cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Measurement of piezoelectric strength of ZnO thin films for MEMS applications

A new method of measuring the thin-film piezoelectric parameter , which determines the actuating strength of the film, has been devised. Dubbed the `plank method', it allows the magnitude and sign of the parameter to be measured accurately. Finite-element analysis was used to aid development of the method by modeling static behavior of the test device. Experimental dynamic analysis was also used to verify the method. Plank-method measurements, together with bulge-test measurements, were used to determine , the biaxial modulus of elasticity, and the residual stress of polycrystalline ZnO films deposited by rf magnetron sputtering. Values varied strongly with position in the deposition chamber, and of both signs was clearly observed. The characterization techniques presented are applicable to other piezoelectric film materials as well.
Is Mediastinoscopy Necessary in the Evaluation of Lung Cancer

Abstract The records of 96 consecutive patients who underwent mediastinoscopy and were ultimately shown to have bronchogenic carcinoma were reviewed. Indirect tests for mediastinal tumor metastases in these patients included bronchoscopy and chest roentgenograms in all 96, mediastinal laminagrams in 65, esophagograms in 27, carinal biopsy in 23, bronchograms in 5, pulmonary angiograms in 5, azygograms in 2, and aortograms in 2 patients. Of the 43 patients in this series in whom all indirect tests revealed no metastases, mediastinoscopy showed nodal involvement in 11 (28%), who were thus spared unnecessary thoracotomy. On the other hand, if negative mediastinoscopy had not cast doubt on the validity of indirect tests that seemed to show metastases, an operation might actually have been denied to 14 patients who were ultimately proved to have anatomically resectable disease.
Adaptation of cancellous bone to overloading in the adult rat: a single photon absorptiometry and histomorphometry study.

Nine-month-old female rats were subjected to right hindlimb immobilization or served as controls for 0, 2, 10, 18, and 26 weeks and were double-labeled with bone markers. The right limb was immobilized against the abdomen and considered unloaded, while the left limb was overloaded during ambulation. Single-photon absorptiometry was performed on intact femur; static and dynamic histomorphometry were performed on 20 μm thick undecalcified frontal sections of the proximal tibial metaphysis. Changes in the continuously overloaded limb was compared to that in both limbs of age-matched control animals. Single-photon absorptiometry detected increases of bone mineral density of +6%, +6%, and +5% in the proximal and +9%, +7%, and +10% in the distal femoral metaphyses after 10, 18, and 26 weeks of continuous overloading. Morphometrically, significant changes occurred in proximal tibial metaphyses compared to age-matched controls; trabecular area increased +41% and +45%, trabecular number increased +31% and +32%, and trabecular separation decreased −30% and −31% after 18 and 26 weeks of overloading. A significant increase in mineral apposition rate (+38%) was found only at 26 weeks of overloading. Insignificant decreases in both eroded and labeled bone surfaces occurred at all time periods. The histomorphometric changes indicated that increased cancellous bone mass was caused by an increase in bone formation activity (i.e., increases in mineral apposition and bone formation rates) and a decrease in remodeling space (i.e., decrease in bone eroded surface). These findings indicate that the adult skeleton can quickly adapt to the increased biomechanical needs by increasing its cancellous bone mass with an adequate structural pattern. It further support Frost's postulate that increasing skeletal mechanical usage stimulates bone modeling and depresses bone remodeling to increase and maintain bone mass.
Thickness of a Rotating Liquid-Helium Film

The thickness of a rotating liquid-helium film has been measured at various angular velocities and temperatures. The results are consistent with hydrodynamical calculations assuming that the superfluid component remains at rest and that the normal component alone rotates. The failure to induce rotation in the superfluid component is interpreted as evidence that vortex lines with their axes perpendicular to the film are difficult to create.
Trinitrophenyl-ATP binding to the ArsA protein: The catalytic subunit of an anion pump

The ars operon of the conjugative R-factor R773 confers resistance to arsenicals by coding for an anion pump for extrusion of arsenicals from cells of Escherichia coli. Extrusion of arsenite requires only two polypeptides, the ArsA and ArsB proteins. Purified ArsA protein exhibits oxyanion-stimulated ATPase activity and has been shown to bind ATP by photoaffinity labeling with [alpha-32P]ATP. From sequence analysis the ArsA protein is predicted to have two nucleotide binding folds, one in the N-terminal half and one in the C-terminal half of the protein. Purified ArsA protein bound a fluorescent ATP analogue, 2',3'-O-(2,4,6-trinitrophenylcyclohexadienylidene)adenosine- 5'-triphosphate, with an apparent stoichiometry of 2 mol of nucleotide per mole of ArsA. Strains expressing plasmids with mutations in the N-terminal consensus nucleotide sequence bound only 1 mol of nucleotide per mole of protein.
Spannungsfeld einer auf den Rand einer Halbebene wirkenden Einzellast bei elastischer Anisotropie

