cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Boron-nitrogen compounds: XCVI. Studies of the chemical behavior of monomeric pyrazol-1-ylboranes☆

Abstract Two 1,3-dimethyl-2-(methylpyrazol-1′-yl)-1,3,2-diazaboracyclopentanes have been prepared. The interaction of such monomeric pyrazol-1-ylboranes containing trigonal boron with pyrazoles has been examined and 1 1 molar addition compounds have been identified and isolated. Labelling experiments support spectroscopic evidence to suggest a mobile bridging hydrogen in the cited adducts at ambient temperature and above. Monomeric 1,3-dimethyl-2-(pyrazol-1′-yl)-1,3,2-diazaboracyclopentane reacts with (dimethylamino)dialkylboranes by an exchange of the pyrazolyl with the dimethylamino group. A cyclic transition state involving a B 2 N 3 ring system is suggested for this process in which the corresponding 2-dimethylamino-1,3,2-diazaboracyclopentane and B -tetraalkylpyrazaboles are the final products. The latter are also found among the reaction products of pyrazole adducts of monomeric pyrazol-1-ylboranes with (dimethylamino)dialkylboranes. The interaction of (dimethylamino)dialkylboranes with pyrazole gives B -tetraalkylpyrazaboles in essentially quantitative yield.
Cold-sensitive Mutations in Salmonella typhimurium Which Affect Ribosome Synthesis

A number of mutations (45) expressed as cold-sensitive conditional lethal pheno-types were screened by transduction for their linkage to the streptomycin-resistance locus; 7 showed such linkage. Of these, two were studied in greater detail. The sedimentation profiles of ribosomes from cultures grown at low temperature differed from wild type and from one another. Both mutants lost ribonucleic acid control at low temperature. It is suggested that a high proportion of mutants expressing a cold-sensitive phenotype harbor mutations in genes affecting ribosome synthesis or regulation.
Adaptive processes controlling sensitivity of short-wave cone pathways to different spatial frequencies

Abstract The sensitivity of the short-wave cone pathway was measured with violet interference gratings on monochromatic adapting fields. Spectral field sensitivity functions for test gratings of 2,4 and 8 c/deg approximately matched Stiles' π 3 function, which presumably reflects light-adaptation of the short-wave cones. Previous work had suggested that field sensitivity varies as a function of test spatial frequency, but this now seems an artifact of spatial adaptation. (The present study shows the pathway is highly susceptible to spatial adaptation induced by fine patterns.) For various spatial frequencies that affect the short-wave pathway, signals also pass through a cancellative adaptation site where signals from the short-wave and the middle- and long-wave cones act in opposition. Transient inputs in either opponent direction polarize or desensitize the opponent site. Additional transient inputs of the opposite sign then reduce the polarization and increase sensitivity. Such effects were demonstrated with test gratings as high as 12 c/deg. Transient effects at the opponent site are particularly evident at higher spatial frequencies.
The Astro-E2 X-ray spectrometer/EBIT microcalorimeter x-ray spectrometer

The x-ray spectrometer (XRS) instrument is a revolutionary nondispersive spectrometer that will form the basis for the Astro-E2 observatory to be launched in 2005. We have recently installed a flight spare XRS microcalorimeter spectrometer at the EBIT-I and SuperEBIT facility at LLNL replacing the XRS from the earlier Astro-E mission and providing twice the resolving power. The XRS microcalorimeter is an x-ray detector that senses the heat deposited by the incident photon. It achieves a high energy resolution by operating at 0.06 K and by carefully engineering the heat capacity and thermal conductance. The XRS/EBIT instrument has 32 pixels in a square geometry and achieves an energy resolution of 6 eV at 6 keV, with a bandpass from 0.1 to 12 keV (or more at higher operating temperature). The instrument allows detailed studies of the x-ray line emission of laboratory plasmas. The XRS/EBIT also provides an extensive calibration “library” for the Astro-E2 observatory.
Can we improve cardiovascular risk prediction beyond risk equations in the physician's office?

Abstract Background and Objectives Beyond a global estimation of the cardiovascular risk through the assessment of major risk factors and their integration in dedicated risk scales or equations, the use of specific markers provides additive prognostic information at an individual level, including predisposing factors, which are not included in the risk equations as well as the individual susceptibility to their long-term exposure. However, the majority of these markers require specific devices and skills, which are not widely available in primary care. Methods Some clinical and/or “low-cost” parameters are shown to be valuable risk markers, and their use could refine the risk estimation in a physician's office. Several epidemiologic studies suggest the heart rate, the pulse pressure and the ankle–brachial index are effective cardiovascular risk markers. The arms systolic pressure asymmetry could also be a useful marker of risk. Results and Conclusions Through a general review, the authors evaluate the potential of these clinical markers, including their use in combination for more accurate risk determination.
Safety Screening of Road Networks with Limited Exposure Data

