cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cardiovascular disease in diabetes, beyond glucose.

Summary Despite the decades-old knowledge that diabetes mellitus is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, the reasons for this association are only partially understood. While this association is true for both type 1 and type 2 diabetes, different pathophysiological processes may be responsible. Lipids and other risk factors are indeed important, whereas the role of glucose is less clear. This lack of clarity stems from clinical trials that do not unambiguously show that intensive glycemic control reduces cardiovascular events. Animal models have provided mechanisms that link diabetes to increased atherosclerosis, and evidence consistent with the importance of factors beyond hyperglycemia has emerged. We review clinical, pathological, and animal studies exploring the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis in humans living with diabetes and in mouse models of diabetes. An increased effort to identify risk factors beyond glucose is now needed to prevent the increased cardiovascular disease risk associated with diabetes.
Multi-dimensional biomarker analyses identify pembrolizumab responders in advanced-stage, high-grade endometrial cancer

Objectives: The recent FDA approval of pembrolizumab for the treatment of recurrent, tissue agnostic cancers with Microsatellite Instability-High (MSI-H) or Mismatch Repair Deficient (dMMR) has led to the treatment of a selected cohort of endometrial cancer (EC) patients. Methods: We designed a study to ascertain tumor immune modulatory effects of pembrolizumab in the front-line setting for advanced stage III/IV surgically-resectable endometrial cancers regardless of MSI-H or dMMR status. The primary objectives were to determine the safety of treatment with pembrolizumab by radiographic imaging and to determine progression-free survival at 6 months. Exploratory objective was to compare the immune response before and after treatment. In an open label, single-arm Phase I trial, 8 EC patients were treated with 2 doses of preoperative pembrolizumab IV prior to surgery followed by carboplatin and paclitaxel and 4 doses of pembrolizumab 200mg/kg q3 weeks IV. Peripheral blood was collected from EC patients at baseline level before treatment and post 2 doses of pembrolizumab treatment. Blood from healthy controls (HC) was also collected. Both were processed for high-dimensional single-cell mass cytometry (CyTOF) using an optimized lymphoid and myeloid panel. Results: Patients who responded to therapy showed lower frequency of circulating CD8+ naive T cells but higher frequency of CD8+ effector T cells after the treatment than the poor responders. We observed post-therapy expansion of populations of CD8+ and CD4+ T cells expressing co-stimulatory receptor ICOS in responders but not in poor responders. Granzyme+CD8+ and Granzyme+CD4+ T cell populations were expanded after pembrolizumab treatment in responders but were decreased in poor responders. Higher frequency of CD27+Fas- CD4+ T cells at baseline and increased frequency of CD27-Fas+CD4+ T cells post-treatment were observed in responders but not in the poor responders. Furthermore, we identified that circulating MDSCs were reduced after pembrolizumab treatment in responders. Conclusions: Our results suggest that peripheral blood analysis may provide valuable insights into responses to anti-PD-1-targeted therapies in patients with endometrial cancers.
Port of Singapore Authority: Ideology vs. Pragmatism—Trade and Geopolitics in the Malacca Strait

This case describes the growth of the Asian ports industry between 2015 and 2020 and the impact of escalating US-China trade tensions and rising Chinese direct investments on regional port competition. Throughout the 2000s, the volume of Asian shipping steadily increased on the back of an expanding Chinese economy. The case focuses on how the Chinese Belt and Road Initiative and new Chinese-funded mega-ports like the Malacca Gateway Port would affect the competitive dynamic between the Port of Singapore (PSA) and regional competitors such as Malaysia's Port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP). The PSA has been the dominant transshipment hub in the region but has been ceding market share and has lost its position as the busiest port in the world to the Port of Shanghai. In planning for the future, the PSA has to work within Singapore's diplomatic framework of balancing Eastern and Western interests on the geopolitical chessboard of the South China Sea region. The case provides an example of how national interests and international relations have to be considered when making business decisions. Excerpt UVA-S-0351 Jul. 13, 2021 Port of Singapore Authority: Ideology vs. Pragmatism—Trade and Geopolitics in the Malacca Strait
Different combinations of cysteine-rich repeats mediate binding of low density lipoprotein receptor to two different proteins.

Seven imperfect repeats of a 40-amino acid cysteine-rich sequence constitute the ligand binding domain of the low density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor. To assess the contribution of each repeat, three site-directed mutations were made individually in each repeat: 1) deletion of the repeat, 2) substitution of a conserved isoleucine with aspartic acid, and 3) substitution of a conserved aspartic acid with tyrosine. cDNAs containing these mutations were transfected into simian COS cells and assayed for their ability to bind LDL, which contains a 500-kDa protein ligand (apoB-100), and β-migrating very low density lipoprotein (β-VLDL), which contains multiple copies of a 33-kDa ligand (apoE). The results showed that binding of the two ligands required different combinations of repeats. LDL binding required repeats 3-7; deletion of any one of these repeats markedly reduced LDL binding. In contrast, β-migrating very low density lipoprotein binding was insensitive to the loss of any single repeat with the important exception of repeat 5, whose loss reduced binding by 60%. The same effects were obtained when each of the repeats was altered by either of the two substitution mutations. The current findings suggest that a multiplicity of cysteine-rich repeats may allow a single protein to bind several different protein ligands by employing different combinations of repeats.
Ontological realism: Methodology or misdirection?

