cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Microglial activation is required for Aβ clearance after intracranial injection of lipopolysaccharide in APP transgenic mice

Inflammation has been argued to play a fundamental role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease. Mice transgenic for mutant human amyloid precursor protein (APP) develop progressive amyloid deposition, gliosis, and cognitive impairment. Paradoxically, intracranial administration of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to promote neuroinflammation results in a reduction in amyloid-β peptide (Aβ) burden concurrent with the inflammatory response. To determine whether microglia mediate Aβ clearance after LPS, we used dexamethasone to inhibit the microglial response. Amyloid precursor protein mice were injected intrahippocampally with either LPS or saline and were allowed to survive for 7 days with or without dexamethasone cotreatment. Brain tissue was then analyzed by immunohistochemistry. Hippocampal Aβ burden was reduced 7 days after LPS injection, and this was prevented by cotreatment with dexamethasone. Markers of microglial activation [CD45, complement receptor 3 (CR3), and macrosialin (CD68)] were increased by LPS, and these increases were attenuated by dexamethasone. Dexamethasone failed to block LPS-induced increases in all microglial markers, and Fcγ receptors II/III and scavenger receptor A were increased by LPS but were unaffected by dexamethasone cotreatment. These results indicate a complex response by microglia to acute LPS treatment, with only some responses sensitive to steroidal anti-inflammatory drug treatment. Nonetheless, microglial activation was necessary to remove Aβ in this model of neuroinflammation.
In situ cranioplasty with methylmethacrylate and wire lattice

Most techniques of cranioplasty are expensive and require advance preparation if a custom-moulded prosthesis is to be used. Technical problems with cranioplasties using synthetic materials include sinking, elevation and rotation, while those with hydroxyapatite or bone graft cranioplasties include resorption and harvest site disfigurement. We report our technique of in situ cranioplasty using methylmethacrylate and a wire lattice that is fast, inexpensive and avoids these technical problems.
Lipid content of terrestrial arthropods in relation to body size, phylogeny, ontogeny and sex

Energy storage in arthropods has important implications for survival and reproduction. The lipid content of 276 species of adult arthropods with wet mass in the range 0.2-6.13 g is determined to assess how lipid mass scales with body mass. The relative contribution of lipids to total body mass is investigated with respect to phylogeny, ontogeny and sex. The lipid content of adult insects, arachnids, and arthropods in general shows an isometric scaling relationship with respect to body mass (M )( Marthropod lipid =− 1.09 × Mdry 1.01 and Marthropod lipid =− 1.00 × Mlean 0.98 ). However, lipid allocation varies between arthropod taxa, as well as with sex and developmental stage within arthropod taxa. Female insects and arachnids generally have higher lipid contents than males, and larval holometabolous insects and juvenile arachnids have higher lipid contents than adults.
Oncologic PET/CT: current status and controversies.

The introduction of integrated PET/CT has dramatically increased the worldwide rate of growth for PET, predominantly for oncologic imaging with the glucose analog 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG). A rapidly expanding body of literature demonstrates that the use of FDGPET/CT and the resultant ability to interpret coregistered and fused PET and CT images lead to improved observer confidence and improved diagnostic performance by comparison with PET alone, CT alone, and visually correlated PET and CT. The value of PET/CT is likely to be even greater with new PET radiopharmaceuticals under development, many of which produce PET images with even fewer anatomical landmarks than FDG images. PET/CT is also likely to lead to the resurrection of 18F-fluoride as a principal agent for radionuclide bone imaging. There are a number of controversies related to PET/CT, including minimum training and experience requirements for interpreting physicians and defining new models for technical and professional reimbursement.
Is the Phonetic Generalization Hypothesis in Spelling Valid

This study was conducted to help settle a major controversy in spelling instruction concerning the phonetic generalization hypothesis. It utilized Solomon’s Four-Group Experimental Design for 2x2x2 factorial analyses-girls versus boys, pretesting versus nonpretesting, and phonetic instruction versus no phonetic treatment. Dependent variables were two spelling test scores of pupils in 106 Grades 2-6 classes: (1) spellings consistent with two phonetic generalizations taught to treatment groups and (2) spellings unrelated to the two phonetic generalizations. In order of most significant effects found, results showed girls superior to boys, pretesting better than nonpretesting, and questionable advantage for phonetic instruction over no phonetic instruction. Test-Study methods appear to be more promising than phonetic approaches. Further research is necessary to ascertain the definite value of Test-Study methods.
Nitrogen in the Solar System

Nitrogen within the solar system is not isotopically uniform: 15N/14N ratios in planetary objects such as Earth, Mars, and Jupiter range from 1.9 to 5.9 × 10−3 ( 1 ), some meteoritic materials exhibit ratios as high as 22 × 10−3 ( 2 ), and samples from the lunar surface reveal an unexplained variability between 2.8 and 4.3 × 10−3 ( 3 ). These variations are best explained by mixing of isotopically distinct components which could have been carried to the lunar surface by the solar wind or originated from some unknown source. Identifying the compositions and sources of those components will clarify fundamental issues such as how planets accreted and how their atmospheres subsequently evolved.
A method for the determination of minoxidil in hair-regrowth formulations by micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography.

