cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Analytical and computational methodology for modeling spray quenching of solid alloy cylinders

Heat-treating of solid alloy cylinders is an important practical problem for which no optimal production methods have been developed, especially in terms of the most crucial quenching stage. This study explores the use of spray quenching as an alternative to the commonly used bath quenching, which is known to yield relatively slow quench rates and provide few options for spatial optimization of cooling rate. A carefully configured spray cooling system is examined, which provides maximum coverage of the surface of a solid alloy cylinder with full-cone pressure sprays. A new analytical model is derived to determine the shape and size of the spray impact zone, as well as the distribution of volumetric flux across the curved surface of the cylinder. This distribution is combined with heat transfer correlations for all spray boiling regimes to generate a local boiling curve for every location across the impact surface. Using these boiling curves as boundary conditions, a transient analysis is conducted for aluminum alloy and steel cylinders. Increasing the nozzle pressure drop or decreasing the orifice-to-surface distance are shown to hasten the exit from the poor film boiling regime to the more efficient transition boiling regime, resulting in a quicker quench. Relatively high thermal diffusivity causes faster transmission of the spray cooling effect through the cylinder and milder temperature gradients in aluminum compared to steel. This also causes the outer surface to cool earlier but deeper points much slower for steel. Large temperature gradients are encountered on the surface during the quench because of different boiling regimes occurring at different locations exposed to the spray. This study highlights several practical advantages of spray quenching compared with bath quenching, including the ability to achieve a wide range of fast quench rates, uniformity and predictability of quench rate, and the ability to predict and guard against imperfections caused by thermal stresses.
The use of safety factors for controlling risk

Safety factors often are applied to animal bioassay data on toxic effects to establish dosage levels for which it is hoped that there will be negligible deleterious effects on human health. A relationship between safety factors and disease risk is shown, making it possible to determine the size of the safety factor needed in order to maintain low levels of disease risk within animal populations. Also, it is demonstrated that “safe” doses obtained from the application of safety factors to the largest no‐observable‐effect level are similar to “safe” doses obtained by linear extrapolation.
Spectral Measurements of Hematin Pigments of Cooked and Cured Meats

SUMMARY Reflectance spectra, low temperature absorption spectra and difference absorption spectra are used for the identification of the hematin pigments of cooked and cooked cured meats. These spectra provide more critical identification of the cooked and cured meats as hemochromes.
Absolute configuration of naturally occurring glabridin.

The title compound {systematic name: 4-[(3R)-8,8-dimethyl-3,4-di­hydro-2H-pyrano[2,3-f]chromen-3-yl]benzene-1,3-diol, commonly named glabridin}, C20H20O4, is a species-specific biomarker from the roots Glycyrrhiza glabra L. (European licorice, Fabaceae). In the present study, this prenylated isoflavan has been purified from an enriched CHCl3 fraction of the extract of the root, using three steps of medium-pressure liquid chromatography (MPLC) by employing HW-40F, Sephadex LH-20 and LiChroCN as adsorbents. Pure glabridin was crystallized from an MeOH–H2O mixture (95:5 v/v) to yield colorless crystals containing one mol­ecule per asymmetric unit (Z′ = 1) in the space group P212121. Although the crystal structure has been reported before, the determination of the absolute configuration remained uncertain. Stereochemical analysis, including circular dichroism, NMR data and an X-ray diffraction data set with Bijvoet differences, confirms that glabridin, purified from its natural source, is found only in a C3 R configuration. These results can therefore be used as a reference for the assignment of the configuration and enantio­purity of any isolated or synthetic glabridin sample.
Testing moffitt's neuropsychological variation hypothesis for the prediction of life-course persistent offending

Abstract Although neuropsychological deficits have been linked to antisocial behavior, theories of crime have been slow to develop formal processes and predictions for neuropsychological deficits. One recently articulated theory, however, places emphasis on the influence of neuropsychological variation in the development of antisocial behavior. In her developmental taxonomy. Moffitt outlines a theory of antisocial behavior that rests on the presence of two groups of offenders: life-course persisters and adolescent-limiteds. Both groups occupy distinct etiologies for antisocial involvement and are believed to engage in different antisocial activities. One of the main differences between the two groups is the role that neuropsychological deficits play in the production of antisocial behavior. Moffitt hypothesizes that neuropsychological deficits are predictive of antisocial involvement for life-course persisters but not for adolescent-limiteds. Using data from the Philadelphia portion of the National Collab...
5-HT receptor knockouts: Constitutive, inducible or tissue-specific

Recently, molecular cloning has confirmed and extended our knowledge of the heterogeneity of 5-HT receptors. Besides creating some confusion, molecular techniques have provided new tools to study the function of 5-HT receptors. Recent results gained from targeted disruption of the genes encoding the 5-HT1B and 5-HT2C receptors have provided confirmation of pharmacological studies as well as unexpected effects. Such ‘constitutive knockouts’ might undergo compensatory changes during their development that could confound the interpretation of the mutant phenotype. New strategies are currently being developed that may enable receptor expression to be turned on and off at will in specific tissues.
Five-Year Outcomes from 3 Prospective Trials of Image-Guided Proton Therapy for Prostate Cancer

