cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Alkyl esters as skin permeation enhancers for indomethacin

Abstract The use of simple alkyl esters as skin permeation enhancers for indomethacin is described. The esters investigated were methyl acetate, ethyl acetate, butyl acetate, methyl propionate, ethyl propionate, and methyl valerate. Other solvents tested as enhancers were water, ethanol, diethyl succinate, ethyl acetoacetate, dimethyl sulfoxide, and Azone. The steady-state flux of indomethacin as measured in vitro through excised rat skin was enhanced about 1500-fold by ethyl acetate, methyl acetate, and methyl propionate relative to that from water. Relative to pure ethanol as permeation enhancing solvent, flux was enhanced over 20-fold using these three solvents. The other alkyl esters were about as effective as ethanol at increasing transdermal flux of indomethacin. Azone (5% in propylene glycol) increased the flux of indomethacin about 1100-fold relative to water and about 14-fold relative to ethanol. Dimethyl sulfoxide (30% in propylene glycol) and ethyl acetate (30% in propylene glycol) were relatively ineffective at increasing the flux of indomethacin. The use of ethyl acetate as a skin permeation enhancer in transdermal drug delivery is discussed.
Stereoelectronic Effects Characterizing Nucleophilic Carbene Ligands Bound to the Cp*RuCl (Cp* = η5-C5Me5) Moiety: A Structural and Thermochemical Investigation

The reaction of [Cp*RuCl]4 (1) with carbene ligands affords unsaturated Cp*Ru(L)Cl [Cp* = η5-C5Me5; L = 1,3-R2-imidazol-2-ylidene [R = cyclohexyl (ICy, 2); 4-methylphenyl (ITol, 3); 4-chlorophenyl (IpCl, 4); adamantyl (IAd, 5)] and 4,5-dichloro-1,3-bis(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene (IMesCl, 6)] complexes 2−6 in high yield. Solution calorimetric investigations of this series provides a measure of the electron donor properties of all ligands, and comparisons are made with IMes [1,3-bis(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene] and the widely used PCy3. Structural information from single X-ray studies for complexes 2, 3, 5, 6, Cp*Ru(IMes)Cl (7), Cp*Ru(PCy3)Cl (8), and Cp*Ru(PiPr3)Cl (9) permits a quantitative treatment of steric parameters associated with these ligands.
Model for plasma response for a finite relative velocity between plasma and a rotating magnetic perturbation

Abstract A model is presented which allows the calculation of the torque transferred from a rotating perturbation field to the plasma. It is assumed that the perturbation field induces an electrical current at the singular layer of the plasma. Consistent with results from magnetic braking experiments, it is assumed that a turbulence develops in the current carrying layer such that the anomaly of the plasma resistivity is so large that the plasma can flow resistively through the magnetic islands. Applying the model to the TEXTOR DED case provides a toroidal torque larger than the one of imposed by the neutral beams and thus should be relevant.
Modulation of Amyloid-β Aggregation by Histidine-Coordinating Cobalt(III) Schiff Base Complexes

Oligomers of the Aβ42 peptide are significant neurotoxins linked to Alzheimer's disease (AD). Histidine (His) residues present at the N terminus of Aβ42 are believed to influence toxicity by either serving as metal-ion binding sites (which promote oligomerization and oxidative damage) or facilitating synaptic binding. Transition metal complexes that bind to these residues and modulate Aβ toxicity have emerged as therapeutic candidates. Cobalt(III) Schiff base complexes (Co-sb) were evaluated for their ability to interact with Aβ peptides. HPLC-MS, NMR, fluorescence, and DFT studies demonstrated that Co-sb complexes could interact with the His residues in a truncated Aβ16 peptide representing the Aβ42 N terminus. Coordination of Co-sb complexes altered the structure of Aβ42 peptides and promoted the formation of large soluble oligomers. Interestingly, this structural perturbation of Aβ correlated to reduced synaptic binding to hippocampal neurons. These results demonstrate the promise of Co-sb complexes in anti-AD therapeutic approaches.
An unusual anomalous intrahepatic connection between the left portal vein and internal mammary veins

Persistent embryonic portal vessels such as the umbilical vein or ductus venosus are occasionally encountered in the adult on ultrasound examination of the liver. These vessels must be identified and distinguished from the normal intrahepatic portal and hepatic veins. Recently, we have found another vein that, like the ductus venosus and persistent umbilical vein, is also a large intrahepatic portal vessel that is not a normal component of the hepatic vasculature. This anomalous vein originated from the left portal vein and traversed the liver parenchyma without branching to reach the anterior-superior liver margin, serving as an intrahepatic portal-systemic shunt by directly connecting the left portal vein and the internal mammary veins.
To join or not to join: An approach to the unionization decision.

