cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Measurement of conatumumab-induced apoptotic activity in tumors by fine needle aspirate sampling.

Conatumumab is a monoclonal antibody specific for death receptor 5 (DR5) that activates caspases leading to DNA fragmentation and tumor-cell death. Like other Tumor Necrosis Factor-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand (TRAIL) receptor therapies, conatumumab is currently being evaluated in clinical trials across a variety of tumor types. However, molecular evidence of on-target drug activity in tumors is often an elusive goal for clinical investigation. Here we evaluated a translational approach using a relevant biopsy method, fine needle aspirates (FNAs), to study the on-target pharmacodynamics of conatumumab pre-clinically. As detected by laser scanning cytometry, drug-induced caspase-3 activation in FNA biopsies of Colo205 xenografts correlated well with activated caspase-3 in conventional section-based samples. Furthermore, in tumor-bearing mice, surrogate assays of serum caspase-3/7 activity and serum drug exposure correlated with in situ caspase-3 activation. We found that one advantage of FNA sampling over other sampling techniques was the ability to measure caspase activity on a per cell basis using DNA content information. To adapt the utility of FNAs for measuring pharmacodynamic markers in humans, detection of activated caspase-3 was multiplexed with EpCAM to characterize mock and clinical FNAs from colorectal and nonsmall cell lung cancer patients. These data suggest that FNA sampling is a practical method to cytometrically evaluate tumors for pharmacological impact in a clinical setting. © 2010 International Society for Advancement of Cytometry
A study of neutron-deuteron scattering in configuration space

A new computational method for solving the configuration-space Faddeev equations for the breakup scattering problem [V.M. Suslov and B. Vlahovic, Phys. Rev. C 69 (2004) 044003] has been applied to nd scattering both below and above the two-body threshold. To perform numerical calculations for a general nuclear potential and with arbitrary number of partial waves retained, we use the approach proposed in [S.P. Merkuriev, C. Gignoux and A. Laverne, Ann. Phys. 99 (1976) 30]. Calculations of the inelasticities and phase-shifts, as well as cross-sections and analyzing powers for elastic nd scattering at E l a b = 14.1 MeV were made with the charge independent AV14 potential. Results are compared with those of other authors and experimental data.
Sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor 1 agonism attenuates lung ischemia-reperfusion injury

Outcomes for lung transplantation are the worst of any solid organ, and ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) limits both short- and long-term outcomes. Presently no therapeutic agents are available to...
Disposable Hydrophobic Surface on MALDI Targets for Enhancing MS and MS/MS Data of Peptides

Automated analyses in MALDI MS are complicated by the uneven distribution of analyte over the sample spot, resulting in areas of analyte localization, or “sweet spots”. Hence, the ability to concentrate and localize samples is advantageous, especially for automated studies involving low concentrations of analyte. A method for rapidly creating a removable and affordable hydrophobic surface that is free from memory effect is presented. The potential for such compounds to serve as a practical coating for MALDI targets is examined. An example compound with a complete methodology is shown to increase sample homogeneity, peak intensity, and resolution when used for peptide mixtures with CHCA and DHB.
Insights into the kinematic Cenozoic evolution of the Basin and Range-Colorado Plateau transition from coincident seismic refraction and reflection data

Estimates of surface extension in the southern Basin and Range province and transition into the Colorado Plateau range from a few percent to several hundred percent locally, yet the crustal thickness varies perhaps only 10-15 km across these provinces. Within the southern Basin and Range and the metamorphic core complex belt, extremely extended crust is directly juxtaposed against equally thick (or thinner) crust that underwent far milder extension. Unless preextension crustal thickness varied dramatically over a short distance, the crust must have maintained its thickness during extension, through mechanisms that involve crustal flow and magmatism. We employ a 300-km-long profile of seismic refraction and coincident vertical-incidence reflection data to investigate the geophysical signature of these processes from the extended southern Basin and Range province to the unextended Colorado Plateau. By integrating the seismic velocity with the pattern of reflectivity along the profile, we estimate the amounts of Tertiary magmatism and flow that have occurred. We estimate an upper bound of 8 km of mafic material intruded beneath the metamorphic core complex belt and 4 and 5 km of intruded material beneath the Transition Zone and southern Basin and Range province, respectively. We emphasize that this 8-km estimate is strictly an upper bound, and that the actual amount of magmatism was probably less (3 to 4 km). We further speculate that several kilo-meters of silicic rock was added to the metamorphic core complex belt via ductile flow. As suggested by numerous numerical models of crustal extension, we conclude that a mobile, felsic midcrustal layer accommodated most of this crustal flow. This ductile midcrustal layer appears to be thickest beneath the most extended terranes and thinnest beneath the less extended Transition Zone and Colorado Plateau. In contrast, the lowermost crust appears to have thinned passively in an amount that corresponds more directly to the regional surface extension.
Generalized boundary element method for solids exhibiting nonhomogeneities

