cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The investigation of water/AOT/supercritical ethane reverse micelles by UV–VIS spectroscopy

Abstract The effect of pressure on the phase behaviour of water/AOT/supercritical ethane was studied by UV–VIS spectroscopy. In supercritical ethane at 310 K, 10 mM of AOT could be solubilized at 14 MPa while 25 MPa was required to dissolve 100 mM of AOT. A pressure of 34 MPa was needed to obtain a one-phase reverse micellar solution of 100 mM AOT at a water content of W0=5 (W0, molar ratio of water to AOT). To solubilize 50 mM AOT containing water W0=7 requires 36 MPa. The polarity of the micellar interface was increased by increasing the water content of the micelles. No influence of the pressure on the polarity of the aqueous core was observed after the solution change to one-phase. The ET (30)-value, a solvent polarity parameter, of micellar interface at W0=1 was estimated to be 50.2 kcal mol−1.
TiC(001) Surface Relaxation.

The rippled relaxation of the TiC(001) surface is examined, using a full-potential linear muffin tin orbital electronic structure calculation. We investigate the underlying physics of the relaxation in a manner which forms a close correspondence with historically important, analytic models of surface relaxation, and compare to previously calculated results for TaC. Unlike a recently reported tight-binding model, our calculations for TiC predict outward relaxation for the surface carbon, and inward relaxation for titanium, which, while reduced in magnitude, is the same direction of relaxation found in TaC.
Clinician bias: The effects of pretesting information on the evaluations of speech clinicians

The purpose of this investigation was to determine if pretesting information has a biasing effect on the speech evaluations of student speech clinicians. A total of three groups of clinicians evaluated 10 speech characteristics of each of 17 recorded speech samples. The clinicians participated in two listening sessions. In the first (control) session, they evaluated the speech samples using a 4-point scale of defectiveness and were given no background information on the speakers. In the second (experimental) session, they were given fabricated case history information prior to their evaluations. Results of their ratings indicate that the pretesting information had a biasing effect on the clinicians' evaluations of the speech samples. Implications of these findings and suggestions for future inquiry are discussed.
Petriellidium (Allescheria) Boydii Orbital and Brain Abscess Treated with Intravenous Miconazole

A previously healthy 4-year-old boy suffered a penetrating injury to his left orbit and left frontal lobe, which resulted in an infection by Petriellidium boydii. The patient was successfully treated with intravenous miconazole and multiple debridements.
The role of parkin in Parkinson’s disease: a stem cell perspective

ISSN 1758-2024 10.2217/NMT.12.25 © 2012 Future Medicine Ltd Neurodegen. Dis. Manage. (2012) 2(3), 239–241 part of Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a movement disorder characterized by the degeneration of nigral dopaminergic (DA) neurons. The defining locomotor symptoms (i.e., rest tremor, rigidity, bradykinesia and postural instability) are caused by a relatively selective loss of nigral DA neurons [1]. Current pharmacological treatments focus on augmenting DA levels in the brain (e.g., levodopa, monoamine oxidase [MAO]-B inhibitors and catechol-O-methyltransferase inhibitors) or mimicking the actions of DA (e.g., DA agonists). These drugs mostly provide symptomatic relief; the unabated degeneration of nigral DA neurons and other cells invariably kills PD patients. Surgical interventions such as deep-brain stimulation are similar in that they only alleviate locomotor symptoms and have no impact on the neuro degeneration process. Thus, the central problems for PD research are to understand the cause for the degeneration of nigral DA neurons and to identify a strategy to intervene, preferably as early as possible. Mechanistic studies on PD-linked monogenic mutations have revealed significant insights into the unique vulnerabilities of nigral DA neurons and how mutations of a single gene, such as parkin, expose these vulnerabilities. A variety of mouse genetic models of PD have revealed surprisingly little information on the human disease [2]. For example, parkin knockout mice do not exhibit any robust phenotype [3], in sharp contrast with PD patients with parkin mutations [4]. It suggests that human nigral DA neurons are quite different from the murine counterpart. The landmark discovery of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) [5,6] has made it possible for us to generate patient-specific midbrain DA neurons from PD patients with parkin mutations and normal controls [7]. Our study shows that parkin mutations significantly disrupt the precision of DA transmission by increasing spontaneous DA release and decreasing DA reuptake. In addition, parkin mutations greatly elevate DA-induced oxidative stress by increasing the transcription of MAOs, which catalyze the oxidative deamination of DA – a reaction that produces a large amount of reactive oxygen species. Overexpression of wild-type parkin, but not its PD-linked mutant, significantly rescues all these phenotypes. Thus, mimicking the beneficial actions of parkin, for example, with small-molecule
Applications of effective core potentials and density functional theory to the spin states of iron porphyrin.

