cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cation-Triggered Drug Release from a Porous Zinc−Adeninate Metal−Organic Framework

A porous anionic metal-organic framework, bio-MOF-1, constructed using adenine as a biomolecular building block is described. The porosity of this material is evaluated, its stability in biological buffers is studied, and its potential as a material for controlled drug release is investigated. Specifically, procainamide HCl is loaded into the pores of bio-MOF-1 using a simple cation exchange process. Exogenous cations from biological buffers are shown to affect the release of the adsorbed drug molecules.
Interpretive Historical Sociology: discordances of Weber, Dilthey and others

Relations of several notions of historical understanding to issues of explanation, historical complexity, practical and moral reason, and the differentiation of historical and natural science are discussed. Examination of the historical context of the German Methodenstreit exhibits similarities with current disjunctions within historical sociology and allows specification of crucial questions about its methods and cognitive goals. Max Weber and Wilhelm Dilthey are discussed as proponents of radically opposed methodological positions. Claims about Weber's reliance on Dilthey are dispelled as it is shown that Weber neither developed nor practiced a ‘method’ of verstehen, while Weber's congruence with Heinrich Rickert is upheld. Oppositions within historiography (Droysen vs.Buckle) and economics (Schmoller vs. Menger) are analyzed as prefigurations of the Weber-Dilthey rivalry. Finally, contemporary historical strategies are summarized with reference to pertinent issues extracted from earlier debates.
The Transport Equation in General Geometry

The streaming term in the transport equation is expressed in arbitrary geometry. It is shown that explicit and relatively simple results are obtained if one uses the surface geometry of the body un...
Interactions between intraspinal Schwann cells and the cellular constituents normally occuring in the spinal cord: An ultrastructural study in the irradiated rat

Relationships between intraspinal Schwann cells and neuroglia, particularly, astrocytes, were studied following X-irradiation of the spinal cord in 3-day-old rats. Initially, this exposure results in a depletion of the neuroglial population. By 10 days post-irradiation (P-I), gaps occur in the glia limitans, although the overlying basal lamina remains intact. Development of and myelination by intraspinal Schwann cells is well underway by 15 days P-I. These Schwann cell-occupied regions have a paucity of astrocyte processes, a finding which persists throughout the study (60 days P-I), and several types of Schwann cell-neurologial interfaces are observed, including: (1) astrocyte separation of Schwann cells from oligodendrocyte-myelinated regions; (2) intermingling of Schwann cell-myelinated axons and oligodendrocyte-myelinated axons in the absence of astrocyte processes; and (3) ensheathment of unmyelinated axons by astrocyte processes which separate these axons from the Schwann cells. The gaps in the glia limitans widen as the P-I interval increases. At 45 and 60 days P-I, the basal lamina no longer forms a singular, continuous covering over the spinal cord surface, but follows instead a rather tortuous course over the disrupted glia limitans and the intrasponal Schwann cells. Although the mode of initial occurence of Schwann cells within the spinal cord is not yet understood, the data indicate that the astrocyte population is involved in that process, as well as in limiting the further development of Schwann cells within the substance of the spinal cord.
Removal of the G2 filter: differences between implantation times greater and less than 180 days.

Purpose To investigate whether filters implanted for longer periods are more difficult or hazardous to remove. Materials and Methods A retrospective review of G2 inferior vena cava filter removals was performed. Objective measures reflecting the difficulty of the removal procedure were evaluated for differences required to remove a filter with an implantation period greater or less than 180 days. Results One hundred seventy of 174 G2 filters were successfully removed (97.7% success rate). There was no significant difference in the success rate ( P = .86), total procedure time ( P = .87), fluoroscopy time ( P = .13), or contrast medium use ( P = .22) required to remove filters implanted for more than 180 days compared to those implanted for a shorter period of time. There was no significant difference in the frequency of filter movement ( P = .90), tilt ( P = .87), and caval penetration ( P = .41) between the two groups. Six filter fractures were observed, all with implantation times greater than 180 days. Conclusions The removal of a G2 filter that has been in place for more than 180 days can be performed as easily, as safely, and with a similar degree of success as one that has been in place for less time. Movement, tilt, and penetration are early events after implantation that may have an effect on successful filter removal.
Crossover and noncrossover designs in four‐point parallel line analgesic assays

Fifty-nine analgesic investigations designed as four-point parallel line crossover assays were examined. Sum of pain intensity differences (SPID) and total pain relief (TOTPAR) were the subjective response measures. Separate analyses with four-point crossover data and first-dose data (noncrossover) allowed comparison within each study of these two approaches. The crossover analysis allows for removal of the subject component of variance, which in these studies was a substantial fraction of the error variance (0.49 for SPID; 0.56 for TOTPAR). For this type of study, 2.4 times as many subjects would have to be recruited in a noncrossover design to obtain precision equivalent to that of the crossover design. Thus efficiency considerations argue for the crossover design in cases in which a treatment carryover effect may be assumed to be negligible. Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics (1985) 37, 242–252; doi:10.1038/clpt.1985.35
NCSX Component Fabrication Challenges

The National Compact Stellarator Experiment (NCSX) is being constructed at the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) in partnership with the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). The stellarator core is designed to produce a compact 3-D plasma that combines stellarator and tokamak physics advantages. The complex geometry and tight fabrication tolerances of NCSX create some unique engineering and assembly challenges. This paper will describe a few of the challenges of the machine's Modular Coils and vacuum vessel field period assembly and how they are being solved. Coil assembly began in November 2005 and to date 3 Modular Coils have been completed. One vacuum vessel 120deg section has been delivered and field period assembly work began in May 2006. Machine sector sub-assembly, machine assembly, and testing will follow, leading to First Plasma in 2011.
Progesterone metabolism in the baboon.