Abstract The problem of joining or not joining a (faculty) union is analyzed via a simplified analogy. The effects of group size are discussed and it is shown that the decision structure is an n -person prisoner's dilemma. Several possible solutions to the dilemma are discussed but the ultimate solution appears to be more a matter of social ethics than logic.
Reading the Plans: The Architectural Drawings in Umberto Eco's The Name of the Rose

Abstract As every intro-to-lit student is taught, a novel's setting is crucial; yet I know of no novel other than Umberto Eco's The Name of the Rose that so emphasizes its setting as to include a site plan and a floor plan. In his “Postscript to The Name of the Rose,” Eco says that in preparation for writing this historical novel he spent a year on “the construction of the world.” During this research time he “conducted long architectural investigations, studying photographs and floor plans in the encyclopedia of architecture, to establish the arrangement of the abbey, the distances, even the number of steps in a spiral staircase” (513). The resulting drawings are one more sign system among many, another kind of code.
Minimum-energy control of a traction motor

Minimum-energy control is obtained for a nonlinear second-order model of a ground transportation vehicle with a dc traction motor for which regenerative braking is possible.
Design Considerations for a New Terminal Area Arrival Scheduler

Design of a terminal area arrival scheduler depends on the interrelationship between throughput, delay and controller intervention. The main contribution of this paper is an analysis of the above interdependence for several stochastic behaviors of expected system performance distributions in the aircraft s time of arrival at the meter fix and runway. Results of this analysis serve to guide the scheduler design choices for key control variables. Two types of variables are analyzed, separation buffers and terminal delay margins. The choice for these decision variables was tested using sensitivity analysis. Analysis suggests that it is best to set the separation buffer at the meter fix to its minimum and adjust the runway buffer to attain the desired system performance. Delay margin was found to have the least effect. These results help characterize the variables most influential in the scheduling operations of terminal area arrivals.
Eukaryotic-like adenylyl cyclases in Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv: cloning and characterization.

Abstract Screening the Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv genomic library for complementation of catabolic defect for cAMP-dependent expression of maltose operon produced the adenylyl cyclase gene (Mtb cya,GenBankTM accession no. AF017731 (1997)) annotated later as Rv1625c (Cole, S. T., Brosch, R., Parkhill, J., Garnier, T., Churcher, C., Harris, D., Gordon, S. V., Eiglmeier, K., Gas, S., Barry, C. E., III, et al. (1998) Nature393, 537–544). The deduced amino acid (aa) sequence (443 aa) encoded by Mtb cya contains a single hydrophobic domain of six transmembrane helices (152 aa) in the amino-terminal half of the protein. Flanking this domain are an arginine-rich (17%) amino-terminal cytoplasmic tail (46 aa) and a carboxyl-terminal cytoplasmic domain (245 aa) with extensive homology to the catalytic core of eukaryotic adenylyl cyclases. Site-directed mutagenesis of Arg43 and Arg44 to alanine/glycine showed a loss of adenylyl cyclase activity, whereas mutagenesis to lysine restored the activity. Hence it is proposed that the formation of the catalytic site in Mtb adenylyl cyclase requires an interaction between Arg43 and Arg44 residues in the distal cytoplasmic tail and the carboxyl-terminal cytoplasmic domain. Mtb adenylyl cyclase activity at the physiological concentration of ATP (1 mm) was 475 nmol of cAMP/min/mg of membrane protein in the presence of Mn2+ but only 10 nmol of cAMP/min/mg of membrane protein in the presence of Mg2+. The physiological significance of the activation of Mtb adenylyl cyclase by Mn2+ is discussed in view of the presence of manganese transporter protein in mycobacteria and macrophages wherein mycobacteria reside.
Geographic access and age-related variation in chemotherapy use in elderly with metastatic breast cancer

Significant age-related variation in chemotherapy use has been observed among elderly patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC), which may be partly attributable to geographic access factors such as local area physician practice culture and local health care system capacity. The purpose of the paper was to examine how age may modify the effect of geographic access on chemotherapy use in elderly patients with MBC. This was a retrospective cohort study based on the surveillance, epidemiology, and end results—Medicare-linked database of 1992–2002. Chemotherapy use was defined as at least one chemotherapy-related claim within 6-month post-diagnosis. Geographic access to cancer care was measured by four variables: patient travel time to the nearest oncologist practice, local area per capita number of oncologists, local area per capita number of hospices, and local area chemotherapy rate. Using multivariate logistic regression model, both aggregate models with interaction terms and subgroup analyses were conducted. Among 4,533 elderly with MBC, 30.16 % used chemotherapy. Chemotherapy use decreased with age. Both the aggregate model with interaction terms and the subgroup analysis showed that local area chemotherapy rate was positively associated with chemotherapy use (P = .0004 in the whole group; in the subgroup analyses, P < .0001, P = .0006, P = .0006, P = .18, P = .026, respectively). In addition, subgroup analysis showed that, among patients aged 85+ years old, local area oncologist supply was negatively associated with chemotherapy use (P = .028). The impact of geographic access to cancer care is the greatest among the oldest group, for whom the clinical evidence is the least certain.
SEDUCTIVE SINGERS CHEW SOFTLY

![Figure][1] It's impossible to be really good at everything; specialization has its costs and they're often paid for in the currency of tradeoffs. This is well understood in the world of biomechanics where bones built to be tough cannot also be stiff, muscles good at contracting at high
Deceptive nature of Dial-a-Porn commercials and public policy alternatives

This research investigates consumers' perceptions of claims made in Dial-a-Porn commercials. The empirical findings support the view that some of the claims are deceptive. Based on research findings, preliminary public policy guidelines are suggested.
Evaluation of patient residual deviation and its impact on dose distribution for proton radiotherapy.

