cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Colonic mucosal mast cell distribution at line of demarcation of active ulcerative colitis

We examined the distribution of colonic mucosal mast cells in 25 patients with active ulcerative colitis, with a clear line of demarcation separating active inflammation from normal mucosa. Biopsies, at least one adjacent to the line of demarcation, one in inflamed mucosa, and one above were obtained during colonoscopy. Eight patients had elevated mast cells throughout the colon, and 12 had increased numbers at the line of demarcation of disease. Mean numbers of mast cells from these patients were 6.3 (±2.1sd) in active inflammation, 19.5(±7.1sd) at the line of demarcation and 15.8 (±8.4sd) in normal mucosa. Histologic inflammation decreased as mast cells increased. The accumulation of mast cells at the visible line of demarcation between normal and abnormal mucosa suggests mast cells play a critical role in either accelerating the process of inflammation or in suppressing continued extension of the disease.
Scattering and Wave Operators for One-Dimensional Schrödinger Operators with Slowly Decaying Nonsmooth Potentials

We prove existence of modified wave operators for one-dimensional Schrodinger equations with potential in \(L^p (\mathbb{R}),p < 2.\) If in addition the potential is conditionally integrable, then the usual Moller wave operators exist. We also prove asymptotic completeness of these wave operators for some classes of random potentials, and for almost every boundary condition for any given potential.
Topographic imaging and velocity measurements of surface expansion during laser ablation of a metal layer on glass

We report on the development of novel high-speed techniques to measure the surface topography and instantaneous velocity of ablatively launched thin metal layers with sub-nanosecond temporal resolution. Applications for laser detonator technology require the understanding of laser fiber optical energy deposition and ablative launch of a thin metal layer into an explosive. Characterization of the ablation process requires a time-resolved diagnosis of the ejected material state (topography, velocity, density, pressure, etc.). A pulsed Nd:YAG fibercoupled laser is used to ablate a 250 nm layer of titanium deposited on a 500 μm thick fused silica substrate at fluences below 10 J/cm2. Time-resolved imaging of the free expansion of the metal surface is accomplished with Fourier plane imaging using a Shack-Hartmann lenticular array coupled to a fast framing camera. The imager performs topographical surface measurements by detecting changes in the optical wavefront of a reflected picosecond probe laser beam off the expanding surface. Consequently, single-event sub-nanosecond time-resolved "movies" of surface motion dynamics are captured. Crosscheck of the Shack-Hartmann imager is done using advanced velocimetry. A 1550 nm heterodyne laser-based Photonic Doppler Velocimeter is used to measure surface velocity. Using a 1550 nm single mode fiber laser, 10 GHz InGaAs detectors and telecom hardware, we directly record the resulting beat signal produced by the accelerated surface onto a fast digitizer. Free surface velocities as high as 6.5 μm/ns are recorded. Comparisons between the dynamic topography, surface velocimetry and laser hydrocode simulations are presented.© (2006) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
An Additional Region of Coactivator GRIP1 Required for Interaction with the Hormone-binding Domains of a Subset of Nuclear Receptors

Transcriptional coactivators of the p160 family (SRC-1, GRIP1, and p/CIP) associate with DNA-bound nuclear receptors (NRs) and help the NRs to recruit an active transcription initiation complex to the promoters of target genes. Previous studies have demonstrated the importance of the NR interaction domain (NID) of p160 proteins containing three NR box motifs (LXXLL) for the interaction with the hormone-binding domains of NRs. Here we report that, in addition to NID, another region of coactivator GRIP1 (amino acids 1011–1121), called the auxiliary NID (NIDaux), is requiredin vitro and in vivo for efficient interaction with a subset of NRs, including the glucocorticoid receptor (GR), androgen receptor, and retinoic acid receptor α. A second group of NRs, which includes the progesterone receptor, retinoid X receptor α, thyroid hormone receptor β1, and vitamin D receptor, required only NID for efficient interaction. For binding to GR, the NID and NIDaux of GRIP1 must act in cis, but deletion of up to 144 amino acids between the two regions did not reduce binding efficiency. Amino acids 1011–1121 of GRIP1 also contain a p300 interaction domain, but mutational analysis indicated that the p300 interaction function within this region is separable from the ability to contribute to GR hormone-binding domain binding. SRC-1 lacks an NIDaux activity equivalent to that in GRIP1.
Numerical studies of the radiation patterns of resistively loaded dipoles

