cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Novel biodegradable low-κ dielectric nanomaterials from natural polyphenols

Biodegradable natural polymers and macromolecules for transient electronics have great potential to reduce the environmental footprint and provide opportunities to create emerging and environmentally sustainable technologies. Creating complex electronic devices from biodegradable materials requires exploring their chemical design pathways to use them as substrates, dielectric insulators, conductors, and semiconductors. While most research exploration has been conducted using natural polymers as substrates for electronic devices, a very few natural polymers have been explored as dielectric insulators, but they possess high dielectric constants. Herein, for the first time, we have demonstrated a natural polyphenol-based nanomaterial, derived from tannic acid as a low-κ dielectric material by introducing a highly nanoporous framework with a silsesquioxane core structure. Utilizing natural tannic acid, porous “raspberry-like” nanoparticles (TA-NPs) are prepared by a sol–gel polymerization method, starting from reactive silane unit-functionalized tannic acid. Particle composition, thermal stability, porosity distribution, and morphology are analyzed, confirming the mesoporous nature of the nanoparticles with an average pore diameter ranging from 19 to 23 nm, pore volume of 0.032 cm3 g−1 and thermal stability up to 350 °C. The dielectric properties of the TA-NPs, silane functionalized tannic acid precursor, and tannic acid are evaluated and compared by fabricating thin film capacitors under ambient conditions. The dielectric constants (κ) are found to be 2.98, 2.84, and 2.69 (±0.02) for tannic acid, tannic acid-silane, and TA-NPs, respectively. The unique chemical design approach developed in this work provides us with a path to create low-κ biodegradable nanomaterials from natural polyphenols by weakening their polarizability and introducing high mesoporosity into the structure.
The Thermal Check Valve — A Cryogenic Tool

Invariably, in applications for liquid-hydrogen and-helium temperatures, it is necessary to have much more heat removal capacity at a higher temperature, such as that of liquid nitrogen. This is true in helium or hydrogen liquefiers, refrigerators for various electronic devices, cryopumping, and storage dewars. The reasons for this requirement are different in different devices, but it is almost always there.
The use of tantalum mesh in cystocele with critical report of ten cases.

Abstract This is a preliminary report of the use of tatalum mesh gauze to supplement the conventional Kennedy-type plication technique for the correction of cystoceles. In each case, the cystocele was sufficiently large to put the procedure to a real test. The tantalum mesh was not used with the intent of offering immediate support to the repair as a hammocklike sling but to offer eventual support by the additional fibrous tissue which would be formed in and about the mesh. Follow-up examinations over a period of from six to eighteen months in 9 cases revealed no recurrent cystoceles. The only adverse finding attributed to the mesh was the slonghing of areas of the superticial vaginal wall in 4 cases with partial exposure of the mesh. This did not represent a serious problem. The exposed mesh was trimmed in two cases. Granulation tissue progressively is covering the defects in the vaginal wall. We believe the slough occurred because, as in any plastic flap that sloughs, the circulation was not adequately maintained in the vaginal wall overlying the tantalum mesh. Ischemic necrosis imdoubtedly occurred. Care should be taken to reflect the vaginal wall in its complete thickness, rather than split to preserve good vascularity. A variation which we propose to use in the future is the technique of overlapping the vaginal muscularis as described by Bissell 23 (Fig. 5). We believe this closure will preserve the vascularity and reduce the possibility of ischemic necrosis. We intend to continue to use tantalum mesh cantiously in the repair of cystoceles and in addition to operate upon a series of patients using lyophilized fascia lata for a study of comparative results.
KINETIC THEORY ANALYSIS OF SOLAR WIND INTERACTION WITH PLANETARY OBJECTS

A purely kinetic treatment is proposed for the interaction of the solar wind with any ‘small’ planetary object. ‘Small’ refers to those cases when the solar wind proton’s thermal gyroradius is arbitrarily taken to be ≥ 0.1 radius of the object under investigation. The ‘object’ may possibly include an ionosphere or magnetosphere. The collisionless Boltzmann equation, neglecting the magnetic field, is used to calculate steady-state profiles of density and velocity around the obstacle. In order to include the effects of surface reflection from the obstacle, a finite, angularly distributed potential field on the obstacle’s surface is also considered. A symmetric potential field is also examined. A low density plasma void in the umbral region and a compression (above the value of the upstream undisturbed density) in the penumbral region are clearly found. The present technique, despite its neglect of the interplanetary magnetic field, is proposed as an alternative zeroth order approach to the continuum, local magnetic anomaly, and guiding center approaches used by others for the particular case of Moon. Some recent, potentially relevant, observations on and in front of the Moon are discussed. Of particular interest is the development of a high density gradient which emanates from the limb and is inclined in the direction of what is known in continuum theory as the ‘Mach cone’. This structure leads to the following speculation: if the object’s size were to increase (or, alternatively, the proton gyroradius were to decrease) by one or two orders of magnitude, a shock wave would develop first at the limb, gradually building up to a conventional detached bow shock. Thus, gasdynamic theory — as we think of it in Earth’s case — can be constructed, as required, on the basis of kinetic theory.
Porokeratosis plantaris, palmaris, et disseminata: Report of a case and treatment with isotretinoin

Porokeratosis plantaris, palmaris, et disseminata is a unique clinical entity characterized by the familial occurrence of multiple porokeratoses predominantly on the palms and soles but also on both sun-exposed and non-sun-exposed areas of the body. Since its original description in 1971 by Guss and colleagues, there has been only one other report of this syndrome. We have discovered a third family with this disorder and have used isotretinoin successfully to control the condition in one of the family's symptomatic members.
Educational and vocational outcomes of adults with childhood- and adult-onset systemic lupus erythematosus: nine years of followup.

