cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Inverse problem of determining the unknown strength of an internal plane heat source

The conjugate gradient method is used to determine the unknown timewise variation of the strength of a plane surface heat source, located at a specified position inside a flat plate, from the knowledge of transient temperature measurements taken at one of the outer surfaces while both boundary surfaces are kept insulated. The advantage of the conjugate gradient method is that no a priori information is needed on the variation of the unknown quantity. The inverse analysis is performed by using the combination of the regular and modified conjugate gradient methods. The combined method is found to be more accurate than either of these two methods for the reason discussed in this work.
Searches with taus at the Tevatron

We discuss tau identification techniques at hadron colliders, and present the measurements and the searches performed so far. We report on top quark pair production in the decay channel containing at least one tau lepton. Also, we present results dedicated to searches for new particles, with taus in the final state. We present a search for the charged Higgs boson in the tau decay channel, as well as for the leptoquark family containing tau leptons. Finally, we indicate the capabilities of detecting and triggering on tau leptons in the future collider run.
Spectral studies and thermal properties of a urethane-substituted polythiophene

Abstract A new polythiophene containing a urethane side chain in the β-position was chemically polymerized in chloroform using FeCl 3 as the oxidant. The urethane-substituted polythiophene is soluble not only in common organic solvents, such as chloroform and tetrahydrofuran, but also in strong polar solvents such as N,N -dimethylformamide, N,N -dimethylacetamide and N -methyl-2-pyrrolidinone. This allows the polymer to be blended with conventional polymers, such as polyurethane, polyacrylonitrile, polyamide, polycarbonate and polyester, in solution while maintaining good electrical conductivity. The structures of the monomer and polymer were characterized using NMR, IR, molecular weight and elemental analysis. The spectral results suggest that the chain order of this polymer is quite regular. M w and M n of this polymer obtained by gel permeation chromatography are 169 284 and 63 557, respectively. This polythiophene containing a urethane side chain also demonstrates solvatochromic behavior which was characterized by UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy. Glass transition temperatures obtained by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA) studies are 62 and 73 °C, respectively, and the melting point of this polymer measured by DSC is 265 °C. Thermogravimetric analysis results indicate that this polymer is a thermally stable material.
Chlorhexidine resistance in a Gram-negative bacterium isolated from an aquatic source

Aeromonas hydrophila is a Gram-negative bacterium of considerable importance in both clinical, especially nosocomial infections, and zoonotic respects, both aquatic and terrestrial infections. In addition to the ability to thrive in a wide range of conditions, A. hydrophila is resistant to numerous antibiotics and antimicrobials. In conjunction with Kansas State University and the Kansas Water Office, water samples from various locations within Kansas were screened for organisms resistant to chlorhexidine. Chlorhexidine is the active agent in many surgical scrubs, prescription mouthwashes, and other bactericidal and bacteriostatic substances. Aeromonas hydrophila capable of growth in therapeutic levels of chlorhexidine was detected in one of the water samples. The isolate was determined not to be harboring a plasmid, lending to a course of inquiry founded on the premise that the source of chlorhexidine resistance resides within the chromosome. Investigation into efflux pumps (EP) is underway with select r...
Effects of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin on humoral and cell-mediated immunity in Sprague-Dawley rats.

Abstract There is much discussion about the occurrence of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo- p -dioxin (TCDD)-induced effects on the human immune system. Extensive studies have been conducted in mice, but those results cannot explain some of the epidemiological data obtained in exposed humans. Therefore, studies in other laboratory animal species are needed. The aim of these experiments was to examine effects of TCDD on cell- and humoral-mediated immunity in male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. A delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) assay was used to examine cell-mediated immunity. A time-course study demonstrated that TCDD treatment on day −5 relative to immunization (day 0) produced the greatest effect on cell-mediated immunity. In a dose-response experiment, rats were treated with 1, 3, 10, 20, 30, 40 and 90 μg TCDD/kg The effect of TCDD on cell-mediated immunity displayed an inverted U-shaped dose-response curve, in that low doses enhanced and high doses suppressed this immune function. This is the first study to demonstrate an U-shaped dose-response curve of TCDD on the immune system. Primary antibody response to sheep red blood cells (SRBC) was used as endpoint to study the effect of TCDD on humoral immunity. Serum anti-SRBC IgM and IgG levels were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). In the dose range examined (10, 20 and 40 μg TCDD/kg), serum IgM levels were not affected by TCDD compared to controls at 7 and 14 days after immunization. In contrast, serum IgG levels were dose-dependently elevated both 7 and 14 days after immunization, with a maximum increase of 59% over controls.
Lingual biography and linguistic variation

L'A. examine la notion de biographie linguale et suggere que ce ne sont pas les facteurs sociolinguistiques qui determinent comment un membre d'une communaute peut parler, mais que les sujets peuvent creer leur voix individuelle en selectionnant et en combinant les ressources linguistiques fournies par les multiples modes regionales et sociales a leur disposition. L'A. illustre son propos en examinant le langage public a travers lequel Molly Ivin a cree sa personnalite professionnelle texane : femme de frontieres, cowboy, habitante de l'ouest. Il decrit l'habilete avec laquelle Ivin utilise l'alternance de registre, la narration d'histoires, les tournures de phrase poetiques, l'alliteration et le langage figure colore mais non conventionnel. Le choix des ressources linguistiques a sa disposition et leur juxtaposition lui permettent ainsi d'etablir un style discursif totalement individuel pour exprimer une identification totalement individuelle
A Case Study of Academic Library and Economic Development Center Collaboration at the University of Toledo