Abstract The metabolism of intravenously administered doubly labeled progesterone [21-14C,7-3H] was studied in three Papio anubis baboons: (i) an intact animal, (ii) an intact animal with prior intragastric instillation of Amberlite XAD-2 and (iii) an animal with a biliary fistula. This approach afforded an evaluation of the loss of the side-chain and possible hydroxylation and/or oxidation of ring-B. The radioactivity excreted as per cent of the amount injected was as follows: in the intact animal (i) 39% 3H and 33% 14C in urine after four days, in the intact animal (ii) 22% 3H and 17% 14C in urine after four days and in animal (iii) with a bile fistula, 37% 3H and 31% 14C in the urine and 25% of both 3H and 14C in the bile after 6 h. In both urine and bile the predominant (>99%) conjugates were glucosiduronates. Side-chain cleavage of progesterone was observed and is postulated to occur at sites other than those of the intestinal tract. The major urinary metabolite was androsterone. Biliary metabolites were shown to be mainly C21 compounds.
Induction of dna synthesis in cultured rabbit uterine cells by estradiol and inhibition of the estrogen response

Addition of 17 beta-estradiol to primary cultures of rabbit uterine cells resulted in the induction of DNA synthesis. This phenomenon is present only in cells cultured at low density. Culture medium taken from high density cultures inhibited it, suggesting that those cells produce a soluble estrogen-inhibiting factor.
Mechanism of UV‐Induced IκBα‐Independent Activation of NF‐κB

Nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB) plays an important role in UV-induced skin tumorigenesis. Activation of NF-kappaB by UV-irradiation is composed of two phases. The early phase culminates with maximal levels of DNA binding ability at 4 h postirradiation and is dependent on translational inhibition. The late-phase activation of NF-kappaB occurs between 16 and 48 h post-irradiation and the mechanism is not clear due to the fact that NF-kappaB was activated in the presence of high level of IkappaBalpha. In this report, we provide evidence that without translational inhibition, the transcription of IkappaBalpha was induced by UV-irradiation. In the late-phase of UV-induced NF-kappaB activation, the IkappaBalpha depletion is the combined result of regulation at both transcriptional and translational levels. Neither ubiquitination nor proteasomal degradation have detectable attributions to IkappaBalpha breakdown. We also demonstrate that UV only induced phosphorylation of p65(S276), while tumor necrosis factor-alpha induced phosphorylation at both Ser276 and 536 sites of p65. Based upon our results, we propose a novel mechanism for translation-regulated IkappaBalpha depletion and MSK-mediated NF-kappaB activation at 24 h post-UV-irradiation.
Transport model study of deuteron production in relativistic heavy ion collisions

Abstract Using a blast wave model for the distributions of hadrons produced from hadronization of the quark-gluon plasma in relativistic heavy ion collisions, we have studied deuteron transverse momentum spectrum and elliptic flow in a hadronic transport model that includes the production and annihilation of deuterons as well as their elastic scattering in hadronic matter. The results are compared with those measured by the PHENIX and STAR Collaborations at RHIC as well as with those obtained from the coalescence model based on the phase-space distributions of freeze-out nucleons from the transport model.
Medication Adherence and HIV Symptom Distress in Relation to Panic Disorder Among HIV-Positive Adults Managing Opioid Dependence

Panic disorder (PD) occurs at greater rates among those with HIV compared to those without HIV. Rates of PD may be elevated among those with opioid dependence (persons who inject drugs, PWID). Persons with HIV experience common bodily symptoms as a result of the disease and these symptoms overlap with those of PD which may contribute to a “fear of fear” cycle present in PD. HIV-positive, PWID represent an at-risk population in terms of poor medication adherence. HIV symptoms and HIV medication side-effects commonly overlap with panic symptoms and may affect HIV medication adherence. The aim of this investigation was to examine the impact of PD on HIV-related symptom distress and HIV medication adherence in HIV-positive adults (N = 131) in treatment for opioid use. Those with a diagnosis of PD evidenced greater levels of HIV symptom distress and lower levels of medication adherence than those without current PD. Results highlight the clinical importance of assessing for and treating PD among individuals with HIV that are prescribed antiretroviral therapy. Future work would benefit from examining observed associations longitudinally and identifying potential mechanisms involved.
For want of a nail: Why unnecessarily long tests may be impeding the progress of Western civilisation

