cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Global mapping of gene/protein interactions in PubMed abstracts: a framework and an experiment with P53 interactions.

Abstract Gene/protein interactions provide critical information for a thorough understanding of cellular processes. Recently, considerable interest and effort has been focused on the construction and analysis of genome-wide gene networks. The large body of biomedical literature is an important source of gene/protein interaction information. Recent advances in text mining tools have made it possible to automatically extract such documented interactions from free-text literature. In this paper, we propose a comprehensive framework for constructing and analyzing large-scale gene functional networks based on the gene/protein interactions extracted from biomedical literature repositories using text mining tools. Our proposed framework consists of analyses of the network topology, network topology–gene function relationship, and temporal network evolution to distill valuable information embedded in the gene functional interactions in the literature. We demonstrate the application of the proposed framework using a testbed of P53-related PubMed abstracts, which shows that the literature-based P53 networks exhibit small-world and scale-free properties. We also found that high degree genes in the literature-based networks have a high probability of appearing in the manually curated database and genes in the same pathway tend to form local clusters in our literature-based networks. Temporal analysis showed that genes interacting with many other genes tend to be involved in a large number of newly discovered interactions.
Crystal and electronic structure of a quaternary layered compound from the K-In-Ge-Sb system : K9In9GeSb22

Abstract The quaternary Zintl phase material, K 9 In 9 GeSb 22 (1), has been prepared at 650°C and its structure determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction: triclinic, space group P 1 with a = 11.62 (1) A, b = 13.04 (3) A, c = 11.27 (2) A, α = 113.5 (2)°, β = 91.7 (1)°, γ = 112.3 (1)°, V = 1415 (4) A 3 , and D calcd = 4.851 g/cm 3 for Z = 2 and R ( R w ) = 7.9% (8.8%). Antimonide 1 contains layers comprised of indium, germanium, and arsenic separated by K + cations. The In–Ge–Sb layers in 1 contain In (2− x ) Ge x Sb 6 ( x ≅ 1) dimers with In(Ge)–In(Ge) bonds, InSb 4 tetrahedra, and Sb 3 trimers, as well as infinite chains with Sb–Sb bonds. There is an unusual metal–metal bonded site in 1, that contains contains a solid solution of 1:1 In and Ge, with an In(Ge)–In(Ge) separation of 2.659 (1) A. The nature of this experimentally determined solid solution at the M – M bonded site, and its effects on the electronic structure of K 9 In 9 GeSb 22 , was investigated via tight binding calculations.
Optical-Optical Double Resonance Photoassociative Spectroscopy of Ultracold {sup 39}K Atoms near Highly Excited Asymptotes

We report the first observation of optical-optical double resonance photoassociative spectroscopy of ultracold {sup 39}K atoms near the highly excited {sup 39}K(4s)+{sup 39}K(4d,5d,6d,6s,7s) asymptotes in a high density magneto-optical trap. Using the v{sup {prime}}=0 level of the 0{sup -}{sub g} {open_quotes}pure long-range{close_quotes} state (a localized long-range Franck-Condon window) as the intermediate state, we observe simple and assignable rovibrational progressions dissociating to these asymptotes. The dominant long-range potential constants are determined. Line broadening, presumably due to autoionization, and rotational excitations due to strong field effects are observed. {copyright} {ital 1997} {ital The American Physical Society}
On the structural complexity of natural language sentences

The objective of this paper is to formalize the intnition about the complexity of syntactic structures. We propose a definition of structural complexity such that sentences ranked by our definition as more complex are generally more difficult for humans to process. We justify the definition by showing how it is able to account for several seemingly unrelated phenomena in natural languages.
A Free Boundary Problem with Curvature

Abstract In this paper we are interested in a free boundary problem with a motion law involving the mean curvature term of the free boundary. Viscosity solutions are introduced as a notion of global-time solutions past singularities. We show the comparison principle for viscosity solutions, which yields the existence of minimal and maximal solutions for given initial data. We also prove uniqueness of the solution for several classes of initial data and discuss the possibility of nonunique solutions.
1-arachidonyl-monoglyceride causes platelet aggregation: indirect evidence for an acylglycerol acylhydrolase involvement in the release of arachidonic acid for prostaglandin synthesis.

Abstract Phosphatidylcholine liposomes containing 1-arachidonylmonoglyceride were found to cause aggregation of human platelets. In contrast, addition of phosphatidylcholine liposomes, 1-arachidonyl-monoglyceride, or phosphatidylcholine liposomes containing 1-oleoyl-monoglyceride to a similar platelet preparation had no effect. Aggregation stimulated by 1-arachidonyl-monoglyceride was inhibited by 100 μM aspirin or 1 μM indomethacin, suggesting that the arachidonic acid is first released by a platelet acylglycerol acylhydrolase and then converted to PGG 2 and thromboxane AZ which initiate the platelet aggregation. Changes in platelet morphology in response to 1-arachidonyl-monoglyceride were similar to those reported previously to occur following stimulation of platelets by arachidonic acid or PGGZ providing further support for this concept. EDTA inhibited aggregation of platelets but not shape change or granule centralization in response to 1-arachidonyl-monoglyceride. PGE, and theophylline inhibited both aggregation and morphological changes. These results with inhibitors are similar to the effects of these inhibitors on PGGZ and provide further evidence for similarity between the action of 1-arachidonyl-monoglyceride and PGG 2 . The results provide important evidence to support the concept that an acylglycerol acylhydrolase may be involved in arachidonic acid release and platelet aggregation.
Smoke-scattered light measurement of turbulent concentration fluctuations☆

