cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Changes in dihydrotestosterone metabolism and the development of benign prostatic hyperplasia in the aging beagle

Abstract Previous studies have demonstrated that the 2–3-fold abnormal elevation in prostatic dihydrotestosterone (DHT) content characteristically associated with canine benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is due to a shift in the overall balance in the complex metabolism of DHT in the gland itself [1,2]. Since the incidence of canine BPH increases with host age [3], the question arises as to whether the characteristic shift in DHT metabolism is associated with the general process of aging or with the specific development of BPH. To resolve this issue, the activities of prostatic androgen metabolism were quantitatively assayed in prostatic tissue from a large series of age-matched normal and BPH dogs ranging in age from 0.7–9.0 years. These analyses revealed that, regardless of the age of the host, there is a consistent statistical increase in several of the activities which produce DHT (i.e. 5α-reductase, 3α-HSOR oxidase, and 17β-HSOR reductase) without a concomitant increase in any of the activities which remove this steroid in BPH as compared to age-matched normal prostatic tissue. These results suggest that in canine BPH tissue the characteristic changes in DHT metabolism which increase the tissue's ability for net formation of DHT are specifically associated with the development of BPH itself and not due simply to the general process of aging per se.
Resampling methods for tests in regression models with autocorrelated errors

Abstract This paper presents the results of a Monte Carlo study which suggest that the bootstrap — in combination with a bias-reduction method such as the half-sample jackknife — substantially corrects the problem in small and moderate samples of excessive Type I error probabilities in tests on the coefficients in regression models with serially correlated disturbances. The methods are likely to be applicable to testing in many other regression situations.
Catalytic oxygen transfer between ethylene and ethylene oxide

Abstract The transfer of oxygen between ethylene and ethylene oxide has been studied at surfaces of Ag, Au, (VO2)x, and bismuth molybdate. The study was carried out by following the rate of redistribution of isotopic carbon between ethylene and ethylene oxide. The conditions employed in the experiments were: temperature 22–305 °C, partial pressure ratios of ethylene oxide to ethylene 0.1–50, contact time 1–10 sec. Silver was supported on high- and low-area Al2O3 zeolite and complexed with poly(4-vinyl-pyridine). Au was supported on Al2O3 and MgO. The dependence of the rate of isotopic redistribution upon the ratio of ethylene oxide to ethylene was taken as an indication of the process of reactive and competitive chemisorptions of ethylene and ethylene oxide. Information on the nature of the adsorption, in terms of number of surface centers per adsorbate molecule, was derived. From this point of view, the catalysts tested may be divided into two groups. In one group, single-center adsorption of ethylene predominated, while in the second the adsorption of ethylene included two surface centers per molecule. Thus, on the first group, ethylene fragmentation should not be favored. These catalysts, therefore, should prove more selective to ethylene oxide in the net reaction of ethylene oxidation with molecular O2. These predictions are fully confirmed by direct experimentation.
Redundancy in the Comprehensive Tests of Basic Skills

The Comprehensive Tests of Basic Skills (CTBS) Form S consists of 11 subtests, eight of which are combined to yield three subtotal scores and one Total Battery score. As part of the long term evalua tion of an early childhood preschool program, the CTBS was ad ministered to one sample of beginning fourth grade pupils and one sample of beginning sixth grade pupils. A factor analysis was per formed for the fourth grade sample on Level 1 and for the sixth grade sample on Level 2 of the CTBS. Results of both analyses showed but one common factor, with scant evidence for the useful ness of the eight different subtest or three subtotal scores produced by the CTBS.
A Preliminary Numerical Study into the Effects of Coal Development on Cloud and Precipitation Processes in the Northern Great Plains

Abstract Numerical simulations are conducted to determine the possible effects of air pollution from coal-fired power plants on cloud and precipitation processes in the northern Great Plains. This study can only be considered as preliminary in nature since a complete cloud simulation is not employed and the ice phase is not considered. Natural and polluted particulate distributions are developed based on observations in the northern Great Plains and of coal-fired power plant effluent. Cloud droplet growth on these distributions is simulated in a condensation model. Results of this model indicate that the number concentration and dispersion coefficient (breadth) of the cloud droplet size distributions are increased by the addition of pollutant particles, especially if these are more hygroscopic than the background nuclei. Coalescence calculations using the results of the condensation studies as input are also reported. These results indicate that the rate of production of large drops, while being slowed by...
An Investigation of the Design and Implementation Flaws of Information Systems Security Models

Research has been conducted that has separately evaluated the qualitative and quantitative aspects of information systems security models. This split in methodology has caused a problem for both technical and nontechnical people. Since research has been done neglecting critical aspects of models, further investigation and experimentation is needed to pinpoint design and implementation flaws in information systems security models. This investigation is aimed at understanding different design and implementation flaws of models, including, but not limited to, the following: technical, economic, and human aspects. Collectively, these findings will not only highlight the problems in the models, but also lead to a better understanding of the models as a whole. This information can then be used to create a framework for a model that will overcome the flaws of existing models by being practical and robust. Thus, it will be a legitimate application in the information security world.
Rearrangement of bacterial community structure during peat diagenesis

