cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Preparation of all trans-retinoic-11-3H acid and all trans-retinyl-11-3H acetate

Trans-ionylidineacetaldehyde-1-3H (3) was obtained by reduction of unlabeled aldehyde (1) with lithium borotritide, followed by reoxidation of the tritio alcohol (2). Condensation of aldehyde (3) with triethyl 3-methyl-4-phosphonocrotonate (7), followed by saponification of the retinoic ethyl ester (8), afforded trans-retinoic-11-3H acid (9). Esterification of the crystalline acid with diazomethane, and subsequent reduction of the methyl trans-retinoate-11-3H with lithium aluminum hydride, yielded trans-retinol-11-3H, which was acetylated insitu to give trans-retinyl-11-3H acetate (10).
Synthesis and characterization of a new microporous cesium silicotitanate (SNL-B) molecular sieve

Ongoing hydrothermal Cs-Ti-Si-O-H{sub 2}O phase investigations has produced several new ternary phases including a novel microporous Cs-silicotitanate molecular sieve, SNL-B with the approximate formula of Cs{sub 3}TiSi{sub 3}O{sub 9.5}{center_dot}3H{sub 2}O. SNL-B is only the second molecular sieve Cs-silicotitanate phase reported to have been synthesized by hydrothermal methods. Crystallites are very small (0.1 x 2 microns) with a blade-like morphology. SNL-B is confirmed to be a 3-dimensional molecular sieve by a variety of characterization techniques (N{sub 2} adsorption, ion exchange, water adsorption/desorption, solid state CP-MAS NMR). SNL-B is able to desorb and adsorb water from its pores while retaining its crystal structure and exchanges Cs cations readily. Additional techniques were used to describe fundamental properties (powder X-ray diffraction, FTIR, {sup 29}Si and {sup 133}/Cs MAS NMR, DTA, SEM/EDS, ion selectivity, and radiation stability). The phase relationships of metastable SNL-B to other hydrothermally synthesized Cs-Ti-Si-O-H{sub 2}O phases are discussed, particularly its relationship to a Cs-silicotitanate analogue of pharmacosiderite, and a novel condensed phase, a polymorph of Cs{sub 2}TiSi{sub 6}O{sub 15}(SNL-A).
Electrospun Tungsten Oxide Nanofibers: Fabrication and Characterization

Tungsten oxide nanofibers have been successfully fabricated in a way based on electrospinning technique. A DMF solution of Poly(Vinyl Acetate)(PVAc, Mw=500,000) was mixed with tungsten isopropoxide to form a viscous precursor solution. Composite nanofibers were obtained by electrspinning this viscous solution. By calcination of the composite fibers, pure tungsten oxide nanofibers were obtained with controllable diameters of around 100 nm. Morphology of the fibers has been characterized by SEM and TEM. The relationship between solution concentration and ceramic nanofiber morphology has been studied. The detailed structure evolution process has been investigated by synchrotron based in-situ XRD. Specific phases of the oxide nanofibers at various calcination temperatures have been obtained from the in-situ XRD spectrum.
Relative performances of similarity and dissimilarity measures

Similarity or dissimilarity coefficient is used to measure the groupability of clusters in group technology. This paper addresses the issues relating to the performance of a number of most commonly used similarity coefficients along with their important characteristics, appropriateness and applications to manufacturing and other related fields. Since all the coefficients are not suitable to evaluate all group technology problems, results collected from the available literature are compared according to their matching criteria. A new approach to measure relative performance of different similarity and dissimilarity coefficients is presented in this research. Numerical results are also presented to demonstrate the closeness of different similarity and dissimilarity coefficients.
Psychometric Properties of the LPC Scale: An Extension of Rice's Review

This article aims to extend Rice's review of psychometric properties of the Least Preferred Co-worker (LPC) scale by providing additional critical evaluation and new directions for LPC research. The American Psychological Association, in its revised Standards for Educational and Psychological Tests indicates that construct validity can be demonstrated only when a theoretical definition of the construct exists. In addition, a construct can only be understood or inferred from its network of interrelationships based on the construct definition. The authors note that Rice's review also does not attempt to directly examine content validity. Instead, he discusses the fact that different versions of the LPC scale exist, all with different item content.
Neural and cognitive plasticity: from maps to minds.

Some species and individuals are able to learn cognitive skills more flexibly than others. Learning experiences and cortical function are known to contribute to such differences, but the specific factors that determine an organism’s intellectual capacities remain unclear. Here, an integrative framework is presented suggesting that variability in cognitive plasticity reflects neural constraints on the precision and extent of an organism’s stimulus representations. Specifically, it is hypothesized that cognitive plasticity depends on the number and diversity of cortical modules that an organism has available as well as the brain’s capacity to flexibly reconfigure and customize networks of these modules. The author relates this framework to past proposals on the neural mechanisms of intelligence, including (a) the relationship between brain size and intellectual capacity; (b) the role of prefrontal cortex in cognitive control and the maintenance of stimulus representations; and (c) the impact of neural plasticity and efficiency on the acquisition and performance of cognitive skills. The proposed framework provides a unified account of variability in cognitive plasticity as a function of species, age, and individual, and it makes specific predictions about how manipulations of cortical structure and function will impact intellectual capacity.
Dynamics of CD8+ T cell priming by dendritic cells in intact lymph nodes

