cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The nigrostriatal system and aging.

Abstract Age-correlated changes in neurotransmitter systems of the basal ganglia have been postulated to contribute to the disruption of motor function and balance associated with aging. This report compared the morphology of nigrostriatal dopamine (DA) neurons of the substantia nigra and ventral tegmental area of the C57B1/6NNia mouse with the morphology of DA neurons of the nigrostriatal pathway in aged human brain and in one case diagnosed to have senile dementia of the Alzheimer's type (SDAT). Age-correlated changes in fibers of the nigrostriatal pathway in the aged mouse are characterized by an increase in the number of large, fluorescent axonal dilations. Similar axonal swellings were seen in aged human brain. In addition, postmortem SDAT brain was characterized by the presence of large patches or tangles of DA-containing fibers. In the C57B1/6NNia mouse, age-correlated morphological changes were characterized by a progressive accumulation of cytoplasmic lipofuscin granules and a markedly reduced DA content per cell is determined visually by histofluorescence. Most neurons of the pars compacta of the substantia nigra in postmortem human brain were non-fluorescent and contained heavy deposits of neuromelanin in their cytoplasm. These data suggest that age-correlated morphological changes in fibers of the nigro-striatal system of the aged C57B1/6NNia mouse are similar in appearance to fibers in the aged human brain and that morphological related changes in dopaminergic cells may play a role in the disruption of motor function associated with advancing age. In addition, the presence of large tangles or patches of DA fibers in postmortem SDAT brain suggests that subcortical DA-containing neurons may also be affected in SDAT.
Metabolism of the chemosterilant HEMPA by carbamate-resistant house flies.

Abstract Microsomal preparations from carbamate-resistant house flies metabolize hempa more rapidly than those from insecticide-susceptible flies. However, the increased amount of the metabolizing enzymes does not confer resistance to the sterilizing effect of hempa.
Molecular target size of the vanilloid (capsaicin) receptor in pig dorsal root ganglia.

The size of the vanilloid receptor was examined by high-energy radiation inactivation analysis of the binding of [3H]resiniferatoxin to pig dorsal root ganglion membranes; it was found to be 270 +/- 25 kDa. This value most likely represents the size of a receptor complex rather than of an individual subunit. Other ligand-gated cation channel complexes have reported molecular weights in this range, e.g. 300 kDa for the acetylcholine receptor.
Regional and temporal relations of radon in soil gas to soil temperature and moisture

In deep soil where diffusional loss is negligible, the Rn concentration in soil gas is controlled by Ra, emanation coefficient (E), dry bulk density (ρb), and particle density (ρP), plus the transient properties of fraction water saturation (F) and temperature because the gaseous/aqueous partition coefficient for Rn (KT ) is temperature sensitive. In a typical soil (Ra = 30 Bq/kg, E = 0.2, ρb = 1.5 g/cm3, ρP = 2.65 g/cm3), Rn in soil gas (kBq/m3 ) is calculated to range from 21 (T = 0°C, F = 0.05) to 78 (T = 25°C, F = 0.95). At sites in Pennsylvania and elsewhere, measured soil gas Rn shows seasonal variations of 2- to 10-fold. Much of this variability may be explained by temperature-sensitive gaseous/aqueous partitioning. Since temporal soil moisture and temperature patterns vary geographically, temporal patterns in soil gas Rn vary geographically too. Mean soil gas Rn will tend to be higher in regions with warm or moist soils. Soil temperature and moisture are predictable from soil maps.
Parity-Nonconserving Optical Rotation in Atomic Lead

Etude de la transition dipolaire magnetique 3 P 0 − 3 P 1 a 1,28 μm: assez bon accord de la valeur experimentale de R=Im (E1/M1)=(−9,9±2,5).10 −8 avec la valeur prevue par la theorie de Weinberg-Salam-Glashow
GHAM: A compact global geocode suitable for sorting

The GHAM code is a technique for labeling geographic locations based on their positions. It defines addresses for equal-area cells bounded by constant latitude and longitude, with arbitrarily fine precision. The cell codes are defined by applying Morton ordering to a recursive division into a 16 by 16 grid, with the resulting numbers encoded into letter-number pairs. A lexical sort of lists of points so labeled will bring near neighbors (usually) close together; tests on a variety of global datasets show that in most cases the actual closest point is adjacent in the list 50% of the time, and within 5 entries 80% of the time.
Chemical weathering rates of a soil chronosequence on granitic alluvium: III. Hydrochemical evolution and contemporary solute fluxes and rates

