cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Bioorthogonal Tetrazine-Mediated Transfer Reactions Facilitate Reaction Turnover in Nucleic Acid-Templated Detection of MicroRNA

Tetrazine ligations have proven to be a powerful bioorthogonal technique for the detection of many labeled biomolecules, but the ligating nature of these reactions can limit reaction turnover in templated chemistry. We have developed a transfer reaction between 7-azabenzonorbornadiene derivatives and fluorogenic tetrazines that facilitates turnover amplification of the fluorogenic response in nucleic acid-templated reactions. Fluorogenic tetrazine-mediated transfer (TMT) reaction probes can be used to detect DNA and microRNA (miRNA) templates to 0.5 and 5 pM concentrations, respectively. The endogenous oncogenic miRNA target mir-21 could be detected in crude cell lysates and detected by imaging in live cells. Remarkably, the technique is also able to differentiate between miRNA templates bearing a single mismatch with high signal to background. We imagine that TMT reactions could find wide application for amplified fluorescent detection of clinically relevant nucleic acid templates.
Feature-Preserving Mesh Denoising via Anisotropic Surface Fitting

We propose in this paper a robust surface mesh denoising method that can effectively remove mesh noise while faithfully preserving sharp features. This method utilizes surface fitting and projection techniques. Sharp features are preserved in the surface fitting algorithm by considering an anisotropic neighborhood of each vertex detected by the normal-weighted distance. In addition, to handle the mesh with a high level of noise, we perform a pre-filtering of surface normals prior to the neighborhood searching. A number of experimental results and comparisons demonstrate the excellent performance of our method in preserving important surface geometries while filtering mesh noise.
The Signal Processing Information Base

The SPIB (Signal Processing Information Base) project at Rice University is discussed. This information base will provide the signal processing researcher and the applications engineer with data, programs, and papers that can be accessed immediately through Internet. An overview of the initial contents of the information base is presented, and the various ways in which it may be accessed are described. >
A New Hybrid Cmpo/Nopopo Ligand: Synthesis and Selected Lanthanide Coordination Chemistry

Abstract A two-step synthesis for 2,6-bis[(diphenyl)-N,N-diethylcarbamoylmethylphosphine oxide]pyridine N-oxide (3) from 2,6-bis[(diphenylphosphinoyl)methyl]pyridine is reported along with coordination chemistry with Dy(III) and Yb(III). Crystal structure determinations for the ligand 3S,S and 1:1 complexes [Dy(3R,S )(NO3)3]·(Me2CO) and [Yb(3R,S )(NO3)3]·(Me2CO) are described. In these complexes, the pentafunctional ligand 3 coordinates in a tridentate NOPOPO chelate mode.
Concomitant coronary artery revascularization to allow successful lung transplantation in selected patients with coronary artery disease.

Coronary artery disease has previously been considered an absolute contraindication to lung transplantation. Because of the scarcity of lung donors and a desire for the best organ utilization, patients with coronary artery disease were previously considered a prohibitive surgical risk. In addition, the potential adverse impact of coronary artery disease on the midterm survival after lung transplantation has excluded these patients from consideration for transplantation. However, several risk factors common to both end-stage lung and cardiac disease, most notably cigarette smoking and obesity, lead to a substantial incidence of coronary artery disease in potential lung recipients.1 Descriptions of successful coronary artery bypass before2 and after3 lung transplantation have led some groups to perform coronary artery bypass at the time of lung transplantation with the assistance of cardiopulmonary bypass in a small number of highly selected patients.4,5 Recently, a case of combined coronary artery bypass and bilateral lung transplantation with off-pump techniques has been described.6 Here we describe 4 cases of combined lung transplantation and coronary bypass grafting: 2 with the assistance of cardiopulmonary bypass and 2 without.
MODELS OF AND EXPERIMENTS WITH E-MARKETS FOR ELECTRIC UTILITIES

Many Multi-Agent Systems (MASs) have been built that represent different social structures, such as alliances, teams, coalitions, conventions and markets. Our primary objective in this work was to establish a fairly general-purpose market structure that can be reused in other market-based MASs. We have implemented different models of a deregulated electricity market. The models vary in the types of interaction between buyers and sellers, the mechanisms used to transact deals in the market, and in the role of the central agent. Extensive experiments were then conducted on the models to determine the type of market structure best suited for trading. The criteria of evaluation were based on resource consumption, number of deals completed, demand satisfied, supply used, excess-over-need bought, and prices paid. The conclusions should be applicable to other deregulated consumer markets of "perishable" commodities with strong time-dependence.
Defect reduction through characterization and equipment modification in tungsten residue caused by deposition process

