cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Growth of low-dimensional structures on nonplanar patterned substrates

Si growth by molecular beam epitaxy on nonplanar patterned Si substrates is studied as a function of growth parameters. The substrates consist of a truncated pyramid template with {111} sides and (100) tops formed by anisotropic etching of Si(100). For growth temperatures ≤550°C no qualitative changes in the morphology of the template are observed. At growth temperatures between 650-700°C {113} facets begin to form on the (100) surface and reduce the lateral dimensions of the (100) facet to < 20 nm. At high temperatures (∼800°C) {113} facets remain stable and {111} facets no longer exist. The small (100) mesa formed at medium temperatures by facet reduction is exploited through the growth of Si/Si 1-x Ge x multiple quantum wells leading to low-dimensional structures. Observations are quantified by scanning electron and transmission electron microscopies.
A CONVENIENT SYNTHESIS OF UNSYMMETRICAL SECONDARY AMINES. IN SITU FORMATION OF UNSTABLE FORMALDEHYDE IMINES

Abstract The monoalkylation of aliphatic and aromatic primary amines can be accomplished by the reaction of organolithium or Grignard reagents with N-(cyanomethyl) or N-(aminomethyl) derivatives.
Ankle fractures and employment: a life-changing event for patients.

AbstractPurpose: Ankle fractures, one of the most common types of orthopaedic injury, have been associated with reduced functional outcome and significant changes in long-term employment. Although information on unemployment following ankle fractures can be important in cases of financial compensation, no studies have investigated rates of short-term disability and employment status among patients who have suffered isolated ankle fractures in the US. Method: We retrospectively reviewed 573 medical charts for patients who were treated for ankle fractures in the last 3 years at a level I trauma center. A total of 83 non-elderly patients that had isolated ankle fractures were contacted and surveyed over the phone. Patients were asked about employment history and current status, disability, type of fracture, and demographic information. Results: Fifty-three (62%) patients contacted were employed at the time of injury. In all, 34% (n = 18) of patients lost their job because of their injury, of which only 8 (44...
Liquid-vapour phase equilibria in the N2CH4 system from 130 to 180 K

Abstract Isothermal composition measurements for both the equilibrium liquid and vapour phases have been determined for the nitrogen + methane system at eight temperatures between 112.00 and 180.00 K, and at pressures from 1 to 49 atm (1 to 50 bar). The internal consistency of these data is checked by comparing experimental and calculated thermodynamically consistent vapour phase compositions. Derived Henry's constants are used to provide a comparison between these data and those of other investigators.
10-GHz dispersion-managed soliton fiber-optical parametric oscillator using regenerative mode locking

We demonstrate a regeneratively mode-locked fiber-optical parametric oscillator that utilizes intracavity dispersion compensation to generate pulses at a 10-GHz repetition rate in both soliton and nonsoliton regimes. At the threshold pump power the generated pulses are close to fundamental solitons. At higher pump powers we found a significant deviation of the pulses from the sech2 shape. In addition, the use of an ultralow-jitter self-starting pump–pulse source in a regenerative feedback loop allows for a significant reduction of the signal’s timing jitter and amplitude noise.
TOCRS—The therapy-oriented computer record system

A computerized system has been developed to provide treatment records for patients in the Duke Psychiatric Outpatient Clinic. Demographic, diagnostic, and therapeutic data are incorporated into a concise summary provided to the therapist for each patient visit. Variables were carefully chosen to capture essential therapeutic information while minimizing the burden of data entry on the therapist. Suggestions by the users have led to a number of modifications in the system, including the addition of special data-keeping functions for therapy groups and record generations of summary reports for clinicians and administrators. Essential information is gathered in a format well suited to analysis by standard computerized statistical techniques. Record keeping, in this fashion, provides an information base that describes the process of psychiatric treatment.
Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide is about 44% folded in neutral aqueous solutions.

By comparing the acidity constants of the adenine moiety of NAD with that of adenosine diphosphoribose, which lacks the nicotinamide ring of NAD, a simple analysis indicates that 44% of NAD is folded in neutral solution at 25°C and 0.15 M ionic strength. Decreasing temperature or ionic strength results in an increase in the percentage of folded NAD. For the overall folding interactions of NAD, AH= -3.1 kcal .mol-’ and AS = 11 kcal .mol-’ .degree-‘. The reduced dinucleotide NADH is folded to similar extents with and without adenine moiety protonation. The conformation of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) in neutral aqueous solutions has been a subject of continuing discussion. Both nuclear magnetic resonance [l] and optical [2] spectroscopic results have been utilized to estimate the extent of folding or stacking of the two aromatic ends of the molecule. (The indicated recent references provide numerous further citations in the literature.) Arguments of varying degrees of sophistication and uncertainty have given rise to estimates ranging from virtually complete stacking to almost all molecules in an extended conformation. The majority of interpretations favor considerable folding or stacking. In this communication we present a simple argument based on comparison of the acidity constants of the adenine moiety of NAD with that of adenosine diphosphoribose (ADPR), which possesses all the attributes of NAD except the aromatic nicotinamide
Heat transfer by laminar forced flow against a non-isothermal rotating disk

