cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Cilium Secretes Bioactive Ectosomes

The release of membrane vesicles from the surface of cells into their surrounding environment is now recognized as an important pathway for the delivery of proteins to extracellular sites of biological function. Membrane vesicles of this kind, termed exosomes and ectosomes, are the result of active processes and have been shown to carry a wide array of biological effector molecules that can play roles in cell-to-cell communication and remodeling of the extracellular space. Degradation of the extracellular matrix (ECM) through the regulated release of proteolytic enzymes is a key process for development, morphogenesis, and cell migration in animal and plant cells. Here we show that the unicellular alga Chlamydomonas achieves the timely degradation of its mother cell wall, a type of ECM, through the budding of ectosomes directly from the membranes of its flagella. Using a combination of immunoelectron microscopy, immunofluorescence microscopy, and functional analysis, we demonstrate that these vesicles, which we term ciliary ectosomes, act as carriers of the proteolytic enzyme necessary for the liberation of daughter cells following mitosis. Chlamydomonas has proven to be the key unicellular model for the highly conserved mechanisms of mammalian cilia, and our results suggest that cilia may be an underappreciated source of bioactive, extracellular membrane vesicles.
Enhanced Phase-Contrast Diffuse Optical Tomography for in vivo Breast Imaging

We present a two-step reconstruction method that can qualitatively and quantitatively improve the reconstruction of tissue RI distribution by PCDOT. The method is validated by phantom experiments and data from 42 human subjects.
Metallurgical processes for the year 2000 and beyond

This book covers the following topics: metals and materials processing, ironmaking and steelmaking. The paper presented include: Processing and oxidation protection of carbon/carbon composites and Coal-based ironmaking via melt circulation.
Biochemical and pharmacological evidence for central cholinergic regulation of shock-induced aggression in rats

Abstract Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity was estimated in brain and heart homogenates and plasma of ‘aggressive’ and ‘nonaggressive’ rats. Brain homogenates of ‘nonaggressive’ rats hydrolyzed significantly more substrate when compared to the ‘aggressive’ rats. Such differences were not seen in the heart homogenates or plasma of these two groups of rats. Acute DFP (0.1, 0.3 and 1.0 mg/kg) attenuated shock-induced aggression (SIA) 2 hr after treatment but facilitated SIA 24 hr and 48 hr after drug administration. Long-term DFP (0.3 mg/kg × 10 days), on the other hand, induced a significant enhancement in the SIA score, whereas atropine (1.0 and 5.0 mg/kg) produced a dose-related attenuation of the same. Pretreatment of rats with atropine (5 mg/kg) antagonized the long-term DFP-induced facilitation of SIA. These results are discussed in the light of an inhibitory central cholinergic mechanism in the regulation of SIA.
PERCEPTIONS OF CANDIDATES' ISSUE POSITIONS

Following Shively, we propose a theory to explain why voters perceive or fail to perceive candidates' issue positions. The theory presumes that there is a continuum of methods that range from those that are very inexpensive in time, energy, and experience (e.g., guessing) to those that are moderately expensive (e.g., partisanship) to those that are rather costly (e.g., extensive use of the media). All these factors are shown to play a part in the formation of candidate perceptions, but with variations between candidates in ways specified by the theory.
Liquidus temperatures and solidification behavior in the copper niobium system

The copper-niobium phase diagram has been under active debate; thus, a corroboratory experimental study is needed. In this investigation, the melts of Cu-Nb alloys at compositions ranging from 5 lo 86 wt% Nb were processed in different environments and solidified at relatively low rates of 50-75 C/s to determine liquidus temperatures and to study solidification behavior. For all samples processed under very clean conditions, only Nb dendrites in a Cu matrix were observed; while in the presents of oxygen impurities, the alloys containing 5-35 wt% Nb exhibited microstructure of Nb-rich spheroids and Nb dendrites in the Cu matrix. The results obtained from clean conditions are in fair agreement with the Cu-Nb phase diagram having an S-shaped, near-horizontal appearances of the liquidus. The formation of Nb-rich droplets at slow cooling rates is discussed in terms of a stable liquid miscibility gap induced by oxygen.
Functional Evolution of Prolactin and Growth Hormone in Lower Vertebrates

Some aspects of prolactin and growth hormone biology in fishes and amphibians are considered, including the nature of the secretory cells, the regulation of their activity, the chemistry of the hormones, and their physiological activity in relation to hydromineral metabolism and to growth and development. Inasmuch as most of the information is derived from only a small number of teleost and amphibian species, a broad evolutionary biology is difficult to derive without information from other fish groups especially, and a survey must be confined largely to a comparative biology of some representative higher bony fishes with some representative anurans and urodeles.
Race, Ethnicity, and Experience: Modeling the Public's Perceptions of Justice, Satisfaction, and Attitude Toward the Courts

The purpose of the present study is to examine the influence that race, ethnicity, and experience with the courts has on the interconnection between justice, satisfaction with the courts, and attitudes toward the courts. Using national level polling data, the results show that different forms of justice coalesce into a latent measure of justice. Further, the results show that Blacks are less likely than Whites to see justice in the court system, while those with more experience with the courts are likely to be satisfied with the courts. Racial and ethnic differences exist in attitudes toward the courts. Policy implications are discussed.
The role of endoscopy after vertical banded gastroplasty