The current paper presents a generalized boundary element method to solve the material nonhomogeneous isotropic problems. A boundary integral equation is derived in which the traction kernel includes the full nonhomogeneous elasticity tensor and the domain integral involves the first order derivatives of the displacement kernel and the displacement itself as arguments of its integrand. By using a radial basis function to approximate the domain integrand and assuming the radial basis function is the divergence of a vector function, an anti-divergence scheme is developed to convert the domain integral into a boundary integral. Thus, the numerical implementation is performed with only a boundary mesh and internal collocation points for calculation. The numerical results validate the feasibility of the present approach.
Using perceptual difference model to improve GRAPPA reconstruction in MRI

GRAPPA is a popular reconstruction technique in parallel imaging. In GRAPPA, a least-squares technique is used to solve the over-determined equations and get the "fitting" coefficients for the reconstruction. We developed the Robust GRAPPA method whereby robust estimation techniques are used to estimate the coefficients with discounting of k-space data outliers. One implementation, Slow Robust GRAPPA used iteratively re-weighted techniques, and it was compared to an ad hoc Fast Robust GRAPPA implementation. We evaluated these new algorithms using the Perceptual Difference Model (PDM). PDM has already been successfully applied to a variety of MR applications. We systematically investigated independent variables including algorithm, outer reduction factor, total reduction factor, outlier ratio, and noise across multiple image datasets, giving 9000 images. We conclude that Fast Robust GRAPPA method gives results very similar to Slow Robust GRAPPA and that both give significant improvements as compared to standard GRAPPA. PDM is very helpful in designing and optimizing the MR reconstruction algorithms.
Documentation in evaluation research: Managerial and scientific requirements☆

Abstract Documentation in evaluation research consists of written material, in human- or machine-readable form, pertaining to the plans, activities, and results of the project. It is argued here that good documentation is essential for effective management of evaluations, and for responsible reporting of the research procedures and findings. Documentation relating to electronic data processing activity is especially important. The purpose of this paper is to stimulate consideration and discussion of documentation, and to emphasize its importance in evaluation research. The role of documentation in the planning and control functions of project management is reviewed, and the importance of documentation in the assessment of research quality with respect to objectivity, validity, and replicability is discussed. Reasons for poor documentation are considered. An outline of documentation required in different phases of research projects is provided, and recommendations for improving the quality of documentation are presented.
HYDROXYETHYLATION OF AMINO ACIDS IN PLASMA ALBUMIN WITH ETHYLENE OXIDE.

The reaction of ethylene oxide with amino acids in bovine plasma albumin was studied under various conditions of pH and time. Ethylene oxide reacted with arginyl, cystyl, histidyl, lysyl, methionyl and tyrosyl residues in albumin. The maximal reaction of arginyl, histidyl, lysyl and tyrosyl residues occurred at pH values equal to or greater than the pK of the respective reacting groups. The reaction of ethylene oxide with the above amino acid residues resulted in the formation of 21 new peaks detected by chromatograpic analysis of the amino acids. The amino acids from which most of these products originated were detected by labeling the albumin biosynthetically with individual radioactive amino acids before hydroxyethylation. The major product of hydroxyethylation of lysine was apparently Nϵ[tris(2-hydroxyethyl)]lysine, since it corresponded to the Nϵ[tris(2-hydroxyethyl)]-lysine, prepared by direct synthesis, with respect to mobility in several chromatographic systems. The accessibility of some lysyl and methionyl residues in albumin to ethylene oxide may be dependent upon a partial change in the tertiary structure of albumin, resulting from the reaction of cystyl residues in albumin with ethylene oxide.
Reduced Ca Flux via Ryanodine Receptor Cluster Size or Unitary Current can both Promote Long-Lasting Ca Sparks

Calcium (Ca) sparks are fundamental E-C coupling events with typical duration of 10-50 ms. Long-lasting Ca release events, lasting >10 times longer than typical Ca sparks, have been observed experimentally when ryanodine receptors (RyRs) are partially blocked by tetracaine or ruthenium red (Zima et al., 2008 BJ & Circ Res). However, the mechanism of these events is not fully understood. Here, we use a physiologically detailed mathematical model of subcellular Ca cycling, and show how RyR cluster size (or ‘effective’ cluster size when RyRs are partially blocked) can affect long-lasting Ca release events. The single cluster contains a few to several hundred RyRs, and we use a 4-state Markov model of the RyR. Each RyR opens stochastically and is regulated by cytosolic and luminal Ca. The number of RyR channels in the cluster, diffusion within the SR network, diffusion between network and junctional SR, SERCA uptake rate and RyR open probability were varied. In order for long-lasting release events, opening events within the cluster must occur continuously since the typical open time of the RyR is only a few milliseconds. We found (1) if the number of RyRs is too small, it is difficult to keep consecutive openings and stochastic attrition terminates the release, (2) if the number of RyRs is too large, the depletion of Ca from the junctional SR terminates the release, and (3) the involvement of moderate sized RyR clusters (∼8; or reduced flux/RyR) allows stable release flux lasting >500 ms, wherein local [Ca]SR can be maintained by intra-SR diffusion.
Report of a substudy on warm versus cold cardiopulmonary bypass: changes in creatinine clearance.

