cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Are You Sure You Want to Contact Us? Quantifying the Leakage of PII via Website Contact Forms

The majority of commercial websites provide users the ability to contact them via dedicated contact pages. In these pages, users are typically requested to provide their names, email addresses, and reason for contacting the website. This eectively makes contact pages a gateway from being anonymous or pseudony- mous, i.e., identified via stateful and stateless identifiers, to being eponymous. As such, the environment where users provide their personally identifiable information (PII) has to be trusted and free from intentional and unintentional information leaks. In this paper, we report on the first large-scale study of PII leakage via contact pages of the 100,000 most popular sites of the web. We develop a reliable methodology for identifying and in- teracting with contact forms as well as techniques that allow us to discover the leakage of PII towards third- parties, even when that information is obfuscated. Us- ing these methods, we witness the leakage of PII towards third-parties in a wide range of ways, including the leak- age through third-party form submissions, third-party scripts that collect PII information from a first-party page, and unintended leakage through a browser's Ref- erer header. To recover the lost control of users over their PII, we design and develop Formlock, a browser extension that warns the user when contact forms are using PII-leaking practices, and provides the ability to comprehensively lock-down a form so that a user's de- tails cannot be, neither accidentally, nor intentionally, leaked to third parties.
Design and characterization of a linear motion piezoelectric microactuator

The design and characterization of a fast linear microactuator is described. The microactuator is constructed of number of piezoelectric plates that are placed on both sides of a sliding mass. Actuation of the plates in an accordionlike fashion provides a linear displacement of +or-0.36 mm. In addition, it has force capability of over 80 g, and is provided with both position and force-sensing capabilities. Characterization of the dynamic performance of the microactuator is presented, and initial tests on it show that it has a second-order system behavior with nonlinear response. The resolution of the microactuator is affected by the performance of the capacitive-type position sensor, and varies from 3 mu m to less than 0.6 mu m. >
A proton magnetic relaxation study of the anodic oxide layer of aluminum electrolytic capacitors and of bayerite

Abstract Proton resonances in (i) the hydrated oxides of the anodized foils of aluminum electrolytic capacitors and (ii) bayerite and boehmite were studied. The Sprague aged sample showed more protons associated with chemisorbed water than the Sprague fresh sample did. The thermal gravimetric analysis data show the same trend. The T 1 versus 1/T data for bayerite show a shallow minimum around — 11 °C and possibly a second minimum above 180 °C. The activation energy for the high temperature side of the T 1 minimum is 2.54 kcal mol −1 and compares well with the value of 1.8 kcal mol −1 for the longitudinal relaxation process in boehmite. The correlation times for bayerite show an almost log-normal distribution. The narrow lines observed in the wide-line spectra of both bayerite and boehmite are possibly due to extrinsic structure defects (proton vacancies and interstitials).
Structure and Polymorphism of Murine and Human Class II Major Histocompatibility Antigens

The molecular analysis of the Class II region of the MHC of mice and of humans has to date led to some important conclusions. These regions encode sizeable families of related loci, at least 2 alpha and 6 beta in mice and 6 alpha and 7 beta in man. In addition to the sizeable number of potential molecules that could be expressed by the loci of this region, all the beta chains and both A alpha and DC alpha have extensive amounts of polymorphism. This polymorphism is strikingly similar at Class II loci in mouse and man. The majority of the variability is found in the first domain and consists of discrete regions of variability. These variable regions appear to be important functionally in presenting antigen, as evidenced by the bm12 mutant. The allotypy of these molecules is complex and is presumably generated by a combination of gene conversion and point mutation followed by selection. Final definition of the range of allelic variability and further insights into the mechanism by which it was generated are still to be resolved, as in a complete map of all the Class II loci in both mouse and man. The data available at present pose certain questions that now need to be addressed. The precise functional role of individual regions or residues of the Class II molecules can now be analyzed using the available sequence data and site specific mutagenesis. Fine structural analysis of these molecules is impossible at present using only sequence data, and X-ray crystallography will be required to answer fundamental questions about 3-dimensional structure. Finally, disease-specific sequences may be uncovered on particular haplotypes which permit the production of disease-specific probes. The molecular revelations of the last few years have resolved many questions about the polymorphisms of Class II products, but many new questions need to be resolved before these molecules and their extensive polymorphism can be properly understood.
L1 Retrotransposon and Retinoblastoma: Molecular Linkages Between Epigenetics and Cancer

Long interspersed nuclear elements (LINEs) are mobile sequences shown to play a fundamental role in eukaryotic genome evolution. Recently, increasing interest has been directed at unveiling molecular mechanisms by which LINE-1 (L1), a ubiquitous member of this family, regulates gene expression and mammalian cell development, differentiation, and cancer. This mini review summarizes recent studies conducted to examine stress-induced L1 reactivation, with special attention given to the role of E2F/Rb transcription factors in epigenetic silencing of L1 and its potential role as a global modifier of chromatin structure and function. The last section focuses on the impact of histone deacetylase inhibitors in the regulation of gene function, chromatin structure, and cancer treatment through alterations in epigenetic signaling.
Temperature and dose-rate effects in gamma irradiated rare-earth doped fibers