Abstract An optical method has been developed for measurement of concentration fluctuations at a point within systems undergoing turbulent mixing. Intensity, two-point correlation and spectral density of mean-square concentration fluctuation have been measured in a jet of smoky air discharged into ambient air. The data agree well with comparable measurements of temperature fluctuations reported by investigators who have used the hot-wire anemometer. Theoretical consideration is given to some unique problems associated with resolution of the new turbulence measuring device.
A Model Binding Site for Testing Scoring Functions in Molecular Docking

Prediction of interaction energies between ligands and their receptors remains a major challenge for structure-based inhibitor discovery. Much effort has been devoted to developing scoring schemes that can successfully rank the affinities of a diverse set of possible ligands to a binding site for which the structure is known. To test these scoring functions, well-characterized experimental systems can be very useful. Here, mutation-created binding sites in T4 lysozyme were used to investigate how the quality of atomic charges and solvation energies affects molecular docking. Atomic charges and solvation energies were calculated for 172,118 molecules in the Available Chemicals Directory using a semi-empirical quantum mechanical approach by the program AMSOL. The database was first screened against the apolar cavity site created by the mutation Leu99Ala (L99A). Compared to the electronegativity-based charges that are widely used, the new charges and desolvation energies improved ranking of known apolar ligands, and better distinguished them from more polar isosteres that are not observed to bind. To investigate whether the new charges had predictive value, the non-polar residue Met102, which forms part of the binding site, was changed to the polar residue glutamine. The structure of the resulting Leu99Ala and Met102Gln double mutant of T4 lysozyme (L99A/M102Q) was determined and the docking calculation was repeated for the new site. Seven representative polar molecules that preferentially docked to the polar versus the apolar binding site were tested experimentally. All seven bind to the polar cavity (L99A/M102Q) but do not detectably bind to the apolar cavity (L99A). Five ligand-bound structures of L99A/M102Q were determined by X-ray crystallography. Docking predictions corresponded to the crystallographic results to within 0.4A RMSD. Improved treatment of partial atomic charges and desolvation energies in database docking appears feasible and leads to better distinction of true ligands. Simple model binding sites, such as L99A and its more polar variants, may find broad use in the development and testing of docking algorithms.
Opto-Electronic Profile Measuring System

The basic idea of a simple, but powerful opto-electronic profile measuring system and three practical examples are described. In general these systems are combinations of classical light sectioning techniques, modern sensors and special digital hardware components. Further applications, e.g. in the steel or automotive industry are possible.
Distributed algorithms for unmixing hyperspectral data using nonnegative matrix factorization with sparsity constraints

The ability to examine and extract the sources of data from hyperspectral images has become more and more important as the amount of data collected increases. Recent research has yielded better and better algorithms for unmixing this data to provide more accuracy. One such algorithm is Nonnegative Matrix Factorization which aims to approximate the sources of the known end result. An issue with current approaches is they are designed to be run sequentially and can be very computationally expensive. In this paper, ways of improving the performance of Sparse Nonnegative Matrix Factorization algorithms are introduced by utilizing distributed computing over a cluster of computers. The goal was to find ways of maximizing the throughput of a known algorithm without worrying about the accuracy of the algorithm itself (as this is shown through separate investigation). This was accomplished by testing out technologies such as MPI, POSIX threads and the OpenMP library. The aim was to compare and contrast different methods and find out what might be the optimal solution to allow for large data sets.
Injectable hormone contraception and bone density: results from a prospective study

BackgroundDepot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) injectable contraception may decrease bone density and increase the risk for osteoporosis in later life. Prospective data are scarce, especially of the effects of DMPA discontinuation on bone.MethodsBetween 1994 and 1999, we conducted a population-b
Effects of removal of light chain 2 on the ATPase activities of cardiac myosin from normal and thyrotoxic rabbits.

