cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Particle Stabilization of Oil–Fluorocarbon Interfaces and Effects on Multiphase Oil-in-Water Complex Emulsion Morphology and Reconfigurability

Stabilization of oil-oil interfaces is important for nonaqueous emulsions as well as for multiphase oil-in-water emulsions, with relevance to a variety of fields ranging from emulsion polymerization to sensors and optics. Here, we focus on examining the ability of functionalized silica particles to stabilize interfaces between fluorinated oils and other immiscible oils (such as hydrocarbons and silicones) in nonaqueous emulsions and also on the particles' ability to affect the morphology and reconfigurability of complex, biphasic oil-in-water emulsions. We compare the effectiveness of fluorophilic, lipophilic, and bifunctional fluorophilic-lipophilic coated nanoparticles to stabilize these oil-oil interfaces. Sequential bulk emulsification steps by vortex mixing, or emulsification by microfluidics, can be used to create complex droplets in which particles stabilize the oil-oil interfaces and surfactants stabilize the oil-water interfaces. We examine the influence of particles adsorbed at the internal oil-oil interface in complex droplets to hinder the reconfiguration of these complex emulsions upon addition of aqueous surfactants, creating "metastable" droplets that resist changes in morphology. Such metastable droplets can be triggered to reconfigure when heated above their upper critical solution temperature. Thus, not only do these bifunctional silica particles enable the stabilization of a broad array of oil-fluorocarbon nonaqueous emulsions, but the ability to address the oil-oil interface within complex O/O/W droplets expands the diversity of oil chemical choices available and the accessibility of droplet morphologies and sensitivity.
A critique of clinical economy: Reassessing value and care during covid-19 - An essay by Eric Reinhart and Daniel Brauner

For decades, American medical practice has been organised around billing codes, with severe consequences for patient care and physician morale. The interruption of routine clinic visits owing to covid-19 presents an opportunity to reconsider the guiding principles of clinical care, write Eric Reinhart and Daniel Brauner
Impact of residential mobility on estimated environmental exposures in a prospective cohort of older women.

Longitudinal studies of environmental hazards often rely on exposure estimated at the participant's enrollment residence. This could lead to exposure misclassification if participants move over time. Methods We evaluated residential mobility in the Iowa Women's Health Study (age 55-69 years) over 19 years of follow-up (1986-2004). We assessed several environmental exposures of varying spatial scales at enrollment and follow-up addresses. Exposures included average nitrate concentrations in public water supplies, percent of agricultural land (row crops and pasture/hay) within 750 m, and the presence of concentrated animal feeding operations within 5 km. In comparison to gold standard duration-based exposures averaged across all residences, we evaluated the sensitivity and specificity of exposure metrics and attenuation bias for a hypothetical nested case-control study of cancer, which assumed participants did not move from their enrollment residence. Results Among 41,650 participants, 32% moved at least once during follow-up. Mobility was predicted by working outside the home, being a former/current smoker, having a higher education level, using a public drinking water supply, and town size of previous residence. Compared with duration-based exposures, the sensitivity and specificity of exposures at enrollment ranged from 94% to 99% and 97% to 99%, respectively. A hypothetical true odds ratio of 2.0 was attenuated 8% for nitrate, 9%-10% for agricultural land, and 6% for concentrated animal feeding operation exposures. Conclusions Overall, we found low rates of mobility and mobility-related exposure misclassification in the Iowa Women's Health Study. Misclassification and attenuation of hypothetical risk estimates differed by spatial variability and exposure prevalence.
The Power of Consequential Product Sounds

Abstract Building on theory in sensory marketing, mental simulation, and cue diagnosticity, this research investigates when consequential product sounds, or ancillary sounds generated by the normal operation of a product, can impact customers’ perceptions and behavioral intentions. Across four studies, we demonstrate how consequential product sounds coupled with imagery and phrasing of products in use can encourage customers into a mental space in which they can clearly envision using the product, also known as a process mindset. This mindset allows customers to use the amplitude of the consequential product sound to make inferences about its power, and subsequently enhances their willingness to pay for louder products (versus quiet products or those with no sound). Effects are attenuated when customers are encouraged into an outcome mindset, or a mental space in which they only consider the end benefits of using a product. We provide clear theoretical and managerial implications and, based on our findings, propose that retailers should consider incorporating consequential product sounds into customers’ shopping experiences, as these auditory cues can help to encourage a process mindset and thereby, positively impact customers’ willingness to pay.
Macrophage depletion of CMV latently infected donor hearts ameliorates recipient accelerated chronic rejection.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is linked to acceleration of solid organ transplant vascular sclerosis (TVS) and chronic rejection (CR). Donor latent CMV infection increases cardiac-resident macrophages and T cells leading to increased inflammation, promoting allograft rejection. To investigate the role of cardiac-resident passenger macrophages in CMV-mediated TVS/CR, macrophages were depleted from latently ratCMV (RCMV)-infected donor allografts prior to transplantation. Latently RCMV-infected donor F344 rats were treated with clodronate, PBS, or control liposomes 3 days prior to cardiac transplant into RCMV-naive Lewis recipients. Clodronate treatment significantly increased graft survival from post-operative day (POD)61 to POD84 and decreased TVS at rejection. To determine the kinetics of the effect of clodronate treatment's effect, a time study revealed that clodronate treatment significantly decreased macrophage infiltration into allograft tissues as early as POD14; altered allograft cytokine/chemokine protein levels, fibrosis development, and inflammatory gene expression profiles. These findings support our hypothesis that increased graft survival as a result of allograft passenger macrophage depletion was in part a result of altered immune response kinetics. Depletion of donor macrophages prior to transplant is a strategy to modulate allograft rejection and reduce TVS in the setting of CMV + donors transplanted into CMV naive recipients.
A Cloud-Enabled Application Framework for Simulating Regional-Scale Impacts of Natural Hazards on the Built Environment

