cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects of radiation forces on the attitude of an artificial earth satellite

The motion of an artificial earth satellite about its center of mass as a result of radiation forces is investigated The satellite is assumed to be symmetrical, both geometrically and dynamically The sources of radiation considered are direct solar radiation, solar ladiation reflected by the earth and its atmosphere, and direct radiation from the earth For these three cases, the forces and torques acting on an arbitrarily shaped satellite are derived The i esults are in integral form and are dependent upon the satellite's surface geometry, its orientation relative to the earth and sun, and its mass distribution The effects of the radiation torques upon the otherwise unperturbed motion of the satellite about its center of mass can be divided into two motions: motion of the axis of symmetry about the satellite's angular momentum vector (relative to its center of mass), and motion of the angular momentum vector For the sources considered, the motion about the angular momentum vector is an unperturbed Euler-Poinsot motion, and the angular momentum vector itself, while remaining practically constant in magnitude, precesses and nutates relative to the earth-sun line for direct solar radiation and relative to a perigee coordinate system for reflected solar and dii ect earth radiation
PECAM-1 is a modulator of STAT family member phosphorylation and localization: Lessons from a transgenic mouse

PECAM-1 (CD31) is a member of the immunoglobin (Ig) superfamily of cell adhesion molecules whose expression is restricted to hematopoietic and vascular cells. PECAM-1 can recruit adapter and signaling molecules via its immunoreceptor tyrosine activation motif (ITAM), suggesting that PECAM-1 plays a role in signal transduction pathways. To study the involvement of PECAM-1 in signaling cascades in vivo, we used the major histocompatibility (MHC) I gene promoter to target ectopic PECAM-1 expression in transgenic mice. We noted an attenuation of mammary gland development at early stages of virgin ductal branching morphogenesis. STAT5a, a modulator of milk protein gene expression during lactation, was localized to the nuclei of ductal epithelial cells of 6-week-old virgin PECAM-1 transgenics, but not in control mice. This correlated with decreases in ductal epithelial cell proliferation and induction of p21, an inhibitor of cell cycle progression. Using in vitro model systems we demonstrated PECAM-1/STAT5a association and found that residue Y701 in PECAM-1's cytoplasmic tail is important for PECAM-1/STAT5 association and that PECAM-1 modulates increases in STAT5a tyrosine phosphorylation levels. We suggest that by serving as a scaffolding, PECAM-1 can bring substrates (STAT5a) and enzymes (a kinase) into close proximity, thereby modulating phosphorylation levels of selected proteins, as previously noted for beta-catenin.
CD72, a Coreceptor with Both Positive and Negative Effects on B Lymphocyte Development and Function

B lymphocytes remain in a resting state until activated by antigenic stimuli through interaction with the B cell receptor (BCR). Coreceptors on B cells can modulate the thresholds for signaling through the BCR for growth and differentiation. CD72 is a B cell coreceptor that has been shown to interact with CD100, a semaphorin, and to enhance BCR signaling. CD72 ligation induces a variety of early signaling events such as activation of the Src kinases Blk and Lyn and the non-src kinase Btk leading to activation of the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases, events usually associated with positive signaling. CD72 signals can enable Btk-deficient B cells to overcome their unresponsiveness to BCR signaling. On the other hand, BCR-mediated signals are enhanced in CD72-deficient cells but are reduced in CD100 null cells. The dual effects of CD72 on B cells can be explained by its association with positive and negative signaling molecules. Thus, CD72 interacts with SHP-1, an SH2-domain containing protein tyrosine phosphatase, a negative regulator of signaling, and Grb2, an adaptor protein associated with the Ras/MAPK pathway. Ligation of CD72 also triggered its association with CD19, a positive modulator of B cell receptor signaling. We propose a dual signaling hypothesis to explain the growth and differentiation promoting properties of CD72. Deficiency in either CD72 or CD100 leads to autoimmunity in mouse models. CD72 expression and polymorphisms exhibit some association with autoimmune diseases such as lupus, Sjogren’s syndrome, and type 1 diabetes.
Multiplexed PCR genotyping of HPVs from plantaris verrucae.

Abstract Background Plantaris verrucae are a common diagnosis in childhood, consume a significant amount of health-care resources, have many painful treatment options and many recurrences. Objectives The objective of this study was to design and test a single site-anchored, multiplexed and expandable PCR assay for common types of cutaneous HPVs. Study design Common forward and unique reverse primers were selected from the E2 open reading frames of five cutaneous HPV genotypes. These were analyzed for sensitivity and selectivity using pHPV plasmids and several control DNAs in an optimized multiplexed assay. This standardized assay was used to analyze human verruca plantaris tissue for genome type and to evaluate the effect of a commonly used treatment protocol. Results A sensitive, multiplexed PCR assay for human cutaneous HPV genotypes 1a, 2a and 4 was developed. Specific-unique primers and a consensus anchor primer were selected within the HPV E2 region to produce amplicons varying by greater than 100 bp. In analytical sensitivity studies, fewer than 100 genome copies of HPV1a and 2a were detected, and fewer than 1000 copies of HPV4 were detected. The multiplexed assay did not amplify regions of human placenta, calf thymus, CaSki or SiHa DNA and E. coli , pBR322 or non-HPV virus DNAs. In combination with a forensic DNA extraction procedure, the multiplexed HPV assay detected and identified HPV types in 23 of 51 (45%) deep plantaris verrucae. Two patients were found with two different genotypes in single deep plantaris verruca. Detection of the HPV genome was followed as a function of tissue ablation and Mediplast treatment in one patient. In healing tissue, the genome content was reduced but had not totally disappeared. Conclusions The multiplexed HPV assay can be used to determine genotype prevalence that may correlate with treatment efficacy.
Vicious Dogs: The Antisocial Behaviors and Psychological Characteristics of Owners

