cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Design Automation Architecture and Applications

This article presents a design automation system architecture and illustrates applications of that architecture with an LSI chip design flow. It discusses system-module attributes of that architecture as those modules are encountered in the design flow.
Determination of forms of organic sulfur in coal by step-wise oxidation with perchloric acid-ferric perchlorate mixture

Abstract Differentiation of organic sulfur forms in coal by step-wise oxidation with a mixture of perchloric acid (HClO 4 ) and ferric perchlorate (Fe(ClO 4 ) 3 ) was studied. Various organic sulfur compounds were oxidized with HClO 4 solution containing Fe(ClO 4 ) 3 , and the amounts of sulfate formed during reaction were measured. The compounds can be grouped into three categories according to their reactivities as follows: (1) easily oxidized ones, i.e. disulfides, for which almost all of the sulfur was converted to sulfate after oxidation, (2) less reactive ones including aliphatic sulfides, aliphatic and aromatic thiols (20–30% of sulfur in these compounds was oxidized to sulfate), and (3) relatively stable ones, i.e. thiophenes and aromatic sulfides, from which no sulfate was formed. Samples of Illinois No. 6 and Bevier coals were also reacted with HClO 4 solutions containing increasing concentration of Fe(ClO 4 ) 3 . The organic sulfur in these coals could be differentiated into various groups according to their reactivities.
A Simple Experiment and a Weakening Paradigm: The Contribution of Blood to Propensity for Thrombus Formation

For many years, arterial thrombosis was considered a result of vascular injury combined with a “normal” response of circulating coagulation factors and formed elements. Indeed, the original articles describing tissue factor in atherosclerotic lesions1,2⇓ implied that rupture or erosion of the plaque that results in contact of the circulating blood with plaque-bound tissue factor is sufficient to result in thrombus formation. These formulations ignore the fact that thrombi have been observed to occlude an artery within minutes of vascular perturbations.3 In retrospect, the role assigned to lesion-bound tissue factor is not physically realistic. The implied mechanism of thrombus growth is that surface-bound tissue factor rapidly binds circulating factor …
Upper-body strength predicts hunting reputation and reproductive success in Hadza hunter–gatherers

Abstract Hunting is a characteristic feature of early human subsistence, and many theories of evolution have emphasized the role of hunting in hominization. Still today hunting ability continues to be selected for in extant foragers with better hunters experiencing greater reproductive success. Yet little is known about the traits that comprise a successful hunter traits that are presupposed to also be under selection. Two complementary empirical analyses were conducted to examine this question using data collected from Hadza hunter–gatherers in Tanzania. First, data on upper-body strength, running speed, target precision and visual and auditory acuity were collected to examine the traits that predict hunting reputation in men. Second, interview data were collected from Hadza informants regarding the traits they deem important for hunting. Results from the first study implicate upper-body strength as the strongest and most consistent predictor of men's hunting reputation. Hadza conventional wisdom also accord with these findings. Although informants stressed the importance of non-physical traits, such as “intelligence” and “heart”, strong arms were cited as the most important physical trait for hunting. Finally, men with stronger upper-bodies experienced greater reproductive success, a result that is largely mediated by hunting reputation. These findings suggest that selection for hunting ability may have acted on men's upper-bodies. Nevertheless, the importance of effort on strength and hunting success cannot be dismissed. This is also discussed.
Pressure effect on squalene-2,3-oxide cyclization in fish.

Abstract 1. 1. Pressure increased the rate of squalene-2,3-oxide-4-3H conversion to cholesterol in the swimbladder gas gland tissue of a shallow water grunt, Anisotremus davidsoni. 2. 2. The deep sea fishes were brought to the surface from a depth of 1250 m by free-vehicle fishing gear and tissue pressure experiments were performed immediately aboard ship. 3. 3. Pressure did not decrease the rate of squalene-2,3-oxide-4-3H conversion to cholesterol in the swimbladder gas gland of a deep ocean Macrourid fish, Coryphaenoides acrolepis. 4. 4. Pressure enhancement of cholesterol synthesis could be related to the volume decrease during formation of lanosterol by cyclization.
Thermally robust and blinking suppressed core/graded-shell CdSe/CdSe1−xSx/CdS ‘giant’ multishell semiconductor nanocrystals

We demonstrate that core/graded-shell CdSe/CdSe1−xSx/CdS giant semiconductor nanocrystals (g-NCs) have robust photoluminescence (PL) temperature response. At a size of 10.2 nm in diameter, these g-NCs undergo a PL drop of only 30% at 355 K relative to their PL intensity at 85 K. In comparison, the core/step-shell CdSe/CdS g-NCs at the same diameter exhibit 80% PL drop at 355 K. Spectral shifting and broadening were found to be, respectively, 5–10 times and 2–4 times smaller than those observed in standard CdSe core and CdSe/CdS core/shell NCs. These core/graded-shell g-NCs are largely blinking suppressed and have insignificant photoluminescence decay even after excitation at very high irradiance (44 kW cm−2) for over an hour. These types of g-NC have potential applications as the active medium for thermally robust laser devices (in the visible range) or as temperature-insensitive bioprobes for biomedical imaging.
Electron scattering at 4° with energies of 4.5-20 GeV

