cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Development of an efficient, regio- and stereoselective route to libraries based on the beta-D-glucose scaffold.

The design and execution of an efficient synthetic route for the sequential functionalization of the five hydroxyl substituents of β-d-glucose has been achieved. This strategy, based on the stereoselective glycosidation of thioglycosides, provides a new approach for the parallel construction of a wide variety of β-d-glucose analogues and as such holds promise for solid-support library syntheses.
DHH1/DDX6-like RNA helicases maintain ephemeral half-lives of stress-response mRNAs associated with innate immunity and growth inhibition

Abstract Gene transcription is counterbalanced by mRNA decay processes that regulate transcript quality and quantity. We show here that the evolutionarily conserved DHH1/DDX6-like RNA HELICASEs of Arabidopsis thaliana control the ephemerality of a subset of cellular mRNAs. These RNA helicases co-localize with key markers of processing bodies and stress granules and contribute to their subcellular dynamics. These RHs function to limit the precocious accumulation and translation of stress-responsive mRNAs associated with autoimmunity and growth inhibition under non-stress conditions. Given the conservation of this RH subfamily, they may control basal levels of conditionally-regulated mRNAs in diverse eukaryotes, accelerating responses without penalty.
The Concept and Context of the Engaged University in the Global South: Lessons from Latin America to Guide a Research Agenda.

Engagement is widely recognized by higher education institutions, nation-states, and international organizations as the third pillar in the mission of university education. Despite the global reach of this concept, published research is disproportionately based on examples from the United States. This article brings to light the rich and extensive literature on university engagement from Latin America that is largely accessible only in Spanish. Among advocates for engaged universities differences exist in terms of the rationales that justify it and the means used to accomplish it. The authors identify the historical roots and current applications of three models of university engagement—market-oriented, social justice, and university social responsibility—and use case studies from Latin America to explore more deeply the potential of the third model. This is then used as the basis for developing a research agenda that would inform practices in both the Global North and Global South.
Sequential excitation scheme for laser stripping for a H − beam

A new scheme with sequential resonant excitation for laser assisted charge exchange injection of ${\mathrm{H}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ beams is proposed. In contrast with the one step excitation scheme, the proposed scheme requires significantly less laser power for high efficiency stripping. It also provides greater flexibility in the choice of laser wavelength for a given beam energy and extends the range of energies where laser stripping can be effectively applied. Calculations and experimental plans for 1.0 GeV and 1.3 GeV ${\mathrm{H}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ beams at the Spallation Neutron Source are presented. Results indicate that the sequential excitation scheme allows the use of more convenient green laser with much smaller power in place of the UV laser previously used.
Sustained Impact on Parenting Practices: Year 7 Findings from the Healthy Families New York Randomized Controlled Trial.

Prevention of maltreatment and harsh parenting are the primary goals of evidence-based home visiting programs, but rigorous studies demonstrating long-term outcomes are limited despite widespread implementation. The current study examines data from a 7-year follow-up study of a randomized controlled trial of Healthy Family New York (HFNY). Specifically, the study examines whether HFNY participation predicts lower rates of harsh and abusive parenting 7 years after enrollment. The data include both maternal self-report of parenting behaviors as well as the target child’s report of harsh parenting. The year 7 sample included 942 mother interviews (83.5% retention from baseline) and 800 child interviews. At the 7-year follow-up, maternal-reported behaviors measured by CTS-PC showed a significantly increased use of positive parenting strategies and lower levels of serious physical abuse in the HFNY group compared with the control group. Significant group differences were observed for the frequency with which mothers engaged in severe or very severe physical assault (control group = .16, compared with .03 in the intervention group, p < .001). In addition, fewer children reported that their parents used minor physical assault. There was no intervention impact on indicated child protective service records. The current study indicates that home visiting participation reduces harsh and abusive parenting and promotes positive parenting behaviors that endure and may strengthen later development.
Effect of perioperative predictive care on children with complicated renal calculi undergoing percutaneous nephroscopy

Objective To explore the effect of perioperative foreseeable nursing on children with complicated renal calculi by percutaneous nephrolithotomy. Methods A total of 68 cases of children with complicated kidney stones admitted to this hospital from October 2015 to October 2017 were selected.According to the random number table method, the patients were randomly divided into observation group and control group, 34 cases of each group.The control group adopted traditional nursing, while the observation group adopted the method of foreseeable nursing.The postoperative complications of the two groups were observed and recorded, and the patients and their families were investigated and recorded in detail before discharge.For younger children, the opinions of family members were taken as reference. Results The infection, postoperative bleeding, peripheral organ injury, double J tube displacement, urinary extravasation, and water and electrolyte disorder in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group, and the differences between the two groups were statistically significant(P<0.05). The nursing satisfaction of children and their families in the observation group was significantly higher than those in the control group, and the differences between the two groups were statistically significant(P<0.05). Conclusion Perioperative predictive care can significantly improve the prognosis of children with complicated renal stones undergoing percutaneous nephroscopy, on the one hand, reduce the incidence of postoperative complications, reduce their pain, and on the other hand, improve the nursing satisfaction of children. Key words: Predictive care; Complex kidney stones; Percutaneous nephrolithotomy; Complications; Degree of satisfaction
Secularization among immigrants in Scandinavia: Religiosity across generations and duration of residence:

