cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Sustainability of Teachers' International Experiences: Conditions for Institutionalization of International Program Outcomes

Since World War II international exchange and training programs for educators have increasingly played an important role in developing prospective consciousness and awareness of cultural diversity and global interdependence among teachers. However, international programs have always depended on extra educational factors such as political, ideological, cultural, or financial circumstances. As a result, program sustainability and proper institutionalization of program's results that are a testimony of achieved success, are both matters of concern for program developers and alumni. This paper identifies factors and contexts that facilitate sustainable development of international programs and institutionalization of their outcomes. Two cohorts of international teacher program alumni from Russia and the United States were interviewed about the impact of exchange programs on participants' status and pedagogies. The study demonstrated that respondents consider three factors, namely, motivational, administrative, and cooperative, most critical for the institutionalization of international program results.
Expression of Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase in Cerebral Endothelial Cells Is Regulated by Cytokine‐Activated Astrocytes

A nitric oxide (NO) synthase (NOS) can be induced in both astrocytes and cerebral endothelial cells with a combination of interleukin-1 beta/interferon-gamma or lipopolysaccharide/interferon-gamma, respectively. Exogenous NO, either from the chemical donor spermine NONOate or from activated astrocytes, affected the expression of inducible NOS in cerebral endothelial cells. In cerebral endothelial cells pretreated with spermine NONOate the induction of NOS was reduced, as revealed by mRNA expression and nitrite accumulation. Cytokine-treated astrocytes generating NO and placed in close proximity to endothelial cells decreased the expression of NOS induced by cytokines in endothelial cells. In addition, it was apparent that cytokine-activated astrocytes released a factor(s) that initiated transcriptional induction of NOS in cerebral endothelium. This suggests that astrocytes activated by cytokines in vivo could influence expression of inducible NOS in cells of the adjacent microvasculature.
Regulation of lipolysis and lipoprotein lipase after weight loss in obese, postmenopausal women.

Objective: To test the hypothesis that the greater β-adrenoceptor (β-AR)-stimulated lipolysis and sensitivity (half-maximal lipolytic response) in abdominal (ABD) adipocytes, greater gluteal (GLT) adipose tissue-lipoprotein lipase (AT-LPL) activity, and dyslipidemia associated with obesity in older women are modifiable by weight loss (WL) and are not due to menopause or aging. Research Methods and Procedures: The metabolic effects of 6 months of hypocaloric diet and low-intensity walking WL program on the regional regulation of in vitro lipolysis and AT-LPL activity in subcutaneous ABD and GLT adipocytes were measured in 34 obese (48.7 ± 0.7% body fat, mean ± SE) postmenopausal (59 ± 1 years) white women. Results: The lipolytic responsiveness to the β-AR agonist isoproterenol and basal lipolysis in the presence of 1 U/mL adenosine deaminase-uninhibited (lipolysis) were greater (p < 0.01) in ABD than GLT adipocytes before and after WL, but there were no regional differences in postreceptor (dibutyryl 3′, 5′-cyclic adenosine monophosphate)-stimulated lipolysis. β-AR sensitivity was greater in ABD than GLT adipocytes before (p < 0.01) but not after WL. Regional AT-LPL did not change after WL, but the change in the activity of ABD (but not GLT) AT-LPL correlated with the baseline adenosine deaminase-uninhibited lipolysis (r = 0.38, p = 0.03). There were no relationships between the declines in plasma triglyceride or increases in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol associated with WL and the changes in regional fat cell metabolism. Discussion: Thus, despite improving lipoprotein lipid profiles in obese, postmenopausal women, WL does not affect the regulation of regional fat metabolism, and a greater tonic inhibition of basal lipolysis by endogenous adenosine may increase the activity of AT-LPL after WL and predispose older women to develop ABD adiposity.
Extended Glauber Model of Antiproton-Nucleus Annihilation for All Energies and Mass Numbers

Previous analytical formulas in the Glauber model for high-energy nucleus-nucleus collisions developed by Wong are utilized and extended to study antiproton-nucleus annihilations for both high and low energies, after taking into account the effects of Coulomb and nuclear interactions, and the change of the antiproton momentum inside a nucleus. The extended analytical formulas capture the main features of the experimental antiproton-nucleus annihilation cross sections for all energies and mass numbers. At high antiproton energies, they exhibit the granular property for the lightest nuclei and the black-disk limit for the heavy nuclei. At low antiproton energies, they display the effect of antiproton momentum increase due to the nuclear interaction for light nuclei, and the effect of magnification due to the attractive Coulomb interaction for heavy nuclei.
Web 2.0 for E-Science Environments

We examine the potential impact of Web 2.0 approaches to e-science and Grid computing. We provide an analysis of Web service and Grid computing core concepts, which we then map to corresponding concepts in Web 2.0 systems. As we show, Web 2.0, taken collectively, must be viewed as a comprehensive distributed computing approach. We then examine social bookmarking and tagging as an exemplary Web 2.0 service. Tagged bookmarks can be used to build up keyword-based profiles that can be used in collaborator matchmaking services. To be professionally useful to researchers and faculty, these tools need to provide interfaces to scholarly articles for bookmarking. This introduces another level of Web 2.0 service, the semantic research grid, which we overview. We conclude with a discussion of the need for building hybrid Web Service/Web 2.0 systems.
ANALYTICAL MODEL OF PROGRESSIVE SLOPE FAILURE IN WASTE CONTAINMENT SYSTEMS

