cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Identification of C‐glycoside analogues that display a potent biological activity against murine and human invariant natural killer T cells

We have recently shown that alpha-C-galactosylceramide (alpha-C-GalCer) stimulates invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells and preferentially induces a T helper 1 (Th1)-type response in mice. However, alpha-C-GalCer was found to be a rather weak ligand against human iNKT cells in vitro. Therefore, in this study, we sought to identify a compound that displays a strong stimulatory activity against human iNKT cells, by determining the biological activities of several C-glycoside analogues. From the in vitro screening assays, we found that almost all C-glycoside analogues, which have an E-alkene linker between sugar and lipid moieties, are able to activate human iNKT cells and to induce the maturation and activation of human dendritic cells through iNKT-cell activation. In summary, although alpha-galactosylceramide (alpha-GalCer) remains the strongest iNKT-cell ligand, our study identified E-alkene-linked C-glycoside analogues as potent human iNKT-cell stimulants, and indicated that these analogues could be used as a therapeutic agent in the future for diseases resolved by Th1-type responses.
Ependymal astrocytes in the frog cerebellum

We have examined the ependymal astrocytes of the frog cerebellar cortex in thin sections and freeze-fracture replicas. The somata border the fourth ventricle and give rise to basal processes whose daughter branches cross the molecular layer and terminate as subpial endfeet. Irregular lamellar appendages arise from the basal processes and their branches. In the molecular layer the appendages selectively ensheath apposed parallel fiber boutons and Purkinje cell dendritic spines. Other appendages ramify throughout the neuropil, some contributing to extensive pericapillary sheaths. Freeze-fractured ependymal astrocyte plasma membrane consistently has a greater concentration of intramembranous particles (IMPs) and IMPs of larger mean size than neuronal plasma membrane in the same replicas. Like the astrocytes of the mammalian central nervous system, frog ependymal astrocytes form numerous gap junctions with each other. However, orthogonal arrays of IMPs (“assemblies”) were not observed. Ependymal cells in the frog cerebellum combine the morphology, and probably the functions, of both ependymal cells and astrocytes.
Components of outflow resistance and their correlation with graft patency in lower extremity arterial reconstructions.

Abstract We have used a simple reproducible method to measure total outflow resistance (OR) and its proximal and distal components in 101 bypasses (46 femoropopliteal [FP] and 55 femorodistal [FD]). All bypasses with a distal OR >1.2 mm Hg/ml/min failed within 3 months and all with distal OR 1.2 mm Hg/ml/min before papaverine infusion. After infusion, the mean percentage decrease in both total and distal OR for all grafts was 30% and 31%, respectively. However, there was no significant difference between these papaverine-induced decreases in OR and 3-month graft failure or success. Moreover, in three bypasses, even though papaverine lowered the distal OR from >1.2 to 1.2 mm Hg/ml/min, the graft was extended to a second distal artery as a sequential bypass. These six grafts have remained patent over 3 months. Thus measurement of OR and particularly distal OR is a most accurate predictor of early graft success or failure. Pharmacologic manipulation does not enhance the predictive value of the OR measurement. OR measurements also help to select those FD bypass cases in which extension to a second distal artery as a sequential bypass improves patency. (J VASC SURG 1984;1:817-828.)
Televised obesity-prevention advertising across US media markets: exposure and content, 2010-2011

Objective To examine levels of exposure and content characteristics for recent televised obesity-prevention campaigns sponsored by state and community health departments, federal agencies, non-profit organizations and television stations in the USA. Design Nielsen television ratings for obesity-prevention advertising were collected for the top seventy-five US media markets and were used to calculate household exposure levels for 2010 and 2011. Governmental advertisements were coded for content. Setting United States. Results Average household exposure to obesity-prevention campaigns was 2·6 advertisements per month. Exposure increased by 31 % between 2010 and 2011, largely driven by increases in federal advertisements. In 2011, the federal government accounted for 62 % of obesity-prevention exposure, non-profit organizations for 9 %, community departments for 8 %, state departments for 3 %, and television station-sponsored public-service announcements for 17 %. The greatest percentage increase between 2010 and 2011 was in community advertising, reflecting efforts funded by the Communities Putting Prevention to Work (CPPW) programme. Among thirty-four state and community campaigns, the majority advocated both healthy eating and physical activity (53 %). Campaigns typically had positive or neutral emotional valence (94 %). Obesity or overweight was mentioned in 47 % of campaigns, but only 9 % specifically advocated weight loss. Conclusions Exposure to televised obesity-prevention advertising increased from 2010 to 2011 and was higher than previously found in 1999–2003, apart from in 2003 during the federal VERB campaign. Nevertheless, exposure remains low relative to advertising for unhealthy foods. New federal campaigns have increased exposure to obesity-prevention advertising nationally, while CPPW grants have increased exposure for targeted areas.
Kinetic isotope effects in the intramolecular insertion of a metal carbene into a CH bond adjacent to nitrogen