Abstract The relationship between microbial diagenesis of Sphagnum peat (SP) and reed-sedge peat (RSP) and the spatial organization of peat bacterial communities was studied. Peats were aerobically incubated at 18–22 °C for 4 months. Changes in molecular composition of peat organic matter were monitored with solid-state 13 C NMR, and the respective amount of functional groups was determined by integration of corresponding peaks. No abiotic peat transformation was detected. SP diagenesis caused about a 4% loss of parent materials with a similar yield of ketones, phenols, aromatic, and carbonyl compounds; whereas about 20% of RSP carbohydrates, along with ketones and methoxyl compounds were gradually transformed into carbonyl and aliphatic compounds. SP and RSP substantially varied in bacterial composition. To address spatial community structure, bacterial populations were dissected by a differential elution technique into three fractions based on the degree of their attachment to peat. Community composition was surveyed with T-RFLP ( Hha I, Msp I, and Rsa I). The fragments were further attributed to freely-dispersed (FD), particle-associated (PA), or omnipresent (OMN) bacterial fractions. In both peats, bacterial communities have gradually shifted with the progress of diagenesis. In SP, numbers of exclusively FD or PA bacteria slightly decreased while in RSP their numbers more than doubled after 4-month incubation, and the number of OMN bacteria respectively decreased. The substantially greater changes in the spatial structure of RSP bacterial community compared to SP were consistent with the chemical transformations detected in these peats suggesting the diagenesis-driven divergence of RSP bacterial community into FD and PA sub-communities.
Quantification of leaf pigments in soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) based on wavelet decomposition of hyperspectral features

Abstract Accurate prediction of leaf pigments from spectral reflectance is important because it allows non-destructive, rapid assessment of crop-N status under field conditions. Canopy reflectance and leaf pigments (chlorophyll and carotenoids concentrations) were measured on 385 field-grown soybean genotypes during flowering and seed development stages each in 2009 and 2010. Spectral features related to pigments were extracted based on several known spectral indices and using a number of analytical methods to develop prediction models incorporating reflectance data at single waveband (single-band), two (simple-ratio) or more (multiple linear regression, MLR) wavebands. Among the tested methods, fitness and accuracy (measured as coefficient of determination, R2; root mean square error, RMSE; and relative error, %RE) of the prediction models developed using MLR was greatest. The accuracy of known indices such as the Maccioni-index and canopy chlorophyll content index showed potential for estimation of pigment concentrations using soybean canopy reflectance data. Though, models developed using transformed spectra outperformed the original reflectance spectra irrespective of the analytical method used. In general, the validation of the MLR models revealed limited accuracy across sampling dates and types of spectra used. Continuous wavelet transformed spectra using ‘Mexican hat’ wavelet family (CWT-mexh) produced the best model with the highest accuracy. The selected wavebands in the models primarily consisted of the visible (400–750 nm) as compared to the NIR (750–1350 nm) spectrum. A general-purpose MLR model using CWT-mexh spectra that was strongly related with pigment concentrations (R2 = 0.86, RMSE = 2.12 and RE = 12.5%; chlorophyll and R2 = 0.83, RMSE = 0.56 and RE = 12.7%; carotenoids) was developed. The analytical and transformation methods employed in the current study can be useful to develop models for estimation of leaf pigment concentration based on canopy reflectance.
Management of Patients with Locally Advanced Breast Cancer

The indications and benefits of postmastectomy radiation therapy (PMRT) continue to evolve. Advances in systemic adjuvant therapy and targeted therapy for breast cancer are likely to play an increasingly important role in control of locoregional as well as distant disease. Ongoing scrutiny of patterns of chest wall failure will be required to define the net benefit derived from PMRT. This article discusses the 2001 American Society of Clinical Oncology guidelines for PMRT and current practices using PMRT in selected groups of patients who have breast cancer.
Endotracheal epinephrine is unreliable

When intravenous access cannot be obtained in an emergency, the endotracheal route of emergency drug administration can be used for epinephrine, atropine, and lidocaine. Optimal drug dosages for endotracheal administration as well as the amount and type of diluent are presently unknown. We compared central intravenous, peripheral intravenous, intraosseous, and intratracheal administration of epinephrine 1:10,000 in both normotensive and hemorrhagic shock dogs. The shock model consisted of 50% blood volume depletion over 15 min. Epinephrine was administered in a dose of 0.01 mg/kg (0.1 cc/kg) by the intraosseous route, central, and peripheral intravenous routes followed by a 5 cc normal saline flush. Intratracheal administration consisted of epinephrine 0.01 and 0.02 mg/kg diluted 1:1 and 1:2 with normal saline or sterile water and administered deep into the tracheo-bronchial tree using a 30-cm catheter. The effect of epinephrine was assessed by the response of the arterial blood pressure. Epinephrine was equally effective by the intraosseous, central intravenous, and peripheral intravenous routes in terms of time to onset of action, time to peak effect, and magnitude of effect on systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial pressures in both the shock and non-shock animals. The duration of effect was significantly longer (P less than 0.02) for the intraosseous route of administration. The endotracheal route of administration was unreliable and not reproducible in either the normotensive or shock animals. In 8/12 episodes in normotensive animals, including 5 trials with double doses of 0.02 mg/kg and dilutions of 1:1 and 1:2, and in 4/9 studies with shock animals including three with double doses, there was no discernable response of systolic or diastolic blood pressure.
Inclusions in the Fat Body of the Alfalfa Leafcutter Bee, Megachile rotundata

