cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Poly(phosphazene−ethylene oxide) Di- and Triblock Copolymers as Solid Polymer Electrolytes

The synthesis of polyphosphazene-co-poly(ethylene oxide) block copolymers with well-defined molecular weights has been accomplished via end-functionalized polymer intermediates. Mono- and diamine-terminated poly(ethylene oxides) (PEO = (CH2CH2O)n−CH2CH2−) were used to produce polymer-based phosphoranimines, CH3O−(CH2CH2O)n−CH2CH2−NH(CF3CH2O)2PNSiMe3 and Me3SiNP(OCH2CF3)NH−(CH2CH2O)n−CH2CH2−NH(CF3CH2O)2PNSiMe3. These were then converted to macroinitiators via reaction with PCl5 to produce CH3O−PEO−NH[(CF3CH2O)2PNPCl3]+[PCl6]- and [Cl3PNP(OCH2CF3)NH−PEO−NH[(CF3CH2O)2PNPCl3]2+[PCl6]2-, respectively. These macroinitiators were used to polymerize Cl3PNSiMe3 in a living manner to produce diblock copolymers of polyphosphazenes with poly(ethylene oxide) or triblock copolymers with poly(ethylene oxide) blocks flanked by polyphosphazene components. In addition, the monophosphoranimine-terminated PEO was employed as a terminator in the living, cationic polymerization of Cl3PNSiMe3 to produce triblock copolymers with...
Sequential preheating and transglutaminase pretreatments improve stability of whey protein isolate at pH 7.0 during thermal sterilization

Abstract Whey protein isolate (WPI) is a potential ingredient to manufacture shelf-stable transparent beverages if proteins are heat stable, i.e., without causing turbidity, precipitation and gelation after the required thermal processing to obtain commercial sterility (138 °C for 8 s or longer). However, information is lacking about stability of WPI during heating at 138 °C. Furthermore, novel technology and mechanistic understanding on how to produce clear products after heating systems with >5% WPI, particularly with salt, is needed. In this work, 5% w/v WPI was pretreated by microbial transglutaminase (mTGase) at three levels for 1–15 h at 50 °C, with and without prior preheating at 80 °C for 15 min. Heat stability of the pretreated samples at pH 7.0 and 0, 50, and 100 mM NaCl was evaluated at 138 °C. Samples pretreated by mTGase for a greater extent demonstrated improved heat stability. Samples subjected to sequential preheating and mTGase pretreatments produced clear dispersions even after heating at 138 °C for 30 min in the presence of 0 and 50 mM NaCl at pH 7. All pretreatments increased the magnitude of zeta-potential and resistance against thermal denaturation. The sequentially-pretreated WPI was the most heat-resistant, having decreased hydrodynamic diameter (
DETERMINATION OF CORTICOTROPIN (ACTH) IN HUMAN BLOOD AND URINE BY A MODIFIED OXYCELLULOSE METHOD

THE method of Sydnor and Sayers (1) for the determination of corticotropin (ACTH) in blood has been modified and shortened so that the entire procedure of concentrating corticotropin in an injectable volume can be completed within ten hours. With this new modification we have been able to inject the equivalent of 200 ml. of blood into a single test rat. The largest volume of blood which could be used by Sydnor and Sayers was 40 ml.; and in normal subjects, corticotropin was undetectable in this amount (2, 3). By decreasing the amount of acetic acid mixed with blood and centrifuging the mixture before adding oxycellulose, we have succeeded in removing toxic material which precluded the injection of volumes larger than 40 ml. equivalent. The modification is based on the technic developed by Takahashi for the determination of MSH in blood (4). The oxycellulose technic has also been applied to urine, so that the equivalent of a 24-hour urine sample can be tested in a single rat.
The higher index theorem for manifolds with boundary

Abstract The global calculus of pseudodifferential operators on manifolds with cylindrical ends is developed to study the higher indices of elliptic boundary value problems. The higher index theorem is then proved by employing the asymptotic symbolic calculus of the global pseudodifferential operators based on a scaling similar to that of Getzler.
Deteal-adic completions of s-d rings and their s-d structure

Abstract The notion of s-d ring was introduced in [5]. A s-d ring is an algebra with a semiderivation and semiintegration. Deteals and inteals are ideals closed under those operations respectively. The study of s-d rings has centered on their inteal structure, but the original conception of a semiderivation is found in [4], where, for a couple [R, m ], a canonical d-ring is constructed with ring of constants the m -adic completion of R, m R. The purpose of this paper is to study the relations between inteal structures of a s-d ring and its ( m )-adic completion. As an application, we explore the inteal structure of the s-d ring over Z , and then use our relations to study the inteal structure of a (p)-adic completion. For more details, refer to the following introduction.
Surface binding, uptake and fate of cationic ferritin in a steroid producing ovarian cell.