Abstract The far field radiation patterns of finite-size resistively loaded horizontal electric dipoles lying on a low-loss dielectric half-space are computed. The patterns are a superposition of the solutions for transient infinitesimal dipole elements, where the transient waveform for each element is synthesized from the exact steady-state solution. The current excitation for each dipole element is a half cycle of a sine squared waveform that propagates along the line of elements at a speed that can be varied. No reflections from the antenna ends are assumed. The time duration of the current half cycle governs the full period of the dominant part of the transient radiated waveform. The amplitude of the dipole excitation current is determined by a cosine distribution that accurately simulates the resistive loading. The transient radiation patterns differ from those of a steady-state dipole mainly by being more narrow in the E-plane, as is true for a finite-size steady-state dipole radiating in air. In addition, the far field waveforms are slightly distorted in directions off vertical in the E-plane. Two-way power radiation patterns are presented for both conductive and non-conductive dielectric media in a footprint mode, i.e. the power response to an isotropic point scatterer on a subsurface flat plane. The radar footprint in a conductive dielectric shows very narrow beamwidth due to the added conductive attenuation along the longer paths off the vertical direction. Field tests in water and glacial ice and laboratory observations show good agreement with the E-plane model results but suggest that the H-plane directivity is strongly affected by the separation between transmit and receive antennas and by the range.
Advanced cooling techniques for high-pressure hydrocarbon-fueled engines

The regenerative cooling limits (maximum chamber pressure) for 02/hydrocarbon gas generator and staged combustion cycle rocket engines over a thrust range of 89,000 N (20,000lbf) to 2,669,000 N (600,000 lbf) for a reusable life of 250 missions were defined. Maximum chamber pressure limits were first determined for the three propellant combinations (O2/CH4, O2/C3H8, and O2/RP-1 without a carbon layer (unenhanced designs). Chamber pressure cooling enhancement limits were then established for seven thermal barriers. The thermal barriers evaluated for these designs were: carbon layer, ceramic coating, graphite liner, film cooling, transpiration cooling, zoned combustion, and a combination of two of the above. All fluid barriers were assessed a 3 percent performance loss. Sensitivity studies were then conducted to determine the influence of cycle life and RP-1 decomposition temperature on chamber pressure limits. Chamber and nozzle design parameters are presented for the unenahanced and enhanced designs. The maximum regenerative cooled chamber pressure limits were attained with the O2/CH4 propellant combination. The O2/RP-1 designs relied on a carbon layer and liquid gas injection chamber contours, short chamber, to be competitive with the other two propellant combinations. This was attributed to the low decomposition temperature of RP-1.
Early Protein Undernutrition and Subsequent Realimentation in Turkeys. 2. Effect on Weights and Proportions of Organs and Tissues

Male and female Large White Nicholas turkeys were fed corn and soybean meal diets for 24 and 20 wk, respectively. The same series was fed with a low protein modification (75% of control in protein and 66% of control in methionine and lysine per Mcal ME) during 0 to 6 wk of age. For the study of organ and tissue growth, six male turkeys per treatment were sampled at 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 16, 20, and 24 wk of age. Six females per treatment were also sampled at 2, 4, 6, 8, 11, 14, 17, and 20 wk of age. Weights of eviscerated carcass, breast, thigh, drumstick, wing, back, neck, feathers, liver, heart, pancreas, alimentary tract less gizzard, and gizzard were depressed by early protein undernutrition to 6 wk of age. Compared with values for controls, undernutrition increased proportions of the liver, alimentary tract less gizzard, gizzard, and heart at 6 wk of age; proportions of the back, neck, feathers, and pancreas were not affected, but breast and thigh proportions were reduced. Compensatory growth during realimentation eliminated all differences between undernourished and control turkeys in weight and proportions of organs and tissues by 20 wk of age.
FAMILIAL HEMOLYTIC ICTERUS ASSOCIATED WITH ENDOCRINE DYSFUNCTION1

There are a few reports, chiefly from the German literature, of familial hemolytic icterus associated with endocrine features. I have not been able to find reference, in the North American medical literature, to cases of endocrine disturbance associated wtih familial hemolytic icterus, although I believe that such cases must have been observed on this continent. Such instances may have been recorded under titles that have missed scrutiny. The following interesting clinical picture is presented at this time, as there is considerable data accumulating in published reports which suggest an association between endocrine function and certain blood dyscrasias. As evidence of this trend of thought, the report of Jackson, Merrill and Duane (1) concerning agranulocytic angina associated with the menstrual cycle, is pertinent.
Genetic control of qualitative changes in protein synthesis during early amphibian (Mexican axolotl) embryogenesis.

Proteins synthesized during various stages of Ambystoma mexicanum development were labeled with a radioactive amino acid. They were quantitatively extracted and characterized by acrylamide gel electrophoresis. The qualitative pattern of protein synthesis of fertile eggs remained unchanged during the early postfertilization stages of development. A change in this pattern was first observed at the 64-cell stage. The maternal influence on protein synthesis in early amphibian embryogenesis was demonstrated in embryos which were spawned by animals which are homozygous for either the cl gene (cleavage arrest) or o gene (ova deficient). Those embryos displayed altered patterns of protein synthesis.
Personnel and mail screening with millimeter waves

