cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Aromatic hydrocarbon responsiveness-receptor agonists generated from indole-3-carbinol in vitro and in vivo: comparisons with 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin.

Abstract Indole-3-carbinol (I3C) is a secondary plant metabolite produced in vegetables of the Brassica genus, including cabbage, cauliflower, and brussels sprouts. I3C is both an anti-initiator and a promoter of carcinogenesis. Consumption of I3C by humans and rodents can lead to marked increases in activities of cytochrome P-450-dependent monooxygenases and in a variety of phase II drug-metabolizing enzymes. We have reported previously that the enzyme-inducing activity of I3C is mediated through a mechanism requiring exposure of the compound to the low-pH environment of the stomach. We report here the aromatic hydrocarbon responsiveness-receptor Kd values (22 nM-90 nM), determined with C57BL/6J mouse liver cytosol and the in vitro- and in vivo-molar yields (0.1-6%) of the major acid condensation products of I3C. We also show that indolo[3,2-b]carbazole (ICZ) is produced from I3C in yields on the order of 0.01% in vitro and, after oral intubation, in vivo. ICZ has a Kd of 190 pM for aromatic hydrocarbon responsiveness-receptor binding and an EC50 of 269 nM for induction of cytochrome P4501A1, as measured by ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase activity in murine hepatoma Hepa 1c1c7 cells. The binding affinity of ICZ is only a factor of 3.7 x 10(-2) lower than that of the highly toxic environmental contaminant and cancer promoter 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin. ICZ and related condensation products appear responsible for the enzyme-inducing effects of dietary I3C.
Restructuring and Euroization in Accession Countries

Abstract This paper examines how far the restructuring process toward a market economy has proceeded in Accession Countries (AC) during the past decade in order to determine how ready they are, and how useful it would be for them, to unilaterally adopt the Euro before they are officially admitted into the European Economic and Monetary System (EMU) or Euro Area. By unilaterally adopting the Euro now, the Accession Countries gain stability in their exchange rates and can benefit both from lower interest rates and from reduced exposure to speculative attacks, but they would also lose most of their policy flexibility in economic and financial matters, which is of great importance in the process of completing their process of restructuring toward full-fledged market economies.
Manic symptoms and impulsivity during bipolar depressive episodes.

Methods: In 56 bipolar I or II depressed subjects, we investigated the presence of manic symptoms, using Mania Rating Scale (MRS) scores from the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia (SADS), and examined its association with other psychiatric symptoms (depression, anxiety, and psychosis), age of onset, history of alcohol and/ or other substance abuse and of suicidal behavior, and measures of impulsivity. Results: MRS ranged from 0 to 29 (25th–75th percentile, range 4–13), and correlated significantly with anxiety and psychosis, but not with depression, suggesting the superimposition of a separate psychopathological mechanism. Impulsivity and history of substance abuse, head trauma, or suicide attempt increased with increasing MRS. Receiver-operating curve analysis showed that MRS could divide patients into two groups based on history of alcohol abuse and suicide attempt, with an inflection point corresponding to an MRS score of 6. Discussion: Even modest manic symptoms during bipolar depressive episodes were associated with greater impulsivity, and with histories of alcohol abuse and suicide attempts. Manic symptoms during depressive episodes suggest the presence of a potentially dangerous combination of depression and impulsivity.
Sympathetic vasodilation in human muscle

The idea that there might be sympathetic vasodilator nerves to skeletal muscle is an old concept that fits with the archaic 'fight or flight' model of the sympathetic nervous system. Clear evidence for vasodilator nerves to skeletal muscle began to emerge in animals during the 1930s, when stimulation of selected brainstem areas was shown to evoke hypertension, tachycardia and skeletal muscle vasodilation (i.e. the 'defense reaction'). By the 1940s and 1950s this idea was well established and it was shown in animals that the sympathetic dilator nerves to muscles were cholinergic. During this time, circumstantial evidence began to suggest the existence of sympathetic cholinergic vasodilator fibres in human skeletal muscle. In this context, the well- known forearm vasodilator response to mental stress was shown to be atropine-sensitive, and absent after surgical sympathectomy. However, while there was clear histological evidence for sympathetic cholinergic dilator fibres in animal muscle, such evidence was not seen in humans. Additionally, attempts to record from sympathetic dilator fibres human muscle have never demonstrated clear evidence for dilator nerve traffic, and many 'sympathetic dilator' responses are still present after local anaesthetic nerve block. More recently, the skeletal muscle dilator response to sympathoexcitatory manoeuvres in both humans and animals appears to be nitric oxide (NO)-dependent. While there are clearly atropine-sensitive and NO-dependent dilator nerves to skeletal muscles in animals, our current thinking is that most 'sympathetic dilator' responses in human muscle are due to adrenaline or local cholinergic mechanisms acting to stimulate NO release from the vascular endothelium.
Phosphorylation of steroid receptors

