cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
CHANGES IN INTESTINAL PERMEABILITY DEMONSTRATED BY LOW MOLECULAR WEIGHT POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL (PEG) POLYMERS

The purpose of this study was to compare the changes in intestinal permeability produced by villous atrophy with those produced by the administration of a cytotoxic drug. PEG (mol wt 200-600, ethylene units 5–13), a marker for intestinal permeability, was administered orally as an isotonic solution at a dose of 172 mg/kg to 26 children with celiac disease (CD) (ages 1-18 yr) and to 6 children (8-12 yr) treated for leukemia with 20 mg/m2 of methotrexate (MTX). Urine was collected for 6 h. Children with CD were studied at the time of presentation (p), while on a gluten (G)-free diet (GFD), and/or when challenged with a G-containing diet (GCD). Children with leukemia were tested before and after MTX. PEG polymers were isolated, derivatized, and analysed by gas chromatography (J Lab Clin Med 107: 290, 1986). The 6-h urine % recovery of each polymer and the length of the polymer whose recovery was maximal (PCDO) were determined. The theoretical ethylene unit length of the polymer whose recovery was 50% of the polymer which was recovered maximally (N1/2) was calculated by a curve-fitting program. Normal N1/2) ≥ 12. Mean N1/2 for children with CD at P was 7.3 ± 3.7, on GFD: 12.8±0.6, and on GCD:11,4 ± 2 (p < 0.05) indicating significantly less recovery of the longer polymers at P compared to GFD and GCD. No relationship was found between G intake and PCDO. In children treated with MTX, a mean increase in PCDO of 127% (range 49-195, p = 0.05) was observed following the ingestion of the drug compared to pre-treatment levels. Conclusion: This study shows that in cases of intestinal villous atrophy permeability to the longer chain PEG polymers decreases while treatment with MTX produces an enhanced permeation to all of the PEG polymers.
Transparency issues in NAFTA: concerns and directions for free trade in an open environment

For any bilateral or multilateral trade agreement to be effective, it is imperative that transparency and good governance form the mainstay for achieving parity and trust amongst the partners. This article highlights pressing issues facing the partners of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), analyzes some of the current areas of conflict and suggests action to reduce tensions and promote harmony, goodwill and cooperation. The legal framework for transparency and governance needs to be seen as fair in addition to providing a mechanism for the airing of grievances and resolving conflicts. The requirements include: disclosure of relevant information, reasons for appropriate policy enactment and application and provision of investor protection safeguards. Of special import is the dire need to deal with issues of corruption at all levels. It is recommended that a conference be held to discuss issues of transparency and accountability as an initial endeavour in understanding the dynamics involved.
Investigation of solid-state NMR line widths of ibuprofen in drug formulations

Solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (SSNMR) line widths were measured for various ibuprofen preparations, including crystallization from different solvents (acetone, acetonitrile, methanol), melt-quenching, manual grinding, cryogrinding, compacting, and by blending with various excipients. Ibuprofen recrystallized from acetonitrile exhibited broader lines than ibuprofen recrystallized from either acetone or methanol. Manually ground ibuprofen had SSNMR line widths that were indistinguishable from the commercial sample, but cryoground ibuprofen had larger line widths than either. Physical mixtures with most excipients decreased the SSNMR line widths. Only dilution in talc led to line width increases, which is attributed to the magnetic susceptibility anisotropy of the talc excipient. Our results show that SSNMR line widths can be used to understand physical characteristics including particle size and morphology, degree of order in the materials, and physical environment.
The new frontiers of multimodality and multi-isotope imaging

Technological advances in imaging systems and the development of target specific imaging tracers has been rapidly growing over the past two decades. Recent progress in “all-in-one” imaging systems that allow for automated image coregistration has significantly added to the growth of this field. These developments include ultra high resolution PET and SPECT scanners that can be integrated with CT or MR resulting in PET/CT, SPECT/CT, SPECT/PET and PET/MRI scanners for simultaneous high resolution high sensitivity anatomical and functional imaging. These technological developments have also resulted in drastic enhancements in image quality and acquisition time while eliminating cross compatibility issues between modalities. Furthermore, the most cutting edge technology, though mostly preclinical, also allows for simultaneous multimodality multi-isotope image acquisition and image reconstruction based on radioisotope decay characteristics. These scientific advances, in conjunction with the explosion in the development of highly specific multimodality molecular imaging agents, may aid in realizing simultaneous imaging of multiple biological processes and pave the way towards more efficient diagnosis and improved patient care.
Bounds and approximations on first spectral moment