Each year, 4.7 million people are bitten by dogs. Of those bitten each year, 386,000 are seriously injured and some killed. Consequently, many insurance companies refuse to issue homeowners insurance to owners of specific breeds of dogs considered "vicious" or high risk of causing injury. This study examined whether vicious dog owners were different on antisocial behaviors and personality dimensions. A total of 869 college students completed an anonymous online questionnaire assessing type of dog owned, criminal behaviors, attitudes towards animal abuse, psychopathy, and personality. The sample was divided into four groups: vicious dog owners, large dog owners, small dog owners, and controls. Findings revealed vicious dog owners reported significantly more criminal behaviors than other dog owners. Vicious dog owners were higher in sensation seeking and primary psychopathy. Study results suggest that vicious dog ownership may be a simple marker of broader social deviance.
Does the periodical cicada, Magicicada septendecim, prefer to oviposit on native or exotic plant species?

1. In 2004, Brood X of the periodical cicada (Magicicada spp.) emerged in Delaware. Extensive suburban development and concomitant planting of exotic species has occurred since the previous emergence of Brood X in 1987. 2. Exotic species could suffer extensive damage during years of cicada emergences if they are preferred for oviposition. Alternately, a shortage of suitable plant hosts may negatively affect remaining cicada populations. 3. We determined if the periodical cicada, Magicicada septendecim, preferred to oviposit on native or exotic woody plant species. Potential hosts were divided into three groups and planted in a randomised design near a likely source of cicadas. The first group, Natives, included 15 species native to Delaware. The second group, Non-natives, included 15 exotic species that had a native congener represented in the Native group. The final group, Aliens, included 13 exotic species that did not have a native congener. 4. Based on observations of 428 plants, cicadas were more likely to oviposit on Natives or Non-natives, which did not differ from each other in this measure, than on Aliens. Non-natives had more oviposition holes per metre than Natives, which had more holes per metre than Aliens. The likelihood of stem flagging was lowest on Alien species; the percentage of the total plant that flagged was greatest for Natives. Plant morphology also influenced host preference and likelihood of flagging. 5. Taking plant morphology into consideration, we speculate that the evolutionary history between periodical cicadas and potential hosts is an important component of host preference.
Increased susceptibility to vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus intestinal colonization persists after completion of anti-anaerobic antibiotic treatment in mice.

BACKGROUND Antibiotic-associated disruption of the indigenous intestinal microflora may persist beyond the treatment period. Although piperacillin/tazobactam inhibits the establishment of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) stool colonization in mice during treatment, we hypothesized that this agent and other anti-anaerobic antibiotics would increase susceptibility to colonization during the period of recovery of the intestinal microflora. DESIGN Mice received 10(4) colony-forming units of vancomycin-resistant E. faecium by orogastric inoculation 2, 5, or 10 days after completing 5 days of subcutaneous antibiotic treatment, or both during and 2 days after the completion of treatment. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) was performed to assess changes in the intestinal microflora. RESULTS Anti-anaerobic antibiotics (ie, piperacillin/ tazobactam, cefoxitin, and clindamycin) caused significant disruption of the indigenous microflora (mean DGGE similarity indices < or = 27% in comparison with saline controls) and promoted the establishment of high-density colonization when VRE was inoculated 2 or 5, but not 10, days following treatment (P < .001). Piperacillin/tazobactam exhibited a biphasic effect on the establishment of colonization (ie, inhibition when exposed to VRE during treatment and promotion when exposed to VRE after discontinuation of treatment), resulting in greater overall promotion of colonization than did agents with minimal anti-anaerobic activity (ie, levofloxacin, cefepime, and aztreonam) when VRE was inoculated both during and 2 days after treatment (P < .001). CONCLUSION Patients receiving anti-anaerobic antibiotics, including piperacillin/tazobactam, may be susceptible to the establishment of high-density VRE colonization during the period of recovery of the anaerobic microflora.
Medium and ligand effects on the absorption spectra of some Cr(III) complexes

