cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Essentials of iron, chromium, and calcium isotope analysis of natural materials by thermal ionization mass spectrometry

Abstract The use of isotopes to understand the behavior of metals in geological, hydrological, and biological systems has rapidly expanded in recent years. One of the mass spectrometric techniques used to analyze metal isotopes is thermal ionization mass spectrometry, or TIMS. While TIMS has been a useful analytical technique for the measurement of isotopic composition for decades and TIMS instruments are widely distributed, there are significant difficulties associated with using TIMS to analyze isotopes of the lighter alkaline earth elements and transition metals. Overcoming these difficulties to produce relatively long-lived and stable ion beams from microgram-sized samples is a non-trivial task. We focus here on TIMS analysis of three geologically and environmentally important elements (Fe, Cr, and Ca) and present an in-depth look at several key aspects that we feel have the greatest potential to trouble new users. Our discussion includes accessible descriptions of different analytical approaches and issues, including filament loading procedures, collector cup configurations, peak shapes and interferences, and the use of isotopic double spikes and related error estimation. Building on previous work, we present quantitative simulations, applied specifically in this study to Fe and Ca, that explore the effects of (1) time-variable evaporation of isotopically homogeneous spots from a filament and (2) interferences on the isotope ratios derived from a double spike subtraction routine. We discuss how and to what extent interferences at spike masses, as well as at other measured masses, affect the double spike-subtracted isotope ratio of interest (44Ca/40Ca in the case presented, though a similar analysis can be used to evaluate 56Fe/54Fe and 53Cr/52Cr). The conclusions of these simulations are neither intuitive nor immediately obvious, making this examination useful for those who are developing new methodologies. While all simulations are carried out in the context of a specific isotope system, it should be noted that the same methods can be used to evaluate any isotope system of interest.
Nutritive Value of Thermoalkali-Processed Soy Materials for Young Calves and Rats

Abstract Thermoalkali-processed soy protein concentrates (experimental soy concentrate) were compared with sodium caseinate and a commercial soy protein concentrate (Promocaf) as protein sources in milk replacers, supplying .75 of the protein in 20%-protein replacers. Week-old Holstein calves were fed the replacers in two 4-wk trials. Average gains of calves fed experimental soy concentrate (processed 5 min at 85 C and pH 10.5), caseinate, and Promocaf replacers were 3.0, 6.6, and 6.6 kg. Calves fed experimental soy concentrate replacers heated for shorter or longer times lost .8 to 3 kg weight during the first 2 wk but gained .6 to 1.7 kg during the, last 2 wk. Occasionally calves had loose feces, mainly during the first 2 wk, with no significant differences between groups. Efficiency with which rats used protein of nonfat, spray-dried, milk-replacer ingredients correlated .96 with growth of calves fed corresponding replacers. Growths and protein efficiency ratios were similar when rats were fed lyophilized, thermoalkali-processed soy products heated for various times up to 1 h at either 85 C and pH 10.5 or 75 C and pH 9. Rats fed the experimental soy concentrate performed satisfactorily; calves, less satisfactorily. The protein efficiency ratio of experimental soy products determined with rats correlated .68 with in vitro protein digestibility, −.60 with soluble nitrogen, and −.59 with trypsin inhibitor activity.
Upper Bounds on Mean Life of Self-Repairing Systems

Upper bounds on mean life of self-repairing systems are established on the basis of a very general system model. Expressions for system mean-life are obtained by formulating the problem as a two-dimensional difference equation in time and the number of nonfailed spare elements. Results indicate that mean life of an isolated system cannot be expected to exceed roughly three times the mean life of the elements which make it up, regardless of how standby elements are employed. If the element failure rate in standby is substantially less than the failure rate in operation, then system mean life is essentially linearly proportional to the number of available standby elements.
Distribution fields for tracking

Visual tracking of general objects often relies on the assumption that gradient descent of the alignment function will reach the global optimum. A common technique to smooth the objective function is to blur the image. However, blurring the image destroys image information, which can cause the target to be lost. To address this problem we introduce a method for building an image descriptor using distribution fields (DFs), a representation that allows smoothing the objective function without destroying information about pixel values. We present experimental evidence on the superiority of the width of the basin of attraction around the global optimum of DFs over other descriptors. DFs also allow the representation of uncertainty about the tracked object. This helps in disregarding outliers during tracking (like occlusions or small misalignments) without modeling them explicitly. Finally, this provides a convenient way to aggregate the observations of the object through time and maintain an updated model. We present a simple tracking algorithm that uses DFs and obtains state-of-the-art results on standard benchmarks.
599 PARAINFLUENZA BRONCHIOLITIS: ROLE OF ENVIRONMENT IN PATHOGENESIS AND OUTCOME

