cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Sarcoplasmic Reticulum of Skeletal and Cardiac Muscle

The sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) of striated muscle plays an important role in control of contractile activity, providing an intracellular sink for calcium during relaxation, and a source for calcium release on membrane excitation. SR and excitation-contraction coupling have been the subjects of several detailed reviews (Tada et al., 1978; DeMeis and Vianna, 1979; Inesi, 1979; Martonosi, 1972; Hasselbach, 1964; MacLennan and Holland, 1975; Weber, 1966; Ebashi and Endo, 1968; Fuchs, 1974; Fabiato and Fabiato, 1979; Endo, 1977; Caputo, 1978). This chapter contains a general description of the system, and is then focused on selected findings that are used to support the author’s views on the mechanisms of calcium uptake and calcium release.
A Bilingual Corpus of Inter-linked Events

This paper describes the creation of a bilingual corpus of inter-linked events for Italian and English. Linkage is accomplished through the Inter-Lingual Index (ILI) that links ItalWordNet with WordNet. The availability of this resource, on the one hand, enables contrastive analysis of the linguistic phenomena surrounding events in both languages, and on the other hand, can be used to perform multilingual temporal analysis of texts. In addition to describing the methodology for construction of the inter-linked corpus and the analysis of the data collected, we demonstrate that the ILI could potentially be used to bootstrap the creation of comparable corpora by exporting layers of annotation for words that have the same sense.
A 12dBm 320GHz GBW distributed amplifier in a 0.12/spl mu/m SOI CMOS

This paper describes a 9-stage distributed amplifier which achieves 11 dB gain and 90 GHz 3dB cut-off frequency, equivalent to a 320 GHz GBW. The measured 1 dB output compression point is 12 dBm at 20 GHz, the OIP3 is 15.5 dBm at 50 GHz, and the noise figure is 5.5 dB at 18 GHz.
Cutting Edge: Heat Shock Protein gp96 Induces Maturation and Migration of CD11c+ Cells In Vivo

Immunization of mice with the heat shock protein (HSP) gp96 but not control proteins leads to 5- to 7-fold enlargement of draining lymph nodes (LNs) resulting from accumulation of large numbers of mature CD11c(+) cells, but not T or B lymphocytes in them. The increase in size and cellularity is time-dependent; the draining LNs reach their peak size between 12 and 24 h after injection and regress to their normal size between 48 and 72 h after injection. The increment is elicited specifically in the draining LN but not in other LNs. This observation uncovers a novel aspect of HSP-APC interaction and adds to the mechanistic explanation for the unusually high immunogenicity of HSP-peptide complexes.
And Some with a Fountain Pen: The Securitization of Mortgage Fraud

The paper examines a subprime loan used to fraudulently strip equity from an elderly African American couple in Chicago. Funded by lender MILA and securitized by Goldman Sachs, the Delany loan was among the 2006 vintage subprime loans that defaulted soon after closing and were characterized by fraud and misrepresentation. Following this loan from origination to securitization highlights responsibility for the wave of early payment default loans that contributed to the implosion of subprime lending in 2007 and the subsequent financial meltdown. Subprime loans support predatory lending that disproportionately targets the home equity of minority and low income borrowers. They also facilitate mortgage fraud that targets lenders. The Delaney loan was representative of the stated income, no down payment loans that defaulted in 2006 at the peak of the subprime bubble. Subprime lender MILA was suffering financially from repurchase of similar loans and was insolvent as early as 2004. MILA relied on rapid automated underwriting to sustain growth in originations in a tightening market. MILA underwriters approved the Delaney loans despite obvious indications of fraud. The loan was sold to Goldman Sachs for inclusion in a $1.5 billion residential mortgage backed security. The Goldman Sachs Prospectus warned that subprime loans were high risk and that there was little historic data to predict delinquency and default rates on the new loan products originated by MILA and other subprime lenders. The Prospectus also promised due diligence with respect to lender guidelines, practices, history, and financial capacity to honor representations and warranties should the need for loan repurchase arise. Goldman Sachs was subpoenaed for evidence of due diligence on MILA but provided none despite its assurances to investors. The drive to generate more subprime loans to securitize and to earn high fees and profits explains why Goldman Sachs didn’t investigate and didn’t uncover MILA’s inability to repurchase a growing portfolio of early payment default loans. Competition to buy subprime loans for securitization relieved lenders like MILA of pressure to verify that their loans were sustainable. The history of this single loan illustrates the contribution of securitized subprime lending to mortgage fraud and the contribution of mortgage fraud to the financial meltdown.
On correlating the fetal heart and brain in the sheep. I. Following recovery from operation II. Following maternal hemorrhage

Abstract Fetal sheep brain wave changes during recovery from operations and fetal heart rate and brain wave changes during acute maternal hemorrhage are described. During the first 24 hours after operation, there was a change in fetal brain wave with increasing amplitudes and faster frequencies of brain waves. A fully recovered EEG was not present for at least 24 hours. During acute maternal hemorrhage the heart changes were primarily those of heart rate irregularity with bradycardia being the most common pattern. Brain wave changes occurred early and progressed through a pattern of slower frequencies and decreasing amplitudes to an isoelectric state which always preceded terminal bradycardia.
Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy Sensors From Nanobiosilica With Self-Assembled Plasmonic Nanoparticles