Since 1984, a total of 99 patients underwent vertical banded gastroplasty (VBG) through protocol (pouch 8 ml in size, band 4.3 cm in circumference) to treat morbid obesity. Follow-up was obtained in 95 patients. Thirty upper gastrointestinal endoscopies were performed post-operatively in 17 patients. Indications were nausea/vomiting in 11, epigastric pain in 4, acute obstructive symptoms in 4, and miscellaneous in three. Findings included food impaction in 10, distal esophagitis in 8, gastritis in 4, and a normal examination in 2. Only 4 of 10 food impactions were associated with an excessively narrowed gastroplasty outlet. Eight patients had an excessively narrowed gastric stoma: two became asymptomatic with dietary modification only and six underwent dilation therapy (dilator range from 8 to 18 mm in diameter) with immediate resolution of symptoms in four of six. One of the two patients unresponsive to dilation was lost to follow-up, and the other required surgical revision after multiple dilation sessions.
16 Relative Poverty and Child Mortality in Haiti

Haiti suffers from both the worst poverty and highest child mortality rates in the Western Hemisphere. The purpose of this investigation was to assess the relationship of child mortality to relative degrees of poverty within Haiti. Method: We conducted a survey of 656 women, 15–45 years of age, living in a particularly poor rural area of southern Haiti. Data was collected regarding living conditions (dwelling size, occupants, construction characteristics, presence of a latrine, and water access) and pregnancy outcome (number of pregnancies, pregnancy losses, stillbirths, and child deaths). Relative poverty, as indicated by living conditions, was compared with pregnancy outcome using pooled and individual variables. Results: Using a scoring system for pooled variables, a significant correlation was found between overall living conditions and overall pregnancy outcome, i.e. women living in a thatched house with a dirt floor and no latrine were more likely to have a pregnancy loss, stillbirth, or child death when compared to mothers living in a house with a cement floor, sheet metal roof, and access to a latrine (p<0.01). Among individual descriptors of poverty, we noted that women living in a dwelling with a dirt floor reported 71 child deaths following 817 live births (9%). Whereas, women living in a dwellings with a cement floor reported 63 child deaths following 1101 live births (6%), p = 0.01, relative risk of child mortality = 1.5. Conclusion: Child mortality risk is heterogeneous. Even within a poor neighborhood in a poor country, stratifications of poverty and health outcome are discernable. Certain living conditions may be practical indicators of risk and thereby useful to direct interventions and resources.
Lipid composition greatly affects the in vitro surface activity of lung surfactant protein mimics

A crucial aspect of developing a functional, biomimetic lung surfactant (LS) replacement is the selection of the synthetic lipid mixture and surfactant proteins (SPs) or suitable mimics thereof. Studies elucidating the roles of different lipids and surfactant proteins in natural LS have provided critical information necessary for the development of synthetic LS replacements that offer performance comparable to the natural material. In this study, the in vitro surface-active behaviors of peptide- and peptoid-based mimics of the lung surfactant proteins, SP-B and SP-C, were investigated using three different lipid formulations. The lipid mixtures were chosen from among those commonly used for the testing and characterization of SP mimics--(1) dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine:palmitoyloleoyl phosphatidylglycerol 7:3 (w/w) (PCPG), (2) dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine:palmitoyloleoyl phosphatidylglycerol:palmitic acid 68:22:9 (w/w) (TL), and (3) dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine:palmitoyloleoyl phosphatidylcholine:palmitoyloleoyl phosphatidylglycerol:palmitoyloleoyl phosphatidylethanolamine:palmitoyloleoyl phosphatidylserine:cholesterol 16:10:3:1:3:2 (w/w) (IL). The lipid mixtures and lipid/peptide or lipid/peptoid formulations were characterized in vitro using a Langmuir-Wilhelmy surface balance, fluorescent microscopic imaging of surface film morphology, and a pulsating bubble surfactometer. Results show that the three lipid formulations exhibit significantly different surface-active behaviors, both in the presence and absence of SP mimics, with desirable in vitro biomimetic behaviors being greatest for the TL formulation. Specifically, the TL formulation is able to reach low-surface tensions at physiological temperature as determined by dynamic PBS and LWSB studies, and dynamic PBS studies show this to occur with a minimal amount of compression, similar to natural LS.
Interaction of ethanol and L-glutamate in the guinea pig ileum myenteric plexus