Abstract Bounds and approximations are determined for the first moment of the one-sided power spectral density of stationary processes. They involve only the autocavariance function of these processes. The lower bound is based on an inequality satisfied by characteristics functions and similarities between these functions and autocovariance functions of stationary processes. The upper bound is based on Schwartz inequality and is already available. Theoretical developments in the paper are illustrated for various narrow- and wide-band stationary processes. They are also applied to bound and approximate the first spectral moment of the steady-state response of simple oscillators subject to white ground acceleration. The bounds and approximations are satisfactory in all cases examined.
Properties of simple randomization in clinical trials

This article presents the properties of complete randomization (e.g., coin toss) and of the random allocation rule (random permutation of n/2 of n elements). The latter is principally used in cases where the total sample size n is known exactly a priori. The likelihood of treatment imbalances is readily computed and is shown to be negligible for large trials (n greater than 200), regardless of whether a stratified randomization is used. It is shown that substantial treatment imbalances are extremely unlikely in large trials, and therefore there is likely to be no substantial effect on power. The large-sample permutational distribution of the family of linear rank tests is presented for complete randomization unconditionally and conditionally, and for the random allocation rule. Asymptotically the three are equivalent to the distribution of these tests under a sampling-based population model. Permutation tests are also presented for a stratified analysis within one or more subgroups of patients defined post hoc on the basis of a covariate. This provides a basis for analysis when some patients' responses are assumed to be missing-at-random. Using the Blackwell-Hodges model, it is shown that complete randomization eliminates the potential for selection bias, but that the random allocation rule yields a substantial potential for selection bias in an unmasked trial. Finally, the Efron model for accidental bias is used to assess the potential for bias in the estimate of treatment effect due to covariate imbalance. Asymptotically, this probability approaches zero for complete randomization and for the random allocation rule. However, for finite n, complete randomization minimizes the probability of accidental bias, whereas this probability is slightly higher with a random allocation rule. It is concluded that complete randomization has merit in large clinical trials.
Microhabitat Selection in Two Species of Heteromyid Rodents

An experiment was conducted to determine the microhabitat preferences of two heteromyid rodents, Dipodomys ordi and Perognathus flavus. This experiment used marked seeds and the atomic absorption spectrophotometer in order to study the environment as a mosiac of microhabitats. The results of our analysis indicate that these two heteromyids are microhabitat selectors. The preferences of the rodents are D. ordi: grass habitat 0.0%, near grass habitat 22.5%, open habitat 77.4% and P. flavus: grass habitat 46.2%, near grass habitat 32.2%, open habitat 21.4%. The overlap between the two species is only 0.43.
A rule induction approach for determining the number of kanbans in a just-in-time production system

Abstract A procedure based on rule induction is presented which can be used to determine the number of kanbans while simultaneously determining the critical factors in a just-in-time (JIT) production system. In particular, the classification and regression tree (CART) technique developed by Brieman et al. [Breiman, L., Friedman, J., Olshen, R. and Stone, C. J., Classification and Regression Trees . Wadsworth, Belmont, CA, 1984.] is used to automatically generate rules from dynamic shop floor data. An example application of the methodology is presented and the advantages of a rule induction approach are explained. The paper concludes with a discussion of future research directions.
Feeding Strategies for Premature Infants: Randomized Trial of Gastrointestinal Priming and Tube-feeding Method

Background Data on enteral feeding management of premature infants are limited and often not the subject of randomized clinical trials. Several small studies suggest benefits from the early initiation of feeding, but do not assess the combined effects of time of initiation of feeding, tube-feeding method, and type of milk used. Either singly or in combination, these treatments may affect growth, bone mineralization, biochemical measures of nutritional status, and feeding tolerance, and, ultimately, the duration of hospitalization. Methods. A total of 171 premature infants, stratified by gestational age (26 to 30 weeks) and diet (human milk or preterm formula) were assigned randomly among four treatment combinations in a balanced two-way design comparing the presence or absence of gastrointestinal (GI) priming for 10 days and continuous infusion versus intermittent bolus tube-feeding. Results. The major outcome, time required for infants to attain full oral feeding, was similar among treatments. GI priming was not associated with any measured adverse effect and was associated with better calcium and phosphorus retention, higher serum calcium and alkaline phosphatase activity, and shorter intestinal transit times. The bolus tube-feeding method was associated with significantly less feeding intolerance and greater rate of weight gain than the continuous method. In addition, the greater the quantity of human milk fed, the lower the morbidity. Conclusions. Early GI priming with human milk, using the bolus tube-feeding method, may provide the best advantage for the premature infant.
Analysis of renal cell populations using monoclonal antibodies.

