic cytotoxicity in epithelial ovarian cancer cells.

Abstract Objective Statin therapy has been associated with prolonged survival in patients with ovarian cancer. We hypothesized that statins have a cytotoxic effect and that the combination of fluvastatin and cisplatin inhibits cellular proliferation in epithelial ovarian cancer cells. Methods Fluvastatin and cisplatin were examined in CAOV3 and SKOV3 human ovarian cancer cell lines. Cellular proliferation was assessed using MTT assays. Annexin V/propidium iodide (PI) staining was used to discriminate between early and late apoptosis, bromodeoxyuridine and PI staining for cell cycle profiling, and Western blotting for protein expression analysis. Synergy was determined using isobologram analysis. Results Treatment with combination fluvastatin and cisplatin at multiple doses resulted in significantly greater inhibition of proliferation compared to either drug alone. When examining equipotent combinations of fluvastatin and cisplatin to determine potential synergy, a combination index (CI) of 0.66 was identified for CAOV3 cells and a CI of 0.24 for SKOV3 cells indicating synergy. Combination fluvastatin and cisplatin resulted in G2/M arrest, and a significant increase in early apoptotic cells compared to fluvastatin or cisplatin alone. Moreover, supplementation of farnesylpyrophosphate (FPP) and geranylgeranylpyrophosphate (GGPP) demonstrated that GGPP rather than FPP was able to overcome fluvastatin-induced cytotoxicity. Finally, the two-drug combination impaired the expression and modification status of proteins of the Ras pathway. Conclusions These data demonstrate the synergistic cytotoxicity of fluvastatin and cisplatin, through premature apoptosis and cell cycle arrest, with concomitant dysregulation of Ras pathway proteins. Our studies support a plausible therapeutic role for statins in the adjuvant treatment of ovarian cancer.
Human Rights and International Relations: Morality, Law, and Politics

In reassessing the evolution of the post-1945 human rights movement, the paper identifies three “waves” or genres of human rights, generally representing the divisions between the Western and non-Western nations on the subject. A number of serious problems are raised, such as “double standards” maintained by some countries concerning human rights. This is followed by an evaluation of the possible clash between two perspectives: (a) the Third World's advocacy of such collective economic rights as a developing nation's right to sustained development (with its attendant demand that the West has to pay for its past colonization); and (b) the West's obstinancy regarding the individuals' rights to be asserted against their governments. In the age of intensified complex interdependence, a growing feature is the interpenetration of the economies of nations. That by necessity makes the migrant workers an “interface” between rich and poor economies. As economic interdependence deepens, both labor-importing and labo...
Trust and distrust in online banking: Their role in developing countries

Similar to the adoption of automatic teller machines, banks around the world are looking at online banking services as the next technology to reduce costs while maintaining or enhancing services to the customer. In developing countries, the low cost of online banking may enable banks to reach new customers, much like the cell phone offered new possibilities in telephony. Banks must understand, however, that the mediating use of technology increases interpersonal distance between banks and their customers, which can both decrease trust and exacerbate distrust. This article examines the role of trust and distrust in online banking. A framework for categorizing existing and potential online banking users based on their trust and distrust of online banking is presented. Categorizations of users are discussed along with recommendations for how banks can address customer concerns. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Spatial memory performance of freely-moving squirrel monkeys.

