cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ovarian Cancer Screening and Early Detection

The ability to detect ovarian cancer at preclinical or very early stages of development would confer a significant benefit in the therapeutic efficacy and overall survival associated with this devastating disease. The inadequate performance of currently used imaging modalities and the intensely evaluated cancer antigen 125 (CA-125) biomarker test within the setting of population screening have precluded the establishment of screening programs for ovarian cancer. Two recently completed large clinical trials of ovarian cancer screening have reported findings of mixed impact, further clouding the issue. Considerable effort has been applied to the development of improved biomarker-based tests, and recent advances in that arena are discussed here. While the number of potential biomarkers of ovarian cancer continues to grow, few of those candidates have demonstrated sufficient performance to warrant advanced clinical evaluation. Although a number of investigative groups have reported encouraging findings in preclinical studies utilizing post-diagnostic samples, data obtained from prediagnostic samples indicate that the detection of disease at its earliest stages remains an unmet challenge. Within the clinical setting of pelvic mass differential diagnosis and triage, several significant advancements have been achieved recently, including two newly approved diagnostic tests. The development and evaluation of those tests along with other related endeavors are also described in this chapter. Thus, while effective routine screening for ovarian cancer remains a lofty goal, advancement within the clinical management of pelvic mass diagnoses appears to be near at hand.
Long-Lasting Changes in Excitability of Corticostriatal Terminals Following Tetanic Stimulation

The presence of presynaptic auto- and heteroreceptors located on striatal afferents (e.g. Kalsner and Westfall, 1990) provides a locus for feedback regulation of transmitter release and for presynaptic interaction between afferent projections. While axo-axonic contacts are extremely rare in the striatum (Kornhuber and Kornhuber, 1983) the close proximity of cortical glutamate (GLU), nigral dopamine (DA) and other afferent terminals as they form synapses on spiny neurons (Freund et al., 1984) provides the potential for presynaptic interactions resulting from the activation of presynaptic receptors by diffusion of transmitter from synaptic sites (Cuello, 1966; Fuxe and Agnati, 1991).
Cooperative Problem-Solving in the Interactions of Airline Dispatchers with the Air Traffic Control Systems Command Center

The activities involved in flight planning for commercial airlines provide a rich context for studying cooperative problem-solving and for exploring the impact of alternative system designs on such cooperation. A case study is presented looking at an important activity within this context: The generation, communication and evaluation of requests for non-preferred routes (submitted by the airlines to the air traffic control system). Factors contributing to the success of this activity are identified and areas for applications of technology to further enhance cooperative performance are described.
Energy Transformation and Fluorescence in Photosynthesis

The origins of in vivo chlorophyll fluorescence in unicellular algae are discussed with regard to the processes that regulate fluorescence yield and interpretation of fluorescence measurements as an indicator of algal primary production and physiological state. Emphasis is placed on limitations in interpretation of field data.
Towards the support of cognitive flexibility in hypertext design

This paper describes a constructivist learning theory that can be applied to the development of hypertext applications to enhance content learning. Application of this theory is especially beneficial when dealing with content that is either ill-structured or that specifically requires advanced learning for its understanding. Specifically, this theory is relevant when designing hypertext content for student learning beyond the classroom. An overview of the theory, an example of its application, and implications to hypertext design for online course content is provided.
Role of Pediococcus in winemaking

The genus Pediococcus comprises a group of nutritionally fastidious bacteria, several of which have been isolated from wines worldwide, for example P. damnosus, P. inopinatus, P. parvulus and P. pentosaceus. The growth of these bacteria is generally considered undesirable because of their ability to produce off‐odours and flavours. As examples, Pediococcus spp. have been associated with the synthesis of excessive diacetyl, exopolysaccharides, and/or biogenic amines, all of which have a detrimental impact on wine quality. Historically, oenological factors, such as low pH, high ethanol and nutrient depletion following malolactic fermentation, have often been considered sufficient to limit growth. Recent research, however, has supported the contention that Pediococcus spp. can grow in wines considered to be microbiologically stable. Furthermore, the presence of Pediococcus spp. in wines does not always lead to spoilage. New findings have suggested potential uses for Pediococcus spp. in winemaking, but have also highlighted a lack of understanding of those factors that influence growth and spoilage potential. The present work reviews the current knowledge of pediococci isolated during vinification as well as focuses on areas for future research.
Application of Parylene-Based Flexible Multi-Electrode Array for Recording From Subcortical Brain Regions From Behaving Rats

