cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Climate Data Analysis Tools Facilitate Scientific Investigations

Insightful analysis of geophysical phenomena often depends on the choice of software tools to access, manipulate, and visualize data sets of interest. These data exploration tasks can be efficiently executed in a single computational environment by the freely distributed Climate Data Analysis Tools (CDAT; http://www-pcmdi.llnl.gov/software-portal/). Although CDAT has been designed primarily for climate science applications, its capabilities are increasingly being enhanced to address the data needs of other geophysical sciences. The CDAT software is based on the object-oriented Python computer language, but the software extends existing constructs to achieve capabilities that are relevant to any gridded geophysical data. Depending on the users preference, CDAT can be fully deployed by either a script or graphical user interface.
High density plasmas produced by ultrafast laser pulses.

We describe temporal and spectroscopic measurements of high-density plasmas produced by focusing intense, 160-fsec laser pulses on solids. Soft x-ray emission with a duration of 2 +- 2 psec is observed up to photon energies of a kilovolt. We observe reduced emission from long-lived spectral lines, indicating the presence of a short-lived, high-density plasma. Reflectivity measurements indicate that absorption of the laser pulse occurs at the surface of the solid before it expands.
The disposition of cocaethylene in rat maternal, placental, and fetal compartments

Abstract Objective: The aim of this project was to examine the disposition of maternally administered cocaethylene in the fetus. Study Design: Pregnant rats with long-term catheter placement received an intravenous infusion of cocaethylene during a period of 30 minutes. At either the completion of the infusion or 6 hours after the infusion the fetuses were delivered by hysterotomy. Maternal and fetal blood and major tissue samples were obtained for assays of cocaethylene and its metabolites. Results: Cocaethylene was present in all samples obtained at the end of the infusion, but after 6 hours it was no longer detectable in the maternal and fetal systemic circulations. However, a substantial amount of cocaethylene was still present in the placenta on both the maternal and fetal sides, with the concentration on the maternal side being higher, indicating that the placenta stores cocaethylene. At the end of the infusion benzoylecgonine was found in all samples and the maternal concentrations were higher than the corresponding fetal concentrations. This order was reversed 6 hours after infusion. Extremely high concentrations of cocaethylene and benzoylecgonine were found in the amnion. Conclusions: These results suggest that the placenta limits the transfer of cocaethylene to the fetus. The high affinity of this compound for extraplacental sites cannot be ignored. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 1999;180:1289-96.)
Inhibition of corticotropin releasing factor expression in the central nucleus of the amygdala attenuates stress-induced behavioral and endocrine responses

Corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) is a primary mediator of endocrine, autonomic and behavioral stress responses. Studies in both humans and animal models have implicated CRF in a wide-variety of psychiatric conditions including anxiety disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, sleep disorders and addiction among others. The central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA), a key limbic structure with one of the highest concentrations of CRF-producing cells outside of the hypothalamus, has been implicated in anxiety-like behavior and a number of stress-induced disorders. This study investigated the specific role of CRF in the CeA on both endocrine and behavioral responses to stress. We used RNA Interference (RNAi) techniques to locally and specifically knockdown CRF expression in CeA. Behavior was assessed using the elevated plus maze (EPM) and open field test (OF). Knocking down CRF expression in the CeA had no significant effect on measures of anxiety-like behavior in these tests. However, it did have an effect on grooming behavior, a CRF-induced behavior. Prior exposure to a stressor sensitized an amygdalar CRF effect on stress-induced HPA activation. In these stress-challenged animals silencing CRF in the CeA significantly attenuated corticosterone responses to a subsequent behavioral stressor. Thus, it appears that while CRF projecting from the CeA does not play a significant role in the expression stress-induced anxiety-like behaviors on the EPM and OF it does play a critical role in stress-induced HPA activation.
Anterior chamber tube shunt to an encircling band in the treatment of neovascular glaucoma and other refractory glaucomas. A long-term study.

Abstract Long-term follow-up results of the anterior chamber tube shunt to an encircling band (ACTSEB) procedure are reported. Thirty eyes of 28 patients with neovascular glaucoma (Group I) and five eyes with nonneovascular refractory glaucoma (Group II) underwent this procedure. In Group I, the average preoperative intraocular pressure (IOP) was 57.1 mmHg. After surgery and average followup of 25 months 96% of eyes had a successful outcome with an average IOP of 15.8 mmHg ( P P
Seasonal occurrence and density of Phyllonorycter spp. (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae) and major parasitoids in Missouri apple orchards.