We present an innovative surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) sensor based on a biological-plasmonic hybrid nanostructure by self-assembling silver (Ag) nanoparticles into diatom frustules. The photonic-crystal-like diatom frustules provide a spatially confined electric field with enhanced intensity that can form hybrid photonic-plasmonic modes through the optical coupling with Ag nanoparticles. The experimental results demonstrate 4-6× and 9-12× improvement of sensitivities to detect the Raman dye for resonance and nonresonance SERS sensing, respectively. Such low-cost and high-sensitivity SERS sensors have significant potentials for label-free biosensing.
International Governance Perspectives on Nanotechnology Water Innovation

As nanotechnology applications are being developed to provide novel solutions to many of the world’s water problems—from developing improved desalination methods to cleaning up emerging pollutants—the international community has a unique opportunity to develop and implement new kinds of governance systems that will ensure that these applications can reach the market quickly, efficiently, and successfully. National and international regulatory bodies, from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the United States to the United Nations Water Program (UN-Water), can address this challenge of applying nanotechnology to improving water quality by adopting methodologies that spur innovation for development early in the research process, focusing on new ways of disseminating information about nanotechnology water applications, and considering the full life cycle of nanotechnology water applications. This chapter will investigate some of the ways that barriers to collaboration around nanotechnology water applications in the international arena can be overcome. It begins by diagnosing the need for policy interventions with respect to nanotechnology and water and then offers a series of recommendations for approaches that may successfully address these challenges. The main purpose is to present an emerging set of policy options that can accelerate the application of nanotechnology toward improving water quality. However, without appropriate supportive policy options that can advance innovation responsibly, there is a potential that these benefits could be lost due to delay, lack of commercialization opportunity, and poor public outreach and communication.
Science, syntax, and superiority in eleventh-century Christian–Muslim discussion: Elias of Nisibis on the Arabic and Syriac languages

Elias of Nisibis, an eleventh-century bishop of the ‘Nestorian’ Church of the East, was a Christian author fluent in Syriac and Arabic. Elias composed works on a variety of topics including theology, history, grammar, and lexicography. His Arabic work the Book of sessions (Kitāb al-majālis) relates discussions that he had with the Muslim vizier Abū al-Qāsim al-Maghribī on seven different occasions. The sixth discussion focuses on the merits of Arab and Syriac sciences and compares their languages with reference to syntax, lexicography, and written script. This article contextualizes and outlines the sixth dialogue, arguing that the text does not accurately reflect Elias' understanding of Syriac and Arabic grammar and sciences. Rather, the discourse has three purposes: to recognize scientific achievements by Syriac scholars, to strengthen the rational arguments for the Christian faith, and to recommend that Muslims should evaluate matters, including their interpretation of the Qur'an, through the use of sc...
Words: what are they, and do animals have them?

Abstract Since the word is not a well-defined entity like the sentence, one looks for findings that may help to clarify it. The effect of nonsense words on the young child's sorting of taxonomic versus thematic alternatives is said to be such a finding. A young child given, say, duck as a sample, goose and nest as alternatives, picks nest (thematic alternative), whereas the older child picks goose (taxonomic). However, if told the duck is called “ZLT” in Croatian, and asked to “find another ZLT”, the young child shifts to goose. Markman and Hutchinson (1984) claim this demonstrates that young children know that words are “names of object categories” (and that this knowledge protects them against false hypotheses, facilitating their acquisition of words). In the present study, we applied the Markman et al. procedure to young “language-trained” chimpanzees. The animals were at an early stage of training, having used “words” solely in the function “X goes with Y”, or “if shown X, get Y”. Although these functions are notably weaker than “X is the name of a category”, the animals showed a thematic-taxonomic shift, thus behaving like young children. The Markman-Hutchinson interpretation of the shift effect is unsatisfactory in two respects: (1) the shift effect can be explained without attributing any knowledge of what a word is to either creature, child or ape; more important (2), the interpretation does not address the main question: what is a “name” and what does a child think it is? We conclude with a discussion of what a word is, appealing to information retrieval on the one hand, and intention to refer on the other.
A model for drought inhibition of bobwhite quail (Colinus virginianus) reproductive systems

