cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Magnetic resonance imaging evaluation of possible neonatal sinovenous thrombosis.

There are few data on magnetic resonance imaging findings in newborns for whom there is a concern for cerebral sinovenous thrombosis. The study objective was to document findings on magnetic resonance imaging or magnetic resonance venography in cases of suspected neonatal sinovenous thrombosis. A retrospective search of the institutional database was performed to find neonates whose cranial computed tomography raised the suspicion for thrombus. Documented abnormalities were detected on magnetic resonance venography, diffusion-weighted imaging, and T2-weighted imaging. Of 15 neonates with suspicious computed tomography studies, 2 had a definite intraluminal clot in the deep venous system; the remainder showed decreased flow-related enhancement within the dural venous sinuses. In all these cases, the sinus was compressed by adjacent subdural hematoma or sutural diastasis. Of the 15 patients, 5 had parenchymal abnormalities (2 of these had definite intraluminal clot). Parenchymal abnormalities were classified as hemorrhage (3/5), cytotoxic edema (3/5), or vasogenic edema (1/5). Intraluminal clot in the newborn is more often identified in the deep than in the superficial venous system. With evidence of venous injury in the absence of identified thrombus, it is possible that either clots dissolve quickly, escaping detection, or that the superficial venous system is vulnerable to mechanical forces during delivery.
An oxygen release system to augment cardiac progenitor cell survival and differentiation under hypoxic condition.

Abstract Stem cell therapy has the potential to regenerate heart tissue damaged by myocardial infarction (MI), but it experiences extremely low efficacy. One of the major causes is the inferior cell survival under hypoxic condition of the infarcted hearts. We examined whether an oxygen-releasing system capable of sustainedly supplying oxygen to stem cells would augment cell survival and cardiac differentiation under hypoxic condition mimicking that of the infarcted hearts. The oxygen-releasing system consisted of hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 )-releasing microspheres, catalase and an injectable, thermosensitive hydrogel. The microspheres were based on poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) and a complex of H 2 O 2 and poly(2-vinlypyrridione) (PVP). The oxygen was generated after the released H 2 O 2 was decomposed by catalase. The hydrogel was designed to improve the retention of microspheres and stem cells in the beating heart tissue during myocardial injection. The oxygen-releasing system was capable of sustainedly releasing oxygen for at least two weeks. The release kinetics was dependent on the ratio of H 2 O 2 /VP. The hydrogel was based on N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm), acrylic acid (AAc), and a macromer hydroxyethyl methacrylate-oligo(hydroxybutyrate) (HEMA-oHB). The hydrogel had a stiffness matching that of the heart tissue and was able to stimulate the cardiosphere-derived cells (CDCs) to differentiate into cardiomyocytes. Under hypoxic condition mimicking that of the infarcted hearts (1% O 2 ), CDCs encapsulated in the hydrogel experienced massive cell death. Introduction of oxygen release in the hydrogel significantly augmented cell survival; no cell death was found after seven days of culture, and cells even grew after seven days. Under hypoxic condition, cardiac differentiation of CDCs was completely silenced in the hydrogel, as confirmed at both mRNA and protein levels. However, introduction of oxygen release restored the differentiation. These results demonstrate that the developed oxygen-releasing system has great potential to improve the efficacy of cardiac stem cell therapy.
Cross-chest lipoplasty and surgical excision for gynecomastia: a 10-year experience.

Abstract Background Gynocomastia is a relatively common condition in men, with a reported overall incidence of 32% to 36% and as high as 65% among adolescent males in some series. Objective We reviewed the senior surgeon's experience over the past decade in the surgical treatment of gynecomastia using suction-assisted lipoplasty (SAL) with a cross-chest tunneling technique, performed alone or in combination with direct excision. Methods Thirty-four patients with gynecomastia were evaluated and treated surgically at the University of Texas Medical Branch in the past 10 years. Twelve were treated with cross-chest SAL alone, 16 with cross-chest SAL and direct excision, and 6 with direct excision. Infusion of wetting solution was performed with the use of a 2.0-mm cannula, through an access site at the medial border of the contralateral nipple-areolar complex. Next, a 4.0-mm Mercedes-tip (Byron/Mentor Corp., Santa Barbara, CA) cannula was tunneled across the sternum to liposuction the contralateral prepectoral fatty breast. Patients with composite fatty and glandular tissue first underwent SAL, then direct excision through a periareolar incision; those with only retroareolar glandular tissue underwent direct excision alone. Results All patients who underwent SAL alone or SAL combined with excision had satisfactory aesthetic results and no reported postoperative complications. In one patient who underwent excision alone, a hematoma developed. Conclusions Despite newer technologies, traditional SAL performed with a cross-chest technique and direct excision as indicated is a valuable approach that yields predictable success. This approach avoids scarring and offers a sculpted reduction of the retroareolar glandular and fatty elements, resulting in a natural, smooth breast contour.
A Comparison of Older and Younger Adults Attending Alcoholics Anonymous