The potential for progressive failure in waste containment systems is an important design consideration. Many common interfaces between components in containment systems exhibit strain-softening behaviour; however, slopes are presently designed using limit equilibrium methods that do not account for these effects. An analytical model is developed to investigate the potential for progressive failure due to strain softening. Results are presented in a non-dimensional form relating the potential for strain softening to the slope geometry, the waste properties and the properties of the containment system interface. The potential for progressive failure increases as (i) the waste stiffness decreases relative to the initial stiffness of the interface resistance, (ii) the length of the slip surface increases and (iii) the rate of strain softening with displacement increases. Analysis of a case study slope failure indicates that the analytical approach produces results that are consistent with field observations and comparable to results from a more sophisticated, numerical analysis. Although simple, this analytical approach serves as a useful design guide to identify cases where it is unsafe to use the peak shear strength in a limit equilibrium analysis.
Application of High-Intensity Ultrasound and Surfactants in Rice Starch Isolation

ABSTRACT High-intensity ultrasound was evaluated as an alternative method to isolate rice starch without the use of chemicals as in the traditional alkaline steeping method. Surfactants, including sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), sodium stearoyl lactylate (SSL), and Tween 80, at 0.1, 0.3, or 0.5% combined with high-intensity ultrasound were also investigated for rice starch isolation. A rice flour slurry (33%) was subjected to sonication for 15, 30, or 60 min at an amplitude of 25, 50, or 75% and at 40 or 50°C. The starch yield was not significantly affected by the treatment temperature and ranged from 46.7 to 76.2% (starch dry basis) after the sonication treatment; the protein and damaged starch contents of the isolated starches were 0.9–1.7% and 3.1–3.5% (dry basis), respectively. The combination of 0.5% SDS and high-intensity ultrasound improved the starch yield to 84.9% with low residual protein, however, little improvement was observed with SSL or Tween 80. The pasting properties of isolated starch as m...
Chemical prevention of radiation-induced leukemia in mice.

SummaryMice which were subjected to repeated treatments of endotoxin plus 150 R X-rays developed leukemia to the same extent as the drug-free irradiated controls. Treatments of mice with AET prior to each exposure to 150 R X-rays reduced the incidence of leukemia in them. Mice which had been inoculated with endotoxin were thereby immunized against the radioprotective and leukemia-sparing benefits of the drug. When AET replaced endotoxin in the above scheme, the radioprotective and leukemia-sparing benefits of AET were sustained.
A specific antigen-antibody interaction triggers the cellular pathophysiology of bullous pemphigoid.

SUMMARY Autoantibodies found in both the skin and sera of patients with bullous pemphigoid (BP) are capable of initiating the pathophysiology of blister formation that occurs in this disease. Current concepts of the pathophysiology of BP suggest that antibody alone cannot cause blister formation, but that antibody acts through complement-fixation, degranulation of mast cells and subsequent recruitment of leukocytes to the epidermal basement membrane. These leukocytes then release proteolytic enzymes which result in dermal-epidermal separation. This paper addresses the question of whether a specific molecule in the basement membrane zone is involved in the antigen-antibody reaction which triggers the cellular pathophysiology of BP. Immunoprecipitates of extracts of cultured human or mouse epidermal cells, radiolabelled with either [35S] methionine or 14C-labelled amino acids, indicated that sera from 25 of 26 BP patients precipitated the same molecule, as determined by co-migration on sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE). This molecule is a protein with a mol. wt. of approximately 230 kd. A similar protein was identified in SDS extracts of normal human epidermis, as determined by immunoperoxidase staining of proteins separated by SDS-PAGE, then electrophoretically transferred to nitrocellulose sheets. Thus, in almost all cases of BP, one specific molecule of the epidermal basement membrane is involved in the antigen-antibody interaction that triggers the cellular pathophysiology of blister formation.
Kinetics and mechanism of the monomerization of a Re(V) dithiolato dimer with monodentate ligands. Electronic and steric effects.

The sulfur-bridged dimeric dithiolato rhenium(V) chelate (D), derived from 2-mercaptothiophenol, was monomerized to give (M−L) in benzene upon reaction with various neutral and anionic monodentate ligands (L) such as pyridine and its substituted derivatives, triarylphosphines, dimethyl sulfoxide, 4-picoline-N-oxide, and halide ions. The kinetic observations can readily be interpreted for all ligands by a unified mechanism in which the initial fast formation of a 1:1 (DL) and 1:2 (DL2) adduct is followed by the slow monomerization of each species so formed. The use of different ligands gave insight into different steps of the same multistep mechanism. The kinetics of ligand exchange between free L and the monomeric complexes was also studied; an associative pathway has been proposed to interpret the results. The crystal structures of two new monomeric ML complexes (with L = 4-acetylpyridine and 1,3-diethylthiourea) are reported.
Characterization of a Highly Conserved FAD-binding Site in Human Monoamine Oxidase B

