cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Comparison of several new 5-lipoxygenase inhibitors in a rat Arthus pleurisy model.

Abstract The 5-lipoxygenase inhibitors WY-50,295 tromethamine, A-64,077, L-663,536 and ICI-207,968 were compared in a reverse passive Arthus reaction-induced pleurisy model of eicosanoid biosynthesis in the rat. When a 1 h pretreatment schedule was employed, all four inhibitors equivalently blocked leukotriene B4 (LTB4) production with ED50 values of 2.0–2.9 mg/kg p.o. Conversely, WY-50,295 tromethamine (225 mg/kg p.o.) and L-663,536 (100 mg/kg p.o.) did not significantly alter thromboxane B2 (TxB2) levels, whereas A-64,077 (50 mg/kg p.o.) and ICI-207,968 (100 mg/kg p.o.) significantly reduced TxB2 by 50 and 72%, respectively. When 3 and 18 h pretreatment schedules were employed, WY-50,295 tromethamine demonstrated a longer duration of action than the other 5-lipoxygenase inhibitors with ED50 values of 1.7 and 6.3 mg/kg p.o., respectively. At doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg p.o., all drugs tested significantly inhibited inflammatory cell influx by 15–27%, albeit in a non-dose-related manner. However, only A-64,077 significantly lowered fluid extravasation by 35%, presumably due to inhibition of cyclooxygenase product formation. These results demonstrate that in this rat reverse passive Arthus pleurisy model, WY-50,295 tromethamine potently and selectively inhibits 5-lipoxygenase in vivo, and possesses a longer duration of action than the other 5-lipoxygenase inhibitors employed.
Electrophysiology of retzius' cells of segmental ganglia in the horse leech, Haemopis marmorata (say)

Abstract 1. 1. Paired Retzius' cells (R.Z.) from Haemopis are electrically coupled within ganglia, but lack interactions between ganglia. 2. 2. R.Z. invariably send axons into all major branches of the lateral roots. 3. 3. Haemopis R.Z. are very similar to those of Hirudo and resemble bilaterally functioning motor neurons with a wide field of innervation.
Effects of irradiance and temperature on photosynthesis in C3, C 4 and C 3/C 4 Panicum species

Species in the Laxa and Grandia groups of the genus Panicum are adapted to low, wet areas of tropical and subtropical America. Panicum milioides is a species with C3 photosynthesis and low apparent photorespiration and has been classified as a C3/C4 intermediate. Other species in the Laxa group are C3 with normal photorespiration. Panicum prionitis is a C4 species in the Grandia group. Since P. milioides has some leaf characteristics intermediate to C3 and C4 species, its photosynthetic response to irradiance and temperature was compared to the closely related C3 species, P. laxum and P. boliviense and to P. prionitis. The response of apparent photosynthesis to irradiance and temperature was similar to that of P. laxum and P. boliviense, with saturation at a photosynthetic photo flux density of about 1 mmol m-2 s-1 at 30°C and temperature optimum near 30°C. In contrast, P. prionitis showed no light saturation up to 2 mmol m-2 s-1 and an optimum temperature near 40°C. P. milioides exhibited low CO2 loss into CO2-free air in the light and this loss was nearly insensitive to temperature. Loss of CO2 in the light in the C3 species, P. laxum and P. boliviense, was several-fold higher than in P. milioides and increased 2- to 5-fold with increases in temperature from 10 to 40°C. The level of dark respiration and its response to temperature were similar in all four Panicum species examined. It is concluded that the low apparent photorespiration in P. milioides does not influence its response of apparent photosynthesis to irradiance and temperature in comparison to closely related C3 Panicum species.
Target Recognition Based on Directional Filter Banks and Higher-Order Neural Networks

Park, Sang-il, Smith, Mark J. T., and Mersereau, Russell M., Target Recognition Based on Directional Filter Banks and Higher-Order Neural Networks, Digital Signal Processing10 (2000), 297?308.A new approach for the classification of SAR targets is presented here, which combines maximally decimated directional filter banks with higher-order neural networks (HONNs). HONNs are neural networks that can achieve performance similar to that of standard multilayered neural networks, but without the hidden layer. Their performance can be made invariant to geometric transformations of the input imagery in the design process, while their computational complexity can be reduced by employing a preprocessor to reduce the dimensionality, such as coarse coding. Most past image classifiers using HONNs have been designed for carefully thresholded binary images. However, generating useful binary representations that can be used as inputs can be difficult for modalities such as SAR. As an alternative, we use a novel HONN implementation that accepts gray-level input pixels using directional filter banks. In order to do this, a new modified tree-structured directional filter bank structure in a very computationally efficient form is introduced. The performance of the proposed approach is demonstrated and compared in imagery taken from the public MSTAR database. The new approach is shown to be effective in enhancing the discrimination power of the HONN inputs, leading to significantly improved performance.
Motion of Carboxyl Terminus of Gα Is Restricted upon G Protein Activation: A SOLUTION NMR STUDY USING SEMISYNTHETIC Gα SUBUNITS*