Abstract This study was conducted to explore some of the differences between older and younger participants on measures of emotional support, depression, loneliness and life satisfaction. A total of 160 adults (72 males and 87 females), ranging in age from 18 to 83, who attended one of 18 different AA. meetings in Massachusetts were examined. The respondents were divided into three groups based on age (under 40, 40-65, 65+). The youngest group reported the greatest number of depressive symptoms and the lowest level of life satisfaction. The oldest group reported the lowest number of depressive symptoms and the greatest amount of life satisfaction. Most of the findings can probably be attributed to length of sobriety. While A. A. helped these elders maintain long-term sobriety, the program does not appear to be attracting older persons who are struggling to overcome dependency upon alcohol and/or drugs.
Preparation of large untwinned single crystals of AgGaS2

Abstract Single crystals of silver gallium disulfide, AgGaS2, up to 1.1 cm in diameter and 5 cm in length have been grown from the melt by the Bridgman technique. A purification method is described which minimizes compositional inhomogeneities. Improvement in boule quality (elimination of fracturing and twins) was achieved by using crucibles with tapered walls, a relatively wide capillary, and a thick pyrolytic carbon coating.
Work and chemical change in isotonic muscular contractions.

Abstract Under the conditions where the metabolism of frog sartorius muscle was restricted to a splitting of phosphocreatine, a study has been made of the extent of this splitting as related to activation (maintenance), work, and shortening in 400 msec tetani at 0°. The maintenance metabolism amounted to 0.45 μmole/g per tetanus, compatible with an assumed heat of hydrolysis and neutralization of 9600 cal/mole, but without availability of a direct myothermal comparison on the same material. Work done by the muscle mobilized extra metabolism, amounting to 9100 cal of work/mole, so that the biochemical basis of the Fenn effect has been demonstrated. A correlation of increased metabolism with shortening was not established, although not excluded. It was shown that, because of the dependence of activation metabolism upon length, a direct demonstration of shortening metabolism in free isotonic contractions is not to be expected.
A Mendelian Markov process with binomial transition probabilities.

In any finite genetic population, the effect of chance involved in the sampling by which one generation replaces another causes gene frequency change as long as fixation or extinction is not achieved. In genetic terminology this fluctuation in gene frequency due to the finiteness of a population is called 'random genetic drift'. Fisher (1922), using an equation of the diffusion type, was the first to make an effort to describe quantitatively the phenomenon of random genetic drift. In the corrected version of this work (1930), he found the general result that the rate of decrease of the genetic variance in the population due to drift was 1/(2N) per generation, where N is the number of individuals of mating potential. This result was confirmed by various authors using different methods (e.g. Wright, 1931, 1937; Malecot, 1944; Feller, 1950). The particular form of the diffusion model which has had the widest use was introduced into genetical literature by Wright (1945). This equation which plays a fundamental role in the theory of gene frequencies is the Kolmogorov forward equation or-as it is commonly known among physicists-the Fokker-Planck equation. Earlier Kolmogorov (1935) had introduced the steady-state form of the forward equation in genetics. The complete solutions to the problem, however, were obtained much later and are due to Kimura (1955, 1957). The problem of random genetic drift as a problem in finite Markov chains was first considered by Malecot (1944). Based on the largest non-unit characteristic root of the transition probability matrix Malecot obtained the asymptotic rate of decrease of heterozygosity. This is essentially the same as the previously known results due to Fisher and Wright for steady decay. Feller (1951) succeeded in finding a general expression for all the characteristic roots of the transition probability matrix. The use of diffusion approximations requires the assumption of an infinite population: while in fact the state space is discrete, it is treated as though it were continuous. The tacit assumption in such an approach is that for large population size the approximation of the discrete time, discrete space process by the continuous diffusion process does not result in serious error. It was only recently that a rigorous justification of the diffusion approach was given by Watterson (1962) with respect to the processes considered by Wright (1945) and Kimura (1954, 1955). The validity of the diffusion approximation as providing adequate numerical solution to the problem concerning the probability that a particular gene is lost or fixed by a certain time was one of the questions considered by Ewens (1963). Since exact expressions were not available his method of getting exact results consisted in simply powering the transition matrix using a high-speed computer and collecting the appropriate terms.
Dimensions of Community Attachment and Their Relationship to Well-Being in the Amenity-Rich Rural West*

Abstract This research had two primary objectives: 1) to broaden the sociological construct of community attachment to incorporate both social and natural environment dimensions of attachment, and 2) to examine how variations in attachment relate to two dimensions of well-being in natural amenity-rich rural communities. The specific dimensions of well-being measured are two important factors identified in previous research—collective action and perceptions of open communication. Factor analysis of fourteen measures of attachment indicated social attachment and attachment to the natural environment are distinct dimensions of the broader concept of community attachment. Participation in collective action and perceptions of open communication within a respondent's community explained only a small portion of the variance in levels of both social and natural environment attachment. Religious affiliation and length of residence were strongly associated with social attachment, supporting findings from previous empirical work. However, length of residence and religious affiliation were not statistically associated with levels of attachment to the natural environment, further reinforcing the distinction between the two dimensions of attachment.
Evolution of beta-cell dysfunction in impaired glucose tolerance and diabetes.