Abstract The effect of solvent on the quartet-quartet and quartet-doublet absorption bands of KCr(NH3)2(NCS)4 is found to be considerable in both cases. The frequency shift relative to water as solvent is as much as 400 wave numbers, and there is an approximately linear relationship between the shifts for the two types of bands. Moreover, taking the above potassium reineckate salt as reference, the shifts for other Cr(III) complexes having some π bonding obey the same linear plot. These observations are contrary to the simple ligand field prediction that the quartet-doublet transition should be independent of ligand field strength. The difficulty may lie in oversimplified treatment of electronic interactions that is involved, or in the need to include π bonding interactions.
Returning Home: Preliminary Findings from a Pilot Study of Soon-to-be-Released Prisoners in Maryland

In 2001, researchers at the Urban Institute launched a pilot study in the state of Maryland for a four-state, longitudinal research project examining prisoner reentry. The first stage of the pilot involved self-administered surveys with 324 prisoners in the 30 to 90 days prior to their expected release. This paper describes the research procedures that were employed to obtain this baseline data and presents some preliminary findings from the survey of soon-to-be-released prisoners. The results presented include descriptive information on prisoner demographics, criminal histories, substance use, and family relationships, as well as correlation analyses of prisoner attitudes and expectations for life after release.
TCT-562 Temporal Trends In Cost and Resource Utilization Following PCI-Associated Gastrointestinal Bleeding

Gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB) remains a serious complication for patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Little is known about the resource utilization and cost for patients with GI bleeding following PCI. We sought to analyze healthcare resource utilization, cost, and
On the computational complexity of sequence design problems

Inverse protein folding concerns the identification of an amino acid sequence that folds to a given structure. Sequence design problems attempt to avoid the apparent difficulty of inverse protein folding by defining an energy that can be minimized to find protein-like sequences. The authors evaluate the practical relevance of two sequence design problems by analyzing their computation complexity. They show that the canonical method of sequence design is intractable, and describe approximation algorithms for this problem. The authors also describe an efficient algorithm that exactly solves the grand canonical method. The analysis shows how sequence design problems can fail to reduce the difficulty of the inverse protein folding problem, and highlights the need to analyze these problems to evaluate their practical relevance.
Stiffness and stress characteristics of the generalized cross-spring pivot

The generalized cross-spring pivot, formed by crossing two leaves symmetrically at an arbitrary position along the length, can be employed widely in precision machine due to plenty of good performances. The stiffness and stress characteristics are important consideration for this pivot, but some of these attributes have not been revealed. In this paper, a simple model for stiffness prediction is first established based on some accurate approximations. Then moment stiffness and force stiffness are analyzed in order to better characterize the influences of the geometric parameters. After investigating the effect of the vertical force, the constant stiffness property is captured, and an approach to the low rotational stiffness is presented according to the buckling load. Moreover, the stress analysis is also implemented on purpose that the properties of the influencing factors (such as geometric parameters and loads) can be characterized and the pivot with large motion range can be fulfilled by stress checking. Finally, the characteristics, revealed by the analysis model, are validated by finite element analysis (FEA).
SU-E-T-121: A New Procedure That Simultaneously Measures Beam Energy and Beam Symmetry

Purpose: To demonstrate a quality assurance procedure using a flat‐panel array that simultaneously measures the beam energy and beam symmetry, with one single measurement setup. Methods: The energy and symmetry of x‐ray and electron beams from TrueBeam (Varian Medical Systems) were measured at various bend magnet currents and steering coil currents, using a water phantom (Blue Phantom, IBA) and an ion chamber array (IC Profiler, Sun Nuclear). With IC Profiler, the energy was measured along the diagonal; simultaneously, the symmetry was measured along the transverse as well as the radial. For x‐ray, changes in energy were manifest as changes in the maximum off‐axis ratios along the diagonals at Dmax (“horns”). Horns were measured with IC Profiler and Blue Phantom, and compared to the depth dose scans. For electron energy, the “field size” was measured using IC Profiler with an aluminum wedge placed along the diagonal; the results were compared to the depth dose scans by Blue Phantom. The beam symmetries measured by IC Profiler were compared to the standard measurements by Blue Phantom. Results: For x‐rays, the diagonal “horns” changed approximately 1.2% measured by IC Profiler and approximately 1% measured by Blue Phantom. The same energy range changed the relative dose at 10 cm depth in water less than 0.4%. For electrons, the “field size” measured by IC Profiler increased 4 mm, versus R50 in water increased less than 2 mm, for the same energy change. Symmetries of x‐ray and electron measured by both devices were comparable. Conclusions: A single setup to measure beam profiles, accomplished with a flat‐panel array, can simultaneously detect whether the beam energy and symmetry are correct. The ease of setting up the array suggests that this technique could be made as part of routine QA procedures.
A Television Pickup Tube

A television pickup tube is described which combines in one device the principles of signal storage, as in the Iconoscope, and of signal multiplication by secondary-electron emission. Calculations indicate that for a given video-frequency signal, this tube will generate a considerably greater electrical signal than any other present pickup device.
Playing Well with Others: The Role of Social Capital in Traffic Accident Prevention