The guinea pig ileum longitudinal muscle myenteric plexus has recently been shown to contain receptors for excitatory amino acids like L-glutamate which are pharmacologically similar to the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor subtype in the central nervous system (CNS). The present study utilized the longitudinal muscle myenteric plexus preparation to determine whether the reported ability of acute ethanol treatment to inhibit NMDA receptor activation in mammalian CNS preparations also occurs in the periphery. In the absence of Mg2+, L-glutamate (3-100 microM) induced transient contractions in longitudinal muscle myenteric plexus that could be blocked by atropine. Contractile responses to L-glutamate were completely blocked by D,L-2-amino-5-phosphonovalerate (APV; 100 microM) and Mg2+ (600 microM). Preincubation with ethanol (30-100 mM) for 2 min inhibited contractions to L-glutamate by up to 50% and caused additive inhibition with 100 microM Mg2+. Ethanol (65 mM) inhibition of L-glutamate (60 microM) contractions increased from 30% after a 2 min preincubation to a maximum of 60% following 10 min. Ethanol (65 mM) inhibited contractions induced by acetylcholine (0.1 microM), 5-hydroxytryptamine (0.1 microM) or histamine (0.3 microM), by no more than 10% suggesting that impairment of smooth muscle or cholinergic neuronal activity were not likely responsible for the 40% inhibition of L-glutamate contractions seen with ethanol. A previously identified contractile response to ethanol (10-300 mM), occurring immediately after addition to the longitudinal muscle myenteric plexus preparation, was still present in Mg2+ deficient buffer.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Neue und wenig bekannte Flagellaten aus dem Hausersee (Schweiz)

Eine Anzahl seltener oder neuer Flagellaten, welche im Zentrifugenplankton des Hausersees bei Andelfingen (Kt. Zurich, Schweiz) beobachtet wurden, werden beschrieben. Peridinium penardiforme, Strombomonas urceolata, Chlamydomonas insignis und Sphaerellopsis Lefevrei wurrden bisher im Limnoplankton nur vereinzelt oder an geographisch weit voneinander entfernten Stellen festgestellt. Neu beschrieben werden insgesamt 11 Arten: Cryptomonas globosa, Amphidinium Skujae, Gymnodinium titubans, Peridinium sphaeroideum, Petalomonas pygmaea, Petalomonas elongata, Anisonema hexagonale, Carteria Huberi, Chlamydomonas deludens, Chlamydomonas opisthostigma, Chlamydomonas crassa.
Sugar availability, sugar consumption and dental caries

This study was conducted to update our knowledge about the relation between sugar consumption and dental caries in nations throughout the world. Data on the prevalence of dental caries for 6- and 12-year-old children in, respectively, 23 and 47 nations were obtained from the World Health Organization's Global Oral Epidemiology Bank. Information on sugar supplies was obtained from Food Balance Sheet data prepared by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. The study indicates that for the 12-, but not for the 6-, year-old-children there is a significant positive correlation between the per capita availability of sugar and dental caries. The data also suggest that the availability, and presumably the ingestion, of 50 g of sugar per day may represent an outer limit of "safe" or "acceptable" sugar consumption. Furthermore, a comparison of data obtained from Food Balance Sheets for the per capita daily "consumption" of sugar with data for consumption obtained from Household Consumption Surveys in six countries, shows that these data collection methods frequently do not give comparable results. Accurate, total, age-specific consumption figures with information on frequency and the manner of use are needed if the relationship between oral disease and dietary sugar is to be clarified.
Factorization in hereditary orders

Abstract Let A denote a central separable algebra over a global field K with ring of integers R, and let Λ denote an R-order in A. It is shown that when Λ is hereditary and A is Eichler/R, then λϵΛ has a left factor having reduced norm an associate of rϵR whenever r divides the reduced norm of λ. In particular, if A=Mn(K), it follows that a matrix in a hereditary R-order in a A having determinant divisible by r∈R has a left factor having determinant r.
Leveraging Learning Through Mentoring Relationships

Integration of technology into the learning environment has been the long-term mission of the Office of Instructional Computing at the State University of New York at Stony Brook. For many years this has been a Sisyphean struggle due to budget constraints and professional staff reduction. Nonetheless we have maintained the motto that, “The student comes first.” Therefore we attempt to provide students with an environment where they feel comfortable seeking help and where they are encouraged to expand their knowledge and skills beyond classroom requirements. Having discovered the richness of peer relationships, the Office of Instructional Computing has sought to engage students in two very special roles: as peer mentors and as technology mentors to faculty. This article will discuss these two mentoring relationships, examining the design of the programs, the successes, and the unavoidable investments that such endeavors entail.
Factors Affecting Overall Performance of FM Stereophonic Receivers

A flat phase linear IF pass band should be designed into a high fidelity stereo tuner. A vector analysis of a tuner exhibiting an equivalent 5 usec. deemphasis in its output voltage vs. frequency characteristics shows that the major cause of poor stereo performance is related to the level differences of the L + R and L - R channels. A simple adjustment of the L + R level control in the synchronous oscillator stereophonic adapter circuit described can correct this difference.
First Movers and Performance: Timing Is Everything

In this article the author examines business concepts advanced in the article "The Role of Environmental Dynamics in Building a First Mover Advantage Theory." Noted is the efficacy of the contention that first mover advantage applies to individual types of products and certain industries and that this quality is associated with market share measured against that of the competition. The author of the article examines the importance of lead time on the successful launch of a new product. Also discussed is the business strategy associated with first mover advantage and the cyclical timing associated with the marketing concept.
Use of Surface-Washing Agents During the M/V Genmar Hector Oil Spill