In a series of papers over a period of several years Barry Smith and Werner Ceusters have offered a number of cogent criticisms of historical approaches to creating, maintaining, and applying biomedical terminologies and ontologies. And they have urged the adoption of what they refer to as a “realism-based” approach. Indeed, at times they insist that the realism-based approach not only offers clear advantages and a well-founded methodological basis for ontology development and evaluation, but that such a realist perspective is in fact necessary for understanding and using terminologies and ontologies in science. This paper explores a number of questions surrounding such claims, provides a careful characterization of the type of realism recommended by Smith and Ceusters, and evaluates the role that realism plays in the critiques and recommendations that they offer. The conclusion reached is that while Smith's and Ceusters' criticisms of prior practice in the treatment of ontologies and terminologies in medical informatics are often both perceptive and well founded, and while at least some of their own proposals demonstrate obvious merit and promise, none of this either follows from or requires the brand of realism that they propose. Editor's note: A response to this paper from Barry Smith and Werner Ceusters is scheduled to appear in a future issue of Applied Ontology.
Differences in Outcomes, Completion Rates, and Perceptions of Treatment Between White, Black, and Hispanic LGBT Clients in Substance Abuse Programs

Research suggests that the needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) clients from racial minority groups may not be adequately addressed in substance abuse treatment. Few research studies, however, have been performed to examine this issue. In New York, 191 LGBT former clients of substance abuse programs completed surveys to determine differences in outcomes, completion rates, and perceptions of treatment among white, black, Hispanic, and “other” participants. No differences in outcomes or completion rates were found between racial groups. White participants, however, in comparison to nonwhite respondents, reported less satisfaction, less connection to the treatment program, and in a multivariate analysis, less therapeutic support.
Creating Games with Unity and Maya: How to Develop Fun and Marketable 3D Games

Unity brings you ever closer to the "author once, deploy anywhere" dream. With its multiplatform capabilities, you can target desktop, web, mobile devices, and consoles using a single development engine. Little wonder that Unity has quickly become the #1 game engine out there. Mastering Unity is absolutely essential in an increasingly competitive games market where agility is expected, yet until now practical tutorials were nearly impossible to find. Creating Games with Unity and Maya gives you with an end-to-end solution for Unity game development with Maya. Written by a twelve-year veteran of the 3D animation and games industry and professor of 3D animation, this book takes you step-by-step through the process of developing an entire game from scratch-including coding, art, production, and deployment. This accessible guide provides a "non-programmer" entry point to the world of game creation. Aspiring developers with little or no coding experience will learn character development in Maya, scripts, GUI interface, and first- and third-person interactions.--Unity is HOT! It's the #1 game engine out there, and it's taken the game world by storm. Documentation is hard to find. Focal to the rescue. Learn Unityfrom the ground up. Build a game with no previous scripting knowledge, and make a game that's fun. --Authoritative - Author, Adam Watkins, is a 12 year veteran and author of several books and over 100 articles on 3D Animation. His students are the winners of multiple national and international animation awards and festivals. With this experience comes great insightinto the best ways to learn 3D art and gaming concepts. --Accessible to All Unity users (artists and programmers)- the author comes from an art background. He animated for many years before working in games. This provides a "non-programmer" entry point to the world of game creation. --Complete- this volume provides instruction from game inception to completion and delivery. The 3D creation and export begins, but applied functionality and delivery complete the book. In the course of the book,the reader will create effective and efficient 3D assets from scratch using Maya (including characters). Then, use these assets to create a functioning game complete with scripts, GUI interfaces, and first and third person interactions. --Companion website includes: original versions of the images, all completed files from the tutorials, important links, and all code from the book.
The mechanism of arbovirus transovarial transmission in mosquitoes: San Angelo virus in Aedes albopictus.

The mechanism of transovarial transmission of San Angelo (SA) virus in Aedes albopictus was investigated.A mosquito line with SA virus filial infection rates of almost 100% was developed by selection. Results of crosses and back-crosses between this transovarial transmission-efficient line and noninfected mosquitoes indicated that SA virus was transmitted in Ae. albopictus by maternal inheritance. The infection status of the male parent was of no consequence; the virus was passed from generation to generation through the females. Transovarially infected mosquitoes contained less virus than insects infected by inoculation. The behavior of SA virus in Ae. albopictus was similar to that of sigma virus in Drosophila melanogaster, suggesting that some females in the transovarial transmission-efficient line had developed a chronic infection of their germinal cells (oogonia). Serial transovarial passage of SA virus in Ae. albopictus did not alter its plaque morphology, infectivity for mosquitoes, or pathogenicity for vertebrates. Transovarially infected mosquitoes transmitted the virus by bite to mice.
Capturing the Dynamics of eBusiness Models: The eBusiness Analysis Framework and the Electronic Trading Infrastructure

