cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Oral contraceptive compounds and mammalian oocyte meiosis.

Abstract A meiotic study of the in vitro and in vivo effects of components of currently used oral contraceptives on the oocytes of 6 female mammalian species was made. In vitro inhibition of division and atresia were found in several species with both the estrogens and progestogens, as well as a low frequency of chromosome breaks and rearrangements, anaphase lags, spindle abnormalities, and polar body suppression. Combined in vivo/in vitro testing revealed a possible basis for expecting increased atresia of treated oocytes. Considerable species variation and the concentration of the steroids tested do not permit clear extrapolation to a claim for a direct action of oral contraceptives on human oocytes. The sensitivity and reproductive endocrinology of the Bovidae in these experiments suggest these as a model for female mammalian meiotic mutagen studies.
Multifragment disintegration of 238U at 1A GeV.

In $^{238}\mathrm{U}$ interactions with nuclear emulsion at an energy of \ensuremath{\approxeq}1A GeV from the Bevatron at Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, nuclei with Z up to 90 have been observed as a function of the associated proton multiplicity. With increasing centrality of the collisions---measured through the yield of proton multiplicity ${\mathit{N}}_{\mathit{p}\mathrm{---}}$the average number of intermediate-mass fragments 〈${\mathit{N}}_{\mathrm{IMF}}$〉 of charge 3\ensuremath{\le}Z\ensuremath{\le}35 first increases, attains a maximum value of 〈${\mathit{N}}_{\mathrm{IMF}}$〉=5.5 for the semicentral collisions and for the most central collisions it decreases.
Effect of Annealing Conditions on the Structural and Superconducting Properties of Y-Ba-Cu-O Films

The effect of various annealing treatments on ion beam sputter-deposited Y1Ba2CuyO7-x (y=3 and 5) amorphous thin films has been studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), x-ray diffraction and dc resistivity measurements. SEM analysis showed that the morphology of the films were clearly divided into three categories: an equiaxial grain structure, a well oriented grid-like microstructure and a textured platelet structure. The equiaxial grain structure (random orientation according to x-ray diffraction measurements) was obtained when the film was annealed at slow heating and cooling rates in an oxygen atmosphere. The grid-like microstructure (b/c-axes oriented normal to the plane) was obtained in Cu-rich composition (y=5) by rapid thermal annealing. A textured platelet microstructure (c-axis oriented normal to the plane) was obtained using slow heating rates and by carefully controlling the gas environment at the temperature region near the orthorhombic-tetragonal transition. Thus, we have demonstrated the ability to control the morphology and orientation of the film by varying the annealing process.
O princípio da evolução da publicidade na web

O trabalho, de cunho teorico, pretende investigar os primordios da trajetoria da publicidade na web e a sua reconfiguracao com a insercao constante de novas tecnologias, propondo uma reflexao sobre essa evolucao historica. Objetiva-se, dessa forma, elaborar um panorama, ainda que marcadamente historico, dos principios da publicidade na web , em um movimento que busca ressaltar aspectos caracteristicos desse momento. Com base em uma variedade de autores, a seguir e apresentada uma proposta que busca representar as primeiras fases da evolucao da publicidade na web.
A Limitation to the Mixed Potential Concept of Metal Corrosion Copper in Oxygenated Sulfuric Acid Solutions

The corrosion of copper in oxygenated sulfuric acid solutions was studied by means of weight‐loss and polarization curves. At a given potential, the rate of copper dissolution is greater in the presence than in the absence of oxygen reduction, which is contrary to the conventional theory of mixed potentials. An explanation of this phenomena is proposed on the basis of chemical attack by dissolved oxygen on the Cu+ ions which are intermediates in the electrochemical copper oxidation scheme. The model is further verified by results of varying the solution agitation rate, acid strength, and oxygen partial pressure.
A more sensitive automated method for determination of ornithine carbamoyltransferase activity in human serum.

Ornithine carbamoyltransferase (EC 2.1.3.3) activity is a sensitive, specific indicator of hepatocellular injury. This paper describes development of an improved automated procedure for measurement of this activity. Triethanolamine—ethylenedlaminetetraacetate is used as a buffer, and activity is determined by measuring the concentration of the product, citrulline. Kinetic studies have been performed to determine optimal pH and L-ornithine and carbamoyl phosphate concentrations. Recovery of citrulline was studied. The upper limit of normal obtained in a study of 106 blood-bank donors was 6 U/liter. The automated procedure developed as a result of these studies, in which optimal assay conditions are used, produces a threefold increase in sensitivity and permits use of a sample volume of 1 ml.
The antimutator phenotype of E. coli mud is only apparent and results from delayed appearance of mutants.