The integration of religious minorities within the secularized West has been a recurring topic of scholarly interest. Previous studies show that religious identities are shaped by family background...
Photoinduced Dissociative Electron Capture Processes in Binary Ion-Molecule Complexes

Molecular negative ions are distinct from their neutral counter parts in that while their ground electronic states can be quite stable, their first excited electronic states often correspond to the electron detachment continuum, with the lowest valence excited states embedded in the continuum.1,2 Thus, the absence of the long range coulomb attraction between the excess electron and the neutral core often completely eliminates the infinite number of bound Rydberg states present in all neutral molecules near their ionization potentials. There are, however, a few recently discovered cases in which the dipole moment of a neutral molecule is sufficiently large that the electrostatic (i.e. charge-dipole) interaction with the excess electron is sufficient to create an additional bound electronic state just below the continuum.3 Water dimer anion, (H2O)2’ -4 presents a spectacular case in which a dipole bound state actually forms the ground state since all the valence states are unstable with respect to autodetachment.
Cultural imprints: Emerging market multinationals’ post-acquisition corporate social performance

Abstract Many emerging market multinational corporations (EMNCs) acquire firms in developed markets to attain advanced technology and managerial know-how. However, adopting socially responsible practices may not show immediate financial returns and thus, are potentially overlooked. Given the lack of formal institutions to enforce socially responsible practices in their home country, EMNCs have discretion in improving their post-acquisition corporate social responsibility performance (CSRP). This study extends the institution-based view on EMNCs’ internationalization and investigates how informal institutions, specifically home country cultures, affect EMNCs’ post-acquisition CSRP. Studying a sample of EMNCs’ acquisitions in the U.S., we find that EMNCs’ home country cultures exert “imprinting” effects that enable or discourage their post-acquisition CSRP. Uncertainty avoidance and power distance are positively related to the improvement of EMNCs’ CSRP, while individualism has a marginally negative relationship. Post-hoc analysis suggests that compared to manufacturing firms, service firms are more susceptible to the cultural imprinting effects.
Response of Domestic Prices to Exchange Rate Movements in Argentina

Based on an extended IS-LM-AS model, this study finds that if the Argentine peso depreciates 1% versus the U.S. dollar, the consumer price in Argentina would increase by 0.2518%. In addition, more structural fiscal deficit as a percent of potential GDP, more M2 supply, a higher U.S. price level, and a higher expected price level would raise Argentina’s consumer price level. Therefore, partial exchange rate pass-through is confirmed for Argentina.
Time among the taunted: The moderating effect of time perspective on bullying victimization and self-esteem in adolescents.

Abstract Introduction Bullying victimization is detrimental to psychosocial wellbeing in adolescents. It is paramount that factors that mitigate the harmful effects of bullying victimization be identified. Time perspective may be a potential mechanism. Thus, we examined the moderating effect of time perspective on the associations between traditional and cyberbullying victimization (being bullied in person and on electronic media) and self-esteem in adolescents. Time perspective refers to feelings and thoughts about the past, present, and future. We examined time feelings (positive and negative feelings about the time periods), time frequency (frequency of thoughts about the time periods), and time relation (the perceived relationship among the time periods). Methods Two cross-sectional survey studies were conducted. Study 1 examined traditional bullying victimization in 721 American adolescents (Mage = 15.84, SD = 1.20; 57% female). Study 2 examined cyberbullying victimization in 190 American adolescents (Mage = 15.83, SD = 1.28; 59% female). Results Hierarchical linear regression analyses indicated that time perspective dimensions moderated the associations between high levels of traditional and cyberbullying victimization and self-esteem in adolescents who (a) had strong positive and weak negative feelings about the present and future (time feelings); (b) thought a little about the past (time frequency); or (c) perceived all time periods as interrelated (time relation). Conclusions Time perspective dimensions (feelings, frequency, and relation) moderated the associations between traditional and cyberbullying victimization and self-esteem in adolescents. Findings have implications for bullying victimization prevention efforts. Findings also demonstrate the multidimensional and multi-temporal qualities of time perspective.
Adinkra Symbolism, Printmaking, and the Cultural Identity of Ghanaian Emerging Young Adults

Adinkra symbols are ubiquitous cultural artifacts in Ghana, West Africa. This qualitative multiple case study examined how proverbial meanings of Adinkra symbols impacted the cultural identity deve...
Setup Accuracy in Craniospinal Irradiation: Implications for Planning Treatment Volume Margins

