cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A systematic search for close supermassive black hole binaries in the Catalina Real-time Transient Survey

Hierarchical assembly models predict a population of supermassive black hole (SMBH) binaries. These are not resolvable by direct imaging but may be detectable via periodic variability (or nanohertz frequency gravitational waves). Following our detection of a 5.2-year periodic signal in the quasar PG 1302−102, we present a novel analysis of the optical variability of 243 500 known spectroscopically confirmed quasars using data from the Catalina Real-time Transient Survey (CRTS) to look for close (<0.1 pc) SMBH systems. Looking for a strong Keplerian periodic signal with at least 1.5 cycles over a baseline of nine years, we find a sample of 111 candidate objects. This is in conservative agreement with theoretical predictions from models of binary SMBH populations. Simulated data sets, assuming stochastic variability, also produce no equivalent candidates implying a low likelihood of spurious detections. The periodicity seen is likely attributable to either jet precession, warped accretion discs or periodic accretion associated with a close SMBH binary system. We also consider how other SMBH binary candidates in the literature appear in CRTS data and show that none of these are equivalent to the identified objects. Finally, the distribution of objects found is consistent with that expected from a gravitational-wave-driven population. This implies that circumbinary gas is present at small orbital radii and is being perturbed by the black holes. None of the sources is expected to merge within at least the next century. This study opens a new unique window to study a population of close SMBH binaries that must exist according to our current understanding of galaxy and SMBH evolution.
A mammalian expression vector for the expression of GAL4 fusion proteins with an epitope tag and histidine tail.

Expression of newly cloned cDNAs in mammalian cell lines is an essential tool for the functional analysis of the proteins encoded by these cDNAs. In many instances, however, evaluation of the protein is difficult because of the difficulty in purification of the expressed protein and/or the lack of specific antibodies which react with the proteins on Western blots or for immunocytochemistry or immunoprecipitation. A number of gene fusion systems have been employed in which a known peptide is fused to the expression product of interest and the fusion protein is purified using affinity chromatography and identified in extracts or by immunocytochemistry using antibodies directed against the affinity handle peptide. The DNA-binding domain of the yeast transcription factor GAL4 is widely used to construct fusion proteins with putative transcription factors to evaluate potential trans-acting domains. Because of the lack of commercially available anti-GAL4 antibodies, the further biochemical characterization of these fusion proteins has remained difficult. We describe the construction of two mammalian expression vectors, pMFH/GAL4 and pMFH2/GAL4 (where pMFH stands for pM2, Flag, Histidine tail), which encode the DNA-binding domain of the yeast transcription factor GAL4 with a Flag peptide (consisting of the 11-amino-acid leader peptide of the gene 10 product from bacteriophage T7) at the NH2-terminus and a tail of six histidines at the COOH-terminus. Unique restriction sites allow both the construction of fusion proteins with the GAL4 DNA-binding domain and the replacement of the GAL4 fragment with another insert. Proteins encoded by this vector are biologically active, can be easily precipitated and purified by interaction of its histidine tail with immobilized Ni2+, and can be visualized on Western blots with an antibody against the Flag peptide.
Moving speed of linear acoustic landmine detection systems

In recent years, the acoustic technology for landmine detection has demonstrated success in field testing. Acoustic-to-seismic responses of buried landmines are exploited for locating the targets. Field experiments have demonstrated that different burial conditions and different landmines show different linear frequency responses. Therefore, the landmine detection system uses broad-band excitations. Until now, the research work for acoustic landmine detection has primarily focused on demonstrating a high probability of detection and low false alarm rate through systematic field experiments, such as blind field tests, especially for anti-tank mines. However, the speed of detection has not yet been shown to meet operational requirements. In designing a moving platform, one must know how fast an acoustic detector can acquire high-quality data, and what factors limit increased moving speed. Based upon field test results, this paper investigates the relationship between the bandwidth of the pseudo-random excitation, frequency resolution of linear response measurements, speckle noise, and reliable moving speeds of acoustic/seismic sensors.
Old antihypertensive agents-diuretics and β-Blockers: Do we know how and in whom they lower blood pressure?

Morbidity and mortality data that increasingly favor the use of diuretics and ⨿-blockers continue to accumulate. Nonetheless, the use of these agentsoparticularly diureticsois viewed as a dated practice. The issue of which antihypertensive drug to use will remain complex and confusing as the marketing juggernauts of the pharmaceutical industry vigorously promote drug classes such as angiotensinconverting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin-receptor antagonists, and calcium-channel blockers. A pharmacologic middle ground will probably be reached in the form of fixed-dose combination therapy. Diuretics and b-blockers are mechanistically rational when combined with numerous other drugs; thus, the issue of which drug should be used to begin treatment will be settled by a truce, albeit an uneasy one, favoring the increased use of fixed-dose combination antihypertensive therapy.
The adrenochrome redox system.