Abstract A method based on micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography (MEKC) was developed for determination of minoxidil in Rogaine and competing products. The original intent of the work was to offer an orthogonal means to HPLC for testing illicit imitations of Rogaine. However, because the patent has since expired, we offer the procedure as a confirmatory measure to HPLC for assay of generic minoxidil products. The MEKC procedure complements an earlier method based on free solution capillary electrophoresis (FSCE), designed to the same end. Validation was carried out on both a Dionex CES-1, which utilizes gravity injection, and a PE-ABI 270HT, which employs vacuum injection. The procedure was validated for both active pharmaceutical ingredient and for minoxidil solutions. The run buffer is pH 7.0, 20 mM sodium phosphate, 20 mM sodium dodecyl sulfate, with 10% isopropanol; the internal standard is dl -tryptophan. The method bears the attributes of simplicity, ease of use, and short analysis time (12 min). It is selective with respect to known process and degradation impurities. High efficiency was achieved on the CES-1, with a plate count exceeding 200,000 for minoxidil at an elution time of 9 min. Although slight differences in performance were noted across the two instruments, results on both were in conformance with modern day validation expectations. Comparison of MEKC with HPLC resulted in slightly higher values for the former, but all results met registration specifications and internal targets.
Spontaneous unit activity in the globus pallidus following cumulative injections of morphine in phenobarbital- or chloral hydrate-anesthetized rats

The effect of systemically administered morphine on spontaneous unit activity, recorded from the globus pallidus, was evaluated in this study. A wide range of doses of morphine was administered in order to characterize the influences of morphine on pallidal activity in a dose-related manner. Two separate studies were conducted. In the first study, a semichronic preparation, lightly anesthetized with phenobarbitol, was used. Acutely prepared, chloral hydrate-anesthetized rats were utilized in the second experiment. With phenobarbital, morphine caused a significant reduction in pallidal activity in 75% of the cells recorded, whereas only 45% of the pallidal cells responded similarly to injection of morphine in chloral hydrate-anesthetized animals. However, the dose of morphine required to decrease unit activity was substantially less with chloral hydrate than with phenobarbital anesthesia.
Designing solar furnaces for specific performance

Abstract The basic performance equations of a parabolic solar furnaces are manipulated into graphical form convenient for purposes of estimation and design analysis. It is found that slight changes in either the specified performance or the over-all efficiency of a furnace can necessitate relatively large changes in design size. A preliminary test program of experimental calorimetric measurements is considered a necessity in furnace design. The essentials of such a program are described briefly.
Real-time, high-accuracy 3D imaging and shape measurement

In spite of the recent advances in 3D shape measurement and geometry reconstruction, simultaneously achieving fast-speed and high-accuracy performance remains a big challenge in practice. In this paper, a 3D imaging and shape measurement system is presented to tackle such a challenge. The fringe-projection-profilometry-based system employs a number of advanced approaches, such as: composition of phase-shifted fringe patterns, externally triggered synchronization of system components, generalized system setup, ultrafast phase-unwrapping algorithm, flexible system calibration method, robust gamma correction scheme, multithread computation and processing, and graphics-processing-unit-based image display. Experiments have shown that the proposed system can acquire and display high-quality 3D reconstructed images and/or video stream at a speed of 45 frames per second with relative accuracy of 0.04% or at a reduced speed of 22.5 frames per second with enhanced accuracy of 0.01%. The 3D imaging and shape measurement system shows great promise of satisfying the ever-increasing demands of scientific and engineering applications.
Some Effects of Testosterone on Sexual Differentiation of Female Albino Mice

SummaryFifty-six genetic female mice have been examined subsequent to the prenatal administration of testosterone; 18 subsequent to both prenatal and postnatal treatment; and 20 subsequent to postnatal treatment alone. When testosterone is present in the pregnant mother, at a critical period, Wolffian duct derivatives persist and vaginal differentiation is inhibited. With sufficient testosterone treatment the clitoris is modified into a veritable penis and the utero-vaginal canal opens into the prostatic urethra.
Riendo entre tanto

Este ensayo busca inicialmente dar cuenta del problema que ha sido la risa para Platon, Henri Bergson y Sigmund Freud. Especificamente, el autor aborda el vinculo que hay entre lo comico y la risa en la obra freudiana El chiste y su relacion con lo inconsciente , intentando mostrar la manera en que los chistes provocan risa articulando distintos aspectos psicoanaliticos y destacando la importancia de la temporalidad verbal del discurso en la operacion existente en los chistes y como producen risa.
Atomic force microscopy characterization of ultrathin polystyrene films formed by admicellar polymerization on silica disks

