cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Antibonding potentials and dielectric properties of amorphous phases

Abstract It is proposed that the valence band of amorphous phases includes a component of antibonding wave functions. A quantitative model of the effects of the antibonding admixture is successful in accounting for published experiments on the dielectric constant of germanium films.
Effects of Composition and Matrix Polarity on Network Development in Organogels of Poly(ethylene glycol) and Dibenzylidene Sorbitol

Dibenzylidene sorbitol (DBS) is a low-molecular-weight organic molecule that can gel a variety of organic solvents and polymers by self-organizing into a three-dimensional nanofibrillar network through hydrogen-bonding and phenyl interactions. In this work, we investigate the composition dependence of such “organogels” prepared with poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and two PEG derivatives differing in methoxy end- group substitution, which serves to reduce matrix polarity. Transmission electron microscopy reveals that individual DBS nanofibrils measure from about 10 to 70 nm in diameter, with a primary nanofibrillar diameter of about 10 nm. Dynamic rheological measurements indicate that the rate by which the elastic modulus increases during gelation, the temperatures corresponding to gel formation and dissolution, and the magnitude of the elastic modulus are all sensitive to the DBS mass concentration (φ) and the matrix polarity. Hydroxy-end-capped PEG/DBS systems gel more slowly, but dissolve faster, than the...
Skeletal Complications After Bone Marrow Transplant in Childhood

Childhood cancer survivors are a growing population with special medical needs. It is projected that 66% of these survivors will have at least 1 adverse health effect and 33% will have a severe, ch...
Nebivolol does not protect against 5/6 ablation/infarction induced chronic kidney disease in rats - comparison with angiotensin II receptor blockade.

Abstract Aims Nitric oxide (NO) deficiency contributes to chronic kidney disease progression. Nebivolol, a beta adrenergic receptor antagonist, may enhance endogenous NO. Here, we investigated whether Nebivolol attenuates hypertension and renal injury after 5/6 ablation/infarction (A/I). Efficacy was compared to the AT1 receptor antagonist Olmesartan. Main methods Kidney disease and hypertension were induced by right kidney ablation and ~ 2/3 infarction of the left kidney. Rats were treated orally with vehicle (placebo), Nebivolol (5 mg/kg b.i.d.), or Olmesartan (2.5 mg/kg/day) for 6 weeks after A/I. Key findings With placebo, glomerular sclerosis and tubulointersititial fibrosis developed with increased blood pressure and proteinuria, and a fall in NO x excretion. Olmesartan prevented these changes, but Nebivolol had no effect on these measures but lowered heart rate. Neither treatment reduced systemic oxidative stress (urinary hydrogen peroxide and TBARS). Compared to controls, renal cortex abundance of nNOSα decreased and nNOSβ increased in rats after 5/6 A/I, with no changes in eNOS. Neither treatment restored nNOSα; however, both reduced nNOSβ. Activity of DDAH was decreased by 5/6 A/I but restored by both treatments despite no increase in DDAH protein abundance. Kidney cortex abundance of manganese SOD fell after 5/6 A/I and was restored by treatment with Olmesartan but not Nebivolol. Extracellular and copper/zinc SOD abundances were not changed. Significance In conclusion, Nebivolol showed no benefit after 6 weeks in rapidly progressing, ANG II-dependent 5/6 A/I model of chronic kidney disease. This contrasts to the protection seen with 6 month treatment of Nebivolol in the slowly progressing 5/6 ablation model.
Covariance, subspace, and intrinsic Crame/spl acute/r-Rao bounds

Crame/spl acute/r-Rao bounds on estimation accuracy are established for estimation problems on arbitrary manifolds in which no set of intrinsic coordinates exists. The frequently encountered examples of estimating either an unknown subspace or a covariance matrix are examined in detail. The set of subspaces, called the Grassmann manifold, and the set of covariance (positive-definite Hermitian) matrices have no fixed coordinate system associated with them and do not possess a vector space structure, both of which are required for deriving classical Crame/spl acute/r-Rao bounds. Intrinsic versions of the Crame/spl acute/r-Rao bound on manifolds utilizing an arbitrary affine connection with arbitrary geodesics are derived for both biased and unbiased estimators. In the example of covariance matrix estimation, closed-form expressions for both the intrinsic and flat bounds are derived and compared with the root-mean-square error (RMSE) of the sample covariance matrix (SCM) estimator for varying sample support K. The accuracy bound on unbiased covariance matrix estimators is shown to be about (10/log 10)n/K/sup 1/2/ dB, where n is the matrix order. Remarkably, it is shown that from an intrinsic perspective, the SCM is a biased and inefficient estimator and that the bias term reveals the dependency of estimation accuracy on sample support observed in theory and practice. The RMSE of the standard method of estimating subspaces using the singular value decomposition (SVD) is compared with the intrinsic subspace Crame/spl acute/r-Rao bound derived in closed form by varying both the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the unknown p-dimensional subspace and the sample support. In the simplest case, the Crame/spl acute/r-Rao bound on subspace estimation accuracy is shown to be about (p(n-p))/sup 1/2-1/2/SNR/sup -1/2/ rad for p-dimensional subspaces. It is seen that the SVD-based method yields accuracies very close to the Crame/spl acute/r-Rao bound, establishing that the principal invariant subspace of a random sample provides an excellent estimator of an unknown subspace. The analysis approach developed is directly applicable to many other estimation problems on manifolds encountered in signal processing and elsewhere, such as estimating rotation matrices in computer vision and estimating subspace basis vectors in blind source separation.
Spectroscopic CD metrology for sub-100-nm lithography process control

