cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The TRMM Multisatellite Precipitation Analysis (TMPA): Quasi-Global, Multiyear, Combined-Sensor Precipitation Estimates at Fine Scales

Abstract The Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) Multisatellite Precipitation Analysis (TMPA) provides a calibration-based sequential scheme for combining precipitation estimates from multiple satellites, as well as gauge analyses where feasible, at fine scales (0.25° × 0.25° and 3 hourly). TMPA is available both after and in real time, based on calibration by the TRMM Combined Instrument and TRMM Microwave Imager precipitation products, respectively. Only the after-real-time product incorporates gauge data at the present. The dataset covers the latitude band 50°N–S for the period from 1998 to the delayed present. Early validation results are as follows: the TMPA provides reasonable performance at monthly scales, although it is shown to have precipitation rate–dependent low bias due to lack of sensitivity to low precipitation rates over ocean in one of the input products [based on Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit-B (AMSU-B)]. At finer scales the TMPA is successful at approximately reproducing the s...
No Significant Global Developmental Differences in 23-26 Week Survivors at 3 Years of Age 1214

No Significant Global Developmental Differences in 23-26 Week Survivors at 3 Years of Age 1214
Hot Topics in Silicon Chemistry

The symposium “Silicones and Silicone-Modified Materials VI” was hosted by the American Chemical Society (ACS) during the 243 rd National Meeting & Exposition in San Diego, California, USA (March 25 −29, 2012). At this “Silicones VI” symposium, I circulated a blank notepad and I then asked the members of the audience for responses to the question “What are the three hot topics in silicon chemistry in March 2012?” These responses are given herein along with a brief discussion of how they may guide us in our future teaching, research and service.
Molecular origins of structure and functionality in foods

Abstract A chart is presented that shows the hierarchy of structure and function in food materials. Internal forces, which maintain structural integrity, are distinguished from external forces, which are applied in order to elicit a response during measurement (a property) or which transform the food material. Functionality, a higher-order concept than property, is defined as the important set of responses of specific materials to specific forces applied under particular circumstances of processing, consumption, sensory assessment or storage. Some experimental and theoretical methods for molecular studies are described. The chart also suggests the ways in which molecular knowledge is linked to human intentions.
Unidirectional gas flow in soil porosity resulting from barometric pressure cycles

During numerical simulation of air flow in the vadose zone, it was noticed that a small sinusoidal pressure would cause a gradual one-way migration of the pore gas. This was found to be a physical phenomenon, not a numerical artifact of the finite element simulation. The one-way migration occurs because the atmospheric pressure, and hence the air density, is slightly greater when air is flowing into the ground than when air is flowing out of the ground. A simple analytic theory of the phenomenon is presented, together with analytic calculations using actual barometric pressure data. In soil of one Darcy permeability, the one-way migration is of the order of a few tenths of a meter per year for either plane flow from ground surface or for radial flow from an open borehole. The migration is sufficiently small that it will have no practical consequences in most circumstances; however, investigators who conduct detailed numerical modeling should recognize that this phenomenon is not a numerical artifact in an apparently linear system.
Pituitary apoplexy after hypo-fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy

Introduction : Pituitary apoplexy is a rare phenomenon in pituitary adenomas. We present a case of pituitary apoplexy that developed shortly after hypo-fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy (HF-SRT) for a pituitary adenoma. To our knowledge there is no prior report of pituitary apoplexy following stereotactic radiotherapy. Case Report : A 67 year old female initially presented with visual abnormalities. Workup then revealed a large sellar mass. She underwent a trans-sphenoidal resection then with pathology demonstrating a non-secretory pituitary adenoma. Her vision returned to normal after the resection. Five years later, follow-up MRI showed evidence of recurrence. The size of the lesion and its proximity to the optic apparatus were not considered adequate for a single fraction stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS). Based on this, HF-SRT was recommended as an alternative to re-operation. The tumor was treated to a dose of 4,000 cGy given at 400 cGy per fraction. Two months later, the patient presented with visual impairment and ocular palsies. She was diagnosed to have pituitary apoplexy. Although spontaneous tumor apoplexy cannot be excluded, a causal role for radiotherapy is hypothesized. Conclusion : Radiotherapy as a cause of pituitary apoplexy is not well understood or documented. Pituitary apoplexy should be suspected in a patient who develops new onset headaches and visual disturbance during or shortly after radiotherapy. Rapid diagnosis of pituitary apoplexy allows for aggressive management and neurosurgical decompression which decreases mortality and morbidity.
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SELF-RATINGS AND RATINGS GIVEN TO OTHERS ON MORAL ATTRIBUTES

Social comparison theory states that when objective criteria are absent, people evaluate themselves by comparison with others. This tendency should then produce a negative correlation between ratings of self and others. 48 college students rated themselves and others on moral values. Positive rather than negative correlations were found between self-ratings and ratings given to others on moral attributes. The findings were interpreted by hypothesizing that people form world views about the goodness of human nature. This general world view would result in a positive correlation between ratings given to self and others when no clear-cut objective criterion for evaluation are present.
Research support in doctoral-granting schools of nursing: a decade later.

