cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Green Chemistry and Sustainability: An Undergraduate Course for Science and Nonscience Majors

An undergraduate lecture course in Green Chemistry and Sustainability has been developed and taught to a “multidisciplinary” group of science and nonscience majors. The course introduced students to the topics of green chemistry and sustainability and also immersed them in usage of the scientific literature. Through literature presentations, the students also learned how to effectively communicate scientific concepts, data, and ideas. The course culminated in written and oral group research proposals. The course was taught in the Honors Program at Creighton University and has been well received by students.
Underpotential Codeposition of Cu–Au Alloys

The simultaneous underpotential codeposition of Cu and diffusion-limited overpotential codeposition of Au into Cu―Au alloy films is investigated from sulfuric acid solutions containing high concentrations of cupric ions and low concentrations of tetrachloroaurate ions. These conditions allow Cu to be deposited close to equilibrium, with the Cu fraction thermodynamically limited by the deposition potential. The dependence of the alloy composition on potential is described by a subregular solution alloying model. The average value of the bulk alloy minimum mixing enthalpy of ―6.1 ± 1 kJ/mol obtained from fits to this model agrees with the value of ―6.35 kJ/mol assessed in the literature.
Computational study of the effect of pressure on the Ti-in-zircon geothermometer

Understanding how Ti partitions between the Si and Zr sites in zircon is crucial for developing the Ti-in-zircon geothermometer. Energies calculated using quantum-mechanical methods (VASP, CASTEP, Dmol 3 , Crystal) were used to compare the relative favorability of substitution into each site at pressures ranging from 0 to 10 GPa. The results of these quantum-mechanical calculations were used in Monte-Carlo calculations to derive the excess enthalpy of mixing (Δ H excess ), entropy of mixing (Δ S excess ), and free energy of mixing (Δ G excess ) for the binaries ZrSiO 4 –ZrTiO 4 and ZrSiO 4 –TiSiO 4 (assuming that all compositions have zircon structure) at temperatures ranging from 333 K to 3000 K, and estimates are made of the maximum amount of Ti that may be incorporated into each site as a function of temperature and pressure. The results are considered in thermodynamic reference to other oxides, such as SiO 2 , ZrO 2 , and TiO 2 , that are involved in substitution reactions. At pressures below about 3.5 GPa, substitution into the Si site is more thermodynamically favorable and thus dominates, whereas at higher pressures, substitution into the Zr site becomes more important in zircon. The latter result suggests that the reaction TiO 2(rutile) + ZrSiO 4(zircon) → TiSiO 4(zircon) + ZrO 2(baddeleyite) becomes predominant for the substitution of Ti-in-zircon for ultra-high pressure assemblages. The molar volume of the theoretical zirconstructured compound ZrTiO 4 was calculated using quantum mechanics (VASP, CASTEP, Dmol 3 ) and determined to be 44.21 ± 0.45 cm 3 /mol. The resulting ΔV for the reaction ZrSiO 4(zircon) + TiO 2(rutile) = ZrTiO 4(zircon) + SiO 2(quartz) is doubled. The Clapeyron slope (d P /d T ) of the reaction is halved, and the pressure correction to the Ti-in-zircon thermometer is twice as large as a previous estimate.
Dermatologic Causes of Vaginitis: A Clinical Review

The concept of vaginitis is widely accepted. Most physicians assume that vaginitis represents an infection, with nearly all vaginal complaints diagnosed as Candidiasis, bacterial vaginosis, or trichomonas. However, like the mouth, the vagina is covered with squamous epithelium, and therefore affected by various dermatoses. Some dermatoses prominently affect mucous membranes, such as lichen planus, pemphigus vulgaris, cicatricial pemphigoid, and blistering forms of erythema multiforme. In addition, some dermatoses affect only the vagina, including desquamative inflammatory vaginitis and atrophic vaginitis. The diagnosis and management of these diseases are hampered by the difficulty of visualizing the vagina, and the lack of medications other than antimicrobials available for use in the vagina.
Technologies, Products, and Models Supporting Knowledge Management

Based on a taxonomy of knowledge management processes, this chapter provides a synopsis of technologies that support knowledge management. It proposes a model for classifying the various types of technologies related to knowledge management that are most often used in institutional research.
Abstract A37: MerTK receptor tyrosine kinase is a therapeutic target in pediatric acute leukemia

