cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Preparation, Structure, and Mechanical Stability of Alkylsilane Monolayers on Mica

The preparation, structure, and mechanical stability of self-assembled monolayers formed by octadecyltriethoxysilane (OTE) on mica have been studied by atomic force microscopy. The nanometer scale morphology of the films (3-D clusters, pinholes, etc.) is compared for various preparation methods and correlated with their macroscopic wettability. High-resolution images of the atomically smooth monolayer (1.5 A root mean square roughness) reveal the existence of only short range order. By applying a load above 10 nN with sharp Si{sub 3}N{sub 4} tips (radius < 300 A), the film could be removed leaving 25 A deep holes. Using the same tip, thiol monolayers on gold could be displaced at loads 5 nN, although, in this case, the displacement was reversible. In contrast to the case of OTE, films formed by octadecyldimethylmethoxysilane (ODMS) showed the presence of only 3-D clusters with poor adhesion to the mica substrate. On the basis of these results, we conclude that the mechanical strength of the films formed by OTE is due to siloxane cross-linking between molecules rather than to chemical bonding to the mica substrate. 13 refs., 5 figs.
Accurate GPS orientation of a long baseline for Neutrino Oscillation Experiments at Fermilab

Recent research in elementary particle physics is concentrating a great amount of effort on neutrino oscillation experiments. These studies require the accurate pointing of neutrino beams between two distant points. The Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (Fermilab) intends to build a new particle beamline to direct a beam of muon neutrinos from its Main Injector toward a far-off (735 km away) underground detector capable of searching for non-zero neutrino mass by looking for neutrino oscillations. This paper describes the GPS work carried out to accurately position the reference ground marks at the two sites from which the spatial orientation of the baseline can be accurately determined. The effect of plate rotations on the absolute orientation of the baseline was also investigated.
L552S, an alternatively spliced isoform of XAGE-1, is over-expressed in lung adenocarcinoma

Using a combination of cDNA subtraction and microarray analysis, we report here the identification and characterization of L552S, an over-expressed, alternatively spliced isoform of XAGE-1 in lung adenocarcinoma. Real-time RT-PCR analysis shows that L552S is expressed at levels greater than 10-fold in 12 of 25 lung adenocarcinoma tumors compared with the highest expression level found in all normal tissues tested. L552S is expressed in both early and late stages of lung adenocarcinoma, but it was not detected in large cell carcinoma, small cell carcinoma, or atypical lung neuroendocrine carcinoid. The full-length cDNA for L552S comprises 770 bp and encodes a polypeptide of 160 amino acids. C-terminal 94 amino acids of L552S are identical to a cancer testis antigen, XAGE-1, found in Ewing's sarcoma. Genomic sequence analysis has revealed that L552S and XAGE-1 are alternatively spliced isoforms, and expression of both L552S and XAGE-1 isoforms are present in lung adenocarcinoma. Immunohistochemistry analysis using affinity purified L552S polyclonal antibodies demonstrated specific nuclear staining in 10 of 12 lung adenocarcinoma samples. Furthermore, antibody responses to recombinant L552S protein were observed in seven of 17 lung pleural effusion fluids of lung cancer patients. These results strongly imply that L552S protein is immunogenic and suggest that it might have use as a vaccine target for lung cancer.
Photo- and chemically-produced phylloquinone biradicals: EPR and ENDOR study

Abstract Phylloquinone biradical triplet species were generated by 300 nm irradiation of frozen (77 K) solutions or by treatment with AlCl 3 . The shape of the (Δ m s =1) electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) signal of the triplet is axially symmetric ( E =0) with D =19±0.5 mT for photo-induced and D =11.2±0.5 mT for chemically induced radicals. A half-field signal (Δ m s =2) in the region of g ≈4 was detected in both cases, confirming its assignment as a triplet. An additional line arising at the center of the (Δ m s =1) signal with g =2.0048±0.0002 was assigned to the phylloquinone radical anion (PhQ − ). Electron nuclear double resonance (ENDOR) measurements of the triplet revealed the sign of the D parameter. For photo-generated radicals it appeared to be negative, which is the characteristic of radical dimers with well-separated partners (biradicals). Spin–spin distances of 5.3 and 6.3 A, respectively, were estimated from the D parameter of photo-generated and chemically prepared phylloquinone biradicals.
The Auditory Midbrain of People with Tinnitus: Abnormal Sound-Evoked Activity Revisited

Sound-evoked fMRI activation of the inferior colliculi (IC) was compared between tinnitus and non-tinnitus subjects matched in threshold (normal), age, depression, and anxiety. Subjects were stimulated with broadband sound in an "on/off" fMRI paradigm with and without on-going sound from the scanner coolant pump. (1) With pump sounds off, the tinnitus group showed greater stimulus-evoked activation of the IC than the non-tinnitus group, suggesting abnormal gain within the auditory pathway of tinnitus subjects. (2) Having pump sounds on reduced activation in the tinnitus, but not the non-tinnitus group. This result suggests response saturation in tinnitus subjects, possibly occurring because abnormal gain increased response amplitude to an upper limit. (3) In contrast to Melcher et al. (2000), the ratio of activation between right and left IC did not differ significantly between tinnitus and non-tinnitus subjects or in a manner dependent on tinnitus laterality. However, new data from subjects imaged previously by Melcher et al. suggest a possible tinnitus subgroup with abnormally asymmetric function of the IC. The present and previous data together suggest elevated responses to sound in the IC are common among those with tinnitus and normal thresholds, while abnormally asymmetric activation is not, even among those with lateralized tinnitus.
Alterations in tissue levels of S-adenosylmethionine.

