cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Nanovalve-Controlled Cargo Release Activated by Plasmonic Heating

The synthesis and operation of a light-operated nanovalve that controls the pore openings of mesoporous silica nanoparticles containing gold nanoparticle cores is described. The nanoparticles, consisting of 20 nm gold cores inside ~150 nm mesoporous silica spheres, were synthesized using a unique one-pot method. The nanovalves consist of cucurbit[6]uril rings encircling stalks that are attached to the ~2 nm pore openings. Plasmonic heating of the gold core raises the local temperature and decreases the ring-stalk binding constant, thereby unblocking the pore and releasing the cargo molecules that were preloaded inside. Bulk heating of the suspended particles to 60 °C is required to release the cargo, but no bulk temperature change was observed in the plasmonic heating release experiment. High-intensity irradiation caused thermal damage to the silica particles, but low-intensity illumination caused a local temperature increase sufficient to operate the valves without damaging the nanoparticle containers. These light-stimulated, thermally activated, mechanized nanoparticles represent a new system with potential utility for on-command drug release.
Effect of chemicals on vine kill, yield and quality of potatoes in the Red River Valley

Sodium arsenite at 9 lb, DNBP at 2.5 lb, diquat at 1 lb, paraquat at 0.5 and 1 lb and prep at 2 and 4 lb/acre were tested as vine killers for potatoes during 1963, 1964 and 1965. Based on ratings 1 or 2 days after spraying, 1 lb diquat, 1 lb paraquat and 2.5 lb/acre DNBP resulted in the quickest kill. Paraquat at 0.5 lb and sodium arsenite at 9 lb/acre were slightly slower. Prep at 2 and 4 lb/acre was consistently slowest. Some of the slower acting chemical gave equally good kill after 7 days. Chemical vine killing usually reduced yields and specific gravity by shortening the growing period. There was no effect from any of the chemicals on the color of potato chips. A slight amount of vascular discoloration did occur in tubers from all treatments. Vascular discoloration of tubers from vines treated with prep at 2 lb/acre was greater than that of tubers from vines which were cut and not sprayed. None of the vascular discoloration was severe enough to be economically important. In a second test sodium arsenite at 9 lb and diquat at 0.5, 1 and 2 lb/acre were applied as single and split applications in 1963. The major effect from the split applications was a slower rate of vine kill.
Characterization of Ni@Pt and Co@Pt overlayer catalysts using XAS studies

Abstract The use of XAS studies on Co@Pt and Ni@Pt pseudomorphic overlayer catalysts along with a ethylene hydrogenation descriptor reaction have shown that the d-band of Pt can be affected by the parent metal that it is overlayed on. Pt bond distances were found to be shorter than pure Pt when atop the base Ni and Co indicating that the base metal was exerting compressive strain on the Pt and, for two reasons, causing the Pt d-band to broaden and therefore shift downwards in energy. First, the compressive strain alone has been shown to broaden the d-band of larger atoms atop of smaller ones (i.e. Pt atop Ni) and in the case of the Co@Pt sample Co has one less valence electron than Ni and Pt. This allows for more, than Ni and Pt, of a synergistic interaction between Co and Pt in the overlayer samples resulting in even larger Pt d-bandwidth broadening and shifting. This XAS data was confirmed via reactivity studies as the overlayer samples of both Ni and Co based catalysts had lower reactivity than the pure Pt samples.
Implications of Albuminuria on Kidney Disease Progression

Albuminuria is recognized in all hypertension guideline statements as a cardiovascular risk factor and indicator of kidney disease. Recent data also demonstrate a strong association between the presence of microalbuminuria and elevations in C-reactive protein. Thus, the increased membrane permeability that generates microalbuminuria may be secondary to an inflammatory process. Progression from microalbuminuria (>30 and ≤300 mg albumin/g creatinine) to macroalbuminuria (>300 mg albumin/g creatinine) indicates a worsening of vascular disease and the presence of kidney disease. Recent outcome trials of kidney disease progression have demonstrated the best results among those with reductions in albuminuria in concert with blood pressure (BP) reduction. Thus, use antihypertensive agents that not only lower BP but also lower or normalize albuminuria levels. All recent guideline statements support the use of agents that block the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system as part of a regimen to achieve the BP goal. Further lowering of albuminuria may be achieved by adding either a nondihydropyridine calcium antagonist such as verapamil or diltiazem, or aldosterone receptor blockers. Use of an angiotensin receptor blocker added to an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor or vice versa can further lower albuminuria by an additional 30%–40%, which is not true of the additional lowering of BP.
Breast Cancer and Renal Cell Cancer Metastases to the Brain