We outline a business model based analysis framework, which helps examine the intricacies and evolution of eBusiness. While the current research has mostly examined volume and scope as indicators of eBusiness evolution, we suggest that this analysis should be augmented with qualitative analysis of the evolution of eBusiness models, their implementation strategies and diffusion. The critical part of this examination is the identification of two constraints that affect eBusiness model evolution: the maturity of the electronic infrastructure (ETI), and environmental factors consisting of regulatory frameworks and push-pull diffusion factors. After presenting the defining concepts of our approach, we exemplify the value of the framework by analyzing the evolution of B2B and B2C business in the US over the past 5 years. Sean T. McGann, Kalle Lyytinen
Theory and Observations – Forward Modeling/Synthetic Body Wave Seismograms

The complexity induced in seismic body waves by rapid or discontinuous spatial changes of elastic moduli and density can be efficiently modeled in radially symmetrical structure by a collection of closely related ray-, integral transform-, and modal-based solutions of the elastic equations of motion. These modeling techniques can be extended to include viscoelastic attenuation, simple point-source representations of earthquake faulting, weakly varying three-dimensional (3D) structure and elastic anisotropy, and some effects of scattering. The effects of stronger and smaller-scale 2D and 3D heterogeneity can be modeled by numerical and hybrid analytic/numerical methods.
Effect of Model-Based Iterative Reconstruction on CT Number Measurements Within Small (10-29 mm) Low-Attenuation Renal Masses.

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of model-based iterative reconstruction (MBIR) on CT number measurements within small (10–29 mm) low-attenuation renal masses. MATERIALS AND METHODS. One hundred 10- to 29-mm exophytic or endophytic low-attenuation renal lesions imaged with CT (unenhanced and nephrographic [100 seconds] phases, 120 kVp, variable mA, 2.5-mm slice thickness) were identified in 100 patients. The raw CT source data were prospectively reconstructed twice: once using Veo MBIR and once using a blend of 30% adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction (ASiR) and filtered back projection (FBP). Lesions were chosen to form four equal-sized (n = 25) groups stratified by lesion size (10–19 or 20–29 mm) and growth pattern (endophytic or exophytic). Attenuation (in HU) was measured using identical ROIs and compared with two-tailed t tests. The effects of patient diameter and lesion anatomy on attenuation discrepancies of 5 HU or more were assessed using binary logistic regr...
Implementation of an Adaptive Controller System from Concept to Flight Test

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration Dryden Flight Research Center (Edwards, California) is conducting ongoing flight research using adaptive controller algorithms. A highly modified McDonnell-Douglas NF-15B airplane called the F-15 Intelligent Flight Control System (IFCS) was used for these algorithms. This airplane has been modified by the addition of canards and by changing the flight control systems to interface a single-string research controller processor for neural network algorithms. Research goals included demonstration of revolutionary control approaches that can efficiently optimize aircraft performance for both normal and failure conditions, and to advance neural-network-based flight control technology for new aerospace systems designs. Before the NF-15B IFCS airplane was certified for flight test, however, certain processes needed to be completed. This paper presents an overview of these processes, including a description of the initial adaptive controller concepts followed by a discussion of modeling formulation and performance testing. Upon design finalization, the next steps are: integration with the system interfaces, verification of the software, validation of the hardware to the requirements, design of failure detection, development of safety limiters to minimize the effect of erroneous neural network commands, and creation of flight test control room displays to maximize human situational awareness.
Parent education and support programs for fathers: Outcome effects on paternal involvement

The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of parent education and support programs designed specifically for fathers on paternal involvement and perceptions of parental competence. Subjects were 60 father‐child pairs assigned to treatment and “wait‐list” control groups. Treatment consisted of father‐child pairs participating in parent education/support group programs that met for two hours on ten consecutive Saturday mornings. Significant program effects were found on the fathers’ perceptions of parental competence, as well as nonworkday interaction, nonworkday accessibility, and responsibility forms of involvement. Results are discussed in terms of future research and program development efforts on father involvement.
Border Correlations of Partial Words

Partial words are finite sequences over a finite alphabet A that may contain a number of “do not know” symbols denoted by ⋄’s. Setting $A_{\diamond}=A\cup\lbrace{\diamond}\rbrace$, A ⋄ * denotes the set of all partial words over A. In this paper, we investigate the border correlation function $\beta:A_{\diamond}^{*}\rightarrow\lbrace a,b\rbrace^{*}$ that specifies which conjugates (cyclic shifts) of a given partial word w of length n are bordered, that is, β(w)=c 0 c 1…c n−1 where c i =a or c i =b according to whether the ith cyclic shift σ i (w) of w is unbordered or bordered. A partial word w is bordered if a proper prefix x 1 of w is compatible with a proper suffix x 2 of w, in which case any partial word x containing both x 1 and x 2 is called a border of w. In addition to β, we investigate an extension β′:A ⋄ *→ℕ* that maps a partial word w of length n to m 0 m 1…m n−1 where m i is the length of a shortest border of σ i (w). Our results extend those of Harju and Nowotka.
Parasites of Lake Trout, Salvelinus namaycush, from the Great Lakes: a Review of the Literature 1874–1994

