cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Observation of twins in the α2 phase in a quenched Ti-46.54 at.% Al alloy

Gamma titanium aluminides alloys, especially those based on the Ti-(46 {approximately} 48)Al (in at.%) compositions, are receiving considerable attention as structural materials for elevated temperature aerospace applications. The properties of these alloys depend strongly on microstructure and hence on the phase transformations they experience from the {alpha} region. Recent studies have shown that cooling rate has a major effect on the transformation of the {alpha} phase to {gamma}: at low cooling rates the lamellar {gamma} morphology prevails, at intermediate rates a Widmanstatten/feathery morphology appears, whereas at very high rates a massive transformation dominates. The kinetics, temperature- and cooling rate-dependence of these transformation modes have been reported recently. To secure information on the associated nucleation and growth mechanisms, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) studies of the accompanying microstructures have been undertaken. During the course of these studies of quenched samples of a Ti-46.54 Al alloy, a new structural feature has been observed in the {alpha}{sub 2} phase for the first time. In this paper, the results of TEM and electron diffraction observations of this feature, together with the associated crystallography and possible mechanisms of formation are reported.
The Wisdom Jar: A Creative Metaphor for Terminating Counseling Supervision

Abstract Supervisors can use a wide range of skills and exercises when terminating counseling supervision with supervisees at the end of a practicum class. This article presents an experiential creative activity, the Wisdom Jar, as a metaphor for discussing specific lessons with supervisees. The use of creativity and the integration of symbols and metaphors provided supervisees with images to reflect upon after completing a counseling practicum clinical experience.
Redesigning a 401(k) Plan at Haley-Midland (TN)

Rose Adams, the CFO of Haley-Midland, Inc., dispensed with pleasantries and started right in on her questions for Jim Sweeney, the senior vice president of human resources, and Nancy Walters, Haley-Midland's vice president and treasurer, about the brewing crisis with the company's 401(k) plan.Learning Objective: To educate students about how employers design 401(k) plans.
Ballots and Bullets: The Bloody County Seat Wars of Kansas

Review of: "Ballots and Bullets: The Bloody County Seat Wars of Kansas," by Robert K. DeArment.
Playing it Smart: Safety in Extracurricular Activities

Abstract An integral part of the school experience for many students is involvement in extracurricular activities such as athletics, cheerleading, band, and others. Likewise, cocurricular activities, such as field trips, provide a chance for students to connect off-campus experiences to the material learned in the classroom. These types of activities, however, can turn catastrophic if schools are not conscientious with respect to providing prudent supervision and instruction. This article explores a school's and district's responsibilities for ensuring that safety precautions are in place to protect student participants as well as others. Not only do the recommendations contained within the article lessen the chance of successful negligence lawsuits, but, more importantly, they also help ensure that extracurricular and cocurricular activities, such important aspects of a school's culture, remain fun, educational, and, more importantly, safe.
Maximizing strength of digital watermarks using neural networks

Several discrete wavelet transform (DWT) based techniques are used for watermarking digital images. Although these techniques are robust to some attacks, none of them is robust when a different set of parameters is used or some other attacks (such as low pass filtering) are applied. In order to make the watermark stronger and less susceptible to different types of attacks, it is essential to find the maximum amount of watermark before the watermark becomes visible. In this paper, neural networks are used to implement an automated system of creating maximum-strength watermarks.
The molecular diversity of Luminal A breast tumors

Breast cancer is a collection of diseases with distinct molecular traits, prognosis, and therapeutic options. Luminal A breast cancer is the most heterogeneous, both molecularly and clinically. Using genomic data from over 1,000 Luminal A tumors from multiple studies, we analyzed the copy number and mutational landscape of this tumor subtype. This integrated analysis revealed four major subtypes defined by distinct copy-number and mutation profiles. We identified an atypical Luminal A subtype characterized by high genomic instability, TP53 mutations, and increased Aurora kinase signaling; these genomic alterations lead to a worse clinical prognosis. Aberrations of chromosomes 1, 8, and 16, together with PIK3CA, GATA3, AKT1, and MAP3K1 mutations drive the other subtypes. Finally, an unbiased pathway analysis revealed multiple rare, but mutually exclusive, alterations linked to loss of activity of co-repressor complexes N-Cor and SMRT. These rare alterations were the most prevalent in Luminal A tumors and may predict resistance to endocrine therapy. Our work provides for a further molecular stratification of Luminal A breast tumors, with potential direct clinical implications.
Impact of changes in blood pressure during the treatment of acute decompensated heart failure on renal and clinical outcomes.

