cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Pretreatment With Diazoxide Attenuates Spinal Cord Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury Through Signaling Transducer and Activator of Transcription 3 Pathway.

Background Delayed paraplegia remains a feared complication of thoracoabdominal aortic intervention. Pharmacologic preconditioning with diazoxide (DZ), an adenosine 5′-triphosphate–sensitive potassium channel opener, results in neuroprotection against ischemic insult. However, the effects of DZ in spinal cord ischemia-reperfusion injury have not been fully elucidated. We hypothesized that DZ attenuates spinal cord ischemia-reperfusion injury through the signaling transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) 3 pathway. Methods Adult male C57/BL6 mice received DZ (20 mg/kg) by oral gavage. Spinal cords were harvested at 0, 12, 24, 36, 48, and 60 hours after administration of DZ. The expression of phosphorylated STAT3 was assessed by Western blot analysis. Five groups were studied: DZ (DZ pretreatment, n = 8), ischemic control (phosphate-buffered saline pretreatment, n = 11), DZ + STAT3 inhibitor LY5 (DZ pretreatment + LY5, n = 8), LY5 (phosphate-buffered saline pretreatment + LY5, n = 8), and sham (without cross-clamping, n = 5). Spinal cord ischemia was induced by 4 minutes of thoracic aortic cross-clamp. Functional scoring (Basso Mouse Score) was done at 12-hour intervals until 48 hours, and spinal cords were harvested for the evaluation of B-cell lymphoma 2 expression and histologic changes. Results The expression of phosphorylated STAT3 was significantly upregulated 36 hours after the administration of DZ. The motor function in the DZ group was significantly preserved compared with all other groups. The expression of B-cell lymphoma 2 in the DZ group was significantly higher than in the ischemic control, DZ + LY5, and LY5 groups 48 hours after reperfusion. Conclusions DZ preserves motor function in spinal cord ischemia-reperfusion injury by the STAT3 pathway. DZ may be beneficial clinically for use in spinal protection in aortic intervention.
Effects of Divisive Political Campaigns on the Day-to-Day Segregation of Arab and Muslim Americans

How have Donald Trump’s rhetoric and policies affected Arab and Muslim American behavior? We provide evidence that the de facto effects of President Trump’s campaign rhetoric and vague policy positions extended beyond the direct effects of his executive orders. We present findings from three data sources—television news coverage, social media activity, and a survey—to evaluate whether Arab and Muslim Americans reduced their online visibility and retreated from public life. Our results provide evidence that they withdrew from public view: (1) Shared locations on Twitter dropped approximately 10 to 20% among users with Arabic-sounding names after major campaign and election events and (2) Muslim survey respondents reported increased public space avoidance.
Thyroid Abnormalities in Patients With Extreme Insulin Resistance Syndromes

Context Insulin and leptin may increase growth and proliferation of thyroid cells, underlying an association between type 2 diabetes and papillary thyroid cancer (PTC). Patients with extreme insulin resistance due to lipodystrophy or insulin receptor mutations (INSR) are treated with high-dose insulin and recombinant leptin (metreleptin), which may increase the risk of thyroid neoplasia. Objective The aim of this study was to analyze thyroid structural abnormalities in patients with lipodystrophy and INSR mutations and to assess whether insulin, IGF-1, and metreleptin therapy contribute to the thyroid growth and neoplasia in this population. Design Thyroid ultrasound characteristics were analyzed in 81 patients with lipodystrophy and 11 with INSR (5 homozygous; 6 heterozygous). Sixty patients were taking metreleptin. Results The prevalence of thyroid nodules in children with extreme insulin resistance (5 of 30, 16.7%) was significantly higher than published prevalence for children (64 of 3202; 2%), with no difference between lipodystrophy and INSR. Body surface area-adjusted thyroid volume was larger in INSR homozygotes vs heterozygotes or lipodystrophy (10.4 ± 5.1, 3.9 ± 1.5, and 6.2 ± 3.4 cm2, respectively. Three patients with lipodystrophy and one INSR heterozygote had PTC. There were no differences in thyroid ultrasound features in patients treated vs not treated with metreleptin. Conclusion Children with extreme insulin resistance had a high prevalence of thyroid nodules, which were not associated with metreleptin treatment. Patients with homozygous INSR mutation had thyromegaly, which may be a novel phenotypic feature of this disease. Further studies are needed to determine the etiology of thyroid abnormalities in patients with extreme insulin resistance.
The Novel Benzopyran Class of Selective Cyclooxygenase-2- Inhibitors. Part 3. The Three Microdose Candidates.

Design, synthesis, SAR, and human half-life data of a novel series of potent and selective COX-2 inhibitors (I) based on the 2-trifluoromethyl-2H-benzopyran-3-carboxylic acid scaffold are reported.
Contemporary Trends in Percutaneous Nephrolithomy Across New York State: A Review of the Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System.