Many nursing schools invest resources in offices to support research efforts and to strengthen research programs for external funding. This article will describe the resources available for research support in schools of nursing with doctoral degree-granting programs. Using a descriptive survey design, invitations and links to the online survey were sent to deans of nursing schools offering doctoral degrees as identified by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing. Response rate was 70.6% (120/170 eligible institutions), and 75% had a research office. Presence of a research office was associated with being in an academic health sciences center, being located in a public institution, and offering a doctor of philosophy (PhD) program. In 2009–2010, the average budget for the research offices was $390,000. Research offices were staffed by a director (88.6%), a grant administrator (78%), a statistician (74%), and a clerical staff (58.6%) and provided an array of services including grant support, scholarly support, and faculty development services. Nursing schools provided various support services for research productivity. Of those schools reporting that they had a research office, 59% had received National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding in the past year. Greater NIH funding was associated with those research offices employing more staff and offices existing for longer periods.
Curcumin eliminates the effect of advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) on the divergent regulation of gene expression of receptors of AGEs by interrupting leptin signaling

Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a major risk factor for hepatic fibrogenesis. NASH is often found in diabetic patients with hyperglycemia. Hyperglycemia induces non-enzymatic glycation of proteins, yielding advanced glycation end-products (AGEs). Effects of AGEs are mainly mediated by two categories of cytoplasmic membrane receptors. Receptor for AGEs (RAGE) is associated with increased oxidative stress and inflammation, whereas AGE receptor-1 (AGE-R1) is involved in detoxification and clearance of AGEs. Activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSC) is crucial to the development of hepatic fibrosis. We recently reported that AGEs stimulated HSC activation likely by inhibiting gene expression of AGE-R1 and inducing gene expression of RAGE in HSC, which were eliminated by the antioxidant curcumin. This study is to test our hypothesis that curcumin eliminates the effects of AGEs on the divergent regulation of the two receptors of AGEs in HSC by interrupting the AGE-caused activation of leptin signaling, leading to the inhibition of HSC activation. We observed herein that AGEs activated leptin signaling by inducing gene expression of leptin and its receptor in HSC. Like AGEs, leptin differentially regulated gene expression of RAGE and AGE-R1. Curcumin eliminated the effects of AGEs in HSC by interrupting leptin signaling and activating transcription factor NF-E2 p45-related factor 2 (Nrf2), leading to the elevation of cellular glutathione and the attenuation of oxidative stress. In conclusions, curcumin eliminated the effects of AGEs on the divergent regulation of gene expression of RAGE and AGE-R1 in HSC by interrupting the AGE-caused activation of leptin signaling, leading to the inhibition of HSC activation.
Comment on the cluster model of alkali-metal tungsten bronzes

In a recent paper Webman, Jortner, and Cohen proposed that the alkali metal $M$ tungsten bronzes comprise a two-phase system composed of regions of metallic $M\mathrm{W}{\mathrm{O}}_{3}$, surrounded by insulating W${\mathrm{O}}_{3}$. In this comment we point out that thermodynamic measurements on ${\mathrm{Na}}_{x}\mathrm{W}{\mathrm{O}}_{3}$ and ${\mathrm{H}}_{x}\mathrm{W}{\mathrm{O}}_{3}$ are inconsistent with this model and that these bronzes should be thought of as nonstoichiometric but homogeneous compounds with no tendency to form a two-phase system.
Statistical real-time video channels over a multiaccess network

Video frames are usually compressed before their transmission through a network. Due to this compression, some frames will be more important than others when the images are reconstructed at the receiver node, i.e., frames are not independent of one another. Although it is desirable to keep the miss rate of these important frames as low as possible, it is not always appropriate to give them higher priority than other real-time traffic since the performance guarantees of real-time channels could otherwise be compromised. We propose a scheme which can provide performance guarantees to all real-time traffic and also improve the overall frame reconstruction rate without compromising the performance guarantees of inter- dependent video frame streams. Basically, we use a statistical real-time channel to deliver each video stream and dynamically extend the due data of a frame as long as the frame is still useful after its previously-assigned due date. Channels originating from the same source node are multiplexed so that the overall network utilization can be improved. We have simulated the proposed scheme using MPEG-coded frames of the movie Star Wars and the scheme is shown to be able to effectively improve the overall frame reconstruction rate, successfully reduce the link capacity necessary for an MPEG channel to an average level from the worst-case level needed for a channel of the same quality without channel multiplexing, and at the same time provide performance guarantees.© (1994) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Rapid and simple estimation of microbiological quality of raw milk using chromogenic Limulus amoebocyte lysate endpoint assay.