ABSTRACT Rare-earth-doped fibers, such as Er 3+ - and Yb 3+ -doped aluminosilicates can be adva ntageous in space-based systems due to their stability, their high-bandwidth transmission properties and their lightweight, small-volume properties. In such environments the effect of ionizing-radiation on the optical transmission of these fibers is of paramount importance. For the present work, gamma-radiation experiments were conducted in which un-pumped Yb 3+ and Er 3+ doped sample fibers were irradiated with a Cobalt-60 source under different dose-rate and temperature conditions. In-situ spectral transmittance data over the near IR was monitored during the irradi ations for total doses of up to tens of krad (Si). It was found that there was a dose-rate dependence in which higher rates resulted in more photodarkening. Higher temperatures were not found to significantly affect the rate of photodarkening at the dose rates used. Keywords: Gamma-radiation effects, photodarkening, radiatio n-induced absorption, dose-r ate dependence, dose-rate effects, temperature effects, Co-60 ir radiation, rare-earth doped fibers
Improved silastic tracheostomy tubes for infants and young children

Abstract An improved Silatic tracheostomy tube which has been used in 18 infants and young children avoids the problems of tracheal trauma and encrustation which are common in the metal tracheostomy tubes. In addition, the tube facilitates the use of respirator assistance because of its elastic qualities and ease of application. It is radiopaque and can be steam sterilized. There have been no serious complications related to the use of the Silastic tracheostomy tube and further clinical trials seem indicated.
Mediation of separation distress byα2-adrenergic mechanisms in a non-human primate

This study provides the first behavioral evidence in support of an α-adrenergic mechanism underlying imipramine's amelioration of separation distress. The rate of separation-induced vocalization by adult squirrel monkeys was decreased by imipramine and theα2-adrenergic agonist clonidine, and increased by theα2-adrenergic antagonist yohimbine. Yohimbine, but not theα1-antagonist prazosin, reversed the clonidine effect suggesting that drugs acting directly onα2-receptors may have a role in management of separation anxiety.
Significance of hyperattenuating and contrast-enhancing hepatic nodules detected in the cirrhotic liver during arterial phase helical CT in pre-liver transplant patients: radiologic-histopathologic correlation of explanted livers.

Background: Hyperattenuating nodules detected by arterial phase helical computed tomography (HCT) in patients with cirrhosis usually are believed to represent hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs). We correlated HCT morphology of hyperattenuating hepatic nodules detected during arterial phase scans with the histopathology of explanted livers of patients with hepatic cirrhosis undergoing liver transplantation. Methods: Three hundred fifty-four patients had arterial and portal phase HCT performed before subsequent hepatic transplantation. Each patient received 180 mL of contrast by power injection at 5 mL/s. All hyperattenuating nodules detected on arterial phase HCT were assessed for morphology and evidence for contrast enhancement. Explanted livers in all patients were then sectioned at 10-mm intervals, and the histology of the nodules was correlated with the HCT findings. Results: Sixty-one hyperattenuating nodules were detected on the arterial phase HCT in 43 patients: 41 nodules were benign regenerating nodules (RN), three were dysplastic nodules (DP), and 17 were HCCs. Most RN/DP nodules were 5–20 mm in diameter, had distinct margins, were homogeneous, and were isoattenuating on precontrast, portal, and delayed scans. Thirty-six showed positive contrast enhancement and displayed a wide range of attenuation profiles. HCC nodules were 6–50 mm. All showed positive contrast enhancement and displayed a wide range of attenuation profiles. Conclusion: Hyperattenuating nodules seen on arterial phase HCT are likely to be RN/DP nodules. In many cases, it is not possible to distinguish between RN/DP and HCC. Thus, clinical decisions regarding inclusion criteria for transplantation based on CT morphology of liver lesions may be tenuous.
Enhancement of speech intelligibility in reverberant rooms: Role of amplitude envelope and temporal fine structure

The temporal envelope and fine structure of speech make distinct contributions to the perception of speech in normal-hearing listeners, and are differentially affected by room reverberation. Previous work has demonstrated enhanced speech intelligibility in reverberant rooms when prior exposure to the room was provided. Here, the relative contributions of envelope and fine structure cues to this intelligibility enhancement were tested using an open-set speech corpus and virtual auditory space techniques to independently manipulate the speech cues within a simulated room. Intelligibility enhancement was observed only when the envelope was reverberant, indicating that the enhancement is envelope-based.
Predicting High- Pressure and Excited-State Properties of Real Materials

One of the breakthroughs in condensed matter physics is the newly acquired ability of theorists to explain and predict properties of solids using quantum theory. Starting with minimal information about the constituent atoms, the electronic, structural, vibrational, optical, and even superconducting properties of solids have been calculated accurately. Supercomputers have made these applications possible and have led to new theoretical concepts and techniques. The applications described here focus on the analysis of high-pressure properties of hydrogen, superhard compounds, and semiconductor surfaces. These calculations give results that are consis tent with experimental data, and in some cases success fully predict properties of materials.
Hyperconjugation in the 2-butyl cation

A comparison of the optimized geometries of the hydrogen-bridged ethyl and 2-butyl cations suggest the contribution of hyperconjugation to the stability of the latter to be ≧ 10 kcal/mole. An examination of the barrier to rotation of a methyl group is in accord with the phenomenon of hyperconjugation.
Operator workforce planning in the transit industry

