cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
X-irradiation and Diphosphopyridine Nucleotide (DPN) Levels in Ascites-tumour Cells and Liver Tissue of Mice

SummaryMice with Ehrlich's ascites tumour received total-body x-irradiation with 900 r–5000 r. Concentrations of oxidized DPN were analysed enzymatically with yeast alcohol dehydrogenase in liver and tumour-cell homogenates 2 hours and 12 hours after irradiation. After 5000 r, tumour cells and liver exhibited but little decrease of DPN: 5 per cent and 7 per cent respectively at 2 hours, and 12 per cent at 12 hours.When animals were irradiated before or after intramuscular administration of nicotinamide (170 mg/kg), significant alterations of steady-state concentrations of DPN were observed. After irradiation, average decreases of DPN in tumour cells and liver were 22 per cent and 27 per cent respectively (2 hours) and 16 per cent and 17 per cent (12 hours). It follows that x-irradiation within the stated dose-range moderately inhibits DPN-synthesis or activates DPN-breakdown. The effect is compensated at normal cellular concentrations of DPN, but is demonstrated if DPN-synthesis is activated by administra...
Optical mapping approaches to molecular genomics

A variety of physical mapping methods exist for the analysis of nucleic acids or genomes, including hybridization, sequence tagged site mapping, restriction enzyme fingerprinting, radiation hybrid mapping and optical mapping. Single-molecule approaches offer numerous advantages, including very high resolution, small sample size requirements, and parallel sample processing. The convergence of recent advances in new single molecule techniques, surface chemistry and machine vision technology has contributed to novel approaches to genome analysis.
Cardiac rehabilitation and survival in patients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction.

Abstract Background Exercise training, the major component of cardiac rehabilitation (CR), has been shown in previous trials to improve many pathophysiologic changes found in patients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction. It remains unproven whether exercise training improves survival. Methods By using the Duke Databank for Cardiovascular Disease, we identified patients with an ejection fraction ≤40% and no recent myocardial infarction, congenital heart disease, or primary valvular disease who survived ≥30 days after a cardiac catheterization (n = 1902). Participation in CR (n = 70) was identified through computer billing records. We developed a multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression model to estimate survival by using variables known to be independent predictors of survival in patients with systolic dysfunction. Results Patients participating in CR were less likely to be female or black and more likely to have a history consistent with ischemic cardiomyopathy. Participation in CR was associated with significantly improved survival after adjustment for baseline characteristics (hazard ratio, 0.39; 95% confidence interval, 0.15 to 0.62, P 6 CR sessions (hazard ratio, 0.10; 95% confidence interval, 0.03 to 0.39; P Conclusions Participation in CR was associated with improved survival for patients with cardiomyopathy. There appears to be a dose response with improved survival benefit for patients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction participating in cardiac rehabilitation. (Am Heart J 2001:142;160-6.)
133Cs NMR study of the cryptand-222-Cs+ complex in binary solvent mixtures

Abstract The formation constants of the cryptand-222 complex with the cesium ion were studied by 133 Cs NMR measurements in four binary solvent systems: acetonedimethylsulfoxide (Me 2 CoMe 2 SO), acetonitrile (MeCN)Me 2 SO, propylene carbonate(PC)Me 2 SO and PC-dimethylformamide (DMF). In the neat solvents the formation constant increases in the order Me 2 SO 2 CO
Studies on uterine collagenase in tissue culture. I. Relationship of enzyme production to collagen metabolism.

Abstract Post-partum rat uterine tissue in culture produces a specific collagenase, active against native collagen under physiologic conditions of pH and ionic strength. Tissue which actively produces collagenase does so for up to 10 days in culture. Collagenase activity in the medium of cultures in maximal when the uterus is removed from the animal within the first 72 h after parturition. After this time, enzyme activity is undetectable. This period corresponds to the time during which collagen is rapidly degraded in the uterus in vivo . Enzyme production is closely correlated with collagen degradation in culture as well. Concomittant with active collagenase synthesis is the loss of 85% of the tissue collagen into the medium, mostly in the form of hydroxyproline-containing peptides of less than 50 000 mol. wt., indicating that collagen is largely proteolytically degraded during post-partum involution. Inhibition of enzyme production in the cultures by puromycin or freeze-thawing also prevents collagen degradation in the tissue, suggesting that this enzyme is required for normal collagen metabolism in the uterus.
Effects of acetylation, polymerase phosphorylation, and DNA unwinding in glucocorticoid receptor transactivation