Objective To compare educational and vocational outcomes among adults with childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and adult-onset SLE. Methods We used data derived from the 2002–2010 cycles of the Lupus Outcomes Study, a longitudinal cohort of 1,204 adult subjects with SLE. Subjects ages 18–60 years living in the US (n = 929) were included in the analysis and were classified as childhood-onset SLE if age at diagnosis was <18 years (n = 115). Logistic regression was used to assess the unadjusted and adjusted effect of childhood-onset SLE, sex, race/ethnicity, baseline age, urban or rural location, and US region on the likelihood of completing a bachelor's degree. Generalized estimating equations were used to assess the effect of childhood-onset SLE, demographics, education, and disease-related factors on the odds of employment, accounting for multiple observations over the study period. Results Subjects with childhood-onset SLE were on average younger (mean ± SD 29 ± 10 years versus 44 ± 9 years), with longer disease duration (mean ± SD 15 ± 10 years versus 11 ± 8 years). Subjects with adult-onset SLE and childhood-onset SLE subjects were equally likely to complete a bachelor's degree. However, subjects with childhood-onset SLE were significantly less likely to be employed, independent of demographic and disease characteristics (odds ratio 0.62, 95% confidence interval 0.42–0.91). Conclusion While subjects with SLE are just as likely as those with adult-onset SLE to complete college education, childhood-onset SLE significantly increases the risk of not working in adulthood, even when controlling for disease and demographic factors. Exploring reasons for low rates of employment and providing vocational support may be important to maximize long-term functional outcomes in patients with childhood-onset SLE.
IPCC Report Calls Climate Changes Unprecedented

Warming of the Earth's climate “is unequivocal and since the 1950s many of the observed changes are unprecedented over decades to millennia,” according to a new assessment report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The 27 September summary for policy makers of IPCC's report “Climate Change 2013: The Physical Science Basis” also states that “it is extremely likely that human influence has been the dominant cause of the observed warming since the mid-20th century.”
On the Nature of Trading: Do Speculators Leave Footprints?

The paper describes how two types of traders, marketmakers and speculators, establish their positions and manage their risk exposure. We show that balance sheets are insufficient to determine whether a trader is a marketmaker or a speculator. On the other hand, trading records describing the evolution of a position over time can identify what trading strategy was pursued. Knowing the trading strategy helps to evaluate contract compliance, risk exposure, and capital requirements of trading firms. Understanding and verifying trader behavior is especially important because leveraged trading firms, and individual traders, have traditional incentives to mask their risk-taking activities. Without proper monitoring, traders can substitute risky speculation for less risky marketmaking to reap potential payoffs.
Sinking the Flagship: Why Communication Studies Is Better Off Without One

Does U.S. communication research have a flagship journal? Not really, if by flagship we mean something like the American Sociological Review or the American Political Science Review. Those are unquestioned flagships, ratified (in a self-reinforcing loop) by citation metrics and by the disciplines’ tacit knowledge (Garand & Giles, 2003; Hargens, 1991; Oromaner, 2008). Ask a media studies scholar, and she might mention the Journal of Communication—but she could just as easily offer Quarterly Journal of Speech, Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly or even Cinema Journal. She wouldn’t be wrong in any case. All four titles carry a major scholarly association's imprimatur. What is odd, of course, is that there are four scholarly associations all claiming the same territory. If media and communication has no flagship, it is because there no coherent discipline in the first place.
NAC and DTT promote TGF-β1 monomer formation: demonstration of competitive binding

TGF-β plays an important role in the genesis and progression of pulmonary fibrosis. We sought to determine the role of mononuclear phagocytes in the activation of TGF-β and found that freshly isolated peripheral blood monocytes spontaneously released TGF-β. Stimulating these monocytes with GM-CSF or LPS, but not MCSF, augmented the activation of TGF-β. In human monocytes, the free thiol compounds DTT and NAC decreased the activity of TGF-β, without affecting TGF-β mRNA transcription. Both NAC and DTT lessened the biological activity of recombinant active TGF-β in a cell-free system. We found that NAC and DTT reduced dimeric active TGF-β from a 25 kDa protein to 12.5 kDa inactive monomer. This conversion was reversed using the oxidizing agent diamide. Diamide also restored biological activity to NAC or DTT-treated TGF-β. Reduction of TGF-β to monomers could competitively inhibit active dimeric TGF-β and block intracellular signaling events. Our observations suggest that modulation of the oxidative state of TGF-β may be a novel therapeutic approach for patients with pulmonary fibrosis.
Protein-trap version 2.1: screening for expressed proteins in mammalian cells based on their localizations.

