cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Quantitative NMR spectroscopy for the prediction of base oil properties

The performance characteristics of mineral base oils depend largely on their physiochemical properties. These properties in turn are dependent on the type and relative amount of different hydrocarbons present in the system. The physical properties of some molecules are known to be quite different when they are in a mixture and their influence on bulk physical properties of base oils can vary considerably. The evaluation of these properties can involve long procedures, considerable manpower, a large sample and a costly laboratory infrastructure. A rapid method was developed using quantitative 13C NMR derived structural information on a set of Group 1 type base oils. The molecular level characterization is considered more accurate, requiring less time and test sample to study base oil properties. If such structural data are correlated suitably with the bulk physical properties, they can be used as reliable tools for predictive models. A best subset multi-component regression analysis of the NMR data generat...
Osteoclast Precursor Interaction with Bone Matrix Induces Osteoclast Formation Directly by an Interleukin-1-mediated Autocrine Mechanism

Interleukin-1 (IL-1) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) mediate bone resorption in a variety of diseases affecting bone. Like TNF, IL-1 is secreted by osteoclast precursors (OCPs), but unlike TNF, it does not induce osteoclast formation directly from OCPs in vitro. TNF induces IL-1 expression and activates c-Fos, a transcription factor required in OCPs for osteoclast formation. Here, we examined whether IL-1 can induce osteoclast formation directly from OCPs overexpressing c-Fos and whether interaction with bone matrix affects OCP cytokine expression. We infected OCPs with c-Fos or green fluorescent protein retrovirus, cultured them with macrophage colony-stimulating factor and IL-1 on bone slices or plastic dishes, and assessed osteoclast and resorption pit formation and expression of IL-1 by OCPs. We used a Transwell assay to determine whether OCPs secrete IL-1 when they interact with bone matrix. IL-1 induced osteoclast formation directly from c-Fos-expressing OCPs on plastic. c-Fos-expressing OCPs formed osteoclasts spontaneously on bone slices without addition of cytokines. OCPs on bone secreted IL-1, which induced osteoclast formation from c-Fos-expressing OCPs in the lower Transwell dishes. The bone matrix proteins dentin sialoprotein and osteopontin, but not transforming growth factor-β, stimulated OCP expression of IL-1 and induced c-Fos-expressing OCP differentiation into osteoclasts. Osteoclasts eroding inflamed joints have higher c-Fos expression compared with osteoclasts inside bone. We conclude that OCPs expressing c-Fos may induce their differentiation directly into osteoclasts by an autocrine mechanism in which they produce IL-1 through interaction with bone matrix. TNF could induce c-Fos expression in OCPs at sites of inflammation in bone to promote this autocrine mechanism and thus amplify bone loss.
On the solution of the Prandtl boundary layer equations containing the point of zero skin friction

in the domain Dx : {(x, y) ] 0 < x < X, 0 < y < co). Here (x, y) are orthogonal coordinates in the boundary layer, with x representing the length along the wall and y the perpendicular distance from the wall; u and v are the corresponding velocity components, and v the kinematic viscosity; finally p = p(x) is the pressure function. Let U = U(x) be the exterior streaming speed; then p(x) is related to U(x) through the Bernoulli relation
Body temperature in normal and endotoxin-treated mice of different ages

Elderly people contract more gram-negative infections than does the younger population and, thus, are exposed to larger amounts of bacterial endotoxins. The differential effects of bacterial lipopolysaccharides (LPS) in aging have been investigated here. LPS have increased toxicity for aged mice (12 and 24 months) compared to that in 2-month-old mice in that two-thirds of both 24-month-old Balb/c and C57Bl/6 male mice were killed by an intravenous dose of 50 microgram of LPS. Body temperatures were also affected by aging. Both C57Bl/6 and Balb/c mice showed a maximum body temperature at 12 months of age; 24-month-old mice had mean body temperatures of at least 2 C less than 12-month-old animals. LPS induced hypothermia in young mice as described by others, but in 24-month-old mice there was a marked hyperthermia following LPS injection. Increased sensitivity to LPS with age may result from differences in the effects of LPS on target cells or differences in responsiveness to secondary mediators. In addition, LPS have profound effects on the immune system which may be changed with age.
Transverse modulation of an electron beam generated in self-modulated laser wakefield accelerator experiments

Low energy electron beams (E{approx}300 keV) generated in a self-modulated laser wakefield accelerator experiment were observed to filament and be deflected away from the laser axis forming radial jets in the electron beam profile. At higher energies (E>900 keV), the filamentation and jets were suppressed and smooth electron beams copropagating with the laser were observed. The observed electron beam filamentation likely results from laser beam filamentation in the plasma due to relativistic self-focusing effects. The radial jets of low energy electrons are likely caused by transverse ejection of the electrons due to the radial structure of the wakefield and space charge deflection of electrons as they exit the laser focus. (c) 2000 The American Physical Society.
A Walkthrough Ergonomic Checklist for Evaluating Slip/Fall Potential in Lead Abatement Tasks