Abstract Ovarian granulosa cells (GC) were exposed to cationic ferritin (CF) in an effort to determine the binding, intracellular fate of endocytosed negatively charged plasma membrane. Following labeling at zero degrees or after pre-fixation, CF accumulated in patches over the cell surface. Exposure to methylamine (MA) resulted in an even distribution of CF over the GC surface. Endocytosis occurred in non-clathrin coated regions of the GC surface and CF was subsequently observed in a variety of smooth surfaced vesicles. Following a 60 min exposure to CF many of the CF containing vesicles appeared to fuse with each other forming larger vesicles. Numerous examples of small CF containing vesicles surrounding large CF containing vesicles were observed. Also observed at 60 min were CF containing multivcsicular and vesicular bodies. Tubular evaginations of the large vesicular structures were often observed; some containing CF. Acid phosphatase activity was observed in multivesicular bodies and the large CF filled vesicles. CF-containing vesicles were also observed in the Golgi region, but CF was never observed in the saccules of this organelle. Our study suggests that endocytosed CF does not pass through the Golgi complex. Many of the internalized vesicles become associated with the lysosomal system. Since GC's secrete progesterone in culture, these observations may indicate that membrane recycling in steroid secreting cells differs from protein secreting cells.
A micromechanistic interpretation of the influence of undissolved carbides on the fracture toughness of a low alloy steel

The author has recently proposed an approach to ductile fracture. This approach suggests the same dependence of delta/sub IC/ on X/sub o/ as the Rice and Johnson model, but incorporates a measure of local ductility, (R/sub V//R/sub I/)/R/sub O/. For steels of having the same value of (R/sub V//R/sub I/)/R/sub O/, delta/sub IC/ should scale with X/sub O/. Experimental studies suggest, for steels of similar microstructure and yield strength, the toughness is indeed determined by the sulfide spacing. Microstructure and yield strength should influence toughness by changing (R/sub V//R/sub I/)/R/sub O/. The purpose of this work was to determine, for a fixed sulfide spacing, whether a simple microstuctural change change believed to degrade toughness resulted in an appropriate change in (R/sub V//R/sub I/)/R/sub O/. Two low alloy steels were selected for this work. One (base+Ni+Si) contained no strong carbide forming elements, while the other was the base+Ni+Si steel modified by additions of 0.3 wt% molybdenum and 0.2 wt% vanadium.
Tests for changes under random censorship

Abstract We use U-statistic-type processes to detect a possible change in the distribution of the observations under random censorship. We obtain weighted approximations for the U-statistic-type processes in case of symmetric as well as antisymmetric kernels. Several limit theorems are derived under the ‘no-change’ null hypothesis.
A model for the computation of thermal expansivity at high compression and high temperatures: MGO as an example

We compute the value of the thermal expansivity α over a wide range of compression (η ≡ V/V0, 0.6 ≤ η ≤ 1.0) and temperature (300 K ≤ T ≤ 2500 K). Three methods are combined to find α. We utilize: 1) the high P,T data base from the PIB ab initio model for MgO, which specifies the Helmholtz energy and the volume and temperature derivatives; 2) the measured thermal expansivity and its various pressure and temperature derivatives; and 3) several thermodynamic identities relating T and V dependence of various physical properties. We present a simple equation relating α to η along isochores and suggest values of α. for MgO over V, P, T conditions, including those of the earth's lower mantle. The parameters in the equation are evaluated by using the ab initio data base. We find that α varies from about 1.40αa to 0.40αa along a geotherm through the upper and lower mantle, where αa is α at ambient conditions.
Outcomes of Cataract Surgery: Improvement in Visual Acuity and Subjective Visual Function After Surgery in the First, Second, and Both Eyes

• Objective. —No previous study documents improvement in visual acuity and subjective visual function associated with cataract surgery in the first eye, second eye, and both eyes. Measurement of subjective aspects of visual function and quality of life provides information that cannot be obtained with simple measurement of Snellen visual acuity. Methods. —From 76 ophthalmology practices in three cities, patients undergoing cataract extraction with intraocular lens implantation (n=613) and comparison patients (n=408) were enrolled in a prospective study. Questionnaires elicited visual function information before and after surgery, and visual acuity was obtained from the ophthalmologic record. Results. —Among patients with cataract and no other eye disease, baseline subjective visual function before surgery in the second eye was better than that before surgery in the first eye. Improvement in subjective visual function was approximately equal postoperatively in first and second eyes. Improvement in subjective function in both eyes postoperatively was significantly greater than that after surgery in the first eye or second eye alone. No statistically significant difference across surgical groups in the proportion of patients demonstrating improvement in visual acuity was observed. Conclusion. —Patients who underwent surgery in both eyes reported greater improvement in subjective visual function than did those who underwent surgery in one eye. Thus, there seems to be a benefit associated with restoring binocular vision in this population. These findings support the policy recommendation that cataract surgery in both eyes remains the appropriate treatment for patients with bilateral, cataract-induced visual impairment.
Presence of Enterococcus faecalis in broiler litter and wild bird feces for bacterial source tracking

When Enterococcus faecalis is isolated from fresh feces, its host range appears to be limited to humans and birds. Although E. faecalis is found in human sewage, the extent to which the bacterium is found in broiler litter and in the feces of wild birds is unclear. These results have implications for bacterial source tracking. We determined if media designed for the isolation of fecal enterococci affected this host range, and if E. faecalis was routinely found in broiler litter and in the feces of wild birds. Of five different isolation media, none affected the isolation of E. faecalis. Enterococcus faecalis was routinely found in fresh broiler feces (522 of 1092 isolates; 48%), but rarely in broiler litter (12 of 1452 isolates; <2%). Therefore, broiler litter selects against this bacterium, and broiler litter is an unlikely environmental source of this bacterium. The presence of E. faecalis in eight wild bird species was highly variable. Unless the fecal loading rate from migratory or resident wild birds is high, water samples collected during baseflow conditions with high numbers of E. faecalis may indicate human fecal contamination.
Shape Optimization of Engine Mounts for Enhanced Vibration Isolation

