cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Said PWA Program

The range of SAID activities is outlined. These include database management, partial-wave analysis, and the determination of resonance properties. As the relationships between amplitude analysis, partial-wave analysis, and resonance extraction are often confused, comments are made in order to clarify the key differences. The multipole analysis of single-pion photoproduction is described in detail in order to show model-dependence appears in our fits to data.
Dissociation and ionization of an HD+ beam induced by intense 395-nm ultrashort laser pulses

The majority of research on intense $(\ensuremath{\sim}{10}^{14}\text{ }\text{W}/{\text{cm}}^{2})$ ultrashort $(l100\text{ }\text{fs})$ laser-molecule interactions has been focused on studies of ${\text{H}}_{2}^{+}$ fragmentation, mainly due to its elemental structure. So far the bulk of this work has been conducted using near infrared light while studies at shorter wavelengths are comparatively scarce. We report a detailed investigation of the interaction of 395 nm, 40 fs pulses with an ${\text{HD}}^{+}$ molecular-ion beam, measured using a coincidence three-dimensional momentum imaging technique. This allows us to clearly discriminate dissociation and ionization channels. From the kinetic energy and angular distributions, insight is gained into the intensity dependence of the main breakup processes. We observe the onset of above-threshold dissociation above ${10}^{14}\text{ }\text{W}/{\text{cm}}^{2}$, a higher intensity than required for 790 nm due to a smaller transition dipole moment for the low vibrational states probed at 395 nm. Ionization spectra display structure consistent with the above-threshold Coulomb explosion mechanism that we have proposed [B. D. Esry et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 97, 013003 (2006)].
The recovery of long-term denervated rat muscles after Marcaine treatment and grafting

Disruption of the nerve supply results in the rapid loss of mass and contractile force in skeletal muscles. These losses are reversible to a high degree in short-term denervated muscles with grafting and nerve implantation. However, return is much poorer in long-term denervated muscles. This study examined the basis for the differences in the recovery of non-denervated and 7-month denervated rat extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscles after grafting and nerve implantation. We found that the level of recovery is related to the ability of muscle fibers to degenerate and regenerate after grafting. Fibers within long-term denervated muscles do not degenerate and regenerate as well as those within muscles which are not denervated prior to grafting. The functional recovery of the denervated muscles is significantly improved when their fibers are induced to degenerate with the myotoxic anesthetic, Marcaine, Degeneration of these fibers is followed by massive regeneration. The finding that denervated muscles are capable of being restored to a significant level by inducing regeneration may be useful in the clinical treatment of denervated muscles.
Effect of nitrogen, phosphorus and soil and crop residues management practices on maize (Zea mays L.) yield in ultisol of eastern Cameroon

The shortening of fallow period in several areas in tropical Africa has reduced soil fertility and exposed soils to erosion and run-off. Fertilizer application and crop conservation practices are needeed to sustain high crop yield and to conserve the natural resource base for upland crop production in the continent. Field trials were carried out to evaluate the effect of fertilizer application and soil and crop residues management practices on yield of maize (Zea mays L.) planted on a Plinthudult soil at Bertoua, Eastern Cameroon. Maize yields increased significantly with nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer application. Under the rainfall pattern prevailing in the area, the amount of nitrogen required for maximum yield was higher in the second season. On the other hand, the amount of phosphorus required for maximum yield appeared to decrease with time. The burning of crop residues and weeds prior to planting together with no-till practive gave higher yield of maize than other soil and crop residues management practices.
Multiple segmental agenesis of the cerebral arteries: case report.

A case of multiple segmental agenesis of the cerebral arteries is presented. Cerebral angiography demonstrated bilateral socalled carotid rete mirabile, a similar “rete” of the right vertebral artery and intradural duplication of the left vertebral artery. These abnormalities are thought to be caused by multiple segmental agenesis of the cerebral arteries as they penetrate the dura mater, the embryological and anatomical significance of these findings is discussed.
COMPOSITION OF SIEVE TUBE SAP FROM MACROCYSTIS PYRIFERA (PHAEOPHYTA) WITH EMPHASIS ON THE INORGANIC CONSTITUENTS1

A quantitative accounting of the solids in the sieve tube sap from Macrocystis pyrifera (L.) e. Ag. was performed. The major organic compounds (mannitol, amino acids, and protein) and inorganic cations (K+, Na+, Mg2+ and Ca2+) were present near previously reported levels. The anions, until now unreported (except for iodide), included chloride as the major inorganic ion, bromide, phosphate, nitrate, and bicarbonate as the major inorganic carbon species. Sulfate and ammonium were below the detection limits of 1.5 ppm and 2 ppm, respectively. The elements B and As were also present although their speciation was not determined.
Advances in magnetometry