The first and most important step in road safety management is the identification of roads with safety needs. One possible road screening technique is based on the quality control method. Exposure data such as annual average daily traffic and vehicle miles traveled are used to estimate the expected numbers of crashes, which are then compared with the actual numbers of crashes to identify locations with safety needs. This approach must be modified in applications to county and city roads because of the limited availability of exposure data. Local transportation agencies are not expected to establish traffic counting programs to cover all their roads in the foreseeable future. This paper proposes estimation of the expected number of crashes on county roads on the basis of surrogates of exposure data including (a) segment connectivity with busier state-administered roads and (b) characteristics of the land development in the area. Land development data are included in the census database and are widely used in transportation planning. A method of estimating the expected crashes on the basis of the classification tree is proposed, and application of the method to screen Indiana county roads is presented. The developed classification tree is compared with the benchmark model, negative binomial regression further improved by adding random effects. The proposed classification tree performs better than the benchmark model. The research demonstrates a promising method of screening local roads in a defensible manner.
Impact of Cardiac Physical Examination Faculty Development on Medical Student Performance: A Randomized Trial

Cardiac physical examination skills are often deficient in trainees and faculty members. Although recommended, the impact of cardiac physical examination faculty development on “downstream” trainee skills is unknown. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of cardiac physical examination education for faculty and its impact on their students. We developed an 8-h multimodality training course featuring deliberate practice and feedback. From July 2012 to April 2013, 17 internal medicine hospitalists were randomized to receive training. Impact was measured on hospitalists and 56 medical students. The primary outcome was hospitalist and student performance on a cardiac physical examination interpretation test. Intervention hospitalists significantly increased their cardiac physical examination interpretation skills from 54 % at pretest to 92 % at posttest (p < 0.001). However, test scores of students who worked with intervention hospitalists did not significantly increase (52 to 56 %, p = 0.26). Students rated the intervention hospitalists as more thorough on only one element of the cardiac physical examination than untrained faculty members (p = <0.05). An 8-h faculty development course improved the cardiac physical examination skills of faculty. Skills of medical learners did not improve. Future faculty instruction needs to be more powerful or targeted directly to learners.
The roundtrip to Fairbanks: the circumpolar health movement comes full circle, part II.

Objectives. Evaluate the course of the International Union for Circumpolar Health (IUCH) and the Proceedings of the International Congress(s) on Circumpolar Health (ICCH) in the context of the concomitant historical events. Make recommendations for future circumpolar health research. Study design. Medline search and historical archive search of ICCH Proceedings. Methods. Search of all PubMed resources from 1966 concerning the circumpolar health movement. Two University of Alaska, Anchorage Archive Collections were searched: the C. E. Albrecht and Frank Pauls Archive Collections. Results. Fourteen sets of Proceedings manuscripts and one set of Proceedings Abstracts were evaluated. There was a trend towards consistent use of the existing journals with indexing in Index Medicus; shorter intervals between the Congress and Proceedings manuscript publication; and increased online availability of either the Table of Contents or Proceedings citations. Recent additions include online publication of full-length manuscripts and 2 instances of full peer-review evaluations of the Proceedings manuscripts. These trends in Proceedings publication are described within the course of significant events in the circumpolar health movement. During this period, the IUCH funds are at an all-time low and show little promise of increasing, unless significant alternative funds strategies are pursued. Conclusions. The IUCH has matured politically over these years, but some of the same questions persist over the years. There has been a trend towards more rapid dissemination of scientific content, more analytic documentation of epidemiologic study design and trend towards wider dissemination of scientific content through the Internet. Significant progress in each of those areas is still possible and desirable. In the meantime, the IUCH should encourage alternative funding strategies by developing a foundation to support on-going expenses, for example Hildes awards; explore venues to finance Council President and At-Large members travel costs; and seek grants to fund special projects, for example special supplements in the IJCH. Keywords: circumpolar health; history; Congress Proceedings; health research; International Polar Year (Published: 5 August 2013) This paper is part of Supplement 1, 2013, ICCH15 Proceedings . More papers from this Supplement can be found here . Citation: Int J Circumpolar Health 2013, 72 : 21608 - http://dx.doi.org/10.3402/ijch.v72i0.21608
Performance Evaluation of Automated Vehicle Locator and Digital Map Accuracy in Transit Application

New Jersey Transit (NJT) is investigating acquisition of an automated vehicle locator (AVL) system. The purpose of the AVL system is to monitor the location of buses. Knowing the location of a bus allows the operator to manage the bus fleet more efficiently and to provide customers with up-to-the-minute information on bus arrivals and departures. To monitor the location of the buses, their positional information (as determined by the AVL) is displayed on a digital map such as a geographic information system. To ensure accurate information, the location (coordinates) of the bus must be consistent (or within a small tolerance) with those of the digital map. If this is not the case, the system can yield incorrect information. This problem might become especially critical in an urban area where the system would be most valuable. The methodology that was developed for testing and evaluating the accuracies of AVL systems and available digital maps is described. The AVL system analyzed is the continuous positioning system by Andrew Corporation. Digital mapping products evaluated were TIGER, Navtech, and Digital Orthophotos. These data sets were evaluated with an accurate network of control points measured by a global positioning system. Some recommendations on the appropriateness of the tested AVL system and NJT's digital mapping data are made.
Adjunctive intranasal oxytocin reduces symptoms in schizophrenia patients.