Numerous white lesions in the fat body of the alfalfa leafcutter bee, M. rotundata (F.), are composed of proteins, DNA and RNA. Electron micrographs indicate that the lesions are groups of inclusion bodies, 4—10 µ in diameter. Larvae containing high concentrations of lesions have a higher mortality rate. The relationship with mortality structure, and chemical components suggests that that the lesions may be viral in origin.
Small Commercial Banks and the Federal Home Loan Bank System

Increased competition within the financial services industry has raised concerns about the ability of small banks to adequately fund local rural development. To address these concerns, the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act of 1999 broadened small-bank access to Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) financing. Statistical analyses indicate that the following factors were significantly associated with the decisions of small banks headquartered in nonmetropolitan counties to obtain FHLB membership: bank size, affiliation with a bank holding company, exposure to interest rate risk, loan portfolio quality, liquidity pressure, dividend rates on FHLB stock, and binding membership requirements related to residential real estate-related assets. Many, but not all, of these factors were also significantly associated with the membership decisions of small banks headquartered in metropolitan counties. The decisions of both nonmetropolitan and metropolitan banks to use FHLB funding is significantly related to interest rate risk exposure,...
Removable partial dentures without rests

Ever since Bonwill recommended the use of rests on removable partial dentures in 1899, rests have been universally considered inviolate and have gone unchallenged and untested. The author claims that removable partial dentures without rests may not cause the adverse conditions usually predicted, such as gingival stripping, gingival inflammation, mutilated residual ridges, or extensive and rapid resorption of the alveolar ridges. In removable partial dentures made by the author for several patients, the residual ridge remained stable and in physiologic equilibrium when rests were not used. A history of the long-term effect on patients wearing partial dentures with and without rests is presented.
Ileal pouch fistulas after restorative proctocolectomy: management and outcomes

Background Fistula between an ileal pouch and the vagina, anus, or perineum is an uncommon complication of ileal pouch-anal anastomosis and is a cause of considerable morbidity. Its optimal management has not been determined because of its low incidence. The aim of this study was to review the outcomes of patients who presented with symptomatic ileal pouch-associated fistulas after restorative proctocolectomy (RPC) and to present a diagnostic and treatment algorithm.
Comments on “evidence against the existence of strong diffuse x-ray scattering from gold twist boundaries at room temperature”

Commentaires concernant les travaux de Majid, Bristowe et Bablufi relatifs a la diffusion en diffraction des echantillons d'or avec ou sans joint de torsion. Selon Sass, il n'est pas possible d'utiliser ces resultats en raison du faible rapport signal bruit
The inertial behavior of fibers

The inertial deposition is given considerable credit in the deposition of inhaled particulate matter in the upper respiratory tract. A determination of the parameters governing the impaction of fibers must be the basis of evaluating the role of impaction in the respirability of fibrous dusts. The study reported here describes an experimental method of defining the inertial behavior of fibers. The results of the experiments show that the aspect ratio of the fibers plays a much more important role than hitherto considered. The results of the experimental work gave an empirical mathematical model for the prediction of the impaction of fibers from the physical properties of fibers such as density, fiber diameters and aspect ratio. In addition an equivalent diameter based on inertial properties of the fiber is developed.
Mergers as a Means of Restructuring Distressed Firms: An Empirical Investigation

We examine 38 takeovers of distressed firms and find that these takeovers are more likely to involve firms in the same industry and less likely to be hostile takeovers than are acquisitions in general. We use five different measures to evaluate post-merger performance of the combined bidder and target firms. All performance measures suggest that bidders are unable to successfully restructure targets. The market demonstrates an ability to forecast the success of restructuring. Restructuring success is negatively related to the size of premium paid by the bidder for the target and positively related to the financial distress of the target.
Optimization of Hydrofoils Using a Genetic Algorithm

In this paper, a genetic algorithm is employed for shape optimization of hydrofoils for application in a sailing craft. The hydrofoil for a sailing craft should have high lift at lower speeds and low drag at higher speeds. Computations are performed for a hydrofoil in deep water as well as one close to the free surface. Commercially available software is employed for calculation of the flowfield. It is shown that the genetic algorithm based shape optimization technique is capable of accurately and efficiently finding globally optimal hydrofoils.
Susceptibility maximum of α-Mn and other alloys

Abstract Thermal fluctuations of electron spins may appear as a susceptibility maximum such as observed in α-Mn and other alloys.
Computer simulation of the human magnetocardiogram