The cellular dynamics underlying activation of CD8+ T cells by dendritic cells (DCs) in the lymph node are not known. Here we have tracked the behavior of T cells and DCs by subjecting intact lymph nodes to real-time two-photon microscopy. We show that DCs scan at least 500 different T cells per hour in the absence of antigen. Antigen-bearing DCs are highly efficient in recruiting peptide-specific T cells and can engage more than ten T cells simultaneously. The duration of these interactions is of the order of hours, not minutes. The overall avidity of the interaction influences the probability that T cells will be stably captured by DCs, providing a possible basis for T cell competition. Taken together, our results identify the cellular behaviors that promote an efficient CD8+ T cell response in the lymph node.
Continuous improvement and value stream analysis through the lean DMAIC Six Sigma approach: a manufacturing case study from Ohio, USA

This study proposes the DMAIC Six Sigma approach with an emphasis on value stream analysis to reduce costs and increase capacity for a local manufacturing company in Northwest Ohio, USA. The DMAIC approach and case study demonstrated a broad application and how an organisation can significantly reduce costs, in this case, by nearly $660,000 per year. The paper identifies each stage of the DMAIC cycle and the Six Sigma tools that were applied, including a rigorous value mapping technique. This paper develops a framework that can be used as a template for cost reduction and capacity enhancement training.
Experimental and kinetic modeling study of NO oxidation: Comparison of Fe and Cu-zeolite catalysts

Abstract NO oxidation is considered as the rate determining step of the standard selective catalytic reduction (SCR) reaction (NO + NH 3 + O 2 ) on metal-exchanged zeolite catalysts. A comprehensive experimental and kinetic modeling study of NO oxidation reaction was carried out and a comparison made between Fe-ZSM-5, Cu-ZSM-5 and recently developed small pore Cu-chabazite catalysts. Steady state integral measurements of NO oxidation show Fe-zeolite to be a more active NO oxidation catalyst than Cu-zeolite. Both NO 2 temperature programmed desorption and decomposition experiments show that the NO 2 is more strongly bound on the Cu-chabazite compared to Fe-ZSM-5. Increasing amounts of NO 2 in the NO x feed decrease the NO oxidation activity on both the catalysts. Differential kinetic studies show a positive order rate dependence of NO oxidation reaction with respect to both NO (∼1) and O 2 (∼0.5) while showing a negative order dependence with respect to NO 2 (−0.5 to −1), which confirms that the NO 2 inhibits the NO oxidation reaction. NO 2 inhibition on NO oxidation was found to be more severe on Cu-chabazite (∼ −1 order) compared to Fe-ZSM-5 (∼ −0.5 order). The overall activation energy of NO oxidation was found to be 39 kJ/mol on Fe-ZSM-5 compared to 56 kJ/mol on Cu-chabazite. The presence of feed water strongly inhibits the NO oxidation reaction. Transient NO 2 uptake experiments reveal nitrate formation on both catalysts. Catalysts pretreatments by different oxidizing/reducing agents (O 2 , NO 2 , H 2 and NH 3 ) did not affect steady state NO oxidation results. Experiments with monolith catalysts having the same washcoat volume but different washcoat thicknesses rule out the presence of washcoat diffusion limitations for NO oxidation. A global kinetic model is developed which accurately predicts the experimentally observed reaction orders, NO conversions and NO 2 and water inhibition effects for a wide temperature range and different feed conditions. The kinetic model accounts for the experimentally observed instability of nitrates in the presence of feed NO and shows that the steady state NO oxidation data can be predicted with a global kinetic model assuming the surface reaction between adsorbed O atoms and gaseous NO as the rate determining step.
Cardiac toxicity associated with anthracycline-containing chemotherapy in older women with breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to determine the risk of chemotherapy-associated cardiac toxicity, including cardiac dysrhythmia, cardiomyopathy, congestive heart failure, ischemic heart disease, and conduction disorders among breast cancer patients with up to 16 years of follow-up. METHODS: The authors studied 19,478 women aged >65 diagnosed with breast cancer in 1991-1997 from 16 regions in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results program. Incidence density and cumulative incidence of cardiac toxicities were calculated, and the time-to-event (cardiac toxicity) analysis was conducted by using the Cox hazard regression model. RESULTS: The excess cumulative incidence of congestive heart failure in Year 10 among patients receiving anthracycline-containing chemotherapy compared with patients without chemotherapy was 4.7% (31.9% vs 27.2%). After adjusting for patient and tumor characteristics, patients receiving anthracyclines were 25% more likely to have congestive heart failure compared with those without chemotherapy (hazard ratio [HR], 1.25; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.07-1.46). Those receiving other agents did not have a significantly elevated risk of developing congestive heart failure. The adjusted risk of cardiomyopathy was 2-fold higher in women who received anthracyclines (HR, 1.95; 95% CI, 1.44-2.62) and was 16% higher in those receiving other agents (HR, 1.16; 95% CI, 0.97-1.39) compared with those without chemotherapy. The increased risk for developing congestive heart failure, cardiomyopathy, and cardiac dysrhythmias in association with chemotherapy were similar after adjusting for hypertension and diabetes. The risk of ischemic heart disease and conduction disorders were not significantly different among the 3 groups. CONCLUSIONS: Anthracycline-containing chemotherapy regimens were associated with an increased risk of congestive heart failure, cardiomyopathy, and cardiac dysrhythmias, but not significantly associated with ischemic heart disease or conduction disorders. Cancer 2009. © 2009 American Cancer Society.
Catechol-O-methyltransferase Val158Met genotype variation is associated with prefrontal-dependent task performance in schizotypal personality disorder patients and comparison groups.