Background Both human and animal studies suggest oxytocin may have antipsychotic properties. Therefore, we conducted a clinical trial to directly test this notion. Methods Nineteen schizophrenia patients with residual symptoms despite being on a stable dose of at least one antipsychotic were enrolled in a randomized, double-blind, crossover study. They received 3 weeks of daily intranasal oxytocin (titrated to 40 IU twice a day) and placebo adjunctive to their antipsychotics. Order of intranasal treatment was randomly assigned and there was a 1-week washout between treatments. Results Analysis of the 15 subjects who completed all the study visits revealed that oxytocin significantly reduced scores on the Positive and Negative Symptom Scale ( p p Conclusions The results support the hypothesis that oxytocin has antipsychotic properties and is well tolerated. Higher doses and longer duration of treatment may produce larger benefits and should be evaluated in future studies.
Characteristics of migrant entrepreneurs as agents of direct investment in sub‐Saharan Africa: An observation of the Lebanese in Nigeria

This chapter is a hybrid of entrepreneurship and international business. While conceptualising Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), together with theory and practice for development, the study looks at the role migrant entrepreneurs can play in the process, i.e. Africa. The study focuses on one group of Entrepreneurs (the Lebanese) who migrated and established successful business communities in Nigeria. Common qualities between the Lebanese and Nigerian entrepreneurs are compared and contrasted considering the adaptive ability of the Lebanese in the presence of constraints. The Host country is encouraged to create an enabling environment for both domestic and foreign investors.
The ontogeny of sex differences in the behavior of patas monkeys

Many studies of sex differences in primates have been based on small experimental groups of peers in which only a limited range of social behavior could be expressed. In addition, the first few months of life are often the focus of such studies, with relatively little attention paid to older juveniles. In this study, 11 male and 9 female juvenile patas monkeys, living in a captive social group with all age-sex classes available, were observed between 1 and 4 years of age. A subset of seven patas monkeys was also observed between birth and 1 year of age. Here, we report the development of sex differences in independence, play, grooming, positioning behavior, and aggression over the juvenile period. Juvenile male patas monkeys played more and in longer bouts than females, but wrestling (rough-and-tumble play) was not more common among males. There were few differences in behaviors directed to male and female juveniles by other group members. Distinct differences emerged only in the behaviors of the juveniles themselves, with females being more active participants in social and aggressive interactions than males. In general, sex differences in patas monkeys show a mixture of patterns, some of which are predictive of adult sex differences and some of which appear to be specific to the particular demands of the juvenile period in this species
Validity of the mizes anorectic cognitions scale: A comparison between anorectics, bulimics, and psychiatric controls

The Mizes Anorectic Cognition scale (MAC) was developed to assess cognitions relevant to anorexia and bulimia nervosa. It assesses three areas: rigid weight regulation, weight and approval, and excessive self-control as a component of self-esteem. Previous research has supported the validity and reliability of the scale. The purpose of the present study was to extend previous work to include anorectic patients, examine the specificity of the scale by making comparisons to a psychiatric (rather than normal) control group, and secondarily, to conduct a preliminary comparison of bulimics and anorectics. Results showed that for the total MAC score and the subscales, bulimics and anorectics scored higher than psychiatric controls, though they did not differ from each other.
Enhance piezoelectric energy harvesting by stiffness compensation using magnetic effect

Piezoelectric transducers are widely employed in vibration-based energy harvesting schemes. The efficiency of piezoelectric transducers fundamentally hinges upon the electro-mechanical coupling effect. While at the material level such coupling is decided by material property, at the device level it is possible to vary and improve the energy conversion capability between the electrical and mechanical regimes by a variety of means. In this research, a new approach of compensating the effective flexibility of piezoelectric transducers by using non-contact magnetic effect is explored. It is shown that properly configured and positioned magnet arrays can induce approximately linear attraction force that can improve the electro-mechanical coupling of the piezoelectric energy harvester. Analytical and experimental studies are carried out to demonstrate the enhancement.
Basement Membrane Regulation of Sertoli Cells

MOST vertebrate cells are in contact with an extracellular matrix (ECM) composed of both protein and carbohydrate in the form of glycoproteins and proteoglycans (1). The glycoproteins are defined by the attachment of relatively small carbohydrate moieties and include the major structural proteins laminin, fibronectin, collagen, and elastin. The proteoglycans, on the other hand, are characterized by a covalent linkage between a core protein and one or more glycosaminoglycans, which are large, negatively charged polymers of repeating disaccharide units such as heparan and chondroitin sulfate. In addition, many ECMs contain the glycosaminoglycan, hyaluronan, which does not appear to be covalently linked to protein. The various components of the ECM interact with each other in a complex fashion to form a meshwork-like structure. Some cell types, such as muscle cells and chondrocytes, are completely surrounded by ECM while others, such as simple epithelial cells and endothelial cells, are exposed to the ECM on...
Would Rethinking Learning Disabilities Benefit Kuwait