The accelerating trend to smaller linewidths and low-kl lithography makes metrology and process control more challenging with each succeeding technology generation. Optical CD metrology based on spectroscopic ellipsometry provides higher precision, improved matching, and richer information for line width and shape (profile) control which complement conventional litho metrology techniques. Analysis of site-to-site, within-field, field-to-field, and cross-wafer CD and line-shape distributions using KLA-Tencor SpectraCD permits separation of sources of variation between the stepper and track thus enabling proper process control. Focus-exposure analysis using SpectraCD data provides a more complete understanding of the lithography process window. Comparison between SpectraCD CD measurements on nominal 1:5 Line/Space ratio grating targets to isolated line CD-SEM measurements show excellent correlation (R 2 >0.99) over a large focus-exposure process range, including sub-100nm features. This result provides verification that SCD measurements on grating targets can be used to monitor and provide feedback to lithography process for isolated lines.
Self assembly of Eu2O3 nanocrystals and nanoneedles

The self-assembly of europium oxide (Eu2O3) nanocrystals into anisotropic one dimensional europium hydroxychloride (Eu(OH)2Cl) nanostructures is reported. Eu2O3 nanocrystals, synthesized via colloidal chemistry, form one dimensional structures via a stepwise assembly and growth procedure. Transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) reveals the shape and crystal lattice spacing of the nanostructures, whereas X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements characterize the nanocrystals' crystallinity. Photoluminescence measurements indicate changes in the site location and environment of the Eu3+ ions. (© 2007 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
COLUBRID SNAKES AND DUVERNOY'S ''VENOM'' GLANDS

One of the largest groups of snakes is the family Colubridae. This is a paraphyletic assemblage that includes a few venomous species, but most pose no special health risk to humans. Thirty to forty...
Cues for apoptotic cell engulfment: eat-me, don't eat-me and come-get-me signals

Abstract Efficient elimination of cells undergoing programmed cell death is crucial for normal tissue homeostasis and for the regulation of immune responses. This review examines unique signals presented by apoptotic cells and the mechanisms by which phagocytes recognize and respond to these signals to orchestrate the selective and rapid removal of apoptotic cells. Such unique signals include direct and indirect ‘eat-me' markers on the apoptotic cell surface, the absence of ‘don't eat-me' markers normally found on living cells and soluble ‘come-get-me' signals secreted by apoptotic cells to attract phagocytes to sites of apoptotic cell death. Once apoptotic cells are identified, their uptake by phagocytes further depends on the molecular machinery highly conserved from Caenorhabditis elegans to mammals.
Exogenous erythropoietin administration attenuates intermittent hypoxia-induced cognitive deficits in a murine model of sleep apnea

Background In rodents, exposure to intermittent hypoxia (IH), a hallmark of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), is associated with neurobehavioral impairments, increased apoptosis in the hippocampus and cortex, as well as increased oxidant stress and inflammation. Such findings are markedly attenuated in rodents exposed to sustained hypoxia 9SH) of similar magnitude. The hypoxia-sensitive gene erythropoietin (EPO) has emerged as a major endogenous neuroprotectant, and could be involved in IH-induced neuronal dysfunction.
Reductive cleavage of NO bonds in hydroxylamines and hydroxamic acid derivatives using samarium diiodide

Abstract An efficient process for the reductive cleavage of NO bonds using samarium diiodide is detailed for a variety of structural types to define the scope and limitations of the method. The reduction is shown to be compatible with base sensitive substrates such as trifluoroacetamide derivatives, which cannot be reduced satisfactorily using aluminum amalgam or sodium amalgam. Direct quenching of the reduction mixture with acylating agents is demonstrated to provide high yields of protected amines in a one-pot process from the NO derivatives.
2879 – Adaptation of a disaster mental health preparedness training model for black communities in the southeastern united states

Providing timely and accessible mental health services in the immediate aftermath of disasters remains a major challenge in under-resourced minority communities. We postulated that in black communities, successful strategies would require training both clinical providers and community leaders to collaboratively plan for and deliver culturally responsive disaster mental health services. We aimed to: 1) adapt an evidence-based, disaster mental health training model for black community leaders and clinical providers in under-resourced areas at risk of natural disasters, and 2) evaluate a train-the-trainer (TTT) model for building culturally-appropriate local mental health response capacity. We developed a core curriculum package based on a training needs assessment and resource review and then culturally tailored audience-specific workshop materials after pilot testing in eastern North Carolina. Pilot test participants included 13 community leaders and 10 clinical provider attending workshops facilitated by 3 mental health professionals. Evaluations indicated the workshop components were culturally relevant and post-test knowledge scores were generally higher among clinical providers. Process evaluation results have led to expanded content, a community planning session at 3 months, a refresher skills-building workshop at 6 months, training of trainers in facilitation skills, and tailoring of exercises to specific subpopulations. Field-testing with repeated outcome evaluation is underway in 8 culturally distinct coastal Carolina communities. Local relevance is critical to training acceptability and recruitment requires significant input from local community stakeholders. Evaluation of collaborative community engagement efforts and outcome evaluation will allow us to determine if this model is scalable and effective for under-resourced black community settings.
An efficient automatic mesh generator for quadrilateral elements implemented using C