Abstract The carboxyl terminus of the G protein α subunit plays a key role in interactions with G protein-coupled receptors. Previous studies that have incorporated covalently attached probes have demonstrated that the carboxyl terminus undergoes conformational changes upon G protein activation. To examine the conformational changes that occur at the carboxyl terminus of Gα subunits upon G protein activation in a more native system, we generated a semisynthetic Gα subunit, site-specifically labeled in its carboxyl terminus with 13C amino acids. Using expressed protein ligation, 9-mer peptides were ligated to recombinant Gαi1 subunits lacking the corresponding carboxyl-terminal residues. In a receptor-G protein reconstitution assay, the truncated Gαi1 subunit could not be activated by receptor; whereas the semisynthetic protein demonstrated functionality that was comparable with recombinant Gαi1. To study the conformation of the carboxyl terminus of the semisynthetic G protein, we applied high resolution solution NMR to Gα subunits containing 13C labels at the corresponding sites in Gαi1: Leu-348 (uniform), Gly-352 (α carbon), and Phe-354 (ring). In the GDP-bound state, the spectra of the ligated carboxyl terminus appeared similar to the spectra obtained for 13C-labeled free peptide. Upon titration with increasing concentrations of , the 13C resonances demonstrated a marked loss of signal intensity in the semisynthetic Gα subunit but not in free peptide subjected to the same conditions. Because complexes with GDP to stabilize an activated state of the Gα subunit, these results suggest that the Gα carboxyl terminus is highly mobile in its GDP-bound state but adopts an ordered conformation upon activation by .
Site-specific insulin conjugates with enhanced stability and extended action profile.

Abstract Two different hydrophilic moieties, carboxyl derivatives of monosaccharidic (Glc, Gal, Man, Fuc) glycosides and methoxypolyethylene glycols of varying MW, were covalently attached to the insulin GlyA1, PheB1 and/or LysB29 amino groups (seven possible derivatives), and resulting insulin conjugates purified to homogeneity. In vivo bioactivity in rats of most derivatives was preserved while disubstituted PEG–insulins showed decreased potency. Only site-specific modification of PheB1 amino group with either moiety resulted in pronouncedly increased resistance of insulin to fibrillation, indicating that the B-chain N-terminus of the insulin molecule is mechanistically involved in the fibrillation process. Immunogenicity in vivo and in vitro of monoglycosylated insulins was comparable to that of insulin, diglycosylated insulins showed immunogenicity enhancement. Immunogenicity of PEG–insulins was significantly suppressed. PheB1-glycosylated insulins administered subcutaneously in dogs displayed extended action profiles, the most effective being PheB1-galactosylated insulin, resembling the pharmacodynamic response of intermediate-acting insulin preparations. The pharmacokinetic parameters of these insulin derivatives were not significantly different from that of insulin even though absorption and residence time and clearance were increased, providing some explanation for prolonged action profile. Lectin-specific binding as a retardation basis is not likely involved. In support of this, subcutaneously administered PheB1–PEG(600)–insulin showed an even more protracted action profile, suggesting that the basis of retardation is physical and nonspecific. This implies that by increasing PEG chain MW, further delay/prolongation of action can be achieved to yield new soluble basal insulin substitutes with potential clinical applications.
Twenty-Five–Year Trends in In-Hospital and Long-Term Outcome After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention A Single-Institution Experience

Background— Little is known about the impact of technological and pharmacological advances on long-term outcome after percutaneous coronary intervention in general clinical practice. Methods and Results— We analyzed in-hospital and long-term outcome of 24 410 percutaneous coronary interventions among 18 575 unique patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention at Mayo Clinic over 25 years. The study population was divided into group 1 (n=3708), coronary interventions from 1979 to 1989; group 2 (n=7020), interventions from 1990 to 1996; group 3 (n=10 952), interventions from 1996 to 2003; and group 4 (n=2730), interventions from 2003 to 2004. Despite the fact that patients in groups 3 and 4 were significantly older, sicker, and had greater prevalence of comorbid conditions, heart failure, and previous revascularization than those in groups 1 and 2, procedural success in groups 3 and 4 improved significantly (94%) versus groups 2 (89%) and 1 (78%) (P<0.001). Significant reduction in in-hospital m...
Treatment of adjuvant arthritis with granulocyte-colony stimulating factor and peptide derived from heat shock protein 65.

Abstract Adjuvant arthritis in Lewis rats is induced by the subcutaneous injection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in mineral oil, and the predominant T cell immune reactivity is against the heat shock protein 65 derived peptide 176–190. We treated Lewis rats with human recombinant G-CSF followed by (i.v) administration of peptide 176–190 after induction of adjuvant arthritis (AA), and observed decreased disease severity, joint destruction, new bone formation and joint ankylosis. Treatment with G-CSF alone was also effective, but to a lesser extent. In addition, we found that splenocytes from rats treated with G-CSF had reduced antigen presenting capacity compared with splenocytes from vehicle treated rats. Primed lymph node cells from G-CSF plus peptide treated rats showed a marked reduction in proliferation and secretion of IFN-γ after stimulation with the heat shock protein peptide in vitro as compared to controls.
Platinum-Glass Composite Electrode for Fuel Cell Applications

