cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Pretreatment and Lignocellulosic Chemistry

Lignocellulosic materials such as wood, grass, and agricultural and forest residues are promising alternative energy resources that can be utilized to produce ethanol. The yield of ethanol production from native lignocellulosic material is relatively low due to its native recalcitrance, which is attributed to, in part, lignin content/structure, hemicelluloses, cellulose crystallinity, and other factors. Pretreatment of lignocellulosic materials is required to overcome this recalcitrance. The goal of pretreatment is to alter the physical features and chemical composition/structure of lignocellulosic materials, thus making cellulose more accessible to enzymatic hydrolysis for sugar conversion. Various pretreatment technologies to reduce recalcitrance and to increase sugar yield have been developed during the past two decades. This review examines the changes in lignocellulosic structure primarily in cellulose and hemicellulose during the most commonly applied pretreatment technologies including dilute acid pretreatment, hydrothermal pretreatment, and alkaline pretreatment.
A randomized trial of relapse prevention of depression in primary care.

Background Despite high rates of relapse and recurrence, few primary care patients with recurrent or chronic depression are receiving continuation and maintenance-phase treatment. We hypothesized that a relapse prevention intervention would improve adherence to antidepressant medication and improve depression outcomes in high-risk patients compared with usual primary care. Methods Three hundred eighty-six patients with recurrent major depression or dysthymia who had largely recovered after 8 weeks of antidepressant treatment by their primary care physicians were randomized to a relapse prevention program (n = 194) or usual primary care (n = 192). Patients in the intervention group received 2 primary care visits with a depression specialist and 3 telephone visits over a 1-year period aimed at enhancing adherence to antidepressant medication, recognition of prodromal symptoms, monitoring of symptoms, and development of a written relapse prevention plan. Follow-up assessments were completed at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months by a telephone survey team blinded to randomization status. Results Those in the intervention group had significantly greater adherence to adequate dosage of antidepressant medication for 90 days or more within the first and second 6-month periods and were significantly more likely to refill medication prescriptions during the 12-month follow-up compared with usual care controls. Intervention patients had significantly fewer depressive symptoms, but not fewer episodes of relapse/recurrence over the 12-month follow-up period. Conclusions A relapse prevention program targeted to primary care patients with a high risk of relapse/recurrence who had largely recovered after antidepressant treatment significantly improved antidepressant adherence and depressive symptom outcomes.
From submonolayers to bulk in YBa2Cu3O7−δ☆

We have made measurements of the conductance of ultrathin oriented layers of YBa2Cu3O7−δ (YBCO) between submonolayers thicker layers of YxPr1−xBa2Cu3O7−δ [(Y-Pr)BCO] which demonstrate the stepwise progression from to bulk-like behavior as the thickness of YBCO is increased in increments as small as 1 A. The depression of the zero-resistance transition temperature TKT is correlated with the depression of the sheet conductance G. For small thicknesses the relation between TKT and G is approximately linear and is independent of x. For larger thicknesses there is a transition from this “surface dependence” to the dependence in clean bulk material.
LDL Induces Transcription Factor Activator Protein-1 in Human Endothelial Cells

Low density lipoprotein (LDL) has been shown to perturb endothelial cells, with manifestations ranging from alterations in free radicals and arachidonate metabolism to stress fiber formation and monocyte recruitment. Some of these changes are regulated by LDL at the transcriptional level. Using mobility shift assays with consensus sequences for various transcription factors, we have detected an increase in activator protein 1 (AP-1), but not nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB), binding in human umbilical vein endothelial cells exposed to LDL. Following transfection, AP-1-driven chloramphenicol acetyltransferase and AP-1-driven-luciferase are upregulated by LDL. In contrast, there is no effect on NF-kappaB-driven chloramphenicol acetyltransferase. AP-1 increases in a biphasic fashion, with the first peak occurring 6 hours after and the second 48 hours after exposure to LDL. This AP-1 binding increase involves c-Jun, but not c-Fos, as shown by gel supershift, Northern hybridization, and Western blotting analyses. c-Jun mRNA levels are elevated by 9 hours after and remain so until at least 24 hours after exposure to LDL. c-Jun protein levels increase at 12 hours and continue to rise for 24 hours after exposure to LDL. Moreover, this LDL-increased AP-1 binding is suppressed by several protein kinase (PK) inhibitors: the PKC inhibitor calphostin C, the cAMP-dependent PK inhibitor H89, and the tyrosine PK inhibitors genistein and lavendustin A. This study demonstrates that (1) LDL is an endothelial agonist distinct from other cell stimulators, such as cytokines, endotoxin, and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, because LDL appears to activate human umbilical vein endothelial cells predominantly through the transcription factor AP-1 and not NF-kappaB; and (2) LDL increases AP-1 via mechanisms involving multiple kinase activities and c-Jun transcription.
Pseudoscopic illusions in stereo views of freeze-etch replicas

The use of stereo pairs of freeze-etch replicas significantly contributes to the interpretation of spatial relationships of structures within fungal spores. However, great care must be taken to assure proper orientation of prints before publication in order to prevent pseudoscopic illusions (an optical illusion which produces an apparent reversal of surface elevations and depressions). AsHarold C. Conklin [2] pointed out in his letter to Science, this phenomenon is an ever present concern for users of vertical imagery. The sensation of seeing depth in two dimensional photographs is an illusion. The goal is to create the proper illusion.
Early short segment left colon interposition for esophageal atresia.