Atomic force microscopy was used to study the characteristics of polymer films formed via admicellar polymerization (the polymerization of monomers solubilized in adsorbed surfactant aggregates). The investigated system included cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (C16TAB) as a cationic surfactant, styrene, 2,2′-azobisisobutyrilnitrile as an initiator, and polished silica disk substrates. Our goal was to examine changes in the properties and morphology of the formed polymer films due to changes in the surfactant and monomer feed levels. Normal tapping and phase-contrast modes in air were used to image the nanoscopic and microscopic morphologies of the polystyrene-modified silica. The root-mean-square roughness of the surface before and after modification was statistically analyzed and compared. The images were captured with loading-force set-point ratios of 0.2–0.9, and this allowed us to examine the stability of the polystyrene films. In the first series, for which the feed ratio of C16TAB to styrene was kept constant and the total feed concentration was varied, a uniform layer of a polystyrene film was observed along with some nanometer-size aggregates at high feed concentrations of both C16TAB and styrene. These droplets eventually agglomerated with the film beneath and formed larger macrodroplets in a ring arrangement. At lower concentrations, droplets and holes were observed that eventually agglomerated to form a bicontinuous thin film. In the second experimental series, the concentration of C16TAB was kept constant, and the feed ratio of C16TAB to styrene was varied. A smooth thin film was observed at high concentrations of styrene. This film could be deformed and/or removed to expose the silica surface beneath. At lower styrene loadings, the polystyrene film became unstable and formed dropletlike aggregates, possibly because of either the uneven adsolubilization of the styrene monomer within the admicelle or the dewetting effect during washing and drying. The structure of the polystyrene film formed on a smooth silica disk was very dependent on the amount of the surfactant fed to the system; this contrasted with the results on precipitated silica. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 89: 36–46, 2003
Object-Based Benefits Without Object-Based Representations

Influential theories of visual working memory have proposed that the basic units of memory are integrated object representations. Key support for this proposal is provided by the same object benefit: It is easier to remember multiple features of a single object than the same set of features distributed across multiple objects. Here, we replicate the object benefit but demonstrate that features are not stored as single, integrated representations. Specifically, participants could remember 10 features better when arranged in 5 objects compared to 10 objects, yet memory for one object feature was largely independent of memory for the other object feature. These results rule out the possibility that integrated representations drive the object benefit and require a revision of the concept of object-based memory representations. We propose that working memory is object-based in regard to the factors that enhance performance but feature based in regard to the level of representational failure.
Porous olive-like carbon decorated Fe3O4 based additive-free electrodes for highly reversible lithium storage

Porous nanostructured olive-like carbon decorated Fe3O4 (Fe3O4/C) was prepared via in situ carbothermal treatment of the porous olive-like composite of Fe2O3/C. The precursor porous olive-like Fe2O3/C nanoparticles were prepared through an ultrafast (75 min) one-pot solvothermal method. The porous olive-like Fe3O4/C and its precursor Fe2O3/C nanostructures were formed by aggregation of orderly aligned nanorods as building subunits. The successful conversion from Fe2O3/C to Fe3O4/C by in situ carbothermic partial reduction was evidenced by extensive characterization. Additionally, a novel centrifugation-assisted procedure (CAP) to prepare additive-free Fe3O4 based electrodes with active materials directly synthesized on the current collector was developed for the first time. The porous olive-like Fe2O3/C nanoparticles dispersed in ethanol were coated on Cu current collectors by centrifugation-assisted deposition (CAD) directly without any additives employed and subsequently heated to convert to a Fe3O4/C coated Cu disc which can be used as an electrode without any further process. In contrast, traditional electrode preparation involves multiple steps of slurry preparation, coating, drying in a vacuum oven and additives (e.g., PVDF binder, carbon black conductivity enhancer and NMP solvent) are employed in the process. The as-prepared additive-free porous Fe3O4/C based electrode exhibited superior electrochemical performances in lithium storage. Excellent cycling performance was achieved with a specific capacity at ∼800 mA h g−1 for at least 235 cycles. Impressive rate performance was accomplished when tested under different currents: no significant capacity drop was observed when current was doubled and a specific capacity of 730 mA h g−1 could be maintained at current of 1500 mA g−1.
Distress and academic achievement among adolescents of affluence: A study of externalizing and internalizing problem behaviors and school performance

The main objectives of this study were to prospectively examine the relationship between externalizing (substance use and delinquency) and internalizing (depression and anxiety) dimensions and academic achievement (grades and classroom adjustment), as well as continuity over time in these domains, within a sample of wealthy adolescents followed from 10th to 12th grades (n = 256). In both parts of the study, cluster analyses were used to group participants at 10th grade and then group differences were evaluated on adjustment outcomes over time. In Part 1, problem behavior clusters revealed differences on academic indices with the two marijuana using groups—marijuana users and multiproblem youth—exhibiting the worst academic outcomes at all three waves. For Part 2, the two lowest achieving groups reported the highest distress across all externalizing dimensions over time. Stability across the three waves was found for both personal and academic competence as well as the associations between these two domains. Results are discussed in relation to intervention efforts targeting wealthy students at risk.
Sentiment detection with auxiliary data

