cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Anomalous mobility of cadmium(II)- and copper(II)- treated lambda DNA restrictions digests on agarose gels

Etude des modifications conformationnelles induites par du traitement de l'ADN avec du cadmium et du cuivre. Des fragments de restriction sont traites par ces ions metalliques et deposes sur gel. Les modifications du profil electrophoretique permettent d'apprecier les effets des ions
An overview on available models and techniques for the multicriteria reliability problem with emphasis on a potential use in a DSS for this problem type

The paper reviews available models and techniques covering three classes of the multi-criteria reliability problem. These classes include allocation of reliabilities in presence of multiple goals, reliability optimization with several kinds of failures and allocation of resources to optimize multiattribute systems. Optimization techniques are also suggested. The models and techniques are also evaluated with respect to their potential use in a DSS for reliability optimization.
Transient exposure of human myoblasts to tumor necrosis factor-alpha inhibits serum and insulin-like growth factor-I stimulated protein synthesis.

Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) induces cachexia and is postulated to be responsible for muscle wasting in several pathophysiological conditions. The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether exposure of human myoblasts to TNF-α could directly inhibit the ability of serum or insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) to stimulate protein synthesis as assessed by the incorporation of[ 3H]phenylalanine into protein. Serum and IGF-I stimulated protein synthesis dose dependently. Half-maximal stimulation of protein synthesis occurred at 05% serum and 8 ng/ml of IGF-I, respectively. TNF-α inhibited IGF-I-stimulated protein synthesis in a dose-dependent manner. Additionally, as little as 2 ng/ml of TNF-α impaired the ability of IGF-I to stimulate protein synthesis by 33% and, at a dose of 100 ng/ml, TNF-α completely prevented the increase in protein synthesis induced by either serum or a maximally stimulating dose of IGF-I. Inhibition of protein synthesis was independent of whether TNF-α and growth fact...
Properties of a one-dimensional metallic system in the third-order renormalization-group approximation

A one-dimensional system of electrons with interaction parameters ${g}_{1}$ and ${g}_{2}$ is studied by applying the third-order renormalization-group technique. For ${g}_{1}g0$ our result is essentially the same as that obtained previously in the first-order scaling. For ${g}_{1}l0$ the invariant coupling $\frac{{{g}^{\ensuremath{'}}}_{1}}{\ensuremath{\pi}v}\ensuremath{\simeq}\ensuremath{-}0.87$ is considerably weaker than that $\frac{{{g}^{\ensuremath{'}}}_{1}}{\ensuremath{\pi}v}=\ensuremath{-}2$ in the second-order renormalization obtained by Menyh\'ard and S\'olyom in the low-frequency limit. The phases of the ground state in the present approximation are the same as those predicted in the second-order renormalization. The critical exponents for response functions which describe various critical fluctuations have also been calculated.
Effects of chronic tobacco smoking on the coronary circulation.

The effects of chronic smoking on the coronary circulation were studied by evaluating the coronary vascular reserve in 12 chronic smokers (group 1) and 10 non-smokers (group 2). All patients were referred to cardiac catheterization for evaluation of chest pain and were found to have normal coronary and left ventricular angiograms. Coronary vascular reserve was measured by analyzing the hyperemic response to selective coronary injection of contrast agent. There was no statistically significant difference between groups 1 and 2 with regard to age, baseline electrocardiogram or response to treadmill or thallium-201 exercise tests. The mean coronary reserve (± standard deviation) was 74.1 ± 20.1% in the smokers versus 117.1 ± 45.1% in the nonsmokers (p
Metabolism of bovine semen. XIX. Products of fructose metabolism by washed spermatozoa.

Abstract The production of 14 Co 2 by washed bovine spermatozoa was determined in Krebs-Hensleit Ringer and in phosphate buffers with labeled fructose, glucose, and pyruvate as substrates. The 14 C0 2 output from fructose and glucose was greater in Ringer, but for pyruvate it was greater in phosphate. With adenosine triphosphate in the Ringer buffer, fructose-6-phosphate, glucose-6-phosphate, and phosphoenolpyruvate were identifled as products of fructose- 14 C metabolism. Metabolic traps of unlabeled triose phosphates produced some increase in the accumulation of radioactive phosphate esters but did not result in the identification of additional intermediates. No differences between fructose-l- 14 C and fructose-6- 14 C were noted in the yield of 14 C0 2 or in the identified nonvolatile products which included asparate, glutamate, lactate, citrate, fumarate, malate, and succinate. These data provide no reason to suspect deviation from the Embden-Meyerhof pathway and the citric acid cycle in utilization of fructose by bovine spermatozoa.
BOTULISM. STUDIES ON THE MANNER IN WHICH THE TOXIN OF CLOSTRIDIUM BOTULINUM ACTS UPON THE BODY : I. THE EFFECT UPON THE AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM.