To improve services to its clients, the Regional Growth Partnership, Northwest Ohio's economic development organization, approached the business and economics librarian at The University of Toledo Libraries for assistance in creating a basic library collection. The process of developing the small business education and market research collection is discussed in context of the University's mission to assist with local economic development. Detailed bibliographies are included in the appendices to this article.
Impaired CBF regulation and high CBF threshold contribute to the increased sensitivity of spontaneously hypertensive rats to cerebral ischemia.

The correlation between temporal changes of regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) and the severity of transient ischemic stroke in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY) was investigated using T2-, diffusion- and perfusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging at six different time points: before and during 1h of unilateral middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO), 1h after reperfusion, and 1 day, 4 days and 7 days after MCAO. rCBF values were measured in both hemispheres, and the perfusion-deficient lesion (PDL) was defined as the area of the brain with a 57% or more reduction in basal CBF. Within the PDL, regions were further refined as ischemic core (rCBF=0-6 mL/100 g/min), ischemic penumbra (rCBF=6-15 mL/100 g/min) and benign oligemia (rCBF>15 mL/100 g/min). SHR and WKY had identical initial volume of the PDLs (WKY: 32.52 ± 4.08% vs. SHR: 33.95 ± 3.68%; P>0.05) and the maximum rCBF measured within those lesions (WKY: 38.20 ± 3.57 mL/100g/min vs. SHR: 38.46 ± 6.22 mL/100 g/min; P>0.05) during MCAO. However, in SHR virtually all of the PDL progressed to become the final ischemic lesion (33.02 ± 5.41%, P>0.05), while the final ischemic lesion volume of WKY (12.62 ± 9.19%) was significantly smaller than their original PDL (P 0.05). The region with the lowest range of rCBF was positively correlated with the final ischemic lesion volume (r=0.716, P<0.01). Both during ischemia and after reperfusion, rCBF in either ipsilesional and contralesional brain hemispheres of SHR could not be restored to pre-ischemic levels, and remained lower than in WKY until up to 4 days after MCAO. The data suggest that impaired CBF regulation and relatively high CBF threshold for ischemia are strong contributors to the increased susceptibility of SHR to ischemic stroke.
Effect of Surface Layers on the Dissolution of Nuclear Waste Glasses

Explanation of the striking non-linear effect of glass composition on the aqueous dissolution represents an important challenge to existing dissolution mechanisms. Surface layers that are formed during glass dissolution may play an important role in this effect. One chemically reactive and one less-reactive nuclear waste glass (leachate concentrations differ by about a factor of 10) were reacted in deionized water. Two types of glass powders were used: Type A powders were pristine glass powders; Type B powders were the glass powders which had been reacted for 120 days to develop the surface layers. Both the solution concentrations and the surface layers were investigated. The experimental observations indicate that: (i) There is a range of glass compositions over which small differences in composition lead to large changes in both reaction rates and surface layer thickness; and (ii) The reaction rate is strongly affected by the formation of the surface layer (the layer appears to be protective) and cannot be explained in terms of saturation effects alone. The findings are contrary to the conclusion of a previous study and serve to highlight the inadequacy of existing dissolution models predicated on an overly simplistic mechanism, especially with regard to glass composition effects.
Hypospadias Rates in New York State are Not Increasing

Purpose: The testicular dysgenesis syndrome describes urogenital abnormalities associated with exposure to environmental endocrine disruptors such as phthalates, specifically decreased semen quality, and increased rates of testis cancer and hypospadias. Recently there has been concern that these abnormalities described in animal studies may also be present in humans. To determine if hypospadias rates are increasing, we retrospectively reviewed the total prevalence of hypospadias in New York State from 1992 to 2005, categorized by maternal age younger than 35 years and 35 years or older. Materials and Methods: Hypospadias rates were obtained from the New York State Congenital Malformations Registry from 1992 to 2005. An analysis was also performed on the rates of children with hypospadias who had mothers younger than 35 years and mothers 35 years or older. This investigation was approved by the Columbia University internal review board. Results: There was no statistical change in hypospadias rates in New York State from 1992 to 2005 (r 0.127, p 0.6). Overall the mean SE prevalence rate was 34.9 0.36 per 10,000 live births. However, mean SE hypospadias rates in children of mothers 35 years old or older (38.7 0.7) were significantly greater than those in children of mothers younger than 35 years (34.1 0.386, t test p 0.01). Conclusions: Hypospadias rates have not changed in New York State from 1992 to 2005. Additionally advanced maternal age continues to be a risk factor for hypospadias. Combined with previous studies that demonstrate sperm counts are not declining, these data suggest that the testicular dysgenesis syndrome described in animal models may not be evident in humans.
Long-term outcome of patients with enterocolitis complicating Hirschsprung’s disease