ABSTRACT On 14 March 2001, the M/V GENMAR HECTOR was oiled on both the superstructure and hull after a transfer line broke during an unexpected storm event with winds gusting to 70 mph. In addition to the tanker vessel, seven other vessels, as well as floating docks and barges, were oiled at the waterline. The crude oil rapidly weathered to the point that conventional cleanup techniques were ineffective at removing residual oil from the vessels so that they could be released from the port area. Members of the Regional Response Team were convened and the use of National Contingency Plan listed surface-washing agents that had the effect of “lifting and floating” remobilized oil was approved. Using the guidance of the Regional Response Team, a test was conducted to evaluate conventional and chemically-enhanced washing techniques. It was found that pretreatment with PES-51 followed by a high pressure, hot water wash resulted in the desired cleanup level, which was, essentially, the complete removal of oil and...
Improving the ductility of intermetallic compounds by particle-induced slip homogenization

Many high-symmetry intermetallic compounds which possess the five independent slip systems required for general plastic flow, e.g. L1{sub 0}-structured, L1{sub 2}-structured and B2-structured compounds, show low ductility at ambient temperature, even when tested in vacuum as high-purity, slow-cooled, carefully machined, electropolished specimens. Intense planar slip can lead to crack nucleation from dislocations pile-ups at low overall strains, even though locally substantial plasticity occurs, producing either intergranular fracture, transgranular cleavage on the slip plane or transgranular cleavage on some other plane. Hydrogen may also increase the slip planarity. Intense planar slip occurs in intermetallics when dislocations are restricted to their original slip plane because of: dissociated dislocation cores; the need to recombine dislocation partials prior to cross-slip: or slip-plane disordering. (Since slip-plane disordering reduces the anti-phase boundary (APB) energy on the slip plane, cross-slip would require that the dislocations move onto a plane with a higher APB energy.)
Influence of moisture on the flame retardance of textile fabrics

For cotton fabric not treated with a flame retardant (FR), the oxygen index (OI) increases slowly but at a constant rate with moisture content (MC). Above a MC of roughly 33% which roughly equals the water fiber saturation point of the cotton fiber, the increase becomes more rapid but the relation appears to remain linear. The relation between OI and MC is also linear for all the FR cotton fabrics examined up to an OI of at least 40. It is suggested that the moisture in the FR samples is not reducing flammability by entering into solid and/or gaseous phase reactions but by absorbing thermal energy owing to the endothermic process of heating and vaporization. Empirical relations appear to be present between the inherent hydrophilicity of the FR cotton fabrics and the OI of the dry fabric (OI)o and the temperature of the zenith of the first exothermic peak for the FR cotton fabrics as determined by differential thermal analysis. OI–MC relations for wool fabric and wool treated with an FR are similar to those found for the cotton fabrics except that the slopes of the lines found for the wool samples are lower than those of the equivalent cotton samples. The relation reported by Van Krevelen between OI and char residue for polymeric materials is tested for both the cotton and wool samples. Agreement with Van Krevelen's relation is not good when (OI)o values are used. Better agreement can be obtained if OIs are determined on samples with MCs between 2 and 10%.
Proteomic Analysis of Human Mesenteric Lymph

Extensive animal work has established mesenteric lymph as the mechanistic link between gut ischemia/reperfusion and distant organ injury. Our trauma and transplant services provide a unique opportunity to assess the relevance of our animal data to human mesenteric lymph under conditions that simulate those used in the laboratory. Mesenteric lymph was collected from 11 patients with lymphatic injuries, during semielective spine reconstruction or immediately before organ donation. The lymph was tested for its ability to activate human neutrophils in vitro and was analyzed by label-free proteomic analysis. Human mesenteric lymph primed human polymorphonuclear neutrophils in a pattern similar to that observed in previous rodent, swine, and primate studies. A total of 477 proteins were identified from the 11 subjects' lymph samples with greater than 99% confidence. In addition to classic serum proteins, markers of hemolysis, extracellular matrix components, and general tissue damage were identified. Both tissue injury and shock correlate strongly with production of bioactive lymph. Products of red blood cell hemolysis correlate strongly with human lymph bioactivity, and immunoglobulins have a negative correlation with the proinflammatory lymph. These human data corroborate the current body of research implicating postshock mesenteric lymph in the development of systemic inflammation and multiple organ failure. Further studies will be required to determine if the proteins identified participate in the pathogenesis of multiple organ failure and if they can be used as diagnostic markers.
Acquisition of procedures: The effects of example elaborations and active learning exercises

Abstract This study explored the effects of active learning and types of elaboration on procedure acquisition (writing database queries). Training materials emphasized elaborations of conditions for executing actions versus elaborations of the connection between conditions and actions. In the “active” conditions, participants performed structured exercises designed to encourage active processing. In the “passive” conditions, participants studied examples that contained instructional elaborations. Although excessive instructional information for more knowledgeable learners can hurt performance, our results indicate that condition–action elaborations improved procedural performance the most, in both the active and passive conditions. Active learning required longer training time but was offset by reduced test time.
On how adults identify the orientation of a shape.

