cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Selective homologation of methanol catalyzed by transition metal complexes in methanol-amine solutions

Abstract Transition metal complexes of Mn, Rh, and Ru have been found to catalyze the homologation of methanol in methanol-amine solutions at syn-gas pressure near 300 atm and temperatures near 200°C. These catalysts are believed to operate by mechanisms similar to that proposed for Fe(CO)5, and likewise produce CO2 as the oxygenated by-product and do not homologate the ethanol product. The use of two metal complexes together as catalysts has also been examined. In a mixed Fe(CO)s-Mn2(CO)10 catalyst solution, methanol is converted at a rate of 14% h−1 at 200°C. Ethanol accounts for 72% of the product, the balance being methane. Additives such as phosphines and methyl iodide are found to affect the rate and the selectivity of these systems.
Considerations on a Mass-Based System Representation of a Pneumatic Cylinder

Pneumatic actuators can be advantageous over electromagnetic and hydraulic actuators in many servo motion applications. The difficulty in their practical use comes from the highly nonlinear dynamics of the actuator and control valve. Previous works have used the cylinder's position, velocity, and internal pressure as state variables in system models. This paper replaces pressure in the state model with the mass of gas in each chamber of the cylinder, giving a better representation of the system dynamics. Under certain circumstances, the total mass of gas in the cylinder may be assumed to be constant. This allows development of a reduced-order system model.
Scaling of organ weights in Macaca arctoides

The allometric scaling of nine internal organs was examined for Macaca arctoides. Significant organ weight-body weight regressions were obtained for heart, lungs, kidneys, pancreas, thyroid, liver, and testes. The spleen and adrenal glands exhibited strong variability and were only loosely correlated to body weight. Using allometry as a criterion of subtraction, observed sex differences in mean organ weights were seen to be primarily the result of differences in average body weight. It is postulated that analysis of observed differences in organ weights between this species and Macaca mulatta would yield similar conclusions. Comparison of intraspecific slope values obtained in the present study with interspecific values reported in the literature reveals a pattern paralleling the brain-body weight relation. A discussion of the relationship between intra- and interspecific slopes is presented.
Effect of stimulus intensity on the sizes of chromatic perceptive fields.

The effects of intensity on chromatic perceptive field size were investigated along the horizontal meridian at 10° temporal eccentricity by manipulating stimulus intensity from 0.3 to 3.3 log trolands. Following light adaptation, observers described the hue and saturation of monochromatic stimuli (440–660 nm, in 10 nm steps) for a series of test sizes (0.098–3°) presented along the time period associated with the cone plateau of the dark-adaptation function. Perceptive field sizes of the four elemental hues (red, green, yellow, and blue) and the saturation component were estimated by three observers at each intensity level for each wavelength. In general, perceptive field sizes of blue and red are the smallest, and yellow and green are the largest. Furthermore, perceptive field sizes of all four hues decrease with increasing stimulus intensity, though the absolute change is largest for green and yellow. The decrease in size with increase in intensity cannot be completely explained in terms of saturation or rod signals and is likely, then, attributable to a cone-based mechanism.
Fibroblast growth factor 23, high-sensitivity cardiac troponin, and left ventricular hypertrophy in CKD.

Background Detectable levels of cardiac troponins are common in individuals with chronic kidney disease (CKD), even in the absence of symptomatic cardiovascular disease. Abnormal cardiac troponin values are associated with coronary artery disease and left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and predict poor clinical outcomes. Elevated levels of fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF-23) contribute to LVH in CKD. We investigated the association of FGF-23 and hs-cTnI (high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I) and hs-cTnT (high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T) levels in CKD and examined the role of LVH in this association. Study Design Cross-sectional observational study. Setting & Participants 153 stable outpatients with non–dialysis-dependent CKD. Predictor The primary predictor was FGF-23 level. Outcomes hs-cTnI, hs-cTnT. Measurements FGF-23, hs-cTnI, hs-cTnT; left ventricular mass index (LVMI) assessed by echocardiography; coronary artery calcification (CAC) measured by computed tomography. LVMI and CAC were evaluated as potential mediators of the effect of FGF-23 on hs-cTnI/T. Results Mean age was 64 ± 12 (SD) years, mean estimated glomerular filtration rate was 34 ± 11 mL/min/1.73 m 2 , median FGF-23 level was 120 (25th-75th percentile, 79-223) reference unit (RU)/mL, median hs-cTnI level was 6.5 (25th-75th percentile, 3.5-14.5) pg/mL, and median hs-cTnT level was 16.8 (25th-75th percentile, 11.1-33.9) pg/mL. cTnI and cTnT concentrations were higher than the 99th percentile of a healthy population in 42% and 61% of patients, respectively. In unadjusted and multivariable-adjusted analyses, hs-cTnI/T levels were associated significantly with FGF-23 levels. Adjusting for LVMI, but not CAC, weakened the association of FGF-23 and hs-cTnI/T levels. Limitations Vitamin D levels were not measured. The prevalence of coronary artery disease may have been underestimated because it was ascertained by self-report. Conclusions Minimally elevated cTnI and cTnT levels, detectable by high-sensitivity assays, are associated with elevated FGF-23 levels in stable outpatients with CKD. FGF-23–associated LVH may contribute to detectable hs-cTnI/T levels observed in non–dialysis-dependent patients with CKD.
Juramentos AND Mandas: TRADITIONAL CATHOLIC PRACTICES AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE IN MEXICAN COMMUNITIES OF SOUTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA

This article describes the use of traditional Catholic beliefs and practices by Mexican sojourners in southeastern Pennsylvania to deal with and overcome substance abuse. Two practices in particular are the focus: juramentos and mandas. Juramentos are ritual promises to a saint, made by a drinker or drug user, to abstain from drinking or using drugs; whereas mandas are requests or pleas for divine intervention in protecting a loved one from dangers, including from substance abuse, made by the wives and mothers of the substance users. These religious practices were observed and studied while conducting alcohol and drug abuse research in southeastern Pennsylvania and teaching an ethnographic field school in Mexican sending communities to this region of the United States.
Numerical Dating in Stratigraphy, 1 and 2

Geology is a historical science, and geologists always have been fascinated with deciphering complex geologic histories by unraveling the relations of rock units where ages were established by fossils or, more recently, by isotopic dating methods. The most direct way to date stratified rocks is by measuring the ages of authigenic minerals in sedimentary rocks. This approach, however, is fraught with such problems as the presence of detrital minerals, the determination of whether authigenic minerals formed at the same time as accumulation of the sedimentary rocks, and whether suitable minerals for age measurements are present. This new book shows that although there has been significant progress, the problems of directly dating sedimentary rocks by isotopic methods persist.
The Effect of Propofol Anesthesia on Rebound Spiking

The anesthetic propofol potentiates GABAa (inhibitory) receptors in the central nervous system. Paradoxically, low doses of propofol create manifestations of excitation rather than sedation. Previous computational modeling work suggests that postinhibitory rebound spiking may be responsible for this paradoxical excitation. In our models, postinhibitory rebound spiking emerges from an interaction between the inhibitory GABAa current and a slow potassium current (M-current). In contrast to previous studies of postinhibitory rebound spiking, the inhibition is not required to be strong or long. Rather, rebound spiking happens only when the time-constant of inhibition is within a specific range, including relatively fast time-constants. To better understand this phenomenon, we examine rebound spiking in a single model neuron. Fast/slow dynamics are analyzed using techniques from geometric singular perturbation theory. For the transition when the inhibitory time-constant is on the same time scale as the M-curre...
Gender Differences in the Perception of Prisoner Abuse

We examined gender stereotypes and perceptions of aggression in 743 US psychology students at a northeastern university in the USA. Participants rated a vignette depicting torture of an Iraqi prisoner by an American soldier in which the gender of prisoner and guard were varied. The results showed that female participants viewed torture more negatively than male participants. Additionally, participants perceived the torture and killing of a female prisoner warranted significant compensation to her family. However, participants perceived violent acts by a male guard to be as serious as for a female guard, suggesting a shift in perceptions of gender role stereotypes. Our findings demonstrate a change in the gender role stereotyping for females in the military and suggest a number of future studies.
Open versus closed chest cardiac massage in non-traumatic cardiac arrest

Since the rediscovery and popularization of closed-chest cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in the early 1960s, this technique has largely replaced open-chest cardiac massage. However, in the ensuing quarter of a century, a large amount of data has been accumulated that seems to indicate that open-chest CPR is the physiologically superior method of cardiopulmonary resuscitation. This paper reviews that data comparing these two CPR modalities. The first part discusses data obtained from animal studies, while the second considers the limited amount of information that has been obtained from human investigations. The authors concludes that a randomized clinical trial of open-chest and closed-chest CPR is needed to fully evaluate the efficacy of these two resuscitative techniques as well as to define the most appropriate circumstances for the use of internal cardiac massage.
Libraries for genomic SELEX

An increasing number of proteins are being identified that regulate gene expression by binding specific nucleic acidsin vivo. A method termed genomic SELEX facilitates the rapid identification of networks of protein-nucleic acid interactions by identifying within the genomic sequences of an organism the highest affinity sites for any protein of the organism. As with its progenitor, SELEX of random-sequence nucleic acids, genomic SELEX involves iterative binding, partitioning, and amplification of nucleic acids. The two methods differ in that the variable region of the nucleic acid library for genomic SELEX is derived from the genome of an organism. We have used a quick and simple method to construct Escherichia coli, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and human genomic DNA PCR libraries that can be transcribed with T7 RNA polymerase. We present evidence that the libraries contain overlapping inserts starting at most of the positions within the genome, making these libraries suitable for genomic SELEX.
Methods of Analysis of Anti-Epileptic Drugs

Abstract This book reports on the proceedings of the Workshop on the Determination of Anti-Epileptic Drugs in Body Fluids held at Noordwijkerhaut, The Netherlands, April 1972. The book is divided into four parts and each part contains from four to eight papers. There are reference and discussion sections at the end of each paper. There are a total of 23 papers given in the volume. At the end of each of the four main sections there is a more complete discussion on the papers given.
SHIFTING DISCHARGE PEAKS IN ARCTIC RIVERS, 1977–2007