Patients with overt Type 2 diabetes consistently have alterations in insulin secretion, including reduced insulin secretory responses to glucose, delayed and blunted meal-induced insulin secretion, increased pro-insulin and abnormal insulin secretory oscillations. More recently, it has become evident that abnormal insulin secretion antedates the onset of overt hyperglycaemia and is present in people with impaired glucose tolerance, i.e. normal fasting glucose and glycohaemoglobin concentrations. These defects are subtle and include shifts to the right in the dose-response curves that relate to glucose and insulin secretion, reduced ability of the beta-cell to detect and respond to oscillatory changes in the plasma glucose concentration and impaired beta-cell compensation for insulin resistance. In order to define the factors responsible for these defects in secretion, we have infused human patients with a lipid emulsion and heparin to raise plasma free fatty acid concentrations. This is associated with reduced ability of the beta-cell to detect and respond to small changes in the plasma glucose concentration. In summary, defects in insulin secretion are consistently present in patients with impaired glucose tolerance and play a critical role in the progression from impaired glucose tolerance to diabetes.
Affective responses to EEG preparation and their link to resting anterior EEG asymmetry

Previous research relating anterior asymmetry in the electroencephalogram (EEG) to emotional states has not taken the affective context of the testing environment into account. This may be an important consideration, as the preparation procedures themselves are somewhat aversive. The purpose of this study was to assess whether self-reported mood state before and/or after EEG cap preparation was associated with EEG asymmetry. Mood state was assessed with the self-assessment manikin before and after the application of the electrode cap. Men and women showed a shift toward a more negative mood state post-preparation. Negative mood post-preparation, but not pre-preparation, predicted relative right frontal activation in men. In contrast, negative mood post-preparation, but not pre-preparation, predicted relative left frontal activation in women. Results are discussed as they relate to gender differences in interpersonal engagement.
Polymeric nanoparticle-based delivery of microRNA-199a-3p inhibits proliferation and growth of osteosarcoma cells

Our prior screening of microRNAs (miRs) identified that miR-199a-3p expression is reduced in osteosarcoma cells, one of the most common types of bone tumor. miR-199a-3p exhibited functions of tumor cell growth inhibition, suggesting the potential application of miR-199a-3p as an anticancer agent. In the study reported here, we designed and developed a lipid-modified dextran-based polymeric nanoparticle platform for encapsulation of miRs, and determined the efficiency and efficacy of delivering miR-199a-3p into osteosarcoma cells. In addition, another potent miR, let-7a, which also displayed tumor suppressive ability, was selected as a candidate miR for evaluation. Fluorescence microscopy studies and real-time polymerase chain reaction results showed that dextran nanoparticles could deliver both miR-199a-3p and let-7a into osteosarcoma cell lines (KHOS and U-2OS) successfully. Western blotting analysis and 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assays demonstrated that dextran nanoparticles loaded with miRs could efficiently downregulate the expression of target proteins and effectively inhibit the growth and proliferation of osteosarcoma cells. These results demonstrate that a lipid-modified dextran-based polymeric nanoparticle platform may be an effective nonviral carrier for potential miR-based anticancer therapeutics.
Novel Si-based composite thin films for 193/157-nm attenuated phase-shift mask (APSM) applications

We have developed a novel Si-based composite thin film for attenuated phase shift mask(APSM) applications at 193/157 nm wavelength. The fabrication involved sputtering deposition, either with dual target or a single composite target. At 193 nm, these thin films show tunable optical transmission and good stability against long term radiation, common chemicals used to strip photoresist, and exhibit good dry etch selectivity to quartz. Specifically, a film with initial transmission of 5.72%,the total increase oftransmission was 0.27% for doses up to 5.4 kJ/cm2. Also, the increase of transmission was 0.19% after 60 mm of cleaning treatment in acid based solution (H2S04H20210:1 at 95°C). The dry etch selectivity over fused quartz was greater than 5:1. The transmission of the films at 193 nm can be tuned from 0 % to 20 % by varying the thin film composition, process gas flow and composition, and deposition pressure. This wide transmission window provides the possible extension down to 157 nm wavelength.
Age patterns of Kaposi's sarcoma incidence in a cohort of HIV-infected men.

