cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Sources and concentrations of vascular plant material in sediments of Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts, USA

Samples of surface sediment from Buzzards Bay and creek sediment from Great Sippewissett Marsh were analyzed for lignin and stable carbon isotope composition in 1984. The lack of change in composition of lignins in detritus of Spartina alterniflora over two years of decomposition and similar aldehyde/acid ratios of lignin oxidation products of plant and sediment samples indicated minimal diagenesis of lignins in sediments. Remains of non-woody angiosperm tissues made up the bulk of the vascular plant debris in Great Sippewissett Marsh and Buzzards Bay sediments. These plant remains were evenly distributed over the sampling area in Buzzards Bay. Based on model calculations, salt marshes potentially contributed a significant fraction of the total amount of vascular plant debris in coastal marine sediments. The bulk of the organic matter in Buzzards Bay sediments, however, was derived from phytoplankton; vascular plant remains made up only 5 to 7% of the total amount of organic carbon in these sediments.
Simplified procedure for measurement of serum dehydroepiandrosterone and its sulfate with gas chromatography–ion trap mass spectrometry and selected reaction monitoring

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) are endogenous steroids that have recently been widely publicized as potential treatments for many disorders. This paper describes a gas chromatographic-ion trap mass spectrophotometric assay with selected reaction monitoring for measurement of DHEA and DHEAS levels. The hormones and internal standard (5-androsten-3beta-ol-16-one methyl ester) are extracted from serum with Oasis solid-phase extraction tubes. The extracted steroids are dissolved in methanol and injected into a Finnigan GCQ ion trap mass spectrometer. In the selected reaction mode, both DHEA and DHEAS can be identified and quantified in a single injection. No derivatization or expensive deuterated internal standards are required.
Third-ventricle enlargement and neuropsychological deficit in schizophrenia

Cerebral ventricular enlargement is present in a substantial subgroup of schizophrenic patients. Most, but not all studies examining neuropsychological performance and ventricular size in schizophrenics show more severe cognitive impairment in those patients with greatest ventricular enlargement. Inconsistencies in this literature have been attributed to different neuroimaging techniques, variation in patient characteristics across studies, and the variety of neuropsychological batteries used. In the present study, schizophrenic patients (n = 49 men, n = 23 women) and normal controls (n = 13 men, n = 18 women) underwent magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of the brain and extensive neuropsychological testing including measures of frontal and temporal lobe function. A complete coronal set of MR images was used to calculate volumetric estimates of lateral and third cerebral ventricles. Highly significant associations were found between cognitive deficits and third-ventricle volume, with measures of frontal functioning, attention, and concentration showing the most robust correlations. In contrast, neuropsychological performance was not highly associated with lateral ventricular size. These findings further support the pathophysiological relevance of ventricular enlargement in schizophrenia. More specifically, third, but not lateral, ventricular enlargement was associated with greater cognitive disturbance in this sample. Results are consistent with pathological involvement of periventricular diencephalic structures resulting in dysfunctional frontal and limbic processing in a subgroup of patients.
TH-A-BRA-01: Review of the Radiobiological Principles of Radiotherapy

Mechanisms by which radiation kills cells and ways cell damage can be repaired will be reviewed. The effect of radiobiological parameters which we can control for radiotherapy will be discussed including dose/fraction, number of fractions, time between fractions, overall treatment time, and the LET of the radiation. Reasons why we fractionate the way we do will be discussed, along with how sparing of normal tissues using conformal techniques might affect optimal fractionation. The importance of time between fractions will be presented, especially if cancer cells which exhibit hyper‐radiosensitivity are present. The linear‐quadratic model for cell survival for high and low dose rate treatments and the effect of repopulation will be presented and discussed. The effect of LET will be presented as far as the RBE is concerned for both high and low doses. Learning Objectives: 1. To understand the importance for radiation therapy of dose/fraction, number of fractions, time between fractions, dose rate, overall treatment time, and the LET of the radiation. 2. To understand how geometrical sparing of normal tissues might affect optimal fractionation. 3. To understand the linear‐quadratic model for radiotherapy.
Alterations in reproductive function in SRC tyrosine kinase knockout mice.

The role of Src tyrosine kinase in regulating reproductive processes in female mice was investigated using Src wild-type (+/+), heterozygous (+/−), and knockout (−/−) mice. Ovarian Src kinase activity transiently increased in Src +/+ mice following eCG administration. Src knockout mice were infertile. Estrous cycles and vaginal opening in Src knockouts were variable and altered compared with Src +/+ and +/− mice. Follicle development was compromised in Src knockout mice as evidenced by reduced numbers of large preantral and antral follicles compared to Src +/+ mice. Corpora lutea were not observed in the ovaries of Src knockout mice; however, administration of eCG and hCG did result in ovulation. Serum LH and FSH on d 40 and 52 of age did not differ between Src wild-type and knockout females. Results from these studies reveal that female Src knockout mice are infertile due to reduced follicle development and anovulation.
Biaxially oriented metallic tape substrates for high-temperature superconductors