This paper presents an efficient mesh generation algorithm for creating unstructured quadrilateral meshes for finite element computations. The algorithm is developed by improving upon an existing recursive mesh generation scheme and implemented using the C++ object-oriented language. Exhaustive cases of misshaped elements for which a general remedy is not possible are identified through extensive numerical testing and treated case by case. These improvements make it possible to generate quadrilateral elements for any case without any need for final mesh resolution by human interference. The implementation of the algorithm using object-oriented methods allows flexibility in programming and increases the computational efficiency of mesh generation. The use of object data structures, such as line segments and elements, expedites the algorithm implementalion. Numerical experience shows that not only is programming simplified when objects are used, but computational speed is also increased. When comparing two nodes for best splitting lines, line segments do not compare nodes on the same segment. This immediately eliminates all nodes on the segment the starting point of the potential splitting line is on. By automatically doing this, a great saving in computing time is achieved. Examples of automatic mesh generation in both simply and multiply connected domains are given and their computational efficiencies are also assessed.
Controlled ring-opening metathesis polymerization by molybdenum and tungsten alkylidene complexes

A new, convenient preparation of W(CHtBu)(NAr)Cl2(dme) (Ar = 2,6-diisopropylphenyl) involves treatment of W(NAr)(OtBu)2(CH2tBu)2 with PCl5 in dimethoxyethane as a final step. From it a variety of complexes of the type W(CHtBu)(NAr)(OR)2 (R = alkyl or fluoroalkyl) can be prepared straightforwardly in high yield. Analogous complexes of the type Mo(CHt-Bu)(NAr)(OR)2 were also prepared. Complexes in which OROtBu will not react with ordinary olefins, but will react with strained cyclic olefins such as norbornene (NBE) and cyclopentene to give living polymers from which the organic polymer can be cleaved by treatment with aldehydes. Polydispersities for norbornene polymers prepared in this manner are as low as 1.03. Mo(CHtBu)(NAr)(OtBu)2 also will polymerize endo,endo-5, 6-dicarbomethoxynorbomene (DCNBE) to give homopolymers and block copolymers (with NBE) with polydispersities in the range 1.10–1.15. A bis-CF3 Feast monomer can be ring-opened and the polymer cleaved with pivaldehyde to give (after pyrolysis) soluble polyenes, tBu(CHCH)2x+1tBu. Odd polyenes containing from 7 to 19 double bonds were isolated by column chromatography employing five equivalents of monomer. Triblocks containing a 40-ene (average) central chain, capped by two polynorbornene chains (25 equiv) have been prepared by related techniques. In this case the triblock with the expected molecular weight was observed to form a high molecular weight material that is still soluble. The polymer with the expected molecular weight was separated from the high molecular weight material by column chromatography.
Food Waste Auditing at Three Florida Schools

School cafeterias are a significant source of food waste and represent an ideal opportunity for diverting food waste from landfills. In this study, cafeteria waste audits were conducted at three Florida schools. Food waste comprised the largest fraction of school cafeteria waste streams, ranging from 47% to 58%, followed by milk, paper products (tissue, milk cartons, pasteboard, paper plates, and cardboard), and plastics (plastic wrap, packaging, and utensils). Metal and glass comprised the smallest fraction of the waste stream. Average total waste generation ranged from 50.5 to 137.6 g·student−1·day−1. The mean generation rates for food waste ranged from 24.7 to 64.9 g·student−1·day−1. The overall average for cafeteria waste generation among all three schools was 102.3 g·student−1·day−1, with food waste alone contributing 52.2 g·student−1·day−1. There are two primary approaches to diverting school food waste from landfills: reduction and recycling. Food waste can be reduced through educating students and staff in order to change behaviors that cause food waste. Food waste can be collected and recycled through composting or anaerobic digestion in order to generate beneficial end products, including soil amendments and bioenergy. Over 75% of the cafeteria waste measured in this study could be recycled in this manner.
Evolving Relationships between Food Manufacturers and Retailers: Implications for Food System Organization and Performance

This paper focuses primarily on bargaining relationships between manufacturers of advertised-brand grocery products and supermarket operators (supermarket chains and wholesalers who purchase most of the groceries sold by independent supermarket operators). This is part of the ongoing process of incorporating firm and industry behavior into foodmarketing system analyses. Developing a dynamic theory which predicts evolving structure and performance of industries and subsectors would not only benefit industry analysts but also allow academic and government researchers to plan and communicate better their research results. Data needed for statistical analyses of the effects of dynamic vertical linkages on industry structure are not available. Therefore, this analysis draws primarily from an extensive study of food distributor procurement practices which merged trade literature data and scores of confidential interviews with grocery buyers and sellers (Hamm 1981). The validity of the conclusions drawn by this or any analytical descriptive research rests upon the accuracy of the empirical observations and the logic used in the analysis. The value of such research is in its potential contribution to the formulation of testable new theoretical constructs as well as in its empirical findings. A Conceptual Framework of Buyer-Seller Bargaining
A hexagonal feature around Saturn's north pole