Abstract Purpose Craniospinal irradiation (CSI) using tomotherapy has advantages over standard 3-dimensional techniques. However, there is a paucity of published data on craniospinal setup reproducibility to guide appropriate planning treatment volume (PTV) margins. We sought to evaluate the setup accuracy of patients undergoing CSI to optimize PTV margins. Methods and Materials We measured residual setup deviation between simulation computed tomography (CT) and daily megavoltage CT after couch shifts made by therapists after megavoltage CT-based image registration for 10 patients who completed CSI at our institution. Translational displacement values were recorded at the sella, top of T1, and top of L5 in the anteroposterior (AP) and lateral planes. Systematic and random error were calculated from displacement values. Using z score analysis, we calculated minimal PTV margins to encompass 90% of recorded fractions at each level. We evaluated whether patient characteristics predict for increased setup error using standard statistical techniques. Results The mean setup deviation in the AP plane across all treatments was 2.49, 3.40, and 3.83 mm at the sella, T1, and L5, respectively. Mean lateral setup error was 2.86, 4.02, and 5.46 mm at the sella, T1, and L5, respectively. Systematic error ranged from 0.75 to 1.01 mm at the sella, 1.09 to 1.37 mm at T1, and 1.30 to 1.50 mm at L5. Random error ranged from 1.35 to 1.41 mm at the sella, 1.48 to 1.73 mm at T1, and 2.26 to 2.37 mm at L5. The minimum margin to cover 90% of the treatments was 6.4, 8.2, and 10.5 mm at the sella, T1, and L5, respectively. There appeared to be a correlation between older age and lateral setup error in the L spine approaching statistical significance (R, 0.629; P = .052). Conclusions Setup error increases in the caudal direction of the spine and is greater in the lateral plane compared with the AP plane. We recommend a PTV margin of 5 to 7 mm in the brain and 10 mm in the spine.
Metastatic breast carcinoma uncovered in an otherwise unremarkable “random colon biopsy”

Abstract Breast cancer is one of the most devastating cancers afflicting women, being a main cause of cancer related death. Approximately 50% of these patients have developed regional or distant metastases at the time of diagnosis; hence, an early diagnosis and surgery with indicated neoadjuvant therapy are crucial in eradicating this disease and improving patient survival. A significant percentage of patients, even after initial satisfactory tumor removal, still face the threat of metastatic diseases which could plague a wide spectrum of body sites such as bones, lungs, central nervous system, liver and gastrointestinal tract (mostly upper gastrointestinal locations). Colonic and anorectal involvement by metastatic breast cancer has been less frequently reported in disseminated diseases. Typically, metastatic disease presents as a mass, enteric stenosis, or obstruction. Rare cases, however, may not form an endoscopically or radiologically recognizable lesion, and thus could be overlooked. Here we report a unique case of random colon biopsies in a patient presenting with epigastric pain, whose stomach biopsy showed Helicobacter pylori -associated chronic active gastritis. No colonoscopic lesion was present; however, microscopic examination of the "random biopsy" revealed scattered single and small clusters of tumor cells involving the lamina propria of the colonic mucosa, morphologically and immunophenotypically consistent with metastatic disease from breast carcinoma. The clinical presentation and histopathology of the case were reviewed and compared with limited cases reported in the literature. We conclude that high levels of suspicion and alertness are essential to identify occult microscopic gastrointestinal metastatic breast cancer in the absence of a grossly appreciable lesion.
Lipopolysaccharide Stimulates Platelets through an IL-1β Autocrine Loop

LPS activates platelets through TLR4, aiding productive sepsis, with stimulated splicing and translation of stored heteronuclear pro-IL-1β RNA. Although the IL-1R type 1 (IL-1R1) receptor for IL-1 shares downstream components with the TLR4 receptor, platelets are not known to express IL-1R1, nor are they known to respond to this cytokine. We show by flow cytometry and Western blotting that platelets express IL-1R1, and that IL-1β and IL-1α stimulate heteronuclear I-1β splicing and translation of the newly made mRNA in platelets. Platelets also respond to the IL-1β they make, which is exclusively associated with shed microparticles. Specific blockade of IL-1R1 with IL-1R antagonist suppressed platelet stimulation by IL-1, so IL-1β stimulates its own synthesis in an autocrine signaling loop. Strikingly, IL-1R antagonist inhibition, pharmacologic or genetic suppression of pro-IL-1β processing to active cytokine by caspase-1, or blockade of de novo protein synthesis also blocked LPS-induced IL-1β mRNA production. Robust stimulation of platelets by LPS therefore also required IL-1β amplification. Activated platelets made IL-1β in vivo as IL-1β rapidly accumulated in occluded murine carotid arteries by posttranscriptional RNA splicing unique to platelets. We conclude that IL-1β is a platelet agonist, that IL-1β acts through an autocrine stimulatory loop, that an IL-1β autocrine loop is required to amplify platelet activation by LPS, and that platelets immobilized in occlusive thrombi are activated over time to produce IL-1β. IL-1 is a new platelet agonist that promotes its own synthesis, connecting thrombosis with immunity.
Fast Kernel methods for SVM sequence classifiers