Monoamine oxidase B (MAO B) catalyzes the oxidative deamination of biogenic and xenobiotic amines. The oxidative step is coupled to the reduction of an obligatory cofactor, FAD, which is covalently linked to the apoenzyme at Cys397. Our previous studies identified two noncovalent flavin-binding regions in MAO B (residues 6–34 and 39–46) (Kwan, S.-W., Lewis, D. A., Zhou, B. P., and Abell, C. W. (1995) Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 316, 385–391; Zhou, B. P., Lewis, D. A., Kwan, S.-W., Kirksey, T. J., and Abell, C. W. (1995) Biochemistry 34, 9526–9531). In these regions, Glu34 and Tyr44 were found to be required for the initial binding of FAD. By comparing sequences with enzymes in the oxidoreductase family, we now have found an additional FAD-binding site in MAO B (residues 222–227), which is highly conserved across species (human, bovine, and rat). This conserved sequence contains adjacent glycine and aspartate residues (Gly226 and Asp227). Based on the x-ray crystal structures of several oxidoreductases (Eggink, G., Engel, H., Vriend, G., Terpstra, P., and Witholt, B. (1990) J. Mol. Biol. 212, 135–142; Van Driessche, G., Kol, M., Chen, Z.-W., Mathews, F. S., Meyer, T. E., Bartsch, R. G., Cusanovich, M. A., and Van Beeumen, J. J. (1996) Protein Sci. 5, 1753–1764), the Gly residue at the end of a β-strand facilitates a sharp turn and extends the β-carbonyl group of Asp to interact with the 3′-hydroxyl group of the ribityl chain of FAD. To assess the hypothesis that Gly226 and Asp227 are involved in FAD binding in MAO B, site-specific mutants that encode substitutions at these positions were prepared and expressed in mammalian COS-7 cells. Our results indicate that Gly226 and the β-carbonyl group of Asp227 are required for covalent flavinylation and catalytic activity of MAO B, but not for noncovalent binding of FAD. Our studies also reveal that mutagenesis at Glu34 and Tyr44 not only interferes with covalent flavinylation and catalytic activity of MAO B, but also with noncovalent binding of FAD. Based on these collective results, we propose that the coupling of FAD to the MAO B apoenzyme is a multistep process.
On the Stability and Flow Reversal of an Asymmetrically Heated Open Convection Loop

Experimental results are reported for a U-shaped, free convection loop. The top of the loop is open to an isothermal reservoir. The horizontal leg and one vertical leg are heated at rates Q1 and Q2, respectively. The loop is filled either with water or a water-saturated porous medium. Symmetric heating and asymmetric heating favouring the ascending leg of the loop both yield stable flows. Asymmetric heating favouring the descending leg leads to stable flows when the ratio Q1/Q2 is above a critical value. Below this critical value, the flow is observed to oscillate with increasing amplitude until the direction of flow in the loop undergoes a reversal. A steady flow follows the reversal. Analytical results include a stability analysis and time-dependent, one-dimensional numerical calculations, both of which compare favourably with experiment.The disturbance amplification mechanism is explained in terms of thermal anomalies which move through the loop with the material motion of the fluid. Since the heating and buoyancy generation processes are in phase in the heated, descending leg, a thermal anomaly can amplify as it flows through that leg. As the anomaly moves through the ascending leg, it initiates a subsequent anomaly of opposite sign in the descending leg. The result is an oscillating flow which, under appropriate conditions, can amplify.
Mass spectrometer evaluation of ventilation-perfusion abnormalities in respiratory distress syndrome.

Extract: Mass spectrometers should have unique advantages in the evaluation of VA/Q, [20] inequalities in neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), especially, in neonates requiring assisted ventilation. The purposes of this report are to (1) describe a method for continuous measurement of respired gas composition utilizing a mass spectrometer system, and (2) describe the results of serial aADCO2 and AaDO2 (expressed as Qs/Q) measurements in 63 neonates with RDS. The mass spectrometer system utilized is a mobile unit which includes the following components: quadrupole mass spectrometer for gas analysis, flow meter, and an analogue computer for measurement of respiratory flows and volumes. In 17 patients not requiring assisted ventilation, initial aADCO2 levels ranged from normal (<5) to 26 mm Hg; there was considerable variation in initial Qs/Q In 46 patients requiring assisted ventilation, Qs/Q measurements did not distinguish pulmonary from nonpulmonary deaths or survivors from nonsurvivors. Serial aADCO2 measurements, however, indicated a correlation between ability to achieve an aADCO2 < 10 mm Hg by age 7–10 days and potential for pulmonary survival. Speculation: Full utilization of a mass spectrometer system will allow for breath-by-breath measurement of AaDO2, CO2, and N2, as well as a variety of respiratory flows and volumes. Such measurements should provide further understanding of VA/Q, inequalities in RDS. Serial aADCO2 levels may provide a more objective measurement of acute severity as well as a better definition of potential for pulmonary survival.
Synthesis and Detection of Oxygen-18 Labeled Phosphate

