cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Debt rescheduling and the choice between bonds and loans for LDCs' foreign debt

This paper examines less developed country (LDC) borrowers' choice of financing methods. I devleop and test the hypothesis that ex-ante consideration of rescheduling affects LDC borrowers' choice between bonds and commercial loans. Banks can monitor and distinguish between permanent and temporary shocks, while bondholders cannot. Therefore, debt rescheduling based on the nature of economic shocks is feasible with loan financing. Our empirical findings indicate the debt rescheduling is considered exante in LDC lending. In addition, default risk and contract size affect the choice of financing instruments.
Inter-nanomagnet force actuated deformable diffractive optics

We actively modulate the diffraction angle and wavefront of an optical beam by internanomagnet forces resulting from an external magnetic field applied to a free standing grating coated with nickel. Experimental results and simulations are presented.
Constructing competence: an analysis of student participation in the activity systems of mathematics classrooms

This paper investigates the construction of systems of competence in two middle school mathematics classrooms. Drawing on analyses of discourse from videotaped classroom sessions, this paper documents the ways that agency and accountability were distributed in the classrooms through interactions between the teachers and students as they worked on mathematical content. In doing so, we problematize the assumption that competencies are simply attributes of individuals that can be externally defined. Instead, we propose a concept of individual competence as an attribute of a person's participation in an activity system such as a classroom. In this perspective, what counts as “competent” gets constructed in particular classrooms, and can therefore look very different from setting to setting. The implications of the ways that competence can be defined are discussed in terms of future research and equitable learning outcomes.
The Tecumseh Study. XII. Enteric Agents in the Community, 1976–1981

Enteric illnesses in residents of Tecumseh, Michigan, were studied from 1976 to 1981. The frequency of illness among adults and children increased each year in the late autumn, usually in November. This peak of illness preceded the main period of appearance of the rotaviruses, which were less regularly associated with another peak of illness. Rotaviruses were identified in 3.8% of all stool specimens collected; in specimens from children under two years of age, the annual rate of rotavirus identification was 10.4%. All rotaviruses were identified during the period from late December to early April. Bacterial pathogens were isolated from 3.3% of stool specimens, with no concentration in any age group or season. However, most enteric illnesses in the community were not associated with recognized pathogens. Testing of blood specimens collected in 1976-1978 by complement fixation confirmed the seasonal pattern of rotavirus activity. Rotavirus infections were documented in all age groups, even in older adults, and were associated with symptomatic illness.
MO‐F‐211‐01: Delineation of Functional Thalamic Subregions: A Comparison of Probabilistic Diffusion Tractography and Electrophysiology

Purpose: To delineate functional subregions of the thalamus through probabilistic diffusion tractography and electrophysiology. Methods: We acquired diffusion weighted MRI scans in a set of five thalamic deep brain stimulation (DBS) subjects in order to employ probabilistic diffusion tractography (PDT) for localization of connections from the thalamus to somatosensory cortex (S1) and primary motor cortex (M1)/supplementary motor area (SMA). We defined and implemented a novel model to delineate PDT based thalamic functional subregions, i.e. connectivity defined regions (CDR). In this “mixture” model, a voxel can be considered to be comprised of multiple functional circuits. This model is compared against the “separation” model whereby a voxel is functionally associated with the dominate circuit that inhabits that voxel. The ability for these models to correctly classify a voxel as corresponding to sensory or motor was determined by comparison against a “gold standard” (ie. electrophysiology). Results: In the separationmodel, both sensory and motor responsive cells (from electrophysiology) were found to lie within the motor CDR (with the exception of one sensory responsive cell). Separationmodel defined CDRs grossly overestimated the extent of the motor CDR and further underestimated the extent of the sensory CDR. A threshold (between 1 % and 8% of the total number of fibers in a voxel) was used to create a mixture model sensory CDR that spatially maximizes inclusion of sensory cells and minimizes inclusion of motor cells. A mixture model motor CDR at similar thresholds spatially included all motor cells but also included all sensory cells suggesting that motor circuits strongly innervate areas with sensory cells but that the reverse is not necessarily true. Conclusions: Mixture model delineation of CDR offer a significant improvement in delineation of functional subregions (as compared with electrophysiology). The data from this study suggests that tractography derived data may correlate with electrophysiology.
29Si NMR and infrared reflectance spectroscopy of low-silica calcium aluminosilicate glasses

Abstract Selected calcium aluminosilicate glass compositions have been investigated using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and infrared reflectance spectroscopy, with emphasis on compositions in the silica-poor portion of the system. In particular, a structural explanation for a maximum observed in the glass transition temperature at roughly 15 mol% SiO 2 was sought. 29 Si chemical shifts from magic-angle spinning NMR data are nearly constant in the low-silica glasses and are consistent with depolymerized Q 2 species, or fully polymerized Q 4 tetrahedra with 4 Al next-nearest neighbors. Static 29 Si NMR spectra bear no evidence of asymmetric Q 2 or Q 3 sites; however, the asymmetric component could be hidden by extreme broadening due to structural disorder. The functions ϵ″ and −Imag(1/ϵ) have been calculated from infrared reflectance spectra by a Kramers-Kronig transformation. A change in lineshape which parallel the maximum in T g is attributed to variation in the distribution of tetrahedral aluminate species.
A simple and efficient synthesis of an Asp-Gly dipeptide mimetic☆