In this work we study string kernel methods for sequence analysis and focus on the problem of species-level identification based on short DNA fragments known as barcodes. We introduce efficient sorting-based algorithms for exact string k-mer kernels and then describe a divide-and-conquer technique for kernels with mismatches. Our algorithms for mismatch kernel matrix computations improve currently known time bounds for these computations. We then consider the mismatch kernel problem with feature selection, and present efficient algorithms for it. Our experimental results show that, for string kernels with mismatches, kernel matrices can be computed 100-200 times faster than traditional approaches. Kernel vector evaluations on new sequences show similar computational improvements. On several DNA barcode datasets, k-mer string kernels considerably improve identification accuracy compared to prior results. String kernels with feature selection demonstrate competitive performance with substantially fewer computations.
Noncontact coating of spherical-shell ICF targets using gas-dynamic levitation and charged liquid cluster beam

A novel gas-dynamic levitation (GDL) technique has been developed to facilitate noncontact coating of spherical ICF targets. Preliminary test has been performed on a novel coating method known as the Charged Liquid Cluster Beam (CLCB) technique, which is compatible with the levitation scheme, to assess its feasibility as an ICF target coating technique. Using the GDL technique three metal balls 450 /spl mu/m, 650 /spl mu/m, and 950 /spl mu/m in diameter were levitated very stably for several hours, with the balls rotating continuously. The CLCB coating technique utilizes the flow-limited field-injection electrostatic spraying to produce a spray of charged nanodrops of the coating material which, in turn, is directed toward the levitated ICF target. The apparatus and preliminary data demonstrating the capability of the levitation scheme and the coating technique are presented.
Impact of photodetector nonlinearities on photonic analog-to-digital converters

Summary from only given. Photodetector nonlinearities can limit the performance of high-dynamic-range analog optical systems. For systems that use short optical pulses to process or transmit analog information, this limitation is magnified due to the higher peak intensity at the photodetector input. In this paper, we examine the trade-off between signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and linearity in optically sampled analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) due to saturation of the photodetector responsivity.
smg-7 Is Required for mRNA Surveillance in Caenorhabditis elegans

Eukaryotic mRNAs that contain premature stop codons are degraded more rapidly than their wild-type counterparts, a phenomenon termed "nonsense-mediated mRNA decay" (NMD) or "mRNA surveillance." Functions of six previously described Caenorhabditis elegans genes, smg-1 through smg-6, are required for NMD. Whereas nonsense mutant mRNAs are unstable in smg(+) genetic backgrounds, such mRNAs have normal stability in smg(-) backgrounds. Previous screens for smg mutations have likely not identified all genes involved in NMD, but efforts to identify additional smg genes are limited by the fact that almost 90% of smg mutations identified in genome-wide screens are alleles of smg-1, smg-2, or smg-5. We describe a modified screen for smg mutations that precludes isolating alleles of smg-1, smg-2, and smg-5. Using this screen, we have identified and cloned smg-7, a previously uncharacterized gene that we show is required for NMD. smg-7 is predicted to encode a novel protein that contains an acidic carboxyl terminus and two probable tetratricopeptide repeats. We provide evidence that smg-7 is cotranscribed with the previously characterized gene lin-45 and show that null alleles of smg-7 confer a temperature-sensitive defect in NMD.
Endoscopic management of traumatic bile leaks

Background Traumatic bile leaks often result in prolonged morbidity and an increased length of hospital stay that requires multimodality management. Data on endoscopic management of traumatic bile leaks are scarce. Objective To evaluate the efficacy of endotherapy in the management of traumatic bile leaks. Design Retrospective evaluation of prospectively collected data. Setting Tertiary academic referral center. Patients Consecutive patients referred for ERCP after traumatic abdominal injury for the management of bile leaks. Interventions Biliary stent placement at ERCP. Main Outcome Measures Resolution of a bile leak on follow-up ERCP. Results Ten patients underwent ERCP for the management of a traumatic bile leak over a 3-year period. The etiology included a penetrating injury from a gunshot wound in 5 patients, blunt injuries from a motor vehicle accident in 4 patients, and injury secondary to a fall in 1 patient. Liver injuries were grade II in 1 patient, grade IV in 7 patients, and grade V in 2 patients. A bile leak was treated by biliary stent placement in all patients, and the outcome was successful in 9 of 10 cases (90%). The mean duration of follow-up was 337 days (range, 101-821 days). Nine of 10 patients underwent surgery to control bleeding or other associated injuries. There were no ERCP-related complications. Limitations Small number of patients. Conclusions Consideration should be given to incorporate ERCP as first-line therapy in management of traumatic bile leaks, because endobiliary stent placement provides a successful outcome in a majority of cases, irrespective of the severity of injury.
Interaction of DNA with Cationic Vesicles: A Calorimetric Study