Defect reduction is one of the most challenging problems in the fabrication of advanced MOS devices. In-line inspection scheme of product wafers is essential for timely detection of process anomalies and providing real time feedback to the manufacturing process. A particle contamination of a specific module was observed from the inspection results on product wafers. Through partitioning studies, the tungsten (W) deposition process was identified as the particle source. This paper describes the methodology used to identify and diagnose the particle source in the W deposition. After the etch-back process, particles of abut 1 to 2 micrometers were randomly scattered on the entire wafer. The number of residue ranges from several hundred to a few thousand, forming a haze-like defect. A focused ion beam (FIB) cross section showed a hollow section of the W film, indicating improper reaction during grain growth. It was discovered that a variation in the reactant ratio during the nucleation step was causative. The change in the ratio of the reactants was in turn caused by the severe overshoot of the reactant gas at the beginning of the reaction. The pump-down step of the reactant gas prior to the flowing in of the reactant gases, which greatly enhanced the overshoot, was omitted. A two-step gas flow rate in nucleation step was developed to alleviate the effect of gas flow dynamics and thus reduced the overshoot of the gas. With these modifications and other proper corrective actions implemented, the residue was completely eliminated.
Web‐based Learning in Corporations: who is using it and why, who is not and why not?

Abstract Web‐based learning (WBL) is synonymous with on‐line learning, and is defined as learning that is delivered wholly or in part via the Internet or an Intranet. This paper first covers the advantages and concerns of using WBL in the corporate environment. It then examines the acceptance of WBL in American corporations, revealing who is using it and why, and who is not using it and why not. Finally, this paper discusses issues, challenges, and opportunities presented by WBL to corporations, the instructional designers and researchers.
Spacing Behavior of a Non‐Larder‐Hoarding Tamiasciurus: A Study of Mearns's Squirrels in Xeric Coniferous Forests

In ecosystems with seasonal fluctuations in food supply many species use two strategies to store food: larder hoarding and scatter hoarding. However, because species at different geographic locations may experience distinct environmental conditions, differences in hoarding behavior may occur. Tree squirrels in the genus Tamiasciurus display variation in hoarding behavior. Whereas red (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus) and Douglas’s (Tamiasciurus douglasii) squirrels in mesic coniferous forests defend territories centered around larder hoards maintaining non-overlapping home ranges, red squirrels in deciduous forests defend small scatter-hoarded caches of cones maintaining overlapping home ranges. As in other rodent species, variation in hoarding behavior appears to influence the spacing behavior of red and Douglas’s squirrels. In contrast, Mearns’s squirrels (Tamiasciurus mearnsi) in xeric coniferous forests neither rely on larder hoards nor appear to display territorial behavior. Unfortunately, little is known about the ecology of this southernmost Tamiasciurus. Using radiotelemetry, we estimated home-range size, overlap, and maximum distance traveled from nest to examine the spacing behavior of Mearns’s squirrels. Similar to scatter-hoarding rodents, maximum distance traveled from nest was greater for males during mating season, whereas those of females were similar year round. Although no seasonal differences were detected, male home ranges were three times larger during mating season, whereas those of females were smaller and displayed a minor variation between seasons. Home ranges were overlapped year round but contrary to our expectations, overlap was greater during mating season for both sexes, with no detectable relationship between male home-range size and the number of females overlapped during mating season. Overall, the results appear to support our hypothesis that in the absence of larder hoards, the spacing behavior of Mearns’s squirrels should be different from larderhoarding congeners and more similar to scatter-hoarding rodents.
Comparison of the stress response after laparoscopic and open cholecystectomy

Background: We designed a prospective controlled animal study to compare the stress response induced after laparoscopic and open cholecystectomy.
Organic−Inorganic Nanocomposites by Placing Conjugated Polymers in Intimate Contact with Quantum Rods

Recent advances in the synthesis [ 1 ] and assembly [ 2 ] of nanocrystals (NCs) provide unique opportunities to exploit NCs for the development of next generation organic/inorganic hybrid solar cells as one of the most promising alternatives to Si solar cells to deliver effi cient energy conversion with inexpensive fabrication. [ 1 , 2 ] These conjugated polymer-based photovoltaic devices capitalize on the advantages peculiar to conjugated polymers (CPs), such as light weight, fl exibility, processability, roll-to-roll production, low cost, and large area, in conjunction with the high electron mobility and tunable optical properties of inorganic NCs. Of the organic/inorganic hybrids, poly(3-hexylthiopene) (P3HT) is one of the most extensively utilized CPs due to its excellent solution processability, environmental stability, high charge carrier mobility, and tailorable electrochemical properties. [ 3 , 4 ] CdSe quantum dots (QDs) are the most commonly investigated NCs because of their quantum-confi ned nature and well-matched energy level with P3HT. [ 5–11 ]
Comparison of Calculated and Experimental Values for the Optical Reflectivity of the Liquid Alloys Hg-In, Hg-Tl, Ga-In at 25°C

The optical reflectivity at 25°C of three liquid alloys Hg-In, Hg-TI, and Ga-In was measured in the wavelength range of 0.3 μ to 10 μ. Measurements were made at glass-metal, quartz-metal, and NaCl—metal interfaces by a method previously used for pure Hg and pure Ga. Experimental values thus obtained were compared with those obtained by calculation using the Drude free electron theory. It was found that when two metals of different chemical valence were combined, divalent Hg with trivalent In or divalent Hg with trivalent Tl, there was considerable disagreement of experimental and calculated values for the reflectivity. Moreover, the disagreement was of a different character for each of these two alloys. This result indicates that when two liquid metals each of which follows the Drude theory are combined, Hg and In for example, the resulting alloy does not necessarily follow the theory as was suggested by the early work of Kent. On the other hand, when two trivalent metals, Ga and In, were combined there was agreement of experiment and theory. Preliminary results of experimental measurements of the reflectivity of liquid In are also given.
Genetics and schizophrenic behavior.

