cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cognitive Impairment in Patients with Type 1 (Insulin-Dependent) Diabetes Mellitus

Patients with type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus can experience both very low and very high blood glucose levels that may affect the CNS. Over time, high glucose levels (hyperglycaemia) may result in ketoacidosis, seizures, coma and death. Although a wide variation in response exists, acute hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar level) generally results in a decrease in the supply of glucose to the brain. Progressively lower glucose levels can result in confusion, inability to concentrate or cogitate, seizures, coma or death. Much progress has been made in the understanding of systemic and brain glucose metabolism, and the metabolic changes that are associated with type 1 diabetes mellitus. Research during the last 2 decades has clarified specific cognitive function and cognitive deficits during glucose fluctuations, particularly hypoglycaemia. In addition, recent research efforts have attempted to differentiate between the acute and chronic influences of glycaemic level on brain physiology and function, and to determine if glucose fluctuations lead to permanent intellectual impairment. Additional studies have examined the mechanisms underlying the potentiating effect of alcohol (ethanol) on insulin-induced hypoglycaemia. Finally, clinical interventions have been developed that are directed at the prevention and early treatment of hypoglycaemia through careful management of insulin dose and timing and through extensive patient and family education.
Birnessite mediated debromination of decabromodiphenyl ether.

Decabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-209) is a major component of a commercial flame retardant formulation; however, there is limited information on the fate of BDE-209in the environment, including metal oxide mediated degradation. Laboratory experiments were conducted to investigate the birnessite ( d-MnO2)-promoted debromination of BDE-209in tetrahydrofuran (THF)-water systems as well as catechol solutions. Up to 100% (0.1044 lmol initial charge) of BDE-209 disappeared upon reaction with birnessite in THF/H 2O (4:6– 9:1). The formation of aqueous Br y from BDE-209 reduction was determined and up to 16 mole% of initial bromine was released over the course of the reaction indicating approximately 1.7 Br–C bonds were reduced per BDE-209 molecule. The distribution of debrominated congeners, however, indicated a much greater extent of debromination for some products than what was inferred from an average bromine mass balance. The produced congeners varied from tetra- to nona-bromodiphenyl ether, including BDE-47 and -99, during the 24 h reaction. Experiments with deuterated water indicated that water was not the major hydrogen donor in the reduction but rather THF provided the reducing power. This conclusion was supported by the presence of succinic acid, which was produced from oxidation of THF. The reactions with aqueous catechol, rather than THF-water mixtures, were performed to assess the possible role that compounds found in natural environments, such a tannin-like phenols, might have on the chemistry. These experiments indicated that birnessite mediated debromination of BDE-209 might occur in natural settings.
Outside Invaders or Neighborly Advice? COmmunity Development Practitioners at Work

Small, isolated communities have some common characteristics that both help and hinder the efforts of community development practitioners. The author has worked as a community development practitioner in Indiana, Michigan and Iowa. He shares his experiences and observations of community development activities in small, rural communities in the Midwest. Quinn lays out seven "truths" about community development practitioners and small rural communities. Among his contentions are that when community development practitioners meet as a group, they are incapable of making a decision on where to eat dinner. In a more practical mode, Quinn suggests that small, isolated communities share some common characteristics such as (a) new residents are instigators of change, (b) school sports programs keep communities from working together, and (c) sleeping dogs aren't likely to move. Quinn also proposes that the community development profession more closely follows the Native American concept of "societal rights" than t...
Nitric oxide-induced inhibition of aortic smooth muscle cell motility: role of PTP-PEST and adaptor proteins p130cas and Crk

Vascular injury increases nitric oxide (NO) levels, and this effect may play a counterregulatory role in neointima formation, by decreasing vascular smooth muscle cell motility. However, the mechan...
Enhanced Förster Resonance Energy Transfer on Single Metal Particle. 2. Dependence on Donor-Acceptor Separation Distance, Particle Size, and Distance from Metal Surface.

We studied the effect of metal particles on Forster resonance energy transfer (FRET) between nearby donor-acceptor pairs. The studies included the effect of donor-acceptor distance, silver particle size, and distance from the metal surface. The metal particles were synthesized with average diameters of 15, 40, and 80 nm, respectively. A Cy5-labeled oligonucleotide was chemically bound to a single silver particle with a distance of 2 or 10 nm from the surface of metal core. A Cy5.5-labeled complementary oligonucleotide was bound to the particle-conjugated oligonucleotide by hybridization. The spacer length between donor-acceptor was adjusted by the number of base pairs. FRET between the donor-acceptor pair was investigated by dual-channel single-molecule fluorescence detection. Both the emission intensities and lifetimes indicated that FRET was enhanced efficiently by the metal particles. The results showed an increase of apparent energy transfer distance with the size of silver particle and distance from the metal core. Simulations by finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) calculations were used to compare with the experimental results. The local fields at the location of the donor-acceptor pair appeared to correlate with the FRET efficiency. These results will aid in the design of metal particles for using FRET to determine biomolecule proximity at distances beyond the usual Forster distance.
Mutagenic and inhibitory effects of ribavirin on hepatitis C virus RNA polymerase.

