cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
GATA3 expression in sarcomatoid urothelial carcinoma of the bladder

The current available data on GATA-binding protein 3 (GATA3) expression in sarcomatoid urothelial carcinoma are limited, especially in the non-tissue microarray-based setting. In this study, we analyzed the expression of GATA3 in sarcomatoid urothelial carcinoma of the bladder in cystectomy/cystoprostatectomy specimens. A search was made through our surgical pathology and consultation files for cystectomy/cystoprostatectomy specimens with a diagnosis of sarcomatoid urothelial carcinoma. Only cases with available tissue blocks were selected. Immunohistochemical staining for GATA3 was performed, and staining in adjacent/overlying conventional urothelial carcinoma and/or benign urothelium was also documented. Twenty-two cases were obtained. Of 22 cases, 16 (73%) of sarcomatoid urothelial carcinoma were positive for GATA3. In the 7 (27%) of 22 cases that were negative for GATA3, it was observed that these cases were predominantly composed either of pleomorphic undifferentiated sarcomatoid areas or foci composed of extensive heterologous elements (chondroid, osteoid, or rhabdoid). GATA3 staining was positive in the adjacent/overlying conventional urothelial carcinoma and/or benign urothelium in all cases. This is one of the largest studies to date analyzing the expression of GATA3 in sarcomatoid urothelial carcinoma in cystectomy/cystoprostatectomy specimens. GATA3 is expressed in most cases of sarcomatoid urothelial carcinoma. Negative expression may, however, be observed in cases composed predominantly of pleomorphic undifferentiated sarcomatoid areas or extensive heterologous elements. We recommend including GATA3 in the panel of immunohistochemical stains for sarcomatoid carcinomas of unknown origin, especially if a bladder primary is being considered in the differential diagnosis.
On the effect of axial tension on the propagation pressure of long cylindrical shells

Abstract Local imperfections induced to long tubes subjected to high external pressures can lead to local collapse from which a propagating buckle can be initiated. This can result in catastrophic collapse of large sections of the structure. The lowest pressure at which such a buckle will propagate, known as the propagation pressure of the tube, is typically half an order of magnitude lower than the collapse pressure of the intact tube. In a number of modern deep water applications, long tubular structures are subject to high axial tension in addition to external pressure. The paper describes the results of an experimental study in which the propagation pressure of long metal tubes was measured in the presence of a constant, axial tensile force. Tension was found to significantly reduce the propagation pressure. A parametric study of the problem, augmented by a simple model of the phenomenon, has yielded approximate expressions for the propagation pressure in the presence of axial tension.
The RWJ Clinical Scholars Program: how health services research and this alumna were helped from the fringe to the mainstream in general surgery.

WHEN I STARTED as a Robert Wood Johnson (RWJ) Clinical Scholar at Johns Hopkins in 1996, I was a curiosity---in my residency program, and definitely in the world of academic general surgery. With a background in urban policy and labor economics, I was handicapped as an aspiring surgeon scientist, poorly equipped to conduct substantive basic science research and succeed in the world of academic surgery as it existed. It was ‘‘eccentric’’ to be interested in volume–outcomes associations and work with hospital administrators and MPHs on large, administrative datasets. Dr John Cameron, Chairman of Surgery at the Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, took a chance on me, supported my RWJ application, and ultimately asked me to be a research collaborator. Dr Leon Gordis, a pediatrician, epidemiologist, and director of the Clinical Scholars program at Hopkins and his faculty provided me with the fund of knowledge, skill set, and alumni network of collaborators and mentors required to become a leader in the nascent fields of health services research (HSR) and health policy in surgery. I was ‘‘at home’’ among my entering cohort of 5 scholars at Hopkins that also included an oncologist, endocrinologist, pediatrician, and general internist, all of whom shared the same passion for HSR and the same research lexicon. They were friends, supporters, and also my best critics. By way
A beam centering device for nuclear accelerators

Abstract A split Faraday cup system for nuclear accelerators has been developed that allows continuous monitoring of beam centering while maintaining full accuracy of beam current measurement and charge integration.
The role of remote sensing in monitoring global bulk tropospheric temperatures

The IPCC AR4 (2007) discussed bulk tropospheric temperatures as an indicator of atmospheric energy content. Here, we examine the latest publications about, and versions of, the AR4 data sets. The metric studied is the trend that represents the average rate of atmospheric energy accumulation that relates to increased greenhouse gas forcing. For temperatures from microwave instruments, UAHuntsville's indicates the lowest trend for 1979-2009 and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration-Center for Satellite Applications and Research (NOAA-STAR)'s the highest, being slightly higher than Remote Sensing Systems' (RSS). Updated analyses using radiosonde data suggest RSS and STAR experienced spurious warming after the mid-1990s. When satellite and radiosonde data sets are considered, the global trends for 1979-2009 of the lower and mid-troposphere are +0.15 and +0.06°C decade-1 respectively. Error ranges of these estimates, if we do not apply information that indicates some data sets contain noticeable trend problems, are at least ±0.05°C decade-1, which needs reduction to characterize forcing and response in the climate system accurately.
The container security initiative costs, implications and relevance to developing countries

