cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Electrodeposition of Ru by atomic layer deposition (ALD)

Studies are presented describing attempts to form a cycle for the growth of Ru nanofilms using the electrochemical form of atomic layer deposition (ALD). Au substrates have been used to form Ru nanofilms, based on layer by layer growth of deposits, using surface limited reactions. These deposits were formed using surface limited redox replacement (SLRR), where an atomic layer of a sacrificial element is first deposited by underpotential deposition (UPD), and is then exchanged for the element of interest. The use of the UPD atomic layer limits subsequent growth by limiting the number of electrons available for deposition. In the present study, Pb atomic layers were used, and exposed to solutions of Ru3+ ions at open circuit. This process can then be repeated to grow films of the desired thickness. It was shown that less than an at.% of Pb was evident in the deposits, using electron probe microanalysis (EPMA), and even that could be removed if a stripping step was added to the ALD cycle. The deposits displayed the expected Ru voltammetry, as well as the Ru hcp XRD pattern. There were some differences in the first 20 cycles, compared with subsequent, suggesting some nucleation process that must be investigated. However, after 20 cycles, the deposit showed the linear growth with the number of cycles expected for an ALD process. The morphology of Ru films, deposited on template-stripped Au was studied using ex situ scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), and showed no evidence of 3D growth.
S1P and FTY720 Elicit Swelling-Activated Cl Current in Hl-1 Cardiomyocytes via Intracellular Ligands

We previously suggested sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) activates volume-sensitive Cl− current (ICl,swell) by ROS-dependent signaling. S1P and its analog, FTY720 (fingolimod), primarily act via G-protein coupled receptors (S1PR; S1PR1-3 in heart), but several intracellular S1P ligands are known. We investigated how these agents regulate ICl,swell. ICl,swell was elicited by bath S1P (500 nM), FTY720 (S1PR1,3 agonist; 10 μM), and SEW2827 (S1PR1 agonist; 10 μM) and was fully inhibited by DCPIB, a specific blocker. Surprisingly, neither CAY10444 (S1PR3 antagonist; 10 μM) nor VPC23019 (S1PR1,3 antagonist; 13 μM) blocked FTY720-induced ICl,swell. Moreover, 100 nM FTY720 applied via the pipette evoked a larger, faster activating current than 10 μM bath FTY720. Similarly, 500 nM S1P gave larger, faster activating ICl,swell when added to the pipette than bath. In contrast to FTY720, bath S1P-induced ICl,swell was blocked by CAY10444, but a 3-fold higher concentration failed to abrogate the response to pipette S1P, and VPC23019 failed to suppress bath and pipette S1P-induced currents. Taken together, inconsistencies in the responses to S1PR agents and the greater sensitivity to pipette than bath S1P and FTY720 support the notion that intracellular ligands rather than sarcolemmal S1PR activated ICl,swell. Next we tested if S1P and FTY720, like osmotic swelling, require both NADPH oxidase and mitochondrial ROS production to evoke ICl,swell. S1P- and FTY720-induced ICl,swell were blocked by rotenone but were insensitive to gp91ds-tat, suggesting only mitochondrial ROS production was needed. One possibility is that S1P and FTY720 elicit ICl,swell by binding to mitochondrial prohibitin-2, an S1P ligand whose knockdown augments mitochondrial ROS productions. These data suggest ICl,swell may be activated by S1P accumulation in ischemia-reperfusion and CHF. Understanding S1P-signaling that elicits ICl,swell may provide insight into electrophysiological mechanisms of cardiac pathology and help identify novel targets for therapy.
Unitary symmetry and the stability of Sigma hypernuclei.

In the limit of unbroken SU(3) symmetry, we exhibit a selection rule which forbids the decay of certain hypernuclear states involving a coherent admixture of $\ensuremath{\Lambda}$ and $\ensuremath{\Sigma}$ hyperons. This may provide an explanation of the narrow widths of some hypernuclear excitations observed in the $\ensuremath{\Sigma}$ continuum.
Structural transitions in methane + ethane gas hydrates. Part II : modeling beyond incipient conditions

Abstract Hydrate structural transitions have recently been reported in the literature for the methane+ethane+water system. In this work, hydrate phase diagrams have been generated using regressed parameters for the van der Waals and Platteeuw statistical thermodynamic model. We will discuss the effect of temperature, pressure, and gas composition on the structural transition point. Predictions at and above incipient hydrate formation conditions reveal unusual phenomena such as minimum pressure azeotropes and solid–solid phase equilibria.
Direct numerical diagonalization: Wave of the future

Abstract The direct numerical diagonalization (DND) technique has been developed for use in calculations of atmospheric opacity due to molecular absorption under conditions which cannot be duplicated in an Earth-based laboratory. DND is an adaptation of the well-known variational method for solving the quantum mechanical equations of the rovibrational molecular Hamiltonian. The method has made possible the analysis and assignment of CO 2 lines for bands that have not been observed before due to the density of the neighboring spectra. Comparison of DND predicted line intensities for the 10 μm laser bands with recent measurements, obtained from two separate laboratories, indicate that the predicted line intensities are basically as good as the best measurements available today. Venus atmosphere simulations, using the most recent DND results, show excellent agreement with new Venus spectra in the 1 μm region, although no Earth-based laboratory is probably capable of measuring the line parameters used in the simulation. Recently, the rectilinear (normal) coordinate formulation of the method used for the CO 2 calculations has been extended to curvilinear (valence) coordinates, and the method was then applied to the calculation of the opacity of H 2 O. We plan to solve the rovibrational problem for N 2 O, SO 2 , O 3 and NO 2 , as well as to extend the technique to small molecules having more than three atoms, such as NH 3 and CH 4 .
The continuing threat of retinopathy of prematurity.

