cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Building structural descriptions from coronal magnetic resonance images

This paper presents several components of a system designed for the automated segmentation of coronal magnetic resonance images. Structural descriptions of several anatomical features are built in a hierarchial fashion. We begin with low-level edge detection and a constant curvature decomposition. This is followed by a graph-theoretic approach to generate structure hypotheses. After defining an object-centered coordinate system, we develop unary attributes and binary relations to make hypothesis evaluations and classifications. We handle the problem of describing three-dimensional structures from two-dimensional information using a novel slice-to-slice matching approach. These 3-D descriptions can later be used to build a topologically-structured modelbased which has broad applications. We also define a general structure matching framework which greatly simplifies the problem of incorporation new information into the system.© (1993) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Abu al-Qasim al-Shabbi's ‘The Will to Live’: galvanising the Tunisian revolution

The life circumstances of Abu al-Qasim al-Shabbi, including his academic and personal history, led to the development of a poet of varied influences whose work continues to impact the Arab world and give energy to current revolutions in the Arab world. The particular elements of poetic form support not only the creation of written form but also support themes and messages within his oeuvre.
Human T cell leukemia virus type I Tax activates CD40 gene expression via the NF-kappa B pathway.

Abstract The human T cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-I) is an oncogenic retrovirus that is etiologically linked to the genesis of adult T cell leukemia (ATL) as well as HTLV-I-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP). Emerging evidence suggests that the pathogenicity of HTLV-I involves deregulated activation of immune cells, especially T lymphocytes, although the underlying mechanism remains unclear. In this study, we demonstrate that HTLV-I Tax induces the aberrant expression of CD40, a member of the tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNFR) family that plays an important role in lymphocyte activation and differentiation. In a panel of HTLV-I-transformed T cell lines analyzed, CD40 expression was highly elevated compared to HTLV-I-negative T cells. Using Tax mutants and a genetically manipulated T cell system, we demonstrated that Tax-induced CD40 expression required the NF-κB signaling pathway. In addition, ligation of CD40 on T cells with recombinant CD40L elicited NF-κB activation, suggesting that the CD40 pathway is intact and may participate in a positive regulatory loop in T cells. CD40 ligation strongly synergized with Tax to activate NF-κB, suggesting that CD40 signals may costimulate Tax-mediated NF-κB activation, particularly when Tax is expressed at low levels. Collectively, these results indicate that CD40 is a novel Tax-regulated gene, and the regulation of CD40 by Tax may play a role in cellular activation and HTLV-I-induced disease pathogenesis.
The Capture of Electrons by Swiftly Moving Alpha Particles

THE swiftly moving α - particle produces a large number of ions in its passage through a gas, as is evidenced by the beautiful Wilson photographs of α-ray tracks. It is a matter of some surprise that at the act of ionising a molecule, or immediately after, the α-particle does not attach one or more of the free electrons to itself. The approach is very near and the force is that due to a double charge.
Software-based branch predication for AMD GPUs

Branch predication is a program transformation technique that combines instructions of multiple branches of an if statement into a straight-line sequence and associates each instruction of the sequence with a predicate. The branch predication improves the execution of branch statements on processors that support predicated execution of instruction, e.g., Intel IA-64, because such transformation improves the instruction scheduling and might help cache performance. This paper proposes a novel software-based branch predication technique for GPU. The main motivation is that branch instructions can easily become a performance bottleneck for a GPU program because of the cost of branch instructions compared to ALU instructions and the possibility of low ALU utilization due to separation of ALU instructions within control flow blocks. Due to the SIMD nature and massive multi-threading architecture of the GPU, branching can be costly if more than one path is taken by a set of concurrent threads in a kernel. In this paper we reveal that branch predication can enable instruction packing, a VLIW-like GPU feature that is designed to increase the parallel execution of independent instructions, and can also decrease the number of control flow instructions thereby improving the performance of GPU kernels with both single and multiple branch paths. The key of our novel branch predication technique is a set of transformation rules that takes into consideration the specialties of the GPU architecture and implements software-based predicated execution of instruction on the GPU with little to no overhead. Furthermore, we identify architectural and program factors that affect the effectiveness of our technique and build a benefit analysis model for the transformation. The implementation of our technique on synthetic benchmarks and real-world application proves its effectiveness.
Motivations for abstinence among adolescent females.

