cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Selective Reductions of Medium-Ring 3-Carboxycycloalkanones and the Correspondling Esters

Abstract Several synthtic routes may be anvisoned for the conversion of 3-carboxycycloalkanones (1a-d) 1 to 3-methylanecycloalkanones (2a-d). The most direct route would require the selective reduction of the reduces the keto group preferentially or no reaction occurs.
Monoclonal antibody markers for amphibian oligodendrocytes and neurons

Few immunocytochemical probes have been developed for cold-blooded vertebrates, thus hampering analyses of cellular processes in these species. Those developed from mammalian and avian tissue often fail either to react or to show similar specificities in poikilotherms. Therefore, we have begun raising monoclonal antibodies (mabs) in mice against frog and tadpole brain tissue. The following analyses of two of these mabs suggest that these antibodies represent specific probes for frog axons and oligodendrocytes. Mab Olig recognizes all the myelinated axon tracts of the mature frog brain and spinal cord, as well as the tracts of the developing tadpole CNS once they have become myelinated. Axons cut in cross section show characteristic o-shaped staining around individual axons when processed with this antibody. Particularly easy to visualize in the tadpole are immunoreactive cell bodies and processes, seen in continuity with the myelin sheath. Occasionally, in this developing tissue, cells with highly branched processes characteristic of immature oligodendrocytes are observed. No other cells or processes within the brain or spinal cord react with this antibody. Mab Linc stains numerous filaments in all axonal projections. Occasionally, a thin rim of filamentous staining is observed in cell somata, but many regions rich in neuronal somata or dendrites are unreactive to this antibody. This in vivo staining pattern suggests that the Linc antigen is differentially distributed within neurons and exhibits a high concentration in axons. Linc immunoreactivity is robust in the processes of a subpopulation of dissociated tectal cells in culture. These Linc-positive cells are characterized as neurons on morphological criteria. Also, intense Linc immunoreactivity is present in the bundles of retinal axons that extend from retinal explants. Olig immunoreactivity, however, has not been detected in tectal cultures or retinal explants. Improved staining following Triton X-100 treatment of tissue sections suggests that neither of the mabs recognizes lipid antigens and that both are probably localized within the cell cytoplasm. Only the Linc mab reacts on Western blots of denatured brain protein. Linc consistently recognizes two Triton X-100-insoluble proteins with apparent molecular weights of 56 and 58 kD. The epitopes recognized by the Olig and Linc mabs have been surveyed in terms of their resistance to optic nerve crush and their consequent value in studies requiring such procedures. Possible homologies to known cell-type-specific molecules are discussed.
Highly Effective Gene Transfection In Vivo by Alkylated Polyethylenimine

We mechanistically explored the effect of increased hydrophobicity of the polycation on the efficacy and specificity of gene delivery in mice. N-Alkylated linear PEIs with varying alkyl chain lengths and extent of substitution were synthesized and characterized by biophysical methods. Their in vivo transfection efficiency, specificity, and biodistribution were investigated. N-Ethylation improves the in vivo efficacy of gene expression in the mouse lung 26-fold relative to the parent polycation and more than quadruples the ratio of expression in the lung to that in all other organs. N-Propyl-PEI was the best performer in the liver and heart (581- and 3.5-fold enhancements, resp.) while N-octyl-PEI improved expression in the kidneys over the parent polymer 221-fold. As these enhancements in gene expression occur without changing the plasmid biodistribution, alkylation does not alter the cellular uptake but rather enhances transfection subsequent to cellular uptake.
Dual regulation of Ca2+-dependent glutamate release from astrocytes: vesicular glutamate transporters and cytosolic glutamate levels.

Vesicular glutamate transporters (VGLUTs) are responsible for vesicular glutamate storage and exocytotic glutamate release in neurons and astrocytes. Here, we selectively and efficiently overexpressed individual VGLUT proteins (VGLUT1, 2, or 3) in solitary astrocytes and studied their effects on mechanical stimulation-induced Ca2+-dependent glutamate release. Neither VGLUT1 nor VGLUT2 overexpression changed the amount of glutamate release, whereas overexpression of VGLUT3 significantly enhanced Ca2+-dependent glutamate release from astrocytes. None of the VGLUT overexpression affected mechanically induced intracellular Ca2+ increase. Inhibition of glutamine synthetase activity by L-methionine sulfoximine in astrocytes, which leads to increased cytosolic glutamate concentration, greatly increased their mechanically induced Ca2+-dependent glutamate release, without affecting intracellular Ca2+ dynamics. Taken together, these data indicate that both VGLUT3 and the cytosolic concentration of glutamate are key limiting factors in regulating the Ca2+-dependent release of glutamate from astrocytes. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
DETERRENCE AND DETERRABILITY