Abstract Most analyses of the atmospheres of Jupiter and Saturn have concentrated on the equatorial and midlatitude regions. These have the best coverage because of the near-equatorial trajectories of the Voyager spacecraft. We used map-projected images to examine the polar regions of Saturn, which show an unexpected hexagonal feature. Measurements from a sequence of images show that the flow pattern echoes this shape. The striated clouds that form the pattern are moving at over 100 m/sec. However the hexagonal shape itself rotates at the radio rotation period, suggesting possibly some connection between the feature and the observed kilometric radio emissions.
Using Case Studies for International Business Communication Training.

Business students must possess the abilities of discovery, problem solving, and collaboration in international and cross-cultural business communication and management when entering a competitive, ...
Introduction to Streaming Video for Novices

Explores the concept of using streaming video technology for distance library instruction. Outlines the planning and production of streaming video services for college libraries in the Antelope Valley area of northern Los Angeles County and gives technical requirements for streaming video production.
The Effects of MHC Gene Dosage and Allelic Variation on T Cell Receptor Selection

Abstract In a T cell receptor transgenic mouse model of thymic selection, the efficiency of selection of the transgenic αβ heterodimer is significantly enhanced in animals that express higher densities of the relevant major histocompatibility complex molecule (I-Ekb). These results imply that there is a stochastic component to positive selection in the thymus. Allelic variants of the original selecting I-E k molecule are either less efficient (E α k :E β b ) or incapable (E α k :E β a and I-E d ) of mediating the selection of transgenic αβ + T cells. Two of these three I-E variants appear to differ from I-E k in amino acid residues of the peptide binding site and not in residues capable of contacting the T cell receptor, suggesting that specific peptides, or conformations of peptides, play a role in positive selection. In contrast, mice transgenic for only the β chain of this T cell receptor show selection for CD4 + T cells in the presence of all four I-E variants tested.
Profile of the oppositely acting enantiomers of the dihydropyridine 202-791 in cardiac preparations: receptor binding, electrophysiological, and pharmacological studies.

Abstract Receptor binding, electrophysiological, and inotropic effects of the pure dihydropyridine enantiomers (+)S202-791 and (−)R202-791 were studied in cardiac preparations. The K I for (+)S202-791 binding correlated with the ED 50 's for an increase in contractile force and an increase in calcium current, the latter effect occurring at depolarized as well as resting holding potentials. The K I for (−)R202-791 binding was much lower than the IC 50 's for inhibition of calcium current measured at holding potentials of −80 or −90 mV and a negative inotropic effect, but correlated closely with the IC 50 for inhibition of calcium current measured at −30 mV. Thus, (+)S202-791, is a voltage independent calcium channel activator and (−)R202-791 is a voltage dependent calcium channel inhibitor.
Antigenicity of egg white proteins in the white mouse.

SummaryConalbumin and lysozyme are effective antigens in producing sensitivity in pertussis-treated white mice. Conalbumin cross-reacts with mice sensitized to ovalbumin, lysozyme does not. Ovalbumin shocks mice sensitized to both conalbumin and lysozyme, however. Ovomucoid is not antigenic.
Critical Success Factors of Web-Based E-Service: The Case of E-Insurance

This study focused on the adoption of Web-based applications in the insurance industry. An in-depth investigation of relevant literature on the technology adoption process and related issues, and the data collected from auto and life insurance companies identified several factors that affect e-insurance performance (in terms of both tangible and intangible benefits). Web site availability, organizational support, customer pressure, degree of business integration, an e-business plan, organization age, and organizational size were identified as critical factors for online performance. This study also revealed that insurance companies perceive more tangible and intangible benefits when they do substantial business through online sales.
Species-specific interactions between nuclear phosphoproteins and DNA

Abstract A class of nuclear acidic proteins, associated with DNA and present in the chromatin of different cell types, has been isolated and resolved into separate components by electrophoresis in polyacrylamide gels. The electrophoretic patterns indicate that the fraction is highly heterogeneous and that the distribution of chromosomal proteins is tissue — specific. Many proteins in rat liver and kidney chromatin are phosphoproteins which rapidly incorporate 32 P-orthophosphate into phosphoserine and phosphothreonine residues. DNA-protein binding studies show that many nuclear phosphoproteins bind selectively to the DNA of the species of origin (rat). Binding to the DNA of a closely-related mammal (mouse) is also observed, but to a lesser extent. No binding is observed when rat phosphoproteins are mixed with the DNA's of widely-divergent species, such as calf thymus or pneumococcal DNA's.
Liquid microjunction surface sampling probe electrospray mass spectrometry for detection of drugs and metabolites in thin tissue sections