We report a practical synthesis route for the production of long length, biaxially-oriented high-temperature superconducting (HTS) deposits on metallic tapes. The technique involves epitaxial vapor deposition of appropriate oxide buffer layers on rolled, thermo-mechanically processed fcc-structure base-metal tape substrates. Short segments of ≈1 μm thick YBa2Cu3O7-δ deposits produced by pulsed laser ablation on CeO2 and yttria-stabilized ZrO2 (YSZ) buffered nickel exhibit epitaxial biaxial alignment and have critical current densities over 106 A/cm2 at 77 K in zero applied magnetic field.
Air-filled, multilocular, bronchopulmonary foregut duplication cyst of the mediastinum unusual computed tomography appearance

Abstract Mediastinal bronchopulmonary foregut duplication cysts are usually identified on computed tomography (CT) as well-defined masses of water density that may contain rim calcification. Occasionally they are heterogenous in attenuation or are of intermediate or high attenuation due to contained calcium. Communication with the tracheobronchial tree or esophagus is rare. We report a bronchogenic cyst that communicated with the trachea and was identified by CT as a multilocular, completely airfilled cyst adjacent to the trachea and esophagus. This appearance of a bronchogenic cyst has received little attention in the literature.
Resveratrol Enhances Antitumor Activity of TRAIL in Prostate Cancer Xenografts through Activation of FOXO Transcription Factor

Background Resveratrol (3, 4′, 5 tri-hydroxystilbene), a naturally occurring polyphenol, exhibits anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, cardioprotective and antitumor activities. We have recently shown that resveratrol can enhance the apoptosis-inducing potential of TRAIL in prostate cancer cells through multiple mechanisms in vitro. Therefore, the present study was designed to validate whether resveratrol can enhance the apoptosis-inducing potential of TRAIL in a xenograft model of prostate cancer. Methodology/Principal Findings Resveratrol and TRAIL alone inhibited growth of PC-3 xenografts in nude mice by inhibiting tumor cell proliferation (PCNA and Ki67 staining) and inducing apoptosis (TUNEL staining). The combination of resveratrol and TRAIL was more effective in inhibiting tumor growth than single agent alone. In xenografted tumors, resveratrol upregulated the expressions of TRAIL-R1/DR4, TRAIL-R2/DR5, Bax and p27/K IP1, and inhibited the expression of Bcl-2 and cyclin D1. Treatment of mice with resveratrol and TRAIL alone inhibited angiogenesis (as demonstrated by reduced number of blood vessels, and VEGF and VEGFR2 positive cells) and markers of metastasis (MMP-2 and MMP-9). The combination of resveratrol with TRAIL further inhibited number of blood vessels in tumors, and circulating endothelial growth factor receptor 2-positive endothelial cells than single agent alone. Furthermore, resveratrol inhibited the cytoplasmic phosphorylation of FKHRL1 resulting in its enhanced activation as demonstrated by increased DNA binding activity. Conclusions/Significance These data suggest that resveratrol can enhance the apoptosis-inducing potential of TRAIL by activating FKHRL1 and its target genes. The ability of resveratrol to inhibit tumor growth, metastasis and angiogenesis, and enhance the therapeutic potential of TRAIL suggests that resveratrol alone or in combination with TRAIL can be used for the management of prostate cancer.
Nicotinic Receptor Interloop Proline Anchors β1-β2 and Cys loops in Coupling Agonist Binding to Channel Gating

Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (AChRs) mediate rapid excitatory synaptic transmission throughout the peripheral and central nervous systems. They transduce binding of nerve-released ACh into opening of an intrinsic channel, yet the structural basis underlying transduction is not fully understood. Previous studies revealed a principal transduction pathway in which αArg 209 of the pre-M1 domain and αGlu 45 of the β1–β2 loop functionally link the two regions, positioning αVal 46 of the β1–β2 loop in a cavity formed by αPro 272 through αSer 269 of the M2–M3 loop. Here we investigate contributions of residues within and proximal to this pathway using single-channel kinetic analysis, site-directed mutagenesis, and thermodynamic mutant cycle analysis. We find that in contributing to channel gating, αVal 46 and αVal 132 of the signature Cys loop couple energetically to αPro 272. Furthermore, these residues are optimized in both their size and hydrophobicity to mediate rapid and efficient channel gating, suggesting naturally occurring substitutions at these positions enable a diverse range of gating rate constants among the Cys-loop receptor superfamily. The overall results indicate that αPro 272 functionally couples to flanking Val residues extending from the β1–β2 and Cys loops within the ACh binding to channel opening transduction pathway.
Periphery Revolutions in World-System Perspective, 1821-1985

Periphery revolutions from 1821 to 1985 are surveyed in light of the world-system perspective. Theoretical propositions regarding secular trends and cycles are tested for revolutionary activity and success. Revolution is shown to vary with the trends as well as the rhythms—world-leadership cycle and Kondratieff longwaves—of the world system. Although an upward trend in revolutionary activity is observable, no such growth of revolutionary success is evidenced. Revolutionary activity increases during Kondratieff upswings; revolutionary success is more common during the deconcentration phase of the world-leadership cycle. The implications of the findings for world-system stability are discussed.
Soft microgripping using ionic liquids for high temperature and vacuum applications