Abstract The residual deviations after final patient repositioning based on bony anatomy and the impact of such deviations on the proton dose distributions was investigated. Digitally reconstructed radiographs (DRRs) and kilovoltage (kV) “portal verification” images from 10 patients treated with passively scattered proton radiotherapy was used to estimate the residual deviation. These changes were then applied to the location of isocenter points that, in effect, moved the isocenter relative to the apertures and compensators. A composite verification plan was obtained and compared with the original clinical treatment plan to evaluate any changes in dose distributions. The residual deviations were fitted to a Gaussian distribution with μ = –0.9 ± 0.1 mm and σ = 2.55 ± 0.07 mm. The dose distribution showed under- and overcovered dose spots with complex dose distributions both in the target volumes and in the organs at risk. In some cases, this amounts to 63.5% above the intended clinical plan. Although patient positioning is carefully verified before treatment delivery and setup uncertainties are accounted for by using compensator smearing and aperture margins, a residual shift in a patient's position can considerably affect the dose distribution.
Clustering and phase separation in dense shear granular flow

We investigate various regimes of steady dense Couette flow of inelastically colliding hard disks in the absence of gravity. The two governing parameters in this two-dimensional system are the inelasticity of particle collisions and the average density of particles. The simplest steady state is the uniform shear flow (USF), where the temperature and the density profiles are homogeneous over the system and the velocity of the flow changes linearly between the two moving walls. The USF becomes unstable when the inelasticity of particle collisions exceeds a certain threshold, which depends on the average density of particles. Then the USF gives a way to a plug flow regime, where a solid-like cluster coexists with one or two fluid layers. These regimes are investigated using equations of granular hydrodynamics with constitutive relations that interpolate between low and high densities. The results are tested in event-driven molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, and a good agreement is observed.
Geometry of density matrices. I. Definitions, N matrices and 1 matrices

Density matrices defined with respect to a finite basis set are considered as elements in a vector space. A basis set is introduced in the space whose elements are Hermitian matrices. By a suitable transformation of the basis, one component only will contribute to the trace, so the space of unit trace matrices is a translated linear subspace. The positivity constraint is then examined in terms of distance from a multiple of the unit matrix, which is in the interior of the set of density matrices. The boundary of this set is shown to lie between two concentric hyperspheres. The set whose elements are $N$-representable 1 matrices has similar properties.
Transmembrane insertion of the Colicin Ia hydrophobic hairpin

Colicin Ia is a bactericidal protein that forms voltage-dependent, ion-conducting channels, both in the inner membrane of target bacteria and in planar bilayer membranes. Its amino acid sequence is rich in charged residues, except for a hydrophobic segment of 40 residues near the carboxyl terminus. In the crystal structure of colicin Ia and related colicins, this segment forms an α-helical hairpin. The hydrophobic segment is thought to be involved in the initial association of the colicin with the membrane and in the formation of the channel, but various orientations of the hairpin with respect to the membrane have been proposed. To address this issue, we attached biotin to a residue at the tip of the hydrophobic hairpin, and then probed its location with the biotin-binding protein streptavidin, added to one side or the other of a planar bilayer. Streptavidin added to the same side as the colicin prevented channel opening. Prior addition of streptavidin to the opposite side protected channels from this effect, and also increased the rate of channel opening; it produced these effects even before the first opening of the channels. These results suggest a model of membrane association in which the colicin first binds with the hydrophobic hairpin parallel to the membrane; next the hairpin inserts in a transmembrane orientation; and finally the channel opens. We also used streptavidin binding to obtain a stable population of colicin molecules in the membrane, suitable for the quantitative study of voltage-dependent gating. The effective gating charge thus determined is pH-independent and relatively small, compared with previous results for wildtype colicin Ia.
A Systematic Review of Assessment Literacy Measures

This work systematically reviews teacher assessment literacy measures within the context of contemporary teacher evaluation policy. In this study, the researchers collected objective tests of assessment knowledge, teacher self-reports, and rubrics to evaluate teachers’ work in assessment literacy studies from 1991 to 2012. Then they evaluated the psychometric work from these measures against a set of claims related to score interpretation and use. Across the 36 measures reviewed, they found support for these claims was weak. This outcome highlights the need for increased work on assessment literacy measures in the educational measurement field. The authors conclude with recommendations and a resource to inform a research agenda focused on assessment literacy measurement to inform policy and practice.
Securing Cooperative Transmission in Wireless Communications