Abstract Tissue levels of S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe) were measured by a sensitive and specific isotope derivative, isotope dilution technique. The SAMe concentration in tissues can be altered by decreased production or increased utilization. Methionine administration increases SAMe concentration, while active methyl acceptors, such as pyrogallol, lower tissue levels. Tropolone, purpurogallin, pargyline, and imipramine also appear to lower tissue levels of this active methyl donor. Several environmental and pharmacological variables do not alter SAMe concentrations. Alteration of the activity of methionine-activating enzyme does not appear to be responsible for lowering SAMe levels with pyrogallol, tropolone, or pargyline. It is suggested that increased SAMe utilization is the important factor in the lowering of tissue SAMe by pyrogallol, purpurogallin, and pargyline.
Can Management Develop the World? Reply to Wilkins

"Why Isn't the Whole World Developed? Lessons from the Cotton Mills" argued that evidence from the cotton textile industry early in this century showed that the major obstacle to industrial development in poor countries was the inefficiency of their labor. Such barriers to development as lack of advanced technology, the absence of trained and energetic management, increasing returns to scale, learning by doing, and limited formal education were all much less important than the simple fact that the same machines running at the same speeds in mills operated by equivalent management required up to six times as many workers per machine in poor as in advanced countries.1 Had workers in poor countries such as India and China been as effective as those of the advanced nations, most of them would have industrialized long before 1910, dramatically changing the history of the modern world. Mira Wilkins has rightly taken issue with my abrupt dismissal of management as a factor determining national efficiencies in textile production.2 I argued that management was not an issue since British managers ran many mills in such low-efficiency countries as India, China, Russia, Brazil, and Mexico. But perhaps Lancashire sent only its least competent managers abroad, or they could not adapt to local conditions. As Wilkins notes, Japanese textile firms in China did better than Britishor Chinese-managed firms, though all used the same Chinese labor. This she attributes to the fact that Lancashire textile firms did not directly control British-managed mills overseas, whereas Japanese firms in China were branches of textile firms in Japan, from which they drew personnel and expertise.3 She concludes that their failure to establish multinational textile firms prevented the British from exporting their managerial skills. Poor countries failed to import suitable management, condemning them to the gross overmanning of machinery.
Problems with DCE security services

Distributed computing is receiving an ever increasing amount of interest and with it come many challenges, not the least of which is how to maintain system and network security. Issues relating to user authentication, access authorization, and communication security must be addressed when multiple, heterogeneous systems are connected. While these issues have been addressed in OSFs DCE, several problems remain. This paper describes some of these problems.
Towards an Understanding of Modern Political Ideology in Africa: The Case of the Ovimbundu of Angola

In 1992, several national newspapers in America and Europe ran headline stories which accused Jonas Savimbi, the leader of UNITA, the nationalist movement which had been locked in a vicious civil war with the MPLA–PT government of Angola, of conducting witchcraft trials and burnings of witches at his liberation base at Jamba. The revelations, provided by two high-ranking defectors from UNITA, caused an outcry among both critics and supporters, with all predicting Savimbi's ignominious defeat. Savimbi's longtime critics expected the latest scandal to deprive him of his remaining credibility, and predicted that the support he had gathered as a fighter for Angolan nationalism and a supporter of democracy would evaporate.On the contrary, the incident had little impact on Savimbi's stature among his Ovimbundu supporters. Later that year he went on to win the majority of the Ovimbundu votes in the United Nations sponsored elections, and gained a chance to be in a run-off election against Jose Eduardo dos Santos for the presidency of Angola. Details about these and similar incidents which have taken place in Africa from the time of conquest reflect a political legacy that has deep roots in Africa's pre-colonial past. They also illustrate some of the fundamental differences that exist between African and Western conceptions of political behaviour and ideology that need to be addressed.
Report on avian influenza outbreak in Minnesota Turkeys—1978

Abstract Influenza types Hav6 N1, Hav4 Neq2, Hav9 N2 and Hsw1 N1 were isolated from turkeys in Minnesota in 1978. Pathology from sub-clinical to acute cases were observed and one chicken flock was also infected. Over the course of ten years, increased virulence was observed and younger birds were affected. Transmission to new flocks was accomplished by commercial poultry handling practices. Spread within flocks was by direct contact but was supplemented with routine husbandry practices. Control was based on sanitation and isolation. A killed vaccine was considered in an attempt to eliminate the possibility of vertical transmission.
Self-configurable architecture for reusable systems with Accelerated Relocation Circuit (SCARS-ARC)

Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), with partial reconfiguration (PR) technology present an attractive option for creating reliable platforms that adapt to changes in user objectives over time and respond to hardware/software anomalies automatically with self-healing action. Conventional solutions for partial reconfiguration based self-configurable architectures experience severe hardware limitations on ability to move any partially reconfigurable module to any available region of the reconfigurable fabric and ability to relocate the module quickly. In this study we adopt the hardware-based partial bitstream relocation technique, Accelerated Relocation Circuit (ARC), into the FPGA based wirelessly networked self-configurable architecture that employs traditional module based partial reconfiguration strategy. We show that the integrated architecture allows flexibility for module relocation, reduces the off-chip communication overhead, and observes up to 17x speedup for module relocation over the traditional Xilinx hardware internal configuration access port wrapper (HWICAP) based implementation.
A new continuous dilution vapor liquid equilibrium apparatus: The activity coefficients of benzene and water in cyclohexane at 50°C

A semi-automated apparatus to measure vapor pressure differences between a reference solvent and dilute solutions as a function of concentration at constant temperature is described. Application to the benzene-cyclohexane and benzene-cyclohexane-water systems at high cyclohexane concentrations and low water concentrations is reported. At 50°C in the two component mixture we find lnγB=ln(f B/X B f B 0 )=0.408−0.89XB for 10−3<X B <3×10−2 and in the three component system, lnγW=6.79±0.04 for 10−6<X W <2×10−5 and 10−3<X B <3×10−2.
Intercostal Vessels and Nerves are at Risk for Injury During Supracostal Percutaneous Nephrostolithotomy

Purpose: We characterized key intercostal anatomical relationships relevant to supracostal percutaneous nephrostolithotomy using anatomical dissection.Materials and Methods: We performed 20 cadaveric dissections of the 11th intercostal space to characterize key anatomical relationships relevant to percutaneous upper pole renal access. Specific data recorded included intercostal rib distance at the lateral border of the paraspinous muscles, and the mid scapular and posterior axillary lines. We also recorded the distance between the 12th and 11th ribs to the intercostal nerve, artery and vein at the same 3 sites.Results: The average intercostal distance was 21, 23 and 26 mm at the lateral border of the paraspinous muscles, and the mid scapular and posterior axillary lines, respectively. The intercostal nerve was exposed to injury in 85%, 100% and 100% of patients at the 3 sites, respectively. The intercostal artery was exposed below the 11th rib in 30%, 60% and 70% of cadavers, respectively, and it was 6 mm...
Spectrographic Analysis of Animal Tissues

IN NATURE of April 20, 1929 (123, p. 601), one of us (H. R.) described a method of spectrographic analysis of mineral and organic substances and pointed out the value of the method for biological purposes. Since then we have undertaken a survey of the animal kingdom with the purpose of detecting and analysing quantitatively those of the less common elements contained in protoplasm and its products which can be investigated by this method.
Screening, Intervention, and Referral in Primary Care: A Continuing Challenge

Hazardous or at-risk drinkers (those who consume amounts higher than gender recommendations set by NIAAA) greatly increase their risks of death, injury, and negative social consequences, such as jo...
ABSOLUTE INSTABILITY IN A SUPERSONIC SHEAR LAYER AND MIXING CONTROL

The effects of the initial wake dee cit on the instability of a cone ned supersonic shear layer are investigated. The wake dee cit is generated by a thick splitter plate. If the wake dee cit is sufe ciently large, the e ow changes from being convectively to absolutely unstable. Physically, the absolute instability acts like an oscillator and the e ow behaves in a similar manner as under an externally driven excitation, except that the e ow is self-excited. It is argued that, if the frequency of the absolute instability coincides with that of an unstable convective instability further downstream, this instability may be excited, which could lead to mixing enhancement. To simulate the effect of the wake, a wake dee cit is superimposed onto a monotonic mean velocity proe le. The mean density is calculated through the Crocco ‐ Busemann relation. Numerical methods that use the Briggs ‐ Bers pinching criterion are implemented. The numerical results indicate that increasing the velocity difference between the two streams and cooling the low-speed stream facilitates the transition of the supersonic shear layer from convective to absolute instability.
Hypercorrection in test responses

(1975). Hypercorrection in test responses. Theory Into Practice: Vol. 14, Language Use and Acquisition, pp. 343-346.
Etoposide-resistant human colon and lung adenocarcinoma cell lines exhibit sensitivity to homoharringtonine.