A computer model of the magnetocardiogram has been developed. The magnetic field intensity, H , outside the body is determined from 4\piH = \int J^{i}x\nabla(1/r)dv + \int\sigmaV\nabla(1/r)xdS_{0} where jiis the bioelectric source term, V is the electric potential (electro-cardiogram) on the body surface, S 0 , and σ is the torso conductivity. We have previously shown that the source term is proportional to the spatial gradient of intracellular potential of cardiac cells. To determine jithe ventricles are represented by a three dimensional array of approximately 4000 points, each corresponding to a small region of the heart muscle. Cellular action potentials are assigned to each point of the model. Ischemia is modelled by considering its effects on the action potentials of cells in the ischemic region. Magnetocardiograms were calculated at points on a grid over the chest for the normal heart as well as for several examples of ischemia and infarction. In addition, the magnetic dipole moment was calculated and a unipositional lead system for obtaining the dipole, described by Malmivuo and Wikswo, was simulated. The simulated normal magnetocardiogram showed much of the features observed experimentally by others. Good agreement was found between the simulation and experimental results reported for the Stanford unipositional lead system.
Expression of the highly polymorphic Cryptosporidium parvum Cpgp40/15 gene in genotype I and II isolates.

The enteric protozoan Cryptosporidium parvum infects intestinal epithelial cells in a wide range of hosts, causing severe gastrointestinal disease. The invasive sporozoite stage most likely attaches to and invades host cells through multiple host receptor/parasite ligand interactions. Preliminary evidence suggests that the glycoprotein products of the Cpgp40/15 gene, gp40 and gp15, are involved in these interactions. In addition, the Cpgp40/15 gene that encodes these glycopeptides is highly polymorphic in genotype I isolates, suggesting that the gene products may be subject to immune selection. In this study, we characterized the Cpgp40/15 gene in a genotype I isolate and compared expression of the Cpgp40/15 gene in isolates of both genotype. Cpgp40/15 is a single copy gene in both TU502 (genotype I) and GCH1 (genotype II) isolates. However, Northern blot analysis revealed the presence of two transcripts, 2.3 and 1.5 kb in size, in mRNA from GCH1 as well as TU502-infected Caco-2A cells. Accumulation of the two Cpgp40/15 mRNAs peaked 12–24 h post-infection. Using 3′RACE analysis, three polyadenylation sites were identified 371, 978 and 1002 bp downstream of the GCH1 Cpgp40/15 stop codon. Two of these polyadenylation sites were also used in TU502. The sequences of the GCH1 Cpgp40/15 3′untranslated regions (3′UTRs) were identical to genomic sequence and shared 96.7% homology with TU502 3′UTRs. Actinomycin D treatment of GCH1-infected Caco-2A cells followed by Northern blot analysis, revealed that the stability of the 1.5 kb message was considerably greater than that of the 2.3 kb transcript.
Long wavelength photoeffects in mercury selenide, mercury telluride, and mercury telluride-cadmium telluride

Abstract Mercury selenide, mercury telluride, and mercury telluride-cadmium telluride are semiconductors which have been investigated as intrinsic infrared detecting materials. Mercury selenide and mercury telluride in the photoelectromagnetic-Nernst configuration exhibit spectral and frequency responses indicative of thermal rather than photon behavior. The signal is believed due to the Nernst thermal effect rather than the PEM photon effect. Mercury telluride-cadmium telluride exhibits photoconductivity at 77 °K and 4.2°K with a spectral response extending past 15 μ.
Mechanism of interferon action Differential effect of interferon on the synthesis of simian virus 40 and reovirus polypeptides in monkey kidney cells

Abstract The effect of interferon (IFN) treatment on the synthesis of viral proteins was examined in BSC-1 monkey kidney cells singly and doubly infected with simian virus 40 (SV40) and reovirus. The pattern and amount of SV40 T antigen and reovirus λ, μ, and σ polypeptide synthesis were comparable in the singly and doubly infected cells in the absence of IFN treatment. As determined by Yakobson et al. (Cell 12: 73–81, 1977) and Kingsman and Samuel (Virology 101: 458–465, 1980) SV40-specific RNA synthesis is inhibited by treatment of cells with IFN before infection, but is not inhibited by IFN treatment after infection. IFN treatment initiated before infection inhibited the synthesis of both SV40 T antigen and reovirus polypeptides. However, SV40 T antigen synthesis was not inhibited in SV40 wt or tsA mutant-infected cells when treated with monkey kidney or human leukocyte IFN after infection. By contrast, reovirus polypeptide synthesis was markedly inhibited in BSC-1 cells treated with IFN after SV40 infection and superinfected with reovirus. SV40 infection did not rescue reovirus polypeptide synthesis from the inhibitory action of IFN, and reovirus infection did not alter the resistance of SV40 T antigen synthesis to IFN in cells IFN-treated after SV40 infection. Total cellular protein synthesis was not significantly affected by IFN treatment. These results suggest that the interferon-induced inhibitor(s) of protein synthesis discriminate between SV40 and reovirus mRNAs; the translation of SV40 mRNA, like most cellular mRNAs, is not affected under conditions where the IFN-induced inhibitor(s) significantly affect the translation of reovirus mRNA.
Energetics of brannerite-type solid solutions: The systems ZnV2O6LiMoVO6 and MgV2O6LiMoVO6