As an important application in text mining and social media, sentiment detection has aroused more and more research interests, due to the expanding volume of available online information such as microblogging messages and review comments. Many machine learning methods have been proposed for sentiment detection. As a branch of machine learning, transfer learning is an important technique that tries to transfer knowledge from one domain to another one. When applied to sentiment detection, existing transfer learning methods employ articles with human labeled sentiments from other domains to help the sentiment detection on a target domain. Although most existing transfer learning methods are devoted to handle the data distribution difference between different domains, they only resort to some approximation methods, which may introduce some unnecessary biases. Furthermore, the popular assumption of existing transfer learning techniques on conditional probability is often too strong for practical applications. In this paper, we propose a novel method to model the distribution difference between different domains in sentiment detection by directly modeling the underlying joint distributions for different domains. Some of the important properties of the proposed method, such as the convergence rate and time complexity, are analyzed. The experimental results on the product review dataset and the twitter dataset demonstrate the advantages of the proposed method over the state-of-the-art methods.
Press and Parliament in the Revolution of 1689

The Convention Parliament, the revolutionary tribunal of the English Revolution of 1689, prohibited the printing of news of its affairs and barred the public from its debates. Authors, printers and publishers, however, defied these orders and published unlicensed accounts of speeches, votes, committee reports, and the membership of the Convention. Although the laws and administrative procedures which the later Stuarts had used to restrict the press were still in effect, they were not enforced. During the weeks of political crisis, quantities of news-sheets, newspapers and tracts reporting parliamentary news and political opinion appeared. At a time of growing scholarly and popular interest in the Glorious Revolution, it may be useful to examine the relationship between parliament and press. Although studies of the early press and of parliamentary reporting have been made, no detailed examination of these matters during the months of political upheaval in the winter of 1688–9 has been undertaken. Two central questions suggest themselves. How did the politically conscious public learn about what was happening in Westminster where their elected representatives and the peers of the realm were meeting to resolve the crisis facing the nation? What was the attitude of those representatives and peers to having information about their affairs spread beyond their chambers? The answers to such questions may deepen understanding of the Convention and of one aspect of the part played by the press in the Revolution.
Differences in nutrition status by body mass index in patients with peripheral artery disease

Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) is most prevalent in the elderly and associated with increased cardio vascular disease (CVD) morbidity and mortality. Treatment focuses on improving functional capacity and reducing CVD risk factors. To date, little is understood about dietary habits and weight in this patient population. Nutritional and weight recommendations are based on heart health, and little is known about the unique needs of elderly PAD patients with multiple comorbidities. This prospective study compared 1) the dietary intake of nonobese PAD patients in comparison with those who were obese and; 2) dietary intake of those paitients with the Estimated Average Requirement (EAR) based on age, gender and BMI. Nutritional intake was assessed with the Block 98 Food Frequency Questionnaire. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated in accordance with the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) guidelines.The study population was divided into obese (BMI ≥ 30) and nonobese (NO) groups. Comparisons between groups were performed using the Mann-Whitney U test for continuous variables and the Chi-square test for ordinal variables. All tests were two-tailed and P 30) individuals. Obese participants reported greater intake of foods containing cholesterol and trans-fatty acids and more frequent intake of B vitamins in comparison with the NO BMI group. Additionally, the nutrient intake of all participants by age, gender and BMI was lower than the EAR for magnesium, folate, and Vitamin E. These results suggest that the nutritional intake of PAD patients differs based on gender and BMI. Additionally, EAR was lower for specific nutrients than recommended. Further investigation is needed to examine the association between nutritional intake and nutrition-related deficits.
Stability of feedback linearization under intermittent information: A target-pursuit case

Managing networks of Autonomous Vehicles (AVs) for accomplishing a common goal, such as target pursuit, is very challenging due to the limited processing, sensing and communication capabilities of the agents. The effects of these limitations on stability of control systems are investigated in this paper. Having the performance of a target-pursuit controller provided with limited information about the target as an incentive, we develop a complete methodology for analyzing robustness of nonlinear controllers under intermittent information. As long as new information arrive within Maximum Allowable Transfer Intervals (MATIs), stability of the closed-loop system is guaranteed. Considering networks of AVs as spatially distributed systems, we adopt a Network Control Systems (NCSs) approach. Using Lyapunov techniques and the small-gain theorem, we are able to analyze stability of internal dynamics in feedback linearized systems within the same framework, and not as a separate problem. Finally, based on the target's maneuver, we provide MATIs leading to different types of stability for the investigated target-pursuit policy, and provide corroborating numerical simulations.
Evidence for Multimerization of Neu Proteins Involved in Polysialic Acid Synthesis in Escherichia coli K1 Using Improved LexA-Based Vectors