N THIS ISSUE OF THE JOURNAL, AN ARTICLE BY SAITO and associates describes a macular complication in eyes with retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) that have received cryotherapy; the complication occurred particularly in the very smallest premature infants. This article gives us occasion to realize that only 50 years ago this disease we now call ROP was practically unknown. After retrolental fibroplasia (as it was originally named) was recognized in 1942, its inci­ dence burgeoned rapidly through the next decade. This major threat to the sight of premature infants developed as improvements in technology permitted more efficient delivery of supplementary inhaled oxy­ gen. When it was realized that for certain cases therapeutic oxygen increased the incidence of ROP and blindness even as it improved the rate of infant survival, attempts to refine the dosage of oxygen administration began that continued into the 1980s and 1990s. Despite the discovery about oxygen, the number of eyes damaged by ROP seems to have increased during the past 30 years because a growing number of extra-small premature infants are surviv­ ing. During 1986 and 1987, 36.5% of a large sample of infants born in the United States at only 24 weeks of gestation survived the critical first four weeks of life. Those infants were a subgroup of those born weighing less than 1,251 g who participated in the Multicenter Trial of Cryotherapy for Retinopathy
The effect of environmental temperature on sensible and latent heat production of broiler chickens

Sensible and latent heat (moisture) production data were obtained for broiler chickens grown from 3 to 7 weeks of age on litter at three environmental temperatures: 15.6, 21.1, and 26.7 C. Shape of the specific sensible and latent heat curves were similar for the 15.6 and 21.1 C temperatures, but the sensible heat production at 15.6 C was about 12% greater than for 21.1 C for chickens weighing between 500 and 1000 g; the different increased for heavier chickens. Heat production curves for 26.7 C were markedly different from the other two temperatures. Specific sensible heat at 26.7 C was 2.8 cal/hr (g) and was independent of body weight over the range 500 to 1800 g. The data were compared to those published since 1969 to determine if increased growth rates have affected heat production data. Results indicate no discernible effect for cool temperatures, but for warm temperatures it appears that increased growth rates may be accompanied by an approximately proportional increase in specific sensible heat production.
On time-dependent radiative transfer

An integral equation is developed for application to time-dependent laboratory experiments in which partial redistribution effects are important. The equation of transport with the Heasly-Kneer (1976) emission coefficient and the equation of statistical equilibrium lead to a time-dependent redistribution function containing an absorption - reemission term which decays exponentially in time and a scattering term which is instantaneous. This integral equation does not agree with an equation written by Payne et al. (1974) that has been used to compare theory with experiments. The difference between the Payne equation and the equation developed here needs to be examined in detail, since it might under some circumstances be on the same order as the difference between partial and complete redistribution.
410K pixel PtSi Schottky-barrier infrared CCD image sensor

We developed an 811 by 508-element monolithic focal plane array detector using a PtSi Schottky-barrier photodiode, which has the greatest number of pixels for the Standard TV format. This detector array uses an interlined CCD configuration and 1.0-micron design rules. The pixel size of this detector was 18 by 21 microns square. From many experiments, the process conditions needed for obtaining the high responsivity were determined. To obtain high responsivity, we focused on two important aspects. The first one was an effective fill factor, and the second one was the properties of the PtSi Schottky barrier. Applying the new procedure to the wafer fabrication process, we reduced the nonactive portion of the pixel and obtained the ideal optical cavity structure. This new procedure was also a damage-free process, so good PtSi Schottky-barrier properties were obtained, which is related to the second aspect. We investigated the dependence of Schottky-barrier height on Pt deposition substrate temperature. Based on the results of the investigation, typical (Phi) b (Schottky- barrier height) and typical C1 (quantum efficiency coefficient) of 0.22 eV and 0.28/eV, respectively, were obtained. The NETD (noise equivalent temperature difference), calculated as the ratio of noise to response, was 0.06 K. The responsivity nonuniformity was estimated to be 0.45%. These measurements were done for a scene temperature of 300 K, f/1.2 cold shield, a 3 micrometer- long-wavelength pass filter, and 1/60-second integration time. Excellent thermal imaging was obtained without uniformity correction. We also show that the combination of electrical shutter operation and ND filter is suitable for high-temperature measurement.© (1996) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Web mining for topics defined by complex and precise predicates

