cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Microeconometrics with Partial Identiﬁcation

Abstract This chapter reviews the microeconometrics literature on partial identification, focusing on the developments of the last thirty years. The topics presented illustrate that the available data combined with credible maintained assumptions may yield much information about a parameter of interest, even if they do not reveal it exactly. Special attention is devoted to discussing the challenges associated with, and some of the solutions put forward to, (1) obtain a tractable characterization of the values for the parameters of interest which are observationally equivalent, given the available data and maintained assumptions; (2) estimate this set of values; (3) conduct test of hypotheses and make confidence statements. The chapter reviews advances in partial identification analysis both as applied to learning (functionals of) probability distributions that are well-defined in the absence of models, as well as to learning parameters that are well-defined only in the context of particular models. A simple organizing principle is highlighted: the source of the identification problem can often be traced to a collection of random variables that are consistent with the available data and maintained assumptions. This collection may be part of the observed data or be a model implication. In either case, it can be formalized as a random set. Random set theory is then used as a mathematical framework to unify a number of special results and produce a general methodology to carry out partial identification analysis.
The relationship between the genotype and clinical factors of filamentous fungus causing-keratitis

Background The study on the classification of fungi is very important for the diagnosis and treatment of fungal keratitis.Identifying the different species of filamentous fungi is a critical factor for the application of anti-fungal drug in treating keratitis.ObjectiveThis report studies the relationship between the genotype of filamentous fungi and the clinical factors.MethodsFifty-two patients with filamentous fungal keratitis determined by clinical and laboratory examination were recruited in Tongren Hospital from January 2006-December 2006.The lesions were graded on the severity of the corneal ulcer and the presence of hypopyon.The filamentous fungal keratitis was treated with topical and systemic administration of anti-fungal drugs or corneal transplantation.The isolates were cultured in potato culture and identified by morphological characteristics based on the Nelson criterion and genotyped by the rDNA ITS method.The clinical data was retrospectively analyzed.ResultsForty-eight species (eubacteria are bacteria,not fungi)of fungus were identified by morphological characteristics,and the filamentous fungi were divided into 4 types based on the phylogenetic relationships within the rDNA ITS of the 52 filamentous fungi.The morphological characteristics and genotype were confirmed in 48 strains of eubacteria and 31 strains of 52 filamentous fungi (90.3%).The 4 groups of fungi were classified by genotype as follows:group 1 represents 22 strains including 20 strains of Fusarium solani and 2 strains of Fusarium oxysporum;group 2 represents 12 strains including 8 strains of Fusarium moniliformis,3 strains of Fusarium proliferatum and 1 strain of Fusarium incarnatum;group 3 represents 5 strains including 1 strain of Fusarium moniliformis and 4 unknown strains;group 4 represents 13 strains including 10 strains of Aspergillus spp.and 3 strains of Alternaria spp.Significant differences were found in the disease duration (P=0.00),inducing cause (P=0.03),ulcer grade (P=0.01)and outcome of the anti-fungal treatment (P=0.035)when compared between group 1 and 2 with group 3 and 4.Conclusion Filamentous fungi that cause keratitis could be correctly identified by sequencing the internal tanscribed spacer of rDNA.There are significant clinical differences among the groups classified by genotype. Key words: filamentous fungus; keratitis; genotype
Joint Military Exercises and Crisis Dynamics on the Korean Peninsula

A number of proposals for reducing tensions with North Korea have discussed alterations to the program of joint military exercises (JMEs) that South Korea holds. North Korea has also repeatedly cal...
Web Appendices For: What Do We Know About Nonprofit Collaboration? A Systematic Review of the Literature

This document contains two appendices for an article titled "What do We Know about Nonprofit Collaboration? A Systematic Review of the Literature," co-authored by Beth Gazley and Chao Guo. This systematic literature review reports on the content of past empirical studies of nonprofit collaboration within and across the sectors, published between 1972 and 2015 (n=657). An analysis of these articles reveals four major themes: diverse but “siloed” data; imbalance in research coverage; dominance of “big four” organization theories; and limited improvement in research sophistication. It further identifies five specific research gaps: the insufficient attention to the forms and intensity of nonprofit collaboration; the divergences and contradictions in theoretical reasoning and empirical evidence; the lack of attention to the moderators and/or mediators of collaboration; the lack of understanding of collaborative failure; and the lack of comparative studies. These findings help to inform collaboration research and practice by observing the value in using a broader scope of literature and methods to build knowledge in this area.
Angiotensin converting enzyme 1 knockdown in the median preoptic nucleus attenuates sustained diurnal hypertension following chronic intermittent hypoxia (686.29)

Chronic Intermittent Hypoxia (CIH) is a model for the arterial hypoxemia seen in sleep apnea and is associated with a sustained increase in blood pressure throughout the diurnal cycle. Studies indi...
An analysis of chemical reactor stability and control—IX : Further investigations into the direct method of Lyapunov

Abstract The stirred tank reactor is analysed for stability to finite perturbations by the direct method of Lyapunov function for a first order irreversible reaction carried out in a continuous stirred tank reactor with the resulting region of stability being a significant portion of the total area of stability. Similar procedures are used to find Lyapunov functions for a second order irreversible reaction and for a polymerization system. The regions of asymptotic stability for these two cases is considerably smaller than the total region of stability. This is the second paper of a series of two and treats general two dimensional systems, general three dimensional systems, and the stability of limit cycles.
FURTHER TAXONOMIC STUDIES ON STRAIGHT TO FLEXUOUS STREPTOMYCETES.