Conclusions: Although all motivational factors for abstinence cannot be reinforced through intervention a better understanding of adolescent females’ motivations for abstinence may serve to guide the development of interventions to delay intercourse. (excerpt)
Modeling the Retention of Water Droplets on Topographically-Modified, Micro-Grooved Aluminum

In this research, a method for fabricating controlled micro-scale, anisotropic topographical features on aluminum is described for the purpose of exploiting those features to affect the surface wettability. Experimental data have shown that droplets placed on these micro-grooved aluminum surfaces using a micro-syringe exhibit an increased apparent contact angle, and for droplets condensed on these etched surfaces, up to a 50% reduction in the volume needed for the onset of droplet sliding is manifest. No chemical surface treatment is necessary to achieve this water repellency; it is accomplished solely by the anisotropic surface morphology that manipulates droplet geometry and creates and exploits discontinuities in the three-phase contact line. In an effort to provide guidance for the development of these surfaces, a mechanistic model for droplet retention on micro-grooved aluminum surfaces will also be presented. This work will show that current models, tacitly based on an assumption of isotropic wetting, do not provide reliable prediction of water retention on these new surfaces.© 2008 ASME
Experimental guniting of open-hearth furnace walls

It was established that for the hot repair of open-hearth furnaces the optimum distance between the nozzle and the surface to be gunited is 1–1.5 m, i.e., in this case the repair time and gunite consumption are greatly reduced.
The effect of enzyme replacement on red cell adenine deoxyribonucleotides in adenosine deaminase-deficient erythrocytes of the opossum, Didelphis virginiana.

Abstract 1. 1. Polyethyleneglycol-modified bovine adenosine deaminase was administered (10–20 U/kg/week) intramuscularly to two opossums for 15 weeks and changes in red cell adenine ribo- and deoxyribonucleotides quantitated by HPLC. 2. 2. Only a moderate decline of erythrocyte dAXP was observed at the end of the study when compared to results of enzyme replacement seen in human adenosine deaminase deficient patients. 3. 3. Opossum red cells salvage substantial amounts of deoxyadenosine provided in physiologic (50 nM) concentration from plasma having either low or high adenosine deaminase activity.
An Analysis of the Impact of Microcomputers on the Secondary Special Education Classroom Ecology

The purpose of this research was to examine the effects of microcomputers on the ecology of secondary special education classrooms. Observational data were collected in twenty-six secondary school ...
Influence of sodium tripolyphosphate and sodium chloride on moisture-retention and textural characteristics of chicken breast meat patties

Chicken patties containing various levels of sodium tripolyphosphate (STPP) and NaCl were tested for moisture retention characteristics and instrumentally texture profiled. Both additives tended to increase moisture retention. Both additives also affected the textural quality of the patties. In the absence of NaCl, the STPP increased the product cohesiveness, springiness and chewiness at the highest phosphate level; but, in the presence of NaCI, the phosphate tended to increase these textural attributes, especially cohesiveness and chewiness, at lower phosphate levels. Improved meat quality might be achievable through a better understanding of relationships between NaCI, STPP, moisture retention and texture of poultry meat products.
Viable theoretical forms of synchronous production innovation

Abstract Knowing what theoretical forms might best describe the relationships among administrative innovation, technological innovation and organizational performance can help production managers improve performance. Managers may adopt either administrative or technological innovation depending on how they perceive the form of these relationships. Alternatively, managers can plan for and implement synchronous innovation aiming at its synergistic effects on organizational performance. Defined as the coincident-in-time adoption of compatible technological and administrative innovations, “synchronous” innovation is emerging as a response to the increased rivalry from offshore competitors. Prevailing theoretical forms of synchronous innovation emerge from the administrative and technological research perspectives of organizational innovation. Yet, it is the perceived form of synchronous innovation which determines where in its causal network of relationships production managers intervene to improve performance. Assuredly, performance improvements may require a detailed inquiry into a firm's specific situation. Depending on the situation, the relationships among administrative innovation, technological innovation and organizational performance can yield alternative or complementary forms of synchronous innovation. Production managers and researchers encounter such forms in various organizational settings. Exploring several perceived forms of synchronous innovation is therefore pertinent to production research and practice. To examine production managers' perceptions of synchronous innovation, this paper combines the administrative and technological perspectives of organizational innovation into four descriptive models of synchronous innovation. Drawing upon a diverse sample from the organizational innovation literature, each model incorporates both administrative and technological innovation dimensions, organizational performance dimensions and the causal interconnections among these three constructs. Thirty-five plant managers' perceptions of the relationships underlying synchronous innovation provide data suitable for testing the viability of the four models. The data show how administrative and technological innovation dimensions interact with, intervene among or moderate the contributions of each other on organizational performance, rendering their independent effects negligible without synchronous innovation. Firms may improve performance significantly by emphasizing either administrative or technological innovation alone. Yet, our results support the necessity of adopting a fine-grained approach to organizational innovation research and practice. Understanding the effects of innovation on organizational performance requires scrutinizing the effects of administrative innovation when predicting the effects of technological innovation, and vice versa.
The religious and spiritual aspects of clinical practice: A neglected dimension of social work

(1987). The religious and spiritual aspects of clinical practice: A neglected dimension of social work. Social Thought: Vol. 13, No. 1, pp. 12-23.
Death after discharge from the emergency department