A rapid chromogenic Limulus amoebocyte lysate (LAL) endpoint assay for the enumeration of total mesophilic microbial loads and coliforms was investigated as a means to assess the microbiological quality of raw milk. For experiment 1, raw milk samples (n = 25) were stored in a refrigerator (2 +/- 2 degrees C) and then analyzed at regular intervals (1, 5, 10, and 15 days). For experiment 2, fresh raw milk samples (n = 50) were tested to determine the utility of the LAL assay for fresh raw milk. The sample was diluted threefold in a 96-well microtiter plate with pyrogen-free water and assayed with a chromogenic LAL kit to find a final reaction point. The LAL results were compared with standard plate counts (SPC) and coliform counts determined by conventional plating methods. The results of the LAL assay were strongly correlated to conventional SPC (r2 = 0.93; n = 100) and were highly correlated to coliforms (r2 = 0.74; n = 100). A highly significant linear relationship (r2 = 0.82; n = 50) was also observed between the predicted SPC based on the LAL value and the actual SPC. The results of LAL testing were classified into one of seven contamination groups. The data set for SPC was effectively differentiated using the LAL technique (P 3.0 log10 CFU/ml of SPC).
Transient analysis of direct contact evaporation and condensation within packed beds

Transient one-dimensional conservation equations have been developed to analyze the heat and mass transfer within direct-contact evaporators and condensers. The conservation equations are solved numerically to predict water, air/vapor mixture and packed bed temperatures and humidity ratio within the evaporator and the condenser. The heat and mass transport models account for the transient variations within the packed-bed due to time varying inlet air and water temperatures and humidity. Direct contact evaporator and condenser experimental facilities have been configured. The measured water and air/vapor mixture temperature differences agree well with those predicted using the transient model. The measured humidity difference is slightly greater than that predicted, and the maximum deviation is on the order of 20%.
Optimization of Microporous Structures in Enhancing Pool Boiling Heat Transfer of Saturated R-123, FC-72 and Water

The present research is an experimental study for the enhancement of boiling heat transfer using microporous coating techniques. The effects of different metal particle sizes in the coating compound for microporous coatings on pool boiling performance of refrigerants and water are investigated. All boiling tests were performed with 1×1cm2 test heaters in the horizontal, upward-facing orientation under increasing heat flux conditions at atmospheric pressure in saturated R-123, FC-72, and water. Results showed that the enhanced surface by microporous coating technique significantly augmented both nucleate boiling heat transfer coefficient and critical heat flux of FC-72 and R-123 over a plain surface. However, the enhancement of boiling performance for water was comparatively insignificant compared to the other liquids.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
Bilateral panuveitis in a child with hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia

Abstract PURPOSE: To report a case of bilateral panuveitis in a patient with hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia. DESIGN: Interventional case report. METHODS: A 6-year-old African-American boy with hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia presented with pain, photophobia, and decreased vision in both eyes. RESULTS: Findings included severe bilateral panuveitis with optic disk edema, macular epiretinal membrane, peripheral retinal vasculitis, and retinitis. All other known causes of panuveitis were explored and ruled out. CONCLUSIONS: The abnormal development of tissues of ectodermal origin evident in hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia may include a predisposition to panuveitis.
GABA synapses and the rapid loss of inhibition to dentate gyrus granule cells after brief perforant-path stimulation.

Purpose: To study the pharmacologic and synaptic basis for the early loss of paired-pulse inhibition that occurs in the perforant-path stimulation model of status epilepticus. Methods: Hippocampal slices were prepared from mate Wistar rats. Test paired pulses (20- to 50-ms interstimulus interval) of the perforant path were used before and after an abbreviated period of perforant-path stimulation (1-5 min; 2-Hz continuous with 20 Hz of 10 s/min pulses) while either recording field potentials from the dentate gyrus granule cell layer or directly measuring whole-cell patch-clamp currents from granule cells. Paired-pulse field recordings also were obtained during perfusion of the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)A antagonist bicuculline. Results: Prolonged loss of paired-pulse inhibition occurs after brief (< 5 min) perforant-path stimulation in vitro (similar to results in vivo) with the paired-pulse population spike amplitude ratio (P2/P1) increasing from a baseline of 0.53 +/- 0.29 to 1.17 +/- 0.09 after perforant-path stimulation (p < 0.05). After perfusion with the GABA(A) antagonist, bicuculline, the P2/P1 ratio also increased from a baseline of 0.52 +/- 0.16 to 1.15 +/- 0.26 (p < 0.05). After 1-2 min of perforant-path stimulation, a 22 6% (p < 0.05) decrease occurred in the P2/P1 amplitude ratio of paired-pulse evoked inhibitory postsynaptic currents. Conclusions: Similar to in vivo, loss of paired-pulse inhibition occurs with brief perforant-path stimulation in vitro. GABA(A) antagonism causes a similar loss of paired-pulse inhibition, and the effects of perforant-path stimulation on Postsynaptic inhibitory currents also are consistent with the involvement of GABA(A) synaptic receptors. The findings suggest that loss of inhibition at GABA synapses may be an important early event in the initiation of status epilepticus.
Fermions coupled to instantons in two dimensions