The interaction of DNA with vesicles of cationic lipids mixed with varying amounts of a zwitterionic lipid in dilute solutions was studied by isothermal titration microcalorimetry, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and turbidity measurements. Extruded pure dimethyldioctadecylammonium bromide (DODAB) and chloride (DODAC) vesicles and mixed vesicles with various amounts of dioleoylphosphatidylethanolamine (DOPE) were investigated at 25 °C. The interaction of DNA with cationic vesicles is fast and endothermic. The enthalpy of reaction per mole of lipid added is constant with varying charge ratio between cationic lipid and DNA but decreases with increasing amounts of the zwitterionic lipid in the vesicle. The enthalpy change is constant up to a critical charge ratio ρ+/- of about 0.8 for the addition of lipid vesicles to DNA and 1.2 for the addition of DNA to lipid vesicles. The enthalpy of reaction decreases with the replacement of Br- by Cl- ion and is independent of cationic vesicle size in the rang...
Medical-Grade Calcium Sulfate Hemihydrate in Clinical Implant Dentistry: A Review

Medical-grade calcium sulfate has been successfully used for several decades as a bone filler and as a carrier with medications or bone growth factors for the treatment of bone defects. The present review illustrates the biological behavior and clinical outcomes of this material when used in clinical implant dentistry. Furthermore, the review illustrates the different indications specifically related to implant dentistry when medical-grade calcium sulfate has been used alone or in combination with bone grafting materials. The histological published evidence is reviewed together with successful clinical results. This material, well known since the 1800's, continues to be used by clinicians and researchers worldwide, and the latest scientific evidence clearly indicates that medical-grade calcium sulfate can be used alone or in combination with biologically active proteins in applications such as socket preservation, ridge augmentation, and sinus lift procedures.
Optimal PI Controller Tuning Based on ITAE Criterion for Low-Order Systems with Large Time Delay

For low order process with large time delay, a kind of optimal PI controller tuning method is proposed based on generalized Hermite-Biehler theorem and Genetic Algorithm. Firstly, the stable region of PI controller is obtained by using the generalized Hermite-Biehler theorem. Then the optimum parameters are selected from this region based on ITAE criterion and genetic algorithm. A tuning formula is obtained by nonlinear fitting of optimization result, which has the capability to cover the variety of normalized time delays up to 100. Simulation of Monte-Carlo stochastic experiment indicates that the proposed method has good performance robustness when parameter uncertainty occurs, compared with other four PI tuning methods.
A Stress Gradient-enhanced Piezoelectric Actuator Composite (GEPAC) with Integrated Ultrasonic NDE Capability for Continuous Health Monitoring

Stress gradient-enhanced piezoelectric actuator composites (GEPACs) are unimorph, curved actuators that can be used as low-frequency actuators embedded, for instance, within an aircraft skin. The actuator is made of a thin PZT ceramic layer bonded between two composite layers with different coefficients of thermal expansion. These curved actuators provide large bending motion. Actuators have been manufactured with segmented upper electrodes so that they can also be used at ultrasonic frequencies to monitor continuously the integrity of the actuator itself. It is shown that the actuator can be used to detect interfacial defects such as debonding between the piezoelectric layer and the outer layers. The input signal is a one-cycle burst at 1 MHz. The time domain signals recorded experimentally are compared with predictions from a finite element model. It is shown that the presence of a debonding defect can convert a symmetric pulse into a primarily antisymmetric wave. A simple correlation technique is used ...
Motor Disturbances in Offspring of Female Ambidexter Rats with Psychogenic Trauma

The vital stress experienced by mothers both during and before their pregnancy produced motor disturbances in their offspring. By parameters of the EMG activity of the low extremities, more pronounced motor disturbances are revealed in the young 35-day old rat pups whose mothers were exposed to the acute psychogenic trauma during pregnancy. Asymmetry of the motor disturbances is the most prominent in the 45-day old rat pups born from the mothers exposed to the psychogenic trauma one month before pregnancy. In the process of ontogenetic development the revealed deviations are better compensated in the rat pups of the “neonatal stress” group than in the case of their mothers' preconception psychogenic trauma.
Encapsulated Mesenchymal Stromal Cells for In-Vivo Transplantation

