cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ceramide-induced Inhibition of Akt Is Mediated through Protein Kinase Cζ IMPLICATIONS FOR GROWTH ARREST

We recently demonstrated that ceramide-coated balloon catheters limit vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) growth after stretch injury in vivo. In that study, inhibition of VSMC growth was correlated with a decrease in phosphorylation of the cell survival kinase Akt (protein kinase B). Utilizing cultured A7r5 VSMCs, we have now examined the mechanism by which ceramide inhibits Akt phosphorylation/activation. Our initial studies showed that ceramide-induced inhibition of Akt phosphorylation was not mediated through diminution in phosphoinositide 3-kinase activity. As we have previously demonstrated that protein kinase Cζ (PKCζ) is a target of ceramide, we proposed an alternative signaling mechanism by which ceramide induces inhibition of Akt through activation of PKCζ. We demonstrate that C6-ceramide (but not the inactive analog dihydro-C6-ceramide) induced PKCζ activity and also caused a selective increase in the association between Akt and PKCζ, without affecting PKCe, in A7r5 cells. In addition, the ability of ceramide to significantly decrease platelet-derived growth factor-induced Akt phosphorylation or cell proliferation was abrogated in A7r5 cells overexpressing a dominant-negative mutant of PKCζ. Taken together, these data suggest that ceramide-mediated activation of PKCζ leads to diminished Akt activation and consequent growth arrest in VSMCs. The therapeutic potential for ceramide to limit dysregulated VSMC growth has direct applicability to vascular diseases such as restenosis and atherosclerosis.
Synthesis of chimeric oligonucleotides containing internucleosidic phosphodiester and S-pivaloylthioethyl phosphotriester residues.

Novel oligonucleotide analogs that bear phosphodiester and bioreversible O–pivaloyl 2–mercaptoethyl (SPME) phosphate triester internucleosidic linkages are described. Their synthesis employs a novel methodology of oligonucleotide deprotection under mild, non-aqueous conditions.
Predicting spatial and temporal distribution of Indo-Pacific lionfish (Pterois volitans) in Biscayne Bay through habitat suitability modeling

Invasive species may exhibit higher levels of growth and reproduction when environmental conditions are most suitable, and thus their effects on native fauna may be intensified. Understanding potential impacts of these species, especially in the nascent stages of a biological invasion, requires critical information concerning spatial and temporal distributions of habitat suitability. Using empirically supported environmental variables (e.g., temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, rugosity, and benthic substrate), our models predicted habitat suitability for the invasive lionfish (Pterois volitans) in Biscayne Bay, Florida. The use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) as a platform for the modeling process allowed us to quantify correlations between temporal (seasonal) fluctuations in the above variables and the spatial distribution of five discrete habitat quality classes, whose ranges are supported by statistical deviations from the apparent best conditions described in prior studies. Analysis of the resulting models revealed little fluctuation in spatial extent of the five habitat classes on a monthly basis. Class 5, which represented the area with environmental variables closest to the best conditions for lionfish, occupied approximately one-third of Biscayne Bay, with subsequent habitats declining in area. A key finding from this study was that habitat suitability increased eastward from the coastline, where higher quality habitats were adjacent to the Atlantic Ocean and displayed marine levels of ambient water quality. Corroboration of the models with sightings from the USGS-NAS database appeared to support our findings by nesting 79 % of values within habitat class 5; however, field testing (i.e., lionfish surveys) is necessary to confirm the relationship between habitat classes and lionfish distribution.
CATECHOLBORANE IN ORGANIC SYNTHESIS. A REVIEW

(1977). CATECHOLBORANE IN ORGANIC SYNTHESIS. A REVIEW. Organic Preparations and Procedures International: Vol. 9, No. 3, pp. 131-147.
THOSE SEGREGATED AND SACRED HOURS: New Perspectives on Religion, Race, and Gender in America

Mark Chaves , Congregations in America . Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2004, 291 pages, ISBN 0-674-01284-4, Cloth, $29.95. Marla F. Frederick , Between Sundays: Black Women and Everyday Struggles of Faith . Berkeley, CA: University of California Press, 2003, 263 pages, ISBN 0-520-23394-8, Cloth, $50.00, Paper, $19.95. Carolyn Moxley Rouse , Engaged Surrender: African American Women and Islam . Berkeley, CA: University of California Press, 2004, 271 pages, ISBN 0-520-23795-1, Cloth, $50.00, Paper, $19.95.
Parallel grammatical encoding in sentence production: Evidence from syntactic blends

Using a large, newly available corpus of spontaneously uttered syntactic blends (e.g., cast into question from the targets call into question and cast into doubt) and a new method of speech error analysis, two hypotheses regarding grammatical encoding are compared: the single-buffer hypothesis, according to which alternative formulations of the message are encoded in the same memory buffer, potentially sharing representations, and the multiple-buffer hypothesis, according to which alternative formulations are independently grammatically encoded in separate buffers. Randomly generated, unattested blends were found to be reliably distinguishable from blends attested in the corpus, based on the degree to which they adhere to syntactic alignment constraints, controlling for other important factors. This main finding suggests that elements in similar syntactic positions across plans compete for the same slot, supporting the single-buffer hypothesis.
Fostering Global Citizenship Education for Teachers through Online Research.