We investigated the performance of the B3LYP density functional in combination with ab initio effective core potentials (ECPs) that are derived from either Hartree−Fock or Dirac−Fock calculations. The transferability of ab initio ECPs is assessed on the basis of comparison with all-electron density functional calculations. For iron(II) porphyrin in particular, our assessment focused on the relative energetic ordering of five low-lying spin states, 1A1G, 3A1G, 3B2G, 5A2G, and 5B1G, and their properties, including optimized structures, charge distribution, spin density, and vibrational frequencies. Our results show that core electron correlation and core−valence electron correlation do not have significant effects on the relative energetics of the spin states of iron porphyrin. Our calculations suggest that effects of replacing the core electrons with ECPs are less significant than the choice of basis functions. We conclude that ab initio ECPs such as LANL2, RCEP, and MEFIT-R may be combined with the B3LYP ...
Ferritic Microstructures in Continuously Cooled Low- and Ultralow-carbon Steels

This paper reviews the various ferritic microstructures produced by austenite decomposition in continuously cooled low-carbon and ultralow-carbon steels and irons. Various terminologies used to identify the different ferritic microstructures and presented and related to several classification systems which have been developed for bainitic and ferritic microstructures in steels. Microstructural aspects are emphasized and discussed relative to transformation kinetics and mechanisms of austenite transformation to various morphologies of ferrite.
Spatial glass transition temperature variations in polymer glass: application to a maltodextrin-water system.

A model was developed to predict spatial glass transition temperature (Tg) distributions in glassy maltodextrin particles during transient moisture sorption. The simulation employed a numerical mas...
Heterogeneity in supercomputer architectures

Abstract Various organization styles have been used in the architecture of supercomputers in order to achieve cost-effective performance and programmability. Traditionally, a particular organization style (e.g., vector pipeline processor, array processor, or multiprocessor) has been selected to satisfy the performance requirements of a class of applications, achieving usually a much lower performance in other applications. In addition, the mapping of ‘foreign’ algorithms to a single-style architecture may create great programming difficulties. Since each architecture style provides attractive cost-performance and programming features, the question of heterogeneity (i.e., combining of several architecture/design styles in a single system) deserves attention. In this paper we discuss some approaches to heterogeneous architectures, identify hardware and software issues, and analyze several built or proposed systems.
The interaction of tetraiodofluorescein with aspartate transcarbamylase.

Abstract Tetraiodofluorescein (TIF) increases the activity of aspartate transcarbamylase (ATCase) at a concentration only one one-hundredth that of ATP needed to produce comparable activation. At high concentrations, however, the dye decreases the enzyme's activity. In contrast, the isolated catalytic subunit (C 3 ) is inhibited by TIF at any concentration. These results are interpreted to indicate two classes of dye binding sites on the enzyme:an activating class on the regulatory subunits, perhaps those sites at which the physiological activator ATP binds, and an inhibiting class of sites on the catalytic subunits. A difference absorption spectrum, observed when TIF interacts with ATCase, is modified by ATCase's substrates and effectors. Thus TIF is a potentially valuable optical probe of ATCase conformation.
The GABA uptake inhibitor β-alanine reduces pilocarpine-induced tremor and increases extracellular GABA in substantia nigra pars reticulata as measured by microdialysis

Substantia nigra pars reticulata (SNr) is a major output nucleus of the basal ganglia that receives GABAergic projections from neostriatum and globus pallidus. Previous research has shown that local pharmacological manipulations of GABA in SNr can influence tremulous jaw movements in rats. Tremulous jaw movements are defined as rapid vertical deflections of the lower jaw that resemble chewing but are not directed at a particular stimulus, and evidence indicates that these movements share many characteristics with parkinsonian tremor in humans. In order to investigate the role of GABA in motor functions related to tremor, the present study tested the GABA uptake blocker beta-alanine for its ability to reduce pilocarpine-induced tremulous jaw movements. In a parallel experiment, the effect of an active dose of beta-alanine on dialysate levels of GABA in SNr was assessed using microdialysis methods. GABA levels in dialysis samples were measured using high performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection. beta-Alanine (250-500 mg/kg) significantly reduced tremulous jaw movements induced by pilocarpine (4.0 mg/kg). Moreover, systemic administration of beta-alanine at a dose that reduced tremulous jaw movements (500 mg/kg) resulted in a substantial increase in extracellular levels of GABA in SNr compared to the pre-injection baseline. Thus, the present results are consistent with the hypothesis that GABAergic tone in SNr plays a role in the regulation of tremulous jaw movements. This research may lead to a better understanding of how parkinsonian symptoms are modulated by SNr GABA mechanisms.
Simulation of atrazine and metabolite transport and fate in a sandy-till aquifer