Seasonal occurrence and density of Phyllonorycter spp. and their major parasitoids were examined in central and west-central Missouri apple orchards for 2 yr. All sites were commercial orchards under standard spray programs. Two of the study orchards were infested with Phyllonorycter blancardella (F.), the spotted tentiform leafminer; another orchard was infested with P. crataegella (Clemens), the apple blotch leafminer; and both leafminer species were found at a fourth orchard site. The major parasitoids attacking the leafminers at all orchards were the ectoparasitic eulophid Sympiesis marylandensis Girault and the endoparasitic braconid Pholetesor ornigis (Weed). Data from sticky traps revealed four distinct flight periods of adult leafminer (spring emergence and three summer) each year, producing four generations (three complete summer and a partial fourth [fall overwintering] generation). Mean leafminer density (mines per leaO increased throughout the season. P. ornigis had four to five distinct adult flight periods, and S. marylandensis had five to six adult flights each year. Peak spring emergence of overwintering S. marylandensis and P. ornigis occurred, on average, 1.5 and 4.5 wk, respectively, after peak adult leafminer emergence. At half of the orchards examined, levels of percentage parasitism declined from the first to the second generation, increased from the second to the third generation, and then declined again from the third to the fourth generation.
A photoacoustic tomography and ultrasound combined system for proximal interphalangeal joint imaging

A photoacoustic (PA) and ultrasound (US) dual modality system for imaging human peripheral joints is introduced. The system utilizes a commercial US unit for both US control imaging and PA signal acquisition. Preliminary in vivo evaluation of the system on normal volunteers revealed that this system can recover both the structural and functional information of intra- and extra-articular tissues. Presenting both morphological and pathological information in joint, this system holds promise for diagnosis and characterization of inflammatory joint diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis.
An unusual complication after excision of a recurrent mucocele of the anterior lingual gland

A case report of a recurrent mucous extravasation phenomenon in the anterior lingual gland is presented. Multiple surgical procedures were necessary to eradicate the lesion. Alginate impression material was used during one of the surgical procedures to aid in defining the margins of the lesion. A foreign-body reaction arose in the tongue as a result of residual alginate within the tissues, necessitating further surgery. The use of this technique cannot be recommended in areas where extension into surrounding tissue planes is possible.
An improved syngeneic orthotopic murine model of human breast cancer progression

Breast cancer drug development costs nearly $610 million and 37 months in preclinical mouse model trials with minimal success rates. Despite these inefficiencies, there are still no consensus breast cancer preclinical models. Murine mammary adenocarcinoma 4T1-luc2 cells were implanted subcutaneous (SQ) or orthotopically percutaneous (OP) injection in the area of the nipple, or surgically into the chest 2nd mammary fat pad under direct vision (ODV) in Balb/c immunocompetent mice. Tumor progression was followed by in vivo bioluminescence and direct measurements, pathology and survival determined, and tumor gene expression analyzed by genome-wide microarrays. ODV produced less variable-sized tumors and was a reliable method of implantation. ODV implantation into the chest 2nd mammary pad rather than into the abdominal 4th mammary pad, the most common implantation site, better mimicked human breast cancer progression pattern, which correlated with bioluminescent tumor burden and survival. Compared to SQ, ODV produced tumors that differentially expressed genes whose interaction networks are of importance in cancer research. qPCR validation of 10 specific target genes of interest in ongoing clinical trials demonstrated significant differences in expression. ODV implantation into the chest 2nd mammary pad provides the most reliable model that mimics human breast cancer compared from subcutaneous implantation that produces tumors with different genome expression profiles of clinical significance. Increased understanding of the limitations of the different preclinical models in use will help guide new investigations and may improve the efficiency of breast cancer drug development .
Functional differentiation of the placental syncytiotrophoblast: Effect of estrogen on chorionic somatomammotropin expression during early primate pregnancy.

Estrogen stimulates morphological and functional (i.e. steroidogenesis) differentiation of the primate placental trophoblast, and with advancing gestation there is an increase in estrogen and placental chorionic somatomammotropin (CS) mRNA and protein levels. To examine whether CS formation is regulated by estrogen, placental villous trophoblast CS was determined in baboons in which estradiol levels in uterine vein were increased 2- to 3-fold (P < 0.01) on d 60 of pregnancy (term = 184 d) by administration of aromatizable androstenedione on d 30–59 or estradiol benzoate on d 45–59 of gestation. Androstenedione and estradiol treatment resulted in a 75% decrease (P < 0.01) in placental whole villous CS-3 mRNA and CS protein levels, determined by Northern and Western blot analysis, on d 60, and a corresponding decrease in syncytiotrophoblast CS protein and maternal serum CS levels. In contrast, placental villous Δ5-3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase-2, and P-450 aromatase prote...
JWST on-orbit multi-field wavefront control with a Kalman filter

An effective multi-field wavefront control (WFC) approach is demonstrated for the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) on-orbit optical telescope element (OTE) fine-phasing using wavefront measurements at the NIRCam pupil, and the optical and computational implications of this approach are discussed. The integration of a Kalman Filter as an optical state estimator into the JWST wavefront control process to further improve the robustness of the fine-phasing JWST OTE alignment will also be discussed. Through a comparison of WFC performances between the JWST on-orbit and ground-test optical system configurations, the connection (and a possible disconnection) between WFC and optical system alignment under these circumstances are analyzed. Our MACOS-based [2] computer simulation results will be presented and discussed.
How Are We Preparing Students With Emotional Disturbances for the Transition to Young Adulthood? Findings From the National Longitudinal Transition Study—2