Abstract Steroid receptors are phosphoproteins and can act as substrates for several protein kinases in vitro . Phosphorylation apparently regulates the hormone binding activities for estrogen and glucocorticoid receptors. John Dougherty, Raj Puri and David Toft describe recent experimental evidence in support of this regulatory role and also discuss investigations into other possible roles for receptor phosphorylation.
Potentiating Endogenous Antitumor Immunity to Prostate Cancer through Combination Immunotherapy with CTLA4 Blockade and GM-CSF

CTL-associated antigen 4 (CTLA4) is a costimulatory molecule expressed on activated T cells that delivers an inhibitory signal to these T cells. CTLA4 blockade with antibody treatment has been shown to augment antitumor immunity in animal models and is being developed as a treatment for cancer patients. As has been seen in preclinical models, combining CTLA4 blockade and granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF)-based immunotherapies can enhance the antitumor efficacy of this approach. We therefore examined whether CTLA4 blockade could be combined with GM-CSF administration. We treated 24 patients with metastatic, castration-resistant prostate cancer in a phase I trial where sequential cohorts were treated with increasing doses of ipilimumab, a fully human anti-CTLA4 antibody. Study subjects also received s.c. injections of GM-CSF at a fixed dose. Of the six patients treated at the highest dose level, three had confirmed PSA declines of >50%, including one patient that had a partial response in visceral metastases. Expansion of activated, circulating CD25(+) CD69(+) CD8(+) T cells occurred more frequently at higher doses of treatment and was greater in magnitude than was seen in patients who received the same doses of either ipilimumab or GM-CSF alone. By screening sera with protein arrays, we showed that our treatment can induce antibody responses to NY-ESO-1. These results show that this combination immunotherapy can induce the expansion not only of activated effector CD8 T cells in vivo but also of T cells that are specific for known tumor-associated antigens from the endogenous immune repertoire.
Pimozide blocks reinforcement but not priming from MFB stimulation in the rat.

Abstract When given non-contingent pretrial stimulation (priming stimulation) rats ran an alley for brain-stimulation reward faster than when there was no priming. This is one manifestation of the priming effet of rewarding stimulation. After treatment with the neuroleptic, pimozide, the first few trials fell in the range of normal primed performance when the rats were primed, and in the range of normal unprimed performance when they were not. In either case, an extinction-like decline in performance occurred after the first few trials. Run in a T-maze with water in one arm and a level producing brain stimulation reward in the other, thirsty rats chose the stimulation reward when primed and the water reward when unprimed. Pimozide in doses that produced extinction of Skinner box responding did not alter this effect of priming on reward preference. These results demonstrate that the priming effect is unaltered by doses of pimozide that block the reinforcing effect of the stimulation.
Impacts of forest insects and diseases: Significance and measurement

Forest insects and diseases are integral components of the forest ecosystem; complexes of each have coevolved with forest ecotypes and are involved in the dynamic processes of forest establishment, growth, senescence, and mortality. Insects and diseases which feed on, or use trees as substrates for their life processes, affect forest, stands, and even entire forests positively and negatively. These effects are termed impacts. The positive impacts are primarily ecological; negative impacts are those which alter values defined by forest management objectives or public perception. The former have received little attention: the latter have been of major concern since their quantification provides the justification for extensive pest management programs. Concepts of impact are examined with emphasis on those affecting the eight resource elements and four support elements defined as goals and objectives of the National Forest System in the National Forest Management Act of 1976. Positive impacts are less thorou...
Headform and N95 Filtering Facepiece Respirator Interaction: Contact Pressure Simulation and Validation

This article presents a computational and experimental study of contact pressure between six N95 filtering facepiece respirators (FFRs) and five newly developed digital headforms (small, medium, large, long/narrow, and short/wide). Contact interaction is simulated using the finite element method and validated by experiments using a pressure mapping system. The headform model has multiple layers: a skin layer, muscle layer, fatty tissue layer, and bone layer. Each headform is divided into five parts (two parts for the cheeks, one part for the upper forehead, one part for the chin, and one part for the back side of the head). Each respirator model comprises multiple layers and two straps. The simulation process has two stages for each respirator/headform combination. The first stage is to wrap the straps around the back of the headform and pull the respirator away from the face. The second stage is to release the respirator so that the respirator moves toward the face. Strap forces and contact interactions ...
METABOLIC RESPONSES OF CARDIAC, SKELETAL MUSCLE, AND FAT CELLS TO CATECHOLAMINES

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses metabolic responses of cardiac, skeletal muscle, and fat cells to catecholamines. Catecholamines cause increased mobilization of body energy stores of glycogen and triglycerides. Receptors to these agents have been identified pharmacologically and have been shown to be linked to augmented formation of cAMP in heart, liver, skeletal muscle and adipose tissue. The only sites of action for cAMP that have been clearly described are the enzymes designated as protein kinases. This chapter describes the biochemical mechanisms that modulate metabolic responses to catecholamines. These mechanisms may exert their actions independently of the role of cAMP or represent supplementary levels of control. They are allosteric mechanisms, the control of Phosphorylase kinase activity by Ca 2+ and the consequences of the association of rate-limiting enzymes with their macromolecular substrates. Allosteric mechanisms controlling the activity of the two forms of muscle or heart Phosphorylase are well known and have been demonstrated to play a significant role in intact tissue. Formation of Phosphorylase a in response to epinephrine was not found to be sufficient to stimulate glycogenolysis in the intact rat heart presumably because the energy charge favored allosteric inhibition of Phosphorylase a .
Maximum Thrust Nozzles