In a 2.5-yr field study we determined the distribution of atrazine and its metabolites in a sandy-till aquifer overlying Cambrian sandstone in a dairy farming area. Flow paths are predominantly downward at piezometer nests where vertical hydraulic gradients dominate. Atrazine and desethylated atrazine concentrations along those flow paths generally decrease with increasing estimated groundwater travel time to the monitoring points. A one-dimensional contaminant transport model is developed in FORTRAN incorporating major chemical processes and dispersion along simulated flow paths. Separate simulations of atrazine and desethylated atrazine transport to individual piezometers are made, each with an appropriate average groundwater velocity. Regression equations are developed, based on an extensive literature review, to estimate acceptable sorption and dispersivity coefficients for the transport model. The one-dimensional simulations are calibrated using the field concentration-travel time relationships for atrazine and desethylated atrazine. The calibration procedure provides estimates of atrazine and desethylated atrazine degradation rates in groundwater corresponding to half-lives of 3470 and 2770 days, respectively. Although uncertain, the estimates provide evidence of much slower degradation in the aquifer than indicated by laboratory experiments. Using the calibrated transport parameter values, simulations of long-term steady-state leaching to the water table demonstrate that even with such slow degradation rates, steady-state concentrations at most piezometers are reached within ∼ 20 yr. Concentrations in the underlying sandstone aquifer are therefore not expected to increase substantially over time due to continued atrazine use. However, the slow degradation rates mean that even with the most optimistic condition, i.e. all input to the aquifer ceases in response to a cessation of atrazine application, it may take more than a decade for concentrations deeper in the aquifer to drop to half of what they were during the period of atrazine use.
Density Functional Theory for the Distribution of Small Ions around Polyions

A density functional theory is presented for the distribution of charged hard spheres (model for salt) around an infinite, rigid, and impenetrable charged cylinder (model for DNA or tobacco mosaic virus). The theory is based on a weighted density approach where the hard-sphere contribution to the one-particle correlation function is evaluated nonperturbatively using a position dependent effective density, and the ionic part is obtained through a second-order functional Taylor expansion around a uniform fluid. The theory is in good agreement with Monte Carlo simulations for the density distribution of monovalent, divalent, and mixed salts. For axial charge densities corresponding to DNA, the hypernetted chain integral equation theory is not as accurate as the density functional theory, but both liquid state approaches are superior to the Poisson−Boltzmann theory. For higher axial charge densities the density functional theory predicts interesting charge inversion effects that are absent in the nonlinear Po...
Renal adaptations to postural changes in chronic congestive heart failure

Abstract It has been demonstrated that part of the normal human response to standing includes a fall in renal plasma flow (RPF), diminished glomerular filtration rate (GFR), a decrease in the urinary rate of excretion of sodium (N Na V), and antidiuresis. Seventeen patients with chronic congestive heart failure of various degrees of clinical severity were investigated, using a tilt table and alternating between the supine and 45-degree position, measuring changes in renal hemodynamics and electrolyte excretion in response to the postural variations. It was found that patients with a mild degree of congestive failure showed a response similar to normal, with an orthostatic fall in RPF, GFR, U Na V, U K V, and U Cl V, and antidiuresis. As congestive failure became more marked, the orthostatic response was reduced, and in certain patients with severe failure there was essentially no response to the tilt position.
Unusual chromosomes and malignant disease.

Abstract Aberrant A-group chromosomes (particularly one abnormally long no. 2 chromosome) in the karyotypes of individuals with a family history of tumours have been observed. The variant chromosomes were seen only in individuals with a family history of cancer. When present the variant chromosomes have been observed in a majority of cells examined. They also have been shown in more than one tissue.
Derepression of bacterial transcription-repair coupling factor is associated with a profound conformational change.

Transcription-repair coupling factor (TRCF; the product of the mfd gene) is a widely conserved bacterial protein that couples DNA repair with transcription. TRCF recognizes RNA polymerase stalled at a noncoding lesion in the DNA template strand, uses the energy from ATP hydrolysis to disrupt the transcription complex, and stimulates DNA repair by recruiting UvrA, a component of the nucleotide excision repair machinery, to the site. TRCF is a large (130 kDa) multifunctional protein with a complex structure-function relationship consisting of a compact arrangement of eight structured domains linked by flexible linkers. Through a conserved, intramolecular, interdomain interaction, TRCF is held in a conformation in which its enzymatic activities (ATPase activity and DNA translocase activity) are strongly repressed. Disruption of the repressive interdomain interaction by amino acid substitutions within the interface derepresses ATPase and DNA translocase activities. In this work, we have shown that derepressed TRCF mutants are dramatically sensitized to limited proteolysis compared with repressed TRCF, pointing to an altered conformational state. Analysis of the protease cleavage sites mapped onto the structure of the repressed TRCF conformation indicates that (1) the cleavage sites tend to cluster at linkers connecting the TRCF structured domains, and (2) many of the cleavage sites sensitized in the derepressed TRCF are partially or completely buried to protease access in the repressed TRCF structure. We conclude that TRCF derepression is associated with profound conformational changes that primarily involve a reorganization of the interdomain interactions.
Secondary low volume rural road safety : segmentation, crash prediction, and identification of high crash locations