Abstract Colon Interposition is frequently used for correction of esophageal atresia. The use of both retrosternal right colon 1–5 and transthoracic left or transverse colon 2,6–10 has been recommended. Retrosternal right colon interposition may be complicated by break downs and/or stricture of the anastomosis between cervical pharyngo-esophagus and the proximal interposed colon; 3–5,9 by vascular compromise and ischemia of the colon segment; 2,5 and by peptic ulceration of the distal interposed colon where it is anastomosed to the stomach. 11 Long-segment transthoracic left colon interposition may be attended by the first two complications as well; 10 utilization of the esophageal stump for the distal colo-esophageal anastomosis in this technique may prevent gastroesophgeal reflux. 8–10,12 Because of these problems, other methods of treatment have been suggested. The use of a gastric tube as esophageal replacement has been recommended; 13–15 however, peptic ulceration of the gastric esophagus may result. 16 Elongation of the upper and, sometimes, the lower esophageal pouch with delayed primary anastomosis has been advocated. 17–19 Anastomotic leaks and/or stricture frequently accompany this procedure. Short-segment transthoracic left colon interpositions for esophageal stricture or varices have been attended by relatively fewer complications. 6–8 Therefore, a modified procedure was adopted for wide-gap esophageal atresia in 1968. A short segment of left colon was interposed transthoracically between the distal esophageal stump and proximal esophageal pouch in two infants after several weeks of bougienage had stretched the proximal pouch well below the aortic arch, so that a colo-esophageal anastomosis could be accomplished within the thorax without difficulty.
Effects of raphe magnus and raphe pallidus lesions on morphine-induced analgesia and spinal cord monoamines

These studies examined the role of bulbospinal serotonin-containing neurons found in the nucleus raphe magnus and nucleus raphe pallidus in the mediation of morphine-induced antinociception. Lesions were made using both electrolytic coagulation and the axon-sparing technique of monosodium-L-glutamate injection to ascertain whether the effects following lesions in the area of the medullary raphe nuclei are due to destruction of neuronal perikarya or fibers passing near these nuclei. These studies revealed that lesions of both the raphe magnus and raphe pallidus resulted in decreased nociceptive thresholds and attenuation of morphine-induced analgesia. Such effects were observed regardless of the lesioning method used, which suggests that destruction of neurons in these nuclei was responsible for lesion-induced effects. In addition, lesion-induced changes in spinal cord serotonin content and morphine analgesia were significantly correlated which lends support to the conclusion that the bulbospinal serotonin systems are necessary for the mediation of morphine effects. Furthermore, no correlation was observed between changes in spinal cord norepinephrine content and morphine analgesia. This observation suggests that lesion-induced damage to bulbospinal noradrenergic fibers which pass near the midline does not contribute to the attenuation of morphine analgesia resulting from raphe lesions.
Amusement and the Philosophy of Emotion: A Neuroanatomical Approach

Philosophers who discuss the emotions have usually treated amusement as a non-emotional mental state. Two prominent philosophers making this claim are Henri Bergson and John Morreall, who maintain that amusement is too abstract and intellectual to qualify as an emotion. Here, the merit of this claim is assessed. Through recent work in neuroanatomy there is reason to doubt the legitimacy of dichotomies that separate emotion and the intellect. Findings suggest that the neuroanatomical structure of amusement is similar to other commonly recognized emotion states. On the basis of these it is argued that amusement should be considered an emotion.
Immunocytology Shows the Presence of Tobacco Etch Virus P3 Protein in Nuclear Inclusions

Abstract Intracellular localization studies of various potyvirus proteins have been made in hope of finding clues to their function(s). Immunocytological studies localized many of the tobacco etch virus (TEV)-encoded proteins in infected cells. We used antiserum against the nonstructural P3 protein of TEV to determine the subcellular location of the P3 protein in ultrathin sections of virus-infected cells. Immunogold labeling with the antiserum showed labels associated with nucleoli, nuclei, or NIs. Absorption of antiserum with purified NIs or P3 protein resulted in no labeling. TEV NIs are known to contain a bifunctional genome-linked protein–viral proteinase (NIa–VPg) and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (NIb). It appeared that the TEV P3 protein was a third nonstructural viral protein of NIs of TEV if the NIa–VPg is considered one protein. The presence of P3 in NIs was also supported by Western blot assays. P3 protein in the nucleolus and nucleus could indicate that it, too, is involved in early stages of viral replication.
Characterization of a recombinant l-rhamnose isomerase from Bacillus subtilis and its application on production of l-lyxose and l-mannose