This paper presents the results of the analysis of a single-arm inelastic-electron-scattering experiment at an angle of 4\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}. We present data on the turnon of scaling in the low-${q}^{2}$ region $0.1l{q}^{2}l1.8$, the neutron-proton comparison at large values of the scaling variable $\ensuremath{\omega}$, resonance excitation, and the shadowing in scattering from heavy nuclei.
Application of refractory slag-forming coatings to the lining of converters

The All-Union Institute for Refractories and the Azov Steel, Western Siberia, and Cherepovets Metallurgical Combines have developed a method of guniting converter linings by the application of refractory slag-forming coatings. After application the coating serves as a refractory protecting the lining from wear, and when worn it is converted into slag and is used as a slag-forming material for refining of the steel.
Multi-modal albedo distributions in the ablation area of the southwestern Greenland Ice Sheet

Abstract. Surface albedo is a key variable controlling solar radiation absorbed at the Greenland Ice Sheet (GrIS) surface and, thus, meltwater production. Recent decline in surface albedo over the GrIS has been linked to enhanced snow grain metamorphic rates, earlier snowmelt, and amplified melt–albedo feedback from atmospheric warming. However, the importance of distinct surface types on ablation area albedo and meltwater production is still relatively unknown. In this study, we analyze albedo and ablation rates using in situ and remotely sensed data. Observations include (1) a new high-quality in situ spectral albedo data set collected with an Analytical Spectral Devices Inc. spectroradiometer measuring at 325–1075 nm along a 1.25 km transect during 3 days in June 2013; (2) broadband albedo at two automatic weather stations; and (3) daily MODerate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) albedo (MOD10A1) between 31 May and 30 August 2012 and 2013. We find that seasonal ablation area albedos in 2013 have a bimodal distribution, with snow and ice facies characterizing the two peaks. Our results show that a shift from a distribution dominated by high to low albedos corresponds to an observed melt rate increase of 51.5% (between 10–14 July and 20–24 July 2013). In contrast, melt rate variability caused by albedo changes before and after this shift was much lower and varied between ~10 and 30% in the melting season. Ablation area albedos in 2012 exhibited a more complex multimodal distribution, reflecting a transition from light to dark-dominated surface, as well as sensitivity to the so called "dark-band" region in southwest Greenland. In addition to a darkening surface from ice crystal growth, our findings demonstrate that seasonal changes in GrIS ablation area albedos are controlled by changes in the fractional coverage of snow, bare ice, and impurity-rich surface types. Thus, seasonal variability in ablation area albedos appears to be regulated primarily as a function of bare ice expansion at the expense of snow, surface meltwater ponding, and melting of outcropped ice layers enriched with mineral materials, enabling dust and impurities to accumulate. As climate change continues in the Arctic region, understanding the seasonal evolution of ice sheet surface types in Greenland's ablation area is critical to improve projections of mass loss contributions to sea level rise.
Simulation of the thermoregulatory system of rats exposed concurrently to cold and to acceleration fields

A CSMP model has been developed that describes the thermoregulatory response of cold-exposed rats to acceleration fields of 1 to 5g. Experiments were designed to determine the temporal period over which the model accounts for responses of animals to concurrent cold and gravitational stressors. During the first hour following the onset of hypergravity, the model is not applicable since it includes no factors for regulation of peripheral blood flow. However, one hour after the onset of hypergravity, the model is appropriate since the thermoregulatory response that occurs is via graded control of shivering and nonshivering thermogenesis.
Preparation and magnetic properties of CoPt and CoPt:Ag nanocluster films

Abstract CoPt and CoPt:Ag nanocluster films have been prepared using a sputtering gas-aggregation cluster source. The cluster size can be controlled in a range from 3 to 8 nm. CoPt cluster films are directly deposited onto Si or 7059 glass substrates. CoPt:Ag cluster films are deposited by co-sputtering or by a CoPt cluster layer with a Ag underlayer and an overlayer. Crystal structure, nanostructure and magnetic properties of the samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and magnetometry. The as-deposited cluster films contain the magnetically soft disordered FCC CoPt phase. Tetragonal L1 0 ordering is realized in the films annealed at a temperature above 650°C. The orientation of clusters is generally 〈1 1 1〉. The coercivity increases with increase of annealing temperature and annealing time, and very high in-plane and out-of-plane coercivities have been achieved in both CoPt and CoPt:Ag cluster films after annealing at a temperature of 700°C for 10 min. The effect of Ag addition on the CoPt:Ag cluster films and the atomic ordering process in these films, and their relations to the hard magnetic properties, is discussed. The preparation of cluster films may provide a new method for fabrication of extremely high-density magnetic recording media.
Caveolin proteins and estrogen signaling in the brain.

