cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Transmission of Stability Information Through the N-domain of Tropomyosin Is Interrupted by a Stabilizing Mutation (A109L) in the Hydrophobic Core of the Stability Control Region (Residues 97-118)

Tropomyosin (Tm) is an actin-binding, thin filament, two-stranded α-helical coiled-coil critical for muscle contraction and cytoskeletal function. We made the first identification of a stability control region (SCR), residues 97-118, in the Tm sequence that controls overall protein stability but is not required for folding. We also showed that the individual α-helical strands of the coiled-coil are stabilized by Leu-110, whereas the hydrophobic core is destabilized in the SCR by Ala residues at three consecutive d positions. Our hypothesis is that the stabilization of the individual α-helices provides an optimum stability and allows functionally beneficial dynamic motion between the α-helices that is critical for the transmission of stabilizing information along the coiled-coil from the SCR. We prepared three recombinant (rat) Tm(1-131) proteins, including the wild type sequence, a destabilizing mutation L110A, and a stabilizing mutation A109L. These proteins were evaluated by circular dichroism (CD) and differential scanning calorimetry. The single mutation L110A destabilizes the entire Tm(1-131) molecule, showing that the effect of this mutation is transmitted 165 A along the coiled-coil in the N-terminal direction. The single mutation A109L prevents the SCR from transmitting stabilizing information and separates the coiled-coil into two domains, one that is ∼9 °C more stable than wild type and one that is ∼16 °C less stable. We know of no other example of the substitution of a stabilizing Leu residue in a coiled-coil hydrophobic core position d that causes this dramatic effect. We demonstrate the importance of the SCR in controlling and transmitting the stability signal along this rodlike molecule.
Enhancing adaptive sparse grid approximations and improving refinement strategies using adjoint-based a posteriori error estimates

In this paper we present an algorithm for adaptive sparse grid approximations of quantities of interest computed from discretized partial differential equations. We use adjoint-based a posteriori error estimates of the physical discretization error and the interpolation error in the sparse grid to enhance the sparse grid approximation and to drive adaptivity of the sparse grid. Utilizing these error estimates provides significantly more accurate functional values for random samples of the sparse grid approximation. We also demonstrate that alternative refinement strategies based upon a posteriori error estimates can lead to further increases in accuracy in the approximation over traditional hierarchical surplus based strategies. Throughout this paper we also provide and test a framework for balancing the physical discretization error with the stochastic interpolation error of the enhanced sparse grid approximation.
Diploscapter coronata as a facultative parasite of man, with a general review of vertebrate parasitism by rhabditoid worms.

A report is made of nine cases in which Diploscapter coronata was found, in great abundance and in all stages of development, in human stomachs containing little or no hydrochloric acid. A critical review is given of the literature of parasitism of vertebrates by rhabditid worms, and it is concluded that these worms may establish themselves and multiply in diseased female urino-genital systems as well as in hypohydrochloric stomachs, and may live as larvae in the skin, particularly when this is mangy, or multiply on the surface of the skin, but that the evidence of establishment in the intestine or respiratory system of mammals is still inadequate.
Measurements of strain at plate boundaries using space based geodetic techniques

We have used the space based geodetic techniques of Satellite Laser Ranging (SLR) and VLBI to study strain along subduction and transform plate boundaries and have interpreted the results using a simple elastic dislocation model. Six stations located behind island arcs were analyzed as representative of subduction zones while 13 sites located on either side of the San Andreas fault were used for the transcurrent zones. The length deformation scale was then calculated for both tectonic margins by fitting the relative strain to an exponentially decreasing function of distance from the plate boundary. Results show that space-based data for the transcurrent boundary along the San Andreas fault help to define better the deformation length scale in the area while fitting nicely the elastic half-space earth model. For subduction type bonndaries the analysis indicates that there is no single scale length which uniquely describes the deformation. This is mainly due to the difference in subduction characteristics for the different areas.
Best practices in commercial real estate financing a guide to commercial mortgage transactions in the USA

For any commercial real estate loan in the USA, the closing and documentation process combines traditional principles and practices of US real estate law — some dating back centuries to English common law — with the global capital markets, a fast-moving marketplace, and painful lessons learned in the USA's real estate depression of the early 1990s. Against that backdrop, lenders and borrowers must bring together dozens of processes, participants and other pieces to document and close any commercial mortgage loan. This paper focuses on all those elements, for comparison against commercial mortgage lending procedures in other countries and as a reminder of basic principles for commercial mortgage lenders and their advisors in the USA. Copyright © 2003 Henry Stewart Publications
Accurate potential energy curve of the LiH + molecule calculated with explicitly correlated Gaussian functions