The first forays into Western criminological theory came in the language of deterrence (Beccaria, 1963 [1764]). The paradigm itself is simple and straightforward, offering an explanation for crime that doubles as a solution (Pratt et al., 2006). Crime occurs when the expected rewards outweigh the anticipated risks, so increasing the risks, at least theoretically, will prevent most crimes in most circumstances. If deterrence describes the perceptual process by which would-be offenders calculate risks and rewards prior to offending, then deterrability refers to the offender's capacity and/or willingness to perform this calculation. The distinction between deterrence and deterrability is critical to understanding criminality from a utilitarian perspective. However, by attempting to answer “big picture” questions about the likelihood of offending relative to sanction threats, precious little scholarship has attended to the situated meaning of deterrability. This article draws attention to this lacuna in hopes of sensitizing criminology to an area of inquiry that, at present, remains only loosely developed.
Reliability of the Learning Style Inventory

The Learning Style Inventory, based upon Kolb's experiential theory of learning, is intended to measure an individual's emphasis on each of four learning modes: Concrete Experience (CE), Reflective...
Experiments with the Forbidden Regions of Open Periodic Structures: Application to Absorptive Filters

Experiments with open periodic structures are presented which show a large change in transmission at the transition from allowed to forbidden regions. At the boundaries of the forbidden regions, the radial distribution of the fields of a wave impressed upon the structure changes from one corresponding to slow-wave propagation to a field distribution corresponding to radiation. At these boundaries, the local field shapes do not change very much. However, at the boundary a large decrease in transmission through the structure is found, but with little change in input VSWR; this implies a change from real characteristic impedance to about the same value of radiation resistance. This behavior suggests applications to sharp cutoff absorptive filters.
Challenges contributing to disrupted transition from paediatric to adult diabetes care in young adults with Type 1 diabetes

Aim To examine challenges contributing to disruptions in care during the transition from paediatric to adult care among young adults with Type 1 diabetes who are primarily in ethnic minority groups and have low socio-economic status. Methods Participants (n = 20) were newly enrolled patients in a transition clinic for young adults with Type 1 diabetes with a history of loss to medical follow-up. Participants completed qualitative semi-structured interviews detailing their transition experiences in addition to demographic, HbA1c and psychosocial measures. Descriptive statistics were completed for quantitative data, and narrative thematic analysis of interviews was used to identify common themes. A mixed-method analysis was used to identify the associations between stressors identified in interviews and clinical and psychosocial variables. Results Three categories of challenges contributing to loss to follow-up were identified: psychosocial challenges, health provider and health system challenges and developmental challenges. Participants experienced a high degree of stressful life circumstances which were associated with higher HbA1c (r = 0.60, P = 0.005), longer duration of loss to follow-up (r = 0.51, P = 0.02), greater emergency department utilization (r = 0.45, P = 0.05), and lower life satisfaction (r = -0.62, P = 0.003). Conclusions A confluence of challenges, including stressful life circumstances, healthcare system barriers and the developmental trajectory of young adulthood, contributes to a high risk of loss to follow-up and poor health in this population of young adults with Type 1 diabetes. An integrated approach to transition addressing medical and psychosocial needs may facilitate improved follow-up and health outcomes in clinical settings.
Hypersubjectivity: Language, anxiety, and indexical dissonance in globalization

This commentary responds to papers in a special issue on “Anxiety, Insecurity, and Border Crossing: Language Contact in a Globalizing World.” The discussion considers how anxiety emerges as transnational subjects seek semiotic stability in the global economy’s shifting terrain of indexical relations. Although contact zones informed by neoliberalism valorize linguistic flexibility, they also hierarchize certain kinds of communicative competence as more flexible than others. When linguistic practice is divorced from its temporal and spatial roots, it is readily essentialized as indexical of particular kinds of personhood, only some of which are viewed as appropriately global. The ambiguity of what counts as linguistic capital in the global economy leads speakers to defend their behaviors through appeals to authenticity, often confirming the very ideology that positions them as linguistically inflexible.
SU‐FF‐T‐665: Comparasion of Entrance Dose of Uniform Scanning and Double Scattering Modes in Proton Therapy

Purpose: To investigate the difference in entrance dose by double scattering and uniform scattering modes in proton therapy.Methods: Four modulated beams in different energy groups (options) were selected to run in both double scattering (DS) and uniform scattering (US) modes. PDD was measured for each beam in both modes. In DS mode, the compete PDD scan was performed. In US mode, only the dose at the selected depths in the entrance region and the dose in the center of the Spread Out Bragg Peak (SOBP) were measured. This is because the normal PDD scan can not be done due to the layer by layer delivery nature of US. Measurements were done in a WP‐1D water phantom using a PPC05 parallel‐plate ionization chamber. The ISO was set at the center of the SOBP for each beam. 100MU was delivered in US mode for each run. Results: Data show that in the entrance region, the first few centimeters, the dose by US, is about 5% less than the dose by DS mode for lower energy beams. The entrance dose however is very similar for the selected high energy beam in both modes. Conclusion: for lower energy beams, the entrance dose by US is less than that of DS. The lower entrance dose is likely due to higher peak to entrance dose ratio of the pristine peak in US.
Ceramic bearings for use in gas turbine engines