Abstract Best described outside the nervous system, caveolins are structural proteins that form caveolae, functional microdomains at the plasma membrane that cluster related signaling molecules. Caveolin-associated proteins include G protein-coupled receptors and G proteins, receptor tyrosine kinases, as well as protein kinases, ion channels and various other signaling enzymes. Not surprisingly, a wide array of biological disorders are thought to be rooted in caveolin dysfunction. In addition, caveolins traffic and cluster estrogen receptors to caveolae. Interactions between the estrogen receptors ERα and ERβ with caveolins appear critical in many non-neuronal cell types, e.g., disruption of normal function may underlie many forms of breast cancer. Recent findings suggest caveolins may also play an essential role in membrane estrogen receptor function in the nervous system. Not only are they expressed in neurons and glia, but different caveolin isoforms also appear necessary to generate distinct functional signaling complexes. With membrane estrogen receptors responsible for the efficient activation of a multitude of intracellular signaling pathways, which in turn influence a wide variety of nervous system functions, caveolin proteins are poised to act as the central coordinators of these processes.
Special-Purpose Orthonormal Basis Functions - Application to Motor Unit Action Potentials

Signal representation is a useful technique to reduce the dimensionality of biological potentials. Usually the basis components are well-defined mathematical functions. We present a new approach using a basis composed of a set of experimentally measured examples of the potential which is to be represented. The criteria used in selecting these basis potentials are described. Using this technique, motor unit potentials measured by a concentric electromyography needle are represented by a basis having 18 components. This technique was found to require roughly one-third fewer components than Fourier analysis to achieve the same quality of representation.
Spatial-detection effects in laser radar.

Determination of a relation for the detector-aperture size for spatially coherent detection when dependent scattering is present. This relation is applied to several realistic laser-radar situations. It is concluded that no distortion of laser-radar signal signatures due to spatial-detection effects should be expected for present typical operating conditions (i.e., mean wavelength of the source = 0.6943 micrometer, and the diameter of the receiving aperture is about 10 cm). With development of longer-wavelength laser radars, in order to monitor signal returns at pollutant-gas absorption lines concomitantly larger receiver apertures must be used or else widely varying signal signatures will result even though similar conditions prevail.
Reversal of epinephrine inhibition of liver tyrosine oxidation.

THYROID hormone interacts with the rat liver tyrosine oxidase system in vitro and in vivo 1. The site of the inhibition proved to be at the first enzymatic step of the system, namely, tyrosine-α-ketoglutarate transaminase1,2. Canellakis and Cohen3 first demonstrated an inhibition of this enzyme by epinephrine, using the enzyme from dog liver. Since, under certain conditions, thyroxin and epinephrine are metabolically related4, it seemed likely that a demonstration of a similar action of both these hormones on the same enzyme system might provide a basis for exposing a mechanism of hormone action. Some empirical effects of epinephrine upon blood amino-acid levels are known5–7; but virtually no attempts have been made to explain these results at the molecular level.
Radiation protection considerations for endocavitary x ray units

Application of a contact X ray therapy unit for endocavitary irradiation of selected rectal carcinomas is gaining acceptance as a treatment of choice. The patient is placed on a proctoscopic table in the surgical suite and the anus is anesthetized and dilated to allow insertion of a 3 cm diameter proctoscope designed to admit the X ray tube. The measured half-value layer for 50 kVp X rays filtered by 1.0 mm of aluminum was determined to be 0.65 mm of aluminium. The dose rate at the end of the 4.0 cm source-skin-distance (SSD) cone was measured to be on the order of 1000 rad/minute. Radiation surveys performed for several treatment geometries indicate that exposure rate levels in the environs immediately around the patient can be quite high. Radiation measurements were made for the following locations: where the radiotherapist stands holding the X ray tube; at the side of the patient where the technologist or any supporting personnel might stand; and at the patient's posterior surface in the direction where the anesthesiologist might stand. Radiation levels ranged from 0.001 to 1.0 roentgen (R) per hour and depend primarily on the depth and angle of the X ray tube inserted into the rectum.
Development of a law enforcement stress and coping questionnaire.