Aims One of the primary determinants of blood flow in regional vascular beds is perfusion pressure. Our aim was to investigate if reduction in blood pressure during the treatment of decompensated heart failure would be associated with worsening renal function (WRF). Our secondary aim was to evaluate the prognostic significance of this potentially treatment-induced form of WRF. Methods and results Subjects included in the Evaluation Study of Congestive Heart Failure and Pulmonary Artery Catheterization Effectiveness (ESCAPE) trial limited data were studied (386 patients). Reduction in systolic blood pressure (SBP) was greater in patients experiencing WRF (−10.3 ± 18.5 vs. −2.8 ± 16.0 mmHg, P median) was associated with greater doses of in-hospital oral vasodilators (P ≤ 0.017), thiazide diuretic use (P = 0.035), and greater weight reduction (P = 0.023). In patients with SBP-reduction, WRF was not associated with worsened survival [adjusted hazard ratio (HR) = 0.76, P = 0.58]. However, in patients without SBP-reduction, WRF was strongly associated with increased mortality (adjusted HR = 5.3, P < 0.001, P interaction = 0.001). Conclusion During the treatment of decompensated heart failure, significant blood pressure reduction is strongly associated with WRF. However, WRF that occurs in the setting of SBP-reduction is not associated with an adverse prognosis, whereas WRF in the absence of this provocation is strongly associated with increased mortality. These data suggest that WRF may represent the final common pathway of several mechanistically distinct processes, each with potentially different prognostic implications.
Erosion Control Using Modified Soils

As a result of Hurricane Katrina, many sections of the flood protection systems in New Orleans were eroded due to plunging water, and sections of flood walls were determinately damaged. Therefore, mitigating this type of erosion and failure is necessary for counteracting similar catastrophic events. This study evaluated the method to mitigate erosion due to plunging water by strengthening the soil with ground modification. The Vetiver plant and Polyhedral Oligomeric Silsesquioxanes (POSS) were the two main ground modifiers used in this test. Test results showed that both POSS and the Vetiver were effective in reducing erosion. POSS showed good erosion resistance with good applicability to field soils; Vetiver showed higher resistance to erosion by plunging water, but required time to achieve a well established root/stem system.
Nuclear Cross Sections for Light Ions on 6Li

We review our measurements of total and differential cross sections for protons, deuterons and 3He incident on 6Li. These are the reactions which are important for evaluating a fusion reactor based on burning 6Li. Several of these reactions had not previously been measured, and among those that had there were large discrepancies in some cases. We employed several checks in our measurements to verify that the errors (including systematic errors) were 10 to 20 percent.
Sodium Ampicillin Given Parenterally

AMPICILLIN, is a semisynthetic penicillin which is effective against penicillinsusceptible gram-positive organisms as well as many prevalent gram-negative pathogens.1-7The oral preparation in clinical use which consists of the free acid of ampicillin has been under extensive trial since 1961 and was made available commercially in the United States in 1964. Several studies have indicated that it is fairly stable in the presence of gastric acid, and is absorbed readily from the gastrointestinal tract; is not bound to protein in appreciable quantity; is distributed well into most tissues; and generally is well tolerated and safe.8-10Less is known regarding the sodium salt of ampicillin which recently has been made available forparenteraladministration.11-14This report describes the use of the sodium salt of ampicillin in the treatment of 124 hospitalized patients with a variety of systemic infections. Materials and Methods Selection of Patients. —Patients admitted to the General Medical and
Measurement of the b-jet nuclear modification factors in PbPb collisions at sNN=2.76 TeV with CMS

Abstract Modification to jets in high-energy heavy-ion collisions is expected to depend on the flavor of the fragmenting parton. To disentangle this flavor dependence, jets associated to heavy quarks are identified in pp and PbPb collisions. Jets are first tagged by their secondary vertices and the contribution from bottom quarks is extracted using template fits to their secondary vertex mass distributions. In this talk, the b-jet nuclear modification factors are presented in the range of 80 jet p T 250 GeV / c , using the full 2011 PbPb and 2013 pp data collected at s N N = 2.76 TeV .
Design Optimization of Springback in a Deepdrawing Process

The design optimization of springback in a deepdrawing process is proposed to control the e nal shape of the workpiece. The manufacturing process design problem is formulated to minimize the difference between the shape of the desired workpiece geometry and the e nal analysis result after elastic springback. The rigid die shape and the workpiece thickness are treated as design variables. A nonlinear structural problem that includes e nitedeformation elastoplasticity withfrictional contactissolved usinga mesh-freemethod in which thestructural domain is discretized by a set of particles. Continuum-based design sensitivity analysis is carried out to obtain gradient information for the optimization efe ciently. The accuracy of the sensitivity result is compared with the e nite difference result with excellent agreement. The optimum deepdrawing process signie cantly improves the quality of the e nal product. ESPITE signie cant simulation and design capability developments in modern technology, gaps still remain between the simulation-based design and the manufacturing process itself. One major reason for these gaps is the lack of efe cient and accurate numerical methods in the design process. First, accurate numerical methods have to be used to simulate manufacturing processes, and these methods must take into account large deformations, complicated constitutive relations, and a sliding contact between workpiece and die. Second, efe cient numerical methods have to be used to make the deepdrawing optimization process practical. It is the purpose of this paper to demonstrate that these two obstacles can be resolved by using accurate numerical methods and an efe cient design sensitivity analysis (DSA). The deepdrawingprocessinvolvesa large degree ofplastic deformation and rigid-body rotations, as well as a complicated contact between workpiece and die. Many simplie ed approaches have been proposedinsimulationanddesignofthemetalformingprocess.One
Information integration and the object display An interaction of task demands and display superiority