Learning disabilities education in Kuwait grew from Kuwaiti’s wholesale importation of the Western, medical model of disability – a model basically incompatible with Kuwaiti culture. Conflicting factors include its problematic normal/abnormal binary, its assumption that the ‘deficit’ is located in the student and the segregation of students by label. As proponents of disability studies we investigate whether, and if so how, Arab educators at Kuwait’s only learning disabilities school talk about this incompatibility. Through focus group and individual, in‐depth conversational interviews we found that they acknowledged this tension, but that they dealt with it in more complex ways than we had anticipated: by compartmentalizing, accepting the imported model as the only alternative to overcrowded public education and subjugating their experiential awareness to that of the Western scientific model.
Free tropospheric carbon monoxide concentrations in 1950 and 1951 deduced from infrared total column amount measurements

Published total vertical column amounts of carbon monoxide deduced from infrared solar spectra recorded during 1950-51 in the Swiss Alps have been reanalyzed based on improved spectroscopic parameters for CO and a curve of growth. From a comparison of the 1950-51 results and modern measurements, an average increase of about 2 percent per year in the free tropospheric concentration of CO above Europe is estimated for 1950-77.
Stream response to repeated coseismic folding, Tiptonville dome, New Madrid seismic zone

Abstract Fluvial response to tectonic deformation is dependent on the amount and style of surface deformation and the relative size of the stream. Active folding in the New Madrid seismic zone (NMSZ) forms the Tiptonville dome, a 15-km long and 5-km wide surface fold with up to 11 m of late Holocene structural relief. The fold is crossed by streams of varying size, from the Mississippi River to small flood-plain streams. Fluvial response of these streams to repeated coseismic folding has only been preserved for the past 2.3 ka, since the Tiptonville meander of the Mississippi River migrated across the area forming the present flood plain. This surface comprises a sandy point-bar deposit locally overlain by clayey overbank and silty sand crevasse-splay deposits, an abandoned chute channel infilled with laminated sandy silt and silty clay, and an abandoned neck cutoff filled with a sandy cutoff bar and silty clay oxbow lake deposits. Dating various stream responses to coseismic folding has more tightly constrained the timing of earthquake events in the central NMSZ and provides a means of partitioning the deformation amount into individual seismic events. Three earthquakes have been dated in the Reelfoot Lake area, ca. A.D. 900, 1470, and 1812. The latter two earthquakes had large local coseismic deformation. Both of these events were responsible for numerous stream responses such as shifting depocenters, modification of Mississippi River channel geometry, and derangement of small streams. Overbank sedimentation ceased on the dome as it was uplifted above the normal flood stage, and sedimentation of crevasse-splay deposits from the Mississippi River, colluvium from the scarp, and lacustrine sediment accumulated in the adjacent Reelfoot basin. The much larger Mississippi River channel responded to uplift by increasing its sinuosity across the uplift relative to both upstream and downstream, increasing its width/depth ratio across and downstream of the uplift, and decreasing the width/depth ratio upstream of the uplift. Despite the size of the Mississippi River, it has not yet attained equilibrium since the latest uplift 190 years ago. Small channels that could not downcut through the uplift were filled, locally reversed flow direction, or formed a lake where they were dammed. Uplift and stream response to folding along the Tiptonville dome is less dramatic between 2.3 and 0.53 ka. During this interval, abandoned channel fill and overbank deposition across the dome suggests that it was not a high-relief feature. One earthquake event occurred during this interval (ca. A.D. 900), but coseismic stream response was probably limited to a slight aggradation of a small flood-plain stream.
Hemodynamic measurements in rat brain combining diffuse near-infrared absorption and correlation spectroscopies

Measurement of concentration, oxygenation, and flow characteristics of blood cells can reveal information about tissue metabolism and functional heterogeneity. An instrument has been built that combines two near-infrared diffuse optical techniques to simultaneously monitor blood flow, blood volume and blood oxygen saturation. Diffuse correlation spectroscopy (DCS) monitors blood flow by measuring the optical phase shifts caused by moving blood cells, while diffuse photon density wave (DPDW) spectroscopy measured tissue absorption and scattering. The modularized design of the instrument provides the instrument great flexibility for trading off the temporal, spectral and spatial resolution by selecting the number of source-detector pairs and wavelengths. The frame acquisition rate of the current instrument is 0.2 Hz with 3? (wavelengths) × 15s (source positions) × 4d (detectors) for DPDW measurement in the frequency domain, and 1? × 3s × 9d for DCS. Higher frame acquisition rate could be achieved by reducing the spatial resolution, for example, 2 Hz with 3? × 1s × 4d for DPDW and 1? × 1s × 9d for DCS. The unique non-contact probe mounted on the back of a camera allows non-contact measurement that avoids potentially altering blood flow. We used this instrument to monitor in vivo the hemodynamic responses in rat brain during KCl induced cortical spreading depression (CSD).
Cancers with increasing incidence trends in the United States: 1999 through 2008

