cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Quantitative Technetium Abundances in the Long-Period Variables χ Cygni and o Ceti

We have analyzed spectra of 2.4 A mm-1 dispersion to derive abundances of V, Zr, Nb, and Tc in χ Gygni, o Ceti, and R Lyrae. For χ Cyg an excess of Zr by 0.4 dex and a Tc/Zr ratio of -1.3 dex were found. For Mira Tc/Zr is -2.0 dex. In χ Cyg Nb is not enhanced, while it is depleted in o Cet. The spectrum of R Lyr shows no Tc lines and we derive Tc/Zr < -2.6 dex. We interpret the presence of Tc, and the small enhancement of Zr, in χ Cyg as evidence for a recent conventional s-process event. The time since the event is sufficiently short (≲ 1.5 × 105 yr) that neither has the 99Tc had a chance to decay nor has any 93Zr that may have been produced had a chance to decay to 93Nb. For о Cet the excess of Tc is accompanied by a deficiency of Nb, and no other abundance anomalies. We can understand this by a very small pulse of neutrons in which no more than one neutron is absorbed by any isotope.
Explaining racial disparities in HIV incidence in black and white men who have sex with men in Atlanta, GA: a prospective observational cohort study.

Abstract Purpose To describe factors associated with racial disparities in HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) incidence among men who have sex with men (MSM) in the United States. Methods In a longitudinal cohort of black and white HIV-negative MSM in Atlanta, HIV incidence rates were compared by race. Incidence hazard ratios (HRs) between black and white MSM were estimated with an age-scaled Cox proportional hazards model. A change-in-estimate approach was used to understand mediating time-independent and -dependent factors that accounted for the elevated HR. Results Thirty-two incident HIV infections occurred among 260 black and 302 white MSM during 843 person-years (PY) of follow-up. HIV incidence was higher among black MSM (6.5/100 PY; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 4.2–9.7) than white MSM (1.7/100 PY; CI: 0.7–3.3) and highest among young (18–24 years) black MSM (10.9/100 PY; CI: 6.2–17.6). The unadjusted hazard of HIV infection for black MSM was 2.9 (CI: 1.3–6.4) times that of white MSM; adjustment for health insurance status and partner race explained effectively all of the racial disparity. Conclusions Relative to white MSM in Atlanta, black MSM, particularly young black MSM, experienced higher HIV incidence that was not attributable to individual risk behaviors. In a setting where partner pool risk is a driver of disparities, it is also important to maximize care and treatment for HIV-positive MSM.
Health policy in a new key: setting democratic priorities.

Health policy in the United States is entering an era in which explicitly value-based allocation decisions require direct attention. Policies concerning access to care, financing, and utilization management will necessarily have redistributive effects. For these policies to command social legitimacy and political support, some consensus will have to emerge around the values and ideals justifying these policies. This article addresses the problems of conceptual clarification and democratic process raised by the prospect of an explicitly value-based allocation policy. It offers a conceptual matrix distinguishing the scope of the issue of allocation in health care. Drawing on the activities of community health decisions projects in several states, it also offers suggestions about building a participatory and educational process at the grassroots level that might lead to a democratic consensus suitable for guiding policy choices.
“Bone, Flesh, Feather, Fire”: Symbol as Freedom in Helena Maria Viramontes's Under the Feet of Jesus

ABSTRACT Although most critics of Under the Feet of Jesus have studied the political and social implications of Helena Maria Viramontes's depiction of piscadores, this article argues that the novel's rich use of symbolism depicts the protagonist's maturation through her mastery of semiotics. In learning how to assign meaning to physical and linguistic symbols, Estrella learns how to define and claim her own inscape, her subjective consciousness. Through the central symbols of the novel—the barn, the La Brea Tar Pits, owls/flying creatures, Jesus, and fire—Estrella explores the complex notion of human freedom inside a system of marginalization.
Humanitarian Assistance and the Duration of Peace after Civil War

The principles of humanitarian assistance dictate that aid be distributed in accordance with need while remaining neutral with respect to the political stakes. However, these principles have unique implications in the postconflict context, where need is often correlated with opponents' performance in the previous contest. In these cases, humanitarian assistance is likely to be biased towards the conflict loser. Using a crisis-bargaining framework, this article describes a simple logic for how humanitarian aid can inadvertently undermine peace by creating a revisionist party with the incentive to renegotiate the postwar settlement. The empirical expectations of the theory are tested using a panel dataset of cross-national humanitarian aid expenditures in civil conflicts since the end of the Cold War. As the theory predicts, postconflict states treated with higher levels of humanitarian assistance exhibit shorter spells of peace; however, this effect only occurs after conflicts that ended with a decisive vi...
Phencyclidine (PCP): effects on limbic afterdischarges in the rhesus monkey.