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and relapsed or refractory acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) continue to be extremely difficult to treat and unacceptably low overall survival rates mandate the exploration of new potential therapies to ameliorate poor clinical response to conventional therapy. Abnormal tyrosine kinase activation has been associated with poor prognosis in patients with AML and ALL, providing strategic targets for novel therapy development. The MerTK receptor tyrosine kinase is overexpressed in a majority of leukemia cell lines and pediatric patient samples at the time of diagnosis and expression is often upregulated at relapse. In contrast, normal bone marrow myeloid and lymphoid precursors express little or no MerTK. Stimulation of leukemia cell lines with Gas6, a MerTK ligand, activates prosurvival and proliferative signaling pathways known to contribute to leukemogenesis, including ERK1/2, p38, MSK1, CREB, ATF1, AKT and STAT6. Inhibition of MerTK using shRNA significantly increased myeloblast apoptosis in response to serum starvation in the Nomo-1 and Kasumi cell lines and decreased colony forming potential. Importantly, these phenotypes were reversed by exogenous expression of wild-type MerTK protein but not by expression of a mutant MerTK that lacks kinase activity, indicating that oncogenic roles for MerTK are mediated its kinase activity. Additionally, NOD-scid-gamma mice transplanted with Nomo-1 myeloblasts or 697 lymphoblasts with reduced levels of MerTK have a significantly prolonged median survival time compared to mice transplanted with control cell lines. These data validate Mer as a potential therapeutic target in acute leukemias. We have recently developed first-in-class MerTK-selective small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors (MerTKIs). Treatment with MerTKI phenocopied the effects of shRNA, including inhibition of prosurvival signaling through ERK1/2, Akt, and STAT6. Flow cytometric analysis of myeloblast cell lines following treatment with MerTKI and staining with YoPro-1-iodide and propidium iodide dyes revealed induction of apoptosis in Mer-positive leukemia cell lines (mean of 66±10% apoptotic and dead cells verses 20±10% after treatment with vehicle, p Citation Format: Douglas K. Graham, Deborah DeRyckere, Alisa Lee-Sherick, Amanda A. Hill, Katherine Minson, Wnag Xiaodong, Weihe Zhang, Jing Liu, Stephen Frye, H. Shelton Earp. MerTK receptor tyrosine kinase is a therapeutic target in pediatric acute leukemia. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Pediatric Cancer at the Crossroads: Translating Discovery into Improved Outcomes; Nov 3-6, 2013; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;74(20 Suppl):Abstract nr A37.
Characteristics of Relinquishing and Adoptive Owners of Horses Associated With U.S. Nonprofit Equine Rescue Organizations

Nonprofit equine rescue organizations in the United States provide care for relinquished horses and may offer adoption programs. With an estimated 100,000 "unwanted" horses per year and few municipal shelters providing wholesale euthanasia, there is a need to minimize the number of unwanted horses and maximize their successful transition to new caregivers. This study's objectives were to characterize the relinquishing and adoptive owners interacting with nonprofit rescue organizations. Nonprofit organizations (n = 144) in 37 states provided information by survey on 280 horses relinquished between 2006 and 2009, from which 73 were adopted. Results show the majority of relinquishing owners were women, whereas adoptive owners were primarily families or couples. Most relinquishing owners had previous equine experience and had owned the horse for 1 to 5 years; about half owned 1 other horse. Three quarters of the adoptive owners possessed additional horses housed on their property. The primary use for rehomed horses was for riding or driving. These findings will serve to help develop effective education programs for responsible horse ownership and optimize acceptance criteria and successful adoption strategies of horses by nonprofit organizations.
Dynamical stability of the quantum Lifshitz theory in 2+1 dimensions

The roles of magnetic and electric perturbations in the quantum Lifshitz model in $2+1$ dimensions are examined in this paper. The quantum Lifshitz model is an effective field theory for quantum multicritical systems, which include generalized two-dimensional (2D) quantum dimer models in bipartite lattices and their generalizations. It describes a class of quantum phase transitions between ordered and topological phases in $2+1$ dimensions. Magnetic perturbations break the dimer conservation law. Electric excitations, the condensation of which leads to ordered phases, have been studied extensively both in the classical three-dimensional model and in the quantum 2D model. The role of magnetic vortex excitations, the condensation of which drives these systems into a ${\mathbb{Z}}_{2}$ topological phase, has been largely ignored. Recent numerical studies claim that the quantum theory has a peculiar feature: the dynamical exponent $z$ flows continuously and the quantum theory is hence unstable to magnetic vortices. To study the interplay of both excitations, we perform a perturbative renormalization group study to one-loop order and study the stability of the theory away from quantum multicriticality. This is done by generalizing the operator-product expansion to anisotropic models. It is found that the dynamical exponent does not appear to flow, in contrast to the classical Monte Carlo study. Possible reasons for this difference are discussed at length.
The effect of manipulation of silk scaffold fabrication parameters on matrix performance in a murine model of bladder augmentation