A self-aspirating, liquid microjunction surface sampling probe/electrospray emitter mass spectrometry system was demonstrated for use in the direct analysis of spotted and dosed drugs and their metabolites in thin tissue sections. Proof-of-principle sampling and analysis directly from tissue without the need for sample preparation was demonstrated first by raster scanning a region on a section of rat liver onto which reserpine was spotted. The mass spectral signal from selected reaction monitoring was used to develop a chemical image of the spotted drug on the tissue. The probe was also used to selectively spot sample areas of sagittal whole-body tissue from a mouse that had been dosed orally (90 mg/kg) with R,S-sulforaphane 3 h prior to sacrifice. Sulforaphane and its glutathione and N-acetyl cysteine conjugates were monitored with selected reaction monitoring and detected in the stomach and various other tissues from the dosed mouse. No signal for these species was observed in the tissue from a control mouse. The same dosed-tissue section was used to illustrate the possibility of obtaining a lane scan across the whole-body section. In total, these results illustrate the potential for rapid screening of the distribution of drugs and metabolites in thin tissue sections with the liquid micro-junction surface sampling probe/electrospray mass spectrometry approach. Published in 2007 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Hazard assessment of germanium supplements

Germanium-containing dietary supplements became popular in the 1970s in Japan and later in other countries, as elixirs for certain diseases (e.g., cancer and AIDS). Germanium is not an essential element. Its acute toxicity is low. However, at least 31 reported human cases linked prolonged intake of germanium products with renal failure and even death. Signs of kidney dysfunction, kidney tubular degeneration, and germanium accumulation were observed. Other adverse effects were anemia, muscle weakness, and peripheral neuropathy. Recovery of renal function is slow and incomplete even long after germanium intake was stopped. The total dose of ingested germanium (as dioxide, carboxyethyl germanium sesquioxide, germanium-lactate-citrate, or unspecified forms) varied from 15 to over 300 g; the exposure duration varied from 2 to 36 months. In laboratory animals, elevated germanium in tissues and impaired kidney and liver function were observed in a life-time drinking water (5 ppm germanium) study. Other toxicities associated with ingested germanium products in human cases were also demonstrated in animal studies with germanium dioxide and sometimes other germanium compounds. Based on the evidence of persistent renal toxicity associated with germanium dioxide, the lack of conclusive findings of differential nephrotoxicity of organic germanium compounds, and the possibility of contamination of the organic germanium products with inorganic germanium, it is clear that germanium products present a potential human health hazard.
Multi-Frequency Multi-Modal Excitation of a Heated Annular Plate

The forced nonlinear dynamics of a pre-buckled thermally loaded annular plate are investigated. The plate is modeled using the von Karman plate theory and the heat equation. The heat, which is generated by the difference between the uniformly distributed temperatures at the inner and outer boundaries, is assumed to symmetrically flow in the radial direction. The amount of heat affects the natural frequencies, which may give rise to different internal resonance conditions. The method of multiple scales is used to examine the system axisymmetric responses when it is driven by an external multi-frequency excitation. The plate responses could be very complex exhibiting Hopf and cyclic-fold bifurcations, quasi-periodicity, chaos, and multiplicity of attractors.© 2006 ASME
Synthesis, Structure, and Properties of a T-Shaped 14-Electron Stiboranyl-Gold Complex

A cyclic stiboranyl-gold complex (1) supported by two 1,8-naphthalenediyl linkers has been synthesized and structurally characterized. The gold atom of this complex adopts a T-shaped geometry and is separated from the antimony center by only 2.76 A. Surprisingly, the trivalent gold atom of this complex is involved in an aurophilic interaction, a phenomenon typically only observed for monovalent gold complexes. This phenomenon indicates that the stiboranyl ligand possesses strong σ-donating properties making the trivalent gold atom of 1 electron rich. This view is supported by DFT calculations as well as Au L3- and Sb K-edge XANES spectra which reveal that 1 may also be described as an aurate-stibonium derivative. In agreement with this view, complex 1 shows no reactivity toward the halides Cl–, Br–, and I–. It does, however, rapidly react with F– to form an unprecedented anionic aurate fluorostiborane complex ([2]−) which has been isolated as the tetra-n-butylammonium salt. The increased coordination numb...
A computational quantum chemical study of the bonded interactions in earth materials and structurally and chemically related molecules

Studies of bond lengths and angles and electron density distributions observed for earth materials and related molecules and those calculated with computational quantum chemical strategies have been a meeting place where experiment has engaged theory in advancing our understanding of bonded interactions. Not only have the calculations provided a physical basis for the proposal that the bond lengths and angles are governed in large part by short-ranged molecular-like forces, but they have also provided a connection between bond length, bond strength and the bond critical point properties of the electron density distributions. They have also provided a basis for Pauling’s (1929) famous definition of bond strength and for the Brown and Shannon (1970) proposal that bond strength can be used as a simple measure of bond character. In addition, extrema in the local charge concentration of the valence electrons of the oxide anion and the electron localization function of electron density distributions calculated for earth materials and related molecules were found to highlight features ascribed to lone-pair and bond-pair domains and to sites of potential chemical reactivity. In this chapter, a number of properties will be examined including bond length and angle variations, bond strength, crystal and bonded radii, bond “stretching” and “bending” force constants, polyhedral compressibilities, molecular based potential ad hoc energy functions, the generation of new structure types for silica and the bond critical point properties of observed and calculated electron density distributions. Local concentrations and localizations in the distributions (sites of potential electrophilic attack) for several earth materials and related molecules will also be examined and compared. ### Bond lengths and crystal radii With the on-going invention and development since the 1950’s of sophisticated tools and important advances in computer power and software for collecting and processing X-ray, neutron and electron diffraction data and microwave and molecular beam spectra, thousands of structural analyses …
Calibration of DIDSON forward-scan acoustic video camera