The authors describe five principles they identified from the literature on exemplary practices to help students with emotional disturbances (ED) have positive secondary school experiences and successful trajectories into early adulthood.The five are relationships, rigor, relevance, attention to the whole child, and involving students and families in goal-driven transition planning.The authors evaluated implementation of these practices for middle and secondary school students with ED by using data from a nationally representative longitudinal study of students receiving special education services. The results suggest that exposure to best practices has improved since the 1980s and is similar to that for students with other disabilities, but significant opportunity for improvement remains. The authors also identify implications for school programming.
A Role for Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 in Restenosis

With more than 30% of patients requiring an additional intervention within 1 year after PTCA, restenosis continues to be a clinical complication of enormous importance.1 Because the nature of the causative event, neointimal hyperplasia arising from vascular injury, and the timing of the initiating event, the time of PTCA, are well defined, it seems that restenosis should be a ready target for treatment and prevention. Nevertheless, restenosis has remained stubbornly resistant to therapy for almost 20 years. This contradiction implies that our knowledge of the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying restenosis is inadequate and/or that the therapeutic targets selected thus far have not been optimal. In the present issue of Circulation , Yasukawa et al2 examine the role of ICAM-1 in intimal hyperplasia. These investigators show that ICAM-1 is expressed early and intensely in rat carotid arteries after balloon injury and that an MAb to ICAM-1 significantly suppresses intimal hyperplasia in the rat model of restenosis. Thus, this article provides new insights into the basic changes that occur within developing restenotic lesions, implicates ICAM-1 in the mechanisms leading to intimal hyperplasia, and identifies a new candidate target to consider for the treatment of restenosis. ICAM-1 is a highly glycosylated cell surface protein of 95 kD. It is expressed at variable levels on EC, SMC, fibroblasts, several tumor cell lines, and circulating leukocytes.3 On cultured EC and SMC, the levels of ICAM-1 are dramatically upregulated on treatment with inflammatory mediators, such as TNF-α, interferon-γ, interleukin-1, and bacterial lipopolysaccharide.4 5 TNF-α augments …
Second order effects in the Coulomb excitation of doubly even nuclei

Abstract A recent compilation of graphs containing orbital integrals for the calculation of second-order processes in the Coulomb excitation of doubly even nuclei was used to estimate the way in which reorientation experiments depend on interference terms via higher 2 + states. A possible way to measure the interference term by gamma angular distribution experiments is considered.
Tumor suppressor p53 is a direct transcriptional activator of the human bax gene

The bax gene promoter region contains four motifs with homology to consensus p53-binding sites. In cotransfection assays using p53-deficient tumor cell lines, wild-type but not mutant p53 expression plasmids transactivated a reporter gene plasmid that utilized the bax gene promoter to drive transcription of chloramphenicol acetyltransferase. In addition, wild-type p53 transactivated reporter gene constructs containing a heterologous minimal promoter and a 39-bp region from the bax gene promoter in which the p53-binding site consensus sequences reside. Introduction of mutations into the consensus p53-binding site sequences abolished p53 responsiveness of reporter gene plasmids. Wild-type but not mutant p53 protein bound to oligonucleotides corresponding to this region of the bax promoter, based on gel retardation assays. Taken together, the results suggest that bax is a p53 primary-response gene, presumably involved in a p53-regulated pathway for induction of apoptosis.
The nature of the transition region formed between dc-bases rf sputtered TiC films and steel substrates

Abstract The chemistry and microstructure of the interfacial layer formed between rf bias sputtered TiC films and steel substrates have been investigated as a function of substrate growth conditions using Auger electron spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Chemical information was obtained using point-by-point independent micro-stylus and Auger measurements. A dc bias ( V s )it ranging from 0 to −1000 V was applied to the steel substrate during the initial 5 min of film deposition. It was found that under bias sputtering conditions in the presence of small partial pressures of oxygen, C was preferentially resputtered as oxygen was incorporated. A transition region was thus formed between the steel substrate and the bulk TiC film. Electron diffraction in conjunction with Auger spectroscopy was used to determine the phases present. The distribution of these phases was, in order, Fe, FeTiO 3 , TiO 2 , and TiC. The width of the transition region, w , which ranged up to 3000 A, increased with increasing V s it. w was not particularly sensitive to the substrate temperature during growth (T s ) except at high values of V s it where one might expect to obtain ion bombardment enhanced diffusion. Increased film substrate adhesion, previously observed to be related to both V s it and T s are explained by the formation of a wide chemically graded transition region in which successive phases exhibit mutual solid solubility.
Energy Bands in PbTe