The gene of an l-rhamnose isomerase (RhaA) from Bacillus subtilis was cloned to the pET28a(+) and then expressed in the E. coli ER2566. The expressed enzyme was purified with a specific activity of 3.58 U/mg by His-Trap affinity chromatography. The recombinant enzyme existed as a 194 kDa tetramer and the maximal activity was observed at pH 8.0 and 60°C. The RhaA displayed activity for l-rhamnose, l-lyxose, l-mannose, d-allose, d-gulose, d-ribose, and l-talose, among all aldopentoses and aldohexoses and it showed enzyme activity for l-form monosaccharides such as l-rhamnose, l-lyxose, l-mannose, and l-talose. The catalytic efficiency (k cat/K m) of the recombinant enzyme for l-rhamnose, l-lyxose, and l-mannose were 7,460, 1,013, and 258 M/sec. When l-xylulose 100 g/L and l-fructose 100 g/L were used as substrates, the optimum concentrations of RpiB were determined with 6 and 15 U/mL, respectively. The l-lyxose 40 g/L was produced from l-xylulose 100 g/L by the enzyme during 60 min, while l-mannose 25 g/L was produced from l-fructose 100 g/L for 80 min. The results suggest that RhaA from B. subtilis is a potential producer of l-form monosaccharides.
Herding dynamical weights to learn

A new "herding" algorithm is proposed which directly converts observed moments into a sequence of pseudo-samples. The pseudo-samples respect the moment constraints and may be used to estimate (unobserved) quantities of interest. The procedure allows us to sidestep the usual approach of first learning a joint model (which is intractable) and then sampling from that model (which can easily get stuck in a local mode). Moreover, the algorithm is fully deterministic, avoiding random number generation) and does not need expensive operations such as exponentiation.
Quantitative feedback synthesis for non-linear switched-mode uncertain regulators†

The dynamically non-linear nature of switching power supplies makes if difficult to predict their transient waveforms and thereby ensure that the system operates reliably ; i.e. that peak voltage, current and power stress levels do not exceed component design limits. Significant component uncertainty, line and load variations are important troublesome factors. There has recently been developed a ‘ quantitative feedback theory ’ (QFT) which permits analytical design of feedback systems for such highly non-linear uncertain devices. This paper applies QFT to the switching power supply problem. A preliminary study involving the turn-on transient of a buck-boost regulator confirms that QFT can be successfully applied to switching regulator design, The technique accommodates large component, load and line variations, guaranteeing performance within a specified range of acceptable responses under turn-on/turn-off and step-load transients.
Critical properties of thin films of polymer solutions

The critical properties of polymer solutions confined in thin-film environments is studied with simple scaling arguments and a molecular theory. For purely repulsive surfaces, the critical volume fraction is a universal function of x = N1/2/L, where N is the chain length and L is the film thickness. The critical volume fraction is nonmonotonic in x and shows a deep minimum at a film thickness several times larger than the chain's radius of gyration. This nonmonotonic behavior results from the interplay between the surface–polymer entropic repulsion and the tendency of the film to avoid large density gradients. The critical temperature is a monotonically increasing function of L, as L goes from the two-dimensional limit to the three-dimensional limit. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 43: 1849–1853, 2005
Hyaluronan microspheres for sustained gene delivery and site-specific targeting

Abstract Hyaluronan is a naturally occurring polymer that has enjoyed wide successes in biomedical and cosmetic applications as coatings, matrices, and hydrogels. For controlled delivery applications, formulating native hyaluronan into microspheres could be advantageous but has been difficult to process unless organic solvents are used or hyaluronan has been modified by etherification. Therefore, we present a novel method of preparing hyaluronan microspheres using adipic dihydrazide mediated crosslinking chemistry. To evaluate their potential for medical applications, hyaluronan microspheres are incorporated with DNA for gene delivery or conjugated with an antigen for cell-specific targeting. The results show that our method, originally developed for preparing hyaluronan hydrogels, generates robust microspheres with a size distribution of 5–20 μm. The release of the encapsulated plasmid DNA can be sustained for months and is capable of transfection in vitro and in vivo. Hyaluronan microspheres, conjugated with monoclonal antibodies to E- and P-selectin, demonstrate selective binding to cells expressing these receptors. In conclusion, we have developed a novel microsphere preparation using native hyaluronan that delivers DNA at a controlled rate and adaptable for site-specific targeting.
Adaptation of an enzyme to regulatory function: structure of Bacillus subtilis PyrR, a pyr RNA-binding attenuation protein and uracil phosphoribosyltransferase.