Phosphorus (P) has only one stable isotope and therefore tracking P dynamics in ecosystems and inferring sources of P loading to water bodies have been difficult. Researchers have recently employed the natural abundance of the ratio of 18O/16O of phosphate to elucidate P dynamics. In addition, phosphate highly enriched in oxygen-18 also has potential to be an effective tool for tracking specific sources of P in the environment, but has so far been used sparingly, possibly due to unavailability of oxygen-18 labeled phosphate (OLP) and uncertainty in synthesis and detection. One objective of this research was to develop a simple procedure to synthesize highly enriched OLP. Synthesized OLP is made up of a collection of species that contain between zero and four oxygen-18 atoms and, as a result, the second objective of this research was to develop a method to detect and quantify each OLP species. OLP was synthesized by reacting either PCl5 or POCl3 with water enriched with 97 atom % oxygen-18 in ambient atmosphere under a fume hood. Unlike previous reports, we observed no loss of oxygen-18 enrichment during synthesis. Electrospray ionization mass spectrometertry (ESI-MS) was used to detect and quantify each species present in OLP. OLP synthesized from POCl3 contained 1.2% P18O16O3, 18.2% P18O216O2, 67.7% P18O316O, and 12.9% P18O4, and OLP synthesized from PCl5 contained 0.7% P16O4, 9.3% P18O316O, and 90.0% P18O4. We found that OLP can be synthesized using a simple procedure in ambient atmosphere without the loss of oxygen-18 enrichment and ESI-MS is an effective tool to detect and quantify OLP that sheds light on the dynamics of synthesis in ways that standard detection methods cannot.
Cell division in medium lacking serum growth factor: comparison of lines transformed by different agents.

CELLS of the permanent lines derived from mouse embryo tissue, 3T3 and Balb/c 3T3, exhibit density dependent inhibition of cell division1,2 anchorage dependence3,4, and also require a factor in serum to initiate DNA synthesis5–8, but these growth controls4,6,9–11 are lost in transformed cells. It has been suggested that loss of density dependent inhibition is a consequence of the loss of a requirement for serum factor6, in which case it would be expected that transformed lines derived from 3T3 would lack both growth controls. We have therefore tested various transformed lines of Balb/c 3T3 lacking the density dependent inhibition for the ability to grow without this serum factor or factors. Both virus-transformed lines of Balb/c 3T3 and independent isolates of Balb/c 3T12 (see ref. 2) grow well in medium lacking the serum growth factor(s), but most non-virus-transformed variants of Balb/c 3T3 grew poorly if at all. These observations suggest that the loss of density dependent inhibition of growth does not necessarily depend on the loss of the need for serum growth factor.
ERWIN JOSEPHUS RAISZ, 1893–1968

(1970). ERWIN JOSEPHUS RAISZ, 1893–1968. Annals of the Association of American Geographers: Vol. 60, No. 1, pp. 189-193.
Eloquence in Trouble: The Poetics and Politics of Complaint in Rural Bangladesh

Eloquence in Trouble: The Poetics and Politics of Complaint in Rural Bangladesh. James M. Wilce. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1998. + 300 pp., photographs, appendix, notes, references, index, glossary.
The Landscape of Microsatellite Instability in Colorectal and Endometrial Cancer Genomes

Microsatellites-simple tandem repeats present at millions of sites in the human genome-can shorten or lengthen due to a defect in DNA mismatch repair. We present here a comprehensive genome-wide analysis of the prevalence, mutational spectrum, and functional consequences of microsatellite instability (MSI) in cancer genomes. We analyzed MSI in 277 colorectal and endometrial cancer genomes (including 57 microsatellite-unstable ones) using exome and whole-genome sequencing data. Recurrent MSI events in coding sequences showed tumor type specificity, elevated frameshift-to-inframe ratios, and lower transcript levels than wild-type alleles. Moreover, genome-wide analysis revealed differences in the distribution of MSI versus point mutations, including overrepresentation of MSI in euchromatic and intronic regions compared to heterochromatic and intergenic regions, respectively, and depletion of MSI at nucleosome-occupied sequences. Our results provide a panoramic view of MSI in cancer genomes, highlighting their tumor type specificity, impact on gene expression, and the role of chromatin organization.
Structure of the catalytic core of the Tetrahymena ribozyme as indicated by reactive abbreviated forms of the molecule

Abstract The precursor rRNA of Tetrahymena thermophila contains a group I intervening sequence (IVS) that catalyzes its own excision to yield mature rRNA. The excised IVS catalyzes a number of cleavage/ligation reactions that are analogous to the transesterification reactions of splicing. We examined the behavior of a variety of 3'-truncated forms of the IVS and found several abbreviated molecules that retained catalytic activity. The reactivity of these molecules indicates that the site at which cleavage/ligation occurs lies in close proximity to all of the conserved sequence elements within the catalytic core of the IVS.
Particle transport modeling in pulmonary airways with high-order elements.