Innovations may lead to magnetic sensors with superior performance. Examples of this are the chip scale atomic magnetometer, magnetic tunnel junctions with MgO barriers, and a device for minimizing the effect of 1/ f noise, the MEMS flux concentrator. In the chip scale atomic magnetometer, researchers have been able to fabricate the light source, optics, heater, optical cell, and photodiode detector in a stack that passes through a silicon wafer. Theoretical and subsequent experimental work has led to the observation of magnetoresistance values of 400% at room temperature in magnetic tunnel junctions with MgO barriers. The MEMS flux concentrator has the potential to increase the sensitivity of magnetic sensors at low frequencies by more than an order of magnitude. The MEMS flux concentrator does this by shifting the operating frequency to higher frequencies where the 1/ f noise is much smaller. The shift occurs because the motion of flux concentrators on MEMS flaps modulates the field at kHz frequencies at the position of the sensor.
Strain rate effect on the compressive strength of frozen sand

Baker, T.H.W., 1979. Strain rate effect on the compressive strength of frozen sand. Eng. Geol., 13: 223–231. Cylindrical specimens of fine Ottawa sand (A.S.T.M. designation C-109), compacted at the optimum moisture content and saturated before unidirectional freezing, have been tested in uniaxial compression at a cold room temperature of −5.5°C and strain rates between 10−7 and 10−2 s−1. The results agree with an extrapolation of data obtained by Sayles and Epanchin [1], but are much higher than those obtained by both Goughnour and Andersland [2] and Perkins and Ruedrich [3] at strain rates below 10−5 s−1. There is evidence that this may be due to variation in total moisture (ice) content, the conditions under which the specimens were frozen (closed system or an open system) and to the end effects at the platen—specimen interface.
Time spectral analysis of midlatitude disturbances in the Martian atmosphere

Time-spectral and cross-spectral analyses are used to investigate synoptic pressure variations in the Viking-2 pressure, wind, and temperature data for selected portions of the Mars fall, winter, and spring seasons. Estimates of the phase relationships between the highly coherent pressure, wind, and temperature oscillations are obtained, and found to be very similar to those expected for baroclinic waves and to those obtained from terrestrial surface data. Phase speeds and zonal wavenumbers are inferred by interpreting the pressure and meridional wind variations in terms of eastward-traveling quasi-geostrophic waves.
The contribution of agricultural lime to carbon dioxide emissions in the United States: dissolution, transport, and net emissions

Abstract Agricultural lime (aglime) is commonly applied to soils in the eastern U.S. to increase soil pH. Aglime includes crushed limestone (CaCO 3 ) and crushed dolomite (MgCa(CO 3 ) 2 ). Following the supposition by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) that all C in aglime is eventually released as CO 2 to the atmosphere, the U.S. EPA estimated that 9 Tg (Teragram = 10 12 g = 10 6 metric tonne) CO 2 was emitted from an approximate 20 Tg of applied aglime in 2001. A review of historic data on aglime production and use indicates that 30 Tg may better represent the annual U.S. consumption of aglime. More importantly, our review of terrestrial and ocean C dynamics indicates that it is unlikely that all C from aglime is released to the atmosphere following application to soils. On the contrary, the primary pathway for aglime dissolution is reaction with carbonic acid (H 2 CO 3 ) which results in uptake of CO 2 . Depending on soil pH and nitrogen fertilizer use, a fraction of aglime may react with strong acid sources such as nitric acid (HNO 3 ), thereby releasing CO 2 . Data on soil leaching and river transport of calcium (Ca 2+ ) and bicarbonate (HCO 3 − ) suggest that a significant portion of dissolved aglime constituents may leach through the soil and be transported by rivers to the ocean. Much of the fraction transported to the ocean will precipitate as CaCO 3 . Bicarbonate remaining in the soil profile is expected to release CO 2 following re-acidification of the soil over time. Our analysis indicates that net CO 2 emissions from the application of aglime is 0.059 Mg C per Mg limestone and 0.064 Mg C per Mg dolomite. This is in contrast to IPCC estimates of 0.12 and 0.13 Mg C per Mg limestone and dolomite, respectively. Based on our best estimate, the application of 20–30 Tg of aglime in the U.S., consisting of 80% limestone and 20% dolomite, would have resulted in a net 4.4–6.6 Tg CO 2 emissions in 2001.
Experimental modification of the laying pattern in Japanese quail 1

(1962). Experimental modification of the laying pattern in Japanese quail. British Poultry Science: Vol. 3, No. 2, pp. 105-113.
Lyα/Hα Ratio of Singly Ionized Helium in Quasars

He II Lyα λ304/Hα λ1640 emission lines are mainly produced by recombination, and their canonical ratio of ~10 may be a sensitive reddening indicator. We obtain the high signal-to-noise ratio optical spectra of two quasars and combine them with the far-ultraviolet spectra that show the He II λ304 emission. For HS 1700+64, the He II λ1640 emission is not detected, and an upper limit to it sets the ratio greater than 20. This may not be inconsistent with the theoretical value when all observational uncertainties are taken into consideration. For Q0302-003, the ratio is very low and on the order of unity. The most plausible cause for such a low ratio is extinction in the EUV band by very fine grains of dust. Q0302-003 has a prominent narrow component of FWHM ~ 2000 km s-1 in its major emission lines, and it appears that reddening is associated only with the line-emitting region. We suggest that the geometry of the line-emitting region in high-z quasars resembles that in low-luminosity active galaxies, with the presence of dust mostly in the outer part.
60-Hz Ventricular Fibrillation and Pump Failure Thresholds Versus Electrode Area