Purpose To report 5-year clinical outcomes of 3 prospective trials of image-guided proton therapy for prostate cancer. Methods and Materials A total of 211 prostate cancer patients (89 low-risk, 82 intermediate-risk, and 40 high-risk) were treated in institutional review board-approved trials of 78 cobalt gray equivalent (CGE) in 39 fractions for low-risk disease, 78 to 82 CGE for intermediate-risk disease, and 78 CGE with concomitant docetaxel therapy followed by androgen deprivation therapy for high-risk disease. Toxicities were graded according to Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE), version 3.0. Median follow-up was 5.2 years. Results Five-year rates of biochemical and clinical freedom from disease progression were 99%, 99%, and 76% in low-, intermediate-, and high-risk patients, respectively. Actuarial 5-year rates of late CTCAE, version 3.0 (or version 4.0) grade 3 gastrointestinal and urologic toxicity were 1.0% (0.5%) and 5.4% (1.0%), respectively. Median pretreatment scores and International Prostate Symptom Scores at >4 years posttreatment were 8 and 7, 6 and 6, and 9 and 8, respectively, among the low-, intermediate-, and high-risk patients. There were no significant changes between median pretreatment summary scores and Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite scores at >4 years for bowel, urinary irritative and/or obstructive, and urinary continence. Conclusions Five-year clinical outcomes with image-guided proton therapy included extremely high efficacy, minimal physician-assessed toxicity, and excellent patient-reported outcomes. Further follow-up and a larger patient experience are necessary to confirm these favorable outcomes.
Effects of goldthioglucose lesions on central catecholamine levels in the mouse.

Abstract Male and female C57 B1/6J mice were injected with goldthioglucose (GTG) to induce an obesity syndrome. Significant increases in body weight were inversely correlated with pituitary dopamine (DA) levels. Significant reductions in hypothalamic norepinephrine (NE) and DA were also noted; however, these reductions did not appear to be related to body weight gain. The GTG injections did not produce any significant alterations in telencephalic NE or DA. The damage to catecholamine neurons is discussed in relation to the endocrine abnormalities of the GTG mouse and some curren hypotheses on the control of food intake.
Towards the classification of weak Fano threefolds with ρ = 2

In this paper, examples of type II Sarkisov links between smooth complex projective Fano threefolds with Picard number one are provided. To show examples of these links, we study smooth weak Fano threefolds X with Picard number two and with a divisorial extremal ray. We assume that the pluri-anticanonical morphism of X contracts only a finite number of curves. The numerical classification of these particular smooth weak Fano threefolds is completed and the geometric existence of some numerical cases is proven.
Strain-dependent recovery behavior of single chondrocytes

One of the challenges facing researchers studying chondrocyte mechanobiology is determining the range of mechanical forces pertinent to the problems they study. One possible way to deal with this problem is to quantify how the biomechanical behavior of cells varies in response to changing mechanical forces. In this study, the compressibility and recovery behaviors of single chondrocytes were determined as a function of compressive strains from 6 to 63%. Bovine articular chondrocytes from the middle and deep zones were subjected to this range of strains, and digital videocapture was used to track changes in cell dimensions during and after compression. The normalized volume change, apparent Poisson’s ratio, residual strain after recovery, cell volume fraction after recovery, and characteristic recovery time constant were analyzed with respect to axial strain. Normalized volume change varied as a function of strain, demonstrating that chondrocytes exhibited compressibility. The mean Poisson’s ratio of chondrocytes was found to be 0.29 ± 0.14, and did not vary with axial strain. In contrast, residual strain, recovered volume fraction, and recovery time constant all depended on axial strain. The dependence of residual strain and recovered volume fraction on axial strain showed a change in behavior around 25–30% strain, opening up the possibility that this range of strains represents a critical value for chondrocytes. Quantifying the mechanical behavior of cells as a function of stress and strain is a potentially useful approach for identifying levels of mechanical stimulation that may be germane to normal cartilage physiology, functional tissue engineering of cartilage, and the etiopathogenesis of osteoarthritis.
Anharmonic theory of a stack of tethered membranes

We analyze by field theoretical methods the large scale behavior of a stack of tethered or polymerized membranes. We show that, in the decoupled phase where there is no resistance to the shear between successive membranes, anharmonic terms dictated by rotational symmetry in the bulk have to be taken into account. They renormalize the elastic coefficients and lead to a large distance anomalous elasticity, as in the case of a single tethered membrane Nous analysons par des techniques de theorie des champs le comportement a grande echelle d'un empilement de membranes reticulees ou polymerisees. Nous montrons que, dans la phase decouplee ou il n'y a pas de resistance au cisaillement entre membranes successives, la symetrie de rotation dans l'espace ambiant oblige a tenir compte de certains termes anharmoniques. Ces termes additionnels renormalisent les coefficients elastiques et conduisent a une elasticite anormale a grandes distances, de la meme maniere que pour une membrane reticulee isolee
Neuroanatomic substrates of sex differences in language dysfunction in schizophrenia: A pilot study