Abstract Inhaled particles can be either harmful (e.g., smoke, exhaust, viruses) or beneficial (e.g., a therapeutic drug). The accurate and computationally efficient simulation of particle transport and deposition remains a challenge because it requires the simultaneous solution of the Navier–Stokes equations and multiple advection–diffusion mass transport equations when the particles are modeled as multiple mono-dispersed populations. The solution of these equations requires that multiple length scales be resolved since the ratio of advection to diffusion varies among the different equations. Here, the spectral element method is examined because the high-order approximation provides greater flexibility in resolving multiple length scales. The problem geometry is based on the Weibel model A of the human airway for convergence tests and the first three generations of a typical rat airway for experimental validation. Particles in the size range 1 to 100 nm are simulated for deposition results. The particle concentration and flux were determined using meshes of varying coarseness to represent the geometry along with basis polynomials of order 5 to 11. The higher-order elements accurately propagate the short wavelengths contained in the advection–diffusion solution without sacrificing efficiency for the more computationally expensive Navier–Stokes solution. As the diffusion coefficient in the advection–diffusion equation decreases (i.e., particle size increases) the advantages of the spectral elements become apparent for the coupled system.
Nutritive sucking and neurobehavioral development in preterm infants from 34 weeks PCA to term.

PURPOSE To investigate changes in nutritive sucking patterns, behavioral state, and neurobehavioral development of preterm infants from the 34 weeks postconceptional age (PCA) to term. DESIGN Nonexperimental descriptive correlational design was used. METHODS A convenience sample included 66 preterm infants with a gestational age between 24 and 34 weeks at birth. Mean gestational age was 29.7 weeks, with a mean birthweight of 1379 grams. Instruments included the Kron Nutritive Sucking Apparatus, the Anderson Behavioral State Scale (ABSS), and the Brazelton Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale (BNBAS). A feeding procedure was administered at 34 and 40 weeks PCA with BNBAS administered at 40 weeks PCA. Data analysis strategies included t-tests, Spearman rho correlations, Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed-ranks test, and a Random Coefficients Model. RESULTS There were significant differences in number of sucks (p < 0.001), intensity of sucking pressures (p < 0.001), average time between sucks (p < 0.001), and average time between bursts (p < 0.001) from 34 weeks PCA to term. With maturation, it was noted that the preterm infants were significantly more alert during the sucking protocol from 34 weeks to term (p < 0.001). Yet, infant sucking parameters at 34 weeks PCA and term were not significantly related to the BNBAS or to the infant's state. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS These results demonstrate that high risk preterm infants mature significantly in their sucking behaviors and in their ability to maintain a more alert behavioral state from 34 weeks PCA to term. However, unlike full term infants--where state is positively correlated to feeding (sucking) success--the preterm infant state of alertness may not enhance sucking skills at 34 weeks PCA. These infants may be too stressed to manage both feeding and stimulation from the environment that is unavoidable when alert. However, this relationship does appear to change by 40 weeks PCA.
Pharmacokinetics of acetylmethadols II: Plasma levels of D- and L-α-acetylmethadol and their major metabolites in the dog†

The pharmacokinetics of the synthetic narcotic agent LAAM, its pharmacologically active, demethylated metabolites NORLAAM and DINORLAAM, and also the dextro-enantiomer DAAM, were examined following intravenous doses of all four compounds, and oral doses of LAAM and DAAM to dogs. Extensive tissue uptake of all compounds occurred following intravenous doses. NORLAAM penetrated into tissues to a greater extent than LAAM or DINORLAAM and also exhibited the longest biological half-life (11·7 h) in plasma compared to LAAM (6·5 h) and DINORLAAM (3·6 h). The elimination rate of DINORLAAM was prolonged following oral doses of LAAM and intravenous doses of NORLAAM, and it is suggested that prolonged pharmacologic activity of LAAM may be associated with rate-limiting demethylation of NORLAAM. DAAM was taken up exrensively by tissues but to a smaller extent than LAAM. Following oral doses, the bioavailability of LAAM as unchanged drug was 22·6 and 32·5 per cent in two dogs while that of DAAM was 4·9, 9·3, and 14·6 per cent in three dogs. Poor bioavailability of unchanged drug from oral doses appears to be due partly to first-pass metabolism and is partially compensated for by increased plasma levels of pharmacologically active metabolites. Extensive tissue uptake of LAAM and its active metabolites, and their long plasma half-lives, may be partially responsible for the prolonged pharmacologic activity of LAAM reported in patients maintained on this drug.
Molecular Dynamics Simulations of Polar Polymer Brushes