Abstract Few experiments have addressed the problem of cognitive map formation in non-human primates. Therefore, a paradigm was developed to assess spatial memory formation in squirrel monkeys ( Saimiri sciureus ) moving freely in three dimensions. While moving on the walls and floor of a large test chamber, the animals learned to collect pieces of cereal from baited food-ports interspersed among non-baited ports. The cereal-pellets were not visible to the monkeys, so the animals needed to develop spatial memory to visit only the baited ports for food and avoid the non-baited ones. A session consisted of ten consecutive trials, and 3 successive sessions were conducted on each day for a 5-day period. For each trial, correct choices (CC; number of visited baited-ports) and incorrect choices (IC; number of visited non-baited ports) were registered, and spatial memory performance index (SMPI; ranging from 0.00 to 1.00) was calculated as follows: SMPI=(CC−IC)/CC. For each session, mean SMPI, session duration, total reaches into the non-baited ports, and total reaches into the baited ports were documented. In an 8-port task, where 4 food-ports were baited and 4 were non-baited, the mean SMPI was higher than 0 in the first session (day 1), indicating the development of short-term spatial memory. By the fifth session (day 2), this index was significantly higher than in the first session, indicating the build-up of long-term spatial memory. These changes were related to a significant decrease in the total reaches into the non-baited ports. At the same time, the duration of the sessions and the total reaches into the baited ports did not change significantly. This paradigm can be used for (1) studying cognitive map formation in primates, (2) examining the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms in integrative neurobiological experiments, and (3) screening cognition-enhancer drugs in a monkey model.
Economic Development, Representative Mechanisms, Administrative Professionalism and Public Policies: A Comparative Analysis of Within-State Distributions of Economic and Political Traits

In recent years a number of studies have compared the economic, political, and policy traits of the American states. The literature is marked by the use of quantitative measures, sophisticated statistical techniques, and a conscious effort on the part of scholars to make their work comparable-and thus additive-to the work of others. This article is written for the literature on comparative state politics. It is concerned with two traits that are found in much of the writing: (1) a tendency to limit political variables to the "representative mechanisms" of party, voting, and legislative apportionment; and (2) a tendency to rely on measures of "average" state economic and political traits rather than on measures that show how those traits are distributed within each state. This article introduces some new measures of state economic and political traits that emphasize the within-state distributions of economics and politics, and that tap the professionalism of administrative personnel as well as the representative mechanism of party competition. It reports state-by-state scores for each measure and demonstrates their usefulness in explaining state-by-state differences in measures of public policy. The measures of state politics that have been studied most in recent literature concern the degree of inter-party competition, the incidence of voter turnout, and the degree of urban-rural "equity" in legislative apportionment prior to Baker v Carr.' For the most
Molecular simulations of physical and chemical adsorption under gas and liquid environments using force field- and quantum mechanics-based methods

Here we review our simulations of adsorption on metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) and platinum (Pt) catalysts, focusing on the modelling methods required to understand these two very different system...
Hexagonal domain transform for shape analysis

Transformations play an important role in image processing. This paper describes an algorithm for transforming a discrete gray level image from square to hexagonal pixel representation. Pixels in a square grid have four closest neighbors, while those in a hexagonal grid have six. The algorithm is explained and then presented in the language Dataparallel C -- a portable high level language being developed at Oregon State University to express data parallel algorithms.© (1992) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Vowel‐R symbolization: An historical development

Within the history of the International Phonetic Alphabet there is a fifty‐to‐sixty year segment that concerns the symbolization of the r‐colored vowels which may occur in a word like further. This article recounts one of the two major portions of this segment of IPA history, as it is revealed, chiefly, by the practices of contributors to Le Maitre Phonetique from 1889 to 1926. In sum, the picture which emerges is one of heterogeneous improvisation involving at least a score of stressed vowel symbolizations and some half‐dozen unstressed notations.
Nucleotide-induced stable complex formation by HIV-1 reverse transcriptase.

Nondenaturing gel electrophoresis was used to study the nucleotide substrate-induced conformational change in reverse transcriptase (RT) of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). Dead-end complex was formed between HIV-1 RT, dideoxynucleotide chain-terminated primer, and DNA template in the presence of deoxynucleotide triphosphate (dNTP) complementary to the next position on the template. Complexes which form in the absence of the next complementary dNTP were disrupted by adding excess poly(rA)/oligo(dT) or heparin just prior to electrophoresis. Dead-end complex formation by noncomplementary dNTP's or ribonucleotides was at least 2000-fold less efficient than with the complementary nucleotide. When dA was the next nucleotide on the template, analogues of dTTP supported dead-end complex formation with increased apparent Kd (dTTP < dideoxy-TTP ≈ α-thio-dTTP < dUTP < 3‘-azidothymidine triphosphate). A similar relationship was observed for dGTP analogues across from dC on the template (dGTP < dideoxy-GT...
Homage to the red queen. II. Coevolutionary response to enrichment of exploitation ecosystems

