cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Nuclear magnetic resonance measurements of intracellular pH: Biomedical implications

The measurement of intracellular pH is of crucial importance in biomedical investigation. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy methods allow investigators to monitor this essential parameter in a variety of experimental conditions. Although a number of NMR spectroscopy methods for measuring intracellular pH have been described, the method of using the chemical shift of inorganic phosphate has been employed most widely. In this review, we discuss the various NMR methodologies which allow for measurement of intracellular pH as well as selected topics where these measurements have been employed. Because of the volume of work which has been published using NMR to monitor intracellular pH, we have not attempted to be exhaustive in our review, but rather have tried to highlight the importance of this methodology by reviewing several topics in biology and medicine where NMR measurements of intracellular pH have played an important role in improving our understanding.
The recovering method of etch chamber condition by using the optical emission spectroscopy monitoring system

The etch chambers has been cleaned by wet process and replaced with new parts to maintain etch chamber perfectly clean. However, the wet cleaning process results in following issues. One of issues is that the critical dimension mean to target (CD MTT) and phase-shift would be changed due to the variation of etch rate, which is generally caused by the new parts and wet chamber cleaning process. Another issue is that the wet cleaning process takes long time to recover the chamber condition. Moreover, the production will be stopped until recovering the chamber condition. Therefore, the recovering time should be minimized to keep the high productivity of etch tool. The change of chamber condition during the plasma seasoning can be monitored with the optical emission spectroscopy (OES) system. The optical emission intensity represents the concentration of materials in the plasma and the surface condition of chamber. The OES peak intensities were collected during the plasma seasoning, which was applied to remove the moisture and residues. The correlation of the OES peak intensities and chamber condition was verified by the CD and phase-shift difference between pre and post chamber cleaning. This methodology was applied to optimize the seasoning time, which occupies 80% of whole the chamber cleaning process time.
Effects of various chemical agents on drug metabolism and cholesterol biosynthesis

Abstract The effects of representative inhibitors of drug metabolism, hypocholesterolemic agents and insecticide synergists on microsome-catalyzed drug metabolism and cholesterol biosynthesis were examined in the rat. In the experiments in vitro , both biochemical reactions were inhibited to varying degrees by all of the test compounds. Cholesterol biosynthesis appeared to be more sensitive to these compounds than was the drug metabolism system. However, in an experiment in vivo , only microsome inhibitors prolonged the sleeping time of mice induced by hexobarbital. The administration of AY-9944 and Compound A at doses sufficient to lower the plasma cholesterol level had no effect on the microsomal enzyme activity. Two effects on cholesterol metabolism were observed with microsome inducers. Administration of 3,4-benzpyrene resulted in an elevated plasma cholesterol level in the rat. However, the incorporation of 14 C-labeled acetate or mevalonic acid into cholesterol by the liver of benzpyrene-treated rats was not higher than that by the liver of the control rats. Phenobarbital did not elevate the plasma cholesterol level, but the liver from phenobarbital-treated rats showed increased 14 C-acetate incorporation into cholesterol.
Shape Memory Scaffold with a Tunable Recovery Temperature for Filling Critical-Size Bone Defects

Traditionally, critical-size defects have been treated using autologous bone grafts which, while being effective, have limitations that include donor site scarcity, additional pain, and donor site morbidity. Synthetic scaffolds show promise as alternate graft materials, but current scaffolds have limitations associated with filling and conforming to the defect site. In this study, we aimed to synthesize a cytocompatible scaffold with shape memory functionality that could address limitations associated with filling and conforming to the defect site. To achieve this goal we employed a porogen-leaching technique to fabricate a shape memory poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL) foam capable of expanding to fill space under physiological temperatures. Tuning of the recovery temperature to a physiological temperature was achieved by copolymerizing with a second, hydrophilic polymer, as well as by varying the deformation temperature. The scaffold showed excellent shape fixing and shape recovery, and the transition temperature was tuned to a physiological range. Preliminary cell studies showed qualitatively that cells remain viable and proliferate on the scaffold.
Supercritical fluid extraction of lipids from deep-fried food products

A supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) method is described for extracting lipids from fried-food samples. Response surface analysis was used to study the effects of variables, including pressure, temperature, flow rate, and modifier (methanol) on lipid extraction by SFE. The analysis of variance for the response variables indicated that the models developed were satisfactory with coefficients of determination of 0.95 and 0.92 for chicken nuggets and potato fries, respectively. The models predicted that increasing the pressure increased the percentage lipid extracted for both chicken nuggets and potato fries. In addition, the pressure by temperature interactions were significant for chicken nuggets and potato fries. Slight differences in fatty acid composition were observed between SFE and the Goldfisch method. The SF extracts contained traces of C12:0, C20:0, and C24:0 in chicken nuggets and C14:1, C18:3, C22:0, and C23:0 in potato fries, respectively, which are not found in the Goldfisch extracts. The optimal conditions for extraction are: 53 MPa, 150°C, 4 mL/min, and 10% modifier for chicken nuggets and 53 MPa, 150°C, 3 mL/min, and 0% modifier for potato fries. To duplicate the results of exhaustive Goldfisch extraction with petroleum ether, SFE conditions of 44 MPa, 80°C, 3 mL/min, and 0% modifier were used to produce similar results for both chicken nuggets and potato fries.
Feminist Epistemology in Piercy's Woman on the Edge of Time