Abstract This article is based on a study involving 126 International Baccalaureate (IB) teachers in more than 30 countries who, through the use of asynchronous online discussion forums, shared how they teach and simultaneously reflected upon how they conceptualize global citizenship. Data analysis revealed that participants developed new understandings about open-mindedness, interconnectedness, and cross-cultural learning experiences. Online data collection in educational research offers great opportunity for furthering professional development in global citizenship education.
Mitochondrial DNA depletion causes morphological changes in the mitochondrial reticulum of cultured human cells

Depletion of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) causes defects in respiratory activity and energy production. Recent studies have shown mitochondria to exist primarily as reticular networks, having tubular cristae. Using fluorescence microscopy and transmission electron microscopy, we have examined mitochondrial morphology and interior structure in wildtype and mtDNA-depleted ρ0 human fibroblasts and 143B osteosarcoma cell lines. MtDNA depletion results in compromise of the mitochondrial continuum and causes a reduction in amount of cristal membranes, often prompting the remaining cristae to adopt a circular appearance in the mitochondrial interior. These changes emphasize the tight relationship between mitochondrial structure and function.
Development and evaluation of an expert system for egg sorting

Abstract Neural networks were previously developed for the detection of blood spot, crack and dirt stain defects in eggs. In the present study, an expert system was developed to sort eggs into pre-defined categories based on the intended use of the eggs. The expert system used the output values of the neural networks and its knowledge-base to make decisions on how to sort the eggs. The sorting decisions of the expert system were also influenced by several variable thresholds which could be set by the user. To demonstrate and test the expert system under varying threshold settings, a discrete computer simulation of the egg inspection process was performed. In the simulation, a sample of 10 000 egg entities was generated. The number of egg entities with defects corresponded to experimentally observed defect frequencies. The inspection of the egg entities by the neural networks was simulated by assigning each egg entity a random sample from distributions of observed output values of the trained neural networks. The expert system was used to sort the sample of egg entities. In the simulation study, the expert system sorted the egg entities into five categories. Lower threshold values resulted in more egg entities being rewashed, inspected or rejected for bakery or animal use, whereas higher threshold settings caused more egg entities to be sorted into the ‘grade A’ category. In the simulation study, the expert system assigned a large number of egg entities to be rewashed. This indicated a need for improvement of the dirt stain detection neural network. The simulation results indicated a reduction in the number of eggs requiring human inspection and demonstrated a potential for reducing the work load on human graders.
The Theological “Magna Charta” of Confessional Lutheranism

The breakup of Western Christendom in the sixteenth century gained momentum when an academic theologian called into question the theology of the church in his day. Martin Luther wanted to discuss theology when he posted his Ninety-five Theses in 1517. In the ensuing years, Luther and the “Lutherans” were forced to forge their theology in the heat of an intensely polemical and conflict-ridden environment. They responded to the theological issues raised by their opponents, as well as to the real pastoral concerns of the emerging evangelical church in Protestant lands.
Molecular Simulation of Disjoining-Pressure Isotherms for Free Aqueous Thin Films

We present canonical-ensemble molecular-dynamics (MD) simulations of disjoining-pressure isotherms for symmetric, free aqueous thin films. For such symmetric films, the disjoining pressure is purely attractive. Lifshitz's theory, based on continuum dispersion forces, predicts that the disjoining pressure varies as an inverse cube of film thickness, with a constant of proportionality that can be calculated within the framework of this theory. Our MD results indicate that Lifshitz theory, which assumes a slab geometry for the water density profile and neglects the fluid structure, underpredicts the disjoining pressure by about 50 times for films ranging from about 1 to 2 nm at 479 K. To investigate more closely actual experimental conditions, we also perform simulations of water films surrounded by inert gas molecules. The additional gas component adds an extra thermodynamic degree of freedom to the system, allowing for the chemical potential of the water in the external liquid reservoir to be maintained co...
Dislocation Control of Magnetization

The stress fields of edge and screw dislocations are analyzed to determine whether dislocations can exert independent magnetostrictive control over magnetization in magnetite. The stress-defined easy direction near a screw dislocation is described by a 45° helix or spiral about the dislocation line, although exchange and anisotropy energy suppress the spiral angle to less than 30°. The stress-defined easy directions near an edge dislocation are primarily normal to the dislocation line with a small region favoring magnetization parallel to the line. Single edge or screw dislocations can not control magnetization independent from the surrounding domain, even in the absence of a demagnetizing field, although both types will certainly produce local deflections of the spins within a domain.
Presentism and the grounding of truth