Immunomodulatory human mesenchymal stromal cells (hMSC) have been incorporated into therapeutic protocols to treat secondary inflammatory responses post-spinal cord injury (SCI) in animal models. However, limitations with direct hMSC implantation approaches may prevent effective translation for therapeutic development of hMSC infusion into post-SCI treatment protocols. To circumvent these limitations, we investigated the efficacy of alginate microencapsulation in developing an implantable vehicle for hMSC delivery. Viability and secretory function were maintained within the encapsulated hMSC population, and hMSC secreted anti-inflammatory cytokines upon induction with the pro-inflammatory factors, TNF-α and IFN-γ. Furthermore, encapsulated hMSC modulated inflammatory macrophage function both in vitro and in vivo, even in the absence of direct hMSC-macrophage cell contact and promoted the alternative M2 macrophage phenotype. In vitro, this was evident by a reduction in macrophage iNOS expression with a concomitant increase in CD206, a marker for M2 macrophages. Finally, Sprague-Dawley rat spinal cords were injured at vertebra T10 via a weight drop model (NYU model) and encapsulated hMSC were administered via lumbar puncture 24 h post-injury. Encapsulated hMSC localized primarily in the cauda equina of the spinal cord. Histological assessment of spinal cord tissue 7 days post-SCI indicated that as few as 5 × 10(4) encapsulated hMSC yielded increased numbers of CD206-expressing macrophages, consistent with our in vitro studies. The combined findings support the inclusion of immobilized hMSC in post-CNS trauma tissue protective therapy, and suggest that conversion of macrophages to the M2 subset is responsible, at least in part, for tissue protection.
Role of topological constraints on the statistical properties of grain boundary networks

Grain boundaries in polycrystalline materials form a topological network that evolves under dynamic processing conditions. Recent experimental results for a number of different materials have demonstrated that the statistical distribution of triple junction types (or node types) in polycrystals is highly nonrandom. These observations point to the critical role of local crystallographic constraints on the topology and evolution of grain boundary networks. Here we demonstrate that, within the context of percolation theory, a realistic local constraint applied at each junction can strongly influence the topology of networks in general. In the specific case of grain boundary networks, such constraint can account for the experimentally observed deviations from the random case.
Cryo-Engineering in the Nuclear Rocket Program

Among the many remarkable technological achievements which have enriched our lives in the years since World War II, few have been more exciting to the imagination than the recent spectacular developments in the field of rocketry. Rocket systems are now available, as we all know, with sufficient power to permit mankind to take an initial step toward an objective probably as ancient as man himself: the exploration of outer space. In order to accomplish even this much, however, it has been necessary to construct compact, lightweight, and extremely powerful rocket engines, and to develop suitable sources of energy from which these engines can extract the necessary power. To date the requisite energy has been obtained from the carrying out of highly exothermic chemical reactions in the combustion chamber of a rocket engine system, the thermal energy of the reaction products being converted into a directed flux of kinetic energy in the rocket nozzle.
Experimental determination of the energy dependence of defect production

Abstract A knowledge of primary damage production as a function of recoil energy is essential for predicting defect production in radiation environments of practical interest. The damage function ν(T) , i.e., the number of Frenkel pairs as a function of recoil energy, is determined for Cu from electron and ion damage-rate measurements. ν(T) shows a plateau at ν = 0.54 which extends up to ~ 7T d min . Therefore, simple damage models, such as the modified Kinchin-Pease expression, are strongly deficient, not only at high recoil energies where stimulated recombination in cascades reduces defect production, but also in the single displacement regime. As a consequence, no simple relation between T d min and T d av is expected to exist. A procedure is suggested which uses anisotropy measurements in combination with polycrystal electron and ion irradiations to construct absolute damage functions in metals.
Electrolyte diffusion and crystal growth in polyesters

Abstract Growth of potassium sulfate crystals within internal disk cracks in polyester samples proves the occurrence of diffusion of large anionic groups (SO 2− 4 ) through the polymer. The crystals grow when the polymer sheets are exposed to a saturated K 2 SO 4 solution, and nucleate as a result of relaxation, near the glass transition temperature, which causes ion supersaturation.
Molecular Optics: Nonlinear Optical Processes in Organic and Polymer Crystals

Abstract Physical studies of nonlinear optical properties of organic and polymer structures have demonstrated exceptionally large second and third order nonlinear optical responses that are important to the fields of nonlinear optics and optical device technologies. These unusual responses have been exhibited by a large number of structures, phases, and states that include organic solids and films, single crystal polymers, Langmuir-Blodgett films, liquid crystals, and liquid crystal polymers. Experimental and theoretical studies of such systems have achieved significant advances in the understanding of these exceptional macroscopic nonlinear optical responses based on theoretically calculated microscopic electronic mechanisms, especially the role of electron-electron correlations and highly charge correlated electron excited states. Combined theory and experiment has led to the recent discovery of liquid crystal polymerization of divinyldiacetylene monomers to form highly conjugated liquid crystal polymer...
Super-low-noise performance of direct-ion-implanted 0.25- mu m-gate GaAs MESFET's