The purpose of this study is to develop a tool to determine the ergonomic risk factors of cumulative trauma disorders (CTDs) and slips/ fall potential associated with the lead abatement and lead risk assessors' tasks. For this purpose, an existing and validated checklist of ergonomic walkthrough surveys developed for carpentry tasks was enhanced with postural instability potential weighting for specific postures common at lead abatement sites and an additional section to obtain information on slip/fall risk factors. This paper discusses the slip/fall risk development for the enhanced checklist. Based on studies with industrial workers, the following risk factors have been rank-ordered according to the increasing risk of postural instability: task type, poor ambient lighting, elevated working surfaces (ladders or scaffolding), inclined working surfaces, and surface condition (slipperiness). Walkthrough surveys were conducted and laboratory data was collected to determine categories and ranking of slip/fall...
Visual loss in children with neurofibromatosis type 1 and optic pathway gliomas: Relation to tumor location by magnetic resonance imaging

Abstract PURPOSE: To examine the potential for visual acuity loss, and its relation to extent and location of optic pathway gliomas in a cohort of children with neurofibromatosis type 1 studied with magnetic resonance imaging. METHODS: We reviewed the neuro-ophthalmologic records and brain/orbital magnetic resonance imaging scans for 43 consecutive pediatric patients with neurofibromatosis type 1 and optic pathway gliomas who were followed at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. The presence of visual loss, defined as abnormal visual acuity for age in one or both eyes, was determined. Optic pathway gliomas were classified by tumor extent and location according to involvement of the optic nerves, chiasm, and postchiasmal structures by magnetic resonance imaging. RESULTS: Involvement of the optic tracts and other postchiasmal structures at tumor diagnosis was associated with a significantly higher probability of visual acuity loss ( P = .048, chi-square test). Visual loss was noted in 20 of 43 patients (47%) at a median age of 4 years; however, three patients developed visual acuity loss for the first time during adolescence. CONCLUSIONS: In pediatric patients with neurofibromatosis type 1 and optic pathway gliomas, the likelihood of visual loss is dependent on the extent and location of the tumor by magnetic resonance imaging and is particularly associated with involvement of postchiasmal structures. Furthermore, older age during childhood (adolescence) does not preclude the occurrence of visual loss. Close follow-up beyond the early childhood years, particularly for those with postchiasmal tumor, is recommended.
The Effect of Suture Coated With Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Bioactive Substrate on Tendon Repair Strength in a Rat Model

Purpose Exogenously administered mesenchymal stem cells and bioactive molecules are known to enhance tendon healing. Biomolecules have been successfully delivered using sutures that elute growth factors over time. We sought to evaluate the histologic and biomechanical effect of delivering both cells and bioactive substrates on a suture delivery vehicle in comparison with sutures coated with bioactive substrates alone. Methods Bone marrow–derived stem cells were harvested from Sprague-Dawley rat femurs. Experimental cell and substrate-coated, coated suture (CS) group sutures were precoated with intercellular cell adhesion molecule 1 and poly-L-lysine and seeded with labeled bone marrow–derived stem cells. Control (substrate-only [SO] coated) group sutures were coated with intercellular cell adhesion molecule 1 and poly-L-lysine only. Using a matched-paired design, bilateral Sprague-Dawley rat Achilles tendons (n = 105 rats) were transected and randomized to CS or SO repairs. Tendons were harvested at 4, 7, 10, 14, and 28 days and subjected to histologic and mechanical assessment. Results Labeled cells were present at repair sites at all time points. The CS suture repairs displayed statistically greater strength compared to SO repairs at 7 days (12.6 ± 5.0 N vs 8.6 ± 3.7 N, respectively) and 10 days (21.2 ± 4.9 N vs 16.4 ± 4.8 N, respectively). There was no significant difference between the strength of CS suture repairs compared with SO repairs at 4 days (8.1 ± 5.1 N vs 6.6 ± 2.3 N, respectively), 14 days (22.8 ± 7.3 N vs 25.1 ± 9.7 N, respectively), and 28 days (40.9 ± 12.4 N vs 34.6 ± 15.0 N, respectively). Conclusions Bioactive CS sutures enhanced repair strength at 7 to 10 days. There was no significant effect at later stages. Clinical relevance The strength nadir of a tendon repair occurs in the first 2 weeks after surgery. Bioactive suture repair might provide a clinical advantage by jump-starting the repair process during this strength nadir. Improved early strength might, in turn allow earlier unprotected mobilization.
TRIAL OF DIPYRIDAMOLE-ASPIRIN IN RECURRING VENOUS THROMBOSIS

Abstract 38 patients (26 men) with recurring venous thromboembolism (RVTE) were enrolled in a prospective double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of dipyridamole (DPY), 100 mg a day, and aspirin (ASA), 1200 mg a day. Platelet survival ( 51 Cr labelling of autologous platelets) was measured every 6 months for 18 months. 19 patients were randomised to treatment with DPY and ASA, and 1 had new venous thrombosis (after 15 months of treatment); 19 received placebo and 7 had new venous thrombosis (4-16 months later) (χ 2 =5·70; p
Preschool speech error patterns predict articulation and phonological awareness outcomes in children with histories of speech sound disorders