Following 9/11, the Department of Homeland Security established the Container Security Initiative (CSI) programme in 2002 in response to the threat from terrorist attacks involving weapons of mass destruction transported by cargo containers. This project establishes the tracking and targeting of ‘high risk’ containers and their subsequent scanning with X-ray machines before loading onto the U.S. bound ships. To date, 44 of the world's largest ports have agreed to become CSI-compliant, the majority of which are located in industrialised countries, while developing and least developed countries are under-represented. CSI-eligibility requires that ports represent a considerable volume of U.S. bound container traffic and invest in container scanning devices. Every non-intrusive inspecting device (NII) costs several million dollars while investments in IT and existing infrastructure often triple the compliance costs. Containers originating in a CSI port are expedited through U.S. customs, representing a comparative trade barrier for exporters from non-CSI ports. Thus, CSI acts as a tool for the U.S. to improve security, while representing a challenge to exporting countries' market access. This article provides an evaluation of the impacts this plan will have on the export competitiveness of developing countries. It reviews the potential benefits this programme offers in terms of improved trade facilitation, as well as proposing recommendations for its expansion to include developing countries. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
MMP- and TIMP-secretion by human cutaneous keratinocytes and fibroblasts – impact of coculture and hydration

Epithelial-mesenchymal interactions are important in wound healing and scarring, but are difficult to study in vitro. We have previously reported on an in vitro keratinocyte-fibroblast coculture system exploring these interactions and found that coculture modifies the levels of cytokines they secrete. The same coculture model was used to study changes in MMP- and TIMP-activity. We hypothesised that the previously shown decrease of collagen is partly due to increased MMPs. Adult human cutaneous keratinocytes and fibroblasts were cocultured under serum-free conditions. Keratinocytes were either kept at the air-liquid interface or hydrated. The conditioned medium was submitted to a multiplex sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay including gelatinases, collagenases, stromelysins, and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases. Collagen content was determined by western blot. Zymography depicted the gelatinases in conditioned media. For confirmation of the coculture results fibroblasts were treated with conditioned media from keratinocyte monocultures as well. MMP-1, MMP-9, and MMP-10 were mainly secreted by keratinocytes, whereas MMP-2, TIMP-1 and -2 by fibroblasts. MMP-13 was secreted by both cell types at comparable levels. Collagenases, gelatinases, MMP-3, and TIMPs increased significantly in cocultures compared to monocultures. Hydration of keratinocytes revealed a significant increase of MMP-3 and MMP-2, and a decrease of TIMP-2. Paracrine interactions between keratinocytes and fibroblasts modify strongly MMPs and TIMPs, whereas hydration of keratinocytes had a smaller impact in this context. The observed changes may be in part responsible for reduced collagen in coculture-conditioned media. The present coculture experiments reemphasise the role of epidermis in controlling scarring.
Microwave-assisted synthesis of periodic mesoporous organosilicas with ethane and disulfide groups

Abstract Ethane and disulfide-bridged periodic mesoporous organosilicas have been synthesized under microwave conditions. These materials were obtained by co-condensation of 1,2-bis(triethoxysilyl)ethane and bis(triethoxysilylpropyl) disulfide organosilica precursors and poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(propylene oxide)-poly(ethylene oxide) triblock copolymer template under weakly acidic conditions. Incorporation of bridging groups into the framework and the presence of ordered mesopores were confirmed by nitrogen adsorption at −196 °C, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), elemental analysis, and powder X-ray diffraction. The resulting organosilica samples have the specific surface area, single-point pore volume and pore width in the ranges of 960–1220 m 2 /g, 1.14–1.56 cm 3 /g, and 7.1–8.4 nm, respectively. TEM images show domains of hexagonally ordered mesopores in these samples, although this ordering is much less pronounced as in the case of purely siliceous SBA-15.
CESP: A power efficient, accurate coefficient exchange synchronization protocol

Time synchronization is a fundamental problem in any distributed system. In particular, wireless sensor networks require scalable time synchronization for implementing distributed tasks on multiple sensor nodes. This paper proposes an energy efficient Coefficient Exchange Synchronization Protocol (CESP) based on a receiver-receiver synchronization scheme that minimizes the impact of access-time delays. Most of the existing synchronization protocols focus on improving the synchronization accuracy while neglecting energy consumption. The proposed time synchronization protocol achieves a synchronization accuracy as good as the classic Reference Broadcast Synchronization (RBS) protocol but resulting in a dramatic reduction on communication overhead to achieve a low energy consumption. CESP works in a fundamentally different way from RBS: in order to synchronize two receivers, RBS exchanges all beacon packets between the two receivers, while CESP receivers first process a large number of received beacon packets and only exchange the minimum amount of information between the two receivers, i.e., synchronization coefficients. The synchronization performance is evaluated and compared with that of other well-known synchronization protocols.
THE RELATIONSHIP OF XYLEM MATURATION TO THE ABSORPTION AND TRANSLOCATION OF P32