The enormous growth of the World Wide Web has made it important to perform resource discovery efficiently for any given topic. Several new techniques have been proposed in the recent years for this kind of topic specific web-mining, and among them a key new technique called focused crawling which is able to crawl topic-specific portions of the web without having to explore all pages. Most existing research on focused crawling considers a simple topic definition that typically consists of one or more keywords connected by an OR operator. However this kind of simple topic definition may result in too many irrelevant pages in which the same keyword appears in a wrong context. In this research we explore new strategies for crawling topic specific portions of the web using complex and precise predicates. A complex predicate will allow the user to precisely specify a topic using Boolean operators such as "AND", "OR" and "NOT". Our work will concentrate on defining a format to specify this kind of a complex topic definition and secondly on devising a crawl strategy to crawl the topic specific portions of the web defined by the complex predicate, efficiently and with minimal overhead. Our new crawl strategy will improve the performance of topic-specific web crawling by reducing the number of irrelevant pages crawled. In order to demonstrate the effectiveness of the above approach, we have built a complete focused crawler called "Eureka" with complex predicate support, and a search engine that indexes and supports end-user searches on the crawled pages.
Ultrastructural studies of the effects of various agents on the motor neurons of the spinal cord.

In a previous study, morphological alterations of motor neurons were noted following an injection of strychnine. These changes consisted of dilated endoplasmic reticulum and the presence of intramitochondrial granules. In the current ultrastructural study rats were given either dihydrobetaerythroidine, metrazol, curare, botulinum toxin, fluoroacetate, fluorocitrate, Bungarus multicinctus venom, Naja naja venom, tetrodotoxin or potassium cyanide while other animals were given first one of these agents and then strychnine. Alterations in the endoplasmic reticulum and the presence of intramitochondrial granules were noted only when strychnine was given alone or in combination with one of the other agents. These results indicate that convulsive activity, release of transmitter substance at the neuromuscular junction, exhaustion of the transmitter substances from the motor neurons during excessive discharge, interruption of oxidative phosphorylation or the direct action of strychnine on the neuronal membrane does not result in changes such as are seen after an injection of strychnine alone. Tentatively, we propose that strychnine alters neuronal membrane permeability with consequent disruption of the ionic equilibrium of the neuron, which is reflected as dilated endoplasmic reticulum, and the presence of intramitochondrial granules.
Groups, Teams, and Communities of Practice: A Comparison

Groups, teams, and communities of practice (CoPs) are becoming ubiquitous on the modern landscape. However, the organizational conditions under which these structures are most appropriate and when ...
Morphodynamic hair bundles arising from sensory cell/supporting cell complexes frequency‐tune nematocyst discharge in sea anemones

Discharge of nematocysts from cnidocytes occurs in response to appropriate chemi- cal and mechanical stimulation. In sea anemone tentacles, activating chemoreceptors for N-acety- lated sugars shifts maximal discharge into vibrating targets to low frequencies corresponding to prey movements and induces hair bundles to elongate by approximately 1-2 pm. Until now, only indirect, correlative evidence linked these two events. Using cytochalasin D, we provide evidence that bundle elongation is necessary for the frequency shift. Moreover, we find that only bundles associated with sensory celVsupporting cell complexes elongate with chemosensitization, and not bundles associated with cnidocytehpporting cell complexes as was previously thought. Cytochemi- cal labeling of sensory cells, purported to be bipolar neurons connected to the nerve net, suggests that sensory cells may interconnect with each other and with cnidocytes. Taken together, these findings are incompatible with the classical view that cnidocytes are independent effectors of nema- tocyst discharge and, furthermore, implicate the involvement of morphodynamic neurons in fine- tuning vibration-dependent discharge of nematocysts into swimming prey. @ 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Excusing Tactics: Social Responses to the Public Misbehavior of Companion Animals

AbstractUsing qualitative data generated through participant observation and auto-ethnographic techniques, this paper focuses on situations in which companion dogs violate the expectations of public propriety. Seven excusing tactics used by those accompanying such dogs to restore the disrupted interactional flow and repair their damaged social identities are presented. This animal-human interaction is compared to similar social maneuvers used by adults to account for and ease the consequences of the public misbehavior of children, as described in existing sociological discussions.
Determination of m-hydroxymandelic acid, m-hydroxyphenylglycol and their conjugates in human plasma using liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection.