Abstract A comparative summary of the literature on parasites reported from lake trout, Salvelinus namaycush , from the Great Lakes is presented. Twenty-four studies on parasites infecting lake trout in these lakes have been published since 1874 with 32 parasite species (1 Monogenea, 3 Digenea, 9 Cestoidea, 6 Nematoda, 6 Acanthocephala, 1 Annelida, 5 Crustacea, 1 Fungi) being reported. The most common parasites are Eubothrium salvelini and Echinorhynchus salmonis in the intestine, and Cystidicola stigmatura in the swim bladder. Most of the parasites occur in the gastrointestinal tract. Twenty (80%) of the 25 helminth species reported from lake trout are represented by adults. The dominance of these helminth species is attributable to the position of lake trout in the food web of the Great Lakes as top predators. Parasitological data from splake, Salvelinus namaycush X Salvelinus fontinalis , from Lake Huron are also presented.
Computed free energy differences between point mutations in a collagen-like peptide.

We studied the results of mutating alanine --> glycine at three positions of a collagen-like peptide in an effort to develop a computational method for predicting the energetic and structural effects of a single point genetic mutation in collagen, which is associated with the clinical diagnosis of Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI). The differences in free energy of denaturation were calculated between the collagen-like peptides [(POG)(4)(POA)(POG)(4)](3) and [(POG)(10)](3) (POG: proline-hydroxyproline-glycine).* Our computational results, which suggest significant destabilization of the collagen-like triple-helix upon the glycine --> alanine mutations, correlate very well with the experimental free energies of denaturation. The robustness of our collagen-like peptide model is shown by its reproduction of experimental results with both different simulation paths and different lengths of the model peptide. The individual free energy for each alanine --> glycine mutation (and the reverse free energy, glycine --> alanine mutation) in the collagen-like peptide has been calculated. We find that the first alanine introduced into the triple helix causes a very large destabilization of the helix, but the last alanine introduced into the same position of an adjacent chain causes a very small change in the peptide stability. Thus, our results demonstrate that each mutation does not contribute equally to the free energy. We find that the sum of the calculated individual residues' free energy can accurately model the experimental free energy for the whole peptide.
Altruism as a mechanism for resource management

A persistent challenge that is manifested in many environments is how to effectively utilize and share resources among a population or across a system. This paper discusses the concept of altruism as a convention for resource management and utilization. A simple agent based simulation is introduced where agents share finite resources over iterative rounds of interaction. The agents and their ability to maintain sufficient resources were observed at varying levels of resource supply and altruism levels. Agents were left absent of kinship and social behavioral components in order to focus primarily on the effect the altruism component had on population health. It was found that at resource levels above 75% of demand, altruism levels of 60-80% provided for the optimal population health. While below 75%, a completely non-altruistic population achieved greater population health. In addition, the effectiveness of the altruism component is highly dependent on the sharing algorithm employed to manage resources.
Sex differences in the fetal programming of hypertension

Abstract Background : Numerous clinical and experimental studies support the hypothesis that the intrauterine environment is an important determinant of cardiovascular disease and hypertension. Objective : This review examined the mechanisms linking an adverse fetal environment and increased risk for chronic disease in adulthood with an emphasis on gender differences and the role of sex hormones in mediating sexual dimorphism in response to a suboptimal fetal environment. Methods : This review focuses on current findings from the PubMed database regarding animal models of fetal programming of hypertension, sex differences in phenotypic outcomes, and potential mechanisms in offspring of mothers exposed to an adverse insult during gestation. For the years 1988 to 2007, the database was searched using the following terms: fetal programming, intrauterine growth restriction, low birth weight, sex differences, estradiol, testosterone, high blood pressure, and hypertension . Results : The mechanisms involved in the fetal programming of adult disease are multifactorial and include alterations in the regulatory systems affecting the long-tterm control of arterial pressure. Sex differences have been observed in animal models of fetal programming, and recent studies suggest that sex hormones may modulate activity of regulatory systems, leading to a lower incidence of hypertension and vascular dysfunction in females compared with males. Conclusions : Animal models of fetal programming provide critical support for the inverse relationship between birth weight and blood pressure. Experimental models demonstrate that sex differences are observed in the pathophysiologic response to an adverse fetal environment. A role for sex hormone involvement is strongly suggested,with modulation of the renin-angiotensin system as a possible mechanism.
Requirement of FGF-4 for postimplantation mouse development

Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) are thought to influence many processes in vertebrate development because of their diverse sites of expression and wide range of biological activities in in vitro culture systems. As a means of elucidating embryonic functions of FGF-4, gene targeting was used to generate mice harboring a disrupted Fgf4 gene. Embryos homozygous for the null allele underwent uterine implantation and induced uterine decidualization but did not develop substantially thereafter. As was consistent with their behavior in vivo, Fgf4 null embryos cultured in vitro displayed severely impaired proliferation of the inner cell mass, whereas growth and differentiation of the inner cell mass were rescued when null embryos were cultured in the presence of FGF-4 protein.
Estimating suspended sediment concentrations in surface waters of the Amazon River wetlands from Landsat images

A method has been developed, based on spectral mixture analysis, to estimate the concentration of suspended sediment in surface waters of the Amazon River wetlands from Landsat MSS and TM images. Endmembers were derived from laboratory reflectance measurements of water-sediment mixtures with a range of sediment concentrations. Using these reference spectra, we applied a linear mixture analysis to multispectral images after accounting for instrument and atmosphere gains and offsets. Sediment concentrations were estimated for individual pixels from the mixture analysis results based on a nonlinear calibration curve relating laboratory sediment concentrations and reflectance to endmember fractions. The uncertainty in the sediment concentrations derived from this analysis for three Amazon images is predicted to be within ±20 mg/L, and the concentrations fall within a range of concentrations of suspended sediment that were measured at several times and places in the field over the past 15 years. The emphasis of our work is to use the patterns of sediment concentrations to compute the approximate volumes of sediment that are transferred between the main channel and floodplain of the Amazon River. However, the methodology can be applied universally if the optical properties of water and sediment at the site are known, and it is, therefore, useful for the study of suspended sediment concentrations in surface waters of wetlands elsewhere.
A Theory Facilitating the Investigation of Sub-resolution Membrane Trafficking Using Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence Microscopy

Total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF) microscopy has being used to investigate membrane structures smaller than optical resolution. Thus, a fluorescence punctum in a TIRF image reflects one or more such fluorescently labeled entities. We have developed a theory linking the fluorescence puncta to their underlying randomly distributed sub-resolution structures. This theory is verified using realistically simulated TIRF images of GLUT4 glucose transporters in cultured adipocytes, upon which fluorescence puncta are automatically identified using our MAX2D algorithm. We found the maximum puncta density in a TIRF image is directly limited by optical resolution, which is predicted and precisely described by our theoretical formulation. Within the limit of microscope's resolution, >90% true-positive rates are achieved for localizing an underlying sub-resolution vesicle to an identified punctum pixel location. Importantly, ∼30-60% of all puncta locations are super-resolution (100nm) markers to their underlying sub-resolution structures. With the average inter-vesicle distances become much smaller than microscope's resolution at higher simulated vesicle densities, the closest matching vesicles to puncta locations are typically of high signal-to-noise characteristics, which in the TIRF evanescence field are also vesicles localized closer to the coverslip-attached plasma membrane where vesicle fusion occurs. We have extended our method to much smaller (synaptic vesicles) and larger (insulin granules) membrane compartments. Analysis of experimentally acquired data suggests insulin reduces the pool of exocytic GLUT4 vesicles near the adipocyte plasma membrane.
Potassium concentration in leaf‐blades and petioles as affected by potassium fertilization and stage of maturity of cotton 1

Abstract Analysis of data obtained from samples collected in the Delta area of Mississippi showed that the potassium concentration of young mature and old mature cotton leaf‐blades correlated better with soil test potassium than did that of the apical immature leaf‐blades. Results from field studies indicated that the old mature petiole was the most sensitive indicator of the potassium status of the cotton plants. The potassium concentration in both leaf‐blades and petioles decreased with stage of maturity from early square to early half‐grown boll. Potassium concentration did not fluctuate with sampling at different times of the day. The rate of decline of potassium concentration was greater in petioles of mature cotton leaves than in the leaf‐blades. For mature leaves, the potassium concentration of leaf‐blades was highly correlated with that in petioles, but for immature leaves, the correlation was poor. The rate of decline of potassium concentration in both cotton leaf‐blades and petioles was not affe...
Concentration fluctuations in ducted turbulent jets

A study of furnace-mixing patterns as represented in the cold by a turbulent jet of air discharging down the axis of a cylindrical duct has been completed. Papers in the preceding two symposia described the fields of mean velocity, mean concentration of nozzle fluid, and concentration intermittency. The present paper treats the nozzle-fluid-concentration fluctuations. Intensities, spectra, correlation coefficients, and integral scales have been measured by the scattered-light technique. Emphasis has been on the regimes in which recirculation occurs.
Abdominal magnetic resonance venography.