Surnmmry.-This paper describes the construction of a sel€-report checklist designed to examine experiences of stressf~ll routine occupational events and life events, coping responses, and psychologicnl distress among law enforcement oficers. The checklist items were derived from existing scales and are designed to examine a cognitive phenomenological model of stress and coping and testing the goodness of fit hypothesis. The goodness of fit hypothesis posits that the effectiveness of coping strategies individuals report can be identified by examining whether the relationship between cognitive appraisal fits or matches coping responses. Vitahano, DeWolfe, Maiuro, Russo, and Katon (1990) found that problem-focused coping responses were negatively associated with depression when the event was appraised as changeable, unrelated when an event was appraised as unchangeable, and emotion-focused coping responses were positively associated with depression in response to events appraised as changeable. Similarly, Forsythe and Cornpas (1987) found that more reported problem-focused coping was associated with less psychological Astress when stressful events were appraised as controllable. Lkewise, Conway and Terry (1992) stated that problem-focused coping was associated with coping efficacy in situations appraised as controllable. Appraisal is associated with coping efficacy and coping responses (Valentiner, Holahan, & Moos, 1994). Stressful events appraised as changeable are associated with problem-focused coping strategies while events appraised as unchangeable are associated with ernotion-focused coping strategies (Folkman & Lazarus, 1980; Coyne, Aldwin, & Lazarus, 1981). In general, these studies provide support for the goodness of fit hypothesis and dustrate a framework for testing the goodness of fit between outcomes of coping responses, appraisal, and stress. The goodness of fit between stressful events appraised as changeable or unchangeable and problem-focused coping strategies has received minimal attention from researchers (Vitahano, et af., 1990), and few studies have ex
Semantics vs. world knowledge in prefrontal cortex

Humans have knowledge about the properties of their native language at various levels of representation; sound, structure, and meaning computation constitute the core components of any linguistic theory. Although the brain sciences have engaged with representational theories of sound and syntactic structure, the study of the neural bases of sentence-level semantic computation has so far focused on manipulations that mainly vary knowledge about the world, and not necessarily linguistic knowledge about meaning, as defined by formal semantics. In this MEG study, we vary both semantic and world knowledge in the same experiment, and show that semantic violations, but not world knowledge violations, elicit an effect in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC), while both types of violations engage the left inferior prefrontal cortex. In our previous work, we have shown that the vmPFC is also sensitive to various types of ‘coercions’, i.e., operations that repair semantic type-mismatch. Together, these results...
Optical probes of membrane potential.

There are two basically different mechanisms for the fluorescence and absorption changes of merocyanine, cyanine and oxonol dyes. The permeant dyes (cyanine and oxonol dyes, with delocalized charges) work by a potential-dependent accumulation mechanism. These dyes show large (up to 80%) fluorescence and absorption changes with suspensions of cells, and the changes are complete in seconds. The impermeant dyes (merocyanine dyes, with localized charges) and the permeant dyes also show optical changes that take place in fractions of milliseconds. The rapid optical changes are relatively small (≦5×10−3) but can often be easily detected in experiments with single cells. The rapid, nonaccumulative, optical changes result from membrane-localized dye movements. Cyanine dye-absorption changes occur because of a potential-dependent partition of dye between the membrane and the adjacent aqueous region at the high dye-concentration side of the membrane. Dimers and larger aggregates are formed in the aqueous region during the change. Merocyanine dyes may also work by the same mechanism. DiS-C3-(5) is presently the best dye for measuring membrane potentials of cells, organelles, and vesicles in suspension, but several other cyanines work nearly as well (P.J. Sims, A.S. Waggoner, C.-H. Wang, J.F. Hoffman,Biochemistry 13:3315, 1974). For each system, the ratio of dye to membrane must be varied until the optimum fluorescence change is found. A separate calibration curve must be obtained for each system. For measuring fluorescence and/or absorption changes in single cells, merocyanine 540 and diBA-C4-(5) work well but produce some photodynamic damage with high intensity illumination. A rhodanine merocyanine (WW-375) gives very large absorption changes and does not damage tissue during strong illumination. As the mechanisms of the optical changes are worked out, it should be possible to design and synthesize more sensitive, less toxic dyes that are easier to calibrate. And, as the mechanisms of the optical changes are worked out, these dyes may be useful for studying the structure and dynamics of excitable membranes.
Biofuel production using food

Most of the transport systems of the developed world run on liquid fuels produced from petroleum. Global shortages of these liquid fuels, both current and anticipated, have led corporate and political leaders throughout the developed world to investigate and develop liquid fuels from food crops, mainly corn, palm oil, soybean, canola and sugarcane. Liquid fuels made from these foods, heavily subsidized by national governments, are being promoted to partially replace liquid fossil fuels. The United States has legislatively mandated (the Renewable Fuels Standards legislation enacted in 2007) that a certain portion of the overall corn and soybean crops annually be used to produce liquid biofuels. Emissions mandates and subsidies have been enacted by European countries as well to promote the production of liquid biofuels. These European emission standards and subsidies have in turn caused corporations involved in biodiesel production from palm oil to encourage the conversion of ‘‘unproductive forestlands’’ by governments of several tropical developing countries into plantations of oil palms to produce biodiesel stock for primarily European countries while reducing biodiversity, sustainable subsistence farming and increasing unemployment, and reducing the variety of foods available to most people in these regions. These governmental actions have raised commodity prices for all the food crops being used to make liquid biofuels as well as raising commodity prices of crops that can replace these biofuel stock commodities, which raises food prices for rich and poor alike. On top of which the energy inputs necessary to produce biodiesel from palm oil are 8 % more than the energy obtained from palm oil biodiesel, which means at present, biodiesel production from palm oil is simply unsustainable in the absence of fossil fuels. Rapeseed and canola are the other two cultivated sources of oil for biodiesel production in Europe but the energy yield of the biodiesel obtained from these two oil seeds is 58 % less than the energy, almost always from fossil fuels, needed to produce, transport, process these crops, and distribute the biodiesel. While rapeseed is not a food crop, growing rapeseed on land that could support crops makes its cultivation for biofuels a waste of good agricultural land while growing rapeseed on marginal land has been found by at least one
Miniaturization of a Mammalian Cell-Based Assay: Luciferase Reporter Gene Readout in a 3 Microliter 1536-Well Plate.