Pridham, Thomas G. (Northern Regional Research Laboratory, Peoria, Ill.), and Allister J. Lyons. Further taxonomic studies on straight to flexuous streptomycetes. J. Bacteriol. 89:331–342. 1965.—The best way to handle streptomycete classification, nomenclature, and identification is through application of a genus-species-subspecies concept. To establish a species, principal criteria are morphology of chains of spores and nature of spore-wall surfaces. Subspecies can be differentiated one from another by other criteria, such as chromogenicity, colors of sporulating aerial mycelium and of vegetative mycelium, carbon-utilization patterns, and assessment of qualitative production of antibiotics and sensitivity and resistance to antibacterial antibiotics. A literature study and laboratory studies of some strains suggested that streptomycetes with straight chains of spores could easily be differentiated from those with flexuous chains of spores. An intensive study of about 75 holotype and potential neotype strains indicated that such a differentiation is difficult to accomplish with confidence. Only 19 of the strains had straight chains of spores. These strains are considered, at this time, to be members of the species Streptomyces venezuelae Ehrlich et al. Forty-two of the strains had flexuous chains of spores and were assigned to the species Streptomyces griseus (Krainsky) Waksman and Henrici. Six of the strains had unusual spore-chain morphology. Classic taxonomic procedures allowed the separation of all the strains into a number of categories. The results suggest that more precise information on relationships of strains and qualitative antibiotic production will allow clarification of their sub-specific status. Consideration of the results obtained with strains having aberrant morphology allows some speculation on ranges of variations in morphology that might be encountered with the streptomycetes.
The Role of Agricultural Economics in a Changing Environment

The historical development of Agricultural Economics as a field of applied economics has been well-documented in books and journals by scholars within the profession. The relationship of Agricultural Economics to other social, biological and natural sciences has changed as the discipline has emerged and as forces of science and technology have been brought to bear on problems of our society. The objective of this paper is to define or establish the parameters of Agricultural Economics but offer personal views on how economic forces within our economy have influenced program development in research involving many disciplines. In this process I will emphasize some of the areas where Agricultural Economics has made a major contribution and, in my judgement, can play an important role in the future.
A Lawyer Looks at Writ-Writing

M Y EXPERIENCE WITH LEGAL PROBLEMS of prisoners began in 1957 when, as a law clerk, I became aware that incarcerated souls were not as civilly dead as law school had led me to believe. In succeeding years, I have become increasingly familiar with the genre, from the novice's first attempt to reach out for the mystical process which will fly him over the walls, to the temporarily discouraged writer who informs me that if the facts he has related are insufficient for the purpose he will supply whatever facts are necessary, to the veteran researcher who claims freedom under Magna Carta and supports his claim with seventy pages of handwritten Latin citations. As hard and unrewarding as screening these petitions may be, each deserves attention; the sensitivity which we apply to the task will be a measure of our devotion to due process of law. Further, surety and regularity of process is the best defense against repetitions of the "strip cell" treatment recently curtailed by a federal court in Californial and the brutality which resulted in the resignation of the warden of the Arkansas State Prison.2
The Role Dilemma in Early Confucianism

Recently, Sean Cordell has raised a dilemma for those Neo-Aristotelian virtue ethicists who take the demands of social roles seriously (Cordell 2011).
Numerical simulation of the control of the three-dimensional transition process in boundary layers

Surface heating techniques to control the three-dimensional laminar-turbulent transition process are numerically investigated for a water boundary layer. The Navier-Stokes and energy equations are solved using a fully implicit finite difference/spectral method. The spatially evolving boundary layer is simulated. Results of both passive and active methods of control are shown for small amplitude two-dimensional and three-dimensional disturbances waves. Control is also applied to the early stages of the secondary instability process using passive or active control techniques.
Ebersole & Hess' Gerontological Nursing and Healthy Aging (3rd ed.), by Theris A. Touhy and Kathleen Jett

Ebersole & Hess' Gerontological Nursing and Healthy Aging is about promoting healthy aging across the continuum, and its purpose is to provide nursing students, faculty, and practicing nurses curre...
A Case of Fibrillary Glomerulonephritis With Linear Immunoglobulin G Staining of the Glomerular Capillary Walls