Enterocolitis remains the most serious complication of Hirschsprung’s disease (HD). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the risk factors in the development of enterocolitis and the long-term outcome in these patients. The hospital records of 259 consecutive patients with HD during 1975–2003 were examined. The data was analysed for age at presentation, associated anomalies, level of aganglionosis, clinical features, number of episodes of enterocolitis, type of pullthrough, necessity for post-pullthrough sphincterectomy. Follow up was carried out by personal interviews and interviews over the telephone with patients/parents. Enterocolitis was diagnosed on the basis of clinical features of diarrhoea, pyrexia, abdominal distention and vomiting. Of the 259 patients with HD, 74 patients (28.5%) were found to have enterocolitis. Out of 39 patients with Down’s syndrome and HD, 19 (48%) had enterocolitis. Fifteen (20%) patients had other associated anomalies. Fifty-six patients (75.6%) were male and 18 (24.3%) were female. In 30 patients enterocolitis was the presenting feature in the neonatal period, 22 of which presented in the first 2 weeks of life. Fifty-six patients (75.6%) had rectosigmoid disease and 18 (24.3%) had long segment disease or total colonic aganglionosis. Eighteen (24.3%) had only preoperative enterocolitis and 31(41.8%) had only postoperative enterocolitis. Twenty-five (33.7%) had both pre- and post-operative enterocolitis. Twenty (27%) patients had more than 2 episodes of enterocolitis. Various pullthrough procedures were performed. Twenty-six patients (35.1%) required internal sphinctermyectomy to treat the enterocolitis. At the time of follow-up, 16 patients were lost to follow-up. Of the remaining 58 patients, 3 patients died, 2 due to enterocolitis and 1 due to sepsis. Six patients remained with a stoma. Twenty-two patients were continent and were stooling normally, but 14 of these were on laxatives for several years after pullthrough procedure. The mean age at achieving full continence was 4.95 years in the 22 patients with normal bowel function. Nineteen patients are still on laxatives and 8 patients are soiling. Eight patients continue to have multiple recurrent episodes of enterocolitis at follow-up. Down’s syndrome is an important risk factor in the development of enterocolitis. The majority of patients with enterocolitis complicating HD continue to have disturbances of bowel function many years after surgery for HD.
Phage presentation and affinity selection of a deletion mutant of human interleukin-3.

A deletion derivative of the cytokine human interleukin-3 (hIL-315–125, comprising amino acids 15–125 of the native protein) was produced as a fusion to the filamentous phage surface protein pIII. The cytokine was detected in association with phage particles by protein immunoblotting. Compared to an equivalent quantity of soluble cytokine, phage-presented hIL-315–125 exhibited reduced biological activity in a hIL-3-dependent cell proliferation assay. The reduction in activity was attributable to presence of phage particles in the assay, rather than directly owing to physical incorporation of the cytokine into the phage particle. Owing to the position of the amber codon in the phagemid vector, the phagemid-produced free hIL-315–125 species (designated hIL-315–125 e) had 20 amino acids appended to its C-terminus; hIL-315–125 e did not exhibit reduced bioactivity. hIL-315–125-presenting phage were affinity-selected with either a hIL-3-reactive polyclonal antibody or with cells expressing the heterodimeric hIL-3 receptor. These data are consistent with the use of phage-display technology for the affinity selection of hIL-3 variants with modified biological properties.
Dopaminergic involvement in locomotion elicited from the ventral pallidum/substantia innominata.

Abstract Microinjection of the indirect GABAA antagonist, picrotoxin, or the μ opioid agonist, Tyr- d -Ala-Gly-NMe-Phe-Gly-ol (DAGO), into the ventral pallidum and substantia innominata (VP/SI) increases locomotor activity in rats. The VP/SI has direct and indirect projections to the region of the ventral mesencephalon containing dopamine perikarya, and to certain dopamine terminal fields, including the nucleus accumbens. Thus, it is possible that modulation of the mesocorticolimbic dopamine system by pharmacological stimulation in the VP/SI may play a role in the locomotor stimulant response. It was shown that pretreatment with dopamine receptor antagonists, either peripherally or microinjected into the nucleus accumbens significantly attenuated the motor stimulant effect of DAGO or picrotoxin injection into the VP/SI. Injection of either picrotoxin or DAGO into the VP/SI increased the levels of dopamine metabolites in the nucleus accumbens and prefrontal cortex. Thus, the motor stimulant response following pharmacological stimulation of the VP/SI appears to be mediated by increased dopamine neurotransmission via feedback mechanisms to the mesocorticolimbic dopamine system.
Efficacy, safety, and patient preference of monoamine oxidase B inhibitors in the treatment of Parkinson's disease

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease and the most treatable. Treatment of PD is symptomatic and generally focuses on the replacement or augmentation of levodopa. A number of options are available for treatment, both in monotherapy of early PD and to treat complications of advanced PD. This review focuses on rasagiline and selegiline, two medications that belong to a class of antiparkinsonian drugs called monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B) inhibitors. Topics covered in the review include mechanism of action, efficacy in early and advanced PD, effects on disability, the controversy regarding disease modification, safety, and patient preference for MAO-B inhibitors.
Infrared and Raman spectra, conformational stability, structural parameters, ab initio calculations and vibrational assignments of aminodifluorophosphine

