bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Improving water resistance of epoxy based coatings by chemical modification with γ-isocyanatopropyltriethoxysilane
Authors: Wang Y. F. , Wang R. M. , Guo Z. C.
Published: August 2008

Five percentage mass ratio to epoxy of γ-Isocyanatopropyltriethoxysilane (ICPTES) is grafted successfully onto fundamental chain of epoxy resin to improve the resistance against water of epoxy/polyamide (EP/PA) coatings on Al alloy surface. To further improve water resistance after cured ICPTES grafting EP/PA, different amounts ICPTES are incorporated. The capacitances of ICPTES grafting and unmodified EP/PA coatings after dipping in NaCl solution for different intervals, which are measured by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, are employed to calculate the two kinds of volume percentage of water uptake dipping in solution for different intervals. The absorption behaviour of water in two kinds of coatings are analysed. The capacitances of later added ICPTES coatings are also measured by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The results show that water absorptivity of the modified resin coatings first decreases with the increase in total ICPTES content and then increases when total ICPTES content is more than 7% mass, and the diffusion behaviour of water in modified resin coatings does not obey the Fick's second law.
Dry sliding wear behaviour of plasma transferred arc hardfaced colmonoy surface
Authors: Ramachandran C. S. , Balasubramanian V. , Varahamoorthy R. , Babu S.
Published: August 2008

Dry sliding wear occurs when two bodies are in sliding contact. During the process of sliding, fragments may be pulled out from one surface and they may stick on to the other. Later on, these may get transferred back or may become loose wear particles. This paper reports the effects of different experimental conditions on the dry sliding wear behaviour of nickel based alloy (Colmonoy) surface produced by plasma transferred arc (PTA) hardfacing process. The wear test was conducted in a pin on roller wear testing machine, under constant sliding distance of 1 km. Mathematical models were developed to estimate wear rate incorporating rotational speed, applied load and roller hardness using statistical tools such as design of experiments, regression analysis and analysis of variance. It is found that the wear resistance of the PTA hardfaced nickel based alloy (Colmonoy) surface is five times better than that of the substrate (carbon steel).
Molybdenum oxide (MoO3) thin film based electrochromic cell characterisation in 0·1M LiClO4.PC electrolyte
Authors: Sivakumar R. , Shanthakumari K. , Thayumanavan A. , Jayachandran M. , Sanjeeviraja C.
Published: August 2008

Electrochromic thin films of molybdenum oxide (MoO3) were prepared on transparent conducting oxide substrates, i.e. fluorine doped tin oxide coated (FTO or SnO2:F) glass substrates by electron beam evaporation technique using pure MoO3 (99.99%) pellets at various substrate temperatures (i.e. Tsub=room temperature (30°C), 100 and 200°C) under the vacuum of 1 × 10−5 mbar. The room temperature prepared films were further annealed Tanne at 200 and 300°C for about one hour in the vacuum environment. The electrochemical nature of the films was studied by the cyclic voltammetry technique using a three electrode electrochemical cell in 0·1M LiClO4.PC electrolyte. The performance of the films was also tested by making electrochromic cells. The films produced at higher substrate temperature show lesser modulation in the visible spectrum, compared with the films produced at lower temperatures. A maximum colouration efficiency of 66 cm2 C−1 was observed in the infrared region for the films prepared at room temperature.
Friction surfacing: Novel technique for metal matrix composite coating on aluminium–silicon alloy
Authors: Reddy G. Madhusudhan , Rao K. Srinivasa , Mohandas T.
Published: August 2008

The present work pertains to the study of wear and corrosion resistance of surface coating of SiCp reinforced AA 2124 aluminium alloy composite onto the surface of aluminium alloy A356. In order to improve wear and corrosion resistance of A356 Al–Si alloy, SiCp reinforced composite was coated on A356 Al–Si alloy substrate by friction surfacing technique. The coating was characterised by metallography, dry sliding wear and potentiodynamic polarisation testing. The present study revealed that aluminium alloys could be friction surfaced with metal matrix composites. The coating exhibited excellent wear resistance, which is attributed to the formation of strong metallurgical bond with the substrate. The coating was also found to have adequate corrosion resistance. The study assumes special significance as deposition of metal matrix composites utilising friction surfacing is reported for the first time.
Preparation of adherent HA coating on sodium silicate treated carbon/carbon composite by induction heating deposition and hydrothermal treatment techniques
Authors: Xiong X.-B. , Zeng X.-R. , Zou C.-L. , Deng F.
Published: August 2008

An adherent hydroxyapatite (HA) coating was deposited on sodium silicate treated carbon/carbon composites (ST-C/C) through the induction heating deposition technique and the hydrothermal process. The sodium silicate modified C/C surfaces have been characterised by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. It demonstrates that the C/C surfaces can be bonded to the sodium silicate. Besides, the phase compositions and morphology of the coatings on ST-C/C were identified by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy. The final coating consists of dense rectangular HA crystals, which agglomerate and follow the outline of the monetite crystals. Scratch tests show that HA coating on ST-C/C is not scraped off until a shear stress of 43·2 MPa. Cross-sectional observation by SEM shows a strong adhesive interface formed between the HA coating and the ST-C/C substrate. Images from the scratch tracks display that the coating materials are squashed without fracturing inside or at the border of the tracks until the failure point of the coating.
Synthesis and characterisation of sputtered hard coatings of Cr–N/MoSx
Authors: Budna K. P. , Walter C. , Spicak R. , Mitterer C.
Published: August 2008

For protective coatings to be applied to engine components, a combination of high wear resistance with low friction is needful to increase performance and lifetime. Auspicious candidates have to conjoin the properties of a conventional hard coating with the low friction coefficient of a solid lubricant.

