cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Enhanced wetting properties of silicon mesh microchannels coated with SiO2/SnO2 nanoparticles through layer-by-layer self assembly

Abstract The enhanced wetting property of silicon mesh microchannels coated with SiO2/SnO2 nanoparticles is presented in this paper. The SiO2/SnO2 bi-layers are prepared using layer-by-layer nano self assembly. It is found that the silicon mesh microchannels are super hydrophilic and demonstrated powerful capillary. The capillary rise rate is characterized by measuring the front location of liquid on the silicon mesh surface, laid on a 45° inclined platform. For a silicon mesh sample with an overall dimension of 25 mm × 25 mm, when the microchannel width is 0.5 mm, the liquid front can reach the top edge of the sample in approximately 30 s. The mesh silicon surface with a SiO2/SnO2 multilayer film presented in this paper has better wettability and higher capillary pressure than other hydrophilic surfaces reported. The results provide a new way to improve the capillary in microchannels with enhanced super hydrophilic surfaces in microchannels for variety of micro/nanofluidic applications.
TYPHUS FEVER : III. THE BEHAVIOR OF RICKETTSIA PROWAZEKI IN TISSUE CULTURES

Typhus Rickettsiae are found in large numbers in sections of tissue cultures of scrotal sac exudate. Extensive multiplication of the organisms occurs, and new cells become infected. Organisms are seen in cells undergoing mitotic division. The organisms usually become less numerous after the 6th day in vitro, but in one instance organisms were extremely numerous on the 16th and 21st days. Rickettsiae in tissue cultures retain their intracellular location, even when infection is very heavy. They multiply exclusively in non-phagocytic cells which are believed to be of mesothelial origin. Pleomorphism is much more pronounced in tissue cultures than in guinea pig tissues and is entirely comparable to that seen in the louse.
Decay of the longitudinal optical phonons in wurtzite GaN

Decay of the longitudinal optical (LO) phonons in wurtzite GaN has been studied by subpicosecond time-resolved Raman spectroscopy. Our experimental results show that, among the various possible decay channels, the LO phonons in wurtzite GaN decay primarily into a large wavevector TO and a large wavevector LA or TA phonons. These experimental results are consistent with the recent theoretical calculations of the phonon dispersion curves for wurtzite GaN.
Thermal Conductivity of Rare-Earth-Doped Ca F 2 in Magnetic Fields

Thermal-conductivity measurements have been taken on nine samples of Ca${\mathrm{F}}_{2}$ doped with ${\mathrm{Dy}}^{3+}$, ${\mathrm{Ho}}^{3+}$, and ${\mathrm{Ce}}^{3+}$ in the range 0.4 to 4.2\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K and in magnetic fields to 40 kOe. Resonance spin-phonon absorption is clearly discernable for Ca${\mathrm{F}}_{2}$: 0.001% ${\mathrm{Dy}}^{3+}$. For higher dopings of ${\mathrm{Dy}}^{3+}$, nonresonance absorption becomes important. ${\mathrm{Ho}}^{3+}$ yields more complicated results. ${\mathrm{Ce}}^{3+}$ conductivity is nearly independent of field. Zero-field conductivities follow ${T}^{3}$ behavior over a wide range of dopant concentrations. This is attributed to nonresonant scattering by the paramagnetic impurities with finite zero-field splittings.
A controlled search simulated annealing method for the single machine weighted tardiness problem

In this paper, a new controlled search simulated annealing method is developed for addressing the single machine weighted tardiness problem. The proposed method is experimentally shown to solve optimally 99% of fifteen job problems with less than 0.2 CPU seconds, and to solve one hundred job problems as accurately as any existing methods, but with far less computational effort. This superior performance is achieved by using controlled search strategies that employ a good initial solution, a small neighborhood for local search, and acceptance probabilities of inferior solutions that are independent of the change in the objective function value.
Strategies for Developing Biostatistics Resources in an Academic Health Center

Biostatistics--the application of statistics to understanding health and biology-provides powerful tools for developing research questions, designing studies, refining measurements, analyzing data, and interpreting findings. Biostatistics plays an important role in health-related research, yet biostatistics resources are often fragmented, ad hoc, or oversubscribed within academic health centers (AHCs). Given the increasing complexity and quantity of health-related data, the emphasis on accelerating clinical and translational science, and the importance of conducting reproducible research, the need for the thoughtful development of biostatistics resources within AHCs is growing.In this article, the authors identify strategies for developing biostatistics resources in three areas: (1) recruiting and retaining biostatisticians, (2) efficiently using biostatistics resources, and (3) improving biostatistical contributions to science. AHCs should consider these three domains in building strong biostatistics resources, which they can leverage to support a broad spectrum of research. For each of the three domains, the authors describe the advantages and disadvantages of AHCs creating centralized biostatistics units rather than dispersing such resources across clinical departments or other research units. They also address the challenges that biostatisticians face in contributing to research without sacrificing their individual professional growth or the trajectory of their research teams. The authors ultimately recommend that AHCs create centralized biostatistics units because this approach offers distinct advantages both to investigators who collaborate with biostatisticians as well as to the biostatisticians themselves, and it is better suited to accomplish the research and education missions of AHCs.
Glutamine Facilitates Chemotherapy While Reducing Toxicity