Antimutator strains are strains that have a lower mutation rate than the wild-type strain. We have reexamined the properties of one reported antimutator strain of Escherichia coli, termed mud [Mol. Gen. Genet. 153 (1977) 87]. This strain contains a temperature-sensitive mutation in the purB gene, leading to adenine-dependent growth at higher temperature. When grown at permissive or semi-permissive temperature in the absence of adenine it displays large reductions in the number of both spontaneous and mutagen-induced mutants (e.g. several hundred-fold for valine-resistant mutants). However, our studies show that strains containing the purB allele generate mutations at the same level as the wild-type strain, and that the apparent antimutator effect is the consequence of the delayed appearance of mutants on the selective plates. This delay likely results from the combined stress exerted by the adenine deficiency and the presence of the selective agent (i.e. valine).
International Competition: The Japanese Challenge

The Japanese success in international competition has attracted much attention. To date, little of this attention has addressed the role of marketing in the Japanese success. This note focuses on the Japanese approach to strategic market planning and its role in contributing to the competitive strength of Japanese enterprise.
Safety of electrical cardioversion in patients with atrial fibrillation.

Objectives To determine the incidence of thromboembolic complications after electively performed electrical cardioversion in patients with atrial fibrillation and to assess the clinical variables associated with an increased risk of thromboembolism after cardioversion. Patients and Methods This is a retrospective analysis of 834 successful electrical cardioversions performed in 717 patients from 1990 through 1994. Outcome measures included embolic complications at 1-month follow-up after cardioversion and logistic regression models to measure the associations among clinical, anticoagulation, and thromboembolic events and to identify independent predictors of these events. Results The rate of embolic events after cardioversion was low (0.9%; 95% confidence interval, 0.4%-1.8%). Patients with a therapeutic international normalized ratio had no embolic events. Adequate anticoagulation was independently associated with reduced risk of thromboembolism. Hypertension and diabetes mellitus were independently associated with increased risk of embolization. Conclusion Adequate anticoagulation reduced the risk of embolization after cardioversion. Diabetes mellitus and hypertension are independently associated with increased risk of embolization early after cardioversion.
Dust emission from wet and dry playas in the Mojave Desert, USA

The interactions between playa hydrology and playa-surface sediments are important factors that control the type and amount of dust emitted from playas as a result of wind erosion. The production of evaporite minerals during evaporative loss of near-surface ground water results in both the creation and maintenance of several centimeters or more of loose sediment on and near the surfaces of wet playas. Observations that characterize the texture, mineralogic composition and hardness of playa – surfaces at Franklin Lake, Soda Lake and West Cronese Lake playas in the Mojave Desert (California), along with imaging of dust emission using automated digital photography, indicate that these kinds of surface sediment are highly susceptible to dust emission. The surfaces of wet playas are dynamic surface texture and sediment availability to wind erosion change rapidly, primarily in response to fluctuations in water-table depth, rainfall and rates of evaporation. In contrast, dry playas are characterized by ground water at depth. Consequently, dry playas commonly have hard surfaces that produce little or no dust if undisturbed except for transient silt and clay deposited on surfaces by wind and water. Although not the dominant type of global dust, salt-rich dusts from wet playas may be important with respect to radiative properties of dust plumes, atmospheric chemistry, windborne nutrients and human health. Published in 2007 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The importance of accurate road data for spatial applications in public health: customizing a road network

Background Health researchers have increasingly adopted the use of geographic information systems (GIS) for analyzing environments in which people live and how those environments affect health. One aspect of this research that is often overlooked is the quality and detail of the road data and whether or not it is appropriate for the scale of analysis. Many readily available road datasets, both public domain and commercial, contain positional errors or generalizations that may not be compatible with highly accurate geospatial locations. This study examined the accuracy, completeness, and currency of four readily available public and commercial sources for road data (North Carolina Department of Transportation, StreetMap Pro, TIGER/Line 2000, TIGER/Line 2007) relative to a custom road dataset which we developed and used for comparison.
Effect of Magnetic Resonance Exposure Combined with Gadopentetate Dimeglumine on Chromosomes in Animal Specimens

Rationale and Objectives. We tested for the presence of a form of unstable chromosomal damage—anaphase bridges—that might result from the combined exposure to gadopentetate dimeglumine and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in rats. Methods. Fifty-four male Sprague-Dawley rats, along with appropriate controls, were exposed either to MR imaging alone, gadopentetate dimeglumine alone, or a combination of the two. After exposure, partial hepatectomies were performed to induce a vigorous mitotic response in the regenerating liver stump. Twenty-eight to 30 hr after partial hepatectomy, tissue specimens from regenerating liver were removed and analyzed microscopically for the presence of anaphase bridges. Results. No anaphase bridges were detected in any of the animals, including those exposed to gadopentetate dimeglumine and MR imaging. Conclusion. Using anaphase bridge formation as an indicator, exposure to MR imaging alone, gadopentetate dimeglumine alone, or a combination of the two under the conditions used in this experiment did not cause detectable unstable chromosomal damage.
Erythroid colonies derived from fetal blood display different growth patterns from those derived from adult marrow.

