cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
QSAR modeling of oxidative stress in vitro following hepatocyte exposures to halogenated methanes.

Abstract Volatile halogenated aliphatic compounds are among those chemicals that can cause oxidative stress in vitro and in vivo. Relationships can be identified between the potential of these chemicals to elicit certain biological responses and their specific chemical descriptors, such as molecular orbital energies (LUMO) or partition coefficients (logP). A quantitative structure–activity relationship (QSAR) model has not been reported previously for the potential of a series of brominated and chlorinated methanes to induce oxidative stress in primary rat hepatocytes. By utilizing a novel in vitro methodology to expose cultures of rat primary hepatocytes to volatile chemicals, biological responses were assessed from exposures of hepatocytes to individual halogenated methanes. Indicators of lipid peroxidation, reactive oxygen species and cytotoxicity were measured. For the 10 brominated and chlorinated methanes tested, semi-empirical molecular orbital methods were used to calculate the physical/chemical descriptors used in the QSAR models. These models were used to explain the relative potential for a given halogenated methane to induce markers of oxidative stress or related damage in vitro. The results showed that certain descriptors, such as the molecular orbital energies, bond lengths, and lipophilicity are quantitatively correlated with induction of indicators for oxidative stress and cytotoxicity by halogenated methanes in primary rat hepatocytes.
Otitis media: A problem for the physical anthropologist

Otitis media, common in children, can result in middle ear structure alteration and hearing loss, and, hence, in language development deficiency. Physical anthropologists are qualified to do innovative research into the causes of this costly disease, which have not yet been delineated. The prevalence of otitis media appears related to age, sex, ethnicity, and environment. Investigation is warranted in areas such as the measurement of variability in eustachian tube, middle ear cleft, and mastoid process anatomy and physiology; the epidemiology and genetic mechanism of otitis media; and the microbiology and immunology as well as pathological studies of cranial variation as it relates to otitis media.
Reconstructing the diet and paleoecology of Plio-Pleistocene Cercopithecoides williamsi from Sterkfontein, South Africa

ABSTRACT The Plio-Pleistocene cave site of Sterkfontein has yielded the remains of Cercopithecoides williamsi, a colobine monkey reconstructed as a terrestrial folivore given its dental morphology, heavily worn teeth and robustly built postcranial skeleton. To address the validity of these dietary and habitat inferences, patterns of dental microwear obtained from low-magnification stereomicroscopy for C. williamsi specimens from Sterkfontein Member 4 (n = 13) are compared to a broad comparative sample of extant primates, including Cebus apella (n = 10), Colobus polykomos, (n = 6), Papio anubis (n = 13), and Papio ursinus (n = 39) as well as extinct Parapapio broomi (n = 12) from Sterkfontein Member 4 and Theropithecus oswaldi danieli (n = 6) from Swartkrans Member 1. Cercopithecoides williamsi exhibits numerous large pits and puncture pits, and few fine scratches. When diet is considered, C. williamsi is closely associated with C. polykomos and C. apella, suggesting folivorous resources and ...
Reactive oxygen species-dependent signaling regulates cancer

Historically, it has been assumed that oxidative stress contributes to tumor initiation and progression solely by inducing genomic instability. Recent studies indicate that reactive oxygen species are upregulated in tumors and can lead to aberrant induction of signaling networks that cause tumorigenesis and metastasis. Here we review the role of redox-dependent signaling pathways and transcription factors that regulate tumorigenesis.
Dorsal hindbrain 5-HT3 receptors participate in control of meal size and mediate CCK-induced satiation

We have previously shown that systemic administration of ondansetron, a selective serotonin type-3 (5-HT3) receptor antagonist, attenuates cholecystokinin (CCK)-induced suppression of food intake. The exact location of 5-HT3 receptors mediating this action is not clear and may involve hindbrain 5-HT3 receptors. In this study, we first examined sucrose intake in response to direct injections of ondansetron into various sites of the dorsal hindbrain. Ondansetron (1.0 and 2.0 μg/100 nl) delivered into the medial nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS) significantly increased 15% sucrose intake (12.2 ± 0.6 and 13.5 ± 0.7 ml, respectively) compared to control (10.2 ± 0.7 ml), while equivalent injections into ipsilateral adjacent sites such as the lateral NTS, dorsal medial nucleus of the vagus, and other areas of the dorsal hindbrain had no effect on sucrose intake. Second, we examined the effects of hindbrain 5-HT3 receptor blockade on suppression of intake by systemic CCK. Fourth ventricular (ICV) administration of ondansetron (10.0 μg/3.0 μl) significantly attenuated suppression of intake by CCK (9.1 ± 1.0 vs. 6.4 ± 0.4 ml, respectively). Ondansetron alone had no effect on sucrose intake at any ICV dose tested. In a separate group of rats, CCK administration suppressed 60-min intake significantly (8.9 ± 0.8 ml) compared to control (12.4 ± 0.4 ml). Administration of ondansetron into the medial NTS completely reversed suppression of intake by CCK (11.8 ± 1.0 and 12.3 ± 1.4 ml, for 0.5 μg and 1.0 μg/100 nl, respectively). These data demonstrate that 5-HT3 receptors located in the medial NTS participate in control of meal size and mediate CCK-induced suppression of food intake.
Spontaneous Csf Leaks Mimicking Benign Exertional Headaches