Abstract 1. 1. Polarographic recordings of 0.001 M solutions of adrenochrome at 3 °C. taken before, during, and after reduction with hydrogenplatinized asbestos over a pH range of 5.61–8.08 indicated that under these conditions a two-electron reversible reduction occurs with a low order of semiquinone formation. In confirmation of previous studies, the reductant was found to be fairly stable above pH 7.0. 2. 2. Measurements of hydrogen uptake by solutions of adrenochrome, prepared by both the iodine and silver oxide oxidation methods, in which reduction was catalyzed by both platinized asbestos and palladinized barium sulfate under the same approximate conditions of temperature, concentration, and pH as above, showed an initial rapid consumption of two atoms of hydrogen per molecule of adrenochrome. The same result was obtained with the similar red compound prepared by the oxidation of epinine. 3. 3. The present results are in agreement with the structures of the adrenochrome redox system originally proposed by Green and Richter. Discordant reports in the current literature are discussed and possible reasons for the discrepancies suggested.
Non — destructive inspection — a tri-axial

Abstract This article analyzes the position and function of non-destructive inspection, using ndt tools, in various types of organization. A method is suggested for the presentation of ndt results in terms of material properties rather than flaws. This method of presentation allows a relationship to be established with the value of non-destructive inspection. A reduced cash flow approach can then be applied to assess the profitability of a required ndt development.
Novel Therapeutic Targets in the Management of Atrial Fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia, contributing to increased morbidity and reduced survival through its associations with stroke and heart failure. AF contributes to a four- to fivefold increase in the risk of stroke in the general population and is responsible for 10–15 % of all ischemic strokes. Diagnosis and treatment of AF require considerable health care resources. Current therapies to restore sinus rhythm in AF are suboptimal and are limited either by their pro-arrhythmic effects or by their procedure-related complications. These limitations have necessitated identification of newer therapeutic targets to expand the treatment options. There has been a considerable amount of research interest in investigating the mechanisms of initiation and propagation of AF. Despite extensive research focused on the pathogenesis of AF, a thorough understanding of various pathways mediating initiation and propagation of AF still remains limited. Research efforts focused on the identification of these pathways and molecular mediators have generated a great degree of interest for developing more targeted therapies. This review discusses the potential therapeutic targets and the results from experimental and clinical research investigating these targets.
Hypothemia Reversibly Inhibits Endothelial Cell Expression of E‐Selectin and Tissue Factor

Hypothermia frequently accompanies cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and myocardial protection strategies during cardiac surgery. With CPB, the blood/artificial surface interface activates components of the humoral and cellular inflammatory cascades and may contribute to postoperative end organ dysfunction including the heart or multiple other organ systems. The endothelial cell (EC) monolayer normally mediates components of solute transport, vasomotor function, coagulation, cell differentiation/growth, and immune/inflammatory processes. E-selectin is a vascular adhesion molecule that mediates neutrophil adherence and that is inducible in ECs by inflammatory mediators such as cytokines. Tissue factor (TF) is similarly an inducible procoagulant factor in ECs that contributes to thrombosis. The induction, transcription, and expression of both molecules were studied in cultured human umbilical vein cells at normothermic (37 degrees), hypothermic (25 degrees), and rewarmed (37 degrees) conditions after stimulation with the cytokines tumor necrosis factor alpha and interleukin-1. Hypothermia reversibly inhibits the transcription and expression but not the induction of both E-selectin and TF.
Comparison of arginine infusion and diethylstilbestrol as a means of provoking growth hormone secretion

The action of oral diethylstilbestrol as a stimulus to growth hormone release was compared with that of intravenously administered arginine in 26 children with short stature. A similar elevation of growth hormone was found after the administration of each agent. It is suggested that diethylstilbestrol can be used as a preliminary screening test for growth hormone deficiency.
A tribute to Eugenia Hanfmann, 1905-1983.

Eugenia Hanfmann's life encompassed a childhood during the Russian revolution through studies in Germany to a distinguished career in the United States. She did research in Kurt Koffka's laboratory at Smith College, later at Worcester State Hospital, and then in Chicago where she developed, with Jacob Kasanin, the Hanfmann-Kasanin test. She taught at Mount Holyoke College before she joined the staff of the OSS Assessment Program in 1944. After the war she became a member of the Department of Social Relations at Harvard and also the Russian Research Institute there. In 1953 she went to Brandeis University as Professor of Psychology and Director of the Counseling Center, which she established and guided for many years. Hanf mann's interests ranged from investigations of cognitive functions to studies of personality and psychotherapeutic issues.
The whiplash shaken infant syndrome: Has Caffey's syndrome changed or have we changed his syndrome?