In this article, a parametric approach is used to determine the optimum geometric shape of an engine mount in order to minimize the vibrations transmitted to and from the engine. The engine mount used is an elastomeric mount which is made of rubber. For proper vibration isolation, elastomeric mounts are designed such that they have the necessary elastic stiffness rate characteristics in all directions. An optimization problem is first solved to determine the optimum values of stiffness, orientation and location of the mount system such that vibrations transmitted are minimal. Besides determining the optimum mount stiffness values, knowing the optimum shape of the rubber mount is also vital. The shape of the mount is determined such that it meets the required stiffness of the mounting system obtained from the dynamic analysis. A nonlinear finite element analysis is used to determine the final optimum shape and stiffness of the mount.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
Evolutionary Origin of the Vertebrate Nephron

SYNOPSIS. The primitive form of the vertebrate nephron consists of a vascular nitration surface overlain with podocytes, a specialized coelomic cavity to receive the ultrafiltrate, and a tubule for modification to final urine. Although previously thought to be unique to the vertebrates, this design is now known to be widespread among invertebrates, including most of the protochordates, and especially their larvae. Goodrich' rejection of the homology of invertebrate nephridia and the vertebrate nephron, based on a lack of germ-layer correspondence, is shown to be either unsupported by facts or logically dubious. Comparative morphology of adult and larval invertebrates suggests that filtration excretory organs, as protonephridia and metanephridial systems, evolved in the lineage to the bilaterally symmetrical animals and each consisted minimally of a filtration cell, a urinary compartment, and tubule joined to the exterior. Invertebrate metanephridial systems and protonephridia are discussed as homologous structures composed of homologous cells (podocytes, terminal cells; also nephrocytes). The ontogenetic and phylogenetic distribution of nephridia is correlated with body design, especially body size.
The M -Series Absorption Spectrum of Tantalum

The $M$-series absorption spectrum of tantalum (73) has been investigated, with a vacuum spectrograph of the Siegbahn type. The absorption screens were metallic tantalum, prepared by an evaporation process. Spectrograms were obtained for three absorption limits at 5.64A (${M}_{\mathrm{III}}$), 6.773A (${M}_{\mathrm{IV}}$), and 6.997A (${M}_{\mathrm{V}}$). When the experimental $\frac{\ensuremath{\nu}}{R}$ values are compared to values calculated from $L$-absorption and emission data, the experimental values for ${M}_{\mathrm{IV}}$ and ${M}_{\mathrm{V}}$ show a displacement toward higher frequencies and the ${M}_{\mathrm{III}}$ limit a displacement toward lower frequencies. These discrepancies are in agreement with those found by several other investigators in the region from W(74) to Au(79). The ${M}_{\mathrm{III}}$ limit has the appearance of a white line, and ${M}_{\mathrm{IV}}$ and ${M}_{\mathrm{V}}$ are diffuse in character. The possibility of an explanation of these discrepancies on the basis of transitions to levels in the periphery of the atom is suggested.
An Updated Working Chronology of Predynastic and Archaic Kemet

The revolutionary discoveries in Kemetic studies over the past two decades require a rethinking of the chronology to be accepted for predynastic and archaic Kemet. This is especially true given that the second volume of Bernal's Black Athena (1991) has made a strong case for moving the date of Dynasty I back to the vicinity of 3400 B.C.E. Bernal notes that "in 1987, a detailed report of new carbon datings from the pyramids was published. A group of Swiss and American scholars led by Herbert Haas collected sixty-four fresh organic samples from the pyramids and tested them in laboratories in Texas and Switzerland. Their results were amazing, for they required that the periodization of the Cambridge Ancient History be raised by 374 years" (p. 209). This correlates closely with an estimated Dynasty I date of 3440 B.C.E. proposed by Mellaart (1979) and provides the foundation for Bernal's redating of the Kemetic dynasties down through the Middle Kingdom (Mellaart, 1979, pp. 6-19). Bernal (1991), however, is focused primarily on the Middle Kingdom rather than earlier periods-specifically the question of Kemetic influences on Crete and Mycenae and the validity of the legends concerning the conquests of Senwosre I (Sesostris I). As a result, he bypasses rather quickly the critical question of the greater implications of his lengthening of standard Kemetic chronology. What does this reevaluation of the unification of Kemet under Narmer do to currently accepted chronologies of the predynastic period? That is what I shall attempt to show.
Parastomal squamous cell carcinoma in an ileostomy 44 years after proctocolectomy