Abstract We report a case of crescentic glomerulonephritis that presented with extensive crescent formation and fibrinoid necrosis in the glomeruli. Immunofluorescence staining was strongly positive for linear and pseudolinear staining of the capillary walls for immunoglobulin G (IgG) in the absence of significant mesangial staining. Histologic examination and immunofluorescence staining suggested a diagnosis of anti–glomerular basement membrane disease. However, electron microscopy showed the presence of numerous fibrillary deposits in the subepithelial areas of the glomerular capillary walls, supporting the diagnosis of fibrillary glomerulonephritis. Test results for circulating anti–glomerular basement membrane antibodies were negative. We report this interesting case to illustrate the point that fibrillary glomerulonephritis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of crescentic glomerulonephritis with linear and pseudolinear IgG deposits within the capillary walls. In such cases, electron m...
Lithium Controls Central Nervous System Autoimmunity through Modulation of IFN-γ Signaling

Inhibitors of glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK3) are being explored as therapy for chronic inflammatory diseases. We previously demonstrated that the GSK inhibitor lithium is beneficial in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), the mouse model of multiple sclerosis. In this study we report that lithium suppresses EAE induced by encephalitogenic interferon-γ (IFN-γ)-producing T helper (Th1) cells but not by interleukin (IL)-17-producing T helper (Th17) cells. The therapeutic activity of lithium required functional IFN-γ-signaling, but not the receptor for type I IFN (IFNAR). Inhibitor/s of GSK3 attenuated IFN-γ dependent activation of the transcription factor STAT1 in naive T cells as well as in encephalitogenic T cells and Th1 cells. The inhibition of STAT1 activation was associated with reduced IFN-γ production and decreased expansion of encephalitogenic Th1 cells. Furthermore, lithium treatment induced Il27 expression within the spinal cords of mice with EAE. In contrast, such treatment of Ifngr−/− mice did not induce Il27 and was associated with lack of therapeutic response. Our study reveals a novel mechanism for the efficacy of GSK3 targeting in EAE, through the IFN-γ-STAT1 axis that is independent IFNAR-STAT1 axis. Overall our findings set the framework for the use of GSK3 inhibitors as therapeutic agents in autoimmune neuroinflammation.
Worst case analysis of resistive networks using linear programming approach

Abstract It is shown that for DC networks in which certain components are allowed to vary, the worst case DC problem can be solved by solving a linear programming problem. The constraints used in the linear programming problem are determined from the elements tolerance regions. This enables us to obtain the worst case solution without having to compute the gradient of the network functions.
Altered response of fibroblasts from aged and Alzheimer donors to drugs that elevate cytosolic free calcium

Previous studies demonstrate that resting intracellular calcium in cultured skin fibroblasts declines due to in vivo aging and is further depressed by Alzheimer's disease. These data suggest that altered calcium homeostasis may underlie the deficits in cell function (e.g., cell spreading) that also occur in these cells. Depressed cytosolic free calcium in fibroblasts from aged and Alzheimer donors can be elevated by various drug treatments. 3,4-Diaminopyridine, serum, N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine and bradykinin increased cytosolic free calcium transiently although the rate of the increase was slower and the magnitude of the rise was less in cells from aged and Alzheimer donors when compared to young donors. Four minutes after N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine or bradykinin treatment cytosolic free calcium returned to resting levels in all six cell lines. Six minutes after either serum or 3,4-diaminopyridine treatments, however, cytosolic free calcium in cells from aged and Alzheimer donors remained elevated at concentrations similar to the resting calcium level in young cells. Bradykinin and serum were effective in the absence of extracellular calcium but 3,4-diaminopyridine and N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine were not. These demonstrate that dynamic, as well as resting calcium homeostasis, is altered in cultured skin fibroblasts from aged and Alzheimer donors.
Structural determinants of SecB recognition by SecA in bacterial protein translocation

SecB is a bacterial chaperone involved in directing pre-protein to the translocation pathway by its specific interaction with the peripheral membrane ATPase SecA. The SecB-binding site on SecA is located at its C terminus and consists of a stretch of highly conserved residues. The crystal structure of SecB in complex with the C-terminal 27 amino acids of SecA from Haemophilus influenzae shows that the SecA peptide is structured as a CCCH zinc-binding motif. One SecB tetramer is bound by two SecA peptides, and the interface involves primarily salt bridges and hydrogen bonding interactions. The structure explains the importance of the zinc-binding motif and conserved residues at the C terminus of SecA in its high-affinity binding with SecB. It also suggests a model of SecB-SecA interaction and its implication for the mechanism of pre-protein transfer in bacterial protein translocation.
Instinct and intelligence in British natural theology: some contributions to Darwin's theory of the evolution of behavior.