With the goal to facilitate research to evaluate the risks from natural hazards and alternate risk mitigation strategies, the Natural Hazards Engineering Research Infrastructure’s Computational Modeling and Simulation Center (NHERI SimCenter) is developing computational workflows for regional hazard simulations. These simulations enable research to integrate detailed assessments of individual facilities with comprehensive regional-scale simulations of natural hazard effects. This approach enables fine (parcel level) granularity on assessing natural hazard impacts on buildings, infrastructures systems and other constructed facilities, which can enable engineering informed assessment of policy considerations and socio-economic impacts. Effective development of research platforms for high-resolution regional simulations requires modular workflows that can integrate state-of-the-art models with information technologies and high-performance computing resources. In this paper, the modular architecture of the computational workflow models is described and illustrated through testbed applications to evaluate regional building damage under an earthquake and a hurricane scenario. Developed and disseminated as open-source software on the NHERI Design Safe Cyberinfrastructure, the computational models and workflows are enabling multi-disciplinary collaboration on research to mitigate the effects of natural hazard disasters.
Bedside Laparoscopy in the Intensive Care Unit

In the situations where physical exam is unreliable, hemodynamic stability is tenuous, or radiologic studies are unsafe or non-diagnostic, bedside laparoscopy in the intensive care unit should be considered. The most essential contraindication is those who would not tolerate pneumoperitoneum. This particularly includes those sensitive to changes in carbon dioxide levels, with tenuous volume status, pulmonary hypertension or severe right heart failure, and intolerance to positioning required from optimal laparoscopic views. Patients with uncorrectable coagulopathy, hypercapnia, or dependence on compensatory respiratory alkalosis are not suitable for laparoscopy. Necessary equipment includes a mobile laparoscope tower with an image processor, electrocautery, a light source for the camera, and sufficient backup CO2 tanks for insufflation. An open operative set should be available for any laparoscopic procedure for complications that may arise in addition to lap sponges, a variety of sutures, open suction, retractors, and sufficient lighting for visualization. To establish pneumoperitoneum, a closed Veress needle technique or an open cutdown technique using a blunt trocar or a Hasson’s trocar. The Hasson open technique allows visualization of all of the layers of the abdominal wall during entry but may take longer to start and finish the operation and can present a significant challenge in the obese patient. Anticipation of the cardiovascular effects of establishing pneumoperitoneum is essential for safe and effective laparoscopic surgery as positioning and insufflation impact both preload and afterload which can be life threatening with right or left sided heart failure. Hemorrhage, injury to solid or hollow organs, nerve damage, and post-operative hernias are additional complications that can occur. Critically ill patients without an obvious indication for a laparotomy with unexplained sepsis, lactic acidosis, abdominal pain, or abdominal distension without evidence of an obstruction should be considered for bedside laparoscopy.
Perspectives on Internal Dosimetry for Optimized Radionuclide Therapy.

Abstract A balanced approach to radiopharmaceutical dosimetry involves personalized dosimetry. Planar quantitative imaging can be practical, reliable, and relatively cost-effective. Therapy dose op...
The complementary role of parathyroid scintigraphy and ultrasound (US) in the evaluation of primary hyperparathyroidism

89 Objectives To evaluate the role of Tc-99m Sestamibi scintigraphy and ultrasound in primary hyperparathyroidism and analyze role of gland weight in the accuracy of imaging diagnosis. Methods Retrospective HIPAA-compliant review of 229 consecutive patients between 2007 and 2009 who underwent planar parathyroid scintigraphy, ultrasound and parathyroidectomy. A total of 270 resected glands were analyzed. Results Sestamibi scans were positive for 175 glands (65%), of which 172 (98%) were true positives, confirmed by pathology and postoperative biochemical cure. Ultrasound was positive for 191 glands (71%) of which 163 (85%) were true positives. Sestamibi scans were falsely negative for 70 glands (26%) with ultrasound positive in 42 of the 70 sestamibi-negative glands (60%), of which 39/42 (93%) were true positives. The mean weight for sestamibi-positive glands was 1148 mg and 452 mg for the sestamibi-negative culprit glands (p value Conclusions The Sestamibi scan is slightly more accurate than ultrasound in primary hyperparathyroidism and should be the first test performed. Ultrasound is particularly useful in the Sestamibi-negative cases. Both sestamibi and ultrasound tend to miss small sized glands.
Recurrent neural network architectures from passive nonlinear electrical building blocks