Purpose To determine if speech error patterns in preschoolers with speech sound disorders (SSDs) predict articulation and phonological awareness (PA) outcomes almost 4 years later. Method Twenty-five children with histories of preschool SSDs (and normal receptive language) were tested at an average age of 4;6 (years;months) and were followed up at age 8;3. The frequency of occurrence of preschool distortion errors, typical substitution and syllable structure errors, and atypical substitution and syllable structure errors was used to predict later speech sound production, PA, and literacy outcomes. Results Group averages revealed below-average school-age articulation scores and low-average PA but age-appropriate reading and spelling. Preschool speech error patterns were related to school-age outcomes. Children for whom >10% of their speech sound errors were atypical had lower PA and literacy scores at school age than children who produced <10% atypical errors. Preschoolers who produced more distortion erro...
Social Factors in the Church and Positive Religious Coping Responses: Assessing Differences Among Older Whites, Older Blacks, and Older Mexican Americans

Findings from a growing number of studies point to the social basis of a wide range of religious beliefs and behaviors. This study has two main goals. The first is to see whether four social aspects of congregational life (church attendance, attendance at Bible study groups, attendance at prayer groups, and informal spiritual support) are associated with greater use of positive religious coping responses. The second goal is to determine if the relationships between these social aspects of the church and religious coping vary across older whites, older blacks, and older Mexican Americans. The data suggest that more frequent church attendance is associated with greater use of religious coping responses in all three groups. However, the findings further reveal that the relationship between informal spiritual support and religious coping is especially stronger among older whites. The theoretical implications of these findings are discussed.
Topical Retinaldehyde on Human Skin: Biologic Effects and Tolerance

The present study was designed to explore if *etinaldehyde, a natural metabolite of vitamin A, has any biologic activity and is tolerated by human skin. Biologic activity was shown by the induction of cellular retinoic acid-binding protein type 2 (CRABP 2) mRNA and protein; the rank order for CRABP-2 increase was retinoic acid > retinaldehyde > 9 cis retinoic acid > retinol > beta carotene. In volunteers treated 1-3 months with 0.5, 0.1, and 0.05% retinaldehyde, there was a dose-dependent and significant increase in epidermal thickness, keratin 14 immunoreactivity, and Ki67-positive cells. The area of distribution of involucrin, transglutaminase, and filaggrin immunoreactivity was also increased in a dose-dependent manner, and keratin 4 immunoreactivity was induced in the upper epidermis. In pilot clinical tolerance studies, 229 patients received topical retinaldehyde at different concentrations; the 1% preparation was tolerated by up to 70% of the treated subjects; tolerance of the 0.5% preparation was slightly better, whereas both 0.1 and 0.05% preparations applied on facial skin were well tolerated and allowed prolonged use (up to 3 years) in patients with inflammatory dermatoses. These findings indicate that topical retinaldehyde has biologic activity and is well tolerated on human skin.
The Influence of Contamination on Aluminum-Gold Intermetallics

The uncontrolled formation of aluminum-gold intermetallics such as "purple plague" (AuA12) has not been considered a major semiconductor and/or hybrid reliability problem for several years, due to the advent of dependable lower temperature assembly processes which include: thermosonic gold ball bonding, ultrasonic aluminum wedge bonding, and epoxy attachment of both die and substrates. Today, however, intermetallics are beginning to appear again even in the lower temperature production environment. Isolated instances of ball bond lifting after long burn-ins at 125°C are being noted in high reliability programs. Rapid intermetallic consumption of second or tail bonds has been reported in hybrids with aluminum substrate metallization and gold thermosonic bonding. These processes are definitely accelerated by the 125°C thermal exposure, but have occurred so rapidly that contamination appears to be the principal driving source. A case study is presented in which a switch in substrate attach epoxy caused a catastrophic acceleration of intermetallic formation and widespread bond failures after the hybrids were exposed to a thermal testing environment. Details of the failure investigation process are presented including: impurity searches using energy dispersive X-ray, scanning Auger microprobe, and secondary ion mass spectrometry; epoxy cure cycle validations using residual gas analysis methods; the empirical use of the wire bond pull as the process validation method; and the analysis of sealed package ambient both pre and post burn-in.
Plasmon mediated, long range, oscillating van der Waals forces between molecules adsorbed on metals

We use qualitataive arguments to propose a propensity rule stating that the van der Waals forces between adsorbed molecules may be strongly influenced by the surface plasmon. As a result, if the molecule has a narrow level resonant with a weakly damped surface plasmon, the van der Waals forces oscillate as a function of their separation and have an unusually long range.
RE3Ga9Ge (RE=Y, Ce, Sm, Gd and Yb): Compounds with an open three-dimensional polygallide framework synthesized from liquid gallium