Objective This pilot study investigated whether our previous findings of disrupted normal sexual brain dimorphisms in language-associated regions in schizophrenia were linked with our previously reported sex differences in language dysfunction in schizophrenia.
Structural dependencies of interresidue scalar coupling h3JNC, and donor 1H chemical shifts in the hydrogen bonding regions of proteins

A study is presented of the structural dependencies for scalar J-coupling and the amide donor 1H chemical shifts in the hydrogen bonding regions of proteins. An analysis of the interactions between the donor hydrogen and acceptor oxygen orbitals in an N−H···OC moiety suggests that there are three major structural factors for 15N−13C coupling across hydrogen bonds: (1) the H···O‘ internuclear separation rHO‘, (2) the H···O‘C‘ angle θ2, and (3) indirect contributions involving the oxygen loan pair electrons should lead to a dependence on the H···O‘C‘−N‘ dihedral angle ρ. Density functional theory (DFT) and finite perturbation theory (FPT) were used to obtain the Fermi contact (FC) contributions to interresidue coupling in formamide dimers with systematic variation of these structural parameters. The computed h3JNC‘ exhibit good correlations with cos2 θ2 combined with an exponential dependence on rHO‘. The correlation is further improved by including a dependence on the dihedral angle ρ. For each of the 34 H...
Electron-photon and electron-LO phonon intersubband scattering rates in GaN/AlN quantum wells

In this work, we analyze and optimize the GaN / AlN coupled quantum well design with and without polarization for achieving intersubband transition wavelength at 1.55 μm to serve as quantum cascade lasers (QCL) active region. The computations of the electron-LO phonon and electron-photon scattering rates were carried out to optimize the gain media design for intersubband quantum well (QW) lasers. The AlN / GaN coupled QW structure leads to improved design in optimizing the intersubband transition, in comparison to that of single stage GaN / AlN QW structure. The comparison between polar and non-polar coupled QW results in different characteristics in various scattering rates, which in turn leads to different intersubband gain.
Improvement of depression and triggering of mania by sleep deprivation.

SELECTED CASES CASE 1. —William Styron, author of several novels, including Lie Down in Darkness, The Confessions of Nat Turner , and Sophie's Choice , became clinically depressed in 1985 at the age of 60 years. In his book, Darkness Visible (the title of which was taken from Milton's description of hell in Paradise Lost ), he provides an extraordinary account of the symptoms and course of his illness. I have chosen to include a few of his observations herein because they seem to illustrate important connections between depression, sleep, and a classic symptom of depression—diurnal variation in mood. Styron's depression began when he stopped drinking alcohol. Gradually, he developed anhedonia and feelings of worthlessness and had thoughts of death. Ultimately: "The act of writing itself, becoming more and more difficult and exhausting, stalled, then finally ceased. " 1(p46) As is typical in depression, the severity of Styron's symptoms had a striking daily rhythm:
Effects of increased security on prison violence

Stricter security measures were inaugurated in California institutions in an attempt to reduce violence inside the prisons. This study examines the consequences of the altered policies, using stabbing rates of assaults by inmates on staff members to compare violence levels in the institutions before and after tighter security was imposed. A significant decline in the rate of total stabbings was noted, as well as significant changes in stabbing patterns within the institutions. However, despite the tighter security measures, no significant decrease occurred in the rates of either fatal stabbings or assaults by inmates on staff. Population increases, crowding, lack of exercise, changing characteristics of the inmate population, attachment of the violent label, the nature of security housing, and the inability of correctional officials to control inmates are discussed as possible influences on institutional violence.
An anti-CD45RO immunotoxin kills HIV-latently infected cells from individuals on HAART with little effect on CD8 memory

CD4+ CD45RO+ T cells are the major latent viral reservoir in HIV-infected individuals and hence a major obstacle in curing the disease. An anti-CD45RO immunotoxin (IT) can decrease the number of both productively and latently infected CD4+ T cells obtained from HIV-infected individuals with detectable viremia. In this study, we determined whether this IT could also kill latently infected replication-competent CD4+ T cells obtained from infected individuals without detectable plasma viremia. Our results demonstrate that ex vivo treatment with the anti-CD45RO IT significantly reduced the frequency of these cells. In contrast, the IT had only a modest effect on the cytomegalalovirus-specific memory responses of CD8+ T cells. These results suggest that purging latent cells from infected individuals on highly active antiretroviral therapy with the anti-CD45RO IT might reduce the HIV latent reservoir without seriously compromising CD8+ T cell memory responses.
The Case for a Middle Ground