Thin-film electrodes for a low-power direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) were prepared by incorporating carbon-supported Pt nanoparticles (Pt/C) into a silicon dioxide glass matrix. The SiO 2 matrix was prepared via a sol-gel technique where tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) was hydrolyzed by H 2 O in the presence of methanol. The Pt/C was stirred into the sol and the resulting mixture was applied to a glass membrane substrate and cured. The resulting films were ∼ 2 μm thick. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images indicate that the Pt/C was well dispersed, forming glass-separated conductive islands with sheet resistances in excess of 5000 Ω/□. The catalyst islands were interconnected into a conductive sheet by electrolessly depositing platinum from an aqueous plating bath. The Pt/C-SiO 2 glass composite thin-film electrodes showed high methanol oxidation peak currents of ∼ 180 mA/cm 2 when immersed in 0.5 M H 2 SO 4 , 0.5 M methanol electrolyte. The composite electrode was also applied to the anode of a 1 cm 2 passive DMFC and compared to an equivalent passive DMFC with a traditional Nafion-based Pt anode electrode with 10 M MeOH at room temperature. The composite electrode DMFC showed a 50 mV higher open-circuit voltage than the Nafion electrode cell, and the current density was also modestly improved.
Lingual discrimination of angular changes of a grooved line by normal subjects.

To explore the perceptual characteristics of the oral region, 20 young adults were required to trace lingually a groove scored in a plastic disc and report its horizontal or vertical orientation. P...
Complication Rates and Outcomes of 536 Implanted Subcutaneous Chest Ports: Do Rates Differ Based on the Primary Operator's Level of Training?

Rationale and Objectives Totally implanted subcutaneous central venous access devices (chest ports) are an attractive option for patients in need of intermittent, recurrent venous access. In our department, these are placed by different operator types including interventional radiology (IR) attending physicians, dedicated IR nurse practitioners (NP), and IR fellows/radiology residents. The purpose of our study is to assess the rate of complications of subcutaneous chest port placement among the different operator types. Materials and Methods A retrospective review of all subcutaneous central venous access devices implanted in our department between October 8, 2004, and October 19, 2007, was undertaken. Total numbers of port days, overall complication rates for all operators, as well as complication rates for the various operator types were calculated and were compared using the chi square test. Results A total of 558 patients had totally implanted subcutaneous central venous access devices placed during the period of study. Of these, 536 had documented follow-up and comprise the study population. A total of 89 were placed by attending physician alone, 133 by an NP, and 314 by an IR fellow or resident, with supervision by an attending physician. Mean duration of port usage was 341 days with 182,522 total port days. A total of 39 complications occurred (7.28%), including 27 infections (5%). There was no statistically significant difference in overall complication rates, including infection rates, among operator groups ( P = .925). Conclusions Our results confirm that well-trained physician extenders and trainees can safely perform chest port placement and that these providers, under appropriate supervision, can help provide improved access to chest port placement for patients and referring clinicians.
Sediment wedges not stabilizing West Antarctic Ice Sheet

The stability of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet is uncertain as climate changes. An ice sheet such as the West Antarctic Ice Sheet that is grounded well below sea level on a bed that slopes toward the interior of the sheet is believed to be unstable: When the grounding zone, where the grounded sheet transitions into floating ice, retreats inland, it can lead to massive amounts of ice becoming ungrounded and floating into the ocean unless something such as a wedge of sediment stabilizes the ice sheet. It has been proposed that such a sediment wedge stabilizes the grounding zone of the Whillans Ice Stream, one of the large ice streams flowing from the West Antarctic Ice Sheet. However, most understanding of ice sheet stability at grounding zones comes from models and remote observation rather than field-based observations.
On the reality of medium-sized objects

L'A. defend la these selon laquelle la realite des objets de taille moyenne, tel que l'organisme individuel, s'inscrit dans le domaine legitime de la recherche scientifique desciprive, au niveau ontologique et metaphysique des especes naturelles, distinctes des especes biologiques
Missing Voices: African American School Psychologists' Perspectives on Increasing Professional Diversity.

Since the mid 1960s, there has been a noticeable decrease in the percentage of African American educators. Although a sizeable literature is dedicated to understanding how to recruit African American teachers, fewer studies focus on recruiting and retaining African American school psychologists. Therefore, this exploratory qualitative study investigated factors important to African American school psychologists when they were selecting a school psychology graduate program to attend and their perspectives on strategies that might facilitate an increase in their numbers. Four major themes of Location, Raise Awareness, Recruit, and Support emerged. Based on the results, a three-prong approach for recruiting African Americans into school psychology graduate education is presented.
Fundamental classical and quantum dynamical theory

Abstract A review of the mathematical structure within and the logical relationships between classical mechanics and quantum mechanics is presented for closed physical systems with a finite number of degrees of freedom. Classical mechanics is formulated according to Lagrange, Hamilton, and Poisson, quantum mechanics correspondingly according to Feynman, Schrodinger, and Dirac. Up-to-date detail is given here for the conceptually paramount Feynman passage and “sum-over-histories” formulation for the quantum mechanics.
Accuracy of intraoperative staging of the N0 neck in squamous cell carcinoma