Crotty et al. recently proposed the primary antiviral action of ribavirin to be that of a potent RNA mutagen [Crotty, S., Maag, D., Arnold, J. J., Zhong, W., Lau, J. Y., Hong, Z., Andino, R., and Cameron, C. E. (2000) Nat. Med. 6, 1375−1379]. Here we investigate the effect of ribavirin triphosphate (RTP) on RNA synthesis catalyzed by a full-length hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA polymerase in vitro. HCV polymerase can use RTP as a nucleotide substrate in a template-dependent manner, incorporating it opposite a pyrimidine (C or U) template residue, but not a purine (A or G). Kinetic analysis revealed that incorporation of ribavirin monophosphate (RMP) across from C is 3 times more efficient catalytically than that across from U, as determined by the kcat/Km parameter. The efficiency of RMP incorporation, however, is 50−100 fold lower than that of the natural NMP. RMP incorporation does not lead to termination of RNA chain synthesis, as evidenced by the ability of the polymerase to extend its RNA product many n...
Phosphorylation of Alzheimer amyloid precursor protein by protein kinase C.

The βA4 amyloid precursor protein is a membrane protein with one transmembrane domain.14–16,22,27,28,32,33 The accumulation and deposition of β/A4 amyloid protein in Alzheimer's disease is thought to be brought about by altered processing of β/A4 amyloid precursor protein.7,9,35,36 Activation of protein kinase C and/or inhibition of protein phosphatases 1 and 2A results in an increase in the proteolytic processing3 and secretion4 of β/A4 amyloid precursor protein. These effects might result either from phosphorylation of β/A4 amyloid precursor protein by protein kinase C or from phosphorylation of components of the β/A4 amyloid precursor protein processing apparatus.3,4,9 We have previously reported phosphorylation by protein kinase C of a synthetic peptide corresponding to part of the cytoplasmic domain of β/A4 amyloid precursor protein.10 However, it was not known whether β/A4 amyloid precursor protein holoprotein was phosphorylated in its native conformation in the cell membrane. Using a PC12 (rat pheochromocytoma) semi-intact cell system, we now report that mature isoforms of β/A4 amyloid precursor protein are phosphorylated by protein kinase C at Ser655. Five COOH-terminal fragments which are generated by processing of mature β/A4 amyloid precursor protein were also phosphorylated by protein kinase C at Ser655. The results support the idea that the β/A4 amyloid precursor protein haloprotein is a physiological substrate for protein kinase C. These observations should facilitate our understanding of the relationship between altered protein phosphorylation and β/A4 amyloid production.
THE ACTION SPECTRUM OF AN IN VITRO DNA PHOTOREACTIVATION SYSTEM

— The wavelength-dependence of in vitro photoreactivation of transforming DNA by yeast extract has been determined. There is an intensity-dependent lag at the beginning of the biological reaction. There is a similar lag in the splitting of thymine dimers by the yeast extract in the light, a process known to account for most or all of the increase in transforming activity of photoreactivated DNA. The most efficient wavelengths for photoreactivation are around 3550 and 3850 A. Although the action spectrum is not very similar to flavin absorption, riboflavin at very low concentration inhibits photoreactivation, as it also inhibits a number of flavoenzymes, suggesting that the photoreactivating enzyme might be a flavoprotein.
Application of the diffusion couple to study phase equilibria in the Fe-Cr-S ternary system at 600 °C

The sulfidation of Fe-Cr alloys has a large financial significance for industries that use fossil fuels, such as the electric utility industry. Therefore, the sulfidation of a series of Fe-Cr alloys was studied at 600 °C using a solid-state diffusion couple technique. The diffusion couple technique combined Fe0.95S powder and FeCr binary alloys together in a configuration that allowed for post-heat-treatment microanalysis using an electron probe microanalyzer (EPMA). The results showed that only two different diffusion couple microstructures formed in samples spanning the entire Fe-Cr binary range. The Fe-rich alloy diffusion couples contained a surface αFeCr layer and an internal sulfide precipitate layer that contained three different sulfide phases. The Cr-rich alloy diffusion couples also possessed an internal precipitate layer, as well as a thick, triplex interfacial scale. The ternary elemental diffusion was described using diffusion paths plotted on the 600 °C isothermal section of the Fe-Cr-S phase diagram. The results also showed that samples with less than 51 wt Pct Cr were more sulfidation resistant. The accuracy of the existing Fe-Cr-S 600 °C isothermal section was assessed, and it was determined that the τ phase field had a larger composition than previously published.
Determination of global kinetics of coal volatiles combustion

Values of global kinetic constants for the combustion of coal volatiles have been determined for 14 coals ranging from 40 to 80% VM content (bituminous to lignite). The combustion rates of the volatiles from the different coals differed somewhat, but not markedly, and without any evident dependence on coal rank. Activation energies (E) were mostly in the range 9 to 14 kcal/mol, but higher and lower values were evidently the result of statistical scatter in the determinations, as shown by some double and triple repeats. In addition, the values of log( k 0 ) and E in 22 pairs of measurements showed a high auto-correlation, supporting the conclusion that the variations between the different volatiles were not significant at the present level of measurement. The volatiles were pyrolysed from crushed coal pulled on trays through a muffle furnace, and were burned at the top of a vertical combustion tube in an intense back-mixed region treated theoretically as a stirred reactor using the usual equations. The total data base on which the kinetic determinations were based was in excess of 5000 measurements, yielding over 600 values of the velocity constants (k) from which the total of 22 paired values of activation energy and frequency factor were obtained for the 14 coals.
Reversing Ribot: Does regression hold in language of prodromal Alzheimer’s disease?