Fibrillation thresholds and safe leakage current levels are being reexamined and new values of safe current other than the 10 ?A are being considered. Values of fibrillation and pump failure thresholds are presented and related to surface area. The surface areas covered range from those found in dye injection and other exploratory catheters (0.224 mm 2 ) to the largest endocardial pacing catheter (90 mm 2 ). The results indicate that to choose or set a safe current level without regard to surface area or based on one surface area is unrealistic.
The complex future of CO2 capture and storage: Variable electricity generation and fossil fuel power

Fossil fuels are an integral part of the US energy portfolio, playing a prominent role for current and future domestic energy security. A sustainable, low-carbon future will require CO2 to be captured from major coal and natural gas power plants. However, fossil fuel electricity generation CO2 emissions are typically highly variable throughout each day with daily generation profiles varying greatly between plants. We demonstrate that understanding this variability is absolutely critical for setting a suitable carbon price as well as identifying if and how much CO2 a power plant will capture. For example, we show that a CO2 emissions price (or tax) of anywhere between $85/tCO2 and $135/tCO2 will be required to incentivize a gas power plant to manage all its capturable CO2; this range is solely due to differences in CO2 emissions profile. Further, we show that the setting a carbon price is very sensitive to system-wide costs including the CO2 value for enhanced oil recovery and, in particular, the costs for CO2 transport and storage. We also find that, even though coal-fired plants are more CO2-intensive and thus incur greater CO2 management costs, coal plants require a significantly lower carbon price ($15/tCO2 lower) in order to encourage CO2 capture. We conclude that integrating fossil fuel power, particularly natural gas, into a large-scale CO2 capture and storage system is a complex problem that will require detailed research and modeling.
Does radical prostatectomy in the presence of positive pelvic lymph nodes enhance survival

A retrospective review was performed on all patients with stage D1 prostate cancer treated at Duke University Medical Center between 1975 and 1989. A total of 156 patients underwent staging pelvic lymph-node dissection for clinically organ-confined prostate cancer (stage A or B) but were found to have disease metastatic to the pelvic lymph nodes (stage D1). Of this population, 42 patients also underwent radical prostatectomy (group 1), leaving 114 who did not have their prostate removed (group 2). The median cancer-specific survival was 11.2 years for group 1 versus 5.8 years for group 2 (P=0.005). In patients with one or two positive lymph nodes the median cancer-specific survival was 10.2 years for group 1 versus 5.9 years for group 2 (P=0.015). There was no difference in survival if three or more lymph nodes were positive. Adjuvant treatment with immediate androgen deprivation and/or postoperative radiation therapy failed to improve the survival experience. The incidence of local problems, including stricture formation, bleeding, or regrowth of cancer requiring dilation or surgical intervention (transurethral prostatectomy) averaged 9.5% in group 1 and 24.6% in group 2. These data show that patients with limited node-positive disease selected for radical prostatectomy experience a survival advantage over those denied such therapy and that this advantage is independent of adjunctive therapy.
Variations in otolith elemental compositions of two clupeid species, Stolothrissa tanganicae and Limnothrissa miodon in Lake Tanganyika

Lake Tanganyika in East Africa has two primary basins (Northern and Southern) and borders four sovereign countries. Effective management of the fisheries of this lake requires sound biological understanding of the various fish stocks. The feasibility of fish stock identification within different basins and sub-basins of this lake was attempted through otolith elemental composition analysis. Element ratio signatures of whole sagittal otoliths (Mg/Ca, Sr/Ca and Ba/Ca) of two commercially important clupeid species ( Stolothrissa tanganicae , n=18; Limnothrissa miodon , n=32) were used to classify individual fish to their resident basins. No element ratios in L. miodon otoliths were significantly different between Southern sub-basins, yet Ba/Ca and Sr/Ca ratios were significantly different for individuals from the Northern and Southern basins. Sr/Ca and Ba/Ca ratios were also significantly different between otoliths of sympatric L . miodon and S . tanganicae in the Northern Bujumbura Sub-basin. Species differences may be due to ontogenetic and environmental variables. Sr/Ca and Ba/Ca element concentration ratios contributed greatly to basin classification of individual fish. Canonical discriminant analysis correctly classified 91% of L. miodon and 83.3% of S. tanganicae to the Bujumbura sub-basin, compared to 59.9% of L. miodon collected from the Southern Basin that were correctly classified to this basin. These classification rates are similar to those found for estuarine species. Our results of a limited study suggest that otolith element compositions can be used as a natural tag to identify fish stocks in Lake Tanganyika and assist in the implementation of a multi-national fisheries best management plan.
Frequency Spectra of Fatigue of PZT and other Ferroelectric Thin Films

Polarization and polarization fatigue of PZT and other ferroelectric thin films have been studied via the frequency spectra of D-E hysteresis. The coercive field (Ec) of PZT thin films has been found strongly dependent on the measuring frequency, while a relatively flat frequency response is observed with SrBi2Nb2O9 thin films. The different fatigue behavior can be attributed to such a difference in the frequency response. Physical models have been suggested to for domain wall movement in PZT and SrBi2Nb2O9 thin films. Based on these observations, a methodology has been proposed to evaluate the high frequency and fatigue properties of ferroelectric thin films.
Atomic and electronic structure of the NiAl(111) surface