Obtaining multiple single-unit recordings in particular neural networks from behaving animals is crucial for the understanding of cognitive functions of the brain. Attaining stable, chronic recordings from the brain is also the foundation to develop effective cortical prosthetic devices. However, severe immune response caused by micromotion between stiff implants and surrounding brain tissue often limits the lifetime of penetrating, neural recording devices. To reduce the stiffness mismatch between recording devices and brain tissue, we developed a flexible, polymer based multi-electrode array for recording single neuron activities from the rat hippocampus, a major subcortical structure of the rat brain. Parylene C, a biocompatible polymer, was used as the structural and insulation material of the multi-electrode array. 64 platinum (Pt) recording electrodes were placed in groups along each shank to conform to the anatomical distribution of hippocampal principle neurons. The multi-electrode array was chronically implanted in three animals. After recovery, neural activity together with movement traces were collected from the behaving animals.
Decapping enzymes STOP “cancer” ribosomes in their tracks

The production of ribosomes plays a central role in regulating cell cycle progression and cancer proliferation. A new study by Gaviraghi et al (2018) shows that mRNA decapping coactivator PNRC1 acts as a tumor suppressor by regulating ribosome biogenesis. PNRC1 relocalizes the Dcp1/Dcp2 mRNA decapping complex to the nucleolus and promotes decapping of specific snoRNAs to disrupt the processing of ribosomal RNA. By slowing rRNA processing, and thus ribosome biogenesis, PNRC1 acts as a gatekeeper that restrains oncogenic potential.
The relationship among psychological need satisfaction, class engagement, and academic performance: Evidence from China

Utilizing self-determination theory, the authors examined the relationship among psychological need satisfaction, class engagement, and academic performance among Chinese accounting students. The s...
A Market-Based Resilient Power Management Technique for Distribution Systems with Multiple Microgrids Using a Multi-Agent System Approach.

In this paper, we present a market-based resilient power management procedure for electrical distribution systems consisting of multiple cooperative MiroGrids (MGs). Distributed optimization is use...
Aspergillus flavus NRRL 35739, a Poor Biocontrol Agent, May Have Increased Relative Expression of Stress Response Genes

Biocontrol of the mycotoxin aflatoxin utilizes non-aflatoxigenic strains of Aspergillus flavus, which have variable success rates as biocontrol agents. One non-aflatoxigenic strain, NRRL 35739, is a notably poor biocontrol agent. Its growth in artificial cultures and on peanut kernels was found to be slower than that of two aflatoxigenic strains, and NRRL 35739 exhibited less sporulation when grown on peanuts. The non-aflatoxigenic strain did not greatly prevent aflatoxin accumulation. Comparison of the transcriptomes of aflatoxigenic and non-aflatoxigenic A. flavus strains AF36, AF70, NRRL 3357, NRRL 35739, and WRRL 1519 indicated that strain NRRL 35739 had increased relative expression of six heat shock and stress response proteins, with the genes having relative read counts in NRRL 35739 that were 25 to 410 times more than in the other four strains. These preliminary findings tracked with current thought that aflatoxin biocontrol efficacy is related to the ability of a non-aflatoxigenic strain to out-compete aflatoxigenic ones. The slower growth of NRRL 35739 might be due to lower stress tolerance or overexpression of stress response(s). Further study of NRRL 35739 is needed to refine our understanding of the genetic basis of competitiveness among A. flavus strains.
Twist Testing for Flexible Electronics

Electronic devices have found use in a variety of flexible form factors such as wearable health monitoring devices, fitness trackers integrated into garments, etc. These form factors expose the electronic components (printed traces, passives, active devices, etc.) to a wide range of mechanical strains that are not typically seen in traditional rigid devices. In fact, the utility of these devices depends on its ability to stretch, bend, fold, and/or twist. As such, there is a need for methods and standards for testing these devices under these mechanical loads. In our ongoing work, we have conducted extensive stretch and bend testing of conductors, co-planar waveguides, antennas, and other elements. Both monotonic and fatigue testing of some of these components have also been carried out. In this paper we describe the development of a test apparatus that can subject flexible electronic test coupons to controlled twists while monitoring in-situ the electrical resistance of the printed conductor. Unlike in stretch testing, in twist testing buckling of the samples is a concern, and thus, appropriate models have been used to ensure that the substrates are subjected to pure twisting without any apparent buckling of the sample. Samples were subjected to twist angles ranging from ± 30° to ± 135° and the resulting resistance was measured in-situ. Both polyimide and PET substrates with screen-printed silver conductors have been tested and the results have been presented for both monotonic and cyclic loadings. The thermal coefficient of resistance (TCR) of screen-printed silver ink has been measured to be 0.00233 per °C and accounted for in the twist resistance measurements to reduce the temperature effect on resistance during long-term cyclic twist testing. Cyclic twisting to ±135° or shear strains of ± 2.99 x 10-3 induced minimal changes in resistance (less than 1.5%) over 5000 cycles.
Compressive optic neuropathy with vision loss due to IgG4-related orbital disease.