In order to determine the natural history of bronchiolitis (Br) due to parainfluenza virus (PV), 52 infants were followed prospectively from birth or from the time of an episode of Br due to PV until 4 years of age. Data concerning the presence of atopic disease in family members, breast-feeding and exposure of the infant to cigarette smoke were obtained initially, and patients were then observed at the time of all subsequent episodes of respiratory illness. Twenty-eight infants with Br due to PV and 24 control infants with PV infections resulting in upper respiratory illness (URI) alone were evaluated. Subjects with Br due to PV were more commonly males (70.8% vs. 46.4%) and more frequently had been breast-fed (73.9% vs. 42.9%) in comparison to controls (p<0.05) but did not differ in terms of family history of atopic disease or smoke exposure. Subsequent wheezing episodes occurred in 87.5% of Br patients vs. 16.7% of controls (p<0.01). Subsequent infection with respiratory syncytial virus resulted in wheezing among 94.1% of patients with Br due to PV vs. 16.7% of controls (p<0.01). Subsequent wheezing episodes occurred more commonly following the initial episode of Br due to PV, if the patient was exposed to cigarette smoke (3.1 vs. 1.9 if not exposed, p<0.05) and if the infant had not been breast-fed (3.1 vs. 1.3 if breast-fed, p<0.01). These observations suggest that several environmental factors appear to play a major role in the development of recurrent wheezing following bronchiolitis due to parainfluenza virus.
Continuous and Embedded Learning in autonomous vehicles : Adapting to sensor failures

This project describes an approach to creating autonomous systems that can continue to learn throughout their lives, that is, to be adaptive to changes in the environment and in their own capabilities. Evolutionary learning methods have been found to be useful in several areas in the development of autonomous vehicles. In our research, evolutionary algorithms are used to explore the alternative robot behaviors within a simulation model as a way of reducing the overall knowledge engineering effort. The learned behaviors are then tested in the actual robot and the results compared. Initial research demonstrated the ability to learn reasonable complex robot behaviors such as herding, and navigation and collision avoidance using this offline learning approach. In this work, the vehicle is always exploring different strategies via an internal simulation model; the simulation in term, is changing over time to better match the world. This model, which we call Continuous and Embedded Learning (also referred to as Anytime Learning), is a general approach to continuous learning in a changing environment. The agent's learning module continuously tests new strategies against a simulation model of the task environment, and dynamically updates the knowledge base used by the agent on the basis of the results. The execution module controls the agent's interaction with the environment, and includes a monitor that can dynamically modify the simulation model based on its observations of the environment. When a simulation model is modified, the learning process continues on the modified model. The learning system is assume to operate indefinitely, and the execution system uses the results of learning as they become available. Early experimental studies demonstrate a robot that can learn to adapt to failures in its sonar sensors.© (2000) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Scalability and Performance of Web Applications in a Compute Cloud

Scalability and performance are key factors to the success of many enterprises involved in doing business on the web. Maintaining sufficient web resources just to meet performance during peak demands can be costly. Compute Cloud provides a powerful environment to allow dynamic scaling of web applications without the needs for user intervention. In this paper, we present a case study on the scalability and performance of web applications in a Cloud. We describe a novel dynamic scaling architecture with a front-end load-balancer for routing user requests to web applications deployed on virtual machine instances with the goal of maximizing resource utilization in instances while minimizing total number of instances. A scaling algorithm for automated provisioning of virtual resources based on threshold number of active user sessions will be introduced. The on-demand capability of the Cloud to rapidly provision and dynamically allocate resources to users will be discussed. Our work has demonstrated the compelling benefits of a Cloud which is capable of sustaining performance upon sudden load surges, delivering satisfactory IT resources on-demands to users, and maintaining high resource utilization, thus reducing infrastructure and management costs.
Purification of Heat-Labile Enterotoxin from Escherichia coli 078:H11 by Affinity Chromatography with Antiserum to Vibrio cholerae Toxin

Concentrated culture filtrate of Escherichia coli O78:H11, strain H10407, was applied to an affinity column prepared with IgG antibodies to the toxin of Vibrio cholerae. Elution of the retained material with 3 M KCNS yielded a nonenterotoxic protein that precipitated with antiserum to V. cholerae toxin and had three major protein components on sodium dodecyl sulfate gels. After treatment with 2-mercaptoethanol, two protein components were observed. Elution of the affinity column with 5 M guanidine yielded an enterotoxic protein that precipitated with antiserum to V. cholerae toxin. After treatment with 2-mercaptoethanol, only one protein component, with mobility identical to that of the slower component of the eluate (treated with 3 M KCNS and 2-mercaptoethanol), was observed.
Evaporated Te on CdTe: A vacuum‐compatible approach to making back contact to CdTe solar cell devices