ABSTRACT: Fetal blood may be useful for the study of hematopoietic development in humans. However, the methods used to study blood cell colonies in adults may not be optimal for the study of colonies derived from fetal blood. Using cord blood from six healthy term pregnancies and marrow from six healthy adult volunteers, we compared the chronology of emergence, morphology, and differentiation of progenitor cell colonies from the two sources. In cultures of adult marrow, erythroid colony-forming unit colonies reached maximal concentrations after 8.5 ± 0.3 days of culture (mean ± SEM), but erythroid colony-forming unit colonies derived from fetal blood reached maximal concentrations sooner, after 6.5 ± 0.2 days (p < 0.01). Single-centered-erythroid burst-forming unit colonies from adult marrow (45 ± 5/105 light-density, “accessory-cell”-depleted cells) reached a peak at 14 days, but from cord blood they were significantly greater at 9 days (200 ± 15/105 cells) than at 14 days. When studying fetal blood erythroid colony-forming unit and “mature-erythroid burst-forming unit,” colonies should be enumerated earlier than when studying adult marrow-derived progenitors. Otherwise, the concentrations of these progenitors will be significantly underestimated.
A sun acquisition sensor for spacecraft guidance and control

The combination of a strap-down analog sun acquisition sensor (AS) and an on-board digital programmable signal processor results in a versatile guidance and control system. The combination can orient the rotation axis of a spin-stabilized spacecraft to the sun no matter what the initial attitude of the spacecraft. During the sun orientation process, spacecraft spin rate can be sensed and supplied as an input to the control algorithm. If needed, the AS-signal processor combination can be used to perform a rhumb-line turn maneuver. In case of unexpected spacecraft operating conditions, or unplanned pointing directions, the signal processor program can be updated via earth-based transmission of another program to cover the new situation. Using only three radiation-hard cadmium-sulfide detectors, containing no moving parts, needing only a few microwatts of power, included in a volume of 550 cubic cm (a redundant pair), and weighing only 540 grams, the AS is a small, simple, sturdy sensing device.
Hemodynamic observations in patients with left ventricle to aorta conduit

Fourteen patients who had a left ventricular apex to abdominal aorta composite conduit implanted for relief of severe left ventricular outflow tract obstruction were studied at cardiac catheterization 7 days to 19 months postoperatively (median 12 days). Analysis of pressure, angiographic and blood flow velocity data showed the following: (1) The left ventricle to aorta pressure gradients were reduced from an average preoperative value of 100.6 mm Hg (range 54 to 140) to an average of 22.1 mm Hg (range 0 to 60) postoperatively; (2) postoperative left ventricular end-diastolic volume averaged 87.5 percent of normal (range 51 to 146); (3) cardiac index and ejection fraction were normal postoperatively in all but one patient. Left ventricular and aortic angiography revealed blood flow through both the ascending aorta and conduit in all patients and retrograde flow of blood from the conduit to the aortic arch in four. An average of 36 percent (range 16 to 50) of the left ventricular output was ejected through the conduit. It appears that this operation is effective in relieving severe and otherwise inoperable left ventricular outflow tract obstruction and in preserving or improving left ventricular function and aortic hemodynamics.
Parallel robust relaxation algorithm for automatic stereo analysis

A parallel robust relaxation algorithm is proposed to improve the detection and correction of illegal disparities encountered in the automatic stereo analysis (ASA) algorithm. Outliers and noisy matches from correlation-based ASA matching are improved by relaxation labeling and robust statistical methods at each stage of the multiresolution coarse-to-fine analysis. A parallel version of the relaxation labeling algorithm has been implemented for the MasPar supercomputer. The performance scales quite linearly with the number of processing elements and scales better than linear with increasing work load. The algorithm is highly scalable both as the number of processors are increased for solving a fixed size problem and also as the size of the problem increases.
Modulation of bovine adrenal gland secretion by etorphine and diprenorphine

Retrograde perfusion was used to investigate the effect of an opiate agonist and an opiate antagonist on the release of catecholamines and [Met5]-enkephalin immunoreactive material (ME-IRM) from bovine adrenal glands. Etorphine (5 X 10(-7) M) inhibited the spontaneous outflow of ME-IRM by approximately 10 percent but had no significant effect on the spontaneous catecholamine release. Acetylcholine (ACh, 5 X 10(-5) M) or 1,1-dimethyl-4-phenylpiperazinium (DMPP, 5 X 10(-5) M) stimulated release of ME-IRM and catecholamines was significantly decreased by the addition of etorphine. Diprenorphine (5 X 10(-7) M) had no significant effect on the spontaneous outflow of either ME-IRM or catecholamines. Diprenorphine reversed the inhibition of the DMPP-stimulated release caused by etorphine. After submaximal stimulation of the gland with DMPP (1 X 10(-5) M), a further stimulation of release of ME-IRM and catecholamines was observed after the addition of diprenorphine alone, i.e., in the absence of etorphine. These results provide further evidence supporting the contention that opiates modulate the secretion of catecholamines and ME-IRM from the adrenal gland.
Climate Change over the Equatorial Indo-Pacific in Global Warming*