Abstract Background . Renal dysfunction remains a major complication of cardiac operations. There is concern regarding the possibility of increased renal injury during warm cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that warm CPB is associated with a greater reduction in creatinine clearance after cardiac surgery than hypothermic CPB. Methods . We randomly assigned 300 patients who had elective coronary artery bypass grafting to warm (35.5 to 36.5°C) or cold (28°C to 30°C) CPB. Preoperative and peak postoperative serum creatinine values were recorded. Creatinine clearance was estimated using the Cockroft Gault equation. Univariate and multivariable analyses were performed to test the association of CPB temperature and perioperative change in creatinine clearance. Results . Demographic variables were similar between groups. Multivariable analysis did not confirm an association between temperature and change in creatinine clearance ( p = 0.87). Conclusions . We did not confirm an association between warm CPB and increased renal dysfunction after cardiac operations compared with hypothermic CPB.
An Empirical Analysis of the Performance of Preconditioners for SPD Systems

Preconditioned iterative solvers have the potential to solve very large sparse linear systems with a fraction of the memory used by direct methods. However, the effectiveness and performance of most preconditioners is not only problem dependent, but also fairly sensitive to the choice of their tunable parameters. As a result, a typical practitioner is faced with an overwhelming number of choices of solvers, preconditioners, and their parameters. The diversity of preconditioners makes it difficult to analyze them in a unified theoretical model. A systematic empirical evaluation of existing preconditioned iterative solvers can help in identifying the relative advantages of various implementations. We present the results of a comprehensive experimental study of the most popular preconditioner and iterative solver combinations for symmetric positive-definite systems. We introduce a methodology for a rigorous comparative evaluation of various preconditioners, including the use of some simple but powerful metrics. The detailed comparison of various preconditioner implementations and a state-of-the-art direct solver gives interesting insights into their relative strengths and weaknesses. We believe that these results would be useful to researchers developing preconditioners and iterative solvers as well as practitioners looking for appropriate sparse solvers for their applications.
Fruits are rich in antioxidants and ripe for topical therapy

Background/aims: Human skin, exposed to a plethora of environmental insults that lead to free radicals and free radical damage, is equipped with an endogenous set of antioxidants, but these systems can become overwhelmed. Much study has focused on the therapeutic role of topical antioxidants but only a few investigate the utility of fruit extracts. Fruits are a rich source of diverse antioxidants and this article reviews their use for topical antioxidant protection. Methods: MEDLINE searches from 1966 to August 2008 and EMBASE searches from January 1974 through August 2008 were conducted for articles in English. In vitro and in vivo studies of fruit extracts used specifically with skin tissue or skin cells were selected for review. Conclusions: Fruits show diverse antioxidant activity in vitro and upon topical use in vivo. Studies have focused on antioxidant activity against reactive oxygen species (ROS) and ROS-induced signaling cascades. However, there has been little study regarding activity against re...
Insight into the unknown marine virus majority

Viruses of marine bacteria (bacteriophage) have been characterized since the mid-20th century (1). However, it took several additional decades before electron micrographs of seawater revealed that particles of virus-like morphology could exceed concentrations of 1 million per milliliter of seawater (2, 3), and that phage infection could cause substantial mortality in marine bacterial communities (4). Subsequent research in the field of marine viral ecology has focused on the characterization of the diversity of the virioplankton (community of extracellular viruses), elucidating how viruses influence the community dynamics and evolution of their hosts and ultimately the role viruses play in biogeochemical cycling. Critical to the understanding of viral ecology is the identification of the constituents of the viral community and whom they infect. This is a formidable challenge because there are thousands of different types of viruses in every liter of seawater (5) that are mostly distantly related to the catalog of known viruses, and whose morphology and genotype do not identify the host that they infect. A clear, albeit challenging, path forward to gaining a greater understanding of viral ecology is the isolation and characterization of viruses that infect hosts who play important roles in the environment. In PNAS, Kang et al. (6) make a significant contribution to the field with a report describing the isolation and characterization of a bacteriophage, HMO-2011, which infects a member of the SAR116 clade, a group of marine bacteria that are abundant and … [↵][1]2E-mail: aculley{at}hawaii.edu. [1]: #xref-corresp-1-1
Methods for calculating the electromagnetic fields from a known source distribution: application to lightning

Two different techniques (monopole and dipole) for calculating the electric and magnetic fields from a distribution of currents and charges are discussed. Both techniques have been used for calculating the fields from lightning. A simple lightning return stroke current model, consisting of a square current pulse traveling up a vertical antenna above a ground plane, is used to compare the two techniques. Analytical expressions are obtained for the fields using each technique. These expressions are shown to be numerically equivalent, but the authors are unable to prove their equivalence analytically. It is concluded that the monopole and the dipole techniques can both be derived from Maxwell's equations and hence that both are correct. In attempting to dispel the apparent confusion that has existed regarding the validity of the monopole technique, the authors show that the monopole approach, as discussed in the literature, is applicable only to upward-traveling current waves and hence is not particularly useful in the realistic modeling of lightning return strokes. >
Hybrid channel conflict: causes and effects on channel performance