Abstract Varying the concentration of selected factors alters the induction properties of steroid receptors by changing the position of the dose–response curve (or the value for half-maximal induction = EC50) and the amount of partial agonist activity of antisteroids. We now describe a rudimentary mathematical model that predicts a simple Michaelis–Menten curve for the multi-step process of steroid-regulated gene induction. This model suggests that steps far downstream from receptor binding to steroid can influence the EC50 of agonist-complexes and partial agonist activity of antagonist-complexes. We therefore asked whether inhibitors of three possible downstream steps can reverse the effects of increased concentrations of two factors: glucocorticoid receptors (GRs) and Ubc9. The downstream steps (with inhibitors in parentheses) are protein deacetylation (TSA and VPA), DNA unwinding (CPT), and CTD phosphorylation of RNA polymerase II (DRB and H8). None of the inhibitors mimic or prevent the effects of added GRs. However, inhibitors of DNA unwinding and CTD phosphorylation do reverse the effects of Ubc9 with high GR concentrations. These results support our earlier conclusion that different rate-limiting steps operate at low and high GR concentrations versus high GR with Ubc9. The present data also suggest that downstream steps can modulate the EC50 of GR-mediated induction, thus both supporting the utility of our mathematical model and widening the field of biochemical processes that can modify the EC50.
Effects of Ability, High School Achievement, and Procrastinatory Behavior on College Performance

Ability, high school achievement, and procrastinatory behavior are tested as predictors of college performance in 194 women and 54 men. Ability was operationalized by total Scholastic Aptitude Test score, achievement by average grade earned in high school, and procrastination by score on the Procrastination Assessment Scale (PASS). It was hypothesized that procrastination could account for variance beyond that explained by ability and high school achievement in predicting college grade point average (GPA). Self-handicapping, a form of excuse making, was also included as a predictor. Results showed that procrastination does account for a significant portion of variance in college grades beyond that explained by ability and high school grades. For men, high school achievement was the strongest predictor of college performance; for women, ability was the strongest predictor. Self-handicapping did not account for any variance in GPA.
Race and equality of opportunity in American political development

The idea of equality of opportunity is the touchstone for debates over durable racial inequality in the United States. From Reconstruction to the Great Society, political leaders and reformers have...
Self-Injurious Behavior in Gifted and Talented Youth What Every Educator Should Know

Self-injurious behaviors (SIBs) are increasing in the general adolescent population, giving rise to concerns about the impact these behaviors have on gifted and talented youth. Educators of the gifted may not have adequate understanding of these behaviors, limiting their effectiveness in supporting gifted students engaging in SIB. This article provides an overview of definitions, demographics, and influencing factors, which may enlighten teachers of gifted students about how best to work with those who are struggling with this behavior. The article concludes with a set of suggested best practices for educators of the gifted that can be implemented in schools and classrooms to support students who are self-injuring and to potentially prevent other gifted students from engaging in SIB.
Three dimensional cultures: a tool to study normal acinar architecture vs. malignant transformation of breast cells.

Invasive breast carcinomas are a group of malignant epithelial tumors characterized by the invasion of adjacent tissues and propensity to metastasize. The interplay of signals between cancer cells and their microenvironment exerts a powerful influence on breast cancer growth and biological behavior1. However, most of these signals from the extracellular matrix are lost or their relevance is understudied when cells are grown in two dimensional culture (2D) as a monolayer. In recent years, three dimensional (3D) culture on a reconstituted basement membrane has emerged as a method of choice to recapitulate the tissue architecture of benign and malignant breast cells. Cells grown in 3D retain the important cues from the extracellular matrix and provide a physiologically relevant ex vivo system2,3. Of note, there is growing evidence suggesting that cells behave differently when grown in 3D as compared to 2D4. 3D culture can be effectively used as a means to differentiate the malignant phenotype from the benign breast phenotype and for underpinning the cellular and molecular signaling involved3. One of the distinguishing characteristics of benign epithelial cells is that they are polarized so that the apical cytoplasm is towards the lumen and the basal cytoplasm rests on the basement membrane. This apico-basal polarity is lost in invasive breast carcinomas, which are characterized by cellular disorganization and formation of anastomosing and branching tubules that haphazardly infiltrates the surrounding stroma. These histopathological differences between benign gland and invasive carcinoma can be reproduced in 3D6,7. Using the appropriate read-outs like the quantitation of single round acinar structures, or differential expression of validated molecular markers for cell proliferation, polarity and apoptosis in combination with other molecular and cell biology techniques, 3D culture can provide an important tool to better understand the cellular changes during malignant transformation and for delineating the responsible signaling.
Claudins and epithelial paracellular transport.

▪ Abstract Tight junctions form continuous intercellular contacts controlling solute movement through the paracellular pathway across epithelia. Paracellular barriers vary among epithelia in electrical resistance and behave as if they are lined with pores that have charge and size selectivity. Recent evidence shows that claudins, a large family (at least 24 members) of intercellular adhesion molecules, form the seal and its variable pore-like properties. This evidence comes from the study of claudins expressed in cultured epithelial cell models, genetically altered mice, and human mutants. We review information on the structure, function, and transcriptional and posttranslational regulation of the claudin family as well as of their evolutionarily distant relatives called the PMP22/EMP/MP20/claudin, or pfam00822, superfamily.
On Stretching, Bending, Twisting and Flexure of Cylindrical Shells.