Abstract : The report gives a correct formulation of the variational problem for the computation of maximum thrust nozzles. The relation between Rao's solution of the maximization problem and the correctly treated variational problem is clarified by demonstrating that Rao's family of characteristics is a special subset of the solutions of Euler's equations. It is shown further that other properly selected subsets as well as Rao's subset can be used to obtain the contour of a maximum thrust nozzle. Typical calculations of the thrust generated by maximum thrust nozzles and comparable conical nozzles show that properly dimensioned conical nozzles are adequate for most purposes Possible exceptions may be space rockets. (Author)
The double-helical molecular structure of crystalline b-amylose☆

Abstract As was found with B-amylose (see preceding paper), the crystal structure of A-amylose is apparently based on parallel-stranded, right-handed double helices. The helices pack in antiparallel fashion into an orthorhombic unit-cell ( a = 11.90, b = 17.70, c (fiber repeat) = 10.52 A), which results in nearly hexagonal close-packing. The steric disposition of O-6 is either all gt or may be a mixture of gt and tg . The unit cell of A-amylose contains only about a quarter of the water molecules located in the unit cell of B-amylose. Aside from the differences in the amount of water, the A and B structures differ only in that the former has a denser packing-structure, whereas the letter is more open. The similarities in packing suggest that interconversions of A and B are possible. Experimentally, partial conversion of B into A has been observed.
Three-dimensional RODEO breast MR imaging of lesions containing ductal carcinoma in situ

PURPOSE: To assess whether rotating delivery of excitation off resonance (RODEO) breast magnetic resonance (MR) imaging can help detect ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) lesions, determine tumor extent, and differentiate pure DCIS from DCIS with an invasive component. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-two patients with DCIS lesions were evaluated with three-dimensional RODEO MR imaging. Nineteen patients had available mammograms for review. RESULTS: MR imaging enabled detection of all 22 cases of DCIS, DCIS with microinvasion, or invasive ductal carcinoma with extensive intraductal component. A clumped enhancement pattern was seen on MR images in all cases of pure DCIS. Spiculated enhancement was seen in four of six (67%) patients who had DCIS with microinvasion and in nine of 11 (82%) who had invasive ductal carcinoma with extensive intraductal component. RODEO MR imaging enabled accurate determination of tumor extent in 21 of 22 (95%) patients. Mammography depicted 18 of 19 DCIS lesions. No mammographic featu...
Structural Analysis of the Mn(IV)/Fe(III) Cofactor of Chlamydia trachomatis Ribonucleotide Reductase by Extended X-ray Absorption Fine Structure Spectroscopy and Density Functional Theory Calculations

The class Ic ribonucleotide reductase from Chlamydia trachomatis ( Ct) uses a stable Mn(IV)/Fe(III) cofactor to initiate nucleotide reduction by a free-radical mechanism. Extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy and density functional theory (DFT) calculations are used to postulate a structure for this cofactor. Fe and Mn K-edge EXAFS data yield an intermetallic distance of approximately 2.92 A. The Mn data also suggest the presence of a short 1.74 A Mn-O bond. These metrics are compared to the results of DFT calculations on 12 cofactor models derived from the crystal structure of the inactive Fe 2(III/III) form of the protein. Models are differentiated by the protonation states of their bridging and terminal OH X ligands as well as the location of the Mn(IV) ion (site 1 or 2). The models that agree best with experimental observation feature a mu-1,3-carboxylate bridge (E120), terminal solvent (H 2O/OH) to site 1, one mu-O bridge, and one mu-OH bridge. The site-placement of the metal ions cannot be discerned from the available data.
A 10.6-micro Optical Heterodyne Communication System.

A 10.6-μ optical heterodyne communication system is described that uses two stable single mode and single frequency CO2 lasers of high frequency stability. Wavelength control on both lasers allows the use of one and the same transition of the rotation–vibration band of CO2 around 10.6 μ. The system has a bandwidth of 1 MHz, and simultaneous operation in baseband and on a 50-kHz carrier has been achieved. Heterodyne detection with mercury cadmium telluride detectors yielded signal-to-noise ratios within 3 dB of the coherent photon noise limit.
Decreased insulin-like growth factor I receptor expression and function in immortalized African Pygmy T cells.