This article presents a brief summary of indications provided by research on the genetic and biochemical aspects of schizophrenia.
Repetitive percutaneous transhepatic access for myocardial biopsy in pediatric cardiac transplant recipients.

Repetitive transhepatic access for myocardial biopsy in two pediatric cardiac transplant patients is described. Both have documented occlusion of the traditional percutaneous venous sites. Biopsy via the transhepatic route was performed in one patient 11 times and the second patient five times without any complications. The transhepatic approach can be safely used repetitively in pediatric transplant recipients when traditional venous access is not available. Cathet. Cardiovasc. Diagn. 45:167–169, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Timing of Amblyopia Therapy Relative to Strabismus Surgery

Background: It is taught that amblyopia must be fully reversed before surgery for esotropia is undertaken to achieve the best surgical outcome. In some cases, this means delaying surgery for many months. The alternative of operating early, before the com-pletion of amblyopia therapy, and continuing to treat the amblyopia postoperatively has not been evaluated previously. Methods: Forty-seven children younger than 8 years of age were identified with a history of both amblyopia and esotropia. They had no other ocular, medical, or neurologic abnormalities. They had no prior strabismus surgery. Of these 47 patients, 26 had their amblyopia fully treated before surgery, and 21 underwent surgery before completing amblyopia therapy. Five of the latter group did not require amblyopia therapy after surgery even though they were still amblyopic before operation. The motor outcome was assessed by comparing the motor alignment at 6 and 0.33 m using accommodative targets in primary position before surgery, at 6 months after surgery, and at the child's most recent visit. Motor success was defined in this study as a postoperative deviation at distance fixation of 8 prism diopters or less. The sensory result was assessed by comparing the frequency of detectable stereoacuity. Results: The treatment groups did not differ significantly in age, depth of amblyopia, refractive error, or preoperative angle. There was no significant difference detected in motor or sensory outcome whether amblyopia was fully or only partially treated before surgery. Conclusion: Performing corrective surgery in children with esotropia before full resolution of amblyopia is safe and efficient if the amblyopia therapy is continued after surgery. This strategy permits earlier surgery without postponing the operation until full resolution of amblyopia. The finding that five patients did not require amblyopia therapy after surgery suggests that eye re-alignment itself can help reverse amblyopia in some cases.
Three-dimensional effects of twinning in magnesium alloys

This article provides experimental evidence on the pronounced three-dimensional surface effects caused by tension twinning at early stages of plasticity of a magnesium alloy. To achieve this goal, multiscale mechanical testing was combined with strain field, texture and surface morphology quantification. The current investigation correlates crystallography-driven, grain-scale surface roughening to the spatially heterogeneous micro- and macrostrain. It was found that tension twinning causes considerable surface extrusions and intrusions across multiple grains that are directly related to severe strain inhomogeneities.
Quantitative assessments of the host range and strain specificity of endophytic colonization by Klebsiella pneumoniae 342

Enteric bacteria, particularly Klebsiella, are common endophytes of plants. Endophytic colonization is important as these bacteria may be beneficial, either by providing fixed N or growth hormones to the host plant. In this work, we assessed the host range and strain specificity for endophytic colonization with Klebsiella pneumoniae 342 (Kp342) on five host plants. This strain was inoculated onto seedlings of Medicago sativa, Medicago truncatula, Arabidopsis thaliana, Triticum aestivum, and Oryza sativa. The type strain of K. pneumoniae, ATCC13883, was also inoculated on all of these hosts except M. truncatula. Both strains were labeled with GFP. Eight inoculum levels were used from 1 CFU to 107 CFU per plant plus uninoculated controls. Six days after inoculation, the number of cells colonizing the rhizosphere and interior were determined. Inoculation with about one CFU of Kp342 was adequate to obtain high colonization levels on the rhizosphere and roots of all host plants. The type strain could colonize the interior of the host plant but the highest colonization levels were generally 100-fold lower than those obtained from Kp342 and those levels required at least 1000 cells in the inoculum. Thus, Kp342 was a more efficient colonizer of the plant apoplast. In addition, the monocots inoculated in this work were colonized endophytically in much higher numbers than were the dicots. Cells of Kp342 congregate at lateral root junctions suggesting the cells enter the plant through cracks created by lateral root extensions. The strain and host effects observed here suggest that endophytic colonization is an active process controlled by genetic determinants from both partners.
Covert positive reinforcement and pain modification: A test of efficacy and theory