Traffic safety research is important to understand the interactions and relationships between crashes and the roadway. Methods have been established for segmenting roadways for safety analysis, creating safety performance functions, and identifying high crash locations. However, little work or reasoning is available to provide guidance for segmenting and modeling secondary low volume rural roads (LVRRs). This study investigated the effect of secondary LVRR segment length on segment analysis. Safety performance models were also examined and created for secondary LVRRs. Using previously proposed tests, four different high crash identification methods (crash frequency, crash rate, empirical Bayes and crash reduction potential) were compared for use on secondary LVRRs in Iowa. Analysis of the secondary LVRR system identifies a trend showing as segment length increases, so does the statistical reliability of the average annual crash frequency as compared to the variance in crash frequencies from year to year. Serious and total crash prediction models are recommended for use on four different classes of mainline secondary LVRRs: paved and unpaved 1-99 AADT, and paved and unpaved 100-400 AADT. Lastly, empirical Bayes is recommended as the best available method for identifying high crash locations on secondary LVRRs in Iowa. Care is advised when developing candidate high crash location lists for secondary LVRRs based on segmented systems where systemic treatment may be more appropriate.
Conceptualising and measuring working memory and its relationship to aphasia

Background: General agreement exists in the literature that individuals with aphasia can exhibit a working memory deficit that contributes to their language-processing impairments. Although conceptualised within different working memory frameworks, researchers have suggested that individuals with aphasia have limited working memory capacity and impaired attention-control processes as well as impaired inhibitory mechanisms. However, across studies investigating working memory ability in individuals with aphasia, different measures have been used to quantify their working memory ability and identify the relationship between working memory and language performance. Aims: The primary objectives of this article are (1) to review current working memory theoretical frameworks, (2) to review tasks used to measure working memory, and (3) to discuss findings from studies that have investigated working memory as they relate to language processing in aphasia. Main Contribution: Although findings have been consistent ...
Computation theory in a digital systems course

Programmable devices and EDA (electronic design automation) software tools are widely used to design today's digital systems. Many introductory digital systems courses are aware of the trend and integrate the technology, especially HDL (hardware description language) and synthesis software, into their curriculums. Introducing basic concepts of computation theory, including computability and algorithm complexity, can help students to understand the capability and fundamental limitations of the software and thus to utilize it in a more efficient manner. The computation theory will also provide a new perspective and shed light on many issues encountered in digital design.
Cluster Analysis of Typhoon Tracks. Part I: General Properties

A new probabilistic clustering technique, based on a regression mixture model, is used to describe tropical cyclone trajectories in the western North Pacific. Each component of the mixture model consists of a quadratic regression curve of cyclone position against time. The best-track 1950–2002 dataset is described by seven distinct clusters. These clusters are then analyzed in terms of genesis location, trajectory, landfall, intensity, and seasonality. Both genesis location and trajectory play important roles in defining the clusters. Several distinct types of straight-moving, as well as recurving, trajectories are identified, thus enriching this main distinction found in previous studies. Intensity and seasonality of cyclones, though not used by the clustering algorithm, are both highly stratified from cluster to cluster. Three straight-moving trajectory types have very small withincluster spread, while the recurving types are more diffuse. Tropical cyclone landfalls over East and Southeast Asia are found to be strongly cluster dependent, both in terms of frequency and region of impact. The relationships of each cluster type with the large-scale circulation, sea surface temperatures, and the phase of the El Nino–Southern Oscillation are studied in a companion paper.
Deposition and Wettability of [bmim][triflate] on Self-Assembled Monolayers

The interfacial behavior of ionic liquids (ILs) affects their use in many applications including as solvents, electrolytes, and lubricants. Here, we report the wettability and deposition of 1-n-butyl-3-methylimidazolium triflate ([bmim][triflate]) on model surfaces generated by the assembly of thiol- and silane-based monolayers on gold and silicon, respectively. Advancing contact angles of [bmim][triflate] on —CF3, —CH3, ═CH2, —OH, and mixed —CH3/—OH surfaces are found to be intermediate between those of water and hexadecane on the same surfaces and dissimilar to those of dicyclohexyl, which has a similar surface tension as [bmim][triflate] but only dispersive intermolecular interactions. Molecular simulations provide qualitative agreement with experimental contact angles and show that the hydroxyl surface disrupts electrostatic interactions between the ions of the [bmim][triflate] droplet, resulting in lower local surface tensions and increased area of contact. IL films as thin as ∼100 nm were prepared b...
Dependence of Polymer Hybrid Photovoltaic Performance on Donor-Acceptor Morphology

In this paper, we present our experimental and numerical studies on polymer-polymer and polymer-inorganic hybrid photovoltaic cells as the donor-acceptor morphology evolves from sharply defined layers, to partial blends and finally homogeneous blends. Results are compared for polyphenylene-vinylene (PPV) polymer donors and a variety of electron accepting materials, including CN-ether PPV, PCBM, and titanium dioxide. We show that optimal device performance is achieved by combining blended and layered structures and by tuning exciton generation rate position by controlling thickness
Configurational diffusion down a folding funnel describes the dynamics of DNA hairpins