Abstract Background: The expression of pyrimidine nucleotide biosynthetic ( pyr ) genes in Bacillus subtilis is regulated by transcriptional attenuation. The PyrR attenuation protein binds to specific sites in pyr mRNA, allowing the formation of downstream terminator structures. UMP and 5-phosphoribosyl-1-pyrophosphate (PRPP), a nucleotide metabolite, are co-regulators with PyrR. The smallest RNA shown to bind tightly to PyrR is a 28–30 nucleotide stem-loop that contains a purine-rich bulge and a putative GNRA tetraloop. PyrR is also a uracil phosphoribosyltransferase (UPRTase), although the relationship between enzymatic activity and RNA recognition is unclear, and the UPRTase activity of PyrR is not physiologically significant in B. subtilis . Elucidating the role of PyrR structural motifs in UMP-dependent RNA binding is an important step towards understanding the mechanism of pyr transcriptional attenuation. Results: The 1.6 a crystal structure of B. subtilis PyrR has been determined by multiwavelength anomalous diffraction, using a Sm co-crystal. As expected, the structure of PyrR is homologous to those proteins of the large type I PRTase structural family; it is most similar to hypoxanthine-guanine-xanthine PRTase (HGXPRTase). The PyrR dimer differs from other PRTase dimers, suggesting it may have evolved specifically for RNA binding. A large, basic, surface at the dimer interface is an obvious RNA-binding site and uracil specificity is probably provided by hydrogen bonds from mainchain and sidechain atoms in the hood subdomain. These models of RNA and UMP binding are consistent with biological data. Conclusions: The B. subtilis protein PyrR has adapted the substrate- and product-binding capacities of a PRTase, probably an HGXPRTase, producing a new regulatory function in which the substrate and product are co-regulators of transcription termination. The structure is consistent with the idea that PyrR regulatory function is independent of catalytic activity, which is likely to be extremely low under physiological conditions.
On a Class of Capacitated Transportation Problems

Transportation models ordinary and transhipment having certain types of capacity constraints on the flows between origins and destinations are studied from the point of view of transforming them into enlarged standardized non-capacitated models. Specifically constraints on the flow from disjoint and/or nested sets of origins to all destinations, and from any single origin to disjoint and/or nested sets of destinations are considered. Dual formulations are indicated for constraints on the flow to destinations from origins. In the case of a set of capacity constraints on the flow from each origin to each destination, the models proposed are easily seen to be of minimal dimension for any “standardized” version of such a capacitated problem.
Conservative Parties, the Right, and Democracy in Latin America. Edited by Kevin J. Middlebrook. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2000. 408p. $59.95 cloth, $21.00 paper.

Given the Right's historic record of undermining democracy in Latin America, Kevin Middlebrook organized a conference in 1996 to examine its adjustment to the democratic rules of the posttransitions, post-Cold War era. This work began in that conference and is part of the editor's larger research program.
Remarks on inertial radII, persistent normal stresses, secondary motions, and non-elastic extensional viscosities

Abstract In this note I discuss some consequences of the balance of inertia and normal stresses in nearly steady slow motions. I argue that the fluid's elasticity cannot be determined from its extensional viscosity. A formula is given for the extensional viscosity at quadratic order in the stretch rate and show that one and the same intensity factor for the extensional viscosity arises universally as the intensity factor for the non-Newtonian contribution to the vorticity. It is argues that the appearance of intense vortices and relatively large extensional viscosities are linked in nearly steady slow flow.
Unfavorable Strides in Cache Memory Systems (RNR Technical Report RNR-92-015)

An important issue in obtaining high performance on a scientific application running on a cache-based computer system is the behavior of the cache when data are accessed at a constant stride. Others who have discussed this issue have noted an odd phenomenon in such situations: A few particular innocent-looking strides result in sharply reduced cache efficiency. In this article, this problem is analyzed, and a simple formula is presented that accurately gives the cache efficiency for various cache parameters and data strides.
I am a smartphone and I know my user is driving

We intend to develop a smartphone app that can tell whether its user is a driver or a passenger in an automobile. While the core problem can be solved relatively easily with special installations in new high-end vehicles (e.g., NFC), constraints of backward compatibility makes the problem far more challenging. We design a Driver Detection System (DDS) that relies entirely on smartphone sensors, and is thereby compatible with all automobiles. Our approach harnesses smartphone sensors to recognize micro-activities in humans, that in turn discriminate between the driver and the passenger. We demonstrate an early prototype of this system on Android NexusS and Apple iPhones. Reported results show greater than 85% accuracy across 6 users in 2 different cars.
Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists, New Orleans.

Abstract The Janssen Annual Lecture was given by Dr Denton Cooley (Texas), a pioneer in the field of cardiac surgery. Other sessions included an update series on coronary blood flow, lectures on chest radiograph interpretation, and the clinical usefulness of derived cardiovascular variables. There was a panel presentation of controversies in cardiovascular anesthesia, and presentation of two cases for discussion at the anesthesia grand rounds. Current research was presented in the form of oral abstracts and posters. Several related abstracts were presented in a new poster discussion format that was very well received. The eleventh annual meeting of the Society will be held in Seattle, April 16 to 19, 1989.
The sox gene Dichaete is expressed in local interneurons and functions in development of the Drosophila adult olfactory circuit