M aternal-fetal conflict is a relatively new and mysterious phrase that is being applied to more and more medical-ethical-legal dilemmas in obstetric care. It describes such situations as legally mandated treatment programs for alcohol abuse in pregnancy, punitive legal action for cocaine abuse in pregnancy, decisions to perform (at significant maternal risk) in utero surgery for fetal anomalies, and even court-ordered cesarean sections to benefit the viable fetus. Not unrelated are the numerous issues surrounding abortion and prenatal genetic counseling. Rather than the traditional (mis)conception of a passive woman willing to give birth to a healthy child at any cost, the contemporary American woman occasionally resists health care that appears overly restrictive, intrusive, invasive, or threatening to her when fetal well-being is in question. Such situations seem to amplify an increasingly common conflict between mother and fetus. A brief look at the court-ordered cesarean section issue highlights these situations and gives a basis for the emotion and distress they foster. 1. Prominent ethical and legal concerns about privacy, bodily integrity, and autonomy are held to be near absolutes in a free society. 1 In health care, this has been translated into a strong doctrine of informed consent and an emphasis on each competent person's right to refuse medical treatment. 2 An extreme autonomy stance places the physician in the role of an obstetric technician whose only task is to assess patient competency and whose duty is to perform the competent patient's wishes or refer her to someone who will. 2. Retrospective reviews have revealed errors in diagnostic accuracy that have led to forced cesarean section. 3 Some claim that in utero assessment is simply not exact enough ever to allow using such parameters to force treatment against someone's will. 3. The dominant place of the mother in comparison with the fetus in obstetric decision making is also championed by many, even at near-term gestation. Rights theorists give little philosophic justification to any concept of fetal rights. 4 The most extreme position sees only one patient (the mother) to whom the fetus belongs as property, s 4. Finally, arguments are made that incorporate broader concerns than simply a single situation. Authors have tried to make settings where forced cesarean sections were considered analogous to other settings of interdependence (such as a sibling's need for a bone transplant) in which no court has ever forced organ donation or surgery on one person for the benefit of an© 1990 by The Jacobs Institute of Women's Health 1049-3867/90/$3.50
A Dissociation of Encoding and Retrieval Processes in the Human Hippocampus

The hippocampal formation performs two related but distinct memory functions: encoding of novel information and retrieval of episodes. Little evidence, however, resolves how these two processes are implemented within the same anatomical structure. Here we use high-resolution functional magnetic resonance imaging to show that distinct subregions of the hippocampus are differentially involved in encoding and retrieval. We found that regions early in the hippocampal circuit (dentate gyrus and CA fields 2 and 3) were selectively active during episodic memory formation, whereas a region later in the circuit (the subiculum) was active during the recollection of the learning episode. Different components of the hippocampal circuit likely contribute to different degrees to the two basic memory functions.
Spectral Sensitivity of Simulated Photovoltaic Module Soiling for a Variety of Synthesized Soil Types

The accumulation of soil on photovoltaic (PV) modules may introduce a spectral loss due to the color profile of the accumulated material. In order to compare the spectral and total losses experienced by a cell, soil analogs were formulated to contain common mineral pigments (Fe2O3 and gothite) with previously developed “standard grime” mixtures. These mixtures simulated a wide range of desert soil colors and were applied to glass test coupons. The light transmission through the deposited film was evaluated by UV/vis/NIR spectroscopy and by placing the coupon over a test cell in a 1-sun simulator and quantum efficiency test stand. Distinct peaks in the 300-600-nm range were observed by UV/vis/NIR spectroscopy corresponding to the Fe2O3 and gothite. Approximately analogous features were noted in the QE measurement. Overall comparisons were made by integrating the response of a soiled coupon relative to a clean reference. Soils rich in red pigments (Fe2O3) caused a greater integrated response than soils rich in yellow pigment (gothite). The yellow soils caused a greater attenuation in a specific region of the spectrum (300-450 nm), which may have significant implications to specific devices, such as multijunction and CdTe technologies.
Defining information security education, training, and awareness needs using electronic meeting space

The United States is at target. For those of us who grew up curing the cold war this is not news; however, the threat is different than it has been in the past. Now it may be another super power or it may be a teenage child with a personal computer. Both government and civilian entities are potential targets. The national information infrastructure (NII) is the real target. The determined hacker can bring down not only government systems, but the power-grid, the financial system, or the air traffic control system as well. All organizations must be aware of the threat and be prepared to react appropriately. Of course, the federal government has begun to protect their critical systems. However, many American corporations have not yet fully protected their systems. Since there is a common threat, common standards for countermeasures are applicable. This paper reports on the use of an electronic meeting room technology by government, industry, and academia to establish a national training standard. If you are a CIO or advise one about security matters, these standards are important.© (1999) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Chondrocyte moves: clever strategies?