We solve the problem of fermions interacting with instantons in two dimensions by using perturbation theory for the fermion sector. For massless fermions our solution is exact. We find that vacuum tunneling for a finite time interval in the presence of massless fermions is nonzero. As the time interval goes to infinity, vacuum tunneling is suppressed. We show that the fermions of the theory remain massless to all orders of perturbation theory in the fermion sector, even though the correct theta vacuums are used.
Activity monitoring and motion classification of the lizard Chamaeleo jacksonii using multiple Doppler radars

We describe a simple, non-contact and efficient tool for monitoring the natural activity of a small lizard (Chamaeleo jacksonii) to yield valuable information about their metabolic activity and energy expenditure. It allows monitoring in a non-confined laboratory environment and uses multiple Doppler radars operating at 10.525 GHz. We developed a classification algorithm that can differentiate between fidgeting and locomotion by processing the quadrature baseband signals from the radars. The results have been verified by visual inspection and indicate that the tool could also be used for automated monitoring of the activities of reptiles and other small animals.
Remote optical measurement of temperature using luminescent materials

A novel method of temperature measurement using optical fibres and luminescent materials is demonstrated. The delay time of an excited state in an inorganic material is shown to vary with temperature, and this is readily measured via the phase-shift technique.
Galvanic corrosion of A1 alloys — II. Effect of solution composition

Abstract Galvanic corrosion of the A1 alloys 1100, 2024, 2219, 6061 and 7075 coupled to Cu, stainless steel 304L, Ti-6A1-4V, 4130 steel or zinc has been studied in 3·5% MaCl, tapwater and distilled water using electrochemical and weight loss data. In 3·5% NaCl the galvanic effect decreases in the order Cu > 4130 steel > SS304L > Ti-6A1-4V for A1 alloys coupled to one of these metals, while in tapwater and distilled water the ranking is Cu > SS304L ∼ Ti-6A1-4V > 4130 steel. Zinc, although being the anode in all galvanic couples, can sometimes accelerate corrosion rates of A1 alloys. Dissolution rates of A1 alloys coupled to a given dissimilar material are higher in 3·5% NaCl than in tapwater and distilled water where they are found to be comparable. In assessing galvanic corrosion behaviour of a given A1 alloy as a function of environment, one has to consider the effect of the dissimilar metal. The dissolution rate of A1 6061 is, for example, higher in tapwater with Cu as cathode than in 3·5% NaCl with SS304L or Ti-6A1-4V as cathode.
Construction of a reagentless glucose biosensor using molecular exciton luminescence.

Abstract Fluorescent protein biosensors, which exhibit a significant change in fluorescence based on the physical interaction between protein and ligand, may prove to be effective tools to measure a variety of analytes. In particular, real-time monitoring of glucose levels has potential applications in bioprocess monitoring and in minimizing health complications caused by diabetes. In this work, site-directed mutagenesis of the Escherichia coli glucose/galactose binding protein (GGBP) was used to engineer double-cysteine mutations that allowed selective covalent attachment of thiol-reactive dyes. Because GGBP undergoes a large conformational change on the addition of glucose, rational placement of these sites allowed glucose-dependent spatial realignment of the two fluorophores, which was monitored as a change in fluorescence intensity and extinction coefficients. Using targeted mutagenesis of the GGBP binding pocket, glucose biosensors were created to measure concentrations spanning five orders of magnitude (0.04–12,000 μM). The glucose biosensor retained its function in complex solutions that contained realistic concentrations of protein and potential interfering agents found in blood serum. In addition to the development of a fluorescent protein sensor for glucose, this work helps to expand the spectroscopic tools used for the detection of conformational movements within a single polypeptide chain.
The french parliamentary elcetions and the new electoral law

France ha restored the single member system with the second ballot for Parliamentary elections, after two experiences with a bogus form of proportional representation.
Structure of Escherichia coli uridine phosphorylase at 2.0 A.

The 2.0 A crystal structure has been determined for Escherichia coli uridine phosphorylase (UP), an essential enzyme in nucleotide biosynthesis that catalyzes the phosphorolytic cleavage of the C—N glycosidic bond of uridine to ribose-1-phosphate and uracil. The structure determination of two independent monomers in the asymmetric unit revealed the residue composition and atomic details of the apo configurations of each active site. The native hexameric UP enzyme was revealed by applying threefold crystallographic symmetry to the contents of the asymmetric unit. The 2.0 A model reveals a closer structural relationship to other nucleotide phosphorylase enzymes than was previously appreciated.
The use of the same pair of dry electrodes to record skin resistance and beat-by-beat heart rate.

