cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Improved step and flash imprint lithography templates for nanofabrication

Step and flash imprint lithography (SFIL) is an attractive method for printing sub-100 nm geometries. Relative to other imprinting processes, SFIL has the advantage that the template is transparent, thereby facilitating conventional overlay techniques. In addition, the imprint process is performed at low pressures and room temperature, which minimizes magnification and distortion errors. Several different methods for fabricating templates are presented in this study. One scheme addresses some of the weaknesses associated with a solid glass substrate by incorporating a conductive and transparent layer of indium tin oxide (ITO) on the surface of the substrate. Features are defined on the templates by patterning a thin layer of PECVD oxide that is deposited on the ITO layer. A second method bypasses the oxide etch process by imaging a thin layer of hydrogen silsesquioxane (HSQ). By using a combination of these two methods, it is also possible to form multi-tiered structures on a template. Templates with features as small as 20 nm have been fabricated using the methods described above. The templates were then used to imprint patterns on 200 mm silicon wafers. It appears that any feature defined in the template is faithfully replicated on the wafer.
Modeling influenza progression within a continuous-attribute heterogeneous population

Abstract We consider three attributes of an individual that are critical in determining the temporal dynamics of pandemic influenza: social activity, proneness to infection, and proneness to shed virus and spread infection. These attributes differ by individual, resulting in a heterogeneous population. We develop discrete-time models that depict the evolution of the disease in the presence of such population heterogeneity. For every individual, the value for each of the three describing attributes is viewed as an experimental value of a continuous random variable. The methodology is simple yet general, extending more traditional discrete compartmental models that depict population heterogeneity. Illustrative numerical examples show how individuals who have much larger-than-average values for one or more of the attributes drive the influenza wave, especially in the early generations of the pandemic. This heterogeneity-driven pandemic physics carries important policy implications. We conclude by using contact data in four European countries to demonstrate empirical uses of our model.
In Silico Modeling in Infectious Disease.

Infectious disease has witnessed the emergence of mathematical modeling a tool of synthesizing data of growing complexity now available to clinicians and basic scientists alike. The purpose of this review is to introduce mathematical tools commonly used to model infectious disease. We will illustrate the use of equation-based, agent-based or statistical modeling approaches to a variety of examples pertaining to acute inflammation, bacterial dynamics, viral dynamics, and signaling pathways, focusing of host-pathogen interactions rather than population models. We will discuss the strengths and weaknesses of these approaches and offer future perspectives for this rapidly evolving field.
MO-B-350-01: Functional/Molecular Imaging: PET for Treatment Planning and Response Assessment

Purpose:Positron Emission Tomography(PET)images show physiological and biological information through the in vivo distribution of radioactive, positron‐emitting agents. PETimaging shows focal and distributed regions of cancer and its metastases. Initial PET uses in oncology include diagnosis and staging, which are important for determining treatment decisions. Current PET uses now include target definition for radiation planning followed by PET‐based assessment of treatment. Hybrid PET‐CT devices are beginning to be used as radiation treatment simulators. Method and Materials: F‐18‐labled Fluoro‐deoxyglucose (F‐18 FDG) is the most commonly used PETimaging agent. FDG shows regions of active glucose metabolism, such as local cancer, metastases, non‐cancer inflammation, and normal glucose use. Non‐FDG PET agents can be more specific in cell targeting (binding), and can image different aspects of tumor biology, like hypoxia (FMISO, CuATSM) and cell proliferation (FLT). Results:PETimaging has coarse spatial resolution compared to CT and MR. PET's clinical use is valued because of its great sensitivity for cancer detection. Voxel intensity and image fidelity depend on equipment design, patient size, anatomic site, and imaging study parameters. PET‐CT units enable CT‐based attenuation corrections and inclusion of CTinformation in a registered PET‐CT dataset. The Standardized Uptake Value (SUV) is a normalized intensity measure for quantitative indication of disease, and can be used to identify disease or possibly for target delineation, with certain limitations. While FDG remains the most promising agent for tumor detection, other, biologically more specific agents (e.g., FMISO, CuATSM for hypoxia imaging or FLT for cell proliferationimaging) might be more appropriate for target delineation and treatment assessment. Conclusion: This course reviews PET‐CT hybrid scanning devices, uses of FDG and non‐FDG PET for oncologyimaging, and quantitative aspects for PET‐based radiation target definition and treatment assessment. Example images demonstrate the potential contributions and limitations of FDG and non‐FDG PEToncologyimaging. This review course is intended for both imaging and radiation oncology physicists. Educational Objectives: 1. Describe FDG PETimaging and oncologic indications. 2. Review the uses and limitations of PETimages in radiation treatment. 3. Describe the SUV and other threshold parameters for target delineation. 4. Review non‐FDG PETimaging of tumor biology. 5. Discuss quantitative aspects of PETimaging for treatment assessment.
Analysis of lipophilic peptides and therapeutic drugs: on-line-nonaqueous capillary electrophoresis–mass spectrometry