There are two possible terminations for the ideal NiAl(111) surface, i.e., all Al or all Ni on the surface atomic layer. We investigate which termination occurs on the NiAl(111) surface by comparing the pseudopotential electronic band structure of a Ni-terminated and an Al-terminated NiAl(111) surface with the angle-resolved photoemission data on a NiAl(111) sample. The measured surface band structure shares common features partly with that of the Ni termination and also partly with that of the Al termination, which supports the theory that the real NiAl(111) surface is composed of both Ni- and Al-terminated (111) domains, as suggested by a recent low-energy electron diffraction (LEED) study. We also determine the relaxation of the two outermost atomic layers for both terminations by the pseudopotential total-energy calculations and compare them with the LEED results. We find that the present results are in good agreement with the LEED analysis for Ni termination, but in qualitative disagreement for Al termination.
14N and 35Cl nuclear quadrupole resonance data for nitrogen mustards: Attempted correlations with chemical and biological activities

The 14N nuclear quadrupole resonance (NQR) spectra of several nitrogen mustard compounds are reported and analyzed in the framework of the Townes and Dailey theory. For the aniline derivatives, a correlation exists between l–σ (where l is the nitrogen lone pair electron density and σ the average NC sigma-bond electron density) and the enhanced Hammett sigma constant σ−. An improved correlation is obtained between l–σ and σR−, which emphasizes the importance of resonance effects in determining l–σ. The increase of hydrolysis and alkylation rates with increasing values of l–σ is in agreement with the identification of the aziridinium ion as the intermediate in aromatic nitrogen mustard hydrolysis and alkylation. A possible correlation is noted between the 35Cl NQR spectra for some of the mustards and measures of toxic and antitumor activity.
Genetics of leukoaraiosis

Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging of the brains of elderly individuals frequently show areas of altered signal intensity in the periventricular and subcortical white matter, referred to as leukoaraiosis. Although mildly affected individuals appear asymptomatic, larger burdens of leukoaraiosis are associated with deficits of cognition and gait. Histopathologically, areas of leukoaraiosis invariably show sclerosis, luminal narrowing, and tortuosity of small arteries and arterioles, accompanied by variable degrees of gliosis, demyelination, and axonal loss resulting from ischemia. Genetic variation plays a substantial role in interindividual differences in the volume of leukoaraiosis and its associated adverse clinical outcomes. Characterizing genetic factors contributing to interindividual differences in leukoaraiosis has the potential to enhance understanding of molecular determinants of ischemic brain injury and lead to new approaches to the diagnosis, evaluation, treatment, and prevention of this common form of vascular dementia.
Human milk ribonuclease.

Abstract Two components having ribonuclease (EC 3.1.27.5) activity were isolated from human milk. Each component of human milk ribonuclease (RNAase) moved at a slightly different rate when electrophoresed on polyacrylamide gel but at the same rate when ultracentrifuged. The major component had a molecular weight of approx. 14 000, an isoelectric point of pH 7.9, and exhibited a broad absorbance maximum between 277 and 281 nm. Human milk RNAase hydrolyzed yeast RNA, poly(cytidylic acid) and poly(uridylic acid) but not DNA, poly(adenylic acid) or poly(guanylic acid). Maximum activity occurred at pH 7.7 and 60°C. Amino acid analysis of the major component revealed a large number of alanine, valine, glycine and aspartic acids but no truptophan or free sulfhydryl groups. Lysine was the N-terminal amino acid. Tryptic hydrolysis yielded 18 peptides, some of which are similar to those from bovine pancreatic RNAase. Human milk RNAase activity was increased in the presence of NaCl, KCl and sodium citrate and decreased by CaCl 2 , MgCl 2 , FeSO 4 , ZnSO 4 and CuSO 4 .
What is the consequence of the missing compliance function at hedge funds? Fraud is! Analysis, lessons and solutions

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to offer case studies of hedge fund fraud, solutions that could mitigate hedge fund fraud risk, and a proposal for the industry to establish a hedge fund information depository (HFID) where participants/stakeholders could provide information on any hedge fund on regular basis.Design/methodology/approach – Four major hedge fund fraud cases, Bayou Funds, Lipper Holdings, Manhattan Investment Fund and Maricopa Investment Corporation are used as examples of the complete absence of independent oversight and the application of HFID.Findings – The paper finds that investors in the four funds lost more than $1.3 billion. In all four fraud cases, independent oversight and compliance function were conspicuously missing. In each fraud case there was at least one serious alert (warning) that took place at least 14 months prior to SEC first filing against the fund.Research limitations/implications – Some hedge fund industry stakeholders may reluctantly join HFID due to concern ov...
A double content theory of artistic representation