The longer the test, the more reliable it is – up to a point. Howard Wainer and Richard Feinberg expose the costs and hours lost in pursuit of marginal gains and worthless subscores
A Solar Thermal Electrolytic Reactor for Studying the Production of Metals From Their Oxides

A solar thermal electrolytic reactor was developed for studying at a 10 kW scale how a solar reactor’s electrolytic cell design and operating variables influence the performance of a solar process for producing metals from their oxides. Current versus voltage maps as well as current versus time for specified voltages were obtained for the electrolysis of ZnO and MgO within the temperature range of 1200–1500 K and various electrolytic cell configurations. An example of a map is presented. The data from maps and steady-state runs were used to illustrate how we quantify the influence of the cell’s operating temperature and current density on process performance. We also illustrate how one design variable, the cell’s electrolyte, influences process performance.
Spinal cord arteriovenous fistulas involving the conus medullaris: presentation, management, and embryologic considerations.

BACKGROUND Spinal cord arteriovenous fistulas (SCAVF) are uncommon congenital lesions that usually involve the most caudal aspects of the cord. We present three cases of SCAVF that illustrate the clinical manifestations and possible management options. The characteristic involvement of the conus medullaris and an associated tethered spinal cord in one of our patient suggests that a disorder of secondary neurulation may be involved in the formation of these arteriovenous shunt lesions. METHODS Review of records and radiologic studies in three consecutive patients with SCAVF's treated at this institution. RESULTS All three patients had SCAVF involving the lower lumbar spinal cord segments or the conus. One of the conus lesions was associated with tethering of the spinal cord. One small lesion (Type A) was treated surgically, whereas the two larger lesions (Type B) were treated using interventional neuroradiologic techniques. CONCLUSIONS Both surgical and endovascular method have a role in management of these unusual spinal cord vascular malformations. The association with tethered cord suggests that the propensity for SCAVM to occur in the most caudal portions of the spinal cord may result from failure of secondary neurulation to properly develop the unique and complex vascular anatomy of the region.
Reduction of the cross‐tail current during near‐Earth dipolarization with multisatellite observations

[1] We examine a near-Earth current disruption/dipolarization (CDD) event in which two THEMIS satellites were located at nearly identical equatorial projections but separated by the distance from the neutral sheet. One satellite was very close to the neutral sheet with ∣Bx∣, ∣By∣ –8.1 RE) and was not due to magnetic flux pileup (requiring frozen-in condition) or arrival of a dipolarization front from mid-tail (Xgsm < –15 RE) disturbances.
A business language

The paper describes a language and supporting interactive system for use by the small businessman. To help the businessman-user understand and apply an application program expressed in the language, he can watch the application run in a single-step mode. If tailoring of the application program is necessary, the system guides the user by diagnosing inconsistencies in the modified program. The user controls production processing from the same user interface. In the first part of the paper, the language is described. Next some example user sessions are outlined. Finally the prototype implementation and some design issues are discussed.
MEASUREMENTS OF NITRIC OXIDE FLUX FROM AN UPPER COASTAL PLAIN, NORTH CAROLINA AGRICULTURAL SOIL

Agricultural soil NO flux measurements (using a dynamic chamber technique) were made from 18 August to 1 September 1993 in the Upper Coastal Plain region of North Carolina in an effort to determine the role of natural emissions of NO on rural atmospheric photochemistry. Overall average NO flux rates increased proportionally to the level of applied fertilizer nitrogen in the agricultural soil. The soybean, cotton, and corn field measurements revealed an average NO flux of 1.79 (range - 1.0-6.9) ng N m −2 s -1 ; 3.77 (range - 0.1-38.0) ng N m −2 s −1 ; and 8.05 (range - 0.5-52.8) ng N m −2 s −1 respectively. There was a positive correlation between NO concentration near the soil surface (∼50 cm) and NO flux. A significant negative correlation between NO flux and ambient O 3 concentration, however, supports the hypothesis that soil emissions of NO contribute to local production of O 3 in rural areas.
Assessment of FIV-C infection of cats as a function of treatment with the protease inhibitor, TL-3