The detection and interdiction of biological and chemical warfare agents at point-of-entry military, government, and civilian facilities remains a high priority for security personnel. Commercial personnel and mail screening technologies for these harmful agents are still being developed and improved upon to meet all security client requirements. Millimeter-wave holographic imaging technology developed at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory is an ideal sensor to interrogate objects concealed behind low dielectric barriers such as paper, cardboard, and clothing. It uses harmless millimeter waves to illuminate the object or person under surveillance. The waves penetrate through the low dielectric barrier and either reflects off or pass through the hidden object, depending on its material dielectric properties. The reflected signals are digitized and sent to high-speed computers to form high-resolution, three-dimensional (3-D) images. Feasibility imaging studies have been conducted to determine whether simulated biological or chemical agents concealed in mail packages or under clothing could be detected using holographic radar imaging techniques. The results of this study will be presented in this paper.
Solubility of pyrene in binary (alkane + 2-butanol) solvent mixtures

Abstract Experimental solubilities are reported for pyrene dissolved in six binary mixtures containing 2-butanol with hexane, heptane, octane, cyclohexane, methylcyclohexane, and 2,2,4-trimethylpentane at T =299.15 K. Results of these measurements are used to test two mathematical representations based upon the combined Nearly Ideal Binary Solvent (NIBS)/Redlich–Kister equation and Modified Wilson model. For the six systems studied, both equations were found to provide an accurate mathematical representation of the experimental results, with an overall average absolute deviation between measured and calculated values being of the order of 0.9 per cent or less.
Twenty-Five Years of Ramjet Development

T ramjet engine is the youngest of the family of jet propulsion devices that includes the squid, the rocket, the turbojet, and the pulsejet. Because the ramjet depends on its forward motion to achieve compression of the intake air, the engine itself employs no moving parts and is therefore capable of a simplicity and lightness of construction not possible in other air-breathing engines. This, plus the high thermal efficiency it can achieve, makes the ramjet a favored choice for propulsion of aircraft at supersonic speeds. In the present article the history of ramjet development is briefly reviewed. This is followed by a summary of the design principles of ramjet engines. In the final section performance data for ramjets are compared with data for other jet engines.
A Study on Children's Drawings

(1892). A Study on Children's Drawings. The Pedagogical Seminary: Vol. 2, No. 3, pp. 455-463.
Hematopoietin sub-family classification based on size, gene organization and sequence homology

The hematopoietins constitute a family of structurally related proteins that includes many cytokines, growth factors and hormones. We propose a classification for hematopoietins based on their size, gene organization and sequences; in addition, we further suggest that three cytokines, IL-11, IL-12 alpha chain and IL-13, are hematopoietins, and we place them in specific subgroups.
MUC1 immunotherapy is here to stay

Introduction: Success of HBV vaccines in reducing the incidence of liver cancer, and HPV vaccines in reducing preneoplastic cervical lesions, demonstrate the potential of cancer reduction by harnessing the immune system. For most human cancers, infectious etiology is not known but other tumor antigens, candidates for vaccines, have been identified. Areas covered: The authors discuss knowledge accumulated the last two decades on the tumor antigen MUC1 that has put it at the top of the list as an immunotherapy reagent. They examine evidence that anti-MUC1 immunity affects tumor development and prognosis. Finally, they review two decades of immunotherapy trials targeting MUC1, focusing primarily on vaccines but also adoptive antibody and T-cell therapies. Expert opinion: Most approaches targeting MUC1 have been immunotherapies administered to date to more than 1200 patients in clinical trials. Even though these trials focused on advanced cancer, encouraging results were reported particularly for less immunos...
High-Speed Electroseparations Inside Silica Colloidal Crystals

Crystals made from 200 nm silica colloids are hardened and chemically modified with chlorodimethyloctadecylsilane for use in electrically driven, reversed-phase separations. A van Deemter plot reveals extremely narrow peak widths for the separation of a cationic hydrophobic dye, DiI, with both the A and C terms 10-fold smaller than those for a conventional HPLC column. Electrically driven separations are demonstrated to be achieved in less than 10 s for three dyes differing in hydrophobicity and also for three peptides differing in electrophoretic mobility. The results show that these media are promising for high-speed separations.
Transgenic overexpression of interleukin-8 in mouse liver protects against galactosamine/endotoxin toxicity.

Background/Aims CXC chemokines function as survival factors for several types of cells. In this study, we investigated whether CXC chemokines promote survival of liver cells following an apoptotic stimulus in vivo. Methods Apoptosis was induced in mouse liver by treatment with galactosamine and endotoxin (Gal/ET). The influence of CXC chemokines was investigated by comparing Gal/ET responses in wild-type (WT) mice to those in mice with a transgene encoding the CXC chemokine interleukin-8 (IL-8 TG). Results IL-8 TG mice displayed less apoptosis and better survival after Gal/ET treatment than did WT mice (60% fewer TUNEL-positive cells at 6h; 36% better survival at 24h). Gal/ET toxicity was also preventable in WT mice by pre-treatment with IL-8. Notably, IL-8 was not protective against hepatic apoptosis due to anti-Fas or concanavalin A. In Gal/ET-treated mice, IL-8 promoted liver cell survival by interfering with the mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis. Survival was not attributable to activation of NF-κB or up-regulation of anti-apoptotic proteins, but coincided instead with activation of Akt and phosphorylation of the pro-apoptotic protein Bad. Conclusions IL-8 protects liver cells from Gal/ET-mediated apoptosis by signaling through phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase (PI-3K). This is in keeping with the reported mechanism of chemokine-related survival in other tissues.
Recent Feminist Approaches to the Prophets