The solution of the two-dimensional stress problem in an anisotropic medium is given in closed form for the boundary conditions of a concentrated load at a point on the straight boundary of a semi-infinite plate. The properties of a periodic repetition of such concentrated loads are discussed and compared with an existing observation of a non-uniform stress distribution in α-iron.
Stabilized mixed finite elements for deformable porous media with double porosity

Abstract Natural geomaterials such as fissured rocks and aggregated soils often exhibit a pore size distribution with two dominant pore scales, usually termed macropores and micropores. High-fidelity descriptions of these materials require an explicit treatment of the two pore regions as double porosity. We develop a finite element framework for coupled solid deformation and fluid diffusion in double porosity media that employs a thermodynamically consistent effective stress. Mixed finite elements that interpolate the solid displacement and pore pressures in the macropores and micropores are used for this purpose. In the limit of undrained deformation, the incompressibility constraint causes unstable behavior in the form of spurious pressure oscillation at the two pore scales. To circumvent this instability we develop a variant of the polynomial pressure projection technique for a twofold saddle point problem. The proposed stabilization allows the use of equal-order (linear) interpolations of the displacement and two pore pressure variables throughout the entire range of drainage condition.
Religiosity, Smoking, Exercise, and Obesity Among Southern, Community-Dwelling Older Adults:

This study examined associations between organizational (OR), nonorganizational (NOR), and intrinsic religiosity (IR) and measures of cigarette smoking, exercise, and obesity among older adults, controlling for measures of sociodemographic characteristics and comorbidity. In-home interviews were conducted among a stratified, random sample of Medicare beneficiaries from five central Alabama counties (the University of Alabama at Birmingham Study of Aging). Balanced numbers of African American and White, female and male, and rural and urban participants were recruited for the study. OR and NOR were negatively related to lifetime cigarette smoking and OR was positively related to leisure-time physical activity, even when controlling for sociodemographic characteristics and comorbidity. No measure of religiosity was related to the likelihood of being obese, and IR did not predict smoking or exercise. The authors suggest that faith-based communities may be important resources for delivering health promotion pr...
Treatment of primary gout: The present status (The W. Paul Holbrook Memorial Lecture)

The following article was delivered by Dr. Gutman as the W. Paul Holbrook Memorial Lecture at the annual meeting of the Arthritis and Rheumatism Association, in June, 1965, a variation in lay terms having been presented at the annual meeting of The Arthritis Foundation in October, 1964. It is one of two memorial lectureships established by The Arthritis Foundation to honor physicians who have made outstanding contributions to the field of rheumatology with the objective, as well, of encouraging interest among all physicians and scientists in the field of rheumatic diseases. The other lecture, in honor of Walter Bauer, was delivered by Halstead R. Holman at the interim meeting of the ARA in December, 1964. The lectureship awards are part of the National Scientific Awards Program of The Arthritis Foundation.
Art and Icon: Essays on Early Indian Art

This is a heavy book by a scholar of substance who has made important contributions to the study and interpretation of India’s arts. She and her husband Jayant Desai have been good friends, and as ...
Picoamperometric Detection of Glucose at Ultrasmall Platinum-Based Biosensors: Preparation and Characterization

A simple method is described for the construction of a glucose biosensor with good reproducibility. After electrochemical etching, the sensing tip of an etched platinum microelectrode was insulated using a synthetic rubber dip coating. The insulating layer was then heat-cured, leading to a small exposed area at the very end of the etched Pt tip, as confirmed by scanning electron microscopy. Phenol and 2-allylphenol were electropolymerized to form an extra insulating layer that effectively retained glucose oxidase (GOX) on the sensing tip of the electrode. On the basis of cyclic voltammetry measurements, the apparent radius of the biosensor tip was estimated to be between 10 and 500 nm, depending on GOX loading. With operational and storage stabilities over 3 weeks, the glucose biosensor prepared using optimal GOX concentration (10 mg/mL) exhibited a picoamperometric current response within ∼2 s and a detection limit of 20 μM with excellent reproducibility.
Risk-adapted therapy for relapsed and refractory lymphoma using ICE chemotherapy

At Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, we have treated over 400 patients with ICE chemotherapy after failure of upfront anthracycline-based therapy with a response rate of 72% in aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) and 84% in Hodgkin's disease. Utilizing this database, we have identified pretreatment prognostic markers capable of predicting the quality of response (complete response vs partial response vs failure) to second-line cytoreductive ICE chemotherapy and consequently autologous stem cell transplantation. We have shown that in aggressive NHL, patients achieving a complete response have superior survival when compared to those achieving only a partial response. By identifying a priori those patients destined to have only a partial response to ICE, we will be able to target a group of chemosensitive patients who are most likely to benefit from improved treatment. Novel treatment strategies designed to increase their complete response rate would be anticipated to improve their long-term survival.
Functional programming for inpatient pediatric care.