A B S T R A C T Techniques were developed to supply radioactive phosphorus to specific regions of the roots of corn and to ascertain the extent of functional xylem. The data support the view that all regions of the root are effective in absorbing phosphorus but translocation of the absorbed phosphorus to the shoot was correlated with the presence of functional xylem in the region where phosphorus was supplied.
Incorporating the NSF/TCPP Curriculum Recommendations in a Liberal Arts Setting

This paper examines the integration of the NSF/TCPP Core Curriculum Recommendations in a liberal arts undergraduate setting. We examine how parallel and distributed computing concepts can be incorporated across the breadth of the undergraduate curriculum. As a model of such an integration, changes are proposed to Data Structures and Design and Analysis of Algorithms. These changes were implemented in Design and Analysis of Algorithms and the results were compared to previous iterations of that course taught by the same instructor. The student feedback received shows that the introduction of these topics made the course more engaging and conveyed an adequate introduction to this material.
Bubble plume modelling with new functional relationships

By IRAN E. LIMA NETO, J. Hydraulic Res. 50(1), 2012, 134–137. This paper presented a set of equations solved by the Runge–Kutta method to simulate the behaviour of gas plumes for shallow to interme...
Grain-size sensitive deformation of a stretched conglomerate from Plymouth, Vermont

Abstract The finite strain of clasts (maximum aspect ratio varying from 2 to 40) in a deformed conglomerate from Dry Hill, Plymouth, Vermont, correlates inversely with the average grain size (300-150 μm) in the clast, suggesting that the operative deformation mechanism was grain-size sensitive. In a general way, the average quartz grain size appeared to be smaller in those clasts with higher volume of minerals other than quartz. Dislocation densities varied by as much as a factor of 10 from grain to grain within a clast, but the average dislocation density was relatively constant from clast to clast. If grain-size sensitivity of strength is accepted as a working hypothesis, other elements of the microstructure, such as grain flattening, grain morphology, and dislocation structure can be reconciled as happening either through a late, low strain, high stress pulse—if the current palaeostress indicators are correct to within a factor of 10 or as happening concurrently with the grain-size sensitive mechanism if the current palaeostress estimates are in error. The evidence from this study agrees with several previously published suggestions that grain-size sensitive deformation occurs in the crust for quartzose rocks with grain size of 100 to 300 μm at temperatures of 350 to 420°C.
Synthesis of heat exchange networks by mixed integer optimization

Process synthesis involves manipulation of the process arrangement, while studying the variables of each arrangement, to arrive at the optimal process. If each process arrangement is treated as a discrete variable, process synthesis becomes a mixed integer optimization problem. This paper examines the synthesis of heat exchanger networks using the adaptive random search procedure, which can be used to search continuous and discrete independent variables simultaneously. The means of handling the heat exchanger arrangement as a discrete variable is discussed, and the incorporation of various synthesis heuristics is presented. The results of synthesis of 2 × 2, 2 × 3, and 3 × 3 networks are presented and compared with other methods of synthesis.
Performance-driven layout of CMOS VLSI circuits

As design rules get scaled down to submicron dimensions, physical CAD tools need to be much more performance-driven as opposed to purely geometry-driven. For instance, to help prevent timing bottlenecks, it is necessary to consider timing-critical nets during circuit partitioning, placement, and routing phases. Long parallel lines can cause crosstalk problems; therefore, it is prudent to limit the length of parallel runners, especially in high-speed circuit layout. The issues are even more complex in active circuit layout. For sensitive analog circuits or clock distribution circuits, various symmetry constraints need to be met. Recent developments in performance-driven layout techniques are reviewed, and these newly emerging issues are discussed. >
A Triassic Upwelling Zone: The Shublik Formation, Arctic Alaska, U.S.A.

ABSTRACT The Shublik Formation (Triassic, North Slope, Alaska) is an organic-, phosphate-, and glauconite-rich unit with abundant fossils of marine vertebrates and mollusks. Four lithofacies are identified in the Shublik Formation: nonglauconitic sandstone--thin- to medium-bedded, fine, quartzose, calcareous to noncalcareous sandstone or silty to muddy sandstone, fossiliferous in places; glauconitic--thin- to medium-bedded, fine, quartzose sandstone, muddy sandstone, or siltstone containing 10% to > 50% glauconite grains phosphatic--thin- to medium-bedded siltstone or sandstone or laminated, black silty limestone or limestone containing phosphate nodules; and organic-rich--laminated, black limestone, marl, and mudstone. The organic carbon content of the organic-rich facies is as high as 5.45 wt %, despite the fact that the rocks are overmature and have generated oil. The mean P content of the phosphatic facies is as high as 14 wt % elemental P. Ichnofabrics are related to lithofacies and consistent with interpreted oxygen levels. Ichnofabrics also provide evidence of fluctuating oxygen levels within the facies, especially the nonglauconitic sandstone and glauconitic facies. The organic-rich facies and, to a lesser extent, the phosphatic facies contain abundant, pristine, disarticulated shells of the clam Halobia. The facies, geochemistry, ichnofabrics, and taphonomy are interpreted to be related to onshore-offshore gradients in biologic productivity and redox conditions. The facies array in the Shublik Formation is more similar to that in modern upwelling zones than facies arrays in other well-studied upwelling deposits. The Shublik Formation is interpreted as an upwelling-zone deposit and can serve as an archetype of such deposits.
A Map-Reduce System with an Alternate API for Multi-core Environments