Abstract Workforce planning in the transit industry has received increased attention in the last few years as management emphasis has shifted from expanding transit service to increasing service efficiency and effectiveness. This paper builds upon recent work on the optimal level of reserve personnel and extends the analysis approach to incorporate the probabilistic aspects of absenteeism by day of week and season, workforce attrition, and extra, non-scheduled work such as new operator on-street training and special events requiring extra service. It presents an integrated framework for operator workforce planning which includes three interrelated models: strategic, tactical and operational. A case study of workforce planning at the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority is used to demonstrate the potential of the general approach proposed in the paper.
Metabolic androgenization of female Daphnia magna by the xenoestrogen 4‐nonylphenol

Vertebrates and invertebrates metabolize testosterone to a variety of less-polar derivatives that elicit varying degrees of androgenicity as well as polar elimination products. We have developed a model, using the cladoceran Daphnia magna, with which the ability of xenobiotics to alter steroid hormone metabolism can be assessed and possible physiologic consequences evaluated during a 3-week assay. This model was used to assess the effects of the xenoestrogen 4-nonylphenol on steroid-metabolic processes. Exposure of daphnids to 100 μg/L 4-nonylphenol for 48 h caused a significant increase in the accumulation of radioactivity derived from [ 14 C]testosterone provided to the exposure media. More definitive analyses demonstrated that both 25 and 100 μg/L 4-nonylphenol disrupted components of the testosterone metabolic pathway that would lead to a decrease in the metabolic elimination of testosterone and an increase in the accumulation of androgenic derivatives. Exposure of daphnids to 100 μg/L 4-nonylphenol significantly decreased fecundity of the organisms while having no effect on survival of the parental organisms. Comparison of metabolic and reproductive effects of 4-nonylphenol revealed that 71 μg/L, the reproductive chronic value, would reduce the metabolic elimination of testosterone by approximately 50%. This relationship is consistent with that which we have reported for other toxicants and identifies a mechanism, in addition to estrogenicity, that may contribute to the reproductive toxicity of this compound.
A parylene-protected nitrate selective microsensor on a carbon fiber cross section

Abstract This work describes a novel design for a potentiometric microsensor for nitrate (NO 3 − ) ion based on doped polypyrrole (PPy(NO 3 − )) films. First, 6–7 μm diameter single carbon fiber filaments are coated with a thin (1–10 μm) insulating layer of parylene C (poly( o -chloro- p -xylylene)). This preparatory step is followed by electrodeposition of a PPy(NO 3 − ) sensing layer on the open carbon fiber cross section. Parylene C provides an excellent protective coating for the fiber while maintaining its flexibility at micro-dimensions. Examination by scanning electron microscopy confirms that the sensing material (PPy(NO 3 − )) is deposited in the form of micro-beads with diameter of 30–40 μm at the fiber tip. The resulting nitrate sensor exhibits an improvement of approximately half an order of magnitude of NO 3 − concentration in sensitivity and linear response range relative to a previously reported PPy(NO 3 − )-based sensor for which the sensing layer was deposited on the carbon fiber walls. The overall sensor geometry, a micro-dimensioned sensing portion accompanied by a flexible, parylene-insulated body, forms a sensor for nitrate with a unique form factor that can be widely used for in situ measurements of variety of environmental samples.
Order-disorder phenomenon in sodium nitrate studied by low-frequency Raman scattering

The low-frequency Raman spectrum of a single crystal of NaN${\mathrm{O}}_{3}$ has been measured for temperatures from 25 to 300\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}C covering both ordered and disordered phases. The crystal is partially disordered below the transition temperature and the corresponding Raman spectra are interpreted in terms of the theory developed by Loveluck and Sokoloff.
Factors associated with the use of mind body therapies among United States adults with musculoskeletal pain.

Summary Objective: To determine the prevalence of mind body therapy use and correlates of use among adults with prolonged musculoskeletal pain, a group for whom mind body therapies are recommended. Design: The U.S. 1999 National Health Interview Survey. Prolonged musculoskeletal pain was defined as any soft tissue, joint, or bony pain for at least 1 month. Analyses used SUDAAN and reflect national estimates. Main outcome measures: Use of mind body medicine (relaxation techniques, imagery, biofeedback, and hypnosis) and prayer in the previous year. Results: Respondents ( n =6079) with musculoskeletal pain were almost twice as likely as those without ( n =24,722) to use mind body medicine (9% versus 5%, respectively, p p Conclusions: Mind body therapies are not used commonly by adults with prolonged musculoskeletal pain. Understanding barriers to their use may facilitate wider application in this population.
Preshock-produced intensification of passive avoidance responding and of elevation in corticosteroid level

Abstract The adrenocortical steroid response and passive avoidance behavior were studied in rats that had been exposed to inescapable intense shock (preshock). Previously preshocked animals exhibited a greater adrenocortical steroid response to mild shock than nonpreshocked controls; in addition, passive avoidance behavior was facilitated in the preshocked animals.
Increased Aflatoxin Production by Aspergillus parasiticus Under Conditions of Cycling Temperatures