Abstract The RE 3 Ga 9 Ge compounds ( RE =Y, Ce, Sm, Gd and Yb) were synthesized at 850°C in quantitative yield from reactions containing excess liquid Ga. The orthorhombic crystal structure is characterized by a unique three-dimensional open Ga framework with parallel straight tunnels. In the tunnels, inserted are arrays of the RE atoms together with interpenetrated monoatomic RE –Ga–Ge planes. A complex disordered arrangement of the RE and Ga atoms is observed in the monoatomic plane. Depending on the extent of disorder, the crystal structure could be presented either in a sub-cell (no ordering) or in a super-cell (partial ordering). Single-crystal X-ray data for Ce 3 Ga 9 Ge sub-structure: space group Immm , Z =2, cell parameters a =4.3400(12) A; b =10.836(3) A; and c =11.545(3) A; super-structure: space group Cmma , Z =8, cell parameters a =8.680(3) A; b =23.090(7) A; and c =10.836(3) A. The refinement based on the full-matrix least squares on F o 2 [ I >2 σ ( I )] converged to final residuals R 1 /w R 2 =0.0226/0.0528 and 0.0729/0.1569 for the sub- and super-structures, respectively. The relationship between the disordered sub-structure and partially ordered super-structure is discussed. Magnetic susceptibility measurements show Curie–Weiss behavior at the temperatures above 30 K with the negative Weiss constants Θ =−49(1) and−7.7 K for Gd and Ce analogs, respectively. An antiferromagnetic transition is observed in the Gd analog at T N =26.1 K. The μ eff obtained for both analogs is close to the RE 3+ free-ion value.
Incorporation of 5-fluorouracil into the transfer RNA of Escherichia coli K12W6 and its effect on the methylation of uracil

Abstract 5-Fluorouracil was incorporated into the tRNA of Escherichia coli K12W6 met− RCrel under conditions of growth and starvation. The tRNA was isolated and, in the latter case, further methylated in vitro. It was shown that the tRNA isolated from growing cells as well as the tRNA methylated in vitro contained reduced levels of 5-methyluridylic acid. An analysis of the relationship between the amount of 5-fluorouracil incorporated into the tRNA and the percentage decrease in the methylation of uracil to 5-methyluracil under conditions in vivo and in vitro indicated that the incorporation of 5-fluorouracil into the uracil position which is subsequently modified to yield 5-methyluracil is nonrandom.
Foodborne listeriosis: risk from meat and poultry

Abstract Knowledge of the epidemiology of human listeriosis is far from complete although it has been established that foodborne Listeria monocytogenes can cause human listeriosis. This paper discusses its prevalence in meat and poultry as it relates to foodborne outbreaks in humans. Four confirmed or suspected foodborne epidemics of human listeriosis have been reported in North America since 1981. Mortality approximates 30%. Meat or poultry were not associated with any of the cases but association of products of animal origin was confirmed in two cases. The major predisposing factor for human listeriosis is underlying host susceptibility. The disease has been reported in healthy individuals, but most adult cases have occurred in persons with pre-existing chronic disease or immune dysfunction. The disease is rare and each outbreak to date has been identified as the result of special epidemiologic studies. It is possible that meat and poultry products have been vehicles for unreported cases of listeriosis. There is a demonstrated need for the meat and poultry industry to be aware of potential problems associated with the presence of L. monocytogenes in processed products especially ready-to-eat products.
Cataractogenesis after cobalt-60 eye plaque radiotherapy

Abstract Purpose: This study was designed to estimate the actuarial incidence of typical postirradiation cataracts and to identify prognostic factors related to their development in melanoma-containing eyes treated by Cobalt-60 plaque radiotherapy. Our special interest was the impact of calculated radiation dose and dose-rate to the lens. Methods and Material: The authors evaluated the actuarial occurrence of post-irradiation cataract in 365 patients with primary posterior uveal melanoma treated by Cobalt-60 plaque radiotherapy between 1976 and 1986. Results: Only 22% (S.E. = 4.6%) of the patients who received a total dose of 6 to 20 Gy at the center of the lens developed a visually significant cataract attributable to the radiation within 5 years after treatment. Using multivariate Cox proportional hazards modeling, the authors identified thickness of the tumor, location of the tumor's anterior margin relative to the equator and the ora serrata, and diameter of the eye plaque used as the best combination of covariables for predicting length of time until development of cataract. Surprisingly, the dose of radiation delivered to the lens, which was strongly correlated to all of these covariables, was not a significant predictive factor in multivariate analysis. Conclusion: The results suggest that success of efforts to decrease the occurrence rate of post-irradiation cataracts by better treatment planning might be limited in patients with posterior uveal melanoma.
Completely separable families and Ramsey's theorem

Abstract Ramsey's theorem states that for every partition of the n-element subsets of ω (the nonnegative integers) into two classes, there exists an infinite set F ⊆ ω with all its n-element subsets in the same class. We show that if F is a completely separable family of infinite subsets of ω, then for every such partition there exists an infinite set F as above, with the additional property that F is a member of the family F . This answers a question of Hechler. We also strengthen our results along the lines of known generalizations of Ramsey's theorem and give a short proof of a theorem of Mathias.
Fluoranthene-2,3- and -1,5-diones Are Novel Products from the Bacterial Transformation of Fluoranthene