Abstract An internal competition was used to estimate the kinetic isotope effect of an intramolecular metal carbene CH insertion reaction alpha to a nitrogen atom. A stereoelectronic effect is proposed to explain the difference in magnitude of the observed KIEs for cis and trans diastereomers.
Deactivation of ceria-based SOFC anodes in methanol

Abstract The performance and stability of Cu-ceria-YSZ (yttria-stabilized zirconia) and carbon-ceria-YSZ, solid-oxide-fuel-cell (SOFC) anodes were examined in neat (100%) methanol at 973 K and compared to the performance of the same anodes in dry H2. The presence of Cu catalyzed the decomposition of methanol, so that the initial performance of cells with Cu-ceria-YSZ anodes was similar to CO and H2. However, with carbon-ceria-YSZ anodes, the open-circuit voltage was significantly higher and the reaction over-potential significantly lower in methanol than in H2, suggesting that methanol is a more effective reductant of the anode three-phase boundary region. Carbon-ceria-YSZ anodes were found to undergo rapid and irreversible deactivation in methanol. Steady-state rates of methanol decomposition over ceria-YSZ were found to undergo a similar deactivation as the carbon-ceria anodes. Although no evidence for carbon deposition was observed with methanol at 973 K, the addition of steam was found to partially stabilize both anode and catalyst performance. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of ceria particles in YSZ showed a large change in the morphology of the ceria particles when the samples were heated in methanol, while negligible changes were observed when heating in H2. It is suggested that the results with methanol can be explained as resulting from the very low P(O2) that is effectively produced by having methanol in contact with ceria.
Comparison of NOAA-AVHRR and DMSP-OLS for operational fire monitoring in Kalimantan, Indonesia

Fire products derived from NOAA-AVHRR channel 3 images and DMSP-OLS are compared to determine the most appropriate AVHRR channel 3 thresholds and methods for operational monitoring of fire in Kalimantan, Indonesia. The results indicate that about 77% of AVHRR fire cells derived from a temperature threshold of 321 deg K applied to channel 3 daytime images corresponded with DMSP-OLS fire cells at monthly or longer time scales. However, lower temperature thresholds produced slightly greater correspondence between the two sensors on the same date. By contrast, a contextual algorithm produced a lower correspondence (approximately 50%) between fire products from the two sensors. Although the number and extent of DMSP-OLS fire cells was much greater than fire-cells derived from AVHRR channel 3, the spatial distribution of the two products was broadly similar in the study area.
Mathematics of adaptive wavelet transforms: relating continuous with discrete transforms

We prove several theorems and construct explicitly the bridge between the continuous and discrete adaptive wavelet transform (AWT). The computational efficiency of the AWT is a result of its compact support closely matching linearly the signal's time-frequency characteristics, and is also a result of a larger redundancy factor of the superposition-mother s(x) (super-mother), created adaptively by a linear superposition of other admissible mother wavelets. The super-mother always forms a complete basis, but is usually associated with a higher redundancy number than its constituent complete orthonormal (CON) bases. The robustness of super-mother suffers less noise contamination (since noise is everywhere, and a redundant sampling by bandpassings can suppress the noise and enhance the signal). Since the continuous super-mother has been created off-line by AWT (using least-mean-squares neural nets), we wish to accomplish fast AWT on line. Thus, we formulate AWT in discrete high-pass (H) and low-pass (L) filter bank coefficients via the quadrature mirror filter (QMF), a digital subband lossless coding. A linear combination of two special cases of the complete biorthogonal normalized (Cbi-ON) QMF [L(z),H(z),L+(z),H+(z)], called α-bank and β-bank, becomes a hybrid aα + bβ-bank (for any real positive constants a and b) that is still admissible, meaning Cbi-ON and lossless. Finally, the power of AWT is the implementation by means of wavelet chips and neurochips, in which each node is a daughter wavelet similar to a radial basis function using dyadic affine scaling.
An Attentional Adaptation Account of Spatial Negative Priming: Evidence from Event-Related Potentials

Negative priming (NP) refers to a slower response to a target stimulus if it has been previously ignored. To examine theoretical accounts of spatial NP, we recorded behavioral measures and event-related potentials (ERPs) in a target localization task. A target and distractor briefly appeared, and the participant pressed a key corresponding to the target’s location. The probability of the distractor appearing in each of four locations varied, whereas the target appeared with equal probabilities in all locations. We found that response times (RTs) were fastest when the prime distractor appeared in its most probable (frequent) location and when the prime target appeared in the location that never contained a distractor. Moreover, NP effects varied as a function of location: They were smallest when targets followed distractors in the frequent distractor location—a finding not predicted by episodic-retrieval or suppression accounts of NP. The ERP results showed that the P2, an ERP component associated with attentional orientation, was smaller in prime displays when the distractor appeared in its frequent location. Moreover, no differences were apparent between negative-prime and control trials in the N2, which is associated with suppression processes, nor in the P3, which is associated with episodic retrieval processes. These results indicate that the spatial NP effect is caused by both short- and long-term adaptation in preferences based on the history of inspecting unsuccessful locations. This article is dedicated to the memory of Edward E. Smith, and we indicate how this study was inspired by his research career.
Salton sea research well