Metastatic tumors from systemic cancers comprise the majority of brain tumors. These tumors most commonly originate from the lung and breast skin or kidney cancers. There are numerous similarities regarding the pathophysiology of these entities. Primary tumors spread to the central nervous system in a stepwise and highly concerted fashion. Tumor particles must breach the containment organ and subsequently travel via the blood stream to lodge within the brain. Trans-endothelial migration allows cells to penetrate the blood brain barrier. Tumor emboli must then survive and grow within the brain microenvironment with local nutrient supply and glial support. Breast and renal tumors utilize an array of similar molecular signals to accomplish these tasks: such as the Ras/MEK/MAPK and PI-3 K/Akt pathways. This may explain why these primaries have a preponderance to metastasize to the brain. As antioncogenic therapies become more effective and patients with systemic cancers are afforded longer survival, cerebral invasion becomes more common and more important to overall management. Based on recent scientific data, emerging therapeutic targets for brain metastasis include vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) family, chemokines and mTOR.
False memories and source-monitoring problems: criterion differences

A source-monitoring/memory suggestion experiment was used to produce false memories and a signal-detection analysis was conducted to determine if criterion differences could help explain their production. The procedure and stimuli were adapted from Zaragoza and Lane (1994). Participants saw slides depicting a crime and then answered questions about the slides with some of the questions containing suggested or misleading information. After a brief delay filled with several assessment tests, a list of items was presented and the participants were asked to identify whether each item came from the slides, the questions, both or neither. The results showed that all participants produced false memories but those who adopted more lenient criteria produced more false memories. In addition, those with stricter criteria scored lower on an assessment of dissociative experiences. These results were interpreted within a source-monitoring framework. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
College sports and library fundraising

Partnerships between academic libraries and college sports on fundraising projects are expanding. Such collaboration supports the interests of both organizations, and provides libraries with an invaluable boost to their development programs. Analyzes this phenomenon and outlines key strategies for promoting new initiatives.
Handedness and Accidents with Injury

As evidence for the hypothesis on the claim of reduced longevity for left-handers, Coren in 1989 reported data which suggested that left-handers were 1.89 times more likely to report injuries which required medical attention. This left-handed group included both left- and mixed-handed individuals. To clarify the results of his study, we repeated in part Coren's study but defined handedness so that groups of right-, mixed-, and left-handed individuals were considered. In contrast to Coren's data, we found that right- and left-handers did not differ significantly in the frequency with which they reported having experienced accidents with injury and that mixed-handers reported being significantly more likely to have had an injury-accident than either right- or left-handers. These data underscore the need to consider mixed-handedness as a separate group in studies of this type.
Complex trajectories of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystem shifts caused by multiple human-induced environmental stresses

Large shifts in the isotopic compositions of organic matter (OM) in lake sediments, over the last few hundred years, are commonly interpreted as representing changes in photosynthetic productivity corresponding to eutrophication or in the input of terrestrial OM due to human disturbances. Based on multiple-proxy data (C:N ratio, d 13 C and d 15 N of OM, d 13 C of calcite, lithology and fossil pollen) from a 700-year sediment core at White Lake, New Jersey (USA), we propose a new explanation that relates these large shifts in OM d 13 C and d 15 N to human-induced changes in aquatic OM producers. Combined records of geochronology, fossil pollen and lithology from White Lake reveal that the upland forest was cleared by European settlers for farmland beginning around 1745 A.D. and has gradually reforested since 1930 after the abandonment of the farmlands. For the pre-agricultural period, OM had relatively constant but extremely low d 13 CVPDB (� 35.8 to � 34.5&) and d 15 NAir (� 3.5 to � 2.5&) and high atomic C:N ratios (13.7 to 16.7), indicating a stable anoxic lake environment with prominent microbial producers. Following the human disturbance (since 1745), high OM mass accumulation rates and abundances of the green alga Pediastrum indicate an increase in aquatic photosynthetic productivity due to enhanced nutrient input from disturbed uplands. However, carbonate d 13 C remains constant or even decreases during this period, implying that increasing productivity did not elevate the d 13 C of dissolved inorganic carbon and thus cannot explain the observed large increase in OM d 13 C (7.4&) and d 15 N (5.8&) over this period. Instead, d 13 C, d 15 N and C:N ratios of OM and differences in d 13 C between calcite and OM suggest that the large increase in OM d 13 C and d 15 N can be attributed to a human-induced ecological shift in the predominant organic source from anaerobic bacteria to autotrophic phytoplankton. During the post-agricultural period, mass accumulation rates of OM, carbonate and silicate, and the d 13 C of OM and calcite all decreased significantly, corresponding to stabilization of the uplands. However, over the last 70 years, an intensifying aquatic stress from the deposition of 15 N-enriched industrial pollutants has resulted in a steady increase of 1.9& in d 15 N. Proxy records for lake (d 13 C and d 15 N
Laser Communication Between Mobile Platforms

Practical laser communication is impeded by the inherent strict requirements on agile and accurate steering of the laser beam over a wide angular range that are addressed by the pointing, acquisition, and tracking (PAT) system. While the vehicle carrying the optical instrumentation is in motion, a PAT system is required to compensate for the vibrations applied to the optical platform through the proper application of advanced control laws. This paper presents a feedforward vibration rejection system interacting with an optical tracking system to successfully perform the PAT task. It features a set of inertial navigation sensors to monitor the optical platform orientation, and the optical tracker monitoring the optical alignment errors. The control effort is defined on the basis of both signals and upon amplification drives the actuators of a novel singularity-free full-hemisphere-range robotic manipulator supporting the optical platform. The resultant technology enables two ground vehicles navigating through a difficult terrain to maintain optical connectivity sufficient for reliable laser communication. The paper presents the development of an extended Kalman filter "fusing" the inertial navigation sensor data, the design and implementation of the disturbance rejection/optical tracking control system, and the results of the experimental evaluation of the overall system performance.
Pseudomonal pericarditis complicating cystic fibrosis.