The effects of covert positive reinforcement, covert positive reinforcement plus positive expectancy, covert positive reinforcement plus negative expectancy, covert positive reinforcement of pain, attention placebo and no treatment on control of headache and finger pressure pain were examined. Self-report, behavioural and physiological measures were taken. Groups did not differ on any measures except for validity checks of the expectancy manipulation. The results provide little support for the efficacy of covert positive reinforcement in modifying pain. Additionally, the data failed to substantiate the theoretical basis of the procedure.
Attenuated short wavelength buckling and force propagation in a biopolymer-reinforced rod

We investigate short wavelength buckling of a thin elastic rod embedded in an elastic gelatin biopolymer network. Using a combination of micro-mechanical testing, microscopic imaging, as well as theory, we show that the buckling penetration depth can be tuned by varying the mechanical properties of the rod and the rod–gel interface. Prior models have predicted a decay length that is dependent on the nonlinear material response of the embedding media. Here we identify a regime where the decay length is governed by the ratio of the bending rigidity of the rod and the linear elastic response of the medium, and show that our experiments are in good quantitative agreement with such a linear model.
Eicosanoid biosynthesis inhibitors increase the susceptibility of Lymantria dispar to nucleopolyhedrovirus LdMNPV

Eighteen pharmaceutical inhibitors of eicosanoid biosynthesis were tested for their effects on gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar and its susceptibility to the nucleopoly-hedrovirus LdMNPV. None of the inhibitors tested had any detrimental effects upon larval growth and development. Treatment with nine inhibitor/NPV combinations (e.g., bromophenacylbromide, clotrimazole, dexamethasone, esculetin, flufenamic acid, indomethacin, nimesulide, sulindac, tolfenamic acid) resulted in 3.5- to 6.6-fold reductions in LC50s. Larvae treated with several other COX inhibitors did not yield significant LC50 reductions. We infer that eicosanoids act in insect defense responses to viral infection. Eicosanoids may act at three levels of insect immune reactions to viral infection, organismal (febrile response), cellular (hemocytic microaggregation, nodulation and plasmatocytes spreading reactions) and intracellular level (mechanisms responsible for insect permissiveness to viral replication).
The proteoglycan brevican binds to fibronectin after proteolytic cleavage and promotes glioma cell motility

The adult neural parenchyma contains a distinctive extracellular matrix that acts as a barrier to cell and neurite motility. Nonneural tumors that metastasize to the central nervous system almost never infiltrate it and instead displace the neural tissue as they grow. In contrast, invasive gliomas disrupt the extracellular matrix and disperse within the neural tissue. A major inhibitory component of the neural matrix is the lectican family of chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans, of which brevican is the most abundant member in the adult brain. Interestingly, brevican is also highly up-regulated in gliomas and promotes glioma dispersion by unknown mechanisms. Here we show that brevican secreted by glioma cells enhances cell adhesion and motility only after proteolytic cleavage. At the molecular level, brevican promotes epidermal growth factor receptor activation, increases the expression of cell adhesion molecules, and promotes the secretion of fibronectin and accumulation of fibronectin microfibrils on the cell surface. Moreover, the N-terminal cleavage product of brevican, but not the full-length protein, associates with fibronectin in cultured cells and in surgical samples of glioma. Taken together, our results provide the first evidence of the cellular and molecular mechanisms that may underlie the motility-promoting role of brevican in primary brain tumors. In addition, these results underscore the important functional implications of brevican processing in glioma progression.
High-pressure study of the new Yb-Ba-Cu-O superconducting compound system.

The pressure effect on the superconducting state above 77 K in the new Y-Ba-Cu-O compound system has been determined. In strong contrast to what is observed in the La-Ba-Cu-O and La-Sr-Cu-O systems, pressure has only a slight effect on the superconducting transition temperature.
Influence of Colloidal Silicon Dioxide on Gel Strength, Robustness, and Adhesive Properties of Diclofenac Gel Formulation for Topical Application

The objective of this study is to identify the extent of stiffness, adhesiveness, and thixotropic character of a three-dimensional gel network of a 1% diclofenac sodium topical gel formulation in the presence and absence of colloidal silicon dioxide (CSD) and assess its ease of application and adhesiveness using both objective and subjective analysis. The 1% diclofenac gel was mixed with different amounts of CSD (e.g., 0.5, 1, 2, 3, and 5% w/w) and allowed to equilibrate prior to testing. The texture analyzer in combination with a cone-cap assembly was used to objectively investigate the changes in spreadability and adhesiveness of the gel system before and after addition of CSD. Results indicate that an increase in pliability and adhesiveness at levels ≥2 to ≤5% w/w of CSD dispersed in the gel ensues. For subjective analysis, gels with (2% w/w) CSD and in the absence of CSD were uniformly applied to a 20-cm2 (5 cm × 4 cm) surface area on the forearms of healthy volunteers and vehicle preferences by the volunteers regarding ease of application, durability on the skin, compliance, and feelings concerning its textural properties were assessed. It appears that changes in the gel formulation with the addition of CSD enhance gel viscosity and bonding to the skin. Results further show that changes in physical and rheological characteristics of gel containing 2% w/w CSD did not significantly change subject preferences for the gel preparations. These findings may help formulators to have additional options to develop more robust and cost-effective formulations.
A theoretical framework for the sampling error variance for three-dimensional climate averages of ICOADS monthly ship data