A commonly used process for forming low-resistance contacts to thin-film p-type CdTe involves the formation of a Te layer by etching the CdTe film in a concentrated mixture of nitric and phosphoric acids. The authors compare evaporated Te back contacts with ‘control’ back contacts formed by the usual etching process, and demonstrate that evaporating Te onto a CdTe thin film is a viable process for forming a low-resistance contact. The best efficiency achieved for a CdTe solar cell made with an evaporated Te back contact is 12.1%, whereas the efficiency of the device made with the control back contact was 11.9%. The evaporation process offers numerous advantages over acid etching, most notably vacuum compatibility amenable to large-scale production of CdTe solar cell modules.
Towards a mechanistic understanding of fish species niche divergence along a river continuum

Environmental niche modeling is a valuable tool but it often fails to identify causal links between environmental gradients and individual- or population-level performance that drive species' distributions. Correlation between the abundances of stream fish species and longitudinal position in stream networks is well documented and is hypothesized to occur through differential environmental filtering of trophic traits. Still, trophically similar congeners often exhibit complementary distributions along stream size gradients, suggesting that other mechanisms are important. We present niche models to test the hypothesis that four congeneric pairs (Teleostei: Cyprinidae) exhibit complementary distributions along a gradient of stream size in the central Great Plains of Kansas, USA. Stream size was the strongest predictor of abundance compared to five other environmental variables tested and three of the four species pairs exhibited complementary distributions along a stream size gradient. We carried out field experiments to quantify potentially causal environmental gradients (food resources, temperature, and turbidity) and four measures of individual performance (adult spawning success and juvenile survival, condition, and growth) along a stream size gradient for one congeneric pair: Pimephales notatus, a tributary species and P. vigilax, a river mainstem species. These experiments revealed an increase in temperature and food resources with stream size, along with a corresponding increase in adult spawning success, juvenile condition, and juvenile growth for both species. We conclude that these congeners respond similarly to abiotic gradients associated with the river continuum and that complementary distributions are a consequence of biotic interactions, differential environmental filtering evident in an unmeasured performance metric, or differential environmental filtering by a direct environmental gradient operating at longer timescales.
Conjecture, Probabilism, and Provisional Knowledge in Renaissance Meteorology

For Renaissance Aristotelian natural philosophers, ideally knowledge was certain and based on syllogistic demonstration. Many Italian scholars, such as Agostino Nifo, Pietro Pomponazzi, and Niccolo Cabeo, considered this ideal as inapplicable to the field of meteorology. Rather, because of the accidental nature of meteorological phenomena and the inherent irregularity of the weather, they believed that causal explanations of meteorology were largely conjectural, provisional, and probabilistic. Several of these natural philosophers applied the standard of "saving the appearances" to the field of meteorology because of the difficulties involved in making accurate observations. This lower epistemological standard contributed to the willingness of Aristotelians to revise meteorological theories and deviate from Aristotle's own positions.
Proper packaging promotes parameter passing proficiency

There are three major areas of confusion when learning about parameter passing in procedural programming language: formal vs. actual parameters; scope rules, including global variables; and value vs. reference parameters. This paper discusses one simple method, the use of separate modules/packages, to ameliorate the first two of these problems.
Growth of deep-UV light-emitting diodes by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition

We demonstrate high power AlGaN based ultraviolet light-emitting diodes (UV LEDs) with an emission wavelength of 280 nm using an asymmetric single quantum well active layer configuration on top of a high-quality AlGaN/AlN template layer grown by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD). An output power of 1.8 mW at a pulsed current of 400 mA was achieved for a single 300 μm × 300 μm diode. This device reached a high peak external quantum efficiency of 0.24% at 40 mA. An array of four diodes produced 6.5 mW at 880 mA of pulsed current. We also demonstrate high output power operation of AlGaN-based UV LEDs at a short wavelength of 265 nm. An output power of 2.4 mW at a pulsed current of 360 mA was achieved for a single diode. A packaged array of four diodes produced 5.3 mW at 700 mA of pulsed current. The DC output power is 170 μW at 250 mA.
Mixed-Valent Fe Films ('Schwimmeisen') on the Surface of Reduced Ephemeral Pools

Floating, mixed-valent Fe films have been observed worldwide in wetlands, ferrous iron rich seeps, and in seasonally reduced soils, but are usually misidentified as oil or biofilms. Little characterization or explanation to their formation has taken place. Along the Oregon coast such films were found on ephemeral pools where Fe(II) rich groundwater (~ 100 μM Fe) discharged at the base of Pleistocene sand dunes. Fe(II) oxidized to Fe(III) at the air-water interface to form ~ 100 to 300nm thick films. Analyses indicated that the films contained both Fe(III) and Fe(II) in a ratio of 3:1. Si was the other main cation, OH was the main anion and some C was identified as well. The film morphology was flat, under optical and electron microscopy with some attached floccules having a stringlike morphology. Energy filtered electron diffraction patterns (EFED) showed three diffraction rings at 4.5, 2.6, and 1.4 A in some places and 2 rings (2.6 and 1.4 A) in others. Upon further oxidation the films became 2-line ferrihydrite. We are proposing the name „Schwimmeisen“ for the floating, mixed-valent Fe film.
Cardiology patient page. Heart disease prevention in women. American Heart Association.