Abstract Objective: The aim of this study is to examine the data used by John Caffey in his description of the Whiplash Shaken Infant Syndrome and compare it with recent data in an attempt to determine whether the syndrome that he described has changed, or if we have changed his syndrome into what we now call The Shaken Infant Syndrome. Method: This study examined recent literature describing the Shaken Infant Syndrome, and compared it to Caffey's descriptions. In addition, a retrospective review of 71 children under the age of 3 years identified as having a subdural hematoma caused by other than accidental means during 54 months was done. This data was compared to data from the 27 case examples offered by Caffey in 1972 and his other descriptions in 1974 and 1946. Results: A review of recent literature shows that our definition of Shaken Infant Syndrome today includes cases where impact trauma was involved. In contrast to Caffey's descriptions, we found the perpetrator to be more often male, fractures to be more often to ribs rather than long bones, and admissions of shaking and other trauma more often made. Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate that not only have we changed the diagnostic parameters from Caffey's original Whiplash Shaken Infant Syndrome, but the syndrome has also changed to reflect changes in medical diagnosis and in our society.
Reduced glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor level in aganglionic bowel in Hirschsprung's disease

Abstract Background/Purpose : Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor ( GDNF ) is suggested to be essential for the development of the enteric nervous system. The aim of this study was to investigate GDNF protein expression in human aganglionic (AG) bowel in Hirschsprung's disease (HD) using immunofluorescence and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) analysis, to further understand the pathophysiology of HD. Methods : Colonic specimens were obtained from eight patients with HD (aged 7 days to 14 months) at the time of definite pull-through surgery, including both normoganglionic (NG) and aganglionic (AG) segments. Immunofluorescence was performed using anti- GDNF polyclonal antibody and FITC-conjugated secondary antibody on the formalinfixed and paraffin-embedded specimens. For ELISA analysis, specimens were homogenized by adding 10 volumes of 10-mmol/L phosphate-buffered saline containing proteinase inhibitors. Centrifuged pernatant was used for the quantitative analysis using sandwich-type ELISA for human GDNF . Results : There was strong GDNF immunoreactivity in the mucosal epithelium, submucosal and myenteric plexuses, and hypertrophic nerve trunks. In the mucosa in AG bowel, the number of GDNF immunoreactive epithelial cells was significantly reduced compared with NG bowel (mean ± SD, AGNG=227.2 ± 73.1310.8 ± 80.5 GDNF immunoreactive cells per 100 crypts, P GDNF in full-thickness bowel was reduced significantly in AG bowel compared with NG bowel (mean ± SD, AGNG=860.2 ± 309.81777.5 ± 271.4pg/g wet tissue, P Conclusion : Because GDNF is essential for the development of the enteric nervous system, our findings of reduced level of GDNF in AG bowel as well as reduced number of GDNF immunoreactive cells in the mucosa of AG bowel suggest that GDNF may play an important role in the pathogenesis of HD.
Language-Dependent performance of design patterns

The Gang of Four design patterns represent a catalog of 23 reusable design solutions to classes of problems that arise in a variety of applications. This study examines the execution performance of the patterns, as implemented in C++, Java (native and JDK 1.0 through 1.4), Smalltalk, and Perl 5.0. Each pattern is implemented independent of an application and, hence, represents just the pure object structure. Because the patterns themselves demonstrate a variety of structures, the results represent a good benchmark for how well the object-oriented compilers actually handle object-oriented programming, in particular, object creation and object reference to methods/attributes. The results indicate that the C++ compiler provided the fastest code, Java was second, followed by Smalltalk, and then Perl. However, Java 1.2 and 1.4 held their own against the optimized version of C++ and even did slightly better than non-optimized C++. Optimized C++ code was the best in 11 of the 23 patterns, with Java 1.2 and 1.4 sharing the remaining honors for the other 12 patterns, that is, a "winning" Java compiler can be found for just over half of the design patterns. Smalltalk was an order of magnitude, and Perl two orders of magnitude, slower. Although there is a wide variety of performance among the design patterns, the overall averages are much in-line with the averages of four simple test programs. The results may provide guidelines for future application development.
Extremely long nonradiative relaxation of photoexcited graphane is greatly accelerated by oxidation: time-domain ab initio study.

Graphane and its derivatives are stable and extremely thin, wide band gap semiconductors that promise to replace conventional semiconductors in electronics, catalysis, and energy applications, greatly reducing device size and power consumption. In order to be useful, band-gap excitations in these materials should be long lived and nonradiative energy losses to heat should be slow. We use state-of-the-art nonadiabatic molecular dynamics combined with time-dependent density functional theory in order to determine the nonradiative lifetime and radiative line width of the lowest energy singlet excitations in pure and oxidized graphanes. We predict that pure graphane has a very long nonradiative decay time, on the order of 100 ns, while epoxy- and hydroxy-graphanes lose electronic excitation energy to heat 10–20 times faster. The luminescence line width is 1.5 times larger in pristine graphane compared to its oxidized forms, and at room temperature, it is on the order of 50 meV. Hydroxylation lowers graphane’s...
Cor triatriatum sinister with bicuspid aortic valve: a rare association.