Elucidating the mechanism of folding of polynucleotides depends on accurate estimates of free energy surfaces and a quantitative description of the kinetics of structure formation. Here, the kinetics of hairpin formation in single-stranded DNA are measured after a laser temperature jump. The kinetics are modeled as configurational diffusion on a free energy surface obtained from a statistical mechanical description of equilibrium melting profiles. The effective diffusion coefficient is found to be strongly temperature-dependent in the nucleation step as a result of formation of misfolded loops that do not lead to subsequent zipping. This simple system exhibits many of the features predicted from theoretical studies of protein folding, including a funnel-like energy surface with many folding pathways, trapping in misfolded conformations, and non-Arrhenius folding rates.
The role of social and policy learning in changing forest governance: An examination of community-based forestry initiatives in the U.S.

article The role of learning in changing forest governance by community-based forestry (CBF) initiatives in the USA is examined through two conceptual lenses - social learning and policy learning - and across operational, collective-choice, and constitutional-choice levels of forest governance. Data used for this examination were derived from two qualitative, case study-based inquiries: the Ford Foundation's Community-Based Forestry Demonstration Program and a status report on CBF developed for the U.S. Endowment for Forests and Communities. Additional information on CBF learning and governance change was gleaned from the research literature and the authors' ongoing observations and participation with CBF groups. We found that CBF groups and coalitions are engaged in a wide variety of learning strategies simultaneously, frequently blending social and policy learning in order to determine if proposed strategies worked or require changes, and if their core beliefs are being attained. Most learning tends to involve single-loop learning, where the effect and effectiveness of strategies are measured against expected outcomes; in a small number of cases, we found evidence of double-loop learning, where the assumptions about causal relationships were questioned and adapted. Triple-loop learning of CBF governing values and structures, as well as the values and structures governing U.S. forest policy as a whole, is largely absent. CBF learning primarily focuses on operational-level governance, where management plans and strategies are altered to incorporate the linked goals of sustaining healthy forests and healthy communities. A small number of CBF advocacy coalitions are engaged in policy learning and change at the collective- and constitutional-choice levels; policy changes are generally at the collective-choice level, changing rules and structures that affect operational-level governance. Given the high cost of changing collective- and constitutional-choice governance and the generally long time to achieve policy change, CBF groups and coalitions must find ways to sustain the resources and energy necessary to stay
Evaluation of a computer-based instructional package about eating disorders

Abstract This study examined the effect of a computer-based instruction package on college students’ knowledge about eating disorders, and how level of active participation during instruction influenced learning and satisfaction. Interactivity (the amount the participant actively responded to the computer-based instructional program) varied in three conditions: 0%, 50%, and 100%. Overall, the instructional package increased knowledge about eating disorders, and the 100% condition resulted in worse performance than 0% or 50% condition, and the 50% interactivity condition was worse than 0%. Participants in the interactive conditions reported being less satisfied with aspects of the instruction. The effects of interactivity, a unique aspect of computer-based instruction, are not as simple and direct as might be expected.
An Analysis of Medicare Payment Policy for Total Joint Arthroplasty

Medicare facility payment policy for lower extremity total joint arthroplasty (TJA) has undergone extensive changes since 2005. The purpose of this study was to compare patient and procedure characteristics and resource use among TJA procedures and to identify predictors of resource use in TJA. Clinical, demographic, and economic data were analyzed from 6483 primary or revision TJA patients from 4 high-volume centers between October 2005 and June 2006. Descriptive analyses were conducted to evaluate differences between procedure types, and multivariable linear regression analyses were undertaken to identify predictors of resource use. Both patient severity of illness and surgical complexity influenced resource use associated with TJA procedures. As the primary goal of Medicare payment policy is to set payment rates proportional to relative resource use, both severity of illness and surgical complexity should be incorporated for payment equity and to minimize incentives for selection bias among hospitals that perform TJA procedures.
Cost-effective slack allocation for lifetime improvement in NoC-based MPSoCs

Wear-out related permanent faults are projected to make system lifetime a critical issue for all designs. In embedded systems, lifetime can be increased using slack, underutilization in execution and storage resources, so that when components fail, data and tasks can be re-mapped and re-scheduled. The design space of possible slack allocation is both large and complex. However, based on the observation that useful slack is often quantized, we have developed an approach that effectively and efficiently allocates execution and storage slack to jointly optimize system lifetime and cost. While exploring less than 1.4% of the slack allocation design space, our approach consistently outperforms alternative slack allocation techniques to find sets of designs within 1.4% of the lifetime-cost Pareto-optimal front.
Vertical Distribution of Herbivorous Zooplankton in a Well-Mixed Lake System in Which the Main Predator is a Non-Selective Filter-Feeding Fish

ABSTRACT The vertical distribution of herbivorous zooplankton was examined over a 24-hr period in Lake Somerville, Texas, a shallow, well-mixed, warrn-water reservoir in which temperature and oxygen gradients rarely occur. While no consistent preference for surface or bottom water was found, diel zooplankton population deficits were observed. Activity of the main planktivore, the non-visual, filter feeding gizzard shad, did not correspond to observed trends for zooplankton. Other factors such as sinking and resuspension of phytoplankton might have been important.
Changes in Health-Related Quality of Life in Off-Pump Versus On-Pump Cardiac Surgery: Veterans Affairs Randomized On/Off Bypass Trial