It is generally assumed that the orientation of a shape is judged only by identifying the location of a particular feature. In contrast, it is argued here that the basis of orientation judgments depends on the task; this proposal is examined for judgments of upside down and sideways. Pictures of mono-oriented objects were presentedone at a time, and adults identified the orientations of each in a RT paradigm. One condition presented successively upright and upside-down pictures or upright and sideways pictures. Another condition presented successively upside-down and sideways pictures. As predicted, the time to identify orientation was longer for the condition presenting two nonuprights, because specific identifications of upside down and sideways were required, whereas the other condition required only that uprightness be distinguished from nonuprightness. The notion that the nature of a judgment of shape orientation depends on the contrasts provided by the task has implications for theory and experimental design that are discussed for both realistic and geometric shapes.
Wood Fiber Reinforced Cement Composites under Wetting‐Drying and Freezing‐Thawing Cycles

Wood fiber reinforced cement composites provide the highest performance‐to‐cost ratio among fibrous cement composites being considered for the replacement of asbestos cement. Fairly strong and stiff wood fibers are particularly suited for the reinforcement of thin‐sheet cement products. There is, however, concern regarding the long‐term performance of wood fiber reinforced cement composites exposed to repeated freezing‐thawing conditions. An experimental study was undertaken in order to investigate the performance of wood fiber reinforced cement composites containing 2% mass fraction of kraft and mechanical pulps. Comprehensive replicated test data were generated for various test cycles, and were statistically analyzed using the analysis of variance and multiple comparison techniques to derive reliable conclusions. The results of this investigation showed, at a 95% level of confidence, that non‐air‐entrained wood fiber reinforced cement composites performed desirably under repeated freeze‐thaw cycles, whi...
Use of species distribution data in the determination of bacterial viability by extinction culture of aquatic bacteria

We show that bacterial viability can be calculated from the number of species arising in cultures comprised of seawater diluted to near extinction of the propagating organisms. Natural conditions are simulated by partitioning the culture against illuminated raw seawater to maintain a source of nutrients and a sink for waste products, and predators are eliminated by dilution to a statistical absence. Mean values for viability can be corrected for contaminants that may enter the culture by computing their probable entrance frequency as well. Viability determinations were found to be mildly sensitive to the number of species estimated to be present in the original sample. This novel procedure provides a significant improvement in the cultivation success of typical marine bacteria, and the formulations presented here lay the foundation for the quantitative analysis of the population structure.
International trade and domestic politics: improving on Rogowski's model of political alignments

Ronald Rogowski's work offers valuable insight into the impact of changing trade exposure on domestic politics. Exploring the political implications of the well-known factor endowments model of international trade theory, Rogowski argues that owners of relatively abundant productive factors will form a free-trading coalition against owners of relatively scarce productive factors, who will align in favor of protection. Rogowski's parsimonious three-factor version of the factor endowments theory—although offering valuable insight into the politics of less developed economies, including today's developed economies in earlier centuries—produces significant anomalies when applied to advanced economies. Intuitive logic and empirical research, especially the Leontief paradox, suggest that the highly complex division of labor found in developed countries will confound the simplicity of the three-factor model. Edward Learner's multifactor model suggests solutions to the anomalies that afflict Rogowski's simpler model when applied to recent politics in the United States and Europe.
Case Report: Ovarian torsion in pregnancy - Diagnosis and management

Abstract Background Ovarian torsion (OT) is one of the most common gynecologic surgical emergencies. All age groups can be affected, but ovarian stimulation, as found during early pregnancy or infertility treatment, is a major risk factor. Objective Diagnosing OT in early pregnancy can be challenging. Patients frequently present with abdominal pain and non-specific symptoms. Missed diagnosis of OT could lead not only to ovarian necrosis and sepsis, but also threaten the pregnancy. The objective of this article is to present a case of OT in early pregnancy and to review its epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment. Case Report A 30-year-old woman at 10 weeks gestational age presented to the Emergency Department (ED) with 2 h duration of abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. The patient was not on ovarian stimulation treatments. A bedside ED ultrasound showed an enlarged edematous right ovary with a large cyst, but without flow on color Doppler. Immediate obstetric consultation was initiated. Eventual radiology ultrasound showed decreased but present flow in the right ovary. The patient underwent emergent laparoscopic surgery, during which the necrotic right ovary was removed. She was placed on progesterone therapy upon hospital discharge and eventually delivered a healthy term infant. Conclusions Ovarian torsion in pregnancy is increasing in frequency due to the growing prevalence of ovarian stimulation treatment. Although diagnostic ultrasound is a frequently used imaging tool in patients with suspected OT, the mere presence of blood flow on Doppler ultrasonography of the adnexa has a poor negative predictive value. A high clinical suspicion and early laparoscopic management correlate with favorable maternal and fetal outcomes.
Thermal stress evaluation of a PCRAM material Ge2Sb2Te5