(1992). Feminist Epistemology in Piercy's Woman on the Edge of Time. Women's Studies: Vol. 20, Is Multiculturalism Enough?, pp. 249-258.
Diagnosis of Mitral Regurgitation by Cardioangiography

To determine the feasibility of demonstrating mitral regurgitation by injection of contrast media into the left ventricle, percutaneous and subxiphoid left ventricular punctures were carried out in dogs and subsequently in human beings. Contrast media were injected and roentgenographic studies made. The correlation between the roentgenographic and subsequent anatomic findings at operation or autopsy is emphasized. The method appears to be relatively safe if proper safeguards are observed. The results indicate that the method is of value in determining the competence of the mitral valve and relative degree of insufficiency.
The IceCube Detector: A Large Sensor Network at the South Pole

The recent development of smart sensors connected through a network is enabling new types of scientific experiments of unprecedented scale at extreme locations. One such experiment is the IceCube neutrino observatory being completed at the geographical South Pole. IceCube's main scientific goals are to detect astrophysical sources of high-energy neutrinos and solve the mystery of the origin of cosmic rays.
Proton radiation hardness of single-nanowire transistors using robust organic gate nanodielectrics

In this contribution, the radiation tolerance of single ZnO nanowire field-effect transistors (NW-FETs) fabricated with a self-assembled superlattice (SAS) gate insulator is investigated and compared with that of ZnO NW-FETs fabricated with a 60nm SiO2 gate insulator. A total-radiation dose study was performed using 10MeV protons at doses of 5.71 and 285krad(Si). The threshold voltage (Vth) of the SAS-based ZnO NW-FETs is not shifted significantly following irradiation at these doses. In contrast, Vth parameters of the SiO2-based ZnO NW-FETs display average shifts of ∼−4.0 and ∼−10.9V for 5.71 and 285krad(Si) H+ irradiation, respectively. In addition, little change is observed in the subthreshold characteristics (off current, subthreshold slope) of the SAS-based ZnO NW-FETs following H+ irradiation. These results strongly argue that the bulk oxide trap density and interface trap density formed within the SAS and/or at the SAS-ZnO NW interface during H+ irradiation are significantly lower than those for th...
Evaluation of Recorded Earthquake Response of a Curved Highway Bridge

Abstract The Landers and Big Bear earthquakes on June 18, 1992, triggered a strong motion instrumentation network on a curved highway bridge. System identification of the processed acceleration records show the vibration period of the fundamental mode lengthened from 1.56 sec to 1.75 sec between the two earthquakes. A three‐dimensional, calibrated model of the bridge is used to investigate the effect of modeling assumptions on the earthquake response of the structure. Linear models, commonly used in design, adequately bound the earthquake response of the bridge. However, the linear models do not provide an upper bound on the forces in all the columns. Longitudinal hinge restrainers have minimal effect on the earthquake response. The non‐uniform input motion recorded at four support points has a moderate effect on the response when compared with the assumption of uniform free‐field motion.
Factors contributing to mature adult novices' computer skills learning: A case study in a community training program

Information and communication technologies (ICT), such as computers, and the Internet have become increasingly vital tools in United States. People who lack the required skills to use these tools are at a growing disadvantage. Therefore, raising the information and communication technologies skill levels of information deprived people is a critical issue. Increasing the number of Americans using ICT is a fundamentally important national goal. The purpose of this study is to explore the adult novice computer learning. This study defines computer novices as people who have no knowledge or limited skills to perform basic computer functions, such as computer boot up, file opening, internet searching, and basic word processing. Over the last couple of years, community learning centers in Denton, Texas have provided free computer training sessions at public libraries to empower people left behind by the digital revolution. Researchers of this study participate as both lecturers and mentors in the training sessions. The major objective of this study is to identify themes in adult computer learning behavior. This research studies adult novice computer learning using Bandura's (1986) social cognitive theory, Roger's (2003) diffusion of innovation framework, and Chatman's (1996) concepts on information impoverished people.
Lymphosarcoma cell leukemia. A clinicopathologic study

Lymphosarcoma cell leukemia (LSCL) represents a poorly-differentiated lymphocytic lymphoma which has involved the peripheral blood and bone marrow (leukemic phase of poorly-differentiated lymphocytic lymphoma). the clinical, biopsy, and necropsy findings of 18 patients with LSCL were reviewed. the histologic pattern of the lymphoma in the original lymph node biopsy of 16 patients was nodular (follicular) in 10 and diffuse in 6. the differences in histologic pattern of the lymphoma were related to the clinical course and prognosis of the patients. Four of the 6 patients who had a diffuse histologic pattern were leukemic at the time of lymph node biopsy. in contrast, only one of 10 patients with a nodular lymphoma was leukemic at the onset. the total survival (preleukemic and leukemic phases) as well as the survival of the leukemic phases were considerably better in those patients who initially had a nodular type of lymphoma than in those patients with a diffuse type of lymphoma. At the time of necropsy, all patients had dissemination of lymphoma (leukemia) throughout the body, and the majority of those who originally had a nodular histologic pattern had a diffuse pattern at necropsy. Separation of LSCL from other types of lymphocytic leukemias seems to be valid on morphological grounds as well as on the basis of clinical course, response to therapy, and, especially, prognosis which is considerably worse in LSCL than in chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
Treatment of raw poultry with nonthermal dielectric barrier discharge plasma to reduce Campylobacter jejuni and Salmonella enterica.

