cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cytokine expression in the rat central nervous system following perinatal Borna disease virus infection

Abstract Borna disease virus (BDV) causes central nervous system (CNS) disease in several vertebrate species, which is frequently accompanied by behavioral abnormalities. In the adult rat, intracerebral (i.c.) BDV infection leads to immunomediated meningoencephalitis. In contrast, i.c. infection of neonates causes a persistent infection in the absence of overt signs of brain inflammation. These rats (designated PTI-NB) display distinct behavioral and neurodevelopmental abnormalities. However, the molecular mechanisms for these virally induced CNS disturbances are unknown. Cytokines play an important role in CNS function, both under normal physiological and pathological conditions. Astrocytes and microglia are the primary resident cells of the central nervous system with the capacity to produce cytokines. Strong reactive astrocytosis is observed in the PTI-NB rat brain. We have used a ribonuclease protection assay to investigate the mRNA expression levels of proinflammatory cytokines in different brain regions of PTI-NB and control rats. We show here evidence of a chronic upregulation of proinflammatory cytokines interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor α, interleukins-1α, and -1β in the hippocampus and cerebellum of the PTI-NB rat brain. These brain regions exhibited only a very mild and transient immune infiltration. In contrast, in addition to reactive astrocytes, a strong and sustained microgliosis was observed in the PTI-NB rat brains. Our data suggest that CNS resident cells, namely astrocytes and microglia, are the major source of cytokine expression in the PTI-NB rat brain. The possible implications of these findings are discussed.
Synthesis and crystallization of yttrium-aluminium garnet and related compounds

Amorphous oxide combustion products with compositions corresponding to Y4Al2O9, YAlO3, and Y3Al5O12 were synthesized by the glycine-nitrate process and heat-treated to induce crystallization. The crystalline structure of the resulting powders was determined by powder X-ray diffraction techniques. The phase stabilities of the crystalline phases were investigated as functions of the glycine-to-nitrate ratio, the yttrium-to-aluminium ratio, and the heat-treatment conditions. Heat treatment for short durations resulted in incompletely crystalline powders that consisted of a mixture of Y4Al2O9, YAlO3, and Y3Al5O12 phases, regardless of the chemical composition of the amorphous combustion product. However, heat treatment for longer durations or higher temperature generated both pure-phase, monoclinic Y4Al2O9 and Y3Al5O12 with the garnet structure. Prolonged heat treatment at high temperature failed to generate pure-phase orthorhombic YAlO3. Subsequent analysis revealed a sluggish, complex crystallization process involving the formation and decomposition of several phases.
Two joint time-frequency transforms for velocity separation of moving target radar data

This paper describes work that considered two Joint Time-Frequency Transforms (JTFTs) for use in a SAR-based (single sensor/platform Synthetic Aperture Radar) 3D imaging approach. The role of the JTFT is to distinguish moving point scatterers that may become collocated during the observation interval. A Frequency Domain Velocity Filter Bank (FDVFB) was compared against the well-known Short Time Fourier Transform (STFT) in terms of their maximal Time-Frequency energy concentrations. The FDVFB and STFT energy concentrations were compared for a variety of radar scenarios. In all cases the STFT achieved slightly higher energy concentrations while simultaneously requiring half the computations needed by the FDVFB.
Noninvasive Diagnosis of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis

The spectrum of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) starts from simple steatosis that can progress to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), fibrosis, and cirrhosis. Importantly, patients with NASH and fibrosis are considered a high-risk group for liver and cardiac-related morbidity and mortality. The diagnostic evaluation of patients with NAFLD usually starts with the assessment of an asymptomatic patient with abnormalities in liver injury tests (most commonly elevation of aminotransferases) or referred for evaluation of liver steatosis incidentally found on abdominal imaging performed for other clinical reasons. Most of these patients have components of the metabolic syndrome (obesity, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes). Liver sonogram and blood tests to rule out other etiologies of liver disease, as well as a detailed history of alcohol intake, are essential to establish the diagnosis. Because of their significantly different clinical outcomes, from a prognostic stand-point, it is very important to establish the distinction between simple steatosis and NASH with or without fibrosis. The three noninvasive diagnostic tests that have been independently validated compared with liver biopsy for diagnosis of NASH and fibrosis are serum levels of CK-18 for diagnosis of NASH and ultrasound elastography and NAFLD fibrosis score for the diagnosis of advanced fibrosis. Serum biomarkers that have been validated (NAFLD fibrosis score, FibroTest) could be used as screening tools in patients with metabolic syndrome. Imaging techniques have been developed and could have a more widespread use in the future, but only ultrasound elastography has been validated extensively. CK-18 is a direct serum biomarker that could be part of the routine diagnostic evaluation for NASH in the near future. Routine tests appear to be more accurate than nonroutine tests for prediction of NAFLD and advanced fibrosis.
Phase II trial of combination nab-paclitaxel, carboplatin and gemcitabine in first line therapy of advanced urothelial carcinoma