Recently, M. Dmitrova et al. (Mol. Gen. Genet. 257:205-212, 1998) described a LexA-based genetic system to monitor protein-protein interactions in an Escherichia coli background. However, the plasmids used in this system, pMS604 and pDP804, were not readily amenable for general use. In this report, we describe modifications of both plasmids that allow fragments of DNA to be fused to either vector in any reading frame. Homodimerization and heterodimerization of full-length proteins involved in polysialic acid synthesis in E. coli K1, as well as heterodimerization between a full-length protein and a protein fragment, demonstrate the usefulness of the modified plasmids for investigating bacterial protein-protein interactions in vivo.
Microfluidic mixing via transverse electrokinetic effects in a planar microchannel

A new micromixer incorporating integrated electrodes deposited on the bottom surface of a glass/PDMS microchannel is used to induce a localized, perpendicular electric field within pressure driven axial flow. The presence of the electric field drives electro-osmotic flow in the transverse direction along the channel walls, creating helical motion that serves to mix the fluid. A numerical model is used to describe the three-dimensional flow field, where characterization is performed via particle tracking of passive tracer particles, and the conditional entropy (S lc) is utilized to approximate the extent of mixing along cross-sectional planes. The geometrical parameters and operating conditions of the numerical model are used to fabricate an experimental device, and fluorescence microscopy measurements are used to verify mixing of rhodamine B across the width of the microchannel for a wide range of fluid flow rates. The results demonstrate that under certain operating conditions and selective placement of the electrode gaps along the width of the microchannel, efficient mixing can be achieved within 6 mm of the inlet.
Effect of carbogen on tumor oxygenation: combined fluorine-19 and proton MRI measurements.

Abstract Purpose: Blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) contrast in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been widely used for noninvasive evaluation of the effects of tumor-oxygenating agents. However, there have been few tests of the validity of this method. The goal of the present work was to use the T 1 of fluorine-19 in perfluorocarbon (PFC) emulsions as a "gold standard" for comparison with BOLD MRI. Methods and Materials: Rats bearing R3230AC tumors implanted in the hind limb were injected with an emulsion of perfluoro-15-crown-5-ether for 2–3 days before experiments, which ensured that the PFC emulsion concentrated in the tumors. We correlated changes in tumor oxygenation caused by carbogen inhalation measured by 1 H BOLD MRI with quantitative 19 F measurements. The 19 F spin-lattice relaxation rate R 1 (= 1/T 1 ) was measured to determine initial oxygen tension (pO 2 ) in each image pixel containing the PFC, and changes in pO 2 during carbogen (95% O 2 , 5% CO 2 ) breathing. In a second carbogen breathing period, changes in water signal linewidth were measured using high spectral and spatial resolution imaging. 19 F and 1 H measurements were used to classify pixels as responders to carbogen (pixels where oxygen increased significantly) or nonresponders (no significant change in tumor oxygenation). Results: The 19 F and 1 H measurements agreed in 65% ± 11% of pixels ( n = 14). Agreement was even stronger among pixels where 1 H showed increased oxygenation; 19 F measurements agreed with 1 H measurements in over 79% ± 11% of these pixels. Similarly, there was strong agreement between the two modalities in pixels where 19 F reported no change in pO 2 ; 1 H also showed no changes in 76% ± 18% of these pixels. Quantitative correlation of changes T 2 ∗ (ΔT 2 ∗) in 1 H and changes R 1 (ΔR 1 ) in 19 F was weak during carbogen breathing, and averaged over the whole tumor was ∼0.40 for 14 experiments. However, the spatial patterns of 1 H and 19 F changes were qualitatively very similar. In hypoxic regions that were identified based on long 19 F T 1 (>2.53 s), 19 F and 1 H MRI agreed that carbogen had relatively weak effects. Conclusions: These results suggest that 1 H BOLD MRI reliably identifies increases in tumor pO 2 . In hypoxic regions where increases in pO 2 are most desirable, carbogen was ineffective. The data suggest that 19 F and 1 H MRI can be used individually or in combination to guide the design of improved tumor-oxygenating agents.
Impact of sustained deficit irrigation on spearmint ( Mentha spicata L.) biomass production, oil yield, and oil quality