This study reports about thin films synthesised by reactive magnetron sputtering of a Cr target with 25 area-%MoS2 inlays. Nitrogen at different partial pressures was used as reactive gas. The chemical composition and microstructure were analysed by electron probe microanalysis, X-ray diffractometry and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Residual stress was determined with the substrate curvature method and the mechanical properties were investigated by microindentation. To examine the tribological behaviour, ball on disc tests were performed at room temperature. The desired low friction behaviour could not be observed due to an insufficient content and lack of crystalline structure of the MoS2 phase in the coatings.
A robust linear regression based algorithm for automated evaluation of peptide identifications from shotgun proteomics by use of reversed-phase liquid chromatography retention time
Authors: Xu Hua , Yang Lanhao , Freitas Michael A
Published: August 2008

Background

Rejection of false positive peptide matches in database searches of shotgun proteomic experimental data is highly desirable. Several methods have been developed to use the peptide retention time as to refine and improve peptide identifications from database search algorithms. This report describes the implementation of an automated approach to reduce false positives and validate peptide matches.

Results

A robust linear regression based algorithm was developed to automate the evaluation of peptide identifications obtained from shotgun proteomic experiments. The algorithm scores peptides based on their predicted and observed reversed-phase liquid chromatography retention times. The robust algorithm does not require internal or external peptide standards to train or calibrate the linear regression model used for peptide retention time prediction. The algorithm is generic and can be incorporated into any database search program to perform automated evaluation of the candidate peptide matches based on their retention times. It provides a statistical score for each peptide match based on its retention time.

Conclusion

Analysis of peptide matches where the retention time score was included resulted in a significant reduction of false positive matches with little effect on the number of true positives. Overall higher sensitivities and specificities were achieved for database searches carried out with MassMatrix, Mascot and X!Tandem after implementation of the retention time based score algorithm.
Implementation of a model for identifying Essentially Derived Varieties in vegetatively propagated Calluna vulgaris varieties
Authors: Borchert Thomas , Krueger Joerg , Hohe Annette
Published: August 2008

Background

Variety protection is of high relevance for the horticultural community and juridical cases have become more frequent in a globalized economy due to essential derivation of varieties. This applies equally to Calluna vulgaris, a vegetatively propagated species from the Ericaceae family that belongs to the top-selling pot plants in Europe. We therefore analyzed the genetic diversity of 74 selected varieties and genotypes of C. vulgaris and 3 of Erica spp. by means of RAPD and iSSR fingerprinting using 168 mono- and polymorphisms. The same data set was utilized to generate a system to reliably identify Essentially Derived Varieties (EDVs) in C. vulgaris, which was adapted from a method suggested for lettuce and barley. This system was developed, validated and used for selected tests of interest in C. vulgaris.

Results

As expected following personal communications with breeders, a very small genetic diversity became evident within C. vulgaris when investigated using our molecular methods. Thus, a dendrogram-based assay to detect Essentially Derived Varieties in this species is not suitable, although varieties are propagated vegetatively. In contrast, the system applied in lettuce, which itself applies pairwise comparisons using appropriate reference sets, proved functional with this species.

Conclusion

The narrow gene pool detected in C. vulgaris may be the genetic basis for juridical conflicts between breeders. We successfully tested a methodology for identification of Essentially Derived Varieties in highly identical C. vulgaris genotypes and recommend this for future proof of essential derivation in C. vulgaris and other vegetatively propagated crops.
Randomized Phase II Trial of a Toll-Like Receptor 9 Agonist Oligodeoxynucleotide, PF-3512676, in Combination With First-Line Taxane Plus Platinum Chemotherapy for Advanced-Stage Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: Manegold Christian , Gravenor Donald , Woytowitz Donald , Mezger Jörg , Hirsh Vera , Albert Gary , Al-Adhami Mohammed , Readett David , Krieg Arthur M. , Leichman Cynthia Gail
Published: August 2008

Purpose

This study assessed the efficacy of the combination of standard taxane plus platinum chemotherapy with the synthetic Toll-like receptor 9–activating oligodeoxynucleotide PF-3512676 in patients with non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Patients and Methods

Chemotherapy-naive patients with stage IIIB to IV NSCLC were randomly assigned (one to two ratio) to receive four to six cycles of taxane/platinum chemotherapy alone or with 0.2 mg/kg of subcutaneous PF-3512676 on days 8 and 15 of each 3-week cycle. The primary end point was objective response rate (ORR).