Fluoranthene is one of the predominant compounds found in soils and sediments contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH). Four bacterial strains isolated from PAH-contaminated soils transformed fluoranthene to a number of products during growth on phenanthrene, including the novel metabolites fluoranthene-2,3-dione (F23Q) and fluoranthene-1,5-dione (F15Q). Given the known toxicity and mutagenicity of F23Q, we focused on characterizing this metabolite with respect to its effects on the metabolism of other PAH. The yield of F23Q from fluoranthene ranged from 2% for Sphingomonas yanoikuyae R1 to greater than 20% for Pseudomonas stutzeri P16 and Bacillus cereus P21. None of the strains appeared capable of metabolizing F23Q any further. F23Q strongly inhibited phenanthrene removal by strain R1 but had a negligible to minor effect on phenanthrene degradation by the other organisms. At a concentration of 6.8 μM, F23Q also substantially inhibited the mineralization of benz[a]anthracene, benzo[a]pyre...
Reflected ultrasound in the diagnosis of tricuspid stenosis

Abstract Reflected ultrasound curves, which appear to reflect movement of the anterior leaflet of the tricuspid valve, have been obtained by directing the ultrasound beam toward the spine from the fourth or fifth left intercostal space. From this projection, the tricuspid valve lies anterior and medial to the position of the mitral valve pattern. Records were obtained from 31 patients with mitral valve disease and proved normal tricuspid valves. The configuration of the tricuspid pattern is similar to that established as the normal configuration for the mitral valve movement. The velocity of movement posteriorly, after initial opening of the tricuspid valve, was 60 to 125 mm./sec. in the subjects with normal tricuspid valves. Records were obtained from 6 patients with tricuspid stenosis. In contrast to the normal tricuspid pattern, the record from these patients demonstrated a marked delay in posterior movement after opening of the valve. The velocity of motion posteriorly from peak 4 in the pattern was reduced to 8 to 30 mm./sec. Although a tricuspid valve curve is difficult to obtain from subjects with no heart disease, a satisfactory record can be inscribed from most patients with mitral stenosis. This is the patient group in which the diagnosis of tricuspid stenosis is not most important. The validity and accuracy of this method in the determination of tricuspid stenosis has been demonstreated. The ultrasounddcardiogram, which has proved of definite clinical value in the assessment of mitral value disease, therefore can be applied as a useful clinical diagnostic method for the study of tricuspid disease.
Alterations in cell-adhesive and migratory properties of proximal tubule and collecting duct cells from bcl-2 -/- mice.

Bcl-2 protects cells from apoptosis initiated by a variety of stimuli including loss of cell adhesion. Bcl-2 −/− mice develop renal hypoplastic/cystic dysplasia with renal cyst formation coinciding...
Error-related psychophysiology and negative affect ☆

The error-related negativity (ERN/Ne) and error positivity (Pe) have been associated with error detection and response monitoring. More recently, heart rate (HR) and skin conductance (SC) have also been shown to be sensitive to the internal detection of errors. An enhanced ERN has consistently been observed in anxious subjects and there is some suggestion that the ERN is related to general negative affective experience (NA). The ERN has been source localized to the anterior cingulate cortex—a structure implicated in the regulation of affective, response selection, and autonomic resources. Thus, the findings that autonomic measures and affective distress are related to response monitoring are consistent with anterior cingulate cortex function. In the present experiment, we sought to evaluate more comprehensively the relationship between self-reported negative affect and error-related physiology in a between-groups design. Results indicate that high NA was associated with significantly greater ERN and error-related SCR, and smaller Pe. These results are discussed in terms of anterior cingulate cortex function, psychopathology, and response monitoring.
Skin Testing and Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate in Women Undergoing Breast Biopsy

The purpose of this study was to determine the utility of skin testing and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) as measures of immune function in a population undergoing stress. Eight women were tested one week prior to breast biopsy and six were retested at least four weeks later. All biopsies were negative for malignancy. Control subjects were also tested four weeks apart. ESR values were elevated with stress but the magnitude of this effect was small. There were no differences between groups in skin test responses. Skin testing and ESR may have limited usefulness in the study of immune function in populations under stress.
Fabrication of 14 different RNA nanoparticles for specific tumor targeting without accumulation in normal organs

Duetostructuralflexibility,RNasesensitivity,andseruminstability,RNAnanoparticleswithconcreteshapesforinvivoapplication remain challenging to construct. Here we report the construction of 14 RNA nanoparticles with solid shapes for targeting cancers specifically. These RNA nanoparticles were resistant to RNase degradation, stable in serum for >36 h, and stable in vivo after systemic injection. By applying RNA nanotechnology and exemplifying with these 14 RNA nanoparticles, we have established the technology and developed “toolkits” utilizing a variety of principles to construct RNA architectures with diverse shapes and angles. The structure elements of phi29 motor pRNA were utilized for fabrication of dimers, twins, trimers, triplets, tetramers, quadruplets, pentamers, hexamers, heptamers, and other higher-order oligomers, as well as branched diverse architectures via hand-in-hand, foot-to-foot, and arm-on-arm interactions. These novel RNA nanostructures harbor resourceful functionalities for numerous applications in nanotechnology and medicine. It was found that all incorporated functional modules, such as siRNA, ribozymes, aptamers, and other functionalities, folded correctly and functioned independently within the nanoparticles. The incorporation of all functionalities was achieved prior, but not subsequent, to the assembly of the RNA nanoparticles, thus ensuring the production of homogeneous therapeutic nanoparticles. More importantly, upon systemic injection, these RNA nanoparticles targeted cancer exclusively in vivo without accumulation in normal organs and tissues. These findings open a new territory for cancer targeting and treatment. The versatility and diversity in structure and function derived from one biological RNA molecule implies immense potential concealed within the RNA nanotechnology field.
Temperature-Sensitive Mutants of Escherichia coli Affecting β-Galactoside Transport