"Protein-trap" is a method that allows epitope-tagging of endogenous proteins. This method allows for the identification of endogenously expressed proteins that exhibit specific localization of interest. This method has been recently reported for its application in the study of Drosophila development by using a relatively large epitope, green-fluorescent-protein (GFP). Herein, we report a new "protein-trap" vector for mammalian cells. This new method utilizes a much smaller epitope-tag and also allows for drug-selection prior to the epitope-tagging. Pre-selection by drug resulted in the highly efficient protein-trapping frequency. The "protein-trap" method based on this new vector is expected to serve as a complimentary approach to the previously reported GFP-based method.
Oncology payment reform to achieve real health care reform.

The authors describe features of quality and cost measures needed to support accountable care payment reforms in oncology and propose policy recommendations to move to payment systems that support higher-value care in oncology.
Concepts of Scale Held by Students with Visual Impairment.

This study investigated students' with visual impairment concepts about linear size and scale. Specifically the study examined the accuracy of students' concepts over many orders of magnitude as well as experiences students have had in and out-of-school learning about size and scale. The results of assessments of 17 students with visual impairment were compared to those of students with normal sight. The study showed that students with visual impairment were most accurate for measurements in the human scale and were least accurate with very large and very small scales that cannot be directly experienced. However, when compared to students with normal sight, students with visual impairment were more accurate at large and small scales than their normally sighted peers. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Res Sci Teach 46: 506–519, 2009
Hopping conduction in Cr-doped amorphous gallium arsenide films

Abstract Amorphous Cr-doped GaAs has been prepared by rf sputtering and the dc conductivity measured at fields up to 10 7 V/m and temperatures down to 80 K. The results are explained in terms of field-assisted hopping. Effects of isothermal annealing at temperatures up to 200°C are studied. The studies are repeated and the results compared with undoped a-GaAs. Room temperature resistivities of a-GaAs: Cr, a-GaAs and polycrystalline GaAs are also compared. The recrystallization temperature for a-GaAs films is determined to be between 320°C and 340°C.
Thermal analysis of protein–metallic ion systems

Advanced thermal analysis methods, such as temperature modulated DSC (differential scanning calorimetry) and quasi-isothermal TMDSC were used to analyze the protein–metallic ion interactions in silk fibroin proteins. The precise heat capacities were measured and theoretically predicted in this study. To remove bound water and simplify the system, a thermal cycling treatment through both standard DSC and TMDSC was used to detect the underlying heat capacity and reveal the phase transitions of the silk–metallic salts system. Results show that K+ metallic salts play the role of plasticizer in silk fibroin proteins, which reduces the glass transition (Tg) of the pure silk protein and negatively affects its structural thermal stability. On the other hand, Ca2+ metallic salts act as an anti-plasticizer, and increase the glass transition and the thermal stability of the silk protein structure. This indicates that the thermal analysis methods offer a new pathway to study protein–metallic ion systems, yielding very fruitful information for the study of protein structures in the future.
Denseness of the generalized eigenvectors of an H-S discrete operator

Let T be a closed densely defined linear operator in a Hilbert space H, and assume there exists ξ0 ϵ p(T) such that Rξ0(T) is a Hilbert-Schmidt operator. The operator T is a special type of discrete operator, a so-called H-S discrete operator, which is shown to be a Fredholm operator in H with Fredholm set equal to the whole complex plane. Let σ(T) = {λi}i = 1∞where the operator Tλi has ascent mi, let Pi, i = 1, 2,…, be the projection of H onto the generalized eigenspace N[[Tλi]mi] along R [[Tλi]mi], and let S∞ and M∞ be the subspaces of H consisting of all x ϵ H such that x = ∑i = 1∞ Pix and such that Pix = 0 for i = 1, 2,…, respectively. Sufficient conditions are introduced which guarantee that S∝ = H and M∞ = {0}. These conditions require that ∥Rλ(T)∥ be bounded on certain rays in the complex plane and ∥Rλ(T)∥ → 0 as λ → ∞ on at least one of the rays, but specific decay rates for ∥Rλ(T)∥ are not necessary.
What can real-time positioning do for construction?

Abstract New technologies are now available that can rapidly measure three-dimensional coordinates of objects. The integration of these fast 3-D Real-time Position Measurement (3D-RtPM) devices and CAD (3D-RtPM/CAD) technologies can be viewed as a better tool for surveyors or as a means to change the most fundamental concepts of the construction industry. 3D-RtPM/CAD is a better surveying tool; however, 3D-RtPM/CAD as the basis for fundamental change within the construction industry is the issue. There are several potential technologies that can provide real-time position measurement. This paper will limit presentation to two of these. The first is based on recent developments in Global Positioning Systems. The second is a new laser-based product, OdysseyTM (Odyssey is a trademark of Spatial Positioning Systems, Inc.). Odyssey received the NOVA award in March, 1995 because of its recognized performance enhancement to the construction industry. These positioning systems provide the capability for equipment and crafts people to view the project from a graphical representation in which they see their position interactively updated. Potential benefits to the construction industry are presented. The research needed achieving maximum benefits of these systems is also presented.
Contextual Interference Effect on Acquisition and Retention of Pistol-Shooting Skills