Functional programming is a planning technique which systemitizes program development through the stipulation of objectives and assessment criteria, and the identification and integration of progra...
Chromosomal location of human T-cell receptor gene Ti beta

A complementary DNA probe corresponding to the beta-chain gene of Ti, the human T lymphocyte receptor, has been molecularly cloned. The chromosomal origin of the Ti beta gene was determined with the complementary DNA by screening a series of 12 cell hybrid (mouse X human) DNA9s containing overlapping subsets of human chromosomes. DNA hybridization (Southern) experiments showed that the human Ti beta gene resides on chromosome 7 and is thus not linked to the immunoglobulin loci or to the major histocompatibility locus in humans.
The future of molecular-targeted cancer chemoprevention.

Cancer chemoprevention rose and fell on precipitous waves before molecular-targeted research in colorectal neoplasia produced some of the most demoralizing and promising indications for the future of this field. In mid-1990, 2 large-scale, randomized, controlled trials (RCTs) showed that -carotene actually harmed heavy smokers at risk of lung cancer. We learned in 1998 that tamoxifen reduced breast cancer risk by 50% and in 2003 that finasteride reduced prostate cancer risk by 25%. In both cases, adverse effects ended up overshadowing the positive effects, and neither agent was accepted for standard prevention. Getting back to colorectal research, 1999 results showed that a cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2)selective inhibitor (coxib), was significantly active in familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP). This was a seminal finding and promised a bright future for coxibs, which were thought to be safer than aspirin. Then in 2005, large, sporadic, adenoma-prevention RCTs found that celecoxib and rofecoxib had alarming cardiovascular toxicity. This result deepened concerns over the risk‐benefit ratio of all chemopreventive agents, darkening the future of cancer chemoprevention despite beneficial preventive effects also evident in the coxib trials. Events since 2005 have helped to lift the coxib-related pall of cardiovascular toxicity. Serious cardiovascular events subsided in the longer term after stopping celecoxib and apparently were not associated with a low baseline cardiovascular risk. Mixed data on aspirin were clarified by recent data confirming aspirin reductions in colorectal adenoma and cancer risks. A signal advance in combination chemoprevention came with findings that a low-dose, non-coxib combination reduced colorectal adenomas by 70% (90% for advanced adenomas) with no significantly increased adverse events. New information on tamoxifen and finasteride has lessened concerns about the adverse effects of these active preventive agents. Helicobacter pylori antibiotics dramatically reduced stomach cancer risk. Last, raloxifene and human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine reduced cancer risk, had acceptable side effects, and approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), with a good chance of widespread community acceptance for prevention. The future of cancer chemoprevention depends on the continued development of molecular-targeted approaches. This commentary discusses highlights of the biology of preventive molecular targeting, cancer risk modeling, and trials of molecular-targeted agents, all moving toward the development of personalized preventive medicine.
The Effective Temperature of Peptide Ions Dissociated by Sustained Off-Resonance Irradiation Collisional Activation in Fourier Transform Mass Spectrometry

A method for determining the internal energy of biomolecule ions activated by collisions is demonstrated. The dissociation kinetics of protonated leucine enkephalin and doubly protonated bradykinin were measured using sustained off-resonance irradiation (SORI) collisionally activated dissociation (CAD) in a Fourier transform mass spectrometer. Dissociation rate constants are obtained from these kinetic data. In combination with Arrhenius parameters measured with blackbody infrared radiative dissociation, the “effective” temperatures of these ions are obtained. Effects of excitation voltage and frequency and the ion cell pressure were investigated. With typical SORI−CAD experimental conditions, the effective temperatures of these peptide ions range between 200 and 400 °C. Higher temperatures can be easily obtained for ions that require more internal energy to dissociate. The effective temperatures of both protonated leucine enkephalin and doubly protonated bradykinin measured with the same experimental con...
Application of bioaffinity mass spectrometry for analysis of ligands

Bioaffinity mass spectrometry is a novel technology for analysis of binding proteins and their ligands. In this review, we introduce the concepts and principles of bioaffinity surface-enhanced laser desorption/ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (SELDI-TOF MS). Various preactivated chip types and several approaches for binding of ligands or their binders to the chips are discussed. We also provide specific examples for the use of this technology for screening antibodies, analyzing ligands, glycoconjugates, protein-protein interactions, and DNA (RNA) binding proteins. In pursuit of developing new tests or studies of mechanism of drug action in therapeutic drug monitoring practice, this technology may provide a more rapid approach for ligand-binder studies.
Case progression decision support system improves drug and criminal investigator effectiveness

Abstract Law enforcement agencies have entered an era of budgetary accountability along with limited budgetary increases. By reevaluating their agencies, better utilization of scarce resources can be managed and the need for additional resources documented. We were asked to study the Nebraska State Patrol (NSP) Investigative Services Division (ISM) and to advise the NSP administration on their use of personnel, equipment and money. We developed a case progression decision support system (CPDSS) to aid investigative supervisors at the Nebraska State Patrol in making key managerial decisions about drug and criminal cases. Our results show that a centralized DSS would be more effective than a decentralized DSS in this instance of an organization combining a military metaphor with investigators acting as autonomous professionals. We propose that trial implementation of both centralized and decentralized DSS might be a beneficial strategy for practitioners. The comparison of two different approaches could be a strong selling point for the superior alternative.
The effect of parenthood on perceived quality of life in teens.