The combined efforts of the fields of combinatorial chemistry and genomics have significantly increased the number of compounds and therapeutic targets available for screening. The number of compounds will reach into the million range in the near future and provide vast chemical diversity for drug discovery. However, this reservoir of chemical diversity creates downstream hurdles for any screening effort. Properly examining this number of compounds increases investments dramatically, both in the number of dollars spent and amount of limited reagents depleted. Traditional HTS techniques, such as the use of 96-well microtiter plates, have paved the way for faster processing speeds, but are being rapidly overwhelmed by screening demands. Miniaturization of such assays will allow for greater throughput, while concurrently reducing cost. To date, miniaturization efforts have been most successfully applied to bacterial and soluble protein based assays. Questions about the ability to deliver microquantities of m...
BCG-induced granulomatous pulmonary inflammation and splenomegaly in mice: A T-cell-dependent response

Abstract When C57BL/6 mice were injected iv with BCG in an oil-in-saline emulsion, they developed intense pulmonary granulomatous inflammation (PGI) and splenomegaly as well as chemotactic activity for macrophages and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) in their lung fluids. PGI, splenomegaly, and levels of chemotactic activity and ACE were markedly reduced in T-cell-deficient “B” mice. The capacity to develop PGI was fully restored and splenomegaly was partially restored in “B” mice by the provision of syngeneic thymocytes, spleen cells, or purified T cells. These results indicate that the full expression of BCG-induced PGI is dependent upon thymus-derived cells and is associated with high levels of chemotactic activity for macrophages and ACE in the lung lavage fluid. Although BCG-induced splenomegaly appears to be T cell dependent, it did not reach its full magnitude in reconstituted “B” mice.
Towards intraoperative surgical margin assessment and visualization using bioimpedance properties of the tissue

Prostate cancer (PCa) has a high 10-year recurrence rate, making PCa the second leading cause of cancer-specific mortality among men in the USA. PCa recurrences are often predicted by assessing the status of surgical margins (SM) with positive surgical margins (PSM) increasing the chances of biochemical recurrence by 2-4 times. To this end, an SM assessment system using Electrical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) was developed with a microendoscopic probe. This system measures the tissue bioimpedance over a range of frequencies (1 kHz to 1MHz), and computes a Composite Impedance Metric (CIM). CIM can be used to classify tissue as benign or cancerous. The system was used to collect the impedance spectra from excised prostates, which were obtained from men undergoing radical prostatectomy. The data revealed statistically significant (p<0.05) differences in the impedance properties of the benign and tumorous tissues, and between different tissue morphologies. To visualize the results of SM-assessment, a visualization tool using da Vinci stereo laparoscope is being developed. Together with the visualization tool, the EIS-based SM assessment system can be potentially used to intraoperatively classify tissues and display the results on the surgical console with a video feed of the surgical site, thereby augmenting a surgeon’s view of the site and providing a potential solution to the intraoperative SM assessment needs.
In Vitro and In Vivo Analysis of B-Myb in Basal-Like Breast Cancer

A defining feature of basal-like breast cancer, a breast cancer subtype with poor clinical prognosis, is the high expression of 'proliferation signature' genes. We identified B-Myb, a MYB family transcription factor that is often amplified and overexpressed in many tumor types, as being highly expressed in the proliferation signature. However, the roles of B-Myb in disease progression, and its mammary-specific transcriptional targets, are poorly understood. Here, we showed that B-Myb expression is a significant predictor of survival and pathological complete response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer patients. We also identified a significant association between the G/G genotype of a nonsynonymous B-Myb germline variant (rs2070235, S427G) and an increased risk of basal-like breast cancer [OR 2.0, 95% CI (1.1-3.8)]. In immortalized, human mammary epithelial cell lines, but not in basal-like tumor lines, cells ectopically expressing wild-type B-Myb or the S427G variant showed increased sensitivity to two DNA topoisomerase IIalpha inhibitors, but not to other chemotherapeutics. In addition, microarray analyses identified many G2/M genes as being induced in B-Myb overexpressing cells. These results confirm that B-Myb is involved in cell cycle control, and that its dysregulation may contribute to increased sensitivity to a specific class of chemotherapeutic agents. These data provide insight into the influence of B-Myb in human breast cancer, which is of potential clinical importance for determining disease risk and for guiding treatment.
Are Gold Clusters in RF Fields Hot or Not