Summary Goals To review the literature on chondrocyte movements and to develop plausible hypothesis for further work. Design Chondrocyte movements are herein defined as translocations of the cell body. A brief overview of cell migration in other cell types is presented to set the stage for a discussion of chondrocyte moves; this includes a discussion of the challenges that cells find when moving within tissues. Reports of isolated chondrocyte migration in vitro (isolated cell systems) and ex vivo (cartilage organ cultures) are then summarized, followed by a discussion of recent studies that infer chondrocyte movements in vivo . Results Investigators from different laboratories have observed chondrocyte motility in vitro . I became interested in the question of whether articular chondrocytes retained their phenotype during their migratory excursions. We devised a simple method to separate migratory and stationary chondrocytes and then showed that migratory chondrocytes synthesized collagen II but not I – consistent with a differentiated phenotype. Our time-lapse video microscopy studies showed that the cells displayed appropriate movement kinetics, albeit with low speed and directionality. Similarly, others have presented data consistent with slow movement of chondrocytes out of cartilage explants. It is important to decipher whether these in vitro movements reflect physiological states and if so, which events are simulated. Examples of in vivo studies that have inferred chondrocyte movements include those describing rotational or gliding movements of chondrocytes in the proliferative zone of the growth plate and its importance in the growth process; and the notion that chondrocytes move from the cartilage endplates to the nucleus pulposus (NP) in the spine of rabbits and rats during development. Such studies are consistent with the hypothesis that chondrocytes exhibit highly controlled and specialized movements during tissue growth and remodeling in vivo . On the other hand, the cartilage explant studies elicit interest in the possibility that matrix injuries resulting in disruption of the collagen network of adult cartilages provide a permissive environment for chondrocyte motility. Conclusions The case for in vivo chondrocyte motility remains to be proven. However, the in vitro and in vivo data on chondrocyte movements present an argument for further thought and studies in this area.
Design and Optimization of a Mechanism for Out of Plane Insect Wing Like Motion With Twist

A mechanism is presented that can generate insect winglike motion. This motion includes both flapping out of the stroke plane in addition to twist of the wing. The mechanism has a single degree of freedom and employs a five-bar mechanism in addition to an auxiliary four-bar mechanism. The parameters in the mechanism were optimized to generate a prescribed motion of the wing taken from a hawk moth kinematic flight data. A scaled model of the mechanism was fabricated to verify practical feasibility of the design. In future, we will miniaturize this mechanism on our flying-bird prototypes.
SnapShot: Mitochondrial Dynamics

Mitochondria are tubular, highly dynamic organelles that continuously fuse and divide in a regulated manner. A balance of fusion and division controls mitochondrial morphol-ogy; imbalanced dynamics leads to altered morphology, which is associated with a variety of pathological conditions. When fusion is decreased, mitochondria fragment into small, spherical mitochondria that are often characterized by swollen cristae and impaired respiratory functions. When division is inhibited, tubular mitochondria fuse, generating elongated mitochondrial tubules with increased connectivity. In some neurons, however, decreased division leads to enlarged, spherical mitochondria.Highlighting the importance of mitochondrial fusion and division in human health and disease, mutations in mitochondrial dynamics components have recently been linked to several neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative diseases, including a birth defect with multiple neurological disorders (Drp1), Parkinson’s disease (Parkin and Pink1), autosomal dominant optic atrophy type 1 (Opa1), and Charcot-Marie-Tooth neuropathies (Mfn2 and GDAP1). In addition, although Alzheimer’s and Huntington’s diseases are not associated with such mutations, they do show altered activity and abundance of mitochondrial dynamics components.
Simulation-based examination of the limits of performance for decentralized multi-agent surveillance and tracking of undersea targets

This paper examines the limits of performance for an ensemble of cooperating, mobile sensing agents executing an undersea surveillance mission. The objective of the multi-agent ensemble is to minimize uncertainty concerning the presence and location of targets as the multi-target system evolves over time. Each agent is capable of sensing, communicating with other agents, processing data to infer states of interest (fusion), and deciding on and executing motion commands. Each agent continually executes a perception-action cycle in which it fuses information to determine its best estimate of the multi-target system state and decides on its next (and possibly future) motion action(s) to optimize a criterion related to its entropic state (quantification of information gain or loss). Each agent's perception of the states of interest is derived from measurements captured by its own sensor(s) and information communicated by other agents. Each agent's decisions are based on its estimates of the multi­ target system state, its entropic state, and its predictions of peer agent actions. The multi-agent cooperative decision making can be modeled as a cyclic optimization whereby the joint decision vector is optimized by sequentially optimizing each individual agent's decision vector while holding the others fixed. Moreover, the problem is a cyclic stochastic optimization (CSO) whereby only noisy measurements of the objective function are available to each agent. Preliminary theoretical results have recently emerged regarding convergence conditions and sub-optimality for CSO. This paper examines the implications and applicability of CSO convergence and sub-optimality via simulation- based experiments in the context of a cooperating multi-agent ensemble of undersea sensing agents searching a region for new targets and maintaining track on all discovered targets. Simulation results indicate that the theoretical results provide useful guidance on predicting the empirically observed limits of performance of the multi-agent ensemble.
Molecular ultrasound imaging of tumor response to bevacizumab using a breast cancer animal model