Abstract Autologous gastrointestinal segments are utilized as the primary option for bladder reconstructive procedures despite their inherent morbidity and significant complication rate. Multi-laminate biomaterials derived from Bombyx mori silk fibroin and prepared from a gel spinning process may serve as a superior alternative for bladder tissue engineering due to their robust mechanical properties, biocompatibility, and processing plasticity. In the present study, we sought to determine the impact of variations in winding (axial slew rate: 2 and 40 mm/s) and post-winding (methanol and lyophilization) fabrication parameters on the in vivo performance of gel spun silk scaffolds in a murine model of bladder augmentation. Three silk matrix groups with distinct structural and mechanical properties were investigated following 10 weeks of implantation including our original prototype previously shown to support bladder regeneration, Group 1 (2 mm/s, methanol) as well as Group 2 (40 mm/s, methanol) and Group 3 (40 mm/s, lyophilization) configurations. Non surgical animals were assessed in parallel as controls. Quantification of residual scaffold area demonstrated that while Group 1 and 2 scaffolds were largely intact, processing parameters utilized for Group 3 led to significantly higher degrees of scaffold degradation in comparison to Group 1. Histological (hematoxylin and eosin, masson’s trichrome) and immunohistochemical (IHC) analyses showed comparable extents of smooth muscle regeneration and contractile protein (α-smooth muscle actin and SM22α) expression within the original defect site throughout all matrix groups similar to controls. Parallel evaluations demonstrated transitional urothelial formation with prominent uroplakin and p63 protein expression supported by Group 1 and 3 scaffolds, while Group 2 variants supported a thin, immature epithelium composed primarily of uroplakin-negative, p63-positive basal cells. Voided stain on paper analysis revealed similar voiding patterns between all matrix groups; however Group 2 animals displayed substantially lower voided volumes with increased frequency in comparison to controls. In addition, cystometric assessments revealed all matrix groups supported comparable degrees of bladder compliance similar to control levels. The results of this study demonstrate that selective alterations in winding and post-winding fabrication parameters can enhance the degradation rate of gel spun silk scaffolds in vivo while preserving their ability to support bladder tissue regeneration and function.
Observations on sustained pulsus alternans during hypothermia

Abstract Twenty-two dogs were studied by simultaneous measurement of left ventricular pressure, left atrial pressure, aortic pressure, and phasic aortic flow, through the use of a square-wave electromagnetic flowmeter. The induction of hypothermia by extracorporeal cooling of blood or external ice packing resulted in reduced cardiac output and aortic pressure, bradycardia, and marked prolongation of duration of systole and isometric relaxation. In 9 dogs, selective rewarming of the sinus node during the period of hypothermia resulted in tachycardia, a fall in cardiac output and stroke volume, and the appearance of sustained pulsus alternans. During periods of ventricular alternation, prolongation of systole and myocardial relaxation resulted in the abbreviation of ventricular filling time and varying degrees of incomplete ventricular relaxation. Reversal of abnormal contraction and relaxation by rewarming of the left ventricle was accompanied by a return of stroke volume to precooled levels and disappearance of the alternation. Two dogs cooled by external ice packing developed pulsus alternans during the cooling period. In one of these animals a spontaneous slowing of the heart rate during the period of progressive reduction in heart temperature resulted in increased ventricular filling time and disappearance of the pulsus alternans. Elevation of left atrial pressure in 2 dogs with sustained pulsus alternans resulted in the disappearance of ventricular alternanation without any appreciable change in heart rate. Increased ventricular outflow resistance produced by venous-to-arterial pumping during the cooling period was accompanied by pulsus alternans in 2 animals. Reduction of outflow resistance by cessation of extracorporeal pumping was accompanied by a fall in aortic pressure, a reduction in duration of ventricular contraction, and disappearance of pulsus alternans, even though the heart rate and left atrial pressure were unchanged. Prolonged myocardial contraction and relaxation resulting in abbreviated and abnormal character of ventricular filling are considered to be prerequisites to the occurrence of pulsus alternans at physiologic heart rates in the hypothermic dog heart. However, the presence and degree of ventricular alternation is modified by other dynamic factors, such as heart rate, atrial filling pressure, and ventricular outflow resistance.
β-Catenin independent cross-control between the estradiol and Wnt pathways in osteoblasts

Osteoblasts are controlled by the individual and combined effects of systemic and local growth regulators. Here we show functional and physical interactions between estradiol (17βE) and Wnt activated pathways in osteoblasts. 17βE increased gene promoter activity by the Wnt pathway transcriptional effector T cell factor (TCF) in an estrogen receptor (ER) dependent way. This occurred independently of its activity through traditional estrogen response elements and was not replicated by androgen receptor activation. 17βE also increased the stimulatory effect of LiCl on TCF activity, LiCl increased the stimulatory effect of 17βE through estrogen response elements, and both were further enhanced by a noncanonical Wnt receptor agonist (WAg) that functions independently of β-catenin stabilization. In contrast to LiCl, WAg increased DNA synthesis and reduced relative collagen synthesis and alkaline phosphatase activity in otherwise untreated or 17βE stimulated cells. In addition, WAg suppressed Runx2, osterix, and alkaline phosphatase mRNA levels, and potently induced osteoprotegerin mRNA, whereas LiCl was ineffective alone and inhibitory in combination with 17βE. A definitive intersection between the 17βE and Wnt pathways occurred at the protein level, where ERα physically associated with TCF-4 independently of its β-catenin binding domain. This interaction required ligand-dependent exposure of a TCF binding region that mapped to ERα domain E and was further enhanced by Wnt pathway activation. Our studies reveal highly focused co-regulatory effects between the 17βE and Wnt pathways in osteoblasts that involve activated ERα and TCF-4 and downstream changes in gene expression, osteoblast proliferation, and differentiated cell function.
Reversal of wave momentum in isotropic left-handed media