A 67-year-old man presented with a painful 10-cm peristomal skin lesion (A). After diagnosis of ulcerative colitis at age 18, he underwent proctocolectomy with skin-grafted end ileostomy in 1952 and completion proctectomy in 1955. In 1993, stricture of the skin-grafted ostomy led to its excision, and the stoma rematured by eversion. A parastomal ulcer appeared in 1994 and subsequently gradually increased in size. Biopsy in 1996 revealed welldifferentiated keratinizing squamous cell carcinoma (B, wide arrow). The carcinoma invaded beneath the adjacent hyperplastic epidermis (B, narrow arrow). Ileostomy resection was performed with wide excision of abdominal wall soft tissue and stoma translocation. The surgical margins were free of tumor. His recovery was uneventful but he died 1 year after surgery of unrelated causes. At that time, there was no evidence of recurrent squamous carcinoma. The occurrence of squamous cell carcinoma in relation to an ileostomy has been reported only once before. The development of cancer in this setting may be related to chronic injury. Treatment by wide excision and stoma relocation is probably adequate therapy in the absence of lymphadenopathy. Biopsy of chronic stomal ulcers is recommended to facilitate early diagnosis of this rare complication.
Mechanistic Studies of the Reaction of Hydrosiloles with Nucleophiles. Crystal Structures of the Enantiomers of 1-Methyl-2-(dimethylsilyl)-2,3,4,5-tetraphenyl-1-silacyclo- 3-pentene and 1-(Bis(trimethylsilyl)amino)-5-methyl- 2,3,4,5-tetraphenyl-1-silacyclo-3-pentene

The X-ray crystal structure determination of the trapping products of 1-methyl-1,1-dihydrido-5-potassio-2,3,4,5-tetraphenyl-1-silacyclopentadiene silicate, [Ph4C4SiMeH2-]·[K+] (2), with excess dimethylchlorosilane shows enantiomers of 1-methyl-2-(dimethylsilyl)-2,3,4,5-tetraphenyl-1-silacyclo-3-pentene (5a1, 5a2) in a ratio of 1:1. The trans orientation of the H−Si−C−H linkage is confirmed by torsional angles of two hydrogens (∠HSiCH = 140.7°). Structural characterization of the enantiomers of 1-(bis(trimethylsilyl)amino)-5-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetraphenyl-1-silacyclo-3-pentene (10a, 10b), obtained as major products from the reaction of 1-(bis(trimethylsilyl)amino)-5-sodio-2,3,4,5-tetraphenyl-1-silacyclo-3-pentene (9) with excess MeI indicate the cis arrangement of the H−Si−C−H linkage (∠HSiCH = 29.8°). All of the reaction products can be envisioned as resulting from a pathway involving pentacoordinate anionic intermediates that undergo pseudorotation, 1,2-hydride migration from silicon to carbon, and quenching...
Ultrasonic Extraction of Total Particulate Aromatic Hydrocarbons (TpAH) from Airborne Particles at Room Temperature

Abstract A superior enrichment procedure for the extraction of TpAH from airborne particles collected on glass fiber filter paper is described.† The sample is suspended in a solvent and subjected to ultrasonic waves at room temperature with glass powder to adsorb polar coextractives. The TpAH in the filtered extracts are separated from other compounds by high speed liquid chromatography. Sensitivity is in the nanogram range, and the procedure is highly reproducible. Significantly larger amounts of TpAH are recovered than with Soxhlet extraction for 6 to 8 hours, and the percentage of pAH in the extracts is much higher. The entire procedure requires approximately 40 minutes, most of which is waiting time.
Increased autophagy in chloroquine-treated tonic and phasic muscles: An alternative view

Abstract Ultrastructural and cytochemical techniques were used to investigate autophagy in the tonic anterior (ALD) and phasic posterior (PLD) latissimus dorsi muscles of the chicken following chloroquine administration. Autophagic vacuoles were seen in the ALD after 1 day of chloroquine administration while no change was seen in the PLD until 3 days. In both muscles, autophagic vacuoles and myeloid bodies were found at the level of the I band. Myeloid bodies usually were found in the longitudinal rows of mitochondria in the ALD muscle. Some, but not all, of the autophagic vacuoles and myeloid bodies were cytochemically acid phosphatase positive, while the portion of the sarcoplasmic reticulum of both muscles which is normally acid phosphatase positive was devoid of activity following chloroquine administration. These observations are discussed in regard to accepted mechanisms of autophagy and the possible inhibition of autophagy in skeletal muscle tissue by chloroquine.
Boundedness, periodicity, and convergence of solutions in a retarded liénard equation

where h is a nonnegative constant and e is a bounded function. With appropriate assumptions on f and g we obtain necessary and sufficient conditions for solutions of (1.1) to be uniformly ultimately bounded. Thus, by an asymptotic fixed point theorem, those conditions imply that (1.1) has a T-periodic solution whenever e is T-periodic. We also give conditions under which all solutions of (1.1) converge. The book of SANSONE and CONTI [11] gives much history and foundation for (1.1) without a delay, say
Laboratory and Performance-Based Measures of Childhood Disorders: Introduction to the Special Section