1. In addition to the effect upon the fibers of the parasympathetic nervous system which was described in a previous report (1), the toxin of Clostridium botilinum. Types A and B, exerts an influence upon the endings of the motor fibers of the voluntary nervous system which leads to a marked susceptibility to fatigue. It has not been determined whether the damage is in the anatomical nerve endings of the somatic motor nerve fibers or upon the myoneural junction, but it is not of the nature of an organic destruction of tissue. 2. There is no effect upon the sensory fibers of the peripheral nerves. 3. The muscle cells of the smooth and striated muscles are not affected. 4. The disturbances in function which have been demonstrated in the voluntary and involuntary nervous systems fully explain the characteristic signs and symptoms of botulinus intoxication.
A comparison of four gravimetric fine particle sampling methods

A study was conducted to compare four gravimetric methods of measuring fine particle (PM2.5) concentrations in air: the BGI, Inc. PQ200 Federal Reference Method PM2.5 (FRM) sampler; the Harvard-Marple Impactor (HI); the BGI, Inc. GK2.05 KTL Respirable/Thoracic Cyclone (KTL); and the AirMetrics MiniVol (MiniVol). Pairs of FRM, HI, and KTL samplers and one MiniVol sampler were collocated and 24-hr integrated PM2.5 samples were collected on 21 days from January 6 through April 9, 2000. The mean and standard deviation of PM2.5 levels from the FRM samplers were 13.6 and 6.8 microg/m3, respectively. Significant systematic bias was found between mean concentrations from the FRM and the MiniVol (1.14 microg/m3, p = 0.0007), the HI and the MiniVol (0.85 microg/m3, p = 0.0048), and the KTL and the MiniVol (1.23 microg/m3, p = 0.0078) according to paired t test analyses. Linear regression on all pairwise combinations of the sampler types was used to evaluate measurements made by the samplers. None of the regression intercepts was significantly different from 0, and only two of the regression slopes were significantly different from 1, that for the FRM and the MiniVol [beta1 = 0.91, 95% CI (0.83-0.99)] and that for the KTL and the MiniVol [beta1 = 0.88, 95% CI (0.78-0.98)]. Regression R2 terms were 0.96 or greater between all pairs of samplers, and regression root mean square error terms (RMSE) were 1.65 microg/m3 or less. These results suggest that the MiniVol will underestimate measurements made by the FRM, the HI, and the KTL by an amount proportional to PM2.5 concentration. Nonetheless, these results indicate that all of the sampler types are comparable if approximately 10% variation on the mean levels and on individual measurement levels is considered acceptable and the actual concentration is within the range of this study (5-35 microg/m3).
On the existence of optimum cyclic burst correcting codes over GF(q)

A cyclic b-burst correcting code over GF(q) of redundancy r and length n=(q/sup r-b+1/-1)/(q-1) is said to be optimum. It is proved that a necessary condition for the existence of such a code is the existence of a square-free polynomial in GF(q)(x) of degree b-1 which is not divisible by x such that its period and the degrees of its irreducible factors are relatively prime to q-1. Moreover, if such a polynomial exists, then there are an infinite number of optimum cyclic b-burst correcting codes over GF(q). >
New perspectives on kinetics of excitons in Cu2O

Abstract Ortho – para conversion and Auger recombination of excitons in Cu 2 O are studied by time- and space-resolved luminescence. The interconversion between orthoexcitons and lower-lying paraexcitons is accurately measured at low excitation levels, where ortho and paraexcitons are in thermal equilibrium. Temperature- and stress-dependences of the interconversion rate D ( T , Δ ) imply that down-conversion occurs by TA phonon emission, which provides the needed rotation of the lattice to induce a spin flip. As the excitation level increases, excitons start to undergo a strong density-dependent Auger recombination. We report the measurements of the Auger constant A ( T ) over the temperature range 72–212 K. The measured Auger constant is found to depend roughly inversely with the exciton gas temperature over this range and its absolute magnitude is much larger than the present theoretical prediction. The large value of A and a 1/ T gas dependence imply that a thermodynamic BEC of excitons may be impossible to produce in this crystal.
Peer reference redefined: new uses for undergraduate students

Purpose – This paper aims to redefine the peer reference model – using student assistants to staff the reference desk – by expanding it to include upper‐level undergraduate students from various disciplines providing full reference service with minimal supervision as well as performing paraprofessional‐level duties.Design/methodology/approach – Set within a backdrop of budget cuts, severe time and staffing limitations, and increasing demands for library services, the paper assesses the processes and results of implementing this new model of peer reference at a medium‐sized academic library.Findings – The findings suggest that undergraduate students are not only capable but perhaps optimal at providing high‐quality reference service to their peers.Originality/value – This paper redefines the peer reference model, using a case study carried out in a US university library.
History of surgery in Maine.

The history of surgery, especially in New England, has been and continues to be inexorably linked to medical schools and teaching hospitals. There has not been a medical school in Maine for more than 80 years. Bowdoin Medical School, Brunswick, Me, founded in 1820, was the ninth in the United States. It foundered in 1920 on the shoals of the Carnegie-financed The Flexner Report. During its century of existence and for years after, this school played a major role in the medical and surgical affairs of the state of Maine, including its affiliation with the first teaching hospital in the state, the Maine General Hospital, founded in Portland in 1872, and the progenitor of the present-day Maine Medical Center.
Comparative effects of arabinosyl nucleosides upon the postnatal growth and development of the rat.