Many philosophers believe that truth is grounded: True propositions depend for their truth on the world. Some philosophers believe that truth’s grounding has implications for our ontology of time. If truth is grounded, then truth supervenes on being. But if truth supervenes on being, then presentism is false since, on presentism, e.g., that there were dinosaurs fails to supervene on the whole of being plus the instantiation pattern of properties and relations. Call this the grounding argument against presentism. Many presentists claim that the grounding argument fails because, despite appearances, supervenience is compatible with presentism. In this paper, I claim that the grounding argument fails because, despite appearances, truth’s grounding gives the presentist no compelling reason to adopt the sort of supervenience principle at work in the grounding argument. I begin by giving two precisifications of the grounding principle: truthmaking and supervenience. In Sect. 2, I give the grounding argument against presentism. In Sect. 3, I argue that we should distinguish between eternalist and presentist notions of grounding; once this distinction is in hand, the grounding argument is undercut. In Sect. 4, I show how the presentist’s notion of grounding leads to presentist-friendly truthmaking and supervenience principles. In Sect. 5, I address some potential objections.
Tests on categorical data from the unionintersection principle

The union-intersection principle developed by S. N. Roy [13] has become an important tool in multivariate analysis. In this paper the union-intersection principle is applied to obtain some of the standard tests of hypothesis on categorical data, as well as a new test for homogeneity in anr×c table. In particular, tests of hypothesis on a single multinomial distribution and tests for the comparison of two multinomials are derived on the union-intersection principle and the corresponding simultaneous confidence intervals obtained. A test for homogeneity in anr×c table is derived on the union-intersection principle, and for the case of equal sample size from each of ther populations it is shown that the test statistic is distributed as the largest root of a central Wishart matrix.
Possible existence of Na(+)-coupled amino acid transport in the pigmented rabbit conjunctiva.

The objective of the present study was to determine whether Na+-amino acid cotransport contributed to the short-circuit current (Isc) in the isolated pigmented rabbit conjunctiva. Glycine, L-arginine, D-arginine, and L-glutamic acid were the amino acids tested, and bioelectric measurements were made in the Using chamber. The Isc was increased from 4% (L-glutamic acid) to 44% (L-arginine). The EC50 was 0.35 mM for glycine, 0.06 mM for L-arginine, 0.16 mM for D-arginine, and 1 mM for L-glutamic acid. No elevation in Isc was seen in the absence of Na+ in the mucosal bathing fluid. The above findings are consistent with the possible existence of a Na+-amino acid cotransport process on the apical side of the pigmented rabbit conjunctiva.
Catecholamine innervation of the basal forebrain. IV. Topography of the dopamine projection to the basal forebrain and neostriatum.

In this study the location of dopamine (DA) neuron perikarya in the rostral mesencephalon of the rat was determined using the glyoxylic acid fluorescence histochemical technique. Subsequently the topography of the projection of these mesencephalic neurons on the basal forebrain and striatum was analyzed using the anterograde transport-autoradiographic tracing method and the retrograde transport-horseradish peroxidase (HRP) technique. The results of these anatomical studies were correlated with the biochemical and histochemical studies presented in previous reports (Moore, 1978; Fallon and Moore, 1978; Fallon et al., 1978) to provide the following conclusions. The topography of the DA neuron projection on the basal forebrain and neostriatum is organized in three planes, dorsal-ventral, medial-lateral and anterior-posterior. DA cells are found almost exclusively in the substantia nigra (SN) and ventral tegmental area (VTA). Ventral cells of the SN and VTA project to the dorsal structures of the basal forebrain such as the septum, nucleus accumbens and neostriatum. The latter includes some DA cells located ventrally in the pars reticulata of the SN. Dorsal cells project to ventral structures. The medial-lateral topography is organized such that the medial sectors of the SN-VTA area project to the medial parts of nuclei in the basal forebrain and neostriatum whereas lateral sectors of the SN-VTA area project to the lateral parts of nuclei in the basal forebrain and neostriatum. An anterior-posterior topography also is evident such that anterior parts of the SN-VTA project anteriorly whereas the posterior SN-VTA projects more posteriorly in these areas. These observations are consistent with the view that the DA neurons of the SN-VTA complex form a single nuclear group with a highly topographically organized projection innervating not only deep nuclei of the telencephalon but allocortical structures as well.
Medical Management of Chronic Pancreatitis

Chronic pancreatitis should be considered in all patients with unexplained abdominal pain. The importance of small duct disease without obvious radiographic abnormalities is an important new concept. Diagnostic evaluation should begin with simple, non-invasive, inexpensive tests (serum trypsinogen) to be followed by more complicated testing (hormone stimulation test) if needed. Enteric-coated pancreatic enzymes are the drugs of choice for treating steatorrhea, while conventional non-enteric coated enzymes are preferred for managing pain. The somatostatin analogue octreotide may become an important therapy for treating abdominal pain unresponsive to pancreatic enzyme therapy. Endoscopic approaches to the treatment of chronic pancreatitis are experimental and may cause damage to the pancreas. Surgical ductal decompression is appropriate in selected patients.
Observation of Large, Anomalous Pyroelectric Response in AlN Thin Films