Background Paclitaxel has significant single agent activity in urothelial cancer. The 130 nm albumin bound paclitaxel (nab-paclitaxel, ABI-007) delivers more paclitaxel to tumor than conventional paclitaxel without cremophor related toxicities. We assessed the efficacy of nab-paclitaxel in combination with carboplatin and gemcitabine as first line therapy in advanced urothelial cancer. Methods Eligible patients had histologically confirmed metastatic, locally recurrent or advanced pure or mixed urothelial cancer, ECOG performance status of 0–2, no prior chemotherapy for current disease stage and no taxane for ≥ 1 year. Therapy consisted of nab-paclitaxel at 220 mg/m2 intravenously with optional dose escalation to 260 mg/m2 for subsequent cycles, with carboplatin AUC 5 on day 1 and gemcitabine at 800 mg/m2 on days 1 and 8 in 21-day cycles. Dose modifications in all three drugs to −1 and −2 levels were allowed for toxicity. Primary endpoint was overall response rate by RECIST 1.0. Secondary endpoints were safety, progression free and overall survival. Using a two-stage design, 32 patients were planned to be enrolled. Results Due to poor accrual only 16 patients were enrolled. Thirteen patients had metastatic disease, 3 were women, and median age was 73.9 years (range 51.3–83). ECOG PS was 0 in 4 (25.0 %) and 1 in 11 (68.8 %) patients. Creatinine clearance by Cockroft-Gault formula was less than 60 in 43 % of patients and 50 % of patients had visceral disease at baseline. The regimen was associated with severe toxicity, mainly cytopenias. Adverse events required removal of 11 patients (68.8 %) from study. Seven patients (43.7 %) missed ≥ 1 dose due to toxicity and 7 patients were reduced to −2 dose level. Nine (56.4 %) grade ≥ 3 neutropenia and thrombocytopenia each but only 1 episode of febrile neutropenia (6.3 %) was reported. Grade ≥ 3 anemia was noted in 6 patients (37.5 %). Grade 2 neuropathy was seen in 12.5 % but no grade ≥ 3 neuropathy was observed. One patient had confirmed PR (6.7 %; 95 % CI, 0–32 %) and 2 (13.3 %) had unconfirmed PR. Six other patients (40 %) had SD. Due to censoring at study exit due to adverse events before true progression, median PFS was 11.2 months (95 % CI,2.0–11.2 m). Median overall survival was 13.1 months (95 % CI, 9.8–19.6 m). Conclusions The combination of nab-paclitaxel, carboplatin and gemcitabine was poorly tolerated in this high risk patient population at these doses and schedule. Other nab-paclitaxel based combinations should be explored in first line therapy of advanced urothelial cancer.
An agent enabling personalized learning in e-learning environments

In this work we focus on the potential of intelligent agents in e-learning environments. A central problem is the modeling of human learners so that the agent can facilitate personalized learning. The solution presented here is based on a connectionist approach. An intelligent agent, which replaces the human instructor, controls an e-learning environment and exploits a self-organizing map (SOM) learner behavioral model in order to achieve the learning goal. The learner SOM model has been implemented. The experiments support the argument that e-learning environments are feasible and can significantly assist dissemination of knowledge within modern educational settings.
C-reactive protein and electron beam computed tomography: a perfect match?: reply

We appreciate Dr. Budoff’s interest in our paper on C-reactive protein and calcium in postmenopausal women. The hypothesis tested in our study [(1)][1]was whether postmenopausal women enrolled in the Females, Lipids, Activity and Sex Hormones (FLASH) study with coronary calcium by electron beam
Micro Fluidic Jets for Thermal Management of Electronics

Micro fluidics devices are conventionally used for boundary layer control in many aerospace applications. Synthetic Jets are intense small scale turbulent jets formed from entrainment and expulsion of the fluid in which they are embedded. The idea of using synthetic jets in confined electronic cooling applications started in late 1990s. These micro fluidic devices offer very efficient, high magnitude direct air-cooling on the heated surface. A proprietary synthetic jet designed in General Electric Company was able to provide a maximum air velocity of 90 m/s from a 1.2 mm hydraulic diameter rectangular orifice. An experimental study for determining the thermal performance of a meso scale synthetic jet was carried out. The synthetic jets are driven by a time harmonic signal. During the experiments, the operating frequency for jets was set between 3 and 4.5 kHz. The resonance frequency for a particular jet was determined through the effect on the exit velocity magnitude. An infrared thermal imaging technique was used to acquire fine scale temperature measurements. A square heater with a surface area of 156 mm2 was used to mimic the hot component and extensive temperature maps were obtained. The parameters varied during the experiments were jet location, driving jet voltage, driving jet frequency and heater power. The output parameters were point wise temperatures (pixel size = 30 μm), and heat transfer enhancement over natural convection. A maximum of approximately 8 times enhancement over natural convection heat transfer was measured. The maximum coefficient of cooling performance obtained was approximately 6.6 due to the low power consumption of the synthetic jets.Copyright © 2004 by ASME
Differential expression of asialo GM1 on alloreactive cytotoxic T lymphocytes and lymphokine-activated killer cells.