Abstract Alkylation of N α -Boc protected aspartic acid with allyl bromide in the presence of lithium bis(trimethylsilyl)amide (LHMDS) and hexamethylphosphoramide (HMPA) afforded chiral β-allyl substituted aspartic acid in good yields. After deprotection of the N α -Boc group and reprotection as a trifluoroacetamide, the terminal alkene was oxidized to an aldehyde. The aldehyde was then coupled with l -cysteine through a cascade three-bond formation process to afford aspartic acid–glycine bicyclic dipeptide mimetics.
Development and evaluation of portable PIT tag detection units: PITpacks

Abstract Portable passive integrated transponder (PIT) technology has been used by biologists to study fish behavior non-invasively. However, the method's efficacy has not been evaluated rigorously. To address this, we evaluated the design and field application of three portable backpack PIT tag units (PITpacks) over three years in Abernathy Creek, Longview, WA. Specifically, we assessed options for PITpack design and construction, PIT tag loss and mortality in steelhead trout following the implantation of 23 mm PIT tags, field efficiency of PITpack surveys and the effect of approaching PITpacks on steelhead trout behavior. Our results indicate that antennas constructed of 14 gauge ribbon cable operated consistently when held at a 45° angle to the water surface. Design modifications reduced equipment weight and made PITpacks easier to use. Read range of optimized PITpacks approached 90 cm off the antenna plane when the antenna and tag were submerged in water. Mortality was higher in 23 mm PIT tagged (1.8%) than in non-PIT tagged (0.5%) fish maintained in the same raceways. Tag loss was estimated to be 7.2%, peaked 4 weeks after implantation, and continued at a lesser rate throughout the 4-month study. Instream use of PITpacks resulted in a consistent survey efficiency of 38% in three separate trials. In addition, behavioral observations of tagged fish revealed minimal disturbance to fish approached by PITpacks. Results show that PITpacks can be applied in small streams to study individual fish behavior with only one collection and handling event (for tagging) and minor further disruption.
Applicability of Kalman filtering theory to identification of time series with non-stationary covariance structures

A need exists for the accurate identification of time series models having fast time–varying parameters. Recent work by Kitagawa and Gersch (1985) provides a comprehensive powerful algorithm for such non-stationary identification but leaves some of the theoretical foundations incomplete. The present paper clarifies some of the complicating factors concerning this algorithm to establish its optimality and stability. Among these are the non-linear and time-varying nature of the formulation. It is shown that this non-stationary identifier's estimate exists and is stable. Proofs are reviewed that show the identifier is optimal for gaussian noise inputs and is also optimal over a limited class of identifiers for non–gaussian noise inputs and for the mean squared error loss function.
Nondispersive extraction for recovering lactic acid

A nondispersive extraction process for recovery of lactic acid from fermentation broth is being developed. The criteria for selection of solvent, distribution of lactic acid between the aqueous and solvent phases, and the effect of presence of other compounds in the broth, are discussed. Working with a simulated fermentation broth (without cells), a hydrophobic membrane module has been evaluated for its effectiveness as extractor. Back extraction and its role has been demonstrated. A theoretical comparison of this process with electrodialysis shows membrane extraction to be more desirable.
Characteristics and Applications of Selenium-Rectifier Cells

The rectification properties of selenium cells were first discovered in the year 1883. C. T. Fritts described them in the American Journal of Science.11,12 However, they were never used to any extent, except possibly as photocells. After the introduction of the copperoxide rectifier, research activities were stimulated, and selenium cells were again rediscovered. The first commercial cells were made in Germany in the early '30's, and, as the technique of manufacture improved, better cells were made with better life expectancy. The General Electric Company, after a period of developmental activity, started to make cells in 1938, first in its research laboratories, and subsequently a manufacturing plant was set up which permits producing cells in large quantities within relatively close electrical tolerances. This paper contains data pertaining to these cells particularly, and the information may not apply in detail to cells manufactured by other methods without some correction factors.
Convective Fluxes in Tropical Cyclones

Abstract Vertical fluxes of mass, static energy and angular momentum in tropical cyclones and their environments are analyzed using composite rawinsonde data. Cumulus-scale eddy fluxes are derived using a spectral cloud model incorporating the effects of downdrafts, overshoot cooling, multiple-level cloud detrainment and ice-phase transitions. Deep convection exists in all regions in approximately direct proportion to the low-level mass convergence, and large amounts of shallow cloudiness are found everywhere. A bimodal cloud distribution is found only in the outer convective area. Direct warming of the troposphere through cloud-induced subsidence is very small in the upper troposphere inside a radius of 4° latitude. Angular momentum appears to be conserved in deep and middle-level convection, while shallow clouds and dry turbulence transport momentum downward in the lower levels. These principles could be incorporated into cumulus parameterization schemes.
New developments in alpha-adrenergic receptor pharmacology: Implications for the initial treatment of hypertension