The life expectancy for HIV-positive individuals has improved over time due to increasing access to highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). Yet, as the HIV-positive population ages, their risk of developing cancers also increases. Studies of Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) among elderly HIV-infected persons are quite limited. We examined the age patterns of KS incidence and an association between age and KS risk in a US cohort of 3458 HIV-infected men, the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study (MACS). Poisson distribution was used to calculate incidence rates and respective 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs). Cox proportional hazards regression was performed to examine the association between age and KS risk. There were 534 incident KS cases with a total follow-up time of 25,134 person-years. The overall KS incidence rate was 2.13 per 100 person-years (95% CI: 1.95–2.32) (Non-HAART users-ever: 5.57 per 100 person-years [95% CI: 5.09–6.10]; HAART users-ever: 0.39 per 100 person-years [95% CI: 0.31–0.51]). Overall, KS frequency and incidence declined with age, even in the oldest age group (ptrend < 0.0001). However, among non-HAART users-ever, the oldest age group had the highest incidence rate ratio compared to younger individuals [15.01, 95% CI: 6.12–44.22]). While the incidence of KS decreased with age, older HIV-infected persons who do not receive HAART are still at increased risk of KS. As KS remains an important malignancy among HIV-infected persons, earlier HIV diagnoses and HAART initiation, particularly in older HIV-infected persons is warranted.
Retrieving “Nonretrievable” Inferior Vena Caval Greenfield Filters: A Therapeutic Option for Filter Malpositioning

Filter malpositioning is a possible complication of inferior vena caval (IVC) filter insertion that may result in inadequate protection from pulmonary embolism. For nonretrievable filters, this is traditionally managed with either observation or additional filter placement. The purpose of this study is determine the incidence of filter malpositioning after bedside insertion under duplex ultrasound (DUS) or intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) guidance, and to report techniques for retrieving and repositioning IVC filters previously considered nonretrievable. All IVC filter insertions performed under DUS or IVUS guidance over an 8-year period were identified. Data regarding insertion technique, device used, and technical success were retrospectively collected. Cases of IVC filter malpositioning were determined and form the basis of this study. Technical details for IVC filter retrieval and repositioning are described. Of 486 patients undergoing DUS (n = 435) or IVUS (n = 51) guided IVC filter insertion, 12 patients (2.4%) had inadequate positioning as determined by postoperative radiography. Two of these patients had no further filter manipulation, three had a second filter placed under fluoroscopic guidance, and the most recent five had filters retrieved and repositioned under fluoroscopic guidance. Of those patients undergoing retrieval and repositioning, all five had Greenfield filters, which are not traditionally regarded as retrievable. All attempted retrievals or replacements were technically successful without additional filter-related complications. Bedside IVC filter insertion under DUS or IVUS guidance has a low incidence of filter misplacement. Although not traditionally regarded as retrievable, Greenfield filters can be safely retrieved and repositioned using advanced endovascular techniques in the event of malpositioning.
Synthesis and characterization of hollow mesoporous BaFe12O19 spheres

A facile method is reported to synthesize hollow mesoporous BaFe{sub 12}O{sub 19} spheres using a template-free chemical etching process. Hollow BaFe{sub 12}O{sub 19} spheres were synthesized by conventional spray pyrolysis. The mesoporous structure is achieved by alkaline ethylene glycol etching at 185 °C, with the porosity controlled by the heating time. The hollow porous structure is confirmed by SEM, TEM, and FIB-FESEM characterization. The crystal structure and magnetic properties are not significantly affected after the chemical etching process. The formation mechanism of the porous structure is explained by grain boundary etching. - Graphical abstract: Hollow spherical BaFe{sub 12}O{sub 19} particles are polycrystalline with both grains and grain boundaries. Grain boundaries have less ordered structure and lower stability. When the particles are exposed to high temperature alkaline ethylene glycol, the grain boundaries are etched, leaving small grooves between grains. These grooves allow ethylene glycol to diffuse inside to further etch the grains. As the grain size decreases, gaps appear on the particle surfaces, and a porous structure is finally formed. - Highlights: • Two-step synthesis method for hollow mesoporous BaFe{sub 12}O{sub 19} spheres is proposed. • Porosity of the product can be regulated by controlling the second step of chemical etching.more » • The crystal structure and magnetic properties are examined to be little affected during the chemical etching. • The mesoporous structure formation mechanism is explained by grain boundary etching.« less
A novel computer simulation technique for modeling grain growth

In this paper, the author proposes a new computer simulation model for investigating grain growth kinetics, born from the recent work on the domain growth kinetics of a quenched system with many non-conserved order parameters. A key new feature of this model for studying grain growth is that the grain boundaries are diffuse, as opposed to previous meanfield and statistical theories and Monte-Carlo simulations which assumed that grain boundaries were sharp. Unlike the Monte-Carlo simulations in which grain boundaries are made up of kinks, grain boundaries in the continuum model are smooth. Below, he describes this model in detail, give prescriptions for computer simulation, and then present computer simulation results on a two-dimensional model system.
Severe community-acquired pneumonia

In the United States, community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in adults results in approximately 600,000 hospital admissions annually and ranks as the sixth leading cause of death. Of those patients with CAP hospitalized, between 18% and 36% require treatment in an ICU. The mortality of these patients is about 35%. While approximately 20% of patients admitted to the ICU with CAP are in septic shock, the mortality of these patients may be as high as 60%.
Influence of Oxides on the Stress Evolution and Reversibility during SnOx Conversion and Li-Sn Alloying Reactions