Abstract The first objective of this work is to use the differential equations of equilibrium of cylindrical shells in conjunction with the principle of minimum complementary energy for the derivation of constitutive equations for coupled stretching, bending and twisting of straight thin-walled open- and closed-cross section beams. The second objective is to use appropriate solutions of the cylindrical-shell differential equations, again in conjunction with the principle of minimum complementary energy, for the sake of deriving values for flexibility and stiffness coefficients of end-loaded, thin-walled cantilever beams, with applications to the problem of shear center and twist center location, including an analysis of the effect of shear lag on the location of these centers.
The history of ecoimmunology and its integration with disease ecology.

Ecoimmunology is an example of how fruitful integrative approaches to biology can be. Since its emergence, ecoimmunology has sparked constructive debate on a wide range of topics, from the molecular mechanics of immune responses to the role of immunity in shaping the evolution of life histories. To complement the symposium Methods and Mechanisms in Ecoimmunology and commemorate the inception of the Division of Ecoimmunology and Disease Ecology within the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology, we appraise the origins of ecoimmunology, with a focus on its continuing and valuable integration with disease ecology. Arguably, the greatest contribution of ecoimmunology to wider biology has been the establishment of immunity as an integral part of organismal biology, one that may be regulated to maximize fitness in the context of costs, constraints, and complex interactions. We discuss historical impediments and ongoing progress in ecoimmunology, in particular the thorny issue of what ecoimmunologists should, should not, or cannot measure, and what novel contributions ecoimmunologists have made to the understanding of host–parasite interactions. Finally, we highlight some areas to which ecoimmunology is likely to contribute in the near future.
Laura Frances Callahan and Timothy O’Connor (eds): Religious faith and intellectual virtue

Let me begin with what I take to be the two most significant features of this collection. First, it addresses an area that is woefully under-discussed: the intersection of virtue epistemology and philosophy of religion. Each is a massively influential and important field in its own right, so bringing the two into dialogue makes tremendous sense. This collection accomplishes much in this regard but also underscores the amount of work that needs to be developed. Bringing together virtue epistemology, philosophy of religion, testimony, analyses of trust/faith, disagreement, etc. makes the volume of interest to philosophers working in a wide variety of fields. Second, each contributor is an extremely capable philosopher on the cutting edge of his/her field. The list is a murderer’s row of epistemologists and philosophers of religion, and their contributions will accordingly provide fodder for continued work regarding all of the topics discussed. W. Jay Wood begins with the necessity of faith (a term he tends to use equivalently to trust). Epistemically speaking, we must trust ourselves and others if we’re to obtain anything approaching a rich store of epistemic values (knowledge, understanding, etc.). Such faith/trust is a necessary ground for intellectual virtue. Then he extends this account to religious faith: like trust in ourselves and others, we must extend it in order to obtain any religious epistemic goods (religious knowledge, acquaintance with God, etc.). Motivated by a Thomistic approach to virtue and faith, Wood traces a line from virtuous non-religious faith to virtuous religious faith. Lara Buchak brings decision theory to bear on religious faith. For her, having faith that X means giving up the search for further evidence relevant to one’s decisionmaking procedures about how to act. Thus, “it is rational to have faith that X by considering when it is rational to perform risky acts on X without more evidence” (p.
Creating a nimble new curriculum for digital media artists

Emerging technologies, digital media environments, and mobile media are rapidly changing the landscape of learning required for digital media artists. The author will discuss the theory and practice of immersion applied in the undergraduate digital media arts program and in the Master of Arts in Learning and Emerging Technologies (MALET) at SUNY Empire State College. These new programs allow established and emergent digital media artists to collaborate on interdisciplinary, immersive media arts or design projects within virtual environments while pursuing individualized degrees. Our nimble approach to learning design includes mentoring intensive models, fully online courses, mobile learning, prior learning assessment, and totally individualized learning on subjects proposed by students.
Toward shorter wavelength lasers and soft X-ray laser microscopy

The authors present two approaches to X-ray laser development at Princeton and review progress toward the wavelength region below 10 nm. In addition, they present the first results from the application of the existing soft X-ray laser at 18.2 nm to X-ray microscopy. Particular emphasis is placed on experimentation with Li-like ions, the modeling of Li-like plasmas, cavity development, and a two-laser approach to wavelengths significantly below 10 nm. >
On the stick-slip dynamics in ultrasonic additive manufacturing