Serves as an introduction to a special section of the journal on laboratory and performance-based measures of childhood disorders. The articles in the special section were part of the work of a task force established by Division 12 of the American Psychological Association on "Upgrading the Science and Technology of Assessment and Diagnosis." In this introduction, I raise a number of issues involved in the use of laboratory and performance-based measures for the assessment of childhood psychopathology that cut across the different disorders covered in the special section. Some of these issues are common to most techniques used in the assessment of childhood psychopathology; others are more specific to this particular method of assessment. However, by focusing on these issues related to the use of laboratory and performance-based measures, it will hopefully encourage a critical examination of all techniques currently being used in the assessment of psychopathology and highlight important issues involved in...
10. Of Time and the Textbooks

Is the latest textbook necessarily the most up-to-date? Twelve new (since mid-1956) textbooks on basic national government were found to contain little or no reference to two new developments of some import. The author concludes that the latest text provides instructors with no reliable substitute for individual initiative in keeping informed.
Segmental Set: A Theory of the Formal Psychological Deficit in Schizophrenia

This highly summarized attempt to theorize about the psychology of schizophrenia is derived from studies carried out over a number of years at 3 institutions—the Worcester State Hospital, the University of Illinois, and, most recently, the National Institute of Mental Health. * Much of the material on which my discussion will be based is as yet unpublished, although many studies are in print and some phases of the theory have been discussed before. The data will, however, be organized and viewed somewhat differently from the way in which I have dealt with them in the past. Numerous colleagues at these institutions—many of whose names will arise * '"" the course of the presentation—have been involved in these studies. The generalizations I shall draw from them on this occasion are, however, my sole responsibility. These data raise several basic questions on the order of the following: What characterizes the formal schizophrenic
Kinetics and mechanism of oxidation of basal plane on graphite

The kinetics and mechanism of oxidation of carbon atoms exposed at monolayer steps on graphite surface have been studied with the etch‐decoration and transmission electron microscopy technique and two pieces of direct evidence are shown for the importance of surface diffusion in the overall kinetics. It is found that the rate of carbon removal, or the turnover frequency, depends on the population density of these edge carbon atoms, being substantially higher on low‐density surfaces. In the argon flush experiment, it is found that surfaces with low edge carbon densities continue to ’’burn’’ for prolonged periods of time after O2 is cut off from the gas phase. Two independent mechanisms are revealed by the experimental results: (1) reaction resulted from direct collision of O2 on the edge carbon, and (2) reaction of the edge carbon with the migrated oxygen which is first chemisorbed on the basal carbon. Furthermore, from the results of the argon flush experiments, the following results can be calculated: surface diffusion coefficient = 5×10−12 cm2/s (for O/C = 0.34) and 2×10−12 cm2/s (for O/C = 0.06); rate constant for the edge carbon reacting with the migrated O atom = 4.5 s−1, all at 650 °C. The amount of chemisorption on the basal plane can also be obtained from the data of the argon flush technique as demonstrated in this work.
Selected chemical constituents and deer browsing preference of Douglas fir

Douglas fir foliage from eight full-sib F1 families was analyzed for chlorogenic acid and essential oils and ranked according to browsing preference of penned black-tailed deer. Foliage was obtained during the dormant season, and tissues for both the preference test and chemical analyses were collected from the same trees. Deer ranked the different families, and chlorogenic acid content was correlated with preference order. Families varied significantly in yield and composition of essential oils, but differences were not related to preference. Results may have application in selections for Douglas fir resistant to browsing.
Blunting type 1 insulin-like growth factor receptor expression exacerbates neuronal apoptosis following hypoxic/ischemic injury.

Abundant experimental data have implicated an important role for insulin-like growth factor (IGF) in protecting neuronal cells from injury, including hypoxia/ischemia (H/I) injury, a major cause of neuron death. While the specific interaction of IGFs with neuronal or glial type 1 IGF receptors (IGF1R) has been shown to be essential to IGF actions during development, the same has not been directly demonstrated following H/I injury. To directly examine the role of neuronal IGF1R following H/I injury, we utilized conditional mutant nes-igf1r -/Wt mice and determined the impact of IGF1R haplodeficiency specifically in nestin-expressing neuronal precursors and their progeny on H/I-induced neuronal damage and apoptosis in hippocampus. H/I induced significant damage to the cerebral hemisphere and hippocampus ipsilateral to the ligated right common carotid artery both in control and nes-igf1r -/Wt mice at postnatal day 10. Blunting IGF1R expression, however, markedly exacerbated H/I-induced damage and appeared to increase mortality. In the ipsilateral hemisphere and hippocampus, nes-igf1r -/Wt mice had infarct areas double the size of those in controls. The size of the ipsilateral hemisphere and hippocampus in nes-igf1r -/Wt mice were 15% to 17% larger than those in controls, reflecting more severe edema. Consistent with its effects on infarct area, IGF1R haplodeficiency causes a greater decrease in neurons in the ipsilateral hippocampus of nes-igf1r -/Wt mice. The reduction in neurons was largely due to increases in neuronal apoptosis. Judged by pyknotic nuclei, TUNEL and caspase-3 labeling, nes-igf1r -/Wt mice had significantly more apoptotic cells than that in controls after injury. To determine possible mechanisms of IGF1R actions, the mRNA expression of the pro-survival proteins IAP-1 and XIAP was determined. Compared to controls, the abundance of cIAP-1 and XIAP mRNA was markedly suppressed in mice with blunted IGF1R or IGF-I expression, while was increased in the brain of IGF-I overexpressing transgenic mice. IGF1R in neuronal cells is critically important for their survival following H/I injury, and IGF-upregulated expression of neuronal cIAP-1 and XIAP likely in part contributes to IGF-IGF1R protection against neuronal apoptosis following H/I injury.
Spectral emissivity measurements of land-surface materials and related radiative transfer simulations