In situations of prolonged interrogation it is desirable to employ non-stressful methods of detecting responses to emotion-provoking questions. It is well known that changes in skin resistance and instantaneous heart rate are good indicators of emotional response. Changes in skin resistance and beat-by-beat heart rate, derived from the e.c.g., were obtained from the same pair of ‘dry’ silver electrodes applied to the finger tips. The electronic criteria to be satisfied for application of this technique are discussed and circuit diagrams are presented which permit construction of the equipment using low-cost solid-state circuitry. Typical records of changes in skin resistance and beat-by-beat heart rate, in response to lying in a number-guessing game, are presented to demonstrate the performance characteristics of the equipment.
Error-correcting codes and the genome project☆

Abstract Determining the complete genome of an organism makes it possible, in principle, to protect the integrity of that genome. In both prokaryotes and eukaryotes, biochemical mechanisms have evolved to increase the fidelity of DNA replication, to a corrected error rate of about 10−8. The mathematical concepts of error-detecting and error-correcting codes, originally developed for the electronic communication and storage of digital data, are also applicable to the protection of genetic information. In the short term, appropriate redundancy should be added to genome information stored in data banks, to reduce or eliminate the possible degradation or garbling of these data during communication transfer or prolonged storage. In the longer term, it should be possible to incorporate such a form of error detection into the genomes of living organisms, and to eliminate such errors “automatically” as they arise. It is, however, by no means evident that the considerable additional effort and complexity required for automatic correction of such errors in vivo would have commensurate benefits.
An approach to identifying incident breast cancer cases using Medicare claims data.

This study developed and evaluated a method for ascertaining a newly diagnosed breast cancer case using multiple sources of data from the Medicare claims system. Predictors of an incident case were operationally defined as codes for breast cancer-related diagnoses and procedures from hospital inpatient, hospital outpatient, and physician claims. The optimal combination of predictors was then determined from a logistic regression model using 1992 data from the linked SEER registries-Medicare claims data base and a sample of noncancer controls drawn from the SEER areas. While the ROC curve demonstrates that the model can produce levels of sensitivity and specificity above 90%, the positive predictive value is comparatively low (67-70%). This low predictive value is largely the result of the model's limitation in distinguishing recurrent and secondary malignancies from incident cases and possibly from the model identifying true incident cases not identified by SEER. Nevertheless, the logistic regression approach is a useful method for ascertaining incident cases because it allows for greater flexibility in changing the performance characteristics by selecting different cut-points depending on the application (e.g., high sensitivity for registry validation, high specificity for outcomes research). It also allows us to make specific adjustments to population based estimates of breast cancer incidence with claims.
Voltage-sensitive fluorescence imaging on the heart surface

Optical methods provide a rather precise insight into cardiac electrical activity. Voltage-sensitive dyes like di 4-ANEPPS convert the electric signal into a fluorescent signal that can be measured by standard optical methods. A realistic picture of the dynamic patterns that govern electrical activity in the human heart can be obtained only with thick tissue preparations, from large animals. We measure the fluorescence signal of an approximately 2.5 x 2.5 cm area on the surface of 8 mm thick porcine right ventricle preparations with a fast CCD camera at low magnification, and perform advanced simulations of the macroscopic dynamic features involved. To extract meaningful qualitative and quantitative data from these signals, details of the conversion from electrical to optical signal have to be known, and the problem of the 2D surface signal originating from a 3D distribution below has to be addressed. We compare experiment to simulation results applying a composite model based on both electrical and optical tissue properties. The model predicts optical action potential upstroke morphology, involving optical point spread functions and simplified Beeler-Reuter kinetics for the electrical wave propagation. Optical point spread functions have been calculated from scattering and absorption properties applying diffusion models and Monte-Carlo simulations. First of all, the forward problem has been solved for uniform light illumination and simulations have been compared to experiments. Furthermore, we also address the question of the inverse problem and provide an analysis of the limitations for this approach.
TARGETING THE B7/CD28:CTLA-4 COSTIMULATORY SYSTEM IN CNS AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE

The B7/CD28:CTLA-4 costimulatory pathway plays a critical role in determining the fate of immune responses (activation vs. down-regulation) and is a highly promising therapeutic target for treating autoimmune diseases. In this review, we highlight the mechanisms by which this costimulatory pathway operates emphasizing the role of the different components in the pathogenesis of relapsing experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, a CD4 T cell-mediated autoimmune model of multiple sclerosis. The separate and distinct roles of B7-1, B7-2 and CTLA-4 in positive and negative regulation of autoimmune pathogenesis are considered and a working model is proposed.
Equi-Axed Grain Formation in Electrodeposited Sn-Bi