The effects of contextual interference on learning pistol-shooting skills in a natural training environment were examined. The shooting skills consisted of three "stages" with different requirements for the skill variations commonly used in the field. 12 participants were randomly assigned into one of two practice conditions, blocked vs serial. Following a 20-min. safety and skill instructional session, Blocked group practiced 10 trials in a row at each stage, while Serial group performed 5 trials in a row for each of the three stages and then repeated the cycle. Both groups completed a total of 30 practice trials over the three stages. A 10-min. rest interval was provided prior to a retention test which included 9 trials (3 trials at each stage in a blocked format). Results based on the data of Stage III, the most complex skill among the three stages, showed a pattern consistent with previous findings that practicing in the serial schedule depressed performance during initial training but maintained the performance better at retention, relative to the blocked practice.
Submicroscopic measurements of tracer distribution related to surface features of soil aggregates

Abstract Previous studies suggested that surface features of soil aggregates, such as clay coatings and slickenside surfaces, could serve as slowly permeable barriers for tracer movement into soil aggregates. The objective of the research was to identify the transport of solutes at the submicroscopic scale as related to the surface aggregate features in two Vertisols and an Alfisol. Solute flow through structural interfaces in these soils was estimated by identifying visual distribution of Brilliant Blue FCF and the distribution of anionic tracer (Br) by means of electron microprobe analysis. Brilliant Blue FCF moved through the surface of pedofeatures into subjacent soil matrix to the distances of 0.5–1 mm. In contrast to the Brilliant Blue FCF dye, Br moved across structural interfaces 1 to 4 cm into the aggregate interior. These results suggest that the surfaces of structural features in these soils did not act as significant barriers to Br penetration into the soil matrix.
An H∞ approach to learning control systems

In this paper we study a control methodology now often referred to as learning control in the recent control literature. Our primary aim is to establish a mathematical framework which will allow systematic and continuing development of learning control theory. The framework is based on the functional spaces which have been heavily used in H∞ control theory. It is then applied to the study of the convergence problems associated with learning control. Three theorems on general convergence conditions are presented.
Photogeneration and Quenching of Tryptophan Radical in Azurin

Tryptophan and tyrosine can form radical intermediates that enable long-range, multistep electron transfer (ET) reactions in proteins. This report describes the mechanisms of formation and quenching of a neutral tryptophan radical in azurin, a blue-copper protein that contains native tyrosine (Y108 and Y72) and tryptophan (W48) residues. A long-lived neutral tryptophan radical W48• is formed upon UV-photoexcitation of a zinc(II)-substituted azurin mutant in the presence of an external electron acceptor. The quantum yield of W48• formation (Φ) depends upon the tyrosine residues in the protein. A tyrosine-deficient mutant, ZnIIAz48W, exhibited a value of Φ = 0.080 with a Co(III) electron acceptor. A nearly identical quantum yield was observed when the electron acceptor was the analogous tyrosine-free, copper(II) mutant; this result for the ZnIIAz48W:CuIIAz48W mixture suggests there is an interprotein ET path. A single tyrosine residue at one of the native positions reduced the quantum yield to 0.062 (Y108) ...
How Much Does Colonoscopy Reduce Colon Cancer Mortality

In this issue, Baxter and colleagues report an association between complete colonoscopy and CRC mortality reduction of 0.33 for left-sided lesions but 0.99 for right-sided lesions. These results hi...
A Conversation with Robert F. Christy Part II

Robert F. Christy, Institute Professor of Theoretical Physics Emeritus at Caltech, recalls his wartime work at Los Alamos on the critical assembly for the plutonium bomb (“the Christy bomb”); the Alamogordo test, July 16, 1945; the postwar concerns of ALAS (Association of Los Alamos Scientists); his brief return to the University of Chicago and move to Caltech; friendship with and later alienation from Edward Teller; work with Charles and Tommy Lauritsen and William A. Fowler in Caltech’s Kellogg Radiation Laboratory; Freeman Dyson’s Orion Project; work on the meson and RR Lyrae stars; fellowship at Cambridge University; 1950s Vista Project at Caltech; his opposition to the Strategic Defense Initiative; and his post-retirement work for the National Research Council’s Committee on Dosimetry and on inertial-confinement fusion.
Abnormalities in Host Defense Associated with HIV Infection

The broad variety of pulmonary infections encountered in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected individuals demonstrates that the host defense network is impaired. An improved understanding of these events in the lung can lead to specific interventions aimed at restoration of deficient function. This review summarizes the pulmonary host defense deficits in HIV-infected individuals, focusing on lymphocytes, alveolar macrophages, and neutrophils.
Ultrastructural probes of chromatin within living human lymphocytes.