Despite declines in incidence rates for the most common cancers, the incidence of several cancers has increased in the past decade, including cancers of the pancreas, liver, thyroid, and kidney and melanoma of the skin, as well as esophageal adenocarcinoma and certain subsites of oropharyngeal cancer associated with human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. Population-based incidence data compiled by the North American Association of Central Cancer Registries were used to examine trends in incidence rates from 1999 through 2008 for the 7 cancers listed by sex, age group, race/ethnicity, and stage at diagnosis. Joinpoint regression was used to calculate average annual percent changes in incidence rates (1999-2008). Rates for HPV-related oropharyngeal cancer, esophageal adenocarcinoma, cancer of the pancreas, and melanoma of the skin increased only in whites, except for esophageal adenocarcinoma, which also increased in Hispanic men. Liver cancer rates increased in white, black, and Hispanic men and in black women only. In contrast, incidence rates for thyroid and kidney cancers increased in all racial/ethnic groups, except American Indian/Alaska Native men. Increases in incidence rates by age were steepest for liver and HPV-related oropharyngeal cancers among those aged 55 [corrected] to 64 years and for melanoma of the skin in those aged 65 years and older. Notably, for HPV-related oropharyngeal cancer in men and thyroid cancer in women, incidence rates were higher in those aged 55 to 64 years than in those aged 65 years and older. Rates increased for both local and advanced stage diseases for most cancer sites. The reasons for these increasing trends are not entirely known. Part of the increase (for esophageal adenocarcinoma and cancers of the pancreas, liver, and kidney) may be linked to the increasing prevalence of obesity as well as increases in early detection practices for some cancers. These rising trends will exacerbate the growing cancer burden associated with population expansion and aging. Additional research is needed to determine the underlying reasons for these increasing trends.
Effect of Inhaled Nitric Oxide and Hyperoxia on Heme Oxygenase-1 Protein Expression in Neonatal Rat Lung Tissue

Effect of Inhaled Nitric Oxide and Hyperoxia on Heme Oxygenase-1 Protein Expression in Neonatal Rat Lung Tissue
Analytic Love and Power: Responsiveness and Responsibility

This article discusses the profound responsibilities associated with the psychoanalyst's role, given the ways in which the structure of the psychoanalytic setting both stimulates and frustrates fantasies of romantic perfection. The analyst's responsibility begins with an awareness of the full extent of the seductive power inherent in the psychoanalytic structure. Against a background of the two defining dimensions of the treatment setting, mutuality and asymmetry, this article discusses the ways in which these dimensions intensify the experience and longing for intimate, sexual union.
Simulation of small structures-optics-controls system

One of the challenges in using either ground- or space--based high power lasers is keeping the beam on target in spite of various disturbances. Active control is one of the methods for maintaining laser beam direction. It requires (1) a Sensor which monitors the beam path and sends an error signal to the Controller when the beam is misaligned; (2) the Controller, after processing the error signal, sends a correction signal to (3) Actuators which control the position of (4) a Beam Steering Mirror (BSM), also in the optical path of the laser beam. The correction signal is designed to change the position of the BSM to that the laser beam is brought back on target. Since it is not obvious how a system of this sort will respond to various disturbances, it is helpful to be able to simulate such a system, during the design stages, so that one might have confidence that the system will work if it gets to the hardware stage. Before applying MSC/NASTRAN to the real systern,it seemed advisable to check out the implementation of MSC/NASTRAN on a small structures-optics-controls system that had the flavor of the real system but far less complexity. In that way it was hoped that procedural errors would be minimized when MSC/NASTRAN was used to analyze the real system. This paper explains the implementation of MSC/NASTRAN as applied to the analysis of a Small Structures-Optics-Controls System (SSOCS), a sketch of which is shown in Figure 1. The SSOCS comprises a Beam Steering Mirror (BSM) supported by two Voice-Coil Actuators (VCA's) (on structural support springs "8" and "9") which change the position of the BSM, a Disturbed Mirror (DM) (on structural support springs "6","7", and "57"), a Sensor which monitors translational and angular misalignrnents in the beam path, and a Controller which receives the error signals from the Sensor and sends correction signals to the VCA's. The response of the SSOCS to a step function disturbance applied to the structure of the DM via p7(t) through M7 (between springs "7" and "57") was calculated by MSC/NASTRAN; and, the results were compared against those computed for the SSOCS by a general purpose dynamics analysis program called TIMRSP. (See Block Diagram of SSOCS equations used in TIMRSP program.) The agreement between the results of MSC/NASTRAN and TIMRSP was considered excellent and increased confidence that there should be rio procedural errors.
Solving recurrence relations using local invariants