Objective To describe the perceived quality of life of teen mothers. Study design The Medical Outcomes Survey–Short Form 36, version 2 is a scale that measures a subject's perception of 8 health dimensions. The Medical Outcomes Survey–Short Form 36, version 2 and a demographics survey were completed by women during obstetric or gynecologic visits to a resident continuity clinic. Mean scores were compared between women with children and those without. Results There was no significant difference between adults or teens, with or without children, in any health component scale with the exception of social functioning. When compared with the normative population age, all groups in our population scored significantly on physical functioning and role-physical subscales. In addition, teens with children scored lower on the role-emotional subscale. Conclusion Perceived quality of life in teen mothers does not appear to be lower than quality of life in teens without children or adult women.
Spelling bilingualism: Script choice in Russian American classified ads and signage

This article investigates the role of script choice in bilingual writing, drawing on classified advertisements and other texts written for and by Russian-speaking immigrants in New York City. The study focuses on English-origin items that appear in Russian texts, which are found to be written either in roman or Cyrillic script. Through an investigation of categorical and variable constraints on this variation, it is found that script choice relates to the distinction between lexical borrowing and single-item codeswitching. It is argued that writers may, consciously and on a token-by-token basis, choose the Cyrillic script to mark a word as borrowed or the roman script to mark it as foreign. However, they may also avoid this choice, as hybrid forms attest, especially when the use of characters shared by both alphabets allows ambiguous readings. The findings thus have implications for understanding notions of language boundaries in bilingual language use.Versions of this article were presented at two conferences: “Alphabetics: Interpreting letters” at Harvard University, 26–27 April 2003, and NWAVE 32, Philadelphia, 9–12 October 2003. I thank the audiences for their valuable insights and observations, especially Erika Boeckeler and Daniel Kokin. I also owe thanks to Katya Korsunskaya, Vladislav Rapoport, Doris Stolberg, Mario Geiger, and Tobias Kuhn. I am grateful to John Victor Singler, Mark Sebba, and Jannis K. Androutsopoulos, as well as to Jane H. Hill and to two anonymous reviewers for their valuable comments and suggestions. All errors and omissions remain my own.
Pediatric thoracic applications of magnetic resonance imaging

Abstract Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the newest and most promising imaging modality for evaluating the pediatric thorax. Its ability to distinguish between mediastinal fat, blood vessels, and adjacent soft tissues, without the use of intravenous contrast agents or radiation, makes MRI advantageous for infants and children. The thoracic applications include evaluations of cardiac anomalies, mediastinal masses, extracardiac vascular anomalies, airway obstruction, and chest-wall lesions. This article describes the current and possible future applications of MRI of the pediatric thorax.
Osteochondroma of the mandibular condyle: report of a case and review of the literature.

scarcity of well-documented and adequately followed cases. It occurs primarily in the mandible and in a wide range of age groups. No sex or race predilection is noted. The histologic concept of ameloblastic carcinoma is somewhat vague. The tumor cells resemble the cells seen in ameloblastoma, but they show cytologic atypia. Moreover, they lack the characteristic arrangement seen in ameloblastoma. The clustering arrangement and attempted duct formation support the concept of a carcinoma rather than a sarcoma. The keratin positively seen in one of our cases also supports an epithelial differentiation. We believe that wide local excision is the treatment of choice. Regional lymph node dissection should be considered and performed selectively. Recurrence and metastasis have been reported. Direct extension of the tumor, lymph node involvement, and metastasis to various sites also have been reported. The lung is cited as a frequent location of metastasis. Close periodic reassessment of the patient is mandatory. Differential diagnosis of ameloblastic carcinoma includes various primary and metastatic tumors. Subtypes of typical ameloblastoma, such as the acanthomatous variant, should be considered. Additionally, squamous cell carcinomas arising from an odontogenic
Purified protein derivative (PPD) as an immunogen carrier elicits high antigen specificity to haptens.

The effectiveness of the carrier protein in eliciting antigen-specific antibodies was investigated. The effect of the carrier protein was independent of the conjugation chemistry involved. Keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH), purified protein derivative (PPD), and ovalbumin (OVA) were used as carrier proteins in the immunization of mice. Three antigens were studied: LY170881 (a small drug molecule), 4-[1‘-cyanobenz(f)isoindolyl]butyric acid (CBI-butyric acid), and a seven residue peptide GPGRGPG (KLE1). The serum antibody response to the antigen or antigen:BSA conjugate was superior in the case where the PPD:antigen conjugates were used as the immunogen when compared to KLH and OVA. The specificity of the antibodies to the respective antigens vs cross-reactivity with the carrier protein was investigated. PPD-coupled antigen immunized mice generated a higher percentage of antigen-specific hybridomas compared to the other carrier proteins. These findings confirmed PPD as the best carrier molecule for the produ...
Fullerene Coalescence in Nanopeapods: A Path to Novel Tubular Carbon