Patients with advanced cystic fibrosis typically have chronic bacterial infection of the upper and lower respiratory tracts, but rarely develop extrapulmonary sites of infection. We report a case of purulent pericarditis due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa in a patient with cystic fibrosis and no other risk factors for pericarditis. This is a previously unreported complication in cystic fibrosis prior to lung transplantation. Pediatr Pulmonol. 1999; 27:62–64. © 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Experimental investigation of polarization diversity

Polarization diversity is an interesting alternative to space diversity, but the channel characteristics need to be investigated. To evaluate the dual polarized channels, a 2times2 multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) wireless testbed has been developed. In addition, a dual polarized microstrip patch antenna array has been designed to be used as the transmitter and receiver in this system. Performance evaluation has been based on symbol error rate (SER) and channel gain. Channel measurements were conducted in line-of-sight (LOS) and non-line-of-sight (NLOS) indoor office environments. The results indicate that the dual polarized patch antennas are either comparable or better than the spatially separated patch antennas in terms of SER. The channel gains are more beneficial for vertical polarization in LOS and horizontal polarization in NLOS, but in both environments the dual polarized combination performs in between the space diversity schemes. Thus, if the receiver location changes environments, polarization diversity will yield favorable results.
Candesartan Cilexetil Effectively Reduces Blood Pressure in Hypertensive Children

Background:The angiotensin-receptor blocker candesartan cilexetil is a well-toleraled antihypertensive agent with demonstrated benefits in adults with hypertension. However, there are few data supporting its use in children with hypertension.Objective:To determine the efficacy and tolerability of candesartan cilexetil in the treatment of pediatric hypertension.Methods:In an open-label, uncontrolled pilot study, hypertensive pediatric patients were eligible tor participation if untreated systolic and/or diastolic blood pressure (BP) exceeded the 95th percentile for sex, age, and height. Patients underwent a 7-day washout period prior to initiation of weight-based dosing of candesartan cilexetil (2-8 mg daily). The dose was doubled after 7 days of therapy if inadequate antihypertensive response was determined by clinic-measured casual BP monitoring (CBPM) and home BP monitoring (HBPM). Three methods of BP measurement were compared before and after 2 weeks of treatment with the final dose of candesartan cile...
Membrane Biophysics and Mechanics in Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's disease is a chronic neurodegenerative disorder characterized by neuronal loss, cerebrovascular inflammation, and accumulation of senile plaques in the brain parenchyma and cerebral blood vessels. Amyloid-β peptide (Aβ), a major component of senile plaques, has been shown to exert multiple toxic effects to neurons, astrocytes, glial cells, and brain endothelium. Oligomeric Aβ can disturb the structure and function of cell membranes and alter membrane mechanical properties, such as membrane fluidity and molecular order. Much of these effects are attributed to their capability to trigger oxidative stress and inflammation. In this review, we discuss the effects of Aβ on neuronal cells, astrocytes, and cerebral endothelial cells with special emphasis on cell membrane properties and cell functions.
Flight Measurements of Aero-Optical Distortions from a Flat-Windowed Turret on the Airborne Aero-Optics Laboratory (AAOL)

The optical environment of a flat-window hemisphere-on-cylinder turret during flight tests in Notre Dame’s Airborne Aero-Optics Laboratory was evaluated. Aero-optical aberrations around the turret were measured using a high-speed (up to 20 kHz) ShackHartmann wavefront sensor providing the most complete aero-optical mapping to date. The primary data was acquired at Mach 0.5 at an altitude of 15,000 ft, with a subset of the data collected at Mach 0.4 for verification of scaling relationships. During each flight, data were acquired holding the elevation/azimuthal angle of the aperture constant. Additional data sets were acquired allowing the two planes to slew by, providing statistical data over a large range of aperture angles. The flight test data were also compared to wind tunnel measurements using the identical turret. Finally, using the spatial statistics of the flight data, the use of the Large Aperture Approximation (LAA) to estimate the resulting timeaveraged far-field Strehl ratio is revisited.
Noninvasive ventilation in the pediatric intensive care unit for children with acute respiratory failure.