Dose intensification of chemotherapy is thought to increase survival. With recent advances in hemopoietic cell modulators such as granulocyte colony stimulating factor, the limiting toxicity of intensifying chemotherapeutic regimens has become the severity of the associated enterocolitis. In animal models, glutamine protects the host from methotrexate-induced enterocolitis. This study evaluates the effects of a glutamine-supplemented diet on the tumoricidal effectiveness of methotrexate. Sarcoma-bearing Fisher 344 rats (n = 30) were pair-fed an isocaloric elemental diet containing 1% glutamine or an isonitrogenous amount of glycine beginning on day 25 of the study. Rats from each group received two intraperitoneal injections of methotrexate (5 mg/kg) or saline on days 26 and 33 of the study. On day 40, rats were killed, tumor volume and weight were recorded, and tumor glutaminase activity and tumor morphometrics were measured. Blood was taken for arterial glutamine content, complete blood count, and blood culture. The gut was processed for glutaminase activity and synthesis phase of the deoxyribonucleic acid. In rats receiving methotrexate, the tumor volume loss was nearly doubled when glutamine was added to the diet. Significant differences in tumor glutaminase activity and morphometrics were not detected. The toxicity to the host was ameliorated. Significantly increased synthesis phase of deoxyribonucleic acid of the whole jejunum, decreased bacteremia, "sepsis," and mortality were demonstrated. Glutamine supplementation enhances the tumoricidal effectiveness of methotrexate while reducing its morbidity and mortality in this sarcoma rat model.
Prevalence of HIV infection in oral and maxillofacial surgery patients

To date there have been no systematic reports of the prevalence of HIV infection in dental surgery patients. The purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence of (1) HIV infection and (2) the risk factors for HIV infection in a sample of patients who went an oral and maxillofacial surgery outpatient clinic in an urban hospital setting. Using a cross-sectional study design and anonymous self-administered patient questionnaires, we estimated the prevalence of HIV infection to be 4.8% (95% confidence interval = 2.3% to 9.7%) in our sample of 165 patients. Prevalence estimates for HIV risk factors were: (1) homosexual/bisexual preference (17.3%), (2) history of sexually transmitted disease (20.0%), (3) history of intravenous drug abuse (10.0%), and (4) history of blood transfusion (3.8%). In general, one might anticipate the prevalence of HIV infection in the patient sample to reflect the community prevalence of HIV infection. Consequently, the prevalence estimates of HIV infection in a sample of patients who live in San Francisco may not be applicable to the reader's local community. Given the known risk factors of HIV infection, however, a well-directed, frank patient history may be useful in identifying patients at risk for HIV infection.
On‐line retrieval as an information source for bench bioscientists

Survey results of active research bioscientists invited to a summer conference are presented. A ranking of the sources used by respondents to obtain current and retrospective information shows that interactive searching is not a major source. Profiles are given of searchers, potential searchers, and non‐searchers. Causes of low search activity are discussed, and strategies are suggested to increase searching in academic environments.
Microinjections of anisomycin into the intermediate cerebellum during learning affect the acquisition of classically conditioned responses in the rabbit.

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of protein synthesis inhibition in the intermediate cerebellum on the acquisition and expression of classically conditioned nictitating membrane responses in the rabbit. Animals were conditioned for three days in a standard delay paradigm. Before each training session, either a solution of anisomycin (a protein synthesis inhibitor) or vehicle was bilaterally injected into the interposed cerebellar nuclei. Following these three training sessions, rabbits were tested to determine whether the previous training under the influence of anisomycin or vehicle resulted in the acquisition of conditioned responses. In this test, animals that were injected previously with the protein synthesis inhibitor exhibited significantly less retention of conditioned responses than rabbits injected with vehicle. Additional experiments demonstrated that anisomycin does not block the expression of conditioned responses during conditioning or in well-trained animals. Microinjections of muscimol at the same sites of the previous drug infusions suppressed the expression of conditioned responses, indicating that the protein synthesis inhibitor was applied to the eyeblink-related parts of cerebellar circuits. The obtained data are the first to demonstrate that a manipulation of cerebellar circuits, which does not affect the performance of learned behavior, can affect the process of learning. These results suggest that the synthesis of new proteins in the intermediate cerebellum participates in the formation of plastic changes responsible for eyeblink conditioning.
A Defect in the Acetyl Coenzyme A↔Acetate Pathway Poisons Recombinational Repair-Deficient Mutants of Escherichia coli