Effects of phencyclidine (PCP) on eliciting afterdischarges (AD) by electrical stimulation of the hippocampus (HIPP), amygdala (AMY), thalamus (CM) and midbrain reticular formation (MRF) were studied in rhesus monkeys with permanently implanted encephalic electrodes. Prior to drug administration, the minimal amount of electrical stimulation for eliciting AD, i.e., minimal AD's stimulation (MADS), was determined for each stimulation site and employed as a parameter for evaluating the effects of PCP on AD. Following PCP administration (0.5 mg/kg IM), marked increases (130 to 240% above the control level) in MADS of the HIPP, AMY and MRF were demonstrated, while only slight increase (+40%) in MADS of the CM was found. These results suggest that PCP causes a marked decrement in the ability of electrical stimulation to elicit AD in the HIPP, AMY and MRF, along with only little similar stimulation effects in the CM. This selective increase in MADS in structures of the limbic system and the midbrain reticular formation tends to implicate these systems rather than the thalamocortical system in the modulation of PCP's effects on central nervous system activities.
Effects of handling and context preexposure on the immediate shock deficit

Theimmediate shock deficit refers to the failure of a shock to become associated with contextual stimuli when the shock is presented simultaneously with the rat’s placement in a context. The basic procedure consists of a presentation of the shock as soon as the animal is placed in an observation chamber. Handling of the animal, which immediately precedes the shock, and the novelty of the chamber in which the immediate shock is delivered are potential variables that might be responsible for this associative deficit. In Experiment 1, handling reduced context conditioning but was not responsible for the immediate shock deficit. Experiment 2 revealed that the novelty of the chamber was not a significant factor. These results discount the possibility that handling and the novelty of the chamber are responsible for the deficit produced by the immediate shock. It is suggested that immediate shock could be employed as a control procedure for the study of context conditioning.
768-1 Coronary Lesion Histology in Stable, Unstable and Evolving Angina Pectoris

We performed a histologic analysis of coronary lesions obtained by directional atherectomy from 100 patients with stable, unstable and evolving angina pectoris. Histologic analysis was performed by two pathologists unaware of the clinical history or angiographic findings. This included notation of the presence or absence of various matrix components and quantitative scoring (0-3+) of cellular lesion components. Forty-seven patients (47%) had native coronary lesions. Twenty-five patients (25%) had restenosis after previous balloon angioplasty and twenty-eight (28%) were treated for primary saphenous vein graft disease. There were no differences in the average histologic appearance of atherosclerotic lesions resulting in stable, unstable and evolving angina pectoris. Saphenous vein graft lesions were typically rich in dense connective tissue and extracellular lipid and mononuclear infiltrate. Restenosis lesions were rich in acid mucopolysaccharide and vascular smooth muscle cells and revealed no histologic differences according to the clinical syndrome. Native coronary artery lesions, from patients with unstable angina, more often contained organizing thrombi (30% vs 0%, P l 0.05), cholesterol crystals (20% vs 0%, P l 0.05) and harbored a more intense vascular smooth muscle cell infiltrate (2.1 vs 1.4, P l 0.05) when compared to lesions from patients with stable angina pectoris. There was no difference in the intensity of inflammatory or foam cell infiltration. Conclusion Vascular smooth muscle cells, appearing as intimal hyperplasia, are more prominent in lesions resulting in unstable angina. There is, however, no difference in the intensity of inflammatory or foam cell infiltrate. The histologic appearance of coronary lesions producing the syndrome of unstable angina pectoris is quite heterogenous. In order to establish the role of inflammation in the development of non-fatal acute coronary syndromes, improved sampling methods or a larger sample size will be required.
Urethral sphincterotomy for delivery of vesical calculus in the mare: a case report.

SUMMARY A case of vesical calculus in which haematuria was not a presenting sign is described. Methods of removal of vesical calculi are discussed. In this case, urethral sphincterotomy facilitated delivery. RESUME Un cas de calcul vesical ou l'hematurie n'etait pas un signe clinique est rapporte. On passe en revue les methodes utilisees pour retirer les calculs vesicaux. Ici on eut recours a la sphincterotomie de l'urethre. ZUSAMMENFASSUNG Ein Fall von Blasensteinerkrankung ohne Haematurie wird beschrieben. Die Methoden zur Entfernung von Blasensteinen werden beschrieben. Im vorliegenden Fall erleichterte eine Sphincterotomie die Entfernung.
Characterization of adenine phosphoribosyltransferase from the human malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum

Abstract Because of their inability to synthesize purines de novo, malaria parasites rely on purine phosphoribosyltransferases (PRTases) to convert purine bases salvaged from the host cell (the erythrocyte) into the corresponding purine nucleoside monophosphates. Our studies with late trophozoites of the human malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, showed that virtually all of the purine PRTase activity is accounted for by two distinct enzymes. One enzyme utilizes hypoxanthine, guanine and xanthine (Queen, S.A., Vander Jagt, D. and Reyes, P. (1988) Mol. Biochem. Parasitol. 30, 123–134). The second enzyme utilizes only adenine and is the subject of this paper. This latter enzyme exhibits a biphasic pH-activity profile and is moderately to weakly inhibited by several divalent metal ions. Several of the properties of the P. falciparum enzyme were found to differ significantly from those of human erythrocyte adenine PRTase. (1) The molecular weight (18 000) of the parasite enzyme is smaller than that of the host cell enzyme. (2) The parasite enzyme, unlike the erythrocyte enzyme, is not significantly inhibited by sulfuhydryl reagents. (3) 6-Mercaptopurine and 2,6-diaminopurine proved to be competitive inhibitors of the parasite enzyme (Ki 0.70 and 1.0 mM, respectively); on the other hand, the human enzyme is not inhibited by these agents. (4) The Km for adenine (0.80 μM) and 5-phosphoribosyl-1-pyrophosphate (0.70 μM) displayed by the parasite enzyme are significantly smaller than the corresponding Km values shown by the erythrocyte enzyme. These distinctions between the parasite and host enzymes point to the possibility that adenine PRTase of P. falciparum may represent a potential target for chemotherapeutic attack.
Effects of nystatin on membrane conductance and internal ion activities in Aplysia neurons