Abstract Ultrasonic Additive Manufacturing (UAM) is a promising additive manufacturing process used to build complex structures by joining thin metal films. Layers of metal foil are joined by being compressed under moderate pressure using a rolling ultrasonic horn which vibrates at a high frequency in a direction transverse to the rolling motion. Foil–foil interfacial motion combined with moderate heating and pressure results in pure metal contact which causes atomic bonding. Unfortunately, large scale implementation of the UAM process is impeded by the presence of a range of build heights within which bonding between a new foil and the build feature cannot be initiated. This paper simplifies the UAM process into a lumped-parameter dry-friction oscillator and shows that complex stick-slip motions of the build feature near or above its resonance frequency are responsible for bond degradation. Specifically, as the height of the feature increases and its first modal frequency approaches the excitation frequency of the sonotrode, the relative motions between the tape and the feature become either pure stick or aperiodic. Pure stick responses, where the tape and the feature stick together, prevent interfacial motions necessary for bonding. Aperiodic motions, on the other hand, consist of slip trajectories interrupted by long stick intervals resulting in velocity bursts and nonuniform energy distribution at the interface. The adopted model and associated analysis also indicate that periodic uniform responses essential for bonding are always recovered once the critical build height is surpassed. These findings corroborate previous experimental results that demonstrate bonding is hard to initiate near or slightly below the problematic height but can be reinitiated above it.
Nitric oxide in renal cortex and medulla. An in vivo microdialysis study.

This study examined the production of nitric oxide (NO) in the renal cortex and medulla through the use of an in vivo microdialysis technique. Oxyhemoglobin (OxyHb) at a concentration of 3 mumol/L was perfused through the dialysis system to trap tissue NO. Methemoglobin (MetHb), which was formed by NO oxidation of OxyHb in the dialysate, was spectrophotometrically assayed at 401 nm. Because the oxidation of OxyHb to produce MetHb is stoichiometric with NO, the production of NO can be determined by the rate of MetHb formation. We found that NO concentration was significantly higher (P < .05) in the medulla (57.1 +/- 5.57 nmol/L, n = 10) than in the cortex (31.2 +/- 5.7 nmol/L, n = 9). The minimal detectable NO level of this assay is approximately 10 nmol/L. Intravenous infusion of L-arginine (3 mg/kg per minute) for 30 minutes produced a twofold to three fold increase in cortical and medullary NO; NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) (10 micrograms/kg per minute) decreased NO by 33% in the renal cortex and by 46.5% in the renal medulla. We have also compared under the same conditions the degradation products of NO, nitrite, and nitrate in the renal cortex and medulla using in vivo microdialysis combined with microtiter plate colorimetry. Nitrite/nitrate concentration was significantly higher (P < .05) in the medulla (2.7 +/- 0.6 mumol/L, n = 4) than in the cortex (2.1 +/- 0.2 mumol/L, n = 4). Infusion of L-arginine increased cortical and medullary nitrite/nitrate by 65% and 39%, respectively. L-NAME reduced cortical and medullary nitrite/nitrate by 18% and 23%, respectively. The results indicate that the OxyHb-NO microdialysis trapping technique is a highly sensitive in situ method for detecting regional tissue NO concentration and changes in the NO synthase activity in the kidney. These studies have shown that NO concentration is higher in medullary tissue than in the cortex.
A wideband 0.7–2.2 GHz tunable power amplifier with over 64% efficiency based on high-Q second harmonic loading

A non-resistive high-Q bandwidth-extension technique for wideband high-efficiency power amplifiers is proposed in this paper. Specifically, the problem of proper termination of the second harmonic in power amplifiers with over 2:1 bandwidth is addressed. A tunable narrowband high-Q band-stop filter is included at the output of the power amplifier to properly terminate the transistor at its lower-band frequencies whose second harmonics fall within the bandwidth of the amplifier. The presented design is experimentally validated by manufacturing and measuring a 0.7-2.2 GHz GaN wideband high-efficiency power amplifier terminated by a high-Q (measured Q of 900) narrow-band (10 dB bandwidth of 2 MHz) band-stop filter tunable from 1.4-2.2 GHz. An over 3:1 bandwidth is achieved with measured output power of 40 dBm, average gain of 10 dB, and efficiency of > 64%. The proposed termination results in an average improvement of over 10% throughout the entire bandwidth.
Modification of T cell receptor β chain gene: the J2 region but not the J1 region of the T cell receptor β chain gene is hypomethylated in human B cells and monocytes

In order to determine the relationship between the generation of a 1.0 kb mRNA and methylation of the T cell receptor beta chain gene, we have analyzed the methylation state of the T cell receptor beta chain gene (T beta) in monocyte and B cell DNA, focusing on the J1 and J2 regions of this gene in human genomic DNA. We have observed that a portion of the J2 region of T beta rich with CpG sequences is nonmethylated in both monocyte and B cell DNA but that the J1 region is methylated in both cell DNAs. We suggest that the hypomethylation of the J2 region constitutes a condition in which a 1.0 kb truncated mRNA of the beta chain gene is expressed in B cells. We have also found that the CpG sequence 1.0 kb 3' to the last exon of the J2 was totally nonmethylated in B cell DNA but methylated in half of monocyte DNA. This difference in methylation between monocyte and B cell DNA may reflect the differential transcriptional activity in monocytes and B cells of a 1.0 kb mRNA of T beta.
Balanced instruction cache: reducing conflict misses of direct-mapped caches through balanced subarray accesses