Abstract The present study was undertaken to examine the differential expression of asialo GM1 (AsGM1) on the responding cells and effectors of alloreactive cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) and lymphokine-induced activated killers (LAK). It was found that AsGM1 was expressed on the 3-day-cultured LAK effectors. Its expression gradually disappeared to the extent that AsGM1 became undetectable after 5 to 6 days of culturing. In contrast, AsGM1 was detected on 3-day CTL generated in mixed-lymphocyte cultures (bulk cultures); however, the levels of AsGM1 expression remained the same for at least 7 days. When examining the expression of AsGM1 on the responding cells, the reciprocal results were obtained. AsGM1 was expressed on the LAK responders, but we were unable to demonstrate AsGM1 on CTL responders. Depletion of AsGM1+ cells from the responding population reduced subsequent CTL responses; however, CTL responses could be restored by adding conditioned media containing both interleukin 2 (IL-2) and other helper-T-cell factors and could not be restored by purified IL-2 alone adding at comparable doses. Reconstituting the AsGM1 -depleted responders with Lyt-2-depleted splenocytes also restored the CTL response. Furthermore, depletion of AsGM1 cells from the responding population did not reduce the precursor frequency of allo-CTL, whereas the precursor frequency of LAK cells was reduced 42-fold. These findings show that the reduction of CTL responses after depletion of AsGM1+ cells was not due to the removal of precursors; instead, the defect appeared to be in the helper population. We further found that the helper defect was not due to impaired IL-2 production, because the endogenous production of IL-2 in AsGM1-depleted responders was not reduced. Therefore, AsGM1+ cells may play a role in the helper pathway other than IL-2 production.
Characterizing anatomical variability in breast CT images.

Previous work [Burgess et al., Med. Phys.28, 419–437 (2001)] has shown that anatomical noise in projection mammography results in a power spectrum well modeled over a range of frequencies by a power law, and the exponent ( β ) of this power law plays a critical role in determining the size at which a growing lesion reaches the threshold for detection. In this study, the authors evaluated the power-law model for breast computed tomography (bCT) images, which can be thought of as thin sections through a three-dimensional (3D) volume. Under the assumption of a 3D power law describing the distribution of attenuation coefficients in the breast parenchyma, the authors derived the relationship between the power-law exponents of bCT and projection images and found it to be β section = β proj − 1 . They evaluated this relationship on clinical images by comparing bCT images from a set of 43 patients to Burgess’ findings in mammography. They were able to make a direct comparison for 6 of these patients who had both a bCT exam and a digitized film-screen mammogram. They also evaluated segmented bCT images to investigate the extent to which the bCT power-law exponent can be explained by a binary model of attenuation coefficients based on the different attenuation of glandular and adipose tissue. The power-law model was found to be a good fit for bCT data over frequencies from 0.07 to 0.45 cyc ∕ mm , where anatomical variability dominates the spectrum. The average exponent for bCT images was 1.86. This value is close to the theoretical prediction using Burgess’ published data for projection mammography and for the limited set of mammography data available from the authors’ patient sample. Exponents from the segmented bCT images (average value: 2.06) were systematically slightly higher than bCT images, with substantial correlation between the two ( r = 0.84 ) .
Fast splittable pseudorandom number generators

We describe a new algorithm SplitMix for an object-oriented and splittable pseudorandom number generator (PRNG) that is quite fast: 9 64-bit arithmetic/logical operations per 64 bits generated. A conventional linear PRNG object provides a generate method that returns one pseudorandom value and updates the state of the PRNG, but a splittable PRNG object also has a second operation, split, that replaces the original PRNG object with two (seemingly) independent PRNG objects, by creating and returning a new such object and updating the state of the original object. Splittable PRNG objects make it easy to organize the use of pseudorandom numbers in multithreaded programs structured using fork-join parallelism. No locking or synchronization is required (other than the usual memory fence immediately after object creation). Because the generate method has no loops or conditionals, it is suitable for SIMD or GPU implementation. We derive SplitMix from the DotMix algorithm of Leiserson, Schardl, and Sukha by making a series of program transformations and engineering improvements. The end result is an object-oriented version of the purely functional API used in the Haskell library for over a decade, but SplitMix is faster and produces pseudorandom sequences of higher quality; it is also far superior in quality and speed to java.util.Random, and has been included in Java JDK8 as the class java.util.SplittableRandom. We have tested the pseudorandom sequences produced by SplitMix using two standard statistical test suites (DieHarder and TestU01) and they appear to be adequate for "everyday" use, such as in Monte Carlo algorithms and randomized data structures where speed is important.
Families of sets with locally bounded width