ONE model for gene derepression in eukaryotes postulates the displacement of histones from underlying DNA templates by derepressor RNA molecules specific to the sites of transcription1. Although the experimental data for this model were originally obtained from the analysis of isolated fractions of repressed and active chromatin2, experiments analysing intact, fixed cells3, 4 have been less satisfactory because of the low optical resolution possible with microspectrofluorimetry and because of the lack of chemical specificity in distinguishing DNA binding sites from RNA sites5. We have developed an ultrastructural molecular probe technique for use on glutar-aldehyde-fixed human bone marrow cells5 and now report its extension to probes of chromatin conformation states within living human lymphocytes. The probe is visualized by high-resolution electron microscopy and distinguishes between DNA and RNA binding sites.
Improving reliability and absolute quantification of human brain microarray data by filtering and scaling probes using RNA-Seq

High-throughput sequencing is gradually replacing microarrays as the preferred method for studying mRNA expression levels, providing nucleotide resolution and accurately measuring absolute expression levels of almost any transcript, known or novel. However, existing microarray data from clinical, pharmaceutical, and academic settings represent valuable and often underappreciated resources, and methods for assessing and improving the quality of these data are lacking. To quantitatively assess the quality of microarray probes, we directly compare RNA-Seq to Agilent microarrays by processing 231 unique samples from the Allen Human Brain Atlas using RNA-Seq. Both techniques provide highly consistent, highly reproducible gene expression measurements in adult human brain, with RNA-Seq slightly outperforming microarray results overall. We show that RNA-Seq can be used as ground truth to assess the reliability of most microarray probes, remove probes with off-target effects, and scale probe intensities to match the expression levels identified by RNA-Seq. These sequencing scaled microarray intensities (SSMIs) provide more reliable, quantitative estimates of absolute expression levels for many genes when compared with unscaled intensities. Finally, we validate this result in two human cell lines, showing that linear scaling factors can be applied across experiments using the same microarray platform. Microarrays provide consistent, reproducible gene expression measurements, which are improved using RNA-Seq as ground truth. We expect that our strategy could be used to improve probe quality for many data sets from major existing repositories.
Ovarian function in the latter half of the reproductive lifespan.

The relationship of age to four aspects of ovarian function was investigated: daily progesterone levels, pulsatile progesterone secretion, follicular and luteal estradiol levels, and preovulatory estradiol levels. Daily progesterone levels decrease after age 40. Pulsatile progesterone secretion remains approximately stable with age, though older women have somewhat higher late luteal activity. Daily follicular and luteal estradiol levels decrease with advancing age, but preovulatory peak estradiol remains stable. Some of these changes undoubtedly have negative effects on fecundity, such as lower follicular estradiol and average progesterone, via effects on endometrial development and support. But other changes identified, such as stability of preovulatory estradiol levels and thereby presumptive capacity to stimulate a luteinizing hormone (LH) surge despite lower follicular and luteal levels, as well as increased pulsatile progesterone secretion around the time of implantation, appear designed to conserve and maintain function. Thus, ovarian endocrine function over the course of reproductive life represents a process of change, but not one of generalized functional decline. Rather, aging with respect to ovarian endocrine function may proceed on a track, or on multiple tracks, which are largely separable from the continual depletion of oocyte stores which occurs over the lifetime. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
1212 LEFT VENTRICULAR AND CORONARY ARTERY MORPHOLOGY IN THE HYPOPLASTIC LEFT HEART SYNDROME

Myocardial sinusoids have been noted angiographically to communicate with the small LV of infants with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS). These may represent egress of blood at high pressure from the completely obstructed chamber into the coronary vasculature when aortic valve atresia is present with intact ventricular septum. In order to further characterize these channels we examined microscopically transverse subserinl sections from 12 autopsy specimens of HLHS. The mean age at death was 5.8 days. Gross anatomic defects were: Aortic valve atresia 9/12; Critical aortic stenonis 3/12; Mitral valve (MV) hypoplasia 11/12; MV atresia 1/12; VSD 2/12; Premature closure (PC) of foramen ovale (FO) 3/12; FO under 2 mm. 5/12. The mean LV chamber diameters were 13 × 9 mm. compared with 25 × 20 mm. for the RV. The mean LV wall thickness was 7 mm. Microscopic findings included: Calcification of the myocardium 11/12; Thick walled LV with prominent endocardial fibroelastosis 9/12; Medial hypertrophy/intinal proliferation of coronary arteries 9/12; Multiple direct communications between LV cavity and coronary arteries 9/12 (absent in both VSD cases and one combined atresia case); Spongy capillary network in midzone of LV wall 7/12 (4 cases FO under 2 mm. and 3 cases PCFO). This study provides morphologic evidence of widespread developmental abnormalities of LV myocardial vascular structure in HLHS.
Metabolism of L-thyroxine by phagocytosing peritoneal macrophages.