Abstract This minireview addresses the usefulness of nonaqueous capillary electrophoresis–mass spectrometry (NACE–MS), mainly in the analysis of lipophilic peptides such as gramicidin S and bacitracin, and therapeutic drugs such as pyrazoloacridine, the H 2 antagonist mifentidine, tamoxifen, and their metabolites. The beneficial effects of NACE–MS in typical bioanalytical applications are analyzed case by case. A suitable and widely applicable NACE–MS analysis is identified, which is an electrolyte buffer containing ammonium acetate (5–50 mM) and/or acetic acid (up to 100 mM) with varying composition of organic solvents. Either acetonitrile or methanol or a mixture of the two are mostly utilized in the nonaqueous media. Primary considerations in developing NACE–MS are also discussed.
Reducing Adverse Self-Medication Behaviors in Older Adults with Hypertension: Results of an e-health Clinical Efficacy Trial

A randomized controlled efficacy trial targeting older adults with hypertension (age 60 and over) provided an e-health, tailored intervention with the “next generation” of the Personal Education Program (PEP-NG). Eleven primary care practices with advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) providers participated. Participants (N = 160) were randomly assigned by the PEP-NG (accessed via a wireless touchscreen tablet computer) to either control (entailing data collection and four routine APRN visits) or tailored intervention (involving PEP-NG intervention and four focused APRN visits) group. Compared to patients in the control group, patients receiving the PEP-NG e-health intervention achieved significant increases in both self-medication knowledge and self-efficacy measures, with large effect sizes. Among patients not at BP targets upon entry to the study, therapy intensification in controls (increased antihypertensive dose and/or an additional antihypertensive) was significant (p = .001) with an odds ratio of 21.27 in the control compared to the intervention group. Among patients not at BP targets on visit 1, there was a significant declining linear trend in proportion of the intervention group taking NSAIDs 21–31 days/month (p = 0.008). Satisfaction with the PEP-NG and the APRN provider relationship was high in both groups. These results suggest that the PEP-NG e-health intervention in primary care practices is effective in increasing knowledge and self-efficacy, as well as improving behavior regarding adverse self-medication practices among older adults with hypertension.
Bi-ligand surfaces with oriented and patterned protein for real-time tracking of cell migration

A bioactive platform for the quantitative observation of cell migration is presented by (1) presenting migration factors in a well-defined manner on 2-D substrates, and (2) enabling continuous cell tracking. Well-defined substrate presentation is achieved by correctly orienting immobilized proteins (chemokines and cell adhesion molecules), such that the active site is accessible to cell surface receptors. A thiol-terminated self-assembled monolayer on a silica slide was used as a base substrate for subsequent chemistry. The thiol-terminated surface was converted to an immobilized metal ion surface using a maleimido-nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) cross-linker that bound Histidine-tagged recombinant proteins on the surface with uniform distribution and specific orientation. This platform was used to study the influence of surface-immobilized chemokine SDF-1α and cell adhesion molecule ICAM-1 on murine splenic B lymphocyte migration. While soluble SDF-1α induced trans-migration in a Boyden Chamber type chemotaxis assay, immobilized SDF-1α alone did not elicit significant surface-migration on our test-platform surface. Surface-immobilized cell adhesion protein, ICAM-1, in conjunction with activation enabled migration of this cell type on our surface. Controlled exposure to UV light was used to produce stable linear gradients of His-tagged recombinant SDF-1α co-immobilized with ICAM-1 following our surface chemistry approach. XPS and antibody staining showed defined gradients of outwardly oriented SDF-1α active sites. This test platform can be especially valuable for investigators interested in studying the influence of surface-immobilized factors on cell behavior and may also be used as a cell migration enabling platform for testing the effects of various diffusible agents.
Combined immunosuppression with cyclosporine and methotrexate in dogs given bone marrow grafts from DLA-haploidentical littermates.

We examined the effect of methotrexate (MTX) combined with cyclosporine (CSP) on the prevention of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) in dogs. Ten recipients were prepared for grafting with 9 Gy of total-body irradiation and given marrow and buffy coat cells from littermate donors differing for one DLA haplotype (AA leads to AB or AB leads to AC). MTX (0.4 mg/kg) was given i.v. on days 1, 3, 6, and 11. CSP was given i.m. on days 0 to 7 and orally on days 8 to 100. The dose was 15 mg/kg/day on days 0 to 25, 10 mg/kg/day on days 26 to 50, 5 mg/kg/day on days 51 to 75, and 5 mg/kg every other day on days 75 to 100. All ten dogs had sustained engraftment. Three dogs died, one with pneumonia (day 57), one with pneumonia and GVHD (day 107), and one with convulsions (day 204). Seven dogs are surviving at 210 to 493 days, and all are complete chimeras; five are well and two have chronic GVHD that developed after immunosuppressive treatment had been stopped. These results with a combination of MTX and CSP as GVHD prophylaxis are superior to those obtained previously with MTX alone in dogs given marrow grafts from DLA-haploidentical littermates.
One million frame per second camera