Abstract Steady-state ATPase activities of cardiac myosin from thyroxine-treated rabbit hearts have been determined before and after removal of the 18-kDa light-chain subunit (LC2) of myosin. LC2 was selectively removed from myosin by treatment with a myofibrillar protease according to the method of Kuo and Bhan (Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 92, 570–576 (1980)). The effects of removal of LC2 on the enzymatic properties of thyrotoxic myosin were compared with the results obtained for cardiac myosin from normal rabbits by parallel studies. It has been found that removal of LC2 does not affect the Ca2+- and K+ (EDTA)-ATPase activities of these myosins. The actin-activated myosin Mg2+-ATPase activities of intact and LC2-deficient thyrotoxic myosin were 0.18 ± 0.03 and 0.36 ± 0.03 μmol Pi/mg per min, respectively, whereas the actinactivated myosin Mg2+-ATPase activities of intact and LC2-deficient normal myosin were 0.12 ± 0.02 and 0.18 ± 0.03μmol Pi/mg per min, respectively. Thus, removal of LC2 increases the actin-activated myosin Mg2+-ATPase activity of thyrotoxic myosin by 100%, and the same activity is increased about 50% for normal myosin, indicating that the degree of potentiation of actin-activated myosin Mg2+-ATPase activity as a result of LC2 removal is 2-fold greater in thyrotoxic myosin than that obtained for normal myosin. These results suggest that LC2 does not influence the increased actomyosin ATPase activity of thyrotoxic myosin and that potentiation of actomyosin ATPase following LC2 removal may depend on the variations of the heavy-chain domain where LC2 interacts.
Error analysis of ν value measurements and an application

Abstract By perturbing the closed orbit in an accelerator and comparing the shift in beam position with the theoretical expression for a dipole perturbation by a least squares procedure, an estimate of the average ν value of the beam is obtained. A statistical analysis of the experimental data is presented. This yields point estimates of the parameters (i.e., ν value, amplitudes and betatron phases) together with interval estimates and confidence levels. In this way, ν value measurements have been made at various times in the Alternating Gradient Synchrotron (AGS) cycle and at various average radii (i.e., momenta) in order to obtain the time dependent functional relationship between ν and radius, R. Assuming a linear relationship between ν and R, least squares fits and standard errors have been obtained for various times in the AGS cycle. Since the rate of change of ν with radius is very nearly proportional to the sextupole moment in each of the AGS magnets, estimates of the sextupole moment as a function of the field strength in the main ring magnets (i.e., time in the AGS cycle) have also been obtained.
Professors Exner and Young

MY statement in respect to Prof. Exner's having announced the thermo-electric neutrality of a bismuth-antimony pair immersed in pure nitrogen, rested upon a note in NATURE (vol. xxii. p. 156), and this it seems was based upon a statement in L'Electricite. I have seen those of Prof. Exner's papers which have appeared in the Annalen der Physik, and there is certainly nothing of the sort in them; but I supposed that it must be contained in some other paper in some one of the numerous other publications to which I have not access here. It never occurred to me, until within a very short time, that there could be any mistake as to his having made such an assertion. How or where the error originated I cannot quite understand; but I trust Prof. Exner will accept my apologies for my share in its propagation, and that he and all concerned will be satisfied that no misrepresentation was intended on my part. The incident is a good illustration of the extreme care necessary in commenting upon the views of another person.
The predictive user mobility profile framework for wireless multimedia networks

User mobility profile (UMP) is a combination of historic records and predictive patterns of mobile terminals, which serve as fundamental information for mobility management and enhancement of quality of service (QoS) in wireless multimedia networks. In this paper, a UMP framework is developed for estimating service patterns and tracking mobile users, including descriptions of location, mobility, and service requirements. For each mobile user, the service requirement is estimated using a mean-square error method. Moreover, a new mobility model is designed to characterize not only stochastic behaviors, but historical records and predictive future locations of mobile users as well. Therefore, our approach incorporates aggregate history and current system parameters to acquire UMP. In particular, an adaptive algorithm is designed to predict the future positions of mobile terminals in terms of location probabilities based on moving directions and residence time in a cell. Simulation results are shown to indicate that the proposed schemes are effective on mobility and resource management by evaluating blocking/dropping probabilities and location tracking costs in wireless networks.
Cumulative-damage modeling of fatigue crack growth in turbine engine materials

Abstract Life predictions of turbine engine structural components utilize fracture mechanics principles to determine fatigue crack growth rates. Fatigue cracks grow under conditions of variable temperature, frequency, hold time, stress ratio and stress level. At elevated temperatures, time-dependent material behavior can play a significant role in the material behavior. Cumulative-damage models must account for all these variables as well as interaction effects. The earliest modeling involved interaction schemes and, primarily, time-independent material behavior. More recent work has focused on time-dependence and creep-fatigue interaction effects. A review of current modeling concepts is presented.
The Albedo Dichotomy of Iapetus Measured at UV Wavelengths

The dramatic hemispheric dichotomy in albedo displayed by Saturn's moon Iapetus has intrigued astronomers for centuries. Here we report on far-ultraviolet observations of Iapetus' bright and dark terrains from Cassini. We compare the reflectance spectra of Iapetus's dark terrain, Hyperion and Phoebe and find that both Phoebe and Hyperion are richer in water ice than Iapetus' dark terrain. Spectra of the lowest latitudes of the dark terrain display the diagnostic water ice absorption feature; water ice amounts increase within the dark material away from the apex (at 90° W longitude, the center of the dark leading hemisphere), consistent with thermal segregation of water ice. The water ice in the darkest, warmest low latitude regions is not expected to be stable and may be a sign of ongoing or recent emplacement of the dark material from an exogenic source.
Unconformities in the sediments of the Indian Ocean