Abstract The response of the equatorial Indian Ocean climate to global warming is investigated using model outputs submitted to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Fourth Assessment Report. In all of the analyzed climate models, the SSTs in the western equatorial Indian Ocean warm more than the SSTs in the eastern equatorial Indian Ocean under global warming; the mean SST gradient across the equatorial Indian Ocean is anomalously positive to the west in a warmer twenty-first-century climate compared to the twentieth-century climate, and it is dynamically consistent with the anomalous westward zonal wind stress and anomalous positive zonal sea level pressure (SLP) gradient to the east at the equator. This change in the zonal SST gradient in the equatorial Indian Ocean is detected even in the lowest-emission scenario, and the size of the change is not necessarily larger in the higher-emission scenario. With respect to the change over the equatorial Pacific in climate projections, the subsur...
The influence of rainfall on the incidence of microbial faecal indicators and the dominant sources of faecal pollution in a Florida river.

Aims: An assessment of microbial densities in an urbanized Florida watershed was performed during a period of changing rainfall patterns to investigate the role of climate coupled with urbanization in declining water quality. Methods and Results: Concentrations of traditional and alternative faecal indicators were assessed by standard methods over 24 months. Sources of faecal contamination were determined by antibiotic resistance analysis (ARA) of faecal coliform (FC) bacteria. Composite indices of indicator organisms based on a suite of microbial measurements were used to quantify pollution impacts in the river. ARA results found that FC from wild animal sources dominated during the drought, and the relative frequency of FC from human sources increased after cumulative rainfall increased to near-normal levels. Conclusions: Changes observed in faecal indicator densities and in FC sources during changing rainfall patterns strongly suggest a role of precipitation on the sources and extent of microbial pollution in urbanized coastal watersheds. Significance and Impact of the Study: Bacterial source tracking coupled with a composite index of microbial contamination resulted in a more complete picture of microbial pollution within the river, as opposed to the general practice of reliance on one indicator organism. Improved land use decisions in urban areas are necessary to insure maintenance of coastal environmental health under changing climate patterns and population density.
Soft toys with computer hearts: building personal storytelling environments

SAGE is an authoring tool that allows children to design their own wise storytellers to interact with. It explicitly aims to enable them to explore their inner world, as well as to learn about storytelling and technology. In order to foster emotional engagement and explore the integration of physical and computer interfaces, the sage storyteller was embodied in a interactive stuffed animal.
Optimal age difference cannot differ between monogamous males and females: a comment on Fieder and Huber

Although Fieder & Huber's [(2007)][1] effort to quantify the fitness effects of partner age differences that may drive mating preferences in humans was impressive, it is dismaying that they reported disparate optimal age differences for males and females. Their finding that, in monogamous
Spatial observations of the Orion Nebula in the unidentified 3.28 micron feature

The unidentified infrared emission at a wavelength of 3.28 microns has been mapped in a 5 x 5 arcmin region of the Orion Nebula at a resolution of 30 arcsec along with continuum thermal emission at 3.5 microns in order to gain information on the probable source of the unidentified feature. The 3.28-micron emission is found to be extended over much of the nebula with a distribution very different from that of the 3.5-micron continuum. The ratio of 3.28-micron to 3.5-micron flux density is observed to range from a value of 7 in the Orion ionization ridge to less than 0.15 towards the Becklin-Neugebauer object, and to generally be larger toward the edges of the emitting region than toward the Trapezium. From the observations, it is concluded that the 3.28-micron emission originates in the ionization front between the foreground ionized gas and background molecular cloud, and may be due to thermal emission from complex, less volatile organic substances in grain mantles.
East Asian Olympics, Beijing 2008, and the globalisation of sport

The IOC bidding process has become a long, expensive, bureaucratically complex process among competing cities. However rather than tracing this ongoing narrative among what is, in 2009, four anointed candidate cities – Tokyo, Chicago, Rio de Janeiro, and Madrid, I emphasise here the embeddedness of the Tokyo 2016 bid in East Asian regional politics and in the more subtle if equally contentious jockeying for global city pre-eminence. There is a contentious debate within Japan about the wisdom of Tokyo's bid, which sharply divides the political leadership and citizen opinion. In 1964, Tokyo's hosting of the Games consolidated its place as the single national political, economic, and media capital of the country, reducing Osaka to second-city status. Now, to the controversial Tokyo governor and his supporters, the 2016 bid has much less to do with domestic prominence and much more about international prestige, as an effort to preserve Tokyo's status as a global city, a view that was only reinforced by the Be...
An anatomical study of the entry point in the greater trochanter for intramedullary nailing