Efe Pygmies of northeast Zaire have the shortest mean adult stature of any population on earth. Although various alterations in the GWinsulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) axis have been suggested, the basis for short &ature in the Pygmy is unknown. We&evio&ly described IGF-I unresnonsiveness in a T lvmnhoblast cell line derived from an Efe Pygmy, And studies in five” additional lines have confirmed severe IGF-I resistance in these cells. We have now performed experiments to determine the molecular basis for the IGF-I resistance in these cells. We found markedly decreased cell surface expression of IGF-I receptors with normal ligand binding affinity. The Pygmy IGF-I receptors were not autophosphorylated and did not transmit a signal in response to physiological concentrations of IGF-I. There was a substantially decreased level of IGF-I receptor messenger ribonucleic acid in the Pygmy cells with a normal messenger ribonucleic acid half-life. The nucleotide sequence of the full-length IGF receptor complementary DNA in Pygmy 1 showed no significant variation. These results indicate decreased IGF-I receptor gene transcription and IGF-I receptor signaling as the primary variation in the Pygmy cell lines. The findings point to the IGF-I receptor as the locus governing short stature in the African Pygmy and suggest that human stature may be genetically controlled by expression of the IGF-I receptor. (J Clin Endocrinol Metab 81: 2257-2263, 1996)
Use of a Large Crane for Wind and Tracer Profiles in an Urban Setting

Abstract Although measured vertical profiles of wind, turbulence, and tracer concentrations are critical for understanding the urban boundary layer, it is problematic to field a sounding system or a tall structure to support anemometers in a densely populated area. Anemometers mounted on an existing building may be measuring flow distorted by that building. During the Joint Urban 2003 field experiment in Oklahoma City, the authors solved these problems by using a large crane to support a cable and crossarm framework holding a vertical array of eight 3D sonic anemometers. The highest level was over 80 m above the surface; the lowest was just under 8 m. The open-lattice structure of the crane boom and skeletal array framework did not substantially alter the airflow to the sensors. Review of the spectra shows that there are no consistent oscillations in the wind data. Data were accepted from all azimuths, although the flow was from the south 80% of the time. Profiles of wind show pronounced curvature, indica...
Cytomixis and the Loss of Chromosomes in Meiotic and Somatic Cells of Gossypium

Cytomixis appears to be a natural phenomenon occurring in either mitosis or meiosis between pollen mother cells and other types of cells with thin walls that are joined by cytoplasmic bands. Any external or internal conditions which upset the mechanics of cell wall formation and the rate of division could be a possible cause of cytomixis by leaving cytoplasmic bands through which chromatin movement can occur.Cytomixis in Gossypiurn is thought to be responsible for three other types of abnormalities: binucleate cells, pollen mother cells with reduced or increased numbers of chromosomes and somatic loss of chromosomes.
Growth and physical properties of the decagonal Al–Cu–Co quasicrystal grown from the ternary melt

Large faceted single-grain quasicrystals of the approximate composition Al63.2Cu19.5Co17.3 and with a high degree of structural perfection are obtained through the slow cooling of a ternary melt with initial composition Al65Cu29Co6. X-ray diffraction patterns of crushed single-grain samples are exceptionally sharp, indicating a high degree of structural order, with no evidence of secondary phases. Transmission electron micrographs also reveal sharp diffraction patterns in the even-n layers but diffuse scattering in the odd-n layers. Temperature-dependent magnetization, electrical resistivity and specific heat are measured using bars cut perpendicular and parallel to the c axis and show diamagnetic behaviour: γ ≈ 0.5 mJ mol−1 K−2, ρ c(2 K) ≈ 52 μΩ cm and ρ q(2 K) ≈ 283 μΩ cm.
Preclinical atherosclerosis covaries with individual differences in reactivity and functional connectivity of the amygdala.

Background Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major source of medical comorbidity for patients with mood and anxiety disorders, and it remains the leading public health burden for the general population in industrialized nations. Indirect neurobiological evidence suggests that preclinical risk for atherosclerosis, the main contributor to CVD, may be conferred by interindividual variation in the functionality of the amygdala, a brain system jointly involved in processing behaviorally salient stimuli and regulating the cardiovascular system. Methods In a neuroimaging study of 36 middle-aged adults (18 women) who were screened for confounding clinical cardiovascular and psychiatric disorders, we examined the direct covariation between a marker of preclinical atherosclerosis, carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT), and interindividual variation in amygdala reactivity and functional connectivity assessed during the processing of behaviorally salient stimuli (angry and fearful facial expressions). Results After accounting for traditional CVD risk factors, a thickening of carotid IMT across individuals covaried with greater amygdala reactivity and a more positive functional connectivity between the amygdala and perigenual anterior cingulate cortex, a corticolimbic area also implicated in behavioral salience processing and cardiovascular regulation. Conclusions Individual differences in amygdala reactivity and functional connectivity may reflect facets of a novel, systems-level neural phenotype conferring risk for atherosclerosis and CVD.
Hopeful monsters and morphogens at the beach.