Human colon (HCT 116/VP48) and lung (A549B/VP29) adenocarcinoma cell lines selected for resistance to etoposide exhibited modified patterns of multidrug resistance (MDR) that included a differential sensitivity to other DNA topoisomerase II inhibitors and to the plant alkaloids homoharringtonine, vinblastine, and vincristine. The resistance and cross-resistance drug phenotype of the A549B/VP29 cell line was different from that of the HCT116/VP48 cell line. The HCT116/VP48 cell line was 50-fold resistant to etoposide and 30-fold resistant to teniposide. The degree of resistance to other DNA topoisomerase II inhibitors was of a lower magnitude: Adriamycin, 9-fold; daunomycin, 3-fold; 4′-[(9-acridinyl)-amino]-methanesulfone-m-anisidide (m-AMSA), 3-fold;, and actinomycin D, 6-fold. The HCT 116/VP48 cell line exhibited a 7-fold resistance to vincristine and a 2-fold resistance to vinblastine but was sensitive to homoharringtohine. The A549B/VP29 cell line was 5-fold resistant to etoposide and 2-fold resistant to teniposide. The A549B/VP29 cell line exhibited a 2-fold resistance to Adriamycin but was sensitive to daunomycin and showed a 3-fold resistance to m-AMSA. This cell line was sensitive to actinomycin D. The A549B/VP29 cell line was 2-fold resistant to vinblastine and sensitive to homoharringtonine. Both cell lines (HCT116/VP48 and A549/VP29) exhibited no amplification of the humanmdrl DNA sequence, the 4.3-kb P-glycoprotein transcript, or the membrane P-glycoprotein. The sensitivity of cells exhibiting an MDR phenotype not mediated by P-glycoprotein suggests a potential use for homoharringtonine in treating tumors with this type of drug resistance.
Towards human-computer synergetic analysis of large-scale biological data

Background Advances in technology have led to the generation of massive amounts of complex and multifarious biological data in areas ranging from genomics to structural biology. The volume and complexity of such data leads to significant challenges in terms of its analysis, especially when one seeks to generate hypotheses or explore the underlying biological processes. At the state-of-the-art, the application of automated algorithms followed by perusal and analysis of the results by an expert continues to be the predominant paradigm for analyzing biological data. This paradigm works well in many problem domains. However, it also is limiting, since domain experts are forced to apply their instincts and expertise such as contextual reasoning, hypothesis formulation, and exploratory analysis after the algorithm has produced its results. In many areas where the organization and interaction of the biological processes is poorly understood and exploratory analysis is crucial, what is needed is to integrate domain expertise during the data analysis process and use it to drive the analysis itself.
Material characterization by holographic current, beam coupling and spin dependent conductivity

Effects of optical self-organization in photorefractive KNbO3 are observed and studied by optical and electro- motive force methods. The crystal is characterized by monitoring the electric currents induced in the crystal due to applied illumination. A theoretical model of the observed effects is suggested. Spin dependent conductivity in photorefractive crystals with paramagnetic centers is discussed.© (1996) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Everett Dirksen and His Presidents: How a Senate Giant Shaped American Politics

He was as recognizable by his mellifluous voice as by his rumpled appearance. Everett McKinley Dirksen was one of the most colorful American politicians of the twentieth century and was considered by some the most powerful man in Congress. Now Byron Hulsey takes a new look at the senator from Illinois to show how his interactions with the White House made him a pivotal figure in American politics during the Cold War era. Hulsey traces Dirksen's relationships with four presidents to show how the senator shifted from being a major Republican critic of Truman to an ardent Republican supporter of LBJ. Dirksen learned "suprapartisan politics" from Eisenhower and became Ike's most trusted confidant on Capitol Hill; then as Senate Minority Leader he played a key role in furthering the ambitious goals of the Johnson administration. Hulsey analyzes the reasons for Dirksen's dramatic policy reversals, telling how the senator who in 1950 warned of the dangers of a leviathan executive came to embrace the power of the presidential office to provide for the social welfare, contain the spread of communism, and guarantee civil rights. Drawing on primary sources at the Johnson presidential library and the Dirksen Congressional Center, Hulsey shows how the senator combined legislative craftsmanship with the ability to get bills passed. He links Dirksen to the issues and events that shaped the 1950s and 1960s and tells how the Johnson-Dirksen coalition moved domestic policy forward through civil rights legislation but ran aground on the insurmountable problem of Vietnam. Hulsey also uses Dirksen's career to explore change, continuity, and conflict in the Republican Party over two decades. He explains how the GOP evolved through internal political and ideological tensions from the Taft-Eisenhower contest through the McCarthy era to the beginning of Nixon administration, revealing Dirksen's role in that process. By the time of Dirksen's death in 1969, the Vietnam War, the explosion of urban riots, and President Nixon's preference for the politics of resentment put an end to the suprapartisan spirit. Hulsey's book recreates a Washington milieu the likes of which may never be seen again, offering a lens for viewing postwar American politics while painting the definitive political portrait of one of our most remarkable leaders.
Model Based Systems Engineering on the Europa mission concept study

At the start of 2011, the proposed Jupiter Europa Orbiter (JEO) mission was staffing up in expectation of becoming an official project later in the year for a launch in 2020. A unique aspect of the pre-project work was a strong emphasis and investment on the foundations of Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE). As so often happens in this business, plans changed: NASA's budget and science priorities were released and together fundamentally changed the course of JEO. As a result, it returned to being a study task whose objective is to propose more affordable ways to accomplish the science. As part of this transition, the question arose as to whether it could continue to afford the investment in MBSE. In short, the MBSE infusion has survived and is providing clear value to the study effort. In the process, the need to remain relevant in the new environment has brought about a wave of innovation and progress. By leveraging the existing infrastructure and a modest additional investment, striking advances in the capture and analysis of designs using MBSE were achieved. The effort has reaffirmed the importance of architecting. It has successfully harnessed the synergistic relationship of architecting to system modeling. We have found that MBSE can provide greater agility than traditional methods. We have also found that a diverse ‘ecosystem’ of modeling tools and languages (SysML, Mathematica, even Excel) is not only viable, but an important enabler of agility and adaptability. This paper will describe the successful application of MBSE in the dynamic environment of early mission formulation, the significant results produced and lessons learned in the process.
Selenium prevents spontaneous and arsenite-induced mutagenesis