Two University of California, Riverside, scientists propose to extend a planned 3.7-km-deep steam-production well in the Salton Sea geothermal field to 5.5 km for scientific study prior to the well's commercial use. The Salton Sea, a hydrothermal-magma system in the delta of the Colorado River, is one of the hottest, most saline geothermal fields known, and the proposed extension would make the hole the deepest geothermal well in the world. The investigators expect that, unless temperature reversals occur, bottom-hole temperatures in the extended well should exceed 400°C. Investigators interested in participating in the study are being invited to submit fundingproposals.
Stimulus categorization by brain-damaged patients

Patients with localized insult to the right hemisphere, or to either the anterior or the posterior portion of the left hemisphere, as well as neurologically intact controls, evaluated stimuli on a seven-point rating scale for their degree of category membership. The stimuli were taken from one of two continua, one composed of fruit and vegetable items, and the other of items differing in hue and shape. Different subsets of stimuli provided different contexts for the judgments of category membership. The two left-hemisphere groups showed anomalies in categorizing the fruit and vegetable items but not the perceptual items, while the reverse was true for the right-hemisphere patients. Moreover, both left-hemisphere groups demonstrated context effects in their judgments of the representativeness of the fruit and vegetable items, but differed in the way in which they responded to changing contexts. Left posterior patients demonstrated weak category boundaries and even reclassified items. In contrast, patients with left anterior damage showed highly categorical responses and less differentiation of items within a category. All groups showed striking context effects in judgments of perceptual items in terms of changes in representativeness ratings and the location of a category boundary. Alternative interpretations of the results are offered.
On Leray’s problem of steady Navier-Stokes flow past a body in the plane

2. FLow I N T H E U N B O U N D E D D O M A I N ~') . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 0 2.1. Properties of the vorticity and its level-sets . . . . . . . . . . 81 2.2. Boundedness of the velocity, convergence of 7, and additional properties of the vorticity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89 2.3. Convergence and decay rates in sectors . . . . . . . . . . . . 98 2.4. Convergence of the speed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103 2.5. Some monotonicity results and decay rates for the vorticity . 105
Proton Transfer Reactions and Hydrogen Bonding in Solution

This chapter reviews some nontraditional theoretical views developed in this group on acid-base proton transfer reactions AH×××B → A-×××HB+ in solution, whose key ingredients are inclusion of the quantum character of the proton motion, the identification of a solvent coordinate as the reaction coordinate, and attention to the AB hydrogen (H-) bond in the reacting pair. A special emphasis is placed on the several distinct important roles played by H-bonding. These include, for the AB H-bond in the reacting pair, the determination of the appropriate quantum regime for the reaction and, for the reaction pair-solvent interactions, the H-bond rearrangements involved in the reaction coordinate. While the focus is on ground electronic state proton transfers, some remarks are given for excited state proton transfers, where ultrafast dynamics can be studied. In addition, a key ingredient of the novel theoretical perspective involving the AB H-bond is commented upon in connection with ultrafast infrared experimental studies of H-bond dynamics in water.
The Construct of Talent.

In recent literature featuring theory, research, and practice in the field known as gifted education the terms gifted and talented are often used as if they had precisely the same meaning. In some cases, there is simply an implicit acceptance of the synonymous nature of the terms or at least a parallel meaning. In others, it is explicitly stated that the terms will be used interchangeably. For example, Tannenbaum (1993), in a chapter reviewing the history of gifted education, created a footnote explaining that "'giftedness' and 'talent' are used synonymously to encompass publicly valued abilities possessed by one to two percent of people at each developmental stage" (p. 3). As Passow & Rudnitski (1995) noted, although the blending of these terms has not always been common practice, the stage was set for this cojoined use with the acceptance of the definition known as the Marland definition of giftedness (U.S. Commissioner of Education, 1972). Prior to the introduction of the Marland definition, the term talented was variously used to indicate a level of potential just below that of giftedness, to designate special abilities in nonintellectual domains (e.g., the visual and performing arts and leadership), and for abilities in the specific academic domains or all of these.
Polyacrylamide gel electrophoretic methods in the separation of structural muscle proteins

Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis plays a major role in analyzing the function of muscle structural proteins. This review describes one- and two-dimensional gel electrophoretic methods for qualitative and quantitative investigation of the muscle proteins, with special emphasis on determination of protein phosphorylation. The electrophoretic studies established the subunit structures of the muscle proteins, characterized their multiple forms, revealed changes in subunit composition or shifts in isoform distribution of specific proteins during development, upon stimulation or denervation of the muscle. Protein phosphorylation during muscle contraction is preferentially studied by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. The same method demonstrated protein alterations in human neuromuscular diseases.
Complement and systemic lupus erythematosus