Extract: Some arabinosyl nucleosides and halogenated deoxyribosides are currently being used as antiviral chemotherapeutic agents. The halogenated deoxyriboside, 5-fluoro-2′-deoxyuri-dine (FUDR), the arabinosyl nucleoside, 3-β-D-arabino-furanosylcytosine (Ara-C), and other antimetabolites are known to interfere specifically with growth and cellular organization of the cerebellum postnatally. It has been shown that there is a difference in toxicity in in vitro tissue culture, adult animals and humans, between Ara-C and adenine arabinoside (Ara-A). Therefore, we compared these nucleosides and the deaminated metabolite of Ara-A, 9-β-D-arabino-furanosylhypoxanthine (hypoxanthine arabinoside, Ara-Hx), by administering varying doses of each nucleoside to two litters each (19–25 animals) of 2-day-old white rats. The Ara-C was given in doses of 3, 5, 10, and 15 mg/kg; the Ara-A 3, 5, 10, 20, 30, and 50 mg/kg; and the Ara-Hx 10 and 20 mg/kg. Injections were given on days 2, 3, 4, and 5. Additional litters were given injections of saline solution and used as controls. All animals were observed for survival, weight gain, vigor, and developmental motor behavior. The cerebellum was examined grossly and histologically at various intervals. The Ara-A and Ara-Hx-treated animals differed in no way in any of the variables studied from saline-injected controls. There was a definite increase in morbidity and mortality among the Ara-C-treated animals. Those receiving the lowest dose of Ara-C (3 mg/kg) were retarded in growth and there was disorganization of the cytoarchitecture of the cerebellum early in development; however, repair occurred and no behavioral or developmental abnormalities resulted in mature animals. With the higher doses of Ara-C (≥ 5 mg/kg), profound disruption of cerebellar cytoarchitecture occurred; both gross neurologic abnormalities and marked growth retardation developed in adult animals which survived. Speculation: There are problems with assuming direct or unifying structure-action relations among chemotherapeutic agents. Efforts should be exerted to determine accurately the kinetic parameters and therapeutic index for each new drug as it comes into use. The data presented here show that, in doses effective against DNA viral infection, the purine nucleosides Ara-A and Ara-Hx did not substantially impair DNA replication and inhibit cellular function in the rat cerebellum in comparison to the pyrimidine nucleoside, Ara-C. It is interesting to speculate that Ara-A may be incorporated preferentially into viral nucleic acid by viral enzymes, as in the case of 5-bromodeoxycytidine by herpes virus-infected cells. Assuming that Ara-A is proven further to be an effective antiviral compound, the lack of toxicity upon rapidly replicating cells of various systems gives it an obvious advantage in comparison with other compounds which inhibit DNA viral replication.
Action of Bacteriophage upon Production of in vivo Prepared Toxic Substance of Bacillus Typhosus.

In a previous communication1 we reported the results of the inoculation of guinea pigs with the toxic material obtained from the exudate of experimental typhoid peritonitis. The filtered toxic material produced lesions closely simulating those of human typhoid fever and the animals died after 3 or 4 inoculations. The toxic substance produced in this manner was found to be of rather low potency. Single injections of from 3 to 5 cc. failed to produce death although the animals became sick and showed marked reactions to the inoculations.It was thought that the employment of typhoid bacteriophage in conjunction with this in vivo method may serve the purpose of yielding a more toxic substance. It has already been shown that the action of bacteriophage in vitro has but little if any effect upon the toxicity of certain microorganisms. It was, however, thought that since the toxin employed previously by us was prepared in vivo, the presence of this lytic agent in the field of conflict between the host and the inv...
Markedly increased clearance of vancomycin during hemodialysis using polysulfone dialyzers

Clearance of a drug during hemodialysis is affected by drug specific, membrane specific and dialysis specific factors [1, 2]. Drug specific properties determining dialysability include its volume of distribution (Vd), protein binding and molecular weight. Dialyzer membrane specific factors include surface area, permeability and adherence of the drug to the membrane. Finally, blood flow and dialysate flow also influence drug clearance. Vancomycin is commonly used in patients for the treatment of gram + infections. More than 90% of the drug is excreted by the kidneys; however, in the presence of renal failure significant dosage adjustments are required. The half life of vancomycin is quite prolonged in ESRD (200 hours) as compared to those with normal renal function (6 to 8 hours) [3–9]. Typically, vancomycin is not appreciably removed by the cuprophane or cellulose acetate membranes used in conventional hemodialysis. However, with the introduction of the newer, more permeable membranes, such as the polysulfone dialyzers, the pharmacokinetics of vancomycin removal during hemodialysis may be increased since vancomycin has a small Vd (0.47 to 0.84 liter/kg), minimal protein binding [3, 5, 9] and a relatively low molecular weight (1500 daltons) [3]. The purpose of the present study was therefore, to determine whether polysulfone membranes increased the clearance of vancomycin.
Endolymphatic hydrops in otologic syphilis: a temporal bone study.