Abstract Infrared spectra (4000–50 cm−1) have been recorded for three isotopomers of aminodifluorophosphine, H2NPF2, H215NPF2 and D2NPF2, of the gases. The Raman spectra of all three molecules were recorded of the liquids. To support the vibrational assignment MP2(full) ab initio calculations with the 6-31G(d) basis set were carried out to predict the fundamental vibrational frequencies, infrared intensities, Raman activities, depolarization values and infrared band contours. Additional ab initio calculations employing a variety of basis sets with and without diffuse functions have been used to predict the conformational stability, structural parameters and centrifugal distortion constants. These predictions are compared to previously reported experimental values when available. The adjusted r0 structural parameters have been obtained by systematically fitting the MP2(full)/6-311+G(d) predicted values with the previously reported rotational constants for five isotopomers obtained from the microwave study. The difference in the two NH distances is 0.003 A which is much smaller than the value of 0.021 A previously reported. The bonding around the nitrogen atom is effectively planar which is consistent with the previously reported structural information from the microwave study but differs from the reported slightly pyramidal bonding obtained in the electron diffraction investigation. The adjusted r0 heavy atom distances and angles are: r(PF) = 1.587(3); r(NP) = 1.649(3) A; ∠FPF = 94.7(5); ∠NPF = 100.6(5)°. Vibrational assignments are given for H2NPF2, H215NPF2 and D2NPF2 which are supported by ab initio MP2/6-31G(d) calculations. These results are compared to the corresponding quantities of some similar molecules.
Replication of an empirically derived TAT set with hospitalized psychiatric patients.

Summary Responses of hospitalized psychiatric males to 20 TAT cards were evaluated by two independent judges to determine the theme frequency for each card. Results were highly similar to those obtained by Irvin and Woude (1971) and provide additional empirical support for a basic TAT set.
A triple threat to single molecules

Three single-molecule methods promise to increase the time resolution of experiments, to allow better access to sparsely populated molecular states and to permit combinatorial high-throughput analysis.
Spatial Diversity for Fiber-Bundled FSO Nodes With Limited Mobility

In spite of exceptional advantages demonstrated by optical wireless signals, alignment distortion from building sway or transceiver displacement, make the development of corresponding high-speed links less attractive. This paper investigates a fiber-bundled design providing limited transceiver mobility. By placing three fibers horizontally behind a convex lens, angular diversity is exploited. A modified scheme of switched diversity is utilized to combine signals from various receiving fibers. Coverage area, combiner processing load, bit error rate, and outage probability served as performance criteria throughout the analytical and simulation assessment. High bit error performance was achieved while maintaining low implementation complexity over a turbulent fading channel.
Physicians, friendship, and moral strangers: an examination of a relationship.

It is often said that because physicians and other healthcare professionals frequently play a critical role in determining the fate of their patients, they ought if at all possible to be their patient's friend. The relationship of necessity is intimate: physicians have knowledge of their patients' histories and of their bodies which under other circumstances would be reserved to the most intimate of friends, and physicians and patients meet under more or less critical (or at least anxiety-producing) situations. In this paper, I briefly examine the role of the physician as “friend,” an Issue to be much more extensively explored In a book In preparation.
Simulator training for laparoscopic suturing using performance goals translates to the OR

Abstract Introduction: The purpose of this study was to test the effectiveness (transferability) of a performance-based laparoscopic suturing curriculum using simulators. Methods: Surgical residents (R3-R5, n=10) proficient in basic skills but with minimal laparoscopic suturing experience were enrolled in an IRB-approved, randomized, controlled protocol. Subjects viewed an instructional video and were pre-tested on a live porcine laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication model by placing three gastrogastric sutures tied in an intracorporeal fashion. A blinded rater objectively scored each knot based on a previously published formula (600 minus completion time (sec.) minus penalties for accuracy and knot integrity errors). Subjects were stratified according to pre-test scores and randomized. The training group practiced on a videotrainer suturing model until a predetermined proficiency score (512) was achieved on 12 attempts. The control group received no training. Both the training and control groups were post-tested on the porcine Nissen model. Analysis was by t-Test (significance for p Results: For the training group, mean time to demonstrate simulator proficiency was 119 min. (range 95–165) and mean number of attempts was 34 (range 20–51). The training group demonstrated significant improvement in total score whereas the control group did not. At post-testing, the training group achieved significantly better total scores compared to the control group. Pre-testPost-testp ValueTraining174 ± 162417 ± 240.03Control118 ± 135216 ± 1570.2P value0.60.02 Conclusions: These data suggest that training to a predetermined proficiency level on a videotrainer suture model provides trainees with skills which translate into improved operative performance. Such curricula should be further developed and implemented.
Cloning, Sequencing, and Expression in Escherichia coli of OxlT, the Oxalate:Formate Exchange Protein of Oxalobacter formigenes(∗)