Today’s dynamic markets are forcing firms to design increasingly complex channel strategies involving multiple channels of distribution. As the complexity of these systems increases, so too does the opportunity for conflict between individual channel coalitions within the firm. Whereas this hybrid channel conflict can reduce channel performance, it can also serve as a mechanism forcing internal channel coalitions to work harder and smarter to serve their markets. In this paper, we develop and test six hypotheses related to hybrid channel conflict. The findings indicate that hybrid channel conflict is an important determinant of both channel performance and satisfaction. The results suggest further that the relationship between hybrid channel conflict and channel performance is moderated by the lifecycle stage. Moreover, our data support the view that the frequency of conflict, but not its intensity, has a negative effect on channel system performance. We conclude with a discussion of the theoretical and managerial implications of this study.
A scientific note on the directional accuracy of the waggle dance over the course of a day

Honey bees communicate information about distance and direction to a food source with a waggle dance (von Frisch, 1993). During the waggle phase see (Tautz et al., 1996), a bee walks forward an angle with respect to vertical while waggling her abdomen. This angle matches, on average, the angle between food source and sun azimuth. For a given food location, there is variation both within dances of the same bee and between different bees. Lindauer (1961) reported that when the sun is at the zenith (which only occurs in the tropics), dancing either ceases or is disoriented 10 minutes before and after solar noon. No directional information can be communicated when the sun is directly overhead. In temperate regions, colony foraging activity declines around noon, a phenomenon von Frisch (1993) called “noontime laziness”. He argued that this effect could not be explained in terms of food profitability, and attributed it to a diurnal periodicity in activity, although this was not directly tested. An alternative explanation of noontime laziness links these two phenomena: perhaps foragers experience greater difficulty orienting their dances when the sun is higher in the sky, and are less inclined to dance, which in turn reduces foraging activity. This study tests one component of this hypothesis: the effect of the sun’s position on the accuracy of the information within the dance. Three unrelated colonies, A, B, and C, were housed in observation hives (see Seeley, 1995, Chap. 4). Colonies were housed at two locations (A
Near-Infrared Probe for Determination of Solvent Hydrophobicity

The composition of aqueous solvents plays an important role in the spectroscopic characteristics of near-infrared (NIR) dyes. The effects of solvent hydrophobicity on NIR spectral characteristics have been studied with the use of different NIR dyes. An NIR dye (I) that belongs to the diethylthiacarbocyanine family was found to be the most sensitive to changes in the hydrophobicity of the environment. Dye I was used as a model dye to evaluate the analytical utility of this change. In pure water-miscible organic solvents, the absorption maximum for I appears in the region of 807 to 818 nm. If the hydrophobicity of the solvent mixture decreases by an increase in water concentration, an additional, well-separated absorption peak, which can be attributed to the dimer, appears at 698 nm. The relative intensity of these two peaks can be exploited for the determination of the composition of the solvent mixture. The method is evaluated with the use of the polarity parameter (P) for different solvent systems. The described method can be useful for quick spectroscopic determination of P values that are important for several analytical applications, e.g., in spectroscopy or reversed-phase chromatography.
Dura Mater Stimulates Human Adipose‐Derived Stromal Cells to Undergo Bone Formation in Mouse Calvarial Defects

Human adipose-derived stromal cells (hASCs) have a proven capacity to aid in osseous repair of calvarial defects. However, the bone defect microenvironment necessary for osseous healing is not fully understood. In this study, we postulated that the cell-cell interaction between engrafted ASCs and host dura mater (DM) cells is critical for the healing of calvarial defects. hASCs were engrafted into critical sized calvarial mouse defects. The DM-hASC interaction was manipulated surgically by DM removal or by insertion of a semipermeable or nonpermeable membrane between DM and hASCs. Radiographic, histologic, and gene expression analyses were performed. Next, the hASC-DM interaction is assessed by conditioned media (CM) and coculture assays. Finally, bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling from DM was investigated in vivo using novel BMP-2 and anti-BMP-2/4 slow releasing scaffolds. With intact DM, osseous healing occurs both from host DM and engrafted hASCs. Interference with the DM-hASC interaction dramatically reduced calvarial healing with abrogated BMP-2-Smad-1/5 signaling. Using CM and coculture assays, mouse DM cells stimulated hASC osteogenesis via BMP signaling. Through in vivo manipulation of the BMP-2 pathway, we found that BMP-2 plays an important role in DM stimulation of hASC osteogenesis in the context of calvarial bone healing. BMP-2 supplementation to a defect with disrupted DM allowed for bone formation in a nonhealing defect. DM is an osteogenic cell type that both participates in and stimulates osseous healing in a hASC-engrafted calvarial defect. Furthermore, DM-derived BMP-2 paracrine stimulation appears to play a key role for hASC mediated repair.
A method for connecting dissimilar finite element meshes in two dimensions