Two tasks, varying in their demands to integrate multiple information sources, were used in a comparison of two graphical display formats. One display technique, an ‘object display’, utilized different dimensions of a single perceptual object to display task-relevant information. A contrasting graphical technique, a ‘bar graph’, used the same dimension of several separate objects to present identical information. In one experiment, 24 subjects used both displays to perform a simulated process control task in which integration of information from several time-varying sources was required. In a second experiment, 20 additional subjects used both displays in a non-integration task that required monitoring for particular values of six independent system outputs. Results of the integration experiment revealed that performance was superior when the object display was used. However, when the non-integration task was studied, the bar graphs provided more efficient performance. Thus, the requirement to integrate i...
Is the hydroformylation reaction reversible

Abstract Treatment of 3,3-diphenyl-1-propanol under cobalt-catalyzed hydroformylation conditions gives the corresponding aldehyde as the principal product but a small quantity of 1,1-diphenylethylene is also formed. Similarly 3-phenyl-1-propanol gives a small quantity of styrene. These arylethylenes are probably generated via the radical dehydrogenation to the corresponding aldehydes followed by decarbonylation and dehydrogenation, a reaction pathway that constitutes the reverse of the hydroformylation reaction. Attempts to rearrange isobutyraldehyde to the straight chain isomer (and the reverse) did not yield significant quantities of the rearranged product. The aldehydes obtained by cobalt-catalyzed hydroformylation apparently undergo the reverse reaction but at such a slow rate that the back reaction can usually be neglected.
The Biological Significance of Yawning Elicited by Application of Electromagnetic Fields in Multiple Sclerosis

To the Editor: Brief extracerebral applications of AC pulsed electromagnetic fields (EMFs) in the picotesla range intensity have been reported beneficial in the symptomatic treatment of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) with either a relapsing-remitting or a chronic progressive course (Sandyk, 1992, 1994 a, b, 1995 a; Sandyk & Derpapas, 1993 a, b; Sandyk & Iacono, 1993, 1994 a, b; Sandyk & Dann, 1994, 1995. This treatment modality is effective also in the symptomatic management of acute exacerbation of symptoms and has also been shown to stabilize the course of the disease (Sandyk & Derpapas, 1993b; Sandyk & Dann, 1995; Sandyk, in press). The mechanisms by which administration of these EMFs improves symptoms of MS remain elusive. Application of DC EMFs of higher intensities has been shown to alter synaptic conductivity by modifying the release of neurotransmitters through an effect involving changes in transmembrane calcium flux (Bawin & Adey, 1976; Jaffe et al, 1980; Blackman, 1988; Rusovan & Kanje, ...
Whole Foods: Revitalization through Everyday Synesthetic Experience

This article explores the role of food and eating as part of migrant responses to displacement and strategies for reconstituting community and re-creating cultural continuity. Drawing on Fernandez's concept of "the return to the whole," this paper considers the nature of the cultural revitalization achieved through food events, through particular food sent "from home." Attention is paid to processes of invocation, structural repetition, and synesthesia, concepts developed by Fernandez in his work on religious revitalization movements.
System reconfiguration to avoid deadlocks in automated manufacturing systems

Recent demands for small and medium-batch production runs have put additional constraints on automated manufacturing systems. Controlling the processes in such systems is difficult due to concurrent and asynchronous interactions that cause system deadlocks. Deadlocks occur in a system when a set of concurrent processes becomes interlocked in such a way that they cannot be completed. This paper reports on the control of deadlocks in a simple automated manufacturing system consisting of three workstations arranged around a transporter and process a single part. Deadlock detection and avoidance were performed off-line and the system was reconfigured by re-allocating the buffer capacity at the critical workstations. Petri Net formalism was used as the modeling tool for its ability to model concurrent and asynchronous activities, and its sound mathematical foundations for analysis. The model was numerically tested on the SUN Workstation under varying operating characteristics to study deadlock-free performance and compute effective buffer capacity at the critical workstations.
Crystals as Molecules: Postsynthesis Covalent Functionalization of Zeolitic Imidazolate Frameworks

A new crystalline zeolitic imidazolate framework, ZIF-90, was prepared from zinc(II) nitrate and imidazolate-2-carboxyaldehyde (ICA) and found to have the sodalite-type topology. Its 3D porous framework has an aperture of 3.5 A and a pore size of 11.2 A. The pores are decorated by the aldehyde functionality of ICA which has allowed its transformation to the alcohol functionality by reduction with NaBH4 and its conversion to imine functionality by reaction with ethanolamine to give ZIF-91 and ZIF-92, respectively. The N2 adsorption isotherm of ZIF-90 shows a highly porous material with calculated Langmuir and BET surface areas of 1320 and 1270 m2 g−1. Both functionalized ZIFs retained high crystallinity and in addition ZIF-91 maintained permanent porosity (surface areas: 1070 and 1010 m2 g−1).
New economy, new strategy: the latest digital technology innovations and applications

The inventions of the internet, computers and various small devices have enabled new publishing methods and workflows. In this paper, we describe a few technologies developed in our laboratory that address the challenges arising in the new publishing age.
On the construction of state diagrams for cellular automata with additive rules

Cellular automata (CA) over finite fields are studied for which a transition matrix A implements the update rule. An algorithmic approach to obtaining the state diagram for the CA from the matrix A is given. The state diagram is determined by first deducing its cyclic structure, then examining the transient behavior leading to the quiescent state and then piecing the two together. The basic tools employed are the (polynomial) order of a vector and the (algebraic) order of this polynomial. A complete specification of the state diagram is obtained from the elementary divisors of A and the existence of a basis which brings A into its classical canonical form. Maple procedures were written which implement the entire algorithm. Results are given which specify the state diagrams for CA over GF(2) having from three to forty cells with a sum-of-nearest-neighbors local transition rule for both periodic and null boundary conditions. Extensions and directions for future work are presented.
NAADP: An emerging calcium signaling molecule.