The Santa Cruz Developmental Biology Conference (August 15–19, 2002) provided the latest insights into how a single cell is transformed into a complex organism. Organisms that flower, slither, walk and fly continue to provide new insights into the cell biological and molecular mechanisms that control cell movement, signalling pathways and post-transcriptional regulation; hopeful monsters sit at our doorstep to provide new insight into evolutionary change and human disease.
Modeling liquid jet breakup in high speed cross-flow with finite-conductivity evaporation

Numerical study of liquid atomization/spray process in a high speed cross-flow is described in this paper. Due to the strong aero-thermal dynamics/spray interaction, droplet evaporation process plays an important role even for non-chemical reacting cold-flow systems. Further to the development of the finite-conductivity spray evaporation model, an improved drag coefficient correlation which would capture the spray phenomenon more accurately specifically for application to high speed flow applications was also incorporated. Numerical results indicated that jet penetration increased rapidly in the vicinity of the injector exit and then gradually increased due to increase in the drag of the air stream. The predicted results were reasonably comparable to measured data and showed more accurate comparisons to that of the infinite-conductivity model.
Cardenas receives, 2011 Early Career Hydrologic Sciences Award: Response

Meinhard Bayani Cardenas received the 2011 Early Career Hydrologic Sciences Award at the 2011 AGU Fall Meeting, held 5–9 December in San Francisco, Calif. The award is for significant early career contributions to hydrologic science.
Aesthetic Genesis: The Origin of Consciousness in the Intentional Being of Nature

Jeff Mitscherling begins Aesthetic Genesis by asking “what might happen to us when we walk by a painting[?]” He answers: “We catch sight of it. It tantalizes and teases us. It tempts us. It’s irres...
Antibodies that impair insulin receptor binding in an unusual diabetic syndrome with severe insulin resistance

Six patients with a unique form of diabetes associated with extreme insulin resistance have markedly reduced insulin binding to specific receptors on their circulating monocytes. When normal insulin receptors were exposed to serum or immunoglobulin fractions from three of these patients in vitro the specific binding defect was reproduced.
Drugs, Vietnam, and the Vietnam Veteran: An Overview

Highlights are presented on the issue of drug use among servicemen in Vietnam and its aftereffects. Two stages of Vietnam drug use are identified-a period of increasing marijuana use followed by the 1970 influx of highly potent heroin to which 1/5 of the enlisted troops were addicted at some time during their tour. The major contributing factors appear to be: (1) the need of troops in stressful combat situations for self-medication, escape, and hedonistic indulgence; (2) the relaxation of taboos against drug use in the United States; and (3) the availability of illicit drugs at low cost, which was apparently the result of profiteering by a number of South Vietnamese officials. Related to the above was the growing disenchantment with the war and the progressive deterioration in unit morale. These drugs are seen as serving many of the functions performed by alcohol in earlier millitary conflicts. There is no hard evidence that duty performance in Vietnam was seriously affected by drug use. Since 95% of those who were addicted to narcotics in Vietnam have not become readdicted, the situation does not appear to be as severe as originally supposed. Myths as to the persistence and intractibility of physiological narcotic addiction were dispelled. A major negative effect has been the difficulty that soldiers with less-than-honorable discharges due to drug abuse have had in obtaining jobs. Other long-term effects from drug use are less clear and are difficult to separate from the overall effects of the war.
Development and Testing of High-temperature Piezoelectric Wafer Active Sensors for Extreme Environments

Development of high-temperature piezoelectric wafer active sensors (HT-PWAS) using high-temperature piezoelectric material for harsh environment applications is of great interest for structural health monitoring of high-temperature structures such as turbine engine components, airframe thermal protection systems, and so on. This article presents a preliminary study with the main purpose of identifying the possibility of developing PWAS transducers for high-temperature applications. After a brief review of the state of the art and of candidate high-temperature piezoelectric materials, the article focuses on the use of gallium orthophosphate (GaPO4) samples in pilot PWAS applications. The investigation started with a number of confidence-building tests that were conducted to verify GaPO4 piezoelectric properties at room temperature and at elevated temperatures in an oven. Electromechanical (E/M) impedance measurements and material characterization tests (scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, ener...
Organizational realities: Studies of strategizing and organizing

The article reviews the book “Organizational Realities: Studies of Strategizing & Organizing,” by William S. Starbuck.
Activation of Wnt/β-catenin/Tcf signaling in mouse skin carcinogenesis

Although Wnt/β-catenin/Tcf signaling pathway has been shown to be an important factor in the development of many malignancies including colorectal, ovarian, prostate, and many other cancers, little is known about its role in non-melanoma skin cancers. Here, we report the first evidence that β-catenin/Tcf signaling pathway is constitutively activated in non-melanocytic skin tumors induced by two stage chemical carcinogenesis protocol. Mouse skin tumors showed cytoplasmic and nuclear accumulation of β-catenin, and upregulation of β-catenin/Tcf target genes (c-myc and c-jun). We found high levels of skin-expressed Wnt proteins (Wnt 3, 4, and 10b) in different parts of the tumors, likely representing key upstream events in β-catenin/Tcf activation during mouse skin carcinogenesis. Inhibition of β-catenin/Tcf signaling by ectopic expression of dominant negative Tcf4 resulted in significant inhibition of growth in squamous cell carcinoma cells. A role of the constitutive activation of β-catenin/Tcf signaling in skin carcinogenesis is discussed. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
A micromechanical flow sensor for microfluidic applications