Ultrasound (US) contrast agents, or microbubbles (MBs), have shown immense potential in cancer detection, staging and monitoring drug treatment. Contrast-enhanced US imaging utilizes non-linear oscillations of MBs to improve signal detection from the vasculature. Targeted MBs to over-expressed receptors in a region-of-interest allow enhancement of intratumoral visualization of vasculature. This permits longitudinal studies of angiogenesis development and shows potential in analyzing tumor response to therapy. In this study, breast cancer-bearing mice were analyzed using molecular US imaging for early response to bevacizumab, a vascular disrupting agent. Mice were injected systemically with MBs targeted simultaneously to VEGFR2, p-selectin and αVβ3. Mice underwent molecular US imaging and were analyzed for changes in intratumoral enhancement after delivery of bevacizumab. Individual animal response to therapy was analyzed and established as a 10% or greater reduction in intratumoral enhancement by day 3 post therapy. Intratumoral enhancement was assessed using custom Matlab software. Therapeutic group animals showed a significant response to drug compared to the control group by day 3 (P <; 0.01). Molecular US imaging is a non-invasive, inexpensive approach for analyzing early response to vascular disrupting agents as demonstrated by this study in a breast cancer animal model.
Synchronization of cultured vascular smooth muscle cells following reversal of quiescence induced by treatment with the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine.

Smooth muscle cell (SMC) proliferation plays an important role in the pathogenesis of vascular diseases such as atherosclerosis and postangioplasty restenosis. Recently we demonstrated the thiol antioxidantN-acetylcysteine (NAC) inhibits constitutive NF-κB/Rel activity and growth of vascular SMCs. Here we show that treatment of human and bovine aortic SMC with the thiol antioxidant NAC causes cells to exit the cell cycle and remain quiescent as determined by a greatly reduced incorporation of [3H]thymidine and G0/G1DNA content. Removal of NAC from the culture medium stimulates SMCs to synchronously reenter the cell cycle as judged by induction of cyclin D1 and B-mybgene expression during mid and late G1phase, respectively, and induction of histone gene expression and [3H]thymidine incorporation during S phase. The time course of cyclin D1, B-myb,and histone gene expression after NAC removal was similar to that of serum-deprived cells induced to resume cell cycle progression by the addition of fetal bovine serum to the culture medium. Taken together, these results indicate that NAC treatment causes SMCs to enter a reversible G0quiescent, growth-arrested state. Thus, NAC provides an important new method for synchronizing SMCs in culture.
Facile Preparation of Nanocrystalline Gallium Antimonide.

Abstract The 1:1 reaction of GaCl3 with Sb(SiMe 3 ) 3 in pentane solution affords an intermediate material which, upon thermolysis, yields nanocrystalline GaSb with an approximate average particle size of 12 nm. The product was characterized through powder X-ray diffraction, elemental analysis, and HRTEM.
Filmed test to assess elementary school-aged children's perception of figures which appear to move away from stationary backgrounds.

The manner in which a 30-min., 16-mm., animated black and white filmed test of field dependence was constructed is described. A sound track provides standardized test instructions. Test items are preceded on film by form-discrimination tasks and item examples to insure that form discrimination and lack of task familiarity do not affect test performance. In each of the 27 items and 5 examples a figure appears statically embedded within a background for 4 sec. In the succeeding 6 sec. of item presentation the figure continuously changes its context of embeddedness by growing larger in the visual display. This technique causes the figure to appear as if it is moving toward the viewer. Ss' performance is assessed in terms of accuracy and speed of response.
Robots' end point sensing: hardware and software techniques

Abstract This article describes a contact measurement technique to assess positioning performance of an industrial robot. A survey of some important robot testing methods and error compensation models that are presently available in the literature is also presented.
Development and evaluation of a detailed mechanism for the atmospheric reactions of isoprene and NOx

A detailed photochemical mechanism for the atmospheric reactions of isoprene and its major oxidation products in the presence of NOx, which incorporates the most recent laboratory results and our current understanding of the system, is described. It is evaluated by comparing its predictions against results of NOx-air irradiations of isoprene and its two major products, methacrolein, and methyl vinyl ketone (MVK), in five different types of environmental chambers at two different laboratories. In most cases it simulated experimental results within the uncertainty of the data and the chamber and run characterization model. However, the photodecomposition quantum yields of methacrolein and MVK and the organic nitrate yield from the OH + isoprene reaction had to be adjusted to obtain satisfactory simulations of the data. The major discrepancy observed was that the model tended to underpredict PAN by ca. 40% in the isoprene experiments, despite the fact that the model predicted PAN from methacrolein and MVK reasonably well. The uncertainties and additional data needed to completely characterize the isoprene atmospheric photooxidation system are discussed. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Auto-acceleration of radical polymerization rate in polymerization of styrene under the condition of predominant transfer