Three decades of research by U.S. industry and government laboratories have produced a vast body of data related to the use of ceramic rolling element bearings and bearing components for aircraft gas turbine engines. Materials such as alumina, silicon carbide, titanium carbide, silicon nitride, and a crystallized glass ceramic have been investigated. Rolling-element endurance tests and analysis of full-complement bearings have been performed. Materials and bearing design methods have continuously improved over the years. This paper reviews a wide range of data and analyses with emphasis on how early NASA contributions as well as more recent data can enable the engineer or metallurgist to determine just where ceramic bearings are most applicable for gas turbines.
Basal metabolic rate in hyperemesis gravidarum: comparison to normal pregnancy and response to treatment.

Objective: The aim of the study was to measure resting minute ventilation and oxygen consumption in patients with hyperemesis gravidarum before and after treatment and to compare the results with those of normal pregnant women. Study design: Baseline evaluation was performed with the use of an open-circuit ventilatory system in 17 hospitalized patients with hyperemesis gravidarum and was repeated 1 week after treatment. Thirty-seven normal pregnant women served as control subjects. Results: Resting minute ventilation and oxygen consumption were decreased by 20% and 15% (P < .001), respectively, in patients with hyperemesis compared with control subjects. The decrease occurred despite a measurable increase of free thyroxine compared with normal pregnancy. Treatment resulted in a 10% increase in oxygen consumption in those patients with increased thyroid stimulation, but not otherwise. Conclusion: Resting oxygen consumption is reduced significantly in patients with hyperemesis gravidarum that is consistent with a state of partial starvation rather than increased in parallel with increases of thyroid axis activity. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 2003;188:434-8.)
Determination of the energy gaps in superconductors by point contact tunnelling

Abstract A flat point contact tunnelling technique has been developed which minimizes anomalous tunnelling structures. Measured energy gaps for both niobium and for lead-indium alloys agree well with the results of previous work.
Commentary on polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), toxins, and neuropsychological deficits: Good science is the antidote

The seven cohort studies of the relation between prenatal and postnatal exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) to cognitive, neuropsychological and behavioral development have suggested that exposure to PCBs can cause persistent changes in cognitive functioning. D.V. Cicchetti, A.S. Kaufman, and S.S. Sparrow (this issue) apply six scientific criteria to the design, methodology, and data analysis of the seven cohort studies and demonstrate that numerous flaws limit the reliability and validity of the results and the subsequent conclusions that can be drawn. Their analysis highlights the following general issues for both clinical and research neuropsychologists: (a) self-report may not be the most reliable indicator of exposure to a toxin or of history; (b) statistical results are limited by the appropriateness and reliability and validity of test instruments; (c) clinical examiners must be appropriately trained; (d) some significant findings occur by chance alone, and; (e) the error of overinterpretation of findings—statistical significance does not mean clinical significance and population statistics cannot be applied directly to individuals. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Psychol Schs 41: 681–685, 2004.
Experimental determination of the υ1 fundamental vibrational transition moment for HNC

Abstract Hydrogen isocyanide, HNC, was generated by the reaction of translationally energetic H atoms with ClCN, and the resulting products, HCl, HCN and HNC, followed by time-resolved infrared absorption spectroscopy. The subsequent reaction of the Cl and CN species with the H atom precursor, CH3SH, resulted in a definite stoichiometric relationship between the stable products and HNC. This stoichiometric relationship was used to relate the HNC absorption to those for HCN and HCl. The υ1 fundamental vibrational transition moment was determined to be 0.141±0.007 Debye.
Interfacial Activity of Polymer-Coated Gold Nanoparticles

A systematic study of the interfacial activity of polymer-coated gold nanoparticles was performed with the use of a computer-controlled four-roll mill. The nanoparticle locality within the polymeric domains (bulk or interface) was controlled by means of a mixture of polymeric ligands grafted to the gold nanoparticle core. The bulk polymers were polybutadiene (PBd) and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). Monoterminated PDMS and PBd ligands were synthesized on the basis of the esterification of reactive groups (such as hydroxyl or amino groups) with lipoic acid anhydride. The formation of polymer-coated nanoparticles using these lipoic acid-functionalized polymers was confirmed via transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and their interfacial activity was manifested as a reduction of the interfacial tension and in the enhanced stability of thin films (as seen via the inhibition of coalescence). The nanoparticles showed an equal, if not superior, ability to reduce the interfacial tension when compared to previous studies on the effect of insoluble surfactants; however, these particles proved not to be as effective at inhibiting coalescence as their surfactant counterpart. We suggest that this effect may be caused by an increase in the attractive van der Waals forces created by the presence of metal-core nanoparticles. Experimental measurements using the four-roll mill allow us to explore the relationship between nanoparticle concentration at the interface and interfacial tension. In particular, we have found evidence that the interface concentration can be increased relative to the equilibrium value achieved by diffusion alone, and thus the interfacial tension can be systematically reduced if the interfacial area is increased temporarily via drop deformation or breakup followed by recoalescence.
Labor Flexibility, Ownership and Firm Performance in China