Esther Fuchs reviews Woman’s Body and the Social Body in Hosea by Alice A. Keefe (Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press, 2001, 243pp.) and Circumscribing the Prostitute: The Rhetorics of Intertextuality, Metaphor and Gender in Jeremiah 3:1-4:4 by Mary E. Shields (London and New York: T & T Clark, 2004, 184pp.)
The lactoferrin receptor may mediate the reduction of eosinophils in the duodenum of pigs consuming milk containing recombinant human lactoferrin

Lactoferrin is part of the immune system and multiple tissues including the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, liver, and lung contain receptors for lactoferrin. Lactoferrin has many functions, including antimicro- bial, immunomodulatory, and iron binding. Addition- ally, lactoferrin inhibits the migration of eosinophils, which are constitutively present in the GI tract, and increase during inflammation. Lactoferrin suppresses eosinophil infiltration into the lungs and eosinophil migration in -vitro. Healthy pigs have a large popu- lation of eosinophils in their small intestine and like humans, pigs have small intestinal lactoferrin recep- tors (LFR); thus, pigs were chosen to investigate the effects of consumption of milk containing recombi- nant human lactoferrin (rhLF-milk) on small intestinal eosinophils and expression of eosinophilic cytokines. In addition, LFR localization was analyzed in duode- num and circulating eosinophils to determine if the LFR could play a role in lactoferrin's ability to inhibit eosinophil migration. In the duodenum there were significantly fewer eosinophils/unit area in pigs fed rhLF-milk compared to pigs fed control milk (p = 0.025); this was not seen in the ileum (p = 0.669). In the duodenum, no differences were observed in expression of the LFR, or any eosinophil migratory cytokines, and the amount of LFR protein was not different (p = 0.386). Immunohistochemistry (IHC) showed that within the duodenum the LFR localized on the brush border of villi, crypts, and within the lamina propria. Circulating eosinophils also contained LFRs, which may be a mechanism allowing lactoferrin to directly inhibit eosinophil migration.
Oxygen vacancy model in strong metal-support interaction

Abstract A model is proposed to account generically for strong metal-support interactions, a term which is used in a broad sense, and for SMSI, an acronym which is used in a specific and narrow sense. The generalized model is operative through the interaction of metal atoms with oxygen ion lattice vacancies in oxide supports. The occupancy of vacancies by metal atoms is equally applicable to different oxide systems, but the resulting effects may vary profoundly depending on the nature of the support. When applied to fluorite-type oxide supports, the model accounts for experimental observations of high metal dispersion, high sorption, and high catalytic activity, and unusual stability of these against sintering, up to temperatures ca. 1400 K under strong oxidation conditions. In contrast, when applied to rutile the model accounts for SMSI. The marked differences in behavior of metals on the two types of supports is explained on the basis of the uniformly compact or localized open cation sublattices. On the first type, interactions are mainly limited to metal occupancy of surface vacancies due to the diffusion barrier created by the support cations. In the second type, metal diffusion into support bulk vacancies and metal burial are possible, under hydrogen reduction, because of the open nature of the cation sublattice. The opposite phenomenon, dislodging the metal back to the support surface through oxidation, is also presented. As such, the model accounts for the typical observations in SMSI systems. The model has predictive value.
Augmenting of tumor uptake of anti-melanoma antibody MEM136: Influence of interferon☆

Abstract Interferon (IFN) upregulates tumor anti-genic expression and enhances tumor uptake of radiolabeled tumor-specific monoclonal antibody (MAb). IFN also increases tumor blood flow. The relationship between these phenomena was investigated. Human melanoma tumors grown in nude mice were used as the experimental tumor model, and 99m Tc-MEM136 as an MAb. Tumor blood flow was monitored by ultrasound Color Doppler Imaging (CDI) and Laser Doppler Flowmetry (LDF) techniques. Tumor blood flow increased at 20 min after administration of IFN. Enhancement lasted for about 60 min before the blood flow returned to the original baseline level. Tissue distribution of 99m Tc-MEM136 was studied under different experimental schemes. Tumor uptake of 99m Tc-MEM136 enhanced significantly only in experimental scheme A (5.5 ±0.2% ID/g vs. 3.0 ± 0.9% ID/g in control group, p = 0.04). In this scheme IFN was given 30 min prior to the administration of 99m Tc-MEM136, and the animals were sacrificed 1.5 h later. No upregulation of antigenic expression was reported at this time. The increased tumor uptake at this early period appeared to be the result of enhanced tumor blood flow.
Are These Documents Written from Different Perspectives? A Test of Different Perspectives Based on Statistical Distribution Divergence

In this paper we investigate how to automatically determine if two document collections are written from different perspectives. By perspectives we mean a point of view, for example, from the perspective of Democrats or Republicans. We propose a test of different perspectives based on distribution divergence between the statistical models of two collections. Experimental results show that the test can successfully distinguish document collections of different perspectives from other types of collections.
Dynamics of testicular germ cell apoptosis in normal mice and transgenic mice overexpressing rat androgen-binding protein.