We consider the regression or retrogenesis hypothesis, which argues that order of acquisition in development is reversed in neurodegeneration or pathology. Originally proposed as a regression hypothesis for the study of memory disorders, specifically retrograde amnesia, by Ribot (1881), it has been extended to the study of brain aging and pathology and to language. We investigate this hypothesis in a new study of language development, aging, and pathology. Through interuniversity collaboration using a matched experimental design and task, we compare production of complex sentences containing relative clauses by normal monolingual children during normal development, healthy young adults, healthy aging adults, and aging adults diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment, a recognized potential harbinger of Alzheimer’s disease. Our results refute the regression hypothesis in this area and lead to potential syntactic markers for prodromal Alzheimer’s disease and predictions for future brain imaging analyses.
Evidence of a sex‐linked diapause response in Papilio glaucus subspecies and their hybrids

. Pupal diapause in the eastern tiger swallowtail. Papilio glaucus L., is obligatory or facultative depending on subspecies. The southern subspecies, P. g. glaucus has a facultative diapause, induced by a larval exposure to short photoperiods. In the northern subspecies. P.g. canadensis, diapause is obligatory, occurring in each generation. F*** hybrids inherit the diapause response of their father or respond differently from either parent. The incidence of diapause in hybrids was associated with sex, indicating that the diapause response may be determined by an X-linked gene.
Identification of normal aging and disease-related processes by health care professionals.

: A 40-item quiz on aging was given to 46 health care professionals, before they participated in a workshop dealing with the care of the elderly patient. In the quiz, they were asked to identify physiologic and functional conditions either as normal aging processes or disease-related processes. In general the results indicated that disease processes were the easier entities to identify, and that the workshop experience enhanced this effect. Ability to identify functional disorders correctly did not differ significantly from the ability to identify physiologic symptoms correctly. Implications for the general health and the mental health of older adults are discussed.
Evaluation of Two Applications of Spectral Mixing Models to Image Fusion

Abstract Many applications in remote sensing require fusing low-resolution multispectral or hyperspectral images with high-resolution panchromatic images to identify and map materials at high resolution. A number of methods are currently used to produce such hybrid imagery. Until now, these methods have only been evaluated independently, and have not been compared to one another to determine an optimum approach. Two different operations are involved in creating high-resolution material maps. One task is to unmix hyperspectral images into the constituent materials (endmembers). The other task is to fuse low-resolution imagery containing spectral detail with high-resolution image(s) containing fine spatial information. This research performs a quantitative test of three image fusion procedures. The first method is to fuse, then unmix. One sharpens low-resolution multispectral data using a panchromatic image, producing a set of high-resolution multispectral images. These images are then separated into a series of high-resolution endmember maps, locating the materials within the scene. The second method is to unmix, then fuse. In this approach, one first separates the low-resolution multispectral data into a series of material maps using a recently developed adaptive unmixing algorithm. These maps are fused with the panchromatic image in a stage called sharpening, to produce high-resolution material maps. The final method is also an unmix-then-fuse approach. Here, the low-resolution material maps are created using traditional image-wide spectral unmixing methods. The resulting images are fused with the panchromatic image to produce sharpened material maps. In this paper, the three image fusion procedures described above are evaluated for their radiometric and unmixing accuracy. The results show that the adaptive unmixing algorithm is superior to the traditional imagewide methods. Differences between quantitative and visual evaluations indicate an improved error metric must be developed.
Effect of Time-Reversal Symmetry on Energy Bands of Crystals

In the Hartree and Fock approximations the description of the electronic state of a crystal can be made in terms of one-electron wave functions and one-electron energies, which have a band structure. It is known that in addition to the "sticking together" of these energy bands caused by the spatial symmetry of the crystal, additional "sticking" may be necessitated by the fact that the Hamiltonian of the problem is real. In this paper a criterion is developed to facilitate calculation of when and how such additional degeneracy will occur. The consequences of the reality of the Hamiltonian are tabulated for a number of cases. It is pointed out that the same "sticking together" of bands occurs in the theory of the frequency spectrum of the normal modes of vibration of a crystal.
Evaluation of the interest in ordering the leucocyte differential count

Abstract The development of technical innovations which has taken place during the last 10 years in the medical field, has resulted in a rapid growth of laboratory investigations. The diffusion of these techniques has induced the systemacy in the prescription of certain tests without reconsidering the information they give. The analysis that has been made in Henri Mondor Hospital on the case of the white blood cells differential deals with this question. Has the white blood cells differential to be considered as a systematic test? What are the technological implications at stake? Can we propose strategies in this field for the use of equipment? A study has been made in order to answer these different questions. The study concerns 1514 requests for hematologic tests and 863 patients in order to characterize the prescriptions, to measure their interest and to evaluate their opportuneness Furthermore, the contribution of decision-making aids in rationalizing the prescriptions has been evaluated in parallel to this study.
Spatial patterns, density dependence, and demography in the harvester ant, Pogonomyrmex rugosus in semi-arid grasslands