Cooperative transmission is an emerging communication technique that takes advantages of spatial diversity and broadcast natures of wireless channels to improve wireless channel capacity. However, cooperative transmission can be vulnerable to malicious attacks, especially in its current design. In this paper, we examine whether the cooperative transmission still have performance advantages when we consider the security issues. In particular, we identify various attacks against cooperative transmission, analyze the vulnerabilities of current schemes, design a trust-assisted cooperative transmission scheme, and evaluate the proposed scheme through analysis and simulations. The proposed scheme can fix the security problems and maintain the performance advantage. It performs much better than the traditional scheme when there are malicious/greedy relays or severe channel estimation errors. In addition, we investigate the advantage of cooperative transmission in terms of defending bad mouth attacks. A recovery of link bit error rate is observed.
Computing with nouns and verbs

The paper makes a case for expanding the range of words that Computing With Words typically considers to, eventually, all the words in a natural language, thus accounting accurately for the inherent vagueness of natural language meaning and creating an overlap with computational semantics. The claim is illustrated with examples of a few English nouns and verbs rather than the usual adjectives and their close derivatives.
Results of transcatheter Fontan fenestration to treat protein losing enteropathy

Transcatheter fenestration to create an interatrial communication has been used to treat patients with protein losing enteropathy (PLE) after Fontan operation. No systematic data have been reported assessing the results of this procedure. Our institutional database was queried to identify patients after Fontan operation who had transcatheter fenestration to treat PLE. Clinical notes, laboratory data, echocardiograms, and cardiac catheterization data were reviewed. From 1995 to 2005, 16 transcatheter fenestration procedures were performed in seven patients. Median age at fenestration was 18 years (range 13-41 years). Median duration of follow-up was 3.6 years (range 0.2-10.4 years). Techniques for fenestration included blade/balloon septostomy, stent placement, Amplatzer-fenestrated ASD device, and balloon dilation of previous stent. Size of the fenestration created was 5.2 +/- 1.1 mm. Systemic venous pressure remained unchanged after fenestration. Cardiac index increased significantly. Reduction of ascites and edema was noted after 9 of the 16 procedures. Ten of 16 (63%) of fenestrations spontaneously occluded. Three patients are free of ascites although recurrence of PLE occurred in all. One patient with a patent fenestration continues to have ascites. Two patients had Fontan takedown. One patient had conversion to a fenestrated extracardiac conduit Fontan and died postoperatively. The results of transcatheter Fontan fenestration are often disappointing. Maintaining fenestration patency is difficult. Even after "successful" fenestration, resolution of PLE may be incomplete and recurrences have occurred in all. Early consideration should be given to Fontan takedown or cardiac transplant in severely symptomatic patients with PLE who do not respond to fenestration. Transcatheter fenestration may be a bridge to a definitive procedure.
Modeling of an IGC experiment to analyze ternary polymer-solvent systems

A variation of the capillary column inverse gas chromatography (IGC) experiment is proposed to measure the thermodynamics and diffusion coefficients in ternary polymer–solvent–solvent systems, and a theoretical model has been developed for this proposed experiment. The model has been derived to include both main and mutual cross-diffusion coefficients. Ternary vapor–liquid equilibria was represented by a coefficient matrix of the isotherm tangents. The governing equations of the model were uncoupled and solved using both an analytical Laplace transform technique and a numerical finite-difference technique. Solution of the model shows that in the presence of strong cross-diffusion and thermodynamic coefficients, unusual chromatographic behavior can be observed, suggesting that IGC can be a useful technique for measuring thermodynamic and mass-transport properties of ternary polymer–solvent–solvent systems. © 2005 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2005
Forkhead Box O1 Is Present in Quiescent Pituitary Cells during Development and Is Increased in the Absence of p27Kip1

Congenital pituitary hormone deficiencies have been reported in approximately one in 4,000 live births, however studies reporting mutations in some widely studied transcription factors account for only a fraction of congenital hormone deficiencies in humans. Anterior pituitary hormones are required for development and function of several glands including gonads, adrenals, and thyroid. In order to identify additional factors that contribute to human congenital hormone deficiencies, we are investigating the forkhead transcription factor, FOXO1, which has been implicated in development of several organs including ovary, testis, and brain. We find that FOXO1 is present in the nuclei of non-dividing pituitary cells during embryonic development, consistent with a role in limiting proliferation and/or promoting differentiation. FOXO1 is present in a subset of differentiated cells at e18.5 and in adult with highest level of expression in somatotrope cells. We detected FOXO1 in p27(Kip1)-positive cells at e14.5. In the absence of p27(Kip1) the number of pituitary cells containing FOXO1 is significantly increased at e14.5 suggesting that a feedback loop regulates the interplay between FOXO1 and p27(Kip1).
The redistribution of mercury as observed in the phase transformations in amalgams.

Summary An investigation has been conducted to observe the effect of heat treatment on mercury loss and structural transitions in clinically used amalgams, as well as the individual phases composing dental amalgam. Pure AgZHg, readily loses mercury and transforms to the 61 phase while the remaining amalgams are somewhat more stable. Since essentially no weight loss is observed in clinically used alloys, the mercury, liberated by the yl decomposition, reacts with excess Ag,Sn to form a self-perpetuating reaction, explaining the increases in the 81 and yz phases in the Ag,Sn and “True Dentalloy” amalgams. That is, the mercury has redistributed itself within the amalgam.
Clearance is not a realistic expectation of psoriasis treatment.