In addition to the huge resistivity changes, the phase-change switching process is accompanied by a significant volume change (Pedersen et al., 2001), which in turn can result in large stresses. This can become a serious reliability issue, particularly in small device cells utilizing under- and over-layers of suitable contact metals. It is important then to evaluate the magnitude and the sign of stress during the phase changes, and to ascertain the effect of capping layers. In this paper, we report distinct stress signatures in a phase change material, Ge2Sb2Te5 (GST). As GST may be integrated in devices with Ti/TiN (for adhesion and diffusion barrier considerations), the stress evolution in such sandwiched structures is addressed
An Axiomatic Approach to Systemic Risk

Systemic risk refers to the risk of collapse of an entire complex system as a result of the actions taken by the individual component entities or agents that comprise the system. Systemic risk is an issue of great concern in modern financial markets as well as, more broadly, in the management of complex business and engineering systems. We propose an axiomatic framework for the measurement and management of systemic risk based on the simultaneous analysis of outcomes across agents in the system and over scenarios of nature. Our framework defines a broad class of systemic risk measures that accomodate a rich set of regulatory preferences. This general class of systemic risk measures captures many specific measures of systemic risk that have recently been proposed as special cases and highlights their implicit assumptions. Moreover, the systemic risk measures that satisfy our conditions yield decentralized decompositions; i.e., the systemic risk can be decomposed into risk due to individual agents. Furtherm...
Creep and shrinkage behavior of improved alternate substrates for magnetic tapes

The long-term creep deformation and shrinkage characteristics of improved alternate substrates for magnetic tapes are presented. The substrates include two polyesters (PET and PEN) and aromatic polyamide (ARAMID). PET film is currently the standard substrate used for magnetic tapes and thinner tensilized-type PET, PEN and ARAMID have recently been used as alternate substrates with improved material properties. The thickness of the alternate film ranges from 6.2 /spl mu/m to 4.8 /spl mu/m. The amount of creep deformation is considerably smaller for ARAMID and tensilized-type PET than for PEN. Shrinkage of ARAMID is lower than that of PET and PEN. Based on creep and shrinkage behavior, ARAMID and tensilized-type FET seem to have satisfactory dimensional stability.
IFTP-W: a TCP-friendly protocol for multimedia applications over wireless networks

Recent growth in the use of multimedia applications on wireless networks is calling for the development of a protocol that is both TCP-friendly and capable of conforming to the constraints of wireless networks. This paper presents IFTP-W, an end-to-end congestion control protocol we designed to meet both requirements. IFTP-W is a TCP-friendly protocol for media streams that allows for applications to choose a section of a packet to be verified by a checksum, with the remaining portion deemed error-insensitive and not checked for corrupted bits. One corrupted bit in a video or audio stream may cause a discolored pixel or distorted millisecond of audio; however, in many codecs, receiving the partially damaged packet results in better overall performance than dropping the packet. IFTP-W allows a greater percentage of packets to be transmitted, resulting in a higher goodput and throughput and hence improved performance over wireless networks suffering high bit error rates.
Modeling complex astrophysics data

Scientific data are often characterized by large volumes of data, complex data relationships, and complex algorithms that operate on those data. Databases at the Space Telescope Science Institute are used to illustrate some of the differences between traditional data management schemes and the requirements of scientific data. Data from radio astronomy are modeled using conceptual enhancements to flexible image transport system (FITS) binary tables, which are compared to relational database tables. These enhancements are used to capture features of a more general notion of an observation. Finally, it is argued that accessing and manipulating each data, in order to support the entire process of data analysis, requires the construction of an abstract data model that intuitively models how a domain specialist views the data. >
RelB-p50 NF-κB Complexes Are Selectively Induced by Cytomegalovirus Immediate-Early Protein 1: Differential Regulation of Bcl-xL Promoter Activity by NF-κB Family Members

The NF-kappa B/Rel family has been implicated in control of transcription of the Bcl-x(L) gene, a target which mediates cell survival signals. The cytomegalovirus (CMV) immediate-early protein 1 (IE1) was previously shown to induce NF-kappa B activity. Here, we report that in both vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs) and NIH 3T3 cells, surprisingly, IE1 failed to induce Bcl-x(L) promoter activity, although it induced activity of E8-CAT, a reporter construct driven by two copies of the NF-kappa B element upstream of the c-myc promoter (upstream regulatory element [URE]). Thus, the subunit nature of the NF-kappa B/Rel factors induced by IE1 was examined using immunofluorescence and immunoblotting. IE1 was found to selectively induce nuclear RelB and p50 in SMCs and NIH 3T3 cells. An increase in RelB protein mediated by IE1 could, in part, be related to an increase in steady-state relB mRNA levels. Consistent with this subunit identification, IE1 was unable to induce E8-CAT activity in relB(-/-) murine embryonic fibroblast cells. In cotransfection analysis of SMCs and NIH 3T3 cells, RelB and p50 proteins failed to induce Bcl-x(L) promoter activity while inducing E8-CAT. Furthermore, the NF-kappa B element of the Bcl-x(L) promoter only weakly bound RelB-p50 complexes compared to the URE NF-kappa B element. Overall, these findings demonstrate in SMCs and NIH 3T3 cells that the CMV IE1 protein selectively induces RelB and p50, which fail to activate the Bcl-x(L) promoter, indicating a strong specificity of binding and activity for the RelB member of the NF-kappa B family. Furthermore, our results implicate RelB in CMV infection of cells such as vascular SMCs.
Cranial dural arteriovenous fistula: transarterial Onyx embolization experience and technical nuances