Management of the neck in squamous cell carcinoma of the upper aerodigestive tract continues to be a topic of great debate. One major problem is that incorrect clinical staging is expected in approximately 20% of necks. This is true of both clinical stage N0 and N+ necks, even when imaging studies are used. This prospective study of 108 necks in 79 patients examined the role of intraoperative palpation and inspection in improving the surgeon's ability to predict nodal stage. Of 62 patients with N0 necks clinically on both sides, 26 were staged N+ by intraoperative node examination. Nineteen of the 26 were histologically negative (73% false-positive). Of the 36 patients staged intraoperatively as N0, 10 were histologically positive (28% false-negative). Of 108 necks judged clinically to be N0, 25 (23%) had occult metastases and 11 (10%) had extracapsular spread. Forty-one of 108 clinical N0 necks were believed to have positive nodes at the time of neck dissection. Of these 41 necks, 30 (73%) were found to be histologically N0 (false-positive). Of the 67 clinical N0 necks that were also believed to be N0 intraoperatively, occult metastases were found in 14 (21% false-negative). Therefore, intraoperative staging did not significantly improve the false-negative rate. Frozen-section biopsy obtained in the operating room was reliable in 24 (92.3%) of 26 patients. Although frozen-section biopsy was not performed in all patients, these data suggest that upstaging the neck without frozen-section biopsy is much less reliable. This study supports the use of frozen-section biopsy before converting the selective dissection to a radical or modified neck dissection in most instances.
Pharmacokinetic Modeling of Absorption Behavior of 9-Aminocamptothecin (9-AC) Released from Colon-specific HPMA Copolymer–9-AC Conjugate in Rats

Purpose To quantitate and predict colon-specific 9-aminocamptothecin (9-AC) release from the N-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide (HPMA) copolymer–9-AC conjugate and its absorption behavior after oral administration in rats.
Synthesis of L-oxetanocin.

Hitherto unknown l-oxetanocin has been synthesized from l-xylose in 16 steps via a ribonolactone derivative.
A case-parent triad assessment of folate metabolic genes and the risk of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Purpose We conducted a case-parent triad study evaluating the role of maternal and offspring genotypes in the folate metabolic pathway on childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) risk.
Catalytic ignition of fuel/oxygen/nitrogen mixtures over platinum

Abstract Ignition of fuel/oxygen/nitrogen mixtures over platinum wire is experimentally studied by using microcalorimetry and by restricting the flow to the low Reynolds number range so that axisymmetry prevails. The fuels studied are propane, butane, propylene, ethylene, carbon monoxide, and hydrogen. Parameters investigated include flow velocity, fuel type and concentration, and oxygen concentration. The catalytic ignition temperatures of the various fuels are accurately determined over extensive ranges of fuel/oxygen/nitrogen concentrations. Results show two distinctly opposite ignition trends depending on the nature of the fuel. That is, the ignition temperature of lean propane/air and butane/air mixtures decreases as their fuel concentration is increased, while the reverse trend is observed for lean mixtures of propylene, ethylene, carbon monoxide, and hydrogen with air. Furthermore, the ignition of propane depends primarily on fuel concentration, while the ignition of carbon monoxide depends on fuel and oxygen concentrations to a comparable extent. These results are explained on the basis of hierarchical surface adsorption strengths of the different reactants in effecting catalytic ignition. Additional phenomena of interest are observed and discussed.
DO INVESTMENT RISK TOLERANCE ATTITUDES PREDICT PORTFOLIO RISK

We investigated a new instrument designed to assess investment risk tolerance, the Risk Tolerance Questionnaire (RTQ). RTQ scores were positively correlated with scores on two other investment risk measures, but were not correlated with a measure of sensation-seeking (Zuckerman, 1994), suggesting that investment risk tolerance is not explainable by a general cross-domain appetite for risk. Importantly, RTQ scores were positively correlated with the riskiness of respondents’ actual investment portfolios, meaning that investors with high risk-tolerance score tend to have higher-risk portfolios. Finally, respondents with relatively more investment experience had more risk-tolerant responses and higher-risk portfolios than less experienced investors.
Prey selection by larvae of the common mud crab Panopeus herbstii Milne-Edwards

Copyright (c) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved. We conducted a series of experiments in which larvae of the common mud crab, Panopeus herbstii Milne-Edwards, were fed mixed diets consisting of defined ratios of brine shrimp, Artemia sp., and rotifers, Brachionus plicatilus Muller. While brine shrimp (2.7 μg) were considerably larger than rotifers (0.5 μg), their weight-specific energy contents (ca. 0.02 J.μg −1 ) were virtually identical. Early-stage larvae (zoeae I) showed a strong preference for rotifers. When given equal proportions of the two prey items, early-stage larvae consumed more than twice as many rotifers, and this same trend held when larvae were offered a diet that contained as little as 25% rotifers. However, brine shrimp accounted for the majority of energy intake, even when the rotifers made up 75% of the diet. Late-stage larvae (zoea IV) showed strong preference for brine shrimp, which accounted for the majority of energy intake, regardless of the proportion of rotifers in the diet. There was no significant effect of light (irradiance) on prey preference. Early-stage larvae showed strong preference for rotifers at all irradiance treatments (including complete darkness), and late-stage larvae showed strong preference for brine shrimp, regardless of light level. Likewise, there was no significant effect of prey density on prey preference by early-stage larvae. Results of the study suggest that P. herbstii larvae are able to discriminate between rotifers and Artemia. This discrimination may be based on size and perhaps swimming speed, and the mechanism is non-visual. The relevant sensory system may involve mechanoreceptors, but this has not been verified experimentally.
The dry casting of viscose film