Using data from a panel of 48 US states during 1997–2006, I present evidence that social capital reduces fatal traffic accidents by fostering pro-social behavior among drivers. I estimate simultaneous equation systems that model the incidence of interpersonal interaction-related vs non-interaction-related traffic outcomes, in which variation in endogenous social capital is identified using snow depth. My results show that social capital has a larger relative effect on multi-vehicle and junction-related fatalities and fatal crashes, incidents with respect to which motorist interaction is most critical to outcomes. The findings are robust to alternative specifications and measures of social capital.
Acquired fear, brightness preference, and one-way shuttlebox performance

Rats choosing between black and white showed an unlearned preference for black which was strengthened by previous shock in white, and weakened but not reversed by equivalent shock in black. Congruous findings were obtained with a one-way shuttlebox: escape from white to black occurred more readily than escape from black to white, whether S had or had not been shocked in the start compartment. Incongruously, fear conditioning did not facilitate escape performance, but rather impaired it early in training.
Null subjects: A problem for parameter-setting models of language acquisition ☆

Abstract Some languages, like English, require overt surface subjects, while others, like Italian and Spanish, allow “null” subjects. How does the young child determine whether or not her language allows null subjects? Modern parameter-setting theory has proposed a solution, in which the child begins acquisition with the null subject parameter set for either the English-like value or the Italian-like value. Incoming data, or the absence thereof, force a resetting of the parameter if the original value was incorrect. This paper argues that the single-value solution cannot work, no matter which value is chosen as the initial one, because of inherent limitations in the child's parser, and because of the presence of misleading input. An alternative dual-value solution is proposed, in which the child begins acquisition with both values available, and uses theory-confirmation procedures to decide which value is best supported by the available data.
How dying cells alert the immune system to danger

When a cell dies in vivo, the event does not go unnoticed. The host has evolved mechanisms to detect the death of cells and rapidly investigate the nature of their demise. If cell death is a result of natural causes - that is, it is part of normal physiological processes - then there is little threat to the organism. In this situation, little else is done other than to remove the corpse. However, if cells have died as the consequence of some violence or disease, then both defence and repair mechanisms are mobilized in the host. The importance of these processes to host defence and disease pathogenesis has only been appreciated relatively recently. This article reviews our current knowledge of these processes.
Viral potentiation of bacterial superinfection of the respiratory tract

Virus infections of the respiratory tract predispose it to bacterial superinfections. Epidemiological studies, clinical evidence of viral-bacterial co-infection and animal models of such interactions suggest a time course of events and several mechanisms by which viral potentiation may occur. It appears that structural and functional disruption of the respiratory mucosal epithelium is a major contributor to the synergistic effects of superinfection.
A thin-film detector system for laser-fusion studies

Abstract A nonmagnetic detector system utilizing time-of-flight technique has been developed to detect α-particles and protons produced from laser-fusion processes. This detector is also capable of detecting high energy ions in the hundred keV region. A thin-film plastic scintillator is used to sense the presence of the charged particles and an efficient off-axis parabolic reflector is employed to collect light into the photo-cathode of a fast photo-multiplier tube. With the appropriate amount of filtering this device also functions as a very useful X-ray monitor. 9488
The association between lactation and breast cancer in an international case-control study: a re-analysis by menopausal status.

In the large, hospital-based, international case-control study of breast cancer conducted by MacMahon and colleagues in the 1960s, no protective effect of lactation was observed. However, more recent reports have suggested that such an association may be limited to pre-menopausal women. Therefore, a re-analysis of the data from that original study was performed by menopausal status and with control for additional breast-cancer risk factors since identified. Overall, data from 4,671 parous pre-menopausal and 7,200 parous post-menopausal women were analyzed, from 7 different sites representing areas of high risk (Glamorgan, Wales; Boston, USA), moderate risk (Athens, Greece; Slovenia, ex-Yugoslavia; Sao Paolo, Brazil), and low risk (Tokyo, Japan; Taipei, Taiwan) of breast cancer. No significant effect of lactation was found for pre-menopausal or post-menopausal women from the high-, moderate-, or low-risk areas; the center-adjusted, combined odds ratio (OR) for having breast-fed was 1.05 (95% confidence interval, 0.86–1.29) among pre-menopausal and 1.04 (0.88–1.24) among post-menopausal women. Moreover, examination of cumulative duration of lactation did not support an inverse association between breast cancer and increased length of total breast-feeding. In conclusion, re-analysis of these data, by menopausal status and adjusting for age at first parity, age at menarche, age at menopause, body-mass index and years of schooling, did not reveal a protective effect of lactation or duration of lactation against breast-cancer occurrence among the pre-menopausal, parous women. Int. J. Cancer 71:166–169, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Increased toxicity by transforming growth factor-beta 1 in liver cells overexpressing CYP2E1