A recent national study conducted by the American Heart Association showed that fewer than 50% of American women know that heart disease is their leading killer. The study included more than 1000 women from many different racial and ethnic backgrounds. More women in this study knew that heart disease was women’s leading killer than in similar studies conducted in 1997 and 2000, but there’s still a lot of room for improvement. Cardiovascular disease—the No. 1 cause of death in the United States—claims the lives of almost 500 000 women each year. That’s nearly one death every minute. Being aware of the risk of heart disease is important because it’s the first step in taking action to lower risk. Because heart disease can often be prevented, the survey findings are an urgent call to action. The American Heart Association and 11 other leading national health organizations came together to develop comprehensive guidelines for heart disease prevention in women. They include a rating scale to express the strength of recommendations and the quality of research to support specific preventive therapies. Each recommendation was categorized to help doctors and women decide which preventive therapies should or should not be used. A Class I category indicates that the type of therapy should be provided routinely. Class IIa indicates that most scientific evidence favors providing the type of therapy, whereas Class IIb indicates the usefulness of therapy is less well-established. Class III indicates that the type of therapy isn’t useful and may be harmful. Being aware of personal risk and treatment options can empower a woman to live a long and healthy life. Physicians who follow these guidelines will be able to help female patients make lifestyle changes and better select the right medications to help them avoid or treat heart disease. In developing these …
A unique surgical approach for massive retroperitoneal tumors

A unique approach to retroperitoneal tumors is described, utilizing an inverted U-shaped incision that allows exposure of the retroperitoneum, great vessels, and intraperitoneal organs.
Ozone removal techniques in the sampling of atmospheric volatile organic trace gases

Some of the most detrimental interferences in the atmospheric analysis of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are reactions between ozone and the analytes occurring during the sampling and enrichment process. This paper provides a review of typical interferences observed and techniques to circumvent this problem by the selective removal of ozone from the air sample.
3-D Multi-Fluid Modeling of Aluminum Plasma Jets in the Ionosphere

The electrodynamic interactions of an Aluminum plasma jet in the ionosphere are investigated with analysis and numerical simulations. The plasma jet is generated after the release of aluminum neutrals from a pulsed source at an altitude of 150 km. The model is three-dimensional and includes continuity and momentum equations for the jet and ambient species, a chemistry model, and a current conservation equation. Ion inertia terms are included via a perturbation method. The neutral jet is modeled as a free-molecular expansion from a pulsed source and the ambient background is nonuniform. Numerical simulations examine the effects of mass of the released neutrals on the plasma jet evolution. The results demonstrate the formation of a fast moving ion jet, the current coupling with the ambient plasma, the formation of image clouds in the background, and the distant mapping of the electric fields. Reducing the mass of the released neutrals results in slower moving in ion jets.
The Creative Individual in Industrial Research

A project was undertaken to analyze the processes associated with individual creativity in industrial research organizations and the effects of the company environment and management policies on the results of research and development (R and D) activities. Interviews were held with two hundred and nine technical researchers drawn from the fundamental, applied, and development staffs of seventeen private industrial firms, one research institute, one university laboratory, and the members of a creative engineering seminar for industry held at Stanford. One aspect of the study concerned the dichotomy of research specialist vs generalist. Most of the men participating in this study had broad technical and personal interests even though their current job assignments might each involve a definite specialization. Data on a wide range of characteristics and attitudes of research people are presented.
A regionalized perinatal continuing education programme: successful adaptation to a foreign health care system and language

SUMMARY Much of the decline in perinatal mortality over the past two decades in the United States has been attributed to regionalization of perinatal care. Outreach education from regional medical centres to community hospitals is an essential component of regionalization. The Perinatal Continuing Education Program (PCEP) has been successfully used for outreach education in more than 30 states since 1979. This project tested the efficacy of implementing the PCEP strategy in Poland. PCEP was adapted to Polish conditions, translated, and implemented in four phases. The scheme allowed gradual transfer of ownership to Polish leaders and use of the existing regional structure to disseminate information from regional centres to community hospitals. Evaluation included measures of programme use (participation and completion rates) and acceptance (participant evaluation forms), cognitive knowledge (pre- vs. post-tests), and patient care (chart reviews). Of 2093 doctors, nurses and midwives who began, 1615 (77%) completed the programme, with higher completion by regional centre than community hospital staff. All participant groups responded favourably to the materials and expressed moderate confidence in their mastery of the information and skills. Test scores improved significantly for all phases and for all disciplines, with baseline and final scores consistent with degrees of previous professional education. Large baseline and inter-hospital variations in chart review data restricted analysis of care practices. A comprehensive perinatal education programme can be successfully transferred to a foreign health care system. We believe the following to be particularly important: multidisciplinary instructors and students; a self-instructional format; content aimed at practice rather than theory; and an organized implementation strategy co-ordinated by local personnel.
Optimal Control of Mass Flow Rates in Flat Plate Solar Collectors