With the refinement of fast gradient-echo imaging, it is now possible to perform abdominal magnetic resonance venography completely noninvasively, without the use of oral or injected contrast agents. In this paper, we emphasize two-dimensional, time-of-flight angiographic techniques, as applied to the study of patency and flow in the veins of the abdomen. Magnetic resonance venography is routinely applicable to patients with portal disease, or suspected occlusion of the inferior vena cava, iliac veins or renal veins. Sequential, single-slice venographic images, acquired during breath holding, can be postprocessed to form projected venograms. Hemodynamic information is derived using presaturation schemes, bolus-tracking or phase imaging. These techniques can also be used to establish the integrity of surgical portosystemic shunts.
Measurement of the optical properties of donor and acceptor derivatized PPV block copolymers

Sulfone and methoxy substituted block co-polymers of poly-phenlyenevinylene (PPV) have been synthesized and the optical properties of both the oligomers and the combined block co-polymers have been examined. The substitution on the phenylene ring leads to small energy shifts in both the optical band gap as well as shifts in the valence and conduction band energies. When the oligomers are combined in a block co-polymer either with or without an aliphatic bridge unit, a space charge field is formed which can be used to quench the luminescence intensity in these materials by separating optically generated excitons and electron-hole pairs. PPV materials with this internal field have potential applications as solar energy converters and photodetectors. The absorption and emission spectra and the time dependence of the emission of donor and acceptor derivatized block co-polymers was measured and the quenching of the luminescence was observed and quantified.
System of launchable mesoscale robots for distributed sensing

A system of launchable miniature mobile robots with various sensors as payload is used for distributed sensing. The robots are projected to areas of interest either by a robot launcher or by a human operator using standard equipment. A wireless communication network is used to exchange information with the robots. Payloads such as a MEMS sensor for vibration detection, a microphone and an active video module are used mainly to detect humans. The video camera provides live images through a wireless video transmitter and a pan-tilt mechanism expands the effective field of view. There are strict restrictions on total volume and power consumption of the payloads due to the small size of the robot. Emerging technologies are used to address these restrictions. In this paper, we describe the use of microrobotic technologies to develop active vision modules for the mesoscale robot. A single chip CMOS video sensor is used along with a miniature lens that is approximately the size of a sugar cube. The device consumes 100 mW; about 5 times less than the power consumption of a comparable CCD camera. Miniature gearmotors 3 mm in diameter are used to drive the pan-tilt mechanism. A miniature video transmitter is used to transmit analog video signals from the camera.
Abnormalities of chromosome No. 1: Two cases with lymphocytic lymphomas

Abstract Two cases of lymphocytic lymphoma with a duplication of part of the long arm of chromosome #1, between bands 1q25 and 1q32, are presented. The coincidence between this finding with others in the literature supports the concept that this specific chromosome segment is related to the proliferative advantage of malignant cells in neoplasia.
Between Neoliberalism and Difference: Multiple Practices of Property in Post-Soviet Russia

Two decades of aggressive neoliberalisation in Russia has failed to produce a uniform system of private property and profit-maximising enterprises. Instead, the complex interactions of multiple ‘practices of property’ that are pre-Soviet, Soviet and post-Soviet in origin, and not private property alone, have created a diverse economic landscape. Moreover, multiple practices of property have produced both capitalist economies (such as Moscow's early capitalist enterprises) and non-capitalist, ethically guided economies (such as the indigenous enterprises of Arctic reindeer herders). The persistence of alternative economic logics in Russia illustrates the limits of the role of private property in shaping the post-Soviet economy.
Comparison of Neutralizing Antibody Assays for Receptor Binding and Enzyme Activity of the Enzyme Replacement Therapeutic Naglazyme® (Galsulfase)

Most patients receiving Naglazyme® (galsulfase, rhASB) enzyme replacement therapy for mucopolysaccharidosis type VI develop an antibody response. To evaluate the impact of this response, two in vitro neutralizing antibody (NAb) assays were developed based on the two steps of the mechanism of action. Neutralization of enzyme activity was detected by inhibition of rhASB cleavage of a fluorogenic substrate. Neutralization of receptor binding was detected by decreased binding of labeled rhASB to immobilized soluble receptor. For the enzyme activity NAb assay, serum pretreatment was required to isolate antibodies from interfering phosphate ions, with sensitivity of ≤5 μg/mL. The receptor binding NAb assay used a five-fold dilution, with sensitivity of ≤40 μg/mL. Cutpoints for percent inhibition were based on 95% confidence intervals from naive sera. Clinical samples were similarly likely to be positive in both assays than positive for neutralization of only one step in the mechanism of action. The two NAb assays yielded complementary information about potential neutralization of rhASB. Relative estimated sensitivity between neutralization assays did not correlate with the number of positive clinical samples or patients. In vitro NAb assays based on a well-understood mechanism of action provide specific information about the NAb mechanism.
PPPS-2013: This is a sample abstract submission electromagnetic and chromatic analysis of Plasma in transient state