OBJECTIVE: A single-nucleotide polymorphism of the gene coding for catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT Val(158)Met) is associated with prefrontal-dependent task performance in schizophrenia. We evaluated the relationship of the COMT genotype with diagnostic status and cognitive performance in schizotypal personality disorder. METHODS: Unmedicated outpatients with schizotypal personality disorder (SPD; n = 67) and non-schizotypal personality disorder (NSPD; n = 154) by DSM-III-R, and normal control (NC; n = 60) participants were genotyped at the COMT Val(158)Met locus. Of these, 98 Caucasians (23 SPD, 52 NSPD and 23 NC) performed a brief neurocognitive battery: Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST), Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test (PASAT), California Verbal Learning Test (CVLT), Visuospatial Working Memory (DOT) and Visual Delayed Recall (Wechsler Memory Scale Visual Reproduction, WMS-VR). RESULTS: Allele distribution was not significantly different in the full sample (by chi(2)) for the SPD group compared with either the NC or combined NC/NSPD groups. In analyses of variance of Caucasian individuals, the SPD group performance met or approached significantly worse performance than NC, NSPD or both groups, on the PASAT, CVLT and WMS-VR. In regression analyses of cognitive performance, the COMT genotype was significantly associated with performance on WCST and PASAT, independent of diagnosis, with the Val/Val genotype associated with the worse performance. CONCLUSIONS: (1) Allelic variation in COMT activity is unrelated to the diagnosis of SPD in this sample. (2) Individuals with SPD exhibit multiple deficits in prefrontal and temporal lobe-dependent tasks. (3) The COMT genotype is related to performance on prefrontal cortex-dependent tasks and may contribute to the deficit in prefrontal-dependent memory processes in SPD as it does in schizophrenia.
Experimental Area Beams from the Anl 12.5 Bev Proton Synchrotron

The "picture frame" magnet design, the double vacuum system and the use of tuning magnets at injection have elicited some unique features in the production of beams for the experimental areas of the ZGS. For the external proton beam, the basic method of extraction is similar to other proton synchrotrons in that an energy-loss target is used to displace the circulating beam. However, the design of the ZGS is such that the necessity for plunging extraction magnets into the aperture has been eliminated. Further, the design of these nonplunging magnets is such that they are operable at a fixed field and thus eliminate the need for complicated pulsing and timing systems. Measurements using various techniques, including scintillators and TV storage systems, poloroid film, secondary emission detectors, and radioactive foil analyses have been made. For beams from internal targets, it is desirable to produce beams with various production angles, as well as being able to achieve zero degree production. It was found possible to establish three secondary beam channels looking at a common target point near the end of an octant. This point is in a nearly field-free region so that the channel angle becomes the production angle for both positive and negative particles. It is of interest that the construction of the ZGS is such that there is practically no fringe field beyond the octant edges. Furthermore, it was found possible to run targets into the octant along the inner vacuum chamber sidewalls without interfering with the injected beam.
Four-site Case Study of Water Extraction from CO2 Storage Reservoirs

Abstract Water extraction is one possible means of enhancing storage capacity and managing carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) storage reservoirs. This study investigates the efficacy of water extraction in CO 2 storage applications through the use of dynamic simulations under various conditions on conceptual heterogeneous geological models based on four CO 2 storage sites in different basins of the world. The simulations indicate that the CO 2 storage capacities can be increased, and pressure and plume management can likely be accomplished through the use of water extraction.
Molecular evolution of the transferrin family and associated receptors

Abstract Background In vertebrates, serum transferrins are essential iron transporters that have bind and release Fe(III) in response to receptor binding and changes in pH. Some family members such as lactoferrin and melanotransferrin can also bind iron while others have lost this ability and have gained other functions, e.g., inhibitor of carbonic anhydrase (mammals), saxiphilin (frogs) and otolith matrix protein 1 (fish). Scope of review This article provides an overview of the known transferrin family members and their associated receptors and interacting partners. Major conclusions The number of transferrin genes has proliferated as a result of multiple duplication events, and the resulting paralogs have developed a wide array of new functions. Some homologs in the most primitive metazoan groups resemble both serum and melanotransferrins, but the major yolk proteins show considerable divergence from the rest of the family. Among the transferrin receptors, the lack of TFR2 in birds and reptiles, and the lack of any TFR homologs among the insects draw attention to the differences in iron transport and regulation in those groups. General significance The transferrin family members are important because of their clinical significance, interesting biochemical properties, and evolutionary history. More work is needed to better understand the functions and evolution of the non-vertebrate family members. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Molecular Mechanisms of Iron Transport and Disorders.
The MCMI-III and the Daubert standard: separating rhetoric from reality.