Abstract Enthalpies of mixing in brannerite-type solid solutions ZnV2O6LiMoVO6 and MgV2O6LiMoVO6 were determined by transposed temperature-drop solution calorimetry into a molten sodium molybdate solvent at 702°C. The ZnV2O6LiMoVO6 system shows zero heats of mixing (to ± 2 kJ/mole) and symmetrical negative excess volumes of mixing. The MgV2O6LiMoVO6 system shows more complex behavior, with positive enthalpies of mixing at MgV2O6-rich end and negative heats of mixing at LiMoVO6-rich compositions. Volumes of mixing are negative at MgV2O6-rich compositions and essentially zero on the LiMoVO6-rich side. This complex behavior suggests that several effects compete to result in the observed energetic and structural behavior. These factors may be (a) strain energy associated with size-mismatch, (b) the relaxation of rather long MgO bonds in MgV2O6 upon solid solution formation, and (c) the effect of simultaneous coupled substitution of Li on Mg sites and of Mo on V sites, possibly with some short-range order.
Quantitatively Probing the Means of Controlling Nanoparticle Assembly on Surfaces

As a means of developing a simple, cost-effective, and reliable method for probing nanoparticle behavior, we have used atomic force microscopy to gain a quantitative 3D visual representation of the deposition patterns of citrate-capped Au nanoparticles on a substrate as a function of (a) sample preparation, (b) the choice of substrate, (c) the dispersion solvent, and (d) the number of loading steps. Specifically, we have found that all four parameters can be independently controlled and manipulated in order to alter the resulting pattern and quantity of as-deposited nanoparticles. From these data, the sample preparation technique appears to influence deposition patterns most broadly, and the dispersion solvent is the most convenient parameter to use in tuning the quantity of nanoparticles deposited onto the surface under spin-coating conditions. Indeed, we have quantitatively measured the effect of surface coverage for both mica and silicon substrates under preparation techniques associated with (i) evaporation under ambient air, (ii) heat treatment, and (iii) spin-coating preparation conditions. In addition, we have observed a decrease in nanoparticle adhesion to a substrate when the ethylene glycol content of the colloidal dispersion solvent is increased, which had the effect of decreasing interparticle-substrate interactions. Finally, we have shown that substrates prepared by these diverse techniques have potential applicability in surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy.
FISSION-TRACK AGES OF ACCESSORY MINERALS FROM GRANITIC ROCKS OF THE CENTRAL SIERRA NEVADA BATHOLITH, CALIFORNIA.

Ages of apatite, sphene, allanite, epidote, and garnet from plutonic rocks of the central Sierra Nevada and Inyo Mountains have been determined by the fission-track method. Ages of 44 specimens of apatite range from 54 to 128 m.y. Oldest apatites generally occur in rocks from the western portion of the batholith; youngest are from granitic rocks along the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada. Thirty-four specimens of sphene have been dated and range in age from 71 to 118 m.y. Within experimental error, all sphenes are as old as, or older than, coexisting apatites. The oldest sphene is from granitic rock of the Inyo Mountains; however, sampled rocks from the western Sierra Nevada do not contain sphene. The youngest sphenes are generally from rocks slightly west of the Sierran crest. Fission-track ages of two allanites are 86 and 87 ± 9 m.y. Two epidotes yielded ages of 84 ± 8 m.y. and a third is 140 ± 14 m.y. Age of a garnet was determined to be 114 ± 11 m.y. Several of the apatites and sphenes used for fission-track dating are from the same samples that previous workers had used for potassium-argon dating of biotites and hornblendes. Hornblende K-Ar ages appear to be the most insensitive to heat, apatite fission-track ages, the least, and biotite K-Ar and sphene fission-track ages fall between the two extremes and show the closest concordance of all pairs.
How many conserved currents are necessary for the calculation of the S-matrix in the massive thirring model?

Abstract In the quantized massive Thirring model, I show that for repulsive coupling, the existence of one, conserved, local, rankfour Lorentz tensor is a sufficient condition for the absence of particle production and the factorization of the S -matrix.
Serum follistatin levels in women : evidence against an endocrine function of ovarian follistatin

Follistatin is a monomeric protein first identified in and isolated from ovarian follicular fluid. Evidence that follistatin might be an ovarian endocrine hormone functioning in a negative feedback fashion to modulate pituitary FSH production is based primarily on in vitro experiments. To examine the possible role of follistatin as an endocrine agent in vivo, we sought to relate circulating levels of follistatin to ovarian activity in women. Therefore, we developed a specific and sensitive homologous RIA using antiserum generated against recombinant human follistatin for the measurement of total follistatin in the presence or absence of activin. Follistatin was measured quantitatively (106 +/- 6% recovery) using calibration standards ranging from 0.4-25 ng/tube and up to 400 microL/tube serum. Furthermore, all of the endogenous follistatin measured in human serum could be removed by adsorption to activin-coated plates. Using this homologous RIA, human follicular fluid (100-600 ng/mL; n = 75) contained 3-1...
Trending Tech Services: Library and IT Curriculum Integration, Part II: Supporting Learning Through Virtual Computing