To evaluate the relationship between the local spacing patterns of ant colonies and the broad-scale heterogeneity typical of real landscapes, we examined the spacing of colonies of harvester ants (Pogonomyrmex rugosus) on 12 1-ha plots in semi-arid grasslands in New Mexico, U.S.A. We linked land use and topography to colony densities and local spacing patterns, tested the theoretical prediction that regularity should be positively correlated with colony density, and determined the spatial scale of density-dependent recruitment. In general, colonies were regularly spaced at a fine scale. We caution that broad-scale aggregation of colonies can conceal fine-scale regularity. The prediction of density-dependent spacing was supported only within a single topographic position, but not across the entire landscape. Recruitment of new colonies was independent of plot-level densities but depended on locations of established colonies within plots. Landscape heterogeneity can influence the fine-scale spacing of ant colonies, both directly and indirectly, complicating predictions regarding density-dependent spacing.
The extended disability status scale (EDSS) as a predictor of impairments of functional activities of daily living in multiple sclerosis

We investigated the relationship between the Kurtzke expanded disability status scale (EDSS) and an activities of daily living (ADL) scale that assesses disability across multiple functional domains based on self report of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Forty-three patients with definite MS responded on a 42-item ADL inventory and were also assigned an EDSS rating as part of their regular clinical examination. While a strong correlation was found between the EDSS and total ADL disability level, the ADL domain of 'Mobility' fully accounted for this relationship. The distribution of ADL scores as a function of EDSS level was curvilinear, as ADL variance was inconsistent across EDSS levels. Little ADL disability was evident when EDSS levels were below five. At higher EDSS levels, ADL variability increased substantially, making predictions regarding ADL level less exact.
Mapping ionospheric convection response to IMF By negative and Bz positive conditions

We have used the Assimilative Mapping of Ionospheric Electrodynamics (AMIE) procedure to derive electric potential patterns for a period of strong and slowly varying northward Interplanetary Magnetic Field (IMF). Using these patterns we offer some insight into high-latitude convection response to differing IMF conditions between the hours of 0850 and 1720 UT on 14 January 1988. We introduce a newly assimilated data set, Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) ion drift measurements, as a means of mapping electric fields in polar regions. Also, for the first time we map both southern and northern hemisphere convection flows. We show that significantly different convection patterns are simultaneously possible in the two polar caps when B(sub z) is positive and that asymmetries in these patterns are influenced by the strength of B(sub y) and B(sub x). When the ratio absolute value of B(sub y)/B(sub z) exceeds unity the polar cap convection increases and changes from sunward to anti-sunward for B(sub z) positive conditions.
A maximum principle for stochastic control systems

Abstract Let ξn be a sequence of independent vector-valued random variables. Let xn be a vector with components x0(n), …, xr(n), and let θn be a vector control. The maximum principle and canonical equations of Pontryagin are derived for the vector system xn = F(xn − 1, θn, ξn) with loss function E x0(N), where N, the control time, is fixed. In the continuous case, it is derived for the form x = ƒ(x, θ) + σξ , and loss E x0(T), where σ is a nonnegative definite matrix and ξ is vector-valued white Gaussian noise. Under suitable smoothness assumptions, the expectation (conditioned upon xn) of the adjoint variables are the derivatives of the loss (min E x0(N) conditioned upon xn).
Working through the risks: A structured experience to facilitate self-disclosure

Abstract Concepts explaining the risks involved in self-disclosure and a structured experience designed to help resolve risk-related issues are described.
Three-dimensional delayed gadolinium-enhanced MRI of cartilage (dGEMRIC) at 1.5T and 3.0T

Purpose To implement and validate a three-dimensional (3D) T1 measurement technique that is suitable for delayed gadolinium (Gd)-enhanced MRI of cartilage (dGEMRIC) and can be easily implemented with clinically available pulse sequences at 1.5T and 3.0T. Materials and Methods A 3D inversion-recovery prepared spoiled gradient-echo (IR-SPGR) imaging pulse sequence with variable TR was used to implement a 3D T1 measurement protocol. The 3D T1 measurements were validated against a gold-standard single-slice 2D IR T1 measurement protocol in both phantoms and in vivo, in both asymptomatic volunteers and volunteers with osteoarthritis (OA). Results T1 measurements in phantoms showed a statistically significant correlation between the 2D and 3D measurements at 1.5T (R2 = 0.993, P < 0.001) and 3.0T (R2 = 0.996, P < 0.001). In vivo application demonstrated the feasibility of using this 3D IR-SPGR sequence to evaluate the molecular status of articular cartilage throughout the knee joint with 0.63 × 0.63 × 3.0 mm spatial resolution within a 20-minute acquisition, even with the measurement parameters set for the higher T1(Gd) of cartilage at 3T (range = 400–900 msec mean T1 within a region of interest (ROI) in cartilage, compared to 200–600 msec mean T1 at 1.5T). Conclusion This 3D T1 measurement protocol may prove useful for the evaluation and follow-up of cartilage dGEMRIC indices in clinical studies of OA. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2006. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
NHP spectral sensitivity metric derived from acute laser exposure effects on pursuit motor tracking task