The vascular postsynaptic alpha 1 receptor is the major locus through which adrenergically determined vascular tone is mediated. Therefore, blockade of this receptor is a particularly specific approach to the major pathophysiologic defect in hypertension—an elevation of peripheral vascular resistance. Although the mechanism responsible for this increase in peripheral vascular resistance in hypertension is not known, it is apparent that the sympathetic nervous system plays a key role. In addition, considerable evidence suggests that a common abnormality in hypertension is an increase in the sensitivity of vessels to alpha-adrenergic stimulation, a defect potentially located at the alpha-receptor level. Basic radioligand binding studies of vascular alpha 1 receptors, in fact, demonstrate that the affinity, or avidity, of binding of these sites is under the regulation of both neural and humoral factors. Although diuretics, and more recently, beta-adrenergic blocking agents, have been utilized for the initial treatment of hypertension, recent information about the adverse effects of these agents has led to a reappraisal of the role of alpha-receptor blockade as a rational approach to the initial treatment of hypertension.
A New Turn (or Two) for Twist

Two reports in this week's issue of Science [Baylies ([p. 1481][1]) and Spicer ([p. 1476][2])] describe new functions in muscle development for the gene twist , a basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor. In his Perspective, Michelson explains how these two seemingly contradictory functions of twist (specification of mesodermal cell fate in fruit flies and inhibition of muscle differentiation in vertebrates) can be reconciled. [1]: /lookup/doi/10.1126/science.272.5267.1481 [2]: /lookup/doi/10.1126/science.272.5267.1476
Molecular forms of acetylcholinesterase in cerebral cortex and dorsal thalamus of developing rats.

Abstract Histochemical studies show that primary sensory regions of rat cerebral cortex and dorsal thalamus display transient patterns of intense acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity during early postnatal development. Sucrose gradient fractionation techniques were used to determine the molecular forms of AChE in developing rat brain at the time of onset (postnatal day 5), during peak expression (days 10–11), and after decline (day 18) of the transient AChE expression. Tissue from auditory and visual regions of cortex and from dorsal thalamus at each age examined contained 10S and 4S forms of AChE, similar to the pattern observed in mature brain. The 10S form was almost totally membrane bound; the 4S form was largely soluble. Hemithalamic lesions reduce both forms of AChE in cortex. These data indicate that transiently expressed AChE does not represent a unique or unusual form of the enzyme.
Role of lipoproteins in growth of human adult arterial endothelial and smooth muscle cells in low lipoprotein‐deficient serum

Recently improved culture conditions for human adult arterial endothelial and smooth muscle cells from a wide variety of donors have been used to study the effects of lipoproteins on proliferation of both cell types in low serum culture medium. Optimal growth of endothelial and smooth muscle cells in an optimal nutrient medium (MCDB 107) containing epidermal growth factor, a partially purified fraction from bovine brain, and 1% (v/v) lipoprotein-deficient serum was dependent on either high- or low-density lipoprotein. High- and low-density lipoprotein stimulated cell growth by three- and five-fold, respectively, over a 6-day period. Optimal stimulation of both endothelial and smooth muscle cell growth occurred between 20 and 60 micrograms/ml of high- and low-density lipoproteins, respectively. No correlation between the activation of 3-hydroxyl-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme. A reductase activity and lipoprotein-stimulated cell proliferation was observed. Lipid-free total apolipoproteins or apolipoprotein C peptides from high-density lipoprotein were partially effective and together with oleic acid effectively replaced native high-density lipoprotein for the support of endothelial cell growth. In contrast, apolipoproteins or apolipoprotein C peptides from high-density lipoprotein alone or with oleic acid had no effect on smooth muscle cell proliferation. The results suggest a functional role of high- and low-density lipoproteins and apolipoproteins in the proliferation of human adult endothelial and smooth muscle cells.
US Television and the Recession: Impetus for Change?