We have observed a pyroelectric effect (PE) in reactively sputtered aluminum nitride (AlN) thin films that is typically a factor of twenty greater than commercial pyroelectric materials such as triglycine sulfate (TGS). This is most likely due to an extrinsic effect since the known crystalline structures of AlN are too symmetric to allow such high values for the PE response. Preliminary annealing studies support the assumption that residual strains remaining from the AlN thin film deposition are the most likely source of the anomalously high PE response. The results of these studies are presented along with some measurements that indicate a still higher PE response might be obtainable.
On modified rotational and divergent eddy fluxes and their application to blocking diagnoses

Rotational and divergent eddy fluxes, introduced by Marshall and Shutts in the early 1980s, are modified to account for significant divergence in the mean flow and self advection by large-amplitude eddies. Use of the modified rotational and divergent eddy fluxes is demonstrated by diagnosing two blocking episodes with potential vorticity.
Experimental infection of adults with recombinant wild-type human metapneumovirus.

Human metapneumovirus (HMPV) was first described in 2001, though serologic studies have confirmed worldwide circulation for >50 years [1–7]. Information about the spectrum of HMPV-associated illnesses has been obtained primarily from epidemiologic studies; most persons have experienced ≥1 HMPV infection by 5 years of age [1, 7–9]. Healthy adults infected with HMPV may be asymptomatic or have upper respiratory tract illness (URTI) [10, 11]; older or asthmatic adults may be at increased risk for HMPV-associated lower respiratory tract illness (LRTI) and hospitalization [10–12]. In infants and young children, the spectrum of illness associated with HMPV is indistinguishable from that observed with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and can include URTI, otitis media, bronchiolitis, croup, pneumonia, and exacerbations of asthma [7, 13–16]. Children <2 years of age are most susceptible to severe HMPV illness, and HMPV is responsible for 4%–15% of pediatric hospitalizations for viral LRTI [7, 16, 17]. Thus, HMPV is a leading cause of viral LRTI in children [13, 16]. A vaccine against HMPV could have a substantial impact on the burden of respiratory illness in children [7, 18, 19]. The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) is working to develop a live-attenuated intranasally administered HMPV vaccine for use in infants [18, 19], which has the potential to reduce the burden of HMPV-associated LRTI significantly. In addition, intranasally administered live-attenuated vaccines induce humoral and cellular immunity and live-attenuated influenza, parainfluenza type 3, and RSV vaccines can replicate in infants in the presence of maternal antibodies [18–23]. The live-attenuated HMPV vaccine candidates that are being developed are derived from rHMPV-SHs, a recombinant HMPV (rHMPV) containing a codon-stabilized version of the small hydrophobic (SH) gene. Stabilization was desirable because wild-type (wt) HMPV tends to accumulate mutations in the SH gene during passage in vitro [24]. Assessment in adults of the replication competence of rHMPV-SHs, the kinetics of viral replication, and the innate and adaptive immune responses induced by this virus could serve as a useful guide for the design and conduct of studies of live-attenuated derivative HMPV strains in adults and children. For this reason, we conducted a challenge study of rHMPV-SHs in healthy adults.
Correcting Diacetyl Concentrations from Air Samples Collected with NIOSH Method 2557

Diacetyl (2,3-butanedione), a diketone chemical used to impart a buttery taste in many flavoring mixtures, has been associated with bronchiolitis obliterans in several industrial settings. For workplace evaluations in 2000–2006, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) investigators used NIOSH Method 2557, a sampling and analytical method for airborne diacetyl utilizing carbon molecular sieve sorbent tubes. The method was subsequently suspected to progressively underestimate diacetyl concentrations with increasing sampling site humidity. Since underestimation of worker exposure may lead to overestimation of respiratory health risk in quantitative exposure-effect analyses, correction of the diacetyl concentrations previously reported with Method 2557 is essential. We studied the effects of humidity and sample storage duration on recovery of diacetyl from experimental air samples taken from a dynamically generated controlled test atmosphere that allowed control of diacetyl concentration...
Giant myxoma causing heart failure symptoms.

Summary Background: Myxomas arising from the eustachian valve are exceedingly rare. Case Report: A 72-year-old Jamaican- Chinese woman was evaluated for worsening dyspnea. The 2-dimensional and real time 3-dimensional transesophageal echocardiogram showed a 75 mm length × 44 mm width, multilobulated, mobile mass arising from the eustachian valve occupying the entire right atri -al and right ventricular cavities extending into the coronary sinus, right ventricular outflow tract, and proximal inferior vena cava. The patient underwent successful resection of the mass and re-placement of the tricuspid valve. Histopathologic examination confirmed the diagnosis of atrial myxoma. Conclusions: This is the largest myxoma found on a Eustachian valve. key words: myxoma • eustachian valve • right atrial myxoma Full-text PDF: http://www.amjcaserep.com/fulltxt.php?ICID=882593 Word count: 830 Tables: — Figures: 4 References: 15 Author’s address: Wilbert S. Aronow, Cardiology Division, New York Medical College, Macy Pavilion, Room 138, Valhalla, NY 10595, U.S.A., e-mail: wsaronow@aol.com
Educating for innovation