Background The relative benefits of performing coronary artery bypass graft surgery off-pump versus on-pump continue to be debated. A critical, patient-centered outcome is health-related quality of life; yet there has been limited evaluation in large-scale, multicenter trials of the off-pump versus on-pump impact upon quality of life. Methods The Veterans Affairs Randomized On/Off Bypass trial randomized 2,203 nonemergent patients to off-pump or on-pump from February 2002 to May 2007. Patients completed a general quality of life survey (VR-36) and a disease-specific quality of life survey, the Seattle Angina Questionnaire (SAQ), prior to surgery, then again at 3 and 12 months post-bypass. Results Of the 2,130 1-year survivors, 1,805 patients (85%) completed 1-year surveys. Randomization resulted in comparable baseline patient characteristics, including VR-36 and SAQ scores. At 3 months and 1-year post-procedure, there were no clinically relevant differences between off-pump and on-pump patients in any of the quality of life measures. Both groups had statistically significant, comparable improvements in the physical component scale of the VR-36, and in the SAQ scales. Conclusions For this trial's male, low-to-moderate risk, veteran population, there were no significant differences between off-pump and on-pump with regard to 1-year general and disease-specific quality of life outcomes. Both treatment arms experienced some improvements by 3 months, with continued improvements through 1-year post-bypass.
Quo Vadis Nanoelectronics

Semiconductor devices continue to be downscaled on a regular basis as technology provides the ability to make smaller dimensions via improved lithography, a process which is known as Moore's Law. However, the driving force for the continued increase in number of devices on a chip is not this reduction in size, but the ability to put more functions on a chip with the same cost per unit area of Si. Nevertheless, it is not clear that our technology for Si devices can continue to work much longer. Here, I will discuss the driving forces, including energy dissipation, speed, area, and technological factors for the projected end-of-the roadmap technology. Yet, there continues to be a search for new device technologies to supplement, or replace, Si CMOS. Quantum wires have been sug-gested in many places as a possible new technology that can provide many opportunities for enhancing chip architecture. But, the constraints on any new technology can be viewed in terms of Si cost, and the manner in which new approaches to devices can be pursued will be dis-cussed. Some possible technologies are FinFETs, vertical quantum wires, carbon nanotubes, III-Vs, and similar ap-proaches. Device downsizing is only one of three driving forces that lead to Moore's Law, with increasing chip size and circuit cleverness playing an equal part. This suggests that many novel devices should not be viewed as competition to CMOS, but in the light of how they may modify the circuit architecture. Indeed, circuit clev-erness has been as important in managing breakthroughs in the past as new processing technology. Some new op-portunities, that arise from the nature of nanowire fabri-cation, in these novel devices may lead to breakthroughs in the area of circuit cleverness. (© 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Protected methionine supplementation with extruded blend of soybeans and soybean meal for dairy cows

Methionine may be the first amino acid limiting milk production in early lactation cows. To evaluate this further, 23 high producing Holstein cows (9 multiparous and 14 primiparous) were fed an extruded blend of soybeans and soybean meal (40:60) without or with 15 g of added DL-methionine as 50 g of ruminally protected methionine product during wk 4 to 16 postpartum. Cows were fed a 15.8% crude protein total mixed ration consisting of 30% (dry basis) corn silage, 15% alfalfa hay, and 55% concentrate mix. Covariant-adjusted yields of milk (35.3 and 33.9 kg/d) and solids-corrected milk (29.3 and 28.2 kg/d) were lower for cows fed ruminally protected methionine, whereas yields of 4% fat-corrected milk (28.2 and 27.4 kg/d) were similar. Percentages of fat (2.68 and 2.69) and solids-not-fat (8.82 and 8.83) were similar, and percentages of protein (2.86 and 2.90) were higher from cows fed supplemental methionine. Dry matter intakes (20.5 and 21.6 kg/d) were higher for cows fed ruminally protected methionine. Methionine concentrations in arterial and venous serum were elevated slightly by feeding supplemental methionine. Although methionine was still the first-limiting amino acid as calculated by two different methods, supplementation of this diet with ruminally protected methionine did not increase production of early lactation cows.
Rheology of yogurt during pipe flow as characterized by magnetic resonance imaging

Flow behavior of yogurt during pipe flow was investigated using a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) viscometer. The technique utilizes a velocity profile and independent pressure drop measurement to evaluate rheological parameters. The yield stress and slip velocity were obtained directly from the MR images; the Herschel-Bulkley consistency index, K, and the flow behavior index, n, were obtained through curve fitting procedures for product temperatures of 25C and 35C, over a shear rate range of 0.5 - 40 s -1 . At 25C, the average value of the yield stress was 14 Pa; the values of K and n were 5.6 Pa s n and 0.36, respectively. As the wall stress increased from 15 to 42 Pa, the slip velocity increased linearly from 13 to 54 mm s -1 . At 35C, the average value of the yield stress was 10 Pa; the values of K and n were 1.1 Pa s n and 0.88, respectively. As the wall stress increased from 12 to 31 Pa, the slip velocity increased linearly from 14 to 59 mm s -1 . These rheological parameters and slip velocities are relevant to the postfermentation cooling process performed in a continuous heat exchanger.
Stimulus effects of d-amphetamine II: DA, NE, and 5-HT mechanisms.