Cells possess multiple Ca2+ stores and multiple messengers for mobilizing them. In addition to inositol trisphosphate and cyclic ADP-ribose, nicotinic acid adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NAADP), a metabolite of NADP, is shown to be a potent Ca2+ signaling molecule in both invertebrate and mammalian cells. This article summarizes the recent results of this newly discovered Ca2+ signaling mechanism and explores the implications of the apparent proliferation of Ca2+ messengers.
APPROXIMATION METHODS IN MANY-BODY PERTURBATION THEORY

An analysis of some approximations common in the treatment of many-body systems indicates that the inclusion of large numbers of uncancelled exclusion-principle-violating (EPV) processes leads to meaningless results. We therefore propose as a criterion for the validity of many-body approximations that there should be no such large-scale inclusion of EPV processes. The graphs generated in the BCS theory are analyzed from this point of view.
CVD Growth Kinetics of HfB2 Thin Films from the Single-Source Precursor Hf(BH4)4

Thermal CVD from the single-source precursor Hf(BH4)4 affords stoichiometric, dense, and hard HfB2 films; this paper reports the growth kinetics in detail. The decomposition reaction starts at 200 °C; mass spectrometry of the material desorbing from the growth surface reveals that, for steady-state deposition at P ≤ 1 × 10-6 Torr, the reaction probability of the precursor is independent of flux and increases with temperature with an apparent activation energy of 0.43 eV. The precursor is less reactive on clean Si and SiO2 substrates than it is on the HfB2 growth surface. By analyzing the thickness profile of films grown on high-aspect-ratio trench structures, we find that the growth rate is proportional to P0.3 for 1 × 10-4 < P < 1 × 10-2 Torr at a substrate temperature of 250 °C. The reaction probability of the precursor decreases from ∼1 to 1 × 10-4 as the precursor pressure increases from 1 × 10-6 to 1 × 10-1 Torr. This behavior is consistent with a Langmuirian surface-reaction mechanism. The conformal...
Carbon dioxide emissions and global GDP

Abstract A positive relationship between carbon dioxide emissions, the most important greenhouse gas (GHG) implicated in global warming, and GDP is shown in this paper, examining per capita income and CO2 emissions of 137 countries across 21 years. It also appears that as per capita incomes accelerate across countries emissions increases, for the most part, tend to decelerate. It could be that higher income levels lead to increased demand for environmental protection. Only emissions reduction proposals that assure incomes will not be adversely affected, particularly those of less developed countries (LDCs), will have any possibility of successful implementation.
On the design of behavior-based multi-robot teams

Real-world applications that are ideal for robotic solutions are very complex and challenging. Many of these applications are set in dynamic environments that require capabilities distributed in functionality, space or time. These applications, therefore, often require teams of robots to work together cooperatively to successfully address the mission. While much research in recent years has addressed the issues of autonomous robots and multi-robot cooperation, current robotics technology is still far from achieving many of these real world applications. We believe that two primary reasons for this technology gap are that (1) previous work has not adequately addressed the issues of fault tolerance and adaptivity in multi-robot teams, and (2) existing robotics research is often geared at specific applications and is not easily generalized to different, but related, applications. This paper addresses these issues by first describing the design issues of key importance in these real-world cooperative robotics...
Recreation specialization and boater speed compliance in manatee zones.

Significant growth in recreational watercraft use has been detrimental to the Florida manatee as their habitats often coincide with recreational boating areas. Vessel speed restrictions in manatee zones have been shown to reduce manatee mortality; however, compliant vessel operation in speed zones is critical. This study examined Florida boaters and associated predictors of compliance behaviors utilizing recreation specialization theory. On-water observation was performed to establish vessel speeds at sampling sites during the latter part of the summer 2006, during which the hull-affixed vessel registration number of each observed vessel was noted and used for subsequent mail survey (n = 236). Despite the hypothesized model being a good fit, the path model based on recreation specialization was generally weak when analyzed via Structural Equation Modeling. Specialization was found to have a strong negative influence on marine conservation attitudes; and was a poor predictor of behavioral intentions, self-...
The study of electroplating trivalent CrC alloy coatings with different current densities on stainless steel 304 as bipolar plate of proton exchange membrane fuel cells