In and of itself, the global recession that took hold at the end of the first decade of the 21st century did not have nearly the direct impact on the US television industry that many others experie...
Plasma assisted water treatment using an atmospheric air plasma applicator

Plasma assisted water treatment systems present a compelling pathway for modification of water chemistry with reduced dependence on chemicals. Plasma production of oxidizing and reducing agents for chemical abatement, contaminant removal, and production of aqueous chemical agents without chemical feedstock present a potential transformative technology in the area of water treatment.An atmospheric plasma source operating at 162MHz1 is used to form reactive species that are incident on a downstream water source. While studying a variety of water treatment applications, several key challenges for practical implementation of this technology have been identified including improved pathways for water/plasma interaction and optimized chemistry for specific water treatment applications. Design of an improved device with increased efficiency in both airflow and water exposure will be presented. The interaction between the primary plasma discharge and water source, with emphasis on chemical composition and potential pathways for chemistry control are highlighted. Of specific interest is production and characterization of hydroxyl radicals through plasma water interaction. Experiments that characterize plasma conditions (specifically chemistry) andchanges to water chemistry will be presented. Potential applications of interest in the area of water treatment including treatment of perfluorinated compounds, atrazine, and dioxane in water supplies will be presented.
Temperature and precipitation in relation to the morbidity rates of poliomyelitis

I N A RECENT analysis 1 of the seasonM changes occurring in poliomyelitis epidemic years, we were impressed by the fact that in this locMity, low precipitation and a relatively high temperature were present in the spring months of April, May, and June in all but one of the epidemic years. In the first Swedish epidemic, Bull 2 stated that the whole summer was unusually warm, but made no mention of precipitation. Frost 3 studied the following epidemics: Mason City and Grundy Center, Iowa, in 1910 where 86 cases occurred; Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1911 with 106; Covington, Kentucky, with 44; Buffalo, New York, in 1921 with 281, and nearby Batavia with 23 cases. In Mason City, there was a period os high temperature during March and the first half of April with a variable c~rve for the latter half of the month. There was a low precipitation rate for April, May, June, and July. In Grundy Center, there was a decrease ill precipitation from February to August with a definite March temperature increase. F~ost dismissed the connection between temperature and precipitation since more cases occurred in August, the mo~nth of maximum rainfall. In f~et, there were more cases in the wetter second half of the month than in the drier first half. In Cincinnati and imined]ate surroundings, the temperature in 1911 was abo~e in January, February, May, and June, normal in March and slightly below in April while the precipitation was above normal in April and below in the other growing moltths of May and June. Most authors feel that temperature and precipitation can be ignored since tee months when the case morbidity was highest were often the wettest months of the year and because the, height of the temperature and the apex of the epidemic curve do not correspo.nd. The weather conditions during an epidemic could be ignored if the factors causing the disease arose during the months of highest disease incidence. It has been thought by some that poliomyelitis is a disease of gastrointestinM orig~n which might possibly follow the ingestion of foodstuffs. I f the causative factors were associated with or coincidental with growth, then the weather of the early spring or growing months both as regards temPerature and precipitation might have some bearing on the ripening
The influence of early lead exposure on morphine reinforcement in the rat.

Abstract The effect of early lead burdens on morphine-seeking behavior was investigated in the albino rat. Several concentrations of lead acetate were administered to nursing mothers starting at 0, 7 or 14 days after birth, or provided directly to the pups in the drinking water after weaning, so that lead exposure was continuous for 3 successive weeks in each group. The off-spring were later tested for acquisition and maintenance of a goal-box preference based on morphine reinforcement. High lead burdens imposed before the second week of age resulted in a mild but significantly greater incidence of morphine-seeking responses, as well as retarded growth, compared with placebo-treated controls or animals treated at a later age. The data support the proposition that lead, introduced at a critical stage of development via the lactating mother, increases the potency of morphine reinforcement as a result of changes in cerebral dopaminergic activity. This effect may be mediated directly by the high lead burdens in the offspring, or indirectly by interfering with the mother's nursing capacity.
Regulation of proto-oncogene mRNA stability

IV. Mechanisms of degradation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A. Deadenylation precedes decay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B. Translational coupling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C. A U r i c h m R N A binding proteins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Preliminary results on the analysis of HYDICE data for information fusion in cartographic feature extraction

This paper discusses ongoing research in the analysis of airborne hyperspectral imagery with application to cartographic feature extraction and surface material attribution. Preliminary results, based upon the processing and analysis of hyperspectral data acquired by the Naval Research Laboratory's (NRL) Hyperspectral Digital Imagery Collection Experiment (HYDICE) over Fort Hood, Texas in late 1995, are shown. Significant research issues in geopositioning, multisensor registration, spectral analysis, and surface material classification are discussed. The research goal is to measure the utility of hyperspectral imagery acquired with high spatial resolution (2 meter GSD) to support automated cartographic feature extraction. Our hypothesis is that the addition of a hyperspectral dataset, with spatial resolution comparable to panchromatic mapping imagery, enables opportunities to exploit the inherent spectral information of the hyperspectral imagery to aid in urban scene analysis for cartographic feature extraction and spatial database population. Test areas selected from the Fort Hood dataset will illustrate the process flow and serve to show current research results.
The effects of water flow and sedimentation on interactions between massive Porites and algal turf