OxlT is the oxalate/formate exchange protein that represents the vectorial component of a proton-motive metabolic cycle in Oxalobacter formigenes. Here we report the cloning and sequencing of OxlT and describe its expression in Escherichia coli. The OxlT amino acid sequence specifies a polytopic hydrophobic protein of 418 residues with a mass of 44,128 daltons. Analysis of hydropathy and consideration of the distribution of charged residues suggests an OxlT secondary structure having 12 transmembrane segments, oriented so that the N and C termini face the cytoplasm. Expression of OxlT in E. coli coincides with appearance of a capacity to carry out the self-exchange of oxalate and the heterologous, electrogenic exchange of oxalate with formate. The unusually high velocity of OxlT-mediated transport is also preserved in E. coli. We conclude that the essential features of OxlT are retained on its expression in E. coli.
Semantic integration in children's reconstruction of narrative sequences

Abstract Preschool to fourth grade subjects were required to reconstruct a previously seen logical sequence by selecting old items from a set containing actually seen events and two types of new items, those consistent or inconsistent with the ordered sequence of the story. Older children were more efficient at adopting a consistent choice strategy, at rejecting inconsistent items and at retaining the end-anchor items of the story. When performance on the old anchor items was excluded, however, all grades had difficulty distinguishing the new-consistent items from the actually experienced old items. It is suggested that memory for logical narrative sequences involves the retention of the gist or theme in an integrated unified representation of the meaning rather than a series of discrete events. Further, the underlying processes of integration and inference are stable across ages.
Energy Bands of Hexagonal II-VI Semiconductors

Energy bands for hexagonal ZnO and ZnS have been calculated along the main symmetry axes of the hexagonal Brillouin zone with the relativistic mass velocity and Darwin correction considered. The band structure of ZnO differs from the ZnS band structure in that $d$ bands occur closely below the upper valence bands, and $p$-like conduction bands lie 17 eV above the valence bands. Thus, the ZnO band structure exhibits a very broad lowest conduction band. For hexagonal ZnS, the relativistic corrections increase the separation between $p$-like valence and conduction bands. This effect is discussed in connection with relativistic band calculations for cubic ZnS along the $\ensuremath{\Lambda}$ axis, and a revised interpretation of higher interband transitions is given. At k = 0, full relativistic calculations yielded good agreement with experimental values for crystal-field and spin-orbit splittings for ZnS, CdS, and CdSe, and gave a negative spin-orbit splitting for ZnO. Deformation potentials for CdS were calculated in good accord with experiment.
Fast Time-Resolved Magnetic Optical Rotatory Dispersion Measurements. 1. Mueller Analysis of Optical and Photoselection-Induced Artifacts

A simple and sensitive near-null technique for multichannel nanosecond time-resolved magnetic optical rotatory dispersion measurements is introduced with a theoretical analysis describing the basis of the technique and the effects of optical imperfections, photoselection-induced linear dichroism and birefringence, and the Faraday rotation of the solvent and cell windows. This treatment identifies a potential artifact in photolyzed samples that is associated with the coupling of photoselection-induced linear dichroism with the solvent−cell Faraday rotation. Excitation geometries that minimize this problem are described. Experimental applications of the technique to the ligand rebinding reaction of myoglobin−CO after ligand photolysis are presented in the following article.
1555 PREVALENCE OF ALLERGY IN STEROID RESPONSIVE NEPHROTIC STMDROME (SRNS)

Childhood SRNS has been reported to be associated with high incidence of atopy. Prevalence of allergic disease was studied in 51 children with SRNS. Thirty-eight healthy age and sex matched children and 60 children with urological disorders or urinary tract infection were controls. A standardized allergy questionnaire covering child and family was completed with parents of all patients and controls. Allergic symptoms included were asthma (A), urticaria (U), eczema (E), hay fever (H), contact dermatitis (C), drug or chemical allergy (D), and gastrointestinal (food) allergy (F). Positive family history was defined as finding symptoms in siblings, parents, aunts, uncles and grandparents. Mean percentages of allergy prevalence were: SRNS patients: 15%, families: 32%; control children: 9%, families: 31%. No readily available explanation was found for the low prevalence of hay fever observed in this series. It is concluded that atopic symptoms seem to be more frequently present in SRNS children and their families than in controls. Pathogenic and therapeutic implications of allergic disease and SRNS require further study.
Evaluating, combining and generalizing recommendations with prerequisites

We consider the problem of recommending the best set of k items when there is an inherent ordering between items, expressed as a set of prerequisites (e.g., the movie 'Godfather I' is a prerequisite of 'Godfather II'). Since this general problem is computationally intractable, we develop 3 approximation algorithms to solve this problem for various prerequisite structures (e.g., chain graphs, AND graphs, AND-OR graphs). We derive worst-case bounds for these algorithms for these structures, and experimentally evaluate these algorithms on synthetic data. We also develop an algorithm to combine solutions in order to generate even better solutions, and compare the performance of this algorithm with the other three.
Highly active PdCu catalysts for electrooxidation of 2-propanol