Deep sea drilling in the Indian Ocean has revealed unconformities of oceanwide significance. The unconformities are of Oligocene, early Tertiary and late Cretaceous age and can be explained as a consequence of climatic events in Antarctica and subsequent variations in the circulation pattern of the whole Indian Ocean.
On the spherically symmetrical combustion of methyl decanoate droplets and comparisons with detailed numerical modeling

This study presents an experimental effort and detailed numerical simulation of the burning process of an ester-based biodiesel fuel droplet – methyl decanoate (MD). The experiments are carried out using test droplets that are anchored to small SiC support structures (14 lm diameter) and that burn in an ambience subjected to a low gravity level to promote spherical symmetry in the droplet burning process. The initial droplet diameters are 0.53–0.57 mm and the combustion gas is normal atmospheric pressure air. A detailed numerical simulation of the burning process is also presented that features detailed MD combustion chemistry, radiative heat transfer, species diffusion, and phase change effects to predict the evolution of droplet and flame diameter. The analysis also incorporates a model for heat transfer through the droplet support structure. Predicted droplet and flame diameters are shown to agree within the range of uncertainty of the experimental data lending support to the transport model and combustion kinetics incorporated in the simulation. Effects of the tether fiber’s size, thermal conductivity, and Nusselt number on the droplet burning data are also examined. Results show that the fiber properties within the range investigated in this study do not significantly affect the burning process. Species and temperature distributions during the transient process of MD droplet combustion are detailed in this study. These comparisons and predictions for multi-phase combustion of MD that have not been seen in the literature provide validation for MD models associated with chemical kinetics and multi-physics and are therefore valuable for the study of esterbased biodiesel combustion.
A Comparison of Two Methods for Identifying Frail Medicare-Aged Persons

This article compares the efficacy of two screening methods to identify frail Medicare-aged persons using self-report questionnaire data: a clinical judgment method developed by nurse and social worker professionals in a community-based long-term care department and an empirical research method previously developed by the Center for Health Research using computer formulas and stepwise logistic regression coefficients. A sub-aim was to see whether the empirical method proved robust over time by measuring aggregate utilization and mortality in frail and nonfrail cohorts, which would increase the interest of physicians, managed care organizations, and other agencies providing service to Medicare beneficiaries.
Improved depiction of small anatomic structures in MR images using Gaussian-weighted spirals and zero-filled interpolation

Partial-volume artifacts reduce the contrast and continuity of small structures in magnetic resonance images. Zero-filled interpolation (ZFI) has been known for some time as a useful technique to reduce partial-volume artifacts and improve the appearance of small structures and edges. However, its use is limited by the fact that ZFI can exacerbate image artifacts. For example, it can exacerbate Gibbs ringing, also known as the truncation artifact, which manifests itself as spurious ringing around sharp edges. Currently, the most common technique to address this problem is post-acquisition filtering, which causes blurring in the image. Using ZFI in conjunction with a variable-density sampling method designed to reduce ringing is proposed as a possible solution to this problem. This approach is demonstrated with a Gaussian-weighted spiral and is compared to conventional spiral sampling both with and without the application of a filter used to reduce ringing. The two spiral sampling techniques are compared using simulations, phantom images, and in vivo brain images. The Gaussian-weighted spiral demonstrates reduced ringing without the loss of spatial resolution commonly associated with post-acquisition filtering. Additionally, this sampling technique is shown to work well in conjunction with ZFI to reduce partial-volume artifacts without the apparent increase in Gibbs ringing usually associated with zero-filled reconstruction. This approach will be most useful for imaging techniques such as MR angiography which are known to be sensitive to partial-volume effects, as well as when imaging anatomic regions associated with more severe Gibbs ringing.
Unchanged asthma prevalence during 1990-1999 in rural Alaska Native

Objectives. The prevalence of asthma has been increasing throughout the world, but the reasonsfor the increase are unclear. Some have hypothesized that the increase is due to industrial andagricultural pollutants in urban and rural areas, respectively. The objective of this research was todetermine if the prevalence of asthma has increased in a remote area of Alaska where the populationlives a subsistence lifestyle and is not exposed to such pollution.Study Design. Retrospective review of medical records to determine the prevalence of asthma.Methods. We reviewed medical records of 1200 children, aged 0-10 years, who lived in the Yukon-Kuskokwum Delta (YKD) region of western Alaska between 1990 and 1999. The entire YKDpopulation receives health care from a single medical system, so records provide a complete pictureof each patient’s health care. Data collected from the medical records included demographics, andthe presence or absence of a diagnosis of asthma or reactive airway disease (RAD).Results. Over the 10-year period from 1990-1999, there was no significant change in the percentageof children who had a diagnosis of asthma (2.0% in 1990 and 3% in 1999), or RAD (9.6% in 1990and 9.6% in 1999).Conclusions. In a population of children not exposed to urban industrial, or rural agriculturalpollutants, there was no change in the prevalence of wheezing or asthma between 1990 and 1999. (Int J Circumpolar Health 2006; 65(4): 341-346). Keywords: asthma, environmental health, pollution
The interplay between daily affect and sleep: a 2-week study of young women.