The Arctic regions are undergoing rap- id warming, at rates that are significantly faster than the global average and its hydrological system is re- sponding to this change. Rivers may be seen as in- tegrators of changes in the hydrological cycle. Changes in the freshwater fluxes have immediate impact on Arctic Ocean dynamics, and are telecon- nected to the global ocean-atmosphere. Here, the most recent observational records are analyzed for 19 large rivers encompassing the en- tire Arctic region over the period 1977 to 2007. Trends in total annual water discharge, melt month and peak month discharge are calculated for indi- vidual systems based on records with monthly time resolution. We found consistent increase in annual discharge over the entire region (+9.8%) over the last 30 years. Combined change in water outflux is significantly higher than previous reconstructions for the Cana- dian Arctic (+2% over 1964-2000) and Eurasia (+7% over 1936-1999). Individual river systems show strong acceleration of change. Melt month discharge increases considerably (+66%), whereas peak month discharge is reduced (-6.8%). Our records mostly span the post-dam es- tablishment period, when dam management is con- sidered relatively stable. Consequently we attribute the considerable change in the melt month to a shift in snowmelt in the drainage basin.
Appropriate use of antitussives and protussives. A practical review.

As a symptom of an underlying condition, cough is one of the most common reasons patients see physicians. To the majority, a cough means that ‘something is wrong’ and it causes exhaustion and/or self-consciousness. Patients find these reasons as well as effects on lifestyle, fear of cancer and/or AIDS or tuberculosis to be the most troublesome concerns for which they seek medical attention. The treatment of cough can be divided into two main categories: (a) therapy that controls, prevents or eliminates cough (i.e. antitussive); and (b) therapy that makes cough more effective (i.e. protussive). Antitussive therapy can be either specific or nonspecific. Definitive or specific antitussive therapy depends on determining the aetiology or operant pathophysiological mechanism, and then initiating specific treatment. Since the cause of chronic cough can almost always be determined, it is possible to prescribe specific therapy that can be almost uniformly successful. Nonspecific antitussive therapy is directed at the symptom; it is indicated when definitive therapy cannot be given. Practically speaking, the efficacy of nonspecific therapy must be evaluated in double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomised studies of pathological cough in humans. Such studies have demonstrated the efficacy of dextromethorphan, codeine and ipratropium bromide aerosol in patients with chronic bronchitis. While the preferred treatment for patients with cough due to angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor therapy is withdrawal of the offending drugs, it may be possible to ameliorate the cough by adding nifedipine, sulindac or indomethacin to the treatment regimen. The efficacy of protussive therapy has not been well documented. Although hypertonic saline aerosol and erdosteine in patients with bronchitis, and amiloride aerosol in patients with cystic fibrosis have been shown to improve mucus clearance, their clinical utility has not been adequately studied.
Science and Humanity

The Genographic Project is a fantasy of an idea. It represents the instinct of humankind to seek to understand ourselves, right down to the smallest pieces of our essential being. To follow this longing for knowledge is to be in the company of every great explorer that has ever been, from the first hominid moving beyond the boundaries of African Eden to the intrepid women, men, and children who sailed the seas beyond the mainland of Southeast Asia to become the first occupants of the continent of Australia, to the men and women perhaps not yet born who will seek to land on and inhabit planets other than this one. Such journeys reveal ways of relating to new worlds and, in that process, instruct us in new ways of being human. As another great journey of exploration, this search within ourselves may teach us equally as much. To be certain, none of our journeys thus far have been without hardship, and it is naive to think that this or any exploration is free from challenges.
Properties of three-dimensional plasmonic slot waveguides

We investigate the properties of the modes supported by three-dimensional subwavelength plasmonic slot waveguides. We show that the fundamental mode supported by a symmetric plasmonic slot waveguide, composed of a subwavelength slot in a thin metallic film embedded in an infinite homogeneous dielectric, is always a bound mode. Its modal fields are highly confined over a wavelength range extending from zero frequency to the ultraviolet. We then show that for an asymmetric plasmonic slot waveguide, in which the surrounding dielectric media above and below the metal film are different, there always exists a cutoff wavelength above which the mode becomes leaky.
A Borrowed Approach for a More Effective Business Education

Have business programs become “too focused on scientific research?” and “graduating students who are ill-equipped to wrangle with complex, unquantifiable issue?” In the April 2006 issue of the Journal of Management Education, Campbell et al. argue the deficiencies in undergraduate business education must be addressed with changes in pedagogy rather than changes in curriculum. Unfortunately, specific recommendations beyond team projects and team teaching are scarce. One strategy for obtaining new ideas is to examine the pedagogy of other professional programs and see what, if anything, business schools could learn. The purpose of this article is to examine one of the primary pedagogies used by nursing schools to integrate theory and practice, clinical laboratories. By adopting the clinical model, business schools will simultaneously improve student learning, offer a new assessment approach to evaluate learning, and provide businesses with more relevant information about employment potential.
Objects from the beginning - with GUIs