Very accurate calculations of the ground-state potential energy curve (PEC) of the LiH+ ion performed with all-electron explicitly correlated Gaussian functions with shifted centers are presented. The variational method is employed. The calculations involve optimization of nonlinear exponential parameters of the Gaussians performed with the aid of the analytical first derivatives of the energy determined with respect to the parameters. The diagonal adiabatic correction is also calculated for each PEC point. The PEC is then used to calculate the vibrational energies of the system. In that calculation, the non-adiabatic effects are accounted for by using an effective vibrational mass obtained by the minimization of the difference between the vibrational energies obtained from the calculations where the Born-Oppenheimer approximation was not assumed and the results of the present calculations.
Method for the simultaneous quantitation of apolipoprotein E isoforms using tandem mass spectrometry

Abstract Using apolipoprotein E (ApoE) as a model protein, we developed a protein isoform analysis method utilizing stable isotope labeling tandem mass spectrometry (SILT MS). ApoE isoforms are quantitated using the intensities of the b and y ions of the 13 C-labeled tryptic isoform-specific peptides versus unlabeled tryptic isoform-specific peptides. The ApoE protein isoform analysis using SILT allows for the simultaneous detection and relative quantitation of different ApoE isoforms from the same sample. This method provides a less biased assessment of ApoE isoforms compared to antibody-dependent methods, and may lead to a better understanding of the biological differences between isoforms.
Allocation of epiblast cells to germ layer derivatives during mouse gastrulation as studied with a retroviral vector

The embryonic ectoderm, or epiblast, is the source of the three primary germ layers that form during gastrulation in the mouse embryo. Previous studies have investigated the fate of epiblast cells in early gastrulation stages using clonal analysis of cell lineage and in late gastrulation stages using transplantation of labeled grafts. In this study, we studied the fate of late gastrulation stage epiblast using a clonal analysis based on a retroviral vector encoding the Escherichia coli lacZ gene. We found that by reducing the volume of viral suspension injected into each embryo, it was possible to achieve single infectious events. Our analysis of 20 embryos singly infected at the late streak stage and 21 at the head fold stage revealed clonal descendants in only a single germ layer in each embryo. These results indicate that allocation of epiblast progenitors to a single germ layer fate has occurred by late gastrulation in mouse embryos.
Potential Sources of Bisphenol A in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether nutritional intake and medical devices are bisphenol A (BPA) exposure sources among premature infants in the NICU. METHODS: Mothers and their premature infants cared for in the NICU for the past 3 days were recruited for this exposure assessment study. Forty-three mothers contributed 1 nutrition sample (breast milk or formula) to characterize the infant’s intake. Two urine samples (before and after feeding) were collected from each of 55 infants. Medical device use was categorized as “low” or “high” based on the number and invasiveness of devices used. BPA urinary concentrations used as a biomarker to estimate BPA exposure were measured by online solid-phase extraction, high performance liquid chromatography, isotope dilution, tandem mass spectrometry. Nonparametric equivalence tests, intraclass correlations, and hierarchical linear mixed-effects models were conducted. RESULTS: Breast milk and formula samples did not differ in total BPA concentration nor did infants’ median urinary concentration of total BPA before or after feedings. However, the median urinary total BPA concentration among infants who required the use of 4 or more medical devices in the past 3 days was significantly higher (36.6 µg/L) than among infants who required the use of 0 to 3 devices (13.9 µg/L). The calculated BPA exposures are lower than the US Environmental Protection Agency reference dose, but considerably higher (16- to 32-fold) than among infants or children from the general population. CONCLUSIONS: The number of medical devices used in the past 3 days, but not nutritional intake, was positively associated with exposure to BPA.
Two Foundations of Rorschach Assessment Revisited

Summary: The Rorschach has been approached from two philosophical traditions: the hermeneutic and the scientific. The dialectical tension between these diverse traditions has led to considerable argument about the professional status of the Rorschach. Literature emanating from these traditions is reviewed and conclusions reached about the reliability and validity of the instrument from both approaches. Arguments whether the approaches are mutually exclusive and whether the approaches can be mixed are examined. A research program is recommended that follows Meehl's (1990) discussion of a Lakatosian approach to scientific theory testing.
Hydrogenase system in legume nodules: A mechanism of providing nitrogenase with energy and protection from oxygen damage

Some strains of rhizobia possess a hydrogenase system which catalyzes the oxidation of the H2 that is evolved from nitrogenase during N2 fixation. Oxidation of H2 by a hydrogen uptake positive strain of Rhizobium japonicum provides energy for support of the N2 fixation reactions and protects nitrogenase from O2 damage
Detection of sodium chloride in cured salmon roe by SW-NIR spectroscopy.

Salt and moisture content of cured salmon roe (ikura) was determined using short-wavelengthnear-infrared (SW-NIR) reflectance spectroscopy (600-1100 nm). SW-NIR can be used to measure chloride species. Calibrations for salt in bulk samples of high-quality roe (R 2 ) 0.904, SEP ) 0.421%, RPD ) 3.21) and average-quality roe (R 2 ) 0.711, SEP ) 1.13%, RPD ) 1.81), crushed eggs (R 2 ) 0.857, SEP ) 0.509%, RPD ) 2.62), and individual eggs (R 2 ) 0.731, SEP ) 0.698%, RPD ) 1.98) were developed using partial least squares (PLS) regression models. The heterogeneous distribution of lipid and moisture in the individual eggs limit the sensitivity of this method; however, this method provides a rapid nondestructive method for high-value food products where destructive testing is expensive or impractical and for process control applications.
The fine line between 'brave' and 'reckless': amygdala reactivity and regulation predict recognition of risk.