The augmented-plane-wave method for calculating the band structure of a solid has been extended to include the relativistic terms of the two-component Hamiltonian which is obtained by two successive applications of the Foldy-Wouthuysen transformation to the Dirac Hamiltonian. Basis functions for the secular equation which are basis partners for the irreducible representations of the double group are constructed from the eigenfunctions of the nonrelativistic Hamiltonian. Expressions for the relativistic matrix elements between these basis functions are found and numerically evaluated, and the resulting Hamiltonian matrix is diagonalized to give the energy levels for PbTe. The calculated bands, with only slight modification, appear to be consistent with available experimental information.
High density lipoprotein metabolism in endurance athletes and sedentary men

BACKGROUND Endurance athletes have higher high density lipoprotein (HDL) concentrations than sedentary controls. To examine the mechanism for this effect, we compared HDL apoprotein metabolism in 10 endurance athletes aged 34 +/- 6 years (mean +/- SD) and 10 sedentary men aged 36 +/- 8 years. METHODS AND RESULTS Subjects were maintained on controlled diets for 4 weeks, and metabolic studies using autologously labeled 125I HDL were performed during the final 2 weeks. Lipids and lipoproteins were measured daily during these 2 weeks, and the average of 14 values was used in the analysis. HDL cholesterol (58 +/- 14 versus 41 +/- 10 mg/dl), HDL2 cholesterol (26 +/- 10 versus 12 +/- 8 mg/dl), and apolipoprotein A-I (apo A-I) (144 +/- 18 versus 115 +/- 22 mg/dl) were higher in the athletes, whereas triglyceride concentrations (60 +/- 18 versus 110 +/- 48 mg/dl) were lower (p less than 0.01 for all). Postheparin lipoprotein lipase activity was not different, but hepatic triglyceride lipase activity was 27% lower (p less than 0.06) in the athletes. The athletes9 mean clearance rate of triglycerides after an infusion of Travamulsion (1 ml/kg) was nearly twofold that of the inactive men (5.8 +/- 1.5 versus 3.2 +/- 0.9%/min, p less than 0.001). There was no differences in HDL apoprotein synthetic rates, whereas the catabolic rates of both apo A-I (0.15 +/- 0.02 versus 0.22 +/- 0.05 pools per day, p less than 0.01) and apolipoprotein A-II (apo A-II) (0.15 +/- 0.02 versus 0.20 +/- 0.04 pools per day, p less than 0.05) were reduced in the trained men. Apo A-I and apo A-II half-lives correlated with HDL cholesterol in each group (r greater than 0.76, p less than 0.05 for all) but not consistently with lipase activities or fat clearance rates. This relation between apoprotein catabolism and HDL cholesterol was strongest at HDL cholesterol concentrations of less than 60 mg/dl. CONCLUSIONS We conclude that higher HDL levels in active men are associated with increased HDL protein survival. The mechanisms mediating this effect require better definition, and other factors appear to contribute to HDL cholesterol and protein concentrations among individual subjects.
Is Tongue Strength an Important Influence on Rate of Articulation in Diadochokinetic and Reading Tasks

Purpose The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between tongue strength and rate of articulation in 2 speech tasks, diadochokinetic rates and reading aloud, in healthy men and wome...
Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase Activity Is Critical for Glucose Metabolism and Embryo Survival in Murine Blastocysts *

The phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) signal transduction pathway is a well known mediator of cell growth, proliferation, and survival signals. Whereas the expression and function of this pathway has been documented during mammalian development, evidence demonstrating the physiologic importance of this pathway in murine preimplantation embryos is beginning to emerge. This study demonstrates that inhibition of the PI3K pathway leads to the induction of apoptosis in both murine blastocysts and trophoblast stem cells. The apoptosis induced in both model systems correlates with a decrease in the expression of the glucose transporter GLUT1 at the plasma membrane. In addition, blastocysts cultured in the presence of the PI3K inhibitor LY-294002 display a decrease in both 2-deoxyglucose uptake and hexokinase activity as compared with control blastocysts. To determine the impact of PI3K inhibition on pregnancy outcome, embryo transfer experiments were performed. Blastocysts cultured in the presence of LY-294002 demonstrate a dramatic increase in fetal resorptions as compared with control embryos. Finally, we demonstrate that impairment of glucose metabolism via iodoacetate, a glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase inhibitor, is sufficient to induce apoptosis in both blastocysts and trophoblast stem cells. Moreover, blastocysts treated with iodoacetate result in poor pregnancy outcome as determined by embryo transfer experiments. Taken together these data demonstrate the critical importance of the PI3K pathway in preimplantation embryo survival and pregnancy outcome and further emphasize the importance of glucose utilization and metabolism in cell survival pathways.
Deep brain stimulation for hyperkinetic disorders