Abstract Introduction and Objectives: Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) is a complex multistep surgery that has shown a steady increase in use for the past decade in the United States. We sought ...
A Geometric View of Complex Trigonometric Functions

(2007). A Geometric View of Complex Trigonometric Functions. The College Mathematics Journal: Vol. 38, No. 3, pp. 210-217.
The Unintended Consequences of Tax Policy: How Mississippi's Ad Valorem Tax Structure Led to Environmental Devastation

This is a story in two parts. The first describes the timber industry and the ad valorem tax structure in Mississippi during the first several decades of the 20th century. The second introduces Ran...
The Direct Acyl-Alkylation of Arynes

Methyl 2-(2-acetylphenyl)acetate Cesium fluoride Methyl acetoacetate 2-Trimethylsilyl)phenyl trifluoromethanesulfonate Keywords: direct acyl-alkylation; arynes; methyl(acetylphenyl)acetate; benzyne; substituted arynes; medium-sized carbocycles; waste disposal
Novel monoclonal antibodies targeting the RRM2 domain of human TDP-43 protein

Abstract Transactive response DNA-binding protein of 43 kilodaltons (TDP-43) is a 414 amino acid protein that under physiologic conditions localizes to the nucleus and participates in the regulation of RNA metabolism through two RNA recognition motifs (RRM1 and RRM2). In neurodegenerative diseases, TDP-43 may become hyperphosphorylated, ubiquitinated, and aggregate into cytoplasmic inclusions. TDP-43 is now well-characterized as a pathologic protein of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal lobar degeneration with TDP-43 proteinopathy (FTLD-TDP). Additionally, a common TDP-43 proteinopathy arising outside of the context of ALS and FTLD-TDP has been recently described, termed “limbic predominant age-related TDP-43 encephalopathy (LATE).” In the current study, two novel mouse-derived monoclonal antibodies, 2G11 and 2H1, raised against an epitope within the RRM2 domain of TDP-43 (residues 198–216), were characterized for specificity and immunohistochemical application in human brain from cases of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Lewy Body Disease (LBD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and frontotemporal lobe degeneration with TDP-43 inclusions (FTLD-TDP). Immunoblot analysis of these antibodies in HEK293T cells revealed efficient detection of intact human TDP-43 protein, and in N2A cells showed no reactivity for mouse TDP-43. Immunohistochemically applied to formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues, 2G11 and 2H1 robustly identified the classic inclusions of ALS and FTLD-TDP, and efficaciously provided a diagnosis of LATE in cases of AD and LBD. These novel antibodies label aberrant intracytoplasmic protein inclusions without relying on hyperphosphorylated epitopes, and provide elegant discrimination between TDP-43 and tau neurofibrillary tangles within neurodegenerative comorbidity.
Active Photonic Cooling using Time-Modulated Thermal Emission

We present a coupled-mode theory and a computational formalism to describe thermal radiation from time-modulated systems. We show that such modulation results in an active cooling mechanism with high thermodynamic performance approaching the Carnot limit.
Unbiased Gradient Estimation for Distributionally Robust Learning.

Seeking to improve model generalization, we consider a new approach based on distributionally robust learning (DRL) that applies stochastic gradient descent to the outer minimization problem. Our algorithm efficiently estimates the gradient of the inner maximization problem through multi-level Monte Carlo randomization. Leveraging theoretical results that shed light on why standard gradient estimators fail, we establish the optimal parameterization of the gradient estimators of our approach that balances a fundamental tradeoff between computation time and statistical variance. Numerical experiments demonstrate that our DRL approach yields significant benefits over previous work.
Machine Learning Techniques in Analog Layout Automation

The quality of layouts generated by automated analog design have traditionally not been able to match those from human designers over a wide range of analog designs. The ALIGN (Analog Layout, Intelligently Generated from Netlists) project [2, 3, 6] aims to build an open-source analog layout engine [1] that overcomes these challenges, using a variety of approaches. An important part of the toolbox is the use of machine learning (ML) methods, combined with traditional methods, and this talk overviews our efforts. The input to ALIGN is a SPICE-like netlist and a set of perfor- mance specifications, and the output is a GDSII layout. ALIGN automatically recognizes hierarchies in the input netlist. To detect variations of known blocks in the netlist, approximate subgraph iso- morphism methods based on graph convolutional networks can be used [5]. Repeated structures in a netlist are typically constrained by layout requirements related to symmetry or matching. In [7], we use a mix of graph methods and ML to detect symmetric and array structures, including the use of neural network based approximate matching through the use of the notion of graph edit distances. Once the circuit is annotated, ALIGN generates the layout, going from the lowest level cells to higher levels of the netlist hierarchy. Based on an abstraction of the process design rules, ALIGN builds parameterized cell layouts for each structure, accounting for the need for common centroid layouts where necessary [11]. These cells then undergo placement and routing that honors the geomet- ric constraints (symmetry, common-centroid). The chief parameter that changes during layout is the set of interconnect RC parasitics: excessively large RCs could result in an inability to meet perfor- mance. These values can be controlled by reducing the distance between blocks, or, in the case of R, by using larger effective wire widths (using multiple parallel connections in FinFET technologies where wire widths are quantized) to reduce the effective resistance. ALIGN has developed several approaches based on ML for this purpose [4, 8, 9] that rapidly predict whether a layout will meet the performance constraints that are imposed at the circuit level, and these can be deployed together with conventional algorithmic methods [10] to rapidly prune out infeasible layouts. This presentation overviews our experience in the use of ML- based methods in conjunction with conventional algorithmic ap- proaches for analog design. We will show (a) results from our efforts so far, (b) appropriate methods for mixing ML methods with tra- ditional algorithmic techniques for solving the larger problem of analog layout, (c) limitations of ML methods, and (d) techniques for overcoming these limitations to deliver workable solutions for analog layout automation.
First-Trimester Serum BAFF:sFlt-1 Ratio as a Candidate Early Biomarker of Spontaneous Abortions