Six different temperature-sensitive ( ts ) mutants have been isolated which have parental β-galactoside permease levels at low temperatures but have decreased permease levels when grown at high temperatures. These mutants were derived from Escherichia coli ML308 ( lacI − Y + Z + A + ). After N -methyl- N ′-nitro- N ′-nitro-soguanidine mutagenesis, ampicillin was used to select for cells unable to grow on low lactose concentrations at 42 C. Temperature-sensitive mutants were assayed for galactoside permease activity after growth in casein hydrolysate medium at 25 or 42 C by measuring both radioactive methylthio-β-d-galactoside uptake and in vivo o -nitrophenyl-β-d-galactoside hydrolysis. The six conditional isolates have decreased levels of galactoside permease which are correlated with decreased growth rates at elevated temperatures. The low permease levels are not due to a temperature labile lacY gene product but rather to a temperature labile synthesis rate of functional permease. Some of the mutants exhibit a ts increase in permeability as shown by the increased leakage of intracellular β-galactosidase and by the increased rate of in vivo o -nitrophenyl-β-d-galactoside hydrolysis via the nonpermease mediated entry mechanism. Preliminary evidence indicates that transport in general is decreased in these mutants, yet there is some specificity in the mutational lesion since glucoside transport is unaffected. All these observations suggest that these mutants have ts alterations in membrane synthesis which results in pleiotropic effects on various membrane functions.
Investigating Household Purchase Timing Decisions: A Conditional Hazard Function Approach

The purchase timing decision is an important component of the dynamics of a household's purchase behavior. This decision is influenced by marketing and other variables, and the modeling of this dependence has recently received attention in the literature. In this paper, we build on previous studies and develop a comprehensive stochastic model that incorporates the major factors influencing interpurchase times. Specifically, we use a generalized version of Cox's proportional hazard model to test among competing probability distributions for the interpurchase times while incorporating effects due to marketing variables, observed household characteristics, and unobserved heterogeneity across households. The empirical finding from analyzing the IRI coffee data, suggests that the interpurchase times cannot be adequately described by probability distributions such as exponential, Erlang-2 or Weibull. The effects of unobserved heterogeneity are significant, and they impact the estimates of the effects of the covariates. We also find that a nonparametric procedure for estimating the effects of unobserved heterogeneity provides the best overall fit to the data and yields covariate estimates that are more consistent with prior expectations. Our model is validated by replicating the substantive empirical findings on an additional product category.
1998 Eruption at Volcán Cerro Azul, Galápagos Islands: I. Syn-Eruptive Petrogenesis

The 1998 eruption of Volcan Cerro Azul in the Galapagos Islands produced two intra-caldera vents and a flank vent that erupted more than 1.0×108 m3 of lava. Lava compositions changed notably during the 5-week eruption, and contemporaneous eruptions in the caldera and on the flank produced different compositions. Lavas erupted from the flank vent range from 6.3 to 14.1% MgO, nearly the entire range of MgO contents previously reported from the volcano. On-site monitoring of eruptive activity is linked with petrogenetic processes such that geochemical variations are evaluated in a temporal context. Lavas from the 1998 eruption record two petrogenetic stages characterized by progressively more mafic lavas as the eruption proceeded. Crystal compositions, whole rock major and trace element compositions, and isotope ratios indicate that early lavas are the product of mixing between 1998 magma and remnant magma of the 1979 eruption. Intra-caldera lavas and later lavas have no 1979 signature, but were produced by the 1998 magma incorporating olivine and clinopyroxene xenocrysts. Thus, early magma petrogenesis is characterized by mixing with the 1979 magma, followed by the magma progressively entraining wehrlite cumulate mush.
Toward Automated Anomaly Identification in Large-Scale Systems

When a system fails to function properly, health-related data are collected for troubleshooting. However, it is challenging to effectively identify anomalies from the voluminous amount of noisy, high-dimensional data. The traditional manual approach is time-consuming, error-prone, and even worse, not scalable. In this paper, we present an automated mechanism for node-level anomaly identification in large-scale systems. A set of techniques is presented to automatically analyze collected data: data transformation to construct a uniform data format for data analysis, feature extraction to reduce data size, and unsupervised learning to detect the nodes acting differently from others. Moreover, we compare two techniques, principal component analysis (PCA) and independent component analysis (ICA), for feature extraction. We evaluate our prototype implementation by injecting a variety of faults into a production system at NCSA. The results show that our mechanism, in particular, the one using ICA-based feature extraction, can effectively identify faulty nodes with high accuracy and low computation overhead.
The molecular basis of white pericarps in African domesticated rice: Novel mutations at the Rc gene