Two methods were used to study effects of the antibiotic, nystatin, on giant neurons ofAplysia. In the first method the effects of various concentrations of nystatin on the current-voltage relationship were evaluated at a fixed time after exposure to the antibiotic using a two-microelectrode voltage clamp. Nystatin increased membrane conductance in a dose-dependent manner. The dose-response relation was very steep, with little or no effect below 15 mg/liter and an effect too large to measure at concentrations greater than 30 mg/liter. Upon return to antibiotic-free solution, membrane conductance returned to pre-treatment levels within 30 minutes. The second type of experiment involved use of ion-specific microelectrodes to measure changes of intracellular univalent ion activities which attended the nystatin-induced permeability. meability was also increased. Nystatin may therefore be used to selectively rearrange the internal ionic milieu to study the effect of such a change on membrane tranpsort or electrical properties.
True elasticity in multi-tenant data-intensive compute clusters

Data-intensive computing (DISC) frameworks scale by partitioning a job across a set of fault-tolerant tasks, then diffusing those tasks across large clusters. Multi-tenanted clusters must accommodate service-level objectives (SLO) in their resource model, often expressed as a maximum latency for allocating the desired set of resources to every job. When jobs are partitioned into tasks statically, a cluster cannot meet its SLOs while maintaining both high utilization and efficiency. Ideally, we want to give resources to jobs when they are free but would expect to reclaim them instantaneously when new jobs arrive, without losing work. DISC frameworks do not support such elasticity because interrupting running tasks incurs high overheads. Amoeba enables lightweight elasticity in DISC frameworks by identifying points at which running tasks of over-provisioned jobs can be safely exited, committing their outputs, and spawning new tasks for the remaining work. Effectively, tasks of DISC jobs are now sized dynamically in response to global resource scarcity or abundance. Simulation and deployment of our prototype shows that Amoeba speeds up jobs by 32% without compromising utilization or efficiency.
Fundamental Photoelectrocatalytic and Electrophoretic Mobility Studies of TIO2 and V-Doped TIO2 Thin-Film Electrode Materials

Titanium dioxide and vanadium-doped titanium dioxide prepared by the sol−gel method showed a quantum-size effect in the form of a 0.19 eV blue shift in the band gap energy compared to bulk TiO2. The presence of vanadium as a dopant did not affect the band gap energy of TiO2. However, concentrations of this dopant up to 1% atom ratio increased the pH of the isoelectric point (IEP) above the value of 5.8 found for pure TiO2. When the vanadium concentration surpassed 1%, the IEP began to decrease, dropping below the IEP of pure TiO2 at dopant concentrations greater than ca. 2%. Thin-film electrodes fabricated from TiO2 and V-doped TiO2 coated on titanium foil showed different performances in degrading formic acid and oxalic acid depending on the V content in the catalyst. Using the 5% V-doped TiO2 electrode, 82% of TOC was removed from an aqueous solution containing oxalic acid (25 mg L-1 in C) against 74% removed by the pure TiO2 thin-film electrode in 1 h. In degrading formic acid, 79% of TOC was removed u...
Status of CR-like lower bounds for nonlinear filtering

The motivation and mechanics of utilizing Cramer-Rao (CR) -type lower bounds to gauge the performance of filters being evaluated in nonlinear estimation applications such as in sonar, sonobuoy, and radar target tracking are reviewed. The status of several similar alternative CR-type lower bounds that have been considered or used for this purpose and certain limitations and/or caveats associated with their use are offered. These results should be of interest to sonar, sonobuoy, and radar practitioners and Kalman-filtering or nonlinear-filtering theorists. >
Computer-based tutorials take off.

Computers have come to the science classroom with the increasing popularity of tutorial programs, video simulations and interactive video discs.
Polarity proteins are required for left-right axis orientation and twin-twin instruction

Two main classes of models address the earliest steps of left–right patterning: those postulating that asymmetry is initiated via cilia-driven fluid flow in a multicellular tissue at gastrulation, and those postulating that asymmetry is amplified from intrinsic chirality of individual cells at very early embryonic stages. A recent study revealed that cultured human cells have consistent left–right (LR) biases that are dependent on apical-basal polarity machinery. The ability of single cells to set up asymmetry suggests that cellular chirality could be converted to embryonic laterality by cilia-independent polarity mechanisms in cell fields. To examine the link between cellular polarity and LR patterning in a vertebrate model organism, we probed the roles of apical-basal and planar polarity proteins in the orientation of the LR axis in Xenopus. Molecular loss-of-function targeting these polarity pathways specifically randomizes organ situs independently of contribution to the ciliated organ. Alterations in cell polarity also disrupt tight junction integrity, localization of the LR signaling molecule serotonin, the normally left-sided expression of Xnr-1, and the LR instruction occurring between native and ectopic organizers. We propose that well-conserved polarity complexes are required for LR asymmetry and that cell polarity signals establish the flow of laterality information across the early blastoderm independently of later ciliary functions. genesis 50:219–234, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A study of a 3-D double backward-facing step