The protease inhibitor, TL-3, demonstrated broad efficacy in vitro against FIV, HIV and SIV (simian immunodeficiency virus), and exhibited very strong protective effects on early neurologic alterations in the CNS of FIV-PPR infected cats. In this study, we analyzed TL-3 efficacy using a highly pathogenic FIV-C isolate, which causes a severe acute phase immunodeficiency syndrome, with high early mortality rates. Twenty cats were infected with uncloned FIV-C and half were treated with TL-3 while the other half were left untreated. Two uninfected cats were used as controls. The general health and the immunological and virological status of the animals was monitored for eight weeks following infection. All infected animals became viremic independent of TL-3 treatment and seven of 20 FIV-C infected animals developed severe immunodepletive disease in conjunction with significantly (p ≤ 0.05) higher viral RNA loads as compared to asymptomatic animals. A marked and progressive increase in CD8+ T lymphocytes in animals surviving acute phase infection was noted, which was not evident in symptomatic animals (p ≤ 0.05). Average viral loads were lower in TL-3 treated animals and of the 6 animals requiring euthanasia, four were from the untreated cohort. At eight weeks post infection, half of the TL-3 treated animals and only one of six untreated animals had viral loads below detection limits. Analysis of protease genes in TL-3 treated animals with higher than average viral loads revealed sequence variations relative to wild type protease. In particular, one mutant, D105G, imparted 5-fold resistance against TL-3 relative to wild type protease. The findings indicate that the protease inhibitor, TL-3, when administered orally as a monotherapy, did not prevent viremia in cats infected with high dose FIV-C. However, the modest lowering of viral loads with TL-3 treatment, the greater survival rate in symptomatic animals of the treated cohort, and the lower average viral load in TL-3 treated animals at eight weeks post infection is indicative of a therapeutic effect of the compound on virus infection.
Some new results on the inverse problem for electrocardiography

The use of several mathematical methods for estimating epicardial electrocardiography (ECG) potentials from arrays of body surface has been reported in the literature; most of these methods are based on the least-squares reconstruction principle and operate in the time-space domain. The authors present some new results of the singular value decomposition (SVD)-based inverse methods using real data and a realistic high-resolution canine anatomy model. A computer-based system was designed to reconstruct an accurate canine geometric model of anatomy from 31 CT-scan cross-sections that include the internal organs and skeletal muscle inhomogeneities. >
Computational and statistical issues in personalized medicine

Computational methods can be used to find associations between our genome and our traits, and new optimizations to these computations promise to do it much faster.
What Works (and What Does Not) in Youth Violence Prevention: Rethinking the Questions and Finding New Answers.

Over the past decades, public concern over youth violence has led to a proliferation of prevention programs as well as a corresponding push to identify programs that "work". A more accurate understanding of effectiveness as well as failure can be found by reframing the questions to ask what works, for whom, and under what conditions.
Spectral sensitivity as revealed by isolated step onsets and step offsets

Opponent-colour spectral sensitivity functions are traditionally elicited with increments; the temporal presentation of these increments is usually step onset and step offset. However, there are both physiological and psychophysical data suggesting differences in sensitivity for spectral step onsets and step offsets. The purpose of this study was to elicit opponent-colour spectral sensitivity functions with isolated step onsets and offsets, and to compare the form and sensitivity of these functions. Spectral sensitivity functions were determined for large, long duration, step onset and step offset stimuli. Four human observers participated in the study. The opponent-colour functions obtained for onsets and offsets are largely similar in both form and sensitivity. Of particular interest is the finding that there is no reduction in sensitivity for blue offsets. These data are consistent with recently published psychological data and apparently at variance with physiological data that suggest a paucity of S-cone OFF-neurones in the primate retina and dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus (dLGN).
Does cheaper, faster, or better imply sooner in the timing of innovation decisions?

A common myth/conception, based upon the notion of increasing returns to scale in R&D activity, is that large firms account for a disproportionate share of innovations. In this paper we consider three types of informational returns to scale (cheaper, faster, and better) and examine the impact of each on the timing of the firm's innovation decision. Contrary to popular conception, the decision is made later when information is cheaper, and the change in timing is unsignable in the case of faster arrival of information. Only more accurate (better) information leads to earlier decisions.
Parenting Style, Religiosity, Peer Alcohol Use, and Adolescent Heavy Drinking

Objective:The purpose of this research was to examine the associations of parenting style, religiosity, and peer alcohol use with alcohol use and heavy drinking.Method:Structural equation modeling was used to estimate direct and indirect associations among 5,419 adolescents ages 12–14 years from the National Longitudinal Study of Youth 1997.Results:Adolescents whose parents were authoritative were less likely to drink heavily than adolescents who experienced neglectful or indulgent parenting styles. Religiosity was negatively associated with heavy drinking after other relevant variables were controlled for.Conclusions:Authoritative parenting appears to have both direct and indirect negative associations with the risk of heavy drinking among adolescents. Authoritative parenting, where monitoring and support are above average, and religiosity might help deter adolescents from heavy drinking, even when adolescents experience peer environments where alcohol use is common. Authoritarian parenting, although it ...
Nanotextured Electrical Immunoassays for Ultrasensitive Protein Detection

This paper describes the development of nanomonitors, which are electrical immunoassays for detection of multiple protein biomarkers. These devices are hybrid sensors with micro-fabricated electrode arrays on a silicon substrate, and integrated nanoporous alumina membranes to provide protein confinement and signal amplification. The disease biomarkers C-reactive protein and Myeloperoxidase have been detected by the nanomonitors in ultra-low concentrations. Proteins were detected in pure samples, human serum, and patient blood samples. The detection accuracy and sensitivity of the nanomonitors in patient samples was comparable to the Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) method of protein detection. Nanomonitors provide the additional benefits of being rapid, label-free, sensitive, and cost effective, providing improvements over traditional protein detection methods, and having potential applications in disease diagnosis.
Getting to Scale with Good Educational Practice