Recombinational repair-dependent mutants identify ways to avoid chromosomal lesions. Starting with a recBC(Ts) strain of Escherichia coli, we looked for mutants unable to grow at 42°C in conditions that inactivate the RecBCD(Ts) enzyme. We isolated insertions in ackA and pta, which comprise a two-gene operon responsible for the acetate↔acetyl coenzyme A interconversion. Using precise deletions of either ackA or pta, we showed that either mutation makes E. coli cells dependent on RecA or RecBCD enzymes at high temperature, suggesting dependence on recombinational repair rather than on the RecBCD-catalyzed linear DNA degradation. Complete inhibition of growth of pta/ackA rec mutants was observed only in the presence of nearby growing cells, indicating cross-inhibition. pta rec mutants were sensitive to products of the mixed-acid fermentation of pyruvate, yet none of these substances inhibited growth of the double mutants in low-millimolar concentrations. pta, but not ackA, mutants also depend on late recombinational repair functions RuvABC or RecG. pta/ackA recF mutants are viable, suggesting, together with the inviability of pta/ackA recBC mutants, that chromosomal lesions due to the pta/ackA defect are of the double-strand-break type. We have isolated three insertional suppressors that allow slow growth of pta recBC(Ts) cells under nonpermissive conditions; all three are in or near genes with unknown functions. Although they do not form colonies, ackA rec and pta rec mutants are not killed under the nonpermissive conditions, exemplifying a case of synthetic inhibition rather than synthetic lethality.
Forecasting the U.S. Unemployment Rate

Abstract This article presents a comparison of forecasting performance for a variety of linear and nonlinear time series models using the U.S. unemployment rate. Our main emphases are on measuring forecasting performance during economic expansions and contractions by exploiting the asymmetric cyclical behavior of unemployment numbers, on building vector models that incorporate initial jobless claims as a leading indicator, and on utilizing additional information provided by the monthly rate for forecasting the quarterly rate. Comparisons are also made with the consensus forecasts from the Survey of Professional Forecasters. In addition, the forecasts of nonlinear models are combined with the consensus forecasts. The results show that significant improvements in forecasting accuracy can be obtained over existing methods.
Tobacco Treatment Specialists: A New Profession

Tobacco treatment specialists (TTS) are essential to developing an adequate system of treatment for smoking. Tobacco cessation treatment should be seen, not solely as a public health or prevention activity, but rather as a clinical activity. TTS should increase their professionalism by embracing evidence-based medicine. TTS should form professional organizations and credentialing bodies to insure a high quality professional identity.
Simplified Methods for Estimation of 99mTc‐Pentetate and 131I‐Orthoiodohippurate Plasma Clearance in Dogs and Cats

The purpose of this study was to evaluate simplified methods for estimation of Technetium Tc 99m (99mTc)-pentetate and orthoiodohippurate I 131 (131I-OIH) plasma clearance in dogs and cats with 1 and 2 blood samples. Plasma clearances were calculated after a bolus injection of 1.85-11.1 MBq of 99mTc-pentetate and 131I-OIH with a 2-compartment model based on a 12-point curve as a reference method in 21 dogs and 18 cats. Three 2-sample and 3 single-sample methods were investigated. The method yielding the smallest standard deviation of the difference between the reference method and the simplified method was selected as the optimal one. Linear regression analysis was performed between the reference method and the simplified method and coefficient of determination (R2) was calculated. For 99mTc-pentetate plasma clearance, the optimal 2-sample method was the one with a mono-compartment model with samples taken at specific times. For 131I-OIH plasma clearance, the estimation was improved slightly by raising the clearance calculated with a mono-compartment model to the power of an empirically determined parameter. The optimal single-sample method was the one with a linear quadratic regression between the volume of distribution of the tracer at a specific time and the clearance calculated with 12 samples. Two-sample methods performed significantly better than did single-sample methods. The conclusion is made that 99mTc-pentetate and 131I-OIH plasma clearances can be estimated in dogs and cats with 1 or 2 blood samples with a reasonable margin of error compared to plasma clearances calculated with a 2-compartment model and 12 blood samples.
Peters plus syndrome mutations disrupt a noncanonical ER quality-control mechanism.

Summary Background O -fucose is added to cysteine-rich domains called thrombospondin type 1 repeats (TSRs) by protein O -fucosyltransferase 2 (POFUT2) and is elongated with glucose by β3-glucosyltransferase (B3GLCT). Mutations in B3GLCT result in Peters plus syndrome (PPS), an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by eye and other developmental defects. Although 49 putative targets are known, the function of the disaccharide and its role in PPS remain unexplored. Results Here we show that while POFUT2 is required for secretion of all targets tested, B3GLCT only affects the secretion of a subset, consistent with the observation that B3GLCT mutant phenotypes in PPS patients are less severe than embryonic lethal phenotypes of Pofut2 -null mice. O -glycosylation occurs cotranslationally, as TSRs fold. Mass spectral analysis reveals that TSRs from mature, secreted protein are stoichiometrically modified with the disaccharide, whereas TSRs from protein still folding in the ER are partially modified, suggesting that O -glycosylation marks folded TSRs and promotes ER exit. In vitro unfolding assays demonstrate that fucose and glucose stabilize folded TSRs in an additive manner. In vitro refolding assays under redox conditions showed that POFUT2 recognizes, glycosylates, and stabilizes the folded form of TSRs, resulting in a net acceleration of folding. Conclusions While known ER quality-control machinery rely on identifying and tagging unfolded proteins, we find that POFUT2 and B3GLCT mediate a noncanonical ER quality-control mechanism that recognizes folded TSRs and stabilizes them by glycosylation. Our findings provide a molecular basis for the defects observed in PPS and potential targets that contribute to the pathology.
Utilization and value of social networking relationships in family and nonfamily firms in an African transition economy