PROBLEM Immunologic, angiogenic, and anti-angiogenic factors are associated with spontaneous abortion (SAB). B cell-activating factor (BAFF), a proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL), placental growth factor (PlGF), and soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1) may play a role in SAB and may serve singly or in combination as an early biomarker of SAB. METHOD OF STUDY In this prospective observational study, serum sFlt-1, PIGF, BAFF, and APRIL levels were measured in the first trimester of pregnancy in a medically diverse group of women and in non-pregnant controls. Associations and discriminative values of first-trimester sFlt-1, PIGF, BAFF, and APRIL levels and the corresponding APRIL:BAFF, BAFF:sFlt-1, and sFlt-1:PlGF ratios with development of SAB were tested. RESULTS Median serum BAFF level was lower (p = .007) and median serum sFlt-1 level was higher (p < .001), in the first trimester of pregnancy than in non-pregnant controls. SAB developed in 27 of the pregnant women (11.3%), and first-trimester levels of BAFF (but not APRIL) and sFlt-1 (but not PIGF) were associated with SAB. Using optimal cutoffs determined through receiver operating characteristics curves, the best discriminator of SAB was the serum BAFF:sFlt-1 ratio, specifically among non-nulliparous women and women with prior SAB. CONCLUSION First-trimester serum BAFF:sFlt-1 ratio is a candidate indicator/predictor of SAB among non-nulliparous women and women with prior SAB. If validated through additional studies, then early identification of pregnant women at high risk for SAB through this simple blood test would assist in counseling and facilitate clinical trials of therapeutic interventions.
Mindfulness in the OR: A Pilot Study Investigating the Efficacy of an Abbreviated Mindfulness Intervention on Improving Performance in the Operating Room.

Background Surgery requires operating room physicians to succumb to unpredictable schedules, long hours, and involved operations, which have led many to acquire maladaptive habits to attain focus in the OR. Research on mindfulness in the medical community has shown positive results on stress, burnout, and quality of life. However, due to the seemingly subjective nature of the benefits of mindfulness as well as the lengthy time requirement by participants, researchers have had difficulty conducting experiments with adequate sample sizes and controls in operating room specialties. Objective We assessed the hypotheses that a brief mindfulness intervention on physicians, residents, and anesthesiologists can improve mindfulness, focus, and perceived stress in the operating room. Additionally, we hypothesized that the improvement in scores are independent of level of training and physician type. Methods As part of a 3 (Physician Type) X 3 (Case) X 2(Timing) factorial design, 33 surgeons, anesthesiologists, and surgical residents completed a pre- and postintervention Mindfulness Awareness and Attention Scales (MAAS) survey. Three categories of surgery cases, routine-elective, complex-elective, and add-on, were completed pre- and postintervention, along with measures addressing focus and perceived stress. The intervention included a 25-minute mindfulness training on the benefits of mindfulness and how to utilize a brief, 4-minute mindfulness skill employed prior to each postintervention surgery. Results The mindfulness intervention was associated with a significant increase in mindfulness (p = 0.006) and flow state (p = 0.009) and a significant decrease in perceived stress (p = 0.033), particularly during the complex routine cases (p = 0.024). Conclusions We have developed a brief mindfulness intervention that is compatible with the busy workflow of operating room physicians and can increase the mindful state of participants as well as improve factors that are associated with burnout and distractions.
Iron(II)-alkoxide and -aryloxide complexes of a tris(thioether)borate ligand: synthesis, molecular structures, and implications on the origin of instability of their iron(II)-catecholate counterpart.

The phenyl­tris­[(tert-butyl­thio)meth­yl]borate ligand, [PhTttBu], has been studied ex­tensively as a platform for coordination, organometallic, and bio­inor­ganic chemistry, especially with 3d metals. While [PhTttBu]Co(3,5-DBCatH) (3,5-DBCatH is 3,5-di-tert-butyl­catecholate), a CoII–monoanionic catecholate com­plex, was successfully isolated to model the active site of cobalt(II)-substituted homoprotocatechuate 2,3-di­oxy­genase (Co-HPCD) [Wang et al. (2019). Inorg. Chim. Acta, 488, 49–55], its iron(II) counterpart, [PhTttBu]Fe(3,5-DBCatH), was not accessible via similar synthetic routes. Switching the nucleophile from catecholate to alkoxide or aryl­oxide, however, led to the suc­cessful isolation of three highly air-sensitive FeII–alkoxide and –aryl­oxide com­plexes, namely, (tri­phenyl­methoxo){tris­[(tert-butyl­sulfan­yl)meth­yl]phenyl­borato-κ3S,S′,S′′}iron(II), [Fe(C21H38BS3)(C19H15O)], (2), (2,6-di­methyl­phe­nol­ato){tris­[(tert-butyl­sulfan­yl)meth­yl]phenyl­borato-κ3S,S′,S′′}iron(II), [Fe(C21H38BS3)(C8H9O)], (3), and bis­{μ-tris­[(tert-butyl­sulfan­yl)meth­yl]phenyl­borato-κ3S,S′:S′′}bis­[(phenolato-κO)iron(II)] toluene disolvate, [Fe2(C21H38BS3)2(C6H5O)2]·2C7H8, (4). In the solid state, com­pounds (2) and (3) are monomeric, with [PhTttBu] acting as a tridentate ligand. In contrast, com­pound (4) crys­tallizes as a dimeric com­plex, wherein each [PhTttBu] ligand binds to an iron centre with two thio­ethers and binds to the other iron centre with the third thio­ether. The mol­ecular structures of (2)–(4) demonstrate a diversity in the binding modes of [PhTttBu] and highlight its potential use for assembling multinuclear com­plexes. In addition, the successful isolation of (2)–(4), as well as the structural information of a [PhTttBu] modification product, namely, bis­{μ-tris­[(tert-butyl­sulfan­yl)meth­yl](2-oxidophenolato)borato-κO,O′,S,S′:O′}di­cobalt(II), [Co2(C21H37BO2S3)2], (5), obtained from the reaction of [PhTttBu]CoCl with potassium monoanionic catecholate, shed light on the origin of the instability of [PhTttBu]Fe(3,5-DBCatH).
Economic Journeys in Alaska