Interactions between scleractinian corals and benthic algae can be an important process structuring reef communities, yet interaction dynamics are not fixed and may be influenced by abiotic factors such as sedimentation, a process often underlying reef degradation. However, rates of sedimentation and the effects of trapped sediments may be influenced by water flow. The first goal of this study was to quantify gradients in sedimentation and flow along fringing and back reefs of the north shore of Moorea, French Polynesia, and determine whether such gradients correlate with changes in the frequency and outcomes of massive Porites–algal turf interactions. On the back reef, the frequency of Porites–algal turf interactions and the competitive success of algal turfs increased significantly with decreasing flow. Sedimentation, however, was not a significant driver of the observed patterns. Along fringing reefs, in the absence of a flow gradient, it was the gradient in sedimentation that best explained spatial variation in Porites–algal turf interaction frequencies and the competitive success of algal turfs. The second goal was to quantify the separate and combined effects of flow and sedimentation on Porites–algal turf interactions in a laboratory setting. The combined effects of low flow and sedimentation significantly increased the area of Porites tissue damaged when in contact with algal turf, while high flow attenuated the negative effects of sedimentation. Together, these results implicate flow and sedimentation as important drivers of biological interactions between massive Porites and algal turf.
Hybrid energy storage system for unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)

Conventional fossil fuel powered unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) has limited flight range which totally depends on the fuel it carries. Too much fuel on board is not possible for the airplane application due to weight limitation. In addition, fossil fuels produce emissions and pollutants. The most favourable candidate energy source to power the UAVs is solar energy. With the PV panel and energy storage devices, the UAV can get enough energy for very long range flights and high enough power for the auxiliary electrical loads. This paper presents a hybrid energy storage system which is composed of PV panel, rechargeable fuel cell and rechargeable battery to solve the energy issues of long endurance UAV. Finally, the MATLAB/SIMULINK model of each component is constructed and the simulation results are shown.
Electrostatic self-assembly of nonlinear optical waveguides with minimal surface roughness

Electrostatic self-assembly (ESA) is a technique for fabricating thin films by sequential adsorption of cationic and anionic molecular species onto a solid substrate. The advantage of this process lies in the use of various species to form structures with tailored macroscopic nonlinear optical properties, for example. However, some molecules, which exhibit large nonlinear optical properties, tend to exhibit significant surface roughness. In this work, larger number of bilayers were achieved by alternating the use of polymers that form highly nonlinear but rough structures with the use of polymers that are not as nonlinear but yield significantly less surface roughness. UV-visible spectroscopy, Maker fringe, and atomic force microscopy (AFM) were used for characterization.
Compound formation and bonding configuration at the Si-Cu interface

Joint photoemission and Auger $\mathrm{LVV}$ line-shape spectroscopies on the Si-Cu interface show the existence of a silicidelike compound with bonding characteristics similar to those of the near-noble-metal silicides. This makes the Si-Cu interface different from the other noble-metal-Si interfaces where alloylike phases (Si-Au) or narrow interfaces with concentration gradients (Si-Ag) are formed. The Si-Cu compound is metal-rich with a stoichiometry close to the eutectic composition ${\mathrm{Cu}}_{3}$Si and is stable over a wide range of temperatures.
Single-mode flashlamp-pumped dye laser oscillators

In this paper, we report single-longitudinal-mode operation in a flashlamp-pumped dye laser incorporating a multiple-prism beam expander with the grating either in a Littrow or grazing-incidence configuration. Linewidths in the 260-MHz range were obtained, using rhodamine 590 dye at output energies exceeding 60 mJ. Pulse duration for the multiple-prism Littrow dye laser oscillator was ∼200 ns (FWHM).
New technology to monitor blind areas near surface mining equipment

The lack of visibility near large earthmoving equipment resulted in six fatalities in US surface mining operations during 2002. Researchers at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Spokane Research Laboratory, have evaluated off-the-shelf proximity warning systems that sense obstacles and changes in terrain near such equipment and provide an alarm to the operator. Limitations of these existing systems have necessitated the development of new systems designed specifically for large equipment. A summary of this new technology is presented and includes a description of newly available radar and electronic tag detection systems, a prototype GPS-based proximity warning system, and a computer-assisted stereovision system.
Using web structure for classifying and describing web pages

The structure of the web is increasingly being used to improve organization, search, and analysis of information on the web. For example, Google uses the text in citing documents (documents that link to the target document) for search. We analyze the relative utility of document text, and the text in citing documents near the citation, for classification and description. Results show that the text in citing documents, when available, often has greater discriminative and descriptive power than the text in the target document itself. The combination of evidence from a document and citing documents can improve on either information source alone. Moreover, by ranking words and phrases in the citing documents according to expected entropy loss, we are able to accurately name clusters of web pages, even with very few positive examples. Our results confirm, quantify, and extend previous research using web structure in these areas, introducing new methods for classification and description of pages.
Transient Versus Sustained Phosphorylation and Nuclear Accumulation of ERKs Underlie Anti-Versus Pro-apoptotic Effects of Estrogens