Theoretical consideration is given to the temperature distributions and heat-transfer results in laminar forced flow against a non-isothermal rotating disk. The surface temperature of the disk is assumed to vary according to a power law with the radial distance. Numerical solutions of the boundary-layer equations are presented to indicate the effects of the forced flow, of the non-uniform surface temperature and of the Prandtl number. Asymptotic heat-transfer relations for large and small Prandtl numbers are given.
The inner plexiform layer of the vertebrate retina: A quantitative and comparative electron microscopic analysis

The inner plexiform layer of human, monkey, cat, rat, rabbit, ground squirrel, frog and pigeon retinas was studied by electron microscopy. All showed the same qualitative synaptic arrangements: bipolar cells made dyad ribbon synapses onto amacrine and ganglion cells; amacrine cells made conventional synaptic contacts onto bipolar, ganglion cells; amacrine cells montage of electron micrographs through the full thickness of the inner plexiform layer were made for each species and were scored for synaptic contacts. Both absolute and relative quantitative differences were found between species. The ratio of amacrine cell (conventional) synapses to bipolar cell (ribbon) synapses, the absolute number of amacrine cell synapses and the number of inter-amacrine cell synapses were all found to be higher in those animals which are known to have relatively complex retinal ganglion cell receptive field properties. It is suggested that the amacrine cell is involved in mediating complex visual transformations in certain vertebrate retinas.
Bioinspired materials for controlling stem cell fate

Although researchers currently have limited ability to mimic the natural stem cell microenvironment, recent work at the interface of stem biology and biomaterials science has demonstrated that control over stem cell behavior with artificial microenvironments is quite advanced. Embryonic and adult stem cells are potentially useful platforms for tissue regeneration, cell-based therapeutics, and disease-in-a-dish models for drug screening. The major challenge in this field is to reliably control stem cell behavior outside the body. Common biological control schemes often ignore physicochemical parameters that materials scientists and engineers commonly manipulate, such as substrate topography and mechanical and rheological properties. However, with appropriate attention to these parameters, researchers have designed novel synthetic microenvironments to control stem cell behavior in rather unnatural ways. In this Account, we review synthetic microenvironments that aim to overcome the limitations of natural niches rather than to mimic them. A biomimetic stem cell control strategy is often limited by an incomplete understanding of the complex signaling pathways that drive stem cell behavior from early embryogenesis to late adulthood. The stem cell extracellular environment presents a miscellany of competing biological signals that keep the cell in a state of unstable equilibrium. Using synthetic polymers, researchers have designed synthetic microenvironments with an uncluttered array of cell signals, both specific and nonspecific, that are motivated by rather than modeled after biology. These have proven useful in maintaining cell potency, studying asymmetric cell division, and controlling cellular differentiation. We discuss recent research that highlights important biomaterials properties for controlling stem cell behavior, as well as advanced processes for selecting those materials, such as combinatorial and high-throughput screening. Much of this work has utilized micro- and nanoscale fabrication tools for controlling material properties and generating diversity in both two and three dimensions. Because of their ease of synthesis and similarity to biological soft matter, hydrogels have become a biomaterial of choice for generating 3D microenvironments. In presenting these efforts within the framework of synthetic biology, we anticipate that future researchers may exploit synthetic polymers to create microenvironments that control stem cell behavior in clinically relevant ways.
Design of high power electromechanical actuator for thrust vector control

NASA-Marshall has undertaken the development of electromechanical actuators (EMAs) for thrust vector control (TVC) augmentation system implementation. The TVC EMA presented has as its major components two three-phase brushless dc motors, a two-pass gear-reduction system, and a roller screw for rotary-to-linear motion conversion. System control is furnished by a solid-state electronic controller and power supply; a pair of resolvers deliver position feedback to the controller, such that precise positioning is achieved. Peformance comparisons have been conducted between the EMA and comparable-performance hydraulic systems applicable to TVCs.
RHEOLOGY OF HIGH SOLID COATINGS. I: ANALYSIS OF SAGGING AND SLUMPING

The rheology of sagging and slumping of high solid coatings on vertical surfaces is analyzed in terms of a non-Newtonian power-law model. The results indicate that, in order to have good sag control and good sprayability at the same time, high solid coatings should be pseudoplastics with a power constant of about 0.6 and a viscosity at 1 sec-1 of about 25 poise at the temperature of interest. This theoretical prediction is confirmed experimentally.
Thermal unfolding equilibria in homodimeric chicken gizzard tropomyosin coiled coils