The electromagnetic wave momentum is derived for a Lorentz medium and applied to study the momentum transfer to stationary, isotropic left-handed materials. The model includes material dispersion and losses, which are necessary for a causal medium with negative index of refraction. The results provide a rigorous proof of the force on free currents in a lossy medium and a validation of the theoretical separation of force based on the real and imaginary parts of the permittivity and permeability. The resulting electromagnetic wave momentum conservation theorem proves that the momentum flux of a monochromatic wave in an isotropic left-handed material is opposite to the power flow direction. However, the momentum density in a lossy medium with a negative index of refraction may be parallel or antiparallel to the power flow. The results are applied to predict the reversal of radiation pressure on free currents in a material with a negative index of refraction. Furthermore, conservation of momentum at a material boundary states that the tangential component of the wave momentum is conserved. Thus there is no electromagnetic shear force at the boundary between isotropic media, regardless of the sign of the refractive index.
Nondimensional Parameters for Geometric Nonlinear Effects in Pressurized Cylinders With Axial Cracks

The effects of geometric nonlinearity on the response of axially cracked cylindrical shells under internal pressure are investigated in a general way. Using the Donnell-Mushtari- Vlasov nonlinear shell equations, the nonlinear response is shown to depend on two nondimensional parameters: the geometrical parameter λ, which is a function of the cylinder geometries and crack length, and the loading parameter η, which depends on the applied pressure, material properties, and cylinder geometries. To assess the applicability of such parameters, nonlinear analyses of different cylindrical configurations were performed using the STAGS finite element code. The results show that the two parameters are able to characterize the nonlinear response of such cylinders. Effects of nonlinearity are then presented in the form of an iso-nonlinear plot showing the percentage difference between the linear and nonlinear stress intensification factors. Using the iso-nonlinear plot, the importance of geometric nonlinearity can thus be assessed once the cylinder geometries, loading parameters, and material properties are known.
Coupling cell movement to multicellular development in myxobacteria

The myxobacteria are Gram-negative organisms that are capable of multicellular, social behaviour. In the presence of nutrients, swarms of myxobacteria feed cooperatively by sharing extracellular digestive enzymes, and can prey on other bacteria. When the food supply runs low, they initiate a complex developmental programme that culminates in the production of a fruiting body. Myxobacteria move by gliding and have two, polarly positioned engines to control their motility. The two engines undergo coordinated reversals, and changes in the reversal frequency and speed are responsible for the different patterns of movement that are seen during development. The myxobacteria communicate with each other and coordinate their movements through a cell-contact-dependent signal. Here, the cell movements that culminate in the development of the multicellular fruiting body are reviewed.
Potential Biases in Leadership Measures: How Prototypes, Leniency, and General Satisfaction Relate to Ratings and Rankings of Transformational and Transactional Leadership Constructs

Eighty-seven respondents completed either a graphic rating or a forced ranking questionnaire describing their immediate superior. Five leadership scales were embedded in each questionnaire. Three represented transformational leadership constructs (charismatic leadership, individualized consideration, and intellectual stimulation); two reflected transactional leadership constructs (contingent reward and management-by-exception). Appended to each questionnaire were five additional scales. The items constituting these scales measured two outcomes-satisfaction with the leader and effectiveness of the leader. The remaining scales measured each participant's leadership prototype, the participant's tendency to be lenient in his/her ratings, and a general measure of satisfaction. As expected, the intercorrelations among the factor scores representing the transformational and transactional leadership constructs were reduced substantially by using the forced rankings as compared with the graphic ratings. Also, the ...
Neurologic Presentations of Systemic Vasculitides

Vasculitis or angiitis refers to a group of inflammatory disorders of the blood vessels that cause structural damage to the affected vessel, including thickening and weakening of the vessel wall, narrowing of its lumen, and, usually, vascular necrosis. Systemic vasculitis is classified according to the vessel size and histopathologic and clinical features. Vasculitides with small vessel involvement typically include Henoch-Schonlein purpura and cryoglobulinemia. Polyarteritis nodosa and Wegener granulomatosis are small- and medium-sized vessel vasculitides, whereas temporal arteritis and Takayasu arteritis involve large vessels. In this article, the authors provide a review of the neurologic presentations of the major systemic vasculitides.
402AX teratocarcinoma MHC class I antigen expression is regulated in vivo by Lyt 1, Lyt 2, and L3t4 expressing splenic T cells