Abstract A sacrificial support method (SSM) in combination with chemical reduction of metal precursors was used for the preparation of palladium–copper catalysts. Three materials with Pd:Cu ratios of 1:3, 1:1 and 3:1 were synthesized and characterized by XRD, SEM, TEM and BET methods. The catalytic activity for the electrooxidation of 2-propanol was investigated. The SSM method allowed for the preparation of nano-sized unsupported Pd Cu catalysts with uniformly distributed particles. The surface area of all materials was in the range of 50 m2 g− 1. The mass activity of Pd3Cu catalyst 790 mA g− 1Pd is significantly higher than other reports in the literature making this material state-of-the-art in the reaction of 2-propanol electrooxidation.
Fully Integrated Miniature Device for Automated Gene Expression DNA Microarray Processing

A DNA microarray with 12 000 features was integrated with a microfluidic cartridge to automate the fluidic handling steps required to carry out a gene expression study of the human leukemia cell line (K562). The fully integrated microfluidic device consists of microfluidic pumps/mixers, fluid channels, reagent chambers, and a DNA microarray silicon chip. Microarray hybridization and subsequent fluidic handling and reactions (including a number of washing and labeling steps) were performed in this fully automated and miniature device before fluorescent image scanning of the microarray chip. Electrochemical micropumps were integrated into the cartridge to provide pumping of liquid solutions. The device was completely self-contained: no external pressure sources, fluid storage, mechanical pumps, mixers, or valves were necessary for fluid manipulation, thus eliminating possible sample contamination and simplifying device operation. Fluidic experiments were performed to study the on-chip washing efficiency an...
THE LIFE-HISTORY OF THE SPINED RUSTIC, BARATHRA CURIALIS , SMITH

In the Report of the Entomologist and Botanist to the Dominion Experimental Farms for 1905, at pages 179 and 180, considerable space is given to a discussion of an outbreak of a large noctuid caterpillar, which appeared in considerable numbers in Canada during 1905. Complaints of injury by this insect were received from a wide area, extending from Nova Scotia as far west as Lake Superior. During July many kinds of plants in gardens were attacked by smooth cutworm-like caterpillas, which when small were greenish in colour, having the body divided into two equal areas above and below the spiracles by a wide black stigmatal band.
Large Language Models in Machine Translation

Systems, methods, and computer program products for machine translation are provided. In some implementations a system is provided. The system includes a language model including a collection of n-grams from a corpus, each n-gram having a corresponding relative frequency in the corpus and an order n corresponding to a number of tokens in the n-gram, each n-gram corresponding to a backoff n-gram having an order of n-1 and a collection of backoff scores, each backoff score associated with an n-gram, the backoff score determined as a function of a backoff factor and a relative frequency of a corresponding backoff n-gram in the corpus.
Atom transfer radical polymerization of dimethyl(methacryloyloxymethyl) phosphonate

Abstract Atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of dimethyl(methacryloyloxymethyl) phosphonate (DMMAMP, also referred to as MAPC1) with a copper/2,2′-bipyridine based catalytic system in DMSO resulted in a homopolymer with narrow molecular weight distribution. Initiators for continuous activator regeneration (ICAR) ATRP of this monomer was also successful when using tris[(2-pyridyl)methyl]amine as ligand and azobisisobutyronitrile as supplementary initiator for the regeneration of the CuI activator. Normal ATRP provided better control compared to ICAR ATRP. Differential scanning calorimetry measurements of the resulting poly(DMMAMP) revealed a glass transition temperature (Tg = 63 °C), lower than that of poly(methyl methacrylate). Chain extension of the poly(dimethyl(methacryloyloxymethyl) phosphonate) macroinitiator with styrene was successfully achieved with a high fraction of block copolymer.
Angiotensin type 1 receptor mediates renal production and conversion of prostaglandins E2 to F2α in conscious diabetic rats

Introduction: Previous studies demonstrated that stimulation of angiotensin subtype 1 receptor (AT1R) led to increased renal generation of prostaglandins E2 (PGE2) and renal inflammation. In turn, PGE2 increases AT1R activity. The conversion of PGE2 to the less active metabolite prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) via 9-ketoreductase interrupts this feedback loop. The effects of diabetes on the interface between AT1R, PGE2 and PGF2α are not well established. We hypothesized that in diabetes, an aberrant AT1R activity enhances the biosynthesis of PGE2 and impairs the activity of PGE 9-ketoreductase, leading to accumulation of PGE2. Materials and methods: Using microdialysis technique, we monitored renal interstitial fluid levels of angiotensin II (Ang II), PGE2 and PGF2α in control and AT1R blocker, valsartan, treated diabetic rats (N=8 each). We utilized the PGF2α to PGE2 ratio as indirect measure of PGE 9-ketoreductase activity. Results: Diabetes increased renal interstitial fluid levels of Ang II, PGE2 and PGF2α. PGF2α/PGE2 ratio increased by the third week, but declined by the sixth week of diabetes. Valsartan reduced PGE2 and PGF2α levels and increased Ang II and the conversion of PGE2 to PGF2α. Conclusion: Our results suggest that in diabetes, AT1R increases PGE2 generation and reduces conversion of PGE2 to PGF2α with the progression of diabetes.
A new view of radiation-induced cancer