Summary Little attention has been paid to the relation between daily affect and sleep, as most prior studies have focused instead on the role of pathological mood in the context of sleep disturbance. However, understanding the transaction between normal variations in emotional experiences and sleep can shed light on the premorbid vulnerabilities that trigger the evolution of affect and sleep into more problematic states. The present study used a 2-week daily sampling approach to examine the impact of day-to-day variations in positive and negative affect on nightly self-reported sleep-onset latency, sleep duration and sleep quality in a sample of young women. Hierarchical linear modelling revealed temporal relations between positive and negative affect states and sleep parameters. Specifically, different aspects of both positive and negative affect were uniquely predictive of sleep indices, with sadness and serenity acting as the most consistent predictors. Additionally, better sleep quality was predictive of greater happiness the following day. These results highlight the importance of how our daily emotional experiences influence our nightly sleep and, in turn, how our sleep has an impact on our daily affect. Moreover, our findings may offer insight into the progression of normative levels of affect and sleep as they develop into comorbid depression, anxiety and insomnia.
The scope and control of attention as separate aspects of working memory

The present study examines two varieties of working memory (WM) capacity task: visual arrays (i.e., a measure of the amount of information that can be maintained in working memory) and complex span (i.e., a task that taps WM-related attentional control). Using previously collected data sets we employ confirmatory factor analysis to demonstrate that visual arrays and complex span tasks load on separate, but correlated, factors. A subsequent series of structural equation models and regression analyses demonstrate that these factors contribute both common and unique variance to the prediction of general fluid intelligence (Gf). However, while visual arrays does contribute uniquely to higher cognition, its overall correlation to Gf is largely mediated by variance associated with the complex span factor. Thus we argue that visual arrays performance is not strictly driven by a limited-capacity storage system (e.g., the focus of attention; Cowan, 2001), but may also rely on control processes such as selective attention and controlled memory search.
Damus-Rastelli Procedure for Biventricular Repair of Aortic Atresia and Hypoplasia

Background Biventricular repair (BVR) can be achieved in aortic atresia with ventricular septal defect (VSD) by creating a double outlet left ventricle, Damus-Kaye-Stansel procedure and placement of a right ventricular-pulmonary artery conduit. This study is a review of 15 years experience with this "Damus-Rastelli" technique to assess clinical outcomes in comparison with a standard univentricular approach. Methods A review of 16 patients with aortic atresia or complex left ventricular outflow tract obstruction who underwent BVR between 1990 and 2005; a comparison with outcomes for the Norwood I procedure over the same period. Results Early mortality was 19% (3 patients) with no deaths in the last 12 years (13 patients). Twelve patients had associated aortic interruption (56%) or coarctation (19%). Anatomic subtype was not a risk for early death. Late age at operation was the only risk factor identified for early death ( p = 0.01). Median follow-up was 32 (range, 4 to 190) months. Actuarial survival at one and five years was 60% and 53%, respectively. This compares with an early mortality of 29% ( p Conclusions Biventricular repair of aortic atresia and VSD can be achieved with results that compare well with univentricular palliation. Despite the need for conduit change, the long-term benefit of a BVR would support this technique. Delay in performing the initial repair may increase mortality.
Stress Corrosion Cracking of Alloy 625 in pH 2 Aqueous Solution at High Temperature and Pressure

Abstract Stress corrosion cracking (SCC) of Alloy 625 (UNS N06625) has been investigated in pH 2 aqueous solution at high temperatures (300°C to 426°C) and high pressure (24.1 MPa) to understand th...
A Transnational Poetics

Poetry is often viewed as culturally homogeneous - 'stubbornly national,' in T. S. Eliot's phrase, or 'the most provincial of the arts,' according to W. H. Auden. But in "A Transnational Poetics", Jahan Ramazani uncovers the ocean-straddling energies of the poetic imagination - in modernism and the Harlem Renaissance; in post-World War II North America and the North Atlantic; and in ethnic American, postcolonial, and black British writing. Cross-cultural exchange and influence are, he argues, among the chief engines of poetic development in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. Reexamining the work of a wide array of poets, from Eliot, Yeats, and Langston Hughes to Elizabeth Bishop, Lorna Goodison, and Agha Shahid Ali, Ramazani reveals the many ways in which modern and contemporary poetry in English overflows national borders and exceeds the scope of national literary paradigms. Through a variety of transnational templates - globalization, migration, travel, genre, influence, modernity, decolonization, and diaspora - he discovers poetic connection and dialogue across nations and even hemispheres. Exceptionally wide-ranging in scope yet rigorously focused on particulars, "A Transnational Poetics" demonstrates how poetic analysis can foster an aesthetically attuned transnational literary criticism that is at the same time alert to modernity's global condition.
Characterization of ultra-low-load (µN) nanoindents in GaAs(100) using a cube corner tip

In this study, nanoindentations are produced and characterized for the future patterning of nanostructures. Nanoindentation is performed on Si-doped (n-type) vertical gradient freeze (VGF) GaAs(100) and epitaxial GaAs(100) using a diamond cube corner indenter. Unlike previous research, the uniqueness of this work is in nanoindentation of GaAs at ultra-low loads (<400 µN). Indentations of less than 200 nm in width are produced, and the mechanical properties of the two materials including hardness and elastic modulus are determined. The smallest indentations achieved are less than 60 nm in width and less than 2 nm deep. The width, depth, shape, and volume of the indents are determined as a function of applied load using atomic force microscopy (AFM). Also, the ratio of pile-up volume to indent volume is determined. The experimental findings are discussed in relation to existing theories of indentation and for the directed self-assembly of nanostructures.
Nutritional care of the obese intensive care unit patient.