Although long-term changes in solid-state compositions of soil chronosequences have been extensively investigated, this study presents the first detailed description of the concurrent hydrochemical evolution and contemporary weathering rates in such sequences. The most direct linkage between weathering and hydrology over 3 million years of soil development in the Merced chronosequence in Central California relates decreasing permeability and increasing hydrologic heterogeneity to the development of secondary argillic horizons and silica duripans. In a highly permeable, younger soil (40 kyr old), pore water solutes reflect seasonal to decadal-scale variations in rainfall and evapotranspiration (ET). This climate signal is strongly damped in less permeable older soils (250 to 600 kyr old) where solutes increasingly reflect weathering inputs modified by heterogeneous flow. Elemental balances in the soils are described in terms of solid state, exchange and pore water reservoirs and input/output fluxes from precipitation, ET, biomass, solute discharge and weathering. Solute mineral nutrients are strongly dependent on biomass variations as evidenced by an apparent negative K weathering flux reflecting aggradation by grassland plants. The ratios of solute Na to other base cations progressively increase with soil age. Discharge fluxes of Na and Si, when integrated over geologic time, are comparable to solid-state mass losses in the soils, implying similar past weathering conditions. Similarities in solute and sorbed Ca/Mg ratios reflect short-term equilibrium with the exchange reservoir. Long-term consistency in solute ratios, when contrasted against progressive decreases in solid-state Ca/Mg, requires an additional Ca source, probably from dry deposition. Amorphous silica precipitates from thermodynamically-saturated pore waters during periods of high evapotranspiration and result in the formation of duripans in the oldest soils. The degree of feldspar and secondary gibbsite and kaolinite saturation varies both spatially and temporally due to the seasonality of plant-respired CO2 and a decrease in organically complexed Al. In deeper pore waters, K-feldspar is in equilibrium and plagioclase is about an order of magnitude undersaturated. Hydrologic heterogeneity produces a range of weathering gradients that are constrained by solute distributions and matrix and macropore flow regimes. Plagioclase weathering rates, based on precipitation-corrected Na gradients, vary between 3 and 7 × 10−16 mol m−2 s−1. These rates are similar to previously determined solid-state rates but are several orders of magnitude slower than for experimental plagioclase dissolution indicating strong inhibitions to natural weathering, partly due to near-equilibrium weathering reactions.
Effect of Transient Dynamic Loading on Flexible Pavements

The effect of transient dynamic loading on flexible pavements was estimated. Transient dynamic loads within a tire-to-pavement contact area are characterized by continuously increasing or decreasing local dynamic contact stresses, depending on vehicle speed. A transient dynamic load model was successfully incorporated into a three-dimensional finite element model. Dynamic flexible pavement responses to one pass of a heavy vehicular load through a dual-tire assembly were calculated. Results of this study indicate that the flexible pavement response at different pavement temperatures varies depending on whether the analysis was quasi-static or dynamic, where the mass inertia and damping forces by the transient local dynamic loads are considered in the equation of motion. Results also show that the time-dependent history of the calculated pavement responses in the dynamic analysis is more comparable to measurements in the field. The transverse and longitudinal tensile strains at the bottom of the hot-mix asphalt and the compressive stress at the top of the subgrade are underestimated when the mass inertia and damping forces exerted by the transient local dynamic load are ignored.
Oxidation of Si-rich chemical-vapor-deposited films of tungsten silicide

Etude des caracteristiques de l'oxydation en phase vapeur de couches minces de WSi x riches en Si preparees par depot chimique en phase vapeur a basse pression directement sur SiO 2 (x=2,7 apres depot). On a signale que les depots minces (moins de 100 nm) en phase vapeur de siliciure de tungstene adherent bien a SiO 2 . Par spectroscopie Auger et retrodiffusion de Rutherford, on voit que le silicium depassant la proportion stœchiometrique de WSi 2 diffuse a travers le siliciure jusqu'a la surface pour former un revetement de passivation en SiO 2 . L'energie d'activation du processus d'oxydation est E a +1,2 eV, en accord avec la diffusion de l'oxygene dans SiO 2 . On trouve une valeur semblable pour WSi x depose sur du silicium polycristallin. Pendant le recuit, le degre de non-stœchiometrie x de WSi x decroit de facon monotone avec la temperature du recuit, atteignant x=2 apres 30 min a 900°C ou 20 min a 950°C. Des temps plus prolonges et des temperatures plus elevees produisent un appauvrissement en silicium, avec x=1,7 au bout de 30 min a 1000°C. Simultanement, la resistivite de WSi x decroit aussi de ∼90 Ω/carre pour 1500 A a 5 Ω/carre apres recuit a 1000°C. Interet
CFO estimation in OFDM systems and effects of nonlinear power amplifiers

It is well known that Carrier frequency offset (CFO) is a performance limiting factor in orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) systems. In this paper, we present maximum-likelihood estimators (MLE) for the CFO in OFDM systems in static and time-varying channels and evaluate the Cramer-Rao lower bounds (CRLB) for both cases. In addition, we examine the effect of power amplifiers' (PA) nonlinearity, which can be either memoryless or with memory. This nonlinearity impacts the system performance in several ways including higher BER and degraded channel estimation accuracy. In this paper, we analyze the effect of PA nonlinearity with memory on CFO estimation, quantifying the performance degradation caused by PA nonlinearity and the gain provided by employing predistortion filters.
Automated visual inspection: a tutorial

Abstract This article introduces the topic of automated visual inspection (AVI) as a subset of machine vision. The components of a generic AVI system will be presented and current applications of AVI systems will be discussed. Specifically, the applications of automated dimension verification, bare printed circuit board inspection, stuffed printed circuit board inspection and component identification using color technology will be covered in some detail.
Photometry of Gliese 372