We describe a way to introduce objects at the beginning of the first CS course through the use of objects that have significant nontrivial behavior and interactions with other objects. We will describe four introductory laboratory projects and an outline for introductory lectures on object oriented programming that illustrate the need for private member data, constructors and accessor member functions, and prepare students for writing object oriented programs in Java with graphical user interfaces.
Bcr-Abl Kinase Domain Mutations and the Unsettled Problem of Bcr-AblT315I: Looking into the Future of Controlling Drug Resistance in Chronic Myeloid Leukemia

In 2006, most newly diagnosed patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) underwent first-line, molecular-targeted therapy with the Bcr-Abl tyrosine kinase inhibitor, imatinib. The expectation was that the vast majority of these patients would exhibit a complete cytogenetic response on imatinib alone. Studies of patients with acquired imatinib resistance revealed that Bcr-Abl signaling is reactivated at the time of resistance, predominantly because of mutations that interfere with drug binding in the kinase domain of Bcr-Abl. The knowledge that Bcr-Abl remains the optimal target for treating imatinib-refractory CML has driven an already highly successful search for alternative approaches to restore target inhibition. Here, we review the current state of affairs in the realm of controlling drug resistance in CML, including cutting-edge strategies to reign in Bcr-AblT315I, which is cross resistant to imatinib, as well as the "next generation" Bcr-Abl inhibitors, nilotinib and dasatinib. We also critically assess the role of combined Abl kinase inhibitor therapy in overcoming resistance and provide recommendations for monitoring patients for kinase domain mutations.
Benzo-Bridged Bis(1,2,3-dithiazoles) and Their Selenium Analogues. Preparation, Molecular and Electronic Structures, and Redox Chemistry

The condensation of diaminobenzenedithiol with sulfur monochloride leads to the chloride salt of the radical cation of 3,6-dichlorobenzo(1,2-d:4,5-d')bis(1,2,3-dithiazole), dichloro-(BB-123-DTA)(Cl), which can be reduced to neutral dichloro-(BB-123-DTA) with triphenylantimony. A similar condensation with selenium tetrachloride leads, upon reduction, to the corresponding bis(1,2,3-thiaselenazole) dichloro-(BB-123-TSA). The crystal and molecular structures of both compounds have been determined by X-ray diffraction. Both compounds, which are formally antiaromatic 16﷿-systems, exhibit internal bond lengths consistent with a quinoid formulation. The radical cations of both rings have been characterized by ESR spectroscopy; for dichloro-(BB-123-DTA) + g ) 2.0114 and aN ) 0.201 mT, while for dichloro-(BB-123-TSA) + g ) 2.021 and aN ) 0.44 mT. Further oxidation of both rings affords the corresponding dications, both of which have been characterized crystallographically as their AlCl 4 - salts. The structural features of these compounds are consistent with those expected for dithiazolylium (or thiaselenazolylium) derivatives. The structure and redox chemistry of the benzo(1,2-d:4,5-d')bis(1,2,3-dithiazole) framework is discussed in the light of the results of ab initio calculations.
Enhanced 11β-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Activity, the Metabolic Syndrome, and Systemic Hypertension

Metabolic syndrome, with its attendant cardiovascular complications, is reaching epidemic proportions worldwide; hence, there is intense interest in understanding the pathogenesis of and developing therapy for these common disorders. Recent studies have suggested that metabolic syndrome may be a stress response, with an underlying abnormality in the enzyme 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase. At the cellular level, the enzyme hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (HSD1) locally regenerates active cortisol from inactive cortisone, amplifying glucocorticoid receptor activation and promoting preadipocyte differentiation and adipocyte hypertrophy. Although initial studies in transgenic mice and humans are encouraging, more data are required to conclusively prove the hypothesis that the adipose-tissue–specific overexpression of HSD1 and the resultant increase in tissue-specific cortisol concentrations result in human obesity, insulin resistance, high blood pressure, and metabolic syndrome. Currently, selective inhibitors of HSD1 are not available for human use; however, their development is under way. The use of potent and selective HSD1 inhibitors will finally confirm or refute this hypothesis and may turn out to be an effective strategy for combating these common maladies.
Soft computing method for the removal of pixelation in microendoscopic images

Flexible micro-endoscopes with dimensions of as small as 1.0 mm in outer diameter and as long as 3.0 m in length produce images that have a 'honeycomb' pattern due to the spaces between the individual collection optical fibers contained in the imaging conduit. This pattern is found to exhibit a definable spatial frequency that is discrete from that of the desired information or the actual images of interest. By applying a filter and by sharpening the contrast between adjacent pixels, it was possible to remove the honeycomb pattern without significant degradation to the visual quality of the image. The technique described employs Fourier analysis to analyze the image so as to define the 'noise' component. Then a discrete band-reject frequency filter was applied to both the original and sharpened images, resulting in the effective removal of the honeycomb pattern. The advantages and limitations of the image processing technique are discussed.
Dependency in multivariate markov chains