Results

Baseline demographics were similar between treatment arms, although significantly more patients in the PF-3512676 arm had stage IV disease (85% compared with 62% in the chemotherapy-alone arm). The modified intent-to-treat analysis (n = 111) demonstrated a 38% ORR (confirmed and unconfirmed) in the PF-3512676 arm (n = 74) and 19% in the chemotherapy-alone arm (n = 37) by investigator evaluation. Blinded, independent radiologic review for 90 patients showed a similar trend in confirmed response rate (19% and 11%, respectively). Median survival was 12.3 months in the PF-3512676 arm and 6.8 months in the chemotherapy-alone arm, and 1-year survival was 50% and 33%, respectively. Mild to moderate local injection site reactions and flu-like symptoms were the most common PF-3512676–related adverse events, but grade 3/4 neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, and anemia were all reported more commonly for patients in the PF-3512676 arm.

Conclusion

The addition of PF-3512676 to taxane plus platinum chemotherapy for first-line treatment of NSCLC improves objective response and may improve survival. Confirmatory phase III trials are ongoing.
Gene Panel Model Predictive of Outcome in Men at High-Risk of Systemic Progression and Death From Prostate Cancer After Radical Retropubic Prostatectomy
Authors: Cheville John C. , Karnes R. Jeffrey , Therneau Terry M. , Kosari Farhad , Munz Jan-Marie , Tillmans Lori , Basal Eati , Rangel Laureano J. , Bergstralh Eric , Kovtun Irina V. , Savci-Heijink C.D. , Klee Eric W. , Vasmatzis George
Published: August 2008

Purpose

In men who are at high-risk of prostate cancer, progression and death from cancer after radical retropubic prostatectomy (RRP), limited prognostic information is provided by established prognostic features. The objective of this study was to develop a model predictive of outcome in this group of patients.

Methods

Candidate genes were identified from microarray expression data from 102 laser capture microdissected prostate tissue samples. Candidates were overexpressed in tumor compared with normal prostate and more frequently in Gleason patterns 4 and 5 than in 3. A case control study of 157 high-risk patients, matched on Gleason score and stage with systemic progression or death of prostate cancer as the end point, was used to evaluate the expression of candidate genes and build a multivariate model. Tumor was collected from the highest Gleason score in paraffin-embedded blocks and the gene expression was quantified by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Validation of the final model was performed on a separate case-control study of 57 high-risk patients who underwent RRP.

Results

A model incorporating gene expression of topoisomerase-2a, cadherin-10, the fusion status based on ERG, ETV1, and ETV4 expression, and the aneuploidy status resulted in a 0.81 area under the curve (AUC) in receiver operating characteristic statistical analysis for the identification of men with systemic progression and death from high grade prostate cancer. The AUC was 0.79 in the independent validation study.

Conclusion

The model can identify men with high-risk prostate cancer who may benefit from more intensive postoperative follow-up and adjuvant therapies.
Reinduction Platform for Children With First Marrow Relapse of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: A Children's Oncology Group Study
Authors: Raetz Elizabeth A. , Borowitz Michael J. , Devidas Meenakshi , Linda Stephen B. , Hunger Stephen P. , Winick Naomi J. , Camitta Bruce M. , Gaynon Paul S. , Carroll William L.
Published: August 2008

Purpose

Treatment of childhood relapsed acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) remains a significant challenge. The goal of the Children's Oncology Group (COG) AALL01P2 study was to develop a safe and active chemotherapy reinduction platform, which could be used to evaluate novel agents in future trials.

Patients and Methods

One hundred twenty-four patients with ALL and first marrow relapse received three, 35-day blocks of reinduction chemotherapy: 69 with early relapse (ER; < 36 months from initial diagnosis) and 55 with late relapse (LR). Minimal residual disease (MRD) was measured by flow cytometry after each treatment block.

Results

Second complete remission (CR2) rates at the end of block 1 in 117 assessable patients were 68% ± 6% for ER (n = 63) and 96% ± 3% for LR (n = 54; P < .0001). Five of seven patients with T-cell ALL (T-ALL) failed to achieve CR2. Among patients in CR2, MRD greater than 0.01% was detected at the end of block 1 in 75% ± 7% of ER (n = 36) versus 51% ± 8% of LR (n = 43; P = .0375) and 12-month event-free survival was 80% ± 7% versus 58% ± 7% in MRD-negative versus positive patients (P < .0005). Blocks 2 and 3 of therapy resulted in reduction of MRD burden in 40 of 56 patients who were MRD positive after block 1. Toxicity was acceptable during all three blocks with five deaths (4%) from infections.

Conclusion

The AALL01P2 regimen is a tolerable and active reinduction platform, suitable for testing in combination with novel agents in B-precursor ALL. Alternative strategies are needed for T-ALL. Serial MRD measurements were feasible and prognostic of outcome.
Influence of Year of Diagnosis, Patient Age, and Sociodemographic Status on Recommending Adjuvant Radiation Treatment for Stage I Testicular Seminoma
Authors: Hoffman Karen E. , Chen Ming-Hui , Punglia Rinaa S. , Beard Clair J. , D'Amico Anthony V.
Published: August 2008

Purpose

Adjuvant radiation therapy (ART) for stage I seminoma can cause adverse late effects and alternative postorchiectomy management strategies have been developed. This study evaluated ART trends in the United States and the impact of clinical and sociodemographic factors on ART recommendations.