In late September 1838, Darwin read Malthus's Essay on Population, which left him with “a theory by which to work.”115 Yet he waited some twenty years to publish his discovery in the Origin of Species. Those interested in the fine grain of Darwin's development have been curious about this delay. One recent explanation has his hand stayed by fear of reaction to the materialist implications of linking man with animals. “Darwin sensed,” according to Howard Gruber, “that some would object to seeing rudiments of human mentality in animals, while others would recoil at the idea of remnants of animality in man.”116 With this link closed, Darwin hung the materialist chain around his own neck, where it rested most uncomfortably. Stephen Gould, supporting Gruber's argument, finds evidence for this reconstruction in Darwin's M and N notebooks, which
Individualized Education Program Team Decisions: A Preliminary Study of Conversations, Negotiations, and Power

Given the centrality of the Individualized Education Program (IEP) to services for students with disabilities, the decision-making process during the IEP meeting deserves attention in research and implementation. In this case study, IEP team decision-making is examined as a socially situated practice. Transcripts of an initial evaluation and IEP meeting and subsequent interviews with team members were analyzed in concert with the pertinent documents to understand the decision-making process and outcomes for a 5-year-old boy. The student's diagnosis, placement, and goal setting resulted in discussion and were pursued in postmeeting interviews. Further analysis was conducted regarding the proportion of interactions among participants. Results indicate that the turn-taking structure of the IEP meeting, the IEP template, and communication prior to the meeting influenced the decisions, and individual team members held opinions that they did not voice during the meeting.
Magnetic field effects on current, electroluminescence and photocurrent in organic light-emitting diodes

We report on the experimental characterization of a recently discovered large magnetoresistive effect in polyfluorene and in Alq3 organic light-emitting diodes. We also observe similar magnetic field effects (MFEs) of comparable magnitude in electroluminescence and photocurrent measurements. We provide a comprehensive overview of all these three types of MFE. To the best of our knowledge, the mechanism causing these MFEs is not currently known with certainty. Moreover, we show that experiments in bipolar, electroluminescent devices do not allow determination of whether the MFE acts on the carrier density or carrier mobility, making any attempt at explaining it ambiguous. As a remedy, we perform magnetoresistance measurements in hole-only polyfluorene devices and show that the MFE acts on the carrier mobility rather than carrier recombination.
Studies on the Genotoxicity of Molybdenum Salts in Human Cells In Vitro and in Mice In Vivo

Molybdenum is an essential element in plants and animals as a cofactor for enzymes. Molybdenum trioxide is used in metallurgical processes, in cosmetics as a pigment, and in contact lens solution, yet limited information is available on molybdenum genotoxicity. In the present study the micronucleus (MN) assay in human lymphocytes and mouse bone marrow and the dominant lethal assay in mice were used to assess the genotoxic effects of molybdenum salts in vitro and in vivo. Two salts of molybdenum were tested in whole blood cultures. Ammonium molybdate was more potent than sodium molybdate in causing a dose-dependent decrease in viability and replicative index and an increase in MN formation in binucleated lymphocytes (P < 0.001). A dose-response in both kinetochore-positive MN (caused by chromosome lagging) and kinetochore-negative MN (associated with chromosome breakage) was observed. Based on the results of a toxicity study of sodium molybdate, two doses, 200 and 400 mg/kg, were assessed in the bone marrow MN assay in mice (two i.p. injections 24 and 48 hr prior to euthanasia). A modest but statistically significant increase in MN frequency in polychromatic erythrocytes was observed (P < 0.05). The same treatment protocol was used to analyze dominant lethality. A dose-dependent increase in postimplantation loss represented mostly by early resorptions was observed the first week after treatment (P = 0.003). These preliminary data suggest that sodium molybdate induces dominant lethality at the postmeiotic stage of spermatogenesis. Overall, molybdenum salts produced moderately positive results both in vitro in human cells and in vivo in mice.
The Immunological Response of Chickens After Treatment with Several Vaccines of Visceral Lymphomatosis

Abstract INTRODUCTION THE transfer of immune substances from dam to offspring plays a very important part in the protection of the new born from many infectious diseases. This is true not only for progeny that develop in the uterus, but also for those which hatch from eggs. This parental immunity is an important factor in the control of several viral diseases of poultry such as infectious bronchitis, laryngotracheitis, and Newcastle disease. Burmester (1955a) demonstrated this type of immunity in the progeny of chickens that had received repeated injections of the virus of visceral lymphomatosis (V.L.). The progeny were much more resistant to challenge inoculation than progeny of the same dams obtained before immunization. Serums from the immunized hens neutralized the virus in vitro and also protected baby chicks from challenge inoculation (Burmester, 1955b). Further work has been done to test the efficacy of various preparations and procedures for the immunization of …
Phenotypes of yeast mutants lacking the mitochondrial protein Pet20p.

