cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Induction of sesquiterpene cyclase and suppression of squalene synthetase activity in elicitor-treated or fungal-infected potato tuber tissue

Abstract Arachidonic acid, a fungal elicitor from Phytophthora infestans , caused a 10-fold increase in sesquiterpene cyclase activity in potato tuber discs 36 h after application as compared to discs treated with water, whereas squalene synthetase activity increased 10-fold in discs treated with water 48 h after slicing. Arachidonic acid suppressed squalene synthetase activity in wounded potato tuber tissue 6 h after application, and the enzyme's activity remained low for the next 78 h. A similar elicitation of sesquiterpene cyclase activity and suppression of squalene synthetase activity was observed after inoculation with Helminthosporium carbonum , a non-pathogen of potato. There was a similar time course of induction of sesquiterpene cyclase activity after inoculation with either a compatible or incompatible race of Phytophthora infestans , whereas marked suppression of squalene synthetase activity occurred later after inoculation with a compatible race of P. infestans as compared to that which occurred after inoculation with an incompatible race. These results support the concept of co-ordinated regulation of sesquiterpene cyclase and squalene synthetase in potato during the elicitation of sesquiterpenoid phytoalexin accumulation.
Passive (Amyloid-β) Immunotherapy Attenuates Monoaminergic Axonal Degeneration in the AβPPswe/PS1dE9 Mice

The role of amyloid-β (Aβ in the neurodegeneration of Alzheimer's disease remains controversial, to a large extent because of the lack of robust neurodegeneration in mouse models of AD. To address this question, we examined the effects of Aβ antibodies in the recently described monoaminergic (MAergic) axonal degeneration in AβPPswe/PS1dE9 mice. To determine if Aβ accumulation is directly involved in degeneration of MAergic axons, we examined the effects of passive anti-Aβ antibody (7B6) administration on Aβ pathology and MAergic degeneration in AβPPswe/PS1dE9 mice. Injections of monoclonal antibody (mAb) 7B6 into mice (6 to 9 months of age) resulted in a modest reduction of Aβ load in the brains of AβPPswe/PS1dE9 mice. In addition, 7B6 treated AβPPswe/PS1dE9 mice had significantly higher densities of MAergic axons in both cortex and in hippocampus as compared to untreated mutant mice. For example, 7B6 treated mice showed almost 2-fold greater densities of serotonergic (5-HT) axons in the cortex compared to saline treated mice. Similar findings were observed in the catecholaminergic (TH) axons. Our results demonstrate that lowering of Aβ levels via passive Aβ immunotherapy ameliorates ongoing degenerative processes, supporting a causal link between Aβ and neurodegeneration.
Optimal Trajectory Generation and Design Trades for Hypersonic Vehicles

A method for determining the optimum trajectory flight path for an air-breathing single-stage-to-orbit vehicle is presented. A calculus of variations direct method of steepest descent is employed to determine angle-of-attack, bank angle, and engine power setting time histories. Trajectory profiles resulting from using both nominal and off-nominal vehicle system parameters and environmental conditions are addressed. Design and/or control trades which will become apparent from trajectory study results are identified. Considerations affecting the application of analysis algorithm features to the on-board guidance strategy are also discussed.
A, B, and C characterization of gated FEAs for RF device performance

Figures of merit related to electron emission from field emission arrays (FEAs) are dependent upon the Fowler-Nordheim equation, I/sub FN/=AV/sub g//sup 2/ exp(-B/V/sub g/), where the current is a function of the gate potential V/sub g/. A and B may be determined from a seminumerical algorithm and can be determined from a static analysis; the capacitance, C, is fundamentally related to the ability to modulate FEAs for RF power generation. Application of a model that corresponds to the actual geometry of a gated field emitter is expected to provide an accurate comparison with experimentally measured quantities. In this paper an axially symmetric unit cell model consisting of an anode, a gate with hole, and a base plane with a vertical emitter tip protruding is analyzed using boundary element discretization.
Aspirin chemoprevention in patients with increased risk for colorectal cancer : a cost-effectiveness analysis

Summary Background Aspirin chemoprevention combined with colonoscopy screening is not cost-effective for the general population. However, the cost-effectiveness of aspirin in individuals with prior adenoma resection has not been evaluated. Aim To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of aspirin chemoprevention alone and in combination with colonoscopy surveillance in patients with prior adenoma resection. Methods A model of the natural history of individuals with a history of endoscopic polypectomy was constructed. Four strategies were compared: (i) no intervention, (ii) routine colonoscopy surveillance, (iii) aspirin chemoprevention alone, and (iv) aspirin therapy combined with colonoscopy. Results Compared with no intervention, all other strategies were more costly but were associated with gains in years of life saved. Aspirin chemoprevention alone was associated with a gain of 0.0092 years, whereas routine colonoscopic surveillance and combination strategy were associated with further gains in years of life saved (0.0124 and 0.0138 years, respectively). Compared with no intervention, the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of routine colonoscopy surveillance was $78 226 per year of life saved, and the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of combination aspirin and colonoscopy was $60 942 per year of life saved. Conclusion Aspirin chemoprevention combined with colonoscopic surveillance in post-polypectomy patients may be considered a cost-effective strategy.
Hyperfine Fields in Fe-Ni-X Alloys and their Application to a Study of Tempering of 9Ni Steel