Abstract The absence of a general multivariate model for discrete-state processes has been a major barrier for applications. This paper is motivated by the challenge to understand the relationship between relapse following treatment for leukemia, the biological processes by which a patient fights disease internally, and interventions intede to assist the patient by fixing defects in these processes or stimulating them to behave more aggressively. A multivariate version of the Chapman-Kolmogorov equations is defined to form a basis for developing two classes of association among discrete state random processes. A conditional intensity function measures the association between two sets of multivariate processes, U ( t ) and V ( s ), as a function of both times s ⩽ t . The individual processes in U and V need not be distinct. A cross-intensity function not only measures the association between U ( t ) and V ( s ), but also controls for another vector-valued process W ( t ). Toward this end, we propose a robust group of measures of association.
Information Scent Determines Attention Allocation and Link Selection among Multiple Information Patches on a Webpage

This paper draws from cognitive psychology and cognitive neuroscience to develop a preliminary similarity-choice theory of how people allocate attention among information patches on webpages while ...
Physicochemical properties and oxidative inactivation of soluble lectin from water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) brain.

Lectins are carbohydrate-binding proteins present in a wide variety of plants and animals, which serve various important physiological functions. A soluble β-galactoside binding lectin has been isolated and purified to homogeneity from buffalo brain using ammonium sulphate precipitation (40–70%) and gel permeation chromatography on Sephadex G50–80 column. The molecular weight of buffalo brain lectin (BBL) as determined by SDS-PAGE under reducing and non-reducing conditions was 14.2 kDa, however, with gel filtration it was 28.5 kDa, revealing the dimeric form of protein. The neutral sugar content of the soluble lectin was estimated to be 3.3%. The BBL showed highest affinity for lactose and other sugar moieties in glycosidic form, suggesting it to be a β-galactoside binding lectin. The association constant for lactose binding as evidenced by Scatchard analysis was 6.6 × 103 M−1 showing two carbohydrate binding sites per lectin molecule. A total inhibition of lectin activity was observed by denaturants like guanidine HCl, thiourea and urea at 6 M concentration. The treatment of BBL with oxidizing agent destroyed its agglutination activity, abolished its fluorescence, and shifted its UV absorption maxima from 282 to 250 nm. The effect of H2O2 was greatly prevented by lactose indicating that BBL is more stable in the presence of its specific ligand. The purified lectin was investigated for its brain cell aggregation properties by testing its ability to agglutinate cells isolated from buffalo and goat brains. Rate of aggregation of buffalo brain cells by purified protein was more than the goat brain cells. The data from above study suggests that the isolated lectin may belong to the galectin-1 family but is glycosylated unlike those purified till date.
Characterization of incisional wound healing in inducible nitric oxide synthase knockout mice.

Abstract Background. Excisional wound healing in inducible nitric oxide synthase knockout (iNOS-KO) mice has been previously shown to be impaired compared with their background strain controls. Incisional wounds were created in this experiment in both types of animals and paradoxically were found to heal with the same rapidity and breaking strength in both groups. Methods. Dorsal 2.5 cm incisional wounds were created in iNOS-KO mice, as well as their parental strain controls (C57BL/6J). Standardized polyvinyl alcohol sponges were implanted in the wounds to allow for measurement of collagen deposition. Animals were harvested on postoperative days (PODs) 3, 5, 7, 10, 14, and 28, and their wounds subjected to tensiometric breaking strength analysis. Nonisotopic in situ hybridization quantitative analysis for iNOS, endothelial NOS (eNOS), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and interleukin-4 (IL-4) expression in the wounds was performed. Hydroxyproline levels were quantitated in the harvested polyvinyl alcohol sponges. Data were analyzed with the Students t test. Results. No significant differences were found in breaking strengths or levels of hydroxyproline (and thus collagen) in iNOS-KO versus wild-type wounds at all tested time points. Flawed iNOS expression levels in iNOS-KO animals were similar to (functional) iNOS expression in wild-types. eNOS and bFGF expression nearly doubled on POD 7 in iNOS-KO incisions (P =.002, and.002), respectively and remained 200% to 300% elevated thereafter. TGF-β1 expression was increased approximately 50% to 100% in iNOS-KO wounds on PODs 5 and 7 (P =.006 and.01, respectively). VEGF and IL-4 expression was elevated by 25% to 100% in wild-type compared with iNOS-KO animals at all time points (P
Structural optimization: A review and some recommendations

A brief review of the structural optimization literature and a description of the present status of optimization methods are presented. The scope of the review is limited and does not profess to cover the entire literature. Results of the optimization of two structures (by the optimality criteria approach) are presented. There are some conclusions and recommendations for future developments in structural optimization.
Development of laser mirrors of very high reflectivity using the cavity-attenuated phase-shift method

It has been possible to obtain mirrors of very high reflectivity by following the simple four-step procedure described herein. The key to success is the ability to measure the scattering and other losses of the substrates and dielectric coatings to ensure that the specifications are being met. These measurements are especially critical in the important cleaning process. The cavity-attenuated phase-shift (CAPS) method is ideally suited for performing these important measurements, permitting us to obtain mirrors with reflectivities of R = 0.99975 ± 0.00005.
Robustness and repeatability of interdigitated electrodes on a substrate tested in an aqueous environment