A fascinating structural transformation occurring inside single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) is the fullerene coalescence, which is responsible for forming stable zeppelinlike carbon molecules. We report in situ transmission electron microscope (TEM) observations revealing sequences of fullerene coalescence induced by electron irradiation on pristine nanotube peapods, together with extensive theoretical investigations of the microscopic mechanism underlying this process. TEM images indicate that the merging of fullerenes results in stable but corrugated tubules (5 to 7 Angstrom in diameter) confined within SWNTs. These observations have been confirmed using a combination of theoretical approaches based on molecular dynamics, empirical potentials, tight-binding methods, Monte Carlo techniques, and first principles calculations. We have fully elucidated the coalescence mechanism of fullerenes inside SWNTs under electron irradiation and thermal annealing. The process occurs via the polymerization Of C-60 molecules followed by surface reconstruction, which can be triggered either by the formation of vacancies (created under electron irradiation) or by surface-energy minimization activated by thermal annealing. These novel tubular forms of carbon contain hexagons, pentagons, heptagons, and octagons. The stability, electronic properties, and electron conductance of the novel tubules are strongly affected by the final geometry of the coalesced fullerene complex. The possibility of forming highly conducting and semiconducting tubular structures suggests new avenues in designing carbon nanowires with specific electronic characteristics.
Water Solubility, Mechanical, Barrier, and Thermal Properties of Cross-linked Whey Protein Isolate-based Films

Water solubility, thermal properties, tenalle strength, percent elongation, oxygen permeability (OP), and water-vapor permeability (WVP) of cross-linked glycerol plasticizied whey protein isolate films were studied to determine the effect of cross-linkers (glutaraldehyde, lormaidehyde, dialdehyde starch, carbonyldlimidazole, and UV irradiation) on film properties. With the exception of UV treatment, solubility of the films decreased (P < 0.06) upon treatment of the film-forming solotions with chemical cross-linkers. Tensile strength increased (P < 0.05), whereas percent elongation was not allected by cross-linking. Chemical cross-linking increased (P < 0.05) WVP and decreased (P < 0.05) OP of the films. UV treatment had no effect on WVP and OP. With the exception of UV-treated films, both onset temperature and degradation temperatures, as determined by differential scanning calurimetry, were increased upon cross-linking.
Answerable to the World: Experience and Practical Intentionality in Brandom's and McDowell's “Intramural” Debate

Robert Brandom and John McDowell pursue similar, yet strikingly different approaches to a shared problem: that of how we can be answerable to the world in our beliefs about it in the wake of Sellars' critique of the myth of the given. While McDowell attempts to rehabilitate the idea that experience is capable of providing justifications for our beliefs, Brandom constructs a sophisticated social-pragmatist account of the objectivity of our conceptual commitments in which experience is, as he says, not one of his words. In this article, I argue that McDowell is right in stressing the indispensability of the idea of experience, but that he is wrong in believing that Brandom lacks the resources for making sense of the idea of being answerable to the world in experience. Especially when we expand Brandom's account of discursive practice to include its relation to what he has called practical intentionality, his work provides the resources for an answer to McDowell's concerns, but only if it is understood not as an attempt to simply deny McDowell's claims about experience, but as an attempt to explain what we must be capable of doing in order for experience, in McDowell's sense, to be possible.
Investigation of variable amplitude loading on fretting fatigue behavior of Tiâ6Alâ4V

Abstract The fretting fatigue behavior of Ti–6Al–4V under both constant amplitude and variable amplitude loadings was investigated. Constant amplitude fretting fatigue tests were conducted at a frequency of 200 Hz as well as at 1 Hz, while the variable amplitude loading combined the interaction of these two frequencies. The axial load ratios ranged from nominal values of 0.1 to nominal values of 0.8. Fretting fatigue lives at the higher frequency were found to be less than those from tests conducted at the lower frequency with a larger difference being noted at higher axial load ratios. In general, fretting fatigue resistance for the variable amplitude loading conditions fell within the scatter band of the 200 Hz constant amplitude fretting fatigue tests. Miner's linear damage summation model provided a reasonable, yet slightly unconservative, prediction of the variable amplitude loading tests.
Initial hepatic removal of chylomicron remnants is unaffected but endocytosis is delayed in mice lacking the low density lipoprotein receptor.