Photometry of Gliese 372 was obtained during the 1996–1997 and 1997–1998 observing seasons. Our 3 σ limit on the presence of night-to-night variations, such as those due to eclipses or starspots, is ±0.024 mag. Over a single night, our limit on the presence of flares, eclipses, or other photometric variations is typically ±0.02. If the system is eclipsing, there was a 40% chance that we would have detected the eclipse based on the quoted uncertainties of the ephemeris. The observed lack of flares or photometric variations due to starspots suggests a low level of stellar activity.
Managing new arms races in the Asia/pacific

(1992). Managing new arms races in the Asia/pacific. The Washington Quarterly: Vol. 15, No. 3, pp. 83-101.
Charles Arthur Whitten (1909–1994)

Charles Whitten, the 1980 Bowie Medalist, died on July 12, 1994, at the age of 84. He was one of the nine oldest members of the AGU, having joined in 1934. Favored with excellent health throughout his life, Whitten was stricken by a cancer first detected January of this year. He is survived by his wife, Brena, three sons, and five grandchildren. He will be remembered with affection by a host of friends and colleagues; beside being a distinguished scientist, he was the kindest of men, always attentive and helpful, and never scornful of other's ideas: truly fulfilling the Bowie ideal of “unselfish cooperation.”
Useful matrix transformations for panel data analysis: a survey

This paper surveys some useful matrix transformations which simplify the derivation of GLS as WLS in an error component model. This is particularly important for large panel data applications where brute force inversion of large data matrices may not be feasible. This WLS transformation is known in the literature as the Fuller and Baltese (1974) transformation and its extension to error component models with heteroscedasticity, serial correlation, unbalancedness as well as a set of seemingly unrelated regressions are considered.
Transboundary diseases of goats

Abstract Goats form an integral part of the overall economy for poor farmers worldwide and are critical in supplying needed animal protein. International organizations involved in animal health, specifically, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, and the World Organization for Animal Health, work to monitor and facilitate the control of transboundary diseases of animals. Four of these diseases, which affect goats – peste des petits ruminants, foot-and-mouth disease, goat pox, and Rift Valley fever are reviewed.
Biomagnetic stressor effects in primates.

Abstract Squirrel monkeys were exposed to a steady state magnetic field of about 200 gauss. There were 10 exposure periods, 4 hr a day, for a total or 40 hr. Histological evaluation of the brains revealed no significant neuropathology. Urinary 17-hydroxycorticoids were significantly higher in the experimental animals than in the controls. This was the result of an initial transient elevation of the stress product early in the experimental period which subsided with continued magnetic field exposure.
Double junction polymer solar cells

The growing need for low-cost alternative energy motivates research in polymer solar cells. To reduce the cost per watt of energy, polymer solar cells with high power conversion efficiencies are necessary. Tandem polymer solar cells can achieve significantly higher efficiencies; however there are issues associated with polymers' complementary absorption spectra, architectural designs, fabrication approaches and interfacial material selections or engineering. In this article, we review device structures: both regular and inverted architectures, efficiency estimation of double junction polymer solar cells, and the most recent progress in circumventing the limitations of tandem polymer solar cells. This article will provide the readers with insightful knowledge into developing tandem polymer solar cells with efficiencies towards 15%.
Similarity and Alignment in Choice

Research in decision making often assumes that corresponding dimensions or features of choices are compared. At the same time, recent models of similarity comparison stress the importance of structural alignment and associated inference processes. The present studies integrate these perspectives by examining feature listings and choices for pairs of video games varying in their comparability. In the first study, one group of participants simply compared pairs of games and listed commonalities and differences. Another group made selections between games and provided justifications for their decisions. We observed close correspondences between justifications and feature listings across wide variation in comparability. In addition, the justifications systematically favored comparable over noncomparable properties. Features also seemed to be created or inferred to promote alignability. The second study manipulated the comparability of individual properties. Here, justifications were more likely to include a property when it was comparable than when it was noncomparable. These observations suggest a constructive alignment process common to similarity and choice.
Why use somatic mutations for human biomonitoring

The technology underlying genetic toxicology has undergone enormous change during the last 25 years. Technology has permitted studies of somatic mutations in humans to achieve scientific respectability. However, the author is concerned that in the zeal to develop assays for detecting mutations in humans, it was assumed that they would be useful in public health. Now that assumption must be tested so the question is no longer can we measure mutations? but why? The author discusses the challenge for in vivo somatic mutations, at least those measured by most genetic toxicologists, viz. mutations in reporter genes. These genes are irrelevant in themselves but ideal for assessing the mutation process itself. How well do surrogate mutations in surrogate tissue mimic disease gene mutations in target tissues? 28 refs.
Linking data to models: data regression.