1. 1. Bobwhite quail given water-restriction treatments of 60, 40, 20 or 0% of ad lib consumption (100%) had 1.4-, 1.8-, 4.1-and 5.9-fold increases, respectively, in plasma corticosterone (B) when compared to controls (2.7 ng/ml). 2. 2. Dietary B doses of 0.1, 0.5, 1.0 or 2.0 mg/day/bird resulted in 1.2-, 2.1-, 4.1- and 6.3-fold increases in plasma B concentrations, respectively. Similar results were obtained with daily B injections indicating about 10% dietary absorption efficiency. 3. 3. Dietary B doses of 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 ng/day caused significant decreases in testes weights and sperm production of male quail. 4. 4. All doses of dietary B reduced egg laying in female quail; no eggs were laid by hens fed 1.0 or 2.0 ng/day. Ovary and oviduct weights were also depressed. 5. 5. A model for drought-induced reproductive failure in quail was developed using dietary B doses which mimicked plasma B levels during dehydration but without inducing water-balance complications.
Hospitalized Acute Exacerbation of COPD Impairs Flow and Nitroglycerin-Mediated Peripheral Vascular Dilation

Vascular function, as measured by flow mediated dilation (FMD) and nitroglycerin mediated dilation (NMD), is impaired in COPD. Increases in systemic inflammatory mediators during acute exacerbations of COPD (AECOPD) may further impair vascular function and may account for the increased prevalence of cardiovascular disease in COPD patients. Similarly it may account for the increased morbidity and mortality in COPD patients hospitalized with acute exacerbations. We hypothesized that FMD and NMD would be impaired during AECOPD requiring hospitalization and that vascular function would improve upon AECOPD resolution. We used FMD and NMD to evaluate vascular function in 19 patients hospitalized with AECOPD. FMD and NMD were repeated approximately three months later in 8 of these patients. In these eight patients significant improvements were observed in FMD (2.6 ± 1.5% vs 5.1 ± 2.4%, p = 0.04) and NMD (5.0 ± 2.6% vs 13.3 ± 4.5, p = 0.02) after resolution of their exacerbation. We conclude that endothelial and ...
Influence of the activity of glutathione reductase on the response of cultured lens epithelial cells from young and old rabbits to hydrogen peroxide

Our previous studies on cultured rabbit lens epithelial cells from 4-day-old rabbits showed that the glutathione redox cycle plays an important role in detoxifying H2O2, a potentially damaging oxidant present in the aqueous humor. Here we report the effect of donor age and cell density on the ability of cultured rabbit lens epithelial cells to detoxify H2O2. Lens epithelial cells (8 x 10(5] from a 4-day-old and an 8-year-old rabbit were cultured for 3 hr in minimal essential medium (MEM) or in MEM containing 0.01-0.1 mM H2O2 maintained with glucose oxidase. We determined the effect of H2O2 on the level of reduced glutathione (GSH), hexose monophosphate shunt activity, cell growth, and morphology. For growth studies, cells were exposed to the desired concentration of H2O2 for 3 hr and then cultured in MEM plus 10% rabbit serum for 7 days and counted. Young and old untreated cells contained high levels (30-40 nmol/8 x 10(5) cells) of GSH. Cells from 4-day-old rabbits tolerated 0.03 mM H2O2 with no effect on GSH and a minimal decrease in subsequent cell growth. However, in the older cells, GSH and growth were substantially diminished following treatment with 0.03 mM H2O2. Cells plated out at high density (8 x 10(5] were more tolerant of 0.03 mM H2O2 than cells plated out at low density (5 x 10(4]. Maximum shunt activity in the younger cells exposed to H2O2 was twice that of the older cells and occurred at a higher level of H2O2 (0.04 compared with 0.03 mM). Enzyme activities in untreated young and old cells were comparable for hexokinase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, and glutathione peroxidase. However, glutathione reductase activity was 50% lower in the cells from the 8-year-old rabbit. The toxicity of H2O2 to cultured lens epithelial cells was directly related to donor age and inversely related to cell density. The damage in the older lens epithelial cells at 0.03 mM H2O2 was apparently due, in part, to a diminished response of the glutathione redox cycle to oxidative challenge.
Teaching control and capability at alcoa

The past efforts by the Aluminum Company of America (Alcoa) to create a statistically capable work force have met with limited success. Faced with a mixed record of translating statistical training to on-the-job application and meeting demanding executive expectations, members of the Alcoa Quality, Training and Education Department are creating tools which help Alcoa develop quantitatively literate employees- One result is a workshop which gives the participants hands-on experience and provides them with an appropriate set of statistical tools “just-in time”. This paper outlines the elements of the workshop, emphasizing that bringing a process into control and making it capable is really empirical learning. Learning models are explored, and an algorithm outlining a methodology to bring processes into control and make them capable is presented.
Isolation of Soluble HL-A Antigens from Normal Human Sera by Ion Exchange Chromatography

Soluble HL–A antigens have been isolated from normal human sera by QAE Sephadex ionexchange chromatography. The antigen preparations were tested for specificity by inhibition of lymphocytotoxicity of 25 well-characterized HL–A alloantisera. The soluble antigen preparations inhibited only those specificities corresponding to or strongly cross-reacting with the HL–A antigens present in the respective serum donor.
Laparoscopic Treatment of Epiphrenic Diverticula: Preoperative Evaluation and Surgical Technique. How I Do It