Regenerated cellulose film prepared by a dry-cast method has demonstrated outstanding superiority over similar film produced by the conventional wet-cast process. Factors contributing to the superior quality of film prepared by the dry cast process are: (1) physical properties several times greater than for wet-cast film of corresponding thickness; (2) high durability at conditions of low temperature and low humidity even without the addition of softening agents, and (3) outstanding dimensional stability when exposed to conditions of varying temperature and humidity. The dry-cast cellophane differs structurally from the commercial product in having a lower degree of order, a lower degree of swelling in the gel form, and minor differences in molecular orientation. A commercial process for producing dry cast cellophane may be envisioned as a heated, polished support for drying the viscose film; a regenerating system of alcoholic hydrochloric acid, hot glycerine, or a hot, oxygenfree gas; a water both for purifying the film; and a conventional cellophane dryer. The ideal viscose composition for producing dry-cast cellophane is high cellulose content, moderately high DP, sufficient degree of substitution on the cellulose to yield a high degree of dispersion, and low caustic content.
Anthrax Lethal Factor Cleaves Mouse Nlrp1b in Both Toxin-Sensitive and Toxin-Resistant Macrophages

Anthrax lethal factor (LF) is the protease component of anthrax lethal toxin (LT). LT induces pyroptosis in macrophages of certain inbred mouse and rat strains, while macrophages from other inbred strains are resistant to the toxin. In rats, the sensitivity of macrophages to toxin-induced cell death is determined by the presence of an LF cleavage sequence in the inflammasome sensor Nlrp1. LF cleaves rat Nlrp1 of toxin-sensitive macrophages, activating caspase-1 and inducing cell death. Toxin-resistant macrophages, however, express Nlrp1 proteins which do not harbor the LF cleavage site. We report here that mouse Nlrp1b proteins are also cleaved by LF. In contrast to the situation in rats, sensitivity and resistance of Balb/cJ and NOD/LtJ macrophages does not correlate to the susceptibility of their Nlrp1b proteins to cleavage by LF, as both proteins are cleaved. Two LF cleavage sites, at residues 38 and 44, were identified in mouse Nlrp1b. Our results suggest that the resistance of NOD/LtJ macrophages to LT, and the inability of the Nlrp1b protein expressed in these cells to be activated by the toxin are likely due to polymorphisms other than those at the LF cleavage sites.
Assessment of Lactobacillus gasseri as a Candidate Oral Vaccine Vector

ABSTRACT Lactobacillus species are commensal bacteria that have long been recognized as probiotic microbes and are generally regarded as safe (GRAS) for human consumption. We have investigated the use of L. gasseri as a vaccine vector for oral immunization against mucosal pathogens. Recent research has shown that the immune response to different lactobacilli can vary widely depending on the species or subspecies of Lactobacillus being studied. While some lactobacilli seem to induce oral tolerance, others induce an adaptive immune response. This study characterized the systemic and mucosal immune response to wild-type and genetically modified L. gasseri. L. gasseri primarily activates TLR2/6, with additional activation through the TLR2 homodimer. To expand the Toll-like receptor (TLR) activation profile of L. gasseri and the immunogenicity of the vector, a plasmid containing fliC, the gene encoding bacterial flagellin, was introduced which resulted in the strong activation of TLR5. The treatment of human myeloid dendritic cells with recombinant lactobacilli expressing flagellin triggered phenotypic maturation and the release of proinflammatory cytokines. In contrast, bacterial treatment also resulted in a statistically significant increase in IL-10 production. In vivo studies established that treatment with L. gasseri led to a diversification of B-cell populations in the lamina propria of the murine colon. Furthermore, treatment with genetically modified L. gasseri led to a significant decrease in the percentage of FoxP3+ colonic lymphocytes. Taken together, these data clarify the interaction of L. gasseri with the host immune system and support further investigation of the in vivo immunogenicity of L. gasseri expressing both flagellin and candidate vaccine antigens.
Electrospun Nafion Nanofiber for Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell Application

Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) are attractive power plants for use in many applications, including portable power sources, electric vehicles, and on-site combined power/heat plants, due to the inherently high efficiency and low emission. The membrane electrode assembly (MEA) is the key component of a PEMFC. A standard five layer MEA consists of a proton exchange membrane, two catalyst layers, and two gas diffusion layers. The most commonly used electrolyte material is proton conductive perfluorinated sulfonic acid membrane, such as Nafion. Hydrogen is oxidized at the anode/electrolyte interface, the so-called triple-phase-boundary (TPB) active sites. TPB region must be a good electron conductor, a good ion conductor, and a porous structure for fuel/air diffusion. Typical PEMFC TPB is a porous structure made with Nafion and catalyst particle mixture. In this paper, electrospinning is used to synthesize polymer/Nafion nanofibers. Electrospinning is a straightforward method that has been successfully used to prepare fibers or fiber mats from a broad range of organic polymers. In the electrospinning process, a polymer solution held by its surface tension at the end of a capillary tube is subjected to an electric field, and as the electric field strength increases, a solid fiber is generated as the electrified jet is continuously stretched because of the electrostatic repulsions between the surface charges and the evaporation of solvent. Uniform one-dimensional Nafion nanofibers have been fabricated using Nafion solution and solutions containing polyvinyl pyrrolidone, polyethylene oxide, and polyvinyl alcohol. The morphologies of polymer/Nafion nanofibers, fabricated under different electrospinning conditions and different polymer compositions, are presented.
New Frontiers of Public Administration: The Practice of Theory and the Theory of Practice