A method is presented for connecting dissimilar finite element meshes in three dimensions. The method combines the concept of master and slave surfaces with the uniform strain approach for surface, corrections finite elements- By modifyhg the are made to element formulations boundaries of elements on the slave such that first-order patch tests are passed. The method can be used to connect meshes which use different element types. In addition, master and slave surfaces can be designated independently of relative mesh resolutions. Example problems in three-dimensional linear elasticity are presented.
Competency to collaboration: an interactive process for cross-sectoral development

Abstract Background A workforce functioning collaboratively to address global health challenges has been the cornerstone of recent efforts to confront threats to health at the interfaces of animals, human beings, and their environment. The concept of "one health" provides a unique perspective to building a stronger collaborative workforce founded on principles of population health. Methods During the past several years, multiple national and international organisations have explored the competencies that are needed by a global health workforce. A competency discussion was held March 12–13, 2012, with representatives from the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, the World Organization for Animal Health, WHO, the US Department of Agriculture, Development Alternatives Inc, and Whitewater Consulting, and participants from academic institutions in Rwanda, Ethiopia, Tanzania, and the USA. Disciplines represented included public health, veterinary medicine, nursing, occupational psychology, nutrition, medicine, and education. The aim of the discussion was to review sets of competencies identified by different professional or multidisciplinary groups as important to solving complex health problems Findings The major competency domains identified were communication, conflict resolution, systems analysis/thinking, values and ethics, creating an enabling environment and advocating change, teamwork, and leadership and management. These domains have been used to develop a framework for integrating one health competencies into programmes and curricula based on a common understanding of an interprofessional, multisectoral approach to operating effective health systems from the village to the clinic. Interpretation Priorities include the production of a working set of competency domains. Sharing of these domains is more important than ownership or approval and informing work in global health about commonalities between and among development efforts forms the basis for accomplishment of the goal. Funding Rockefeller Foundation, USAID RESPOND, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Correlates of leisure time physical activity compliance in colorectal cancer survivors

Abstract Introduction Physical inactivity is a risk factor for cancer morbidity and mortality, but its influence in colorectal cancer (CRC) survivors is understudied. We investigated sociodemographic, physically limiting, and behavioral predictors influencing leisure time physical activity (LTPA) among CRC survivors. Methods Pooled 1997–2010 National Health Interview Survey data (N = 2378) were used to evaluate LTPA compliance in CRC survivors according to Healthy People 2010 recommendations. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to identify predictors of LTPA compliance among CRC survivors. Independent variables included: age, gender, race/ethnicity, education, health insurance, body mass index (BMI), ≥ 2 chronic conditions limiting physical activity, time since cancer diagnosis, and poverty, marital, smoking and alcohol status. Results Multivariable regression models reveal that Hispanics, non-Hispanic Blacks, those with ≥ 2 physically limiting chronic conditions, and current smokers were less likely to comply with LTPA recommendations. CRC survivors who were of “other” race, more than one race, those with some college degree or college degree, and current drinkers were more likely to comply. Discussion Hispanics, non-Hispanic Blacks, those with > 2 physically limiting chronic conditions and current smokers warrant additional efforts to encourage physical activity and to determine the impact of regular physical activity on CRC survivorship.
The organizational health of high schools and student proficiency in mathematics

School climate has been associated with the academic achievement of students. The purpose of this study was to extend that body of research by examining the organizational health of a typical set of high schools in the state of Ohio. In particular, the focus was on the organizational health of high schools and mathematics proficiency as defined by the percentage of 12th grade students who passed the Ohio Proficiency Examination in Mathematics.
Extragonadal alpha-inhibin precursor proteins circulate in human male serum.

The role of inhibin as a negative feedback regulator of pituitary FSH secretion in men remains controversial inasmuch as serum inhibin and FSH levels are often not correlated, in part because of the known alpha-inhibin subunit cross-reactivity of the most widely used inhibin antiserum (Monash #1989). The objective of this study was to identify the nature of these alpha-inhibin proteins in male serum using antisera specific for the alpha-inhibin precursor. Three polyclonal antisera were raised against synthetic peptide fragments from the proregion (amino acids 21-35 = precursor alpha inhibin (PIN) 1 and 42-56 = PIN 2) and alpha-N segment (113-127 = PIN 3) of the human alpha-inhibin precursor protein. These antisera were then used in individual RIAs with the homologous peptide as both standard and radioligand. Because pure human alpha-inhibin subunit proteins are not available, recombinant alpha-inhibin medium and porcine follicular fluid were used as reference preparations in the PIN assays. All assays wer...
Almost-standard big-bang nucleosynthesis with Omega Bh20 >> 0.015: A reexamination of neutrino chemical potentials and Delta G.