Abstract In the last several decades many of the world's most developed countries have shifted from an industrial economy to a knowledge economy, one based on the creation of knowledge, information, and innovation. Educational researchers have paid very little scholarly attention to this economic shift, although it has substantial implications. After all, educational historians have repeatedly shown how today's schools were designed in the first half of the 20th century to meet the economic needs of the industrial economy; if that economy is a thing of the past, then many features of contemporary schools may become obsolete. In today's knowledge society, creativity always occurs in complex collaborative and organizational settings. Teams and organizations innovate using open-ended, improvisational group processes. I argue that education should be structured around disciplined improvisation, and I advocate the use of situated, collaborative knowledge-building activities. I argue that creative collaboration in classrooms aligns with the social nature of innovation in today's economy.
Interleukin-6 Antagonists for the Management of Hypertension

To the Editor: I read with great interest the recent article published by Luther et al1 in the December 2006 issue of Hypertension , which focused on how angiotensin II induces interleukin (IL)-6 in humans. The authors suggest that angiotensin II performs this function through a …
Alpine Nodal Ecology and Ecosystem Evolution in the North-Central Rockies (Mount Washburn; Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming)

Abstract We studied Mount Washburn (Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming) to describe alpine ecosystem function and evolution at an important site in the North-Central Rockies. To describe the alpine environment we sampled major environmental nodes (north-faces, south-faces, snowbanks, ridges, talus, and ledges). Our analysis was bolstered by the measurement, over five years, of seasonal soil water and temperature. Clusters representing nodal plant communities explained 86% of scatterplot variability, after accounting for spatial location, in a strong (non-metric r2 = 0.98) NMDS ordination. Water inputs and nutrient storage (also significant predictors of community structure) increased while soil temperature fell from southern to northern nodes. Seasonal soil water availability was strongly influenced by transpiration. As a result soils dried earlier than expected under dense north-facing turf and later than expected under talus and ledges. We propose that abiotic and biotic processes have combined to inc...
Ruptured Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms in a Private Hospital: A Decade's Experience (1980–1989)

Despite refinements in elective resection of abdominal aortic aneurysms, morbidity and mortality rates for ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms (RAAAs) remain high. Between January 1, 1980 and December 31, 1989, we treated 208 patients with RAAAs whose mean age was 70 years. The overall mortality rate was 49.5%. Logistic regression analysis showed that three factors correlated with predicted patient survival. Patients 70 years old (p 90 mm Hg), 88.9% survived compared with 40.9% of “unstable” patients (blood pressure <90 mm Hg) (p<0.001). Of the patients with free intraperitoneal rupture, 38.3% survived compared with a survival rate of 79.6% of patients with rupture confined to the retroperitoneum (p<0.001). Despite a high overall mortality rate in patients with RAAAs, surgical intervention remains the only hope for survival. We continue to advocate an aggressive surgical approach in this group of patients.
Alteration of intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes after massive small bowel resection.

Abstract Background. Intraepithelial lymphocytes (IEL) comprise the inner most layer of the gut immune system, and play a critical role in protecting the host from enteric organisms. Massive small bowel resection (MSBR) is one such clinical condition where patients are at particularly high risk for the development of such enteric infectious complications. Because of this, we hypothesized that the IEL may change significantly after the formation of a MSBR. To address this, a mouse model of MSBR was created and the acute phenotypic and functional characteristics of the IEL were studied. Materials and methods. Mice underwent a 70% mid-small bowel resection. After 7 days, IEL were isolated and analyzed for phenotypic changes by flow cytometry. IEL cytokine expression was performed with semiquantitative polymerase chain reaction techniques. To assess the functional significance of these changes, IEL proliferative response was assessed in vitro. Results. MSBR led to significant decreases in specific IEL subpopulations: CD 44+ (used as a marker of cell maturity); CD 8αβ+ (marker of thymic derivation), and CD 69+ (marker of T cell activation). Compared with controls, IEL TNF-α mRNA expression increased 84%, while IL-2 and IL-10 mRNA expression decreased by 69 and 72%, respectively. Spontaneous proliferation of IEL in the MSBR group was significantly higher than controls, however, proliferation failed to increase with T cell stimulation. Conclusion. These changes suggest a shift to a more immature and possibly less activated cell population. It is possible that such alterations may play an important role in the increase in enterically derived infections in patients with MSBR.
Locoregional Therapies for Metastatic Colorectal Carcinoma to the Liver—An Evidence-Based Review

The liver is the most common visceral site of colorectal cancer metastasis and recurrence. Given that only 25% of patients with colorectal liver metastases are amenable to curative surgical resection at initial diagnosis, locoregional intra-arterial therapies including hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy, conventional transarterial chemoembolization, drug-eluting-bead transarterial chemoembolization, and radioembolization have increasingly developed as viable treatment options. The rationale, efficacy, safety, and toxicity of each of these therapies are reviewed and stratified based on current evidence.
Progress in Simulations of Unsteady Projectile Aerodynamics