The number and type of testicular germ cells undergoing apoptosis in different age groups of mice (from 7 to 360 days of age) was determined and compared in age-matched wild type (WT) control and in a transgenic (TG) mice homozygous to rat androgen binding protein (ABP) using flow cytometry. Flow cytometric quantification revealed that the total number of germ cells undergoing apoptosis did not differ significantly in WT and TG mice up to Day 14. From Day 21 to Day 60, the number of germ cells undergoing apoptosis was consistently higher in TG than in WT mice. Starting from Day 90, the number of germ cells undergoing apoptosis in TG mice was lower than controls until Day 360. In 21–60 days old TG mice, spermatogonia, S-Phase cells, and primary spermatocytes are the cell types undergoing apoptosis at significantly greater numbers than those in WT mice. However, starting from day 60, the total number of spermatids undergoing apoptosis was significantly lower in TG mice than in age-matched WT controls. TdT-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL) in testicular sections from TG mice of 21 and 30 days of age confirmed the presence of increased numbers of apoptotic germ cells compared to their age matched controls. These data indicate that the continuous presence of greater than physiological concentrations of ABP in the mouse testis has a biphasic effect on the frequency of apoptosis in germ cells. The initial pre-pubertal increase in testicular germ cell apoptosis may result from direct or indirect actions of ABP and is likely to determine the subsequent life-death balance of germ cell populations in TG mice, whereas the subsequent reduction may result from maturation depletion. A wave of apoptosis during the pre-pubertal period is required for normal spermatogenesis to develop, and our data indicate that this apoptotic wave may be regulated by ABP and/or androgens.
Agility and Discipline: Critical Success Factors for Disaster Response

For more than thirty years, the U.S. emergency management community has been increasing its ability to structure, control, and manage a large response. The result of this evolution is a National Response System based on the National Response Plan and the National Incident Management System that is perceived to have failed in the response to Hurricane Katrina. Over the same period, social scientists and other disaster researchers have been documenting and describing the nonstructural factors such as improvisation, adaptability, and creativity that are critical to coordination, collaboration, and communication and to successful problem solving. This article argues that these two streams of thought are not in opposition, but form orthogonal dimensions of discipline and agility that must both be achieved. The critical success factors that must be met to prepare for and respond to an extreme event are described, and an organizational typology is developed.
In Vivo Quantification of Inflammation in Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis Rats Using Fluorine-19 Magnetic Resonance Imaging Reveals Immune Cell Recruitment outside the Nervous System

Progress in identifying new therapies for multiple sclerosis (MS) can be accelerated by using imaging biomarkers of disease progression or abatement in model systems. In this study, we evaluate the ability to noninvasively image and quantitate disease pathology using emerging “hot-spot” 19F MRI methods in an experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) rat, a model of MS. Rats with clinical symptoms of EAE were compared to control rats without EAE, as well as to EAE rats that received daily prophylactic treatments with cyclophosphamide. Perfluorocarbon (PFC) nanoemulsion was injected intravenously, which labels predominately monocytes and macrophages in situ. Analysis of the spin-density weighted 19F MRI data enabled quantification of the apparent macrophage burden in the central nervous system and other tissues. The in vivo MRI results were confirmed by extremely high-resolution 19F/1H magnetic resonance microscopy in excised tissue samples and histopathologic analyses. Additionally, 19F nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy of intact tissue samples was used to assay the PFC biodistribution in EAE and control rats. In vivo hot-spot 19F signals were detected predominantly in the EAE spinal cord, consistent with the presence of inflammatory infiltrates. Surprising, prominent 19F hot-spots were observed in bone-marrow cavities adjacent to spinal cord lesions; these were not observed in control animals. Quantitative evaluation of cohorts receiving cyclophosphamide treatment displayed significant reduction in 19F signal within the spinal cord and bone marrow of EAE rats. Overall, 19F MRI can be used to quantitatively monitored EAE disease burden, discover unexpected sites of inflammatory activity, and may serve as a sensitive biomarker for the discovery and preclinical assessment of novel MS therapeutic interventions.
Effect of media perfusion rate on cell seeded 3D bone constructs in vitro