Regression is a method to estimate parameters in mathematical models of biological systems from experimental data. To ensure the validity of a model for a given data set, pre-regression and post-regression diagnostic tests must accompany the process of model fitting.
Potential Targets to Encourage a Surgical Career

Background Our goal was to identify factors that can be targeted during medical education to encourage a career in surgery. Study design We conducted a cross-sectional survey of first and fourth year classes in a Liaison Committee on Medical Education-accredited medical school. Students scored 19 items about perceptions of surgery using a Likert-type scale. Students also indicated their gender and ranked their top three career choices. Results There were 121 of 210 (58%) first year and 110 of 212 (52%) fourth year students who completed the survey. First year students expressed a positive correlation between surgery and career opportunities, intellectual challenge, performing technical procedures, and obtaining a residency position, although length of training, work hours, and lifestyle during and after training were negatively correlated with choosing surgery. Fourth year student responses correlated positively with career and academic opportunities, intellectual challenge, technical skills, role models, prestige, and financial rewards. Factors that correlated negatively were length of training, residency lifestyle, hours, call schedule, and female gender of the student respondent. Forty-four percent of first year male students expressed an interest in surgery versus 27% of fourth year male students (p Conclusions Lifestyle issues remain at the forefront of student concerns. Intellectual challenge, career opportunities, and technical skills are consistently recognized as strengths of surgery. Additionally, fourth year students identify role models, prestige, and financial rewards as positive attributes. Emphasizing positive aspects may facilitate attracting quality students to future careers in surgery.
RADIOSENSITIZATION OF STREPTOCOCCUS FAECALIS AND ESCHERICHIA COLI

SUMMARY The radiosensitizing activity of a series of naphthalene derivatives against Streptococcus faecalis and Escherichia coli was examined to determine the essential molecular substituents and configurations required for effective sensitization when the compounds and organisms were irradiated with Co60 gamma rays. In general, compounds with hydroxyl or amino groups in the ortho and para positions, such as 1-amino-2-naphthol and 4-amino-1-naphthol, were particularly effective sensitizers for S. faecalis irradiated in air or in anoxia. E. coli was particularly sensitive to 4-amino-1-naphthol and 5-amino-1-naphthol when irradiated in anoxia, and less sensitive in air. Both organisms displayed marked sensitivity when irradiated with iodoacetic acid in air and in anoxia. It was determined that the bacteria and chemicals must be irradiated together for maximal radiosensitization to take place, for it was possible to almost eliminate radiosensitization by washing the cell-chemical suspension prior to irradiation.
The cystine–glutamate transporter in the accumbens: a novel role in cocaine relapse

Baker et al. have recently studied the potential role of cocaine-induced alterations in accumbens cystine-glutamate transporter activity (which controls basal extracellular glutamate levels) during cocaine-induced relapse to drug seeking in rats. Their data provide new evidence that neuroadaptations induced by repeated exposure to cocaine and subsequent withdrawal can play a causal role in drug relapse. These data also suggest the cystine-glutamate transporter as a novel target for medication that could prevent cocaine relapse.
Cell killing by simian virus 40: The sequence of ultrastructural alterations leading to cellular degeneration and death

Abstract Lytic infection of CV-1 cells with SV40 results in a sequence of ultrastructural alterations characterized by primary swelling of endoplasmic reticulum, followed by condensation of mitochondria, and finally, by swelling of most other membrane systems, including mitochondria and nuclear membranes. Lysosomes, stained for acid phosphatase activity or labeled with ferritin, were found to be relatively stable structures. They remained intact in cells which had become trypan blue stainable and in which the morphology of other organelles had become grossly distorted. Lytic SV40 infection was also characterized by an increase in the intracellular Na+/K+ ratio. Important similarities between the pattern of cytopathogenesis resulting from SV40 infection and that resulting from a variety of nonviral causes are noted.
Some chemical properties of human erythropoietin

Erythropoietin (epo) is the glycoprotein hormone that induces normal red cell differentiation. Reaction of native or denatured epo with either [3H]iodoacetic acid or N-ethyl-2-[3H]maleimide did not result in the incorporation of any significant amount of radioactivity. Radiolabeling took place only if the protein were denatured before reduction and alkylation. When reduction was carried out in the presence of 6 M guanidine HCl, about 3.7 mol N-ethyl-2[3H]maleimide were covalently linked per mol epo. These results show that there are no free, accessible sulfhydryl groups in epo; there are two internal disulfide bonds. When epo was reduced in the presence of 6 M guanidine HCl and then reoxidized and the guanidine removed, about 85% of the biological activity was regenerated. The biological activity was lost irreversibly if the sulfhydryl groups were alkylated. Limited proteolysis of [3H]epo (labeled at sialic acid residues of the oligosaccharide chains) showed that it consists of two rather trypsin-resistant domains, each having a mol wt of about 16,000, connected by a small region of protein that is trypsin sensitive. The two large fragments contain most of the label. Biological activity and immunoreactivity are lost after limited tryptic proteolysis. Complexing epo with a neutralizing antibody protects its activity from proteolysis.
Makrocyclische Polyäther und ihre Komplexe