Abstract Two endocytic receptors, the low density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor (LDLR) and the LDLR-related protein (LRP), are thought to act in concert in the hepatic uptake of partially metabolized dietary lipoproteins, the chylomicron remnants. We have evaluated the role of these two receptors in the hepatic metabolism of chylomicron remnants in normal mice and in LDLR-deficient [LDLR (-/-)] mice. The rate of chylomicron remnant removal by the liver was normal up to 30 min after intravenous injection of chylomicrons into LDLR (-/-) mice and was unaffected by receptor-associated protein (RAP), a potent inhibitor of ligand binding to LRP. In contrast, endocytosis of the remnants by the hepatocytes, measured by their accumulation in the endosomal fraction and by the rate of hydrolysis of component cholesteryl esters, was dramatically reduced in the absence of the LDLR. Coadministration of RAP prevented the continuing hepatic removal of chylomicron remnants in LDL (-/-) mice after 30 min, consistent with blockade of the slow endocytosis by a RAP-sensitive process. Taken together with previous studies, our results are consistent with a model in which the initial hepatic removal of chylomicron remnants is primarily mediated by mechanisms that do not include LDLR or LRP, possibly involving glycosaminoglycan-bound hepatic lipase and apolipoprotein E. After the remnants bind to these alternative sites on the hepatocyte surface, endocytosis is predominantly mediated by the LDLR and also by a slower and less efficient backup process that is RAP sensitive and therefore most likely involves LRP.
Bioassays for detection and quantification of Helminthosporium maydis race T-toxin: a comparison

Abstract Sensitivities of seven commonly used bioassays for Helminthosporium maydis race T-toxin were determined. The most easily quantified and highly sensitive bioassays were based either on dark CO2 fixation by green leaves or on respiration rates of isolated mitochondria. These bioassays were 5 to 10 times more sensitive than was the semiquantitative seedling root growth bioassay. Bioassays based on the production of visible lesions on leaves did not provide reliable dosage-response relationships and were estimated to be 20 to 100 times less sensitive to toxin than dark CO2 fixation or mitochondrial respiration. Choice of bioassay depends on the objective of the experiment in which it is used.
Designing a flexible industrial controls lab module

Electrical controls have become an important part of machine design even for the mechanical disciplines. The selection and integration of motors and motor controls may be taught as a module inside a machine design course when bolstered with appropriate laboratory exercises. This paper describes the development of such a module within a senior level Mechanical Engineering Technology machine design course. The module includes exercises to allow students to select components and estimate project costs using Internet sites. Manuals and application information for the module are downloaded from Internet web sites reducing the dependence on a text, and providing fresh and up to date information. The laboratory setup is relatively cost effective (less than $500 per workstation) and is portable to conserve lab space. The workstations may be used as a demonstration tool or as a laboratory for one to three students. Lab exercises may range from simple motor starter circuits to PLC's and variable speed drives.
Automatic change detection: Does the auditory system use representations of individual stimulus features or gestalts?

The effects of global and feature-specific probabilities of auditory stimuli were manipulated to determine their effects on the mismatch negativity (MMN) of the human event-related potential. The question of interest was whether the automatic comparison of stimuli indexed by the MMN was performed on representations of individual stimulus features or on gestalt representations of their combined attributes. The design of the study was such that both feature and gestalt representations could have been available to the comparator mechanism generating the MMN. The data were consistent with the interpretation that the MMN was generated following an analysis of stimulus features.
Evaluation of techniques and outcomes of mitral valve repair in dogs

Objective—To describe surgical techniques for and assess outcome of treatment of mitral regurgitation in dogs. Design—Uncontrolled prospective study. Animals—18 dogs with naturally occurring mitral regurgitation. Procedure—All dogs weighed > 5 kg (11 lb) and had severe mitral regurgitation, congestive heart failure (CHF), and no serious noncardiac disease. Left ventricular volume indices, left atrial size, and degree of mitral regurgitation were determined echocardiographically before and after surgery. Repair techniques included circumferential annuloplasty, placement of artificial chordae, chordal fenestration and papillary muscle splitting, and edge-to-edge repair. Factors predictive for surgery survival and resolution of CHF were determined. Results—12 dogs survived surgery. Factors predictive for surgery survival included weight > 10 kg (22 lb) and CHF of less than 6 months' duration. In 9 dogs, CHF resolved for a median period of 1 year (range, 4 months to 3 years) after surgery. One dog had stable ...
The Association of Understanding of Medical Statistics with Health Information Seeking and Health Provider Interaction in a National Sample of Young Adults

Numeracy, or, "the ability to use and understand numbers in daily life" is a critical component of health literacy. However, little research has focused on numeracy in young adults (ages 18-29). We used a national sample to examine how health-information seeking, trust in sources, and interactions with health care providers differ for young adults with lower and higher numeracy. We included respondents ages 18 to 29 (n = 661) from the latest administration (2008) of the Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS). There were no significant differences between those with lower and higher numeracy for most sociodemographic variables, nor did numeracy predict trust in health information sources. However, there were several differences for health-information seeking and health-provider interactions. Those with lower numeracy were significantly more likely to say their most recent search took a lot of effort (46% vs. 24%, p = .0008) and was frustrating (45% vs. 22%, p = .0038). Those in the lower numeracy group also reported more negative interactions with health providers, including feeling less able to rely on their provider (62% vs. 86%, p < .0001), and less likely to say their provider made sure they understood information (70% vs. 88%, p = .0001) and helped with any uncertainty (51% vs. 75%, p < .0001), even when adjusting for other variables. Our data suggest that limited comfort with numbers and statistics can influence a variety of health-related factors for young adults. More research is needed to understand how health literacy skills--including numeracy--influence health-information seeking, patient-provider relationships, and health outcomes, for young adults.
A robust variable structure controller for mixed continuous/bang-bang systems