HYPOTHESIS Endolymphatic hydrops in temporal bones with otologic syphilis directly relates to osteitis, new bone formation, and/or resorption along the course of the endolymphatic system. BACKGROUND Meniere's disease and otosyphilis both cause progressive endolymphatic hydrops, and the mechanism of hydrops formation in each disease process remains unclear. Traditionally, osteitic changes of the labyrinthine capsule were thought to lead to endolymphatic hydrops in syphilitic temporal bones. More recently, authors have suggested that microgummata and inflammatory change obliterating the endolymphatic duct and sac may cause endolymphatic hydrops in otosyphilis. METHODS This is a histopathologic study of 11 temporal bones from patients with otosyphilis. Gathered data include presence/absence of endolymphatic hydrops of the cochlea, saccule, and utricle; bony changes involving the endolymphatic duct and sac; a description of bony changes throughout the temporal bone; and the degree of atrophy of the organ of Corti, spiral ganglion, and stria vascularis. RESULTS The presence of osteitic changes surrounding the endolymphatic duct and sac and whether the endolymphatic system was obliterated did not directly correlate with the presence of endolymphatic hydrops in this study. CONCLUSION We reject the hypothesis that otologic syphilis is directly related to osteitis, new bone formation, and/or resorption along the course of the endolymphatic duct and sac. Although a change in the endolymphatic system may contribute to the formation of endolymphatic hydrops in otologic syphilis, it is not the only cause. Whether otosyphilis and Meniere's disease share a common mechanism of endolymphatic hydrops formation remains unclear, and the relationship between these causes of hydrops should be investigated further.
Studies of the Delayed Neutrons. II. Chemical Isolation of the 56-Second and the 23-Second Activities

The 23-second delayed neutron activity is found to follow the chemistry of iodine, and the 56-second delayed neutron activity is found to follow the chemistry of bromine. Comparison with known beta-emitters of like half-lives suggests that the neutron-emitting nuclei may be ${\mathrm{Xe}}^{137}$ and ${\mathrm{Kr}}^{87}$.
Record Values and Surviving Glacial Moraines

Summary Estimating the number of glacial advances from surviving glacial debris can, amazingly enough, be cast as a records problem for which there is a substantial statistical literature. As a result, instructors may illustrate method of moments and maximum-likelihood estimation techniques with an interesting problem in the physical sciences.
Nationwide Inpatient Sample and National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Give Different Results in Hip Fracture Studies

Background National databases are being used with increasing frequency to conduct orthopaedic research. However, there are important differences in these databases, which could result in different answers to similar questions; this important potential limitation pertaining to database research in orthopaedic surgery has not been adequately explored.
Probabilities of identity‐by‐descent patterns in sibships when the parents are not genotyped

An assumption-free algorithm has been applied to compute the probabilities of all possible identity-by-descent (IBD) configurations when the parents have not been genotyped. These probabilities can be used to determine the amount of information that a particular sibship will bring to a nonparametric linkage analysis. It is shown that the number of possible configurations can be extremely large even when the markers are closely spaced and are rather polymorphic. Further, it is not always possible to reduce this number to a manageable one simply by consideration of the relative probabilities of the configurations.
Efficacy of the health belief model for predicting intention to pursue genetic testing for colorectal cancer.

This study examined the Health Belief Model’s efficacy to predict intention to undergo genetic testing for the Colorectal Carcinoma (CRC) gene within a rural/frontier setting. Survey data were collected on 558 Southwest Montanan residents. Regression analysis revealed that perceived benefits, including affordability and satisfying curiosity, were the strongest indicators of intention to undergo genetic testing for CRC. Select consumer barriers and cues to action variables were also found to be significant predictors. Collectively the model explained approximately 36% of the variance. These preliminary findings have implications for genetic counselors, health practitioners and health care providers concerned with genetic counseling and addressing the public health issue of CRC.
Language and Gender: Positioning ideas and subjects

As we talk to one another, we express certain viewpoints, propose certain plans, query certain ideas. We not only “make moves,” we also “take positions.” In the next couple of chapters we will consider the content of discourse, the substance of the positions to which we commit ourselves as we speak. In this chapter we will examine some of the complexity of positioning and repositioning ourselves as discourse progresses. There are two distinct but intertwined aspects of discourse positioning. On the one hand, we position ourselves vis-a-vis meaningful content that we and others first express. We push ideas and projects with more or less force, we modulate them in response to actual or anticipated reactions of others, we embrace them passionately, we explore them seriously, we mock them disdainfully, we play with them and with the linguistic forms we use for expressing them. On the other hand, we position ourselves vis-a-vis the others with whom we are developing and elaborating a meaningful discourse. We attend to the others' ideas and feelings and we assess their capacities, their institutional status, their stance towards us. Not only do we modulate and modify our own ideas and feelings, we also place one another in particular (and changing) discursive positions. These positions are many and varied. Some kinds of positions recur: facilitator, pupil, tutor, partner, leader, assistant, competitor, expert, novice, judge, plaintiff, defendant, supporting witness, clown, advisor, sympathetic friend, playmate, storyteller, hero, coward.
How good is OpenMP