Map-reduce framework has received a significant attention and is being used for programming both large-scale clusters and multi-core systems. While the high productivity aspect of map-reduce has been well accepted, it is not clear if the API results in efficient implementations for different subclasses of data-intensive applications. In this paper, we present a system MATE (Map-reduce with an Alternate API), that provides a high-level, but distinct API. Particularly, our API includes a programmer-managed reduction object, which results in lower memory requirements at runtime for many data-intensive applications. MATE implements this API on top of the Phoenix system, a multi-core map-reduce implementation from Stanford. We evaluate our system using three data mining applications, and compare its performance to that of both Phoenix and Hadoop. Our results show that for all the three applications, MATE outperforms Phoenix and Hadoop. Despite achieving good scalability, MATE also maintains the easy-to-use API of map-reduce. Overall, we argue that, our approach, which is based on the generalized reduction structure, provides an alternate high-level API, leading to more efficient and scalable implementations
Preparation and thermoelectric properties of semiconducting Zn4Sb3

Hot-pressed samples of the semiconducting compound β-Zn4Sb3 were prepared and characterized by X-ray and microprobe analysis. Some physical properties of β-Zn4Sb3 were determined and its thermoelectric properties measured between room temperature and 650 K. Exceptionally low thermal conductivity values were obtained in the 300–650 K temperature range and the room temperature lattice thermal conductivity was estimated at 6.5 W cm−1 K−1. High thermoelectric figures of merit (ZTs) were obtained between 450 and 670 K and a maximum of about 1.3 was obtained at a temperature of 670 K, the highest known at this temperature. The stability of the compound was investigated by several techniques, including thermogravimetric studies. The results showed that the samples were stable under argon atmosphere and static vacuum up to about 670 K and up to 520 K in dynamic vacuum. The high thermoelectric performance of β-Zn4Sb3 in the 300–670 K temperature range fills the existing gap in the ZT spectrum of p-type state-of-the-art thermoelectric materials between Bi2Te3-based alloys and PbTe-based alloys. This material, relatively inexpensive, could be used in more efficient thermoelectric generators for waste heat recovery and automobile industry applications, for example.
Recovery time course in contractile function of fast and slow skeletal muscle after hindlimb immobilization

Contractile properties were evaluated in rats remobilized after 6 wk of hindlimb casting to evaluate the regenerative capacity of fast and slow skeletal muscles. Contractile parameters were determined in vitro (22 degrees C) in the type I soleus (SOL), type IIA and IIB extensor digitorum longus (EDL), and the type IIB superficial vastus lateralis (SVL). Immobilization (IM) shortened the SOL isometric twitch duration after which contraction time and half-relaxation time required 4 and 7 days to recover, respectively. In contrast, IM prolonged the twitch in the EDL and SVL and recovery required 14 and 7 days, respectively. Peak tetanic tension (g/cm2) fell in the SOL and EDL with IM and full recovery required 28 days. In this regard, the SVL remained unaltered. Rates of tension development and decline remained essentially unaltered in the fast muscles after IM but fell in the SOL, requiring 14 days to fully recover. Maximal shortening velocity, which had been elevated in all three muscles by IM, recovered rapidly. The present results demonstrate that both fast and slow muscle have the ability to completely recover from 6 weeks of IM.
Delivering customer value online: an analysis of practices, applications, and performance

Abstract An expanding array of technologies exist that can enable retailers to add value to product/service offerings online. Yet for many firms, determining which applications to employ can be perplexing. This study examines dimensions of service orientation among market leaders and measures performance results of adopting selected customer service applications. Findings suggest that while a majority of retailers use the Internet to enhance company image, greater pay-offs come from offering more online services, particularly those that may be used by customers in the acquisition process (e.g., e-mail and online ordering) and for post-purchase support.
Freckling 11 Years After Pulsed Dye Laser Therapy for an Infantile Hemangioma: Coincidence or a Previously Unrecognized Complication?