Sn is widely used as a coating in the electronics industry because it provides excellent solderability, ductility, electrical conductivity, and corrosion resistance. However, Sn whiskers have been observed to grow spontaneously from Sn electrodeposits and are known to cause short circuits in fine-pitched pre-tinned electrical components. We report here a deposition strategy that produces an equi-axed and size-tunable grain structure in Sn-Bi alloys electrodeposited from a commercial bright Sn electrolyte. An equi-axed grain structure should allow a more uniform creep to relieve compressive stress with no localized surface disturbance. The standard potential for Bi is about 0.45 V more positive than Sn. Pulsed deposition can selectively turn on and off the Sn deposition reaction. During the off cycle, a displacement reaction between metallic Sn on the electrode surface and Bi3+ in solution selectively dissolves Sn and deposits Bi, effectively terminating the growth from the previous cycle and forcing the Sn to nucleate a new grain on the Bi-enriched surface. The grain size is tunable by varying the pulsing conditions, and an equi-axed structure can be obtained with as little as 3 at.% Bi. This surface enrichment of Bi by potential modulation is similar to that which occurs naturally in Sn-Pb, and provides an avenue for breaking up the columnar grain structure inherent to pure Sn, thus providing an additional diffusion path for Sn that may prevent whisker growth.
Calcium/Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase IIα in Optic Axons Moves with Slow Axonal Transport and Undergoes Posttranslational Modification

In neurons, the mRNA for calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II alpha (CKIIalpha) is known to be targeted to dendrites-where the enzyme is synthesized and supports postsynaptic functions. We are interested in knowing how neuronal proteins enter axons from the nerve cell body, and the mechanism for protein transport to terminals. Because CKIIalpha immunofluorescence can be demonstrated in over 80% of retinal ganglion cells, we asked whether this regulatory protein is being transported into optic axons. Using Sprague-Dawley rats, [(35)S] methionine was injected into the vitreous humor of the eye. Four days later, the optic nerves, tracts, lateral geniculate ganglia, and superior colliculi were removed and processed for 2D-PAGE and Western blotting. Radiolabeled CKIIalpha appears to move with slow component b (SCb) of axonal transport, as is the case in rodent sciatic motor neurons. In addition, the radiolabeled CKIIalpha isoform that enters the optic nerve is found to be 4 kDa heavier (in SDS-PAGE molecular mass) than the isoform in the optic tract, superior colliculus, and lateral geniculate nucleus. This reduction is likely the result of dephosphorylation, which is a mechanism used to regulate the enzyme's activity.
Management of Patients with Bipolar Mood Disorder and Substance Dependence

Abstract Nine patients with bipolar mood disorder and concurrent substance dependence were treated in an 18-bed inpatient addiction unit over a 3-month period. A multidisciplinary team approach used a medi-calized Minnesota model and stressed the establishment of a positive diagnosis and individualization of management strategies for each patient. Clinically significant affective symptoms that required acute psychiatric intervention developed in several patients during hospitaliza-tion. Manic symptoms developed in three patients during sedative withdrawal, requiring the team to differentiate manic symptoms from physiologic withdrawal; and two patients became severely depressed, requiring pharmacologic management and suicide-prevention strategies. Summary: Our experience with the patients in this case series supports the contention that there is no simple, uniform approach to the substance-dependent patient with bipolar disorder. Treatment teams must be prepared to differentiate complex syndromes and to ma...
Technical, scale, and size efficiency in nursing home care: a nonparametric analysis of Connecticut homes.

Maindiratta (1990) questioned the usefulness of the concept of scale efficiency in production as the most productive scale size (MPSS) usually requires altering the scale of output produced. If the decision making unit (DMU) is required to deliver a specific output bundle, then altering output along with the input scale to reach the MPSS is not a valid recommendation. He proposed a measure of the size efficiency of a DMU. In this paper, we apply Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) to examine the levels of technical, scale, and size efficiency of individual nursing homes providing health care to the elderly. The data used relate to the operations of 140 nursing homes from Connecticut, USA during the year 1982–83. Maindiratta's model is input-oriented. By contrast, our study is output-oriented and we appropriately reformulate Maindiratta's model. The findings show that in several cases size efficiency is less than unity. This suggests that the most efficient production of output would require restructuring of the nursing home under investigation as more than one small unit. We also compare the efficiency levels of ‘for-profit’ homes with those of ‘not-for-profit’ homes.
Novel mitochondrial purinergic receptors regulate mitochondrial calcium uptake in ischemic settings

INTRODUCTION: Ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury remains a major clinical problem in liver transplantation. One contributing factor is mitochondrial calcium (mCa2 ) overload which triggers apoptosis. mCa2 also regulates mitochondrial respiration/ATP production. Recently we reported presence of purinergic P2Y1 and P2Y2-like proteins in mitochondrial membranes. We hypothesized that ATP depletion during ischemia activates Ca2 uptake in mitochondria via purinergic receptors on mitochondria.
Contrast agents and cerebral hemodynamics.

Contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging of regional cerebral hemodynamics is discussed. Techniques for measuring cerebral blood volume (CBV) have been validated in animal models and have recently been applied to human studies. Factors affecting CBV measurement in pathologic tissue are addressed. Extension of these techniques to the measurement of cerebral blood flow is presented. © 1991 Academic Press, Inc.
Long-Term Effects of the Death of a Child on Parents’ Adjustment in Midlife

The death of a child is a traumatic event that can have long-term effects on the lives of parents. This study examined bereaved parents of deceased children (infancy to age 34) and comparison parents with similar backgrounds (n = 428 per group) identified in the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study. An average of 18.05 years following the death, when parents were age 53, bereaved parents reported more depressive symptoms, poorer well-being, and more health problems and were more likely to have experienced a depressive episode and marital disruption than were comparison parents. Recovery from grief was associated with having a sense of life purpose and having additional children but was unrelated to the cause of death or the amount of time since the death. The results point to the need for detection and intervention to help those parents who are experiencing lasting grief.
The mechanism of synthesis of titanium nitride by self-sustaining reactions

The mechanism of formation of titanium nitride by the self-propagating high-temperature synthesis was investigated. Samples were quenched in liquid argon at different stages of the reaction and analyzed by x-ray diffraction and electron microprobe methods. A mechanism is proposed in which the propagation of the reaction wave results in the formation of a thin surface layer of TiN and an unsaturated solid solution. The layer then dissolves to form a solid solution of nitrogen in titanium and then re-forms with continued reaction. On the basis of phase equilibria and diffusion information, an analysis is made in which the feasibility of the proposal mechanism is demonstrated.
Paired chiral spin liquid with a Fermi surface in S=1 model on the triangular lattice

Motivated by recent experiments on Ba${}_{3}$NiSb${}_{2}$O${}_{9}$, we investigate possible quantum spin liquid ground states for spin $S=1$ Heisenberg models on the triangular lattice. We use variational Monte Carlo techniques to calculate the energies of microscopic spin liquid wave functions where spin is represented by three flavors of fermionic spinon operators. These energies are compared with the energies of various competing three-sublattice ordered states. Our approach shows that the antiferromagnetic Heisenberg model with biquadratic term and single-ion anisotropy does not have a low-temperature spin liquid phase. However, for an SU(3)-invariant model with sufficiently strong ring-exchange terms, we find a paired chiral quantum spin liquid with a Fermi surface of deconfined spinons that is stable against all types of ordering patterns we considered. We discuss the physics of this exotic spin liquid state in relation to the recent experiment and suggest new ways to test this scenario.
Proteins associated with tubulin.

Abstract The distribution of proteins on SDS-urea polyacrylamide (7.5%) disc gel electrophoresis is studied from rat brain tubulin purified by three different procedures, including ammonium sulfate precipitation followed by DEAE cellulose chromotography, three cycles of polymerization-depolymerization and colchicinecontaining agarose affinity columns. Three tubulin-associated proteins other than the principal tubulin dimer are identified and characterized with respect to molecular weight, behavior on gel filtration chromatography and method of tubulin purification. One of these proteins (H 1 ) is released from the tubulin complex when colchicine is irreversibly bound to tubulin. These proteins may participate in processes related to microtubule assembly or function.
Two-dimensional round-robin schedulers for packet switches with multiple input queues

Presents a new scheduler, the two-dimensional round-robin (2DRR) scheduler, that provides high throughput and fair access in a packet switch that uses multiple input queues. We consider an architecture in which each input port maintains a separate queue for each output. In an N/spl times/N switch, our scheduler determines which of the queues in the total of N/sup 2/ input queues are served during each time slot. We demonstrate the fairness properties of the 2DRR scheduler and compare its performance with that of the input and output queueing configurations, showing that our scheme achieves the same saturation throughput as output queueing. The 2DRR scheduler can be implemented using simple logic components, thereby allowing a very high-speed implementation. >
Obstacles to the adoption of low risk drinking goals in the treatment of alcohol problems in the United States: A commentary

Although moderation and harm reduction approaches to the treatment of alcohol problems are accepted in many parts of the world, they continue to be rare in the US. A major reason for this state of affairs has to do with the way alcohol treatment services in the US developed, and in particular the creation of a group of paraprofessional counselors many of whom attributed their recovery to the 12-step philosophy. While it is unlikely that these counselors will offer moderation services, the provision of services to problem drinkers in primary care medical settings presents a promising alternative.
End-to-end available bandwidth estimation and time measurement adjustment for multimedia QOS

Congestion control is an important function in a multimedia application. Since multimedia packets are mostly transmitted in UDP, which lacks the congestion control mechanism in TCP, a separate congestion control is necessary to avoid excessive packet losses and to be fair with competing TCP flows. As UDP congestion control is rate-based, unlike the window-based one used in TCP, end-to-end available bandwidth estimation can play a critical role in UDP congestion control. This paper proposes a new method to estimate the available bandwidth based on the delay trend detection, which is suitable for a multimedia application. We deduct the relationship between delay trend and available also show the Internet experiment results. Various practical time measurement errors are analyzed and their countermeasures are proposed.
Speech Content and the Emergence of Inequality in Task Groups

We examine how the content of actors’ speech and the frequency with which they make contributions affect the emergence and legitimation of inequality in task groups. Previous research has focused on classifying acts, the smallest meaningful units of speech, such as providing opportunities to others to speak, making task relevant suggestions, and positively or negatively evaluating the contributions of others. We also employ a classification scheme based on the cognitive complexity of spoken language in the turn. This scheme is based on an interpretation of the cognitive development model posited by Piaget. In addition to the complexity of language, we analyze speech group members employ to organize to solve the task. These classifications rely on the entire content of the turn rather than the more atomistic act. Data analyzed are from 33 groups of students performing different types of tasks. We employ structural equation models to identify how acts and content are related to one another in the observed interaction patterns in groups. Applications of these insights are explored in the discussion.
Without an adequate ethical infrastructure, the road to personalized medicine will be rocky at best.