This study investigates the utilization of managerial networking relationships with social and political entities to create social capital in family-owned and nonfamily firms, and compares the impact of the value of the social capital derived from the networking relationships on performance between family-owned and nonfamily firms. Using data from Ghana, the findings show that there are differences in the utilization of networking with social and political stakeholders to create social capital by family-owned and nonfamily firms. While networking relationships with government bureaucratic officials and community leaders have an inverted U-shaped relationship with performance for family-owned firms, it has a linear, positive and monotonic relationship with performance for nonfamily firms. Overall, the findings suggest that networking relationship matters, but extensive utilization of networking relationships with external stakeholders may have diminishing returns to performance for family-owned firms.
Fine structure of olfactory epithelium in the mud puppy, Necturus maculosus.

The olfactory epithelium of Necturus is approximately 300 μ thick, or two to three times the thickness seen in most other vertebrates. The epithelium contains three cell types, olfactory receptor cells, supporting cells and basal cells. The receptor cell population is made up of both non-ciliated and ciliated cells in a ratio varying from 1:1 to 2:1. The ciliated cell morphology is essentially similar to that of other vertebrates. The non-ciliated cells contain groups of centrioles located at various levels in the supranuclear cytoplasm and a fibrogranular complex similar to that seen in cells engaged in ciliogenesis. This variable morphology suggests a continuous turnover of olfactory cell population, or, at least, a continuous turnover of the dendritic portion of the cell. Alternatively it may indicate that there are two different receptor cell populations with different functions. The supporting cells in the olfactory epithelium contain a variable number of secretory granules. In the anterior part of the nasal sac there are relatively more cells with many granules whereas in the posterior region the supporting cell cytoplasm contains mostly smooth endoplasmic reticulum. Olfactory receptor axons are ensheathed in groups by basal cell cytoplasm before they leave the epithelium.
Tacrolimus (FK506) increases neuronal expression of GAP-43 and improves functional recovery after spinal cord injury in rats.

Tacrolimus (FK506), a widely used immunosuppressant drug, has neurite-promoting activity in cultured PC12 cells and peripheral neurons. The present study investigated whether tacrolimus affects the expression of the neuronal growth-associated protein, GAP-43, as well as functional recovery after photothrombotic spinal cord injury in the rat. In injured animals receiving tacrolimus, the number of neurons expressing GAP-43 mRNA and protein approximately doubled compared to that in injured animals receiving vehicle alone. This increase in GAP-43-positive cells was paralleled by a significant improvement in neurological function evaluated by open-field and inclined plane tests. Another FKBP-12 ligand (V-10,367) had similar effects on GAP-43 expression and functional outcome, indicating that the observed effects of tacrolimus do not involve inhibition of the phosphatase calcineurin. Thus, tacrolimus, a drug which is already approved for use in humans, as well as other FKBP-12 ligands which do not inhibit calcineurin, could potentially enhance functional outcome after CNS injury in humans.
Two Irreconcilable Conceptions of Rhetorical Proofs in Aristotle's Rhetoric

Abstract This essay examines the inconsistencies in the discussion of proofs in Rhetoric 1.1 and 1.2. Recent commentators have attempted to reconcile these inconsistencies by claiming that ethos and pathos are to be understood as rational, inferential, or cognitive aspects of Aristotle's conception of rhetorical proof, thus linking the proofs in 1.2 to those in 1.1. In sharp contrast, I contend that the rift between the two conceptions of rhetorical proofs is even greater than most commentators acknowledge. I argue that there are two completely different conceptions of rhetorical proofs that cannot be reconciled in these two sections of the Rhetoric , that the inconsistencies are due to the tumultuous transmission and editorial history of the corpus Aristotelicum (and not to any of Aristotle's developmental views on rhetoric), and that the transmission and editorial history of the text needs to play a much more important role in our interpretation of the Rhetoric than it has hitherto.
Exploring institutional climate and engineering ethical reasoning: A cross-institutional study

In engineering ethics, the traditional approach views engineers as individual moral agents who are capable of making autonomous decisions. However, the broader context in which engineers work and make their ethical decisions is often overlooked. In teaching engineering students, institutional climates help define how educational programs, curricula, and pedagogical modules are designed with some values and beliefs prioritized over others. The purpose of this research was to investigate if and how institutional climate shapes the ways in which students prioritize ethical values when making ethical decisions. In doing so, we conducted a mixed-method study across four project-based engineering design programs at four different universities. Our quantitative and qualitative results revealed that institutional climate shaped the ways in which students defined, prioritized, and solved ethical problems. Students' differences in ethical reasoning across institutions may reflect the different orientations of each of the programs, such as a focus on entrepreneurialism, marketable products, or human-centered projects. This paper concludes with recommendations for effectively teaching ethical reasoning skills in the context of project-based design teams. By reflecting on institutional climate, engineering educators have to ask themselves what values are highlighted explicitly while others are overlooked in teaching ethics to students. Administrators could explore opportunities for reforming institutional climate to broaden their students' notions about ongoing ethical dilemmas beyond the priorities and valued embedded in their particular programs.
Time-resolved fluorescence of polyaniline