Background: Psoriasis is a disease with many manifestations for which numerous treatments are available. Objective: The purpose of this article is to assess whether complete clearance is a realistic expectation given the currently available treatments for psoriasis. Methods: Clinical trials of the treatment of psoriasis were identified from the medical literature, and the reported rates of clearance were compared. Results: The percentage of patients who experienced complete clearing of their psoriasis varied with the different monotherapy treatments from 2% with tazarotene gel to a maximum of 86% with narrow-band UVB. Combinations of systemic retinoids (etretinate, acitretin) and photochemotherapy (PUVA) attained the maximum reported clearance rate as combination therapy. Conclusion: The new treatments available for psoriasis give physicians new opportunity to control the severity of psoriasis. Despite the availability of novel treatments for psoriasis, complete clearing of psoriasis is obviously not a realistic expectation of topical treatment. Phototherapy and systemic therapy provide greater improvement, but studies rarely report complete clearing of the disease as an endpoint. At this time, optimal therapy consists of using combinations of different treatments to obtain short-term improvement and long-term control of the disease. (J Am Acad Dermatol 2000;42:796-802.)
Polyelectrolyte Multilayers with Reversible Thermal Responsivity

Thermally responsive polyelectrolyte multilayers were made from charged poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) copolymers. The temperature-dependent water content of the thin film, studied in situ us...
Feminism and Nationalism in the Chinese Women's Press, 1902-1911:

The nationalistic intellectual ferment among young Chinese students in the early twentieth century and its reflection in the modernization of popular journalism are by now well documented. The popular press expanded rapidly; Britton (1966: 127) reports that as of 1890 there were 15 periodicals in existence; in 1898, 60 periodicals; and in 1913, a total of 487 were in print. A Chinese language press flourished in Japan as well; a 1907 survey (Lian-shi, n.d.: 2) found 20 periodicals there that year. No matter what their political coloration, all the new periodicals contributed to the intellectual climate by introducing new ideas, publishing translations of Japanese and Western writings, and presenting news of China and the world. But the new women's press which appeared at this time was a unique aspect of the new-style journalism, for any Chinese periodical intended for women was, by its very existence, revolutionary. Heretofore, publications for women had been limited to books directed at girls and women in the isolation of their family compounds, no more than restatements of traditional precepts which governed their restricted life style within that isolation. A traditional "women's classic" such as the Lie nu zhuan (Biographies of Chaste Women) did not serve to bring news of contemporary events outside the confines of the home.
ON THE AZUMAYA LOCUS OF SOME CROSSED PRODUCTS

Abstract Given D a commutative Noetherian domain and G a finite group acting faithfully on D as automorphisms of D, we describe the Azumaya locus of the crossed product D*G and relate it with the singular locus of DG. To achieve this we will impose some basic homological conditions on D and on D*G. Also we discuss necessary and sufficient conditions for a crossed product R*G, for some ring R, to be Azumaya. Concepts as H-separability and Galois extensions are used.
Surface contribution to a general physical quantity

Abstract We derive an expression for the surface contribution to an arbitrary quantity which can be written as a sum over electron, phonon, magnon, etc. states.
A mathematical analysis of a natural class of partitions of a graph

Abstract Any finite graph (nondirected, no loops) can be coupled with its complementary graph producing what we term a completed graph. This paper studies completed graphs in the context of a structural concept called stratification that is motivated by theoretical work in social psychology and sociology. A completed graph is stratified in case its node (vertex) set can be divided into two nonempty subsets with exactly one of the two types of ties holding between every pair of nodes from distinct sets. A completed graph is totally stratified in case every one of its nontrivial completed subgraphs is stratified. The first part of the paper relates the concept of stratification to the familiar graph property of connectedness. In particular, a completed graph is totally stratified if and only if it does not have a four point completed subgraph that is connected in both the original graph relation and its complementary relation. Using the concept of stratification, completed graphs can be decomposed uniquely into taxonomic structures, that is, nested sets of partitions. An algorithm for the decomposition based on the work with the concept of stratification is developed. The relationship between the notion of stratification and the ideas in balance theory is examined, and stratification is viewed as a generalization of Davis' notion of clustering. It turns out that the concepts of clique, status, and structural equivalence used throughout the social networks literature can be defined in an interesting way for completed graphs. Cliques are sets of nodes with similar internal links and statuses are sets of nodes with similar external links. Structurally equivalent sets are both cliques and statuses. The concepts of status and structural equivalence are closely related to the decomposition algorithm. In particular, for any totally stratified completed graph, the set of all statuses and the set of all maximal structurally equivalent sets can be generated by mathematical operations performed on the taxonomic decomposition of the completed graph. Finally some of our resuls are informally related to the blockmodeling approach to analyzing social network data discussed in several previous Journal of Mathematical Psychology articles.
Optimal Embedding in the Topology Design of Structures