Monoclonal antibodies have proved invaluable in identification and characterization of hemopoietic cell surface macromolecules. We have used a number of these monoclonal antibody probes for immunohistochemical analysis of interstitial cell populations in diseased human kidney tissues and in certain prototypic cutaneous cellular immune reactions. The studies demonstrate that the relative proportions of T-cell subpopulations present in graft rejection (OKT8+ exceeding OKT4+) differ from those observed in drug nephrotoxicity and end-stage kidney disease. In this regard graft rejection resembles graft versus host disease of skin but not delay ed-type hyper sensitivity. However, analysis of cell populations in interstitial infiltrates from various forms of chronic renal disease (glomerulonephritis, end-stage renal disease of varied etiologies) failed to demonstrate any unique or characteristic profile. These studies led to the recognition that certain monoclonal antibodies directed against B- and leukemic cell...
Spam, Spim, and User Perceptions of E-Mail and Instant Messaging Usefulness

This article investigates the effect of unsolicited electronic messages, also known as spam and spim, on perceptions of e-mail and instant messaging usefulness. It is hypothesized that spam and spim should have a negative effect on electronic communication system usefulness, but the survey findings do not support this. Users seem to have coped with spam and spim through a combination of technical and non-technical solutions. The implications of these findings are discussed from the perspective of researchers, marketers, electronic communication service providers, and public policy.
Free trade's intertemporal Pareto-optimality

Abstract Emmanuel's thesis of ‘unequal exchange’ — that free trade at equalized profit rates and unequal wage rates (1) involves deadweight loss to the world, and (2) explains a one-way trend toward deterioration of poor country's wellbeing and double-factoral terms of trade — is found on analysis to be incorrect. Careful time-period analysis shows that such free trade is actually intertemporally Pareto optimal, despite misleading steady-state comparisons.
Tensor product varieties and crystals: GL case

A geometric theory of tensor product for gI N -crystals is described. In particular, the role of Spaltenstein varieties in the tensor product is explained, and thus a direct (non-combinatorial) proof of the fact that the number of irreducible components of a Spaltenstein variety is equal to a Littlewood-Richardson coefficient (i.e. certain tensor product multiplicity) is obtained.
You’ve been tagged! (Then again, maybe not): Employers and Facebook

Abstract Social networking sites, such as Facebook, have exploded on to the cultural and business landscape. Not only can firms use social networking sites to present organizational information to interested parties, but also perhaps gather information regarding job applicants. As an employer, checking out an applicant's Facebook page—much like Googling a candidate's name—is very tempting. It is understandable that managers would like to know as much about a candidate as possible. Facebook pages can provide a wealth of information beyond, or even possibly contradicting, an applicant's submitted documents. While this may represent a potentially useful tool, there are several reasons for caution. For instance, an organization's selection process may be biased if an applicant's Facebook page contains inaccurate information, if some applicants do not have Facebook pages, and/or if legally protected demographic information ends up being part of the selection process. Facebook's own policies suggest that an organization may face legal challenges if it considers an applicant's Facebook page as part of the selection process. Just as importantly, there are ethical issues—in particular, an individual's right to privacy—which must be considered. We wish to encourage organizations to develop guidelines regarding the use of social networking sites in the application process, based on the practical, legal, and ethical issues covered in this article.
Bus Priority with Highly Interruptible Traffic Signal Control: Simulation of San Juan’s Avenida Ponce de Leon:

A traffic control strategy was designed explicitly to accommodate bus priority on Avenida Ponce de Leon between Old San Juan and the northern terminus of the metro, Tren Urbano, now under construction in Puerto Rico. Up to 36 buses operate per hour in mixed traffic northbound and in an exclusive contraflow lane southbound. The control strategy is characterized as "highly interruptible" because it responds quickly to, and recovers quickly from, priority interruptions, which are expected to occur frequently. It features full actuation and schedule-based conditional priority for buses. Buses may request to pass through the intersection or to advance to the bus stop that may be occupied by a standing queue. Priority tactics include green extension, early green, and early red. To preserve capacity and encourage dwell time to overlap with traffic delay, bus blockage at a stop forces an early and minimum length red. There is no background cycle; however, loose progression is provided by means of requests, of low...
Politics, Rights, and Spatiality in W.E.B. Du Bois’s “Address to the Country” (1906)

Organized in 1905, the Niagara Movement opposed racial discrimination in the U.S.A. and promoted its goals and means for racial uplift. During its second meeting in 1906 at Harpers Ferry, W.E.B. Du Bois wrote the “Address to the Country,” which set forth a series of demands for political and civil rights, and also called for Congressional intervention to secure those rights. This paper explores the critical spatiality of race, politics, and rights that inheres within the “Address” so that one can better understand the nationalizing strategy advocated by the Niagara Movement. Such a strategy implicated spatiality both as an end goal that supported civil and political rights via dismantling segregation and other discriminatory spatial structures, and also as a means—a politics of scale—that expanded the scope of political struggles to national arenas.
Co-ordinate control of phosphofructokinase and pyruvate kinase by fructose diphosphate: a mechanism for amplification and step changes in the regulation of glycolysis in liver.