Meteorological and oceanographic data from ships of opportunity are the largest contributor to the world’s ocean surface database and thus are extensively used to estimate the change in climatic properties over the world’s oceans during the previous 150 years. The importance of these data for climate change studies underscores the need to fully understand the error associated with averages of these data. The sampling error problem is especially acute for ship data due to the fact that ships are moving platforms and, thus, report observations from constantly varying locations with time. This paper develops a theoretical framework for assessing the averaged sampling error associated with monthly, 1°×1° latitude-longitude box averaged ship data. It should be noted that the time-space distribution of ships within the averaging domain strongly affects the sampling error. This is shown in our derivation. The framework developed here can be used to improve upon existing methods for estimating the sampling error associated with three-dimensional box averages of meteorological and oceanographic data obtained from ship records. The framework is complimentary to existing methods of assessing biases and random error due to instrumentation, recording, etc. It is demonstrated mathematically that the uncertainty due to incomplete sampling is primarily a trade off between of the number of observations and their relative locations within the box as well as the inherent time-space correlation structure of the variable of interest. This work differs from other studies in that the three-dimensional interdependence of data is taken into account in deriving an expression for the sampling error.
Population Size, Local Autonomy, and Support for the Political System*

Objectives. Does size of democracy shape citizens' support for the democratic regime? Previous literature demonstrates that a variety of political contexts are associated with the level of system support among citizens, yet none has tested the effect of a fundamental contextual feature of contemporary societies—size of democracy—on system support from a cross-national perspective. Methods. Survey data for nations of different sizes in Europe, North America, and Oceania are analyzed using a hierarchical generalized linear model. Results. Empirical analysis shows that less populous states and highly decentralized states demonstrate higher system support among citizens, and it offers some evidence that the negative effect of population size is moderated by the level of decentralization. Conclusions. My findings are consistent with the common expectation that smaller size of nation and governments “closer to the people” are preferred. Further, they have substantive implications for contemporary democratic governance.
Implications for continental structure and evolution from seismic anisotropy

Evidence is presented for azimuthal anisotropy in the subcontinental upper mantle from nine stations in North America and Europe. For the stations in the Canadian Shield, this is due to 2.5–2.7 Gyr-old 'fossil' anisotropy localized in the top 200km of the upper mantle and produced by the preferred orientation of mantle minerals. This mantle fabric, apparently caused by a series of large-scale deformational episodes at the end of the Archean, has moved coherently with the surface ever since.
Mri quantification of left ventricular function in microinfarct versus large infarct in swine model

To quantify, using MRI, the acute impacts of defined volume and sizes of coronary microemboli on myocardial viability and left ventricular (LV) function and to use LAD occlusion/reperfusion, as a reference. A total of 28 farm pigs were used in this study. Eight animals were used as controls. Successful coronary interventions were performed under X-ray fluoroscopy in 16 pigs to induce microinfarct (delivery of 16 mm3 of 40–120 μm) and large infarct (90 min LAD occlusion/reperfusion). On day 3, animals were imaged using contrast enhanced (in beating and non-beating hearts) and cine MRI for evaluating LV viability and function, respectively. Microscopy and cardiac injury enzymes were used to confirm the presence of necrosis. Myocardial damage was smaller after microembolization than occlusion/reperfusion (6.5 ± 0.6 %LV mass vs. 12.6 ± 1.2 %, P < 0.001). The increase in LV end-systolic volume and decreases in ejection fraction, cardiac output and regional systolic wall thickening, however, were comparable between groups, but significantly differed from controls. MRI also demonstrated microvascular obstruction after microembolization and occlusion/reperfusion as hyperenhanced and hypoenhanced regions, respectively. Microscopic examination revealed patchy necrosis, inflammatory cell infiltration, but no intramyocardial hemorrhage after microembolization and extensive intramyocardial hemorrhage and transmural damage in the occlusion/reperfusion group. Cardiac injury enzymes confirmed presence of myocardial damage in animals with interventions. Coronary microemboli have acute impact on LV function compared to control animals. Despite the difference in myocardial damage, global and regional LV dysfunction after microembolization was comparable to occlusion/reperfusion. This MR study suggests that the pattern of myocardial damage plays a role in LV dysfunction.
Coping with data from Space Station Freedom

The volume of data from future NASA space missions will be phenomenal. Here, we examine the expected data flow from the Space Station Freedom and describe techniques that are being developed to transport and process that data. Networking in space, the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System (TDRSS), recommendations of the Consultative Committee for Space Data systems (CCSDS), NASA institutional ground support, communications system architecture, and principal data types and formats are discussed.
Aluminum tattoo: a phenomenon that can resemble parasitized histiocytes