CD studies are presented on thermal unfolding of coiled-coil homodimers of two genetic variant chains of chicken gizzard tropomyosin (CG-Tm). The experiments include the effects of cross-linking both isoforms and the dependence on protein concentration of unfolding in both reduced isoforms, variables not examined in extant work. The general shapes of the unfolding curves for singly cross-linked species depend on whether the cross-link is at C190 (its site on one isoform) or at C36 (its site on the other). These curves are compared with extant ones for various cross-linked species of rabbit tropomyosin. The comparison supports the view that the unfolding behavior of cross-linked species results from a complex interaction of strain at the cross-link, local variations in structural stability, and loop entropy. The observed concentration dependence of the transition temperature for the uncross-linked (reduced) species of CG-Tm is very small (2.9 degrees C) for one variant homodimer and unobservably small (< 2 degrees C) for the other in the 100-fold concentration range (approximately 0.01-1.0 mg/mL) accessible here. These experimental values of delta Tm are much smaller than are predicted from extant values of the van't Hoff transition enthalpies, calling the latter into question.
Human resource management in the just-in-time environment

Abstract Successful just-in-time (JIT) implementation requires a multiskilled group-oriented and self-disciplined workforce with good quantitative skills. Little discussion exists in the JIT literature concerning the development of such a workforce. The human resource management (HRM) literature deals with employee issues but does not identify strategies for achieving a JIT workforce. In order to identify appropriate HRM strategies for a JIT environment, a comprehensive model is presented to show the critical linkage between JIT and HRM. Interactions between legal issues, management and union, and human input are examined. The impact of US labour laws on HRM practices is discussed and contrasted with Japanese practices. The literature review of HRM-related JIT articles suggests that HRM practices in the areas of staffing, training and development, compensation, and employee retention can be used to develop an effective JIT workforce. The article will help production managers to understand the impact of sp...
High power (>5 W) λ∼9.6 μm tapered quantum cascade lasers grown by OMVPE

Abstract AlInAs/GaInAs superlattices (SLs) with barrier and well layers of various thicknesses were grown by organometallic vapor phase epitaxy to optimize growth of quantum cascade lasers (QCLs). High-resolution x-ray diffraction data of nominally lattice-matched SLs show a systematic shift toward more compressively strained SLs as the barrier/well layer thicknesses are decreased below about 10 nm. This shift is attributed to In surface segregation in both AlInAs and GaInAs. This shift is compensated for in the growth of ultra-thin layers in QCL structures. QCLs with tapered gain regions and emitting at 9.6 μm are demonstrated with peak power as high as 5.3 W from one facet at 20 °C.
On a New Species of Pseudodiaptomus From the West Coast of Mexico, Costa Rica and Ecuador (Copepoda) 1)

[Aus Kollektionen kustennahen Meeresplanktons wird eine neue Art, Pseudodiaptomus wrighti, beschrieben und illustriert. Beide Geschlechter kommen in grosser Zahl vor, und zwar von der Westkuste von Nieder-Kalifornien, Mexiko, bis in den Golf von Kalifornien und sudwarts bis in den Golf von Guayaquil, Ecuador. Die Art ist am nachsten verwandt mit P. acutus und P. richardi von der Ostkuste Sudamerikas. Insgesamt umfasst das Genus jetzt 42 Arten und 2 Variationen. P. wrighti ist die dritte Art, welche an der Pazifischen Kuste von Nord- und Sudamerika entdeckt wurde., Aus Kollektionen kustennahen Meeresplanktons wird eine neue Art, Pseudodiaptomus wrighti, beschrieben und illustriert. Beide Geschlechter kommen in grosser Zahl vor, und zwar von der Westkuste von Nieder-Kalifornien, Mexiko, bis in den Golf von Kalifornien und sudwarts bis in den Golf von Guayaquil, Ecuador. Die Art ist am nachsten verwandt mit P. acutus und P. richardi von der Ostkuste Sudamerikas. Insgesamt umfasst das Genus jetzt 42 Arten und 2 Variationen. P. wrighti ist die dritte Art, welche an der Pazifischen Kuste von Nord- und Sudamerika entdeckt wurde.]
Quantitative core-based shape comparison

Comparison of shapes is at best a difficult problem. Although many methods of measuring shapes are available, such as circularity, Fourier descriptors, and invariant moments, these methods generally suffer from one or more of the following drawbacks, (1) requiring previous segmentation of the shape, (2) inability to relate the metric intuitively to the shape, and (3) inability to describe local features of object shape. We describe two new metrics based on cores: the average chamfer distance and the average fractional difference. These metrics do not require prior segmentation of objects, can be used to describe local features of object shape, and are intuitively related to degree of shape similarity or dissimilarity. Furthermore, we demonstrate that these metrics are well-behaved, producing output that varies in a predictable fashion, increasing in value as shapes become increasingly different and decreasing in value as shapes become increasing similar.© (1997) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Alcohol suppresses lipopolysaccharide-induced tumor necrosis factor activity in serum and lung