The goal in this paper is to find closed form solutions for linear recurrence equations, by transforming an input equation L to an equation Ls with known solutions. The main problem is how to find a solved equation Ls to which L can be reduced. We solve this problem by computing local data at singularities, data that remains invariant under the transformations used.
Solar ultraviolet-B and photosynthetically active irradiance in the urban sub-canopy: A survey of influences

Stratospheric ozone loss in mid-latitudes is expected to increase the ultraviolet-B (UVB) radiation at the earth's surface. Impacts of this expected increase will depend on many factors, including the distribution of light in other wavelengths. Measurements of the photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) and UVB irradiance were made under clear skies at an open field and under the canopy of scattered trees in a suburban area in W. Lafayette, Indiana, USA (latitude 40.5°). Results showed that when there was significant sky view, the UVB penetration into sub-canopy spaces differs greatly from that of PAR. The UVBT canopy (transmittance; irradiance below canopy/irradiance in open) was inversely related to sky view. The UVB irradiance did not vary as greatly between shaded and sunlit areas as did PAR. Analysis of measurements made near a brick wall indicated that the leaf area of a canopy and the brick wall primarily acted to block fractions of the sky radiance and contributed little scattered UVB to the horizontal plant. A model was developed to predict the UVB and PART canopy based on diffuse fraction, sky view, and porosity of the crown(s) through which the beam is penetrating. The model accounted for the UVB and PART canopy to within 0.13 and 0.05 root mean squared error (RMSE), respectively. Analysis of the errors due to model assumptions indicated that care must be taken in describing the sky radiance distribution, the porosity of trees, the penetration of diffuse radiation through porous trees, and the location of sky-obstructing trees and buildings.
Decomposing spatiotemporal brain patterns into topographic latent sources

This paper extends earlier work on spatial modeling of fMRI data to the temporal domain, providing a framework for analyzing high temporal resolution brain imaging modalities such as electroencapholography (EEG). The central idea is to decompose brain imaging data into a covariate-dependent superposition of functions defined over continuous time and space (what we refer to as topographic latent sources). The continuous formulation allows us to parametrically model spatiotemporally localized activations. To make group-level inferences, we elaborate the model hierarchically by sharing sources across subjects. We describe a variational algorithm for parameter estimation that scales efficiently to large data sets. Applied to three EEG data sets, we find that the model produces good predictive performance and reproduces a number of classic findings. Our results suggest that topographic latent sources serve as an effective hypothesis space for interpreting spatiotemporal brain imaging data.
Hierarchical multifunctional nanocomposites

Nanocomposites; including nano-materials such as nano-particles, nanoclays, nanofibers, nanotubes, and nanosheets; are of significant importance in the rapidly developing field of nanotechnology. Due to the nanometer size of these inclusions, their physicochemical characteristics differ significantly from those of micron size and bulk materials. The field of nanocomposites involves the study of multiphase materials where at least one of the constituent phases has one dimension less than 100 nm. This is the range where the phenomena associated with the atomic and molecular interaction strongly influence the macroscopic properties of materials. Since the building blocks of nanocomposites are at nanoscale, they have an enormous surface area with numerous interfaces between the two intermix phases. The special properties of the nano-composite arise from the interaction of its phases at the interface and/or interphase regions. By contrast, in a conventional composite based on micrometer sized filler such as carbon fibers, the interfaces between the filler and matrix constitutes have a much smaller surface-to-volume fraction of the bulk materials, and hence influence the properties of the host structure to a much smaller extent. The optimum amount of nanomaterials in the nanocomposites depends on the filler size, shape, homogeneity of particles distribution, and the interfacial bonding properties between the fillers and matrix. The promise of nanocomposites lies in their multifunctionality, i.e., the possibility of realizing unique combination of properties unachievable with traditional materials. The challenges in reaching this promise are tremendous. They include control over the distribution in size and dispersion of the nanosize constituents, and tailoring and understanding the role of interfaces between structurally or chemically dissimilar phases on bulk properties. While the properties of the matrix can be improved by the inclusions of nanomaterials, the properties of the fibers can also be improved by the growth of nanotubes on the fibers. The combination of the two will produce super-performing materials, not currently available. Since the improvement of fiber starts with carbon nanotube grown on micron-size fibers (and matrix with a nanomaterial) to give the macro-composite, this process is a bottom-up “hierarchical” advanced manufacturing process, and since the resulting nanocomposites will have “multifunctionality” with improve properties in various functional areas such as chemical and fire resistance, damping, stiffness, strength, fracture toughness, EMI shielding, and electrical and thermal conductivity, the resulting nanocomposites are in fact “multifunctional hierarchical nanocomposites.” In this paper, the current state of knowledge in processing, performance, and characterization of these materials are addressed.
Taking up space on earth: Theorizing territorial rights, the justification of states and immigration from a global standpoint