Introduction Traditional endovascular treatment of cranial dural arteriovenous fistulas (DAVFs) consists of a transarterial approach with n-butylcyanoacrylate (nBCA) or a transvenous approach with coil embolization. The advent of Onyx in the endovascular arsenal potentially offers a high probability of obliteration of these vascular lesions through a purely transarterial route. Methods A retrospective review of the Barrow Neurological Institute endovascular database between October 2005 and November 2009 highlighted 50 patients with 63 cranial DAVFs that were treated with transarterial Onyx, with and without adjuvant embolysates, for a total of 76 embolization procedures. Hospital records, cerebral angiography and other diagnostic imaging and clinical visits were reviewed. Results At a median follow-up of 5 months (range 0–25 months), complete angiographic cure was obtained in 41 patients with 50 (79%) DAVFs after transarterial embolization using Onyx combined with other embolysates. When Onyx was used as the sole embolic agent, 32 of 37 DAVFs (87%) in 29 (of 33) patients achieved angiographic cure. Subgroup analysis showed that by using the middle meningeal artery (MMA) as a conduit for primary Onyx embolization, angiographic cures were achieved in 27 of the 37 DAVFs (73%). Periprocedural complications occurred in six (7.9%) sessions in one patients (8%). Only one patient had a permanent complication (2%) with unimproved cranial nerve palsies. Conclusion Transarterial Onyx embolization of cranial DAVFs, particularly using the MMA as a conduit, is a safe and effective curative therapy.
Bcl2 inhibits recruitment of Mre11 complex to DNA double-strand breaks in response to high-linear energy transfer radiation.

High-linear energy transfer ionizing radiation, derived from high charge (Z) and energy (E) (HZE) particles, induces clustered/complex DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) that include small DNA fragments, which are not repaired by the non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ) pathway. The homologous recombination (HR) DNA repair pathway plays a major role in repairing DSBs induced by HZE particles. The Mre11 complex (Mre11/Rad50/NBS1)-mediated resection of DSB ends is a required step in preparing for DSB repair via the HR DNA repair pathway. Here we found that expression of Bcl2 results in decreased HR activity and retards the repair of DSBs induced by HZE particles (i.e. 56iron and 28silicon) by inhibiting Mre11 complex activity. Exposure of cells to 56iron or 28silicon promotes Bcl2 to interact with Mre11 via the BH1 and BH4 domains. Purified Bcl2 protein directly suppresses Mre11 complex-mediated DNA resection in vitro. Expression of Bcl2 reduces the ability of Mre11 to bind DNA following exposure of cells to HZE particles. Our findings suggest that, after cellular exposure to HZE particles, Bcl2 may inhibit Mre11 complex-mediated DNA resection leading to suppression of the HR-mediated DSB repair in surviving cells, which may potentially contribute to tumor development.
THE EFFECT OF SELF-FERTILIZATION, INBREEDING DEPRESSION, AND POPULATION SIZE ON AUTOPOLYPLOID ESTABLISHMENT

The minority cytotype exclusion principle describes how random mating between diploid and autotetraploid cytotypes hinders establishment of the rare cytotype. We present deterministic and stochastic models to ascertain how selfing, inbreeding depression, unreduced gamete production, and finite population size affect minority cytotype exclusion and the establishment of autotetraploids. Results demonstrate that higher selfing rates and lower inbreeding depression in autotetraploids facilitate establishment of autotetraploid populations. Stochastic effects due to finite population size increase the probability of polyploid establishment and decrease the mean time to tetraploid fixation. Our results extend the minority cytotype exclusion principle to include important features of plant reproduction and demonstrate that variation in mating system parameters significantly influences the conditions necessary for polyploid establishment.
Electrical Transition Interfaces at Aluminum Terminations

The electrical connection between an aluminum (Al) conductor and a contact surface of some other metal-transition interface-has under certain circumstances exhibited contact resistance characteristics that are different from those between two Al members. Because these characteristics change the quality of the conducting path, it is essential that they be controlled. Electrical test interfaces include nonplated Al bus and zig-zag wire grids for AI-Cu, AI-Ni, and AI-Sn transitions with various contact surface treatments of the nonplated Al bus. The mode of interference between bus and wire is such that entrapment of the interface is minimal. Contact surface treatments of the Al in assembly include a) abrasion and coating with Alcoa No. 2 electrical joint compound, b) abrasion only, and c) no surface treatment. Contact resistance measurements after application of clamping force and with exposure to elevated temperatures in an oven permit evaluation of the several transitions in their ability to disrupt and collapse the interfaces as well as to protect the elemental contacts against destruction from thermal excursions. The AI-Sn interfaces with platings of 3-, 8-, and 13-µm thickness show the virtue of the thinnest plating in establishing and maintaining low-contact resistance. The AI-Ni interfaces show the ability of Ni to maintain good fixity with a nonplated Al surface. Contact resistances from twisted-pair tests are also given.
Modeling pretensions in bolted connections