On the face of it, not all artistic meaning and communication can be explained in representational terms. In addition to the subject matter of artworks, which constitutes their normal meaningful representational content, there are various other components of meaning involved in artistic communication. These presumably involve at least expressive, stylistic, mediumrelated, formal, and intentional factors-collectively to be referred to as aspectual factors. Thus there is a concern that a general theory of representation, applying to any signs or symbols whatsoever (such as that of Nelson Goodman), will be unable to capture what is specifically artistic about artworks as such.1 For this reason too, it would seem that artistic meaning outruns any standard view of representational content. To be sure, Kendall Walton is able to explain some aspects of artworks on the basis of a nonstandard concept of representation-where representation is equated with fictionality-that makes integral appeals to interactions of artworks with human imaginative "make-believe" cognition.2 However, this view has little to say about artistic intentions and expression, and even less to say about the concepts of artistic style, medium, and form. There is another option that deserves to be tried. Instead of settling for irreducibly nonrepresentational meaning factors in artworks, or ignoring or downplaying the role of such factors, one could postulate that artworks involve two rather than just one kind of representational content, and then try to develop an approach in which all aspects of artistic meaning would be explained in terms of appropriate combinations of the two kinds of content. It is this option, a double content theory or approach to artworks, which I shall investigate and argue for in the curre t essay. I shall concentrate on visual artworks, such as paintings or drawings, but the points made will be general enough to potentially apply to other art forms as well.3 There are additional reasons that a double
Plasma damage monitoring for PECVD deposition: a contact potential difference study and device yield analysis

A study was conducted to monitor plasma induced charging during a plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) process. A contact potential difference (CPD) technique was used for the charge measurement on non-device blank wafers. In two TEOS based PECVD SiO2 deposition processes, one phosphorous doped and one undoped (USG), the plasma induced charging behavior was monitored while deposition conditions were varied. It was found that the process deposition pressure had a large effect on the plasma induced charging behavior. For both the PSG and the USG deposition processes, higher pressure process regimes offered significantly improved plasma charging performance than the conventional low pressure regimes. The CPD was reduced from -13.5V to 1.5V for the PSG process, and the CPD uniformity was reduced from 8.17V to 2.39V for the USG process. The improved deposition process conditions were tested on thin gate antenna test structures and correlated to significant improved device yield. Additionally, a plasma assisted de- chucking process was analyzed using the CPD technique and found to be an important source of plasma induced charging. When test were performed on thin gate antenna test structures the CPD again correlated well yield trends. In summary, the study demonstrated that CPD is a powerful, inexpensive, and rapid technique suitable for developing processes with improved gate oxide yield and for in-line monitoring of chamber performance.
Computer-assisted planning for regional health care programs

Abstract In designing programs to improve regional health care, it is often necessary to synthesize hierarchies. Notwithstanding the fact that the health care milieu is highly complex, this process is frequently dealt with intuitively resulting in fragmented and redundant programs. It is proposed that formal procedures which relieve the individual of much of the complexity in developing programs and arranging their structure can contribute to improve understanding of the system and effectiveness of program design. This paper presents a rational approach to computer-assisted program design utilizing binary matrices and elementary Boolean operations.
The significance of implant shape in experimental testing of biological materials: Disc vs. Rod

Adult albino rabbits were implanted with 304 stainless steel discs and cylinders (rods) in the following sites: beneath periosteum of the anterior calvarium, under the masseter muscle of the left mandibular ramus and in the body of the sacrospinalis muscle. (1) The tissue reaction around the disc implants was compared with that observed around the cylinder implants through the study of histological sections. (2) The degree of reactions observed at the various sites was contrasted with that seen at the other sites. In all cases the muscle implants showed the greatest reaction. Discs showed many micro areas of tissue reaction randomly around their periphery. In contrast all the rod shaped implants in muscle showed a greater reaction towards the ends than in the mid portion of the shaft (clubbing) but rods implanted at other sites did not show this phenomenon. The results show that much of the histological tissue reaction seen around muscle implants is really caused by mechanical trauma which must be differentiated from a non-compatibility reaction. It is important to choose a test site where mechanical trauma will be minimal (submasseteric site) and use an implant shape (discs) which will not produce clubbing.
Surlyn®/[silicon oxide] hybrid materials. 2. Physical properties characterization

The influence of an in situ-grown, sol → gel-derived silicon oxide filler on mechanical, gas permeation and solvent affinity properties of Surlyn® materials, and melt processibility of Surlyn®/[silicon oxide] hybrid resin, was studied. Tensile modulus increases while elongation-at-break decreases with increasing silicon oxide uptake. He gas permeation vs. pressure profiles imply dual mode sorption. Swelling in n-hexane, 1-PrOH and xylene decreases as silicon oxide loading increases, the highest uptake being that of xylene. [Surlyn®Zn+2]/[silicon oxide] has better solvent resistance than the H-form hybrid for each solvent. Affinity of the Zn-form hybrid for xylene is considerably greater than that for 1-PrOH and n-hexane. Melt flow index of the filled H-form is lower than that of the unfilled H-form but higher than that of the partially Zn neutralized unfilled form. FTIR analysis of hybrids previously subjected to the melt flow index experiment shows that the silicon oxide phase remained intact but that the high temperatures drove condensation reactions between SiOH groups. After in situ sol–gel reactions and drying [Surlyn®-H]/[silicon oxide] flakes were passed through an extruder to assess the effect on silicon oxide structure of melt-processing conditions. All silicon oxide IR fingerprint bands for the processed hybrid persist, the spectrum closely resembling that of a nonextruded hybrid including the signature of Si–OH groups. 29Si solid-state NMR spectroscopy was used to probe degree of molecular connectivity within the silicon oxide phase. The spectrum is consistent with those of nonextruded hybrids in that Si atom coordination around SiO4 units is predominantly Q3 and Q4, the bias in the distribution toward Q3 being in harmony with the IR results. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 37: 143–154, 1999
Δ(9)-Tetrahydrocannabinol treatment during human monocyte differentiation reduces macrophage susceptibility to HIV-1 infection.