Biologically motivated mathematical models are important for understanding the mechanisms of radiation-induced carcinogenesis. Existing models fall into two categories: (1) short-term formalisms, which focus on the processes taking place during and shortly after irradiation (effects of dose, radiation quality, dose rate and fractionation), and (2) long-term formalisms, which track background cancer risks throughout the entire lifetime (effects of age at exposure and time since exposure) but make relatively simplistic assumptions about radiation effects. Grafting long-term mechanisms on to short-term models is badly needed for modelling radiogenic cancer. A combined formalism was developed and applied to cancer risk data in atomic bomb survivors and radiotherapy patients and to background cancer incidence. The data for nine cancer types were described adequately with a set of biologically meaningful parameters for each cancer. These results suggest that the combined short–long-term approach is a potentially promising method for predicting radiogenic cancer risks and interpreting the underlying biological mechanisms.
Molecular characterization of pea enation mosaic virus and bean leafroll virus from the Pacific Northwest, USA

The family Luteoviridae consists of eight viruses assigned to three different genera, Luteovirus, Polerovirus and Enamovirus. The complete genomic sequences of pea enation mosaic virus (genus Enamovirus) and bean leafroll virus (genus Luteovirus) from the Pacific Northwest, USA, were determined. Annotation, sequence comparisons, and phylogenetic analysis of selected genes together with those of known polero- and enamoviruses were conducted.
Regional Self‐Employment: The Effect of State Push and Pull Factors

This study investigates the effects of business cycle, tax, and self-employment policy on the self-employment rate at the state level. Using 1999-2002 data, the results of the analysis suggest that the recession-push hypothesis of self-employment is not supported for the United States. In fact, it appears as though the prosperity-pull hypothesis is a more likely candidate for explaining self-employment and business cycle changes. Further, the Self-Employment Assistance Program, based on the recession-push hypothesis, appears to have a negative effect on the self-employment rate. These results suggest that current programs to promote self-employment have incorrectly focused on the unemployed, and/or have not prepared participants for self-employment. The study also examines the tax effect on self-employment and finds only weak support for the tax avoidance hypothesis.
A Comparison of the Suitability of the Rogers, Modified Rogers, Manhattan, and Cavalli-sforza and Edwards Distances for Inferring Phylogenetic Trees from Allele Frequencies

Theoretical considerations and the results of computer simulations demonstrate that Swofford and Berlocher's (1987, Syst. Zool. 36:293-325) reason for preferring the Manhattan metric over Rogers's distance for inferring phylogenetic trees from allele frequencies under the principle of maximum parsimony is not necessarily valid. The theoretical considerations lead to the proposal of a new general criterion for choosing between cladograms or trees of equal length for qualitative characters as well―when two trees are of equal length, the one that is consistent with more possible transformation series of the characters under consideration is preferable
Capture Efficiency of Underwater Observation Protocols for Three Imperiled Fishes

Abstract Underwater observation is a widely used fish-sampling method, but capture efficiencies of this method are often unknown. For accuracy, survey counts require correction by measuring capture efficiencies of sampling protocols. Capture efficiencies for underwater observation were calculated for three small imperiled fishes—Etheostoma sitikuense (Citico Darter), Noturus flavipinnis (Yellowfin Madtom), and Noturus baileyi (Smoky Madtom)—using modified mark-recapture methods. Fishes were tagged with visual implant elastomer tags, released at sites within Abrams Creek in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and then recaptured. Efficiencies were calculated by comparing numbers of released individuals to recaptures. In the propagation facility, tag retention was 100 percent, and no post-tagging mortality was observed. Capture efficiency (CE = 0.12) was low for all species and potentially influenced by predation upon marked fish, emigration of fish from sites, or difficulty in sampling some habitats. ...
How to use… antinuclear antibodies in paediatric rheumatic diseases

The test for antinuclear antibodies (ANA) is frequently obtained to identify patients at higher risk for a rheumatic condition prior to subspecialty referral. However, a positive ANA occurs in a variety of clinical settings and does not automatically indicate underlying pathology. Therefore, careful consideration is needed to determine if the results will alter diagnostic, treatment, or medical decision making before the ANA test is sent. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is the prototypic autoimmune disease related to the presence of ANAs. The clinical manifestations of SLE are diverse, as this disease affects every organ in various combinations and severities unique to each individual lupus patient. Therefore, presentations can range from subtle skin and laboratory abnormalities to life-threatening end-organ damage. Other rheumatic conditions associated with a positive ANA include juvenile idiopathic arthritis, juvenile dermatomyositis, mixed connective tissue disease, localised scleroderma, systemic sclerosis, Sjogren syndrome and drug-induced lupus.1 This article presents the history and current use of the ANA test in paediatric practice related to rheumatic diseases, with an emphasis on three specific clinical scenarios where this test may be useful. We also review the relevant data pertaining to why the ANA test is not a good test to screen for rheumatic conditions. As there is no test capable of discriminating between a patient with and without a rheumatic disease, we present some features of the most common rheumatic diseases to help general paediatricians recognise specific patterns of symptoms that warrant further evaluation and/or referral to a paediatric rheumatologist (box 1). Box 1 ### Specific signs and symptoms of common paediatric rheumatic diseases20,22 Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) (based on the 1997 American College of Rheumatology Classification of SLE)
MOTION IN MIMIC DISPLAYS: EFFECTS ON THE DETECTION AND DIAGNOSIS OF ELECTRICAL POWER SYSTEM FAILURES