A family of sets ? islocally k- wide if and only if the width (as a poset ordered by inclusion) of ? is at mostk for everyx. The directed covering graph of a locally 1-wide family of sets is a forest of rooted trees. It is shown that if ? is a locallyk-wide family of subsets of {1,...,n}, then |?|≤(2k) k?1 n. The proof involves a counting argument based on families of closed sets associated with theSperner closures in the filters of ?. The Sperner closure ofU in ? is the intersection of the members of the greatest Sperner antichain of ? U = {V ? ?|V ?U}. This closure operation is related to a generalization of maximality in posets.
Translanguaging and the Writing of Bilingual Learners

This article makes the case for using translanguaging in developing the academic writing of bilinguals. It reviews the emerging literature on learning and teaching theories of translanguaging and presents theoretical understandings of biliteracy development and specifically on the teaching of writing to bilingual learners. The article analyzes five written texts produced by young bilingual writers in which translanguaging is used in the planning, drafting, and production stages of writing. It analyzes how and why translanguaging is used, as well as the effect it has in the development of writing and of voice. Translanguaging in writing is here proposed more as a self-regulating mechanism in which bilingual students can engage, rather than a pedagogy to be used in the teaching of writing itself. That is, the objective of this writing is not translanguaging itself, but the writing in one or the other constructed academic language that is the object of learning in school. Yet, the article makes it clear that...
Effect of limitation of protein intake on hepatic uricase and on urinary uric acid and allantoin.

SummaryAllantoin and uric acid have been determined in the urines of rats fed a protein-free and 18% casein diet. The animals on the casein diet consisted of a group pair-fed with the animals on the protein-free diet and a group fed ad libitum. The low uri-case activity in the livers of the rats on the protein-free diet was not accompanied by an increase in the uric acid-allantoin ratio in the urine. Thus in the rat it is not possible to predict the in vivo uricase level from the uric acid-allantoin ratio in the urine. However, there is a correlation between the allantoin or the uric acid content of the urine and the uricase content of the liver. Whether there is a relationship between these factors can not be answered at this time.
Nursing Diagnoses in Wellness Childbearing Settings

Although most nurses recognize the benefits of nursing diagnoses, difficulties surrounding clinical application of the NANDA system have often occurred. Many nurses feel that the NANDA system focuses mainly on illness or problem diagnoses, which makes application to healthy processes and areas such as childbearing more difficult. Examples of the flexibility of the NANDA system for stating diagnoses involving healthy processes as well as illness/problem diagnoses for postpartum clients are cited to illustrate that with simple modifications and in combination with a conceptual framework, this system can be used to formulate individualized diagnoses in childbearing settings.
Pollen germination, pollen tube growth and fertilization following self and interspecific pollination of Paspalum species

Crossability between most Paspalum species is very low. This study was undertaken to identify the impediments to hybridization. Accessions of P. intermedium Munro. ex Morong, P. jurgensii Hackel and P. dilatatum Poir were self-pollinated and crossed with one anther. Paspalum intermedium is essentially self-sterile but P. jurgensii and P. dilatatum are highly self-fertile. Following pollination, pollen germination and tube growth were studied by observing the pollinated pistils with fluorescent microscopy. Examination of self-pollinated pistils revealed that the pollen germinated shortly after contacting the stigmas. Germination was over 80% for the P. intermedium and P. dilatatum accessions but only 57% for P. jurgensii. Pollen tubes grew to the micropyle within 45 minutes after pollination in P. dilatatum and 1 hour and 15 minutes in P. jurgensii. However, in the P. intermedium accessions most tubes did not grow beyond the stigma and very few penetrated the style and ovary. Apparently stylar-incompatibility is the reason for the low selfed seed set. In the cross-pollinations, pollen germinated shortly after pollination and germination ranged from 57 to 88% for the different crosses. In all crosses the pollen tubes grew to the micropyle within 30 minutes to 2 hours after pollination indicating that a cross-incompatibility system is not the cause for low crossability among these species. By examining embryo sacs from P. intermedium × P. dilatatum, its reciprocal and P. intermedium × P. urvillei crosses, it was determined that gametes failed to unite in some crosses and this is a major reason for low crossability.
Hydraulic controls of summer Arctic pack ice albedo

[1] Linkages between albedo, surface morphology, melt pond distribution, and properties of first-year and multiyear sea ice have been studied at two field sites in the North American Arctic between 1998 and 2001. It is shown that summer sea-ice albedo depends critically on surface melt-pond hydrology, controlled by melt rate, ice permeability, and topography. Remarkable short-term and interannual variability in pond fraction varying by more than a factor of 2 and hence area-averaged albedo (varying between 0.28 and 0.49 over the period of a few days) were observed to be forced by millimeter to centimeter changes in pond water level. Tracer studies show that the depth of the snow cover, by controlling the amount of superimposed ice formation in early summer, critically affects the retention of meltwater at the ice surface and hence affects pond coverage. Ice roughness as determined by deformation and aging processes explains a significant portion of the contrasts in pond coverage and albedo between ice of different ages, suggesting that a reduction in multiyear ice area and sea-ice residence time in the Arctic Ocean is accompanied by large-scale ice albedo decreases. Our work indicates that ice-albedo prediction in large-scale models with conventional methods is inherently difficult, if not impossible. However, a hydrological model, incorporating measured statistics of ice topography, reproduces observed pond features and variability, pointing toward an alternative approach in predicting ice albedo in numerical simulations.
Soluble polysilanes: an interesting new class of radiation sensitive materials