Noninvasive ventilation, a novel treatment to increase alveolar ventilation, is accomplished with either subatmospheric or positive pressure administered via an external interface. In adults with acute respiratory failure, noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (NPPV) is superior to standard therapy in preventing intubation and reducing mortality. The role of NPPV in pediatric-age patients with acute respiratory distress is not as well established. Early case reports showed that NPPV treatment does acutely improve both the clinical manifestations of respiratory distress and respiratory gas exchange in children with respiratory distress. However, it is not clear whether NPPV in this setting can prevent vs. delay endotracheal intubation. Other uses of NPPV in the pediatric intensive care unit include the treatment of upper airway obstruction, atelectasis, and exacerbations of neuromuscular disorders, and to facilitate weaning from invasive mechanical ventilation. Successful use of NPPV in young infants with respiratory distress is impeded by the lack of suitable size interfaces, and the response characteristics of commercially available bilevel ventilators. Despite these challenges, NPPV is a promising alternate to standard therapies in the treatment of acute respiratory distress in the pediatric-age patient.
Nucleated red blood cells as a marker of acidemia in term neonates.

Abstract Objectives: Nucleated red blood cells are produced in increased numbers under hypoxic conditions. We sought to examine the relationship between nucleated red blood cell count in the circulations of term neonates and other possible markers of fetal hypoxia. Study Design: We prospectively collected umbilical blood from all live-born neonates delivered at our institution. Arterial blood was analyzed for pH and blood gas values. Venous blood was analyzed for nucleated red blood cell count. We reviewed the medical records for maternal data and neonatal outcomes of gestations of ≥37 weeks’ duration. Results: We evaluated 1561 cases. The mean nucleated red blood cell count per 100 white blood cells was 9.2 ± 18.1 (range, 0-327). Nucleated red blood cell counts were higher in infants with pH P = .001). Both patients with respiratory acidemia and patients with uncompensated metabolic acidemia had elevated nucleated red blood cell counts ( P = .013 and P = .014, respectively). As umbilical artery pH and base excess decreased, nucleated red blood cells became more prevalent. Elevated nucleated red blood cell counts were associated with presence of meconium ( P = .020) and neonatal intensive care unit admission ( P = .024). Conclusions: We found that nucleated red blood cell counts vary widely in the circulation of term neonates. Elevated nucleated red blood cell counts are associated with fetal acidemia, meconium, and neonatal intensive care unit admission. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 1999;181:196-201.)
Effect of cerium oxide nanoparticles on inflammation in vascular endothelial cells

Because vascular endothelial cell inflammation is critical in the development of cardiovascular pathology, we hypothesized that direct exposure of human aortic endothelial cells (HAECs) to ultrafine particles induces an inflammatory response. To test the hypothesis, we incubated HAECs for 4 h with different concentrations (0.001–50 μg/ml) of CeO 2 nanoparticles and subsequently measured mRNA levels of the three inflammatory markers intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1), interleukin (IL)-8, and monocyte chemotactic protein (MCP-1) using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Ceria nanoparticles caused very little inflammatory response in HAECs, even at the highest dose. This material is apparently rather benign in comparison with Y 2 O 3 and ZnO nanoparticles that we have studied previously. These results suggest that inflammation in HAECs following acute exposure to metal oxide nanoparticles depends strongly on particle composition.
Hemodynamics of small aneurysm pairs at the internal carotid artery

Cerebral aneurysms carry significant risks because rupture-related subarachnoid hemorrhage leads to serious and often fatal consequences. The rupture risk increases considerably for multiple aneurysms. Multiple aneurysms can grow from the same location of an artery, and the interaction between these aneurysms raises the rupture risk even higher. Four aneurysm pair cases at the internal carotid artery are investigated for their hemodynamic behaviors using patient-specific modeling. For each case, aneurysms are separated from the parent artery and three models are reconstructed, one with two aneurysms and the other two models with only one of the two aneurysms. Results show that the relative anatomic location of one aneurysm to the other may determine the hemodynamic environment of an aneurysm. The presence of a proximal aneurysm reduces the intra-aneurysmal flow into the distal aneurysm; the proximal aneurysm and larger aneurysm have a greater area under low wall shear stress. The average intra-aneurysmal inflow ratio ranges from 16% to 41%, and reduction of the inflow ratio by an aneurysm pair varies from 6% to 15%. The maximum wall shear stress increases for serial aneurysms, but decreases for parallel aneurysms. Interaction between parallel aneurysms is not significant; however, the proximal aneurysm in serial aneurysms may be subject to a greater rupture risk.
Privatization of Innovation: Evidence from India's State Owned Laboratories