Abstract In this study, the trivalent Cr–C coatings were electroplated on stainless steel 304 (SS304) substrates for an application in bipolar plates (BPPs) that was because of coating's excellent electric conductivity and corrosion resistance. The images of scanning electron microscope showed that the thickness of the coatings was between 1.4 and 11.4 μm, which increased with increase of coating current density. The surface morphology of Cr–C plated at coating current density of 10 A/dm 2 was smooth, crack- and pinhole-free, while cracks and pinholes appearing in networks were observed apparently in the deposits plated at a higher coating current density. Additionally, the C content in the coating decreased with increasing the coating current density. Moreover, the polarization curve with different coating current densities (10, 30, 50 A/dm 2 ) exhibited the coating prepared at 10 A/dm 2 and 10 min possessing the best corrosion resistance (I corr = 9.360 × 10 − 8 A/cm 2 ). The contact resistance of Cr–C plated at coating current density of 10 A/dm 2 was the lowest (16.54 mΩ cm 2 at 150 N cm − 2 ), which showed great potential of application. The single cell test with Cr–C coated SS304 prepared at coating current density of 10 A/dm 2 as BPPs showed the highest current density (about 791.532 mA/cm 2 ) and power density (about 270.150 mW/cm 2 ).
Elementary and Middle School Children's Acceptance of Lower Calorie Flavored Milk as Measured by Milk Shipment and Participation in the National School Lunch Program.

BACKGROUND The United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) new nutrition standards for school meals include sweeping changes setting upper limits on calories served and limit milk offerings to low fat or fat-free and, if flavored, only fat-free. Milk processors are lowering the calories in flavored milks. As changes to milk impact school lunch participation and milk consumption, it is important to know the impact of these modifications. METHODS Elementary and middle schools from 17 public school districts that changed from standard flavored milk (160-180 kcal/8 oz) to lower calorie flavored milk (140-150 kcal/8 oz) between 2008 and 2009 were enrolled. Milk shipment and National School Lunch Program (NSLP) participation rates were collected for 3 time periods over 12 months (pre-reformulation, at the time of reformulation, and after reformulation). Linear mixed models were used with adjustments for free/reduced meal eligibility. RESULTS No changes were seen in shipment of flavored milk or all milk, including unflavored. The NSLP participation rates dropped when lower calorie flavored milk was first offered, but recovered over time. CONCLUSIONS While school children appear to accept lower calorie flavored milk, further monitoring is warranted as most of the flavored milks offered were not fat-free as was required by USDA as of fall 2012.
The Exceptional Chelating Ability of Dimethylaluminum Chloride and Methylaluminum Dichloride. The Merged Stereochemical Impact of α- and β-Stereocenters in Chelate-Controlled Carbonyl Addition Reactions with Enolsilane and Hydride Nucleophiles

A systematic investigation of the stereoselectivity in Lewis acid-promoted (Mukaiyama) aldol reactions of achiral unsubstituted enolsilanes and chiral β-hydroxy aldehydes proceeding under conditions favoring chelation control is presented. Good stereocontrol can be realized for enolsilane aldol reactions of β-alkoxy and β-silyloxy aldehydes bearing only an α- or a β-stereogenic center. Examination of the chelated intermediates for α,β-disubstituted aldehydes concludes that the syn aldehyde diastereomer possesses the arrangement of stereocenters wherein the α- and β-substituents impart a reinforcing facial bias upon the aldehyde carbonyl. Aldol reactions of syn aldehydes were thus observed to proceed with uniformly excellent diastereofacial selectivity. Aldol reactions of the corresponding anti aldehydes containing opposing stereocontrol elements at the α- and β-positions exhibit variable and unpredictable selectivity.
Beyond Maximum Entropy: Fractal Pixon-Based Image Reconstruction

We have developed a new Bayesian image reconstruction method that has been shown to be superior to the best implementations of other methods, including Goodness-of-Fit (e.g. Least-Squares and Lucy-Richardson) and Maximum Entropy (ME). Our new method is based on the concept of the pixon, the fundamental, indivisible unit of picture information. Use of the pixon concept provides an improved image model, resulting in an image prior which is superior to that of standard ME.
Stability and convergence of analog neural networks with multiple-time-step parallel dynamics

We study the dynamics of a symmetric analog neural network with a parallel update rule that averages over M previous time steps. We show that convergence to a fixed-point attractor can be guaranteed by a simple criterion that limits the neuron's gain (maximum slope of the neuron transfer function) to a value proportional to M. A global stability analysis based on a new Liapunov function is presented. The analysis generalizes a previous result for M=1, i.e., standard parallel updating. Multistep updating allows oscillation-free parallel dynamics for networks that have period-2 limit cycles under standard parallel updating. Results are applied to associative memory networks based on the Hebb and pseudoinverse learning rules. In addition, we present a simple analysis of convergence times showing that the number of iterations required for a multistep neural network to converge to a fixed point increases at a rate proportional to M when all other network parameters are held fixed. However, because increasing M allows the gain to be increased without inducing oscillation, in some instances using a larger M can yield a shorter convergence time when the neuron gain is also optimally adjusted.
Effects of N1-guanyl-1,7-diaminoheptane, an inhibitor of deoxyhypusine synthase, on the growth of tumorigenic cell lines in culture