Developed and developing countries alike areprivatizing or corporatizing state owned enterprises(SOEs), often citing the flexibility to hire and shedlabor as an advantage. However, there is littleempirical evidence on the extent to which thisimproves firm performance. This paper investigates thelinkage between labor flexibility, ownership and firmperformance using China as a case study. We find thatSOEs are much less able to adjust quickly to demandshocks than are other ownership forms and that thedegree of worker input into hiring and firingdecisions slows the ability of firms to adapt,negatively affecting firm performance.
Folate targeting of drug carriers : A mathematical model

The binding of folate-targeted drug carriers to a receptor-bearing cell surface is modeled using a deterministic approach. The model accounts for the presence of multiple folate ligands on the carrier surface, the anchoring and presentation of the ligands on flexible polymeric tethers, and the combination of both clustered and homogeneous spatial distributions of receptors on the cell surface. The model was validated against an experimental system where folate-bearing liposomes were used as delivery vehicles to deliver drug to tumor cells in vitro. Unknown parameters of the model were then estimated by a least-squares fit to the experimental data. A parametric study systematically varying the estimated parameters around the best-fit values indicated that the model was sensitive to these parameters, lending credence to their estimated values. This study indicates that drug uptake is dependent on several factors including the ligand number, the exposure time, and carrier concentration. For the specific case of folate targeting, the cumulative uptake of folate ligands is important, causing a decrease in the carrier uptake rate once a threshold cumulative uptake is crossed.
Quantitative Structure-property Relationships for Aqueous Solubilities of Halogenated Aromatic Compounds

Abstract Quantitative structure-property relationships (QSPRs) have been examined for the aqueous solubility of halogenated benzenes, polychlorobiphenyls, polybromobiphenyls, and polychloronaphthalenes at 20 to 25°C. Multiple regression correlations of aqueous mole fraction solubility (X) with molecular size descriptors (molecular weight, total molecular surface area, or various zero-order molecular connectivity indices) and a combined molecular symmetry and structure descriptor (R ∗ Molecular size descriptor) are reported. A generalized correlation takes the form of where 1 ≤ m ≤ 2, ai refers to the ith regression coefficient, and R is a molecular redundancy index. The best correlation found, from the standpoint of reduced standard deviations and calculational simplicity, does not contain a melting temperature term (a 2 = 0). Derived QSPRs enable estimation of aqueous solubilities based solely on structural information.
New window on Proterozoic life

NASA: This article briefly discusses the the new fossil assemblage found in the 600-650-million-year-old shales of the Pertatataka formation in central Australia. It includes about two dozen taxa of spinose, process-bearing or otherwise ornamented acritarchs, many of them extremely large relative to comparably ornamented fossils in younger rocks. These acritarchs reveal a glimpse of early evolution and Proterozoic life.
Relationships between operative approaches and outcomes in esophageal cancer

BACKGROUND : Controversy exists whether patients with esophageal carcinoma are best managed with Ivor-Lewis (IL) or transhiatal (TH) esophagectomy. The TH approach is presumed to be superior with respect to operative time, leak rates, morbidity/mortality, and length of stay (LOS), but may represent an inferior cancer operation compared with formal IL. Accordingly, we reviewed the results of our esophageal resections to compare these outcome parameters for each operative approach. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of all esophagectomies performed at Oregon Health Sciences University and Portland Veterans Affairs Medical Center between 1987 and 1996. Survival was determined by the Kaplan-Meier method, and comparisons between the IL and TH groups were made with Student's t test, Fisher's exact test, and log-rank analysis. RESULTS: Seventy-eight patients were identified. Forty patients had IL and 38 had TH. Fifty-eight patients had adenocarcinoma, 19 had squamous cell, and 1 had an unknown histology. Mean operative time was 389 minutes for IL versus 275 minutes for TH (P = 0.0001). Leak rates were 7.5% for IL and 13% for TH (P = 0.21). There were no significant differences between IL and TH with respect to other types of complications, operative deaths, blood loss, need for transfusion, LOS, stricture rates, or need for dilatation. Overall mean survival was 12 months. Mean survival rates were 8 months for IL and 12 for TH (P = NS), and were also equivalent when compared by histology and stage for stage. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that IL and TH are comparable operations with equivalent survival rates. The TH approach did not decrease the incidence of complications, transfusions, leaks, strictures, or subsequent dilatations. Although TH requires less operating room time, this does not translate into a decrease in LOS. Either approach appears to be acceptable depending on surgeons' preferences and appropriate patient selection.
On the use of Gillian rose