Nonthermal plasma has been shown to be effective in reducing pathogens on the surface of a range of fresh produce products. The research presented here investigated the effectiveness of nonthermal dielectric barrier discharge plasma on Salmonella enterica and Campylobacter jejuni inoculated onto the surface of boneless skinless chicken breast and chicken thigh with skin. Chicken samples were inoculated with antibiotic-resistant strains of S. enterica and C. jejuni at levels of 101 to 104 CFU and exposed to plasma for a range of time points (0 to 180 s in 15-s intervals). Surviving antibiotic-resistant pathogens were recovered and counted on appropriate agar. In order to determine the effect of plasma on background microflora, noninoculated skinless chicken breast and thighs with skin were exposed to air plasma at ambient pressure. Treatment with plasma resulted in elimination of low levels (101 CFU) of both S. enterica and C. jejuni on chicken breasts and C. jejuni from chicken skin, but viable S. enteric...
Membrane modules: comparison of different configurations using fluid mechanics☆

Abstract Fluid mechanics plays an important role in pressure-driven membrane processes. This manifests itself through the convective motion of fluids and its influence on the motion of dissolved and suspended solutes. In this review, we compare impact with cross-flow filtration and summarize the advantages and limitations of different membrane permeators. Then, we present results from recent theoretical studies of flow in an annulus with porous walls, and from recent experiments showing the effect of transmembrane flux on the friction coefficient of a flowing fluid inside a porous tube with suction. We also compare the porous tube with a porous two-walled slit for capturing suspended colloids. The performance of several commercial modules are compared in light of the theory. Under the assumptions of the theoretical models, and all things being equal (besides fractional recovery per unit length), tubular systems will capture more particles from dilute suspensions than slits with two porous walls. This is expected since the fractional recovery for a tube is 2.67 times that for a slit, when υw/Um, L/R and L/l are kept the same. Finally, we also report on a recent significant extension of the lift theory for all laminar flows (even ⪢Re 1) in which results from the previous theory (for ⪡Re 1) hold. Experimental measurements for particle trajectories in porous ducts support these developments.
Monitoring of immunosuppression in beagles

The effects of immunosuppressive drugs were measured after 2, 5, and 9 months of treatment during canine bronchial carcinogenesis experiments. Antibody titers to bovine red blood cells, rat blood cells, and chicken γ-globulin were determined, and skin allografts were used to test levels of immunity. Delayed cutaneous hypersensitivity responses to rabies vaccine, combination distemper-hepatitis-leptospirosis vaccine, and 3,5-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) were evaluated. Absolute lymphocyte counts were the most sensitive dose-related nonspecific indicators of the level of immunosuppression. High dose immunosuppression (HIS) with azathioprine, 2.5 mg/kg/day, and methylprednisolone, 1.0 mg/kg/day, depressed antibody responses within 2 months (P < 0.01). HIS also prolonged skin allograft rejection from 6.5 ± 0.9 to 14.1 ± 1.1 days (P < 0.01), and it suppressed cutaneous responses to distemper vaccine and DNCB (P < 0.01). Most beagles could not tolerate HIS chronically under the conditions of our experiments. Low dose immunosuppression (LIS) at one-half the HIS level was well tolerated. LIS prolonged skin allograft rejection to 10.8 ± 1.0 days (P < 0.01), and it also suppressed cutaneous hypersensitivity (P < 0.01). LIS inhibited antibody responses after 9 months of treatment (P < 0.01), but not after 2 months of therapy. All of the skin tests provided evidence of immunosuppression but none did so consistently. Distemper vaccine gave the clearest responses. We conclude that an approach which quantitates immunosuppression in dogs has broad practical applicability to canine transplantation and carcinogenesis research.
The opening and closing of a hollow dislocation core: A Monte Carlo simulation

Abstract We simulated the opening and closing of a dislocation core in presence of stress using Monte Carlo (MC) technique. This method allows us not only to compare the classical theories with microscopic simulations, but also to study the influence of surface roughening. Qualitative correspondences between them exist, but some differences are found. We discussed the theoretical implication of the MC result. Moreover some inferences are given for understanding certain experimental results.
Effects of conjugated linoleic acid on long term feeding in Fischer 344 rats