Abstract An LC method for the analysis of m -hydroxymandelic acid (MHMA) and m -hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG) and their conjugates in human plasma was developed and validated. The method for the quantitation involved extraction of acidified plasma (subject to hydrolysis with β-glucuronidase for 120 min with 500 units of enzyme/0.25 ml of plasma at 37°C for the conjugates) with an organic phase (methyl- tert -butyl ether). Analysis of MHMA, MHPG and the internal standard (3-hydroxy-4-methoxymandelic acid) was carried out on an ODS stationary phase: 100 × 4.6 mm, 5 μ followed by a 75 × 4.6 mm, 3 μ using 1% acetonitrile in 0.1 M acetic acid as the mobile phase. An electrochemical detector operated at +1.15 V vs Ag/AgCl was employed for the detection. The standard curves were linear in the range of 10.0–250.0 ng ml −1 for MHMA and 5.0–125.0 ng ml −1 for MHPG. The limit of quantitation was 10.0 ng ml −1 for MHMA and MHPG. Acceptable accuracy and precision were obtained during the intra-batch and inter-batch analysis for both the assays.
Said Nursi's Moral Philosophy

This article tests the oft-made claim that Islam and democracy are incompatible because of the presumed authoritarianism of religious morality. The article explores the moral philosophy expressed in the early writings of Said Nursi, concluding that by acknowledging individual autonomy and free will and rejecting authoritarianism as inimical to the exercise of conscience, Nursi's moral philosophy lays the groundwork for an Islamic democracy.
Transforming growth factor-β1 stimulates macrophage urokinase expression and release of matrix-bound basic fibroblast growth factor

Macrophage expression of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) appears to play a role in their release of matrix-bound basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta). In experiments reported here, we have examined the potential regulatory effects of bFGF and TGF-beta 1 on macrophage uPA expression. TGF-beta 1 stimulated in a dose- and time-dependent manner the expression of secreted membrane and intracellular uPA activities by a macrophage cell line (RAW264.7). When examined at similar concentrations, bFGF had little effect, and interleukin-1 alpha, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and monocyte colony stimulating factor had no effect on macrophage uPA expression. Exposure of macrophages to TGF-beta 1 led to a rapid and sustained increase in the steady-state levels of uPA mRNA that was independent of de novo protein synthesis and was completely inhibited by actinomycin D. However, the TGF-beta 1-induced increase in uPA mRNA was largely unaffected by subsequent incubation of cells with actinomycin D. The protein kinase C inhibitor H7 markedly reduced the ability of TGF-beta 1 to stimulate expression of uPA activity. Likewise, okadaic acid and microcystin, inhibitors of serine/threonine phosphatases, potentiated the ability of TGF-beta 1 to upregulate macrophage uPA expression. TGF-beta 1 primed cells converted nearly all added plasminogen to plasmin and expressed sixfold more membrane-bound plasmin than control cells. Preincubation of TGF-beta 1 with either serum or methylamine-modified alpha 2-macroglobulin did not affect its ability to induce macrophage uPA expression. When control and TGF-beta 1-primed macrophages were cultured on matrices containing bound 125I-bFGF, their release of 125I-bFGF was increased five and tenfold, respectively, in the presence of plasminogen. The ability of TGF-beta to induce macrophage uPA expression and the plasmin-dependent release of matrix-bound bFGF may provide an indirect mechanism by which TGF-beta stimulates angiogenesis.
Electron capture dissociation, electron detachment dissociation and infrared multiphoton dissociation of sucrose octasulfate.

The structural analysis of sulfated carbohydrates such as glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) has been a long-standing challenge for the field of mass spectrometry. The dissociation of sulfated carbohydrates...
Hand-washing practices of facial plastic surgeons.

Objectives (1) To define and characterize knowledge of effective hand hygiene and its scientific basis among practicing facial plastic surgeons; (2) to review the existing literature of, basis for, and guidelines on hand washing in clinical practice; and (3) to motivate and facilitate optimum hand hygiene among facial plastic surgeons. Methods National Web-based physician survey and literature review. Results We conducted a national Web-based survey of members of the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery regarding general patient safety practices. A subset of the survey assessed physicians' knowledge of hand hygiene, including supporting rationale and actual practices. One hundred and twenty-two facial plastic surgeons of various demographics replied to the online survey. Of these, 65 (53%) correctly knew which hand washing agents are most effective at killing microorganisms, 88 (74%) knew the preferred hand-washing method for visibly soiled hands, and 51 (42%) correctly identified the indications for hand washing. Conclusions Adherence to hand hygiene practices is suboptimal among facial plastic surgeons. There seems to be a lack of knowledge regarding indications, methods, and appropriate agents for hand hygiene. Promotion of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines is an important step in increasing hand hygiene compliance among facial plastic surgeons.
The Next Climate Treaty? Pedagogical and Policy Lessons of Classroom Negotiations

Scholars and policy pundits have advanced more than thirteen different designs of a climate change treaty to succeed the Kyoto Protocol. Each of these designs claims to correct the defects of the current agreement. But what kind of a treaty is likely to pass the test of international and domestic politics and negotiations? Can we learn something about the hurdles and opportunities for climate cooperation from negotiations simulations in the classroom? The paper engages these questions by analyzing an experimental course design organized around simulated negotiations of the next climate change treaty. Unlike classroom simulations which rely on hypothetical scenarios, this course sought to approximate actual domestic and international constraints within which countries negotiate. The paper details the structure of the course, the ways in which it familiarizes students with domestic and international climate politics, and the components of the negotiations module. The analysis examines the pedagogical impact and policy learning associated with the simulation and draws conclusions about the broader applicability of this approach.
Surface-wave generation by gusty wind