Abstract Selenium (Se) and arsenic are next-door neighbors on the periodic table and have similar chemical properties as metalloids. Arsenic antagonizes selenium toxicity in a number of organisms. Inorganic arsenic in drinking water is a human carcinogen while selenium compounds are anticarcinogenic in animals and humans. Our previous work showed that arsenite enhanced solar UV-induced skin cancer in the hairless mouse and caused delayed mutagenesis in human HOS cells. Here, we assess the abilities of three selenium compounds to antagonize arsenite. Sodium selenite is far more toxic to HOS cells than selenomethionine and Se-(methyl)selenocysteine in a 10-day clonality assay. When concentrations subtoxic in the clonality assay were assessed for long-term effects on growth, selenite, but not the organic compounds, caused a delayed inhibitory effect after 3 weeks. None of the Se compounds effectively blocked arsenite toxicity. Both organoselenium compounds blocked spontaneous and arsenite-induced delayed mutagenesis. The mechanism of delayed mutagenesis by arsenite is not known, but reactive oxygen species may play a role. We suggest that the antimutagenic action of organoselenium might result from up-regulation of the selenoproteins GSH peroxidase and thioredoxin reductase, which would protect against spontaneous and arsenite-induced oxidative DNA damage.
Acoustic rhinometry: should we be using it?

AbstractPurpose of the reviewThe purpose of this review is to examine the role of acoustic rhinometry in clinical practice. Although acoustic rhinometry was first described for clinical use in 1989, it is not in common use today. Should we be using it? Yes. I think we should be using it more often.
Preliminary studies on the aggregation process of alpha-crystallin.

Abstract The mechanism by which α-crystallin subunits form the native 800 kD aggregate is currently unknown. Experiments were performed to investigate the mechanism for this process. Gel-filtration Fast Performance Liquid Chromatography (FPLC) and Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), with and without cross-linking with glutaraldehyde, indicate that α-crystallin undergoes a concentration-dependent aggregation process. The denaturation of α-crystallin, and its subsequent renaturation and reaggregation, lead to the formation of several different species. At very low concentrations ( m ), only monomeric and/or dimeric species exist. With a ten-fold increase in α-crystallin concentration from 0.05 μ m to 0.5 μ m , the amount of the monomeric/dimeric species increases to a plateau coincident with the appearance of a tetrameric species at 0.5 μ m . With an additional ten-fold increase in concentration from 0.5 μ m to 5 μ m , the amount of the tetrameric species increases and levels off to its own plateau coincident with the appearance of the native 800 kD α-crystallin aggregate at 5 μ m . The amount of the native species is extremely small at this concentration, but increases sharply and linearly with increasing concentration, while the concentrations of monomeric/dimeric and tetrameric species remain constant. The concentration at which the relative amount of the native species begins to increase sharply is within the range of the critical micelle concentration previously characterized.
An electron microscopic study of the baroreceptors in the internal carotid artery of the spontaneously hypertensive rat.

The carotid baroreceptor field of normotensive (NTR) and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) examined in this study extends for about 0.5 mm along the length and about 1/3 to 1/2 of the circumference of the wall of the internal carotid artery opposite to the carotid body. The vascular wall of the baroreceptor field exhibits neither a marked dilation to form a carotid sinus nor histological differences in the intima and media compared to other parts of the carotid artery. Histologically the adventitia of the baroreceptor field is characterized by (1) an increased thickness and by less well developed elastic lamellae in comparison with other parts of the arterial wall, (2) a profuse blood and nerve supply, and (3) a richness of cellular elements. The presumptive baroreceptor terminals are localized in the inner 1/3 of the adventitia and display local enlargements that appear to show preferential association with the cell body or processes of the Schwann cell but not with other components of the adventitia. The enlargements are characterized by an accumulation of very densely packed mitochondria, and glycogen particles. No morphological alterations were noted in the baroreceptor terminals of SHR except for proliferated basal laminae that invest the terminals. Our work does not support the concept that resetting of the baroreceptors is due to degeneration of the terminals.
Developing and Assessing Immersive Content for Naval Training: Lessons Learned in the Virtual World

Abstract : Content was developed in an immersive, 3-D virtual world (SecondLife Enterprise) as a pilot project to support a Navy training need to teach complex, highly visual concepts in an engaging fashion. An avatar-based virtual world was used due to their unique social and content creation properties. This project consisted of a series of modules designed to teach the naval concept of target motion analysis. The resulting ?immersive learning trail? augmented a two-week unit that was part of a longer course. Students from a Naval schoolhouse participated in classes that used this content, and several assessments were performed. Students gained the most from the content when complex spatial concepts were taught, though impressions of the entire trail were positive. Several lessons learned are reported, including the need to consistently make the experience as immersive as possible and the kind of content that benefits most from immersion.
Gas Phase Production and Loss of Isoprene Epoxydiols