Study objective: To determine the rate and cause of death of patients who were evaluated in the emergency department and discharged and how the cause of death related to the ED visit. Design: Retrospective chart review of medical examiner cases from July 1, 1990, to June 30, 1991. Setting: Urban county served by 13 hospital EDs with 383,416 visits in 1991. Eighty-five percent of these patients were discharged. Participants: Medical examiner cases of patients who had been evaluated and released from an ED within 8 days prior to death. Results: Forty-two of the 2,665 medical examiner cases met inclusion criteria. Death was classified as expected or unexpected based on the patient's clinical status at the time of discharge, and directly related or not directly related to the ED visit, based on review of all records and the cause of death as listed on the death certificate. Six deaths (14%) were considered expected and directly related. Three deaths (7%) were considered expected and not directly related. Twenty-four deaths (57%) were considered unexpected and not directly related. Nine deaths (21%) were considered unexpected and directly related; the most common cause was ruptured aortic aneurysm, occurring in three of these nine cases. The death rate was 13 per 100,000 discharged patients. Conclusion: Death after discharge from the ED is uncommon. The most common cause of unexpected, directly related death is ruptured aortic aneurysm.
Antiangiogenic Activities of 2,5-Dimethyl-Celecoxib on the Tumor Vasculature

Our laboratory has previously shown that a novel compound, 2,5-dimethyl-celecoxib (DMC), which is structurally similar to the cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitor celecoxib but lacks the COX-2-inhibitory function, mimics the antitumor effects of celecoxib. Most studies on DMC, however, focused on its effects on tumor cells. Here, we investigated the activities of DMC as an antiangiogenic agent in both in vitro and in vivo systems. Using primary cultures of human glioma specimens, we found that DMC treatment was cytotoxic to tumor-associated brain endothelial cells (TuBEC), which was mediated through the endoplasmic reticulum stress pathway. In contrast, confluent cultures of quiescent human BEC did not undergo cell death. DMC potently suppressed the proliferation and migration of the TuBEC. DMC caused no apparent effects on the secretion of vascular endothelial growth factor and interleukin-8 but inhibited the secretion of endothelin-1 in tumor-associated EC. DMC treatment of glioma xenografts in mice resulted in smaller tumors with a pronounced reduction in microvessel density compared with untreated mice. In vitro and in vivo analyses confirmed that DMC has antivascular activity. Considering that DMC targets both tumor cells and tumor-associated ECs, this agent is a promising anticancer drug.
Two approaches to aspect assignment in an English-Polish machine translation system

The paper presents two approaches to aspect assignment in a knowledge-based English-Polish machine translation (MT) system. The first method uses a set of heuristic rules based on interlingua (IR) representation provided by the system, whereas the other employs machine learning techniques. Both methods have similar performance and obtain high accuracy of over 88% on test data. The crucial difference, however, is the development effort: the machine learning technique is fully automatic, whereas heuristic rules are derived manually.
Liver dysfunction in paediatric obesity: a randomized, controlled trial of metformin.

Aim: In a previous study we showed that metformin reduced BMI z-scores and fasting glucose and insulin concentrations, and increased whole body insulin sensitivity in obese adolescents with fasting hyperinsulinemia and a family history of type 2 diabetes. We analyzed the data from this study to determine (a) if metformin reduced serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) concentrations during the 6-month trial, and (b) if the response to pharmacotherapy varied along gender or ethnic lines. Methods: The 6-month trial was randomized, double blinded and placebo controlled; a total of 14 metformin-treated (500 mg bid) and 15 placebo-treated subjects completed the study. There were no dietary restrictions. Results: In obese adolescents fed ad libitum, metformin (a) prevented the rise in ALT concentrations that were observed in placebo-treated subjects at the 3 to 5 month time-points (p < 0.05); (b) reduced (p < 0.01) the percentage of all ALT values exceeding 40 U/L; and (c) caused a modest (10%) but statistically significant (p < 0.05) reduction in serum ALT in Caucasian subjects. Metformin had no effect on ALT levels or the ALT to AST ratio in the five African American adolescents enrolled in the study but reduced their fasting insulin concentrations from 26.1 to 19.5 μU/mL (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Our findings suggest that metformin might reduce the rates or severity of liver dysfunction in selected high-risk adolescents.
Liver transplantation and the lymphocyte crossmatch