Recurrent neural networks belonging to the general class of nonlinear networks or systems with feedback can have a wide range of dynamical behaviors and can have potential for application in a number of areas. The issues central to recurrent neural networks are the architecture, neuro-dynamics, stability, and training or learning rules. The existing architectures for neuro-dynamical systems have been derived through an understanding/interpretation of biological neuro-systems. In this paper, we introduce a new, unique, and simple paradigm to arrive at a much broader class of neuro-dynamical systems. It is based on an "engineering or building block" approach combined with what one may term as "reverse engineering". The concept of passivity is used to obtain the necessary nonlinear electrical elements that serve as the building blocks of complex dynamical systems. The dynamical equations corresponding to such systems can serve as the neuro-dynamics for various applications. The philosophy though conceptually simple, leads to a powerful paradigm for designing recurrent neural networks that are guaranteed to be stable and also leads to a self-organizing approach for learning, In this paper, we provide details on some of the building blocks, mathematical analysis of networks built from such an approach, the application to neural-dynamics, and some initial results. >
Antagonistic but Not Symmetric Regulation of Primary Motor Cortex by Basal Ganglia Direct and Indirect Pathways.

Summary Motor cortex, basal ganglia (BG), and thalamus are arranged in a recurrent loop whose activity guides motor actions. In the dominant model of the function of the BG and their role in Parkinson's disease, direct (dSPNs) and indirect (iSPNs) striatal projection neurons are proposed to oppositely modulate cortical activity via BG outputs to thalamus. Here, we test this model by determining how striatal activity modulates primary motor cortex in awake head-restrained mice. We find that, within 200 ms, dSPN and iSPN activation exert robust and opposite effects on the majority of cortical neurons. However, these effects are heterogeneous, with certain cortical neurons biphasically modulated by iSPN stimulation. Moreover, these striatal effects are diminished when the animal performs a motor action. Thus, the effects of dSPN and iSPN activity on cortex are at times antagonistic, consistent with classic models, whereas in other contexts these effects can be occluded or coactive.
Feudalism Unmodified: Discourses on Farms and Firms

The regulation of firm size and structure, in agriculture and industry, assumes that certain forms of market structure and industrial organization are economically or socially pernicious. Large farms and large firms, according to this view, are reservoirs of economic and social evils. The law often targets these purported evils by restricting the formation and structure of firms. Structural regulation exploits the connection between the internal firm organization and overall market structure. Structural regulation disrupts the formation of firms so large that the size and scope of their activities favor sharp distinctions between labor, management, and capital. In agriculture, one of the most rigorously regulated and structured economic sectors in America, critics have decried the reemergence of feudalism. We shall borrow the epithet feudalism as a term embodying the worst fears urging the rigid structural regulation of free enterprise. This article first examines the regulation of feudalism in its native setting, the farm. Barriers to external investment and involvement in farming have not shielded agriculture from its natural tendency toward a feudal market structure. This article then studies the law's frontal assault on industrial feudalism: anti-takeover statutes. Like their agrarian counterparts, these laws have succeeded in destroying wealth without significantly affecting the terms by which firms organize themselves and shape economy at large. Whether manifested on the farm or in the firm, modern feudalism resists structural regulation. To advocates of free enterprise, feudalism unmodified is a battle cry, a celebration of the inequality that makes economic progress possible. But feudalism unmodified also describes the dismal condition of capitalism and its discontents. Those who would protect weaker competitors at the expense of competition lament the failure of structural regulation. No amount of legal resistance can preserve small farms and small firms. Feudalism endures, unmodified.
Andriot and government statistics