Induction of phagocytosis in peritoneal macrophages resulted in a great stimulation of the deiodination of 125I-labeled L-thyroxine ([125I] T4). Despite the stimulation of deiodination, the quantity of undegraded [125I] T4 in the cells was increased, suggesting that increased cellular uptake is a factor contributing to the stimulation of deiodination that phagocytosis induces. The increased deiodination of T4 by phagocytosing cells could contribute to the acceleration of T4 metabolism that occurs during acute bacterial sepsis in vivo. (Endocrinology 94: 920, 1974)
RETHINKING THE POSTMODERN PERSPECTIVE: Excavating the Kantian System to Rebuild Social Theory

The postmodernism debate in the social sciences has been misunderstood as primarily an epistemological problem concerning method. The evolution of the postmodernism debate into the science wars has raised the same issues Critics blame postmodernism and science studies for epistemological relativism and hostility toward science, while supporters attempt to use postmodernism as a part of a project to replace positivism with interpretive methods. Both critics and supporters of postmodernism miss the most important aspect of the postmodern perspective: the attempt to break out of epistemology and the Kantian conceptual framework. Critics of postmodernism and science studies also mistakenly argue that postmodernism is the sole creation of the humanities. Many of the key concepts of the postmodern perspective, however, were developed through reflections on novel developments in the natural sciences. Because critics and supporters of postmodernism in the social sciences remain within a Kantian conceptual framework, the postmodern break from epistemology has been overlooked. A close reading of reflexive texts on the natural sciences rules out any claim that the post-modern perspective is simply a relativistic methodology that dislikes science. The pages below focus on key texts by Gaston Bachelard, Georges Canguilhem, Michel Foucault and Bruno Latour as an attempt to re-orient the postmodernism debate in the social sciences. A reexamination of these texts reveals how the postmodernism debate in the social sciences has mistakenly understood postmodernism as a problem of method and epistemology. Science studies represents the maturation of the postmodern perspective by building a non-epistemologically oriented social theory. The possibility of rebuilding social theory after the dismantling of epistemology is the unique halimark of science studies, the most recent development of the postmodern perspective.
The Clinical Picture: Unilateral cotton wool spots: an important clue.

The patient has sudden loss of vision in one eye and unilateral cotton wool spots on funduscopy. What is the cause?
Morphine inhibits signal transduction subsequent to activation of protein kinase C in mouse splenocytes

Morphine administered as a subcutaneous implant was previously reported to inhibit the mitogen-induced initial increases in cytoplasmic free calcium concentrations ([Ca2+]i) in mouse splenocytes. The present studies were initiated to determine whether morphine affects signal transduction subsequent to activation of protein kinase C (PKC) in immune cells. Administration of morphine significantly inhibited the phorbol myristate acetate (PMA)-stimulated increase in interleukin-2 receptor (IL-2R) expression in both CD4+ and CD8+ mouse T cells. In contrast, morphine treatment had no effect on PMA/calcium ionophore (A23187)-induced increase in IL-2 secretion, suggesting a selective inhibition of IL-2R expression. Simultaneous administration of morphine and the opiate antagonist naltrexone blocked the effect of morphine on CD4+ cells. The inhibition of PMA-stimulated IL-2R expression was not reproduced by incubating splenocytes with morphine (10(-8)-10(-5) M). These results suggest that this effect of morphine was mediated through opiate-receptors, but not directly via opiate receptors located on T cells. Moreover, adrenalectomy abolished this effect of morphine in CD4+ but not CD8+ T cells, suggesting that the inhibitory effect of morphine on IL-2R expression in CD4+ T cells may be mediated through a morphine-induced increase in corticosteroid levels. Thus, opiate-induced immunosuppression may involve an inhibition of post-PKC events, especially IL-2R expression, as well as impairment of earlier events in the activation of immune cells such as the increase in [Ca2+]i.
Interleukin-2 restores the depressed allogeneic cell-mediated lympholysis and natural killer cell activity in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Abstract Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is characterized by a variety of profound T-cell abnormalities among which are decreased cytotoxic capacity measured by allogeneic cell-mediated lympholysis (CML), natural killer cell (NK) activity, and decreased lymphokine production. In a group of 13 patients with active SLE, allogeneic CML, tested by a 4-hr 51 Cr-release assay, was 18.2 ± 2.7% while in the group of normal individuals CML was 41.2 ± 2.7%. If optimal doses of affinity-purified interleukin-2 (IL-2) were present during the mixed lymphocyte culture, the CML of SLE patients was increased to normal levels (40.4 ± 4.0%). In contrast, interferon-alpha (1FN-α) increased (but not significantly) the levels of CML. Mixed lymphocyte reaction, tested by tritiated thymidine incorporation, was also decreased in the group of patients (14,820 ± 815 cpm vs 28,972 ± 5880 cpm in normals) and it was increased to normal levels if IL-2, but not IFN-α was added to the cultures. NK activity was decreased in the group of patients tested by 51 Cr-release assay, harvested at 6 and 18 hr. IL-2 increased the NK activity up to normal levels, while IFN-α was only partially efficacious. These results demonstrate that IL-2, but not IFN-α, can potentiate or even fully restore the deficient cytoxic effector function of peripheral mononuclear cells in patients with SLE.
Use of a p-version finite-element formulation for compressible lubrication calculations

To obtain accurate gas-bearing lifts and moments, finite-difference and conventional finite-element techniques often require excessively large degrees of freedom. In this paper we avoid this problem by solving the compressible gas-bearing solution by the p-version finite-element method. The lubrication finite-element equation is formulated based on the weighted residual approach, and the resulting nonlinear equations are solved iteratively by the Newton–Raphson procedure. To achieve higher-order solutions the formulation utilizes the C0 hierarchical shape functions to describe the element pressure field. A numerical example is included to demonstrate the simplicity of modelling and the rapid convergence characteristics of the present p-formulation. An efficient numerical strategy, which utilizes the most recent polynomial pressure solution available as an estimate for the next higher polynomial level calculations, shows a 50 per cent reduction in the required computational effort for the low-flying Winchester air-bearing slider presented here. When compared against results obtained from conventional h-version finite-element models, the p-formulation yields better accuracy with fewer degrees of freedom required.
Employing an amphipathic viral peptide to create a lipid bilayer on Au and TiO2.