Interdigitated electrodes are used as sensing components in microfluidic lab-on-a-chip devices. The Daktari Diagnostics system uses electrodes to measure the change in impedance of a fluid in an assay chamber. A new testing method was developed and validated to characterize the sources of defects in electrodes and used to validate a new manufacturing process. The impedance of an electrode-in-solution system for solutions of different known conductivities was measured. The characteristic linear relationship (slope) between the inverse of the impedance to the solution conductivities was estimated. Repeatability tests found an average slope of 1.438x10-5 (1/Ω)/(μS/cm) - or cm/characteristic length - with a standard deviation of 8.52x10-8 cm/characteristic length. The impact of defective electrode fingers and mechanical bending on electrode performance was characterized.
Regulation of prostate cancer cell invasion by modulation of extra- and intracellular redox balance

Recent metabolic profiles of human prostate cancer tissues showed a significant increase in cysteine (Cys) and a significant decrease in reduced glutathione (GSH) during cancer progression from low to high grade Gleason scores. Cys is primarily localized extracellularly, while GSH is present mostly inside the cell. We hypothesized that extra- or intracellular redox state alterations differentially regulate cell invasion in PC3 prostate carcinoma cells versus PrEC normal prostate epithelial cells. Cells were exposed to media with calculated Cys/CySS redox potentials (EhCySS) ranging from −60 to −180 mV. After 3 hr exposure to a reducing extracellular redox state (EhCySS −180 mV), matrix metalloprotease (MMP), gelatinase, and NADPH oxidase activities increased, correlating with increases in cell invasion, cell migration, and extracellular hydrogen peroxide levels in PC3 cells but not PrEC cells. Knockdown of NADPH oxidase or MMP with silencing RNAs during cultivation with EhCySS −180 mV media significantly decreased PC3 cell invasion. Modulation of extra- and intracellular redox states by exposure of PC3 cells to Cys/ CySS-free media (approx. EhCySS −87 mV) containing 500 μM N-acetylcysteine resulted in a more reducing intracellular redox state and a significant decrease in cell invasive ability. The decrease in PC3 cell invasion induced by these conditions correlated with a decrease in MMP activity. Our studies demonstrated that an extracellular redox state that was more reducing than a physiologic microenvironment redox state increased PC3 cancer cell invasive ability, while an intracellular redox environmental that was more reducing than an intracellular physiologic redox state inhibited PC3 cell invasive ability.
GENDER HORMONES AND THE PROGRESSION OF EXPERIMENTAL POLYCYSTIC KIDNEY DISEASE

Gender hormones and the progression of experimental polycystic kidney disease. Background Male gender is a risk factor for progression of autosomal-dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD), clinically and in the Han:SPRD rat model. Orchiectomy limits progression, but mechanisms of the detrimental effect of androgen, and/or beneficial effects of estrogen, are not known. This protocol tested the hypothesis that male gender (intact androgen status) promotes progression, while female gender (intact estrogen status) is protective; and that these disease-modifying effects are due to changes in expression of known fibrotic mediators. Methods Studies were performed in male and female noncystic control (+/+) and cystic (+/-) rats subjected to orchiectomy, ovariectomy, or sham operation. At 12 weeks of age, renal function was measured. Blood and kidneys were taken for measurement of plasma and renal renin, endothelin (ET-1), endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), using biochemical, protein expression, and immunohistochemical methods. Results Cystic male rats exhibited significantly reduced glomerular filtration (GFR) and effective renal plasma flow (ERPF) rates, with suppression of plasma and renal renin, up-regulation of renal ET-1 and eNOS, and down-regulation of renal VEGF expression. Orchiectomy attenuated the fall in GFR and ERPF, while numerically limiting changes in eNOS and VEGF. Female rats exhibited less cystic growth, with normal renin status, lesser elevation of renal ET-1, and proportionately lesser changes in VEGF and eNOS. Ovariectomy led to higher blood pressure and reduced GFR and ERPF, with a trend toward upregulation of ET-1, and significant down-regulation of VEGF and eNOS. Conclusion Female gender is protective, but ovariectomy attenuates the protective effect of female gender, in association with changes in renal expression of ET-1, VEGF, and eNOS. The accelerated disease in male rats can be attenuated by orchiectomy and consequent changes in expression of disease mediators.
ATHENA: Automatic text height extraction for the analysis of old handwritten manuscripts

A massive digital acquisition of huge sets of deteriorating historical documents is mandatory due to their value and delicacy. The study and the browsing of such digital libraries is becoming crucial for scholars in the Cultural Heritage field, but it requires automatic tools for analyzing and indexing those dataset items. We present here a layout analysis method to perform automatic text height estimation, without the need of any kind of manual intervention and user defined parameters. It proves to be a robust technique in the case of very noisy and damaged handwritten manuscripts. The effectiveness of the method is demonstrated on a huge heterogeneous corpus of medieval manuscripts, with different writing styles, and affected by other uncontrollable factors, such as ink bleed-through, background noise, and overtyping text lines.
Glassy-carbon amperometric transducers as electrochemical detectors in liquid chromatography The influence of oxygen