The major psychoactive component of marijuana, Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), also acts to suppress inflammatory responses. Receptors for THC, CB1, CB2, and GPR55, are differentially expressed on multiple cell types including monocytes and macrophages, which are important modulators of inflammation in vivo and target cells for HIV-1 infection. Use of recreational and medicinal marijuana is increasing, but the consequences of marijuana exposure on HIV-1 infection are unclear. Ex vivo studies were designed to investigate effects on HIV-1 infection in macrophages exposed to THC during or following differentiation. THC treatment of primary human monocytes during differentiation reduced HIV-1 infection of subsequent macrophages by replication competent or single cycle CCR5 using viruses. In contrast, treatment of macrophages with THC immediately prior to or continuously following HIV-1 exposure failed to alter infection. Specific receptor agonists indicated that the THC effect during monocyte differentiation was mediated primarily through CB2. THC reduced the number of p24 positive cells with little to no effect on virus production per infected cell, while quantitation of intracellular viral gag pinpointed the THC effect to an early event in the viral life cycle. Cells treated during differentiation with THC displayed reduced expression of CD14, CD16, and CD163 and donor dependent increases in mRNA expression of selected viral restriction factors, suggesting a fundamental alteration in phenotype. Ultimately, the mechanism of THC suppression of HIV-1 infection was traced to a reduction in cell surface HIV receptor (CD4, CCR5 and CXCR4) expression that diminished entry efficiency.
An evaluation of the barium peroxide method of maintaining aerobic conditions and determining carbon dioxide evolved during incubation of soils treated with organic materials

Abstract Gas chromatographic investigations showed that the barium peroxide technique is not satisfactory for maintenance of aerobic conditions or for determination of carbon dioxide evolved during incubation of soils treated with organic materials. They also showed that equations proposed to describe the formation of oxygen through reaction of barium peroxide with carbon dioxide are not valid and that this reaction is better represented by the equation 2BaO 2 +2CO 2 → H 2 O 2BaCO 3 +O 2 .
Detection of DNA damage in individual cells from marine organisms using the single cell gel assay

The single cell gel (SCG) or comet assay is a simple method by which DNA damage is expressed as relative nuclear ‘tail’ length of gel-embedded cells following alkaline electrophoresis. While potentially applicable to any cell type, laboratory experiments were conducted to examine the utility of the SCG method for the detection of genotoxicity in cells of marine fish and invertebrates. Selected cells included those from flounder (Pleuronectes americanus) and oysters (Crassostrea virginica). In vitro exposures were used to optimize parameters and evaluate sensitivity, reproducibility and dose-responsiveness of the SCG method. In vivo exposures were used to examine the effects of factors such as intra-animal variability on low level DNA damage detection. In one experimental series, individually identified oysters were repeatedly sampled to monitor DNA damage and recovery following in vivo exposure to genotoxicant-spiked sediment. Preliminary results suggest that the SCG may be a useful tool to monitor for genotoxic environmental exposures and investigate pollution-mediated health effects.
Tumour progression and survival in patients with T1G3 bladder tumours: 15-year outcome.

Objective To evaluate tumour progression and survival of patients with T1G3 bladder tumours who were followed for 15 years. Patients and methods A subset of 48 patients with T1G3 bladder tumours was entered into a randomized trial of transurethral resection (TUR) or TUR plus bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) therapy and followed for a minimum of 15 years. Thirty-nine (81%) patients received one or more courses of BCG. The endpoints of the study were stage progression (defined as muscle invasion or metastasis) and disease-specific survival. Results Of the 48 patients, 25 (52%) progressed and 15 (31%) died from the disease; 33 patients (69%) survived, including 24 (50%) with an intact bladder. The median progression-free survival time was 151 months. Tumour progression occurred in 35% of the patients within the first 5 years, in 16% after 5–10 years and in 12% of those followed for 10–15 years. Deaths from cancer occurred in 25% of the patients in the first 5 years and in 10% of patients at risk from 5 to 15 years. Conclusions Patients with T1G3 bladder tumours who are treated conservatively are at life-long risk of having a muscle-invasive tumour and dying from bladder cancer.
Efficacy of low doses of praziquantel in taeniasis

Early experimental studies suggested that doses of 1 to 5 mg of praziquantel (PZQ) per kg are effective against several intestinal cestodiases. The usually recommended single dose of PZQ in human taeniasis is 5 or 10 mg/kg. A study in T. saginata taeniasis showed a full efficacy at a dose of 2.5 mg/kg. A field study confirmed that a dose between 3.4 and 7.5 mg/kg was effective in expulsion T. solium tapeworms in man. A dose of 2.5 mg of PZQ per kg would be safer and more economical in population-oriented interventions aiming at control of T. solium taeniasis in man.
Corneal Donor Material Selection