The pet20-Δ deletion in Saccharomyces cerevisiae causes diminished growth on media containing non-fermentable carbon sources when incubated at both above and below the 30 °C optimal growth temperature. Furthermore, the pet20-Δ strain has a greatly reduced level of cytochrome c, especially at 37 °C. The pet20-Δ strain was sensitive to high NaCl and CaCl2 concentrations, hydrogen peroxide, oligomycin, polymixin B, amphotericin B and fluconazole. Biochemical fractionation and immunofluorescence staining demonstrated that Pet20p is located primarily in the mitochondria. Rhodamine B staining of pet20-Δ cells showed an altered mitochondrial staining, indicating the possible lack of the mitochondrial membrane potential. We suggest that PET20 encodes a protein required for proper assembly or maintenance of mitochondrial components, but does not serve an enzymatic role. It is also possible that Pet20p may constitute a non-catalytic subunit of an uncharacterized mitochondrial complex or serve as a transporter or a coupling factor. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The impact parameter and isospin dependence of the disappearance of flow

Abstract The disappearance of collective transverse flow can be related to the nuclear equation of state and in-medium nucleon-nucleon scattering. Experimental and theoretical results from several groups are presented for collisions of Ar+Sc, Ar+Al, Zn+Al, 58 Fe+ 58 Fe, 58 Ni+ 58 Ni, and 58 Mn+ 58 Fe and incident energies ranging from 35 to 155 MeV/nucleon. By comparing experimental results for the balance energy with predictions from transport models, one can show that the description of the nuclear mean field must include momentum dependence. The balance energy can be shown to depend on the in-medium cross sections using transport models. A model independent verification of this dependence has been done experimentally by varying the N/Z of the system while holding all other parameters constant. The balance energy changes with the isospin of the system in qualitative agreement with a transport model incorporating isospin dependent nucleon-nucleon scattering and mean field.
Development of a reaction mechanism for liquid-phase decomposition of guanidinium 5-amino tetrazolate

Abstract The objective of this work is to formulate a detailed reaction mechanism of the decomposition of guanidinium 5-amino tetrazolate (GA) in the liquid phase using a combined experimental and computational approach. The experimental information comes from data published in the literature. The computational approach is based on using quantum mechanics for identifying species and determining the kinetic rates, resulting in 55 species and 85 elementary reactions. In these ab initio techniques, various levels of theory and basis sets were used. A continuum-based model for predicting species formation and mass loss of a TGA experiment was also developed and solved numerically, accounting for reversible chemical reactions and mass transfer in simulations of the GA decomposition process. The model accounts for reactions within the liquid phase and evaporation of several of the observed experimentally measured products. Simulation results for species concentrations and heat release were obtained, and these results were found to satisfactorily match the temporal experimental results previously published in literature for the decomposition of GA. Important reaction pathways in the proposed reaction scheme were identified based on a sensitivity analysis.
Nrf2 reduces levels of phosphorylated tau protein by inducing autophagy adaptor protein NDP52

Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) is a pivotal transcription factor in the defence against oxidative stress. Here we provide evidence that activation of the Nrf2 pathway reduces the levels of phosphorylated tau by induction of an autophagy adaptor protein NDP52 (also known as CALCOCO2) in neurons. The expression of NDP52, which we show has three antioxidant response elements (AREs) in its promoter region, is strongly induced by Nrf2, and its overexpression facilitates clearance of phosphorylated tau in the presence of an autophagy stimulator. In Nrf2-knockout mice, phosphorylated and sarkosyl-insoluble tau accumulates in the brains concurrent with decreased levels of NDP52. Moreover, NDP52 associates with phosphorylated tau from brain cortical samples of Alzheimer disease cases, and the amount of phosphorylated tau in sarkosyl-insoluble fractions is inversely proportional to that of NDP52. These results suggest that NDP52 plays a key role in autophagy-mediated degradation of phosphorylated tau in vivo.
Numerical optimization in the presence of random variability. The single factor case

SUMMARY This paper gives procedures for finding optimum conditions for a single factor, when the response is subject to random error. A new procedure is described and is compared with an existing procedure. It is difficult to get extensive analytical results and the main results are obtained by computer simulation.
A Bound on Processor Gain

In data transmission systems using electromagnetic propagation there is often interest in the antijam capability of the system and the probability that the transmitted signal can be intercepted. It is shown that, neglecting antenna gain, both of these are adequately described by the processor gain. An information theoretic bound is given for the processor gain and the performance of several conventional signaling systems is indicated. Improvement using forward error correction is also investigated.
The Communication of De Re Thoughts

Analyse de la communication des pensees de re exprimees par des indexicaux, des pronoms personnels et des demonstratifs du type je, maintenant et ici. Soulignant l'evidence empirique et l'evidence a priori d'une similarite entre le contenu semantique du locuteur et le contenu semantique de l'auditeur au cours d'un echange, l'A. developpe une approche pragmatique du contenu des pensees de re et du contenu semantique des enonces servant a exprimer des modes de presentation de re et des modes de representation objet-dependants. L'A. tire les consequences de cette approche du point de vue des theories de la reference signuliere
Sleep, Circadian Rhythms, and Psychomotor Vigilance