An investigation of the flow over a three-dimensional (3-D) double backward-facing step is presented using a combination of both quantitative measurements from a particle image velocimetry (PIV) system and qualitative oil-flow visualizations. The arrangement of the PIV instrument allows for snap-shots of the (x, y) and (y, z) planes at various axial and spanwise positions. The measurements illustrate characteristics that are found in both two-dimensional (2-D) backward-facing steps and 3-D flows around wall mounted cubes. In particular, the development of a horseshoe vortex is found after each step alongside other vortical motions introduced by the geometry of the model. Large turbulence levels are found to be confined to a region in the center of the backstep; their mean square levels being much larger than what has been observed in 2-D backward-facing steps. The large turbulent fluctuations are attributed to a quasi-periodic shedding of the horseshoe vortex as it continuously draws energy from the spiral nodes of separation, which form to create the base of the horseshoe vortex. A combination of effects including the shedding of the first horseshoe vortex, the horizontal entrainment of air and the presence of two counter rotating vortices initiated at reattachment, are shown to cause the steering vector of the flow to jettison away from the surface in the first redeveloping region and along the center at z/h = 0. Oil-flow visualizations confirm these observations.
Effects of Finishing Diet and Cure Procedures on Quality of Smoked Poultry

Abstract A series of experiments showed that acceptable cured/smoked poultry could be produced with cure times less than 50 hours when sodium nitrite and ascorbic acid were included in the cure solution. Although turkeys fed a 2000 kcal. M.E. finishing ration were smaller than those fed 3000 kcal. or an N.R.C. stepdown ration, there were no differences in percent eviscerated yield, percent change in weight after curing or percent cooked yield. Higher concentrations of salt and nitrite were found in the thigh meat than the breast meat. The low energy diet birds had the largest amount of salt and nitrite in the breast when compared to the high energy and step down diet. Smaller birds, while having no significant differences in weight after curing, were found to have a larger concentration of salt and better color development when compared to larger birds for the same duration of cure. Adequate cure ingredient absorption was obtained with 16 to 32 hours of curing by soaking with broiler chickens. However, brine injection in thickly muscled areas of medium to large turkeys seemed to be required. Cooking to an internal temperature of 76° C. gave better cooked yields than cooking to 79° C. (78.6% vs. 70.5%). Total aerobic bacteria counts of smoked turkey averaged 2.5 × 103/cm.2 after 3 weeks storage and 5.5 × 106/cm.2 after 6 weeks.
Reducing Hajós' 4-coloring conjecture to 4-connected graphs

Hajos conjectured that, for any positive integer k, every graph containing no Kk+1-subdivision is k-colorable. This is true when k ≤ 3, and false when k ≥ 6. Hajos' conjecture remains open for k = 4, 5. In this paper, we show that any possible counterexample to this conjecture for k = 4 with minimum number of vertices must be 4-connected. This is a step in an attempt to reduce Hajos' conjecture for k = 4 to the conjecture of Seymour that any 5-connected non-planar graph contains a K5-subdivision.
Redox control of vascular smooth muscle proliferation

Abstract Recent evidence suggests a role for reactive oxygen species in the control of vascular smooth muscle proliferation both in vitro and in vivo. Oxidative stress increases cell proliferation, mediates hormone-induced hypertrophy, and—under some circumstances—induces apoptosis. Smooth muscle cells contain a reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide/reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase that is responsible for the majority of the superoxide produced by the vessel wall. This enzyme has been characterized biochemically, but only limited information is available regarding its molecular structure. High levels of oxidative stress are apparently involved in the pathogenesis of vascular diseases such as hypertension and atherosclerosis, along with abnormal vascular growth after balloon injury. Thus the pathways responsible for oxidative stress, as well as the antioxidant defenses in the vessel wall, may provide novel therapeutic targets.
Effects of superoxide dismutase and catalase on central nervous system toxicity of hyperbaric oxygen.

Abstract The effects of exogenous superoxide dismutase (SOD) (20 mg/kg) and catalase (3.0 mg/kg) and the combination of SOD + catalase upon the time to convulsions following 100% oxygen at 3 and 6 atm have been studied in mice. SOD alone produced no change in the time to convulsions, catalase produced a prolongation of approximately 50% of the time to convulsions observed in the untreated mice, and SOD when administered with the catalase interfered with the catalase response. Graded doses of catalase produced a graded prolongation of time to convulsions, demonstrating a dose-response relationship. These findings are compatible with previous investigations showing an increase in brain H2O2 with exposure to hyperbaric oxygen, which may infer that this substance plays a part in the CNS toxicity observed.
Identification of a Recurrent Missense Mutation in the Norrie Disease Gene Associated with a Simplex Case of Exudative Vitreoretinopathy