Ethanol treatment causes an increase in expression of TGF-beta1 and CYP2E1 in the centrilobular area. Alcoholic liver disease is usually initiated in the centrilobular region of the liver. We hypothesized that the combination of TGF-beta1 and CYP2E1 produces increased oxidative stress and liver cell toxicity. To test this possibility, we studied the effects of TGF-beta1 on the viability of HepG2 E47 cells that express human CYP2E1, and C34 HepG2 cells, which do not express CYP2E1. E47 cells underwent greater growth inhibition and enhanced apoptosis after TGF-beta1 treatment, as compared to the C34 cells. There was an enhanced production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and a decline in reduced glutathione (GSH) levels in the TGF-beta1-treated E47 cells and the enhanced cell death could be prevented by antioxidants. The CYP2E1 inhibitor diallyl sulfide prevented the potentiated cell death in E47 cells validating the role of CYP2E1. Mitochondrial membrane potential declined in the TGF-beta1-treated E47 cells, prior to developing toxicity, and cell death could be prevented by trifluoperazine, an inhibitor of the mitochondrial membrane permeability transition. TGF-beta1 also produced a loss of cell viability in hepatocytes from pyrazole-treated rats with elevated levels of CYP2E1, compared to control hepatocytes. In conclusion, increased toxic interactions by TGF-beta1 plus CYP2E1 can occur by a mechanism involving increased production of intracellular ROS and depletion of GSH, resulting in mitochondrial membrane damage and loss of membrane potential, followed by apoptosis. Potentiation of TGF-beta1-induced cell death by CYP2E1 may contribute to mechanisms of alcohol-induced liver disease.
POD-based thermal model for FinFET IC structure

A reduced basis element method is presented based on proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) to develop thermal models for FinFET devices and integrated circuits. The POD approach is able to substantially reduce numerical degrees of freedom (DOF) while offering spatial thermal solution as detailed as detailed numerical simulation. The POD thermal models for the selected FinFET blocks can be stored in a library for constructing a larger circuit structure. This study demonstrates that, using the developed approach, an accurate thermal model for a multi-block FinFET structure can be developed to capture all the hot spots in the structure with a reduction in DOFs by nearly 6 orders of magnitude, compared to DNS.
Lessons Learned from Surveillance of Antimicrobial Susceptibilities of Pseudomonas aeruginosa at a Large Academic Medical Center

This research report assessed the differences in resistance rates and antimicrobial usage-versus-susceptibility relationships of Pseudomonas aeruginosa found in various hospital patient care areas. A simplified case control study was also performed to identify patient-specific risk factors associated with cefepime-resistant P. aeruginosa isolates. Last, we determined the consequence of combining mucoid and non-mucoid derived antimicrobial susceptibilities of P. aeruginosa into hospital antibiograms. Overall, susceptibility rates remained lower in the intensive care units (ICUs) compared to the non-ICU patient care areas, except for cefepime over the last time period. Cefepime utilization and antimicrobial-resistance rates among P. aeruginosa isolates had a significant relationship. Decreased meropenem exposure was associated with lower resistance rates relative to cefepime. Risk factors independently associated with cefepime-resistant P. aeruginosa were structural lung disease, ICU admission, recent third generation cephalosporin use, frequent hospital admission and non-urine isolates. Large and statistically significant differences were observed between non-mucoid and combined percent susceptibility data for aminoglycosides. To control antimicrobial resistance and optimize initial empiric antimicrobial therapy, antimicrobial susceptibility and utilization patterns in specific patient care areas should be monitored and risk factors for antimicrobial resistance should be assessed. Mucoid strains of P. aeruginosa should not be included into antimicrobial susceptibility data as this may underestimate activity of most antipseudomonal agents.
Developmental Plasticity and Growth Rates of Green Frog (Rana clamitans) Embryos and Tadpoles in Relation to a Leech (Macrobdella decora) Predator

Abstract We tested for predator-induced plasticity in development and growth of embryos and young tadpoles of green frogs (Rana clamitans). We expected to observe developmental plasticity in response to the leech, Macrobdella decora, because the leech represents a high, but unpredictable, risk of mortality. Embryos raised with a leech tended to delay hatching and hatched at larger size. Young tadpoles raised with a leech grew more slowly than tadpoles raised without a leech. Such changes should enhance survival of green frogs faced with the threat of leech predation.
Predictors of Day-Level Sexual Risk for Young Gay and Bisexual Men

As HIV infection rates remain high among young gay and bisexual men, investigations into determinants of sexual risk are paramount. This study examined independent and interactive effects of substance use, mental health, perceived benefits of unprotected sex, and type of sex partner on odds of not using condoms. Analyses included 188 high-risk substance using HIV-negative and unknown status young gay and bisexual men (ages 18–29). Substance use and endorsing favorable attitudes towards unprotected sex strongly predicted sexual risk. Mental health moderated the relationship between partner type (main vs. casual) and condom use such that increased anxiety and depression were associated with increased odds of using condoms with main partners and not using condoms with casual partners. Understanding how these determinants of HIV risk converge to predict unprotected anal sex can identify essential risk relationships for prevention, obtain effects sizes of greater magnitude and prolonged sustainability, and build robust couples-based interventions.
Cultural Contradictions and Sex Roles Revisited: a Replication and a Reassessment*