Nikolayeva & Tsimring's (1986) collisionless Boltzmann model for surface-wave generation by a slowly fluctuating wind U(z, t) is transformed to an equivalent steady flow in which the wind speed in the reference frame of the wave (of speed c) is given by V(z)=〈(U−c)−2〉 −1/2, where 〈 〉 signifies a Gaussian average. This leads to a Sturm–Liouville equation for the Gaussian-averaged, complex amplitude of the wave-induced pressure. The wind-to-wave energy transfer for a logarithmic wind profile with the mean friction velocity κŪ1 (κ=Karman's constant), the standard deviation δŪ1, and the roughness length z0=ΩŪ21/g is determined as a function of the parameters δ and Ω (Charnock's constant) through numerical integration of a Riccati equation (derived from the Sturm–Liouville equation). The energy transfer exceeds that predicted by the quasi-laminar model (Miles 1957; Conte & Miles 1959) by as much as 20–30% for δ≈1 and c (wave speed)[lsim ]6Ū1 but is decreased for c[gsim ]8Ū1 and may be negative for sufficiently large c/Ū1. These predictions contrast with the order-of-magnitude increase predicted by Nikolayeva & Tsimring.
Reducing energy and increasing performance with traffic optimization in many-core systems

As the number of cores on a die continues to increase, it is necessary to optimize the traffic patterns of applications in order to minimize power consumption and maximize performance. We present a new approach for traffic optimization in many-core systems, which targets communication locality and load-balancing. Our approach works by mapping memory blocks to physical locations on the chip that are close to cores that access them, and by enforcing load balance by limiting the number of blocks mapped to each location. Communication locality reduces the average distance traveled by packets, which minimizes power and increases performance. Load-balancing avoids hotspots and improves cache utilization. Rather than treating every application in the same way, our method uses available information to produce mappings that are specially tuned for individual applications. Simulations performed on a 64-core system show a reduction in dynamic energy consumption of up to 81.6% and of 45.5% on average, and gains in performance of up to 13.2% on scientific benchmarks.
Outcomes research in lung cancer.

Background: Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the United States. Most therapeutic interventions for this disease achieve modest benefits, but at the expense of nontrivial toxicity and cost, making it an important area for outcomes analysis. Objective: The goal of the study was to audit the literature of outcomes pertaining to lung cancer. Data sources: The English language outcomes literature published during the period from 1990 through 2000 was systematically reviewed and analyzed. Study selection: Papers had to contain original research in one of the following areas: quality of life, health economics, communication, decision making, quality of care, or patient satisfaction. Data extraction: The literature was reviewed and analyzed by the author. Data synthesis: The lung cancer outcomes literature is growing rapidly. Of the 199 studies examined, 106 (53%) dealt primarily with quality-of-life measurement, 69 (35%) examined costs, 11 (6%) dealt with communication and decision making, 11 (6%) assessed the quality of care, and two (1 %) evaluated patient satisfaction. Most studies focused on the palliative phase of care. Women, the elderly, and minorities were generally well represented in these studies. The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer QLQ-C30 with its LC13 module is emerging as the most commonly employed quality-of-life instrument in lung cancer studies. Economic studies vary widely in their quality. The literature is relatively sparse with respect to quality of care, communication, and decision making, however. Conclusions: A substantial body of outcomes research has been published since 1990. Further work is needed in the area of methods development, in the assessment of the impact of new technologies, and in the monitoring of the quality of lung cancer care in vulnerable populations.
Designing for ROI: toward a value-driven discipline for e-commerce systems design

E-business management is an on-going process of understanding consumer needs and developing online solutions to meet those needs. To be effective in today's competitive environment of e-commerce, e-businesses cannot afford to neglect justifying the return on investment (ROI) of their online operations. Ideally, companies would like to understand how users are using their Web site and how this translates into value creation (or value leakage) so that online solutions can be implemented to increase business performance. However, the current situation is that such value-driven management is not possible due to the lack of tools and methods that can provide a clear link between systems design and business performance. This paper presents a value-driven systems design methodology for e-commerce Web sites. The focus of our methodology is on identifying value-creating opportunities and value-diminishing problems through the analysis of actual customer Web site usage behaviors through Web usage mining. The identification of value-creating opportunities and value-diminishing problems enables us to plan for designing additional Web site features and for redesigning existing functionalities to increase business performance and maximize design ROI.
Responses of growing turkeys to the dietary inclusion of inedible pasta and unextruded and extruded biosolids from milk processing