Hyperfine magnetic field perturbations due to the solutes in Fe-Ni-X alloys were systematized, and interpreted with a model of linear response of hyperfine magnetic fields to magnetic moments. The effects of solutes on the iron-57 hyperfine magnetic field were used for chemical analysis of the austenite formed in 9Ni steel during tempering. Diffusion kinetics of the nickel and X solutes were found to play an important role in the formation of the austenite particles.
Comparing the functioning of youth and adult partnerships for health promotion

Youth partnerships are a promising but understudied strategy for prevention and health promotion. Specifically, little is known about how the functioning of youth partnerships differs from that of adult partnerships. Accordingly, this study compared the functioning of youth partnerships with that of adult partnerships. Several aspects of partnership functioning, including leadership, task focus, cohesion, participation costs and benefits, and community support, were examined. Standardized partnership functioning surveys were administered to participants in three smoke-free youth coalitions (n = 44; 45 % female; 43 % non-Hispanic white; mean age = 13) and in 53 Communities That Care adult coalitions (n = 673; 69 % female; 88 % non-Hispanic white; mean age = 49). Multilevel regression analyses showed that most aspects of partnership functioning did not differ significantly between youth and adult partnerships. These findings are encouraging given the success of the adult partnerships in reducing community-level rates of substance use and delinquency. Although youth partnership functioning appears to be strong enough to support effective prevention strategies, youth partnerships faced substantially more participation difficulties than adult partnerships. Strategies that youth partnerships can use to manage these challenges, such as creative scheduling and increasing opportunities for youth to help others directly, are discussed.
Abl Kinases Regulate Autophagy by Promoting the Trafficking and Function of Lysosomal Components

Autophagy is a lysosome-dependent degradative pathway that regulates the turnover of intracellular organelles, parasites, and long-lived proteins. Deregulation of autophagy results in a variety of pathological conditions, but little is known regarding the mechanisms that link normal cellular and pathological signals to the regulation of distinct stages in the autophagy pathway. Here we uncover a novel role for the Abl family kinases in the regulation of the late stages of autophagy. Inhibition, depletion, or knockout of of the Abl family kinases, Abl and Arg, resulted in a dramatic reduction in the intracellular activities of the lysosomal glycosidases α-galactosidase, α-mannosidase and neuraminidase. Inhibition of Abl kinases also reduced the processing of the precursor forms of cathepsin D and cathepsin L to their mature, lysosomal forms, which coincided with the impaired turnover of long-lived cytosolic proteins and accumulation of autophagosomes. Furthermore, defective lysosomal degradation of long-lived proteins in the absence of Abl kinase signaling was accompanied by a perinuclear redistribution of lysosomes and increased glycosylation and stability of lysosome-associated membrane proteins, which are known to be substrates for lysosomal enzymes and play a role in regulating lysosome mobility. Our findings reveal a role for Abl kinases in the regulation of late-stage autophagy and have important implications for therapies that employ pharmacological inhibitors of the Abl kinases.
Uranium release from sediment to groundwater: influence of water chemistry and insights into release mechanisms.

Uranium (U) contamination in groundwater often results from natural geochemical processes such as mineral dissolution and desorption of adsorbed U from mineral surface. Although U adsorption and U mineral dissolution have been extensively studied, current knowledge of minerals and water chemistry conditions that control U release in uncontaminated soil and aquifers is still limited. Identification of these minerals and the knowledge of how water chemistry conditions influence U release is critical to better understand, predict, and manage geogenic U contamination in soil and groundwater. The objective of this study is to determine the extent and mechanisms of U release from a heterogeneous natural sediment under water chemistry conditions relevant to natural soil water and groundwater. A sediment sample was collected and characterized by XRD, SEM-EDX and extraction methods, and examined using laboratory leaching experiments. Our results show that Fe–Mn (oxy)hydroxides and silicate minerals are the major U hosting minerals, and a substantial fraction of U exists as adsorbed ions on minerals. We also found that U release is controlled by a number of interactive processes including dissolution of U-bearing minerals, U desorption from mineral surface, formation of aqueous U complexes, and reductive precipitation of U. Results from this study shed light on the important geochemical reactions that need be considered for developing a conceptual model that predicts U contamination in subsurface environment.
Pharmacokinetics of intravenous and subcutaneous cefovecin in alpacas