We appreciate the Editor's invitation to comment on Dyer and McCann's (2000) impassioned defense of the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory-III (MCMI-III; Millon, 1994, Millon, Davis, & Millon, 1997). Because of imposed page constraints, this commentary is very brief. Following a succinct overview, we address major points regarding (a) the overall validation of the MCMI, MCMI-II, and MCMIIII, and (b) the diagnostic validity of the MCMI-III.
Solution of Linear Differential Equations with Variable Coefficients by the Electronic Differential Analyzer

A relay device is described which varies resistance in a stepwise continuous manner in order to approximate arbitrary functions of time. The device can be used with electronic differential analyzers to solve linear differential equations with variable coefficients. Sample solutions of Bessel's equation are included as examples. Calibration and measurement techniques which permit computer accuracies, of several hundredths of a percent are discussed.
Public perceptions of childhood obesity.

Background Obesity has been identified as an epidemic by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Rates of unhealthy body weight among children and adolescents have tripled since the 1980s to 15%. Media coverage of obesity has also increased, and the public is now highly aware of obesity-related health threats facing adults and children. Methods RTI International sponsored a representative survey of U.S. households ( n =1047) that included detailed questions about perceptions of the severity, causes, and public support for specific intervention strategies to combat childhood obesity. Logistic regressions were calculated to examine differences in support by sociodemographic characteristics. Results Respondents considered childhood obesity to be as serious as other major childhood health threats, such as tobacco use and violence, but not as serious as drug abuse. They supported most school-, community-, and media-based strategies that involved offering health information, limiting unhealthy food promotion, and increasing healthy nutrition and physical activity choices, but were generally opposed to regulatory and tax- or cost-based interventions. Logistic regressions revealed significantly greater support for some interventions among highly educated individuals and women, and lower support among parents with children at home. Conclusions This study demonstrates that there is strong public support for interventions aimed at reducing overweight and obesity among children and adolescents. It also shows specific school, community, and media interventions that the public supports and opposes, and what consequences the public will accept in combating childhood obesity. These findings can help policymakers and public health professionals design and implement appropriate interventions.
Plant Leucine Aminopeptidases Moonlight as Molecular Chaperones to Alleviate Stress-induced Damage

Leucine aminopeptidases (LAPs) are present in animals, plants, and microbes. In plants, there are two classes of LAPs. The neutral LAPs (LAP-N and its orthologs) are constitutively expressed and detected in all plants, whereas the stress-induced acidic LAPs (LAP-A) are expressed only in a subset of the Solanaceae. LAPs have a role in insect defense and act as a regulator of the late branch of wound signaling in Solanum lycopersicum (tomato). Although the mechanism of LAP-A action is unknown, it has been presumed that LAP peptidase activity is essential for regulating wound signaling. Here we show that plant LAPs are bifunctional. Using three assays to monitor protein protection from heat-induced damage, it was shown that the tomato LAP-A and LAP-N and the Arabidopsis thaliana LAP1 and LAP2 are molecular chaperones. Assays using LAP-A catalytic site mutants demonstrated that LAP-A chaperone activity was independent of its peptidase activity. Furthermore, disruption of the LAP-A hexameric structure increased chaperone activity. Together, these data identify a new class of molecular chaperones and a new function for the plant LAPs as well as suggesting new mechanisms for LAP action in the defense of solanaceous plants against stress.
Identification of a Cyclin Subunit Required for the Function ofDrosophila P-TEFb

Abstract P-TEFb is required for the transition from abortive elongation into productive elongation and is capable of phosphorylating the carboxyl-terminal domain (CTD) of the largest subunit of RNA polymerase II. We cloned a cDNA encoding the large subunit of Drosophila P-TEFb and found the predicted protein contained a cyclin motif. We now name the large subunit cyclin T and the previously cloned small subunit (Zhu, Y. R., Peery, T., Peng, J. M., Ramanathan, Y., Marshall, N., Marshall, T., Amendt, B., Mathews, M. B., and Price, D. H. (1997) Genes Dev.11, 2622–2632) cyclin-dependent kinase 9 (CDK9). Recombinant P-TEFb produced in baculovirus-transfected Sf9 cells exhibited 5,6-dichloro-1-β-d-ribofuranosylbenzimidazole-sensitive kinase activity similar to native P-TEFb. Kc cell nuclear extract depleted of P-TEFb failed to generate long DRB-sensitive transcripts, but this activity was restored upon addition of either native or recombinant P-TEFb. Like other CDKs, CDK9 is essentially inactive in the absence of its cyclin partner. P-TEFb containing a CDK9 mutation that knocked out the kinase activity did not function in transcription. Deletion of the carboxyl-terminal domain of cyclin T in P-TEFb reduced both the kinase and transcription activity to about 10%. The CDK-activating kinase in TFIIH was unable to activate the CTD kinase activity of P-TEFb.
On the Use of Local Assessments for Monitoring Centrally Reviewed Endpoints with Missing Data in Clinical Trials