Abstract The murine 402AX teratocarcinoma is a MHC class I antigen negative tumor of 129 strain origin. Host resistance to the 402AX tumor is genetically controlled. When passed intraperitoneally in genetically resistant mice, the tumor cells are induced to express MHC class I antigens of the 129 genotype. When passed in genetically susceptible mice, the tumor cells remain MHC class I antigen negative. Earlier studies have demonstrated that resistance to the tumor and regulation of tumor cell MHC class I antigen expression are under the control of the host's immune system. The present studies indicate that splenic Lyt 1-, Lyt 2-, and L3T4-expressing cells regulate tumor cell MHC class I antigen expression, and that these cells require a genetically resistant host environment in which to differentiate. Splenic T cells primed to the 402AX tumor and transferred into genetically susceptible 129 mice give rise to GVHD, suggesting that immunity to the tumor involves reactivity to 129 minor histocompatibility antigens.
QVIEW: Software for Rapid Selection of Particles from Digital Electron Micrographs

Abstract The QVIEW image-processing software package provides a graphical user interface for interactive and rapid selection of particles from digital electron micrographs. This package was developed to facilitate the selection of elliptical, hydrophobic, and aggregating particles, which present complications for other particle selection packages. Speed improvements have been attained by using the fast graphics routines available in the Tcl/Tk toolkit and by separating the time consuming image-processing procedures from the interactive selection steps. The software is based on C++ and Tcl/Tk, both of which are readily available on many computer platforms. Processing features include removal of oversaturated pixels, planar subtraction using three or more background regions, exclusion of unwanted density such as nearby particles, and application of a circular or elliptical mask. Particles, along with their corresponding background and exclude regions, may be selected interactively from multiple digital micrographs, and the selection parameters are saved in a disk file for later processing. C shell processing scripts are easily modified and customized for specific applications. In summary, this software package enables the user-friendly, rapid selection of particles suitable for input into three-dimensional reconstruction packages.
Analytical Model to Predict Nonhomogeneous Soil Temperature Variation

This paper presents an analytical model to predict the temperature variation within a multilayered soil. The soil surface temperature is assumed to have a sinusoidal time variation for both daily and annual time scales. The soil thermal properties in each layer are assumed to be uniform. The model is applied to two-layered, three-layered, and to nonhomogeneous soils. In case of two-layered soil, a detailed analysis of the thermal behavior of each layer is presented. It was found that as long as the order of magnitude of the thermal diffusivity of soil surface does not exceed three times that of deep soil ; the soil temperature variation with depth can be predicted accurately by a simplified model that assumes that the soil has constant thermal properties.
Influence of Material Effects on Structural Ductility of Compact I-Shaped Beams

This paper outlines the results from a research program aimed at studying the impact that certain features of the uniaxial material response representation of steel have on the structural behavior of compact I-shaped beams subjected to a moment gradient loading. The ductility of this structural behavior is quantified by the rotation capacity of the beam. It is shown in this work that uniaxial material response features, such as yield stress value, magnitude of strain hardening slope, and presence or absence of a yield plateau, all play fundamental roles in influencing the structural ductility of steel beam response. Two governing inelastic modal manifestations that occur in compact I-shaped beams at failure are also discussed. Although both modes display a significant degree of coupling between local and global components in the manifestations, one mode displays significantly higher capacity and structural ductility than the other. It is noted that geometric proportions of the beam alone are insufficient to predict which of the two modes govern at failure. It is concluded that, to properly account for flexural ductility in applications involving high performance steel, specifications must include provisions that ensure flexural ductility through the simultaneous consideration of geometric and material effects.
Deletions in the Transmembrane Domain of a Sindbis Virus Glycoprotein Alter Virus Infectivity, Stability, and Host Range

The alphaviruses are composed of two icosahedral protein shells, one nested within the other. A membrane bilayer derived from the host cell is sandwiched between the protein shells. The protein shells are attached to one another by protein domains which extend one of the proteins of the outer shell through the membrane bilayer to attach to the inner shell. We have examined the interaction of the membrane-spanning domain of one of the membrane glycoproteins with the membrane bilayer and with other virus proteins in an attempt to understand the role this domain plays in virus assembly and function. Through incremental deletions, we have reduced the length of a virus membrane protein transmembrane domain from its normal 26 amino acids to 8 amino acids. We examined the effect of these deletions on the assembly and function of virus particles. We found that progressive truncations in the transmembrane domain profoundly affected production of infectious virus in a cyclic fashion. We also found that membrane composition effects protein-protein and protein-membrane interactions during virus assembly.
Functional Esophagogastric Junction Obstruction with Intact Peristalsis: A Heterogeneous Syndrome Sometimes Akin to Achalasia

Background Some patients with suspected achalasia are found on manometry to have preserved peristalsis, thereby excluding that diagnosis. This study evaluated a series of such patients with functional esophagogastric junction (EGJ) obstruction.
Determination of blood flow velocity and transit time in cerebral arteriovenous malformation using microdroplet angiography.