Disorders such as Norrie disease, X-linked familial exudative vitreoretinopathy, retinopathy of prematurity and X-linked primary vitreoretinal dysplasia have very similar clinical manifestations. They exhibit retinal fold, retinal detachment, retinal traction and the formation of retrolental fibrovascular membrane. In order to identify carriers for these disorders and provide precise genetic counseling of the relatives, a molecular genetic analysis will be helpful. This report describes the results of Norrie disease analysis in simplex cases of exudative vitreoretinopathy. the identification of a recurrent mutation in the Norrie disease gene in a simplex case of exudative vitreoretinopathy further strengthens the notion that Norrie disease and exudative vitreoretinopathy are allelic disorders.
Benchmarking the quality of care of infants with low-risk gastroschisis using a novel risk stratification index

Background The nationwide mortality of neonates with gastroschisis was compared to determine whether significant variations in outcome occurred at the hospital level. Methods Utilizing a previously developed risk-stratification index, low-risk neonates with gastroschisis were identified by a score of ≤2. Only hospitals that had a record of treating >25 low-risk neonates were included in the analysis. Hospital performance in treating infants with gastroschisis was categorized into moderate and extreme outliers. Results A total of 4,344 neonates with gastroschisis were identified at 506 individual hospitals. Low-risk neonates had an overall mortality of 2.9% compared with high-risk neonates whose overall mortality was 24.4%. Forty hospitals treated >25 low-risk neonates in the years studied for a total of 1,775 low-risk patients. The mean, in-hospital mortality of this cohort was 3.1% (range, 0–14.3). Eight hospitals were moderate outliers with mortality rates between 3.8% and 8.0%. Two hospitals were extreme outliers with mortality rates of 8.6% and 14.3%. Conclusion A substantial variation exists in the mortality of neonates with low-risk gastroschisis across hospitals. Further improvements in survival may, thus, depend on targeting quality improvement initiatives to standardization of operative approaches as well improvements in nonoperative factors such as neonatal intensive care unit practices, nurse-to-patient ratios, and levels of intensivist staffing.
THE SYNTHESIS AND ACTINIDE AND LANTHANIDE COMPLEXATION OF“ SOFT” DONOR LIGANDS: COMPARISON BETWEEN 4-BENZOYL-2,4-DIHYDRO-5-METHYL-2-PHENYL-3H-PYRAZOL-3-THIONE ( HBMPPT) AND 4-THIOBENZOYL-2,4-DIHYDRO-5-METHYL-2-PHENYL-3H-PYRAZOL-3-ONE ( HTBMPP) WITH TRI-n-OCTYLPHOSPHINE OXIDE (TOPO) SYNERGIST FOR Am( III) AND Eu( III) EXTRACTION

ABSTRACT A comparison study between two “ soft” donor ligand isomers, 4-benzoyl-2,4-dihydro-5-methyl-2-phenyl-3H-pyrazol-3-thione ( HBMPPT) and 4-thiobenzoyl-2,4-dihydro-5-methyl-2-phenyl-3H-pyrazol-3-one ( HTBMPP), both with tri-n-octylphosphine oxide ( TOPO) synergist in toluene, is reported for the extraction of Am( III) and Eu(UI). The more stable ligand, HBMPPT, gave no detectable extraction, but when HBMPPT and TOPO were combined, substantial extraction occurred with selectivity for Am( UI) over Eu( III) in three acid systems HC1, HCIO4, and HNO3. A maximum separation factor ( SF = DAm/ DEu) of 125 was obtained at pH 3.0 for the HBMPPT/ TOPO/ HCIO4 system. The other less stable ligand isomer, HTBMPP, did extract Am( m) to a small extent but combination with TOPO greatly enhanced the extraction. A maximum SF of 15 at pH 3.0 was observed for the HTBMPP/ TOPO/ HCIO4 system. Comparison of HBMPPT/ TOPO among the acids studied indicated different extraction mechanisms in the linear region in each system f...
High-Level Expression of RXRα and the Presence of Endogenous Ligands Contribute to Expression of a Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor-Responsive Gene in Hepatoma Cells

Abstract Genes containing peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) binding sites are both inducible by peroxisome proliferators and expressed in a tissue-specific fashion. A PPAR-responsive reporter gene cotransfected with a PPARα expression vector was highly expressed in H4IIEC3 hepatoma cells. Addition of clofibrate resulted in a modest further induction of the reporter gene. In CV-1 cells, high expression of the reporter required the addition of clofibrate. H4IIEC3 cells had higher levels of retinoid X receptor (RXRα) than CV-1 cells; cotransfection of CV-1 cells with PPARα plus RXRα expression plasmids abolished the cell line difference in basal and clofibrate-stimulated expression of the reporter. Lipid extracts of hepatoma cells or of liver or kidney stimulated expression of the reporter; extracts of CV-1 cells were far less effective. Chromatographic analysis of these extracts revealed high levels of three fractions of lipid in liver and H4IIEC3 cells that were lower in CV-1 cells. We conclude that (1) in cells expressing high levels of both RXRs and PPARα, such as hepatocytes and kidney cells, these factors are constitutively active; (2) activators of PPARα may increase its ability to form heterodimers with RXRs when the latter are limiting; and (3) hepatoma cells, liver, and kidney contain lipid-extractable compounds capable of activating PPARα.
Potential Bias of Instrumental Variable Analyses for Observational Comparative Effectiveness Research