Introduction Traditionally, epiphrenic diverticula have been managed through a left thoracotomy. With the advancement of minimally invasive techniques, a laparoscopic approach has gained widespread popularity. Unfortunately, the preoperative evaluation of patients with epiphrenic diverticula, and their surgical management, is still not well characterized.
Mufact: An Algorithm for Multiple Factor Analyses of Singular and Nonsingular Data With Orthogonal and Oblique Transformation Solutions:

A general factor analysis computer algorithm is briefly discussed. The computer algorithm is highly transportable with minimum limitations on number of variables and no limitations on the number of observations. Both singular and non-singular data can be analyzed with the algorithm.
Fracture toughness study of new Zr-based Be-bearing bulk metallic glasses

Three new compositional variants of the Zr–Ti–Be–LTM (late transition metal) family of metallic glasses are discussed. Thermal stability, ΔT = T_x−T_g, was increased from 82 °C for Zr_(41.2)Ti_(13.8)Cu_(12.5)Ni_(10)Be_(22.5) (Viterloy 1) to 141 °C for Zr_(44)Ti_(11)Cu_(20)Be_(25). It is found that fracture toughness is the most distinguishing parameter characterizing the alloys in contrast to other mechanical properties. Quaternary alloys consistently had fracture toughness values exceeding 80 MPa m^(1/2), while for Vitreloy 1 K_Q = 48.5 MPa m^(1/2) with a large amount of scatter. Adding iron reduced the fracture toughness to 25 MPa m^(1/2).
Ion channels from synaptic vesicle membrane fragments reconstituted into lipid bilayers.

Cholinergic synaptic vesicles were isolated from the electric organ of Torpedo californica. Vesicle membrane proteins were reconstituted into planar lipid bilayers by the nystatin/ergosterol fusion technique. After fusion, a variety of ion channels were observed. Here we identify four channels and describe two of them in detail. The two channels share a conductance of 13 pS. The first is anion selective and strongly voltage dependent, with a 50% open probability at membrane potentials of -15 mV. The second channel is slightly cation selective and voltage independent. It has a high open probability and a subconductance state. A third channel has a conductance of 4–7 pS, similar to the subconductance state of the second channel. This channel is fairly nonselective and has gating kinetics different from those of the cation channel. Finally, an approximately 10-pS, slightly cation selective channel was also observed. The data indicate that there are one or two copies of each of the above channels in every synaptic vesicle, for a total of six channels per vesicle. These observations confirm the existence of ion channels in synaptic vesicle membranes. It is hypothesized that these channels are involved in vesicle recycling and filling.
Personality and laboratory-based aggression: Comparing the predictive power of the Five-Factor Model, BIS/BAS, and impulsivity across context

Abstract Despite growing interest in the role of personality in the prediction of aggression, few studies have taken a comprehensive approach to the issue. To assess effects of personality on aggression, we compared measures of the Five-Factor Model (FFM), behavioral inhibition/activation, and impulsivity traits across conditions (Equal or Differential ability to harm). Participants ( N = 137) competed in an aggression task wherein they received shocks and were able to shock their opponent who they believed had either identical or higher shocks at his/her disposal. Across conditions, FFM Antagonism, and Drive predicted aggression, whereas Extraversion was related to aggression only for men in the Differential condition. Surprisingly, the impulsivity traits and Neuroticism were largely unrelated to aggression. The importance of trait perspectives to understanding aggression is discussed.
Structural characterisation of synthetic gallium mazzite

Abstract The structure of dehydrated gallium mazzite, Na 4 Si 14 Ga 4 O 36 - a synthetic zeolite, has been determined by full profile analysis of powder neutron diffraction data collected on the new powder diffractometer of the Missouri University Research Reactor facility. The hexagonal structure, space group P6 3 /mmc, is similar to that previously reported for the natural mineral mazzite. The partitioning of gallium over the two inequivalent tetrahedral sites is found to be random. Framework vacancies are also observed.
A high-frequency sonar for profiling small-scale subaqueous bedforms

Abstract A high-resolution ultrasonic profiler has been developed which permits both laboratory and field studies of small-scale subaqueous bedforms. The device uses a 2.5-cm diameter piezoelectric ceramic crystal pulsed at a frequency of 4.5 MHz to obtain vertical accuracy and resolution of at least 1 mm. Compared to other small-scale profiling methods, this ultrasonic technique profiles the bottom more accurately and more rapidly without disturbing the bedforms. These characteristics are vital in wave-dominated nearshore zones where oscillatory flow and low visibility for the most part have stymied detailed bedform studies. In the laboratory the transducer is mounted directly to an instrument carriage. For field work the transducer housing is mounted in a 2 m long aluminum frame which is situated and operated by scuba divers. Observations using the device include ripple geometry and migration, the suspension height of sand during sheet flow, and long-term erosion/deposition at a point.
Long-term outcome of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis after pediatric renal transplantation.