Die wichtigste und nahezu einzigartige Eigenschaft der makrocyclischen Polyather („Kronenverbindungen”) ist ihre Tendenz zur Komplexbildung mit Alkalimetallsalzen und Salzen mit ahnlichen Kationen. Derartige Komplexe werden durch nichtgerichtete Coulomb-Krafte zwischen dem Kation und den negativen Enden der C—O-Dipole zusammengehalten. Die Stabilitat der Polyather-Komplexe hangt vor allem davon ab, wie gut das Kation in den Polyatherring hineinpast, aber auch von der Ladungsdichte des Kations und — in Losung — von der Solvatationsstarke des Mediums. Die cyclischen Polyather sind mit Erfolg u. a. bei Arbeiten mit Ionenverbindungen in organischen Losungsmitteln sowie zur Untersuchung des Ionentransports in biologischen Systemen verwendet worden.
Epidemiology of actinic keratoses and squamous cell carcinoma

Objective: The purpose of this article was to review the frequency, distribution, and determinants of actinic keratoses (AKs) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Methods: A review of the literature was done. Results: AKs are extremely common lesions on the sun-exposed skin of Caucasian persons. The most important risk factors are a combination of genetic propensity (fair skin phenotype) and cumulative sun exposure. Their prevalence increases with advancing age. The epidemiology of SCC is virtually the same, but the lesions occur most often on the head rather than on the upper extremities where most AKs are located. AKs are the most important risk factor identifying those most predisposed to the development of an SCC. Conclusion: AKs are a reliable marker for those people most predisposed to development of an invasive SCC. In addition, AKs are probably an early stage in a biologic continuum that culminates in SCC. However, there are many more AKs than SCCs, and it is difficult to predict exactly which lesions will progress to invasive cancer.
Proteolysis in homogenates of perfused rat liver: responses to insulin, glucagon and amino acids.

Abstract The proteolytic release of leucine and isoleucine was assessed in homogenates of rat livers perfused under conditions known to influence protein degradation in the intact liver. Release was increased by perfusion alone and by additions of glucagon and was inhibited by insulin and amino acids. These responses correlated both with rates of proteolysis during perfusion and with physical alterations of the lysosomal system, reported earlier. Homogenate proteolysis appeared to comprise two components: the release of free amino acids from the total particulate fraction and from peptides in the cytosol. Both components are believed to be generated by elements of the lysosomal system.
Redox chemistry in the phosphorus biogeochemical cycle.

The element phosphorus (P) controls growth in many ecosystems as the limiting nutrient, where it is broadly considered to reside as pentavalent P in phosphate minerals and organic esters. Exceptions to pentavalent P include phosphine—PH3—a trace atmospheric gas, and phosphite and hypophosphite, P anions that have been detected recently in lightning strikes, eutrophic lakes, geothermal springs, and termite hindguts. Reduced oxidation state P compounds include the phosphonates, characterized by C−P bonds, which bear up to 25% of total organic dissolved phosphorus. Reduced P compounds have been considered to be rare; however, the microbial ability to use reduced P compounds as sole P sources is ubiquitous. Here we show that between 10% and 20% of dissolved P bears a redox state of less than +5 in water samples from central Florida, on average, with some samples bearing almost as much reduced P as phosphate. If the quantity of reduced P observed in the water samples from Florida studied here is broadly characteristic of similar environments on the global scale, it accounts well for the concentration of atmospheric phosphine and provides a rationale for the ubiquity of phosphite utilization genes in nature. Phosphine is generated at a quantity consistent with thermodynamic equilibrium established by the disproportionation reaction of reduced P species. Comprising 10–20% of the total dissolved P inventory in Florida environments, reduced P compounds could hence be a critical part of the phosphorus biogeochemical cycle, and in turn may impact global carbon cycling and methanogenesis.
A parameterized cost model to order classes for class-based testing of C++ applications

In this paper we present the design and implementation of a class ordering system that is driven by a parameterized cost model. The parameters to the model assign weights to the edge types that describe the relationships between the classes in the graphical representation of the program. The nodes in the graph are classes and the edges express relationships between the classes. Previous research has included three or four edge types in the graph. However, to accommodate the full complement of C++ language constructs, which include template classes and functions and nested classes, we extend the graph to include six edge types. The parameters to the cost model can be tuned to remove certain types of edges in an attempt to reduce the cost of the testing effort or to reduce the cost of breaking cycles in the graph. Our case study indicates that inclusion of inheritance edges in cycle breaking considerations may reduce the number of edge removals by a factor of two or more.
A Comparative Analysis of Two Full-Scale MD-500 Helicopter Crash Tests

Two full scale crash tests were conducted on a small MD-500 helicopter at NASA Langley Research Center’s Landing and Impact Research Facility. One of the objectives of this test series was to compare airframe impact response and occupant injury data between a test which outfitted the airframe with an external composite passive energy absorbing honeycomb and a test which had no energy absorbing features. In both tests, the nominal impact velocity conditions were 7.92 m/sec (26 ft/sec) vertical and 12.2 m/sec (40 ft/sec) horizontal, and the test article weighed approximately 1315 kg (2900 lbs). Airframe instrumentation included accelerometers and strain gages. Four Anthropomorphic Test Devices were also onboard; three of which were standard Hybrid II and III, while the fourth was a specialized torso. The test which contained the energy absorbing honeycomb showed vertical impact acceleration loads of approximately 15 g, low risk for occupant injury probability, and minimal airframe damage. These results were contrasted with the test conducted without the energy absorbing honeycomb. The test results showed airframe accelerations of approximately 40 g in the vertical direction, high risk for injury probability in the occupants, and substantial airframe damage.
Behavioral Ethics: Toward a Deeper Understanding of Moral Judgment and Dishonesty