The author’s 2012 book On Global Justice gives pride of place to the idea that humanity collectively owns the earth. Independently, there has been a flourishing literature on the justification of rights to territory. Central to this discussion are a Kantian and a Lockean approach. This paper recapitulates the author’s approach to humanity’s collective ownership of the earth and argues that, properly understood, both of those approaches should integrate the global standpoint constituted thereby. However, the goal here is not to amend the Kantian and Lockean approaches to territory, but to refute them. To that end the paper also argues that both approaches endorse an unacceptably strong view of the justifiability of states and should therefore be rejected. The view in On Global Justice emerges vindicated, according to which territorial rights, the justification of states and immigration all need to be theorized together, and need to be theorized from a genuinely global standpoint.
UPTAKE OF METAL IONS BY A NEW CHELATING ION-EXCHANGE RESIN. PART 1: ACID DEPENDENCIES OF ACTINIDE IONS*

ABSTRACT The uptake of several actinide ions [U(VI), Pu(IV), Np(IV), Th(IV] and Am(DI)) from nitric and hydrochloric acid solutions, and of U(VI) from near-neutral solutions by the new chelating ion-exchange resin, DiphonixTM, has been investigated. Diphonix is a polyfunctional resin containing sulfonic and gem-diphosphonic acid groups chemically bonded in a styrene-divinylbenzene polymeric network. Comparison of the acid dependencies of the actinide ions uptake measured with Diphonix with those obtained using a commercial sulfonic -type resin and a resin containing both sulfonic and monophosphonic aCid groups, hat Shown that Diphonix binds the actinides via a different kind of chemical interaction, involving the.formation of chelate complexes through the phosphoryl groups of the gem-diphosphonic acids. As a consequence, Diphonix is superior to other resins in extracting actinide ions from very acidic solutions. A better performance of Diphonix is also observed with the uptake of uranium from neutral solu...
Molecular Determinants of HIV-1 Subtype C Coreceptor Transition from R5 to R5X4

The molecular mechanism(s) underlying transition from CCR5 to CXCR4 usage of subtype C viruses remain largely unknown. We previously identified a subtype C HIV-1 infected child whose virus demonstrated CXCR4 usage along with CCR5 upon longitudinal follow-up. Here we delineated the molecular determinants of Env involved in expanded coreceptor usage. Residue changes in three positions of Env V3 domain are critical for the dual tropic phenotype. These include: substitution of arginine at position 11, MG or LG insertion between positions 13 and 14, and substitution of threonine at the position immediately downstream of the GPGQ crown. Introducing these mutations into V3 region of a heterologous R5 virus also conferred dual tropism. Molecular modeling of V3 revealed a possible structural basis for the dual tropic phenotype. Determining what defines a subtype C X4 virus will lead to a better understanding of subtype C HIV-1 pathogenesis, and will provide important information relevant to anti-retroviral therapy.
A technology for high-performance single-crystal silicon-on-insulator transistors

A process for forming transistors and circuits in a thin single-crystal silicon film on a glass substrate is presented. The process involves the electrostatic bonding of a silicon wafer to glass and the subsequent thinning of the wafer using doping-sensitive etchants to retain only the epitaxial layer. NMOS transistors have shown channel mobilities of 640 cm2/V-s, while leakage currents have been measured at less than 10-14A/µm.
Sensitization to morphine induced by viral-mediated gene transfer

Repeated administration of morphine sensitizes animals to the stimulant and rewarding properties of the drug. It also selectively increases expression of GluR1 (an AMPA glutamate receptor subunit) in the ventral tegmental area, a midbrain region implicated in morphine action. By viral-mediated gene transfer, a causal relation is shown between these behavioral and biochemical adaptations: Morphine's stimulant and rewarding properties are intensified after microinjections of a viral vector expressing GluR1 into the ventral tegmental area. These results confirm the importance of AMPA receptors in morphine action and demonstrate specific locomotor and motivational adaptations resulting from altered expression of a single localized gene product.
Correlation of DNA reactivity and cytotoxicity of a new class of anticancer agents : aza-anthracenediones

Abstract Doxorubicin and mitoxantrone are carbocyclic anti-cancer drugs that interact with DNA through intercalation. Our laboratory has synthesized a new series of anti-tumor agents, the aza-anthracenediones, which are structurally related to mitoxantrone but contain a heterocyclic, rather than a carbocyclic, chromophore. Both the in vivo and in vitro anti-tumor activities of these compounds were exquisitely sensitive to the positioning of the nitrogen atom within the heterocyclic backbone. Compounds having a 2-aza were 30- to 100-fold more potent than the 1-aza or the di-aza compounds against L1210 cells in vitro. When tested in vivo, the 2-aza-anthracenediones had marked anti-tumor activity, in some cases curative, whereas the 1-aza-anthracenediones had but minimal antitumor activity. To define the importance of the aza positioning on DNA reactivity, spectral shift and gel mobility assays were used. The spectral shift assay suggested that the 2-aza compounds reacted with DNA solely through intercalation whereas the 1-aza-anthracenediones, and mitoxantrone all reacted with DNA through intercalative and non-intercalative processes. The affinity of DNA binding was five to seven times greater for the 2-aza compounds compared to the 1-aza or the di-aza derivatives. The retardation of supercoiled pBR322 DNA mobility in agarose gel electrophoresis further suggested an intercalative type of DNA interaction. Differences in DNA interaction appear related to but can not completely account for differences in cytotoxicity of the aza anthracenediones.
Sequential placement of reference levels in a level-crossing analog-to-digital converter