Abstract We report the time-resolved fluorescence of polyaniline in NMP solution as a function of its average oxidation state which is continuously varied from the fully reduced leucoemeraldine base to the half-oxidized emeraldine base form of the polymer.
An ab initio study of the C78 fullerene isomers

Abstract The five possible isolated-pentagon fullerene isomers of C 78 are investigated employing the Hartree—Fock self-consistent field method with minimal and double-zeta quality basis sets. Of the five structures, two have C 2v symmetry (C 2v (I) and C 2v (II)), two others have D 3h symmetry (D 3h (I) and D 3h (II)) and the last has D 3 symmetry. Experimentally, Diederich. reported the isolation of the C 2v (II) and D 3 isomers of C 78 formed in a ratio of ≈5:1. Kikuchi. later reported the isolation of C 78 in a mixture of C 2v (I), C 2v (II) and D 3 isomers formed in a ratio of 5:2:2, respectively. Previous theoretical studies employing qualitative methods have predicted the D 3h (II) isomer as the lowest energy structure, but this isomer has not been observed experimentally. Clearly, there is no agreement between the two experiments and previous theoretical studies of C 78 . In this work, the predicted order of stability for the five isolated-pentagon isomers is found to be C 2v (I) > C 2v (II) > D 3 > D 3h (I) > D 3h (II) seems to correlate better with Kikuchi's experimental results.
Epilogue: Work and Practice in Social Studies of Science, Medicine, and Technology

La relation entre la science, la medecine et la technologie est analysee, et montre le lien entre la pratique et la connaissance
Transcatheter Closure of Intracardiac Shunts.

Intracardiac shunts, such as atrial septal defects (ASDs), patent foramen ovales (PFOs), and ventricular septal defects (VSDs), are common forms of congenital or acquired heart disease. Traditional treatment has consisted of surgical closure. Transcatheter closure using implantable devices is now an alternative approach to the treatment of these lesions. Transcatheter closure offers advantages over surgical closure: 1) it is less invasive, resulting in shorter recovery times, less hospital time, and no scarring; 2) it avoids the deleterious neurocognitive effects of cardiopulmonary bypass; 3) it avoids the proarrhythmic effects of atrial or ventricular incisions; and 4) it is potentially less costly. Device closure of secundum ASDs is the procedure of choice. Device closure of PFOs can be performed under humanitarian device exemption (HDE) guidelines, although the indications for this procedure and its effectiveness compared with medical management remain controversial. Ongoing studies are addressing these issues. Transcatheter closure of muscular VSDs is an alternative to surgical treatment, especially for apical defects or those anterior to the moderator band. The CardioSEAL device (NMT Medical, Boston, MA) has HDE status for this purpose and the Amplatzer muscular VSD device (AGA Medical Corp., Golden Valley, MN) is being reviewed by the US Food and Drug Administration for market approval. Phase 1 investigations are underway for device closure of perimembranous VSDs using the Amplatzer perimembranous VSD device (AGA Medical Corp.). Until more data are available, surgical closure of perimembranous VSDs is still the procedure of choice. Closure of postinfarct VSDs can also be accomplished using intracardiac devices; however, this remains a high-risk procedure. Early experience compares favorably with surgical closure. Transcatheter device closure of intracardiac defects is a relatively new procedure. Longterm data for these procedures are currently lacking and, therefore, recommendations regarding the use of these devices will continue to evolve with time.
The tellegen medium is “a Boojum, you see”

The Tellegen medium is macroscopically indistinguishable from an isotropic dielectric-magnetic medium. That may be why the Tellegen medium has never been observed.
A four‐day survival and reproduction toxicity test for ceriodaphnia dubia

A 4-d survival and reproduction toxicity test utilizing Ceriodaphnia dubia has been developed and evaluated. This toxicity test has been compared to the standard 7-d test using a total of 12 toxicants encompassing a wide range of chemical classes. In addition, 48-h LC50 values were determined for each chemical in the absence of food. Four-day and seven-day tests were run concurrently, twice for each chemical. Less-than-12-h-old neonates for both 4-d and 7-d tests were segregated into individual test cups on Fridays. Animals for 7-d tests were immediately exposed to the test chemical. Animals for 4-d tests were held in control water and not exposed to the test chemical until day 3. Animals were fed daily and solutions were changed on Mondays and Wednesdays. Chemical concentrations were measured by appropriate analytical techniques during each test. Survival and mean total young per female were used to compare the relative sensitivity of the 4-d and 7-d tests. Data were analyzed using traditional hypothesis testing techniques to determine chronic values from the no-observed- and lowest-observed-effect concentrations. In addition, data were analyzed using a nonparametric, monotonic smoothing technique to determine interpolated point estimates and 95% confidence intervals for the 50% inhibition concentration (IC50). Comparisons between the 4-d test versus the 7-d test for both methods of data analysis indicated that the 4-d test provides an acceptable level of sensitivity in the toxicity testing of single compounds.
Direct in vivo gene transfer to canine myocardium using a replication-deficient adenovirus vector