In insects, the primary sites of integration for olfactory sensory input are the glomeruli in the antennal lobes. Here, axons of olfactory receptor neurons synapse with dendrites of the projection neurons that relay olfactory input to higher brain centers, such as the mushroom bodies and lateral horn. Interactions between olfactory receptor neurons and projection neurons are modulated by excitatory and inhibitory input from a group of local interneurons. While significant insight has been gleaned into the differentiation of olfactory receptor and projection neurons, much less is known about the development and function of the local interneurons. We have found that Dichaete, a conserved Sox HMG box gene, is strongly expressed in a cluster of LAAL cells located adjacent to each antennal lobe in the adult brain. Within these clusters, Dichaete protein expression is detected in both cholinergic and GABAergic local interneurons. In contrast, Dichaete expression is not detected in mature or developing projection neurons, or developing olfactory receptor neurons. Analysis of novel viable Dichaete mutant alleles revealed misrouting of specific projection neuron dendrites and axons, and alterations in glomeruli organization. These results suggest noncell autonomous functions of Dichaete in projection neuron differentiation as well as a potential role for Dichaete-expressing local interneurons in development of the adult olfactory circuitry. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol, 2013
Structural and biophysical mechanisms underlying dynamic sensitivity of primary sensory interneurons in the cricket cercal sensory system

Abstract We constructed probabilistic models of afferent inputs and compartmental models of interneurons in the cricket cercal system to examine the effects of dendritic morphology, distribution of synaptic inputs, and membrane properties on interneuron directional tuning properties. The mean directional tuning of afferent inputs to an interneuron was an excellent predictor of its directional tuning. Location of the synapses on the interneurons’ dendrites was not essential to determining tuning characteristics, but had a substantial effect on sensitivity. Thus, we conclude that both sampling of the afferent population, and anatomical distribution of synaptic inputs are important determinants of an interneuron's directional response.
Development Of An Intravascular Ultrasonic Catheter Imaging System

A prototype ultrasonic imaging system typical of the size necessary to be embedded in a catheter delivery system was developed to examine the feasibility of high resolution, intravascular ultrasonic imaging in vivo. Although the current system is too large to be useful in examination of proximal coronary arteries, the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and resolution obtained clearly indicate that catheter-borne, intravascular ultrasonic imaging is indeed feasible and could be very informative as an adjunct to angioplasty or vascular surgery.
Polyribosomes: Size in Normal and Polio-Infected HeLa Cells

HeLa cells normally contain a distribution of polysome sizes, and the largest polysomes contain over 40 ribosomes. After infection with polio virus and actinomycin-D treatment, a new class of polio-induced polysomes are found, some of which contain up to 60 ribosomes. Examinaton of these polysomes suggests a mechanism for protein synthesis with this polycistronic RNA.
H-Y antigen-positive male pseudohermaphroditism with 45,X/46,XYq-mosaicism.

A 42-year-old male had short stature, microphallus, hypospadias, a bifid scrotum, abdominal undifferentiated testes, a uterus, bilateral fallopian tubes, and 45,X/46,XYq-mosaicism in his blood, skin, and germinal tissue and tissue surrounding the testes as determined by means of G-, Q-, and C-banding. An H-Y antigen assay on skin fibroblasts was positive, indicating that the locus for this antigen is not located in the brightly fluorescent region of the Y chromosome.
Intelligent systems in biology: why the excitement?

Biology has rapidly become a data-rich, information-hungry science because of recent massive data generation technologies. Our biological colleagues are designing more clever and informative experiments because of recent advances in molecular science. These experiments and data hold the key to the deepest secrets of biology and medicine, but we cannot fully analyze this data due to the wealth and complexity of the information available. The result is a great need for intelligent systems in biology. There are many opportunities for intelligent systems to help produce knowledge in biology and medicine. Intelligent systems probably helped design the last drug your doctor prescribed, and they were probably involved in some aspect of the last medical care you received. Intelligent computational analysis of the human genome will drive medicine for at least the next half-century. Intelligent systems are working on gene expression data to help understand genetic regulation and ultimately the regulated control of all life processes including cancer, regeneration, and aging. Knowledge bases of metabolic pathways and other biological networks make inferences in systems biology that, for example, let a pharmaceutical program target a pathogen pathway that does not exist in humans, resulting in fewer side effects to patients. Modern intelligent analysis of biological sequences produces the most accurate picture of evolution ever achieved. Knowledge-based empirical approaches currently are the most successful method known for general protein structure prediction. Intelligent literature-access systems exploit a knowledge flow exceeding half a million biomedical articles per year. Machine learning systems exploit heterogenous online databases whose exponential growth mimics Moore's law.
Room-Temperature Solid-Matrix Luminescence Spectroscopy of Pyrene and 1-Hydroxypyrene from Optically Clear Sugar Glasses

Room-temperature solid-matrix luminescence was investigated for two model compounds pyrene and 1-hydroxypyrene from optically clear sugar glasses. Several glasses were investigated. Novel glasses were prepared for the first time from binary mixtures of sugars for spectroscopy. Glasses were prepared from glucose/xylose and glucose/maltose. The glucose/maltose gave a superior glass compared to glucose/xylose. The glucose/maltose glass gave the best room temperature phosphorescence (RTP) for pyrene compared to glasses of glucose and maltose without a heavy atom. The RTP was weak for both pyrene and 1-hydroxypyrene without a heavy atom in the glucose glass. The addition of a heavy atom (12% NaI) gave a 44-fold increase in RTP of pyrene and a 10-fold increase in the RTP of 1-hydroxypyrene. Room temperature fluorescence (RTF) of pyrene and 1-hydroxypyrene were easily observed from all the glass systems studied. However, the pyrene RTF intensity varied with the different sugar glass systems studied. Furthermore,...
Heat capacity near the nematic-smectic-A transition of a weakly polar, very wide nematic range liquid crystal.