The purpose of this study was to determine the pharmacokinetics of cefovecin after intravenous and subcutaneous dose of 8 mg/kg to alpacas. Bacterial infections requiring long-term antibiotic therapy such as neonatal bacteremia, pneumonia, peritonitis, dental, and uterine infections are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in this species. However, few antimicrobials have been evaluated and proven to have favorable pharmacokinetics for therapeutic use. Most antimicrobials that are currently used require daily injections for many days. Cefovecin is a long-acting cephalosporin that is formulated for subcutaneous administration, and its long-elimination half-life allows for 14-day dosing intervals in dogs and cats. The properties of cefovecin may be advantageous for medical treatment of camelids due to its broad spectrum, route of administration, and long duration of activity. Pharmacokinetic evaluation of antimicrobial drugs in camelids is essential for the proper treatment and prevention of bacterial disease, and to minimize development of antibiotic resistant bacterial strains due to inadequate antibiotic concentrations. Cefovecin mean half-life, volume of distribution at steady-state, and clearance after intravenous administration were 10.3 h, 86 mL/kg, and 7.07 mL·h/kg. The bioavailability was 143%, while half-life, C(max), and T(max) were 16.9 h, 108 μg/mL, and 2.8 h following subcutaneous administration. In the absence of additional microbial susceptibility data for alpaca pathogens, the current cefovecin dosage regimen prescribed for dogs (8 mg/kg SC every 14 days) may need to be optimized for the treatment of infections in this species.
Dietary arginine and lysine in Large White toms. 1. Increasing arginine:lysine ratios does not improve performance when lysine levels are adequate

A study was conducted utilizing two strains of male Large White turkeys (BUT Big 6 and Nicholas 700) to determine the effects of increasing Arg:Lys ratios on live performance and carcass composition. Diets were formulated to provide 100, 110, and 120% of NRC (1994) Lys levels, adjusted for dietary energy level, with Arg:Lys ratios of 1.0:1, 1.1:1, 1.2:1, and 1.3:1 in a 3 x 4 factorial arrangement. Eight pens of 15 poults (four pens of each strain) were fed each of the 12 test diets for an 18-wk period. Diets were changed at 3-wk intervals rather than the 4-wk interval suggested by NRC. The results of this study suggest that the Arg and Lys levels suggested by the NRC (1994) are not sufficient when diets are fed on 3-wk intervals, rather than the 4-wk intervals suggested by NRC. This conclusion is in agreement with the studies of Waldroup et al. (1997b). Increasing Arg:Lys ratios improved performance of turkeys only when the diets contained insufficient amounts of Arg in association with low levels of Lys. Increasing Arg:Lys ratios when diets contained sufficient amounts of these two amino acids was without benefit, in contrast to the report of Brake et al. (1994). Turkeys of the BUT Big 6 strain appeared to be more sensitive to marginal deficiencies of Lys and Arg than did turkeys of Nicholas 700 strain.
Learning something from nothing: Leveraging implicit human feedback strategies

In order to be useful in real-world situations, it is critical to allow non-technical users to train robots. Existing work has considered the problem of a robot or virtual agent learning behaviors from evaluative feedback provided by a human trainer. That work, however, has treated feedback as a numeric reward that the agent seeks to maximize, and has assumed that all trainers will provide feedback in the same way when teaching the same behavior. We report the results of a series of user studies that indicate human trainers use a variety of approaches to providing feedback in practice, which we describe as different “training strategies.” For example, users may not always give explicit feedback in response to an action, and may be more likely to provide explicit reward than explicit punishment, or vice versa. If the trainer is consistent in their strategy, then it may be possible to infer knowledge about the desired behavior from cases where no explicit feedback is provided. We discuss a probabilistic model of human-provided feedback that can be used to classify these different training strategies based on when the trainer chooses to provide explicit reward and/or explicit punishment, and when they choose to provide no feedback. Additionally, we investigate how training strategies may change in response to the appearance of the learning agent. Ultimately, based on this work, we argue that learning agents designed to understand and adapt to different users' training strategies will allow more efficient and intuitive learning experiences.
Location of hexane in lipid bilayers determined by neutron diffraction

Knowledge of the interactions of alkanes and other small hydrophobic molecules dissolved in lipid bilayers is important for understanding lipid–protein interactions in membranes1, the microscopic properties of solutions2,3 and the mechanism of anaesthesia4–6. An essential element for describing these interactions is the distribution of the molecules across the thickness of the bilayer. Studies of black lipid films1,2,7–9 strongly suggest that dissolved alkanes are located primarily in the centre of the bilayer. Recent X-ray and neutron diffraction and thermodynamic measurements on lipid dispersions and oriented lipid multilayers are consistent with this view10–12. We present here the first direct evidence for this hypothesis obtained from neutron diffraction studies of oriented dioleoyl lecithin (DOL) multilayers containing deuterated hexane introduced using the vapour phase. The hexane is found mainly in a zone 10 A wide in the centre of the bilayer. We have also estimated the amount of hexane in the bilayers and the free energy of transfer from pure hexane to bilayer. Our numbers are considerably different from those reported by Simon et al.13 for the interaction of hexane with DOL liposomes. The differences may be due to difference in water activity and bilayer curvature14.
Absorption and conjugation of metyrapone during diphenylhydantoin therapy: mechanism of the abnormal response to oral metyrapone.