Abstract Activation of both phosphofructokinase and pyruvate kinase by fructose diphosphate in liver provides a means of amplifying effects of other activators or inhibitors in controlling the rate of glycolysis. Two types of behavior can occur, depending on the choice of affinity constants of the two enzymes for fructose diphosphate in a simple model: (i) there may be a steady state corresponding to each value of the fructose diphosphate concentration, so that the glycolytic rate is continuously variable, or (ii) there may be two (or more) regions of stable steady states, separated by a zone of instability, so that the system shifts abruptly between low and high glycolytic rates at critical concentrations of fructose diphosphate. A low glycolytic rate corresponds to net gluconeogenesis when the gluconeogenic enzymes are included. Calculations from data from perfused liver support the proposal that the free fructose diphosphate concentration is a major factor controlling glycolysis in liver and amplifying the effect of changes in the fructose 6-phosphate concentration which occur in response to variation in the glucose concentration.
Increased body mass in infancy and early toddlerhood in Angelman syndrome patients with uniparental disomy and imprinting center defects.

The diagnosis of Angelman syndrome (AS) is based on clinical features and genetic testing. Developmental delay, severe speech impairment, ataxia, atypical behavior and microcephaly by two years of age are typical. Feeding difficulties in young infants and obesity in late childhood can also be seen. The NIH Angelman-Rett-Prader-Willi Consortium and others have documented genotype–phenotype associations including an increased body mass index in children with uniparental disomy (UPD) or imprinting center (IC) defects. We recently encountered four cases of infantile obesity in non-deletion AS cases, and therefore examined body mass measures in a cohort of non-deletion AS cases. We report on 16 infants and toddlers (ages 6 to 44 months; 6 female, and 10 male) with severe developmental delay. Birth weights were appropriate for gestational age in most cases, >97th% in one case and not available in four cases. The molecular subclass case distribution consisted of: UPD (n = 2), IC defect (n = 3), UPD or IC defect (n = 3), and UBE3A mutation (n = 8). Almost all (7 out of 8) UPD, IC and UPD/IC cases went on to exhibit >90th% age- and gender-appropriate weight for height or BMI within the first 44 months. In contrast, no UBE3A mutation cases exhibited obesity or pre-obesity measures (percentiles ranged from <3% to 55%). These findings demonstrate that increased body mass may be evident as early as the first year of life and highlight the utility of considering the diagnosis of AS in the obese infant or toddler with developmental delay, especially when severe. Although a mechanism explaining the association of UPD, and IC defects with obesity has not been identified, recognition of this correlation may inform investigation of imprinting at the PWS/AS locus and obesity. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Out of our minds: a review of sociocultural cognition theory

Theories of mind are implicitly embedded in educational research. The predominant theory of mind during the latter half of the twentieth century has focused primarily on the individual mind in isolation, context-free problem-solving and mental representations and reasoning, what we refer to as cognitivism. Over the last two decades, CS Education researchers have begun to incorporate recent research that extends, elaborates and sometimes challenges cognitivism. These theories, which we refer to collectively as sociocultural cognition theory, view minds as cultural products, biologically evolved to be extended by tools, social interaction and embodied interaction in the world. Learning, under this perspective, is viewed as tool-mediated participation in the ongoing practices of cultural communities. In this paper, we pursue three goals. First, we provide a summary of the key principles in sociocultural cognition theory, placing this theory within a historical context with respect to the cognitive theories t...
Non-Speech Audio to Communicate Runway Status

This paper describes a concept that uses non-speech audio to communicate an aircraft's status on and directly above airport runways. This concept seeks to restore airport capacity lost during low visibility weather conditions, without increasing the controller's visual processing workload. This paper describes three activities conducted as part of the concept development process: a needs analysis, a benefits analysis simulation, and a human-in-the-loop simulation. A scenario-based needs analysis with subject matter experts revealed that information critical for capacity included whether a runway was occupied and whether an aircraft was airborne. A benefits analysis simulation showed that if having this information could release the air traffic controller from dependence on pilot reports in low visibility, it could result in a considerable capacity gain. A subsequent HITL simulation sought to evaluate controller operational acceptance and investigate capacity improvements. The results showed that the controllers found value in the concept, but the objective capacity data did not provide conclusive results. This paper concludes with discussion of possible future work for developing the concept.
Mechanism–Based Improvement in the Therapeutic Selectivity of 5-FU Prodrug Alone and Under Conditions of Metabolic Modulation

To compare the antitumor activity of Tegafur (150 mg/kg/day) with continuous intravenous infusion of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) (12.5 mg/kg/day) and with oral UFT® (60 mg/kg/day) with and without low- or h
Specifying the links between household chaos and preschool children's development