A 65-year-old male with no past ocular history presented with a five-month history of progressive right periorbital fullness and worsening vision. Ophthalmic examination demonstrated count fingers ...
Chemical Strengthening of Glass

A basic ternary sodium aluminosilicate glass system is described since this simple system forms the basis for glasses readily ion-exchanged to the high surface compressive stress and deep compressive stress layer. The ionic interdiffusion of monovalent alkali ions within an aluminosilicate glass is described and the complementary error function form of the invading ion concentration profile is established. The generation of the stress profile from the concentration gradient is then described mathematically. The basics of fracture mechanics are reviewed and then used to describe the advantages of ion-exchanged glasses, namely imparting high surface strength to allow highly flexible and bendable thin glass sheets and for thicker glass, the retention of strength following deep contact damage. A simple model is described that can accurately predict the retained strength as a function of flaw depth for a known stress profile. The frangibility behavior of ion-exchanged glasses is also described in terms of stored strain energy and cracking responses are shown. The sharp contact failure mode for cover glasses is also described and the use of a Vickers diamond indenter to replicate this type of failure mode is demonstrated. Experimental data show that the resistance to sharp contact strength-limiting flaw generation is improved both with high compressive stress enveloping the deformation region and by utilizing glass compositions that are more resistant to subsurface damage during sharp contact events. Sliding Knoop and Vickers indenter scratch testing shows that ion-exchanged glasses with resistance to subsurface damage do not produce highly visible lateral cracks at loads that readily produce this type of damage in typical ion-exchanged aluminosilicate glasses.
Solitary Pulmonary Nodule (SPN)/Pulmonary Neoplasms

This chapter opens with how to evaluate the solitary pulmonary nodule, presenting numerous imaging findings that can suggest whether it is benign or malignant. It then describes various benign and malignant pulmonary neoplasms and the three major routes for metastases (hematogenous, lymphangitic, and direct spread).
Counting or discriminating the number of voices to assess binaural fusion with single-sided vocoders

For single-sided deafness cochlear-implant (SSD-CI) listeners, different peripheral representations for electric versus acoustic stimulation, combined with interaural frequency mismatch, might limit the ability to perceive bilaterally presented speech as a single voice. The assessment of binaural fusion often relies on subjective report, which requires listeners to have some understanding of the perceptual phenomenon of object formation. Two experiments explored whether binaural fusion could instead be assessed using judgments of the number of voices in a mixture. In an SSD-CI simulation, normal-hearing listeners were presented with one or two "diotic" voices (i.e., unprocessed in one ear and noise-vocoded in the other) in a mixture with additional monaural voices. In experiment 1, listeners reported how many voices they heard. Listeners generally counted the diotic speech as two separate voices, regardless of interaural frequency mismatch. In experiment 2, listeners identified which of two mixtures contained diotic speech. Listeners performed significantly better with interaurally frequency-matched than with frequency-mismatched stimuli. These contrasting results suggest that listeners experienced partial fusion: not enough to count the diotic speech as one voice, but enough to detect its presence. The diotic-speech detection task (experiment 2) might provide a tool to evaluate fusion and optimize frequency mapping for SSD-CI patients.
Catalytic Porphyrin Framework Compounds

Porphyrins are frequently observed in nature and play a vital role in many biological functions, including light-harvesting, oxygen transport, and catalytic transformations. The rigid, robust, and multifunctional features of porphyrins enable the construction of framework compounds such as metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) and covalent organic frameworks (COFs) for use in several important applications. This short review summarizes the types of porphyrin building blocks with varying connectivity, their assembly into framework compounds, and key structural factors governing porphyrin ligand design. Furthermore, we highlight emerging catalytic applications of these porphyrin framework compounds as Lewis acid catalysts, oxidation catalysts, photocatalysts, and electrocatalysts. Together, this review supplies a timely update on porphyrin ligand design and framework compound synthesis and guides the future development of porphyrin framework compounds with diverse functionalities for efficient catalysis.
Delineating the role of membrane blebs in a hybrid mode of cancer cell invasion in three-dimensional environments

The study of cancer cell invasion in 3D environments in vitro has revealed a variety of invasive modes including amoeboid migration, characterized by primarily round cells that invade in a protease- and adhesion-independent manner. Here, we delineate a contractility-dependent migratory mode of primarily round breast cancer cells that is associated with extensive integrin-mediated extracellular matrix (ECM) reorganization that occurs at membrane blebs, with bleb necks sites of integrin clustering and integrin-dependent ECM alignment. We show that the spatiotemporal distribution of blebs and their utilization for ECM reorganization is mediated by functional β1 integrin receptors and other components of focal adhesions. Taken together, the work presented here characterizes a migratory mode of primarily round cancer cells in complex 3D environments and reveals a fundamentally new function for membrane blebs in cancer cell invasion.
Waste Not, Want Not: Economic and Legal Challenges of Regulation-Induced Innovation in Waste Technology and Management