Due to ethical and logistical concerns it is common for data monitoring committees to periodically monitor accruing clinical trial data to assess the safety, and possibly efficacy, of a new experimental treatment. When formalized, monitoring is typically implemented using group sequential methods. In some cases regulatory agencies have required that primary trial analyses should be based solely on the judgment of an independent review committee (IRC). The IRC assessments can produce difficulties for trial monitoring given the time lag typically associated with receiving assessments from the IRC. This results in a missing data problem wherein a surrogate measure of response may provide useful information for interim decisions and future monitoring strategies. In this paper, we present statistical tools that are helpful for monitoring a group sequential clinical trial with missing IRC data. We illustrate the proposed methodology in the case of binary endpoints under various missingness mechanisms including missing completely at random assessments and when missingness depends on the IRC’s measurement.
Race, Ethnicity, and NIH Research Awards

We investigated the association between a U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) R01 applicant’s self-identified race or ethnicity and the probability of receiving an award by using data from the NIH IMPAC II grant database, the Thomson Reuters Web of Science, and other sources. Although proposals with strong priority scores were equally likely to be funded regardless of race, we find that Asians are 4 percentage points and black or African-American applicants are 13 percentage points less likely to receive NIH investigator-initiated research funding compared with whites. After controlling for the applicant’s educational background, country of origin, training, previous research awards, publication record, and employer characteristics, we find that black applicants remain 10 percentage points less likely than whites to be awarded NIH research funding. Our results suggest some leverage points for policy intervention.
Osteopontin induces growth of metastatic tumors in a preclinical model of non-small lung cancer

Osteopontin (OPN), also known as SPP1 (secreted phosphoprotein), is an integrin binding glyco-phosphoprotein produced by a variety of tissues. In cancer patients expression of OPN has been associated with poor prognosis in several tumor types including breast, lung, and colorectal cancers. Despite wide expression in tumor cells and stroma, there is limited evidence supporting role of OPN in tumor progression and metastasis. Using phage display technology we identified a high affinity a nti-O PN m onoclonal antibody (hereafter AOM1). The binding site for AOM1 was identified as SVVYGLRSKS sequence which is immediately adjacent to the RGD motif and also spans the thrombin cleavage site of the human OPN. AOM1 efficiently inhibited OPNa binding to recombinant integrin αvβ3 with an IC50 of 65 nM. Due to its unique binding site, AOM1 is capable of inhibiting OPN cleavage by thrombin which has been shown to produce an OPN fragment that is biologically more active than the full length OPN. Screening of human cell lines identified tumor cells with increased expression of OPN receptors (αvβ3 and CD44v6) such as mesothelioma, hepatocellular carcinoma, breast, and non-small cell lung adenocarcinoma (NSCLC). CD44v6 and αvβ3 were also found to be highly enriched in the monocyte, but not lymphocyte, subset of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (hPBMCs). In vitro, OPNa induced migration of both tumor and hPBMCs in a transwell migration assay. AOM1 significantly blocked cell migration further validating its specificity for the ligand. OPN was found to be enriched in mouse plasma in a number of pre-clinical tumor model of non-small cell lung cancers. To assess the role of OPN in tumor growth and metastasis and to evaluate a potential therapeutic indication for AOM1, we employed a KrasG12D-LSLp53fl/fl subcutaneously implanted in vivo model of NSCLC which possesses a high capacity to metastasize into the lung. Our data indicated that treatment of tumor bearing mice with AOM1 as a single agent or in combination with Carboplatin significantly inhibited growth of large metastatic tumors in the lung further supporting a role for OPN in tumor metastasis and progression.
Late-life (migrainous) scintillating zigzags without headache: one person's 27-year experience.

Background.—Episodes of typical scintillating zigzags similar to the visual aura of migraine may occur without headache, especially after the age of 50. There is no record of one individual's long-term experience. Present Material.—This paper is a personal account of all 41 episodes of scintillating zigzags that occurred between the ages of 59 and 85. Observations were made on several aspects of the visual event itself—evolution, pattern, scotoma, coloration, duration, lateralization, etc. The chronological distribution of spells, circumstances of occurrence, time of day, the season, etc were noted. The study was observational in nature. Documentation of this experience could be of value clinically and scientifically. Results.—The spells occurred irregularly, unrelated to season, time of day, activity at onset, diet, and temperamental state. The characteristic appearance was a flickering zigzag line that began centrally and migrated to the periphery. The display, which was stereotyped, was achromatic. The average duration was 15 minutes. Both visual fields were equally involved, never at the same time. The details of the scintillating zigzag line are actually complex and an account of the observations of others and of the author is included here.
Disseminated mucormycosis presenting with lower extremity weakness