Gastrointestinal absorption and hepatic metabolism of metyrapone were studied in rats treated chronically with oral Dilantin in an attempt to find the explanation for the abnormal metyrapone response in patients treated with this drug. Gastrointestinal absorption of metyrapone was not decreased in Dilantin treated rats. Conjugation of metyrapone with glucuronic acid was enhanced in Dilantin treated animals, most likely as a consequence of induction of liver microsomal enzymes. Similar results were obtained in peripheral venous blood of Dilantin treated humans. We propose that the acceleration of the hepatic metabolism of metyrapone results in lower levels of unconjugated metyrapone in blood, less inhibition of 11β-hydroxylase, less ACTH secretion, and subnormal increases in plasma deoxycortisol and urinary 17-OHCS. (Endocrinology 86: 328, 1970)
Interaction of physical fields in the acoustomagnetic effect

Experimental studies of the acoustomagnetic effect in a magnetic fluid are performed. The linear sizes of magnetic nanoparticles of the dispersed phase are determined by the acoustogranulometric method. The mean deviation of the diameters of magnetic nanoparticles obtained at eight fixed frequencies in the range of 18–65 kHz from their average values 〈dmax〉 = 16 nm and 〈dmax〉 = 9 nm is 4.4%. These results are in satisfactory agreement with the results obtained by the magnetorelaxometry method for magnetite nanoparticles. On the basis of experimental data, in the framework of the concentrational model, interaction between the elastic and thermal fields and between the magnetic and dynamic demagnetizing fields in the acoustomagnetic effect is studied. The conclusions of the model theory are confirmed by the experimental results.
Optimizing the second-order optical nonlinearities of organic molecules: asymmetric cyanines and highly polarized polyenes

e recently reported that there is an optimal combination of donor and acceptor strengths for a given molecular length and bridge structure that maximizes (beta) . For this combination, there is the correct degree of bond length alternation and asymmetry in the molecule. Our recent findings suggest that molecules that can be viewed as asymmetric cyanines with relatively small amounts of bond length alternation are nearly optimal. In this manner, we have identified molecules with nonlinearities many times that of conventional chromophores for a given length. In this paper, we will present a new computational analysis that allows the correlation of bond length alternation with hyperpolarizabilities and will present EFISH data on simple donor-acceptor polyene chromophores.
Indirect Performance Sensing for On-Chip Self-Healing of Analog and RF Circuits

The advent of the nanoscale integrated circuit (IC) technology makes high performance analog and RF circuits increasingly susceptible to large-scale process variations. On-chip self-healing has been proposed as a promising remedy to address the variability issue. The key idea of on-chip self-healing is to adaptively adjust a set of on-chip tuning knobs (e.g., bias voltage) in order to satisfy all performance specifications. One major challenge with on-chip self-healing is to efficiently implement on-chip sensors to accurately measure various analog and RF performance metrics. In this paper, we propose a novel indirect performance sensing technique to facilitate inexpensive-yet-accurate on-chip performance measurement. Towards this goal, several advanced statistical algorithms (i.e., sparse regression and Bayesian inference) are adopted from the statistics community. A 25 GHz differential Colpitts voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) designed in a 32 nm CMOS SOI process is used to validate the proposed indirect performance sensing and self-healing methodology. Our silicon measurement results demonstrate that the parametric yield of the VCO is significantly improved for a wafer after the proposed self-healing is applied.
GROα/KC, a chemokine receptor CXCR2 ligand, can be a potent trigger for neuronal ERK1/2 and PI-3 kinase pathways and for tau hyperphosphorylation—a role in Alzheimer's disease?

Abstract Inflammation has been implicated in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other neurodegenerative diseases. We have examined the potential role of some chemokine/chemokine receptors in this process. It is known that CXCR2 is a strongly expressed chemokine receptor on neurons and is strongly upregulated in AD in a subpopulation of neuritic plaques. Here, we show that one of the CXCR2 ligand GROα/KC can be a potent trigger for the ERK1/2 and PI-3 kinase pathways, as well as tau hyperphosphorylation in the mouse primary cortical neurons. GROα immunoreactivity can be detected in a subpopulation of neurons in normal and AD. Therefore, the CXCR2–ligand pair may have a potent pathophysiological role in neurodegenerative diseases.
Teaching empirical performance analysis of parallel programs

Performance is a central issue in parallel computing. In this paper, we describe our approach to teaching advanced undergraduates and graduate students about the fundamentals of measuring and analyzing the performance of programs running on a variety of parallel machines. This approach can be applied to virtually any type of parallel machine, as well as to parallel program simulators. Although performance analysis can serve many purposes, we focus on the needs of the parallel programmer: understanding the behavior of algorithms and programs, and making informed choices among them.
The Conversation Argument for Actual Intentionalism

Proponents of actual intentionalism hold that an author’s actual intentions should constrain the proper interpretation of his or her works. If, for example, we have good reason to think Proust intends his character Marcel to set out to write a different novel from In Search of Lost Time itself, then that is how we should interpret the text. After decades of being denigrated as the ‘intentional fallacy’, actual intentionalism has enjoyed a renaissance in philosophical aesthetics in recent years, thanks in large part to the image of the conversation that has been enlisted in its favour: when we neglect the author’s intended construal of the text and opt instead for some clever alternative interpretation of our own, we are depriving ourselves of the chance to engage in a conversation (in some metaphorical sense) with this author—and thus are losing the chance (again, in some metaphorical sense) to commune with another human being. In this paper I will raise doubts about whether this appeal to conversation actually helps the actual intentionalist’s case. When we reflect on the essentially interactive nature of any conversation worthy of that name, we see that this conversation metaphor will not deliver the restrictive lesson of actual intentionalism. In fact, it militates against it.
Statistical analysis of cytochrome P4501A biomarker measurements in fish