Psychomotor vigilance performance is highly relevant to athletic performance. It is influenced by a sleep homeostatic process, which builds up pressure for sleep during wakefulness and dissipates this pressure during sleep, and a circadian rhythm process, which produces a waxing and waning of pressure for wakefulness over a 24 hours of the day. During total sleep deprivation, these two processes cause performance to deteriorate progressively over days, modulated within days by further performance reductions at night and relative improvements during the daytime. As the homeostatic pressure for sleep builds up higher across prolonged wakefulness, the rate of dissipation of that pressure during subsequent sleep is enhanced exponentially, so that even brief periods of sleep provide significant performance recuperation. Nevertheless, sleep restriction practiced on a chronic basis induces cumulative performance deficits of the same order of magnitude as observed during total sleep deprivation. There are also considerable individual differences in the degree of vulnerability to performance impairment from sleep loss, and these differences represent a trait.
Sphingosine-1-phosphate markedly induces matrix metalloproteinase and integrin-dependent human endothelial cell invasion and lumen formation in three-dimensional collagen and fibrin matrices

Endothelial cell invasion is a key step in angiogenic blood vessel formation. Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) has been previously reported to play a role in endothelial cell proliferation, survival, migration, and angiogenesis. Here, we examine the ability of S1P to regulate human endothelial cell invasion into three-dimensional collagen or fibrin matrices. We show that S1P potently stimulated human endothelial cell invasion, lumen formation, and branching morphogenesis in collagen, and fibrin matrices, (5- and 15-fold increases in invasion were observed, respectively). The S1P-induced invasion response was pertussis-toxin sensitive and completely dependent on integrins. Addition of integrin blocking reagents revealed that the alpha2beta1 integrin regulated invasion in collagen matrices, while a combination of alphavbeta3 and alpha5beta1 integrins regulated invasion in fibrin. Additionally, the S1P-induced invasion response was dependent on matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-3 (TIMP-3) was the only physiologic inhibitor of metalloproteinases that completely inhibited the potent stimulation of invasion induced by S1P. In contrast, TIMP-1 had no blocking effect on invasion or morphogenesis, while TIMP-2 and TIMP-4 partially reduced invasion but completely blocked lumen formation events. Collectively, these data reveal a marked ability of S1P to induce metalloproteinase- and integrin-dependent human endothelial cell invasion and morphogenesis in both collagen and fibrin three-dimensional matrices, the two most physiologically relevant matrices for angiogenesis.
Performance of US hospitals on recommended screening and immunization practices for pregnant and postpartum women.

Abstract Objective: Recommendations by most national advisory committees on immunization include evaluating all pregnant women for chronic hepatitis B virus infection and immunity to rubella. It is recommended that all pregnant women be screened for hepatitis B surface antigen during an early prenatal visit and that rubella vaccine be administered in the postpartum period to women not known to be immune. This study determined the extent to which hospitals with labor and delivery services adhere to these recommendations. Methods: We conducted a mail survey of a stratified random sample of all US medical-surgical hospitals to (1) determine the proportion of hospitals with hepatitis B screening policies and rubella immunization programs and (2) identify significant factors associated with the presence of these policies and programs. Hospitals were stratified by number of beds ( Results: Of 986 institutions surveyed, 858 (87%) responded. Of these, 635 (74%) were labor and delivery hospitals. Approximately half of these (51%) had hospital policies related to screening pregnant women for the hepatitis B surface antigen. Twenty-one percent had rubella immunization programs for postpartum women. Only 14% of labor and delivery hospitals were in full compliance with published recommendations for hepatitis B surface antigen screening and rubella postpartum vaccination. Hospitals were more likely to be compliant if they had more than 100 beds, were private rather than public institutions, were affiliated with a medical school, and were in states with laws regarding hepatitis B surface antigen screening of pregnant women. Conclusions: Almost half, and more than three quarters, of hospitals were not in compliance with hepatitis B screening and rubella postpartum immunization recommendations, respectively. Hospitals should develop and implement policies for these preventive services. (AJIC Am J Infect Control 2000;28:327-32)
Synthesis, stabilization and formulation of [177Lu]Lu-AMBA, a systemic radiotherapeutic agent for Gastrin Releasing Peptide receptor positive tumors

Abstract A robust formulation was developed for [ 177 Lu]Lu-AMBA ( 177 Lu-DO3A-CH 2 CO-G-[4-aminobenzoyl]-QWAVGHLM-NH 2 ), a Bombesin-like agonist with high affinity for Gastrin Releasing Peptide (GRP) receptors. During optimization of labeling, the effect of several radiostabilizers was evaluated; a combination of selenomethionine and ascorbic acid showed superiority over other tested radiostabilizers. The resulting two-vial formulation maintains a radiochemical purity (RCP) of >90% for at least 2 days at room temperature. The method of stabilization should be useful for other methionine-containing peptide radiopharmaceuticals in diagnostic and therapeutic applications.
Oxidative Stress and Microglial Cells in Parkinson's Disease