The effects of cycling temperatures (5°C for 12 hr and 25°C for 12 hr) on aflatoxin production by Aspergillus parasiticus NRRL 2999 in yeast extract sucrose (YES) medium were studied. Cycling temperatures, after preincubation at 25°C for various times, resulted in more aflatoxin B1, G1, and total aflatoxin production than did constant incubation at either 25°C, which is generally considered to be the optimum for aflatoxin production, or 15°C, which is the same total thermal input as the 5-25°C temperature cycling. With increased preincubation time at 25°C, toxin production increased and the lag phase of growth was shortened or not evident. Cultures that were preincubated at 25°C for 1, 2, and 3 days prior to onset of temperature cycling showed the greatest increase in maximum aflatoxin production over the 25°C and 15°C constant temperatures. Cultures that were not preincubated at 25°C but subjected to constantly fluctuating temperatures produced maximum amounts of aflatoxin equivalent to cultures incubated at a constant 25°C. The maximum aflatoxin production at all temperatures studied occurred during the late log phase of growth and at pH minimums. Aflatoxins were found in higher concentrations in the broth than the mycelia under temperature cycling conditions, at 15°C, and at 25°C during the first 21 days of incubation, whereas greater amounts of toxin were retained in mycelium at 25°C in the later incubation period (28-42 days).
Role-reversed nepotism among cubs and sires in the spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta)

Nepotism is widespread among parents and offspring, and is typically associated with fundamental asymmetries; parents can usually do more to help their offspring than vice versa, andthe cost of a given nepotistic behavior is usually less for parents than for offspring. This may not be so among spotted hyenas (Crocuta crocuta); sires never achieve social rank equal to that of their cubs, to whom they provide no obvious paternal care. Nepotism by sires towards their cubs is thus socially constrained. However, the higher social status of cubs might offset cubs developmental disadvantages and permit nepotistic treatment of sires by offspring. We therefore sought to determine whether the interactions among spottedhyena cubs andad ult males were influencedby kinship, using long-term observations from one clan of spottedhyenas. Sires exhibitedno overt nepotism towards their cubs in most behaviors, but they did associate more closely with their daughters than with unrelated control females. Sires also associatedmore closely with their daughters than with their sons, with whom they associatedno more closely than they d idwith unrelatedcontrol males. Cubs favored their sires by directing less intense aggression towards them than towards unrelatedcontrol males. Cubs of both sexes also associatedmore closely with their sires than with control males after the cubs were independent of the clan’s communal den. Although sires evidently recognize their offspring, paternal nepotism by sires towards their cubs is weaker than filial nepotism by cubs towards their sires. The small size and immaturity of cubs thus appear to be weaker constraints on nepotism than is the low social status of their sires.
mec-3, a homeobox-containing gene that specifies differentiation of the touch receptor neurons in C. elegans

The mec-3 gene is essential for proper differentiation of the set of six touch receptor neurons in C. elegans. In mutants lacking mec-3 activity, the touch receptors express none of their unique differentiated features and appear to be transformed into other types of neurons. We cloned the mec-3 gene by transposon tagging and showed that a mec-3 mutant can be rescued by germ line transformation using a 5.6 kb genomic DNA fragment. In a strain in which transforming mec-3 DNA is present in about 50 copies per haploid genome, additional cells express a mec-3-dependent phenotype. The putative coding sequence of mec-3 contains a homeobox, suggesting that the mec-3 protein specifies the expression of touch cell differentiation by binding to DNA and regulating transcription of genes that encode the differentiated features of these cells.
NPD1 Induction of Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cell Survival Involves PI3K/Akt Phosphorylation Signaling

Neuroprotectin D1 (NPD1), a docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)-derived lipid mediator, promotes survival in cells exposed to oxidative stress by inducing the activity of anti-inflammatory mediators and suppressing the expression of pro-inflammatory genes. Though retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells naturally produce NPD1 from DHA, investigating the mechanisms through which exogenous NPD1 induces cell survival is essential to assess mechanisms of actions and the potential of this lipid mediator for treatment of retinal degenerative diseases. The PI3K/Akt and mTOR/p70S6K pathways are responsible for supporting cell survival upon exposure to oxidative stress. In human ARPE-19 cells pretreated with NPD1 then exposed to varying concentrations of oxidative stress or repeated exposures to oxidative stress, Akt, mTOR, and p70S6K were phosphorylated to a greater extent and for a greater duration than cells not pretreated with NPD1. In addition to increased phosphorylation, a subsequent decreased rate of apoptosis was observed upon NPD1 treatment. Thus NPD1 bioactivity in RPE cells enhances activation of these pathways and promotes cell integrity and survival.
A prospective study to examine persistent HCV reinfection in injection drug users who have previously cleared the virus.

Abstract Background Many HCV-infected persons with recent or ongoing injection drug use (IDU) do not receive HCV treatment due to the perceived risk of HCV reinfection. There are few prospective studies investigating HCV reinfection among IDUs. Methods Two hundred and twenty-four persons with past or ongoing IDU were followed from 1997 to 2007. Baseline and every 6-month follow-up data were collected including demographics, IDU, and sexual behaviors. Serum was tested for the presence of HCV antibody and serially for HCV RNA. Resolvers were defined as HCV antibody and RIBA positive and RNA negative at two consecutive time points or as becoming HCV RNA negative after HCV antiviral treatment. Reinfection was defined by the presence of HCV RNA at ≥2 visits. Results One hundred and eighty-six persons had chronic HCV and 38 had resolved HCV. The resolvers were followed for a total of 214 person-years. Forty-two percent of resolvers reported ongoing IDU, representing 58 person-years of IDU. Only one reinfection occurred in the resolvers, for a reinfection rate of 0.47 cases/100 person-years of follow-up. The single reinfection, which occurred in a person who continued to inject drugs, represents a reinfection rate of 1.75 cases/100 person-years of IDU. Conclusion These data suggest that despite ongoing IDU, persistent HCV reinfection is lower than previously published. This can be attributed to a more clinically relevant definition of reinfection. This information will better help clinicians make informed decisions regarding HCV treatment options for patients who may continue to inject illicit drugs.
Deformation and metamorphism in the Hylas zone and adjacent parts of the eastern Piedmont in Virginia