Computer image processing to extract scene and target information is critical in automated underwater search and inspection, target detection, tracking, mapping and object recognition. In turbid waters, the new generation of acoustic video cameras, e.g., a DIDSON, can produce images with higher target details than available from optical sensors. Calibration of these cameras to establish agreement between the data and image projection model is the prerequisite for the accurate estimation of quantitative information, including positioning and image registration. This paper addresses the internal calibration problem, in order to estimate and rectify the lens distortion in a DIDSON camera to ensure data to model consistency
Ureteroureterostomy via Inguinal Incision for Ectopic Ureters and Ureteroceles Without Ipsilateral Lower Pole Reflux

Purpose: We report outcomes from ureteroureterostomy performed through an inguinal herniorrhaphy type incision for definitive management of ectopic ureters or ureteroceles in the absence of ipsilateral lower pole reflux.Materials and Methods: Records were reviewed for 23 consecutive patients who underwent lower ureteroureterostomy for 26 duplicated systems with ectopic ureter or ureterocele and no ipsilateral lower pole reflux. In 21 patients surgery was performed through an inguinal incision similar to that for herniorrhaphy, while a Pfannenstiel incision was used initially in the series in 2 others with bilateral duplex systems. Median patient age at operation was 10 months (range 2 to 56).Results: At a mean followup of 26 months preoperative upper pole hydronephrosis and distal upper ureteral dilatation had resolved or improved in all cases. Preliminary cutaneous ureterostomy was performed on 4 ureters (3 patients), 2 because the recipient lower pole ureter was thought to be too small for incision and ...
Macrotexture and growth chemistry in ultrananocrystalline diamond thin films

We have determined the average preferred crystalline orientation of thin ultrananocrystalline diamond (UNCD) films using X-ray diffraction. The grain size and lattice parameters of the films were also calculated. We show how these characteristics change markedly with the gas chemistry used during growth, adding either 0–20% nitrogen or 0–15% hydrogen to the argon-rich, argon and methane microwave plasma used. We discuss how these changes give evidence that there is a competing growth mechanism between C2 dimer mediated growth and the more widely used methyl radical growth process. Finally, we identify an additional X-ray diffraction peak, dependent on both the substrate used and growth conditions, as silicon carbide. We discuss these results in the context of the growth mechanisms of ultrananocrystalline diamond.
DNA Repair Fine Structure in Werner's Syndrome Cell Lines

Abstract Werner's syndrome (WS) is a human segmental progerioid disorder with an autosomal recessive pattern of inheritance. Patients with WS exhibit a number of symptoms resembling a premature aging phenotype. We have examined the fine structure of the DNA repair of UV-induced cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers in Epstein–Barr virus (EBV)-transformed WS lymphoblastoid cell lines and in a primary WS fibroblast cell line. The repair was measured at the level of the gene and also in the general genome. Gene-specific and strand-specific DNA repair was measured in the actively transcribed genes dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR), c- myc, and p53, and in the transcriptionally inactive regions, δ globin and the X-linked 754 domain. Both gene-specific repair and strand-specific repair were deficient in the transformed WS lymphoblastoid cell lines compared to normal controls. In normal cells, repair in the transcribed strand was 25 (4 h), 43 (8 h), and 72% (24 h); in the WS cells on average, repair in the transcribed strand was 18 (4 h), 27 (8 h), and 44% (24 h). However, in the primary WS fibroblast cell line, we found a pattern of preferential gene repair which was similar to that in normal human cells. In contrast to cells from patients with the gene-specific repair deficient disease Cockayne's syndrome, which show greatly delayed RNA synthesis recovery after UV irradiation, the WS cells had normal recovery of RNA synthesis. The DNA repair results differ for the different cell types, and our findings thus do not establish a general DNA repair phenotype for WS cells. The fibroblasts had proficient repair, but in the WS lymphoblasts we find a deficiency in DNA repair which could contribute to the reported hypermutability in these cells. The lymphoblasts are, however, transformed cells, and it raises the concern that biological findings in transformed cells may not reflect the situation in primary cells.
Benthic Macroinvertebrate Community Structure in Relation to Seasonal and Geochemical Changes in a Chronically Acidified Stream

ABSTRACT The Blue Hole Creek basin (1652 ha) is located in an area of Pennsylvania that is historically high in wet deposition of sulfates and nitrates. Five stations on Cole Run (chronically acidified) and one on Blue Hole Creek (episodically acidified) were sampled twice seasonally—once at base flow and once at high flow. Total iron, aluminum, and sulfate trended toward a direct relationship with discharge, while pH and alkalinity exhibited an inverse relationship. Stations with higher pH values were linked with the Mauch Chunk geologic formation and Fluvaquents soil series, while those with lower pH were linked with the Pottsville geologic formation and the Brinkerton, Cookport, and Rayne-Gilpin soil series. Fewer macroinvertebrates were collected from the episodically acidified station than at any of the chronically acidified stations on 71% of the sample dates. Although the number of taxa was similar between stations (n=16-23), more taxa were unique to Cole Run than to Blue Hole Creek. Shredder and c...
A Pilot Study of Culturally Adapted Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Hispanics with Major Depression