The optimal flat plate collector fluid flow rate is determined for several combinations of objective functions and system models. The method of implementing the control strategy for one of the problems considered, that which maximizes the integral of the difference between the collected solar power and fluid moving power, is described. The performance of the solar energy collection system in Solar House II at Colorado State University using this optimal controller is discussed and compared with the same system using bang-bang control. In addition, the dependence of the collector efficiency factor on flow rate is considered and its effect on the optimal control is determined.
Comment on "Hydrodynamics of fractal continuum flow" and "Map of fluid flow in fractal porous medium into fractal continuum flow"

In two recent papers [Phys. Rev. E 85, 025302(R) (2012) and Phys. Rev. E 85, 056314 (2012)], the authors proposed fractal continuum hydrodynamics and its application to model fluid flows in fractally permeable reservoirs. While in general providing a certain advancement of continuum mechanics modeling of fractal media to fluid flows, some results and statements to previous works need clarification. We first show that the nonlocal character those authors alleged in our paper [Proc. R. Soc. A 465, 2521 (2009)] actually does not exist; instead, all those works are in the same general representation of derivative operators differing by specific forms of the line coefficient c_1. Next, the claimed generalization of the volumetric coefficient c_3 is, in fact, equivalent to previously proposed product measures when considering together the separate decomposition of c_3 on each coordinate. Furthermore, the modified Jacobian proposed in the two commented papers does not relate the volume element between the current and initial configurations, which henceforth leads to a correction of the Reynolds’ transport theorem. Finally, we point out that the asymmetry of the Cauchy stress tensor resulting from the conservation of the angular momentum must not be ignored; this aspect motivates a more complete formulation of fractal continuum models within a micropolar framework.
The Internationalization of the Curriculum

This note reviews the results of four surveys related to the efforts of the AACSB to internationalize the curriculum of the business schools. The first, a survey of the 1071 participants in the 30 workshop/seminars which have been organized by the AACSB, showed that the workshops have been very beneficial for the participants and affected the courses they teach. The second survey, of all AACSB member schools, showed that most of them plan to internationalize their curriculums by introducing an international dimension into the core courses. But this raises the question of whether the faculty members are trained or prepared to do this. The third survey found that only 64 out of 564 AACSB member schools have one or more exchange programs with foreign business schools, and that only about 125 professors go overseas each year under the aegis of these programs. Finally, a fourth survey, of the 53 largest doctoral programs, indicated that only 17% of the graduates of our doctoral programs study any international courses during their graduate (masters and doctoral) studies. Thus, the next generation of faculty members will have difficulty in introducing any international content into the courses they teach.
Secondary school model automatic test generation

A review of the literature dealing with automatic test generation yields a wide variety of subject matter applications. Most decriptives, however, deal with college level projects. This paper out lines secondary school requirements that may encourage the development of appropriate test generation models. Our discussion will center on a common need for remediation at the secondary level, namely, mathematics skill building (addition, subtraction, multiplication and division). The subject matter selection is only to assure that the suggestions made are as concrete as possible. The paper will concentrate on the structural and procedural aspects of school site test generation and will not deal with the computer programming requirements.The basic model assumes remedial curriculum that will be directed as a student population of 500 students. This supposes that the entire student population is not utilizing a single test generation package. The recommendations allow for adding additional curriculum services and increasing student use. A test generating laboratory should emerge that would operate as a service bureau. This center will be detailed below.The discussion will be organized under the following headings:The discussion will be organized under the following headings:Hardware RequirementsTurnaroundPersonnelCost
Convergence of curved shell elements based on assumed covariant strain interpolations

A C0 9-node shell element based on assumed interpolations of covariant strain components defined with respect to the element natural co-ordinate system has recently been proposed. In this formulation, the covariant strains are obtained directly from the Cartesian strains by tensor transformation without any need to compute laminar co-ordinate based strains. In the present work, the interpolated covariant strains used in this element are analysed to determine their satisfaction of the basic requirements for successful strain interpolation. These basic requirements are stated as invariance to rigid body motions and ability to represent constant and linear strain states. In the finite element formulation, the weak form of momentum balance is expressed in terms of covariant strains and contravariant stresses. The corresponding elasticity tensor is a function of the components of the metric tensor associated with the element natural co-ordinate system. The invariance properties of the metric tensor in the context of the finite element approximation are also discussed.
Identification of Conserved Regions and Residues within Hedgehog Acyltransferase Critical for Palmitoylation of Sonic Hedgehog