Purpose of reviewThis review discusses the unique metabolic changes in critically ill obese patients and the challenges in estimating and providing them with nutritional support while in the intensive care unit. It provides some of the scientific data in support of and against hypocaloric, high-prot
Development of 3D real-time microscope with touch interaction

We describe the development of a 3D, real-time environment that enables seamless interaction with the microscopic world.
Quantitation of manganese(II) ion binding to dissolved yellow organic substances of natural waters by electron spin resonance

Abstract The electron spin resonance technique for determining free manganese(II) ion concentration in aqueous solution has been applied to the study of divalent ion binding by polyanions such as the dissolved yellow organic substances found in surface water sources. Using this technique it was shown that 769 grams of dissolved yellow organic substance from Alameda Creek, Sunol Regional Park (California) are required to bind one mole of manganese(II) ion and the weight basis formation constant is 161 (g/l)‐1.
Human resource development value orientations: a construct validation study

This study sought to identify measures of individual value orientations related to how HRD professionals believe the ideal HRD process should be viewed. The goal of the research was to refine a set of HRD value orientation measures generated from earlier research and to discover the extent to which items used in those measures formed coherent and independent subsets. Construct validation efforts using exploratory factor analysis showed an exceptionally clean and interpretable latent structure consisting of six variables. These results were highly consistent with the hypothesized conceptual framework. Implications for HRD and directions for future research are presented.
Expression of SV40 large T antigen stimulates reversion of a chromosomal gene duplication in human cells.

Transformation of human cells is characterized by altered cell morphology, frequent karyotypic abnormalities, reduced dependence on growth factors and substrate, and rare “immortalization”—clonal acquisition of unlimited proliferative potential. We previously reported a marked increase in DNA rearrangements, arising between two duplicated segments in a transfected plasmid substrate, for five immortal human cell lines relative to three normal fibroblast strains [Finnet al.(1989)Mol. Cell. Biol.9, 4009–4017]. We have now assessed reversion of a 14-kilobase-pair duplication within the hypoxanthine phosphoribosyl transferase (HPRT) gene locus, in a fibroblast strain during its normal replicative lifespan and after stable transformation with SV40 large-T antigen. Revertants, selected under HPRT-dependent growth conditions immediately after purging preexistingHPRT+cells, were confirmed asHPRT+by hypoxanthine incorporation and 6-thioguanine sensitivity. Southern blot analyses indicate loss from most revertant clones of a restriction fragment representing the duplicatedHPRTregion, as predicted for homologous recombination between the 14-kilobase-pair repeats. Amplification of a subregion ofHPRTmRNA implicated deletion of duplicated exons in 93% of revertant colonies. Reversion toHPRT+was unaltered during the normalin vitrolifespan of these cells, but increased in 9 clones stably transformed with large-T antigen (mean = 3.8-fold; eachP< 10−5). Stimulation ofHPRT-reversion is abrogated in a variety of T-antigen mutants, and depends on continued induction of T antigen by glucocorticoid in two clones tested 10–30 doublings before replicative senescence. Since no immortal subclones arose from these clones, elevated reversion must precede immortalization. Increased DNA rearrangements, in cells expressing T-antigen, could facilitate the rare concurrence of multiple mutations necessary for immortalization.
Irreversible electroporation of lung neoplasm: a case series.

Background Percutaneous irreversible electroporation (IRE) of lung tumors is a new minimally invasive technique which has recently been used in the treatment of soft tissue tumors.
The Motorola MC68020

This new 32-bit microprocessor provides high performance, instruction set extensibility, and compatibility with existing M68000 family software.
Long-term effects of p-chloroamphetamine on tryptophan hydroxylase activity and on the levels of 5-hydroxytryptamine and 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid in brain.