All high molecular weight polysilane derivatives are characterized by a very strong electronic absorption in the-UV spectral region. The position of this absorption and the molar extinction coefficients are functions of both the nature of the substituent and the molecular weight. In this regard, both the λmax and the ϵsi-si increase rapidly at first with increased catenation and approach limiting values al around 100 to 150 monomer units. Irradiation of these polysilane derivatives leads predominantly to chain scission and molecular weight reduction although the scission ing/crosslinking ratio is dependent on the nature of the substituents. The mechanism of the photodegradation involves both the extrusion of substituted silylene fragments and the formation of silyl radicals. Lithographically, we have exercised the polysilanes in two configurations: (1) O2-RlE etch resistant barriers in multilayer structures and, (2) thin imaginable layers for O2-RIE image transfer. In each case, the stability of the silicon polymers to O2-RIE conditions is due to the formation of a thin skin of oxide. In the case of the bilayer configurations, the images have been developed both by conventional wet development and by excimer laser ablation at either 308 or 248 nm prior to image transfer. Using either mode, we have been able to generate and transfer submicron images without difficulty. Finally, the strong optical absorption of the polysilanes, coupled with the observed bleaching upon irradiation, suggests potential as contrast enhancing materials. The contrast enhancement gained by the use of a polysilane layer has been modeled by computer simulation and demonstrated experimentally.
Thermal conductivity reduction in fullerene-enriched p-type bismuth telluride composites

We present a systematic study of the effects of fullerene nanoinclusions upon a p-type bismuth―antimony―telluride matrix, where the ultimate goal is maximizing the figure of merit by reducing the thermal conductivity (TC). Nanocomposites consisting of a bismuth―telluride matrix with fullerene inclusions have been prepared both by mechanical mixing and ball milling, with the final consolidation in each case achieved by uniaxial hot pressing. A series of samples was produced with fullerene concentrations ranging from fractional levels to several molar percent, and the effects of the fullerene additions upon the resulting microstructure have been considered. Thermal and electrical transport properties have been measured from 10 to 300 K, and the data are discussed in light of the underlying physical mechanisms.
Oxide Films on Stainless Steels

Abstract Oxide films on stainless steels have been classified into three types according to film thickness, film structure, film composition, and influence of the film on resistance to corrosion. Compositional properties of oxide films isolated from surfaces of stainless steels were studied using specially developed microanalytical techniques. Properties of passive films on stainless steel were evaluated and the effects of alloy composition and surface treatment on other types of films on Types 304, 316, and 347 stainless steels were studied. The influence of corrosion in various media was correlated with film compositional properties. Composition of films after immersion in acids was found to be related to film composition prior to immersion. The effect of immersion depended on the nature and intensity of corrosion and was reflected most sensitively by the iron and silicon contents of the films. The conclusion was made that film properties indicate strongly the capacity of austenitic stainless alloys to ...
Improvement in distance stereoacuity following surgery for intermittent exotropia.

Purpose To evaluate whether distance stereoacuity improves following surgery for intermittent exotropia using the Frisby Davis Distance (FD2) and Distance Randot stereotests. Methods Eighteen patients (median age, 24 years; range, 5 to 68 years) with intermittent exotropia were prospectively enrolled. Stereoacuity was measured pre- and 6 weeks postoperatively using the FD2 and Frisby near tests (real depth tests) and Preschool Randot and Distance Randot tests (polaroid vectographs). Results Distance stereoacuity measured with the FD2 improved from a median preoperative value of 80 to 40 arcsec postoperatively ( p = 0.04) and stereoacuity measured with the Distance Randot improved from a median of nil to 200 arcsec ( p = 0.06). In those that had subnormal stereoacuity preoperatively, there was even more marked improvement in distance stereoacuity (FD2 median nil vs 40 arcsec, p = 0.002; Distance Randot median nil vs 200 arcsec, p = 0.004). Near stereoacuity measured with Frisby and Preschool Randot remained unchanged pre- to postoperatively (median, 60 and 80 arcsec, respectively). Conclusions There was improvement in distance stereoacuity measured with both the FD2 and the Distance Randot stereotests in patients who underwent surgery for intermittent exotropia. The FD2 and Distance Randot may be useful outcome measures in future clinical trials of interventions for intermittent exotropia.
Youth Gangs and Adolescent Development: New Findings, New Challenges, and New Directions: Introduction to the Special Section

Street gangs with youth membership have been present in American society for decades, and there is growing acknowledgment through local and national observations that contemporary gang activity is more entrenched and more widespread than in years past. Although there is a wealth of data on youth gangs available from criminological research, there is a relatively small empirical and theoretical developmental literature on youth gangs. Indeed, only a handful of studies have addressed critical developmental issues on youth gangs. This special section presents five new studies approaching the study of youth gangs from a broad developmental perspective, underscoring the need for ongoing inquiry linking the heretofore separate literatures on youth gangs and antisocial peer influence from criminology and developmental science.
Transferable Force Field for Water Adsorption in Cation-Exchanged Titanosilicates