PLS (Plasma Lighting System) is one of the discharged lamps that have electrodeless bulb1. The bulb is filled with some doses and gases. When electromagnetic field is engaged in the bulb, state of materials in the bulb is changed. Simply, there are three states of materials which are initial, transient, and saturation. Whole of states except transient state are numerically explained by LTE (Local Thermodynamic Equilibrium) model2. However, transient state is very difficult to understand its physical phenomenon. In this reason, this paper is introduced to explain transient state using the electromagnetic and the chromatic analysis.
Air traffic controller aids for planning of arrival traffic - An AI approach

Air traffic management is considered as an AI problem, and planning concepts are developed for incorporation into an automation aid for enroute arrival controllers being developed by NASA. An Assumption-Based Truth Maintenance System is modified to include the nonmonotonicities inherent in the Air Traffic Control (ATC) domain, and it is noted under what circumstances the advantages of the ATMS in standard problem-solving domains carry over to planning. The noninteracting actions of the conceptualization are contrasted with the interacting actions of other domains. It is shown that the noninteracting nature of the ATC domain makes it possible to provide an efficient planner that avoids the frame problem.
Columbia Plateau Indian Place Names: What Can They Teach Us?

I propose a program for cross-cultural research seeking semantic universals in place–name systems. Over 1000 place-names in the Sahaptin Indian language of northwestern North America are analyzed for syntactic, semantic, and distributional regularities. Comparisons are drawn with Dena'ina Athabaskan, Yurok, and local English place-name systems. Binomial place-names are rare in Sahaptin, though common in other languages. Sahaptin place-names very frequently are descriptive of biological and topographic features of sites. Many Sahaptin place-names describe features of land and water as if in motion. Place-names are sacred in origin; thus no places are named for persons. Quantitative analysis of the spatial distribution of place-names unexpectedly reveals a striking correlation between place-name density and population density which holds for a sample of 14 languages. This appears due to a tendency for an individual's repertoire of place-names to be limited to approximately 500.
Dimensional control of Cu(I)–bis(4-pyridyl)ethylene coordination networks

Abstract Reaction of [Cu(MeCN)2(PPh3)2]PF6 with 1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethylene (bpe) produces either a layered hexagonal coordination network, [Cu(bpe)1.5(PPh3)]∞ +, if made from CH2Cl2/THF solutions, or a linear zigzag polymer, [Cu(bpe)(PPh3)2]∞ +, if crystallized using CHCl3/THF. Both compounds include significant amounts of solvent as well as the non-coordinating anions within intercrystalline channels. In the former case, the reaction to remove one PPh3 from the Cu(I) reagent complex competes effectively with the precipitation/crystallization step, whereas in the latter case, crystal growth occurs first.
Tailoring nanostructured solid-lipid carriers for time-controlled intracellular siRNA kinetics to sustain RNAi-mediated chemosensitization

Use of siRNA for silencing major oncogenic/chemoresistance targets such as survivin has strong potential for cancer therapy. However, a key clinical limitation is their short action, preventing them from sustaining their therapeutic RNA-interference activity for optimal chemosensitization. This issue is tackled from the perspective of intracellular siRNA kinetics using a novel lipid-based “nanostructured siRNA carrier” (NSC), which incorporates variable amount of oil phase into the solid-lipid matrix to modify its siRNA release behaviors. We demonstrate that by manipulating the degradation responses of NSC device to lysosomal enzyme, tailoring of intracellular siRNA kinetics is achievable. A tailored NSC design delivering survivin-siRNA can extend the survivin knockdown period to 9 days, translating into steady, effective in vitro and in vivo chemosensitization of prostate cancer to docetaxel for over a week. All in all, this new NSC design provides a convenient mean to set up a clinically more appealing weekly or longer dosing cycle for siRNA therapy, which addresses a significant unmet need for prostate cancer treatment and is potentially useful for other chronic disease conditions as well.
Limit Analysis and Design of a Semi-Submerged Concrete Hull for an Ocean Thermal Differences Power Plant

Utilizing the concepts of limit analysis, and ultimate strength of concrete, a design approach for large diameter immersed reinforced concrete cylindrical hulls has been developed. The method is applied to the design of a semi-submerged ocean thermal differences power plant. For the structure under consideration which consists of an outer and inner hull, separate operating and maintenance conditions were assumed for design. Equilibrium equations, and an iteration method to determine plastic moments, axial forces and shears corresponding to a collapse condition have been developed. Computer results for the outer and inner hull are tabulated for the two loading conditions based on design thickness of 3 ft. For a given thickness, details of reinforcing are given, and an admissible interaction diagram for moment and axial load to satisfy the various-loading conditions is presented. 2 references, 9 figures, 6 tables.
MONITORING THE TREND OF HARBOR SEALS IN PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND, ALASKA, AFTER THE EXXON VALDEZ OIL SPILL