Document librarians, rejoice1 Andriot has done it again. Yes, the same John L. Andriot whose Guide to U.S. Government Serials 6 Periodicals has become standard equipment in documents departments throughout the country has published the long-awaited 4th edition of Guide to U.S. Government Statistics.? In one attractive, logically organized volume Andriot has amassed an impressive amount of information about Federal statistical programs and publications. Let us hope that this reference work can be revised more frequently than every twelve years-the interval that has lapsed since the 3rd edition (1961) appeared. In the “Foreword” of the present edition the compiler speaks sanguinely of publishing “on an annual basis,” but anyone who troubles to re-read the foreword of the 1961 edition will have to take Andriot with a grain of salt, for he was then planning to issue the Guide in odd-numbered years, with supplements in the even-numbered years (not a bad plan, by the way, but he apparently forgot it for twelve years). Anyone who has worked as a reference librarian, relying extensively on government documents as sources of information, realizes what a vast body of material exists, just in U.S. federal documents alone, not to mention other document sources and the myriad of non-documents that present statistics. It appears that some kind of “guide” or index is sorely needed to rescue the gasping librarian, afloat but rapidly sinking in a sea of statistics and government sources. But, dear reader, don’t get your hopes up too high and too soon! Andriot’s new Guide will not teach you to swim-nor will anything else in the library, not even Paul Wasserman’s great Statistics Sources (Detroit, Gale Research Co., 1971), nor even the tiealth of information found in Statistical Abstract, with its indispensible footnotes and its comprehensive Appendix III, “Guide to Sources of Statistics.” Now, however, there is hope-some straws to cling to, as Andriot comes to the rescue with another edition at last, and Congressional Information Service too makes 1973 perhaps “the year of the documents librarian” as it proudly unveils its brand-new American Statistics Index! The proof of the pudding is in the eating, so before we are through reviewing this work we will have to put Andriot on the shelf alongside Wasserman and Statistical Abstract, and see what happens when we feed reference questions into them. A reference
Problems for the Case Against Ag Biotech, Part II: Extrinsic Objections

I worked for many years constructing my version of the global case but, as I continued to try to strengthen it, I slowly began to lose confidence. My unease began with several personal experiences. One of our children had a common but annoying physical ailment, for which our pediatrician prescribed a very expensive nasal spray. When I inquired about its cost, the pharmacist informed me that it was a new, genetically engineered, product. The spray worked, and Karen and I never batted an eye.
Hippocampal regulation of the survival and morphological development of locus coeruleus neurons in dissociated cell culture.

The influence of traget structure on neural development, originally described for the peripheral nervous system, has more recently been investigated in the central nervous system. We sought to determine whether targets regulate the development of the locus coeruleus, with its diffuse and complex projections in marked contrast to the simpler neural circuits of the peripheral nervous system. Dissociated locus coerules cells were grown alone or with the hippocampus in serum-free, chemically defined medium that minimized non-neuronal growth. Coculture with the hippocampus resulted in a significant increase in locus coeruleus tyrosine hydroxylase activity. Elevated tyrosine hydroxylase activity was accompanied by a commensurate increase in the number of tyrosine hydroxylase-immunoreactive cells, suggesting hippocampal enhancement of locus coeruleus survival. Furthermore, when hippocampal cells were added to locus coeruleus dissociates at zero time, or after two days, tyrosine hydroxylase-positive cell number was increased only by hippocampal cells added initially, suggesting that the target does indeed foster survival. The apparent target enhancement of locus coeruleus survival seems to be selective since total protein and total neuron number, estimated with neuron-specific enolase immunocytochemistry, were not affected by the hippocampus. Coculture with the hippocampus also increased the length and complexity of locus coeruleus cell processes. Neither the increase in tyrosine hydroxylase cell number nor the changes in morphology could be attributed to nonspecific effects of the increased cell density in cocultures. Our observations thus suggest that the target hippocampus influences the survival and neurite elaboration of afferent locus coeruleus neurons. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
TRANSIENT AND PERIODIC TURBULENT HYDRODYNAMIC FLOWS FOR SURFACE SHIPS: A DOD CHALLENGE PROJECT MILESTONE

Under the auspice of the DoD High Performance Modernization Program, a Challenge Project has been undertaken to predict the hydrodynamics associated with a naval surface combatant, the DDG-51. The scales of motion associated with free-surface turbulent flow around a complex geometry make this challenge particularly difficult. With support from ONR, a team of researchers (D. Dommermuth, SAIC; F. Stern, Ulowa; E. Paterson, IIHR; D. Yue, MIT) is applying a suite of computational methods to solve this problem. Significant and substantial progress has been made in capturing the transient and periodic features of the flow produced by wave encounter, acceleration of the ship, and inherent flow fluctuations. Reynolds-Averaged Navier Stokes and Large Eddy Simulation methods have been used to numerically replicate the hydrodynamic features. This report presents an overview of the results to date. The project is continuing, and future efforts will focus on numerically capturing the detailed physics of the flow in the boundary layer near the free surface.
Visceral and Behavioral Responses to Intraduodenal Fat

Introduction of milk or corn oil into the duodenum of the cat evokes an increase in superior mesenteric blood flow (blocked by atropine), an inhibition of gastric and duodenal motility, and sedation. Cholecystokinin-pancreozymin mimics the mesenteric vascular effect of intraduodenal fat and seems to have a sedating action.
Extreme hyperthermia induced in cats by the enkephalin analog FK 33-824.