Abstract The authors conducted the first long-range study to demonstrate possible negative effects on he recipients of corneal transplantation from donors who had died of a systemic malignancy or of chronic neurologic disease. The results are reported of a long-term retrospective analysis of 73 patients who received 86 grafts from donors with various systemic malignancies. These patients were followed for a mean of 127 months. There was no evidence of the transfer of the same malignancy to any of the recipients. There was no increased incidence of malignancy or earlier mortality in our patient population when compared with a reference population. Graft infection, endophthalmitis, or local tumor growth was not observed. The authors state that at the present time there is no basis for excluding donors dying of systemic malignancy as a source of material for use in keratoplasty. The authors examined the case histories of six patients who received grafts from donors who had died of a neurological disease with a suspected viral etiology. In a follow-up period ranging from 120 to 174 months, no evidence of neurologic disease developed in any of the patients. The sample was too small to provide data necessary for drawing conclusions concerning the safety of the use of material from this source. The authors strongly advise excluding any patient with a neurologic disease of suspected viral etiology as a source of corneal donor material.
Determinants of telomere attrition over 1 year in healthy older women: stress and health behaviors matter

Telomere length, a reliable predictor of disease pathogenesis, can be affected by genetics, chronic stress and health behaviors. Cross-sectionally, highly stressed postmenopausal women have shorter telomeres, but only if they are inactive. However, no studies have prospectively examined telomere length change over a short period, and if rate of attrition is affected by naturalistic factors such as stress and engagement in healthy behaviors, including diet, exercise, and sleep. Here we followed healthy women over 1 year to test if major stressors that occurred over the year predicted telomere shortening, and whether engaging in healthy behaviors during this period mitigates this effect. In 239 postmenopausal, non-smoking, disease-free women, accumulation of major life stressors across a 1-year period predicted telomere attrition over the same period-for every major life stressor that occurred during the year, there was a significantly greater decline in telomere length over the year of 35 bp (P<0.05). Yet, these effects were moderated by health behaviors (interaction B=0.19, P=0.04). Women who maintained relatively higher levels of health behaviors (1 s.d. above the mean) appeared to be protected when exposed to stress. This finding has implications for understanding malleability of telomere length, as well as expectations for possible intervention effects. This is the first study to identify predictors of telomere length change over the short period of a year.
C-terminal DNA binding stimulates N-terminal phosphorylation of the outer membrane protein regulator OmpR from Escherichia coli

Expression of the porin genes of Escherichia coli is regulated in part by the osmolarity of the growth medium. The process is controlled by the histidine kinase EnvZ and the response regulator OmpR. We have previously shown that phosphorylation of OmpR increases its affinity for the upstream regulatory regions of ompF and ompC. We now report that, in the presence of DNA, there is a dramatic stimulation in the level of phospho-OmpR. This effect is independent of the source of phosphorylation, i.e., stimulation of phosphorylation is observed with a small phosphorylating agent such as acetyl phosphate or with protein-catalyzed phosphorylation by the kinase EnvZ. The dephosphorylation rate of phospho-OmpR is affected only slightly by the presence of DNA; thus, the increased level is largely caused by an increased rate of phosphorylation. Stimulation of phosphorylation requires specific binding of DNA by OmpR. Occupancy of the DNA binding domain exposes a trypsin cleavage site in the linker, which connects the phosphorylation domain with the DNA binding domain. Our results indicate that when DNA binds in the C terminus, it enhances phosphorylation in the N terminus, and the linker undergoes a conformational change. A generalized mechanism involving a four-state model for response regulators is proposed.
Finding a fusion metric that best reflects human observer preference

A perception test determined which of several image fusion metrics best correlates with relative observer preference. Many fusion techniques and fusion metrics have been proposed, but there is a need to relate them to a human observer's measure of image quality. LWIR and MWIR images were fused using techniques based on the Discrete Wavelet Transform (DWT), the Shift-Invariant DWT (SIDWT), Gabor filters, Pixel averaging, and Principal Component Analysis (PCA). Two different sets of fused images were generated from urban scenes. The quality of the fused images was then measured using the mutual information metric (MINF), fusion quality index (FQI), edge-dependent fusion quality index (EDFQI), weighted-fusion quality index (WFQI), and the mean-squared errors between the fused and source images (MS(F-L), MS(F-M)). A paired-comparison perception test determined how observers rated the relative quality of the fused images. The observers based their decisions on the noticeable presence or absence of information, blur, and distortion in the images. The observer preferences were then correlated with the fusion metric outputs to see which metric best represents observer preference. The results of the paired comparison test show that the mutual information metric most consistently correlates well with the measured observer preferences.
Evaluation of Methods for the Extraction and Purification of DNA from the Human Microbiome

Background DNA extraction is an essential step in all cultivation-independent approaches to characterize microbial diversity, including that associated with the human body. A fundamental challenge in using these approaches has been to isolate DNA that is representative of the microbial community sampled.
Overexpression of bamacan/SMC3 causes transformation.