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) has a record of safety and efficacy for an expanding range of indications. Recently, the Food and Drug Administration provided approval through a Humanitarian Device Exemption for DBS of the globus pallidus internus and subthalamic nucleus for the treatment of dystonia. There is increasing clinical experience demonstrating that DBS is also effective for other hyperkinetic disorders such as chorea from a variety of causes. The selection criteria, intraoperative targeting, and the postoperative management of DBS for hyperkinetic disorders are discussed.
Comparison of the Effect of Minimum-tillage Treatments on the Overwintering Emergence of European Corn Borer (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) in Cornfields

Field experiments were conducted in 1983 and 1984 to compare the influence of six different minimum-tillage treatments on the overwintering emergence of Ostrinia nubilalis (Hubner) in cornfields. The treatments were: unharvested control, harvested-only, mowed, disked, disked-bedded, and mowed–disked. All treatments reduced O. nubilalis survival compared with the unharvested control. O. nubilalis survival was least during both years in plots that were both mowed and disked. O. nubilalis emergence was significantly earlier in the mowed–disked treatment compared with the harvested-only treatment. The duration of emergence per treatment was longest in the unharvested control and harvestedonly treatments compared with other treatments.
A FORTRAN program for cluster enumeration

A simple FORTRAN program based primarily on the algorithm of Martin is presented for enumerating isolated connected clusters of up to a given specified number of particles on the square lattice. A brief explanation of the workings of the program is also provided to facilitate its use by those interested in this problem. To order 15, the program enumerates clusters at an average rate of approximately 63,000/sec when implemented on an IBM 370/168 with the extended optimizing compiler.
Thermal decomposition of energetic materials 54. Kinetics and near-surface products of azide polymers AMMO, BAMO, and GAP in simulated combustion

Abstract Kinetics of weight-loss during programmed heating at 150°C/s were determined by simultaneous mass and temperature change (SMATCH)/FTIR spectroscopy of the polymers 3-azidomethyl-3-methyloxetane (AMMO), 3,3′-bis(azidomethyl)oxetane(BAMO), and glycidyl azide polymer (GAP). The kinetics match the burn rate of GAP extrapolated to the same pressure and temperature range, which suggests that SMATCH/FTIR gives an instantaneous microscale simulation of macroscale combustion at those pressure and temperature conditions. SMATCH/FTIR spectroscopy enables the gases that leave the surface and form the earliest stage of the flame zone to be identified. Small molecules are formed by BAMO and GAP, but some large fragments are evolved by AMMO. Kinetic constants were determined for AMMO, BAMO, and GAP by isothermal and nonisothermal thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Comparing these data to SMATCH/FTIR kinetics reveals that the accelerating rate of change of mass with time ( dα dt ) at small α control the temperature dependence of the TGA rate constant, while the total mass present at a particular time (1 − α) controls the SMATCH/FTIR kinetics. Irrespective of chemistry differences at low and high heating rates, TGA kinetics would be expected to fail to predict the combustion behavior because the specific reaction rates in the lower and higher temperature ranges fail to connect by factor of several thousand.
Intraseasonal and Seasonally Persisting Patterns of Indian Monsoon Rainfall

Abstract The space–time structure of the active and break periods of the Indian monsoon has been studied using 70-yr-long high-resolution gridded daily rainfall data over India. The analysis of lagged composites of rainfall anomalies based on an objective categorization of active and break phases shows that the active (break) cycle, with an average life of 16 days, starts with positive (negative) rainfall anomalies over the Western Ghats and eastern part of central India and intensifies and expands to a region covering central India and parts of north India during the peak phase, while negative (positive) anomalies cover the sub-Himalayan region and southeast India. During the final stage of the active (break) period, the positive (negative) rainfall anomalies move toward the foothills of the Himalayas while peninsular India is covered with opposite sign anomalies. The number of days on which lows and depressions are present in the region during active and break periods is consistent with the rainfall ana...
Oligomerization of pro-opiomelanocortin is independent of pH, calcium and the sorting signal for the regulated secretory pathway

Studies indicate that pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) is sorted to the regulated secretory pathway by binding to a sorting receptor identified as membrane-bound carboxypeptidase E (CPE) [Cool et al. (1997) Cell 88, 73–83]. The efficiency of this sorting mechanism could be enhanced if POMC molecules were to self-associate to form oligomers, prior or subsequent to binding to CPE. Using cross-linking and gel filtration techniques, we demonstrated that POMC forms oligomers at both neutral and acidic pHs and calcium was not necessary. ΔN-POMC, which lacks the N-terminal sorting signal for the regulated secretory pathway, also formed similar oligomers, indicating that the sorting and oligomerization domains are different.
Standard and novel imaging methods for multiple myeloma: correlates with prognostic laboratory variables including gene expression profiling data