Beginning in the early 1990s, stricter government regulation to protect public health and the environment led to radical changes in waste technology and management in the United States. More stringent regulation induced wholly new technologies, including the lining of landfills, the control of their gas emissions, and changes in the economic scale and geographic location of operation. Economic integration of waste management transformed “the local dump” into a nationwide and modernized industry. These changes led to unprecedented intervention by local government in attempts to control price, quantity, and location-specific attributes of the $40 billion waste market. Regulatory-induced changes in markets have long been a topic of academic and policy interest, but unique in this case was the emergence of legal challenges—-under the dormant commerce clause—-concerning public governance and the private sector. This paper reviews the regulation-induced changes in the market, its subnational governmental interventions, and protection of interstate commerce when new technology restructures a local service into a national business.
NMR-Guided Design of Potent and Selective EphA4 Agonistic Ligands

In this paper, we applied an innovative nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)-guided screening and ligand design approach, named focused high-throughput screening by NMR (fHTS by NMR), to derive potent, low-molecular-weight ligands capable of mimicking interactions elicited by ephrin ligands on the receptor tyrosine kinase EphA4. The agents bind with nanomolar affinity, trigger receptor activation in cellular assays with motor neurons, and provide remarkable motor neuron protection from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patient-derived astrocytes. Structural studies on the complex between EphA4 ligand-binding domain and a most active agent provide insights into the mechanism of the agents at a molecular level. Together with preliminary in vivo pharmacology studies, the data form a strong foundation for the translation of these agents for the treatment of ALS and potentially other human diseases.
Time, Transcendence in Islamic Thought and an Embrace of “Catholic Modernity”

Abstract Taylor characterizes Western modernity as being very inhospitable to the transcendent, yet also as opening an opportunity for a renewed engagement with the transcendent from within modernity. This debate is also vivid in Islam and I will reconstruct it by focusing on the concept of time (dahr). Some strains in Islam condemned the posture of maximizing the “flourishing of life” within the limits of (a life)time as dahriya because it would, in their eyes, constitute a rejection altogether of the transcendent. This position was seen as the quintessence of “the philosophers” (al Ghazali) and of Western modernity (al Afghani). Opposing this view, I will then explain how and why I can make a rapprochement between Charles Taylor’s proposal of a “Catholic modernity” and Islamic modernity through the lenses of Muhammad Iqbal’s philosophy of time. Through his analysis of the hadith “Do not vilify time, because time is God,” Iqbal shows that time (dahr) should not be considered as the antithesis of transcendence, but that in time, from within dahr, transcendence is present: in “creative evolution” (Bergson), life is not enclosed in immanence, but on the contrary God is manifesting himself under his name dahr.
Endovascular treatment of ruptured anterior communicating aneurysms: a 17-year institutional experience with coil embolization.

BACKGROUND Ruptured anterior communicating artery (ACoA) aneurysms can be challenging to treat via an endovascular procedure. This study analyzed retreatment rates and neurological outcomes associated with ruptured ACoA aneurysms treated via endovascular coiling. METHODS All patients with a ruptured ACoA aneurysm treated with endovascular coiling from 2003 to 2019 were retrospectively analyzed at a single center. Two comparisons were performed: no retreatment versus retreatment and coil embolization versus balloon-assisted coil embolization. Outcomes included retreatment and neurological outcome assessed via modified Rankin Scale (mRS). RESULTS During the study period, 186 patients with ruptured ACoA aneurysms underwent coil embolization. Treatment included standard coil embolization (68.3%, n=127), balloon-assisted coiling (28.5%, n=53), and stent-assisted embolization (2.7%, n=5). Angiographic outcomes were as follows: class I, 65.1% (n=121); class II, 28.5% (n=53); and class III, 6.5% (n=12). There were no aneurysm reruptures after the index procedure. The mean (SD) mRS score was 2.7 (2.0) at last follow-up (mortality, 19 (10%)). Retreatment occurred in 9.7% (n=18). Patients with retreatment were younger with lower-grade subarachnoid hemorrhage and more favorable functional status at discharge. Patients with aneurysms >7 mm (n=36) were significantly more likely to have recurrence (22.2% vs 6.7%, P=0.005). CONCLUSIONS Endovascular treatment of ruptured ACoA aneurysms is safe and is associated with low mortality and retreatment rates. Younger patients with favorable functional status and larger aneurysm size are more likely to be retreated. Ruptured aneurysms <4 mm, although prevalent in the study (29%), never required retreatment.
HIV risks of men in methadone maintenance treatment programs who abuse their intimate partners: A forgotten issue

Accumulating findings suggest a relationship between partner violence and HIV risk among women, however, this issue has yet to be adequately researched among men. This study examines the relationship between perpetrating intimate partner violence and HIV risk behavior among a sample of men in methadone maintenance treatment programs (MMTPs). Data were collected on 273 sexually active men, who were recruited from four inner-city MMTP clinics. More than a third of the sample reported perpetrating intimate physical abuse and 15% reported severe physical abuse in the past 12 months. Results from multiple logistic regression analyses indicate that after adjusting for demographic, poverty, and drug-use factors, men who abused an intimate partner were almost 4 times more likely to have more than one intimate partner, almost 3 times more likely to have unprotected anal sex, and 2.6 times more likely to have sex with a drug-injecting sexual partner than their counterparts. This study showed that men who perpetrated partner violence were at higher risk for HIV transmission. HIV prevention interventions need to consider the complex relationship between partner violence and HIV risk.
INTERSECTING OPPRESSIONS AND ONLINE COMMUNITIES