Spontaneous CSF leaks are increasingly recognized, and a broader clinical and imaging spectrum of the disorder is emerging. The headaches of CSF leaks are typically orthostatic, but sometimes especially with chronicity the orthostatic features are blurred into lingering chronic daily headaches. Additional types of headache are also increasingly recognized. Two patients with spontaneous CSF leaks presented with intermittent transient severe headaches provoked by Valsalva-type manoeuvres. Orthostatic features were absent and the patients were asymptomatic if they avoided the provoking manoeuvres. One patient had been treated for 6 years for benign exertional headaches and had failed many medical treatments, including courses of indomethacin. He was found to have a leak from cribriform plate. The second patient had been symptomatic for several months, had diffuse pachymeningeal gadolinium enhancement on head magnetic resonance imaging, spinal meningeal diverticula, and CSF leak at the thoracic spine level. Headaches that mimic benign exertional headaches are yet another mode of the still broadening clinical presentation of spontaneous CSF leaks.
Establishment of an alternative intracellular cytokine staining assay for HIV/AIDS clinical studies.

Abstract To evaluate immune responses in large-scale clinical studies, it is crucial to use assays that are not only sensitive and specific, but also standardized and easily transferable. To this end, an intracellular cytokine staining (ICS) assay for quantifying HIV-specific CD8+ T cells has been established and its performance characteristics determined. PBMCs were stimulated using recombinant vaccinia expressing HIV-Env, -Gag, -Pol and -Nef proteins, or a protein from Escherichia coli (Eco); CD8+ T cell responses were assessed by intracellular IFN-γ staining and flow cytometric (FC) analysis. In 15 HIV seronegative and 11 HIV seropositive individuals, a minimal background IFN-γ staining was found after Eco stimulation with a median [inter-quartile range (IQR)] of 0.005% (0.000%, 0.030%) irrespective of HIV infection status. Recent smallpox vaccination was associated with a small but significant increase in background staining [0.02% (0.02%, 0.04%) versus 0.0% (0.0%, 0.01%) ( p = 0.039)] in HIV seronegative individuals. This assay detected moderate (>0.10%) HIV-specific responses in 64% (7/11) of HIV seropositive individuals. The results suggest that this ICS assay format is sensitive and specific, and is amenable to standardization for screening for HIV-specific CD8+ T cells in clinical trials.
WiMax: The Emergence of Wireless Broadband

This paper presents WiMAX technology (worldwide interoperability for microwave access) that aims to provide business and consumer wireless broadband services on the scale of the metropolitan area network (MAN). WiMAX can be used in disaster recovery scenes where the wired networks have broken down. In recent hurricane disasters, WiMAX networks were installed to help in recovery missions. Similarly, WiMAX can be used as backup links for broken wired links. The certification working group has developed a WiMAX product certification program, which aims to ensure interoperability between WiMAX equipment from vendors worldwide. The certification process also considers interoperability with the high performance radio metropolitan area network (HiperMAN), the European Telecommunications Standards Institute's MAN standard
Comparison of Earth and Mars as differentiated planets

Abstract Histories of the terrestrial planets are traceable to combinations of to five large-scale postaccretion processes: planetary differentiation, crustal differentiation, outgassing, plate tectonics, and recycling. All have operated on Earth to make a planet that was early differentiated into core, mantle, and crust and at very nearly the same time outgassed to form a differentiated crust, atmosphere and oceans. This gave rise to plate tectonics, recycling and thus two-way communication of the surface crust-atmosphere-ocean system with lower crust and upper mantle. Recycling of the Martian surface is probably restricted to limited chemical weathering of thin alteration surfaces of primary minerals because of the extreme slowness of diffusion controlled alteration where surfaces are not stripped by solution. There is evidence for neither subsidence of sedimentary basins nor subduction zones; thus internal recycling and two-way surface-interior communication is improbable. All sedimentary particles produced by mechanical erosion on Mars through its history are still at the surface or shallowly buried by later sediment. Any atmospheric components reacted with weathering crust are removed from the atmosphere. These and exospheric escape processes must have early reduced an original denser atmosphere to its present pressure after an early episode of planetary differentiation coupled to crustal differentiation and out-gassing. The early history of Mars may have been something like that of Earth until weathering and gas escape drew down its atmosphere.
N-Trinitroethylamino functionalization of nitroimidazoles: a new strategy for high performance energetic materials