Purpose of review It is well recognized that the complement system plays multiple roles in systemic lupus erythematosus. Activation of the classical pathway by immune complexes leads to the generation of inflammatory mediators, thus promoting tissue injury. Complement activation also plays an important role in the maintenance of tolerance to self-antigens. This review discusses recent insights in the role of complement in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus. Recent findings The antiphospholipid syndrome is a major feature of systemic lupus erythematosus. New findings have clearly demonstrated that the prothrombotic effects seen in a mouse model of this syndrome depend on complement activation, whereas the protective effects of heparin are due to its anticomplementary effects rather than its anticoagulant action. Secondly, a potential mechanism explaining the association of anti-C1q autoantibodies with lupus glomerulonephritis has been elucidated in a mouse model system. Summary New findings have helped to reinforce the role of complement in the etiology and tissue damage of systemic lupus erythematosus. These findings point to more precise, mechanism-based therapies for autoimmune and inflammatory disease.
Preoperative anemia and its management

The WHO defines anemia as 13 g/dl in males, 12 g/dl in non-pregnant women, and 11 g/dl in pregnant women. Anemia is prevalent in various patient populations. The detrimental affect of anemia is present in all of this population of patients. Preoperative anemia is associated with perioperative increased perioperative morbidity and mortality and increased risks of blood transfusion, a standardized approach for the detection, evaluation, and management of anemia is needed.
A novel model of large vessel ischemic stroke in rabbits: microcatheter occlusion of the posterior cerebral artery

Background and purpose The rabbit small clot embolic model for large vessel occlusion (LVO) is well established, yet has limitations. Blind introduction of autologous thrombus often fails to completely occlude a target vessel and, when successful, the precise timing of occlusion and revascularization is difficult to control. Studies of cellular biology and neuroimaging of acute reversible cerebral ischemia (ie, penumbral tissue) would benefit from a rabbit model in which LVO can be reliably induced, easily confirmed, and in which the time of occlusion and revascularization can be precisely controlled. Methods Transfemoral 1.5 F microcatheterization of the posterior cerebral artery (PCA) was performed in anesthetized rabbits (n=7) using fluoroscopic guidance. LVO with the wedged microcatheter was maintained for 30–210 min followed by reperfusion. Diffusion-weighted and T2 fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) MRI was performed 3 h after catheter removal on a 3 T scanner. Post-mortem histopathologic analysis of brain tissue was performed using triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC). Results Placing of the 1.5 F microcatheter tip in the PCA was successful in all seven animals. Infarct size on matched diffusion-weighted and TTC sections was strongly correlated (r 2 =0.86). Transient PCA occlusion of 30–60 min resulted in infarction of the ipsilateral hippocampus and thalamus, sparing the cortex, while more prolonged occlusion (180–210 min) resulted in cortical infarction as well. Conclusions Image-guided microcatheter induction of PCA occlusion in rabbits can consistently produce time-dependent infarction of cortical and subcortical structures that is reliably detected by diffusion-weighted MRI, and thus may be a useful model for therapeutic studies in acute ischemic stroke.
Some trends and perspectives on globalization, economic growth, equality, and development.

The world economy is more complex than it has ever been. This paper looks at some frameworks used for description, analysis, and prediction in the three areas of economic growth, equality, and development, while also highlighting some important past and current trends. The selection of frameworks and trends represents clearly a necessarily brief and subjective choice of the author on the basis of his perception of their "usefulness" for purposes of public and private decision-making. The paper starts by discussing how economic growth is impacting the classification of the economies of the world. It then looks at how countries' economies can be viewed in terms of ease of doing business, of adaptability to openness and change, and of types of capitalism adopted. In the second section, issues of economic inequality within and between the countries of the world and their citizens are examined. In the third section, the paper looks at development. It starts by briefly discussing the merits of going beyond GDP and of looking at the Human Development Index (HDI) in order to try to measure other forms of progress, such as in health and education. The paper then traces the evolution of development economics and the advice given to policy makers in developing countries, and also examines the role of institutions in development and the controversies surrounding foreign aid. It concludes by looking briefly at additional dimensions of human development such as empowerment and sustainability. The picture that emerges is one of a world in which decision-makers have to make use in a combined way of a plurality of disciplines to understand the realities confronting them and to design and implement good policies. In so doing, they have to confront the challenges of appropriate sequencing, must very often choose second-best options, and have to make clever use of the lessons learned from countries with very different geographical, political, economic, social, legal, technological, and cultural environments and constraints.
Apparent stress, fault maturity and seismic hazard for normal-fault earthquakes at subduction zones