Malpositioning of the trochanteric entry point during the introduction of an intramedullary nail may cause iatrogenic fracture or malreduction. Although the optimal point of insertion in the coronal plane has been well described, positioning in the sagittal plane is poorly defined. The paired femora from 374 cadavers were placed both in the anatomical position and in internal rotation to neutralise femoral anteversion. A marker was placed at the apparent apex of the greater trochanter, and the lateral and anterior offsets from the axis of the femoral shaft were measured on anteroposterior and lateral photographs. Greater trochanteric morphology and trochanteric overhang were graded. The mean anterior offset of the apex of the trochanter relative to the axis of the femoral shaft was 5.1 mm (sd 4.0) and 4.6 mm (sd 4.2) for the anatomical and neutralised positions, respectively. The mean lateral offset of the apex was 7.1 mm (sd 4.6) and 6.4 mm (sd 4.6), respectively. Placement of the entry position at the apex of the greater trochanter in the anteroposterior view does not reliably centre an intramedullary nail in the sagittal plane. Based on our findings, the site of insertion should be about 5 mm posterior to the apex of the trochanter to allow for its anterior offset.
Treatment of Fish Eggs by Injection of Chemicals into the Incubator Water Supply

Abstract A system for injecting chemicals into a water supply to treat fish or fish eggs is described. Equations for calculating treatment mixtures and a sample computation are given.
Six1 overexpression at early stages of HPV16-mediated transformation of human keratinocytes promotes differentiation resistance and EMT.

Previous studies in our laboratory discovered that SIX1 mRNA expression increased during in vitro progression of HPV16-immortalized human keratinocytes (HKc/HPV16) toward a differentiation-resistant (HKc/DR) phenotype. In this study, we explored the role of Six1 at early stages of HPV16-mediated transformation by overexpressing Six1 in HKc/HPV16. We found that Six1 overexpression in HKc/HPV16 increased cell proliferation and promoted cell migration and invasion by inducing epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT). Moreover, the overexpression of Six1 in HKc/HPV16 resulted in resistance to serum and calcium-induced differentiation, which is the hallmark of the HKc/DR phenotype. Activation of MAPK in HKc/HPV16 overexpressing Six1 is linked to resistance to calcium-induced differentiation. In conclusion, this study determined that Six1 overexpression resulted in differentiation resistance and promoted EMT at early stages of HPV16-mediated transformation of human keratinocytes. - Highlights: • Six1 expression increases during HPV16-mediated transformation. • Six1 overexpression causes differentiation resistance in HPV16-immortalized cells. • Six1 overexpression in HPV16-immortalized keratinocytes activates MAPK. • Activation of MAPK promotes EMT and differentiation resistance. • Six1 overexpression reduces Smad-dependent TGF-β signaling.
Superoptimized Memory Subsystems for Streaming Applications

Because main memory is many times slower than modern processor cores, deep, multi-level cache hierarchies are ubiquitous in computers today. Similarly, applications deployed on ASICs and FPGAs are often hindered by slow external memories. Therefore, to achieve good performance, hardware designers must optimize main memory usage. Unfortunately, this process is often labor intensive and fails to explore the full range of potential memory designs. To address this issue for applications expressed in a streaming manner, we show that it is possible to generate automatically a superoptimized memory subsystem that can be deployed on an FPGA such that it performs better than a general-purpose memory subsystem. Rather than explore only simple memory subsystems, our superoptimizer is capable of exploring extremely complex designs consisting of multi-level caches and other components. Finally, we show that it is possible to deploy applications with superoptimized memory subsystems with minimal additional effort while achieving significant performance improvements over a naive memory subsystem.
THE BENDER-GESTALT TEST IN DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS OF TEMPORAL LOBECTOMY AND SCHIZOPHRENIA.

Twelve epileptic patients with uncontrolled seizures copied Bender-Gestalt (B-G) drawings before and after unilateral temporal lobectomy, as did 12 hospitalized schizophrenics, individually matched to these patients for age, sex and IQ. Twenty clinical psychologists attempted to differentiate 12 pairs of drawings within one of three sets: (a) pre- vs postoperative, (b) preoperative vs schizophrenic, or (c) postoperative vs schizophrenic. Each judgment was accompanied by a certainty rating. None of the judges exceeded chance expectations; the mean correct performance, 65.4%, exceeded chance expectations. There was also no consistent relationship between the certainty ratings and accuracy of judgment. Twenty laymen with no training in psychology correctly differentiated 62.5% of the postoperative from the schizophrenic drawings. This figure exceeded chance expectations and did not differ significantly from that earned by the psychologists. The Pascal-Suttell objective scoring method demonstrated no relation...
Mark Twain and the history of sexuality

(1992). Mark Twain and the history of sexuality. Lit: Literature Interpretation Theory: Vol. 3, No. 3, pp. 221-239.
From Dialogue to Action: The Impact of Cross-Race Intergroup Dialogue on the Development of White College Students as Racial Allies