Abstract Styrene was polymerized at 20°C for 252 days in the presence of 2,2′-azobis(isobutyronitrite) azobis(isobutyronitrile) (AIBN). When [AIBN]σ = 0.268 mmol l−1, the instantaneous weight-average degree of polymerization (140,000) of the polymer formed is independent of conversion x between 0.05 and 0.60. This independence shows predominant transfer to monomer. Auto-acceleration of polymerization starts at about x = 0.02. In order to explain this auto-acceleration, an equation derived previously for the relationship between termination rate, free volume and volume fraction of polymer is applied to the kinetic data obtained under the condition of predominant transfer to monomer. It is concluded that polymer molecules may move by reptation and the mobility of segments decreases with decreasing free volume.
Parallel molecular pathways mediate expression of distinct forms of intermediate-term facilitation at tail sensory-motor synapses in Aplysia.

Abstract Three distinct temporal phases of synaptic facilitation (short-, intermediate-, and long-term) are induced by serotonin (5-HT) at sensory (SN) to motor (MN) synapses in Aplysia . Here, we characterize two mechanistically distinct forms of intermediate-term faciliation (ITF) at tail SN–MN synapses. One form, activity-independent ITF, is produced by five spaced pulses of 5-HT in the absence of SN activity. Its induction requires protein synthesis, and its expression requires persistent activation of PKA but not PKC. The other form, activity-dependent ITF, is produced by a single pulse of 5-HT coincident with SN activation. Its induction does not require protein synthesis, and its expression requires persistent activation of PKC but not PKA. These results demonstrate that SN–MN synapses can exhibit two distinct forms of ITF that are mediated by parallel molecular pathways.
Carcinoma of the oral tongue: a comparison of results and complications of treatment with radiotherapy and/or surgery

Background. Oral tongue cancer may be treated primarily with radiotherapy or with surgery alone or combined with adjuvant radiotherapy: the choice between these two approaches is controversial. Methods. To evaluate the results of a shift in treatment policy in 1985 in favor of primary surgical treatment for carcinoma of the oral tongue, the results of radiotherapy (with or without neck dissection, 105 patients) were compared with those for surgery (with or without radiotherapy, 65 patients). Results. Local control rates were improved for T3 (p = .03) and T4 (p = .08) patients treated surgically but were similar for T1-T2 patients. Local-regional control and survival rates were not significantly different. The rate of severe complications was significantly higher (p = .01) for T3 patients treated with surgery, particularly in the subset of patients who received postoperative radiotherapy. Conclusions. We generally recommend surgical treatment for T1-T2 patients with the addition of postoperative twice-a-day radiotherapy in selected cases. For selected T3-T4 patients we are investigating split-course twice-a-day preoperative radiotherapy in the hope that the extent of the surgical procedure, and hence the rate of severe complications, will be reduced. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Photonic crystal and air trench approaches to realize small-area bends and splitters in low index contrast waveguides

The ability to make small-area bends and splitters in low index contrast waveguide materials is a critical enabler to realize densely integrated planar lightwave circuits (PLCs) in such materials. We discuss two approaches, the first based on photonic crystal (PhC) structures of limited spatial extent and the second on single air trenches. In each case, PhC or air trench regions are used to augment conventional waveguides (CWGs) to permit drastic reductions in overall device size while preserving the traditional advantages of CWGs such as straightforward design for single mode operation, low propagation loss, low fiber coupling loss, low dispersion, and mature microfabrication processes. We show how these approaches can be used to realize example devices having a very small footprint, including Mach-Zender interferometers and ring resonators.
International Public Opinion on the Environment

This article analyzes public opinion data on environmental issues collected in two major surveys. The data reveal substantial concern about the environment in both developing and industrial countries along with perceptions that the quality of the environment has declined and will continue to decline. Developing country respondents rate their local and national environmental quality lower than do industrial country respondents, whereas both groups rate global environmental quality about the same. The data also reveal considerable willingness among the developing and industrial countries to accept responsibility for the world's environmental problems and recognition of the importance of governments in addressing local and national environmental issues and of strong international agencies in addressing transnational issues.
Three utilization patterns of the renovated Moste hydro power plant on an electricity market of power and ancillary services

In addition to electricity, most hydro power plants can offer also the ancillary services: secondary and tertiary control reserve. On emerging electricity markets the need for these additional services is becoming more and more important, recognised and also paid. However, for each plant, there is some interdependence among those options. The same plant cannot provide maximal peaking electricity, maximal secondary control reserve as well as maximal tertiary control reserve at the same time. The generation capabilities of the plant must thus be partitioned properly among those options so as to achieve some overall goal (e.g. the maximum of revenue, etc.). This article briefly presents those options for the renovated Moste cascade on the upper Sava river near Bled in Slovenia. A small but effective mixed integer linear programme has been used.
Facilitating Change in Schools: Is There One Best Style?.