Isoprene epoxydiols (IEPOX) form in high yields from the OH-initiated oxidation of isoprene under low-NO conditions. These compounds contribute significantly to secondary organic aerosol formation. Their gas-phase chemistry has, however, remained largely unexplored. In this study, we characterize the formation of IEPOX isomers from the oxidation of isoprene by OH. We find that cis-β- and trans-β-IEPOX are the dominant isomers produced, and that they are created in an approximate ratio of 1:2 from the low-NO oxidation of isoprene. Three isomers of IEPOX, including cis-β- and trans-β, were synthesized and oxidized by OH in environmental chambers under high- and low-NO conditions. We find that IEPOX reacts with OH at 299 K with rate coefficients of (0.84 ± 0.07) × 10^(–11), (1.52 ± 0.07) × 10^(–11), and (0.98 ± 0.05) × 10^(–11) cm^3 molecule^(–1) s^(–1) for the δ1, cis-β, and trans-β isomers. Finally, yields of the first-generation products of IEPOX + OH oxidation were measured, and a new mechanism of IEPOX oxidation is proposed here to account for the observed products. The substantial yield of glyoxal and methylglyoxal from IEPOX oxidation may help explain elevated levels of those compounds observed in low-NO environments with high isoprene emissions.
Computer simulation and virtual experiments for architectural acoustics education

Computer simulation and virtual computer experiments are one way of introducing students to concepts without the high cost of traditional experimental equipment. Computer simulation can show students the effectsof room reverberation on different types of acoustic signals including speech and music and to show the noise control effects of absorptive materials. Computer based digital filters can be used with audio files to auralize the acoustic transmission loss of different materials and constructions. In this presentation the use of computers for simulation and virtual experiments in architectural acoustics is discussed. A variety of modern computer programs for acoustic prediction and simulation of room acoustics and noise control are reviewed.
Sapropterin dihydrochloride for phenylketonuria and tetrahydrobiopterin deficiency

Sapropterin dihydrochloride is the first registered synthetic form of the naturally occurring cofactor and cosubstrate, tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4). It is essential for the conversion of phenylalanine (Phe) by phenylalanine-4-hydroxylase (PAH) to tyrosine. BH4 is also the co-factor of rate-limiting enzymes involved in the synthesis of monoamine neurotransmitters. Phenylketonuria (PKU) is an inherited disorder of PAH, characterized by elevated Phe concentrations (hyperphenylalaninemia) in the blood and brain, with toxic neurological consequences. Sapropterin dihydrochloride is approved for treating patients (of all ages in the USA and >4 years old in Europe) with PKU who are BH4 responsive, and those with BH4 deficiency (Europe). It decreases blood Phe concentration and increases dietary Phe tolerance in some patients with PKU on a low-Phe diet, allowing dietary adjustment or even discontinuation of a low-Phe diet. This article reviews sapropterin dihydrochloride for the management of PKU – aimed at improvin...
The seminiferous growth factor induces proliferation of TM4 cells in serum-free medium.

The seminiferous growth factor (SGF) of the mammalian testes induces DNA synthesis and cell proliferation of Balb/c 3T3 cells (Bellve and Feig, 1984; Rec Prog Hormone Res 40:531-567). In this study, SGF was purified 80,000- to 100,000-fold from calf testes and used to examine the growth of TM4 cells in a chemically defined medium. Cells were seeded sparsely in Dulbecco's Modified Eagles/Ham's F12 medium (1:1;v:v) (DME/F12 degrees), containing epidermal growth factor (EGF; 1 ng/ml), insulin (1; 10 micrograms/ml), and transferrin (Tr; 5 micrograms/ml) (DME/F12). After 24 h, the medium was replaced with DME/F12 degrees supplemented with SGF, EGF, 1, or Tr, in two-, three- or four-way combinations. Cell numbers were quantified after another 48 h of culture. EGF, I, and Tr, alone or in two-way combinations, were not mitogenic for TM4 cells. By contrast, SGF (1 U) alone, or with any two of these factors, stimulated TM4 cell proliferation to commensurate levels, and to twofold greater numbers than occurred with the combination of EGF, I, and Tr. Synergisms or inhibitions were not measurable. Follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, prolactin, acidic fibroblast growth factor, or basic fibroblast growth factor was weakly or not mitogenic for TM4 cells. The effect of SGF on cell proliferation was inhibited by 1 microM - 1 nM retinoic acid, but not by retinol or retinyl acetate. SGF was mitogenic for bovine adrenal capillary endothelial cells, an effect that was potentiated by 10 micrograms heparin/ml. Thus, SGF can induce proliferation of TM4 cells and capillary endothelial cells. The former provides a sensitive, and selective, serum-free, bioassay system for SGF activity.
Nonconvulsive Electrotherapy for Treatment Resistant Unipolar and Bipolar Major Depressive Disorder: A Proof-of-concept Trial.