Abstract The electrochemical behaviour of oxygen on glassy-carbon electrodes and the suitability of this electrode material for electroreduction of organic compounds have been investigated. The observed oxygen overpotential on a glassy-carbon electrode was more negative than that on an amalgamated gold electrode, thus allowing the determination of easily reducible compounds such as polynitro-aromatics and quinones without the need for exhaustive removal of dissolved oxygen. The detection limits (3σ) were about 0.2, 0.8, and 2.5 pmole for polynitro-aromatics, mononitro—aromatics and quinones, respectively. Though the glassy-carbon material has a negative-potential limit about 250 mV more positive than that for the amalgamated gold electrode, and requires a longer equilibration time before use, it is more convenient for routine use.
A NINETEENTH-CENTURY MAN

his is a difficult column for me to write, but one that I very much want to write. It is a memorial to my husband, Robert Hendrick, who died on August 3rd, and whom I loved for his intelligence and wit. There was also a physical side to our relationship-I don't want you to think that it was all about the mind, but since I am writing for biologists, I don't think I have to go into that. What I do want to describe instead is the intellectual life we built around our chosen fields of history and biology. When we got together 23 years ago, I knew painfully little about European history and Bob knew painfully little about biology. Over the years, we didn't become experts in each other's fields, but we did develop an appreciation for them. We learned from each other and we found ourselves moving closer to the border between science and history. In other words, we became what could be called an interdisciplinary couple.
Expression of Cellular FLIP by B Cells Is Required for Their Participation in an Immune Response

High levels of the Fas-signaling antagonist cellular FLIP (cFLIP) in germinal center (GC) B cells suggests an important role for this factor during this stage of the T cell-dependent B cell immune response. To test this idea, we used mice with B cell-specific deletion of a floxed cFLIP allele. Although deletion of cFLIP did not alter their primary development, participation of cFLIP-deficient B cells in the immune response was severely perturbed. Using previously characterized IgH locus-targeted BCR transgenic mice, we showed that adoptively transferred cFLIP-deficient follicular B cells do not effectively participate in the GC response in wild-type hosts. However, this failure was accompanied by severe defects in the initial activation and proliferation of these B cells in vivo. In addition, immunization of mice with B cell-specific cFLIP deletion resulted in selective recruitment into GCs and Ab-forming cell responses of B cells that had not deleted the floxed cFLIP allele. Together, these findings demonstrate that expression of cFLIP is a prerequisite for participation of B cells in all stages of Ag-driven immune responses.
Implications of Current Research for the Administration and Leadership of Preschool Programs

Current research in programs for preschool handicapped children and their families was reviewed under five administrative roles---program manager, policy planner, monitor-evaluator, advocate, and trainer-facilitator. Implications for administrators include activities/skill building in affective development, family services, technology, policy analysis, educational finance, advocacy, program evaluation/research, training, and interaction with staff. Consortium arrangements and technology are suggested as two means to respond to some of the implications. Additional investigation is recommended in effective leadership behavior with administrators of preschool programs and other areas.
Bovine Tooth-derived Bone Morphogenetic Protein

Eight groups of dental tissues were mechanically dissected from the mandibles of one-year-old steers; they were then defatted and decalcified in HCI. The noncollagenous proteins were extracted with various solvents from collections of tissue and bio-assayed for osteo-inductive activity. Collectively, the hard tissue (dentin, enamel, and cementum) noncollagenous proteins were fractionated by molecular sieve chromatography, hydroxyapatite affinity chromatography, and ion exchange chromatography. Osteo-inductive activity of each protein fraction was determined by implantation in the quadriceps muscle pouch of mice. The quantity of bone was measured by computerized image analysis. From 71% to 83% of 41 implants of dental hard tissues induced bone formation. The quantity of bone was greater from unerupted than from erupted teeth. Dental soft tissues that had no osteo-inductive activity were rich in a 14-kDa protein, presumably matrix gamma-carboxyglutamic acid-rich proteins. Proteins with Mr of from 15 to 28 k...
Reproductive health education and sexual risk among high-risk female adolescents and young adults.