Ethanol intoxication has been shown to suppress selected functions of the immune system thereby compromising host defense against bacterial infections. Tumor necrosis factor, a secretory protein produced by the macrophage in response to lipopolysaccharide, mediates the inflammatory cascade and stimulates phagocyte functions. Acute ethanol intoxication markedly suppressed both serum and lung tumor necrosis factor elicited in response to lipopolysaccharide. Furthermore, ethanol inhibited intratracheal lipopolysaccharide-induced neutrophil recruitment into the alveoli and prevented the fall in circulating neutrophils in response to intravenous lipopolysaccharide. Thus, the anti-inflammatory effects of ethanol may be secondary to suppression of macrophage-derived tumor necrosis factor.
Effect of the co-deposition of Sb and Si on surface morphology

Abstract Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) is used to observe changes in the surface morphology of a Si (100) surface during the co-deposition of Sb and Si at 500°C. The initial deposition of only 0.01 monolayers of Sb is shown to modify the Si growth mechanism. The roughness of the surface is found to increase during the deposition of Si under a constant Sb flux where the Sb surface coverage is also increasing due to surface segregation. By holding the Sb surface coverage constant and varying the Si deposition, we find that the presence of Sb on the surface inhibits Si attachment at step edges producing three-dimensional stacked island formations. We show that heating the sample for 60 s at 800°C to desorb the surface Sb can return a planar morphology to the Si surface.
Current utilization trends for β-blockers in cardiovascular disease

Beta blockers have repeatedly demonstrated their therapeutic value in the treatment of a variety of diseases; as a result, multiple treatment guidelines advocate the use of β blockers. Despite these guidelines, the use of β blockers is remarkably low. Numerous factors that influence the trends of drug use include pharmaceutical advertisements, physician legal concerns, marketing influences, outdated therapeutic contraindications, and patient and physician demographics. Recent primary evidence from randomized clinical trials has demonstrated a significant benefit to patients with heart failure when β-blocker therapy is added to standard therapy. To ensure proper treatment, continuing efforts must be made to provide patients with appropriate therapy that is proven to reduce the risks of mortality and morbidity.
The Racial Divide in Support for the Death Penalty: Does White Racism Matter?

Using data from the 2000 National Election Study, this research investigates the sources of the racial divide in support for capital punishment with a specific focus on white racism. After delineating a measure of white racism, we explore whether it can account for why a majority of African Americans oppose the death penalty while most whites support it. The results indicate that one-third of the racial divide in support for the death penalty can be attributed to the influence of our measure of white racism. The analyses also revealed that when other factors are controlled, support for capital punishment among nonracist whites is similar to that of African Americans. We examine the implications of these findings for using public opinion to justify the death penalty.
Contact discontinuities in collisionless plasmas: A comparison of hybrid and kinetic simulations

A comparison of full kinetic and hybrid simulations for T e /T i > 1, where T e (T i ) is the electron (ion) temperature, indicates that contact discontinuities cannot persist in collisionless plasmas. A simple analysis suggests that the potential barrier to ion mass and thermal transport identified by Wu et al. [1994] in their hybrid calculations can preserve the contact discontinuity if the contributions of electron thermal transport are small. When T e /T i > 1, electron energy transport in kinetic calculations results in large potentials which reduce the effectiveness of the potential barrier. Thus, contact discontinuities are unlikely to be observed in spacecraft observations.
The pa-Regular Partition Function Modulo pj☆

Abstract Let b l ( n ) denote the number of l-regular partitions of n , where l is a positive power of a prime p . We study in this paper the behavior of b l ( n ) modulo powers of p . In particular, we prove that for every positive integer j , b l ( n ) lies in each residue class modulo p j for infinitely many values of n .
Building Useful Program Analysis Tools Using an Extensible Java Compiler

Large software companies need customized tools to manage their source code. These tools are often built in an ad-hoc fashion, using brittle technologies such as regular expressions and home-grown parsers. Changes in the language cause the tools to break. More importantly, these ad-hoc tools often do not support uncommon-but-valid code code patterns. We report our experiences building source-code analysis tools at Google on top of a third-party, open-source, extensible compiler. We describe three tools in use on our Java code base. The first, Strict Java Dependencies, enforces our dependency policy in order to reduce JAR file sizes and testing load. The second, error-prone, adds new error checks to the compilation process and automates repair of those errors at a whole-code base scale. The third, Thindex, reduces the indexing burden for a Java IDE so that it can support Google-sized projects.
Structure and properties of sulfonated polysulfone ionomers

Caracterisation des polysulfones apres sulfonation par analyse elementaire, RMN, IR et calorimetrie. Temperatures de transition vitreuse, modules de conservation et de perte, coefficients de diffusion, relaxations α, β et γ
On denoising and compression of DNA microarray images

We address the problems of noise and huge data sizes in microarray images. First, we propose a mixture model for describing the statistical and structural properties of microarray images. Then, based on the microarray image model, we present methods for denoising and for compressing microarray images. The denoising method is based on a variant of the translation-invariant wavelet transform. The compression method introduces the notion of approximate contexts (rather than traditional exact contexts) in modeling the symbol probabilities in a microarray image. This inexact context modeling approach is important in dealing with the noisy nature of microarray images. Using the proposed denoising and compression methods, we describe a near-lossless compression scheme suitable for microarray images. Results on both denoising and compression are included, which show the performance of the proposed methods. Further experiments using the results of the proposed near-lossless compression scheme in gene clustering using cell-cycle microarray data for S. cerevisiae showed a general improvement in the clustering performance, when compared with using the original data. This provides an indirect validation of the effectiveness of the proposed denoising method.
Interrelation of left ventricular ejection fraction, pulmonary congestion and outcome in acute myocardial infarction