Improving performance of state owned entities (SOEs) can have significant economic impact in countries like India, where SOEs comprise around 30% of aggregate industrial sales. Though the literature on SOE reform is focused on privatization, privatization often has its limits. We suggest an alternative policy prescription based on evidence from 42 Indian state owned labs with 12,500 employees. We posit that monetizing intellectual property (IP) and leveraging the private sector could help reform SOEs that have underutilized IP. From a base of negligible U.S. patents, the Indian labs collectively emerged as a leading emerging market patentee, licensing patents to multinationals. Also, technology commercialization did not adversely affect publication quality and quantity. This followed incentive policy reform and leadership change. We exploit exogeneity of the timing of leadership change (driven by rigid government rules) as the basis for identification. Unlike prior SOE reform studies, mostly focused on China, we document that in the Indian context, collaboration between the state and private sector formed the engine of SOE reform.
Ophiolitic basement to the Great Valley forearc basin, California, from seismic and gravity data: Implications for crustal growth at the North American continental margin

The nature of the Great Valley basement, whether oceanic or continental, has long been a source of controversy. A velocity model (derived from a 200-km-long east-west reflection-refraction profile collected south of the Mendocino triple junction, northern California, in 1993), further constrained by density and magnetic models, reveals an ophiolite underlying the Great Valley (Great Valley ophiolite), which in turn is underlain by a westward extension of lower-density continental crust (Sierran affinity material). We used an integrated modeling philosophy, first modeling the seismic-refraction data to obtain a final velocity model, and then modeling the long-wavelength features of the gravity data to obtain a final density model that is constrained in the upper crust by our velocity model. The crustal section of Great Valley ophiolite is 7–8 km thick, and the Great Valley ophiolite relict oceanic Moho is at 11–16 km depth. The Great Valley ophiolite does not extend west beneath the Coast Ranges, but only as far as the western margin of the Great Valley, where the 5–7-km-thick Great Valley ophiolite mantle section dips west into the present-day mantle. There are 16–18 km of lower-density Sierran affinity material beneath the Great Valley ophiolite mantle section, such that a second, deeper, “present-day” continental Moho is at about 34 km depth. At mid-crustal depths, the boundary between the eastern extent of the Great Valley ophiolite and the western extent of Sierran affinity material is a near-vertical velocity and density discontinuity about 80 km east of the western margin of the Great Valley. Our model has important implications for crustal growth at the North American continental margin. We suggest that a thick ophiolite sequence was obducted onto continental material, probably during the Jurassic Nevadan orogeny, so that the Great Valley basement is oceanic crust above oceanic mantle vertically stacked above continental crust and continental mantle.
Reversible Signal Binding by the Pseudomonas aeruginosa Quorum-Sensing Signal Receptor LasR

Many members of the LuxR family of acyl-homoserine lactone (acyl-HSL)-dependent quorum-sensing transcriptional activators are thought to have the unusual characteristics of requiring the signal ligand during polypeptide synthesis to fold into an active conformation and of binding signal extraordinarily tightly. This is the case for the N-3-oxo-dodecanoyl-HSL-dependent Pseudomonas aeruginosa virulence regulator LasR. We present evidence that LasR can fold into an active conformation in vivo in the absence of the acyl-HSL ligand. We also present evidence indicating that in the cellular environment, LasR and N-3-oxo-dodecanoyl-HSL readily dissociate. After dissociation, LasR can remain in a properly folded conformation capable of reassociating with signal. We present a new model for the folding and signal binding of LasR and other members of the family of transcription factors to which LasR belongs. Our findings have important implications concerning the cellular responses to decreased environmental concentrations of signals and have implications about potential quorum-sensing inhibition strategies.
Quantification of electroporative uptake kinetics and electric field heterogeneity effects in cells.

We have conducted experiments quantitatively investigating electroporative uptake kinetics of a fluorescent plasma membrane integrity indicator, propidium iodide (PI), in HL60 human leukemia cells resulting from exposure to 40 μs pulsed electric fields (PEFs). These experiments were possible through the use of calibrated, real-time fluorescence microscopy and the development of a microcuvette: a specialized device designed for exposing cell cultures to intense PEFs while carrying out real-time microscopy. A finite-element electrostatic simulation was carried out to assess the degree of electric field heterogeneity between the microcuvette's electrodes allowing us to correlate trends in electroporative response to electric field distribution. Analysis of experimental data identified two distinctive electroporative uptake signatures: one characterized by low-level, decelerating uptake beginning immediately after PEF exposure and the other by high-level, accelerating fluorescence that is manifested sometimes hundreds of seconds after PEF exposure. The qualitative nature of these fluorescence signatures was used to isolate the conditions required to induce exclusively transient electroporation and to discuss electropore stability and persistence. A range of electric field strengths resulting in transient electroporation was identified for HL60s under our experimental conditions existing between 1.6 and 2 kV/cm. Quantitative analysis was used to determine that HL60s experiencing transient electroporation internalized between 50 and 125 million nucleic acid-bound PI molecules per cell. Finally, we show that electric field heterogeneity may be used to elicit asymmetric electroporative PI uptake within cell cultures and within individual cells.
Laser surface treatment to improve mechanical properties of cast titanium.