A 21-year-old pregnant patient was admitted for the management of bilateral pulmonary emboli. A transthoracic echocardiogram was performed to evaluate cardiac status, which revealed the presence of a membrane in the left atrium, and a bicuspid aortic valve. The finding was confirmed by transesophageal echocardiography. The patient was treated with low molecular weight heparin. Cor triatriatum sinister, which refers to the presence of a band or membrane in the left atrium is very rare, and Figure 2. Transthoracic echocardiogram shows a bicuspid aortic valve (two cusps are shown with arrows).
The role of roles in supporting reconfigurability and fault localizations for open distributed and embedded systems

One of the main characteristics of open distributed embedded systems is that the involved entities are often very dynamic—different individual entities may join or leave the systems frequently. Therefore, systems built of these dynamic entities must be runtime reconfigurable. In addition, large classes of open embedded systems often have high availability and dependability requirements. However, the openness makes these requirements more difficult to achieve and the system more vulnerable to attacks.This article presents a coordination model, the Actor, Role and Coordinator (ARC) model, that aims to support reconfigurability and fault localization for open distributed embedded software systems. In particular, the actor model is used to model concurrent embedded entities, while the system's reconfigurability and dependability requirements are encapsulated within coordination objects: roles and coordinators, and are achieved through coordination among the actors. Roles, as a key thrust in the ARC model not only represent an abstraction for a set of behaviors shared by a group of actors so that reconfiguration within the roles becomes transparent to entities outside the roles, but also assume coordination responsibilities among the member actors. The article also argues from both analytical and empirical perspectives that with the support of the role, faults can be localized within actors, and actor level reconfiguration becomes transparent to the system.
The Use of Negative Pressure Wound Therapy for Random Local Flaps at the Ankle Region

Local random flaps are seldom used for reconstruction of complex ankle wounds because of concern for flap failure attributable to vascular compromise and tissue edema. Negative pressure wound therapy has been shown to improve perfusion and limit tissue edema. The objective of this study was to demonstrate the utility of negative pressure wound therapy in improving outcomes for local flaps of the ankle. Ten consecutive patients presenting with complex ankle wounds and reconstructed using local flaps were treated with negative pressure wound therapy postoperatively. Type of flap, immediate and long-term outcomes, and complications were assessed. Seventeen local flaps were performed on 10 patients to reconstruct their ankle wounds. Mean follow up was 88 days. All flaps healed without tissue compromise or necrosis. Only one partial dehiscence and no infections were observed. This study demonstrates that negative pressure therapy may contribute to the viability of random local flaps by decreasing venous congestion. Our experience using negative pressure wound therapy on local flaps suggests that it may serve as a useful adjunct to ensure successful closure of high-risk wounds.
QUANTUM EFFECTS ON THE ELECTRON CORRELATION FUNCTION.

Abstract The correlation function of a classical electron gas is evaluated explicitly for short distances in powers of a reduced distance r/a0 where a0 is the Bohr radius. The divergence at r = 0 of a classical correlation function is removed by quantum effects and the zero-distance limiting value is obtained for small and large δ where δ = 2 ⧸ lambda;/a 0 , ⧸lambda; being the thermal de Broglie wavelength. Similar results are obtained for quantum-mechanically degenerate cases.
Analysis of Thermal Energy Storage System with Conjugate Turbulent Forced Convection

A thermal energy storage system, comprised of a hollow cylinder of phase change material (PCM), with a transfer fluid pumped through the interior, was studied by a semianalytical method. The melting process in the PCM and turbulent-forced convective heat transfer inside the tube were solved simultaneously. A method of determining the local Nusselt number for various transfer fluids is discussed. Nomenclature An = constant c = specific heat, J/kgK or constant in Eq. (20) D = i.d. of the tube, 2r,, m Fo = Fourier number, apt/rj fm = Moody friction factor, &P/[ipUm(L/D)] G = constant in Eqs. (19) and (20) H = latent heat, J/kg h = convective heat transfer coefficient, W/m2K Kf = dimensionless thermal conductivity of transfer fluid, kf/kp k = thermal conductivity, W/mK L = length of the tube, m M = section number of the tube along the axial direction N = section number of the PCM along the axial direction Nu = local Nusselt number, hDlkf Pe = Peclet number, RePr Pr = Prandtl number, vlaf Pr, = eddy Prandtl number, em/et R = dimensionless coordinate along the radial direction, rlri Re = Reynolds number, VmDlv r = coordinate along the radial direction, m S = dimensionless solid-liquid interface radius, s/r{ Ste = Stefan number, cp(T\n - T°m)/H s = solid-liquid interface radius, m T = dimensionless temperature, (T° - T()m)/(T(ln ~ T (}m) T() = temperature, K t = time, s U = dimensionless velocity, u/Um Um = average velocity, m/s u = velocity, m/s X = dimensionless coordinate along axial direction, xlD x = coordinate along axial direction, m a = thermal diffusivity, m2/s e,,, = eddy viscosity, m2/s e, = eddy thermal diffusivity, m2/s A,, = eigenvalues v = kinemetic viscosity, m2/s p = density, kg/m3
Specific binding of Mu repressor to DNA

PHAGE MU is a temperate virus of Escherichia coli (for reviews see refs 1, 2). The immunity system of Mu has been shown by genetic and physical mapping to lie in the furthest left, 1,000-base-pair restriction fragment of the phage DNA3–6. This end of the phage genome is associated with a short (100-base pair) segment of bacterial DNA4. The HindIII-c restriction fragment of Mu (the furthest left 1,000 base pairs4) has been cloned into the amplifiable plasmid pMB9 (ref. 7). These recombinant plasmids confer high levels of Mu immunity on their hosts and, when recloned into minicell-producing strains, were shown to produce an additional protein of 25,000 subunit molecular weight in purified minicells6,7. This protein is assumed to be the Mu repressor because its production is correlated with immunity to Mu. We report here experiments which show that this protein binds specifically and with high affinity to Mu DNA, as would be expected of the Mu repressor. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the DNA sequence (operator) to which the Mu repressor binds is located on the same HindIII-c restriction fragment of Mu DNA as the repressor gene.
Spermatogonial and meiotic chromosomes of the Armenian hamster, Cricetulus migratorius.