The interrelation of different grades of pulmonary congestion evaluated by chest roentgenogram in the coronary care unit, predischarge left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (EF) and long-term prognosis was studied in 1,850 surviving patients of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Pulmonary congestion was categorized as: none, mild or moderate, or severe; LVEF was classified as: greater than or equal to 40%, 25 to 39%, or less than 25%. The majority of patients (1,060; 57%) had an LVEF greater than or equal to 40% and no signs of pulmonary congestion. Severe pulmonary congestion was noted in 63 patients (3.4%), 17 with LVEF less than 25% and 16 with LVEF greater than or equal to 40%. One hundred twenty-five patients (6.8%) had an LVEF less than 25%, 49 of whom had no signs of pulmonary congestion. During a mean 2-year follow-up, cardiac mortality occurred in 212 patients (11.5%). The cardiac mortality rate was related to both predischarge LVEF impairment and severity of pulmonary congestion. Cardiac mortality hazard ratios (95% confidence intervals [CI]) for LVEF less than 25%, and 25 to 39% were 5.32 (CI 3.49, 8.13; p less than 0.0001) and 2.91 (CI 2.10, 4.02; p less than 0.0001), respectively, where a referent hazard ratio of 1 was assigned to patients with LVEF greater than or equal to 40% and to those with no pulmonary congestion. Development of pulmonary congestion during AMI significantly increased the cardiac mortality risk derived from LVEF, with a marked mortality effect in patients with severe pulmonary congestion; (hazard ratio 4.20; 95% CI 2.67, 6.62; p less than 0.0001).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Molecular genetics of GM1β-galactosidase

The molecular genetics of GM1 beta-galactosidase is reviewed. This enzyme exists in two forms, A and B. Form A is monomeric with a molecular weight of 72,000 and appears to be coded by a single autosomal locus. Form B is polymeric and cross-reacts with anti-A antibodies; it is coded wholly or in part by the same locus that codes for A. The simultaneous loss of A and B in GM1 gangliosidosis is explained. None of the other beta-galactosidases, including neutral beta-galactosidase, ceramide lactoside beta-galactosidase or cerebroside beta-galactosidase cross-react with anti-A antibodies, demonstrating that they are coded by loci separate from A. GM1 beta-galactosidase A is heterocatalytic, cleaving beta-D-galactose from ganglioside GM1, lactose, N-acetyllactosamine, and galactose-containing glycoproteins such as asialofetuin, red cell stromal glycoproteins and keratan sulfate. The pleotropic effects of a single mutation affecting the locus for beta-galactosidase A can be explained by a one gene:one polypeptide:many substrates model. Phenotypic variability among beta-galactosidase A mutants may result from better residual activity of the mutant enzyme for one substrate than for another. Patients with normal intelligence and severe bony deformities, who are homozygous for a mutation affecting the enzyme, illustrate this point. Thus far all human mutants for GM1 beta-galactosidase studied are structural mutants, synthesizing nearly normal quantities of mutant enzyme; one is a proven Km mutant, the others are very likely so.
A biological-based neural network model of leech reflexive behaviors

An artificial neural network is built and trained to model the local bending reflex of the leech Hirudo Medicinalis. The model is validated by the data provided from physiological experiments. The training data and topology of the neural network is based on data gathered from physiological experiments. A graphical representation of the leech is constructed as a high level interface to the artificial neural network. This interface is used to determine the appropriateness of responses to different stimulus patterns. The artificial neural network is tested to see if it can generalize its repertoire of behaviors to untrained stimulus patterns. The leech provides the authors with a simple neurostructure that can be understood with today's technologies. >
Phage Lytic Enzyme Cpl-1 as a Novel Antimicrobial for Pneumococcal Bacteremia

Streptococcus pneumoniae is becoming increasingly antibiotic resistant worldwide, and thus new antimicrobials are badly needed. We report the use of Cpl-1, the lytic enzyme of a pneumococcal bacteriophage, as an intravenous therapy for pneumococcal bacteremia in a mouse model. A 2,000-μg dose of Cpl-1 reduced pneumococcal titers from a median of log10 4.70 CFU/ml to undetectable levels (<log10 2.00 CFU/ml) within 15 min. This dose given 1 h after intravenous infection led to 100% survival at 48 h, compared to the 20% survival of buffer-treated controls. In advanced bacteremia, treatment with two doses at 5 and 10 h still resulted in significantly longer survival (P < 0.0001) and a hazard ratio of 0.29 (95% confidence interval, 0.04 to 0.35). The enzyme is immunogenic, but the treatment efficacy was not significantly diminished after previous intravenous exposure of mice and hyperimmune rabbit serum did not neutralize the activity. Cpl-1 is also very effective as a topical nasal treatment against colonization by S. pneumoniae. In vitro, the enzyme is active against many serotypes of S. pneumoniae, independent of their penicillin resistance, and it is very specific for this species. Bacteriophage enzymes are unusual but extremely effective antimicrobials and represent a new weapon against infections with resistant bacteria.
A Bifunctional 3,5-Epimerase/4-Keto Reductase for Nucleotide-Rhamnose Synthesis in Arabidopsis