Abstract The i.p. administration of a single dose of 10 mg/kg of p-chloroamphetamine to rats causes a reduction in the activity of cerebral tryptophan hydroxylase and a decrease in the levels of 5-hydroxytryptamine and 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid in brain for as long as 4 months after injection. 2 weeks after injection, the activity of tryptophan hydroxylase and the level of 5-hydroxytryptamine in brain are reduced by 59 and 53% respectively. The irreversible tryptophan hydroxylase inhibitor, p-chlorophenylalanine, also decreases the brain level of 5-hydroxytryptamine; however, this effect has disappeared 2 weeks after injection.
A simple Mössbauer data acquisition system using a minicomputer

Abstract A minicomputer-based Mossbauer data acquisition system has been designed and built. The operation of this Mossbauer spectrometer is analogous to conventional systems with a multichannel analyzer in the multiscaling or time mode. However, this minicomputer-based system uses two addressable fast scalers to effectively reduce the channel advance deadtime by two or three orders of magnitude. Another advantage of this design is that it can easily be implemented on almost any minicomputer or microprocessor.
New evidence of earthquake precursory phenomena in the 17 January 1995 Kobe earthquake, Japan

Significant advances, both in the theoretical understanding of rupture processes in heterogeneous media and in the methodology for characterizing critical behavior, allows us to reanalyze the evidence for criticality and especially log-periodicity in the previously reported chemical anomalies that preceded the Kobe earthquake. The ion (Cl-, K+, Mg++, NO3 - and SO4 -) concentrations of ground-water issued from deep wells located near the epicenter of the 1995 Kobe earthquake are taken as proxies for the cumulative damage preceding the earthquake. Using both a parametric and non-parametric analysis, the five data sets are compared extensively to synthetic time series. The null-hypothesis that the patterns documented on these times series result from noise decorating a simple power law is rejected with a very high confidence level.
Diagnostic approach to congenital osteochondrodysplasias at autopsy

Abstract Individual congenital disorders of bone and cartilage are rare but as a group they are not uncommon. The incidence of osteochondrodysplasias is 2–5 in 10 000 liveborn. Approximately 50 of the known 370 skeletal malformations are lethal. The frequency in perinatal autopsies is approximately 1–2 in 100. For a proper diagnosis X-rays (both anteroposterior and lateral), storage of DNA and, in case of an autopsy, histology of bone and cartilage are necessary. Classification of the osteochondro-dysplasias is based on a combination of radiological abnormalities and the molecular defect. The most common lethal osteochondrodysplasias are briefly discussed with examples of both radiology and histology.
Retinoid uptake, processing, and secretion in human iPS-RPE support the visual cycle.

Purpose Retinal pigmented epithelium derived from human induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells (iPS-RPE) may be a source of cells for transplantation. For this reason, it is essential to determine the functional competence of iPS-RPE. One key role of the RPE is uptake and processing of retinoids via the visual cycle. The purpose of this study is to investigate the expression of visual cycle proteins and the functional ability of the visual cycle in iPS-RPE. Methods iPS-RPE was derived from human iPS cells. Immunocytochemistry, RT-PCR, and Western blot analysis were used to detect expression of RPE genes lecithin-retinol acyl transferase (LRAT), RPE65, cellular retinaldehyde-binding protein (CRALBP), and pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF). All-trans retinol was delivered to cultured cells or whole cell homogenate to assess the ability of the iPS-RPE to process retinoids. Results Cultured iPS-RPE expresses visual cycle genes LRAT, CRALBP, and RPE65. After incubation with all-trans retinol, iPS-RPE synthesized up to 2942 ± 551 pmol/mg protein all-trans retinyl esters. Inhibition of LRAT with N-ethylmaleimide (NEM) prevented retinyl ester synthesis. Significantly, after incubation with all-trans retinol, iPS-RPE released 188 ± 88 pmol/mg protein 11-cis retinaldehyde into the culture media. Conclusions iPS-RPE develops classic RPE characteristics and maintains expression of visual cycle proteins. The results of this study confirm that iPS-RPE possesses the machinery to process retinoids for support of visual pigment regeneration. Inhibition of all-trans retinyl ester accumulation by NEM confirms LRAT is active in iPS-RPE. Finally, the detection of 11-cis retinaldehyde in the culture medium demonstrates the cells' ability to process retinoids through the visual cycle. This study demonstrates expression of key visual cycle machinery and complete visual cycle activity in iPS-RPE.
An analytic model for the Phobos surface

Analytic expressions are derived to model the surface topography and the normal to the surface of Phobos. The analytic expressions are comprised of a spherical harmonic expansion for the global figure of Phobos, augmented by addition terms for the large crater Stickney and other craters. Over 300 craters were measured in more than 100 Viking Orbiter images to produce the model. In general, the largest craters were measured since they have a significant effect on topography. The topographic model derived has a global spatial and topographic accuracy ranging from about 100 m in areas having the highest resolution and convergent, stereo coverage, up to 500 m in the poorest areas.
Preferential adsorption, internalization and resistance to degradation of the major isoform of the Alzheimer's amyloid peptide, Aβ1–42, in differentiated PC12 cells