Abstract Easy-to-apply methods are presented for modeling bolt pretensions in finite element analyses of bolted connections. The pretensions are modeled by using temperature changes in the bolts. The methods presented provide a direct means of calculating the magnitudes of the temperature changes necessary to produce the desired pretensions without the use of trial and error or iterative methods.
Participation in Prevention Programs for Dating Violence Beliefs About Relationship Violence and Intention to Participate

This study utilizes the Health Belief Model (HBM) to examine the factors related to the intention to participate in prevention programming for dating violence. Perceptions of susceptibility to future violence and the benefits of prevention programming appear to be the strongest predictors of participation in prevention programs. Perceptions of the severity of dating violence do not appear to be related to intentions to participate. There were no differences in intention between those reporting psychological or physical violence in their dating relationship, although some of the HBM factors were associated with a history of violence. Contrary to hypotheses, psychological and physical violence did not moderate the impact of the HBM factors on intention. Implications of these findings are discussed and recommendations for recruiting participants for primary and secondary prevention programs are offered.
The Roles of Parental Inductions, Moral Emotions, and Moral Cognitions in Prosocial Tendencies Among Mexican American and European American Early Adolescents:

This study examined the relationships between parental inductions, sympathy, prosocial moral reasoning, and prosocial behaviors. A total of 207 early adolescents who self-identified as Mexican Amer...
Piperazinebenzylamines as potent and selective antagonists of the human melanocortin-4 receptor.

Abstract SAR studies of a series of piperazinebenzylamines resulted in the discovery of potent antagonists of the human melanocortin-4 receptor. Compounds 11c , 11d , and 11l , which had K i values of 21, 14, and 15 nM, respectively, possessed low efficacy in cAMP stimulation (∼15% of α-MSH maximal level) mediated by MC4R, and functioned as antagonists in inhibition of α-MSH-stimulated cAMP release in a dose-dependent manner ( 11l , IC 50 = 36 nM).
Emergency Health Surveillance After Severe Flooding in Louisiana, 1995

INTRODUCTION: In disaster situations, timely surveillance systems that provide illness, injury, and mortality information to public health officials and hospitals are essential for planning and evaluating interventions. OBJECTIVES: To describe flood surveillance methodology, the impact of the event on hospitals, and the number of daily patient visits due to selected illnesses and injuries before, during, and after severe flooding in southeastern Louisiana in May 1995. METHODS: Survey of disaster-area hospitals regarding flood impact. Emergency department surveillance of injuries and illnesses for the week before, the two days during, and the week after the flood. RESULTS: There occurred an increase in the number of persons who drowned or were injured that presented to the moderately affected hospitals during the storm, but there was no increase in visits for gastroenteritis to any group of hospitals. Services were disrupted in more than half of hospitals. The severely affected hospitals had the least variation in the average number of daily visits. None of the drownings were reported by those hospitals that reported severe service disruption. CONCLUSIONS: Data should be collected from all hospitals in or near disaster areas, even if they were not directly affected by the disaster. Public education about the danger of drowning during flash flooding must be improved. The Louisiana experience emphasizes the need for a disaster-preparedness plan for rapid surveillance of illnesses and injuries. Language: en
Damming Afghanistan: Modernization in a Buffer State

In May 1960, the historian Arnold J. Toynbee left Kandahar and drove ninety miles on freshly paved roads to Lashkar Gah, a modern planned city known locally as the New York of Afghanistan. At the confluence of the Helmand and Arghandab rivers, close against the ancient ruins of Qala Bist, Lashkar Gah's eight thousand residents lived in suburban-style tract homes surrounded by broad lawns. The city boasted an alabaster mosque, one of the country's best hospitals, Afghanistan's only coeducational high school, and the headquarters of the Helmand Valley Authority, a multipurpose dam project funded by the United States. This unexpected proliferation of modernity led Toynbee to reflect on the warning of Sophocles: "the craft of his engines surpasseth his dreams." In the area around Kandahar, traditional Afghanistan had vanished. "The domain of the Helmand Valley Authority," he reported, "has become a piece of America inserted into the Afghan landscape.... The new world they are conjuring up out of the desert at the Helmand River's expense is to be an America-in-Asia."I Toynbee's image sits uneasily with the visuals of the recent war. In the granite battlescapes captured by the cameras of the Al-Jazeera network in the days after September 11, 2001, Afghanistan appeared as perhaps the one spot on earth unmarked by the influence of American culture. When correspondents referred to Afghanistan's
Capillary basement membranes in muscle in glucose intolerance of the chemical diabetes type.

The thickness of capillary basement membranes in muscle, expressed as both the average and the minimal width, was only rarely increased in asymptomatic glucose intolerance of the chemical diabetes type of several months’ to several years’ duration. The average basement membrane thickness (ABMT) was increased in only 2 of 23 such subjects. In each of these the minimal basement membrane thickness (MBMT) was within the range of values in control subjects. The latter finding supports the conclusion of others that the ABMT serves to identify increased membrane width not evident with the MBMT technic.