Background Sonic hedgehog (Shh) is a palmitoylated protein that plays key roles in mammalian development and human cancers. Palmitoylation of Shh is required for effective long and short range Shh-mediated signaling. Attachment of palmitate to Shh is catalyzed by Hedgehog acyltransferase (Hhat), a member of the membrane bound O-acyl transferase (MBOAT) family of multipass membrane proteins. The extremely hydrophobic composition of MBOAT proteins has limited their biochemical characterization. Except for mutagenesis of two conserved residues, there has been no structure-function analysis of Hhat, and the regions of the protein required for Shh palmitoylation are unknown.
Accurate bias point control for an electrically isolated Mach-Zehnder interferometric modulator via an analog optical-fiber link

We describe a new method to keep an electrically isolated Mach-Zehnder electro-optic modulator biased in quadrature despite changes in temperature and optical coupling efficiency. The modulator is part of a system to measure electromagnetic waves in an outdoor environment. All data and control signals between the modulator and electronics control module are carried by analog optical-fiber links, and all of the bias signals and control procedures are implemented with an onboard computer and digital signal-processing unit. Our method compares the average DC optical power in the complementary outputs of the modulator and adjusts the bias point by controlling the optical power to small photocells in the sensor head. A second control loop balances responses from a small dither signal applied to the modulator, consequently balancing the optical losses in each of the complementary outputs by way of a variable optical attenuator. This control system allows us to maintain the bias to within ±2 degrees of the quadrature point. The response time of the control loop is about 10 ms.
Photochemical Preparation of Highly Water‐Soluble Pendant [60]Fullerene‐Aminopolymers

— In order to introduce fullerene cages into an aqueous environment, pendant [60]fullerene-poly(propionylethyle-neimine-co-ethyleneimine) was prepared photochemical-ly. The pendant polymer is highly water soluble, with equivalent aqueous solubilities of the polymer-bound [60]fullerene much higher than the solubility of [60]ful-lerene in toluene. The photochemical reaction between [60]fullerene and secondary amine moieties in the ami-nopolymers likely follows a photoinduced electron transfer-proton transfer mechanism. The pendant polymer structures, which are represented by dehydrogenated di-and tetra-aminofullerene linkages, were characterized by use of proton and 13C NMR, Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy, gel-permeation chromatography and optical spectroscopic methods.
Persistent scarring, atrophy, and dyspigmentation in a preteen girl with neonatal lupus erythematosus.

Abstract Neonatal lupus erythematosus is an uncommon autoimmune disease with distinctive cutaneous findings. Descriptions of chronic cutaneous sequelae are rare. We describe a 12-year-old girl with persistent dyspigmentation, scarring, and atrophy as a result of neonatal lupus occurring during infancy. (J Am Acad Dermatol 2003;48:626-8.)
Stability of water-stable C60 clusters to OH radical oxidation and hydrated electron reduction.

Reactions of water-stable C60 clusters (nC60) in water with OH radicals (•OH) and hydrated electrons (eaq−), generated by steady-state γ-radiation, were observed and characterized. Ordered C60 clusters were relatively recalcitrant to highly reactive •OH and eaq− species, with only a fraction of carbons oxidized and reduced, respectively. Pulse radiolysis suggested that the reactions of nC60 with OH• and eaq− were diffusion limited, with rate constants of (7.34 ± 0.31) × 109 M−1 s−1 and (2.34 ± 0.02) × 1010 M−1 s−1, respectively. Quantum mechanical calculations of binding energy of the C60−OH adduct as a function of C60 clustering degree indicate, despite an initial fast reaction, a slower overall conversion due to thermodynamic instability of C60−OH intermediates. The results imply that ordered clustering of C60 in the aqueous phase significantly hinders C60’s fundamental reactivity with radical species.
Comparison of intraoperative iPTH assay (QPTH) criteria in guiding parathyroidectomy: which criterion is the most accurate?

Abstract Background The quick parathyroid hormone assay (QPTH) reliably measures intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) levels intraoperatively. The accuracy in predicting postoperative calcemia is related to blood sample timing and the criteria applied. To improve specificity or to decrease the cost of QPTH, several criteria have been used to predict complete excision. This study compares the Miami criterion with other published QPTH criteria in predicting operative outcome. Methods QPTH and the Miami criterion (iPTH drop ≥50% from the highest of either preincision or pre-excision level at 10 minutes after gland excision), were used to predict postoperative calcium levels of 341 consecutive patients with sporadic primary hyperparathyroidism who were followed ≥6 months after the operation or recognized as operative failures. Intraoperative iPTH values of these patients were reanalyzed with the use of 5 published criteria to predict complete resection. Postoperative calcium levels were correlated with criteria predictions. Results Miami criterion correctly predicted postoperative calcium levels in 329 of 341 patients and was incorrect in 12 (3 false positives, 9 false negatives). With the use of other criteria, 2 of the 3 false-positive results would be prevented, but the 3% rate of false-negative predictions would increase to between 6% and 24%, causing unnecessary neck explorations to search for multiglandular disease. Conclusions Surgeons trying to increase QPTH specificity significantly decrease the accuracy and intraoperative usefulness of the assay. The Miami criterion has the highest accuracy when compared with other criteria.
Cloning and identification of the pig ribosomal gene promoter