Abstract Background Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is the most effective therapy for treatment resistant major depressive disorder (TRD); however, some individuals with TRD refuse ECT over concern about adverse cognitive effects. Clinical observation of two patients with TRD who had a therapeutic response to intended ECT despite having only one or no seizure suggested that nonconvulsive electrical stimulation may be effective in some patients. Objective/hypothesis This study tested the hypothesis that electrical brain stimulation applied like standard ECT, but below seizure threshold, can have therapeutic effects on TRD with fewer adverse cognitive effects. Methods Thirteen outpatients with TRD (6 unipolar, 7 bipolar) who refused ECT participated in this open label adjunctive treatment study of nonconvulsive electrotherapy (NET) at the University of Maryland Medical Center. Brief pulse bifrontal electrical stimulation was given thrice weekly with a Thymatron ® System IV Integrated ECT Instrument. Results Seizure-free data were obtained from 11 of 13 subjects. Group mean Hamilton Depression Rating Scale 17-item version scores declined significantly ( P = 0.001) from 20.3 to 8.6. Response and remission rates were 73% (8) and 55% (6), respectively. Cognitive testing using the Mini-Mental State Exam and the Autobiographical Memory Inventory-Short Form did not show declines typically observed with ECT. Conclusions The therapeutic effect of NET on TRD was similar to that of ECT. Serious adverse effects and adverse cognitive effects were not observed. These results challenge the widespread belief that a seizure is necessary for the antidepressant effect of ECT and merit further investigation to determine whether NET is a viable alternative to ECT in some patients with TRD. Clinical trial posted on www.clinicaltrials.gov, identifier: NCT01065597.
It's about Time: A Brief Chronology of Chronometry

The evolution of clock making, recounted in this article by Thomas H. Lee, advanced dramatically after low-power, quartz-controlled watches were first developed by Eric Vittoz and others at the Centre Electronique Horloger (CEH) over forty years ago. Due in great part to their work, even the least expensive wristwatches today are so precise that the need for better stability no longer drives their evolution. Instead, the ability to integrate more functions per unit volume explains why many watches are becoming multipurpose information appliances including PDAs, infrared remote controls, pagers, radios, TVs, walkie-talkies and MP3 players. In the future, low-power will become increasingly important as engineers struggle to address the constrained power budgets of the wristwatch form factor.
Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia and Pulmonary Insufficiency of Prematurity: Lack of Correlation of Outcome With Gas Exchange Abnormalities at 1 Month of Age

• A review of all infants admitted to the two intensive care nurseries in Seattle from July 1, 1980, through Dec 31, 1981, was performed to evaluate the outcome of infants still requiring supplemental oxygen and/or mechanical ventilation at 1 month of age. Sixty-three Infants were identified. Fifty-six infants survived to at least 2 years of age, including 11 of 13 in the subgroup of infants requiring 40% or more oxygen at 1 month of age. Eight (14%) of the 56 survivors have required prolonged rehospitalization for pneumonia or other respiratory illnesses in the first two years following birth. We conclude that the degree of gas exchange impairment assessed at 1 month of age does not predict ultimate outcome from neonatal chronic lung disease. (AJDC1985;139:351-354)
Quitting: Smokers Relate their Experiences

This qualitative study describes the experience of individuals who were attempting to quit smoking. Ten respondents participated in the semistructured interactive interviews. Five themes emerged from the data analysis: the intensity of the struggle, the personification of the cigarette, planning to quit, replacement of an old habit with a new habit, and perception of this quit experience as different from previous attempts. Particularly poignant were the participants' descriptions of the very real anguish they felt during their struggle to quit. Feelings of both elation and defeat were expressed over just getting through the day without a cigarette, or the failure to do so. Understanding the depth of the struggle, as well as the other components of the quit experience, should help health care professionals to be more empathetic and supportive to persons struggling to quit. It should also provide guidance in developing realistic strategies helpful to the quitting process.
Combination of insulinomimetic agents H2O2 and vanadate enhances insulin receptor mediated tyrosine phosphorylation of IRS‐1 leading to IRS‐1 association with the phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase

To analyze the mechanism of action of the insulinomimetic agents H2O2, vanadate, and pervanadate (H2O2 and vanadate), CHO cells or CHO cells that overexpress wild-type or mutant insulin receptor and/or the insulin receptor substrate (IRS-1) were used. H2O2 or vanadate treatment alone had little or no effect on tyrosine phosphorylation of cellular proteins; however, pervanadate treatment dramatically enhanced tyrosine phosphorylation of a number of proteins including the insulin receptor and IRS-1. However, the insulin receptor and IRS-1 coimmunoprecipitate from insulin-treated but not from pervanadate-treated cells. Pervanadate-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of the insulin receptor led to an increase in insulin receptor tyrosine kinase activity toward IRS-1 in vivo and IRS-1 peptides in vitro equal to that induced by insulin treatment. Pervanadate-enhanced phosphorylation of IRS-1 led to a fifteenfold increase in IRS-1-associated phosphatidylinositol (PtdIns) 3-kinase activity. However, insulin receptor-associated PtdIns 3-kinase activity from pervanadate-treated cells was not detectable, while insulin receptor-associated PtdIns 3-kinase activity from insulin-treated cells was 20% of the IRS-1-associated activity. Thus, pervanadate but not H2O2 or vanadate alone under these conditions mimics many of insulin actions, but pervanadate treatment does not induce insulin receptor/IRS-1 association.
Personalization in HRI: a longitudinal field experiment