Abstract Weanling male Fischer 344 rats were fed either control or diet containing 1% CLA for 18 months. Weight gain and survival rate were not different between treatments, but CLA-fed animals ate slightly less food. CLA feeding did not significantly reduce body fat compared to that of control. Clinical chemistry and hematology analyses were performed on blood samples at week 69–72. CLA had no effects except on blood glucose, which was reduced in CLA-fed animals compared to control. All animals had chronic renal failure at the end of the study; however, CLA decreased the amount of protein in urine at week 70 of feeding. Necropsy and histo-pathology results indicated that there was no difference between treatment groups. Although this study used a limited number of animals and a single dose of CLA, our results suggest that long term CLA feeding did not cause any adverse effects in rats.
Size-Dependent Phononic Properties of PdO Nanocrystals Probed by Nanoscale Optical Thermometry

With the advent of novel nanoscale devices, fast and reliable thermal mapping with high spatiotemporal resolution is imperative for probing the characteristics of phonons and evaluating the local temperature at the nanoscale. In this work, Raman spectroscopy is employed as a rapid and noncontact optical thermometry technique to investigate phononic properties of macroscopic assemblies of monodisperse palladium oxide (PdO) nanocrystals. PdO has been extensively employed in high temperature catalytic devices; however, the phonon behavior which determines the thermal stability of PdO remains unexplored thus far. Our study focuses on homogeneous, large-scale assemblies of monodisperse 4 and 10 nm nanocrystals synthesized using colloidal chemistry to understand size-dependent effects on the measured thermal properties. By monitoring the Raman peak shifts, peak broadening, and alterations in peak intensities as a function of laser power and particle concentration, a size-dependent trend is observed attributable...
On the Elliptic Path of an End-Effector for an Anthropomorphic Manipulator

This paper deals with the problem of an anthropomorphic manipulator with an end-effector traveling along a path whose projection on the rz-plane of a cylindrical coordinate system is an ellipse. The elliptic motion, coupled with an angular movement in the ϕ-direction, provides a smooth transition for motion reversal at both terminal points. To im prove the smoothness of reversal, one may vary the elliptic eccentricity to alter the shape of the path. The analysis reveals that the coordinates along the path may be expressed in terms of (πt/τ + ζ), where ζ( t) is an unknown function of time to be determinedfor an optimal velocity distribution along the path by minimizing the total energy used by the manipu lation system. The computational technique employed in this paper is to express ζ as a finite series, satisfying the bound ary conditions at two terminal points, with the optimal coeffi cients λn, fn, and kn to be evaluated. For numerical illustra tion, two different values of eccentricity are chosen: one ...
Exploring optimum growth window for high quality InAs/GaInSb superlattice materials

We report ternary growth studies to develop a largely strained InAs/InGaSb superlattice (SL) material for very long wavelength infrared (VLWIR) detection. We select a SL structure of 47.0 A InAs/21.5 A In 0.25 Ga 0.75 Sb that theoretically designed for the greatest possible detectivity, and tune growth conditions for the best possible material quality. Since material quality of grown SLs is largely influenced by extrinsic defects such as nonradiative recombination centers and residual background dopings in the grown layers, we investigate the effect of growth temperature (T g ) on the spectral responses and charge carrier transports using photoconductivity and temperature-dependent Hall effect measurements. Results indicate that molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) growth process we developed produces a consistent gap near 50 meV within a range of few meV, but SL spectral sensing determined by photoresponse (PR) intensity is very sensitive to the minor changes in T g . For the SLs grown from 390 to 470 °C, a PR signal gradually increases as T g increases from 400 to 440 °C by reaching a maximum at 440 °C. Outside this growth window, the SL quality deteriorates very rapidly. All SLs grown for this study were n-type, but the mobility varied in a variety of range between 11,300 and 21 cm 2 /Vs. The mobility of the SL grown at 440 °C was approximately 10,000 V/cm 2 with a sheet carrier concentration of 5 × 10 11 cm -2 , but the mobility precipitously dropped to 21 cm 2 /Vs at higher temperatures. Using the knowledge we learned from this growth set, other growth parameters for the MBE ternary SL growth should be further adjusted in order to achieve high performance of InAs/InGaSb materials suitable for VLWIR detection.
Management of Psychiatric Disorders in Patients with Poor Insight

Correction of lack of insight in psychiatric patients has the potential to improve both the accuracy of diagnosis and the effectiveness of therapy. Specific aspects of insight include ‘awareness’ by an individual of specific symptoms and behaviours, plus the awareness that such symptoms can be attributed (by the patient) to the presence of a mental disorder.
Document image decoding

Document image decoding (DID) is a proposed generic framework for document recognition that is based on an explicit communication theory view of the processes of document creation, transmission and interpretation. This paper presents a brief summary of work in DID carried out at the Xerox Palo Alto Research Center over the past several years. >
Endogenous ligands of Toll-like receptors