Abstract Background High sensation-seekers (HSS) pursue novelty even at the cost of self-harm. When challenged, HSS are less anxious, show blunted physiological (cortisol, startle) and neurobiological (prefrontal-limbic) responses, and devalue aversive outcomes. Here, we investigate how these features interact under conditions of physical danger, in distinguishing between adaptive and maladaptive approaches to risk. Methods We recruited a cohort of individuals who voluntarily sought out recreational exposure to physical risk, and obtained serial cortisol values over two time-locked days. On the ‘baseline’ day, we scanned subjects' brains with functional and structural MRI; on the ‘skydiving day,’ subjects completed a first-time tandem skydive. During neuroimaging, subjects viewed cues that predicted aversive noise; neural data were analyzed for prefrontal-limbic reactivity (activation) and regulation (non-linear complexity), as well as cortical thickness. To probe threat perception, subjects identified aggression for ambiguous faces morphed between neutral and angry poles. Results Individuals with prefrontal-limbic meso-circuits with less balanced regulation between excitatory and inhibitory components showed both diminished cortisol/anxiety responses to their skydives, as well as less accurate perceptual recognition of threat. This impaired control was localized to the inferior frontal gyrus, with associated cortical thinning. Structural equation modeling suggests that sensation-seeking is primarily mediated via threat-perception, which itself is primarily mediated via neural reactivity and regulation. Conclusions Our results refine the sensation-seeking construct to provide important distinctions (brain-based, but with endocrine and cognitive consequences) between the brave, who feel fear but nonetheless overcome it, and the reckless, who fail to recognize danger. This distinction has important real-world implications, as those who fail to recognize risk are less likely to mitigate it.
Analysis of joint Doppler, phase noise effects on OFDM systems in time varying channels

Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) is an effective modulation scheme to improve the performance of a communication system over wireless multipath fading channels. However transceiver hardware non-idealities combined with channel limits the performance. In this paper we study the effect of local oscillator phase noise in slow time varying channels considering realistic phase noise power spectral density (PSD) function. Carrier to Interference ratio (C/I) expression for individual subcarrier is derived for the additional intercarrier interference (ICI) due to the joint effect of Doppler and phase noise. Realistic phase noise PSD and Jakes Doppler PSD are used to quantify these OFDM system performance metrics. Analytical expression of upper bound on the system performance is obtained. Unlike Gaussian time invariant channels, in time varying channels, OFDM system performance is upper bounded by the ICI due to joint effect of Doppler and phase noise rather than Doppler alone. Numerical and simulation results are included which supports these derived theoretical results.
Coherent Optical CDMA with low MAI

A novel coherent optical code division multiple access (OCDMA) network based on phase and polarization diversity balanced reception of spectrally encoded optical pulses is proposed. Spectral efficiencies of 1 bps/Hz and beyond can be achieved by minimizing multiple access interference (MAI) and by cancelling beat noise. While the system achieves full capacity under bit synchronism, it also offers competitive performance at up to 25% of full capacity, even when completely asynchronous. Tree and ring network configurations can assure synchronization, making the proposed system robust in the presence of dispersion and phase noise.
Childhood cancer in the West Midlands: incidence and survival, 1980-1984, in a multi-ethnic population.

Abstract The purpose of this study is to describe the incidence and survival of childhood cancer in the West Midlands for the period 1980–1984. Proportional breakdown by Asian subgroup is also considered. A total of 587 patients were registered, 49 of them of Asian origin. Breakdown to Asian versus non-Asian subgroups by diagnosis revealed comparatively high rates for Hodgkin's disease, retinoblastoma and neuroblastoma in the Asian patients. However, a deficit of cases was seen for CNS tumours. Comparison of overall age-standardized rates (ASR) for all cancers revealed a substantially lower value compared to that reported for the USA white population but a similar value to the USA black and UK white populations. Diagnostic breakdown revealed that the major difference between the West Midlands Regional Children's Tumour Research Group (WMRCTRG) and the USA white ASR was in the leukaemia and lymphoma group. Overall survival for the series was 56% at 5 years. The poorest prognosis was found in acute myeloid leukaemia, with only 23% of patients surviving at 5 years, against 62% in acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. CNS tumours also had a poor outcome, with an overall survival rate of 47%, although certain individual diagnoses were more favourable. We observed a 100% survival rate in Hodgkin's disease up to 5 years from diagnosis, and both Wilms' tumour and retinoblastoma had 90% survival rates.
Discourse Networks in South African Slave Society