Abstract FK 33-824 [H2N-Tyr- D -Ala-Gly-MePhe-Met(O)-OH] was injected into the third cerebral ventricle of unrestrained cats. Doses of 0.25–4 μg induced dose-related increases in body temperature. Hyperthermic responses to 1 μg of the peptide were greater the warmer the environment. Naloxone given intraventricularly 1 hr after FK 33-824 (1 μg) reduced the hyperthermia. In 12 tests with six cats FK 33-824 (1–25 μg) increased temperature 4.2–4.7°C. These marked responses were also inhibited by naloxone, but two cats died when administration of antagonist was delayed for 80 min to 3 hr after attainment of maximal body temperature. Larger doses of FK 33-824 (50–250 μg) evoked little increase in temperature, indicative of a separate action to depress thermoregulation. Although responses to FK 33-824 were antagonized by naloxone, this peptide, like another enkephalin analog D -Ala2-Met-enkephalinamide, must act on receptors which are not affected by morphine since (1) the hyperthermic response to FK 33-824 varied with environmental temperature, whereas the response to morphine does not, and (2) high doses of FK 33-824 depressed thermoregulation, an activity not shared by morphine in the cat. Furthermore, the maximal increases in temperature after FK 33-824 injection were greater than those evoked by either morphine or D -Ala2-Met-enkephalinamide. This observation provides evidence for an additional subset of naloxone-sensitive, ν, receptors, stimulation of which can influence thermoregulation in the cat.
Applying the “Self/Other” Nexus in International Relations

Between Sovereignty and Integration: German Foreign Policy and National Identity after 1989, Jonathan P.G. Bach (New York: St. Martin's Press, 1999). 226 pp.. cloth (ISBN: 0-3122-1922-9), $59.95. Where the World Ended: Re-Unification and Identity in the German Borderland. Daphne Berdahl (Berkeley. Calif.: University of California Press, 1999). 314 pp., cloth (ISBN: 0-5202-1476-5), $45.00: paper (ISBN: 0-5202-1477-3), $16.95. Uses of the Other: “The East” in European Identity Formation, Iver B. Neumann (Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press. 1999). 248 pp., cloth (ISBN: 0-8166-3082-8). $49.95; paper (ISBN: 0-8166-3083-6), $19.95. Book reviewed in this article: Jonathan P.G. Bach, Between Sovereignty and Integration: German Foreign Policy and National Identity after 1989 Daphne Berdahl, Where the World Ended: Re-Unification and Identity in the German Border-land Iver B. Neumann, Uses of the Other: “The East” in European Identity Formation
Time-dependent resonant-fluorescence spectrum of two-level atoms in strong short-pulsed fields: A nonperturbative treatment.

A study is presented for the time-dependent resonance-fluorescence spectrum of two-level atoms irradiated by hyperbolic-secant pulsed lasers, allowing for an arbitrary spontaneous-emission rate from the excited level to the ground level. Novel features of the temporally transient spectrum have been observed. The spectrum is dominated by a central peak which oscillates in time and is accompanied by multiple side peaks. Asymptotically (i.e., after the pulse has passed) the side peaks disappear, leaving a tail at the line center which displays a Lorentzian shape of width equal to the sum of the spontaneous-emission rate and the width of the spectrometer considered and of magnitude proportional to the instantaneous intensity of the pulse. The exact behavior of the spectrum is dictated by the area of the engaged pulse and by how the atom is prepared initially. In particular, it is found that the spectrum can be asymmetric even when the laser is tuned to exact resonance if the atoms are initially prepared in a certain class of proper coherent states, irrespective of how the field amplitude may vary in time. An analysis of the spectral symmetry without resorting to any explicit evaluation of the spectrum itself is also presented. Furthermore, the associated optical Bloch equations are solved analytically in terms of hypergeometric functions in a similar manner to that done previously for the undamped two-level Schr\"odinger equation. Specific numerical results are presented for pulses of area equal to \ensuremath{\pi}, 2\ensuremath{\pi}, 3\ensuremath{\pi}, 4\ensuremath{\pi}, and 5\ensuremath{\pi} for both symmetric and asymmetric cases.
Novel materials and devices for millimeter-wave and THz applications

In spite of the recent progress in quantum-cascade lasers, vacuum microelectronics, and transistors based on Si, InP and GaN, the search for compact THz sources continues. One alternative approach involves hetero-structures of two-dimensional (2D) layers which exploit the unique properties of graphene, silicene, germanene, BN, MoS2, NbSe2, etc. For example, basically, graphene is a conductor, 2D BN is an insulator, 2D MoS2 is a semiconductor, and 2D NbSe2 is a superconductor. The quality of graphene grown on hexagonal BN substrates is already approaching that of exfoliated graphene, while 2D BN of variable quality has been grown on graphene. Still, challenges remain in growing 2D layers on top of each other without metal catalysts by using van der Waals epitaxy and other techniques for uniform growth over large areas. Another alternative approach involves complex oxides and chalcogenides of transition metals, which can be deposited on almost any substrate with fault tolerance and radiation hardness. For example, ZnO transistors have already been demonstrated at microwave frequencies, while the interface of LaAlO3 and SrTiO3 has been found to contain a 2D electron density of 1014/cm2, which is two orders of magnitude higher than that in Si and InP transistors and one order of magnitude higher than that in GaN transistors. However, the electron mobility generally decreases with increasing ionicity of these ionic compounds. Yet, with correlated states and transport for electrons at such high concentrations, they may collectively exhibit high mobility. Other novel phenomena such as metal-insulator transition and topologically preserved states can also be exploited.
The persistence of alien genomes.