Teaching students in library and information science programs involves weaving together technical, organizational, and operational content with the goal of helping students understand the role of information in complex organizations. Through core courses such as Information Organization, Information Seeking, and Information Technology students “dive deep” into the content of a particular part of the field and learn the complex aspects of information practice. This emphasis on content separated into “core” courses can have the unintended consequence of making it difficult for students to integrate course content into their broader understanding of the profession. In this two-part column the author explores the use of curriculum integrated support with cloud-based instructional technology resources to create an active and hands-on setting that also helps students see relationships and interconnected aspects of information work. In discussing this approach the author explores issues of student technology lit...
HEALING IN OTHER TISSUES

Wound healing in many tissue types is essentially the same as that which occurs in skin. The repair processes that occur in bone, tendon, the alimentary tract, skin grafts, and bone grafts are substantially different from cutaneous wound repair. Because surgeons frequently encounter these tissues, it is essential to understand how they heal.
3‐Methylpyrazolo [1,2‐a] pyridazin‐1‐one. Selenium derivatives of 5,8‐dihydropyrazolo[1,2‐a]pyridazine

The dehydrogenation of the known 3-methyl-5,8-dihydropyrazolo[1,2-a]pyridazin-1-one (2) to the ten π electron heteroaromatic 3-methylpyrazolo[1,2-a]pyridazin-1-one (3) is reported. Conversions of the pyrazolone 2 to the pyrazoloselenone 6 via the chloropyrazolium chloride 7, and of pyrazolones 2 and 3 and pyrazoloselenone 6 into the corresponding O or Se ethyl pyrazolium fluoroborates 5, 4, and 8 by triethyloxonium fluoroborate are also described.
Schwann cell apoptosis at developing neuromuscular junctions is regulated by glial growth factor

DENERVATED adult mammalian muscle fibres are reinnervated by regenerating axons and, in the case of partially denervated muscles, by sprouts extended from remaining, intact axons1–3. Recent experiments suggest that Schwann cells (SCs) regulate these events, inducing and guiding axonal outgrowth through the processes they extend4,5. In contrast to adults, reinnervation of denervated neonatal muscles is deficient and axonal sprouting is absent6–9. In light of the proposed roles for SCs in these processes, we examined whether SCs in neonatal muscles exhibit altered responses to denervation. We report here that neonatal denervation leads to the rapid, apoptotic death of SCs at rat neuromuscular junctions. Injection of glial growth factor, a member of the neuregulin family of trophic factors present in developing sensory and motor neurons10, prevents this apoptosis in vivo. These results provide further evidence for the importance of SCs in regulating nerve growth and suggest that axon-Schwann cell trophic interactions play a role in the normal development of the neuromuscular system.
Energy-efficient processing through adaptation and resiliency

Today's SoC devices are often constrained by both performance and power requirements. New software capabilities and usage models demand more processing power than ever before, however the increased integration requires advanced power management techniques. Process scaling, which makes this all possible, also leads to increased susceptibility to variations - static process variations as well as dynamic environmental variations in voltage, temperature, and transistor aging.
Caloric Intake and Weight Gain of Rats Depends on Endogenous Fat Preference

Within outbred colonies, subpopulations of rats exist that exhibit inherent preferences for one type of macronutrient over another (e.g., fat vs. carbohydrate). Prior investigations into the effect of dietary manipulations on consumption or weight gain have not taken into account endogenous macronutrient preferences. The purpose of this study was to examine whether inherent fat preferences translate into differences in caloric consumption and weight gain in rats when fed high-fat and high-carbohydrate diets. Rats that exhibited a preference for fat were identified using a previously described paradigm and were subsequently placed on either a high-fat or high-carbohydrate diet. Daily caloric intakes and weekly weights were monitored over a 28-day period and compared with data for animals with a low-fat preference on the same diets. By the conclusion of the study, the low-fat-preferring rats on the high-carbohydrate diet had consumed significantly more calories than the high-fat-preferrers maintained on the same diet. In contrast, the amounts of calories consumed on the high-fat diet were not significantly different between the low- and high-fat-preferring animals. Those animals with a preference for fat placed on a high-carbohydrate diet weighed significantly less by the end of study, even though they consumed the same number of calories as animals on the high-fat diet. We conclude that the outcome of nutritional studies designed to examine caloric intake and weight gain can be influenced by the innate macronutrient preference of the animal.
Three-dimensional finite element calculations of thermal stress in aluminum interconnect with tungsten via-studs

The multilevel interconnect to be investigated consist of a first level aluminum line (M1) connected to a second level aluminum line (M2) by a tungsten via-stud (S1). In the manufacturing process, thermal voiding is often observed in passivated aluminum lines near the via-stud. The purpose of this work is to calculate the thermal stresses in a typical passivated multilevel metal-stud-metal structure using the finite element method. Variations of stresses with the tungsten via-stud intersect area, height, and its alignment with respect to M1 have been considered. It is shown that the local stresses in the aluminum line (M1) increase by 25%, the maxima located under the tungsten via-stud. The stresses further increase if the via- stud is misaligned to abut the end of the line. The average stress in the line is not significantly influenced by variation in stud dimensions of 30% about the nominal case, indicating that the stress response is dominated by the passivation. Higher stresses are calculated for SiNx passivation as compared to SiO2 since the former is twice as stiff.© (1993) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Investigation of sputtered indium-tin oxide/silicon interfaces: ion damage, hydrogen passivation and low-temperature anneal