A new, transferable classical force field potential for titanosilicate ion-exchange materials is reported. Plane-wave pseudopotential density functional theory (DFT) simulations are used to compute partial charges, where the atomic boundaries are partitioned through the Wigner−Seitz approach. The repulsion−dispersion interactions are modeled with a 12-6 Lennard-Jones potential. The force field is parametrized with the acid-exchanged titanosilicate and transferred to the sodium-, cesium-, and strontium-exchanged titanosilicates and their niobium-substituted counterparts. Grand canonical Monte Carlo simulations are conducted to compute the sorptive properties of water in the acid-exchanged titanosilicate. Excellent agreement of the saturated water loading, positions, and occupancies with experimental neutron diffraction results is observed, while the adsorption energies at low water loading match DFT calculations. In transferring the force field to the sodium-, cesium-, and strontium-exchanged titanosilicat...
Learning to disambiguate potentially subjective expressions

The goal of this work is recognizing opinionated and evaluative (subjective) language in text. The ability to recognize such language would be beneficial for many NLP applications such as question answering, information extraction, summarization, and genre detection. This paper focuses on disambiguating potentially subjective expressions in context, based on the density of other clues in the surrounding text.
Uncovering expectations of web site visitors and building a site that makes discovering IT easy

Two years after transforming its World Wide Web presence and publishing process, Information & Access Technology Services at the University of Missouri-Columbia embarked on developing and publicly documenting another online redesign: the evolution from a "best guess" to "can't miss" site.Armed with 24 months of use data and feedback from surveys and focus groups, IAT Services was able to combine known strengths of the 2000 site and develop solutions from suggestions for the 2002 site. The entire initiative focused on a summary comment from a focus group participant: "If you put this stuff on your site, don't worry, we'll visit it. Often."Capitalizing on the stability of the Web publishing process, the 2002 site redesign initiative aimed at three objectives:To provide personal information to users about all of the services IAT Services provides them.To overtly retool the site interface in a service-focused manner consistent with all related publications, including the cornerstone Everything Guides.To complete the identity tie to Got Technology?, an effort focusing on making technology at MU easy to acquire, access and use.This paper will journey through the redesign, outline the important infrastructure requirements, discuss the critical decisions and rationale behind them and provide before, during and after snapshots of the evolution at MU.
National Power and Local Politics in India: A Twenty-year Perspective

THE study of federal political systems, particularly parliamentary or representative federal political systems, such as those in the United States, Canada, or India involves complexities that do not exist in unitary states such as Great Britain or France. In the first place, there are three or more institutional levels in such systems, each of which has its own arena in which political struggles take place. Second, the balance of power among the levels in federal systems varies in different systems and in the same system at different times. Third, the study of the extraparliamentary organizations, such as political parties, and of social movements, also becomes a more complex task since it cannot be assumed that a political party or social movement with the same name is the same sort of formation in New York and Mississippi or in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. Moreover, in federal systems with a high degree of regional cultural diversity, each federal unit in the country may have a distinctive configuration of extraconstitutional political formations and social forces. This is certainly the case in India, the most
Volatile species in halide-activated diffusion coating packs

An atmospheric pressure sampling mass spectrometer was used to identify the vapor species generated in a halide-activated, cementation pack. Pack powder mixtures containing a Cr-Al binary masteralloy powder, an NH4Cl activator salt, and either ZrO2 or Y2O3 (or neither) were analyzed at 1000°C. Both equilibrium calculations for the pack and mass spectrometer results indicated that volatile AlClx and CrCly species were generated by the pack powder mixture; in packs containing the reactive element oxide, volatile ZrClz and YClw species were formed by the conversion of their oxide sources.
Trophic structure and diversity in some litter inhabiting microarthropods of monoculture and natural forest ecosystems

Temporal changes in species composition of litter insect communities of Shevroys, as well as their trophic diversity involving mycophagous and predatory species are examined with reference to natural forest as well as monoculture systems.
Helium bubbles in α-Ti and Ti tritide arising from tritium decay: A tem study☆

Abstract Helium, created by radioactive decay of dissolved tritium, forms a low concentration of equilibrium bubbles in α-titanium during soaking in low-pressure tritium gas at 600 °C. On cooling to room temperature, excess tritium is precipitated as δ-tritide phase, and a high density of small helium bubbles is produced within the tritide phase. During aging for up to ~1000 days at room temperature, the bubbles in the tritide phase grow linearly with t 1 3 as helium continues to be generated. Evidence is seen for channel formation by bubble linkage in the tritide phase.
Modelling and analysis of air traffic control systems using hierarchical timed coloured Petri nets