Household chaos has been linked to poorer cognitive, behavioral, and self-regulatory outcomes in young children, but the mechanisms responsible remain largely unknown. Using a diverse sample of families in Chicago, the present study tests for the independent contributions made by five indicators of household chaos: noise, crowding, family instability, lack of routine, and television usually on. Chaos was measured at age 2; outcomes measured at age 5 tap receptive vocabulary, attention and behavior problems, and effortful control. Results show that controlling for all other measures of chaos, children with a lack of routine scored lower on receptive vocabulary and delayed gratification, while children whose television was generally on scored higher on aggression and attention problems. The provision of learning materials mediated a small part of the association between television and receptive vocabulary. Family instability, crowding, and noise did not predict any outcomes once other measures of chaos were controlled.
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ACCUMULATION, STORAGE AND OVERFLOW OF NORADRENALINE IN THE RAT SALIVARY GLAND AFTER CHRONIC TREATMENT WITH GUANETHIDINE

Abstract 1 The effect of guanethidine on the endogenous noradrenaline (NA) content, accumulation and overflow of [3H]-noradrenaline ([3H]-NA) in the rat salivary gland was examined at various times after drug administration. 2 Twenty-four h after a single injection of guanethidine (1 or 10 mg/kg s.c.), the respective values for the endogenous NA content and for the accumulation and overflow of [3H]-NA were approximately 55, 85, 30%, and 15, 55, 10% of the controls. 3 Although [3H]-NA accumulation had returned to control levels within 48 h after the dose of 10 mg/kg guanethidine, the overflow of [3H]-NA evoked by electrical stimulation or excess potassium (K+) remained depressed. 4 After the low or the high dose of guanethidine, the NA content of the salivary gland was restored to about 50% of the normal value between 4 to 24 and 48 to 72 h, respectively. 5 The accumulation of [3H]-NA was inhibited by about 75% by cocaine. The same degree of inhibition was obtained 4 h after 10 mg/kg guanethidine. In these experiments phenoxybenzamine did not reduce the residual (25%) uptake. 6 The reasons for differential rates of recovery of the endogenous NA content and the storage of [3H]-NA after guanethidine are discussed.
Gendered Academic Adjustment among Asian American Adolescents in an Emerging Immigrant Community

Research on the academic adjustment of immigrant adolescents has been predominately conducted in large cities among established migration areas. To broaden the field’s restricted focus, data from 172 (58% female) Asian American adolescents who reside within a non-traditional or emerging immigrant community in the Southeastern US were used to examine gender differences in academic adjustment as well as school, family, and cultural variables as potential mediators of gender differences found. Results suggest that girls report significantly higher educational goals, intrinsic academic motivation, and utility value of school compared to boys. These gender differences are statistically mediated by ethnic exploration and family processes, most prominently, family respect. School connectedness and perceived discrimination are also associated with academic adjustment at the bivariate level, suggesting that academic success may be best promoted if multiple domains of influence can be targeted.
Occupation Embedded in a Real Life: Interweaving Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy

This lecture presents an example of research in the genre of interpretive occupational science and demonstrates how occupational science can inform clinical practice. The innovative qualitative methodology used blended elements of the anthropological tradition of life history ethnography, ethnomethodology, the naturalistic methods used by Mattingly and Schon to study practice, and especially narrative analysis as described by Polkinghorne. The bulk of the paper is presented in the form of a narrative analysis that provides an account of a stroke survivor's personal struggle for recovery, a story that emerged from transcription, coding, and analysis of transcripts from approximately 20 hours of interview time. First, this narrative analysis provides an example of how the occupational science framework can evoke a particular kind of storytelling in which childhood occupation can be related to adult character. Storytelling of this kind is later shown to be therapeutic for the stroke survivor. Next, the narrative illustrates how rehabilitation can be experienced by the survivor as a rite of passage in which a person is moved to disability status and then abandoned. Finally, a picture is given of how occupational story making and occupational storytelling embedded in real life can nurture the human spirit to act and can become the core of clinical practice.
Can census data alone signal heterogeneity in the estimation of poverty maps

Abstract Methodologies now commonly used for the construction of poverty maps assume a substantial degree of homogeneity within geographical areas in the relationship between income and its predictors. However, local labor and rental markets and other local environmental differences are likely to generate heterogeneity in such relationships, at least to some extent. The purpose of this paper is to argue that useful if only indirect and suggestive evidence on the extent of area heterogeneity is readily available in virtually any census. Such indirect evidence is provided by non-monetary indicators–such as literacy, asset ownership or access to sanitation–which are routinely included in censuses. These indicators can be used to perform validation exercises to gauge the extent of heterogeneity in their distribution conditional on predictors analogous to those commonly used in poverty mapping. We argue that the same factors which are likely to generate area heterogeneity in poverty mapping are also likely to generate heterogeneity in such kind of validation exercises. We construct a very simple model to illustrate this point formally. Finally, we evaluate empirically the argument using data from Mexico. In our empirical illustrations, the performance of imputation methodologies to construct maps of indicators typically feasible with census data alone is indeed informative about how effectively such methodologies can produce correct inference in poverty mapping.
Implementing continuous quality improvement in home care: A success story