Abstract The purpose of this study was to evaluate a culturally adapted cognitive-behavioral treatment (CBT) for major depression among Hispanics in primary care. Cultural adaptations were applied based on a range of cultural considerations described in the literature. Fifteen Hispanic primary care patients with major depression were enrolled. All participants received the 12-session intervention and completed baseline, posttreatment, and 6-month follow-up assessments. Four participants (27%) dropped out of the treatment. Analyses focused on changes from baseline functioning using a Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test. Results showed significant reductions in depressive, anxious, and somatic symptoms at posttreatment and 6-month follow-up. Mean reduction of depressive symptoms at posttreatment was 57%. Findings of acceptable treatment retention rates and clinically meaningful reductions in depressive symptoms showed promise for this intervention to treat Hispanics with major depression. Future studies should conduct a more rigorously controlled evaluation of this intervention.
Culture-specific influences on body image and eating distress in a sample of urban Bulgarian women: The roles of faith and traditional fasting

The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of local culture on body image and eating distress in a sample of urban Bulgarian women. Specifically, we focused on two affiliated factors unique to the Bulgarian context: faith and traditional fasting. Findings revealed that women could be divided into two groups who behaved differently based on the severity of their eating disorder symptomatology. For women with higher EAT-40 scores (i.e., vulnerable women), faith seemed to have harmful effects, perhaps by virtue of motivating or reinforcing asceticism and dietary restraint. For these women fasting was likely but one strategy for weight management and the achievement of a desired thin figure consistent with the socio-cultural models. In contrast, among women with lower EAT-40 scores, faith seemed to have a protective effect against excessive dieting. These women were more likely to use fasting in the way intended by religious scripture, for faith-related reasons that have nothing to do with body image. This study contributes to the literature by emphasizing the importance of culturally unique factors that may be implicated in the relationship between body dissatisfaction and overt eating distress in the trans-cultural context. When expanded, this research can be of use in helping formulate custom interventions and public health policies aimed at preventing such conditions in Bulgaria and possibly in similar post-communist cultures.
Effect of copying and restoration on color barcode payload density

2D barcodes are taking on increasing significance as the ubiquity of high-resolution cameras, combined with the availability of variable data printing, drives increasing amounts of "click and connect" applications. Barcodes therefore serve as an increasingly significant connection between physical and electronic portions, or versions, of documents. The use of color provides many additional advantages, including increased payload density and security. In this paper, we consider four factors affecting the readable payload in a color barcode: (1) number of print-scan (PS), or copy, cycles, (2) image restoration to offset PS-induced degradation, (3) the authentication algorithm used, and (4) the use of spectral pre-compensation (SPC) to optimize the color settings for the color barcodes. The PS cycle was shown to consistently reduce payload density by approximately 55% under all tested conditions. SPC nearly doubled the payload density, and selecting the better authentication algorithm increased payload density by roughly 50% in the mean. Restoration, however, was found to increase payload density less substantially (~30%), and only when combined with the optimized settings for SPC. These results are also discussed in light of optimizing payload density for the generation of document security deterrents.
Influence of microwave annealing on direct bonded silicon wafers

Abstract Strong and nearly void free bonding was achieved using direct bonding followed by microwave annealing. Silicon wafers were cleaned, O 2 plasma surface activated, and bonded at room temperature. After microwave annealing at 400 °C, the bond strength of hydrophilic wafers was found to be in the range between 0.2 and 1.6 J/m 2 . Additional heating of bonded wafers was done at elevated temperatures and for prolonged times using either rapid thermal annealing or microwave annealing. In either case, additional annealing showed no impact on wafer separation area, void, or bond strength. Thus, the initial microwave anneal dictated the ultimate bond strength regardless of subsequent annealing method. The mechanism for wafers bonded in this work involved dipole–dipole bonding and, hydrogen bonding. The initial microwave anneals typically required times less than 60 min. As a result, microwave annealing was shown to be a promising low temperature alternative for wafer bonding when compared to the currently used mechanical furnace anneals.
Evaluation of Three Feeds for Hatchery Rearing Channel Catfish Fry

Two 7 day feeding trials were conducted with channel catfish swim-up fry to evaluate growth, feed conversion ratio, and body composition of fish fed one of the following feeds: salmon starter, catfish starter, or trout starter. Fish fed the salmon or trout starter feeds gained 50–75% more weight, converted feed more efficiently, and had higher body fat stores than fish fed the catfish starter feed. This may be related to the higher protein and energy content of these two feeds. It may be advantageous to feed salmonid starter feeds to hatchery reared catfish fry; however, it is not known whether or not the improved performance observed in the hatchery continues once the fish are stocked into nursery and grow out ponds.
Whole-brain radiotherapy and high-dose methylprednisolone for elderly patients with primary central nervous system lymphoma: Results of North Central Cancer Treatment Group (NCCTG) 96-73-51