Advancement in imaging and biomedical technology has improved the use of catheter-based transarterial embolization (occlusive therapy) of cerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVMs). Among a variety of embolic agents, liquid adhesives (acrylates) have proven to be more successful in permanent obliteration of AVMs. The use of liquid adhesives requires the experience and skill of the operator. However, acquiring accurate information on blood flow and transit times through the AVM prior to embolization can optimize the treatment. In addition, knowledge of the polymerization time and behavior of the acrylate enables a complete and safe occlusion of the arteriovenous transition within the AVM nidus. Standard commercially available iodine-based contrast agents seem to be insufficient to determine AVM transit times from angiograms. For a more accurate assessment of AVM transit times, the use of a nonsoluble contrast agent (Ethiodol) and a high-speed digital subtraction angiography (DSA) is suggested. Small amounts (<20 μl) of Ethiodol were infused to create microdroplets and traced using DSA at 15 fps. Transit time, defined as the time interval required for a droplet to reach the venous part of the AVM after being flushed from the tip of the catheter, could be accurately calculated. Postprocessing was used to calculate trajectories and velocities of microdroplets. © 2001 Biomedical Engineering Society. PAC01: 8719Uv, 4755Dz, 8719La, 8759Bh
Photonic frequency conversion for wideband RF-to-IF down-conversion and digitization

A photonic frequency converter based on optical sideband filtering can be used to produce up- and down-converted signals over a wide range of RF frequencies. The reduction of mixing spurs provides an important advantage over conventional RF mixers for wide-band operation. We demonstrate down-conversion from 5 – 20 GHz to a 100 MHz IF with positive gain and high linearity, and direct digitization of down-converted RF signals at 10 and 20 GHz with low degradation of ADC performance.
Development of correlations for soil thermal conductivity

Abstract Soil thermal conductivity is significantly influenced by saturation and dry density. In this paper, a family of empirical correlations are presented which relate soil thermal conductivity to saturation for five soil types, namely, gravel, sand, silt, clay and peat, in both the frozen and unfrozen states. These correlations were developed from a soil thermal conductivity database which was constructed from measured data available in the literature. The effects of dry density are also examined.
Application of committee kNN classifiers for gene expression profile classification

In this study, we develop a two-class classification system based on a committee of k-Nearest Neighbour (kNN) classifiers. The system includes a sequence of simple data preprocessing steps. Each committee consists of 5 kNN classifiers of different architectures. Each classifier on the committee takes in a different set of features. The classification system is then applied to a set of microarray gene expression profiles from leukaemia patients. We show that the system can be effectively used for classifying microarray gene expression data. The results demonstrate the committee approach consistently outperforms individual kNN classifiers in terms of both classification accuracy and stability.
Flow and heat transfer between plates with longitudinal fins

Laminar, fully developed flow and heat transfer between parallel plates with longitudinal fins are analyzed. A modified eigenfunction expansion and point-match method gives highly accurate results. The resistance productf Re and Nusselt numbers for bothH1 andH2 problems are determined as a function of fin length and spacing. It is possible to decrease both size and weight of the heat exchanger by the addition of fins.
Quantum electrodynamics on null planes and applications to lasers

The conventional formulation of quantum electrodynamics in which the system develops from one space-like hyperplane to the next is here replaced by one in which the development proceeds over null hyperplanes. For detailed study a quantized electromagnetic field ${A}^{\ensuremath{\mu}}$ is chosen to interact with a quantized spin-0 particle field $\ensuremath{\Phi}$ in an unquantized electromagnetic field $A_{\mathrm{ext}}^{}{}_{}{}^{\ensuremath{\mu}}$ as background. If the latter is chosen to be a laser field, the $\ensuremath{\Phi}\ensuremath{-}A_{\mathrm{ext}}^{}{}_{}{}^{\ensuremath{\mu}}$ interaction permits exact closed-form solutions (Volkov) and allows the construction of wave packets which cannot be done in the usual formulation. The perturbation solution for the $S$ matrix is therefore conveniently based on the Furry picture. The null-plane formulation has various advantages. In particular, the gauge problem which causes difficulties in the usual theory is absent in the null-plane gauge chosen here. Since there are only two dynamically independent components of ${A}^{\ensuremath{\mu}}$, the commutation relations, field equations, gauge conditions, and vacuum definition are all mutually consistent. A natural nullplane gauge is used. Similarities and differences between this and the conventional theory are pointed out. As an application the Compton scattering of a charged particle with a laser beam is shown to lead to an intensity-dependent frequency shift. The controversy on this issue is settled here without divergent phase factors, because our wave-packet description permits a clean separation of the particle beam from the laser.
Adolescents' perceptions of normal and voice-disordered children

Abstract he purpose of this investigation was to compare adolescents' perceptions of the nonspeech characteristics of voice-disordered and normal speakers. Recordings of six three-word phrases produced by 16 speakers, eight voice-disordered and eight normal-speaking children, were presented to 19 adolescent students for judgements of nonspeech characteristics on a semantic differential scale containing 22 bipolar adjective pairs. Results of their ratings indicated that for 15 of the 22 pairs (68.2%) the normal speakers were judged more positively than the voice-disordered speakers. Moreover, for 9 of the 22 pairs (40.9%) the differences in listeners' ratings between the two speaker groups were statistically significant. Implications of these findings concerning developmental trends in the perception of voice disorders and their potential impact on mainstreaming in schools are discussed.
Animal Manures as feedstuffs: Poultry manure feeding trials