We fabricated a microfluidic flow meter and measured its response to fluid flow in a microfluidic channel. The flow meter consisted of a micromechanical plate, coupled to a laser deflection system to measure the deflection of the plate during fluid flow. The 100 /spl mu/m square plate was clamped on three sides and elevated 3 /spl mu/m above the bottom surface of the channel. The response of the flow meter was measured for flow rates, ranging from 2.1 to 41.7 /spl mu/L/min. Several fluids, with dynamic viscosities ranging from 0.8 to 4.5/spl times/10/sup -3/ N/m, were flowed through the channels. Flow was established in the microfluidic channel by means of a syringe pump, and the angular deflection of the plate monitored. The response of the plate to flow of a fluid with a viscosity of 4.5/spl times/10/sup -3/ N/m was linear for all flow rates, while the plate responded linearly to flow rates less than 4.2 /spl mu/L/min of solutions with lower dynamic viscosities. The sensitivity of the deflection of the plate to fluid flow was 12.5/spl plusmn/0.2 /spl mu/rad/(/spl mu/L/min), for a fluid with a viscosity of 4.5/spl times/10/sup -3/ N/m. The encapsulated plate provided local flow information along the length of a microfluidic channel.
Bioinvasion Ecology: Assessing Invasion Impact and Scale

Two aspects of assessing the impact and scale of invasions are explored here. First, the argument is made that it is not possible to place introduced species into one of two bins — those with, and those without,“impact” or “harm”. Species invasions lead to a broad and deep sliding scale of alterations in invaded communities, as well as multiple ranges of societal (industrial, economic, social, recreational, health) impact. Second, invasion scale (and thus impact) have been underestimated by historical biases and size biases. A further bias arises out of the selective study of habitats presumed to be more invaded than other habitats. Examples of invasions in many different marine environments are presented.
The Multiple Bottom Lines of Corporate Citizenship: Social Investing, Reputation, and Responsibility Audits

Corporate citizenship, that is, company practice that impacts various stakeholders, is increasingly being assessed along multiple bottom lines. Increasingly, executives need to be aware of the ways in which their corporate practices are monitored externally, as well as undertaking internal reviews that can improve performance. This paper highlights the trends in assessing citizenship. There are, for example, four relevant types of social investing, which evaluate citizenship in multiple ways. In the most common, investment houses/researchers develop screens on company practices for interested social investors. Alternatively, activist shareholders monitor corporate practice in areas of concern and use shareholder resolutions to foster change. Some investors are willing to commit financial resources to development of disadvantaged areas with expectations of market or less than market rates of return. The fourth type of social investing involves funding either micro ventures or small-to-mid-sized ventures either in disadvantaged areas or for proactive social gains, sometimes using corporate philanthropic resources to do so. In addition, dimensions of reputation are rated by researchers and magazines for specific groups or for overall corporate reputation. Companies that wish to improve
Object classification from analysis of impact acoustics

We address the problem of autonomously classifying objects from the sounds they make when struck, and present results from different attempts to classify various items. We extract the two most significant spikes in the frequency domain as features, and show that accurate object classification based on these features is possible. Two techniques are discussed: a minimum-distance classifier and a hybrid minimum-distance/decision-tree classifier. Results from classifier trials show that object classification using the hybrid classifier can be done as accurately as using the minimum-distance classifier, but at lower computational expense.
Analytical light reflectance models for overlapping illumination and collection area geometries

Several biomedical applications, such as detection of dysplasia, require selective interrogation of superficial tissue structures less than a few hundred micrometers thick. Techniques and methods have been developed to limit the penetration depth of light in tissue, including the design of systems such as fiber-optic probes that have overlapping illumination and collection areas on the tissue surface. For such geometries, the diffusion approximation to the light-transport equation typically does not apply, and as a result there is no general model to extract tissue optical properties from reflectance measurements. In the current study, we employ Monte Carlo (MC) simulations to develop simple and compact analytical models for the light reflectance from these overlapping geometries. These models incorporate the size of the illumination and collection areas, the collection angle, the polarization of the incident light, and the optical properties of the sample. Moreover, these MC simulations use the Whittle–Matern model to describe scattering from spatially continuous refractive index media such as tissue, which is more general than models based on the conventionally used Henyey–Greenstein model. We validated these models on tissue-simulating phantoms. The models developed herein will facilitate the extraction of optical properties and aid in the design of optical systems employing overlapping illumination and collection areas, including fiber-optic probes for in vivo tissue diagnosis.
Real-Time Video Based Highway Traffic Measurement and Performance Monitoring

This paper presents a real-time highway monitoring system for tracking and classification of vehicles with the computation of traffic flow parameters from live video streams. The proposed system robustly detects and tracks vehicles during daylight hours and accurately classifies them into 8 different types by leveraging tracking information. The system is able to process video continuously over long time periods, accumulating large volumes of tracking data to build daily highway models consisting of the traffic flow parameters, density, flow, and speed. These daily models are used to categorize the speed profile of live traffic.
Relation of Profit Rate to Industry Concentration: American Manufacturing, 1936–1940