The OpenMP standard defines an Application Programming Interface (API) for shared memory computers. Since its introduction in 1997, it has grown to become one of the most commonly used API's for parallel programming. But success in the market doesn't necessarily imply successful computer science. Is OpenMP a "good" programming environment? What does it even mean to call a programming environment good? And finally, once we understand how good or bad OpenMP is; what can we do to make it even better? In this paper, we will address these questions.
Multifaceted Approach to Reduce Use of Meperidine in an Acute Care Setting

PurposeA system-wide approach to reduce inappropriate use of meperidine in a 651-bed teaching hospital is described.SummaryBaseline review indicated significant inappropriate usage of meperidine at...
A maximum entropy approach for collaborative filtering

Collaborative filtering (CF) involves predicting the preferences of a user for a set of items given partial knowledge of the user's preferences for other items, while leveraging a database of profiles for other users. CF has applications e.g. in predicting Web sites a person will visit and in automated searching of document databases. Fundamentally, CF is a pattern recognition task, but a formidable one, often involving a huge feature space, a large data set, and many missing features. Even more daunting is the fact that a CF inference engine must be capable of predicting any (user-selected) items, given any available set of partial knowledge on the user's other preferences. In other words, the model must be designed to solve any of a huge (combinatoric) set of possible inference tasks. CF techniques include memory-based, classification-based, and statistical modelling approaches. Among these, modelling approaches scale best with large data sets and are the most adept at handling missing features. The disadvantage of these methods lies in the statistical assumptions (e.g. feature independence), which may be unjustified. To address this shortcoming, we propose a new model-based CF method, based on the maximum entropy principle. For the MS Web application, the new method is demonstrated to outperform a number of CF approaches, including naive Bayes and latent variable (cluster) models, support vector machines (SVMs), and the (Pearson) correlation method.
An Introduction to Deviance-Regulation Theory: The Effect of Behavioral Norms on Message Framing:

The authors introduce a social judgment framework they term deviance-regulation theory. This theory proposes that people self-regulate more on the basis of the perceived social consequences of deviating from behavioral norms than on the basis of the perceived social consequences of conforming to behavioral norms. The implications of this model were explored in the context of persuasive health communication. Four studies demonstrated that health communication had its greatest effects on behavioral intention and behavioral willingness when it associated images with deviant behavioral alternatives. Thus, when participants believed their peers made healthy decisions, they were most influenced by negatively framed communication that emphasized the undesirable attributes of people who made unhealthy decisions. In contrast, when they believed their peers made unhealthy decisions, they were most influenced by positively framed communication that emphasized the desirable attributes of people who made healthy decis...
Effect of vertical boiler tube diameter on heat transfer coefficient in gas-fluidized beds

Abstract Experiments have been conducted in a 15.2 cm internal diameter air-fluidized bed to investigate the dependence of the heat transfer coefficient h w
Grapes, Juice and Must Quality Control

The capture of natural essences and flavors can be elusive to even the most experienced of winemasters. Most wine experts agree that the largest single variable in winemaking is the fruit, both in terms of variety and condition.
A Comparative Study of Responsibility in Libel

Who is held responsible for libelous publication? The author examines American, French and Italian laws and then compares them with Egyptian law. He finds the Egyptian and Italian laws to be most s...
The BTeV Experiment: Physics and Detector

Exploring the large number of heavy quarks produced at Fermilab’s Tevatron collider, the BTeV experiment is designed to make precision measurements of Standard Model parameters and to perform an exhaustive search for physics beyond the Standard Model. In my presentation at LHC2003 I presented some highlights of the BTeV physics program and discussed a few of the many technological challenges the BTeV collaboration faces designing and building the detector
Permanent Magnetism In Exchange-Coupled Nanocomposites

The magnetic properties of permanent magnetic nanocomposites are investigated both experimentally and by model calculations. Rare-earth transition-metal films and nanocomposite thin films containing a L10 hard phase (PtFe) have been prepared by plasma sputtering and heat treatment. By choosing suitable heat-treatment processes a nearly ideal nanostructure and high energy products of up to about 50 MGOe have been achieved for the Fe-Pt system. The behavior of the nanocomposites is discussed in terms of a model applicable to nearly ideal magnets, where there are no pronounced shoulders in the hysteresis loops. Analytic expressions for M(H) are obtained for a number of cases, and it is discussed how the loops depend on the micromagnetic parameters of the involved phases. A novel aspect of magnetic nanostructures is that very small magnetic grains exhibit very large energy products, even if they are intrinsically soft-magnetic.
Development of a fluorescent reporter to assess iron regulatory protein activity in living cells

Through the insertion of an iron responsive element (IRE) into a pd2ECFP vector, we demonstrate a noninvasive method for determining alterations in iron regulatory protein (IRP) activity that results in changes in protein translation in living cells. This construct takes advantage of the specifically iron-dependent interaction between IRPs that bind IREs on mRNAs to posttranscriptionally regulate protein expression in a manner similar to ferritin production. In this report, we demonstrate, using HEK-293 cells, that an IRE-driven fluorescent reporter can be used to observe changes in cellular iron status that are sufficient to alter protein synthesis. When iron availability was decreased, there was less cyan fluorescent protein (CFP) expression, suggesting that IRPs bind to the IRE and block protein translation. Conversely, exposing the cells to iron increased CFP fluorescence. This construct has advantages over traditionally used dyes and existing IRE driven constructs because it can be used to repeatedly study iron-influenced protein production over extended periods of time. The future applications of this construct include investigation of how mutations in cells may impact cellular iron metabolism and how various types of exogenously applied trophic, stress, and therapeutic agents may impact cellular iron metabolism.
Structure and function of the human Werner syndrome gene promoter: Evidence for transcriptional modulation