The design and construction of a 1 000 000 fps (frame per second) rotating mirror frame camera is described. Twenty five consecutive pictures 20 mm in diameter can be obtained on a strip of 35 mm film. A resolution of at least 20 lines/mm is obtained on a moderately fast film like Linagraph Shellburst. Accurate synchronization of the event to be photographed is required. The camera has been most useful in the investigation of explosive and related phenomena.
Effects of Sequencing, Classifying, and Coding on Identifying Harmonic Functions

The purpose of the study was to investigate the effectiveness of scalar or root classification systems, inductive or deductive content sequences, and kinetic or verbal coding processes on identifying harmonic functions. An aural identification test battery that consists of root position and root position/inversion subtests was designed by the investigator to serve as criterion measures. Multivariate analysis of variance was used to analyze the results of the study. Only the main effects for classification systems were found to be significant on the multivariate test. Separate univariate analyses indicated that the scalar classification groups obtained significantly higher mean scores on both criterion measures. Thus, a scalar classification system appears to be a more effective procedure for teaching the aural identification of harmonic functions.
On adaptive-biasing of linear power amplifiers in devices with OFDM transceivers

Recent work suggested heuristic methods based on adaptive-biasing of linear power amplifiers to make efficient use of limited power supply in compact devices utilizing an OFDM based transceiver. In this work we provide explicit analysis of the power savings achieved with adaptive-biasing. Preliminary results of achievable power-saving are depicted as well.
A Comment on Cultural Attributes and Fluidity of Bisexuality

Selected aspects of the "essentialist" critiques and reviews in Bisexual and Homosexual Identities: Critical Theoretical Issues (De Cecco & Shively, eds. 1983/1984) of the idea of the bisexual identity are examined form the standpoint of their cross-cultural significance. Examples form recent studies in Melanesia are used to highlight possible areas of exploration for future research in homosexuality and bisexuality. The idea of fluidity of sexual identity is examined, including the associated notion of sexual desire.
On the influx of small comets into the Earth's upper atmosphere II. Interpretation

Large, transient decreases of atmospheric dayglow intensities at ultraviolet wavelengths, primarily the atomic oxygen emissions at 130.4 nm, are interpreted in terms of an influx of heretofore undetected comet-like objects. The primary composition of these comet-like objects is water snow or clathrate in the form of a fluffy aggregate. These small comets are covered with a dust mantle and the tensile stress at fracture is estimated to be ∼ 0.1 dyne/cm². The water molecules that form the absorbing blanket for ultraviolet emissions arrive at the top of the earth's atmosphere as a piston of gas with bulk speed ≲ 20 km/sec. The mass of each of these comet-like objects is ∼ 108 gm, or ∼ 100 tons. The global influx rate is ∼ 20 comets per minute. The global mass accretion rate by the earth's atmosphere is ∼ 1012 kg/year, and sufficient to replace the atmospheric mass in ∼ 5 × 106 years. The earth and the other bodies in the solar system would be thus more strongly coupled to cometary matter than presently thought.
Irreversible pulmonary hypertension after correction of tetralogy of Fallot.

A case of tetralogy of Fallot in which irreversible pulmonary hypertension developed in the postoperative period is presented. A recent cardiac catheterization has shown this to be caused by reopening of the ventricular septum and complete relief of infundibular pulmonic stenosis. The patient's hemodynamics are now those of a ventricular septal defect with reversal of shunting. The need for careful postoperative follow-up and early evaluation by catheterization when the hemodynamic status is in doubt is illustrated and stressed.
Bell gems: the Bell basis generalized

Abstract A class of self-similar sets of entangled quantum states is introduced, for which a recursive definition is provided. These sets, the “Bell gems”, are defined by the subsystem exchange symmetry characteristic of the Bell states. Each Bell gem is shown to be an orthonormal basis of maximally entangled elements.
Influence of polyvalent cations on the activation of muscle end plate receptors.

The influence of polyvalent cations on the activation of end plate receptors has been studied in vitro on the sartorius muscle of the frog. In the absence of extracellular calcium, the sensitivity of the receptors to depolarizing quaternary ammonium salts was markedly reduced. Maximum receptor activation occurred in those fibers equilibrated in 1.8 mM calcium Ringer solution, with the response being reduced as the calcium concentration was raised or lowered. Magnesium was less efficient than calcium in regulating the sensitivity of the end plate receptors, the maximum receptor response occurring in those fibers equilibrated in 8 mM magnesium Ringer solution. In the presence of lanthanum the end plate response to carbamylcholine or acetylcholine was enhanced. Lanthanum increased the conductance change produced by carbamylcholine both in polarized and in potassium-depolarized fibers. The application of 10-2 mM lanthanum to the end plate increased MEPP's amplitude, rise time, and half-fall time by 19, 54, and 45%, respectively. The results suggest that polyvalent cations influence postjunctional membrane receptor processes in addition to their well-documented prejunctional action.
Effect of Lesion Location on Upper Limb Motor Recovery After Stroke