I. The concentration-profits hypothesis, 294. — II. Industry definition, measure of concentration, and selection of sample, 297. — III. Character and limitations of profit data, 305. — IV. Calculation of accounting profit rates, 310. — V. Association of industry profit rates and concentration, 311. — VI. Association of firm profit rates and industry concentration, 317. — VII. Association of profit rates with other determinants, 321. — VIII. Summary, 323.
Successful repair of a complete brachial plexus lesion

A case of a complete brachial plexus lesion and partial axillary artery division is described, which was satisfactorily treated by operation.
The Co-Construction of Opposition in a Low-Track Mathematics Classroom:

Student opposition in school is traditionally cast in terms of individual dispositions, whereby particular students or groups of students are said to “resist” or “oppose” school structures and identities aligned with the dominant cultural group. The author examined instead how the teacher and students in a low-track mathematics classroom jointly constructed opposition through their classroom interactions. Analysis of the classroom interaction revealed the emergence and escalation of a number of classroom practices that became oppositional. These practices were related to the nature of the mathematical activity, the framing and positioning of student participation in this activity, and multiple interpretations of student competence in and out of the classroom. The author found that classroom opposition is fostered by weak opportunities for meaningful mathematical engagement and the transformation of a polarized participation structure into an oppositional one.
Active Narrowband Noise Control Systems Using Cascading Adaptive Filters

The disturbance picked up by error sensors can significantly degrade the steady-state performance of active noise control (ANC) systems for practical applications. This paper presents a cascading adaptive algorithm for removing uncorrelated disturbance and analyzes its performance in narrowband ANC systems. Theoretical analysis shows that the proposed algorithm improves the behavior of the adaptive filter in steady state. Computer simulations using the measured transfer functions validate its performance
Top 10 U.S. Municipal Police Departments and Their Social Media Usage

Social media technologies present a new way for government agencies to connect with, and potentially collaborate with, their residents. Police departments (PDs) are a setting ripe for use of social media as an extension of their community policing efforts. In this article, we explore the use of social media by PDs in the top 10 most populous U.S. cities. We analyze police-initiated posts on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube over a 3-month period to determine what accounts PDs use, if they use social media for information transmission or interaction, and if they use the accounts for dialogue that might make collaboration possible. We find that while PDs have and use social media, and while citizens are responsive, there is much less interaction in part due to nonresponsiveness of PDs themselves. We thus conclude that though the existence of some PD-resident dialogue is promising, very little was collaborative.
Design and Fabrication of a Multi-Element Corrector Magnet for the Fermilab Booster

A new package of six corrector elements has been designed to better control the beam position, tune, and chromaticity in the Fermilab Booster synchrotron. It incorporates both normal and skew orientations of dipole, quadrupole, and sextupole magnets. These new corrector magnets will be installed in the Fermilab Booster ring in place of old style corrector elements. A severe space restriction and rapid slew rate have posed special challenges. The magnet design, construction, and performance are presented.
Meeting Indigenous Subsistence Needs: The Case for Prey Switching in Rural Alaska

Identifying coping strategies that Alaskan subsistence hunters use while responding to adverse conditions provides insights into their capacity to sustain traditional livelihoods. Previous qualitative research has suggested that subsistence hunters switch prey to cope with fluctuations in the availability of subsistence resources. We developed and quantitatively tested a predictive framework assessing whether 19 rural Alaskan communities used this strategy. We found, between 1993 and 2004, these communities rarely substituted one resource for another. Our lack of evidence for prey switching may reflect other complicating factors such as greater availability of groceries and increased formal employment opportunities. These results highlight the need for improved data collection on harvests, hunter effort, and socioeconomic characteristics to inform comprehensive models. Our findings characterize subsistence hunting systems in rural Alaska, providing regulatory agencies with a greater understanding of the s...
Profiles of Product Innovators Among Large U.S. Manufacturers

This paper identifies four groups among 113 Fortune 500 manufacturers that approach innovation quite differently. The groups are based on 27 measured elements of corporate environment, corporate strategy, and formal and informal organization. Both product innovation and financial performance differ significantly over the groups, and a group of 42 firms that invest heavily in innovation perform best financially. A smaller group of firms that are not innovative but which follow a strategy of acquisition perform nearly as well financially. Firms focusing research resources on process innovation perform poorly, although process research complements product research among the effective innovators. Particularly important for explaining both product innovation and financial performance of these firms are salient combinations of classic elements of good environment, good strategy and good organization-strong positions in growing markets, investment in research and development, open and creative organizational structures and supportive organizational climates.
Comparison of Outcomes after Intracerebral Hemorrhage and Ischemic Stroke