Extensive literature exists on the topology design of single-component structures while multi-component structural systems have received much less attention. In this paper, we present a technique for optimizing the topology of a structure that should be connected to one or more pre-designed components to maximize the stiffness of the overall assembly. We call it an embedding problem because pre-designed components are to be optimally positioned and oriented within a design region while the connecting structure’s topology is optimized simultaneously. Continuous design variables are used to vary the locations of the embedded objects smoothly along with the topology of the connecting structure in order to apply gradient-based optimization algorithms. A new material interpolation function on the basis of normal distribution function is used for this purpose. Optimality criteria method combined with the steepest descent method is used to minimize mean compliance to obtain the stiffest structure for a given volume of material. As a special case of this method, topology optimization of multi-component structural systems is also considered. Illustrative examples are presented.Copyright © 2002 by ASME
The somatic chromosomes of the opossum (Didelphis virginiana)

There are eleven pairs of chromosomes in the somatic cells of the opossum. The sex chromosomes are of the x-x type in the female and the x-y type in the male. The number and type of the chromosomes are constant in the wide variety of tissues and organs studied, except that one dividing giant cell of the spleen showed an 8n number of chromosomes. The arrangement of the chromosomes in equatorial plates is that of an autosomal ring surrounding the centrally located sex chromosomes.
Organometallic sol/gel chemistry of metal sulfides

Abstract This paper reviews organometallic chemistry relevant to the sol/gel processing of metal sulfides. It focuses on the synthesis of ZnS wherein different classes of precursors were evaluated for their solution/gelation behavior. These involved the reaction of Zn-thiolate/mercaptide compound precursors with hydrogen sulfide or organo-polysulfides. Only two reactions were identified where polymeric residues or gels were created. One of these used a pentamer species — [EtZn(SBut)]5 — which yielded an amorphous, fibrous ZnS residue after reaction with controlled quantities of H2S. A subsequent heat-treatment of this residue under flowing H2S created a mixture of β-ZnS powder and α-ZnS single crystal whiskers. The other reaction exhibiting sol/gel behavior used a polysulfide — (BzS)2S — to deliver sulfur to the Et2Zn precursor. In this case, a clear high viscosity solution was created. This solution gelled and dried to form an amorphous solid which exhibited a glass transition. At higher temperature, a fine-grained ZnS was generated. It remains to be determined whether this chemistry can be used for sol/gel processing of ceramics; i.e., net-shaping of the residue, and then consolidation/transformation in H2S to create a ZnS ceramic, or in the case of the pentamer reaction, a ZnS whisker-reinforced ZnS composite.
Recommendations for Stabilization of High-Sulfate Soils in Texas

In an effort to construct roads more quickly, high-plasticity index soils stabilized with lime are now routinely compacted the day after mixing. With this practice has come an increasing number of ...
The Association Between a Darc Gene Polymorphism and Clinical Outcomes in African American Patients With Acute Lung Injury

Background Acute lung injury (ALI) mortality is increased among African Americans compared with Americans of European descent, and genetic factors may be involved. A functional T-46C polymorphism (rs2814778) in the promoter region of Duffy antigen/receptor for chemokines (Darc) gene, present almost exclusively in people of African descent, results in isolated erythrocyte DARC deficiency and has been implicated in ALI pathogenesis in preclinical and murine models, possibly because of an increase in circulating Duffy-binding, proinflammatory chemokines like IL-8. We sought to determine the effect of the functional rs2814778 polymorphism, C/C genotype (Duffy null state), on clinical outcomes in African Americans with acute lung injury. Methods Clinical data and biologic specimens from African American patients with ALI who enrolled in three randomized controlled trials were analyzed. Multivariate analysis accounted for proportion of African ancestry, sex, cirrhosis, and severity of illness on presentation. Results Among 132 subjects, 88 (67%) were Duffy null (C/C genotype). The Duffy null state was associated with a 17% absolute risk increase (95% CI, 1.4%-33%) in mortality at 60 days, a median of 8 fewer ventilator-free days (95% CI, 1-18.5), and 4.5 fewer organ failure-free days (95% CI, 0-18) compared with individuals with the C/T or T/T genotypes (all P values Conclusions Our results provide evidence that the functional rs2814778 polymorphism in the gene encoding DARC is associated with worse clinical outcomes among African Americans with ALI, possibly via an increase in circulating IL-8.
Traffic Congestion in Bangladesh- Causes and Solutions: A study of Chittagong Metropolitan City

One of the most challenging and complicated issues in city management in the present decade for Bangladesh is the traffic problem. It is a very common phenomenon in almost all the cities of Bangladesh. Presently, traffic congestion problem in Bangladesh are increasing at an alarming rate. The traffic problem has become to a very dangerous arena and has already implicit agonizing extent in the cities of Bangladesh. This type of study has been conducted in Dhaka but not in Chittagong city. Traffic management in Chittagong is not well organized as Dhaka so that the problem is becoming more complicated as the number of people in Chittagong is increasing and it is getting the priority after Dhaka. This article is dedicated to determine the current condition of traffic management in Chittagong City. This article explore the causes involved in traffic congestion including heavy concentration of vehicles, absence of adequate public transport, inadequate road infrastructure, faulty signaling equipment and poor enforcement of traffic rules. At the end of the paper the researchers tried to identify the solution of traffic jam in Chittagong Metropolitan City.
From Husserl to de Beauvoir : Gendering the perceiving subject