Level-crossing analog-to-digital converters (LC ADCs) have been considered in the literature and have been shown to efficiently sample certain classes of signals. One important aspect in their implementations is the placement of the reference levels in the circuitry. In order to obtain samples, the levels need to be appropriately placed within the input's dynamic range. In this paper we optimize the performance of LC ADC by providing a sequential algorithm that adaptively updates the reference levels to minimize distortion.
Analysis of pectin content and degree of polymerization in orange juice

Abstract A study was conducted where orange juice pectin and reducing endgroups were measured to determine the degree of polymerization of the pectic substances in freshly-squeezed orange juice. Measurement of these parameters in a freshly squeezed juice and measurement after one week of 5°C storage elucidate changes occurring during natural enzymatic clarification of the juice. The characteristics of the juice pectic substances may influence juice quality such as haze stability and viscosity (mouthfeel), and aid in determining ideal harvesting/processing dates and conditions. In addition to the documented pectinesterase activity in orange juice and its role in cloud destabilization, active polygalacturonase is indicated.
Upper extremity spasticity in children with cerebral palsy: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of the short-term outcomes of treatment with botulinum A toxin.

Purpose Botulinum A toxin (BoNT-A) injections are used widely to manage lower extremity spasticity in children with cerebral palsy. However, their use in the upper extremity is less well defined. This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial evaluated the safety and efficacy of upper extremity intramuscular injections of BoNT-A in a cross-section of children with varying levels of function. Methods Upper extremity function of study participants (N = 73; M:F = 47:26; age range, 3–18 y) was evaluated using the House Classification system (scores, 0–8, where a higher score indicates higher functional ability). Three groups of children were identified based on their House scores: 0–2 (n = 10), 3–5 (n = 54), and 6–8 (n = 9). Following randomization, children received a BoNT-A or placebo injection at baseline. Injections were administered at 8 and 20 weeks if clinically indicated. Occupational therapists evaluated study participants at screening, at baseline, and at 4, 8, 14, 20, and 26 weeks. Physician evaluations occurred at baseline and at 8, 20, and 26 weeks. The Melbourne Assessment of Unilateral Upper Limb Function evaluated the quality of upper extremity function before and after injections and served as the primary outcome variable. Results The majority of study participants underwent 3 injection sessions. Muscles injected were individualized based on each child's particular spasticity pattern. A statistically higher percentage of children receiving BoNT-A injections showed an improvement in the Melbourne assessment at 26 weeks compared with the children receiving placebo. The range, frequency, and severity of postinjection adverse events were similar in both groups. Conclusions Children receiving BoNT-A injections demonstrated clinically meaningful short-term improvements in upper extremity function. Injections were well tolerated and safe. In contrast to other studies, study participants underwent multiple injection sessions based on their individual spasticity patterns. Type of study/level of evidence Therapeutic I.
Optimizing Outcomes in Multiple Sclerosis – A Consensus Initiative:

BackgroundInitiation of immunomodulators in patients experiencing a clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) may delay progression to clinically definite MS. However, lack of consensus remains on many issues affecting optimal management of MS.MethodA panel of 21 MS experts met during 9 meetings to explore key issues in MS and CIS. Meetings addressed 3 phases: 1. CIS definition and diagnosis; 2. initial therapy; and 3. monitoring disease progression and treatment efficacy. Newsletters covering each phase were sent to 5000 U.S.-based neurologists who were invited to participate in an online survey on key issues.ResultsMost panel members agreed that early treatment may minimize neurodegeneration and most would recommend it for patients; that a dose-response relationship exists for beta-interferon therapy; that more aggressive therapy was most effective early in the disease course; and, that MRI has a role in monitoring disease progression. In face of suboptimal response, most would switch patients to a different t...
Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease: A benign cause of fever and lymphadenopathy

Abstract Purpose To describe 6 cases of Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease and to review the literature. Patients and methods Review of 6 patients with biopsy-proven Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease detected at a university hospital over a 5-year period. Results Six patients presented with localized, mild lymph node enlargement. In 3 cases, dramatic fever, chills, weight loss and systemic complaints were present. These features prompted prolonged antibiotic therapy and extensive evaluations of fever of unknown origin before the diagnosis was made by biopsy of the minimally enlarged lymph nodes. The 3 remaining patients were otherwise asymptomatic and well. All 6 subjects recovered without specific therapy. Conclusions Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease is a recently described cause of benign, self-limited lymphadenopathy that is easily confused histologically and clinically with lymphoma and systemic lupus erythematosis. Clinicians and pathologists must be aware of this condition. Although it is an uncommon cause of fever of unknown origin, early recognition of KFD will minimize potentially harmful and unnecessary evaluations and treatments.