The authors report on advanced ion implantation GaAs MESFET technology using a 0.25- mu m 'T' gate for super-low-noise microwave and millimeter-wave IC applications. The 0.25*200- mu m-gate GaAs MESFETs achieved 0.56-dB noise figure with 13.1-dB associated gain at 50% I/sub DSS/ and 0.6 dB noise figure with 16.5-dB associated gain at 100% I/sub DSS/ at a measured frequency of 10 GHz. The measured noise figure is comparable to the best noise performance of AlGaAs/GaAs HEMTs and AlGaAs/InGaAs/GaAs pseudomorphic HEMTs. >
Response to Helfinstein & Casey

We thank Sarah Helfinstein and B.J. Casey for raising some important issues in their commentary to our paper ‘Exciting fear in adolescence: Does pubertal development alter threat processing?’ (http://dx.doi.org/10. 1016/j.dcn.2014.01.004, this issue). In response, we welcome the opportunity to express agreement with a few of their key points, to respectfully disagree on one point, and (hopefully) to clarify some issues that we regard as potential misunderstandings. First of all, we agree that the paradoxes of adolescent behavior represent a complex and fascinating set of issues that will require better integration of several conceptual and empirical approaches. We certainly did not mean to imply that the goal of our paper was an effort to explain all (or even most) of adolescent risk taking with a simple model, but rather to address one developmental component contributing to this complex picture, focusing on a hypothesis that may provide insight into one (affective) dimension of developmental changes in association with pubertal maturation. More specifically, the goal of our paper was not to suggest that [in their words]: “adolescence [is] one big roller coaster ride of thrills in the face of potential danger. . .”; moreover, we do not regard the central premise of our paper as being that “teens find threatening situations exciting.” More generally, we feel strongly that there is value in moving beyond general statements about “the teen brain” (and what we regard as on over-reliance on results from cross-sectional studies that often span several of the ‘teen’ years) and instead focus on studies designed to understand specific developmental processes. Accordingly, our study
Image enhancement of the galaxy VV371c using the 2D fast wavelet transform

ABSTRACT The fast wavelet transform (FWT) for images developed by Mallat is a useful andpowerful tool for image processing, with its main applications being compression, featureextraction and image enhancement. In particular, since this algorithm segments an imagewith respect to both spatial frequency and orientation, image enhancement becomes moreprecise and efficient. This idea is demonstrated by the removal of background noise andflaws from two digitized images ofthe faint galaxy VV371c. This object was first studiedin the early 1980's using older and less sophisticated computer technologies and imageprocessing techniques. We present results of the wavelet based image analysis of VV37 icwhich yield new conclusions as to this galaxy's structure and morphological classification.Keywords: image processing, astronomy, wavelet transforms 1. INTRODUCTION This paper deals with using multiresolution image processing techniques to helpshed light on an interesting observational question in astronomy. What is interesting hereis not so much what the astronomical data indicates, but the techniques used in gleaning thenew information.The problem to be solved concerns the morphology of a very faint galaxy known asVV371c, or UGC 9282 first catalogued by Nilson in 1973 in the Uppsala GeneralCatalogue of Galaxies'. He classified the object as 'SB(?)'; that is, he believed the objecthad some rudimentary barred spiral structure.In the 1982-84 time frame Scholl2 and Scholl and Grayzeck3 studied this object inmore detail. This object was denoted as VV37 ic as it was a suspected companion to thepeculiar galaxy VV371. They used relatively simple image processing techniques ondigitized galaxy images to obtain physical and morphological imformation on the variousobjects including VV371c. Scholl2 concluded that this object had an irregular morphologywith no hint of spiral structure at all.This conclusion, however, was obtained by rudimentary methods as compared tothe present time. In this study, two digitized images of VV37 ic were examined. Theywere taken from image tube photographic plates seen through bandpass filters centered atwavelengths of 450nm (Blue) and 550nm(Visual). Each photograph was digitized into12 bit per pixel greyscale images. The parts of the digitized plates containing the objectswere 128 x 128 pixels2 in size. Both images were then smoothed with simple low-passfilters and the resulting information converted into contour maps of intensity.The faintness of VV37 ic combined with background noise and flaws on the visualphotographic plate resulted in pictures with very poor signal to noise ratios (Figures 2 and4). In hindsight, simple smoothing on the images did not elimimate noise or flaws. Moresophisticated tools that would preserve mophological information of the galaxy and yetprovide a way to neatly separate the signal and noise were needed.The techniques to do this were not available until the late 1980's, with the advent ofmultiresolution subband coding techniques such as wavelets. The 2D fast wavelet
Changes in Working Capital of Small Firms in Relation to Changes in Economic Activity

This paper studies how the working capital position of small firms responds to changes in the level of economic activity. Fifty small firms were studied for the time period 1980‐1991. The findings from this study showed that liquidity increased slightly for these firms during economic expansion with no noticeable change in liquidity during economic slowdowns. Their investment in working capital, as measured by the inventory to total assets and current assets to total assets ratios, were relatively stable over the time period of this study.Findings suggest that working capital management practices of small firms in response to changes in economic activity do not follow commonly held expectations.
Crisis and the Development of China’s Southwestern Periphery The Transformation of Panzhihua, 1936–1969