Institutions of postsecondary education are poised to leverage the presence of racial diversity to educate for social change. The purpose of this study was to examine how a race/ethnicity intergroup dialogue facilitates the development of confidence and frequency of white college students’ engagement in actions that are congruent with the development of white racial allies. Participants were part of the Multiversity Intergroup Dialogue Research (MIGR) project that included nine college and universities. Using an experimental design with stratified random assignment, MANCOVA analyses were used to determine the differences in outcomes of confidence and frequency of taking actions between experimental dialogue participants and paired waitlist control groups. Covariates included pretest responses, repeated survey measures, and college involvement variables. Multivariate analyses revealed that dialogue participants reported higher levels of confidence and frequency of engagement, whereas univariate analyses re...
Fast Massive Preventive Security and Information Communication Systems

We present a fast massive information communication system for data collection from distributive sources such as cell phone users. As a very important application one can mention preventive notification systems when timely notification and evidence communication may help to improve safety and security through wide public involvement by ensuring easy-to-access and easy-to-communicate information systems. The technology significantly simplifies the response to the events and will help e.g. special agencies to gather crucial information in time and respond as quickly as possible. Cellular phones are nowadays affordable for most of the residents and became a common personal accessory. The paper describes several ways to design such systems including existing internet access capabilities of cell phones or downloadable specialized software. We provide examples of such designs. The main idea is in structuring information in predetermined way and communicating data through a centralized gate-server which will automatically process information and forward it to a proper destination. The gate-server eliminates a need in knowing contact data and specific local community infrastructure. All the cell phones will have self-localizing capability according to FCC E911 mandate, thus the communicated information can be further tagged automatically by location and time information.
Epidermal growth factor-induced cytoprotection in human intestinal cells involves intracellular calcium signaling.

Abstract Background. The mechanism(s) whereby epidermal growth factor (EGF) protects against cellular injury remains poorly understood. Previous data in our laboratory have suggested that EGF-induced cellular proliferation in human colonic carcinoma cells (Caco-2) may involve changes in intracellular calcium content ([Ca 2+ ] i ). Our current objective was to determine if a similar process was involved with EGF-induced cytoprotection. Methods. Postconfluent Caco-2 cells were employed for all experimentation. [Ca 2+ ] i was measured with Fluo-3 fluorescence. Injury was measured employing Ethidium homodimer 1 uptake and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release. Results. Caco-2 cells pretreated, but not concomitantly treated, with EGF (10–100 ng/ml, 30–60 min) significantly attenuated cellular injury induced subsequently by 500 μM deoxycholate (DC). Cells exposed to 100 ng/ml EGF demonstrated an initial increase in [Ca 2+ ] i (1–5 min) which was blocked with neomycin, an inhibitor of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP 3 ) generation, and the phospholipase C (PLC) inhibitor U73122, but not U73343 (inactive control). This was followed by sustained extracellular Ca 2+ influx (5–20 min), which was attenuated with calcium-free buffer and the store operated Ca 2+ channel blocker La 3+ . [Ca 2+ ] i then returned to baseline (20–30 min), a process blocked with the Ca 2+ -ATPase inhibitors quercetin and vanadate. The above treatments, which in and of themselves did not induce cellular injury, were repeated and cells were subsequently exposed to DC. All groups exposed to 500 μM DC demonstrated significant increases in both Ethidium Homodimer 1 uptake and LDH release. Both indices of injury were significantly decreased when cells were pretreated with EGF ± the inactive PLC inhibitor U73343. However, protection induced by EGF was lost when any of its effects on changes in [Ca 2+ ] i were prevented: internal Ca 2+ store release via PLC and IP 3 , sustained Ca 2+ influx through store operated Ca 2+ channels, or subsequent Ca 2+ efflux. Conclusion. Taken together, these data strongly suggest that the cytoprotective effects of EGF may involve Ca 2+ signaling.
Near-Infrared Silver Cluster Optically Signaling Oligonucleotide Hybridization and Assembling Two DNA Hosts

Silver clusters with ∼10 atoms form within DNA strands, and the conjugates are chemical sensors. The DNA host hybridizes with short oligonucleotides, and the cluster moieties optically respond to these analytes. Our studies focus on how the cluster adducts perturb the structure of their DNA hosts. Our sensor is comprised of an oligonucleotide with two components: a 5′-cluster domain that complexes silver clusters and a 3′-recognition site that hybridizes with a target oligonucleotide. The single-stranded sensor encapsulates an ∼11 silver atom cluster with violet absorption at 400 nm and with minimal emission. The recognition site hybridizes with complementary oligonucleotides, and the violet cluster converts to an emissive near-infrared cluster with absorption at 730 nm. Our key finding is that the near-infrared cluster coordinates two of its hybridized hosts. The resulting tertiary structure was investigated using intermolecular and intramolecular variants of the same dimer. The intermolecular dimer asse...
Synthesis of K-region derivatives of the carcinogen 1-nitropyrene