Objective. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of laser surface treatment on the mechanical properties of cast titanium and to compare with those of the Co–Cr alloy. Methods. Dumbbell-shaped cast specimens were prepared for commercially pure titanium (grade 2) and Co–Cr alloy. The cast titanium specimens were laser-treated on the surface using a dental Nd:YAG laser machine at 240 V and 300 V. After laser treatment, tensile testing was conducted to obtain the tensile strength, percent elongation and modulus of elasticity. The hardness depth profile was made from the cast subsurface (25m) to 1500 mi n depth using the cross-sections of the cast rods with the same diameter as the dumbbell. The data were statistically analyzed by ANOVA/post hoc tests (p < 0.05). Results. The highest tensile strength was obtained for the titanium specimens laser-treated with 300 V followed by the 240 V and the control specimens. The laser-treated titanium specimens with 300 V showed a tensile strength equivalent to the Co–Cr alloy. Although the highest modulus of elasticity was found for the specimens laser-treated with 240 V, there were no significant differences in elastic modulus among 240 V, 300 V and Co–Cr. The laser-treated groups showed significantly lower hardness at the subsurface of 25m and maintained their hardness until the depth of 400m. The hardness of the control group was very high at 25m depth, and dramatically decreased until the 200m depth. Conclusion. The results of tensile testing and hardness depth-profiling indicated that the laser treatment significantly improved the mechanical properties of cast titanium by improving the surface integrity of the cast surface contamination.
The Winds of African Cinema

This article argues for a departure from theories of new cinema “waves” and proposes the notion of cinema “winds” as a more compelling conceptual framework for studies of African film movements. Building on the work of Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o, Manthia Diawara, Ken Harrow, and Nwachukwu Frank Ukadike, in addition to commentaries by various African film directors, this article looks at various dimensions of global visibility and the elusive movements of African cinemas. It also explores how African directors challenge habits of seeing and interpreting world cinema.
Effect of processing on provitamin A in vegetables.

Processing of vegetables, by cooking or canning, converts all-trans carotenes to isomers with lower vitamin A activity. This conversion lowers the vitamin A values of green vegetables by 15 to 20 per cent and values of yellow vegetables by 30 to 35 per cent.
(When) to Build or Not to Build?: The Role of Uncertainty in Nuclear Power Expansion

With concerns over global climate change, U.S. policymakers are exploring ways to reduce domestic dependence on coal and natural gas. No new nuclear plants have been ordered since 1978. However, federal and state policies and legislation have attempted to reduce risks to nuclear plant developers or re-allocate them to customers and to improve expected returns from investments in nuclear energy capacity. Past regulatory decisions and court decisions also have implications for cost recovery. Investments in nuclear power plants are irreversible and involve uncertainties during both construction and commercial operation. Uncertainties confronted by developers of merchant plants and price-regulated plants differ due to the regulatory and market paradigm in which these plants operate. Texas and Florida provide useful case studies in their respective policies toward new generation, including nuclear generation. Texas has a largely restructured electricity market, and Florida's power generation is subject to traditional rate-of-return regulation. In particular, the regulatory/market framework affects both the expected returns on investment and the likelihood and timing of the recovery of investments made in nuclear plants. The effectiveness of current federal and state policies will depend on the developers' perceptions of how risks associated with uncertainties during construction (including those uncertainties surrounding changing governmental regulations) affect construction costs, how risks linked to revenue and operating uncertainties during a plant's commercial operation affect the timing and potential for cost recovery, and ultimately how these risks affect the decision to build nuclear plants. These risks undoubtedly matter to developers whose reputations may be affected by the long-term financial viability of such projects. We use an option value model developed by Robert Pindyck (1993) and extend that model to explain the uncertainties facing prospective developers of nuclear plants. We conclude with several observations about strategies states may consider undertaking to mitigate investment risk.
Interdependence of Mössbauer Effect and γ — γ Angular Correlation in 119m Sn

It is well known that the degree to which extranuclear perturbations cause modifications of the γ — γ angular correlation function W (θ) in a crystalline solid depends on the nature of the nuclear environment. Recoil — less γ — ray emission is likewise known to be sensitive to the environment. Various nuclear properties are derivable in principle from either angular correlation or Mossbauer effect experiments (ref. 1). 119Sn is one of the few isotopes in which the Mossbauer effect and angular correlation between γ — rays of a cascade can both be studied experimentally.
Abstract 88: Targeting Bcl-XL enhances arsenic-induced cell death in ovarian cancer cells