It is observed that the limited memory space of direct-mapped caches is not used in balance therefore incurs extra conflict misses. We propose a novel cache organization of a balanced cache, which balances accesses to cache sets at the granularity of cache subarrays. The key technique of the balanced cache is a programmable subarray decoder through which the mapping of memory reference addresses to cache subarrays can be optimized hence conflict misses of direct-mapped caches can be resolved. The experimental results show that the miss rate of balanced cache is lower than that of the same sized two-way set-associative caches on average and can be as low as that of the same sized four-way set-associative caches for particular applications. Compared with previous techniques, the balanced cache requires only one cycle to access all cache hits and has the same access time as direct-mapped caches
Molecular Gas and Star Formation in the Nucleus of IC 342: C18O and Millimeter Continuum Imaging

We present high-resolution maps (D2A) maps of the J \ 1¨0 and J \ 2¨1 transitions of C18 Oi n the central D150 pc of the gas-rich nucleus, IC 342, made with the Owens Valley Millimeter Array. From the C18O maps, we are able to obtain the most accurate map of to date for IC 342. Because of their N H2 low opacities, the transitions of C18O give a more reliable estimate of the true molecular gas columndensity distribution than the more common 12CO and 13CO isotopomers. The morphology of the C18O emission in the nucleus is a minispiral similar to that of the main isotopomer, 12CO, except that it is more symmetric and lacks the enhancements to the north. We suggest that the asymmetries present in 12CO images may re—ect the viewing perspective of the starburst region biased by the high optical depths of 12CO rather than true asymmetries in the amount of molecular gas present. The giant molecular clouds seen in C18O appear to be nonspherical, probably because of tidal arm shearing. Column densities determined from C18O observations, 1.3 mm dust continuum, and the virial theorem indicate that the standard Galactic conversion factor, overestimates the amount of molecular gas in the X CO , center of IC 342 by a factor of D2¨3 at the molecular cloud peaks and by more than this in the diUuse gas away from the starburst. Revised molecular masses based on this conversion factor imply that star formation efficiencies in the starburst region are very high. From the distribution of gas and star formation, it appears that the sites of star formation are dynamically determined rather than driven by density peaks. Near the central star-forming region, evidence is seen for chemical enrichment of C18O caused by massive stars.
Expression of transforming growth factor-beta s and their receptors by human retinal glial cells.

PURPOSE. To help test the hypothesis that transforming growth factor beta (TGF-s) may serve an autocrine function in the retina, we asked whether human Muller (glial) cells in culture express TGF-s receptors, contain transcripts for various isoforms of this cytokine, and release TGF-ss into the medium. METHODS. Using the reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) technique with specific primers for TGF-s1, -s2 and -s3 precursors and for TGF-s type I and type II receptors, we searched for mRNA transcripts expressed by cultured human Muller cells. Also, an ELISA assay allowed quantification of the levels of various TGF-ss in medium exposed to these glial cells. RESULTS. Human Muller cells in culture express transcripts for both type I and type II TGF-s receptors and also for TGF-s1 and TGF-s2. In conditioned medium, the concentration of TGF-s1 in the mature form was below detectable levels, and the total TGF-s1 was relatively low (mean = 252 pg/ml in confluent cultures). In contrast, the mean ...
Matching and Interpretation of Planar Motion Using Tensor Voting

An ellipse that is rotating within an image can be interpreted in different ways under different conditions. We are interested in the 'thin vs. fat ellipse' phenomenon; a thin rotating ellipse is perceived as undergoing rigid rotation, while a fat one is perceived as undergoing nonrigid deformation. Our computational model tries to emulate human perception using the tensor voting framework. The original 4-D tensor voting formalism is found not sufficient to solve this problem, and we augment it here to explicitly handle rotation and deformation.
The cell biology of taste

Taste buds are aggregates of 50–100 polarized neuroepithelial cells that detect nutrients and other compounds. Combined analyses of gene expression and cellular function reveal an elegant cellular organization within the taste bud. This review discusses the functional classes of taste cells, their cell biology, and current thinking on how taste information is transmitted to the brain.
A Method for Using Player Tracking Data in Basketball to Learn Player Skills and Predict Team Performance

Player tracking data represents a revolutionary new data source for basketball analysis, in which essentially every aspect of a player’s performance is tracked and can be analyzed numerically. We suggest a way by which this data set, when coupled with a network-style model of the offense that relates players’ skills to the team’s success at running different plays, can be used to automatically learn players’ skills and predict the performance of untested 5-man lineups in a way that accounts for the interaction between players’ respective skill sets. After developing a general analysis procedure, we present as an example a specific implementation of our method using a simplified network model. While player tracking data is not yet available in the public domain, we evaluate our model using simulated data and show that player skills can be accurately inferred by a simple statistical inference scheme. Finally, we use the model to analyze games from the 2011 playoff series between the Memphis Grizzlies and the Oklahoma City Thunder and we show that, even with a very limited data set, the model can consistently describe a player’s interactions with a given lineup based only on his performance with a different lineup.
vUPS: Virtually Unifying Personal Storage for Fast and Pervasive Data Accesses