Employing qualitative methods and drawing from an intersectional framework which focusses on the multiple identities we all embody, this paper focusses on oppressions experienced by women of color in Xbox Live, an online gaming community. Ethnographic observations and narrative interviewing reveal that women of color, as outsiders failing to conform to the white male norm, face intersecting oppressions in main stream gaming. They are linguistically profiled within the space based on how they sound. Specifically, Latina women within the space experience nativism, racism, sexism, and even heterosexism as many identify as sexual minorities. African-American women experience racialized sexism stemming from the duality of their ascribed identities. The women within the study have responded by segregating from the larger gaming community and have created their own clans (similar to guilds) and game with other women. The purpose of the clans depends on the type of oppressions experienced by the women within the ...
Synchronous, asynchronous and hybrid algorithms for DisCSP

There is some debate around the efficiency of synchronous and asynchronous backtracking algorithms for solving DisCSP. The general opinion was that asynchronous algorithms were more efficient than the synchronous ones, because of their higher concurrency. In this work we continue this line of research, and we study the performance of three different procedures, one synchronous, one asynchronous and one hybrid, for solving sparse, medium and dense binary random DisCSP. The synchronous algorithm is SCBJ, a distributed version of the Conflict-Based Backjumping (CBJ) algorithm. The asynchronous algorithm is the standard ABT [2] enhanced with some heuristic. The hybrid algorithm is ABT-Hyb, a novel ABT-like algorithm, where some synchronization is introduced to avoid resending redundant messages. ABT-Hyb behaves like ABT when no backtracking is performed. However, when an agent has to backtrack, it sends a Back message and enters in a waiting state until receiving: a message that allows it to have a value consistent with its agent view, an Info message from the receiver of the last Back message or a Stop message informing that the problem has no solution. During the waiting state, the agent accept any received Info message and rejects as obsolete any received Back message. No matter the synchronous backtracking, ABT-Hyb inherits the good theoretical properties of ABT: it is sound, complete and terminates. This research is supported by the REPLI project TIC-2002-04470-C03-03.
Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue: Active Learning in the Classroom

Summary This article deals with the experience of the librarians at the Simmons College Libraries as they integrated active learning strategies into the library instruction program for first year students. Occurring over two semesters, students took self-guided tours of the library and played a game of library jeopardy in the fall, and participated in the research process during workshops in the spring. Research indicates that students who are active partners in the learning process increase their chances of retaining material. The librarians attempted to measure the success of the program through anecdotal evidence and reviews of students' research paper bibliographies.
The interaction of two distinct turbulent velocity scales in the absence of mean shear

We report experimental results of a mixing layer formed in decaying grid tubulence in which the mean fluid velocity is constant throughout but two distinct scales of turbulence are formed on either side of the stream. This is achieved by using a parallel bar grid with the same solidity over its entire cross section but with a larger mesh length on one side of the grid than the other. Two experiments are being carried out, one with a mesh length ratio of three and another with a mesh length ratio of seven although here we will deal only with the 3:1 grid. A clear distinction between the intermittent penetration of one turbulent field into the other and the mixing (or diffusion) of the two fields is made. The experiment is along the fines of the previous work of Gilbert (1980), however here the scale ratio of the two turbulent fields is greater, revealing vital effects unobserved by Gilbert. The experiment is still in progress and we note that since reporting earlier results in the Fifth Turbulent Shear Flows Conference Proceedings we have modified the grid in order to attain better flow homogeneity on either side of the mixing layer. This has resulted in a change in some of the measured values although the new results are in qualitative agreement with the old ones.
The Prevalence and Nature of Service Academy Mentoring: A Study of Navy Midshipmen

Mentoring relationships (mentorships) are often considered essential for the effective career development of junior professionals in a range of fields. Although research on mentorships in the milit...
The Relation of Mantle Heterogeneity to the Bulk Composition and Origin of the Earth

The heterogeneity of the mantle can be viewed in the context of models for accretion of the terrestrial planets from the solar nebula. Oxygen isotope ratios and mineralogy indicate the existence of hot planetesimals of diverse compositions. Assuming that nebular condensates range from a reduced state near the sun to an oxidized state near Jupiter, a new model is proposed for heterogeneous accretion of the earth beginning with hot, reduced condensates and ending with cool, oxidized condensates. The Ganapathy-Anders cosmochemical model for the bulk composition of the earth was tested by summing measured compositions for the three outer zones and likely compositions for the inner zones. Revisions are suggested, including reduction of the content of the early condensate from that suggested by taking the U concentration as 30 ng/g, as suggested by the naive interpretation of the heat flow.
Consensus, Clines, and Edges in Celtic Cultures