Abstract Sputtered indium tin oxide (ITO)/Si contacts reveal a reduced interfacial barrier on n-Si and an increase on p-Si as expected from ion damage. Deep level transient spectroscopy (DLTS) identifies three electron traps (0.10, 0.19 and 0.25 eV) in n-Si and a single hole trap at 0.20 eV in p-Si with concentrations ≈ 2–5 × 10 12 cm −3 . Pre-hydrogenation of wafers in a plasma greatly reduces the DLTS signal, offering first evidence of in-situ passivation of sputter damage by atomic hydrogen. Low-temperature anneal (180°C, 12–24 h) of the ITO sputter damage and influence of illumination during anneal appear to favor possible defect anneal by recombination-assisted processes.
Late onset bulimia

Abstract Two groups of patients with bulimia, one with a late onset of the eating disorder (age 25 or beyond, n = 22) and one with a more typical age of onset for the disorder (age 20 or before, n = 22), were compared. The patients in the late onset group were significantly more likely to indicate current or previous chemical dependency problems and previous suicide attempts, and were significantly more likely to be diagnosed as having a current or lifetime affective disorder when evaluated. They were also more depressed when seen for evaluation. However, they had experienced bulimic symptoms for a shorter period of time prior to seeking treatment. The results suggest that late onset bulimia is likely to be associated with other psychopathology including significant depression and drug abuse.
The Solar Mass-Ejection Imager (SMEI) Mission

We have launched into near-Earth orbit a solar mass-ejection imager (SMEI) that is capable of measuring sunlight Thomson-scattered from heliospheric electrons from elongations to as close as 18∘ to greater than 90∘ from the Sun. SMEI is designed to observe time-varying heliospheric brightness of objects such as coronal mass ejections, co-rotating structures and shock waves. The instrument evolved from the heliospheric imaging capability demonstrated by the zodiacal light photometers of the Helios spacecraft. A near-Earth imager can provide up to three days warning of the arrival of a mass ejection from the Sun. In combination with other imaging instruments in deep space, or alone by making some simple assumptions about the outward flow of the solar wind, SMEI can provide a three-dimensional reconstruction of the surrounding heliospheric density structures.
Roles of visual and taste cues in ingestional neophobia : response latency effects in chicks (Gallus domesticus)

Latency measures of starting to drink and of consummatory behavior were used to investigate ingestional neophobia to novel visual and novel taste cues in chicks. In Experiment 1 (N = 36), latencies to start drinking were reliably shorter to ingesta that appeared familiar from previous rearing or preexposure procedures. After drinking started, consummatory responding occurred reliably more rapidly to familiar taste cues than to novel ones. However, the presence of familiar visual cues reliably facilitated consumption of a novel taste. Experiments 2 and 3 (Ns = 144 and 180) were performed to evaluate, respectively, whether the ingestional effects of taste stimulus intensity, 0%–6% vinegar, and of visual stimulus intensity, 0%–1.0% concentrations of red food-coloring in water, changed during ontogeny for chicks 3, 5, and 7 days old. In Experiment 2, reliable direct effects of taste concentration on consummatory response latencies occurred immediately in 7-day-olds but were delayed in 3-day-olds. In Experiment 3, each age group immediately showed reliably slower starting and consummatory response times, the higher the concentration of red food-coloring. Intake performance in both experiments was consistent with the latency data. Experiments 1–3 showed that visual and taste cues of ingesta separately influenced approach and consummatory behaviors of the ingestive response sequence and that these influences depend on ontogenetic events.
Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV: The Role of Cesarean Delivery

The risk of mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HIV can be reduced through cesarean delivery prior to the onset of labor and prior to rupture of the membranes (elective cesarean delivery [ECD]). As a result of this evidence, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the Department of Health and Human Services Panel on Treatment of HIV-Infected Pregnant Women and Prevention of Perinatal Transmission developed guidelines recommending ECD for HIV-infected women with plasma viral loads of more than 1000 copies/mL. Since the release of the recommendations, an increase in ECD has been seen among HIV-infected women in the United States. This article discusses the evidence on efficacy of ECD, current recommendations in the United States, and risks and morbidity related to ECD. Although the benefit of ECD in preventing MTCT of HIV is substantial, some questions remain. Specifically, the benefit of ECD for women with very low viral loads or for women using combination antiretroviral regimens is unclear, as is the timeframe after onset of labor or rupture of membranes within which ECD will still confer preventive benefits.
A factor-graph-based random walk, and its relevance for LP decoding analysis and Bethe entropy characterization