Background. Direct myocardial gene transfer is a modality that involves the introduction of genetic information into myocardial tissue to achieve a therapeutic effect. This study was designed to characterize the temporal and spatial limits of gene expression and to determine the safety of direct myocardial gene transfer in a large animal model using replication-deficient adenovirus vectors. Methods. Mongrel dogs underwent left thoracotomy and direct myocardial injections (100 μ L/injection) of adenovirus vectors (10 9 pfu) carrying the DNA for the reporter enzyme chloramphenicol acetyl transferase or the angiogenic protein vascular endothelial growth factor. Two to 14 days after vector administration, regional protein expression was evaluated in myocardium and distant organs. Left ventricular function, assessed by echocardiography, and routine hematologic and biochemical indices were evaluated before and after vector administration. Results. Peak levels of chloramphenicol acetyl transferase activity were detected 2 days after vector administration, and levels above baseline persisted for at least 14 days. Local chloramphenicol acetyl transferase activity was detected at distances at least as far as 1.5 cm from the site of injection. Chloramphenicol acetyl transferase activity in distant organs was less than 0.1% of that in injected myocardium 7 days after vector administration. Localized expression of vascular endothelial growth factor was achieved for up to 7 days after a single vector administration. Cardiac function and laboratory values were unchanged during the study. Conclusions. Adenovirus-mediated direct myocardial gene transfer can be accomplished safely in a large animal model, providing high levels of protein expression in a greater spatial distribution than previously reported, with minimal transfection of distant organs. Sustained and localized expression of a potent angiogenic mediator has been accomplished, which may provide an innovative strategy to stimulate angiogenesis in ischemic myocardium.
Effect of advanced maternal age on early mortality among quadruplets and quintuplets

Abstract Objective This study was undertaken to determine whether advanced maternal age has an impact on survival among quadruplets and quintuplets. Study design A retrospective cohort study was performed on 1 448 quadruplets and 180 quintuplets delivered in the United States between 1995 and 1997. Infants of older mothers (≥35 years old) were compared with those of younger ones ( Results The likelihood for neonatal (odds ratio [OR]=2.00, 95% CI=1.20-3.45), perinatal (OR=2.10, 95% CI=1.32-3.23), and infant mortality (OR=2.13, 95% CI=1.28-3.60) was significantly higher among younger mothers. For each unit decrease in maternal age, the odds of stillbirth, neonatal, perinatal, and infant death went up by 9%, 12%, 13%, and 12%, respectively, in a dose-dependent fashion ( P for trend Conclusion We found increasing maternal age to be associated with favorable survival outcomes among quadruplets and quintuplets.
On the importance and mechanisms of burst release in matrix-controlled drug delivery systems

Although the significance of burst release in controlled delivery systems has not been entirely ignored, no successful theories have been put forth to fully describe the phenomenon. Despite the fact that the fast release of drug in a burst stage is utilized in certain drug administration strategies, the negative effects brought about by burst can be pharmacologically dangerous and economically inefficient. Therefore a thorough understanding of the burst effect in controlled release systems is undoubtedly necessary. In this article, we review experimental observations of burst release in monolithic polymer controlled drug delivery systems, theories of the physical mechanisms causing burst, some of the unique ideas used to prevent burst, and the treatment of burst release in controlled release models.
Wrinkling of the oxide scale on an aluminum-containing alloy at high temperatures

Abstract To survive in an oxygen-bearing gas, an alloy grows an oxide scale to cover itself. The scale thickens slowly at a high temperature, until the compressive stress generated by oxidation and cooling causes it to spall off. A widely known model assumes that the scale-alloy interface has unbonded flaws, which allow the scale to buckle under the compression, followed by delamination and cracking. For the scale to buckle under a typical stress, this model requires flaws with radii exceeding ten times the scale thickness. In general, such flaws are too large to be produced during oxidation. This paper proposes a different model. It is commonly observed that wrinkles appear at the high temperature, caused by the oxidation-induced compressive stress. Initially the interface remains bonded, and the alloy conforms to the shape change by creep or diffusion. If the high temperature is maintained long enough, voids will grow on the interface, and the scale will slide, fold and crack. Cooling can intervene at any point; for example, even when the scale only wrinkles without extensive voiding, large thermal stress on the wavy interface may cause the scale to spall off. The initial wrinkling is analyzed as a time-dependent bifurcation by using a variational principle. The base alloy is assumed to conform by metal diffusion along the interface, motivated by the strain energy release due to wrinkling. The results are discussed in connection with experimental observations.
Western North Pacific Monsoon Depression Formation

AbstractRelatively few studies have been carried out as to the conditions leading to the formation of monsoon depressions in the western North Pacific. Two monsoon depression formations during July 2007 were analyzed using ECMWF analyses and satellite observations. Wave-activity flux calculations indicated that cross-equatorial flow from the Southern Hemisphere played an important role in the formation of these monsoon depressions. A new conceptual model of monsoon depression formation in the western North Pacific is proposed that includes three southerly airstreams in the Southern Hemisphere that lead to cross-equatorial flows into the Northern Hemisphere. Examination of 44 monsoon depressions from April to December 2009 confirms the critical role of these cross-equatorial flows in monsoon depression formation. All of the monsoon depressions in the 2009 sample for which formation conditions could be established had at least one of three possible airstreams that interacted with a confluent region and, thu...
Carotid artery anastomosis with albumin solder and near infrared lasers: A comparative study