Abstract The dwarf hamster, Cricetulus migratorius, commonly referred to as the Armenian hamster, possesses a low diploid number of 22 chromosomes. Individual chromosome types can be accurately identified in spermatogonial, meiotic and cultured somatic cells. Two distinct types of spermatogonial metaphase complements are described on the basis of staining affinities and sex chromosome polymorphism. The onset of meiosis in this species occurs as early as 15 days after birth and the initial wave of spermiogenic activity is completed by the 27th day of age. Consequently, initiation and progression of various stages of meiosis can be correlated with the age of preweanling males. In pachytene, X and Y chromosomes are isomorphic as revealed by the XY bivalent. A specific chiasma occurs at the secondary constriction or the nucleolar organizing region of the short arm of the XY bivalent. Furthermore, the sex chiasma occurs only between inner chromatids of the X and Y chromosomes. The sex bivalent of this species is compared with those of other species of hamsters in an effort to relate phylogenetic homologies.
IL-17 Inhibition in Axial Spondyloarthritis

Axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) affects 0.5–1.5 % of western population. Although TNF inhibitor (TNFi) medications have dramatically improved the treatment of this disabling disease, there are almost 40 % of patients who do not respond or have intolerance to TNFi. Several genetic, animal model, translational, and clinical studies have confirmed the role of IL-23/IL-17 pathway in the pathogenesis of the axSpA. This axis could be targeted upstream by inhibiting either IL-23 or IL-23 receptor (IL-23R) or downstream by blocking IL-17 or IL-1RA receptor. Ustekinumab, a monoclonal antibody against p40 subunit of IL-12 and IL-23, and secukinumab, a monoclonal antibody against IL-17, have both demonstrated significant beneficial effect in controlling the disease activity, quality of life, and physical function as well as MRI scores in axSpA. Combined IL-17 and TNF-α blockade is a novel option for the patients with axSpA, which needs to be investigated further. We need prospective trials to evaluate the effect of IL-23/IL-17 axis manipulation on the radiographic progression and also on the extra-articular manifestations of axSpA.
“It Is No Longer I Who Live”: Christ’s Faith and Christian Faith

Abstract I offer a dogmatic analysis of Galatians 2:20 in three parts. First, Christ lives for us. Second, by faith we really do live in Christ. Third, there is an order and sequence to these two statements, and they require a theological framework within which they can be related. To that end, I point to two ways in which the common Reformational teaching on imputation was teased out in Luther’s definition of Christian freedom and the Reformed tradition of distinguishing between the covenant of works and the covenant of grace. These are not the only possible constructions which could maintain this order and sequence, but they have great historical prominence and a greater than commonly appreciated viability.
From Blood to Brain: The Neurogenic Niche of the Crayfish Brain

Adult neurogenic niches are present in both vertebrates and invertebrates. Where do stem cells populating these niches originate, and what are the mechanisms maintaining their self-renewal? In this issue of Developmental Cell, Benton et al. (2014) show that in crayfish, hemolymph-derived cells enter a neurogenic niche to replenish neural progenitors.
Incorporating seed orientation in brachytherapy implant reconstruction

Intra-operative quality assurance and dosimetry optimization in prostate brachytherapy critically depends on the ability of discerning the locations of implanted seeds. Various methods exist for seed matching and reconstruction from multiple segmented C-arm images. Unfortunately, using three or more images makes the problem NP-hard, i.e. no polynomial-time algorithm can provably compute the complete matching. Typically, a statistical analysis of performance is considered sufficient. Hence it is of utmost importance to exploit all the available information in order to minimize the matching and reconstruction errors. Current algorithms use only the information about seed centers, disregarding the information about the orientations and length of seeds. While the latter has little dosimetric impact, it can positively contribute to improving seed matching rate and 3D implant reconstruction accuracy. It can also become critical information when hidden and spuriously segmented seeds need to be matched, where reliable and generic methods are not yet available. Expecting orientation information to be useful in reconstructing large and dense implants, we have developed a method which incorporates seed orientation information into our previously proposed reconstruction algorithm (MARSHAL). Simulation study shows that under normal segmentation errors, when considering seed orientations, implants of 80 to 140 seeds with the density of 2.0- 3.0 seeds/cc give an average matching rate >97% using three-image matching. It is higher than the matching rate of about 96% when considering only seed positions. This means that the information of seed orientations appears to be a valuable additive to fluoroscopy-based brachytherapy implant reconstruction.
900 keV gold ion sputter etching of silicon and metals