Nanoparticles are finding increasing applications in diagnostics, imaging, and therapeutics in biology and medicine. Gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) have received a great deal of interest because of their distinctive optical, electronic, and molecular-recognition properties, as well as biocompatibility. One promising yet ambitious application for Au NPs is noncontact hyperthermia of cancer. By attaching tailor-made ligands, Au NPs can recognize and lock onto receptors on the surface of tumor cells. Under illumination by light, Au NPs can absorb radiation energy and selectively heat and destroy tumor volumes without collateral damage to neighboring healthy tissue. This type of noninvasive, specific, active targeting with Au NPs is highly desirable from a clinical perspective, but its use in cancer intervention has yet to be demonstrated.
Characterization of individual L1/sub 0/ FePt nanoparticles

The long-range order parameter of [001]-oriented FePt L1/sub 0/ nanoparticles has been determined by measurement of convergent-beam electron diffraction (CBED) intensities of single particles using scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) and comparison of the measured intensities to simulations of diffracted-beam intensities. The nanoparticles were fabricated by co-sputtering high-purity Fe and Pt targets onto SiO/sub 2/-Si substrates and annealing the deposited material.
Effect of whole-body hypothermia on myocardial blood flow and infarct salvage during coronary artery occlusion in dogs

The effect of moderate whole-body hypothermia on blood flow to acutely ischemic and nonischemic myocardium and on the relationship between blood flow and necrosis after 5 hours of left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery occlusion was investigated in 20 dogs. Blood flow to ischemic myocardium was not significantly increased or decreased by hypothermia. However, much less myocardial necrosis (shown by nitro blue tetrazolium staining) was observed in the hypothermia-treated animals. Therefore, this protective effect of hypothermia is not a result of improved blood flow to the ischemic region, but is more likely due to decreased metabolic requirements. Nearby noninfarcted myocardium had slightly higher blood flow than homologous tissue in the corresponding controls under both normothermic and hypothermic conditions. This tissue, which must compensate for the loss of contractility in the ischemic region, appears to maintain its ability to respond to increased demand for blood flow even during moderate hypothermia. Blood pressure and cardiac output data indicate that hypothermia did not interact with myocardial infarction to produce or exacerbate cardiogenic shock. Consequently, whole-body hypothermia may prove to be a safe and effective emergency pretreatment which may significantly decrease the amount of necrotic myocardium when initiated prior to emergency coronary artery bypass surgery.
Unions and the persistence of shocks to employment

Using both a parametric and a non-parametric measure of persistence, this paper examines the persistence of shocks to U.S. employment at the state-sector level. Shocks to employment are found to be more persistent in the less unionized labor markets. Shocks to employment are also observed to have become more and more persistent during the post-war period as unionization rates have fallen. The actual direction of causality was tested by an examination of employment in states with right-to-work laws. The paper rejects an implication of the insider-outsider theory.
RBP4 Activates Antigen-Presenting Cells, Leading to Adipose Tissue Inflammation and Systemic Insulin Resistance

Summary Insulin resistance is a major cause of diabetes and is highly associated with adipose tissue (AT) inflammation in obesity. RBP4, a retinol transporter, is elevated in insulin resistance and contributes to increased diabetes risk. We aimed to determine the mechanisms for RBP4-induced insulin resistance. Here we show that RBP4 elevation causes AT inflammation by activating innate immunity that elicits an adaptive immune response. RBP4-overexpressing mice (RBP4-Ox) are insulin resistant and glucose intolerant and have increased AT macrophage and CD4 T cell infiltration. In RBP4-Ox, AT CD206 + macrophages express proinflammatory markers and activate CD4 T cells while maintaining alternatively activated macrophage markers. These effects result from direct activation of AT antigen-presenting cells (APCs) by RBP4 through a JNK-dependent pathway. Transfer of RBP4-activated APCs into normal mice is sufficient to induce AT inflammation, insulin resistance, and glucose intolerance. Thus, RBP4 causes insulin resistance, at least partly, by activating AT APCs that induce CD4 T cell Th1 polarization and AT inflammation.
Fracture in metal–ceramic composites