Abstract The utilisation of dried poultry manure as a feedstuff was critically evaluated based upon feeding trial results reported in the literature. The assessment indicated that this material can have value as a feedstuff. The maximum and optimum levels of incorporating dried poultry manure into laying hen and ruminant rations, on the basis of animal performance, varied from 5% to about 20% of a ration. Generally, the maximum level for incorporating dried poultry manure into rations was less than 20%. Dried poultry manure was found to have a monetary value as a feedstuff that equalled or exceeded its value as a fertiliser.
Identification of a novel mitogen-activated protein kinase in Toxoplasma gondii

Abstract Toxoplasma gondii is an Apicomplexan parasite causing significant morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised hosts. Mitogen activated protein kinases regulate diverse biologic processes including proliferation, differentiation, survival and stress responses. We searched a new T. gondii genomic database to identify a 1.6 kilobase pair (kbp) coding region with features suggesting a mitogen activated protein kinase. This gene is predicted to encode a 58 kDa protein with a threonine, aspartic acid, tyrosine (TDY) activation loop, similar to parasite and plant mitogen activated protein kinases, but distinct from mammalian mitogen activated protein kinases (with threonine, glycine, tyrosine (TGY) motifs). The predicted protein shares 45% amino acid identity with human stress-activated p38α mitogen activated protein kinase. Expression of the cloned gene in Escherichia coli produced a protein with an apparent molecular weight of 63 kDa and which exhibited kinase activity. Following osmotic stress, the abundance of the mRNA encoding this T. gondii mitogen activated protein kinase, which we name TgMAPK-1, increased in tachyzoites. Its expression rescued hog1 -deficient yeast grown under osmotic stress. These data confirm that the gene product is a stress-response mitogen activated protein kinase. Upon conversion of T. gondii tachyzoites to the latent bradyzoite form in vitro, tgMAPK-1 transcript accumulation increased, suggesting a role in parasite proliferation or stage differentiation. We previously demonstrated that pyridinylimidazole p38 mitogen activated protein kinase inhibitors block T. gondii replication. These inhibitors also blocked TgMAPK-1 autophosphorylation, suggesting that TgMAPK-1, or other parasite mitogen activated protein kinases are novel drug development targets.
Visual image of the city: Tourists' versus residents' perception of Simla, a hill station in northern India

This study examined the image of Simla as perceived by tourists and residents. It revealed that there were two distinct images: one for tourists and another for residents. The tourists' image was based on the natural and cultural landscapes whereas residents' image was based on their familiarity with the city. There was some disagreement on the most popular landmarks and areas. Both tourists and residents were dissatisfied with the present development of Simla. The study concludes that there is an urgent need for landscape conservation though the development of new design guidelines.
Thermogenesis during ultrasonic vocalization by rat pups isolated in a warm environment : a thermographic analysis

Ultrasonic vocalizations, emitted by rat pups when separated from their mother, littermates, and home cage, have been used as a measure of isolation distress. Recently, we demonstrated that cold exposure is the primary component of isolation that induces the vocalization. We were unable, however, to suppress all ultrasound production when transferring pups to a thermoneutral(35"C) environment. Using an infrared thermography system that allows us to estimate noninvasively heat production by brown adipose tissue, we found that pups transferred from the home nest to a 3YC test chamber exhibited sizable levels of heat production while they were vocalizing. Moreover, both heat production and ultrasound emission decreased over the 15-min test. Next, we used extreme care to minimize thermal, and therefore respiratory, stimulation of pups before, during, and after the transfer procedure. We found that such precautions prevented both heat production and ultrasound emission following transfer. These results indicate that infant rats' thermal sensitivities are far greater than previously suspected. 0 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Microdomains, lipid rafts and caveolae (San Feliu de Guixols, Spain, 19-24 May 2001).

The ﬁrst full-length meeting on membrane rafts and caveo-lae, organized by Klaus Fiedler and Gerrit van Meer and spon-sored by EURESCO, washeld in the spectacularly situatedEden Roc hotel in San Feliu de Guixols, Spain, overlookingthe rugged Costa Brava coastline. Rafts and caveolae remainuncertain bedfellows. Although rafts (lipid microdomains de-ﬁned by tight acyl chain packing) have a high afﬁnity for cav-eolae (plasma membrane pits formed by caveolin proteins),the two are distinguishable; rafts can exist and function out-side of caveolae. Similarly, it is not yet clear how rafts areinvolved in caveolar function. At least some functions of cav-eolae appear to be mediated by binding of caveolins to otherproteins, with no obvious requirement for the unique raft lipidenvironment. We will focus here on the following themes,which were especially prominent at the meeting: raft struc-ture, the function of rafts and caveolae in transport along theexocytic and endocytic pathways, the role of rafts in sig-naling, and the function and dynamics of caveolin proteins.
Excited states and optical response of a donor–acceptor substituted polyene: A TD-DFT study