Multiple myeloma causes major morbidity resulting from osteolytic lesions that can be detected by metastatic bone surveys. Magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomography can detect bone marrow focal lesions long before development of osteolytic lesions. Using data from patients enrolled in Total Therapy 3 for newly diagnosed myeloma (n=303), we analyzed associations of these imaging techniques with baseline standard laboratory variables assessed before initiating treatment. Of 270 patients with complete imaging data, 245 also had gene expression profiling data. Osteolytic lesions detected on metastatic bone surveys correlated with focal lesions detected by magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomography, although, in two-way comparisons, focal lesion counts based on both magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomography tended to be greater than those based on metastatic bone survey. Higher numbers of focal lesions detected by magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomography were positively linked to high serum concentrations of C-reactive protein, gene-expression-profiling–defined high risk, and the proliferation molecular subgroup. Positron emission tomography focal lesion maximum standardized unit values were significantly correlated with gene-expression-profiling–defined high risk and higher numbers of focal lesions detected by positron emission tomography. Interestingly, four genes associated with high-risk disease (related to cell cycle and metabolism) were linked to counts of focal lesions detected by magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomography. Collectively, our results demonstrate significant associations of all three imaging techniques with tumor burden and, especially, disease aggressiveness captured by gene-expression-profiling–risk designation. (Clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT00081939)
A new process for atomization of metal alloys

A laboratory apparatus was constructed to atomize metal alloys by forcing them through sintered ceramic disc filters. The process combines filtration of oxides and/or undesirable second phase particles with atomization. Sintered Al2O3 and SiO2 disc filters with average pore sizes in the range of 36 to 150 Μm were used. The effectiveness of various filters in removing “synthetic inclusions” from Al-Ti-B melts was studied. 2 to 10 Μm size TiB2 particles were successfully filtered out. Atomization experiments were done with pure aluminium and 7075 aluminium alloy. Spherical powders, 150 to 2000 Μm in size, of 7075 aluminium alloy with secondary dendrite arm spacings between 4 to 8 Μm, were cold compacted and extruded into a billet. Room temperature longitudinal properties of the billet in T6 condition were: YS 80×103 psi, UTS 94.3×103 psi, elongation 15% and R.A. 42%.
Auxotrophic mutants of Dictyostelium discoideum.

THE cellular slime mould Dictyostelium discoideum is a unicellular organism in its vegetative stage. On starvation, slime mould amoebae gather into aggregates which pass through a morphogenesis culminating in mature fruiting bodies consisting of dead stalk cells supporting a sphere of viable spores1. The laboratory strains of D. discoideum are normally haploid, and the genetic techniques available to study cellular differentiation are based on a parasexual system of analysis which includes selection of temperature-resistant diploids after fusion of two haploid strains bearing complementing temperature-sensitive mutations. Recovery of rare haploid segregants is accomplished by selecting recessive drug resistance markers incorporated into one of the parents2. The parasexual system suffers from a dearth of selectable markers. The creation of a defined minimal medium3 has made possible the isolation of auxotrophic mutants which we describe here. These auxotrophs should improve linkage analysis by increasing the number of selectable genetic loci and should also prove useful for the selection of diploids and for a variety of biochemical purposes.
Anticancer drug pharmacodynamics

A considerable amount of information is available on the pharmacokinetics of anticancer drugs, but much less is known of their pharmacodynamics, that is of the relationship between therapeutic or toxic response and drug concentration. Drug dosage regimens which are to achieve defined therapeutic objectives can only be designed when both the pharmacokinetic and the pharmacodynamic characteristics of a drug are known. There are a few reports in the literature of relationships in man between toxic response and pharmacokinetic parameters of anticancer drugs; and an even smaller number of reports of relationships between therapeutic response and pharmacokinetic parameters. It is suggested that the lack of pharmacodynamic information is currently limiting the application of pharmacokinetic information to cancer therapy. Ways of improving knowledge of the pharmacodynamics of anticancer drugs are suggested.
Sites of endometrial vascular leakage during implantation in the rabbit.

Vascular labelling with carbon suspension was used to identify endometrial vessels demonstrating macromolecular leakage at implantation sites in the rabbit. Extravasation was seen first in venous components of the deep endometrial stroma on the mesometrial aspect of implantation sites. Carbon labelling was apparent in such vessels at 7 d, 0 hr post coitum, (p.c.), and was attributed to gap formation between endothelial cells. Later in the implantation process, leakage was seen as microextravasations of carbon in the lateral and antimesometrial walls of implantation chambers. Here, penetration of vessels by trophoblast was apparent and membranous processes from the trophoblast projected into vessel lumina. Extravasated material (carbon, platelets) was localized to a labyrinthine system of membranes within the trophoblast, and a potential role for the labyrinth in handling of ingested plasma constituents is discussed. A similar process of trophoblastic penetration of vessels occurred on the mesometrial aspect of implantation sites several hours later. Systemic administration of the anti-inflammatory agent indomethacin blocked vascular leakage due to endothelial gap formation but had little or no effect on trophoblast knob penetration of vessels. This observation may explain the results of previous studies in which treatment with anti-inflammatory agents reduced, but could not inhibit completely, the vascular permeability changes at implantation sites.
Pressure and composition dependence of the order-disorder critical temperature of α-CoFe