Using data from four localities in peripheral areas of the British Isles, this article explores a conception of culture that emphasizes continuous variation, or clines, rather than boundaries. These localities are sites for the performance of cultural practices, many of which may be shared across socially constructed boundaries such as those of nation, ethnic group, and class. Consensus analysis provides a tool for exploring areas of greater or lesser sharing of cultural models indicated by responses to 21 brief narratives of everyday cultural practices. Informants were asked to judge on a 5-point scale whether the practices were characteristic of their location. With a high consensus in each site about typical practices, it was possible to compare the culturally correct profiles of responses between each of the sites, revealing incremental changes, or clines, from site to site. Edges, or the conjunction of clines, might be mapped using consensus analysis.
Effect of grain orientation on ductility in a nanocrystalline Ni-Fe alloy

The influence of columnar grain geometry on mechanical property was studied in an electrodeposited nanocrystalline Ni–Fe alloy. The compressive results show that the strength is independent of grain orientation. However, the plastic strain increased remarkably when the loading axis is parallel to the direction of grain columns, which is due to the enhanced grain boundary and dislocation activities. The significance of the current study is that a new strategy was developed to improve the ductility of nanocrystalline materials.
Click chemistry mediated synthesis of bio-inspired phosphonyl-functionalized ionic liquids

This study focuses on the synthesis of a class of novel biologically-inspired ionic liquids coupled with a phosphonate group containing short to long side chains (C3–C11) via the Pudovic reaction. The ionic liquids exhibited very low glass transition temperatures and were hydrophobic in character. This method has the attributes of “click” chemistry with outstanding efficiency, simplicity, yields and regioselectivity. The results of their calcium(II) ligating capability are also presented.
Diagnosis of patent ductus arteriosus by a neonatologist with a compact, portable ultrasound machine.

Diagnosis of patent ductus arteriosus by a neonatologist with a compact, portable ultrasound machine
Islam and earthquakes: seismic risk perception in a Muslim city

In the Qur’an, earthquakes are separated from other natural hazards in meaning, significance, and risk perception: this can be attributed to their focus in surah “al‐Zalzala” (99th). In 2002, more than 250 earthquake survivors and residents were surveyed and interviewed across Agadir, Morocco 40 years after the 1960 tremor left 15,000 dead and 25,000 injured. This study was conducted to obtain perceptions of quake recurrence, construction standard policies, seismology and local planning strategies. It was found that younger persons (<25yo) were likely to believe that brick, mortar and cement structures were always safer (and stronger). Television‐viewers were less knowledgeable about earthquakes, while most aspects of seismology were more widely understood by this group, suggesting that TV can be an efficient, mass education tool. Less educated respondents attributed earthquakes to divine retribution. Questions concerning quake recurrence caused an prevalent refusal to answer, commonly with the relpy of A...
CORONARY CIRCULATION IN THE TURTLE VENTRICLE.

Abstract 1. 1. Only 10 per cent of the turtle ventricular myocardium is perfused by its coronary artery as shown by: 1.1. a. Histological sections of ventricular myocardium perfused with indian ink either in the coronary artery or in the ventricular cavity. 1.2. b. The effects on ventricular transmembrane action potentials and contractile tension produced by solutions of different ionic content simultaneously perfused through the coronary artery and the ventricular cavity. 2. 2. A voltage-clamp type of interaction exists between regions of turtle ventricular myocardium perfused with solutions of dissimilar ionic composition.
The impact of perioperative factors on subsequent intelligence quotient deficits in children treated for medulloblastoma/posterior fossa primitive neuroectodermal tumors.

Background. Despite success in treating children with medulloblastoma/posterior fossa primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PF PNET), some children survive with significant neurocognitive sequelae. This study was performed to understand better the significance of perioperative factors on subsequent full scale intelligence quotient (FSIQ) deterioration in these children. Methods. Twenty-eight children who underwent prospective and serial neurocognitive testing were studied. All children underwent surgery followed by radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy between 1983 and 1987 for medulloblastoma/PF PNET and were disease free when this study was conducted. IQ testing was performed before surgery and after the completion of radiation therapy. The clinical courses of the patients were correlated with changes in the corresponding intelligence quotients of each child. Factors correlating with neurocognitive declines were examined by chi-square or Fisher exact test analysis. Differences in mean IQs were examined by the t test. Factors found to be significant were analyzed by exact logistic regression analysis. Results. The presence of adverse factors such as neurologic deficits, meningitis, or shunt infections, or the need for repeat surgery was correlated significantly with IQ deficits after treatment. Of the subset of children with one or more of these factors, 13 of 16 (81%) sustained decreases in FSIQ; 7 of 16 (43.8%) had decreases of 20 points of more. In contrast, only 3 of 12 (25%) of the children without the factors sustained FSIQ decreases, and no child sustained a decrease of more than 13 points. The mean FSIQ change after treatment in the group with factors was -15.7 (95% confidence interval [CI]: -24.0, -8.4), and the median was -18. The mean FSIQ change in the group without factors was 4.8 (95% CI: -0.5, 10.1), and the median was 5. The difference in mean FSIQ change between the two groups was significant (P < 0.0001). On univariate analysis, both the presence of adverse factors and an age less than six years correlated with neurocognitive deficit. On regression analysis, only the presence of adverse factors was significant (odds ratio 11.53; 95% CI, 1.65-116.58; P = 0.009), whereas age was not (P = 0.27). Conclusions. Perioperative events or complications may account for some of the neurocognitive deterioration seen in these children after treatment, especially in the very young. The occurrence of these factors is associated with a significantly greater risk of IQ deterioration. Studies of the neurocognitive effects of treatment for children with medulloblastoma/PF PNET should include an analysis of these postoperative factors.
Evaluating advanced fuel candidates in surface cleaning of optics by plasma exposure (SCOPE)