This research focuses on fracture mechanisms in metal–ceramic composites. Two co-continuous composites, Cu/Al2O3 and Al/Al2O3 and a metal–matrix composite Al/SiC were studied. It was found that each composite displayed a different fracture mechanism. The crack propagation inside the metal–matrix composite was dominated by the Al matrix characteristics. However, crack propagation inside both the co-continuous composites was influenced by their microstructure, thermal residual stresses and contiguity. This unique fracture characteristic of co-continuous composites has been elucidated in the present research by experimentation as well as computational modeling. In situ three-point bend tests were performed inside an environmental scanning electron microscope chamber to observe crack growth at the microstructural scale. Finite element modeling was performed by using global–local approach to simulate crack propagation and understand the effects of the microstructure and thermal residual stresses. It was shown that the crack propagated inside the metallic phase and at the interface for the Cu/Al2O3 composite due to a high level of tensile thermal stresses inside the metallic phase, as well as due to low contiguity of ceramic phase. However, in the case of Al/Al2O3 composite, the crack propagated inside the ceramic due to significantly smaller thermal stresses inside the metallic phase as well as higher contiguity of ceramic phase.
Magnetically modulated resistance measurements of epitaxial thin films of YBa2Cu3O7-x

Abstract The current and field dependence of the magnetically modulated electrical resistance of epitaxial thin films of YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7- y on LaAlO 3 is reported. A previous model which explained results on bulk sintered material is reformulated in terms of the normalized parameters of current, field, and weak-link distribution and the calculated response is consistent with the data. Additionally, the calculated responses provide useful guidelines for interpreting the magnetically modulated resistance data using a weak-link model.
Effect of redox, zinc fertilization and incubation time on DTPA‐extractable zinc, iron and manganese

Abstract Greenhouse and laboratory experiments were conducted to determine if redox, Zn fertilization and incubation time could help to explain the Increased Incidence of Zn deficiency in rice (Oryza sativa L.) in submerged soils through greater solubilization of Fe and Mn. Continuous flooding Increases DTPA‐extractable Fe and Mn, but when Zn was applied, extractable Fe and Mn decreased. Even when Irrigated to 30 kPa (0.3 bar), the addition of Zn lowered the amount of DTPA‐extractable Fe and Mn. Depth and duration of flooding affected redox (pe + pH). After 30 days of continuous flooding pe + pH approached to 4.3 at 2 cm below the soil‐water interface. The pe + pH decreased significantly with soil depth, reflecting greater accumulation of CO2 and depletion of O2. Under controlled redox conditions in the laboratory, decreasing pe + pH from 14.48 to 4.00 decreased soluble Zn from 10‐5.50 to <10‐6.80 M, while Fe content Increased from 10‐5.59 to 10‐4.91 Hand that of Mn from 10‐5.73 to 10‐4.82 M. The findings...
An obstacle model implementation for evaluating radio shadowing with ns-3

Obstacles, such as buildings and trees, interfere with radio wave signal propagation by contributing fading and shadowing effects. To produce results that accurately reflect real-world topologies, models must address the radio-interfering conditions that obstacles present. Failing to account for the effects of obstacles can therefore inaccurately overstate network performance. An obstacle shadowing model was implemented for the ns-3 network simulation toolset and tested using an ns-3 script for wireless vehicular ad hoc network (VANET) scenarios and obstacle data from Open Street Map (OSM). Results show that deterministic obstacle shadowing compares differently than stochastic Nakagami-m fading. The obstacle shadowing model algorithm can be executed in time complexity similar to other simpler models. Including realistic obstacle shadowing in simulation modeling improves performance assessment.
“APUD” cells fact and fiction

Abstract Pearse's "APUD" cell theory helps define the ontogeny and differentiation programs of small polypeptide hormone-secreting cells of diverse tissue origins. Cells with such features may arise through one of multiple related pathways of epithelial cell differentiation ongoing in tissues of all embryonic lineages.
Understanding blue-to-red conversion in monomeric fluorescent timers and hydrolytic degradation of their chromophores

Fast-FT is a fluorescent timer (FT) engineered from DsRed-like fluorescent protein mCherry. Crystal structures of Fast-FT (chromophore Met66-Tyr67-Gly68) and its precursor with blocked blue-to-red conversion Blue102 (chromophore Leu66-Tyr67-Gly68) have been determined at the resolution of 1.15 A and 1.81 A, respectively. Structural data suggest that blue-to-red conversion, taking place in Fast-FT and in related FTs, is associated with the oxidation of Cα2−Cβ2 bond of Tyr67. Site directed mutagenesis revealed a crucial role of Arg70 and Tyr83 in the delayed oxidation of Cα2−Cβ2 bond, introducing the timing factor in maturation of the timer. Substitutions Ser217Ala and Ser217Cys in Fast-FT substantially slow down formation of an intermediate blue chromophore but do not affect much blue-to-red conversion, whereas mutations Arg70Lys or Trp83Leu, having little effect on the blue chromophore formation rate, markedly accelerates formation of the red chromophore. The chromophore of FTs adopts a cis-conformation s...
Work in progress — Issues involved in analyzing student activity in the introductory sequence of computing courses