Background and Purpose —The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of stroke involvement of primary and secondary hemispheric motor systems and corticofugal tracts on arm and hand recovery. Methods —Forty-one patients participating in an inpatient stroke rehabilitation database, admitted 17±2 (SEM) days after initial unilateral hemispheric ischemic stroke, with neuroimaging studies performed >48 hours after stroke and with minimal upper limb (UL) movement (admission Fugl-Meyer UL motor scores ≤9; normal score, 58) were studied. Patients were divided into 3 groups according to their UL discharge Fugl-Meyer score: 0 to 9, no/poor recovery; 10 to 18, well-defined flexion-extension synergies; and >18, synergies+isolated movements. Lesions affecting the following structures were recorded: primary motor cortex, premotor area, supplementary motor area, anterior half of the middle third of corona radiata (secondary motor efferents), posterior half of the middle third of corona radiata (primary motor efferents), genu, anterior and posterior limbs of the internal capsule (PLIC), basal ganglia, and thalamus. χ 2 Analysis and ANOVA were used to study the significance of stroke location on UL motor recovery. Results —The effect of involvement of primary, premotor, or supplementary motor areas on motor recovery did not reach statistical significance. Patients with purely cortical stroke were likely to recover UL isolated movement (3 of 4) compared with purely subcortical (1 of 17) or mixed cortical-subcortical stroke location (2 of 20) ( P =0.009). Of those with cortical, subcortical, or mixed cortical plus subcortical lesions sparing the PLIC, 5 of 13 recovered isolated UL movement ( P =0.01). Only 1 of 28 patients with involvement of the PLIC plus adjacent corona radiata, basal ganglia, or thalamus recovered isolated UL movement ( P =0.01). Patients with small lacunar strokes affecting only the PLIC did not have sufficient motor deficits 2 weeks after stroke to meet inclusion criteria. Conclusions —The probability of recovery of isolated UL movement decreases progressively with lesion location as follows: cortex, corona radiata, and PLIC. This is consistent with our current understanding of redundant cortical motor representation and convergence of corticofugal motor efferents as they pass through the corona radiata to the PLIC.
Novel therapeutic approaches in the treatment of children with hepatoblastoma.

Summary: Hepatoblastoma is the most common liver tumor diagnosed in children. Children with persistently unresectable disease, metastatic disease at presentation, recurrent disease, or slowly declining alpha-fetoprotein levels are at high risk for recurrence, exhibit an extremely poor prognosis, and are in desperate need of novel therapeutic agents and strategies. Four high-risk patients were treated. One patient with a local recurrence was treated with irinotecan followed by orthotopic liver transplant. Three patients were treated with tandem high-dose chemotherapy (HDT) with autologous stem cell rescue (two with primary metastatic disease and one with recurrent disease). All three of the patients treated with HDT had relapse (two of them subsequently received irinotecan); the remaining patient underwent surgical resection of a solitary recurrent pulmonary metastasis. Irinotecan demonstrated significant antitumor effects in all three treated patients and was well tolerated. None of the three patients treated with HDT remained disease-free, although the patient who underwent surgical resection of a solitary recurrent pulmonary metastasis remains disease-free 6 years from diagnosis. Further exploration of the use of irinotecan is warranted in high-risk patients with hepatoblastoma.
Adult vaccines for individuals with human immunodeficiency virus infection.

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a persistent problem in the United States, with about 1.2 million people living with infection and nearly 50,000 new cases each year.1 Individuals with chronic conditions, including HIV infection, should receive routine immunizations. Patients with HIV must stay current with these recommended vaccine schedules, as these individuals are prone to infection and experience greater morbidity and mortality from vaccine-preventable diseases than patients without HIV.2 In this article, we review the vaccine recommendations for patients with HIV; provide information about special considerations and vaccination responses, if available; and define the pharmacist’s role in preventive health for this patient population.
Brotherhoods and Stock Societies: Guilds in Pre-modern Japan

The history of guilds is closely tied to political, economic and social history. For this reason, the organizations called guilds can vary widely over time and space. In Japanese history there are two organizations usually translated as guilds that are quite different from each other because they flourished in very different periods of Japanese history. Both organizations were associations of people with the same trade or similar commercial interests and both organizations took steps to protect and advance the commercial rights of their members including attempts to gain monopoly control of certain commodities or markets, but otherwise they were quite different from each other. The structure that represents guilds in medieval Japan (794-1573) is the za. Za literally means “seat” and may refer to a seat in village or shrine brotherhood meetings, these brotherhoods being one origin of the medieval guild organization. Za may also have referred to a seat or stall in a market or a seat at a ceremonial
Peer-to-peer valuation as a mechanism for reinforcing active learning in virtual communities: actualizing social exchange theory