Structural and petrographic studies of the Hylas zone northwest of Richmond, Virginia, reveal that late Paleozoic ductile shearing produced mylonites and ultramylonites from pre-existing biotite gneiss, granite gneiss, and amphibolite in the Goochland complex and from Petersburg(?) granite. Rocks in the Goochland complex west of the Hylas zone underwent at least two deformations (D 1 , D 2 ) prior to ductile shearing in the Hylas zone (D 3 ). D 3 caused a pervasive mylonitic foliation (S c ) and a later widely spaced shear cleavage (S s ) to be formed in rocks in the Hylas zone. Brittle deformation in the form of high-angle faulting and locally intense fracturing (D 4 ) was superimposed on the Hylas zone about 220 m.y. ago and is probably equivalent to the Palisades disturbance of New England. D 4 was associated throughout the Piedmont with synchronous downwarp and dominantly continental sedimentation to form a series of parallel Triassic basins represented in the study area by the Richmond Basin. Northwest-oriented high-angle faults that apparently displace Triassic sedimentary rocks are interpreted to predate the Late Cretaceous. Regional prograde metamorphism of the Goochland complex to amphibolite facies (M 1 ) was inclusive of D 1 and D 2 , because structural elements that compose these deformational events consist primarily of oriented metamorphic minerals. Well-equilibrated microstructures in the gneisses suggest that the M 1 peak persisted past D 2 . M 1 is inferred to have occurred about 340 m.y. ago. D 3 was accompanied by retrograde metamorphism (m 2 ) to greenschist facies in the Hylas zone during late Paleozoic time. The presence of laumontite, quartz, and calcite in brecciated zones suggests that brittle deformation during D 4 occurred under zeolite facies conditions. Cenozoic reverse faulting 90 km along strike of the study area in the Brandywine area of the Coastal Plain in Maryland may indicate a continuation of the Hylas zone to the north. Superposed deformation and intermittent reactivation of zones of instability similar to that of the Hylas zone are reported in the Eastern Piedmont fault system, which extends from Alabama to Virginia. Current stress release beneath the Coastal Plain may be influenced by the instability of the Hylas zone and analogous fault systems throughout the Piedmont.
Synthesis and Electrochemical Studies of Cobalt(III) Monohydride Complexes Containing Pendant Amines

Two new tetraphosphine ligands, PnC-PPh22NPh2 (1,5-diphenyl-3,7-bis((diphenylphosphino)alkyl)-1,5-diaza-3,7-diphosphacyclooctane; alkyl = (CH2)2, n = 2 (L2); (CH2)3, n = 3 (L3)), have been synthesized. Coordination of these ligands to cobalt affords the complexes [CoII(L2)(CH3CN)]2+ and [CoII(L3)(CH3CN)]2+, which are reduced by KC8 to afford [CoI(L2)(CH3CN)]+ and [CoI(L3)(CH3CN)]+. Protonation of the CoI complexes affords [HCoIII(L2)(CH3CN)]2+ and [HCoIII(L3)(CH3CN)]2+. The cyclic voltammetry of [HCoIII(L2)(CH3CN)]2+, analyzed using digital simulation, is consistent with an ErCrEr reduction mechanism involving reversible acetonitrile dissociation from [HCoII(L2)(CH3CN)]+ and resulting in formation of HCoI(L2). Reduction of HCoIII also results in cleavage of the H–Co bond from HCoII or HCoI, leading to formation of the CoI complex [CoI(L2)(CH3CN)]+. Under voltammetric conditions, the reduced cobalt hydride reacts with a protic solvent impurity to generate H2 in a monometallic process involving two electron...
Logarithmic integrals and system dynamics: An analogue of Bode's sensitivity integral for continuous-time, time-varying systems

A new time-domain interpretation of Bode's integral is presented. This allows for a generalization to the class of time-varying systems which possess an exponential dichotomy. It is shown that the sensitivity function is constrained, on average, by the spectral values in the dichotomy spectrum of the antistable component of the open-loop dynamics.
A Kinetic Model of Precipitate Evolution

Chemical reaction rate theory is used to model the kinetics of precipitation reactions in Al alloys, including the effects of continuous cooling and thermally generated point defects. The computational method models the processes of nucleation, growth, and coarsening within a single framework. Calculated time and temperature dependent precipitate number densities and sizes during the homogeneous precipitation of the Al{sub 3}Sc phase in an Al-.11 at% Sc alloy are shown to compare favorably with experimental observations.
In-vitro photocytotoxicity of lysosomotropic immunoliposomes containing pheophorbide a with human bladder carcinoma cells