Abstract How do slaves acquire information about their customary and legal rights and how does that knowledge impel them to action? This article explores the discourses that developed from the experiences of a diaspora of slaves taken from disparate parts of Asia and Africa as well as creole slaves born at the Cape. A range of factors from geographical origin, legal status, and race to colour, ethnicity, and religion produced a fragile hierarchy that slaves constantly challenged. Cape slaves prodded their masters to renegotiate the terms of servitude not clearly delineated in the heterogeneous body of slave laws governing the Cape. Slaves forged information networks and used them as a ‘grapevine’ for diffusing useful information and to create autonomy for themselves and their families beyond the institution of slavery. Even as historians have acknowledged that Cape slaves had little in common besides their bondage, evidence from the Dutch era suggests that cultural origins continued to shape slave expecta...
Effect of steady state coning angle and damping on whirl flutter stability

The main object of this investigation is to find the effect of the steady state coning angle and the damping at the flapping hinge of the blades on the whirl flutter stability boundary and thus to determine the role they can play in narrowing down the gap between theory and experiment. The governing equations of motion, with these two parameters included are derived by the classical Lagrangian approach using quasi-steady blade element theory for aerodynamic forces. A linearized analysis of these equations is applied to two of the wind tunnel models of the previous investigations. The results indicate that these parameters have a marked effect on stability boundary and they may even change the mode of flutter from backward whirl to forward whirl.
Hemochromatosis simulating hepatoma by computed tomography

Computed tomography of the liver in hemochromatosis characteristically demonstrates diffusely increased attenuation. We report a patient with this disorder who presented with such a finding over the right lobe of the liver and a benign, large lower density area occupying the other lobe, closely simulating malignancy. Biopsies of the liver showed prominent fibrosis of the left lobe as compared with the right lobe, which probably accounts for the attenuation difference.
Recent advances in laboratory procedures for pathogenic mycobacteria

Mycobacteriology is an area in which technological advances are highly warranted, not only because of the clinical importance of members of the genus Mycobacterium but also because of their diversity, fastidiousness, and generally slow growth characteristics. The most notable species in this genus is Mycobacterium tuberculosis, but many other species also are primary pathogens [1–4]. Isolation of mycobacteria has traditionally been performed through the use of selective in vitro growth media. Conventional identification is usually pursued by biochemical testing and growth characteristics, and antimicrobial susceptibility testing is based on growth in the presence of the drug of interest [5,6]. Laboratory diagnosis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis The most important components of the traditional presumptive diagnosis of tuberculosis are clinical symptoms and chest X ray [5]. Laboratory confirmation of a presumptive diagnosis includes acid fast bacillus (AFB) smear microscopy followed by culture [6]. Although positive AFB microscopy results are generally indicative for the presence of members of the genus Mycobacterium, they are not specific for M tuberculosis. The sensitivity of AFB smear microscopy using the traditional Ziehl-Neelsen staining method ranges from 22% to 78% compared with culture results, and the limit of detection is approximately 5 10 3 to 1 10 4 bacilli/mL, depending on several variables. These factors include the type of specimen, the Mycobacterium species present, the efficiency of decontamination, liquefaction and concentration of the specimen, and technical preparation of the slide and expertise of the laboratory personnel performing the microscopic examination [7].
Thermocouple Data in the Inverse Heat Conduction Problem

The presence of thermocouples inside a heat-conducting body will distort the temperature field in the body and may lead to significant bias in the temperature measurement. If temperature histories obtained from thermocouples are used in the inverse heat conduction problem (IHCP), errors are propagated into the IHCP results. The bias in the thermocouple measurements can be removed through use of appropriate detailed thermocouple models to account for the dynamics of the sensor measurement. The results of these models can be used to generate correction kernels to eliminate bias in the thermocouple reading, or can be applied as sensitivity coefficients in the IHCP directly. Three-dimensional and axisymmetric models are compared and contrasted and a simple sensitivity study is conducted to evaluate the significance of thermal property selection on the temperature correction and subsequent heat flux estimation. In this paper, a high-fidelity thermocouple model is used to account for thermocouple bias in an exp...
Inconsistencies in Mothers’ and Group Therapists’ Evaluations of Resilience in Preschool Children who Live in Households with Intimate Partner Violence

The association between mother-reported child adjustment problems and group therapists’ ratings of resilience was evaluated in preschool-aged children who reside in homes where intimate partner violence (IPV) is present. Multiple reporters’ evaluations of resilience were assessed to determine how young children display resilience at home and in treatment. Reporters were mothers and child therapists who evaluated resilience in 52 preschoolers who lived in households where IPV occurs. Group therapists’ ratings of resilience were negatively correlated with children’s externalizing behavior problems. Findings indicated poor rater agreement between mothers and group therapists on some aspects of resilience. Evaluations differed based on demographic factors, with the most variability in resilience by child age. Given the lack of research on this topic and the common practice of only one informant supplying most of the data used in studies of child functioning, the current study provides unique information by comparing multiple reports across settings.
Use of an intersectional framework to understand black women's racial and gender identities