Parvoviruses are unique among all known organisms in having DNA genomes that are both single stranded and linear; however, they manage to inveigle their host cell into replicating these apparently alien molecules with considerable efficiency. Members of this family that infect mammals can be divided into two functional subgroups, the adeno-associated viruses (AAV), which require coinfection with an adenovirus or herpesvirus for productive growth, and the autonomously replicating viruses, such as Minute Virus of Mice (MVM), which have no such requirement. In the absence of helper, wild-type AAV adopts a latent lifestyle during which it integrates into the host genome, predominantly at a single specific site. Because of this property, AAV has attracted much interest as a vector for gene therapy, despite being restricted in the size of insert it can transfer. Interestingly, although capable of efficient transduction into many cell types, none of the current AAV gene therapy vectors contain the viral gene responsible for site-specific integration, although they still integrate efficiently into the host genome in a sequence-independent manner. Studies over the last few years aimed at understanding transduction by these vectors into intact tissue targets, such as skeletal muscle, have now revealed a hitherto unsuspected twist to the generally accepted replication mechanism. This alternate pathway of parvoviral DNA metabolism has been exploited by Yan and colleagues (1) in an approach that uses a binary delivery system to overcome the limited genetic capacity of AAV-based vectors.
Risk of Urethral, Vaginal and Cervical Involvement in Patients Undergoing Radical Cystectomy for Bladder Cancer: Results of a Contemporary Cystectomy Series from M. D. Anderson Cancer Center

AbstractPurpose: Orthotopic bladder reconstruction in women is the focus of considerable interest. To define suitable candidates for orthotopic reconstruction among women with bladder cancer, we reviewed the risk of secondary urethral, vaginal and cervical involvement by transitional cell carcinoma in patients who underwent radical cystectomy at our institution.Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the charts of women who underwent radical cystectomy for primary transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder between 1985 and 1995. These cases also were reviewed pathologically.Results: Of 115 patients who underwent radical cystectomy for transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder 9 (8%) also had secondary transitional cell carcinoma cell of the urethra, including 2 with concomitant involvement of the vagina or cervix. In 4 patients (3%) the vagina or cervix was involved but not the urethra. Vaginal and cervical invasion correlated with stages T3b and T4 disease (p = 0.04). By logistic regression a...
Quality assessment of economic analyses of pharmacological and nutritional therapy for hyperlipidemia

Our objective was to evaluate the quality of published pharmacoeconomic studies of lipid-lowering therapies. A 13-item evaluation checklist was used to assess the quality of articles. Two reviewers assessed each article. Discrepancies in ratings were resolved using a third reviewer. Potential scores on each item ranged from 0 to 4 and 50 articles met our inclusion criteria. Mean quality scores ranged from 1.73 to 3.89. Treatment and policy implications are: secondary prevention is more cost-effective than primary prevention, the cost-effectiveness of lipid-lowering treatments correlates with risk-factors and statin drugs are more cost-effective than cholesterol-sequestering agents. This review provides a summarization of the literature regarding the cost-effectiveness of lipid-lowering therapies. Results from lower-quality studies may be less accurate because the most common criteria assessed as questionable or incorrect were perspective, measurement and analysis.
Atmospheric Degradation of Volatile Methyl-Silicon Compounds

The current widespread use of poly(dimethylsiloxane)s (PDMS) in a broad range of applications leads to their release into soil environments where they degrade to monomeric products, primarily dimet...
Comparison of classical control with robust control for SMA smart structures

Smart structures is now a vigorous area of study. One type of smart structure employs shape memory alloys, such as Nitinol, in the form of thin wire actuators. To the authors' knowledge, the only control algorithm that has been implemented heretofore has been a simple on-off control law. In this study, other control algorithms are employed, ranging from classical to a robust controller based on the LQG/LTR algorithm. Two mechanical systems are studied. The first is an aluminum cantilever beam for which the free-vibration damping of the fundamental mode was enhanced. The second system studied is a three-mass system with its three natural frequencies below 3 Hz.© (1993) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Stability Criterion for Passive Magnetically Anchored Rate Dampers