How can good educational practice move be~ond pockets of excellence to reach a much greater proportion of students and educators? While many children and young adults in school districts and communities around the countrt have long benefited from the tremendous accomplishments of successful teachers, schools, and programs, replicating this success on a larger scale has proven to be a diJficult and vexing issue. In this article, Richard Elmore addresses this problem by anal’tzing the role of school organ izat ion and incentive structures in thwarting large-scale adoption of in novative practices close to the “core” of educational practice. Elm ore then reviews evidence Jrom two attempts cit large-scale school reform in the past — the progressive movement and the
Payload-envelope detection and label-detection integrated photonic circuit for asynchronous variable-length optical-packet switching with 40-gb/s RZ payloads and 10-gb/s NRZ labels

A photonic integrated circuit that performs 40-Gb/s payload-envelope detection (PED) and 10-Gb/s label detection for asynchronous variable-length optical-packet switching is demonstrated. The circuit consists of an InP photonic integrated device combined with electronic GaAs and InP devices on a carrier. Asynchronous variable-length optical packets with 40-Gb/s return-to-zero (RZ) payloads and 10-Gb/s non-RZ (NRZ) labels are processed by the circuit. The circuit outputs a PED electrical signal that represents the temporal location of the payload and a 10-Gb/s electrical signal representing the optical label. The optical label is detected error free. The PED signal has a rise/fall time of 3-ns and 150-ps jitter. The PED signal was also used to erase and rewrite the optical labels error free
A Behavior Systems Approach to Bidirectional Excitatory Serial Conditioning

Abstract The present study explored bidirectional excitatory conditioning using the behavior systems assumption that conditioned responding is related to a sequence of search modes preceding and following the unconditioned stimulus. In Experiment 1a, rats were initially trained with either a forward serial conditioned stimulus (CS) (FCSF–FCSI–FCSN—Food; the subscripts F, I, and N denote, respectively, elements temporally Far, Intermediate, and Near to food) or a backward serial CS (Food—BCSN–BCSI–BCSF). In Experiment 1b, all rats received one of the 8-s elements of the serial CS compounded with presentation of a novel lever and followed by food. Both forward and backward procedures produced evidence that the elements of the serial CS differentially controlled types of search mode. The forward but not the backward procedure also provided evidence for the conditioning of specific responses, which competed for expression with lever-directed responding in the compound condition. The results suggested several advantages of analyzing Pavlovian conditioning within a behavior systems framework.
The biological significance of failure at the primary site on ultimate survival in soft tissue sarcoma

Local tumor recurrence after complete resection may be due to treatment factors or represent a manifestation of tumor biology. The association of local tumor recurrence, distant metastases, and death in patients undergoing treatment for extremity soft tissue sarcoma (STS) has been described but continues to be enigmatic. After definitive multimodality treatment for extremity STS, local tumor recurrence is associated with development of distant metastasis, and metastases are implicated in subsequent disease-specific death. The relationship is an enigma, and the causality is unclear. Conversely, for patients with retroperitoneal STS, a direct relationship between local tumor recurrence and disease-specific death has been shown. In this article, current concepts are analyzed and reviewed.
Visiones de la Guerra de la Independencia en Galdós y Pérez-Reverte

This article deals with the literary representation of three historical events—the battle of Trafalgar in 1805, Madrid's popular upheaval on 2 May 1808, and the siege of Cadiz in 1810—in six novels by Benito Perez Galdos (Trafalgar, El 19 de marzo y el 2 de mayo, and Cadiz) and Arturo Perez-Reverte (Cabo Trafalgar, Un dia de colera, and El asedio). The first part of the article focuses on narrative form and genre in each novel. The second part examines how the authors reflect on both the past and the future of Spain from a different perspective. Whereas Galdos in the 1870s still hopes for a political reconciliation that will lead his country to modernization, Perez-Reverte in the 2000s is skeptical about the nation's social and moral progress.
Characterization of nanocrystal-ink based CZTSSe and CIGSSe solar cells using voltage-dependent admittance spectroscopy

Voltage-dependent admittance spectroscopy has been applied nanocrystal-ink based CZTSSe and CIGSSe solar cells to understand the origins of admittance signatures characterized for devices fabricated from this method; devices considered here have demonstrated champion device efficiencies of 9.0% and 14.2%, respectively. Two admittance signatures characterized for CZTSSe have been attributed to two bulk defect levels; however, a single admittance signature characterized for CIGSSe is expected to be due to a Schottky barrier at the back contact. Additionally, punch-through due to the free carrier freeze-out at low temperatures only occurs in CZTSSe, which suggests a shallower defect contributing to the carrier density in CIGSSe than CZTSSe. Results are compared with that reported for CIGSSe and CZTSSe devices fabricated from other processing techniques.
Visualizing Probability Density of Time-Stamped Measurements