Early research and teaching on ethics focused either on a moral development perspective or on philosophical approaches and used a normative approach by focusing on the question of how people should act when resolving ethical dilemmas. In this article, we briefly describe the traditional approach to ethics and then present a (biased) review of the behavioral approach to ethics. We define behavioral ethics as the study of systematic and predictable ways in which individuals make ethical decisions and judge the ethical decisions of others when these decisions are at odds with intuition and the benefits of the broader society. By focusing on a descriptive rather than a normative approach to ethics, behavioral ethics is better suited than traditional approaches to addressing the increasing demand from society for a deeper understanding of what causes even good people to cross ethical boundaries.
An integrated mechanobiochemical feedback mechanism describes chromosome motility from prometaphase to anaphase in mitosis

During mitosis, chromosomes undergo a series of movements while being end-on attached to the kinetochore microtubules (KMTs) from spindle poles. The mechanism underlying such movements and their physiological functions remains elusive. We describe a mechanobiochemical feedback model of chromosome motility. The key ingredient is a feedback mechanism between the local chemical reactions that control the dynamics of KMTs and the mechanical state of the chromosome via tension-sensitive proteins localized at the kinetochores. This model can recapitulate all of the essential and distinct features of chromosome motilities from prometaphase to anaphase in a coherent manner. We further show that this feedback mechanism provides robust and precise means of guiding the chromosome to the cell equator regardless of the initial conditions and uncertainty in velocity. Predictions of our model can be tested experimentally.
Is carbon nitride harder than diamond? No, but its girth increases when stretched (negative Poisson ratio)

It has been believed that C_3N_4 ceramic would be harder than diamond. Predictions are reported of the mechanical properties based on a force field derived from ab initio quantum mechanics. The predicted structure for α-C_3N_4 is in good agreement with transmission electron diffraction (TED) studies, supporting the identity of the films as α-C_3N_4. The bulk modulus of α-C_3N_4 is calculated to be 189 GPa, significantly less than diamond (436 GPa calculated, 442 GPa experimental). However, α-C_3N_4 is predicted to have a negative Poisson ratio. This may lead to interesting applications.
Mimics of Cholangiocarcinoma: Spectrum of Disease

Cholangiocarcinoma is the second most common primary malignant hepatobiliary neoplasm, accounting for approximately 15% of liver cancers. Diagnosis of cholangiocarcinoma is challenging and the prognosis is uniformly poor, with recurrence rates of 60%-90% after surgical resection. A wide spectrum of neoplastic and nonneoplastic conditions of the biliary tract may masquerade as cholangiocarcinoma, adding to the complexity of management in patients suspected to have cholangiocarcinoma. Mimics of cholangiocarcinoma constitute a heterogeneous group of entities that includes primary sclerosing cholangitis, recurrent pyogenic cholangitis, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome cholangiopathy, autoimmune pancreatitis, inflammatory pseudotumor, Mirizzi syndrome, xanthogranulomatous cholangitis, sarcoidosis, chemotherapy-induced sclerosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, metastases, melanoma, lymphoma, leukemia, and carcinoid tumors. These entities demonstrate characteristic histomorphology and variable clinicobiologic behaviors. The imaging findings of these disparate entities are protean and may be indistinguishable from those of cholangiocarcinoma. In most cases, a definitive diagnosis can be established only with histopathologic examination of a biopsy specimen.
Fuzzy logic control and disturbance reduction

One of the fundamental problems in automatic control is operating systems in an environment where external disturbances are present. The ability of the fuzzy logic controller to reduce the effects of disturbances is investigated. Within the context of the proposed fuzzy control system, the authors discuss fuzzification and membership functions, control rules, and defuzzification and the controller output. Simulation results are presented. >
Prediction of Dissolution Profiles of Acetaminophen Beads Using Artificial Neural Networks

Immediate release acetaminophen (APAP) beads with 40% drug loading were prepared using the extrusion-spheronization process. Eighteen batches of beads were prepared based on a full factorial design by varying process variables such as extruder type, extruder screw speed, spheronization speed, and spheronization time. An in vitro dissolution test was carried out using the USP 27 Apparatus II (paddle) method. Artificial Neural Network (ANN) models were developed based on the aforementioned process variables and dissolution data. The trained ANN models were used to predict the dissolution profiles of APAP from the beads, which were prepared with various processing conditions. For training the ANN models, process variables were used as inputs, and percent drug released from APAP beads was used as the output. The dissolution data from one out of 18 batches of APAP beads was selected as the validation data set. The dissolution data of other 17 batches were used to train the ANN models using the ANN software (AI...
The immunoregulatory effects of Qa-1