Abstract Activation of dopaminergic (DA) systems is a necessary component of the behavior effects of d -amphetamine, but other neurotransmitters such as norepinephrine (NE) and serotonin (5-HT) appear to modulate DA input; thus, they might have an important role in the stimulus (subjective) effects of this drug. Therefore, rats were trained to discriminate d -amphetamine (1 mg/kg) from saline and given combination (antagonism, potentiation) or substitution (generalization) tests with drugs that act through DA, noradrenergic, or serotonergic (5-HT) mechanisms. In the first of two experiments, the D 1 antagonist SCH 39166 blocked the effects of d -amphetamine (1 mg/kg) at doses of 0.05, 0.1, and 0.2 mg/kg. NE and 5-HT antagonists including prazosin (0.5–2 mg/kg), idazoxan (1.25–5 mg/kg), ketanserin (0.06–0.15 mg/kg), and metergoline (5–20 mg/kg) had no significant effects on the d -amphetamine cue. In the second experiment, neither the α 2 -NE agonist clonidine (0.0025–0.1 mg/kg), the β-NE agonist salbutamol (0.05–0.25 mg/kg), nor the NE uptake inhibitor nisoxetine (5–15 mg/kg) had d -amphetamine-like effects. The α 2 -NE antagonist yohimbine (0.5–2 mg/kg) and the β-NE antagonist propranolol (0.5–3 mg/kg) failed to alter the d -amphetamine cue. ICS 205–930 (10 mg/kg) neither mimicked nor blocked the effects of 1 mg/kg of d -amphetamine. Indeed, this 5-HT 3 antagonist potentiated the actions of lower doses of d -amphetamine (0.25–0.4 mg/kg); the potentiation of the 0.25-mg/kg dose was blocked significantly by the α 1 -NE antagonist prazosin (1 mg/kg). These results suggest that the discriminative stimulus effects of d -amphetamine are mediated primarily by DA neuronal systems and that these effects are similar to those of drugs that act through 5-HT 3 receptors; this similarity could be mediated by α 1 -NE mechanisms.
Herbal and complementary medicine in chronic prostatitis

Chronic prostatitis is a very common and poorly understood condition with significant impact on quality of life. The etiology of prostatitis can be multifactorial and can present with a variety of symptoms. Given the lack of proven efficacy of conventional therapies such as antibiotics, many patients have turned to phytotherapy and other alternative treatments. This review will cover the alternative therapies commonly used in prostatitis with an emphasis on those with published data. These treatments include phytotherapy (quercetin, bee pollen) and physical therapy. Complementary therapies have shown the potential to help men with prostatitis, particularly when allopathic therapies have failed.
NASA budget faces deep cuts

The Space Science Working Group (SSWG) is a consortium of universities and institutions represented by scientists and government relations officers. Its members are concerned about the health of the U.S. Space program, particularly university- based research in the space sciences. The SSWG Steering Committee is sending the following letter to all members of the United States Senate. A similar letter regarding the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) appropriations bill in the House is being sent to all Representatives.
A Small Dual-Band Asymmetric Dipole Antenna for 13.56 MHz Power and 2.45 GHz Data Transmission

Despite the disparity between typical small antenna designs for wireless powering and far-field radiation, this letter proposes a single asymmetric dipole antenna for both applications on a printed circuit board (PCB) of dimension 10 $\,\times\,$ 24 mm $^{2}$ . In this design, current cancellation is applied as a technique to enhance far-field radiation efficiency while maintaining inductive wireless power transfer performance. The measured radiation efficiency at 2.45 GHz is 57%, and the power transfer efficiency at 13.56 MHz over a distance of 20 mm is 2.15 dB. The results demonstrate the feasibility of a single dual-band antenna operating at two distinct frequencies while attaining reasonable efficiencies.
Fate of Thymine-containing Dimers in the Deoxyribonucleic Acid of Ultraviolet-irradiated Bacillus subtilis

The fate of ultraviolet-induced, thymine-containing dimers in the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) of Bacillus subtilis was investigated in both the wild type (UV R ) and an ultraviolet light-sensitive (UV S ) mutant. During incubation in the dark, dimers were excised from the DNA of the UV R B. subtilis , but remained in the DNA of the UV S mutant. About 40% of the excised dimers recovered in the wild type were in the acid-soluble fraction; the remainder were in the incubation medium. A UV S mutant of Escherichia coli K-12, shown previously to be defective in dimer excision, was irradiated with ultraviolet light and incubated under visible light for 3 hr. About 65% of thymine-containing photoproducts were removed from the DNA. These photoproducts were not recovered in the acid-soluble fraction. In comparison, the UV S mutant of B. subtilis lost only 13% of such photoproducts from DNA when exposed to light under the same conditions.
Menadione-dependent alpha glycerophosphate and succinate dehydrogenases in the developing canine retina