Supported lipid bilayers formed by the fusion of small unilamellar vesicles onto SiO2 or organic film-modified surfaces serve as model membranes in both scientific research and practical applications. Here, we describe the use of an amphipathic α-helical viral peptide derived from the hepatitis C virus NS5A protein (AH peptide) to destabilize the vesicles leading to lipid bilayer formation on gold and TiO2 solid substrates. Whereas previous researchers have been limited in their selection of surface materials for lipid biomembranes, the use of such peptides as destabilizing agents will allow the freedom to choose a broader variety of solid substrates to support planar bilayers. In particular, the favorable electrical properties of gold and the beneficial biocompatibility of TiO2 make these substrates attractive. The formation of model lipid bilayers supported on gold and TiO2 substrates can be utilized in many membrane-associated biological, physiological, or electrochemical applications with the advantag...
Deletion, Anergy, and Tolerance are not Operative Mechanisms for Controlling Autoantibody Production. ♦ 59

Deletion, Anergy, and Tolerance are not Operative Mechanisms for Controlling Autoantibody Production. ♦ 59
Novel regulatory cascades controlling expression of nitrogen-fixation genes in Geobacter sulfurreducens

Geobacter species often play an important role in bioremediation of environments contaminated with metals or organics and show promise for harvesting electricity from waste organic matter in microbial fuel cells. The ability of Geobacter species to fix atmospheric nitrogen is an important metabolic feature for these applications. We identified novel regulatory cascades controlling nitrogen-fixation gene expression in Geobacter sulfurreducens. Unlike the regulatory mechanisms known in other nitrogen-fixing microorganisms, nitrogen-fixation gene regulation in G. sulfurreducens is controlled by two two-component His–Asp phosphorelay systems. One of these systems appears to be the master regulatory system that activates transcription of the majority of nitrogen-fixation genes and represses a gene encoding glutamate dehydrogenase during nitrogen fixation. The other system whose expression is directly activated by the master regulatory system appears to control by antitermination the expression of a subset of the nitrogen-fixation genes whose transcription is activated by the master regulatory system and whose promoter contains transcription termination signals. This study provides a new paradigm for nitrogen-fixation gene regulation.
Attentional sensitivity and asymmetries of vertical saccade generation in monkey

The first goal of this study was to systematically document asymmetries in vertical saccade generation. We found that visually guided upward saccades have not only shorter latencies, but higher peak velocities, shorter durations and smaller errors. The second goal was to identify possible mechanisms underlying the asymmetry in vertical saccade latencies. Based on a recent model of saccade generation, three stages of saccade generation were investigated using specific behavioral paradigms: attention shift to a visual target (CUED paradigm), initiation of saccade generation (GAP paradigm) and release of the motor command to execute the saccade (DELAY paradigm). Our results suggest that initiation of a saccade (or "ocular disengagement") and its motor release contribute little to the asymmetry in vertical saccade latency. However, analysis of saccades made in the CUED paradigm indicated that it took less time to shift attention to a target in the upper visual field than to a target in the lower visual field. These data suggest that higher attentional sensitivity to targets in the upper visual field may contribute to shorter latencies of upward saccades.
Central Supply: An Ex-Supervisor Speaks…

(1960). Central Supply: An Ex-Supervisor Speaks… Hospital Topics: Vol. 38, No. 2, pp. 99-105.
Effect of lead and cadmium upon the boron, copper, manganese, and zinc concentration of young corn plants

Abstract In a greenhouse experiment corn plants were harvested 24 and 31 days following emergence from pots containing Bloomfield loamy sand (Psammentic Haplaudalf). Soil P was 140 kg/ha, exchangeable K was 220 kg/ha, and soil pH was 6.0. The soil CEC was 2.3 meq/100 g. Boron, Cu, Mn, and Zn were determined with emission spectroscopy. Treatment combinations were a factorial arrangement of 0, 2.5, and 5 μg/g of Cd and 0, 125, and 250 μg/g of Pb. Main effects of Cd and Pb significantly affected the B concentration of corn plants 24 days following emergence, and specific main effects (linear and/or quadratic) influenced the concentration of other nutrients. At the later stage of development (31 days following emergence), neither Cd nor Pb affected B concentration in corn plants, and there was only one significant (α = 0.05) main effect influencing the nutrient status of other micro‐nutrients studied. However, several Cd‐Pb interactions affected micronutrient concentration in corn plants. Our results suggest ...
A novel node-structural map for angiogenesis analysis