An N-functionalized strategy, including N-amination and N-trinitroethylamination, was utilized for the synthesis of nitroimidazole-based energetic materials, giving rise to a new family of highly insensitive N-aminonitroimidazoles and oxygen-rich N-trinitroethylaminonitroimidazoles with good to excellent properties. These new energetic materials were fully characterized by IR, 1H, and 13C NMR, elemental analysis, and some high performance compounds were further confirmed by 15N NMR (4a, 4d, 6a, 6b, and 6d), as well as single crystal X-ray diffraction (6a and 6b). N-Functionalization of nitroimidazoles not only gives rise to the N-aminonitroimidazoles as impact insensitive and thermally stable materials (IS > 40 J; Td: 144–308 °C), but also provides a series of N-trinitroethylaminoimidazoles, which have favorable densities (1.75–1.84 g cm−3), good detonation properties (P: 27.6–35.9 GPa; vD: 7815–8659 m s−1), and moderate thermal stabilities (136–172 °C). These properties are better than some known energetic compounds, such as TNT (P: 19.5 GPa; vD: 6881 m s−1) and TATB (P: 31.2 GPa; vD: 8114 m s−1), and are comparable to RDX (P: 35.0 GPa; vD: 8762 m s−1).
Proselytism By Jews in the Third, Fourth, and Fifth Centuries

L'A. evalue le proselytisme juif aux III e , IV et V e siecles a partir de diverses sources: la legislation imperiale romaine, les canons de l'Eglise, les Peres de l'Eglise avant et apres Jean Chrysostome, la litterature rabbinique, les inscriptions et papyrus
PHYSIOLOGICAL MONITORING OF OPTICALLY TRAPPED CELLS : ASSESSING THE EFFECTS OF CONFINEMENT BY 1064-NM LASER TWEEZERS USING MICROFLUOROMETRY

We report the results of microfluorometric measurements of physiological changes in optically trapped immotile Chinese hamster ovary cells (CHOs) and motile human sperm cells under continuous-wave (CW) and pulsed-mode trapping conditions at 1064 nm. The fluorescence spectra derived from the exogenous fluorescent probes laurdan, acridine orange, propidium iodide, and Snarf are used to assess the effects of optical confinement with respect to temperature, DNA structure, cell viability, and intracellular pH, respectively. In the latter three cases, fluorescence is excited via a two-photon process, using a CW laser trap as the fluorescence excitation source. An average temperature increase of
The basis for control of post-mating sexual attractiveness by Drosophila melanogaster females.

Abstract Drosophila melanogaster males court mated females significantly less actively than they court virgins. Courtship-inhibiting chemicals (anti-aphrodisiacs) released by mated females when males are present could play a role in controlling the sexual attractiveness of mated females. To test this hypothesis, the attractiveness of intact mated females, which are able to release aversive chemical signals, was compared to that of decapitated mated females, which do not release the signals. By 24 h after mating, reduced female sexual attractiveness was due almost entirely to anti-aphrodisiacs released when males were present. Anti-aphrodisiacs vary between strains, and have been identified as hydrocarbons found primarily on the cuticle of mature males. The quantity of these hydrocarbons on mated females increases when males are present, but the increase is not due to tranfer from the males. When males with radiolabelled cuticular hydrocarbons were paired with mated females, no transfer of label could be detected. Interstrain comparisons showed that males from one strain do not necessarily respond to the anti-aphrodisiac of another, and that male cuticular hydrocarbons may provide a chemical stimulus that induces release of anti-aphrodisiac by mated females.
Alignment and orientation of Ar+ in He+-Ar collisions

We have measured the alignment and orientation parameters of the2F 7 2/0 and2F 5 2/0 states of Ar+ formed in the two-electron process; He++Ar→He(1s2)+Ar+(3p44p′). These have been measured at a collision energy of 0.25 keV/amu and for scattering angles ranging from 0.94° to 3.75°. First, by comparing the orientation parameter for the Ar+[(3p4[1D]4p′2F 7 2/0 ] and the Ar+[(3p4[1D]4p′2F 5 2/0 ] states, we have experimentally determined the importance of the spin-dependent interactions for the present collision system, by testing the Percival-Seaton hypothesis of spin independence. If the Percival-Seaton hypothesis holds for this system, the orientation parameter should beJ-independent. Secondly, the magnitude of the orientation parameter can be interpreted as resulting from the collective circulation of the unexcited 3p4 electrons and the excited 4p electron. The direction of this collective circulation is compared to the propensity rule for colliding di-atom systems.
X-Ray Binary Populations: The Luminosity Function of NGC 1569

Using the population synthesis code StarTrack we construct the first synthetic X-ray binary populations for direct comparison with the X-ray luminosity function (XLF) of NGC 1569 observed with Chandra. Our main goal is to examine whether it is possible to reproduce the XLF shape with our models, given the current knowledge of the star formation history of this starburst galaxy. We thus produce hybrid models meant to represent the two stellar populations: one old and metal-poor, with continuous star formation for ~1.5 Gyr; and another a recent and metal-rich population. To examine the validity of the models, we compare XLFs calculated for varying ages of the populations and varying relative weights for the star formation rates in the two populations. We find that for typical binary evolution parameters, it is indeed possible to quite closely match the observed XLF shape. The robust match is achieved for an age of the young population and a ratio of star formation rates in the two populations that are within factors of 1.5 and 2, respectively, of those inferred from Hubble Space Telescope observations of NGC 1569. In view of this encouraging first step, we discuss the implications of our X-ray binary models and their potential as tools to study binary populations in galaxies.
High resolution absorption cross-sections and band oscillator strengths of the Schumann-Runge absorption bands of isotopic oxygen, 18O2, at 79 K