In May of 2015 and 2018 a group of students participated in “Economic Journeys—Alaska” an intensive learning course to Southeastern Alaska. Led by an economics professor and an assistant, the group explored three economic drivers, both current and historical, of the northernmost state: tourism, fishing, and gold. Guided by daily prompts the students journaled about their experiences, offering insight and observations through an economic lens.
Educación permanente y para la ciudadanía en Chile: un paradigma distinto y una promesa incumplida para las personas mayores

Traditionally, education has been focused on answering two fundamental needs: socialize the new members of society and prepare them for the world of work, excluding the elderly, a situation that reproduces a social disengagement and the idea that they don’t have the ability to pursue these activities. The concepts of «lifelong learning» exhibit an effort to democratize knowledge, defending the right to equal opportunities for social participation compared to other age groups. Several institutions have been pointing out for decades the need to promote equal access to throughout life, but in Chile elderly is still associated more with problems than opportunities, creating an educational policy unable to consider them as actors their own reality. Received: 20/01/2013 / Accepted: 12/05/2013 How to reference this article Sanhueza Chamorro, J. (2013). Educacion permanente y para la ciudadania en Chile: un paradigma distinto y una promesa incumplida para las personas mayores. Foro de Educacion , 11(15), pp. 229-240. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.14516/fde.2013.011.015.011
Nuclease Activity in a Fragment of Bacteriophage T4 Deoxyribonucleic Acid Polymerase Induced by the Amber Mutant am B22

Abstract T4 bacteriophage mutant am B22 (gene 43), an amber mutant in the gene for DNA polymerase, produces a protein which lacks the polymerase but retains the nuclease function of the wild type enzyme. The am B22 nuclease is shown to be a fragment of the wild type polymerase by comparing the tryptic peptides of the two proteins. The wild type and mutant enzymes each consist of a single polypeptide chain. The molecular weight of the mutant enzyme is consistent with the position of the am B22 mutation within the gene. The only other gene 43 amber mutants producing a similar nuclease map at or very close to the site of the am B22 mutation. Both the mutant and wild type enzymes are exonucleases which hydrolyze denatured DNA from the 3' terminus in a random rather than processive fashion. The mutant enzyme differs from the wild type in its markedly decreased affinity for DNA and oligonucleotides. A higher concentration of deoxynucleoside triphosphates is required to inhibit the nuclease activity of the mutant enzyme. The am B22 protein will not polymerize deoxynucleotides under any conditions which have been tested.
Cancer Information Seeking Behaviors of Korean American Women: A Mixed-Methods Study Using Surveys and Focus Group Interviews

Despite the high risk of cancer to the population, Korean Americans are known to have lower knowledge about cancer related information and a lower level of adherence to cancer prevention guidelines. This indicates the necessity of cancer interventions targeting the Korean American population. To reach this population effectively, it is imperative to understand Korean Americans' cancer information seeking behaviors. This study (a) identified cancer information sources that are trusted and used by Korean American women and (b) examined how general media exposure and trust in cancer information sources are related to the use of these sources. It also (c) explored perceived usefulness and limitations of cancer information sources. A mixed methods study using seven focus group interviews with 34 Korean American women and surveys with 152 Korean American women was conducted in the Washington, DC, metropolitan area from 2011 to 2012. The results indicate that Korean American women viewed health care professionals as the most trusted cancer information source but used the Internet and Korean ethnic media more often for cancer information seeking because of language, cultural, and economic barriers. Korean American women were most likely to obtain cancer information from media they used frequently for general purposes. Correlations between usage frequency and trust in doctor/health providers and the Internet as cancer information sources were negligible. When seeking cancer information, important factors for Korean American women were accessibility, affordability, and language proficiency, cultural sensitivity, meeting immediate needs, understandability, convenience, and reliability of cancer information sources. Findings from this study support developing interventions using Korean language media, including print, television and the Internet for health promotion and cancer prevention targeting Korean American women.
Cyclic nucleolar changes during the cell cycle. I. Variations in number, size, morphology and position.