Creating and sustaining rapport between robots and people is critical for successful robotic services. As a first step towards this goal, we explored a personalization strategy with a snack delivery robot. We designed a social robotic snack delivery service, and, for half of the participants, personalized the service based on participants' service usage and interactions with the robot. The service ran for each participant for two months. We evaluated this strategy during a 4-month field experiment. The results show that, as compared with the social service alone, adding personalized service improved rapport, cooperation, and engagement with the robot during service encounters.
A model for space charge evolution and charge deposition in the electrophotographic toner transfer process

A model, based on several simplifying assumptions, for an electrophotographic toner transfer process in which some toner particles are assumed to become airborne when the electric field between photoconductor and paper surfaces becomes large enough to overcome adhesive forces is described. The model for the coupling between the electric field and the space charge associated with toner particles requires a self-consistent description of space charge and electric field structures. One-dimensional and two-dimensional models are described. The one-dimensional model provides a closed-form description of charge density and electric field magnitudes across a gap of fixed height. The two-dimensional model, based on coupling the finite element method with the method of characteristics, brings in significant geometric effects, including spreading of the beam of toner particles as it crosses the gap. A dynamic process is described whereby the toner and its associated charge are removed from the photoconductor surface and deposited on the paper surface while the toner and charge are transported on both moving surfaces. >
The role of disclosure in organized word‐of‐mouth marketing programs

Prevailing views of organized word‐of‐mouth (WOM) marketing programs suggest that disclosing corporate affiliation reduces perceived credibility and hampers campaign effectiveness. To test this view we surveyed WOM marketing agents and their conversational partners (CP) after a WOM marketing episode. Results indicate that when disclosure occurred – defined as when the CP was aware they were talking with a person participating in an organized WOM marketing program – agents were rated as more credible, CPs had fewer negative feelings about the agent's corporate affiliation, and CPs told more people about the brand being discussed. These counter‐intuitive results can be explained in part by the existing personal relationship between the agent and CP and invite us to consider how personal relationships may moderate the impact and potential business advantages of disclosure in organized WOM marketing programs.
Aortic Bifurcation Stenosis: Treatment with Intravascular Stents

Balloon-expandable intravascular stents were employed to correct atherosclerotic stenosis of the aortic bifurcation. The devices were placed in the proximal iliac arteries with the cephalic end of the stents contacting in the midline. This arrangement provided an adequate lumen for the distal portion of the aortic wall and the proximal iliac arteries. Six of seven patients who received this form of treatment had hemodynamic and clinical improvement of their vascular insuffiency at an average follow-up of 1 year.
Immunogenetic mechanisms for the coexistence of organ-specific and systemic autoimmune diseases

Organ-specific autoimmune diseases affect particular targets in the body, whereas systemic diseases engage multiple organs. Both types of autoimmune diseases may coexist in the same patient, either sequentially or concurrently, sustained by the presence of autoantibodies directed against the corresponding autoantigens. Multiple factors, including those of immunological, genetic, endocrine and environmental origin, contribute to the above condition. Due to association of certain autoimmune disorders with HLA alleles, it has been intriguing to examine the immunogenetic basis for autoantigen presentation leading to the production of two or more autoantibodies, each distinctive of an organ-specific or systemic disease. This communication offers the explanation for shared autoimmunity as illustrated by organ-specific blistering diseases and the connective tissue disorders of systemic nature. Several hypothetical mechanisms implicating HLA determinants, autoantigenic peptides, T cells, and B cells have been proposed to elucidate the process by which two autoimmune diseases are induced in the same individual. One of these scenarios, based on the assumption that the patient carries two disease-susceptible HLA genes, arises when a single T cell epitope of each autoantigen recognizes its HLA protein, leading to the generation of two types of autoreactive B cells, which produce autoantibodies. Another mechanism functioning whilst an epitope derived from either autoantigen binds each of the HLA determinants, resulting in the induction of both diseases by cross-presentation. Finally, two discrete epitopes originating from the same autoantigen may interact with each of the HLA specificities, eliciting the production of both types of autoantibodies. Despite the lack of immediate or unequivocal experimental evidence supporting the present hypothesis, several approaches may secure a better understanding of shared autoimmunity. Among these are animal models expressing the transgenes of human disease-associated HLA determinants and T or B cell receptors, as well as in vitro binding studies employing purified HLA proteins, synthetic peptides, and cellular assays with antigen-presenting cells and patient's lymphocytes. Indisputably, a bioinformatics-based search for peptide motifs and the modeling of the conformation of bound autoantigenic peptides associated with their respective HLA alleles will reveal some of these important processes. The elucidation of HLA-restricted immune recognition mechanisms prompting the production of two or more disease-specific autoantibodies holds significant clinical ramifications and implications for the development of more effective treatment protocols.