The effect of varying the oxygen content in Sn and SnOx films during potential dependent SnOx conversion reactions and LiySn alloying relevant to Li ion battery anodes is examined. For metallic Sn films, the stresses and stability of the films are controlled by Li alloying reactions. Small, non-contacting separated Sn particles exhibit higher electrochemical stability relative to more continuous polycrystalline films with larger particles. Metallic Sn particles develop tensile stress during LiySn de-alloying as porous structures are formed. The amount of stress associated with lithiation and delithiation of well-separated metallic particles decreases as a porous, easy to lithiate, material forms with cycling. During the lithiation of oxides, conversion reactions (SnOx → Sn) and the lithiation of the metallic Sn control the stress responses of the films, leading to highly potential-dependent stress development. In particular, evidence for a multistep electrochemical mechanism, in which partially reversible lithiation of the oxygen-containing phases is conjoined with a fully reversible lithiation of the metallic phases of the Sn, is found. The electrochemical stress analysis provides new insight into these mechanisms and delineates the extent of the reversibility of lithiation and conversion reactions of oxides.
Up-regulation and down-regulation of cell surface and mRNA expression of CD5 antigen by various humoral factors on murine 70Z/3 pre-B cell leukemia cell line: IL-4 down-regulates CD5 antigen expression.

Abstract CD5, a pan-T cell antigen, is expressed on a minor subset of normal B lymphocytes and on cells of most B lineage tumors or transformed B cells in both man and animal models. In the present study, the effects of various humoral factors on CD5 expression by cells of a subcloned 70Z/3 murine pre-B leukemia cell line were investigated. Among the humoral factors studied, only LPS up-regulated CD5 expression on 70Z/3 cells (three- to fourfold) in a dose-dependent manner. However, this up-regulatory effect of LPS was not observed when cells were cultured in serum-free medium. NZB-serum factor (NZB-SF), a cytokine we have identified and shown to enhance the maturation and proliferation of immature B cells, synergistically enhanced CD5 expression in the presence of suboptimal doses of LPS. IL-4 down-regulated CD5 expression by 70Z/3 cells induced by LPS or LPS plus NZB-SF in a dose-dependent manner. IL-4 also suppressed spontaneous CD5 expression by 70Z/3 cells. No other cytokine tested showed an inhibitory effect. LPS, IFN-γ, NZB-SF, and IL-1 enhanced sIg expression on 70Z/3 cells and their action on sIg expression was not inhibited by IL-4. Thus, the down-regulatory action of IL-4 on CD5 expression appeared specific for this antigen. IFN-γ, which inhibits IL-4 induced CD23 and DR expression on B cells, does not abolish the down-regulatory action of IL-4 on CD5 expression by 70Z/3 cells. Changes in mRNA levels on coding CD5 were also examined following the incubation of 70Z/3 cells (24 hr) in the presence of humoral factors which can influence CD5 Ag expression. The levels of mRNA for CD5 Ag were moderately increased in the presence of LPS and NZB-SF. IL-4 appeared to suppress the actions of NZB-SF and LPS at least in part by reducing the levels of mRNA encoding CD5.
Simultaneous determination of theophylline and its major metabolites in urine by reversed-phase ion-pair high-performance liquid chromatography

A new, highly slective high-performance liquid-chromatographic (HPLC) assay for theophylline and its major metabolites in urine is described. The method utilizes an ion-pair extraction followed by separation and quantitation by reversed-phase ion-pair gradient-elution HPLC. Comparison with several other methods showed that interferences were present in too many blank urine samples to allow for the accurate quantitation of the metabolites of theophylline by direct injection--isocratic HPLC assays. Sample processing involving ion-pair complexing and extraction together with gradient-elution systems is recommended for accurate pharmacokinetic studies.
β-Synuclein Regulates Akt Activity in Neuronal Cells A POSSIBLE MECHANISM FOR NEUROPROTECTION IN PARKINSON′S DISEASE

Recent studies have shown that the neurodegenerative process in disorders with Lewy body formation, such as Parkinson's disease and dementia with Lewy bodies, is associated with α-synuclein accumulation and that β-synuclein might protect the central nervous system from the neurotoxic effects of α-synuclein. However, the mechanisms are unclear. The main objective of the present study was to investigate the potential involvement of the serine threonine kinase Akt (also known as protein kinase B) signaling pathway in the mechanisms of β-synuclein neuroprotection. For this purpose, Akt activity and cell survival were analyzed in synuclein-transfected B103 neuroblastoma cells and primary cortical neurons. β-Synuclein transfection resulted in increased Akt activity and conferred protection from the neurotoxic effects of rotenone. Down-regulation of Akt expression resulted in an increased susceptibility to rotenone toxicity, whereas transfection with a lentiviral vector encoding for β-synuclein was protective. The effects of β-synuclein on the Akt pathway appear to be by direct interaction between these molecules and were independent of upstream signaling molecules. Taken together, these results indicate that the mechanisms of β-synuclein neuroprotection might involve direct interactions between β-synuclein and Akt and suggest that this signaling pathway could be a potential therapeutic target for neurological conditions associated with parkinsonism and α-synuclein aggregation.
Efficient labeling of fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe with thymidine and BUdR

In this paper we report the construction of a Schizosaccharomyces pombe strain that facilitates analysis of replicating DNA. The strain co-expresses the Herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase gene (hsv-tk) and a human equilibrative nucleoside transporter (hENT1). The double integrant efficiently incorporates 3H-thymidine into nuclear DNA as monitored by scintillation counting. These strains also incorporate the thymidine analog Bromodeoxy uridine (BUdR) into newly replicated DNA, which can be detected by immunofluorescence and flow cytometry. This strain provides a valuable tool for direct study of DNA replication in S.pombe.
Compatibility of lyotropic liquid crystals with viruses and mammalian cells that support the replication of viruses.