Abstract 1. 1. Development of a technique for selective harvesting of synchronous strain L cells has made possible the study of nucleolar changes during the cell cycle. The pattern of DNA synthesis was determined autoradiographically, and cultures which had been planted for 3, 14 and 19 h were chosen as representative of the G1, S and G2 periods, respectively. Changes in morphology, position, number and size of nucleoli were assessed, both cinematographically and using fixed preparations. 2. 2. The significant reduction in nucleolar number between G1 and mitosis was found to be due largely to fusion. Increase in size resulted from both fusion and synthetic activity within the nucleolus. 3. 3. Irregular morphology of nucleoli, marked association with the nuclear membrane and amoeboid movement were characteristic of nucleoli both in G1 and G2. During S phase nucleoli were oval-shaped and centrallylocated; they exhibited much less movement. 4. 4. The possible significance of these cyclic nucleolar phenomena as related to other nuclear changes during the cell cycle has been discussed.
SocialQ&A: An Online Social Network Based Question and Answer System

Question and Answer (Q&A) systems play a vital role in our daily life for information and knowledge sharing. Users post questions and pick questions to answer in the system. Due to the rapidly growing user population and the number of questions, it is unlikely for a user to stumble upon a question by chance that (s)he can answer. Also, altruism does not encourage all users to provide answers, not to mention high quality answers with a short answer wait time. The primary objective of this paper is to improve the performance of Q&A systems by actively forwarding questions to users who are capable and willing to answer the questions. To this end, we have designed and implemented SocialQ&A, an online social network based Q&A system. SocialQ&A leverages the social network properties of common-interest and mutual-trust friend relationship to identify an asker's friends who are most likely to answer the question. We describe the architecture, algorithms and user interface of SocialQ&A, and analyze the Q&A behavior of real users and questions from a small-scale real-world SocialQ&A system. We also conducted comprehensive large-scale simulation to evaluate SocialQ&A in comparison with other methods. Our results suggest that social networks can be leveraged to improve the answer quality and asker's waiting time.
Contemporary imaging of soft tissue sarcomas

Imaging plays an important role in the diagnosis, biopsy, staging, and follow-up of patients with soft tissue sarcomas. General principles of imaging diagnosis of soft-tissue sarcomas using radiography, ultrasound, CT, MRI, and PET/CT will be discussed, with emphasis on the role of location, internal fat and calcification, presence of myxoid stroma, and enhancement characteristics.
Collision Induced Dephasing in Fluorescence Quantum Beat of SO2(C∼1B2)†

The collision-induced pure dephasing rate constant of a pair of coherently excited eigenlevels of SO 2 is measured. This represents the first measurement of a collision-induced pure dephasing constant for a molecule in gaseous phase. The pair of eigenlevels arises from the coupling of the C(210)7 1 6 level and an isoenergetic high vibrational level, 44877.52 cm - 1 above the zero point, of the X state. The pure dephasing cross sections measured for the three colliding partners He, Ar, and SO2 at the temperature 4.8 K are respectively 26, 40, and 720 A 2 . All three pure dephasing cross sections are about a factor of 2 smaller than the corresponding depopulation cross sections. Comparison with the hard sphere and Lennard-Jones cross sections suggests that collision-induced dephasing involves more than hard sphere, repulsive forces.
Isolation and characterization of the α-subunit of the rat rod photoreceptor cGMP-gated cation channel

A combination of genomic and PCR clones has been used to derive the full-length coding sequence of the α-subunit of the rat rod photoreceptor cGMP-gated cation channel. The sequence encodes a protein of 683 amino acids with a predicted molecular weight of 79,221. The sequence shows extensive homology with other rod cGMP-gated channels and also with the rat olfactory cyclic nucleotide-gated cation channel. When the full-length sequence of the rat rod channel was expressed inXenopus oocytes it gave a conductance that responded to cGMP with an EC50 of 42 µM. No response to 2 mM cAMP was detected. The conductance was decreased in the presence of increasing concentrations of calcium. Both monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies were generated against a C-terminal peptide of the rat rod channel. On immunoblots of adult rat retinal membranes the antibodies recognized a band of 71 kDa, suggesting that the rat channel may undergo proteolytic cleavage in the retina, as has previously been found for the bovine rod channel. Immunocytochemical labeling of adult rat retinal sections detected prominent labeling over the rod photoreceptor outer segments with both monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies.
Undiscounted approximations of discounted regenerative models

This paper approximates the discounted average cost in regenerative models by an undiscounted average cost. A financial holding cost is assessed on expenditures that are incurred earlier than the middle of each cycle. A financial variability cost that depends on the variability of the cycle time is also assessed. Explicit upper and lower bounds on the approximation are obtained in the deterministic case. Application to the EOQ model is made.
Effect of Plasticization of Epoxy Networks by Organic Modifier on Exfoliation of Nanoclay