A systematic controller design procedure is developed for the class of linear time-invariant systems which use both continuous and bang-bang control effectors. The sampled-data regulator and its associated weighting matrices and cost function are extended to this class of system, and are used to modulate the bang-bang effector to achieve desired performance levels. Stability, sensitivity, and robustness are quantified, and the controller synthesis methodology is illustrated for a generic second-order plant with one continuous effector and one bang-bang effector. Results indicate that the resulting controllers are stable, not over sensitive to the designer selected bang-bang weighting, and possesses good robustness with respect to parametric structured uncertainties. The methodology provides the designer with insight required to systematically tune the closed-loop performance.
Latino families and the public child welfare system: Examining the role of social support networks

Abstract The number of Latino families involved with the public child welfare system has increased exponentially in the last decade. This qualitative study examined one of this population's inherent resources – their social network – and the role it plays when involved with the public child welfare system. Findings reveal that Latino families rely heavily on their network for emotional support, advice/information, and advocacy. Often parents received incorrect or conflicting information or advice grounded on experiences that were very different from the participant's case. In addition, their networks are homophilous; that is, limited to people who are in their same circumstances which limits their ability to access formal sources of advocacy and support. Many parents were also genuinely interested in helping other parents with open cases. Practice recommendations are made as it relates to actively engaging Latino families in their case process and supporting Latino families by incorporating their networks and genuine interest in helping others into child welfare service delivery.
Innate and adaptive immune requirements for induction of autoimmune demyelinating disease by molecular mimicry

Molecular mimicry is the main postulated mechanism by which infectious agents induce autoimmune disease. A number of animal models have been utilized to establish a link between molecular mimicry and autoimmunity. However, a model of infectious disease whereby a natural pathogen expressing a known mimic epitope can induce autoimmunity to a known self-antigen leading to clinical autoimmune disease is still lacking. We have engineered a recombinant Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus (TMEV) to express an encephalitogenic myelin proteolipid protein PLP139-151 epitope (PLP-TMEV) and a PLP139-151 mimic peptide naturally expressed by Haemophilus influenzae (HI-TMEV). Infection of mice with either PLP-TMEV or HI-TMEV induces early-onset disease that is associated with the activation of cross-reactive PLP139-151-specific immunopathologic CD4+ Th1 cells. Based on results from this model, we hypothesize, due to the considerable degeneracy in the T cell repertoire, that induction of full-blown autoimmune disease via molecular mimicry is a tightly regulated process requiring multiple factors related to the pathogen expressing the potential mimic epitope. In this review, we will discuss how various factors related to the infectious environment control whether or not autoimmune disease is initiated. Contributing factors include the nature of the innate immune response to the pathogen which determines the immunopathologic potential of the induced cross-reactive T cells, the capacity of the mimic epitope to be processed and presented from its natural flanking sequences in the pathogen-encoded protein, the site(s) of the primary infection in the host and the ability of the pathogen to persist, and the potential requirement for multiple infections with the same or different pathogens.
LIII-Edge Anomalous X-ray Scattering by Cesium Measured with Synchrotron Radiation

Diffraction of monochromatized synchrotron radiation by crystals of cesium hydrogen tartrate has been used to measure the magnitude and phase of x-ray scattering for cesium near the L III absorption edge. In this wavelength region the scattering amplitude of cesium is reduced by as much as 25 electrons per atom, compared to scattering of copper Kα x-rays. This change, which varies as a function of wavelength, affects the diffraction intensities in a manner similar to isomorphous substitution, and it is large enough to have promise for phase determination in the study of macromolecular structures. This experiment also demonstrates that accurate diffractometer measurements are possible with synchrotron radiation produced by an electron storage ring.
Effect of coefficient coding on JPEG baseline image compression

Summary form only given. This work uses the example quantization table described in the JPEG drafts as the basis for comparing the amount of compression attributable to each of several distinct lossless compression techniques. It takes the JPEG algorithm apart into its constituent pieces. The result shows that most of the JPEG compression performance is achieved from coefficient quantization that replaces coefficient values comprising many bits with values of few bits. Additional compression is achieved by a combination of runlength coding, predictive coding, and either Huffman or arithmetic coding. >
Coupling kinetic Monte-Carlo and continuum models with application to epitaxial growth