Significant evidence has now been accumulated that microglial cells play a central role in the degeneration of DA neurons in animal models of PD. The oxidative stress response by microglial cells, most notably the activity of the enzyme NADPH oxidase, appears to play a central role in the pathology of PD. This oxidative stress response occurs in microglia through the activation of the ERK signaling pathway by proinflammatory stimuli, leading to the phosphorylation and translocation of the p47phox and p67phox cytosolic subunits, the activation of membrane-bound PHOX, and the production of ROS. Therapeutic anti-inflammatories which prevent DA neurodegeneration in PD, including anti-inflammatory cytokines, morphinan compounds, NADPH oxidase inhibitors, NF-κB inhibitors, and β2-AR agonists, all function to inhibit the activation of the PHOX in microglial cells. These observations suggest a central role for the oxidative stress response in microglial cells as a mediator or regulator of DA neurodegeneration in PD.
Swelling of Submandibular Region

A man in his 30s with no significant medical history presented with a subtle soft swelling of his right submandibular region for the past 8 months. In the previous 24 hours it had rapidly expanded with painful neck swelling, dysphagia, andmild shortness of breath with supine and intermittent fever. Physical examination revealed a soft and easily compressible neck mass with overlying skin erythemawith no obvious involvement of the floor of themouth. Flexible fiberoptic laryngoscopy revealed no suspicious lesions and symmetric vocal cord movement. Contrast-enhanced computed tomographic (CT) imaging of the neck revealed a 6-cm wellcircumscribed mass with septations within the right sublingual space herniating through the mylohyoid muscle into the right submandibular space as shown in the Figure (A and B, axial; C, sagittal reformatted; and D, coronal reformatted). The patient was taken to the operating room for transcervical excision of the lesion. What is your diagnosis? A B
Criteria for hexagon formation in photorefractive materials

ABSTRACT We simulate exact spatio-temporal evolutions of self-organization in KNbO 3 using a reflection grating based phenomenological model, and a rigorous model including the time evolution of phot ovoltaic voltage. The initial phase difference of scattering waves is critical to hexagon formation. Finally, we compare the stability range for those two models. Keywords: Reflection grating, photovoltaic effect, hexagon pattern. 1. INTRODUCTION Photorefractive KNbO 3 exhibits a rich variety of self-organizational effects including scattering ring formation, hexagonal pattern and their rotation, depending on experimental conditions [1]. Self-organization in KNbO 3 can be explained heuristically through formation of diffractive gratings within the material due to the photorefractive effect, as described by Banerjee et al [1]. In the previous paper, some of the theoretical work has been presented to analyze the property of the self-organization into a steady state scattering ring. The eigenmode solution for the nonlinear system has been accomplished [2]. The existence of multi-mode solutions has shown that the nonlinear system demonstrated bifurcation on the scattering wave amplitude and phase. After that, the effect of the amplitude and phase of the coupling constant on self-organization has been carefully studied [3]. Based on previous effects, we constructed a phenomenological grating generation model and obtained the time evolution of the eigenmode found in the scattering ring analysis and its related initial phase conditions [4]. In the following paper, we presented that the initial conditions responsible for the hexagonal pattern generation based on the same model [5]. Our computer simulation of the dynamics of the hexagon generation matches closely with the experimental observation. In this paper, we summarize our continuing work on the computer simulation based on a more precise differential equation for the reflection grating generation. The organization of this paper is as follows. First, we introduce the pattern formation equation and our theoretical model. Second, we show our simulation results and compare those with the previous ones. At last, we compare the stability range for two systems.
Sensory Characteristics of Selected Species of Freshwater Fish in Retail Distribution

Flavor and texture profiles of the cooked flesh of selected freshwater fish in retail distribution were developed by a highly trained sensory panel. The intensity of a variety of flavor, aftertaste, and texture properties was characterized for each fish, including order of appearance for flavor characteristics. These data provide a first examination of the sensory properties of a variety of freshwater fish available to the consumer. A variety of species, including tilapia and hybrid bass, had overall fish-like flavor and texture, but also had some properties similar to white meats, such as chicken. Catfish was earthier, softer, and more gelatinous than most other freshwater fish studied.
Characteristic study for integration of fixed and variable speed wind turbines into transmission grid

Wind energy is emerging as an increasing viable source of energy. Many of the newly developed wind power plants are expected to come from offshore, which usually requires the integration of an offshore wind power plant into the grid through a long transmission cable. This paper studies the characteristics of a wind energy conversion system (WECS) when it is integrated to the grid in typical offshore applications using either fixed-speed induction generator (IG) or variable-speed doubly-fed induction generator (DFIG) wind turbines. Steady- state models in d-q reference frame are developed for single wind turbine, a simplified wind farm, and an integrated WECS and grid system. Stator voltage oriented frame is utilized to investigate DFIG-based WECS characteristics under different d- q control conditions. Parallel and series compensations, normally used to improve WECS performance, are simulated and investigated. Comparisons are made for WECSs using fixed- speed IGs and variable-speed DFIGs.
Efficient terahertz generation by optical rectification at 1035 nm.