Extensive work has suggested that a number of endogenous molecules such as heat shock proteins (hsp) may be potent activators of the innate immune system capable of inducing proinflammatory cytokine production by the monocyte-macrophage system and the activation and maturation of dendritic cells. The cytokine-like effects of these endogenous molecules are mediated via the Toll-like receptor (TLR) signal-transduction pathways in a manner similar to lipopolysaccharide (LPS; via TLR4) and bacterial lipoproteins (via TLR2). However, recent evidence suggests that the reported cytokine effects of hsp may be a result of the contaminating LPS and LPS-associated molecules. The reasons for previous failure to recognize the contaminant(s) being responsible for the putative TLR ligands of hsp include failure to use highly purified hsp free of LPS contamination; failure to recognize the heat sensitivity of LPS; and failure to consider contaminant(s) other than LPS. Whether other reported putative endogenous ligands of TLR2 and TLR4 are a result of contamination of pathogen-associated molecular patterns is not clear. It is essential that efforts should be directed to conclusively determine whether the reported putative endogenous ligands of TLRs are a result of the endogenous molecules or of contaminant(s), before exploring further the implication and therapeutic potential of these putative TLR ligands.
Nutritional Supplementation with Chlorella pyrenoidosa for Fibromyalgia Syndrome: A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Crossover Study

Objective: To determine if daily dietary supplementation with Chlorella for three months helps normalize body functions, relieve symptoms, and improve quality of life in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome [FMS].Methods: A total of 43 subjects with FMS were enrolled and randomized such that approximately half consumed 50 Sun Chlorella™ tablets and 100 mL of liquid Chlorella extract known as Wakasa Gold™ each day for three months and the other half consumed 50 placebo tablets and 100 mL of placebo liquid each day for a comparable period. Neither the patient nor the physician conducting the assessments knew which of the dietary supplements the subject was consuming. Following a one month washout period, subjects crossed-over from Chlorella to placebo or vice versa.Results: Thirty-four subjects completed the entire trial. Six parameters of response were followed while each subject consumed each study diet; subjects answered questions relating to sleep, pain, global well-being, and fatigue while the physician...
The CORDIC Trigonometric Computing Technique

The COordinate Rotation DIgital Computer(CORDIC) is a special-purpose digital computer for real-time airborne computation. In this computer, a unique computing technique is employed which is especially suitable for solving the trigonometric relationships involved in plane coordinate rotation and conversion from rectangular to polar coordinates. CORDIC is an entire-transfer computer; it contains a special serial arithmetic unit consisting of three shift registers, three adder-subtractors, and special interconnections. By use of a prescribed sequence of conditional additions or subtractions, the CORDIC arithmetic unit can be controlled to solve either set of the following equations: Y' = K(Y cos? + X sin?) X' = K(X cos? - Y sin?), or R = K?X2 + Y2 ? = tan-1 Y/X, where K is an invariable constant. This special arithmetic unit is also suitable for other computations such as multiplication, division, and the conversion between binary and mixed radix number systems. However, only the trigonometric algorithms used in this computer and the instrumentation of these algorithms are discussed in this paper.
The ECME algorithm: A simple extension of EM and ECM with faster monotone convergence

A generalisation of the ECM algorithm (Meng & Rubin, 1993), which is itselfan extension of the EM algorithm (Dempster, Laird & Rubin, 1977), can be obtained by replacing some CM-steps of ECM, which maximise the constrained expected complete-data loglikelihood function, with steps that maximise the correspondingly constrained actual likelihood function. This algorithm, which we call ECME algorithm, for Expectation /Conditional Maximisation Either, shares with both EM and ECM their stable monotone convergence and basic simplicity of implementation relative to competing faster converging methods. Moreover, ECME can have a substantially faster convergence rate than either EM or ECM, measured using either the number of iterations or actual computer time
Ventilation Defect Formation in Healthy and Asthma Subjects Is Determined by Lung Inflation

Background: Imaging studies have demonstrated that ventilation during bronchoconstriction in subjects with asthma is patchy with large ventilation defective areas (Vdefs). Based on a theoretical model, we postulated that during bronchoconstriction, as smooth muscle force activation increases, a patchy distribution of ventilation should emerge, even in the presence of minimal heterogeneity the lung. We therefore theorized that in normal lungs, Vdefs should also emerge in regions of the lung with reduced expansion. Objective: We studied 12 healthy subjects to evaluate whether Vdefs formed during bronchoconstriction, and compared their Vdefs with those observed in 9 subjects with mild asthma. Methods: Spirometry, low frequency (0.15 Hz) lung elastance and resistance, and regional ventilation by intravenous 13 NNsaline positron emission tomography were measured before and after a challenge with nebulized methacholine. Vdefs were defined as regions with elevated residual 13 NN after a period of washout. The average location, ventilation, volume, and fractional gas content of the Vdefs, relative to those of the rest of the lung, were calculated for both groups. Results: Consistent with the predictions of the theoretical model, both healthy subjects and those with asthma developed Vdefs. These Vdefs tended to form in regions that, at baseline, had a lower degree of lung inflation and, in healthy subjects, tended to occur in more dependent locations than in subjects with asthma. Conclusion: The formation of Vdefs is determined by the state of inflation prior to bronchoconstriction.
Temperature-Dependent Viscosity of SiREAl-Based Glasses as a Function of N:O and RE:Al Ratios (RE = La, Gd, Y, and Lu)