Summary Hyperacute rejection related to donor-specific antibodies rarely occurs in liver transplantation, probably because of the role of Kupffer cells, sinusoidal cells, and the dual blood supply. However, the long-term outcome of liver grafts, transplanted in the context of a positive lymphocytotoxic crossmatch, is approximately 20% lower than that of grafts with a negative crossmatch. Without recipient selection based on the crossmatch, which is currently the generally accepted policy, 11% to 24% of the liver transplants will be performed with a positive crossmatch. Using the level of panel reactive antibodies, (eg > 30%) as an indicator for sensitization, a lymphocytotoxic crossmatch can be performed before transplantation on a limited number of patients, to avoid a positive crossmatch. Sometimes the medical urgency does not allow the patient to wait for a negative crossmatch. Therefore, plasmapheresis should be performed before transplantation to diminish the antibody level and the posttransplant use of prostaglandin-E and high-dose steroids should be considered to avoid the short-term immunologic complications. These measures require more study before they can become standard practices. Possibly, Mycophenolate Mofetil might be effective in preventing chronic rejection. The introduction of the flowcytometry crossmatch procedure will not only provide a more sensitive, but also a faster procedure (~4 hours), allowing a wider use of the pretransplant crossmatch test in liver transplantation. However, the increased sensitivity and speed are balanced by the much lower specificity of the positive flowcytometric crossmatch test. The most appropriate way to use flow techniques for lymphocyte crossmatching has not yet been clearly determined because of the specificity problem. In the setting of other solid organ transplantation, the presence of preformed donor-specific antibodies is linked with occurrence of hyperacute or accelerated rejection, and is likely to result in graft failure in a short period of time. Therefore, a positive crossmatch directed against donor HLA antigens is a concern in organ transplantation, especially in kidney and heart transplantation. A positive IgG crossmatch test precludes transplantation in most cases. In liver transplantation, the picture is not so clear, but probably represents a relative contraindication to transplantation.
Robust disturbance rejection in e 1 optimal control systems

Abstract Given a class of plants formed by perturbing a nominal discrete-time linear shift-invariant plant with norm bounded unstructured perturbation, the problem of finding a single compensator that will stabilize all plants in this class and at the same time minimize the worst case norm of a certain performance measure is addressed. Assuming the performance measure of interest is the sensitivity function, first an expression for the supremum, over all plants in this class, of such a measure is derived for a system with a robustly stabilizing compensator. This is achieved by first showing that the proposed expression is an upper bound for the worst case sensitivity norm, and then by constructing a plant in the allowable class that will achieve this upper bound. Combined with already known necessary and sufficient conditions for robust stability, the derived expression provides an effective way of combining both robust stability and performance in one, easy to compute, measure. Secondly, a scheme for finding a controller that minimizes the worst case norm of the sensitivity function while achieving robust stability, is provided. This makes possible the incorporation of stability and performance robustness requirements in one design procedure.
Predicting Transition Temperatures of Elastin-Like Polypeptide Fusion Proteins

Elastin-like polypeptides (ELPs) are thermally sensitive peptide polymers that undergo thermally triggered phase separation and this behavior is imparted to soluble proteins when they are fused to an ELP. The transition temperature of the ELP fusion protein is observed to be different than that of a free ELP, indicating that the surface properties of the fused protein modulate the thermal behavior of ELPs. Understanding this effect is important for the rational design of applications that exploit the phase transition behavior of ELP fusion proteins. We had previously developed a biophysical model that explained the effect of hydrophobic proteins on depressing the transition temperature of ELP fusion proteins relative to free ELP. Here, we extend the model to elucidate the effect of hydrophilic proteins on the thermal behavior of ELP fusion proteins. A linear correlation was found between overall residue composition of accessible protein surface weighted by a characteristic transition temperature for each residue and the difference in transition temperatures between the ELP protein fusion and the corresponding free ELP. In breaking down the contribution of residues to polar, nonpolar, and charged, the model revealed that charged residues are the most important parameter in altering the transition temperature of an ELP fusion relative to the free ELP.
Virtual-Chief Generalization of Hill–Clohessy–Wiltshire to Elliptic Orbits

T HE assumptions made in deriving the Hill–Clohessy–Wiltshire (HCW) equations for spacecraft relative motion are a chief satellite in a circular orbit, a deputy satellite in close proximity to the chief, and both satellites obeying Keplerian motion [1,2]. Additional descriptions have been derived to relax these assumptions. Specifically, analytical solutions have been developed for relative motion in elliptic orbits [3–5]. Other studies have considered nonlinear relative motion, see, e.g., [6,7]. Additional work has considered relative motion in the presence of non-Keplerian perturbations [8,9]. However, the HCW equations remain a popular starting point to describe relative motion, and this motivates a desire to understand the significance of the assumptions involved. Themain contribution of this Note is pedagogical in understanding the circularity assumption, proximity assumption, and their interrelation. This Note presents an intuitive approach to approximately generalize the HCW equations to chiefs in elliptic orbits. The approach defines a virtual chief as a circularized version of the actual chief. The motion of both the chief and deputy relative to the virtual chief can then be described by the HCWequations without violating the circularity assumption. The approach is equivalent to propagating the relative motion in a frame with constant angular velocity, and then transforming the solution into the chief’s local-vertical localhorizontal (LVLH) frame. This transformation becomes aLyapunov– Floquet transformation of the HCW solution, and it results in significant improvement in accuracy compared to the original HCW solution. Throughout this Note, orbital parameters of the deputy and virtual chief are indicated with subscripts D and VC, respectively, and parameters related to the chief’s orbit are left without subscripts. II. Background
Seeing‐As in the Light of Vision Science