As knowledge becomes the primary focus of work in many industries, virtual communities and groups are emerging as part of new organizational forms. Within these virtual forms, efficacy of learning in group problem solving and knowledge sharing tasks is influenced by factors such as the level of participation and domination, the level of consensus and cooperation, and satisfaction with group processes. Active collaborative filtering, however, is limited in its ability to motivate active participation. Further, literature reports that virtual discussions are frequently faced with the 'cold-start' problem. We apply social exchange theory as a foundation to address these limitations. We posit that by applying the insights provided by social exchange theory, member perceptions of the costs and benefits of participating in the virtual group can be modified over time. By providing active feedback to each member, we can influence his/her behavior and willingness to contribute. We propose a modified architecture for virtual community discussions, and demonstrate both the viability and implementation of this as a Web based system with the initial version of a prototype that actualizes social exchange theory to encourage active learning and knowledge sharing in a peer-to-peer community.
The Geographical Distribution of Floods and Droughts in Chinese History, 206 B.C.–A.D. 1911

Throughout history floods and droughts have undoubtedly been the two greatest natural scourges of China. Being thus far primarily an agricultural nation with a close dependence upon nature, China's concern with floods and droughts is clearly understandable.As is generally well known among sinologists, China has a heritage of unbroken recorded history, covering a period of approximately three millennia. Partly owing to the important role floods and droughts played in the life of the nation and partly because of the supernatural significance attached to the occurrence of these phenomena, numerous instances of floods and droughts have been recorded usually with definite dates and places.
Reducing power bus impedance at resonance with lossy components

Power bus structures in printed circuit boards with solid power and ground planes exhibit resonances. When the power bus is resonant, the power bus impedance can increase dramatically. This paper explores the effect of component equivalent series resistance (ESR) on power bus resonances. General guidelines for selecting an optimum ESR are provided and are supported by laboratory measurements and numerical simulations.
Correcting for Acquiescent Response Bias in the Absence of a Balanced Scale: An Application to Class Consciousness

This article describes a method for purging data of the effects of acquiescent response bias—a tendency to respond in the affirmative to survey items irrespective of substantive content—in the abse...
Transition from Conventional to Organic Farming Systems: I. Challenges, Recommendations, and Guidelines for Pest Management

ADDITIONAL INDEX WORDS. alternative agriculture, biological approach, cover crops, crop rotation, cultural practices, disease management, insect management, nematode control, organic amendments, weed management SUMMARY. Conventional agricultural systems increase per-area food production, but deplete natural resources and degrade both crop and environmental quality. Many of these concerns are addressed by sustainable agricultural systems, integrated pest management, biocontrol, and other alternative systems. Environmental and social concerns have escalated the need for alternative agricultural systems in the last decade. One alternative, the organic farming system, substitutes cultural and biological inputs for synthetically made fertilizers and chemicals for crop nutrition and pest management. Practices used for crop and pest management are similar during transition from conventional to organic farming systems, but produce is not certified to be organic during the transition period. During the transition from conventional to organic farming, growers may face pest control difficulties and lower yields when conventional practices are abandoned. The objectives of this paper are to 1) give an overview of the reasons for converting to organic farming and the challenges that growers face during the transition period, 2) outline some potential strategies for crop, soil, and pest management, and 3) list guidelines and recommendations for pest management during the transition to organic farming. Implementation of crop and pest management practices depends on geographical location, climate, available onsite resources, and history of the land. During transition, growers rely on cultural mechanisms and on organic and mineral sources to improve soil fertility, to build a population of natural enemies to suppress pest populations. Pest management practices during the transition period that reduce pest populations to economically manageable levels include crop rotation, cultivation, cover crops, mulches, crop diversification, resistant varieties, and insect traps. These practices also enrich the soil biota and increase crop yields before produce is certified organically grown.
Modified ligands to FA and FB in photosystem I. II. Characterization of a mixed ligand [4Fe-4S] cluster in the C51D mutant of PsaC upon rebinding to P700-Fx cores.

Abstract A Photosystem I (PS I) complex reconstituted with PsaC-C51D (aspartate in lieu of cysteine in position 51) shows light-induced EPR signals with g values, line widths, and photoreduction behavior characteristic of FB. Contrary to an earlier report, a [3Fe-4S] cluster was not located in the reconstituted PS I complex. Instead, a second set of resonances with g values of 2.044, 1.942, and 1.853 becomes EPR-visible when the C51D-PS I complex is measured at 4.2 K. This fast relaxing center, termed FA′ is likely to represent a [4Fe-4S] cluster in the mixed ligand (3Cys•1Asp) site. Redox studies show that the Em of FA′ and FB are −630 mV and −575 mV, respectively. Room temperature optical studies support the presence of two functioning electron acceptors subsequent to FX, and NADP+ photoreduction rates mediated by ferredoxin and flavodoxin are nearly equivalent to the wild type. In addition to [3Fe-4S] clusters and S = ground state [4Fe-4S] clusters, the free PsaC-C51D protein shows resonances near g = 5.5, which may represent a population of high spin (S =) [4Fe-4S] clusters in the mixed ligand FA′ site. Similar to the C14D-PS I mutant complex, it is proposed that the P700-FX core selectively rebinds those free PsaC-C51D proteins that contain two [4Fe-4S] clusters. These studies show that primary photochemistry and electron transfer rates in PS I are relatively unaffected by the presence of a highly reducing, mixed ligand cluster in the FA′ site.
1988 Compilation of Elemental Concentration Data for CCRMP Reference Rock Samples SY‐2, SY‐3 and MRG‐1