Introduction A magnetically anchored rate damper essentially consists of a permanent magnet placed inside a spherical copper shell. The shell is fixed in the spacecraft and is lined inside with a diamagnetic material. The lining suspends the magnet in the shell and the magnet is free to rotate. When the magnet moves inside the shell, damping torques opposing the motion are generated due to the eddy currents in the shell. In some designs, the magnet is fixed to an inner sphere which is contained in the outer shell with a viscous liquid separating the inner sphere from the outer shell. In such a design, damping torques are generated due to fluid friction as well as eddy currents. In general, the magnet stays aligned with the Earth's magnetic field. Any oscillation of the spacecraft causes relative motion between the magnet and the outer shell and hence is damped out.' '' Once the spacecraft has stabilized, the relative motion, however, continues. This is because the magnet rotates with the Earth's magnetic field and the damping torques become disturbance torques on the spacecraft. For an equatorial orbit
The importance of physical fitness versus physical activity for coronary artery disease risk factors: A cross-sectional analysis

Abstract Numerous epidemiological investigations have shown that low physical fitness and low physical activity are related to the incidence of coronary artery disease (CAD). Most studies, however, have not examined both variables concurrently to determine which has the strongest association with CAD risk. The purpose of the investigation was to cross-sectionally examine the relationships among physical fitness, physical activity, and risk factors for CAD. Male law enforcement officers (N = 412) from the City of Austin, Texas, were subjects for this study. Physical fitness, physical activity, and risk factors for CAD were assessed through health screenings and from data collected as part of an annual physical fitness assessment. Multivariate analysis of covariance revealed that physical fitness, but not physical activity, was related to several single CAD risk factors. Percent body fat, smoking habits, and Type A behavior score were negatively related to physical fitness level, and high density lipoprotei...
Seeing circles: what limits shape perception?

Humans are remarkably adept at judging shapes and discriminating forms. Forms and shapes are initially sampled by discrete localized visual filters (or receptive fields) in 'early' stages of visual processing. However, more complex higher level filters which integrate or pool information from many local filters may be needed to discern shapes. In order to understand the mechanisms that limit shape perception we asked observers to detect distortions in the shape of briefly presented circles constructed out of samples (Gabor patches, which are well matched to the early visual filters), and varied the radius of the circle, and the number and orientation of the samples. Our results show that shape perception is determined by two factors: the primary determinant is the separation between the samples; however, the orientation of the samples can modulate performance. At small separations, performance is best when the samples are aligned with the global shape, poorer when they are orthogonal, and intermediate when they are all horizontal or vertical. At larger separations these contextual differences disappear; however at all separations, performance is reduced when the orientations of the samples are mixed (i.e. each sample is randomly either aligned or orthogonal, or randomly either horizontal or vertical.). These results suggest an important role for sample separation in shape perception for sampled shapes and suggest that the mechanisms involved in feature binding may modulate the responses of the mechanisms underlying shape perception.
CD8+ T Cell Cross-Priming via Transfer of Proteasome Substrates

“Cross-priming” describes the activation of naive CD8+ T cells by professional antigen-presenting cells that have acquired viral or tumor antigens from “donor” cells. Antigen transfer is believed to be mediated by donor cell–derived molecular chaperones bearing short peptide ligands generated by proteasome degradation of protein antigens. We show here that cross-priming is based on the transfer of proteasome substrates rather than peptides. These findings are potentially important for the rational design of vaccines that elicit CD8+ T cell responses.
Information Entropy and Uncertainty Relations

Information entropy is introduced as a measure of quantum mechanical uncertainty. An uncertainty relation based on information entropy is obtained as an alternative to the Heisenberg inequality. In two typical examples, the entropic uncertainty relation is shown to be bounded in situations where the Heisenberg inequality diverges or grows too large to be useful.
Biotechnology for food, energy, and industrial products: new opportunities for bio-based products.

In the past two decades much has been written about the changesrequired to feed a future world population of 10 billion or more.Having food is only part of the demand; there has been muchless focus on the material needs of such a population. Accom-panying any population growth are the legitimate desires foradequate energy, transportation, housing, schools, health fa-cilities, communication networks, etc. Since World War II, apetroleum-based economy has provided for these needs, butthere is a limit to the reservoirs of petroleum-based hydrocar-bons. Switching to the use of renewable resources wheneverthe appropriate technology is available, is a more sustainableand environmentally responsible approach. Indeed, the conver-sion to a bio-based economy will take time, but there is now amajor effort underway where plant/crop-based renewables areserving as complementary resources to conventional feedstocksto meet the ever-growing needs for chemicals, materials, andother products [4]. Biotechnology is key to the continuedprogress in this area.Plant/crop-based (i.e., bio-based) resources are defined as sourcematerial derived from a range of plant systems, primarily agricul-tural crops, forestry products, and processing streams (includingmicrobial) in the food, feed, and fiber industries. Plant-based in-puts may take several forms including wood, cellulose, lignin,starch, amino acids, proteins, etc., and may be sourced from manydifferent places, e.g., from biomass, crop residue, dedicated crops,and crop processing by-products. The current goal is economicand renewable suites of products from new biorefineries, whichwill include production of primary products and co-products to-gether [4]. The primary bio-based products can include oils, com-modity or specialty chemicals, and materials.The key to building a bio-based industry is to identify 'plat-form chemicals'. These are chemicals that are easily obtainedfrom plant/microbial sources and have excellent properties thatlead to new products. The United States Department of Ener-gy's current Biomass Initiative is providing matching funds tocompanies that have identified and are developing platformchemicals [5]. For example, DuPont has developed a fermenta-tion-based process for 1,3-propanediol. The process starts withcorn as a renewable carbohydrate feedstock and using a bio-catalyst converts the carbohydrates to the 1,3-propanediol. The1,3-propanediol is the key ingredient in Sorona, Dupont'snewest advanced polymer platform. In addition to benefits ofsoftness, stretch recovery, vibrant color, and stain resistance,textiles made with Sorona  have the dimension of being a natu-
In vitro susceptibilities of selected obligate anaerobic bacteria obtained from bovine and equine sources to ceftiofur.