New power system displays have been developed to aid operators in the detection and diagnosis of faults. The enhancement of integrated one-line diagrams of power system data with motion and motion cues was examined in this experiment. Participants acknowledged and solved power system failures on a simulated power network across a number of trials of varying complexity. Participants performed these tasks using interactive displays indicating power flow with digits, stationary arrows, or moving arrows. For high complexity scenarios, results indicated a general advantage for the motion display in the diagnostic task (problem resolution) but a slight advantage of the digital display on the fault detection task (problem identification). Performance with the stationary arrow display was generally between the other two groups, being nearly as good as with the digital display in the detection task and nearly as good as with the moving arrow display in the diagnosis task. Further research is necessary to determine the conditions where motion is most beneficial.
Innate Immune Responses to Systemic Acinetobacter baumannii Infection in Mice: Neutrophils, but Not Interleukin-17, Mediate Host Resistance

Acinetobacter baumannii is a nosocomial pathogen with a high prevalence of multiple-drug-resistant strains, causing pneumonia and sepsis. The current studies further develop a systemic mouse model of this infection and characterize selected innate immune responses to the organism. Five clinical isolates, with various degrees of antibiotic resistance, were assessed for virulence in two mouse strains, and between male and female mice, using intraperitoneal infection. A nearly 1,000-fold difference in virulence was found between bacterial strains, but no significant differences between sexes or mouse strains were observed. It was found that microbes disseminated rapidly from the peritoneal cavity to the lung and spleen, where they replicated. A persistent septic state was observed. The infection progressed rapidly, with mortality between 36 and 48 h. Depletion of neutrophils with antibody to Ly-6G decreased mean time to death and increased mortality. Interleukin-17 (IL-17) promotes the response of neutrophils by inducing production of the chemokine keratinocyte-derived chemoattractant (KC/CXCL1), the mouse homolog of human IL-8. Acinetobacter infection resulted in biphasic increases in both IL-17 and KC/CXCL1. Depletion of neither IL-17 nor KC/CXCL1, using specific antibodies, resulted in a difference in bacterial burdens in organs of infected mice at 10 h postinfection. Comparison of bacterial burdens between IL-17a(-/-) and wild-type mice confirmed that the absence of this cytokine did not sensitize mice to Acinetobacter infection. These studies definitely demonstrate the importance of neutrophils in resistance to systemic Acinetobacter infection. However, neither IL-17 nor KC/CXCL1 alone is required for effective host defense to systemic infection with this organism.
Computation, Visualization, and Chemistry of Electric Field-Enhanced Production of Ceramic Precursor Powders

The stability of a liquid emanating from a nozzle is profoundly affected by an electric field. This electric-field induced instability is used here to form ceramic precursor powders having well-controlled particle-size distribution and morphology. Moreover, a hybrid boundary element/finite element method is used to determine the shapes and stability of a drop hanging from a nozzle. The efficiency of two different electrode configurations is considered: in one configuration, the nozzle is attached to the top plate of a parallel-plate capacitor and in the other, the nozzle is surrounded by a concentric cylindrical electrode. The computational results show that such pendant drops lose stability at turning points with respect to field strength. The experimental and computational results reported here are of importance not only in the development of electrodispersion apparatus, but in fields as diverse as capillarity and separations.
The birth of client-centered therapy: Carl Rogers, Otto Rank, and "the beyond."

Carl Rogers is one of the most influential figures in humanistic psychology. Surprisingly, however, almost no one knows the full story of how he came to develop client-centered therapy. Yet Rogers always acknowledged that a personal encounter with Otto Rank in 1936 revolutionized the way he thought about psychotherapy. "I became infected with Rankian ideas," he told his biographer. Like Rank, whose last book was entitled Beyond Psychology, Rogers concluded by the end of his life that there is a realm "beyond" scientific psychology, a realm he came to prize as "the transcendent, the indescribable, the spiritual." Ironically, the spiritual had always been there, hidden in what was closest and most familiar to Rogers: the empathic relationship between therapist and client. The spirit of Otto Rank, from whom client-centered therapy originated, lived on in the mind, heart, and soul of Carl Rogers.
CDER Photosafety Guidance for Industry

In the Federal Register of January 10, 2000 (65 FR 1399), FDA published a draft guidance entitled “Photosafety Testing.” The notice gave interested persons an opportunity to submit comments. As a result of the comments, certain sections of the guidance were reworded to improve clarity. A final guidance was published in May 2003. The final guidance further emphasizes that a flexible approach can be used to address adverse photoeffects and that specific assays are not required. Moreover, it encourages the development of methods that can efficiently be used to evaluate human safety. The guidance describes a consistent, science-based approach for testing of topically and systemically administered drug products.