Induction of the cytochrome P4501A (CYP1A) enzyme system in fish is a common biomarker of exposure to aromatic hydrocarbons. Induction of CYP1A can be measured at a number of steps in the transcription—translation—functional protein pathway using a variety of techniques. The present study examined the range of these measurements from 94 published papers in an attempt to examine the statistical characteristics of each method. Cytochrome P4501A induction, as measured by catalytic ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) activity, protein levels (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, Western blot analysis, and immunohistochemistry), and mRNA levels (Northern blot analysis and reverse transcription—polymerase chain reaction), was analyzed. When possible, the variance structure, effect size determination, and dose—response modeling of each method of measurement in the laboratory and field were examined. Conclusions from this analysis include: 1) Because of interlaboratory and interspecies variability, general end-point determinations will need to be defined in terms of the statistically detectable fold-change of measurements relative to control or reference values, and 2) fold-change in EROD activity provides the most robust measure of the dose responsiveness of aromatic hydrocarbons within specific chemical classes (e.g., polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons). The relationship between the ability to measure statistical differences in induction level and the biological significance of those measurements has yet to be defined. To utilize these biomarkers in a risk assessment context, this relationship must be addressed at the scientific and management levels.
Dynamic models and cross-sectional data: Estimation of dynamic parameters in cross-sectional data

Abstract Serious difficulties in the interpretation of structural coefficients may arise when a static, cross-sectional model is applied to data generated by a dynamic process. One alternative is to collect data at several points in time, and specify the dynamic features that are proposed to exist. Another alternative is discussed here. Overidentifying restrictions in a static simultaneous equation system may, under certain conditions, be used to identify dynamic parameters (autoregression and autocorrelation coefficients) when data are available at only one point in time.
Fitting of Time Series Models to Forecast Streamflow and Groundwater Using Simulated Data from Swat

Time series models provide a valuable tool for simulation and forecasting hydrologic variables. However, time series models require fitting long series of records. This study explores the applicability of soil water assessment tool SWAT, a deterministic hydro- logic model, to generate long data series to fit autoregressive and autoregressive moving average models, in order to perform short-term forecasting of monthly streamflow and groundwater table depth in areas that lack long historical records. SWAT performed well in reproducing the statistical structure of the variables making it possible to fit time series models to simulated series. Time series models fitted to SWAT simulated data and to historical records showed a similar but poor performance to forecast monthly streamflow in all watersheds. However, time series fitted to SWAT data for groundwater table depth showed good performance for forecasting this variable with correlation coefficients between 0.58 to 0.70 and Nash-Sutcliffe model efficiencies from 0.22 to 0.46 in the validation period.
Protein-protein Interactoins During Filamentous Phage Assembly

Abstract Filamentous phage proteins pI and PIV are morphogenetic proteins required for phage assembly but not part of the virion. Neither pI nor pIV from the related phages fl and IKe can substitute for its equivalent in the other phage. When the two proteins are supplied as pairs, however, partial restoration of heterologous phage assembly occurs. This observation strongly suggests that the two proteins interact. A selection for revertants of a temperature sensitive mutant of fl gene IV resulted in the isolation of a suppressor mutation in gene I. This suppressor is allele specific, and thus supports the hypothesis that pI and pIV interact. A selection for IKe phage that can efficiently utilize paired pI and pIV from fl led to the isolation of a phage with a mutation in gene VIII, which encodes the major coat protein of the virus. Analysis of the system suggests that it is pI that interacts with both pIV and pVIII. Thus the process by which filamentous phage are concomitantly assembled and secreted across the cell membranes is likely to involve a series of protein-protein interactions that are accessible to genetic analysis.
Imaging: Spot the hotspot.

Plasmonic hotspots — nanometre-sized crevices that permit the detection of single molecules — are too small to be imaged with conventional microscopes. They can now be probed using super-resolution fluorescence microscopy. See Letter p.385 It is well known that hotspots can appear on rough metallic surfaces exposed to light, where the incident light is concentrated on the nanometre scale to produce an intense electromagnetic field. This 'surface enhancement' effect can be used, for example, to detect molecules, because weak fluorescence signals are strongly enhanced by the hotspots. Such hotspots are associated with localized electromagnetic modes, caused by the randomness of the surface texture, but the detailed profile of the local electromagnetic field is so far unknown. Cang et al. now describe an ingenious experiment that exploits the Brownian motion of single molecules to probe the local field. They succeed in imaging the fluorescence enhancement profile of single hotspots on the surface of aluminium thin-film and silver nanoparticle clusters with accuracy down to 1 nm, and find that the field distribution in a hotspot follows an exponential decay.
Beyond parental control and authoritarian parenting style: understanding Chinese parenting through the cultural notion of training