Abstract We report a study that investigates the biocompatibility of materials that form lyotropic liquid crystals (LCs) with viruses and mammalian cells that support the replication of viruses. This study is focused on aqueous solutions of tetradecyldimethyl-amineoxide (C 14 AO) and decanol (D), or disodium cromoglycate (DSCG; C 23 H 14 O 11 Na 2 ), which can form optically birefringent, liquid crystalline phases. The influence of these materials on the ability of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) to infect human epitheloid cervical carcinoma (HeLa) cells was examined by two approaches. First, VSV was dispersed in aqueous C 14 AO+D or DSCG, and then HeLa cells were inoculated by contacting the cells with the aqueous C 14 AO+D or DSCG containing VSV. The infectivity of VSV to the HeLa cells was subsequently determined. Second, VSV was incubated in LC phases of either C 14 AO+D or DSCG for 4 h, and the concentration (titer) of infectious virus in the LC was determined by dilution into cell culture medium and subsequent inoculation of HeLa cells. Using these approaches, we found that the LC containing C 14 AO+D caused inactivation of virus as well as cell death. In contrast, we determined that VSV retained its infectivity in the presence of aqueous DSCG, and that greater than 74–82% of the HeLa cells survived contact with aqueous DSCG (depending on concentration of DSCG). Because VSV maintained its function (and we infer structure) in LCs formed from DSCG, we further explored the influence of the virus on the ordering of the LC. Whereas the LC formed from DSCG was uniformly aligned on surfaces prepared from self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of HS(CH 2 ) 11 (OCH 2 CH 2 ) 4 OH on obliquely deposited films of gold in the absence of VSV, the introduction of 10 7 –10 8 infectious virus particles per milliliter caused the LC to assume a non-uniform orientation and a colorful appearance that was readily distinguished from the uniformly aligned LCs. Control experiments using cell lysates with equivalent protein concentrations but no virus did not perturb the uniform alignment of the LC.
Competitive pricing for multiple payload launch services: the road to commercial space

Abstract The commercial launch industry is maturing into an international market that is highly price competitive. A common way to deal with the high cost of launch services is to use a single booster to place several payloads into orbit. This practice requires the launch provider to divide the cost of the shared mission between the customers. Unfortunately, the methods normally used to do this are inadequate. This paper addresses the question of how best to share launch costs. It examines the existing methods and introduces two alternative methods for this purpose. The new methods are demonstrated and shown to be superior.
Influence of metallic additives on thermal degradation and liquefaction of high density polyethylene (HDPE)

Abstract This study evaluates the effect of typical polymer fillers on the thermal degradation of a commodity plastic to produce liquid fuels. HDPE was degraded in the presence and absence of some metallic additives such as Al(OH) 3 ·xH 2 O, AlCl 3 , Al 2 O 3 , CaCO 3 , CuO, ZrO 2 , and Fe 2 O 3 . Liquefaction of HDPE in the presence of selected additives was also carried out to verify the thermal gravimetric data. The HDPE liquefaction conditions such as temperature, effect of H 2 or N 2 pressure, and time were established before studying the effect of additives. At 50% weightloss, Al 2 O 3 increased the degradation temperature by ~30 °C, whereas ZrO 2 and CaCO 3 decreased it by ~30 and 70 °C, respectively. All the additives were thermally stable below 600 °C except AlCl 3 and Al(OH) 3 ·xH 2 O. Under the experimental conditions used, the thermal degradation trend of HDPE in the presence of Al 2 O 3 was clearly reflected in the liquefaction product analysis. With Al 2 O 3 , the liquefaction of HDPE was delayed, which in turn resulted in wax formation. It was further proved by simulated distillation and gel permeation chromatographic analysis. More gas in the presence of ZrO 2 and more oil (85%) in the case of CaCO 3 were produced when compared to the liquefaction of HDPE alone (75%). However, the simulated distillation and GPC analysis of these products obtained at the end of 30 min liquefaction time did not show significant variation when compared to that of HDPE alone. The nature of gas did not affect the oil yield. However, the temperature and time were critical in obtaining the maximum oil yield.
Intramolecular charge-assisted hydrogen bond strength in pseudochair carboxyphosphate

Carboxyphosphate, a suspected intermediate in ATP-dependent carboxylases, has not been isolated nor observed directly by experiment. Consequently, little is known concerning its structure, stability, and ionization state. Recently, carboxyphosphate as either a monoanion or dianion has been shown computationally to adopt a novel pseudochair conformation featuring an intramolecular charge-assisted hydrogen bond (CAHB). In this work, additive and subtractive correction schemes to the commonly employed open–closed method are used to estimate the strength of the CAHB. Truhlar’s Minnesota M06-2X functional with Dunning’s aug-cc-pVTZ basis set has been used for geometry optimization, energy evaluation, and frequency analysis. The CHARMM force field has been used to approximate the Pauli repulsive terms in the closed and open forms of carboxyphosphate. From our additive correction scheme, differential Pauli repulsion contributions between the pseudochair (closed) and open conformations of carboxyphosphate are fou...
Mono- and di-nickellaazaphosphiranes of mono- and bis-(amido)cyclodiphosph(III)azanes.