Abstract Study Objective The objective of this study was to explore the associations of sources, content, and timing of reproductive health education with cognitive and behavioral sexual risk in a sample of high-risk female adolescents and young adults. Design Female adolescents and young adults (n = 113, median age 17 years) receiving treatment for a sexually transmitted disease (STD) reported sources of reproductive health education, topics covered, and when first formal education occurred. Dependent variables included sexual risk knowledge; condom attitudes, negotiation skills, and use (consistent and at last sex); and number of sexual partners. Results Most participants reported receiving reproductive health education from both parental (80%) and formal sources (92%). Parents discussed the menstrual cycle (94%) more frequently than other sex education topics, while formal sources focused most on teaching about STDs (91%). Although median age of first formal instruction was 12 years, 26% of girls received their first formal education during or after the year they initiated coitus. Girls with a parental source of education and those receiving formal instruction on pregnancy reported greater ability to negotiate condom use. Girls who received education later in relation to the onset of sexual activity and those with a parental source of education reported more sexual partners. Conclusions Early reproductive health education and education from both parental and formal sources is associated with reduced sexual risk among high-risk adolescent girls. Interestingly, receiving parental education is also associated with more sexual partners, suggesting that parental educational efforts may be reactive to their daughters' increasing sexual risk behavior. Future research should examine multiple sources of reproductive health education and the timing of education from these sources to enhance understanding the dynamic interactions between reproductive health education and adolescent sexual risk.
[-2]Proenzyme Prostate Specific Antigen is More Accurate Than Total and Free Prostate Specific Antigen in Differentiating Prostate Cancer From Benign Disease in a Prospective Prostate Cancer Screening Study

Purpose: Due to the limited specificity of prostate specific antigen for prostate cancer screening, there is an ongoing search for adjunctive biomarkers. Retrospective studies have suggested that an isoform of proenzyme prostate specific antigen called [-2]proenzyme prostate specific antigen may enhance the specificity of prostate specific antigen based screening. We examined the usefulness of this isoform in a prospective prostate cancer screening study.Materials and Methods: From a population of 2,034 men undergoing prostate cancer screening we examined the relationship between the measurement of the [-2]isoform of proenzyme prostate specific antigen (p2PSA) and prostate cancer detection. Specifically we compared the usefulness of total prostate specific antigen, the ratio of free-to-total prostate specific antigen, the ratio of p2PSA-to-free prostate specific antigen, and a formula combining prostate specific antigen, free prostate specific antigen and p2PSA (the Beckman Coulter prostate health index o...
Hillocks on half-micron aluminum lines

A new regime of hillock growth has been observed in patterned Al 98.5 W.% Si 1.0 Wt.% -Cuo 0.5 wt.% films. The “surface” hillock and “side” hillock, which have been seen previously, form on patterned metal lines having linewidths greater than the larger Al alloy grain sizes (∼3 μm). None is seen on the fabricated lines having linewidths between 0.9 and 2 μm where long-range grain boundary diffusion cannot occur because of its bamboo structure. However, a new type of hillock, the “line hillock”, occurs in structures having linewidths of 0.6 μm. The presence of this last type of hillock is inconsistent with the current understanding of hillock formation and may present severe restrictions on the down-sizing of ultra–large–scale integrated devices.
Efficient and Scalable Nonlinear Multiple Kernel Aggregation Using the Choquet Integral

Previously, we investigated the definition and applicability of the fuzzy integral (FI) for nonlinear multiple kernel (MK) aggregation in pattern recognition. Kernel theory provides an elegant way to map multi-source heterogeneous data into a combined homogeneous (implicit) space in which aggregation can be carried out. The focus of our initial work was the Choquet FI, a per-matrix sorting based on the quality of a base learner and learning was restricted to the Sugeno λ-fuzzy measure (FM). Herein, we investigate what representations of FMs and FIs are valid and ideal for nonlinear MK aggregation. We also discuss the benefit of our approach over the linear convex sum MK formulation in machine learning. Furthermore, we study the Mobius transform and k-additive integral for scalable MK learning (MKL). Last, we discuss an extension to our genetic algorithm (GA) based MKL algorithm, called FIGA, with respect to a combination of multiple light weight FMs and FIs.
Warranty Cost Analyses Using Quasi-Renewal Processes for Multicomponent Systems

In this paper, warranty cost models are presented based on the quasi-renewal processes and exponential distribution. Cost analyses are conducted for various systems under the basic assumption that a repair service is imperfect. We develop warranty cost models, reliability, and other measures for several systems, including multicomponent systems. This paper focuses on warranty cost analysis, including repairable products with a given warranty period considering conditional probabilities and renewal theory. The exponential distribution is used to analyze and obtain the warranty cost. Numerical examples are discussed to demonstrate the applicability of the methodology derived in this paper.
Beliefs in Emotional Residue in Japan and the United States

Japanese participants endorsed a belief in emotional residue (i.e., emotions lingering in a physical space can affect a new person entering it) more strongly than Americans when the question was posed with explicit items. However, both Japanese and Americans expressed the belief when it was measured with indirect, scenario-based questions. Also, both groups thought that negative emotional residues would decay over time. We discuss future research directions.
Swelling of Parylene C

Equilibrium swelling of polychloro-p-xylylene vapor deposited film in selected solvents at 293 K (20 ° C) was used to estimate the cohesion pa rameters of the polymer. Swell data gave predicted cohesion values of 18 MPa1/2 for the dispersive cohesion parameter, 8 MPa1/2 for the polar cohesion parame ter, 0 MPa1/2 for the hydrogen bonding parameter, and 21 MPa1/2 for the total cohesion parameter of the polymer. A maximum swell of 3.1% was observed with O -dichlorobenzene as the solvent.