As part of the multi-year Challenge Project, research efforts have been ongoing for developing and applying advanced time-accurate computational fluid dynamics (CFD) methods for computation of unsteady projectile aerodynamics both with and without control maneuvers. One method is a time-accurate sweep procedure being developed for rapid generation of a database of static aerodynamic coefficients. The other time-accurate method involves coupling of CFD and rigid body dynamics (RBD) for simulations of physics-based "Virtual Fly-Outs" of munitions on high performance computing platforms similar to actual free-flight tests. Numerical simulations have been performed using an advanced scalable unstructured flow solver on a highly- parallel Linux Cluster. Computed results have been obtained for a spinning projectile that demonstrates the ability of the virtual fly-out technique to determine the unsteady aerodynamics at transonic speeds. Our objective is to extend its capability to maneuvering projectiles. Another RBD code with flight control design capability is being coupled to CFD to eventually allow modeling of guided maneuvers. As a first step, the RBD part of this code has been demonstrated with virtual fly-out simulations on a complex finned projectile. Work is in progress to perform unguided maneuver on a canard-controlled projectile. Some basic aerodynamic results have been obtained for this case using the time-accurate sweep procedure, and are presented here. Current work is focused on performing unguided maneuver for this projectile using the virtual fly-out technique.
A low background X-ray fluorescence system for microsphere quantitation

An automated low-background X-ray fluorescence detection system was developed for measuring blood flow rates by the microsphere technique. An X-ray beam was polarized to lower Compton scattering. A Si(Li) detector was used for efficient characteristic X-ray detection with preferentially decreased sensitivity for Compton scattering, a CaF/sub 3/ scintillation detector was engaged in the anticoincidence method to lower the background, and risetime rejection was used for the same purpose. Solutions of 1 cm/sup 3/ each of Rb, Mo, Ag, I, La and Gd with concentration of 0.2-2.0 p.p.m. were measured for 80 min and those of 2.0-20 p.p.m. were measured for 10 min. For Ag the net counting rate was approximately 75 counts/min/p.p.m. The anticoincidence detector lowered the background by 10% in the region of Ag X-rays. The linear relation between net counts and actual element concentration held up to 1000 p.p.m. for Ag solutions. >
Propagation and Scattering of Spherical Wave Pulses in Vegetation Using Scalar Transport Theory

A high frequency theoretical model of propagation and scattering in vegetation is presented which uses scalar radiative transport theory. The specific problem analyzed is that of a periodic sequence of Gaussian pulses incident from free space into a forest region (vegetation). The incident pulse train is taken to be a spherical wave that is restricted to a specified solid angle, which is characteristic of radiation produced by a microwave or mm-wave antenna. The forest is modeled as a half-space of randomly distributed particles that scatter and absorb electromagnetic energy. In the forest, strong forward scattering occurs and the theory allows for a comprehensive characterization of the effect of vegetation on the propagation and scattering of spherical wave pulses: their attenuation, their angular spread, their distortion due to pulse broadening.
The Supreme Court, Democracy and Institutional Reform Litigation

In an unexpected portion of its unanimous opinion in Frew v. Hawkins, 540 U.S. 431 (2004), the Supreme Court broke new ground on an important question involving consent decrees. The case began when Texas state officials invoked the Eleventh Amendment in their resistance to a federal Medicaid consent decree. The Court quickly disposed of that argument, but Justice Anthony Kennedy, writing for the unanimous Court, took the opportunity to forcefully state that consent decrees that intrude on the policy making prerogatives of state and local officials more than is necessary to protect rights undercut the effective functioning of elected state and local governments. In that context Justice Kennedy broadly discussed the Court's rulings on modifications of consent decrees. In this essay, we argue that Frew significantly eased the standards for modification of consent decrees previously set out in Rufo v. Inmates of Suffolk County Jail. Frew as a whole received little attention and the part of it easing modification seems to have received no notice at all. It is, however, possible to gauge the reaction it will produce from the reaction to our book, Democracy by Decree: What Happens When Courts Run Government (Yale U. Press, 2003). The book came out a year before Frew, proposed the kind of easing adapted by that case, and explained it in terms similar to that stated by the Supreme Court. In this essay, we reply at once to Frew's potential critics and our actual critics. Citing our book and Frew, a bi-partisan group of senators and representatives introduced this spring the Federal Consent Decree Fairness Act. The act would not affect the power of federal courts to approve consent decrees, but would allow state and local defendants to more easily get decrees modified or vacated when the decrees are no longer necessary to protect rights. The bill was the subject of hearings in the House on June 21 and in the Senate on July 19, 2005.
The Contribution of Semantic Features to the White Matter Pathways of Tool Processing.