Abstract The model of predator-victim coevolution developed in the preceding paper (Schaffer and Rosenzweig, 1978) is used to analyze the coevolutionary response to ecosystem enrichment. It is shown that coevolution tends to oppose the destabilization that results from the enrichment itself. In the circumstance that the victims' r and K are proportional, gradual enrichment followed by coevolutionary adjustment actually enhances ecosystem stability.
Price-Anderson act declared unconstitutional: The decision and its effects on nuclear power

Abstract In March 1977, the $560 million limit on liability in the Price-Anderson Act was declared unconstitutional. The Price-Anderson Act sets forth a combination private-public insurance and compensation system for handling risks associated with commercial nuclear operations. The limit was found to violate the due process and equal protection provisions of the Fifth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. This paper examines the salient points of the decision which include: (a) the effects of nuclear plant operations on the plaintiffs; (b) the dependence of nuclear power development on the Price-Anderson Act; (c) the plaintiff's right to bring suit; and (d) the rationale for declaring the Act unconstitutional. The potential effects include the possibility that many utilities and suppliers of nuclear plant components will terminate their nuclear business, the availability of capital funds for nuclear plants will be reduced, and that cost of capital will be increased to reflect the greater risk of nuclear development.
A Heterogeneous Population of Alpha sub 1 Adrenergic Receptors Mediates Contraction of Human Corpus Cavernosum Smooth Muscle to Norepinephrine

ABSTRACTIn this study we investigated the physiological properties and binding characteristics of alpha-1 adrenergic receptor (alpha1 -AR) in human corpus cavernosum (HCC) in order to identify alpha1 -AR subtypes at the functional protein level. Exposure of tissue strips to norepinephrine (NE) caused concentration-dependent contractions that were partially and noncompetitively inhibited by 10 to 100 micromolars. of chloroethylclonidine (CEC), an alkylating agent that specifically and irreversibly inactivates alpha1B -AR and alpha1C -AR subtypes. Norepinephrine-induced contractions were competitively and effectively inhibited with WB 4101, a competitive, high-affinity antagonist for alpha1A -AR and alpha1C -AR subtypes. The CEC-insensitive receptor subtypes bound WB 4101 with high affinity, suggesting the presence of alpha1A -AR in HCC. Binding of (Hydrogen-3)prazosin and 2 -(beta-(4-hydroxy-3-(Iodine-125)iodophenyl)-ethylaminomethyl)-tetral one ((Iodine-125)HEAT) to membranes of HCC treated with or withou...
Marker assisted evaluation of Fusarium head blight resistant wheat germplasm

A major QTL (quantitative trait locus) for Fusarium head blight (FHB) resistance, Qfhs.ndsu-3BS, derived front 'Sumai 3', has been identified and verified by several research groups via molecular marker analysis. Further study of this QTL is worthwhile because it explains a large portion (25-60%) of the variation in FHB resistance in the reported studies. The objectives of this study were to (i) identify additional molecular markers for Qfhs.ndsu-3BS, (ii) construct a cytologically based physical map of chromosome 3BS, and (iii) identify germplasm with novel FHB resistance genes with SSR markers near Qfhs.ndsu-3BS. Two new simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers (XBARC133 and XBARC102), two sequence tagged site (STS) markers (XSTS3B1 and Xsun2), and one restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) marker (Xfbb185), were mapped to the Qfhs.ndsu-3BS region. On the basis of deletion line analysis, this major QTL is likely located on the deletion bin 3BS 0.78-0.87. Fifty-four FHB resistant lines from throughout the world and 20 North American spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) lines of historical prominence were genotyped by five SSR markers (Xgwm389, Xgwm533, XBARC133, Xgwm493, and XBARC102) associated with Qfhs.ndsu-3BS. The Sumai 3 haplotype is rare. Only 25 out of 54 FHB resistant lines and one North American spring wheat line have Sumai 3-type alleles for at least one of these five SSR markers. Twelve FHB resistant lines have the same SSR allele as Sumai 3 for at least four of the five SSR markers, and therefore most likely contain this major QTL. The other 42 FHB resistant lines may carry novel FHB resistance genes, and are worthy of further genetic study.
Urine cytology after flexible cystoscopy