Mucormycosis is an uncommon, but important opportunistic fungal infection. The most commonly reported areas of infection are pulmonary, rhinocerebral and cutaneous. It has only rarely been reported to cause peripheral neurological symptoms. This report presents the case of a patient who presented with ascending paralysis due to pulmonary mucormycosis. The presentation is believed to be due to a lesion which abutted the vertebral column and caused infarction of the spinal cord.
Moral Hazard, Inspection Policy, and Food Safety

Buyers have imperfect information about the food safety efforts exerted by suppliers. To gather information about safety, buyers often employ sampling inspection. Sampling inspection exhibits sampling error so some unsafe product passes inspection and some safe product does not. This uncertainty influences buyer and supplier behavior. In this article, I use a principal-agent model to examine how sampling inspection policies influence food safety. I use the model to examine the sampling inspection policies in the 1996 Pathogen Reduction/Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point Act. I conclude that the regulation of sampling inspection procedures is an effective tool for policy makers who wish to improve food safety.
Robotic controller on VME bus

An attempt to transfer the Robotic Arm Control System (RACS) to the UNIX-based platform is described. The RACS features a practical computer architecture utilizing off-the-shelf parts. It may be used to implement any control method and is particularly well suited for complex schemes like reflex action position control. The control flow does not require all the input data to be present at one instant of time. Thus, the concept of distributed-sampling control may be used. The RACS is driven by a UNIX-based workstation through the industrial VME bus. The RACS controller is configured to work with the UNIX-based workstation SUN 3. It is shown that the RACS structure is flexible enough to work with another control system, while retaining its plant interfaces. This is mostly because the internal custom T-bus makes the plant and the sensor interfaces virtually one unit. Any host able to communicate in the T-bus protocol can drive the plant. >
Review Article : Antiangiogenesis in Neurofibromatosis 1

Antiangiogenesis therapy has become a potentially promising tool to inhibit tumor growth by targeting an essential yet untransformed tissue component. Identifying the factors involved and understanding the mechanisms required for tumor angiogenesis will facilitate efficient and specific targeting. In neurofibromas, tumor growth is facilitated by a genetically and cytologically diverse mixture of cell types, including Schwann cells, fibroblast, mast cells, and neurons where nf-l-Schwann cells are most likely the tumorigenic cell type. The matrix forming nf+/- cells may provide a permissive environment, facilitating tumor development, perhaps by providing landscaping factors such as the angiogenic molecules fibroblast growth factor-2, platelet-derived growth factor, endothelial growth factor, vascular endothelial growth factor, and midkine, which have been detected in neurofibromas. Systemic overexpression of specific factors such as midkine owing to loss of one nf allele might further lower the overall thr...
The analysis and recognition of real-world textures in three dimensions

The observed image texture for a rough surface has a complex dependence on the illumination and viewing angles due to effects such as foreshortening, local shading, interreflections, and the shadowing and occlusion of surface elements. We introduce the dimensionality surface as a representation for the visual complexity of a material sample. The dimensionality surface defines the number of basis textures that are required to represent the observed textures for a sample as a function of ranges of illumination and viewing angles. Basis textures are represented using multiband correlation functions that consider both within and between color band correlations. We examine properties of the dimensionality surface for real materials using the Columbia Utrecht Reflectance and Texture (CUReT) database. The analysis shows that the dependence of the dimensionality surface on ranges of illumination and viewing angles is approximately linear with a slope that depends on the complexity of the sample. We extend the analysis to consider the problem of recognizing rough surfaces in color images obtained under unknown illumination and viewing geometry. We show, using a set of 12,505 images from 61 material samples, that the information captured by the multiband correlation model allows surfaces to be recognized over a wide range of conditions. We also show that the use of color information provides significant advantages for three-dimensional texture recognition.
Quinine-Induced Hepatotoxicity

OBJECTIVE:To report a case of quinine-induced hepatotoxicity presenting within 24 hours following the ingestion of the first dose.DATA SOURCES:Case report information was obtained from the medical record, the patient, and the physicians involved in this patient's case. MEDLINE and Index Medicus were searched to obtain relevant published literature from January 1942 to May 1997 using the terms quinine, muscle cramps, liver disease, and hepatotoxicity.CASE SUMMARY:A 57-year-old Native American woman presented with symptoms of nausea, vomiting, generalized myalgia, headache, fever, chills, and rigor. The alkaline phosphatase, lactate dehydrogenase, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and γ-glutamyltranspeptidase concentrations were dramatically elevated. Quinine was suspected as the cause after several days of hospitalization and continued therapy. With discontinuation of the quinine, the patient's symptoms resolved within 48 hours and the liver enzyme concentrations declined within 72 hour...
The thermal degradation of an amine-cured epoxide resin at temperatures between 200°C. and 310°C.