Reducing equivalents for the electron transport chain are generated within the mitochondria by the Krebs cycle and in cytoplasm by processes like lipid metabolism. Two mitochondrial enzymes, succinate dehydrogenase (SDH), a prominent enzyme in the Krebs cycle, and alpha-glycerophosphate dehydrogenase (alpha-GPDH), half of the glycerophosphate shuttle system for bringing reducing equivalents from cytoplasm to mitochondria, were examined enzyme histochemically to assess the contribution of each to metabolism of the developing canine retina. SDH activity, a common marker for oxidative metabolism, was insignificant at birth. By 4 days of age, activity was observed only in developing photoreceptor inner segments. By 21 days of age SDH activity was present throughout the retina, especially in photoreceptor inner segments and plexiform layers, and approached the level observed in the adult dog. Menadione-linked alpha-GPDH (M-alpha-GPDH) activity, however, was prominent in developing vasculature and outermost portion of the neuroblastic layer of the 1 day-old retina. Most notable was localization in vascular precursors, angioblasts, found distant from formed vessels in the peripheral nerve fiber layer. Retinal dependence on an oxidative metabolism in neuronal elements, as represented by SDH activity, occurs only when the vasculature is well established.
Abatement of Nitrobodies in Aqueous Effluents from TNT Production and Finishing Plants

In the manufacturing of TNT, there are three waste water streams that must be processed in order to comply with federal and local government regulations. These are: (1) “red” water which is produced by the sellite (sodium sulfite) treatment; (2) “pink” water which is produced when the partially purified TNT is washed following the sellite treatment; and (3) wash waters from the TNT finishing process. While all these polluted streams are being investigated at the U. S. Army Natick Laboratories, this paper will cover results obtained with wash waters from TNT finishing processes.
The Quiet Revolution in Patent Law Dominance: The Rise of Suffolk University Law School in Boston’s Top Patent Firms

During the summer of 2011, the Suffolk University Law School Concentrations, Career Development Office, and Law Library embarked upon an empirical study, focusing particularly on where patent lawyers in Boston’s top-ranked patent firms had graduated from law school. Our goal was to determine which law school was the training ground for the most patent lawyers in Boston. Our results show that there are more Suffolk Law School graduates doing patent law in Boston’s top patent firms than graduates from any other law school. We attribute this to Suffolk’s extensive IP curriculum, dedicated evening students, extra-curricular opportunities, and location in the hub of one of the fastest growing biotechnology, software, and telecommunications centers in the country.
SUPPRESSION OF TASK-RELATED SACCADES BY ELECTRICAL STIMULATION IN THE PRIMATE'S FRONTAL EYE FIELD

Burman, Douglas D. and Charles J. Bruce. Suppression of task-related saccades by electrical stimulation in the primate's frontal eye field. J. Neurophysiol. 77: 2252–2267, 1997. Patients with front...
Thirty-day readmissions following adult spinal deformity surgery: an analysis of the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database.

Abstract Background Adult spine deformity surgery (ASDS) is a significantly invasive procedure with a relatively high complication rate. The thirty-day hospital readmission rate following surgery is an important quality measure monitored by multiple quality reporting agencies. Purpose This study seeks to determine the risk factors for 30- day readmission rate in patients undergoing ASDS and identify the risk factors associated with readmission. Study Design This is a retrospective multicenter study. Methods The National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database, which is a large multi-institutional database, was searched for patients that underwent ASDS from 2011 to 2013. The patients were identified by searching seven Current Procedural Terminology codes most commonly used for spinal deformity surgery. Twenty-seven preoperative variables, including patient demographics and comorbidities, intraoperative parameters, and postoperative complications were analyzed to identify risk factors for readmission. Results A total of 747 adult patients who underwent ASDS were identified. Of the 747 patients, 7.5% (56/747) were readmitted within 30 days. The most common causes of readmission were infection (n=11), hematoma or seroma formation (n=5), and postoperative pain (n=3). Univariate analysis revealed male gender (p=.038, odds ratio [OR]=1.83) and pulmonary embolism before discharge (p=.048, OR=8.44) to be associated with readmission. In multivariate analysis, obesity (p=.047, OR=1.80), peripheral vascular disease (p=.045, OR=17.52), pulmonary embolism before discharge (p=.012, OR=10.35), and total or partial dependent preoperative functional health status (p=.041, OR=2.45), were found to be independent risk factors for readmission. Age, smoking, and resident involvement during surgical procedure were among the many factors not associated with increased risk of readmission. Conclusions The 30-day readmission rate for ASDS is increasingly becoming a significant health-care quality indicator. Patients with the aforementioned significant risk factors should be closely followed up, which can potentially avoid subsequent readmission.