The Komarovsky-Wallin thesis of women's pretending inferiority in dating situations was replicated (287 women) and is challenged. Questions are raised as to the appropriate collapsing of categories...
On the structure of a nickel-molybdenum-alumina catalyst

TEM pictures show that the MoS2 of a sulfided NiMo-alumina catalyst preferentially agglomerates at steps of the alumina support. Catalyst samples aged during direct coal liquefaction either 2 or 26 days show single MoS2 layers at steps of the support, and the length of the agglomerates is about the same in the two catalysts. The data is not consistent with models for the catalyst structure that include multi-layers of MoS2.
Chronic subdural hematoma in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) has been associated with an increased incidence of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage and intracerebral hematomas. We describe five patients with chronic subdural hematomas, a previously unrecognized complication of ADPKD. In four of the five cases, no trigger was apparent. Clinical presentation was subtle, with mild hemiparesis, headache, or both in four patients and transient neurological deficits mimicking transient ischemic attacks in one patient. In three of the five patients, a retrocerebellar arachnoid cyst was found, suggesting a plausible causal relation between the intracranial arachnoid cysts and the subdural hematomas. In one patient, subdural hematoma was in close proximity to the frontally located arachnoid cyst.
"Dressing Down" in the Business Communication Curriculum:

Corporate America is changing the way it dresses. Students who are preparing for careers in business should be aware of this change, because dress-down days are becoming a part of American corporat...
Towards disaster risk reduction: a policy-focused approach to natural hazards and disasters, edited by J. Levy and C. Gopalakrishnan, London, Routledge Publishing, 2013, 104 pp., US$145.00 (hardcover), ISBN-13 978-0415826785

This book is a collection of five papers that describe methods and important considerations in moving from policies crafted in a crisis and emergency management paradigm to policies created under a...
Golgi biogenesis in Toxoplasma gondii

Two models have been put forward to explain the growth of new Golgi during the cell cycle. The first suggests that a new Golgi grows out of the endoplasmic reticulum by de novo synthesis. The second suggests that a pre-existing Golgi is needed for the growth of a new one, that is, the Golgi is an autonomously replicating organelle. To resolve this issue, we have exploited the simplicity of the apicomplexan parasite Toxoplasma gondii, which has only a single Golgi stack. Here we show, by using video fluorescence microscopy and three-dimensional reconstructions of serial thin sections, that the Golgi grows by a process of lateral extension followed by medial fission. Further fission leads to the inheritance by each daughter of a pair of Golgi structures, which then coalesce to re-form a single Golgi. Our results indicate that new Golgi grow by autonomous duplication and raise the possibility that the Golgi is a paired structure that is analogous to centrioles.
Selling Eastern Europe's social housing stock: Proceed with caution

Abstract As the countries of Eastern Europe begin to reorient their housing sectors toward the private market, many quarters are advocating selling the units in the social sector—typically about one‐fourth of the housing stock—to the tenants. Whether purchasing their units is attractive to tenants depends on the sales price, current and expected rent levels, availability and terms of financing, and the strength of tenant rights of occupancy. Drawing lessons from the experiences of three countries—China, Hungary, and the United Kingdom—in selling social sector rental units, this paper concludes that too much emphasis has been placed on lowering the sales price compared with changing other conditions. This practice results in a substantial loss of revenue to government and a questionable distribution of the nation's wealth.
Radiographic evaluation of wrist trauma

T HE EVALUATION of wrist trauma is an with the distal ulna forming the inferior or distal important clinical problem and radioradioulnar joint. graphic studies play a key role. The wrist is subject to a high level of use and abuse, both in the activities of daily living and in athletic endeavors. Analysis of wrist radiographs following trauma requires a thorough understanding of carpal anatomy, dynamics, and pathomechanits, so that subtle abnormalities are not overlooked and prompt and appropriate therapy can be instituted. This study reviews the complex anatomy of the wrist and concentrates on plain radiographic evaluation of the injured wrist; the use of other imaging modalities such as radionuelide bone scanning, conventional and computed tomography (CT), fluoroscopy, arthrography, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the evaluation of the traumatized wrist will also be addressed. The eight carpal bones are arranged in two concentric rows: the proximal row contains the scaphoid (navicular), lunate, triquetrum, and the pisiform, a sesamoid in the tendon of the flexor car-pi ulnaris that articulates with the triquetrum; the distal row is composed of the trapezium (greater multangular), trapezoid (lesser multangular), capitate, and hamate. Termed an “intercalated segment,“’ the proximal row is interposed dynamically between the radius and the distal carpal row. The scaphoid actually bridges the proximal and distal rows, rendering stability.‘13
Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA): A ruminant fatty acid with beneficial effects on human health