Abstract Milk solids from a milk processing plant were dried, ground and either extruded or unextruded. Unextruded biosolids (UBS), extruded biosolids (EBS) and pasta were evaluated as dietary ingredients for growing turkeys. In experiment one, true metabolizable energy (TME) concentrations were determined to be 5.0 kJ (1.2 kcal) g −1 for UBS and EBS, and 18.0 kJ (4.3 kcal) g −1 for pasta. In experiment two, growing turkeys were fed a control diet or diets containing 50, 100 or 200 g UBS per kg diet. Feed intakes were not different among treatments, but weight gains for the 200 UBS treatment were lower than for controls. In experiment three, growing turkeys were fed six diets: control, 200 g pasta, 200 g pasta + 100 g UBS, 200 g pasta + 200 g UBS, 200 g pasta + 100 g EBS, or 200 g pasta + 200 g EBS per kg diet. Intakes, weights and weight gains for pasta and pasta plus biosolids treatments were higher than controls. In experiment four, growing turkeys were fed a control diet or diets containing 100 g UBS, 200 g UBS, 100 g EBS or 200 g EBS per kg diet. On day 54, intakes, weights and weight gains were the same for all treatments. On day 124, feed intakes were lower for the 200 UBS and 200 EBS treatments compared to the other treatments. Weights and weight gains were highest on the 100 EBS treatment, followed by controls and the other biosolids treatments. Diet had little effect on meat composition or sensory qualities. The TME of pasta was equal to that of corn; diets containing 200 g pasta kg −1 supported an acceptable performance in growing turkeys. Up to 100 g biosolids per kg diet could be fed to growing turkeys without adverse effects on health or performance. EBS exhibited higher gains than UBS. These coproducts could be used as feeds for growing turkeys, for conserving resources, for reducing pollution and for adding value.
Comments on "Lower bounds on the Hamming auto- and cross correlations of frequency-hopping sequences" by D. Peng and P. Fan

The author points out that several of the results in the paper by D. Peng and P. Fan (see ibid., vol.50, no.9, p.2149-54, Sep. 2004) have been published previously
The Effect of Adrenergic and Ganglionic Blockers upon the l-Dopa-Stimulated Release of Glucagon in the Rat

Abstract : To help characterize the L-dopa-mediated release of glucagon, rats were given either L-dopa or dopamine (10 mg/kg) intravenously; portal plasma levels of insulin, glucagon and glucose were measured in the presence and absence of adrenergic and ganglionic blockers. The alpha-adrenergic blocker (phentolamine) suppressed the glucagon and glucose response to L-dopa and increased plasma insulin levels. Beta-adrenergic blockade with propranolol ameliorated the L-dopa-mediated glucagon and glucose responses but had no effect on plasma insulin levels. Ganglionic blockade with pentolinium tartrate was ineffective and did not alter any of the L-dopa-mediated responses of glucagon, insulin or glucose. These data indicate that L-dopa and dopamine probably act via the sympathetic nervous system through known pathways enchancing the release of glucagon. Furthermore they substantiate the fact that the adrenergic nervous system is involved in the regulation of the endocrine pancreas. (Author)
Mass–size relationships, starvation and recovery in an engorging feeder

The relationships of larval nutritional resources with adult body size, starvation resistance and reproductive decisions are not always clear. Burying beetle larvae with inadequate nutrition are hypothesized to develop into relatively large adults that are able to contest for breeding resources. The trade-off is that the emerging adult has minimal energy reserves and is more susceptible to starvation, and must gain proportionately more weight after emerging. These hypotheses are investigated in Nicrophorus orbicollis Say. In addition, sex differences in size–mass ratios as well as starvation and recovery in reproductively mature females are examined. The larval mass to adult size ratio is similar in male and female N. Orbicollis and, contrary to prediction, small larvae do not result in adults that are relatively large in size for their mass. Emerging adults of lesser mass resist starvation less well, as expected. Emerging adults of smaller pronotal size gain more relative mass but less absolute mass than larger adults. In reproductively mature adult females, recovery from food deprivation is rapid, with most if not all the weight that is lost during a 9–10-day starvation period being re-gained within 1 day of engorging. The ability to gain weight rapidly and regulate body mass provides a nutritional framework for understanding the larva to adult transition and the reproductive and parenting decisions of burying beetles that otherwise would appear to be of too high risk.
Multiplexed and distributed control of automated welding

Although modern sensor technology and control algorithms have enabled in-process regulation of arc welding, classical single-torch actuation methods provide only a few welding conditions that can be modulated in real time to control multiple weld geometry characteristics. To decouple the process dynamics and simultaneously control thermal characteristics of the weld, multiple virtual heat inputs are implemented by rapid periodic reciprocation (timesharing) of the single torch on the weld surface. Dynamic analytical, numerical and linearized experimental process models are developed for the design of adaptive MIMO control systems of both geometrical and thermal characteristics, and their performance is tested in rejecting disturbances and following setpoint changes. To maximize the range of achievable weld features, a continuous heat distribution and temperature monitoring on the entire weld surface is finally adopted. The necessary vector-scanning trajectories of the torch are regulated in real time by a distributed-parameter control strategy, integrated to the weld design software for flexibility in production. >
Aqueous suspension methods of carbon‐based nanomaterials and biological effects on model aquatic organisms