The 2007 John Gaus Lecture was presented at the American Political Science Association Annual Meeting, Chicago, IL, on August 31, 2007.
Ohmic and Highly Reflective Ag based contacts on p-GaN for Resonant Cavity Light Emitting Diodes

Low resistance and high reflectance ohmic contacts on p-type GaN were achieved using an Ag-based metallization scheme. The ohmic nature of the contacts can be obtained by annealing the contacts in an O2 ambient. However, Ag based contacts degrade due to agglomeration of Ag when annealed above 400 o C [1]. In this work a Ni (1 nm)/Ag (150 nm)/Pt (50 nm)/Ni (20 nm)/Au (50 nm) metallization stack is investigated to reduce Ag agglomeration. The inclusion of platinum as a diffusion barrier is expected to suppress excess oxygen diffusion into the Ag films thereby preventing Ag agglomeration and can also provide high thermal stability when compared to other metallization schemes. The reflectivity of this kind of metallization scheme is around 85-90 % in the wavelength range of 400-600 nm making it suitable for blue and green LEDs, with a specific contact resistivity value comparable to other well developed contacts to p-GaN.
Optical imaging of the intrinsic signal as a measure of cortical plasticity in the mouse

The responses of cells in the visual cortex to stimulation of the two eyes changes dramatically following a period of monocular visual deprivation (MD) during a critical period in early life. This phenomenon, referred to as ocular dominance (OD) plasticity, is a widespread model for understanding cortical plasticity. In this study, we designed stimulus patterns and quantification methods to analyze OD in the mouse visual cortex using optical imaging of intrinsic signals. Using periodically drifting bars restricted to the binocular portion of the visual field, we obtained cortical maps for both contralateral (C) and ipsilateral (I) eyes and computed OD maps as (C - I)/(C + I). We defined the OD index (ODI) for individual animals as the mean of the OD map. The ODI obtained from an imaging session of less than 30 min gives reliable measures of OD for both normal and monocularly deprived mice under Nembutal anesthesia. Surprisingly, urethane anesthesia, which yields excellent topographic maps, did not produce consistent OD findings. Normal Nembutal-anesthetized mice have positive ODI (0.22 +/- 0.01), confirming a contralateral bias in the binocular zone. For mice monocularly deprived during the critical period, the ODI of the cortex contralateral to the deprived eye shifted negatively towards the nondeprived, ipsilateral eye (ODI after 2-day MD: 0.12 +/- 0.02, 4-day: 0.03 +/- 0.03, and 6- to 7-day MD: -0.01 +/- 0.04). The ODI shift induced by 4-day MD appeared to be near maximal, consistent with previous findings using single-unit recordings. We have thus established optical imaging of intrinsic signals as a fast and reliable screening method to study OD plasticity in the mouse.
An investigation of wafer-to-wafer alignment tolerances for three-dimensional integrated circuit fabrication

We report results of an analysis of alignment data obtained from wafers aligned and oxide bonded in our facility. A description of an advanced wafer alignment tool currently under development is also presented. Two types of wafer pairs were measured for this work. Wafers from the first type, referred to as metal-only pairs, were fabricated by patterning a 630 nm thick Ti/AlSi/Ti/TiN metal layer that was deposited on thermally grown SiO/sub 2/ on bulk silicon substrates. The metal layer was then covered with PETEOS and LTO films and polished by CMP. No other lithographic layers were defined on these wafers. The other type, referred to as device pairs, consisted of single-metal photodiode wafers fabricated in bulk silicon and three-metal CMOS wafers fabricated using a 180 nm FDSOI process. All lithographic layers on all of the wafers were defined using a Canon FPA-3000 EX4 wafer stepper and a die-to-die spacing of 22 mm.
Every Permutation CSP of arity 3 is Approximation Resistant

A permutation constraint satisfaction problem (permCSP) of arity k is specified by a subset Lambda of permutations on $\{1,2,\dots,k\}$. An instance of such a permCSP consists of a set of variables $V$ and a collection of constraints each of which is an ordered $k$-tuple of $V$. The objective is to find a global ordering $\sigma$ of the variables that maximizes the number of constraint tuples whose ordering (under $\sigma$) follows a permutation in $\Lambda$. This is just the natural extension of constraint satisfaction problems over finite domains (such as Boolean CSPs) to the world of ordering problems. The simplest permCSP corresponds to the case when $\Lambda$ consists of the identity permutation on two variables. This is just the Maximum Acyclic Subgraph (\mas) problem. It was recently shown that the \mas\ problem is Unique-Games hard to approximate within a factor better than the trivial $1/2$ achieved by a random ordering [GMR08]. Building on this work, in this paper we show that for *every* permCSP of arity $3$, beating the random ordering is Unique-Games hard. The result is in fact stronger: we show that for every $\Lambda \subseteq \Pi \subseteq S_3$, given an instance of permCSP$(\Lambda)$ that is almost-satisfiable, it is hard to find an ordering that satisfies more than $\frac{|\Pi|}{6} +\eps$ of the constraints even under the relaxed constraint $\Pi$ (for arbitrary $\eps ≫ 0$). A special case of our result is that the *Betweenness* problem is hard to approximate beyond a factor $1/3$. Interestingly, for *satisfiable* instances of Betweenness, a factor $1/2$ approximation algorithm is known. Thus, every permutation CSP of arity up to $3$ resists approximation beyond the trivial random ordering threshold. In contrast, for Boolean CSPs, there are both approximation resistant and non-trivially approximable CSPs of arity $3$.
The Power of Statistical Tests for Moderators in Meta-Analysis.