Eighty-nine black women’s racial and gender identities were examined within an intersectional framework that emphasized their unique integration of these identities. Quantitative analyses indicated that the intersected black-woman identity was more important than the individual identities of woman and black person. Further, interference in the black identity (but not interference in the woman identity) was related to lower self-esteem and depression. Qualitative analyses of rewards and difficulties experienced as black women identified four themes: stereotyping and discrimination, personal esteem, isolation from others, and opportunities and resources. Black women who mentioned any reward reported higher self-esteem than those who did not. The value of an intersectional framework for thinking about black women’s identities is discussed.
A molecular phylogenetic approach to the New Zealand species of Enantiobuninae (Opiliones : Eupnoi : Neopilionidae)

Members of the New Zealand Enantiobuninae constitute some of the most charismatic soil arthropods of the archipelago, and a striking example of sexual dimorphism, with nondescript females but colourful males boasting exaggerated chelicerae many times longer than their bodies. The genera Forsteropsalis and Pantopsalis recently underwent revision, but many questions remained about the validity of species designations owing to historical issues of characters of dubious taxonomic value, female specimens designated as holotypes despite the males holding all the diagnostic characters, and the suspected presence of more than one male form within some species. We present the first phylogeny based on molecular data for the New Zealand species in the genera Forsteropsalis, Pantopsalis and Mangatangi, and comment on the taxonomic implications of our results, including the diagnostic viability of important morphological characters. Our analyses reject the monophyly of Neopilionidae and Forsteropsalis, but support the monophyly of Pantopsalis. Finally, we comment on the taxonomic implications of the results, including the diagnostic validity of morphological characters traditionally used on the groups.
Further light on nonparametric selection efficiency

A nonparametric selection procedure bs was proposed by Bechhofer and Sobel (1958) and studied by Dudewicz (1971) in comparison with other procedures under normal and uniform alternatives. He found BS always required larger sample sizes, sometimes substantially so. For 2-point populations we find more extreme results. We also find that BS may be substantially better than reasonable competitors designed specifically for 2-point populations. Finally, a new nonparametric selection procedure (conjectured to be better than BS) is proposed.
Non-relativistic ground state Lamb shift of hydrogenic ions

Abstract We present values of the ground state Lamb shifts of hydrogenic ions obtained non-relativistically without any ultraviolet photon cutoff. The results are in good agreement with existing theoretical values for general Z and the current experimental value for hydrogen.
Urologic Sports Injuries in Children

Sports participation is an important part of the lives of many children and adolescents. The risk of sustaining a genitourinary injury during sports is low. The published literature suggests that the specific risk to those patients with only one healthy kidney, ovary, or testicle is very low but not zero. Physicians who counsel patients and families about sports participation need to consider many factors: the type of sport, the level of play, the local sports culture, and the relative degree of risk. The published data suggest that major injuries to an ovary during sports are exceedingly rare. Major injuries to a testicle are also unusual. Significant kidney injuries, while uncommon, do occur and not necessarily only in the well-known collision sports.
Effects of oxygen on the upper critical fields of lead and tin molybdenum sulfide Chevrel phases.

The upper critical fields, H/sub c/2, of SnMo/sub 6/S/sub 8-x/O/sub x/ and PbMo/sub 6/S/sub 8-x/O/sub x/ Chevrel-phase materials with controlled oxygen content were measured with dc and pulsed magnetic fields. The present results and those of many earlier investigations are explained by the presence of oxygen. Observations of increases in T/sub c/ and the variation of H/sub c/2 obtained by additions of Gd or Al are explained by the gettering of oxygen by these additives. The highest T/sub c/ materials, which have the lowest oxygen content, do not have the highest H/sub c/2(0).
Estimating the burden of road traffic injuries among children and adolescents in urban South Asia

Over a million people died from road traffic injuries (RTI) globally in the year 2000 and as many as 50 million were injured. Yet there has been little work focused on the South Asia region, let alone the vulnerable segments of population such as children and adolescents. This study aims at measuring the burden of disease caused by urban road traffic injuries among children and adolescents in South Asia. This study selected 26 studies for review and data extraction out of 1505 published articles. Data from the studies were pooled to calculate the proportion and characteristics of child and adolescent RTI, regional RTI incidence and mortality rates, and an estimate of the burden of disease caused by these injuries through the use of the healthy life years lost (HeaLY) composite measure. Our findings showed that the majority of injuries occurred in males (67-80%) and the most frequent age group injured was between ages 0 and 9 representing 40% of cases. Children and adolescents represent an average of 22% of all those with RTI whom seek care. Children and adolescents represented an average of 13% of all RTI deaths. Regional RTI incidence rate was calculated at 880 per 100,000 urban persons aged 0-19. Mortality due to RTI was at 17 deaths per 100,000 urban persons aged 0-19 in South Asia. Burden of disease was calculated 16 HeaLYs per 1000 general population from road traffic mortality alone. With disability data added, then 27.7 HeaLYs per 1000 general population are lost from road traffic injuries in South Asia. The increasing burden of RTI in young persons in South Asia is a call for considering appropriate research and effective interventions. This relatively high loss of healthy life from RTI needs to be addressed by public health systems in South Asia.
Mean-field approximation in semiconductor laser modeling.