Spectral radiance measurements have been made in the laboratory and in the field for deriving spectral emissivities of some land cover samples with a spectroradiometer and an auxiliary radiation source in the wavelength range 2.5-14.5 micrometers. A easy and quick four-step method (four steps to measure the sample and a diffuse reflecting plate surface under sunshine and shadowing conditions, respectively) has been used for simultaneous determination of surface temperature and emissivity. We emphasized in-situ measurements in combination with radiative transfer simulations, and an error analysis for basic assumptions in deriving spectral emissivity of land-surface samples from thermal infrared measurements.
Genetic and Genomic Discovery Using Family Studies

Genetic studies traditionally have been performed on sets of related individuals, that is, families. Mendel’s early studies in sweet peas ( Pisum sativum ) on the inheritance patterns of discrete traits from parents with specific mating types to offspring has shed light on the basic mechanisms of inheritance, including the fundamental laws of segregation of discrete factors (genes) from parents to offspring and the cosegregation of genes that are closely located on a chromosome (linkage). The distribution of traits within families exhibited mathematical segregation ratios in offspring from known mating types. These expected segregation ratios have been used as an important discovery tool in the study of human diseases in pedigrees, providing evidence for a multitude of single-gene disorders. Furthermore, in some cases, trait cosegregation with genetic markers with known positions provides mapping information that enables localization and, ultimately, identification of the relevant causative gene. Pedigree studies have been used fruitfully to identify genes influencing a wide range of monogenic, highly penetrant traits of biomedical importance, including a variety of inborn errors of metabolism and other genetic diseases (eg, cystic fibrosis, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, Huntington disease). These have been documented extensively in Mendelian Inheritance in Man (V.A. McKusick; http://www.ncbi.nlm. nih.gov/sites/entrez?db=OMIM).1 In general, complex traits, such as coronary heart disease and its risk factors, are distinguished from these conditions in that (1) they are relatively common; (2) although they cluster in families, they do not demonstrate clean mendelian segregation patterns, suggesting the possibility of multiple underlying genes; (3) they are often influenced by >1 underlying pathway where several defects or mutations might contribute to phenotypic variation; (4) the marginal effect of any single gene on a relevant clinical end point such as atherosclerosis is likely to be small; and (5) alternative mechanisms or pathways may lead to a particular clinical outcome, that …
Challenges in adopting traditional processmodels in a package implementation scenario

This paper describes the experience in adopting traditional process models for package implementation projects. Specifically it addresses the challenges in adopting CMMi and ISO 9000 models package implementation such as SAP. This is an abstract version of the original paper which describes the challenges in interpreting these models and the challenges faced during a real life implementation.
Using purpose-built functions and block hashes to enable small block and sub-file forensics

This paper explores the use of purpose-built functions and cryptographic hashes of small data blocks for identifying data in sectors, file fragments, and entire files. It introduces and defines the concept of a ''distinct'' disk sector-a sector that is unlikely to exist elsewhere except as a copy of the original. Techniques are presented for improved detection of JPEG, MPEG and compressed data; for rapidly classifying the forensic contents of a drive using random sampling; and for carving data based on sector hashes.
Identification of the Aspartate-β-Semialdehyde Dehydrogenase Gene of Legionella pneumophila and Characterization of a Null Mutant

The ability of Legionella pneumophila to cause Legionnaires’ disease is dependent on its capacity to survive in the intracellular environment of its host cells. Furthermore, outbreaks of this disease have been associated with contaminated water sources where L. pneumophila survives as a parasite of protozoa. In this study, we determined the effect of nutritional auxotrophy on the ability of L. pneumophila to survive in the intracellular environment of its host cells. We generated a diaminopimelic acid (DAP) auxotroph (AA400) of L. pneumophila by disruption of the aspartate-b-semialdehyde (asd) gene. The ability of AA400 to survive within macrophages and protozoa was found to be defective. This defect was due solely to the asd disruption since complementation of the mutant with the wild-type asd gene restored its capacity for intracellular survival. Furthermore, the defect was not completely complemented by DAP supplementation to the culture media. Thus, our results suggest that disruption of the asd gene may prove to be useful in the design of attenuated vaccines against Legionnaires’ disease.
Performance of Linear Receivers in Frequency-Selective MIMO Channels

This paper investigates the performance of the zero-forcing (ZF) and minimum mean-square error (MMSE) equalizers in MIMO frequency selective channels under zero-padding (ZP) transmission. It was previously known that the SISO zero-forcing ZP receiver achieves full diversity; this paper shows that the MIMO version of this receiver is suboptimal in diversity. The MMSE ZP is also investigated, showing that it exhibits an intricate error behavior that depends not only on channel memory and antenna configuration, but also on transmission rate. This behavior is fully characterized in closed form, revealing that the MMSE ZP receiver attains the (optimal) diversity of a ML receiver but only at small spectral efficiencies. Thus MMSE ZP works better than ZF ZP, but not quite as well as ML. To further improve the performance, lattice-reduction aided equalization in the frequency-selective channel is investigated. It is shown that lattice-reduction-aided zero forcing equalizer as well as MMSE equalizer achieve the maximum spatial and temporal diversity at all spectral efficiencies.
Impact of devascularization and tissue procurement on cell number and RNA integrity in prostatectomy tissue.