Pheophorbide a is a photocytotoxic agent. To develop a tissue-specific, intracellularly targeted photoactive system, pheophorbide a was incorporated into immunoliposomes coated with a monoclonal antibody (T-43) directed against the T-24 bladder tumor cell line. The efficacy of this system was studied in vitro using the human bladder tumor cell line MGH-U1. Uptake and localization were determined by the fluorescence of the immunoliposome markers within biochemically resolved subcellular components. The results demonstrate localization of the immunoliposome markers within the lysosomes of the tumor cells. Specific monoclonal antibody enhancement of the immunoliposomes uptake by MGH-U1 cells was demonstrated by the use of soluble T-43 monoclonal antibody as a competitive inhibitor. Pheophorbide-a-loaded immunoliposomes were shown to be photocytotoxic towards MGH-U1 cells at concentrations equivalent to photosensitizer at 500 ng ml−1. Treated cells, when protected from light, showed no cytotoxicity. These results demonstrate that uptake of pheophorbide-a-containing immunoliposomes by target cells and subsequent delivery to the lysosomes cause photoactivated killing of tumor cells. The utilization of immunoliposomes for intracellular lysosomal targeting of photoactive drugs to tumor cells constitutes a potentially valuable approach to photodynamic therapeutics.
Radiotherapy in acromegaly: the argument against

External pituitary irradiation (XRT) has been used as a therapeutic modality in patients with acromegaly for the past 100 years. Multiple studies have demonstrated the slow but inexorable decline of plasma GH for as long as 20‐25 years after the procedure, with some 70‐90% of patients ultimately achieving plasma GH levels below 5 μ g/l (1 μ g = 2·6 mU). Also, XRT either shrinks pituitary tumours or, at the very least, effectively prevents them from enlarging. Thus, XRT offers both biochemical and morphological benefits to patients with acromegaly. However, the downside of XRT is not negligible. Up to 50‐60% of patients develop hypopituitarism, and some have optic nerve damage or ophthalmoplegia. The ensuing cerebrovascular damage raises the risk of a cerebrovascular accident 2‐4-fold. Additionally, there is a small (1‐2%) but devastating risk of developing radiation-induced malignant brain tumours, and the neurocognitive impairments (memory deficits, depression, etc.) appear to be significant. The morbidities of acromegaly (arthropathy, cardiomyopathy, sleep apnea, etc.) also continue to progress during the long interval between the procedure and the biochemical ‘cure’. Despite these problems, the balance between the risks and benefits of XRT was clearly tilted towards the latter as long as surgical techniques remained crude and the pharmacological modalities nonexistent. Most importantly, the belief that GH levels below 5‐10 μ g/l were biologically harmless (Christy, 1982) implied that radiotherapy was a highly effective therapeutic modality. The development and wide availability of IGF-1 assays have changed the definition of what constitutes good control of acromegaly. On purely theoretical grounds, measurement of a trophic, instead of a target, hormone seems to be misplaced. Indeed, one would not claim ‘cure’ of Cushing’s disease or a TSH-producing tumour based on ‘normal’ ACTH or TSH concentrations as long as cortisol or thyroxine levels remain elevated. Clinical manifestations of acromegaly correlate very well with plasma IGF-1 but very poorly with plasma GH (Clemmons et al ., 1979). Plasma IGF-1 remains elevated in 10‐40% of the patients
A Technique for Rapidly Forecasting Regional Urban Growth

Excessive suburbanization, often referred to as sprawl, has been rapidly proliferating throughout the USA. In an effort to better understand the social and ecological problems that can arise from sprawling urban growth, planners and researchers increasingly look to simulation models for help. Many established urban growth models are well suited for education and visualization, and they can be used to develop forecasts pertaining to key issues such as where people may be living in the future, how that new living space may affect natural habitats, and how changes to natural drainage may affect both nutrient flows and pollution. Although there is a considerable body of literature on urban growth modeling, the authors of this chapter provide a classroom-level modeling exercise students may use to gain experience with urban growth concepts. In this model, developed using NetLogo (http://ccl.northwestern.edu/netlogo/), the drivers of urban growth attractiveness are represented in a geospatially explicit growth attractiveness input map. Growth parameters may be manipulated by adjusting values in the model’s digital maps. Students can use the model to experiment with theory and alternate planning scenarios to gain insight into cause–effect relationships between plans and urban dynamics. As the simulations promote fruitful discussions by urban planning students, further experimentation is encouraged, and refinement of the model itself may be undertaken for educational purposes.
Evaluation of cognitive impairment in the elderly.