N1-guanyl-1,7-diaminoheptane (GC7) is a potent inhibitor of deoxyhypusine synthase (DHS), the enzyme that catalyzes the first step in the hypusination of eukaryotic translation initiation factor 5A (eIF-5A). Since eIF-5A is the only known cellular substrate for DHS and GC7 has been reported to block the proliferation of CHO cells, it has been suggested that DHS may be a novel target for anti-cancer therapy. In the present study we investigated the antiproliferative effect of GC7 on several tumorigenic cell lines under various growth conditions. We found that this compound inhibits the proliferation of H9 cells in suspension culture and the growth of HeLa cells and v-src-transformed NIH3T3 cells under both anchorage-dependent and anchorage-independent conditions. Moreover, studies with NIH3T3 cells and v-src-transformed NIH3T3 cells show that GC7 inhibits the growth of both cell lines in monolayer culture with similar potency and could not reverse the transformed phenotype. In addition, the v-src-transformed cells grown under both anchorage-dependent and anchorage-independent conditions showed similar sensitivity toward GC7. These data indicate that GC7 acts as a general antiproliferative agent and does not appear to preferentially target tumorigenic cell types. Cell cycle analysis show that GC7 reduces the CHO-K1 cell population in the G1-phase of the cell cycle by 42% and increases the number of cells in the S-phase by 44%. This cell cycle distribution profile strikingly resembles the distribution of cells treated with puromycin. This result supports the hypothesis that the synthesis of a subset of proteins important for the S-phase progression of CHO-K1 cells might be dependent upon hypusinated eIF-5A. Thus the antiproliferative effect of GC7 appears to be related to its interference with the progression of cell cycle, which also provides a possible explanation for the lack of selectivity of GC7 between nontransformed and transformed cell types tested in this study.
Evidence for Minimal Pozzolanic Reaction in a Fly Ash Cement During the Period of Major Strength Development

Strengths developed in fly ash concretes usually equal or exceed that of similar plain concrete after a few months, with much of the response usually attributed to “pozzolanic” reaction between ash and secondary calcium hydroxide (CH). The CH contents of pastes made with five different fly ashes were determined by DTA for periods up to six months. The CH contents found did not decrease notably over the period, and were substantially identical to that expected for plain cement pastes diluted with the same amount of inert material as the amount of fly ash used. Scanning electron microscope examination of the pastes showed only minimal evidence of reaction even up to 1 year of age, although many fly ash grains were in intimate contact with CH. Non-evaporable water contents of the fly ash pastes were substantially higher than expected at each age, suggesting that the fly ash promoted more complete cement hydration or that the hydration products formed bound substantially greater amounts of water than plain cement paste ordinarily does.
TH‐D‐BRB‐03: Monte Carlo Simulations of Beam Characteristics for a Compact Plasma Proton Accelerator

Purpose: To (1) develop Monte Carlo applications for the geometry and particle transport in the treatment head of a compact coaxial plasmaproton accelerator and (2) quantify the sensitivity of the output particle flux and dose distributions on the energy and angular spread of the input proton phase space. Method and Materials: Geant4 v4.9.3 was employed to simulate a plasmaprotontreatment head geometry including the beam collimator the magnetic field region and the energy selector. The energy spectrum assumed a Gaussian distribution centered at Emax=200MeV and the full width at half maximum (FWHM) was 0% 12.5% 25% 37.5% and 50% of Emax. The angular spread of the input proton beam was considered to be 0° 15° and 20° respectively. Flux and dose calculations were performed using a phase space implemented at the energy selector exit plane and a voxelized water phantom respectively. Results: For a fixed angular spread the output particle flux is fairly constant as the energy spectrum becomes broader while for a fixed energy spread the flux decreases significantly with increasing angular spread. The decrease is 10 times for 15° and 40 times for 20° angular spread. Dose measurements show that 200MeV protons even with a broad energy spectrum are preferable to photons when low entrance dose and conformal distal edge falloff are desired. The energy spread translates into a spread out Bragg peak used clinically without the introduction of any scattering devices in the beam path. Conclusions: This study shows that the delivered proton flux is highly sensitive to the angular spectrum of the input plasma accelerated protons and dose is sensitive to the spread of the energy spectrum. Monte Carlo simulations of beam characteristics for compact plasmaproton accelerators provide important design parameters for the development of the next generation proton therapy units.
A new porolepiform-like fish, Psarolepis romeri, gen. et sp. nov. (Sarcopterygii, Osteichthyes) from the Lower Devonian of Yunnan, China

ABSTRACT A new sarcopterygian fish, Psarolepis, gen. nov. (Sarcopterygii, Osteichthyes) is described from the Lower Devonian of Eastern Yunnan, China. The new genus manifests many porolepiform-like features that are commonly used to distinguish porolepiforms from osteolepiforms, such as internasal cavity well developed, parasphenoid not protruding forward to ethmoidal region, vomeral area rectangular in shape and not meeting at median line, dorsal part of interorbital wall broad and tectum orbitale well developed, external surface of lower jaw with three large fossae, and well developed parasymphysial plates at anterior tip of lower jaws. This new form also shares some features with Powichthys, Youngolepis and Diabolepis that are not found in typical porolepiforms, such as intracranial joint situated at the level of the trigeminal exit, posterior face of ethmosphenoid facing posteroventrally, X-type skull table, and sutures always visible between premaxilla and the rest of the frontoethmoidal shield. Uniq...
Effect of prolonged phenylalanine loading on the free amino-acid and lipid content of the infant monkey brain.