A mean-field model for light propagation in wide-aperture, lossy semiconductor lasers is derived and validated by comparison with a full counterpropagating wave code. The model includes inhomogeneities transverse to (index or gain guiding) and along the laser structure in addition to light diffraction and carrier diffusion. The model is tested on single-stripe index- and gain-guided lasers, on multistripe index- and gain-guided laser arrays, and on broad-area lasers.
The interpreting audience: The therapeutics of self‐help book reading

Since the “second wave” of the women's movement, psychological self‐help books have been an important resource for many women regarding issues of relationships and identity. This audience study examines how the use of self‐help books is enacted in everyday life, and how this use illuminates aspects of women's lives in contemporary America. Although the genre has been criticized for its recipe format, readers use self‐help books in complex, and often empowering ways. Readers often read for the purpose of extricating themselves from patriarchal authority and establishing personal autonomy. Yet, they simultaneously construct an experience with the texts which helps them establish a sense of what is culturally shared among a community of readers. This “abstract” community of others provides a sense of what constitutes shared cultural knowledge, something which readers are unable to glean from their everyday interpersonal interaction.
A direct method for the general solution of a system of linear equations

A computationally stable method for the general solution of a system of linear equations is given. The system isATx−B=0, where then-vectorx is unknown and then×q matrixA and theq-vectorB are known. It is assumed that the matrixAT and the augmented matrix [AT,B] are of the same rankm, wherem≤n, so that the system is consistent and solvable. Whenm<n, the method yields the minimum modulus solutionxm and a symmetricn ×n matrixHm of rankn−m, so thatx=xm+Hmy satisfies the system for ally, ann-vector. Whenm=n, the matrixHm reduces to zero andxm becomes the unique solution of the system.
Experimental Study of Impact Modulation for Quantifying Loose Bolt Torque in On-Demand Satellites

The development of on-demand satellites has created the need for methods that quickly assess the structural integrity of the system. In particular, because of rapid testing and assembly, workmanship errors such as loose bolts within the satellite structure are a concern. Current methods of loose bolt detection, which often rely on baseline data or analytical models, are not practical due to the variable geometry of the satellites and the time constraints on testing. The method of impact modulation is a nonlinear vibration method which is quick to perform and is robust to changes in the geometry of the structure. This paper presents the results of applying impact modulation to a simplified structure used to model a single bolted joint within a satellite. Results show that impact modulation can distinguish changes in torque within the bolted joint. In addition, several examples of how the underlying linear characteristics of the system affect impact modulation results are given.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
An efficient interacting boundary layer method for supersonic flow in the transonic regime

Abstract A quasi-simultaneous interacting boundary layer (IBL) method with alternating direction explicit acceleration is extended to include the nonlinear weak-shock branch of a nonlinear transonic viscous—inviscid interaction. This IBL scheme is valid for an inviscid flow which is supersonic everywhere as the free-stream Mach number (M−8) approaches one. Solutions computed by this method are compared with transonic triple-deck solutions for expansion ramps as M ∞ a 1 . The convergence rate of the method is found to be comparable to an identically accelerated scheme with a linear supersonic interaction law. Solutions for a parabolic hump on a flat plate are also given which show the development of a growing region of separation behind the hump as M ∞ a 1 .
Prefrontal EEG Asymmetry as a Potential Biomarker of Antidepressant Treatment Response with Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS): A Case Series

We review studies that have used EEG as a response biomarker in depression, and then present preliminary EEG change data from an ongoing TMS depression treatment trial. These data in 4 depressed subjects over 3 weeks of treatment suggest but do not prove that there may be asymmetry changes that occur both within a daily TMS session and over the course of several weeks that may be associated with antidepressant response. EEG shows potential as a biomarker of response for depression treatments, particularly the brain stimulation devices, which, unlike medications, can focally interact with neural tissue in specific frequency patterns.
Effect of subchronic dietary administration of butylated hydroxyanisole on canine stomach and hepatic tissue.

Beagle dogs, 29 males and 30 females, were assigned to feeding groups of 0, 1.0 and 1.3% butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) for 180 days. Animals were observed, daily for physical signs of pharmacological or toxicological effect. Except for the production of a reddish-brown urine, no physical signs attributable to BHA administration were observed. Both food consumption and body-weight gain were reduced in the BHA-treated animals. Fifty-one animals completed the study. At termination, tissues were examined for gross BHA-related effects, and specimens were taken for enzyme analysis, light microscopy, electron microscopy and morphometric analysis. The liver showed a significant weight increase over the control in both sexes at both BHA dose levels. Ultrastructural examination of the liver of BHA-treated animals revealed proliferation of smooth endoplasmic reticulum and hepatocytic cytoplasmic myelinoid bodies. Enzyme analysis of hepatic tissue showed a significant increase in mixed-function oxidases, UDP glucuronyl transferase, glutathione S-transferase and epoxide hydratase in the BHA-treated dogs compared with the controls. Light microscopy revealed no proliferative/hyperplastic lesions of the stomach/gastric epithelium. Electron microscopic examination of the lower oesophagus and stomach specimens from representative animals from each treatment group failed to reveal any treatment-related effect as compared with controls.
Methylene spectral editing in solid-state 13C NMR by three-spin coherence selection.