Optical properties of polar push–pull chromophore (diphenylpolyene with donor/acceptor terminal substituents) are studied using hybrid time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT). The optical transitions are thoroughly examined. This includes one- and two-photon absorption, and fluorescence, as a function of the underlying density functional, the basis set choice, and the solvent. Calculated excited state properties are found to be strongly dependent on the density functional model used. Hybrid approximations with small fractions of the orbital exchange (e.g. B3LYP) strongly favor zwitterionic-type states with pronounced charge-transfer character. Models with large percentage of orbital exchange (e.g. BHandHLYP) result in neutral-base electronic excitations.
An Automated Method for Measuring Creatine Phosphokinase Activity in Serum

We describe a procedure for automating the determination of creatine phosphokinase (CPK) activity in serum by use of the AutoAnalyzer. Enzyme activity is determined by measuring the creatine phosphate formed from the CPK-catalyzed reaction of creatine with adenosine triphosphate (ATP). The sensitivity of the automated procedure was comparable to that of the manual method. By use of the most favorable concentrations of creatine, ATP, and magnesium ion in the substrate, a linear relationship was obtained between enzyme concentration and enzyme activities up to 600 mU, representing a sixfold improvement over that obtained by the manual method. The degree of correlation between results obtained by the manual and automated procedures is shown.
Movement Intention Is Better Predicted than Attention in the Posterior Parietal Cortex

We decoded on a trial-by-trial basis the location of visual targets, as a marker of the locus of attention, and intentions to reach and to saccade in different directions using the activity of neurons in the posterior parietal cortex of two monkeys. Predictions of target locations were significantly worse than predictions of movement plans for the same target locations. Moreover, neural signals in the parietal reach region (PRR) gave better predictions of reaches than saccades, whereas signals in the lateral intraparietal area (LIP) gave better predictions of saccades than reaches. Taking together the activity of both areas, the prediction of either movement in all directions became nearly perfect. These results cannot be explained in terms of an attention effect and support the idea of two segregated populations in the posterior parietal cortex, PRR and LIP, that are involved in different movement plans.
Irreducible uncertainties, sustainable fisheries and marine reserves

Marine reserves are increasingly proposed as a management tool. Models can play a valuable role in the evaluation of the possible benefits of reserves because they allow us to conduct many more investigations than could ever be done empirically. In this paper, I develop a model for a marine reserve for an open population subject to environmental uncertainty.
Wideband channel measurements and characterization of the wireless home environment

This study presents measurements and analysis for characterizing the broadband wireless channel at home. Both temporal and spatial characteristics are investigated by obtaining power delay profiles (PDP), resulting average delay time and rms delay spread, and joint angle-of-arrival (AoA) time-of-arrival (ToA) distributions.
Social Change, Positive Mental Health, and Psychological Androgyny

Recent changes in the timing of life stages, the length of the lifespan, labor force participation, marriage and fertility are described. It is argued that highly-differentiated sex-role orientations are less suited to current conditions than are androgynous orientations, especially for women. If this is true, then developing androgynous sex-role orientations may promote greater adaptability and positive mental health.
Projective Test Use Among School Psychologists: A Survey and Critique

The use of projective techniques by school psychologists has been a point of interest and debate, with a number of survey studies documenting usage. The purpose of this study is to update the status of projective use among school psychologists, with a specific focus on their use in the social emotional assessment of children in schools. In addition to gathering information about the frequency of use, this study provides information about the types of assessment activities in which the assessments are used and practitioner’s perception of the utility of specific instruments. Results indicate that school psychologists view projective assessments as moderately useful and that they continue to use projectives across grades and for a variety of educational purposes, including eligibility determination and intervention development. Results are discussed critically in the context of previous research.
Performance evaluation of an attic radiant barrier system using three-dimensional transient finite element method:

A three-dimensional transient finite element model was developed to evaluate the thermal performance of an attic radiant barrier system as an energy-efficient insulation technology. The finite element model simulates different heat transfer modes including convection, radiation, and conduction. Hourly experimental data collected in a housing complex in Zachary, LA, were used to validate the finite element analysis. Upon validation, the design variables and their influence on the performance of the radiant barrier insulation system were investigated. Among the different design variables, the presence of an air gap on both sides of the radiant barrier had a significant effect on the performance of the insulation system.
Problems with sampling procedures for reserve valuations.

Abstract The computation of the reserve liability, running up to about $49 billion in North American life insurance companies, involves a large amount of work, some of which might be saved if sampling methods were satisfactory. Certain possible approaches to the sampling problem are mentioned, and the mathematical problem is developed for one such approach. Experimental results are presented from one small exploratory sample intended to establish orders of magnitude. Certain tentative conclusions are presented. * A paper presented at the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Statistical Association, New York City, December 30, 1947.