I will discuss the issue of what we see, using the framework of Tyler Burge’s wonderful and monumental book Origins of Objectivity (Burge 2010). On Burge’s view, every percept is constituted by a “perceptual attributive” (that represents an attribute) and a singular element (that represents an individual). The format of a percept is map-like or iconic, and could be symbolized as “That F”. The most basic perceptual judgments and beliefs are conceptualized and propositionalized versions of percepts in which the attributive need not be bound to a time and place. What are the actual perceptual attributives? Vision science picks out a small set of basic low level attributives that are products of sensory transduction and are causally involved in the production of other visual attributives: shape, spatial relations (including position and size), geometrical motion, texture, brightness and color. Burge discusses a higher level attributive for objects (“integrated body”) and considers that there may be some higher level attributives for some biologically important properties like food, danger and shelter. However, he notes (and I agree) that probably there are no culture-specific higher level attributives for teacups and recessions (p. 101). Terminological note: I will abbreviate the list of low level environmental attributives with “color, shape and texture” and I will refer to all attributives that are not low level as “high level”.
Roll-up of vorticity in adverse-pressure-gradient boundary layers

It is shown how the unsteady, nonlinear critical-layer equation determines the evolution of instability waves in a weak adverse-pressure-gradient boundary layer. Numerical solutions show that the nonlinearity halts the growth of these inviscidly unstable waves. The stabilizing effect of nonlinearity, in the present case, can be described as a consequence of either the increase (toward zero) of the phase jump across the critical layer or the roll-up of the critical-layer disturbance vorticity.
Carboxypeptidase A, ionic strength, and the enhancement of guinea pig complement.

Potenzierung von Meerschweinchen-komplement durch niedrige Ionenkonzentration und Carboxypeptidase A zeigt, dass das Enzym seinen starkeren Einfluss wahrend der Bildung von EAC\(\overline {1, 4, 2} \) ausubt. Wahrend der Immunhamolyse ubte jedoch eine niedere Ionenkonzentration einen zusatzlichen fordernden Einfluss auf eine spatere Reaktion aus.
Observation of critical scaling behavior in the ac impedance at the onset of superconductivity in a large magnetic field.

We have measured the ac impedance of Y-Ba-Cu-O thin films in a magnetic field of 0.55 T and in the frequency range from 100 kHz to 500 MHz. At the temperature of the dc vortex-glass transition but in the ac linear regime, we find scaling behavior of the impedance amplitude, {vert bar}{ital Z}{vert bar}{infinity}{omega}{sup 0.83}, and a frequency-independent phase {phi}=74{degree}. At higher temperatures, we find a crossover from a frequency-independent to a frequency-dependent impedance. This crossover frequency {Omega} varies with temperature like {Omega}{similar to}({ital T}{minus}{ital T}{sub {ital g}}){sup 5,8}. Within experimental error, all of these results are in excellent agreement with predictions for the ac impedance of the vortex-glass phase of a superconductor in a large magnetic field.
Can the social model explain all of disability experience? Perspectives of persons with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Objective The social model of disability has had a major influence on the academic field of disability studies and on contemporary understandings of the causes and experience of disability. The purpose of this study was to examine the adequacy of the social model for explaining the disability experience of persons with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). Methods This qualitative study examined the experiences of 47 adults with CFS participating in a research project that aimed to evaluate a participant-designed rehabilitation program. Data were aggregated from focus group interviews, open-ended questionnaires, progress notes, and from a program evaluation questionnaire. Data analysis was based on a grounded theory approach and used triangulation of multiple data sources and member checks to assure dependability of findings. Results Four themes emerged from the analysis: (1) minimization and mistrust of the disability; (2) negative experiences of impairment; (3) lack of identification with the disability community; and (4) the focus on advocacy as a quest for legitimacy. These themes varied in the extent to which they conformed to the principles set forth by the social model. Conclusions Although the social model has important contributions to lend to occupational therapy practice, it is important to recognize that it may not capture the full reality of disability. In particular, the social model has serious limitations in describing the disability experience of individuals with disabilities who do not have visibly obvious disabilities and whose impairments do not conform to the traditional viewpoint of disability.
Direct measurement of longitudinal endolymph flow rate in the guinea pig cochlea

The rate of longitudinal endolymph flow in the guinea pig cochlea has been measured with a novel tracer technique. The tracer we utilized was the tetramethylammonium (TMA) ion, the movement of which was monitored by ion-sensitive microelectrodes. Extremely small amounts of tracer were required as the electrodes could readily detect TMA concentrations in endolymph as low as 10 microM. TMA was introduced into scala media in the form of a small bolus, varying from 2-20 nl in volume. To examine whether longitudinal flow affects the dispersion of TMA in endolymph, we compared the characteristics of TMA spread to turn I following injection into turn II, with those of TMA spread to turn II following injection into turn I. The comparison of these data with an analytical model combining the processes of diffusion and volume flow demonstrates that the spread of tracer is dominated by passive diffusion processes with very little contribution from longitudinal endolymph flow. The rate of longitudinal endolymph flow between turn I and turn II was estimated to be less than 0.01 mm/min directed towards the basal turn. This value is considerably lower than recently published estimates using other techniques.
Detection of in vivo Matrix Metalloproteinase Activity using Microdialysis Sampling and Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a family of endoproteases that break down extracellular matrix and whose upregulation contributes to several diseases. A liquid chromatography/tandem mass spect...
Dioxins: model chemicals for assessing receptor-mediated toxicity