One of the leading issues leading to decreased mirror lifetime is that debris contamination and buildup of debris on the surface of the primary mirror optics that comes from the use of both Sn and Li in GDPP or LPP. This debris generation leads to a decreased reflectivity from the added material thickness and increased surface roughness that contributes to scattering. In order to overcome this issue, it is important to understand the implantation of debris material into the optic material matrix and the subsequent diffusion of this debris within the mirror matrix. This change in composition and surface morphology can dramatically affect reflectivity and mirror lifetime. A multifunction test stand was built to investigate this mirror lifetime issues that arise from the use of both Li and Sn. Through the use of both a Li+ ion beam, electron beam evaporator for Li and Sn deposition, and a quartz crystal microbalance to study both lithium implantation and sputtering at various incident ion energies, angles, quantity of debris, and mirror temperatures, the problem of Li generated debris was investigated. Subsequent surface analysis via SEM, XPS, AFM, and TOF-SIMS, were used to study the resultant mirror material properties of composition, diffusion, and surface roughness leading to a better overall understanding of the mirror contamination issue. Preferential Li diffusion through a ruthenium capping layer was seen depthwise into the mirror matrix with minimal radial diffusion while the mirror sample was at room temperature. However, at an elevated temperature, enhanced surface radial diffusion of lithium and segregation in the capping layer was seen with minimal diffusion into the underlying mirror matrix. In conjunction with study of the contamination mechanism, the use of a secondary plasma was investigated as a way to prevent degradation and clean the mirror optics so as to extend the lifetime with no interference to the source or other components. Through the use of a helium helicon plasma, it was possible to induce lithium evaporation and break up of clusters that form on the surface. The plasma parameters were measured using a RF-compensated Langmuir probe to yield electron temperature and density while the sample mirror material was at various temperatures and voltage bias. It was shown that in situ plasma cleaning of optics is a valid method towards achieving improved mirror lifetime. For Sn optics cleaning, the use of halide etching to readily transport Sn off the surface was successfully demonstrated. Ar and Cl plasma and other gas mixtures demonstrated selective etch rate for Sn versus mirror materials of SiO2, Mo, Si, and Si3N4 and it is possible to set a scheme such that Sn debris is preferentially sputtered while leaving the mirror material undisturbed and yielding a long lifetime for the optics.© (2005) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
On random and partition testing

There have been many comparisons of random and partition testing. Proportional partition testing has been suggested as the optimum way to perform partition testing. In this paper we show that this might not be so and discuss some of the problems with previous studies. We look at the expected cost of failures as a way to evaluate the effectiveness of testing strategies and use it to compare random testing, uniform partition testing and proportional partition testing. Also, we introduce partition testing strategies that try to take the cost of failures into account and present some results on their effectiveness.
Joint MIMO transceiver design based on uniform channel decomposition

A joint MIMO transceiver design is presented based on uniform channel decomposition. This closed-loop MIMO system can run at 400 MHz with a 16-QAM constellation on a Xilinx Virtex-4 FPGA, and can achieve a data throughput of up to 12.8 Gbit/s in an 8×8 MIMO configuration.
Inhibition of capping of immunoglobulin and concanavalin A receptors by cis-dichlorodiammineplatinum-(II) in mouse spleen cells

Effects of cis-dichlorodiammineplatinum-(II) (cis-DDP), an anticancer agent, on capping of membrane receptors were investigated in mouse spleen cells in vitro, using fluorescein labeled ligands. Cap formations of surface immunoglobulin and of concanavalin A receptors were significantly reduced by cis-DDP in relation to dose, while cell viability remained unchanged. The binding of the ligands to specific receptors was not affected by cis-DDP. The results suggested that cis-DDP inhibited cap formation by blocking membrane movement of the ligand-receptor complexes.
Activation mechanism of the β2-adrenergic receptor