SUMMARY In an infant monkey, prolonged phenylalanine loading has been shown to produce a quantitative deficiency in cerebral cerebroside and in cerebral free amino-acid distribution. RESUME Ľeffet d'une charge prolongee en phenylalanine sur le contenu en amino-acide lihre el on lipide du cerveau du bebe singe Chez le bebe singe on a montre qu'une charge prolongee en phenylalanine provoque une deficience quantitative du cerebroside cerebral et de la distribution de Ľamino-acide libre cerebral. ZUSAMMENFASSUNG Die Wirkung verlangerter Phenylalanin-Ladung auf freie Aminosaure und lipiden Inhalt des Affensaugling-Gehirnes Bei einem Affensaugling erwies sich, dass verlangerte Phenylalanin-Ladung einen quantitativen Mangel an zerebralem Zerebrosid und in der zerebralen freien Aminosaure-Verteilung produzierte. RESUMEN Los resultados de una carga prolongada defenilalanina en el contenido de amino-acidos lihres y de lipidos en el cerebro del mono infante Se ha mostrado que en un mono infante una carga prolongada de fenilalanina ha resultado en una deficiencia cuantitativa de cerebrosido cerebral y de la distribucion de amino-acidos cerebrales libres.
The effects of γ-aminobutyric acid and picrotoxin on the junctional potential and the contraction of crayfish muscle

L'acideγ-amino-butyrique et laβ-alanine reproduisent l'action du transmetteur inhibiteur du systeme neuromusculaire de l'ecrevisse. Ces deux acids amines diminuent la contraction musculaire. L'acideγ-amino-butyrique reduit la difference de potentiel et augmente sa decomposition. L'action de ces acides amines est bloquee par la picrotoxine comme l'est celle du transmetteur inhibiteur.
Techniques for Measuring Warpage of Chip Packages, PWBs, and PWB Assemblies

One of the crucial factors for the thermo-mechanical reliability of electronic packages is warpage that occurs during the printed wiring board (PWB) fabrication, solder masking and solder reflow processes. As the quality and reliability requirements of electronic components (packages) become higher, warpage control becomes a more crucial process during the PWB fabrication (manufacturing) and package assembly processes. The warpage of PWBs, PWB assemblies and electronic packages are measured by various techniques. Each technique has both its advantages and disadvantages; therefore the choice of a particular technique depends on whether one wants to measure the warpage of a PWB, PWB assembly or chip package. This paper reviews the pros and cons, such as resolution, speed, costs, accuracy, in-line capability, flexibility, and robustness, of different techniques used for measuring the warpage of chip packages, PWBs and PWB assemblies.
The role of examples in moral philosophy

Contemporary moral philosophy for the most part relegates examples to a negative role, as counter-examples. In this essay a view is articulated according to which the example has a much more positive and more fundamental role to play in the argumentation of moral philosophy: according to this view, examples may provide grounding for general moral principles. Some of the philosophical implications or presuppositions of such a view of examples are examined.
Reward-to-Risk Ratios in the Treasury-Bill Market

We estimate the ex-ante reward per unit of spot-rate volatility (the reward-to-risk ratio) for U.S. Treasury bills on a monthly basis and find that these ratios vary predictably over time. Reward-to-risk ratios are positively autocorrelated; month-to-month changes in these ratios are negatively autocorrelated. Variation in these ratios contributes at least as much variation to ex-ante excess returns as does variation in interest-rate volatility. Because ex-ante volatility and the rewards to volatility vary independently, variation in ex-ante premiums is greater than the variation attributable to changing volatility alone.
Detection of multiple patterns of oscillatory oxygen consumption in single mouse islets of Langerhans.

A novel oxygen microsensor was used to measure oxygen levels in single mouse islets as a function of glucose concentration. Oxygen consumption of individual islets was 5.99 ± 1.17, 9.21 ± 2.15, and 12.22 ± 2.16 pmol/min at 3, 10, and 20 mM glucose, respectively (mean ± SEM, n = 10). Consumption of oxygen was islet-size dependent as larger islets consumed more oxygen than smaller islets but smaller islets consumed more oxygen per unit volume than larger islets. Elevating glucose levels from 3 to 10 mM induced pronounced fast oscillations in oxygen level (period of 12.1 ± 1.7 s, n = 6) superimposed on top of large slow oscillations (period of 3.3 ± 0.6 min, n = 6). The fast oscillations could be completely abolished by treatment with the L-type Ca2+-channel blocker nifedipine (40 μM) with a lesser effect on slow oscillations. Slow oscillations were almost completely dependent upon extracellular Ca2+. The oxygen patterns closely mimic those that have previously been reported for intracellular Ca2+ levels and are suggestive of an important role for Ca2+ in amplifying metabolic oscillations.
Evaluation of Nursing Student Perspectives of a Simulated Smart Pump