The homogeneous standard big-bang nucleosynthesis (SBBN) yields of D, {sup 3}He, {sup 4}He, and {sup 7}Li are computed allowing independent variations of {mu}{sub 1}, the chemical potential for electron neutrinos, and {mu}{sub 2}, the chemical potential of {mu} neutrinos (or equivalently of {ital Gg}{sub {ital R}}, the product of Newton's constant and the number of effective relativistic degrees of freedom at the epoch of nucleosynthesis). This follows up previous investigations of chemical-potential variations, which however considered only ({sup 7}Li)/(H){congruent}10{sup {minus}9}. It is found that even with a primordial {sup 7}Li abundance of 10{sup {minus}10} the hydrogen abundance {Omega}{sub {ital B}h0}{sup 2}{similar to}0.1 is permitted as is {Omega}{sub {ital B}h0}{sup 2}{similar to}1; however, the required chemical potential for the {nu}{sub {ital e}} is {mu}{sub 1}{approx}{ital T}. The required chemical potential for {nu}{sub {mu}} and/or {nu}{sub {tau}} is {mu}{sub 2}{approx}(5--25){ital T} (for {Omega}{sub {ital B}h0}{sup 2}{congruent}0.1 and 1, respectively), or equivalently ({ital Gg}{sub {ital R}}){approx}(few--10{sup 3})({ital Gg}{sub {ital R}}){sub SBBN}. Thus baryonic dark matter may be incorporated into the standard big-bang nucleosynthesis model albeit with dramatic requirements for lepto-genesis and/or the constancy of the gravitational coupling. It is also found that the lithium dip'' tracks the primordial deuterium abundance and thus maymore » not be an independent measure of the parameters of the SBBN model.« less
Electrodeposition of portable, metal nanowire arrays

Parallel arrays of long (> 500 m), dimensionally uniform nanowires composed of molybdenum, copper, nickel, gold, and palladium were electrodeposited. Nanowires with diameters in the range from 15 nm to 750 nm were obtained by electrodepositing these metals, or metal oxides, selectively at the step edges present on the surface of a highly oriented pyrolytic graphite electrode. Depending on the metal, either of two methods were used to carry out electrochemical step edge decoration (ESED): Nanowires of Ni, Cu or Mo were prepared by electrodepositing nanowires of a conductive metal oxide such as NiO, Cu 2 O, or MoO 2 . Nanowires of the parent metal were then obtained by reducing the metal oxide nanowires in hydrogen at elevated temperature. Nanowires composed of noble metals and some coinage metal can be obtained by direct electrodeposition of the metal at step edges. Direct electrodeposition involved the application of three voltage pulses in succession: An oxidizing "activation" pulse, a large amplitude, reducing "nucleation" pulse, and a small amplitude reducing "growth" pulse. These nanowires arrays were "portable": After embedding the nanowires in a polymer film, arrays of nanowires could be lifted off the graphite surface thereby facilitating the incorporation of these arrays in devices such as sensors.
Microcomputer realisations of Lynn's fast digital-filtering designs

The feasibility of real-time digital filtering using dedicated state-of-the-art microcomputers of 8-bit wordlength is demonstrated. Implementations of Lynn's integer filter structures by means of wrap-around queue data structures are shown to operate at sampling rates of over 8 kHz. An initial condition constraint unique to this filter class which must be satisfied to prevent inadvertent overflows or oscillations in microcomputers is discussed. The fast-filtering techniques are applied to the problem of calculating the average absolute value of a fast signal in real time.
SERIAL PROCESSING SHOWN BY MUTUAL MASKING OF ICONS

In a procedure called mutual masking, two compound words were tachistoscopically exposed successively at the same location. Perceptual accuracy for both words was examined. With fixation at the center of the arrays, Ss often identified the component at the left within the temporally first word and at the right within the second. These results imply a left-to-right serial processing. With fixation on beginning or end component, Ss tended to identify the component away from fixation of the first word and the fixated part of the second. This implies scanning from periphery toward fixation. Therefore, sequential processing of iconic information was obtained, with direction of processing determined by specific conditions.
Polar and nonpolar parameters for polymeric reverse osmosis membrane materials from liquid chromatographic data

Polar (αp) and nonpolar (αn) parameters to characterize a variety of cellulosic and noncellulosic polymers have been developed from liquid chromatographic data on retention times for selected reference solutes in aqueous solutions. The above parameters give relative quantitative measures for the hydrogen bonding and nonpolar (hydrophobic) forces inherent in the chemical structure of the polymer molecule. Unique correlations are also shown to exist between the above parameters and Hansen's solubility parameters δh and δd for the polymers. These parameters and correlations offer significant guidelines for the choice of membrane material for reverse osmosis.
Inhalation Exposure of Lead in Brass Foundry Workers: The Evaluation of the Effectiveness of a Powered Air-Purifying Respirator and Engineering Controls

The protection that a powered air-purifying respirator afforded to ladle and furnace attendants who were exposed to lead, copper and zinc fumes in a brass foundry was found by measuring metal levels at the lapel and at nose level inside the respirator. Respirator fit was evaluated by use of a hot-wire anemometer at the face/Tyvek seal interfaces, and at the exit of the respirator. Effective protection factors for lead ranged from 1.05 to 67. Ergonomic factors and engineering controls are also discussed.
Overcoming the challenging cervix: techniques to access the uterine cavity.