Although min-sum algorithm (MSA) and linear programming (LP) decoding are tightly related, it is not straightforward to translate MSA decoding performance analysis techniques to the LP decoding setup. Towards closing this performance analysis techniques gap, Koetter and Vontobel [ITAW 2006] showed how the collection of messages from several MSA decoding iterations can be used to construct a dual witness for LP decoding, thereby deriving some performance results for LP decoding. In a recent breakthrough paper by Arora, Daskalakis, and Steurer (ADS) [STOC 2009], the understanding of the performance of LP decoding was brought to a new level, not only from the perspective of available analysis tools but also from the perspective of significantly improving the known asymptotic LP decoding threshold bounds. ADS achieved this by showing how MSA decoding analysis type results can be used in the primal domain of the LP decoder, along the way also giving evidence that the above detour over the dual domain is neither necessary nor simpler. In the present paper we focus on the geometrical aspects of the ADS paper and show that one of the key results of the ADS paper can be reformulated as the construction of a rather nontrivial class of supersets of the fundamental cone, where these supersets are convex cones that are generated by vectors that are derived from computation trees and minimal valid deviations therein. As we will discuss, the main ingredient that allows the verification of this superset construction is a certain class of backtrackless random walks on the code's normal factor graph. Moreover, formulating our results in terms of normal factor graphs will facilitate the generalization of the geometrical results of the ADS paper to setups with non-uniform node degrees, with other types of constraint function nodes, and with no restrictions on the girth. We conclude the paper by showing connections between the entropy rates of the above-mentioned random walks and the Bethe entropy function of the normal factor graph that these random walks are defined on.
Doping-induced changes in the saturable absorption of monolayer graphene

Graphene is a broadband, fast saturable absorber well suited for passive mode-locking of lasers. The broadband absorption, ultra-short recovery time, and low cost of graphene absorbers compare favorably with traditional semiconductor saturable absorber mirrors (SESAMs). However, it remains difficult to tailor the parameters of a monolayer graphene absorber such as the modulation depth and the insertion loss; this limits the absorber’s design freedom, which is often required for mode-locking without Q-switching instability. We demonstrate in this work that, by hole-doping graphene chemically to various Fermi levels, the modulation depth and insertion loss are modified. Further control of graphene’s saturable absorption by electric-field gating and its application to active suppression of Q-switching in lasers is discussed.
Blues for Gary: Design Abstractions for a Jazz Improvisation Assistant

We describe the design and implementation of a tool to help students learn the art of jazz improvisation. The tool integrates elements of database, AI in the form of automatic melody generation, and human interface design. We describe the philosophy of using several coordinated mini-languages to provide user specifications for various aspects of the tool, including melody and chord representation, styles, melody generation, and other musical knowledge.
Gaseous Ionization in Built-up Insulation---II

It has been suggested frequently that the failure of high-voltage armature bars might be due to deterioration caused by gaseous ionization in entrapped air spaces. In an earlier paper a series of tests on a number of 6600-voltage mica folium armature bars made up with different degrees of mica content was described. The variations of the dielectric losses with voltage and with temperature were studied and by means of the application of pressure it was shown to what extent losses due to internal ionization were present. The influence of these ionization losses on the life of the bars was also studied. The tests of the foregoing paper are continued in the present paper, extending to a wider range of type of armature insulation. The general results are as follows: 1. The absolute values of loss due to internal ionization in well constructed armature bars are small compared with dielectric losses of other types. 2. The losses due to internal ionization do, however, cause a progressive deterioration of the insulation. This is shown by a gradual increase in the loss and power factor of the insulation. S. It is indicated that the principal function of mica in this type of insulation is in the reduction of the conductivity of the insulation and the withstanding of the action of internal ionization. The indications are that full mica folium content can be safely reduced only by use of the best grade of mica folium and the best conditions of application without variation.
Morphology of primary axosomatic endings in the anteroventral cochlear nucleus of the cat: a study of the endbulbs of Held.

The central axons of Type I spiral ganglion neurons travel in the auditory nerve and terminate in the cochlear nucleus. The ascending branches of these axons innervate the anteroventral cochlear nucleus and give rise to large axosomatic endings, called the endbulbs of Held, and smaller boutons. This paper reports a study of the endbulbs of Held, stained by horseradish peroxidase and variants of the Golgi method in kittens 2, 5, 10, 20, and 45 days postnatal and adult cats. Endbulbs tend to fall into two extreme groups with some endbulbs having an intermediate appearance; consequently, we have defined three descriptive stages of endbulbs that are conceived of as representing a developmental sequence. One group of endbulbs is found mostly in kittens younger than 10 days postnatal and is similar to the classic description of endbulbs by Ramon y Cajal ('09). The other extreme group of endbulbs is found mostly in adult cats. In these cases, the parent axonal trunk divides into several thick, gnarled branches that in turn branch again, sometimes repeatedly. These branches display irregular varicosities and form a cup-shaped arborization into which the postsynaptic cell body nestles. A chronology of postnatal endbulb development has been inferred from the relative proportions of the different endbulb stages at various ages. Maturation transforms the endbulb of Held from a large, spoon-shaped swelling having many filipodia into an elaborate tree with broad trunks and many smaller branches. Some implications of the proposed developmental sequence are discussed.