Intact retinal function provides the visual guidance component for visual motor performance tasks. Laser induced damage to the retina can degrade visual motor performance by limiting the normal retinal input to the motor system for visual motor guidance. Unlike tasks that are based strictly on the availability of normal visual function, visual motor performance may provide a lesser degree of diagnostic evidence of laser induced visual dysfunction in the presence of significant retinal damage. In order to more exactly track the extent of laser induced retinal damage, we have incorporated measurements of spectral sensitivity derived from a Non-Human Primate (NHP) visual pursuit motor tracking task and derived cone spectral sensitivity functions with peaks consistent with NHP cone photoreceptor spectral sensitivity functions. The reciprocal threshold energy levels for each of nine spectral points in the visible spectrum were determined and energy normalized with respect to the maximum energy. Pre-exposure spectral sensitivity functions revealed spectral peaks in regions comparable to the trichromatic cone photoreceptor system peaks. Post exposure spectral sensitivity measurements at exposure levels 2 log units below the retinal damage threshold revealed transient changes in the shape of the peaks in the post exposure spectral sensitivity that persisted up to 4 weeks post exposure. These effects are linked with transient retinal cone dysfunction and possibly with long term neural adaptive mechanisms.
Structural Advantage of the Mechanism of Spoken Expression as a Factor in Differences in Spoken and Written Expression

Spoken expression produces significantly more cognitive and linguistic material than written expression. This experiment tested whether the facility of the organ of use was, in part, responsible by examining different, and more facile writing techniques (writing, typing, stenotyping) on the same variables. As facility increases in the writing mode, cognitive and linguistic indices do approach those previously found in spoken expression, but still differ significantly from them. Speaking, although an overlaid function, is favored over any mode of writing by a smaller musculature (in the larynx) a lesser energy commitment, greater practice, and earlier (ontogenetic) use. More fundamentally, it appears to be a “natural” function biologically.
Simeon Bekbulatovich’s Remarkable Career as Tatar Khan, Grand Prince of Rus’, and Monastic Elder

Tsar Simeon Bekbulatovich was the nephew of Ivan IV’s second wife, Mariia Temriukovna. He was a Chingissid who had a remarkable career, first, as khan of Kasimov, then after entering Muscovite service, as head of the Muscovite army’s “main regiment”, as grand prince of Rus′, and as grand prince of Tver′. He also married Anastasia Ivanovna Miloslavskaia. Finally he was tonsured as the monk Stefan and was buried in the Simonov Monastery. The episode that has attracted the most attention in the sources and in the scholarly literature was his appointment as grand prince of all Rus′ between September 1575 and September 1576. Ivan IV held on to his other titles, including tsar of Kazan′ and Astrakhan′, but he also acquired an estate as the prince of Moscow under Grand Prince Simeon. In this article, I classified the primary source testimony into two categories: those accounts contemporary to the time of Ivan IV and those written after his death in 1584. After analyzing them and comparing them with the various historiographical explanations, I proposed that Ivan IV placed Simeon on the grand princely throne of Rus′ as a legal maneuver to allow him to go after certain individuals in the ruling elite who he thought were plotting against him. These individuals who he suspected were mostly former members of the oprichnina. Ivan had claimed to the metropolitan in 1565 that he was being prevented from investigating and punishing certain individuals and again to foreigners in 1575 about the perfidiousness of his subjects. By having someone else serve as grand prince of Rus′ who would give him the go ahead, he would be freed from constraints on his actions.
Time-domain ultra-wideband synthetic imager (TUSI) in silicon

This paper introduces a silicon-based imaging array for remote measurements of complex permittivity of tissue. Using a coherent pulsed measurement approach, this time-frequency resolved technique recovers the three dimensional mapping of electrical properties of the subject in the microwave/millimeter-wave frequency spectrum. Some of the major challenges in the design of the system are described. Initial measurement results from the prototype high-resolution transmitter fabricated in a 0.13 μm SiGe process are described. The transmitter achieves pulse widths suitable for millimeter-level accuracy imaging.
Comparison of radiating divertor behaviour in single-null and double-null plasmas in DIII-D

'Puff-and-pump' radiating divertor scenarios, applied to both upper single-null (SN) and double-null (DN) H-mode plasmas, result in a 30?60% increase in radiated power with little or no decrease in ?E. Argon was injected into the private flux region of the upper divertor, and plasma flow into the upper divertor was enhanced by a combination of deuterium gas puffing upstream of the divertor targets and particle pumping at the targets. For the same constant deuterium injection rate, argon penetrated the main plasma of SNs more rapidly and reached a higher steady-state concentration when the B ? ?B-ion drift direction was towards the divertor (V?B?) rather than away from the divertor (V?B?). We also found that the initial rate at which argon accumulated inside DN plasmas was more than twice that of comparable SN plasmas having the same B ? ?B-ion drift direction. In DNs, the radiated power was not shared equally between divertors during argon injection. Only when the B ? ?B ion drift direction was away from the divertor were both significant increases in divertor radiated power and an accumulation of argon in the divertor observed, based on spectroscopic measurements of Ar?II. Our data suggest that an unbalanced DN shape where the B ? ?B-ion drift is directed away from the dominant divertor may provide the best chance of successfully coupling a radiating divertor approach with a higher performance H-mode plasma.
Academic Geography for Sustainability