Methods

Of men diagnosed with stage I seminoma from 1990 through 2004, 3,125 were identified using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results cancer registry. A multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to assess whether there was a significant association between diagnosis year, diagnosis age, race, county education level, region, tumor size, tumor category, and the recommendation for ART.

Results

There was a significant association (P < .001) between later year of diagnosis and a decrease in ART recommendation. Compared with men diagnosed in 1990 to 1994, men diagnosed in 1995 to 1999, and 2000 to 2004 were less likely to have ART (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 0.63; 95% CI, 0.48 to 0.84; and OR, 0.49; 95% CI, 0.37 to 0.63, respectively). There also was a significant association (P < .001) between county education level and ART recommendation. Men residing in counties with the highest education level were more likely to receive ART than men residing in counties with the lowest education level (OR, 2.12; 95% CI, 1.59 to 2.82). Also, men older than 30 years were more likely to receive ART than men age 30 or younger (OR, 1.26; 95% CI, 1.03 to 1.55).

Conclusion

ART recommendations for stage I seminoma are declining. Men in less educated regions and the youngest men were less likely to receive a recommendation for ART.
Mitochondrial shuttling of CAP1 promotes actin- and cofilin-dependent apoptosis
Authors: Wang Changhui , Zhou Guo-Lei , Vedantam Srilakshmi , Li Peng , Field Jeffrey
Published: August 2008

Mitochondria play a central role in regulating apoptosis by releasing proapoptotic contents such as cytochrome c, and generating reactive oxygen species (ROS). Early in apoptosis, proteins translocate to mitochondria to promote the release of their contents. Here, we show that the actin- and cofilin-interacting protein CAP1 has a role in apoptosis. When we induced apoptosis, CAP1 rapidly translocated to the mitochondria independently of caspase activation. Translocation was proapoptotic because CAP1-knockdown cells were resistant to apoptosis inducers. Overexpression of wild-type CAP1 did not stimulate apoptosis on its own, but stimulated cofilin-induced apoptosis. Apoptosis induction required a mitochondrial-targeting domain, localized in the N-terminus and also the actin-binding domain in the C-terminus. Taken together, these studies suggest that CAP1 provides a direct link from the actin cytoskeleton to the mitochondria by functioning as an actin shuttle.
HIF1 transcription factor regulates laminin-332 expression and keratinocyte migration
Authors: Fitsialos Giorgos , Bourget Isabelle , Augier Séverine , Ginouvès Amandine , Rezzonico Roger , Odorisio Teresa , Cianfarani Francesca , Virolle Thierry , Pouysségur Jacques , Meneguzzi Guerrino , Berra Edurne , Ponzio Gilles , Buscà Roser
Published: August 2008

Epidermal wound repair is a complex process involving the fine orchestrated regulation of crucial cell functions, such as proliferation, adhesion and migration. Using an in vitro model that recapitulates central aspects of epidermal wound healing, we demonstrate that the transcription factor HIF1 is strongly stimulated in keratinocyte cultures submitted to mechanical injury. Signals generated by scratch wounding stabilise the HIF1α protein, which requires activation of the PI3K pathway independently of oxygen availability. We further show that upregulation of HIF1α plays an essential role in keratinocyte migration during the in vitro healing process, because HIF1α inhibition dramatically delays the wound closure. In this context, we demonstrate that HIF1 controls the expression of laminin-332, one of the major epithelial cell adhesion ligands involved in cell migration and invasion. Indeed, silencing of HIF1α abrogates injury-induced laminin-332 expression, and we provide evidence that HIF1 directly regulates the promoter activity of the laminin α3 chain. Our results suggest that HIF1 contributes to keratinocyte migration and thus to the re-epithelialisation process by regulating laminin-332.
Efficient coupling of Sec23-Sec24 to Sec13-Sec31 drives COPII-dependent collagen secretion and is essential for normal craniofacial development
Authors: Townley Anna K. , Feng Yi , Schmidt Katy , Carter Deborah A. , Porter Robert , Verkade Paul , Stephens David J.
Published: August 2008

The COPII coat assembles on endoplasmic reticulum membranes to coordinate the collection of secretory cargo with the formation of transport vesicles. During COPII assembly, Sar1 deforms the membrane and recruits the Sec23-Sec24 complex (Sec23/24), which is the primary cargo-binding adaptor for the system, and Sec13-Sec31 (Sec13/31), which provides a structural outer layer for vesicle formation. Here we show that Sec13 depletion results in concomitant loss of Sec31 and juxtanuclear clustering of pre-budding complexes containing Sec23/24 and cargo. Electron microscopy reveals the presence of curved coated profiles on distended endoplasmic reticulum, indicating that Sec13/31 is not required for the generation or maintenance of the curvature. Surprisingly, export of tsO45-G-YFP, a marker of secretory cargo, is unaffected by Sec13/31 depletion; by contrast, secretion of collagen from primary fibroblasts is strongly inhibited. Suppression of Sec13 expression in zebrafish causes defects in proteoglycan deposition and skeletal abnormalities that are grossly similar to the craniofacial abnormalities of crusher mutant zebrafish and patients with cranio-lenticulo-sutural dysplasia. We conclude that efficient coupling of the inner (Sec23/24) and outer (Sec13/31) layers of the COPII coat is required to drive the export of collagen from the endoplasmic reticulum, and that highly efficient COPII assembly is essential for normal craniofacial development during embryogenesis.
The regulated exocytosis of enlargeosomes is mediated by a SNARE machinery that includes VAMP4
Authors: Cocucci Emanuele , Racchetti Gabriella , Rupnik Marjan , Meldolesi Jacopo
Published: August 2008