Aqueous droplet-based micro-gripper has been used for micro-assembly. However they cannot be used for high temperature and vacuum applications. Ionic liquids, organic salts that have a lower melting point temperature, appear suitable for droplet-based micro-gripping application in high temperature and vacuum environments because of their nonvolatility and thermal stability. In this paper, we demonstrated the use of ionic liquid as the operating liquid for micro-gripping applications in high temperatures (up to 110 °C) and vacuum (up to 24 inch Hg) environments. Electrowetting was utilized to dynamically change the contact angle of a 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate (BmimPF6) liquid bridge to control the capillary lifting forces. The lifting force generated by the liquid bridge was experimentally characterized. The range of capillary lifting forces can be adjusted by changing the liquid bridge height and droplet volume to pick up and release objects with different weights. The dynamic response of the BmimPF6 liquid bridge was also characterized.
Characterizing surfaces and interfaces using X-ray standing waves

Since the discovery of X-ray standing waves in the 1960s, the technique has been extensively used to provide structural information about single crystal surfaces and interfaces with atomic resolution. Recently, this method has been used to elucidate the structure of organic thin films and their surfaces. More remarkably, it has proven its usefulness in characterizing aqueous/mineral interfaces in situ .
Rich Regulates Target Specificity of Photoreceptor Cells and N-Cadherin Trafficking in the Drosophila Visual System via Rab6

Summary Neurons establish specific synaptic connections with their targets, a process that is highly regulated. Numerous cell adhesion molecules have been implicated in target recognition, but how these proteins are precisely trafficked and targeted is poorly understood. To identify components that affect synaptic specificity, we carried out a forward genetic screen in the Drosophila eye. We identified a gene, named ric1 homologue ( rich ), whose loss leads to synaptic specificity defects. Loss of rich leads to reduction of N-Cadherin in the photoreceptor cell synapses but not of other proteins implicated in target recognition, including Sec15, DLAR, Jelly belly, and PTP69D. The Rich protein binds to Rab6, and Rab6 mutants display very similar phenotypes as the rich mutants. The active form of Rab6 strongly suppresses the rich synaptic specificity defect, indicating that Rab6 is regulated by Rich. We propose that Rich activates Rab6 to regulate N-Cadherin trafficking and affects synaptic specificity.
Topological symmetry groups of Möbius ladders

We classify all groups which can occur as the orientation preserving topological symmetry group of some embedding of a Mobius ladder graph in S3.
Alcohol-related problems and enforcement at professional sports stadiums

Aims: To assess types and levels of alcohol enforcement and alcohol-related problems at professional sports stadiums.Methods: We conducted a telephone survey in 2005–2006 of state alcohol beverage control and local police agencies in each of the cities and states in the USA that have a professional sports stadium (n = 98). Questions pertained to enforcement actions conducted at stadiums and complaints received about incidents at stadiums that are likely or certainly alcohol-related (e.g. fights, intoxicated patrons, property damage).Findings: We found that underage alcohol compliance checks were the most common type of enforcement but just over 50% of agencies conducted these. The most common types of complaints received by local law enforcement agencies were fights occurring either inside or outside the stadium, with 74–80% of agencies receiving these types of complaints. Among state agencies, 65% received complaints about intoxicated patrons.Conclusions: Given the high profile of alcohol-related violent...
So you want to import a program

While most applications programs are locally produced for local use, computer center staffs find themselves spending an increasing amount of time importing programs and packages from other sources. In some way this may be viewed as a symbol of the maturity of computing, in that we are building on the work of others and allowing specialization in package development. Yet, because program sharing is still the exceptional case, it presents many problem areas. The purpose of this article is to identify the problem areas and suggest procedures to smooth the acquisition of programs from outside sources.
Complexity analysis of interior point methods for LP decoding

Linear programming (LP) decoders can outperform currently used message-passing decoders in channel coding applications, but require prohibitively large complexity on even moderately sized codes. Previous works have proposed complexity-reducing algorithms that either relax the problem or modify the number of constraints; however, little work is done in optimizing solver implementation. We show that popular LP solvers like LIPSOL may not be efficient for LP decoding (LPD), and that an equivalent dual LP problem can be solved with equal accuracy but much more quickly. We propose an improved primal-dual method (iPD-MPC) whose overall runtime for both problem formulations outpreform LIPSOL. Additionally, as an alternative for memory-limited systems, we propose an improved hybrid gradient descent and Newton's method (iGD-NM) that further decreases overall runtime. In this way, we make LPD more feasible for channel codes of practical lengths.
High-resolution reversible folding of hyperstable RNA tetraloops using molecular dynamics simulations