(2009). Academic Geography for Sustainability. Environment: Science and Policy for Sustainable Development: Vol. 51, No. 3, pp. 5-6.
Soy‐oil‐based segmented polyurethanes

Segmented polyurethanes were prepared from soy polyol, diphenyl meth- ane diisocyanate (MDI), and ethylene glycol or butane diol as chain extenders. Sam- ples were prepared with true hard-segment concentrations (HSC) of about 0, 10, and 40%. Both the soft MDI-polyol and hard MDI/diol segments are glassy at room tem- perature. These samples were also crosslinked through the polyfunctional polyol soft segment. Partial crystallinity and phase separation were detected in samples with 40% HSC, on the basis of DSC data. Small-angle X-ray scattering shows the existence of phase separation with domain sizes of about 10 nm in the 40% HSC samples, but not in the others. The distribution of domain sizes is considerably broader for the eth- ylene-glycol extended system compared with that for the butane-diol case. Although the presence of hard segments lowers the crosslink density, samples with higher HSC had higher glass transition temperatures, higher strengths, higher moduli, lower swelling, lower elongation at break, and lower impact strengths. V
Control of thallium and sodium fluxes in isolated adult rat heart cells by anthopleurin-A, verapamil and magnesium *

Anthopleurin-A stimulated the initial rate of 201thallium uptake by isolated adult rat heart cells by a factor of 3.41 +/- 0.56, and induced a unique pattern of spontaneous beating activity. Ouabain inhibited the basal uptake rate by 58 +/- 11% and all the anthopleurin-A stimulated rate. The Km for thallium uptake was 0.95 +/- 0.26 mM, and was not changed by anthopleurin-A. Accumulated thallium was quickly released from cells by EDTA addition. Such release was inhibited 87 +/- 10% by verapamil. Thallium reuptake was initiated by restoration of magnesium to the medium. Reuptake was mostly inhibited by ouabain, but the residual ouabain-insensitive uptake remained. The ouabain-insensitive uptake was inhibited by ATP depletion. Anthopleurin-A stimulated the rate of 22Na entry into cells by a factor of 3.17 +/- 1.65, and EDTA stimulated the rate of entry by a factor of 29.5 +/- 13.0. The EDTA-induced 22Na entry was inhibited 86 +/- 11% by verapamil. From this we draw three conclusions: The major pathway for thallium uptake is the Na-K pump. The rate of uptake by this route, like the rate of K+ uptake, is governed by the rate of cellular sodium influx; A residual ouabain-insensitive uptake route also exists which appears to require ATP but not a monovalent ion gradient; Removal of Mg and Ca induces a verapamil-sensitive monovalent channel activity which is both massive and reversible.
Application of a Portable Handheld Infrared Spectrometer for Quantitation of trans Fat in Edible Oils

Trans fat poses serious health risks to consumers. In order to meet the FDA labeling requirements for trans fatty acids, development of fast, accurate, easy-to-use analytical methods for oils, fats and related products is desirable. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) is a well-established analytical technique for quantifying trans fats, and the development of handheld FTIR units over the past decade presents new application opportunities. Our objective was to evaluate the performance of a handheld FTIR sensor for measuring trans fat content between 0.1 and 20% trans (w/w) in edible saturated and unsaturated oils. Calibration models were built by measuring height of the band at 966 cm−1 and by partial least squares regression (PLSR) using benchtop FTIR as a reference method. Predictive accuracy of the models was validated with an independent test set of commercial edible oils. Calibration models developed using PLSR and linear regression of band heights gave correlation coefficients R2 > 0.98. Multivariate analysis for the handheld unit gave standard error of prediction (SEP) of approximately 1%, comparable to values obtained with benchtop systems. This study demonstrates that handheld FTIR spectroscopy coupled with chemometrics is a suitable method for quantitation of trans fat content.
Hypophosphatemic Rickets: Lessons from Disrupted FGF23 Control of Phosphorus Homeostasis

Fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF23) regulates phosphate reabsorption in the kidney and therefore plays an essential role in phosphate balance in humans. There is a host of defects that ultimately lead to excess FGF23 levels and thereby cause renal phosphate wasting and hypophosphatemic rickets. We describe the genetic, pathophysiologic, and clinical aspects of this group of disorders with a focus on X-linked hypophosphatemia (XLH), the best characterized of these abnormalities. We also discuss autosomal dominant hypophosphatemic rickets (ADHR), autosomal recessive hypophosphatemic rickets (ARHR) and tumor-induced osteomalacia (TIO) in addition to other rarer FGF23-mediated conditions. We contrast the FGF23-mediated disorders with FGF23-independent hypophosphatemia, specifically hypophosphatemic rickets with hypercalciuria (HHRH). Errant diagnosis of hypophosphatemic disorders is common. This review aims to enhance the recognition and appropriate diagnosis of hypophosphatemia and to guide appropriate treatment.
Toxic-Shock-Syndrome Toxin 1-Induced Proliferation of Lymphocytes: Comparison of the Mitogenic Response of Human, Murine, and Rabbit Lymphocytes