The availability of precision time synchronization, such as that provided by IEEE 1588 Precision Time Protocol, make it desirable to have signal processing methods available for signals sampled at non-uniform intervals but but with accurately recorded sample times, called time stamps. One common analysis tool for uniformly sampled measured data, the histogram, is used to visualize the probabilities of measured values occuring. When measurements are not uniformly sampled, however, the measured values cannot simply be binned into a histogram. A new method is presented for visualizing the probability density of a time-stamped, non-uniformly sampled signal. A bank of rank-order filters is used to produce a time-varying estimate of the cumulative density function of the signal. The approximate derivative of that function estimates the probability density function of the signal. An example is presented of use of the proposed method on actual measured data.
Study of a gel thermal interface material with micron-size particles

The assembly by squeezing flow and the thermal resistance of a thin layer of a gel composite thermal interface material (TIM) with micron-sized alumina particles in a curing silicone resin is studied. The thin layer is formed before curing by squeezing flow between the plates to be bonded. Thin layers (10 microns) are achieved with reasonable squeezing flow pressure (20 psi), resulting in low unit-area thermal resistance for this class of TIM. The assembly process is studied using a lubrication model for the squeezing flow of a Bingham fluid between square plates. The squeezing model predicts the time history of the layer thickness reasonably well, given the temporal profile of the squeezing force, the initial gap, the plate form error and the steady-shearing viscosity. The thermal resistance of cured layers is measured with samples of varying thickness. The observed linear relationship between thermal resistance and layer thickness is interpreted in terms of the bulk effective thermal conductivity and the wall region thermal resistance. There is significant sample-to-sample variation in both of these parameters, which may imply the existence of layer defects. The effective bulk thermal conductivity is compared to predictions from theoretical models in the literature
Raloxifene, a mixed estrogen agonist/antagonist, induces apoptosis through cleavage of BAD in TSU-PR1 human cancer cells.

Abstract Selective estrogen receptor modulator is a proven agent for chemoprevention and chemotherapy of cancer. Raloxifene, a mixed estrogen agonist/antagonist, was developed to prevent osteoporosis and potentially reduce the risk of breast cancer. In this study, we examined the effect of raloxifene on the TSU-PR1 cell line. This cell line was originally reported to be a prostate cancer cell line, but recently it has been shown to be a human bladder transitional cell carcinoma cell line. The TSU-PR1 cell line contains high levels of estrogen receptor β. Following treatment with raloxifene, evidence of apoptosis, including change in nuclear morphology, DNA fragmentation, and cytochrome c release, was observed in a dose-dependent manner in the TSU-PR1 cells (10−9 to 10−6 m range). We observed no detectable change in the steady-state levels of Bax, Bcl-2, and Bcl-XL following raloxifene treatment. However, raloxifene induced caspase-dependent cleavage of BAD to generate a 15-kDa truncated protein. Overexpression of a double mutant BAD resistant to caspase 3 cleavage blocked raloxifene-induced apoptosis. These results demonstrate that raloxifene induces apoptosis through the cleavage of BAD in TSU-PR1 cells. This molecular mechanism of apoptosis suggests that raloxifene may be a therapeutic agent for human bladder cancer.
The Interaction of Age and Diagnosis in Neuropsychological Test Results

The effects of age on neuropsychological test performance is an important issue in clinical diagnostic work. Although there is general agreement on the effects of age on control patients, there is considerable controversy over age effects in a neurological population. Two major reasons may be responsible for discrepant results across studies: biased subject populations and inadequate statistical procedures. The present study corrected for these problems, examining the test performance of 171 subjects classified by age (above 35, 35 and below) and diagnosis (right, left, diffuse, control). A weighted means analysis of variance found 7 significant age effects on 15 measures taken from the Halstead-Reitan. All measures showed significant Fs due to differences in diagnostic groups. No significant interaction effects were found. The results clearly support the contention that age effects are identical in the control and brain-injured groups. This indicates that age corrections based on the performance of a nor...
The Disadvantage of Tying Their Hands: On the Political Economy of Policy Commitments

Incumbents are more likely to be re-elected if they have a comparative advantage in the eyes of voters on some central issue. This paper argues that incumbents have an incentive to avoid reforms that reduce the government''s role in deciding these issues, in order to increase their chances of re-election. This point is illustrated in the context of the choice of an exchange-rate regime in an economy characterized by an "inflation bias". A flexible exchange rate allows the government to use monetary policy as a stabilization tool, while fixed exchange rates remove the "inflation bias" of the economy. On the one hand, it is shown that a more inflation-averse government may refrain from choosing fixed exchange rates in order to capitalize on the "inflationary" reputation of its opponent. This incentive is contrasted with the opposite incentive to "tie the hands" of the future government should be incumbent be defeated. On the other hand, it is shown that electoral considerations may reinforce the incentive of the more "inflationary" government to "tie its own hands" with fixed exchange rates.
Tourism and Crime in European Nations