Objective To identify cervical stenosis and review medical, surgical, and radiological modalities to access the uterine cavity. Materials and methods Computerized searches of Medline and PubMed from 1996 to 2005 were conducted using the key words "cervix," "cervical ripening," and "cervical stenosis." References from identified publications were manually searched and cross-referenced to identify additional relevant articles. We review relevant techniques on how to access the uterine cavity when cervical stenosis is encountered. Results Many gynecologic procedures require uncomplicated access through the cervix to access the uterine cavity, including hysteroscopy, dilation and curettage, sonohysterogram, hysterosalpingogram, endometrial biopsy, and embryo transfer for in vitro fertilization. These procedures can be quite complicated when a cervix is obstructed. Management techniques described include the medical use of misoprostol and laminaria, intraoperative ultrasound guidance, and operative creation of a new passage. Additionally, techniques for bypassing the obstructed cervix and preventing cervical stenosis have been described. Conclusions Cervical stenosis can result in iatrogenic complications. Preoperative identification, cervical ripening agents, osmotic dilators, and the use of ultrasound guidance are useful in overcoming cervical stenosis. It is also key to identify those at risk for cervical stenosis and implement preventative techniques as needed.
Staff perceptions of complementary and alternative therapy integration into a child and adolescent psychiatry program

Abstract Art, music, yoga, and dance/movement therapies have been researched individually, mostly in adults, but few studies explain the impact of integrating these therapies into the treatment of children with psychiatric illnesses. Given the financial constraints of current healthcare, as well as limitations of verbal and medical therapies, it is important to document the added value of integrating complementary therapies, including creative arts therapies, into childhood mental health and treatment. The present study looked to evaluate views of clinical professionals ( n = 23) (i.e. psychiatrists, psychologists, and social workers), nurses (n = 17) and milieu staff (mental health counselors; n = 56) within the Psychiatry Department of a large children's hospital on the perceived benefits of integrating Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) therapies within inpatient and day treatment programs. The majority of respondents (96% of clinicians, 100% of nurses, and 82% of milieu staff) reported that CAM positively impacted patient care. Staff indicated that sessions facilitated by masters level creative arts therapists or yoga therapists helped patients by increasing self esteem, increasing motor coordination and body control, providing relaxation, teaching coping skills, decreasing acting out behaviors, developing patient's awareness of emotions or underlying issues, and helping to broach difficult topics or issues for the first time. Milieu staff who participated in CAM groups alongside patients also received personal and professional benefits.
Breast-milk jaundice.

The inhibiting agent of UDP-glucuronyl transferase (UDPGT) inhibition of which is associated with breast milk jaundice syndrome in infants was thought to be 3(alpha)20(beta)-pregnandiol. European researchers have begun in vitro investigations to discover the inhibiting substance and all studies have confirmed it is a nonesterified fatty acid. The strong association between breast milk jaundice elevated values of nonesterified fatty acids and unstimulated lipase in UDPGT-inhibitory milk was confirmed by electrophoretic technique. The mechanisms responsible for production of prolonged unconjugated hyperbilirubeinemia in infants however is not understood. 2 theories have been offered: 1) that milk triglyceride digestion before the milk reaches the duodenum leads to early absorption of most of the liberated glycerol that might otherwise be used by intestinal epithelium to resynthesize triglycerides; or 2) inhibitory human milk may facilitate the enterohepatic recirculation of bilirubin (reabsorption of bilirubin from intestinal lumen). Breast-feeding per se does not result in an increased incidence of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia; it is rather those infants who receive insufficient amounts of breast milk who develop the condition.
Assembly of titanosilicate ETS-10 crystals on organosilane-functionalized gallium nitride surfaces

Abstract Integration of titanosilicate ETS-10 crystals with optoelectronic semiconductors is hypothesized to allow activation of these crystals for photocatalytic applications without direct exposure to light, and to more efficiently use the photons available. ETS-10 crystals were assembled on 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane (APTMS)-functionalized n-type GaN (0 0 0 2) substrates. Strong attachment of crystals to the functionalized substrates was shown by minimal to no loss of crystals on the GaN surfaces as tested by 30 min substrate sonication in water. Successful substrate functionalization was confirmed by the appearance of the Si 2p peak at 102.2 eV in the XPS spectra. The observation of the N 1s photoelectron peak at 401.19 eV suggested the presence of amino groups protonated by the surface hydroxyl groups of the substrate. Angle resolved XPS analysis of the APTMS-functionalized GaN surfaces showed a decrease in the relative N:Si ratio upon decreasing the take-off angle from 90° to 30°. These results suggest Si–O terminal groups are preferentially located at the surface of the APTMS linker, while the protonated amino groups are likely located at the substrate-linker interface. Therefore, the strong ETS-10 crystal attachment to the functionalized GaN (0 0 0 2) substrates can be hypothesized to be due to covalent bonding between the external ETS-10 surface hydroxyl groups and the Si–O terminal groups of the APTMS-functionalized GaN surfaces.
Probability hypothesis density-based multitarget tracking with bistatic range and Doppler observations