Sex steroids exert anti-apoptotic effects on osteoblasts/osteocytes but exert pro-apoptotic effects on osteoclasts, in both cases requiring activation of the extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERKs). To explain the mechanistic basis of this divergence, we searched for differences in the kinetics of phosphorylation and/or in the subcellular localization of ERKs in response to 17beta-estradiol in the two cell types. In contrast to its transient effect on ERK phosphorylation in osteocytic cells (return to base line by 30 min), 17beta-estradiol-induced ERK phosphorylation in osteoclasts was sustained for at least 24 h following exposure to the hormone. Conversion of sustained ERK phosphorylation to transient, by means of cholera toxin-induced activation of the adenylate cyclase/cAMP/protein kinase A pathway, abrogated the pro-apoptotic effect of 17beta-estradiol on osteoclasts. Conversely, prolongation of ERK activation in osteocytes, by means of leptomycin B-induced inhibition of ERK export from the nucleus or overexpression of a green fluorescent protein-ERK2 mutant that resides permanently in the nucleus, converted the anti-apoptotic effect of 17beta-estradiol to a pro-apoptotic one. These findings indicate that the kinetics of ERK phosphorylation and the length of time that phospho-ERKs are retained in the nucleus are responsible for pro-versus anti-apoptotic effects of estrogen on different cell types of bone and perhaps their many other target tissues.
Population Pharmacokinetics, Brain Distribution, and Pharmacodynamics of 2nd Generation Dopamine Transporter Selective Benztropine Analogs Developed as Potential Substitute Therapeutics for Treatment of Cocaine Abuse

A second generation of N-substituted 3alpha-[bis(4'-fluorophenyl)methoxy]-tropanes (GA 1-69, JHW 005 and JHW 013) binds with high affinity to the dopamine transporter (DAT) and are highly selective toward DAT compared to muscarinic receptor binding (M1). The objective of this study was to characterize brain distribution, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics [extracellular brain dopamine (DA) levels] of three novel N-substituted benztropine (BZT) analogs in male Sprague-Dawley rats. The BZT analogs displayed a higher distribution (Vd = 8.69-34.3 vs. 0.9 L/kg) along with longer elimination (t l/2: 4.1-5.4 vs. 0.5 h) than previously reported for cocaine. Brain-to-plasma partition coefficients were 1.3-2.5 vs. 2.1 for cocaine. The effect of the BZT analogs on extracellular brain (DA) levels ranged from minimal effects (GA 1-69) to several fold elevation (approximately 850% of basal DA for JHW 013) at the highest dose evaluated. PK/PD analysis of exposure-response data resulted in lower IC50 values for the BZT analogs compared to cocaine indicating their higher potency to inhibit DA reuptake (0.1-0.3 vs. 0.7 mg/L). These BZT analogs possess significantly different PK and PD profiles as compared to cocaine suggesting that further evaluation as cocaine abuse therapeutics is warranted.
Growth of junctions in 3D carbon nanotube-graphene nanostructures: A quantum mechanical molecular dynamic study

Junctions are the key component for 3D CNT-graphene seamless hybrid nanostructures attractive for numerous innovative applications. Growth mechanism of junctions of vertical carbon nanotubes (CNTs) growing from graphene in the presence of iron nanoparticles as catalysts was simulated using quantum mechanical molecular dynamics methods. When nanotube grew on graphene via a ‘‘base-growth’’ mechanism, it was found that the junctions were a mixture of CAC and FeAC covalent bonds. We further explored the formation mechanisms of pure CAC bonded junctions by moving the catalyst during CNT growth or etching and annealing after growth. Our simulations provided possible avenues to produce pure CAC bonded junctions that seamlessly connect graphene and nanotubes in the 3D nanostructures.
Mitosis, Diffusible Crosslinkers, and the Ideal Gas Law

During mitosis, molecular motors hydrolyze ATP to generate sliding forces between adjacent microtubules and form the bipolar mitotic spindle. Lansky et al. now show that the diffusible microtubule crosslinker Ase1p can generate sliding forces between adjacent microtubules, and it does so without ATP hydrolysis.
Incompressible viscous flow past a semi-infinite flat plate

The asymptotic solution for the incompressible viscous flow past a semi-infinite flat plate constructed by Goldstein (1956, 1960) can be valid only if the solutions of certain ordinary differential equations obey certain constraints (given in Goldstein 1956, 1960). In this paper, we construct the solutions of these equations, show that the necessary constraints are met, and hence establish the validity of the asymptotic solution up to the order considered. The manner in which undetermined constants appear in the solution are discussed.
On-line harmonic estimation in power system based on sequential training radial basis function neural network

Harmonic estimation is considered the most crucial part in harmonic mitigation process in power system. Artificial intelligent based on pattern recognition techniques is considered one of dependable methods that can effectively realize highly nonlinear functions. In this paper, a radial basis function neural network (RBFNN) is used to dynamically identify and estimate the fundamental, fifth harmonic, and seventh harmonic components in converter waveforms. The fast training algorithm and the small size of the resulted networks, without hindering the performance criteria, prove effectiveness of the proposed method.
Mass Spectrometry to Classify Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer Patients for Clinical Outcome After Treatment With Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors: A Multicohort Cross-Institutional Study