Humans can conceptually organize many objects and actions into semantic categories (e.g., animals, tools). But what is the underlying neurobiology of such a categorical organization? For gray matter, the cortical organization underlying the semantics of both tool objects and tool actions has been
Average Work Hours as a Leading Economic Variable in U.S. Manufacturing

**Below is a description of the paper and not the actual abstract.** This paper examines the role of the average workweek in U.S. manufacturing industries as a leading indicator. Our analysis investigates the relationship between average weekly hours of production workers in manufacturing, a leading indicator, and both employment of production workers in manufacturing and manufacturing output, which are coincident indicators. A separate VAR system hours, employment, output and real earnings is estimated for the aggregate, durable and non- durable manufacturing sectors as well as for sixteen of the twenty 2-digit SIC manufacturing industries. Tests for structural change show a structural break occurred after 1978. Granger causality tests and impulse response analysis both show that the impact of average and overtime hours on employment and industrial output became considerably weaker after the structural break point. In the period 1979 to 1993, considerably fewer detailed industries exhibit significant impulse responses of employment and output to a unit shock in hours as compared to the period 1954 to 1978. Our results imply that a given change in hours is now leading to smaller changes in subsequent employment levels. In general, the average workweek length in U.S. manufacturing has become less associated with the entire business cycle.
Investigation of key factors in thermal compression (TCB) NCF bonding process

Electronics with higher Input/Output (I/O) density and smaller package size challenge the fine pitch flip chip technology. Thermal compression bonding combined with pre-applied non-conductive film (TC-NCF) has the advantages of simplifying the process steps, protecting interconnects in situ, avoiding the flux residue and having no concerns of adhesive overflow issue. It is a promising process for fine pitch, thin die flip chip packages. In this study, a series of TC-NCF experiments using two types of NCFs were performed on both Chip-on-substrate (CoS) and Chip-on-chip (CoC) packages. Process factors affecting the bondability of TC-NCF interconnect such as bonding force, heating rate, bonding temperature and wetting time were investigated. The results were addressed from bondability evaluation criterions of solder wetting, NCF voids and solder shape. This investigation can serve as a reference for TC-NCF process development and failure analysis.
Studies on Ignition and Combustion Mechanisms of Single Ni-Coated Al Particles

*† ‡ § A new experimental setup for studying combustion of single, large (~2.5mm) metal particles in microgravity has been developed. Preliminary results on combustion of Nicoated Al particles obtained at 1g are reported here. Experiments were conducted using Al particles coated with 6, 29, and 58 wt% Ni. The particles were welded onto thermocouple wires and ignited by a laser in Ar and CO2 atmospheres. High-speed video images and temperature histories of the process were obtained. The results demonstrate that the particle ignition mechanism relies solely on intermetallic reactions between Ni and Al.
Determination of mercury content in the food paper-plastic composite packaging materials

A method for determining mercury content in the food paper-plastic composite packaging materials with wet digestion-atomic fluorescence spectrometry was developed.The sample of 0.500 0g with 10 mL of concentrated nitric acid and 2mL of hydrogen peroxide digestion 4hcould get the best results.The best optimized atomic fluorescence spectrometer detection conditions of mercury were as followed:a negative high voltage of 210 V,the shielding gas flow rate of 900mL/min,the carrier gas flow rate of 500mL/min,injection volume of 0.5mL,the Hg lamp current of 10 mA,the atomizer height of 10 mm,reading time of 10 s,the delay time of 1.0s,carrier medium for the 5% hydrochloric acid,potassium borohydride solution and the concentration of the potassium hydroxide solution5g/L.Mercury showed a good linear relationship in the range of 0.0to 20.0ng/mL with a correlation coefficient of 0.999 6,and the detection limit was 0.002 5μg/mL.The recoveries of mercury range from 95.93% to 97.38%,and the relative standard deviations of mercury ranged from 3.02%to 3.85%.The method has the advantages of high precision,low detection limit and high accuracy,and it is applicable to detection and analysis of mercury content in food paper-plastic composite packaging materials in the market.
Influences of different primers on the sensitivity to detect the nucleic acid in SARS virus

To select a sensitive and specific assay for the detection of nucleic acid in SARS virus, the SARS-Cov RNA at different dilutions was amplified by RT-PCR, nested PCR with the 9 pairs primer recommended by WHO and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention of China (CDC). The real-time PCR was performed with two kits for detection of SARS coronavirus. The sensitivity and specificity of these methods were thus compared. It was found that the sensitivity of two kits of real-time PCR for detection of coronavirus was 0.1 TCID_~50 ,that was just the same as that of RT-PCR, but was lower than that of the nested PCR (0.01 TCID_~50 ).When the SARS-Cov RNA was amplified with RT-PCR, the best sensitivities for detection of SARS-Cov RNA were found by using the SAR1s/SAR1as, BN1inS/BN1As, BN1outS/ BN1outAS recommended by WHO and the CDC-P1+/P1-.recommended by CDC. It concludes that there are obvious differences in sensitivity among the 9 pairs of primers with RT-PCR, in which the real-time PCR appears to be the best one that can be used to detect the suspected cases of SARS, and the RT-PCR and nested PCR can be used also if necessary.
Nuclear redistribution of tonicity-responsive enhancer binding protein requires proteasome activity.