We report the de novo folding of three hyperstable RNA tetraloops to 1–3 A rmsd from their experimentally determined structures using molecular dynamics simulations initialized in the unfolded state. RNA tetraloops with loop sequences UUCG, GCAA, or CUUG are hyperstable because of the formation of noncanonical loop-stabilizing interactions, and they are all faithfully reproduced to angstrom-level accuracy in replica exchange molecular dynamics simulations, including explicit solvent and ion molecules. This accuracy is accomplished using unique RNA parameters, in which biases that favor rigid, highly stacked conformations are corrected to accurately capture the inherent flexibility of ssRNA loops, accurate base stacking energetics, and purine syn-anti interconversions. In a departure from traditional quantum chemistrycentric approaches to force field optimization, our parameters are calibrated directly from thermodynamic and kinetic measurements of intra- and internucleotide structural transitions. The ability to recapitulate the signature noncanonical interactions of the three most abundant hyperstable stem loop motifs represents a significant milestone to the accurate prediction of RNA tertiary structure using unbiased all-atom molecular dynamics simulations.
A multipurpose model of radiology appropriateness criteria

Rationale and Objectives. Appropriateness criteria and practice guidelines are being developed in attempts to improve the cost-effectiveness of medical care. The authors sought to make a set of radiology appropriateness criteria usable for education, computer-based decision support, and utilization review. Model Development. Sixty clinical conditions from the American College of Radiology's appropriateness criteria were selected. To make the information more suitable for automation, the names of the imaging procedures were standardized. Indexing terms were assigned to identify clinical conditions and to distinguish between each condition's variants. Semantic relationships between terms were defined. Information about the clinical conditions and variants, radiologic procedures, indexing terms, and relationships was encoded into a standardized language for document interchange. Implementation. The 1,956 rows in the appropriateness criteria tables for the 60 clinical conditions and their 212 variants were mapped into references to 163 distinct imaging procedures. The system's knowledge base included 301 indexing terms and 569 additional terms. Conclusion. Radiology appropriateness criteria can be indexed and encoded into a form that facilitates their use and interchange. The use of open, internationally accepted standards is an important step to make such knowledge portable and suitable for integration with evolving computer-based patient record systems.
Measuring atmospheric neutrino oscillations with neutrino telescopes

Neutrino telescopes with large detection volumes can demonstrate whether the current indications of neutrino oscillation are correct or if a better description can be achieved with nonstandard alternatives. Observations of contained muons produced by atmospheric neutrinos can better constrain the allowed region for oscillations or determine the relevant parameters of nonstandard models. We analyze the possibility of neutrino telescopes measuring atmospheric neutrino oscillations. We suggest adjustments to improve this potential. An addition of four densely instrumented strings to the AMANDA II detector makes oscillation observations feasible. Such a configuration is competitive with current and proposed experiments.
Distillers Feeds as Protein Supplements in Concentrate Mixtures for Milking Cows

Summary An experiment comparing corn distillers dried grains, corn distillers dried grains with solubles, and corn distillers dried solubles was conducted with lactating dairy cows. A slight though not statistical advantage was observed for corn distillers dried grains over both corn distillers dried solubles and corn distillers dried grains with solubles for the efficiency of production as well as the total production of fat-corrected milk. Corn distillers dried grains increased the fat percentage of the milk slightly. The data confirm previous studies as to the usefulness of corn distillery by-products when used to make up as much as 40% of the concentrate mixture. It appears that the corn distillers dried solubles, although extremely useful in nonruminant feeding, do not have a unique value for lactating dairy cows fed liberal amounts of corn silage and hay.
Structural insights into excitation-contraction coupling by electron cryomicroscopy.

In muscle, excitation—contraction coupling is defined as the process linking depolarization of the surface membrane with Ca2+ release from cytoplasmic stores, which activates contraction of striated muscle. This process is primarily controlled by interplay between two Ca2+ channels—the voltage-gated L-type Ca2+ channel (dihydropyridine receptor, DHPR) localized in the t-tubule membrane and the Ca2+-release channel (ryanodine receptor, RyR) of the sarcoplasmic reticulum membrane. The structures of both channels have been extensively studied by several groups using electron cryomicroscopy and single particle reconstruction techniques. The structures of RyR, determined at resolutions of 22–30 A, reveal a characteristic mushroom shape with a bulky cytoplasmic region and the membrane-spanning stem. While the cytoplasmic region exhibits a complex structure comprising a multitude of distinctive domains with numerous intervening cavities, at this resolution no definitive statement can be made about the location of the actual pore within the transmembrane region. Conformational changes associated with functional transitions of the Ca2+ release channel from closed to open states have been characterized. Further experiments determined localization of binding sites for various channel ligands. The structural studies of the DHPR are less developed. Although four 3D maps of the DHPR were reported recently at 24–30 A resolution from studies of frozen-hydrated and negatively stained receptors, there are some discrepancies between reported structures with respect to the overall appearance and dimensions of the channel structure. Future structural studies at higher resolution are needed to refine the structures of both channels and to substantiate a proposed molecular model for their interaction.
Static and free vibrational analysis of beams and plates by differential quadrature method