The mechanisms governing the fast, regulated exocytosis of enlargeosomes have been unknown, except for the participation of annexin-2 in a pre-fusion step. We investigated whether any SNAREs are involved. In PC12-27 cells, which are enlargeosome-rich, the expressed SNAREs exhibited various distributions (trans-Golgi network, scattered puncta, plasma membrane); however, only VAMP4 was colocalized in discrete puncta with the enlargeosome marker desmoyokin. The exocytosis of the organelle, revealed by capacitance increases and by surface appearance of desmoyokin, was largely inhibited by microinjection of anti-VAMP4, anti-syntaxin-6 and anti-SNAP23 antibodies, by incubation with botulinum toxin E, and by transfection of VAMP4 and syntaxin-6 siRNAs. Microinjection of the antibodies anti-VAMP7, anti-VAMP8 and anti-syntaxin-4, and transfection with the VAMP8 siRNA were ineffective. Inhibition of enlargeosome exocytosis by VAMP4 siRNA also occurred in a cell type that was competent for neurosecretion, SH-SY5Y. Moreover, in cells expressing a VAMP4-GFP construct, enlargeosome exocytosis and surface appearance of fluorescence occurred concomitantly, and many ensuing surface patches were co-labelled by GFP and desmoyokin. VAMP4, an R-SNARE that has never been shown to participate in regulated exocytoses, therefore appears to be harboured in the membrane of enlargeosomes and to be a member of the machinery mediating their regulated exocytosis. Syntaxin-6 and SNAP23 appear also to be needed for the process to occur; however, the mechanism of their participation, whether direct or indirect, remains undefined.
Accelerated re-epithelialization inDpr2-deficient mice is associated with enhanced response to TGFβ signaling
Authors: Meng Fanwei , Cheng Xuan , Yang Leilei , Hou Ning , Yang Xiao , Meng Anming
Published: August 2008

Members of the Dapper (Dpr)/Dact protein family are involved in the regulation of distinct signaling pathways, including TGFβ/Nodal, canonical and noncanonical Wnt pathways. Three Dpr genes, Dpr1, Dpr2 and Dpr3, are expressed in mouse embryos and in many adult tissues; however, their in vivo functions have not been reported. In this study, we generated Dpr2-deficient mice using a gene-knockout approach. Homozygous Dpr2 knockout (Dpr2–/–) embryos developed normally and postnatal Dpr2–/– mice grew to adulthood without obvious morphological or behavioral defects. We found that Dpr2 was expressed highly in epidermal keratinocytes and in hair follicles of adult mice, and that Dpr2 deficiency resulted in accelerated re-epithelialization during cutaneous wound healing. Furthermore, we demonstrated that loss of Dpr2 function enhanced the responses of keratinocytes to TGFβ stimulation, and that TGFβ signals promoted adhesion to fibronectin and migration of keratinocytes, by regulating the expression of specific integrin genes. Thus, Dpr2 plays an inhibitory role in the re-epithelialization of adult skin wounds by attenuating TGFβ signaling.
Stability of four-axial and six-axial grooved water-lubricated journal bearings under dynamic load
Authors: Pai R S , Pai R
Published: August 2008

The non-linear transient analysis of water-lubricated journal bearings having four-axial and six-axial grooves is studied theoretically. The time-dependent form of the generalized Reynolds equation has been written as the governing equation in non-dimensional form. The Reynolds equation is solved by a finite-difference technique with a successive over-relaxation scheme, satisfying the Jakobsson—Floberg—Olsson boundary conditions. A non-linear time-transient analysis is carried out and the stability of journal is studied. The equations of motion are solved by the fourth-order Runge—Kutta method to obtain the eccentricity ratio, attitude angle, and their derivatives for the next time step.\newline\indent This study is performed for unidirectional constant load, unidirectional periodic load, and variable rotating load. The journal locus is plotted from the values of eccentricity ratio and attitude angle, and it helps in predicting the status of the system.
Surface model and tool-wear prediction model for solid lubricant-assisted turning
Authors: Rao D Nageswara , Krishna P Vamsi , Srikant R R
Published: August 2008

Mathematical models for surface roughness and tool wear are developed through regression analysis of the experimental data collected from machining. Different particle sizes and flowrates of solid lubricants are employed in the study. Experimental results show a significant effect of solid lubricant particle size and flowrate on surface roughness and tool wear. Decrease in the particle size resulted in reduced tool wear and surface finish improvement. Various machining parameters such as cutting forces, tool wear, and surface roughness improved with an increase in the flowrate of solid lubricant up to a certain level and remained constant at higher flowrates. To estimate the effect of solid lubricants on machining, exponential models are proposed in the present work to predict tool wear and surface roughness as a function of solid lubricant particle size, flowrate, machining time, and cutting force. Predicted values obtained from the developed model and experimental results are compared, and error<10 per cent is observed.
Posaconazole: An Oral Triazole with an Extended Spectrum of Activity
Authors: Rachwalski Erik J , Wieczorkiewicz Jeffrey T , Scheetz Marc H
Published: August 2008

Objective:

To summarize the published clinical data on posaconazole, critically review the New Drug Application data submitted to the Food and Drug Administration, and provide information critical for evaluation and formulary positioning.