More and more overlapping functions on all kinds of mobile devices with these on traditional computers have significantly expanded the usage of mobile devices in our daily life. This also causes the demand surge of pervasively and quickly accessing files across different personal devices owned by a user. Most existing solutions, such as DropBox and SkyDrive, rely on some centralized infrastructure (e.g., cloud storage) to synchronize files across different devices. Therefore, these solutions come with potential risks of user privacy and data secrecy. In addition, continuously maintaining strong consistency among multiple replicas of a file is very costly.
Maximum predicted visual acuity of progressive addition lenses

The prediction of patient visual acuity (VA) from a simple optical test of a spectacle lens has been a goal of lens manufacturers for many years. This paper describes what we believe to be the first validated method of achieving this goal.
Consumer response to exterior atmospherics at a university-branded merchandise store

This study examined the influence of exterior store atmospherics upon college students’ responses to a university-branded merchandise store. The research was informed by Mehrabian and Russell’s (1974) Stimulus–Organism–Response (S–O–R) model, which proposes that consumers’ emotional responses to a physical store environment mediate how the environment shapes their patronage behaviors. An online survey with a 2 × 2 × 2 experimental design component was implemented to explore the influence of three aspects of exterior store atmospherics (i.e., landscaping, store greeter, and electronic kiosk) upon three dependent variables: consumer emotional state (pleasure/arousal), consumer liking of the store exterior, and patronage intentions. The sample included 336 college students. Analyses provide support for the S–O–R model and related research; collectively, findings are consistent with the premise that pleasure and liking of the storefront exterior shape patronage intentions at a university-branded merchandise store. The exterior store atmospherics manipulated in the present study, however, did not positively influence consumers’ emotional states or liking. This study examined the influence of understudied aspects of exterior store atmospherics on consumers’ emotional states and liking as well as their patronage intentions toward a university-branded merchandise store. Contrary to prior work, findings provide evidence that, in some retail contexts, store greeters may generate negative responses from consumers.
Some Little Known Asian-American Writers

lie affects quotations from the Italian, but agaiu with occasnonal errors in spelling as in "Jesu Christo" for the correct "(;esh Cristo." At one point lie refers to some home-made spontaneous poetry by one of the uneducated American immigrant relatives of Father Juffa as "some Chaucerian verse." One is at a loss to know what Chaucer's writings and "The American Poems of Marco Dt Licata" have in common.
Effect of Glenoid Shape on Stress in Glenoid Implants Undergoing Superior Subluxation

Today nonconforming glenohumeral implants are a common choice for total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA). Use of the conforming implant has decreased because of the “rocking-horse” effect [1], which leads to high stress and moments at the glenoid rim when the humeral head subluxes during range of motion. Retrieval studies have provided evidence that the rocking-horse effect is the major cause of implant loosening and fracture, delamination and deformation of the glenoid rim. Nonconforming glenoid implants, owing to a larger radius of the glenoid articular surface, can reduce the rocking-horse effect by improving the rim-head contact during subluxation. However, the nonconforming shape increases the contact stress and instability when the humeral head is in the central region, where motion frequently occurs [2].Copyright © 2008 by ASME
THE DYNAMICS OF RENT CREATION ON A STRATEGIC LANDSCAPE.

The article analyses the factors involved in the efficient exploitation of opportunities by companies in a given strategic landscape, focusing on alertness and the capability to bear uncertainty. T...
Eliipsometric Study of Rapid Thermal Annealed PECVD SiN Films

A conventional parallel plate plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition system using SiH4-NH3-N2 at 13.56MHz and 300°C was used to deposit SiN films on silicon substrates. Special care was used to assure an oxide free surface before deposition. The silane flow was varied to obtain stoichiometric Si3N4 and silicon-rich films. Rapid thermal anneal (RTA) was performed for 30 sec at temperatures in the range 600°C–900°C. Spectroscopic ellipsometry was used to characterize the films. Data was taken for 44 wavelengths (3200–7500Ǻ range) at three angles of incidence on each sample. The structural and optical properties were obtained using several structural models of the film. The models assumed an effective medium approximation for the following three combinations of film constituents: Si3N4 and voids; Si3N4 and amorphous silicon (a-Si); Si3N4, voids and a-Si. In general, the three constituent model gave the best fits to the experimental data. In all films, we observed a decrease in the film thickness and void fraction as the RTA temperature increased. The a-Si percentage did not change vs. the RTA temperature. The reduction in void fraction for the silicon-rich samples was larger than for the Si3N4 film. The results are comparable to those measured by other methods on regular furnace annealed SiN films, i.e. annealing times of 30 minutes or more.
Micropatterning of Poly(ethylene glycol) Diacrylate Hydrogels

This protocol describes the techniques to synthesize and fabricate micropatterned poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate-based hydrogels that can be used as substrates in cellular studies and tissue engineering scaffolds. These materials provide an essentially bioinert background material due to the very low protein adsorption characteristics of poly(ethylene glycol), but the materials can be modified with covalently grafted peptides, proteins, or other biomolecules of interest to impart specific biofunctionality to the material. Further, it is possible to use micropatterning technologies to control the localization of such covalent grafting of biomolecules to the hydrogel materials, thus spatially controlling the cell-material interactions. This protocol presents a relatively simple approach for mask-based photolithographic patterning, generally best suited for patterning the surface of hydrogel materials for 2D cell studies. A more sophisticated technique, two-photon laser scanning lithography, is also presented. This technique allows free-form, 3D micropatterning in hydrogels.
Interceptive activity of azastene in rhesus monkeys.