Autophagy is an evolutionary conserved process in which long-lived proteins and damaged organelles are digested under physiological conditions including starvation. Autophagy has also been shown to act as a programmed cell death mechanism (type II PCD) and considered as caspase independent cell death. Several studies showed that autophagy has been triggered by anti-cancer treatments, such as chemo and hormonal therapy and radiotherapy and growth factor deprivation, function either as a protective survival pathway or cellular death mechanism. Arsenic trioxide (ATO), which is a FDA approved drug and used as a treatment in acute promyelocytic leukemia, has been reported to induce autophagic and/or apoptotic cell death in leukemia, glioblastoma and also ovarian cancer cells, we have previously found that ATO induces autophagy in ovarian cancer cells. Here, we investigated the role of antiapoptotic protein Bcl-Xl, which inhibits autophagy by binding beclin-1, an essential autophagy promoting protein, in arsenic induced apoptosis and determined the effects of ATO/Bcl-XL RNA interference combination therapy in ovarian cancer. We found that ATO induces dose dependant growth inhibition in MTS proliferation assay. ATO treatment (2-4 uM) induced apoptosis in A2780 (40-50 %) and SKOV3 (20-25 %) cells, detected by annexin V staining and flow cytometric (FACS) analysis and by caspase 9 and PARP cleavage (Western blotting). ATO induced marked autophagy in A2780 (60-70 %) and in SKOV3 (15-20 %) as indicated by LC3-II, a marker for autophagy, formation autophagic vacuoles detected by acridine orange staining and FACS and by transmission electron microscopy. ATO induced Bcl-XL protein expression in ovarian cancer cells. We also found expression of high levels of Bcl-XL in all ovarian cancer cell lines including drug (i.e., cisplatin and paclitaxel) resistant cells. Inhibition of Bcl-XL expression by Bcl-XL siRNA induced growth inhibition (40-60 %), apoptosis (40-60 %) and autophagy (50-60% in A2780 and 15-25 % in SKOV3 ovarian cancer cell line). Furthermore, combination of ATO with Bcl-XL siRNA led to 90 % cell death and 70 % apoptosis in both A2780 and SKOV3 cells. Overall, our results suggest that combination of ATO and Bcl-XL induced predominantly apoptosis, although each of them induced autophagy. In conclusion we provided first evidence that inhibition of Bcl-XL induces autophagy in ovarian cancer cells and sensitizes them to ATO that may be a promising treatment regimen for ovarian cancer patients. Note: This abstract was not presented at the AACR 101st Annual Meeting 2010 because the presenter was unable to attend. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 88.
HIGHER ORDER TEMPORAL SCHEMES WITH ERROR CONTROLLERS FOR UNSTEADY NAVIER-STOKES EQUATIONS

Research experience in constructing and applying higher order temporal schemes with error controllers for solving unsteady Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes equations is reported. The baseline flow solver under consideration uses a second-order backward difference scheme with a dual time stepping algorithm for advancing the flow solutions in time. The accuracy and efficiency of the new scheme is assessed by comparing the computational results with either analytical or highly accurate numerical solutions for aerodynamic problems of interest.
Rapid Synthesis of Dielectric Films by Microwave Assisted CVD

Film deposition methods have been the focus of renewed interest in the past decade due to calls for cheaper and more environment friendly deposition techniques as well as better quality of films. This paper describes a novel deposition technique: Microwave assisted chemical vapor deposition (MACVD). This technique utilizes inexpensive equipment and works at temperatures close to room temperature and ambient pressures. Deposition rates are very high (>1 micron a minute) and the resulting films are of high quality i.e. high density, stability. Conventional deposition techniques such as epitaxy, e-beam evaporation and LPCVD can achieve high quality films but the financial and environmental costs are high. This study considers the MACVD of a high k dielectric film (Ta2O5) on silicon for dielectric and insulation applications. Films generated are dense and stable with thicknesses varying from 60 nm to 62 microns. Depth profile studies of 575nm thick MACVD derived films show results similar to that of high quality films generated via MOCVD. Characterization of the resulting films was done using XRD, SEM, XPS, AES and profilometry techniques.
Providing Comfort Giving Support and Raising Awareness: Stillbirth Communication in Online Communities

Currently there is little progress in reducing the number of stillbirths that occur worldwide and most of the causes leading to stillbirth remain undetermined. Further, outside of hospital settings, the parents of stillborn children are deprived of emotional comfort as a result of the discomfort the topic causes in their social interactions. Nonprofit organizations bear the responsibility to break the taboo around stillbirth, provide comfort to bereaved parents, and raise awareness and funds. For this purpose, these organizations can make use of social media platforms to create online communities. This paper draws on interpersonal communication theory to provide guidelines that nonprofit organizations can use to deliver comfort and raise awareness about stillbirth in online environments.
Picosecond Fluorescence Studies of Rhodopseudomonas viridis

Over the past years a vast amount of information has been gathered on the structure of the reaction center and antenna system of the purple bacterium R. viridis. (1,2). However, because of its far red shifted emission maximum (approximately 1030 nm) until recently it was not possible to measure its fluorescence kinetics on a picosecond time scale. We have investigated the energy transfer kinetics of whole cells, chromatophore membranes, photoreceptor units (quantasomes) and reaction centers in a dark adapted state and in the presence of different redox agents, using single photon timing fluorescence techniques.
Knowledge Management Capabilities & Infrastructure for E-Commerce