Brushes of end-grafted, polar polymer chains in a good, nonpolar solvent are studied via molecular dynamics simulations of a bead-spring model. The monomers are connected by finitely extensible nonlinear springs. The springs connecting consecutive monomers in a chain are labeled with dipoles parallel to the chain contour. We consider the dipoles as limits of charge pairs, replacing each dipole by a pair of charges positioned at the centers of mass of two consecutive beads. Equilibrium simulations are performed, and the static and dynamic properties of the chains are related to the dipole magnitude. It was found that the electrostatic interactions lead to a shorter brush and the collapse becomes more pronounced with increasing segmental dipole moment. The dielectric relaxation of the tethered chains is studied, and the dielectric permittivity is obtained from equilibrium dipole moment correlation functions. Results on the dielectric relaxation of tethered chains from experiments conducted by Yao et al. exhibited a broader dielectric dispersion spectrum than that of free macromolecules in homogeneous solutions. These authors attributed the results to the thermodynamic confinement (to keep uniform segment density) and the spatial confinement that prohibits a chain to cross the tethering domain boundary. The simulations indicate that neither the spatial confinement nor the thermodynamic confinement lead to a broader dielectric dispersion spectrum for the tethered chains, and we attribute the discrepancies to the morphology differences between the experimental system and the simulated one. Weak electric fields parallel and perpendicular to the grafting surface are applied, and the system response is related to the equilibrium fluctuations. We also examine the structural properties of the brushes at steady state under the influence of external electric fields.
You be the judge: is long-term benefit worth the early risk?

Fifty-five years ago, on May 2, 1960, Robert H. Goetz, Professor of Surgery at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City performed the world’s first successful coronary artery bypass operation (CABG). It was Dr Goetz’ first and last CABG procedure. Despite the support that Dr Goetz and the operation received from the patient’s cardiologist, their medical and surgical colleagues were severely critical of the procedure and its presumed benefits. As a result, Dr Goetz never performed another coronary bypass operation. We have come to recognize this all too familiar account of the physician scientist pioneer; the sharp criticism experienced by innovators and the many years of intense effort expended by their supporters leading to the eventual adoption of a provocative idea. Coronary artery bypass surgery has faced many challenges in its long, winding, and debated pathway to adoption as the best therapy for patients with multivessel and left main coronary artery disease. Indeed, 26 years have passed between the publication of the Coronary Artery Surgery Study (CASS) and the SYNTAX trials, during that time an explosion has occurred in the total number of revascularization procedures, especially that of percutaneous coronary intervention. The choice between CABG and percutaneous coronary intervention in selected patients’ population remains a point of debate as evidenced by the variable application of the appropriateness guidelines to clinical practice. One clinical condition for which there has been little concrete evidence base for treatment, and yet, there are many needy patients, is the management of patients with severe left ventricular dysfunction and ischemic
Non-parametric methods in demand analysis

Abstract This note describes techniques developed by Afriat, Diewert, Varian, and others that allow empirical investigation of consumer demand data without imposing any maintained hypotheses concerning the parametric form of the underlying demand or utility functions.
Excitation of Surface Deformation Modes of a Phase Separating Polymer Blend on a Patterned Substrate

The phase separation kinetics of ultrathin deuterated poly(styrene)/poly(butadiene) polymer blend films spun cast onto striped self-assembled monolayer (SAM) substrates is studied by atomic force microscopy (AFM). Fourier transform analysis of the AFM topographic data at various stages of the film pattern development reveals the presence of quantized surface deformation modes. These modes are excited by the phase separation process when the scale of phase separation becomes commensurate with the period of the striped surface pattern. Thus, higher frequency modes become excited at early stages of phase separation, and these excitations decay with time as the phase separation pattern further coarsens. The film ultimately self-organizes into a periodic structure in which the fundamental mode has the largest amplitude. The influence of film thickness on the film morphology in this late stage is also investigated. A decrease in the film thickness leads to surface patterns that match those of the SAM substrates...
Continuous-time Hammerstein and Wiener modeling under second-order static nonlinearity for periodic process signals

This article presents continuous-time (CT) analytical solutions to Hammerstein and Wiener systems with second-order plus-lead (SOPL) dynamic behavior for sinusoidal input changes. The proposed solutions depend only on the most recent input change and exact accuracy is demonstrated for cases of varying frequency (ω), amplitude (A), and phase angle (φ). This article demonstrates two critical advancements in the application of these solutions using a multiple input, multiple output (MIMO) mathematically simulated continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR). The first one is improved accuracy over approximating periodic input changes as piece-wise step changes. The second one is the ability to accurately model process noise in the outputs when the input process noise can be decomposed into a sum of sinusoidal components. Since in many applications inputs are measured at a much higher rate than an output, the CT modeling of periodic process noise provides a means to model periodic output noise despite infrequent sampling of the output. Moreover, this article also presents output correction using measured output to remove prediction bias under white and serially correlated noise of measured outputs.
Dendron-tethered and templated CdS quantum dots on single-walled carbon nanotubes

CdS nanoparticles on the surface of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) were templated and stabilized through the initial attachment of 1 → 3 C-branched amide-based dendrons and were both photophysically and morphologically characterized. The CdS clusters were shown to be ca. 1.4 nm in diameter as calculated from their optical absorption spectra and exhibited reduced fluorescence emission intensity at 434 nm compared to that of CdS quantum dots stabilized by untethered dendrons due to partial emission quenching by the SWNT. Unchanged UV absorption behavior of these materials indicated that they are stable > 90 days at 25 °C.
A simple classical model of infrared multiphoton dissociation