This paper describes the nonoxidative thermal degradation of an epoxide resin based on the diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A crosslinked with p,p′-diaminodiphenyl methane. Temperatures of degradation lay between 200 and 310°C. and the process was followed concurrently by three means: changes in dielectric properties, changes in infrared spectra, and weight loss. Dielectric properties support the contention that there is a dehydration step during degradation. It is proposed that vacuum curing at high temperature can produce optimum crosslinking. Evidence of phenol and N-methyl aniline as degradation products is advanced, and possible degradation mechanisms are discussed.
The Stephen H. Long Expedition (1819–1820), Titian R. Peale's Field Illustrations, and The Lost Holotypes of The North American Shrews Sorex Brevicaudus Say and Sorex Parvus Say (Mammalia: Soricidae) from The Philadelphia Museum

Abstract While encamped for the winter of 1819–1820 at Engineer Cantonment along the Missouri River in present-day eastern Nebraska, members of Major Stephen Harriman Long's Expedition to the Rocky Mountains collected a number of animals that were previously unknown. Among the mammals were two soricids that were subsequently described by Thomas Say as Sorex brevicaudus (Northern Short-tailed Shrew, Blarina brevicauda) and Sorex parvus (Least Shrew, Cryptotis parvus). The holotypes of these species were deposited and placed on public exhibit in the Philadelphia Museum, the predominant North American systematic collection of the early nineteenth century. Like most private museums of that era, the Philadelphia Museum eventually went out of business, and its collections were dispersed and, for the most part, lost. Fortunately, Titian R. Peale made a detailed field sketch of the two specimens soon after their capture and subsequently executed a watercolor based on that sketch. In addition, an engraving of the ...
Special Issue: Grids and Web Services for e‐Science

SUMMARY This editorial describes four papers that summarize key Grid technology capabilities to support distributed e-Science applications. These papers discuss the Condor system supporting computing communities, the OGSA-DAI service interfaces for databases, the WS-I+ Grid Service profile and finally WS-GAF (the Web Service Grid Application Framework). We discuss the confluence of mainstream IT industry development and the very latest science and computer science research and urge the communities to reach consensus rapidly. Agreement on a set of core Web Service standards is essential to allow developers to build Grids and distributed business and science applications with some assurance that their investment will not be obviated by the changing Web Service frameworks. Copyright c 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Reviewing the gatekeepers: A survey of referees of library journals

A survey of referees of scholarly journals in librarianship was conducted to gather information on referees' practices and attitudes, their perceptions of their role in the editorial process, and background information that might reveal relevant information on experience and qualifications for serving as a referee. One hundred ninety-nine surveys were mailed to referees and 121 responses were returned. The responses indicated that half the referees do not work with a formal evaluation criteria guideline but consistently regard validity of claims and originality as the two categories on which most emphasis is placed when reviewing a manuscript. Overwhelming support was expressed for returning comments to submitting authors but a curiously high number of referees do not know if this is the journal editor's practice. Furthermore, approximately 75% of the referees were uninformed by the editor of a reviewed manuscript's final disposition. The majority of referees for scholarly journals in librarianship are employed in academic libraries and schools of library and information science, hold a position of responsibility in a professional association and are successful in publishing articles in librarianship. © 1988 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Validity of the GRE without Restriction of Range

Restriction of range is a frequently acknowledged issue in estimating the validity of predictors of academic performance in graduate school. Data obtained from a doctoral program in a psychology de...
Moored Observations of Precipitation Temperature

Abstract Direct observations of precipitation temperature were made from a surface buoy deployed for four months in the western Pacific warm pool. The observed rain droplet temperatures are equal to the wet-bulb temperature to within the measured wet-bulb temperature uncertainty of ±0.4°C. The rain droplet temperatures are 4.8°–5.8°C cooler than the ocean surface temperature. The sensible heat flux associated with the rain is found to be a significant component for the net surface heat while it is raining, ranging from −65.0 to −204 W m−2 (ocean cooling) and accounting for 15%–60% of the net heat flux for any single rain event. The rain heat flux is also important on longer timescales in the warm pool, where there is a close balance between surface heating and cooling and high precipitation rates. During the 4-month deployment period, the rain heat flux is 2.8 W m−2 (ocean cooling) and 15% of the net surface heat flux.
Relationships between wind predictions and model resolution over coastal regions

Abstract The impact of resolution on wind predictions within regions of complex coastal geometry is evaluated using a quadruple nest of COAMPS ® (27 km to 1 km) to find an optimal configuration of spatial and temporal resolution. Two regions, Turkish Straits System and Chesapeake Bay, are selected because of their diverse coastal environments, the availability of wind observations and to determine if the relationships between resolution and wind prediction accuracy would be valid for geographically different regions. The coarse resolution model successfully simulates the general trend of the surface wind variation, but cannot capture peak events accurately. Increased spatial resolution results in more accurate wind predictions. The coastline representation and land features impact friction over land and blocking of the winds and affect accuracy of wind predictions. 27-km resolution products lack important details over coastal waters and are not adequate to force high resolution ocean models. No evident improvement in accuracy is observed when increasing the resolution from 3-km to 1-km. An increase in frequency of the wind records from 3-hourly to hourly is required to capture frontal events with strong wind speeds and sharp gradients. Our analysis for both regions suggests the use of hourly atmospheric products at 3-km resolution for oceanic forcing purposes.
Atomic distribution in catalytic amorphous metals