Summary: The immune system is not only well equipped to control infections but also tightly controlled to prevent autoimmune disease. Despite the negative selection of T-cell clones in the thymus, mature T cells capable of recognizing self-antigens are present in every individual. Several types of specialized regulatory cells maintain homeostasis and prevent expansion of autoreactive T cells. In this issue of Immunological Reviews, the role of CD4+ regulatory T cells is extensively discussed. Suppression of T-cell responses by CD8+ T cells has received less attention. Here, we review research on Qa-1-restricted CD8+ regulatory T cells. We focus on the role of this class Ib major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecule in both CD8+ regulatory T-cell activity and protection of activated T cells.
The metabolic bioactivation of caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) mediated by tyrosinase selectively inhibits glutathione S-transferase

Glutathione S-transferase (GST) and multidrug resistance-associated proteins (MRPs) play major roles in drug resistance in melanoma. In this study, we investigated caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) as a selective GST inhibitor in the presence of tyrosinase, which is abundant in melanoma cells. Tyrosinase bioactivates CAPE to an o-quinone, which reacts with glutathione to form CAPE-SG conjugate. Our findings indicate that 90% CAPE was metabolized by tyrosinase after a 60-min incubation. LC-MS/MS analyses identified a CAPE-SG conjugate as a major metabolite. In the presence of tyrosinase, CAPE (10-25μM) showed 70-84% GST inhibition; whereas in the absence of tyrosinase, CAPE did not inhibit GST. CAPE-SG conjugate and CAPE-quinone (25μM) demonstrated ⩾85% GST inhibition via reversible and irreversible mechanisms, respectively. Comparing with CDNB and GSH, the non-substrate CAPE acted as a weak, reversible GST inhibitor at concentrations >50μM. Furthermore, MK-571, a selective MRP inhibitor, and probenecid, a non-selective MRP inhibitor, decrease the IC(50) of CAPE (15μM) by 13% and 21%, apoptotic cell death by 3% and 13%, and mitochondrial membrane potential in human SK-MEL-28 melanoma cells by 10% and 56%, respectively. Moreover, computational docking analyses suggest that CAPE binds to the GST catalytic active site. Caffeic acid, a hydrolyzed product of CAPE, showed a similar GST inhibition in the presence of tyrosinase. Although, as controls, 4-hydroxyanisole and L-tyrosine were metabolized by tyrosinase to form quinones and glutathione conjugates, they exhibited no GST inhibition in the absence and presence of tyrosinase. In conclusion, both CAPE and caffeic acid selectively inhibited GST in the presence of tyrosinase. Our results suggest that intracellularly formed quinones and glutathione conjugates of caffeic acid and CAPE may play major roles in the selective inhibition of GST in SK-MEL-28 melanoma cells. Moreover, the inhibition of MRP enhances CAPE-induced toxicity in the SK-MEL-28 melanoma cells.
Multiple query probabilistic roadmap planning using single query planning primitives

We propose a combination of techniques that solve multiple queries for motion planning problems with single query planners. Our implementation uses a probabilistic roadmap method (PRM) with bidirectional rapidly exploring random trees (BI-RRT) as the local planner. With small modifications to the standard algorithms, we obtain a multiple query planner, which is significantly faster and more reliable than its component parts. Our method provides a smooth spectrum between the PRM and BI-RRT techniques and obtains the advantages of both. We observed that the performance differences are most notable in planning instances with several rigid nonconvex robots in a scene with narrow passages. Our work is in the spirit of non-uniform sampling and refinement techniques used in earlier work on PRM.
OX40 Gene Expression Is Up-Regulated by Chromatin Remodeling in Its Promoter Region Containing Sp1/Sp3, YY1, and NF-κB Binding Sites

OX40 is a member of the TNFR superfamily (CD134; TNFRSF4) that is expressed on activated T cells and regulates T cell-mediated immune responses. In this study, we have examined the regulation of OX40 gene expression in T cells. Low-level OX40 mRNA expression was detected in both resting T cells and the nonactivated EL4 T cell line, and was up-regulated in both types of T cells upon activation with anti-CD3 Ab. We have shown in this study that basal OX40 promoter activity is regulated by constitutively expressed Sp1/Sp3 and YY1 transcription factors. NF-kappaB (p50 and p65) also binds to the OX40 promoter region, but the level of direct enhancement of the OX40 promoter activity by this transcription factor is not sufficient to account for the observed up-regulation of OX40 mRNA expression associated with activation. We have detected by chromatin immunoprecipitation that histone H4 molecules in the OX40 promoter region are highly acetylated by activation and NF-kappaB binds to the OX40 promoter in vivo. These findings suggest that OX40 gene expression is regulated by chromatin remodeling, and that NF-kappaB might be involved in initiation of chromatin remodeling in the OX40 promoter region in activated T cells. CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T (Treg) cells also express OX40 at high levels, and signaling through this receptor can neutralize suppressive activity of this Treg cell. In CD4(+)CD25(+) Treg cells, histone H4 molecules in the OX40 promoter region are also highly acetylated, even in the absence of in vitro activation.
Data mining methods for detection of new malicious executables