Abstract The pressure dependence of the order-disorder critical temperature T c of α-CoFe has been measured. The results are used to convert T c 's measured at various compositions to values corresponding to constant lattice parameter. The resulting composition dependence of T c is asymmetric about 50:50 composition. This asymmetry implies that any model based on pairwise interactions that are independent of composition is insufficient to describe the transformation over the composition range in which it is observed.
Performance comparisons of admission control strategies for future wireless networks

The future wireless communication networks will be all-IP based and have frequency reuse factor one thanks to the advancements in smart antennas. In this paper, we study the admission control problems in such networks and use both analysis and simulations to compare four admission control algorithms in terms of the maximum traffic load they can accommodate such that the QoS targets can be met. It is found that the performance of a simple cell threshold based admission strategy is at least comparable with more complicated ones. To account for the impact of handoff on the system performance, we introduce a new concept called handoff density, which, together with traditional traffic density, determines the system performance. The results in this paper also show that in general handoff worsens the system performance.
12-bit non-calibrating noise-immune redundant SAR ADC for system-on-a-chip

Noise coupling mechanism analysis is done for a successive approximation (SAR) type ADC. In the light of this, a simple redundant SAR architecture is presented that nulls conversion phase noise; non-ideal circuit behavior and is compared with the reported work which, in most cases, optimize for conversion speed alone. The 12-bit multi-channel non-calibrating charge re-distribution type SAR-ADC integrated with a large system-on-a-chip is fabricated as a test-chip and a fully integrated device in 130 nm 5 metal 1 poly CMOS "digital" process. Test-chip results show no observable degradations when switching noise was restricted to the conversion phase alone while it shows 3db SNR degradation otherwise. Though designed for 200KSPS settling time, silicon results illustrates maximum operation at 2MSPS using margins actually designed for noise. On the final integrated version, 11.4 bit ENOB and 71.5 db SNR was recorded in the presence of digital switching substrate noise/IO switching noise and board ground noises.
An automated 60 GHz open resonator system for precision measurement of loss tangent and permittivity

A Fabry-Perot hemispherical open resonator system has been designed and constructed for precision measurement of loss tangent and dielectric permittivity of low absorbing materials at 60 GHz. The resonator system uses a cavity made with optically polished copper spherical and flat mirrors, highly stabilized synthesized phase-locked Gunn oscillator sources, and a superheterodyne receiver to enable measurement of loss tangent values as low as 10 mu rad. Using this system, the real part of the dielectric permittivity can be measured with an accuracy almost as high as that achieved with dispersive Fourier transform spectroscopy. A block diagram of the complete measurement system is presented. >
Equilibrium Shapes of Islands in Epitaxially Strained Solid Films

We calculate the equilibrium morphology of a strained layer, for the case where it wets the substrate (Stranski-Krastonow growth). Assuming isotropic surface energy and equal elastic constants in the film and substrate, we are able to calculate two-dimensional equilibrium shapes as a function of the island size and spacing. We present asymptotic results for the equilibrium shape of a thin island where the island height is much smaller than the island width. We also present numerical results of the full equations to describe the island shape for separated islands, allowing us to characterize the features of the island morphology as a function of island volume.
Stripping Foils for Multiturn Charge Exchange Injection into the Fermilab Booster

Carbon foils with surface densities of 200 ?gcm-2 were selected as the stripping medium for the charge exchange injection system into the Fermilab Booster accelerator. These foils have extremely long lifetimes. The criteria leading to their selection and the preparation method are discussed.
GPU-enabled high performance feature modeling for ATR applications

Computational methods for automatic target recognition are constrained by the need to analyze increasingly high-dimensional sensor data in real time. Parallel processing has the potential to speed up computational bottlenecks in many automatic target recognition (ATR) methods. We will implement parallelized versions of target tracking methods and discuss gains in algorithm completion time.
Inorganic Pyrophosphate A Paracrine Regulator of Vascular Calcification and Smooth Muscle Phenotype