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy, toxicity, and survival of whole-brain radiotherapy–treated (WBRT) and high-dose methylprednisolone (HDMP)–treated in elderly patients with primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL). Methods and Materials: Patients with PCNSL who were 70 years and older received 1 g of methylprednisolone daily for 5 days, 30 days after WBRT. Patients then received 1 g of methylprednisolone every 28 days until progression. The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS) at 6 months. Results were compared with those in patients on the previous North Central Cancer Treatment Group (NCCTG) trial who received pre-WBRT cytoxan, adriamycin, vincristine, prednisone (CHOP) and high-dose cytarabine (CHOP-WBRT). A planned interim analysis was performed. The current regimen would be considered inactive if survival was not improved from patients treated with CHOP-WBRT. Results: Nineteen patients were accrued between 1998 and 2003. Median age was 76 years. Interim analysis revealed a 6-month survival of 33%, resulting in closure of the trial. Toxicity, OS, and event-free survival (EFS) were similar to those in patients more than 70 years of age who received CHOP-WBRT. The subgroup of patients who received HDMP had longer OS (12.1 vs. 7.0 months, p = 0.76) and EFS (11.7 vs. 4.0 months, p = 0.04) compared with the CHOP-WBRT patients alive 60 days after the start of treatment. Conclusions: Patients on-study long enough to receive HDMP had prolongation of OS and EFS compared to patients receiving CHOP-WBRT. Although the numbers of patients are too small for statistical conclusions, the HDMP regimen deserves further study.
Mapping the major transcripts of ground squirrel hepatitis virus: the presumptive template for reverse transcriptase is terminally redundant

The ground squirrel hepatitis virus (GSHV) belongs to a recently defined class of viruses with open circular DNA genomes that encode proteins in extensively overlapping reading frames and appear to replicate via RNA intermediates. We have determined the primary structure of the major GSHV transcripts in the livers of infected ground squirrels. Both major classes of transcripts, 2.3 kb and 3.5 kb, are plus-stranded, unspliced, polyadenylated at a common position, and display heterogeneous 5' ends that can encode proteins with different amino termini. The 2.3 kb transcripts, like their structural analogs transcribed from human hepatitis B virus DNA, are likely mRNAs for products of the major surface antigen and presurface coding domains. The 3.5 kb transcripts are likely mRNAs for one or more products of the core antigen reading frame; these transcripts also encompass the entire genome and contain terminal redundancies of 130-160 nucleotides that include a putative initiation site for reverse transcription.
Oxidative verdoheme formation and stabilization by axial isocyanide ligation.

The effect of isocyanides as axial ligands on the formation and stability of verdoheme by oxidation has been examined. The reaction of {FeIII(OEPO)}2 with t-butyl isocyanide under dioxygen-free conditions results in the formation of (t-BuNC)2FeII(OEPO•) with an electron paramagnetic resonance at g = 2.009 with a peak-to-peak separation of 23.5 G at 4 K. (OEPO is the trianion of octaethyloxophlorin and OEPO• is the radical dianion obtained from OEPO by one-electron oxidation.) Exposure of chloroform solutions of either (2,6-xylylNC)2FeII(OEPO•) or (t-BuNC)2FeII(OEPO•) to dioxygen followed by the addition of ammonium hexafluorophosphate results in their transformation into the diamagnetic verdohemes, [(2,6-xylylNC)2FeII(OEOP)](PF6) and [(t-BuNC)2FeII(OEOP)](PF6), yields 68 and 70%, respectively. (OEOP is the anion of octaethyl-5-oxaporphyrin.) The oxidation reactions of (2,6-xylylNC)2FeII(OEPO•) and (t-BuNC)2FeII(OEPO•) have also been monitored by 1H NMR spectroscopy. No resonances due to paramagnetic produ...
Die Totalsynthese von Isodon‐Diterpenen

Familien strukturell verwandter Verbindungen sind oft interessante Syntheseziele fur organische Chemiker, die mit der Entwicklung neuer Methoden und Strategien fur die Naturstoffsynthese befasst sind. Diese Synthesearbeiten richten sich zwar normalerweise auf spezifische Verbindungen, fuhren aber oft auch zu verallgemeinerbaren Konzepten. Historisch gut untersuchte Naturstoffklassen wie die Prostanoide, Indolalkaloide und Makrolidantibiotika bieten ausreichenden Beleg fur den bleibenden Wert dieser kollektiven Aktivitaten. In diesem Kurzaufsatz berichten wir uber polycyclische Diterpene, die aus Pflanzen der Gattung Isodon isoliert wurden, sowie uber neuere Methoden und Strategien fur ihre Totalsynthese.
Polarization diffusion effects on reaction rates in polar solvents

Abstract The influence of solvent dipole translational relaxation via the mechanism of polarization diffusion is examined for simple models of dipole isomerization and charge transfer reactions in polar solvents. In certain solvents, e.g. methanol, polarization diffusion has marked effects on reaction rate constants when compared to the Debye orientational solvent relaxation picture.