Au ions (900 keV) have been used to directly sputter etch microstructures in silicon, aluminum, copper and silver. The results presented clearly demonstrate that high energy heavy ions can be used to fabricate microstructures in selected metals and silicon in a single step process.
Aerosol assisted chemical vapor deposition of superconducting YBa2Cu3O7−χ

Abstract A hybrid process, aerosol-assisted chemical vapor deposotion (AACVD), is described for reproducible preparation of superconducting thin films of YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7−χ . The process consists of atomizing a toluene solution of the Y, Ba, and Cu tetramethylheptanedionato complexes using an aerosol generator. The aerosol is transported into a CVD reactor where solvent and precursor evaporation and deposition occur at atmospheric pressure on heated substrates. The process provides stable evaporation rates for all three precursors, yielding constant film stoichiometry throughout the deposition period and from film to film. Superconducting films may be deposited in-situ at substrate heater temperatures above 825°C, or may be formed at lower temperatures by deposition followed by post-deposition annealing at higher temperatures. The microstructure and quality of films are highly dependent on the conditions employed in deposition and in the case of films deposited below 825°C, the post-deposition annealing conditions. Superconducting films prepared by the AACVD/post-annealing process have a metallic normal state resistivity signature with a zero resistance temperature typically above 88K, and are highly c -axis oriented. Transport critical current densities measured at 75 K on polycrystalline films prepared by the AACVD process are 220 000 A/cm 2 and 84 000 A/cm 2 at self-field and 0.1 T, respectively.
Inflammation and diabetes-accelerated atherosclerosis: myeloid cell mediators

Monocytes and macrophages respond to and govern inflammation by producing a plethora of inflammatory modulators, including cytokines, chemokines, and arachidonic acid (C20:4)-derived lipid mediators. One of the most prevalent inflammatory diseases is cardiovascular disease, caused by atherosclerosis, and accelerated by diabetes. Recent research has demonstrated that monocytes/macrophages from diabetic mice and humans with type 1 diabetes show upregulation of the enzyme, acyl-CoA synthetase 1 (ACSL1), which promotes C20:4 metabolism, and that ACSL1 inhibition selectively protects these cells from the inflammatory and proatherosclerotic effects of diabetes, in mice. Increased understanding of the role of ACSL1 and other culprits in monocytes/macrophages in inflammation and diabetes-accelerated atherosclerosis offers hope for new treatment strategies to combat diabetic vascular disease.
The gravimetric density formula for a spherical shell

The formula for the gravimetric density (ρ) of material, between two stations a vertical distance ΔZ apart in a borehole, is (Hammer, 1950): ρ=14πkF-ΔgΔZ,where k is the gravitational constant, F the free air gradient (the derivative of gravity with respect to depth in the absence of matter), and Δg the change in gravity. This formula is generally derived by integrating the vertical component of gravity caused, at a measuring point, by an infinite horizontal plate of thickness t, and then doubling it to account for one measuring point above and below the plate. This results in (Heiskanen and Vening‐Meinesz, 1958), Δg=4πkρt.In fact, however, the earth is not made up of infinite horizontal plates; it can perhaps more reasonably be regarded as a series of spherical shells. It is therefore instructive to derive the expression for the change in gravity associated with passing through one of these spherical shells.
World Synthetic Fibre Trends and the Common Market

Trends in the production of synthetic-polymer fibres are discussed. Forecasts are made for the production of the major generic fibre classes — acrylic, nylon and polyester - in 1985. Prospects of the textile industry of the Nine are considered in a world context.
Drugs targeting functional bowel disorders: lessons from drug trials

Recent insights in the field of functional gastrointestinal disorders have opened the way for novel pharmacological treatments directed at the central nervous system or peripheral targets. Now, universally accepted guidelines on therapeutic trial design and in the conduct and reporting of results of large clinical trials in these functional disorders are required. Several lessons have been learned from recent clinical and pharmacological trials of novel agents in irritable bowel syndrome and diabetic dyspepsia. Approaches that carefully characterize the pharmacokinetics, mechanism of action and pharmacodynamics of a drug, and that select subgroups of patients after a thorough understanding of the drug's effects, should facilitate and enhance the likelihood of accurate assessment of potential therapies.
Diagnosis and management of laryngopharyngeal reflux disease