Continuous quality improvement (COI) is fast becoming the method of choice for home care organizations to assess and improve the quality of their services. This article illustrates care agency took the first step toward implementing COI. Interviews with the executive director, clinical director, continuous quality improvement coordinator, business office manager, and health information manager provide a glimpse into their initial concerns and their successes. Advice from each participant is offered to agencies attempting to implement COI for the first time.
Fostering the Intelligent Novice: Learning From Errors With Metacognitive Tutoring

This article explores 2 important aspects of metacognition: (a) how students monitor their ongoing performance to detect and correct errors and (b) how students reflect on those errors to learn from them. Although many instructional theories have advocated providing students with immediate feedback on errors, some researchers have argued that immediate feedback eliminates the opportunity for students to practice monitoring for and learning from errors. Thus, they advocate delayed feedback. This article provides evidence that this line of reason is flawed and suggests that rather than focusing on the timing of feedback, instructional designers should focus on the "model of desired performance" with respect to which feedback is provided. Instead of delaying feedback, we suggest broadening our model of correct behavior or desired performance to include some kinds of incorrect, but reasonable behaviors. This article explores the effects of providing feedback on the basis of a so-called intelligent novice cogn...
The electronic structure of angular polyphenes

SCF calculations of molecular orbitals and electronic transition energies for angular polyphenes of two through nine benzene rings have been made. The calculated sequences of the singlet and triplet energies of the α, β, β′, and p bands (Clar's notation) are compared to the limited available experimental data.
Application of image analysis for characterization of porosity in thermal spray coatings and correlation with small angle neutron scattering

Abstract The microstructures of thermally sprayed coatings are very complex and incorporate process-dependent defects such as globular pores, interlamellar pores, cracks (in case of ceramics), etc. Porosity is a prevalent feature in the microstructure and affects a wide range of coating properties such as elastic modulus, thermal conductivity and dielectric behavior. Various methods are employed for quantitative measurement of porosity, which forms an important and integral part of microstructural characterization of thermal spray coatings. Studies have been conducted here to establish image analysis (IA) as a reliable method for characterization of porosity in thermally sprayed coatings. The versatility of IA methods for microstructural quantification has been investigated for diverse coatings deposited with distinct spray processes and material feedstock characteristics. The IA methods put forth have been successfully applied to a variety of thermally sprayed coatings; materials of interest in this study being produced from partially stabilized zirconia (PSZ, ZrO2+8% Y2O3) and alumina ceramics. The results have been complemented with the microstructural information obtained using advanced characterization techniques, such as small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) and computer micro-tomography (CMT) carried out on similar coatings. The trends shown by these different methods for variation in porosity with respect to feedstock characteristics were in agreement. This study confirms the applicability of image analysis as a straightforward, versatile, reliable and inexpensive method for the characterization of porosity.
Public and private bureaucracies: a transaction cost economics perspectives

The public bureaucracy is a puzzle. How is it that an organizational form that is so widely used is also believed to be inefficient—both in relation to a hypothetical ideal and in comparison with private bureaucracies? This article examines public bureaucracy through the lens of transaction cost economics, according to which the public bureaucracy, like other alternative modes of governance, is well suited to some transactions and poorly suited to others. Rather than proceed in a completely general way, I focus on what James Q. Wilson describes as “sovereign transactions,” of which foreign affairs is an example. I ask what it is that distinguishes sovereign transactions, after which I compare the efficacy of public and private bureaucracies for managing such transactions. I conclude that there is an efficiency place for public bureaucracy, but that all modes of governance (markets, hybrids, firms, regulation), of which public bureaucracy is one, need to be kept in their place. I further observe that public bureaucracies are not all of a kind and that differences between them need to be distinguished. The public bureau has had a mixed reputation within economics. At the one extreme is the older and resilient (but increasingly discredited) public finance tradition, where public agencies (and the government to which they report) are treated as “omnipotent, omniscient, and benevolent” instruments (Dixit, 1996:8). 1 The property rights view—that the public agency is a haven for inef
NFAT3 is specifically required for TNF-α-induced cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression and transformation of Cl41 cells