Instructors of introductory computing courses have an intuitive feel for how students are spending their time learning, but there is little quantitative data in this area. Therefore we are studying student effort in three classes across two institutions to look for trends and possible differences by gender, background, course emphasis (for CS majors or not), institution/environment, etc. Students were asked to log their time in various categories and respond to a survey on their perceptions of the logging process. Several obstacles to an effective study have been identified, including student motivation, accuracy of data, and difficulty capturing data. Experience indicates our study could be improved by motivating students better, using courses stable through the study period, using an effective logging mechanism, and providing consistent oversight of student logging throughout the term. This paper presents initial results and discusses some barriers to accurate data collection and analysis.
An advanced neuroprosthesis for restoration of hand and upper arm control using an implantable controller

An advanced neuroprosthesis that provides control of grasp-release, forearm pronation, and elbow extension to persons with cervical level spinal cord injury is described. The neuroprosthesis includes implanted and external components. The implanted components are a 10-channel stimulator-telemeter, leads and electrodes, and a joint angle transducer; the external components are a control unit and transmitter-receiver coil. The system has completed preclinical testing and has been implanted fully in 3 persons and partially in 1 person, all with tetraplegia caused by spinal cord injury at C5 and C6. The minimum follow-up time for any system component is 16 months. All subjects had improvements in grasp strength, range of motion, and ability to grasp objects and increased independence in activities of daily living. Each subject became a regular user of the neuroprosthesis and is satisfied with it. The implanted components have not caused any medical complications. The operation of the electrodes and sensors has been stable. The data show that this advanced neuroprosthetic system is safe and can provide grasping and reaching ability to individuals with cervical level spinal cord injury.
Ascertainment Bias in Spatially Structured Populations: A Case Study in the Eastern Fence Lizard

Despite increased interest in applying single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data to questions in natural systems, one unresolved issue is to what extent the ascertainment bias induced during the SNP discovery phase will impact available analysis methods. Although most studies addressing ascertainment bias have focused on human populations, it is not clear whether existing methods will work when applied to other species with more complex demographic histories and more significant levels of population structure. Here we present findings from an empirical approach to exploring the effect of population structure on issues of ascertainment bias in the Eastern Fence Lizard, Sceloporus undulatus. We find that frequency spectra and summary statistics were highly sensitive to SNP discovery strategy, necessitating careful selection of the initial ascertainment panel. Randomly selected ascertainment panels performed equally well as ascertainment panels chosen to jointly sample geographic, phenotypic, and genetic diversity. Geographically restricted panels resulted in larger biases. Additionally, we found existing ascertainment bias correction methods, which were not developed for geographically structured data sets, were largely effective at reducing the impact of ascertainment bias. Because bias correction methods performed well even when underlying assumptions were violated, our results suggest tools are currently available to analyze SNP data in structured populations.
Occupational Therapy Interventions: Function and Occupations, by Catherine Meriano & Donna Latella

These talented authors provide an organization of content and structure in Occupational Therapy Interventions: Function and Occupations by blending and integrating the Framework Terminology, interv...
Cellular defenses against excitotoxic insults

The cellular events mediating necrotic neuron death are now reasonably well understood, and involve excessive extracellular accumulation of glutamate and free cytosolic calcium. When such necrotic neurological insults occur, neurons are not passively buffeted, but instead mobilize a variety of defenses in an attempt to decrease the likelihood of neuron death, or to decrease the harm to neighboring neurons (by decreasing the likelihood of inflammation). This review considers some of these defenses, organizing them along the lines of those which decrease neuronal excitability, decrease extracellular glutamate accumulation, decrease cytosolic calcium mobilization, decrease calcium-dependent degenerative events, enhance neuronal energetics, and bias a neuron towards apoptotic, rather than necrotic, death. Although these are currently perceived as a disparate array of cellular adaptations, some experimental approaches are suggested that may help form a more unified subdiscipline of cellular defenses against neurological insults. Such an advance would help pave the way for the rational design of therapeutic interventions against necrotic insults.
Coupling effect of flexible geared rotor on quick-return mechanism undergoing three-dimensional vibration

Regarding the quick-return mechanism, some researchers have neglected the rotor-mechanism coupling effect, and other researchers have combined the quick-return mechanism with the motor but only considered the rotational motion of the rotor by assuming the rotor to be rigid and neglected the gear mesh dynamics. In the study, the rotor-mechanism coupling effect is investigated to find that the dynamic behaviors of the coupled system are different from those uncoupled systems. The coupling effect is mainly due to the flexibility of the shaft, the bearing, and the gear mesh. When the quick-return mechanism is driven with the flexible geared rotor, the vibrations of the geared rotor have significant influences on the dynamic behaviors of the quick-return mechanism. The traditional studies formulated the quick-return mechanism only under the consideration of planar motion. However, the three-dimensional vibration has to be considered for establishing the physical model of the coupled system. The system model is formulated by using finite element method and following Hamiltonian approach. The numerical integration method is applied to obtain the dynamic response. The coupling effect of the geared rotor on the quick-return mechanism undergoing three-dimensional vibration is discussed by the parameter study. It is shown that the bearing stiffness and damping, the shaft radius and the gear transmission error excitation of the meshing gears have significant influences on the dynamic behavior of the mechanism.