Background Minimizing the time between tissue devascularization in robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RALP) and tissue procurement should produce the highest quality tissue for research study. This study examines the relationship between intra-operative time and two indicators of tissue integrity: number of epithelial cells per gram of tissue and RNA integrity numbers (RINs). The study also compares the RIN values of tissue obtained intra-operatively by biopsy, before and after devascularization, to those from RALP specimen tissue, obtained through the routine research tissue procurement process. Methods Prostate tissues from two series of patients were analyzed. In the first, tissue from 18 patients undergoing RALP was analyzed for number of epithelial cells per gram of tissue. In the second, RIN values of tissue from 46 patients involved in a clinical study were analyzed. RIN values were assessed from RALP specimen tissue as well as tissue removed intra-operatively by biopsy, before and after devascularization. Results Time from RALP to tissue procurement was not significantly associated with number of epithelial cells per gram of tissue or with RIN values. RINs of biopsy tissue obtained intra-operatively before and after devascularization were similar. However, the RIN values of tissue from RALP specimens were significantly higher than those of biopsy tissue obtained either before or after devascularization. Conclusions Tissue quality, defined by number of epithelial cells or RIN values, was not affected by time between devascularization and procurement. Obtaining tissue from intra-operative biopsies, either before or after devascularization, is not necessary and actually produced lower RINs than found in tissue from RALP specimens, obtained through the routine research tissue procurement process. Prostate 75:1910–1915, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A cost-effectiveness analysis of subject recruitment strategies in the HIPAA era: results from a colorectal cancer screening adherence trial.

Background Changes in regulatory standards that restrict use of identifiable health information can reduce patient recruitment to clinical trials and increase recruitment costs.Purpose To compare subject accrual rates and costs of three recruitment strategies that comply with new regulatory standards within the context of a clinical trial evaluating the impact of shared decision-making on colorectal cancer screening adherence.Methods Sequential cohorts of English-speaking, average-risk patients due for colorectal cancer screening were allocated to one of three recruitment strategies: (1) a provider-initiated electronic ‘opt-in’ referral (Click) method; (2) a provider-mediated ‘opt-in’ referral letter (Letter) method; and (3) an investigator-initiated direct contact ‘opt-out’ (Call) method.Results During distinct 6-month recruitment periods between March 2005 and April 2006, 100 potential subjects were identified using the Click method, 847 by the Letter method, and 758 by the Call method. After excluding ...
Use of pentoxifylline in the treatment of allergic contact reactions to plants of the Commelinceae family in dogs.

The effects of pentoxifylline (10 mg kg-1 orally [PO] twice daily) in three dogs with a confirmed contact allergy to plants of the Commelinceae family are described. Pentoxifylline inhibited the development of clinical signs in all three dogs despite extensive challenge with the offending plants. The protective effect was evident after 2 days of treatment and appeared to be dose related in one dog. The immunomodulatory properties of pentoxifylline are reviewed.
Controlling terahertz waves with meta-materials and photonic bandgap structures

We will describe research conducted at Los Alamos National Laboratory towards developing components for controlling terahertz waves. We employ meta-materials and, particularly, meta-films, as very compact absorbers for controlling quasi-optical beams. We believe that dielectric photonic bandgap structures could replace ordinary metal waveguide devices at THz, since metal structures become extremely lossy in this frequency range. We are also acquiring new measurement equipment which will allow us to enhance capabilities of testing THz components.
Environment Parameter Estimation during Bilateral Telemanipulation

Accurate models of remote environments generated during telemanipulation can be used to improve transparency, generate realistic simulations, and evaluate environment state. This paper presents an architecture for environment parameter estimation during bilateral telemanipulation. Nonlinear stiffness and damping properties of the environment are estimated using an indirect adaptive control approach. The slave-environment contact force tracks the sum of the force applied by the human to the master and a persistent excitation force required for accurate environment parameter estimation. Since force feedback to the human operator should only reflect the environment properties, several methods for force feedback are considered. Simulations confirm the validity of the proposed telemanipulation architecture for obtaining reasonable estimates of nonlinear environment properties and providing appropriate force feedback to the operator.
UWB Noise-OFDM Netted Radar: Physical Layer Design and Analysis

It is well known that ultra-wideband (UWB) noise radar achieves high-resolution imaging of targets and terrain. The wide bandwidth yields fine range resolution, while the noise waveform provides immunity from detection, interference, and interception. Having multiple noise radars networked with each other provides significant benefits in target detection and recognition. We propose a scheme to modify the UWB noise radar to supplement it with secure multi-user network communication capabilities, thus architecting the UWB noise-orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) netted radar. The salient features of this multi-functional radar system include surveillance with embedded security-enabled OFDM-based communications, multi-user capability, and physical layer security. The system's physical layer design is analyzed for the composite UWB noise-OFDM waveform's dual performance, communications reliability, confidentiality, and message integrity protection. We also present critical issues that underscore the need for a unique medium access control (MAC) algorithm as a duplex multiplexing technique for this ad hoc multi-radar communications network.
The Approximation of Weak Solutions to the 2-D Euler Equations by Vortex Elements