Pig ribosomal RNA-encoding gene (rDNA) clones were obtained by screening a pig genomic DNA library. A 742-bp segment containing the promoter was sequenced. Using total pig RNA, the tsp (transcription start point) was defined by primer extension. A promoter-like region was found immediately upstream from the active promoter. Promoter function was studied by transfection of pig tissue culture cells and assayed by a highly sensitive RT-PCR method. Alignment of five mammalian rDNA promoter sequences, human, mouse, rat, rabbit and pig, showed five conserved subregions which may be important in transcriptional regulation. An unusual feature of the pig rDNA promoter is that instead of a G at -16, which is conserved in eukaryotes, there is a C.
Automated simplex optimization for monochromatic imaging inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy

Abstract This article is an electronic publication in Spectrochimica Acta Electronica (SAE), the electronic section of Spectrochimica Acta Part B (SAB). The hardcopy text is accompanied by a diskette with data files and text files with the hardcopy paper in Word for Windows 2.0 and ASCII format, and a disclaimer. The text details the purpose of the work, and the appendix provides essential information for accessing the diskette and using programs and data. An automated simplex optimization program was written in an attempt to relieve the monotonous human effort required to optimize an inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopic (ICP-AES) instrument. The program controls the operating conditions of a solid-state ICP while a monochromatic imaging spectrometer collects two-dimensional response images. In the work described in this article, four of the most important ICP operating parameters are optimized automatically: radio frequency (rf) power, intermediate Ar flow rate, nebulizer flow rate and sample uptake rate. Optimization of these parameters is based first on the response of the Ca II net signal and, independently, on the response of the Ca II net signal-to-background noise ratio ( S N B ). Since the best height and off-axis positions of the designated response are known from the optimal two-dimensional response image, two spatial parameters are indirectly optimized through use of a CCD camera. Optimal operating conditions are reported for the CA II net signal and Ca II S N B as well as the Mg II Mg I ratio.
Antisense oligonucleotides to c-fos and c-jun inhibit intimal thickening in a rat vein graft model☆☆☆

Abstract Background: C-fos and c-jun are 2 immediate early genes that have been implicated in the stimulation of vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation and migration. In previous experiments in our laboratory with a rat vein graft model a 2- to 3-fold increase of messenger RNA of c-fos and c-jun were noted 1 hour after vein graft perfusion. Because c-fos and c-jun are up-regulated after the perfusion of vein grafts, the purpose of this study was to delineate the temporal expression of c-fos and c-jun protein and to study the effect of antisense oligonucleotides (ASO) to c-fos and c-jun on intimal thickening observed in this model. Methods: Sprague-Dawley rats underwent bilateral interposition femoral artery grafts with use of the superficial epigastric vein, which was harvested from 15 minutes up to 2 weeks and analyzed by Western blot for Fos and Jun protein. Additional rats underwent bypasses and at the time of the procedure 1 graft was treated with a pluronic gel containing an ASO to c-fos, c-jun, or sense and the contralateral side was treated with pluronic gel only. The vein grafts were harvested 2 weeks after the procedure and perfusion fixed. After longitudinal sectioning, the intimal and total wall thicknesses were measured in the perianastamotic and midgraft regions by a morphometric digitizing microscope and the statistics were analyzed by a paired Student's t test. Results: Protein analysis by Western blot showed that c-fos levels rose quickly within 2 hours and leveled at 6 hours 40-fold above basal levels after vein graft perfusion. Similarly, c-jun levels rose 10-fold above basal levels after 15 minutes and peaked at 2 hours 120-fold above basal levels. The treatment of the vein grafts with these ASOs resulted in a reduction of about 30% in the thickness of the intimal layer and the total wall thickness in both the perianastomotic and the midgraft regions, which was statistically significant different from control veins. Conclusion: These results indicate a possible therapeutic role for ASO to immediate early genes in the treatment of vein graft intimal hyperplasia. (Surgery 1999;126:443-9.)
Increasing Student Participation in Undergraduate Research Benefits Students, Faculty, and Department

Little information is available about how departments might improve undergraduate students' access to research experience. At a midsized psychology department (550 majors, 21 full-time faculty), we identified 5 barriers in our existing program (lack of student awareness, unequal student access, poor curricular timing, lack of publicity, and uneven access/incentives for faculty) and implemented 5 changes (application procedures, advertisement, assessment and communication with majors, establishment of a departmental newsletter, and restructured faculty teaching assignments). Following implementation, the number of involved students increased from 40 (11-year average) to 87 (Year 1) and to 117 (Year 2) and number of involved faculty increased from 60% to 94%. Our findings suggest that implementing systematic and programmatic changes may help to increase undergraduate involvement in research.
Prevalence of Urinary Incontinence in Middle-Aged and Older Women A Survey-Based Methodological Experiment