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Laser tissue-welding has been used for anastomosis of carotid arteries. During welding, thermal injury sustained by the vessel walls should be minimized to prevent thrombosis. Two different types of lasers were used and effects on tissue damage were studied in vitro and in vivo. STUDY DESIGN/MATERIALS AND METHODS End-to-end anastomosis of dog carotid arteries (n = 10) was performed by using a human albumin solder (HAS) in conjunction with Nd:YAG or diode lasers (lambda = 1.32 microm and 1.9 microm, respectively). The arteries were evaluated for patency and evidence of histologic injury after 21 days. Another group of arteries was laser soldered in vitro to measure the intimal and adventitial temperatures by using thermocouples. RESULTS The arteries repaired with the diode laser sustained significantly less thermal damage than those repaired with Nd:YAG laser, both in vitro and in vivo. In particular, the intimal temperature was significantly lower (P < 0.05) for the diode than for the Nd:YAG repairs (approximately 35 degrees C and approximately 50 degrees C, respectively). In the latter group, the patency rate was 75%, but thrombosis occurred in 75% of the specimens at 21 days. All diode anastomoses were patent and thrombosis developed in only 17% of the arteries. CONCLUSION Use of the diode laser and albumin solders may provide a means to successfully repair carotid arteries with minimal thermal damage.
Self-assembly and catalytic properties of 1,1′-bridged-2,2′-dipyridinium amphiphiles

Abstract An electrochemical and computational study of a series of three 4- methyl-4′-nonadecyl-1,1′-bridged-2,2′-dipyridinium ions is reported. In 0.1 M KCl these ions self-assemble on glassy carbon to form a close-packed monomolecular layer. Incorporation of perchlorate into the film by counterion exchange results in enhanced film stability and limiting surface coverages of ca. 1.7×10 −10 mol cm −2 . As the 1,1′-bridge length is increased from two to four methylene groups, the reversible one-electron reduction potential of the dipyridinium head group decreases from −499 to −833 mV vs. Ag|AgCl|0.1 M KCl. These relatively negative reduction potentials make adsorbed 1,1′-bridged-2,2′-dipyridinium amphiphiles powerful immobilized reductants in aqueous solution. The catalytic potency of these amphiphiles is demonstrated by catalyzing the reduction of ethyl 3-benzoyl acrylate and artemisinin.
Prefeeding, Discontinuance of Prefeeding, and Force-Proportional Reinforcement.

(1971). Prefeeding, Discontinuance of Prefeeding, and Force-Proportional Reinforcement. The Journal of General Psychology: Vol. 85, No. 1, pp. 145-147.
The Pattern of Nucleotide Difference at Individual Codons Among Mouse, Rat, and Human

The patterns of nucleotide difference were compared at 3,473,111 codons from 9,390 aligned orthologous genes of mouse (Mus musculus), rat (Rattus norvegicus), and human (Homo sapiens). The results showed evidence of a higher frequency of both synonymous and nonsynonymous differences from human in the rat than in the mouse. However, contrary to a previous report, there was no evidence of a greater frequency of codons with multiple nonsynonymous substitutions between the two rodent species than expected under random substitution.
Effect of growth hormone on glucose, nonesterified fatty acid and insulin levels, and on glucose utilization in dairy calves.

Abstract Bovine growth hormone (1 mg/kg/day) and a comparable volume of saline were injected intramuscularly once daily for 5 consecutive days to 6 treated and 7 control 130-day-old dairy calves. Comparative treatment effects on blood and plasma glucose, plasma nonesterified fatty acid and plasma insulin concentrations, and on glucose utilization rate from 14 C-glucose constant infusions were studied 16 hours post-feeding and post-treatment. Blood and Plasma nonesterified fatty acids increased altered by growth hormone treatment. Plasma nonesterified fatty acids increased following the first injection, reached a maximum on the second day, and declined to pretreatment concentration by the fifth day; whereas, the concentration declined slightly throughout the 5-day comparison in control calves. Growth hormone treatment did not change glucose utilization rate, since the adjusted difference between treated and control calves was only 1.8% and not significant. Similarly, fasting plasma insulin concentration remained relatively constant throughout the comparison in treated and control calves. Sustained effects of growth hormone treatment on carbohydrate metabolism were not demonstrable in the 16-hour post-feeding and post-treatment ruminant although the lipolytic effect was observed.
The second revolution - mixed-technology integrated microsystems

Surveys a variety of new approaches to the development of mixed-technology integrated microsystems within the context of a number of important national security applications. The survey in no way is exhaustive. The examples are intended merely to be representative of complex, mixed-technology systems that are being developed with new techniques that are available today. One such example involves development of small, hand-held, sensored systems.
Biogeography and the evolution of flightlessness in a radiation of Hawaiian moths (Xyloryctidae: Thyrocopa)