We present a study of aluminum tattoos that resulted from aluminum chloride cauterization of biopsy sites. The stippled macrophages were studied by light and electron microscopy and by means of X-ray energy spectroscopy (XES) analysis. The light microscopic appearance may be striking, and may mimic the appearance of parasitized histiocytes, although the particles are larger and vary in size and shape. The basophilic particles are electron dense by electron microscopy. XES analysis demonstrated distinct emission peaks corresponding to aluminum, calcium, and phosphorus. Only a minor chloride emission peak was identified. The particles may represent an inorganic precipitate or an organic compound in which aluminum, calcium, and phosphate form a complex with protein.
Do-it-Yourself Urbanism: A History

In the last several years, interest has surged in the idea of small-scale, incremental, “do-it-yourself” (DIY) urban improvement. Also known as “tactical,” “pop-up,” or “guerilla” urbanism, this brand of urban intervention is resident-generated, low budget, and often designed to be temporary. The approach is distinguished by being in direct opposition to top-down, capital-intensive, and bureaucratically sanctioned urban change of the kind most often associated with urban planning. The purpose of this article is to review the broader, historical rootedness of these efforts. DIY urbanism has been energized by a recession and a “right to the city” spirit of guerrilla tactics, but it is actually rooted in a deeper tradition of nineteenth-century civic engagement. Focusing on the American experience, I show that the idea of bottom-up, tactical, DIY urbanism forms an essential tradition in American urbanism, an impulse that runs counter to the narrative of urban abandonment, and as such forms an essential platf...
Effect of Sinusoidal Forcing On the Wake of a Circular Cylinder

Three dimensional disturbance due to forcing from two loud speakers was introduced in the flow field of a circular cylinder through two sinusoidal slits located on two diametrically opposite direction on the cylinder surface. Experiments were conducted at Reynolds number of 24000 and 40000. It was observed that an excitation frequency which was twice the shedding frequency was able to eliminate the shedding peak. It was found that introduction of three dimensional disturbance disrupted the formation of karmann vortex street. This resulted in a distribution of energy from the shedding peak to smaller vortices. The introduction of three dimensional disturbance accelerated the separating shear layers which narrowed the wake and made it uniform in terms of mean velocity.
Enzymatic adaptations to asphyxia in the harbor seal and dog

Abstract The activities of the glycolytic enzymes were determined in heart, liver, kidney cortex and cerebrum from the harbor seal (Phoca vitulina) and the adult and newborn dog. Activities were similar in the four dog tissues as well as myocardium and brain tissue from both the newborn dog and seal. Most of the enzyme activities were markedly lower in kidney cortex and liver of the seal and the newborn dog, suggesting that the organs which are rendered ischemic in the diving seal or asphyxiated newborn dog have a lowered demand for glycolytic metabolism. This is perceived as an adaptation to prolong the time tissues can rely on anaerobic metabolism. Expression of the enzyme data in a ‘similarity criterion’ by dividing activity from an organ likely to be perfused during long diving or asphyxia (e.g., heart), by that from one rendered ischemic (e.g., kidney), yields a quotient which provides a convenient indicator of anaerobic potential. Such a treatment would reflect the contribution of a discrete tissue to the total anaerobic demand of the whole animal. The values thus generated for the glycolytic enzymes are generally higher in the seal and the newborn dog than in the adult dog, and suggest an index for determining the capacity of an animal to withstand repeated and variable asphyxia.
Enuresis in school children

Abstract A selective review of the psychological literature surrounding enuresis is presented. Incidence data support the contention that enuresis is a common school age problem that will probably come to the attention of most school psychologists. Studies relating to the more popular explanations of enuresis, including psychoanalytic, faulty habit training, limited bladder capacity, and deep sleep are discussed and research relating to each is presented. Evidence supporting, or failing to support, treatment methods is also presented. Research possibilities for the school psychologist are suggested.
Alternative pathways of anandamide biosynthesis in rat testes

Abstract We have investigated the biosynthesis of long-chain N-acylethanolamines (NAEs) from endogenous substrates in rat testes membranes with special emphasis on anandamide (20:4n-6 NAE), a cannabinoid receptor agonist. Incubation of various membrane preparations with 5 mM Ca2+ produced both N-acyl phosphatidylethanolamine (N-acyl PE) and NAE with primarily (∼85%) N-palmitoyl groups (16:0 NAE) and less than 2% 20:4n-6 NAE. In contrast, incubation of these membranes with 5 mM EGTA and 10 mM ethanolamine had little effect on N-acyl PE composition but yielded NAEs whose major constituent (32–37%) was anandamide. Incubations with [1,1,2,2,-2H4]ethanolamine in media containing 40% H218O showed that the Ca2+-independent NAE synthesis occurred by direct condensation of ethanolamine with free fatty acids present in the membrane preparation. This biosynthetic activity occurred at ethanolamine concentrations as low as 50 μM and exhibited substrate selectivity for arachidonate which increased with increasing ethanolamine concentrations. The results of inhibitor experiments suggest that the Ca2+-independent NAE synthesis was catalyzed by the NAE amidohydrolase acting in reverse. This condensation reaction could be important in agonist-induced anandamide synthesis for cell signalling through cannabinoid receptors.
Conditional Deletion of Notch1 and Notch2 Genes in Excitatory Neurons of Postnatal Forebrain Does Not Cause Neurodegeneration or Reduction of Notch mRNAs and Proteins