Recurrence of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) after renal transplantation can limit graft survival. Despite new immunosuppressive agents, the incidence of recurrence remains relatively high. To identify risk factors for recurrence and efficacy of treatment, we reviewed the outcome of 23 grafts in 16 children with FSGS who had undergone transplantation between 1985 and 2007 at La Paz Children’s Hospital. Recurrence was 56.3% after the first transplantation. We did not find significant differences in age at diagnosis, age at transplantation, age at end-stage renal disease (ESRD), progression to ESRD, bilateral nephrectomy of native kidneys prior to transplantation, use of induction therapy or of different immunosuppressive regimens between patients with and without recurrence. Plasmapheresis (PP) was carried out in seven of nine patients who had suffered recurrence, achieving remission in six of them. One patient received high doses of cyclosporin (CsA) and plasmapheresis, attaining remission. Graft survival was lower (P = 0.043) in patients with FSGS than in those with other ESRD etiologies (first year 75% vs 91%; fifth year 44% vs 78%). Recurrence of FSGS limited graft survival (first year 66% vs 85%; third year 20% vs 68%) (P = 0.07). In our experience, PP can be effective in treating FSGS recurrence, although its effect on long-term graft survival seems more limited.
Endogenous Patterns of BMP Signaling during Early Chick Development

Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are members of the transforming growth factor β superfamily signaling molecules that play important roles in a wide variety of developmental processes. In this study, we have used an antibody specific for the phosphorylated and activated form of Smad1 to examine endogenous patterns of BMP signaling in chick embryos during early development. We find complex spatial and temporal distributions of BMP signaling that elucidate how BMPs may function in multiple patterning events in the early chick embryo. In the pregastrula embryo, we find that BMP signaling is initially ubiquitous and is extinguished in the epiblast at the onset of primitive streak formation. At the head process stage, BMP signaling is inactivated in prospective neural plate, while it is strongly activated at the neural plate border, a region which is populated by cells that will give rise to neural crest. During later development, we find a dynamic spatiotemporal activation of BMP signaling along the rostrocaudal axis, in the dorsal neural tube, in the notochord, and in the somites during their maturation process. We discuss the implication of our results for endogenous functions of BMP signaling during chick development.
Fretting fatigue behaviour of shot-peened Ti-6Al-4V at room and elevated temperatures

Fretting fatigue behaviour of shot-peened titanium alloy, Ti-6Al-4V was investigated at room and elevated temperatures. Constant amplitude fretting fatigue tests were conducted over a wide range of maximum stresses, σ max = 333 to 666 MPa with a stress ratio of R = 0.1. Two infrared heaters, placed at the front and back of specimen, were used to heat and maintain temperature of the gage section of specimen at 260 °C. Residual stress measurements by X-ray diffraction method before and after fretting test showed that residual compressive stress was relaxed during fretting fatigue. Elevated temperature induced more residual stress relaxation, which, in turn, decreased fretting fatigue life significantly at 260 °C. Finite element analysis (FEA) showed that the longitudinal tensile stress, σ xx varied with the depth inside the specimen from contact surface during fretting fatigue and the largest σ xx could exist away from the contact surface in a certain situation. A critical plane based fatigue crack initiation model, modified shear stress range parameter (MSSR), was computed from FEA results to characterize fretting fatigue crack initiation behaviour. It showed that stress relaxation during test affected fretting fatigue life and location of crack initiation significantly. MSSR parameter also predicted crack initiation location, which matched with experimental observations and the number of cycles for crack initiation, which showed the appropriate trend with the experimental observations at both temperatures.
A comparison of gene region simulation methods

Background: Accurately modeling LD in simulations is essential to correctly evaluate new and existing association methods. At present, there has been minimal research comparing the quality of existing gene region simulation methods to produce LD structures similar to an existing gene region. Here we compare the ability of three approaches to accurately simulate the LD within a gene region: HapSim (2005), Hapgen (2009), and a minor extension to simple haplotype resampling. Methodology/Principal Findings: In order to observe the variation and bias for each method, we compare the simulated pairwise LD measures and minor allele frequencies to the original HapMap data in an extensive simulation study. When possible, we also evaluate the effects of changing parameters. HapSim produces samples of haplotypes with lower LD, on average, compared to the original haplotype set while both our resampling method and Hapgen do not introduce this bias. The variation introduced across the replicates by our resampling method is quite small and may not provide enough sampling variability to make a generalizable simulation study. Conclusion: We recommend using Hapgen to simulate replicate haplotypes from a gene region. Hapgen produces moderate sampling variation between the replicates while retaining the overall unique LD structure of the gene region.
Alterations in precision of the crossed retinotectal projection during chick development

Chick embryos received partial eye lesions. Examination of the embryos early in development showed the partial retina projecting across the entire tectum. At later stages the partial retina projected only to the appropriate portion of the tectum. The results suggest that the retina initially projects diffusely to the tectum and that the topographically aberrant projections are eliminated during subsequent development.
Hydroquinone as a buffer additive for suppression of bubbles formed by electrochemical oxidation of the CE buffer at the outlet electrode in capillary electrophoresis/electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry.