The classical mechanics of a system of two nonlinearly coupled oscillators driven by an oscillating electric field is studied. The presence of quasiperiodic and chaotic motion in the unforced system is shown to influence the nature of energy absorption. Two essentially different types of behavior are observed. In the first, energy is exchanged in a multiply periodic manner between the system and the forcing field. In the second regime, the energy exchange is erratic and a statistical analysis of a family of trajectories shows the role of the chaotic motion in the unforced system in the dissociation process. A theory for rate of photodissociation is presented and results are compared with those obtained from an ensemble of exact classical trajectories.
Is our behavior written in our genes

A recent study demonstrated the role of a single gene in specifying sexual behavior in a fruit fly. Dr. Dennis Drayna writes that these findings prompt provocative thinking about the contribution o...
World Government and the Constitution of the United States

versy into specific resolutions now pending in Congress. These resolutions, however general and even vague they may be, in a polity organized under a written constitution raise constitutional problems which it may be useful to examine. The host of resolutions pertaining to world government which are now pending in the 81st Congress may be divided conveniently into two groups, those which do not envisage, except perhaps well in the future, changes in the Constitution of the United States and those resolutions which either explicitly or implicitly require the amendment of the Constitution to effectuate their aims. Sponsors of some of the resolutions in the latter group might contest the classification since in most of the pending resolutions no reference is made at all to constitutional amendment, but an effort will be made to show the constitutional issues involved, issues which, if not calling for amendments for their solution, imply the substitution of an entirely new constitution. It is, of course, inherent in a Congressional resolution that it be general rather than, statute-wise, specific and detailed; legal discussion of such resolutions must necessarily share the general if
Analysis and synthesis of bianisotropic metasurfaces

Methods to analyze and synthesize bianisotropic metasurfaces are developed. This work enables complete control of the polarization of an electromagnetic wavefront for the first time. First, a simplified homogenization procedure is reported that can model the reflection and transmission coefficients of an arbitrary bianisotropic metasurface. Next, a systematic method to realize an arbitrary bianisotropic response is demonstrated. It is analytically shown that cascading patterned metallic sheets (anisotropic sheet admittances) offers significant control of the electric, magnetic, and chiral responses. Each sheet is individually designed to have a full tensor sheet admittance. To demonstrate the design procedure, two exotic polarization transformations with near-optimal performance are experimentally demonstrated for the first time: polarization rotation and asymmetric circular transmission.
Long-Term Cognitive and Academic Effects of Early Childhood Education on Children in Poverty

It is generally accepted that early childhood education improves the cognitive performance of children in poverty in the short-term, but whether cognitive effects persist in the long-term is hotly debated. This paper presents the results of a critical review of 38 studies of the long-term effects of early childhood programs on children in poverty. Outcomes examined include IQ, achievement, and academic success as measured by grade repetition, special education placement, and high school graduation. Early childhood education is found to produce persistent effects on achievement and academic success, but not on IQ (with some exceptions). Head Start and public school programs produce the same types of effects as better funded model programs, but at least some of the effects are smaller. Cost-benefit analysis based on one randomized trial finds that the economic return from providing early education to children in poverty far exceeds the costs. Head Start, public school preschool education, and education in high-quality child care programs all offer avenues for government investment to improve the long-term cognitive development and academic success of children in poverty.
REVIEW ARTICLE: SURGICAL MANAGEMENT OF URINARY INCONTINENCE IN CHILDREN WITH NEUROGENIC SPHINCTERIC INCOMPETENCE

Purpose:: There are many alternatives for the surgical treatment of children with neurogenic sphincteric incompetence. However, there is no consensus regarding appropriate evaluation and long-term management in these patients. We critically reviewed the literature and compare the outcomes of each technique.Materials and Methods:: A MEDLINE search was performed to select all relevant peer reviewed publications since 1966. In addition, the bibliography of each article was examined for additional published resources. The results of each technique were compared in 7 objective categories, including continence (defined as complete dryness for 4 hours between voidings or catheterizations), the need for intermittent catheterization, effects on bladder compliance, the need for bladder augmentation, upper tract changes, other complications and the revision rate.Results:: Long-term results of artificial urinary sphincter placement were superior and reproducible in terms of continence, preservation of volitional void...
The dynamic behavior of water tanks

During the Chilean earthquakes of May, 1960, a number of large elevated water tanks were severely damaged whereas others survived without damage. An analysis of the dynamic behavior of such tanks must take into account the motion of the water relative to the tank as well as the motion of the tank relative to the ground. Some simple expressions are given for the pertinent dynamic properties of tanks with free water surface. A simplified dynamic analysis is indicated for the response of elevated water tanks to earthquake ground motion.
Arboreal ant diversity (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in a central African forest