The Werner syndrome (WS) is an autosomal recessive segmental progeroid syndrome caused by mutations in a novel member ( WRN ) of the RecQ family of helicases. Somatic WS cells are hypermutable and have elongated S phases, suggesting possible defects in DNA replication and/or repair. As an initial approach to the investigation of how this locus might be responsive to DNA damage, we determined the structure of the human WRN promoter. The WRN promoter region has two transcription initiation sites and exhibits several features characteristic of so-called constitutive promoters, including the absence of TATA and CAAT boxes. A luciferase reporter assay revealed that the upstream promoter was used 2-10-fold less frequently than the downstream promoter, the variation being a function of cell type. The activity of the WRN promoter was dramatically reduced in cells from WS patients. The reduction of activity was not seen in three other promoters tested, including one TATA-less promoter and one TATA-containing promoter. This is consistent with the presence of a positive regulatory mechanism of WRN expression.
Conscious Vision in Action

It is natural to assume that the fine-grained and highly accurate spatial information present in visual experience is often used to guide our bodily actions. Yet this assumption has been challenged by proponents of the Two Visual Systems Hypothesis (TVSH), according to which visuomotor programming is the responsibility of a “zombie” processing stream whose sources of bottom-up spatial information are entirely non-conscious (Clark, 2007, 2009; Goodale & Milner, 1992, 2004a; Milner & Goodale, 1995/2006, 2008). In many formulations of TVSH, the role of conscious vision in action is limited to “recognizing objects, selecting targets for action, and determining what kinds of action, broadly speaking, to perform” (Clark, 2007, p. 570). Our aim in this study is to show that the available evidence not only fails to support this dichotomous view but actually reveals a significant role for conscious vision in motor programming, especially for actions that require deliberate attention.
Contributions of Benzodiazepines to Cancer Therapy

We have reviewed the therapeutic effects of benzodiazepines employed as adjuncts to cancer treatment. These agents have been used primarily for alleviating or attenuating situational anxiety, insomnia, chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, and anticipatory nausea and vomiting. Situational anxiety not corrected by psychosocial support, symptom control, or time may be successfully treated with benzodiazepines. Procedure-related anxiety, for example, that related to bone marrow biopsy, venipuncture, intrathecal therapy, and the insertion of subclavian and femoral catheters, is a serious problem that may be alleviated by the use of benzodiazepines. Insomnia not caused by a depression serious enough to warrant treatment with a tricyclic antidepressant also may be successfully treated with benzodiazepines. Many clinicians have found benzodiazepines to be useful adjuncts to a cancer chemotherapy regimen because of their anxiolytic, sedative, and amnesic properties and also because of their suspected antiemetic properties when these drugs are used in conjunction with known antiemetic agents. The ability of lorazepam to induce antegrade amnesia has proved particularly useful in alleviating anticipatory nausea and vomiting connected with repeated courses of cytotoxic chemotherapy. Furthermore, since benzodiazepines are relatively safe drugs, their continued and probably expanded uses as cancer therapy adjuncts can be anticipated.
An Introduction To Instrumental Variables For epidemiologists

Instrumental-variable (IV) methods were invented over 70 years ago, but remain uncommon in epidemiology. Over the past decade or so, non-parametric versions of IV methods have appeared that connect IV methods to causal and measurement-error models important in epidemiological applications. This paper provides an introduction to those developments, illustrated by an application of IV methods to non-parametric adjustment for non-compliance in randomized trials.
Fossil methane source dominates Cariaco Basin water column methane geochemistry

Natural radiocarbon measurements on methane (14C-CH4) extracted from the Cariaco Basin water column show that 98% of the methane in Cariaco Basin waters is derived from fossil (radiocarbon-free) sources. Previous work on Cariaco Basin methane (CH4) considered only a diagenetic sediment source. Similar measurements of sediment 14C-CH4 indicate that sediment CH4 is produced from modern particulate material; thus the sediment and water column CH4 have distinct sources. Using time-dependent CH4 geochemical box models which include a fossil seep CH4 source term, we estimate 1) 0.024-0.028 Tg y-1 of seep CH4 are added to the Cariaco Basin water column, 2) the water column CH4 will reach a steady-state concentration by the year 2065, and 3) the seep CH4 inputs possibly began in 1967, following the July 30 Caracas earthquake. Oxidizing this CH4 to dissolved inorganic carbon does not appear to affect Cariaco Basin 14C chronologies. Copyright 2005 by the American Geophysical Union.
Effect of Si Content on Deformation Behavior of DC Cast Al-Si Alloys