Background Some but not all patients with non – small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) respond to treatment with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). We developed and tested the ability of a predictive algorithm based on matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry (MS) analysis of pretreatment serum to identify patients who are likely to benefit from treatment with EGFR TKIs. Methods Serum collected from NSCLC patients before treatment with gefitinib or erlotinib were analyzed by MALDI MS. Spectra were acquired independently at two institutions. An algorithm to predict outcomes after treatment with EGFR TKIs was developed from a training set of 139 patients from three cohorts. The algorithm was then tested in two independent validation cohorts of 67 and 96 patients who were treated with gefitinib and erlotinib, respectively, and in three control cohorts of patients who were not treated with EGFR TKIs. The clinical outcomes of survival and time to progression were analyzed. Results An algorithm based on eight distinct m/z features was developed based on outcomes after EGFR TKI therapy in training set patients. Classifications based on spectra acquired at the two institutions had a concordance of 97.1%. For both validation cohorts, the classifier identified patients who showed improved outcomes after EGFR TKI treatment. In one cohort, median survival of patients in the predicted “good” and “poor” groups was 207 and 92 days, respectively (hazard ratio [HR] of death in the good versus poor groups = 0.50, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.24 to 0.78). In the other cohort, median survivals were 306 versus 107 days (HR = 0.41, 95% CI = 0.17 to 0.63). The classifier did not predict outcomes in patients who did not receive EGFR TKI treatment. Conclusion This MALDI MS algorithm was not merely prognostic but could classify NSCLC patients for good or poor outcomes after treatment with EGFR TKIs. This algorithm may thus assist in the pretreatment selection of appropriate subgroups of NSCLC patients for treatment with EGFR TKIs. J Natl Cancer Inst 2007;99: 838 – 46
Blood pressure paradox in patients with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndromes: results from 139,194 patients in the Can Rapid risk stratification of Unstable angina patients Suppress ADverse outcomes with Early implementation of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Guidelines (CRUSADE) quality improvement initiative.

Background The relationship between systolic blood pressure (BP) and the risk of cardiovascular events is complex. In patients with chronic coronary artery disease, a J-shaped relationship has been shown, such that there is an increased risk of events both at high and low BP. The current coronary artery disease risk prediction models, however, considers a linear relationship between presenting BP and outcomes in patients presenting with acute coronary syndromes. Methods We evaluated 139,194 patients with non–ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndromes in the Can Rapid risk stratification of Unstable anigina patients Suppress ADverse outcomes with Early implementation of the ACC/AHA guidelines (CRUSADE) quality improvement initiative. The presenting systolic BP was summarized as 10-unit increments. Primary outcome was a composite of in-hospital events all-cause mortality, reinfarction, and stroke. Secondary outcomes were each of these outcomes considered separately. Results From the cohort of 139,194 patients, 9,566 (6.87%) patients had a primary outcome (death/reinfarction or stroke) of which 5,910 (4.25%) patients died, 3,724 (2.68%) patients had reinfarction, and 1,079 (0.78%) patients had a stroke during hospitalization. There was an inverse association between presenting systolic BP and the risk of primary outcome, all-cause mortality, and reinfarction such that there was an exponential increase in the risk with lower presenting systolic BP even after controlling for baseline variables. However, there was no clear relationship between stroke and lower presenting systolic BP. Conclusions In contrast to longitudinal impacts, there is a BP paradox on acute outcomes such that a lower presenting BP is associated with increased risk of in-hospital cardiovascular events. These associations should be considered in acute coronary syndrome prognostic models.
Effect of signal bandwidth on the accuracy of adaptive interpolation of discrete-time signals

In this paper, we study the effect of signal bandwidth on the interpolation of discrete time signals that could be modeled as autoregressive processes. Recently, interpolation of discrete-time signals has received attention from researchers and a variety of interpolating techniques have been used with varying degrees of success. If the signal could be modeled as an autoregressive process, then such a model could be used in signal restoration. The scheme has to be adaptive in nature as in any practical situation, the model parameters have to be estimated from available data. First, we obtain some general results regarding the interpolation error as a function of bandwidth for first order and second order AR processes. It is shown that the interpolation error is a function of the bandwidth of the process, and in general, narrowband processes give lesser interpolation error than broadband processes. Then we use simulation to verify the theoretical results obtained. The simulations are carried out for cases when the misses occur in random as well as when the misses occur in bursts.
Culling sick mitochondria from the herd

The PINK1-Parkin pathway plays a critical role in mitochondrial quality control by selectively targeting damaged mitochondria for autophagy. In this issue, Tanaka et al. (2010. J. Cell Biol. doi: 10.1083/jcb.201007013) demonstrate that the AAA-type ATPase p97 acts downstream of PINK1 and Parkin to segregate fusion-incompetent mitochondria for turnover. p97 acts by targeting the mitochondrial fusion-promoting factor mitofusin for degradation through an endoplasmic reticulum-associated degradation (ERAD)-like mechanism.
Changes in Referents and Emotions over Time in Election-Related Social Networking Dialog