Tailoring glass compositions can raise the viscosity of SiREAl oxynitride glasses. In the present study, viscosity data are obtained by determining the compressive creep response of bulk glasses in air. The findings reveal that increasing both the nitrogen-to-oxygen and the yttrium-to-aluminum ratios of the glasses shifts the glass viscosity to higher temperatures. In addition, the substitution of progressively smaller rare earths in the glass composition results in a further increase in the glass viscosity. These effects have important implications in the creep resistance of silicon nitride ceramics where the amorphous intergranular films are a major factor in creep resistance.
An Infant With a Facial Hemangioma and More

A patient with a neurocutaneous disorder characterized by large facial infantile hemangiomas and associated abnormalities of the brain, cerebral vasculature, eyes, aorta, heart, and chest wall is presented. All children presenting with segmental infantile hemangiomas should undergo a complete diagnostic workup. We encourage a multidisciplinary clinical approach that minimally includes evaluations by dermatology, cardiology, ophthalmology, radiology, and neurology. The diagnosis of PHACES syndrome is confirmed in a child presenting with the characteristic facial hemangioma and at least 1 associated extracutaneous feature.
Effects of Cleaning Peanuts on Insect Damage, Insect Population Growth and Insecticide Efficacy1

Abstract Farmers stock peanuts were either cleaned by removing foreign material and reducing loose-shell kernels (LSK) or left uncleaned before being treated with insecticides, stored, and artificially infested with several stored peanut insect pest species. The uncleaned peanuts contained only 2.8% foreign material. After 8 and 10 months the percentage of insect-damaged cracked pod kernels was 1.7 to 3.4 X greater in cleaned treated peanuts than in uncleaned treated peanuts, and there was a direct inverse relationship between the number of LSK and the percentage of damaged cracked pod kernels. After 8 and 10 months, the percentage of damaged cracked pod kernels in each class of peanuts, cleaned and uncleaned, was 1.6-5.7 X greater in peanuts treated with 52 ppm malathion than in peanuts treated with either 25 ppm chlorpyrifos-methyl or 25 ppm chlorpyrifos-methyl + 4 ppm methoprene. A significant difference in insect populations between cleaned and uncleaned peanuts occurred in untreated peanuts after two...
Shift in investment between sexually selected traits: tarnishing of the silver spoon

Abstract Studies of resource allocation strategies have concentrated on the influence of natural selection on the evolution of life history traits. To a lesser degree, the effects of trade-offs between natural and sexual selection on the evolution of allocation strategies have also been considered. Trade-offs between sexually selected traits that are important to females but that appear to differ in cost, however, have not been considered. Female green swordtails,Xiphophorus helleri, prefer males with longer swords to males with shorter swords, and in this study they demonstrated a preference for larger males to smaller males. Furthermore, sexually mature males invested differentially in body and sword growth depending on resource availability; males that had an unlimited amount of food invested in both body and sword growth, but males shifted to a food-restricted regime halted investment in body growth and invested only in sword growth. These results suggest that males shift their pattern of investment in two sexually selected traits when food becomes restricted. In general, variable environmental conditions may favour such conditional investment strategies in species in which there is more than one preferred male trait and the costs of the traits differ.
On the Use of Expert Opinion in Housing Quality Analysis: An Application of the "Five City Housing Survey":

Quantifying the level of poor housing within the United States has traditionally been based on the use of combinatorial analysis of census-derived indicators of housing conditions. Units falling below a threshold value on each indicator are defined as being of poor quality. Housing experts from the U.S. Bureau of the Census have produced data showing that census variables, when used as housing quality indicators, must be viewed as random variables, not definitions. The paper that follows explains the use of combinatorial analysis where the indicators are recognized to be random variables. Based upon the results of the Five City Housing Survey of the U.S. Census, the level of error associated with a set of combinatorial rules is estimated and the principles needed to locate the optimal rule established.
Mechanisms of Cr(VI)-induced p53 activation: the role of phosphorylation, mdm2 and ERK

The present study investigated the molecular mechanisms of p53 activation induced by Cr(VI), using human lung epithelial A549 cells. Cr(VI) increased both protein level and transactivation ability of p53 protein. The activation of p53 is at the protein level instead of the transcriptional level. The degradation of p53 was dramatically decreased upon stimulation by Cr(VI). In addition, Cr(VI) treatment decreased the interaction of p53 with mdm2 protooncoprotein, which blocks the transactivation ability of p53 and promotes the degradation of p53 protein. In response to Cr(VI) treatment, p53 protein became phosphorylated and acetylated at Ser15 and Lys382, respectively. The phosphorylation levels at either Ser20 or Ser392 did not show any significant alterations. Since previous studies report that it is Ser20 and not Ser15 phosphorylation that contributes to mdm2 dissociation from p53, the results obtained from the current investigation suggest a different mechanism: Ser15 instead of Ser20 may play a key role in the dissociation of mdm2 in response to Cr(VI). Erk, a member of mitogen-activated protein kinase, acts as the upstream kinase for the phosphorylation of the p53 Ser15 site.
The Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV) in Children With Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Although most children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) are anemic at the time of diagnosis, the cause of this anemia remains obscure. In an effort to characterize the anemia, we analyzed the mean corpuscular volume (MCV) at the time of diagnosis. The MCV was selected because of the observation that older erythrocytes have a reduced MCV and an anemia presumably related to decreased red blood cell production should be reflected by a reduced MCV. A total of 54 patients fulfilled the criteria for analysis. Of this group, 33 per cent had an increased MCV, 61 per cent had a normal MCV, and 6 per cent had a decreased MCV for age. Patients with an increased MCV were found to have a significantly lower hemoglobin and platelet count. The number of females in the group with the increased MCV was 83 per cent as contrasted with 43 per cent in the group with a normal MCV. At relapse, 71 per cent of patients with an initially increased MCV had an elevated MCV as contrasted with only 23 per cent in the group with an initially normal MCV. These observations suggest that in patients with ALL and an increased MCV, a maturation defect may be present that affects all cell lines and may be the result of a diffusible substance released from the leukemic cells. The MCV cannot be used as a reflection of mean cell age in patients with ALL and does not support the belief that the anemia in ALL is merely the result of a "crowding-out" process.
The Effect of Passivation SiON Layer on the Data Retention Reliability of NAND Flash