We report high-resolution ac-mirocalorimetry and birefringence measurements near the nematic--smectic-A (N--Sm-A) transition in a weakly polar very wide nematic range (${\mathit{T}}_{\mathit{N}--\mathrm{Sm}\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}$A/${\mathit{T}}_{\mathit{N}\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}\mathit{I}}$=0.768) liquid-crystal compound 4-n-pentyl-cyclohexyl-4-n-butyl-cyclohexyl benzoate (Merck S-1223). The data show a very weak anomaly at the transition with \ensuremath{\alpha}=${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\alpha}}}_{\mathit{e}\mathit{f}\mathit{f}}$\ensuremath{\sim}0.2. The very wide nematic range notwithstanding, birefringence data show coupling between the nematic and sematic-A order parameters, which can explain ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\alpha}}}_{\mathit{e}\mathit{f}\mathit{f}}$g0. However, the presence of an underlying discontinuity in ${\mathit{C}}_{\mathit{p}}$ at ${\mathit{T}}_{\mathit{c}}$ suggests that ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\alpha}}}_{\mathit{e}\mathit{f}\mathit{f}}$g0 may alternatively be due to evolution from classical mean-field behavior with Gaussian fluctuation corrections to asymptotic critical behavior, a scenario that is shown to be consistent with the Ginzburg criterion.
Denosumab: a novel biological therapy for osteoporosis

Denosumab is the newest biological agent to be approved for use in postmenopausal osteoporosis. Similar to the bisphosphonates, it acts by inhibiting bone resorption. However, the mechanism of this effect is unique in that it inhibits the binding of receptor activator of nuclear factor-kB ligand to its receptor on the surface of osteoclasts. Owing to a half-life of 3–4 weeks, denosumab is administered infrequently (every 4 weeks or every 6 months, depending on indication). The approved indications are for high-fracture-risk postmenopausal osteoporosis and skeletal-related events due to bone metastases of solid tumors, while potential indications include corticosteroid-induced osteoporosis and osteoporosis due to hormonal ablation in cancer. Although well tolerated, denosumab has theoretical risks of immunosuppression, oncogenesis and oversuppression of bone remodeling, the latter potentially leading to the formation of fracture-susceptible atypical bone. Denosumab is an exciting addition to the therapeuti...
Goodwill, inventory penalty, and adaptive supply chain management

Abstract Information visibility is generally useful for decision makers distributed across supply chains. Availability of information on inventory levels, price, lead times, demand, etc. can help reduce uncertainties as well as alleviate problems associated with bullwhip effect. A majority of extant literature in this area assume a static supply chain network configuration. While this was sufficient a few decades ago, advances in e-commerce and the ease with which order processing can be performed over the Internet necessitates appropriate dynamic (re)configuration of supply chains over time. Each node in the supply chain is modeled as an actor who makes independent decisions based on information gathered from the next level upstream. A knowledge-based framework is used for dynamic supply chain configuration and to consider the effects of inventory constraints and ‘goodwill,’ as well as their effects on the performance dynamics of supply chains. Preliminary results indicate that neither static nor dynamic configurations are consistently dominant. Scenarios where static configurations perform better than the modeled system are identified.
Abstract Fault Tolerance: A Model-Theoretic Approach to Fault Tolerance and Fault Compensation without Error Correction

This paper explores the concept of "pure fault tolerance"--when a system can fulfill its computational goal, even though some of its components do not fulfill theirs. This leads to a natural statement of the composition problem for a very general concept of architecture: to what extent are the properties of a system based on that architecture a function of the properties of the components? The author explores several variations on pure fault tolerance, none of which utilize fault detection or error correction.
On a class of linear stochastic differential games

The solution for a class of stochastic pursuit-evasion differential games between two linear dynamic systems is given. This class includes the classical interception game in Euclidean space. The performance index which is optimized is quadratic, and one of the two players has imperfect (noisy) knowledge of the states of the two systems. The "certainty-equivalence principle' or, equivalently, the technique of separating the estimator and the controller which characterizes the standard stochastic control problem is shown to be applicable to this class of differential games.
Application of phosphorylation site-specific antibodies to measure nuclear receptor signaling: characterization of novel phosphoantibodies for estrogen receptor α

An understanding of posttranslational events in nuclear receptor signaling is crucial for drug design and clinical therapeutic strategies. Phosphorylation is a well-characterized posttranslational modification that regulates subcellular localization and function of nuclear receptors and coregulators. Although the role of single phosphorylation sites in nuclear receptor function has been described, the contribution of combinations of multiple phosphorylation sites to receptor function remains unclear. The development of phosphoantibodies to each phosphorylation site in a nuclear receptor is a powerful tool to address the role of phosphorylation in multiply phosphorylated receptors. However, phosphoantibodies must be rigorously validated prior to use. This review describes the general methodology for design, characterization and validation of phosphoantibodies using the example of eight phosphoantibodies raised against phosphorylation sites in estrogen receptor alpha (ERalpha).
3DFFT: Thermal Analysis of Non-Homogeneous IC Using 3D FFT Green Function Method