Three recent attempts to draw resources for theology from the work of philosopher and social theorist Gillian Rose are examined. Although her work has received little attention, it has been influential in the development of ‘Radical Orthodoxy’. Yet her dense style has led to many misunderstandings of her work. Each of the three attempts to draw theological resources from her work examined is problematic, either because it misrepresents Rose's work or because it reads Rose too narrowly. The outline of a positive account of Rose's philosophy is developed through critical engagements with these three readers. I suggest that an alternative theological appropriation of Rose that focuses on her account of the theological virtues, particularly faith and love, might be possible.
Magnetization ringing in the B phase of superfluid3He

We study theoretically the ringing of magnetization in superfluid3He-B for two configurations: the ringing in the Leggett configuration in the presence of a transverse field and the longitudinal ringing in the parallel plate configuration. It is shown that the time variation of the magnetization is described in terms of three distinct ringing frequencies in these general configurations.
Chemometric analyses of curie-point pyrolysis—mass spectral data for differentiating seeds of triticeae grass species and hybrids

Abstract Valcarce, R.V., Smith, G.G., Stevenson, D.N. and Asay, K.H., 1990. Chemometric analyses of Curie point pyrolysis—mass spectral data for differentiating seeds of Triticeae grass species and hybrids. Chemometrics and Intelligent Laboratory Systems, 9: 95–105. Hybrid combinations of quackgrass (Elytrigia repens) with bluebunch wheatgrass (Pseudoroegneria spicata) offer substantial economic benefits for western rangelands of the United States if a reliable chemotaxonomic technique can be developed to distinguish hybrid seed from regular quackgrass seed. Curie-point pyrolysis—mass spectrometry (Py-MS) coupled with chemometric analysis is shown to be a potential solution for this problem. Using Py-MS with unsupervised pattern recognition techniques (hierarchical cluster analysis and principal component analysis), the chemical differences that discriminate quackgrass seed from hybrid seed as well as bluebunch wheatgrass seed are clearly elucidated. In addition, discriminant analysis was used to determine the discriminant functions suitable for classifying subsequent unknown grass seed samples.
Using network science to evaluate exercise-associated brain changes in older adults

Literature has shown that exercise is beneficial for cognitive function in older adults and that aerobic fitness is associated with increased hippocampal tissue and blood volumes. The current study used novel network science methods to shed light on the neurophysiological implications of exercise-induced changes in the hippocampus of older adults. Participants represented a volunteer subgroup of older adults that were part of either the exercise training (ET) or healthy aging educational control (HAC) treatment arms from the Seniors Health and Activity Research Program Pilot (SHARP-P) trial. Following the 4-month interventions, MRI measures of resting brain blood flow and connectivity were performed. The ET group's hippocampal cerebral blood flow (CBF) exhibited statistically significant increases compared to the HAC group. Novel whole-brain network connectivity analyses showed greater connectivity in the hippocampi of the ET participants compared to HAC. Furthermore, the hippocampus was consistently shown to be within the same network neighborhood (module) as the anterior cingulate cortex only within the ET group. Thus, within the ET group, the hippocampus and anterior cingulate were highly interconnected and localized to the same network neighborhood. This project shows the power of network science to investigate potential mechanisms for exercise-induced benefits to the brain in older adults. We show a link between neurological network features and CBF, and it is possible that this alteration of functional brain networks may lead to the known improvement in cognitive function among older adults following exercise.
Life and Death of Neurons in the Aging Brain

Neurodegenerative disorders are characterized by extensive neuron death that leads to functional decline, but the neurobiological correlates of functional decline in normal aging are less well defined. For decades, it has been a commonly held notion that widespread neuron death in the neocortex and hippocampus is an inevitable concomitant of brain aging, but recent quantitative studies suggest that neuron death is restricted in normal aging and unlikely to account for age-related impairment of neocortical and hippocampal functions. In this article, the qualitative and quantitative differences between aging and Alzheimer's disease with respect to neuron loss are discussed, and age-related changes in functional and biochemical attributes of hippocampal circuits that might mediate functional decline in the absence of neuron death are explored. When these data are viewed comprehensively, it appears that the primary neurobiological substrates for functional impairment in aging differ in important ways from those in neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease.
Prospective memory in HIV-1 infection.

The cognitive deficits associated with HIV-1 infection are thought to primarily reflect neuropathophysiology within the fronto-striato-thalamo-cortical circuits. Prospective memory (ProM) is a cognitive function that is largely dependent on prefronto-striatal circuits, but has not previously been examined in an HIV-1 sample. A form of episodic memory, ProM involves the complex processes of forming, monitoring, and executing future intentions vis-a-vis ongoing distractions. The current study examined ProM in 42 participants with HIV-1 infection and 29 demographically similar seronegative healthy comparison (HC) subjects. The HIV-1 sample demonstrated deficits in time-and event-based ProM, as well as more frequent 24-hour delay ProM failures and task substitution errors relative to the HC group. In contrast, there were no significant differences in recognition performance, indicating that the HIV-1 group was able to accurately retain and recognize the ProM intention when retrieval demands were minimized. Secondary analyses revealed that ProM performance correlated with validated clinical measures of executive functions, episodic memory (free recall), and verbal working memory, but not with tests of semantic memory, retention, or recognition discrimination. Taken together, these findings indicate that HIV-1 infection is associated with ProM impairment that is primarily driven by a breakdown in the strategic (i.e., executive) aspects of retrieving future intentions, which is consistent with a prefronto-striatal circuit neuropathogenesis.
A Selection Procedure Using a Screening Variate