Objective:To determine whether self-reports of urinary incontinence are influenced by the context in which survey questions are presented. Variation in the extent to which surveys promote complete and accurate reporting may help explain the wide range of published prevalence estimates. Methods:Respondents to a nationally representative telephone survey were randomly assigned one of two questionnaire forms. Both forms contained the same incontinence question. One form included an introduction and follow-up probe, which acknowledged the embarrassment of discussing incontinence and stressed the importance of thorough reporting. Results:Use of the introduction and probe produced a significantly higher prevalence rate, with the effect varying by respondent’s age. Discussion:The prevalence of incontinence is likely to be underestimated unless studies attend to the possibility of biased reporting. The finding of a form by age interaction suggests the importance of survey context in studies of risk factors, as we...
Modulating the Functional Performance of Bioengineered Heart Muscle Using Growth Factor Stimulation

Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a major medical challenge in developed countries. The field of cardiac tissue engineering may provide alternative treatment methods of CHF to current surgical and pharmacological therapies. We previously described a model for the formation of Bioengineered Heart Muscle (BEHM), using fibrin gel as a support matrix for primary cardiac cells during 3D construct formation. In the current study, we describe modulating the contractile properties of BEHMs utilizing clenbuterol, insulin like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), and thyroid hormone (T3), as additive factors to primary cardiac cells. We found significant changes in force production with the addition of clenbuterol (control: 95.0 ± 32.9 μN, clenbuterol: 201.0 ± 15.8 μN) and IGF-1 (control: 202.9 ± 18 μN, IGF-1: 272.6 ± 19.5 μN) was seen. Selecting IGF-1-treated BEHMs for further analysis, we found an increase in force production during extended culturing at 7, 14 days. Also, at 25 ng/mL, myosin heavy chain α and SERCA2 expression increased by 1.3 ± 0.188 and 1.1 ± 0.04 fold, respectively. Our findings provide preliminary data that can be used to produce BEHMs with higher force of contraction. Exposing BEHMs to these factors would condition the engineered muscle for possible implantation onto injured hearts without cell shock.
Histone H2A.Z cooperates with RNAi and heterochromatin factors to suppress antisense RNAs

Eukaryotic transcriptomes are characterized by widespread transcription of noncoding and antisense RNAs, which is linked to key chromosomal processes, such as chromatin remodelling, gene regulation and heterochromatin assembly. However, these transcripts can be deleterious, and their accumulation is suppressed by several mechanisms including degradation by the nuclear exosome. The mechanisms by which cells differentiate coding RNAs from transcripts targeted for degradation are not clear. Here we show that the variant histone H2A.Z, which is loaded preferentially at the 5' ends of genes by the Swr1 complex containing a JmjC domain protein, mediates suppression of antisense transcripts in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe genome. H2A.Z is partially redundant in this regard with the Clr4 (known as SUV39H in mammals)-containing heterochromatin silencing complex that is also distributed at euchromatic loci, and with RNA interference component Argonaute (Ago1). Loss of Clr4 or Ago1 alone has little effect on antisense transcript levels, but cells lacking either of these factors and H2A.Z show markedly increased levels of antisense RNAs that are normally degraded by the exosome. These analyses suggest that as well as performing other functions, H2A.Z is a component of a genome indexing mechanism that cooperates with heterochromatin and RNAi factors to suppress read-through antisense transcripts.
Effective two-state systems in bridge-mediated electron transfer. A Green function analysis

Abstract We derived the criteria for the validity of the effective two-state picture of bridge-mediated electron transfer for a one-electron many state system. The leading error associated with the two-state reduction is calculated. Our Green function analysis connects the time and energy domains. It gives a precise interpretation of the Lowdin diagonalization technique and the tunnelling energy in terms of the time evolution of the purely electronic part of the electron-transfer probability.
SET‐LRP of acrylates in the presence of radical inhibitors

The Cu(0)/Me6-TREN-catalyzed single-electron transfer mediated living radical polymerization (SET-LRP) of methyl acrylate in the presence of the classic 4-methoxyphenol free radical inhibitor was investigated. Kinetic experiments, combined with 1H NMR, and MALDI-TOF MS analysis of the resulting polyacrylates demonstrated that SET-LRP is a robust synthetic method that does not require the purification of the monomers to remove the radical inhibitor. It is anticipated that these results will contribute to the expansion of technological and fundamental applications of SET-LRP since it allows the synthesis of polymers with a structural perfection that previously was not accessible by any other method, starting from unpurified monomers, solvents, initiators, and ligands. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 3174–3181, 2008