Calculation of the statistical power of statistical tests is important in planning and interpreting the results of research studies, including meta-analyses. It is particularly important in moderator analyses in meta-analysis, which are often used as sensitivity analyses to rule out moderator effects but also may have low statistical power. This article describes how to compute statistical power of both fixed- and mixed-effects moderator tests in meta-analysis that are analogous to the analysis of variance and multiple regression analysis for effect sizes. It also shows how to compute power of tests for goodness of fit associated with these models. Examples from a published meta-analysis demonstrate that power of moderator tests and goodness-of-fit tests is not always high.
A four-terminal P-N-P-N switching device

A four-terminal germanium p-n-p-n switching transistor is described. In an appropriate circuit the device has useful switching gain for both the turn-on and turn-off operations. A pulse of one polarity turns the switch on, and a pulse of the opposite polarity turns it off. In the absence of triggers, the state is maintained. Equivalence to a pair of complementary conventional transistors in a direct-connected, common-base emitter-follower regenerative circuit is shown. The collector junction is common to both transistor sections so that saturation is simultaneous. Saturation current is kept small in one section, and the switch is turned off by withdrawing the small saturation current. Expressions are derived for switching gain, and requirements on device parameters are obtained. Common-emitter gain for one transistor section must exceed the ratio of load current to off-trigger current. Device structure is described. A combination of alloy, diffusion, and post-alloy diffusion techniques is used for fabrication. One transistor section with a thin base has high common-emitter gain, and the other has moderate gain. Switching performance data are given. A load current of 20 ma at 20 volts is switched with 2-ma pulses. Trigger pulse durations of the order of the switching time are required. Switching times of about 100 nsec are obtained.
Professional Services, IBM, and the Holocaust

IBM and the Holocaust both represent power, ideology, and rational administration. We view one as logical and commendable, the other as pathological and deplorable, and both as a manifestation of instrumental rationality. IBM and the Holocaust (Black 2001) explores the connect between IBM and its dynamic leader, Thomas J. Watson, and the program of genocide carried out against European Jewry over the 12‐year reign of Germany's Third Reich. Those who controlled, applied, and supported IBM's information processing technology are implicated in operationalizing the lethal ideology of the National Socialist German Workers (Nazi) Party. Considering relationships between the fascist and the capitalist extremes provides a starting point in a dialogue that challenges the privileged position of instrumental rationality in evaluating choices related to the development, implementation, and application of information technology. The investigation of IBM and the Holocaust illustrates the potential for technology to rei...
Term Infant With Respiratory Distress and Desaturations

On day 2 after birth, a term male infant began having episodes of tachypnea and oxygen desaturation to 60% to 70% during feeding, which self-resolved after removing the nipple. A chest radiograph showed a hazy opacity in the right lower lung field. Physical examination revealed an unlabored breathing pattern with equal air entry in all lung fields. (Figure 1). Figure 1. Figure 2. Right lung multicystic lesion. Figure 3. Right lung cystic lesion, with possible feeding vessel (anterior view). Figure 4. MRI repeated at 34 weeks’ gestation showed minimal regression of the mass, with continued multicystic appearance but no definitive mass effect (posterior view). ### Prenatal and Birth Histories The patient was not to have anything by mouth, but he continued to have frequent oxygen desaturation episodes without associated respiratory distress.
The Influence of Cognitive Decline on Rural Identity Perspectives of Older Women

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the perspectives of community-dwelling rural, older women concerning the meaning of cognitive decline and to ascertain how cognitive decline affects their lives and the lives of those around them. Design: An ethnographic design guided 1 year of cultural immersion in a rural, farming county in Nebraska. Method: Four life history interviews, participant observations, field notes, and cultural artifacts were collected for case-focused analysis. Findings: Cognitive decline was believed to threaten one’s social identity as a “good woman” because of three strongly held beliefs that (1) the rural lifestyle protected health, (2) demands of the farm were more important than personal health needs, and (3) mainstream health care services were unnatural and insensitive, and therefore best avoided. Using mainstream health care also resulted in the loss of informal social support, which existed as a protective social silence and helped sustain older women’s rural identi...
Surgical management of peripancreatic arterial aneurysms

Peripancreatic artery aneurysms--gastroduodenal (GDA) and pancreaticoduodenal (PDA)--are highly unusual. We report 4 such aneurysms and have collated reports of true peripancreatic artery aneurysms based on an extensive review of the English literature. From this review, patient characteristics, clinical behavior, outcome and management strategies are assessed.
Oral tolerance inhibits pulmonary eosinophilia in a cockroach allergen induced model of asthma: a randomized laboratory study