It is shown that the Euler equations of two-dimensional incompressible flow, with initial vorticity in L p , p > 1, possess weak solutions which may be obtained as a limit of vortex “blobs”; i.e., the vorticity is approximated by a finite sum of cores of prescribed shape which are advected according to the corresponding velocity field. If the vorticity is instead a finite measure of bounded support, such approximations lead to a measure-valued solution of the Euler equations in the sense of DiPerna and Majda [7]. The analysis is closely related to that of [7].
Preconception Biomarkers of Allostatic Load and Racial Disparities in Adverse Birth Outcomes: the Bogalusa Heart Study

Background: Large disparities in adverse birth outcomes persist between African American and white women in the US despite decades of research, policy, and public health intervention. Allostatic load is an index of dysregulation across multiple physiologic systems that results from chronic exposure to stress in the physical and socio-cultural environment which may lead to earlier health deterioration among racially or socio-economically disadvantaged groups. The purpose of this investigation was to examine relationships between maternal biomarkers of allostatic load prior to conception and the occurrence of preterm birth and small for gestational age infants among a cohort of white and African American women participants in the Bogalusa Heart Study. Methods: Data from women participants were linked to the birth record of their first-born infant. Principal components analysis was used to construct an index of allostatic load as a summary of the weighted contribution of nine biomarkers representing three physiologic domains: cardiovascular, metabolic, and immune systems. A series of Poisson regression models based on samples ranging from 1467 to 375 women were used to examine race, individual biomarkers of allostatic load, and quartiles of the allostatic load index as predictors of preterm birth (n = 150, 10.2%) and small for gestational age (n = 135, 9.2%). Results: There was no evidence of a relationship between maternal preconception allostatic load and either adverse birth outcome in this sample. Further, there was no evidence of effect modification of by race or education. Conclusions: More work is needed in understanding the biological mechanisms linking social inequities to racial disparities in adverse birth outcomes.
Can Informed Voters Enforce Better Governance? Experiments in Low-Income Democracies

This article evaluates a body of recent work that uses field and natural experiments to answer the question of whether informed voters can enforce better governance. A common finding in the literature is that voter behavior is malleable and that information about the political process and politician performance improves electoral accountability. Limited availability of information thus provides one explanation for the persistence of low-quality politicians and the existence of identity politics and electoral malpractices in low-income democracies. Understanding how voters can gain access to credible sources of information and understanding how politicians react to improved information about their performance are promising avenues for future research.
Six-channel time-division multiplexed system for recording analogue data on the audio track of a videotape.

A time-division multiplexer system employing a modified form of pulsewidth modulation to record six low-frequency analogue data on a single audio track of a videotape recorder is described. For each channel the data sampling rate is 200 per second, allowing an input data bandwidth of DC to 40 Hz. To obtain maximum signal-to-noise ratio with acceptably low adjacent-channel crosstalk, the recorded signal comprises narrow positive and negative pulses that correspond to the leading and trailing edges, respectively, of the width-modulated pulses. A demultiplexer/demodulator restores the original six low-frequency analogue signals by developing the train of width-modulated pulses from the signal replayed from tape, separating them and passing them to individual demodulators. For each output channel, frequency response is 0–40 Hz, overall linearity is within±1 per cent and peak-to-peak noise and adjacent-channel crosstalk amount to less than 1 per cent of maximum peak-to-peak output. Tape speed fluctuations have little effect on baseline but cause small variations in demodulator sensitivity. These effects of tape speed fluctuations can be eliminated completely using an alternative demodulator that requires output bandwidth to be limited to 0–25 Hz.
Relationship between exhaled nitric oxide levels and compliance with inhaled corticosteroids in asthmatic children.

Summary Levels of exhaled nitric oxide (eNO) are elevated in subjects with asthma and fall in response to oral or inhaled steroids. This study explored the possibility the measurement of eNO levels could be used to identify subjects who were not adhering to their treatment regimen. Twenty children with asthma attending the respiratory clinic were recruited. Each attended on four occasions 1 month apart when eNO levels were measured. A data logger attached to a pressurised metered dose inhaler was used to objectively monitor use of inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs). The correlation between day and dose compliance with eNO was assessed. The data demonstrated a weak but non-significant correlation between eNO and both day ( r =0.055, P =0.67) and dose ( r =0.153, P =0.23). A recorded value of eNO less than 12 was associated with day compliance rates of 3–97%. Of the 19 recorded eNO values greater than 12ppb almost 80% were from subjects with a day compliance of less than 50% during the preceding month. Of the four values greater than 12ppb and day compliance >60% one subject had a poor inhaler technique, one had a mild viral exacerbation and one appeared to be associated with increase pollen exposure. The measurement of eNO may prove to be a useful tool in helping to manage children with asthma but further work is required to define its precise role. Elevated eNO levels in asthmatic children taking ICSs are likely to reflect poor compliance but confounding factors such as disease activity and inhaler technique need to be carefully considered.