The syntheses and solid-state structures of the first three-membered nickel–phosphorus–nitrogen ring compounds, having anionic four-electron PN moieties are reported.
Intracytoplasmic membrane production inEscherichia coli O111a1: Phospholipid biosynthesis

When grown at 42°C the thermosensitive mutantEscherichia coli O111a1 synthesized phospholipid at a faster rate per mass unit than the control culture,Escherichia coli O111:B4, and the synthesis continued well into the maximal stationary phase of growth. The cells accumulated large quantities of phospholipid as a part of intracytoplasmic membrane. The amount of phospholipid produced was directly related to the nutritive content of the culture medium: 0, 100, and 200–240% increases were noted in 0.1, 0.5, and 1.0% amino acids-mineral salts medium, respectively. Macromolecules labeled with32PO 4 3− increased only about 20%, but32PO 4 3− -containing small-molecular-weight components increased about 250% in comparison to the control. Only minor quantitative differences in phospholipid composition were evident.
The tip of the Red Giant Branch as a Distance Indicator for Resolved Galaxies: II. Computer Simulations

Based on both empirical data for the nearby galaxies, and on computer simulations, we show that measuring the position of the tip of the first-ascent red-giant branch provides a means of obtaining the distances to nearby galaxies with a precision and accuracy comparable to using Cepheids and/or RR Lyrae variables. We present an analysis of synthetic I vs (V-I) color magnitude diagrams of Population 2 systems to investigate the use of the observed discontinuity in the I-band luminosity function as a primary distance indicator. In the simulations we quantify the effects (1) signal to noise, (2) crowding, (3) population size, and (4) non-giant-branch-star contamination, on the method adopted for detecting the discontinuity,, measuring its luminosity, and estimating its uncertainity. We discuss sources of systematic error in the context of observable parameters, such as the signal-to-noise ratio and/or surface brightness. The simulations are then scaled to observed color-magnitude diagrams. It is concluded, that from the ground the tip of the red-giant-branch method can be sucessfully used to determine distances accurate to +/- 10% for galaxies out to 3 Mpc (mu approximately 27.5 mag); and from space a factor of four further in distance (mu approximately 30.6 mag) can be reached using HST. This method can be applied whereever a metal-poor population (-2.0 less than Z less than -0.7) of red-giant stars is detected (whose age is in the range 7-17 Gyr), whether that population resides in the halo of a spiral galaxy, the extended outer disk of a dwarf irregular, or in the outer periphery of an elliptical galaxy.
The roles of maternal Vangl2 and aPKC in Xenopus oocyte and embryo patterning

The Xenopus oocyte contains components of both the planar cell polarity and apical-basal polarity pathways, but their roles are not known. Here, we examine the distribution, interactions and functions of the maternal planar cell polarity core protein Vangl2 and the apical-basal complex component aPKC. We show that Vangl2 is distributed in animally enriched islands in the subcortical cytoplasm in full-grown oocytes, where it interacts with a post-Golgi v-SNARE protein, VAMP1, and acetylated microtubules. We find that Vangl2 is required for the stability of VAMP1 as well as for the maintenance of the stable microtubule architecture of the oocyte. We show that Vangl2 interacts with atypical PKC, and that both the acetylated microtubule cytoskeleton and the Vangl2-VAMP1 distribution are dependent on the presence of aPKC. We also demonstrate that aPKC and Vangl2 are required for the cell membrane asymmetry that is established during oocyte maturation, and for the asymmetrical distribution of maternal transcripts for the germ layer and dorsal/ventral determinants VegT and Wnt11. This study demonstrates the interaction and interdependence of Vangl2, VAMP1, aPKC and the stable microtubule cytoskeleton in the oocyte, shows that maternal Vangl2 and aPKC are required for specific oocyte asymmetries and vertebrate embryonic patterning, and points to the usefulness of the oocyte as a model to study the polarity problem.
CARIES PREVENTION IN A COMMUNITY-DWELLING OLDER POPULATION

A clinical trial was conducted to compare the effect of different caries–preventive strategies on caries progression in lower–income, ethnically diverse persons 60 years of age and older. Two hundred
Disjoint path properties of the data manipulator network family

Abstract A critical component of any parallel processing system is the interconnection network that provides communications among the system's processors and memories. The data manipulator (gamma) network family is an important class of multistage interconnection networks that is being studied by various researchers. One interesting property of the data manipulator network family is the existence of multiple paths through the network for most source/ destination pairs. The condition that must be present to have disjoint paths through the network for a given source/ destination pair is shown, where disjoint paths are multiple paths with no links in common. It is derived that the maximum number of disjoint paths for any source/destination pair is two and a method for finding the routing tags that specify these paths is given. For source/destination pairs that have disjoint paths, a single fault cannot prevent communication between that source/ destination pair. The effect of a fault in a given stage of the network on the number of source/destination pairs that can be connected is also discussed. All results are proven mathematically.
Pigmentary retinal lipoid neuronal heredodegeneration (Spielmeyer-Vogt disease).