A case of asymmetric freckling on the cheeks of a child who 11 years earlier received pulsed dye laser treatment for a hemangioma on the right cheek was recently evaluated. Only the lasered areas of the face (her cheeks) demonstrated asymmetric freckling, whereas the unlasered areas of the face such as the nose demonstrated typical, normal, symmetric freckling. No explanation, such as asymmetric sun exposure or sunscreen administration, could be elicited by detailed history. The authors suggest that the asymmetric freckling on the patient's cheeks might represent a previously unrecognized complication of pulsed dye laser.
Odd Prices at Retail Gasoline Stations: Focal Point Pricing and Tacit Collusion

This study empirically investigates the theory that odd-numbered pricing points can be used as focal points to facilitate tacit collusion. Like other retailers, gasoline stations in the United States disproportionately sell at prices ending in odd digits. I show that station prices are higher and change less frequently in locations using more odd prices (particularly those ending in 5 or 9), even after controlling for other market characteristics. The evidence suggests that the use of pricing points can be an effective mechanism for tacitly coordinating prices, providing an alternative explanation for the widespread use of odd prices in retail markets
Directly measured secondhand smoke exposure and COPD health outcomes

Although personal cigarette smoking is the most important cause and modulator of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure could influence the course of the disease. Despite the importance of this question, the impact of SHS exposure on COPD health outcomes remains unknown. We used data from two waves of a population-based multiwave U.S. cohort study of adults with COPD. 77 non-smoking respondents with a diagnosis of COPD completed direct SHS monitoring based on urine cotinine and a personal badge that measures nicotine. We evaluated the longitudinal impact of SHS exposure on validated measures of COPD severity, physical health status, quality of life (QOL), and dyspnea measured at one year follow-up. The highest level of SHS exposure, as measured by urine cotinine, was cross-sectionally associated with poorer COPD severity (mean score increment 4.7 pts; 95% CI 0.6 to 8.9) and dyspnea (1.0 pts; 95% CI 0.4 to 1.7) after controlling for covariates. In longitudinal analysis, the highest level of baseline cotinine was associated with worse COPD severity (4.7 points; 95% CI -0.1 to 9.4; p = 0.054), disease-specific QOL (2.9 pts; -0.16 to 5.9; p = 0.063), and dyspnea (0.9 pts; 95% CI 0.2 to 1.6 pts; p < 0.05), although the confidence intervals did not always exclude the no effect level. Directly measured SHS exposure appears to adversely influence health outcomes in COPD, independent of personal smoking. Because SHS is a modifiable risk factor, clinicians should assess SHS exposure in their patients and counsel its avoidance. In public health terms, the effects of SHS exposure on this vulnerable subpopulation provide a further rationale for laws prohibiting public smoking.
Tracking and disturbance rejection in nonlinear systems: the integral manifold approach

The authors study the tracking and disturbance rejection problem of a class of time-invariant nonlinear systems which are linear equivalent to controllable linear systems. By using a nonlinear feedback control and a slowly varying integral control, the closed-loop system asymptotically tracks a reference input and rejects disturbances which are both unknown and slowly varying. The integral manifold concept is used to design a nonlinear controller. >
Evaluation of exposure to contaminated drinking water and specific birth defects and childhood cancers at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina: a case–control study

Drinking water supplies at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune were contaminated with trichloroethylene, tetrachloroethylene, benzene, vinyl chloride and trans-1,2-dichloroethylene during 1968 through 1985. We conducted a case control study to determine if children born during 1968–1985 to mothers with residential exposure to contaminated drinking water at Camp Lejeune during pregnancy were more likely to have childhood hematopoietic cancers, neural tube defects (NTDs), or oral clefts. For cancers, exposures during the first year of life were also evaluated. Cases and controls were identified through a survey of parents residing on base during pregnancy and confirmed by medical records. Controls were randomly sampled from surveyed participants who had a live birth without a major birth defect or childhood cancer. Groundwater contaminant fate and transport and distribution system models provided estimates of monthly levels of drinking water contaminants at mothers’ residences. Magnitude of odds ratios (ORs) was used to assess associations. Confidence intervals (CIs) were used to indicate precision of ORs. We evaluated parental characteristics and pregnancy history to assess potential confounding. Confounding was negligible so unadjusted results were presented. For NTDs and average 1st trimester exposures, ORs for any benzene exposure and for trichloroethylene above 5 parts per billion were 4.1 (95% CI: 1.4-12.0) and 2.4 (95% CI: 0.6-9.6), respectively. For trichloroethylene, a monotonic exposure response relationship was observed. For childhood cancers and average 1st trimester exposures, ORs for any tetrachloroethylene exposure and any vinyl chloride exposure were 1.6 (95% CI: 0.5-4.8), and 1.6 (95% CI: 0.5-4.7), respectively. The study found no evidence suggesting any other associations between outcomes and exposures. Although CIs were wide, ORs suggested associations between drinking water contaminants and NTDs. ORs suggested weaker associations with childhood hematopoietic cancers.
Chronic Multisymptom Illness Complex in Gulf War I Veterans 10 Years Later