: This paper breaks ranks with those philosophers and feminists who either ignore de Beauvoir or find her passe. It argues that de Beauvoir is fundamentally a philosopher; that one of her crucial contributions to philosophy was to identify the erotic as a philosophical category; and that we best understand de Beauvoir's place in the feminist and philosophical fields if we read her as a phenomenologist who reworks Husserl's theory of intentionality and who, in this reworking, steps out of Sartre's shadow to develop an ethic of erotic generosity. This argument depends on reading de Beauvoir's texts with an ear for her two voices. It develops the idea that de Beauvoir's muted voice, in speaking of the erotic, the gift and generosity, offers us a coherent and fruitful way of thinking through the questions of embodiment, the flesh, the other and the “we”.
Red storm IO performance analysis

This paper will summarize an IO performance analysis effort performed on Sandia National Laboratories Red Storm platform. Our goal was to examine the IO system performance and identify problems or bottle-necks in any aspect of the IO sub-system. Our process examined the entire IO path from application to disk both in segments and as a whole. Our final analysis was performed at scale employing parallel IO access methods typically used in high performance computing applications.
Stability Analysis and Optimal Control of a Photochemical Heat Engine

We examine a class of heat engines in which selectively absorbed radiant energy drives an exothermic reaction. The chemical reactor, a cylinder fitted with a piston, Incorporates the dissipative losses of friction and heat conduction. Analysis by computer algebra yielded an algorithm for performing a general linear stability analysis of the system. Bifurcation sets mapping regions of single and multiple steady states are generated. In regions sustaining multiple steady states, driving the engine In a cycle about an unstable steady state generates net power output. Optimal control analyses determine piston trajectories yielding maximum power. A linear stability analysis of the optimally controlled system divides the parameter space into regions where the behavior of a steady state moves from an unstable focus to an unstable node. Using parameter sets which map to the unstable focus, the explicit optimal piston trajectory is determined numerically.
1-(2-Chloroethyl)-3-cyclohexyl-1-nitrosourea (CCNU, NSC-79037): A comparison of drug administration at four-week and six-week intervals

Abstract 1-(2-Chloroethyl)-3-cyclohexyl-1-nitrosourea (CCNU, NSC-79037) is a new oral nitrosourea compound, which had demonstrated antitumor activity both in animal tumor models and in man. The clinical efficacy of the compound as well as the toxicity were evaluated in 50 adult patients with a variety of malignant tumors on two different dosage schedules: 130 mg/m2 either every 4 weeks or every 6 weeks. Responses were observed in patients with bronchogenic carcinoma, glioblastoma, adenocarcinoma of the colon, and pancreatic carcinoma. The main dose-limiting toxicity was delayed thrombocytopenia and leukopenia occurring 4–6 weeks, respectively, after drug administration. Patients receiving the every 4 week schedule tolerated at least 3 courses of therapy without severe dose-limiting toxicity.
Arabian Gulf students' response to English language course management systems: a case study

Abstract The use of Course Management System (CMS) software that assists blended and independent online learning or e-learning, has increased dramatically in the Gulf region since 2000. The most popular products include Blackboard, Moodle and Angel. In spring 2009, research was conducted at Weill Cornell Medical College-Qatar (WCMC-Q) on native Arabic speakers’ (9 Arabic speakers, 4 controls) satisfaction with and ease of use of English language versions of Blackboard, Moodle, and Angel in the main areas of CMS functionality, including synchronous chat, email, electronic peer editing, electronic quizzes, bulletin board and course document downloading. A large corpus of anecdotal data and end-of-semester questionnaire indicated that native Arabic speakers did not prefer any particular CMS. Arabic speaking students overwhelmingly indicated that CMSs were valuable to their education, and that online activities, particularly chat, online quizzes, document downloading, and bulletin board, could augment traditional and paper-based classroom activities, but should not entirely replace traditional methods. Females demonstrated less favorable outcomes with using CMSs and gender differences in online learning and CMSs should be a future area of research.
A non-canonical start codon in the Drosophila fragile X gene yields two functional isoforms.

Abstract Fragile X syndrome is caused by the loss of expression of the fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP). As a RNA binding protein, FMRP functions in translational regulation, localization, and stability of its neuronal target transcripts. The Drosophila homologue, dFMR1, is well conserved in sequence and function with respect to human FMRP. Although dFMR1 is known to express two main isoforms, the mechanism behind production of the second, more slowly migrating isoform has remained elusive. Furthermore, it remains unknown whether the two isoforms may also contribute differentially to dFMR1 function. We have found that this second dFMR1 isoform is generated through an alternative translational start site in the dfmr1 5'UTR. This 5'UTR coding sequence is well conserved in the melanogaster group. Translation of the predominant, smaller form of dFMR1 (dFMR1-SN) begins at a canonical start codon (ATG), whereas translation of the minor, larger form (dFMR1-LN) begins upstream at a non-canonical start codon (CTG). To assess the contribution of the N-terminal extension toward dFMR1 activity, we generated transgenic flies that exclusively express either dFMR1-SN or dFMR1-LN. Expression analyses throughout development revealed that dFMR1-SN is required for normal dFMR1-LN expression levels in adult brains. In situ expression analyses showed that either dFMR1-SN or dFMR1-LN is individually sufficient for proper dFMR1 localization in the nervous system. Functional studies demonstrated that both dFMR1-SN and dFMR1-LN can function independently to rescue dfmr1 null defects in synaptogenesis and axon guidance. Thus, dfmr1 encodes two functional isoforms with respect to expression and activity throughout neuronal development.
Baby Carriage: Infants Walking With Loads