Plasticization of cross-linked epoxy networks by hydrocarbon chains of quaternary ammonium ions and its effect on exfoliation behavior of nanoclay particles in mixtures of aromatic and aliphatic epoxies were investigated. It was found that quaternary ammonium ions, apart from catalyzing epoxy curing reactions, are capable of plasticizing cross-linked epoxy chains, the effect of which was observed in terms of large reduction in glass transition temperature and lowering of the values of storage modulus of cured epoxy networks. The effect of plasticization on storage modulus was found to be small for aromatic epoxy and large for aliphatic epoxy. As a consequence, the aromatic epoxy−clay system produced complete exfoliation of clay galleries, while the systems with mixtures of aliphatic and aromatic epoxy resulted in intercalated systems, even though the extent of curing of epoxy was the same in all cases.
Cournot competition in a differentiated oligopoly

Abstract This paper studies product-quantity equilibria in an oligopoly. Products are interpreted as “qualities” and each firm chooses a quality-quantity pair, simultaneously. It is well known that a pure-strategy equilibrium in product-price pairs does not exist in this model, but a pure-strategy equilibrium in product-quantity pairs exists. Furthermore, in an example widely studied in the literature, the equilibrium has nice asymptotic properties.
Differential thermal analysis of the Si-Sio2 system

Abstract An inductively heated differential thermal analysis apparatus has been used to demonstrate that SiO 2 does not react with silicon to form SiO solid at the melting point of silicon. Thus SiO solid must be thermodynamically unstable at all temperatures.
Unilateral pulmonary artery absence or hypoplasia; radiographic and cardiopulmonary studies in five patients.

The clinical entity of unilateral pulmonary artery absence or hypoplasia can be readily diagnosed on the basis of routine clinical evaluation. This report is based upon 5 patients in whom the diagnosis was suspected and eventually confirmed with the aid of special studies. Characteristic hemodynamic findings were demonstrated by means of cardiac catheterization and contrast visualization of the cardiopulmonary system.
Exchange and radiative lifetimes for close Frenkel pairs on the zinc sublattice of ZnSe.

The radiative lifetimes for the individual close Frenkel pairs on the zinc sublattice of ZnSe described in the preceeding paper are measured using optical detection of magnetic resonance. A simple theory is developed for the exchange and radiative lifetimes for deep-donor to deep-acceptor recombination vs pair separation and compared to the lifetime results obtained here and the values for exchange obtained in the preceding paper for the Frenkel pairs. The good agreement obtained allows tentative assignments of the individual pairs to specific lattice sites. \textcopyright{} 1996 The American Physical Society.
Use of drug-specific antibodies to identify ethidium adducts produced in Trypanosoma brucei by photoaffinity labeling

A photoreactive azido analog of the trypanocide ethidium bromide, 3-amino-8-azido-5-ethyl-6-phenylphenanthridinium chloride, attached covalently to calf thymus DNA (CT DNA) by photoaffinity labeling, was used to generate antibodies for the drug analog. The specificity of the antiserum was tested using enzyme-linked immunoadsorbant assays (ELISA) against immobilized antigen (photoaffinity labeled DNA) and by both the avidin-biotin peroxidase reaction and indirect immunofluorescence performed on smears of drug treated trypanosomes. The reaction of the antiserum with the covalently bound drug adduct was diminished effectively by prior incubation with an excess of ethidium monoazide, ethidium diazide, and ethidium bromide, and to a lesser extent by the DNA-ethidium complex, the diazide-DNA or RNA adduct, and the monoazide-RNA adduct. DNA which had been photoaffinity labeled with either the propidium or the acridine moiety did not react. The antiserum recognition of DNA photoaffinity labeled with ethidium monoazide was based on the substituted phenanthridinium ring system of the parent ethidium, as evidenced by competition binding studies involving the free monoazido analog (EA1), the diazido analog (EA2), and the parent compound, ethidium bromide (EB). This approach and the sensitivity it provides should prove useful for identifying the distribution and fate of covalently bound drugs resulting from antiparasitic drug treatment, and for studying their roles in antiparasitic action.
Is lack of recombinant growth hormone (GH)-releasing hormone in the United States a setback or time to consider glucagon testing for adult GH deficiency?

Context: The use of the combined GHRH and arginine (GHRH-ARG) test has gained increasing acceptance in the United States as a reliable alternative test to the insulin tolerance test (ITT) for diagnosing adult GH deficiency (GHD). In July 2008, the only manufacturer of recombinant GHRH in the United States, EMD Serono, Inc., announced the discontinuation of Geref, thus raising the question of which reliable alternative GH stimulation test should practicing endocrinologists be considering in place of the GHRH-ARG test. In this article, we review the existing published data and consensus guidelines and provide recommendations for alternative stimulation tests to the GHRH-ARG test. Evidence Acquisition: The major source of data acquisition included PubMed search strategies and personal experience of the authors from clinical experience. Evidence Synthesis: Previous consensus guidelines and previous data assessing the reliability and discriminatory value of the GHRH-ARG, glucagon, ARG, and GH secretagogues on ...
Joyce Carol Oates' “A Theory of Knowledge”

This article presents a critical reading of “A Theory of Knowledge” by Joyce Carol Oates, which appears in a recently published collection of stories about aging. The story is analyzed in terms of two ideas in current adult developmental theory, the idea of personal narrative as developed by Cohler, and the idea of generativity as developed by Erikson, Kotre, and McAdams.
How Attitude toward the Web Site Influences Consumer Brand Choice and Confidence While Shopping Online