OBJECTIVE To correlate urine cytology findings before and after flexible cystoscopy. PATIENTS AND METHODS A total of 153 patients undergoing surveillance for bladder tumour provided voided urine for cytology before and immediately after flexible cystoscopy. RESULTS Of the 153 patients, 116 had negative urine cytology before and after (96%) a visibly normal cystoscopy and 37 had positive urine cytology before and after cystoscopy that showed recurrent tumour. CONCLUSIONS Urine cytology immediately after flexible cystoscopy correlates well with results of urine cytology before cystoscopy.
Normal Muscle Respiratory Chain Enzymes Can Complicate Mitochondrial Disease Diagnosis

This report presents a case of mitochondrial respiratory chain deficiency in a neonate with elevated plasma lactate, hypotonia, developmental delay, and dysmorphic features. The initial biochemical analyses of muscle tissue for mitochondrial function were normal. Additional testing on skin fibroblasts performed owing to a high clinical suspicion of a possible mitochondrial disorder indicated a deficiency of mitochondrial complex I. Western blotting of samples obtained both from muscle and fibroblast tissues also revealed an extensive defect in mitochondrial respiratory chain complex I, confirming the diagnosis. These observations underscore the fact that both enzymatic and immunological assays should be undertaken in alternate tissues when muscle biopsies are inconclusive in highly suspected cases.
On first-order structural phase transitions—I. General considerations of pre-transition and nucleation phenomena

Abstract The Fourier methods widely used in treating fluctuations associated with second-order phase transitions are extended to first-order structural phase transitions. The only conceptual difference is that the fluctuations, which represent dynamical plane waves of small amplitude for second-order transitions, must be interpreted as large amplitude, quasi-static wave packets. A wave packet represents a thermally excited heterophase fluctuation which dissolves above the coherent transformation temperature by boundary migration. A procedure is given for constructing consistent pairwise interactions from the anharmonic free energy expansion. A high density of heterophase fluctuations should occur above the coherent transformations temperature and give rise to quasi-elastic scattering of thermal neutrons, i.e. a central phonon peak. The interfacial free energy has only a second-order effect in limiting the intensity of these fluctuations but it does control their size and shape. Below the coherent transformation temperature, heterophase fluctuations can nucleate the low temperature phase. The size and shape of the critical nucleus for the coherent transformation can be readily estimated from the h-space free energy modulus.
Still vulnerable in 2011.

Terror attacks on innocent people have continued around the world since 11 September 2001, but not on the scale of the 2001 attack on the United States, which claimed more than 2500 lives. That disaster made us realize our vulnerabilities in many sectors. When a critical industry, such as transportation, communications, energy, or water services, is disrupted in a disaster, it may also cause collateral damage to other services. For example, the 2003 Northeast blackout cut off power to 55 million people. This not only cut off electricity to homes and offices—trains stopped, water purification failed, cell phones went uncharged, and factories shut down. Clearly, attention needs to be paid to improving the resilience of the most critical infrastructure industries.
Truck backer-upper: an example of self-learning in neural networks

Neural networks can he used to solve highly nonlinear control problems. A two-layer neural network containing 26 adaptive neural elements has learned to back up a computer simulated trailer truck to a loading dock, even when initially “jackknifed. ’’ It is not yet known how to design a controller to perform this steering task. Nevertheless, the neural net was able to learn of its own accord to do this, regardless of initial conditions. Experience gained with the truck backer upper should be applicable to a wide variety of nonlinear control problems.
An Exploratory Study of Self-Directed Science Concept Learning by Students with Moderate Intellectual Disabilities:

This investigation focused on the effects of a treatment package including multiple exemplar training, time delay, and a self-directed learning prompt (KWHL chart) on students' ability to complete an inquiry lesson independently and generalize to untrained materials. Three middle school students with moderate intellectual disabilities learned to self-direct themselves through a 15-step task analysis to complete inquiry lessons in chemistry and physical science. All three students achieved mastery across materials, science concepts, and instructional settings, but unanticipated generalization weakened the demonstration of experimental control. The results provide a potential method for students with moderate intellectual disabilities to learn science concepts.
Enhanced Olfactory Sensory Perception of Threat in Anxiety: An Event-Related fMRI Study