Data Sources:

Reported investigations were identified from MEDLINE (1966-June 30, 2008), bibliographies of manuscripts, www.clinicaltrials.gov , and www.fda.gov .

Study Selection and Data Extraction:

English-language articles were selected. AN available in vitro, animal, clinical, and human studies describing the pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, efficacy, safety, and adverse events of posaconazole were reviewed.

Data Synthesis:

Posaconazole is an oral broad-spectrum triazole with activity against many yeasts and molds. Resistance to posaconazole has been reported, but has been rare to date. Posaconazole, in doses of 200 mg 3 limes daily, reduced breakthrough invasive fungal infections (OR 0.30; 95% CI 0.12 to 0.71) and aspergillosis incidence (OR 0.31; 95% CI 0.13 to 0.75) in patients receiving hematopoietic stem-cell transplants compared with those receiving fluconazole. Similarly, the same regimen of posaconazole reduced invasive fungal infections (95% CI -9.7 to -2.5) and aspergillosis (CI not reported, p < 0.001) when compared with fluconazole and itraconazole in neutropenic patients. Posaconazole is non-inferior to fluconazole for treatment of oropharyngeal candidiasis (95% CI -6.6 to 5.0), but necessity for this indication remains unclear, as many other treatment options exist. Smaller investigations have analyzed use of posaconazole for patients requiring salvage or alternative treatment for zygomycosis, fusarbsis, cryptococcal meningitis, coccidioidomycosis, and histoplasmosis. Studies are needed to clarify efficacy for such expanded use, and therapeutic drug monitoring may improve outcomes. The most common adverse effects associated with the use of posaconazole include headache, fever, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

Conclusions:

Posaconazole appears to be a valuable and promising addition to the antifungal armamentarium for prophylaxis and treatment of various fungal processes. At this time, posaconazole should probably be reserved for prophylaxis in patients at high risk for invasive fungal infection, as salvage therapy in refractory or resistant infections, or for patients with intolerance to other therapies.
1,3,2-Oxathiaphospholane approach to the synthesis of P-chiral stereodefined analogs of oligonucleotides and biologically relevant nucleoside polyphosphates
Authors: Nawrot Barbara , Rębowska Beata , Michalak Olga , Bulkowski Marek , Błaziak Damian , Guga Piotr , Stec Wojciech J.
Published: August 2008

Among the various classes of modified nucleotides and oligonucleotides, phosphorothioate analogs, in which the sugar-phosphate backbone is modified by the substitution of a sulfur atom for one of the nonbridging oxygen atoms, have been most extensively studied in both in vitro and in vivo experiments. However, this substitution induces P-chirality of the dinucleoside phosphorothioate moiety. Consequently, even short phosphorothioate oligonucleotides synthesized using standard chemical methods exist as mixtures of many diastereoisomers. In our laboratory, the oxathiaphospholane (OTP) method has been developed for a stereocontrolled synthesis of oligo(deoxyribonucleoside phosphorothioate)s. Recently, this approach has been extended to ribonucleoside derivatives, and stereodefined phosphorothioate diribonucleotides were incorporated into oligomers suitable for mechanistic studies on deoxyribozymes. Next, it was found that the OTP ring can be opened with nucleophiles as weak as the phosphate or pyrophosphate anion, giving rise to nucleoside α-thiopolyphosphates. Surprisingly, the reaction between nucleoside OTP and O,O-dialkyl H-phosphonate or O,O-dialkyl H-phosphonothioate led to nucleoside 5'-O-(α-thio-β-O,O-dialkyl-hypophosphate) or 5'-O-(α,β-dithio-β-O,O-dialkyl-hypophosphate), respectively, i.e., derivatives containing a direct P-P bond.
Noir Citizenship: Anthony Mann’s Border Incident
Authors: Auerbach Jonathan
Published: August 2008

Looking closely at how images subvert words in Anthony Mann’s generic hybrid Border Incident (1949), this article develops the concept of noir citizenship, exploring how Mexican migrant workers smuggled into the United States experience dislocation and disenfranchisement in ways that help us appreciate film noir’s relation to questions of national belonging.
The Visual Re-creation of Black People in a “White” Country: Oscar Micheaux and Swedish Film Culture in the 1920s
Authors: Gustafsson Tommy
Published: August 2008

This article examines the fate of three films made by black independent filmmaker Oscar Micheaux that were exported to Sweden in the 1920s. The article also aims to analyze Swedish silent film culture, and, by means of its structure explain the treatment, when it came to censorship and advertising practices, that Micheaux’s films received in Sweden.
Of Myths and Men: Better Luck Tomorrow and the Mainstreaming of Asian America Cinema
Authors: Hillenbrand Margaret
Published: August 2008