A third of marketed drugs act by binding to a G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) and either triggering or preventing receptor activation. Although recent crystal structures have provided snapshots of both active and inactive functional states of GPCRs, these structures do not reveal the mechanism by which GPCRs transition between these states. Here we propose an activation mechanism for the β2-adrenergic receptor, a prototypical GPCR, based on atomic-level simulations in which an agonist-bound receptor transitions spontaneously from the active to the inactive crystallographically observed conformation. A loosely coupled allosteric network, comprising three regions that can each switch individually between multiple distinct conformations, links small perturbations at the extracellular drug-binding site to large conformational changes at the intracellular G-protein-binding site. Our simulations also exhibit an intermediate that may represent a receptor conformation to which a G protein binds during activation, and suggest that the first structural changes during receptor activation often take place on the intracellular side of the receptor, far from the drug-binding site. By capturing this fundamental signaling process in atomic detail, our results may provide a foundation for the design of drugs that control receptor signaling more precisely by stabilizing specific receptor conformations.
Finite plastic strain in annealed mild steel during proportional and non-proportional loading

Abstract Proportional and non-proportional loading experiments show that the finite strain plastic response of annealed mild steel between the termination of the initial yield and the termination of the ultimate stress closely follows the predictions of an incremental theory of finite plastic strain for which stress and strain components are referred to the original, undeformed reference configuration. Experimental study of the initial yield domain in terms of dead weight loading of mild steel has shown that the initiation and termination of this region also may be described in terms of the same parabolic generalization. Finally, for annealed mild steel in dead weight loading, the generalized stress at failure is shown to occur on a common von Mises loading surface.
The replication and coating of vaccinia DNA

The replication and subsequent fate of vaccinia DNA in HeLa cells has been studied by examining the cytoplasmic fraction. Vaccinia DNA replication begins one to one and a half hours after infection, reaches a maximum rate at two to two and a half hours and then decreases sharply. More than 90% of viral DNA is synthesized by four and a half hours. The maximum rate of viral DNA replication is several times that of DNA replication in uninfected cells. The replication of viral DNA requires synthesis of protein, presumably a polymerase, even after viral DNA has been uncoated. Replicating viral, as well as parental, DNA is associated with very large structures or aggregates, which may be identical with the viral inclusions (factories) identified by microscopic, electronmicroscopic and autoradiographic techniques. Aggregates contain no detectable amounts of viral messenger RNA. They dissociate or break at concentrations of Mg 2+ of less than 1·5 m M . During the early stages of the infection cycle practically all viral DNA is associated with the aggregates; after three to four hours progressively increasing amounts of viral DNA become dissociated from them. Shortly afterwards, DNA becomes coated with protein in what appears to be a stepwise fashion. This process, which appears to proceed within the aggregates, has been analysed by the use of puromycin. The first stage(s) result in viral DNA becoming larger or heavier without losing its susceptibility to DNase. The next stage(s) result in the formation of particles resistant to DNase, but still smaller or lighter than virions. The proportion of viral DNA in these immature forms, which are very heterogeneous in size and density, remains constant throughout the maturation period. The final stage of the maturation process becomes detectable at five to six hours; very little of the protein(s) necessary for this step is synthesized before five hours. Only about one-third of the total DNA replicated during the early part of the infection cycle is actually incorporated into virions. Some implications of these findings are discussed.
Keeping the good of the organization in focus

Purpose – This paper's purpose is to show what it really means for a leader to keep the good of the organization in focus and how to accomplish that.Design/methodology/approach – The paper defines the concept with an example and then lays out ways of promoting an encouraging atmosphere for this to occur.Findings – The paper finds that the ultimate meaning of “keeping the good of the organization in focus” is accountability.Originality/value – The value of the paper is in understanding how accountability keeps the good of the organization in focus and how the leader can best accomplish that.
High-fat diet reduces local myostatin-1 paralog expression and alters skeletal muscle lipid content in rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss

Muscle growth is an energetically demanding process that is reliant on intramuscular fatty acid depots in most fishes. The complex mechanisms regulating this growth and lipid metabolism are of great interest for human health and aquaculture applications. It is well established that the skeletal muscle chalone, myostatin, plays a role in lipid metabolism and adipogenesis in mammals; however, this function has not been fully assessed in fishes. We therefore examined the interaction between dietary lipid levels and myostatin expression in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Five weeks of high-fat diet (HFD; 25 % lipid) intake increased white muscle lipid content and decreased circulating glucose levels and hepatosomatic index when compared to low-fat diet (LFD; 10 % lipid) intake. In addition, HFD intake reduced myostatin-1a and myostatin-1b expression in white muscle and myostatin-1b expression in brain tissue. Characterization of the myostatin-1a, myostatin-1b, and myostatin-2a promoters revealed putative binding sites for a subset of transcription factors associated with lipid metabolism. Taken together, these data suggest that HFD may regulate myostatin expression through cis-regulatory elements sensitive to increased lipid intake. Further, these findings provide a framework for future investigations of mechanisms describing the relationships between myostatin and lipid metabolism in fish.