Abstract Background Medical devices are incorporating information technology into complex user interfaces, increasing the need for training and testing. However, the actual devices are costly to purchase and maintain. Method Participants in this study programmed a simulated and actual smart medication infusion pump and completed a user satisfaction survey. The number of features accessed successfully and the number of errors made during interface programming with the simulator and pump were compared. Results Differences between the pump and simulator show where the simulator needs to be refined to increase fidelity. Conclusions Simulating devices provides a low-cost platform for nursing education and for device and interface development.
High pressure angle-dispersive Brillouin spectroscopy: A technique for determining acoustic velocities and attenuations in liquids and solids

We report the combination of a high-pressure sample chamber and a stable, nonscanning, angle-dispersive Fabry–Perot interferometer allowing the rapid measurement of inelastic light scattering from acoustic phonon modes in solid and liquid samples at high pressure. The primary components of the apparatus are a (i) narrow frequency gas ion laser, (ii) a solid or air-spaced etalon, (iii) a multichannel charge coupled device detector, and (iv) a large volume, high-pressure cell. The fundamental principle of this spectrometer is based on the angular dispersion of light through an etalon, whereupon the multiple-order frequency dispersed spectrum can be acquired with an array detector. Typical acquisition times are less than 1 s using low to moderate laser power.
Standard strabismus surgery in thyroid ophthalmopathy.

Introduction Techniques for the surgical treatment of thyroid related strabismus vary and include non-adjustable (standard), [postop'] adjustable suture, and a newer procedure aimed at correcting restriction rather than using dose/response tables.This study reports the results utilizing standard strabismus procedures for the treatment of thyroid ophthalmopathy. Methods Charts of 31 consecutive patients who underwent surgery in the pst 5 years for restrictive strabismus secondary to thyroid ophthalmopathy were retrospectively reviewed. All surgery was performed by recession and reattachment of the muscle to the globe, allowing for no postoperative adjustment. Standard doses were used for all primary surgery and slightly modified in some cases of reoperation, but the general principal was from a standard published nomogram. Results All 31 patients had preoperative diplopia and restricted motility. 22 patients wore prisms prior to surgery. Of the 31 patients who underwent surgery 9 required a second operation. After reoperation 5 patients (16%) continued to have diplopia. However, 4 of these patients were able to achieve single binocular vision with a small amount of prism. Only 2 patients were unable to achieve single binocular vision with or without prism. 22 patients (71%) had full ocular motility after surgery. After one surgery, 25 of 31 patients (81%) were satisfied with the results of surgery. This increased to 29 patients (94%) after reoperation. Conclusion The results of this study indicated that strabismus surgery for restrictive thyroid ophthalmopathy using standard technique and table amounts of surgery can provide excellent results and patient satisfaction.
A Synthetic Capillary

Tissue engineering strives to create functional tissue for organ replacement and regenerative medicine by combining living cells with a porous scaffold that promote growth and differentiation. Recent attempts to replace tissue with autologous cells on a biodegradable scaffold have been frustrated by inflammatory and healing responses. We speculate that without vascularization and hierarchical organization, gradients in effector molecules and basic nutrients can develop in engineered tissue due to the competition between convection and diffusion, cell consumption and production that compromises cell function and viability. In particular, once implanted in the patient, the cells in the engineered tissue consume the available oxygen and nutrients within a few hours, while it can take several days for the growth of new blood vessels (angiogenesis) to deliver nutrients to the implant. We have created using “live cell lithography” an in vitro model that emulates the in vivo microenvironment found in human capillaries with micron-scale precision. To create a capillary, we used a microfluidic to convey human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) into multiple microarrays of optical tweezers, which are used to precisely position cells in a 3D hydrogel scaffold (see figure).View Large Image | View Hi-Res Image | Download PowerPoint Slide
Molecular cloning and expression of mouse brain sialidase.

Abstract Sialidase (EC 3.2.1.18) catalyzes the release of sialic acid from sialo-oligosaccharides, gangliosides, or sialo-glycoproteins. In this investigation, we cloned a novel cDNA for mouse brain sialidase and expressed the cDNA in COS-7 cells. This 1,699 bp cDNA codes for a 41.6 kDa protein consisting of 372 deduced amino acid residues. In COS-7 cells transiently transfected with the cDNA, a 250-fold increase was observed in specific activity toward 2′-(4-methylumbelliferyl)-α-D-N-acetylneuraminic acid. Similarity searches of the nonredundant GenBank peptide sequence database by the PSI-BLAST program identified rat, hamster, human, and bacterial sialidases homologous to this mouse brain sialidase. Amino acid sequence identities to rat and hamster sialidases (84% and 77%, respectively) suggest that this form of sialidase is conserved in rodents. Sequence identities to human and mouse lysosomal sialidases (30% and 28%, respectively) indicate that the mouse brain sialidase is distinct from the lysosomal enzyme. Mouse brain sialidase has two amino acid sequence motifs common to bacterial sialidases: the ‘F/YRIP’ motif and the ‘Asp-box’ motif. The ‘F/YRIP’ motif is present near the N terminus while two ‘Asp-box’ motifs are present downstream.