This article explores the problems of cinematic representation faced by Asian American men, arguing that Justin Lin’s Better Luck Tomorrow offers a way out of the impasse. The essay contends that the strategies of parody and metacinema allow Asian American film to join the mainstream while retaining an oppositional edge.
Nothing On But Hoppy Badges: Hopalong Cassidy , William Boyd Enterprises, and Emergent Media Globalization
Authors: Kackman Michael
Published: August 2008

This article explores the development of the Hopalong Cassidy trans-media commercial intertext in the 1940s and 1950s. Hopalong was not only a prominent part of U.S. postwar children’s consumer culture, but also offers a revealing portrait of the development of international television syndication and merchandising.
The Creature from the Black Lagoon: Marilyn Monroe and Whiteness
Authors: Banner Lois W.
Published: August 2008

The whiteness of Marilyn Monroe offers a case study of the interaction between race, sexuality, gender, and class in the formation of individual and cultural identity. Surveying the historical meanings of white as an influence on blonde whiteness, this study of Monroe proposes that historical contexts, individual agency, and the close analysis of specific written and visual texts all need to be taken into account in studying the concept of whiteness.
The exceptionally high life expectancy of Costa Rican nonagenarians
Authors: Rosero-Bixby Luis
Published: August 2008

Robust data from a voter registry show that Costa Rican nonagenarians have an exceptionally high live expectancy. Mortality at age 90 in Costa Rica is at least 14% lower than an average of 13 high-income countries. This advantage increases with age by 1% per year. Males have an additional 12% advantage. Age-90 life expectancy for males is 4.4 years, one-half year more than any other country in the world. These estimates do not use problematic data on reported ages, but ages are computed from birth dates in the Costa Rican birth-registration ledgers. Census data con rm the exceptionally high survival of elderly Costa Ricans, especially males. Comparisons with the United States and Sweden show that the Costa Rican advantage comes mostly from reduced incidence of cardiovascular diseases, coupled with a low prevalence of obesity, as the only available explanatory risk factor. Costa Rican nonagenarians are survivors of cohorts that underwent extremely harsh health conditions when young, and their advantage might be just a heterogeneity in frailty effect that might disappear in more recent cohorts. The availability of reliable estimates for the oldest-old in low- income populations is extremely rare. These results may enlighten the debate over how harsh early-life health conditions affect older-age mortality.
Mate availability and unmarried parent relationships
Authors: Harknett Kristen
Published: August 2008

Theoretically, a shortage of males in a local marriage market may influence the formation, quality,and trajectory of unmarried parent relationships. To test these hypotheses, I combine city-level sex ratio data from the U.S. census with microdata on unmarried couples who recently had a child from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing study. A shortage of men in a marriage market is associated with lower relationship quality for unmarried parents. Male shortages are associated with lower rates of marriage following a nonmarital birth, in part because of the mediating influence of relationship quality. A shortage of men is not significantly related to the economic quality of male, nonmarital childbearing partners.
The changing relationship between family size and educational attainment over the course of socioeconomic development: Evidence from Indonesia
Authors: Maralani Vida
Published: August 2008

Many studies from developed countries show a negative correlation between family size and children’s schooling, while results from developing countries show this association ranging from positive to neutral to negative, depending on the context. The body of evidence suggests that this relationship changes as a society develops, but this theory has been difficult to assess because the existing evidence requires comparisons across countries with different social structures and at different levels of development. The world’s fourth most populous nation in 2007, Indonesia has developed rapidly in recent decades. This context provides the opportunity to study these relationships within the same rapidly developing setting to see if and how these associations change. Results show that in urban areas, the association between family size and children’s schooling was positive for older cohorts but negative for more recent cohorts. Models using instrumental variables to address the potential endogeneity of fertility con rm these results. In contrast, rural areas show no significant association between family size and children’s schooling for any cohort. These findings show how the relationship between family size and children’s schooling can differ within the same country and change over time as contextual factors evolve with socioeconomic development.
Gay and lesbian partnership: Evidence from California
Authors: Carpenter Christopher , Gates Gary J.
Published: August 2008

Much recent research on sexual minorities has used couples-based samples, which—by construction—provide no information on nonpartnered individuals. We present the first systematic empirical analysis of partnership and cohabitation among self-identified gay men and lesbians using two independent, large, population-wwbased data sources from California. These data indicate that 37%–46% of gay men and 51%–62% of lesbians aged 18–59 are in cohabiting partnerships (compared with 62% of heterosexual individuals in coresidential unions at comparable ages). Unlike previous research, we find that white and highly educated gay men and lesbians are more likely to be partnered, and we confirm that same-sex cohabiting partners in our data have demographic characteristics that are similar to California same-sex couples from Census 2000. We also present the first detailed analysis of officially registered domestic partnerships in California. We find that almost half of partnered lesbians are officially registered with the local or state government, while less than a quarter of partnered gay men are officially registered. We conclude with implications of our findings for couples-based research on gay men and lesbians, as well as recommendations for survey data collection.
Have we put an end to social promotion? Changes in school progress among children aged 6 to 17 from 1972 to 2005
Authors: Frederick Carl B. , Hauser Robert M.
Published: August 2008