Prior research has demonstrated that shortly after the 1991 Gulf War (Gulf War I), chronic multisymptom illness (CMI) was more common among deployed veterans than among nondeployed veterans. The aims of the current study were to determine the prevalence of CMI among deployed and nondeployed veterans 10 years after Gulf War I, compare the distribution of comorbid conditions, and identify prewar factors associated with CMI. Cross-sectional data collected from 1,061 deployed veterans and 1,128 nondeployed veterans examined between 1999 and 2001 were analyzed. CMI prevalence was 28.9% among deployed veterans and 15.8% among nondeployed veterans (odds ratio = 2.16, 95% confidence interval: 1.61, 2.90). Deployed and nondeployed veterans with CMI had similarly poorer quality-of-life measures and higher prevalences of symptom-based medical conditions, metabolic syndrome, and psychiatric disorders. Diagnoses of prewar anxiety disorders (not related to post-traumatic stress disorder) and depression were associated with CMI among both deployed and nondeployed veterans. Nicotine dependence and veteran-reported physician-diagnosed infectious mononucleosis were associated with CMI among deployed veterans, and migraine headaches and gastritis were associated with CMI among nondeployed veterans. CMI continues to be substantially more prevalent among deployed veterans than among nondeployed veterans 10 years after Gulf War I, but it manifests similarly in both groups. It is likely to be a common, persistent problem among veterans returning from the current Gulf War.
The effects of various salt and sucrose solutions on the U.V.L. sensitivity of CHO cells.

The response of cultured CHO cells to U.V.L. irradiation during treatment with anisotonic solutions shows that treatment with hypotonic sucrose, NaCl or KCl solutions causes an increase in the cellular U.V.L. sensitivity, while exposure to hypertonic solutions causes a large decrease in U.V.L. sensitivity. Cells exposed to 1.8 M sucrose, NaCl or KCl solutions and given a U.V.L. dose of 252 erg/mm2 towards the end of the 20 min solution exposure time have survival levels which are respectively 228,26, and 23 times higher than the controls, i.e. cells irradiated in phosphate buffered saline. Cell volume data obtained using a Coulter counter, and nuclear area data of attached cells obtained using an optical microscope with a micrometer reticle, show that cell and nuclear size are related to U.V.L. sensitivity. That is, as cells shrink and the nuclear area decreases, the cells become more U.V.L.-resistant. During hypotonic treatment with 0.1 M NaCl, the cell volume, nuclear area and U.V.L. sensitivity increased in the first 2 to 4 min of exposure time, but at longer exposure times (greater than 3 to 4 min), cell volume, nuclear area and cellular U.V.L. sensitivity decreased. For 0.1 M KCl treatment the cells initially displayed a rapid increase in volume, nuclear area and U.V.L. sensitivity, but at the longer exposure times no decrease in cell and nuclear size were observed, and a slight increase in U.V.L. sensitivity occurred. Changes in U.V.L. sensitivity were related to changes in nuclear size and cell volume; however, calculations showed that during hypertonic treatment there is an ionic effect as well as an osmotic effect. That is, the cellular U.V.L. survival in equal hypertonic concentrations of NaCl or KCl was lower than in the same concentration of sucrose.
Hypoxia Regulates Bone Morphogenetic Protein Signaling Through C-Terminal–Binding Protein 1

Bone morphogenetic protein receptor 2 (BMPR2) mutations have been linked to familial pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), but the molecular pathways leading to this severe pathology remain poorly characterized. We report that hypoxia, a paramount stimulus for the development of pulmonary hypertension, suppresses the expression of inhibitor of differentiation 1 (Id1), a downstream target of the BMPR2 pathway, in human pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (HPASMC). This attenuation of BMP signaling by hypoxia is conveyed through a repression of the transcriptional activity of the BMP responsive element (BRE) through mechanisms involving the transcriptional corepressor C-terminal–binding protein 1 (CtBP-1) and histone deacetylases (HDACs). Concordantly, overexpression of CtBP-1 suppressed BMP signaling, whereas small interfering RNA against CtBP-1 efficiently enhanced BMP stimulation of Id1 gene expression. Scavengers of reactive oxygen species had no effect on the hypoxic regulation of Id1, but, significa...
VLPC Characterization for the Dzero Upgrade

We have studies the performance characteristics of approximately 4000 Visible Light Photon Counters(VLPC) over a range of operating temperatures and biases. We will describe the characterization procedure and present the measured gain, noise and the relative quantum efficiency for the devices. We will also discuss the general operation of the devices and the significant problems during the characterization.
Regional localization of agmatine in the rat brain: an immunocytochemical study