Crop response to deficit irrigation is an important consideration for establishing irrigation management strategies when water supplies are limited. This study evaluated the response of native spearmint to water deficits applied using overhead sprinklers in eastern Washington, US. Five levels of irrigation were applied ranging from full irrigation (100%) to 5% of weekly averaged full crop water needs. Soil water monitoring with soil water balance was used to estimate soil water deficits for irrigation scheduling and soil water use. Mint oil yields, oil components, dry matter production, and the water-use efficiency of the spearmint were assessed. There was significant reduction in fresh mint hay (harvested biomass) yield with increasing water deficit. However, spearmint oil yields remained generally uniform across irrigation treatments at the first cutting but decreased at the driest plots during the second harvest due to a loss of plant stand. The wet harvest index and water-use efficiency improved significantly for both harvests with increasing water deficit. Hay yield, oil yield, wet harvest index, and water-use efficiency are pooled across sides and replicate blocks to provide trends with changes in maximum evapotranspiration. The three major monoterpenes show changes suggesting less mature oil yields. The study demonstrates the feasibility of sustaining native spearmint yields under managed deficit irrigations for deficits not lower than 0.5 ETc.
Public administration education in democratizing societies

Throughout the former Soviet orbit, professors formerly responsible for training the managers of state enterprises and the public bureaucracy are attempting to make a transition to market-based liberal democratic polities. While the peculiar circumstances of each case make generalizations dangerous, this transition presents common challenges important for West European and North American scholars thinking about teaching policy analysis and public management in the international context. Most political scientists and economists treat transitions as though the bureaucracy is an apolitical servant of power. Of course, these scholars know of the half century of research detailing all the ways in which bureaucracies fail to conform to the Weberian ideal. But without a clear theoretical notion of how one converts deeply entrenched state actors to good democrats, any theory of how transitions can be effectively consolidated into democratic rule is fundamentally incomplete. A recent special issue of Governance [1993] provides us with excellent examples of how bureaucratic and elite positions are changing in Poland, the former German Democratic Republic, the former Yugoslavia, and Russia. Several patterns emerge. No country has eliminated the existing bureaucracy or even radically overhauled its structure. The upper echelons of the administrative elite have been replaced with "new thinkers" (sometimes these are old elites wrapped in new rhetoric), but midlevel managers and public employees remain in place except where their jobs have been eliminated by the budget cuts forced by weak economies.
VEGETABLE OIL-BASED HYPERBRANCHED POLYOLS IN FLEXIBLE FOAMS

Novel polyols were synthesized by controlled polymerization of hydroxylated fatty acids from methyl soyate. Polymerization of methyl esters of hydroxy fatty acids gives a hyperbranched (HB) product with different content of hydroxyl groups depending on the degree of conversion. Molecular weights, functionality and hydroxyl equivalent of polyols can be controlled by controlling the degree of conversion but also using monofunctional components. A range of hyperbranched polyols with acceptable viscosities and functionalities, suitable for flexible applications, was obtained by stopping the reaction at different degrees of conversion. A polyol with 60% of hydroxylated soybean fatty acid methyl esters and 40% of methyl esters from castor oil was selected for detailed analysis and was used in flexible foams. Monte-Carlo simulation of the polymerization of hydroxylated methyl soyate gave molecular weights and distributions which were compared with experimental values. Flexible foams were obtained with 65% of HB polyol in a mixture with a petrochemical triol. Increasing concentration of the HB polyol improved load bearing properties but decreased mechanical strengths and in particular tear strength.
Comparison of Human Bone Marrow Mononuclear Cell Isolation Methods for Creating Tissue-Engineered Vascular Grafts: Novel Filter System Versus Traditional Density Centrifugation Method

Introduction: We created the first tissue-engineered vascular graft (TEVG) to be successfully used in humans. The TEVG is made by seeding autologous bone marrow-derived mononuclear cells (BM-MNCs) onto a biodegradable tubular scaffold fabricated from polyglycolic-acid mesh coated with a 50:50 copolymer of poly-L-lactide and–ɛ-caprolactone. In the initial clinical study, the BM-MNCs were isolated using a Ficoll density centrifugation method. Use of this cell isolation technique is problematic in that it is performed using an open system and therefore is susceptible to contamination. As a first step toward creating a closed system for assembling a TEVG, we evaluated the use of a filter-based method for isolating BM-MNCs and compared it to density centrifugation in Ficoll. Methods: BM-MNCs were isolated from human BM using density centrifugation in Ficoll or a filter-based method. BM-MNCs were seeded onto biodegradable tubular scaffold and incubated for 24 h before implantation. The TEVG were implanted as in...
Social Class, Social Participation, and Happiness: A Consideration of “Interaction-Opportunities’and “Investment”*

(1969). Social Class, Social Participation, and Happiness: A Consideration of “Interaction-Opportunities” and “Investment”. The Sociological Quarterly: Vol. 10, No. 1, pp. 3-21.
Studies on octylphenoxy surfactants. Part 2: Effects on foliar uptake and translocation