Concentration data on 80 individual constituents in Canadian Certified Reference Materials Project rock reference materials SY-2, SY-3, and MRG-I have been collected from 382 journal articles and technical reports. These data are summarized as consensus (mean) values with uncertainties expressed as one standard deviation. Mean values are also calculated as a function of analytical procedure and all raw data are given in the tables. Recommended values are proposed based upon data criteria used by NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology, formerly the National Bureau of Standards or NBS).
Bacterial colonization of pacifiers of infants with acute otitis media

The presence of aerobic and facultative anaerobic bacteria on the surface of pacifiers used by children with acute otitis media was investigated. The surface of 40 recently used pacifiers was swabbed after they were allowed to dry for five to six minutes. The swabs were processed quantitatively for the presence of aerobic bacteria. The antibacterial activity of the pacifier material was tested in vitro. Microorganisms were isolated from 21 (52.5 per cent) pacifiers. The number of colonies per pacifier varied between one and 35 (average six). The isolates included eight alpha-haemolytic streptococci, six Staphylococcus epidermis, five Candida albicans, five alpha-haemolytic streptococci, three Neisseria spp. and two Staphylococcus aureus. The pacifier material was shown to be inhibitory against S. aureus. This study illustrated that pacifiers do not contain high numbers of organisms and therefore are not likely to serve as a source of persistence of transfer of organisms.
The impact of cognitive impairment on short-term outcomes of hip fracture patients

The purpose of this study is to examine the differences in outcomes related to recovery after hip fracture among patients with and without cognitive impairment. This is a prospective cohort study of consecutively hospitalized elderly patients with acute hip fracture in a setting utilizing a multidisciplinary hip fracture service. Of the 48 patients admitted with hip fracture, 18 patients were found to have cognitive impairment postoperatively as determined by a Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score <or=24. Compared to patients without cognitive impairment, cognitively impaired patients reported no difference in the number of activities of daily living (ADL) performed independently or the number of instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) performed independently in the month prior to admission. There was no difference in hospital length of stay. The impaired group had a mean rehabilitation length of stay that was 8 days longer than that of the unimpaired group. Six weeks after surgery, the number of independent activities did not differ between groups. This investigation suggests that although patients with cognitive impairment require longer rehabilitation courses after hip fracture surgery as compared to those who are cognitively unimpaired, they achieve comparable short-term outcomes in the setting of a dedicated hip fracture service.
Saccharomyces cerevisiae transcription elongation mutants are defective in PUR5 induction in response to nucleotide depletion.

IMP dehydrogenase (IMPDH) is the rate-limiting enzyme in the de novo synthesis of guanine nucleotides. It is a target of therapeutically useful drugs and is implicated in the regulation of cell growth rate. In the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, mutations in components of the RNA polymerase II (Pol II) transcription elongation machinery confer increased sensitivity to a drug that inhibits IMPDH, 6-azauracil (6AU), by a mechanism that is poorly understood. This phenotype is thought to reflect the need for an optimally functioning transcription machinery under conditions of lowered intracellular GTP levels. Here we show that in response to the application of IMPDH inhibitors such as 6AU, wild-type yeast strains induce transcription of PUR5, one of four genes encoding IMPDH-related enzymes. Yeast elongation mutants sensitive to 6AU, such as those with a disrupted gene encoding elongation factor SII or those containing amino acid substitutions in Pol II subunits, are defective in PUR5 induction. The inability to fully induce PUR5 correlates with mutations that effect transcription elongation since 6AU-sensitive strains deleted for genes not related to transcription elongation are competent to induce PUR5. DNA encompassing the PUR5 promoter and 5* untranslated region supports 6AU induction of a luciferase reporter gene in wild-type cells. Thus, yeast sense and respond to nucleotide depletion via a mechanism of transcriptional induction that restores nucleotides to levels required for normal growth. An optimally functioning elongation machinery is critical for this response.
Underwater acoustic communication channels: Propagation models and statistical characterization

Acoustic propagation is characterized by three major factors: attenuation that increases with signal frequency, time-varying multipath propagation, and low speed of sound (1500 m/s). The background noise, although often characterized as Gaussian, is not white, but has a decaying power spectral density. The channel capacity depends on the distance, and may be extremely limited. Because acoustic propagation is best supported at low frequencies, although the total available bandwidth may be low, an acoustic communication system is inherently wideband in the sense that the bandwidth is not negligible with respect to its center frequency. The channel can have a sparse impulse response, where each physical path acts as a time-varying low-pass filter, and motion introduces additional Doppler spreading and shifting. Surface waves, internal turbulence, fluctuations in the sound speed, and other small-scale phenomena contribute to random signal variations. At this time, there are no standardized models for the acoustic channel fading, and experimental measurements are often made to assess the statistical properties of the channel in particular deployment sites.
Comparison of direct numerical simulations with predictions of two-point closures for isotropic turbulence convecting a passive scalar