A central question in Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the role of amyloid in pathogenesis. Recent discoveries implicating the longer A beta 1-42 form of amyloid in pathogenesis led us to characterize the interaction of A beta with cells to elucidate differences that might account for these observations. We characterized the adsorption, internalization and degradation of radiolabeled A beta in NGF-differentiated PC12 cells under conditions that are not acutely toxic. All A beta peptides examined absorb to the surface of PC12 cells and are internalized; however the adsorption and internalization of A beta 1-42 is significantly greater than that of A beta 1-40 and A beta 1-28. The adsorption of A beta 1-42 is decreased by treatment of the cells with neuraminidase, but not heparitinase. The fate of the internalized A beta 1-42 is also very different than shorter A beta peptides; a fraction of the internalized A beta 1-42 accumulates intracellularly and is resistant to degradation for at least 3 days while A beta 1-40 and shorter peptides are eliminated with a half life of about 1 h. A beta 1-42 does not appear to inhibit lysosomal hydrolases, since A beta 1-28 is degraded at the same rate in the presence or absence of A beta 1-42. The intracellular A beta 1-42 is located in a dense organellar compartment and colocalizes with the lysosomal markers Lucifer Yellow and horseradish peroxidase. These data indicate that there are significant differences in the cell surface adsorption, internalization and catabolism of A beta 1-42 compared to A beta 1-40 and A beta 1-28. These differences may be important for the preferential accumulation of the longer A beta 1-42 isoform and its association with AD pathogenesis.
An analytical solution for the multidimensional degradation of a packed bed thermocline

A multidimensional, time-dependent model of the thermocline degradation in a packed bed thermal storage tank is presented. The formulation includes the effects of finite tank length, multidimensional thermal conduction, heat transfer between the fluid and solid portions of the bed, and heat losses across all tank surfaces. The technique used to solve the coupled pair of parabolic partial differential equations describing the degradation of the thermocline is based on a vectorized separation of variables approach. Assuming cylindrical geometry, the analysis leads to separate eigenvalue problems for the radial, angular, and axial spatial dependencies of the fluid and solid temperatures in the bed. The eigenvalues are readily calculated and the corresponding eigenfunctions are shown to form a complete set of spatial basis functions for the solution space. The method and results are illustrated by several examples.
Ureteroiliac artery fistula: Diagnosis and treatment algorithm

Abstract Objectives To review the diagnosis and treatment of ureteroarterial fistulas and to develop a management algorithm. Long-term ureteral stenting, along with pelvic surgery and radiotherapy, have led to an increased incidence of ureteroarterial fistulas. Experience diagnosing and treating these fistulas has been limited to case reports. Methods A retrospective chart review from 1975 to 2004 revealed eight ureteroarterial fistulas in 7 patients at our institution. The patient demographics, presenting symptoms, and diagnostic studies were reviewed. Also, we analyzed the treatment, hospital course, and long-term outcomes. Results Ureteroarterial fistulas were more common in women (86%) than in men. All patients presented with gross hematuria, and 57% had lateralizing flank pain. Risk factors included chronic indwelling stents (87%), previous pelvic external beam radiotherapy (71%), pelvic surgery (100%), and vascular disease (87%). Provocative angiography was diagnostic in only 63% of cases. Although not sensitive, cystoscopy revealed lateralized, pulsatile hematuria in all cases when performed. Treatment ranged from endovascular stenting with nephrostomy tube to primary surgical repair with nephrectomy. Conclusions On the basis of this review, we propose a systematic diagnostic and treatment approach to a serious disease process. The use of these proposed algorithms will minimize unnecessary testing, increase the speed of diagnosis, and potentially improve overall outcomes of patients with ureteroarterial fistulas.
Laboratory investigation of positive streamer discharges from simulated ice hydrometeors

Positive streamer discharges have been observed from ice crystals grown from the vapour under controlled temperature and air pressure corresponding to the standard atmosphere and also constant air pressure of 850 hPa. Crystals of size comparable to larger precipitation crystals were grown in a vapour diffusion chamber at various temperatures and pressures, and were subject to electric fields using an in situ electrode assembly. Results show that individual positive streamer discharges can occur at temperatures from near freezing down to at least −38°C when subject to electric fields on the order of 500kV m−1, in contrast to previous reports of continuous positive streamer discharges occurring only at temperatures warmer than −18°C for pure ice crystals. These results suggest that positive streamer discharges can occur on frozen precipitation particles at high altitudes in thunderclouds, given a sufficiently strong electric field. Such discharges may be a necessary element of the lightning-initiation process. Copyright © 2006 Royal Meteorological Society
Development of a model to simulate infection dynamics of Mycobacterium bovis in cattle herds in the United States

Objective—To develop a mathematical model to simulate infection dynamics of Mycobacterium bovis in cattle herds in the United States and predict efficacy of the current national control strategy for tuberculosis in cattle. Design—Stochastic simulation model. Sample—Theoretical cattle herds in the United States. Procedures—A model of within-herd M bovis transmission dynamics following introduction of 1 latently infected cow was developed. Frequency- and density-dependent transmission modes and 3 tuberculin test–based culling strategies (no test-based culling, constant [annual] testing with test-based culling, and the current strategy of slaughterhouse detection–based testing and culling) were investigated. Results were evaluated for 3 herd sizes over a 10-year period and validated via simulation of known outbreaks of M bovis infection. Results—On the basis of 1,000 simulations (1,000 herds each) at replacement rates typical for dairy cattle (0.33/y), median time to detection of M bovis infection in medium-...