The distribution of agmatine (decarboxylated arginine) was mapped in the central nervous system (CNS) in the rat. Agmatine-like immunoreactivity was identified by light microscopy, exclusively in the cytoplasm of neuronal perikarya. Immunoreactive neurons were present in the cerebral cortex, predominantly within laminae VI and V and, to a lesser extent, III and mainly in retrosplenial, cingulate, primary somatosensory and auditory cortices, and the subiculum. In the lower brainstem, immunoreactivity was selectively localized to visceral relay nuclei: the nucleus tractus solitarii and pontine parabrachial complex, and periventricular areas including the laterodorsal nucleus, locus coeruleus and dorsal raphe. In the midbrain, immunolabeled cells were concentrated in the ventral tegmental area and periaqueductal gray. In the forebrain, subcortical neurons were labeled predominantly in the preoptic area, amygdala, septum, bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, midline thalamus, and the hypothalamus. Ultrastructural analysis of layer V of the somatosensory cortex demonstrated agmatine-immunoreactivity in neurons, primarily in large dense-core vesicles located in the cytoplasm. Agmatine immunoreactivity was also affiliated with endoplasmic reticulum and the plasmalemma. Cortical neurons and the subiculum were labeled in animals not administered the axonal transport inhibitor, colchicine; thus, may normally contain higher concentrations of the amine than other brain regions. The central distribution of agmatine is consistent with the hypothesis that the amine may be a novel neurotransmitter of neurons involved in behavioral and visceral control.
High Quality Germanium Photodiodes on Silicon Substrates Using an Intermediate Chemical Mechanical Polishing Step

Germanium (Ge) photodiodes are capable of high quantum yields and can operate at gigahertz frequencies in the 1-1.6 μm wavelength regime. The compatibility of SiGe alloys with Si substrates makes Ge a natural choice for photodetectors in Si-based optoelectronics applications. The large lattice mismatch (≈4%) between Si and Ge, however, leads to the formation of a high density of misfit and associated threading dislocations when uniform Ge layers are grown on Si substrates. High quality Ge layers were grown on relaxed graded SiGe/Si layers by ultra-high vacuum chemical vapor deposition (UHVCVD). Typically, as the Ge concentration in the graded layers increases, strain fields from underlying misfit dislocations result in increased surface roughness and the formation of dislocation pile-ups. The generation of pile-ups increases the threading dislocation density in the relaxed layers. In this study the pileup formation was minimized by growing on miscut (001) substrates employing a chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) step within the epitaxial structure. Other problems such as the thermal mismatch between Si and Ge, results in unwanted residual tensile stresses and surface microcracks when the substrates are cooled from the growth temperature. Compressive strain has been incorporated into the graded layers to overcome the thermal mismatch problem, resulting in crack-free relaxed cubic Ge on Si at room temperature. The overall result of the CMP step and the growth modifications have eliminated dislocation pile-ups, decreased gas-phase nucleation of particles, and eliminated the increase in threading dislocation density that occurs when grading to Ge concentrations greater than 70% Ge. The threading dislocation density in the Ge layers determined through plan view transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and etch pit density (EPD) was found to be in the range of 2 × 106/cm2. Ge p-n diodes were fabricated to assess the electronic quality and prove the feasibility of high quality photodetectors on Si substrates.
Microwave radiation from a weakly non-Gaussian sea surface

The small deviation from Gaussian statistics of the sea surface is introduced to describe the up and downwind difference in microwave brightness temperature. The effect of long wave asymmetry is estimated using small-slope expansion and model slope distribution. Numerical analysis shows that the long-wave asymmetry cannot explain the observed values of the first harmonic in azimuthal dependencies of microwave radiation. The distribution of ripples over the long waves is considered using small-slope approximation and hydrodynamic modulation transfer function. The comparison with experimental radiometric observations allows the authors to derive the imaginary part of the modulation transfer function, which is in reasonably good agreement with independent radar measurements.
South Asian Haze Forcing: Remote Impacts with Implications to ENSO and AO

Abstract Aerosols are regionally concentrated and are subject to large temporal variations, even on interannual timescales. In this study, the focus is on the observed large interannual variability of the South Asian (SA) haze, estimating the corresponding variations in its radiative forcing, and using a general circulation model to study their impacts on global climate variability. The SA haze is a widespread haze, covering most of South Asia and the northern Indian Ocean during December–April. The southernmost extent of the haze varies year to year from about 10°S to about 5°N. In order to understand the impact of this interannual variation in the haze forcing, two numerical studies were conducted with two extreme locations of the forcing: 1) extended haze forcing (EHF) and 2) shrunk haze forcing (SHF). The former has the forcing extending to 10°S, while the latter is confined to regions north of the equator. Each of the two haze forcing simulations was implemented into a 3D global climate model (NCAR C...
The Backyard Politics of Attitudes Toward Immigration

Using two survey experiments, I reconsider the role that the racialized physical traits and level of assimilation of salient immigrants play in shaping attitudes toward immigration. In the first experiment, a nationwide sample of 767 White, non-Latino adults was exposed to a story about a family of undocumented immigrants living in the Unites States who were at risk of deportation. Subjects were randomly assigned to view a version of the story in which the immigrants were depicted with light skin and stereotypically Eurocentric features, or dark skin and stereotypically Afrocentric features, and their level of assimilation to mainstream American culture was suggested to be high or low. Similar to previous research, the study's results show that assimilation has a direct effect on attitudes toward immigration. Yet in contrast to previous studies, the racialized physical traits proved to be a much more important factor in shaping attitudes toward immigration than previously demonstrated. The role of an immigrant's racialized physical traits was replicated in a second survey experiment of 902 White, non-Latino adults. Overall, the findings shed new light on how media depictions of immigrants are affecting immigration attitudes, as well as the nuanced ways that race continues to shape public opinion in the United States today.
How to match in parallel: approximation algorithms and multicore machines