The current conceptualization of threat processing in anxiety emphasizes emotional hyper-reactivity, which mediates various debilitating symptoms and derangements in anxiety disorders. Here, we investigated olfactory sensory perception of threat as an alternative causal mechanism of anxiety. Combining an event-related functional magnetic resonance imaging paradigm with an olfactory discrimination task, we examined how anxiety modulates basic perception of olfactory threats at behavioral and neural levels. In spite of subthreshold presentation of negative and neutral odors, a positive systematic association emerged between negative odor discrimination accuracy and anxiety levels. In parallel, the right olfactory primary (piriform) cortex indicated augmented response to subthreshold negative (vs. neutral) odors as a function of individual differences in anxiety. Using a psychophysiological interaction analysis, we further demonstrated amplified functional connectivity between the piriform cortex and emotion-related regions (amygdala and hippocampus) in response to negative odor, particularly in anxiety. Finally, anxiety also intensified skin conductance response to negative (vs. neutral) odor, indicative of potentiated emotional arousal to subliminal olfactory threat in anxiety. Together, these findings elucidate exaggerated processing of olfactory threat in anxiety across behavioral, autonomic physiological, and neural domains. Critically, our data emphasized anxiety-related hyper-sensitivity of the primary olfactory cortex and basic olfactory perception in response to threat, highlighting neurosensory mechanisms that may underlie the deleterious symptoms of anxiety.
Natural variability of observed hourly SO2 and CO concentrations in St. Louis

Abstract Observed hourly pollutant concentrations are stochastic or turbulent variables. For constant given mean wind speed, wind direction, stability and source emissions, observed hourly concentration can be expected to vary from hour to hour. In this study the variable C / Q is used, where C is hourly concentration of CO or SO 2 observed in the St. Louis RAPS network (there are 25 monitoring stations) and Q is the total hourly emissions observed in the region. Wind speed, wind direction and stability are broken down into 10, 18 and 7 classes, respectively. Calculations of the standard deviation of ln( C / Q ) for joint meteorological classes using hourly data from 1976 indicate that there is a factor of two natural variability in hourly concentrations, independent of the meteorological parameters that are used. There is about 40% more variability in SO 2 concentrations than in CO concentrations, probably due to the dominance of point sources for SO 2 and area sources for CO. A perfect air quality model of the Gaussian type, predicting ensemble average hourly concentrations, cannot hope to produce results that are better than this natural variability.
Secretory Phospholipase A2 Levels in Rat Small Bowel

Preliminary studies on ischemia/reperfusion injury in transplanted small bowel grafts showed that secretory phospholipase A2 (sPLA2) may play a substantial role by breaking down membrane phospholipids. This study sought to determine the normal values of sPLA2 in the rat small bowel as a function of site and length as a baseline for future studies. The entire small bowel of male Lewis rats (200 g) was flushed with normal saline to eliminate solid contents. In group 1, the entire small bowel was divided into 5-cm segments (numbered 1-9), which were snap frozen and processed the same day for sPLA2. In group 2, a 25-cm segment of bowel (corresponding to segments 2-6 in group 1) was harvested from each animal, snap frozen, and immediately processed for sPLA2. To assess the effect of bowel storage on enzyme content, group 3 and group 4 grafts were stored for 7 and 14 days, respectively, at -85 degrees C prior to processing. All samples were homogenized in buffer, extracted with H2SO4 and assayed for sPLA2 activity using [1-14C]oleate-labeled autoclaved Escherichia coli as substrate. Results were analyzed statistically by ANOVA. sPLA2 activity rose from 85.46 +/- 14.46% hydrolysis/min fraction-1 in segment 1, to 476.38 +/- 176.75% hydrolysis/min fraction-1 in segment 9. The increase was linear and statistically significant (p < .0001). There was no significant difference in enzymatic activity between groups 2, 3, and 4. Group 2 activity was 263.02 +/- 43.74% hydrolysis/min fraction-1. This value was not statistically different from the mathematically calculated mean of segments 2-6 in group 1 (237.75). The results show that (1) sPLA2 activity increases predictably with distance from the ligament of Treitz (2) storage at -85 degrees C does not affect sPLA2, activity, and (3) 25-cm grafts may be evaluated in toto with reproducible baseline enzyme activity. Given the variability of enzyme activity along the course of the rat small bowel, it is imperative that exact location be identified in any studies evaluating sPLA2 activity.
Stable Isotope and Trace Element Profiling Combined with Classification Models To Differentiate Geographic Growing Origin for Three Fruits: Effects of Subregion and Variety