For much of the twentieth century, China’s rugged southwest existed as a veritable blank spot on the country’s geological and planning maps. Geo-political crises in the late 1930s and later in the ...
Dexamethasone Suppresses Expression of Nuclear Factor-kappaB in the Cells of Tracheobronchial Lavage Fluid in Premature Neonates with Respiratory Distress

Nuclear Factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) plays a central role in regulating the key mediators of inflammation involved in acute lung injury. The anti-inflammatory effect of steroids by suppressing pro-inflammatory cytokines may be mediated by inhibition of transcription factor NF-kappaB. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of glucocorticoid therapy on the expression of NF-kappaB in the cells of tracheobronchial lavage fluid (TBLF) in premature neonates with respiratory distress. Nineteen premature neonates requiring mechanical ventilation and receiving glucocorticoids were enrolled. Their gestational age (mean +/- SD) was 25.0 +/- 1.2 wk, birth weight 714 +/- 105 g and age of starting dexamethasone was 33 +/- 15 d. Tracheobronchial lavage fluid was collected before and 48-72 h after starting dexamethasone. NF-kappaB expression was measured by immunocytochemistry using mouse MAb against the p65 subunit of NF-kappaB on cytospin slides. The percent of cells stained and the intensity staining index were significantly higher before starting dexamethasone compared with after steroid therapy. Localization of NF-kappaB was significantly decreased in the cytoplasm and nuclei of mononuclear cells after initiation of dexamethasone therapy. The concentration of IL-8 was also significantly lower after starting dexamethasone. In conclusion, dexamethasone suppressed the expression of NF-kappaB in the cytoplasm and nuclei of mononuclear cells and decreased levels of IL-8 in TBLF from premature neonates with respiratory distress. The anti-inflammatory effects of corticosteroids may be mediated through NF-kappaB.
Right-lower-lobe pneumonia and acute appendicitis in childhood: A therapeutic disorder

Abstract Two children with simultaneous right-lower-lobe pneumonia and acute appendicitis had uneventful recoveries after early diagnosis and appendectomy. The presence of right-lower-lobe pneumonia does not exclude the possibility of simultaneous acute appendicitis.
Brain stem control of masseteric reflex activity during sleep and wakefulness: medulla.

Abstract The present study was undertaken to examine possible involvement of the anterior medulla in the phenomenon of reticular response-reversal. This phenomenon occurs when conditioning stimulation, delivered to the pontomesencephalic reticular core, produces an increase in masseteric reflex excitability during wakefulness and quiet sleep, but induces a suppression of excitability during active sleep. Thirteen cats were implanted with chronic electrodes which were used to deliver a test stimulus to the mesencephalic Vth nucleus to evoke the masseteric reflex, to apply conditioning stimuli to sites at the pontomedullary junction, and to monitor the electroencephalogram (EEG), electrooculogram (EOG), and electromyogram (EMG) in the freely moving cat during wakefulness, quiet sleep, and active sleep. During wakefulness and quiet sleep, conditioning stimulation reliably produced reflex facilitation (principally from medial sites) which lasted 10 to 40 ms with a peak effect at 20 ms. During active sleep, the same stimulation produced reflex suppression with a similar time course. Time course patterns obtained from sites at the pontomedullary junction resembled those generated from rostral brain stem regions with the exception that many medullary sites yielded short latency reflex suppression throughout wakefulness, quiet sleep, and active sleep. In addition, lower thresholds of conditioning current were found to induce reflex facilitation and suppression from sites at the medullary level than were required at the pontine or mesencephalic levels.
Positron annihilation in perovskite superconductors; Theory and experiment

Abstract Positron Annihilation Spectroscopy is shown to be of potential value for probing the electronic structure and the changes accompanying the superconducting transition of the new high Tc materials. The experimental results of electron-positron momentum distribution for La2CuO4 agree with a ligand field approach, suggesting a strong electron localization and the importance of the covalency.
Resolution of inflammation in periodontitis

Chronic inflammatory illnesses such as diabetes, arthritis, and heart disease are now seen as problems that might have impacts on the periodontium, and reciprocal effects of periodontal diseases are being considered as factors potentially affecting the progression of these diseases. Successful management of the inflammatory disorders in the human body depends on the identification of common pathways that would lead to a better understanding of the disease processes and development of novel treatment strategies. In this review, our objective is to identify the inflammatory basis of periodontal disease and common inflammatory mechanisms underlying several disorders elsewhere in the body, with an emphasis on how the potential extrinsic and intrinsic control methods could be used to prevent or treat the harmful effects linked to inflammation.
Coherent Storage and Retrieval of Broadband Optical Pulses

We conduct a theoretical investigation of broadband optical pulse control in coherent three-level media. We produce an exact soliton solution, probe its utility with numerical solutions and generate animations to highlight interesting features.