Results of direct numerical simulations (DNS) for the decay of an initially Gaussian field of turbulence convecting a passive scalar are compared with equivalent results for the direct-interaction approximation (DIA) and the test-field model (TFM). The Taylor microscale Reynolds number Rλ and the equivalent Peclet number Pλ of the comparison ranged from 20–8 and 10–4, respectively. The Prandtl number Pr equals 0·5. Our results show a satisfactory agreement of both theories and numerical simulations, with the DIA giving better overall agreement, especially at small scales. This improved small-scale agreement - which appears to hold up to Rλ ≃ 30 - is related to the relatively long coherence times of the small scales, and to the fact that the TFM, containing as it does a built-in compliance to the fluctuation dissipation theorem, cannot properly cope with this fact. We also give a comparison of results for the velocity skewness with the experiments of Tavoularis, Bennett & Corrsin (1978).
Uninsured Rose in 2002 as Number of Americans With Employment-Based Health Benefits Declined

This article provides a look at the effect of a weak economy, combined with rising health benefit costs, on the number of Americans who have employment-based health benefits, who are covered by public programs, and who are uninsured. Among all Americans, 61.3 percent - or 175.3 million - were covered by employment-based health benefits during 2002, down from 63.6 percent in 2000. Initial findings indicate that this decline was due to erosion of coverage among both workers and nonworkers as small employers either dropped health benefits or required workers to pay more for them when they were offered. The PDF for the above title, published in the November 2003 issue of EBRI Notes, also contains the fulltext of another November 2003 EBRI Notes article abstracted on SSRN: Income of the Elderly Population: 2002.
THE TALKING ANIMALS OF FOLKTALES

Folktales all over the world portray animals that speak and discuss their problems just like humans. This condition has generated a lot of observations and misconceptions. Some see it that since animals have never been seen conversing, that the way they are depicted in tales is to use them as masks to hide the identity of real persons. Others because of the humanoid animal characters see the tales as creations of inchoate minds which should be left for those who study antiquities. Be it as it may, it is the stand of this paper that these animals converse and communicate just as the stories relate. The problem with us is that we are too far removed from them and we expect them to speak or talk just like us. Therefore, this enquiry depicts how these animals communicate, and meaningfully too, just as the tales relate.
The Grass is Greener: What Executives Reap at ‘So Long’

Research has considered what drives executives out of their firms and what to do to mitigate opportunism by executives; an area that remains underexplored is what explains the differences in gains ...
Aging and Immunity in Non-Human Primates II. Lymphocyte Response in Thymosin Treated Middle-aged Monkeys

Thymic hormone production declines with age, and recent strategies for enhancing immune function in elderly people include the administration of various thymic preparations. In an effort to develop an animal model for such therapeutic intervention, the current study was undertaken. Fourteen female rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta), aged 18-25 years, received a 7-day course of either Thymosin Alpha One (TA1) or placebo, and in vitro and in vivo immunologic analyses were performed. The relative percentage of T-cells and T-cell subsets declined during treatment in both TA1 and placebo groups. Nevertheless, mitogen-induced proliferation and NK-cell function were increased in most monkeys that received TA1, a trend that was apparent but not statistically significant. The antibody response to tetanus toxoid vaccine was not greater in the TA1 treatment group when compared to the placebo group. These findings suggest that TA1 can be safely administered to old monkeys and that such treatment, if undertaken in a larger or more sustained trial, may be associated with demonstrable biologic activity. Further studies are warranted to determine the potential for this or similar agents to reduce the consequences of age-associated immune deficiency.
Scramjet Isolator Shock Train Location Techniques

Within a scramjet, the isolator can contain a shock train in which the static pressure increases from the inlet to the combustor. In order to control the location of the shock train, the shock train leading edge location must be detectable. The purpose of this research is to compare the accuracy of several shock train leading edge detection techniques to measurements made using high-speed shadowgraph photography. A cold-ow, direct-connect high-speed wind tunnel was used to collect all the data, which was then post-processed, for this research. Six methods were considered to locate the shock train leading edge. The rst four use linear interpolation along with pressure transducer measurements and locations. The measurements used include the ratio of static pressures, static pressure increase, static pressure standard deviation, and static pressure power spectral density. Additionally, two static polynomial models were developed which related the sum of the static pressures to the shock train location and the back pressure to the shock train location. The research validates that the spectral content and the pressure rise along the test section can accurately detect shock train leading edge locations. Further, the sum of the pressure transducers method provides a highly accurate leading edge location measurement that is computationally ecient.
Influence of Cultured Tissue Fragments on Sulfanilamide-Inhibition of Beta Streptococci.