We demonstrate efficient generation of THz pulses by optical rectification of 1.03 um wavelength laser pulses in LiNbO3 using tilted pulse front excitation for velocity matching between the optical and THz fields. Pulse energies of 100 nJ with a spectral bandwidth of up to 2.5 THz were obtained at a pump energy of 400 uJ and 300 fs pulse duration. This conversion efficiency of 2.5×10-4 was an order of magnitude higher than that obtained with collinear optical recitification in GaP, and far higher still than that measured using ZnTe in an optimized geometry. Using a simple model we demonstrate that two- and three-photon absorption strongly limit the THz generation efficiency at high pump fluences in ZnTe and GaP respectively.
Charge-exchange collisions of C60z+: a probe of the ion charge distribution

Abstract We present Paul trap measurements of charge-exchange collisions of Li, Cs and C 60 with C 60 z + ions ( z = 1−3) at thermal energies. Surprisingly, the measured charge-exchange rates for each neutral species are not proportional to the ion charge z as would be expected for Langevin collisions involving a uniformly charged ion. The relative rates can be reproduced by a model based on a symmetric distribution of point charges that are free to move on the ion surface during the neutral trajectory. Such behavior can be attributed to static and possibly dynamic Jahn-Teller effects in C 60 z + ions.
Warranty analysis and renewal function estimation

Estimation of the expected cost of a warranty for a stochastically failing unit is closely tied to estimation of the renewal function. The renewal function is a basic tool also used in probabilistic models arising in other areas such as reliability theory, inventory theory, and continuous sampling plans. In these other areas, estimation of a straight line approximation of the renewal function instead of direct estimation of the renewal function has proved successful. This approximation is based on a limit expression for large values of the argument, say t, of the renewal function. However, in warranty analusis, typically t is small compared to the mean failure time of the unit. Hence, alternative methods for renewal function estimation, both parametric and nonparametric, are presented and discussed. An important aspect of this paper is to discuss the performance of the renewal function estimators when only a small number of failed units is available. A Monte Carlo study is given which suggests guidelines for choosing an estimator under various circumstances.
Can the rate of progression of chronic renal failure be altered

The cost of renal replacement therapy for end-stage renal disease in the United States exceeds three billion dollars per year. Nonimmunologic mechanisms may contribute to progressive renal injury in renal failure of diverse etiologies. Based on the potential adverse renal effects of these processes, a number of dietary and pharmacologic interventions have been proposed as being potentially beneficial in slowing the rate of progression of chronic renal failure to end-stage renal disease. This article reviews current evidence in animal models and humans supporting the efficacy of each of the proposed interventions.
Fracture characterization in tubular LSFCO ceramic membranes

Abstract Lanthanum based perovskite oxides are subject of extensive studies for application as oxygen-separation membranes where they are designed to be used as tubes in advanced reactors. In the present study, tubular La 0.2 Sr 0.8 Fe 0.8 Cr 0.2 O 3− δ perovskite membrane has been evaluated for structural properties viz. fracture strength in two different conditions: ambient and in N 2 at 1000 °C and 0.17 MPa. The results show that in the slightly reducing condition, the fracture strength of the perovskite tubes decrease to nearly half its value at ambient conditions (186 and 307 MPa, respectively) with a negligible change in the Weibull modulus ( m ). The fracture origins are primarily processing related surface and volume flaws. Microscopic analysis indicates that fracture is brittle and by transgranular cleavage. In reducing conditions, there is a drastic change in fracture morphology and can be argued as being aided by creation of excess oxygen defects in the membrane. A strong correlation is observed to exist between the fracture strength, fracture morphology and defect chemistry in a tubular LSFCO membrane.
δ13C compositions of saturate and aromatic fractions of lacustrine oils and bitumens: evidence for water column stratification

Abstract Saturate fractions of oils and source rocks are generally depleted in 13 C relative to the aromatic fraction. The isotopic difference between these two fractions ( Δδ aro-sat ) is largest typically in lacustrine oils and bitumens, and smallest in marine samples. Depletions of 13 C in saturate fractions in samples from three lacustrine basins (China, Argentina and U.S.A.) correlate strongly with hopane abundance. Extremely 13 C depleted hopanes have been documented in ancient and modern lacustrine settings and are explained by input from methanotrophic bacteria. As these bacteria thrive at the chemocline of stratified lakes, extremely 13 C depleted hopanes in geologic samples is evidence for paleostratification. Comparatively low Δδ aro-sat values in marine samples are related to abundant sulfate in marine environments, since sulfate reducers out-compete methanogens for metabolic intermediates and attenuate the methane cycle. The strong positive correlation of quantitative hopane abundance with the 13 C-depletion in saturate fractions of lacustrine samples provides circumstantial evidence for biogenic input from methanotrophic bacteria and for stratified water columns during source rock deposition. Further, this observation explains why the “Sofer-plot” effectively differentiates stratified lacustrine samples from open marine and non-stratified lacustrine samples. The wide distribution of our sample set suggests that this is a global phenomenon.