Cellular and molecular similarities between orthotopic versus heterotopic mineral deposition are beginning to emerge. During bone formation, the major orthotopic venue, two general mechanisms drive tissue mineralization1 (Table). With endochondral ossification, an avascular cartilaginous skeletal template is first established by chondrocytes; this cartilage template calcifies and is subsequently resorbed and replaced by bone through osteoblast-mediated synthetic activity.1 With intramembranous ossification, osteoblast-mediated bone formation occurs directly in a type I collagen-based extracellular matrix, without preceding cartilage template formation.1 During vascular calcification, the major heterotopic venue, ossification mechanisms similar to those mediating bone formation contribute to vascular calcium load.2,3 At least 4 distinct histoanatomic variants of vascular calcification can be readily identified2,3 (Table). Eccentric lumen-deforming atherosclerotic calcification is associated with both osteogenic and chondrogenic gene regulatory programs in areas overlapping and adjacent to calcifying necrotic fibro-fatty plaques.4 With evolution to advanced disease, endochondral bone formation is observed.2,5 Medial artery calcification, by contrast, is a concentric mural calcification process reminiscent of matrix vesicle-mediated intramembranous bone formation (Table).2,3 In cardiac valve calcification, valve thickening, stippled calcification, and degenerative fatty expansion in the valvular fibrosus occurs early on; this is associated with monocytic- and T-cell infiltration6 and the elaboration of osteogenic gene expression.7 Finally, in the setting of an elevated calcium phosphate product, vascular tissue calciphylaxis occurs in concert with widespread soft tissue calcification, without requisite recruitment of active osteogenic or chondrogenic processes.8 Once considered benign, the deleterious clinical consequences of vascular calcification have now become clear.9,10 View this table: Major Histoanatomic Types of Bone Formation and Vascular Calcification See page 686 In addition to more common acquired disorders (Table), several enlightening congenital disorders of arterial calcification have now been described in detail, including infantile “idiopathic” arterial calcification (IIAC; OMIM #208000).11,12 In IIAC, deficiency …
Studies on dispersed pancreatic exocrine cells. II. Functional characteristics of separated cells.

The functional characteristics of separated guinea pig pancreatic exocrine cells have been examined following dissociation of the gland by a procedure described in the previous paper (J. Cell Biol. 1974. 63:1037). The ability of isolated cells to incorporate labeled amino acids into secretory proteins was assessed biochemically and by quantitative electron microscope autoradiography. Incorporation remained linear for up to 4-h incubation at levels equivalent to those of pancreatic slices; over 95% of the exocrine cells in the population were viable, and all appeared to be equally active in incorporating amino acids. The capacity of separated cells to transport, concentrate, and store exportable proteins was monitored by electron microscope autoradiography on populations pulse labeled with [3H]leucine and chase incubated for 4 h. The same overall pathway previously mapped in pancreatic slices was followed by secretory proteins in separated cells although in quantitative studies a defect was noted in the rate of conversion of condensing vacuoles to zymogen granules. Secretogogue responsiveness was assessed by monitoring discharge of labeled secretory proteins or of amylase in response to carbamylcholine and caerulein to the medium. While the separated cells released secretory proteins linearly for up to 4 h in response to both secretogogues, the net release was ∼50% less than previously noted for pancreatic slices and required a ten times higher concentration of stimulant. The defect may represent alteration in receptors due to the protease used for dissociation. Our data indicate, however, that separated exocrine cells retain their ability to process secretory proteins stepwise and vectorially which is consistent with preservation of structural polarity.
Deposition of Polymer Thin Films on ZnO Nanoparticles by a Plasma Treatment

Ultrathin acrylic acid polymer films have been deposited on the surfaces of nanoparticles of ZnO using a plasma polymerization treatment. The average size of nanoparticles is on the order of 50 nm in irregular shapes. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) experiments showed that an extremely thin film of the acrylic acid layer (15 nm) was uniformly deposited on the surfaces of the nanoparticles. In particular, the particles of all sizes exhibited equally uniform ultrathin films indicating a well-dispersed nanoparticles in the fluidized bed during the plasma treatment. The deposition mechanisms and the effects of plasma treatment parameters are discussed.
Computer simulation of polymeric materials. I. Stress‐strain behavior

A model of polymeric materials has been developed that includes many of the features of condensed-phase polymer chain dynamics, central among them chain relaxation via conformational motion. The model consists of a number of chains of particles that are connected by bonds with multiwelled potentials to approximate the energetics of conformational motion. Interactions between particles on adjacent chains are modeled by short range repulsive potentials. We have examined the stress-strain behavior of the model using molecular dynamics simulations and find qualitative agreement with the observed experimental behavior of polymeric materials.
A hybrid computational model for ultrasound phased-array heating in presence of strongly scattering obstacles

A computationally efficient hybrid ray-physical optics (HRPO) model is presented for the analysis and synthesis of multiple-focus ultrasound heating patterns through the human rib cage. In particular, a ray method is used to propagate the ultrasound fields from the source to the frontal plane of the rib cage. The physical-optics integration method is then employed to obtain the intensity pattern inside the rib cage. The solution of the matrix system is carried out by using the pseudo inverse technique to synthesize the desired heating pattern. The proposed technique guides the fields through the intercostal spacings between the solid ribs and, thus, minimal intensity levels are observed over the solid ribs. This simulation model allows for the design and optimization of large-aperture phased-array applicator systems for noninvasive ablative thermal surgery in the heart and liver through the rib cage.
Work in progress - a new course on Intellectual Property, innovation, and ethics

This paper describes a new course at Lafayette College that introduces students to Intellectual Property (IP) concepts, explores the impact of current IP laws and policy on technological innovations, and examines the ethical aspects of IP in engineering design and practice. Students consider both the details of IP (patents, copyright, trademark, and trade secret) and the interactions between new technology, IP owners, society, and law. Coverage of moral theories and ethics early in the course provides a basis for evaluating arguments about these interactions.