We introduce a novel node-structural map method for digital image-based analysis of angiogenesis, and apply it to quantitate the effect of pro-angiogenic (e.g. VEGF) and anti-angiogenic (e.g. anti-VEGF) treatments on blood vessel patterns in the quail chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) in vivo model. After vessel segmentation and skeletonization, a node-structural map is derived to represent the structural property of each pixel in the skeletonized image, such as end nodes (root and leaf), branch and furcation/junction nodes. By combining the node-structural map with vascular thickness map, our proposed method provides more detailed morphometric and structural measurement of vascular angiogenesis, such as average diameter, average branch length, branch thickness distribution, density of branch and furcation nodes, etc. Furthermore, the concept of vascular generations will be proposed. Accordingly, more detailed measurements related to the generations of the vascular tree can be easily evaluated. From the quantitative analysis results, it correctly shows the fact that VEGF/anti-VEGF can modify the blood vessel pattern and increase/decrease the vessel density in CAM significantly, compared to the phosphate-buffered saline treated controls.
Dimensionality reduction in hyperspectral imagery

In this paper we examine how the projection of hyperspectral data into smaller dimensional subspaces can effect the propagation of error. In particular, we show that the nonorthogonality of endmembers in the linear mixing model can cause small changes in band space (as, for example, from the addition of noise) to lead to relatively large changes in the estimated abundance coefficients. We also show that increasing the number of endmembers can actually lead to an increase in the amount of possible error.
Series expansions of solutions of uxx + (2νx) ux + ε2utt = ut

Abstract We investigate series expansions of solutions of the equation (∗)u xx + 2νx −1 u x + ϵ 2 u tt = u t , in terms of either a set of polynomial solutions for this equation or the associated functions for these polynomials. Our results extend those of Rosenbloom-Widder, Cholewinski-Haimo and the second author, who have previously studied (∗) for various choices of the nonnegative parameters ν and e. By considering (∗) as a singular perturbation of the generalized heat equation (the e = 0 case), we show that the polynomial solutions, associated functions and fundamental singularities of these equations are related by a basic integral transform.
Trial design issues and treatment effect modeling in multi‐regional schizophrenia trials

In recent years, we have seen an increasing trend of foreign data as part of clinical trial data submitted in new drug applications (NDA) to US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). To understand the design and analysis characteristics, we studied schizophrenia multi-regional clinical trials (MRCTs). The schizophrenia data set consisted of a total of 12,585 patients collected from 33 clinical trials with 63.8% patients from North America, the largest region. The data set constituted 10 schizophrenia drug programs in support of NDAs submitted to FDA from December 1993 to December 2005. Two main objectives were pursued. First, we investigated some study design issues including potential heterogeneity of treatment effect via meta analysis and placebo response pattern over time. Second, we performed empirical modeling in two ways, supervised and unsupervised, to explain potential impact of baseline covariates on treatment effect in MRCTs. Based on our analysis results, placebo response appeared to increase over time and primarily attributed to US region. On average, the observed treatment effect in the US was generally smaller than non-US region. Both supervised and unsupervised empirical modeling selected baseline Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale total score as one of the most important covariates explaining a treatment effect. Region also played a role in explaining potential treatment effect heterogeneity. When baseline body weight was considered as a covariate in an empiric model, our results indicated that it alone did not seem to be an important factor in explaining regional difference.
Dependence of hormone secretion on activation-inactivation kinetics of voltage-sensitive Ca2+ channels in pituitary gonadotrophs

Abstract The relationships between the activation status of voltage-sensitive Ca2+ channels and secretory responses were analyzed in perfused rat gonadotrophs during stimulation by high extracellular K+ concentration ([K+]e) or the physiological agonist, gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH). Increase of [K+]e to 50 mM evokes an on-off secretory response, with a rapid rise in luteinizing hormone (LH) secretion to a peak at 35 sec (on response) followed by an exponential decrease to the steady-state level. Cessation of K+ stimulation elicits a transient (off) response followed by an exponential decrease to the basal level. The LH response to high [K+]e is nifedipine-sensitive and its amplitude depends on membrane potential. There is a close relationship between the LH secretory response to high [K+]e and the amplitude of the inward Ca2+ current measured at 100 msec in whole-cell patch clamp experiments. In addition, the profile of the LH secretory response is similar to that of the response of intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) in K(+)-stimulated cells. In Ca2(+)-deficient medium, the effect of high [K+]e is abolished; subsequent elevation of [Ca2+]e during the K+ pulse is followed by restoration of the on response, but with reduced magnitude. Agonist stimulation during the steady-state phase of the [K+]e pulse or after repetitive stimulation by high [K+]e elicited biphasic [Ca2+]i and secretory responses with a significantly reduced plateau phase; conversely, K(+)-induced LH release was reduced in cells treated with desensitizing doses of GnRH. These findings indicate that depolarization-induced changes in the status of voltage-sensitive Ca2+ channels determine the profiles of [Ca2+]i and LH responses to stimulation by high [K+]e; the initial activation of dihydropyridine-sensitive Ca2+ channels is clearly dependent on membrane potential, whereas their subsequent inactivation depends on increased [Ca2+]i. Such inactivation of voltage-sensitive Ca2+ channels also occurs during GnRH action and may represent an additional regulatory mechanism to limit the entry of extracellular Ca2+ during prolonged or frequent agonist stimulation.