Purpose of review A practical approach for the evaluation and management of laryngopharyngeal reflux is provided. Recent findings In the absence of definite diagnostic criteria, laryngopharyngeal reflux disease remains a subjective entity. The development and validation of various assessment instruments (the reflux symptom index and reflux finding score) are beginning to remedy this problem. A diagnosis of laryngopharyngeal reflux disease is usually based on response of symptoms to empirical treatment. Investigative modalities such as pH monitoring and, more recently, impedance studies are generally reserved for treatment failures. In contrast to gastroesophageal reflux disease, laryngopharyngeal reflux disease rarely responds to behavior modification alone, or in combination with low-dose histamine-2 receptor antagonists. Laryngopharyngeal reflux disease usually requires more aggressive and prolonged treatment to achieve regression of both symptoms and laryngeal findings. Surgical intervention may play a useful role in selected patients with persistent acid or nonacid reflux. Summary Laryngopharyngeal reflux is suspected when the history and laryngoscopy findings are suggestive of the diagnosis. Failure to respond to an empiric treatment suggests the need for confirmatory studies and consideration of alternative diagnoses. pH monitoring and multichannel impedance studies are the most useful modalities for directing further investigations or therapy.
Confirmation of machine-induced load oscillations during superplastic tensile testing

The mechanical characterization of superplastic materials plays an important role in aiding the understanding of deformation mechanisms as well as in establishing properties critical to developing forming parameters for the fabrication of components. The flow stress of such materials is a strong function of strain rate and temperature, and it is generally found that strain hardening occurs as well. However, in the measurement of the flow stress, it is often found that rapidly oscillating loads occur during straining. Such load oscillations can have important implications in the identification of deformation mechanisms, if such oscillations are caused by the deforming material, and are otherwise important in establishing test procedures and test equipment if related to the these.
‘Transnationalism reversed’: Engaging religion, development and women's organizing in Bangladesh

Synopsis This paper situates women's activism in Bangladesh within the intersecting forces of rising religious extremism, transnational feminism, and global capitalist development. My work here seeks to illuminate intra-movement tensions in the context of women's organizing in Bangladesh to theorize and imagine feminist alliances that are more equitable and just across borders of nation, class and community. At once complicit and transformative, I look at the contradictory spaces women's groups are carving out within multiple constraining power structures. Moving beyond a dualistic framework that posits development and women's rights in opposition to religion and oppression, which serves a narrow and elitist agenda, I call for a more serious engagement with the transnational dependency links and accountability on all sides for forging more equitable and democratic struggles and alliances.
Predicting Special Needs from Information Available at Birth

Summary.-This study investigated relationships between maternal-neonatal contact condition, mother's age and education, and child's sex with child's placement in special education or retention in grade in the regular classroom. Subjects were 76 children born a decade ago at two hospitals with contrasting procedures for maternal-neonatal care. Discriminant analysis indicated that sex of child and maternal-neonatal contact condition best predicted special placement. Maternal education and age were most predictive-and contact condition somewhat less predictiv-f grade retention status. The demand for special education services has increased dramatically in recent years (Bringardner, 1978; Kendall, 1978). Consequently, it is especially important for educators to be able to anticipate the special service needs of children, so that education systems can plan on a realistic basis. Prediction of school performance has been based historically either upon previous performance measures or upon demographic data. Unfortunately, prediction utilizing performance data for very young children has not been very successful (Bayley, 1970). Thus, as Ramey, Stedman, Borders-Patterson, and Mengel (1978, p. 526) have noted, "the demographic approach to predicting school-age performance may represent a viable alternative to child-assessment procedures for fkst-line early screening procedures" [our emphasis]. The present study explored further the feasibility of using information available at birth to predict subsequent academic program placement. The study had two specific purposes. First, the investigation represents an effort to extend previous research which suggests that demographic-based predictions may be feasible (Heber, Dever, & Conry, 1968; Ramey, et al., 1978; Smith, Flick, Ferriss, & Sellrnan, 1972). Previous research has focused on need for or placement in special education programs as the criterion variable. This study investigated how well several variables predict future retention in grade level as well as placement in special education programs. Retention in grade may involve children with relatively "mild" special needs and is particularly important in that anticipation of potential difficulties may enable educators to minimize the risk that this "handicap" will become manifest. Thus, the study was unique in that retention in grade was employed as a criterion variable.
Orbital Ordering and Spin-Ladder Formation in La2RuO5

The semiconductor-semiconductor transition of La2RuO5 is studied by means of augmented spherical wave electronic structure calculations as based on density-functional theory and the local density approximation. This transition has lately been reported to lead to orbital ordering and a quenching of the local spin magnetic moment. Our results hint towards an orbital ordering scenario which, markedly different from the previously proposed scheme, preserves the local S=1 moment at the Ru sites in the low-temperature phase. The unusual magnetic behavior is interpreted by the formation of spin ladders, which result from the structural changes occurring at the transition and are characterized by antiferromagnetic coupling along the rungs.
Polarization-independent mechanically induced long-period fiber gratings