The atomic distribution in catalytically active metallic glass alloys, Pd43Cu27Ni10P20 and Pt57.5Cu14.7Ni5.3P22.5, was investigated using three-dimensional atom probe microscopy. Atom probe analysis showed uniform distribution of constituent elements for both the starting amorphous alloys, with no phase separation. Both the crystallized alloys showed eutectic microstructure with a very sharp interface (∼0.5 nm as determined from atom probe). The atomic distribution in the devitrified state is explained based on the "fragile liquid" behavior for these noble-metal glassy alloys.
The Dissemination of Social Media to Campaigns for State Legislature: The 2012 New England Case

This study examines the adoption and dissemination of internet hosted technology tools in state level campaigns. More specifically, it analyzes and compares which candidates were the most likely to adopt a website, Facebook and Twitter in the 2012 elections for the six New England state senate campaigns. The research hypotheses draw primarily from the diffusion of innovation literature. Our predictive models for the 333 major party candidates in these races indicate that adoption rates for these media lag significantly behind those for Congressional campaigns. We also find considerable variation among the six states, with Massachusetts having the highest and Rhode Island the lowest rates. The only variable that explains adoption of the oldest technology, websites, is the average adoption rate for all senate candidates in a given state. That average is also a significant influence on Facebook and Twitter adoption. A candidate’s adoption of a previous new technology is a significant influence on his or her adoption of the next newest technology (websites for Facebook, Facebook for Twitter). Democrats and incumbents are significantly more likely to adopt Facebook than Republicans or those contesting open seats or challengers, but these are not significant for websites or Twitter.
MORPHOLOGIC AND DEVELOPMENTAL DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE CELLS OF THE CHICKEN'S THYMUS AND BURSA OF FABRICIUS.

Apparent functional differences between the chicken’s thymus and bursa, two lymphoepithelial organs considered similar in many ways, have prompted an evaluation of the morphologic and developmental differences between the cells of these two organs. Thymic lymphocytes are well developed prior to the time of hatching, whereas bursal lymphocytes remain large and possibly relatively immature for the duration of the bursa’s existence. These differences may provide a reasonable explanation for the functional differences observed between the bursa and thymus.
Rilpivirine analogs potently inhibit drug-resistant HIV-1 mutants

Nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) are a class of antiretroviral compounds that bind in an allosteric binding pocket in HIV-1 RT, located about 10 A from the polymerase active site. Binding of an NNRTI causes structural changes that perturb the alignment of the primer terminus and polymerase active site, preventing viral DNA synthesis. Rilpivirine (RPV) is the most recent NNRTI approved by the FDA, but like all other HIV-1 drugs, suboptimal treatment can lead to the development of resistance. To generate better compounds that could be added to the current HIV-1 drug armamentarium, we have developed several RPV analogs to combat viral variants that are resistant to the available NNRTIs. Using a single-round infection assay, we identified several RPV analogs that potently inhibited a broad panel of NNRTI resistant mutants. Additionally, we determined that several resistant mutants selected by either RPV or Doravirine (DOR) caused only a small increase in susceptibility to the most promising RPV analogs. The antiviral data suggested that there are RPV analogs that could be candidates for further development as NNRTIs, and one of the most promising compounds was modeled in the NNRTI binding pocket. This model can be used to explain why this compound is broadly effective against the panel of NNRTI resistance mutants.
Increasing relative humidity impacts low-intensity exercise in the heat.

INTRODUCTION Many jobs require working or exercising at low intensities for extended periods in hot-humid climates; however, in these conditions the isolated effects of relative humidity (RH) remain unclear. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine how RH influenced thermoregulation and perception during low-intensity exercise in the heat. METHODS There were 13 healthy men (age = 23 +/- 2 yr, mass = 83.1 +/- 13.3 kg, height = 179.9 +/- 5.9 cm, Vo2max = 55.6 +/- 7.3 ml x kg(-1) x min(-1)) who walked 90 min at 35% Vo2max in 35 degrees C, completing trials at 40% RH (40RH), 55% RH (55RH), 70% RH (70RH), and 85% RH (85RH). Investigators obtained (1) rectal temperature (Tre), skin temperatures, heart rate, and perceptual measures every 5 min; (2) respiratory measures every 30 min; and (3) pre- and post-exercise nude body masses; these measures derived partitional calorimetry variables. RESULTS Maximal evaporative capacity and heat loss incrementally decreased as RH increased; nonevaporative and respiratory heat loss negligibly altered heat balance. Progressively raising RH significantly increased heat storage, heat production, and Tre. Tre in 40RH and 55RH matched; 70RH exceeded 40RH and 55RH after 35 min; and 85RH exceeded all trials after 40 min. DISCUSSION Nonevaporative and respiratory heat loss mechanisms failed to offset decreased sweat evaporation. Nonlinear increases in Tre appeared to catalyze responses in most other variables, which demonstrated similar but temporally delayed patterns. Under these circumstances, an RH threshold for increased thermal strain plausibly existed between 55-70RH; environmental characteristics indicated the threshold occurred not where heat stress became uncompensable, but instead where Tre surpassed the "balance point," triggering compensatory responses.