Using a tissue culture system we designed that perfuses culture media through 3D porous cellular constructs, this study tested the effects of media perfusion rate on cell viability, proliferation and gene expression within cell-seeded 3D bone scaffolds. Human trabecular bone scaffolds were seeded with MC3T3-E1 osteoblast-like cells and perfused for one week at flow rates of 0.01, 0.1, 0.2 and 1.0 ml/min. Confocal microscopy revealed a strong influence of perfusion rate on cell viability. A flow rate of 1.0 ml/min resulted in substantial cell death throughout the constructs while lowering the flow rate led to an increasing proportion of viable cells, particularly at the construct interior. DNA analysis showed a significant increase of cell proliferation at a flow rate of 0.01 ml/min relative to 0.2 ml/min and static controls. Conversely, mRNA expressions of Runx2, osteocalcin and alkaline phosphatase were upregulated at 0.2 ml/min compared to lower flow rates as quantified by real-time RT-PCR. These data suggest that media perfusion may benefit development of 3D tissues in vitro by enhancing nutrient delivery and waste removal within the constructs and providing flow-mediated mechanical stimuli. However, higher rates of continuous perfusion decrease cell viability perhaps due to excessive shear stresses on cells within the constructs.
Histologic chorioamnionitis and acute neurologic impairment in premature infants

Objective. To determine if histologic chorioamnionitis is associated with acute neurologic impairment as evaluated by auditory brainstem response in premature infants.Methods. A prospective study was performed to compare auditory neural function at birth between premature infants with maternal histologic chorioamnionitis and infants without maternal histologic chorioamnionitis. Our inclusion criteria was 28–33 weeks gestational age (GA) infants who had maternal placental histopathology performed. Infants with toxoplasmosis, other infections, rubella, cytomegalovirus and herpes simplex (TORCH) infections, chromosomal disorders, cranio-facial anomalies and/or unstable condition were excluded. Bilateral monaural auditory brainstem evoked responses were performed using 80 dB nHL click stimuli at a repetition rate of 29.9/s within 48 h after birth.Results. Of 101 infants who met study criteria, 29 infants were born with history of maternal histologic chorioamnionitis. There were no significant differences betw...
Nuclear Science and Technology: The Race Between Weapons and Controls

The revolution in physics in the early twentieth century was utilized before its mid-point to develop revolutionary weapons of extraordinary power, following a path that has been repeated again and again in history with other scientific advances. The peaceful and military uses of the atom were seen as “Siamese twins” or as “Janus headed,” which meant that not only the proliferation threat emanating from dedicated weapon programs in states, but also that of the misuse of civil programs by states, needed to be addressed. Nuclear science and technology was developed in wartime for military purposes, but since the dawn of the nuclear age, its civil possibilities were foreseen, and its dual nature was present in policy makers’ and academics’ minds. The dual-use nature of the technology, and the high technological hurdles to its development at the outset of the nuclear age led to predominantly supply-side approaches such as export controls to deal with the risks of proliferation. While this focus has persisted, it has evolved over the decades in response to experience and today is complemented by growing attention to the demand side. From this perspective, the history of nuclear energy, the past history and current and future prospects of nuclear proliferation and the development of the nonproliferation regime, can be seen as elements of a race between nuclear technology diffusion on the one hand and technological and institutional efforts to combat proliferation on the other. This paper explores the military influences that shaped the earliest applications of nuclear science and technology, the promise of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes that highlighted the dual nature of the atom and the long standing efforts and debates over the control of this revolutionary science and technology.
Modeling Web Accessibility: A Case Study on Texas A&M University People Website

Statistic analyses are applied to empirical data to test the internet accessibility. Results indicate a strong statistical correlation between internet access and computer domain density at international scale, but visit pages/host does not show a correlation with either computer domain density or physical distance. At international scale, access hosts are the most from North America, followed by Europe, Asia, South America, and Africa in a decreasing order. Visit pages/hosts are the highest from China, Japan, and U.S.A, followed by South Korea, Australia, and Canada in a decreasing order among the top 28 countries. At national and regional (Texas) scales, physical distance plays an important role to shape internet access and visit pages/host. The closer the distance to the internet server, more access from that physical location occurs. Access hosts have an exponent relationship with distance as gravity model, visit pages/host have a linear and exponent relationship with distance respectively. In the national scope, access hosts are relatively higher from Boston, New Haven (CT), New York, San Jose, and L.A. in comparison with similar distant cities. These may be due to the higher computer domain density in these areas. Statistical analyses suggest that claim of "death in distance" in the information age is misled and digital divide varies in a different scale. The results support "declining importance of distance in individual accessibility".
Generative tools for interactive composition: Real-time musical structures based on schaeffer's tartyp and on klumpenhouwer networks

Interactive computer music is comparable to improvisation because it includes elements of real-time composition performed by the computer. This process of real-time composition often incorporates stochastic techniques that remap a predetermined fundamental structure to a surface of sound processing. The hierarchical structure is used to pose restrictions on the stochastic processes, but, in most cases, the hierarchical structure in itself is not created in real time. This article describes how existing musical analysis methods can be converted into generative compositional tools that allow composers to generate musical structures in real time. It proposes a compositional method based on generative grammars derived from Pierre Schaeffer's TARTYP, and describes the development of a compositional tool for real-time generation of Klumpenhouwer networks. The approach is based on the intersection of musical ideas with fundamental concepts in computer science including generative grammars, predicate logic, concepts of structural representation, and various methods of categorization.
Long-term use of pramipexole in bipolar depression: a naturalistic retrospective chart review.