NFAT family is recognized as a transcription factor for inflammation regulation by inducing the expression of proinflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), the key mediator of inflammation, which was reported to induce cell transformation in mouse epidermal Cl41 cells. In this study, we demonstrated that TNF-α was able to induce NFAT activation, as well as the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). The induction of COX-2 by TNF-α was abolished by knockdown of NFAT3 with its siRNA, while the induction of iNOS was not effected. Moreover, TNF-α-induced anchorage-independent cell growth was significantly inhibited by NFAT3 siRNA and cyclosporine A, a chemical inhibitor for the calcineurin/NFAT pathway, which suggests the importance of NFAT3 in regulating TNF-α-induced anchorage-independent cell growth. Consequently, impairment of COX-2 by its siRNA or selective inhibitor also inhibited TNF-α-induced anchorage-independent cell growth. Taken together, our results indicate that NFAT3 plays an important role in the regulation of TNF-α-induced anchorage-independent cell growth, at least partially, by inducing COX-2 expression in Cl41 cells. These findings suggest that NFAT3/cyclooxygenase-2 act as a link between inflammation and carcinogenesis by being involved in the tumor promotion stage.
Coherence violations and propositional usage in the narratives of fluent aphasics.

Abstract Aphasic patients have been generally assumed to produce coherent narratives, despite their numerous surface structure deficits. The current study is designed to analyze three types of coherence violations (i.e., information gaps, repetitions of propositions, and irrelevant propositions) in the narratives of mildly impaired conduction, anemic, and Wernicke′s aphasics. Results reveal that the three aphasic groups produce qualitatively different patterns of coherence violations. It is hypothesized that these coherence violations reflect adaptive strategies used by the aphasic patients to compensate for their underlying impairments. While the anemic and conduction aphasics appear to compensate for surface structure deficits, the Wernicke′s aphasics seem to have an underlying coherence deficit.
Effects of a Creative Problem-Solving Curriculum on Students of Varying Ability Levels

This study investigated the effects of a creative problem solving curriculum on students of varying ability. Subjects were 267 middle school students in six schools who had previously been designated as gifted, honors, or average. To assess problem solving, treatment and companson students responded to a hypothetical problem before and after the treatment, with results scored by two independent judges for problem fluency, solution fluency, flexibility, originatity, and use of criteria. Teachers rated the creativity, ability to work in groups, and potential giftedness of all students before and-after the treatment.Treatment students showed significant gains in problem-solving ability compared with comparisons, with no significant differences among ability levels. Teacher ratings for gifted comparison students increased compared to those for gifted treatment students; ratings for treatment honors students generally increased. Teacher ratings for average students did not change, despite signficant increases ...
Virulent Strains of Helicobacter pylori Demonstrate Delayed Phagocytosis and Stimulate Homotypic Phagosome Fusion in Macrophages

Helicobacter pylori colonizes the gastric epithelium of ∼50% of the world's population and plays a causative role in the development of gastric and duodenal ulcers. H . pylori is phagocytosed by mononuclear phagocytes, but the internalized bacteria are not killed and the reasons for this host defense defect are unclear. We now show using immunofluorescence and electron microscopy that H . pylori employs an unusual mechanism to avoid phagocytic killing: delayed entry followed by homotypic phagosome fusion. Unopsonized type I H . pylori bound readily to macrophages and were internalized into actin-rich phagosomes after a lag of ∼4 min. Although early (10 min) phagosomes contained single bacilli, H . pylori phagosomes coalesced over the next ∼2 h. The resulting “megasomes” contained multiple viable organisms and were stable for 24 h. Phagosome–phagosome fusion required bacterial protein synthesis and intact host microtubules, and both chloramphenicol and nocodazole increased killing of intracellular H . pylori . Type II strains of H . pylori are less virulent and lack the cag pathogenicity island. In contrast to type I strains, type II H . pylori were rapidly ingested and killed by macrophages and did not stimulate megasome formation. Collectively, our data suggest that megasome formation is an important feature of H . pylori pathogenesis.
Mastoid pneumatization in patients with unilateral aural atresia.

Debate continues regarding theories of the control of temporal bone pneumatization. The “hereditary theory” holds that mastoid size is independent of status of the mesotympanum. The “denvironmental theory” holds that the size of the mastoid air cell system is determined by the degree of pathological involvement of the middle ear during childhood: that is, an abnormal middle ear prompts a small mastoid. This report concerns the volume of temporal bone pneumatization in patients with unilateral aural atresias, involving a malformed mesotympanum and absence of the external ear canal. Computed tomograms of the temporal bones were available for 16 patients. The mastoid pneumatization volumes of the atretic/non-atretic sides were approximately equal (Spearman'sr = 0.80,P < 0.01) but not symmetrical. In 12 patients, the atretic side had less pneumatization than did the non-atretic side; in 3, the atretic side had more pneumatization; and, in 1 patient, neither mastoid had any pneumatization. Such a non-symmetrical pattern is unlikely by chance (P < 0.04). These data can be interpreted to endorse both the hereditary and environmental theories of temporal bone pneumatization.
Laser transport through thin scattering layers