This study addresses a paradox in the literature involving the parenting style of Asians: Chinese parenting has often been described as "controlling" or "authoritarian". These styles of parenting have been found to be predictive of poor school achievement among European-Americans, and yet the Chinese are performing quite well in school. This study suggests that the concepts of authoritative and authoritarian are somewhat ethnocentric and do not capture the important features of Chinese child rearing, especially for explaining their school success. Immigrant Chinese and European-American mothers of preschool-aged children were administered standard measures of parental control and authoritative-authoritarian parenting style as well as Chinese child-rearing items involving the concept of "training." After controlling for their education, and their scores on the standard measures, the Chinese mothers were found to score significantly higher on the "training" ideologies. This "training" concept has important features, beyond the authoritarian concept, that may explain Chinese school success.
Equine cortical bone exhibits rising R-curve fracture mechanics

Previous studies of the fracture properties of cortical bone have suggested that the fracture toughness increases with crack length, which is indicative of rising R-curve behavior. Based on this indirect evidence and the similarity of bone to ceramic matrix composites, we hypothesized that bone would exhibit rising R-curve behavior in the transverse orientation and that the characteristics of the R-curves would be regionally dependent within the cortex due to variations in bone microstructure and toughening mechanisms. To test these hypotheses, we conducted R-curve experiments on specimens from equine third metacarpal bones using standard fracture mechanics testing methods. Compact type specimens from the dorsal and lateral regions in the middle of the diaphysis were oriented for crack propagation transverse to the longitudinal axis of the bone. The test results demonstrate that equine cortical bone exhibits rising R-curve behavior during transverse crack propagation as hypothesized. Statistical analyses of the crack growth initiation toughness, K0, the peak toughness, Kpeak, and the crack extension at peak toughness, deltaa, revealed significant regional differences in these characteristics. Specifically, the lateral cortex displayed higher crack growth initiation and peak toughnesses. The dorsal cortex exhibited greater crack extension at the peak of crack growth resistance. Scanning electron microscopy revealed osteon pullout on fracture surfaces from the dorsal cortex and but not in the lateral cortex. Taken together, the significant differences in R-curves and the SEM fractography indicate that the fracture mechanisms acting in equine cortical bone are regionally dependent.
Synthesis and characterization of PEG-based ether-anhydride terpolymers: Novel polymers for controlled drug delivery

A series of biodegradable poly(ether−anhydrides) composed of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), sebacic acid (SA), and 1,3-bis(carboxyphenoxy)propane (CPP) were synthesized for use in advanced drug delivery applications. PEG (Mn = 8000 Da) was incorporated to reduce polymeric particle clearance rates by the immune system and improve particle resuspension and aerosolization efficiencies. CPP and SA were selected to render the polymer insoluble in water and allow control over polymer degradation and drug release rates. In particular, CPP incorporation caused a significant decrease in polymer degradation rates and release kinetics of model drugs incorporated into poly(ether−anhydride) microparticles. Terpolymers were synthesized with weight-average molecular weights over 65 kDa without catalyst. The first thermal transition in polymers containing ≤10 wt % PEG was ∼80 °C (well above typical storage conditions and body temperature), and there was no evidence of a glass transition (−100 to 200 °C). Several of the pol...
EFFECTS OF SIBUTRAMINE ON RESTING METABOLIC RATE AND WEIGHT LOSS IN OVERWEIGHT WOMEN

Sibutramine, a monoamine re-uptake inhibitor, has recently been approved by the Food and Drug Administration as a weight loss agent. Sibutramine lowers bodyweight in rodents by reducing energy intake and increasing energy expenditure. Sibutramine facilitates weight loss in human subjects, but it is not clear whether it acts on energy intake, energy expenditure, or both. The present study was a randomized clinical trial designed to assess the effects of sibutramine (at 10 or 30 mg/day) on body weight and resting metabolic rate (RMR). Forty-four overweight women were randomized to 1) placebo (n=15); 2) sibutramine at 10 mg/day (n=15) or, 3) sibutramine at 30 mg/day (n=14). All subjects were instructed to consume a 1200 kcal/day diet for 8 weeks while receiving drug or placebo. RMR was assessed by indirect calorimetry at baseline, at 3 hours after the first dose of drug (or placebo), and at the end of the 8-week weight-loss period. Sibutramine reduced body weight-relative to placebo, but there was no difference between weight loss on the two sibutramine doses. No significant differences in RMR between sibutramine and placebo were seen, either 3-hour post dose or after the 8-week weight-loss period. After the weight loss period, all groups were taken off medication and kept weight stable for another 4 weeks. RMR was measured again and was not different among groups. That there was no change in RMR when sibutramine was stopped further suggests that the drug does not directly affect RMR. In summary, while sibutramine was shown to be an effective weight-loss agent over 8 weeks, we found no evidence that it increased RMR.
Defect centers in high purity hydride VPE indium phosphide

Abstract InP vapor phase epitaxial layers with net donor concentrations in the 8×1014 to 3×1016 cm-3 range have been reproducibly grown with the In/HCl/PH3/H2 reactant system. Room temperature electron mobilities varied from 1500 to 3500 cm2/V·s. Photoluminescence measurements at 77 K indicated transitions at 1.41, 1.37 and 1.33 eV in the high purity samples. The relative photoluminescence intensity ratio I(1.41)/I(1.37) depended upon epitaxial growth conditions. In some of the VPE layers, a PL transition with a peak at 1.19 eV was observed. Deep level transient spectroscopy measurements were performed on as-grown, doped and electron irradiated VPE material. The relationship between deep level spectra and residual impurities was examined.
Applying slender wing benefits to military aircraft