Repeated phenotypic evolution can occur at both the inter- and intraspecific level and is especially prominent in domesticated plants, where artificial selection has favoured the same traits in many different species and varieties. The question of whether repeated evolution reflects changes at the same or different genes in each lineage can now be addressed using the domestication and improvement genes that have been identified in a variety of crops. Here, we document the genetic basis of nonpigmented (‘white’) pericarps in domesticated African rice (Oryza glaberrima) and compare it with the known genetic basis of the same trait in domesticated Asian rice (Oryza sativa). In some cases, white pericarps in African rice are apparently caused by unique mutations at the Rc gene, which also controls pericarp colour variation in Asian rice. In one case, white pericarps appear to reflect changes at a different gene or potentially a cis-regulatory region.
EXPRESSION AND FUNCTION OF ESTROGEN RECEPTOR SUBTYPES IN GRANULOSA CELLS :REGULATION BY ESTRADIOL AND FORSKOLIN

The expression and function of estrogen receptor ERα/β subtypes and ERβ variants in granulosa cells have been determined using several integrated approaches: , Western blotting, indirect immunofluorescence, RT-PCR, and transient transfection assays. Each of these approaches has provided specific details concerning the dynamics of ER expression, ER functional activity, and estradiol (E) regulation of target genes in granulosa cells. Specifically, the studies presented herein document that messenger RNAs (mRNAs) encoding ERβ and its splice variants, as well as mRNA encoding ERα, are expressed in granulosa cells of immature rats before and during culture in serum-free medium. The results also provide the first documentation that functional (DNA binding and transcriptionally active) ER is present in cultured granulosa cells and that its ability to bind consensus estrogen response element (ERE) oligonucleotide and to transactivate an ERE promoter-reporter construct is associated with the level (type?) of recep...
An application of integer programming to playoff elimination in football championships

Football is the most followed and practiced sport in Brazil, with a major economic importance. Thousands of jobs depend directly on the activity of the football teams. The Brazilian national football championship is followed by millions of people, who attend the games in the stadiums, follow radio and TV transmissions, and check newspapers, radio, TV, and, more recently, the Internet in search of information about the performance and chances of their favorite teams. Teams which do not qualify for the playoffs lose a lot of money and are even forced to dismantle their structure. We comment and compare the complexity of playoff elimination in football and baseball championships. We present two integer-programming models which are able to detect in advance when a team has already qualified for or been eliminated from the playoffs. Results from these models can be used not only to guide teams and fans, but are also very useful to identify and correct wrong statements made by the press and team administrators. The application and the use of both models in the context of the 2002 edition of the Brazilian national football championship are discussed.
Construction Industry Institute

The Construction Industry Institute has provided research opportunities to many and helped to establish the idea that construction research can have a real impact on the industry. Built on the Business Roundtable’s Construction Industry Cost Effectiveness Project, it has proven the effectiveness of industry–university cooperation in solving real problems.
Cytokinesis in Eukaryotes

Cytokinesis is the final event of the cell division cycle, and its completion results in irreversible partition of a mother cell into two daughter cells. Cytokinesis was one of the first cell cycle events observed by simple cell biological techniques; however, molecular characterization of cytokinesis has been slowed by its particular resistance to in vitro biochemical approaches. In recent years, the use of genetic model organisms has greatly advanced our molecular understanding of cytokinesis. While the outcome of cytokinesis is conserved in all dividing organisms, the mechanism of division varies across the major eukaryotic kingdoms. Yeasts and animals, for instance, use a contractile ring that ingresses to the cell middle in order to divide, while plant cells build new cell wall outward to the cortex. As would be expected, there is considerable conservation of molecules involved in cytokinesis between yeast and animal cells, while at first glance, plant cells seem quite different. However, in recent years, it has become clear that some aspects of division are conserved between plant, yeast, and animal cells. In this review we discuss the major recent advances in defining cytokinesis, focusing on deciding where to divide, building the division apparatus, and dividing. In addition, we discuss the complex problem of coordinating the division cycle with the nuclear cycle, which has recently become an area of intense research. In conclusion, we discuss how certain cells have utilized cytokinesis to direct development.
Investigation of time-of-flight benefit for fully 3-DPET