Abstract Reports are presented of two sisters, thirteen and eleven, whose clinical examination reveals the classically described picture of Spielmeyer-Vogt disease, or as the author would suggest, “Pigmentary Retinal Lipoidal Heredodeneration”. Detailed serial electroencephalographic studies reveal significant changes, particularly after ACTH administration. Though clinically the parents and younger sisters are entirely normal, the EEGs of the siblings are not and would strongly indicate that their further close observation would be necessary.
Metal Carbonyl Cluster Synthesis in Nanocages: Spectroscopic Evidence of Intermediates in the Formation of Ir4(CO)12 in Zeolite NaY

The assembly of Ir4(CO)12 from Ir(CO)2(acac) precursors in the supercages of zeolite NaY was investigated by extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) and in-situ infrared (IR) spectroscopies. The data show that the conditions of pretreatment of the zeolite significantly affect the formation process of Ir4(CO)12. When the zeolite was initially largely dehydrated, so that the precursor molecules were well dispersed in the zeolite cages, dimeric intermediates in the formation of Ir4(CO)12 (approximated as Ir2(CO)8) were observed by both IR and EXAFS spectroscopies. In contrast, when the zeolite initially contained a substantial amount of water, the resultant Ir4 clusters were formed faster than those in dehydrated zeolite, and evidence of intermediates was not observed. The results show how synthesis in the confined spaces of the zeolite nanoporesin the absence of solventsaffords opportunities to control and elucidate the chemistry, different from that in solution.
Performance and preference with various VDT phosphors

Subjects searched for target letters and symbols in VDT displays produced with green, amber, yellow, red, blue, and white phosphors. The green was rated more highly than yellow, and blue was rated worst. There were no significant differences in search time, but there were significant differences in the number of errors made with different phosphors. Yellow produced the fewest errors and white the most. Speed and accuracy did not correlate with the preference ratings for the various phosphors.
Histopathologic evaluation of the ethmoid bone in chronic sinusitis.

Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is defined as a condition lasting for a period greater than 12 weeks, and manifested by an inflammatory response involving the mucous membranes of the nasal cavity and ...
Optimization of ESCAP photoresist for x-ray lithography

Acid catalyzed photoresists have been examined for exposure using the Helios compact synchrotron x-ray source at the IBM Advanced Lithography Facility. A fundamental challenge with these photoresists is the sensitivity to contamination from the environment. This study attempts to optimize a new type of Environmentally Stable Chemically Amplified Photoresist (ESCAP) developed by IBM Almaden Research Center. A key feature of this new resist is that it does not require an extra polymer topcoat to seal out airborne contaminants. The establishment of a base process and then the enhancement of exposure latitude was the main objective of the optimization. A 5 factor Taguchi optimization was designed to test the effects of post exposure bake (PEB) temperature, PEB time, post apply bake (PAB) temperature, PAB time and develop time. Sixteen wafers were utilized to explore 3 levels for each factor. Twenty-four additional wafers were run using the optimized process with slight variations. These were split into 3 runs for an estimate of noise. The second optimization used 4 factors with 3 interactions. The 200, 300, and 500 nm isolated line structures were examined. A test for maximum photospeed pointed to the same optimum region for latitude as well as sensitivity. Across all conditions a 5X change in dose for linewidth was shown while the exposure latitude for the 500 nm varied from 21 to 54%. The slopes fit to the subsequent plots ranged from 2 - 6 nm/mJ. The PEB latitude was seen to be 10 - 14 nm/ degree(s)C.
Modeling the Level of Fortification and Post‐Fortification Assessments: U.S. Experience

Mandatory fortification of enriched cereal-grain products became effective in the United States on January 1, 1998. This fortification was undertaken to assist women of child-bearing age in increasing their intake of folic acid to reduce their risk of having a pregnancy affected by a neural tube birth defect. The process by which the Food and Drug Administration modeled the level of fortification with folic acid illustrates the complex issues and general principles that emerge when fortification of a nation's food supply is evaluated as a means of addressing a public health concern. The effectiveness of fortification for a target population and safety for the much larger general population impose conflicting challenges that must be considered concurrently when making decisions regarding fortification. Recent data show improved folate status and apparent decreases in risk of neural tube birth defects in the U.S. Much about the long-term effects of the fortification program remains unknown and careful monitoring over time will be necessary to ensure that the program functions as intended.