l-Rhamnose is a component of plant cell wall pectic polysaccharides, diverse secondary metabolites, and some glycoproteins. The biosynthesis of the activated nucleotide-sugar form(s) of rhamnose utilized by the various rhamnosyltransferases is still elusive, and no plant enzymes involved in their synthesis have been purified. In contrast, two genes (rmlC and rmlD) have been identified in bacteria and shown to encode a 3,5-epimerase and a 4-keto reductase that together convert dTDP-4-keto-6-deoxy-Glc to dTDP-β-l-rhamnose. We have identified an Arabidopsis cDNA that contains domains that share similarity to both reductase and epimerase. The Arabidopsis gene encodes a protein with a predicated molecular mass of approximately 33.5 kD that is transcribed in all tissue examined. The Arabidopsis protein expressed in, and purified from, Escherichia coli converts dTDP-4-keto-6-deoxy-Glc to dTDP-β-l-rhamnose in the presence of NADPH. These results suggest that a single plant enzyme has both the 3,5-epimerase and 4-keto reductase activities. The enzyme has maximum activity between pH 5.5 and 7.5 at 30°C. The apparent Km for NADPH is 90 μm and 16.9 μm for dTDP-4-keto-6-deoxy-Glc. The Arabidopsis enzyme can also form UDP-β-l-rhamnose. To our knowledge, this is the first example of a bifunctional plant enzyme involved in sugar nucleotide synthesis where a single polypeptide exhibits the same activities as two separate prokaryotic enzymes.
CB(1) and CB(2) cannabinoid receptors mediate different aspects of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)-induced T helper cell shift following immune activation by Legionella pneumophila infection.

Legionella pneumophila infection of mice induces proinflammatory cytokines and Th1 immunity as well as rapid increases in serum levels of IL-12 and IFNγ and splenic IL-12Rβ2 expression. Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) treatment prior to infection causes a shift from Th1 to Th2 immunity and here we demonstrate that CB1 and CB2 cannabinoid receptors mediate different aspects of the shift. Using cannabinoid receptor antagonists and cannabinoid receptor gene deficient mice (CB1−/− and CB2−/−), we showed that both CB1 and CB2 receptors were involved in the THC-induced attenuation of serum IL-12 and IFNγ. IFNγ production is dependent upon signaling through IL-12Rβ2 (β2) and THC treatment suppressed splenic β2 message; moreover, this effect was CB1 but not CB2-dependent from studies with receptor antagonists and CB1−/− and CB2−/− mice. Furthermore, observed increases in IL-4 induced by THC, were not involved in the drug effect on β2 from studies with IL-4 deficient mice. The GATA-3 transcription factor is necessary for IL-4 production and is selectively expressed in Th2 cells. GATA-3 message levels were elevated in spleens of THC-treated and L. pneumophila-infected mice and the effect was shown to be CB2 but not CB1-dependent. Furthermore, GATA-3 regulatory factors were modulated in that Notch ligand Delta4 mRNA was decreased and Jagged1 increased by THC also in a CB2-dependent manner and splenic NFκB p65 was increased. Together, these results indicate that CB1 and CB2 mediate the THC-induced shift in T helper activity in L. pneumophila-infected mice, with CB1 involved in suppressing IL-12Rβ2 and CB2 involved in enhancing GATA-3.
A novel framework for annotating videos using text

Today, in the academic, corporate and health care world video streaming is widely used to deliver presentations, lectures and to perform remote diagnosis. These videos contain a variety of information presented in various media. For example, a lecture video consists of information presented on assorted media such as a computer and a white board. Thus, to refer back to one key point one has to manually browse through the parts of the video which is inefficient and time consuming. Documenting the information provided in the video will not only reduce this problem but also summarizes the video without going through all the video details. This project is based on previous work on annotating the video by extracting text from it through the use of prior information collected from the user in order to accurately segment the text.
Hardware synthesis from encapsulated Verilog modules

This paper discusses experience with synthesis from a Verilog writing style using encapsulated modules. The method is shown to be capable of significant advantages in reduction of code complexity, re-use of submodules, and automatic inference of control. In order to pass synthesis and low level simulation, care must be taken in the translation of the encapsulated modules through an intermediate style accessible to industry synthesizers. If the encapsulated modules are edge activated then the control points need to be staggered in time through the clock cycle as control is passed down through the hierarchy. Examples are given of a such an intermediate style which is acceptable to synthesis and low level simulation. A conclusion discusses other implications of adapting the objective style to hardware design.
An efficient low power basic cell for adders