Hydroquinone was found to suppress bubble formation at the outlet electrode of a sheathless capillary electrophoresis/electrospray ionization-mass spectrometer by replacing the oxidation of water (2H2O(l) ↔ O2(g) + 4H+ + 4e) with that of more easily oxidized hydroquinone (hydroquinone ↔ p-benzoquinone + 2H+ + 2e). Formation of p-benzoquinone replaces the formation of oxygen gas, effectively suppressing gas bubble formation. Several electrode materials, including platinum, gold-coated stainless steel, and stainless steel wires, were tested. However, hydroquinone suppressed bubbles only at the platinum electrode. Combination of the in-capillary electrode sheathless interface using platinum wire, hydroquinone as a buffer additive, and pressure programming at the inlet of the capillary electrophoresis provided a rugged high efficiency interface for analysis of protein digests using CE/ESI-MS.
Experimental design in the deposition of BN interface coatings on SiC fibers by chemical vapor deposition

Abstract Boron Nitride (BN) coatings deposited by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) have been increasingly used as an interface material for SiC/SiC composites. In this work, the CVD of BN was investigated using a statistical design of experiments (DOE) approach. In order to determine the most significant parameters for the process a two-level screening design (Plackett–Burman) was employed. The deposition pressure, gas mixture dilution factor, deposition time, and the reaction gas flow ratios were found to be the most significant factors that influenced coating thickness. To optimize the deposition process, a three-level surface response design (Box–Behnken) was used with the aim of producing a predictive mathematical model of the process. The generated response surface modeling (RSM) showed that deposition time had the greatest effect on coating thickness while, temperature–time and temperature–NH 3 /BCl 3 interactions may be large at low/high NH 3 /BCl 3 ratios and high deposition time, respectively. Tensile strength was strongly influenced by the deposition temperature and deposition time. The response model showed the dependence of tensile strength on coating thickness, NH 3 /BCl 3 gas flow ratios and time. The model interaction plots suggested a dependence of temperature–gas flow ratio on tensile strengths of BN coated SiC fibers.
Autocorrelation of Solar Activity

IN this communication we examine the autocorrelation function R of various indexes of solar activity over time-lags,τ, of 1–200 days. Four indexes of solar activity were used: the daily relative sunspot number (Zurich), and the mean daily fluxes from Nagoya at the frequencies 1,000 Mc/s, 3,750 Mc/s and 9,400 Mc/s. The data were analysed for the years 1957–58 (more than 700 days) and for the years 1960–63 (900 days), thus comparing the highly active years of the solar cycle with the less-active years. In addition, the relative sunspot numbers for the years 1947–48 and 1937–38 were analysed for comparison.
Comparative in vivo activities of rifabutin and rifapentine against Mycobacterium avium complex

The dose-response activity of rifabutin and the comparative activities of rifabutin and rifapentine were evaluated in the beige mouse model of disseminated Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) infection. In the dose-response study, mice were infected intravenously with approximately 10(7) viable M. avium ATCC 49601. Treatment with rifabutin at 10, 20, or 40 mg/kg of body weight was started 7 days postinfection and was administered daily for 10 days. The mice were sacrificed 3 to 5 days after the last dose. Spleens, livers, and lungs were homogenized, and viable cell counts were determined by serial dilution and plating onto Middlebrook 7H10 agar. A dose-related reduction in MAC cell counts in the organs was noted for this MAC isolate. The comparative activities of rifabutin and rifapentine were determined against a total of five MAC isolates in the beige mouse model. Rifabutin or rifapentine (20 mg/kg each) was administered to infected mice for 10 days. Groups of treated mice were compared with untreated control animals. Despite favorable in vitro susceptibility results, rifabutin and rifapentine had activities in the spleens against only two of the five MAC isolates. For these two MAC isolates, rifabutin was more active than rifapentine. These agents had activities in the lungs against three of five isolates. Further study of rifabutin or rifapentine against a broader range of clinical isolates in a murine infection model may be useful as part of the continuing development of newer rifamycins as anti-MAC agents.
Search through a sequentially presented visual display

Several paradoxes in the visual information processing literature are reviewed. Two experiments utilizing a sequential presentation technique suggested a two-stage model of visual search in which a parallel initial stage guides the operation of a slower serial discrimination stage. A computer simulation provided a good quantitative fit to the results of both experiments. The two-stage model shows how the paradoxes may be resolved as well as providing a framework for integrating results from visual search and spatial selective attention research.
Adjuvants and their signaling pathways: beyond TLRs.