Discovering the genetic variations that create profiles of risk and drive individual responses to drugs and vaccines has proven more difficult than many initially presupposed. Rhetoric about the prospect of personalized medicine has exceeded the ability to deliver on that vision. There also remain significant ethical and policy obstacles that may hinder the arrival of personalized medicine. The emergence of new prenatal genetic tests make the resolution of these ethical challenges imperative. Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics (2012); 92 4, 411–412. doi:10.1038/clpt.2012.142
Adaptive vector quantization with a structural level adaptable neural network

A new type of adaptive vector quantizer is proposed. The core of this system is a self-development neural network constituting the codebook of the vector quantizer. Each neuron in the network memorizes a codeword of the active codebook in its input interconnection weight vector. The codebook is constantly evolving with time to reflect the statistical fluctuation of the source signals. The dynamics of the codebook is characterized by neuron generation, neuron weight vector adjustment, and neuron annihilation processes of the network. The quantization residue of the neural network quantizer is fed to a fixed structure lattice vector quantizer, and the quantized residue is used to stimulate the evolution process of the neural network codebooks inside both the transmitter and the receiver. >
Electrochemical Characteristics of Intermetallic Phases in Aluminum Alloys An Experimental Survey and Discussion

This paper presents a survey of corrosion potentials, pitting potentials, and electrochemical characteristics for intermetallic particles commonly present in high-strength aluminum-based alloys. Results from relevant pure metals and solid solutions are also presented. It is seen that corrosion potentials and pitting potentials vary over a wide range for various intermetallics. Elaboration of the results reveals that the electrochemical behavior of intermetallics is more detailed than the simple noble or active classification based upon corrosion potential or estimated from the intermetallic composition. Intermetallics capable of sustaining the largest cathodic current densities are not necessarily those with the most noble Ecorr, similarly those with the least noble Ecorr will not necessarily sustain the largest anodic currents. The data herein was collected via the use of a microcapillary electrochemical cell facilitating electrode investigations upon intermetallic particles in the micrometer-squared range. This survey may be used as a tool for clarification of localized corrosion phenomena in Al alloys.
Parallel implementation of MUSIC algorithm on single-core, multi-core and NVIDIA's GPU

Computation of Direction of Arrival (DOA) via MUSIC algorithm has both military and civilian applications and requires its computation in real time. This work parallelizes MUSIC algorithm for implementation on Multi-Core and GPU. This is in an effort to its use for real time applications. The MUSIC algorithm has been parallelized, partitioned, mapped and scheduled on single core, Multi-Core and GPU. The parallel algorithm is developed in C# for Multi-Core. It uses combination of C and CUDA for its implementation on GPU. The algorithm has also been implemented assuming single core for comparison purposes. MUSIC algorithm is implemented assuming 16 and 4 sensors using Uniform Linear Array (ULA).
Staphylococcal Infections: Mechanisms of Biofilm Maturation and Detachment as Critical Determinants of Pathogenicity*

Biofilm-associated infections are a significant cause of morbidity and death. Staphylococci, above all Staphylococcus aureus and S. epidermidis, are the most frequent causes of biofilm-associated infections on indwelling medical devices. Although the mechanistic basis for the agglomeration of staphylococcal cells in biofilms has been investigated in great detail, we lack understanding of the forces and molecular determinants behind the structuring of biofilms and the detachment of cellular clusters from biofilms. These processes are of key importance for the formation of vital biofilms in vivo with the capacity of bacterial dissemination to secondary sites of infection. Recent studies showed that the phenol-soluble modulins, surfactant peptides secreted by staphylococci in a quorum-sensing controlled fashion, structure biofilms in vitro and in vivo and lead to biofilm detachment with the in vivo consequence of bacterial dissemination. These findings substantiate that quorum sensing and surfactants have widespread importance for biofilm maturation processes in bacteria and establish a novel theory of the molecular determinants driving dissemination of biofilm-associated infection.
Ion formation processes in the afterpeak time regime of pulsed glow discharge plasmas

The formation of ions following the termination of power in a pulsed glow discharge ion source is investigated. The populations of ionized species containing sputtered atoms M+, M21:, and MAr+ are observed to maximize after the termination of discharge power. Collisions involving sputtered atoms and metastable argon atoms, Penning and associative ionization, are considered to be responsible for the formation of ions in the discharge afterpeak time regime. The domination of these ion formation processes during the afterpeak time regime is supported by the results from investigations of discharge operating parameters, metastable argon atom quenching, and ion kinetic energy distributions.