Data retention is one of the major device reliabilities of NAND Flash memory. We found that the lower Refractive Index (RI) of the Passivation Silicon Oxynitride (SiON) layer deposited by PECVD, the better data retention behavior was achieved. The hydrogen concentration and the stress analysis of the films are analyzed to find out which is more important in this case. Generally, when the RI of SiON decreases, both parameters also decrease, so it is impossible to find out which parameter is major factor of data retention. To analyze the effects of two parameters separately, we applied two conditions which had the same hydrogen concentration but quite different stress values. The final data retention levels are same in both conditions. In addition, even if the layer has the same hydrogen concentration, the retention characteristic is changed by how hydrogen is bonded in the film. In conclusion, the data retention characteristic can be explained by mobile ions generated by the hydrogen weakly bonded in PECVD SiON films in our experiment.
Measurement of Energy Costs of Security in Wireless Sensor Nodes

Both correct transmission using hashing and protection of messages using encryption in sensor nodes require additional energy. This paper describes our measurement results for energy consumption in CrossBow and Ember sensor nodes for the process of exchanging data messages between nodes both in the clear and in a protected form. Full strength algorithms were loaded into and executed in nodes. It was found that the CPU operates for substantially longer times for both hashing and encryption operations compared to the time for handling messages without any security. The longer radio transmission times due to hashing were especially costly. Hence, security algorithms have great impacts on energy consumption in sensor nodes. For the full operational mode, with CPU processing and also radio transmission of messages, our results indicate that the lifetime of a transmitting node in a security regime is only about one-half of the lifetime without security.
Gender Wars: Emotions in Much Ado About Nothing

In order to explore the relation between love and war, I apply a theory showing the affinity between romance, shame, and anger in a classic text. Shakespeare's plays present an exceedingly grim portrait of the relationship between men and women. Even his lighthearted treatment of this theme in Much Ado about Nothing suggests that love between a man and a woman involves unending tension and conflict, much like the continuous distrust, deception, and outright warfare between nations. A close reading of the text of Much Ado shows shamelanger sequences both in conventional courtship (Hero and Claudio) and in the unconventional relation of Beatrice and Benedick Both relationships involve infatuation. My analysis suggests that acknowledging shame and anger between men and women may be an important first step toward resolving their conflict.
Temsirolimus Activates Autophagy and Ameliorates Cardiomyopathy Caused by Lamin A/C Gene Mutation

Mutations in the lamin A/C gene ( LMNA ), which encodes A-type lamins, cause a diverse range of diseases collectively called laminopathies, the most common of which is dilated cardiomyopathy. Emerging evidence suggests that LMNA mutations cause disease by altering cell signaling pathways, but the specific mechanisms are poorly understood. We show that the AKT–mammalian target of rapamycin pathway is hyperactivated in hearts of mice with cardiomyopathy caused by Lmna mutation and that in vivo administration of the rapamycin analog temsirolimus prevents deterioration of cardiac function. We also show defective autophagy in hearts of these mice and demonstrate that improvement in heart function induced by pharmacological interventions is correlated with enhanced autophagy. These findings provide a rationale for treatment of LMNA cardiomyopathy with rapalogs and implicate defective autophagy as a pathogenic mechanism of cardiomyopathy arising from LMNA mutation.
Dis-Connected City: Is Municipal Wireless Right for New York?

The history of municipal wireless projects in the United States has been a mixed one, with success dependent on the type of operating model and a variety of local factors. This paper reviews a number of these projects and examines the policy rationales behind providing municipal wireless services. It then looks at the state of wireless and broadband accessibility in New York City, and considers how the City might promote accessibility in keeping with the policy rationales identified.
Antenatal pulmonary embolic disease: Case report, with special reference to the therapeutic use of anticoagulants

Summary 1. A case of pulmonary embolism occurring early in pregnancy and treated with warfarin sodium for 4 months during the gestation has been presented. 2. The literature regarding thromboembolic pulmonary disease in pregnancy has been reviewed, and the reported cases have been tabulated and statistically analyzed.
The Rio Grande do Norte Astrolabe