The effects of octylphenol (OP) and four of its ethoxylated derivatives on uptake into, and distribution within, maize leaf of 2-deoxy-glucose (2D-glucose), atrazine and o, p′-DDT are reported. The surfactants and OP (2 g litre−1 in aqueous acetone) increased the uptake, at both 1.5 and 24 h, of the three model compounds (applied at 1 g litre−1) having water solubilities in the g, mg and μg litre−1 ranges. The uptake of 2D-glucose was positively correlated with the hygroscopicity of the surfactants. The uptake of DDT and atrazine increased with the uptake of the surfactants, being inversely related to their hydrophile:lipophile balance (HLB). Uptake of 2D-glucose and atrazine was enhanced at high humidity, the relative enhancement for atrazine increasing with increasing ethylene oxide (EO) content of the surfactants. A significant proportion of the atrazine and DDT entering the leaf was recovered from the epicuticular wax, the amount of atrazine recovered from the wax increasing with the EO content of the surfactants. The proportion of the surfactants taken up which was recovered from the epicuticular wax was minimal at an EO content of 12.5–16 mole equivalents. The appearance of the deposits on the leaf surface differed markedly among the surfactants, with similar trends for all three chemicals and without visible evidence for infiltration of the stomatal pores. The total quantities of glucose and atrazine translocated were increased by all surfactants but that of DDT was not, despite increases in uptake of up to 7.5-fold. Relative translocation (export from treated region of leaf as a percentage of chemical penetrating beyond the epicuticular wax) was reduced in all cases in the presence of surfactant. Up to 30% of the applied [14C]chemicals was not recovered from the treated leaf after 24 h. The reduced recovery of 2D-glucose, but not that of atrazine and DDT, was largely attributable to movement out of the treated leaf, with approximately 70% of the chemical taken up being translocated basipetally. Loss of atrazine and DDT was a result of volatilisation. There was no evidence that either [14C]2 D-glucose or [14C]atrazine was metabolised to [14C]carbon dioxide.
Visual cortex neurons in monkeys and cats: Detection, discrimination, and identification

A descriptive function method was used to measure the detection, discrimination, and identification performance of a large population of single neurons recorded from within the primary visual cortex of the monkey and the cat, along six stimulus dimensions: contrast, spatial position, orientation, spatial frequency, temporal frequency, and direction of motion. First, the responses of single neurons were measured along each stimulus dimension, using analysis intervals comparable to a normal fixation interval (200 ms). Second, the measured responses of each neuron were fitted with simple descriptive functions, containing a few free parameters, for each stimulus dimension. These functions were found to account for approximately 90% of the variance in the measured response means and response standard deviations. (A detailed analysis of the relationship between the mean and the variance showed that the variance is proportional to the mean.) Third, the parameters of the best-fitting descriptive functions were utilized in conjunction with Bayesian (optimal) decision theory to determine the detection, discrimination, and identification performance for each neuron, along each stimulus dimension. For some of the cells in monkey, discrimination performance was comparable to behavioral performance; for most of the cells in cat, discrimination performance was better than behavioral performance. The behavioral contrast and spatial-frequency discrimination functions were similar in shape to the envelope of the most sensitive cells; they were also similar to the discrimination functions obtained by optimal pooling of the entire population of cells. The statistics which summarize the parameters of the descriptive functions were used to estimate the response of the visual cortex as a whole to a complex natural image. The analysis suggests that individual cortical neurons can reliably signal precise information about the location, size, and orientation of local image features.
Performance Evaluation of Automatically Generated BIM from Laser Scanner Data for Sustainability Analyses

Abstract Existing buildings now represent the greatest opportunity to improve building energy efficiency. Building performance analysis is becoming increasingly important because decision makers can have a better visualization of their building's performance and quickly make the solution for improving building energy efficiency and reducing environmental impacts. Nowadays, building information models (BIMs) have been widely created during the design phase of new buildings, and it can be easily imported to third party software to conduct various analyses. However, a BIM is not always available for all existing buildings. Even if a BIM is available during the design and construction phases, it is very challenging to keep updating it while a building is aged. A manual process to create or update a BIM is very time consuming and labor intensive. A laser scanning technology has been a popular tool to create as-is BIM. However it still needs labor-intensive manual processes to create a BIM out of point clouds. This paper introduces automatic as-is simplified BIM creation from point clouds for energy simulations. A framework of decision support system that can assist decision makers on retrofits for existing buildings is introduced as well. A case study on a residential house was tested in this study to validate the proposed framework, and the technical feasibility of the developed system was positively demonstrated.
Patterned fluoropolymer barriers for containment of organic solvents within paper-based microfluidic devices.