We have developed long-period fiber gratings (LPFGs) utilizing the photoelastic effect and have demonstrated polarization-independent operation. The LPFG is made by pressing a standard, jacketed single-mode fiber between a flat plate and a plate with grooves mechanically machined with a suitable period. The grating's transmission spectrum is easily tuned by adjusting pressure, grating tilt, and length. Furthermore, the grating can be completely erased by removing the pressure from the fiber. Grating attenuation greater than 25 dB has been demonstrated with a notch-location polarization dependence of +-4 nm. In this paper we report drastic reduction in this polarization dependence by two different approaches. Passing through the grating a second time after reflecting off a Faraday rotator mirror was successful; this method may be used with other types of LPFGs. The second approach utilizes our mechanical grating's ability to be double-passed with two fibers side-by-side. Between passes, a fiber-loop half-wave plate aligned at 45 degrees to the plane of the grooved plate swaps power between x- and y-polarization states. The resulting output's measured polarization dependence was smaller than +/- 0.2 nm. Further improvement is expected through careful tuning of the wave plate. We also report a computer model of the filter spectrum and its polarization dependence, which takes into account non-uniform index perturbation, lossy cladding modes, cladding index perturbation, as well as the polarization dependence of the photoelastic effect, characteristics not usually present in UV-induced LPFGs. The model generates transmission spectra that agree quite well with experimental results.© (2002) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Renal cortical hexokinase and pentose phosphate pathway activation through the EGFR/Akt signaling pathway in endotoxin-induced acute kidney injury

While disruption of energy production is an important contributor to renal injury, metabolic alterations in sepsis-induced AKI remain understudied. We assessed changes in renal cortical glycolytic metabolism in a mouse model of sepsis-induced AKI. A specific and rapid increase in hexokinase (HK) activity (∼2-fold) was observed 3 h after LPS exposure and maintained up to 18 h, in association with a decline in renal function as measured by blood urea nitrogen (BUN). LPS-induced HK activation occurred independently of HK isoform expression or mitochondrial localization. No other changes in glycolytic enzymes were observed. LPS-mediated HK activation was not sufficient to increase glycolytic flux as indicated by reduced or unchanged pyruvate and lactate levels in the renal cortex. LPS-induced HK activation was associated with increased glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity but not glycogen production. Mechanistically, LPS-induced HK activation was attenuated by pharmacological inhibitors of the EGF receptor (EGFR) and Akt, indicating that EGFR/phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt signaling is responsible. Our findings reveal LPS rapidly increases renal cortical HK activity in an EGFR- and Akt-dependent manner and that HK activation is linked to increased pentose phosphate pathway activity.
Radioiodinated bleomycin: stoichiometry of iodination and structural characterization by 1H-nuclear magnetic resonance.

Abstract Bleomycin was iodinated by reaction with iodine monochloride (ICl). A direct relationship was found to exist between the average number of iodine atoms bound per molecule of bleomycin and the ICl: bleomycin molar ratio. Characterization by 1 H-NMR analysis denoted that mono, di-, tri- and tetraiodobleomycin are formed when the reacing molar ratios, respectively, are 2:1, 4:1, 6.8:1 and 8.5:1 or greater. The sites of iodination of the bleomycin molecule have been identified to be the imidazole ring which iodinates first, followed by the bithiazole ring system which iodinates last.
Perineal Pad Testing in the Quantitation of Urinary Incontinence

Thirty-seven women with urodynamically proved genuine stress incontinence underwent 2 hours of perineal pad-weighing and answered a series of questions regarding perception of their incontinence. It was found that 22% of patients had a pad weight of ⩽1.0 g after the first hour, compared with 8% for the second hour, and 3% for both hours combined. No association was found between pad weight gain and clinical incontinence severity score. In contrast, answers to simple questions about frequency of leaking episodes and pad use were significantly associated with incontinence severity. Our results indicate that pad-testing is a poor predictor of incontinence severity and provides no improvement in its prediction over answers to simple questions about frequency of leaking episodes and pad use. The high false-negative rate of the 1-hour pad test precludes its use in differentiating continent from incontinent women.
Primary Cutaneous Follicle Center Lymphoma Arising Adjacent to Silicone Breast Implant

Primary cutaneous B-cell lymphomas are a rare clinical entity, comprising only about 3 cases per 1 million people per year. Even more scarce are breast implanteassociated lymphomas. This article presents a case of primary cutaneous follicle center lymphoma that developed adjacent to a silicone breast implant placed during reconstructive surgery. In addition to the case presentation, the article discusses the convoluted history behind breast implanterelated malignancies as well as the relatively new class of non-Hodgkin lymphomas called primary cutaneous B-cell lymphomas.
The Mitochondrial Fission Receptor MiD51 Requires ADP as a Cofactor

Mitochondrial fission requires recruitment of dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1) to the mitochondrial surface and activation of its GTP-dependent scission function. The Drp1 receptors MiD49 and MiD51 recruit Drp1 to facilitate mitochondrial fission, but their mechanism of action is poorly understood. Using X-ray crystallography, we demonstrate that MiD51 contains a nucleotidyl transferase domain that binds ADP with high affinity. MiD51 recruits Drp1 via a surface loop that functions independently of ADP binding. However, in the absence of nucleotide binding, the recruited Drp1 cannot be activated for fission. Purified MiD51 strongly inhibits Drp1 assembly and GTP hydrolysis in the absence of ADP. Addition of ADP relieves this inhibition and promotes Drp1 assembly into spirals with enhanced GTP hydrolysis. Our results reveal ADP as an essential cofactor for MiD51 during mitochondrial fission.