Classifications of geographic growing origin of three fresh fruits combining elemental profiles with various modeling approaches were determined. Elemental analysis (Ca, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, P, V, and Zn) of strawberry, blueberry, and pear samples was performed using inductively coupled plasma argon atomic emission spectrometer. Bulk stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analyses in pear were performed using mass spectrometry as an alternative fingerprinting technique. Each fruit, strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa), blueberry (Vaccinium caesariense/corymbosum), and pear (Pyrus communis), was analyzed from two growing regions: Oregon vs Mexico, Chile, and Argentina, respectively. Principal component analysis and canonical discriminant analysis were used for data visualization. The data were modeled using linear discriminant function, quadratic discriminant function, neural network, genetic neural network, and hierarchical tree models with successful classification ranging from 70 to 100% depending on commodity and model. Effects of Oregon subregional and variety classification were investigated with similar success rates.
Using Informative Verbal Exchanges to Promote Verb Retrieval in Nonfluent Aphasia

Purpose The goal of this study was to determine whether positive treatment effects of a modified constraint-induced language therapy focused on verb production would generalize to unpracticed items...
Gli1 acts through Snail and E-cadherin to promote nuclear signaling by beta-catenin.

The Hedgehog pathway transcription factor Gli1 induces transformation of epithelial cells via induction of Snail, a repressor of E-cadherin (E-cad). E-cad is normally complexed with β-catenin at the cell membrane. Loss of E-cad during developmental epithelial–mesenchymal transitions can switch β-catenin from its role at adherens junctions to its role in nuclear transcription. During tumorigenesis it is unclear which pathways trigger this switch. In the current study, gain- and loss-of-function approaches identified E-cad as a selective inhibitor of transformation by Gli1, and Snail knockdown was rescued by downregulation of E-cad. Gli1 induced relocalization of β-catenin from the cell membrane to the nucleus. The ability of wild-type or mutant alleles of E-cad to modulate transformation by Gli1 correlated with their ability to regulate localization of β-catenin. Inhibition of Wnt-β-catenin signaling by dominant negative Tcf4 selectively blocked in vitro transformation by Gli1. In Gli1-transgenic mice, infiltrating skin tumor cells expressed active, unphosphorylated β-catenin. Our studies identify E-cad as a selective suppressor of transformation by Gli1 and point to the Sonic Hedgehog–Gli1 pathway as a key regulator of the β-catenin switch in epithelial cells and cancers.
Primate polyspecific associations: Do they occur by chance?

Abstract Contrary to subjective impressions, the frequency of mixed-species associations of African forest primates is often no greater than would be expected by ‘chance’. Two null hypotheses predicting association frequency are developed and compared with data on mangabeys in the Kibale forest, Uganda; association frequencies imply behavioural attraction in the the case of only one of six species present. For other species, the simpler possibilities that associations reflect high population density or use of mutual feeding sites cannot be rejected. Comparative data from West African associations suggest more ‘significant’ association tendencies there. It is suggested that, even where the evidence indicates that tendencies to associate between species have been favoured by selection, association need not benefit both species.
Interventional cardiology: A new drug-eluting stent that does not live up to its promise

Drug-eluting stents are an established treatment option for coronary artery disease, although they are not without their problems. The MAHOROBA® stent attempts to harness the theoretical advantages of both tacrolimus and polymer degradation, but has proved not to be effective in the treatment of de novo coronary lesions.
A Modified Mroz Model for Springback Prediction