Due to the roaring power dissipation and gaining popularity of 3D integration, thermal dissipation has been a critical concern of modern VLSI design. The availability for chip-level 3D thermal analysis is crucial for thermal integrity analysis. In this paper, we formulated an analytical Green function solution of the 3D temperature distribution in a multi-layer integrated circuit substrate. The proposed analytical solution differs from the previously reported results in two ways: (a) This is a 3D temperature distribution solution, while only 2D solutions are reported in the past; and (b) a rectangular coordinate system is used rather than the cylindrical coordinates used in the past which leads to a more proper and accurate representation to the VLSI geometry. Experimental results demonstrate the speed advantage of our approach and the accuracy within the error 0.5% when compared with commercial computational fluid dynamics software ANSYS
Pentobarbitone pharmacology of mammalian central neurones grown in tissue culture.

1. The effects of the barbiturate anaesthetic pentobarbitone on the membrane properties and amino acid pharmacology of mammalian C.N.S. neurones grown in tissue culture were studied using intracellular recording coupled with bath application, extracellular ionophoresis, or focal diffusion. 2. The addition of an anaesthetic concentration of pentobarbitone to the bathing medium abolished all spontaneous synaptic activity, but did not render individual cells electrically inexcitable nor prevent evoked synaptic acitivity. 3. Focal ionophoresis of pentobarbitone or diffusion from blunt micropipettes reversibly increased membrane conductance, effectively dampening excitability without directly affecting individual action potential characteristics. 4. Pentobarbitone-induced membrane conductance was reversibly blocked by picrotoxin. The inversion potential of the pentobarbitone voltage response depended on Cl- ion gradients and was similar to that of GABA. 5. Pentobarbitone reversibly enhanced the conductance increase produced by GABA with a variable slowing of response kinetics, shifting GABA dose-response curves to the left. Responses to glycine and beta-alanine were not affected. 6. Higher ionophoretic currents of pentobarbitone, which measurably increased membrane conductance, attenuated and markedly slowed GABA responses. Similar effects on GABA responses were observed by superimposing GABA pulses on low level GABA currents. 7. Pentobarbitone, in the absence of an increase in membrane conductance, reversibly depressed depolarizing responses to glutamate without changing response kinetics. Slower responses to acetylcholine which were associated with an apparent decrease in membrane conductance were not affected by the drug. 8. Analysis of double-reciprocal plot data suggested a non-competitive type of antagonism between pentobarbitone and glutamate. Pentobarbitone depression of glutamate was not affected by picrotoxin. 9. Both GABA and glutamate responses appeared to be equally sensitive to pentobarbitone. Specific interaction of the drug with amino acid receptor-coupled events is indicated by the requirement for pentobarbitone pipette placement close to the amino acid response site. 10. The results suggest that pentobarbitone depresses neuronal excitability by (1) directly activating post-synaptic GABA-receptor coupled Cl- conductance, (2) potentiating post-synaptic GABA-induced conductance events, probably at the level of the GABA receptor, and (3) depressing post-synaptic glutamate-induced excitation, probably at the level of the conductance mechanism.
IRON, MANGANESE, AND SULFIDE TRANSFORMATIONS DOWNSTREAM FROM NORMANDY DAM

ABSTRACT During recent hearings on a unit of the Duck River Project, Columbia Dam and Reservoir, the question “How far downstream can water quality problems related to iron and manganese be expected to occur, and why?” arose. The two most prominantly unknown variables were time-of-travel below the dam and oxidation-precipitation rates. No rates were found for field studies and laboratory rates were either very high or very low. Most laboratory studies involved considerable pH shifts. Since the literature produced little information useful for predicting the oxidation rates of iron and manganese in tailrace streams, a study of iron, manganese, and sulfide kinetics was designed and performed at Normandy Dam, a TVA multipurpose project on the Duck River upstream of the Columbia Dam near Tullahoma, Tenn. The study found that manganese in the Normandy tailrace exists largely in the Mn++form which passes a 0.1μ filter. Only a small percentage of the total manganese is particulate. Mn++is oxidized as a linear fu...
Controversies in prostate cancer screening