Cross-sections of (O-18)2 at 79 K have been obtained from photoabsorption measurements at various pressures throughout the wavelength region 177.8-197.8 nm with a 6.65 m photoelectric scanning spectrometer equipped with a 2400 lines/mm grating and having an instrumental width (FWHM) of 0.0013 nm. The measured absorption cross-sections of the Schumann-Runge bands (14,0) through (2,0) are, with the exception of the (12,0) band, independent of the instrumental width. The measured cross-sections are presented graphically here and are available at wavenumber intervals of about 0.1/cm as numerical compilations stored on magnetic tape. Band oscillator strengths of those bands have been determined by direct numerical integration of the measured absolute cross-sections and are in excellent agreement with these theoretically calculated values.
Spectrophotometric Determination of Oxalacetic Acid in the Presence of Keto- and Amino-Acids

Abstract Oxalacetic acid (OAA), an α-keto acid, absorbs strongly in the 250-265 nm region where most keto- and amino-acids do not absorb. This absorption peak was used for the direct quantitative determination of oxalacetic acid in the presence of L-aspartic, L-glutamic, and α-Ketoglutaric acids. Studies were done on solutions prepared in 0.1 M phosphate buffers at pH 7.4 and 8.4 and in 0.1 M Tris, (Tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane), buffer at pH 8.4. Spectra of the individual acids and of those in a mixture revealed that only oxalacetic acid absorbs in the 250-265 nm region. For quantitative measurements of OAA, calibration curves were constructed. Absorbance of OAA at 260 nm was found to be linear over the wide concentration range 1×10−5-5×10−3 M in phosphate and Tris buffers, pH 7.4 and 8.4, respectively. Due to its chemical structure, OAA decarboxylates spontaneously in solution. From preliminary kinetic studies of the decarboxylation, it was found that within the time-frame of measurements, this side ...
Wherefore Art Thou, Homeo(stasis)? Functional Diversity in Homeostatic Synaptic Plasticity

Homeostatic plasticity has emerged as a fundamental regulatory principle that strives to maintain neuronal activity within optimal ranges by altering diverse aspects of neuronal function. Adaptation to network activity is often viewed as an essential negative feedback restraint that prevents runaway excitation or inhibition. However, the precise importance of these homeostatic functions is often theoretical rather than empirically derived. Moreover, a remarkable multiplicity of homeostatic adaptations has been observed. To clarify these issues, it may prove useful to ask: why do homeostatic mechanisms exist, what advantages do these adaptive responses confer on a given cell population, and why are there so many seemingly divergent effects? Here, we approach these questions by applying the principles of control theory to homeostatic synaptic plasticity of mammalian neurons and suggest that the varied responses observed may represent distinct functional classes of control mechanisms directed toward disparate physiological goals.
The Effect of Scan Angle on Target Localization Accuracy Using Digital Tomosynthesis

Purpose/Objective(s): To examine the effect of scan angle on target localization accuracy using on-board digital tomosynthesis (DTS) for breath-hold liver treatment. Material/Methods: 20 CBCT-localized fractions accumulated from liver radiation therapy treatments were studied retrospectively. To remove motion artifacts, image sets were acquired under breath-hold. The effect of scan angle, a key parameter for DTS, on target localization accuracy was evaluated for 10, 20 and 40 degree scan angles in both coronal and sagittal views. Assuming CBCT localization is the gold standard, the accuracy of the DTS technique is evaluated by the relative difference compared to the CBCT positioning. Localization accuracy was compared using two registration methods: bony anatomy based and soft tissue based alignment. Bony matching was performed by aligning the vertebral structures and ribs. Soft tissue matching was performed by aligning the liver boundaries, kidneys, and, when visible, the target. Results: The coronal and sagittal DTS had similar performance in aligning the target. Overall, the means and standard deviations for 40, 20 and 10 degree DTS were 0.2 +0.8 cm (40-cor.), 0.2 +0.8 cm (40-sag.), 0.1 +0.7cm (20-cor.), 0.2 +0.9 cm (20-sag.), 0.2 +0.9 cm (10-cor.), and 0.1 +0.7 cm (10-sag.). Figure 1. shows examples of DTS images at 10, 20, and 40 degree. Figure 2. plots the localization differences for the 10 and 40 degree DTS results in the lateral, vertical and longitudinal directions. Conclusion: The effect of scan angle on bony anatomy is minimal, and 10 degree DTS in either coronal or sagittal view is sufficient for bone based alignment. The visibility of liver boundaries was comparable with corresponding CBCT images on all DTS scans. However, detailed soft tissue contrast suffers when scan angle decreases from 40° to 10°. For BH liver treatment, the entire liver is clearly visible and can be used for soft tissue alignment. Partially supported by a Varian Medical Systems Research Grant
Modification of the side chain of micromolide, an anti-tuberculosis natural product

This paper describes a series of modifications of the side chain of micromolide, an anti-tuberculosis natural product. Most of the synthesized compounds showed significantly decreased activities, which suggests that the long aliphatic side chain of micromolide and its double bond are essential to its activity.
The Extension of Incest Taboos in the Woleai, Micronesia