Hierarchical timed coloured Petri net (HTCPN) models have been utilized as a visual formalism for the modelling of complex reactive systems. They brighten the features on describing properties of causality, concurrency and synchronization. This paper focuses on the use of HTCPNs to model and analyse a dynamic procedure of an air traffic control (ATC) system. The advantage of the proposed approach is the clear presentation of the aircraft behaviour in terms of conditions and events. To our knowledge, this is the first work that employs HTCPNs to obtain models of ATC systems.
A correlational study of pre- and postgoal competing responses

Rats were trained and extinguished in a straight runway under consistent or partial reinforcement conditions. Each S within each group received a different amount of reinforcement. Competing responses in the runway were correlated with competing responses that occurred after the S reached the food cup. There was a significant relationship between competing responses emitted en route to the goal and competing responses emitted after reaching the goal. The direction and magnitude of this relationship depended on both the percent and amount of reinforcement.
Bayesian analysis of contingent claim model error

Abstract This paper formally incorporates parameter uncertainty and model error into the implementation of contingent claim models. We make hypotheses for the distribution of errors to allow the use of likelihood based estimators consistent with parameter uncertainty and model error. We then write a Bayesian estimator which does not rely on large sample properties but allows exact inference on the relevant functions of the parameters (option value, hedge ratios) and forecasts. This is crucial because the common practice of frequently updating the model parameters leads to small samples. Even for simple error structures and the Black–Scholes model, the Bayesian estimator does not have an analytical solution. Markov chain Monte Carlo estimators help solve this problem. We show how they extend to some generalizations of the error structure. We apply these estimators to the Black–Scholes. Given recent work using non-parametric function to price options, we nest the B–S in a polynomial expansion of its inputs. Despite improved in-sample fit, the expansions do not yield any out-of-sample improvement over the B–S. Also, the out-of-sample errors, though larger than in-sample, are of the same magnitude. This contrasts with the performance of the popular implied tree methods which produce outstanding in-sample but disastrous out-of-sample fit as Dumas, Fleming and Whaley (1997) show. This means that the estimation method is as crucial as the model itself.
INDIUM NITRIDE: A NEW MATERIAL FOR HIGH EFFICIENCY, COMPACT, 1550nm LASER-BASED TERAHERTZ SOURCES IN CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL DETECTION

Indium nitride (InN) is identified as a promising terahertz (THz) emitter based on the optical and electronic properties of high quality In- and N-face samples. Time domain THz spectroscopy has been employed to measure the pump wavelength and background carrier concentration dependence of THz emission from InN. There is no discernable difference between the In- and N-face InN samples, as expected for the improved crystalline quality and concomitant low background electron density and high mobility for both polarities. While there is only a weak dependence of THz signal on pump wavelength from 800 nm to 1500 nm, there is a strong dependence on background electron density. Modeling shows that the dominant mechanism for THz generation in bulk InN is the current associated with the diffusion of the photo-generated electrons at elevated electron temperature (photo-Dember effect) and the redistribution of the background electrons under drift, with larger screening from the higher mobility electrons as compared to holes. Compensation or p-type doping in conjunction with manipulation of the large internal electric fields in InN/InGaN nanostructures should lead to significant improvements in THz emitters.
Mitsugumin-53: potential biomarker and therapeutic for myocardial ischemic injury?

Ischemia-reperfusion injury underlies many pathological conditions, including ischemic heart disease, which is a major cause of death worldwide [1]. Myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury results from an interruption in the blood supply to a region of the heart, and is most often the result of acute coronary occlusion. Significant injury also occurs upon reperfusion of the ischemic region, as additional myocardial damage results from the formation of reactive oxygen species [2], which can trigger cell death by activating pro-apoptotic and/or necrotic signaling pathways in cardiomyocytes [3]. The issue of cell death is of paramount importance in the heart since cardiomyocytes are terminally differentiated, and aside from cardiac progenitor cells, the myocardium is very limited with regard to endogenous regenerative capabilities [4]. Cardioprotective interventions hold great promise for lessening the detrimental effects of myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury [5], and have been shown to reduce contractile dysfunction, arrhythmogenesis and cell death in animal models [6–9]. In 1986, Murry and Reimer originally described the powerful cardioprotective phenomena known as ischemic preconditioning (IPC), whereby brief exposure to periods of ischemia and reperfusion serves to protect the heart against a more prolonged ischemic insult [6]. However, IPC must be performed prior to the onset of ischemia, thereby limiting clinical applicability. Since the initial discovery of IPC, additional protective mechanisms with greater clinical applicability have been described, including ischemic postconditioning [10], and pharmacologic agents such as adenosine [11], cyclosporine [12], and nitric oxide [13]. Mechanistically, there is much that remains to be defined, but these interventions are thought to converge on similar cytoprotective signaling pathways that may include the reperfusion injury salvage kinase (RISK) pathway, which is comprised primarily of phosphoinositide 3-kinase/Akt, ERK1/2, and glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta [14]. Although research devoted to the elucidation of cardioprotective signaling pathways has been ongoing for nearly forty years, few experimental discoveries have translated successfully into effective therapeutics, and currently, the only established intervention that consistently reduces infarct size in humans is early coronary artery reperfusion, which still has the potential to cause additional myocardial injury as mentioned above. The recent study from Liu et al. brings a fresh perspective on potential therapeutic approaches for the treatment of ischemic heart disease with the use of recombinant protein, namely the membrane repair protein mitsugumin-53 [15].
Case Report: A case of antiphospholipid-antibody-associated reactive angioendotheliomatosis and panniculitis