SUMMARY The behavior of apparent stress for normal-fault earthquakes at subduction zones is derived by examining the apparent stress (τa = µES/M 0 ,w here ES is radiated energy and M 0 is seismic moment) of all globally distributed shallow (depth, h 1M Pa )are also generally intraslab, but occur where the lithosphere has just begun subduction beneath the overriding plate. They usually occur in cold slabs near trenches where the direction of plate motion across the trench is oblique to the trench axis, or where there are local contortions or geometrical complexities of the plate boundary. Lower τa (< 1M Pa )i sassociated with events occurring at the outer rise (OR) complex (between the OR and the trench axis), as well as with intracrustal events occurring just landward of the trench. The average apparent stress of intraslab-normal-fault earthquakes is considerably higher than the average apparent stress of interplate-thrust-fault earthquakes. In turn, the average τa of strike-slip earthquakes in intraoceanic environments is considerably higher than that of intraslab-normal-fault earthquakes. The variation of average τa with focal mechanism and tectonic regime suggests that the level of τa is related to fault maturity. Lower stress drops are needed to rupture mature faults such as those found at plate interfaces that have been smoothed by large cumulative displacements (from hundreds to thousands of kilometres). In contrast, immature faults, such as those on which intraslab-normal-fault earthquakes generally occur, are found in cold and intact lithosphere in which total fault displacement has been much less (from hundreds of metres to a few kilometres). Also, faults on which high τa oceanic strike-slip earthquakes occur are predominantly intraplate or at evolving ends of transforms. At subduction zones, earthquakes occurring on immature faults are likely to be more hazardous as they tend to generate higher amounts of radiated energy per unit of moment than earthquakes occurring on mature faults. We have identified earthquake pairs in which an interplate-thrust and an intraslab-normal earthquake occurred remarkably close in space and time. The intraslab-normal member of each pair radiated anomalously high amounts of energy compared to its thrust-fault counterpart. These intraslab earthquakes probably ruptured intact slab mantle and are dramatic examples in which Me (an energy magnitude) is shown to be a far better estimate of the potential for earthquake damage than MW . This discovery may help explain why loss of life as a result of intraslab earthquakes was greater in the 20th century in Latin America than the fatalities associated with interplate-thrust events that represented much higher total moment release.
Ideological toxicology: invalid logic, science, ethics about low-dose pollution

As illustrated by the case of ethanol, claim H is that, for some biological endpoints, low-dose toxins and carcinogens exhibit hormesis, a beneficial or adaprive response characterized by biphasic dose reponses and resulting from compensatory biological processes following an initial disruption in homeostasis. From this uncontroversial claim H, however, the paper argues that some toxicologists invalidly infer HG (that H is generalizable across biological model, endpoint measured, and chemical class) and HD (that a strong case can be made for the use of hormesis H as a default assumption in the risk-assessment/regulation process), Evaluating HG and HD, this paper argues for 5 claims. While (1) H is true, (2) HG falls victim to several logical fallacies and therefore is logically, scientifically, and ethically invalid. (3) Because it relies on logical fallacies, confuses necessary and sufficient conditions, and violates at least 5 sets of ethical norms, HD is logically, scientifically, and ethically invalid...
Integer Farkas Lemma

Farkas type results are available for solutions to linear systems. These can also include restrictions such as nonnegative solutions or integer solutions. They show that the unsolvability can be reduced to a single constraint that is not solvable and this condition is implied by the original system. Such a result does not exist for integer solution to inequality system because a single inequality is always solvable in integers. But a single equation that does not have nonnegative integer solution exists. We present some cases when polynomial algorithms to find nonnegative integer solutions exist.
Contents and Formulations of Platelet Rich Plasma

Multiple studies have demonstrated a role for platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in accelerating and facilitating improved response to injury. The cellular response to injury progresses through 4 general stages: hemostasis, inflammation, proliferation, and finally remodeling. Each phase is characterized by enhanced cellular or molecular activity, all of which involve platelets. Blood plasma and platelets are responsible for hemostasis, whereas leukocytes and activated platelets mediate inflammation, and growth factors derived from platelet α-granules influence tissue regeneration. Specifically, the leukocyte content of PRP is thought to influence the inflammatory phase, whereas angiogenic and mitogenic growth factor concentrations are believed to aid tissue regeneration. Both the precise composition of PRP and its formulation affect the cellular environment in which it is placed and determine its overall effect on tissue repair.
X‐Ray Absorption Spectroscopy Study of the Local Structure of Heavy Metal Ions Incorporated into Electrodeposited Nickel Oxide Films