A naturalistic retrospective chart review of all patients given pramipexole for bipolar depression in addition to their mood stabilizers was undertaken. Sixteen patients were followed for an average of 6.7 ± SD 9.0 months. Half of the patients stopped the pramipexole an average of 2 months after starting it. For all patients, depressed mood, and the total profile of depressive symptoms improved significantly within 4 weeks and remained significantly improved for as long as 36 weeks. Both global function (GAF), and global impression (CGI) improved with pramipexole. Irritability and insomnia both increased slightly initially, and then subsided. There were no changes in mania ratings for up to 36 months. Long-term outcome of adjunctive pramipexole appears to be adequate, with apparent maintenance of effect for over 9 months.
Fidelity of implementation of research-based instructional strategies (RBIS) in engineering science courses

Background Increasing attention is being paid to improvement in undergraduate science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education through increased adoption of research-based instructional strategies (RBIS), but high-quality measures of faculty instructional practice do not exist to monitor progress. Purpose/Hypothesis The measure of how well an implemented intervention follows the original is called fidelity of implementation. This theory was used to address the research questions: What is the fidelity of implementation of selected RBIS in engineering science courses? That is, how closely does engineering science classroom practice reflect the intentions of the original developers? Do the critical components that characterize an RBIS discriminate between engineering science faculty members who claimed use of the RBIS and those who did not? Design/Method A survey of 387 U.S. faculty teaching engineering science courses (e.g., statics, circuits, thermodynamics) included questions about class time spent on 16 critical components and use of 11 corresponding RBIS. Fidelity was quantified as the percentage of RBIS users who also spent time on corresponding critical components. Discrimination between users and nonusers was tested using chi square. Results Overall fidelity of the 11 RBIS ranged from 11% to 80% of users spending time on all required components. Fidelity was highest for RBIS with one required component: case-based teaching, just-in-time teaching, and inquiry learning. Thirteen of 16 critical components discriminated between users and nonusers for all RBIS to which they were mapped. Conclusions Results were consistent with initial mapping of critical components to RBIS. Fidelity of implementation is a potentially useful framework for future work in STEM undergraduate education.
Independent component analysis of digital image watermarking

In this paper independent component analysis (ICA) is used to test the robustness of watermarked image. By applying suitable ICA forward transformation, the distributions of the cover image and the watermark are modified. The cover image and the watermark are estimated by using a nonlinear filter and the inverse transform matrix. The preliminary experiments show that ICA attack not only influences the hidden information but also improves the image quality for reasonable embedding strengths.
Local Leaders Support Reforming Michigan's System of Funding Local Government

This report presents the views of Michigan’s local government leaders regarding both the state’s system of funding local government and their jurisdictions’ ability to provide public services in the aftermath of the Great Recession. The findings are based on responses to statewide surveys of local government leaders in the Spring 2012 wave of the Michigan Public Policy Survey (MPPS).
Macrophase Separation of Blends of Diblock Copolymers in Thin Films

Symmetric poly(styrene-b-methyl methacrylate) block copolymers (BCP) with total molecular weights of 129–412 kg/mol were blended with a symmetric 44 kg/mol BCP. This set of polymers covers the parameter space of molecular weight ratios of the large vs small BCP in the pair, R = Mn,L/Mn,S from 2.9 to 9.4. The blends macrophase separate into a nearly pure small period phase and a blended large period phase when R is greater than 5. The influence of film confinement on the phase behavior of these blends was analyzed by comparing the morphology within films on nonpreferential substrates and bulk samples using scanning electron microscopy and X-ray scatterning techniques. In the thin film, the large period phase has approximately equal volume fraction of the high and low molecular weight BCP, but in the bulk, the large period phase is more concentrated with the high molecular weight BCP. This difference in the saturation composition not only narrows the composition window for macrophase separation but also res...
Options for Pricing Federal Deposit Insurance

The following article discusses some deposit insurance pricing options that are under consideration by the FDIC. The specific pricing examples are presented only to illustrate the general types of options being considered and should not be regarded as a comprehensive set. This article is intended to highlight the practical trade-offs posed by the choice among different types of pricing systems.
Synthesis of Millimeter-Scale Transition Metal Dichalcogenides Single Crystals

The emergence of semiconducting transition metal dichalcogenide (TMD) atomic layers has opened up unprecedented opportunities in atomically thin electronics. Yet the scalable growth of TMD layers with large grain sizes and uniformity has remained very challenging. Here is reported a simple, scalable chemical vapor deposition approach for the growth of MoSe2 layers is reported, in which the nucleation density can be reduced from 105 to 25 nuclei cm-2, leading to millimeter-scale MoSe2 single crystals as well as continuous macrocrystalline films with millimeter size grains. The selective growth of monolayers and multilayered MoSe2 films with well-defined stacking orientation can also be controlled via tuning the growth temperature. In addition, periodic defects, such as nanoscale triangular holes, can be engineered into these layers by controlling the growth conditions. The low density of grain boundaries in the films results in high average mobilities, around ≈42 cm2 V-1 s-1, for back-gated MoSe2 transistors. This generic synthesis approach is also demonstrated for other TMD layers such as millimeter-scale WSe2 single crystals.
Synthesis and biological evaluation of fatty acyl ester derivatives of (-)-2',3'-dideoxy-3'-thiacytidine.