ABSTRACT This study examines the various ways principals provide leadership for school improvement and the relationship of these “change facilitator styles” to school effectiveness in the different contexts in which they work. Results of this study of 472 teachers in 53 schools indicate that principals exhibited different leadership styles across effectiveness and SES categories. Effective low SES schools were more likely to have strong, assertive initiators as principals than were ineffective low SES schools, and responders were more likely to be principals in ineffective schools. The results only partially replicated the findings of two earlier studies associating effective middle SES schools with manager‐types. Principals were not characterized by their teachers as having pure styles ‐ initiator, manager or responder ‐ but rather as employing a combination of behaviors as they worked to bring about changes or improvements in their schools. These styles existed along a continuum from initiator to respon...
Numerical and experimental analysis of THz sheet beam traveling wave tube amplifier (TWTA)

Summary form only given. We report on the RF design, modeling, and particle-in-cell (PIC) analysis for the half vane staggered 0.22 THz traveling wave tube amplifier circuit. The simulations were conducted for the full length circuit (~ 27 mm) consisting of 60 periods without input or output couplers. Extensive cold-test (MWS) simulations were conducted for an efficient input/output coupler design for broadband matching with the slow wave TWT circuit. The back to back coupler response gives an S11 ~ -15 dB and S21 ~ -1.3 dB at 0.22 THz that matched very well with the RF measurements with a 1 dB bandwidth of ~57 GHz. Mode conversion from the operating mode (TE01) to higher order modes was also studied and found to be at least down to -12 dB. The cold test simulation response of the TWT circuit including couplers (total length 37.644 mm) showed S11~ 14.66 dB and S21 ~ -3.07 dB at 220 GHz with a 1dB bandwidth of 44 GHz. This paper also presents the sever design proposed to be compatible with the micro-fabrication of the sheet beam circuits. The thickness of coating was varied (tapered) in the vanes for gradual change in wave impedance to minimize reflections. The thickness of coating of loss material in vanes (75 μm wide and 400 μm deep) and the conductivity of the coating material was varied to optimize the response. S21 was decreased to less than -50 dB while keeping S11 varying around -5dB. Detailed PIC simulations were conducted to elucidate the device output response for the full TWT circuit incorporating the broadband couplers. For an electron beam of 20 kV and 0.25A, the output power was ~350 W for an input power of 50 mW with a gain of 38.4 dB. At the input port, reflections amounted to a power of 2.5W. A sever (distributed loss for length = 1/6 of total circuit length) was also incorporated in the full model and conductivity was swept from 1/10 to 100 S/m (that is possible by changing the doping levels of lossy materials e,g SiC). The maximum output power this distributed sever predicted was ~25 W and gain ~27 dB while keeping the reflections significantly low to about ~28 mW.
Manipulations of intensity of electric shock in a multiple punishment schedule

Intra-organism comparisons of two shock contingencies replicated effects reported by DeArmond (1966). Increasing the intensity of shock following the first response of each ratio in FR 50 food maintained behavior had little effect on the degree of behavioral suppression produced by less intense shock following each response in a multiple punishment schedule.
Techniques for information retrieval from voice messages

The components of a speech message information retrieval system include an acoustic front end which provides an incomplete transcription of a spoken message, and a message classifier that interprets the incomplete transcription and classifies the message according to message category. The techniques and experiments described are concerned with the integration of these components and represent the first demonstration of a complete system that accepts speech messages as input and produces as estimated message class as output. The complete system has been implemented on special-purpose digital signal processing hardware and demonstrated using live speech input. The results obtained on a conversational speech task have demonstrated the feasibility of the technology and also illustrate the need for further work. Even with a perfect acoustic front end, a message classification accuracy of only 78% was obtained with a 126 keyword vocabulary. >
A Survival Analysis of Student Mobility and Retention in Indiana Charter Schools

Research has demonstrated that high rates of student mobility are associated with a range of negative academic outcomes, both for students who leave their schools and those who remain behind. The current study focused on mobility among those enrolled in charter schools in the state of Indiana. A multilevel Cox Proportional Hazards survival analysis model was used to identify significant predictors of student mobility within and from a state charter school system, using factors at both the student and school levels. Results indicated that initial student achievement upon first entering a charter school, student ethnicity, participation in a Title I funded program, and average years of teacher experience at the school were all associated with the decision to leave the charter. Specifically, students with higher initial achievement scores, those eligible for Title 1 services, and nonCaucasian students were more likely to leave charter schools prematurely. In