Instrumental variable analysis is an increasingly popular method in comparative effectiveness research (CER). In theory, the instrument controls for unobserved and observed patient characteristics that affect the outcome. However, the results of instrumental variable analyses in observational settings may be biased if the instrument and outcome are related through an unadjusted third variable: an "instrument-outcome confounder." The authors identified published CER studies that used instrumental variable analysis and searched the literature for potential confounders of the most common instrument-outcome pairs. Of the 187 studies identified, 114 used 1 or more of the 4 most common instrument categories: distance to facility, regional variation, facility variation, and physician variation. Of these, 65 used mortality as an outcome. Potential unadjusted instrument-outcome confounders were observed in all studies, including patient race, socioeconomic status, clinical risk factors, health status, and urban or rural residency; facility and procedure volume; and co-occurring treatments. Only 4 (6%) instrumental variable CER studies considered potential instrument-outcome confounders outside the study data. Many effect estimates may be biased by the failure to adjust for instrument-outcome confounding. The authors caution against overreliance on instrumental variable studies for CER.
Requiring web-based cloud and mobile computing in a computer science undergraduate curriculum

In the opening keynote presentation of the 2010 Google I/O Annual Conference, Google Vice President of Engineering Vic Gundotra emphasized that "the web is the most important platform of our generation". It was also stated that all major new software products were web based and that no major desktop application has been released since 2004[1]. The growth of the web is matched by similar growth in mobile computing. Many Computer Science undergraduate programs have not kept pace with the changing trends and do not require either a web course or a mobile course. Though they offer electives in many emerging fields, many students can graduate without knowledge of web programming and/or mobile computing. Knowledge of both of these fields is critical for future success. This paper describes two adjustments to the core Computer Science curriculum at Elon University. These changes require all students to take a Computer Science III course on Web Programming using the Google App Engine cloud and a Mobile Computing course based on Android. The Google App Engine provides students a 24x7 platform that can host JavaServer Faces 2.0 applications with a persistent storage tier behind a JPA interface. Android provides a rapidly changing platform for teaching new concepts on location awareness, battery conservation and emerging user interface paradigms for video, audio, acceleration, cloud communication and touch input. Both of these courses have been extremely successful. The Google Cloud, Android and JSF combined with materials used in the two courses and described by the authors can be used at any university to jump start required courses in web and mobile programming. These courses provide students the needed skill sets to be marketable and competitive in the most important platform of our generation.
An enantioselective synthesis of (−)-slaframine

Abstract An enantioselective synthesis of (−)-slaframine ( 1 ) has been accomplished by an intramolecular azide [2+3] dipolar cycloaddition starting from the readily available aldehyde 12 .
Convulsive disorders during the first three months of life.

SUMMARY Eighty-two infants (ages 0–3 months) were admitted because of convulsions. The etiology was infectious in 28 (intracranial 12, extracranial 16), morphological brain damage in 20 (chiefly cerebral anoxia at birth), metabolic disorder in 9 and unknown in 25 cases. Subdural effusion was present in 6 out of 11 infants with bacterial meningitis. These data stress the significance of infection as a common cause of convulsions in early infancy. Relatively short follow-up studies demonstrate a fairly high incidence of neurological and intellectual deficits as well as recurrence of seizures. Most notorious in this regard proved to be the group of “morphological brain damage.” Hence the long-term prognosis of seizures occurring in early infancy is a guarded one. RESUME Les sujets qui ont ete suzivis pendant un temps relativement bref ont montre une proportion assez elevee de troubles neurologiques et intellectuels et une tendance a la repetition des crises. Ceci etait particulierement net chez des patients presentant une lesion cerebrale. Le pronostic eloigne des crises survenant pendant les 3 premiers mois semble done devoir etre reserve. Quatre-vingt deux enfants, âges de 0 a 3 mois, ont ete admis pour des convulsions. L'etiologie etait infectieuse dans 28 cas (intra-cranienne 12 cas, extra-cranienne 16 cas), en relation avec une lesion cerebrale (principalement d'origine anoxique obstetricale) dans 20 cas, en rapport avec un desordre metabolique dans 9 cas, et inconnue dans 25 cas. Une effusion sous-durale existait chez 6 des 11 sujets qui presentaient une meningite bacterienne. Ces constatations font ressortir l'importance de Finfection dans le determinisme des convulsions de la premiere enfance.
Computational study and comparisons of LFT reducibility methods

A set of computationally tractable model reduction algorithms are described which may be used to determine minimal realization dimensions for uncertain systems represented by linear fractional transformations on structured uncertainty sets; these computational tools are also applicable to multi-dimensional systems. The methods described utilize linear matrix inequality methods, in addition to straightforward coordinate transformations and truncations. These algorithms are evaluated on a variety of example systems that are constructed to be reducible.
Volatile Emissions of Ammonium Nitrate under Flowing Conditions