Dioxins and related compounds are chlorinated aromatic hydrocarbons that are persistent in both environmental and biological samples. Many members of this class of compounds produce a similar spectrum of toxicity which is mediated by interaction with the Ah receptor. The toxic effects of these chemicals can best be described by their actions as growth dysregulators. Dioxins disrupt normal homeostatic processes that tightly regulate cellular growth and differentiation. Disruption in these processes produce a variety of toxicities and pathologies. The available data indicate that humans are sensitive to the toxic effects of these chemicals. Clearer definition of human responses and the body burdens associated with such effects requires more research. Comprehensive risk assessments of dioxins should include all Ah receptor ligands such as the halogenated dibenzofurans and biphenyls.
The Effect of Knowledge Maps That Incorporate Gestalt Principles on Learning.

Abstract Knowledge maps have been found to be an effective communication tool for organizing information so that it can be recalled later. It was predicted that adding gestalt principles of similarity (using colors and shapes) and proximity (using groupings) would complement the information-organization feature of knowledge maps and thereby enhance recall. The students were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 study formats (text, unenhanced maps, and enhanced maps) and were asked to study the information in them. Following a distraction task, the students completed a free-recall task. Returning 2 weeks later, the students again engaged in free recall. The students remembered more during immediate than during delayed recall, and the students who had studied enhanced maps recalled more information than the students who had studied unenhanced maps or text. The results suggest that the use of color, shape, and proximity facilitated learning by improving the organization of information.
GRAVITY CURRENT ANALYSIS OF THE BOSTWICK CONSISTOMETER FOR POWER LAW FOODS

Flow observed in the Bostwick consistometer was evaluated as a gravity current; the balance of forces yields the Bostwick measurement as a function of the geometry of the apparatus and fluid properties. Experimental measurements for newtonian and power law fluids are compared to theoretical predictions. Although the theory can be used to evaluate values for power law parameters, the best results are obtained by predicting the ratio of apparent viscosity to density to the -0.2 power. The agreement between theory and experiment for homogeneous fluids is within 2%. Values of Bostwick measurement versus (η/ρ) -0.2 for tomato suspensions fall along the same curve as the homogeneous fluids
A taxonomic survey of comet composition 1985-2004 using CCD spectroscopy

A summary is presented of our spectroscopic survey of comets extending for roughly 19 years from 1985 to 2004 comprising data for 92 comets of which 50 showed good emissions. All data were re-analyzed using consistent reduction techniques. Our observations of comets over several apparitions and comets observed over an extended period indicate no major changes in compositional classification. To our regret, no major unidentified cometary features were found in our surveyed spectral region of 5200–10400 A. Absolute production rates for the dominant parent molecule H2O and the daughter species C2, NH2 and CN are determined within the limits of the Haser model as are values for the dust continuum, Afρ. From these data, production rate ratios are calculated for C2/H2O, NH2/H2O, CN/H2O and Afρ/H2O. Excluding the odd Comets Yanaka (1988r), 43P/Wolf–Harrington and 19P/Borrelly, with unusual spectra, our set of comets exhibited relatively uniform composition. Detailed analyses of our data resulted in four taxonomic classes: – Comets of typical composition (∼70%); exhibiting typical ratios with respect to water of C2, NH2, and CN. – Tempel 1 type (∼22%); having a deficiency in C2 but normal NH2 abundance. – G–Z type (∼6%); having both low C2 and NH2 ratios. – The unusual object Yanaka (1988r) (∼2%?); no detectable C2 or CN emission but normal NH2. It is uncertain whether there is a clear separation between the comets of typical composition and those with C2 depletion, or whether the latter consists of a group showing a continuum of decreasing C2/CN ratios. Our spectroscopic investigations result in a visual record of the various compositional classes, which are illustrated in a number of figures. Production rate comparisons with the comet photometry program of Schleicher and A'Hearn [A'Hearn, M.F., and 4 colleagues, 1995. Icarus 118, 223–270] for 13 comets in common yielded good agreement once the different scale lengths are taken into account. An investigation into the possible origin of our compositional groups with respect to dynamical families of comets shows that the Halley family exhibits essentially no C2 depletion. These objects were presumably formed in the region of Saturn and Uranus and scattered into the Oort cloud. Comets formed in the space near Neptune, responsible for the scattered Kuiper Belt show a mixture of “typical” and C2 depleted objects, while we associate comets formed in-situ in the classical Kuiper belt with our C2 depleted group.
Abstract 3258: Targeted-deletion of Ptp4a3 suppresses murine colon tumorigenesis