1Therefore, in keeping with the spirit of the Wright brothers research and design accomplishments, as well as the scope of this meeting, I have elected to review some of the aerodynamic research performed at the Langley Research Center related to the application of slender wing benefits in the design of high-speed military aircraft In the context of this paper, slender wing benefits refer primarily to the supersonic performance and leading edge vortex flow associated with very highly sweptback wings Following a review of some early slender wing research, the paper presents several case histories of Langley contributions to the development of aircraft incorporating slender wing benefits and then summarizes some vortex flow technology that may contribute to future aircraft
Numerical solutions of acoustic wave propagation problems using Euler computations

This paper reports solution procedures for problems arising from the study of engine inlet wave propagation. The first problem is the study of sound waves radiated from cylindrical inlets. The second one is a quasi-one-dimensional problem to study the effect of nonlinearities and the third one is the study of nonlinearities in two dimensions. In all three problems Euler computations are done with a fourth-order explicit scheme. For the first problem results are shown in agreement with experimental data and for the second problem comparisons are made with an existing asymptotic theory. The third problem is part of an ongoing work and preliminary results are presented for this case.
The development and clinical validation of a turbulent-flow liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometric method for the rapid quantitation of docetaxel in serum.

Abstract Background Docetaxel is a second generation taxane utilized as an anti-neoplastic agent in cancer chemotherapies. Traditional treatment regimens have resulted in significant adverse effects, resulting in the shift to more frequent drug administration at lower doses. As a result, it is important to monitor serum docetaxel concentrations to optimize efficacy and minimize adverse effects. Methods Serum containing docetaxel was combined with acetonitrile containing deuterated internal standard, and following protein precipitation, supernatant was diluted with water for on-line sample extraction. Following turbulent-flow chromatography (TFC), analytic separation was achieved on a Hypersil Gold C-18 (50 × 2.1 mm) column and the eluent analyzed using a TSQ Vantage mass spectrometer with selected reaction monitoring. Matrix effects were characterized in addition to carryover, precision, linearity, recovery and functional sensitivity. Results The simple and complex precision for the assay at multiple concentrations was ≤ 6.2%. The assay has functional sensitivity of Conclusions Based on the validation metrics, we have generated a sensitive and automated TFC–MS/MS method for docetaxel quantitation in serum.
Arabic ASR and MT Integration for GALE

In this paper we describe our work in machine translation of Arabic speech into English. This work was done within the context of the GALE research program. We describe several integration techniques between our ASR and MT system. Our initial results suggest that tighter coupling between ASR and MT system improves the translation quality of speech input. We explore the effect of each integration technique on the overall system.
Endothelial cell-fatty acid binding protein 4 promotes angiogenesis: role of stem cell factor/c-kit pathway

Fatty acid binding protein 4 (FABP4) plays an important role in regulation of glucose and lipid homeostasis as well as inflammation through its actions in adipocytes and macrophages. FABP4 is also expressed in a subset of endothelial cells, but its role in this cell type is not known. We found that FABP4-deficient human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) demonstrate a markedly increased susceptibility to apoptosis as well as decreased migration and capillary network formation. Aortic rings from FABP4(-/-) mice demonstrated decreased angiogenic sprouting, which was recovered by reconstitution of FABP4. FABP4 was strongly regulated by mTORC1 and inhibited by Rapamycin. FABP4 modulated activation of several important signaling pathways in HUVECs, including downregulation of P38, eNOS, and stem cell factor (SCF)/c-kit signaling. Of these, the SCF/c-kit pathway was found to have a major role in attenuated angiogenic activity of FABP4-deficient ECs as provision of exogenous SCF resulted in a significant recovery in cell proliferation, survival, morphogenesis, and aortic ring sprouting. These data unravel a novel pro-angiogenic role for endothelial cell-FABP4 and suggest that it could be exploited as a potential target for diseases associated with pathological angiogenesis.
Concentration of non-Lipschitz functions and applications

Strong concentration results play a fundamental role in probabilistic combinatorics and theoretical computer science. In this paper, we present several new concentration results developed recently by the author and collaborators. To illustrate the power of these new results, we discuss applications in many different areas of mathematics, from combinatorial number theory to the theory of random graphs.
Preparation and characterization of triply-bridged dinuclear copper(II) complexes containing the [Cu2(μ-OH)(μ-X)(μ-OAc)]+ core (X = Cl, Br), and the crystal structure of [Cu2(OH)Cl(OAc)(bpy)2](ClO4) · H2O