Background Antigen desensitization through oral tolerance is becoming an increasingly attractive treatment option for allergic diseases. However, the mechanism(s) by which tolerization is achieved remain poorly defined. In this study we endeavored to induce oral tolerance to cockroach allergen (CRA: a complex mixture of insect components) in order to ameliorate asthma-like, allergic pulmonary inflammation.
A phase 1 clinical trial of nerve growth factor gene therapy for Alzheimer disease

Cholinergic neuron loss is a cardinal feature of Alzheimer disease. Nerve growth factor (NGF) stimulates cholinergic function, improves memory and prevents cholinergic degeneration in animal models of injury, amyloid overexpression and aging. We performed a phase 1 trial of ex vivo NGF gene delivery in eight individuals with mild Alzheimer disease, implanting autologous fibroblasts genetically modified to express human NGF into the forebrain. After mean follow-up of 22 months in six subjects, no long-term adverse effects of NGF occurred. Evaluation of the Mini-Mental Status Examination and Alzheimer Disease Assessment Scale-Cognitive subcomponent suggested improvement in the rate of cognitive decline. Serial PET scans showed significant (P < 0.05) increases in cortical 18-fluorodeoxyglucose after treatment. Brain autopsy from one subject suggested robust growth responses to NGF. Additional clinical trials of NGF for Alzheimer disease are warranted.
Primacy of surgery for colorectal cancer.

Background The optimal technique for curative resection of colonic cancer includes high ligation of the mesenteric vessels, wide excision of the colonic mesentery and prevention of tumour cell spillage. This article reports results from the authors' institution for patients in whom complete mesocolic excision was performed long before the term was coined. Methods Patients operated on for cure for primary adenocarcinoma of the colon between January 1994 and December 2004 were identified from a prospectively maintained, institutional review board-approved, colorectal cancer registry. Medical records and operation notes were reviewed. The primary outcomes were recurrence (local and distal) and age-adjusted 5-year survival. Results Some 1013 patients (560 men and 453 women) were identified, with a median age of 69 (range 21–96) years. The most common location of the cancer was the sigmoid colon (32·9 per cent), followed by the caecum (26·7 per cent) and ascending colon (17·0 per cent). Operations were performed laparoscopically in 134 patients (13·2 per cent). Median duration of hospital stay was 7 (range 1–64, mean 8·2) days. Overall morbidity and mortality rates were 13·5 and 2·2 per cent respectively; there were 20 anastomotic leaks (2·0 per cent). Some 282 patients (27·8 per cent) had stage I, 386 (38·1 per cent) stage II and 345 (34·1 per cent) stage III disease. Median lymph node yield was 28·3 (range 0–241, mean 28·3), and 12 or more nodes were examined in 88·1 per cent of patients. Adjuvant chemotherapy was administered to 277 patients (80·3 per cent) with stage III disease. Overall local and distant recurrence rates at 5 years were 5·1 and 17·1 per cent respectively. The 5-year local recurrence rate was 2·2, 5·3 and 7·7 per cent for American Joint Committee on Cancer stages I, II and III respectively. Corresponding distant recurrence rates were 4·0, 14·7 and 30·5 per cent. The 5-year overall cancer-free age-standardized survival rate was 85·3 per cent. Five-year age standardized survival rates for patients with disease stages I, II and III were 97·7, 90·8 and 69·8 per cent respectively. Conclusion These data define modern results of surgery for colonic cancer with conservative use of chemotherapy.
Modulation of the plasminogen activator cascade during enhanced epidermal proliferation in vivo

Many lines of evidence support an involvement of urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) and its type 1 inhibitor (PAI-1) in the migration of a variety of cells, including normal keratinocytes and carcinoma lines. In the present study, uPA expression was found to be a characteristic not just of migratory but also of proliferative keratinocytes. A variety of naturally occurring and experimentally induced epidermal hyperproliferative conditions were examined in mice, including fetal and neonatal epidermis, tape-stripped epidermis, and epidermis from which the hairs had been gently plucked. In all cases, epidermal hyperproliferation was accompanied by elevated levels of uPA mRNA (as measured by in situ hybridization) and activity (as measured by zymography). uPA mRNA was predominantly localized in the basal and immediately suprabasal cells, which constitute the proliferative population. To determine whether a PAI was concomitantly elevated, in situ hybridization for PAI-1 and PAI-2 was performed. PAI-2 but not PAI-1 mRNA was detected in fetal and neonatal epidermis, localized in the spinous layers. Although mRNAs for both inhibitors were induced by tape-stripping or hair-plucking, their distribution was more focal and more transient than that of uPA mRNA. These findings show that uPA, but not its usual inhibitors, is consistently elevated in the proliferative population of keratinocytes in a diverse range of hyperproliferative states. Two hypotheses are suggested by these data: (a) uPA may play a regulatory role in the activation of epidermal proliferation; or (b) uPA may be involved in the vertical migration of keratinocytes that must accompany increased cell proliferation.
Round and Round She Goes

The orbital motions of two gravitating bodies can provide information about the mass of the two body system. Let’s see how this works. In general, two point masses orbiting under the influence of their mutual gravitational attraction describe orbits about a common point called the center of mass of the two-body system.
A Review of: “ROC Curves for Continuous Data, by W. J. Krzanowski and D. J. Hand”

Despite their widespread use in various fields, there was a paucity of books about receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves until the beginning of this decade. Green and Swets (1966), widely ...