The incorporation of heavy metal ions into simulated corrosion films has been investigated using spectroscopic and electrochemical techniques. The films were formed by electrodeposition of the appropriate oxide (hydroxide) onto a graphite substrate. Synchrotron X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) was used to determine the structure and composition of the host oxide film, as well as the local structure of the impurity ion. Results on the incorporation of Ce and Sr into surface films of Ni(OH){sub 2} and NiOOH are reported. Cathodically deposited Ni(OH){sub 2} was found to be mainly in the alpha form while anodically prepared NiOOH showed the presence of Ni{sup +2} and Ni{sup +4}. Cerium incorporated into Ni(OH){sub 2} exists as mixed Ce{sup +3} and Ce{sup +4} phases; a Ce{sup +4} species was found when Ce was codeposited with NiOOH. The structure of the Ce{sup +4} phase in anodic films appears similar to a Ce(OH){sub 4} standard. However, XAS, X-ray diffraction, and laser Raman measurements indicate that the latter chemical formulation is probably incorrect and that the material is really a disordered form of hydrous cerium oxide. The local structure of this material is similar to CeO{sub 2} but has much higher structural disorder. The significance of this findingmore » on the question of the structure of Ce-based corrosion inhibitors in aluminum oxide films is pointed out. Moreover, the authors found it possible to form pure Ce oxide (hydroxide) films on graphite by both cathodic and anodic electrodeposition; their structures have also been elucidated. Strontium incorporated into nickel oxide films consists of Sr{sup +2} which is coordinated to oxygen atoms and is likely to exist as small domains of coprecipitated material.« less
How to Submit a Nail Specimen

The scarcity of specific submission protocols for nail unit biopsies presents many challenges for appropriate specimen processing. Many nail biopsies are received fragmented or without orientation, often resulting in less-than-ideal tissue embedding and poor histologic sections, which are difficult to interpret. Methods are described for proper nail matrix/bed biopsy and plate submission that incorporate aspects of previous submission protocols and include inking the biopsy specimen along with submitting the tissue on a drawing of the nail. Also described is a technique for maintaining adherence of nail plate to glass slides, a chronic challenge in the laboratory.
QUANTUM YIELDS OF THE LUMINOL CHEMILUMINESCENCE REACTION IN AQUEOUS AND APROTIC SOLVENTS

Abstract— Quantum yields for luminol (3-aminophthalic hydrazide) chemiluminescence reactions fall into two classes depending on oxidizing conditions. In aprotic solvents the quantum yield is high and the excitation yield which allows for the fluorescence quantum yield of the product, is 0·09 and is unaffected by changes in solution temperature or polarity, or the presence of quenchers. In aqueous solution under optimum pH conditions (11–13), hydrogen peroxide oxidation results in a high chemiluminescence quantum yield with an excitation yield of 0·04 again unaffected by temperature, viscosity or quenchers. Other oxidizing conditions produce lower quantum yields probably by the introduction of competing chemical pathways. The luminol chemiluminescence light standard has been used to calibrate a spectrofluoro-meter with results in good agreement with the quantum yields of the ferrioxalate actinometer and the fluorescence of quinine sulfate and diphenylanthracene.
Culture Shock and Direct Investment in Poor Countries

The role of culture in economic development is experiencing renewed interest among scholars. This study proposes high intercultural transactions costs as a reason for the enduring scarcity of modem capital and technology in poor countries and conducts a statistical test based on the premise that cultural diffusion reduces these costs. The stock of direct investment in poor countries at the end of the colonial era is shown, as predicted, to be directly correlated with the diffusion of Westem culture in the European empires and elsewhere.
Pharmacogenetics of irinotecan toxicity

Irinotecan is an anticancer drug approved in combination therapy for advanced colorectal cancer. Severe, life-threatening toxicities can occur from irinotecan treatment. Although multiple genes may play a role in irinotecan activity, the UDP glycuronosyltransferase 1 family, polypeptide A1 (UGT1A1) enzyme has been strongly associated with toxicity. A common dinucleotide repeat polymorphism in the UGT1A1 promoter region (UGT1A1*28) has been correlated with severe toxicity in cancer patients receiving irinotecan-containing therapy. Prospective screening of patients prior to chemotherapy selection may reduce the frequency of severe toxicities by allowing alternate therapy selections for patients carrying the UGT1A1*28 polymorphism.
Salmonellae contamination of production and processing facilities for broilers and ducklings

Abstract INTRODUCTION PRODUCERS and processors of poultry meats have become concerned with problems of salmonellae contamination in the products offered to the consumer. As reviewed by Van Roekel (1965), effective control and eradication measures are necessary. Information concerning the particular areas in production and processing which are contributing most to contamination with salmonellae may be helpful in indicating the need for improvements in sanitation or in equipment design. In a number of studies both the dressed and eviscerated birds and the plant environment have been checked for salmonellae. Galton et al. (1955) concluded that the organisms were widely disseminated in the processing lines in the three Florida processing plants surveyed. The highest percentages of positive cultures were from edible viscera and the table on which these were packaged. The water bath used after defeathering most frequently yielded positive cultures in one plant studied by Brobst et al. (1958). In an Iowa . . .
Genomic Insights into the Contribution of Phytopathogenic Bacterial Plasmids to the Evolutionary History of Their Hosts

Plasmids are common residents of phytopathogenic bacteria and contribute significantly to host evolution in a multi-faceted manner. Plasmids tend to encode determinants of virulence and ecological fitness that can enhance adaptation to a specific niche or can influence niche expansion. Many of these determinants appear to have been acquired from other bacteria via horizontal transfer, illustrating an important function of plasmids in the acquisition of sequences that enable rapid evolution. These genes can ultimately be delivered to the host chromosome through plasmid integration events, thus stabilizing important acquired determinants within the genome. Most plasmids characterized in phytopathogenic bacteria are self-transmissible and possess suites of genes encoding type IV secretion systems. In addition, the phytopathogenic bacterial plasmid "mobilome" includes insertion sequence and other transposable elements that contribute to the movement of sequences within and between genomes. Possession of mosaic and ever-changing plasmids allows phytopathogenic bacteria to maintain a dynamic, flexible genome and possible advantage in host-pathogen and other environmental interactions that belies the concept of plasmids as apparently selfish genetic elements.
Measuring Performance in Primary Care: What Patient Outcome Indicators Do Physicians Value?