In this study, we demonstrate for the first time the ability to pattern lipophobic fluoropolymer barriers for the incorporation of pure organic solvents as operating liquids within paper-based microfluidic devices. Our fabrication method involves replacing traditional wax barriers with fluoropolymer coatings by combining initiated chemical vapor deposition with inhibiting transition metal salt to pattern the polymer. Multiple techniques for patterning the transition metal salt are tested including painting, spray coating, and selective wetting through the use of a photoresist. The efficacy of the barrier coatings to contain organic solvents is found to be dependent on the conformality of the polymer deposited around the paper fibers. We demonstrate examples of the benefits provided by the containment of organic solvents in paper-based microfluidic applications including the ability to tune the separation of analytes by varying the operating solvent and by modifying the channel region of the devices with a...
The role of azithromycin and clarithromycin in clinical practice

BACKGROUND Azithromycin and clarithromycin are the newest approved macrolide antibiotics. OBJECTIVE To review the pharmacology, microbiology, and clinical utility of these agents. SUMMARY These agents have distinct advantages over eryth-romycin, including an improved pharmacokinetic profile, less toxicity, and a wider spectrum of activity. They are approved for the treatment of respiratory tract infections and uncomplicated skin and skin-structure infections associated with specific organisms. Azithromycin is also indicated for the treatment of nongonococ-cal urethritis. In addition, these agents may be useful in the treatment of toxoplasmosis, mycobacterial disease, Lyme disease, and legionellosis. Clarithromycin and azithromycin have lower rates of gastrointestinal side effects than erythromycin. CONCLUSIONS Although clarithromycin and azithromycin show promise in the treatment of some less common infections, they should be considered alternatives to conventional agents in the treatment of respiratory tract, skin, and skin-structure infections caused by the usual pathogens. The expense of these agents may be prohibitive for routine use.
Implications of Cost Equity Consideration in Hazmat Network Design

The hazardous materials (hazmat) network design problem (HNDP) is used to reduce the risk of transporting hazmat in the network by enforcing regulation policies. The goal of reducing risk can increase costs for hazmat carriers. Because the HNDP involves multiple parties, the cost increase for all carriers must be considered for implementation of regulations. Although upper bounds can be placed on the total increase, the actual cost increase for various origin–destination pairs can differ, resulting in unfairness among carriers. Thus, also considering cost equity in the HNDP is proposed. Additionally, because there are multiple solutions in current HNDP models and because of the possibility of unnecessarily closing road segments, a new objective considering the length of all the closed links is introduced. Computational experience is based on a real network, and results are shown for various cost consideration cases.
Monitoring Results of Barreled Purified Drinking Water in Wuxi City during 2005—2007

[Objective]To understand the sanitary status of barreled purified water,to Guarantee the quality and safety of water supply.[Methods] Quality of barreled purified water for production and sales were monitored during 2005—2007,according to GB 17324-2003.[Results]Qualified rate of barreled purified water showed an increasing tendency,that of 3a were 61.9%,70.11% and 80.30% respectively.The major unqualified items were: total bacteria,molds,yeasts,electrical conductivity,free chlorine,nitrites and potassium permanganate consumption.[Conclusion] The qualified rate of barreled purified water in Wuxi city still maintained a low level,supervision and management of it should be strengthened.
A detailed design and optimization process of a stand-alone photovoltaic AC transformer-less regulated three-phase voltage generator

This paper deals with a synthetic design process, in a Matlab/Simulink environment, of an overall photovoltaic energy conversion system, consisting of a stand-alone, (50Hz, 3×380 V), transformer-less electrical power supply (3KWp). Starting from the basic schematic of an off-grid PV system, the first step is dedicated to the identification of each stage main external electrical characteristics, in order to build up a homogenous conversion chain, responding to the fixed objective. This is done without ignoring many of the practical sizing constraints to make the final design as near as possible to its detailed field realizable configuration. A progressive modelling process is then initiated with the chosen structure of the PV array (PVG). As a result, the external characteristics of the latter are established in presence of the main field perturbations such as solar irradiance intensity, temperature and shading variations. A maximum power point tracking stage (MPPT), based on the “perturb & observe” (P&O) approach as a control strategy of a boost DC-DC converter is then introduced, implemented and optimised. Its behaviour is investigated under a multitude of the various working conditions quoted above, along with the load constraints. At this level, these are related to the battery pack mainly arranged to fulfil DC bus voltage considerations. Significant results in this scope are presented, before introducing a three-phase Voltage Source Inverter (VSI), which direct control circuits are based on the analog PWM technique. An output voltage regulation loop is then designed to assure optimum static and dynamic performances in presence of the main user AC load perturbation profiles. At the end, significant and realistic operating conditions are introduced to evaluate the overall performances of the completed installation, before conducting some representative validating tests which related results are presented and discussed.
Micronutrients Part II: minerals and phytochemicals

AIDS: This article is the second of a two-part series on micronutrients. Part one discussed vitamins, and this section addresses minerals and phytochemicals. Minerals are divided into two classes called macrominerals and microminerals. Macrominerals, needed in large amounts, include calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium. Microminerals are needed in small amounts and include selenium, iron, and zinc. Phytochemicals found in fruits and vegetables, have no nutritional value. However, they serve a protective function and may prevent or fight off disease. A summary of each nutrient, and nutritional sources is provided.