The new approach for application of boundary conditions in the differential quadrature (DQ) method, proposed earlier by the present authors, is extended to generalized force boundary conditions in two dimensions. A variety of problems is then analyzed by theDQ method with the new approach for application of boundary conditions, such as deflections of beams and circular and rectangular plates under nonuniformly distributed loadings, deflection of a rectangular plate on a Winkler foundation, and buckling and free vibrational analyses of circular plates. It is found that the present method gives good accuracy and is computationally efficient. Exact solutions can be obtained by theDQ method if analytical solutions are polynomials and the method is insensitive to the spacing of grid points for the cases considered.
Architectures of Knowledge and Literary Tradition: A History of the Almanac in Croatia

ABSTRACT The history of the almanac in Croatia is reconstructed through primary research in bibliographic and archival sources. The almanac is a vehicle for knowledge communication in informal contexts, engaging both oral tradition and literary forms traceable to medieval literacy and ways of structuring knowledge. The history of the almanac in Croatia reflects the changing context of the book trade, literacy, and the evolution of language. Four main stages are identified: (1) the beginning of the annual almanac in the seventeenth century; astrological almanacs reflecting the sensibility of the Baroque period; (2) the Enlightenment's stimulation of almanac publishing in the spirit of contemporary secular reforms in agriculture and education; (3) nineteenth-and twentieth-century almanac trade, showing complex and overlapping networks for the production, distribution and appropriation of printed almanacs;(4) roughly the end of World War II, when the almanac slowly moved out of the role of a popular mass med...
Eurasian snow cover variability and northern hemisphere climate predictability

We present observational evidence demonstrating dynamic interactions and feedbacks between multi-seasonal snow cover and winter-time circulation anomalies over mid-high latitudes. The cooling effect of snow cover is associated with a strengthened and more expansive Siberian high with more frequent, topographically constrained intrusions west and north. Early-season snow cover variability leads to altered general circulation patterns consistent with the dominant mode of winter variability observed in the Northern Hemisphere troposphere. The implications of the surface-atmosphere coupling for seasonal to interannual predictability are also discussed.
Problems And Caveats Associated With The Determination Of Protein Conformation By FT-IR Spectroscopy

Infrared spectroscopy is being used increasingly to study the conformational structure of proteins and polypeptides in aqueous solution. The methodology generally used for the infrared spectroscopic analysis of protein secondary structure is based on three steps: 1. Separation of the overlapping amide I (amide C = O stretching) component bands via band-narrowing procedures such as Fourier self-deconvolution or derivation. 2. Assignment of the resolved component bands, based on previously established spectra-structure correlations, to different secondary structure elements, i.e., alpha helices, beta-sheets, turns or non-ordered conformations. 3. Extraction of quantitative information on protein secondary structure from analysis of amide I band profiles by curve fitting. Each of these three steps has potential sources of error which have to be recognized to prevent fallacious interpretations.
The multifunctional GIT family of proteins

The G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR)-kinase-interacting proteins 1 and 2 (GIT1 and GIT2) are ubiquitous multidomain proteins involved in diverse cellular processes. They traffic between three distinct cellular compartments (cytoplasmic complexes, focal adhesions and the cell periphery) through interactions with proteins including ARF, Rac1 and Cdc42 GTPases, p21-activated kinase (PAK), PAK-interacting exchange factor (PIX), the kinase MEK1, phospholipase Cγ (PLCγ) and paxillin. GITs and PIX cooperate to form large oligomeric complexes to which other proteins are transiently recruited. Activation of Rac1 and Cdc42 drives association of PAK with these oligomers, which unmasks the paxillin-binding site in GITs that recruits them to focal complexes. There, they regulate cytoskeletal dynamics by feedback inhibition of Rac1. GITs also participate in receptor internalization by regulating membrane trafficking between the plasma membrane and endosomes, targeting ARF GTPases through their ARF GTPase-activating protein (ARF-GAP) activity. Furthermore, GITs act as scaffolds to control spatial activation of several signaling molecules. Finally, recent results suggest pathogenic roles for GIT proteins in Huntington9s disease and HIV infection.
EFFECT OF INTERFACE REFLECTIONS AND ANGLE OF INCIDENCE OF RADIATION ON THERMAL STRESSES IN SEMI-TRANSPARENT MATERIALS

Abstract The objectives are to determine the effects of internal reflections on the thermal stresses generated by radiation absorption in a semi-transparent flat plate, and to study the effect of varying the angle of incidence. Both suddenly applied and suddenly removed radiation from an established steady-state condition are considered.
Crystallization kinetics of binary borosilicate glass composite