Background: Determining which patient outcome indicators may be appropriate to include in a primary care, practice performance tool is a difficult task. Unfortunately, no published studies currently document the opinions of these physicians regarding which indicators they most value. Objective: To ascertain the level of agreement among primary care physicians regarding the most salient patient outcome indicators for measuring performance in primary care. Methods: A random population survey of 115 adult primary care physicians. The survey consisted of a comprehensive list of health characteristics included in 8 validated instruments (eg, SF-36, Sickness Impact Profile), as well as 10 common clinical indicators and 6 health behaviors. Each item was ranked using a 5-point Likert scale regarding its value for inclusion in a performance measure. Results: Analysis of 93 returned surveys (RR 81%) indicated strong agreement (≥75%) that 19 health characteristics were important or very important. These characteristics fit into 8 domains: physical functioning, psychological functioning, social functioning, pain, quality of life, physiologic symptoms, health behaviors, and clinical indicators. Notably absent were measures of social support and health perceptions. Conclusions: Strong agreement exists among practicing primary care physicians regarding the most valued patient outcome indicators. Development of practice performance measures should be influenced by such data.
An Analysis of Cross Racial Identity Scale Scores Using Classical Test Theory and Rasch Item Response Models.

Item response models (IRMs) were used to analyze Cross Racial Identity Scale (CRIS) scores. Rasch analysis scores were compared with classical test theory (CTT) scores. The partial credit model dem...
Complex bioelectric impedance measurement system for the frequency range from 5 Hz to 1 MHz

Analytic techniques that have been successfully employed in materials science, and to a lesser extent in the study of biologic systems, have potential for improving the application of bioelectric impedance provided that both real and imaginary impedance components can be measured with sufficient accuracy over a given frequency range. Since biologic tissue, particularly animal tissue, is typically highly conductive, phase angles are small, making accurate measurements difficult. A practical four-terminal system employing commercial lock-in amplifiers is described and error sources and corrective tech-niques are discussed.
The administrative staff college at henley-on-thames

An analysis of the administrative staff concept approach to management education in England as exemplified in the General Management Course of and Administrative Staff College at Henley-on-Thames, which the author attended as a “staff observer.” The philosophy, objectives and learning methods that have made the College an outstanding example of successful overseas management training are explained and, to the extent possible, evaluated.
Voice technology in the instrumentation of the automobile

The author discusses the applications of voice technology in modern automobiles. A major goal of this technology is to add artificial intelligence to the instruments of the vehicle to improve the safety and reliability of the vehicle. Two aspects of speech technology are discussed, namely, speech synthesis and speech recognition. Speech synthesis is mainly used to generate verbal warning messages whenever a problem is detected in the vehicle. In addition, verbal messages can be generated to advise the driver to perform certain tasks to improve the performance of the automobile. In the second application of voice technology, namely, speech recognition, the basic goal is to create hands-free control of some of the automobile functions, taking direction from the driver's voice. >
Drug Therapy Recommendations from the 2005 ACC/AHA Guidelines for Treatment of Chronic Heart Failure

Objective:To review and discuss key aspects of the drug therapy recommendations in the American College of Cardiology (ACC)/American Heart Association (AHA) 2005 Guideline Update for the Diagnosis and Management of Chronic Heart Failure (HF) in the Adult.Data Sources:Data were obtained from the ACC/AHA 2005 Guideline Update for Chronic HF. English-language clinical trials, observational studies, and pertinent review articles evaluating the pharmacotherapy of chronic HF were identified, based on MEDLINE searches through January 2006.Study Selection:Articles presenting information that impacts the evidence base for recommendations regarding the use of various drug therapies in patients with chronic HF were evaluated.Data Synthesis:The ACC/AHA 2005 Guideline Update for HF provides revised, evidence-based recommendations for the treatment of chronic HF. The new guidelines are based on a staging system that recognizes both the development and progression of HF. Recommendations are provided for 2 stages of pati...
Erosion of a Silicon Carbide Whisker Reinforced Silicon Nitride