Maintaining balance is a central problem for new walkers. To examine how infants cope with the additional balance control problems induced by load carriage, 14-month-olds were loaded with 15% of their body weight in shoulder-packs. Both symmetrical and asymmetrical loads disrupted alternating gait patterns and caused less mature footfall patterns. Walking was most severely compromised by back loads. Infants with less walking experience, lower levels of walking proficiency, and chubbier body proportions were more adversely affected. In addition, infants displayed a unique postural response to asymmetrical loads. In contrast to older children and adults, infants leaned with loads rather than in the opposite direction to the loads. Findings are discussed in terms of development from accommodation to compensatory strategies.
Online Injection of Teacher's Abstract Concepts into a Real-time Developmental Robot with Autonomous Navigation as Example

An autonomous developmental robot typically requires a considerable amount of developmental experience before it is able to learn, master and use abstract concepts, even if its speed of cognitive development is not limited by the speed of cell growth in humans. How can a developmental robot learn abstract concepts early on and use these concepts to reason and make decision? This paper introduces a frame work of two macro-layers. The upper macro-layer enables human teachers to interactively inject a representation of abstract concepts (e.g., location) into the developmental process. The lower layer takes the desired information (e.g., desired heading direction) as the input. Autonomous navigation with a global path planner is experimented with as example
Power and Bandwidth Allocation in Cooperative Dirty Paper Coding

The cooperative dirty paper coding (DPC) rate region is investigated in a two-transmitter two-receiver network with full channel state information available at all terminals. The transmitters cooperate by first exchanging messages over an orthogonal cooperation channel, then they mimic a broadcast channel (BC) and jointly perform DPC to send to the two independent receivers. The allocation of network power and bandwidth between the data and the cooperation channel is studied to characterize the cooperative DPC rate region. First, the optimal sum power allocation for a multiple access channel (MAC) is presented. Then through an application of the MAC-BC capacity duality, the cooperative DPC rate region is evaluated under different bandwidth allocation assumptions. Cooperative DPC outperforms non-cooperative time-division (TD) only when the cooperation channel is strong, since the joint-encoding capacity gain is negated by the overhead of message exchanges in a weak cooperation channel. Moreover, the cooperative capacity advantage over TD is more pronounced at the maximum sum rate point than when the rate vector is skewed toward one of the users.
Trying on Gender, Gender Regimes, and the Process of Becoming Women

This article uses two concepts—trying on gender and local gender regime—to examine adolescent gendering processes for 26 girls from two northeastern communities. Based on a four-year study, the author found that the process of becoming a woman is much more provisional than previously thought. Adolescent girls resist, experiment, and practice gender in a trying-on process; gender, race, and class structures in the communities mutually reinforce particular kinds of femininities. This article describes the gender regime of each community and examines how the gender regimes differentially shape the process of trying on gender as these girls make the transition to womanhood.
Long-Term Follow-Up of HIV-Infected Individuals Who Have Significant Increases in CD4+ Cell Counts during Antiretroviral Therapy

Background Descriptions of the durability and consequences of immune reconstitution in patients who start highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) while severely immunosuppressed are limited. Methods Patients with previous CD4+ cell counts 100 cells/mm3 on 2 separate occasions (measured sequentially at least 4 weeks apart), were enrolled in a prospective trial and observed every 16-32 weeks. Evaluations included assessments for new opportunistic complications, virologic (human immunodeficiency virus [HIV] RNA load) and immunologic (CD4+ cell count) responses, or death. Results The median follow-up duration for 612 subjects was 184 weeks (range, 8-216 weeks). The rate of increase in CD4+ cell counts was approximately 5.9 cells/mm3 every 8 weeks, with the degree of increase associated with the baseline HIV RNA load ( or =500 copies/mL). Subsequent measurements of virologic suppression based on HIV RNA levels were also associated with predicted CD4+ cell responses. Thirty-three AIDS-defining illnesses were reported (1.75 events per 100 person-years of follow-up); >40% (14 cases) occurred with higher than expected CD4+ cell counts. Conclusions CD4+ cell count increases are related to virological control, with continuing increases seen in individuals who are immunosuppressed. Opportunistic illnesses and/or complications are infrequent but can occur at any time, even in patients who maintained an elevated CD4+ cell count.
An investigation of triterpenes as steroid hormones.

Five triterpenes were screened for desoxy-corticosterone, cortisone, estrogenic, and androgenic activity. None of the compounds was active in any of the tests.