Background Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is associated with a greater average initial stroke severity, higher mortality, and poorer long-term neurologic outcomes than ischemic stroke. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the poorer prognosis of ICH is independent of initial stroke severity. Methods We analyzed data from the Glycine Antagonist in Neuroprotection (GAIN) Americas trial, in which 1604 non-obtunded patients with acute stroke were treated within 6 hours of symptom onset irrespective of hemorrhagic (N = 237) versus ischemic (N = 1367) subtype. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate predictors of mortality and neurologic outcome (modified Rankin scale [mRS] score of 0-1 v 2-6 at 3 months) adjusting for baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score, stroke risk factors, clinical and demographic characteristics, and gavestinel treatment group. Multiple linear regression techniques were used to assess the impact of various predictors on the full mRS score at 3 months. Results ICH significantly increased the odds of a poor neurologic outcome (odds ratio 1.94, 95% confidence interval 1.23-3.06) and was independently associated with a mean 0.25-point increase in the 3-month mRS score ( P = .04). ICH had no effect on mortality compared with ischemic stroke (odds ratio 1.01, 95% confidence interval .68-1.49) after adjusting for initial stroke severity (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score) and other baseline characteristics. Conclusions Among conscious stroke patients, ICH is an independent predictor of poor neurologic outcome, nearly doubling the odds of long-term disability. However, ICH is not associated with higher mortality compared with ischemic stroke after adjusting for initial stroke severity and other baseline characteristics.
Exploring the Community Set Space

This paper presents the community set space canvas, a triangular canvas where the results of community finding algorithms can be plotted for comparison. The points of the triangle represent trivial sets, such as the set of one large community, and the edges are populated by well known set types, such as disjoint communities.
Hierarchies in structural pattern recognition

This paper discusses a hierarchical approach to pattern analysis and recognition. A general discussion of the labeling problem in structural pattern recognition is followed by a discussion of a specific technique for shape analysis. The number of levels in the hierarchy depends on the complexity of the scene, and, with the exemption of the first two levels, the processing is of standard syntactical form.
One-hour PTH after thyroidectomy predicts symptomatic hypocalcemia.

Abstract Background A major morbidity after total thyroidectomy is hypocalcemia. Although many clinical factors and laboratory studies have been correlated with both biochemical and symptomatic hypocalcemia, the ideal use and timing of these tests remain unclear. We hypothesize 1-h (PACU) parathyroid hormone (PTH) will identify patients at risk for symptomatic hypocalcemia. Methods This prospective study evaluated 196 patients undergoing total thyroidectomy. Serum calcium and PTH levels were measured 1 h after surgery and on postoperative day 1 (POD1). Performance of a central compartment lymph node dissection, parathyroid autotransplantation, indication for procedure, pathology, and presence of parathyroid tissue in the pathology specimen were recorded. Results Of 196 patients, nine (4.6%) developed symptomatic hypocalcemia. Thirty four (17.3%) had a 1-h PACU PTH ≤10 pg/dL, whereas 31 (15.8%) had a POD1 PTH of ≤10. Five (56%) of the nine symptomatic patients underwent central compartment lymph node dissection, four (44%) had parathyroid autotransplantation, and four (44%) had a PACU PTH ≤10. PACU and POD1 PTH levels were correlated ( R 2 = 0.682). Multivariate regression identified central compartment dissection, autotransplantation, and PACU or POD1 PTH correlated with symptomatic hypocalcemia. PACU PTH, POD1 PTH, PACU Ca, malignant final pathology, and age ≤45 y correlated with biochemical hypocalcemia. Conclusions A 1-h postoperative PACU PTH is equivalent to POD1 PTH in predicting the development of symptomatic hypocalcemia. Biochemical hypocalcemia was not predictive of symptoms in the immediate postoperative period. Lymph node dissection and parathyroid autotransplantation correlated with symptomatic hypocalcemia and improve the sensitivity of biochemical screening alone.
15-Deoxy-Δ12,14-prostaglandin J2-induced apoptosis does not require PPARγ in breast cancer cells

Naturally occurring derivatives of arachidonic acid are potent agonists for the nuclear hormone receptor peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) and block cancer cell proliferation through the induction of apoptosis. We have previously reported that induction of apoptosis using cyclopentenone prostaglandins of the J series, including 15deoxyΔ12,14PGJ2 (15dPGJ2), is associated with a high degree of PPAR-response element (PPRE) activity and requires early de novo gene expression in breast cancer cells. In the current study, we used pharmacologic and genetic approaches to test the hypothesis that PPARγ is required for 15dPGJ2-induced apoptosis. The PPARγ agonists 15dPGJ2, trogliltazone (TGZ), and GW7845, a synthetic and highly selective tyrosine-based PPARγ agonist, all increased transcriptional activity of PPARγ, and expression of CD36, a PPARγ-dependent gene. Transcriptional activity and CD36 expression was reduced by GW9662, a selective and irreversible PPARγ antagonist, but GW9662 did not block apoptosis induced by 15dPGJ2. Moreover, dominant negative expression of PPARγ blocked PPRE transcriptional activity, but did not block 15dPGJ2-induced apoptosis. These studies show that while 15dPGJ2 activates PPRE-mediated transcription, PPARγ is not required for 15dPGJ2-induced apoptosis in breast cancer cells. Other likely mechanisms through which cyclopentenone prostaglandins induce apoptosis of cancer cells are discussed.