SummaryIn tissue-cultures, the characteristic effects of sulfanilamide on beta hemolytic streptococci are markedly inhibited by the products of tissue-breakdown.
Preventing diet-induced obesity in mice by adipose tissue transformation and angiogenesis using targeted nanoparticles

The incidence of obesity, which is recognized by the American Medical Association as a disease, has nearly doubled since 1980, and obesity-related comorbidities have become a major threat to human health. Given that adipose tissue expansion and transformation require active growth of new blood vasculature, angiogenesis offers a potential target for the treatment of obesity-associated disorders. Here we construct two peptide-functionalized nanoparticle (NP) platforms to deliver either Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor gamma (PPARgamma) activator rosiglitazone (Rosi) or prostaglandin E2 analog (16,16-dimethyl PGE2) to adipose tissue vasculature. These NPs were engineered through self-assembly of a biodegradable triblock polymer composed of end-to-end linkages between poly(lactic-coglycolic acid)-b-poly(ethylene glycol) (PLGA-b-PEG) and an endothelial-targeted peptide. In this system, released Rosi promotes both transformation of white adipose tissue (WAT) into brown-like adipose tissue and angiogenesis, which facilitates the homing of targeted NPs to adipose angiogenic vessels, thereby amplifying their delivery. We show that i.v. administration of these NPs can target WAT vasculature, stimulate the angiogenesis that is required for the transformation of adipose tissue, and transform WAT into brown-like adipose tissue, by the up-regulation of angiogenesis and brown adipose tissue markers. In a diet-induced obese mouse model, these angiogenesis-targeted NPs have inhibited body weight gain and modulated several serological markers including cholesterol, triglyceride, and insulin, compared with the control group. These findings suggest that angiogenesis-targeting moieties with angiogenic stimulator-loaded NPs could be incorporated into effective therapeutic regimens for clinical treatment of obesity and other metabolic diseases.
Pathogenesis and Biological Significance of Seminal Vesicle Invasion in Prostatic Adenocarcinoma

AbstractSeminal vesicle invasion and the percentage involvement by cancer of each seminal vesicle were related to cancer volume, quantitative histological grade and presence or absence of lymph node metastases in 243 radical prostatectomy specimens. There were 47 prostates with seminal vesicle invasion. Frequency and extent of seminal vesicle invasion were strongly correlated with cancer volume, with minimal invasion noted in only 6% of the cases less than 4 cc. The relationship of seminal vesicle invasion to lymph node metastasis was statistically significant but cancer volume and histological grade were much stronger predictors of lymph node metastasis. The route of invasion from the prostate in 46 cases involved direct tumor spread into the midbase region near the ejaculatory ducts. Seminal vesicle invasion often may not be identified if the tissue nearest the ejaculatory ducts at the prostate base is not sampled.
Effect of NaCl salinity and nitrogen form on fatty acid composition of wheat roots

The effect of NaCl and nitrogen nutrition (as nitrate and ammonium) on root lipid content and fatty acid composition was studied in three-week-old wheat (Triticum aestivum L., cv. Mironovskaya 808) seedlings. Biomass accumulation and total lipid content in roots decreased after one week of NaCl treatment of the plants grown on both nitrogen forms. While total fatty acid saturation increased in nitrate- and especially in ammonium-fed plants, the relative proportion of linoleic and linolenic acids declined in ammonium-and especially in nitrate-fed seedlings. The data indicate that the effect of salinity on root lipids and their fatty acid composition depends on the form of nitrogen nutrition.
From the Bowels of Hell to Draco: The Mysteries of the Peratics

It very significant that Hippolytus' own description of the Peratics as a mystery cult appears to be sympathetic with the Peratic author he quotes. This chapter offers brief examination of the Peratics as the first in a long-term series on the subject of Gnostic initiation as it charts the precise katabatic and astrological roads into and out of the cosmos that the Gnostics claim to have discovered and traveled during their initiations. From the information culled from Hippolytus and the Peratic book he excerpts, it is observed that the Peratics' initiation journey was structured around three, mysteries or stages of initiation. Like initiations in some of the ancient mystery cults that culminated in a revelatory vision, the Peratic initiates are told to gaze further above them to the very top of the celestial sphere where they lay their eyes on Draco, the image of the perfect serpent. Keywords:Draco; Gnostics; Hippolytus; mystery; Peratics
A Construction Sequence for Hubbell Trading Post and Residence

ABSTRACTIn an effort to supplement the historical record of Hubbell Trading Post National Historic Site at Ganado, Arizona, a dendrochronological analysis of structural wood in the original buildings was made. Prior analysis of 14 beams from the site indicated good crossdating with an established local tree-ring chronology and suggested success for further study. Two hundred inventoried beams were cored in place and examined according to accepted dendrochronological procedures. Each dated timber provides significantly new detailed information concerning the sequence in which John Lorenzo Hubbell constructed each feature.