We used aerial counts to monitor the trend in numbers of harbor seals, Pboca vitulina ricbardsi, in Prince William Sound, Alaska, following the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill. Repetitive counts were made at 25 haul-out sites during the annual molt period each year from 1990 through 1997. A generalized linear model indicated that time of day, date, and time relative to low tide significantly affected seal counts. When Poisson regression was used to adjust counts to a standardized set of survey conditions, results showed a highly significant decline of 4.6% per year. Unadjusted counts indicated a slight, but not statistically significant, decline in the number of seals. The number of harbor seals on the trend-count route in eastern and central PWS has been declining since at least 1984, with an overall population reduction of 63% through 1997. Programs to monitor long-term changes in animal population sizes should account for factors that can cause short-term variations in indices of abundance. The inclusion of such factors as covariates in models can improve the accuracy of monitoring programs.
The Business Enterprise in the Age of Money Manager Capitalism

Abstract:Thorstein Veblen's going concern theory of the business enterprise has been widely received by heterodox economists. Since Veblen's era, the capitalist social provisioning process has evolved toward money manager capitalism in a dialectical fashion. At the heart of the transformation are changes in the behavior of the business enterprise. In this paper, we make a threefold argument. First, while the going concern theory of the business enterprise is still important in the account of the economy as a continuing process of social provisioning, since a viable economy requires continuing business over historical time, more and more of the economy is being directed toward financial concerns. Second, as a consequence, the social provisioning process becomes more unstable and people's welfare becomes more vulnerable. Third, the concept of a going concern is, therefore, to be modified in order to put the business enterprise in the context of money manager capitalism.
Time-dependent Green's functions for an anisotropic bimaterial with viscous interface

By virtue of the Stroh formalism, we derive the exact closed-form solutions for the time-dependent two-dimensional Green's functions due to a line force and line dislocation in an anisotropic bimaterial with a viscous interface. We first reduce the boundary value problem to two coupled homogeneous first-order partial differential equations, which can be solved using a decoupling technique. The full-field expressions of the time-dependent displacements and stresses due to the line force and line dislocation interacting with the viscous interface are obtained.
Perimortem caesarean section: A review of the anaesthetist's nightmare

Summary A perimortem caesarean section is a rare event, but is gaining more support as an essential part of maternal and foetal resuscitation during maternal cardiac arrest in late pregnancy. The anatomical and physiological changes occurring in pregnancy make resuscitation difficult and require key interventions to improve the outcome for both the mother and child. Specific obstetric resuscitation guidelines are required to raise awareness and for further training. Early recourse to perimortem caesarean section when resuscitation is failing may increase survival and requires a multidisciplinary team trained in maternal and neonatal resuscitation to make appropriate rapid decisions. Key interventions including left uterine displacement, early advanced airway control and perimortem caesarean section should be integral to maternal resuscitation for a good outcome. Simulation training based on specific obstetric resuscitation guidelines should be tailored and adopted by individual centres to facilitate rapid decisions for effective resuscitation, including the performance of a perimortem caesarean section.
A flow cytometric comparison of DNA content and glutathione levels in hepatocytes of English sole (Parophyrs vetulus) from areas of differing water quality

English sole (Parophyrs vetulus) in Puget Sound, Washington, USA are at risk of hepatocarcinogenesis specifically in areas adjacent to polluting industrial effluents. A question concerning population and ecosystem survival is whether any of the effects of etiopathologic change are reversible. This has been approached by looking for evidence of tumor accelerating effects in an exposed population. Cellular parameters were determined by flow cytometry for hepatocytes of English sole. Cells containing hyperdiploid DNA not present in fish from reference waters, Port Madison, were found in all non-tumor-bearing and tumor bearing fish taken from a polluted site, Eagle Harbor, where incidence of hepatic neoplasia approaches 30%. Induction of altered DNA content in the exposed general hepatocyte population suggests environmental induction rather than an association with lesions per se. In contrast, glutathione levels in hepatocytes (0.8-3.2 nmol/mg protein), were little influenced by the exposure site, consistent with the apparent lack of protection against chemically induced carcinogenesis in English sole. Association of altered DNA content with exposure site is significant for its potential contribution to biological acceleration and evidence of tumor promotion found at the tissue and organismic levels. The results support the notion that hepatocarcinogenesis in English sole in Eagle Harbor has a multi-year exposure etiology, in which potentially reversible accelerating influences have a role, and that glutathione conjugation is an inadequate mode of detoxification for these fish.
Intraduodenal infusions of fat inhibit sham feeding in zucker rats

Intraduodenal infusions of Intralipid in concentrations of 0.125 kcal/ml to 1 kcal/ml inhibited sham feeding of lean and obese Zucker rats significantly. The inhibitory potency of the fat infusions on sham feeding in both genotypes was a function of the concentration of Intralipid infused. The inhibition of sham feeding by Intralipid infusions was accompanied by the specific sequence of behaviors that characterizes satiety. Evidence supporting differential effectiveness of intraduodenal fat in producing satiety in obese and lean rats was equivocal. A conservative interpretation is that obese rats are not less sensitive than leans to the satiating potency of intraduodenal fat. We conclude that previously reported differences in the satiating potency of fats for obese and lean Zucker rats are not likely to be mediated by small intestinal mechanisms.