Aim Although the ability to fly confers benefits to most insects, some taxa have become secondarily flightless. Insect flightlessness may be more likely to evolve in environments such as islands and other windswept and alpine areas, but this prediction has rarely been tested while controlling for phylogenetic effects. Here we present a phylogeny for the endemic Hawaiian Lepidoptera genus Thyrocopa, which has two flightless species that occur in alpine areas on Maui and Hawaii islands, in order to determine whether the flightless species are sister to each other or represent separate losses of flight. We also explore divergence times and biogeographic patterns of inter-island colonization in Thyrocopa, and present the first Hawaiian study to sample a genus from nine islands.
Occlusion-Resistant Camera Design for Acquiring Active Environments

In this article, we present a detailed theoretical analysis and a prototype implementation of a family of cameras designed with the explicit goal of detecting and removing interfering dynamic occluders in real time, during live capture, as opposed to fixing the resulting artifacts a posteriori. Such an early-acquisition approach improves efficiency: more valid samples are acquired faster without worrying about moving occluders. One option for designing a camera to be unaffected by moving occluders is to sample through the occluder, but true x-ray-like vision is technically impractical. Another option is to sample around the occluder using a camera with a large effective aperture, but such an approach requires a bulky acquisition device. Yet another possibility of sampling around an occluder is to rely on second and higher order reflected rays that indirectly sample surfaces not directly visible. However, devising an acquisition device sufficiently sensitive and efficient to capture large environments using reflected rays will remain challenging for the foreseeable future.
Stem cell markers: less is more!

Comment on Yilmaz et al, page [924][1] Yilmaz and colleagues present a simplified technique for the prospective identification and purification of hematopoietic stem cells; unlike previous methods, their method is effective in a variety of contexts, including old marrow, mobilized peripheral blood
Solar irradiance modulation of Equator-to-Pole (Arctic) temperature gradients: Empirical evidence for climate variation on multi-decadal timescales

Abstract Using thermometer-based air temperature records for the period 1850–2010, we present empirical evidence for a direct relationship between total solar irradiance (TSI) and the Equator-to-Pole (Arctic) surface temperature gradient (EPTG). Modulation of the EPTG by TSI is also shown to exist, in variable ways, for each of the four seasons. Interpretation of the positive relationship between the TSI and EPTG indices suggests that solar-forced changes in the EPTG may represent a hemispheric-scale relaxation response of the system to a reduced Equator-to-Pole temperature gradient, which occurs in response to an increasing gradient of incoming solar insolation. Physical bases for the TSI-EPTG relationship are discussed with respect to their connections with large-scale climate dynamics, especially a critical relationship with the total meridional poleward energy transport. Overall, evidence suggests that a net increase in the TSI, or in the projected solar insolation gradient which reflects any net increase in solar radiation, has caused an increase in both oceanic and atmospheric heat transport to the Arctic in the warm period since the 1970s, resulting in a reduced temperature gradient between the Equator and the Arctic. We suggest that this new interpretative framework, which involves the extrinsic modulation of the total meridional energy flux beyond the implicit assumptions of the Bjerknes Compensation rule, may lead to a better understanding of how global and regional climate has varied through the Holocene and even the Quaternary (the most recent 2.6 million years of Earth's history). Similarly, a reassessment is now required of the underlying mechanisms that may have governed the equable climate dynamics of the Eocene (35–55 million years ago) and late Cretaceous (65–100 million years ago), both of which were warm geological epochs. This newly discovered relationship between TSI and the EPTG represents the “missing link” that was implicit in the empirical relationship that Soon (2009) recently demonstrated to exist between multi-decadal TSI and Arctic and North Atlantic climatic change.
Polyhistioma: a malignant tumor of bone and extraskeletal tissues.

Polyhistioma, a neoplasm whose basic cells are small and round like those of Ewing's sarcoma, but which differentiate into various mesenchymal structures, most often bone, is described. Those cases that produce cartilage have been called mesenchymal chondrosarcoma; the others therefore are mostly unrecognized. The name “polyhistioma” is suggested in the hope that with this terminology more of these tumors will be diagnosed. Polyhistiomas are not excessively rare; they affect bone and soft tissue. Half the patients with polyhistiomas died within 2 years. Treatment has resulted in survival of over 20 years. Thirty-eight of the 144 patients with polyhistioma have survived 5 years or more following first definitive treatment. Thirty-seven cases of the disease are presented.
Analysis of TASSER‐based CASP7 protein structure prediction results

An improved TASSER (Threading/ASSEmbly/Refinement) methodology is applied to predict the tertiary structure for all CASP7 targets. TASSER employs template identification by threading, followed by tertiary structure assembly by rearranging continuous template fragments, where conformational space is searched via Parallel Hyperbolic Monte Carlo sampling with an optimized force-field that includes knowledge-based statistical potentials and restraints derived from threading templates. The final models are selected by clustering structures from the low temperature replicas. Improvements in TASSER over CASP6 involve use of better templates from 3D-jury applied to three threading programs, PROSPECTOR_3, SP 3 , and SPARKS, and a fragment comparison method for better model ranking. For targets with no reliable templates, a variant of TASSER (chunk-TASSER) is also applied with potentials and restraints extracted from ab initio folded supersecondary chunks of the target to build full-length models. For all 124 CASP targets/domains, the average root-mean-square-deviation (RMSD) from native and alignment coverage of the best initial threading models