Kinetics of cristobalite precipitation in a binary glass composite, containing a low-softening borosilicate (BSG) and a high-softening high silica (HSG) glass, have been investigated. XRD results show that the pure glasses do not crystallize under the sintering conditions used, but when mixed in appropriate proportions the cristobalite gradually precipitates out of the initial amorphous binary glass mixture as the sintering continues at temperatures ranging from 800 to 1000 °C. Average linear thermal expansion coefficient (TCE) results show that the TCE increases significantly with increasing precipitation of cristobalite as a function of sintering time. Comparing the experimental TCE results with those theoretically calculated, it is concluded that the precipitation originates most likely in the HSG rather than in the BSG. The precipitation kinetics follow the Avrami equation, and the results show an apparent activation energy of 82 kJ/mol which is close to those for the diffusion of alkali ions in silicate glasses, suggesting mass-transport controlled kinetics. The values of the Avrami exponent are 1.7–1.8, which could be interpreted as a 3-dimension diffusional growth at zero nucleation rate. The linear growth rates of cristobalite, calculated from the precipitation curve, are in the range of 4–8 × 10−5 μm/min, and show slight temperature dependence from 800 to 1000 °C. The linear growth rates of cristobalite are also calculated theoretically using the equation derived by Turnbull et al.,2 and the data are 0–3 orders of magnitude smaller than those observed experimentally. This disparity is attributed to the catalytic effect of the OH and O in air and in the glass network, as well as the diffusion of alkali ions from BSG to HSG.
Locus of control, anxiety, and cognitive functioning.

Rotter's (1966) measure of generalized expectancies concerning internal versus external locus of control has been found to correlate with a number of human performance variables. Internal subjects exhibit more effective use of information (Phares, 1968) and more sensitivity to subtle or peripheral stimulus cues (Lefcourt, 1967) than external subjects. Wolk and DuCette (1974), corroborating these findings, found internal subjects showed superior intentional task performance as well as a higher degree of incidental learning of taskirrelevant materials. Rotter's I-E scale has also been found to correlate with a number of other personality measures, the most consistent of which seems to be the construct of trait anxiety. External subjects score higher on the Manifest Anxiety Scale, the Alpert-Haber measure of Debilitating Anxiety, and Eysenck's Neuroticism scale; both Joe ( 1971) and Lefcourt ( 1972) reviewed this evidence. Moreover, Ray and Katahn (1968), by using a factor analytic methodology, concluded that chis relationship could not be artifaccually ascribed to a hidden anxiety scale in Rotter's I-E scale. Surprisingly, there seems to have been no effort to relate the greater anxiety of externals to their typically inferior performance on measures of cognitive processes; an exception to this statement is represented by those,studies, reviewed by Phares (1973), implicating anxiety or defensiveness in differential retention of failure or uncomplimentary information on the part of internals and externals. Phares assumes that internals are the more anxious about failure since they are more apt to accept blame for it. Specifically, che possibility that anxiety might act as an intervening variable between locus of control and cognitive processes has been ignored. Trait anxiety has been conceptualized as a construct accounting for the
Dynamics of cellular activation as revealed by attenuated total reflectance infrared spectroscopy

We report the application of attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) to interrogate live cells, resting and stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and gamma-interferon (INF-γ) over the course of 1 h from a murine macrophage-like cell line. Sub-culturing of the cells directly on the ATR crystal results in improved surface coverage and adhesion compared to previous investigations. In as little as 17 min post-activation we classify spectra with 80% classification accuracy using a Linear discriminant model developed from 20 spectra at the same time point extracted from multiple kinetic experiments. The loading vector is indicative of changes in the phosphate stretching region arising from an increase in RNA synthesis and protein phosphorylation. We employ factor analysis methods, specifically principal component analysis (PCA) and multivariate curve resolution (MCR), on the entire spectral ensemble consisting of multiple kinetic data sets of resting and stimulated cells to identify molecular changes associated with the dynamic cellular activation process. MCR extracts three distinct spectral signatures arising primarily from phosphodiester and carbonyl vibrations from nucleic acids and cellular proteins that possess distinct temporal patterns during cellular activation. The combination of ATR sampling method and multivariate analysis of FTIR spectra reported has implications in the early diagnosis of disease and infection because it permits unprecedented investigation of kinetic behavior in living cells without the need for extravagant sample preparation or labeling.
56.3: A Charge Trapping Suppression Method for Quick Response Electrowetting Displays

To achieve quick response electrowetting displays for video applications, the charge trapping phenomenon should be well coped with. for this purpose, an asymmetrical driving concept is proposed and a charge-trapping suppression method is developed in this paper. The performance of the proposed method was investigated and satisfactory results were obtained.
Platinum-Catalyzed Wacker Oxidation of Alkenes Utilizing cis-Pt(Cl)2(TPPTS)2 (TPPTS = P(m-C6H4SO3Na)3)

Reactions of alkenes (ethylene, propene, and 1-hexene) with water in the presence of cis-Pt(Cl)2(TPPTS)2 (TPPTS = P(m-C6H4SO3Na)3) produces stoichiometrically the Wacker oxidation product (acetalde...
Laser‐speckle properties and their effect on target detection