A serious security threat today is malicious executables, especially new, unseen malicious executables often arriving as email attachments. These new malicious executables are created at the rate of thousands every year and pose a serious security threat. Current anti-virus systems attempt to detect these new malicious programs with heuristics generated by hand. This approach is costly and oftentimes ineffective. We present a data mining framework that detects new, previously unseen malicious executables accurately and automatically. The data mining framework automatically found patterns in our data set and used these patterns to detect a set of new malicious binaries. Comparing our detection methods with a traditional signature-based method, our method more than doubles the current detection rates for new malicious executables.
Universalism for open theists

In this paper I argue that the denial of middle knowledge and emphasis on human freedom characteristic of open theism makes the traditional concept of hell even more morally problematic than it would otherwise be. But these same features of open theism present serious difficulties for the view that all will necessarily be saved. I conclude by arguing that the most promising approach for open theists is to adopt a version of contingent, as opposed to necessary, universalism.
Lack of therapeutic interchangeability of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors.

OBJECTIVE:To review relevant literature and provide an opinion on the class effect of hydroxymethylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors (statins).DATA SOURCES:Primary and review articles were identified by MEDLINE search (1990–July 2002).STUDY SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTION:Editorials, studies, and review articles related to the class effect or therapeutic interchangeability of statins were reviewed. Also included was information that is relevant to this topic.DATA SYNTHESIS:Although statins share common main actions, they may have clinically important differences in terms of efficacy and safety. At fixed or allowable dosages, rosuvastatin, atorvastatin, and simvastatin produced greater low-density lipoprotein cholesterol—lowering effects compared with other statins. Some statins have shown reduction in either cardiovascular and/or total mortality. Statins also differ in their structure, pharmacokinetics, potency, and rate of metabolism, any or all of which may have clinical significance. Although inco...
Social Skills Interventions for Individuals with Learning Disabilities

Social skill deficits have become a defining characteristic of students with specific learning disability (SLD). Attempts have been made to enhance social functioning through structured training approaches. The effectiveness of these efforts was evaluated in a quantitative research synthesis (meta-analysis), which revealed a “small” effect with very few differences among teachers, peers, or students with SLD themselves who judged the efficacy of training. The relatively modest effects are discussed in relation to a number of theoretical psychometric and design issues that might account for the limited treatment outcomes.
How Frequently Do Five Total Arthroplasty Methods Change the Alignment of the Joint Lines and Limb From Normal

One strategy for aligning the limb and positioning components in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in the coronal plane is mechanical alignment, which has the goal of positioning the center of the hip, knee, and ankle on a straight-line by establishing a femoral and tibial joint line at the knee that is perpendicular to the mechanical axis of the femur and tibia respectively. Another strategy is gap balancing, which has the goal of creating equal gaps between the medial and lateral compartments at 0° of extension and 90° of flexion.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
A review of the suppression of secondary electron emission from the electrodes of multistage collectors

A review is presented of more than 20 years of research conducted at NASA Lewis Research Center on the suppression of secondary electron emission (SEE) for the enhancement of the efficiency of vacuum electron devices with multistage depressed collectors. This paper includes a description of measurement techniques, data from measurements of SEE on a variety of materials of engineering interest and methods of surface treatment for the suppression of SEE. In the course of this work the lowest secondary electron yield ever reported was achieved for ion textured graphite, and, in a parallel line of research, the highest yield was obtained for chemical vapor deposited thin diamond films.
The Arabidopsis RGA Gene Encodes a Transcriptional Regulator Repressing the Gibberellin Signal Transduction Pathway

The recessive rga mutation is able to partially suppress phenotypic defects of the Arabidopsis gibberellin (GA) biosynthetic mutant ga1-3. Defects in stem elongation, flowering time, and leaf abaxial trichome initiation are suppressed by rga. This indicates that RGA is a negative regulator of the GA signal transduction pathway. We have identified 10 additional alleles of rga from a fast-neutron mutagenized ga1-3 population and used them to isolate the RGA gene by genomic subtraction. Our data suggest that RGA may be functioning as a transcriptional regulator. RGA was found to be a member of the VHIID regulatory family, which includes the radial root organizing gene SCARECROW and another GA signal transduction repressor, GAI. RGA and GAI proteins share a high degree of homology, but their N termini are more divergent. The presence of several structural features, including homopolymeric serine and threonine residues, a putative nuclear localization signal, leucine heptad repeats, and an LXXLL motif, indicates that the RGA protein may be a transcriptional regulator that represses the GA response. In support of the putative nuclear localization signal, we demonstrated that a transiently expressed green fluorescent protein-RGA fusion protein is localized to the nucleus in onion epidermal cells. Because the rga mutation abolished the high level of expression of the GA biosynthetic gene GA4 in the ga1-3 mutant background, we conclude that RGA may also play a role in controlling GA biosynthesis.
Intracoronary administration of FGF-2: a computational model of myocardial deposition and retention.

This study uses a computational model to characterize the myocardial deposition and retention of basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF-2) at the cellular level after intracoronary (IC) administration...
On the Origin of Weld Solidification Cracking

A review is made of theories regarding weld solidification cracking, identifying the numerous factors controlling crack initiation. A new approach to understanding this phenomenon is discussed, considering the conditions necessary to achieve rupture of liquid films.