Ammonium nitrate (AN) is an ionic solid commonly used as a fertilizer and in commercial blasting applications. Frequently, AN is mixed with a fuel and used in improvised explosives devices (IEDs). To characterize the low-volatility components emanating from AN, a sample of AN was sealed inside a stainless steel chamber while a laminar flow of air swept the headspace vapor components into a water impinger or cold-trap for pre-concentration and subsequent analysis by ion chromatography (IC). Both collection methods were found to be 100 % efficient for collecting nitric acid vapor, whereas the collection efficiency for ammonia was dependent upon the collection method and, for the water impinging method, additionally upon the vapor concentration, humidity and flow rate. Cold-trapping efficiency for ammonia was 4 %±2 % across all parameters studied. Water impinging was more efficient (20–70 %), but the efficiency varied according to each of the aforementioned variables. The characteristics of an AN vapor generated from a solid sample were found to vary as the sample approached equilibrium inside the chamber. Initially, large quantities of ammonia were observed, but as a steady state was achieved within the laminar flow and a dynamic equilibrium established, the ratio of ammonia to nitric acid in the effluent vapor dropped, although never becoming equimolar. The ratio was strongly dependent upon humidity.
THE LINEARIZED THEORY OF A SUPERCAVITATING HYDROFOIL WITH A JET FLAP

Abstract : A theoretical analysis is carried out for the steady cavity flow about thin hydrofoil sections at small incidence alpha, at the trailing edge of which a thin jet emerges at a small deflection pi. The flow is assumed to be inviscid and incompressible and the cavitation number is taken to be zero. The jet is assumed so thin that it can be considered as a vortex sheet across which the velocity is discontinuous. For the case of a flat plate, expressions have been obtained for lift, drag, pressure distribution, pitching moment, the jet shape and the cavity shape. Numerical calculations are made for a number of jet momentum-flux coefficients C sub J lying between 0.01 and 5. (Author)
An ultrastructural study of calcium phosphate formation in multilamellar liposome suspensions.

Calcium phosphate precipitation can be induced within liposomes containing buffered inorganic phosphate by the ionophore-mediated loading of calcium ions. Negative staining, positive staining for thin sectioning, and freeze-fracture electron microscopy were used to characterize these synthetic vesicles and to evaluate the liposome-mineral interactions resulting from apatite formation. Suspensions of phosphate (0–50 mM KH2PO4)-encapsulated liposomes were prepared from mixtures of phosphatidylcholine, dicetyl phosphate, and cholesterol in the molar ratios of 7∶2∶1. Precipitation reactions were initiated by first suspending the liposomes in a buffered solution containing calcium (1.3–2.2 mM Ca(NO3)2) and then adding the cationic ionophore X-537 A. All experiments were carried out at 22°C, pH 7.4, and 240 mosm. Transmission electron microscopical analysis showed that the liposome preparation consisted of multilamellar, multicompartmental vesicular structures. The liposomes were typically heterogeneous with respect to both the size and number of phospholipid bilayers surrounding the aqueous cores. In Caloaded liposomes, discrete clusters of apatite mineral were present within the lumen, and in close proximity to the inner lipid membranes. These nascent crystallites eventually penetrated the lipid envelope to provide a focus for external precipitation events. Crystalline apatite phases were not observed when the incubation conditions prevented intraliposomal precipitation. Thede novo calcification of these liposomes had many features in common with the sequence of mineral deposition occurring in matrix vesicle-mediated calcification. These results reinforce the conclusions of earlier chemical and kinetic studies and further support the use of this system as an experimental model for examining the membrane-mineral interactions associated with tissue mineralization.
Advantages of high tolerance measurements in fusion environments applying photogrammetry

Photogrammetry, a state-of-the-art technique of metrology employing digital photographs as the vehicle for measurement, has been investigated in the fusion environment. Benefits of this high tolerance methodology include relatively easy deployment for multiple point measurements and deformation/distortion studies. Depending on the equipment used, photogrammetric systems can reach tolerances of 25 microns (0.001 in) to 100 microns (0.004 in) on a 3-meter object. During the fabrication and assembly of the National Compact Stellarator Experiment (NCSX) the primary measurement systems deployed were CAD coordinate-based computer metrology equipment and supporting algorithms such as both interferometer-aided (IFM) and absolute distance measurementbased (ADM) laser trackers, as well as portable Coordinate Measurement Machine (CMM) arms. Photogrammetry was employed at NCSX as a quick and easy tool to monitor coil distortions incurred during welding operations of the machine assembly process and as a way to reduce assembly downtime for metrology processes. This paper will explore the use of photogrammetry on NCSX during field period assembly (FPA) and the results it achieved. It will also explore other applications of this method and discuss future plans for use.
Exploring the Links between Adult Education and Human Resource Development: Learning, Risk-Taking, and Democratic Discourse.

Learning is indeed an integral component of adapting successfully to an ever-changing world, one full of intriguing possibilities and insidious barriers. Democratic societies establish educative systems where learning and development is promoted to advance a citizenry of skillful problem solvers, knowledgeable decision makers, incisive risk takers, and proactive participants in the democratic process. Learning and its unequivocal support are thus vital for an evolving democratic society where its citizens are mindful of and committed to the social good. The fields of adult education (AE) and human resource development (HRD) play particularly significant roles in providing quality learning and development opportunities for adults, yet both are underrated in terms of their contributions to society as a whole. In this paper, I explore AE and HRD as closely related, but underestimated parts of a greater educative system. Both fields' perceived marginal role as educative system participants may be a function of unnecessarily fractious debates among scholars and practitioners in their respective fields. Unfortunately, differences and not similarities are promoted too often at the expense of useful cooperation and one unified voice. “…if life is learning; learning is life…” Edward Lindeman (1926, p. 55)
Time dependence of the Skyrme soliton