ALL societies extend incest taboos to some relatives outside the elementary family, but no one of these relatives is tabooed in all societies. Illustrations of this principle are the commonplaces of anthropology. While the Ba-Ila forbid marriage with a mother's brother's daughter and and approve marriage with a father's sister's daughter, the Siriono prefer marriage with a mother's brother's daughter and forbid marriage with a father's sister's daughter. Marriage with a deceased wife's sister is approved in many societies and required in some, but in England it is a crime. This variability is often used to criticize biological and psychological theories of incest taboos. Functional theories seek to explain why incest taboos are universal even though the incest boundaries vary. There has been less interest, however, in explaining the variability itself. Murdock maintains that the extension of incest taboos, that is, their application to relatives outside the elementary family, is determined almost entirely by the nature of the consanguineal kin groups in the society. He believes that the influence of other factors is so minor that we need not consider them (1949:303-304). His belief in a primary relation between kin groups and the extension of incest taboos illustrates and derives from his broader conclusion that "social organization is a semi-independent system comparable in many respects to language, and similarly characterized by an internal dynamics of its own" (1949:199). White suggests, however, that the extension of incest taboos depends upon a combination of many circumstances, including habitat, technology, subsistence, methods of defense and offence, the division of labor between the sexes, and the degree of cultural development (1948:428). Some of these circumstances are clearly outside the conventional orbit of social organization. White does not pursue this suggestion by referring to individual societies in which these or similar factors determine the extension of incest taboos. He provides neither a discussion of the relative importance of these various factors, nor an analysis of how they influence the incest restrictions in specific cultures. Nevertheless, he may be right. Are the kin groups that function in a society the sole determinants of incest boundaries, or may other factors exert a significant influence also?
Pressure dependence of bound-vacancy motion in doped NaCl

The effect of pressure to 6 kbar on the nuclear-magnetic-resonance rotating-frame relaxation time ${T}_{1\ensuremath{\rho}}$ in doped NaCl is studied at temperatures near 100 \ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}C. Cation vacancies are almost all associated with the added divalent impurities ${\mathrm{Cd}}^{2+}$, ${\mathrm{Mn}}^{2+}$, and ${\mathrm{Hg}}^{2+}$ at these temperatures. The jumping of these bound vacancies among sites nearest and next nearest to the impurities causes relaxation of the nuclear magnetization. From the pressure dependence of the rate of relaxation, the activation volume for this motion is found to be 7.4 \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{} 1 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{3}$/mole, comparable to the value for free-vacancy motion. There is a contribution to the total activation volume from the volume of solubility or precipitation (${\ensuremath{\nu}}_{s}=3.5\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}2$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{3}$/mole) in the Cd- and Mn-doped samples, but not in the Hg-doped sample.
EVALUATION OF CARDIAC MECHANICS BY VENDOR SPECIFIC AND INDEPENDENT 3D ECHOCARDIOGRAPHIC IMAGING PROGRAMS ON REGIONAL STRAIN DETERMINATION AND INFARCTION DETECTION

Background: 3D strain echocardiography assesses left ventricular (LV) segmental wall motion and locate ischemic myocardium by analysis of regional strain, but accuracy varies in different analysis programs. This study evaluated vendor speciic and independent programs to calculate longitudinal and circumferential strain (LS, CS) against sonomicrometry to assess accuracy and precision and detection of infarction.
X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic studies of nickel-oxygen surfaces using oxygen and argon ion-bombardment

Abstract We have studied the surface chemistry of the nickel-oxygen system using both temperature changes and ion bombardment as techniques for elucidating the surface structure. The spectra of metallic Ni, NiO and Ni 2 O 3 were characterized from samples prepared directly in the spectrometer. The Ni 2 O 3 species could be distinguished from an authentic Ni(OH) 2 sample from both the X-ray photoelectron lines and the Auger transitions. The oxides of NiO and Ni 2 O 3 could be prepared by bombardment with low energy (400eV) O 2 + ions as well as by exposure of Ni to oxygen at reduced pressure (∼ 100 torr). The Ni 2 O 3 was found to be present on most nickel-oxygen surfaces except those prepared by exposing Ni to air for many hours at high temperature (> 600° C ), indicating that the stability of Ni 2 O 3 decreased as the temperature increased. Exposure of both NiO and Ni 2 O 3 to 400 eV Ar + ion bombardment caused reduction to metallic Ni. This observation has also been noted for several other oxides and a prediction of whether or not reduction should be observed is presented by examining the free energy of formation of the molecule.
Receiver/Reactor Concepts for Thermochemical Transport of Solar Energy

Thermochemical transport of solar energy based on reversible chemical reactions may be a way to take advantage of the high-temperature capabilities of parabolic dishes, while minimizing pipe network heat loss, since energy is transported at ambient temperatures in chemical form. Receiver/Reactor design is a key to making thermochemical transport a reality. In this paper the important parameters for solar receiver and chemical reactor design and how they relate to each other are presented. Three basic receiver/reactor types, applicable to thermochemical receiver design, are identified: (1) Tube Receiver/Reactors have tubular reactor elements which are directly heated by solar energy in the receiver. (2) Indirect Receiver/Reactors use an intermediate heat transfer fluid between the receiver and reactor. (3) Direct Absorption Receiver/Reaxtors absorb sunlight directly on the reactor catalyst. Advantages, limitations, and risks associated with each design are discussed and examples of those that have been built are given. Each type offers its own set of advantages and risks, and warrant further investigation.
Fabrication of Ag@SiO2@Y2O3:Er Nanostructures for Bioimaging: Tuning of the Upconversion Fluorescence with Silver Nanoparticles