Conjugated linoleic acids (CLA) may influence the onset and severity of several chronic diseases, including various cancers, atherosclerosis, obesity, bone density loss, and diabetes. These findings are of special interest to the agriculture community, because dietary sources of CLA are almost exclusively beef and dairy products. Thus, a better understanding of the specific iso- mers and mechanisms responsible for these positive effects of CLA on human health would be both prudent and economically beneficial. To date, research related to the advantages of CLA consumption on human health has been conducted using experi- mental laboratory animals and cell culture systems. These data consistently show that relatively low levels of CLA can influence risk of cancer. Further, very recent investigations suggest that the predominate CLA isoform (cis-9, trans-11 CLA or rumenic acid) found in beef and milk fat possesses anticarcinogenic effects but does not alter body composition; the trans-10, cis-12 CLA has been shown to inhibit lipogenesis. Clearly, further work, especially using human subjects, will be required to characterize the potential benefits of CLA consumption on human health. Moreover, we suggest that foods naturally containing high amounts of CLA (e.g., beef and dairy products) be considered as meeting the definition of functional foods.
Sequential and parallel models in noncooperative games for decentralized decision making in vision systems

An examination is made of two models, one parallel and the other sequential, of decentralized decision-making in modular systems aimed at vision or potentially robotic tasks. The theoretical analysis and the experimental results from a two-module image analysis system reveal the critical dependence of the system behavior on the exact decision model. The experiments with the two-module vision system indicate that the parallel model leads to more robust performance for a certain class of multiple objective systems. >
The Likelihood Ratio Tests for Homogeneity of Inverse Gaussian Means Under Simple Order and Simple Tree Order

Abstract The inverse Gaussian (IG) family is now widely used for modeling non negative skewed measurements. In this article, we construct the likelihood-ratio tests (LRTs) for homogeneity of the order constrained IG means and study the null distributions for simple order and simple tree order cases. Interestingly, it is seen that the null distribution results for the normal case are applicable without modification to the IG case. This supplements the numerous well known and striking analogies between Gaussian and inverse Gaussian families
Elevated protein tyrosine phosphorylation in the optic tract of the chick embryo.

Antibodies specific for protein phosphotyrosyl residues were used to localize sites of protein tyrosine kinase activity in the optic tract of the developing chick by immunoperoxidase staining. In the stage 34 (day 8) chick embryo, phosphotyrosine-modified proteins were abundant within outgrowing neuronal processes in the optic nerve head and nerve fiber layer of the retina, and in the developing stratum opticum at the surface of the optic tectum. These sites corresponded to regions where migrating growth cones and fasciculating bundles of some, but not all, retinal ganglion cell axons were located. Phosphotyrosine-modified proteins were also abundant in and highly restricted to the process-rich layers of the embryonic optic tectum. Phosphotyrosine immunoreactivity decreased dramatically in the corresponding regions of the optic tract of the adult chicken, indicating that protein tyrosine phosphorylation occurred principally in developing, rather than mature, neuronal processes. These findings are in accor...
Glucokinase Regulates Reproductive Function, Glucocorticoid Secretion, Food Intake, and Hypothalamic Gene Expression

Because appetite, hypothalamic gene expression, reproductive function, and adrenal function are highly sensitive to acute changes in plasma glucose levels, it has been hypothesized hypothalamic neurons sensitive to glucose play a role in regulating these functions. To assess this hypothesis, we examined these neuronendocrine functions in mice in which the glucokinase gene, which plays an essential role in neuroendocrine glucose sensing, has been ablated. Haploinsufficiency in heterozygous glucokinase knockout mice produced effects similar to those produced by hypoglycemia: impaired reproductive function, elevated plasma corticosterone, increased food intake, and hypothalamic gene expression similar to that observed in fasted or leptin-deficient obese mice (increased hypothalamic neuropeptide Y mRNA and reduced hypothalamic proopiomelanocortin mRNA). Plasma glucose was elevated 2-fold in glucokinase knockout mice, consistent with a maturity-onset diabetes of the young phenotype, but plasma insulin and leptin levels were normal. These data support the hypothesis that glucokinase plays a key role in the neuroendocrine regulation of metabolic economy.
Metrics for analyzing the evolution of C-space models

There are many sampling-based motion planning methods that model the connectivity of a robot's configuration space (C-space) with a graph whose nodes are valid configurations and whose edges represent valid transitions between nodes. One of the biggest challenges faced by users of these methods is selecting the right planner for their problem. While researchers have tried to compare different planners, most accepted metrics for comparing planners are based on efficiency, e.g., number of collision detection calls or samples needed to solve a particular set of queries, and there is still a lack of useful and efficient quantitative metrics that can be used to measure the suitability of a planner for solving a problem. That is, although there is great interest in determining which planners should be used in which situations, there are still many questions we cannot answer about the relative performance of different planning methods. In this paper we make some progress towards this goal. We propose a metric that can be applied to each new sample considered by a sampling-based planner to characterize how that sample improves, or not, the planner's current C-space model. This characterization requires only local information and can be computed quite efficiently, so that it can be applied to every sample. We show how this characterization can be used to analyze and compare how different planning strategies explore the configuration space. In particular, we show that it can be used to identify three phases that planners go through when building C-space models: quick learning (rapidly building a coarse model), model enhancement (refining the model), and learning decay (oversampling - most samples do not provide additional information). Hence, our work can also provide the basis for determining when a particular planning strategy has 'converged' on the best C-space model that it is capable of building
Method of moments modeling of microstrip patch antennas with automatic GPU acceleration