Tourism and Crime in European Nations The goal of this study is to examine the effects of tourism on the rate of crime against persons while controlling for the degree of urbanization, the rate of unemployment, and the region of nations in Europe. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses were conducted using data from 46 European nations for the years 2000 to 2004. An increase in rates of foreign tourist arrivals predicts a decrease in rates of crimes against persons committed by males or females. This finding is consistent with previous reports (Messner and Rosenfield, 2001; Levantis and Gani, 2000; Tran, Philipp, and Bridges, 2008). Lower rates of crimes against persons and higher rates of crimes against property might be the products of tourism.
Humor To The Rescue: How To Make Introductory Economics An Appealing Social Science For Non-Majors

Despite efforts made over the past few years to improve upon the way introductory economics is taught, these efforts have unfortunately done very little to change student perception of economics as a dry, difficult and boring subject. Since the introductory economics course for many nonmajors may be their only economics course in college, it is incumbent upon those who teach the course to leave a lasting impression of it as a relevant, interesting, and exciting subject to learn. One alternative teaching technique that holds great promise in addressing the negative reputation of economics is humor. Until recently, the use of humor as an alternative teaching technique was shunned and held in disrepute especially in such “dread” courses as economics. Today, the current literature on teaching and learning clearly indicates that the tables have turned and the use of humor as a viable pedagogical approach is on the rise in almost every discipline. The primary goal of this paper is to discuss the vital role of humor as a transformational teaching technique in the introductory economic course. Specifically, the paper discusses the teaching and learning benefits of humor, the appropriate use of humor and some practical suggestions on how economics instructors can incorporate humor into their teaching.
Comparison of design strategies for α-helix backbone modification in a protein tertiary fold

We report here the comparison of five classes of unnatural amino acid building blocks for their ability to be accommodated into an α-helix in a protein tertiary fold context. High-resolution structural characterization and analysis of folding thermodynamics yield new insights into the relationship between backbone composition and folding energetics in α-helix mimetics and suggest refined design rules for engineering the backbones of natural sequences.
Does the Presence of Ideomotor Apraxia Affect the Prognosis of Functional Recovery in a Women Who has a Stroke

A 74-year-old woman was transferred from a local acute care hospital to the stroke rehabilitation unit in my rehabilitation center. She had been admitted to the hospital 9 days earlier after experiencing unsteady gait and left hemiparesis for 24 hours. A computed tomography (CT) scan of the head in the acute care facility indicated that the patient had a right-sided parietal infarct and that she had a pre-existing left frontal infarct that had gone undetected until the current episode. She had a history of non–insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, emphysema and recurring bronchitis, hyperlipidemia, and hypertension. The patient was treated with aspirin and 2 liters of oxygen per minute delivered through a nasal cannula. Medications prescribed during hospitalization and continued during rehabilitation included Lasix* (furosemide, a diuretic) and Sectral† (acebutolol hydrochloride, a beta blocker) to treat hypertension, Zocor‡ (simvastatin) to treat hyperlipidemia, and Aerolate§ (theophylline, a bronchodilator) to treat emphysema. The patient lived alone in a single-level, 6-room house that required climbing 5 steps to enter. Two years earlier, she had retired from her job as a factory worker on disability compensation because of pulmonary disease. She was independent in all mobility and self-care activities prior to admission; however, she had stopped driving years earlier after an accident. Her sister regularly drove her to the grocery store. Her diet largely consisted of prepared, processed food that was reheated in a microwave. She spent most of her time crocheting and watching television. She continued to smoke 1.5 packs of cigarettes a day. Her goal was to return home independently. Because she did not have insurance, the social worker on the stroke rehabilitation unit began the paperwork for Medicaid coverage. My examination of the patient revealed several perceptual deficits. She was unable to discriminate left from right during mobility tasks …
Independent Roles of Switching and Hypermutation in the Development and Persistence of B Lymphocyte Memory

Somatic hypermutation (SHM) and class-switch recombination (CSR) increase the affinity and diversify the effector functions of antibodies during immune responses. Although SHM and CSR are fundamentally different, their independent roles in regulating B cell fate have been difficult to uncouple because a single enzyme, activation-induced cytidine deaminase (encoded by Aicda), initiates both reactions. Here, we used a combination of Aicda and antibody mutant alleles that separate the effects of CSR and SHM on polyclonal immune responses. We found that class-switching to IgG1 biased the fate choice made by B cells, favoring the plasma cell over memory cell fate without significantly affecting clonal expansion in the germinal center (GC). In contrast, SHM reduced the longevity of memory B cells by creating polyreactive specificities that were selected against over time. Our data define the independent contributions of SHM and CSR to the generation and persistence of memory in the antibody system.
Persistent Mycobacterium bovis-BCG is resistant to glutathione induced reductive stress killing.