The preparation of aqueous suspensions of carbon-based nanomaterials (NMs) requires the use of dispersing agents to overcome their hydrophobic character. Although studies on the toxicity of NMs have focused primarily on linking the characteristics of particles to biological responses, the role of dispersing agents has been overlooked. This study assessed the biological effects of a number of commonly used dispersing agents on Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata and Ceriodaphnia dubia as model test organisms. The results show that for a given organism, NM toxicity can be mitigated by use of nontoxic surfactants, and that a multispecies approach is necessary to account for the sensitivity of different organisms. In addition to the intrinsic physicochemical properties of NMs, exposure studies should take into account the effects of used dispersing fluids.
Gene regulation in an ascending nociceptive pathway: inflammation- induced increase in preprotachykinin mRNA in rat lamina I spinal projection neurons

Tachykinin peptides are distributed widely in the nervous system and have been shown to play a prominent role in nociceptive pathways in the spinal cord and dorsal root ganglia. This study investigated the inflammation-induced response of dorsal horn projection neurons and local circuit neurons expressing preprotachykinin (PPT) mRNA using RNA blot analysis and in situ hybridization histochemistry. To identify projection neurons, fluorogold was injected into the parabrachial area of the brainstem. In laminae I, II and V/VI ipsilateral to inflammation, there was a differential increase in the number of neurons exhibiting PPT mRNA. In lamina I, the number of spinal projection neurons containing PPT mRNA showed a greater than 200% increase. The identification of spinal projection neurons with inflammation-induced increases in PPT mRNA suggests that tachykinin peptides may act as neurotransmitters in nociceptive CNS projection pathways.
Characterization of the roles of Blt1p in fission yeast cytokinesis

Initiation of ring constriction and completion of cell division are delayed in blt1Δ cells because contractile rings recruit and retain less Sid2p and Mob1p. This results in slower, reduced accumul...
Pooling and Dynamic Forgetting Effects in Multitheme Advertising: Tracking the Advertising Sales Relationship with Particle Filters

Firms often use a pool or series of advertising themes in their campaigns. Thus, for example, a firm may employ some of its advertising to promote price-related themes or messages and other of its advertising to promote product-related themes. This study examines the interdependence that can occur between pairs of themes in a pool i.e., pooling effects, the impact of these pooling effects on the allocation of advertising expenditures, and the factors that can affect forgetting rates or, conversely, carry-over rates in a multitheme advertising environment. The study measures pooling, wear out, and forgetting carry-over effects for a campaign that uses five different advertising themes. To obtain these measures, I extend the linear Nerlove-Arrow NA 1962 model to a nonlinear model of advertising theme quality and goodwill and estimate the extended model using Markov chain Monte Carlo MCMC and particle filtering ideas. Particle filtering belongs to a class of sequential Monte Carlo SMC methods designed to estimate nonlinear/nonnormal state space models. Results show that forgetting or carry-over rates may be time varying and a function of prior goodwill past advertising and other advertising variables. Results show, moreover, that pooling effects can reduce theme wear out and, in turn, significantly improve advertising efficiency.
Core and periphery structures in protein interaction networks

Characterizing the structural properties of protein interaction networks will help illuminate the organizational and functional relationships among elements in biological systems. In this paper, we present a systematic exploration of the core/periphery structures in protein interaction networks (PINs). First, the concepts of cores and peripheries in PINs are defined. Then, computational methods are proposed to identify two types of cores, k-plex cores and star cores, from PINs. Application of these methods to a yeast protein interaction network has identified 110 k-plex cores and 109 star cores. We find that the k-plex cores consist of either "party" proteins, "date" proteins, or both. We also reveal that there are two classes of 1-peripheral proteins: "party" peripheries, which are more likely to be part of protein complex, and "connector" peripheries, which are more likely connected to different proteins or protein complexes. Our results also show that, besides connectivity, other variations in structural properties are related to the variation in biological properties. Furthermore, the negative correlation between evolutionary rate and connectivity are shown toysis. Moreover, the core/periphery structures help to reveal the existence of multiple levels of protein expression dynamics. Our results show that both the structure and connectivity can be used to characterize topological properties in protein interaction networks, illuminating the functional organization of cellular systems.
Inhibition of TNF‐α‐induced Activation of NF‐κB by Hantavirus Nucleocapsid Proteins

Hantaviruses cause two human diseases thought to be immune-mediated: hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) and hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS). We recently reported that the nucleocapsid (N) protein of HFRS-causing Hantaan virus (HTNV) inhibits tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) activation of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB). Here we measured the ability of other hantaviral N proteins to similarly interfere with the inflammatory process of TNF-alpha. We found that like HTNV N, the N proteins of HFRS-causing Seoul and Dobrava viruses inhibited TNF-alpha activation of NF-kappaB and translocation of the NF-kappaB p65 subunit, but did not interfere with degradation of inhibitor of NF-kappaB (IkappaB). In contrast, the HFRS-causing Puumala virus and the HPS-causing Andes and Sin Nombre viruses did not prevent TNF-alpha activation of NF-kappaB or nuclear translocation of p65. These studies provide evidence that hantaviruses differ in their abilities to interfere with host innate immune responses.
Cremona special sets of points in products of projective spaces