Like many developing tropical areas, central Africa is subject to substantial anthropogenic disturbance associated with the large-scale harvesting of natural resources. We surveyed the ants of the forest canopy at an oil extraction site near Gamba, Gabon. Ants were collected by hand and with tuna baits from nine tree crowns in late secondary forest. Thirty-six ant species were collected in all. Michaelis–Menten and incidence-based richness coverage estimates indicate that this represents 65% of the arboreal ant species richness at the site. Crematogaster spp. generally were behaviourally aggressive and monopolized baits in most trees. Taxonomic similarity (classical Sorensen index) averaged 0.25 (range ¼ 0.00–0.50) between trees and was not a function of the distances separating them. No edge effects were detected, but there was a tendency for trees within the same forest patch to show higher similarity in ant composition than trees in separate patches. Overall arboreal ant species richness and composition in the disturbed forests around Gamba were similar to those found in primary forests of the region.
Analyzing the behavior and shear strength of common adhesives used in temporary wafer bonding

Creating 3D integrated circuits (3DICs) by stacking electronic devices optimized for their substrate has the potential to increase system functionality while decreasing the overall footprint. Wafer thinning is a critical element in 3D integration and complicated by the fragile nature of a thin wafer. Thinning and post-process handling can be potentially damaging to the wafer. For this reason, the device wafer is often temporarily bonded to a support, or carrier, wafer to prevent fracturing or warping of the wafer. The adhesive used to create this bond has to demonstrate certain qualities to be practical and efficient. There are tradeoffs in material qualities and bonding/debonding processes. A lack of quantitative data published in the literature makes comparison of adhesives currently on the market difficult. Once process constraints are determined, an adhesive can be chosen and depending on the constraints, few options may be available. Due to the fact the wafer thinning process involves rotation of a vacuum test jig containing the wafer stack above another rotating platen, the shear strength associated with this wafer stack is of interest. The primary objective of this project is to provide quantitative data on the strength of various adhesives that may be used in the temporary bonding process to determine the best adhesive for our particular application. To meet this objective, a test procedure was designed to acquire data related to adhesive shear strength. In our test procedure, two wafers are bonded together with the adhesive and mechanically pulled on each end with a tensile tester that records the load versus extension. The load value drops sharply once the adhesive fails. The peak load is collected and represents the maximum amount of shear force the adhesive can handle before failure. With the data acquired from this test, one can compare adhesives to determine which material may be best suited for a particular application. Data was collected to determine the range of load values at which certain adhesives fail. For each adhesive, care was taken to apply the adhesive systematically and to observe the characteristics of the adhesive during and after testing in order to determine the practicality of the adhesive for the application of interest in temporary wafer bonding. The shear strength of the adhesive needs to be large enough to withstand the thinning process, however one must debond the adhesive easily as well. Adhesives that exhibited similar behavior were grouped into different classes (e.g. waxes, tapes, films). In addition, a computer based model, through a simulation of the wafer thinning process, attempts to verify the experimentally determined characteristics of adhesives that appear to be best suited for temporary wafer bonding.
Parasitism by virulent Treponema pallidum of host cell surfaces

The interaction between virulent Treponema pallidum extracted from infected rabbit testes and animal cells in culture was examined. The extent of treponemal attachment to monolayers of normal rabbit testicular and HEp-2 cells was dependent upon the incubation temperature and retained motility of the spirochetes. The specific orientation of treponemes to host cell surfaces was demonstrated by dark-field microscopic examination of wet-mount preparations and scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Once attached, T. pallidum organisms remained actively motile yet anchored in place by their terminal tapered structures. After several hours of co-incubation, maximal attachment was attained, and the degree of parasitism seemed regulated not only by available surface sites on individual host cells but also by the proposed membrane response of parasitized cells to continued exposure to treponemes. The avirulent strain, Treponema phagedenis biotype Reiter, did not adhere to monolayer cultures. Characterization of host cell determinants that permitted surface colonization by T. pallidum was attempted. Also, properties of virulent treponemes that enabled surface parasitism were monitored by measuring the effects of enzymes, detergents, and metabolic inhibitors on the host-parasite interaction. Results reinforced the specific nature of the treponemal attachment mechanism. Furthermore, the ability of convalescent rabbit sera to reduce attachment of treponemes to host cells suggested that surface structures on T. pallidum could be masked or inactivated by host components, thus providing a potentially effective research approach for investigating the pathogenesis of syphilis and screening appropriate vaccine candidates.
Filgrastim versus TBO-filgrastim to reduce the duration of neutropenia after autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: TBO, or not TBO, that is the question

After a hospital-wide formulary change resulted in the replacement of filgrastim with TBO-filgrastim for all on- and off-label indications, we performed a retrospective comparison of patients with myeloma receiving 200 mg/m(2) melphalan with autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation to see whether the type of growth factor used post-transplant made a difference. One hundred and eighty-two consecutive patients with myeloma were studied, 91 receiving filgrastim immediately prior to the change and 91 receiving TBO-filgrastim afterward. The CD34(+) cell dose was comparable, as were other characteristics. Although the overall time to neutrophil recovery was similar for both groups, early engraftment (≤ 12 d) occurred more often (p = 0.05), and late engraftment (≥ 14 d) less often (p = 0.09) in filgrastim-treated patients. The number of documented infections was significantly less in the TBO-filgrastim group. Day 100 mortality and hospital stay were similar for the two groups. These data indicate that there is no material difference between filgrastim and TBO-filgrastim in this clinical setting.