The U.S. Presidential election in 2008 saw the first serious use of social networking tools by candidates and voters. A week-by-week content analysis of Facebook wall postings by candidates' fans shows that in the months leading up to the election comments became less personal and that positive and negative sentiment was expressed more evenly as the election approached. These trends are taken as support for a Reflection-to-Selection hypothesis and a Converging Sentiment hypothesis of online political discourse.
Long-term effect of low-dose folic acid intake: potential effect of mandatory fortification on the prevention of neural tube defects

Background: Understanding the full effect of chronic low-dose folic acid is important in interpreting the effect of the mandatory folic acid fortification program in North America. Objective: We aimed to describe the rate of attainment and steady state (plateau) of red blood cell (RBC) folate in response to longterm intake of 140 lg (designed to mimic fortification) and 400 lg (recommended dose for the primary prevention of neural tube defects) folic acid/d in reproductive-aged women living in a country with minimal fortification. Design: On the basis of pharmacokinetics principles, it was recently proposed that a steady state should be reached after 40 wk. Thus, 144 women aged 18‐40 y were randomly assigned to receive a daily folic acid supplement of 140 (n = 49) or 400 (n = 48) lg or placebo (n = 47) for 40 wk. RBC folate was measured at baseline and at 6, 12, 29, and 40 wk. Results: After 40 wk, RBC folate did not reach a plateau in either treatment group. Kinetic modeling of the data indicated that RBC folate would approximately double from 779 to 1356 nmol/L in response to 140 lg folic acid/d with only ’50% of model-estimated steady state conditions achieved at 40 wk. An average RBC folate concentration of 1068 nmol/L after 12 wk of supplementation with 400 lg folic acid/d was readily achieved at 36 wk after continuous intake of 140 lg/d. Conclusion: Our model shows the considerable length of time required to attain the full effect of low-dose folic acid, which suggests that 140 lg folic acid/d could be as effective as 400 lg folic acid/d taken during the periconceptional period if given sufficient time. This trial is registered at www.anzctr.org.au as ACTRN12609000215224. Am J Clin Nutr 2011;94:136‐41.
Examining Teacher Effectiveness Using Classroom Observation Scores Evidence From the Randomization of Teachers to Students

Despite policy efforts to encourage multiple measures of performance in newly developing teacher evaluation systems, practical constraints often result in evaluations based predominantly on formal classroom observations. Yet there is limited knowledge of how these observational measures relate to student achievement. This article leverages the random assignment of teachers to classrooms from the Measures of Effective Teaching (MET) study to identify teacher effectiveness using scores from the Framework for Teaching (FFT) instrument, one of the most widely used classroom observation protocols. While our evidence suggests that teacher performance, as measured by the FFT, is correlated with student achievement, noncompliance with randomization and the modest year-to-year correlation of a teacher’s FFT scores constrain our ability to causally identify effective teachers. Implications for policy and practice are discussed.
Elevation and Freeboard Changes of Ross Sea Ice and Ice Shelf using Icesat

In this paper, ICESat (Ice, Cloud, and land Elevation Satellite)-based estimates of sea ice and ice shelf elevation change and the sea ice freeboard changes in the Ross Sea Region of west Antarctic were studied. To process the data, a 3-step procedure was developed. ICESat datasets of three releases were used for the study: laser 1 and laser 2A (2003) and laser 3D (2005). It was found that all of them have suspect elevation data and extensive quality control was needed to remove the suspect points before a bias-free surface could be generated. Also obtained sea-ice freeboard from ICESat elevation data showed unusual negative results. Simple, universe, and ordinary kriging interpolations as well as inverse distance weights interpolation were tested and evaluated. It is found that the ordinary kriging method based on an unknown mean performed the best and achieved the smallest RMS prediction error (< 1 m) based on cross-validation technique. Seasonal elevation changes of the two complete datasets (laser 1 and laser 2A) have been analyzed and results indicate that (1) the mean elevation of sea ice increased about 0.89 m, with a mean increase of 0.55 m for the sea ice/ice shelf transition zone; (2) the mean elevation of the ice sheet decreased about 0.17 m; (3) maximum elevation of sea ice increased 1.13 m; (4) maximum elevation of ice shelf increased 5.36 m; (5) the transitional region has the largest elevation change: ~60 % of the region shown 48 to 20 m decreases, only small portions shown 20- 40 m increases. Inter-annual elevation changes obtained from laser 2A and laser 3D for sea ice indicate that (1) minimum surface elevation has decreased as 5.27 m with increase of mean surface about 0.12 m; (2) maximum surface elevation from Austral spring 2003 to spring 2005 has decreased as 12.69 m. It is suggested that the freeboard directly resulted from ICESat data has large negative values and needs better geoid or mean sea surface.