DISORDERS associated wi th progressive intel lectual decline are among the most c o m m o n and fr ightening p rob lems faced by the elderly.~ Such p rob lems were once bel ieved to be a normal consequence of aging and dignified wi th the name "seni l i ty ." This concep t is obsolete. Senile dement ia , often equated wi th Alzhe imer ' s disease, is most accurately defined as dementia occurr ing in persons over 65 which may or may not be reversible depending on the nature of the underlying disease. Serious difficulties wi th thinking and remember ing (i.e., cognit ive disorders) are not an inevitable consequence of growing old. 2-4 On the contrary, cognit ive disorders are symptoms of medical illness. Problems wi th learning and m e m o r y in older people range in severi ty and impor tance f rom the rarely serious lapses in recent m e m o r y c o m m o n l y associated wi th aging to the devastating decay of brain funct ion that characterizes Alzheimer 's disease. 5 A n u m b e r of o ther diseases result in cognit ive impairment . Some, like Alzheimer 's disease, are serious, progressive, and incurable. Others are reversible or, once recognized, can be arrested with correct t rea tment to minimize further deterioration. Although reliable data are not available, it appears that most physicians in this count ry and abroad have not been interested in or especia l ly adept at diagnosing or managing the various causes of cognit ive impa i rment in the elderly. 6-9 The reasons for this are not clear. Perhaps it is because cognit ive impa i rment in the e lder ly is often caused by Alzheimer 's disease and related disorders for which t h e r e a r e no cures or because of the mistaken not ion that failing thought processes are an inevitable consequence of aging. Whatever the reason, such an approach is indefensible. 1° There is reason to bel ieve this at t i tude may be changing. The impor tance of cognit ive impa i rment in the elder ly was highl ighted in 1980 by a National Institute on Aging Task Force, and more recent ly by the AMA Counci l on Clinical Affairs. 3, 11 Given the high prevalence of cognit ive disorders in the elderly, it is imperative that pr imary care physicians be skil led in diagnosing and managing brain failure if they are to provide compe ten t and compass ionate care.
Tight Closure and Differential Simplicity

The behavior of the Hasse–Schmidt algebra under etale extension is used to show that the Hasse–Schmidt algebra of a smooth algebra of finite type over a field equals the ring of differential operators. These techniques show that the formation of Hasse–Schmidt derivations does not commute with localization, providing a counterexample to a question of Brown and Kuan; their conjecture is reformulated in terms of the Hasse–Schmidt algebra. These techniques also imply that a smooth domain R is differentially simple. Tight closure is used to show that the test ideal is Hasse–Schmidt stable. Indeed, differentially simple rings of prime characteristic are strongly F-regular.
Comparison of the charge-transport rate in two redox levels of polymers derived from N,N'-dibenzyl-4,4'-bipyridinium and N,N'-dialkyl-4,4'-bipyridinium

Charge transport in electrode-confined polymers derived from N,N'-bis(p-(trimethoxysilyl)benzyl)-4,4'-bipyridinium dichloride, ((BPQ/sup 2+/+/0/)/sub n/)/sub surf/, and N,N'-bis((trimethoxysilyl)propyl)-4,4'-bipyridinium dibromide, ((PQ/sup 2+/+/0)/sub n/)/sub surf/, has been studied. Specifically, a comparison of charge transport in the 2+/+ and +/0 redox systems of both polymers has been made. Interestingly, +/0 has an effective diffusion coefficient for charge transport, D/sub CT/, that is significantly greater than that for the 2+/+ redox level in H/sub 2/O/CH/sub 3/CN (9/1 by volume) 1.0 M LiCl. Platinum disk electrodes have been studied that have polymer thicknesses up to approx. 2.5 ..mu..m in the 2+ state corresponding to a coverage of approx. 7.5 x 10/sup -7/ mol of monomer units per cm/sup 2/. Up to a 30-40% decline in thickness is observed upon reducing the polymer from the 2+ to the 0 state. Values of the products D/sub CT/C/sup 2/, where C is the concentration of monomer units in the + or 0 state of the polymer, have been determined by measuring the current for reduction of Ru(NH/sub 3/)/sub 6//sup 3 +/ at polymer-coated rotating disks as a function of polymer coverage. The data support the conclusion that >20 mA/cm/sup 2/ can be maintained when the polymer thickness in the 2+ statemore » is 1.0 ..mu..m, corresponding to a coverage of approx. 2 x 10/sup -7/ mol/cm/sup 2/ of monomers per cm/sup 2/. 10 references, 7 figures, 1 table.« less
A solid-phase chemical actinometer film for measurement of solar UV penetration into snowpack

Abstract A solid-phase actinometer system suitable for measuring 295–400 nm solar light intensity and penetration into snowpack has been developed and field-tested. Snow and atmospheric chemists are concerned with ultraviolet light irradiance as this spectral range has been linked to NO x and ·OH radical formation within snowpack. The actinometer, prepared as thin films, consists of 2-nitrobenzaldehyde (2NB) dispersed in a polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) matrix. The concentration of 2NB at the film surface decreases due to ultraviolet light exposure and is quantified using attenuated total reflectance infrared spectroscopy (ATR-IR); either relative or absolute light intensity can be determined. The films are inexpensive, physically robust and can be easily deployed in cold-weather environments that are inhospitable to electronic instrumentation or liquid actinometer systems. Measurements of light penetration into seasonal snowpack near Barrow, Alaska, were made in 2007 and 2008. E-folding depths of 8–26 cm were observed, depending on snow conditions; alternatively, the depth of snow required to attenuate 75% of solar UV-A incident on the snowpack surface was found to range from
Ontrolled-Release Theophylline Tablet Formulations Containing Acrylic Resins. I. Dissolution Properties of Tablets

AbstractThe dissolution properties of controlled-release theophylline tablets containing acrylic resins are presented. Four different resins (Eudragit RSPM, RLPM, Sl00 and Ll00) were incorporated into theophylline tablets by direct compression techniques and the properties of the resulting dosage form were evaluated in dilute acid, buffer media pH 4.0 and simulated intestinal media pH 7.5. Tablets (500 mg) containing 300 mg of theophylline were prepared with each of the four resins and compressed to a hardness level of 6.5 to 7.5 kg. Excellent flow properties, weight uniformity and drug content uniformity were observed with all tablet formulations. Preliminary data suggest that three of the four resins tested showed great promise as a retardant in a matrix controlled drug delivery system. The dissolution properties of three commercially available sustained-release theophylline tablets were also determined. A comparison of profiles from TheodurR (300 mg) in acid and simulated intestinal media showed a simi...
Somatostatin binding to hepatocytes isolated from rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss, is modulated by insulin and glucagon.