TLR ligands mediate adjuvant effects. Unlike lipopolysaccharide, poly(I:C) is capable of using a TLR-Trif–independent pathway to induce costimulatory molecule upregulation on antigen-presenting cells.
Effect of delay time on the performance of DUV resist for various pattern size and shape

Airborne amine control history for DUV lithography dates back to early 1990's. Environmentally stable resist coupled with air filter system was successfully adopted to cope with the issue. Today's trend toward extending KrF lithography lifetime further, however, demands a hard-to-achieve goal in CD control budget. Small CD change which was acceptable several years ago can no longer be tolerated in current critical technology node. We came to know that CD changes in a different manner for delay time depending on the amine concentration, pattern size, shape, and density. At very low amine concentration, delay time dependency is strongly governed by the chemical composition of the resist material. Relaxation of such dependency could be fulfilled by tuning resist bake condition.
The Hill-Sachs lesion An experimental study

The Hill-Sachs lesion is an important indication of previous anterior shoulder dislocation. We created Hill-Sachs lesions by using cadaveric humeri. Roentgenographs of these cadaveric humeri in the standard projections were then taken. Under fluoroscopy, new projections of the cadaveric humeri were obtained. In a clinical study, 15 patients (14 men and 1 woman; age range, 23 to 63 years; mean, 30 years) with known recurrent anterior shoulder dislocations were evaluated by using standard and new roentgenographic projections. On the basis of the cadaveric and clinical studies, the optimal methods for detecting Hill-Sachs lesions include the following three roentgenograms: anteroposterior view of the glenohumeral joint with the humerus in 45 degrees internal rotation, the notch (Stryker) view, and the modified Didiee view.
Augmentation cystoplasty: what are the indications?

Augmentation cystoplasty has been studied and performed by urologists for more than 100 years. Although specific indications, techniques, and materials used have undergone major changes and revisions during this period, the general concepts have remained the same. Bladder augmentation increases the bladder’s storage capacity. Specific indications include structurally diminished bladder capacity, neurogenically incapacitated bladder, special circumstances of overactive bladder, and interstitial cystitis. This article briefly reviews techniques including laparoscopic and extraperitoneal approaches. Most common long-term consequences of bladder augmentation including chronic infections, bladder stones, perforation, and malignancy are described. Overall, we demonstrate that in appropriately selected patients, bladder augmentation presents an excellent treatment option to improve bladder capacity, achieve socially acceptable continence, and stabilize renal function.
NIH Neural Interfaces Workshop

Arresting disabling tremor, allowing paralyzed individuals to reach and grasp, and enabling the deaf to hear are only a few examples of how neural prostheses are improving the lives of individuals ...
Tularemia presenting as a cervical abscess

A 40-year-old man presented with two months of progressive left neck swelling, night sweats, and fatigue. He worked as a hunting guide in New Mexico and reported multiple bites from insects, including deer flies, on the job. He had been treated with penicillin, cephalexin, and clindamycin, but his symptoms persisted. On presentation to our institution, his examination was notable for a temperature of 97.4°F, clear throat, and a 4 × 5-cm erythematous, mildly tender mass in the left neck with an area of fluctuance superiorly (Fig 1). Fine needle aspiration revealed necrotizing acute inflammation without granulomas; cultures were negative, and smears were negative for acid-fast bacilli. Chest x-ray was clear, and a tuberculin skin test was negative. A contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) scan was obtained shortly after the mass spontaneously drained and revealed a 1.8 × 0.8 × 2.4-cm subcutaneous fluid collection at the level of the platysma, but no lymph-adenopathy (Fig A1, available online at www.otojournal.org). A serum titer for tularemia was sent and returned four days later, and was highly positive at 1:8192 (normal, < 1:128). Following a four-week course of oral ciprofloxacin 750 mg twice daily and doxycycline 100 mg twice daily, his symptoms resolved. Figure 1 A large erythematous and fluctuant mass in the left neck noted on presentation. Institutional review board approval was not required for this report. Tularemia is a rare zoonotic disease of the Northern Hemisphere caused by the gram-negative bacterium Fran-cisella tularensis. The organism can infect hundreds of different vertebrates and invertebrates, particularly rabbits and rodents. Transmission to humans in the United States occurs most often by the bite of a tick or deer fly, by inhalation of aerosolized bacteria (e.g., mowing lawns contaminated with the organism), or through contact with contaminated soil or animal products (e.g., skinning rabbits). Tularemia presents in one of six classic forms: ulceroglandular, glandular, oculoglandular, pharyngeal, typhoidal, or pneumonic. After an average incubation period of three to five days, patients typically develop a febrile illness. Treatment is with antibiotics, with intramuscular streptomycin the treatment of choice in severe cases.1,2 Our patient presented after a two-month illness with what appeared to be the glandular form of tularemia. However, the CT scan did not show adenopathy but rather a subcutaneous abscess that mimicked a sebaceous cyst. Oztoprak et al also reported cysts and abscesses in their case series on the evaluation of cervical CT findings in oropharyngeal tularemia.3 Recent World Health Organization recommendations suggest that oral ciprofloxacin or doxycycline can be used in less severe cases.4 We chose to use both concomitantly, given the high relapse rate with either drug alone.2
Effect of the density of the C18 surface coverage on the adsorption mechanism of a cationic compound and on the silanol activity of the stationary phase in reversed phase liquid chromatography