A number of fatty acyl derivatives of (−)-2′,3′-dideoxy-3′-thiacytidine (lamivudine, 3TC, 1) were synthesized and evaluated for their anti-HIV activity. The monosubstituted 5′-O-fatty acyl derivatives of 3TC (EC50 = 0.2–2.3 μM) were more potent than the corresponding monosubstituted N4-fatty acyl (EC50 = 0.4–29.4 μM) and 5′-O-N4-disubstituted (EC50 = 72.6 to >154.0 μM) derivatives of the nucleoside. 5′-O-Myristoyl (16) and 5′-O-12-azidododecanoyl derivatives (17) were found to be the most potent compounds (EC50 = 0.2–0.9 μM) exhibiting at least 16–36-fold higher anti-HIV activity against cell-free virus than 1 (EC50 = 11.4–32.7 μM). The EC90 values for 16 against B-subtype and C-subtype clinical isolates were several folds lower than those of 1. The cellular uptake studies confirmed that compound 16 accumulated intracellularly after 1 h of incubation with CCRF-CEM cells and underwent intracellular hydrolysis. 5′-O-Fatty acyl derivatives of 1 showed significantly higher anti-HIV activity than the correspon...
Microreactor System for High-Pressure Continuous Flow Homogeneous Catalysis Measurements

A high-pressure gas–liquid system is presented for determining homogeneous catalyst kinetic parameters. Microreactors enable segmented flow with very predictable gas–liquid contacting, reducing the...
Human induced variability during failure mode effects analysis

Failure Modes Effects Analysis (FMEA) has been utilized in engineering since the 1940s with the main goal of identifying failure modes through systematic evaluation of a system, product, or process. This method has been widely adopted across many industries and provides valuable input to more detailed analyses such as failure analysis, risk analysis, root cause analysis, and design improvement. FMEA also forms part of the Design for Reliability (DfR) process when utilized early during product design. The approach is utilized extensively in methodologies such as Reliability Centered Maintenance (RCM) and provides valuable input to Condition Based Maintenance (CBM) programs — both important elements within product sustainment and design processes Although FMEA can be an effective tool within Reliability and Maintainability, the results of this approach are often limited by its susceptibility to human errors that can degrade the quality of an analysis. Data overload, wherein an analyst becomes overwhelmed by the sheer volume of failure modes to be evaluated, potential biases toward extreme severity ratings, the variance in team dynamics, individual past experience (operator versus designer), and years of experience have all been identified as possible sources of analysis error. Researchers have proposed FMEA quality improvement approaches ranging from simple solutions, such as best practices, to the application of fuzzy logic. While these methods can potentially improve FMEA quality, they offer no solid quantification of human error within the process. Specifically, potential subjectivity can be present during the analysis process when severity rankings are chosen, and superfluous information can bias the analysis. This paper will present initial results from a recent study that investigated sources of variation in FMEA analyses due to variances in the human decision making process. The study specifically investigated the impact of data availability (failure and mishap) and analyst experience on several FMEA variables, e.g., severity and mitigation selection. The paper will provide valuable insight into the improvement of the FMEA process, thus improving the reliability and maintainability in a technology-reliant world.
Plasma Levels of 5-Hydroxytryptamine during Sympathetic Stimulation and in Raynaud's Phenomenon

1. The involvement of plasma 5-hydroxytryptamine in normal subjects during sympathetic stimulation and in patients with Raynaud's phenomenon was studied. 2. Arterial and venous plasma levels of 5-hydroxytryptamine were measured in normal subjects in a warm room, during reflex sympathetic stimulation by body cooling and during intra-arterial infusions of tyramine. Normal subjects (n = 19) had significantly higher levels of 5-hydroxytryptamine in venous plasma [mean 1.42 (SEM 0.23) ng/ml] than in arterial plasma [0.67 (0.12) ng/ml; P < 0.01]. Body cooling (n = 10) or tyramine infusion (n = 8) did not increase venous levels of 5-hydroxytryptamine despite significant decreases in blood flow and increases in vascular resistance. 3. Venous plasma levels of 5-hydroxytryptamine were also determined in patients with primary Raynaud's phenomenon (n = 12) or secondary Raynaud's phenomenon due to scleroderma (n = 11). Patients with primary or secondary Raynaud's phenomenon did not have significantly higher venous plasma levels of 5-hydroxytryptamine than normal subjects, even during vasospastic attacks (n = 3). 4. It is concluded that either 5-hydroxytryptamine is not involved in sympathetic nerve vasoconstriction or in Raynaud's phenomenon, or 5-hydroxytryptamine released in the microcirculation is largely taken up or metabolized by endothelial cells or platelets.