Azastene is an orally effective "luteolytic" agent in rhesus monkeys. In nonpregnant monkeys it reverses the human chorionic gonadotropin-stimulated increase in progesterone production and delay in the onset of menstruation, and in inseminated monkeys, it prevents pregnancy if given for 5 days beginning on day 24 of the menstrual cycle. The drug is also effective in terminating pregnancy if given for 5 days beginning on approximately day 26, day 50, or day 80 of gestation. Concurrent progesterone administration prevents the interceptive action of the drug. Although azastene inhibits gonadal and placental progesterone production, it has no effect on cortisol production in monkeys and is devoid of apparent hormonal activity.
Computationally determined just suspended speed using multiphase mean age theory

Abstract Mean age theory was applied towards predicting just suspended speed in mixing tanks by evaluating multiphase mean age near the bottom surface through strategic zone selection. Multiphase mean age equations were solved only in a thin section along the bottom of the vessel (∼1% of the vessel height), allowing the mean age in proximity to the bottom to be computed. A rigorously defined method for open systems and a modified method for closed systems using modified boundaries provided equivalent results. The technique was accurate within 1–3% of experimental values across a range of solid densities, solid fractions, and particle sizes while using multiple impeller types and vessel geometries.
A field study of rental market discrimination across origins in France

Abstract Discrimination against particular groups in the housing market increases search costs and limits optimal matching, thus resulting in economic and social inefficiencies. This paper tests for the existence of discrimination in the French rental market against individuals with names which signal their connection to five immigrant groups (Northern Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, Turkey, Poland, Portugal-Spain) by implementing an online field study using one of France's largest online advertisements website. The results show that applicants with foreign sounding names coming from Northern Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa and Turkey are 16 to 22 percentage points less likely to receive a response than applicants with French names or names associated with Poland, Portugal or Spain. In addition, when applicants with foreign sounding names from any origin receive a response, it is significantly more likely to be negative or include a request for more information than responses to emails including French sounding names. Finally, we find some geographic differences in response rate differentials that are correlated with differences in the local income and share of immigrants. This provides evidence that landlords use names as a proxy for economic and other sociodemographic characteristics.
Magnetic iron oxide and manganese-doped iron oxide nanoparticles for the collection of alpha-emitting radionuclides from aqueous solutions

Magnetic nanoparticles are well known to possess chemically active surfaces and large surface areas that can be employed to extract a range of ions from aqueous solutions. Additionally, their superparamagnetic properties provide a convenient means for bulk collection of the material from solution after the targeted ions have been adsorbed. Herein, two nanoscale amphoteric metal oxides, each possessing useful magnetic attributes, were evaluated for their ability to collect trace levels of a chemically diverse range of alpha emitting radioactive isotopes (polonium (Po), radium (Ra), uranium (U), and americium (Am)) from a wide range of aqueous solutions. The nanomaterials include commercially available magnetite (Fe3O4) and magnetite modified to incorporate manganese (Mn) into the crystal structure. The chemical stability of these nanomaterials was evaluated in Hanford Site, WA ground water between the natural pH (∼8) and pH 1. Whereas the magnetite was observed to have good stability over the pH range, the Mn-doped material was observed to leach Mn at low pH. The materials were evaluated in parallel to characterize their uptake performance of the alpha-emitting radionuclide spikes from ground water across a range of pH (from ∼8 down to 2). In addition, radiotracer uptake experiments were performed on Columbia River water, seawater, and human urine at their natural pH and at pH 2. Despite the observed leaching of Mn from the Mn-doped nanomaterial in the lower pH range, it exhibited generally superior analyte extraction performance compared to the magnetite, and analyte uptake was observed across a broader pH range. We show that the uptake behavior of the various radiotracers on these two materials at different pH levels can generally be explained by the amphoteric nature of the nanoparticle surfaces. Finally, the rate of sorption of the radiotracers on the two materials in unacidified ground water was evaluated. The uptake curves generally indicate that equilibrium is obtained within a few minutes, which is attributed to the high surface areas of the nanomaterials and the high level of dispersion in the liquids. Overall, the results indicate that these nanomaterials may have the potential to be employed for a range of applications to extract radionuclides from aqueous solutions.
Room-temperature solid-state radiation detectors based on spintronics