We demonstrated that the nanostructures comprising silver cores and dense layers of Y(2)O(3):Er separated by a silica shell are an excellent model system to study the interaction between upconversion materials and metals in nanoscale. This architecture allows for versatile control of the Y(2)O(3):Er-metal interaction through control of the silica dielectric spacer thickness and the metal-core size. Finally, the nanoparticles are potentially interesting as fluorescent labels in, for instance (single particle), imaging experiments or bioassays which require low background or tissue penetrating wavelengths.
Routing in SONET/VCAT based optical WDM networks (Invited Paper)

In this paper, we investigate problems related to optical wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) networks that use the virtual concatenation (VCAT) mechanism of synchronous optical network (SONET) technology. VCAT, an end-to-end mechanism, allows SONET based optical WDM networks to carry traffic in finer granularity via multiple paths or a single path with multiple wavelengths. The benefits include efficient utilization of link capacity and implicit partial link failure protection if link-disjoint paths are used. However, multi-path routing causes differential delay among constituent paths and requires high-speed buffer capacity at receiving nodes. In this paper, we propose four route selection methods to study the tradeoffs of VCAT's traffic splitting feature. The performance analysis is conducted using a discrete-event simulation model. Optical WDM grooming networks under dynamic traffic demand are considered. The simulation results quantify the costs and benefits of using the VCAT mechanism in SONET based optical WDM networks. The simulation results confirm the benefits of carrying traffic in finer granularity. MP and SPMW consistently outperform the traditional SPSW method by 50 percent and 90 percent respectively in blocking performance. In the event of a link failure, the implicit protection ratio increases as connections use more link-disjoint paths. The results also show that differential delay, which is the cost of VCAT's multi-path routing, increases as the number of link-disjoint paths increases.
Superconducting and normal metal multilayers of thallium-lead cuprates

We report the growth of c-axis oriented, epitaxial thin films of (Tl,Pb)Sr/sub 2/CuO/sub 5/ on (100) oriented LaAlO/sub 3/ substrates by off-axis sputter deposition in the presence of thallium oxide vapor. These films display a resistivity which crosses over from metallic to semiconducting behavior at low temperature. In addition, we have shown that multiple layers of superconducting (Tl,Pb)Sr/sub 2/Ca/sub 0.8/Y/sub 0.2/Cu/sub 2/O/sub 7/ (1212) and nonsuperconducting (Tl,Pb)Sr/sub 2/CuO/sub 5/ (1201) can be deposited sequentially without compromise of the superconducting properties of the 1212 layer. Bilayers of both 1212 on 1201 and of 1201 on 1212 have been fabricated. In either case, both materials grow with their c-axis normal to the substrate surface and with their a-axes aligned to each other and to the major axes of the substrate. Technologically interesting trilayer structures of 1212/1201/1212 have also been fabricated. Both 1212 layers are superconducting with transition temperatures of up to 94 and 93 K for the upper and lower layers respectively. We believe that this is an important step towards the development of thallium cuprate-based multilayer technology. >
Stable reinforcement learning via temporal competition between LTP and LTD traces

Neuronal systems that are involved in reinforcement learning must solve the temporal credit assignment problem, i.e., how is a stimulus associated with a reward that is delayed in time? Theoretical studies [1-3] have postulated that neural activity underlying learning ‘tags’ synapses with an ‘eligibility trace’, and that the subsequent arrival of a reward converts the eligibility traces into actual modification of synaptic efficacies. While eligibility traces provide one simple solution to the temporal credit assignment problem, they alone do not constitute a stable learning rule because there is no other mechanism indicating when learning should cease. In order to attain stability, rules involving eligibility traces often assume that once the association is learned, further learning is prevented via an inhibition of the reward stimulus [1,3,4]. Although synaptic plasticity is responsible for reinforcement learning in the brain, theories of reinforcement learning are generally abstract and involve neither neurons nor synapses. Furthermore, biophysical theories of synaptic plasticity typically model unsupervised learning and ignore the contribution of reinforcement. Here we describe a biophysically based theory of reinforcementmodulated synaptic plasticity and postulate the existence of two eligibility traces with different temporal profiles: one corresponding to the induction of LTP, and the other to the induction of LTD. The traces have different kinetics and their difference in magnitude at the time of reward determines if synaptic modification will correspond to LTP or LTD. Due to the difference in their decay rates, the LTP and LTD traces can exhibit temporal competition at the reward time and thus provides a mechanism for stable reinforcement learning without the need to inhibit reward. We test this novel reinforcement-learning rule on an experimentally motivated model of a recurrent cortical network [5], and compare the model results to experimental results at both the cellular and circuit levels. We further suggest that these eligibility traces are implemented via kinases and phosphatases, thus accounting for results at both the cellular and system levels.
Surgical Site Infection (SSI) Rates in the United States, 1992–1998: The National Nosocomial Infections Surveillance System Basic SSI Risk Index