Toxic-shock-syndrome toxin 1 (TSST 1) produced by Staphylococcus aureus induced in vitro proliferation of lymphocytes isolated from rabbit spleens, murine spleens, and both human peripheral blood and cord blood. This mitogenic response was nonspecific in all three systems. In the mouse and human systems, proliferation depended upon the presence of macrophages in the responding lymphocyte population. Inability to remove macrophages from rabbit splenocyte suspensions made it impossible to determine the contribution of this cell in rabbit splenocyte proliferation. Kinetic analysis of TSST 1-induced mitogenicity showed that proliferation of lymphocytes was maximal between days 4 and 6 in each of the three systems examined. Sensitivity to TSST 1 was similar in each system, with maximal proliferation achieved at TSST 1 doses as low as 0.1 ng/5 X 10(5) murine splenocytes or 2 X 10(5) rabbit splenocytes, and 0.01 ng/3 X 10(5) human mononuclear cells from human peripheral blood. Study of separated populations of mouse splenocytes and mononuclear cells from human peripheral blood showed that the TSST 1-induced proliferative response resided solely in the T cell populations.
Health Education and Knowledge Assessment of HTLV-III Diseases among Intravenous Drug Users

The human T-cell lymphotropic virus type III (HTLV-III) is the causative agent of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Since AIDS is not curable public health efforts must be focused on decreasing AIDS transmission. 72% of all AIDS cases are male homosexuals; 17% are intravenous (IV) drug users; and 3% are hemophiliacs blood recipients and infants of these groups. The gay community is sufficiently organized to provide the necessary infrastructure for AIDS education and treatment; the drug users are not and at least 1/3 of IV drug users share needles and syringes. In 1984 a cooperative study was undertaken in New Jersey by the New Jersey State Department of Health the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) to determine the seroprevalence of HTLV-III among IV drug users and to assess their knowledge about AIDS. Over 95% knew the severer symptoms of AIDS; 76% knew that most AIDS patients die within 2 years of diagnosis; but 9% thought AIDS could be treated. A year later in 1985 a similar knowledge assessment survey was done among 577 clients entering drug treatment programs in New Jersey. 90% of these respondents knew that homosexuals and IV drug users were the primary risk groups but 11% thought alcoholics were also at risk and 43% did not know that the infants of drug users were at risk. 84% knew that sex and shared needles were the major modes of transmission but 1/3 thought that an infected person would immediately show visible signs of illness and many did not know how rapidly AIDS killed. Also many did not know how to adequately clean syringes. They thought boiling would damage the syringes and only 1/3 knew that a dilute solution of household bleach kills the virus. New Jersey decided to use indigenous health workers recruited from rehabilitated drug users to educate the drug community. The core message was: get treatment; dont share needles; and if you must share needles clean them. The same message reaches drug users on late-night television and radio and English language newspapers. Drug users are educable; whether education and peer pressure will effect behavior modification remains to be seen.
The Power of Art in Multicultural Education: The International Stories Project.

Cultural differences resulting from immigration present many challenges to educators as schools and communities grow increasingly diverse. Teaching children to be tolerant and to understand and app...
Acid sphingomyelinase overexpression enhances the antineoplastic effects of irradiation in vitro and in vivo.

Exposure of cells or animals to stress frequently induces acid sphingomyelinase (ASM)-mediated ceramide production that leads to cell death. Consistent with this, overexpression of ASM in subcutaneous B16-F10 mouse melanomas, in combination with irradiation, resulted in tumors that were up to 12-fold smaller than irradiated control melanomas. Similarly, when irradiated melanomas were pretreated with a single, peritumoral injection of recombinant ASM (rhASM), the tumors were up to threefold smaller. The in vivo effect of ASM was likely due to enhanced cell death of the tumor cells themselves, as well as the surrounding microvascular endothelial cells. In vitro, rhASM had little or no effect on the growth of tumor cells, even in combination with irradiation. However, when the culture media was acidified to mimic the acidic microenvironment of solid tumors, rhASM-mediated cell death was markedly enhanced when combined with irradiation. Microscopic analysis suggested that this was associated with an increase in autophagy. rhASM has been produced for the treatment of the lysosomal storage disorder, type B Niemann–Pick disease, and is currently being evaluated in a phase-1 clinical trial. Based on the data presented in this article, we propose that further investigation of this protein and gene as antineoplastic agents also is warranted.
Role of the mod(mdg4) Common Region in Homolog Segregation in Drosophila Male Meiosis