Abstract A robust new solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) method for selecting CH 2 signals in magic-angle spinning (MAS) 13 C NMR spectra is presented. Heteronuclear dipolar evolution for a duration of 0.043 ms, under MREV-8 homonuclear proton decoupling, converts 13 C magnetization of CH 2 groups into two- and three-spin coherences. The CH 2 selection in the SIJ (C H H) spin system is based on the three-spin coherence S x I z J z , which is distinguished from 13 C magnetization ( S x ) by a 1 H 0°/90° pulse consisting of two 45° pulses. The two-spin coherences of the type S y I z are removed by a 13 C 90° x -pulse. The three-spin coherence is reconverted into magnetization during the remainder of the rotation period, still under MREV-8 decoupling. The required elimination of 13 C chemical-shift precession is achieved by a prefocusing 180° pulse bracketed by two rotation periods. The selection of the desired three-spin coherence has an efficiency of 13% theoretically and of 8% experimentally relative to the standard CP/MAS spectrum. However, long-range couplings also produce some three-spin coherences of methine (CH) carbons. Therefore, the length of the 13 C pulse flipping the two-spin coherences is increased by 12% to slightly invert the CH signals arising from two-spin coherences and thus cancel the signal from long-range three-spin coherences. The signal intensity in this cleaner spectrum is 6% relative to the regular CP/TOSS spectrum. The only residual signal is from methyl groups, which are suppressed at least sixfold relative to the CH 2 peaks. The experiment is demonstrated on cholesteryl acetate and applied to two humic acids.
Distinguishing between green building occupants’ reasoned and unplanned behaviours

Several frameworks incorporate social and psychological elements of environmentally significant behaviour, and most assume cognitive and deliberate decision-making. Household energy consumption behaviours, however, span a spectrum from reasoned and deliberate to unplanned and automatic. The aim of this paper is to advance knowledge of reasoned and unplanned behaviours in the context of pro-environmental action. Using results of a survey administered to occupants of an urban residential green building, this study explores five household consumption behaviours and tests the hypothesis that unplanned behaviours will be poorly predicted by a reasoned, values-based behavioural framework. Using path analyses, variables in a values-based framework are used to predict surveyed behaviours. Findings indicate that behaviours hypothesized to be unplanned were not well predicted by the values-based framework. The framework successfully predicted what was hypothesized to be a fully reasoned behaviour. Three potential r...
Effects on the Renin-Angiotensin System of Agents Acting at Central and Peripheral Adrenergic Receptors

Although the principal actions of clonidine are linked to its centrally mediated suppression of sympathetic activity, its inhibition of the renin axis also may contribute to its antihypertensive effects. In patients with essential hypertension studied in a clinical research center, clonidine-induced decreases in diastolic blood pressure and in plasma renin activity (PRA) correlated closely after one day of treatment, but not thereafter. Moreover, high-renin patients experienced significantly greater blood pressure decrements than low-renin patients during the first day of treatment, but subsequent blood pressure decreases were equal in the two groups, confirming that the sympathoinhibitory action of clonidine is probably independent of the renin-angiotensin system. However, responders to clonidine treatment exhibited significantly greater decrements in aldosterone excretion rate than nonresponders. When compared with propranolol in an outpatient study, clonidine reduced aldosterone levels to the same extent as propranolol despite a significantly weaker inhibitory effect on PRA. Indeed, in a further comparative study with prazosin, during which neither agent decreased renin levels, clonidine significantly lowered aldosterone excretion. Thus, clonidine appears to have two separate actions on the renin-aldosterone axis: an early antirenin action primarily in high-renin patients, and a longer-term suppressive effect on aldosterone. This latter action is possibly independent of changes in renin, and perhaps reflects an effect on aldosterone release mediated through central mechanisms.
Hemodynamic Comparison of Mild and Severe Preeclampsia: Concept of Stroke Systemic Vascular Resistance Index