By use of the National Nosocomial Infections Surveillance (NNIS) System's surgical patient surveillance component protocol, the NNIS basic risk index was examined to predict the risk of a surgical site infection (SSI). The NNIS basic SSI risk index is composed of the following criteria: American Society of Anesthesiologists score of 3, 4, or 5; wound class; and duration of surgery. The effect when a laparoscope was used was also determined. Overall, for 34 of the 44 NNIS procedure categories, SSI rates increased significantly (P< .05) with the number of risk factors present. With regard to cholecystectomy and colon surgery, the SSI rate was significantly lower when the procedure was done laparoscopically within each risk index category. With regard to appendectomy and gastric surgery, use of a laparoscope affected SSI rates only when no other risk factors were present. The NNIS basic SSI index is useful for risk adjustment for a wide variety of procedures. For 4 operations, the use of a laparoscope lowered SSI risk, requiring modification of the NNIS basic SSI risk index.
Relation of patients' experiences with individual physicians to malpractice risk.

Objective Patient care experience survey data might be useful for managing individual physician malpractice risk, but available evidence is limited. This study assesses whether patients' experiences with individual physicians, as measured by a validated survey, are associated with patient complaints and malpractice lawsuits. Design Random samples of active patients in physicians' panels, with sample sizes adequate to provide highly reliable, stable information about patients' experiences with each physician ( n = 19 202, average respondents per physician = 119) were used to assess the relation of patient survey measures to malpractice risk. Setting A large multi-specialty physician organization in eastern Massachusetts, USA. Participants Physicians providing care for at least 5 years in adult primary care and select high-risk specialty departments between January 1996 and December 2005 ( n = 161). Main outcome meausure(s) Patient complaints (2001–05) and malpractice lawsuits (1996–2005). Results Compared to primary care physicians, high-risk specialists had a lower patient complaint rate (0.34 vs. 1.36 complaints per patient care full time equivalent; P < 0.001), but a higher lawsuit rate (0.09 vs. 0.05 lawsuits per patient care full time equivalent; P = 0.02). Irrespective of physician specialty, the quality of physician–patient interactions (IRR = 0.61; P < 0.001) and care coordination (IRR = 0.65; P < 0.001) were inversely associated with patient complaints. Patient survey measures were not associated with malpractice lawsuits. Conclusions The results underscore the challenges organizations face when attempting to use patient survey data to manage individual physician medical malpractice risk. Because lawsuits are infrequent events, calibrating these validated patient survey measures to malpractice lawsuit risk will require large physician samples from diverse practices.
Private Journals versus Public Blogs The Impact of Peer Readership on Low-stakes Reflective Writing

This article isolates and observes the impact of peer readership on low-stakes reflective writing assignments in two large Introduction to Sociology classes. Through a comparative content analysis of over 2,000 private reflective journal entries and semipublic reflective blog posts, I find that both practices produce distinct forms of reflection. I argue that these differences can be understood in terms of the risks that students take in their writing. Journals, which do not incorporate peer readership, appear to compel students to take more personal risks and engage in emotional labor to process assigned materials. Blogs, which do incorporate peer readership, enable students to take more intellectual risks and engage in logical mental endeavors. The results suggest that instructors should be cognizant of the variety of risks their assignments are likely to compel students to make as they determine how best to engage students in reflection on sociological materials and ideas.
Divorce among physicians and other healthcare professionals in the United States: analysis of census survey data

Objectives To estimate the prevalence and incidence of divorce among US physicians compared with other healthcare professionals, lawyers, and non-healthcare professionals, and to analyze factors associated with divorce among physicians. Design Retrospective analysis of nationally representative surveys conducted by the US census, 2008-13. Setting United States. Participants 48 881 physicians, 10 086 dentists, 13 883 pharmacists, 159 044 nurses, 18 920 healthcare executives, 59 284 lawyers, and 6 339 310 other non-healthcare professionals. Main outcome measures Logistic models of divorce adjusted for age, sex, race, annual income, weekly hours worked, number of years since marriage, calendar year, and state of residence. Divorce outcomes included whether an individual had ever been divorced (divorce prevalence) or became divorced in the past year (divorce incidence). Results After adjustment for covariates, the probability of being ever divorced (or divorce prevalence) among physicians evaluated at the mean value of other covariates was 24.3% (95% confidence interval 23.8% to 24.8%); dentists, 25.2% (24.1% to 26.3%); pharmacists, 22.9% (22.0% to 23.8%); nurses, 33.0% (32.6% to 33.3%); healthcare executives, 30.9% (30.1% to 31.8%); lawyers, 26.9% (26.4% to 27.4%); and other non-healthcare professionals, 35.0% (34.9% to 35.1%). Similarly, physicians were less likely than those in most other occupations to divorce in the past year. In multivariable analysis among physicians, divorce prevalence was greater among women (odds ratio 1.51, 95% confidence interval 1.40 to 1.63). In analyses stratified by physician sex, greater weekly work hours were associated with increased divorce prevalence only for female physicians. Conclusions Divorce among physicians is less common than among non-healthcare workers and several health professions. Female physicians have a substantially higher prevalence of divorce than male physicians, which may be partly attributable to a differential effect of hours worked on divorce.
A process- and temperature-tolerant power-on reset circuit with a flexible detection level higher than the bandgap voltage