A new anisotropic material hardening model is introduced in this study for springback simulation. It is modified from the Mroz multi-yield surface hardening model and incorporated more realistic Bauschinger effect for cyclic loading and anisotropic yield surfaces for sheet metals. The model is targeted for sheet metal forming simulations where the accurate springback predictions are important, and where materials have more rapid hardening characteristics and ability to sustain higher stresses such as so-called advanced high-strength steels (AHSS). The constitutive integration algorithm is derived and it is numerically implemented in the commercial FEA code via a user-material subroutine. The new model is applied to a U-channel forming test with DP600 steel. Experiments are conducted and springback results are compared with numerical prediction to demonstrate the new model’s effectiveness.
Energy Density of Three Fishes from Minnesota Waters of Lake Superior

Energy densities of three salmonine prey species in Lake Superior were determined by bomb calorimetry to examine seasonal trends, differences due to gender and to establish a relation with percent dry weight. These results from April through October for 1992 and 1993 were compared with other studies from the Great Lakes region. Across the 2-year sampling period rainbow smelt Osmerus mordax energy density decreased from April to June and July then significantly increased into September. Lake herring Coregonus artedii energy density was highest in June, decreased significantly by August, and remained stable through October. Bloater C. hoyi energy density was lowest in July, then increased in August and early September before decreasing in late September. There were no significant differences in energy density between males and females for rainbow smelt and lake herring collected on the same date across sampling dates. However, bloater energy density was significantly higher for females than for males on two dates. Energy density estimates for bloater in Lake Superior were lower than those reported from Lake Michigan. Energy density values of rainbow smelt and lake herring fell within the range reported in Lake Michigan and Lake Ontario (rainbow smelt), and from two inland lakes in Minnesota and Lake Mendota, Wisconsin (lake herring). Percent dry weight was a good predictor of energy density (P < 0.001, r2 = 0.92–0.99) for all three species for both years. Percent dry weight vs energy density was significantly different between years for bloater and lake herring, and was significantly different for all three species compared with populations in other lakes in the Great Lakes Region.
Outcomes of decompression for lumbar spinal canal stenosis based upon preoperative radiographic severity

Background The relationship between severity of preoperative radiographic findings and surgical outcomes following decompression for lumbar degenerative spinal canal stenosis is unclear. Our aim in this paper was to gain insight into this relationship. We determined pre-operative radiographic severity on MRI scans using strict methodological controls and correlated such severity with post-operative outcomes using prospectively collected data.
Tertiary aromatic amines as cure reaction promoters for unsaturated polyester resins. II. Low temperature studies

N,N-dimethyl-p-toludine (DMPT), N,N-dimethyl-m-toluidine (DMMT), and their isomeric blends, were compared to N,N-dimethylaniline (DMA) as cure reaction promoters for an unsaturated polyester resin using 1% benzoyl peroxide at 15°C and 10°C. The promoters showed the following order of efficiency (by weight) as indicated by decreased gel and cure times: DMPT > DMPT/DMMT blends > DMMT > DMA. Under these conditions the optimum promoter concentration was 0.3%. At this level or higher, 80/20 and 60/40 DMPT/DMMT blends (wt/wt) performed essentially equal to DMPT but superior to DMMT and DMA. Examination of cured samples using differential scanning calorimetry showed that resins cured with DMPT or isomeric blends of DMPT and DMMT with high DMPT contents displayed higher glass transition temperatures and greater degrees of cure than samples cured using DMMT or DMA.
Effects of (-)delta 9-trans-tetrahydrocannabinol on social behavior of squirrel monkey dyads in a water competition situation.