ABSTRACT Purpose: Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men and the second most common cause of cancer death in men, and yet controversy continues to surround the practice of prostate cancer screening. Despite recent studies that have cast doubt over the true efficacy of breast cancer screening programs, the National Cancer Institute continues to support breast cancer screening and it has withheld endorsement of widespread prostate cancer screening. Criticisms of prostate cancer screening include the financial burden of screening, the morbidity of prostate biopsy, the low positive predictive value of screening, the over treatment of an indolent disease and the lack of evidence demonstrating a mortality benefit due to screening. Materials and Methods: We formulated a comprehensive discussion addressing the criticisms of prostate cancer screening. Results: In an effort to highlight the importance of prostate cancer screening we noted how concerns regarding cost, morbidity and low positive predictive value are common to widely accepted screening programs for other common malignancies. We also draw attention to the danger of abandoning prostate cancer screening, a practice that is called into question by watchful waiting series and Markov modeling of prostate cancer treatment. Finally, we observed how the implementation of prostate cancer screening in the United States has led to the phenomenon of stage migration and paralleled the decrease in the prostate cancer mortality rate. Conclusions: The prostate specific antigen era has brought great promise for improving the prognosis of prostate cancer. We must continue to seek support for widespread prostate cancer screening.
Thermo-mechanics of Amorphous Shape-memory Polymers

Abstract The time-dependent behavior of glass transition can be exploited to achieve shape-memory behavior in amorphous polymers. Modeling the shape-memory effect in polymers requires considering the viscoelastic behavior, structural evolution in response to external stimuli, such as temperature, stress, solvent. Furthermore, the broad spectrum of stress and structural relaxation times are needed to accurately predict the rate-dependent recovery response. In this paper, we review our efforts to develop constitutive models for the glass transition behavior of amorphous polymers to predict the shape-memory behavior under a variety of thermomechanical conditions.
Adventitious micropropagation of mature Larix decidua using dormant versus flushed axillary vegetative buds

Tissues of winter-dormant buds were collected from mature Larix decidua, and used for adventitious shoot organogenesis. Tissues of dormant buds merely died on the cytokinin-supplemented, bud-initiation medium. In contrast, buds allowed to flush under greenhouse conditions subsequently yielded approximately two adventitious shoots per bud explant tissue. These shoots elongated normally and several rooted spontaneously. Microbial contamination of in vitro cultures was negligible using explants from buds orgininally collected in a dormant state.
The intoxicating brew of black liquor and son of black liquor: Deciphering the tax planning, research, policy and financial statement implications of tax credits via financial reporting income tax disclosures

Abstract In 2007, a change in the law regarding the alternative fuel mixture credit opened the door for paper mills to qualify a byproduct of paper manufacturing, black liquor, as a fuel eligible for the credit. The credit is a refundable credit of $0.50 per gallon. Paper mills can produce hundreds of millions of gallons of black liquor per year and qualified for the credit in 2009. In addition, in 2010 the IRS determined that these firms qualified for the cellulosic biofuels producer credit. Paper mill companies could amend their 2009 tax returns and swap their alternative fuel mixture credits for cellulosic biofuels producer credits worth $1.01 per gallon. The catch was that the alternative fuels mixture credit was refundable; the cellulosic biofuels producer credit was nonrefundable. This paper provides a series of mini cases exploring the tax planning, tax research, tax policy and financial statement implications of Packaging Corporation of America’s use of the alternative fuel mixture tax credit and subsequent amendment of its 2009 tax return in 2010 to swap its alternative fuel mixture tax credits for cellulosic biofuel producer credits. These cases may be directed for use in either upper-division undergraduate courses or graduate courses.
Energy calibration of photon counting detectors using x-ray tube potential as a reference for material decomposition applications

Photon counting spectral detectors (PCSD) with smaller pixels and efficient sensors are desirable in applications like material decomposition and phase contrast x-ray imaging where discrimination of small signals and fine structure may be desired. Charge sharing in PCSD increases with decreasing pixel sizes and increasing sensor thickness such that the energy calibration or utility of spectral information can become a major hurdle. Utility of a combination of high Z sensors and small pixel sizes in PCSD is limited without efficient threshold calibration and charge sharing mitigation. Here we explore the utility of x-ray tube kVp as a reference to achieve efficient and fast calibration of PCSDs. This calibration method itself does not require rearranging the imaging setup and is not impacted by charge sharing. Our preliminary results indicate that this method can be useful even in scenarios where metal fluorescence and radioactive source based calibration techniques may be practically impossible. Our results are validated using x-ray fluorescence based calibration for a Silicon detector with moderate charge sharing. Calibration of a particularly challenging case of a Medipix2 detector (55 μm pixel size) with a 1 mm thick CdTe sensor and a Medipix3 detector with CdTe sensor is also demonstrated. A cross validation with K-edge identification of Gd is also presented here.
Nonlinear multivariate modeling of strand density from near-infrared spectra

The variation of juvenile wood concentration within a southern pine feedstock can impact strand density variation during composite processing. Higher strand density variation can equate to increased variance in product performance and higher manufacturing costs. In this study, near-infrared spectroscopy coupled with linear and nonlinear methods of calibration was used to predict strand density. The best performing model was developed with a 1st derivative pretreatment and 6 factors including a quadratic term and exhibited a root mean square error of prediction (RMSEP) = 0.0566, R 2 = 0.84, and a ratio of performance to deviation (RPD) = 2.30. When only the radial surface was presented and a linear model was utilized, the RMSEP was lowered to 0.033 and the RPD increased to 3.93 and confirmed that a random surface orientation will decrease model precision. The Box-Behnken design was found useful in providing a competitive nonlinear calibration model but with a smaller sample size.