As more and more consumers spend more money on the Internet, traditional retailers and manufacturers as well as entrepreneurial dot-coms are jousting to explore and shape this new business opportunity. Their long-term survival and profitability may be determined by how well the Web site helps form and sustain positive attitudes toward the site and, eventually, toward the product or the company. The purpose of this study is two-fold: (1) to examine if and how attitude toward the Web site (Ast) affects consumer brand choice; and (2) to examine the association between Ast and consumers' confidence in choice, and the moderating effect of consumer product knowledge in its relationship. The study asked participants to choose a laptop brand after visiting three laptop manufacturer Web sites for a total of 30 minutes. Their product knowledge and attitude toward the three Web sites were also measured. The study found that attitude toward the Web site is a good predictor of consumer brand choice. In addition, confidence in choice seemed to be affected by Ast, depending on product knowledge. For a group with low product knowledge (novices), Ast was likely to influence confidence in choice. For a group with high product knowledge (experts), however, Ast did not seem to affect confidence in choice.
The vortex-induced oscillation of non-uniform structural systems

A simple analytical model is presented for the vortex-induced oscillation of non-uniform structures. The effects of limited spatial extent of lock-in and fluid damping of inactive elements are accounted for. For a particular response mode, the equations describing the system response reduce to the form obtained for a rigid cylinder. Empirical formulas for the rigid cylinder response problem can therefore be readily incorporated into the analysis. Three illustrative examples are given which show that the response of a non-uniform cable system may differ markedly from that of a uniform cable system. In general, it is found that the response of the non-uniform system is less than that of the corresponding uniform system.
Structure of dislocation cores in metallic materials and its impact on their plastic behaviour

Abstract Whilst the dislocation core structure was investigated in the early days of the dislocation theory, the importance of core effects for understanding the basic features of plastic behaviour was first recognized in the case of bcc metals. At this time the first extensive computer modelling studies of dislocation cores were initiated. In this paper we show how the atomistic studies of dislocations advanced since these early calculations and how the basic ideas, developed at this time, apply when analysing deformation properties of other materials. Since a description of atomic interactions is the precursor of any atomistic calculations we first briefly describe the present status in this area, in particular the recently developed N-body potentials. Next, we discuss the concept of generalised stacking faults and associated energy-displacement surfaces (γ-surfaces). In this part we demonstrate how the symmetry considerations can be used to assess the existence of possible metastable planar faults which play a role in dislocation splitting. A general discussion of planar and non-planar dislocation cores then follows in which the dislocation splitting and core phenomena are combined into one notion. These general concepts are illustrated by results of recent studies of the dislocation cores in hcp metals and intermetallic compounds with L12 and DO22 structures. Using these results we discuss the physical reasons for the following phenomena: preference for the prism slip in some hcp metals, anomalous positive temperature dependence of the yield stress for prism slip in beryllium, similar anomalous yield behaviour observed in L12 intermetallic compounds, such as Ni3Al, existence of another class of L12 compounds with a strong temperature dependence of the yield stress at low temperatures, and brittleness of DO22 compounds.
Structural characterization, electrochemical reactivity, and response stability of hydrogenated glassy carbon electrodes

The physical structure, electrochemical reactivity, and response stability of hydrogenated glassy carbon (HGC) electrodes were investigated using atomic force microscopy (AFM), Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), static secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS), cyclic voltammetry, and chronocoulometry. The electrochemical results indicate that glassy carbon surfaces, modified in a hydrogen microwave plasma, exhibit lower background voltammetric currents, comparable electrochemical activity, enhanced S/B ratios, and improved response stability for several aqueous-based redox analytes, compared with polished (i.e., oxygenated) glassy carbon (GC). Also, negligible adsorption of anthraquinone-2,6-disulfonate (2,6-AQDS) occurs on HGC, unlike polished GC, a surface on which AQDS strongly physisorbs at high coverages. The hydrogenated surface contains very little surface oxygen (O/C ≤ 0.03) and is hydrophobic with a contact angle of >65°. Static SIMS measurements reveal a significant fracti...
The relations between social problem solving and coping

This study examined the convergent and divergent relations between the five problem-solving dimensions measured by the Social Problem-Solving Inventory—Revised (positive problem orientation, negative problem orientation, rational problem solving, impusivity/carelessness style, and avoidance style; D'Zurilla, Nezu, & Maydeu-Olivares, 1995) and the automatic/experiential coping activities assessed by the Constructive Thinking Inventory (Epstein & Meier, 1989), as well as the functional coping strategies assessed by the Coping Strategies Inventory (Tobin, Holroyd, Reynolds, & Wigal, 1989). As predicted, experiential activities were found to be mostly independent of rational problem solving, but more highly and consistently associated with positive and negative problem orientation, impulsivity/carelessness style, and avoidance style. Support was also found for the hypotheses that positive problem orientation and rational problem solving would be associated with the use of adaptive problem-engagement coping strategies, whereas the three dysfunctional problem-solving dimensions would be related to the use of disengagement (avoidant) coping strategies. The hypothesis that problem-solving ability would also be related to the use of adaptive emotion-focused coping was not supported. Implications for theory, research, and therapy are discussed.
Nanoelectrode scanning probes from fluorocarbon-coated single-walled carbon nanotubes