Proceedings: AACR 103rd Annual Meeting 2012‐‐ Mar 31‐Apr 4, 2012; Chicago, IL Protein tyrosine phosphatase 4a3 (Ptp4a3, PRL-3) is a small, prenylated, 4a-family phosphatase that is highly conserved throughout mammalian species. Elevated expression levels commonly seen in human cancers, particularly metastatic colorectal cancer, suggest that Ptp4a3 may serve as a target for novel anticancer therapeutics. Ectopic overexpression of Ptp4a3 in cell culture models often enhances the cellular properties of migration and invasion. While Ptp4a3 has historically been associated with late-stage disease and metastatic progression, we observed increases in Ptp4a3 mRNA in the colon immediately following treatment with the colon pro-carcinogen azoxymethane (AOM). In the AOM colon cancer model, wildtype C57BL/6 mice develop approximately 7-10 tumors per mouse in the distal colon. The resulting tumors exhibit an average of 4-fold upregulation of Ptp4a3 mRNA relative to normal colon epithelium, as well as positive immunohistochemical staining indicating the presence of PTP4A3 protein. To further understand this promising target, we have created the first Ptp4a3 knockout mouse model. Ptp4a3 knockout mice are viable and appear normal, although male mice appear to have a slightly reduce body mass index. Interestingly, Ptp4a3 knockout mice developed fewer colon tumors than wildtype mice with the AOM model, suggesting that Ptp4a3 may have a role in colon tumorigenesis and the cellular response to genotoxic stress. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 3258. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-3258
Transitions in nirS-type denitrifier diversity, community composition, and biogeochemical activity along the Chesapeake Bay estuary.

Chesapeake Bay, the largest estuary in North America, can be characterized as having steep and opposing gradients in salinity and dissolved inorganic nitrogen along the main axis of the Bay. In this study, the diversity of nirS gene fragments (encoding cytochrome cd1-type nitrite reductase), physical/chemical parameters, and benthic N2-fluxes were analyzed in order to determine how denitrifier communities and biogeochemical activity vary along the estuary salinity gradient. The nirS gene fragments were PCR-amplified, cloned, and sequenced from sediment cores collected at five stations. Sequence analysis of 96 to 123 nirS clones from each station revealed extensive overall diversity in this estuary, as well as distinct spatial structure in the nirS sequence distributions. Both nirS-based richness and community composition varied among stations, with the most dramatic shifts occurring between low-salinity (oligohaline) and moderate-salinity (mesohaline) sites. For four samples collected in April, the nirS-based richness, nitrate concentrations, and N2-fluxes all decreased in parallel along the salinity gradient from the oligohaline northernmost station to the highest salinity (polyhaline) station near the mouth of the Bay. The vast majority of the 550 nirS sequences were distinct from cultivated denitrifiers, although many were closely related to environmental clones from other coastal and estuarine systems. Interestingly, 8 of the 172 OTUs identified accounted for 42% of the total nirS clones, implying the presence of a few dominant and many rare genotypes, which were distributed in a non-random manner along the salinity gradient of Chesapeake Bay. These data, comprising the largest dataset to investigate nirS clone sequence diversity from an estuarine environment, also provided information that was required for the development of nirS microarrays to investigate the interaction of microbial diversity, environmental gradients, and biogeochemical activity.
The New Brunswick Economy in the Nineteenth Century

The central problem of the thesis is the retardation of regional growth. The economy of New Brunswick has provided a case in point for over a hundred years. That is to say, real per capita income within the province has tended to lag behind that achieved in competing regions. This competition has been viewed primarily as a scramble for factors of production. The winners were those areas which attracted factors from lagging sectors whenever income differentials became significant. The losers, in turn, could find in such an exodus a major reason why retardation developed cumulative tendencies.
The effect of freezing nights on photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, and internal CO2 concentration in seedlings of Engelmann spruce (Picea engelmannii Parry)

Abstract The effect of freezing night temperatures on net photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, and internal CO2 concentration was investigated in unhardened seedlings of Engelmann spruce. Exposure to – 2.5°C in the dark for 10 h caused a slight and reversible reduction in gas-exchange parameters on the following days. Substantial and irreversible inhibition of photosynthesis occurred after exposure to -4°C or –5°C. Despite a parallel decline in stomatal conductance and net photosynthesis, exposure to a hard freeze caused a decrease in the stomatal limitation to gas exchange. Hard-freeze conditions (less than – 4°C) also caused a decrease in carboxylation efficiency and apparent quantum yield, indicating a freeze-induced failure of the dark reactions and electron transport. There was no significant difference in the photosynthetic response to freezing temperatures in different elevational populations of spruce, although acclimatory adjustments were observed. Gas exchange in seedlings grown under cool conditions (14°C day/9°C night) was less affected and recovered more rapidly after exposure to a hard freeze than in seedlings grown under warm conditions (24°C day/19°C night).
The Correspondent, the Comic, and the Combatant The Consequences of Host Style in Political Talk Shows