The deformation behavior of DC cast Al-2Si and Al-15Si alloys have been studied by means of compression test at temperature range of 300-500°C and strain rate range of 0.01-5 s-1. The results show that the flow stress of the Al-Si alloys increases with decreasing compression temperature and increasing strain rate. The flow curves determined from the compression tests exhibit that the deformation of the materials is controlled by two competing mechanisms: strain hardening and flow softening. Higher silicon content in the alloys also leads to higher flow stress during deformation and tend to show more significant flow softening. Particle damage during the deformation may have an influence on the flow curves of the alloys.
Cyclic Voltammetric Studies of Electropolymerized Films Based on Ruthenium(II/III) Bis(1,10 phenanthroline) (4-methyl-4’vinyl-2,2’-bipyridine)

A ruthenium complex of bis(1,10-phenanthroline)(4-methyl-4’vinyl-2,2’-bipyridine) was used to modify glassy carbon electrodes during cyclic voltammetry. The modification procedure is rapid and produces a polymer film on the glassy carbon electrode. Characterization cyclic voltammograms of the ruthenium-based polymer films in supporting electrolyte solutions are very similar to the electropolymerization cyclic voltammograms. The polymer thin films derived from the ruthenium complex exhibit Nernstian electron transfer with respect to the applied potential at low scan rates. This is shown by the small peak separation between the cathodic and anodic peaks during characterization. At scan rates greater than 1.00 V/sec, the films model the Randles-Sevcik equation for diffusion-controlled mass transfer processes. Surface coverage ranges from 9.42 x 10-11 mol/cm2 to 4.76 x 10-10 mol/cm2 and was calculated by integrating the area under the anodic peak of the characterization cyclic voltammograms.
Defect-based test optimization for analog/RF circuits for near-zero DPPM applications

Analog circuits are often tested based on their specifications. While specification-based testing ensures the initial product quality, full testing is often not possible in high volume production. Moreover, even full specification-based testing cannot guarantee that the circuit does not contain any physical defects. Some application domains require near-zero defect levels independent of whether the specifications are met. In this work, we present a defect based test optimization method focusing on defective parts per million (DPPM) minimization. We extract potential defects through inductive fault analysis (IFA) and reduce the number of tests without degrading the test quality. In order to achieve near zero DPPM, we employ outlier analysis to identify defective circuits that cannot be identified using specification based methods. Simulation results on an LNA show that DPPM is reduced down to 0 at a cost of 0.2% yield loss with the proposed method.
Hetero-core fiber optic binary sensors based on pulse loss change with tandem connection for security network

A hetero-core fiber optic sensor has the capability of combining sensing and communication signals in a single fiber transmission line and has many advantages for environmental information monitoring such as home-security. This is because its cost-effectiveness due to its temperature independency and intensity based measurement. We have developed a hetero-core fiber optic binary sensor that can be connected in tandem to detect the number of doors and windows that are opened or closed. In this paper, we propose a new improved method for using hetero-core fiber optic binary sensors, which are regarded as binary switches, with tandem connection. A unique pulse loss change enables the connected switch system to identify the states of the switches. As a result, the total optical loss in the transmission line is reduced. Therefore, the number of binary switches connected in tandem can be increased on a single transmission line. The unique pulse peaks in loss can be induced by the flat spring flipping and, in addition, achieved by means of adjusting the position of the flat spring inside the binary switch module. The typical pulse peak and insertion loss of each binary switch are estimated to be changed with ranging from 0.13 to 0.75 dB in positive, from −0.47 to −0.03 dB in negative sides and from 2.23 to 2.61 dB, respectively, with the position of the hetero-core portion within the binary switch module. Two binary switches are successfully demonstrated tandem connected monitoring along a single transmission line by the optical loss change. Results of our experiments show that the number of binary switches connected in tandem can be increased significantly on a single transmission line.
Real-Time Imaging of Perivascular Transport of Nanoparticles During Convection Enhanced Delivery in the Rat Cortex

Convection-enhanced delivery (CED) is a promising technique for administering large therapeutics that do not readily cross the blood brain barrier to neural tissue. It is of vital importance to understand how large drug constructs move through neural tissue during CED to optimize construct and delivery parameters so that drugs are concentrated in the targeted tissue, with minimal leakage outside the targeted zone. Experiments have shown that liposomes, viral vectors, high molecular weight tracers, and nanoparticles infused into neural tissue localize in the perivascular spaces of blood vessels within the brain parenchyma. In this work, we used two-photon excited fluorescence microscopy to monitor the real-time distribution of nanoparticles infused in the cortex of live, anesthetized rats via CED. Fluorescent nanoparticles of 24 and 100 nm nominal diameters were infused into rat cortex through microfluidic probes. We found that perivascular spaces provide a high permeability path for rapid convective transport of large nanoparticles through tissue, and that the effects of perivascular spaces on transport are more significant for larger particles that undergo hindered transport through the extracellular matrix. This suggests that the vascular topology of the target tissue volume must be considered when delivering large therapeutic constructs via CED.
Stationary transducer response to planetary-gear vibration excitation II: Effects of torque modulations