Activation of Notch signaling requires intramembranous cleavage by γ-secretase to release the intracellular domain. We previously demonstrated that presenilin and nicastrin, components of the γ-secretase complex, are required for neuronal survival in the adult cerebral cortex. Here we investigate whether Notch1 and/or Notch2 are functional targets of presenilin/γ-secretase in promoting survival of excitatory neurons in the adult cerebral cortex by generating Notch1, Notch2, and Notch1/Notch2 conditional knock-out (cKO) mice. Unexpectedly, we did not detect any neuronal degeneration in the adult cerebral cortex of these Notch cKO mice up to ∼2 years of age, whereas conditional inactivation of presenilin or nicastrin using the same αCaMKII-Cre transgenic mouse caused progressive, striking neuronal loss beginning at 4 months of age. More surprisingly, we failed to detect any reduction of Notch1 and Notch2 mRNAs and proteins in the cerebral cortex of Notch1 and Notch2 cKO mice, respectively, even though Cre-mediated genomic deletion of the floxed Notch1 and Notch2 exons clearly took place in the cerebral cortex of these cKO mice. Furthermore, introduction of Cre recombinase into primary cortical cultures prepared from postnatal floxed Notch1/Notch2 pups, where Notch1 and Notch2 are highly expressed, completely eliminated their expression, indicating that the floxed Notch1 and Notch2 alleles can be efficiently inactivated in the presence of Cre. Together, these results demonstrate that Notch1 and Notch2 are not involved in the age-related neurodegeneration caused by loss of presenilin or γ-secretase and suggest that there is no detectable expression of Notch1 and Notch2 in pyramidal neurons of the adult cerebral cortex.
Triglycerides and atherogenic lipoproteins: rationale for lipid management

Epidemiologic and clinical studies have demonstrated a relation between plasma triglyceride levels and risk of coronary artery disease and an amplification of risk with combined elevations of triglyceride and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. In patients with coronary disease, angiographic progression and clinical events have been correlated with concentrations of smaller very-low-density lipoproteins (VLDL) and intermediate-density lipoproteins (IDL), consistent with evidence for enhanced atherogenicity of lipolytic products of triglyceride-rich lipoprotein metabolism, including postprandial lipoproteins. IDL levels also have been shown to be strongly and independently predictive of progression of carotid artery intimal-medial thickness, a measure of early atherogenesis that is related to coronary disease risk. Although there is evidence that these triglyceride-rich lipoprotein species may have direct atherogenic effects, other lipoprotein changes associated with altered triglyceride metabolism may be of particular importance in the development of coronary artery disease. These include reductions in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and increases in small, dense LDL particles (LDL subclass pattern B). Because of the strong interrelations among elevated triglyceride, reduced HDL, and small dense LDL, it is difficult to use statistical techniques to determine the independent contributions of these traits to coronary disease risk. Based on their biologic properties, it is likely that each are involved in multiple steps of the disease process. Moreover, this cluster of lipoprotein changes is associated with other conditions that can promote vascular disease, including increases in coagulation factors and reduced insulin sensitivity. Analyses from intervention trials in patients with coronary disease have indicated that measurement of plasma triglyceride and LDL particle distributions can be of value in predicting the benefits of specific lipid-altering therapies on disease progression.
The open approach to flood control: the way to the future in Bangladesh

Abstract This paper offers a critique of the cordon approach to flood control that Bangladesh has been pursuing for several decades now. It shows how this approach fails to solve the flood problem, deprives the floodplains from benefits of regular river-inundation, creates a risky situation for the inhabitants inside cordons, brings in new problems of drainage and sanitation, and leads to huge waste of resources. The paper then argues for the open approach to flood control as the way to the future. The main components of this approach are: re-excavation of river beds and other surface water bodies, minimization of obstruction on floodplains, increasing the elevation of rural and urban dwellings, restoration of waterways, and promotion of rural settlement consolidation around permanent flood shelters. The paper shows in what ways the open approach to flood control is superior to the cordon approach.
Strategic procurement practices for the industrial supply chain

AbstractEarly sourcing decisions have a critical impact on the performance of industrial construction projects. However, the industrial construction sector has been relatively understudied, especially the sourcing and supply chain practices typically implemented in early phases of capital projects. This study reports on how engineering-procure-construction (EPC) firms select suppliers in the early stages of the project. Particular focus involves the decisions firms make in sourcing process and the types and roles of supporting information. The paper reports on five case studies with large EPC firms. Data were collected from multiple individuals in each firm with extensive supporting documentation. A cross-case analysis describes similarities and differences between EPCs and helps to compare empirical findings with the broader literature. Findings contradict some areas of the literature, in particular the push for strategic supplier alliances. Other findings confirm the strategic importance of early procur...
Reimbursement for Cardiac Procedures: Past, Present, and Future