δ9-THC in doses of 0.25, 0.5 or 1.0 mg/kg was administered to pairs of squirrel monkeys in a water competition test. After stable baseline measures for the pairs were obtained, repeated testing of pairs followed the sequence of orally treating the dominant member, the submissive member, and both members of the pairs. Total competition behaviors decreased when both members received 1 mg/kg, but increased when either the submissive member or both members of low competitive pairs received 0.25 mg/kg. Noncompetitive social behaviors increased when both animals were drugged, an effect which was maximal at 1.0 mg/kg. δ9-THC produced the most salient effects when both animals were drugged and demonstrated a biphasic dose effect on competition.
Closed-form representation for directivity of nonuniformly spaced linear arrays with arbitrary element patterns

A closed-form expression involving lambda functions is derived for the directivity of nonuniformly spaced symmetrical linear arrays which is valid for a wide variety of commonly used antenna elements. It is shown that this general expression for directivity reduces to the well-known classical result for a uniformly excited broadside array of isotropic sources with elements spaced a half-wavelength apart.
Design and Immunogenicity of a Novel Synthetic Antigen based on the Ligand Domain of the Plasmodium vivax Duffy Binding Protein

The Duffy binding protein is considered a leading vaccine candidate against asexual blood-stage Plasmodium vivax. The interaction of P. vivax merozoites with human reticulocytes through Duffy binding protein (DBP) and its cognate receptor is vital for parasite infection. The ligand domain of DBP (DBPII) is polymorphic, showing a diversity characteristic of selective immune pressure that tends to compromise vaccine efficacy associated with strain-specific immunity. A previous study resolved that a polymorphic region of DBPII was a dominant B-cell epitope target of human inhibitory anti-DBP antibodies, which we refer to as the DEK epitope for the amino acids in the SalI allele. We hypothesized that the polymorphic residues, which are not functionally important for erythrocyte binding but flank the receptor binding motif of DBPII, comprise variant epitopes that tend to divert the immune response away from more conserved epitopes. In this study, we designed, expressed, and evaluated the immunogenicity of a novel artificial DBPII allele, termed DEKnull, having nonpolar amino acids in the naturally occurring polymorphic charged residues of the DEK epitope. The DEKnull antigen retained erythrocyte-binding activity and elicited antibodies to shared epitopes of SalI DBPII from which it was derived. Our results confirmed that removal of the dominant variant epitope in the DEKnull vaccine lowered immunogenicity of DBPII, but inhibitory anti-DBPII antibodies were elicited against shared neutralizing epitopes on SalI. Focusing immune responses toward more conserved DBP epitopes may avoid development of a strain-specific immunity and enhance functional inhibition against broader range of DBPII variants.
WIYN Integral Field Unit Study of the Kinematics of the Ionized Gas in NGC 4214

We present the results of a WIYN integral field unit study of the kinematics of the ionized gas in NGC 4214, a nearby Magellanic spiral that is forming copious numbers of massive stars. While there is general agreement between the Hα and H I velocity fields for NGC 4214, there are several regions where we find the velocities of the ionized gas to be 50-100 km s-1 higher than the H I velocities at those radii. The higher velocities are associated with the diffuse ionized gas, particularly in regions of low H I column density, and not with the discrete H II regions that are typically associated with H I clouds. The mechanical energy dumped into the interstellar medium of NGC 4214 by the combined stellar winds of the massive stars is more than sufficient to account for the kinematics of the ionized gas. The dearth of radio continuum sources argues that supernovae associated with the most recent burst of star formation have yet to shape the distribution and kinematics of the ionized (or neutral) gas in this galaxy. We suggest that the detected outflows of ionized gas are the result of windblown bubbles and expanding ionization fronts accelerating as they encounter the steep density gradients from H I clouds to H I holes.
Porencephaly secondary to fetal trauma during amniocentesis

Background: There has been one reported case of porencephaly diagnosed postnatally as a result of amniocentesis. We report the first antenatal diagnosis of porencephaly, which apparently resulted from penetration of the fetal skull during amniocentesis. Case: A 37-year-old woman had genetic amniocentesis at 16 weeks' gestation. The fetal skull was penetrated during the unguided procedure. Porencephaly discovered at 28 weeks' gestation was confirmed by imaging studies in the neonatal period. Conclusion: Inadvertent fetal skull penetration appeared to result from amniocentesis unguided by continuous ultrasound.
Possibility of stack and draw process as fabrication technology for multi-core fiber

The merits and drawbacks of stack and draw process and drilling process for a multi-core fiber were discussed. The possibility of the stack and draw process for low-loss transmission line with multi-core fiber was confirmed.