A set of points in the projective plane is said to be Cremona special if its orbit with respect to the Cremona group of birational transformations consists of finitely many orbits of the projective group. This notion was extended by A. Coble to sets of points in higher–dimensional projective spaces and by S. Mukai to sets of points in the product of projective spaces. No classification of such sets is known in these cases. In the present article we survey Coble’s examples of Cremona special points in projective spaces and initiate a search for new examples in the case of products of projective spaces. We also extend to the new setting the classical notion of associated points sets.
A Jungle in There: Bacteria in Belly Buttons are Highly Diverse, but Predictable

The belly button is one of the habitats closest to us, and yet it remains relatively unexplored. We analyzed bacteria and arachaea from the belly buttons of humans from two different populations sampled within a nation-wide citizen science project. We examined bacterial and archaeal phylotypes present and their diversity using multiplex pyrosequencing of 16S rDNA libraries. We then tested the oligarchy hypothesis borrowed from tropical macroecology, namely that the frequency of phylotypes in one sample of humans predicts its frequency in another independent sample. We also tested the predictions that frequent phylotypes (the oligarchs) tend to be common when present, and tend to be more phylogenetically clustered than rare phylotypes. Once rarefied to four hundred reads per sample, bacterial communities from belly buttons proved to be at least as diverse as communities known from other skin studies (on average 67 bacterial phylotypes per belly button). However, the belly button communities were strongly dominated by a few taxa: only 6 phylotypes occurred on .80% humans. While these frequent bacterial phylotypes (the archaea were all rare) are a tiny part of the total diversity of bacteria in human navels (,0.3% of phylotypes), they constitute a major portion of individual reads (,1/3), and are predictable among independent samples of humans, in terms of both the occurrence and evolutionary relatedness (more closely related than randomly drawn equal sets of phylotypes). Thus, the hypothesis that ‘‘oligarchs’’ dominate diverse assemblages appears to be supported by human-associated bacteria. Although it remains difficult to predict which species of bacteria might be found on a particular human, predicting which species are most frequent (or rare) seems more straightforward, at least for those species living in belly buttons.
Small-molecule inhibitors of protein–protein interactions: progressing towards the dream

Protein–protein interactions have a key role in most biological processes, and offer attractive opportunities for therapeutic intervention. Developing small molecules that modulate protein–protein interactions is difficult, owing to issues such as the lack of well-defined binding pockets. Nevertheless, there has been important progress in this endeavour in recent years. Here, we use illustrative examples to discuss general strategies for addressing the challenges inherent in the discovery and characterization of small-molecule inhibitors of protein–protein interactions.
Initiation of physical restraint in nursing home residents following restraint reduction efforts.

In this pilot study a one group pretest posttest design was employed to identify resident characteristics and environmental factors associated with initiation of physical restraint. Predictors of restraint initiation for older adults were examined using secondary analysis of an existing data set of nursing home residents who were subjected to a federal mandate and significant restraint reduction efforts. Lower cognitive status (OR = 1.5 [for every 7-point decrease in Mini-Mental State Examination], 95% CI = 1.0, 2.1) and a higher ratio of licensed nursing personnel (OR = 3.7, 95% CI = 1.2, 11.9) were predictive of restraint initiation. Key findings suggest that restraint initiation occurs, despite significant restraint reduction efforts, when a nursing home resident is cognitively impaired or when more licensed nursing personnel (predominantly licensed practical nurses) are available for resident care. Achievement of restraint-free care in nursing homes requires specific and individualized approaches for residents who are cognitively impaired, as well as greater attention to staff mix of registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and nursing aides. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Res Nurs Health 22:369–379, 1999
David Johnson: Galactic Algorithms

“Galactic” algorithms, a term coined by Regan, are algorithms with good-looking asymptotic running times but concrete costs so high as to prevent their practical use on scales smaller than the universe. Several algorithms are critiqued from this point of view.
Prevalence of paediatric skin diseases in rural Honduras.

Although review of medical literature suggests that skin disease is a common cause of morbidity in developing countries, there have been few prospective primary care studies to document the prevale...
Studies on the phosphorylation of the 18 kDa mitochondrial benzodiazepine receptor protein.

AbstractSteroid biosynthesis activated by pituitary tropic hormones is known to be acutely regulated by cAMP acting via Protein kinase A. Because the mitochondrial benzodiazepine receptor (MBR) has been suggested to play a role in the activation of steroidogenesis, the present study investigates whether various protein kinases phosphorylate MBR. In rat and bovine adrenal mitochondrial preparations Protein kinase A, but not other purified protein kinases, was found to phosphorylate the 18 kDa MBR protein. In digitonin-permeabilized MA-10 Leydig tumor cells incubated with [γ-32P]ATP, phosphorylation of MBR was detectable during treatment of the cells with dibutyryl cAMP. In conlusion, these data show that the MBR protein is an in vitro and in situ substrate of Protein kinase A, but the role of this phosphorylation in the regulation of steroidogenesis remains to be established.