Homologous chromosomes must pair and establish stable connections during prophase I of meiosis to segregate reliably from each other at anaphase I. In most organisms, the stable connections, called chiasmata, arise from crossovers. In Drosophila males, homologs pair and segregate without crossing over. Chiasmata are replaced by a homolog conjunction complex that includes the Stromalin in Meiosis (SNM) and Modifier of Mdg4 in Meiosis (MNM) proteins. MNM is one of 31 alternative splice products of mod(mdg4), all of which share a common 402-amino-acid N terminus and differ at their C termini. Previous data demonstrated that an MNM-specific exon is required for homolog conjunction, but did not address whether the N-terminal common region, which includes a BTB domain that can mediate coalescence of protein-DNA complexes, is also required. Here we describe a mutation in the common region of mod(mdg4), Z3-3401, that causes qualitatively similar phenotypes as the MNM-specific alleles but disrupts X–Y segregation much more drastically than autosomal segregation. The mutant MNM protein in Z3-3401 is expressed throughout prophase I in spermatocytes but the protein is confined to the cytoplasm, suggesting that the Z3-3401 mutation disrupts a signal required for nuclear localization or retention. Z3-3401 fails to complement a large battery of lethal and semilethal alleles in the common region for meiotic nondisjunction, including an allele containing an amino acid substitution at a conserved residue in the BTB/POZ domain, consistent with a general requirement for the mod(mdg4) common region in homolog segregation.
Learning hybrid force and position control of robot manipulators

The learning control is applied to hybrid force and position control of robot manipulators. When the geometry and position of a constraint surface is known, the hybrid force and position controller and the feedforward compensator can be designed in the constraint coordinates. When the operation is periodic, the learning hybrid force and position control enhance the control performance as the feedforward compensator is updated in each cycle by the force and position error in the preceding trials. This scheme is proved to be asymptotically stable. A two degree of freedom SCARA-type direct-drive robot manipulator is used to test the learning hybrid force and position control. The deburring tool mounted on the upper link of the robot could follow a flat, tilted flat, and curved 1/4 " aluminum plate with a desired contact force of 10 N (within the root-mean-square force error of 1.95 N) and with a desired tangential velocity. The experiments confirmed the effectiveness of the learning hybrid force and position controller. >
Graduate student experiences at Illinois

This article describes various experiences of a 1950s graduate student who worked at the University of Illinois's Digital Computer Laboratory. Anecdotes recount some of the era's rigorous academic requirements and early work assignments performed for the IBM 701 and Illiac computers.
Casino Gaming and Crime: Comparisons among Gaming Counties and Other Tourism Places

Casino gaming has spread across America, but its impacts remain unclear. This study extends research about crime impacts of gaming development in rural communities, addressing whether tourism growth leads to an increase in crime, or whether crime is an inherent by-product of gaming tourism. Using a sample of rural Colorado counties, this study compared crime effects in casino gaming counties, ski counties, natural resources access counties, and cultural tourist attraction counties. In contrast to conventional wisdom, this study found that ski counties had a significantly higher property crime rate than did gaming, natural resource access, and cultural tourist attraction counties. Results also suggest the presence of interaction effects between tourism types and growth levels, affecting crime rates. These results provide valuable information to communities considering tourism alternatives for economic development, and they also inform public policy.
DNA methylation prevents CTCF-mediated silencing of the oncogene BCL6 in B cell lymphomas

Aberrant DNA methylation commonly occurs in cancer cells where it has been implicated in the epigenetic silencing of tumor suppressor genes. Additional roles for DNA methylation, such as transcriptional activation, have been predicted but have yet to be clearly demonstrated. The BCL6 oncogene is implicated in the pathogenesis of germinal center–derived B cell lymphomas. We demonstrate that the intragenic CpG islands within the first intron of the human BCL6 locus were hypermethylated in lymphoma cells that expressed high amounts of BCL6 messenger RNA (mRNA). Inhibition of DNA methyltransferases decreased BCL6 mRNA abundance, suggesting a role for these methylated CpGs in positively regulating BCL6 transcription. The enhancer-blocking transcription factor CTCF bound to this intronic region in a methylation-sensitive manner. Depletion of CTCF by short hairpin RNA in neoplastic plasma cells that do not express BCL6 resulted in up-regulation of BCL6 transcription. These data indicate that BCL6 expression is maintained during lymphomagenesis in part through DNA methylation that prevents CTCF-mediated silencing.
Comparison of Structures of Gas Atomized and of Emulsified Highly Undercooled Ni-Sn Alloy Droplets

A comparison is made of microstructures of droplets of Ni-Sn alloys rapidly solidified by gas atomization and in a glass emulsifying medium. Cooling rate of the gas atomized particles ranged from 10 to the 3rd to 10 to the 6th K/s depending on droplet diameter (20-230 microns). In the hypoeutectic alloy studied, /Ni-(25 wt pct Sn)/, most particles showed a dendritic structure. These same particles, melted and resolidified in a glass medium using DTA (Differential Thermal Analysis), showed undercoolings up to 280 K: the structures were dendritic at low undercoolings and nondendritic at undercoolings above 220 K. It is concluded that the gas atomized particles exhibited little or no undercooling before nucleation; the solidification time of the undercooled emulsified droplets is substantially less than that of gas atomized droplets, and the undercooling required to achieve nondendritic structure depends on sample size.