Abstract Synthetic procedures are described that allow access to complexes containing the cation [Cu2(μ-OH)(μ-X)(μ-O2CMe)(bpy)2]+ (X = Cl, Br). Reaction mixtures consisting of CuX2, bpy, OH−, MeCO2− and ClO4− (X = Cl−) in MeOH/H2O give blue solutions from which the products [Cu2(OH)Cl(O2CMe)(bpy)2](ClO4) · H2O (1) and [Cu2(OH)Br(O2CMe)(bpy)2]Br · H2O (4) can be obtained in good yield. Complex 1 may also be prepared from the known complexes [Cu2(OH)(H2O)(O2CMe)(bpy)2](ClO4)2 (2) and Cu2(OH)2(bpy)2 (ClO4)2 (3). Complex 1 crystallizes in monoclinic space group P21/n with (at − 175°C) a = 8.434(1), b = 16.074(2), c = 9.430(1) A, β = 98.09(1)°, Z = 2 and V = 1265.83 A3. The structure was solved by direct methods (MULTAN) and refined to values of conventional indices R(Rw) of 3.38 (3.54)% using 1499 unique reflections with F > 2.33σ(F). The structure of the cation consists of a triply-bridged pair of five-coordinate copper(II) atoms. One of the bridging ligands is a syn,syn η1: η1: μ2 acetate group, the others being the Cl− and OH− ions; a terminal bpy molecule completes five-coordination at each metal. The Cu…Cu separation is 2.957(1) A. The metal coordination geometry is best described as distorted square-pyramidal with the Cl− ligand occupying the apical site for each metal. The oxygen atom of the water molecule is hydrogen-bonded to the OH− hydrogen. Recrystallization of 1 from warm water yields 3 in 20% yield; addition of NaClO4 to the solution increases the yield to 40%. Complex 1 in warm water containing one equiv. of NaClO4 and one equiv. of NaOH also gives 3 (yield 73%). The thermal decomposition, room temperature μeff values, and electronic and IR spectra of 1 and 4 are discussed interms of the nature of bonding and structure of 1.
Magnetic monopoles from antisymmetric tensor gauge fields.

We consider the generalization of the Dirac monopole solution of Maxwell theory to theories of antisymmetric tensor gauge fields of arbitrary rank. A Dirac quantization condition is derived. These generalized monopoles are expected to be relevant for models of strings and higher-dimensional extended objects, and perhaps also for Kaluza-Klein theories.
Subgroups of oligoleukemia as identified by in vitro agar culture.

Abstract Sixty-five patients with a diagnosis of oligoleukemia (myeloid leukemia with 20 cell size with or without colonies consisting predominantly of blast cells. Culture patterns of Cat III-A and III-B resemble those observed in acute myeloid leukemia and therefore are called leukemic culture patterns. Patients in Cat I-A (non-leukemic culture pattern) survive longer (P =
Policy lifecycle and policy enabled telecom open service delivery platform

Policies provide flexible grammar to describe the capabilities, requirements and general characteristics. In loosely-coupled Web services domain, policy has been considered as a possible mechanism to describe the characteristics of services, associate and evolve with these services dynamically. However there lacks a systematic framework to take into account the employment of policies in Web services as a whole. In this paper, based on the lifecycle of policies, a general policy framework for Web services is proposed, including policy generation, enforcement, publication, negotiation and evolution. In different modules of the framework, a set of mechanisms and tools are discussed and presented. At the end of the paper, a policy enabled telecom open service delivery platform is presented. Telecom operators open their network capabilities through deploying their services as Web services on the platform, following Parlay X Web services specification. Third-party value added service providers use WSDL and policies to access services. Policy framework, including security policy, reliable messaging policy and other QoS policy management has proved its efficiency in the real world system.
The Spanish Colonial Settlement Landscapes of New Mexico, 1598–1680. By Elinore M. Barrett. (Albuquerque, NM: University of New Mexico Press, 2012. Pp. xvi, 280. $49.95.)

In this concise interdisciplinary study, the author provides a thorough treatment of New Mexico's Spanish settlement landscape prior to the Pueblo Revolt of 1680. Building on her prior work, Conque...
Linkage methods for connecting children with parents in electronic health record and state public health insurance data.

The objective of this study was to develop methodologies for creating child–parent ‘links’ in two healthcare-related data sources. We linked children and parents who were patients in a network of Oregon clinics with a shared electronic health record (EHR), using data that reported the child’s emergency contact information or the ‘guarantor’ for the child’s visits. We also linked children and parents enrolled in the Oregon Health Plan (OHP; Oregon’s public health insurance programs), using administrative data; here, we defined a ‘child’ as aged <19 years and identified potential ‘parents’ from among adults sharing the same OHP household identification (ID) number. In both data sources, parents had to be 12–55 years older than the child. We used OHP individual client ID and EHR patient ID numbers to assess the quality of our linkages through cross-validation. Of the 249,079 children in the EHR dataset, we identified 62,967 who had a ‘linkable’ parent with patient information in the EHR. In the OHP data, 889,452 household IDs were assigned to at least one child; 525,578 with a household ID had a ‘linkable’ parent (272,578 households). Cross-validation of linkages revealed 99.8 % of EHR links validated in OHP data and 97.7 % of OHP links validated in EHR data. The ability to link children and their parents in healthcare-related datasets will be useful to inform efforts to improve children’s health. Thus, we developed strategies for linking children with their parents in an EHR and a public health insurance administrative dataset.