Consider N objects on which two correlated measurements X and Y can be made and where the measurement of X is easier or less expensive to make than the one of Y. Suppose that the probability that the Y measurement meets a certain specification is γ. We present a method, which uses the conditional probabilities that Y will meet the specification given the observed value of the x's, for choosing a maximal subset of m out of the N objects, based on the observed X measurements, so that there is a high probability that a large proportion (Π ≥ γ) of the selected subset will meet the desired specification. The procedure is useful for helping to meet a guaranteed proportion of satisfactory items. It compares favorably with one suggested by Owen, Li, and Chou (1981).
The Linear Fractional Portfolio Selection Problem

A simplified portfolio selection criterion suggested by Sharpe and Mao involves choosing at most n securities from a universe of m securities in order to maximize the portfolio's excess-return-to-beta ratio. This paper examines alternative solution procedures to achieve this objective, including a gradient procedure whose continuous Knapsack subproblems in m bounded variables are solved in Om time. The effect on the optimal portfolio of increasing n is discussed, as well as the relationship between the excess-return-to-beta ratio of an individual security and that of the optimal portfolio. The paper concludes with computational experience on problems with n ranging from 10 to 200 and m from 500 to 1,245.
Dietary and behavioral risk factors for urolithiasis: potential implications for prevention

Few studies have examined urolithiasis in primary care populations, and limited data are available on non-drug interventions to reduce the risk for urinary calculi. Therefore, we conducted a case control study of patients enrolled in a large prepaid health maintenance organization. The 240 study cases were men experiencing initial episodes of urolithiasis, ascertained by reviewing radiology procedure logs and medical records. The 392 controls were age-matched men with no history of urolithiasis chosen from a list of randomly selected men. Data were collected using standardized telephone interviews. Odds ratios were calculated for potential risk factors. In logistic regression analyses the risk for urinary tract calculi was related to both consumption variables, such as a low-fat or weight reduction diet (adjusted odds ratio, 0.41; P < 0.0005) and beer drinking (adjusted odds ratio, 0.41; P < 0.0001), and to demographic variables, such as African-American ethnicity (adjusted odds ratio, 0.29; P = 0.03) and a positive family history (adjusted odds ratio, 2.22; P < 0.001). These findings suggest the need to evaluate appropriate behavioral interventions to reduce the morbidity associated with urolithiasis. Prospective studies should evaluate the possibilities that beer drinking, even in modest amounts, and a low-fat or weight reduction diet are associated with substantial reductions in risk.
Resident memory T cells in human health and disease

Resident memory T cells are non-recirculating memory T cells that persist long-term in epithelial barrier tissues, including the gastrointestinal tract, lung, skin, and reproductive tract. Resident memory T cells persist in the absence of antigens, have impressive effector functions, and provide rapid on-site immune protection against known pathogens in peripheral tissues. A fundamentally distinct gene expression program differentiates resident memory T cells from circulating T cells. Although these cells likely evolved to provide rapid immune protection against pathogens, autoreactive, aberrantly activated, and malignant resident memory cells contribute to numerous human inflammatory diseases including mycosis fungoides and psoriasis. This review will discuss both the science and medicine of resident memory T cells, exploring how these cells contribute to healthy immune function and discussing what is known about how these cells contribute to human inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.
The Research of Fuzzy-PID Control Based on Grey Predition for AUV

The complexity of sea environment and the uncertainty of AUV model lead to difficulties of heading control. It is difficult to satisfy its requirement for high accuracy and fast speed through the use of a single control method, based on the peculiarity of AUV and the existing problem of control, We propose a fuzzy-PID control method based on a grey model, which combines fuzzy control with PID control, Our simulations confirm that our method provides higher robustness and adaptive property than regular PID, it is suitable for the use of AUV in complexity sea environment.
The stark effect in hydrogen: Properties of threshold resonances in the photoionization spectrum of excited parabolic states

Abstract We have performed exact numerical calculations of the photoionization of highly excited parabolic states of hydrogen in the region of the zero field ionization limit (E ∼ 0) in an external electric field. We present results for the photoionization of blueshifted m=0 initial states (n2=0) by both π and σ polarized light. For highly excited initial states, the effects of the overlap of the initial and final state charge distributions become dominant in determining which final states will be excited, leading to approximate selection rules. The broad resonances in the photoionization spectrum near E=0 are shown to be dramatically enhanced and narrowed, resulting in the appearance of essentially isolated resonances in π polarization. In contrast to the situation for photoionization of low-lying states, large resonances are also predicted to be present in σ polarization.
Late Right Heart Reconstruction Following Repair of Tetralogy of Fallot