Tailored within the increasingly competitive news environment, political talk shows have adopted a range of styles, heralding a rise in “combatant” and “comic” hosts to complement the conventional “correspondent.” Using an experimental design to rule out self-selection biases, this study isolates the impact of host style on media judgments. In comparison to the other styles, the correspondent host increases perceptions of informational value, enhances host and program credibility, and reduces erosion of media trust, while a comic host mitigates some of the negative impact compared to a combatant host. Implications for media accountability and democratic functioning are discussed.
Computer generation of correlated Gaussian random variables

This paper Presents a means of generating a set of N correlated Gaussian random variables from N or fewer independent Gaussian random variables. In computer generation of pseudorandom variables, this technique sometimes has computational advantages over the more straightforward inverse Gram-Schmidt procedure. As an example, application of the technique in simulation of a pulse frequency modulation (PFM) receiver is discussed.
Understanding the sustainable entrepreneur

This work examines the venture development processes of sustainable entrepreneurs, i.e., entrepreneurs who create profitable companies that also pursue environmental or social causes. We identified and analyzed over 20 successful sustainable entrepreneurs in various industries. Obtained are insights into how these unorthodox entrepreneurs initiated, grew and built their exemplary companies.
Stochastic finite element modeling of fatigue damage evolution for visco-plastic materials in micro-electronics

Thermo-mechanical fatigue is one of the main failure mechanisms of solder joints in electronic devices. Deterministic approaches that are typically used to predict the life of joints, may predict the life far different from the test results and field environment. This difference is caused by uncertainties introduced in finite element and damage modeling with different random variables such as material properties, geometry, damage model constants and many others. This paper presents a methodology to include these uncertainties in the life prediction approach for solder joint materials. Non-linear stochastic finite element modeling is used to evaluate the sensitivity of the life prediction results to uncertainties in elastic and inelastic material properties and damage model constants. The analyses show that from material properties, creep coefficient and activation energy are two factors that have significant effect in fluctuating the prediction results. Coefficient of Thermal Expansion was also found to have a strong effect. Analyses also show that damage model constants have more pronounced effect than material properties.
Spatial discrimination deficits as a function of mnemonic interference in aged adults with and without memory impairment

It is well established that aging is associated with declines in episodic memory. In recent years, an emphasis has emerged on the development of behavioral tasks and the identification of biomarkers that are predictive of cognitive decline in healthy as well as pathological aging. Here, we describe a memory task designed to assess the accuracy of discrimination ability for the locations of objects. Object locations were initially encoded incidentally, and appeared in a single space against a 5x7 grid. During retrieval, subjects viewed repeated object-location pairings, displacements of 1, 2, 3, or 4 grid spaces, and maximal corner-to-opposite-corner displacements. Subjects were tasked with judging objects in this second viewing as having retained their original location, or having moved. Performance on a task such as this is thought to rely on the capacity of the individual to perform hippocampus-mediated pattern separation. We report a performance deficit associated with a physically healthy aged group compared to young adults specific to trials with low mnemonic interference. Additionally, for aged adults, performance on the task was correlated with performance on the delayed recall portion of the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT), a neuropsychological test sensitive to hippocampal dysfunction. In line with prior work, dividing the aged group into unimpaired and impaired subgroups based on RAVLT Delayed Recall scores yielded clearly distinguishable patterns of performance, with the former subgroup performing comparably to young adults, and the latter subgroup showing generally impaired memory performance even with minimal interference. This study builds on existing tasks used in the field, and contributes a novel paradigm for differentiation of healthy from possible pathological aging, and may thus provide an avenue for early detection of age-related cognitive decline.
PURIFICATION AND THERMOSTABILITY OF BETA-GALACTOSIDASE (LACTASE) FROM AN AUTOLYTIC STRAIN OF STREPTOCOCCUS SALIVARIUS SUBSP. THERMOPHILUS

beta-Galactosidase from an autolytic strain of Streptococcus salivarius subsp. thermophilus was purified 109-fold to near homogeneity. The yield of purified enzyme was 41% and the specific activity was 592 o-nitrophenyl beta-D-galactopyranoside U/mg at 37 degrees C. Two isozymes were present, but only one subunit was detected, having a mol. wt of 116,000. Enzyme stability was 37-83 times greater in milk than in buffer in the range 60-65 degrees C. At 60 degrees C the half-life in milk was 146 min. Denaturation in buffer was first-order, but in milk the overall reaction order with respect to enzyme concentration was approximately 0.5. The activation energy for denaturation was 453 kJ/mol in milk and 372 kJ/mol in buffer. In milk the activation energy for lactose hydrolysis was 35.1 kJ/mol.