Our purpose was to compare baseline hemodynamic parameters of mild and severe preeclampsia. Patients admitted to the Medical University Labor and Delivery Unit with the diagnosis of preeclampsia who had not received prior antihypertensive or magnesium sulfate therapy were recruited for noninvasive hemodynamic monitoring with thoracic electrical bioimpedance. After stabilization in the lateral recumbent position, hemodynamic monitoring was begun. Baseline hemodynamic parameters, mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), systemic vascular resistance index (SVRI), cardiac index (CI), and stroke index (SI) were recorded. Stroke systemic vascular resistance index (SSVRI), the resistance imposed by vasculature on each beat of the heart, was calculated for each patient by multiplying SVRI by HR. For statistical analysis, unpaired Student's t-tests (two-tailed) were utilized (P < 0.01). Forty-one preeclamptic patients (20 mild, 21 severe) were enrolled. Mean gestational age of severe patients was 32.2 +/- 4.0 and of mild patients was 37.0 +/- 3.5. MAP, SBP, diastolic blood pressure, HR, and SSVRI were higher in the severe group. SVRI, CI, cardiac output, and SI did not differ significantly between groups. Severe preclampsia appears to be a more intensely vasoconstricted state than mild preeclampsia. Although CI is inversely proportional to SVRI, increased HR in severe preeclampsia prevents this expected decrease in cardiac output.
Parallel scalable adjoint-based adaptive solution of variable-viscosity Stokes flow problems

We present a framework for parallel adaptive solution of variable-viscosity Stokes flow problems. We focus on data structures, algorithms, and solvers that can scale to thousands of processor cores. The problem is discretized by octree-based finite elements with explicit enforcement of continuity constraints at hanging nodes. The parallel octree structure allows for fast neighbor-finding and facilitates local coarsening and refinement of the mesh. Mesh adaptivity is driven by a posteriori error indicators, including adjoint-based goal-oriented techniques. Dynamic load-balancing is achieved by dynamically partitioning a Morton-ordered space-filling curve. The Stokes system is solved iteratively using the minimum residual method (MINRES), preconditioned by a Schur-complement-based approximate inverse that employs algebraic multigrid V-cycle approximations of the inverses of the Poisson-like operators. We demonstrate the effectiveness of this framework on several testbed problems with up to 6 orders of magnitude variation in viscosity and up to 1.7 billion unknowns, on up to 4096 cores. The results indicate that the overhead due to all AMR components is less than 3% of the overall solve time, the solver exhibits very good algorithmic and parallel implementation scalability, the solver is insensitive to the magnitude of viscosity variation, and adjoint-based adaptivity results in over two orders of magnitude reduction in number of unknowns and up to an order of magnitude improvement in runtime relative to a uniform mesh, for the same level of error.
BEST: A symbolic testing tool for predicting multi-threaded program failures

We present a tool BEST (Binary instrumentation-based Error-directed Symbolic Testing) for predicting concurrency violations.1 We automatically infer potential concurrency violations such as atomicity violations from an observed run of a multi-threaded program, and use precise modeling and constraint-based symbolic (non-enumerative) search to find feasible violating schedules in a generalization of the observed run. We specifically focus on tool scalability by devising POR-based simplification steps to reduce the formula and the search space by several orders-of-magnitude. We have successfully applied the tool to several publicly available C/C++/Java programs and found several previously known/unknown concurrency related bugs. The tool also has extensive visual support for debugging.
Evaluation of cancer detection with whole-body positron emission tomography (PET) and 2-[F-18]fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose

Until recently, positron emission tomography (PET) has been acquired and displayed in a standard transaxial image format. The development of whole body PET has allowed biochemical and physiologic imaging of the entire body, expanding the limited axial field of view of the conventional PET scanner. In this study, the application of whole body PET studies with 2-[F-18]fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (FDG) for tumor imaging was evaluated. Whole body PET studies were positive (presence of focal FDG uptake relative to surrounding tissue activity) in 61 of 70 patients (87%) with biopsy confirmed malignant tumors. PET images failed to reveal focal hypermetabolism in 9 of the 70 patients. Of the 17 patients with benign biopsies lesions, 13 patients had whole body PET studies without focal areas of FDG uptake. Because of the high glycolytic rate of malignant tissue, the whole body PET FDG technique has promise in the detection of a wide variety of both primary and metastatic malignancies. The presence of FDG uptake in benign inflammatory conditions may limit the specificity of the technique. The true positive rates for the characterization of known lesions was 87% in this series, and the PET FDG method is promising both in determining both the nature of a localized lesion, and in defining the systemic extent of malignant disease.
Modeling thermally activated deformation with a variety of obstacles, and its application to creep transients

A material is modeled as an array of a variety of coupled elements of varied strength, each of which is characterized by a slip probability that is a function of local stress and temperature. A stochastic cellular automaton is used to run simulations of nominally constant structure creep where simple rules are used to ensure rough compliance with mechanical equilibrium and compatibility. Three cases are studied that incorporate distinctly different statistical and spatial strength distributions. For all three simulation conditions, a general form of creep curve is obtained. The general form, when plotted as log(strain) vs. log(time), has a slope near unity at short and long times which are connected by a region of minimum slope. The slope of the central region increases systematically with increasing temperature. These features are consistent with several experimental observations. The same simulation can also provide reasonable predictions of anelastic backflow. This analysis can be of value in interpreting experimental observations in both forward and reverse creep transients.