A basic cell based on combining XOR gates and transmission gates has been developed for implementing adders. The main criterion for this cell is low power dissipation. The proposed cell has been compared with two other basic common cells. An extensive analysis of two types of adders, namely ripple carry and carry lookahead has proved the superiority of the proposed cell.
Dryland Ecohydrology in the Anthropocene: Taking Stock of Human–Ecological Interactions

Drylands have been radically through transformed forces set in motion by humans – including agricultural conversion, overgrazing, and invasion by non-native plants. Relatively new global change drivers will ensure that drylands will continue their transformation. In this review, we discuss recent progress in understanding how global climate and land cover changes are affecting the ecohydrology of drylands, and we highlight some challenges faced by the research community. We argue that an imperative for dryland ecohydrologists is to not only work to better understand and anticipate global changes, but to devise strategies for adapting to and, where possible, mitigating the effects of these changes. The fundamental challenge we face is how to ensure clean water and adequate food for humanity while at the same time maintaining the Earth’s life-support systems. Moreover, we suggest that scientific efforts and social policy can – and indeed must – become more strongly linked. The ecological and earth science communities benefit from interactions with social scientists, and social policy made without consideration of the long-term impacts on dryland processes can jeopardize the sustainability of natural resources.
Eating Disorders and Their Effects on Bone Health

Low-weight eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa (AN) are associated with low bone density, impaired bone structure, and a higher risk for fracture in both adults and adolescents. Factors contributing to low bone density include changes in body composition, hypogonadism, a state of acquired growth hormone resistance with low insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) levels, relative hypercortisolemia, and changes in other hormones that may impact bone metabolism including leptin, peptide YY, oxytocin, adiponectin, insulin, and amylin. The best strategy to improve bone density and bone accrual rates is weight gain and restoration of menstrual function; however, residual deficits often persist. In addition, a significant number of patients remain low weight for many years. Calcium and vitamin D status should be optimized; however, supplementation of these micronutrients alone is not effective in improving bone density. Physiologic estrogen replacement is effective in increasing bone density at the spine and hip in girls with anorexia nervosa (AN) such that bone accrual rates approximate that in normal-weight controls; however, catch-up does not occur. Bisphosphonates (anti-resorptive) are effective in increasing bone density in adults, but not adolescents with AN. IGF-1 is a bone anabolic hormone, and IGF1 replacement increases bone formation in adolescents, and with estrogen increases bone density in adults with AN. More studies are necessary to determine the best strategies to optimize bone density in AN.
Building the Capacity for Mission through Use of the Principles of Good Practice for Student Affairs at Catholic Colleges and Universities: A Survey of Presidents and Senior Student Affairs Officers

Dialogue about Catholic identity has been taking place at American Catholic colleges and universities since the publication of Ex Corde Ecclesiae in 1990. That student affairs professionals do their work within the context of the mission of the university is a concept that has been accepted from the earliest stages of the establishment of student affairs as an independent profession in the beginning of the twentieth century. For the past 20 years, student affairs professionals at Catholic colleges and universities have been building their capacity for mission integration in a variety of professional development seminars and institutes, largely supported by the work of Catholic higher education associations and sponsoring religious communities, with the intention of increasing the presence and integration of the Catholic mission and religious charism at the institutions in which they work. The Principles of Good Practice for Student Affairs at Catholic Colleges and Universi ties are the latest mission-driven resource to be developed at a national level in support of the continuing efforts by student affairs professionals and others working at Catholic colleges and universities to build capacity for mission-driven work. This article describes the development of The Principles as a mission-centered resource for student affairs professionals at Catholic colleges and universities. This article further presents the findings of a survey of presidents and senior student affairs officers (SSAOs) at Catholic colleges and universities in the United States and Canada regarding how The Principles are being utilized at their institutions to create mission-driven practices in student affairs work and to form missionknowledgeable student affairs professionals. This article concludes with a discussion about the efficacy of The Principles to be used in continuing efforts across the di versity of institutions that constitute Catholic higher education in productive and meaning ful ways to build a culture of mission integrated institutions.
Alphavirus-derived small RNAs modulate pathogenesis in disease vector mosquitoes

Mosquito-borne viruses cause significant levels of morbidity and mortality in humans and domesticated animals. Maintenance of mosquito-borne viruses in nature requires a biological transmission cycle that involves alternating virus replication in a susceptible vertebrate and mosquito host. Although the vertebrate infection is acute and often associated with disease, continual transmission of these viruses in nature depends on the establishment of a persistent, nonpathogenic infection in the mosquito vector. An antiviral RNAi response has been shown to limit the replication of RNA viruses in flies. However, the importance of the RNAi pathway as an antiviral defense in mammals is unclear. Differences in the immune responses of mammals and mosquitoes may explain why these viruses are not generally associated with pathology in the invertebrate host. We identified virus-derived small interfering RNAs (viRNAs), 21 nt in length, in Aedes aegypti infected with the mosquito-borne virus, Sindbis (SINV). viRNAs had an asymmetric distribution that spanned the length of the SINV genome. To determine the role of viRNAs in controlling pathogenic potential, mosquitoes were infected with recombinant alphaviruses expressing suppressors of RNA silencing. Decreased survival was observed in mosquitoes in which the accumulation of viRNAs was suppressed. These results suggest that an exogenous siRNA pathway is essential to the survival of mosquitoes infected with alphaviruses and, thus, the maintenance of these viruses in nature.
Nanocrystalline diamond RF MEMS capacitive switch