In this paper we are presenting a unique approach to solve the thermal background problem encountered in semiconductor nuclear detectors. Our approach addresses above challenge by making a shift from 'electronic detection mechanism' to 'spintronic detection mechanism'. The proposed methodology is based on the hypothesis that the electromagnetic field associated with the incident nuclear radiation will interact with the spin of the electrons (injected from a ferromagnetic electrode into a semiconductor channel) via the Rashba spin-orbit interaction mechanism. This interaction will result in a precession in the spin polarization of the electrons and as a result the current collected by another ferromagnetic electrode (which will be aligned either parallel or anti-parallel to the first electrode) will change. So, in contrast to traditional semiconductor detectors, where the radiation sensing mechanism depends on the generation and collection of charge carriers, in spintronic detectors, the radiation sensing mechanism will be based on the quantum mechanical precession of the spin of electrons.
Risk preferences and child investments: evidence from Mexico

This paper examines how parental risk aversion influences child investments. Using an experimental measure of risk aversion from the Mexican Family Life Survey, I find that boys have higher weight-for-age and BMI-for-age in households where the mother is highly risk averse. The higher BMI is not necessarily healthy because the boys are more likely to be in the overweight range and less likely to be in the normal range. I also find evidence that risk averse mothers spend more on their son’s schooling related expenditures such as materials, uniforms, and spending money. A comparison of siblings reveals a gender gap in child investments that is increasing in maternal risk aversion.
William James, Niels Bohr, and Complementarity: I—Concepts

The concept of complementarity was introduced by William James in 1891, and by physicist Niels Bohr in 1927, the latter probably without knowledge of the former. The phenomena were experienced as “gaps” in thought, and by the experiential observation that thought is divisible into transitive and substantive parts, providing evidence of complementarity. The most obvious phenomenon of psychology, that of thought, therefore requires quantum-theoretical exploration. Bohr was fascinated by the principle of complementarity and of the possibility of a new epistemology based upon it.
Acoustic tweezers for sub-MM microparticle manipulation

This paper reports a new design of an acoustic tweezers that can trap microparticles up to 0.5 mm in diameter through a 3-dimensional energy well formed in a bulk of liquid. The acoustic tweezers is built on a 1.02 mm thick lead zirconate titanate (PZT) substrate, with symmetric sectors (pie shaped when viewed from top) of air-cavity Fresnel lens. Each of the sectors is designed to have a different focal length, so that the acoustic waves from different sectors interfere with each other such that they produce a Bessel beam zone (with negative axial radiation force) along the center line perpendicular to the transducer surface. The negative radiation force traps and holds particles. The fabricated acoustic tweezers operating at 2.07 MHz has successfully been shown to trap polyethylene microsphere from 0.3 to 0.5 mm in diameter at 5 mm away from the transducer surface, providing a way to remotely manipulate large-size microparticles without physical contact to any rigid body.
Synthetic Molecules for Disruption of the MYC Protein-Protein Interface

MYC is a key transcriptional regulator involved in cellular proliferation and has established roles in transcriptional elongation and initiation, microRNA regulation, apoptosis, and pluripotency. Despite this prevalence, functional chemical probes of MYC function at the protein level have been limited. Previously, we discovered 5a, that binds to MYC with potency and specificity, downregulates the transcriptional activities of MYC and shows efficacy in vivo. However, this scaffold posed intrinsic pharmacokinetic liabilities, namely, poor solubility that precluded biophysical interrogation. Here, we developed a screening platform based on field-effect transistor analysis (Bio-FET), surface plasmon resonance (SPR), and a microtumor formation assay to analyze a series of new compounds aimed at improving these properties. This blind SAR campaign has produced a new lead compound of significantly increased in vivo stability and solubility for a 40-fold increase in exposure. This probe represents a significant advancement that will not only enable biophysical characterization of this interaction and further SAR, but also contribute to advances in understanding of MYC biology.
Learning techniques for software verification and validation

Learning techniques are being used increasingly to improve software verification and validation activities. For example, automata learning techniques have been used for extracting behavioral models of software systems, e.g. [8]. These models can serve as formal documentation of the software and they can be verified using automated tools or used for model-based testing. Automata learning techniques have also been used for automating compositional verification, e.g. [3], for building abstractions of software behavior in the context of symbolic or parameterized model checking, e.g. [9] or for the automatic inference and security analysis of botnet protocols, e.g. [1]. This Special Track aims at bringing together researchers and practitioners working on the integration of learning techniques in verification and validation activities for software systems. The Special Track is part of the 2012 International Symposium on Leveraging Applications of Formal Methods, Verification, and Validation (ISoLA).
Lower Lid Blepharoplasty with Fat Repositioning Using a Foam Bolster

We present a modified transconjunctival blepharoplasty technique that has proved very effective in patients desiring rejuvenation of the lower eyelids that do not need skin or orbicularis resection. Double-armed sutures are placed through the tip of each fat pedicle, and the needles are passed through the intra-SOOF pocket out through the skin below the tear trough and tied over a foam bolster.