Executives in leading organizations are increasingly recognizing that in order to maintain or gain competitive advantages, organizational knowledge needs to be managed for and integrated with their corporate e-commerce systems. Organizational knowledge, also known as the intellectual capital, is a pivotal corporate asset, and therefore, organizations require an infrastructure to create, structure, disseminate, and apply the knowledge at the right time to the right people or to the right e-commerce applications.This article defines what capabilities will be required for enabling knowledge management, describes the various technology elements required for knowledge management, and provides a technological framework for knowledge management capabilities and infrastructure for e-commerce which should assist organizations to identify and build innovative knowledge management solutions that meet their complex business requirements.
The impact of the ocean observing system on estimates of the California current circulation spanning three decades

Abstract Data assimilation is now used routinely in oceanography on both regional and global scales for computing ocean circulation estimates and for making ocean forecasts. Regional ocean observing systems are also expanding rapidly, and observations from a wide array of different platforms and sensor types are now available. Evaluation of the impact of the observing system on ocean circulation estimates (and forecasts) is therefore of considerable interest to the oceanographic community. In this paper, we quantify the impact of different observing platforms on estimates of the California Current System (CCS) spanning a three decade period (1980–2010). Specifically, we focus attention on several dynamically related aspects of the circulation (coastal upwelling, the transport of the California Current and the California Undercurrent, thermocline depth and eddy kinetic energy) which in many ways describe defining characteristics of the CCS. The circulation estimates were computed using a 4-dimensional variational (4D-Var) data assimilation system, and our analyses also focus on the impact of the different elements of the control vector (i.e. the initial conditions, surface forcing, and open boundary conditions) on the circulation. While the influence of each component of the control vector varies between different metrics of the circulation, the impact of each observing system across metrics is very robust. In addition, the mean amplitude of the circulation increments (i.e. the difference between the analysis and background) remains relatively stable throughout the three decade period despite the addition of new observing platforms whose impact is redistributed according to the relative uncertainty of observations from each platform. We also consider the impact of each observing platform on CCS circulation variability associated with low-frequency climate variability. The low-frequency nature of the dominant climate modes in this region allows us to track through time the impact of each observation on the circulation, and illustrates how observations from some platforms can influence the circulation up to a decade into the future.
Discussion of the Type Section of the Clayton Formation of Alabama

Fluegeman (1989) describes a lithologic section consisting of sands and clays as the lithostratotype of the Clayton Formation of Alabama, rather than a predominantly limestone section as described by Reimers (1986) (figure I). The section given by Fluegeman contains only a single one meter unit of limestone and seems to be the same section described by Reinhardt and Gibson (1980) (figure 2).
To Intubate or Not to Intubate: Emergency Medicine Physicians' Perspective on Intubating Critically Ill, Terminal Cancer Patients

Abstract Context Emergency physicians (EPs) often need to make a decision whether or not to intubate a terminal cancer patient. Objective The objective of this study was to explore EPs' attitudes about intubating critically ill, terminal cancer patients. Methods Fifty EPs at three emergency departments (one university based, one community, and one Health Maintenance Organization) in Southern California participated in an anonymous survey that presented a hypothetical case of an end-stage lung cancer patient in pending respiratory failure. Fourteen questions along a five-point Likert scale asked EPs about prognosis and factors that influence their decision to intubate or not. Results A convenience sampling of 50 EPs yielded a 100% survey response rate. Ninety-four percent believed intubation would not provide an overall survival benefit. If the family insisted, 26% would intubate the patient even with a do-not-intubate (DNI) status. Ninety-four percent would postpone intubation if palliative consultation were available in the ED. Sixty-eight percent believed that a discussion about goals of care was more time consuming than intubation. Only 16% believed they had sufficient training in palliative care. Although 29% who felt they had inadequate palliative care training would intubate the patient with a DNI, only 13% of EPs with self-perceived adequate palliative care training would intubate that patient. Conclusion EPs vary in their attitudes about intubating dying cancer patients when families demanded it, even when they believed it was nonbeneficial and against the patient's wishes. Palliative care education has the potential to influence that decision making. Intubation could be mitigated by the availability of palliative consultation in the ED.
“Proper Science” and Empirical Laws: Kant’s Sense of Science in the Critical Philosophy

In Metaphysical Foundations of Natural Science (1786), Kant attempts both to specify in principle what “proper” science needs to be, and then concretely to establish, as far as possible, that an a priori, mathematical physics could be reconstructed that would entail the Newtonian laws of mechanics and of gravitation. In specifying so rigorously what “proper” science requires, Kant consigns a great deal of empirical natural-scientific inquiry to a lesser status. This was particularly problematic for the emergent fields of chemistry, geology, and biology. Furthermore, even with the arguments of the third Critique it is not clear that Kant secured the validity or “propriety” of empirical laws or of their integration into an “order of nature.”
MDSC clinical assay for cancer detection and monitoring in renal cell carcinoma.

TPS713Background: Human Myeloid Derived Suppressor Cells (MDSCs) have gained recognition as a significant population of cells that arise in cancer patients to mediate immune tolerance. Some studies...