We have developed a method to coat single-walled carbon nanotubes attached to AFM tips with conformal fluorocarbon polymer films formed in an inductively coupled plasma reactor. The polymer provides a chemically inert and electrically insulating outer layer and mechanically stabilizes the attached nanotube sufficiently to enable imaging in liquids without the need for an intervening adhesive. Electrical pulse etching of the insulating coating exclusively at the nanotube tip end results in well-defined highly conductive nanoelectrodes. For these probes, the conductive properties of the nanotubes are not affected by the coating. Some nanoelectrodes behave as rectifying diodes, which may be developed into novel molecular devices integrated onto scanning probes.
Absorption, metabolism, and antioxidant effects of pomegranate (Punica granatum l.) polyphenols after ingestion of a standardized extract in healthy human volunteers.

The intake of polyphenols has been demonstrated to have health-promoting and disease-preventive effects. The pomegranate (Punica granatum L.), which is rich in several polyphenols, has been used for centuries in ancient cultures for its medicinal purposes. The potential health benefits of pomegranate polyphenols have been demonstrated in numerous in vitro studies and in vivo experiments. This study investigated the absorption and antioxidant effects of a standardized extract from pomegranate in healthy human volunteers after the acute consumption of 800 mg of extract. Results indicate that ellagic acid (EA) from the extract is bioavailable, with an observed Cmax of 33 ng/mL at tmax of 1 h. The plasma metabolites urolithin A, urolithin B, hydroxyl-urolithin A, urolithin A-glucuronide, and dimethyl ellagic acid-glucuronide were identified by HPLC-MS. The antioxidant capacity measured with the oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) assay was increased with a maximum effect of 32% after 0.5 h, whereas the ...
Carpe diem: Europe must make a genuine space policy now

Abstract This article examines the current effort to establish a ‘European space policy’. The authors place this effort in the context of the experience of the 2003 Green and White Papers, the subsequent stalling of the Constitutional Treaty for the EU, and reductions in the EU's financial perspectives. They argue that, despite post-referenda malaise and systemic inertia on the part of several member states, adoption of a space policy is long overdue and should not merely seek to rearrange what is already there or expose yet again what is being done. A full-blooded policy setting in train fundamental change is needed, justifying a political decision at the level of the European Council. The article then offers criteria such a policy should fulfil as well as items the authors view as essential content. They briefly explore issues which could become stumbling blocks but which can be accommodated within the kind of policy this article advocates.
An empirical test of anchoring the NEP scale in environmental ethics

Some argue that the new ecological paradigm (NEP) scale is incomplete and does not adequately reflect contemporary debates in environmental ethics. We focus on one specific shortcoming of the NEP, its lack of an item to reflect an ecocentric viewpoint. To test this concern, we administered the NEP to three different audiences and included one additional item to capture an ecocentric perspective. The empirical tests were designed to determine whether the addition of such an item changed results in a meaningful way. We find evidence that NEP may already capture ecocentric viewpoints, but our investigation leads us to question the validity and reliability of the NEP in capturing ecological worldview.
Comparison of Indoor Air Quality Management Strategies Between the School and District Levels in New York State

BACKGROUND: Good school indoor air quality (IAQ) can affect the health and functioning of school occupants. Thus, it is important to assess the degree to which schools and districts employ strategies to ensure good IAQ management. We examined and compared the patterns of IAQ management strategies between public elementary schools and their school districts in New York State. METHODS: District-level information obtained from surveys of district facilities managers in 326 districts was described and stratified by district size and socioeconomic status. School-level information obtained from surveys of head custodians in 770 elementary schools was then compared with the district-level information in 241 districts. RESULTS: About 47% of participating school districts reported having a district-wide IAQ program, with a large range in the prevalence of specific IAQ management strategies. Airing out newly painted areas was the most commonly reported (92%) and having a classroom animal policy was the least commonly reported (29%). Larger districts and districts with a district-wide IAQ program were more likely to report certain IAQ strategies than other districts. Elementary schools and their districts were most likely to report airing out newly painted areas (76%). The most common area of disagreement was construction after hours (50%). The top strategy not reported at either level was having an IAQ coordinator (53%). CONCLUSIONS: Many school districts lack key IAQ management strategies, and differences exist between district-level policy and school-level practice. Districts and schools should work together to formalize and expand existing IAQ policies and inform stakeholders about these strategies.
Leveraging Information Technology for Disaster Recovery: A Case Study of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Implementation for Facility Retrieval

Interest in utilizing radio frequency identification (RFID) methodology to facilitate disaster recovery management has risen substantially in recent years, especially in coastal regions that periodically suffer catastrophic losses due to natural disasters such as hurricanes. At this early stage of adoption, however, it is unclear how RFID technologies can best be integrated into the disaster recovery process and help individuals and organizations renew themselves after the crisis. This teaching case study evaluated the performance of three potential information technology solutions: (a) a global positioning system (GPS), (b) RFID and magnetic locators, and (c) a combined RFID/magnetic locator/GPS system. Experiments were conducted in order to assess the feasibility, reliability and cost of using RFID technologies in disaster recovery. A cost analysis showed that using RFID, magnetic locators, and GPS together reduces the cost of recovering utility facilities buried under storm debris by 26% compared to cu...