We examine trends over time in the proportion of children below the modal grade for their age (BMG), a proxy for grade retention, and in the effects of its demographic and socioeconomic correlates. We estimate a logistic regression model with partial constraints predicting BMG using the annual October school enrollment supplements of the Current Population Survey. This model identifies systematic variation in the effects of social background across age and time from 1972 to 2005. While the effects of socioeconomic background variables on progress through school have become increasingly powerful as children grow older, that typical pattern has been attenuated across the past three decades by a steady secular decline in the influence of those variables across all ages. A great deal of concern has been expressed about rising levels of economic and social inequality in the United States since the middle 1970s, and about the potential intergenerational effects of such inequality. However, there has been an opposite trend in the effects of social origins on being BMG. A trend is not a law, and there is reason to be concerned about the recent deceleration of the secular decline in effects of social background on being BMG.
Social capital and migration: How do similar resources lead to divergent outcomes?
Authors: Garip Filiz
Published: August 2008

This article investigates how migrant social capital differentially influences individuals’ migration and cumulatively generates divergent outcomes for communities. To combine the fragmented findings in the literature, the article proposes a framework that decomposes migrant social capital into resources (information about or assistance with migration), sources (prior migrants), and recipients (potential migrants). Analysis of multilevel and longitudinal data from 22 rural villages in Thailand shows that the probability of internal migration increases with the available resources, yet the magnitude of increase depends on recipients’ characteristics and the strength of their ties to sources. Specifically, individuals become more likely to migrate if migrant social capital resources are greater and more accessible. The diversity of resources by occupation increases the likelihood of migration, while diversity by destination inhibits it. Resources from weakly tied sources, such as village members, have a higher effect on migration than resources from strongly tied sources in the household. Finally, the importance of resources for migration declines with recipients’ own migration experience. These findings challenge the mainstream account of migrant social capital as a uniform resource that generates similar migration outcomes for different groups of individuals or in different settings. In Nang Rong villages, depending on the configuration of resources, sources, and recipients, migrant social capital leads to differential migration outcomes for individuals and divergent cumulative migration patterns in communities.
Technological innovation and inequality in health
Authors: Glied Sherry , Lleras-Muney Adriana
Published: August 2008

The effect of education on health has been increasing over the past several decades. We hypothesize that this increasing disparity is related to health-related technical progress: more-educated people are the first to take advantage of technological advances that improve health. We test this hypothesis using data on disease-specific mortality rates for 1980 and 1990, and cancer registry data for 1973–1993. We estimate education gradients in mortality using compulsory schooling as a measure of education. We then relate these gradients to two measures of health-related innovation: the number of active drug ingredients available to treat a disease, and the rate of change in mortality from that disease. We find that more-educated individuals have a greater survival advantage in those diseases for which there has been more health-related technological progress.
Does human capital raise earnings for immigrants in the low-skill labor market?
Authors: Hall Matthew , Farkas George
Published: August 2008

We use monthly Survey of Income and Program Participation data from 1996–1999 and 2001–2003 to estimate the determinants of differentiation in intercepts and slopes for age/earnings profiles of low-skill immigrant and native male workers. Our findings provide further depth of understanding to the“mixed” picture of earnings determination in the low-skill labor market that has been reported by others. On the positive side, many immigrants are employed in similar occupations and industries as natives. Both groups show substantial wage gains over time and generally receive similar returns to years of schooling completed. Immigrants also receive substantial returns to acculturation, measured as age at arrival and English language skill. These results cast doubt on the strong version of segmented labor market theory, in which low-skill immigrants are permanently consigned to dead-end jobs with no wage appreciation. On the negative side, immigrants earn approximately 24% less than natives and are less likely to occupy supervisory and managerial jobs. Latino immigrants receive lower returns to education than do white immigrants. Furthermore, age at arrival and language ability do not explain the lower returns to education experienced by Latino immigrants. These results suggest that Latino immigrants in particular may suffer from barriers to mobility and/or wage discrimination. Whether these negative labor market experiences occur primarily for illegal immigrants remains unknown.
The geographic scale of Metropolitan racial segregation
Authors: Reardon Sean F. , Matthews Stephen A. , O’Sullivan David , Lee Barrett A. , Firebaugh Glenn , Farrell Chad R. , Bischoff Kendra
Published: August 2008

This article addresses an aspect of racial residential segregation that has been largely ignored in prior work: the issue of geographic scale. In some metropolitan areas, racial groups are segregated over large regions, with predominately white regions, predominately black regions, and so on, whereas in other areas, the separation of racial groups occurs over much shorter distances. Here we develop an approach—featuring the segregation profile and the corresponding macro/micro segregation ratio—that offers a scale-sensitive alternative to standard methodological practice for describing segregation. Using this approach, we measure and describe the geographic scale of racial segregation in the 40 largest U.S. metropolitan areas in 2000. We find considerable heterogeneity in the geographic scale of segregation patterns across both metropolitan areas and racial groups, a heterogeneity that is not evident using conventional “aspatial” segregation measures. Moreover, because the geographic scale of segregation is only modestly correlated with the level of segregation in our sample, we argue that geographic scale represents a distinct dimension of residential segregation. We conclude with a brief discussion of the implications of our findings for investigating the patterns, causes, and consequences of residential segregation at different geographic scales.