The synthesis of potential metabolites of 1-nitropyrene, resulting from oxidation at the K-regions, is described. Reaction of 1-nitropyrene with OsO4 gave the cis-4,5- and 9,10-dihydrodiols. These were separated and oxidized with activated MnO2 to give the corresponding 4,5- and 9,10-diones; further oxidation to the highly mutagenic lactones, 1- and 3-nitro-5H-phenanthro[4,5-bcd]pyran-5-one, was observed in these reactions. Reduction of the 4,5-dione with KBH4 gave the trans-4,5-dihydrodiol, which was identical to one of the metabolites of 1-nitropyrene. Reduction of the 9,10-dione gave an unstable trans-9,10-dihydrodiol, which was characterized as its diacetate. The u.v. spectra, n.m.r. spectra and h.p.l.c. retention times of these compounds are presented.
Real brain waves

Metaphors, particularly the implicit ones, constrain imagination. If we think of the brain as a collection of centers of cognitive activations, lighting up on demand, then this becomes all we can imagine. By thinking of the cortex as propagating its functional work through physical waves, Nunez offers us a new, rich model for distributed representation. Now let's add real anatomy.
A repurposed tool: the Programme Evaluation SOAP Note.

Medical Education 2010:44: 298–305 Context Doctors have used the subjective–objective–assessment–plan (SOAP) note format to organise data about patient problems and create plans to address each of them. We retooled this into the ‘Programme Evaluation SOAP Note’, which serves to broaden the clinician faculty member’s perspective on programme evaluation to include the curriculum and the system, as well as students. Methods The SOAP Note was chosen as the method for data recording because of its familiarity to clinician-educators and its strengths as a representation of a clinical problem-solving process with elements analogous to educational programme evaluation. We pilot-tested the Programme Evaluation SOAP Note to organise faculty members' interpretations of integrated student performances during the Year 3 patient care skills objective structured clinical examination (OSCE). Results Eight community clerkship directors and lead clerkship faculty members participated as observers in the 2007 gateway examination and completed the Programme Evaluation SOAP Note. Problems with the curriculum and system far outnumbered problems identified with students. Conclusions Using the Programme Evaluation SOAP Note, clerkship leaders developed expanded lists of ‘differential diagnoses’ that could explain possible learner performance inadequacies in terms of system, curriculum and learner problems. This has informed programme improvement efforts currently underway. We plan to continue using the Programme Evaluation SOAP Note for ongoing programme improvement.
Generating Bounded Task Periods for Experimental Schedulability Analysis

Schedulability analysis models in embedded and real-time systems are experimentally validated using synthetic task sets, which are generated using random or pseudo-random selection algorithms. Validation of these schedulability models generally requires analyzing release of all jobs of tasks within a defined interval called the feasibility interval of the task set. The length of this interval is dependent on the hyper-period, which is the least common multiple of task periods. Hence, the time taken in experimental validations is directly proportional to the value of hyper-period, apart from the number and size of task sets. Currently, if tasks period values with low hyper-period are required, the only way to generate them is using manual or ad-hoc methods. In this paper, we present a structured method of selecting task period values from within a user-specified bounded range such that the hyper-period values of these task sets is minimized. Formula to compute maximum number of task sets of different sizes that can be generated is also derived. Finally, comparisons of hyper-period values generated from a bounded range using random selection and our method are presented.
Dielectric sensing in ε-near-zero narrow waveguide channels

We exploit here the dramatic field enhancement caused by energy squeezing and tunneling (i.e., 'supercoupling') in metamaterial-inspired ultranarrow waveguide channels with near-zero effective permittivity in order to sense small permittivity variations in a tiny object. The supercoupling effect is accurately modeled analytically and closed-form expressions are derived to describe the presence of defects or permittivity perturbations along the channel. Applications for tailoring its pass-band frequency and for high-Q sensing are proposed at microwave frequencies.
Operator algebra of the N=1 super Wess-Zumino model

Abstract The “projective” Ward identities for the super Kac-Moody algebra are solved in order to determine the three- and four-point functions in the N =1 superspace. Linear super-equations are derived for the correlation functions of degenerate operators. These equations are solved for the three- and four-point functions, proving the closure of the operator algebra of the super Wess-Zumino model.
Inverse Problem in Seismic Imaging

We address the problem of estimating sound speeds (seismic velocities) inside the earth which is necessary for obtaining seismic images in regular Cartesian coordinates. The main goals are to develop algorithms to convert time migration velocities to true seismic velocities, and to convert time-migrated images to depth images in regular Cartesian coordinates. Our main results are three-fold. First, we establish a theoretical relation between the seismic velocities and the time migration velocities using the paraxial ray tracing theory. Second, we formulate an appropriate inverse problem describing the relation between time migration velocities and depth velocities and show that this problem is mathematically ill-posed, i.e., unstable to small perturbations. Third, we develop numerical algorithms to solve regularized versions of these equations which can be used to recover smoothed velocity variations. Our algorithms consist of efficient time-to-depth conversion algorithms based on Dijkstra-like Fast Marching Methods, as well as level set and ray tracing algorithms for transforming Dix velocities into seismic velocities. Our algorithms are applied to both two-dimensional and three-dimensional problems and we test them on a collection of both synthetic examples and field data. Copyright line will be provided by the publisher
Electrochemical Determination of HIV Drug Abacavir Based on Its Reduction