Abstract The frequency spectra of the outputs of transducers fixed to the ring gears of planetary-gear systems contain useful information pertaining to the health of such systems. The effects on such frequency spectra arising from non-uniform loading carried by the M planets in such systems was derived and illustrated in “Stationary transducer response to planetary-gear vibration excitation with non-uniform planet loading,” by Mark and Hines [W.D. Mark, J.A. Hines, Stationary transducer response to planetary-gear vibration excitation with non-uniform planet loading, Mechanical Systems and Signal Processing 23 (2009) 1366–1381]. The present paper extends this earlier analysis by predicting the added effects on such frequency spectra caused by planet-carrier torque modulations. It is shown that such torque modulations produce “sideband” harmonics on the harmonic contributions arising from uniform loading carried by the planets, and additional “sideband” harmonics on the harmonic contributions arising from the lack of uniformity of loading carried by the planets. An example is discussed for torque modulations with a period of 1/B times the planet-carrier rotation period. This example illustrates the effects of torque modulations on the transducer output spectra of a UH-60A rotorcraft with a B=4 blade rotor and M=5 planets.
Concluding Remarks on Lewis’ “A Priori Analytical” Justification of Induction

Lewis’ argument for an “a priori analytical” justification of induction can be summarized in the following syllogism: 1. If something exists, then we can make some true empirical generalization, 2. Something exists, 3. Ergo, we can make some true empirical generalization.
Financing and Signaling Under Asymmetric Information

This paper presents a first experimental investigation of the underpricing-signaling hypothesis in a financing-investment environment under asymmetric information. Importantly, the paper tests and compares this hypothesis under the two institutions for financing offers that are commonly observed in corporate financial markets: take-it-or-leave-it offer (TLO) and the competitive bidding offer (CBO). The results suggest that underpricing can serve as a signal of quality but not sustainable as a repeat strategy. Over time, the high-quality firms converge to a pooling strategy rather than bear the cost of signaling. Additionally, underpricing is lower under CBO than under TLO institution due to competitive bidding. Signaling under CBO institution may be less salient due to possible mimicking by the low-quality firms.
Origins of the insect enteric nervous system: differentiation of the enteric ganglia from a neurogenic epithelium

The enteric nervous system (ENS) of the moth Manduca sexta is organized into two distinct cellular domains: an anterior domain that includes several small ganglia on the surface of the foregut, and a more posterior domain consisting of a branching nerve plexus (the enteric plexus) that spans the foregut-midgut boundary. Previously, we showed that the neurons of the posterior domain, the enteric plexus, are generated from a large placode that invaginates from the caudal lip of the foregut; subsequently, the cells become distributed throughout the enteric plexus by a sequence of active migration. We now demonstrate that the neurons of the anterior domain, the cells of the enteric ganglia, arise via a distinct developmental sequence. Shortly after the foregut has begun to form, three neurogenic zones differentiate within the foregut epithelium and give rise to chains of cells that emerge onto the foregut surface. The three zones are not sites of active mitosis, as indicated by the absence of labelling with a thymidine analogue and by clonal analyses using intracellularly injected dyes. Rather, the zones serve as loci through which epithelial cells are recruited into a sequence of delamination and neuronal differentiation. As they emerge from the epithelium, the cells briefly become mitotically active, each cell dividing once or twice. In this manner, they resemble the midline precursor class of neural progenitors in the insect central nervous system more than neuroblast stem cells. The progeny of these zone-derived precursors then gradually coalesce into the ganglia and nerves of the anterior ENS. Although this reorganization results in some variability in the precise configuration of neurons within the ganglia, the overall morphology of the ganglia is highly stereotyped, consisting of cortical layers of cells that surround a ventral neuropil. In addition, a number of the neurons within the frontal and hypocerebral ganglia express identifiable phenotypes in a manner that is similar to many cells of the insect central nervous system. These observations indicate that the differentiation of the enteric ganglia in Manduca involves an unusual combination of features seen during the formation of other regions of the nervous system and, as such, constitutes a distinct program of neurogenesis.
Depth-Resolved Backscattering of Polarized Light from Scattering Medium: Simulation and Experiment

Based on Monte Carlo simulation and Mie theory, an efficient algorithm has been developed for depth-resolved backscattering of polarized light through turbid medium. A low-coherence reflectometer is used to perform the experiment on tissue phantoms.
Simulated Distillation Approach to the Gas Chromatographic Analysis of Feedstock and Products in the Deoxygenation of Lipids to Hydrocarbon Biofuels

This study focused on devising a method for accurately analyzing the reaction products derived from the upgrading of fats and oils to hydrocarbons. A single method capable of identifying and quantifying all the major constituents commonly found in samples of interest was developed, including the triglycerides and fatty acids constituting the feed, the alkanes resulting from the deoxygenation of the feed, and other intermediates and byproducts, such as alkenes, alcohols, aldehydes, and esters. A standard GC–FID-based method for the analysis of hydrocarbon mixtures (ASTM D 2887) was used as a starting point, and through a number of modifications to both hardware and programming, a method capable of affording a single chromatogram in which all the aforementioned components are fully eluted and well-resolved was developed. In addition to its reliability and its versatility, this approach is relatively fast, straightforward, and inexpensive, as no sample derivatization prior to analysis is required.