Laser projectors are currently being developed for use in high-fidelity wide-field-of-view displays. In order to assess the effects of laser speckle on target detection, contrast thresholds as a function of target spatial frequency on both a laser-speckle background and a uniform-luminance field have been measured. For all spatial-frequency targets tested, speckle increased contrast thresholds relative to those obtained on the uniform field. In addition, a power-spectral-density metric for char- acterizing laser speckle and predicting its effect on target detection has been developed. To evaluate the metric, contrast-energy thresholds on both a laser-speckle background and backgrounds consisting of randomly modulated pixel luminance (i.e., pixel noise) have been measured. The results of previous studies, concerned with the detection of targets in wideband noise, suggest that these thresholds should be the same when the power spectral densities of the backgrounds are equated. It was found, however, that, for the same background power spectral density, energy thresholds on pixel noise were slightly higher than those obtained with laser-speckle noise. This small difference could be accounted for, however, by the well-documented individual differences in the optical parameters of the eye, particularly pupil size.
Elevated initial blood glucose levels and poor outcome following severe brain injuries in children.

To determine whether elevations in blood glucose levels were related to neurologic outcomes following severe brain injuries in children, 54 patients 16 years of age or younger admitted to a regional trauma center with a Glasgow Coma Scale score of 8 or less over a 2-year period were retrospectively
Nanoheterostructure Cation Exchange: Anionic Framework Conservation

In ionic nanocrystals the cationic sublattice can be replaced with a different metal ion via a fast, simple, and reversible place exchange, allowing postsynthetic modification of the composition of the nanocrystal, while preserving its size and shape. Here, we demonstrate that, during such an exchange, the anionic framework of the crystal is preserved. When applied to nanoheterostructures, this phenomenon ensures that compositional interfaces within the heterostructure are conserved throughout the transformation. For instance, a morphology composed of a CdSe nanocrystal embedded in a CdS rod (CdSe/CdS) was exchanged to a PbSe/PbS nanorod via a Cu2Se/Cu2S structure. During every exchange cycle, the seed size and position within the nanorod were preserved, as evident by excitonic features, Z-contrast imaging, and elemental line scans. Anionic framework conservation extends the domain of cation exchange to the design of more complex and unique nanostructures.
On asking the right questions: personal death vs. brain death in Japan.

This article addresses methodological concerns encountered during the author's recent fellowship tenure at the University of Tokyo's School for International Health. His research addressed matters relating to Japanese views of personal death within the context of the relationship between self and body. He was also interested in learning more about the extent to which these same views influence issues in medical ethics, particularly the ongoing debate over brain death and heart transplantation, which, until June 1997, was legally prohibited. One critical component in methodology involved interviews and discussions with prominent scholars representing various disciplines. The key feature in these meetings centered around specific core questions. The author describes how these questions underwent significant modifications, and discusses how these methodological adjustments in effect reveal notions that are substantive and relevant to the research design pertaining to Japanese views of death, self, and embodi...
Twelve month results of the RENOVA trial: a prospective multicenter randomized, concurrently-controlled comparison of the Flair® endovascular stent graft vs. balloon angioplasty in dialysis access grafts

Purpose A prior randomized trial demonstrated 6-month primary patency superiority of an ePTFE stent graft (Flair®, Bard Peripheral Vascular) over PTA alone for primary treatment of venous anastomotic stenosis in hemodialysis access grafts (p 1 . This report presents the 12-month results of the 2-year RENOVA study, conducted to compare long term use of the Flair® stent-graft compared to PTA alone. Materials and Methods 28 U.S. study sites enrolled 270 patients in this registered trial. Inclusion required patent but failing upper extremity arteriovenous grafts with ≥ 50% venous anastomotic stenoses associated with hemodynamic, functional, or clinical abnormalities. 138 patients were randomized to stent grafts vs.132 to the PTA group. Patency, graft function, and subsequent access interventions were recorded. Primary outcome measures (intent-to-treat basis) included Access Circuit Primary Patency (ACPP), Index of Patency Function (IPF) defined as the average number of months between interventions, and adverse events(AEs). Results There were no significant differences in demographics or baseline criteria between the groups. The mean deployed stent-graft length was 45 mm (SD 4.9 mm). 12-month ACPP for the stent graft group was significantly better than the PTA group, 24.1% vs. 10.3% (p=0.005), respectively. 12-month IPF for the stent-graft group was significantly better than for the PTA group, 5.3 ± 4.1 months/intervention vs. 4.4 ± 3.5 months/intervention (p=0.008), respectively. There were no significant differences in AEs between groups (96.2% PTA and 92.8% stent graft group experienced at least 1 AE), with the exception of "stenosis requiring intervention" which occurred significantly more frequently in the PTA group, 82.6%, (n=109/132) vs.stent graft group, 60.1% (n=83/138), p Conclusion Mid-term 12-month results of the RENOVA trial demonstrated both statistically significantly better ACPP (>2x superiority) in the Flair® stent-graft group compared to PTA alone, and IPF, resulting in fewer follow up interventions per unit time per patient. References 1). Haskal ZJ, Trerotola S, Dolmatch B, et al. Stent Graft versus Balloon Angioplasty for Failing Dialysis-Access Grafts. New England J Med 2010;362:494-503.
Disjoint circuits in the Cartesian product of two directed cycles