11. Palmer N: 1993, Bones and joints. In: Pathology of domestic animals, ed. Jubb KVF, Kennedy PC, Palmer N, 4th ed., vol. 1, pp. 1-181. Academic Press, New York, NY. 12. Reams RY, Glickman LT, Harrington DD, et al.: 1993, Streptococcus suis infection in swine: a retrospective study of 256 cases. Part I. Epidemiologic factors and antibiotic susceptibility patterns. J Vet Diagn Invest 5:363-367. 13. Reams RY, Glickman LT, Harrington DD, et al.: 1994, Streptococcus suis infection in swine: a retrospective study of 256 cases. Part II. Clinical signs, gross and microscopic lesions, and coexisting microorganisms. J Vet Diagn Invest 6:326-334. 14. Reams RY, Glickman LT, Harrington DD, et al.: 1995, Fibrinohemorrhagic pneumonia in pigs naturally infected with Streptococcus suis. J Vet Diagn Invest 7:406-408. 15. Robertson ID, Blakemore DK: 1989, Prevalence of Streptococcus suis types 1 and 2 in domestic pigs in Australia and New Zealand. Vet Rec 124:391-394. 16. Sanford SE, Ross RF: 1986, Streptococcal diseases in swine. In: Diseases of swine, ed. Leman AD, Straw B, Glock RD, et al., 6th ed., pp. 607-615. Iowa State University Press, Ames, IA. 17. Sanford SE, Tilker ME: 1982, Streptococcus suis type II-associated diseases in swine: observations of a one-year study. J Am Vet Med Assoc 181:673-676. 18. Swann AL, Kjar HA: 1980, Streptococcal infection as a cause of reproductive tract problems of swine. Vet Microbiol 5:135142. 19. Touil F, Higgins R, Nadeau M: 1988, Isolation of Streptococcus suis from diseased pigs in Canada. Vet Microbiol 17:171-177. 20. Vecht U, Wisselink HJ, van Dijk JE, Smith HE: 1992, Virulence of Streptococcus suis type 2 strains in newborn germfree pigs depends on phenotype. Infect Immun 60:550-55 6.
The function of gesture in learning to count: more than keeping track *

Preschoolers count objects most accurately when they gesture as they count. This study tests two possible explanations for this effect. One is that gesture helps children keep track of counted items. Another is that gesture helps children coordinate saying the number words and tagging the items. Twenty preschoolers counted chips under three types of conditions: with gesture prohibited, with active gesture, and with a puppet gesturing as children counted aloud. The puppet conditions were intended to distinguish the benefits of keeping track with gesture from the benefits of active gesture. Children counted more accurately when they or the puppet gestured than when gesture was prohibited. However, children's errors differed when they and the puppet gestured. When children gestured themselves, they made errors keeping track, but when the puppet gestured, they made errors coordinating number words and items. Thus, active gesture helps children both to keep track and to coordinate tagging the items and saying the number words. In these ways, active gesture helps children implement their knowledge of one-to-one correspondence.
Membrane reorganization during secretion in Tetrahymena.

DURING our investigation of the membrane systems of the ciliated protozoan Tetrahymena pyriformis, we have discovered a unique differentiation within the plasma membrane that corresponds to sites of discharging mucocysts, and we have been able to reconstruct a representation of the process of membrane fusion at the moment of discharge.
An improved watchdog line search for successive quadratic programming

Abstract In process optimization using successive quadratic programming (SQP), an important step in determining the overall computational efficiency and reliability is the line search used to determine the correction step size taken after solution of the quadratic programming (QP) subproblem. Several line search techniques are tested here, including strategies based on augmented Lagrangians and on the watchdog method. Based on the results of this study, an improved watchdog line search strategy is suggested, based on an additional sufficient decrease condition and relaxed line search criterion. Tests indicate that the new strategy is the most efficient and reliable of the methods considered here.