R.P.S. Mahler's probability hypothesis density (PHD) provides a promising framework for the passive coherent location of targets observed via multiple bistatic radar measurements. A particle filter implementation of the Bayesian PHD filter is applied to target tracking using both range and Doppler measurements from a simple non-directional receiver that exploits non-cooperative FM radio transmitters as its 'illuminators of opportunity'. Signal-to-noise ratios, probabilities of detection and false alarm and bistatic range and Doppler variances are incorporated into a realistic two-target scenario. Bistatic range cells are used in calculating the birth particle proposal density. The tracking results are compared to those obtained when the same tracker is used with range-only measurements. This is done for two different probabilities of false alarm. The PHD particle filter handles ghost targets well and has improved tracking performance when incorporating Doppler measurements along with the range measurements. This improved tracking performance, however, comes at the cost of requiring more particles and additional computation.
High-performance sorting on networks of workstations

We report the performance of NOW-Sort, a collection of sorting implementations on a Network of Workstations (NOW). We find that parallel sorting on a NOW is competitive to sorting on the large-scale SMPs that have traditionally held the performance records. On a 64-node cluster, we sort 6.0 GB in just under one minute, while a 32-node cluster finishes the Datamation benchmark in 2.41 seconds.Our implementations can be applied to a variety of disk, memory, and processor configurations; we highlight salient issues for tuning each component of the system. We evaluate the use of commodity operating systems and hardware for parallel sorting. We find existing OS primitives for memory management and file access adequate. Due to aggregate communication and disk bandwidth requirements, the bottleneck of our system is the workstation I/O bus.
Understanding DNA- and RNA-binding Proteins Using Sequence and Structural Features

The complex interactions between nucleic acid molecules and NA-binding proteins are an integral component of the gene regulation processes. Understanding which residues on these proteins bind nucleic acids is necessary in order to characterize these interactions. Due to the complicated nature of this problem, machine learning is often used to predict which residues are involved in the act of binding. The prediction of NA-binding residues can provide assistance in the functional annotation of NA-binding proteins. These predictions can also be used to expedite mutatgenesis experiments for the study of NA-binding proteins, guiding researchers to the correct binding residues in these proteins. In this work we focus on three goals. First, we use SVM and various ensemble methods based on the C4.5 decision tree algorithm to predict DNA- and RNA-binding residues within proteins with high, balanced accuracy by analyzing sequence and structural characteristics. Secondly, we show that our classifiers can achieve similar results on several data sets which were used in previous works to identify DNA- and RNA-binding residues. Thirdly, we show that we are able to distinguish DNA-binding residues from RNA-binding residues using structure- + sequence-based features and sequence-based features only.
What is organizational vision? Ask chief executives

The article reports on a study of chief executive officers and organizational vision in the United States. Research by Laurie Larwood of the University of Nevada at Reno, Cecilia M. Falbe of the State University of New York at Albany, Mark P. Kriger of the Norwegian School of Management, and Paul Miesing of the State University of New York at Albany found that executives' vision statements contain complex strategic planning and indicate a willingness to communicate with others. Executives included ideas such as innovative realism, risk propensity, and profit-orientation. Executive types include the individualistic, conservative group and a systematic, action-oriented group.
Correlation: A Brief Introduction

An important concept in many applications is the correlation function between two signals. The correlation function is more of a measure of similarity between functions. In spite of the importance of the correlation function, it is not covered in most books on signals and systems and signal processing. The few books that cover it do not provide examples students can follow. This paper provides a simple introduction to the correlation function in continuous-time and discrete-time. It provides graphical examples and MATLAB examples.
Sex chromosome complement regulates habit formation

Sex differences in brain function and behavior are regularly attributed to gonadal hormones. Some brain sexual dimorphisms, however, are direct actions of sex chromosome genes that are not mediated by gonadal hormones. We used mice in which sex chromosome complement (XX versus XY) and gonadal sex (ovaries versus testes) were independent, and found that XX mice showed faster food-reinforced instrumental habit formation than XY mice, regardless of gonadal phenotype.
Fluctuation theorem for counting statistics in electron transport through quantum junctions

We demonstrate that the probability distribution of the net number of electrons passing through a quantum system in a junction obeys a steady-state fluctuation theorem (FT) which can be tested experimentally by the full counting statistics (FCS) of electrons crossing the lead-system interface. The FCS is calculated using a many-body quantum master equation combined with a Liouville space generating function formalism. For a model of two coupled quantum dots, we show that the FT becomes valid for long binning times, and provide an estimate for the finite-time deviations. The Mandel (or Fano) parameter associated with the incoming or outgoing electron transfers shows sub-Poissonian (antibunching) statistics.