Using interpreted languages such as MATLAB to prototype electromagnetic modeling codes often provides efficiency at the cost of performance. To sidestep this tradeoff, we demonstrate how a frequency domain method of moments routine written in MATLAB for microstrip patch antennas can be automatically accelerated on GPU hardware. The interpreted MATLAB code performance is compared with the accelerated code, and the relative complexity of the automatic translation of the toolkit is contrasted. Acceleration of the matrix filling routine was observed to be around 99 times the interpreted MATLAB code in the results described.
Probing reward function in post-traumatic stress disorder with beautiful facial images

Reward dysfunction may be implicated in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This study applied a behavioral probe, known to activate brain reward regions, to subjects with PTSD. Male heterosexual Vietnam veterans with (n = 12) or without (n = 11) current PTSD were administered two tasks: (a) key pressing to change the viewing time of average or beautiful female or male facial images, and (b) rating the attractiveness of these images. There were no significant group differences in the attractiveness ratings. However, PTSD patients expended less effort to extend the viewing time of the beautiful female faces. These findings suggest a reward deficit in PTSD.
Usher syndrome IIIA gene clarin-1 is essential for hair cell function and associated neural activation

Usher syndrome 3A (USH3A) is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by progressive loss of hearing and vision due to mutation in the clarin-1 (CLRN1) gene. Lack of an animal model has hindered our ability to understand the function of CLRN1 and the pathophysiology associated with USH3A. Here we report for the first time a mouse model for ear disease in USH3A. Detailed evaluation of inner ear phenotype in the Clrn1 knockout mouse (Clrn1(-/-)) coupled with expression pattern of Clrn1 in the inner ear are presented here. Clrn1 was expressed as early as embryonic day 16.5 in the auditory and vestibular hair cells and associated ganglionic neurons, with its expression being higher in outer hair cells (OHCs) than inner hair cells. Clrn1(-/-) mice showed early onset hearing loss that rapidly progressed to severe levels. Two to three weeks after birth (P14-P21), Clrn1(-/-) mice showed elevated auditory-evoked brainstem response (ABR) thresholds and prolonged peak and interpeak latencies. By P21, approximately 70% of Clrn1(-/-) mice had no detectable ABR and by P30 these mice were deaf. Distortion product otoacoustic emissions were not recordable from Clrn1(-/-) mice. Vestibular function in Clrn1(-/-) mice mirrored the cochlear phenotype, although it deteriorated more gradually than cochlear function. Disorganization of OHC stereocilia was seen as early as P2 and by P21 OHC loss was observed. In sum, hair cell dysfunction and prolonged peak latencies in vestibular and cochlear evoked potentials in Clrn1(-/-) mice strongly indicate that Clrn1 is necessary for hair cell function and associated neural activation.
The effect of daily use of brimonidine tartrate on the dark-adapted pupil diameter.

Abstract Purpose To investigate the effect of daily brimonidine tartrate 0.15% on the dark-adapted pupil diameter. Design Observational case series. Method Ten normal volunteers administered brimonidine to their right eyes once daily. Four to six hours later, infrared pupil photographs were taken after dark adaptation. Measurements were performed at baseline; on treatment days 1, 5, 11, and 18; and on washout days 1 and 2. Results One subject had no response. The nine responding subjects showed an average maximum antimydriatic effect of −1.63 mm (range, −0.57 mm–−2.30 mm); all subjects experienced tachyphylaxis. Five subjects showed rebound mydriasis (mean maximum rebound +0.87 mm larger than baseline; range 0.50 mm–1.22 mm). The untreated pupil also responded, showing antimydriasis (two subjects), rebound mydriasis (two subjects), or paradoxical direct mydriasis (one subject). Conclusions Once-daily use of brimonidine tartrate to prevent dark-induced pupil dilation can lead to tachyphylaxis and rebound mydriasis.
Electromagnetic diffraction by dielectric strips

In this paper the scattering of a plane wave by a rectangular dielectric strip is calculated by approximating polarization currents in the strip. One advantage of the technique applied here is that no variational calculations are needed. Results of experimental investigation show good agreement with the predicted pattern.
CALCULATIONS OF OXYGEN TRANSPORT BY RED BLOOD CELLS AND HEMOGLOBIN SOLUTIONS IN CAPILLARIES

A theoretical model is developed to investigate the influence of hemoglobin-based oxygen carriers (HBOCs) on oxygen transport in capillary-size vessels. A discrete cell model is presented with red ...
Two-photon degradable supramolecular assemblies of linear-dendritic copolymers

Micelles of dendritic-linear copolymers have been developed to release a payload after infrared stimulus.