Abacavir (I), a drug used in the treatment of HIV, is electrochemically reduced at the dropping mercury electrode in a four-electron process, similar to structurally related adenine (III) and adenosine triphosphate (IV). To undergo the reduction, the species is protonated in the vicinity of the electrode. The protonations take place on the 6-amino group and on one of the pyrimidine ring nitrogens. The role of covalent hydration of the pyrymidine ring has been interpreted. Best suited as supporting electrolytes for analytical purposes are solutions of 0.1−1.0 M sulfuric, perchloric, or hydrochloric acids. Procedures of analyses of tablets containing I were established and validated, based on peak currents obtained by linear sweep, differential pulse, or square-wave voltammetry with a hanging mercury drop electrode as indicator electrode. The procedure proved to be more sensitive and more reliable than that based on oxidation on a glassy carbon electrode, proposed previously.
Purification of the first-order density matrix using steepest descent and Newton-Raphson methods

Abstract We propose a powerful approach to purification of the first-order density matrix based on minimizing the trace of a fourth-order polynomial, representing a deviation from idempotency. Two variants of this strategy are discussed. The first, based on a steepest descent minimization is robust and efficient, especially when the trial density matrix is far from idempotency. The second, using a Newton–Raphson technique, is quadratically convergent if the trial matrix is nearly idempotent. A steepest descent method with a switch to McWeeny's purification method is found to have a lower computational cost and wider range of convergence than McWeeny's scheme alone.
An effective hybrid immune-hill climbing optimization approach for solving design and manufacturing optimization problems in industry

The focus of this research is on a hybrid method combining immune algorithm with a hill climbing local search algorithm for solving complex real-world optimization problems. The objective is to contribute to the development of more efficient optimization approaches with the help of immune algorithm and hill climbing algorithm. The hybrid algorithm combines the exploration speed of immune algorithm with the powerful ability to avoid being trapped in local minimum of hill climbing. This hybridization results in a solution that leads to better parameter values. This research is the first application of immune algorithm to the optimization of machining parameters in turning and also shape design optimization problems in the literature. The results of single-objective benchmark problem, multi-objective disc-brake problem, an automobile shape design optimization problem taken from the literature and case studies for multi-pass turning operation have demonstrated the superiority of the proposed hybrid over the other techniques in terms of solution quality and convergence rates.
Advances in Understanding the Process of Epileptogenesis Based on Patient Material: What Can the Patient Tell Us?

Summary: Many different types of epileptic seizures and epileptic syndromes exist. The process of epileptogenesis and the progressive nature of epilepsy, however, can most easily be investigated in the acquired epilepsies, in which a brain insult presumably gives rise to changes in neuronal systems that ultimately become capable of generating spontaneous ictal events. Invasive in vivo and in vitro research can be carried out in patients with acquired epileptogenic lesions in the course of epilepsy surgery; however, such studies are possible only for those epileptic conditions that can be treated surgically, and can be used only to examine an end stage of the epileptogenic process. Consequently, experimental animal models of human epileptic conditions are still required to study mechanisms by which specific cerebral insults initiate the epileptogenic process and the progression of an epileptic disturbance. Most current parallel human/animal invasive research has been focused on temporal lobe epilepsy, and particularly that form associated with hippocampal sclerosis, the most common human epileptogenic lesion. Studies indicate that epileptogenesis in this condition is initiated by specific types of cell loss and neuronal reorganization, which results not only in enhanced excitation, but also in enhanced inhibition, predisposing to hypersynchronization. Even within this single, well-studied epileptic disorder, evidence is found for more than one type of ictal onset, and individual seizures can demonstrate a transition from one ictal mechanism to another. Recent in vivo and in vitro parallel, reiterative investigations in patients with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy, and in rats with intrahippocampal kainate-induced hippocampal seizures, have revealed the presence of interictal epileptiform events, termed “fast ripples,” which appear to be unique in tissue capable of generating spontaneous seizures. Pursuit of the fundamental mechanisms underlying these abnormalities should elucidate the neurobiologic basis of epileptogenicity in this disorder. Furthermore, if these events are markers for epileptogenicity, they may have clinical value for diagnosis and pharmacologic, as well as surgical, treatment. Further research is needed to determine if these observations are relevant to other types of epilepsies.
Use of Map Techniques in Teaching Applied Statistics Courses

Abstract Students who have completed applied statistics courses often lack knowledge of the interconnections among the important concepts they have studied. According to a cognitive network model of knowledge, they lack connected understanding about statistics, and so are unable to apply these concepts. Connected understanding can be represented visually in the form of a map. Mapping techniques, including graphic organizers and concept maps, are useful: (1) for instructional planning, (2) as a learning tool, and (3) for assessment. We discuss each of these uses in statistics education, with an emphasis on assessment.