Abstract Twenty-two symptomatic patients underwent a total of 28 reoperative procedures after initial surgical repair of tetralogy of Fallot. Sixteen of the patients were considered to have unfavorable anatomy of the right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) or pulmonary artery at the time of initial repair. Pulmonary or tricuspid valve replacement, or replacement of both valves, utilizing a xenograft bioprosthesis was performed in 1 of the 22 initial repairs, 7 of the 22 first reoperations, and 5 of the 6 second reoperations. Ultimately, 14 patients received transannular RVOT patches. The interval between the first and second reoperations for 6 patients who required 2 late reconstructive procedures was 5.8 years. No operative deaths occurred. There were 2 late deaths (1 sudden and 1 due to aspiration). Actuarial survival probability (± standard error of the mean) 16 years after initial repair was 72 ± 21%. Eighteen of the 20 current survivors in the present series are completely asymptomatic without physical restrictions; the other 2 are considered to be in New York Heart Association Functional Class II. No xenograft bioprosthetic dysfunction has occurred to date, but cumulative valve follow-up is limited (13 patient-years). In selected patients, earlier pulmonary or tricuspid valve replacement or replacement of both of these valves can provide some degree of protection against recurrent deterioration.
The BAG proteins: a ubiquitous family of chaperone regulators

The BAG (Bcl-2 associated athanogene) family is a multifunctional group of proteins that perform diverse functions ranging from apoptosis to tumorigenesis. An evolutionarily conserved group, these proteins are distinguished by a common conserved region known as the BAG domain. BAG genes have been found in yeasts, plants, and animals, and are believed to function as adapter proteins forming complexes with signaling molecules and molecular chaperones. In humans, a role for BAG proteins has been suggested in carcinogenesis, HIV infection, and Parkinson's disease. These proteins are therefore potential therapeutic targets, and their expression in cells may serve as a predictive tool for such diseases. In plants, the Arabidopsis thaliana genome contains seven homologs of the BAG family, including four with domain organization similar to animal BAGs. Three members contain a calmodulin-binding domain possibly reflecting differences between plant and animal programmed cell death. This review summarizes current understanding of BAG proteins in both animals and plants.
Performance analysis of DOA estimation based on nonlinear functions of covariance matrix

Abstract The performance of direction of arrival estimators based on R−k is studied. Expressions are derived for variance, bias and resolution threshold of the estimators due to finite sample effects. Analytical expressions are verified with simulation results and comparisons are made with the performance of MUSIC. The mean square error is suggested as a criterion for selection of k. Different noise scenarios are considered and studied as a function of k.
Cell cycles and chromosome replication patterns in interspecific somatic hybrids.

Abstract The cell cycles and chromosome replication patterns of three mouse X Chinese hamster somatic hybrids were compared to those of the parent cells in order to examine whether nucleus-limited factors are involved in the regulation of the cell cycle. DNA synthesis was observed to be initiated synchronously in mouse and hamster chromosome sets, but terminated earlier in the latter set. The length of the S period was equal to that of the mouse parent (which had the longer S phase), and did not change with time after hybridization. The terminal pattern of DNA synthesis among hamster chromosomes appeared to be similar in hamster and hybrid cells. Therefore, as in heterokaryons, the activities of the two complements in hybrids are synchronized at mitosis, and at the beginning of the S period, but the rate and pattern of DNA synthesis appears to be regulated autonomously. The G1 and G2 periods of hybrids were initially very long, but became reduced with time in culture. These long gap periods, together with the observation that hamster as well as mouse chromosomes were frequently lost from hybrid clones, argues against the hypothesis that preferential chromosome loss results from the overlapping of DNA synthesis and mitosis.
Nanotube Networks in Polymer Nanocomposites: Rheology and Electrical Conductivity

Single-walled carbon nanotube (SWNT)/poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) nanocomposites were prepared via our coagulation method providing uniform dispersion of the nanotubes in the polymer matrix. Optical microscopy, Raman imaging, and SEM were employed to determine the dispersion of nanotube at different length scales. The linear viscoelastic behavior and electrical conductivity of these nanocomposites were investigated. At low frequencies, G‘ becomes almost independent of the frequency as nanotube loading increases, suggesting an onset of solidlike behavior in these nanocomposites. By plotting G‘ vs nanotube loading and fitting with a power law function, the rheological threshold of these nanocomposites is ∼0.12 wt %. This rheological threshold is smaller than the percolation threshold of electrical conductivity, ∼0.39 wt %. This difference in the percolation threshold is understood in terms of the smaller nanotube−nanotube distance required for electrical conductivity as compared to that required to impe...
Enhancing the Transition to Kindergarten: A Randomized Trial to Test the Efficacy of the “Stars” Summer Kindergarten Orientation Program