RPLC columns with different surface coverages (a C(1) endcapped column with a bonding density of 3.92 micromol/m(2) and four C(18)-bonded, endcapped columns, with octadecyl chain densities of 0.42, 1.01, 2.03, and 3.15 micromol/m(2)) were used to investigate the effects of the density of the surface coverage of RPLC columns on the adsorption mechanism of a cationic compound, amitriptyline chloride, and on the silanol activity of these columns. The mobile phases used were acetonitrile-water (30/70, v/v) solutions, buffered at either pH 2.7 or pH 6.9. At pH 2.7, the residual silanol groups are not ionized. At pH 6.9, some of these groups are ionized and these surface anions can strongly interact with the cationic compound. The adsorption isotherms were measured by frontal analysis (FA) at pH 2.7 and by frontal analysis by characteristic points (FACP) at pH 6.9, because the very high retention observed at neutral pH made FA measurements excessively long and poorly accurate. The adsorption energy distributions (AEDs) were calculated when possible, according to the expectation-maximization (EM) algorithm. A bimodal and a trimodal energy distribution were found for all the columns at pH 2.7 and 6.9, respectively. The third site measured at pH 6.9 was attributed to the strong ion-exchange interactions between the ionized silanol groups and the amitriptylinium cation. The contribution of the ionized silanol groups to the overall retention is maximum for the phases with intermediary bonding densities (1.01 and 2.03 micromol/m(2)). The peak tailing is most pronounced for the lowest (C(1) column) and the highest (3.15 micromol/m(2)) surface coverages.
Reference lineshape adjusted difference NMR spectroscopy. I. Theory

Abstract The accuracy and reliability of difference NMR spectroscopy can be substantially improved by a simple correction for changes in experimental conditions between the two spectra being subtracted. The correction is based on a transformation that will make the lineshape of a reference signal identical in the two spectra before subtraction. This correction procedure will simultaneously compensate for changes in the magnitude and homogeneity of the static magnetic field, changes in the intensity of the rf field and the reference phase of the detector, changes in the sweep rate, and changes in the spinning rate of the sample.
Microstructural abnormalities of short-distance white matter tracts in autism spectrum disorder

Recent functional connectivity magnetic resonance imaging and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) studies have suggested atypical functional connectivity and reduced integrity of long-distance white matter fibers in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, evidence for short-distance white matter fibers is still limited, despite some speculation of potential sparing of local connectivity in ASD. Short-distance U-fibers are an important component of neural networks and are thought to play a crucial role in cognitive function. In the present study, we applied tract-based spatial statistics to derive short- and long-distance white matter tracts in frontal, parietal, and temporal lobes in both hemispheres. DTI data were acquired from 26 children with ASD and 24 typically developing (TD) children. A mean fractional anisotropy (FA) image was created and thinned to represent centers of all common tracts. Evidence of compromised short-distance tracts for the ASD group was found in frontal lobe (reduced FA, increased mean diffusivity [MD] and radial diffusivity) as well as in temporal and parietal lobes (increased MD and radial diffusivity). Significant positive correlations between age and FA and negative correlations between age and MD and radial diffusivity were also found for short-distance tracts in each lobe in the TD, but not the ASD group. These results suggest white matter compromise in short-distance tracts in ASD. Absence of typical age-related correlations with DTI indices may reflect altered maturation of short-distance tracts in ASD. Our results are inconsistent with a notion of selective sparing of short-distance connectivity in ASD.
A dynamic buildup growth model for magnetic particle accumulation on single wires in high-gradient magnetic separation

Magnetic fluids containing nano or submicron magnetic particles and their applications to food, biological, and pharmaceutical systems have recently attracted considerable attention. Magnetic particles can be collected efficiently in magnetizable matrices (e.g., iron wires) in high-gradient magnetic separation processes. However, capture efficiencies based on results for clean, particle-free, wires may be seriously in error because the particle accumulation on the wire distorts the flow and the magnetic fields, and thus influences the capture efficiency. A model is developed here in which the dynamic growth process is treated as a moving boundary problem, with the growing front tracked explicitly by marker points distributed evenly over its surface. The flow field and magnetic field are calculated using a finite element method, and a particle trajectory model is used to calculate the deposition flux on the surface. The marker point distribution and the buildup shape are updated at each simulation step. Simulation results show that, for weakly magnetic particles, the accumulation exhibits a smoothly growing front, whereas for strongly magnetic particles, an instability occurs, leading to dendritic growth. The capture efficiency decreases dramatically as particle accumulation increases; and this trend is more prominent for the transverse configuration than it is for the longitudinal configuration. The simulation results show good agreement with experimental results from the literature. © 2011 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2012
Determination of the structural configuration of cresol–novolak resins by 13C NMR spectroscopy

13C NMR spectroscopy was used to investigate the structures of a series of pure isomeric cresylic novolak resins. Chemical shifts were measured and assigned, and end groups were distinguished from the central repeat units of the chains. Based on these measurements, the number average molecular weight of the para-cresylic oligomer was determined. A comparison of the 13C decoupled and coupled spectra of the three isomeric resins indicates that the para isomer has a linear, ordered structure in which the aromatic rings are linked only by ortho–ortho′ methylene-bridging groups. The structures of the ortho and meta isomers are more complex and contain ortho–ortho′, ortho–para′, and para–para′ methylene bridges.