The steady-state solid particle erosion behavior of hot-pressed Si/sub 3/N/sub 4/ reinforced with 0, 10, and 20 weight percent SiC whiskers has been investigated at room temperature using angular alumina particles (63 to 270..mu..m diameter) as the erodent. The impact angle was varied from 30 to 90/sup 0/ and particle velocities were varied from 80 to 140 m/s. These materials were found to be very erosion resistant. However, there was little effect of the SiC whisker reinforcement on either the absolute erosion rate or on the velocity or particle-size exponents for the rates. The lack of a fiber reinforcement effect occurs even though the fiber additions provide an increase in the fracture toughness at high fiber contents. Results on differently processed Si/sub 3/N/sub 4/ base materials showed that microstructural variations due to processing history have a very significant influence on the erosion resistance of the base (matrix) material. The results substantiate the idea that microstructure plays an important, but not fully understood, role in the erosion processes for brittle materials.
The distribution of colloids in the North Atlantic and Southern Oceans

The concentrations and size distributions of small (~200 nm) colloids were measured at three stations in the North Atlantic and two stations in the Southern Ocean. The stations were chosen to cover a range of occanographically distinct rcgimcs, from highly productive nearshore environments to oligotrophic open-ocean waters. Colloid number concentrations decreased appreciably from the surface to - 150-m depth at three of these stations. Concentrations in deep waters of the North Atlantic were high but erratic, suggesting that colloid abundance is regulated by rapid rates of reactions. The colloids were mainly organic and their immediate sources appear to include both autotrophic and heterotrophic activity as well as sediment resuspension. Transmission clcctron microscope examination of colloid size distributions and morphology indicates that aggregation is the principal removal mechanism for these colloids. Evidence from the cumulative size spectra of small colloids indicates that colloid aggregation is most intense in vertically delineated zones near the surface, around the main thermocline (- l,OOO-1,500 m), and in bottom waters. These findings show that the marine colloidal state is abundant but discontinuous in both space and time throughout a wide range of oceanographic environments.
Implementation of continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion therapy: an overview.

Continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) devices are designed to provide physiologic insulinemia. Not only do they offer increased life-style flexi bility, they also make it possible to achieve near-normal levels of glycemia. These devices are programmed to deliver a continuous "basal" infusion. Preprandial bolus doses of insulin are given to prevent postprandial hyperglycemia. Careful patient screening and selection are necessary to ensure a successful outcome. Patients must have the maturity, technical ability, motivation, and financial resources needed to utilize CSII therapy. Initiation of CSII can be accomplished in an outpatient or inpatient setting, but both require a comprehensive educational curriculum.
Vispedia: Interactive Visual Exploration of Wikipedia Data via Search-Based Integration

Wikipedia is an example of the collaborative, semi-structured data sets emerging on the Web. These data sets have large, non-uniform schema that require costly data integration into structured tables before visualization can begin. We present Vispedia, a Web-based visualization system that reduces the cost of this data integration. Users can browse Wikipedia, select an interesting data table, then use a search interface to discover, integrate, and visualize additional columns of data drawn from multiple Wikipedia articles. This interaction is supported by a fast path search algorithm over DBpedia, a semantic graph extracted from Wikipedia's hyperlink structure. Vispedia can also export the augmented data tables produced for use in traditional visualization systems. We believe that these techniques begin to address the "long tail" of visualization by allowing a wider audience to visualize a broader class of data. We evaluated this system in a first-use formative lab study. Study participants were able to quickly create effective visualizations for a diverse set of domains, performing data integration as needed.
Visible absorption spectra of metal–catecholate and metal–tironate complexes

Interactions between metals and catechol (1,2-dihydroxybenzene) or other ortho-dihydroxy moieties are being found in an increasing number of biological systems with functions ranging from metal ion internalization to biomaterial synthesis. Although metal–catecholate interactions have been studied in the past, we present the first systematic study of an array of these compounds, all prepared under identical conditions. We report the ultraviolet–visible absorption (UV–vis) spectra for catecholate and tironate complexes of the first row transition elements. Generation and identification of these species were accomplished by preparing aqueous solutions with varied ligand ∶ metal ratios and subsequently titrating with base (NaOH). Controlled ligand deprotonation and metal binding resulted in sequential formation of complexes with one, two, and sometimes three catecholate or tironate ligands bound to a metal ion. We prepared the mono-, bis- and tris-catecholates and -tironates of Fe3+, V3+, V4+and Mn3+, the mono- and bis-catecholates and -tironates of Cu2+, Co2+, Ni2+, Zn2+, Cr2+ and Mn2+, and several Ti4+ and Cr3+ species. The UV–vis spectra of each complex are described, some of which have not been reported previously. These data can now be applied to characterization of biological metal–catecholate systems.
Distributed system loopshaping design of iterative control for batch processes

Presents a systematic approach to analysis and design of iterative learning control (ILC). A rigorous ILC design method is developed based on detailed specifications for performance, robustness, controller non-fragility, and control amplitude constraints. The designed ILC update is implementable through non-causal convolution window operators. The controller is designed by solving a linear quadratic optimization problem and manipulating control penalty weights. This is related in spirit to the LQG/LTR design method for dynamic controllers.