The purpose of this paper is to determine the benefit that can be achieved in image quality for a time-of-flight (TOF) fully three-dimensional (3-D) whole-body positron emission tomography (PET) scanner. We simulate a 3-D whole-body time-of-flight PET scanner with a complete modeling of spatial and energy resolutions. The scanner is based on LaBr/sub 3/ Anger-logic detectors with which 300ps timing resolution has been achieved. Multiple simulations were performed for 70-cm long uniform cylinders with 27-cm and 35-cm diameters, containing hot spheres (22, 17, 13, and 10-mm diameter) in a central slice and 10-mm diameter hot spheres in a slice at 1/4 axial FOV. Image reconstruction was performed with a list-mode iterative TOF algorithm and data were analyzed after attenuation and scatter corrections for timing resolutions of 300, 600, 1000 ps and non-TOF for varying count levels. The results show that contrast recovery improves slightly with TOF (NEMA NU2-2001 analysis), and improved timing resolution leads to a faster convergence to the maximum contrast value. Detectability for 10-mm diameter hot spheres estimated using a nonprewhitening matched filter (NPW SNR) also improves nonlinearly with TOF. The gain in image quality using contrast and noise measures is proportional to the object diameter and inversely proportional to the timing resolution of the scanner. The gains in NPW SNR are smaller, but they also increase with increasing object diameter and improved timing resolution. The results show that scan times can be reduced in a TOF scanner to achieve images similar to those from a non-TOF scanner, or improved image quality achieved for same scan times.
Are Funny Groups Good at Solving Problems? A Methodological Evaluation and Some Preliminary Results.

A two-part study was conducted to determine if groups producing many different instances of laughing and joking were better at problem solving than groups displaying fewer of these behaviors. In the first phase of the study, nominally high, medium, and low wit individuals were selected to form six all-male and six all-female groups. These groups were then evaluated during a second phase of the study for the amount of joking and laughing produced as well as forgroup performance on a simple anagrams task and on a more complex decision task requiring an optimal ordering of alternatives. Initial results revealed that cross-phase predictability for humorous behaviors was low for male groups and somewhat better for female groups. For this reason, behaviorally high, medium, and low humor groups were then defined in terms of the amount of laughing and joking produced during phase 2. When total seconds of laughter was used, significant differences favoring high over medium and low groups were found for the number ...
A LAN-based communications processor for tactical applications

Today's Army Tactical Command and Control System consists of systems that rely on a widely disparate set of communications media equipment, communications networks, and information exchange protocols to exchange information across the battlefield. The future trend in tactical communications is to provide a seamless information network which bridges the communications networks and protocols through the use of a communications processing capability. This communications processing capability must provide the necessary connectivity to the local area network (LAN) and wide area network (WAN) systems in addition to supporting the needed routing and message translation functions. A LAN-based communications processor (LBCP) offers a comprehensive set of communications services, allowing for a single, interoperable communications gateway to serve all of the functional areas. It provides a shared communications resource, furnishes flexible and reconfigurable communications interfaces, eliminates the need for multiple and duplicate interface elements, and allows accessibility to multiple tactical data networks (i.e. MPN, SINCGARS, ADDS). This paper presents an approach for providing a communications processor for tactical communications networks. >
Design and performance of a multichannel vestibular prosthesis that restores semicircular canal sensation in rhesus monkey

In normal individuals, the vestibular labyrinths sense head movement and mediate reflexes that maintain stable gaze and posture. Bilateral loss of vestibular sensation causes chronic disequilibrium, oscillopsia, and postural instability. We describe a new multichannel vestibular prosthesis (MVP) intended to restore modulation of vestibular nerve activity with head rotation. The device comprises motion sensors to measure rotation and gravitoinertial acceleration, a microcontroller to calculate pulse timing, and stimulator units that deliver constant-current pulses to microelectrodes implanted in the labyrinth. This new MVP incorporates many improvements over previous prototypes, including a 50% decrease in implant size, a 50% decrease in power consumption, a new microelectrode array design meant to simplify implantation and reliably achieve selective nerve-electrode coupling, multiple current sources conferring ability to simultaneously stimulate on multiple electrodes, and circuitry for in vivo measurement of electrode impedances. We demonstrate the performance of this device through in vitro bench-top characterization and in vivo physiological experiments with a rhesus macaque monkey.
The influence of the wind speed profile on wind turbine performance measurements

To identify the influence of wind shear and turbulence on wind turbine performance, flat terrain wind profiles are analysed up to a height of 160 m. The profiles' shapes are found to extend from no shear to high wind shear, and on many occasions, local maxima within the profiles are also observed. Assuming a certain turbine hub height, the profiles with hub-height wind speeds between 6 m s−1 and 8 m s−1 are normalized at 7 m s−1 and grouped to a number of mean shear profiles. The energy in the profiles varies considerably for the same hub-height wind speed. These profiles are then used as input to a Blade Element Momentum model that simulates the Siemens 3.6 MW wind turbine. The analysis is carried out as time series simulations where the electrical power is the primary characterization parameter. The results of the simulations indicate that wind speed measurements at different heights over the swept rotor area would allow the determination of the electrical power as a function of an ‘equivalent wind speed’ where wind shear and turbulence intensity are taken into account. Electrical power is found to correlate significantly better to the equivalent wind speed than to the single point hub-height wind speed. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Teaching Practice Management Skills to Pediatric Residents

To satisfy the core competencies required by the Pediatric Residency Review Committee, the author describes an educational program for the residents in a large pediatric training program. The course provides a year-long overview of multiple medical management topics. The sessions cover nonclinical subjects usually missed in other educational settings, with particular focus on areas of finance, compliance, personnel management, career advancement, and leadership. The series is currently in its third year, with a positive response from the participants, and demonstrated improvement in resident knowledge of the covered areas.