Bamacan can occur in certain cell types as either a secreted proteoglycan assembled into basement membranes or as an intracellular protein known as structural maintenance of chromosome 3 (SMC3). To assess the role of this protein in tumorigenesis, we investigated whether induced overexpression of bamacan/SMC3 could transform normal fibroblasts. We generated a full-length cDNA encoding the entire mouse bamacan/SMC3 and demonstrated appropriate transcription and translation into a 146-kDa protein. All the NIH and Balb/c 3T3 murine fibroblasts overexpressing this bamacan/SMC3 transgene generated foci of transformation and acquired anchorage-independent growth. The increased levels of bamacan/SMC3 expression achieved in the transfected fibroblasts were the same as those detected in a series of spontaneously transformed murine and human colon carcinoma cells. Moreover, a 3-4-fold overexpression of bamacan/SMC3 was detected in ∼70% of human colon carcinoma specimens from matched pairs (n = 19, p
In Vitro Inactivation of Salmonella Enteritidis in Autoclaved Chicken Cecal Contents by Caprylic Acid

SUMMARY Contamination of poultry and poultry products by Salmonella Enteritidis is a serious problem worldwide. The effects of caprylic acid (50 and 100 mM )o nS. Enteritidis in autoclaved chicken cecal contents and tryptic soy broth at 40°C was studied. Both concentrations of caprylic acid reducedthepopulationofS.Enteritidisby ∼5.0log10cfu/mLwithin1min,withcompleteinactivation of the pathogen at 24 h. Results of the study revealed that caprylic acid was highly effective in killing S. Enteritidis in autoclaved chicken cecal contents in a rapid time frame.
ULTRASTRUCTURAL LOCALIZATION OF ACID MUCOSUBSTANCES IN THE MOUSE COLON WITH IRON-CONTAINING STAINS

Selective ultrastructural staining of acid mucosubstances in sites containing histochemically identifiable sulfo- and sialomucins has been obtained in fixed cryostat sections with both ferric chloride and colloidal iron solutions. The rectosigmoid region of mouse colon was fixed in glutaraldehyde, formalin, or phosphate-buffered osmium tetroxide, and 40 µ cryostat sections of this material were treated with 0.1 to 0.4% ferric chloride or with a solution of dialyzed ferric chloride, ammonia, and glycerin. Specific staining depended upon the pH of the iron-containing solutions, and the optimal value was found to be approximately 2.0. Specific localization of acid mucosubstances has been noted in intracellular sites, including globules within colonic goblet cells and "deep crypt" mucous cells, small vesicles of the superficial nongoblet epithelial cells, and Golgi lamellae within each of these cell types. Extracellular material, presumed to be acid mucosubstance, was found on the surface of the epithelial microvilli and on the lumenal surface of capillary endothelium. Similar material formed a reticular network surrounding stromal cells, collagen bundles, and various colonic connective tissue elements.
TOADS: topology-preserving, anatomy-driven segmentation

This paper presents a new algorithm for object segmentation in medical images that respects the topological properties and anatomical relationships of structures as given by a template. The technique combines advantages of tissue classification, digital topology, and image registration to handle any given topology and enforces object-level relationships with little constraint over the geometry. It is applied to cortical segmentation and validated on simulated and real images.
Fuzzy-Basis-Function-Network-Based $H_\infty$ Tracking Control for Robotic Manipulators Using Only Position Feedback

This paper presents an H infin fuzzy output-feedback tracking-control scheme for robotic manipulators without measuring joint velocities. The developed controller and observer are based on a fuzzy basis function network (FBFN), which is employed to approximate nonlinear functions in the dynamics of controller and observer. The FBFN-based observer that estimates joint velocities can remove the needs of full-state measurements. According to the inevitable approximation errors and external disturbances, an H infin auxiliary control signal is used to suppress the effects of the uncertainties. Moreover, all parameters of the fuzzy basis functions (FBFs) and FBF-to-output weights can be tuned online. The proposed controller requires no prior knowledge about the dynamics of the robot manipulator and no offline learning phase. Finally, comparative simulations on a three-link robot manipulator are provided to illustrate the tracking performance of the H infin FBFN-based output-feedback control approach.
Heat shock and oxygen radicals stimulate ubiquitin-dependent degradation mainly of newly synthesized proteins

Accumulation of misfolded oxidant-damaged proteins is characteristic of many diseases and aging. To understand how cells handle postsynthetically damaged proteins, we studied in Saccharomyces cerevisiae the effects on overall protein degradation of shifting from 30 to 38°C, exposure to reactive oxygen species generators (paraquat or cadmium), or lack of superoxide dismutases. Degradation rates of long-lived proteins (i.e., most cell proteins) were not affected by these insults, even when there was widespread oxidative damage to proteins. However, exposure to 38°C, paraquat, cadmium, or deletion of SOD1 enhanced two- to threefold the degradation of newly synthesized proteins. By 1 h after synthesis, their degradation was not affected by these treatments. Degradation of these damaged cytosolic proteins requires the ubiquitin–proteasome pathway, including the E2s UBC4/UBC5, proteasomal subunit RPN10, and the CDC48–UfD1–NPL4 complex. In yeast lacking these components, the nondegraded polypeptides accumulate as aggregates. Thus, many cytosolic proteins proceed through a prolonged “fragile period” during which they are sensitive to degradation induced by superoxide radicals or increased temperatures.