The Rio Grande do Norte astrolabe may have been found in Brazilian waters, although its provenance is unclear. It was bought and sold at auction in the Unites States in 2011, and the instrument represents a well-preserved specimen within a small and poorly understood collection of published marine astrolabes. It is signed by Agostinho de Goes Raposo, a member of a line of documented Portuguese astrolabe makers, and dated to 1656. This paper relates the condition, treatment, and ethical situation of the artifact, and hopes to advance our understanding of this class of navigation instruments.
PATHOGENESIS OF AIDS-ASSOCIATED KAPOSI'S SARCOMA

Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) is a mesenchymal tumor of unclear etiopathogenesis. The epidemic form of KS occurs in up to 30% of HIV-infected individuals with lesions that have mixed cellularity, spindle cell proliferation, and neoangiogenesis. Although not completely defined, the spindle cells, thought to be the tumor cells of KS, are of mesenchymal cell origin, with features resembling endothelial and smooth muscle cells. The establishment of in vitro and in vivo model systems (AIDS-KS cell culture and the transgenic mouse model) for KS have allowed studies of the pathogenesis of KS. In particular, studies of the biologic characteristics of the AIDS-KS cells have demonstrated the presence of autocrine and paracrine growth activities. The findings of specific cytokines produced by the AIDS-KS cells may explain the histologic changes found in the KS lesion. Similarly, the development of KS-like lesions by inoculating cultured AIDS-KS cells into nude mice suggests that KS is an inducible disease. Finally, the results obtained in tat-transgenic mice and the proliferative induction of AIDS-KS cells by addition of exogenous (cell-released or recombinant) Tat protein suggest that this HIV gene product may have an important role in the development or progression of KS in HIV-infected individuals.
Do Foley Catheters Adequately Drain the Bladder? Evidence from CT Imaging Studies.

Introduction:The Foley catheter has been widely assumed to be an effective means of draining the bladder. However, recent studies have brought into question its efficacy. The objective of our study is to further assess the adequacy of Foley catheter for complete drainage of the bladder.Materials and Methods:Consecutive catheterized patients were identified from a retrospective review of contrast enhanced and non-contrast enhanced computed tomo-graphic (CT) abdomen and pelvis studies completed from 7/1/2011-6/30/2012. Residual urine volume (RUV) was measured using 5mm axial CT sections as follows: The length (L) and width (W) of the bladder in the section with the greatest cross sectional area was combined with bladder height (H) as determined by multiplanar reformatted images in order to calculate RUV by applying the formula for the volume (V) of a sphere in a cube: V=(ϖ/6)*(L*W*H).Results:RUVs of 167 (mean age 67) consecutively catheterized men (n=72) and women (n=95) identified by CT abdomen and pelvis studies were calculated. The mean RUV was 13.2 mL (range: 0.0 mL-859.1 mL, standard deviation: 75.9 mL, margin of error at 95% confidence:11.6 mL). Four (2.4%) catheterized patients had RUVs of >50 mL, two of whom had an improperly placed catheter tip noted on their CT-reports.Conclusions:Previous studies have shown that up to 43% of catheterized patients had a RUV greater than 50 mL, suggesting inadequacy of bladder drainage via the Foley catheter. Our study indicated that the vast majority of patients with Foley catheters (97.6%), had adequately drained bladders with volumes of <50 mL.
Murine models in the evaluation of heparan sulfate-based anticoagulants.

Evaluating anticoagulants in animal thrombosis models is a standard component of pre-clinical drug testing. Mice are frequently used for these initial evaluations because a variety of thrombosis models have been developed and are well characterized in this species, and the animals are relatively inexpensive to maintain. Because mice have a natural resistance to forming intravascular thrombi, vessel injury is required to induce intravascular clot formation. Several methods have been established for inducing arterial or venous thrombosis in mice. For the purpose of testing heparin-based drugs, we adapted a well-established model in which thrombus formation in the carotid artery is induced by exposing the vessel to ferric chloride. For studying anticoagulant effects on venous thrombosis, we use a model in which the inferior vena cava is ligated and the size of the resulting clots is measured. The most common adverse effect of anticoagulation therapy is bleeding. The effect of heparin-based anticoagulants can be tested in mice in a simple tail bleeding assay.
Extraction of Bitumen from Oil Sands Using Deep Eutectic Ionic Liquid Analogues

It is demonstrated that bitumen can be separated from “water-wet” Alberta oil sands and “oil-wet” Utah oil sands using a so-called analogue ionic liquid (IL) based on deep eutectic mixtures of choline chloride and urea (ChCl/U) together with a diluent such as naphtha. Unlike conventional ILs, these eutectics are relatively cheap and environmentally friendly. The process is straightforward and involves simply mixing the components at ambient temperatures followed by standard solid/liquid and liquid/liquid separation steps. The ChCl/U mixture appears to reduce the adhesion of bitumen to sand, facilitating separation. It is also immiscible with hydrocarbons such as bitumen or oil. Coupled with a large density difference, this results in a sharp phase separation of hydrocarbons from the ChCl/U mixture. The ChCl/U deep eutectic essentially acts as a separating fluid, keeping the naphtha-diluted bitumen and extracted sand apart, facilitating subsequent separations and solvent recovery steps. However, ChCl/U mix...