Many modern applications of lasers involve understanding the transport of radiation through thin layers. The interactions of continuous wave and pulsed lasers with skin in dermatological use related to surgery and cosmetic procedures are examples of such. These highly scattering thin layers in skin are best modeled by the Monte Carlo method. However, most traditional Monte Carlo models may inaccurately account for the presence of thin layers. As an example, the very thin epidermis, with its highly absorbing melanin, is known to influence the laser penetration significantly. If the Monte Carlo model is implemented without special features, then the results of the simulation will show incorrect effects of thin layers because the path length of most photons would be significantly larger than the layer thickness. As a result, the computed photon travel path length would simply not feel the presence of the layer. In this paper, we present numerical and algorithmic features for computation of radiation transport through thin layers. It is noted that, while Monte Carlo without special features smears the radiative effect of the layers, the refined technique indicates that layers have a great impact on the absorption of energy, especially if the layer properties are distinctly different from those of the adjacent layers. The results have significant implications in the study of diagnostic and therapeutic applications of lasers in biomedicine and surgery.
Ultrafast Photoinduced Electron Transfer and Charge Stabilization in Donor-Acceptor Dyads Capable of Harvesting Near-Infrared Light.

To harvest energy from the near-infrared (near-IR) and infrared (IR) regions of the electromagnetic spectrum, which constitutes nearly 70 % of the solar radiation, there is a great demand for near-IR and IR light-absorbing sensitizers that are capable of undergoing ultrafast photoinduced electron transfer when connected to a suitable electron acceptor. Towards achieving this goal, in the present study, we report multistep syntheses of dyads derived from structurally modified BF2-chelated azadipyrromethene (ADP; to extend absorption and emission into the near-IR region) and fullerene as electron-donor and electron-acceptor entities, respectively. The newly synthesized dyads were fully characterized based on optical absorbance, fluorescence, geometry optimization, and electrochemical studies. The established energy level diagram revealed the possibility of electron transfer either from the singlet excited near-IR sensitizer or singlet excited fullerene. Femtosecond and nanosecond transient absorption studies were performed to gather evidence of excited state electron transfer and to evaluate the kinetics of charge separation and charge recombination processes. These studies revealed the occurrence of ultrafast photoinduced electron transfer leading to charge stabilization in the dyads, and populating the triplet states of ADP, benzanulated-ADP and benzanulated thiophene-ADP in the respective dyads, and triplet state of C60 in the case of BF2 -chelated dipyrromethene derived dyad during charge recombination. The present findings reveal that these sensitizers are suitable for harvesting light energy from the near-IR region of the solar spectrum and for building fast-responding optoelectronic devices operating under near-IR radiation input.
Characteristics of Anterior Uveal Melanocytomas in 17 Cases

Objective To evaluate a case series of anterior uveal melanocytomas (AUMs) for their distinct clinical, histopathologic, and high-frequency ultrasound (UBM) characteristics. Design Retrospective single-center case series. Participants Seventeen consecutive patients with AUMs. Methods Retrospective review of patient, tumor, UBM, histopathologic, and follow-up characteristics. Follow-up data included change in visual acuity, growth, secondary glaucoma, extrascleral extension, or malignant transformation. Main Outcome Measures Tumor, high-frequency ultrasound, histopathologic, and follow-up characteristics. Results Seventeen patients had a median follow-up of 20 months (range, 1–130). Tumor was darkly pigmented with nodular configuration in 100% of patients, irregular surface in 82% of patients, characteristic cobblestone surface appearance in 59% of patients, and feathery or fimbriated margins in 88% of patients. Intrinsic vascularity, ectropion uveae, episcleral sentinel vessel, sector cataract, or heterochromia was not seen. High-frequency ultrasound showed high (71%) or moderately high (12%) internal reflectivity in the majority of tumors. Thirteen tumors (76%) involved the iris, 47% of tumors were club-shaped, and 100% of tumors showed no intrinsic vascularity. Mean tumor thickness was 1 mm (standard deviation [SD] ± 0.5, median 0.9, range 0.3–2.1 mm). Mean largest basal dimension was 3.1 mm (SD ± 2.3, median 2.3, range 0.5–9.4 mm) (n=14). Three pathologic evaluations revealed plump polyhedral cells with abundant cytoplasm, small round to oval nuclei, inconspicuous nucleoli, and finely dispersed chromatin. Two tumors had extrascleral extension, 2 tumors were documented to grow, and 1 tumor caused medically controlled glaucoma. Conclusions Anterior uveal melanocytomas are uncommon benign melanocytic tumors with characteristic clinical features. High-frequency ultrasound imaging offers excellent views of obscure posterior extent and allows precise tumor measurement and monitoring for growth. It is an invaluable adjunct to digital slit-lamp photography for evaluating tumor stability or growth. This study presents and correlates unique clinical, high-frequency ultrasound and histopathologic characteristics. Financial Disclosure(s) The author(s) have no proprietary or commercial interest in any materials discussed in this article.