This paper presents an RF MEMS capacitive switch using nanocrystalline diamond as the dielectric. The switch is electro-statically actuated and small signal measurements are presented in the frequency range of 1-65 GHz. The measured insertion loss in the up-state is ∼ 1.1 dB at ∼50 GHz with 30 dB isolation in the off-state. Dielectric characterization was performed using the Corona-Kelvin technique and standard I-V testing on comparison nitride and diamond test fixtures. The leaky nature of the diamond films provides a potential solution to reliability issues related to dielectric charging.
PhotochemCAD‡: A Computer‐Aided Design and Research Tool in Photochemistry

A database of absorption and fluorescence spectra, including molar absorption coefficients and fluorescence quantum yields, has been compiled for 125 photochemically relevant compounds. An accompanying program enables calculation of oscillator strengths, natural radiative lifetimes, transition dipole moments, Forster energy-transfer rates, multicomponent analysis, simulations of fluorescence spectra upon energy transfer among linear arrays of pigments, calculations of blackbody radiator curves at different temperatures and Lorentzian and Gaussian peak distributions. The program runs under Windows 95 and is equipped with extensive literature references and help features.
Is race a poor prognostic factor in breast cancer

Abstract Background: African American breast cancer patients have a higher mortality rate than their Caucasian counterparts. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether race is a poor prognostic factor in breast cancer survival after multiple other prognostic factors are taken into account. Study Design: The tumor registry data from two institutions between the years 1982 and 1995 were combined for the analysis. A total of 1,745 patients, including 1,297 African American and 448 Caucasian women, were available for analysis. Race, age, income, stage, histologic findings, type of operation, and treating institution were evaluated as possible key prognostic variables. Results: In a univariate Cox proportional hazards regression analysis, African American patients with breast cancer were 1.27 times more likely to die than Caucasians when death from disease was measured (p = 0.01, 95% confidence interval 1.03 to 1.47). When all factors were included in a Cox regression analysis, only the stage of disease at diagnosis, age, and whether the patient had a therapeutic surgical treatment were statistically significant. Race, income, hospital, and histologic findings were not significant, although they were significant when used in a univariate analysis. Conclusions: Poor survival of African American breast cancer patients seems to be related to their advanced stage at presentation and young age. To improve survival in these women, efforts should be concentrated on aggressive screening at a young age to detect the disease at an earlier stage.
Age Dependence of Metallothionein Inducibility in Mouse Liver

There is ontogenic variation in the organismic response to Cd exposure. In the rat, neonates are more resistant than adults to the hepatotoxic (Goering and Klaassen, 1984) and nephrotoxic (Braunlich and Otto, 1984) effects of this metal. It is likely that resistance of neonatal rats to Cd-induced liver injury is due to sequestration of Cd by the large endogenous pool of metallothionein (MT), a transition metal binding protein, in this organ. In the work reported here, ontogenic variation in the lethality of Cd in C57B1/6J mice has been examined in terms of developmental changes in Cd distribution and as related to changes in the inducibility of MTmRNA in the liver.
ENURESIS AND COMMON VOIDING ABNORMALITIES

Children who are inappropriately wet are common. A variety of underlying causes can share this symptom, and it can be a frustrating problem for children, their families, and their physicians. Fortunately, the evaluation is straightforward, and usually a cessation or an improvement of the wetting can be achieved. Most children can be successfully managed by a thorough history, physical examination, and an understanding of the normal development of urinary continence. Rarely are invasive or complex procedures or imaging needed. It has been customary to categorize children who wet by when the wetting occurs. Nocturnal or monosymptomatic enuretic children wet only at night, whereas diurnal enuretic children wet day and night. Primary enuretic children have never been dry and secondary enuretic children were dry for at least 6 months to a year before beginning incontinence. For this discussion, a mixed classification system is used. It is based on time of wetting, underlying cause, and presentation (Table 1). After a general review, each type is discussed, with the emphasis given to the most common form: nocturnal enuresis.
Political ecology II: theorizing region:

In this second of three reports exploring the incorporation of human geography theory within political ecology I focus on regions. I review how regions are theorized in human geography and conclude that political ecologists have used the concept inconsistently. I suggest that three trajectories in recent studies offer possibilities for a more rigorous theorization of regions within political ecology: (1) work employing theorizations of the social production of space and the co-constitution of nature, space, and society; (2) engagements with the political economy of natural resources literature, especially resource conflict; and (3) work linking historical materialist-oriented ‘new’ regional geography with discourse theory.