Changes that are the consequences of the transformation of health care into an industry are reviewed. The primary focus is on the effects of this transformation and government funding policies on physician reimbursement for cardiac surgery. Also addressed are Relative Value Scales as the basis for physician reimbursement, physician payment reform under the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1989, impact of Medicare policy on surgical volume and surgeon income over recent years, provisions of the Medicare plan under current consideration, and impact of the Congressional-mandated resource-based practice expense relative value scale study currently under way.
Modeling and Estimation of Kinetic Parameters and Replicative Fitness of HIV-1 from Flow-Cytometry-Based Growth Competition Experiments

Growth competition assays have been developed to quantify the relative fitness of HIV-1 mutants. In this article, we develop mathematical models to describe viral/cellular dynamic interactions in the assay system from which the competitive fitness indices or parameters are defined. In our previous HIV-viral fitness experiments, the concentration of uninfected target cells was assumed to be constant (Wu et al. 2006). But this may not be true in some experiments. In addition, dual infection may frequently occur in viral fitness experiments and may not be ignorable. Here, we relax these two assumptions and extend our earlier viral fitness model (Wu et al. 2006). The resulting models then become nonlinear ODE systems for which closed-form solutions are not achievable. In the new model, the viral relative fitness is a function of time since it depends on the target cell concentration. First, we studied the structure identifiability of the nonlinear ODE models. The identifiability analysis showed that all parameters in the proposed models are identifiable from the flow-cytometry-based experimental data that we collected. We then employed a global optimization approach (the differential evolution algorithm) to directly estimate the kinetic parameters as well as the relative fitness index in the nonlinear ODE models using nonlinear least square regression based on the experimental data. Practical identifiability was investigated via Monte Carlo simulations.
Normal Replication of Vesicular Stomatitis Virus without C Proteins

The expression of two small basic proteins (C and C*) encoded by a second open reading frame of the New Jersey serotype of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) P gene was reported previously (Spiropoulou and Nichol, J. Virol., 67, 3103 – 3110, 1993). Here we found that the Indiana serotype virus also expressed C and C* proteins from this reading frame. We eliminated C and C* expression by making a single base change that introduced a stop codon in the C and C* coding sequence, but left the P-protein sequence unchanged. This mutated P gene supported normal replication and packaging of VSV minigenomes encoding G and M proteins. The mutated P gene was also recombined into an infectious clone of VSV that was used to recover virus. The mutant virus no longer expressed the C and C* proteins but showed growth kinetics identical to wild-type virus. The amounts of viral mRNAs and proteins synthesized were indistinguishable in mutant and wild-type virus infected cells as were the yields and composition of mutant and wild-type virus particles. The kinetics of host protein-synthesis shut-off were also identical for both viruses. Although the C and C* proteins were dispensable for VSV growth in tissue culture, they are known to be conserved in all vesiculoviruses, and thus perhaps play a role in viral pathogenesis or transmission by insect vectors. q 1996 Academic Press, Inc.
High QAM modulation for transoceanic undersea cable optical transmission

WDM Transmission using PDM-8QAM-OFDM and PDM-16QAM-OFDM modulations over 10,181km have been successfully demonstrated with spectral efficiency of 4-b/s/Hz and 4.7-b/s/Hz. High QAM modulation format has become a strong candidate for future submarine systems.
Thermal conductivity of pristine and brominated highly graphitized pitch based carbon fibers

Thermal conductivity of brominated and pristine Union Carbide P-100 graphite fibers in the 30 to 160 C temperature range was determined by measuring thermal conductivities of graphite fiber epoxy composite samples and then excluding the epoxy contribution. A comparative thermal conductivity instrument was used to measure the thermal conductivity of the samples containing fibers. Results showed that the thermal conductivity values were 225 to 370 w/m-K and 215 to 340 w/m-K for pristine and brominated fibers, respectively. Furthermore, the thermal conductivity ratio of brominated to pristine P-100 fibers was 0.89, 0.91, and 0.92 at 55 to 80 C; 108 and 130 C, respectively. Such decrease in thermal conductivity results almost entirely from the 10 percent increase in fiber cross sectional area due to bromination. This result suggests that bromination effects on P-100 fiber structure is small, and that some structural changes, presumably the sharp-angled domain wall becomes less sharp, occurring in the 80 to 108 C temperature range.
Eating disorders awareness week: the effectiveness of a one-time body image dissatisfaction prevention session.

The purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness of a body image dissatisfaction prevention session that provided information on body image and media literacy to college women. Participants were 81 undergraduates who were randomly assigned to attend either a body image intervention or a control intervention. Participants completed measures at pre- and post-intervention and at 4-week follow-up. The body image group improved significantly more than the control group on body shape concerns, but not on the other outcome variables. Efficacious interventions capable of reaching large numbers of women are necessary to help dispel the “normative discontent” prevalent today.