Tonicity-responsive enhancer binding protein (TonEBP) is the transcription factor that regulates tonicity-responsive expression of the genes for the sodium-myo-inositol cotransporter (SMIT) and the...
Paget's disease of bone: problems and management.

SUMMARY 1. The more frequent detection of asymptomatic Paget's disease of bone by routine technologic applications serves to remind us of the focal nature and uncertain progression of the disorder. Resorption and formation of bone occur at greatly exaggerated rates and are reflected in the urinary hydroxyproline excretion and serum alkaline phosphatase activity. Fractures, deformities, pain, and neurologic syndromes may complicate the course of the disease, but advanced disease may only be minimally symptomatic. 2. Although predominantly lytic or sclerotic phases of the disease are well recognized, extracellular fluid mineral homeostasis is generally preserved. Imbalance of skeletal turnover, such as occurs with prolonged inactivity, can be associated with accelerated skeletal mineral loss, hypercalciuria, and hypercalcemia. 3. Amelioration of complications arising from structural deformity has been achieved with various surgical procedures. A variety of agents have been reported to effect reversal of biochemical abnormalities and to be of symptomatic benefit, but many are not yet generally available and experience with all of them is limited.
Social Work Preparation to Compete in Today’s Scientific Marketplace

As the scientific marketplace rapidly evolves, we must keep revisiting strategic preparation of our doctoral students and early career scholars to be successful innovators in these contexts. As an inherently integrative, change-oriented, community-engaged, and context-sensitive discipline, social work has enormous potential as a value-added partner for greater cross-fertilization among scientists and stakeholders not only from the academy but also from clinical settings, laboratories, industry, and systems leadership. Yet social work researchers not uncommonly encounter perception challenges as they strive to bring their scientific potential and wares to the marketplace. This article argues that innovation and impact are now central expectations of research. Current research priorities increasingly require teams to function at a transdisciplinary level of theoretical and methodological integration and to develop translational partnerships. The article concludes with thoughts on educational directions to b...
Nanotoxicity and the Skin

As discussed in previous chapters, nanotechnology is a highly dynamic field in the twenty-first century. Nanoparticles are extremely small in size with a large surface area per unit volume [1]. They possess unique physical and chemical properties with many applications in various fields such as agriculture, food, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, etc. Humans are exposed to nanomaterials via ingestion, inhalation, skin contact, and vaccination [2]. Due to their very small size, nanomaterials can easily cross membranes and other biological barriers. Somehow, within the initial enthusiasm for nanotechnology, there has been limited awareness about the ‘dark side’ of these nanosized materials. Once these particles are internalized by cells, they can pose different levels of toxicity to the body. For the past few years researchers have studied the potential toxicity of nanosized materials.
Classroom-Oriented Research from a Complex Systems Perspective.

Bringing a complex systems perspective to bear on classroom-oriented research challenges researchers to think differently, seeing the classroom ecology as one dynamic system nested in a hierarchy of such systems at different levels of scale, all of which are spatially and temporally situated. This article begins with an introduction to complex dynamic systems theory, in which challenges to traditional ways of conducting classroom research are interwoven. It concludes with suggestions for research methods that are more consistent with the theory. Research does not become easier when approached from a complex systems perspective, but it has the virtue of reflecting the way the world works.
Expanding the Horizons for Critical Literacy in a Bilingual Preschool Classroom: Children’s Responses in Discussions with Gender-Themed Picture Books

The current study explores how picture books can be used in bilingual classrooms to support more critical understandings of gender stereotypes by preschool children. The research uses a reader-response perspective that stresses the importance of the reader’s role in interpreting texts as well as sociocultural theory to analyze the social dynamics of teacher–child interactions. The participants were four-year-old, Korean–English bilingual children attending a Korean Language School in the midwest of the USA. The findings suggested that literary discussions about gender-themed picture books using both Korean and English languages promoted children’s critical thinking about gender roles. By sharing empirical examples of children’s authentic discussions, the study provides early childhood teachers with insights on how gender-themed picture books can be used as a medium to open up authentic discussions about gender roles in bilingual settings. Through valuing children’s responses to the reading of the picture books, the teachers encourage children to become more active learners. Their personal responses were valued in discussions, and they began to see themselves as having the authority to make judgments about what they read.
Experiences in offering a DSP-based communication laboratory

Most courses that include a hardware laboratory component are constrained by the need for realism without making the individual exercises insurmountable. This paper discusses a number of analog signal processing components that make possible the interfacing of analog systems to a variety of input/output boards specifically designed for use with Texas Instruments' TMS320C6x DSKs. These components and boards have been used in a number of undergraduate and graduate courses to facilitate the laboratory exercises and the design projects that routinely come from these laboratory-based courses.