Computing a matching in a graph is one of "the hardest simple problems" in computer science. It is simple since most variants of matching can be solved in polynomial time, yet hard because the running times are high and the algorithms are complex. It is even more challenging to design parallel algorithms for matching, since many algorithms rely on searching for long paths in a graph, or implicitly communicate information along long paths, and thus have little concurrency.
HETEROTHALLIC MATING SYSTEMS IN THE ECHINOSTELIUM MINUTUM COMPLEX

Six cultures of an Echinostelium sp. slime mold were isolated from cholla cactus detritus collected in Death Valley National Park, California. All six isolates are heterothallic and belong to a sin...
SANS and SAXS Analysis of Charged Nanoparticle Adsorption at Oil–Water Interfaces

A systematic study of the adsorption of charged nanoparticles at dispersed oil-in-water emulsion interfaces is presented. The interaction potentials for negatively charged hexadecane droplets with anionic polystyrene latex particles or cationic gold particles are calculated using DLVO theory. Calculations demonstrate that increased ionic strength decreases the decay length of the electrostatic repulsion leading to enhanced particle adsorption. For the case of anionic PS latex particles, the energy barrier for particle adsorption is also reduced when the surface charge is neutralized through changes in pH. Complementary small-angle scattering experiments show that the highest particle adsorption for PS latex occurs at moderate ionic strength and low pH. For cationic gold particles, simple DLVO calculations also explain scattering results showing that the highest particle adsorption occurs at neutral pH due to the electrostatic attraction between oppositely charged surfaces. This work demonstrates that surf...
Queering the Body Politic Intersectional Reflexivity in the Body Narratives of Queer Men

This essay presents personal narratives co-constructed with queer men regarding their experiences of queerness and maleness. As the narrators chart their journeys toward identifying as queer, they recount incongruity between and within identities, which the author argues creates queer consciousness. Intersectional and reflexive queer consciousness is demonstrated in narratives that recount how critically evaluating identities led the narrators to contest elements of misogyny, effemimania, hypermasculinity, and other discourses and practices that have implications for our bodies. Espousing a queer identification opens up new discursive and material spaces for queer men to critically explore our bodies, while remaining cognizant of and reflexive about the messy and contradictory aspects of queerness.
Simultaneous Delivery of Tocotrienols and Simvastatin by Lipid Nanoemulsion: A Promising Approach for Enhanced Antitumor Activity Against Human Mammary Adenocarcinoma Cells

Among two groups of components of Vitamine E, tocopherols and tocotrienols (T3), T3 shown to have anticancer property. It has been also reported that T3 potentiate the anticancer activity of some other drugs including statins when delivered simultaneously. Therefore, our study was designed to formulate a stable nanoemulsion as platform for simultaneous delivery of T3 and Simvastatin and evaluate the antiproliferative activity of the nanoemulsion against MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 human mammary tumor cells. Nanoemuslion were prepared by high pressure homogenization where 9% w/w Simvastatin was loaded in T3 and medium chain triglyceride 70/30 blend. Mixture of primary and secondary emulsifier with DI water was used as aqueous phase. The size of the droplets was about 200nm and zeta potential was -45mV. Morphology were investigated with scanning transmission electron microscopy and found spherical or spheroidal in shape. Stability of the formulation was observed for 6 months and found stable with no loss in simvastatin loading. It has been found that, approximately 20% of Simvastatin was released in 24hrs at 37°C under sink condition. The IC50 of the T3-Simvastatin combination nanoemuslion was found 10.3 µM for MCF-7 and 4.8 µM for MDA-MB-231 cells which is significantly lower than T3 nanoemulsion which showed IC50 of 14 µM and 7 µM and Simvastatin alone which showed IC50 of 19 µM and 8 µM for MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells consecutively. The present study demonstrate that, parenteral lipid nanoemulsion is a promising platform for simultaneous delivery of anticancer drugs.
Practice and thoughts of pharmaceutical care in outpatient pharmacy in children's hospital

Objective To explore how to give full play to the function of pharmaceutical care outpatient pharmacy in children's hospital.Methods We probed into its function from the present situation of pharmaceutical care of outpatient pharmacy in children's hospital and developing direction of hospital pharmacy.Results We strengthened hospital pharmaceutical care of outpatient pharmacy by advocating "moving service" and improved the quality of pharmaceutical care.Conclusion Outpatient dispensers should change their concepts from "passive service of explaining doctor's advice only"to"active service of ensuring safe drug use".We should improve the pediatric pharmaceutical care in outpatient pharmacy step by step.