Abstract Previously we reported somatostatin-14 (SS-14) binding in the liver of rainbow trout and that fasting enhanced SS-14-binding capacity. In this study, we used hepatocytes isolated from rainbow trout to study aspects of SS-14 processing and to evaluate the basis of fasting-associated changes in SS-14 binding. Hepatocytes specifically bound 5–8% of the total 125 I-SS-14 added. Scatchard analysis revealed the existence of two classes of binding sites. The high-affinity site had a dissociation constant ( K d ) of 23.6 ± 1.1 nM and a binding capacity ( B max ) of 3459 ± 134 receptors/cell. The low-affinity site had a K d of 764 ± 27 nM and a B max of 17,432 ± 345 receptors/cell. 125 I-SS-14 dissociation was hastened by the presence of 10 −6 M SS-14 . The internalization of 125 I-SS-14 was time dependent; preincubation of hepatocytes with 10 −6 M SS-14 reduced internalization of 125 I-SS-14. The number of high-affinity binding sites was also reduced by 10 −6 M SS-14. Because plasma levels of insulin (INS) decline relative to those of glucagon (GLU) during fasting of trout, we also investigated the effects of these hormones on SS-14 binding. The number of high-affinity SS-14-binding sites was reduced by 10 −6 M INS and was increased by 10 −6 M and 10 −8 M GLU. These results indicated that SS-14 regulates aspects of SS-14 binding and processing and suggests that INS and GLU play a role in fasting-associated changes in SS-14 binding.
Identification of a c-Ki-ras oncogene in a neoplasm isolated from winter flounder

Abstract It has been shown that a high incidence of hepatomas are present in winter flounder ( Pseudopleuronectes americanus ) obtained from Boston Harbor. It has been suggested that this may be a consequence of locally high levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons found in the sediment. The purpose of this study was to determine whether transforming DNA sequences (oncogenes) could be identified in liver neoplasms isolated from feral fish and to study their relationship to their corresponding proto-oncogenes. The ultimate aim of this study is to characterize novel mutations in oncogenes derived from these hepatomas to correlate these genetic changes with chemical exposure history. Genomic DNA was isolated from liver neoplasms and transfected into NIH3T3 mouse fibroblasts to assay for the formation of transformed foci. DNA was prepared from transformed foci and analyzed by Southern blot hybridization to viral DNA probes specific for c-Ki- ras and c-Ha- ras DNA sequences. A c-Ki- ras oncogene was identified in a transformant derived from one of the two tumors assayed. Comparison of c-Ki- ras DNA sequences of tumor and tumor-derived transformants indicate that the activated oncogene in the transformant is of flounder origin. We are currently analyzing the flounder oncogene for activating point mutations by primer-directed enzymatic amplification and direct sequence analysis.
Authority, resistance, and representing national values in the Brazilian television mini-series

This article examines how politics, class, family, and morals form discourses of authority and resistance in the Brazilian television mini-series’ representations of national values. The Brazilian mini-series is first placed in a global perspective of genres and formats, including soap opera, the telenovela, the Brazilian series, and film. Following a methodological discussion, the article considers conceptualizations of authority, resistance, and national values within a critical framework, which anticipates how tensions of authority and resistance are represented in the Brazilian mini-series, and enables seeing how the practice of authorship becomes a contested site for television creators and critics of the Brazilian mini-series. The article concludes by arguing that tensions of authority and resistance in the mini-series’ representations of political, class, family, and moral frameworks reflect both historical and contemporary value-conflicts in Brazil. It also concludes by arguing that discourses sur...
Image stability requirements for a Geostationary Imaging Fourier Transform Spectrometer (GIFTS)

A Geostationary Imaging Fourier Transform Spectrometer (GIFTS) has been selected for the NASA New Millennium Program (NMP) Earth Observing-3 (EO-3) mission. Our paper will discuss one of the key GIFTS measurement requirements, Field of View (FOV) stability, and its impact on required system performance. The GIFTS NMP mission is designed to demonstrate new and emerging sensor and data processing technologies with the goal of making revolutionary improvements in meteorological observational capability and forecasting accuracy. The GIFTS payload is a versatile imaging FTS with programmable spectral resolution and spatial scene selection that allows radiometric accuracy and atmospheric sounding precision to be traded in near real time for area coverage. The GIFTS sensor combines high sensitivity with a massively parallel spatial data collection scheme to allow high spatial resolution measurement of the Earth's atmosphere and rapid broad area coverage. An objective of the GIFTS mission is to demonstrate the advantages of high spatial resolution (4 km ground sample distance - gsd) on temperature and water vapor retrieval by allowing sampling in broken cloud regions. This small gsd, combined with the relatively long scan time required (approximately 10 s) to collect high resolution spectra from geostationary (GEO) orbit, may require extremely good pointing control. This paper discusses the analysis of this requirement.