A process- and temperature-tolerant power-on reset (POR) circuit is described. The operation principle of the POR circuit is based on a Kuijk cell bandgap reference with one resistor added to enable a designed output voltage higher than the Bandgap voltage of 1.25V. A test circuit with a detection level of 2.0V was fabricated and measured with a temperature variation of 19mV from 25degC to 90degC and a standard deviation of 25mV across one wafer. The circuit occupies 0.064mm2 and dissipates 1.2A at 90degC.
Towards Approximate Event Processing in a Large-Scale Content-Based Network

Event matching is a critical component of large-scale content-based publish/subscribe systems. However, most existing methods suffer from a dramatic performance degradation when the system scales up. In this paper, we present TAMA (Table Match), a highly efficient content-based event matching and forwarding engine. We consider range-based attribute constraints that are widely used in real-world applications. TAMA employs approximate matching to provide fast event matching against an enormous amount of subscriptions. To this end, TAMA uses a hierarchical indexing table to store subscriptions. Event matching in TAMA becomes the query to this table, which is substantially faster than traditional methods. In addition, the false positive rate of matching events in TAMA can be adjusted by tuning the size of the matching table, which makes TAMA favorable in practice. We implement TAMA as a forwarding component in Siena and conduct extensive experiments with realistic settings. The results demonstrate that TAMA has a significantly faster event matching speed compared to existing methods, and only incurs a small fraction of false positives.
Energy dispersive x-ray analysis of the elemental composition of Legionella pneumophila, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and the green algae Scenedesmus sp., Chlorella sp., and Gloeocystis sp.

Abstract Energy dispersive x-ray analysis of the elemental composition of algae and bacteria cultures showed evidence of increased concentration of Mg and P in some instances and not in others.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa R Factors Determining Gentamicin Plus Carbenicillin Resistance from Patients with Urinary Tract Colonizations

R factors determining multiple resistance including both gentamicin and carbenicillin have been identified in high incidence among hospital isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The factors are readily transmitted to other P. aeruginosa but not to Escherichia coli strains K-12 or C, or to Proteus mirabilis. R factor-containing isolates are predominantly immunotype 7 isolated from urinary sources.
Leadership Efficacy and Women Leaders' Responses to Stereotype Activation:

The role of leadership efficacy in women's reactance responses to stereotype-based leadership role expectations was examined in two laboratory studies. Participants, selected on the basis of leadership efficacy scores, served as leaders of ostensible three-person groups. Half were primed with the gender leadership stereotype. An immersive virtual environment designed for this research served as the leadership setting. Results indicated that the effects of stereotype activation on women leaders were moderated by leadership efficacy such that high efficacy leaders exhibited more positive, reactance responses (increased perceived performance, increased rated performance, greater domain identification, and higher well-being) than low efficacy leaders. Additionally, perceived performance mediated the domain identification and well-being effects of stereotype activation on high and low efficacy leaders.
A comparison of maternal effects and current environment on vital rates of Aphis nerii , the milkweed - oleander aphid

Non-Mendelian maternal effects, the effects of maternal phenotype or environment on offspring phenotype, have been documented in numerous taxa. By affecting offspring vital rates (birth, death, and movement), maternal effects have the potential to influence population dynamics. However, relatively few studies have directly linked maternal phenotype or environment to offspring vital rates. Additionally, even fewer studies have compared the magnitude of across-generation effects (i.e. maternal effects) to within-generation effects. 2. Because of their telescoping generations, aphids can be strongly influenced by maternal effects. The effects of maternal density and maternal host-plant species on offspring survival, fecundity, and alate formation were investigated experimentally in Aphis nerii , the milkweed - oleander aphid. 3. Additionally, the relative strength of maternal effects were compared with those operating within a generation. Therefore, in another set of experiments, the effects of current density and host-plant species (within-generation effects) on aphid vital rates were examined. 4. While maternal effects were present, within-generation effects were much stronger and more strongly influenced aphid vital rates. Within a generation, aphids exhibited density-dependent survival, fecundity, and alate formation and these effects varied among host-plant species. 5. These results indicate that while maternal effects have the potential to affect population dynamics, this potential is not always met. Additionally, the current environment, not the environment of previous generations, more strongly impacts population dynamics.
What Predicts Support for Antler Point Restrictions

Although considerable research has focused on satisfaction with recreation experiences, limited work has examined factors related to regulatory support. In 2005, an antler point restriction (APR) regulation was introduced for hunting white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in Minnesota’s Itasca State Park. Hunter surveys were conducted following the 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2009 seasons. We modeled how (a) satisfaction with the deer seen, (b) type of deer pursued, (c) agency trust, and (d) years of deer-hunting experience, influenced support for the APR, and compared the model over the four survey years. Type of deer pursued and agency trust were the strongest predictors of APR support, followed by satisfaction with deer seen, and years of hunting experience. Hunters who targeted big bucks, had more trust in the agency, and expressed more satisfaction with deer seen in the field, were more supportive of the APR. Hunters who had more deer-hunting experience were less supportive.