This study focuses on the redox stress response in mycobacteria elicited by a host-derived, thiol-based detoxification molecule, glutathione (GSH). Although the growth and viability of Mycobacterium bovis-BCG (BCG) was hampered by exposure to 8 mM GSH, oxygen depleted, persistent BCG (NRP BCG) resisted GSH-mediated killing. Fast growing mycobacteria also resisted GSH-mediated killing. To determine the mechanisms behind these observations, we evaluated the levels of intracellular ATP in both BCG and NRP BCG exposed to 8 mM GSH. Intracellular ATP levels increased from 0.13 to 2.3 μM in BCG upon exposure to GSH. The levels of ATP remained low and unchanged when NRP BCG was exposed to GSH. Using both HPLC and a cell-based thiol detection assay, it was determined that GSH stimulates the production of mycothiol (MSH) by BCG approximately 5.7 fold. The levels of MSH did not change upon exposure of NRP BCG to GSH. MSH is an alternative, thiol-based detoxification molecule employed by mycobacteria. Changes in the cytoplasmic concentrations of this molecule are suggestive of redox imbalances. Together, GSH and MSH may introduce excess reducing equivalents into the mycobacterial cytoplasm; leading to reductive stress. The modulation of NAD(+) levels through alterations in ATP metabolism can enhance the cells ability to bind excess reducing equivalents and serve as a mechanism to restore the cellular redox balance when cells experience reductive stress. These data suggest that killing of BCG by GSH may result from reductive stress that cannot be controlled. NRP BCG appears to be resistant to GSH-induced reductive stress.
Long-Term Adoption of Caries Management by Risk Assessment Among Dental Students in a University Clinic

The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term adoption of a risk-based caries management program at a university dental clinic. The authors extracted data from electronic records of adult non-edentulous patients who underwent a comprehensive oral evaluation in the university predoctoral clinic from July 2007 through June 2014 (N=21,984). Consistency with caries management guidelines was measured as the percentage of patients with caries risk designation (low, moderate, high, or extreme) and the percentage of patients provided non-operative anti-caries agents within each designated caries risk category. Additionally, patient and provider characteristics associated with risk assessment completion and with provision of anti-caries therapy were identified. Results showed that the percentage of patients with documented caries risk grew steadily from 62.3% in 2007–08 to 92.8% in 2013–14. Overall, receipt of non-operative anti-caries agents increased with rising caries risk, from low (6.9%), moderate (14.1%), high (36.4%), to extreme (51.4%), but percentages were stable over the study period. Younger patients were more likely to have a completed risk assessment, and among high- and extreme-risk patients, delivery of anti-caries therapy was more common among patients who were younger, identified as Asian or Caucasian, received public dental benefits, or were seen by a student in the four-year DDS program or in the final year of training. These results demonstrate that extensive compliance in documenting caries risk was achieved within a decade of implementing risk-based clinical guidelines at this dental school clinic. Caries risk was the most strongly associated of several factors related to delivery of non-operative therapy. The eventual success of this program suggests that, in dental education, transition to a risk-based, prevention-focused curriculum may require a long-term commitment.
Decontamination of green onions and baby spinach by vaporized ethyl pyruvate.

Foodborne illnesses associated with fresh produce continue to be a major concern as consumer demand for healthier and nonthermally processed food increases. The objective of this study was to evaluate vaporized ethyl pyruvate (EP; CAS 617-35-6) as a safe alternative antimicrobial agent for the decontamination of Escherichia coli O157:H7 on green onions and spinach. Baby spinach leaves and green onions were inoculated with a five-strain cocktail of E. coli O157:H7 (pGFP) by the dipping method. Samples were treated with concentrations of 0, 42, 105, and 420 mg/liter vaporized EP in a 2.6-liter enclosed container. The efficacy of EP vapors for reducing E. coli O157:H7(GFP) populations on green onions and baby spinach at 4 and 10°C was monitored for 7 and 5 days, respectively. The lowest EP concentration (42 mg/liter) resulted in a 1.7-log reduction of E. coli O157:H7(GFP) on green onions after 7 days at 4°C and a 1.9-log reduction after 5 days at 10°C (P < 0.05). In baby spinach, the same concentration resul...
Thoughts on Use of University-Scale Rocket Models to Study Launch Acoustics

This paper describes how progress in the field of launch acoustics and possibly other rocket-related research can be expedited by involving university based-rocket club students and leveraging existing jet flow facilities and other acoustics capabilities at a university. The intention is to devise ways of carrying out quick and inexpensive research on various innovative concepts of reducing the impact of launch acoustics before they are tested on larger models, or for that matter even on a full-scale system. It is argued that the key ingredients for conducting successful university-scale launch-acoustics research are a university-based student rocket club with expertise in launching model-scale rockets, a launch site, a capability of static rocket firing , experience with various related aeroacoustics issues, appropriate collection of state-of-the art sensors, and all of this complemented by high-speed jet flow facilities with capabilities of acoustic and detailed flow measurements and related theoretical and computational support. Examples of capabilities at Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI), the applied research arm of Georgia Institute of Technology, for inexpensive but extremely valuable small-scale static plume studies and launches of small-scale rockets are provided. Limited preliminary results on treating the impingement surface (ground) with appropriate acoustic liner for potentially eliminating the use of water as noise suppressant are also provided. The highlight of the paper is the description of the launch of a subscale Solid Rocket Motor (SRM) propelled rocket at a launch event in the Talladega, Alabama, and about the data collection and measurement of generated noise.