We present a hybrid method for simulating epitaxial growth that combines kinetic Monte-Carlo (KMC) simulations with the Burton-Cabrera-Frank model for crystal growth. This involves partitioning the computational domain into KMC regions and regions where we time-step a discretized diffusion equation. Computational speed and accuracy are discussed. We find that the method is significantly faster than KMC while accounting for stochastic fluctuations in a comparable way.
Study of Trailing-Edge Cooling Using Pressure Sensitive Paint Technique

at five different blowing ratios between 0.4 and 1.6, both with and without moveable lands mounted on the trailingedge model. The measurement results indicate clearly that the blowing ratio and the existence of the lands would affect the film cooling effectiveness of the tailing-edge design significantly. The detailed film cooling effectiveness maps were correlated with the characteristics of the flow structures revealed from the particle image velocimetry measurements to elucidate underlying physics and to explore and optimize design paradigms for a better protection of the critical portions of turbine blades from the extremely hot environment.
Recovering from bit errors in scalar-quantized discrete wavelet transformed images

In this paper we study the effects of transmission noise on fixed-length coded wavelet coefficients. We extend our previous work on maximum a posteriori detectors (Wang et al. 1996) to include inter-bitplane information and determine which transmitted codeword was most likely corrupted into a received erroneous codeword. We present a simple method of recovering from these errors once detected and demonstrate our restoration methodology on scalar-quantized wavelet coefficients that have been transmitted across a binary symmetric channel.
DNA-guided assembly of biosynthetic pathways promotes improved catalytic efficiency

Synthetic scaffolds that permit spatial and temporal organization of enzymes in living cells are a promising post-translational strategy for controlling the flow of information in both metabolic and signaling pathways. Here, we describe the use of plasmid DNA as a stable, robust and configurable scaffold for arranging biosynthetic enzymes in the cytoplasm of Escherichia coli. This involved conversion of individual enzymes into custom DNA-binding proteins by genetic fusion to zinc-finger domains that specifically bind unique DNA sequences. When expressed in cells that carried a rationally designed DNA scaffold comprising corresponding zinc finger binding sites, the titers of diverse metabolic products, including resveratrol, 1,2-propanediol and mevalonate were increased as a function of the scaffold architecture. These results highlight the utility of DNA scaffolds for assembling biosynthetic enzymes into functional metabolic structures. Beyond metabolism, we anticipate that DNA scaffolds may be useful in sequestering different types of enzymes for specifying the output of biological signaling pathways or for coordinating other assembly-line processes such as protein folding, degradation and post-translational modifications.
Thematic Evidence of Psychosocial Thriving in Childhood Cancer Survivors

Advances in medical treatment for childhood cancer have resulted in dramatically increased survival rates and a growing population of long-term survivors. Until recently, researchers reported primarily negative psychosocial sequelae of childhood cancer. Emergent conceptual frameworks propose that the assumption of pathology or long-term deficits in functioning might obscure an understanding of the full range of outcomes. Using qualitative interview data (N = 50), the authors explore how cancer can lead to positive psychosocial outcomes, including thriving. The findings suggest that processes of coping, meaning making, and psychospiritual growth are intimately related to long-term psychosocial well-being. The results suggest that in the aftermath of a trauma such as childhood cancer, many outcomes are possible, including thriving.
MICRO: A Multilevel Caching-Based Reconstruction Optimization for Mobile Storage Systems

High performance, highly reliable, and energy-efficient storage systems are essential for mobile data-intensive applications such as remote surgery and mobile data center. Compared with conventional stationary storage systems, mobile disk-array-based storage systems are more prone to disk failures due to their severe application environments. Further, they have a very limited power supply. Therefore, data reconstruction algorithms which are executed in the presence of disk failure for mobile storage systems must be performance-driven, reliability-aware, and energy-efficient. Unfortunately, existing reconstruction schemes cannot fulfill these three goals simultaneously because they largely overlook the fact that mobile disks have much higher failure rates than stationary disks. Besides, they normally ignore energy saving. In this paper, we develop a novel reconstruction strategy, called multilevel caching-based reconstruction optimization (MICRO), which can be applied to RAID-structured mobile storage systems to noticeably shorten reconstruction times and user response times while saving energy. MICRO collaboratively utilizes storage cache and disk array controller cache to diminish the number of physical disk accesses caused by reconstruction. Experimental results demonstrate that, compared with two representative algorithms, DOR and PRO, MICRO reduces reconstruction times on average by 20.22 percent and 9.34 percent, while saving energy by no less than 30.4 percent and 13 percent, respectively.
How Does the Spirit of Capitalism Affect Stock Market Prices

Bakshi and Chen (1996) suggest that the spirit of capitalism affects stock prices by increasing society's aversion to risk. In this article, I show that the way in which the spirit of capitalism impinges upon asset prices depends on the interaction of impatience, willingness to substitute over time, and ordinal preferences between consumption and status, in addition to risk aversion. I develop a general model that charts the channels through which the spirit of capitalism affects asset prices. An increase in the capitalist spirit may increase or decrease risk aversion, and may actually decrease the prices of risky assets. Article published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Financial Studies in its journal, The Review of Financial Studies.