Small oscillations of the static Skyrme soliton are considered. It is found that the Skyrme soliton is stable against small oscillations and there is no bound state. The meson--soliton scattering phase shifts are calculated. A resonance is found at approx.250--300 MeV above the nucleon, which is only halfway from the Roper resonance N((1440). Small oscillations are also considered for spinning Skyrme solitons. The results are similar. Some implications and difficulties associated with spinning solitons are discussed.
Electroproduction scaling in an asymptotically free theory of strong interactions

We analyze electroproduction in a non-Abelian gauge model of the strong interactions using the techniques of Christ, Hasslacher, and Mueller. The theory is asymptotically free and consistent with scaling up to logarithms. All logarithmic factors appear as inverse powers of ln(-q^2) and hence vanish as -q^2→∞. When -q^2 gets very large, the structure functions become strongly peaked near x=0, and as -q^2→∞ approach the singular scaling functions 2x F1(x)=F2(x)=aδ(x), where the constant a is determined. In a strong-interaction model based on the gauge group SU(3) with three triplets of fractionally charged quarks, a=0.16.
Holocene pollen records from the central Arctic Foothills, northern Alaska: testing the role of substrate in the response of tundra to climate change

Summary 1 To explore the role of edaphic controls in the response of arctic tundra to climate change, we analysed Holocene pollen records from lakes in northern Alaska located on glaciated surfaces with contrasting soil texture, topography and tundra communities. Using indicator taxa, pollen accumulation rates (PARs) and multivariate comparison of fossil and modern pollen assemblages, we reconstructed the vegetational changes at Upper Capsule Lake (Sagavanirktok surface) and Red Green Lake (Itkillik II surface) in response to increased effective moisture between the early and middle Holocene. 2 In the Red Green record, low PARs and the continuous presence of taxa indicative of prostrate-shrub tundra (PST; Equisetum , Polypodiaceae, Thalictrum and Rosaceae) indicate that the vegetation resembled PST throughout the Holocene. During the warm, dry early Holocene (11 300‐10 000 cal years BP), PST also occurred on Sagavanirktok surfaces, as evidenced by PST indicators (Bryidae, Polypodiaceae, Equisetum and Rosaceae) in this interval of the Upper Capsule record. However, PARs increased, suggesting increased vegetation cover, PST taxa declined and taxa indicative of dwarfshrub tundra (DST; Rubus chamaemorus and Lycopodium annotinum ) increased between 10 000 and 7500 cal years BP. 3 We hypothesize that between the early and middle Holocene the fine-textured soils and smooth topography of Sagavanirktok surfaces led to increased soil moisture, greater vegetation cover, permafrost aggradation, anoxic and acidic soil conditions, slower decomposition and the development of a thick organic layer. In contrast, soil moisture remained low on the better-drained Itkillik II surface, and vegetational changes were minor. 4 Landscape-scale substrate variations have an effect on how tundra responds to climate change, suggesting that the response of arctic ecosystems to future variability may be spatially heterogeneous.
Development of Viral Diseases and a Viral Disease-Like Syndrome After Extracorporeal Circulation

In 170 consecutive patients with congenital or acquired cardiac disease who survived openheart operations, 14 patients (8 per cent) developed a syndrome characterized by malaise, fever, normal or low white blood count, lymphocytosis, and, in most cases, splenomegaly and hepatomegaly. The onset was usually delayed from three to six weeks after operation. Although this syndrome clinically resembled infectious mononucleosis, this diagnosis could be clearly established in only one case by heterophile antibody determinations. Nevertheless, the presence of virocytes and other similarities suggest a viral etiology for the other 13 cases.
Large-Domain, Low-Contrast Acoustic Inverse Scattering for Ultrasound Breast Imaging

We present a full-wave acoustic inverse-scattering algorithm designed specifically for ultrasonic breast imaging. At ultrasonic frequencies, the image domain is roughly tens to hundreds of λmin cubed, where λmin is the smallest wavelength in the transmit signal spectrum. The expected range of contrasts for the breast imaging problem for density, compressibility, and compressive loss is ±20% of the background. Because of the low contrast, Born iterations provide the basic structure of the inverse-scattering algorithm. However, we use a multiobjective covariance-based least squares cost function in place of the basic least squares cost function to estimate the contrast functions. This cost function provides physically meaningful regularization based on a priori knowledge of the contrasts. Also, due to the size of the imaging domain and because the objects to be imaged are low contrast and inhomogeneous, we use the Neumann series solution as the forward solver. The largest domain imaged in simulation was 50λmin × 50 λmin in 2-D.
Study of electromagnetic wave propagation through dielectric slab doped randomly with thin metallic wires using finite element method

A new numerical simulation method using the finite element methodology (FEM) is presented to study electromagnetic propagation through a dielectric material slab doped randomly with thin and short metallic wires. The FEM approach described in many standard text books and published papers, is appropriately modified to account for the presence of thin and short metallic wires. Using this modified FEM approach, the transmission and reflection characteristics of a material slab (homogeneous dielectric slab doped randomly with thin and short metallic wires) placed in an X-band rectangular waveguide are estimated. The estimated results are compared with the numerical results obtained using the CST microwave studio simulation tool.