We show that the Cartesian product of two directed cycles Za X Zb has r disjointly embedded circuits C1, C2, , Cr with specified knot classes knot(Ci) = (mi, ni), for i = 1, 2, , r, if and only if there exist relatively prime non-negative integers m and n such that knot(Ci) = (m, n), for i = 1, 2, , r, and r(am + bn) ≦ ab. We generalize this result to the Cayley digraph on a finite abelian group with a two-element generating set. © 1994 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Institutionalizing Bayesianism Within the Organizational Sciences: A Practical Guide Featuring Comments From Eminent Scholars

Bayesian estimation and inference remain infrequently used in organizational science research. Despite innumerable warnings regarding the entrenched frequentist paradigm, our field has yet to embrace the Bayesian “revolution” that seems to be sweeping through so many other disciplines. With this context as a backdrop, we address a simple yet difficult question: What is the likelihood that Bayesian methodologies eventually will supplement or even supplant traditional frequentist methodologies in the organizational science community? We draw on institutional theory to address this question, highlighting the cultural-cognitive, normative, and regulative forces that play important roles. As novel contributions to the discussion, we go beyond our own ideas and previously published opinions on the subject to report the opinions of 26 institutional elites (current and former officers of academic associations, editors, and editorial board members). These leading scholars help us shed light not only on the likelih...
The use of strategies and messages to alter aggressive interactions

Male and female college students were instigated to aggression by a confederate's shocks during a preliminary task. The confederate informed half of the treatment subjects of the response strategy which he intended to adopt. The other half received an irrelevant message. All subjects then competed against the confederate, who employed one of the following five response consequence strategies: a) set a maximum shock on all trials; b) set a minimum shock on all trials; c) set shocks identical to the subject's response on the preceding trial; d) set shocks two settings below the subject's response; or e) set shocks two settings above the subject's. The subject's latency to setting a shock, the intensities of the shocks set, the durations of the shock settings, and the subject's reaction times were recorded. When an irrelevant message was delivered, passive responses, well below those of the opponent, resulted in the lowest level of retaliation. In the presence of a relevant message, the match-same strategy emerged as an effective deterrent to aggressive behavior. The results were found to be consistent with predictions derived from an application of the norm of reciprocity and research demonstrating the enhancing effects achieved through the communication of existing contingencies.
Bird community response to mid-rotation management in conservation reserve program pine plantations

Open pine-grasslands are one of the most threatened ecological communities in the south- eastern United States and provide essential habitat for many regionally declining bird species. While open pine-grassland forests have diminished, acreage of pine plantations has increased throughout the Southeast, in part because of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Bill conservation programs. To understand whether fire and herbicide treatments would be effective in creating pine-grassland structure in plantations suitable for a suite of declining early successional and pine-grassland adapted species, we evaluated combined effects of selective herbicide and prescribed fire on plant and bird communities in thinned, mid-rotation pine stands established under the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) in Mississippi, USA. Within each of the 12 replicate sites, we assigned 2 paired 8.1-ha plots to either treatment (herbicide þ prescribed fire) or control in a randomized complete block design. We applied treatments during autumn and winter of 2002- 2003. During 2003-2006 breeding seasons, we characterized the bird community using repeated (4-6 repetitions/yr), standardized, 10-minute point counts from which we estimated species richness, total relative abundance, total avian conservation value, and density of select species. Managed plots exhibited reduced hardwood midstory and a greater abundance of grasses and forbs in the ground layer. Although avian species richness and total relative abundance were similar in treatment and control stands, we observed a shift in the bird community from closed-canopy forest species to early successional and pine-grassland adapted species, many of which are experiencing population declines. We recommend thinning, hardwood midstory control, and prescribed burning within CRP pine plantations to provide habitat for a suite of regionally declining bird species. 2012 The Wildlife Society.
Applications of tritium NMR to macromolecules: A study of two nucleic acid molecules

Summary We have tritium labeled two nucleic acid molecules, an 8 kDa DNA oligomer and a 20 kDa 'hammerhead' RNA for tritium NMR investigations. The DNA sequence studied has been previously used in homonuclear studies of DNA-bound water molecules and tritium NMR was expected to facilitate these investigations by eliminating the need to suppress the water resonance in tritium-detected 3H-~H NOESY experiments. We observed the anticipated through-space interactions found in B-form DNA in the NOESY experiments and an unexpected 'antiphase' cross-peak at the water frequency. T 1 measurements on the tritiated DNA molecule indicated that relaxation rates were also accelerated for tritium and protons. Tritium NMR spectra of the hammerhead RNA molecule indicated conformational dynamics in the conserved region of the molecule in the absence of Mg 2+ and spermine, two components necessary for cleavage. The dynamics were also investigated by ~SN-correlated ~H spectroscopy and persisted after the addition of Mg 2+ and spermine.