This randomized trial tested the efficacy of an intensive, four-week summer program designed to enhance low-income children's transition to kindergarten (n's = 60 program children, 40 controls). Administered in four public schools, the program focused on social competence, pre-literacy and pre-numeracy skills, school routines, and parental involvement. Hierarchical linear modeling indicated that the program significantly improved teachers' ratings of (a) the transition to the social aspect of kindergarten for girls (but not boys); and (b) the transition to kindergarten routines for the subgroup of children who had the same teacher for kindergarten as for the summer program. Findings are discussed in terms of practices and policies for supporting children's transition to school.
Importance of microembolization and inflammation in atherosclerotic heart disease

Considerable evidence now exists that inflammation is a central component of events that initiate and propagate an acute coronary syndrome. This process evokes the potential for embolization, which occurs more often than previously suspected, and imparts poor cardiovascular prognosis. Recent development of techniques to detect inflammation and embolization represents an important advance. In addition, therapies that diminish occurrence of these phenomena such as aspirin, statins, angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, and IIb/IIIa receptor antagonists have been shown to improve outlook.
ISSUES AND OBSERVATIONS ON APPLICATIONS OF THE CONSTRAINED-PATH MONTE CARLO METHOD TO MANY-FERMION SYSTEMS

We report several important observations that underscore the distinctions between the constrained-path Monte Carlo method and the continuum and lattice versions of the fixed-node method. The main distinctions stem from the differences in the state space in which the random walk occurs and in the manner in which the random walkers are constrained. One consequence is that in the constrained-path method the so-called mixed estimator for the energy is not an upper bound to the exact energy, as previously claimed. Several ways of producing an energy upper bound are given, and relevant methodological aspects are illustrated with simple examples.
Effect of Peg Homopolymer and Grafted Amphiphilic Peg-Palmityl on the Thermotropic Phase Behavior of 1,2-Dipalmitoyl-Sn-Glycero-3-Phosphocholine Bilayer

AbstractPhospholipids covalently attached to polyethylene glycol (PEG-PE) are routinely used for the preparation of long-circulating liposomes. The common preparation procedure for long-circulating liposomes involves use of organic solvent. Although there is a plethora of studies describing the interaction of PEG-PE with bilayers, little is known about the effects of PEG homopolymers and single chain amphiphilic PEG on liposome structure. In the present investigation the interaction of PEG homopolymer and amphiphilic PEG-palmityl conjugate with large multilamellar liposomes composed of 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-phosphocholine was investigated utilizing differential scanning calorimetry. Vesicle and aggregate sizes were determined by dynamic light scattering. DSC thermograms revealed interaction of PEG homopolymer with DPPC when the two are premixed in organic solvent. The data suggest that PEG interacts with the phospholipid acyl chains deep in the bilayer. Several questions are raised regarding the suit...
Removal of arsenic from water by zero-valent iron.

Batch and column experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of dissolved oxygen (DO) and pH on arsenic removal with zero-valent iron [Fe(0)]. Arsenic removal was dramatically affected by the DO content and the pH of the solution. Under oxic conditions, arsenate [As(V)] removal by Fe(0) filings was faster than arsenite [As(III)]. Greater than 99.8% of the As(V) was removed whereas 82.6% of the As(III) was removed at pH 6 after 9 h of mixing. When the solution was purged with nitrogen gas to remove DO, less than 10% of the As(III) and As(V) was removed. High DO content and low solution pH also increased the rate of iron corrosion. The removal of arsenic by Fe(0) was attributed to adsorption by iron hydroxides generated from the oxic corrosion of Fe(0). The column results indicated that a filtration system consisting of an iron column and a sand filter could be used for treatment of arsenic in drinking water.
On the stability of ω phase in Ti-6-22-22S and Ti-6-4 alloys

Ti-6Al-2Mo-2Cr-2Sn-2Zr-0.2Si (Ti-6-22-22S) alloy, which was developed initially twenty years ago, has been recently reconsidered as a new moderate temperature material for aircraft structural applications. Ti-6-22-22S is stronger than the conventional Ti-6Al-4V (Ti-6-4) alloy and has better damage tolerance. As a part of the comprehensive program on the microstructural characterization of Ti-6-22-22S, the effect of heat treatment and the addition of small amounts of Si on the microstructural development and mechanical properties have been thoroughly investigated. These heat treatment conditions include variations in the cooling rates from the {beta} solution treatment and ({alpha}+{beta}) solution treatment, the temperatures of ({alpha}+{beta}) solution treatment and aging temperatures. Furthermore the microstructural stability of this alloy, particularly with respect to the precipitation of secondary intermetallic compounds and their effect on the mechanical properties, has been investigated. In previous studies, two types of precipitates, namely silicides and {alpha}{sub 2} phase, have been observed. The stability of these precipitates during long time aging, and partitioning of alloying elements as function of heat treatment as well as their effects on mechanical properties have also been reported. In the present study, observations of the {omega} phase and its stability will be reported for Ti-6-22-22S and the results will be comparedmore » with those reported for Ti-6-4 alloy.« less