Introduction: Reactive angioendotheliomatosis (RAE) is a benign vascular disorder with a varied clinical presentation that has been associated with a wide range of systemic illnesses. It is characterized histologically by intravascular and extravascular hyperplasia of endothelial cells and pericytes, and this entity only affects the skin. We present the rare case of a woman with both RAE and panniculitis associated with anticardiolipin antibodies in the setting of antiphospholipid syndrome (APLS). Case description: A female in her forties presented for a second opinion of lumps in her skin. The first lump was noted on her right thigh four years prior to presentation, and biopsy demonstrated longstanding septal and lobular panniculitis. Studies that followed this finding revealed a diagnosis of APLS, and the patient had been placed on 400 mg per day of hydroxychloroquine and a daily low-dose of aspirin. She presented with a new subcutaneous plaque on the left lower back, and biopsy of this lesion was suggestive of RAE. She had no history of significant thrombotic events and had never been treated with an anticoagulant. Work-up was negative for other connective tissue diseases that are known for producing subcutaneous nodular lesions. Discussion: RAE is very rare, with less than 50 cases reported in total; five of these in association with APLS. In the context of APLS, RAE is likely a result of the procoagulant state induced by the presence of antiphospholipid antibodies. This case of both RAE and panniculitis associated with anticardiolipin antibodies in the setting of APLS describes rare manifestations of APLS as isolated incidents in a relatively healthy patient.
Effect of Trace Mineral Fortification on the Storage Stability of Ascorbic Acid in a Dehydrated Model Food System

The catalytic influence of the transition metals, iron, copper and zinc, on the storage stability of ascorbic acid in a dehydrated model food system was studied as a function of water activity (aw). No catalysis by the added metals was observed at 0.10 and 0.40 aw. This is interpreted as a lack of metal ion mobility and/or insolubility at low aw, thus hindering the participation of the metals as catalysts. At 0.65 aw, which is in the capillary region on the adsorption isotherm, a 2–4 fold increase in the rate of ascorbic acid destruction was observed in the presence of the trace minerals. The increased rate of ascorbic acid degradation at aw 0.65 is believed to be the result of greater mobility of metal ions.
The determination of a π-sigma constant for substituents attached to silicon

Abstract The proton, 13 C, and 29 Si chemical shifts and the 13 C 1 H coupling constants of a series of compounds of the type (CH 3 ) 3 SiX were measured and correlated with inductive and resonance σ constants. In order to provide a comparison with a homologous series in which π-bonding is absent, shifts and coupling constants were obtained for the t-butyl series, (CH 3 ) 3 CX. Only the coupling constants gave significant correlations with σ I . A series of σ constants, presumably reflective of the amount of π-bonding, were obtained from the deviations from the J vs. σ I plot. The magnitudes of these values indicate that oxygen is a better π-donor than nitrogen and chlorine.
Late Physical and Functional Effects of Osteoporotic Fracture in Women: The Rancho Bernardo Study

OBJECTIVE: To examine the associations between osteoporotic fractures and difficulty performing selected physical and functional activities. DESIGN: Cross sectional analysis of a cohort study. SETTING: Geographically defined cohort located in Rancho Bernardo, California. PARTICIPANTS: Community-dwelling women aged 55 and older who participated in a study of osteoporosis between 1988–1991. Eighty percent of eligible women participated in the study. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Self-reported difficulty performing seven physical activities and four functional tasks. RESULTS: The mean age of the 1010 women was 72.6 years. A total of 160 first minimal trauma fractures occurred between 1972 and 1991, including 62 wrist, 29 rib, 25 hip, and 23 spine fractures. The mean time since fracture was 6.7 years (range, 1 to 17 years). In multiply adjusted analyses, having experienced any osteoporotic fracture was significantly associated with a 1.7 to 3.0-fold increase in difficulty bending, lifting, reaching, walking, climbing stairs, and descending stairs. Any fracture was significantly associated with 1.9 to 6.7 times more difficulty in dressing, cooking, shopping, and performing heavy housework. Compared with the relative odds of physical limitation associated with any osteoporotic fracture, hip fractures were more strongly associated with difficulty walking (OR 3.6) and descending stairs (OR 4.1), whereas spine fractures demonstrated a stronger association with difficulty bending (OR 3.1), lifting (OR 3.4), and descending stairs (OR 4.2). CONCLUSIONS: Among older women, remote osteoporotic fracture at any site is associated with an approximate doubling of the risk of physical limitations and an even higher risk of functional limitations. Although this cross-sectional analysis cannot secure the direction of the association, the specificity of the effect of particular fractures on discrete activities supports causality.